Mrs Grainger and the Honours of Scotland
A clever ruse to frustrate Oliver Cromwell
When King Charles I was beheaded on 30th January 1649, England became a Republic until 1660 when Charles II was restored to his throne.
Charles was crowned King of Scotland on 1st January 1651, hoping to be able to mount an invasion of England. However, this led to defeat at the Battle of Worcester on 3rd September of that year, after which Charles was forced to escape to France, leaving Scotland without a king and subject to rule by Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector of England and Scotland.
One of Cromwell’s Republican actions was to seize the Crown Jewels (used for royal coronations in England) and melt them down. However, he was unable to do the same in Scotland thanks — it is said — to an enterprising lady named Mrs Grainger.
The Scottish equivalents to the Crown Jewels were known as the Honours of Scotland, consisting of a crown, a ceremonial sword and a sceptre.
Scottish coronations always took place at Scone Abbey in Perthshire, after which the Honours were returned to Edinburgh Castle. However, with Cromwell’s men in command at Edinburgh, this was not possible, so a temporary home for the Honours was found at Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire. This was the home of the Earls Marischal who were…
