34 CraigJiiillar and its Environs. 



there is not sufficient authority to affirm positively. 

 James V., however, being kept a prisoner in Edinburgh 

 Castle during his minority, was removed to Craigmillar 

 in 1 5 14, when the plague broke out in the city, to be 

 out of the way of infection. While there, he was 

 privileged to see his mother under certain restrictions? 

 through the kindness of his guardian, Lord Erskine. 



Craigmillar was taken by the English invaders 

 under Hertford, and was partly demolished, a great 

 part of it being burned. John Knox, in his ' History 

 of the Reformation,' describing the entry of the 

 English army under the Earl of Hertford into Leith 

 in 1544, says: "Upon the Mononday the fyft of May, 

 came to thame from Berwick and the Bordour two 

 thousand horsemen, who, being somewhat reposed, the 

 army, upoun the Wedinesday, marched towards the 

 Toune of Edinburgh, spoyled and brynt the same, 

 and so did thei the Palace of Halirud-house. The 

 horsmen took the House of Craigmyllare, and gat 

 great spoyle therein; for it being judged the strongest 

 house near the Toune, other than the Castell of Edin- 

 burgh, all men sought to saif thare movables tharein. 



