Restriction on wearing tartan "the Devil's oath"

[Foxgun Tom]

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oo

[macwilkin]

...and here is the Proclomation of Repeal of the Act of Proscription, 1 July 1782:

"Listen Men. This is bringing before all the Sons of the Gael, the King and Parliament of Britain have forever abolished the act against the Highland Dress; which came down to the Clans from the beginning of the world to the year 1746. This must bring great joy to every Highland Heart. You are no longer bound down to the unmanly dress of the Lowlander. This is declaring to every Man, young and old, simple and gentle, that they may after this put on and wear the Truis, the Little Kilt, the Coat, and the Striped Hose, as also the Belted Plaid, without fear of the Law of the Realm or the spite of the enemies."

Cheers,

Todd

PS: Thread moved to "heraldry & tartans" section!

[Mike1]

Without this veering off into a discussion on faith, one has to have some understanding of just how serious the words, 'may I be killed in battle as a coward, and lie without burial in a strange land', truly were to them. To lie without burial, away from their own families was more of an abomination than they were willing to consider.

Yesterday, I was at a commemoration festival, to mark the time when the French traders would canoe south for the winter and trade with the Native American tribes in this area. It is held at the site of an old French fort, built in 1717. The festival marks a feast that was always held at the time of the hunter's moon, which drew all inhabitants of the area together.

One of the re-enactor's groups is a local unit of the 42nd Royal Highlanders. As I watched that unit march in, during the opening ceremonies, I couldn't help but think of how they also served in Scotland, enforcing the Act of Proscription amongst their own countrymen.

[Tattoo Bradley]

Without this veering off into a discussion on faith, one has to have some understanding of just how serious the words, 'may I be killed in battle as a coward, and lie without burial in a strange land', truly were to them. To lie without burial, away from their own families was more of an abomination than they were willing to consider.

Yesterday, I was at a commemoration festival, to mark the time when the French traders would canoe south for the winter and trade with the Native American tribes in this area. It is held at the site of an old French fort, built in 1717. The festival marks a feast that was always held at the time of the hunter's moon, which drew all inhabitants of the area together.

One of the re-enactor's groups is a local unit of the 42nd Royal Highlanders. As I watched that unit march in, during the opening ceremonies, I couldn't help but think of how they also served in Scotland, enforcing the Act of Proscription amongst their own countrymen.

So true Mike.

On a side note, someone needs to get that big fella in the back sorted out!

[macwilkin]

Mike: Was the Watch back from the European wars long enough to enforce the Proscription? If so, it was only for a couple of years, because they went overseas to the American colonies in 1756 to fight in the French & Indian Wars, and then returned again in the 1770's for the American Revolution.

Besides, the "Butcher" didn't really trust ANY Scots, loyal or no. The Watch proved him wrong at Fontenoy, of course, but one of the reasons why they were sent to Europe was to keep them out of Scotland, especially after the 1743 mutiny.

Cheers,

Todd

[gilmore]

As some of you are aware, the wearing of tartan and highland dress was banned in Scotland, after the 45 rebellion but!! are you aware that some had to take an oath supporting a ban??? The worst fate for a Highlander was to die or be killed in a foriegn land and lie buried for eternity, away fom the land of his clan and the burial place of his forefathers
Below is a copy of the oath!!!

Tom

I, _______________, do swear, as I shall answer to God at the great day of Judgement, I have not, nor shall have in my possession any gun, sword, pistol or arm whatsoever, and never to use tartan plaid, or any part of the Highland Garb; and if I do so -- may I be cursed in my undertakings, family and property, may I be killed in battle as a coward, and lie without burial in a strange land, far from the graves of my forefathers and kindred; may all this come across me if I break my oath."

What is the source for this?

[Mike1]

What is the source for this?

The actual tartan proscription act read as follows -

"That from and after the First Day of August 1747, no man or boy within that part of Great Britain called Scotland, other than such as shall be employed as Officers and Soldiers of His Majesty's Forces, shall on any pretext whatsoever, wear or put on the clothes, commonly called Highland clothes (that is to say) the Plaid, Philabeg, or little kilt, Trowes, Shoulder-Belts, or any part whatever of what peculiarly belongs to the Highland Garb; and that no tartan or party-coloured plaid or stuff shall be used for Great coats or upper coats, and if any such person shall presume after the first said day of August, to wear or put on the aforesaid garments or any part of them, every person so offending.... shall be liable to be transported to any of His Majesty's plantations beyond the seas, there to remain for the space of seven years."

What Foxgun Tom has quoted is what is commonly known as the 'Highlander's oath'.

[ian]

I, _______________, do swear, as I shall answer to God at the great day of Judgement, that I have shall have in my possession a gun, sword, pistol or arm, and use a tartan plaid, and parts of the Highland Garb; and if I fail to do so -- may I be cursed in my undertakings, family and property, may I be killed in battle as a coward, and lie without burial in a strange land, far from the graves of my forefathers and kindred; may all this come across me if I break my oath."

Now would you take the "New Highlander Oath?"

[MacTavishOfJapan]

Why would I ever need to swear to keep a gun?

[Colin]

Let's get this back on topic right quick, or it's gone. We have played the gun game to many times.