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

LEITH, AND THE NEW TOWN. 363 frequently occurs with slight variations. The earliest instance of it is on the front of an ancient tenement at the head of Binnie’s Close, St Giles’ Street, where it is accompanied with a large and finely cut shield, with two coats of arms impaled, and the date 1594. Near to this, in Muckle’s Close, is the following:-~m . BLISSING .) OF . GOD . IS . GRIT . RICHES . M . S. 1609. In Vinegar Close,, an ancient building, now greatly modernised, is adorned with a large sculptured shield, containing the armorial bearings represented in the vignette at the head of the chapter. In St Andrew Street, over a window on the first floor of a house fronthg Smeaton’s Close, is the common Iegend-Tm FEIR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF AL VISDOME; and on the same building within the close, another window bears the brief inscription and -date :-FEIR THE LORD, 1688 ; the year of the Revolution. The lintel of the ancient doorway of a house in Water Lane, demolished in 1832, bore the following pious couplet, with the date 1574 :- THEY AR WELCOME HERE, QUHA TEE LORD DO FEIR. And over another doorway in Queen Street, there is cut, in more ancient and ornamental characters-cREDENTI . NIHIL . LINGU~E:. A fine old building near the head of Queen Street, which was only demolished a few years since, was generally believed to be the mansion which had been honoured as the residence of the Queen Regent ; but the name of the street, which probably suggested the tradition, is of recent origin, and superseded the more homely one of the Paunch Market; and there is no evidence in its favour sufficient to overturn the statement of Maitland, who wrote at a period when there was less temptation to invent traditions than now. The ancient tenement, however, was evidently one of unusual magnificence. Several large portions of very richly carved oak panelling were removed from it at the time of its demolition, the style of which leaves little doubt of their being fully as old as the date of the Queen Regent’s abode in Leith ; and its walls were decorated with well executed paintings, some of which are said to have had the appearance of considerable antiquity.’ The house was highly decorated on the exterior with sculptured dormer windows’ and other ornaments common to the buildings of the period; and the oak window frames were richly carved in the style so frequently described among the features of oyr earlier domestic architecture. Many such are still to be met with about Leith, carved in different styles, according to the period of their execution ; the most common ornament on those of later date being the egg and arrow. Frequent mention is made by early historians of the King’s Work, an extensive building that appears to have occupied the whole ground between the Broad Wynd and Bernard Street. The exact purpose for which it was maintained is not clearly defined in any of the early allusions, but it probably included an arsenal, with warehouses, and resident officials, for storing the goods and managing the revenues of the port. This idea is confirmed by the reddendum in the charter, by which James VI. afterwards conferred it on a favourite attendant-viz., that he was to keep one of the cellars in the King’s Work in repair for holding wines and other provisions for his Majesty’s use.8 That some funds 1 Now in the poasession of C. B. Sharpe, Esq. ’ Campbell’s Hkbry of Leith, p. 314. Arnot, p. 672.

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