Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 1.djvu/312

 THIRD PERIOD 292 - ROSYTH CASTLE the remainder being traceable here and there, as shown by dotted lines. The extensions being so ruinous, we have included this castle amongst the simple keeps, rather than the castles with courtyards. V PIG. 246. Rosyth Castle. Interior of Hall. The entrance to the courtyard is on the landward or northern side through an elliptic archway 6 feet wide, having a slightly projecting porch with a stone roof (Fig. 247). Above the porch are two panels, the arms on the undermost being quite decayed ; but the one above, in an ornamental frame, is well preserved. This panel contains a shield sur- rounded by a wreath of Scotch thistles and a crown above. At the base is a crouching unicorn, occupying the full width of the panel, which contains the date 156l, and the letters M. R. (Maria Regina), with a crown above the latter. It was in August of that year that Queen Mary sailed into the Forth on her return from France, and landed on the opposite shore at Leith. It is to be hoped that some effort will be made