. 
fA 
ne&tion with the land, was formerly iater- 
fected by a ditch, rendering the fartrefs 
acceffible only by means of adraw- v-bridge. 
The large piles of ‘rude but maily fone- 
work that form the gateway, the remains 
ef fyacious halis, ana large vaulted apart- 
aments, the arches of which are fill entire, 
give a high idea of its former ftrength and 
grandeur . Its priacipal weaknels in time 
of war arofe from the precarious iupply of 
seth water, which aiid ouly be procured 
from the high grounds that lay without 
the wails of the fortrefs. The garrifon 
were, however, in part fupplied by ‘a 
ipring, which is concealed in one of the 
vaults. Though the rock is almof en- 
tirely furrounded by the fea, and feparated 
by, a deep heilow {pace from the land, this 
ipring is not too brackifh to be drank of 5 
and tradition fays that it often enabled the 
gatrifon to hold out a confiderable time 
after their fupplies of frefh water were ex- 
aufted. In the court-yard of the caftie 
there is a large bafon. confruéted of ftone, 
nich ferved as a refervoir to hold the 
Water introduced by pipes, and alfo col- 
lected the rain-water occafionally. The 
country people ftill retain a variety of tya- 
ditions refpecting the attacks and defences 
oi this fortvefs, which was the ftrongett on 
the eaftern coatt of 
recily in the way of any enemy that was 
penetrating into the northern parts of the 
land. he eafe with which troops and 
provificns were intreduced into it by fea, 
rendered it dificult to reduce it by fa- 
mire; and its inaccefiible rocks and lofty 
walls, made it capable, in thefe ages when 
cannon’ were unknown, of ealily baffling 
any attempt totake it by force. During 
fhe numerous civil wars of Scotland, the 
frequent afiauits it underwent are a proof 
of how much impertance it was reckoned 
by the eontending parties. While the 
nation was defclated by the ruinous con- 
tefts between Bruce and Balhiol, this for- 
trefs fell into the hands of Edward; and 
was afterwards laid fieze to by the intre- 
pid hero Sir. William Walla ace, after he 
nad expelled that ambitious prince from 
Scotland. A window on the north fide is 
fili known by the name of Waliace’s 
Window ; and tradition reports, that this 
hero, after. feveral fruitleis affaults, at 
length ventured alone and unattended to 
Beer eye Cattle by night. Concealed by 
the darknels, he made his way unperceived 
or tugged afcent,forced the bars.of this 
indow, which now bears his name; and, 
enteri ing the fortrefs by this’ paffage, gaia-. 
ed the principal gate, killed the fentinels 
ftationed there, and opened by it an ealy 
Scotland, and lay di- 
Defeription of the Ancient Caftle of Dunnotter. , [ April 3, 
entrance to a band of his followers, whom 
he had ftationed at a fmall diftance. He 
now fell upon the furprifed and unprepared 
garrifon, and without difficulty made him- 
felf mafter of the fortrefs. The laf and 
mot memorable defence made by Dunnot. 
ter was-durine the civil wars of Charles I. 
under the command of Sir David Ogilvie, 
of Barras, a-gentleman whofe eftates lay 
in the neighbourhood. The fuppoted im- 
pregnability of this fortrefs made at be 
pitched upon by the royalifts as a fecure 
piace to lodge the regalia of Scotland ; 
and the faunch and approved’ loyalty of the 
governor they relied en with the com- 
pletett confidence. On Cromwell's coming 
to Scotland, a party of his army was de- 
tached to BeGkee Dunnotter, which for a 
confiderable time repulfed every attack 
with the moft obftinate refolution, At 
length, however, the want of water and 
provifions reduced the garrifon to the 
giaitet ftrairs, and the governor faw no 
other alternative but to perifh, or deliver 
up to the enemy the idolized enfigns of 
royalty, which had been folemnly commit- 
ted to his fidelity. The dexterity of his 
wife relieved him from this agcnizing di- 
lemma. 
der, entreating his permiflion to retire 
from the garrifon with only her bedy 
cioaths and her wool, -in thofe-ages the 
univerfal material of female induftry in 
Scotland. Her requeft was granted ; and 
fhe lett the garvifon, driving before her 
an afs, which bore two panniers contain- 
ing her wooland wardrobe. The gallan- 
try of the Engiith officer would not per- 
mit him to fearch the panniers, and the 
lady arrived unmolefted at her own refi- 
dence. 
conveyed away the regalia; and as foon 
as night gave her an opportunity, by the 
affiftance of the neighbouring parfon and 
his wife, who were firmly attached to the 
royal caufe, fhe buried the precious depo- 
firs in the church-yard, where a new-made 
grave afforded her the means of doing fo 
without fufpicion. Next day, the com- 
mander, being now freed from his dread of 
incurring the guilt of facrilege by deli- 
vering up the regalia, and feeimg no pro- 
{pect of any relief, fusrendered the for- 
trefs. The Englith officer, who uader- 
flood that the regalia had been depofited 
there, was extremely difappointed at not 
finding them; but, as Ogilvie alone was 
in the fecret of his wife’s ftratagem, he 
had no means of difcovering the manner 
in which they had been removed. After 
the reftcration, Ogilvie refolved to carry 
the regalia to Charles, expecting the well- 
“earned 
She fent to the Englifh comman- 
In the heart cf her wool the had © 
¢ 
