NOTES TO VOL IL
Page 209, THEG OLFER’SL AND.
The Golfer’s Land still stands on the north side of the Canongate, with its characteristic
coat of arms and inscription, in confirmation of the legend. But the tenor of
the inscription is inconsistent with the story of the poor shoemaker. I t rather refers to
a house then rebuilding, which had been the family property of successive generations
of heroic golfers. John Paterson, several times bailie of the burgh of Canongate, died
in 1663, as appeared from his monument in the cemetery alongside of Holyrood Abbey,
now the palace garden.
Page 236, THE CAPE CLUB.
The minute-books of the Cape Club are in the library of the Society of Antiquaries
of Scotland. I t included among its members Runciman and his pupil Jacob More the
landscape painter, David Herd, Ferpsson, Lancashire the comedian, Walter Ross the
antiquary, Sir Henry Raeburn, etc, etc. Each of them had a characteristic name given
to him as a knight of the Club. The minute-books will show what was the designation
of Sommers.
Page 239, RUNCIMANP’Sr odigal Son.
There was, and possibly still is, in the Cowgate Chapel, now St. Patrick’s Roman
Catholic Chapel, a painting of the Prodigal Son by Runciman, which was said to include
Fergusson’s portrait. This may be the picture here referred to.
Page 365, MURDERERO F BEQBIE.
The once famous murder of Begbie was one of the popular mysteries with the last
generation. Begbie was stabbed directly in the heart by the blow of a long knife furnished
with a broad pasteboard guard to prevent the blood spurting on the murderer’s
sleeve. Mr. C. K. Sharpe affirmed that a man of strangely recluse habits, who had been
a medical student in Edinburgh at the date of the murder, died in Leith many yeam
afterwards ; and on his deathbed confessed to the deed.
D. W.
TORONTOJa, muary 1878.