Editing Caerlaverock Castle (section)

===Earls of Nithsdale===
In 1619 [[Robert Maxwell, 1st Earl of Nithsdale|Robert, 10th Lord Maxwell]], married Elizabeth Beaumont, cousin of the [[George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham|Duke of Buckingham]], a [[favourite]] of [[James VI of Scotland]]. He was subsequently made [[Earl of Nithsdale]] and appointed to the [[Privy Council of Scotland]]. To reflect his new status he built the elaborate south and east ranges within the castle, known as the Nithsdale Lodging.<ref name=BOS141/>

[[File:CaerlaverockCastle1900.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left|Caerlaverock Castle in 1900]]
The new ranges were completed around 1634. Nithsdale was at Caerlaverock in August 1637, and wrote to [[Sir Richard Graham, 1st Baronet|Sir Richard Graham]] asking for dogs for hunting and breeding.<ref>''HMC 6th Report: Graham'' (London, 1877), p. 335.</ref> Religious turmoil soon turned against the staunchly Catholic Maxwells. In 1640 the Protestant [[Covenanter]] army besieged Caerlaverock for 13 weeks, eventually forcing its surrender. According to [[Henry Vane the Elder|Sir Henry Vane]], the Earl and Countess of Nithsdale and their page were allowed to leave, but 40 defenders called Maxwell were put to the sword.<ref>''Calendar State Papers Domestic: 1640–1641'', vol. 17 (London, 1882), p. 84: TNA SP16/467/26.</ref> The south wall and tower were demolished, and the castle was never repaired or reoccupied.<ref name=BOS141/>

In the mid 19th century, the castle was in the possession of [[William Constable-Maxwell, 10th Lord Herries of Terregles]] (1804–1876), heir of the 5th Earl of Nithsdale.<ref>[[L. G. Pine]], ''The New Extinct Peerage 1884-1971: Containing Extinct, Abeyant, Dormant and Suspended Peerages With Genealogies and Arms'' (London: Heraldry Today, 1972), p. 146</ref>