L ist of I llu str a tio ns VOLUM E II P AG E W S IR ALTER S COTT Fr onti: piece AB B EY STRAND ’ HOLYROOD AND ARTH UR s S EAT TH N V O O CH E A E , H LYR OD APEL W T D O CH ES ERN OORWAY, H LYROOD APEL ’ J EANIE DEANS COTT AGE ’ SYM SON TH P T O S C T E RIN ER S H U E , OWGA E TH F O W IN TH V E L DDEN ALL , E ENNEL TH E POTT ERROW ’ O L D GR EYP RLARS CH URCH ’ MARTYRS MONUMENT ’ H ERTOT S HOSPITAL EDTNE URGH IN T 560 L As S WAD E COTT AGE ' TH E CANONGAT E D URING T H E PROCESSION OF G IV A T 1 822 EORGE , UGUS WILLIAM DRUMMOND OF HAWTHORNDEN ALLAN RAMSAY TH UNl V E RS IT Y SO TH B E , U RIDGE H T AxT TH B OM P . J O N , E RO EDDLER A BELLE AND BEAU List of Illustra tions P AG R S S CouNT E s s O E T U ANNA , F GLIN ON L O KA HENRY HOM E , RD MES L ORD NEWTON ’ JOH NNIE D OWI E S TA V ERN JOH NNIE DOWIE WILLIAM CO K E AND J OH N GUTHRIE A MORRI S DAN CER L E E L EWE s M RS . M R . AND C CH M RS . Y T M R . LIN AND A ES O L D PLAYHOUSE CLOSE ST G TH NORTHW T . ILES FROM E ES GEORGE HERIOT “ TH E O L D TOLB OOTH ( TH E HEART OF MI D ’ LOT H IAN CAPTAINS OF TH E TOWN GUARD GEORGE S MITH AND D EACON WILLIAM BRODIE GREYFRIARS’ CH URCHYARD FACSIMILE OF A PLATE IN A RARE BLACK LETT ER TRAC T ON WITCHCRAFT PRINT ED IN 1 1 E T T NEW E s S C T 59 , N I LED FROM O LAND TH E NEW TOWN OF EDIN B URGH (dia gr a m) RO S E B URN HOUSE PIN KIE HOUSE HAWTHORNDEN HOUSE VALE OF ROSLIN O ld Edinbur gh Volume I I CHAPTER I H OL Y RO OD T the foot of the Canonga te we meet , as we go down to Holyrood , a significant arrangement of stones in the causeway the Girth Strand and our step across it brings us within the bounds of the old Sanctuary of the Abb ey of Holy rood . Here upon its frontier in ancient ” times stood the Girth Cross . This bound ary the “ Sanctuary Girth enclosed the Abbey Lands . In ancient times , many a hard-pressed criminal has fled panting over the boundary to claim sanctuary from his vengeful pursuers . Once over the line he was safe . ri This p vilege , however, was confined after the Reformation to impecunious debtors . It is estimated that between and 2 Old Edinburgh persons sought protection from their creditors within the Liberty of Holyrood during a the last two hundred ye rs of its existence . Curious scenes have been witnessed by the ancient dwellings and inns near the Palace gates . Their lodgers were called the Abbey ” an d Lairds , were privileged to cross the bounds of the Sanctuary only between mid On night Saturday , and midnight on Sunday . Many amusin g stories are told of ingenious stratagems by watchful credi tors to capture these gentlemen of fallen fortunes . Some times this wa s accomplished by putting back the hands of the tavern Clock , thus lulling the thirsty victim who was joyously ” moistening his clay , into a false sense of security . Again , a belated fugitive who was being chased hot-foot down the Ca nonga te by the minions of the law , managed to throw himself prostrate across the boundary a s just they clutched him from behind . As in his nobler parts were sanctuary, he was adjudged free . It is also related that the fugitive has sometimes been made the object of a tug-of-war between his friends on one side of the boundary , and the bailies T ABBEY S RAND . H olyroo d a on the other, gre tly to his physical di comfitu r e . An amusing incident occurred in 1 7 2 . ! , A Mr s . Dilks being a booked inmate of t u e Abbey Sanct ary , one of her creditors form a design of getting possession of her persor e -a t- n He s nt a messenger law , who , planti himself in a tavern within th e privilege its ft ground , but close upon verge , sent h c the la dy to come and speak with him . S with or obeying, could not reach the house treading for a few paces beyond the girth , and the messenger ’ s concurrents took th ‘ o or tunit to . h ovs pp y lay hold of her This , wa s rn - ever, too much to be bo e by a fair pla r es ideni loving populace . The very female a tta c kin of the Abbey rose at the news , and r . h e the pa ty , rescued Mrs Dilks , and bore back in triumph within the charmed circle . ffi th An o cial , called the Bailie of " H er edita r Abbey , was appointed by the Keeper of the Palace to keep order , and t administer justice within the Sancta Although imprisonment for debt was abo' ish ed 1 8 8 0 sanctu a r in , the privilege of still exists . The foundation charter of th 4 Old E dinburgh Abbey of Holyrood records the right of trial by wager of battle , by water, by red ” hot iron , and other ancient privileges , including the right of girth , or sanctuary , quh ilk privilege has bene inv iolablie Ob s er vit to all maner of per sonis cu mand wythin sa committa nd the bounder afore id , not the c r ymes ex pr e sslie ex c eptit past mem ” orie of man . The crimes excepted were treason and sacrilege . When David I . founded Holyrood Abbey in I 1 2 8 the picturesque legend from which it derives its name being related elsewhere he granted to its canons quite an extensive h tract of land , which stretc ed between the ’ town and the foot of Arthur s Seat . This was added to by the later monarchs , and at the Reformation the “ Abbey Lands em ’ braced the whole of the present King s Park, Duddin ston from g to Greenside , and from ” Placentia Brae , now the Pleasance, to ” Res a lr i s o t . g The Abbey Lands , called, c an are a regality by themselves , and thus never be entirely merged in the municipality E of dinburgh . As we pass onward from the Strand H olyrood 5 and gray old Holyrood , the House of ” Kings , confronts us , one who is at all familiar with its history cannot fail to be “ Old impressed . If this romance in stone and lime had but a voice what a story it m could unfold . It could tell us of the sole n Chanting of the monks , and the sound of the vesper bell . Again , of the Clash of steel , and of the leaping flame which found birth in the torch of the Southron invader . It could speak to us of brilliant festivities , and the magnificence of splendid processions ; of t solemn funeral pomp , and of ghas ly tragedy . So great is the number of memorable events and names associated with this gray old pile, that we cannot look upon it without pro found interest and reverence . The approach to Holyrood from the Ca non a te g has not its former stateliness , and on two sides a poor quarter of the city l presses against these ancient wa ls . But on the other side are free air and th e everlasting hills . The red crags of Salisbury and the seamed sides of the great Arthur ’ s Seat remain unchanged from th e time when David chose here the place to build his 6 Old Edinburgh M onastery ; and in fact , half the domain remains as he sa w it . Probably no part of the remaining Abbey buildings go back to the time of David I . The Abbey through his munificenc e soon became one of the greatest religious houses in Scotland , and like all monasteries , had many apartments for the accommodation of visitors of every rank . Royalty looked upon it as a favourite place of abode , and it is not the only instance of a conventual building being taken posses sion of by the King and Court for a res idence . James I . of Scotland was residing in the Blackfriars M onastery at Perth , we remember, when r u l he was so c e ly murdered there . Holyrood to -day is of interes t almost solely on account of its connection with Mary Stuart . Two portions only of the ancient structure have remained since her time her own apartments , and the ruins of the Chapel Royal but these fragments are full of absorbing interest , and appeal more i strongly to the imag native mind , perhaps , than any other relics of her career . The d panelled audience chamber , which witnesse H olyrood 7 the stormy interviews with Knox ; the fatal - wa s supper room, where Rizzio stabbed and then dragged from the presence of the terror stricken Queen , and her bedroom , with its lofty ca nopied bed which is still dressed with its decaying finery .