The Holbrook news., 1911-11-17

those which crown the summit of the Castle Rock. Long be- fore there was a royal palace or even a religious house of Holyrood there was a fortress here. The cas- tie preceded even the village of mud huts which originally sprung up under its ebelter, and which developed into "Edwin's burgh."
 Its earliest history is lost in a cloud of legend and romance. The rock is believed to have been occupied with fort by the aboriginal tribes prior to the invasion of the Romans.
 It is reasonable, indeed, to think that a place so well fitted by nature for a fortress, commanding a wide view of the country and of the routes north and south, would commend it. self from the earliest times for pur- poses of defense.
 There is a legend connecting it with King Arthur of round table fame. al though the association does not come down to us in quite so localized form as that which connects the great sovereign of romance with the hill which bears the name of .Arthpr's Seat
 There are grounds for believing that the rock was a place of strength in the fifth century. And down to the time of the introduction of artillery it was impregnable to assault. It could only be taken by surprise or through treachery.
 Reliable history really begins with Malcolm Canmore, who built resi- dence here in the eleventh century. There still exists relic of his saint ed consort, the early Norman chapel of St. Margaret, in which she passed much of her time. In the castle the queen died within a day or two after she received the tidings of the death of her husband, and her body was car ried out of the sallyport on the west ern side and down the rocks while Donald Bane, the usurper of her sons rights, thundered at the main gate. To that same sallyport, if tradition says true, Bonnie Dundee" climbed many centuries afterward to talk to the governor of the castle.
 In the old wars between Scotland and England Edinburgh castle played a prominent part. It was captured and recaptured again and again, and many bold deeds were done by gal lant Scots. It was associated closely with the fortunes of Bruce. Three times it was captured by Edward Longshanks and three times it was taken again by the Scots. Valiant deeds were done here by the Douglas and by Randolph in defense of the independence of their country.
 A Brave Dundee Shipmaster.
 In the reign of Edward III. the cas- tie fell once more into the hands of the English, but it was recaptured through a brilliant and romantic stratagem devised by William Bullock and carried out by the Knight of Lid desdale, Sir Simon Fraser. and a brave shipmaster of Dundee, William Curry.
 Curry, pretending to be an English wine merchant, offered to supply the governor of the castle with wine and wheat. The offer was accepted. Cur ry, pretending also to be afraid of the Scots, got permission to deliver his cargo early in the morning Before 1t was light Douglas and number of his followers concealed themselves in the vicinity.
 At daybreak Curry. Sir Simon Fras- CT and few resolute Scots, all dress ed in smocks. appeared at the gate with barrels and hampers. The DOT ter opened the outer gate and lowered the drawbridge, whereupon Curry and Fraser and their men set upon him and took his keys. opened the inner gate, and placed the casks and ham, pers so that it could not be shut or the portcullis lowered. The sound of the horn brought Douglas and his men from the foot of the hill. The garri- son by this time was alarmed, and desperate fight took place. The Scots, however, proved victorious.
 Several of the Scottish sovereigns had a residence in the castle. Even after Holyrood was built they were glad at times to take refuge in the