Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/134

FOURTH PERIOD 118 GLAMIS CASTLE There is a still earlier description of Glamis than either of those just referred to, in a Tour through Great Britain, supposed to be by Daniel Defoe., published anonymously in 1723,, in which the building, as shown in the Theatrum Scotioe, with the changes wrought upon it by the two Earls Patrick, may be recognised. The author tells us that " this palace, as you approach it, strikes you with awe and admiration by the many turrets and guilded ballustrades at the top." He then goes on to say that the outer court " has a statue on each side, on the top of the gate, as big as life. On the great gate of the inner court are ballustrades of stone finely adorned with statues ; and in the court are four brazen statues, bigger than the life, on pedestals ; the one of James vi. and i. of England in his stole ; the other of Charles i. in his boots, spurs, and sword, as he is sometimes painted by Vandyke ; Charles n. is in a Roman dress, as on the Exchange in London ; and James n. in the same he is in at Whitehall." As already stated, the existing condition of the house is principally due to the first Earl Patrick (1578-1615). An inscription on the central staircase tower over the doorway reads, ' ' Built by Patrick, Lord Glamis, and D. Anna Murray." Dame Anna Murray, the Earl's lady, was a daughter of John Murray, first Earl of Tullibardine. Their monograms are also to be seen on various parts of the heightened walls, with the date 1606, the year in which Lord Glamis was created Earl of Kinghorn. He also erected the large wing at the south-east angle, with the round tower at its corner, to make way for which necessitated the destruction of some of the buildings on the walls shown in Slezer's view. The buildings seem to have been completed by his son John, tenth Earl, whose monogram occurs over one of the west windows near the top. This Earl constructed the plaster ceilings of the east wing, dated 1620; also the plaster ceiling of the great hall, finished in 1620, and containing the monogram of John, second Earl of Kinghorn, [and his Countess, Margaret Erskine, daughter of the Earl of Mar. The iron railings on the roof, and the iron door-knocker, with the date 1687, seem due to his son Patrick, the eleventh Earl. This Earl, who succeeded in 1647, and died in 1695, has also left his mark on Glamis, both in pulling down and building up. He left behind him a Book of Record detailing his work at considerable length. He built the north-west wing, demo- lishing a great deal of old work to do so, and his description, which is as follows, will be readily understood from the plan : " The old house stands now in the middle, with two wings, whereof that upon the east syd cost me a new roofe, the other on the west syd was founded and finished by myselfe." Captain Grose visited Glamis in 1790, and tells us that the wing last erected had been partly taken down, and not then rebuilt, and his view of the castle shows it as being only the height of one story. Probably it