It was business as usual for Stirling in September 1745.
The council debated the purchase of two new mill stones from Shotts for the Burgh Mill (now under the bus station) and the tax rates were set for the following year.
But earlier in the month, on the 13th, an army had crossed the Forth in secret at Frew and then marched past the castle which impotently fired cannon at them.
The government army, led by General Cope, had marched north to hunt them and wascurrently in Inverness but in due course would be hammered at Prestonpans.
The government might be ovethrown and perhaps there would be a return to Scotland’s old Royal Family….Catholic French backed Stuarts. This of course was the beginning of the Jacobite 45.
Both the 15 and the Union of the Parliaments were still in living memory and the old wounds began to open.
In due course the Jacobites would return to gain winter quarters and Stirling would face its last ever siege. Our ancient walls, built to stop Henry VIII from forcing the infant Mary Queen of Scots marrying his son would now be locked against her descendant.
The burgh was divided and under suspicion from Westminster and tax returns were lower because of ‘the present troubles’.
In November, the council decided to offer a loyal address to the Hanoverian Monarch as well as membership of the Guildry.
Military preparations began and fear and excitement stalked Stirling’s streets, old men and women remembered lost friends and family, scarred lives and the chaos of conflict.
Young men, oblivious to the cost talked and plotted and raised bold, unwise toasts.
As we approach winter there is still war and invasion across the world and the death toll will rise.
Pray for the peace Stirling now enjoys.