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 CANONGATE AND ABBEY SANCTUARY. 291 were removed in 1779. It is not at all inconsistent with the character of the fierce old cavalier that he should have erected.a private chapel for his own use. Death fortunately stepped in, eays his fellow-soldier, Captain Crichton, in allusion to the dilemma in which the General was placed on the accession of James VII., and ‘‘ rescued him from the difEculties he was likely to be under, between the notions he had of duty to his prince on one side, and true zeal f o r his religion on the other.” The main idea that seems to have guided him through life was a chivalrous loyalty. He allowed his beard to grow as a manifestation of his grief on the beheading of King Charles, and retained it unaltered till his death, though it latterly acquired a venerable amplitude that attracted a crowd whenever he appeared in public. The early history of chivalry furnishes many examples in proof of the perfect compatibility of such devoted loyalty with the cruelties which have rendered his name infamous to posterity. The Shoemakers’ Lands, which stand to the east of Jack’s Land, are equally lofty and more picturesque buildings, One of them especially, immediately opposite to Moray House, is a very singular and striking object in the stately range of substantial stone tenements that extend from New Street to the Canongate Tolbooth. A highly-adorned tablet surmounts the main entrance, enriched with angels’ heads, and a border of Elizabethan ornament enclosing the Shoemakers’ Arms, with the date 1677. An open book is inscribed with the first verse of the Scottish metre version of the 133d Psalm,-a motto that appears to have been in special repute, toward8 the close of the seventeenth century, among the suburban corporations, being also inscribed over the Tailors’ Hall of Easter Portsburgh and the Shoemakers’ Land in the West Port, The turnpike stair-the entrance to which is graced by this motto, and the further inscription, in smaller letters, IT IS AN crowned with an ogee roof of singular character, flanked on either side by picturesque gables to the street. The first of the two tenements to the west of this, at the head of Shoemakers’ Close, has an open pannel on its front, from which the inscription appears to have been removed; but the other, which bears the date 1725, is still adorned with the same arms, and the following moral aphorism :- HONOUR FOR MAN TO CEASE FROM STRIFE-rises above the roof Of the building, and is BLESSED IS HE THAT WISELY DO TH THE POOR MAN’S CASE CONSIDER. The hall of the once wealthy Corporation of Cordiners or Shoemakers of Canongate, to whom this property belonged, stood on the west side of Little Jack’s Close, adorned with the insignia of the Souters’ Craft, and furnished for the convivial meetings of the fraternity with huge oaken tables and chairs ; and with a substantial carved oaken throne, adorned with the arms-a paring knife surmounted by a crown-and the date 1682, for the inauguration of King Crispin on the 25th of October, or St Crispin’s Day. It was long the annual custom of the craft to elect a king, who was borne through the town, attended by. his subjects, dressed in all sorts of fantastic and showy attire; after which he held his court at the Corporation Hall, and celebrated his coronation with royal festivities. Unhappily for the Cordiners of Canongate, the sumptuary laws 1 Memoirs of Captain Crichton, Swift’s works, London, 1803, vol. xiv. p. 318.

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