Edinburgh Bookshelf

Edinburgh Bookshelf

Search

Index for “tron church edinburgh”

L UCKENEOOTHS AND PARLIAMENT CLOSE. 203 Michaell Cranstoun, then a verie fordward minister,” profitably employed the leisure of the congregation by reading to them “ the Historie of Haman and Mordecai, and such other places of Scr+ture. . . . In the mean tyme, there ariseth a rumour in the toun, that the King had givin no good answere to the Kirk ; and in the Tolbuith, that the toun was in armes, before there was anie suche thing. But it fell furth so immediatelie ; for a messinger of Satan, suborned by some of the cubicular courteours, came to the kirk doore, and cried, ‘ Fly ! save yourselves ; ’ and ranne to the streets, crying, ‘ Armour ! armour ! ’ ” The consequences are readily conceivable, friends and enemies rushed together to the Tolbooth, and EO thoroughly terrified the King, that he speedily after forsook the capital, and vowed in his wrath that he would erase it from the face of the earth ! a proposition which he really seriously entertained.a The last Parliament at which royalty presided was held in the same New Tolbooth, immediately after the coronation of Charles I,, July 1633, and this was in all probability the latest occasion on which the Scottish Estates assembled in the ancient edifice, as the more modern Parliament House that still exists was then in course of erection. From this period the New Tolbooth was used exclusively for the meetings, of the Town Council, by whom it had been erected, and it was latterly known only by the name of the Council Chambers. Thither the unfortunate Earl of Argyle was brought from the Castle preparatory to his execution on the 30th June 1685, and from thence his farewell letter to his wife is dated. Fountainhall tells us, “ Argile came in coach to the Toune Counsell, and from that on foot to the scaffold with his hat on, betuixt Mr Annand, Dean of Edinburgh, on his right hand,-to whom he gave his paper on the scaffold,-and Mr Laurence Charteris, late Professor of Divinity in the College of Edinburgh. He was somewhat appaled at the sight of the Maiden,-present death will danton the most resolute courage, -therfor he caused bind the napkin upon his face ere he approached, and then was led to it.” Notwithstanding this incident mentioned by Fountainhall, who in all probability witnessed the execution, it is well known that Argyle exhibited unusual composure and self-possession on the occasion. The Maiden was erected, according to ancient custom in cases of treason, at the Cross, so that the Earl would have only a few paces to walk across the Parliament Close from the Council Chambers, to reach the fatal spot. As a more recent association with both the earlier and later uses of this building, Mait.land mentions -in addition to an armoury and wardrobe which it contained-that there also was the repository wherein were kept the sumptuous robes anciently worn by the City representatives in Parliament, together with the rich trappings and accoutrements for their horses, which were used in the pompous cavalcade at the opening of the Scottish Legislature, styled ‘‘ The riding of Parliament.” The Parliament Close, which lies to the south of St Giles’s Church, has passed through a series of stranger and more remarkable vicissitudes than any other portion of the Old Town. Could an accurate narrative now be given of all the circumstances accompanying these successive changes, it would s d c e to associate this narrow spot with many of the most memorable events in Scottish history, till the adjournment of its last Parliament there on the 22d of April 1707, never again to assemble. While St Giles’s was the Caldemood’s Hist., vol. v. p. 613. Fountainhall’s Historical Observes, p. 193. Ante, p. 88. ’ Maitland, p. 180. ... UCKENEOOTHS AND PARLIAMENT CLOSE. 203 Michaell Cranstoun, then a verie fordward minister,” profitably employed ...

Book 10  p. 222
(Score 0.25)

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 449 Dunkeld. Subsequently he spent a few years as tutor in one or two respectable families ; but abandoning his prospects in the Church, probably from some new impulse given to an early bias, he now embraced the medical profession ; and after due attendance on the prelections of the medical Professors in the University of Edinburgh, he took the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1796. Immediately thereafter he repaired to London, and attended for a short time the anatomical lectures of Dr. Marshall of Thavies Inn. The number of his pupils at the outset was limited ; but his talents and industry soon secured for him a reputation and a success which length of years only tended to strengthen and augment. In 1804 the Royal College of Surgeons adopted a resolution highly in his favour, by which it was declared that attendance on his lectures should in future qualify for passing at Surgeons’ Hall; and in 1815 he was admitted a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians, and a resident fellow the following year. Dr. Barclay was an enthusiast in his profession ; and besides his eminent qualifications, acquired by extensive and careful study, he was peculiarly happy in gaining the esteem, and carrying along with him the attention, of the student. Possessed of the most inflexible goodhumour, his discourses were not less profound and luminous than lively and interesting, from the appropriate anecdotes with which he seldom failed to illustrate whatever topic he might be engaged in discussing.’ In 1825 Dr. Barclay entered into partnership with Dr. Robert Knox, at that time Conservator of the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons. He had for some time previously been in a declining state of health, and his speech latterly became indistinct from the effects of palsy. He died on the 21st of August 1826, and his remains were interred in Restalrig Churchyard. His funeral was attended by many of his friends, and by the members of the Royal College of Surgeons in a body. Besides his Introductory Lectures, published since his death by his friend Sir George Ballingall, Professor of Military Surgery in the University of Edinburgh (who prefixed to the volume a Memoir of Dr. Barclay), he wrote the article Physi+ logy in the third edition (completed in 1797) of the Encyelopcedia Britannica. In 1803 he gave to the world a new anatomical nomenclature-a desideratum much felt by students in the science. It has not, however, been generally adopted, though the advantages to be derived from a precise and consistent vocabulary are universally admitted. In 1808 appeared his treatise on the “ Muscular Motions of the Eody,” followed, in 18 12, by another, descriptive Dr. Barclay began his first course of lectures in Edinburgh in 1797. Dr. Barclay was the author of several valuable medical works. Connected with this Print we have heard the following anecdote, characteristic of Dr. Barclay’s habitual good humour :-Having learned that the artist was engaged in the Caricature, the Doctor, accompanied by his friend Sir George Ballingall, called on Mr. Ray, to whom he waa unknown ; and being ushered into his working-room, was immediately recognised and named by the late Earl of Buchan, who happened to be sitting there. This occasioned some degree of embarrassment, from which Mr. Kay waa instantly relieved by the Doctor obsewing that he understood he waa engaged in a print, in which he, the Doctor, was to have a conspicuous place, and that he had come to inform Mr. Ray that, if he had not already got his likeness, he was prepared to sit for his portrait whenever the artist pleased. VOL 11. 3M ... SKETCHES. 449 Dunkeld. Subsequently he spent a few years as tutor in one or two respectable families ...

Book 9  p. 600
(Score 0.25)

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 75 his neck. He had, however, contracted (which the Print does give) an inveterate habit of stooping, which was rather injurious to his general aspect. In convivial society, especially when at the head of his own hospitable table, he was much disposed to be jocular, and was liberal of his store of pithy sayings and droll stories. In particular, he highly enjoyed the meetings of the well-known Poker Club, of which he was a member, along with his brother, and to which belonged at that time, Patrick Lord Elibank, Lord Ellioch, Dr. Adam Smith, Drs. Cullen, Black, and Gregory, Dr. Adam Fergusson, Old Ambassador Keith, Sir Gilbert Elliot, and many others ; some of them men of letters, others, persons of high birth, or eminent in public life. John Home was extremely regular and methodical in all his habits, punctual to his time in whatever he had to do, and not very tolerant with those who failed in this (as he rightly thought it) important article. It could not be truly affirmed that he was of an equally calm and placid temperament as his brother, the philosopher ; but the brothers entertained the most cordial affection for each other, and continued in constant habits of kind intercourse and mutual good offices to the end of their lives. Under the historian's will, the principal part of his effects went to his brother, who survived him. John Home died at Ninewells, on the 14th of November 1786, after a short illness, and in great composure of mind. He was interred in the family vault, under his parish church at Chirnside. He had always been on friendly terms with the good and worthy pastor of that parish, Dr. Walter Anderson, whom indeed no one could dislike, who valued simplicity and mildness of character, or felt the importance of the due discharge of all the duties of that holy office. By his marriage to Agnes Carre, John Home, who survived her, had eight children, of whom three sons, .Joseph, David, and John, and two daughters, Catherine and Agnes, survived him.' Joseph, when a young man, served as Captain in the Queen's Bays or 2d Dragoon Guards. He afterwards resided as a country gentleman, at Ninewells, where he died on the 14th of February 1832, unmarried, and at the advanced age of eighty-one. David was an advocate at the Scottish bar, and held successively the offices of Sheriff-Depute of Berwickshire, Sheriff-Depute of West Lothian, Professor of the Law of Scotland in the University of Edinburgh, one of the Principal Clerks to the Court of Session, and one of the Barons of the Court of Exchequer for Scotland; from which office he retired, on the statutory allowance, in February 1834. John was a man of great worth and good parts j and nature had gifted him with no small share of genuine pleasantry and humour, which were combined with a generous and an affectionate disposition. In the earlier part of his life, he did business with much credit, in Edinburgh, as a Writer to the Signet. In his latter years he gave up practice there, and took up his residence at Ninewells, with his eldest brother, the laird, who committed to him the chief or rather the entire charge of the management of his affairs, and the improvement of his estate. They carried into execution sundry judicious projects of draining, enclosure, and "he other three children, namely, Robed, Helen, and Agatha, died in infancy or early youth. ... SKETCHES. 75 his neck. He had, however, contracted (which the Print does give) an inveterate habit ...

Book 9  p. 99
(Score 0.25)

202 MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH. Nary, the Scottish Parliaments and the College of Justice assembled there, until their sitting were transferred to the fine hallwhich still remains in Parliament Square, though so strangely disguised externally by its modern facing. On the desertion of the New Tolbooth by the Scottish Estates and Courts of Law, it was exclusivly devoted to the deliberations of the civic counsellors, until the erection of the Royal Exchange provided enlarged accommodation for the Council. The Laigh Hall, where Assemblies both of the Kirk and Estates had often been held, was a large and handsome room. Its ceiling was beautifullywrought in various panels, with rich pendants from their centres, and finished with emblazonry and gilding. On its demolition some interesting and valuable relics of early decorations were brought to light. The walls had been originally panelled with oak, and when at a later period this came to be regarded as old-fashioned and inelegant, the antique panelling was concealed, without removal, behind a modern coating of lath and plaster. There is reason to believe that the compartments of the walls when first completed had been filled with a series of portraits, but unfortunately, little attention was paid to the old building at the period of its destruction, and we are only aware of one of the paintings that has been preserved. There is much probability in favour of this being an original portrait of the Queen Regent, Mary of Guise. It is well painted on an oak panel, and in fine condition, and was at -first believed to represent Queen Anne, the consort of James VI., having been almost completely obscured by smoke and dirt at the time of its discovery. It was then thought that it must have been accompanied by a portrait of .James ; and it is e xceedingly probable that others of equal value to the one thus accidentally preserved may have been thrown aside and destroyed with the discarded panelling. This curious portrait is now in the possession of Alexander Mackay, Esq. of Blackcastle. It represents the Queen in a high-bordered lace cap and ruff, such as both she and her daughter are usually painted with. The details of the lacework are elaborately rendered, and the expression of countenance is dignified and very pleasing. On the painting being cleaned, an ingenious monogram was brought to light, burned into the back of the panel, composing the word MARIA, and leaving, we think, little doubt of the genuineness of the portrait, which was thus found by accident, and has passed through no picture-dealer’s hands. To this ancient building belong many of the later historical associations that have been referred by some of our local historians to its predecessor. It was from one of its windows that the affrighted monarch James VI. attempted in vain to appease the enraged citizens in 1596, when, “had they not been restrained by that worthy citizen, John Watt, the deacon-convener,-who at this dangerous juncture assembled the crafts,-they would undoubtedly have forced the door, and probably have destroyed the King and all that were with him.” The whole tumult appears to have resulted in mutual distrust, which was taken advantage of by some designing meddlers to set the Court and citizens at variance. The Kirk and King were at the time nearly at open strife, and Mr Robert Bruce was preaching to a select audience in St Giles’s Church, preparatory to framing “ certain articles for redresse of the wrongs done to the Kirk,” while the King was Bitting in the neighbouring Tolbooth, “ in the seate of Justice, among the Lords of the Sessioun,” seemingly thinking of nothing less than the granting of any such requests. While the Commissioners went to the Tolbooth to make their wishes known to the King, “Mr Maitland, p. 48. ... MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH. Nary, the Scottish Parliaments and the College of Justice assembled there, until their ...

Book 10  p. 221
(Score 0.25)

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 335 that of old the population was much larger than it has been of late years ; that the decrease has been occasioned chiefly by the ravages of the small-pox, which, many years ago, had been brought into the island by some foreign vessel, and had swept away at once the whole population, excepting four families ; and that, though some from the neighbouring isles, who had come to live among them, have made an accession to their number, yet this catastrophe had given a death-blow to the population which it has not yet fully recovered. This is at least a rational account of the matter. " Their tradition also regarding their origin is extremely probable ; for in language, customs, and manners, and indeed in every other respect, they bear so complete a resemblance to their neighbours in the Western Isles, m to leave no room to doubt that they have originally sprung from them. Besides, the very names which are most prevalent in these isles-as M'Leod, M'Donalcl, M'Kinnon, Morrison, etc.-hold the same predominance in St. Kilda, a circumstance which strongly confirms the supposition. The language they speak is pure Gaelic, and the dialect that of Uist and Harris. There is, however, R rapidity, and an indistinctness, if not a degree of lisp in their utterance, which makes it rather difficult at first for a stranger to understand them ; but, in the course of a short time, he gets over this difficulty. Their peculiar employments (as has been already stated) consist in attending to their little farms, their cattle and sheep, and preparing a certain quantity of feathers annually for the tacksman, which may be considered the most arduous and enterprising part of their work. But I fear they cannot be exempted from the charge of almost habitual indolence. They are seldom wholly idle ; but when they are at any work, one would think that they are more anxious t o j l l up than to occupy the time. How desirable on this, as well as on many other accounts, that they might become savingly acquainted with that Gospel, which teaches its true subjects to be 'diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord I ' In this, as in many respects, they admit of much improvement ; and I have no doubt that, without interfering with the prerogative of a landlord or tacksman, a prudent missionary, by his advice and example, might effect much in this way, m well as in more important respects. If he has a sensible, judicious wife, too, who would take an interest in the females, it would be of vast advantage to them ; and such a companion in St. Kilda, I need scarcely say, would in every respect be an acquisition to his own comfort." As anticipated, Mr. M'Donald found the islanders extremely destitute of religious instruction. They had no place of worship ; and when he addressed them in a body, they assembled in a barn-an uncomfortable shed which belonged to all in common. But, although few of them were capable of reading, and consequently entertained an imperfect notion of the nature of a religious faith, he admits that in morality of conduct they were at least equal to their neighbours of the Hebrides ; and he found that several vices prevalent in more refined society were unknown amongst this primitive and secluded people. In consequence of the statements furnished by Mr. M'Donald, a subscription was entered into to erect a place of worship on St. Kilda, together with a suitable house or manse. While this design was in contemplation, and before its completion, Mr. M'Donald undertook other three journeys to St. Kilda,' in the welfare of whose inhabitants he felt an interest which overcame every fatigue or inconvenience. On one of these occasions he had the pleasure of laying the foundation-stone of the church destined for their use, and of laying off two acres of ground as a small glebe, attached to the house of the missionary ; and on the last of his visits he had the peculiar satisfaction to be accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Neil M'Kenzie and his family, who had been sent out by the Society, and whom he introduced to the grateful islanders as their future pastor. 1 Tbese were performed in 1825, 1827, and 1830. ... SKETCHES. 335 that of old the population was much larger than it has been of late years ; that the ...

Book 9  p. 445
(Score 0.25)

YAMES V. TO ABDICA TION OF QUEEN MAR Y. 65 Queen Regent, demanding the dismissal of all foreign& and men-at-arms from the town of Leith. To this she replied, with dignity, that their letter appeared rather as coming from a prince to his subjects, than the reverse, and referred them for further answer to the Lord Lion Herald, by whom the letter was sent.’ The Queen’s messenger found the Lords of the Congregation assembled in the Tolbooth, seriously debating whether she should be deposed from the Regency, as had been proposed to them by Lord Ruthven. The reformed preachers joined in the discussion, freely denouncing her as an obstinate idolatress, and a message was at length returned by the Lord Lion, intimating to her that they suspended her, in the name of their Sovereign, from the oEce of Regent. In furtherance of their plans, a herald was sent to summon all French and native solaiers to depart from Leith within twelve hours, and little regard being paid to their orders, immediate preparations were made for the assault. Scaling ladders were hastily prepared in the aisles of St Giles’s Church, which so offended the preachers, as an act of sacrilege, that they weakly prognosticated failure to the whole enterprise. The prophecy wrought its own fulfilment, for the troops were so intimidated thereby, that, upon marching to the attack, they forsook their artillery on the first sally that the enemy made, and retreated so precipitately to Edinburgh, that the foot were trampled down by the horsemen in their eagerness to enter the-city gates. The French pursued them to the middle of the Canongate and up Leith Wynd, slaying indiscriminately women and children as well as men, and plundering the houses exposed to their fury. The Queen Regent watched them from the ramparts, and welcomed them with ill-judged mirth, as they returned victorious, laden with the homely booty they had acquired in the action. ‘‘ One brought a kirtle, another a petticoate, the third a pott or panne.” Such was the panic at this period among the undisciplined rabble, who formed the main force of the Congregation, that their flight was with difficulty restrained on their reaching the West Port, at the opposite extremity of the city.’ A second contest, arising from an attempt by the French troops to intercept a convoy carrying proviRions into Edinburgh, was equally unfortunate. The forces of the Congregation, headed by the Lord James, got entangled in a morass at Restalrig. Haliburton, Provost of Dundee, one of the best of their leaders, fell in the action; and though they retreated at length with small loss, they were so completely disheartened, that they precipitately deserted the town that same night. The Regent immediately returned to the Capital; all who were in any way implicated in the reforming movements were compelled to flee, and the best houses in the town were conferred on her French soldiers as a reward for their services. Towards the close of the year both leaders were anxiously watching for the fist appearance of their allies’ fleets. The French commander at length hailed with delight the appearance of several large vessels bearing up the Forth, which he at once decided to be the promised French fleet; nor wa8 he disabused of his error, till he beheld his own victualling transports seized by them, and the English flag hoisted in their rigging. In the beginning of the following year, 1560, the Lords of the Congregation united Each party again turned for security to foreign aid. Keith, vol. i. p. 230. ’ CdderWOod, VOL i p. 650. &OS, p. 195-7. I ... V. TO ABDICA TION OF QUEEN MAR Y. 65 Queen Regent, demanding the dismissal of all foreign& and ...

Book 10  p. 71
(Score 0.25)

YAMES IV. TO THE BATTLE OF FLODDEN. 27 Within the gate, the houses were gaily decorated, the windows being hung with tapestry, and filled with “lordes, ladyes, gentylwomen and gentylmen ; and in the churches of the towne, bells rang for myrthe.” Here they were received by the chapter and prebendaries of St Gilea’s Church in their richest vestments, and bearing the arm of their patron saint, which they presented to their Majesties to kiss ; while the good city vied with the ecclesiastics in testifying their joy by pageants and quaint mysteries, suited to the auspicious occasion. Nigh to the cross, at which a fountain flowed with wine, whereof all might drink,’ they were received by Paris and the rival goddesses, “with Mercure that gaffe him the apylle of gold for to gyffe to the most fayre of the thre.” Further on was the salutation of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin ; while on another gate, probably the Netherbow, appeared the four virtues-Justice, treading Nero under her feet; Force, bearing a pillar, and beneath her Holofernes, all armed ; Temperance, holding a horse’s bit, and treading on Epicurus , and Prudence, triumphing over Sardanapalus ! while the tabrets played merrily as the royal prdcession passed through, and ao proceeded to the Abbey. There they were received by the Archbishop of St Andrews, accompanied by a numerous retinue of bishops, abbots, and other ecclesiastics, in their official robes, and conducted to the high altar, at which they knelt, while the (‘ Te Dam” was sung, and then passed through the cloisters into the Palace. In the great chamber (the hangings of which represented the history of Troy, and the windows filled with the arms of Scotland and England, and other heraldic devices, in coloured glass), were many ladies of great name and nobly arrayed ; and the King letting go the Queen, till she had kissed all the ladies, the Bishop of Moray acted as Master of the Ceremonies, naming each as she saluted her :-“ After she had kyssed them all, the Kyng kyssed her for her labour, and so took her again with low cortesay and bare hed, and brought hyr to hyr charmer, and kyssed her agayn, and so took his leve right humble ! ” ‘‘ The eighth day of the said month, every, man apointed himself richly for the marriage, the ladies noblyaparelled, some in gowns of cloth of gold, others of crimson, velvet, and black; others of satin, tynsell, and damask, and of chamlet of many colours; hoods, chains, and collars upon their necks. . . . . . The Kyng sat in a chape of cramsyn velvet, the pannells of that sam gylte, under hys cloth of astat of blew velvet fygured of gold; ” with the Archbishop of York at his right hand, and the Earl of Surrey on his left; while the Scottish bishops and nobles led the Queen frold her chamber, “crowned with a varey ryche crowne of gold, garnished with pierry and perles, to the high altar, where the marriage was solemnised by the Archbishop of Glasgow, amid the sound of trumpets and the acclamation of the noble company.” At the dinner which followed, the Queen was served at the first course with ‘‘ a wyld borres hed gylt, within a fayr platter,” followed by sundry other equally queenly dishes. The chamber was adorned with hangl Lelaod’e Collectan- vol. iv. p. 289. VIoNmm-Ancient padlock, dug up in Greytiara’ Churchyard, 1841. ... IV. TO THE BATTLE OF FLODDEN. 27 Within the gate, the houses were gaily decorated, the windows being hung ...

Book 10  p. 29
(Score 0.25)

68 MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH. Valence and Amiens, and other French commissioners, and a treaty was formally concluded and signed, by which, through the diplomatic skill of Cecil, the objects aimed at by Queen Elizabeth, as well as the real interests of the Congregation, were completely secured, notwithstanding the feeble remonstrances of the French commissioners. A separate convention, agreed to at the same time, bound the French garrison to remove all the artillery from the ramparts of Leith, completely to demolish its fortifications, and immediately thereafter to embark for France. On the 19th of July,-the third day after the embarkation of the French troops at Leith, and the departure of the English forces on their march homeward,-a solemn public thanksgiving was held by the reforming nobles, and the great body of the Congregation, in St Giles’s Church ; and thereafter the preachers were appointed to some of the chief boroughs of the kingdom, Knox being confirmed in the chief charge at Edinburgh. A Parliament assembled in Edinburgh on the 1st of August, the proceedings of which were opened with great solemnity. The lesser barons, from their interest in the progress of the reformed doctrines, claimed the privilege, which they had long ceased to use, of sitting and voting in the Assembly of the Three Estates. This led to the accession of nearly a hundred votes, nearly all of them adhering to the Protestant party. After the discussion of 8ome preliminary questions,-particularly as to the authority by which the Parliament was summoned,-Maitland was appointed their “ harangue maker,” or speaker, and they proceeded to choose the Lords of the Articles. Great complaint was made as to the choice falling entirely on those well affected to the new religion, particularly among the Lords Spiritual, some of whose representatives were mere laymen ;-but altogether without effect. c( This being done,” says Randolph, in an interesting letter to Cecil, U the Lords departed, and accompanied the Duke as far as the Bow,-which is the gate going out of the High Street,-and many down unto the Palace where he lieth; the town all in armour, the trumpets sounding, and all other kinds of music such as they have. . . . . . The Lords of the Articles sat from henceforth in Holyrood House, except that at such times as upon matter of importance the whole Lords assembled themselves again, as they did this day, in the Parliament House.” The Parliament immediately proceeded with the work of reformation, a Confession of Faith was drawn up, and approved of by acclamation, embodying a summary of Christian doctrine in accordance with the views of the majority, and this was seconded by a series of acts rendering all who refused to subscribe to its tenets liable to confiscation, banishment, and even death. Ambassadors were despatched to England with proposals of marriage between the Earl of Arran, eldest 6011 to the Duke of Chatelherault, and Queen Elizabeth, while Sir James Sandilands, grand prior of the knights of St John of Jerusalem, was sent to France to carry an account of their proceedings to the Queen. The latter met with a very cool reception ; he was, however, entrusted with a reply from the Scottish Queen, which, though it refused to recognise the assembly by which he was sent as a Parliament, was yet couched in conciliatory terms, and intimated her intention to despatch commissioners immediately, to convene a legal Parliament ; but ere Sir James arrived at Edinburgh, the news reached him of the death of the young King, her royal consort, anwhich avent caused the utmost rejoicing among the party of the Congregation. MS. Letter St P. O&, 9th August 1560, Tytler. ... MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH. Valence and Amiens, and other French commissioners, and a treaty was formally ...

Book 10  p. 74
(Score 0.25)

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 217 tioned county for above twenty years; and in 1792 was promoted to the bench.‘ He was zealous in the discharge of the important duties of his office till within a very few years of his death, when he resigned his gown and retired from the bustle of public life, to spend the remainder of his days in quietness with his family, and to enjoy the society of a very few of the devoted friends of his early years. Lord Polkemmet, while on the bench, was remarkable for his good nature. Although not considered as a first-rate lawyer, or at all fitted to solve difficult legal questions, he had a fund of good sense, which in the great mass of cases enabled him to discharge his judicial duties with propriety. His lordship not unfrequently used the broad Scottish dialect when addressing counsel. Upon one occasion Henry Erskine had been heard at very great length in a casea presumption that it was not a very good one, as he was not accustomed to waste his time in idle harangue (as is too much the practice now-a-days), when he had the right side of a cause. The judge was somewhat mystified by this, as he thought, uncalled-for piece of declamation. He shrewdly suspected that it was a regular attempt to bamboozle; but he was not to be done. At the termination of the pleading he observed-‘‘ A vera fine speech, Harg-vera ; but I’ll just mak‘ it play wimble-wamble in my wame o’er my toddy till the morrow.” He accordingly made (to use the ordinary legal phrase) avizandumin other words, took the process home, and returned it in due time, with an interlocutor (decision)-showing that the lawyer’s eloquence had been in vain expended. Lord Polkemmet was twice married; first to a daughter of Sir James Colquhoun of Luss, Bart., by whom he had a large family, five of whom-one son and four daughters-survived him. He married, secondly, Miss Janet Sinclair, a sister of Sir John Sinclair, Bart., and cousin-german to his first wife. It was the intention of Government to confer the dignity of a baronet upon his lordship, and the necessary arrangements were in progress for that purpose, when he died. The honour was subsequently conferred on his son, Sir William Baillie, Bart., in 1823. Lord Polkemmet was a great supporter of the Church, and intimate with many of the clergy, who had always a hearty welcome at Polkemmet. She had no family, and died in 1833. He was a tall, good-looking man.’ His lordship is said to have owed his preferment to Lord Braxfield, who had been his professional adviser in a suit in which he was engaged His opponent had offered liberal terms of compromise, which, by the advice of Braxfield, were rejectedunfortunately, as it happened, for his client was ultimately unsuccessful. As he thought himself the cause of his friend’s suffering a considerable loss, he did all he could to repair it, by procuring for him a seat on the bench. Braxfield, though he loved his friend, loved his joke too ; and as Baillie wm not an orator, some one having objected to the appointment very strongly, cqpecially on that ground, Braxfield replied, “ Nonsense, man ; I’ve bargained that he’s never to speak.” A very clever imitation of Lord Polkemmet’s judicial style is given in the celebrated Diamond Beetle Case, ajac &esprit by a most accomplished individual, and one of the Senaton of the College of Justice. a He was remarkable for the length of his fingers, and at the impugning of the Theses, which takes place in presence of the judgea, the candidate for legal honoun was certiorated of the proper to the succession to an estate of some value. VOL 11. 2 F ... SKETCHES. 217 tioned county for above twenty years; and in 1792 was promoted to the bench.‘ He was ...

Book 9  p. 289
(Score 0.25)

I 04 MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH. portion of the ground between the old port and the building still known as Queen Mary’s Bath, the intervening ground being then entirely unoccupied. After being devoted to the humble purpose of a weaver’s workhouse, it was at length burnt to the ground, in the year 1777.l Many traditions still preserved prove his keen relish for this game, in which he is said to have become a proficient. ‘‘ The Duke of York,” says Tytler, ‘‘ was frequently seen in a party at golf .on the Links at Leith, with some of the nobility and gentry. I remember, in my youth, to have often conversed with an old man, named Andrew Dixon, a golf club-maker, who said that, when a boy, he used to carry the Duke’s golf clubs, and to run before him and announce where the ball fell.” ’ The general harmony of the Court of Holyrood, during the visit of the Duke of York, was, however, occasionally interrupted by other annoyances besides those occasioned by the struggles of the Covenanters. A custom had long prevailed in Edinburgh, of annually burning the Pope in effigy on Christmas-day ; but the magistrates, justly conceiving that such a procedure was calculated to afford little satisfaction to the Duke, determined to prevent its recurrence during his stay in Edinburgh. The populace, however, were not then impressed with such awe for civic enactments as the modern system of police has since produced. The students of the College took up the matter, and bound themselves by a solemn oath to effect the incremation of his Holiness in defiance of both Duke and magistrates. The military were called out to put a stop to their proceedings, and some of the most active ringleaders taken captive; but the populace rose in defence of the students, and finished the day’s work The students, as the most zealous movers in thk tumult, were first visited with the wrath of offended authority. The college gates were ordered to be closed, and the collegians to remove to the distance of fifteen miles from the city ; but the excitement after a time abated, and they were again restored to their wonted privileges. In 1682, the famous old cannon, Mons Meg, was burst in firing a salute in honour of the Duke of York, shortly before his return to England. The Duke took his departure in great state in the month of May, leaving the citizens of Edinburgh to resume their quiet decorum, unseduced by the example of the Court. The older gentry of the last age continued to cherish a pleasing remembrance of his visit, and to tell, with great delight, of the gaiety and brilliancy of the court at Holyrood House. The intelligence of the death of Charles 11. reached Edinburgh on the 6th of February 1685. The Chancellor and other officers of state, with the Privy Council, the lords of session, the magistrates, and many of the chief nobility, proceeded to the Crosfi, accompanied by the Lyon King-at-Arms, and his heralds, and proclaimed James Duke of York, King of Great Britain. In April, on the assembling of Parliament, an act was passed for the confirmation of the Protestant religion, and fresh tests enacted for its protection ; but the actions of the King showed little respect for such laws, and much excitement was occasioned by proceedings that were generally believed to be preparatory to the subversion of the Protestant Church. Leith Links was the usual scene of the Duke’s trials of skill at golf. . by burning the Provost’s house at Priestfield to the ground. Amot, p. 195. 9 Archaelogia Scotica, vol. i. p. 504. ... 04 MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH. portion of the ground between the old port and the building still known as Queen ...

Book 10  p. 113
(Score 0.25)

ECCLESIASTICAL ANTIQUITIES. 407 from the deceased King of Scots’ Palace all or most of his princely library, many books of which are now at Speke, particularly four large folios, said to contain the Records and Laws of Scotland at that time. He also brought from the said Palace the Wainscot of the King’s Hall, and put it up in his own hall at Speke, wherein are seen all the orders of architecture, as Tuscan, Dorick, Ionick, Corinthian, and Composite ; and round the top of it this inscription, ‘ SLEEPE . NOT . TILL . YE . HATHE . CONSEDERD . HOW THOW . WAYS . REPENT . YE.’ ” Speke .Hall still exists as one of the fine old manor-houses of Lancashire, and could this tradition be relied on would form an object of peculiar attraction, as the antique wainscot with its quaint moral still adorns the great hall. It proves, however, to be the work of a later age, corresponding to similar specimens in the neighbouring halls, erected in the reign of Elizabeth. It might, indeed, be confidently affirmed, that the Roman orders were not introduced into Scotland till a considerably later period ; but the above description answers very partially to the original. The tradition, however, is probably not altogether without foundation. Two figures of angels, richly gilt, “in form such as are introduced dnder consoles in Gothic architecture,” formerly surmounted the wainscot, evidently no part of the original design, and these, it is conjectured, may have been among the spoils which were carried off from the Palace in 1547.8 The Abbey of Holyrood frequently afforded accomniodation to the Scottish Court, before the addition of a distinct royal dwelling to the ancient monastic buildings, This, it is probable, was not effected till the reign of Janies IV, It is certain, at any rate, that large sums were spent by him in building and decorating the Palace during the interval of four years between his betrothment and marriage to Margaret of England. In the map to which we have so frequently referred, the present north-west tower, which forms the only ancient portion of the Palace as it now stands, is shown standing almost apart, and only joined to the south-west tower of the Abbey Church by a low cloister. To the south of this appears an irregular group of buildings, of considerable extent, and apparently covered with tiles, while the whole houses in the Canongate seem, from the colouring of the drawing, to be only thatched. It is not necessary, however, further to investigate the early history of the Palace here, as most of the remarkable historicd incidents associated with it have already been referred to. The latest writer who has left any account of the old Palace is John Taylor, the Water poet, in the amusing narrative of his Pennylesse Pilgrimage to Scotland in 1618. The following is his description :-‘‘ I was at his Majestie’s Palace, a stately and princely seate, wherein I saw a sumptuous Chappell, most richly adorned with all appurtenances belonging to so sacred 8 pJace, or so royal1 an owner. In the inner court I saw the King’s Armes cunningly carved in stone, and fixed over a doore aloft on the wall, the Red Lyon being the Crest, over which was written this inscription in Latin :-No6is h c invicta miserunt 106 Proavi. I inquired what the English of it was? it was told me as followeth, which I thought worthy to be recorded-106 Fore-fatAers have left this to us unconquered;”-an interpretation which leads the Water poet into a series of very loyal EL4ST. SPENT. YE. DAY. PAST . IF . THOW. HAVE. WELL . DON. THANK. GOD . LF . OTHEB . Fide Archadogia Scotica, vol. iv. ; from whence the inscription ia correctly given. ’ Ibid, p. 14, ... ANTIQUITIES. 407 from the deceased King of Scots’ Palace all or most of his princely library, ...

Book 10  p. 446
(Score 0.24)

EIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 189 the ghost; but hlr. Smellie, still keeping ahead with a timepiece in his hand, so coaxed and encouraged his portly friend, that he continued his exertions, and actually gained the top of the hill within half-a-minute of the prescribed period. The moment he achieved the victory, he threw himself, or rather fell down, and lay for some time like an expiring porpoise-neither able to stir nor speak a single word. While thus extended at full length, a young cockney student, who had been amusing himself on the hill, came forward, and holding up his hands, exclaimed, as he gazed in amazement at the Captain-“ Good heavens ! what an immense fellow to climb such a hill ! ” When Mr. Burnet had sufficiently recovered, Mr. Smellie and he returned victorious to their friends ; and it need not be doubted, potations deep were drunk in honour of the feat. Few men of his time enjoyed their bottle with greater zest than Captain Burnet ; and at the civic feasts, with which these palmy times abounded, no one did greater execution with the knife and fork. He seldom retired with less than two bottles under his belt, and that too without at all deranging the order of his “ upper story.” “ Two-and-a-half here,” was a frequent exclamation, as he clapped his hand on his portly paunch, if he chanced to meet a quondam ban vivant, on his way home from the festive board. The Captain was altogether a jolly, free sort of fellow, and much fonder of a stroll to the country on a summer Sunday, than of being pent up in a crowded church. In a clever retrospective article in Chai,ibers’ Journal, he is alluded to as one of the “ Turners,” so called from their habit of taking a turn (a walk) on the Sabbath afternoon. “ About one o’clock,’’ says the paper alluded to, “ Mr. J[ohn] L[ittle] might be seen cooling it through Straiton,’ in the midst of a slow procession of bellied men-his hat and wig perhaps borne aloft on the end of his stick, and a myriad of flies buzzing and humming in the shape of a pennon from behind his shining POW. Perhaps Captain B[urnet], of the City Guard, is of the set. He has a brother a farmer about Woodhouselee,’ and they intend to call there and be treated to a check of lamb, or something of that kind, with a glass of spirits and water ; for really the day is very warm. The talk is of Sir Ralph Abercromby, and General Brune, and the Duke of York, and the Texal : or a more interesting subject still, the last week’s proceedings of the Edinburgh Volunteers in the Links.” Captai6 Burnet was also one of the well-known Lawnmarket Club, described in the Traditions as a dram-drinking, newsmongering, facetious set of citizens, who met every morning about seven o’clock ; and after proceeding to the Post Office to ascertain the news, generally adjourned to a public-house, and refreshed themselves with a libation of brandy.” In the parish of Liberton, about four miles south of Edinburgh, on the road to Penicuik, Straiton, possessed by Mr. Jamieson, waa the property of James Johnstone, Esq., M.P. for the Stirling district of burghs. The writer of this haa been under a mistake. Although this may have been the practice of the Club, it is proper to atate that Mr. Burnet He was, however, a keen Mr. Burnet’s brother waa a farmer at Seton. was au exception. politician, and much interested in’ the news of the day. He waa not known to indulge in morning drama. ... SKETCHES. 189 the ghost; but hlr. Smellie, still keeping ahead with a timepiece in his hand, so ...

Book 9  p. 253
(Score 0.24)

234 MEMORIAL$ OF BDINBURGH. we have now to describe, is understood to be still standing in the nether regions of the I Royal Exchange area. From Professor Sinclair’s veracious narrative, it appears that Mr Thomas Coltheart, a respectable law agent, removed from a lower part of the town to a better house in Mary King’s Close. The maid-servant was warned by the neighbour3 of its being haunted on her first coming about the house, and became so intimidated that she deserted her place, leaving Mr Coltheart and his wife alone in their new dwelling, to defy the devil and his minions as they best might. The good lady had seated herself beside her husband’s bedwho had lain down on the Sunday afternoon, being slightly indisposed-and was engaged in reading the Bible, when happening to lift her eye, she was appalled by beholding a head, seemingly that of an old man with a grey beard, suspended in mid air at a little distance, and gazing intently on her. She swooned at the sight, and lay in a state of insensibility till the return of her neighbours from church. Her husband, on being told of the apparition, sought to reason her out of her credulity, and the evening passed over without further trouble ; but they were not long gone to bed when he himself spied the same phantom-head, b i the light of the fire, gazing at him with its ghastly eyes. He rose and lighted a candle, and took to prayer, but with little effect; for in about an hour the bodiless phantom was joined by that of a child also suspended in mid air, and this again was followed by a naked arm from the elbow downwards, which, in defiance of all adjurations and prayers, not only persisted in remaining, but seemed bent on shaking hands with them. The poor agent in the most solemn manner addressed this very friendly but unwelcome intruder, engaging to do his utmost to right any wrongs it had received, if it would only begone, but all in vain. The goblins evidently considered that the worthy couple, and not they, were the intruders. They persisted in making themselves at home; though after all they seem to have been civil enough ghosts, with no unfriendly intentions, so that they were only allowed the run of the house. By and by the naked arm was joined by a spectral dog, which deliberately mounted a chair, and turning its nose to its tail, went to sleep. This was followed by a cat, and soon after by other and stranger creatures, until the whole floor swarmed with them, so that “ the honest couple went to their knees again within the bed; there being no standing in the floor of the room. In the time of prayer, their ears were startled with a deep, dreadful, and loud groan, as of a strong man dying, at which all the apparitions and visions at once vaniahed I ” Mr Coltheart must have been a man of no ordinary courage, or this night’s experience would have satisfied him to resign his new house to the devil, or his subtenants, who seemed to have taken a previous lease of it. He continued to reside there till his death without further molestation ; but at the very moment he expired, a gentleman whose law-agent and intimate friend he was, being in his house at Tranent-a small town about ten miles from Edinburgh-was awoke while asleep ia bed there with his wife, by the nurse, who was affrighted by something like a cloud moving about the room. While the gentleman got hold of his sword to defend himself and them against this unwonted visitor, the cloud gradually assumed the form of a man. ‘‘At last the apparition looked him fully and perfectly in the face, and stood by him with a ghostly and pale countenance.” The gentleman recognised his friend Thomas Coltheart, and demanded of him if he was dead, and what was his errand? Whereat the ghost held up his hand three times, shaking it towards ... MEMORIAL$ OF BDINBURGH. we have now to describe, is understood to be still standing in the nether regions of ...

Book 10  p. 255
(Score 0.24)

YAMES VI. TO RESTORATION OF CHARLES II. 85 when the siege commenced, and all further supplies were then completely cut off; yet he held out gallantly for thirty-three days, until reduced to the last extremities, and. threatened with the desertion and mutiny of his men. The garrison did not despair until the besiegers had got possession of the spur, within which was the well on which they mainly depended for water. This battery stood on the Esplanade, nearest the town, as may be seen in the view given at the head of Chapter III., and was demolished in the year 1649, by order of the Committee of Estates. , Holinshed mentions also the spring at the Well-house Tower, under the name of “ St Margaret’e Well, without the Castle, on the north side,” by which some of the garrison suffered, owing to its being poisoned by the enemy. The only well that remained within the Castle was completely choked up with the ruins, and so great was the general devastation, that when a parley was demanded, the messenger had to be lowered. over the walls by a rope.’ The brave commander was delivered up by the English General to the vindictive power of the Regent, and he and -his brother James, along with two burgesses of the city, were ignominiously ‘‘ harlit in cartis bakwart” to the Cross of Edinburgh, and there hanged and quarteredY4 and their heads exposed upon the Castle wall.’ The Regent put the Castle into complete repair, and committed the keeping of it to his brother, George Douglas of Parkhead. He was at the same time Provost of the city, though he was speedily thereafter deprived of the latter o%c& Morton was now firmly established in the Regency, and he immediately proceeded to such acts of rapacity and injustice as rendered his government odious to the whole nation ; until the nobles at last united with the people in deposing him. He succeeded, however, in speedily regaining sufficient influence to Secure the cufitody of the King’s person. The loyalty which the citizens of Edinburgh displayed at various times, until the King’s full assumption of the reins of government, obtained from him epecial acknowledgments of gratitude. In 1578, one hundred of their choicest young men were well accoutred and sent to Stirling as a royal guard’ They sent him also, at a later period, costly gifts of plate, though they remonstrated, with considerable decision, when he attempted to interfere with their right of election of Magistrates ; apologising, at the same time, for not sending the bailies to assign their reasons to him personally, because two of them were absent, and (‘ the thrid had his wyfe redy to depart furth of this warld.” The King at length summoned a Parliament to assemble at Edinburgh in October 1579, and made his first public entry into his capital. He was received at the West Port by the Magistrates, under a pall of purple velvet ; and an allegory of King Solomon with the twa wemen,” was exhibited as a representation of the wisdom of Solomon ; after which the sword and sceptre were presented to him. At the ancient gate in the West BOW, the keys of the city were given him in a silver basin with the usual device of a Cupid descending from a globe, while (4 Dame Music and hir scollars exercisit hir art with great melodie.” At the Tolbooth, he was received by three gallant virtuous ladies, to wit, Peace, Plenty, and Justice, who harangued him in the Greek, Latin, and Scotch languages; and, as he approached St Giles’s Church, Dame Religion showed herself, and in the Nebrm 1 Bannatyne Misc. vol., ii. p. 76. Diurnal of Occuaents, p. 535. Idid, p. 37. ’ Hkt. of James the Sext., p. 145. Maitland, p. 36. ... VI. TO RESTORATION OF CHARLES II. 85 when the siege commenced, and all further supplies were then completely ...

Book 10  p. 93
(Score 0.24)

52 MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH. marched under a white banner, on which was painted a female kneeling before a crucifix, her hair dishevelled, and embroidered underneath the motto ‘‘ Afflicts Ecclesis ne obliviscaris.” Preparatory to determining their differences by force of arms, the Earl of Huntly made offer to the English leader to decide the issue by single combat ; but this he rejected, and after skirmishing for several daya with various success in the neighbourhood of Prestonpans, where the English army was encamped,-a scene long afterwards made memorable by the brief triumph of Mary’s hapless descendant, Charles Stuart-the two armies at length came to a decisive engagement on Saturday the 10th of September 1547, long after known by the name of ‘‘ Black Saturday.” The field of Pinkie, the scene of this fatal contest, lies about six miles distant from Edinburgh, and so near to the sea, that the English ships did great injury to the Scottish army, as they marched towards the field of battle. The stately mansion of Pinkie House, formerly the residence of the Abbots of Dunfermline, still remains in perfect preservation, in the immediate vicinity of the scene where the fatal battle of Pinkie was fought. The Scots were at first victorious, and succeeded in driving back the enemy, and carrying off the royal standard of England ; but being almost destitute of cavalry, they were unable to follow up their advantage, and being at length thrown into disorder by the enemy’s menat- arms, consisting principally of a body of mounted Spanish carabineers in complete mail, they were driven from the field, after a dreadful slaughter, with the loss of many of their nobles and leaders, both slain and taken prisoners. Immediately after the battle, the English advanced and took the town of Leith, where they tarried a few days, during which the Earl of Huntly, and many other Scottish prisoners of every degree, were confined in St Mary’s Church there, while treating for their ran~om.~T hey also made an unsuccessful attempt on Edinburgh, whose provost had fallen on the field, and where it is recorded that this fatal battle had alone made three hundred and sixty widows ; ’ but finding the Scottish nation as resolute as ever in rejecting all terms of accommodation, they again pillaged and burned the town of Leith, spoiled the Abbey of Holyrood, from which they tore off the leaden roof, and re-embarked on board t,heir fleet. They wreaked their vengeance on some defenceless fishing towns and villages along the coast of the Firth, and then returned to England, where Archbishop Cranmer prepared a general thanksgiving to be used throughout all the churches in the kingdom, for the great victory God had vouchsafed them over their enemies 1 So differently are the same actions estimated, according as our interests are affected ; for the Duke of Somerset had so exasperated the Scottish nation by his cruelty, and disgusted even the barons who had inclined to the English party by his impolitic conduct, that they were more unanimous than ever against the proposed alliance. ‘‘ The cruelty,” says Qtler, “of the slaughter at Pinkie, and the subsequent severities at Leith, excited universal indignation ; and the idea that a free country was to be compelled into a pacific matrimonial alliance, amid the groans of its dying citizens, and the flames of its seaports, was revolting and absurd.” The Queen Dowager availed herself of the popular feeling thus so strongly excited with 1 Tytler, vol. vi. p. 31. ‘ Herries’ Memoirs, p. 21. 2 Diumd of Occurrenta, p. 44, 6 Tytler, vol. vi, p. 42. a Bishop Lesiie’s History, p. 198. ... MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH. marched under a white banner, on which was painted a female kneeling before a ...

Book 10  p. 57
(Score 0.24)

172 MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH. representing the Adoration of the Wise Men, was said to be the work of Alexander Runciman. We have endeavoured thus far to conduct the reader through this portion of the ancient capital, pointing out the various associations calculated to excite sympathy or interest in connection with its time-honoured scenes. But all other objects of attraction to the local historian, within this district, must yield before those of the Old Bank Close, the site of which was very nearly that of the present paving of Melbourne Place. The antique mansion, that formed the chief building in this close, excited very great and general attention from the time that it was exposed to view in opening up the approach to George 1V.k Bridge, until its demolition in 1834, to make way for the central buildings of Melbourne Place, that now occupy its site. It stood immediatel) to the east of William Little’s Land, already described, in Brodie’s Close, from which it was only partially separated by a very narrow gutter that ran between the two houses, leaving them united by a mutual wall at the north end. This ancient building was curiously connected with a succession of eminent and influential men, and with important historical events of various eras, from the date of its erection until a comparatively recent period. ‘‘ Gourlay’s House, ” for so it continued to be called nearly to the last, was erected in 1569, as appeared from the date on it, by Robert Gourlay, burgess, on the site, and, partly at least, with the materials of an old religious house. Little further is known of its builder than the fact that he had been a wealthy and influential citizen, who enjoyed the favour of royalty, and made the most of it too, notwithstanding the pious averment sculptured over his door, 0 LORD IN THE IS AL MY TRAIST.’ This appears no less from numerous grants of privileges and protections of rights, among the writs and evidents of the property, attested by King James’s own signature, than by the very obvius jealousy with which his favour at Court was regarded by his fellow-citizens. One of these royal mandates, granted by the Kiig at Dumfries, 21st June 1588, sets forth, ‘‘ Lyke 8s ye said Robert Gourlay and Helen Cruik, his spouse,’haa raisit ane new biggin and wark upon ye waste and ground of their lands and houses foresaid, wherein they are quarelled and troubled for enlarging and outputing of ye east gavill and dyke of their said new wark, on with ye bounds of ye auld bigging foundit and edified thereupon, of design, and presumed to have diminished and narrowit ye passage of ye foresaid transe callit Mauchains Close, &c.,’ We, therefor, . . . . . give and grant special liberty On the demolition of the building, the words I‘ 0 Lord,” which extended beyond the lintel of the door, were found to be carved on oak, and so ingeniously let into the wall that this had escaped observation. One could almost fancy that the subservient courtier had found his abbreviated motto liable to a more personal construction than was quite agreeable. ’ In the earlier part of the same writ, the property is styled ‘I ye landa of umq’ Alexander Mauthane, and now of ye said Robert Gourlay.” We learn from Maitland, that in the year 1511, “ the Town Council twoarda inlarging the said Church of St Giles, bought of AEezander MaucAanes, four landa or tenementa, in the Booth-raw,” or Luckenbo0tha.- Maitland‘a Hist., p. 180. This can acarcely be doubted to be the same individual. VIoaEnE-carved Stone from Old Bank Close, in the posse&on of C. K. Sharpe, Esq. ... MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH. representing the Adoration of the Wise Men, was said to be the work of ...

Book 10  p. 187
(Score 0.24)

182 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. barony of Pitsligo, including the old mansion-house, at that time roofless and deserted, By the death of Mr. Forbes, in 1781, Sir William succeeded as heir to the lower barony also, and thus had his early dreams almost realised. The property he had acquired was extensive, but, from the misfortunes of the family, sadly out of condition. Sir William immediately set about its improvement. He established numbers of poor cottars on the most uncultivated portions of the estate, erected the village of New Pitsligo, and, by the utmost liberality as a land, lord, induced settlers to come from a distance. In the course of a short space of time he had the satisfaction of seeing a thriving population, and ‘‘ several thousand acres smiling with cultivation, which were formerly the abode only of the moorfowl or the curlew.” He also established a spinning-school at New Pitsligo, introduced the linen manufacture, and erected a bleachfield; he built a school-house, a chapel of ease connected with the Established Church, and a chapel for those of the Episcopal persuasion. To the estate of Pitsligo Sir William soon after added, by purchase, those of Pittoullie and Pittindrum, which were contiguous, and from their proximity to the sea-shore afforded excellent facilities of improvement. In 1784 Sir William became a member of the Merchant Company, and was elected Master in 1786, a situation which he was frequently afterwards called upon to fill. He was a warm promoter of the plan adopted by that body for rendering annuities to widows a matter of right, instead of a gift of charity, as formerly. But his attention was by no means confined to local matters: he was one of the committee of merchants appointed to confer with Sir James Montgomery, then Lord Advocate, “on the new Bankrupt Aet introduced in 1772, and many of its most valuable clauses were suggested by his experience;” again, in 1783, on the expiry of the new Act, he was Convener of the Mercantile Committee in Edinburgh, when further improvements were effected in the Bankrupt laws. As we have already mentioned, Sir William was by descent attached to the. Episcopal communion. Under his fostering management the Cowgate chapel was built, “afterwards known as the most popular place of worship in Edinburgh ;” and, in 1800, he was chiefly instrumental in bringing the Rev. Mr. Alison to that chapel, then settled in a remote rectory in Shropshire.‘ Sir William was a gentleman of the most polished and dignified manners ; and although much of his time must necessarily have been occupied in the prosecution of those manifold pursuits which conferred ao much benefit on his native city and the country in general, he still found leisure to indulge in a taste for literature, and to make himself acquainted with the progress of science. 1 Under the influence of that eloquent divine the congregation rapidly increased, both in nunibem and respectability, and was at length enabled, in 1818, through the indefatigable exertions of Lord Medwyn, Sir William’s second son, and hy their own efforts, aided by the liberality of their friends, to erect the present beautiful structure called St. Paul’s Chapel, in York Place ; at the same time the late Sir Willizm Forbw, eldest son of the subject of this memoir, effected, by similar exertions, the completion of St. John’s Chapel, in Princes Street ; and thus, chiefly by the efforts of a singlq family, in less than half a century, waa the Episcopal communion of Edinburgh raised from its humble sites in Blackfriars’ Wynd, and Carrubber’s Close, to occupy two beautiful edifices, on which upwards of E30,OOO had been expeuded. ... BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. barony of Pitsligo, including the old mansion-house, at that time roofless ...

Book 8  p. 257
(Score 0.24)

APPENDIX. 439 trA model of Edinburgh was executed by the late Gavin Hamilton, bookeeIler : it was most accurat& done, with his intended improvements of carrying a street of a gentle ascent from the Grassmarket in a line up to the west end of the Luckenbooths, for which purpose he could shift the repmentation of the home, and lay open his plan to public view. This finished work cost him some yeears’ labour, and was shown in a room of the Royal Infirmary in 1753 and 1754 : but after his .death it was neglected, and destroyed for firewood His proposals, like other commodious, salutary, and beneficial projects for the improvement of the place, were rejected ; as was likewise the scheme of an entry into the High Street of Edinburgh from St Cuthbert’s or West Church, along the hill side by south and west of the Castle, which by a gradual ascent might be completed at no very considerable sum, to facilitate the easier conveyance of carriages from the south and west than by the West Bow, a most inconvenient and steep height for horses with coals and other articles for the citizens’ me ; this might terminate the head of the causeway on the Castle HilL A south entry to the High Street being much wanted for the =me necessary purposes, has been of late proposed, but hitherto rejected also, from an excessof toll all needful carriages would be subjected to, which many of the inhabitants are unable to bear. “Sir John Dalrymple has been at uncommon care and expence in causing to be executed an accnrate survey and plan for an easy access inta the city from the south, by a gentle declivity and ascent from the High Street at the head of Marlin’s Wynd to Nicolson’BPark in a streight line, without any amh.” The following jm d’e8p-d may suffice, like some of the school-rhymed arithmetical and grammatical d e s , days of the month, and the like useful help8 to short memories, to preserve in the reader’s recollection some memento of the strange associations that have already been related in sober prose as pertaining to the old West Bow : the like of which he will in vain seek for in any existing corner either of the Old or New Town. THE WAST BOW. DEDICATETDO THE HON.BO ARDOF COMMISSIONEFROSR C r r ~IM PBOVEMWXTS. Through the auld Wast Bow, and to the Grass-Market, Mony a ane haa gane daun fast an’ erie ; Gentles wi’ htillands fn’ brawly besarkit*- Covenant hauldera 0’ warld’a care fu’ weary,- Doom gaol an’ gallows birds naething has carkit, Fu’ dauntonly fitting it to the Gram-Market. Hurrying doun, stoiterin’ an’ stumhlin’, The gleger ye gang better luck against tumblin’ : Up o’er its crooked an’ dingy suld oausey, Fu’ atately an’ trig in their cleadin’ 0’ braws, Our Jamiea escorted ilk royal Scottish lassie To weddin’ and beddin’ in Holyrood ha’s ; Our pedant, King Jamie, King Charlie the naucy, As’ bauld Noll, rade in state, ilka ane o’er ita caueey, Hurrying doun, 8c. An’ Provost an’ Bailies, fu’ prudely I’se warrant, Ha’e bided for Royalty doun the Wast Bow ; An’ speered at the yet\ whan he cam, fur his errand, An’ keeked round the corner, wi’ face in a IOW ; An’ h o n an’ Guild-Dean, an’ Town-Clerk auld-farand, Pracheging their beat bow id loyale I’M warrant. Hurrying douti, &O . ... 439 trA model of Edinburgh was executed by the late Gavin Hamilton, bookeeIler : it was most ...

Book 10  p. 478
(Score 0.24)

GENERAL INDEX. 385 - Nisbet Lord 111. 67 Nisbet: Sir .&exander. 111. 136 Nisbet Sir Henry 111. 136 Nisbet: Sir John,?II. 10, 111. 66, Nisbet, Sir Patrick. 111. 66, 67. 136 Nisbet, Henry, 111. 66; manumentto I1 134 135 Nibet df bear;, Provost Sir William, 11. 280. 111. 26. 65, 66 ; Lady, I!. 335. 111. 66 Nisbetmuir Battle of (see Battles) Nisbets of Craigantinnie, The, 111. 136 138 Nisbdts of Dalzell The 111. 65 Nisbets of Dean,?rhe, ?111. 65,67, 136, 137 138 Nisbets of Dirleton, 11. 335, 111. 135, 138 ; houseoithe. 11. IO.*IZ Nisbett, Execution of Sergeant John. 11. 231 Noble Place, Leith, 111. 266 Noel, Miss, the vocalist, I. 350 Nollekens the sculptor 11. z8a Non-jura& The, 11. ;46 ; burialplace of, 111.131 Normal ghool of the Church 01 Scotland I. 2 5 296 Norman Rks, t$?assassin of Lady Baillie 111. 156, 157 Norrie John !he decorator I. zgg Norrie: the ;inter, I. 89, li. go North Bank Street 11.95 North Bridge, I. 3ir 238, 245, 302, 334-344 358, 11. 2% 94, 99. Im, 111. 67 150 152 ; view of, Platd 12; con&udtionof, I. 337, 338,II. 281 ; fall of, I. 338; widening 01 the. I. $60: east side of the. I. No-Pope riots of 1779, I. a61 120, 126, 177, 178, 706, 283, 338, 34636;? . North Bridge Street I. 338 North British and hercantile In. surance Company, 11. 123 North British Investment Cam. I28 North British Rubber Company, 11.219, azo Pro!. John) North Christopher (see Wilson, North College Street, 11. 174, 111. 178 Home?s residence ib. North Hanover Street, 111. 242 North Inverleith Mains. 111. w6 . - N%h Leith, 11. 3,336,111. p, 9% 165, 166, 187. 188,. 193, 197.=g, ~51159, 295. Brid e of 11. 7 111. 167 : th; old ciurci, of 6,? Ninian, 111. 251-255; the neu church 111. 255, fa57 Nort Lkth Free Church, 111. z5! Nortk Leith Sands, 111. 258 North Leith United Preshyteriat North Ldch, I. 10, 20, 31, 38, 103 118,182, III.86,162; the botanic garden, I. 61 6 accidenrs U the North k? 21: 81, 82 North Quay Leith, 111. 210 North ueeAsferry 111. 282 North Zt Andrcw htreet 11. 1b0 Northern?Club The II.?151 Northern New?TowA, The, 11. 18; North&, Earl of, 11. 166,111. p NorthumberlLd, Imprisonment o Northumberland Street II.198,1p Norton, The Hon. Flktcher, 111 Church 111. 255 119, 183, ZP, 234 238, 3 4 335 337. 358,II. % 81, 99, 1 1 4 , w -189 Countess of 11. 21 the Earl of, 11. 242 127, 128 School 111: 1z8 11.168 Norton Place 111. 165 ; the Boar< Nottingtkn Place 11. 103 Numerous societi& in one house 0 Oakbank grounds 111. 54 Oakeley, Prof. Sd Herbert, 11.34 145 lbservatory, The old, 11. IW, 106; lchiltree, Lord, I. 195, 196, 214, khterlony, The family of, 11. 165 Jdd Fellows? Club, 111. 123 3dd Fellows? Hall, 11. 326 lffensive weapons, hlanufactun of, Jgilvie Sir Alexander, I. 236 3gilvie: Imprisonment of Lady, I. ? 70 Dgilvie, Colonel, 11.310 Dgilvie, Gorge, 1. 121 3gilvie Thomas, Family of, 1. 70 311-paihings in the National Gal- D?Keefe?s ?? Recollections,? 1. rgr 31d and New lawn, Scheme for 31d Assembly Close, I. 245 ; ruins 31d As2ernbly Hall I. 190 31d Assembly RooAs, I. 242 31d Babylon, Leith, 111. 227 230 31d Bank Close, I. 117, I,& 282, 31d Broughton, Remains of the Old Canonrhls House, 111. 88 Dld Dea?haughHouse, 111. 77 Old fighting mannersol Leith, 111. Old Fishmarket Close, I. 189, 190, the new, 11. 14, 111. 270 215, 111. 174 11. 263 lery, 11. 88, 89 joining the, 11. 95 ofthe 1. *244 11. 95 villap of 11. 1% 199 241 Dld High School Wynd, 11. 284, 111. 12 Old High School Yard, 11, 286 Old houses in the West Port near the haunts of Burke and hare, 1869 11. *224 Dld hduses, Society,185z, 11. *272 Old G.rk St Giles?s Cathedral Meetiniof b General Assembli in the Phte 13 Dld Plaihouse Close 11. 23,?s DldSchool The II.?rrr Old ScienAes HAuse, 111. 54 Dld Stamp Office Clox I. 231,275 Old 6urgeon?s Hall I. ;8r Old timber-fronted? houses, Lawnmarket, I. ?108, IIO Old Toll Cross 11. 345 Old Town, Views of the, I. 16; Plate 4 ; Plate 16 Old Weigh-house, Leith, I. 186,188 Old West Bow I. 295 Oliphant Lord 11. 8 Oliphant?of Ndwton, Sir William, 11. 47, 379, 111. 364; his family, 111. 364 Oliphant of Newland, House of, Oliphant of Rossie MR Oliphant, Than&, P&ost, 41. Oliver and Boyd Messrs., 1. 281 O?Neill Miss adtress I. 108, 34 Orange: ExGcted dnding of t\e Oratory of Mary of Guise, I. *97 Orde. Chief Baron. 11. xcz: anec- 11. 7 11. 17 278 Prince of. 11. 306 do& of hisdaaglker, 11; I& Ordnance, The Castle, 1. 35, 36 Organ in St. Giles?s Cathedral, I. C47 ; in the music-class room, 11. Original Seceder Congregation, 11. ?335 _. 119, 1 8 2 , ~ 7 . 348, 350 -- Ornuston trd of, I I I . 4 , 6 , 150 Omond ?Duchess of 111.62 Orphan hospital The, I. 2x8, 340, 359, 364 *361,?365 111- 67. *68 Orphan Hospital Park, I. 338 O r Captain John 11. 138, 35 Orrbck, Robert, blacksmiti, 11. Osborne, Alexander, the volunteer, Osborne Hotel The 11. 125 Otterburn, .%?A&, I, 43, 111. 237, 238, 111.67 11. IQ 43, 58 Otway, Admiral, 11. 171 Otway Silvester I. 179 Ought&, SirAdhphus, II.z+j?,pg, 3101 111. 195, 196 ?Our Lady?s altar,? St. Giles?s Church, 111. 107 ?Our Lady?s Port of Grace,? ancient name of Newhaven 111. 295 ?Our Lady?s Steps,? SL Giles?s Church I. 147 3utram h e r of Sir James 11.126 3ver Idw, The, 11.64, 22: Dxenford, Viscount, I. 378 Oxford Terrace 111. 71 Oyster parties patronised by ladies, I. 255, 111. 126 P Paddle ship, Curious, exhibited at Palace Gate, &e, 11. 40 Palace Yard 11. 310 Palfrefs In; 11.241 Palliser Capiain Sir Hugh, Amst and ikprisonment of, 111. 277 Palmer?s Lane, 11. 337 Palmerston, Lord, 11. 39 Palmenton Place 11. 211,214 Panmure, Earls of, I. 214, 11. 20 Panmure Close, 11. 20, 21; lintel of lohn Hunter?s house. 11. *ZI Leith, 111. I 8 PanGurc House, 11. 20, ZI Pantheon Club, The, I. 239 Pantheon The, 11. r79 Paoli?s v i h to Edinburgh, I. a99 ? Pap-in,? an old-fashioned dnnk, Papists Prosecution of I. 215 Pardodie of I. ;z Paris, a&mplice bf Bothwell in Darnley?s murder 111. 4, 6 Park Bum Gilmer&n 111. 351 Park Plac:, 1 1 . ~ ~ 3;6, 358 ;view Parkstde, I 355 Park Vale, Leith, 111. 266 Parliament Clcse, I. 132, 136, 143, 170, 174-182, zoo, 358, 11. 236, 243,271, 347,III.46,76 ; descnption of, 1. 174; view of the, I. *r68 ; proposed statue of Oliver Cromwell 111. 72 1. ?79 of, 1?. *p Parliament ?bun, Leith, 111.227 Parliament Hall, I. 158, 159, Pbtr 6; narrow escape from fut in 1700, I. 161 Parliament House, I. 56, 122, 124, 157-173, 174.178, 181, 187, 190, zrs. 223, 334 336,374.11. v , 7 5 , 13% 24% 246 270 282 293, 339, !11. 113, 186: 2.z: th<old building, I. ?160,+*161; its present condition, 1. 164 ; plan of the, I. * .hn P&i& House, The ancient, Parliament, Riding of the, I. 162 Parliament Square, I. 175,178, 181, Parliament Square Ieith, 111. a47 Parliament stairs, i. 17gr +II. k i t h , 111. Yz4g 182, 19o92s5,I1. 78,10g2 1% 228, 260, 111. 31. -4, I I ?-Q PL&ments held at Holyrood, 11. Parsons, Anthony, the quack, 11. Parson?sGreen,II.318 I 111.165 Passenger stages, EstaLUnent of, Patemn House of Bishop 11. 22 Patersodthe blacksmith, Ih. 345 ; Paterson?s Court, I. 102 Patehn?s House, Bailie fohn, 11. Paterson?s Inn, 11. 267, 268 Paton, Lord Justice-Clerk 11. 153 Paton. Si Noel. the pint& 11.9 ; Paton, the antiquarian, I. rrg Paton, Miss, the actress, I. 350 Patrick Cockburn. governor 01 Edinbumh Castle, 1. 31 Paulitius, Dr. John 11. pa Paul Jones, the p k t e , 111. I*, 4647 260 1. m his sculptured abode, ib. 10, 11, 111.261 his sister, 11. IF 196 197, agZ Paul Street, 11. 337.. Paul?s Work. I. *xii.. -I. w. 11. .- _ ? . 1 6 111. IS Paul?s Work, Leith Wynd, 111.1% Paunch Market, Leith, Ill. a p Paving of the Grassmarket 11. z p Paynq Henry Neville, SAfferings Peat Neuk. The, Leith, 111. 147 Peddie, Rev. Dr., 11. 3a6, 111. 101 Peehles Wynd, I. 192, zd, 219, 245, of, I. 66 374, 382 Peel Tower, The, I. 36,49 Peffer Mill 111. 61.62 Peffermiln.?II. 231 Pennant, the topographer, 11.101 Pennicuik, Alexander, the poet, 111.35 burgh I. 122 56 11. 28 Penny post, The first, in Edin- Pentlad Hill; h.*314. d1. 324: gold found in the, I. 269; k t t l e of the (we Battles) Perth Duke of 1. 326 330 Perth: Earl of,?II. 281: 111. 57 Perth, ImprisonmentoftheDuchess of, I. 69 Pestilence, Edinbur h visited with a, 111.29.35 (scc-%?gu=) ?Peter?s Letters to his Kinsfolk,? 1. 173s 1748 211s 375 11. 14% 175, 18a, 186. 190, 195,111. 110 Pettycur, 111. 211 ?Peveril of the Peak,?? Curious story in, 11. 244 Pewterer, The first, 11. 263 Philiphaugh, Lord, I. 223 ; Lady, 11. 339 Phillip, John, pahter, 111. 84 Philliside, 111. 138 Philosopher?s Stone The 11.~5 Philosophical 1nsti;ution: The, ?I. Phrenological Museum, 11. 275 Physic Gardens, The old, 1. 308, Physicms, College of, I. 278, 11. Pliysicians &U,,The old, 11. q6, 149, 159. ~ t s library 11. 146 Picardie $illage and Gayfielrj House 11. *185 PicardieiTilage, II. 177, 186, III. 342 Picardy Gardens 11. 186 Picardy Place ?11. 85, 185, 1% 111. 63, 158, i61 Pier Place Newhaven 111. q.7 Piers de Lbmbard Sir? I. 24 Piershill barracks?III: 138,qa Piersnill HO~X 1?11. 142 Piershill Tollbai, 11. 319 111. I@ Pilkington the architect,? 11.114 Pilrig, I d . 88, 91. 92, 165; its loul history 111. gr ; the manorhouse 111. $92 163 Pilrig F;ee Churdh, 111. 163, *.I+ Pilrig Model Buildings Asoaation, PiEikZreet 111.163 Pillans, Jaies, the High School Pilton Lord 111. PinkeAon, john, advocate, 111. 5 4 199, 200, 2O21 315 Pinkie Battle of (see Battlesh PinkiiHouse, I. 331 Pinmaker The first 11. 263 Pious (PiAhouse) dub, 111. 124 Pipes, The (watarcservoir), Lath, 152 335, 962, 363, 111. 162 153. !55,,2 8 rector, 1. 379, 11. 194, 294, wr 296 I l l . 213 Piracy in the Scottish waters, 111. 182 Piratical murder of three Spaniards by Scotsmen 111. 184 Pine?s close 1?1. z Pmieiield, I h h , ill. 266 Pitarm, Lady, I. Pitcairn, Dr. h%d, I. *18r, 182, 251, 311, 11. 11~3% 382,111. P,&m, Rev. ?humas, II.133,IW Pitfour, Lord, I. 170, 241 Pitrnilly, Lord 11. 174, 227 pitsottie, ~ & n i c ~ e of I. 15o,r5r, 262, 11. 61, 6&65, d 7 , 285, 111. Pitskgo Lord I. 164,180 Pitt, cl$ntre;?s statue of W i , Pitt Street 11. 19 Plaa of G:!menon Ill. 343, Plague, Edmburgh)infeaed mth a, . 15 4% 54, sa 267 28 59, = 11. q r I. 19% 242, 298, II.6,7.306, 33% 380, II1.65,1* 186, ... INDEX. 385 - Nisbet Lord 111. 67 Nisbet: Sir .&exander. 111. 136 Nisbet Sir Henry 111. 136 Nisbet: ...

Book 6  p. 385
(Score 0.24)

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. No. CIII. DR. WILLIAM CULLEN. 253 THIS etching of one of the great fathers of modern medicine was executed iu 1784, and represents the Doctor at the venerable age of seventy-five. DR, WILLIAM CULLEN was born in the parish of Hamilton, county of Lanark, in the year 1710. He received the first part of his education under Mr. Brisbane, at the grammar-school of Hamilton ; and, having chosen medicine as a profession, he was apprenticed to a surgeon-apothecary in the city of Glasgow. It does not appear that he went through a regular course of education at the University, so that the chief means of improvement he possessed at this time were derived from observing his master’s practice, and perusing such medical works as fell in his way. It is not known at what age he went to Glasgow, nor how long he continued there ; but in very early life he engaged as a surgeon to a vessel that traded between London and the West Indies, and performed several voyages in that capacity. Disliking a seafaring life, he attempted to get into medical practice in his native country, and first settled in the parish of Shotts. He remained there only for a short time, and then removed to Hamilton, where he was chosen one of the magistrates of that burgh. The Duke of Hamilton happening to be taken suddenly ill, Dr. Cullen was called in ; and admission. A most minute search took place. The room in which Lord Pitsligo was concealed did not escape. Miss Gordon’s bed was carefully examined ; and she was obliged to suffer the scrutiny of one of the party, by feeling her chi, to ascertain that it was not a man in lady’s night-dress. Before the soldiers had finished their examination in this room, the confinement and anxiety increased Lord Pitsligo’s asthma SO much, and his breathing became so loud, that it cost Miss Gordon, lying in bed, much and violent coughing, which she counterfeited, in order to prevent the high breathings behind the wainscot being heard. It may easily be conceived what agony she would suffer, lest, by overdoing her part, she should increase suspicion, and in fact lead to a discovery. The ruse was fortunately successful. On the search through the house being given over, Lord Pitsligo was hastily taken from his confined situation, and again replaced in bed j and as soon as he was able to speak, his accustomed kindness of heart made him say to his servant, ‘ James, go and see that these poor fellows get some breakfast, and a drink of warm ale, for this is a cold morning ; they are only doing their duty, and cannot bear me any ill-will.’ When the family were felicitating each other on his escape, he pleasantly ohserved, ‘A poor prize had they obtained it-an old dying man I”’ By degrees the heat of civil raucow ceased, and Lord Pitsligo, like others in his situation, was permitted to steal back into the circle of his friends, unpersecuted and unnoticed. The venerable old nobleman was thus suffered to remain at his son’s residence of Auchiries unmolested during the last years of an existence protracted to the extreme verge of human lie. He died on the 21st December 1762, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. The character of Lord Pitsligo was of the most amiable description, and he embarked in the cause of the exiled Stuarts from national feeliigs alone. He was a Protestant, of the Episcopal Church, and sincerely attached to his religion. He was of a literary turn of mind ; and left behind him several manuscript essays, which were published shortly after his death. To one of these-entitled “Thoughts Concerning Man’s Condition and Duties in this Life, and his Hopes in the World to come :” Edinburgh, Whyte & Co.-an interesting memoir of his life ia pretixed, ... SKETCHES. No. CIII. DR. WILLIAM CULLEN. 253 THIS etching of one of the great fathers of modern ...

Book 8  p. 355
(Score 0.24)

YAMES K TO ABDICA TION OF QUEEN MAR Y. 61 The priests, resolving not to permit the day to pass without the usual celebration, borrowed a small statue of the saint from the Grey Friars, which they firmly secured with iron clamps to the “ fertorie ” or shrine,‘ in which it was usually borne aloft. And the more fully to do honour to the occasion, and to overawe the turbulent populace, the Fiegent was prevailed on to grace the procession with her presence. The statue was borne through the principal streets of Edinburgh in great pomp, attended by the canons of St Giles’s Church, and all the chief clergy in full canonicals, “ with tabrons and trumpets, banners and bagpipes. It was convoyed about, and brought down the Hie Street to the common Cross. The Queen Regent dined that day in Alexander Carpenter’s house, betwixt the Bowes. When the idol returned back, she left it and went in to her dinner.”= The presence of the Regent had produced the desired effect in restraining the populace from violence, but no sooner did she withdraw, than the Little St Giles,” as they contemptuously styled the borrowed statue, was attacked with the most determined violence, and speedily shared the fate of its predecessor. The scene is thus graphically told by the same historian from whom we have already quoted ;-‘( Immediately after the Queen entered her lodging, some of them drew near to the idol, as willing to help to bear him up, and getting the fertorie upon their shoulders, beganne to shudder, thinking thereby the idol should have fallen. Then began one to cry ‘ Down with the Idol I down with it ! ’ So without delay it was pulled down. The patrons of the priests made some brags at the first ; but when the priests and friars saw the feebleness of their god, they fled faster than they did at Pinkey Cleugh.’ One of the professors [of the reformed doctrines) taking Saint Giles by the heels, and dadding his head to the causeway, left Dagon without head or hands ; exclaiming, Fy on thee, Young Saint Giles, thy father would not have been so used ! ’ The friars fleeing,” and as Knox exultingly declares, ‘( down go the crosses, off go the surplices, round caps and cornets with the crowns. The Grey Friars gaped, the Black Friars blew, the Priests panted and fled, and happy was he that got first to the house, for such a sudden fray came never among the generation of antichrist within this realm before.” ‘ This same year, 1558, Knox issued his famous “ first blast of the trumpet against the monstrous regiment of women,” in which he attacks the Regent, along with Mary Queen of England, and, indeed, all female rule ; by which he afterwards brought on himself the personal enmity of Queen Elizabeth, even more than that of those against whom it was directed. By his instructions the reforming party had organised themselves under the name of the CONGREQATIOaNn,d their leaders now assumed the guidance in all the great movements that occurred, entering into negotiations and treaties like a sovereign power. The accession of Queen Elizabeth to the throne of England further added to their influence, as she failed not to strengthen, by every available means, the hands of the Protestant party, and it consisted with her wonted course of policy thus to maintain her ascendancy by undermiuing the power of an opponent, rather than incur the consequences of an open rupture. The unfortunate claim which the chiefs of the house of Guise, uncles to the youthful Queen of Scotland, put forward in her name, as the legitimate successor of Queen May of Eng- . The Queen Regent led the ring for honour of the feast. But that chance was prevented by yron nailes. . ’ Calderwood‘e Hiatory, VOL i p. 346. ’ Koor’s Hist, p. 95. Pertow, a little coffer or chest ; a casket-Jamieson. a Ante, p. 51. ... K TO ABDICA TION OF QUEEN MAR Y. 61 The priests, resolving not to permit the day to pass without the usual ...

Book 10  p. 66
(Score 0.24)

L UCKENBOOTHS AND PARLIAMENT CLOSE. 219 Hospital are still termed, who claimed this office by long prescription, and their acknowledged skill in the art of loyal decoration, acquired in the annual custom of decking their own founder’s statue.‘ This formed one of the chief attractions to the citizens throughout the day, as well as to their numerous rustic visitors who crowded into the capital on the occasion, to wituess or share in the fun. Towards the afternoon the veteran corps of the city guard were called out to man the eastern entrance into the Parliament Close while the guests were assembling for the civic entertainment, and thereafter to draw up in front of the great hall, and announce with a volley to the capital at large each loyal toast of its assembled rulers. Never did forlorn hope undertake a more desperate duty! The first volley of these unpopular guardians of civic order was the signal for a frenzied assault on them by the whole rabble of the town, commemorated in Ferguson’s lively Address to the Muse on the Dead dogs and cats, and every offensive missile that could be procured for the occasion, were now hurled at their devoted heads ; and when at last they received orders to march back again to their old citadel in the High Street, the strife became furious; the rough old veterans dealt their blows right and left with musket and Lochaber axe wielded by no gentle hand, but their efforts were hopeless against the spirit and numbers of their enemies, and the retreat generally ended in an ignbminious rout of the whole civic guard. All law, excepting mo6 Zuw, was suspended during the rest of the evening, the windows of obnoxious citizens were broken, the effigies of the most unpopular public men frequently burnt, and for more than half a century, the notorious Johnny Wilkes,” the editor of the North Briton, and the favourite of the London apprentices, was annually burnt in effigy at the Cross and other prominent parts of the town-an incremation which ‘ has lately altogether fallen into desuetude. Previous to the remodelling of the Parliament House, while yet the lofty lands of the old close reared their huge and massy piles of stone high above the neighbouring buildings, and the ancient church retained its venerable though somewhat dilapidated walls, the aspect of this quadrangle must have been peculiarly grand and imposing, and such as we shall look for in vain among the modern erections of the capital. It would be folly, bowever, after recording so many changes that have passed over it at successive periods, to indulge in useless regrets that our own day has witnessed others as sweeping as any that preceded them, obliterating every feature of the past, and resigning it anew to the S~OW work of time to restore for other generations the hues of age that best comport with ita august and venerable associations. We shall close our notice with the following extract from a local poem referring to the same interesting nook of the old Scottish capital :- King’s birthday.” A scene of grave yet busy life Within the ancient city’s very heart, Teeming with old historic memories, rife With a departed glory, stood apart. High o’er it rose St Giles’s ancient tower Of curious fret work, whence the shadow falls,- As the pale moonbeams through its arches pour,- Tracing a shadowy crown upon the walls 1 One of the graceful and innocent customs-of earlier times, which was for sometimeiu abeyance, but is now happily again revived. ... UCKENBOOTHS AND PARLIAMENT CLOSE. 219 Hospital are still termed, who claimed this office by long prescription, ...

Book 10  p. 239
(Score 0.24)

HISTORICAL INCIDENTS AFTER THE RESTORATION. 1 I7 terior, with the embrasures and loop-holes, aa it appeared before the erection of the Infant School there. We have already mentioned the erection of the wall in Leith Wynd, a considerable portion of which still remains, by virtue of an Act of Parliament in 1540.' Maitland describes another addition in 1560, extending from thence to the end of the North Loch, at the foot of Halkerston's Wynd.' The southern wall of the west wing of Trinity Hospital included part of this ancient defence. It stood about six feet south from the present retaining wall of the North British Railway, in the Physic Gardens: and was a piece of such substantial masonry, that its demolition, in 1845, was attended with great labour, requiring the use of wedges to break up the solid mam. In 1591, the citizens were empowered, by Parliament, to raise money on all lands and rents within Edinburgh, towards strengthening the town, by an addition of height and thickness to its walls, with forcing places, bulwarks, or flankers, 8;c. ; * and finally, the Common Council having, in 1618, bought from Tours of Innerleith ten acres of land at the Creyfriars' Port, they immediately ordered it to be enclosed with a wall, a considerable portion of which forms the western boundary of the Heriot's Hospital grounds. It only remains to be added, that the last attempt made to render these walls an effective defence, wa.s in the memorable year 1745; with how little success has already been narrated. From the evidence brought out in the course of Provost Stewart's trial, they seem to have been, at that period, in a most ruinous condition, and it is improbable that any efforts were made after that to stay their further decay. The changes wrought upon the town itself during the same period are no less remarkable. Owing to its peculiar situation, crowning the ridge of the hill, on the highest point of which the Castle is perched, and sloping off to the low grounds on either side, its limits seemed to our ancestors to be defined almost beyond the possibility of enlargement. The only approach to the main street, from the west, previous to the commencement of the North Bridge, in 1765, was up the steep and crooked thoroughfare of the West Bow, by which kings and nobles so often entered in state, and from thence it extended, in unbroken continuity to St Mary's and Leith Wynds. The remainder of the street, through the Canongate, has fortunately, as yet, escaped the revision of '' improvements commissioners," and presents, in the continuation of the principal thoroughfare through the Nether Bow to the Palace, many antique features, awaking associations of the period when the Scottish nobility resided there in ciose vicinity to the Court. A very few years, however, have sufficed to do the work of centuries in the demolition of time-honoured and interesting fabrics. St Giles's Church has been renovated externally, and reduced to the insipid standard of modern uniformity. George IV. Bridge, and its approaches, have swept away nearly all the West Bow, Gosford's and the Old Bank Closes, Libberton's Wynd, and some of the most interesting houses in the Cowgate. The projectors of the New College have taken for its site another portion, including the Guise Palace, in. Blyth's Clow, which bore, on its north front, the earliest date then existing on any private building in Edinburgh ; and the same parties, in their zeal to do honour to Knox's , 1 Ante, p. 44. a Maitland, p. 20, where it ia defined aa at the foot of Libbwton'r Wynd, but this is obviously an error. ' So called from having long been the site of the Botanical Gardens. ' Kaitland, p, 45. ... INCIDENTS AFTER THE RESTORATION. 1 I7 terior, with the embrasures and loop-holes, aa it appeared before ...

Book 10  p. 128
(Score 0.24)

of an age as different in every respect from tht present as the wilds of North America are differenl from the long-practised lands of Lothian or Devon, shire.? In James?s Court was the residence of Sir Islaj Campbell, Lord President, whose mother was Heler Wallace, a daughter of the house of Ellerslie. Ad. OAK DOOR, FROM THE GUISE PALACE. (From th OrigiMZ in ihe Scoflish Antiquarian Museum.) mitted to the bar in 1757, he was one of thecounsel for the defender in the famous Douglas case, and, on the decision of the House of Lords being given, he posted to Edinburgh ere the mail could arrive, and was the first to announce to the crowds assem. bled at the Cross the great intelligence. ?? Douglas for ever ! ?? he cried, waving his hat in the air. A shout from the people responded, and, untrac. ing the horses from his carnage, they drew it in triumph to his house in James?s Court, probably the same in which his father, who was long one oi the principal clerks of Session, resided. This court is a well-known pile of building which rises to a vast height at the head of the Earthen Mound, and was erected between 172s and 1727 by James Brownhill, a speculative builder, and for years after it was deemed a fashionable quarter, the denizens of which were all persons of good position, though each occupied but a flat or floor ; they clubbed in all public measures, kept a secretary to record their names and proceedings, and had balls and parties among themselves ; but among the many local notables who dwelt here the names of only three, Hume, Boswell, and Dr. Blair, are familiar to us now. Burton, the biographer of the historian of England, thus describes this great fabric, the western portion of which was destroyed by fire in 1858, and has erected on its site, in the old Scottish style, an equally lofty structure for the Savings Bank and Free Church offices; consequently the houses rendered so interesting by the names of Hume, Blair, Johnson, and Boswell, are among the things that were. ?Entering one of the doors opposite to the main entrance, the stranger is sometimes led by a friend, wishing to afford him an agreeable surprise, down flight after flight of the steps of a stone staircase, and when he imagines he is descending so far into the bowels of the earth, he emerges on the edge of a cheerful, crowded thoroughfare, connecting together the old and new town, the latter of which lies spread before him in a contrast to the gloom from which he has emerged. When he looks up $0 the building containing the upnkht street through which he has descended, he sees that vast pile of tall houses standing at the head of the Mound, which creates astonishment in every visitor of Edinburgh. This vast fabric is built on the declivity of a hill, and thus one entering on the level of the Lawnmarket, is at the height of several storeys from the ground on the side next the New Town. I have ascertained that by ascending the western of the two stairs facing the entry of James?s Court to the height of three storeys we arrive at the door of David Hume?s house, which, of the two doors on that landing place, is the one towards the left.? The first fixed residence of David Hume was in Riddell?s Land, Lawnmarket, near the head of the West Bow. From thence he removed to Jack?s Land, in the Canongate, where nearly the whole of his ? History of England ? was written ; and it is somewhat singular that Dr. Smollett, the continuator of that work, lived? some time after in his sister?s house, exactly opposite. The great historian and philosopher dwelt but a short time in James?s Court, when he went to France ag Secretary to the Embassy. During his absence, which lasted some ... an age as different in every respect from tht present as the wilds of North America are differenl from the ...

Book 1  p. 98
(Score 0.24)

  Previous Page Previous Results   Next Page More Results

  Back Go back to Edinburgh Bookshelf

Creative Commons License The scans of Edinburgh Bookshelf are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License.