McInnes Coat of Arms

"The earliest version we have traced appears in Logan and R.R. MacIan's "The Costumes of the Clans" published in 1845-47. The shield is simply shown with three six-pointed stars and three buckles with the motto "E Labore Dulcedo" (work brings happiness) the full arms are seen later to incorporate a "Thistle and Bee" in the Crest. The Inneses have attempted to claim this shield as belonging to the MacInneses of Speyside - saying that in reality these MacInneses were Moray Inneses (Clan Innes is not mentioned in "The Costumes of the Clans". the Coat of Arms was never matriculated but is often referred to as the "ancient arms of the MacInneses" but where was the source for MacIan claiming these arms to belong to the MacInneses - the Fergusons also have a thistle and bee on their crest - the search continues." - Source