Home › Museum of Wonder › Museum of Wonder: Randolph

Museum of Wonder: Randolph

So, while Randolph was considering what was to be done, there came to him a Scottish gentleman named Francis, who Another ceremony introduced by the joined Bruce's standard, and asked to same Doge was that of marrying the sea speak with him in private. He then told by a ring thrown into the waves of the Randolph that in his youth he had lived Adriatic, which emblem of mighty power in the Castle of Edinburgh, and that his was bestowed upon him, with many other father had then been keeper of the fortress. marks of dignity, by Pope Alexander III, It happened at that time that Francis was whom he supported in his long and bloody much in love with a lady who lived in a struggle against the Emperor of Germany, part of the town beneath the castle, which Frederick Barbarossa. It was with a is called the Grassmarket. Now, as he golden ring that the Doge of Venice could not get out of the castle by day to wedded the Adriatic on Ascension see his mistress, he had practised a way Day, casting it into the waters with these of clambering by night down the castle words: "We espouse thee, O sea, as a rock on the south side, and returning at token of our perpetual dominion over his pleasure; when he came to the foot of thee." The ceremony was performed the wall, he made use of a ladder to get RESTORING THE RING WITH WHICH THE ADRIATIC WAS WED. over it, as it was not very high at that One of the soldiers of the castle, willing point, those who built it having trusted to startle his comrades, suddenly threw a to the steepness of the crag; and for the stone from the wall, and cried out: "Aha, same reason, no watch was placed there. I see you well!" The stone came thunder- Francis had gone and come so frequently ing down over the heads of Randolph and in this dangerous manner, that, though it his men, who naturally thought themwas now long ago, he told Randolph he selves discovered. If they had stirred or knew the road so well that he would un- made the slightest noise, they would have dertake to guide a small party of men by been entirely destroyed, for the soldiers night to the bottom of the wall; and as above might have killed every man of they might bring ladders with them, there them merely by rolling down stones. would be no difficulty in scaling it. The But being courageous and chosen men, great risk was that of their being discov- they remained quiet, and the English solered by the watchmen while in the act of diers, who thought their comrade was ascending the cliff-in which case, every merely playing them a trick, passed on man of them must have perished. without further examination.

Nevertheless, Randolph did not hesi- Then Randolph and his men got up tate to attempt the adventure. He took and came in haste to the foot of the wall, with him only thirty men (you may be sure which was not above twice a man's height they were chosen for activity and cour- in that place. They planted the ladders age), and came one dark night to the foot they had brought, and Francis mounted of the rock, which they began to ascend, first to show them the way; Sir Andrew under the guidance of Francis, who went Gray, a brave knight, followed him, and before them upon his hands and feet, up Randolph himself was the third man who one cliff, down another, and around got over. another, where there was scarce room Then the rest followed. When once to support themselves. All the while they were within the walls, there was not these thirty men were obliged to follow in much to do, for the garrison were asleep a line, one after the other, by a path that and unarmed, excepting the watch, who was fitter for a cat than a man. The noise were speedily destroyed, the gates thrown of a stone falling, or a word spoken from open, and the whole Scottish force poured one to another, would have alarmed the in. Thus was Edinburgh Castle taken, watchmen. They were obliged, therefore, in March, 1313. to move with the greatest precaution.