The story of The Maiden
The Maiden, a guillotine-like device introduced to Edinburgh in the 16th century, remains a grim symbol of Scotland’s history of public punishment. This precursor to the French guillotine was used extensively to execute criminals and political dissidents, cementing its place in the city’s famously bloody heritage. The Maiden was introduced to Edinburgh in 1564, during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. It has often been assumed that James Douglas, the 4th Earl of Morton, brought the design from England, inspired by earlier beheading devices such as the Halifax Gibbet. However, this widely accepted belief appears to be a myth.
Historical evidence from Edinburgh’s Town Council archives indicates that the Maiden was actually commissioned by the city’s government in 1564. This was demonstrated by Sir Herbert Maxwell in his Edinburgh: A Historical Study (1916) (pp. 298-303). David Hume of Godscroft may have contributed to the misconception about Morton’s involvement in his History of the Douglasses (1643). Ironically, Morton would eventually meet his end by the very device he was once credited with introducing. Edinburgh Council Archives contain detailed records of the costs associated with the Maiden’s construction, maintenance, and usage. The first recorded execution occurred on April 3, 1565, and it remained in use until 1710.
Some notable entries from the City Treasurer’s accounts include:
- 1565: Payments for transporting materials and building a scaffold for an execution.
- 1582: Charges for sharpening the blade and greasing the mechanism.
- 1600: The execution of the Earl of Gowrie and his brother, including payments for displaying their heads.
- 1615: Costs for a new lead weight to maintain the Maiden.
- 1619: Payments for a Highlander’s execution and his burial.
- 1633: Adjustments made to the Maiden for the execution of a woman at Castlehill.
- 1647: Purchase of buckram cloth to “catch the head” during executions.
Interestingly, in 1608, the city’s executioner (or “lokman”) was himself hanged, and a replacement had to be found from Dalkeith!
The Maiden was designed for efficiency. A lead weight was released, dropping a sharp, angled blade mounted on a wooden frame, ensuring a swift and clean execution. Unlike traditional methods of beheading, which often required multiple blows, the Maiden’s mechanism ensured a fatal cut in one motion. It may from a certain point of view have been considered kinder as many suffered terribly from the inadequate blows of executioners (Mary Queen of Scots would endure this herself). For high-profile executions, crowds would gather to witness justice being carried out. Many condemned individuals were transported from across Scotland to Edinburgh for execution by the Maiden, including those convicted of treason, adultery, incest, and murder. The entire device could be transported to wherever it was needed and mounted on a scaffold to ensure excellent views for the bloodthirsty audiences.
This was a purposefully terrifying innovation, meant to showcase the absolute authority of the Scottish Crown and its commitment to enforcing law and order. However, it also served as a gruesome spectacle for the public, reinforcing the harsh realities of justice in 16th and 17th century Scotland. The Maiden features in the story of the execution and later embalming of James Graham, the Marquis of Montrose in article by John Cameron Robbie in the Book of the Old Edinburgh Club in 1908.
The Maiden continued service until 1710, after which it was retired. Today, it stands as a chilling relic in the National Museum of Scotland, which is very worth visiting. You can stand by the real thing, with all her victims silently represented and chillingly so.
So, again, despite the persistent legend linking the Maiden to the Earl of Morton, historical records confirm that it was Edinburgh’s Town Council, not Morton, who ordered its creation. Nonetheless, fate still ensured that Morton would become one of its most famous victims — executed by the very device he was mistakenly credited with introducing. Morton was implicated in the murder of King Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, and later accused of treason by Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney.
