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stormcrows-blog · 7 years ago

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Murdered Person John MacMorran

Date of murder 15th September 1595,

Place of murder Royal High School Edinburgh,

Person accused of the murder William St Clair,

Edinburgh Royal High School at Blackfriars,

Like any normal school today children enjoy all the time off they can get from school. Sometimes though we can think they get to much time off school. But think back to the schools of old. Here in the city of Edinburgh’s Royal High school, the children were only allowed 5 days off a year, and that was in May. So as you can imagine they were never to happy about this. It was often the part that during the year the children would ask for more days off. This was always turned down by the headmasters of the school.

Until they got to September 1595. The children were by now fed up of the school, and had taken time off during the year without permission. This was to the great pains of the new headmaster Hercules Rollock who had brought the school back under control.

A number of boy’s went to him on September 12th 1595. They asked for one week off. Rollock turned around and said no, their time would be better spent in class. This did not go down well with the said boy’s.

Next morning the teachers were met by the boy’s having taken over the school that night. They had formed a barricade so the teachers could not get into class, or any part of the school.

After successive attempts at negotiation in search of a peaceful reconciliation had failed, the headmaster called in the municipal authorities on the 15th September 1595. It had taken them three days before they called the authorities in. This may have been to protect the school, or the headmasters reputation. After all the school children had got themselves weapons. As a report of the day said,

“tuik the scooll, and provydit thauaeselfis with meit, drink, and hagbutis, pistolit and sword.” They were mostly ‘gentilmenis bairnis’ as it was said at the time. So the headmaster may not have wished for trouble hence why he took so long.

John MacMorran, one of the Baillies or magistrates, then arrived at the head of a party of men to force an entrance.

John MacMorran was a merchant involved in shipping, with shares in nine ships worth over £4,000 at his death, and had exported one cargo of wax and salmon worth £3,928, large amounts at the time, indicating he was one of wealthiest merchants in Edinburgh. MacMorran had been a servant of Regent Morton in the 1570s, and it was said that he helped conceal the former Regent's treasure. The townspeople also complained that he had exported grain to Spain (a Catholic country) in times of dearth. He built a large house in Edinburgh which still survives, now known as Riddle's Court. A carved window frame with shutters from the MacMorran house is displayed at Edinburgh's Huntly House museum.

MacMorran called out to the children in the school to give themselves up. Needless to say this was met by shouts from the school that they were not willing to do this. Each shout more brave than the last shout. Until a voice from inside shouted that anyone who dared near the door into the school would be shot.

MacMorran ordered his men to grab a long peace of wood to use as a battering ram. They then ran towards the school MacMorran at the front.

At that point from inside the school a shot rang out, and MacMorran fell dead. He had been shot in the head by one of the boy’s from inside the school.

From inside the school screams rang out, some of the boy’s ran out of the main door over their own barricade. MacMorrans men wasted no time they made 13 arrests. However 5 of those arrested were let go before being taken to the Tollbooth. They had given names of the 7 leaders, they were,

William St Clair “son to Williame Sinklar chansler of Catnes (Caithness).”

George Murray, son to Murray of Spainziedaill,

Robert Hoppringle, son to the gudeman of Quhytebank,

Andro Douglas, son to George Douglas, associated to the Laird of Cesfurde,

Raguel Bennett, son to the ‘umquhile’ (former) Mungo Bennett in Chasteris,

Adair, son to Adair of Kinhilt,

Kirktoun, son to Kirktoun of the Tour,

Malcolme Cokburne.

Lord Home made representations for one English culprit, the son of one Richard Foster, who was the first prisoner to be released. The English diplomat George Nicholson heard the town would benefit by raising contributions for building churches from the boys' supporters. The rest were released soon after James Pringle of Whytbank (who lived at Moubray House), made a plea on their behalf to the Privy Council late in November. Eventually young William St Clair and all the others were released without penalty.

William St Clair was only 13 years old when he murdered John MacMorran in 1595. He got off with murder due in part to who his family were. A mere five years after the riot, William St Clair obtained a remission under the Great Seal for the killing of Baillie John MacMorran. He was later knighted Sir William St Clair of Mey by James VI in 1600.

Apart from Baillie Macmorran, the other unfortunate victim of the affair was the headmaster, Rollock, who suffered the loss of his reputation and the patronage of the town council. In his view, in the eleven years of his stewardship, he had turned around the fortunes of the school, but whatever standing it had risen to whilst under his control, it wasn’t sufficient to render it immune to the fallout from the ‘riot’. The King expelled the rioters and many parents withdrew their sons, perhaps fearing a recurrence or similar outrage. The result was a decline in class numbers, leading to a fall in income. The final ignominy came when the council accused Rollock of mismanagement and an inability to maintain proper discipline, the outcome of which was his dismissal. He was unsuccessful in suing the council for damages and believed ‘the excellence of his instructions’ to have been singularly unappreciated. In Rollock’s own words, the school soon descended “into the barbarism from which he recovered it” in the years after his tenure. After he died in January, 1599, the council, perhaps with a guilty conscience, awarded his widow an income from the interest on the sum of five hundred merks.

John MacMorran’s house and contents, and his business, passed to his brother Ninian, to administer for John's children and his widow Katherine Hutcheson. In March 1598 two banquets were held in the house for Ulrik, the younger brother of Anne of Denmark King James VI wife. King James VI was also at the banquets along with other notable guests.

Used in the 19th century by the educationalist and polymath Patrick Geddes, the house is now cared for by the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust, and in part used by the Worker's Educational Association. The building is also home to the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland.

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stormcrows-blog · 7 years ago

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Some of the many ghost stories of the Scottish Borders

HAUNTED ATHELSTANEFORD;

Horseman

Location: Athelstaneford - Ridge behind village

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: Unknown

Further Comments: This raggedy horseman is thought to be a remnant from the battle between Picts and Angles in 832.

St Andrew's Cross

Location: Athelstaneford - Skies over the village

Type: Legend

Date / Time: Unknown

Further Comments: This area may be the place where King Hungus saw the cross of St Andrew in the sky, and took it as a sign of impending victory over the English - he ordered all his men to paint the symbol on their shields, and the fight was won the following day.

HAUNTED ROSLIN;

White Lady

Location: Roslin - Area around Rosslyn (or Roslin) Castle

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: Unknown

Further Comments: The white lady is one of three phantoms to haunt this area, the other two being a phantom horseman and a ghostly black dog.

Pet Dog

Location: Roslin - Roslin Castle

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: Unknown

Further Comments: The pet dog of an English officer killed during a battle at the site can be heard crying out for its master.

Stone Worker

Location: Roslin - Rosslyn Chapel

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: Stone worker unknown, fairy in 2006

Further Comments: This stone worker was so skilful that his master killed him in a jealous rage. Now the spirit of the worker looks longingly at his own handiwork, the Apprentice Pillar. More recently actors rehearsing at the chapel reported seeing a fairy-like figure in the grounds. As a side note, at least one contemporary author believes that the Ark of the Covenant could rest here, while others believe the holy grounds are the hiding place of the Holy Grail. Sometimes the chapel is reported to glow, as if on fire.

Lost Child

Location: Stenton - Whittingehame Castle (ruins of)

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: Unknown

Further Comments: The area surrounding the castle was once thought haunted by a young child. The ghost is said to have vanished when one of the locals gave it the name of 'Short-Hoggers'!

Former Keeper

Location: The Bass Rock (island) - Lighthouse

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: Unknown

Further Comments: Unmanned since 1988, the lighthouse is said to be home to a phantom former lighthouse keeper who checks the light is burning.

HAUNTED NEWBATTLE;

Margaret Heron of Gilmerton

Location: Newbattle - Abbey and surrounding area

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: Unknown

Further Comments: Taking the form of a grey lady, this phantom is said to be Margaret Heron of Gilmerton, who was murdered along with her secret monk lover by her outraged father.

HAUNTED NORTH BERWICK;

Tobacco

Location: North Berwick - East Fortune Airfield (museum)

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: 2000s

Further Comments: The smell of tobacco is said to fill the air in the top hanger, even though no smokers are present. Mild poltergeist activity is reported, and occasionally a phantom man is seen wearing dark coveralls.

Meeting Place

Location: North Berwick - Old Kirk

Type: Other

Date / Time: Still present

Further Comments: The porch of the Old Kirk is one of the locations where the Devil is said to have met with a group of witches, who later tried to kill King James IV.

White Woman

Location: North Berwick - Private residence, Glenorchy Road

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: Not given

Further Comments: The staircase of this property is reputedly haunted by a benign white feminine spirit. The house may have been built over the graveyard of a nunnery.

Figure in Ruff

Location: North Berwick - Tantallon Castle

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: May 2008 (Wiseman image taken), circa 1978 (earlier image)

Further Comments: A photograph released in March 2009 by Richard Wiseman purports to show a ghostly man wearing a ruff. Another photograph was released a few days later, taken thirty years previous, showing another ghostly figure.

White Lady

Location: North Berwick - The Lodge (aka North Berwick House)

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: Unknown

Further Comments: A phantom white lady reputedly walks this area, as does a hooded figure said to be a former pageboy who was murdered in London.

Nun

Location: North Berwick - Trainer's Brae

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: Unknown

Further Comments: The site of a convent, this area is reputed to be home to a ghostly nun.

HAUNTED MAYBOLE;

Secret Meeting

Location: Maybole - Coves of Culzean

Type: Fairy

Date / Time: 31 October (reoccurring)

Further Comments: The little people are reported to gather here once a year for secret planning sessions.

Monks

Location: Maybole - Crossraguel Abbey

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: Unknown

Further Comments: Former monks who once worshiped at the abbey still walk amongst the ruins.

Piper

Location: Maybole - Culzean Castle

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: Unknown

Further Comments: Heard above the rising gale on windy nights, the musical notes of this long dead piper still haunt the castle. The cries of someone being tortured have also been recorded, while another witness reported talking to a raven haired lass who vanished as he moved too

close.

HAUNTED ETTRICK;

Poor Curse

Location: Ettrick - Ettrick Hall (no longer standing, was located top of Ettrick Water)

Type: Curse

Date / Time: 1700 onwards

Further Comments: Legend has it that James Anderson demolished several cottages in order to clear space for the construction of the hall. Left homeless and penniless, the villagers cursed the building, saying that the structure would not stand for long. Indeed, all trace of the hall has long been removed.

Shellycoat

Location: Ettrick Waters - River

Type: Fairy

Date / Time: Unknown

Further Comments: Shellycoat was the name given to a playful water spirit which dressed in a shell covered jacket. He normally carried out his antics while hiding in the river, trying to lure the gullible forever closer to the cold waters.

Capybara

Location: Eyemouth - A1, south of town

Type: Cryptozoology

Date / Time: July 2006 and June 2009

Further Comments: This large rodent, not native to the UK, was spotted in 2006, sitting in the middle of the A1. Another creature, or possibly the same one, was spotted three years later at Reston.

HAUNTED GALASHIELS;

Hounds

Location: Galashiels - Buckholm Tower

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: June (reoccurring)

Further Comments: Heard chasing the soul of the evil Laird of Buckholm on the anniversary of his death, these hounds are reported to normally walk the dungeon located within the tower.

Raining Worms

Location: Galashiels - Galashiels Academy

Type: Other

Date / Time: April 2011

Further Comments: Dozens of worms rained down from a cloudless sky resulting in a class and their teacher running for cover. Around 120 worms were recovered from an artificial football pitch and tennis courts after the incident.

HAUNTED HAWICK;

William of Soulis

Location: Hawick - Hermitage Castle

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: Every seven years, last heard 1885 (exact date unknown) (reoccurring)

Further Comments: Murdered by peasants who had grown tired of his wicked ways, William now returns to rendezvous with a wizard deep under the castle ruins. It is said a phantom Mary Queen of Scots haunts the building, though there is no evidence she ever visited. Another entity is also reported here - starved to death in the dungeon, the ghost of Sir Alex Ramsey now walks the castle grounds. Some believe there is hidden treasure under the ruins of the castle, but the Devil watches over it - when people have tried to dig for the hoard in the past, violent storms have driven them away.

HAUNTED JEDBURGH;

Green Lady

Location: Jedburgh - Ferniehirst Castle

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: Unknown

Further Comments: This jade coloured figure has been observed in the large house.

Hooded Gatecrasher

Location: Jedburgh - Jedburgh Castle (original building no longer standing, replaced by Jedburgh Castle Jail))

Type: Unknown Ghost Type

Date / Time: October 1285

Further Comments: While in the middle of his wedding celebrations an unknown hooded figure appeared - as the dozens of guests and entertainers stopped and looked at him, it grew apparent his face was that of a skull. The figure then vanished, leaving many startled people behind. Some people maintain the building is still haunted, though little supports this.

HAUNTED KELSO;

James II

Location: Kelso - Roxburgh Castle

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: Unknown

Further Comments: James II was killed storming the castle, and it is reportedly his ghost on horseback that still charges around the area.

HAUNTED MELROSE;

Sir Walter Scott

Location: Melrose - Abbotsford House

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: Unknown

Further Comments: Scott, the Romantic author, can sometimes be seen as he gazes out of the dining room window onto his former lands beyond. In turn, Scott is said to have claimed that the house was haunted by George Bullock, his former assistant

Fairy Queen

Location: Melrose - Eildon Hills

Type: Fairy

Date / Time: Unknown

Further Comments: The fairy queen kidnapped the Scottish hero Thomas the Rhymer in this area, returning him from the fairy kingdom in the same place seven (or three) years later. Thomas is reported to still live under the hills, preparing for the day his country needs him once more. The latter part of the same tale is also said about King Arthur.

Footsteps

Location: Melrose - George And Abbotsford Hotel

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: Twentieth century

Further Comments: Guests in bedrooms on the top floor have reported hearing footsteps above them, even though there is nothing further up.

Evil Monk

Location: Melrose - Melrose Abbey

Type: Vampire

Date / Time: Circa twelfth century?

Further Comments: An evil monk returned from the dead as a vampire, leaving his grave at Melrose Abbey to feed at a local nunnery. When the other monks discovered this, the bravest stayed up one night with a large axe, and when the vampire climbed out of its tomb, it was beheaded. The vampire's evil presence still remains in the abbey. The building is also the final resting place of Michael Scot, a great wizard who discovered the secret of flying, and was locally named as single handedly building Hadrian's Wall.

HAUNTED PEEBLES;

Sighing

Location: Peebles - Castle Venlaw Hotel

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: 1960s

Further Comments: The sounds of sighing have been reported from one bedroom here - it is thought to be the sound of a guest who leapt from the window in a suicide bid.

Marion Ritchie

Location: Peebles - Cross Keys Hotel

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: 1970s

Further Comments: This ghost could be mistaken for a typical public house poltergeist, though she also likes to talk to guests at the establishment. Room 5 is said to be particularly active.

White Woman

Location: Peebles - Neidpath Castle

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: Unknown

Further Comments: This pale creature flitters around the building, having died of a broken heart.

Isabelle

Location: Peebles - Tibbie Shiel's Inn

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: 1999

Further Comments: Determined never to let the business that she started fail, the spirit of Isabelle 'Tibbie' Shiel haunts her inn, sometimes startling guests with her sudden appearances.

HAUNTED RIVER TWEED;

Human Sacrifice

Location: River Tweed - Waters of the river

Type: Legend

Date / Time: Once a year

Further Comments: It is said that once a year the water monster hiding here demanded a single human sacrifice to prevent it from terrorising the local neighbourhood.

HAUNTED SELKIRK;

Grey Dog

Location: Selkirk - B7009 between town and Langholm

Type: Shuck

Date / Time: Unknown

Further Comments: This phantom dog, slightly larger than a collie and in dire need of a groom, walks silently along this road at dawn and dusk.

Whispers

Location: Selkirk - Marshland east of the town

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: Unknown

Further Comments: A local story says that the swamp has taken at least three lives, and is always on the lookout for more. The dead can be heard talking in hushed tones around the waters.

Murdered Women

Location: Selkirk - Newark Castle

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: 13 September (reoccurring)

Further Comments: The castle is said to contain the souls of the women and children murdered by brutal soldiers at the site, who are heard once a year.

Presence

Location: Selkirk - Private residence, Chapel Street

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: 1958 - 1973

Further Comments: A woman living here tolerated a presence which she felt 'observing' her for many years.

Dead Man's Shoes

Location: Selkirk - Shoemakers (no longer standing) and unknown churchyard

Type: Other

Date / Time: Unknown

Further Comments: A shoemaker in the town once made a pair of shoes for a stranger donned in a black cape. As the mystery man paid, the shoemaker noticed maggots in the purse, and decided to follow him. The figure walked into the local churchyard and vanished into a grave. The shoemaker returned later with some friends and dug the grave up, discovering a rotting corpse wearing a brand new pair of shoes...

HAUNTED ST BOSWELLS;

Preacher

Location: St Boswells - Dryburgh Abbey Hotel (particularly room 216), and general area

Type: Haunting Manifestation

Date / Time: 1900s

Further Comments: Dressed in black clothing, this clergyman was seen several times during the early nineteenth century. He was killed after it was discovered that he and the Lady of the Manor were engaged in a questionable relationship, and it is reported that she took her own life after discovering the preacher's death. She now takes the form of a grey lady seen in the hotel. More recently (?), plainchant has been reported from the former abbey.

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stormcrows-blog · 7 years ago

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Pick up your early bird ticket for next years tours and get a two for one deal on all listed tours. Witches of Edinburgh, Tales of the Supernatural, Murder in Edinburgh. See event for booking information https://www.facebook.com/events/1239850186160030/

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stormcrows-blog · 10 years ago

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Kings of Scotland

Flodden Wall; 1473-1513 KING JAMES 4TH, Born 1473 Place of birth, stirling Mum Margart Tudor (Henry 7th daughter), Dad King James 3rd James was the son of James III and Margaret of Denmark, probably born in Stirling Castle. As heir apparent to the Scottish crown, he became Duke of Rothesay. In 1474, his father arranged his betrothal to Princess Cecily of England. His father was not a popular king and faced two major rebellions during his reign. The marriage negotiations and dowry payments led to the invasion of Scotland and capture of Berwick in 1482 by his uncle Alexander, Duke of Albany and Richard, Duke of Gloucester while James remained at Stirling. James III's army rebelled against him and the English army reached Edinburgh.

During the second rebellion, the rebels set up the 15-year-old James as their nominal leader. His father was killed fighting rebels at the Battle of Sauchieburn on 11 June 1488, and James took the throne and was crowned at Scone on 24 June. When he realised the indirect role which he had played in the death of his father, he decided to do penance for his sin. From that date on, he wore a heavy iron chain cilice around his waist, next to the skin, each Lent as penance, adding every year extra ounces.

James IV ordered the Kirk of Steill to be built in 1500, for the Christian Jubilee, and to commemorate his rescue from the nearby river Tweed James IV quickly proved to be an effective ruler. He defeated another rebellion in 1489, took a direct interest in the administration of justice and finally brought the Lord of the Isles under control in 1493. For a time, he supported Perkin Warbeck, pretender to the English throne, and carried out a brief invasion of England on his behalf in September 1496. Then, in August 1497, James laid siege to Norham Castle, using his grandfather's bombard Mons Meg.

James recognized nonetheless that peace between Scotland and England was in the interest of both countries, and established good diplomatic relations with England, which was at that time emerging from a period of civil war. First he ratified the Treaty of Ayton in February 1498. Then, in 1502 James signed the Treaty of Perpetual Peace with Henry VII. He also maintained his relations with France. With rumours that James would renew the auld alliance, in April 1508 Thomas Wolsey was sent to discuss Henry VII's concerns over this. Wolsey found "there was never a man worse welcome into Scotland than I, ... they keep their matters so secret here that the wives in the market know every cause of my coming."

James saw the importance in building a fleet that could provide Scotland with a strong maritime presence. James founded two new dockyards for the purpose and acquired a total of 38 ships for the Royal Scots Navy, including the Margaret, and the carrack Michael or Great Michael. The latter, built at great expense at Newhaven and launched in 1511, was 240 feet (73 m) in length, weighed 1,000 tons and was, at that time, the largest ship in Europe.

James IV was a true Renaissance prince with an interest in practical and scientific matters. He granted the Incorporation of Surgeons and Barbers of Edinburgh (later the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh) a royal charter in 1506, turned Edinburgh Castle into one of Scotland's foremost gun foundries, and welcomed the establishment of Scotland's first printing press in 1507. He built a part of Falkland Palace, Great Halls at Stirling and Edinburgh castles, and furnished his palaces with tapestries. James was a patron of the arts, including many literary figures, most notably the Scots makars whose diverse and socially observant works convey a vibrant and memorable picture of cultural life and intellectual concerns in the period. Figures associated with his court include William Dunbar, Walter Kennedy and Gavin Douglas, who made the first complete translation of Virgil's Aeneid in northern Europe. His reign also saw the passing of the makar Robert Henryson.

James was well educated and a fluent in multiple languages. In July 1498 the Spanish envoy Pedro de Ayala reported to Ferdinand and Isabella that; The King is 25 years and some months old. He is of noble stature, neither tall nor short, and as handsome in complexion and shape as a man can be. His address is very agreeable. He speaks the following foreign languages ; Latin, very well ; French, German, Flemish, Italian, and Spanish ; Spanish as well as the Marquis, but he pronounces it more distinctly. He likes, very much, to receive Spanish letters. His own Scots language is as different from English as Aragonese from Castilian. The King speaks, besides, the language of the savages who live in some parts of Scotland and on the islands. It is as different from Scots as Biscayan is from Castilian. His knowledge of languages is wonderful. He is well read in the Bible and in some other devout books. He is a good historian. He has read many Latin and French histories, and profited by them, as he has a very good memory. He never cuts his hair or his beard. It becomes him very well.

James IV was the last King of Scots known to have spoken Scottish Gaelic. James is one of the rulers reported to have conducted a language deprivation experiment, sending two children to be raised by a mute woman alone on the island of Inchkeith, to determine if language was learned or innate. At Stirling Castle, James maintained an alchemical workshop with a furnace of the quintessence. The project consumed quantities of quick-silver, golden litharge, and tin. It was said that one of his alchemists Father Damian attempted to fly from Stirling Castle.

In May 1493 John MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, was forfeited by the Parliament of Scotland. King James himself sailed to Dunstaffnage Castle, where the western chiefs made their submission to him. John surrendered and was brought back as a pensioner to the royal court, then lived at Paisley Abbey. The Highlands and Islands now fell to direct royal control. John's grandson Domhnall Dubh (Donald Owre), one of the possible claimants to the Lordship was peaceable, but the other, his nephew Alexander MacDonald of Lochalsh invaded Ross and was later killed on the island of Oronsay in 1497.

In October 1496 the Royal Council ordered that the Clan Chiefs in the region would be held responsible by the king for crimes of the islanders. This act for the governance of the region was unworkable, and after the Act of Revocation of 1498 undermined the Chief's titles to their lands, resistance to Edinburgh rule was strengthened. James waited at Kilkerran Castle at Campbeltown Loch to re-grant the Chief's charters in the summer of 1498. Few of the Chiefs turned up. At first, Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll, was set to fill the power vacuum and enforce royal authority, but he met with limited success in a struggle with his brother inlaw, Torquil MacLeod of Lewis. Torquil was ordered to hand over Donald Dubh, heir to the lordship of the Isles, to James IV at Inverness in 1501. James waited, but Torquil never came.

After this defiance, Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly, was granted Torquil's lands. He raised an army in Lochaber and also cleared the tenants of that area, replacing them with his supporters. After the parliament of 1504, a royal fleet sailed north from Ayr to attack the Castle of Cairn-na-Burgh, west of Mull, where, it is thought, Maclean of Duart had Donald Dubh in his keeping. As progress at the siege was slow, James sent Hans the royal gunner in Robert Barton's ship and then the Earl of Arran with provisions and more artillery. Cairn-na-Burgh was captured by June 1504 but Donald Dubh remained at liberty. In September 1507, Torquil MacLeod was besieged at Stornoway Castle on Lewis. Donald Dubh was captured and kept in prison for the rest of life, and Torquil MacLeod died in exile in 1511. The Earl of Huntly was richly rewarded for his troubles, a price that James was prepared to pay

When war broke out between England and France as a result of the Italian Wars, James found himself in a difficult position as an ally by treaty both to France and England. Henry VIII of England invaded France, and James reacted by declaring war on England. Pope Leo X sent a letter to James threatening him with ecclesiatical censure for breaking peace treaties on 28 June 1513, and subsequently James was excommunicated by Cardinal Christopher Bainbridge. James summoned sailors and sent the Scottish navy, including the Great Michael to join the ships of Louis XII of France, so joining in the war of the League of Cambrai. Hoping to take advantage of Henry's absence at the siege of Thérouanne, he led an invading army southward into Northumbria, only to be killed, with many of his nobles and common soldiers, at the disastrous Battle of Flodden on 9 September 1513.

Both English and Scottish accounts of Flodden emphasise the King's determination to fight. In his otherwise flattering portrait of James, Pedro de Ayala had cast doubt on James's ability as a military commander, portraying him as impetuous on the battlefield and prone to foolhardiness; "He is courageous, even more so than a king should be. I am a good witness of it. I have seen him often undertake most dangerous things in the last wars. On such occasions he does not take the least care of himself. He is not a good captain, because he begins to fight before he has given his orders. He said to me that his subjects serve him with their persons and goods, in just and unjust quarrels, exactly as he likes, and that therefore he does not think it right to begin any warlike undertaking without being himself the first in danger. His deeds are as good as his words."

A body, thought to be that of James, was recovered from the battlefield and taken to London for burial. James had been excommunicated, and although Henry VIII had obtained a breve from the Pope on 29 November 1513 to have the King buried in consecrated ground at St. Pauls, the embalmed body lay unburied for many years at Sheen Priory in Surrey. The body was lost after the Reformation, which led to the demolition of the priory. John Stow claimed to have seen it, and said the king's head (with red hair) was removed by a glazier and eventually buried at St Michael Wood Street. The church was later demolished and the site redeveloped many times; it is now occupied by a pub. James's bloodstained coat was sent to Henry VIII (then on campaign in France) by his queen, Catherine of Aragon. Erasmus provided an epitaph for the King in his Adagia. Later, in 1533, he wrote to James V of Scotland pointing out this essay on duty under the adage Spartam nactus es, (You who were born to Sparta shall serve her), on the subject of the Flodden campaign and the death of James and his son, Alexander.

However rumours persisted for many years that James had survived and had gone into exile, or his body was buried in Scotland, with no evidence to support them. Two castles in the Scottish Borders are claimed to be the real resting place of James. These stories follow the legend that, prior to the Scots charge at Flodden, James had ripped off his royal surcoat to show his nobles that he was prepared to fight as an ordinary man at arms. The body recovered by the English did not have the iron chain round its waist. (So some historians claimed he removed his chain while dallying in Lady Heron's bedroom.) However, Border legend claimed that during the battle of Flodden four Home horsemen or supernatural riders swept across the field snatching up the King's body as such a prize could not be allowed to fall into English hands after such a humiliating defeat, or that the King left the field alive and was killed soon after. In the 18th century when the medieval well of Hume Castle was being cleared the skeleton of a man with a chain round his waist was discovered in a side cave. Unfortunately this skeleton has since disappeared. Another version of this tale has the skeleton discovered at Hume a few years after the battle and re-interred at Holyrood Abbey. Exactly the same story was told for Roxburgh Castle, the skeleton there discovered in the 17th century. Yet another tradition is the discovery of the royal body at Berry Moss, near Kelso. Fuelling these legends, Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie writing in the 1570s claimed that a convicted criminal offered to show Regent Albany the King's grave ten years after the battle, but Albany refused.

His early betrothal to Cecily of England came to nothing, but interest in an English marriage remained. In a ceremony at the altar of Glasgow Cathedral on 10 December 1502, James confirmed the Treaty of Perpetual Peace with Henry VII of England. By this treaty James married Henry's daughter Margaret Tudor. After a wedding by proxy in London, the marriage was confirmed in person on 8 August 1503 at Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh. Their wedding was commemorated by the gift of a Book of Hours.

The union produced four children plus two stillbirths: James, Duke of Rothesay (21 February 1507, Holyrood Palace – 27 February 1508, Stirling Castle) A stillborn daughter at Holyrood Palace on 15 July 1508. Arthur, Duke of Rothesay (20 October 1509, Holyrood Palace – Edinburgh Castle, 14 July 1510). James V (Linlithgow Palace, 15 April 1512 – Falkland Palace, Fife, 14 December 1542), the only one to reach adulthood, and the successor of his father. A second stillborn daughter at Holyrood Palace in November 1512. Alexander, Duke of Ross (Stirling Castle, 30 April 1514 – Stirling Castle, 18 December 1515), born after James's death.

James also had eight illegitimate children with four different mistresses: with Marion Boyd: Alexander (c. 1493 – Battle of Flodden Field, 9 September 1513), Archbishop of St Andrews. James Stewart (c. 1494 - died young) Catherine Stewart(c. 1495 – 1554), who married James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Morton.

with Margaret Drummond: Margaret Stewart (born around 1497), married firstly John Gordon, Lord Gordon and secondly Sir John Drummond.

with Janet Kennedy: James (before 1499–1544), created Earl of Moray. Margaret, died in infancy. Jane, died in infancy.

with Isabel Stewart, daughter of James Stewart, 1st Earl of Buchan: Lady Janet Stewart (17 July 1502 – 20 February 1562).

After the Defeat Edinburgh thought the English would come, they set about building a wall 23 feet high and 5 feet thick in places this wall was to go all around the city. the only small part is this the wall was started in 1513 not finished until 1560 47yrs to build the wall or as we like to say same contractors built the wall are now building the trams. Once finished the wall covered an area of 147 hectors of land. if it was never used for defence what was it used for easy to control those that lived inside the wall by tollbooths. Scotland has had problems with Kings and Queens they have been very young or very old the youngest recorded King to be crowned on the stone. Is Alexander 3rd.

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stormcrows-blog · 10 years ago

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Strange Tales of Edinburgh

1742-1788 WILLIAM BRODIE (DEACON BRODIE), William Brodie (28 September 1741 – 1 October 1788), more commonly known by his prestigious title of Deacon Brodie, was a Scottish cabinet-maker, deacon of a trades guild and Edinburgh city councillor, who maintained a secret life as a burglar, partly for the thrill, and partly to fund his gambling Deacon William Brodie was a very respectable citizen of the old town of Edinburgh, by day a cabinet maker, the top of his profession. When his father died in 1780, he inherited the family business, the home in Brodies Close and £10,000. A sum that should have set him up for life. But he had some bad habits: He used to drink, and gamble and he had not one, but two mistresses. This life style took quite a lot of his money. So by night he used to rob the houses and businesses in the area.

Brodie became a burglar and thief. He used his daytime job as a way to gain knowledge about the security mechanisms of his clients and to copy their keys using wax impressions. As the foremost wright of the city, Brodie was asked to work in the homes of many of the richest members of Edinburgh society. It was not hard for him to find the opportunity: As a cabinet maker he would often go to people's houses to measure up in order to make a cabinet. In those days people used to keep their keys on a latch on the back of the door. He would wait until their attention was distracted and would make an impression of the keys in a piece of putty. He would then give it to his locksmith accomplice George Smith who would make a duplicate set of keys. He used the illicit money to maintain his second life, including five children, two mistresses who did not know of each other, and a gambling habit. He reputedly began his criminal career around 1768 when he copied keys to a bank door and stole £800. Late night robberies became common place in the old town of Edinburgh and of course no one suspected the respectable Deacon. But his ambitions grew and he decided to rob the excise office. However Deacon Brodie was recognised and fled from the scene, but he was eventually caught and sentenced to hang. In 1788 along with Smith. He enlisted the aid of yet two more burglars John Brown and Andrew Ainslie and on the 5th day of March, 1788 they struck. There is different stories as to what happened that night, so we may never know the real story that took place. below we shall give you one of the stories we like.

Always inventive he even now tried to cheat justice. He employed a surgeon to insert a metal pipe inside his throat, the idea was that his wind pipe would not be crushed as the rope tightened around his neck. When his body was cut down his friends rushed him to the surgeon. His plan failed however, they could not revive him, he was dead. Ironically the very gallows that he had designed had sealed his fate.

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stormcrows-blog · 10 years ago

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History of Scotland Short Tale

945 GIFT OF CUMBRIA TO SCOTLAND, In 945 AD a norse King Dunmail ruled what is now Strathclyde and most of the area down to the English border. A saxon King Edmund asked if the King of Scotland Malcolm 1st would join forces to rid not only Scotland but part of England as well of the norse King, Both Kings entered in to an aliance to help each other by land and sea. It was more benefit to the King of Scotland than to the King of England this was the chance for King Malcolm to raise more land, money and power from the defeat of Dunmail as he hoped Strathclyde would fall in to his hands. Dunmail raise was the site of the battle, it was King Edmund himself is said to have killed Dunmail in the battle, King Edmund is said to have removed the crown from Dunmails head and thrown it in to Grisdale Tarn on Helvellyn Range, To this day the crown has not been found. Legend now has it that the finder of the crown of Dunmail will rule as before over Strathcldye and Cumbria.

1018 THE BATTLE OF CARHAM, ( LOTHIANS ), King Malcolm 2nd thought to extend the lands in the south, as in 1018 the last King but all but name of Strathcldye died Owen, King Malcolm had engineered his granson Duncan son of Crinan abbot of Dunkeld to rule Strathclyde there by bring once and for all Strathcldye under one main King the king of Scots, Strathclyde was now dependent on Scotland for all it's support and for money. With this done King Malcolm now had his sites on more land for this he turned south to the lands over the river forth. With new crossing and making it easyer to move from north to south by going through Strathcylde he rasied an army and marched south to a place called Coldstream on the border of England There he moved just across the border to a place called Carham, there with his army he won and the lothians fell in to Scotlands hands. However this was not to last for very long In 1031 King Canute of England invade Scotalnd in defeat he got King Malcolm to sue for peace in doing so King Canute got King Malcolm to sue for fedudal superiority and the ancient law of tanistry by which a system of alternate successions had ensured no leap frogging of rulers to the crown. King Malcolm fixed this by killing the heir to the crown from the house of Kenneth. When King Malcolm died in 1034, he was succeeded to the crown by his grandson king Duncan.

1237 TREATY OF YORK, In 1237 the treaty of York was signed in Newcastle, the Scots gave up the rights to Northumbria and Cumbria on condition that they did pay homage to the English Kings this was latter used by King Edward the 1st to try and rule over Scotalnd. Alexander 2nd and King Herny met at Newcastle to sign the treaty King Alexander gave up Scotlands rights to the lands in the south by taking lands in the north everything north of the river Tweed was to be Scottish everything else was handed back to the English King.

1263 THE BATTLE OF LARGS, Some 14 years later King Alexander 3rd met the King of Norway (Haakon) plus the Earl of Orkney who was helping the King of Norway, plus other Hebridean chieftains at Largs. Alexander 3rd defeated them and moved on the Islands after 2nd October 1263 Alexander was now King of the Islands and the Isle of Man, at which point he became overlord.

1266 THE END OF THE NORWEGIANS, In 1266 Norway gave up it's rights on Scottish land it held all apart from Orkney and Shetland, Scotland was now one country ruled by one King only it became known as the Treaty of Perth.

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