Fog of War

It's October 1650 and Oliver Cromwell and his invading Parliamentarian Army, having defeated the Covenanter Army at Dunbar the previous month now besiege Edinburgh Castle. In spite of being well provisioned, the castle would hold out for just three months before it's governor, Walter Dundas, surrenders.

It was King and Country day at Edinburgh Castle today and while the dark clouds hovered overhead it didn't really look like it would rain so I grabbed the camera and wandered up into town.

It always amazes me how many people from far away exotic places come to visit Scotland, especially in October. I wonder how many people are really aware of what the weather's going to be like before they arrive. Not that I'm complaining. It's an absolute delight to hear such a cacophony of languages in the cold autumnal air. This was a scouting mission for a later visit though, when it's hopefully a little quieter.

This shot is of the Scot's Covenanters in volley fire from the castle battlements (unlikely at the time with just an effective range of 60 yards but health and safety won't let you fire into a crowd of tourists these days)! Fortunately the wind had changed direction slightly. This was the third display of the day, however each time all you could see after the initial shots was a cloud of smoke and several pairs of feet. It's not hard to imagine how the expression fog of war was coined if you think of what it was like when battalions of men fired at each other in line. It's also not hard to imagine what a terrifying experience it must have been on such battlefields.

Thanks for all the lovely comments on yesterday's blip. It was amazing to read all the visions you took from the image. I had to go back and look again! I wasn't sure whether or not to describe what I saw in it or not, so I left it out at the time and I'm still not sure about adding it here now, in case it somehow takes away from the mystique, but I guess it's only fair since you have been kind enough to share your thoughts with me. If you don't want to know, stop reading now...

The image I see is of a samurai and his concubine sharing a tender moment, gazing down into a glowing fire. She is sitting to his right, her long hair flowing behind, her kimono cascading around her. He kneels behind her, left arm resting on his leg, in full armour with his decorative breastplate and ornate ceremonial helmet glowing in the dying embers.