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

KING’S STABLES, CASTLE IYARNS, AND CASTLE HILL. 155 the dilapidated window. sketch, from which the accompanying vignette i s given. In the highest floor, various indications of the same elaborate style of decoration were visible as we have described in the ceilings of the Palace. A curious fragment of painting, flling an arch on one of the walls, was divided into two compartments by very elegant ornamental borders. The picture on the left represented a young man kneeling before an altar, on which stood an open vessel amid flames, while, from a dark cloud overhead, a hand issued, holding a ladle, and just about to dip it into the vessel. A castellated mansion, with turrets and gables ii the style of the sixteenth century, appeared in the distance ; and at the top there was inscribed on a scroll the words Bemum purgabitw. In the other compartment, a man of aged and venerable aspect was seen, who held in his hands a heart, which he appeared to be offering to a figure like a bird, with huge black wings. Above this were the words . . Impossi6iZe est. The whole apartment had been decorated in the same style, but only very slight remains of. thia were traceable on the walls. On the removal of the lath and plast.er from the ceilings of the lower roomt3, the beams,-which were of solid oak,-and the under sides of the flooring above, were all covered with ornamental devices, those on the main beams being Painted on three sides, and divided at short distances by fillets or bands of various patterns running round them.‘ The somewhat minute description which we have given of these ancient buildings will, we think, amply bear us out in characterising them as among the most interesting that old Edinburgh possessed. Here we have good reason for believing the widow of James V. took up her residence during the first years of her regency;-here, in all probability, the leading churchmen and Scottish nobles who adhered to her party have met in grave deliberation, to resist the earlier movements that led to the Reformation ;-in this mean and obscure alley the ambassadors and statesmen of England and France, and the niessengers of the Scottish Queen, have assembled, and have been received with fitting dignity in its once splendid halls ; while within the long desecrated fane royal and noble worshippers have knelt around its altar, gorgeous with the imposing ceremonial8 of the Catholic Church. It is a dream of times long gone by, of which G w d d gladly have retained some such remembrance as the dilapidated mansion afforded; but time and modern changes have swept over its old walls with ruthless hand, and this feeble description of its decrepitude is probably the best memorial of it that survives. There still remains to be described the fine old stone land at the head-of Blyth’s Close, The same difficulties had to be surmounted in obtaining the J The Vignette at the end of the Chapter is from one of the oak beams belonging to the late bfr Hugh Paton.

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