Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 1.djvu/564

 THIRD PERIOD 544 RAVENSCRAIG CASTLE overlooks the castle. The parapet wall on the side of the platform next the courtyard does not now exist. The enclosing walls round the top of the rock, which are of irregular, wedge-shaped form, remain only in portions here and there. They have been ornamented with corbels similar to those of the curtain. Within these walls were offices, now all ruined, the foundations only being trace- able ; but several windows on the east side, overlooking the sea, indicate the existence of extensive buildings. In all likelihood the kitchen was in this quarter, as there is no appearance of one in the main buildings. At the extreme point of the rock are the remains of a rounded bastion, and at the north-west corner there seems to have been a postern entering from the ditch, the rybats of one side of which still remain. The passage from the postern is between the keep and enclosing wall, and has long been built over. A wall on the very edge of the precipice above the beach is loopholed. The appearance of Ravenscraig from the shore is most majestic, and the ruin, being in tolerable preservation, is well worthy of a little care. Its aspect would be greatly improved by being roofed, and its preserva- tion at the same time would thus be best secured. The eastern battle- ments are all overgrown with trees and shrubs, which in a short time will bring this part of the castle to the ground. In the preface to the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, vol. vii., edited by Mr. George Burnett, Lyon King of Arms, the following admirable sketch is given of the various incidents connected with the building of Ravenscraig by James n. and his Queen, Mary of Gueldres : " The most extensive work carried on by the Queen, to which a large share of her income was devoted, was connected with the Castle of Ravenscraig. It was probably James H. who conceived the design of placing a Royal castle on the cliff that protrudes into the Firth of Forth near Dysart. On 8th March 1459-60, five months before that King's death, the lands of Dysart, specified as Wilstoune, Carbarry, and Dubbo, and of which this rocky promontory formed part, were resigned in the Queen's favour by Walter Ramsay and Janet, his wife, who held them as vassals of the Earldom of Fife, they getting in exchange Crounerland, Manuelrig (the colliery excepted), and Gilleisland, near Linlithgow. "In the Linlithgow Accounts of 1466, 1468, and 1469, Crounareland is said to have been granted to Archibald Ramsay (the successor of Walter) in exchange for Ravenscraig. The same family of Ramsays are afterwards designed from the lands of Dunnone, in Forfarshire. " The building operations, begun at the very commencement of Mary's widowhood, were carried on with great vigour under the direc- tion of Master David Boys as Master of Works. In the Accounts of the Queen's lands and fermes for 1462 and 1463, Boys receives for this building sums amounting together to 600. Other entries tell us of