New Spalding Club > Records of Aboyne, MCCXXX - MDCLXXXI [1230-1681]

There is every reason to believe that he spent a night
in the Castle of Aboyne. In its archives he had hoped
to find — from its royal associations — some documents which
might help him to substantiate his claims against the inde-
pendence of Scotland, and this led him to carry away the
charters of Aboyne, these being afterwards deposited at
Jedburgh, and subsequently lost. Edward left a garrison in
Aboyne, and continued his journey into Moray. After a brief
stay he returned by Kildrummy, which he garrisoned and caused
to be strengthened. Dr. Burnet, the Editor of the Exclieqtter
Rolls, suggests " that what remains of Kildrummy is built of
a hewn freestone, unlike any stone of the district, and its
architectural character, resembling the Welsh castle of the
Edwardian period rather than anything else in Scotland, make
it probable that this remarkable stronghold was built during the
occupation of Scotland by Edward I." The English king spent
the night at Kinnord, crossing the Dee next morning at Dinnet,
marching through Glentanner and over the "Mounth" to Brechin
and Dundee.
The men of Moray, who were the first to solicit Edward's
interference in Scots affairs, repented by the summer of 1297,
and rose in arms against those who held office under him.
Aberdeenshire was in rebellion at the same time, but the rising
was suppressed by Gratney, Earl of Mar, who, on nth June
1297, received the thanks of the English king for his services.
The insurrection in Morayshire became a formidable affair, for
Andrew de Moray, who had been taken prisoner at Dunbar in
1296, escaped from his confinement at Chester and led his
father's vassals against the Castle of Urquhart, which was
relieved by the advance of an army sent by the Countess of
Ross. The struggle grew in proportions under the heroic
leadership of Sir William Wallace, and although the lands of
the Comyns of Buchan and others in Coull and Lumphanan