Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 1.djvu/593

 DUNNOTTAR CASTLE - 573 - THIRD PERIOD On the east end, owing to the slope of the ground, there is a small basement floor, probably used as a wine-cellar, as there is a hatch in the floor above for drawing up supplies. In this cellar, it is said, there were confined no fewer than forty-two of the Covenanters. The upper floor of this wing contains two apartments, which seem to have been used as a private room and a bedroom. Over the fireplace of the inner room is the sculptured stone (shown in Fig. 484), containing the arms and monograms of Earl William Keith and his first wife, Elizabeth Seton, daughter of the Earl of Winton, who died in 1650. This Earl espoused the Royal cause, and was a strong supporter of Charles n., whom he entertained at Dunnottar. At the Restoration he was made Lord Privy Seal. The above stone is dated 1645, about which time this latest addition to the castle was probably made, in order to provide a suitable suite of apartments for distinguished guests. There is a small detached building at the south-east angle of the platform. The rock at this point is not quite so inaccessible as at all others, and this building seems to have been a guard-room, deemed requisite at this comparatively weak point. The ground floor contained the latrines for the garrison. It is uncertain at what time artillery was introduced into Dunnottar, but there are extensive earthen embankments, with embrasures for guns, on both the east and north sides of the platform. The open space next the latter has been levelled, and may have been used as a bowling- green. The only siege of any consequence to which Dunnottar has been subjected occurred in l652,when it was blockaded by General Lambert, and forced to surrender. The garrison however was permitted to march out with drums beating and colours flying. The iron guns and four mortars were allowed to remain, but twenty-one brass cannons were removed by the Parliamentary forces. The besiegers had anticipated the capture of the Regalia of Scotland, which had been committed to this fortress for safe keeping ; but they were disappointed, as these insignia had been removed secretly by the wife of the Rev. James Grainger, minister of Kinneff, and concealed under the pavement of his parish church. Earl Marischal having joined the Stewarts in 1715, his castle was reduced and partly destroyed by Argyll in 1716, and was finally dis- mantled in 1718. The castle and estate now belong to Major Innes of Cowie.