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

EARLIEST TRA DITZONS. 3 sess himself of Edgar, the youthful heir to the crown, then lodged within its walls. In that year, also, Queen Margaret (the widow of Malcolm Canmore, and the mother of Edgar), to whose wisdom and sagacity he entrusted implicitly the internal polity of his kingdom, died in the Castle, of grief, on learning of his death, with that of Edward, their eldest son, both slain at the siege of Alnwick castle ; and while the usurper, relying on the general steepness of the rocky cliff, was urgent only to secure the regular accesses, the body of the Queen was conveyed through a postern gate, and down the steep declivity on the western side, to the Abbey Church of Dunfermline, where it lies interred; while the young Prince, escaping by the same egress, found protection in England, at the hand of his uncle, Edgar Atheling. In commemoration of the death of Queen Margaret, a church was afterwards erected, and endowed with revenues, by successive monarchs ; all trace of which has long since disappeared, the site of it being now occupied by the barracks forming the north side of the great square. In the reign of Alexander I., at the beginning of the twelfth century, the first distinct notices of the town as 8 royal residence are found ; while in that of his successor David, we discover the origin of many of the most important features still surviving. He founded the Abbey of Holyrood, styled by Fordun “ Monasterium Sanctae Crucis de Crag,” which was begun to be built in its present situation in the year 1128. The convent, the precursor of St David‘s Abbey, is said to have been placed at first within the Castle ; and some of the earliest gifts of its saintly founder to his new monastery, were the churches of the Castle and of St Cuthbert’s, immediately adjacent, with all their dependencies ; among which, one plot of land belonging to the latter is meted by ‘‘ the fountain which rises near the corner of the King’s garden, on the road leading to St Cuthbert’s church.” e According to Father Hay, the Nuns, from whom the Castle derived the name of Castrum Puellarum, were thrust out by St David, and in their place the Canons introduced by the Pope’s dispense, as fitter to live among souldiers. They continued in the Castle dureing Malcolm the Fourth his reign ; upon which account we have several1 charters of that king granted, apud Monasterium Sanctae Crucis de Castello Puellarum. Under Icing William [the Lion], who was a great benefactor to Holyrood-house, I fancie the Canons retired to the place which is now called the Abbay.” ’ King David built also for them, and for the use of the inhabitants, a mill, the nucleus of the village of Canonmills, which still retains many tokens of its early origin, though now rapidly being surrounded by the extending modern improvements. The charter of foundation of the Abbey of the HoIyrood, besides conferring valuable revenues, derivable from the general resources of the royal burgh of Edinburgh, gives them €1 107.1 [ll?S.] Lord Hailes recorda a monkish tradition, which may be received a~ a proof of the popular belief, in the strong attachment of the Queen to her husband. “ The hody of Margaret, Queen of Scotland, waa removed from its place of sepulture at Dunfermline, and deposited in L costly shrine. While the monks were employed in this service, they approached the tomb of her husband Malcolm. Still, as more hands were employed in raising it, the body became heavier. The spectators stood amazed ; and the humble monka imputed this phenomenon to their own unworthiness ; when a bystander cried out, ‘The Queen will not stir till equal honours are performed to her husband’ This having been done, the body of the Queen wa8 removed with ease,’’ -Annals, vol. i. p. 303. ’ Liber Cartarum Sancta Crucis, p. xi. * Father Hay, Ibid. xxii. Richard Augustin Hay, canon of St Genevieve, at PSrig and prospcclivc Abbot of Holpod at the Revolution, though an iudustrioue antiquary, aeemn to have had no better authority for this nunnery than the disputed name C&mm Puellarclm The body became on a sudden so heavy, that they were obliged to set it down.

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