ROYAL PROCESSION TO THE CASTLE. 131 



was escorted by the aixhcrs, and the earls of Hopetoun, Elgin, and Errol — the 

 latter as high-constable — and the commander of the forces, Sir Thomas Bradford. 

 On arriving at the gate of the castle, the king was received according to ancient 

 form ; the Marchmont herald, with the trumpeters who preceded him, announcing 

 his Majesty's approach and the presentation of the keys b}^ the governor. In a few 

 minutes after, the king appeared on the battlements. The day had been sullen, 

 and it had now grown wild and gusty — but sunshine might have made the spectacle 

 less magnificent. All before the eye was the tossing of plumes and the bowing 

 of standards, which, in that lofty and exposed situation, could scarcely be held 

 in the hands of the bearers ; troops massed under cloaks of every hue, long lines 

 and groups of scarlet, and blue, and tartan. But the noblest sight was the 

 castle, with its ranges of wall and embrasure from the ground, crowded with 

 the garrison ; and, above all, on the brow of the highest battery, stood the king, 

 alone ! " The moment of his appearance was sublime : he was hailed with a 

 general shout — a clangour of drums and trumpets — a grand universal uproar of 

 triumph. What might be the feeling — the proud and delighted exultation 

 of heart in a being to whom every voice of this homage was sent up, and who 

 saw from that superb stand, the sea, the land, and the people— all his own— is 

 reserved for a king only to know ! After a short interval, the castle commenced 

 the royal salute, and between the discharges, his Majesty, though the rain fell 

 heavily, was seen waving his hat in answer to tlie acclamations from below.* 

 His heroic stature from this position was seen to great advantage. Above him 

 was nothing but the royal standard whirling in the blast like a disturbed cloud. 

 The battery at his feet hid him from time to time in bursts of smoke, that sud- 

 denly gave way and restored him to view. Lower and lower still, the parapets 

 and ports were filled with soldiery."— The king's portrait, says the authority 

 above quoted, " should have been taken from the half-moon battery of Edin- 

 burgh Castle"— and if so, it should have been by Martin's pencil. 



Returning to the palace by the superb route of the Calton-hill, an accident 

 had well nigh thrown a gloom over the day's festivities. On coming down 

 the great staircase, the king missed a step ; but at the instant, Sir Hilgrove 

 Turner, whose eyes were on the alert, interposed his person, and the king, 

 recovering himself, replied to this well-timed interference — " Sir Hilgrove, 

 you have saved me !" In another age, such an occurrence would have been 

 made a question of serious import as a state omen. 



• Some solicitude being expressed lest the king should get wet—" O, never mind," he replied, with 

 great animation, " I must cheer the peoplei" and taking off his hat, he waved it repeatedly, and gave 

 three cheers, which were acknowledged by enthusiastic acclamations. 



