L UCKENBOOTHS AND PARLIAMENT CLOSE. . 213
custom, part of the bride’s plenishing ; but the brooch and wedding-ring no doubt
demanded a similar errand to the goldsmiths’ booths, and would form a still readier
introduction to the whole secrets of courtship. On such occasions the customer paid
for the refreshments when giving the order, and the trader returned the compliment on
his second visit to receive and pay for the goods, which were then rarely to be found on
hand ready for sale.
The external appearance of the old Parliament House has been. rendered familiar to
thousands who never saw it in its original state by the view of it on the notes of Sir
William Forbes and Co.’s Bank. Tradition pointed to Inigo Jones as the designer,
not without some coniirmation Gom its general style. It was no model of architectural
beauty certainly, yet it presented a highly picturesque appearance and individuality
of character, which, with its thorough accordance with the age in which it wits erected,
ought to have secured the careful preservation of its antique turrets and sculptures,
as a national monument associated with great historical events. There was a quaint
stateliness about its irregular pinnacles and towers, and the rude elaborateness of its
decorations, that seemed to link it with the courtiers of Holyrood, in the times of the
Charleses, and its last gala days under the Duke of York’s vice-regency. Nothing can
possibly be conceived more meaningless and utterly absurd than the thing that superseded
it. The demolition of the adjoining buildings, and the extension of the Court
Houses, so as to make the older part form only a subsidiary wing of the whole, have
given some consistency to what is, at best, a very commonplace design ; but the original
screen of stone, now forming the west wing of the Court Houses, which was built to hide
the antique faqade of 1636, had neither relation to the building it was attached to, nor
meaning of its own.
Over the main entrance of the old fabric were the royal arms of Scotland, boldly sculptured,
supported on the right by Mercy holding a crown wreathed with laurel, and on the
left by Justice having the balance in one hand, and a palm-branch in the other, with the
appropriate inscription, Stunt his felieia regna, and immediately underneath the national
arms this motto, Uni unionum. This entrance, which stood facing the east, is now completely
blocked up. Over the smaller doorway which forms the present main access to the
Parliament Hall, the city arms occupied an ornamental tablet, placed between two sculptured
obelisks, and underneath this inscription, on a festooned scroll,-Dominus custodit
introitum nostrum. The general effect of the whole will be best understood by a reference
to the view on page 99.
An amusing anecdote is told of one of the old frequenters of the Parliament Close,
regarding the ancient doorway we have described. James bbertson, Esq. of Kincraigie,
an insane Jacobite laird, on being pressed on one occasion by the Honourable Henry
Erskine to accompany him into the Parliament House, somewhat abruptly declined the
invitation,--(-( But I’ll tell you what, Harry,” added he, pointing to the statue that
stood over the porch, ‘‘ tak’ in Justice wi’ ye, for she has stood lang at the door, and
We have the authority of an experienced matron for the following as a complete inventory of the bride‘s plenishing,
according to old Scottish notion#, and which is often still regarded asindispensable:-1. A cheat of drawers, “split new,”
and ordered for the occasion ; 2, Bed and table linen,-or nai.;cl aa it is styled,-with a supply of blankets j 3. The
silver spoons; and, in wme districts, 4. An eight-day clock. But the Sine pecd m of all waa-5. A LADLE !
