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

YAMES VI. TO RESTORATION OF CHARLES I.. 83 Sanct Mary’s Wynd, hurtful to the keiping of this burghe.” And, again, on the Sth, they caused the doors and windows of all the tenements on the west side of St Mary’s- Wynd to be “ biggit up and closit,” as well as other great preparations for defence. On the 20th of June, three pieces of brass ordnance were mounted on St Giles’s steeple, and the holders of it amply stored with provisions and ammunition for its defence, and all the malls, fosses, and ports, were again ‘ I newlie biggit and repairit ; ” and within a few days after, the whole merchants and craftsmen remaining in the burgh, mustered to a ‘‘ wappinschawing” in the Greyfriars’ Churchyard, and engaged to aid and assist the Captain of the Castle in the service of the Queen.’ When all others means failed, an ingenious plot was devised for taking the Nether Bow Port by a stratagem, nearly similar to that by which the Castle was recovered in 1341; but the ambush was discovered by chance, and the scheme, happily for the citizens, defeated. Immediately thereafter, “ the Lords and Captain of the Castle causit big ane ne‘w port at the Nether boll, within the auld port of the same, of aisler wark, in the maist strenthie maner ; and tuik, to big the saniyn with, all the aisler stanis that Alexander Clerk haid gadderit of the kirk of Restalrig to big his hous with.”s This interesting notation supplies the date of erection of the second Nether Bow Port, and accounts for its position behind the line of the city wall ; as the original gate in continuation of St Mary’s Wynd would have to be retained and defended, while the new works were going on within. On the earlier site, but, we may presume to some extent at least, with these same materials, the fauous old “ Temple Bar of Edinburgh,” was again rebuilt in the form represented in the engraving, in the year 1606. At a still later date, the same parties, in their anxiety to defend this important pass, “causit all the houssis of Leith and Sanct Marie Wyndis heidis to be tane dounl” The Earl of Mar was no less zealous in his preparations for its assault. He caused trenches to be cast up in the Pleasance, for nine pieces of large and small ordnance, and mounted others on Salisbury Crags, ‘‘ to ding Edinburgh with,” so that the poor burghers of that quarter must have found good reason for wishing the siege to draw to a close. Provisions failed, and all fresh supplies were most diligently intercepted; military law prevailed in its utmost rigour, and the sole appearance of their enjoying a moment’s ease occur^ in the statement, that “ uochttheles the remaneris thairin abaid patientlie, and usit all plesouris quhilkis were wont to be usit in the xnoneth of Maij in ald tymes, viz., Robin Hude and Litill Johne.” This frightful state of affairs was at length brought to a close, with little advantage to either party; and on the 27th of July 1572, the whole artillery about the walls, on the steeple head of St Giles’s, and the Kirk-of-Field, were removed to the Castle, and the Cross being most honourably hung with tapestry, a truce was proclaimed by the heralds, with sound of trumpets, and the hearty congratulations of the people.“ In the month of August Knox returned to Edinburgh, after an absence of nearly two years. His life was drawing rapidly to a close, and on the 24th of November 1572 he expired in his sixty-seventh year. His body was interred in the Churchyard of St Giles, and was attended to the grave by a numerous concourse of people, including many of the chief , Diurnal of Occurrenta, pp. 220, 226, 251. Diurnal of Occurrenta, p. 241. ’ Ante, p. 8. ’ Ibid, p. 308.

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