It holds a commanding station on the
banks of the river Teith, and has been one of the largest castles in
Scotland. Murdock, Duke of Albany, the founder of this stately pile,
was beheaded on the Castle-hill of Stirling, from which he might see the
towers of Doune, the monument of his fallen greatness.
In 1745-6, as stated in the text, a garrison on the part of the
Chevalier was put into the castle, then less ruinous than at present. It
was commanded by Mr. Stewart of Balloch, as governor for Prince Charles
he was a man of property near Callander. This castle became at that time
the actual scene of a romantic escape made by John Home, the author of
Douglas, and some other prisoners, who, having been taken at the battle
of Falkirk, were confined there by the insurgents. The poet, who had in
his own mind a large stock of that romantic and enthusiastic spirit of
adventure, which he has described as animating the youthful hero of his
drama, devised and undertook the perilous enterprise of escaping from
his prison. He inspired his companions with his sentiments and when
every attempt at open force was deemed hopeless, they resolved to twist
their bed-clothes into ropes, and thus to descend.
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