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

398 NEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH. destroyed; wherethrough the divine worship is not 8 little decreaced in the college, because they were unable to rebuild the said hospital; . . Therefore they gave, granted, set in feu farme, and confirmed to a magnificent and illustrious Prince, James Duke of Chattelarault, Earl of Arran, Lord Hamilton, &c., all and hail their tenement or hospital, with the yards and pertinent8 thereof; lying within the burgh of Edinburgh in the street or wynd called School-House Wynd, on the east part thereof.” The Duke of Chatelherault appears, from frequent allusions by contemporary annals, to have built a mansion for his own use on the site of the Hospital of St Mary’s Collegiate Church, which afterwards served as the first hall of the new college. The Town Council proceeded leisurely, yet with hearty zeal, in the gradual extension of the college; and frequent notices in the Council Records prove the progress of the buildings. On the 25th June 1656, the following entry occurs ;-(( For the better carieing on of the buildinges in the colledge, there is a necessetie to break down and demolishe the hous neirest to the Patterraw Port, quich now the Court du Guaird possesseth ; thairfoir ordaines the thesaurer, with John Milne, to visite the place, and to doe therein what they find expedient, as weill for demolishing the said hous, as for provyding the Court du Gnaird uterwayis.” Private citizens largely promoted the same laudable object, not only by pecuniary contributions, but by building halls and suits of chambers at their own cost. No regular plan, however, was adopted, and the old college buildings at the time of their demolition presented s rude assemblage of edifices of various dates and very little pretension to ornament. Beyond the walls of the capital the ancient Parish Church of Restalrig was erected by Jameg 111. into a Collegiate Church for a dean and canons; and the college was subsequently enlarged both by Jamea IT. and V., as well as by numerous contributions from private individuals. It must have been a large church, with probably collegiate buildings of considerable extent attached to it, if we may judge from the uses to which its materials were app1ied.l The village also appears to have been a place of much greater size and importance than we can form any conception of from its present remains. It was no doubt in early times the chief town of the barony, and a much more extensive one than the Port of Leith. During the siege of the latter in 1559-60, Bishop Lesley informs us that “the Lord Gray, lieutennent of the Inglis army, ludged in Lestalrig tom, in the Deanis hous, and mony of all thair hors and demi-lances.” ‘ The choir, which is the only part. that has escaped demolition, is a comparatively small, though very neat specimen of decorated English Gothic. It remained in a ruinous state until a few years since, when it was restored and fitted up with some degree of taste A church is believed to have existed here at a very early period, as it was celebrated for the tomb of Saint Triduana, a noble virgin who is said to have come from Achaia in the fourth century, in company with St Rule, and to have died at Restalrig. Her tomb was the reaort of numerous pilgrims, and the scene as was believed of many miracles.* By a a Chapel of Ease for the neighbouring district. I Ante, p. 83. ’ Lealey, p. 284. The miracles ascribed to St Triduana were chiefly wrought on diseased eyes ; and she ia accordingly frequently painted carrying her eyes on a salver or on the point of a sword Lindsay speaks of pilgrims going “ to St Tredwell to mend their ene ; ” and again in his curious inventory of saints in The Mmrchie .-- Sanct Tredwdl, als, thare may be sene, Quhilk on ane prick hea baith her ene.

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