Person Page 629

Birth of James III at Stirling, 1451
On the death of James ix at the siege of Roxburgh Castle a minor again succeeded to the throne of Scotland. James III was born at the Castle of Stirling in 1451 and Lindsay of Pitscottie tells of his later preference for this residence for ‘he tuik sic pleasour to duall thair that he left all other castellis and touns in Scotland, because
he thocht it maist pleasantest dwelling thair.’ James enjoyed literary society, which in those days was to be had mainly among churchmen. Having founded the Chapel Royal of Stirling, and wishing to attract the most learned clerics, he endowed it richly with the revenues of
Coldingham Priory, situated in the country of the Homes and Hepburns. The Homes, however, considered that the funds appertamed to them and determined to resist any encroachment on their rights. The alliance of the Hepburns with the Homes was the beginning of an insurrection which spread far and wide. The king at once made preparations for the struggle. Before going north to rally his loyal subjects he entrusted his son, the Duke
of Rothesay, to Shaw of Sauchie, at that time castellan of Stirling. Shaw proved to be a fickle adherent and in the King’s absence the young heir to the throne was handed over to the rebels. King James returned south and was refused entrance into the Castle of Stirling.
On the 11th of June, 1488 the King was defeated at Sauchieburn, and was overtaken and slain as he fled from the field.