Stirling Castle - Court Life - John Lord Erskine

John Lord Erskine

Keeper of Stirling castle, and captain of the guard to the two Queens. By the 1540s he was in late middle age, a knight of the realm and great warrior of times past. He felt great loyalty to the Stewart royal line and was highly capable of protecting the castle from the machinations of the Tudor dynasty in Scotland.

Aware of the advancements in warfare he would have assimilated gunpowder weaponry with neo-classical tactics on the battlefield. He was considered to be an expert swordsman who was continually improving his skill. He achieved this by keeping up to date with all the new techniques arriving from the continent.

It’s not hard to imagine a powerful figure striding along the battlements dressed in fur and wool, gold chain of office hanging round his neck. However, he would be just as comfortable dressed in the finery of satin and velvet when dining at the Queen’s table.