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

426 MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH. able from the introduction of the Weigh-house steeple, demolished by Cromwell in 1650, and the spire of the Tron Church, which was completed about 1663, although the church was so far advanced in 1647 as to be used as a place of worship. The destruction of the greater part of the ancient Palace in the former year, affords further evidence of this view having been taken about that period, BS it is represented with considerable accuracy as it stood previous to the fire. The north garden is laid out in the formal style of the period, with Quem Murys Bath very accurately introduced in the angle formed by two of the enclosing garden walls. It appears to have been engraved in Holland, and is illustrated with a stanza in Latin, Dutch, and French, consisting of a very selfcomplacent soliloquy of the good town on its own ancient glory, A lithographic copy of this view is occasionally to be met with. He visited this country for the first time in 1 6 6 9 ,t~ha t the drawings of the interesting series of Scottish views published by him mwt have been made during the interval between these dates. They are of great value, being in general rery faithful representations of the chief towns and most important edsces in Scotland at that period. Much curious information in reference to the progress of this national work has been selected from the records in the General Register House, and printed in the 2d voL of the Bannatyne Ivfiscellany. Among these, the following item of the Captain’s account of ‘‘ Debursements” afford some insight into the mode of getting up the views :- 1693.-The TEEATRUMSC OTE, of Captain John Slezer, was printed at London in 1693. . IMPRIMFIoSr. b ringing over a Painter, his charges to travel from place to place, and for drawing these 57 draughts contahed in the said Theatrum Scotiae, at 2 lib, sterlin per draught, . . 0114: 00 :OO To Mr Whyte at London, for ingraving the mid 57 draughts, at 4 lib. 10 To Nr Wycke, the battell painter at London, for touching and filling up the said 57 draughb with little figures, at 10 shillings sterlin per piece, inde, Captain Slezer hath been at a considerable loss by 12 plates of prospects,which were spoiled in Holland, as partly appears by a contract betwixt Doctor Sibbald and the said Captain, dated anno 1691, which loss was at least Lib. Sterlin. ITEM, ITEM, ITEM, shillings over head, . . 0256 : 10 :00 0028 : 10 : 00 0072 : 10 : 00 In the early edition of Sle7,r‘s views the only general Pvoapect of Edinburgh is the one from the Dean. But the view of the Castle from the south also includes some interesting portions of the Old Town, and to these another view of the Castle from the north-east was afterwards added. Four different editions of the Theatnun Scotia are described in Cough’s British Topography, and a fifth edition of 100 copies was published at Edinburgh in 1814, edited by the Rev. Dr Jamieson, with a life of Slezer, and other additional matter, and illustrated with impressions from the original plates, which are still in existence. The work is to be met with in most public libraries, and affords some curious views of the chief towns of Scotland, as they existed in the latter end of the seveuteenth century. 1700.-About this date is a large and very accurate view of Edinburgh from the north, which has been engraved more than once. The original plate, which appeared first in the third edition of Slezer’s Theatrum Scotiae, dedicated to the Marquis of Annandale, was published in 1718. It is a long view, with the Cdton Hill forming the foreground, beyond which Trinity College Church and Paul’s Work appear on one side, with the North Loch stretching away towards the Well-house Tower. The large ancient church of the Castle, as well aa St Margaret’s Chapel, form prominent objects in the Castle ; while in the town the Nether Bow Port, the old High School, demolished in 1777, and others of the ancient features of the city, are introduced with considerable care and accuracy of detail. The whole is engraved with great spirit, but no draftsman’s or engraver’s name is attached to it. Another copy of the same, on a still larger scale, though of inferior merit as an en,oraving. is dedicated to Queen Anne.

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