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

16 MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH. ‘of the Chancellor, in the Castle of Edinburgh. His increasing years, however, seem to have led to his enjoying greater liberty of person, as well as deference to his opinion. Under the guidance of the Bishops of Aberdeen and Moray, then residing in Edinburgh, a conference was held in the church of St Giles, between him and his rival guardians, which, from their mutual hatred to the Earl of Douglas, again led to an amicable arrangement, the King making choice of Edinburgh Castle as the place where he should continue to reside. No sooner were the rival statesmen reconciled, than they consulted together to aecure the overthrow of the Douglas, whose exorbitant power was employed for the most oppressive and tyrannical objects. To have openly proceeded against him as a criminal, while at the head of his numerous forces, would only have proved the sequel for a civil war. He was accordingly invited to Edinburgh, with the most flattering assurances of friendship. On the way, the Chancellor met him at Crichton Castle, about twelve miles &E. of Edinburgh, where he was entertained with every mark of hospitality, insomuch so as to have excited the jealous fears of his friends. He rode thereafter to the Castle of Edinburgh, accompanied by his brother and Sir Malcolm Fleming of Cumbernauld : they were received with every show of welcome, and admitted to the same table with the King ; but, towards t.he close of the entertainment, a bull’s head, the well-known symbol of destruction, was set before them. They recognised the fatal signal, and sprang from the board, but being immediately surrounded by armed men, they were led forth, in defiance of the tears and entreaties of the young King, and immediately beheaded 66 in the back court of the Castle that lyeth to the west ; ” or, according to Balfour, in the great hall of the Castle.’ In the year 1753, some workmen digging for a foundation to a new storehouse within the Castle, found the golden handles and plates of a coffin, which are supposed to have belonged to that in which the Earl of Douglas was interred8 From a protest afterwards taken by the son of Sir Malcolm Fleming, against the sentence of his father, as being unwarrantable and illegal, as well as from the fact of no attempt being made to bring the Chancellor to trial for the deed when the Douglas faction prevailed, there would seem to have been some form of trial, and a sentence of condemnation pronounced, with the assumed authority of the King.+ The popular estimation of the deed may be inferred from the rude rhymes quoted by Hume of Godscroft :- “ Edinburgh Castle, towne and tower, God grant thou sinke for sinne ; An’ that even for the black dinner Earle Douglm gat therein.” The Chancellor continued to maintain possession of the Castle, even when the Douglas party succeeded in obtaining the guardianship of the young King, and used the royal authority for demanding its surrender. Here he held out during a siege of nine months, till he succeeded in securing satisfactory terms for himself; while of his less fortunate coadjutors some only redeemed their lives with their estates, and the others, including three members of the Livingstone family, were all tried and beheaded within its walls. History of the Douglasses, 1643, p. 165. Arnot, p. 11. * Balfour’s Aunals, vol. i. p. 169. ‘ Nartial Achievements, vol. ii. p. 330.

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