Bannatyne Club > Papers relative to the Regalia of Scotland

3* OBSERVATIONS ON THE HISTORY
which to deposit these national treasures, than any which remained in the power of
the Lords of the Treasury. Edinburgh Castle, and all the strongholds south of the
Forth, were already in the hands of the English, so that on the 6th day of June,
1651, being the last on which the Scottish Parliament sat, they ordered the Earl
Mareshall to transport the Regalia to his castle of Dunnotter, to be kept there until
further orders.
Dunnotter Castle, the ancient baronial castle of the Mareshall family, is situated
near Stonehaven, in Eomu-shire, upon a perpendicular rock, the top of which forms a
space of several acres, walled around the verge of the precipice, and covered with
buildings. The rock projects into the German Ocean on the one side ; and on the
other is separated from the mainland by a chasm of tremendous depth, only accessible
by one very steep and narrow path, leaduig to the castle gate, which opens into a
long and intricate covered way.
The strength of Dunnotter is, however, greater in appearance than reality ; for
though impregnable before the use of artillery, the castle is now commanded from
several of the neighbouring heights.
The defence of this place was intrusted to George Ogilvy of Barras, a soldier of
experience, trained in the wars in Germany, to whom the Earl Mareshall, with the
title of Lieutenant-Governor, committed the full command of the castle and the gar-
rison, and whose appointment as such appears to have been directly sanctioned by the
King. The gan-ison amounted only to about one hundred men, a number quite in-
Mar. 31, 1661.
" The L. Mongomrie, in name of the E. IMai-cheU, asklt iustnunentis wpoun the reproductioneof
the Hononris, viz. the Crown, scepter, and sword, in face of Parliament, and protestit for exonera-
tione thairof, quhilkis were thane delyvered to the M, of Arg^-U, in name of the Commissioners of
the Thesanrarie."
In a Parliament held at Stirling on the 23d of May, 1631, at iMch the King was present,
there is the following entry,
" The Ij. M. of Argyll, for himselff and in name of the remanent Commissioneris for the Thesan-
rarie, askit instnimentis upoun the productione of the Honoui'is, tiz. the Crown, scepter, and sword,
for his and thair esoneratione, and thairnpoun askit instnimentis, Lykas thairefter the Hononris wer
by his ^Majesties and the Parliamentis ordour delp-ered to Sr Wm. Keath of Ludquhaim, in name of
the E. Maj'chell, to be keepit during this Sessione of Parliament. "
And on tiie last day of this Parliament, (June 6, 1651,) there are
'* Instnmientis takin be the E. Mai'chell, upon the production of the Honouris with his desjTe
represented to the Parliament That the same might be putt in simi pairt of securitie. His Majestic
and Parliament ordanes the said Erie of IMarchell to cans transport the saidis Honouris to the hous
of Dmmotter, tliair to be keepit by him till farther ordouris. "