History Scotland Magazine

Vol.4 No.2 March /April 2004

Contents

Scotlands first atlas by Joan Blaeu (1654)
Chris Fleet

Continue now, look at Scotland, and enjoy a feast for the eyes. So requests Joan Blaeu in the preliminary matter to his 1654 Atlas Novus (Vol. V), Scotlands first atlas. Whilst best known for the 49 finely engraved and attractive maps of Scotland contained therein, the Atlas also included over 180 pages of Latin text, containing detailed topographical and historical information about Scotland.
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In Search of the Lost Royal Tombs
Iain Fraser

It is a strange comment on Scotlands cultural heritage that of all her monarchs prior to the Union of the Crowns in 1603, the monument and tomb of only one survives intact today. So where are the tombs of the kings and queens of medieval Scotland, and what do we know of the monuments that marked them?
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Sailing Directions for James V of Scotland
R.M. Ward

To suppress a threatened resurgence of the Lordship of the Isles following the 1539 rebellion of Donald Gorm of Sleat, James V sailed with a fleet around Scotland in the summer of 1540, sending the chiefs of the Western Isles to Edinburgh as prisoners. Without charts and information about tides, distances, depths, hidden dangers and landmarks, it would have been extremely hazardous to sail a fleet through the Pentland Firth and the Western Isles. Sometime before 1540, James, thinking ahead, had ordered the compilation of sailing directions (known then as a rutter) for the whole coast of Scotland, to be based on all the information that could be collected.
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The Last Letters of Mary Stuart
John Irvine

On 19 November 1586 Mary Stuart was informed of her impending execution. She spent the time that remained to her in putting her affairs in order, writing her will, making provision for her servants, and above all in writing letters. She knew that these would be the last letters she would write, that they would be retained by the recipients and would eventually be made known to the world. Therefore, what she wrote would be of the greatest importance in justifying her innocence of the charge conspiring against Elizabeths life and in establishing her claim that she was dying in the cause of the Roman Catholic faith.
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Adam or McAdam? Adventures of a Scots Naval officer
William McAteer

The story of the exploits of Admiral Sir Charles Adam, who, in his youth when commanding the HMS Sybille, captured a brand-new French frigate in the roadstead at Mah, the main island of the Seychelles. Unfortunately for Adam, his victory was for many years attributed by historians and other writers on Seychelles to Captain Macadam due to a mis-reading of documents of the time.
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Telfords Grandest Gesture
Heidi M Sands

Over the Spey, Scotlands fastest flowing river, at Craigellachie where Banffshire meets Moray stands what is arguably one of Thomas Telfords grandest gestures. One of many bridges designed and built in Scotland under the guidance of Telford, the Craigellachie Bridge is a historic monument to one of the worlds finest Scottish engineers.
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Zeppelins Above! The Two Airship Raids on Scotland of 1916
Grant Newman

In spite of a series of raids against English cities and industrial centres, Scotland was attacked by Zeppelin airship only twice during the First World War. Initially intending to attack the naval facilities at Rosyth during both raids, the airships failed miserably in their objectives. Grant Newman tells the stories of the two raids.
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Also Books, News and Events.
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News includes: Am Baile - The Gaelic Village

Bi-lingual website on history and culture of the Highlands and Islands
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Archaeology news - in brief
Trinity Church Excavation, St Andrews, Fife
Bronze Age Food Vessel, Pitmilly, Fife (c. 4,000 years old)
Racing against the sea at Carghidown Promontory Fort
Gilmerton Cove
Runic Inscribed Stone (9th 12th centuries AD)
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Excavation Reports in brief.
Roman Road revealed at Cramond Campus Excavation
Excavations at the Roman Marching Camp, Kintore