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

60 MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH. under the influence of Henry 11. of France, assembled a considerable force at Kelso, and sought, by all means, to persuade the nobility to unite with her in invading England. But though the Borderers availed themselves, with their usual alacrity, of the first symptoms of hostilities, to make a raid across the marches, the general sense of the nobility was strongly opposed to thus rashly plunging into war, without any just cause ; and so resolute were they against it, that the Queen Regent, after various ineffeciual attempts to precipitate hostilities, was compelled to dismiss the army, and abandon all further attempts at co-operation with France.’ From this occurrence may he dated the true rise of those divisions in this country which alienated from the Queen Regent the Scottish party, on which she had most depended, and ultimately led to the war of the Reformation ; and from this time forward the ecclesiastical is intimately blended with the civil history of the country, mainly influencing every important occurrence, The continuation of war between France and Spain at this period, induced the French Monarch to seek to hasten on the proposed alliance between the Dauphin and the Queen of Scots, to which the Queen ,Regent lent all her influence. A Parliament accordingly assembled at Edinburgh on the 14th of December 1557, before which a letter was laid from the King of France, proposing khat the intended marriage should be carried into effect without delay. Jamea Stewart, prior of St Andrews, afterwards the Regent Murray, and others of the leaders of the Protestant party, were chosen by the Parliament as Commissioners, empowered to give their assent to the marriage, on receiving ample security for the preservation of the ancient laws and liberty of the kingdom. They accordingly proceeded to Paris, and there, on the 24th of April 1558, were witnesses of the marriage, which was solemnised with the utmost pomp and magnificence in the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Another Parliament was summoned immediately ob their return, and accordingly assembled at Edinburgh in the beginning of December. It ratified the transactions of the Commissioners, and agreed, at the same time, to confer on the Dauphin the Crown of Scotland during the continuance of the marriage. As the reformed opinions spread among the people, they manifested their zeal by destroying images, and breaking down the carved work of the monasteries and churches. It was the custom at this period for the clergy of Edinburgh to walk annually in grand procession, on the.first of September, the anniversary of St Giles, the patron saint of the town ; but in the year 1558, before the arrival of St Giles’s day, the mob contrived to get into the church, and carrying off the image of the saint, which was usually borne in procession on such occasions, they threw it into the North Loch-the favourite place for ducking all offenders against the seventh commandment-and thereafter committed it to the flames.’ The utmost confusion prevailed on its being discovered to be amissing. The bishops sent orders to the Provost and Magistrates either to get the old St Giles, or to furnish another at their own expense ; but this they declined to do, notwithstanding the threats and denunciations of the clergy, alleging the authority of Scripture for the destruction of I‘ idols and images.’’ Bishop Leslie’s Hint., pp. 260, 261. Calderwood’s Hist., vol. i. p. 344.

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