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

318 MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH. broad flight of steps conducted to the main floor of the building. By this mode of construction, common in old times, the approach to the quadrangle could be secured against any ordinary attack, and the indwellers might then hold out, as in their castle, until they made terms with their assailants, or were relieved by a superior force. The ancient building was erected by James Beaton, Archbishop of Glasgow, as appears from various allusions to it by early writers.’ He became Lord High Treasurer in 1505, and was promoted to the Archiepiscopate of Glasgow in 1509, so that we may unhesitatingly assign the date of this erection to the beginning of the sixteenth century. He busied himself, after his translation to this see, in promoting many important erections, and greatly enlarged and beautified the Episcopal Palace of Glasgow. Upon all the buildings erected by him his armorial bearings were conspicuously displayed, and a large stone tablet remained till a few years since over the archway of Blackfriars’ Wynd, leading into the inner court, blazoned with the Beaton Arms, supported by two angels in Dalmatic habits, and surmounted by a crest, sufficiently defaced to enable antiquaries to discover in it either a mitre or a cardinal’s hat, according as their theory of the original ownership inclined towards the Archbishop, or his more celebrated nephew, the Cardinal.$ The exterior angle of this building towards the Cowgate was finished with a hexagonal turret, projecting from a stone pillar which sprang from the ground, and formed a singularly picturesque feature in that ancient thoroughfare. We find, however, from the early titles of the property, that the Archbishop’s residence. and grounds had included not only the buildings between Blackfriars’ and Toddrick’s Wynds, but the whole of the site occupied by the ancient buildings of the Mint; so that there can be little doubt the Archbishop had extensive gardens attached to his lodgings in the capital. An inspection of the back wall of the Mint in Toddrick’s Wynd would confirm the idea of its having succeeded to a more ancient building of considerable architectural pretensions ; as, on minute examination, various carved stones will be observed built up among the materials of the rubble work.’ Here the Earl of Arran and the chief adherents of his faction were assembled on the 30th of April 1520, engaged in maturing their hastily-concerted scheme for seizing the ’ 1 “Biachope James Beatoun remained still in Edinburgh in his awin ludging, quhilk he biggit in the Frierie Wynd.” -Pitacottie’E Chronicles, voL ii. p. 313. ’ Nisbet, who is the best of d authorities on such a subject, says :-“ With us angels have been frequently made use of aa supporters, CardinaI Beaton had his supported by two angels in Dalmatic habits, or, as some say, priestly ones, which are yet to be seen on hia lodgings in Blrckfriars’ Wynd.”-Nisbet’s Heraldry, vol. ii. part iv. The stone, which is now in the posaession of C. K. Sharpe, Esq., is exceedingly soft and much worn. The crest has most probably been an otter’a head, which was that borne by the family. It is certainly neither a mitre nor a. cardinal’s hat, and indeed the arms are simply those of the family, and not impaled with those of any see, aw we might expect them to have been if surmounted with such an official badge. a The following is the definition of the property as contained in a deed dated 1639, and preaerved in the Burgh Charter Room :-“Disposition of houae, John Sharpe, elder, of Houston, advocate, to Mr J. Sharpe, younger, hia son. . . All and hail that great lodging or tenement, back‘and fore, under and above, biggit and waste, with the yards and pert’ aome time pertaining to the Archbishop of St Andrew’s, thereafter to umq‘ John Beaton of Capeldraw, thereafter to the heira of umq Archibald Stewart and Helen Aitchison, and thereafter pertaining to urnq’O Thomas Aitchison, his Highness Maister Cuneier, lying within the Burgh of Edinburgh, on ye south of the King’s High Street thereof, on ye east side of ye trance thereof, betwixt the close called Gray’s Cloae and ye vennel called Toddrickb Wynd upon ye east, the transe of ye said Blackfried Wynd on ye west, the High Street of Cowgate on ye soubh, the yard of umqb John Barclay, thereafter pertaining to umqb Alex. Hunter, &e., on ye north,” Qc.

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