Anniversary Address. 209 



and was most likely the site of the Collegiate Church of 

 Dirleton, founded by Sir Walter Halyburton. in 1444. 



Dirleton Castle in its ruinous condition is still, as Lord 

 Hailes called it, " a mighty fabric ;" its exterior is massive 

 but plain. There is a conspicuous Norman arch on the east- 

 ern side. The interior has been very commodious, the num- 

 ber of vaulted, domed, and other chambers being great ; wells, 

 a huge oven, cellars, and turnpike stairs make up the in- 

 ventory. In an open oblong apartment on the east is a 

 sculptured tomb, but the arms have been effaced from the 

 shield, and no one can conjecture to whom it may have be- 

 longed. Some of the mason's marks are yet uneffaced at the 

 eastern gate, where the portcullis barred the passage. It 

 may have been at this " Yett of Dirltoun " that in Novem- 

 ber, 1600, John Blinsell, Islay Herald, exercised his functions 

 for form's sake, in summoning the defunct William, Earl of 

 Gowrie, to appear before the King's Council for treason 

 against King James. The Castle has not been inhabited 

 since 1650, when Monk and Lambert, who had reduced to 

 surrender a band of mosstroopers who had seized it, dis- 

 mantled it. The only other siege it is known to have under- 

 gone was in 1298, during the invasion of Scotland by 

 Edward I., who deputed the duty of besieging it to Anthony 

 de Beck, Bishop of Durham. He compelled the garrison to 

 surrender, after several days' assault, the opportune arrival 

 of provisions by sea having invigorated his men, who had 

 been reduced to eating beans and peas picked up in the 

 fields, on which provender they had been unable to make 

 good their attack. 



Dirleton has belonged to the De Vauses, the Haliburtons, 

 the Ruthvens (Earls of Gowrie), the Erskines (Earls of 

 Kellie), the Maxwells of Innerwick (now represented by the 

 Marquis of Salisbury), and latterly by the descendants of the 

 Nisbet family. At present the Castle, grounds, and garden 

 are preserved with the utmost care ; on the northern garden 

 wall is a Wisteria, whose immense branches are trained 

 along its southern aspect to the length of about 200 feet. A 



