THIRD PERIOD 466 STIRLING CASTLE and Parliament Hall, while the latter buildings were erected in what was the outer courtyard of the Castle. These are now the most interest- ing portions of the buildings, and date from the times of James m., James iv., and James v. The Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, 1473-98, edited by Dr. Dickson, of the General Register House, throw a good deal of light on the dates when some of these buildings were erected. Thus we find a payment made on 8th June 14-96 to Walter Marlyonne, mason, "in erlis of his condiciun (or contract) of biggin of the king's hous," which probably marks, as Dr. Dickson observes, the commencement of the erection of the Palace, generally assigned to the reign of James v. This contract was undertaken by Walter and John Merlioun, under the direction of Sir Thomas Smyth, a Churchman, as Master of Works. He was succeeded in 1496-97 by the Abbot of Lindores (who was also Keeper of the Palace of Linlith- gow), and in the end of the same vear ^7 Sir W. Betoune and Andrew Atoune. On one occasion the . Master Mason is sent for from Lin- lithgow to " gif his devis to the werk." There are numerous entries of payments for the works, but they are not sufficiently detailed to enable the different parts of the building to which they apply to be identified. At the same period (1490-1503) there was considerable outlay in con- nection with the formation of a large garden on the south side of the Castle. There can thus be no doubt that the erection of the Palace and the general improvement of the Castle were begun by James iv., although probably they were chiefly erected under the reign of his son. The Parliament House, however, situated on the east side of the quadrangle, is evidently, from its style, of a somewhat earlier date than the Palace, and may reasonably be assigned to the time of James in. FIG. 405. Stirling Castle. General Plan of Oastle (from the Ordnance Survey).
