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

40 MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH. * * * Ilk man efter thair qualitie, Thay did solist his Majestie, Sum gad him ravel1 at the rakket, Some harlit him to the hurly hakket. And sum to schaw their courtlie corsis, Wald ryid to,Leith, and rin tbair horsis. at the last thair vaiked ane benefice quhilk pat thame all at variance for the dispositioun of the same.”l And so, after dividing with more or less success the patronage of the crown, the nobles parted in greater disagreement than ever ; “ bot Bischope James Beatoun remained &till in Edinburgh, in his awin ludging, quhilk he biggit in the Frieris Wynd.” ’ C1525.1 The nominal rule of the youthful Sovereign proved of little avail to stay the turbulence of hia haughty nobles ; Angus again seized the government, nominating his uncle, Archibald Douglas, Provost of Edinburgh. And such waa the power he possessed, that, under his protection, the assassins of M’Lellan of Bombie, who was slain in open day at the door of St Giles’s Church, walked with impunity about the streets ; while the Queen herself deemed his safe conduct. necessary, while she resided in Edinburgh, though the Parliament was sitting there at the time. And so the King returned again to honourable durance in the dilapidated palace of the Castle ; or only made his appearance to act as the puppet of his governor. At this time it was that Arran and his faction demanded that the Parliament should assemble within the Castle, to secure them against popular coercion ; but Angus, and a numerous body of the nobles, and others, protested ‘‘ that the Parliament be kept in the accustomed place, and that the King be conveyed along the High Street, and in triumph shown to his own people.” And this being denied them, they surrounded the Castle with two thousand men in arms, completely preventing the supplies of the garrison. Those in the Castle retaliated, by firing on the town : but their differences were happily accommodated, and “ the King in. magnificence and pomp is convoyed from the Castle to his palace at Holyrood House, and the Estates assemble in the wonted place of the town of Edinburgh.” C1526.1 The Earl of Lennox assembled a numerous body of adherents in the following year, and marched towards Edinburgh to the rescue of the King; but Angus not only caused the provost to ring the alarum bell, and raise the town in his defence, but he persuaded the Eing, though much against his will, to head the burgher force against his own friends. “Then the King caused sound his trumpets, and lap upon horse, and caused ring the commoun bell of Edinburgh, commanding all manner of men to follow him ; so he issued forth at the Wast Port, and the touoes of Edinburgh and Leith with him, to the number of thrie thousand men, and passed forwards with thame,” but only to arrive in time to witness the death of the Earl of Lennox, and the complete discomfiture of his Paw. C1528.1 Frequent attempts were made thereafter for the King’s delivery from this thraldom ; but that which so many had failed in securing, he at length effected, by his’ own Pitscottig vol. ii p. 312. Ibid, p. 313. 8 Hawthornden, p. 93.

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