Expert: Maria - 7/4/2010

Question
Hello Maria. I am working at an old Jacobean house which is grade 2* listed. There is a coat of arms on the wall with the words EXVRGAT DEVSET DISSIPENTVRINIMICI underneath . I think they are latin , am i right and if so what does this mean. Any help would be great.
Yours Thankfully
Martin Jermy

Answer
Hello,

It is just a Latin motto   which  sounds correctly as  EXVRGAT DEVS ET DISSIPENTVR INIMICI meaning “Let God arise and let the enemies be scattered”.

This phrase we read exactly in  Psalm 67:1 Vulgate, i.e Psalm 68:1 (King James Version) was used as a motto on coins of James I and of that monarch's mother, Mary Queen of Scots.

Best regards,
Maria
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Note that:

-EXVRGAT (Hortatory Subjunctive of the verb EXSURGO, I arise) =  let …arise

-DEVS (subject of EXURGAT, nominative, 2nd.declension) = God

-ET = and

-DISSIPENTVR (passive voice , Hortatory Subjunctive of the verb DISSIPO, I scatter)

-INIMICI (subject of DISSIPENTUR, nominative plural of INIMICUS, 2nd.declension) = the enemies.