Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 1.djvu/487

 STIRLING CASTLE - 467 THIRD PERIOD James HI. is also said to have built a chapel on the north side of the quadrangle, "which," says Grose, "he largely endowed, and procured to be made collegiate." This chapel was pulled down by James vi., in order to erect on the site the existing chapel for the baptism of his son, Prince Henry, which took place there with great pomp and ceremony in 1594. The outer bailey was enclosed with the wall, part of which still remains, and in which is situated the entrance gateway, flanked by two round towers. To the west of this is the basement of another round tower, which was standing when Slezer made his views of the Castle, about 1690. This outer gateway, wall, and towers are probably the work of James in. Outside of the above entrance gateway other works have been added at different times. The battery to the east, which commands Stirling Bridge, is said to have been erected by Mary of Lorraine, and is still called the " French Battery." The other works connected with the outer gate were built under Queen Anne, whose initials they bear. These are of some interest as being, we believe, along with the fortifications of Berwick-on-Tweed, the only specimens of batteries of this description north of the Tweed. The walls are of great thickness, and are provided on the top with embrasures for guns, lined with ashlar, while the parapet is formed of earthwork, and covered with turf. The platforms for work- ing the guns are broad, and are supported on arches, forming casemates. Several of these are designed as flanking works, and are provided with loopholes for cannon. We also find here the peculiar watch-turrets or sentry-boxes of stone which distinguish the period. Similar watch- turrets are conspicuous objects on the walls of Edinburgh Castle. The Parliament Hall (Fig. 406), as above mentioned, is the most ancient part of the existing buildings, with the exception of the tower at the south-west angle of the Palace, and of some of the walls of enceinte, and other walls now concealed by more modern buildings. The general design of this hall corresponds with that of the English halls of the period, having two large oriels at the south or dais end of the hall, and having originally an open timber roof (now removed). The hall is 125 feet long by 36 feet 6 inches wide. The oriels were roofed with groined vaulting, and that of the west window is still preserved. The hall enters from the level of the inner court, but has a story below that level towards the outer court on the east. The lower floor is vaulted, and divided into a number of apartments, which were used as kitchen offices, guard-rooms, etc. A turret stair on the east side leads from the ground to the roof, with a door communicating with the hall on the upper floor. The principal entrance to the hall was from the inner ward qn the west side, where there has been a covered way or cloister extending along that side of the building. Some of the corbels which supported