many noble famines, who otherwife too often fhared with their Lords, the 
horrors of civil war. 
When the forces of King Robert Bruce were routed at Methven , by the Earl 
of Pembroke, and the king retreated with the remains of his army, the ladies his 
relations crowded to his flandard for protection from the enemy ; and for the fake 
of that advantage, offered to partake of his fatigues and dangers, and to follow 
his fortunes, however fevere. But he enjoined them rather, to confult their eafe 
and fafety, by retiring to bis Gaftle of Kildrumy, which he continued to efteem 
impregnable, and a place of thorough fecurity. 
When Edward III. wifhed to have the kingdom of Scotland annexed to 
his crown, and for that purpofe invaded it, the adherents of King Robert de- 
fended this fortrefs againft the enemy during their moft fuccefsful inroads; and 
thence confiderably harraHed them, and counteracted their defigns. 
In 1333, Kildrumy Palace was occupied by the venerable Christiana 
Bruce, filter of Robert I. which, her allies and friends aided her to defend 
againft all the attacks of the enemy, fo that file was left in peaceful poffeffion of 
the furrounding country. 
The Earl of Athol courted the favour of Edward, and defirous of fhewing 
his zeal, and of performing fome diftinguifhed fervice, to promote his defigns on 
Scotland, thought no enterprize could be better calculated for that end, than 
that of feizing on the Caftle of Kildrumy, and giving the command of it to 
the Deputies of the King. 
He inverted it in November, 1335, with three thoufand men, and befieged it for 
fome time without effeCt ; but finding that a body of fome forces approached to 
its relief, he raifed the fiege, that he might go forth to fight, and to difperfe them- 
On this the garrifon fallied out on his rear, while the other fmall army attacked 
with fuch violence, that the Earl was cut off, and moft of his followers fell the 
fame day. 
From his defeat and death in the Fields of Ki lb lain, the fpirit of Indepen- 
dence fo far revived, that Edward is faid, fecretly to have fighed for an ho- 
nourable opportunity of making peace with a Nation, whom he found neither bis 
power nor his policy could fubdue. 
Such recollections, of the importance of this Royal Palace, as a place. 01 
ftrength and moment in the conflicts of thefe diftraCted times, and the remem- 
brance of the variety of fates, its Poffeffors often experienced, all confpire to ren- 
der a furvey of the Ruins more interefting, and heighten the ferious- impreffi° D 
which the Remains of its auguft ftruCture leave upon the. mind. 
