OS1/22/4/49

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 49

[continued from page 48]
and deeds of darkness. Its iron grated doors, its ancient
tapestry hanging loosely over secret doors, and hidden passages,
its winding staircases, its rattling drawbridge, all conspire...................................... -- Drawbridge shown
to excite the most gloomy imagery in the mind. Among the
less perspicuous intricacies in the castle of Cawdor must be
mentioned the secret apartment which so effectualy concealed
Lord Lovat from the site of his pursuers. It is placed immedi-
ately beneath the rafters in one part of the roof of the castle,
By means of a ladder you are conducted by the side of one
part of a sloping roof into a kind of channel between two,
such as frequently serves to convey rain water into pipes
for a reservoir; by proceeding along this channel, you
arrive at the foot of a stone staircase, which leads up one
side of the roof to the right, and is artfully contrived as to
appear a part of the ornaments of the building when beheld
at a distance. At the end of this staircase is a room with
a single window near the floor. It is said Lord Lovat used
to be conducted to this place when his pursuers approached,
the ladder being removed as soon as he ascended. When the
search was over, and the inquirers gone, the ladder was
replaced, by which means he lived comfortably with the
family, and might long have remained secure if he had
not quitted the place of his retreat.
King Duncan's chained armour is preserved here, but it is
by no means established beyond controversy that it was here
that monarch was murdered. There are in fact 4 different
localities fixed on by different antiquarians and topogra-
phers as the scence of that bloody deed: Viz. Glammis
Castle, a hut near Forres, Inverness Castle, and Cawdor Castle
In replying to remarks on antiquities &c. in the parish; the..................................... -- All the local inform-
Superindentent of Examiners will supply all the local in-.......................................... -- ation obtainable relative
formation he can obtain and state what steps he has............................................. -- to antiquities in the
taken to obtain such information............................................................................. -- parish is given in
signed...................................................................................................................... -- the Name Book
F. E. Pratt................................................................................................................. -- supplied by the most [continued on page 50]
Captn. R.E. [Captain Royal Engineers]..................................................................... -- Capt [Captain] Bolland R.E. [Royal engineers]

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