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

148 MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH. occupied, the outer framework on one side being nearly cut away ; but its original position was doubtless one of importance, suited to its highly decorated character. The armorial bearings, though suggesting no relation to those of the Queen Regent, serve to prove that it had been executed for the mansion in which it was found, as the game arms, impaled on one shield, was sculptured over the uorth doorway of the building on the east side of the close, with the date 1557, already alluded to, as the oldest then existing on any house in Edinburgh,’ and the initials A. A., as represented below. The lintel had been removed from its original position to heighten the doorway, for the purpose of converting this part of the old Palace into a stable, and was built into a wall immediately adjacent ; but its mouldings completely corresponded with the sides of the doorway from which it had been taken, and the high land was rent up through the whole of its north front, owiug to its abstraction.e This portion of the Palace formed a sort of gallery, extending across the north end of the whole buildings, and internally affording communication from those in Todd’s and Nairn’s Closes, and that on the west side of Blyth‘s Cloae, with the oratory or chapel on the east side of the latter. The demolition of these buildings brought to light many interesting features of their original character. The whole had been fitted up at their erection in a remarkably elegant and highly ornate style ; the fieplaces especially were all of large dimensions, and several of very graceful and elegant proportions. One of these we have already alluded to, with its fine Gothic niche at the side; another in Todd’s Close was of a still more beautiful design, the clustered pillars were further adorned with roses filling the interstices, and this also had a very rich Gothic niche at its side, entirely differing in form from the last, and indeed from all the others that we have examined, in the apparent remains of a stoup or hollowed basin, the front of 1 It is not necessarily inferred from this that no older house exists. The walla of Holyrood admitted of being roofed again after the burning in 1544, and it is not unlikely that some of the oldest houses still remaining passed through the same fiery ordeaL This stone, which is in good preservation, is now in the interesting collection of antiquities of A. 0. Ellis, Esq. W e have failed to trace from the shield any clue to the original owner or builder of this part of the Palace ; but the data now furnished may perhaps enable others to be more successful. Sir Robert Carnegie of Kinnaird, who WBB appointed one of the Senatora of the College of Justice in 1547, and as Ambassador to France in 1551, had a great share in persuading the Duke of Chatelherault to resign the regency to Mary of Guise,-bore for arms an eagle displayed, aeure ; but his wife’s arms,-a daughter of Outhrie of Lunan,-do not correspond with those impaled with them, and the initials are also irreconcilable, The same objediom hold good in the cue of his son, a faithful adherent of Queen Mary.

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