HOLYROOD PALACE 97 



of Midlothian^ and many of the most romantic and thrilling 

 episodes in that famous novel were enacted here. Of the 

 old Abbey Church, as has been said, only a ruined nave now 

 remains. At its east end, during the last few years, extensive 

 excavations have been made. They have revealed many traces 

 of old foundations of choir and transepts destroyed in the 

 sixteenth century, and show what a magnificent building 

 it must have been in olden times. Outside the north-east 

 corner of the church is a mural tablet to John Milne, the 

 famous master-mason. Besides the sundial mentioned before, 

 and many splendid carvings both in and outside the palace, he 

 designed and executed a superb and most original balustraded 

 staircase in stone, which leads to the private apartments of 

 the Sovereign. 



The half quadrangle enclosed on two sides by the Abbey 

 and east front of the palace, presents another fine opportunity 

 for a garden restoration. Here was the old bowling-green, 

 and a little to the south-east, near the gateway to Parson's 

 Green, were St. Anne's Yards. Some parts of these might 

 well be enclosed once more, leaving the extensive lawn to 

 the south of the palace for royal garden-parties and outdoor 

 receptions. A third and smaller ' privy garden,' opposite 

 the south-west tower, would complete the design. Alongside 

 the boundary here, there is a wide border filled with gay but 

 harmonious colour of countless beautiful flowers. They are 

 shown to great advantage by means of a shrubbery — consist- 

 ing for the most part of evergreens — behind them. If, from 

 the large expanse of lawn, hedges or walls were made to cut 

 off a small plot planted in the same manner as the border 

 already existing, and a water garden with fountains, for 

 instance, were introduced as a centre, a very fine effect would 

 be created, and the whole garden would once again become 

 a place of " pleached alleys and secluded pleasances." 



Enough has been said to show that notwithstanding all its 

 atmospheric disadvantages, all the many years of neglect it 

 has sufi^ered in the past, the garden at Holyrood is not only 

 well kept up and cultivated now, but that the splendour of 



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