"Mons Meg," The Big Gun at The Castle at Edinburgh Castle in Picturesque Scotland: Its Romantic Scenes & Historical Association Described in Lay and Legend, Song and Story, "The Castle of Edinburgh," pp. 17-21. 6.2 cm high by 12.5 cm wide, or 2 ½ inches by 5 inches, framed. [Click on both the images on this page to enlarge them.]
Passage Illustrated: Victorian Visitors to the Castle inspecting the Great Gun
Had we time to tarry there were much more to see about this grand fortress: we should stand awhile in awe before old "Mons Meg," the battered looking cannon whose history, though definitely given, really goes back into indefinite history; we should go through the place and say, 'Here walked James IV. before the battle of Flodden; here Queen Jane found her son, James II., and had him conveyed away to safer quarters,' and so on, until the whole place would seem to be crowded with men and women who had indeed their share in life's conflict but have long- had done with this mortal strife.
Above: The ornamental tailpiece for the chapter "The Castle of Edinburgh," 4.5 cm high by 6.8 cm wide, or 1 ¾ inches by 2 ¾ inches, vignetted, p. 21.
But we linger only to listen to the beautiful description given by an ardent son of Edina of the view which he saw from the windows of the palace, now, alas ! a palace no longer: —
"The view from the windows of the palace is scarcely surpassed by any other in the capital. Immediately below are the picturesque old houses of the Grassmarket and West Port, crowned by the magnificent towers of Heriot's Hospital. From this abyss, the hum of the neighbouring city rises up, mellowed by the distance into one pleasing voice of life and industry: while beyond a gorgeous landscape is spread out, reaching almost to the ancient landmarks of the kingdom, guarded on the far east by the old keep of Craigmillar Castle, and on the west by Merchiston Tower. Between these is still seen the wide expanse of Borough Muir, on which the fanciful eye of one familiar with the national history will summon up the Scottish hosts marshalling for southern war; as when the gallant Jameses looked forth from these same towers, and proudly beheld them gathering around the standard of the 'Ruddy Lion,' pitched in the massive 'Bore Stane,' still remaining at the Borough Muir Head." [pp. 20-21]
Scanned images and text by Philip V. Allingham. [You may use these images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the person who scanned them, and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]
Bibliography
Watt, Francis M., and Andrew Carter. "The Castle of Edinburgh." Picturesque Scotland: Its Romantic Scenes & Historical Associations Described in Lay and Legend, Song and Story.. London: John M. Murdoch [1887?], pp. 17-21.
Created 6 June 2025