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

APPENDIX. 43 3 assigned to an earlier reign than that of James VI., while the shape of the shields indicata a much more remote era We are indebted to Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, Esq., for the above spirited etching of Wrychtishousis, a8 seen from the south-west. The principal front of the builcling was to the north-east, and the old tower, which had formed the nucleus of thia picturesque edifice, and was the most prominent feature in the front view, is seen here rising above its roof. VI. PORTEOUS MOB. A VERY curious allusion to the Porteous Mob occurs in the defence of the celebrated Horne Tooke, on his trial for libel, in 1777. The judge before whom he pled his own cause was the Earl of Mansfield, whose semicea were engaged on behalf of the interests of the Scottish capital, at the time when it was sought to subject both it and and its magistracy to ignominious pains and penalties, in order to gratify the indignant Queen Caroline, whose unwonted powers as Regent had been insulted by the deed of the rioters, which set her royal pardon at naught. Lord Mansfield must have known whatever could be communicated to one of the council for the defence of Edinburgh and its ancient rights, and knowing this, Horne Tooke addresses him :-“ I shall not trouble you to repeat the particulars of the affair of Captain Porteous at Edinburgh. These gentlemen are so little pleased with military execution upon themselves, that Porteous was charged by them with murder, he was prosecuted, convicted, and when he was reprieved after sentence, the people of the town executed that man themselves, so little did they approve of military execution. Now, gentlemen, there are at thia moment people of reputation, living in credit, rnaking fortunes under the Croion, who were concerned in that very fmt-who were concerned in the execution of Porteous. I do not speak it to censure them ; for, however irregular the act, my mind approves of it.”--“ Trial of John Horne, Esq., for a libel, before the Right Hon. William Earl of Mansfield, in the Court of King’s Bench, 4th July 1777.” The libel for which he was tried, was a vehement attack on the conduct of the Ministry on the breaking out of the American war. The verdict involved him both in a tedious imprisonment and a fine of s200. It can hardly, therefore, be supposed that the defendant would unadvisedly risk such a statement, so that it affords a singular corroboration of the traditions that represent the higher classes to have furnished the chief leaders in the Porteoua Mob. We have been told by an old citizen that Lord Mansfield was himself affirmed to have been among the rioters on the night of Porteoua’s execution ; but that is exceedingly improbable, m he had then been practising for five years at the English Bar. . VII. LADY ANN BOTHWELL’S LAMENT.” THE account of the heroine of thia beautiful ballad given in the text (page 227) iS hcorrect In “The Scottish Ballada,” p. 133, it is remarked :-‘‘ The editor, by the assistance of a valued antiquarian friend, is enabled now to lay a true and certain histoq of the heroine before the public. ‘ Lady Am Bothwell,‘ waa no other than the Honourable h aBo thwell, sister of Bothwell Bishop of Orkney, at the Reformation, but who was afterwards raised to a temporal peerage under the title of Lord Holyroodhouse.” As this account is necessarily wrong, since it was not the Bishop, but his eldest son John, who was created Lord Holpodhouse, Lady Ann has been described in the text as the daughter of the latter. The following, however, is the h e narrative, 3 1

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434 MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH. which originally appeared in a note to “The Household Book of Lady Marie Stewart, Countess of Mar”& a work now of great rarity, only a very small edition having been printed. It was edited by Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, Esq. There is no date to it, but we are informed by the editor that it WM published in 1814. It is aa an illustration of’ the followiq entry of 1st September 1640. (Page 43) The Comptar craveu allowance of two nights charges, being sent to waitt upon the buriall of COL Blexander, his corps, which was buried before he came att Tyninghame, 63sh. 4d.” To this the editor appends the following note in reference to the Colonel :-“ Colonel Alexander Erskine, Lady Mar’s third son, was blown up in the Castle of Dungha, together with his brother-in-law the Earl of Hadington. ‘ Upon Sunday the 30th August 1640, the Earl of Hadington, with about eighty persons, of Knights, Barons, and Gentlemen, within the place of Dunglass in the Merse pertaining heritably to the Lord Hume, was suddenly blown up in the air, by a sudden tire occasioned thus : Haddington, with his friends and followels, rejoicing how they defended the army’s magazine frae the English garrison of Berwick, came altogether to Dunglass, having no fear of evil, where they were all sudd edy blown up with the roof of the house in the air, by powder, whereof there was abundance in this place, and never bone nor hyre seen of them again’-&aZding. Bishop Guthrie remarks, that ‘ The very day the Scota entered Newcastle, Dunglass Castle, in the keeping of Haddington (who had left the King’s party, and held it under Ledie), was blown up about mid-day ; he and about sixty gentlemen were buried under one of the walls, which fell upon them as they stood in the close. The King said upon it, albeit he had been very ungrateful to him, yet he was sorry that he had not at his dying some time to repent.’ U Sir Robert cfordon, in his History of the Sutherland Family, asserts that Lord Haddigton and Colonel Alexander.Erskine had returned the day before from a victorious skirmish with the English, and were at dinner when the explosion took place. He adds, ‘This was ascryved to a servant of the Earle’s (ane Englishman) who was his barbour, but how truly I know not.’ “Alexander Erskine, son to John Earl of Mar, had a letter of provision of the abbacy of Cambuskenneth, 31st May 1608. Re and his brother, Lord Cardrm, were two of the chief mourners at the funeral of their Uncle, Ludovick Duke of Lennox, who died 16th Februay 1624, and was buried at Westminster’(8z’r Robert Gordon’e ETistory of thc Sutherland Family). He was knighted, but at what time is uncertain, and was in the French milita,ry service, as appears from a letter printed by Lord Hailes, and communicated by Lord Alva. It is addressed to a person unknown in France, by the leaders of the Scottish army, written in bad French (which is translated by Lord Hailes), a d dated from the camp at Dunse, 20th August 1640 :- a ‘ Sq-The state of our affairs has constrained us to levy a numerous army for preserving this kingdom from utter ruin ; hence it is that we coidd not permit Colonel Erskine to transport his regiment (into France) last year, and the same course still obligea us to employ the Colonel at home in the defence of his country. Although he is exceedingly zealous in the public service, yet he will not accept of any commission from UH, unless with the consent of his Most Christian Majesty, and under the condition of being permitted to repair to France at whatever time he may be required. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peace is the aim of our desires, and the wish of our souls ; as soon as that is concluded, we shall demonstrate, by our assisting Colonel Erskine in his levies, and by procuring good recruits for his Majesty’s service, that true Scotsmen can never forget their ancient alliances, and the common interest which unitea them with fiance ; and therefore, Sir, we again entreat you to represent what has been here said, and the situation of Colonel Erskine’s affairs, to his Majesty, and to his Eminence. We hope to obtain these favours by pour means ; and, besidea the obligations which you will thereby confer on the Colonel, you will oblige ua to remain, Sir, your most humble servants, k LESLIE. AROYLE. RorEEa. MAR BALCAXRAS. BELMERINOSE. AFOBTE.’ This letter waa written only ten days previous to the Colonel’s death, which tradition affirm8 to have been regarded as I punishment of Providence for hie amorous pejuriee tow& Anna Bothwell (a &er of Lord -Holyroodhonse),whose lament has exercised the subtile wits of antiquarians, in the ascertainment of her pedigree She has been made out to be the divorced Countess of Bothwell, and also, I believe, a Miss Boawell

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