_Thistle of Scotland_ (Vol. i., pp. 24. 90. 166.).--I have just
accidentally stumbled upon my promised note on this subject; and as it
appears to be entirely different from any yet offered to you, I gladly
send it for the information of your correspondents. I copied it from an
old scrap-book:
"_The Scotch Thistle._--The origin of the national badge is thus
handed down by tradition:--When the Danes invaded Scotland it was
deemed unwarlike to attack an enemy in the darkness of night,
instead of a pitched battle by day: but, on one occasion the
invaders resolved to avail themselves of stratagem; and in order
to prevent their tramp from being heard, they marched barefooted.
They had thus neared the Scottish force unobserved, when a Dane
unluckily stepped with his foot upon a superbly prickled thistle,
and uttered a cry of pain, which discovered the assailants to the
Scots, who ran to their arms, and defeated the foe with great
slaughter. The thistle was immediately adopted as the insignia of
Scotland."