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Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time

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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,” &.
Volume 10 Page 226
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208 MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH. was he in his attachment to Presbyterianism, that he relinquished his profession as an advocate in 1681 rather than take the !Pest. Nevertheless, he learned soon after to hold the favour of royalty in greater esteem. By a special dispensation from the King. he was restored to his rank as an advocate j and on the removal of Lord Edmonston from the Bench, in consequence of his opposition to the royal inclinations in one of his votes as a judge, Swinton, the once resolute declaimer against the encroachments of royalty, was selected as the most pliant successor that could be found. The poor King, James VII., displayed at all times little judgment in the choice of his friends, and in this case his selection appears to have been peculiarly unfortunate. The Revolution ensued immediately after Swinton’s elevation to the Bench, and if Lord Balcarras’s account is to be believed, the new judge took a leading share in some of the strangest proceedings that followed. The mob signalised the dethronement of the King by an assault on the Abbey Chapel, in which several of them were killed and wounded by the guard who were stationed to defend it. On the following day Lord Mersington headed a rabble, accompanied by the Provost and Magistrates, and renewed the attack on Captain Wallace and his men. The guards were speedily put to flight, and my lord and the rest of the rioters completely gutted the chapel, which had been fitted up in the most gorgeous and costly style. Balcarras styles Lord Mersington “ the fanatical judge,” and, according to his description, he figures on the occasion girt with a broad buff-belt, with ‘( a halbert in his hand, and as drunk as ale and brandy could make him.”l He was the only judge on the Bench at the Revolution that was reappointed by the new government. On the third floor in the eastern turnpike of the back land, Sir David Home, Lord Crossrig, resided,-one of the first judges nominated after the Revolution, and shortly afterwards knighted by King William. The judicial report of tenants and valuations exhibits a curious assemblage of occupants, from the renters of garrets, and laigh houses ‘‘ beneath the grund,” at the annual rate of twelve pound Scots, to my Lord Crossrig, who pays three hundred pounds Scots for his flat, and share of the common stair 1 The Laird of Merchistoun, Lady Hartfield, Sir James Mackenzie, Sir Patrick Aikenhead, Commissar Clerk, Lady Harviston, Lady Colston, with Bailies, Merchants, and humble craftsmen, all figure in the impartial articles of sale ; sharing together at their several elevations, above and below ground, the numerous lodgings of this populous neighbourhood. While the sale of%his property was going on, the “ Great Fire ” suddenly took place, and made a settlement of all valuations and purchases by reducing the whole lofty range to a heap of ruins. “ The fire broke out in the lodgeing immediately under the Lord Crossrig’s lodgeing, in the Meal Mercat of Edinburgh, while part of his family were in bed, and his Lordship going to bed; and the allarum was so sudden, that he was forced to retire in his night cloaths, with his children half naked; and that when people were sent into his closet to help out with his cabinet and papers, the smoke was Brunton 8; Haig’s Senators of the College of Justice, p. 432. In contrast to this account, we may add the notice of his death, by.Sir James Stewart, Lord Advocate, in a letter to Carataira. ‘‘ On TueBday last the Lord Mersington dined well with a friend in the Merse, and went well to bed, but was found dead before four io the morning, his lady in bed with him, who knew nothiog of his dying. He waa a good mau, and is much regretted” A warning stroke.
Volume 10 Page 227
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