138 SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



two occasions it was besieged by the Scots. It passed from the earls of Douglas 

 at the memorable epoch of their forfeiture in 1455 an event to which we have 

 adverted more particularly in another part of this work. It came afterwards 

 to the earl of Bothwell, and then to the earl of Forfar, who, as already noticed, 

 fell at the battle of Sheriffmuir. It then reverted to the duke of Douglas, 

 with whose noble representative it now remains. The modern castle, which 

 commands an admirable and impressive view of these majestic ruins, is an 

 elegant and extensive pile, and embosomed in a demesne of unrivalled beauty. 

 The gateway leading to the castle is a structure of great classic taste and 

 elaborate finish, and exhibits in high relief the sculptured arms of the ancient 

 family of Douglas. 



In his visit to these localities, Blantyre Priory presents a scene which cannot 

 fail to make a lasting impression on the stranger's mind. It is built on the 

 brink of a perpendicular rock overhanging the river, opposite Bothwell Castle, 

 and dates the period of its foundation to the thirteenth century. The grounds 

 enclosing the ancient castle are tastefully laid out, and embellished with lofty 

 woods, the growth of ages, beneath the umbrageous canopy of which the 

 walks branch off in all directions. Here the moralist will probably " pause 

 when he reverts to the various incidents of history with which these noble ruins 

 are connected ; he will naturally figure to himself the pomp and grandeur which 

 pervaded them in the days of their glory, and contrast the picture with the 

 mournful silence of their now deserted halls, and mouldering turrets." All 

 these localities, independently of associations, present scenes of the most 

 exquisite natural beauty. 



Bothwell Bridge so famous in history and in fiction is well entitled to the 

 stranger's notice. Here was fought, in 1699, the battle between the covenanters 

 and the royal troops, under the duke of Monmouth. The latter were posted 

 on the north side of the river, partly on the hill and partly in the valley, 

 supported by a few field-pieces, which cannonaded the high ground on the south 

 side of the Clyde. Here stood the covenanters, who had posted a few marks- 

 men on the left side of the bridge, among some brushwood, with the intention of 

 annoying a party of the enemy's horse on the opposite bank of the river. There 

 was at that time a strong gate in the middle of the bridge, where the most 

 resolute of the covenanters took their stand, and for a considerable time resisted 

 every effort made by the king's troops to dislodge them. At last, however, 

 they were driven back, and the earl of Linlithgow charging across the bridge 

 with the dragoons, completed their discomfiture. 



Cadzow Park, the castle of which is now reduced to a mass of ruins, occupies 



