Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/18

FOURTH PERIOD 2 INTRODUCTORY ordinary castles of the nobility had no chance against the improved artillery,, and that the ancient keeps and walls of enceinte were of little use as a defence against a serious siege. This led to a general change of plan. Instead of building castles to resist a siege, the nobles now contented themselves with a sufficient amount of fortification to render their dwell- ings safe against sudden attack. The result was that the Castellated Architecture of the end of the sixteenth and the following century was of an entirely different order from that of the previous periods. The idea of erecting fortified residences was gradually abandoned. The mansions of the nobility now began to be transformed from grim castles into ornamental country mansions,, whether built on the keep or the quadrangle plan. The sites of new buildings were selected rather for shelter from the elements than for defence against human foes. Hence we often find the houses or castles of this period erected on low ground near a river, or in some similar situation chosen for its amenity. The erection of castles of sufficient strength to resist artillery was admitted to be beyond the means of single individuals. It was acknow- ledged that that must be a national matter, and the construction of castles of defence was henceforth left in the hands of the Crown. The strong castle of Tantallon remained for some time an exception to this principle, but it belonged to the great family of the Douglases, who were in fact rather rivals than subjects of the Crown. III. The Reformation. Another event which took place about the time now under consideration had a powerful influence in developing the new style of architecture. This was the Reformation. One of the results of that great move- ment was the secularisation of the Church lands. The lion's share of these lands fell to the nobility and gentry, who had the power to seize and keep them, and who thus became suddenly enriched. This proved a lucky event for Domestic Architecture in Scotland. The nobles and country gentlemen were now in funds, and immediately proceeded to use them in extending their old mansions, or in building new ones. Hence arose the sudden development of Domestic Architecture which distinguishes the reign of James vi., and forms the Fourth Period of our Castellated or Domestic Style. As the stormy period of the Reformation began to abate, and more peaceful times succeeded, the country houses, although still adhering for the most part to the Scottish style, gradually dropped its military features, and became more domestic. IV. The Union of the Crowns of England and Scotland. -^-The reign of James vi. being a comparatively quiet one was propitious for Architec- ture, and the close connection of Scotland with England after James's