Both these charters are still extant. The Palace of James V. has its eastern aspect towards this court-yard. It is a quadrangular building, having three ornamented sides presented to the view of the spectator, and a small square in the centre. The accompanying view (_PLATE III._) represents its southern side, being taken from the gateway under the block-house, through which the court-yard is entered. On each of the ornamented sides of this building, there are five or six slight recesses, in each of which a pillar rises close to the wall, having a statue on the top. These images are now much defaced, but enough yet remains to shew that they had been originally, like every other part of the palace, in a very extraordinary taste. Most of those on the eastern side are mythological figures—apparently Omphale, Queen of Lydia, Perseus, Diana, Venus, and so forth. On the northern side of the palace, opposite to the chapel-royal, they are more of a this-world order. The first from the eastern angle is unquestionably one of the royal founder, whom it represents as a short man, dressed in a hat and frock-coat, with a bushy beard. Above the head of this figure, an allegorical being extends a crown with a scroll, on which are the letter I. and the figure 5, for James V., (which are also seen above various windows of the building,) and the Scottish lion crouches beneath his feet. Next to the king is the statue of a young beardless man, holding a cup in his hand, who is supposed to be the king’s cup-bearer. Besides the principal figures, there are others springing from the wall near them; one of which is evidently Cleopatra with the asp on her breast. The visiter may derive a very good hour’s amusement from the inspection of these curious relics, some of which are valuable as commemorating costumes. [Illustration: _PLATE. III._ A. S. Masson Del^t. J. Gellatly Sculp^t. PALACE STIRLING CASTLE.] The small square within the Palace is called the Lions’ Den, from its having been the place, according to tradition, where the king kept his lions. It presents nothing remarkable in appearance.