Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/345

 BIRSAY PALACE 329 FOURTH PERIOD block, when tried for treason. The inscription no longer exists, but ran as follows : " Dominus Robertus Stewartus, films Jacobi Quinti Rex Scotorum." He thereby assumed to himself the title of King of Scots, while perhaps he only intended to give it to his father James v. If so, his bad Latin cost him dear. This part of Orkney contains a considerable extent of good corn-land, and may therefore have been selected by Earl Robert for his residence. The palace is now greatly ruined, but the general plan is quite distinctly traceable. It is situated close to the sea-shore, and would be convenient for boating and sea-carriage. The palace consists of a courtyard sur- rounded with buildings two stories' in height (Fig. 780). The entrance is by an archway at the south end, where there are two vaulted towers at the angles which would serve to strengthen the approach. These towers and the walls of the ground floor are well provided with shot- GROUND PLAN * FIRST FLOOR PLAN FIG. 780. Birsay Palace. Plans. holes. The building measures 170 feet long by 117 feet wide over the towers. The principal rooms were on the first floor, along the north side of the quadrangle, the kitchen being on the ground floor at the same end. The staircase was in the turret at the north-east angle of the courtyard, but is now greatly destroyed. The buildings along the east and west sides of the square are so dilapidated as to render it difficult to say what purposes they served. Along the west side there appear to have been apartments for servants and garrison on the ground floor, to judge from the fireplaces in the walls, while along the east side there may have been stables and offices. The upper floor no doubt contained bedrooms and reception-rooms, having large windows and chimneys carried up on the outer wall, which give a peculiar aspect to the now roofless building (Fig. 781).