. LEITH. I01
employs the dreariest and darkest epithets in the language : In the memory
of man,' he says, that day of the year has never seen a more dolorous face
of the heaven than was at her arrival, which two days after did so continue ;
for besides the surface wet, a corruption of the air, the mist was so thick and
dark, that scarse might any man espy another the length of two pair of buttis,
The sun was not seen to shine two days before nor two days after.'
Dark and gloomy as the weather appears to have been, however, and
whatever effect it may have had upon her spirits, it does not seem to have
damped or dulled the spirits of her subjects. As soon as it was known that
the Queen had arrived, all classes of the community hastened $eZZ-meZZ
shorewards to manifest their joy and give expression to their Ioyalty. Cannon
boomed, bells rang, men shouted, and women screamed ; the vessels in the
harbour too were all gaily decked with bunting, while flags and banners were
hung out on all the public places and houses of note. Landing at ten in the
morning, she would have immediately proceeded to Holyrood; but the
laggard state of the preparations for her conveyance thither necessitated her
detention in the town for a few hours, during which, as me learn, she was
visited by the Lord James, the Earl of Argyle, and other noblemen. At
length things being got into something like order, the procession moved
forwards. Mary, mounted on her palfrey-there were no carriages in those
days-advanced through the Links and up the Easter Road towards Holyrood,
preceded and followed by all the great and the noble of the land, and amid the
shouts and acclamations of a happy and loyal people.
Light on her airy steed she sprung ;
Around with golden tassels hung ;
No chieftain there rode half so free,
Or half so light and gracefully.
Slowly she ambled on her way,
Amid her lords and ladies gay ;
Priest, abbot, layman, all were there,
And presbyter with look severe.
There rode the lords of France and Spain,
Of England, Flanders, and Lorraine ;
While serried thousands round them stood,
From shore of Leith to Holyrood.'
Mary's return to her kingdom revived a little the drooping spirits of the
Leithers, and led them to entertain the hope that something mbstantial
would now be done for them. They deserved well of her. They had aided
