Old Photograph Lord Huntly's Cave Scotland

Old photograph of Lord Huntly's Cave located north of Grantown on Spey, Scotland. This Scottish cave is named after George Gordon, 2nd Marquis of Huntly, born 1592, died March 1649. He is said to have hidden here after his Royalist force was defeated by Archibald Campbell, the 1st Marquis of Argyll, born 1598, died 1661, in the early 1640s. He was sustained by Mary Grant, sister of Sir James Grant of Freuchie, the Laird of Grant, who sent supplies from Castle Grant. Soon after the couple married. After evading pursuit for several months by constantly changing his hiding place, he was at last, in December, captured by Lieutenant colonel Menzies at midnight, as he was retiring to bed, at Dalnabo in Strathdon. The capture was effected after a severe struggle with the ten gentlemen and servants who were in attendance on him, six of whom were slain in their efforts to defend him. On the news of his capture becoming known, about five hundred men under Grant of Carron assembled to effect his rescue, but Menzies, for greater security, carried him to the castle of Blairfindie in Glenlivet. Huntly, on learning their intentions, also sent them a message, dissuading them from the enterprise. When news of his capture reached the committee of estates, it was debated whether he should be immediately executed or reprieved till the meeting of parliament, and the latter motion was carried by one vote. After remaining two days at Leith, he was delivered up to the magistrates of Edinburgh, and sent to the Tolbooth. There he remained till 22 March 1649, when by order of the Scots parliament he was beheaded at the cross of Edinburgh.



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