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Stirling Castle Print by Bibby - Engraved by Payne
This steel engraving dates from 1860. The artist is Bibby, the engraving was done by Payne. The print was published by Brain & Payne of London, 12 Paternoster Row. Size: Size of the image: 4 x 6; print size including blank margins: 7 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches.
Text from the original description: The Scots lost three-fourths of their army, and retreated to Stirling, which city they reduced to ashes. Wallace resigned his office as guardian; but the subjugation of the kingdom was not complete. The English, who had left a garrison in Stirling Castle, were compelled by hunger to surrender in the year 1299; but it was retaken by the English, after a most gallant defence by Sir William Oliphant, the governor. In 1303, when Edward again conquered Scotland, Stirling Castle was again besieged, and the garrison, small in number, sustained for three months the assaults of the English, who fought immediately under the eye of their warlike sovereign. The brave Sir William Oliphant resumed the command. The walls were battered most furiously by artillery, using stones of two-hundred weight as balls, which made vast breaches in their ramparts.
The garrison, gradually diminished by the casualties of war, were insufficient for the further defence of the place; and Stirling Castle was the last fortress that surrendered in Scotland. It seems to have remained in the hands of the English until it was beseiged by Bruce in the reign of Edward II. The English advanced with an army of 100,000 men to relieve it; but Bruce, with 40,000 men, encamped between Stirling and Bannockbum, (a small rivulet flowing eastward south of Stirling, and falling into the Forth below that town. The celebrated battle ended, as is well known, in the utter defeat of the English. During the wars of Edward III. it was successively taken and retaken. In the reign of James II. the Earl of Douglas was assassinated in this castle, 1451. James VI. was crowned at Stirling, 1597, when thirteen months old, and his eldest son. Prince Henry, was born here, 1594: the baptism was performed in the Castle with great pomp.
In 1651 the fortress was besieged and taken by General Monk; the marks of this siege are still discernible in the Castle and the steeple of the church. In the last rebellion Stirling Castle was besieged in 1746, and gallantly defended by General Blakeney. General Hawley, who advanced to relieve it, was defeated by the rebels, who, however, retired on the approach of the Duke of Cumberland. It is one of the four Scottish forts (the others are Edinburgh, Dumbarton, and Black ness) which by the articles of the Union are to be constantly garrisoned.
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