JAMES V. TO ABDICATION OF QUEEN MARK 73
June 1562, tAe idol was ordered to be cut out of the town’s standard, &nd a thistle
to be substituted in its place, though the
saint‘s fawn has been since allowed to
appear in his stead.
During this year the Council made
application to the Queen to grant them the
grounds belonging to the Black Friars,
lying to the south, between the Cowgate
and the town wall, to build an hospital
thereon -for the poor; and also the Kirkof-
Field, with all the adjoining buildings
and ground, to erect there a public school,
together with their revenues for endowing
the same. They also, at the same time,
besought her to grant them the yards and
site of the Greyfriars’ monastery, ‘‘ being
somewhat distant from the town,” for the
purpose of a public burial-place. The Queen, in reply, granted the last request, appointing
the Greyfriars’ Yard to be devoted to the use of the town for the specified purpose ;
and for the rest, she engaged, so soon as sufficient funds were secured for building the
hospital and school, that she would provide a convenient site for them. The whole,
however, were at length made over to the magistrates, in the year 1566, for the purposes
specified.
Great excitement was occasioned in Edinburgh at this time, by an act of violence
perpetrated by the Earl of Bothwell, with the aid of the Marquis D’Elboeuf aud Lord
John Coldingham. They broke open the doors of Cuthbert Ramsay’s house, in $t Mary’s
Wynd, during the night, and made violent entry iu search for his daughter-in-law, Alison
Craig, with whom the Earl of Arran was believed to be enamoured. A strong remonstrance
was presented to the Queen on this occasion, beseeching her to bring the .
perpetrators to punishment ; but the matter was hushed up, with promises of amendment.
Emboldened by their impunity, Bothwell and his accomplices proceeded to further violence.
They assembled in the public streets during the night, with many of their friends. Gavin
Hamilton, abbot of Kilwinning, who had joined the reforming party, resolved to check
them in their violent proceedings. He accordingly armed his servants and retainem and
sallied out to oppose them, and a serious affray took place between the Cross and. the
Trone ; shot and bolts flew in every direction ; the burghers were mustered by the‘ringing
of the town bells, and rival leaders were sallying out to the assistance of their friends,
when the Earls of Murray and Huntly, who were then residing in the Abbey, mustered
their adherents at the Queen’s request, and put a stop to the tumult. Bothwell afterwards
successfully employed the mediation of Knox, to procure a reconciliation with Gavin
Hamilton, the Earl of Arran, and others of his antagonists.’
The Parliament met at Edinburgh bn the 26th of May 1563. It was the first time that
Knox’s Hist., pp. 279, 280. Keitb, vol. ii. p. 130.
VIaamThSt &lee-from the Common seal of the City of Edinburgh, 1565.
K
