Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 1.djvu/474

 THIRD PERIOD 454 EDINBURGH CASTLE served over the entrance to the Ordnance Office, and part is in the Antiquarian Museum. We next come to the arched gateway, built by the Regent Morton, below the site of the Constable's Tower. This building is shown on Gordon's map and Sandby's view, but it had then a flat crenellated roof for artillery, the present top story being a modern addition. The archway was very strongly defended with three gates and two portcullises. The mouldings quite correspond with those of the period (1574) (Fig. 394), as at Aberdour and Drochil Castles, both built by the Regent Morton. In the oblong panel formed by two Ionic pilasters over the arch, there were originally the Royal arms, and in the entablature alternating with the triglyphs may be seen the heart and star of the Douglas. The author of the Historic of King J canes the Sixt accuses Morton of disloyalty in thus purposely placing his own arms above the Lion of Scotland. The Royal arms are said to have been removed by Cromwell, and the inscription chiselled out from the stone below. 1 It is frequently said that the upper room in this tower was used as a State prison, and that both the Regent Morton's Argylls and many others were con- fined here before their execution. On passing through the archway a flight of steps is seen on the left, FIG. 394. Edinburgh Castle. Gateway. 1 Mr. Blanc informs us that he has ascertained from inspection of the walls that this building seems to be a part of the work executed in the time of King David n., the walls being more massy than those of any other part of the Castle, viz., 10 and 20 feet thick. He says : "The west face is rough rubble of early character. During the siege of 1573 the east and north fronts would be injured, which would necessitate repairs afterwards. Morton seems therefore to have veneered them with ashlar, and introduced a new moulded gate front, with contemporaneous detail." It should however be noted that the archway through the tower, with the portcullis grooves, and the vaulted room above which contained the apparatus for working the portcullises, are also of the Regent Morton's time. The great thickness of the walls of the gate tower at Borthwick shows that such buildings, after the introduction of artillery, were usually built with very thick walls.