Follow Mary, Queen of Scots through the resplendent castles, towering cathedrals, manor houses and chapels associated with her turbulent life.

A must for all those who want to visit Scotland's many castles. The book covers all of the coutry's famous strongholds, as well as many lesser-known places, with location, access, visitor facilities, and contact details. There is a map, many photos, a glossary of architectural terms, and a family-name index, allowing the reader to identify any castle associated with their family.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1850 edition. Excerpt: ...in the hands of the English until the 17th of April, 1341, when it was surprised by the well conducted stratagem of William de Douglas, who had previously contributed to the victory already described. In this enterprise he was assisted by three other gentlemen. One of these, pretending to be an English shipmaster, just arrived with a cargo of goods on board of a vessel riding in the firth of Forth, exhibited samples of wine, beer, biscuits, &c., which he said composed his freight. The governor was highly pleased with them, and at once purchased the whole. The feigned captain, affecting to dread interruption from the Scots, requested to be permitted to deliver the goods very early next morning. This apparently reasonable request the governor granted; and accordingly the supposed shipmaster punctually appeared before the gate, attended by twelve armed followers, habited as mariners and escorting a waggon, in which the supplies were supposed to be contained. The gates were thrown open as the waggon approached the barrier. At this moment, and just at the entrance, the escort contrived to overturn the carriage, and by this means prevented the gates from being again shut.; They then despatched the warder and sentries, and, sounding a bugle, Douglas and a trusty band who lay in ambush near the castle rushed in and joined their intrepid companions. A determined conflict ensued, most of the garrison were put to the sword, and the castle was thus recovered by the Scots. This successful stratagem bears a striking similitude to that of Binnock, the peasant who surprised Linlithgow about twenty-eight years before.1 1 Linlithgow Palace, page 3. During the reign of John Earl of Carrick, who assumed the style of King Robert III., from a superstitious...