ANTIQUITIES. — STIRLING CASTLE. 155 



the Roman sway, ran tlie great wall built by Urbicus in the middle of the 

 second century, and named, as already noticed, after the Emperor Antoninus. 

 By the natives it is called " Graham's Dyke," in compliment, it is supposed, 

 to the illustrious warrior whose castle is still shown near the source of the 

 river. 



The situation of Stirling and its castle, which in many respects resembles 

 that of Edinburgh, is one of the most striking in the kingdom. It appears to 

 have been a frontier town from the fifth till the end of the tenth century ; and 

 in consequence of the daily struggles between the rival parties to gain possession 

 of so important a station, is supposed to have acquired the name of Striveling, 

 modified in the course of time to Stirling. Of the first erection of the fortress 

 there is no certain account ; but it is probable that the Romans had a station 

 here, and Boetius affirms that Agricola raised fortifications upon the castle 

 rock, where an inscription formerly recorded that the second legion held their 

 daily and nightly watch at that point. But without halting to investigate a 

 subject of but little importance in a work where the chief feature to be kept 

 in view is the picturesque, we cheerfully wave antiquarian disquisition, in order 

 to present a few of those stirring scenes of which the town and castle of Stirhng 

 have been the theatre. 



In the tenth century, when informed that the Danes had invaded his 

 dominions, Kenneth III. appointed Stirling castle as a rendezvous for the army, 

 with which he afterwards gained a signal victory at Luncarty. Two centuries 

 later, the castle became a fortress of great importance. In 1178, along with 

 the three other principal forts of the kingdom— namely, those of Edinburgh, 

 Roxbui-gh, and Berwick— it was delivered into the hands of the English, as part 

 of a ransom for WiUiam the Lyon, who had been taken prisoner during an 

 unsuccessful expedition across the Border, and detained a year in captivity. 

 This was the first great ascendency obtained by England over the independence 

 of Scotland, and happened in the reign of Henry II. His son, however, Richard I., 

 generously remitted what of the ransom money remained unpaid, at his accession 

 to the throne, restored the fortresses, and renounced all claim to the superiority 

 of Scotland. 



The Scottish monarchs — although they did not make it one of their stated 

 residences till after the accession of the Stuart family — often held their court 

 and parhament in Stirhng castle. It was the birth-place and occasional residence 

 of James II., and is notorious as the place where he perpetrated the rash 

 deed which has left so indelible a stigma upon his reign. The royal apartments 

 were then in the north-west corner of the castle, and are now partly the 



