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. 237 well-known landscape painter,’ and among his subjects may be mentioned the celebrated historical painter, Alexander Runciman, Sir Brimstone; Robert Ferguson, the poet, dubbed Sir Precentor, most probably from his fine musical voice; Gavin Wilson, the poetical shoemaker, who published a collection of masonic songs in 1788, whose club title was Sir Maccaroni; Walter Williamson of Cardrona, Esq., a thorough specimen of the rough 6on civant laird of the last age; Walter Ross, the antiquary; Sir Henry Raeburn, who had already been dubbed a knight under the title of Sir Tohy, ere George IT. gave him that of Sir Henry; with a host of other knights of great and little renown, of whom we shall only specify Sir Lluyd, as the notorious William Brodie was styled. Some ingenious member has drawn on the margin of the minutes of his election, April 27th, 1773, a representation of his last public appearance, on the new drop of his own invention, some fifteen years later. The old books of the Club abound with such pencilled illustrations and commentaries, in which the free touch of Runciman may occasionally be traced, among ruder sketches of less practised hands. The novice, on making his appearance in Cape Hall, was led up to the Sovereign by two knightly sponsors, and having made his obeisance, was required to grasp the large poker with his left hand, and, laying his right hand on his breast, the oath dejdeli was administered to him by the Sovereign-the knights present all standing uncovered-in the following words :- I swear devoutly by this light, To be a true and faithful Knight, With all my might, Both day and night, The following was the established form of inauguration of a Knight of the Cape. So help me Poker ! Having then reverentially kissed the larger poker, and continuing to grasp it, the Sovereign raised the smaller poker with both his royal fists, and, aiming three successive blows at the novice’s head, he pronounced, with each, one of the initial letters of the motto of the Club, C. F. D., explaining their import to be Concordia Fratrum Decus. The knight elect was then called upon to recount some adventure or scrape which had befallen him, from some leading incident in which the Sovereign selected the title conferred on him, and which he ever after bore in Cape Hall. This description of the mode of inauguration into that knightly order will explain the allusions in Ferguson’s poem :- The Club, whose honours were But chief, 0 Cape ! we crave thy aid, To get our cares and poortith laid. Sincerity, and genius true, Of Knights have ever been the due. Mirth, music, porter deepest dyed, Are never here to worth denied ; And health, 0’ happiness the queen, Blinks bonny, wi’ her smile serene. thus carefully hedged in by solemn ceremonial, established its importance by deeds consistent with its lofty professions, among which may be specified the gift by his Majesty of the Cape to his Majesty of Great Britain in 1778, of a contribution from the Knights of one hundred guineas, (( to assist his Majesty in raising troops.” 1 Jacob Yore was a pupil of Alexander Runciman. He went to Rome about 1773, where he acquired a hiih reputation as a landscape painter. He applied his art ta the arrangement of the gardens of the Prince Borghese’s villa, near the Pork Pinciana, with such taste, as excited the highest admiration of the Italiios.-puSeZi.

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