This place was alio a favorite refidence of James VI. on accouJ
of the fine park, and plenty of deer. The eaft fide was accident!
ally burnt in the time of Charles II. and the park ruined during!
Cromwell,s ufurpation, when the fine oaks were cut down in order!
to build the fort at Perth.
In the old caftle was cruelly ftarved to death, by the villainy oil
his uncle the Duke of Albany, David Duke of Rotfcefay, ion to
Robert III. For a time his life was prolonged by the charity of
two women ; the one fupplying him with oaten cakes, conveyed]
to him through the prifon grates: the other, a wet nurfe, with]
milk, conveyed by means of a pipe. Both were detected, and
both moft barbaroufly put to death *.
Near the prefent palace are feveral houfes, marks of the muni.]
ficence of James VI. who built and beftowed them on his attend-J
ants, who acknowledge his bounty by grateful infcriptions on the] walls, moftly in this ftyle :
‘ A 1 praiie to G od and thankis to the moft excellent monarche]
‘ of Great Britane of whofe prineelie liberalitie this is my port]
4 tioune. Nicol Moncrief. 161 c . ’
Continue our journey along the plain, which is partly arable,]
partly a heath of uncommon flatnefs, darkened with prodigious]
plantations of Scotch pines. In the midft is M e l v i l , the feat of]
M e l v i l h o u s e , the Earl of Levin and Melvil-, a fine houfe, with nine windows is]
front, defigned by Mr. James Smith, and built-in 1692.
The noble owner is defcended, by the female'line, from Jit* |
ander Lejly, firft of the title; a gallant and moft trufted officer,]
* Buchanan, lib. X. c. 10»
undet I
Eder the great Gujlavus Adolphus. To him he gave the defence
of Stralfund, when befieged by the Imperialifts, whofe commander,
die impious or tire frantic JValftein, fwore he would take the place,
idioudf it hung in the air from heaven by a chain of adamant* :
but °Lejly difappointed his rodomontade. On his return to Scot-
Eii he headed the covenanting army, during part of the civil
Ears, and contributed greatly -to the vi&ory of Marjton-moor, in
i 1644. After the death of Charles I. he favored the loyal party,
has imprifoned, and fuffered fequeftration; fo little did the parliament
refpeft his former fervices. A neat .miniature of him is
ihreferved here, and a fine medal given him by Gujlavus, for his
brave defence of Stralfund.
I Gujlavus himfelf, at full length, in a fhort buff coat. This
■ortrait is an original, brought out of Germany by the General.
mGtorge, Earl of Melvil, Lord High Commiffioner in 1690, a
poft he received as a reward for his fufferings in 1683, when he
K|iad the honor of being accufed of correfponding with the virtuous
Bord Rujfel; was obliged to fly into Holland, and, on refufing to
jppear on being cited, fuffered, till the Revolution, the forfeiture
R ) f his eftate.
B David, Earl of Leven, commander of the forces in North-Bri-
j j from 1706 to 1710, a fine half-length, in armour, looking
Bver his ihoulder. By Sir John de Medina.
I In the garden is a fquare tower, one of the fummer retreats of
Bardinal Beaton; and near it is Cardan'& well, named from the
B e ra ted phyiician, who was fent for from Milan, to. Hamilton,
* Hart's L ife o f Gujiaants, I. 99.
B b 2 archbiihop