When Moray was 'invaded' ...
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Did you know that in 1708 a group of soldiers and sailors from an invasion force came ashore in Moray and drank with the locals?
That's one of many little-known facts uncovered in a newly released book.
Within the pages of 'Slains Castle's Secret History' is a letter from the time that details the landing in Moray.
It states: "We have no certain account of the French from the north, further than that they were seen about Speymouth, and that some of them landed, diverted themselves, drunk with several people thereabout, told them James Edward Stuart was at sea, had beat the English fleet, and would shortly land."
The same letter also reports that they "did no harm, dined, paid well" and then went back onboard their ships again.
The Jacobite uprisings of 1715 and 1745 are well-documented.
Much less is known though about the earlier aborted invasion in 1708, which sought to put James Stuart, the Old Pretender, on the throne.
However, had it not been mishandled – and possibly even sabotaged – the newly created United Kingdom between England and Scotland would have been brought to an abrupt end just months after coming into existence.
Mike Shepherd is one of the two authors behind 'Slains Castle's Secret History'.
He says: "It's not very well known now but in March 1708, a total of 26 ships, 5000 soldiers and the Old Pretender left Dunkirk.
"The intention was to land the army at Leith, to spark a Jacobite rebellion, and to take over Scotland.
"However, the main fleet in the charge of Admiral Claude de Forbin, 'got lost' on the way to Leith.
"Newly discovered primary sources, not in the history books, show that both the French and the Jacobites were sceptical about Forbin.
"The Jacobite source believes him to have deliberately sabotaged his mission."
Instead of landing at Leith the French fleet sailed up the north east coast of Scotland.
Fifty ships from the newly-formed British navy finally caught up with the French at Inverbervie where a naval engagement was fought.
Although no ships were sunk the bulk of the invasion fleet then returned directly to Dunkirk with the Old Pretender.
However, three French ships took a detour via Speymouth where they came ashore.
Mike says: "It's probable that had James Edward Stuart landed, Scotland would have fallen to the Jacobites and the French.
"It was that close."
The events of 1708 are just one segment in the book's broad historical sweep.
First, there's the area's surprising connection to Dracula.
While Mike lives in Cruden Bay, his co-author Dacre Stoker resides in South Carolina and is the great-grand nephew of Bram Stoker, the man who wrote the horror classic.
A theatre manager by profession, Bram Stoker would holiday in Cruden Bay for a month every year in order to write.
Also included in 'Slains Castle's Secret History' are the Earl of Huntly's plans for a Scottish uprising to coincide with the Spanish Armada in 1588.
Then there's the occasion in 1773 when Johnson and Boswell visited in 1773 and dined with the Earl of Errol and his brother.
These siblings, 28 years previously, has fought on opposite sides at the Battle of Culloden.
'Slains Castle's Secret History' by Mike Shepherd and Dacre Stoker is available to buy HERE
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