The buildings on the western side of the square, adjoining to the palace of James V., are of a much plainer and more antique character. It is supposed that they are of a date antecedent to the reign of James II.; a room being still shown, where that monarch is said to have stabbed the Earl of Douglas. James II. was exceedingly annoyed, through the whole of his reign, by this too powerful family of nobles, which at one time had so nearly unsettled him from his throne, that, in a fit of disgust, he formed the resolution of retiring to the continent. William, Earl of Douglas, having entered into a league with the Earls of Crawford and Ross against their sovereign, James invited him to Stirling Castle, and endeavoured to prevail upon him to break the treasonous contract. Tradition says, that the King led him out of his audience-chamber (now the drawing-room of the deputy-governor of the castle,) into a small closet close beside it, (now thrown into the drawing-room,) and there proceeded to entreat that he would break the league. Douglas peremptorily refusing, James at last exclaimed in rage, ‘Then, if you will not, I shall,’ and instantly plunged his dagger into the body of the obstinate noble. According to tradition, his body was thrown over the window of the closet into a retired court-yard behind, and there buried; in confirmation of which, the skeleton of an armed man was found in the ground, at that place, some years ago. Some of the less credible chronicles of these early events affirm, that Douglas came to Stirling upon a safe-conduct under the King’s hand, and that his followers nailed the paper upon a large board, which they dragged at a horse’s tail, through the streets of Stirling, threatening at the same time to burn the town. The King’s closet, or Douglas’ Room—for it is known by both names—is a small apartment, very elaborately decorated in an old taste. In the centre of the ceiling is a large star having _radii_ of iron; and around the cornices are two inscriptions. The upper one is as follows, ‘JHS (7) _Maria salvet rem pie pia_’—which may be thus extended, constructed, and translated, _‘Pie Jesus, hominum salvator, pia Maria, salvete regem’—Holy Jesus, the saviour of men, and holy Mary, save the King_. The lower inscription is _‘Jacobus Scotor Rex’—James, King of Scots_. [Illustration: _PLATE. IV._ A. S. Masson Del^t. J. Gellatly Sculp^t. PARLIAMENT HOUSE. STIRLING CASTLE.]