in what was of old the open garden ground attached
t o the palace. The tradition of its having been
the Queen?s bath is of considerable antiquity.
Pennant records an absurd story to the effect that
she was wont to use a bath of white wine ; but the
spring of limpid water that now wells under the
earthen floor attests that she resorted to no other
expedient than aqua jura to exalt or shield her
charms. And the story is also referred to in a
poem called ?( Craigmillar,? published about 1770.
William Graliam, the last Earl of Airth, who died
in 1694, from the Earl of Linlithgow. By him it
is described as being situated at the back of Holyrood,
arid having before belonged to Lord Elphinstone.
The ?History of Holyrood,? published in 1821,
states that the old house of Croft-an-Righ, an
edifice of the sixteenth century, had been the
residence of the Regent Moray, and with its garden
was ?gifted, along with several of the adjoining
dence of Scottish courtiers in the days of other
years. The most remarkable of these is the
ancient house of CYofan-Rl;sS?I, or the Field of
the King. Corbelled turrets adorn its sollthern
gable, and dormer windows its northern front,
while many of the ceilings exhibit ela5orate
stucco details, including several royal insignia.
Traditionally this house, which, in 1647, was
approached from the Abbey burying-ground by an
arched gate between two lodges, has been erroneously
associated with Mary of Guise; but is
of the said Abbey of Halirudhouse, grantit the
privilige of the Girth (protection and sanctuary)
to the hail boundis of the said Abbey, and to
that part of the burghe of the Cannogait, fra the
I Girth Corse (cross) down to the Clokisrwne Mylne,
quhilk privilige has bene inviolablie observit to all
manner of personis curnond wytin the boundes
aforsaid, not committand the crymes expresslie
exceptit for all maner of girt%, and that in all
tymes bigane past memorie of man.?
