ay a standard. A
brave Highlander, or courageous Irish soldier, would rather die than
surrender the flag of his company. Not only did the loss of regimental
colours bring disgrace for the time on those whose duty it was to
defend them, but it portended future defeats and demoralisation.

Consecrated banners were common in times when almost every man was a
soldier. "_Go, conquer by this_" was the motto inscribed on ensigns of
several nations. In the devices of standards were found the eagle, the
wolf, the horse, the boar, the lion, and often a figure of Victory or
Mars. The "Flag of the Prophet" was the sacred banner of the
Mohammedans. It was composed of the turban of the Koreish, captured by
Mohammed. A black flag was afterwards substituted in its place,
consisting of a curtain that used to hang in front of the door of
Ayeshah's (one of the Prophet's wives) tent. The Mohammedans regarded
this flag as a most sacred relic. Subsequent to passing through
several hands, it was brought to Europe by Amurath III. It was kept in
a costly casket, and deposited in a chapel, guarded by emirs. The
banner used to be unfolded when war broke out, and carefully laid
aside, as stated, when peace was restored.

In the history of the "Battle of the Standard," which took place on
Cutton Moor, near Northallerton, between the English and Scots, at
which the Scots lost 10,000 men, the success of the English was
reported to have been due to their having consecrated banners with
them. The battle derived its name from the circumstance of a
flag-staff being attached to a waggon in the army's centre, bearing at
its top the consecrated host, and the banners of St. John of Beverley,
St. Peter of York, and St. Wilfred of Ripon.

A superstition long lingered in the Scottish Highlands, that it was
unlucky for a clansman to learn any handicraft engaged in by
Lowlanders. If a Highland youth left his native mountains and engaged
in mercantile or mechanical pursuits, his friends thought he turned
effeminate. For warfare he became unsuited, either as a leader or
follower. The prowess of his ancestors forsook him, he became
incapable of handling the bow or spear skilfully, and, what was worse,
he carried ill luck with himself and to his companions wherever he
went. Powerful clans have been beaten in the open field by opposing
clansmen of inferior numbers, solely through the circumstance of the
former having in their ranks men who had imprudently, in an ev