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

L UCKENBOOTHS AND PARLIAMENT CLOSE. 207 pedestal. Its panegyric we suspect had proved too fulsome even for the sycophantish period in which the statue was erected ; but it now forms the most interesting, and we may add amusing, feature of this old monument of civic royalty.’ A view is given of the new Parliament House at page 99, as it appeared when first erected, standing disengaged from all other buildings, with an open area to the east and south. The same isolated position is s h o h in the bird’s-eye view in Gordon’s map of 1648, where the ground slopes down in open terraces from the Parliament Close to the Cowgate ; but the value of this central spot through which the nobles, judges, and magistrates, and all their numerous attendants and solicitors, were daily passing, soon led to its selection as a convenient Bite for building. So early as 1628 the southern side of the church walls had been concealed by krames and booths stuck on between every buttress and angle; and about the year 1663 the open ground was let out by the magistrates for the purpose of erecting small shops. These were succeeded, in 1685, as appeared from the date on one of the lands, by the loftiest buildings existing in the Old Town, which towered in their southern elevation to the height of fifteen stories, and converted the once solitary churchyard into the busiest and most populous nook of the ancient capital. We have examined a set of original documents,’ relating to a judicial sale of the property in the Parliament Close, drawn up in the year 1698, which furnish some curious and minute information as to the extent and occupation of the old lands, and introduce the names of citizens of note and influence at the period, as concerned in the various transactions. “ My Lord Pountainhall, George Warrender, ane of the present bailies,” ancestor of the Baronets of that name, ‘‘ George Home, merchant, and now Provost,” knd others, appear as creditors and trustee^.^ A few extracts will furnish a peep into the domestic arrangements of the fashionable residenters in the Parliament Close towards the close of the seventeenth century. Sir George Campbell of Cessnock, ancestor of the Earls of Marchmont, occupied a lodging on the fourth story above the close, (( entering by the scale stair from the Parliament Close and Kirk-heugh,” at a yearly rent of five hundred and fifty merks Scots, and (( consisting of seven fire rooms, and a closet with ane fire ! ” and above him was Sir Williarn Binning of Wallyfordz in the fifth story, with equal accommodation, at a somewhat lower rental. In the next scale stair entering from the close, “ The Lord Mersington ” is mentioned as occupying a house of eight fire rooms and a cellar on the fifth floor, at the rent of two hundred pounds Scots, Alexander Swinton, who assumed this title on his elevation to the Bench in 1688, is a character of some note among our older citizens. So zealous A correspondent of the Cirledonkm Mercury, Nov. loth, 1788, who dates from 8t Eernard’s (Walter Rosa, Esq., we presume), supplies aome intemting facts regarding this monument:-“ The statue of Charlea II., placed on the spot intended for that of Cromwell, and superior to everything of the kind in Britain, is said by Naitland to have been erected at the expense of the citizens. The statue was placed by the Xagistrates and Council. In the accounts of George Drurnrnond, the town treasurer, in 1684-6, he charges E2580 Scots (E215 sterling), the contents of a bill of exchange drawn by ‘ James Smith upon him, for the price of King Charles II., his atatue.’ If he means that it was by a contribution for the purpose, it is a mistake. The bill seems to have come from Rotterdam.” . * In the possession of David Laing, Esq., Signet Library. a The property is thus described :-“A11 and haill these great lodgings, duellingkouaea, shops, vaulta, sellars, and pertinent6 of the same, lying within the brugh of Edinburgh, betwixt the King’s High Street therein, called the Cowgate, on the south, the Veonel commonly called the Kirk-heugh, and the tenement of land belonging to me, the aaid Thomas Robertson, on the east; the Parliament Closa on the north, and the Parliament House, and little yard belonging to the same, and the void commonly called the Leather Mercatt on the west parts,” &.

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