THE HIGH STREET AND NETHER BOW. 257
of it:-“This is perhaps the oldest stone building of aprivate nature now existing here;
for it was inhabited, before John Rnox’s time, by George Durie, Abbot of Dunfermline
and Arch-Dean of St Andrews.” He was promoted to Dunfermline by King James
V. in 1539, and was canonised by the C%urch of Rome within two years after his
death. No evidence now appears in the title-deeds of the property to afford a clue to
this or any other of its earlier possessors, but the tradition has been long universally
received which assigns it as the residence of the Reformer. Here, in the year 1559, he took
up his abode, along with his faithfd wife, Marjorie Bowes, his companion during years
of wandering and danger, but who did not long survive his settlement in this more
promising place of rest. To the same house, in 1563, he brought his second wife, Margaret
Stewart, daughter of (( the good Lord Ochiltree,” whose affections his defamers
b e d he had gained by sorcery. Nicol Burne, in that curious work, “A disputation
concerning the controversit headdis of religion,” represents him going for his bride,
“rydand with ane gret court on ane trim gelding, nocht lyk ane prophet or ane add
decrepit priest, as he was, bot lyk as he had bene ane of the blude royal, with his bendes
of taffetie feschnit with golden ringis and precious stanes ; and as is plainlie reportit in
the country, be sorcerie and witchcraft, did sua allure that pub gentlewoman that scho
could not leve without him.”
The house where Knox has received the messengers of Queen Mary, the nobles of the
court, and the leaders of the Congregation, is now rapidly falling to decay; but it still
retains the traces of former magnificence. From its peculiar position, projecting into the
thoroughfare, and presenting its western front up the High Street, it is one of the most
remarkable houses in the Old Town : forming a subject well calculated to tempt the artist’s
pencil, even though it wanted the adventitious aid of historical associations. A long
inscription extends over nearly the whole front, immediately above the ground floor ; but it
is unfortunately concealed, all but the first two words, by the sip-boards of the traders,
who have succeeded to the occupancy of the ancient tenement. It is in large Roman
characters, and is understood to run thus :-LVFE - GOD ABOVE * AL - AND *
YOVR * NICHTBOVR AS * PI A small effigy of the Reformer has long
decorated the angle of the old building, on which the pious care of successive tenants has
been expended, with a zeal not always appreciated by their fellow-citizens. He occupies
a pulpit of Presbyterian simplicity of form, and points with his right hand to a curiously
carved stone, whereon the name of the Deity appears, in Greek, Latin, and English,
surrounded by a glory on the Ride towards the preacher, while clouds gather around it
on the. further side. Over a large bow window a carved stone is pierced with a circular
aperture, now closed up, but which, from its position, suggests the idea of having been
constructed for a public clock. Such of the stone-work as remains exposed is of polished
ashlar, but numerous timber additions have been made to the original fabric in early
times. Among these, a small apartment on the south front is, in all probability, the
study constructed for him at the expense of the town, soon after he took up hie abode
there, in conformity with the following act of Council :-6c The samine day the Provost,
Baillies, and Counsail, ordanis the Dene of Gyld, with all diligence, to make ane warme
stdye of dailles to the minister, John Knox, within his hous, abone the hall of the same,
with lyght and wyndokis thereunto, and all other necessaris.” There, therefore, we may
SELF.
2E
