Incidents during the throes of Civil War
Local History
There are certain incidents connected with Scotscraig and its Lairds, which took place when the country was in the throes of Civil War in the time of Charles I, and also in that of Charles the II. These must have caused anxiety and much trouble.
We find that in the absence of the Earl Marchell, Arthur Erskine of Scotscraig was Depute Keeper of the Regalia of Scotland in 1650, and was appointed to this position in the Parliament held at Edinburgh on the 15th May of that year by Argyle, in the name of the Earl Marchell, with instructions to keep and transport them as the Committee of Estates gave directions.
In the Parliament held at Perth on the 26th November, 1650, Arthur Erskine again again presented the Crown, Sceptre, and Sword, and at the close of the sitting these emblems were delivered to Scotscraig for safe keeping in the name of the Earl Marchell.
On 19th December, 1650, in the name of the Earl Marchell, Arthur Eskine again produced the Regalia to the King and Estates, from whom he was to receive instructions and advice. He afterwards took the Regalia to Scone for the Coronation of Charles the II on 1st January, 1651.
In the Parliament held at Perth on 13th March, 1651, Scotscraig yet again presented the Regalia, which were afterwards handed to Argyle in the name of the Commissioners of the Treasury. In the Parliament held at Stirling on 23rd May, 1651, the Regalia were produced by Argyle, and on the 6th June, 1651, were sent to Dunnottar for safety. This fortress was soon afterwards invested by the troops of Cromwell. The garrison, commanded by George Ogilvie of Barras Castle, withstood the assaults of the English until the end of May, 1652, when they surrendered with military honours, but the captors found the Regalia gone.
The saving of the emblems was cleverly executed by Mrs Ogilvie, the commander’s wife, Mrs Grainger, wife of the minister of Kinneff, and her maid. Mrs Grainger having to go to Stonehaven for stores, on reaching home close to the Castle, asked permission of the English Commander for herself and her maid to visit Mrs Ogilvie, which was granted. The maid carried a bundle of flax, in which she was able to hide the sceptre and sword, while Mrs Grainger secreted the crown on her person, and although she was assisted on to her horse but the commanding officer she avoided detection, thus saving the Regalia, which were hidden in Kinneff Church.
In 1543 Henry VIII of England took very determined means to unite the Crowns of England and Scotland by marriage, and to further his purpose he thought by intimidation and by sending fire and sword into Scotland and also by the destruction of the monks and their monastries to attain his end.
The monastic institutions had hitherto escaped his attention, these being respected in time of war, but they were now the first to suffer, and this was not without its effect upon the nation. Henery, being intent upon his purpose, sent the Earl of Hertford with a powerful army into Scotland, and burned and destroyed eight of the principal monastries. After the death of Henry VIII the same tactics were employed by the Protector Somerset, who, in 1547, with a powerful army, marched into Scotland and the disastrous Battle of Pinkie was fought and the Scots defeated.
The Protector then gave his attention to Dundee, sending Sir Andrew Dudley with a strong force to attack Broughty Castle, and sending a fleet of ships, under Admiral Wyndham, to assist his operations by sea. Broughty Castle fell to the English, when the soldiers and sailors pillaged the country around, burning what they could not carry away.
On Christmas Day, 1547, they attacked and burned the Abbey of Balmerino and also the stackyards in the vicinity. Two days later they landed at Ferry-Port-on-Craig for the purpose of burning the adjacent villages and homesteads. A goodly number of the gentlemen of Fife, learning of their intention, fell upon them suddenly, keeping between them and their boats until they had accounted for 160 of the soldiers and sailors who formed the raiding party.
The road to Leuchars at that time was through Tents Moor, which must, therefore, have been the scene of this encounter.
sources:
- History of Tayport, by Sir James Scott, Kt. (at the age of 87), printed in Cupar by J. & G. Innes Ltd., 1927.