Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/140

FOURTH PERIOD 124 GLAMIS CASTLE Mr. Millar is of opinion that Santvoort's work probably consisted of some of the carved chimney-pieces and the picture-frames which were made while he was at the castle, and that it is likely that the stone carving of the Royal arms and the bust of Earl Patrick over the front door were done by him, as well as the carving of the gladiators, and the satyrs and lions which adorn the principal gate. From the Book of Record Mr. Millar gives many extracts referring to the various tradesmen and the sums paid to them for their work, and a lively picture is presented of the wranglings and browbeating between them and the Earl. It is interesting to know that for the work done by the Earl, he himself was sole architect and contriver, as will be seen from the following extract from the Record as quoted by Mr. Millar : " I confess I am to blame that, designing so great a matter as these reformationes putt all together comes to, I did not call such as in this age were known and repute to be the best judges and contrivers ; for I never bestowed neither gold nor money upon this head ; and I look upon advyce as verie necessarie to the most parte of undertakers, and the not-seeking and taking counsill is comonly the cause why things are found amiss in the most parte of men's doeings that way ; nor have I the vanity to consider my owne judgment as such as (that) another cannot better. Yet, being resolved to performe what I have done with little money and by degrees, and more to please and divert myselfe than out of any ostentatione for I thank God I am as little envious as any man, and am verie glad to behold things well ordered and contrived att other men's dwellings, and never judged anything of my owne small endeavours worthie to make so much noise as to call for or invit to either of my houses the Public Architecturs. My work and projects lykwayes being complexed things, and hardly one man being to be found fitt to give advyce in all, I never judged it worth the trouble of a Convocatione of the severall Artists, such as Messons, whos talent comonly lyes within the four walls of a house ; wrights, for the right ordering of a roofe, and the finishing of the timber work within ; gaird- ners, for gardins, orchards, etc. I have, indeed, been at the charge to employ one who is to make a book of the figures and draughts and frontispiece in Talyduce [Tailledouce, the French term for copperplate etching] of all the king's Castles, Pallaces, towns, and other notable places in the Kingdom, belonging to privat subjects, whose desyre it was at first to me, and who himselfe passing by deemed the place worthie of the taking notice of, and to this man (Mr. Sletcher by name) I gave liberall money, because I was loath that he should doe it at his owne charge, and that I knew the cuts and ingravings would stand him money. " This last reference is to Slezer and his work, the Theatnnn Scotice. It would be interesting to know if the previous Earl Patrick, whose alterations are really of more importance, was likewise his own architect, or who it was that he employed.