Watergate and marched up the Canongate to the Nether- Holybow Port. There they were interviewed by the Edinburgh rood and magistrates, who offered to ransom the city, but seemed Canonto make little impression on these pirate rovers. The gate Provost, Sir John Smith, persuaded his brother-in-law, Sir William Gray, to try his persuasive power, and this time the Moorish leader seemed more inclined to listen. He agreed to accept a large ransom, provided the Provost would give up his son to him. But the Provost had only one daughter, who was at that time seriously ill from plague. There was great anxiety on her account, as her cousin, Egidia Gray, had just died. On hearing this the Moorish leader demanded that she should be given up to him, promising that, if he did not succeed in curing her, he would leave the city without ransom. The Provost could hardly bring himself to surrender his only child, but as there was no other way out of the difficulty he was persuaded to do so. The joy of the Provost may be imagined when his daughter was restored to him safe and well. The Moorish leader proved to be Andrew Gray, who had been taken prisoner and kept as a slave by the Moors, but was fortunate enough to gain the favour of the Emperor of Morocco, who set him at liberty. Determined to wreak his vengeance on the children of the Provost of Edinburgh he returned, only to find in the object of his hatred a near kinswoman, whom he first cured and for the tale would be incomplete without this-finally married. Gray had made a rash vow never to enter Edinburgh except sword in hand, so having made his peace with the magistrates, he kept this vow by living outside the Netherbow Port in the house which is still known as Morocco Land. Whether the tale is true or not we leave our readers to determine. Certainly a Moor's head still adorns Morocco Land, but whether it is the result or the cause of the story we do not pretend to say. Passing by Cranston Street-the old Leith Wynd-which was one entrance to Edinburgh, we come

to St. Mary Street and Jeffrey Street. A little east of St. Mary Street was the White Horse Inn, where the waiter horrified Dr. Johnson by using his fingers instead of sugar-tongs. St. Mary Street and Jeffrey Street are separated from the Canongate by no visible wall of separation, for the old Netherbow Port is now swept away, yet they are outside the bounds of the old burgh of Canongate, and will be dealt with in a later chapter.

Skupinge Mone

CHAPTER VI

ST. GILES'

Fall churches in Edinburgh the best known, alike to inhabitants and visitors, is the Cathedral Church of St. Giles. Not only is it important on account of its site, its antiquity, and its architecture, but it is bound up inextricably with the history of the town. pre-Reformation times St. Giles' made no claim to cathedral rank, that dignity came later, and was of short duration. But even without that it has many claims on our interest.

St. Giles is not a specially well-known saint, nor is he connected in any way with local Scottish tradition. Giles is the French form of the Latin Egidius, and it may be noted in passing, that while Giles was a common name for men, the feminine form, Egidia, was often bestowed on Scottish ladies of rank. Princess Egidia, daughter of Robert 11. who married William de Douglas, is perhaps the best-known example of the name, but many others are to be found. St. Giles, who was a native of Athens, wandered west, and finally took up his abode at Nîmes, in the south of France. Being a hermit, he lived quite alone, until chance brought him an unexpected companion. A hind, pursued by the dogs of Flavius Wamba, King of the Goths, took refuge with the hermit and remained with him as his constant companion. In pictures St. Giles is always represented with the hind beside him, but there is no foundation in fact for the