92 MEMORIALS .OF EDINBURGH.
of St Giles as its Cathedral. The new
service-book, which had been expressly prepared for the use of the Scottish Church,
was, after considerable delay, produced in the public services of the day, on Sunday,
23d July 1637.
In St Giles’s Church, the Dean ascended the reading-desk, arrayed in his surplice, and
opened the service-book. The church was crowded on this memorable occasion, with the
Lord Chancellor, the Lords of the Privy Council, the Judges and Bishops, as well as a vast
multitude of the people.’ No sooner did the Dean commence the unwonted service, than
the utmost confusion and uproar prevailed.
The service being at a pause, the Bishop,
from his seat in the gallery, called to him
to proceed to the Collect of the day.
“ De’il colic the wame 0’ thee I ” exclaimed
Jenny Geddes, as the Dean was preparing
-- to proceed with the novel formulas; and,
hurling the cutty stool, on which she
sat, at his head, ‘( Out,” cried she, “thou
false thief I dost thou say mass at my Jug?”
Dr Lindsay, the Bishop of Edinburgh, now attempted to quell the tumult; he ascended
the pulpit, and reminded the people of the sanctity of the place ; but this only increased
their violence. The Archbishop of St Andrews and the Lord Chancellor interfered with
as little effect; and when the Magistrates at length succeeded, by flattery and threats, in
clearing the church of the most violent of the audience, they renewed their attack from
the outside, and assaulted the church with sticks and stones, shouting meanwhile, Pape,
Pape, Antichrist, pull Aim down! The Bishop was assaulted by them on his leaving the
church ; and, with great difficulty, succeeded in reaching his house in the High Street.
The access to the first floor was, according to the old fashion, still common in that locality,
by an outside stair. As he was endeavouring to ascend this, one of the rabble seized his
gown, and nearly pulled him backward to the street. An old song is believed to have
been written in allusion to this affray, of which only one verse, referring to this scene, has
been preserved :-
The consequences of his efforts are well known.
---------
Put the gown upon the bishop,
That’s his miller‘sdue 0’ haveship;
Jenny Geddes was the gossip,
Put the gown upon the bishop.
The poor Bishop at length reached the top of the stair; but there, when he flattered
himself he was secure of immediate shelter, he found, to his inconceivable vexation, that
the outer door was locked; and he had again to turn round and try, by his eloquence, to
mollify the wrath of his unrelenting assailants. Often did he exclaim, in answer to their
reproaches, that (( he had not the wyte of it,” but all in vain ;-he was hustled down again
to the street, and was only finally rescued, when in danger of his life, by the Earl of
1 Maitland, p. 71. ’ D. Laing, spud Carlyle’s Cromwell, vol. i. p. 137.
VIGNETTE-Jenny Qeddea’s Stool.
YAMES VI. TO RESTORATION OF CHARLES II. 93
Memyss, his next door neighbonr, who sent a party of servants to his aid, and had the
unfortunate prelate brought to the shelter of the Earl’s own mansion.’
In the Greyfriars’ Church the service-book met with a similar reception, while most
of the other cler,gy prudently delayed its use, till they should see how it was relished by
the people. This memorable day was afterwards distinguished by the name of Stoney
Sunday.’ ‘‘ The immortal Jenet Geddis,” as she is styled in a pamphlet of the period, survived
long after her heroic onslaught on the Dean of Edinburgh. She kept a cabbage-stall at
the Tron Kirk, as late as 1661, and, notwithstanding the scepticism of some zealous
investigators, the Society of Antiquaries for Scotland still show, in their museum, her
formidable weapon-the cutty stool,-with which this heroine struck the initial stroke in
the great civil war.’
The multitudes of,all ranks, who speedily assembled in Edinburgh, determined to unite
for mutual protection, They formed a league for the defence of religion, each section being
classified according to their ranks, and thus arose the famous committees called the Fow
TABLES. On the royal edict for the maintenance of the service-book being proclaimed at
the Market Cross, on the 22d February 1638, a solemn protest was read aloud by some of
the chief noblemen of that party deputed for that purpose, and five days afterwards, between
two and three hundred clergymen and others assembled at the Tailors’ Hall (a fine
old building still existing in the Cowgate), and took into consideration the COVENANTth at
had been drawn up.
This important document was presented to a vast multitude, who assembled on the
following day in the Greyfriars’ Chtrch and Churchyard. It was solemnly read aloud, and
after being signed by the nobles and others in the church, it was laid on a &t tombstone
in the churchyard, and eagerly signed by all ranks of the people. The parchment on which
it was engrossed was four feet long, and when there was no longer room on either side to
write their namee, the people subscribed their initials round the margin.
The same National Covenant, when renewed at a later date, was placed for signature
in an old mansion, long afterwards used as a tavern, and which still remains in good
preservation, at the foot of the Covenant Close, as it has ever since been called.
In the year 1641 Charles again visited Edinburgh, for the purpose of ‘‘ quieting distrac-
- tion for the people’s satisfaction.” The visit, however, led to little good ; he offended his
friends without conciliating his enemies, and after another civic entertainment from the
magistrates of the city, he bade a h a 1 adieu to his Scottish capital. He is said to have been
fond of the game of golf, and the following anecdote is told of him in connection with it:-
While he was engaged in a party at this game, on the Links of Leith, a letter was delivered
into his hands, which gave him the first account of the insurrection and rebellion
in Ireland. On reading which, he suddenly called for his coach, and, leaning on one of his
attendants, and in great agitation, drove to the Palace of Holyrood House, from whence
next day he set out for London.’
The Covenanters followed up their initiatory movement in the most resolute and effective
1 (!hambera%~ Rebellions in Scotland, vol. i p. 66,
1 Edinburgh’a Joy, &c., 1661. ’ W. Tytler of Woodhouselee, Esq., Archceologia Scotica, voi. i p. 603.
* Arnot, p. 109.
Chambers’s Winor htiq., p. 180.
Charles’s immediate departure for London, ae he stayed till the diaaolution of the Scottish Parliament.
The anecdote is 80 far incorrect aa to.
