Descriptive account of the principal towns in Scotland

342
withstood all the efforts of Cromwell, and at last made
an honourable surrender. It was built during the
contest between Bruce and Baliol, by an ancestor of
the Marischal family ; and so great was its reputation
lor strengh and security, that in 1651, it was made
the depository of the Regalia of Scotland, to secure
them from the English army. In the summer of
1685, a body of non-conforming Presbyterians, were
confined in a vault of this Castle, (still known as the
" Whig's Vault,") in consequence of which, a number
of them died, and two who attempted their escape by
the window, fell over the precipice, and were dashed
to pieces. A stone in the church-yard of Dunnottar
marks the place of interment, both of those who died
in captivity, and of the unfortunate individuals who
^perished in the " forlorn hope" of effecting their libe-
ration,*
The Market-day is Thursday, and particularly for
cattle, and grain, on the Thursdays from Martinmas
" The Grave Stone above alluded to, has recently acquired addi-
tional interest, from its having been, above thirty years ago, the
scene of a rencountre between Sir Walter Scott, and that remarka-
ble character, now so familiarly and widely known, under the name
ol "Old Mortality." This circumstance is mentioned by the great
Novelist himself, in his preface to the Chronicles of the Candidate,
in the following words. «' It was Mr Train who recalled to my
" recollection the history of Old Mortality, although I myself had
" a personal interview with that celebrated wanderer, so far back as
" about 1792, when I found him on his usual task. He was engag.
*• ed in repairing the grave stqnes of the covenanters, who had died
•• while imprisoned in the Castle of Dunnottar, to which many of
" them were committed prisoners at the period of Argyle's rising,
«* Their place of confinement is still called the Whig's Vault."