EDINBURGH CASTLE - 445 - THIRD PERIOD There has been a large range of buildings for residential purposes along the northern wall of enceinte. These probably contained the hall and reception-rooms, which, in addition to the keep, were commonly erected in the courtyard of the castles of the nobles in the fifteenth century. But these, as well as the buildings which ran along the east and west walls of the courtyard, are now so completely destroyed that their bare outline can scarcely be traced. In 1590 King James vr. created the Church lands into a temporal barony, and bestowed them on Alexander Lindsay, son of the Earl of Crawford, with the title of Lord Spynie. EDINBURGH CASTLE. As might be inferred from the natural strength of its situation, the ^ Castle of Edinburgh is of very ancient date. Its name is attributed to Edwin, the Northumbrian king, who is said to have rebuilt the Castle in the year 626. The name of the " Maiden Castle," or, in its Latinised form, " Castrum Puellarum," has also been frequently applied to the Castle. This name is supposed by some to have reference to a nunnery which is believed to have existed within the walls at an early period ; but Dr. Robert Chambers thinks that it is of Celtic origin, the word " Maiden " being of frequent use^ as applied to fortifications, and is pro- bably a corruption of Mai Dun, signifying " a fort commanding a wide plain or district." Edinburgh Castle was used as a^fortress by the Scottish kings from ,, ^ an early period. ^ It was occupied by Malcolm Canmore, and at his death was besieged byTDonald Bane in 1093, for the purpose of getting posses- sion of Malcolm's son, the young King Edgar. Queen Margaret died in the Castle the same year. Her body was conveyed to Dunfermline, and Edgar made his escape by the postern, which was no doubt situated at the west side, somewhat in the position of the more recent postern now built up, but still distinctly visible in the wall. In 1107 occurs the first notice of the tower as a royal habitation, y under Alexander i., and in the reign of David i. the Castle is for the first time designated a royal residence. Under his successors, William the Lion, Alexander n., and Alexander in., it became the principal resi- dence of the King, and the depository of the national records and the regalia. The Castle was besieged and taken by Edward i. in 1291, and was frequently taken and retaken during the War of Independence. What the appearance of the Castle was in those early times we have no means of knowing, as it was entirely demolished by Bruce] in pursu- ance of his usual policy of leaving no place of strength standing which .i^U^ / . A) '
