Honours Even

 The latest in my Nigel Tranter re-reading project covers the period of Oliver Cromwell's occupation of Scotland between the Regicide and the Restoration. It's a little-known period of Scottish history, with the focus being on the Commonwealth in England.

The story is told through the eyes of an actual, albeit minor, historical character, James Ramsay of Bamff in Perthshire. He came from a Royalist group of families who had supported Montrose and were there to welcome Charles II to his coronation as King of Scots. Charles was somewhat bemused at his reception from the Covenanters, an experience that would play out in the future.

Cromwell's reaction to the coronation was to invade Scotland. He was repulsed outside Edinburgh and retreated to Dunbar, where his army could be supplied by sea. The Battle of Dunbar (1650) was a disaster for the larger Scottish army, the blame largely falling on the Kirk, which interfered with the battle plans of the experienced Scots commander David Leslie. This led to an initial occupation, while the Scottish army accompanied Charles II to raise the Royalist flag in England. This ended badly a year later at the Battle of Worcester. 

Our hero stayed in Scotland and was involved in rescuing the crown jewels, known as the Honours of Scotland, from Edinburgh Castle and its Roundhead garrison. It was decided to take them to Dunnotar Castle, south of Aberdeen, for safety. A significant portion of the book is devoted to the subsequent siege. The Honours were spirited out before the garrison was starved into surrender. 

These are the honours, which are now displayed at Edinburgh Castle.

There are differing stories about how the Honours were removed, and Tranter goes for the version that the local minister's wife hid them when she was allowed to visit the castle. Tranter tells a story about the Roundhead artillery being captured by the MacGregors and sunk in a bog. This may be an embellishment of the novelist, as the Roundheads did manage to get artillery in place.

Either way, Dunnotar is one of Scotland's finest castles, and not to be missed if you are in the north east. 

Our hero is then involved in various attempts to challenge the Roundhead occupation of Scotland. These suffered from the usual divisions within the country and had little impact. It ended with the Restoration after Cromwell's death.

After the books on James I and VI, this was a significant improvement. Plenty of action and a story well told.

Some of my 28mm Roundheads.