IN the opening chapter notice has been taken. of the Palace and Abbey of Holyrood, and,

although deriving origin from the same source as that of the Canongate, it would be superfluous to enter here into any detail of their history, or the many events which occurred within their walls, as these have been dilated upon by others, and the fact of Holyrood being a Regality independent of that of the Canongate. Closely connected with the Palace and Abbey-and many of the nobility having places of residence in the Canongate when Courts were held in Holyrood-the Burgh consequently participated alternately in all the changes of sunshine and shade. which befell the Abbey and Palace. A very short summary, however, of a few of the changes and alterations on the Palace, of more modern date, may be appropriate. King Charles the First, who was

crowned in Holyrood in 1633 with great pomp and magnificence, did much to improve and enlarge the Palace buildings: one memento of his visit, popularly, but erroneously, known as Queen Mary's Sun-dial," situated in the garden of the Palace, having been placed there by him, and bears the initials of the King, Queen, and Prince of Wales. Within the last few years numerous improvements have been effected on the surroundings of the Palace. A little to the south were a cluster of houses with gardens, called St. Ann's Yards, tenanted by nobles and commoners; the Duke's Walk, which lay between these and the Palace, and extended in an eastward direction, have all been removed, and the sites incorporated within the Palace grounds. A house, with small back-yard, which stood on the slope of the hill a little above where the Rood Well now is, has also been taken down. Eastwards of the Palace, an old mansion, called Clockmylne House, or Cloicksholm,* latterly "Bellevue," and grounds, were purchased by Government, the house taken down, and the whole space added to the Park. Fronting the Palace, a beautiful fountain has been placed in the square,-being a copy of the original fountain at Linlithgow,—while a guardhouse and stables have also been erected; and, at the north-west end, a new approach via Regent Road and Abbeyhill, has been opened up to the Palace. Various other extensive and beneficial changes have been effected-two small sheets of water, respectively called St. Margaret's and Dunsappie Lochs, belts of trees or plantings, lodges at the various entrances to the Drive and parks-all contributing to render the From the Gaelic word, Cloich—a stone.

*

Palace more salubrious and attractive as a residence. "The Duke's Walk" derived its appellation from having been a favourite promenade of the Duke of York (afterwards King James the Seventh) when residing in Holyrood. The Duke was Lord High Commissioner for King Charles the Second to the Scottish Parliament, and endeavoured to ingratiate himself with the Scottish nobility and people. Balls, masquerades, and levees, were of frequent occurrence, and the Canongate once more enjoyed a brief season of prosperity—brief indeed, and, ere long, sad the change. Since the Duke of York resided in the Palace, it has been the temporary abiding-place of Prince Charles Stuart, and the Duke of Cumberland. The Comte D'Artois afterwards King Charles the Tenth of France-occupied it for some time when Count, and, after his abdication in 1830 as King, again resided in it from 1830 till September, 1832. Others of lesser note, and to whom fortune had played fickle, obtained friendly shelter within its walls. In our own day it has been graced by the occasional residence of Her Majesty the Queen and Royal family, and may, perhaps, once more be favoured with the Royal presence, and its halls resume courtly splendour and gaiety.

HOLYROOD ABBEY.-Without attempting to give even a passing remark on the many interesting tablets and memorials erected within its walls to the illustrious dead for the dust of Kings, Queens, Nobles, and Commoners co-mingle-it may not be out of place to notice a most interesting discovery lately made in regard to the lectern which belonged to the old Abbey, and which was removed therefrom when the English

army, under the Earl of Hertford, in 1543, plundered the Abbey, and almost entirely destroyed it by fire. The account of its discovery is as follows:-" Apart from any conjectures as to its history, this lectern is of special interest as being the only known example formerly pertaining to Scotland which has escaped the disastrous issues of civil and religious commotions. Its history is very singular. About the year 1750, when a grave was being dug in the chancel of St. Stephen's Church, St. Alban's, Hertfordshire, the lectern was found buried in the soil. It is supposed to have been thus concealed at some time during the Civil Wars. It is of cast brass, and of a handsome design, consisting of an eagle with expanded wings supported by a shaft decorated with several groups of mouldings, partly circular and partly hexagonal. The eagle stands upon a globe, and the shaft has been originally supported on three feet, which are now gone. In its present state the lectern is five feet seven inches in total height. It bears the inscription - Georgius Creichtoun, Episcopus Dunkeldensis.' He died 24th January 1543, and previous to his elevation to the see of Dunkeld he had been Abbot of Holyrood. The probability therefore, is, that the lectern had been presented to Holyrood by the Abbot on his elevation to the see of Dunkeld, and that it was taken from Holyrood by Sir Richard Fea of Sopwell, who accompanied the Earl of Hertford in his invasion of Scotland in 1543. On his return, Sir Richard presented to the parish church of St Alban's a brazen font bearing a magniloquent inscription, to the effect that though previously designed for the baptism only of the children of kings, it now, in gratitude for its rescue from the

fire which consumed Edinburgh and Leith, performed the same service for the meanest of the English. This font, which was doubtless abstracted from Holyrood, is no longer known to exist, and there seems no reason to doubt that the lectern, which was saved by being buried during the Civil Wars, was abstracted at the same time, and given to the parish church of St. Alban's by the donor of the font." *

We now revert to the starting point of this history, and conclude by bringing under notice one peculiar privilege still existing, belonging to the Abbey, and in the maintenance of which the Burgh of Canongate had a special interest-a privilege asserted by the Abbots, successfully maintained by them and the Magistrates of the Burgh, and still recognised by the law of the realm—that is, the right of sanctuary.

In the olden times the Abbey of Holyrood had the right of affording shelter or refuge to certain criminals, or, as it was termed, "the right of girth" or sanctuary, and severe punishments were inflicted upon any one assaulting or endeavouring by force to seize any person who had crossed the Girth—that is, got within the sacred limits or boundaries of the Abbey, and craved the King's peace or pardon through the Abbot, or offered to stand his trial for the crime alleged against him. The following instance is given to show the extent to which this right to grant the privilege of sanctuary was claimed in bygone days. It was in

* Vide Paper by Corresponding Member, Mr. William Galloway, Architect, at a meeting of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, held at Edinburgh, on 11th April 1879.