Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/369

FYVIE CASTLE 353 FOURTH PERIOD bracket, and on the wall side they rest on moulded imposts, with the Seton crest beneath, and under this a shield charged with the Seton arms and those of the Earl's two wives, Lilias Drummond and Grizel Leslie. Near the top of the staircase the following inscription carved in oak is inserted in the wall : ALEXANDER SETON, LORD FYVIE. DAME GRESSEL LESLIE, LADIE FYVIE. 1603, the four words composing the Earl's name being separated by crescents and cinquefoils for his Lordship's paternal and maternal descent, and those of his lady's name by buckles, for the Leslies. FIG. 801. Fy vie Castle. South Elevatiou. The great staircase terminates at an entresol over the second floor, a small room being constructed over one of the quadrants of the staircase in the same position as the " guard-room " at Notland Castle. The newel ends in a kind of carved Gothic finial (see the small sketch in corner of Fig. 799)- This and other features of the staircase resemble those at N'otlaiid Castle, and are further referred to in the description of that building. Throughout the staircase there is a profusion of heraldic display, Lord Fyvie having quite a passion for that science. The charter-room in the Meldrum Tower is finished with wood panelling, and amid other carvings the same taste for heraldry is pro- minently displayed, as also on some of the fine plaster ceilings which abound throughout the castle. VOL. II. Z