![Holyrood.] ROYAT, MARRIAGES. 55
with the Dukes of Savoy and Burgundy. She
landed at Leith amid a vast concourse of all
classes of the people, and, escorted by a bodyguard
of 300 men-at-arms, all cap-d+e, with
the citizens also in their armour, under Patrick
Cockburn of Nevtbigging, Provost of Edinburgh
and Governor of the Castle, was escorted to the
monastery of the Greyfriars, where she was warmly
welcomed by her future husband, then in his
twentietb year, and was visited by the queenmother
on the following day.
The week which intervened between her arrival
and?her marriage was spent in a series of magnificent
entertainments, during which, from her great
beauty and charms of manner, she won the devoted
affection of the loyal nobles and people.
A contemporary chronicler has given a minute
account of one of the many chivalrous tournaments
that took place, in which three Burgundian nobles,
two of them brothers named Lalain, and the thud
HervC Meriadet, challenged any three Scottish
knights to joust with lance, battle-axe, sword, and
dagger, a defiance at once accepted by Sir James
Douglas, James Douglas of Lochleven, and Sir
John Ross of Halkhead, Constable of Renfrew.
Lances were shivered and sword and axe resorted
to with nearly equal fortune, till the king threw
down his truncheon and ended the combat.
The royal marriage, which took place in the
church at Holyrood amid universal joy, concluded
these stirring scenes. At the bridal feast the first
dish was in the form of a boar?s head, painted and
stuck full df tufts of coarse flax, served up on an
enormous platter, with thirty-two banners, bearing
the arms of the king and principal nobles ; and the
flax was set aflame, amid the acclamations of the
numerous assembly that filled the banquet-hall.
Ten years after Holyrood beheld a sorrowful
scene, when, in 1460, James, who had been slain
by the bursting of a cannon at the siege of Roxburgh
on the 3rd August, in his thirtieth year, was
laid in the royal vault, ?with the teares of his
people and his hail1 army,? says Balfour.
In 1467 there came from Rome, dated zznd
February, the bull of Pope Paul II., granting, on
the petition of the provost, bailies, and community
of the city, a con~mission to the Bishop of Galloway,
?et dilectojZio Abbafi Monasterii Sancta Cmcis mini
viuros de Rdynburgh,? to erect the Church of St.
Giles into a collegiate institution.
Two years afterwards Holyrood was again the
scene of nuptial festivities, when the Parliamen!
met, and Margaret of Norway, Denmark, and
Sweden, escorted by the Earl of Arran and a
gallant train of Scottish aad Danish nobles, landed
at Leith in July, 1469. She was in her sixteenth
year, and had as her dowry the isles of Orkney
and Shetland, over which her ancestors had hitherto
claimed feudal superiority. James III., her
husband, had barely completed his eighteenth
year when they were married in the abbey church,
where she was crowned queenconsort. ?? The marriage
and coronation gave occasion to prolonged
festivities in the metropolis and plentiful congratulations
throughout the kingdom. Nor was the
flattering welcome undeserved by the queen ; in the
bloom of youth and beauty, amiable and virtuous,
educated in all the feminine accomplishments of
the age, and so richly endowed, she brought as
valuable an accession of lustre to the court as of
territory to the kingdom.?
In 1477 there arrived ?heir in grate pompe,?
says Balfour, ?Husman, the legate of Pope
Xystus the Fourth,? to enforce the sentence of
deprivation and imprisonment pronounced by Hjs
Holiness upon Patrick Graham, Archbishop of St.
Andrews, an eminent and unfortunate dignitary of
the Church of Scotland. He was the first who
bore that rank, and on making a journey to Rome,
returned as legate, and thus gained the displeasure
of the king and of the clergy, who dreaded his
power. He was shut up in the monastery of Inchcolm,
and finally in the castle of Lochleven. Meanwhile,
in the following year, William Schivez, a
great courtier and favourite of the king, was
solemnly consecrated in Holyrood Church by the
papal legate, from whose hands he received a pall,
the ensign of archiepiscopal dignity, and with great
solemnity was proclaimed ?? Primate and Legate of
the realm of Scotland.? His luckless rival died
of a broken heart, and was buried in St. Serf?s
Isle, where his remains were recently discovered,
buried in a peculiar posture, with the knees drawn
up and the hands down by the side.
In 1531, when Robert Cairncross was abbot,
there occurred an event, known as ? the miracle of
John Scott,? which made some noise in its time.
This man, a citizen of Edinburgh, having taken
shelter from his creditors in the sanctuary of Holyrood,
subsisted there, it is alleged, for forty days
without food of any kind.
Impressed by this circumstance, of which some
exaggerated account had perhaps been given to
him, James V. ordered his apparel to be changed
and strictly searched. He ordered also that he
should be conveyed from Holyrood to a vaulted
room in David?s Tower in the castle, where he was
barred from access by all and closely guarded.
Daily a small allowance of bread and water were
placed before him, but he abstained from both for](images/thumbs/old_new_edin_v3p067.gif "Old and New Edinburgh Vol. III Page 55")
... ROYAT, MARRIAGES. 55
with the Dukes of Savoy and Burgundy. She
landed at Leith amid a vast concourse ...
Book 3 p. 55
(Score 0.34)
![The Mound.] THE SCOTTISH GALLERY. 89 -
seen Sir Noel Paton?s two wonderful pictures of
Oberon and Titania; others by Erskine Nicol,
Herdman, Faed, W. Fettes, Douglas, James Drummond,
Sir George Harvey, Horatio Macculloch,
R. S. Lauder, Roberts, Dyce, and Etty, from whose
brush there are those colossal paintings of U Judith
with the Head of Holofernes ?? and ?The Woman
Interceding for the Vanquished.?
Among the many fine paintings bequeathed to
this Scottish Gallery is Gainsborough?s celebrated
portrait of hfrs. Graham, depicting a proud and
are outlined ; and the great and accurately detailed
picture of the battle of Bannockburn.
There is a small full-length picture of Bums,
painted by Nasmyth, as a memento of the poet,
and another by the same artist, presented by the
poet?s son, Colonel W. Nicol Burns, and a fine
portrait of Sir John Moore, the property of the
officers of the Black Watch,
The choice collection of water colours embraces
some of the best works of I? Grecian ? Rilliams ;
a series of drawings bequeathed to the Gallery
INTERIOR OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY.
beautiful girl, grief for whose death in early fife
caused her husband, the future Lord Lynedoch,
?the hero of Earossa,? to have it covered up that
he might never look upon it again. There are
also some beautiful and delicate works by Greuze,
the gift of Lzdy Murray ; and one by Thomson of
Duddingstone, presented by Lady Stuart of
Allanbank ; and Landseer?s I? Rent Day in the
Wilderness,? a Jacobite subject, bequeathed by
the late Sir Roderick Murchison, Bart.
Not the least interesting works here are a few
that were among the last touched by deceased
artists, and left unfinished on their easels, such as
Wilkie?s ?John Knox Dispensing the Sacrament
at Calder House,? of which a few of the faces alone
00
by Mr. Scott, including examples of Robert
Cattermole, Collins, Cox, Girtin, Prout, Nash,
and Cnstall; and a set of studies of the most
striking peculiarities of the Dutch, Spanish, Venetian,
and Flemish schools. Of great interest, too,
are the waxen models by Michael Angelo.
The Gallery also contains a collection of
marbles and bronzes, bequeathed by Sir James
Erskine of Tome, and a cabinet of medallion
portraits and casts fnm gems, by James and
William Tassie, the celebrated modellers, who,
though born of obscure parents in Renfrewshire,
acquired such fame and reputation that the first
cabinets in Europe were open to their use.
The Royal Scottish Academy of Painting and](images/thumbs/old_new_edin_v3p101.gif "Old and New Edinburgh Vol. III Page 89")
... Mound.] THE SCOTTISH GALLERY. 89 -
seen Sir Noel Paton?s two wonderful pictures of
Oberon and Titania; others ...
Book 3 p. 89
(Score 0.34)
![270 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
it would be disgraceful to our character as Scotsmen were such an act of exclusion
recorded in the books of this society. Were he the son of a beggardid
his talents entitle him-he has a right to the highest distinction in the land.”’
No. CIX.
JOHN WRIGHT, ESQ.,
ADVOCATE.
THIS Print represents the subject of our sketch at a later period of life than
the former etching ; and, to judge from his attitude, he may be supposed in the
act of addressing the bench.
He spoke so
very slow that his pleadings were far from being effective. On one occasion
he was engaged in conducting a case before Lord Hailes. Mr. -, the
opposing council, who first addressed the bench, spoke so thick, fast, and indistinct,
that his lordship was under the necessity of requesting him to speak slower,
that he might understand him; but the judge found himself in the adverse
predicament with Mr. Wright. “Get on a little faster,” said his lordship,
addressing the advocate, “ for I am tired following you.” “ If it were possible,”
observed Erskine, solta voce, “ to card the two together, something good might
be made of them both,”
Mr. Wright was unquestionably more fitted for a lecturer than an advocate,
and to his success in the former avocation he was chiefly indebted for a livelihood.
He also derived no inconsiderable income from his literaT labours.
For many years he wrote all the Latin theses. One work on mathematics’
MR. WRIGHTn ever attained to great eminence as a pleader.
That the political principles of Mr. Wright were liberal may be inferred from his intimacy
with, and the friendship shown him by, Mr. Erskine ; but it may not be generally known that he
ever published his sentiments on the subject of Reform. We have, however, accidentally fallen in
with a pamphlet which seems to have been published by Mr. Witght in 1784, entitled “ An Essay
on Parliamentary Representation and the Magistracies of our Royal Boroughs ; showing tht the
abuses at present complained of, respecting both, are late deviations from our constitution, as well as
from common sense ; and the necessity of a speedy Reform.” This pamphlet is anonymous ; but
from the following words, in the handwriting of Mr. Wright, being written on the title-page, there
can be no doubt that the production was his own :-“This Essay ccnatuins the mbstaace of the Author’s
idem on Parle’anwntary Representation. Mr. Alison’a opinion of it would oblige his hwn&le servant
-JOHN WRIQHT.” The Essay is well written, and affords a luminous review of the rise and progress
of feudal government, and the various lawa and enactments which have led to the formation of
what is called the British constitution. His observationa extend to almost every branch of national
economy. [The MT. Alism alluded to waa probably an accountant of that name who lived in St.
James’ Square.]
2 Elements of Trigonometry, Plane and Spherical ; with the Principles of Perspective and Projection
of the Sphere.” In 8v0, Edinblwh, 1772.](images/thumbs/kays_thumb_pages/kays_v1_p_Page_386.gif "Kay's Originals Vol. 1 Page 377")
... BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
it would be disgraceful to our character as Scotsmen were such an act of ...
Book 8 p. 377
(Score 0.34)
... OLD AND NEW EDINBURGH. [Leith Walk.
On the east side of the walk, overlooking the
steep and deep Greenside ...
Book 5 p. 158
(Score 0.33)
... be the wretch who seized the throne,
And marred our Constitution ;
,4nd curs?d be they who helped on
That ...
Book 1 p. 165
(Score 0.33)
... SKETCHES. 259
in his own hands, and the dispute was only settled towards the close of the
season, by ...
Book 9 p. 345
(Score 0.33)
... OLD AND NEW' EDINBURGH.
'Plague in Leith, The 111. 180,186
Plainstane's close ~ i . ...
Book 6 p. 386
(Score 0.33)
... BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
No. CLXXIII.
THE LAWNMARKET COACH ;
A JOURNEY ALONG THE MOUND.
THIS Print is ...
Book 9 p. 9
(Score 0.33)
... BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Lord Abercromby of Aboukir and Tullibody, and married, 27th January 1799,
Montague, ...
Book 8 p. 161
(Score 0.33)
... 1'3
on the site of the old building, erected in 1555 during the regency of Mary
of Guise, and ...
Book 11 p. 166
(Score 0.33)
... BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
In the University of Edinburgh the taste for Grecian literature had been ...
Book 8 p. 452
(Score 0.33)
... MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH.
Dederyk, Alderman of Edinburgh, with the whole community of the town, swore fealty ...
Book 10 p. 7
(Score 0.33)
... BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
“ For worth revered, 10 I full of years,
Amid the sorrowing people’s tears,
Does ...
Book 8 p. 278
(Score 0.33)
... 4 B I0 GRAPH I CA L SI< ET C HE S.
popular there. An attempt was at one time very injudiciously made to stop ...
Book 9 p. 285
(Score 0.33)
... BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
The reply brought by the bearer was :-
“ SIR,-~ have just received youm, and have ...
Book 9 p. 7
(Score 0.33)
... MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH.
supply of water. From thence they sallied out from time to time, as occasions ...
Book 10 p. 9
(Score 0.33)
... BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
so much so, that the publishers presented the author with two additional 6ums
of ...
Book 8 p. 178
(Score 0.33)
... and alert carriage, together with some oldfashioned
peculiarities of costume, which made her
one of the ...
Book 3 p. 125
(Score 0.32)
... BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
No. XLIV.
COCK-FIGHTING MATCH
BETWEEN THE COUNTIES OF LANARK AND HADDINGTON.
THIS ...
Book 8 p. 138
(Score 0.32)
... SKETCHES. 105
descendants are now alive.
the 8th July 1800.
Mr. Dickson died, at his house at ...
Book 8 p. 154
(Score 0.32)
... SKETCHES. 331
only.’ The truth is, that in those days the practice of midwifery was almost
solely ...
Book 8 p. 464
(Score 0.32)
... EDINBURGH PAST AND PRESENT.
On the following day her Majesty unveiled the Albert Memorial in
Charlotte Square. ...
Book 11 p. 87
(Score 0.32)
... SKETCHES. 11
his father was a native, but his mother was a Scotswoman. He travelled the
country for ...
Book 8 p. 14
(Score 0.32)
... BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
impossible he could properly attend to his pastoral duties. Several meetings ...
Book 9 p. 241
(Score 0.32)
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