ECCLESIASTICAL ANTIQUITIES. 407
from the deceased King of Scots’ Palace all or most of his princely library, many books
of which are now at Speke, particularly four large folios, said to contain the Records and
Laws of Scotland at that time. He also brought from the said Palace the Wainscot of
the King’s Hall, and put it up in his own hall at Speke, wherein are seen all the orders
of architecture, as Tuscan, Dorick, Ionick, Corinthian, and Composite ; and round the
top of it this inscription, ‘ SLEEPE . NOT . TILL . YE . HATHE . CONSEDERD . HOW THOW .
WAYS . REPENT . YE.’ ” Speke .Hall still exists as one of the fine old manor-houses
of Lancashire, and could this tradition be relied on would form an object of peculiar
attraction, as the antique wainscot with its quaint moral still adorns the great hall. It
proves, however, to be the work of a later age, corresponding to similar specimens in the
neighbouring halls, erected in the reign of Elizabeth. It might, indeed, be confidently
affirmed, that the Roman orders were not introduced into Scotland till a considerably
later period ; but the above description answers very partially to the original. The tradition,
however, is probably not altogether without foundation. Two figures of angels,
richly gilt, “in form such as are introduced dnder consoles in Gothic architecture,”
formerly surmounted the wainscot, evidently no part of the original design, and these, it
is conjectured, may have been among the spoils which were carried off from the Palace in
1547.8
The Abbey of Holyrood frequently afforded accomniodation to the Scottish Court,
before the addition of a distinct royal dwelling to the ancient monastic buildings, This,
it is probable, was not effected till the reign of Janies IV, It is certain, at any rate, that
large sums were spent by him in building and decorating the Palace during the interval
of four years between his betrothment and marriage to Margaret of England. In the
map to which we have so frequently referred, the present north-west tower, which forms
the only ancient portion of the Palace as it now stands, is shown standing almost apart,
and only joined to the south-west tower of the Abbey Church by a low cloister. To the
south of this appears an irregular group of buildings, of considerable extent, and
apparently covered with tiles, while the whole houses in the Canongate seem, from the
colouring of the drawing, to be only thatched. It is not necessary, however, further to
investigate the early history of the Palace here, as most of the remarkable historicd
incidents associated with it have already been referred to.
The latest writer who has left any account of the old Palace is John Taylor, the Water
poet, in the amusing narrative of his Pennylesse Pilgrimage to Scotland in 1618. The
following is his description :-‘‘ I was at his Majestie’s Palace, a stately and princely
seate, wherein I saw a sumptuous Chappell, most richly adorned with all appurtenances
belonging to so sacred 8 pJace, or so royal1 an owner. In the inner court I saw
the King’s Armes cunningly carved in stone, and fixed over a doore aloft on the wall, the
Red Lyon being the Crest, over which was written this inscription in Latin :-No6is h c
invicta miserunt 106 Proavi. I inquired what the English of it was? it was told me as
followeth, which I thought worthy to be recorded-106 Fore-fatAers have left this to us
unconquered;”-an interpretation which leads the Water poet into a series of very loyal
EL4ST. SPENT. YE. DAY. PAST . IF . THOW. HAVE. WELL . DON. THANK. GOD . LF . OTHEB .
Fide Archadogia Scotica, vol. iv. ; from whence the inscription ia correctly given. ’ Ibid, p. 14,
