Wednesday, September 24, 2014

1685 - Edinburgh Castle

[This is part of  a series of articles on the year 1685.  You might want to read the Overview first.]

June 30, 1685  Tuesday morning

The Argyll's were no strangers to Edinburgh Castle, both as honored guests and as prisoners.  The 8th Earl of Argyll had been imprisoned here prior to his execution in 1661.  Since May 15th of 1685, Argyll's wife, Anna MacKenzie, had been imprisoned here.  She was arrested at Sterling as soon as word was obtained that her husband was sailing from Holland to Scotland with an invasion force. The 9th Earl had been imprisoned here since his capture on June 20.

The tower above the Portcullis Gate in Edinburgh Castle is known as the Argyle Tower. This tower did not exist in 1685, but the location of the Earl's imprisonment was apparently close by or superseded by this newer construction.

Portcullis Gate and Argyle Tower in Edinburgh Castle
Argyll wrote many letters and verse while imprisoned for these ten days.  The most touching are the ones to his wife and step-daughter (who would marry his son, Charles).  Below is one of his last letters.  It was written to his son, John, on the day of his execution.

Letter written by Argyll on his day of execution
Transcription:  
Edn Castle 30 June 85
Deare Jhon
We parted sudenly but I hope shall meete hapily in heaven    I pray god bless you & if you seeke him he will be found of you     my wiffe will say all to you     pray love & respect her.   I am
Yr Loving Father
ARGYLL

Archibald Campbell, the 9th Earl of Argyll, had a practice of taking a nap after dinner.  On the day of his execution he was served the last meal of his life before noon.  He ate with "cheerfulness and composure" then retired to an inner room and napped "as sweetly and pleasantly as ever he had done."

The Last Sleep of Argyll, E.M. Ward
The skullcap worn by the Earl in this painting appears quite different from the one that his father supposedly wore 24 years earlier on his "last sleep" in the castle.  That skullcap is on display in the entry hall of Inveraray Castle. 

"Nightcap worn by the Marquess of Argyll (8th Earl) during "the last sleep of Argyll" before his execution 1661."  (Sorry about the glare)
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2 comments:

  1. PaulFoxMay 23, 2015 at 6:23 AM

    Hi there, the letter written by Argyll on his day of execution is not addressed to 'Jhon', it actually says 'Deare James' - i have seen a stylistically similar James scratched into plasterwork at Stirling Castle, cheers Paul

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  2. Jay A. CampbellMay 23, 2015 at 8:04 AM

    Paul,

    Thanks for your comment. I admit my reading of seventeenth century script is not that good. You may be correct, however several other scholars agree with my interpretation including the curator of the Argyll Archives, William Fraser. In his "Second Report on the Manuscripts of His Grace the Duke of Argyll, K.T." he transcribes this letter as:
    "Letter written by Archibald, ninth Earl of Argyll, to his son John Campbell, on the day of the Earl's execution. Edinburgh Castle, 30 June 1685
    Deare Jhone, We parted sudenly, but I hope shall meete hapily in heauen. I pray God blese you, and if you seeke him, he will be found of you. My wiffe will say all to you. Pray love and respect her. I am your louing father, ARGYLL.
    For Mr. Jhone Campbell."

    As additional proof, the ninth Earl wrote a separate note to his son James on that same day. Unfortunately I do not have an image of the original, but here is the transcription from William Fraser:
    "Another Letter written by the same earl to his son James on the day of the Earl's execution. [Original at Salton.]
    Edinburgh Castle 30 June 1685
    Deare James, Learne to feare God; it is the only way to make you happie heere and heerafter. Loue and respect my wiffe and hearken to her aduice. The Lord bless you. I am, your louing father.
    ARGYLL
    For Mr. James Campbell."

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