The Scotts of Balwearie - by Carol Clark Johnson - Vredenburgh

CLAN
SCOTT
THE TARTAN AND THE CLAN
Originally, the tartan was a large woolen cloth called
the "great wrap", about 16 or 18 feet long, and six feet
wide. Thi s covered the wearer I s shoulders, was belted at the
waist and hung to the knees. In the early eighteenth century,
the lower half became the kilt or "little wrap". In
the early days, the woven cloth was dyed with colors obtained
from roots, mosses and flowers. Chemical dyes in the
present day are modified to impart a soft, mellow hue and
an ancient appearance. Each of the plaid patterns is called
a "sett". The wearing of the kilt ended with the Jacobite
Revolution in 1745, but the romantic Highlander tradition
was revived by the poems of, Si'r W'aJ.te-r Scott' circa 1815.
The Scott tartan is bright red with narrow green, black
and white' stripes . 'The cIani s hunting tartan differs only
in the color of forest green with narrow black and white
stripes. It is secured by a silver strap and buckle clanbadge
with a stag in the center and the motto AMO at the
top.
A clan was a group of families occupying the same glen
or island claiming descent from a common ancestor.Thehead
of the clan was the Representer or chieftain. The others
accepted his jurisdiction over their affairs and owed him
loyalty and respect, responding to his summons in time of
battle. For their devotion, he as patriarch had an obligation
to protect and aid any of his followers who might be
in distress. (The Scottish Tartans ,Johnston and Bacon)
The present chieftan of the Scott Clan is the Duke of
Buccleuch KT; the clan seat Bowhill Castle, Selkirk.
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