CRAIGMILLAR CASTLE. 87 



the part of the government to work it ; for if wrought to its full extent, the 

 numerous forests and legions of char-burners, which now yield an immense annual 

 revenue, would be set aside, while those vast piles of hois-de-chatiffage which 

 are met with in every town, would be transformed into coal-sheds, and Paris 

 itself made to resemble the purlieus of Westminster. 



In approaching toward the capital, we traverse the ancient Borough-moor, the 

 scene of many brilliant reviews and bloody skirmishes. Here was decided, in 

 1335, the rencounter between the Scotch, and Guy, Comte of Namur : and here, 

 in 1513, James IV. reviewed his army previous to his ill-starred expedition to 

 Flodden. In former times, this tract was covered with a gigantic oak forest,* 

 which afterwards supplied timber for a great portion of the city, where it 

 still affords abundant evidence of its durability. 



Craigmillar Castle, which occupies no inconsiderable space in the annals 

 of the kingdom, as well as in the more limited county history, is spacious and 

 commanding. From whatever point its fine mass of ruin is observed, it cannot 

 fail to impress the stranger by its venerable exterior, and to awaken many 

 historical associations. It was the prison of the earl of Mar — tlie suburban 

 palace of James V. during the pestilence — and the occasional retreat of his 

 unfortunate daughter. Queen Mary. In ascending the stair of the great tower, 

 we were shown a small apartment under the south-east turret, in which, it is 

 beheved, the fair and unfortunate Queen slept during her residence in this 

 fortress. Here, also, she spent some gloomy weeks during the celebrated con- 

 ference respecting her divorce from Darnley. The village in which her French 

 guards were quartered, acquired the corresponding name of Petty France. 



The arms of the Prestons, ancient lords of tliis princely 'fortress, are observed 

 in various family quarterings, but in a style corresponding with the rude age in 

 which a crest and supporters were the badge of feudal despotism, and too often 

 coveted as a sufficient substitute for the absence of ennobling virtues. From 

 the battlements the view is truly bold and comprehensive ; and with some fine 

 trees still lingering around its walls, as if to shelter them from decay, it forms 

 a beautiful subject for the artist. But the numerous objects which here 

 solicit attention are far beyond the compass of our present undertaking ; 

 and however pleasing to linger in such localities, and resuscitate the feats 

 and chivalry of other times, we can afford only a brief recognition of general 

 features — where each, like a familiar friend, presses us to stay, and cheers our 

 sojourn vnth song and legend. Leaving the suburban villas and baronial for- 



• Antiq. Soc. Edin. Transact, vol. 1. 



