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.

  Enlarge     Pictures

156 MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH, which appears prominently in our view of the Castle Hill, with the inscription LAVS DEO, and the date 1591, curiously wrought in antique iron letters on its front. The most ancient portions of the interior that remain seem quite as early in character as those we have been describing ; and indeed the back part of it, extending into the dose, has apparently been built along with the mansion of the Queen Regent. The earliest titles of this building now existing are two contracts of alienation, bearing date 1590, by which the upper and under portions of the land are severally disposed of to Robert M‘Naught and James Rynd, merchant burgesses. The building, in all probability, at that period was a timberfronted land, similar to those adjoining it, which were taken down in 1845. Immediately thereafter, as appears from the date of the building, the handsome polished ashlar front, which still remains, had been erected at their joint expense. In confirmatiou of this there is sculptured, under the lowest crow-step at the west side of the building, a shield bearing . an open hand, in token of amity, as we presume, with the initials of both proprietors.’ In an apartment on the second floor of this house, an arched ceiling was accidentally discovered some years since, decorated with a series of sacred paintings on wood, of a very curious and interesting character, A large circular compartment in the centre contsins the figure of our Saviour, with a radiauce round His head, and His left hand resting on a royal orb. Within the encircling border are these words, in gilded Roman letters, on a rich blue ground, Ego sum via, veritas, et vita, 14 Johne. The paintings in the larger compartments represent Jacob’s Dream, Christ asleep in the storm, the Baptism of Christ, and the Vision of Death from the Apocalypse, surmounted by the symbols of the Evangelists. The distant landscape of the Lake of Galilee in the second picture presents an amusing, though by no means unusual liberty, taken by the artist with his subject. It consists of a view of Edinburgh from the north, terminating with Salisbury Crags on the left and the old Castle on the right! This pictorial license affords a clue as to the probable period of the work, which, as far as it can be trusted, indicates a later period than the Regency of Mary of Guise. The steeples of the Nether Bow Port and the old Weighhouse are introduced-the first of which was erected in the year 1606, and the latter taken down in 1660. The fifth picture, and the most curious of all, exhibits an allegorical representation, as we conceive, of the Christian life. A ship, of antique form, is seen in full sail, and bearing on its pennon and stern the common symbol, IHS. A crowned figure stands on the deck, looking towards a burning city in the distance, and above him the word VB. On the mainsail is inscribed Curitus, and over the stern, which is in the fashion of an ancient galley, [Salpiencia. Death appears as a skeleton, riding on a dark horse, amid the waves immediately in front of the vessel, armed with a bow and arrow, which he is pointing at the figure in the ship, while a figure, similarly armed, and mounted on a huge dragon, follows in it.s wake, entitled Persecutio, and above it a winged demon, over whom is the word Diaboolus. In the midst of these perils there is seen in the sky a radiance surroundiig the Hebrew word i71iV, and from this symbol of the Deity a hand issues, taking hold of a line attached to the stern of the vessel. The whole series is executed with, great spirit, though now much injured by damp and decay. The broad borders between them are richly decorated with every variety of flowers, fruit, harpies, birds, and fancy 1 This is oue undoubted example of the date on a building being put on at a considerably later period than its erection, an Occurrence which we have fouud reason to auapect in various other instancea.

  Enlarge