HISTORICAL AND DESCRTPTIVE NOTES. 77
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little to the east of Winchburgh station, the old square keep is distinctly seen
from the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway. It is well known that the unfortunate
Mary Stuart found shelter within its massive walls, on her flight from
Loch Leven to the disastrous field of Langside, in 156%. Her loyal host and
protector' was long commemorated by a brief inscription on an oblong stone
tablet surmounting the east window of the Castle. Unfortunately, the tablet
has disappeared within the last few years ; but the restoration of the inscription
is contemplated by the Earl of Hopetoun, to whom the ancient structure
now belongs. The tablet appears on the following page.
THE OLD YEW TREE
While leaving the more historical features, let us glance for a little -at the
picturesque, and from the Dean Cemetery, with its memories of departed
1 George, seventh Lord Seton, who was Provost of Edinburgh in 1557. He was the elder
brother of John, first Baron of Cariston in the county of Fife, and half-bro:her of Mary Seton, one
of the ' four Maries ' in attendance upon the beautiful Scottish Queen. The office of Provost was
also held by his distinguished son Alexander, Earl of Dunfermline (younger brother of the first
Earl of Winton). from IS+ to I*. Lord Dunfermline, whose armocia1 ensigns appear
in the upper portion of the great south window in the Parliament House, was appointed President
of the Court of Session in 1593, and discharged the duties of Chancellor of Scotland from
1604 till his death at Pinkie in 1612. Impartial as a judge and able as a statesman, he is praised
by both Spttiswoode and Calderwood
