Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time

All Books Kay's Originals Vol. 1 Kay's Originals Vol. 2 Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time Edinburgh Past and Present Old and New Edinburgh Vol. I Old and New Edinburgh Vol. II Old and New Edinburgh Vol. III Old and New Edinburgh Vol. IV Old and New Edinburgh Vol. V Old and New Edinburgh Vol. VI

Go to: « Kay's Originals Vol. 1 « Kay's Originals Vol. 2 Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time Cover Title Pages Contents List of Illustrations Preface Part 1: Historical Associations Part 1 Ch 1: Earliest Traditions Part 1 Ch 2: From The Accession of The Stuarts to the Death of James III Part 1 Ch 3: From the Accession of James IV to the Battle of Flodden Part 1 Ch 4: From the Battle of Flodden to the Death of James V Part 1 Ch 5: From the Death of James V to the Abdication of Queen Mary Part 1 Ch 6: From the Accession of James VI to the Restoration of Charles II Part 1 Ch 7: Historical Incidents after the Restoration Part 2: Local Antiquities and Traditions Part 2 Ch 1: The Castle Part 2 Ch 2: King's Stables, Castle Barns, and Castle Hill Part 2 Ch 3: The Lawnmarket Part 2 Ch 4: The Tolbooth, Luckenbooths, and Parliament Close Part 2 Ch 5: The High Street Part 2 Ch 6: The High Street and Nether Bow Part 2 Ch 7: The Canongate and Abbey Sanctuary Part 2 Ch 8: St Leonard's, St Mary's Wynd, and The Cowgate Part 2 Ch 9: The West Bow and Suburbs Part 2 Ch 10: Leith, and The New Town Part 2 Ch 11: Ecclesiastical Antiquities Appendix » Edinburgh Past and Present » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. I » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. II » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. III » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. IV » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. V » Old and New Edinburgh Vol. VI

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THE STUARTS TO THE DEATH OF YAMES ur. 19 prison, down to the accession of James VI. to the English throne; and often, as in the present case, fulfilled the double purpose at once. Not only was he held in a sort of honourable durance there by his rebellious barons ; having, according to Drummond, ‘‘ all the honour which appertained to a Prince, save that he could not come abroad, and none were permitted to speak unto him, except in the audience of his lord-keeper ; his chamber doors were shut before the setting of the sun, and long after the rising opened ; such who only heard of him could not but take him to be a free and absolute Prince; yet when nearly viewed, he was but a King in phantasy, and his throne but a picture ! ” but, at the same time, there lay within its dungeons the King’s own prisoner, the Earl of Douglas ; to whom, in this extremity, he at last made unsuccessful overtures of reconciliation. The King having at length appealed, through the Duke of Albany, to Edward IV. of England, the Duke of Gloucester marched to Edinburgh at the head of ten thousand men, and encamped with them on the Borough Muir, at the very time when the rebellious barons were assembled in council, in the Tolbooth. Here the Duke of Albany, who continued to assume a very specious show of loyalty, joined them, attended by thepuke of Glouceater, and about a thowand English and Scottish gentlemen ; and the parties having come to terms, two heralds-at-arms were commanded to pass with them, to charge the captain of the Castle to open the gates, and set the King’s grace at liberty; who, if Lindsay is to be relied upon, somewhat contrary to our modern notions of kingly dignity, forthwith “lap on a hackney to ride down to the Abbay : but he would not ride forward, till the Duik of Albanie his brother lap on behind him ; and so they went down the geat to the Abbey of Hallyruid hous, quhair they remained ane long tyme in great mirrines ; ” and, as Abercromby adds, he “would needs make him a partner in his bed, and a comrade at his table.” On the following day, William Bertraham, the Provost of Edinburgh, and with him the whole fellowship of merchants, burgesses, and community of the said town, loyally and generously obliged themselves to repay to the King of England, under certain circumstances, the dowry to his daughter, the Lady Cecil ; or otherwise, (( undertook for the King of Scotland, their Sovereign Lord, that he should concur in hiR former obligations, provided he or they, the said provosts and merchants, were informed of the King of England’s pleasure, by the next Feast of All Saints ; ” which obligations they afterwards fulfilled, repaying the money, amounting to 6000 merks sterling, upon the demand of Garter King-at-Arms, the King of England‘s messenger. In acknowledgment of this loyal service, the King granted to the city a deed, in 1492, by which the provost and bailies were created sheriffs within all- the bounds of their own territories, and rewarded with other important privileges‘contained in that patent, which is known by the name of the Golden Charter.’ He also conferred upon the craftamen the famoua banner, long the rallying po&t of the burgher ward in every civil commotion, or muster for war, which is still preserved by the incorporated trades, and known by the popular title of the Blue Blanket. The history of this famoua banner has been written hy Alexander Pennycuik, an enthusiastic guild brother of the laat century, who begins the record-“ When the Omnipotent Architect had built the glorious fabric of this world ! ” and after recording for the consolation of his brother craftsmen, that ‘( Adam’s eldest aon was educate a plowman, and his brother a grazier,” with many other flattering instmees of ‘‘ god'^ distinguishing honour put upon tradesmen,” he tells that Pitacottie, voL i p. 200. * ’ Drum. of Hawthorn. p. 52.

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