Descriptive account of the principal towns in Scotland

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garrison, and affords a house for the Governor ? and
apartments for the inferior Officers.
The Castle, situated on the western extremity ot
the rock, on which the Town is built, is at least
coeval with the Town itself. In 1009 it was the
place of rendezvous of the Scotch army, during an in-
vasion of the Danes. In the twelfth century it was
one of the most important Fortresses in the king-
dom, and was one of the four strong holds given up
to the English, as part of the ransom of William the
Lion, who had been taken prisoner by them, in the
year 1174. During the usurpation of Edward the
First, it was several times taken and retaken by the
English and Scots ; in the former of whose hands it
remained for ten years, until retaken by Robert
Bruce, after the battle of Bannockburn, in 1314. It
was a short time in the possession of the English in
1333, and was lastly taken by General Monk, in the
year 1651. It was besieged by the rebels for a short
time in 1746.
Stirling is one of the Scottish Forts, which by the
articles of Union are always to be kept in repair.
There are 36 Guns mounted on the ramparts, and it
is commanded by a Governor, Deputy Governor,
Fort Major, and three Subalterns. Upon the rock
on the south-side of the Castle, is a flat enclosed
piece of gound, which was the place where the Tour*
naments were held ; and on one side is a spot of
ground, where the Ladies sat to witness the combats,
still called the Ladies' rock.
Tbeprospect from the Castle Hill is delightful, as well
as extensive ; the view to the east js particularly beau-