Mar’s WarkThe ruined frontage at the head of Broad Street is all that remains of the magnificent renaissance palace built by John, sixth Earl of Mar, Regent of Scotland, between 1570 and 1572. The central feature consists of an archway surmounted by the Royal Arms and flanked by two octagonal staircase towers. The left-hand tower bears the Regent’s arms and the inscription: I PRAY AL LVIKARIS ON THIS LVGING VITH GENTIL E TO GIF THAIR IVGING On the right-hand tower the Regent’s arms are impaled with those of his Countess and the inscription runs THE MOIR I STAND ON OPPIN HITHT MY FUVLTIS MOIR SUBIECT AR TO SITHT Over the rear archway of the pend is a third panel, the inscription on which forms a sardonic corrective to the two outside. ESSPY . SPEIK . FVRTH . AND . SPAIR . NOTHT CONSIDDIR . VEIL . I . CAIR . NOTHT These inscriptions and the details of the architecture are typical, though very early examples of Scottish renaissance work. The unusual refinement of the design is sometimes attributed to the Regent’s employment of French craftsmen attached to the Scottish Court. The building has been a ruin since about the middle of the eighteenth century.
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