MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH.
@if go@ @t. Bpn affIeitit be,
a9cb pail Bag Cbre$t cbm pain to me.
Btuitb ge Map, wafk gotn tbairiti,
Cm5rate ge trii rb, altanbobn -
The last word, obviously Bin, had been curiously omitted, and a dash substituted for
it, as though for a guess or puzzle. In the centre of this roof there was a ring,
apparently for the purpose of suspending a lamp, and in one of the walls there
was a niche with a trefoil arch very slightly ornamented. The fireplace, which was
of very large dimensions, was entirely without ornament, and in no way corresponded
with the style of finish otherwise prevailing in the apartment, although its size and
massive construction seemed to prove that it must have been a portion of the original
fabric.
Another ceiling of a similar form, in a room adjoining this, on the west side of Blyth’g
Close, was adorned with a variety of emblematic designs, mostly taken from Paradin’s
Emblems (the earliest edition of which, as far as we are aware, was published at Lyons
in 1557), and from the Traictd des Devises Royales, although some of them are not to
be found in either of these works,-such as a hand amid flames, holding up a dagger,
with the motto, Agere et pati fortia; 8 branch covered with apples, Ab insomni non
custodita dragoni; and two hands out of a cloud, one ho1ding.a sword, and the other a
trowel, In utrumque paratus, This species of emblematic device was greatly in vogue in
the sixteenth century, and various other works of similar character still exist in the libraries
of the curious. Among other devices on this ceiling, may be mentioned an ape crushing
her offspring in the fervour of her embrace, with the motto, Cc~cus amr prolis ; a serpent
among strawberry plants, Latet unguis in Hr6a ; a porcupine with apples on its spikes,
Magnum vectigal parsimonia, &c.l These devices were united by a series of ornamental
borders, and must have presented altogether an exceedingly lively and striking appearance
when the colours were fresh, and the other decorations of the chamber in consistent
harmony therewith.’
Another interesting feature in the decoration of the ceilings of this once magnificent
mansion, was the blazonry which distinguished the chief ornaments remaining in some of the
rooms. These consisted of the armorial bearings of the Duke of Chatelherault, with his
initials, I. H.; those of France, with the initials H. R.; and, lastly, those of Guise,
impaled with the Scottish Lion, and having the Queen Regent’s intitials, N. R.3 The first
of these occupied the centre of a large entablature in the ceiling of the outer vestibule of
the apartment, where the elegant Gothic niche stood, to which we have given the name of
l It is much to be regretted that no attempt was made to preserve these interesting specimens of early decorations,
which could have been so easily done, as they were all painted on wood. The restoration in one of the apartments of
the New College would have formed a pleasing memorial of the building that it superseded. The only fragmente that
we know of are now in the collection of C. K. Sharpe, Esq. ’ A few items from “A Collection of Inventories, &c.,” 1815, may afford some idea of the probable furnishing of the
walla. “ The Quene Regentis movables, A.D. 1561; Item, ane tapestrie maid of worsett mixt with threid of gold of
the hiatone of the judgment of Salamon, the deid barne and the twa wiffis. Item, ane tapestrie of the historie of the
Creatioun, contening nyne peces; ane of the King Ruboam, contening foure peces ; ane other of little Salamon,” &a.,
p. 126. Sex
cartis of aundrie cuntreis. Twa paintit brcddis, the ane of the muses, and the uther of crotescque or conceptis. Aucht
paintit broddis of the Doctouris of Almaine,” &c.-Ibid, p. 130.
“Of Rownd Cfloibbis and Paintrie. Item, twa gloibbis, the ane of the heavin, the uther of the earth.
* All now in the posseasion of C. K. Sharpe, Esq.
