31 JANUARY 1920, Page 20

The History of the Monastery of Holyrood and of the

Palace of Holyrood Howse. By John Harrison. (Blackwood. 25s. net.) —This is an interesting and well-written book, with some good illustrations by Mn W. D. M`Kay. The monastery of Holyrood was founded by David I., that " Sair saint for the Crown;" about 1128, and was burned by Hertford's army in 1544. The fine chapel was repaired afterwards, but was again wrecked by the Presbyterians at the Revolution ; owing to sheer neglect it fell into ruins, as it is now, in 1768. The Palace was built by James IV. for the reception of his English bride, Margaret Tudor, about 1500, and for a hundred years was the centre of Scottish politics and intrigue. After the Union of the Crownii under James VI. and I., Holyrood was little used. Charles II. rebuilt the Palace, and his Privy Council for Scotland sat there. Through the eighteenth century it became a sanctuary for debtors. The Due d'Artois, fleeing from the Revolution of 1789, lived in the Royal apartments and returned there after the Revolution of 1830. George IV., who with all his faults had a liking for order, abated the scandals of Holyrood and restored the Palace, which he had inspected in 1822. Queen Victoria was the first Sovereign to live at Holyrood since Charles L's day. Such is the outline of the story which Mr. Harrison tells in his attractive book.