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 HIGH STREET. 223 sitting in the same building along with the Lords of Session.’ Tbe unfortunate witness was dragged by his captors to Crichton Castle, and there schooled into a more satisfactory opinion of the case in question, under the terror of the gallows. The ancient Cross which stood in the High Street has been frequently alluded to, and some of the most remarkable events described of which it was the scene. It was alike the theatre of festivals and executions ; garnished at one period with rich hangings, and flowing with wine for the free use of the populace, and at another overshadowed by the Maiden, and hung only with the reversed armorial bearings of some noble victim of law or tyranny.’ In the year 1617 it was rebuilt on L new site in the High Street, apparently with the view of widening the approach preparatory to the arrival of Eing James, in fulfilment of his long-promised visit to his native city. The King sent word at that time of “hie natural1 and salmon-like affection, and earnest desire,” as he quaintly but very graphically expresses it, ( I to see his native and ancient kingdome of Scotland.” Accordingly, as Calderwood tells us in the very next sentence, (‘ Upon the 26th of Februar, the Crosse of Edinburgh was taken doun; the old long stone, about fortie foots or therby in length, was translated, by the devise of certane mariners in Leith, from the place where it stoode past memorie of man, to a place beneath in the Highe Streete, without anie harme to the stone ; and the bodie of the old Crosse was demolished and another buildit, whereupon the long stone or obelisk was erected and sett upon the 25th uf Marche.” The long stone must have suffered injury since, but the fine Gothic capital, of which we have already given a view, is without doubt a relic of the most ancient Cross demolished at this period. Among the older customs of which this interesting fabric was the scene, no one is more curious than the exposure of dyvours or bankrupts, a class of criminals at all times regarded with special indignation by their more fortunate fellow-citizens. The origin of this singular mode of protecting commercial credit is thus related in the Acts of Sederunt of the Court of Session for 1604 :-‘‘ The Lordis ordaine the Provest, Bailleis, and Counsrtle of Edinburgh, to cause big ane pillery of hewn stane, neir to the Mercat Croce of Edinburgh, upon the heid thereof ane sait and place to be maid, quhairupon, in tyme cuming, sall be se€ all dyvoris, wha sall sit thairon ane mercat day, from 10 hours in the morning 1 “Anent walpynnis in Buithis, Item, it is statute and ordanit be the Proveat, Railies, and Counsall of thia burgh, because of the greit slauchteris and utheris cummeris and tuleeia done in tyme bygane within the burgh, and apperendlie to be done gif na remeid be provydit thairto; and for eschewing thairof ;-that ilk manner of persone, merchandia, craftiamen, and all utheris occupyaris of buthis, or chalmeria in the hiegait, outher hey& or laych, that thay have lang valpynnis thairin, sic as hand ex, Jedburgh staif, hawart jawalyng, and siclyk lang valpynnis, with knaipschawis and jakkis ; and that thay cum thairwith to the hie-gait incontinent efter the commoun bell rynging.”-Burgh Records, Mar. 4, 1552. ’ “ Upone Tysday the nyntene day of Junij 1660, eftir sermond endit, the Magistrates and Counsell of Edinburgh, all in thair best robis, with a great number of the citizens, went to the Mercat Croce of Edinburgh, quhair a great long boord we8 covered with all soirtes of aweit meittis, and thair drank the kinges helth, and his brether; the spoutes of the Croce rynnand ill that tyme with abundance of clareyt wyne. Ther wer thrie hundreth dosane of glaseia all brokin and cassin throw the streitis, with sweit meitis in abundance,” &c,-Nicoll’s Diarp, p. 293. “ Upone the 13 day of Maij 1661, Sir Archibald Johnnestoun of Warystoun, lait Clerk Register, being forfalt in this Parliament, and being fugitive fra the lawis of this Kingdome, for his treasonable actis, he was first oppinlie declairit traitour in fam of Parliament, thaireftir, the Lord Lyon king at airmes, with four heraldia and sex trumpetteria, went to the Mercat Croce of Edinburgh, and thair maid publict intimation of his forfaltrie and treason, rave asunder his airmea, and trampled thame under thair feet, and kuist a number of thame over the Croce, and a5xt ane of thame upone the height of the great stane, to remayne thair to the publict view of all beholderia Thir airmes were croced bakward, his heid being put dounmest and his feet upmeat.”-Ibid, p. 332. Calderwood, vol. vii. p, ,243.

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