The Winding Journey of Scotland's Lost Honours

Sir Walter Scott once wrote,

  “Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,

   Who never to himself hath said,

   "This is my own, my native land!"

   Whose heart hath ne'er within him burned,

   As home his footsteps he hath turned,

   From wandering on a foreign strand! (Scott, Breathes There the Man, par. 1)”

This poem is an example of literary nationalism, which, like most movements, has its  strengths and weaknesses. However, it also clearly describes Sir Walter Scott’s keen, deep attachment to Scotland’s history, romantic lore, and love of freedom. Indeed, the history of Scotland is so romantic that it is intertwined with modern fairytales and sagas. For example, the Scots were once a people of Gaul and thus share Arthurian legend with England and France. Therefore, the medieval Scotts likely knew stories about King Arthur and his sword, Excalibur. Ironically, the very poet who spent much of his career researching Arthurian lore found Scotland’s own special sword, along with the other Scottish honours.

The Scottish honors, or royal regalia, include a sword, crown, and scepter (Scott 3). According to Sir Walter Scott, when Malcolm Ceanmor seized the throne from Macbeth in 1057, he wore a crown and, presumably, other jewels (5). These honours were then passed down to John Baliol, who was at war with England’s Edward I (6). Edward defeated Baliol and stole the stone of Scone, along with the honours. (6) The nation felt the loss keenly, and bards like Andrew of Wyntoun wrote songs about the theft (6).

After this event, Robert the Bruce commissioned a new crown, which James V modified (Scott 7-8, 11). However, the original crown and honours remain lost today.

When James V became King, he commissioned the current sword and scepter for himself (Scott 12). What else would you expect of a Stuart?

Another chapter of the jewels’ journey began in 1650 when Cromwell invaded England (Castelow par. 9). King Charles II, Cromwell’s nemesis, was unable to use the Scottish or English jewels in his coronation (par. 10). To prevent another ceremony with more fanfare, Cromwell wanted to steal and destroy Scotland’s honours (par. 10). Therefore, Charles II commanded that the honours be sent to the estate of Earl Marischal, who lived in Dunnottar Castle (par. 10). Although the Parliamentarians sieged the castle, the earl and 70 other men protected the honors from Cromwell for days (par. 11). When the castle was about to fall, a woman descended to the base of the castle, supposedly to gather seaweed (par. 12). Someone lowered the honours down to her, and they were given to a local minister. The couple hid the jewels under their bed, then under their church (par. 12). They had to “air out” the jewels occasionally at night to prevent damage (par. 12).

Thankfully, after the care and effort of those at Dunnottar, Charles II recovered the jewels in 1660 after the restoration (Castelow par. 13). He sent them to Edinburgh Castle, where they were displayed for many decades (par. 13). However, after Scotland and England united in 1707, the honours were hidden in a thrice-locked chest in Edinburgh’s crown room for safekeeping (Scott 27). Since their location was not public knowledge, some Scots worried that the honours had been sent to England as part of a clandestine deal (Scott 27-28). However, in 1818, the Prince Regent of the United Kingdom decided to search for the honours with a committee of noblemen (Scott 29). Sir Walter Scot was among those who broke open the century-old chest containing the priceless jewels (Scott 29).

Finally, the Scots have found their modern honours! However, the earlier honours from Malcolm and Baliol’s time are still missing, just waiting for some history major or lucky local to find them, perhaps along with another treasure or unanticipated secret. As J.R.R. Tolkien said, “There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after” (“A Quote from the Hobbit”).

Works Cited

“A Quote from The Hobbit, Or There and Back Again.” Goodreads, Goodreads, www.goodreads.com/quotes/207055-there-is-nothing-like-looking-if-you-want-to-find. Accessed 16 Aug. 2025.

Castelow, Ellen. “The ‘Honours’ of Scotland and the Scottish Crown Jewels.” Historic UK, 15

Nov. 2023, www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/The-Honours-of-Scotland/.

Scott, Sir Walter. Description of the Regalia of Scotland. Edinburgh, Robert Anderson Publishers, 1864.

---. “Breathes There the Man... from the Lay of the Last Minstrel .” All Poetry, allpoetry.com/Breathes-There-the-Man...-From-the-Lay-of-the-Last-Minstrel. Accessed 16 Aug. 2025.