Craigmillar Castle— Its Historical Associations. 31 



any part of Scotland have such a commanding range 

 of country, ahke diversified and picturesque. Looking 

 in a southern and western direction, there is a view of 

 strath, gently sloping valley, and woodland, which roll 

 on until backed by high mountain ranges far beyond. 

 Towards the north, the fertile fields of Fifeshire meet 

 the eye, the " East Neuk " stretching away into the 

 German Ocean in the distance. Looking eastward, 

 there opens up such a charming prospect of land and 

 water, that the eye of the beholder never wearies in 

 gazing upon it. There is the blue gleaming ocean, 

 which washes the shore only a few miles from the 

 ancient castle, and stretches far away in the distance, 

 leaving North Berwick Law and the Bass Rock as 

 impressive landmarks ; while Aberlady Bay, fringed 

 with the green woodlands of Gosford, fill up the 

 picture. Such a landscape, viewed from Craigmillar 

 Castle on a beautiful spring morning, or a still 

 summer's eve, by the lover of nature, is one upon 

 which memory delights to dwell. 



In 1477 Craigmillar was the scene of a curious state 

 tragedy. The Duke of Albany and the Earl of Mar 



