PREFACE 



.^^. 



The historical interest which for several centuries has 

 attached to Craigmillar Castle and the surrounding 

 landscape is my apology for the publication of the 

 present work. Such a work, I felt persuaded, would 

 be acceptable to many long familiar with the traditions 

 of the district, as well as to a large number of those 

 who from distant lands have made pilgrimages to the 

 time-honoured castle. The work makes no pretensions 

 to high literary culture, but it does claim to be a 

 faithful and reliable record of the times, places, and 

 circumstances to which it refers. The materials 

 have been collected with much care, after a resi- 

 dence of many years on the Craigmillar estate. 

 The advantages thus derived have been greatly 

 increased, and my labour lightened, by the valuable 

 aid which I have received from several competent 



