Much is known about life at the castle from the account book of David Beaton. Beer was brewed by the Widow Fallousdale. In 1541 a whale beached at Byrehills (now Boarhills) was brought to the castle and salted. The Cardinal employed William Blair as a drummer. Onion and lettuce were grown in the castle garden. Two priests, Henry Balfour and James Bykartoun, were masters of work, supervising improvements to the castle and gardens. Christopher Grymmerschere, a French military engineer, provided guns, and Master Wolf made new cannon, and John Fynnyk was the castle gunner. Coal for the castle was shipped from West Wemyss.Robert Kerr Hannay, Rentale Sancti Andree (Edinburgh: SHS, 1913), pp. 70, 109, 124-5, 154-5, 176-7, 181-2. Three women from Edinburgh and Dunfermline accused of witchcraft were held at the castle and executed by burning on 10 October 1542.Robert Kerr Hannay, Rentale Sancti Andree (Edinburgh: SHS, 1913), pp. 139, 141.
