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 CANONGA TE AND ABBEY SANCTUAR Y. 305 the street, which tradition points out as the residence of Bishop Paterson, one of the latest Episcopal dignitaries of the Established Church, and a special subject of scandal to the Covenanters. He was formerly chaplain to the Duke of Lauderdale, and wam currently reported to have owed his,proruotion to the favour of the Duchess? A little to the eastward of the White Horse Close, and immediately adjoining the Water Gate, a plain modern land occupies the site of St Thomas’s Hospital, founded by George Crichton, Bishop of Dunkeld, in 1541, and dedicated to God, the Virgin Mary, and all saints. It consisted of a chapel and almshouse, which were purchased by the Magistrates of Canongate in the year 1617, from the chaplains and bedesmen, with the consent of ‘ David Creichton of Lugtoun, the patron, who probably retained possession of the endowments. Its new patrons converted it into an hospital for the poor of the burgh, and invited the charity of the wealthy burghers of Canongate, by placing the following inscription over the entrance, surmounted with the figures of two cripples, an old man and woman, and the Canongate ~ S : - H E L P E HERE THE POORE, AS ZE VALD GOD DID zov. JUNE 19, 1617. When Maitland wrote, the chapel had been, converted into a coach-house, and both it and the hospital were in a very ruinous state ; and, in 1778, it was entirely demolished, and its site occupied by private dwellings.’ The Water Gate formed the chief entrance to the burgh of Canongate, and the main approach to the capital previous to the erection of the North Bridge. It is a port of considerable antiquity, being represented as such in the maps of 1544 and 1573 ; and in the Registers of the Burgh for 1574, the Treasurer is ordered ‘‘ to bye ane lok and key to the Wattir Yet.” ’ Through it the Earl of Hertford entered with the army of Henry VIII. in the former year ; and, at the same place, the Marquis of Montrose, the Earl of Argyle, and others of less note, were received on their capture, with all the ignominy that party rancour could devise.‘ Perhaps, however, the following unauthorised entrance by the same public thoroughfare, in the year 1661, may be considered no less singular than any of which it has been the scene. In the City Records of Edinburgh, after a gift of escheat granted by the Council to the Baron Bailie of Canongate, of all heritable and movable goods belonging to the witches thereof, a report follows by the Bailie concerning Barbara Mylne, whom Janet Allen, burnt for witchcraft, ‘‘ did once see come in at the Water Gate in likeness of a catt, and’ did change her garment under her awin staire, and went into her hou~e.”~S uch residenters were not effectually expelled by the gift of escheat, An anonymous letter, addressed to the Bishop by mme of his Presbyterian revilers in 1681, ia preserved among the collection of original documents in the City Chambers. It supplies a su5ciently minute narrative of his proceedings both in Edinburgh and elsewhere; of his escape from an enraged husband by leaping the Water of Errie, thenceforth called “Paterson’s Loup;” of hia dealinga with “that Jezebel the Dutchess;” the Town Guard of Edinburgh, &c., all told in somewhat too plain language for modern ears. The property of this pious foundation appears to have been alienated long before. We have found, in the Burgh Charter Room, “A disposition of house uear the ground of the Holy Crow. John Pateraone to Andrew Eussall,” dated 1628, which runs thus:-“All and hail, that fore buith and dwellioghouse, and back vault of the same, lying contiguous thereto; lying in the ground pertaining to the land sometime pertaining to the puir Bedemen of the Hospital, founded beside the Abbey of the Holy Cross, by umquhile Oeorge, Bishop of Dunkeld; and under the nether fore stair of the same, with the pertinenta, and free ish and entry thereto ; which tenement lies within the eaid Eurgh, on the south side of the King’s High Street thereof, at the head of the wynd called Bell’s Wynd.” The name of St Thomaa does not occur in the charter of foundation aa given by Kitland. Maitland, p. 155. Arnot, p. 249, Register of the Burgh of the Canongate, 18th Oct. 1574. Law’a Memorials, Pref. p. lxix. ’ Fountainhall’e Hist. Observes, pp. 185-190. 2 Q

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