Chapter I: Preface

Stirling Castle is a many-sided subject that can be treated in more than one way. The story of the castle might be dealt with in a book divided into sections, each one taking up a special part, such as Military History, Stirling as a Royal Palace, Notable Visitors, etc.; but I have thought it better to set forth the whole of the castle’s history in chronological order, and, after discussing the buildings and their associations, to bring together the salient events connected with the three chief Scottish strongholds, and to record what the poets have said about Stirling.

With regard to dates, for the sake of simplicity I have adopted the historical computation; that is to say, the years have been reckoned as if they had always begun on the 1st of January and not on the 25th of March, as was the rule in Scotland until 1600. For example, the date of Prince Henry’s birth is given as February, 1594, although the event was considered at the time to belong to the year 1593.

I am glad to express here my thanks to my uncle, the Rev. Eric Robertson, for suggesting that I should undertake this work, and for valuable hints given from time to time; to Mr. David B. Morris, Stirling, who has always responded most willingly to any appeal for help, and who has kindly read the proofs; and to Mr. James Hyslop, Edinburgh, for guidance in the subject of the buildings of the castle. To the artist, Mr. Cameron, I am grateful for the whole-hearted interest which he has taken in my part of the work as well as in his own.

E. S. K.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I. EARLY HISTORY 1

II. THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE 18

III. THE EARLY STEWARTS 36

IV. JAMES V. AND MARY 57

V. JAMES VI. 79

VI. LATER HISTORY 114

VII. THE BUILDINGS, THE PARK, AND THE BRIDGE 133

VIII. THE ASSOCIATIONS OF THE BUILDINGS 161

IX. STIRLING’S POSITION WITH REGARD TO OTHER CASTLES 178

X. STIRLING CASTLE IN POETRY 197

INDEX 214

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE
Stirling Castle _frontispiece_

The Highlands from Stirling Castle 13

The Abbey Craig and River Forth 21

Stirling Castle from Bannockburn 29

*The Prospect of Stirling Castle 32
_From Engraving by Captain John Slezer, circa 1693._

The Douglas Window 45

James IV.’s Gateway (where Margaret Tudor defied the
Commissioners) 59

The Pass of Ballengeich 67

The Keep and the Prince’s Walk 89

The Chapel Royal 109

*Stirling Castle 112
_From Engraving by Robert Sayer, 1753._

Turret on Queen Anne’s Battery 125

The Old Mint 135

Portcullis in James IV.’s Gateway 139

James V. as the Gudeman o’ Ballengeich 143

*The Prospect of Their Majesties’ Castle of Stirling 144
_From Engraving by Captain John Slezer, 1693._

Stirling Old Bridge 155

The Parliament House 163

Old Entrance from Ballengeich 167

Old Buildings in Upper Square 189

A Chimney of the Palace 193

_All the Illustrations, with the exception of the three marked
with an asterisk, are by Mr. Hugh Armstrong Cameron._