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

THE LA WNMARKE T. 165 and afterwards in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, till the penalty was modified to 35,000 merks, which was instantly paid.’ Other and still more exorbitant exactions followed, until his death in 1648, which was believed to have been accelerated by his share in’the troubles of the period. Other cares, however, besides those attendant on civil strife, embittered the latter years of the noble merchant. From Sir Thomas Hope’s diary, 12th May 1645, we learn that “ a dauchter of Sir William Grayis departit off the plaig, quhilk put us all in greit fear.”’ So that the old mansion in Lady Stair’s Close remains a memorial of the terrible plague of 1645, the last and most fatalvisitation of that dreadful scourge which .Edinburgh experienced, and which, like its first recorded appearance in 1513-the memorable year of Flodden-followed in the wake of a dismtrous war, while the city was awaiting, in terror, the victorious forces of Montrose. The “Statuts for the Baillies of the Mure,”3 first enacted in 1567, were renewed with various modifications at this period, sealing up the houses where “ the angel of the pestilence” had stayed his boding flight, and forbidden to his victims the rites of sepulture with their kindred. One interesting memorial of the stern rule of “the Baillies of the Mure,” during this terrible year, still remains in a field to the east of Warrender House, Bruntsfield Links,-a central spot in the Old Borough Moor. Here, amid the luxuriant pasturage of the meadow, and within sight of the busy capital, a large flat tombstone may be seen, timeworn and grey with the moss of age ; it bears on it a skull, surmounted by a winged sandglass, and a scroll inscribed mors pace . . . . hora c d i , and below this a shield bearing a saltier, with the initials M. I, R., and the date of the fatal year 1645. The M. surmounts the shield, and in all probability indicates that the deceased had taken his degree of Master of Arts. A scholar, therefore, and perhaps one of noble birth, has won the sad pre-eminence of slumbering in unconsecrated ground, and apart from the dust of his fathers, to tell of the terrors of the plague to other generations. The lady of Sir William Grey appears to have long survived her husband, as in the writs of some neighbouring properties, the old alley is styled Lady Grey’s Close. The Countess of Stair’s house, we may add, is proved from the titles to have been the upper story, I‘ immediately above the dwelling-house, which partained to the heirs of David Gray, merchant burgess,” doubtless a descendant of its builder ; and her successor is a Lady Clestram, the relict of some worthy laird, whose honours did not prove strong enough to overcome the ecldt of a Countess’s name. . The associations of the adjoining close connect us with CL period much more recent, and with characters yielding in interest to none with whose memories the localities of Edinburgh are linked. Here, in the pear.1786, the poet Burns,-just snatched from exile by the generous intervention of the blind bard, Dr Blacklock,-found his way, fresh from Wood’s Peerage, vol. i p. 672. a Sir Thomas Hope’a Diary, Eann. Club, p. 219. a “ Stututa for the Baillieo of the Mure, and ordering th.e Pest. For ordouring of the aaid mure, and pepill infectit thairupouo, for clengeing of houasis within the toun,” &c. “That the Thesaurer causa mak for everie ane of the Baillies, Clengers, and Bereara of the deid, ane gown of gray, with Sanct Andmiss corn, quhite behind and before ; and to everie me of thame, ane staff, with ane quhite clayth on the end, quhairby thay may be knawin quhairevir thay para That thair be maid twa cloia beria, with foure feet, colorit over with blak, and me quhite crow, with me bell to be hung in upouo the side of the said beir, quilk aall mak warning to the pepill. . . . . That with all deligence posaible, aa 8one 88 ony h o w sal1 be infectit, the haill houshald, with their gudda, be depescit towert the mure, thd deid buriet, and with like diligence the houm clengit,” &c.-Council Register, 1668. Yaitland, p. 31.

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