ECCLESIASTICAL ANTIQUITIES. 401
east end of the chapel for the accommodation of the officials of the Corporation of Hammermen
during their meetings; but it is probable from its elevation that it is an altar tomb,
the sides of which may also be decorated with sculpture, though so long hidden by the
Corporation Dais. The date of the foundation of the hospital is 1503, but the charter by
which its augmentation and permanent establishment was secured by the widow of its founder
is said to be dated so late as 1545-the year succeeding the total destruction of the whole
town. It is at any rate a document of that age, and is not only curious as one of the latest
deeds executed for such a purpose, but is characterised by a degree of naivete as rare in legal
documents of the sixteenth century as now. It runs thus :-44 To all and sundry, to whois
knowledge thir presents sall come, and be seen, I Jonet Rpe, relict, executrix, and only
intromissatris, with the guds and gear of umquhil Michael Macquhan, burges of Edinburgh,
wishing peace in our Lord, ma.kes known by thir presents, That when the said Michael
was greatly troubled with an heavy disease, and oppressed with age, zit mindful of eternal
life, he esteemed it ane gud way to obtain eternal life to erect some Christian work, for ever
to remain and endure : He left seven hundred pound, to be employed for the supplement of
the edifice of the Magdalen chapell, and to the other edifices, for foundation of the chapel
and sustentation of seven poor men, who should continually there put forth their prayers
to God Almighty; for there was many others that had promised to mortifye some portion
of their goods for perfeiting and absolveing of the said waxk, but they failzied, and withdrew
from such an holly and religious work, and altogether refused thereupon to confer the
samen. Quhilk thing I taking heavily, and pondering it in my heart, what in such an
dificle business sould be done ; at last, I thought night and day upon the fulfilling of my
husband’s will, and took upon me the burden of the haill wark, and added two thousand
pounds to the g700 left be my husband: And I did put furth these soumes wholly, after
his death, upon the edification of thdt chapel, ornaments thereof, and building of the ediiice
for the habitation of the chaplane, and seven poor mp, and for buying of land, as well
field-land, as burgh-land, and yearly annualrents, for the nourishment, sustentation, and
clothing of them, as hereafter mair largely set down. Therefore, wit ye me, To the praise
and honour of Almighty God, and of his mother the Missed Virgin Mary, and of Mary
Magdallen, and of the haill celestial court, to have erected and edified ‘ane certain chapell
and hospital-house, lyeing in the burgh of Edinburgh, upon the south side of the King’s
high street, called the Cowgate, fur habitation of the foresaid chaplain and poor, and that
from the foundation thereof; and has dedicate the samen to the name of Mary Mngdallen,
and has foundit the said chaplain, and seven poor, for to give forth their continual prayers
unto God, for the salvation of the soul of our most illustrious Mary Queen of Scots, and
for the salvation of my said umquhil husband‘s soul and mine: And also, for the salvation
of the souls of our fathers and mothers, and for all the souls of those that shall put to their
helping hand, or sall give any thing to this work: As also, for the patrons of the said
chapel : And also, for the souls of all those of whom we have had any thing whilk we have
not restored, and for the whilk we have not given fiatisfaction ; to have given and granted,
and by this my present charter in poor and perpetual alms, and to have confirmed in mortification
: As also, to give and grant, and by this present charter, gives in poor alms and
mortification, to confirm to Almighty God, with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the said chapell
and chapell-house, for the sustentation of ane secular chaplain, and seven poor men, and
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