EDINBURGH CASTLE 448 THIRD PERIOD tained a lord's hall and a new court kitchen, besides chambers and lofts. At one time there were thirty culverins mounted on the battlements, but these were removed in 1540, and in 1562 a piece of ordnance, styled a " Moyane " was hoisted to the top of the tower. In 1385 the town of Edinburgh was burned by the Duke of Lan- caster, but the Castle repelled his siege. It was probably in conse- quence of the risk they ran from similar conflagrations that, under Robert u., the townspeople were allowed to build houses for security within the Castle walls, which must therefore have been of considerable extent. With the accession of the Stewarts to the throne, Edinburgh became the chief burgh of the kingdom. The Jameses resided chiefly here, and it would appear that they considerably extended the accommodation by building a hall and Royal apartments at the south-east corner of the Castle rock. This building is well seen from the Esplanade, whence also may be observed the corbels which mark the former height of its parapet at the floor line of the top story, which is evidently a late addition (Fig. 389). FIG. 390. Edinburgh Castle. Restoration by Dr. Robert Chambers. It was about this time that the Scottish nobles began to find the accommodation of their keeps or donjons too restricted, and when they commenced to build halls and more commodious residences within the
