364 MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH.
were derivable from it to the Crown is proved by the frequent payments with which it was
burdened by different monarchs, as in the year 1477, when Ring James 111. granted out
of it a perpetual annuity of twelve merks Scots, for support of a chaplain to officiate at the
altar of the upper chapel, in the Collegiate Church of the blessed Virgin Mary which he
had founded at Restalrig. The King’s Work was advantageously placed at the mouth of
the harbour, ao as to serve 8s a defence against any enemy that might approach it by sea.
That it partook of the character of a citadel or fortification, seems to be implied by an
infeftment granted by Queen Mary in 1564 to John Chisholme, who is there designated
comptroller of artillery. The ancient buildings had shared in the general conflagration
which sipalised the departure of the army of Henry VIII. in 1544, and they would appear
to have been re-built by Chisholme in a style of substantial magnificence. The following
are the terms in which the Queen confirms her former grant to the comptroller of artillery
on his completion of the work :-<‘ Efter hir hienes lauchfull age, and revocation made in
parliament, hir majeste sett in feu farme to hir lovite suitoure Johnne Chisholme, his airis
and asignais, all and haille hir landis, callet the King’s Werk in Leith, within the
boundis specifit in the infeftment, maid to him thairupon, quhilkis than war alluterlie
dkcayit, and sensyne are reparit and reedifit be the said Johnne Chisholme, to be policy
and great decoratioun of this realme, in that oppin place and sight of all strangearia and
utheris resortand at the schore of Leith.” The property of the Ring’s Work remained
vested in the Crown, notwithstanding the terms of this royal grant. In 1575, we find it
converted into an hospital for the reception of those who recovered from the plague, and
in 1613 it was bestowed by James VI. on his favourite cAam6er-chieZd, or groom of the
chamber, Bernard Lindsay of Lochill, by a royalgrant which empowered him to keep four
taverns therein. A part of it was then fitted up as a Tennis Court for the favourite
pastime of catchpel, and continued to be used for this purpose till the year 1649, when it
was taken possession of by the Magistrates of Edinburgh, and converted into the Weigh
House of the burgh. The locality retained the name of Bmnard’s Nook, derived from its
occupation by the royal servitor ; and that of Bernard Street, which is now conferred on
the broad thoroughfare that leads eastward from the Shore, still preserves a memorial of
the favourite chamber-chield of Jamee VI. A large stone panel which bore the date
1650-the year immediately succeeding the appropriation of the King’a Work to civic
purposes-appeared on the north gable of the old Weigh-house which till recently
occupied its site, with the curious device of a rainbow carved in bold relief, springing at
either end from a bank of clouds.
The chief thoroughfare which leads in the same direction, and the one we presume
which superseded the Burgess Close as the principal approach to the harbour, is the Tolbooth
Wynd, where the ancient Town Hall stood: a singularly picturesque specimen of
the tolbooth of an old Scottish burgh. Jt was built by the citizens of Leith in the year
1565, though not without the strenuous opposition of their jealous over-lords of the Edinburgh
Council, who threw every impediment in their way; until at length Queen Mary,
after repeated remonstrances, wrote to the Provost and Magistrates :-46 We charge zow
that ee permit oure Inhabitants of oure said toun of Leith, to big and edifie oure said Hous
of Justice, within oure said Toun of Leith, and mak na stop nor impediment to thame to do
the samyn, for it is oure will that the aamyn be biggit, and that ze disist fra further molest
