Transcriber’s Note: Cover created by Transcriber, using an image fromthe original book, and place into the Public Domain.
STIRLING CASTLE
PUBLISHED BY
JAMES MACLEHOSE AND SONS, GLASGOW,
Publishers to the University.
MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD., LONDON.
| New York, | The Macmillan Co. |
| Toronto, | The Macmillan Co. of Canada. |
| London, | Simpkin, Hamilton and Co. |
| Cambridge, | Bowes and Bowes. |
| Edinburgh, | Douglas and Foulis. |
| Sydney, | Angus and Robertson. |
MCMXIII.
STIRLING CASTLE
ITS PLACE IN SCOTTISH HISTORY
BY
ERIC STAIR-KERR
M.A. Edin. and Oxon., F.S.A. Scot.
AUTHOR OF “SCOTLAND UNDER JAMES IV”
WITH EIGHTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS BY
HUGH ARMSTRONG CAMERON
GLASGOW
JAMES MACLEHOSE AND SONS
PUBLISHERS TO THE UNIVERSITY
1913
Stirling Castle is a many-sided subject that canbe treated in more than one way. The story ofthe castle might be dealt with in a book dividedinto sections, each one taking up a special part,such as Military History, Stirling as a RoyalPalace, Notable Visitors, etc.; but I have thoughtit better to set forth the whole of the castle’shistory in chronological order, and, after discussingthe buildings and their associations, to bringtogether the salient events connected with thethree chief Scottish strongholds, and to recordwhat the poets have said about Stirling.
With regard to dates, for the sake of simplicityI have adopted the historical computation; that isto say, the years have been reckoned as if they hadalways begun on the 1st of January and not onthe 25th of March, as was the rule in Scotlanduntil 1600. For example, the date of PrinceHenry’s birth is given as February, 1594,viiialthough the event was considered at the time tobelong to the year 1593.
I am glad to express here my thanks to myuncle, the Rev. Eric Robertson, for suggestingthat I should undertake this work, and forvaluable hints given from time to time; toMr. David B. Morris, Stirling, who has alwaysresponded most willingly to any appeal for help,and who has kindly read the proofs; and to Mr.James Hyslop, Edinburgh, for guidance in thesubject of the buildings of the castle. To theartist, Mr. Cameron, I am grateful for the whole-heartedinterest which he has taken in my part ofthe work as well as