Siege of Dunnottar Castle 8 November 1651- 26 May 1652. On 7 May 1652h eavy siege guns arrived from Dundee and on the same day Deane (CIC English Forces in Scotland) confirmed Sir Robert Graham of Morphie and Sir Alexander Bannerman of Elsick as commissioners to treat for with Ogilvie the surrender of the Castle. After a week of negotiations, Col Thomas Morgan, commander of the Roundhead forces at Black Hill and Fetteresso, wrote to Ogilvie seeking surrender on honourable terms. Under the rules of war, an honourable surrender had to be negotiated before hostilities began. Morgan was unable to obtain what he wanted from Ogilvie for on the following day (the 15th) the bombardment commenced, with a single granadoe (powder filled mortar shell) of the twelve fired striking the keep and killing seven of the garrison. An immediate cease fire was agreed while Ogilvie was delivered a letter from the Earl Marischal (then under house arrest in London having been paroled from the Tower) instructing Ogilvie to surrender the castle. Negotiation too a further nine days and after eleven days of ceasefire the Castle was surrendered at 9 am on 26 May 1652. The thirty or so men making up the garrison played the last post, struck the Royal Standard and emerged, With flieing collors tuik or drume, Armes and kindillit maches and all thing befieting men of bono. Morgan was horrified at having been duped into believing a much larger force held the Castle against him, a force which he could easily have overcome. The Roundheads horror quickly turned to fury when they realised the Honours of scotland which they believed were held in the Castle were not to be found. Ogilvie and his wife were promptly arrested interrogated but held out that John Keith (the future Earl of Kintore) had taken them to Charles II when he left the Castle at Christmas time.The Roundheads were not convinced until a letter was procured from John Keith confirming his part in the safekeeping of the Honours. Of course it was all a ruse, the Honours were secured within Kinneff Old Kirk in the care of the Rev Granger and his wife.
Posted on: Wed, 14 May 2014 04:29:59 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015