YAMES VI. TO RESTORATION OF CHARLES II. 95
as is well known, followed the Scottish forces under Leslie, in all their movements, so that
they were encamped at various times all round the city. One spot is particularly pointed
out, immediately to the westward of Coltbridge, where Cromwell’s forces lay on the rising
ground all around, and only separated from the Presbyterian army by the Water of Leith
and the marshy fields along its banks. Roseburn House, a very interesting old mansion,
where Cromwell is said to have passed the night while the army lay encamped in its neighbourhood,
still remains, bearing the date 1562 over its principal entrance. In levelling
one of the neighbouring mounds some years since, some stone coffins were found, and a
large quantity of human bones, evidently of a very ancient date, as they crumbled to pieces
on being exposed to the air ; but the tradition of the neighbouring hamlet is, that they
were the remains of some of Cromwell’P troopers. Our informant, the present intelligent
occupant of Roseburn House, mentioned the curious fact, that among the remains dug up,
there were the bones of a human leg, with fragments of a wooden coffin or case, of the
requisite dimensions, in which it had evidently been buried apart.
The battle of Dunbar at length placed the southern portion of Scotland completely in
the power of Cromwell, at the very moment when he was preparing to abandon the enterprise,
and embark his troops for England. The magistrates, as well as the ministers and
the principal inhabitants, having been involved in the movements of the defeated party,
either deserted the town, or took refuge in the Castle on the approach of the victorious
General.
On the 7th of September 1650, Cromwell entered Edinburgh at the head of his army,
and took possession of it and of the town of Leith. The capital was now subjected to
martial law ; the most rigid regulations were enforced, such as, (‘ that upone ony allarum
no inhabitant luik out of his hous upone payne of death, or walk on the streets after top-tow,
upone payne of imprissonement.” Yet the peaceable inhabitants found no great reason
to complain of his civic rule ; justice seems to have been impartially administered, though
often with much severity, and the most rigid discipline enforced on the English troops.
‘‘ Upon the 27th of September,” says Nicol, “ by orders of the General Cromwell, thair
wes thrie of his awin sodgeris scurged by the Provest Marschellis men, fiom the Stone
Chop to the Neddir Bow, and bak agane, for plundering of houssis within the toun ; and
ane uther sodger maid to ryde the Meir at the Croce of Zdinburgh, with ane ppnt stop
about his neck, his handis bund behind his back, and musketis hung at his feet, the full
space of twa hours, for being drunk.” The same punishment of riding the Mare remained
in force, as a terror to evil doers, till the destruction of the old citadel of the town-guard,
and all its accompaniments, in the year 1785.
The General again took up his residence in “ the Earl of Xurrie’s house in the Cannigate,
where a strong guard is appointed to keep constant watch at the gate ; ”’ and his
soldiers were quartered in the Palace, and billeted about the town, while actively engaged
in the siege of the Castle. The guard-house was in Dunbar’s Close, a name which it
retains from the quarters it then furnished to the victors of Dunbar ; and a tradition is
preserved, with considerable appearance of probability, that a handsome old house, still
remaining at the foot of Sellars’ Close, was occasionally occupied by Cromwell. It is a fine
Nicol’s Diary, p. 30. ’ Ibid, p. 33.
f King’s Pamphleta, apud Carlyle, vol i. p. 375.
See the Wooden Mare in the view, ante, p. 74.
