The little gentleman in velvet.

Today we ventured into Aberdeen, to the City Art Gallery, to see the Great Tapestry of Scotland. The biggest hand stitched tapestry in the world, it consists of 160 panels illustrating important events in Scottish history, from the earliest times to the present day. A must see!

I was spoiled for choice in terms of what to show you, but decided on this small detail from the panel commemorating the Jacobite Rising of 1745, the one involving the Young Pretender, better known as BPC or Bonnie Prince Charlie.

The detail shows a story from 1702, one much loved by the Jacobites, who wished to restore the Stuart Monarchy. In that year a mole digging in the grounds of Hampton Court in London, altered the course of British History. King William III was thrown to the ground when his horse, Sorrel, stumbled on the molehill. The king, already weak and ill, broke his collar bone and died of pneumonia a few days later. Jacobites everywhere were delighted at the demise of the king and and henceforth drank a toast to 'the little gentleman in the black velvet jacket'.

Why does this appeal to me? Well, my blip-name is Talpa and the mole's scientific name is Talpa europaea!