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.
