2y //ov- / J / O J l ^iT2t_ a-Jd yC <£ (s^rj *C tiJr '/‘^ V^s (moS^O(n# fo (Be £ron;n of Jkoffanb. MoilU'i TO THE CROWN ) SCOTLAND ' EDINBURGH: ’ * THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND AND THEIR WORKS. BY REV. ROBERT SCOTT MYLNE, M.A., B.C.L. (OXON.), F.S.A. (LOND.). EDINBURGH : SCOTT & FERGUSON and BURNESS & COMPANY. 1893- THIS VOLUME CONCERNING THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND IS BY SPECIAL PERMISSION HUMBLY DEDICATED TO Ifoer flbajest\? (SHieen Victoria THE MOST NOBLE SUCCESSOR OF THE ANCIENT SOVEREIGNS OF NORTH BRITAIN. P E E F A C E. E Office of Principal Master Mason to the Crown was one of the Offices of the Court from the time of James V. to the death of Queen Anne. Like other similar posts, it was tenable for life, was invested with a fixed yearly fee, and certain small perquisites. Its history corresponds to that of other appointments of like nature. When the Church ceased to be the chief builder, the King employed masons of his own, some of inferior and some of superior degree. At first the Master Masons and Masters of Work were largely drawn from those who had already been in the service of the wealthy and powerful Episcopal Baronage of the Middle Ages : afterwards they were trained from youth as servants of the Crown. At first the title was used with much vagueness and some variety of meaning; afterwards there was one Principal Master Mason to the King, and also, as a rule, one Principal Master of Works, each with a more or less extensive staff of subordinates. Matters continued in this state during the greater portion of the period with which this Book deals. With the growth of the importance of Royalty, and consequent decrease of the power of the Baronage, whether ecclesiastical or lay, all the officers of the King, whether great or small, also experienced a decided rise in their social position ; and if we substitute Protector for Sovereign, the same is also true during the Commonwealth. The opening years of the eighteenth century wrought two great changes. Throughout Great Britain it became the custom to place all the offices about the person of the King in commission, and so, in course of time, the royal castles and palaces were managed by duly constituted commissioners, with an efficient staff of assistants. PREFACE. viii The famous Act of Union, passed under Queen Anne, tended to con¬ centrate all the business connected with the Sovereign in the neighbourhood of Whitehall, in the City of Westminster, and finally fixed the sole seat of Royalty and Government in the great metropolis of London. Then the Master Masons, as officers of the King’s Court in Scotland, ceased to exist. Masters of Work, however, continued to be appointed until the year 1743, and the entire administration of the Crown Lands in Scotland was finally absorbed by the Woods and Forests Commission of Whitehall in 1832. In modern language the title Architect has superseded the term Master Mason, and the ancient phrase is chiefly retained in the practice of Free¬ masonry. All the early masons were also Freemasons, but then the members of the mystic craft were entirely given to the daily exercise of the art of building. The connection, too, between the early bands of masons and the all-powerful dominant Church of Christendom is very close and strong. Hence the erection of the great Cathedrals, still the wonder of the world,— not now easily reproduced. But the great churches were built before the period when this book begins. We trace the reaction against the ruling Church and Baronage in favour of a strong Sovereign and an efficient Government. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries the modern monarchies of Europe took shape and form, and first appeared before the eyes of men as they are seen to-day. It is hoped that the salient points regarding one such appanage of monarchy will prove to be related in the following pages in such a manner as to interest the intelligent reader. As so many members of the family of Mylne held the office of Master Mason, the last two chapters bring the record of professional work down to the present day. The vast amount of labour and original research involved in the prepara¬ tion of this Book was chiefly borne by the late R. W. Mylne, F.R.S., F.S.A., of Whitehall Place, London, and Great Amwell, Herts. The present author has devoted three years to the subject. When the second chapter was written, but not printed, the fortunate discovery of the signature of Abbot Alexander as chief auditor to some books of royal accounts relating to Falkland and other royal palaces, greatly helped to simplify the arguments and conclusions of this early section of the whole work. The full translation of the Dunkeld Bridge Account, and the minute PREFACE. ix details concerning the expense of building Holyrood, together with the original plans, will prove features of special interest to the antiquarian. For fear of burdening, and perchance disfiguring the page, elaborate reference to the various authorities has been avoided, except when necessary for the clear elucidation of the subject. If the old documents seemed to give conflicting evidence, great care has been taken to select the most probable inference. It may be noted that the Great Hall in the royal palaces, commonly called the Parliament Hall, was in reality, together with the Chapel, the chief focus or centre around which all that was important in mediaeval life was concentrated. Here the King dined in state, here he held his Court, here he did his business at the opening of the day and sought congenial recreation at night. The great halls in the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge are still used in the same way. It is curious how few of the existing castles are of great antiquity. As a learned author has observed, writing on the north-eastern portion of Scotland— Excepting, perhaps, Kincardine in the Mearns, there is no certain trace of a stronghold before the fifteenth century. Redcastle is the oldest in Angus. It is on the west side of Lunan Bay, 1 mile east of the Church of Inverkeillor. It was roofed and in fair repair in 1770, and is now a ruin. Glamis was a Royal residence from a remote period, but the present castle was begun to be built by Earl Kinghorn subsequent to 1578. Especial thanks are due to the Lord Provosts and Town Clerks of the various Corporate Towns, who with uniform courtesy have granted access to the valuable documents entrusted to their charge. There seems no doubt that everywhere there is a growing interest and better appreciation of the literary value of these ancient archives amongst the whole body of citizens. A large debt of obligation is also due to the officials of Her Majesty’s Register House, who are untiring in their constant endeavours to oblige those who are anxious to throw fresh light on the early history of Scotland. And the same is also true in reference to that comparatively small band of gentlemen and noblemen scattered over all parts of the land, who in former years created the Bannatyne and Grampian Clubs, and in this generation take the keenest interest in the archaeological treasures of North Britain. ROBERT SCOTT MYLNE. Great Am well, Herts, April 1893. A List of tlie Master Masons to the Crown of Scotland appointed under the Privy Seal:— 1. Grant by King James V. to John Brownhill, of the Office of Master Mason for life. Given at Stirling, January 16, 1532. 2. Grant by King James V. to Thomas Franche, of the Office of Master Mason for life. Given at Kelso, April 30, 1535. 3. Grant by King James V. to Mogin Martyn, Frenchman, of the Office of Master Mason to the Castle of Dunbar. Given at Orleans, December 1, 1536. 4. Grant by King James V. to Nicholas Roy, Frenchman, of the Office of Master Mason. Given at Falkland, April 22, 1539. 5. Grant to John Roytell, Frenchman, of the Office of Principal Master Mason for life. Given at Stirling, March 10, 1557. 6. Grant by King James VI. to William Wallace, of the Office of Principal Master Mason for life. Given at Edinburgh, April 18, 1617. 7. Grant by King Charles I. to John Mylne, elder, of the Office of Principal Master Mason for life. Given at Holyroodhouse, December 17, 1631. 8. Grant by King Charles I. to John Mylne, younger, of the Office of Principal Master Mason for life. Given at Edinburgh, February 1, 1636. 9. Grant by King Charles II. to Robert Mylne, of the Office of Principal Master Mason for life. Given at Whitehall, February 28, 1668. 10. Grant by King George I. to Gilbert Smith, of the Office of Master Mason during pleasure only. Given at S. James, January 19, 1715. 11. Grant by George, Prince Regent, to James Smith, of the Office of Master Mason during pleasure only. Given at Carlton House, April 14, 1819. TABLE OF CONTENTS. BOOK I. Koval architecture prior to tbc IReformation. CHAPTER I. PAGE THE INCREASE OF BUILDING UNDER JAMES III. AND IV., 1 STIRLING-LINLITHGOW-HOLYROOD-ROYAL LICENCES. CHAPTER II. ALEXANDER, ABBOT OF CAMBUSKENNETH.17 ECCLESIASTIC, STATESMAN, LAWYER, HISTORIAN, ARCHITECT-DUNKELD BRIDGE. CHAPTER III. THE FAMILY OF FRANCHE,.36 THOMAS, MASTER MASON TO JAMES V.—ABERDEEN BRIDGE—FALKLAND PALACE—LINLITHGOW. CHAPTER IY. THE FRENCH INFLUENCE,.45 MOGIN MARTYN-NICHOLAS ROY AT WORK AT STIRLING AND FALKLAND -JOHN ROYTELL. BOOK II. IResult of the 'Union of Sreat Britain unOcr one Crown. CHAPTER V. THE REVIVAL UNDER JAMES VI.59 WILLIAM SCHAW AT DUNFERMLINE-JOHN MYLNE IN DUNDEE- WILLIAM WALLACE IN EDINBURGH. TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER VI. THE ANCIENT BRIDGE OF PERTH, a.d. 1210-1621. CHAPTER VII. JOHN MYLNE OF PERTH, MASTER MASON TO CHARLES I., THE KING S STATUE ON THE NETHERBOW PORT-THE TOWN CROSS- THE CHURCH AT FALKLAND-DRUMMOND CASTLE-THE TOL- BOOTH OF ABERDEEN THE SUN-DIAL AT HOLYROOD- HERIOT’s HOSPITAL-THE FOUNDATION OF THE BISHOPRIC-ALEXANDER THE SCULPTOR. CHAPTER VIII. JOHN MYLNE OF EDINBURGH, MASTER MASON TO CHARLES I. AND CHARLES II.,. THE TRON CHURCH-S. GILES’- JEDBURGH ABBEY-HERIOT’s HOSPITAL MASTER GUNNER AND MASTER OF PIONEERS- COMMISSION TO THE PARLIAMENT OF ENGLAND-PROCLAMA¬ TION OF CROMWELL AT PERTH-HOLYROOD-PANMURE HOUSE -LINLITHGOW TOWN HALL-LESLIE HOUSE. BOOK III. Ube IRestoration of tbe Ibouse of Stuart. CHAPTER IX. THE BUILDING OF HOLYROOD,. SIX ORIGINAL DRAWINGS-CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE KING- ALTERATION OF THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PARK. CHAPTER X. THE COMPLETION OF THE PALACE,. THE DUKE OF LAUDERDALE-LORD HATTON-SIR WILLIAM BRUCE- SIR WILLIAM SHARP-ROBERT MYLNE. PAGE 80 104 133 161 176 TABLE OF CONTENTS. xiii CHAPTER XI. FAQE ROBERT MYLNE OF BALFARGIE, MASTER MASON TO CHARLES II., JAMES II, WILLIAM AND MARY, AND QUEEN ANNE,.213 THE CROSS OF PERTH THE HOSPITAL AT LARGO THE CLYDE BRIDGE MYLNE’S SQUARE THE SHORE OF LEITH THE CASTLE OF EDINBURGH-SIR ROBERT MYLNE OF BARNTON. BOOK IV. cbc Bcscenbants of tbc master mason to Ouecn Hnne. CHAPTER XII. THOMAS MYLNE OF POWDERHALL,.249 SURVEYOR TO THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. WILLIAM MYLNE,. ARCHITECT OF THE NORTH BRIDGE, EDINBURGH-ENGINEER TO THE CITY OF DUBLIN. 249 CHAPTER XIII. ROBERT MYLNE OF LONDON, F.R.S,. ARCHITECT OF BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE, LONDON-ENGINEER TO THE NEW RIVER COMPANY-SURVEYOR TO S. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL —SURVEYOR TO THE STATIONERS’ COMPANY. CHAPTER XIV. WILLIAM CHADWELL MYLNE, F.R.S,.284 ENGINEER TO THE NEW RIVER COMPANY- SURVEYOR TO THE STATIONERS’ COMPANY. ROBERT WILLIAM MYLNE, F.R.S,.284 SURVEYOR TO THE STATIONERS’ COMPANY. APPENDIX,.300 PEDIGREES. INDEX. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Great Window of Parliament Hall, Stirlinj Parliament Hall, Stirling, . Ground Plan of the Rock of Stir lin g, Ground Plan of Stirling Castle, Monogram from Melrose, . Old Fortress on Inchgarvie Rock, Map of Edinburgh in 1544, Tower of Cambuskenneth, Bridge over the Dee at Aberdeen, . Old Bridge of Dee, Aberdeen—Plan of one of the Piers, showing part added to West side in order to widen the Bridge, . Arms of Aberdeen and Inscription to Franche, The Gate House, Linlithgow, .... Letter of James V., and Signature of Alexander Cambuskenneth, The Chapel, Linlithgow, ..... Old Views of the Town and Palace of Linlithgow,. Linlithgow Palace—North-East View, South Front, North-West Angle of J- Court, and South-West Angle of Court, . . . J The Gateway of Stirling Castle, .... A Fireplace in Stirling Castle, .... The Courtyard of Stirling Castle, .... The South side of Stirling Castle, .... The Chapel of Falkland Palace, The Courtyard of Falkland Palace, A Buttress at Falkland, ..... Plan of the Fort on Inchkeith, 1778, Inscription at Elgin, ..... Dunfermline Palace, .... Dundee Cross, erected 1586, .... Drum House, ...... Signatures of G. Thomson, J. Mylne, and T. Bannatyne, . Bannatyne House, Strathmore, .... Winton House, ...... South Front of Falkland Palace, .... Portrait of John Mylne of Perth, Master Mason to Charles I., Signature of David, Lord Scone, .... Heriot’s Hospital—West Front, North-east Angle of Court, West side of Court, and South side of Court, Heriot s Hospital—Mantlepiece of Dining-Hall, Entrance Gateway, and North end of Dining-Hall, . Signature of John Mylne of Perth, .... Signatures of Roch, Master of the Lodge of Scone, and Androw Norie, W the Lodge of Scone, ...... Portrait of John Mylne of Edinburgh, Master Mason to Charles I. and II 3 3 4 8 facing 11 „ 16 „ 34 „ 36 ,, 37 ,, 39 39 facing 41 41 facing 45 46 47 48 49 50 50 51 54 55 facing 62 „ 65 „ 66 68 68 facing 78 „ 78 „ 104 111 facing 116 facing 117 127 arden of 130 facing 133 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE 133 facing 136, 137 138 facing facing 155 facing ]- facing Signature of John Mylne of Edinburgh, . The Tron Church (2 views), Plan of the Crown Steeple of Aberdeen, . Jedburgh Abbey—Gordon of Rothiemay’s View of S. Giles’ Steeple—Facsimile of Entry in Burgess Book, .... Plan of Holy rood, 1663 (Large folded plan), Sun-dial at Drummond Castle, .... Sun-dial at Holyrood, ..... Panmure House, ...... Facsimile of Monogram of Panmure, Tomb of John Mylne in Greyfriars’ Churchyard, . Holyrood under the Commonwealth, Facsimile of Letter of Duke of Lauderdale, Six Drawings of Holyrood, .... Signatures of Rothes, Tweeddale, Kincardine, and Ch. Maitland, Signatures of Sir W. Bruce, &c., .... Ordnance Plan of Edinburgh Castle, The Castle, from a Drawing by T. Sandby, circa 1750, Siege of the Castle, by Sir W. Drury, The Castle, from Gordon of Rothiemay’s Map, 1647, East side of the Courtyard of Edinburgh Castle, . Entrance to Queen Mary’s Room, .... Regent Morton’s Gateway, .... Corbel on Staircase of the Hall, .... Window and Battlement on East side of the Courtyard, . Doorway of the Turret Staircase, .... Signature of Sir Robert Mylne of Barnton, . Arms of Robert Mylne of Balfargie, Fife, 1672, . Portrait and Signature of Robert Mylne, Master Mason to Scotland, ...... Map of Clyde, ...... West Front of Holyrood, ..... Mylne’s Square, ...... Incorporated Trades at Work before Holyrood, Plans of the Tolbooth of Linlithgow, 1667, .... facing Facsimile of Contract for Quarrying Stones for building of Tolbooth at Linlithgow, 1670, ......... facing Signature of William Mylne, .... Portrait and Signature of Thomas Mylne,. Signature of William Mylne, Architect of the North Bridge, Silver Salver presented to William Mylne by the Corporation of Dublin, Portrait of Robert Mylne of London, F.R.S., engraved by Vangeliste . facing Plans of Proposed New Blackfriars’ Bridge, by Robert W. Mylne, 1 Design of Sir W. Chambers for Blackfriars’ Bridge, . . . J ” Two Papal Medals, The Bridge during Construction, engraved by Pir, Portrait of Robert Mylne of London, F.R.S., Signature of Robert Mylne, Portrait and Signature of William G'. Mylne, Stationers’ Hall Court, London, St. Margaret’s Chapel, Edinburgh Castle—Plan and Section of Chapel—1 South Elevation of Chapel, . . J ” The Four Crown Steeples of Newcastle, Aberdeen, Lixdithgow, and S. Giles, Edinburgh. 138 148 210 , the Crown of facing 156 160 169 175 181 204 204 205 206 207 208 208 208 209 209 243 213 217 226 facing : facing 231 240 241 250 251 257 260 261 266 267 281 283 284 297 THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FIRST 110 COPIES OF THIS BOOK. VICTORIA REGINA. LEO XIII. His Grace the Duke of Argyll. The Most Hon. the Marquis of Bute. The Most Hon. the Marquis of Lothian, sometime Secretary for Scotland. The Right Hon. the Earl of Rosebery, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Oxford, Chancellor of the Order of the Garter. The Right Hon. Baron Blythswood. Sir C. Booth, Bart. Sir A. Milne, Bart., Admiral of the Fleet. Sir C. Adam, Bart. Sir A. Mitchell, K.C.B. Sir J. Evans, K.C.B., sometime President of the Society of Antiquaries, London. Sir A. Geikie, Director-General of the Geological Survey of Great Britain. Sir N. Paton. The University of Oxford. „ Cambridge. „ Dublin. „ S. Andrews. „ Glasgow. „ Aberdeen. Accademia di Bologna. The Dean and Chapter of S. Paul, London. The Dean and Chapter of Winchester. The Dean and Chapter of S. Asaph, Wales. The Corporation of London. „ Edinburgh. „ Glasgow. „ Perth. H. M. Office of Works, London. H. M. Science and Art Department, London. H. M. „ „ Edinburgh. H. M. Board of Manufactures, Edinburgh. Heriot’s Hospital. Bridewell Hospital. The Advocates’ Library, Edinburgh. The Signet Library, Edinburgh. The Public Library, Edinburgh. The Boston Library, Massachusetts, U.S.A. The National Library of France. The Albert Institute, Dundee. The British Museum. The Society of Antiquaries of London. The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. The Society of Solicitors of Scotland. The Scottish Club, London. The New River Company, London. J. Balfour Paul, Lyon-King-of-Arms. The Rev. Dr. Chase, Principal of S. Mary Hall, in the University of Oxford, Fellow of Oriel. E. 0. Y. Lloyd, High Sheriff of Merionethshire. Lieutenant-General Mylne. W. M. Skinner, W.S., J.P., D.L., Town Clerk of Edinburgh. Arthur Scott, J.P., D.L., of Rotherfield Park. W. MacLeisii, Town Clerk of Perth. R. Adam, Chamberlain of the City of Edinburgh. T. Dickson, LL.D., Curator of the Historical Depart¬ ment, Register House. W. W. Robertson, Surveyor for Scotland to H. M. Office of Works. T. Roderick, Secondary of London, and High Bailiff of Southwark. Rev. T. Dowell, B.A. Rev. W. MacLeod. Rev. A. Mangles, M.A. Rev. R. S. Mylne, M.A., B.C.L., F.S.A. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Capt. C. D. Campbell. A. F. Bainbridge. H. Blanc, F.S.A., Architect. W. P. Buchan, C.E. J. W. Burns, F.S.A. Madame Brufani. W. Campbell. C. Campbell. Mrs. Campbell. Mrs. C. Cassilly. A. Ferguson. J. E. Findlay, F.S.A. A. A. French. A. D. W. French. J. Harrison. C. Jackson, M.A. C. Jenner. G. P. Johnston. C. Kennedy. W. Klein. J. Kinross, F.S.A., Architect. D. MacBrayne, LL.D., F.S.A. J. MacLachlan, F.S.A., Architect. T. Meik, C.E. D. Scott-Moncrieff, W.S., F.S.A. Andrew Muirhead. D. Murray, LL.D., F.SA. W. M. Myddelton. H. C. Mylne, C.E. W. J. H. Mylne, M.A., F.G.S. Mrs. Mackenzie, nee Landseer. Mrs. Mylne. Miss J. L. Mylne. Miss I. Milne. E. Pierpoint. M. Pope, F.S.A. C. E, Eivington, F.S.A. T. Eoss, F.S.A., Architect. C. P. Eowley, M.A. Mrs. E. Eylands of Longford Hall. J. Fox Sharpe, F.I.C.E. J. H. Stevenson, Advocate. Mrs. Stevens. J. Thin. H. Bowling Trevanion. J. Twigge. Mrs. C. M. Webber. T. P. 0. Yale BOOK I. IRo^al architecture prior to the IRcforniation. -S@iS3-- G H A P T EE I. THE INCREASE OF BUILDING UNDER JAMES III. AND IV. STIRLING—LINLITHGOW-HOLYROOD—ROYAL LICENCES. the early age of seven, James III. succeeded to the throne of Scotland, by the untimely death of his father, in the year of grace 1460. In North Britain, as in other States of Europe, the feudal system was then supreme, and the nobles, whether ecclesiastical or lay, had the largest share of actual power. The long minority of the King gave every opportunity for factious discord amongst the chief leaders of the baronage. The question of the regency was not settled without much difficulty, and then one noble family soon supplanted another in the retention of actual authority in the administration of public affairs. The house of Kennedy gave way to that of Boyd, and after the King’s marriage to Margaret of Denmark in the year 1470, royal favourites were selected from the ranks of the professional rather than the aristocratic class. Of these Robert Cochrane was the most prominent. He held many offices about the Court, was without doubt a mason, and afterwards Architect to the King, and Surveyor and Master of his Works. In the Lord High Treasurer’s accounts, edited by Dr. Dickson. Curator of the Historical Department of the Register House, Edinburgh, we find this entry under the year 1473 :— Item, for the expensis maid vpone the Artilyery and Workmen in the tyme of this compt, as is contenit in the buke of the Comptaris deliveransis to the Masteris ot Werk, for the quhilk thai sail ansuer. vij e . liii. Li. vijs. vd. The account here referred to is lost, but there seems little doubt that much of the oldest portion of the present Castle of Stirling was com- A THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. menced about this date, so that some payments for these works must have been included in this missing Book of royal accounts. We may, perhaps, infer that Robert Cochrane, and afterwards John Mylne, took part in their erection. The Parliament Hall, with its great window, within the Castle of Stirling, belongs to this early period, and the delicacy of the mouldings, GREAT WINDOW OK PARLIAMENT HALL, STIRLING. as well as the chaste character of the outline, bespeak an admirable type of Gothic design. The whole structure is in marked contrast to the later work of Nicolas Roy, erected for James V., under distinctly French influence, containing such strange and fantastic decoration. THE INCREASE OF BUILDING UNDER JAMES III. AND IV 3 In the year 1496 Sir Thomas Smyth, a priest, was Master of Works, and Walter and John Merlioun, acting Masons. The Abbot of Lindores, PARLIAMENT HALL, STIRLING. then Keeper of Linlithgow Palace, next became Master of Works, and was succeeded by Sir W. Betoune and Andrew Atoune. The magnificent situation of the outlying rock, on which Stirling Castle is built, has always made this spot a favourite resort for the reigning Sovereign of Scotland. The picturesqueness of the scenery possessed a great charm for the royal family in days of peace. What more glorious than the wild outline of the Grampian mountains against the clear sky, as they raised their snow-capped heads above the fertile plain ? What more beautiful than the gentler scenery of the brown range of the Ochills, with the vast Abbey of Cambuskenneth beside the swift flowing- river in the green hollow of the outstretched meadows ? From a military point of view, the Castle was well - nigh impregnable in olden time, and its garrison held the key GROUND PLAN OK THE HOCK OF STIRLING. 4 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. of the passes through the hills towards the north, while the distance was not great to the sea-coast, either to the east or to the west. Yet little or nothing of the earliest Keep remains. The ground plan of the present fortress chiefly dates from the close of the fifteenth century. The present Palace of Linlithgow was commenced in the same period. In the year 1425, John of Walton, Master of Works, began the royal building. He was succeeded by Robert Wedale, Robert Livingstone, John Holmes, and John Weir. Nothing was done between 1451 and 1467. Then the work was resumed under Henry Livingstone ; while the south side was erected from 1488 to 1496. James III. was fond of building, and spent money on the repairs and improvement of most of the royal palaces. He also loved music and the fine arts, and was, in fact, altogether unsuited to cope with the turbulent spirit of the age in which he lived. Like other princes of his illustrious race, he was cultivated, well-educated, and refined, yet lacking in tact, and the art of governing strong and powerful men. Thus he deeply offended the old nobles by the favours heaped on Cochrane, yet he did not hesitate to name him Earl of Mar, or rather grant him a substantial out of the revenues of that earldom. But Archibald, Earl of pension THE INCREASE OF BUILDING UNDER JAMES III AND IV. 5 Angus, head of the proud house of Douglas, and other haughty barons, were only waiting for a good opportunity to work his overthrow. In the bright midsummer days of the year 1481, the army of Scotland was mustered in military array outside the gates of Edinburgh, in order to march southwards to the wild borderland, and resist the English troops. On the way the heads of the baronage conspired together, seized Cochrane, Rogers, Hommil, and Preston, and hanged them all without trial, remorse, or delay, over the narrow parapet of the bridge of Lauder. 1 The King himself was carried back, as a sort of prisoner of State, and lodged in Edinburgh Castle. After varying turns of fortune this unfortunate monarch, defeated in battle by the old nobility, was murdered seven years later by the hand of an assassin, at the hamlet of Milltown, not far from Stirling. Meantime, it was necessary that the works at Stirling and other royal palaces and strongholds should be continued, and Cochrane being dead, John Mylue was this same year appointed Master Mason to the Crown. It was an age of building, and we find that a few years previous to this date the masons and wrights of Edinburgh had become so important that they were formally incorporated, and also obtained an Assignment by the Town Council of Edinburgh of the Aisle and Altar of St. John the Evangelist in the Collegiate Church of St. Giles. They became possessed of St. Mary's Chapel in Niddry’s Wynd 2 by purchase from James Chalmers, Macer to the Court of Session, in the year 1618. The following document gives the Charter 3 and Statutes relating thereto fill all and syndry quhom it offer is qulmis knawlege thir present lettres sail cum The provest bailies counsall dene of gild and dekynnis of the hale craftismen within the burgh of Edinburgh gretmg m the Sone of the glorious Virgine Wit ye us in the honour worschipe and glore of Almychte God and of the glorious virgin Sanct Mary and of our patrone Sanct Gele and for the furthering helping eiking and suppleing of divine service daily to be done at the altar of Sanct Jhone the Evangelist foundit in the College Kirk of Sanct Geile of Edin¬ burgh and for reparatioun beilding and polecy to be maid in honour of the said sanct of Sanct .Jhone and of the glorius sanct Sanct Jhone the Baptist to have consentit and assignit and be tlnr our present lettres consentis and assignis to our lovit nychtbouris the hale craftismen of the Masoms and of the Wrichtis within the said burgh the ile and chapell of Sanct Jhone fra the aid hers of lrne inwarts als frely as it is ouris with all the fredomis proffittis and esementis thairto pertenand that we haf or may haf richt to nocht doand nor committand ony preiudice or skaith to Sir Jhone Scaithmure or his successouris in his first feftment or privilegis that he has broukit or joisit of befor To be haldin and to be had the said ile and chapell of Sanct .Jhone fra the irne hers inwart with the pertinentis to the saidis craftismen the Masonis and Wrichtis of the said burgh and to thair successouris for evir with power to edify big reparell 1 Of this bridge there are no remains. It is said to have been situated in the haugli, just below the Earl of Lauderdale’s house. Thc building was erected by the Countess of Ross in 1504, and was cleared away to make room for tile South Bridge in 1787. ’ The first record of any Brotherhood of Masons is during the reign of William the Lion. About the year 1190 Bishop Jocelyn founded a society of this kind, and confirmed the rules of the fraternity.— [Note %K. W. Mylne, F.R.S.] 6 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. and put it ony pairt thairof to polecy or honour of the saidis sanctis outhir in werk or divine service quhatsumevir at the altar or uther wayes nocht hurtand the old feftment And the saidis craftismen to use occupy and aduorny the said ile as thair awin proper ile siclyk as utheris craftismen occupiis within the said College Kirk nocht doand ony preiudice to our patronage or to the auld feftment or to the auld laus in the said Ile And that the said craftismen sail adonry and haf the day of Sanct Jhone the Baptist and to thig to the licht of the said altar as utheris dois in the kirk yerlie And this till all thame quhom it efteris we mak it knawin be thir our present lettres And in witnessing hereof our common sele of caus of the said burgh togidder with the selis of Alexander Turing David Quhytehed Bartillmo Carnis balyeis for the tyme and Alexander Richardsons sele dene of the gild in token of gevin consent and assignatioun to the saidis craftismen of the said ile be the handis of the dekin for them all ar to hungin at Edinburgh the xv day of the moneth of October the yeir of God j m four hundreth sevinty and five yeris. STATUTES for the Ruling of the Crafts of Masons and Wrights to the Honour of St. John. Each New Mason on entry and admission to the Town, after Certificate of Proficiency by the Craft Masters, shall pay to the Altar of St. John 13s. 4d. Scots. No Master of the Crafts shall take an Apprentice for less than 7 years, and, on his entry, shall pay to the Altar 6s. 8d. Scots. Each Apprentice, in case of disobedience, shall pay—For the first Fault, 1 pound of Wax to the Altar ; for the second, 2 pounds of Wax ; and for the third, shall be punished by the Provost and Bailies. Each Apprentice, at the expiration of his Term, shall be examined by the Craft Masters, and, in case of Proficiency, shall be entered a Fellow of the Craft, and pay to the Altar 6s. 8d. Scots. Till all and syndry quhom it efferis quhais knawlege thir present lettres sail cum the provest bailies counsall and the dekynnis of the hale craftismen of the burgh of Edinburgh greting in God evirlestand, Wit your universiteis that our comburgessis and nychtbouris all the craftsmen of the Masonis and the Wrichtis within the said burgh quhilkis presentit to us in jugement thair bill of supplicatioun desyring of us our licence consent and assent of certane statutis and reullis maid amangis tham selfis for the honour and worschip of Sanct Jhone in augmentatioun of devyne sendee, and richt sa for reuling and governyng of the saidis twa craftis, and honour and worschipe of the towne, and for treuth and lawte of the saidis craftis profitable baith for the wirkaris and to all biggaris, the quhilk bill togidder with thair statutis and reullis befor us red, and thairwith we beand well avysit, considerit and fand that thai war gud and loveable baith to God and man, and consonand to ressoun, and thairto we assentit and grantit tham thair desyris, togidder with the Ile of Sanct Jhone in the College Kirk of Sanct Gele to beild and put to polesy in honour of the said Sanct, and for the suffera^e of devyne service, and thir ar the artikallis and statutis that we haf approvit and for us in sa fer as we haf power ; In the first it is thocht expedient that thair be cliosin four personis of the best and worthiest of the twa craftis that is to say twa masonis and twa wrychtis, that sail be sworne, quhilkis sail serche and se all wirkis that the craftis¬ men wirkis, and that it be lelely and treulie done be all biggaris ; Item, gif ony man beis plentuous of ony wirk or of ony wirkman of the saidis craftis thai to complenye to the dekin and the four men or to ony twa of tham, and thai persons sail caus the scaith and wrang to be amendit, and o-if thai can nocht, the provest and baillies to gar it be amendit as efferis. Item, gif ony persoun or persouns of the saidis craftis curnmis of newe after this act to the o-iiid towne and schapis to wirk, or to tak wirk apoun hand, he sail first cum to the said four men and thai sail examyn him gif he be sufficient or nocht and gif he beis admittit he sail lay downe to the reparatioun of the altar a merk. Item, that na master nor persone of ony THE INCREASE OF BUILDING UNDER JAMES III. AND IV. of the craftis tak ony prentis for les termis than sevin yeirs, and ilk prentis to pay at his entre to the said altar half a merk, and gif any prentis of qnhatsumevir of the saidis craftis- nien, or yit his feit men, pasis away or the isehe of his termes but leif of his master, and quha that resavis the prentis or feit man thai sail pay to the altar ane pund of walx the first fait, the seeund fait, twa pundis of walx, the third fait to be punist by the provest and bailies of the towne as efferis ; and allswa quhen ony prentisses has completit his termis and is worne out, he sail be examinit be the four men gif lie be sufficient or nocht to be a fallow of the craft, and gif he be worthy to be a fallow he sail pay half a merk to the alter and brouke the privilege of the craft, and gif he be nocht sufficient he sail serf a master, quhil he haf lirit to be worthy to be a master, and than to be maid freman and fallow. Item, gif thar be ony of the craft that disobeyis or makis discord amangis the craftisman of ony of the craftis, or that ony of them plenyeis apoun them they sail be brocht befor the dekynnis and overmen of the craftis, and thai to gar amend it be trety amangis thamself, and gif thai can nocht to be faltouris to be brocht and punist be the provest and bailies of eth towne for thair trespas as efferis. Alswa the saidis twa craftismen shall caus and have thair placis and roomes in all generale processions lyk thai haf in the towne of Bruges, or siclyk o-ud townes, and if ony of the craftismen of outlier of the craftis decesis and has na guds sufficient to bring him furth honestly, the saidis craftis sail upoun thair costes and expensis bring him furth and gar bery him honestlie as thai aucht to do of det to thair brother of the craft; and allswa it sail be lefull to the saidis twa craftis and craftismen of Wrichtis and Masounis to have power to make quhatsumevir otheris actis statutis or ordinancis that thai think mast convenient for the utilite and proffet of the gud towne and for tham to statut and ordane with avys of the hale craftis and of our successouris, thai to be ratifiit and apprufit siclik as thir actis, and to be actit and transsumpt in the comtnoun buke of Edin¬ burgh, hafand the samyn forme, force and effect as this present writ has. The quhilkis actis ordinance and devys shewin to us and considerit we appruf ratifyes and for us and our successouris confirmis and admittis in so far as we haf power. In witness of the quliilk thing to thir present lettres we haf to affixt our common sele of caus, togidder with the seles of the baillies of the said burgh for the tyme, in takynyng of approving of all the thinffis above writtin. This took place in October 1475, and in 1483 the Hammermen were likewise incorporated, and became possessed of Magdalen Chapel. The most skilled masons travelled in company from one great edifice to another, leaving their peculiar mark on the very stone itself. These mason marks are of peculiar interest, and form a special branch of study, at present but little understood. They are found scattered over the smooth surface of the great majority of ancient buildings, and appear to be the the sign of a particular family, or a special company of Masons. It is said that [XX] was the mark of the Mylnes. At the Abbey of Melrose the following inscription was recorded :_ John Morow (Morvo) sum tyme callit was I, and born in Parysee certainly : and had in kepping all Mason work of Santan druys, the hye Kyrk of Glasgu, Melros, and Pasley of Nyddysdayll and of Galway. Pray to God and Mari baith And sweet St. John keep this haly Kirk frae skaith. 8 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Moreover, above a door of a secret stair is carved a shield, and round it is the following inscription, part of which has been erased at the chasm:— Sa gaes the compass ev’n about, sa truth and laute ... do but doubt Behald the end. John Morvo. It is certainly a remarkable fact that all the finest examples of Gothic architecture were erected within the narrow period of some two centuries, while Morvo comes from the part of France where this lovely style is brought to the highest point of perfection. In a book of very great merit lately issued by Mr. Charles Herbert Moore of America, the superb cathedrals of Chartres and Amiens seem to be selected, with good reason, as the most delicate and refined specimens of the best development of the noble art of building. There is little doubt that skilled bands of masons traversed northern Europe in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, superintending in each busy town or secluded village the final completion of the lofty Cathedral or magnificent Abbey Church. One of these was John Morvo. Artistic skill, such as his, is admired by thousands in each of the quickly passing generations of mankind, who never think to ask the name of the subtle charmer of their spirits, and, if they did ask, in most cases would get no reply. The Church was then the great architect amongst the nations, but as the idea of monarchy became more prominent, and national sentiment grew, a body of masons became attached to the royal household, taking charge of the King’s palaces and fortifications, presided over by a master mason. John Mylne, appointed by James III., also held this office during a large part of the reign of James IV. The years preceding the disastrous battle of Flodden, were a great epoch for building in Scotland. The country was more prosperous than it had been under James III., or than it became under James V. and the disturbed age of the Reformation of religion under Queen Mary. James IV. was personally popular with his subjects, and his refined and intellectual turn of mind encouraged the arts of commerce and the advancement of learning. For a brief space, the nobles were unable to effectually overawe the Crown, and the comforts of peace were more general than internecine strife and the perpetual maintenance of ancient feuds. When the King had attained THE INCREASE OF BUILDING UNDER JAMES III AND IV. 9 the age of manhood, by his wise conduct and able regulations he carried to the utmost pitch of honour the nation of Scotland, and rendered them as a people respectable in the eyes of Europe. It was in his days that William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen, founded and nobly endowed the King’s College in his cathedral city, and began to build the bridge over the river Dee : while Robert Balantyne, Abbot of Holyrood, founded the bridge over the harbour of Leith, a.d. 1493. The Corporation of Edinburgh also expended money on their Tolbooth, as shown in the following Contract betwixt the Provost and Bailies of Edinburgh and John Marser, Mason, for providing Masons and hewing and fixing ashlar stone work for the building and completing of the Tower of the Tolbooth of the said burgh :— At Edinburgh, 19 March 1502. 10s. weekly to John Marser, Mason, and 9s. to other Masons, Hewing and Dressing at Measured Work. The quhilk day it is appoynttit and concordit betuix the baillies Jhonn Adamsoun, Johnne Williamsoun, William Carmychell, thesaurer, Andro Bartrahame, William Bothwell, and Robert Rynde, in the townis name, on that ane pairt, and Jhonne Marser, massoun, on the uther pairt, in this wys, viz. that he sail furnys in hewing 600 fete of aslaurris to the furnessing and completing of the towre of the Tolbuith, and he sail furnys ilk fute of the astler weill hewin on all faces for 2d. the fute, and as for the broching at the querrell and dressing, thay to rewaird him thairfore as accordis be ressoun; and attour he hes promyttit to furnis oulklie vther fyve masouns to him self quhen thay begyn to lay the wark, to wyrk thairat with him, the toun payand to him oulklie for his awin wages ten shilings, and to ilk ane of the vthers 9 allanerlie, and this hewin wark to be furnist betuix this and Mydsommer, the toun directtand and careand the wark fra the querrell, and the toun till do thair deligence to cause the saidis personis to wyrk to thame before ony vtheris, —Jhonne Williamsoun souertie for the said masoun and fulfilling of his promyt, and he oblist to freith him. In these early days the art of foundry was brought to some degree of perfection. About the year 1490 a number of large cannon were cast for the King by one M-. In the year 1484 a large bell was placed in the tower of Linlithgow Church with this inscription-— Sancto Michaell Archangelo—ora pro nobis. T N M me fecit anno Domini mcccclxxxiiii. There was another bell in the same steeple thus inscribed— Linlithgow me villa fecit, vocor alma Maria Jacobi quarti tempore magnifico anno millesimo Quadringentesimo nonageno. In the year 1500 Bishop Elphinstone is said to have placed ten fine bells in the noble steeple of the King’s College in Old Aberdeen. Three bells, however, bore the inscription— Per me Wayhevenus mdxix B THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. io James IV. also made some attempts at the building of large ships. Thus, in the year 1494, we find an ecclesiastic, Sir George Galbrathe, 1 Master of Work to the barge. This sovereign also first began to build the Palace of Holyrood, as a separate edifice to the Abbey. A precept made to Maister Leonard Logy for his glide and thankfull service done and to he done to the King’s hienes, and specialie for his diligent and grate lauboure made hy him in the bigging of the palace beside the Abbey of the Holy Croce of the soum of 40 pundis of the usuale money of the realme to be payit to him of the King's coffers yeirlie for al the dais of his life or until he be. beneficit of ane hundreth merks. Dated at Edinburgh 10 September 1503. This gracious act of royal bounty to his faithful priest and architectural adviser apparently marks the completion of some portion of the new buildings. Of the present Palace, Queen Mary’s Tower alone dates from the beginning of the sixteenth century. Its stout walls and solid masonry have withstood the dire effects of fire and siege by the enemy, as well as the destructive influence of political change, and internal revolution. The well-laid foundations may be connected with the name of Leonard Logy, while the upper portion was doubtless completed by James V., who spent a good deal of money on Holyrood in 1529 and the six years immediately following this date. There was also a long range of buildings running to the south of less height, and less solid structure, partly erected by James IV., and finished by James V. These were burnt by the English invader, under the Earl of Hertford in 1544 ; and it is difficult now to say much about their precise position or characteristic details. They seem, however, to have been altogether separate from the conventual buildings, which ran south from the towers of the Abbey Church, in a line with the inner side of the present courtyard, whereas the main front of the new Palace of James IV., “beside the Abbey of the Holy Croce,” was erected in a line with the present facade, and ran due south from Queen Mary’s Tower. The King had granted a similar pension to Wat Merlyon, Mason, on the 20th June 1499 A precept to Wat Merlyon masoun of a pensioun of .£40 to be payit to him for all the dayis of his life in his fee of the customes of Edinburgh by the custumaris of the samyn, etc. De data 20th June, and of the Reign the 12th year. Per signettjm. Castles were also built by royal licence, and this chapter may suitably conclude with some detailed account of the early writs of the King granted to his subjects for the erection or alteration of buildings. The earliest known licence was granted, 25th May 1424, by James 1. to James Dundas of Dundas, to build a castle for his own residence on the mainland, beside the water of Eorth. “ Lord High Treasurer’s Accounts, edited by Dr. Dickson, pp. 245, 250. v., OLD FORTRESS ON INCHGARVIE ROCK. THE INCREASE OF BUILDING UNDER JAMES III. AND IV. A licence was granted under the Great Seal of Scotland by King James III. in 1470 to George Home, to build a tower on his lands of Ayton. One licence granted by King James IV. to the laird of Dundas is of special interest, because it relates to the Rock of Inchgarvie, and gives permission to build a castle at that spot, lying in the water of Forth, between the passages of the Queen's Ferry. Licence to John Dundas of Dundas to build a Castle or Fortress on the Rock of Inchgarvie, dated at Edinburgh 20th March 1490-1 :— James by the grace of God King of Scots, to all his worthy men to whom these presents shall come, greeting: Know ye that, with advice of the Lords of our Council, we have granted, and by the tenor of these presents do grant to our beloved fa,miliar esquire, John Dundas of that ilk, and his heirs, full power, free faculty, and our special licence, to found edify and build, a castle or fortalice, upon his rock called Inchgarde lying in the water of Forth, between the passages of the Queens ferries, as shall seem to him most expedient; encompassing the said castle or fortalice with stone walls, and fortifying strengthening and defending it with moats, iron gates, drawbridges, tumlars, portcullises, battlements, machicolations, crenelles, and skowlares, and with all other and sundry munitions and defences which can be planned or constructed upon the said Rock ; and raising and finishing it on high, and preparing machines on the summit thereof, and adorning it with warlike and defensive ornaments ; also appointing in the said castle or fortalice a constable, keepers of the prisons, wardens, guards, porters, and other officers necessary, with the fees of the constable and porters usual in such castles, and with all other and sundry liberties and privileges belonging, or that may in any way whatsoever belong, to the said castle or fortalice, without any obstacle, impediment, or revocation or contradiction thereanent, to be made in future, in anywise, of us or our successors whomsoever, to the aforesaid John and his heirs : Wherefore, strictly charging all and sundry our lieges and subjects, we command that they do not molest, disquiet, vex, or disturb, the said John, his heirs, workmen, and servants whatsoever, in building and constructing the aforesaid castle or fortalice in the manner and form premised, or make any impediment or obstacle, or cause damage, injury, or loss in any way whatever to them, or anyone of them, under all pain which they may incur against our Royal Majesty. In witness whereof we have commanded our great seal to be set to these presents. If the worthy laird, John Dundas of that ilk, were to revisit his fortalice after the lapse of 400 years, what would be his surprise to find a solid iron pier of the mighty Forth Bridge, the modem wonder of engineering skill, resting its heavy weight on his favourite rock 1 The result of a careful search of the Register of the Privy Seal for half a century is given below in the form of twelve royal licences granted between 1490 and 1540. Licence to Sir John Towres of Inverleith, 28th January 1499-1500 :— A lettre maid to Schir John of Towi'es of Innerleith and his aeris gevand him licence to big a towr and fortales apon his landis of Werdibrow apon the sey coste for the defens of his landis places and gudis fra the invasioun of Inglismen in tyme of were : With power to mak therupon Irneyettis Machcolin-bataling portcullacis, fowss, etc. And to mak wachmen portaris and other officiaris etc. but ony impediment for evermare in tyme to cum etc. De data xxviij Januarii, anno domini etc lxxxx ix et regni regis xii. Per signaturam. 12 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Licence to John Chene of Esselmonth, 28th July 1500 :— A lettre of licence to John Chene of Essilmond, and his aris to big a tour within his landis of Essilmond to quhat hicht he plesis and mak therapon irnyettis, machcolin, portcul- acis, drawbriggis, and al uther strenthis etc. but ony impedident etc. de data xxviii. Julij anno domini etc. v c et regni regis xiii. Per subscripcionem regis. Licence to Half Ker, 11th May 1506 :— Preceptum carte Radulphi Ker de Prymside loch super licencia edificandi construendi et habendi molendinum super terris suis de Bullisheuch cum domo molendini videlicet mylnehous ad dictum molendinum et extendendi unam partem earundem et quantum necesse fuerit super communem terram burgi de Selkirk jacentem infra dictas suas terras et aquam de Etrik et ad contrahendum sufficientem aqueductum foras de dicta aqua ex parte australi ejusdem dummodo consensum ballivorum consulum et communitatis dicti burgi ad hoc obtineat et pontem extra dictum aqueductum sustineat tenendum dicto Radulpho et heredibus suis de domino rege in feodo et hereditate in competenti longitudine cum pot estate capiendi terram et lapides de dicto communi ad sustinendum dictum molendinum domum et aqueductum Reddendo unum denarium argenti apud dictum molendinum, etc. Translation. Precept for charter in favour of Ralf Ker of Primsideloch upon a licence for building, constructing, and having a mill upon his lands of Ballisheuch, with mill-house to the said mill, and of extending a part thereof, and as far as may be needful, upon the common land of the burgh of Selkirk lying below his said lands and the water of Ettrick ; and of making a sufficient aqueduct furth of the said water, on the south side thereof, so that he obtain the consent of the bailies, councillors, and community of the said burgh to that effect, and that he sustain a bridge beyond the said aqueduct. To be holden to the said Ralf and his heirs of the King in fee and heritage, in competent length ; with power of taking earth and stones from the said common for sustaining the said mill, house, and aqueduct: Rendering one penny of silver at the said mill, etc. Licence to James Bassindene, 18th September 1507:— A lettre of licence maid to James Bassindene and his aires to brek doun his hous and tenement of land hand immediately to the Nederboll of Edinburgh etc. and to big and renew the samyn etc. efter the tenour of the signature at Edinburgh the 18th day of September the yere of God 1507 and of the kingis Regime the 20 yere. Per signaturam mantj Regis subscriptam. Licence to Thomas Anderson, Burgess of Edinburgh, 18th March 1509-10 :— A lettre maid to Thomas Anderson bulges of Edinburgh, gevand and grantand for the Kingis hienes and successoris his consent and assent special licence for liberte and fredom to the said Thomas and his airis to big a Wolt or Woltis under the common streit of the said brugli of Edinburgh before the tenement of the said Thomas hand on the north side of the said brugh betwix the land of vmquhile Douglas airis on the west pairt and the land of Johne Fishare on the est part the said Wolt or Woltis haifand the lenth of the forefront of the said tenement or schortar as plesis him and of the breid of the wall of the samyn to the common guttare and als with power to big ane staire abone the said Wolt or Woltis of the lenth of the said tenement or schortare as plesis the said Thomas and the samyn to extend in breid to vii quarteris without ony prejudice etc. in tyme tocum, the said Thomas and his airis calseand the said streit agane for the passage of our soverane lordis liegis alsewele as it THE INCREASE OF BUILDING UNDER JAMES III. AND IV. 13 wes of before : With command that nane mak impedient or distribulance to the said Thomas etc. At Edinburgh the 18th day Marche the yere of God 1509 yeris and of the Kingis regne the 21st yere. Per signaturam Regis subscriptam. Licence to Walter Chepman, 5th February 1511-12 :— A licence maid to Walter Chepman burges of Edinburgh to haif stairis towart the hie strete and calsay with bak staris and turngress in the frere wynd or on the foregait of sic breid and lenth as he sail think expedient for entre and asiamentis to his land and tene¬ ment and to flit the pend of the said frere wynd for making of neidfull asiamentis in the samyn and also to big and haif ane Wolt under the calsay before the forefront of the said tenement of sic breid as he thinkis expedient with ane penteis under the greissis of the fore stare etc. At Edinburgh the fifte day of Februar the yere 1511-12. Subscriptam per Regem. Licence to Margaret Carnys, at Glasgow, 23rd May 1515 :— A lettre maid be»avise and consent of my lord tutour and governour to Margaret Carnys gevand to hir full power licence and fredome to big have and set furth forestalls afornent the kingis calsay of quhat breyd and lenth sche thinkis expedient, apoun hir tenement quhilk sche now biggis within the brugh of Edinburgh etc. and to mak and have a Wolte before the forefronte of the said tenement extending in breid to the common guttar sche makand the calsay agane alsweil as it wes of before etc. in siclike forme as the lettre maid to Sir Thomas Halkerstoun brevit in the secund lefe precedand. etc. At Glasgow the 23rd day of May the yere of God 1515 yeris and regis 2°. PER SIGNATURAM MANU GUBERNATORIS SUBSRCIPTAM. Licence to Sir Thomas Halkerstoun, Provost of Crechtoun, 22nd September 1515:— A lettre of licence to Sir Thomas Halkerstoun provest of Crechtoun gevand to him on behalf of the king and his successoris full power, licence and fredom to byg, set furth, and have forestalls towart the hie strete and calsay of sic breyd and lenth as he sal think expedient for entre and esmentis to his land and tenement hand within the burgh of Edin¬ burgh etc., and als to byg and have ane Wolt or Woltis under the calsay before the forefront of his said tenement and housis towart the said common strete of sic brede as he thinkis expedient, he biggand and makand the calsay again abone the said voltis sufficiently as efferis and with sic like and utheris liberteis and fredomes as is grantit to ony utheris per- sonis within the said brugh or is usit be thame in ony tymes bygane etc. At Edinburgh the 22nd day of September the yere of God 1515 and of the Kings regne the 3rd yere. Subscriptam per dominum gubernatorem. Licence to the Abbot and Convent of Newbotle, 22nd April 1526 :— Preceptum carte admortizationis Edwardi abbatis et conventus de Newbotle dando eiis licenciam edificandi portum infra bondas terrarum de Prestoun Grange etc. Apud Edinburgh xxij 0 Aprilis anno etc. vc xxvj et regni regis xiij 0 . Per signaturam. Translation. Precept for Charter of Mortification to Edward the Abbot and the Convent of Newbottle, giving to them licence to build a harbour within the bounds of the lands of Prestoun Grange, etc. Dated at Edinburgh 22nd April 1526, and 13th year of the King’s reign. By signature. H THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Licence to the City of Aberdeen, 3rd September 1528 :— Ane lettre maid to the burgh of Abirdene gevand thaim licence to big wallis with fortalices about the samyn etc. At Edinburgh the third day of September the yeir of God etc. xxviij (1528). Per signaturam manu regis subsoriptam. Licence to Nichol Crawfurd, Justice Clerk, 16th May 1532 Ane lettre maid to Nichol Crawfurd of Oxingangis Justice Clerk and his airis gevand him full power licence and fredome to big and set furth ane turnpik at his house in Libertounis wynd on the est syde of the passage there of twa futtis furth in the Winde utouth the drop of the stair of his said house for esier entre thereto within the burgh of Edinburgh and alse to big and have voltis under the calsay in the said wynd befor his said house of sic breid and lenth as thai sail think expedient thai bigand the calsay ao-ane abone the said voltis sufficientlie as efferis and with siclike liberte and fredome as is orantit to ony utheris personis anent turnpikis and voltis within the said burgh or utheris : To be haldin and to be had the saidis concessionis, privilegis, and fredomes to the said Nichol and his airis, and his land abone writtin and inhabitaris thereof beritabilly for ever in tyme cuming frelie quietlie etc. but ony reuocatioun etc. of our soverane lord and his successouris quhatsumeuir : With command in the samyn to our soverane lordis gret chalmerlaue and his deputis and to the provest and baillies of the said burgh of Edinburgh and all utheris our soverane lordis officiaris and utheris quham it efferis that nane of thame tak apoun hand to mak ony impediment lett or truble to the said Nichole and his airis and inhabitaris of the said house in the peceable using and brouking of the privilegeis and fredomes abone written or to do or attempt ony thing in contrar thereof or to accuse or truble thame therefor in the ehalmerlane airis or uther wais in tyme cuming under all pain etc.: Discharging the said gret ehalmerlane and his deputis, provestis, and baillies of the said burgh and all utheris our soverane lordis officiaris present and to cum and thare deputis of thare offices in that part for ever, Notwithstanding ony actis of parliament or uther statutis quhatsumever maid or to be maid in the contrare ; anent the quhilkis our soverane lord dispensis with the said Nicol and his airis be the said lettre. At Edinburgh the 16th day of May the yeire of God 1532 yeris. Per signaturam manu S. D. N. Regis subsoriptam. It is interesting to note an early mention of the King’s claim to dispense with the legal force of Acts of Parliament, for this very claim, put forward with more precision under widely different circumstances, proved fatal to the rule of Charles 1. throughout Great Britain. The actual expression used in this document is wide enough, including not only past, but future acts of the legislature. Perhaps the learned lawyer, to whom the grant was made, had some little share in drawing the writ. Licence to the heirs of William Bell, 4th April 1540 :— Licence to the heretable possessouris of ane land and tenement quhilk pertenit to William Bell liaud on the south syde of the hiegait of the burght of Edinburgh, and sauld and analiet be him to George Bishop of Dunkelden, to big set furth and haif foirstairis and turngressis to wart the Hie Streit and calsay of the said burght of sic lenth and breid as thai sail think expedient for entre and eismentis to the said foirland and tenement. At Sanctandrois the 4th April 1 540. THE INCREASE OF BUILDING UNDER JAMES III. AND IV. 15 The Licence granted by King James V. in 1537 to William Lauder of Haltoun, not preserved in the Record, is sufficiently interesting to deserve mention. He obtains permission to fortify his house at Halton and to appoint porters and other officers thereat. This writ was signed by the King himself, and dated at Stirling in the 24th year of his reign, and sealed with the unicorn in absence of the seal. In connection with this subject, we give some account of the principal householders within the city of Edinburgh, during the closing years of the reign of James IV., immediately before the disastrous battle of Flodden. Down the north side of the High Street from the Castle, there occurs the names of Maister John Malison, rector of Kippen; Maister James Merchamston, rector of Hawick in 1504, and in 1512 Provost of the Collegiate Church of Corstorphine ; and further down the street, John Murray of Blackbarony ; William Preston of Bynning; John Lyndsay of Cobalton; Sir William Doweille, Chaplain of the Altar of St. Catherine in Saint Giles ; Thomas Abbot of Jedworth, and William Cranstoun, his cousin and heir; and Robert Blackadder, Archbishop of Glasgow; Archibald Naper of Merchamston; Archibald Preston of Quhithill ; Richard Hoppar, a wealthy burgess; Sir Thomas Ewing, Chaplain of the Altar of Saint James in St. Giles; William Douglas of Quhitingham ; William Cranstoun of Rathobyres ; Sir Patrick Creichton of Cranstonriddell; James Allardyce, Provost of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin of the Rock, at St. Andrews ; Sir Alexander Lauder, Provost of Edinburgh; William Lord St. John; Alexander Fynlaw, in a great mansion; James Foulis, son and heir of Henry Foulis, burgess; The Abbot of Holyrood; and David, Abbot of Aberbrothok ; there were besides two great mansions, the one possessed by John Rhynd, afterwards by James Towres of Bristo, the garden and grounds of which extended to the North Loch ; and the other by Alexander Cant, son and heir of Patrick Cant, burgess. On the south side the residents were of the same class. Beginning at the mount of the Castle, we note John Towers of Inverleith, and then William Libberton’s heirs. Archibald Forrester of Corstorphine, and his brother, Mathew Forrester of Barnton, had properties in Libberton’s Wynd and Forrester’s Wynd, fronting the High Street. There was a great mansion, built by Alexander Lord Home, which afterwards belonged to John Murray of Falahill, and was sold by him to John Murray of Blackbarony. Thomas Stanlie had another great mansion, which he sold to Mr. James Watson, Rector of Ellon; William, Lord Bortbwick, had a great mansion at the Cross. The largest house, at the head of Blackfriars’ Wynd, belonged to the Abbot and Convent of Melrose. In or near the same locality, David, Abbot of Aber- brothock, and J ames, Abbot of Dunfermline, resided, as well as James, Earl i6 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. of Morton ; James, Lord Ogilvie; and Sir John Ogilvie of Fingask. Here also was the dwelling-house of Walter Chepman the printer. On the same side of the street, we find David, Abbot of Cambuskenneth ; Lord Seton ; John Cockbum of Ormiston ; Richard Lawson of Hmnbie; James Henryson of Fordel; Gilbert Johnston of Elphingston; and Thomas Kincaid of Craiglokart. The Countess of Ross, and Maister David Yocat, the first headmaster of the High School, resided in “ Nudries Wynd ” ; and Hugh, Lord Montgomery, in Bell’s Wynd. Thomas Dickson, Canon of Aberdeen, had a house witli a garden and orchard next to the church of St. Mary in the Fields; and here also lived the Bishop of Dunkeld. John Colquhoun of Luss resided below the Netherbow, in the part of the High Street now called the Canongate. The Cowgait, or South Street, was then also a fashionable place of residence, and contained the houses of James, Earl of Buchan ; William, Lord Bortliwick ; and Sir David Ramsay, Rector of Foulden. Here also were the printing premises of Walter Chepman. The properties of the Monastery of Melrose and of the Blackfriars extended from the High Street to the Cowgait, and so did the cemetery of St. Giles’ Church. The Locus Fratrum Minorum, or Monastery of the Blackfriars, was situated on the north side of the Cowgait, The view on the opposite page, illustrating the early condition of the Town, is preserved in a volume of original Maps and Plans among the Cottonian Manuscripts in the British Museum. A facsimile of it was given in the “ Bannatyne Miscellany,” vol. I., p. 185; and is there assigned to May 1544, or a few days before the City was destroyed by fire, from its indicating the approach of the English forces from Leith, as they entered by the Water Gate at the lower extremity of the Canongate, according to the account of the Earl of Hertford’s expedition into Scotland. CHAPTER II. ALEXANDER, ABBOT OE CAMBUSKENNETH, ECCLESIASTIC, STATESMAN, LAWYER, HISTORIAN, ARCHITECT— DUNKELD BRIDGE. N the early years of the sixteenth century Alexander Mylne becomes a prominent character in both Church and State. Educated in the University of St. Andrews, he was a Determinant there in the year 1494, and soon after the final completion of his academical career he took Holy Orders. We find that before the year 1505 he was pre¬ sented to the rectory of Lundeif, or Lundy, in the diocese of Dunkeld; for on 6th August in this year he signs, as a witness, a lease granted by George, Bishop of Dunkeld, of the teinds of Boncle and Preston to George, Master of Angus, and Lady Elisabeth Drummond, his wife. The original document is in the Douglas’ Charter Chest, and the witness aforesaid is designated “rector of Lundeif, scribe of the Chapter of the Cathedral of Dunkeld, and notary in the premises.” Soon after this date he became Canon of Dunkeld and Prebend of Monythy, or Monifieth ; then Official of the diocese, or, in modern language, Judge of the Consistory Court of the Bishop of Dunkeld. While occupying the position of canon residentiary, he wrote in Latin the history of the Bishops from the year 1127 to the year 1515. The original MS., the first two pages of which are beautifully illuminated, is carefully preserved in the Advocates’ Library in Edinburgh, and was first published by the Bannatyne Club in 1823 as an interesting specimen of one of the earliest and most complete collection of records and annals still extant relating to an Highland bishopric. The MS. was completed between the years 1513 and 1517, and is generally attributed to the year 1515.' 1 Vitas Dunkeldensis Eoclesiae Episcoporum a prinia sedis fundatione ad Annum MDXV. ab Alexandro Mvln Ejusdem Ecclesias Canonico Conscript®. Impressum Edinburgi, MDCCCXXI1L C i8 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. When the diocese was divided into four subordinate deaneries—Athole, Angus, Fife, and Strathearn—he was appointed Dean of Angus. This office, it is evident, was almost entirely honorary, and corresponded to that of rural dean, still maintained in England from medieval times. Another duty which demanded his attention was the superintendence of the building of the bridge of Dunkeld, undertaken by Bishop Brown for the benefit of his cathedral city, just as Bishop Elpliinstone and his successor, Gavin Dunbar, were expending their substance on the bridge over the Dee at Aberdeen. In his Lives of the Bishops of Dunkeld, he enumerates the liberality and good works of Bishop Brown, his own intimate friend and patron, and further observes— Last of all he began to build a stone bridge over the water of Tay, near his palace, and he saw an arch finished in the year 1513. . . . The battle of Flodden happened on the day before the feast of the nativity of the blessed Virgin, and the king, many of the nobles, and many of the Bishop’s friends were killed. . . . At this time the Bishop, worn out with age and broken by grief, on account of the distress and anarchy of his country, found himself besides tormented to death by disease. It was then he told me in secret that he found his prayers had been heard, because he had feared God : for he told me it was his daily petition that he might have great torture of body for some time before his death. He every year wrote his will with his own hand :— 1 commit my soul to God, the glorious Virgin, and St. Colme. All the share of St. Colme’s Patrimony that falls to me, I bequeath for the support of the Church and Bridge of Dunkeld, and for the maintenance of the poor, and I constitute the Chanter, or Arch¬ deacon, and the Official, my executors.” He further left his successor, if named by the Pope, all the furniture in the Palace of Dunkeld. When he was elected Bishop the Palace had no sort of furniture. During his (last) summer residence at Dunkeld, he gave himself entirely to prayer and meditation, only at times finding amusemeut and diversion by looking from his chamber window at the Bridge Work, one arch of which was completed. Towards winter his weakness was much more sensibly felt. For two years Alexander Mylne was Master of Works to the Bridge, and gave in his account of the cost, on his resignation, in favour of Thomas Brown. The original MS. is preserved in the Advocates’ Library, and consists of 218 leaves, of which the larger part gives a minute description of the manner of life and general arrangement of the household of a mediaeval bishop. It is entitled Compota Episcopate Dunkelden — 1506-17, and concludes with the Bridge account, of which a summary translation has been made by Mr. Walter MacLeod of Edinburgh, at the special request of the author of this book, and is full of interest on account of its antiquity and the peculiarity of some of the technical expressions used therein. Translation of the Dunkeld Bridge Account, 1513. Account of Master Alexander Mylne, Canon of Dunkeld, and Master of the Bridge Work thereof, rendered at Dunkeld on 17th November 1513, of all his receipts and expenses from his entrance to the charge of the said work on 18th of May, Whitsun Eve, 1510. ALEXANDER , ABBOT OF CAMBUSKENNETH. 19 Charge. Balance of last account of the office of the Dean of Christianity of Dunkeld in the parts of Angus, ....... £69 13 Received from Mr. John Lacok, the bishop’s granitor (girnalman) in Dunkeld, of meal:— ,, (1510) 5 chalders, 4 bolls, 2 firlots. „ (1511) 9 „ 12 „ of meal. ,, (1513) 11 ,, 2 „ 2 ,, of barley and meal. „ (1512-3) 2 6 „ 3 „ of meal. To be allowed in next account—13 chalders, 3 firlots, 3 pecks of victual. Amount of victuals, 41 chalders, 10 bolls, 2 firlots, 3 pecks. The discharge thereof shall appear in the account of the said granitor, who delivered the said victual to the labourers at the Bridge, and so equal. Also the compter charges himself with . . . oats, delivered for the work¬ horses by James Muyr, stabler of the lord bishop, as likewise shall appear in his accounts. Also the compter charges himself with, ..... 483 4 received from the lord bishop and others in his name. Received from Master John Lacok, granitor to the bishop, of which he rendered account at Dunkeld, 13th December 1510,. . . . 10 ,, from the same, by his account rendered at Cluny on 26th November 1511,.1 14 ,, from the same granitor, Lacok, by his account at Dunkeld, on 24th November 1512, . . . . . .18 6 ,, from him as by account at Dunkeld, on 18th February 1512-3, . 2 8 „ from the same, to be allowed in his next account, . . . 11 15 „ from Sir Gilbert Sharp, the bishop’s granitor in Perth, by his account rendered at Tullelum on 28th November 1510, . . 7 2 ,, from the same by account 1511-2, . . . . . 6 15 -•> „ .. „ 1512,.0 8 » » » » » 1512-3, . . . . 25 17 „ „ „ „ ,, 1513,.9 3 ,, ,, ,, to be allowed in his next account, . . . 25 8 ,, from Sir William Moncur, granitor of Lothian, by his account rendered at Dunkeld on 11th December 1511, . . . . 6 0 from the same by account of 23d February 1512-3, . . .16 0 ,, from Master James Lyne, Dean of Lothian, . . . . 11 12 ,, from Patrick Hay of Eschindy, by his obligation granted to the bishop for so much, and assigned to the work of the Bridge, . 26 13 ,, from Sir Thomas Greig, Canon of Dunkeld, in name of the bishop, . 48 0 ,, from the Countess of Athole, by the Earl’s testament, . .50 ,, from George Balberny, serjeant, . . . . .36 Sum of the charge of money, . . . . £719 16 7 Sum of the whole charge with the balance, . . . 789 10 3 Discharge of Money. Paid for 12 axles for the work-carts, . . . . . .£0 1 „ for 27 bolls of oats, at 30 pence per boll (1511), and 11 bolls at 5 shillings, delivered to James Muyr, the bishop’s stabler, . . . .6 6 0 0 0 10 5 6 0 3 9 10 0 0 4 0 0 4 2 6 20 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Paid for 2948 loads of sand, at one halfpenny the load, ,, for 12 girth buckles for the horses, . for a pint and a half of tar, to lessen the heat of the bushes of the wheels and to heal the ulcers of the wounded horses, .... ,, to Patrick Tiry and Patrick Mason, and many other carpenters, hired by the day or the week to help our own carpenter about the work of the bulwark, on divers occasions, ..... „ for heather (/ladder) to the same work, ..... „ for twelve halters for the work horses, at 16 pence each, ,, to John Lard and servants for barking hides for the bulwark, viz., 9 dacres, 5 hides, ......... for 21ij bolls 3 firlots of bark for barking said hides, ,, for 17 lbs. and 2 ivesps of steel at various prices, .... ., for 3 stones 14 lbs. of grease, and more not weighed, for the use of the wheels of the workmen serving, and the rest of the work of the bridge, ,, for candles to the stables of the work horses during the whole time of the account, ........ ,, for 10 cart-horse saddles, nopps of horse-skins, and the repairing thereof, and woollen cloth for the pannels 1 of the same, and for the wages of the workmen, and sundry other expenses about the said saddles, . ,, for the expenses of an old boat presented by the lord abbot of Scone, brought to Dunkeld, ....... ,, for reward of the labour of Sir Anthony M'Dowale building the boat which is now at the quarry, for carrying stones from the quarry to the carts, and for tar, pitch, and other necessaries to the said boat, besides the boards and logs belonging to the bishop, and given by him for the same, „ also for the building of the small boat which is at the bulwark, for the wage of the workmen, and other expenses, besides logs and boards, ,, for the charges of a boat of lime bought in Perth by the bishop, and for carriage to the work, ...... ,, for burning of the kiln of lime of oyster shells in Crawmond, carried to Perth, in freight and charges, ...... ,, for 15 chalders of lime at 12 shillings the chalder, and 26 chalders at 1 merk each, extending to 41 chalders, in money to „ to the boatmen for meat and drink on two occasions carrying lime to Perth, ......... ., to the pynours for unloading the boat and carrying the lime to Bothame, taking as their wage for the chalder 8 shillings 8 pennies. ., for 18 chalders 9 bolls of lime, at 12 shillings the boll, ,, for the charges, ........ ., for 16 chalders of lime, at one merk each, .... ,, for charges, ......... „ for carriage of the lime, ....... ., for rent of the lime house in Perth, ..... „ for 1600 plancheour nails, 2040 door nails, and 60 window nails, „ for 500 (jarroun nails from Perth, price one merk ; 200 plancheour nails, 3 shillings ; and 200 dur nails, 1 shilling 6 pennies, in whole money to, ., to Thomas Wrvcht, carpenter, hired at Martinmas 1511, at 40 merks yearly, of which from the keeper of the granary a chalder of meal and £7 7 0 0 0 8 0 1 0 10 16 6 0 4 2 0 16 0 0 19 3 2 2 6 0 16 9 0 17 6 1 5 5 1 3 3 1 0 2 12 11 3 1 13 8 1 15 8 6 0 0 26 6 8 0 12 0 112 9 0 10 11 10 13 4 0 7 10 2 18 0 0 12 0 1 16 2 0 17 10 1 The stuffing of the saddle. ALEXANDER, ABBOT OF CAMBUSKENNETH. 21 8 bolls of barley for 12 merks yearly, in complete payment of his wage from the said term of his hire to Martinmas next, being two whole years, in money, . . . . . . . £37 6 8 Paid to Malcolm Sawar for his wage, being with the said Thomas Wrycht, from 15th December 1511 to the last of February thereafter, on divers occasions, cutting logs suitable for planks to the work of the bulwark , . 2 116 ,, to Donald Sawar, at 40 shillmgs yearly of fee, with dinner when the bishop was present, and meal when he was absent, from 25th February 1511-2 to the same day in 1512-3, deducting therefrom five shillings four pennies, because he was sick for nine weeks, during which, of compassion, he received meal, . , . . . 1 14 8 to the same, in the bishop’s absence, for clyner and nwnschanks , at one penny a day every working day in the said year, . . . 0 3 11 to the same in the year 1513, for the weeks and days while he was at the work of the bridge to the day of this account inclusive, on the oath of the carpenter, . . . . . . . 0 18 0 to the same for sawing two roods of oak boards, . . . .12 0 to Patrick Sawar, sawing with Thomas Sawar, the said Donald being sick, for his wage of the work of one rood, one fourth and one eighth part of a rood, . . . . . . # .0145 to Thomas Sawar, for mending of his clothes, and for the clyner and nwnschanks , from 9th December 1511 to 16th May then next, . 0 6 4 to the same Thomas, for his fee at 40 shillings yearly, from Whitsunday 1512 to Martinmas 1513, . . . . _ .300 to the same, from 3rd September 1512 to the day of this account in¬ clusive, for the clyner and nivnschanks in the bishop’s absence, . . 0 6 8 to Sir Anthony M‘Dowale, rector of Kilmawewnoth, from 2nd September 1512 to 12th July 1513, labouring with his servant at the bulwark, centreis and brandier, taking daily for their dinner when the bishop was absent 14 pennies, extending to 158 days, and in money to . 9 4 4 to Walter Wrycht, servant of the said Sir Anthony for his clothes, . 10 0 to Alexander M‘Dowale, carpenter, working with Thomas Wrycht at the bulwark for seven weeks, at 8 shillings weekly . . .363 to John Wrycht in Megill, making 3 pairs of wheels, at 16 pennies daily, in the bishop’s absence, and in his presence 8 pennies, with dinner, extending to . . . . . . .380 to the same John, from the last day of June to the 16th day of August 1513, at 16 pennies a day, making one pair of wheels, and cutting- several logs for others, . . . . . . .260 to John Scharpe, carpenter, working with Thomas Wrycht, from 24th August 1512 to 25th September of the same year, inclusive, at 8 pennies daily, extending to 24 working days, in money, . . 0 16 0 For one cord, weighing 129 pounds, extending in sterling money to 12 shillings 11 pennies, and in Scots money, . . . .220 for 5 chalders 3 bolls 2 bushels of smiddy coals, with freightage and charges, 8 12 10 for ten hods for carrying cement to the masons, . . . .061 for carriage of coals during the time of the account, in the bishop’s absence, 0 4 6 to those working at the bulwark and croy 1 for strengthening thereof, . 67 17 4 to Alexander M'Dowale, carpenter, for 7 weeks with his master as above, 0 13 0 1 Probably cruive, a weir. 22 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Paid for expenses of collecting the corn teinds of Cardynes, Little Dunkeld, Inchewyn, and Fandowy, in the years 1510 and 1511, . „ for making 11 drays to lead the teinds aforesaid of the crop 1513, ,, for expenses of Sir James Henri son and the servitors with him at the ash logs for planks for daweling the arches of the bridge,. ,, for draff for the horses from 8th July 1512 to 21st September same year, and thence through the summer—this year and the year 1513, to the 7th day of August of the same year, in default of oats, ,, for purchase of cart-horses, and first, from the market of Dunblane, three horses, price .£13, 8s. 3d.; from John Blair, one,horse, price £5 ; from David Balbirny, one horse, price 5 merks ; from William Scot, two horses, price £9, 6s. 8d.; from William Seir, one horse, price £4, extending altogether to And there were horses presented by several persons, namely, by Sir John Tiry, vicar of Crawmond, one horse of grey colour ; bv Sir Thomas Greig, prebendary of Alyth, a black horse; by Thomas Towris, a black horse; by the Earl of Argyle, one sorrel horse ; by John Bos, younger, of Cragy, one white horse; by Sir John Stewart, Knight, one white horse ; by the dean of Dunkeld, three black horses ; and by the vicar of Ratray, Sir William Lacok, one black horse. ,, to the servants of the said earl and John Bos, presenting the said horses, „ for 136 widdeis of iron, at various prices, .... ,, 31 stones of iron, with carriage from Dundee, . . . . „ for 502 horse shoes at varying price, during the time of the account, „ for 36 shoes with nails, for shoeing of the cart wheels first at Perth, with sundry necessary irons, „ for 27 spade irons, at various prices, ..... „ for 37 spade irons, price of the whole, ..... ,, for 6 spade irons, price, . „ for 81 mattocks, ...••■•• „ for 12 of the same, ...•••• for mending the quarry irons which John Queryeour used, and for the meal given to the smith of Sloiggynehoill, allowed and to be allowed to the keeper of the granary, ...... for mending the irons of John Wiys for the time of the account,. to Thomas Ramsay, smith, hired by the year, from 11th November 1510 to the same day of the next year, at 30 shillings yearly of fee, besides a boll of meal in the month, for that year, .... to the same, afterwards, when not hired, but taking for working each lump of iron six pennies, working 113^ lumps, . . . . to him for shoeing the work horses with our irons, and certain nails of his, extending in the whole number to 63, taking one halfpenny for each shoeing, ...••••• to him for 9 horse shoes with nails, ..... to the same for his labour upon the busches of the cart-wheels, . to another smith coming from Cupar Grange to Dunkeld, before our own smiths had the art of adjusting the bushes, in expenses of the journey, and reward of his work, ...... to Alaster Smyth, the smith, for working 138 lumps, at 8 pennies each, and drink money, £0 10 1 0 3 8 2 2 0 1 2 5 35 1 7 0 4 0 23 16 4 4 16 8 10 4 10 0 9 0 3 17 6 0 13 6 0 17 7 0 3 6 1 7 6 0 4 0 0 16 2 0 8 2 1 10 0 2 9 8 1 5 6^ 0 2 9 0 6 9 0 3 6 4 1 0 ALEXANDER, ABBOT OF CAMB US KENNETH. 23 Paid to the same Alaster, for reward of his working 8 stones of iron, . ,, for putting on 154 horse shoes with our own nails, price of each one halfpenny, ........ „ to the same as his wage for sharpening the prenteis’ irons, at the rate of 40 pennies and a half yearly for each prenteis, one year on Martinmas next, extending in whole to ,, for repairing of the p renteis’ irons, and the iron work of the wheels and carts, „ to the same for repairing the quarry irons with new iron, for which John Querreor has to answer, ...... „ to Andrew Smyth before he was hired to the smith work of the bridge, as his wage for working ten lumps of iron, at 8 pennies for each lump, besides drink money, and servitors, ..... ,, to the same Andrew, from the day of his hiring, which was the 6th of July 1513, to this present account, in part payment of his fee, „ to his servitors to the day of this account, .... „ for one stack of hay from George Abercromby, extending to 50 loads, „ to the chaplains of the choir, of the annualrent due to them from a certain house belonging to the heirs of Thomas Hareis, being in the hands of the bishop, in which was placed the hay of the meadows of Dulgus in 1510, ,, for the skenyeis of 2 girths for the work-horses, .... „ for three bridles, ........ „ for halters, nothing, because they are entered in the account under the word capistra. ,, to David Smyth, the hors merschael, 1 for visiting and curing the Brown blair in Dunkeld, expenses of his journey, and reward of his labour, „ for 18 h ames 2 of various prices, ...... ,, to Fod, the post-boy, for six horse blankets with hors hous, „ to the workmen labouring at baling the water, upon the south side of the Tay, from 18th March 1511-12 to the last day of July 1512, witness the book of Sir James Lauder, overseer of the said work, ,, to David Gent and his fellow masons, with their servitors, building the bulwark wall with lime, at the bishop’s palace, .... ,, to Robert Mason, mason, otherwise called Cunnynghame, for his wage for squaring stones, containing the measure of 158 feet, at 4 pennies for each foot, ........ ,, to John Broun in Dundee, mason, master of the masons of the bridge work, at 12 merks yearly, from 1st April 1511 to the 4th of September 1513, because the work was hardly finished in that time, ,, to the same John, coming from Dundee to Dunkeld, while the bishop was absent, and returning, in meat and drink, on one occasion, ,, to John Cowts, mason, from 1st January 1511-2 to the same day next year, at 18 merks for that year, and from 1st January 1512-3 to the same day of the next year, at 20 merks for that year, on account of the greater dearth, extending in whole to ... „ to James Mason, mason, hired by the whole year for 23 merks, from 5th May 1511 to the same day of the same month of the year 1513, And from thence to the 11th of November of that year, „ to Alexander Murray and his servant, hired permanently, at the work of the Bridge, for each, 40 merks yearly, and from that there is taken by £0 8 0 0 6 11 0 9 0 0 7 1 13 2 0 6 8 1 13 4 0 1 4i 2 4 0 0 6 8 0 1 6 0 2 0 0 4 6 0 2 10 0 8 0 31 13 10 0 9 8 2 12 8 10 0 0 0 10 0 25 6 8 30 13 4 9 6 8 Farrier. Horse-collars. 24 THE MASTER MASON'S TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. the grain keeper 24 bolls of barley and meal, from Martinmas 1511 to the same term in 1513, extending to 2 years, these victuals being deducted because they are allowed to the granitor, in victuals, the price of each boll half a merk, in money .... Paid to Andrew' Marlyone, mason, with his servant, by the year, less some days for which he is obliged in so much labour, besides two bolls of meal given to him beyond his fee, ..... ,, to John Anderson, mason, before he was hired, being in the quarry and cutting stones, ........ And thence from the feast of All Saints in the year 1511 to the same feast the next year, for wages, ...... „ to the same, for one whole year then immediately following, ending at Martinmas 1513, ,, to James Aysone, the prenteis, in clothes, fee, and other necessaries, and for instruction in the art, from 18th May 1511 to the year 1513, at Martinmas, taking yearly for clothes 20 shillings; in whole ex¬ penses for the said time, ...... ,, to John Dyikes, another prenteis, at the same yearly rate as Aysone, besides a firlot of meal, in his fee, from 5 th August 1511 to Martinmas 1513, in complete payment, and for instruction in his art, ,, several expenses which it was needful to lay out, for building the masons’ lodge, ........ ,, to those serving in the quarry from the beginning of the work, which was on Whitsunday eve the 19th of May 1510 to the 15th December of the same year, taking weekly a bushel of meal and eight pennies of money, as appears in the account of the expenditure of meal, rendered by Mi\ John Lacok, granitor, making in meal, besides John Querreour, John Wvis, and Robert Smyth, and the destruction of the grain of George Millar, four chalders and two bolls of meal, ,, to Thomas Fothringhame, coming to Dunkeld to visit the work of the bridge, and for his advice about the work, in drink money and expense, the bishop being absent, and with him being Patrick Mason, . ,, to John Wvis, hewer, from 25th June 1510 to 7th July same year, at six shillings weekly, being two weeks, ..... ,, to him then for repairing the pik, ..... „ to him, hired from 7th July aforesaid, to the same day of the following year 1511, at 10 merks yearly, ...... ,, to him from the said 7th Julv 1511, working for a weekly wage, and being in the service of the bridge for a month, .... „ to the same from 11th April 1512 to the day of this account, extending to a year and three quarters, ...... ,, to the same for a garment, more than the fee promised to him, . ,, to those serving and labouring with John Wvis in Cragraunky and other quarries, ........ ,, to those serving and working with John Wyis, in removing the stones of the old landstaile, 1 and digging the foundation for the new lanclstaile , ,, to John Querreor, hewer, from the beginning of the work at Whitsunday 1510 to Martinmas 1513, extending to four years, at ten merks, besides a chalder of meal vearlv, ...... £37 6 8 18 5 0 1 4 0 10 0 0 12 0 0 3 4 4 2 10 8 6 12 7 9 1 4 0 10 0 0 12 0 0 0 8 6 13 4 1 4 0 10 16 8 0 15 0 3 3 10 2 6 7 26 13 4 1 Abutment. ALEXANDER, ABBOT OF CAMBUSKENNETH. Paid to those serving the said John in the quarry, in the second year of the work, to each a bushel of meal and 8 pennies weekly: the sum of the meal given to them in the account of Mr. John Lacok, granitor, rendered at Cluny, 26th November 1511, 5 chalders 9 bolls and one bushel of meal, extending in money to „ to the same in the year twelve, as appears in the accounts of the said granitor, rendered at Dunkeld 28th November 1512 and 18th February 1512-3, the account granitor’s being considered, as to the meal, „ to the same servitors in meal, to be allowed to the granitor to the dav of their discharge from the quarry, on account of the muster of the King’s host, which was on 14th August in the year 1513, according to the account of the said meal [rendered] on 13th November, ,, to John Skougale, being with John Wyise in winning the limestones, from 4th January 1512-3, besides meal received from the bishop at Cluny, ......... ,, to John Tulloch, otherwise Cwnyngham, mason, hired from 3rd October 1512 to the same day of the year following, at a yearly wage of ten pounds and a coat worth 20 shillings, ..... „ for 932 loads of clay for the foundation of the landstaile, and of the piles of the bridge, during the time of the account, ,, to David Ghent and John Rogie, and certain other workmen, serving the masons in building the landstaile, ..... „ for 2500 loads of wall stones for the work of the bridge, with some placed about the-choir of the church of Dunkeld at the east and north, and others below Tulymuly near the stream, .... ,, for horse-skins, calf-skins, and others, and for the wage of the sewers thereof, making harness and nopps, and mending the same during the time of account, ••..... ,, for cruppers and poles for the work-horses during the time of account, . ,, for fodder to the horses during said time, with cost of the carriage thereof, ......... „ to Sir Hugh Gray, superintendent of the work, by order of the bishop, for clothes, ........ „ to Sir James Henderson, the other overseer of the work, for his table during the bishop’s absence, and time of the account, . „ for 28 schaikillis for the horses, delivered to the keeper in summer, ,, for three self’s 1 for cleaning the sand, ..... ,, for soap and sulphur to the scabbed horse called Blak toivris, ,, for 4 skoipptis to the quarry, price of all, ..... ,, for necessaries to the stable for the horses in Dunkeld for the first year, and their expenses when sent to Perth for putting irons upon the cart-wheels, ........ „ for building the stable at the Boat of Capeth, in all expenses, ,, in sundry expenses about the new stable, built at Dunkeld, of which the bishop has the frank tenement, ...... „ for four sivmmoks to the horses for preserving their backs from the loads, ,, for a sack for carrying oats for the horses, .... ,, for repair of two sinks got from William Chaip of Perth, ,, for certain cords for thettis 2 to the work horses, the time of the account, £11 18 0 16 0 0 7 13 4 0 2 0 110 0 4 9 0 4 3 3 ^ 8 12 6 2 8 10 0 6 8 1 16 7 2 0 0 6 5 0 0 1 2 0 1 1 0 0 11 0 1 2 0 17 9 1 8 8 7 7 4 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 7 6 2 6 6 Sieves. D 2 Traces. 26 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Paid for 176 mattocks, price of each 2 pennies, .... for 15 tedders for the horses in summer, ..... ,, for 56 spades, price of the whole, ...... ., in sundry expenses for making a paddock for the horses near the meadow of Drumbov, with gate and key, ..... „ for carriage of logs for the bulwark and of boards to the same work, in the time of the account, in sundry expenses, besides continuous servitors, ,, to John Fod, stableman and carter, taking in the year, besides meal received from the granitor from the feast of All Saints in the year 1510 to the day of the Invention of the Holy Rood in 1513, the day of his discharge from the same office, extending to a year and a half, at 40 shillings yearly, besides meal, .... ,, to Sir Thomas Greig, then prebendary of Fardeschaw, by order of the bishop, for the said John Fod, as the ferme of 2 acres of land, amount¬ ing to two bolls of meal, ...... ,, to John Stewart, another keeper of the horses, at 40 shillings yearly, from the feast of All Saints 1510 to the same in 1513, . „ to John Sowlug, labouring at the carts and keeping the horses for 36 weeks at 8 pence weekly, ...... ,, to McWalkane, elder, during the sickness of Stewart, for one week, ,, to John Senfindlay Scot, from 11th May to the feast of All Saints ensuing, at the carts, ....... ., to George Grornen, otherwise Bernis, from the feast of All Saints in 1511 to the same feast 1513, . ,, to Andrew M'Walkane, fourth stableman, from 24th November 1512 to the feast of All Saints, 1513, ,, to John Scot, who had formerly been servant to the Dean, entering to the work of the Bridge on 21st November 1512, to receive a bushel of meal in the week and 8 pence, ...... „ to McWalkane, elder, driver of a horse and trahame for carrying stones to the bulwark, for his wage, ...... Allowed to the compter the defalcation on the balance on his account of the deanery, rendered at Clony the last of December 1511, and he is charged of new in the account of the deanery next preceding the sum of £10, and in this account the same sum of £10 is twice charged, The sum of all the outlay on the Bridge during the time of this account, And so the compter owes, for which he shall answer to the bishop, £1 6 0 0 1 4 0 9 3 1 13 6 0 15 4 5 0 0 1 2 0 6 0 0 14 0 0 0 8 1 2 0 4 0 0 1 14 8 0 2 0 0 13 4 10 0 0 744 2 7i 45 7 7i Master of the Work of the Bridge, 1514. Account of Master Alexander Mylne, Canon of Dunkeld, and Master of the Work of the Bridge thereof, rendered at Tullelum on 6th November 1514, of all his receipts and expenses, since his last account rendered at Dunkeld on 17th November 1513, the auditors beino- Masters James Fentoun, Precentor ; George Feme, Archdeacon ; Sir William Moncur, and Sir Thomas Greig, Canons. Charge. Balance of last account, ....... Received from Sir Thomas Greig, prebendar of Alyth, in name of the bishop, . ,, from Master Janies Lyn in name of the bishop, £45 7 7^ 8 13 7 5 0 0 ALEXANDER , ABBOT OF CAMS US KENNETH. 2 7 Received from Sir John Bryde, in name of Patrick Hay of Eschindy, by his obligation granted to the compter as cessioner of the bishop in that behalf, . . . . . . . . . £13 ,, from the same Patrick in complete payment of 80 merks due by him to the bishop, and assigned to the work of the Bridge, paid by the hands of David Scrymgeour of Fardyll to the bishop and the compter, 13 ,, from the Dean of Dunkeld, . . . . . .20 ,, from the sub-dean thereof, . . . . . .4 „ from Sir Thomas Greig, prebendar of Alyth, . . .6 ,, from Master John Lacok, prebendar of Capeth, . . .3 ,, from Master David Wauchop, prebendar of Ruffill, . . .2 ,, from the same, in name of Sir William Moncur, prebendar of Lundy, 2 ,, from Alexander Lowell, in name of Master James Fentoun, precentor of Dunkeld, . . . . . . . .10 The sum of the whole charge is . . . . . .133 Discharge. Paid for axles to the carts, ....... £0 ,, for digging and leading 1235 loads of sand, . . . .2 ,, to the masons and their servitors erecting the first arch of the bridge of Dunkeld, from 1st July to the last of September, . . .67 to the workmen placing the bulwark, for the purpose of holding back the water from the arch, from 10th May to 28th June within the present account, ......... 7 for one boll of oats to the workhorses, . . . . .0 to Thomas Wrycht, carpenter, for his fee from last account to the day of the present account, . . . . . . .10 to Thomas Sawar, otherwise Sow, for his fee at the rate of 40 shillings yearly, to the feast of S. Peter ad vincula last, extending to three- quarters of a year, . ...... 1 to the same daily, when the bishop was absent, besides one boll, for his afore dinner and after dinner penny, from the feast of the purification of the blessed Virgin, to the day of the cessation of the work, when the said Thomas was called into the service of the bishop to the chamber, 0 „ for candles for the horses in winter in 1513, within the present account, 0 ,, to the cooper for mending the mortar tubs, . . . . 0 „ for two ryddillis for cleaning the lime for cement to the hewn stones, . 0 „ for four wooden saddles for the workhorses, bought from McCarmyk, . 0 „ for eight pounds of grease from Ewen Cook for easing the bushes of the heated wheels, during the time of the account, . . . .0 , for dra/pf in summer of the year of account, on various occasions, . 0 to Andrew Smyth, the smith, for his working wage, at the rate of 10 merks yearl} r , besides the allowance in the last account, and besides 9 shillings from the granitor, and 23 shillings from William Wichtman in name of the bishop, ....... 4 to Alister Smyth, for working 35 lumjyis of iron, for shoeing of the horses and the wheels, and 1300 nails for the centreis , at different prices, the size of the work and the nails being considered, . . l to the same Alister for mending the irons of the masons, and other necessary smith work of the bridge, from 15th July 1514 to the day of account, ......... 0 On the said 15th of July, Andrew Smyth was discharged. 6 8 6 8 0 0 0 0 13 4 6 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0£ 2 0 12 ni 6 0 9 9 5 0 0 0 10 0 4 0 1 0 1 6 0 8 0 8 2 0 9 8 4 8 8 0 19 28 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Paid to the servitors carrying fodder, bought in 1513 for the horses from Obny to Dunkeld, ........ ,, to Alexander Murray, mason, for his money wage, besides victual, from the term of Martinmas 1513 to Whitsunday 1514, at the rate of £20 yearly, hence 24 bolls of victual for 12 merks in money, by the compter, ....... Considering that he had 10 merks yearly for his servant the prenteis. ,, to John Brown, master of the masons, at 12 merks yearly, and coming to the work four times a year, and attending each time for two weeks, as it is set down in the protocol of Sir Findlay Symson, notary, ......... ,, to Robert Merlyone, newly hired, at 20 merks yearly and 8 bolls of meal, beginning at Martinmas preceding, and as the first payment of his working wage, ........ „ to Thomas Fothringham and John Cowts, masons, coming to Dunkeld, for then- advice at the work, in drink money, .... „ to James Aysoun and John Dykes the prenteis for their fees, at the rate of one firlot of meal every week, and 20 shillings yearly, each of them, ......... ,, for digging and leading 376 loads of clay, counting 120 for 100, for each load a penny, and less for many loads, ..... ,, for leading 512 wall stones of our own to the work of the Bridge, ,, for the purchase and leading of 81 wall stones, the skailzie, ,, for food to the horses in the beginning of the year 1513, . ,, for twelve schaikillis, ....... ,, to John Stewart, one of the horse-boys, at the yearly rate of one bushel of meal weekly, and 40 shillings money, in full payment of fee, for the period of the account , ....... „ to John Fod, another of the horse-boys, for the period of account, Allowed in respect of remission granted by the compter in favour of David Scrymgeor of Fardill of the debts (owing) by Patrick Hay of Eschindy, as appears by the discharge of the bishop to the said laird of Fardill, shown upon account, ....... ,, to the compter of over-expenditure in the last account of his office of the deanery, ........ ,, to the same in respect of payment made by him to the bishop, as appears by the writing of the latter, shown on account, Paid at the present accounting by the compter, .... The sum of all the expenses, ....... And so equal with the compter. £0 2 6 9 6 8 2 0 0 0 14 0 0 4 2 1 0 0 1 15 8 0 9 7 0 7 2 1 0 8 0 1 0 1 11 0 1 10 0 13 6 8 0 9 0 2 2 0 0 14 6 133 14 0^ The later portions of the account bear to be rendered by Magister Thomas Brown, vicar of Auchtergaven. The charge for the year 1515 is legible only to the extent of one single paragraph. The discharge is complete, and extends to £496, 2s. 9d. As the entries are similar to those already quoted, it does not seem needful to translate them, with the exception of the following excerpts, which may prove interesting :— ALEXANDER , ABBOT OF CAMBUSKENNETH 29 Paid to the masons in drink money for laying the first stones upon two brandeirs; and for placing the keystone of the pend, . „ to Robert Merlyone sent to Perth to hire masons, ,, to Thomas Wrycht, carpenter, on the completion of the second brandeir, in drink money, ........ to certain men labouring with Thomas Wrycht in the wood of Murthlie, cutting beams for the second brandeir, ..... „ to certain men of Murtlie, Easter Burnbane, Wester Burnbane, Inche- wyne, and Little Dunkeld, dragging and carrying wood for the second brandeir, from the wood of Murthlie, and Tor, and the Reiks, . „ to Thomas Wrycht, carpenter, hired on 11th April 1515, with his servant Gilroif, to the Bridge Work, for making one arch, beginning at the bulwark, ........ ,, to the same for making the second brandeir, and laying the same in proper position, ........ ,, to John Bogy for carting 12 sclioris for the bulivark from the wood of Tor, . .. ,, to John Merlyone, mason, as his fee, hired from 14th May 1515, at 10 shillings weekly, until the 8th October of same year, ,, to Robert Merlyone, Master of the Masons, from Martinmas 1514 to the same day 1515, at the yearly wage of £13, 6s. 8d., and 8 bolls of meal for £2, 13s. 4d., ....... to the same Robert, by contract for meat and drink on feast days in the time of account, ....... ,, to the same Robert, hired of new at Martinmas 1515 to the same day of the next year, at the yearly fee of £18, 13s. 4d., ,, for the purchase of 5919 loads of wall stones for the filling, price one penny the load, ........ „ as a fee to the compter in consideration of his labour in the receipt and continual distribution of small sums to those working at the arch with the foundation of the pier in the water, .... £2 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 6 0 1 4 0 8 3 10 0 0 5 6 8 0 0 8 10 10 0 8 0 8 1 8 0 5 10 0 27 2 1 20 0 0 From the discharge for the year 1516, the following* entries may be quoted:— Paid to the masons going to the quarry on various occasions, for lie aisleyr dressing, in drink money, ....... ,, to the men who carried beams for making the masons’ house on the south side of the Tay, and to the boys watching the ford on various occasions against floods, ........ ,, to John Rogy for cutting and joining timbers for the masons’ house, and constructing the same, with walls, thatch, and rafters, . ,, for rent of the stable of Master Alexander Myln, the official, built on the north side of the water in the city of Dunkeld, from Whitsunday to Martinmas 1515, and for the same terms in 1516, „ for three ells of linen for the ivyndynscliet of the deceased Robert Cawquhyn, ...... The amount of discharge for 1516 is £279, 18s. 6d. £0 2 0 0 4 2 4 0 0 4 0 0 0 1 9 The accounts for 1515 and 1516 are audited by Masters James Fentoun, Precentor of Dunkeld ; Alexander Myln, Official thereof; and Sir Thomas Greig, Prebendary of Alytli, executors of the deceased George, Bishop of Dunkeld. 3° THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. The fatal battle of Flodden put all Scotland into mourning. There was hardly a laird’s house where there was not one dead. James IV. had desired to be buried at Cambuskenneth beside his father and mother; but his body was taken south by the victors and buried at Shene, near Richmond. A new King and a new race of officials were compelled to take office so soon as the first burst of the terrific shock was over. The bold chivalry of Scot¬ land had fallen, and it rose again with an altered hue and somewhat different colour. New men took the place of the old servants of the Crown. The Duke of Albany became Regent of the kingdom, and had great influence in the disposition, of the chief offices in Church and State. On October 28, 1516, he wrote to his Holiness, Pope Leo X., recommending Alexander, Canon and Official of Dunkeld, as worthy to be the successor to Patrick Pantar on his resignation of the Abbacy of Cambuskenneth. This Abbot, sometime Secre¬ tary to the King of Scotland, had been appointed in 1510, having previously been Chancellor of Dunkeld; and, going to France, fell into bad health there, and died in Paris in the year 1519 :— Most Blessed Father,—We present our service by kissing thy feet. Since our friend and the King’s secretary, Patrick, Abbot of the Monastery commonly called Cambuskenneth, belonging to the Order of Augustine, and to the diocese of St. Andrews, proposes and intends to give up or resign this abbacy into the hands of your Holiness, we beseech that, when the aforesaid abbacy shall have become vacant by the free resignation of the said secretary, your Holiness may be pleased to adjudge and confer the administration of the same for life on our beloved Mr. Alexander Mylne, official of Dunkeld, a man of approved worth, and to appoint the said Alexander Abbot of the said Monastery, to intrust to him the care, rule, and administration of the same, and to reserve, constitute, and assign to Patrick, on his resignation, a pension which he should deem proper, namely, the lands and churches of the said Monastery, with their pertinents, at the same time with right of regress to the same abbacy when it may happen to be vacant through resignation or decease in the person of Alexander, or even of another, or in any other way ; and may your Holiness reign long and happily over the Church. From Edinburgh, on the twenty-eighth day of the month of October in the year sixteen (1516). Early in the year 1517 Alexander, Canon of Dunkeld, signs a grant of land to Adamson. This must have been his last act in connection with the Cathedral Chapter, as in the same year we find him settled at Cambuskenneth as Abbot of that wealthy Augustinian Abbey. About this time one Alexander Mylne was appointed Master Mason to James V., according to the record in the Lyon Office in Edinburgh. The fortunate discovery in January of this present year of the signature of “ Alex. Cambuskenneth ” as chief of the auditors to the book of accounts for expenditure on the royal palaces for the year 1529, together with a similar repetition on at least three other occasions, may be taken as indirect proof of his identity with the well-known Abbot, who thus, like Thomas Franclie, ALEXANDER , ABBOT OF CAMBUSKENNETH. 31 transferred his masonic allegiance from a Scotch bishop to a Scotch king. Franche, however, completed the bridge at Aberdeen, while Mylne was compelled to leave the completion of the bridge of Dunkeld to other hands. During the latter half of the reign of James V., he acts as auditor of the majority of the King’s books of accounts. The fact was, he had more public work in hand than appeared possible for a single man to undertake. His first care, however, was concerning his Abbey Church. In the year 1521 the great altar and chapter-house and two new cemeteries, erected by Abbot Mylne, were consecrated by James, Bishop of Dunblane. 1 In this way his taste for building found a suitable opportunity for effectual display in the worthy adornment of the Abbey and the provision of an appropriate burial- ground for the dead. Moreover, the mental needs of his monks occupied his attention quite as much as the material fabric of his church; for on June 15, 1522, he wrote to the Abbot and monks of the Augustinian Monastery of St. Victor, in Paris, desiring to send to their establishment for instruction, not only in secular but also sacred learning, some of his most intelligent novices, as his predecessor had intended to do, but was prevented from carrying out his judicious intention by resignation and death. Reverendo in Christo Patri, Domino Abbati Monasterii Divi Victoris, ordinis Sancti Augustini apud Parisios, fratribusque canonicis dicti loci, Alexander Cmnobii Beatissimte Virginis de Cambuskenneth, professionis ejusdem, in regno Scotiae Abbas licet immeritus. Thus the letter commences, ending as follows:— Ex caenobio nostro Cambuskenneth, quinto decimo Junii, salutis nostae anno mille- simo et quingentesimo vigesimo secundo. We subjoin a translation of the whole epistle:— To the reverend father in Christ, the Lord Abbot of the Monastery of St. Victor, of the Order of S. Augustine, at Paris, and to the canonical monks of the same, Alexander, the unworthy Abbot of the Monastery of the blessed Virgin of Cambuskenneth, of the same order, in the kingdom of Scotland, sends mutual and sincere charity in the bowels of Jesus Christ. Seeing that we would well consult our welfare if, according to the rule of the teacher and founder of our order, and the apostolic precept, we were always to be of one heart and mind, and were to bear each other’s burdens, we have thought proper to entreat your fraternity (for we have heard that you plentifully abound in rendering aid), that you would be pleased, to the extent of your power, to second us in the efforts we are making- in the fear of the Most High, and of the most holy mother the Virgin, our patroness, to resume a strict adherence to the rules of our order in whatever particulars we may have fallen from the observance of the same through the sloth and negligence of our predecessors ; for, as I say, through the carelessness of others, many things pertaining to the religious rites and ornament of our Monastery have fallen into desuetude, so the study of literature, which in an especial manner is the province of us ecclesiastics, has been quite forgotten, and unless 1 Document 92 in the Cartulary of Cambuskenneth. THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. it be promoted, will cease to exist. And since with you, according to report, the reforma¬ tion of our rule, which for some time past has been less and less rigidly observed, happily succeeded, and through the aid of the Most High, daily flourishes more and more, and on that account the late Patrick Paniter, a man of the strongest judgment, Secretary of State to the King of Scotland, our predecessor in the office of Abbot, who lately died while in the discharge of his duties as ambassador to the most Christian King, intended, if death had not carried him off, to have reformed our brethren after the model of your institutions, we animated with a zeal and vigilance not inferior to his, and though undeserving, having, by the appointment of the Supreme Pontiff, succeeded immediately to such a man in the government of our house, are endeavouring to carry out his intentions without alteration. For which purpose nothing is more wanting than a number of learned men—a class which, although at one time abounding among us, is now almost extinct and cannot readily be called into existence, unless we send forth some of our novices of the most promising parts to universities where the prosecution of the study of literature is most active. Nor do we think that we should have made sufficient provision in the matter were they to devote them¬ selves merely to secular studies. Hence it is that we desire that some of our novices should be educated in your college, that they may be imbued with morals and observance of your most perfect rule, and may derive a familiar knowledge of sacred literature; and having attained to proficiency therein, may show to others the light, and a good example to be followed in the strictest observance of religion ; and not confining themselves to this, may, as having made a profession as students, discharge the other sacred offices like other members of the order. Wherefore, if you, brother Abbot, deign to extend mutual charity to us in this matter, be so good as to inform us by this messenger what your sentiments on the subject are, and what may be required for the maintenance and clothing, and other expenses of an ecclesiastic per annum, that we may repay you the same at certain terms, according to agreement, and we bid you, brother Abbot, farewell in Christ who is our salvation.—From our Monastery of Cambuskenneth, the 15th of June, the year of our Lord 1522. This letter illustrates two points in reference to the general condition of Europe—firstly, the frequent intercourse between France and Scotland in the sixteenth century ; and secondly, the close connection between monastic bodies of the same Order throughout the length and breadth of Christendom. During the half century previous to the Reformation, it appears that Scottish novices were often prepared for the monastic life by finishing their education in some great Parisian monastery. The Abbot of Cambuskenneth, however, was soon called away from the peaceful government of his monks to participate in more lively affairs of State. He was sent on an important embassy to Henry VIII., King of England, in the year 1524, in order to negotiate a marriage between the young sovereign of Scotland, James V., and the Princess Mary ol England. The embassy was barren of result, and James afterwards married Magdalen, Princess of France. But if it had succeeded, the two kingdoms of Great Britain would have been sooner united, and many of the serious troubles of the reign of Mary Queen of Scots would have been prevented. In the next year the Abbot’s name appears as one of the persons appointed to have the care of James V. ALEXANDER, ABBOT OF CAMBUSKENNETH. 33 In the Privy Seal Writs for the year 1529, we find that on the 3rd January Sir James Nieholay 1 is made Master of Work within Stirling. The Master being a priest, and the royal castle being so near Cambuskenneth, we may infer the appointment was made on the recommendation of the Abbot, now in such high favour with the Crown:— Ane Letter maid to Sir James Nieholay makand hym maister of wark within the Castell of Striuiling, and giffand him xx markis yeirly ay & qnhill he be beneficeit be our souerane lord of a benefice.—January 1529. Pee signaturam maxibus S. I). N. begis & Thesaurarii subscriptam. On 16th January 1531, John Brownhill was appointed under the Privy Seal Master Mason for life, in succession to John Aitoune; and Alexander Mylne must have altogether retired ere this date from all connection with the works carried on at the royal palaces, or even on ecclesiastical estates. While Robert Richardson, Canon of the Monastery of St. Victor, published at Paris a book on Exegesis, dedicated to Alexander, Abbot of Cambuskenneth, in the year 1530; James V. in the year 1532 instituted a College of Justice, consisting of fifteen judges, eight of whom were ecclesiastics; and Mylne became the first President of the famous Court of Session—an office which he held sixteen years. The new Court was opened in the presence of the King on 27th May 1532. For several years he was elected one of the Lords of the Articles in Parliament, and was also appointed Administrator of the Revenues of the Abbey of Holyrood and the Priory of St Andrews, which by evil precedent, fraught with future harm to the Church, were “provided” for the benefit of the two natural sons of the King. Such a treatment of ecclesiastical property only paved the way for the introduction of the “ Commendator ” under the influence of the Reformation—an office much coveted by the nobles, who by this title as a sort of lay Abbot administered the Abbatial estates till another ecclesiastic should be elected, and finally obtained full possession for their descendants by a title of nobility taken from the name of the estate. Thus the Abbot of Dunfermline in another century becomes the Earl of Dunfermline. Considering his position in Church and State, his own prominence, wealth, and integrity, it seems strange that Abbot Mylne should have added this unworthy burden to his other offices. To him it would also have seemed strange could he have known that he was destined to be the last but one of the long line of the great Abbots of Cambuskenneth. Anxious to preserve the historic documents connected with the monastery, 1 This writ is the earliest appointment of a Master of Work to the Crown under the Privy Seal still preserved. The King's accounts from 1529-30 describe John Aitoune as Master Mason. E 34 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. he with his monks petitioned the Lords of the Council, who on 24th July 1535 ordained that a transcript should be made of all the charters and other writs of the Abbey, as the originals were much decayed. This order was duly executed in the form of a folio volume of 178 leaves of vellum, con¬ taining 225 charters, consisting, for the most part, of the ancient titles of the lands granted to the Abbey, as well as other interesting muniments. Each leaf is attested by James Foulis, Registrar to the Court of Session. This Cartulary has been published in Latin by the Grampian Club as a present from the Marquis of Bute; and so, like the Lives of the Bishops of Dunkeld, is accessible to the general public at the close of the nineteenth century. During the next decade the Abbot is not quite so prominent a figure in Scottish history. Advancing age, and perhaps, also, to some extent the enforced retirement of the House of Douglas,' with some of whose leaders he was on intimate terms, brought him less frequently to the Capital. After James V.’s terrible despair and sad death in December 1542, the old order was changed, and there was much confusion in high places. We find him signing the Declaration anti Oath of several noblemen to be obedient to the Earl of Arran, as Governor of Scotland. 15 th March 1543.—The quhilk day Partrick Erie Bothvile, James Erie of Mortoun, George Lord Hume, Henry Lord Sinkler, William Lord Hereis of Terreglis, Hew Lord Somervale, and ane Venerable Fader in God, Alexander, Abbot of Cambuskenneth, in Faice of Parliament, declarit . . . {Reg. Par., fol. 76). The Abbot devoted his latter days to the study and enforcement of the law, then much needed in Scotland. On 20th February 1548 he attended the Court of Session as Lord President for the last time, and, soon after dying, he was succeeded in that office by the Bishop of Orkney. His successor at Cambuskenneth was David Pantar, Bishop of Ross, who was the last ecclesiastic controlling the vast revenues of this wealthy Abbey. For six years—1552-58—he held precarious possession, and was then succeeded by the family of Erskine as Commendators, and they soon after¬ wards became Earls of Mar. The lonely tower of Cambuskenneth, standing beside the fair river and the green meadow, is a fit emblem of the departed glory of the mediaeval Abbey; but an enduring memorial of Abbot Alexander is patent to the eyes of all men, and particularly to the learned members of the legal pro¬ fession, in the richly painted glass of the great window towards the soutli 1 “ Alex. Abbot of the Monastery of Cambuskenneth, President of the College of Justice, is a witness in the Decreet of forfeiture against Archb. Earl of Angus, 10 Sept. 1540.” Extracted from a MS. by Robert Mylne, the well-known antiquary in Edinburgh during the last century, who lived to the age of 102. ALEXANDER, ABBOT OF CAMBUSKENNETH. 35 in the Parliament Hall, Edinburgh. Here James V. is represented as seated on the throne of Scotland, handing the Papal Bull instituting the Court of Session to Abbot Alexander, the first President thereof; while the Arch¬ bishop of Glasgow, then Chancellor of Scotland, is standing amongst the nobles in a prominent position, expressing his complete approval of these important legal proceedings. Potent as the actual result is to the present day, not many, perhaps, of the harassed suitors who pass and repass the deeply coloured glass and delicate tracery of the window pause to glance at the pictorial origin of the jurisdiction of the Court, uplifted high above their heads, plainly visible to every eye. The ordinary tourist, however, is not deemed to have completed the usual round of the chief sights of Edin¬ burgh without a careful inspection of the Parliament House and all that is contained therein. CHAPTER III. THE FAMILY OF FRANCHE. THOMAS, MASTER MASON TO JAMES V.-ABERDEEN BRIDGE-FALKLAND PALACE-LINLITHGOW. HREE generations of this family were closely connected with archi¬ tecture. Sprung from Linlithgow, Thomas, who attained the greatest eminence, also practised his art in Aberdeen. He seems to have journeyed to the North immediately after his father’s death in 1489, as the ancient inscription indicates, which was formerly in the north aisle of the Church of Linlithgow, near the northern entrance frctn the Palace— Heir lyes Ihon Franch, fadder to Tomas, Master Mason of Brig of Dee. Obiit anno Domini MCCCCLXXXIX. John evidently worked for the King at Linlithgow Palace. Then his son obtained wider fame, and the official favour of the Church, as Master Mason to William Elphinstone, the noble and upright Bishop of Aberdeen, who founded and endowed the University, began to build the bridge, and erected a portion of the Cathedral. In after years Thomas was appointed Master Mason to the Crown for life by the King, James V., in recognition of his services in connection with the royal works at Linlithgow and Falk¬ land. Thus his public career illustrates the great historic fact that at the beginning (or rather, perhaps, the middle) of the sixteenth century the Church ceased to be the great builder amongst the nations, and the civil Government began to occupy the public position so long held by the Episcopate. The granite City of Aberdeen is the capital of the north-eastern districts of Scotland. The fine harbour gives ready access to the North Sea and the valuable fisheries by which the inhabitants along the coast mainly live. The water of Dee provides a line of communication with the Highlands to --- PLAN THE FAMILY OF FRANCHE. 37 the west, and the mediaeval bridge connects the villages to the north and the south. The energy of the people, combined with these natural advan¬ tages, have made this ancient town an important centre of commerce to which there is no actual rival for many miles in any direction. Though situated so far northwards, it was in early days closely connected with the capital of the kingdom and the general business of the Court, on account of the convenient means of transit by sea along the east coast. The Bridge of Aberdeen is a fine piece of masonry, substantially and well built, as the old lines of poetry do truly tell, written in part by Dr. Arthur Johnstone, physician to Charles I. :— A bridge doth reach along the river Dee, Wherein seven double stately arches be : Who built this sumptuous work if ye would know, The Mitre that is carved thereon doth show. Hector Boece, in his Lives of the Bishops of Aberdeen, thus describes the manner in which William Elphinstone commenced this noble work :— Postremo Wilhelmus noster Deyoe fluminis pontem assumpsit condendum, opus pium et ad publicum commodum plurimum necessarium, brevi (tempore) lapides plurimos et ligna comparavit atque sementum (cementum) quantum ad magnum operis partem absolvendam sufficere videbatur, dilectis artificibus ad molis fabricam accitis. Translation. Lastly, our William (the Bishop) undertook to build the bridge over the river Dee, a work of piety, and very needful for the convenience of the public. In a short time he prepared many stones, and wood, and as much cement as appeared to be sufficient for carry¬ ing out the greater part of the work, and trustworthy labourers were summoned for the erection of the foundations of the piers. In somewhat similar language he mentions its completion by the famous Bishop Gavin Dunbar, adding that altogether a large sum of money was expended on this useful undertaking. During the years 1841-4 this noble bridge was widened by carefully refacing' the whole of the western side of the masonry. Thus the original architectural features were preserved, and the general effect was excellent— comparing in a very favourable way with the method adopted in widening the North Bridge, Edinburgh, or the Bridge of Perth, by means of a cast iron parapet to carry the footpath. The following interesting letter will explain what has been done in the present century, and also give some account of the building carried out by the good Bishop nearly 400 years ago :— William Leslie to James Abernethy, C.E. Relative to the foundations of the old Bridge of Dee, I think it best to send you a tracing of part of the plan. 3S THE MASTER MASON'S TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. The drawing will show the form and dimensions of the piers of the Bridge, the masonry stood on frames of oak, as shown, made of timbers 9 to 11 inches diameter, partly flattened on top and bottom, the cross pieces partly checked into the others, and all fixed together by oak pins or dowels. The oak was but little decayed. There had been no piling or other preparation under the frames, and the frames were from 2 to 5 feet under lowest water. The bed of the river for the south abutment and southward pier is of strong clay, but the other part is of mud, or soft clay, and it appeared to me that the weight of the super¬ structure had made some of the piers to sink considerably, as there were great differences in the levels of the springings of the different piers. The outside facing of piers consisted of freestone ashlar, of rather small sizes, and the hearting of random rubble stones. It would appear that there must have been breaches made in the piers, from time to time by the river, and that part of the hearting had been washed out, and whilst the ashlar facing had been repaired the inside had not been made up, for in several of the piers the insides were quite empty, or partially filled with loose rubble, as shewn on the section. The only peculiarity that I observed was, that in the parts of the internal works that were standing, the mortar used had been of strong red clay, with a mixture of hot lime, or pozzolano, carefully beaten together and mixed through the rubble ; whilst this cement showed little adhesion to the stones, it had stood firm against the wash of the water, it was tough and adhesive, although not hard, and whilst all the lime mortar below water, except¬ ing in the ashlar joints, was washed away, it remained. There was a protecting apron, of pitching, of rubble stones, round all the piers, this sprang from a kirb, laid at lowest water, and from 5 to 8 feet distant, and rose up on the piers to about 2 feet above ordinary water level. This pitching had been carefully kept in repair, so as to preserve the piers from the action of the river. I may mention that in 1841 and 1842 the Bridge was widened, as shown on the sketch, the foundations of the additions to the piers were carefully piled to a depth of from 10 to 27 feet, the new part stood so firm that the mortar joints between the new and old scarcely cracked. The piling of the additional foundations had the effect of making the whole of the old portion lean over about 2 inches towards the piled side, but so gradually did this proceed, that there were no cracks in the structure. The subjoined account will show the actual expense Bridge of Dee, 1841-4 :— Contractors, . . . . . . £8125 15 Inspector of Works, . . . . 82 4 Architect, ...... 360 0 Mr. Hughes, Engineer, . . . . . 31 10 Iron Bailing, . . . . . 88 15 Expenses connected with the laying of the Foundation Stone, ...... Surface Damage, ...... Miscellaneous, ...... £104 1 65 11 78 9 of widening 4 0 0 0 2 - £8688 4 6 1 9 0 248 1 3 The total cost, which was very moderate, came to, . . £8936 5 9 To return to the family of Franche. While occupied in the steady THE FAMILY OF FRANCHE. 39 pursuit of his profession in the ancient city of Aberdeen, the son of the Master Mason died, and he received appropriate sepulture within the granite walls of the Cathedral, as the following inscription will show :— Heir lyis Tomas, the Son of Tomas Franch, Master Mason of Brig of Dee and this isle.—1530. We conclude the aisle of the Cathedral mentioned in the inscription of the year 1530 had only recently been completed, and so this remarkable granite edifice was in reality entirely finished in a manner appropriate to mediaival worship but a few years before the great change in religious opinion swept over the land, and the ancient ecclesiastical ceremonial was THE GATE HOUSE, LINLITHGOW. swept away. The statement is true of many of the great churches in Scot¬ land, and illustrates the strange irony of fate. With infinite labour and excellent artistic skill, a magnificent work is after long years accom¬ plished, and for a brief space serves its appointed purpose, then the fury of fanatics destroys it all. “ L homme propose, mais Dieu dispose.” Soon after his son s death and burial at Aberdeen, fresh occupation of a suitable kind opened out in the South, and the scene of successful labour in the North was deserted. About this period Thomas Franche returned to his native town, and began to work for the King on the Palace of Linlithgow. Some portions of the 40 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. residence must have been built under his direction, and we may certainly regard the long gallery on the south side of the inner quadrangle as his work. This gallery is an addition built against the wall of the Chapel, in the same way as the similar gallery at Falkland. All the windows are on one side, and face the north, looking into the courtyard. The gate house either belongs to this period or was built a little before by King James Y. In the month of January 1531-2, John Brownhill was appointed Master Mason to the King for life :— Given at Stirling 16th January 1531-2.—Ane Letter maid to Johnne Brounhill makand him maister masoun to our souerane lord for all the dais of his lif gevand him feis levariis and dewiteis siclik as vmquhile Johne Aitoun or ony vther had in the said office in tymes bigane. January 1531. Per signaturam manu S. D. N. regis subscriptam. Thomas Franche, however, was soon after associated with him, receiving his appointment under the Privy Seal, in April 1535 :— Given at Kelso 30th April 1535.—Ane letter given to thomas franche makand him maister masoun to oure souverane lord for all the dais of his lif wyth power to the said Thomas to vse and exercise the said office in all and by all thingis as ony vtheris vsit or exercit the samin in ony times bigane And therefor to haue yeirlie induring his liftyme of our said souerane lord the soume of £40 to be pait yeirlie be our souerane lordis treasurer now present and being for the tyme.—30th April 1535. Per signaturam. Thomas Franche, mason, with 10 other masons, entered on various works, for 15 weeks at Linlithgow Palace, from 1st February 1534-5 :— Accounts of the Master of Works, 16 May 1535. One pound Scots to the Master Mason, weekly, and Masons 16s. and 12s. weekly. The compt of the masonis that wrocht at the palis of Linlithgow as eftir followis :— The first day of Februar the yeir of God j m v p xxxiiij yeris the entres of Thomas Franss masoun with ten masonis and four barrowmen with him. And tha continewit to the xvj day of Maij in the year of God j m v c xxxv yeris, the quhilk is 15 vokkis. To the said Thomas Frans voklie 20 s , and, to four of his masonis ilkane of thame 15 s vokle and to sax of his masonis ilkane of thame 12 s voklie, and to ilkane of his barrowmen vokle 5 s Summa to the said Thomas Frans and his servandis vokle £8 : 16 s . Summa of thir personis forsaidis vagis in the haill £132. Item , to the said Thomas Frans at the command of our Soverane lordis precept £20. This year an especial outlay was made on the decoration of the Chapel, and about £7 was expended on painted glass for the Lion Chamber, commonly called the Parliament Hall. Also in the same year:— Item , 36 joists of 24 feet long and freight from Dundee to Blackness. Item , 100 eistland boards from Dundee. The King was so pleased with Thomas Franche that he issued a warrant to the Master of Works to pay him a gratuity of £20 Scots, for the satisfaction given in his work for the past year :— Facsimile of Audit, isza Facsimile of Royal Letter, 1555. ‘PC frit*t I . 'yfX *+j «»”* ** * 'fi c\&d *f~p IryjLh /v^ rSv-y*^ f\\yZ- A -£>4 riv.jHV' *{l£¥*x. d fiyf- '+*1*-' r\/\{fC -yy . p-p VVxT. ^ -J *})*{?*- ^ »♦* i -re\v»K^' ■o^v* ■\S0f-fV -^3 ^ ^>*V jd .—f. /X& hkjl- jpj y t‘ fUkr VwX silJ<** L ^ **>+*y*(dZ rd&pvi+t+x. 0i \i-4 }-*+++ip yk,^— try- y ‘*7 ov * / l*-/^^ ) «^ L ¥v»t’~" ^ C / C2- ^"' v ~ • /l 1 THE FAMILY OF FRANCHE. 41 At Linlithgow, 22nd April 1535. — Master of our wark, for samekyll as Thomas Franche maison lies beyne continuallye in our service for the completing our Palis of Linlithquhow sen Merche wes ane yeir and hes done us for his part greit pleasour thairintyll quhilk we think deservis revard. Heirfor it is our will and als chargis you incontinent to deliver to the said Thomas £20 for his bontay and the samyn salbe weil allowit to you in your comptis. Subscrivit be us at Linlithquhow, the xxij day of Aprile, and of our regne the xxij yeir. JAMES R. As this document not only illustrates the general circumstances of the period in regard to building, but also contains the sign manual of the Sovereign, a facsimile of the original preserved in the Register House is here THE CHAPEL, LINLITHGOW. given. The whole of the present northern walls of the palace were built by King James VI., and were completed in the year 1620. They doubtless stand on older foundations. The western faqade seems to contain the most ancient existing masonry, but it is difficult to exactly date the rest of the building beyond the general statement that it belongs to the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The Palace, therefore, was commenced in the year 1425 and completed in 1620. Some restoration, under wise and judicious advice, is about to be undertaken by the Crown, and there is good hope that the work will be carried out in a thoroughly satisfactory manner. The whole edifice, though p 42 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. a ruin, still possesses much of its ancient charm and beauty. In his history of Linlithgowshire, Sibbald observes :— The palace is magnificently built of fine polished stone ; it was begun by the former kings. King James V. added to it the Chapel and the Porch. King James VI. completed the Court by adding the fine new buildings towards the north. Sir Walter Scott, meditating on the convenience of the situation, the quiet beauty of the loch, and the fertile country around, has thus summed up the whole matter :— Of all the Palaces fair, That furnish the royal dwelling, Linlithgow, thou beyond compare Art all the rest excelling. We must now turn to the favourite Palace of James V. in the county of Fife. Situated at the foot of a low range of hills, overlooking a fertile valley, there is a peculiar charm in the quiet and gentle scenery; while the surround¬ ing woods and meadows give opportunity for the enjoyment of the pleasures of the chase. The water of Tay is not far distant to the north, and the open sea lies to the east beyond the mouth of the River Leven. Of the existing remains, part was evidently built by James IV. and part by James V. This latter Sovereign died at Falkland in solitude and despair after the fatal defeat of his troops at Solway Moss. In the year 1506, £108, 3s. 10d., and also a further sum of £20, was spent by the King on this Palace, while the next year he spent £44, 9s. 9d. These payments appear to be a part of a larger account, covering the first six or seven years of the century, when Sir John Lundy, Knight, David Beaton of Criech, and James Beaton, afterwards Archbishop of St. Andrews, were successively Keepers of the Palace. The payment of eleven shillings a year for keeping up the aqueduct frequently occurs, and widow Avery obtains a grant of eight shillings yearly as compensation for loss and damage by the opening of a quarry on her lands beside the hills. The accounts for the year 1529 concerning the expenditure on the Royal Palaces have been preserved. Mention is made of Holyrood, Falkland, and Stirling, and the first signature at the end of the account is Alexander Cambuskennetli. The amount spent on Falkland in this year is small, apparently only £35, while the whole sum is £1568, 9s. 8d. In the year 1531-2 there is further notice of Falkland. A portion of this account is headed :—“ The expenses made in Falkland in beting and pointing of the new work and old Chapel in the month of May, June, and July.” The addition of eleven leaves of this Account Book, including payments for both Stirling and Falkland, is £260, 3s. 3d. ; while the whole Book amounts to £2075, 11s. 61d., so that most of the money is spent on Holyrood. THE FAMILY OF FRANCHE. 43 The first signature at the end is Alexander Cambuskenneth, and the following items are interesting :— Item , 7 Draughts of 100 Slates each from Levenmouth to Falkland, ...... 35 s For theking pointing and beting of the new galleries, corse house, and old Chapel, . . . . £8 0 0 For beting and facing of the long butts in the loriyrig beneath the Castle in Falkland at the King's command, 20 s For building new stables and the avery house :— Item, 100 deals of 9 ells each and 16 oaken spars for scaffold¬ ing and flooring of the avery house brought from Leith, 25 s This house had a wooden floor, and was used to contain the fodder for the horses and oxen. There is also a payment for the King’s house at Perth, and on the last sheet is written these Latin words :— Magister operis me fieri fecit. After the end of this year the King spent his money at Linlithgow and not Falkland. It was in the year 1537 that the works were recommenced at this last-mentioned palace on a very elaborate scale. The Book of Royal Accounts opens with a formal appointment of John Scrymgeour as master of these works, and at first Thomas Franche plays an important part in this royal undertaking. A few extracts are subjoined :— Item, to Thomas Franche and his servitour Johne Andersoun for iij wolkis wagis, wolklie xxvj*; Johne Laper for thre wolkis, wolklie xiiij"; Gilbert Masoun and his twa servitouris for thre wolkis, havand wolklie xxxvij'; Alexander Masoun and his twa servi- touris, havand wolklie xxiiij'; Robert Frensch for iij wolkis, havand wolklie xiiij"; and Henry Stewart for iij wolkis, havand wolklie xi s ; summa xviij iij a . On the margin is “Thomas Frensch enteris with his servitouris.” In March 1537-8 works were undertaken on the Garden Dyke by the King’s command, and 300 cartloads of wall stones were purchased at 20s. per hundred, and £10, 12s. was paid for cartage. In the year 1538 fresh building was commenced, and to Alexander Queriour was paid 5s. apiece for seven long allering 6 feet long and 4 feet broad, and for winning and freighting the same from Kingudie to Lindores Haven; also 3s. 4d. apiece for 40 piece of smaller allering; and for 8 piece gergunis 6s. 8d. apiece; to George Rollock for 20 piece of great allering, four gergunis, and a great stone, there was paid 5s. apiece; 22 piece of smaller allering were bought at 3s. 4d. ; and 12 gergunis at 6s. 8d. The total amount was £25, 6s. 8d. A new quarry was opened at the head of the den near Falkland, and the large stones were carried in sledges down the hill side “from the high quarry in the Lomond to the foot where the carts received them.” 44 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. In the autumn, Nicholas Roy, Frenchman, receives weekly 21s. and to each one of his 3 servitors weekly 21s., and Thomas Franche and his 6 servitors £3, 14s. weekly; all these payments are repeated from time to time, and amongst other entries Peter, a Flemishman, is paid 18s. and Moses Mertyne 10s.; at the same time John Merlion works on the east side of the palace. “ To Peter, Flemishman, for hewing five great stane images to be set upon the five great butresses on the south side of the new chapel, each piece hewing and working only, 56s.” “James Blak for work on the south side and the gallery, was paid £13, 6s. 8d.” In Scrymgeour’s account for 1538-9 under Falkland, is the following:— Item , to Nicholas Roy, maister masoun, for thre wolkis infra id tempus, wolklie xxj 3 , and ilk ane of his thre servitouris wolklie xxj s summa xij" xij s . Item, to Johne Frensch, Robert Frensch, George Frensch, Johne Laper, Henry Jhannsoun and Johne Andersoun, havand for ane wolk, iij h xiiij 8 . On the margin “ The Frensch masonis enteres for iij wolkis infra tempus computi.” The date is between 14th June and 26th July 1539. In the account of 1537-8 is this entry :— Item to Moysis Martin sone to umquhile the master masoun for ane hors vij h . The mention of Roy in this place, working as a younger man in conjunction with Franche, is of great importance, for he with his foreign friends was destined to leave his permanent mark on the royal palaces, and in future to assume the chief place in all matters of design. Franche was growing old, and the following document shows he was dead in 1551, while his sons were less skilled than their father. “ Petition to the Lords of the Council by John Roy tell, Mason, against John, Lord Borthwick, as factour to Patrick, Earl of Both well, of the sum of contained in the said Earl’s precept to the late Thomas Franche and the said John for making of ane fountain in the place of Halis.—At Edinburgh 1551”:— Anent the supplication gevin in be Johne Ryatell masoun aganis Johne lord Borthuik tuiching the payment making be the said lord as factour to Patrik erle of Bothuile of that ane half of the sowm of xlix 1 ' - contenit in the said erlis precept maid to umquhile Thomas Franche and the said Johne for makand of ane fontan in the place of Halis As atmairlenth is contenit in the said supplicatioun actis and lettres maid thairapoun of the same The said Johne Ryatell being personalie present and the said John lord Borthuik comperand be maister Thomas McCalzeane his procuratour The lordis of counsale continewis the said mater in the samin form force and effect as it is now but prejudice of party unto the third day of December next tocum with continuation of dayis and ordanis the said Johne to haif lettres to summond the witnessis that wer summond of befoir and comperit nocht to be summond agane under gretar panis and ma witnessis gif he pies for preving of the poyntis of the said supplicatioun agane the said day and the partys procuratouris ar warnit heirof apud acta. OLD VIEW OF THE TOWN OF LINLITHGOW. OLD VIEW OF THE PALACE OF LINLITHGOW. SOUTH-WEST ANGLE OF COURT OF LINLITHGOW PALACE. CHAPTER IV. THE FRENCH INFLUENCE. MOGIN MARTYN—NICHOLAS ROY AT WORK AT STIRLING AND FALKLAND-JOHN ROYTELL. IMMEDIATELY after liis marriage with his French bride, Mary of Guise, of the proud and ambitious House of Lorraine, James V. became warmly attached to French interests. The potent power of this foreign influence is seen in his fresh appointments of Master Masons, and the general effect of their designs upon his Castles and Palaces. "While yet on the Continent he gave supreme charge of the Castle of Dunbar to Mogin 1 or Moyse Martyne, of whose work little or nothing now remains. We know, however, that with his son he worked at Falkland, and died in 1538. Arte Letter maid to Mogin Martyne francheman sumtyme maister masoun of the castell of Dunbar makand him maister masoun to our souerane lord during his graces will and for his gude trew and thankfull seruice and laubouris to be done therein his hienes gives and grants to the said Mogin ilk moneth £5 money of this realme of wageis to be pait to him be the comptroller now present and being for the tyme of the reddiest of the grete custumes of Edinburgh togidder with his fe when he works at our souerane work such as otheris masonis gettis to be pait to him weekly be the maister of werk being for the tyme. To be haldin and to be had the said £5 of wageis to the said Mogin to be pait to him monthly be the comptrollar now present and being for the tyme of the reddiest of the saidis custumis during the said space togiddir with his fee weekly when he labours at our souerane lordis werk such as otheris masonis gettis frelie.—December 1536. Per Signaturam. John Mayser and Bartrahame Foliot, French workmen, had already been employed by the Corporation of Edinburgh in paving the streets of their Town. At Edinburgh, 1532.—The quhilk day, in presens of the provest, baillies, and counsale sittand in jugement, it is appoyntitt and finallie concordit betuix the said provest, baillies 1 There is no doubt that the name in the original text of the Privy Seal Writ is Mogin. It seems, however, very probable that the Northern scribe made a mistake in the form of his entry, and the real name is Moyse. It is certain that his son was christened Moses. 46 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. and counsale on that ane pairt, Jhonne Mayser and Bartrahame Foliot, franchemen, calsay makers, on that other pairt, in this maner, that is to say, The saidis Jhonne and Bartrahame oblissis thame till make and big the calsay of the toun, and sail wyn the stanys thairof in the querrell, and sail dres thame and lay thame in the calsay, and the gude toun till furnis sand and carye the stanys to the calsay, and to mak the red and carye the samyn away, and sail content and pay to the said calsay makaris for ilk scottis rude, that is to say 6 elnis of lenth, and 6 elnis of breid, 30 schillingis Scottis, and this threttie schillingis is to be payit oulklie or als sone as thai haue wrocht and mett the said rude. In the year 1539 the King appointed Nicholas Roy Master Mason during his will and pleasure, and he immediately made his influence felt on the architectural design of the royal buildings. THE GATEWAY OF STIRLING CASTLE. Given at Falkland 23rd April 1539.—Ane Letter maid to Nycolas Roy, Frencheman, makand him maister masoun to our souerane lord during his will, and gevand to him ilk moneth the soume of £6, 13s. 4d. money of the realme of wageis to be pait to him thereof be the thesaurer ilk moneth of the reddiest of our souerane lordis casualiteis £3, 6s. 8d., and siclik be the comptroller of the reddiest of the grete custumes of Edinburgh vtheris £3, 6s. 8d. togidder with his fe quhen he workis at our souerane lordis werk siclik as vtheris masonis gettis to be pait to him oulklie be the maister of work being for the tyme. Per Signaturam. There seems little doubt that during the three years next following, he, with other French Masons, built the part of Stirling Castle -which is decorated in so many places with this Sovereign's initials. The Privy Seal grant to Nicholas Roy is dated from Falkland, and the close resemblance between the interior of the existing building fronting the THE FRENCH INFLUENCE. 47 courtyard erected by James V., and the residential portion of the Palace within the castle of Stirling provides a strong presumption, if not a positive proof, that both were designed by the same architect. All authorities note the remarkably French characteristics of the details—the distinct hint of the Renaissance style superadded to the Gothic after Parisian fashion, or Orleanois type, so different in detail to the later influence of the Renaissance throughout the whole of Europe, and Great Britain in particular. The fantastic decoration, and the peculiar figures that fill the niches, are more in keeping with the quaint phantasy of Gaul than the sterner forms prevalent in the North. The mere exuberance of fancy is permitted to run riot, producing a gorgeous but somewhat extravagant effect. There is great richness, but a lack of purity in this particular style. The building matei'ials for the use of the King’s workmen were largely furnished by Robert Mylne, sometime Burgess and Provost of Dundee, and treasurer in the years 1525 and 1530. Wood was shipped from Norway, and good stone brought from Kingudy, which the Provost purchased in May 1537. PRECEPT in Favour of Robert Mylne and ms Spouse upon Charter by James ScRYMGEOUR, OF THE LANDS AND QUARRY OF KlNGUDY. At Edinburgh, 8th May 1537.—Preceptum Carte Confirmationis Roberti Myln et Elizabeth Oliver sue sponse super carta alienationis sibi facta per Jacobum Scrymgeour THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. 48 Constabularium de Dunde de totis et integris terris de Kingudy cum rape et suis per- tinentiis jacentibus infra vicecomitatum de Perth de rege tenendis & c Apud Edinburgh viij Maij Anno Domini jm v c xxxvij. Pee Signetum. Kingudy is situated on the north bank of the river Tay, in the parish of Longforgan, county of Perth, about four miles west of Dundee. Its stone quarries have been worked for centuries, and the stone has been sent long distances for building purposes. The existing Steeple of the old Tolbootli in the city of Aberdeen, now encircled by new work, was erected of stone which was furnished and transported from the quarry in 1623 by John Mylne, Mason ; and Castle Huntly was also built of it in the fifteenth century, and the old Tower of Dundee, which is still in a remarkable state of preservation. THE COURTYARD OF STIRLING CASTLE. Many of the Sun-Dials which were executed for different parts of Scotland between 1600 and 1640 came from this quarry. The stone, as described in the Statistical Account of Scotland, “is of a bluish colour, very hard, and difficult of being chiseled, but extremely durable, susceptible of the finest polish, and scarcely affected by exposure, however long, to the influence of the weather.” Accounts of the Masters of Works from 1535 to 1541. 1535, 15th Oct.— Item, to Robert Myll for boards from Eistland, £26, 12s. 1539.— Item, from Robert Myln in Dundee for oak joists for Falkland, £14, 8s. Item, to Robert Mylne for oak timber. Item, to Robert Myln and Johne Dunkesoun for iiij pece xxxii futtis lentil, ilk pece 15 shillings—summa, £3. THE FRENCH INFLUENCE. 49 Item, to Robert Myll for xxvij pece jestis of xxxij futtis and xxxvi futtis for the chapell, ilk pece 18 shillings—srnnma, £24, 6 shillings. From the Treasurer’s Accounts. Item, given to the maister masonis sone that deit in Falkland, be ane precept at the kingis command, xij li. The date is apparently between the 21st and 26th February 1539-40. Item, gevin to the Franche maister masoun in Falkland for his wage monethlie sen his aiming in Scotland (quhilk wes the xx day of Apryle, the yere of God j m v c xxxix yeris) to the last day of August instant [1540], extending to xvij moneth, takand ilk moneth iiij li. vj s. viij d ; sum, lvj li. xiij s. iiij d. In the year 1539 William Anderson was paid 4d. each for 604 pieces of ashlar and ornell, and also 8d. each for 112 pieces of corbell. Stone was THE SOUTH SIDE OF STIRLING CASTLE. brought from Kingudy for the pavement at the cost of £18, 6s.; and this account, which terminates in September 1541, contains quite a full description of the various rooms and offices within the Palace of Falkland. The King’s sad death brought all the works suddenly to an end, and also gave rise to certain legal disputes. From the General Register of Acts and Decreets. 19th January 1542-3.—Supplication by James Davidson, mason, against Mr. John Scrymgeour, Master of Work to the King, for wages due to him and “ other quarriors for their gude, trew, and gret lawbour ” in bigging of the King’s work in Kintyre conform to contract. The amount due is £81, Is. G 50 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. 12th July 1543.—Supplication by Mr. John Scrymgeour, H.M. Master of Work, against Mr. Thomas Gadderar, “ person ” of Murthwick, showing that the king (lately deceased) had assigned the taxes due to his Majesty within the diocese of Moray “ for repairing and THE CHAPEL OF FALKLAND PALACE. lagging of his grace’s palace of Falkland,” of which taxes Mr. Thomas owed .£93, 9s. The Lords of Council ordain Mr. Thomas G. to pay the amount. 30th July 1543.—Mr. John Scrymgeour of the Myres complains against William THE COURTYARD OF FALKLAND PALACE. Scot, Kt., anent the spoliation from the complainer “ of divers stanis hewin aslair, and for the wrangous molesting and trubling of him in the winning of stanis in the common querrell of the Lowmontis.” THE FRENCH INFLUENCE. 51 A few years previous to this date Sir James Hamilton of Fynart was made Master of Works. This exalted personage was a courtier rather than an architect, and was brought into very close relationship with the King. According to Lord Somerville’s Memoirs, he built that part of Holyrood for King James V. which is commonly called Queen Mary’s Tower, and is the only portion of the present Palace that is older than the restoration of the House of Stuart on the joyous accession of King Charles II. Neither fire, nor war, nor modern improvement, have accomplished the demoli¬ tion of this solid and well-built structure. There is, however, good reason to believe that this work was commenced by Leonard Logy, if completed under James V. Sir James Hamilton also carried on royal works at the Palace of Linlithgow, and here he met his tragic fate. There was much jealousy of his high favour with the King. A base conspiracy was formed to work his final overthrow, which his own presump¬ tion and peculation in some measure prepared. He was accused of appropriating to his own use the money which he received for expenditure on the King’s palaces. It was also stated that he had in¬ vented a machine to work the King’s death by casting a large stone from the lofty battlements of Linlithgow. Some say that he appeared to the King in a dream brandishing a naked sword, and threatening to take away his life. Upon these grounds he was beheaded. I 11 the year 1535-6 he entered upon a new account with the King for further buildings at Linlithgow. In this the name of Thomas Frans or Franche frequently appears :— Item, to T. France for 24 carts of stone, 14s. IfSfSSf) A BUTTRESS AT FALKLAND. A letter of King James V. is still preserved, in which he somewhat suddenly calls upon Sir James Hamilton and Sir Thomas Johnstone, Chap¬ lain, oui Master of the TV ork of Linlithgow,’ to prepare and finally present their accounts for examination by the appointed auditors. From the text we learn that the workmen were paid their weekly wages by the “Chaplain,” Sir Thomas Johnstone. The whole account is signed by R. Sancti Crucis, i.e., Robert of Holyrood, Comptroller and Clerk of the Council, and some other leading noblemen as auditors on behalf of the King. 52 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. In some respects this account stands in a different position to the rest, because there is a fresh Master of Works and another chief auditor. From the general history of the country we also know that the position of Sir James Hamilton was altogether exceptional. In connection with the subject of the French influence on Scottish Archi¬ tecture during the period now under review, the following excerpts are of interest. In the Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer for July 1539, this entry occurs 1 :— Item, for the vj masonis expens quhilk the Duke of Gwys send to the kingis grace x h . Some miners were sent from Lorraine by the Duke at the same time, as appears from other items in the Accounts. The following references to both of these bodies of workmen appear in extracts from the letters of Anthoinette de Bourbon, Duchess of Lorraine, to her daughter in Scotland, printed by M. Michel in Les Ecossais en France, i. p. 430:— 8 Septembre (1539).—Je este bien ayse voir vous estes contente des massons, j'espere que cy fer<5s-vous de myneurs. Je vous suplie que par le premyer je sache sy le roy les ara mi s en bessoigne et comme il s’en contente. Madame de Guise writes again on the 15th March (perhaps 1540) J’ay depuis mes dernyeres lettres tant charge que je trouve ung masson que l’on estime des bien bons, qui m’a proumys et asseurb aller en Escosse et y mener encore ung bien bon quant it luy, et quy seront icy la semaine de Pasques prbs k. partir. Je dois ausy avoir en se tans-lk des myneurs, pour vous envoyer tous ensemble, sy je puis, avesques ung armurier. When James Y. was dead, the large expenditure which had been laid out in building during the previous thirteen years came to an end. The employment of French workmen, however, continued, and we find John Roytel! admitted a Burgess of Edinburgh in the year 1550, at the special request of the Prior of Holyrood, with whom the Corporation had dined on the previous day. As the Council Minutes do not exist between 1546 and 1551, no further light can be thrown on the relative position of the City and the Monastery from that source. At Edinburgh, 10th September 1550.—Quo die Johannes Ryotell lathomus Gallus effectus est burgensis in judicio et datur eidem gratis ad requestum prioris monasterii Saucte Crucis qui prepositum et ballivos in dicto monasterio predie existentes eosdem bene tractabat. Translation. On which day John Roytell, mason, Frenchman, was made burgess in judgment; and it is given to him free at the request of the Prior of the Monastery of Holyrood, who, when the provost and bailies were in the said monastery on the day before, treated them well. Dr. Dickson, of the Register House, has kindly drawn attention to this entry. THE FRENCH INFLUENCE. 53 The volume from which this notice is taken appears to be a contem¬ porary copy of the early records. This ancient collection of entries relates to various dates during the fifteenth and early part of the sixteenth centuries. In the year 1557, while James, Earl of Arran, was Regent of Scotland, John Roytell was appointed Principal Master Mason for life. In this way the connection with France was maintained. And the introduction of the word Principal seems to indicate a stricter definition of the office in connec¬ tion with the Crown, and to line it off from the Masters of Works. The greater permanency of tenure also points in the same direction. Given at Stirling, 10th March 1556-7.—Ane Letter maid to Johnne Roytell Franche- man makand him to be principall maister masoun to all hir hienes workis concerning his occupatioun And thairfore induring all the dayis of his life to haue the sowme of iiftie pundis vsuale money of this realme in yeirlie fee for all the dayis of his life to be vpliftit of the reddiest of our casualities And ordanis hir thesaurar present and to cum to reddelie answer and mak thankfull payment to him thairof yeirlie and termelie as vse is to vtheris hir hienes ordinaris viz. at twa termes of the yeir witsounday and mertimes be equale portionis And the first terme of payment of the samin to be and begin at the feist of witsonday ni.xt to cum in the the yeir of God 1557 yeris With power to the said Johnne to intromett and tak vp the said sowme of L. pundis yeirlie and termlie as said is and thairupoun to dispone at his plesour for all the dais of the lyfe as said is frelie quietlie but ony reuocatioun Pee Signaturam. Mary Queen of Scots landed at Leith, as Sovereign of Scotland in her own right, on the morning of August 19, 1561. Great must have been the preparations for her reception, and also for the members of her Court, amongst whom were her three uncles, the Duke d’Aumale, the Marquis d'Elbeuf, and the Grand Prior of France. John Roytell must have had something to do with duly preparing the Palace for her occupation, and fitting up the royal apartments for her permanent residence. In February 1561-2 £10 was paid by Queen Mary’s express command to William Macdowal, Master of Works, in connection with the repair and preservation of the “pair of organs in Holyrood.” Four years previously David Melville of Leith had received £36. We may perhaps connect Roytell’s name with the fortification of the island of Inchkeith by the French, the order for which was given while Mary was yet in France, while the work was completed in the year 1564. On the north-west bastion her arms occur with this date, and the letters MARIA ■ REG. The fort was afterwards by agreement dismantled. The subjoined plan was made by Robert Mylne, F.R.S., in 1778. It is unlikely that Roytell exercised his office for so long as ten years. 54 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. On June 1(3, 1567, the Queen left Holyrood for Lochleven Castle, never to return. Ever since her unfortunate marriage with Lord Darnley the administration of the Government had grown worse and worse. The Reformation, too, threw the country into great confusion. It was the ao-e of destruction, not construction. There was not much for Master Masons to do. Above all, Frenchmen 1 were now unpopular. There is no appointment still extant of a Master Mason under the Privy Seal during the remainder of this century. The names of two Masters of Works are pre¬ served, Harie Balfour, appointed on August 31, 1561. when the ill-fated Queen was at the height of her popularity on her first arrival from France, and Sir Robert Drummond of Carnock, appointed on April 6, 1579, the year in which James VI., at the early age of thir¬ teen, first passed from Stirling to Holyrood, and made his public entry into the city of Edin¬ burgh. In this same year a mason named Weir lays the pavement of the Chapel of Holyrood, and also builds up the wall of the cloisters, while Hay, a slater, slates the east side of buildings of the Palace. Three years before some works were carried out at both the castles of Edinburgh and Stirling. Between these two dates Thomas Mylne, the grandson of John, must have exercised the office of Master Mason. In consequence of the violent agitation caused by the Reformation of religion, and the practical collapse of the civil Government, he cannot have built much, or performed the duties of his office for any long period. Ancient records are often imperfectly kept, more especially in country districts, and hence the identity of any particular individual is difficult to trace amongst the old documents. His son belonged to Dundee, and afterwards to Perth, and, if on a temporary visit to Edinburgh, he may be the same person as the only Thomas Mylne whose name is preserved in the early records as subscribing 20 shillings towards the maintenance of the altar of St. John in the Church of St. Giles. PLAN OF THE FOItT ON INCHKEITH, TAKEN 1778. A. —The Principal Gate. B. —The Sally Port. C —The Place where the Anns are fixed. 1 ).—The Guard-house and Officers’ Rooms. 1 There are five signed letters of King James V. of Scotland preserved in the National Library at Paris, in four MS. Volumes, entitled “Memoir du Iioi Francois I.,” and numbered 2964, 2980, 3005, and 3081. The best signa¬ tures occur in'MS. Volume 3005, fol. 11 and 25. There is another letter relating to Scotland in 2980, fob 57, end i fiiiMiiii« document as to tin; Pope and Cardinal THE FRENCH INFLUENCE. 55 LIST of the Incorporation of the Masons and Wrights of Edinburgh, contributing 20s. TO THE REPARATION OF THE ALTAR OF St. JOHN IN THE COLLEGIATE CHURCH of St. Giles. Roll of Incorporation , 1559. Robert Taillifer. Tho" s - Mylne. Thoa 8- Gray. John Walker. William Allerdes. Jhone Allerdess. John Abell. James Cok. Ro. Bell. Gilbert George. Gilbert Dundas. Andro Henrie. flo 8 - Fairnilie. Andro Bowok. Ro. Jaxsoune. John Greif. W"‘- Jacsone. Jhone Talliefer. George Fairbairn. John Henrysone. W 1 "- Peirsone. Ro b ‘ Quhite. Robert Coupar. Thoa 8- Gray. John Bisset. Janes Henrieson. George Goudie. Thos. Thomson. Henrie Broun. Laurence Patersone. James Thomson. W a ' Dewar. Robert Mein. Thos. Lowis. George Talliefer. W a Bickerton. Rob t- Meldrum. Murdoch Walker. Gawine Croune. After a careful search amongst the most ancient archives of towns of Dundee, Perth, Brechin, Montrose, Aberdeen, and Elgin, and the commissary rolls of the Bishoprics, and the Sheriff Books of the county of Forfar, we find a Thomas Mylne of Elgin admitted a Burgess of Dundee in the year 1593, and buried at Elgin in 1605. The various Pedigrees at the end of this Book will throw further light upon this subject, and explain the probable relationship between the earliest members of this family known to fame. Meantime, we insert a facsimile of the ancient inscription in the burial-ground of the Cathedral :— MM®A«8 E§-TIMMVRIWlEHQVieBjlf ----ji .15©^. ___ _ _ JN-OB11T- \srr M If WSCVSTHMWNIMCWS ET-LLGIPCN-OBIIT* i&W 3 fWGAREIASPALDme+ElVJSPOWM 1MB LW1MVS THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. 56 Translation. Rests in the Lord, 1605. Mr John Thorntoun, Precentor of Moray, who died in the year of our Lord 1564. Mr James Thorntoun, Precentor of Moray, died 1577. Mr. Henry Thorntoun, lawyer, died 1593. Thomas Miln, citizen of Dundee and of Elgin, died 1605. Margaret Spalding, his wife, sister’s daughter of Mr. James, died at Dundee 1600. Therefore James, son of the said Thomas Miln, has placed this monument. 1 This Thomas might be an elder brother, but more probably a cousin of John, the son of Thomas, who built the bridge of Perth. He was apparently a native of Elgin, connected by marriage with the ecclesiastical authorities of the Cathedral, and was made a burgess of Dundee while on a visit to that town a year or two after John had taken so prominent a part in municipal affairs. This John, Burgess of Dundee and Perth, must have been a great nephew or a grandson of Robert, Burgess of Dundee, and Provost in the year 1547. What amounts to a proof of this statement may be found in the entry in the Register of the Burgh Court of Dundee, under the date January 13, 1560-1. 2 On this occasion the officers of the town report to the Provost and Bailies that they, on behalf of the Governors of the Hospital, had entered— Upon the ground of the land pertaining to the heirs of umquile Robert Myln, lying upon the east side of Well Gait betwix the land of umquhile David Thomesoun at the south, and Walter Myln at the north, and the said Robert’s yairds at the east parts, and they searchit and socht gif they could apprehend ony guids strenzable upon the ground of the said land, to have poyndit the same for ane annual rent of viii. sh. yearlie awing furth of the said land to the town be the space of five terms by past; and because the said officer could apprehend na guids strenzable upon the ground of the said land to the effect foresaid, he presentit erd and stane in ane pocket, as use is, for his second Court of recognition. 1 Mr. John Thornton is mentioned as Precentor of Moray in a Crown Charter of 1544. 2 The author is indebted to Alex. Maxwell, F.S.A., the well-known antiquary and author of the History of Old Dundee, for extracting the details of this early process of distraint from the town archives. The subjoined entry also illustrates the customs of early days : Skipper Andreis Flemyng on the tane part, and [four] merchants on the tother part, are oblist and sworn to bide the deliverance of James Wedderburn and Robert Myll for the part of the merchants, and James Kynloch and John Colstone for the part of the skipper, chosen and sworn as judge-arbiters, and Wilzam Quliit and Andro Barry, our men, upon the decision of the debate 1 of certain barrels of onions and apples claimit be the skipper that he wants of the merchants. And the parties and judges sail convene this day efter noon, and deliver in the premises—gif they agree them nocht—or the sun gang down this nicht. It is probable that the words “of the freight” have been left out here in the original entry. THE FRENCH INFLUENCE. 57 Now this plot of land by the Well Gate was held in feu of the hospital by Robert the Provost, and descended to his heirs: and further, in the rental book of the said hospital, it appears that John Mylne held this par¬ ticular piece of land in the year 1584, just three years before he was made Burgess of the town. Moreovei', we find that in September 1598 John Mylne and his wife, Helen Kinnereis, are seized of a tenement on the east side of the Wellgate. On May 23, 1621, immediately after his own death, this property is recorded to have been transferred to his son and heir, John Mylne, junior. It seems probable that Robert the Provost had a son Thomas, who practised his art in Edinburgh, and hence his name disappears from the Dundee records, while his son John lives altogether in Dundee, and becomes famous there. These two ancient towns are within comparatively easy reach of one another, both by sea and land. Provost Robert Mylne of Dundee was possessed of a tenement on the west side of the Gallowgate of Aberdeen in the year 1538. Four years later lie obtained a Charter of Confirmation of the lands of Gothrastoun, in the barony of Foulis, and sheriffdom of Forfar. He also possessed other country estates. His parents may have come from Aberdeen, or more probably from the neighbourhood of Montrose or Arbroath, or the agricultural district swept by the fresh breeze from the cold north sea that stretches for many a long mile between the ancient city, near the mouth of the Dee, and the important town of Dundee, at the entrance of the water of Tay. Few details, however, can be culled from the Scottish Records before the year 1513, the unfortunate date of the battle of Flodden, because so few documents are still in existence. The name of Mylne is, however, of more frequent occur¬ rence here than in other parts of Scotland, while ancient mills for grinding corn are by no means uncommon. The great Abbey of Arbroath and other monastic establishments were rich in this kind of property, which they were accustomed to let out on feu. Alexander Mylne, Abbot of Cambuskenneth, was in all likelihood the elder brother of Provost Robert Mylne of Dundee; and, if this be so, we understand in what way the leading citizen of this famous commercial town was introduced to the Court of King James V., and became appointed to supply a large part of the building materials for the erection of Falkland Palace. It may also be worthy of note that the father of Bishop Brown of Dunkeld was sometime Treasurer of the town of Dundee. We now insert the text of the License to Walter Ogilvy to build a house at Banlf:— Ane lettre maid to Walter Ogilvy of Dunlugas Knycht makand mentioun that his K 5S THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. hienes for certane reasonable causes and considerationis moving him and in speciale for the honorable ressaiving of his grace quhen he sail happen to resort in the north partis of his realme gevis and grantis full licence tollerance faculte power and fredome to the said Walter to big and have ane houss within the burgh of Banff of palice wyss with barniking battelling gun-hollis and other munitionis and fortalices as he sail think expedient without ony hurt accusation damnage perell or skaith quhat sumever to be maid to him his aires or assignais therefor or may fall therethrow in ony tyme cuming notwithstanding ony actis statutis lawis or constitutionis quhatsumever maid or to be maid in the contrair anent the quhilk our said soverane lord dispensis with thame be thir presentis provyding alwais that the commoun weile of the said burgh and inhabitantis of the samyn be not hurt therethrow etc. At Edinburgh the 3rd day of Aprile the yeir of God 1538 yeiris. Per Signaturam. We conclude this chapter with a list of Privy Seal Licences for building granted between the years 1540 and 1590 :— Licence to Margaret Bonkill, relict of James Haliburton, to make a vault under the entry of the Netherbow.—22d December 1541. Licence to John Arbukill, Burgess of Edinburgh, to make a vault under the calsay on the north side of the “hie gait.”—5th January 1541-2. Licence to Edward Kincaird, Burgess of Edinburgh, to make a vault under the calsay.— 10th June 1541. Licence to William Ahanny, Burgess of Wigtown, to embattle his house, near the Market Cross, within the said burgh.—20th November 1549. Licence to Mark Brown, Burgess of Edinburgh, to make a vault under the street before his own land and that of Richard Hopper.—26th January 1550-1. Licence to John Charteris, Burgess of Edinburgh, to make a vault under the street.— 20th May 1551. Licence to James Dalzell, Burgess of Edinburgh, to build a turnpike before his house “ in the ovir gait that passes to the Castelhill.”—27th June 1552. Licence to John Preston, Burgess of Edinburgh, to make a vault and build a turnpike in Blackfriar’s Wynd. This tenement is described as next to the house of the late Walter Chepman.—26th January 1555-6. Licence to Patrick Edyear, Burgess of Edinburgh, to make a vault, and embattle the south side of his house to resist the violence of the wynd and weather.—13th May 1556. Licence to Thomas Craig, Burgess of Edinburgh, to make a vault, &c.—27th March 1557. Licence to James Mossman, Burgess of Edinburgh, goldsmith, and Marion Arres, his spouse, to make vaults, &c.—16th May 1557. Licence to Andrew Stevenson, Burgess of Edinburgh, to make a vault. — 18 th November 1570. Licence to David MacGill of Nisbet, Lord Advocate, to build a house.—5th May 1586. Licence to James Nicoll, Burgess of Edinburgh, to make a vault.—19th February 1580. Licence to Alexander Clerk of Balbirnie, late Provost of Edinburgh, to set forth pillars of stone in front of his tenement on the west side of Nudreis Wynd, and above the pillars “ to big ane massie wall, als mony hous heichis as he sail pleis, and to mak the same with battelyne upoun the foir wall,” etc.—9th August 1587. Licence to John Schaw of Greenock to builda church.—18th November 1589. This list may well be compared with the full text of the earlier Licences given towards the close of the first Chapter of this Book. After the union of the two ancient kingdoms of Great Britain under a single Sovereign, it is obvious that the issue of Licences of this character practically ceased. In many respects the closing years of the sixteenth century mark the commence¬ ment of a new epoch, and in consequence will require separate treatment. BOOK II. IRcsult of tbc ‘Onion of (Brent Britain unber one drown. CHAPTER V. THE REVIVAL UNDER JAMES VI. WILLIAM SCHAW AT DUNFERMLINE-JOHN MYLNE IN DUNDEE-WILLIAM WALLACE IN EDINBURGH. TjlpfflHE chequered history of Scotland presents alternate periods of strange confusion and wild tumult, interchanged with brief days of real ' ■ prosperity and peace. One of these latter epochs runs from the year 1585 to the year 1640, and may be connected with the name and administration of King James VI. The terrible misery of thirty years of bitter strife is over, and perchance from mere weariness of lawlessness and disorder, men are content to live at peace for half a century. Yet the calm does not last. When a generation has been born, grown up to manhood, and passed away, the brave leaders of the nation become involved in civil warfare and the subtle duplicity of the Great Rebellion. King James has been called by a clever wit “the wisest fool in Christen¬ dom.” He certainly may be credited with the wisdom needful to preserve his kingdom of Great Britain from the dread horrors of civil war. He is the first sovereign of the ancient House of Stuart, that has as yet been mentioned, who failed to meet with an unhappy or untimely death. Some untoward fate that hovered over this unlucky race continually summoned its princes to reign while yet children, and cut them off by a violent death in the very prime of life. The tragic execution of Charles I. by his own rebellious and disloyal subjects was foreshadowed by the foul murder of James III., the unexpected slaughter in battle of James IV., the miserable end of James V. after the total defeat of his troops, and the cruel beheading after long imprisonment of Mary Queen 6o THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. of Scots by the signed order of her eousin Elizabeth, the great and successful Queen of England. In consequence of the internal peace and quiet prevailing at the close of the sixteenth century we note a general revival in the practice and art of building. In illustration of this statement we give the Account of the Repairs on Doune Castle:— 13 th August 1581.—The Compt of the Reparatioune of the place of Downe, maid at the same be the advyce of Schir Robert Drummond of Carnok, knycht, his Majesties maister of wark, agrear with all the warkmen, and subschryuit withe his hand, at the said place of Downe, the xiij daye of August, the yeir of God, ane thousand fyve hundreth four score ane yeiris. Imprimis, to William Gibe, the quariour, dueland in Streueling, at the maister of warkis command, for the wynning of aucht score peice of allering in the Craig of Knokhill and Burnebank, for euerie peice wynning xl d * extending to the sowm ....... £26 13 4 Item, for bringing hame of the said stanis, the quarrell being four myllis, for the hame bringing of euerie stane xl d- , extending to the sowm foirsaid, 26 13 4 „ for bearing them out of the quarrell, . . . . .500 ,, for broching thame in the quarrell, that the hors mycht bring thame easyer hame, for euerie peice vj d -, extending to the sowm, . . 6 0 0 „ for viij chalder lyme, pryce of the chalder xxij s , extending to the sowm of, 9 12 0 ,, for thre hundreth laid of sand, pryce of led, wynning, and leiding xij d *, extending to, . . . . . • .18 0 0 for the bot fraucht that brocht vp the lyme, . . . • 6 0 0 ,, for the menis expensis that brocht the lyme, . . . • 3 0 0 gevin to Michell Ewing, maister measoune, quhais contract wes maid b the maister of wark, for the making of the grait tour of Downe wattir ticht, and vther warkis quhilk is to be seen concerning the said tou heid, extending to the sowm of siluer, . . . . 100 0 0 mail* to the said Mychell four bollis malt, pryce of the boll viij merkis, quhilk extendis to . . . . • • . 20 6 8 mair, four bollis meill, pryce of the boll iiij lib ', extending . . 16 0 0 to xij seruandis to thair drink siluer, . . . • . • 6 0 0 to the wrychtis for sawing and vpputting of schaffalding, . . 4 0 0 for the wynning of ane thousand skailze, bownteyth and all, . . 4 0 0 for fourte menis mait that led the skailze out of the Hiland xiiij. mylii to thair wagis, ...••••• ,, to the wrychtis for sawing of the lathe, and graithing of the rest of the tymmer to the tour heid, for the space of x dayis, extending, . “ for vij c ' naillis, pryce of the hundreth v s -, extending, ,, for iiij pwnsiounes to be trie nailis, euerie pwnsioune viij*-, extending, . ., for ane man to mak thame, viij dayis, euerie day v s -, summa, to Makquarren, sklaitter, for the theiking of the tourheid, Summa of the haill expenssis of the reparatioune of the tour heid, Item, for rausino- of sax score treis of the best tymmer of the wod of Down, quhilk extendis to xl d- the piece, summa, .... for the hame leiding of thame to the place, with feit men and hors, prys of euerie trie xl d ', summa, • ••••• The Compt of your Maiesteis wod dyk, for biging thairof, quhilk extendis to four hundreth rud and thre score, quhilk is of thiknes in 4 0 0 10 0 0 1 15 0 1 12 0 2 0 0 6 13 4 2 77 6 0 20 0 0 20 0 0 THE REVIVAL UNDER JAMES VI. 61 the grand v elnnes, and of heicht thre elunes, of breid in the heid thre quarteris and ane half. Item , four men to euerie rud biging, to euerie man xx' ; the rad, extendis, . =£0 6 8 „ the four hundreth rud higing, and four extendis, to the sowme of, . 202 merkis Another illustration of the general increase of building at this period is found in the subjoined interesting, list of Mason Craft Masters and names of apprentices bound to them at Edinburgh, between the years 1584-1617 Master Mason. Apprentice. Years. 23 Dec. 1584 Thos. Watt John son of late John Watt in Patrick Holme of Clydesdale 7 21 June 1587 Thos. Weir John son of John Taillefer in Blackwood . 7 2 Aug. 1587 Henry Taillefier John son of late Robert Roger in Kilburnie 7 17 Nov. 1587 W m - Richemont Adam son of George Walker in Williamstown 7 23 July 1589 Paul Masoun . Alex, son of John Masoune in S l - Johnston for 5 30 Mch. 1590-1 John Brown . Malcome son of Alex. Stewart in Baredger 10 15 June 1591 W m - Bickerton William son of Jasper Graden in Grinslaw in the Merse . 7 30 Nov. 1591 Thos. Watt Alex, son of Jas. Watt in Chapel town 7 22 Feb. 1591-2 „ „ . John son of W m - Trumbill .... 10 28 Mch. 1591-2 Paul Masoun, . Thomas son of late David Couston, Mason, burgess of Haddington ..... 7 6 June 1592 Robert Bell John son of Robert Thornebrand in Newbottle 7 20 June 1592 Thos. Weir Blais son of late Robert Hamilton in Sheriffdome of Lanark 7 12 Mch. 1593-4 Paul Masoun . Robert sou of late Thomas Crystie in Culros 5 16 Apr. 1598 Geo. Patoun . William son of John Ray, workman for 7 27 June 1598 Andro Symson, John son of Robert Symson in the Pleasance 7 9 Jan. 1598-9 John Brown . William son of John Aytoun in Musselburgh 7 Adam Walker, Crestell son of late W m - Miller fishmonger 8 14 Aug. 1599 Thos. Weir Thos. son of late John Tailzepher mason in Lesmahago 7 27 May 1600 John Watt Andro son of late Robert Hamilton in Burnhead . 7 24 Mch. 1600 Henry Tailzepher . William son of late W m - Currie in Blackwood, Parish of Lesmahago ..... 7 28 April 1601 John Tailzepher William son of Thos. Tailzepher in Lesmahago 7 30 June 1601 Blaise Hamilton Thomas son of Andro Paterson in Rrunttield, Shaipon, Lanark 7 15 Feb. 1603 Adam Walker William Stewart ..... 7 18 April 1604 Alex. Watt Archibald son of late Alexis. Bowie 7 28 Jan. 1607 John Telzpher Robert half-brother to John 7 15 June 1608 John Watt, younger William Hastie ..... 7 12 June 1611 Alex. Watt Robert son of W m - Evett, Mason, . 8 10 June 1612 John Watt, younger Thomas Reoch ..... 8 18 Nov. 1612 Thomas Paterson . William son of John Templeton in Threipwoood . 7 2 Dec. 1612 Thos. Couston John son of late Janies Baird in little Kipt 7 2 June 1613 Thos. Taillepher Andrew son of late Jas. Mitchell in Draffen . 8 15 Jany. 1614 Andro Symson John son of late Patrick Brainds in Lass wade 7 6 April 1614 John Taillefer Hew son of late Alex. Cunningham of Tourisland . 7 22 June 1614 Alex. Watt John son of late Arch. Meur in Coultermains 7 29 Nov. 1615 Thos. Paterson Thomas Eistoun ..... 7 12 June 1616 John Symson . Thomas Roberton ..... 7 27 Nov. 1616 John Watt William son of late James Hastie of Threipwood . 7 17 Dec. 1617 Jas. Haistie David son of late Andrew Smart workman in Leith 11 In succession to Sir Robert Drummond William Schaw, a man of wide culture, who played a prominent part in the development of Freemasonry, was appointed Master of Work to the Crown, apparently through the kindly influence of Queen Anne. The Privy Seal Writ in this instance has not been preserved. His signature, however, is of frequent occurrence in the early records of the Incorporation of Mary’s Chapel, Edinburgh. 62 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. In the month of May 1590 he was paid £400. “ by his Majesty’s precept, for reparation of the house at Dunfermling, befoir the Queene’s Majesties passing thereto.” In the entry he is called Master of Work, and had evidently been employed to repair the jointure-house of the Queens of Scotland at Dunfermline, which in the year 1600 he rebuilt. This entire lordship formed a portion of the dowry of Anne of Denmark, and William Schaw became her Chamberlain, and a great favourite with this Danish Princess. He also did good work in regard to the restoration of the great Abbey, now falling into decay. To the nave, the aisles, the steeple, and the north porch he gave special attention. We also note that in the year 1594 some alabaster and a thousand “stun” of lead were purchased with a view to the better adornment of the Castle of Stirling. In the month of November 1599 William Schaw gave in his account for various works executed at Holyrood, on the hall, the “forewark,” and other parts of the Palace. One of these three sheets amounts to £63, 12s. 6cl. He also sent James Murray, the Master Wright, from Dunfermline to Edinburgh, and observes: “ I never allowit less wages this year to James Murray than 13s. 4d. each day.” Against another Holyrood account he writes:—“ Summa £60 18s. 4d., and for drink given to the Wrights at their idle hours 34 shillings, which I made a difficulty to allow until the Master Wright should let my Lord Treasurer know the cause why it is given.” His employment, however, by both the King and the Queen was not of long duration. In the midst of his active and useful career he was cut off by sudden death on April 18, 1602, and a very elaborate monument was erected to his memory by direction of the Queen. In the rather lengthy inscription, his intellectual accomplishments, his extensive knowledge of foreign lands, and his excellent skill in architecture are highly praised. A curious monogram, making up the letters of his name, was cut on a small piece of marble, and inserted on the upper portion of the sepulchral edifice. A side light is thrown on his character by the fact that an old record states that on one occasion he was wounded in a duel by “ Buccleugh,” being second to Sir R. Ker. His name will always be chiefly remembered in connection with the Abbey of Dunfermline. If his work shows any signs of foreign influence, we must trace the source to Denmark, and not to France. Throughout the sixteenth century the town of Dundee occupied a position of considerable importance. Situated at the mouth of the broad water of Tav, its citizens held the absolute control of all the merchandize that passed by sea to the populous town of Perth. At a nearly equal distance from Aberdeen to the north, and Edinburgh to the south, its mart was frequented THE REVIVAL UNDER JAMES VI. 63 by the leading merchants, who carried 011 business with the various sea ports on the eastern coast of Scotland. The subjoined notices from the early records of the Corporation will serve to illustrate the general activity of the citizens in regard to building; as well as the comparative wealth of the town in early days. Its present magni¬ ficent commercial position is a recent development of the practical activity and energy always shown by its citizens from the first dawn of history. We insert the appointment by the Provost, Bailies, and Council of the Burgh of Dundee, and Andrew Barry, Parish Kirk minister, of George Boiss, mason, for life, to the the kirk and town works of the said burgh, 23rd March 1537. The original indenture is in the Dundee Archives, and grants £24 Scots in yearly fee, and £10 for an apprentice :— This indentit charter party, made at Dundee the xxiij day of March, the year of God ane thousand five hundred and thretty-sex years, proports and bears witness that it is appointit and fully concludit and agreit betwix honourable men—the Provost, Bailies Council, and communitie of the burgh of Dundee, and Andro Barry, kirkmaister for the time, of the paroch Kirk of Our Lady of the samin, on that ane part, and George Boiss, mason, on that other part, in manner form and effect as follows :—That is to say, the said Provost, Bailies, Council, and Communitie of the said burgh, with the said kirkmaister for the time, with the consent and assent of the said George Boiss, set and infeft him for all the days and terms of his lifetime for his daily werk and lawbour of mason craft, of the best and craftiast and of maist judgement that he can or may, at the Kirk werk foresaid or comon werks of the said burgh, or at ony other werks within the said burgh that the said town please best to command him thereto ony time when need beis to werk or lawbour at the command of the maisters of werks, the town forsaid commanding him thereto for the time, and that whenever he beis requirit as said is to use, do, and exerce the best and maist ingenious points [and] practiks of his craft foresaid. And he to keep his entries daily and hourly to his lawbour foresaid at the samin times and hours as the auld use and consuetude of Our Lady Luge of Dundee had and usit before—that is to say, in summer to enter at five hours in [the] morning and wirk till aucht before noon, and then to have ane half hour to his disjune, and therefter to wirk till half hour till twelve hours, and to enter at ane hour efter noon and wirk till four hours efter noon, and then to have ane half hour to his none-schanks, an syne to wirk till seven hours at even. And when the day beis short that he may nocht see at five hours in the morning, and at seven hours [at] even then he sail enter into ilk day as soon as he may see, and wirk as lang as he may see at even ; and to keep time of dennar, none, and none-schanks as is foresaid ilk year till All-hallows. And fra that day to the Purification of our Lady day next therefter to have na time of license of dennar nor none-schanks, because of the shortness of the days. And the said George sail werk nane other werks nor lawbours in time of werk days but licence of the maister of werks he beis under for the time. And the said George sail wirk all festuall evens that beis fastrin days, till four hours efter noon, except Zule even, Pask even, Whitson even, and the Assumption even of Our Lady, and thai four evens to leave at twelve hours ; and all other evens to wirk till even at the time fore-exponit. The said George sail have yearly for the days and terms of his lifetime as is foresaid, to his yearly fee the soum of twenty-four pounds, usual money of Scotland, to be weil and thankfully payit be us or our maister of werks of our Kirk guids and common guids, without fraud or guile, ilk half¬ quarter payment before hand—efter the auld use of Our Lady Luge—that is to say, three 64 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. pounds ilk half-quarter. Also gif it happen the said George [to] be chargit, or the town requirit for him, to the King’s werk, or to ony other lord’s or gentleman’s werks, in that case the said George, [being] all summer fra the town’s werks foresaid, sail have na fee of the town nor their maister of werks. Also gif it happens the said George to take infirmitie or sickness, and lies therein till our the space of forty days continually, in that case his fee sail be payit to him thai forty days in time of his sickness, and na mair till he be at the werk again. And the said George sail have ane prentice fra vij years to vij years, and as the time of ane runs furth to tak ane other, and the said prentice to be receivit at the sicht of the maister of werks that he be nocht ane small child. And he sail mak them free without ony fee the first year of their entry; and ilk year therefter of the vj years his prentice sail have ten pounds of fee, payit till the said George in the samin manner as his awn fee beis payit, and terms. And gif it happens his prentice to tak sickness, in that case .his prentice sail be answerit of his fee as his maister in his sickness. And, for the faithful observing and keeping of all the premises, baith the said Provost, Bailies, Council, and Communitie, and maister of werk for the time on that ane part, and the said George on the other part, are bunden and oblist till other be the faith of their bodies—all fraud and guile secludit. In witness of the whilk, to the part of this indentit charter party to remain with the said Provost, Bailies, Council, and Communitie, and maister of werk, the said George has affixit to his seal subscryvit with his hand led at the pen, and to the part of the samin to remain with the said George, the common seal of the said burgh is appensit, year, day, and place foresaid before thai witness—Maister John Barry, Vicar of Dundee, George Rollok, David Rollok, Bailie, James Wedderburn, younger, Maister John Gledstanis, Gilbert Rolland, Andro Buchan, with others diverse. GEORGE BOISS with my hand led at the pen. Under the year 1568 the fortifications of the town are thus described in Maxwell’s Old Dundee :— At this time the town had no complete wall of defence around it, and no other protec¬ tion than the ports on the streets and the enclosures of houses; but a fortified position was constructed on the ground belonging to Robert Myln, upon the Corbie Hill, an eminence now all quarried away, which lay on the north of the Overgate, and commanded the western accesses. When Montrose made his assault in 1645, this place was well armed, but at first it probably contained only a few guns of small size: “John Will was ordained to keep and watch the new fort at Robert Myln’s hill ay and quhill he be dischairgit, and to have for every twenty-four hours’ lawbour two shillings.” Extracts from the Council Books of the Burgh of Dundee :— 18th June 1567.— Item, It is presentlie considerit be the saiddis prowest bailleis counsell dekinis of craftis and communatie that the peir hawin schoir and bulwark of this burch quhilkis ar the principal partis of the policie and common weill of this burch ar grytlie decayit rwinois and abill to perishe in schort tyme throw the quhilk the traffoque and exchange of this burch be so is abill to be vterlie losit, thairfoir and for support ol the saiddis placis of policie it is statut and ordanit that ilk tone of fre mennis guiddis arrywand at this port quhilkis payis na small customis quliidder thai be merchand craftismen skipperis or marineris sail pay to the reparitione of the said hewin and bulwark schoir and peir four d., and the last of all vder guiddis conforme to the tone to pay the saidis four d., and siklyk that all awnaris of schippis freme of this burch that payis nocht the saiddis small customis sail pay for the wphold for said four d. of every tons fraucht haid in thair saiddis schippis, and that twa tone of salt to pay onlie four d., and the ton of all vder guiddis or geir without THE REVIVAL UNDER JAMES VI. 65 exception to pay the saiddis four pennis, and this present dewtie to be tane up for the spaice of twa yeris allanerlie. Item, It is statut and ordanit for the weilfair reparatione and wphald of the saiddis schoir hewin and bulwark that the anchorage hawin silwer customis and dewties thakin of all strangeris and freme of vder burrowis lossing ladding and arrywing at this port be onlie aplyit takin wp and warit wpoun the said schoir hewin and bulwark and newer heirefter rowpit to ony vder vse. 7th October 1567.—Ordanit that the act maid anent laying the tymmer on the shore and other acts and privileges grantit to the welfare of the shore and bulwark be put to execution without feid or favor. Alex. Scrimgeour to be peirmaster and George Bell his officer. 2d October 1581.— Item, It is statute and ordanit that in respect of the greit wrak and decay of the tolbuith, the schoir and builwarkis and mercat croce that the thesaurer and piermaisteris attend diligentlye in all possible haist to the reparatioun of the saidis warkis. . . Item, It is statute and ordainit that the peirmaisteris of this burgh incontinent conduce 1 with the boittis and transport and tak away the peir or schoir biggit bayth on thair awin proper grand and of thair awin stanois and the greit detrement and hurt of thair commoun salmond fishchingis and to fill the bulwarkis thairwith. 15th February 1591.—Quhilk day the provest bailleis and counsall hes concludit that the town sail be fortifeit be ane wall according to his Maiesties licence grantit to that effect and for this purpose hes nominat William Duncane baillie &c. to convene and advyse anent the forme and meane how the sam sail be maist connnodiouslie biggit to the effect that all nichbouris may beir burding thairin according to thair habiliteis. The Corporation of Dundee were also wise enough to take definite measures for the maintenance of public order in their town. As Mr. A. Maxwell observes, in his learned History of Old Dundee, the carrying of long- weapons was forbidden, and it was ordained “that na neighbours sail wear upon their person within the liberties of the burgh, ony swords, cutlasses, lang daggers or other lang wappens, unless they have licence of our Soverane Lord’s Secret Council, or be commandit specially by the Provost in the common service for assisting the magistrates in the execution of their office, under the pain of ten pounds.” This judicious ordinance was issued in the year 1582, and about the same time John Mylne rose to eminence in connection with the principal buildings of the town and the neighbourhood. He is first mentioned in the subjoined interesting extract from the historical work of an old peer of Scotland 2 :— 1584.—The Parliament being brocken up, the Lord Somerville comes to the Drum accompanied with his father or his brother-in-law (for I am not certain which of the two he was to him) Alexander Lord Seatone, and John Myllne, the King’s Master Meassone. Haveing pitched upon the place for situatione, they agree with him for building a house 1 Forthwith proceed. 2 Somerville Memoirs. A History of the Baronial House of Somerville. By James, 11th Lord Somerville. Written in 1679. Edited by Sir Walter Scott. Edinburgh, 1815. Yol. i. p. 459. I 66 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. the lenth, breadth, and hight being condescended upon. The wholl contryveance, with the price was by the Lord Somervill and Master Myflne, remittit to the Lord Seatoune, he being one of the greatest builders in that age ; and at the very tyme had the King’s Master of works at Seatoune, building that large quarter of his palace towards the North East. The place of Drum was begune in June 1584, and finished in October 1585 in the same forme it is in at present, but one story laigher, it being some years therefter by ane casuall fyre brunt doune, Hugh Somervill, youngest sone, but then second sone by the death of his brethren, to this Lord Hugh, rebuilt the same, and raised it one story higher. The roumes are few, but fair and large; the entrie and stair-caice extremely ill placed, neither is the outword forme modish, being built all in lenth in forme of a church. It was finished the second tyme, being again brunt by accident in anno 1629 ; and so remaines until this day in the possessione of the first builders posteretie. This nobleman in imitatione of his father-in-law repaired much of Cowthally house, and made it somewhat more light, most of the roumes before this being very dark. He likewise took off the roof from the long gallery, and raised it in hight equall to the two towers whereinto the same gallery joyned, and sclait it all with sclaites. This worke he finished in the year 1586. The building of the house of Drum, and the repairing of the Castle of Cowthally occasioned this lord to contract more debt then what formerly he had put himself into, by his pleaing with the house of Cambusnethen. Therefore, in the year 1587, he borrowes from one Gilberts, a goldsmith and jeweller to the Queen, ane thousand punds Scotts, and wodsett to him the lands of Gutters under redemptione. So soon as the works at Drum House were completed, John Mylne devoted his entire attention to the various requirements of the town of Dundee, making the necessary repairs on the harbour and erecting the market cross in 1586. The ancient shaft, now standing upon a new base, and in a somewhat different position, still serves its original purpose, and is a graceful ornament to the town as well as a valuable memorial of the olden time. He was made burgess and guild-brother by the grateful citizens. Extract from the Burgess or Lockit Book of Dundee :— 12th September 1587.—Eodem die Joannes Myln latomus effectus est burgensis et frater gilde pro servitio eius prestito et prestando in hac republics et precipue in reparando pleno portu. Translation. The same day John Myln mason was made burgess and guild brother for his services done and to be done in this burgh and especially in renewing the whole of the harbour works. An important work, however, soon called him into the country, as will be seen by the subjoined contract for mason work between Mr. Thomas Bannatyne of Kirktoun, Senator of the College of Justice, and George Thomesone and John Mylne, masons, burgesses of Dundee, for a gallery and other additions to his house at the Kirktoun of Newtyle. 28th February 1589.—In presence of the Lordis of Counsell comperit personalia Mr. Thomas Bannatyne of the Kirktoun of Newtyld ane of the Senatouris of the College of Justice to the effect efter specifeit on the ane part—and siclik comperit Mr. Henrie M’Calyen procuratour for George Thomesone and Johne Mylne masonis burgessis of Dundie on the vther part _and gaif in the contract vnder writtin subscriuit with thair handis desyring the same to be actit and registrat in the Buikis of Counsell and to haue the strenth of ane decreit of THE REVIVAL UNDER JAMES VI. 67 the Lordis thairof with executoriallis to pas thairupoun in maner thairin contenit—the quhilk desyr the saidis Lordis thocht ressonabill and thairfor hes ordanit and ordanis the said contract to be actit and registrat in the saidis Buikis of Counsell and decernis the same to haue the strenth of thair decreit and ordanis executoriallis to be direct thairvpoun in maner specifeit thairintill off the quhilk the tennour foliowis—At Edinburgh the last day of Februar the yeir of God i m v c lxxxix ye iris it is appointit agreit and finalie contractit betuix the parteis efter-specifeit — to wit Mr. Thomas Bannatyne of the Kirktone of Newtyle ane of the Senatouris of the College of Justice on the ane part and George Thomesone and Johne Mylne massones burgessis of Dundie on the vther part in maner forme and effect as efter followis—that is to say—The saidis George Thomesone and Johne Mylne hes bund and obleist thame coniunctly and seuerally lik as thay be the tennour heirof bindis and oblessis thame to big and performe to the said Mr. Thomas within the Kirktoun of Newtyld the biggingis wnder writin to wit—ane galrie betuix the south round and the waist galrie haueing thre houssis beneth to wit ane brew hous and gyle 1 hous and ane stable to be deuidit be tua parpane 2 wallis to the heicht and lauell of the wnder houssis of the galrie alreddey biggit and of the wednes of tuell futtis with thre durris heuin ane in the brewhous ane throche 3 the parpane wall within the said brewhous to the gyle hous and ane of the clossis to the stable and the lenth of euerie hous to be deuidit at the discretioun of the said Mr. Thomas the heicht of euerie dure to be equall to the dure that euactis frome the place to the auld wark and ilk ane of the lenthe houssis to have ane window on the clos liand anundir the jesting of the widnes and heicht at the said Mr. Thomas deuisis and abone the jestis sail big ane galrie of the haill lenth betuix the foil- wall and the syd wall of the galrie alreddie bigit and sail tak doun samekill of the syd wall thairof as sail serue for ane entrey frome the ane galrie to the vther quhair he sail big ane hewin dure of the heicht foirsaid and rais the gauell thairof vpone the syd wall of the said gauell sua that samekle of the est syd wall of the galrie alreddie biggit salbe heichtit to the heicht of ane weill proportiound gauell to the said galrie and sail (in the galrie quhilk thay haue to big) rais the vther gauell vpone the eist foirwall quhairin thay sail place ane commodeous chimnay and ane windok in the said eist gawill in proportioun of hicht and wydnes dew for sic ane hous and sail rais ane cabinat abone the vne in the round alreddie foundit quhilk salbe proportionat to the haill wvdnes that may be gottine with tua windois thairin the wallis abone the jestis of the cabinat to be ellevine futis hicht the sydwallis thairof sevin fute of the said John Mylneis naturall fute on the south four storme windois fynlie wrocht and on the clois thrie placit sua that nane of thaime offend vtheris lichtis 4 with ane hewin timber table abone the haill galrie and the storme windois to be als fyne wark as theis of William Rollokeis galrie of Dundie with armes to be put thairin at the said Mr. Thomas deuise—Attour thay sail end and perfyt the said foirwall alreddie begun hichtand the samin abone the pend 5 of the yett 8 and cover the said pend with flag stanis weill hewin and proportiound and sail sailzie 7 the bartazine s thairof that it may commodiouslie beir the lummingis 9 to be biggit thairin quhilkis lummingis salbe distant euerie ane from vther to the lenth of ane elne allanerlie 10 the first beginnand ane elne frie fra the north round and the last endand within ane elne to the south round and sail big the haill lummingis and kaip 11 the samin and haill foirwall with hewin wark the saillis of the saimin and sail mak ane houssing 12 for the Kingis armes justlie abone the mid pend of the for zet 13 and sail wirk fynlie the Kingis armes and places 14 thairin and in euerie ane of the roundis ane 1 Steep. 2 Partition. 3 Through. 4 Lights. 5 Archway. 6 Gate. 7 Corbeling. 8 Parapet. 9 Chimney shaft. 13 Entrance gate. 10 Only. 14 Sunk reveals. 11 Cope. 12 Recessed panel. 68 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. seuerall housing for armes and sail wirk the Erie of Crafurdis armes to be put in the ane and the Lord Justice Clerkis armes to be put in the vther and sail big ane doueat 1 in the north round ellevine 3 fut abone the jesting thairof with ane dure to enter of any of the wallis as salbe thoeht convenient the hieht thairof ellevine fute with als money alsueffl acommodat hallis as can be deuisit with tua timmer tables hewing wark in euerie ane of the tua roundis the ane medwall and the vther abone on the heicht thairof and sail mak that the roundis sail rys to ane heicht and thay sail big the north barnes 3 in wall in all thingis correspondent to the foirentrie in heicht lummingis and hewin wark with ane convenient skaill 4 to go to the dowcat and foirwall with ane yet throuche the samin of hewin wark to go to the yard and als sail big ane stair to go out of the clos to the galrie with stappes round hewin and ane reuell hewin wark and rasit vpone the THE SIGNATURES OF G. THOMSON, J. MYLNE, AND T. BANNATYNE. BANNATYNE HOUSE, STRATHMORE. stair And the saidis George and Johne sail furnes seruandis borrowmen and all vthei thingis necessar to the said wark vpone thair awin proper expenssis sua that thay sail ma k° fre the said Mr. Thomas of all maner of expenssis excep' the sowmes allanerlie wnderwritin Thair entrie to the wark forsaid to be and begin betuix and the xv day of Merche nixtocum God willing—for the quhilk wark the said Mr. Thomas Bannatyne bindis and oblessis him his airis executouris and assignais to content pay and deliuer to the saidis George Thomsons and Johne Mylne the sowme of thre hundreth merkis* m maner following 0 to wit—Ane hundreth merkis at the making heirof and ane hundreth merkis quhen the haffl wark beis maid the heicht of the hous and the third hundreth merkis in compleit payment at the perfyteing and ending of the said wark with ane sufficient bounteth at the said Mr. Thomas discretioun And the said Mr. Thomas oblessis him to furnes all materiallis sic as lyme sand and stane to the said biggnig and sail lay the saidis stanes within fourscoir fute to the wall And for fulfilling of the premissis the saidis parteis ar content and consentis this present contract be actit and registrat in the Buikis of Counsell or Townes Buikis of Dundie and to haue the strenth 1 Dovecot. - Eleven. 8 .Store closets. 4 Stair. 8 £200 Scots. THE REVIVAL UNDER JAMES VI 69 of ane act and decreit of the Lordis or prouest and balzeis thairof executoriallis of horning vpone ane simple charge of thre dayis poinding or wairding to pas thairupon, and for registering heirof makis Mr. Henrie M'Calzeane etc. coniunctly and seuerally thair procuratouris to compeir and consent thairto promittentes de rato. In witnes quhairof baith the saidis parteis hes subscriuit this present contract as followis day yeir and place foirsaidis befoir thir witness Johne Robertsone noter Dauid Andersone seruandis to James Logane William Bannatyne seruitor to the said Mr. Thomas, George Duff Sic subscribitur Mr. Thomas Bannatyne, George Thomesone with my hand, Johne Mylne, John Robesone as witnes, George Duff as witnes, David Andersone witnes. Nevertheless, we find that John Mylne continued to maintain close relationship with his native town, and to execute various works for the authorities of both Church and State, until he finally removed to Perth to take charge of the erection of the great bridge over the water of Tay. Hence his familiar name, previously occurring so often, nearly drops out of the Dundee records after the year 1604. From the Treasurer’s Accounts, Burgh of Dundee :— Discharge. Nov. 1588 to May 1589.— Item, For ane lache in Viliam Kydis quhair the bealze agreit with Jhonne Mille and Georges Tamsone for beigen the prowestis greff, 1 ....... Item, Gyffen to Jhonne Mille and Georges Tamsone for bigen of the greff, Nov. 1594 to May 1595.—To ane boit to bring John Mill aschoir again for payment of his ten lib., ..... Nov. 1602 to May 1603.— Item, To John Mill for making the turnpek duir new, hewing the cheikis thairof, inputting ane new lintell, and batting the hail duiris of the tolbuith, and mending their headis abow with a double jak to the turnpek duir,..... Item, To his boyis,..... Disbursement on the Library. ,, To the meason Jhon Mill to mak al the headis for the ribs the iron bottis and to mak the 4 vindois and to outred the haill meason work, ,, The vrycht and the measons drink at the headis making of the ribs, For the Reparation oj the School and Masters Chambers. Nov. 1603 to May 1604. Item, To Jhone Myll for transletting 2 the dor and wyndokis conforme to William Duncans and William Mans apoyntment, Item, At the agreement with Johne Myll, ,, To Jhone Myll for recompans of his wark, . £ s. d. (Scots.) 0 116 33 6 8 0 2 0 9 0 0 0 6 8 8 0 0 0 2 8 20 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 For the Common Works of the Town. „ To Jhone Myll for repairinge Koutes Wynd Head 3 . . . 2 0 0 In the year 1614 the royal expenditure on the Castles of Edinburgh and Stilling, as well as the Palace of Holyrood, under the general direction of James Murray of Kilbaberton, Master of Work, amounted to £1053, 6s. lOd. Provost (Halliburton’s) grave. 2 Shifting. 3 Stone gateway north end of Coutties Wynd. 70 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Ill 1G16 the sum of 5000 merks was expended on the castle of the Archbishop of St. Andrews, in order effectually to prevent this ancient structure from going to utter ruin. There is also preserved a paper of instructions and accounts relating to the Royal Chapel of Holyrood, describing the twenty-six stalls and four benches, and the gallery above for the King and Queen. The dates of 1615 and 1616 on a characteristic portion of the south¬ eastern buildings of the Castle behind the Half-Moon Battery may well be connected with William Wallace, who on 18th April 1617 was appointed Principal Master Mason to the Crown by King James VI. He first obtained royal patronage on account of liis skilful carving, and he is frequently designated as the Carver in the extant lists of masons working for the Sovereign. Now the general resemblance between the mouldings in this part of the Castle and Heriot’s Hospital, especially in regard to the pediments above the windows and the tracery connected therewith, seem to show that in both these cases we meet with reliable traces of his painstaking handicraft. We may also connect his name with the final completion of the northern side of Linlithgow Palace in the year 1620. Ane Letter maid makand mentioun that our Souerane Lord vriderstanding that his hienes darrest mother of worthie memorie maid and constitut vmquhile Johne Roytell Frenehenian principal! maister maissoun to all his hienes warkis concerning the aucupatioun during all the dayis of his lyfetyme And gaue and grantit to him ane certane fie for exercising of the said office And that be his deceis the said office is now vacant in his hienes handis And his Majestie remembering the guid trew and thankfull service done to his hienes be his lovit William Wallace scottisman maissoun in his deployment anent the reparatioun of his Ma l ' e3, castell of Edinburgh and palice of Halyrudhous and vtheris his Ma“”' warkis And his Ma““' being willing that the said Williame continue in his said service Thairfoir our said Souerane lord with advyse of the lordis of his hienes privie Counsale making constituting and ordaining the said Williame Wallace his hienes prin- cipall maister massoun to all his Ma"”' master warkis within this Realme of Scotland concerning his occupatioun during all the dayis of his lyfetyme Giving to him the office thairof with all priuiledge fredomes and commodities that thereto pertain And for vsing thairof and attendance thairopone Gevand grantand and disponand to the said Williame Wallace the sum of Ten pundis scottis money in name of fie to be payit monthly to him during all the dayis of his lyfetyme be his Majesties thesaurar and comptroller thesaurar and comptrollar deputtis and vnder receivers of his Ma t,es ' rentis and casualties of the said kingdome of Scotland or ony of them present and that sail happin to be for the tyme Beginning the first monethis payment thairof vpone the first day of May nixt to cum Commanding heirfoir the saidis thesaurar and comptrollar thesaurar and comptroller deputtis and vnder receivers of his Ma““- rentis and casualities of the said kingdome present and to come To answer obey and mak thankfull payment to the said TV illiame Wallace off the said soume of Ten pundis money forsaid monethlie during his lyfetyme And the samen salbe thankfullie allowit to them in thair comptis of the checker be the auditouris thairof quhome his hienes chairges in lyk maner to defais and allow to them The said letter being once producit vpone account and registrat in the rollis as vse is Becaus the said Williame Wallace efter sufficient tryell tane be James Murray his THE REVIVAL UNDER JAMES IV 7 1 Majesties maister of wark anent the qualificatioun of the said Williame to use and exercise the said office He is fund able and qualefeit to use and exerce the samen sufficientlie.— At Edinburgh, 18th April 1617. Per Signaturam. The names of eleven masons employed on Stirling Castle in the year 1617, taken from a record nearly obliterated by damp :— John Scherar. William Rynd. John Dryisdaill (?) James Johnstoune. David Aitken. John Stene. John Crawfurd. John Gott. James Service. Robert Sawers(?) William Cristall. The names of ten masons employed on the Castle of Dumbarton in 1617 :— Matthew Foultoun. John Foultoun. John Lindsay (?) Robert Foultoun. Thomas Lindsay (?) Allan Foultoun. Robert Welsche. Jasper Truills. John Caldwell. Robert Caldwell. The names of twenty-four masons employed on the Castle of Edinburgh, 1610-8: — William Wallace, Carver. Thomas Pillen. Robert Norie. John Brown. James Stene. Robert Gottersone. Andro Watsone. James Logye. James Richesone. Thomas Haddow (?) John Douglas. Duncan Campbell. The above names, with many additions, recur frequently between 1618 and 1622. The names of twenty-seven masons employed on the Palace of Linlithgow 1618 and 1619. John Ritchie. John Service. John (?) John Gilmour. Alex. Galbraith. Mungo Hammiltoun. James Murray. William Rae. William Watsone. Andro Caister. Wm. Neilsone. Robert Aikinkeid. William Wallace. John Richie. James Stein. Archibald Stein. Alex. Galbraith. Wm. Richie. John (?) Robert Norie. James Gilbert. Janies Kirkland. Malcolm Stirling. Archibald Boyd Robert Schort. Patrick Br yce. Patrick Toures. John Bryce (?) 7 2 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. John Mitchell. Nicol Gibbesone. John Gibbesone. John Service. James Service. John Gilmour. Robert Gilmour. Mungo Hammiltoun. Thomas Millar. John Boig. James Weir. In the years 1622 and 1623 James Gilbert, James Kirkland, John Boge, Thomas Enslie, and Matthew Bailey were occupied on various works at Edinburgh Castle, Stirling, and Holyrood. In 1625 twelve masons were employed on Stirling Castle:— William Wallace. William Rind. John Saweris (?) John Merischell (?) Simon Barrie. John Service and his son. In 1627 William Wallace gives in Robert Sandersone. James Rynd. Robert Norrie. David Mein. Thomas Pill. Mick Allane. account as Master Mason of these works. We here insert various extracts from the royal accounts of the Masters of the King’s Works, which illustrate the general circumstances of the times, and first give the names of masons employed on some of the public works after 16th May 1625, each for the period of six days:— William Rynd. John Merschell. James Rynd. David Meyne. Johne Saweris. Simon Barrie. Robert Norie. The same parties were afterwards employed at Stirling Castle with the addition of Thomas Pillen. 20th June 1625.— Item, to Jonet Porteous xviii dailies to the abbey of Halyrudhous, ...••••• 27th June 1625.— Item , for transporting of Thomas Pillenis graith from Ed to Stirling, . • • • • • ‘ 1st July 1625.— Item, upon the first of Julii the Maister of Wark tuike jorney from Ed r - to Stirling, for his extraordinar chairges in that jorney and the tyme he abaid thair, ...••• £9 0 0 2 0 0 12 0 0 Stirling Castell, 18th July, 25th July, 8th Aug., and 15th Aug. 1625. Maissounes. Willame Walllace, M r - Maissoune. Robert Sandersone. William Rind. James Rynd. Johne Saweris. Robert Norie. John Merschell. David Mein. Simon Barrie. Thomas Pillen. Johne Service and his sone. Nicoll Allane. THE REVIVAL UNDER JAMES VI. 73 The same were employed on 22nd and 29th Aug., and 5th Sept., with addition of James Lawrie. The same were also employed on 12th Sept., 3rd Oct., and 10th Oct., with the exception of Johne Service, his son, Nic. Allane, and J. Lawrie. The same were employed on 24th Oct., with addition of Andro Meyne. October 1625.— Item, to William Wallace M r- Maissoune for his transport with his man haime over from Stirling to Edin r - at the ending of the warkis, £4 0 0 Item , mail* to him for xx pund weycht of small irne maid be him for wirking of the lyounes and vnicornes with the rest of the kingis badges, (sum illegible.) „ mair to him for symont furneist to the haill wark this yeir, . . £3 0 0 ,, to Dauid Meyne for his transport, . . . . .14 0 14th November 1625 .—Massounes at Stirling Castell. Robert Norie. Simon Barrie. Johne Merschell. Robert Sandersone. 21st Nov. 1625.— Item, to Johne Hay Sklaitter and sex with him for thair transport hame to Dundie at the wpgiveing of the warkis, . . 10 0 0 Item, to Walter Murray for his chairges and horsehyre in cuming from Stirling to Edinburgh to get siluer fra my Lord Thesaurer Depute for the warkmen and for his extraordinar chairges the tyme of his abode thair, 13 6 8 The Compt of James Murray of Kilbabertoune, Maister of Wark to our Soverane LorU, Ed r - 27 th July 1627. 16th Jan. 1626.— Item, to Johne Boig maissoune and ane warkman with him for bigging vp of ane bak of chimlay in my Lord Chancellaris, . 6th March 1626.— Item, to Johne Boig maissoune and ane man ane day in bigging wp of the constables chimley bakes in the castell of Edinburch, 20th March 1626 .—Maissounes at the Abey. Johne Boig—iiii dayes, ....... Alexander Foster—iiii „ . 27th March 1626 .—Maissounes at the castell yett. Alexander Forest—iiii dayes, ....... David Pacok—iiii „ Item, to tua warkmen for carying of foure kitching buirdes and tua durres from the castell of Ed r ‘ to the abbay to my Lord of Maris kitching, ,, to four warkmen for wailling the plankis and laying thame over and taking out of sum of thame and carying thame out of the munitioune hous to the warkhous, ....... ,, to the said men for xvi laid of sand for bigging wp of thrie windowis with the well and sindrie vther thingis within the abbay at ii s - the laid—inde, ........ ,, mail- to thame for carying of sex laid of lyme from the castell to the abbay, ......... ,, for drink to the warkmen for carying of plankis out of the munitioune hous, ......... 0 12 0 0 18 0 2 8 0 2 8 0 2 8 0 2 8 0 0 8 0 0 16 0 1 12 0 0 6 0 K 0 10 74 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Item , to Henrie Keir in Lithgow be conditioune maid with him for bringing vp from the Nes to the pallace of xi 1 "' sklaittis and lykwyse of xxvi aikin tries, ^ ^ upon the fourt of Apryle the Maister of Wark tuke jorney to Lithgow to sie the pallace and to eonsidder the estait thairof and giveing ordour for sindrie thingis to be done thair for his chairges, . 8 0 0 farder for sum extraordinar chairges to Walter Murray in the jorney and for his horse-hyre, . . ■ ■ • ■ • 2 13 4 10th Apryle 1626.— Cowanes - 1 Andro M'Naucht—ii dayes, . . ■ • ■ • .14 0 John M'Naucht—ii „ • ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ . 0 12 0 Walter Murray—vi „ . • ■ • ■ ■ .500 5th June 1626 .—Maissouncs at Edinburgh Castell. Johne Murray—iiii dayes, . • • • ■ ■ .280 Johne Rentoune—ii „ • ■ • ■ ■ • .14 0 James Grant barroman—i daye, . ■ ■ • • .020 Item, to the Master Maissoune for casting and fixing of ane braissin chayne and for nailles and new erecking of the same wyth sum vther paines takin be him at the mid yett, . . ■ • • .368 24th July 1626.— Item, furneist to the abbay dykes of the north yaird for pinning poynting and helping of sum holls with the caipes thairof to James Robiesoune for xi laid of lyme at vi H 'viii d -the laid is . . 3 13 4 Item, to the said men for xx laidis of sand to the said lyme at vi 1 ' the laid is . 2 0 0 to Andro M'Nauch cowaner for thrie dayes wark and ane half in mending the saidis dykes he haveing xii’ - in the day— inde, . . 2 2 0 mair to ane man that servit him the said space haveand ii’ in the day.. .110 7th Aim 1626 —Item, to Thomas Falla for bigging ane slap in the park dyke. 0.12 0 21st August 1626.— Item, laid in be Williame Wallace to the vtter yett thrie laid of lyme at iiii”' ini 1 the laid—inde, . . . • 0 13 0 Item, for sex laid of sand at ii”' the laid, . ■ ■ ■ • 0 12 0 to ane barrowman half ane day at the riddilling and mixing of the sand and lyme, . • ■ • ■ ■ • .030 to Williame Wallace for ane day at the pointing and kaiping of the vtter yett, . . ■ • ■ ■ ■ .0134 to Johne Boge ane day with him, . . • • 0 12 0 ., to ane barrowman ane day, . . - ■ - .060 to Thomas Pillen half ane day in making in of sum bott hollis for the ime wark of the vtter yett, . • ■ ■ ■ .068 to ane maissoune and ane barrowman half ane day at the vpputting of the bak of the constabulles chimlay, . . ■ ■ .090 to John Boig maissoune tua dayes at the bigging wp of the durre in the volt and the gavell of it with the slap at the mid yett, . i • 14 0 to Andro Cors maissoune half ane day with him, . • ■ 0 6 0 to ane barrrowman tua dayes with him, . . ■ • ■ 0 12 0 1 A cowane or cowaner seems to be a younger mason. THE REVIVAL UNDER JAMES VI 75 28th Aug. 1626.— Item, wpon the 21 of August the Maister of Wark tuke jorney to the castell of Stirling and remayned in that jorney four dayes for his chairges, ....... £17 0 4 Item, for Walter Murrayes horse-hyre the said space, . . . . 3 6 8 ,, for sum extraordinar chairges to him, . . . . .368 Ane Compt of Sum Small Warkis done at the Castell off Edinburghe and the Abbay of Halyrudehous sen the Seyint Day of October 1626. Item, to Henrie Lawder . . . thrie weikis and tua dayes at the abbay at the mending of sindrie of the kingis stableis and coatch-houssis, „ to Williame Huntar wricht ten dayes at the foirsaid wark, „ to James Murray thrie weekis and tuo dayis at the foirsaid wark. 8 7 8 4 8 10 8 17 8 The Maister Maissoune his Compt (date omitted). Item, to William Wallace tua dayes in pointing and filling of the alreines of the counsallhous of Holyrudehous and Johne Boig maissoune with him, „ to James Logy that maid the plaister lyme to thame and servit thame, . ,, for ane staine of hair, ....... „ mair to William Wallace for foure great lek staines for the soill of the oven at Holyrudehous, ....... ,, mair for carying of thame from Leith to the abbay, ,, to James Gilbert thrie dayes at the hewing and laying of the soile of the oven, ........ ,, to Johne Boig maissoune the said space, ..... „ to Williame Watsoune that servit thame the said space, ,, to Williame Wilsoune for dichting of the foir bartiesanes and redding some vther thingis thair, ...... „ to Williame Wallace for his chairges in Leith quhen he bocht the oven stanes with onwaitting at the wark, ..... „ for xii laid of lyme, ....... „ for xxiiii laid of sand, ....... July 1626.— Item, to Jonet Porteous for nynescoir rungis to the Kingis stables at Halyrudehous, ....... Item, mair to hir for xii dailies cam vp in the winter befoir to mend the foir- saidis stables and for xii sparis, ..... ,, to Johne Quhyt for syliering of ane chalmer in his rowmes in the bak close of Halyrudehous and for mending the flures thair he furneissing all thingis belanging thairto, ...... „ for tua pund of candell furneissit to the mending of the stables and laying of the soile of the oven, ...... ,, for wpbringing of aucht hunder dailies from Leith to the abbay at iiii merkis the hunder, ....... „ mair to the horsemen for wp-carying of ane vther hunder dailies to the abbay, ......... „ to the cairteris for wpbringing off fourscoir tries from Leith to the abey at xxx d . the peice, ....... 2 13 4 0 14 0 0 9 O' 5 6 8 1 6 8 1 16 0 1 16 0 0 18 0 0 18 0 1 0 0 0 13 4 2 8 0 6 0 0 11 12 0 10 0 0 0 8 0 21 6 8 3 0 0 10 10 0 The Maister Smithe his Compt, etc., the Yeir of God 1626. (This account and the next relate entirely to iron work.) 76 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. The Maister Smithe his Compt furneissit to the Abbay. Abrahame Hamiltoune Smith his Compt. Item, schairpit to the maissounes that hewit sum pavement to the abbay sevin dossoune of irnes, • •••••• ,, mair schairpit tua stane axeis, • ••••• Robert Dinmure Smith his Compt (No date.) Item, mair to Williame Watsoune four days in dichting and redding of the lymehous and filling of some hollis in the cl os and bigging up sum baks chimleyis and going to the Stennes for lyme, .... to James Murray wriclit in doing of sindrie thingis, laid in be Johne Ros in the Stennes of lyme with his awn horse tuentie ane laid for laying of the pavement of the consallhous at ix s - the laid—inde, „ to his men to drink, ....... „ to Johne Murray for debursementis bestowit be him, to Williame Huntar for his attendance in Lithgow and receaveing xi m - sklaittis from the Nes and for carying thame in from the horse to the great Caitchepule at the pallace, ..... mair to him for carying of aucht scoir fittis of the conduite pypes from the Caitchpile to the womanhous in the pallace, to Williame Storie wricht and his sone for making of ane great parpane wall for devydeing the Kingis great butterie at Halyrudehous and for making of sum buirdis trestis and bonkeris the space of sevin dayes— inde, ..••••••• to Johne Boig maissoune for tua dayes wark at the bigging wp of ane window in the great pantrie and for putting in of sundrie irone stanchellis in thrie windowis thair and bigging up of ane bak of ane chimley—inde, ...•••■• to Thomas Bennet glaissin wricht for thrie glas windowis to the great butterie conteining tuentie four fittes of glas at iii s " the fitt mde, Thomas Broune Maister Smithe his Compt (No date). Item, to John Rid smith for tua braces to the Maister of Warkis hous at Halyrudehous weyand bothe four stane and sex pund and ane half at i s - the stane—inde, • ■••••• to Walter Murray Maister Oversiear of His Majesties Warkis for his extraordinar paines and travellis takin be him this auchten monethis in His Majesties warkis, ...•••• to the Maister of Warkis servandis for sindrie paines and travellis takin be thame the space of this compt, Ane Compt of Warkis and Provisionnes done at Halyrudehous fra i of Marche 1627 to the last of Junii thairefter. Item, to Williame Wallace Maister Maissoune for pavementing the inner counsallhous quhilk tuik tua rude and ane half of pavement the said Williame furneissing the stanes carriages and workmanschip and laying of the same he havemg for ilk rude iii xx li.- inde, mair to him for thrie ell and ane half of laid pavement in the windowis, mail- to him and his men that mendit the faultis and broken pairtis of the pavement of the vtter counsall hous, • £0 7 0 0 2 8 1 4 0 1 6 8 9 9 0 0 4 0 50 0 0 16 0 0 1 4 0 7 0 0 1 4 0 4 16 0 110 0 40 0 0 e 20th 150 0 0 6 0 0 10 0 0 THE REVIVAL UNDER JAMES VI. 77 Item, mair to him for ane new herthstane furneished wrocht and layed be him to the counsallhous chimley, ...... „ to Williame Edward maissoune for bigging up ane new chimley to my Lord Chancellaris brewhous and for bigging up some bakes of chimleyis and stricking out sum hoillis for the timber hous sevin dayes and ane half at xii s- in the day—inde, ...... ,, to James Gilbert and Robert Schort for ane day and ane half in bigging the furnas with the cheikis of the chimley, .... „ to Johne Boig maissoune ane day, ..... ,, to the warkmen that servit the foirsaidis maissounes and tuke wp the pavement caryit out the red and buire in the sand first to Williame Watsoune foure weikis and thrie dayes at vi s - in the day— inde, ......... ,, to Williame Storie wricht threttein weikis at liii 8- iiii' 1 - in the weike— inde, ......... „ to the maissounes to drink at the laying of the pavement, ,, to George Bartilman for fyve scoir nyntein laides of deid sand for laying the pavement in the counsalhous at xx d - the laid—inde, „ mair to Johne Heriot for ten lead of sea-cla}^ for my Lord Chancellaris furnes bigging up at iii 8, the laid is ,, to tua warkmen for carying of half ane hunder dailies from the tymber hous to the bak clos wythin the abbay, ..... „ mair to thame for carying of ten tries thair, .... ,, to James Gilbert and Williame Watsoune for laying of some pavement in my Lord of Maris, ....... ,, for wreiting thir haill comptis in mundo and doubling thir tua buikis this yeere and for paper and ink and binding of the samene, . ... „ to Robert Spalding for helping the comptaris and the clerkis to dispatch and end out thir bookes, ...... £5 13 4 4 10 0 2 0 0 0 12 0 8 2 0 34 13 4 0 12 0 9 18 4 1 10 0 0 3 0 0 6 0 0 12 0 60 0 0 20 0 0 Although little is known of Wallace’s early career, yet the old books of the Freemasons Lodge of St. Marie’s Chapel in Edinburgh subsequent to 1624 indicate that he was a leading member of the craft, and in the year 1628 he signs as “Deacon” the charter granted by the Masons of Scotland to Sir William St. Clair. His signature on this occasion is remarkably “bold and concise in style,” resembling that of W. Schaw, the well-known Master of the King’s Works. The death in 1624 of George Heriot, the Court jeweller, was indirectly the cause of his advancement. This munificent merchant bequeathed his large fortune for educational and charitable purposes, and Dr. Balcanqual came to Edinburgh in the year 1627 to make arrangements for carrying out his uncle’s will. For the space of three years William Wallace played a conspicuous part in the erection of Heriot’s Hospital; and some authorities, notably the learned David Laing, sometime librarian to the Signet, have given him the entire credit of the original design. It is, however, certain that Dr. THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Balcanqual, Dean of Rochester, 1 nephew and executor of George Heriot, himself presented the general outline of the plans according to which the Hospital was to be built. They might have been his own, or provided by some London friend about the Court, like the famous Inigo Jones, whom many writers deem the architect. They were, however, doubtless modified by the successive Master Masons. In the month of June 1627 the Governors in Council resolved that the Hospital should be “buildit, conforme to the pattern of the same, given by the said Dean of Rochester. The first payment was made to Wallace on January 22, 1628, and the first week’s wages were delivered on March 8. In the depth of the winter of 1628-9 he was sick, being only able to work three or four days in the week. Item, the 5 of February to William Wallace thrie dayis being sick, L3. He died suddenly at the end of October 1631, leaving his widow Agnes, daughter of Andrew Blackhall, minister of Inveresk, with several young- children, and but small means for their support. Hence an application is made by the said Agnes for assistance from the Governors in consequence of the “meyne and puir estait quhairin my umquhile husband hes left me and his small bairnes: ” and suitable aid is granted 21st November 1631. So much has already been written concerning the great Hospital of George Heriot that minute detail will be needless. The foundation of the stone-work was laid in the month of July 1628 immediately after hearing a sermon. Care was also taken to provide refreshment. If they did not pray for Heriot’s soul, we may readily believe they drank his health. Item, the first of Julij 1628. In the name of God, We begane to lay the crround-stane on Tyisday eftir the Sermone, and I gaive in drink-silver to the Maister Maissone and his Companiones at the founding of the Work, tua rosnobillis, is . ■ ■ • ■ • • 6 8 The barrowmen, however, were not content, and obtained a special allowance of £6, 13s. 4d. Timber was shipped from Norway, and stone brought from Ravelstoun quarry; the land was bought from Sir George Touris of Inverleith, and the good work made considerable progress; but not till after the troubles of the great Rebellion were over was the Hospital thrown open for the benefit of poor and necessitous children. The violence of the spirit of the times long 1 We assume the design of the building had been prepared by a party engaged by Dr Balcanqual; and as he frequently resided in London, the assumption is strengthened that Inigo Jones, the Court favourite, was the architect. So much obscurity, however, hangs over the original designer that it is difficult to come to any determination. Be it whom it may, the various minutes during the twenty-three yearn of the building of the Hospital show that much latitude was given to the Master Masons. Wallace's own assiduity is distinctly stated in the record “ of his extra- ordiner panes and grait cair he had in that wark, baith by his advyce and in the budding of the same ."—Note by R. W. Mylne, F.R.S. THE REVIVAL UNDER JAMES VI. 79 delayed the full completion of the pious founder’s intention, though we may assume that the plans presented by Dean Balcanqual were in the main adhered to, with the exception of details, throughout all changes of fortune. William Wallace also did some work at Pinkie, and was paid 500 merks by the Earl of Wintoun for works executed at Wintoun House. William Aitoune succeeded Wallace as Master of Works at Heriot’s Hospital. He came of an old family in Fife, and the name occurs amongst some of the lists of the earliest mason’s in the King’s service. He was not, apparently, a member of the Masonic Lodge of Edinburgh, and hence most authors have inferred he was a stranger to the town. Perhaps, however, he belonged to the Lodge of St. John’s, Holyrood, in the borough of the Canongate, whose records are not now in existence. He entered upon his work under a very stringent contract, still preserved. The Master Mason was to receive £6 scots weekly, besides £100 yearly; the overseer £3 weekly, and the masons and wrights £3, 12s. weekly. These sums are worth one-twelfth of the same sterling. Much of the beautiful sculpture was the work of Aitoune’s own hand ; and he deserves the full credit of the wonderful ingenuity which introduces charming variety of detail in the elaborate mouldings of the windows, while maintaining complete uniformity of general outline. Of the whole building, Sir Thomas Telford, ascribing the design to Inigo Jones, declares : “We know of no other instance in the works of a man of acknowledged talents where the operation of changing styles is so evident." All critics agree in regard to the acknowledged beauty of the result. CHAPTER VI. THE ANCIENT BRIDGE OF PERTH, a.d. 1210-1621. N the early history of Scotland the town of Perth always played an important part. Situated at the southern outlet of wild mountain passes in the Grampians, accessible to the North Sea by means of the broad water of Tay, half way between the Western Highlands and the chill East Coast, Perth was well adapted for the royal residence, and the capital of the kingdom. The swift flowing river was a dividing line, and the absolute necessity for easy means of transit was keenly felt with the first dawn of civilisation. The mediaeval chroniclers, Fordun and Johannes Major, both speak of the damage done to the ancient bridge by a terrible inundation in the year 1210. Hence the water of Tay was evidently spanned by a suitable bridge before the days of King William the Lion. Major speaks of “ pontem Sancti Johannis ingentem apud Perth,” and says King William, his brother David, and the Prince Alexander, were in danger of death from the overflowing waters, escaping in a sailing boat from the house where they were staying. In a Charter of Robert Bruce, given in the year 1317, mention is made of the bridge of Perth. There is also extant among the Records of the Abbey of Scone an order granted by King Robert Bruce, dated 4th July 1329,' for digging stones out of the quarries of Kincardine and Balcormie, for building the Bridge of Tay and Em, and the Church of Perth. In the year 1365 we find from the Exchequer Rolls that the King contributed towards the repair of the chapel on the bridge; and from the same source we learn that John of Peebles in 1377 was Master of Works to the Bridge over the Tay—apparently implying a considerable outlay upon repairs in this and the following years. This same John was Archdeacon of Dunkeld, and afterwards sometime Bishop of the Diocese, and Chancellor of the Kingdom of Scotland. THE ANCIENT BRIDGE OF PERTH. 3i The annual payment of £10, 14s. 8d. on behalf of the Crown for the support of the Bridge now commences, and may be traced to the year 1513. In 1391 the King pays £10 towards the construction of the Bridge, which is possibly an additional contribution, and then the Charters given below are granted between 1395 and 1404. In this way pecuniary provision for the support of the works was to be obtained. Money was scarce, if we may judge from the aid demanded of the Crown, the church, the city, and the generosity of the people. Robertus Dei gratia Rex Scotorum Omnibus probis hominibus totius terre sue, CLERICIS, ET LAICIS, SaLUTEM,- Sciatis nos dedisse . . . dilectis et fidelibus nostris preposito burgensibus et communi- tati burgi de Perth quod ipsi heredes et successores sui habeant imperpetuum unum vicecomitem de suis conburgensibus inhabitantibus dictum burgum quem ipsi aldermannus et burgenses ad sue libere voluntatis arbitrium et pro quanto tempore voluerint et duxerint eligendum . . . Concessimus una cum hoc dictis aldermanno et burgensibus ac communitati pie et intuitu caritatis pro salute anime nostre et animarum antecessorum et successorum nos- trorum regum Scotie quod habebunt et possidebunt imperpetuum omnes fines et amerciamenta et quoscunque alios exitus curiarum dicti vicecomitis infra dictum burgum et suas metas . . . ad sustentationem gubernacionem et reparacionem pontis nostri de Tay unacum quibuscunque amerciamentis et finibus itinerum Justiciarii nostri infra dictum burgum et dictas eius metas contingentibus Qui vero vicecomes uel eius locumtenens singulis annis perpetuo reddere tenebitur compota sua coram eomputorum nostrorum auditoribus . . . super scaccaria nostra de suis receptis prout consuetudinis est atque moris Yolumus tamen quod dictus vicecomes uel eius locumtenens annuatim compareat coram iusticiario nostro in quolibet itinere suo infra dictum burgum calumpnie nostre regie super sibi obiiciendis in administracione sui officii responsurus ... In cuius rei testimonium presenti carte nostre nostrum precepimus apponi sigillum Testibus Venerabilibus in Christo patribus Waltero episcopo Sanctiandree Matheo episcopo Glasguensi Carissimo primogenito nostro Dauid comite de Carryk Senescallo Scotie Roberto comite de Fyfe et de Menteth fratre nostro germano Archebaldo comite de Douglas domino Galividie Jacobo de Douglas domino de Dalketh Thoma de Erskyne consanguineis nostris dilectis militibus et Alexandro de Cokburne de Langtoun custode magni sigilli nostri apud Lynlythtcu decimo die mensis Aprilis Anno regni nostri quarto. Robertus Dei gratia Rex Scotorum Omnibus . . . Salutem,— Sciatis no inspexisse . . . quandam cartam recolende memorie Domini Willemi Dei gratia quondam Regis Scottorum illustris . . . Quamquidem cartam in omnibus . . . imper¬ petuum confirmamus Insuper dedimus et concessimus preposito balliuis burgensibus et communitati eiusdem burgi de Perth . . . imperpetuum ad reparacionem emendacionem et construccionem pontis de Perth omnes fines amerciamenta et escaetas nos contingentes et contingentia seu contigere valentia quomodolibet in futurum de quibuscunque transgressioni- bus et attemptatis contra tenorem carte supradicte In cuius rei testimonium presenti carte nostre nostrum precepimus apponi sigillum Testibus venerabilibus in Christo patribus Waltero episcopo Sanctiandree Gilberto episcopo Aberdonensi cancellario nostro Carissimo primogenito nostro Dauid duce Rothsaye comite de Carrik et Atholie Roberto duce Albanie comite de Fyf et de Menteth fratre nostro germano Archebaldo comite de Douglas domino Galwydie Jacobo de Douglas domino de Dalketh et Thoma de Erskyne militibus consan¬ guineis nostris apud Edynburgh quinto die mensis Maii anno Regni nostri decimo. L 82 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. The Charter of King William confirmed by this Charter forbids extranean merchants from buying or selling within the Sheriffdom of Perth, except at the Burgh of Perth ; forbids any tavern being held in any town of the Sheriffdom except where a knight is lord of the town, and there that theie will be only one tavern ; forbids all dyeing of cloth by persons dwelling without the Burgh, and allows the Burgesses of Perth to hold their merchant Guild, &c. &c. All fines for the breach of this Charter of King William are, by the above Charter of King Robert III., to be applied to the upholding of the Bridge of Tay. Robertus Dei gratia Rex Scottorum Omnibus . . . Salutem,— Sciatis nos inspexisse . . . quasdam litteras reuerende memorie Domini Roberta de Bruys Dei gracia quondam Regis Scottorum ... in hec uerba Robertus Dei gracia Rex Scottorum Willelmo de Lyndesay camerario suo Scocie Salutem Quia intelleximus quod burgenses nostri de Perth coram vobis apud Dunde die Sabati proximo ante festum natiuitatis Beati Johannis Baptiste petierunt libertatem suam quod nulla nauis veniens infra Drumbelay cum mercandizis debet exonerari nec frangere bulke quousque veniat ad pontem burgi nostri de Perth nisi onerata sit cum bonis manentium in villa de Dunde uel tempore nundinarum de Dunde Et quia nullum impedimenta™ contra dictos burgenses nostros m premissis fuit ostensum Vobis mandamus quatinus dictam libertatem prodamari faciatis et dictos burgenses nostros in eadem iuste manuteneatis Datum apud Rostinot decimo nono die mensis Junii Anno regni nostri duodecimo. Quasquidem litteras in omnibus . . . imper- petuum confirmamus Quare camerario nostro Scocie qui pro tempore fuerit firmiter precipimus . . . quatinus dictam libertatem publice proclamari faciat et dictos burgenses nostros iuste manuteneat in eadem In cuius rei testimonium presenti carte nostre nostrum precipimus apponi sigillum Testibus venerabilibus in Christo patribus Waltero episcopo Sanctiandree Gilberto episcopo Abirdonensi cancellario nostro Carissimo primogenito nostro Dauid duce Rothesaye Comite de Carryk et Atholie Roberto duce Albanie comite de Eyfe et de Menteth fratre nostro germano Archebaldo comite de Douglas domino Galwidie Jacobo de Douglas domino de Dalketh et Thoma de Erskene consauguineis nostris dilectis militibus apud Edynburgh sexto die mensis Maii anno regni nostri decimo. Robertus Dei gracia Rex Scotorum Omnibus . . . Salutem ,— Meminiuimus nos recolende memorie dominum genitorem nostrum Robertum Dei gracia Revem Scotorum illustrissimum dudum dedisse . . . dilectis et fidelibus nostris Communitati burgensibus et fratribus gilde nostre burgi de Perth liberam et plenam auctoritatem . . . ac potestatem specialem quod ubicunque quandocunque et quotienscunque ipsorum aliqui vel aliquis inuenerint aut inuenerit aliquos foristallatores infra libertatem suam vicecomitatus nostri de Perth Ipsi et ipsorum aliqui vel aliquis possint et posset capere et arrestare huiusmodi foristallatores et bona quecunque peo ipsos foristallata confiscare . . . absque licencia cuiuscunque iudicis . . . Et quia huiusmodi bona sic foristallata . . . nobis tanquam confiscata pleno iure regio sunt debita sicut eciam foristallancium burgum nostrum de Perth amerciamenta consuetudine et iure debentur Quasquidem confiscaciones et huiusmodi amerciamenta libere dedimus . . . burgensibus communitati et fratribus glide nostre de Perth heredibus suis et suis suecessoribus imperpetuum ... in puram et perpetuam elemo- sinam ad opus et sustentacionem pontis nostri de Perth pro salute anime genitoris nostri nostrique et salute animarum Anabelle Regine consortis nostre et Dauid comitis de Carnet THE ANCIENT BRIDGE OF PERTH. 33 primogeniti nostri et animarum omnium antecessorum et successorum nostrorum Regum Scocie Quare camerario nostro Scocie et eius locumtenentibus . . . ac omnibus aliis . . . officiariis . . . damus . . . firmiter in mandatis quatinus dictos burgenses communitatem et fratres gilde nostre de Perth ad premissa in omnibus . . . exercenda . . . manuteneant . . . quotiens et quando . . . fuerint requisiti. In cuius rei testimonium presenti carte nostre nostrum precepimus apponi Sigillum Testibus venerabilibus in Christo patribus Waltero episcopo Sanctiandree Gilberto episcopo Abirdonensi Cancellario nostro Dauid comite de Carrict Senescallo Scocie primogenito nostro Roberto comite de Fyf et de Menteth fratre nostro germano Archebaldo comite de Douglas domino Galwidie Jacobo de Douglas domino de Dalketh et Thoma de Erskyne militibus consanguineis nostris dilectis apud castrum nostrum de Rothesay vicesimo octauo die mensis Februarii Anno Domini millesimo Tricentesimo nonogesimo septimo et Regni nostri anno octauo. Robertus Dei gracia Rex Scotorum Omnibus . . . Salutem,— Sciatis nos caritatis intuitu pro salute nostra necnon et salute animarum pie memorie Domini Roberti Regis Scottorum progenitoris nostri ac matris nostre Domine Elizabeth Mure ac carissime consortis nostre Anabelle Regine ac filii nostri Dauid ducis quondam Rothezaye ac pro salute animarum antecessorum et successorum nostrorum ac etiam pro vtilitate communi regni ad sustentationem pontis nostri de Perth cuius sustentatio toti communitate regni necessaria existit dedisse . . . et presenti carta nostra confirmasse Aldirmanno communitati burgi nostri de Perth et suis successoribus imperpetuum vndecim libras usualis monete regni nostri residuas et nobis debitas de firmis dicti burgi nostri Tenendas ... in puram et perpetuam elemosinam . . . leuandas annuatim de firmis dicti burgi nostri de Perth ad duos anni terminos consuetos . . . sicut aliqua elemosina regia in regno nostro alicui pio operi . . . datur aut conceditur In Cuius rei testimonium presenti carte nostre sigillum nostrum precepimus apponi Testibus Reuerendo in Christo patre Gilberto episcopo Abirdonensi cancellario nostro Henrico comite Orcadie Dauid Flemying consanguineo nostro Willelmo de Rothuen Alexandra de Cokburne militibus. Johanne Senescalli vicecomite de Bute fratre nostro naturali Magistro Waltero Forester canonico Abirdonensi secretario nostro Johanne de Park patre et Johanne de Park filio apud Edinburgh penultimo die mensis Januarii Anno Domini M°cccc° quarto et Regni nostri anno quintodecimo. Robertus Dei gracia Rex Scottorum Omnibus . . . Salutem,— Sciatis nos caritatis intuitu pro salute nostra necnon et salute animarum pie memorie Domini Roberti Regis Scottorum progenitoris nostri ac matris nostre Domine Elizabeth Mure ac carissime consortis nostre Anabelle Regine ac filii nostri Dauid quondam ducis Rothesaie ac pro salute animarum antecessorum et successorum nostrorum ac etiam pro vtilitate communi regni ad sustentacionem pontis nostri de Perth cuius sustentacio toti communitati regni necessaria existit dedisse . . . et . . . confirmasse Aldirmanno Communitati burgi nostri de Perth et suis successoribus imperpetuum decern libras quatuordecim solidos et octo denarios usualis monete regni nostri residuas et nobis debitas de firmis dicti burgi nostri Tenendas . . . imperpetuum ad sustentacionem dicti pontis in puram et perpetuam elemosinam percipiendas . . . annuatim de firmis dicti burgi nostri de Perth ad duos anni terminos viz. Pentecostes et Sancti Martini in hyeme per porciones equales adeo libere . . . sicut aliqua elemosina regia in regno nostro alicui pio operi . . . per nos vel predecessores nostros datur aut conceditur In cuius rei testi¬ monium presenti Carte nostre Sigillum nostrum precepimus apponi Testibus reuerendo in Christo patre Gilberto episcopo Abirdonensi Cancellario nostro Henrico comite Orcadie Dauid Flemying consanguineo nostro Willelmo de Rothuen Alexandra de Cokburne mili- THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. tibus Johanne Senescalli vicecomite de Bute fratre nostro naturali Magistro Waltero Forster canonico Abirdonensi secretario nostro Johanne de Park patre et Johanne de Park filio apud Edinburgh penultimo die mensis Januarii anno Domini millessimo quadringentesimo quarto et regni nostri anno quintodecimo. The subjoined extracts from the Burgess Register, commencing in the year 1452, show the efforts of the Church and town to obtain support for the Bridge. The “Procuratio” is doubtless an ecclesiastical payment, and in some entries the works at the Church of S. John and the Bridge are regarded as part and parcel of each other. The fact is clear that the building and repair of the bridge was in part regarded as a matter of religious obligation :— Burgess Register of Perth. 6th October 1452 .—William Charteris of Cangnoir is made burgess of Guild on account of his grandfather Thomas Charteris, and shall pay wine (a usual payment in other burghs at the making of burgess, for a " gaudeamus ”) “cum speciebus,” “ hide ad fabricam pontis,' ii*' “Cum speciebus” means “with spices.” Every new burgess, apparently, had to pay something for the support of the Bridge, and sometimes the dues of sepulture in the Church were applied to the same purpose. 13th December 1454.—Regulations were made for the weighing of coals coming by sea: and the same day the Provost, Baillies, and Council have leased “ limitationem of the brig of Tay for this year to Thomas Edgear and Finlay Neschbeth, for 4 merks to be paid to the Master of the fabric of the bridge foresaid, and of the Church. On the margin is written :—“ Assedatio (leasing) procurations pontis de Taya. 5th September 1455.—“ Willelmus Gorman ductor nauis dicti burgi factus fuit et creatus liber homo gratis et nihil soluit.” Perhaps the burgh owned a vessel. 3rd December 1456.—The “procuratio pontis de Taya et limitatio eiusdem” are leased to Robertas Johannis (Robert Johnson) and John Gray for £3 a year. 19th February 1458-9.—Again the same leasing; and so on 22nd September 1463, and so on 11th January 1464-5, and on 18th January 1470-1, still for £3; and on 16th July 1473, 5th February 1478-9, for £2, 13s. 4d. In the year 1463 John Cluny is “ magistro fabrice pontis et ecclesie.” 12th October 1470.—John Pattonson a burgess residing “ extra Turrat brig. This Turrat or Turret Brig must have been at the west side of the burgh, and so altogether away from the Tay, probably at the junction of Methven Street with the High Street. 10th December 1483.—The quhilk daye the provest baillies and counsale has lattin the limitatioun and procuratioun of the brig of taye for this yer to Johnne Weddirspoun for iiii merkis to be pait to the maister of the brig wark and kyrk work. 2 „d March 1496 - 7 .-Guild brethren not to act as merchants for craftsmen exercising both hand labour and merchandise under a penalty of 40- to the Brig of Tay and the loss of their freedom. THE ANCIENT BRIDGE OF PERTH. 85 16th December 1510.—The goods of John Mukisoune, fugitive for the slaughter of John Blakwod, burgess of Perth, escheated to the “ uphold of the brig of Tay,” and sold to Sir Patrick Ray, vicar of Logymurdo, for £50 Scots. Account for 1545.—“ xl 8 ' to James Scot for keping of the Brig of Tay tyme of the pest. 20th February 1550-1.—The Goods of Forestalled (that is, people who buy or sell contrary to the market regulations, to the injury or surprise of their brother merchants), “ to be eschetit to the uphald of the brig of Tay.” And also deficient weights and measures to be broken by the Dean of Guild, and cast over the brig of Tay into the water. And any freeman who sells goods for an unfreeman to pay £10 (Scots), “to the uphald of the brig of Tay.” Robert Salmound, for defaming the character of William Watsoun as a merchant, decerned inter alia to pay 20 s ' “ to the uphald of the brig of Tay.” 15th January 1551-2.—No unfreeman to be admitted a burgess unless he pay £5 “to the uphald of the brig of Tay.” Also no person, freeman or unfreeman, to be allowed to sell or buy except in his own booth, or to go along the causeway with his goods, under the penalty of escheating of the goods “ to the brig of Tay.” 30th October 1562.—Ewne McKerane “aqua vite maker,” admitted a Guild Burgess. 11 th October 1568.—No staple goods to be kept or sold in the market by unfreemen on the market days, “ under the paine of vj s - vjjj d ' to the brige of Tay.” And all goods sold without being brought to market to be confiscated for the same purpose. 6th February 1587-8.— Robert Myln in Megile finds security that he will abstain from forestalling in time coming. Memorandum in Anno Mv c thre scoir auchtene yeiris (1578). Thair wes ane uniuersall taxatioun grantit be the haill thre Estatis conwenit at Stirling of ten thowsand markis for the reparatioun of the brige of Tay quhilk wes decayit. Collectour to the ingaddering thairoff, my Lord Ruthuen, thesaurar of Scotland, appointit thairto quha wes werray ernist and cairfull for obtening thairoff. As for commissioneris of the brugh appointit to that effect quhilkis awaittit thairvpoun the spaice of ffourty days or thairby Henry Adamsoun and Dionis Conquerour. This is for ane memoriall to remane to the posterite that the haill countre supportit quhatsumewir ma fall or chance heireftir.” July 1582.—In a Justice Ayr (Justiciary Court) holden by the King at Perth, it was decided, among other matters, that “ all fines amerciamentis vnlays of the iustice ayris of our awin nychtbouris or compositiounis apertenis to the brugh itself and vphald of the brige of Tay and compt to be maid in checker yeirly thairoff. 9th November 1541.—The lessees of the small Customs to be fined “ xT' to the brio- of Tay ” if they attempt to take anything beyond their dues. 29th December 1597.—A pint of wine to be levied by the Dean of Guild from every tun of wine coming to the burgh to be paid by the Vintners, and “ employ it vpoun the reparatioun of the Schoir and Monkis tour for saiftie of the toun and Insches fra gret invndasioun of vateris.” 1620.—Jacobus Mill, faber murarius, admitted a burgess; also “Georgius Mill polentarius ” (maltman). Burgh Register of Sasines. 14th August 1549.—Sasine in favour of Robert Myln, burgess of the burgh of Dunde, uncle of James Myln, son and heir of the deceased James Myln, con-burgess of Dunde, and tutor testamentary of the said James, of an annual rent of 40 s ' from a tenement of the 86 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Abbot & Convent of Inchafiray, on the north side of the Northgate, according to the tenor of a sasine in favour of the said deceased James Myln, dated 9th April 1541. 10th October 1553.—Andrew Myln, burgess of Edinburgh, is a witness to two deeds. 3rd November 1568.—“ Basina Johanni Hammiltoun communi histrioni ac burgensi de Perth,” and to his wife, of a tenement in the Meal Vennel. 26th September 1569.—John Hammiltoun is now called “ commoun seruand to the burgh of Pertht; ” and, again, “ histrio communis seruus burgi de Pertht” (an actor or common crier). 9th May 1569.—James Myln, burgess of Dundee, is a witness to a deed. 19th May 1572.—A house lying on the north side of the Northgate has a passage leading to the common sewers on the west, and the east gable of the Chapel of the Virgin Mary and the Brig of Tay on the east. 20th April 1573.—John Kinlocht gets sasine of a piece of waste ground called Duke Dub, next to the North Inch, to be held for yearly payment of twelve pennies “to the thesaurar of Pertht to the uphald of the Brig of Tay," &c. fas. 4th March 1573-4.—Sasine proceeding upon a lease by the Provost, Baillies, Council, and Deacons of Crafts of Perth, to John Malyng, of the tolls and duties of the Brig of Tay, viz., “to haue and tak vp for ilk leid of victuall or corn ane penny and of fische salt and vther custumabill gudis pertening to the said Port ” of the Brig of Tay,—the lease to last until they repay him the sum of 500 merks, borrowed from him by them, “ to be applyit and wairit vpoun the reparatioun and bigging of the bowis of the Brig of Tay by inundatioun of wateris decayt and fallin doun.” And the yearly rent to be paid by him to them therefor £40. The lease is of the same date as the sasine. 6th April 1574 .—The place at the southside of the High or Northgate is called “the Schoir hed,” showing that the old harbour of Perth extended to this point, or up to the old Bridge. 9th December 1583.—Disposition by the Baillies, Council, and Deacons of Crafts of Perth, to William, Earl of Gowrie, their Provost, of the ground within the flood mark of the water of Tay, in front of his house from the Monk’s Tower to the Spey Tower thereof, for the purpose of erecting thereon a wall to keep out the water and deepen the river, he paying therefor yearly 40 pennies “ to the uphald of the Brig of Tay.” The present County Buildings occupy the site of the old Cowry House, in front of which this embankment was to be erected. FROM THE SHERIFF COURT RECORDS, COMMENCING 23rd OCTOBER 1543. Book of Decreets, commencing 13th July 1575, and terminating 30th May 1579-80. 17th July 1577.—Decreet at the instance of Alexander Scrymgeour in Mylhoill, Robert Mylne in the Haltoun of Newtyld, and Andro Young, burgess of Dundie, against Robert Chaplane in Megle, Thomas Mylne thair, and David Kynnawir in Balmakcorrie, as cautioners for David Mancur of Kirkhill, for payment of a bond for £100 Scots, dated 23rd October 1574. 15th March 1577-8.—Decreet in the said matter at the instance of Johne Moncur of Chapeltoun, against David Moncur of Kirkhill. Here Thomas Mylne is said to be one of the two tenants of the Mill of Megle. 4th June 1578.—Decreet of removing at the instance of David, Earl of Craufurde. against “ Thomas Myllne in the Mylne houss of Megle.” THE ANCIENT BRIDGE OF PERTH. 8 7 “ Depositioun Buke,” containing notes of the Depositions of Witnesses from before 19th October 1562 to 19th October 1586. 18th January 1562-3.—In causa Cannam contra Crechtounis (et) suos fratres. Thomas Mylne, at the myln of Megill, a witness. The Register of the Proceedings of the Sheriff Court of Perth, from 11th August 1582 to 10th August 1585, has this on the fly leaf at the commencement:— The sextene day of Januar the yeir of God One thousand v c ffoure scoir tua yeiris— The watter of Tay rais sa great that throughe the great confluence and inundatioun thairof flive bowis of the Brig did fall and decay. 2nd February 1582-3.—In the action by Issobell Elder or Broun against Peter Hay of Kirkland, and others, the said Peter Hay protests that a decision be not given against him, “ becaus of the inundatioun of the watteris and decay of the brig throucht the quhilk he had na access to this burght to defend ” his case. Eodem die. —In another case, a Robert Blak brings forward the same plea for delay. In both cases the Judge accordingly adjourns proceedings for a week. 19th December 1587. — Decreet of removing by David, Earl of Crawford, against Robert Myln, tenant at the Mill of Megill, and others, tenants of Megill. 14th October 1598.—Action by Cristin Moyses, relict and only executor testamentar of Andrew Merschell in Balmanno, and Thomas Mylne, now her spouse, against David Duncan in Wester Dron, Andrew Merschell in Forgandenny, and others, debtors to the defunct. 13th June 1601.—Action by George Thomesoun, “maister meassoun,” and burgess of Dundee, tacksman under the Earl of Atholl of the lands of Leys or Easter Parks of Gallowraw in the lordship of Couper, to have the tenants of these lands removed. 24th March 1610.—Claim of Alexander Spens, now of Lathallane, to be served heir of the deceased James Spens of Lathallane, his guid sire, of “ that croft yeard or orcheard with the pertinentis lyand contigue betwix Sanct Paulis Chepell abowe the turrett brig of the brugh of Perth on the south, and vast partis of the samyn chepell.” Kirk Session Registers. 29th January 1582-3.—Jeine Thorntoun is accused “off fearfull execratiounis vsit be hir the nicht the bridge fell,” and for other wrongdoings. 23rd November 1584.—The whole number of poor people in Perth—that is, of those who are in receipt of aid from the church, found to amount to 1175. The names of other persons are given on the opposite page who are unwilling to be put on the common roll. 22nd December 1595.—Alexander Lowrie is asked by the ministers whether on his last being out of this country he had been in Spain, and answered that he had been in “ Port- ingall,” “ but was never present at mess, nather gaive rewerence to any processione, and that he was newer demandit anything concerning his religione. The said Alexander being remowit and censurit it was thocht gud be the Sessione that he suld be admonischit nocht to trawell to thess partis agane, except that thay wer wthervyss reformit in religione.” 15th November 1596.—The Session approve of an hospital for the poor of the con¬ gregation being erected “in the Chapill callit Our Ladeis Chapell at the Schoir.” This Chapel stood where the present Town House stands, the foundation of the Chapel being retained as the foundation in some parts of the present house, and the old Bridge therefore was close to it. And so the shore or harbour, of old time, must have been situated thus far up the river. 88 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. 2nd April 1604.—Compeirid Archibald Macbreck warnit to this day quha being inquyrit quhat wes his behawiour at last tyme of his being owt of the cuntrie and specially being inquyrit if he had bene in Rome, or receiwed ony benefit of the Pope, confessit that in his last" being out of the cuntrie he resortit to idolatrous placis and kirkis, and went thair to pray to his God; confessit he was in Rome, saw the Pope, bot reciwit no benefit from him. The Sessione remittit him to be tryit be the Sinodall Assembly to be haldin this nixt wek in Perth. 6th January 1607.—Robert Keir being charged with having “spoken disdainfully of M. William Couperis preaching,” denies the same, and the minister undertakes to prove the charge. 12th January.—He is proved to have said “ M. Wiliame preached against me the last day, let him preache against me the nixt day; the dewill a peny I will pay for coles. This is in answer to a request for a subscription to pay coals to the minister. He refuses to “ confess his offence,” and is remitted to the Presbytery. 27th February 1609.—Patrick Chapman and Jonet Mill gave up their banns of marriage. 28th August 1609.—Jhone Mill, maister measone, becam cationer for Richart Binning to present him before the Sessione this day eght dayis. 15th January 1610.— Compeirit Jhone Mylne [on the margin “Myll,”] meason, with Isobell Wilsone, quha confessit mutuall promeis of marriage to be accomplisched within fourtie dayis, onder the penalty of ten pundis to be employit to the vs of the pure and desvrit thair bannis to be publickly proclaimit. This is in the ordinary form at that date for banns of marriage. 29th January 1610.—James Mill convicted of profaning the Sabbath “by absenting himself from heiring the word, and playing at the gowf in tyme of preaching,’ and remitted to the magistrates to be punished according to Act of Parliament. 2nd July 1610.—David Lathreische submits himself to the discipline of the kirk. Eodem die and 18th June preceding, and 16th July.—Alexander Creichtoune ordained “ to declair his penitance publickly the nixt Sabbath in his awin seat ” for “ hanting and frequenting the companie of Robert Creichtoune, excommunicat papist,” his own brother. On his refusal to obey he is handed over to the magistrates to be imprisoned. Besides John Cluny in 1463, other names of early Masters of the Bridge Work have been preserved; John Gray and John Dempster in 1465, Alex¬ ander Scott in 1468, Robert Blar in 1487, Henry Elder from 1502 to 1516, Gilbert Wardrop in 1517, and John Malcolm in 1542. Between 1540 and 1550 the name of Martyne occurs several times in connection with the building operations at Perth, and may doubtless be identified with one of the French masons sent to Scotland during the reign of James V. In 1575 John Martyne, sartor, is mentioned ; in 1577, Thomas Foulis and Thomas Throskell. The following ancient entries appear worthy of insertion, as illustrating the great importance of works at the Bridge at the beginning of the sixteenth century :— Ujq_Resignation by Sir Andrew Eldar, Chaplain and Master of Works of the Brido-e of Tay, of a land on the east side of the Water Gate. . . . ^rd October 1519.—Entry respecting 40 osuisti and now for the experience of your Hienes moist lowing affectioun toward ws makis ws balder to crawe that your Hienes wald not withdraw your helping hand frome that wark quhairinto once your Majestie hes put it for at your Hienes command we haue begun the bulding of the Brig of Tay and hes brocht it ane gude way fordward without the help of ony saiffeing your Majestie—We ressauit vpon our sute directed to your Hienes at Quhythall the grant of sewin thowsandis pundis money of this realme quhilk is in sic sort payit that euerie yeir we ressaue ane thowsand pundis thairof and quhill that your Hienes wes resident among ws your Majestie granted to ws for forderance of the wark exemptioun from taxa¬ tions for ellewin yeiris quhairof the maist part ar past alredie—This your Majesties moist princelie fauour maid the peopill the moir willing to contribute of thair awin till now that the Lordis of your Hienes counsell will not allow the same without your Majesties speciall command quhilk gif it be directed they haif promesed to giwe thair willing consent thair- unto—and thairfoir we crawe that your Majestie wald direct commandement to thame wtherwayis the payment thairof by our peopill will compell ws to interrupt the wark—As 94 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. to ws we haif no moil* to offer to your Hienes than ourselff or gif it be possibill we can do any moir than we ar we wow to your Majestie the multiplicatioun of our best thochtis and effectionis to your Hienes seruice wissing the samin mynde in all your Majesties subiectis than the quhilk we knaw that your Majestie crawis nothing moir being a king quho hes alwayis thocht that amari coli cliligi menus est imperio and thairfoir hes euer lowit among your Majesties weill affected subiectis sine contemptu facilis sine terrore reuerendus and thairfoir wissing frome our hartis now and in our daylie prayeris that your Majestie may long regne owir ws protected by Almichtie God frome all your enemeis we rest commend¬ ing to your Hienes all our maist humble seruices—Perth 7th Septembris 1607 your Hienes moist humble and obedience subiectis.— Sic subscribitur Robert Mathow baillie James Drummond moderatour James Adamesone dene of gilde Henrie Elder clerk. 17th December 1607.—Comperit Constantine Malice Robert Keir Patrik Grant and declarit that they haid coft fra James Ker xxxii pece aikin tymmer to be ane brander to the Brig for sewin scoir pundis owirhead—and ordanis James Adamesone to satisfie the samin of the first end of the Brig siluer in his handis. 22nd February 1608.—Quhilk day being convenit the baillies counsell and decanes of craftis of the said burch hes appointit the morne eftir the sermone to meit and to tak ordour with the tymmer Brig of Tay fallin doun laitlie yestirday being Sonday at xii hours at none day be the great ice than being on the watteris this storme. 1st March 1608.—The prouest baillies counsell and decanes of craftis for the forthering of the Brig Wark hes appointit Thursday nixtocum that the haill inhabitantis friemen within this burch be warnit and summonde to compeir in the new kirk and ilk man accord¬ ing to his powar to giff vp his oulkie voluntarlie contributioun in roll for the space of ane yeir to cum and the prouest hes presentlie offerit oulklie ten markis money to be payit oulklie quarterlie or haill in hand as the counsell thinkis gude. Apud Edinburgh xxviii die mensis Januarii anno Domini i m vi c octauo.—The quhilk day the lettre wnderwrittin signed by the Kingis moist excellent Maiestie wes presentit vnto the Lordis of His Maiesties Secret Counsell off the quhilk lettir the tennour followis — JAMES R.—Richt trustie and weilbelouit cousingis and counsellouris we greit yow weill— Whereas befoir our cuming furth of that kingdome vpone sute maid vnto ws for sum supplie to the reedifeing of the Brige of St. Johnestoun we war pleasit to grant vnto that burgh who did wndirtak that wark a speciall warrand of exemptione frome all taxtis and subsideis for certane yeiris to cum and as we wald be leath that that that burgh suld inioy any suche fauour without thair wer likliehead of thair intentione to perfyte that warke so giff they do intend to accomplische the same we will be vnwilling to retrinche or retak bak ony part of our former intendit liberalitie—and thairfoir our plesure and will is that yow sail giff commissioun to the Lordis Balmerinoch and Scone to tak tryell anent the bulding of that Bridge and giff in thair report bak they do certifie yow that they find the toun of Perth doing thair diligence and that thair is hoipe of the doing and fullelie accomplische- ino- of the fabrik of that Bridge than we wald have yow to allow of that our former warrand granted for thair exemptioun frome all subsidies and to discharge our collectoure of this lait taxatione of all trubling and chargeing of thame thairfoir bot they to haif libertie to retene the same in thair awin handis for the fordering and helping forduard of the work of thair said warke—whereanent thir presentis sail be alsuele wnto yow as of our said col- lectour warrand sufficient—and so we bid yow fairweill.—Frome our Court at Wistoun the xviii of October 1607. The directioun vpone the bak of the said lettre:-—To our trustie and weilbelouit cousingis and counsallouris the Erie of Dmnferling our chancellar and remanent Lordis and wtheris of our counsell of estait in our Kingdome of Scotland—Quhilk lettre being oppnit and red in the saidis Lordis audience and they aknawleging his Maiesties maist gratious princelie and liberall dispositione for the forthering of the said warke of the said Bridge of St. Johnestoun quhilk is a warke boith necessar and honourabill THE ANCIENT BRIDGE OF PERTH. 95 for the countrey and thairwithall they haueing haid the reporte and relatione of the saidis Lord of Balmerinoch and Dauid Lord of Scone bering that the inhabitantis of the said burgh ar doing thair diligence for perfyting and accomplischeing of the said worke and that alredy they haue almaist perfyted tua pillaris and that thair is a verie greit likliehoode and hoip of the full accomplesheing of the said work—and the saidis Lordis being weill aduysit alsueill with his Maiesties lettre forsaid as with the reporte and relatione of the saidis Lordis of Balmerinoch and Scone thairfoir the saidis Lordis of Secret Counsell following His Maiesties moist gratious will plesour and directione in this mater allowis of the former warrand libertie and exemptione grantit vnto the said burgh of Perth fra payment of all taxationis and approwis the same in all poyntis heads and circumstances thairof and dis¬ charges the collectouris of the present taxatione fra all trubling or chargeing of the magis- tiatis of the said burch for payment of thair partis of the same taxatione and gewis libertie to the saidis magistratis to retene thair partis of the saidis taxationis in thair awin handis for aduanceing and setting forduard of the said wark—and ordanis the soumes of money consignit be thame for thair partis of the first termes payment of the lait taxatione grantit to His Maiestie in the parliament haldin at Perth in the moneth of July i m vi c and sex yeiiis to be deliuerit and gewin vp agane to thame be the personis in whose handis it wer consigned to the effect it may be bestowit and imployit wpone the worke forsaid .—Sic subscribitur .—Extractum de libris actorum secreti consilii S. D. N. regis per me Jacobum Prymrois clericum eiusdem sub meis signo et subscriptione manualibus— Jacobus Prymrois. 3rd March 1G08.—The haill counsell hes condiscendit all in ane voce for this yeir to cum that the Brige of Tay be helpit be voluntar contributioun. 14th March 1608.—The counsell hes thocht gude that the masones fall to wirk this oulk and hew at the Brig and James Mar to mak the brander and James Adamesone to be paymaster for the tua oulkis to cum. 28th March 1608.—The decanes ar content all in ane voce to report thair craftis ansuer vpone Thrusday nixt for the help of the Brig of Tay quhidder the same be helpit be taxa- tioun or voluntar contributioun. 25th April 1608.—Quhilk day being convenit within the revestrie of the said burch the bailleis counsell and decanes of craftis of the samin hes ordanit the soume of ane thow- sand pundis of taxatione to be vpliftit fra the inhabitantis of the said burch for reparatione of the Brig of Tay. . . . 9th May 1608.—Ordanis Bobert Mathow Bobert Keir Patrik Grant and Gabrieli Marsar masteris of wark to convene thameselfis and agrie with masones for the Brig wark as they sail think gude and expedient and to report thair ansueris the morne eftir the sermone. 13th June 1608.—The nomination of the Master of Works to the Brig. 4th August 1608.—Ordanis Dauid Sibbal customar of the great customes of Perth to advance and deliuer to the Brig masteris of the Brig of Tay the sum of fywe hundreth pundis money and the counsell bindis thame to relewe the said Dauid at the handis of his Maiesties customaris. 17th April 1609.—Constantine Hynde Petir Campsie and Bobert Sorle duelland be eist the Brig of Tay actis thame to grund with the multeraris of Perth and the multeraris does thame gude seruice with exact diligence in respect of the fall of the Brig. 24th April 1609.—Ordanis Henrie Elder to deliuer to Alexander and Dauid Maxtoun the thre hundreth xxx lib. in his handis of the rest of the last yeiris customes and to bestow and wair the samin vpone the mending of the auld wark of the Brig of Tay with all diligence. 29th January 1610.—Appointis Thomas Wilsone Johne Ogilbie bailleis Constantine Malice Mr. Henrie Andersone to speik Mr. Williame Cowpar anent the lettre ressauit be him fra his Maiestie for vplifting of ane thowsand pundis as ane part of his Maiesties promeis to the Brig. 96 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. 19th March 1610.—Appoyntis Constantine Malice to ryde to Edinburgh or Dunferm- ling, quhair he may haue Henry Wardlaw Chalmerlane to His Maiestie and deliuer to him the Erie of Perthis lettres anent ane thowsand pundis grantit he his Maiestie to the help of the Brig of Tay and ordanis the thesaurar to deliuer to the said Constantine tuentie pundis to be his expenssis. 9th April 1610.—Constantine Malice reportit that he ressauit fra the Erie of Perth ane thowsand pundis gewin be his Maiestie for the support of the Brig of Tay. 1st October 1610.—Producit this day be Gawin Dalzell dene of gilde the Marques of Hamiltoun his precept of fywe hundreth pundis grantit to the Brig of Tay. 21st May 1611.—Producit agane be the prouest his Majesties warrand of 7000 pundis to the Brig of Tay of the dait at the court in Quhythall the xxix day of December 1604. 31st July 1612.—Producit by Constantine Malice baillie the Kings gift vpone the xxxv'" markis grantit be his Maiestie and the act of ratificatione maid thairupone to the Brio- of Tav—and gewin the samin in presence of the counsell to Johne Andersone thesaurar to tak ouir the water with him to aduys. 15th February 1613.—Ordanis ane lettre to be send to my Lord prouest to remember his Lordship to speik His Maiestie for support of the Brig of Tay and also his Lord- ship to send in the keyis of the almerie quhair the unlawis lyis to begin the wark of the said Brig. 22nd March 1613.—Appointis the dene of gilde and William Williamesone baillie to be masters of wark to the Brig of Tay—and they to fie four masones to wirk thairat quhome thev think best for ane certane space quhill the mercat pas by. 24th January 1614.—Reported by Johne Andersone baillie—“That the bishope of Gallouay assurit the toun that His Maiesteis thesaurar promesit to gif to the Brig in Februar nixt v c lb.—in Merche thaireftir v c lb.—and in Aprill thaireftir vthir v c lb. 6th March 1615.—The prouest bailleis counsell and decanes of craftis ar content thair be ane taxatione of ane thowsandis pundis to be stentit betuix the merchantis and craftis- men for the reparatione of the Brig of Tay except Alexander Forbes. 1st May 1615.—Ordanis the thesaurar to deliuer to Dauid Millar ten markis to be his expenssis to ryde to Stirling to visie the aikin tymmer thair gif it be sufficient to the Brig of Tay quhilk ten mark he lies presentlie ressauit. 17th May 1615.—The haill haiff agreit with Mr. Johne Archibald for ten scoir treis to the Brio- of fay at four pundis the pece he deliuering thame at the schoir of Perth. Ordanis the thesaurar to deliuer to Dauid Millar ten pundis to be his expenssis to Leith for sichteing of the tymmer. 4th December 1615.—Ordanis the thesaurar to caus mend the holl in the stane pillar with all diligence and to pay for the samin. 16th August 1616.—Comperit Patrik Grant [etc.] . . . skynneris and for thame and the rest of craft referris and submittis thame simpliciter in the prouest will for the wi-ono- done be thame vpone the last wapinschawing day within this burch and promittis quhateuir his lordschip decernis thairin to abyde thairat—The said prouest decernis thame in fywe hundreth markis money to be payit on Mononday nixt and that the samin be bestowit vpone the reparatione of the eistmest pillar of the Brig of Tay. 21st October 1616.—They all in [ane] voce hes thocht gude that the aikin tymmer [oak timber] quhilk wes bocht to the Brig of Tay wark sail nawayis be sauld or disponit thairon bot the samin to be keipit to the vse of the commouu wark of the burch. 4th November 1616.—The council “finding that the wark of the Brig of Tay at the plesure of God and of his Maiesties help is abill schortlie to be perfytit in stane wark for passage to hors and men quhairby necessitie crawis that ane honest man may be chosin to be portar of the port of the said Brig of Tay,” appoint Gilbert Elder, skinner and burgess, to be porter and keeper of the same. THE ANCIENT BRIDGE OF PERTH. 97 11th November 1616.—Ordanis the dene of glide to entir Daniell Hey trumpetour and Thomas Fargusone violer gild brether to this burch and for thair seruiee done vpone the vii of Nouember last at the incaying of key stane of the last bow of the Brig of Tay. 28th April 1617.—Ordanes Dauid Jaksone miliar to put on rewlis of tymmer on the want [may be read waut] of the Brig of Tay. 19th May 1617.—Ordanis the Kings armes of stane to be put on the west syde of the Brig of Tay nerrest the tolbuith. 15th September 1617.—Ordanis ane act to be maid to Dauid Jaksone miliar offywe hundreth markis to be payit at Mertimes nixt quhairof thair is thre hundreth markis for the proffeit of thre thowsand markis quhilk wes the price of the last bow of the Brio- of Tay and the wther tua hundreth markis quhilk wes modefeit to him for the skaith sustenit be him at the said wark of the Brig of Tay in the away ganging of the tymmer wark and ten treis of the samin brig. 13th March 1618.—The council grant receipt to Sir Gedeoun Murray of Elibank knight deput thesaurar for 6000 markis granted by the King on 9 July 1617 out of the sums contributed to his Majesty by several burghs at his last visit to Perth—the above 6000 m. being bestowed “for a supplie to the bulding and reparatione of the Brig of Perth.” The Bridge, completed by means of so much skilled labour, and paid for at so great cost, did not endure for any long period of time. Severe floods, as of old, arose and swept the whole fabric away in the month of October 1621. Before proceeding to describe this terrible catastrophe, we give some brief account of the public amusements of the citizens, and especially the animated contests for the silver bell at Eastertide :— Fkom the Register called the Register or Arrestments. 18th April 1611.—Quhilk Day in presence of James Adamsone proueist of the said burght and Patrik Grant baillie the siluer bell run for betwix the Gibbet of Methuen and the croce of Ruthuen the samin wes win by Johne Grahame of Bogsyde and thairfoir the samin bell being maid in tua bellis hingin togidder witht ane siluer cheinzie conteining in wecht aught vnce fywe chop wecht, wes deliuerit to the said Johne Grahame to be run for agane vpon the Mononday eftir Palme Sonday nixt betuix the samin boundis viz' the sext day of Aprill Mvjc and tuelffyeiris And thairfoir the said Johne Grahame as prin- cipa.ll and with him Hew Stewart burges of Perth as cautioner for him actis and oblissis thame coniunctlie and seueralie thair airis to exhibite produce and deliuer ao-ane within the samin burght the said siluer bellis of wecht forsaid witht augmentatioun at his awm discretioun to the Prouest or ony ane of the bailleis of the said burght vpone the samin day immediatlie following Palm Sonday nixt to cum befoir the aucht houris in the morning to be presentit be thame and to caus be maid proclamatioun be sound of drum throw the said bruch of Perth xv days preciding the said Mononday of Palme sonday nixt for rwnning of the samin owir agane the samin day be tua persones ilk ane of thame weyand aucht stane wecht compting xvj lib. the stane saidill and brydill under the pane of ane hundreth pundis money and horning poynding or warding the ane but preiudice of the wther and the said Johne Grahame actis him and his airis &'■ to releive his cautioner of the haill premisses and f'order the said Johne Grahame and his said cautioner sail present and produce ane treiu mell vpone the samin day witht the said Siluer bellis witht this con- ditioun that quhatsumeuir gentilmen happinis to rinn for the said Siluer bell he quhat sumeuir he beis fundin to be hindmost sail carie the said trein mell in the same maner as he that happinis to winn the said Siluer bell careis the samin wnder the pane of ane hull¬ s' g8 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. dreth pundis Quhilk preparatiue is begun this day befoir thir witnessis Hew Moncreiff of Bamehill James Mar decane of Wrichtis Williame Kynnard and Robert Burrell in Perth.” Eodem die.— And so “ Andro Dow in the Drumend of Clethie” binds himself to present “ ane rydand saidill worth ten pundis money to be runn for yeirlie vpone the first Tuisday of Aprill . . . togidder with ane mell of trie and that betuix the boundis of the Chapell of the Mure of Diplin langis the Muir of Gask west to the head dykis of Clethiebeg vpone horssis not exceiding the sowme of tua hundreth markis price and euerie hors rynnand to put to the saidill ane halff angill and ilk man to rin bodin [equipped] as they will be seruit. ...” The winner of the silver bell is carefully recorded in the town records. In 1613 Patrick Olyphant was the successful competitor, in 1614 John Ros, maltman, burgess of Perth, in 1615 Robert Hamiltoun, “ane of his Maiesties customaris.” In the year 1604 the “raiss bell of siluer” had been won by Lawrence Lord Oliphant. It will now be advisable to record the untoward fate of the bridge, and the previous events, in the very words of John Mercer, sometime Town Clerk of Perth. The MS. Chronicle in the Advocates’ Library was transcribed from the original by James Scott, minister. 12th Mav 1363.—Alexander Abercrombie of Murthly sett an tack to John Mercer, burgess of Perth, of the lands of Obney within the barony of Murthly, mm herieldis marchetis ct merciamentis for the space of eight years for the relief of the barony of Murthly—paid ad fabricationan pontis de Perth. 20th December 1573.—The first dounfalling of the two bows of the brig of Tay and of Lowis Work by an inundation of water at midnight. 14th January 1592-3.—The downfalling of five bows of the brig of Tay. 9th January 1598-9.—The town began their voluntary contribution for reparation of the brig of Perth, and left oft’ in August 1600. 22nd September 1601.—There fell a reik of the timber bridge of Tay with two men with a horse and load. One of the men was gotten safe again with the horse and load, but the other man called Lamb was drowned in the water. 17th July 1605.—John Myln and his men entered to the bridge work. 21 st February 1607.—The tree bridge was taken away betwixt twelve and one o’clock on an Sunday in time of dinner. 22nd January 1614—Saturday.—The northmost end and bow of the brig of Erne fell down. It was evil bigged from the beginning, being filled only with clay and earth, and without any blind pends [blocked arches] as the brig of Tay has been in the same manner formerly bigged of old. The burgh and shire with all diligence caused David Jack and David Mill, craftsmen, to put up the same with timber work. l_9th January 1615 .—Thursday.—The water of Tay by weet and sleet waxed so great that it covered the haill of the North Inch, the Muirton Haugh, and almost all the South Inch. It continued from Thurday in the morning to the morning thereafter. Men were rowing with boats in the North Inch taking forth sheep that were in peril of drowning. 21st February 1615.—The year preceding, the frost was long looked for before it came. When it came, it continued so long that the water of Tay was all frozen both above and beneath the bridge, so that there was daily passage for horses and men above THE ANCIENT BRIDGE OF PERTH. 99 the bridge next to the North Inch, and beneath the bridge foreanent the Earl of Errol’s lodging. It continued so till the 25th of February, when the Cobbillers who rowed in the water finding themselves thereby prejudged of their commodity, broke the ice the night time at the entry and stayed the passage. Upon Fastens Even, being the 21st of February, there were two puncheons of Bour- deaux wine carried, sling on ling on men’s shoulders on the water of Tay on the ice at the middle of the North Inch. The weight of the puncheons and of the bearers was estimated to be threescore twelve stone weight. 14th October 1621.—There was such an inundation of water as the like was seen in no man’s remembrance, both in regard of the high rising on the west side as also of the sudden coming of it. After weeting all day on Saturday, October 13, before twelve of the clock in the night, all the people in the Castle Gavel and West Port were wet in their beds, and wakened with water to their waist in their floors. . . . It carried away the eleven bow brig of Tay. It was within a foot in height of the cross of Perth. It took down the gavell of the tolbooth. It carried away all Lowis Work being of admirable strength and structure. . . . Another account, copied from the Session Records :— It is to be noted and put in register in this book, the great and miraculous deliver¬ ance which the Lord gave to this burgh of Perth from an fearful inundation of waters compassing the same on all parts, so that thereby the brig of Tay was haillilie dung down except only one bow thereof left standing. The manner of the rising of the waters was this :—The rain began on Friday, the twelfth of October, about ten hours of the day. It continued that day and Saturday, and in the night, unlooked for, the water rose so high that all those that dwelt outwith the Castle Gavell Port in low houses, behoved to go to high houses for preservation of their lives, and being in high houses the water increased so that it rose to the loftings in the high mid house in the Castle Gavell before six hours on Sunday in the morning. The waters began somewhat to decrease after noon on Sunday. But after daylight passed there arose an greater tempest of wind and rain than at any time before, which so afirayed the people that night that they looked for nothing but that the waters should risen to a greater height than they were before. Notwithstanding thereof miraculously through the mercy of God the water greatly in the meantime decreased. . . . July 1630.—The fines that were gotten from our neighbours at the preceding justice air were bestowed on the redding of the ruins of the fallen brig of Tay, on the building of croyes to save the town and Inches from the violence of the water, and on the building of the house of fine stone aissler work at the monk’s tower on the town’s expenses, also on the casting of the dock for keeping free from danger croves and boats in the winter season. Monday, 8th July 1633.— King Charles I. came to Perth. . . . 9th July.— . . . Certain speeches were spoken to His Majesty by an boy who represented the river of Tay, and some conferences were spoken in His Majesty’s presence betwixt the representer of Tay and another who represented Perth, made by Andrew Wilson, baillie. The name of the boy who represented the river Tay was David Black. The name of the other who represented the town of Perth was George Powrie. They were both of them loo THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. apprentice boys. The design of the poetical conference which they were taught to carry on was to move the king to grant money for rebuilding the bridge of Perth. King James VI. before his death had subscribed for that work an hundred thousand merks, and King Charles I. when Prince of Wales had subscribed ten thousand merks. The builder of the old bridge did not live to see its destruction, but died at Perth in the early part of the same year, and was interred in the Greyfriars’ burial ground there. Over his grave was placed a flat stone bearing the subjoined lines:— This Stone entombs the Dust of famous Mill Renowned chiefly in his tyme for skill, In Architecture his learned Art did lay The spatious Arches of the Bridge of Tay, Which was demolish’t by a mighty spate 1 So was his fabrick by the course of fate, Six lustres 2 since and more his projeny Succeeding to that Art their Sure outvy And this assign’d his worth deserved on[e] Of jet or marble not of common stone TAM ARTE QUAM MARTE Seven foot of ground clay floor clay wall Serve both for chamber now and Hall To Master Mill whose squirbuily 8 braine Could ten Escurialls well containe Whill he breath’d lyfe, yet in his Sonne And Sonn’s Sone he lives two for one Who to advance Mill’s Art and Fame Make Stocks and Stones speak out his Name. Close by and upon the east wall of the same cemetery is a stone inscribed thus: “Near this spot lyes John Mylne, Master-Meason to James VI., who about two centuries ago rebuilt the ancient bridge over the Tay opposite the High Street, which a dreadful inundation swept away, xxv October, mdcxxi _Robere Mylne, Architect, erected this stone to restore and perpetuate the memory of his ancestors, mdcclxxiv. We now insert, by way of conclusion to this chapter, the record of the sums of money subscribed by King James VI., Prince Charles, and other noblemen, for rebuilding the bridge of Perth. The original MS. is in the Advocates’ Library, with autographs of the King and Prince, and autographs, with some holographs, of other contributors The pitifull estate of Perth one of the moste ancient and best seated tounes in Scotland© hath bene so fullie and often represented to vs as wee thinke it a blemishe to our Flood. - Five years. 3 Capacious. THE ANCIENT BRIDGE OF PERTH. IOI honour and gouermnent of that kingdome if no cours be taken for repairing the ruines thereof—and becaus wee vnderstande that the decay of trade and handicraftes began that desolation which the falle of the bridge by a fearefull and vnusuall inundation hath en- creased—wee intende as time wille permitte to see traffique and manufactures reestablished there and in the meane time the bridge so necessarie for many thousandes of our subiectes to be builte againe with all conuenient speede—and to this effecte notwithstanding that our rentes ther are exhausted with pensions and other daylie debursementes and our exchequer emptie yet are wee gratiouslee pleased to bestow on so good a worke largelie oute of our owne coffers and do heirby desire and exhorte all our good subiectes to follow our example as they will show them selues to haue compassion on the distressed compatriotes regarde to the honour of their contrie and to the satisfaction of our so Christian and royal desire. Wee giue towardes this worke ten thousand markes to be payed at Whitsonday nexte : ten thousand at Martimasse thereafter: ten thousand at Whitsonday 1625: and the last ten thousand at Martimasse 1625. James It. I give towardes this worke two thousand four hundreth markes to be payed at Whitsonday nexte: two thousand and fiue hundreth at Martimasse thereafter: two thousand and fiue hundreth at Whitsonday 1625 : and the last two thousand and fiue hundreth at Martinmas 1625. Charles P. To all now liuing and of the posteritie to whome these presents shall come—Be it knowne that wee who with our owne handes haue inserted into this book certeyne summes of monie haue done the same following the example and at the desire of our moste gratious and dreade souerane for reedifying the bridge of Perth which together with a parte of the said toune was vtterlie ouerthrowne in the moneth of October the yeare of God 1621 by a most fearefull ihvndation of the riuer of Tay the like whereof none liuing had seene or hearde—and wee do oblige our selues our heires and exequutours to pay to the collectours receauours or treasorers to be appointed for the said monies the said seuerall summes euerie one of vs our owne sette doune vnder our handes at the termes by vs exprest and other¬ wise at the nexte terme following the time of our writing—and if wee shall fayle in payment of the said summes at the times aforesaid so as in defaulte of the said payment those who shall haue charge shalbe compelled to persew vs by law in that case wee binde vs and our aforesaides as said is to pay a third parte more then is sette doune vnder our handes. I giue towards this worke seauen hundrethe markes to bee payed at Whitsonday next and six hundrethe markes to bee payed at Mertimasse thereafter: six hundreth markes at Whitsonday 1625, and six hundreth markes at Mertimas 1625. Richmonde Lenox. I giue towards this worke tua hundreth and fiftie markis to be payde at Vit. 1624_ tua hundreth fiftie markis to be payd at Mert. 1624— tua hundreth fiftie markis to be payit at Wit. 1625 —and tua hundreth and fiftie markis to be payit at Mertimes 1625. George Hay. I giue touards this vork tuo hundrith and fiftie marks att Quhitsunday 1624_tuay hundrith and fiftie marks att Martimes 1624— tuay hundrith and fiftie marks att Quhit¬ sunday 1625 —and tuay hundrith and fiftie marks att Martimes 1625. Mar. I giue towards the advancement of this work aucht hundreth merkis to witt—tua hundreth merkis at Witsonday 1624 — tua hundreth merkis at Martymes 1624_ tua hundreth merkis at Witsonday 1625—and tua hundreth merkis at Martymes 1625. Roxburghe. 102 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE 'CROWN OF SCOTLAND. I gif towardis the advancement of this worke aucht hundreth merkis to wit tua hundreth merkis at Witsonday 1624—tua hundreth merkis at Martymes thairafter—tua hundreth merkis at Witsonday 1625—and tua hundreth merkis at Martymes 1625. Murray. I gif to this worke foure hundreth merkis to witt ane hundreth merkis at Witsonday 1624_ane hundreth merkis at Martymes thairafter—ane hundreth merkis at Witsonday 1625—ane hundreth merkis at Martymes thairafter. J. Erskyne. I will gif to the worke within writtin foure hundreth merkis to witt i c merkis at Witsonday 1624—i" merkis at Martymes thairafter—ane hundreth merkis at Witsonday 1625 —and ane hundreth merkis at Martymes thairafter. Cabnegy. I will give towardis the advancement of this worke aucht hundreth merkis to witt tua hundreth merkis at Witsonday 1624—tua hundreth merkis at Martymes thaireftei tua hundreth merkis at Witsonday 1625 —and tua hundreth merkis at Martymes thairefter. ’ Buccleuche. I will giwe to the advancement off this work four hundreth merkis to vitt ane hundreth markis att Witsonday 1624—ane hundreth merkis att the Mertimes therafter—ane hundreth markis at Vitsonday 1625—ane hundreth markis att the Mertimes therafter. A. Spynie. I will giw to the aduancement of this work aucht hundreth markis to witt tua hundreth markis at Witsunday 1624—tua hundreth marks at Mertimes thairefter—tua hundreth merkis 1625 at Witsunday thairefter—and the last tua hundreth merks at Mertimes thairefter. Seafort. I will giwe to the advancment of this worke aucht hundrethe merks to witt tua hundrethe merks at Witsonday 1624—tua hundrethe merks at Mertimes therefter—tua hundreth merks 1625 at Witsonday therefter—and the last tua hundreth merks Mertimes therefter. Marschall. I will give tawardis the advancement of this worke aucht hundreth merkis to witt tua hundreth merkis at Witsonday 1624—tua hundreth merkis at Martymes thairefter— tua hundreth merkis at Whitsonday 1625—and the last tua hundreth merkis at Martymes thairefter. Morton. I will give tawardis the advancement of this work fyve hundreth merkis to witt ane hundreth tuentie fyve merkis at Quhitsonday nixt—ane hundreth tuentie fyve at Martymes thairefter—ane hundreth tuentie fyve merkis at Quhitsonday 1625—and the last hundreth and tuentie fyve merkis at Martymes thairafter. Linlithgow. I give tawardis the advancement of this worke aucht hundreth merkis to witt tua hundreth merkis at Quhitsonday 1624—tua hundreth merkis at Martymes thairefter— tua hundreth merkis at Quhitsonday 1625 — and tua hundreth merkis at Martymes thairefter. ‘ Melros - I give tawardis the advancement of this worke aucht hundreth merkis to witt tua hundreth merkis at Quhitsonday 1624—tua hundreth merkis at Mertymes thairefter—tua hundreth merkis at Quhitsonday 1625—and the last tua hundreth merkis at Martymes thairefter. ’ Lauderdaill. I give tawardis the advancement of this worke ane hundreth pundis at Martymes 1624. Cranstoune. THE ANCIENT BRIDGE OF PERTH. 103 CHARLES R. From the dwe respect wee have and carie to that laudable and pious design of our royal grandfather and father of ever blessed memorie before expressed for rebuilding the bridge of Tay at S t- Johnstoun in our kingdom of Scotland so much conduceing to the well of that our kingdom especially of that our auncient and loyal burgh—wee doe therefore by these presents for ws and our successours not only ratifie and confirm the former mortified gratuities of our saids royal predecessors and other noblemen in the said kingdom of Scotland wnder their hands to the effect forsaid but doe firmly purpose God willing in our own time and way when wee find a convenient opertunitie to prosecute that royal and pious designe in causeing rebuild the said bridge.—Whitehall 27 Julii 1661. CHAPTER VII. JOHN MYLNE OF PERTH, MASTER MASON TO CHARLES I. THE KING’S STATUE ON THE NETHERBOW PORT-THE TOWN CROSS-THE CHURCH AT FALKLAND-DRUMMOND CASTLE-THE TOLBOOTH OF ABERDEEN-THE SUN-DIAL AT HOLYROOD-HERIOT’s HOSPITAL-THE FOUNDATION OF THE BISHOPRIC-ALEXANDER THE SCULPTOR. SZ?^S&N his father’s death in 1621, John of Perth was immediately called upon to take a prominent position. He had for some years assisted liis father in the erection of the bridge over the Tay, and early in the year 1610 had married Isobel Wilson. Various legal suits were instituted against him during the two years immediately following his marriage, arising out of business disputes connected with the bridge works. On one occasion, much to the inconvenience of the newly married couple, “ the liaill gudis and geir ” within his dwelling house were arrested by the officers of the law, and amongst the inventory of his clothing are mentioned “a cloak of brown Loudoun claith withe twa pestmentis, and a pair blak satin breekis cuttit furth on gray satin ”—elegant vestments for these early days. In 1616 he left Perth for Edinburgh. No doubt the Capital of the country offered a wider sphere of work to the young architect, who was not devoid of proper ambition. The immediate cause, however, of his southward journey was a call from the Town Council to succeed Benjamin Lambert, on his sudden death in October, in the execution of a statue of King James VI., destined as an appropriate ornament to the Netherbow Port, in honour of his Majesty's expected visit to his native land, which took place in the following year. During his active sojourn here, his wife Isobel gave birth to a daughter, named Barbara, who, according to the Canongate and Town Records, was afterwards from time to time accused of witchcraft. Ten years previously the Corporation had intended to erect this statue of the King, but at that time had been unable to carry their loyal intention into effect. !• % \ H •1 JOHN MYLNE, MASTER MASON ANIi MASTER OP THE LODGE OP SCONE. {Circa 1640—45.) From an original drawing in the position of W. F. H atton, Esq., Edinburgh. JOHN MYLNE OF PERTH , MASTER MASON TO CHARLES I. 105 From the Town Council Records. 24th January 1606.—The Bailies, with Richd. Doby, Niniane M‘Morane, George Fowlis, and Edward Ker, to visit the Nether Bow and consult about repair thereof, and to report to the Council on Wednesday next. 28th March 1606.—The treasurer authorised to pay expenses of repairing the Nether Bow at the sight of those who were directed thereto. 4th April 1606.—David Grundestoun appointed overseer of the work at the Nether Bow. 7th November 1606.—Referred to the Bailies to agree with the Mason for taking down and rebuilding the north Turnepyke of the Nether Bow, and to see that the work go forward. 1 st May 1607.—James Nisbet, James Arnot, Mungo M'Call, bailies; John Robertson, Dean of Gild; Alex. M‘Math, thesaurer, and the Conncil, understanding that it is the custome of maist renownit cities to have the effigie or statue of their prince set up upon the maist patent part of the citie; and the provost, bailies, and counsall having now put to their hand to the reparation of their Nether Bow of purpose to sett ane stepill and ane knok thairupon, therfore they have thought expedient, and ordain to affix and set up upon the maist patent and honourable part of the said port, the image or statue of his majesty gravin in maist pryncelie and decent form, in remembrance of his majesty, and of their sincere affectioun borne unto him : and to that effect gives commission to the said bailies and Dean of Gild, Richard Doby, Alex. Pearson, George Hereof, Wm. Symonton, George Foulis, George Todrig, or any four of them to convene, consult, and devyse how the same may be maist honourablie and perfectlie done. The following extracts will give a clear idea of the monies disbursed to Benjamin Lambert and John Mylne, younger (of Perth), mason, and others, for making his Majesty’s statue at the Netherbow Port :■— From the Council Books of the Burgh of Edinburgh. 9th September 1616.—Quhilk day the Proveist Baillies Deyne of Gild Thesaurer & Counsell being conveynit Ordainis Johnne Byris Thesaurer to content & pay to Benjamin Lambert the sowme of Four hundreth threttie thrie merks sax schillingis aucht penyis for the King’s portrait and New Armis to be erected at the Netherbow and the same salbe allowit to him in his comptis. From the Treasurer’s Accounts. 3rd August 1616.— Item , to Benjamin Lambert for his oulk [week], sex dayes 24s. ilk day is Item , Benjamine died this nycht at 5 houris at nycht his wages is this oulk, ,, pay it to ye woman for wynding of him efter he deceissed, ,, for ane Kist extraordinarlie maid to him be Alex r- Roust, ,, to James Nicoll for ane wynding scheitt to him, ,, to J. Wallace for chairges to his Lykwalk [corpse watching], . ,, to John Mylne the fourt of November 1616 for this last oulkes wagis, ,, for his wages and chairges for cumming fra St. Johnstoune (Perth) to enter to our wark because we wrett for him as the Compter and he agreed, ........ ,, efter the Compter and the said John haid agreid he gave him ane rose noble 10 lib. 13s. 4d. makis of all this nycht geven him, £ s. d. (Scots.) 7 4 0 7 4 0 1 0 0 4 10 0 3 6 8 7 0 0 4 10 0 6 13 4 17 6 8 O io6 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. 13th November.— Item, for ane draught stainis to Deaneguild fra Innerleyth, . Item, payit to John Mylne for twa olkis, ..... „ for ten dayis wark to his men 3 lib. oulklie, ,, payit to him his oulk for himself & his man, .... „ to the Querriouris for six stainis for the King’s portrait fra Inverleyth at 6s. the peice, 7th December.— Item, this oulk comptit and aggried with him to give him above 4 lib. 10s. ilk oulk to mak him 7 lib. 4s. as Benjamine Lambert gat to this day gevin him of augmentatioune, 14th December.— Item, 8 stanis fra Innerleyth at 6s. the piece, Item, to John Mylne 7 lib. 4s. and his man 3 lib., .... 28th December.— Item, to John Mylne and his man this oulk,. 11th January 1617.— Item, to John Mylne himself and his twa men this oulk, 18th January.— Item, to John Fultoune and John Lindsay masons wrocht with him at 3 lib. 12s., 3rd February.— Item, to John Mylne himselff 7 lib. 4s. and his four men at 3 lib. 12s., Item, to David Achesone for making of ane sceptour twyis, . 8th March.— Item, this day for making the scaffoldis at the Netherbow for downe taking the places quhair the portraite suld stand—8 C fluirings at 15s. the hundrethe, • ••••• 12th April.— Item, for Wm. Cockie and John Mylne stencing the covering for wax and hardis (coarse linen) to clois the coverture with rosset and brunstane, ....•••• Item, to Henrye Mylne Goldsmyth for making the sceptre St. Andro and St. George with the ordour of the Thrissell and cristall dressing con- forme to his compt gevin to George Todrig & George Foullis extends to 9th May.— Item, payit to J. Hamiltoune’s wyiff for sixty buiks of gold at 26s. 8d. the piece, ...•••• Item, payit to Wm. Cockie paynter for his warkmanschip at the Netherbow for all his doings as his compt beiris be for the Auditours, payit to Wm. Rea merchand for 88 buiks of gold to the Netherbow at 24s. the piece conforme to his compt, .... £ s. d. (Scots.) 1 6 8 9 0 0 5 0 0 7 10 0 1 16 0 13 10 0 2 8 0 10 4 0 10 4 0 14 8 0 7 4 0 21 12 0 14 0 6 0 0 6 8 4 46 0 0 80 0 0 213 6 8 106 12 0 The items for this work occupy four pages, and the total amounts to £1069. The Lord Provost and Corporation were so well pleased with the work executed on the eastern gate of their ancient town, that they gave further employment to John Mylne of Perth. We here insert some extracts of monies disbursed for taking down and removing the ancient city cross, and erecting a new basement structure, and fixing the old shafts and unicorn thereon :— From the Treasurer’s Accounts. 11 th January 1617.— Item, to John Taliphere and John Mylne Masons extra- ordinar debursit be thame, ...••• Item, to John Taliphere John Watt Thos. Cranstoune Thomas Talliphere Wm. Sympsone Thos. Pattersone Master Measones at 4 lib., to eight other Measones at 2 lib. 10s., . £ s. d. (Scots.) 3 0 0 24 0 0 20 0 0 JOHN MYLNE OF PERTH, MASTER MASON TO CHARLES I. io 7 1st February.— Item, to John Mylne of chairges for ganging to Inverleyth both hyre and carriage of some calnal stanes extending to his compt, 17th February.— Item, this day when the Croce was fundit given to the Master Measones amongst them, ..... Item, to the rest of the Measones and workmen, .... 22nd February.— Item, to the foresaid vij Master Measones as the last oulk, . Item, to the other xv Measones at 3 lib. 12s., 25th March.— Item, for six tries tane to Edward Stewart from John Murray to help the Trigyne that the Croce was sett on at 30s. ilk trie, Item, the Croce of Edinburgh was this day put upon the new seat. 15th April.— Item, to John Mylne and his twa men wha wrocht this oulk at the Croce, ........ 19th April.— Item, to John Mylne and ane man, .... 27t.h April.— Item, to John Mylne and his man, .... Item, to his workmen that attendit him, ..... ,, to sex workmen that brocht the stanes from the Deyne that sic be put upon the Croce, ....... 10th May.— Item, to John Mylne and his thrie men, .... 17 th May. — Item, to John Mylne this oulk for on waiting, Item, given to John Talipher master Measone for his extraordinar paynis quhilk was promissed him by the Counsell, .... £. s d. (Scots.) 16 10 0 5 6 8 3 0 0 32 13 4 54 0 0 9 12 O' 13 16 0 10 16 0 10 16 0 3 0 0 1 12 0 36 0 0 6 13 4 40 0 0 The items for this work occupy fifteen pages, and the total amounts to £4386, 15s. 6d. Below will be found a few extracts of monies disbursed for works at the West Port, by order of the Corporation of Edinburgh :— <£ s. d. 27th May 1617.— Item, to John Mylne for working the twa arms of the West Port in the Deyne before they come to Edinburgh, . . . 40 0 0 Item, to his twa men besyde, . . . . . . 12 12 0 ,, to Johne Mylne afterward to content him, . . . . 6 13 4 „ for making the scaffold that the Provost Baillies and Counsall stood on at his Majesties entry, . . . . . .10 0 0 From the Burgess Books of Edinburgh. 4th June 1617.—The quhilk day in presens of David Aikinhead deyne of Gild and Gild counsall Johnn Mylne masone compeirand sufficiently airmit with ane furnisht hagbuit is maid burges of this burgh and hes gewin his aith in maner abonewrittin and hes payit for his dewtie to the deyne of gild lxvj lib. xiijs. iiijd. From the Council Books of the Burgh of Edinburgh. 8th August 1617.—Quhilk day the Baillies Dean of Gild Thesaurer & Counsell being convened Ordanis David Aikenheid Deyne of Gild to content and pay to Johne Mylne Maisone quhilk he payed for his Burgeschip the sowme of thriescoir sex punds threttene shillingis four pennyis and the same sail be allowit to him in his compts. At Edinburgh, 16th October 1617.—Bond by John Milne, mason, burgess of Edinburgh, to Gilbert Hay, merghant, burgess of Edinburgh, for £288 due for merchandise received by him. Witnesses — John Symsoun, Deacon of the Masons of Edinburgh. John Forest, tailor, burgess of Edinburgh. John Hutchesoun, writer there. io8 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE, CROWN OF SCOTLAND. In immediate connection with the matters just mentioned, considerable interest will be felt in the list of Mason Craft Masters and names of apprentices bound to them at Edinburgh from 1618-1647 :— Date. Master. Apprentice. No. OK Years. 18 Mch. 1618 John Taillefer . James son of Stephen Quhyt .... 7 25 Nov. 1619 Thos. Patterson James son of Arch. Chirrielaw in Corrmylne 7 2 June 1619 W ra - Thoirbraud Robert son of Hew Preston in Deane of Crichton 7 1 Dec. 1619 John Watt John son of Jas. Murray, Burgess of Lauder 7 21 June 1620 Alex. Watt Alex, son of late Jas. Nisbett in Dalgetty 7 12 July 1620 Thos. Flemming Alex, son of late Symeon Watterstoun in Lonheid in Lasswade ...... 7 7 May 1623 Hew Forrest . Thomas son of Thos. Ainslie, Mason indweller in this Burgh ...... 8 16 June 1624 ; ’hos. Flemming dathew Baillie William Wallace' Master Mason John Stirling in Kelso ..... James son of late Thos. Brown in Newsted of Melrose- land ....... 8 7 31 May 1626 to His Majesty and Burgess of . Edin. Robert son of Jas. Gray in Stafrank 7 21 Mar. 27 May 1627 1629 Thos. Paterson W m - Wallace . James son of Robert Hamilton in Greenhill William son of W m - Porteous, Mason indweller in Leith . 7 9 Dec. 1629 W ,n - Hastie David son of late David Meyne, Mason . 8 16 June 1630 Thos. F Andro son of late James F in Overtoun of Straven 7 11 May 1631 Thos. Patterson Robert son of John Thomson in Spittell . 7 17 Aug. 1631 Hew Forrest . John son of John Millar, mason indweller in this burgh 8 30 Nov. 1631 John Watt Thomas son of late Jas. Gray mason in Stafrank . 7 27 Feby. 1632 Alex. Nisbett . John son of John Hamilton of Greenhill. 5 21 Nov. 1632 Jas. Walker . Thos. son of Niniane Wyllie, workman 8 27 Mch. 1633 Hob. Preston . Henry son of John Robertson, elder in Lonheid of Lasswade 24 Apr. 1633 John Menzies . ■ Robert son of Andrew Patterson in Bruntfield . 7 11 Dec. 1633 John Mylne . Thomas son of John Patterson in Muirhead 7 30 July 1634 Hob. Gray James Carmichael ..... 7 19 Nov. 1635 Jas. Stirling . James Lithgow ...... 26 Nov. 1635 Thos. Patterson Cuthbert Patterson ..... 5 25 Feby. 1635 Ylex. Nisbitt . William Brown ...... 7 9 Dec. 1635 Hob 1 - Short Rob. Rankeine ...... 7 13 July 1636 John Watt Harry Wilson ...... 7 18 May 1636 John Menzies . Alex. Baillie ...... 8 18 May 1636 Rob. Preston . John Hamilton ...... 7 14 Feby. 1638 John Mylne . Quyntein son of late John Thomson in Gill in Par. Lesmahago ...... 5 14 Mch. 1638 Alex. Nisbett . David Brysonne ...... 6 11 July 1638 John Ritchie . Allane Patterson ...... 7 4 Nov. 1640 W m - Aytoun . Rob. son of late John Aytoun, Mason in Prestonpans 7 5 May 1641 Jas. Hamilton . John Hamilton ...... 7 6 April 1642 Rob. Thomson. Thos. Thomson ...... 7 2 Nov. 1642 Thos. Ainslie . Jas. Kincaird ....•• 9 7 Dec. 1642 John My In John son of late John Thomson .... 8 4 Janv 1643 W m - Porteous . Jas. Fulton ...... 7 12 July 1643 Rob. Patersoune W m - Forrest ..•••• 7 9 Oct. 1644 Rob. Preston . John Crystie ....•• 8 12 Feby 1645 John Hamilton John Walton ...... 7 7 May 1645 Thos. Patterson Andro Hamilton ...... 7 14 May 1645 Thos. Wyllie . Andro Meyne ...... 7 5 Aug. 1646 Rob. Alliesone Jas. son of T. Oliphant, mason at the Kirk of Ochterhouse 7 13 Oct. 1647 Quintin Thomson Gawin Thomson ...... 8 JOHN MYLNE OF'PERTH, MASTER MASON TO CHARLES I. 109 In the year 1618 John Mylne left Edinburgh for the North, and returned to his ancestral home either at Dundee or Perth, and we here insert— Ane lettre maid makand mentioun that his hienes understanding- that the peir bulwark schoir and heavin of his majestiesJburgh of Dundie pertening in propirtie and patrimonie thereto be occasioun of tempestuous wether inundatioun of fludis vehement stormes greit stream is eftir lang process of tyme is becum sua ruinous the port and heavin thereof sa fillit with beddis of sand greit craigis and rolling stanes the small remanent of the aislair work brocht sindrie and schakin loose quilk wes befoir weill and substanciouslie biggit and reparrellit be the exhorbitant expenses of the pro vest bailyeis merchandis and inhabitants of the said burgh for the tyme far abone thair commoun rentis not onlie for the singular weill and commoditie of thameselffis bot of all utheris his hienis liegis als weill fremen and utheris within this realme as likwayis to all utheris strangeris of quhatsumevir natioun resortand with thair guidis laiding and schippis to and fra the said port bulwark peir schoir and heavin of the said burgh of Dundie sua that almaist the samen appeiris to be utterlie ruinit and subvertit schortlie quherethrow the haill commoun weill commoditie and proffite of the said burgh and utheris foirsaidis resortand thereto ar in perell and danger without support and haistie remedie be prowydit quhilk the commoun charges and rentis of the samen burgh is not abill to sustene nor yet may the inhabitants of the same advance the expenses thameselffis thair commoun guid being greatly waistit and thair selffis super- expendit in thair guidis throw the evill troubles within the realme quhairof they have taistit ane pairt and pairt and portioun baith of the danger and the charges of the samen in maintenance of his hienes just querrell and actioun : Thairfoir in consideratioun of the premissis and at the humill supplicatioun of the provest bailyeis counsall and communitie ef the said burgh craveing the coist and reasonabill exactioun following to be raisit and upliftit in mailer and to the effect underwritten. And his majestie being of guidwill and mynd to sett furth the commoun weill and policie of the said burgh and to gratifie and supplie thame to the help of the bigging repairing and making of the said bulwark peir port schoir and heavin finding the samen for the honor and commounweill of the realme and to the effect the samen may be guid ganand and able at all tymes to ressaive all manner of schippis and veschellis within the samen with thair guidis and merchandice and to pass furth in lik maner out of the said heavin and port to have gevin grantit and disponit to the provest bailyeis counsall and communitie of the said burgh the cowst and exactioun following priviledges and fredome of the samen to be upliftit ressavit and usit be the thesaurer of the samen burgh for the tyme in the maner to the effect foirsaid for the space of thrie years nixt and immediately following the day and date of thir presents that is to say ij 8 - for everie twne of guidis enterand within the said port and heavin of the foirsaid burgh of Dundie at the entrie thereof tua R - for everie twne of guidis at the outpasssing bath of merchantis fremen and unfremen and strangeris and siclyke of everie twne fraucht at the entrie xij d - and at the outpassing xij' 1 of the schippis cumand fra Norroway and uther pairtis laidnit with tymmer of everie hundreth geistis ane of everie hundreth rauchtiris ane of everie hundreth corbells ane of ilk hundreth wanescot ane of ilk hundreth daillis ane and siclyke of everie sort of tymmer cumand to the port and heavin ane or the availl and price thairoff* as the remanent salbe sauld of everie chalder of victuall that salbe sauld in the said port and heavin of the merchandis xvj d - and of the skipper and maister viij d - and of all utheris kynd of guidis quhilk ar usit and disponit be chalderis. With jiower to the saidis provest and bailyeis be thame selffis and thair officeris in thair name to crave ressaive intromit and uptak the said coust and exactioun and the same to the use aboun- specifeit to apply during the said space frelie quietlie weill and in peax but onie revocation or againcalling quhatsumevir. With command in the samen lettre to all and sindrie his hienes liegis inhabitantis and induellaris of the said burgh of Dundie marineris and maisteris I IO THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. of schippis thairof and all utheris his hienes liegis inhabitants fremen and unfremen and all utheris strangeris of quhatsumevir natioun resortand and reparand to the port peir and heavin foirsaid that thai and ilk ane of thame reddelie ansuer and obey the saidis provest and bailyeis thair thesaurer and officeris present and to cum and the collector to be depute be thame to the uptaking thereof in the premises during the space foirsaid and that thai mak na stop truble or impediment to thame in exactioun of the same and uplifting of the dewties abounwritten to the effect foirsaid. With command also in the samen to the Lordis of his hienes counsall and sessioun to grant and direct lettres of poynding and horning be ane simple charge of six days as salbe thocht expedient for causing of the saidis provest bailyeis counsall and communitie thair thesaurer and collector to be ansuerit and obeyit of the coust and exactioun of the foirsaid during the foirsaid space in maist ample and dew forme as effeiris, etc. : At Edinburgh the 4 th day of December the yeir of God 1600 yeiris. Per Signaturam. In the year 1619 we find John Mylne at Falkland, acting conjointly with, or more probably representing, his aged father, who had just obtained the appointment to build the Church in that town. We subjoin the text of the contract with David, Lord of Scone, for the erection of the Church, and three other extracts :— At Dundee, 24th February 1619.—Bond by John Mylne, mason, burgess of Dundee, to James Murray, merchant, burgess of Edinburgh, for £20, as the price of certain goods. Witnesses — Robert Murray, Merchant and Burgess of Dundee. John Wedderburn, D°- D°- Thomas Robertson, Notary. 30th October 1619.—John My 11, Mason, is a witness at Falkland to a precept of sasine in favour of Andrew Conqueror, one of the Bailies of Perth, and Margaret Moncreif, his spouse, of a piece of garden ground sometime occupied by Thomas Meik, and bounded by the ground of the late Robert Meik on the north, in the lordship of Scone. 21st December 1619.—John Mylne, Mason, is a witness at Falkland to a precept of sasine in favour of Andrew Conqueror, one of the Bailies of Perth, and Margaret Moncreif, his spouse, of the Temple, lands called Claycrofts, in the lordship of Scone. The Contract to Build a Church at Falkland. £2000 Scots. 19th January 1620;—It is aggreit and finallie contractit betuix ane noble lord Dauid Lord of Scone on the ane part John Mylne measone as principal and with him Andro Sibbald burges of Falkland David Jak and James Mylne burgesses of Perth his cautioneris for him conjunctlie and seuerallie for fulfilling his pairt of this present contract on the vther pairt in maner following—That is to say the said Johne Mylne and his saidis cautioneris conjunctlie and seuerallie obliss thame to demolische and doun cast the auld Kirk of Falkland and red the ground thereof and to found and big ws ane new Kirk vpone the samyn ground of the lenthe of the said auld Kirk and of the breid within the wallis thereof of twentie aucht foottis with ane He on the northe syde of the said Kirk and of the samyn breid and of the lenthe of foottis baithe to be of sick hicht as the said noble lord sail think expedient quhilk Kirk and lie salbe thackit with sklaitt, timberit, rigined with riggane stanes, syllit with fir flourit with daillis, spargit within, loftit on the wallis thereof, pillerit with timber for wpbearing of the loftis, and the saidis loftis to be couered on the for sydis thairof efter the forme and workmanschipe of the Kirk of Scone with bund work of wenscott and the said JOHN MYLNE OF PERTH, MASTER MASON TO CHARLES I. Kirk and lie thereof to have sick doiris sick windois and sick number thairof as the said Lord pleiss dewyiss and the said north lie to be loftit and ane passage thairto outwith on the eist syid of the said He with ane fair heiche belhous on the gavell thairof as the said Lord sail dewyis and the for wall of the said Kirk to be biggit of brotched or nail work and to have sick pillaris and sa mony thairof rysing with the said foir wall for decoring thairof as the said lord sail dewyis and the haill windois of the said Kirk to be glassit, timber dures and lokis thairto furnisched with the haill irone work for accomplisching the said Kirk and the haill materiellis and workmanschip for perfytting and ending of the said Kirk and lie in maner foirsaid and as it sail pleis the said noble lord dewyis salbe furnisched and done be the said Johne Mylne and his saidis cautioneris conjunctlie and seuerallie and als perfytit and endit be thame betuix the dait heiroff and the first day off November nix to cum : For the quhilk caus the said noble lord sail pay to the said John Mylne the sowme of thrie thowsand merkis money viz. ane thowsand merkis at the founding of the said Kirk ane wther thowsand merkis at the perfyting of the half of the work thairof and the thrid thowsand merkis money at the perfyting and ending of the said haill work with the carriage of the timber sklaittis and lyme to be carreit be the parochineris to the said Kirk and heirto bayth the saidis pairties and cautioneris obliss thame hinc inde to wtheris And for the mair securitie heireoff they are content thir presentis be insert and registrat in the Buikis of Counsall or Steward Buikis of Fyff to have the strenth of ane act and decreet with lettres and executoralis of poinding warding and horneing vpoun ane simple chairge of sax dayes allenarlie to pass heirvpoun and to this effect constitutes Mr Alexr. Cumyng and Mathow Forsyth their procuratouris promittentes de rato etc. In witnes whereof (writtin be John Litiljohne Noter Publict) baith the saidis pairteis and cautioneris hes subscribit this present contract with thair handis day yeir and place foirsaid befoir thir witnessis and the said Johne Mylne and James Mylne his brother obleisses them conjunctlie and seuerallie to warrand and relieve the remanent cautioneris abonewrittin of ther cautionrie abone specifieit and of all damnage they sail sustene thairtbrow Mr John Moray Gilbert Moray servitoris to the said lord Johne Nicol Noter. Sic subscribitur. Andro Sibbald w l my hand at the pen led be the noter underwrittin at my command becaus I cannocht writt. Ita est Stephanus Patersone notarius publicus in premissis requisitus de mandato dicti Andrei Scribere vt asseruit nescientis Testante manu propria. Ita est Joannes Littiljohne connotarius in premissis requisitus de mandato predicto vt asseruit. M r John Morray witnes. G. Murray witnes. John Nicol noter witnes. * FACSIMILE OF SIGNATURES OF DAVID LORD SCONE, JOHN MYLNE, DAVID JAKSOUNE, AND JAMES MYLNE. THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. From a letter from C. Gulland to Joseph Anderson in June 1876 :— Falkland old church has been long demolished, for the new one was opened in 1850. Yet I remember it perfectly (being born in 1840), and have a sketch by Sir G. Ballingall in 1846. The front part was a low building of considerable antiquity, with two porches. About 150 years ago the Duke of Athole, the then hereditary Keeper of the Palace, and proprietor of Falkland Wood, added the north end facing the pulpit, with the gallery, where the patron sat, and his family scutcheon hung on the wall at the pew side. I can remember sometimes sitting with my feet touching the sand, as in some pews there was no floor. Miss Carmichael was the last person interred, and she was buried in the back aisle, where the family of Lundin of Drums formerly claimed a right of burial. The staircases to the galleries were outside, and the church was said to date from the suppression of Episcopacy. The year following his father’s death and burial at Perth, he is called to Aberdeen 1 to advise the citizens in reference to the building of a new Tolbooth steeple, which is still in existence. The authorities of the city entered into an agreement with him to furnish all the necessary ashler stone, worked accord¬ ing to the design, from the famous Quarry of Kingudie in the neighbourhood of Dundee, and he is made a burgess ex gratia , while the same privilege is soon after granted by his native town in right of his father. During the years 1629-30 he is found at Drummond Castle, executing extensive additions to that noble and beautiful fortress-mansion for the Earl of Perth. Portions of the gateway, below the great Tower, were erected at 1 Tn connection with the early records of Aberdeen, the subjoined document will prove interesting:— Be it Kend tyll all men be thir present litteris Me Maister Alexander Kyd Subchantor of Abirdene and persone of the liospitall Kyrk lyand besiyd the sammyne with full and express consent and assent and authorite of ane reuerend fadir in God William be the merce of God bischoipe of Abirdene the president and clieptour of that ilk thairto cheptourlie gaddirit as wse is ane edicit preccdand affixit one the Kirk dur and cheptour dur apone the space of fowrty dayis conforme to the act and statut maid thairapon Anens all materris tretit in the said cheptour the weill protfeit and vtilite of my Kirk and landis of the Spettall annexit vnite to the said subchantorie considderit and forsene and for certane gratitudis and proffetis doun and giwin to me be George Quhiyt burgess of Abirdene for the weill and proffeit of hyme his wyff and thair eldest sone conuertit to the wse and proffeit of my Kirk and landis foirsaid for polycy and biging to be maid thairapone To hawe sett and for mayll lattyne and be the tenour of thir presentis settis and for maill lattis to the said George Quhiyt Elezabet Brabnar his wyif and Alexander Quhiyt thair eldest sone and to the langest lewer of thame and to thair assignais ane or ma beand of na hiar nor grettar dignite nor power nor thame selff or ony ane of thame All and liayll the seyt callit Petirstoun lyand within the boundis of the said Spittall ground one the west siyd of the Spittall hyll samekle in boundis and quantite as the foirsaid George occupiyt and manurit with his guidis in the tyme of the makkyne of his assedatione allanerlie The puir folkis and indwellaris of the Spittall hawaml in the foirsaid land and tak thair auld wse and custoum to the sustentatione of thame selff and bestiall as thai hawe had in all odiris personis tymes bygane And attour the said George Quhiyt his wyff and his eldest sone the langest lewer of thame and thair assignais sail frelie oupliald and susteyne of thair awyne propir expenss twenty heid of scheipe in common pastuir within the foirsaid tak with thair awyne scheip to the proffeit and vtilite of the said Maister Alexander and his successors quhen thai be requirit thairto and to causs thair cottaris to answer for the foirsaid twenty heid of scheip to the said Maister Alexander and his successoris as for thair awyne propir guidis To be haldyne and to be had all and liayll the foirsaid seyt of Petirstoun with the pertinens to the saidis George Quhiyt Elezabet Brabnar his wyff and Alexander Quhiyt thair eldest sone and the langest lewer of thame and thair assignais beand of stait and conditione foirsaid for all the dayis yeris and tennis of nvntene veris nixt and immediat following thair entres in and to the said tak and assedatione quhilk entres wes at the fest of Witsonday in the yeir of God ane thowsand fiwe hundretht fowrty and ane yeir and fra thin furtht to induir quhill the compleit vsehewe of the said nynteyne yeris without interruptione or brek of terrae or termis With all and syndry thair rychtis merehes and boundis auld and dewisit as thai ly in lynicht and breid with come land and griss manurit and nocht manurit with howss and biging als with power to change the saming to the vtilite ol the JOHN MYLNE OF PERTH, MASTER MASON TO CHARLES I. ii 3 this time, and the date 1630 is sculptured upon the gables. In other portions the gables (sometimes including the date) have been more recently renewed according to the original pattern. The remarkable sun¬ dial, so prominent an ornament in the centre of the famous pleasure gardens, was his work. At Dundee, 5th August 1622.—Obligation by John Mylne, mason, burgess of Dundee, to William Ballingall, maltman, burgess of Coupar of Fife, for £100. John Black, elder, wright, burgess of Dundee, cautioner. From the Council Books of the Burgh of Aberdeen. 12 th May 1622.—“Memorandum John Mylne, measone ex gratia consilii wes admittit frieman of his craft, allanerlie ” [only]. 16th November 1622.—Paul Menzies had lent the Council, for the work of the Tolbooth, 124 pieces of free ashler stones, of which 67 pieces were for lintels, got from the quarry of Kingudie, and the Council now order him to be repaid with the like stones from the same quarry. 1 st January 1623.—The samyn day the prowest baillies and counsall ordainis Robert Johnstoune baillie maister of wark to the bigging of the Tolbuith Steipill to deburss ane hundreth pundis money to Johne Mylne Mesoune in Dundie to ane compt in pairt of peyment of the pryces of the frie aisler and warkmanship thairof quhilk he hes wndirtane to furneis and to transport for the use of the said wark fra Kingudie to the port and herberie of this burghe quhilk soume salbe allowit to the said maister of wark in his comptis. 30th April 1623.—Forty merks given to John Blak, wright in Dundee, for coming to advise about the timber work for the Tolbooth. From the Burgess or “ Lockit Buook ” of Dundee. 24th March 1627. — Quo die Joannes Myln faber murarius effectus est burgensis et frater gildi dicti burgi ratione priuilegii quondam Joannis Myln sui patris: admitted gratis. possessoris and of me and my successoris with common pastuir fre ische and entra and with all and syndry otlir commoditeis proffetis and esmentis pertining or that justlie may pertene to the said land frelie quietlie weill and in pece without obstackle or contradictione of me or ony of my successoris induiring the space foirsaid paying thairfor yeirlie the said George Quhyt his wyff thair eldaist sone and the langest lewer of thame and thair assignais to me and my successoris being personis of the hospitall and lardis of the forsaid land the soum of fowir markis guid and wsuall money of Scliotland be equaill portionis at twa termis in the yeir that is to say Witsonday and Mertimess in wyntir or within twenty dayis yeirlie eftir ilk terme ondir the pane of tynsall of thair takis allanerlie with obseruatione and keiping of all the pointis of the premisses ondir the saming pane for all odir dewiteis dew seruice exactione areage or careage that ma be askit or requirit of the said land during the space foirsaid And I forsuitht the said Maister Alexander for me and my successoris foirsaid sail warrand acquict and defend to the said George his wyff thair eldest sone and thair assignais as said is the foirnemit land with the pertinentis duiring the tyme and space foirsaid a ^ IPcti fj^OBTrO- (Ao- »=! 0-7 ■ax mf- jv-raS- 1 -y^jya.Ty.iVvn^-nS'y- ->^_ - •~~>-y W-J-* ■“'■^ V/^ 'S-v-^-Av^n A, / r «7, ^ /U. ^./O.J ~U ~£3 y^.^A_ - "7'./^ W J 1^4 fir tAl- CC^L? h - c 7 5 ~ 7 t v ■*'' Sv ^ --&- ^ ^ u>*rfa,& rf VJV &)-tsc£.r^ C_£k*A-Q^ — {/tX/ 4~ c> f"£t\)~ C ^ » f,S hPy^^ n_ sg ^ ^ 47^7 7 / "■' 4 ~ >' 74 A— •/r'-Ti.- 7 rr s 777 fr’d'^r^ « ^ «~^ o«'^n txnjyU^J /* /*h- <-W> / »i,*^ v^ia^-w* ,,., w j_^ 7, '- ■• 7,7 - £..- 7 27. «*. f ” oZh-Kj? ^~errr\ cc^-n £y - m-t>*ri ^-o *• /1 t>^m.tJ vh. r A - yvSy, (77, i( ’*r >n. o yJ- ajlfal~a^j.y-g? p*jA-/L-- rdivi'— THE BUILDING OF HOLYROOD. 167 will, when you can, send up the draught of the kings palace at Halyroodehous to the end his Majestie may declare his pleasure about it; I waite but for that occasion to present your commission which my brother sent to me for your taking the direction of that worke ; and if you please I wold put in Sterlin castle also into that commission, because the money given by the parliament is to be employed for both those houses. Tell me freely your opinion of this, or any thing els. But above all I am concerned in your health, and therfor I conjure you send me from your physician and surgeon (if there be any surgeons worke in the case) ane exact relation of the progres and condition of your distemper and the remedies which have been applyed to the end I may returne you the best advice from this. If you love me hasten this to me, for none can be more concerned in your recovery than is,—Sir, your most affectionat and faithfull friend and servant, Lauderdaill. For Sir Wm. Bruce of Balcaskie. Lord Lauderdale to Lord Hatton. 4 th April 1671. I have received Harrie Home’s letter concerning Thirlestane Castle, and am pleased it goes on so well. As to the marble chimneys, I am fan- advanced, for I have bargained for six already for Thirlestane Castle, and three of them are finer than any I see in England, and I have great pennyworth—two I have payed for this day, much finer than my Lord Chancellor’s, larger and cheaper, above a fourth than his. I lighted on them by chance in ane Italian merchant’s hand, who let me have them as he payed for them in Italie with the customes and charges. And that poore Lethington be not forgotten, I have bought a brasse one for the hall. It is according to your heart’s desire, with pillars like the Queen’s privee chamber, but much finer and larger, and will fitt the vaulted hall excellently well. When I see your answer to what I wrote concerning alterations and chimneys at Thirlestane Castle, and what marble you can have at home, then I shall fitt marble chimneys for the whole two lower stories in Thirlestane Castle, and the second storie in Lethington, for I must have all marble, and if best marble cannot be got reason¬ able and handsome, I will provide Plimmouth marble for the wors rooms which is fine. This shall serve for this post. So my Dear Brother—Adiew. Extract erom Letter oe the Earl of Lauderdale to his brother Lord Hatton (Charles Maitland). Whitehall, 13 th April 1G71. . . . Tell W. Bruce that I am glade the draught of Halyrudehous is to come so soone. It may take sometime for the King’s considering it, but I shall return it as soon as I can. I only feare it will be too great and exhaust all the money, so that nothing will be left for Sterlin or the Castle, for the King’s heart is upon Sterlin. In the meantime, I wish that the old apartments may be habitable before Michaelmas least there should fall out ane occasion for using it at that time. . . . Lady Dysart to Sir W. Bruce. Ham, nth April 1671. Sir,—I desired E. Lauderdaill to lett you know that I like your Peers for the gate which you designed for me, therefore I desire you to proceed with the worke according to that figure to . I am now at Ham so have considered of your proposal of making the gate only 12 feet wide, the great walk is 18 feet, so yet by your advice : the gate ought to be 3 feet on each side of the walk, then the walks which does not do well, especially 168 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. seeing that the entry into the house is near as large, but if you think it more proper that the gate may be 3 feet in all narrower than the walk, that may be allowed. As to the iron gate it will do best first to compare the charge, that I may be able to judge of the difference, so then resolve whether to make the Irongate here or in Scotland. One thing I have thought of which you are so able to judge of, so that is, in case you believe the weight of the gate will make it difficult to open it frequently, what do you think of making in each leaf of the Irongate a little wicket for ordinary use ?—the reason why there ouo-ht to be in each leaf a wicket is for uniformity, because the gate is made of straight Iron Barrs, as is the draft of the gate I sent you. I know you are at this time sufficiently employed, so that it is not very necessary to put you in mind of what concerns your friends, which makes me seldom trouble you. I shall be glad to know how you do in your health when you write to me. I beseech you present my more humble service to your lady.—I am most faithfully your affectionate cossen to your humble servants, E. Dysert. For Sir William Bruce att Edinburgh. Lord Lauderdale to his Overseer, Thomas Cassill. A new wkimsey for enflaming the reckoning at Thirlstane Castle. Ham, 4 th May 1671. Considering the two pavilions that joine to the two rounds of the west end of my house (which are absolutely necessary to make a front at the entry) I find a great need of two pavilions alsoe in the east end, for without those pavilions the south and north sides of my house will look pitifully in both the gardens south and north. I mean that the pavilions should joine to the two eastern rounds just as they doe at the western rounds, and then the house will look uniforme to both gardens. But I fancy to myself a greater advantage by these two new proposed pavilions; for faine would I have my library in one of them; for although I am positively resolved not to losse a room in my low story (as I once thought for my library), yet to goe to the third story with it frights ane old man, and therefore I desire that yee may lay your heads together and see it the southmost pavilion on the east end might not be made for a library, for the conveniency of which I could easily dispense with a little want of uniformity by carieing it further east and soe making it some feett longer than the south pavilion at the west end. I know there is a great descent in the east end, but I would easily dispense with the charge of a story under it, for I am sure the ground is good. I will not trouble my head with the difficulty of getting a convenient entry to it, nor to answer the difficulties that I could object (because I know Sir Wm. Bruce has ane excellent faculty at all that). I have only proposed my whimsey, and leave it to you and Sir Wm. Bruce to hammer some what out of it, if it be possible, and if you like it draw me a rough draught of it and send it to me. This is chatt and noe shears, and I am sure I will not begin it till the other be finished; but being engaged knockle-deep in mortar I fear I shall be up to the elbows (if I live) before I have done with it, and in expectation of your answer to my last, I send you this as ane entertainement for halfe of a duson more pipes of tobaco. Adieu. Considering the historic interest which surrounds all changes and vicis- situdes connected with the Royal residence in Edinburgh, we insert the full text of the Royal Warrant of Charles II. concerning the Palace and Chapel of Holyrood :— 1 1 This Royal Warrant was first printed for the Bannatyne Club, in the Appendix to the Preface to the “ Charters of Holyrood,” 1840.—R. S. M. -f&L ft ft* /Tia (7/U/iwjJjOfrftLUj 'Tlp-tzi tn /zj-d)£ z\j jr £*{»**■ S tralyi *V)f&\-Q r«rt= U 1? Vh\riQf ■ —-=s--- Lj i P- rwv \ > P ■ mm ftJUiX J ./jA/io/kr (/ a/ly THE BUILDING OF HOLY ROOD. 169 Given at Windsor 3rd June 1671.—To our right trusty and welbeloved cousins and councellors, and to our right trusty and welbeloved councellors the Lords Commissioners of our Treasury in Scotland. CHARLES R.—Right trusty and welbeloved cousins and counsellors, and right trusty and welbeloved counsellors, Wee Greet you well. Having seriously perused the plan of the ground together with the drawght of our intended Palace of Holyroodhouse, wee doe here inclosed send you our directions for purchasing such adjacent grounds as wee think necessary for the same, as alsoe concerning such alterations as wee doe judge con¬ venient ; in pursueance of which wee doe by these presents authorise you to proceed in the purchase of the grounds and houses belonging to the Bishop and Dean of Edinburgh adjacent to the said Palace; and in mortifieing and legally secureing an equivalent yeerly value to the Bishop and Dean and their successors in due forme of law; which when you have finished, wee will signe the securityes as you send them up, and take care to have them ratified in the next Session of our Parliament. You shall alsoe proceed as soon as yee can in what concernes the buriall-places and new passage to the church according to our inclosed directions : Yow shall alsoe consider of the purchase of the other grounds therein mentioned, and send to us your advice concerning the same, to the end that wee may give our positive orders. As to the alterations wee propose in the outer fabrick and disposeing of the apartments, yow shall returne to us your opinions after advice had with Sir Wm. Bruce, whom wee have commissionated to be our Generali Surveyor of the whole works at the said Palace, and such others of our Castles and Palaces as wee shall give order to have repaired. And yow shall make due payment of the salary which wee have granted to him yeerly and termely vntill wee shall discharge the same, and that out of the moneys granted to us by the late Session of Parliament; for all which this shall be to yow a sufficient warrant: and soe wee bid yow heartily farewell. Given at our Court at Windesor Castle the third day of June 1671 and of our reigne the 23 year.—By his Majesties command. Lauderdaill. His Majesties directions concerning his Palace of Halyrudehous. To be ordered by the Lords Commissioners of his Thresaurie after they have considered the same after advice had with his surveyor Sir Wm. Bruce. 1 The King haveing seriously considered the plan of the ground in and about his Palace of Holyroodhouse, together with the severall designes of the severall stories of the Palace itselfe, his Majestie hath commanded me to signifie his approbation of the designe of the house in generall as being well suted to the ground and to that parte of the house which is to stand as now it is amending, and to declare his further pleasure as to the alterations which he proposes. 1 Hee will suspend the buying of those houses and grounds marked with the figure 3 and will continue the entrie at this time as now it is. 2 Hee desires that there be noe burialls in the places marked 18 and 19, but that the bodies there buried remaine, the ground covered to be plaine, and another convenient buriall- place with ane entrie to the church be provided for the people of the Canon Gate. 3 That the grounds and houses belonging to the Bishop and Dean of Edenburgh marked with the figures 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 28. be purchased for his Majesties vse, and sufficient and equivalent satisfaction given and mortified to the Bishop and Dean of Edenburgh and their ‘successors in due forme of law perpetually, to be ratified in the next Session of Parliament. 4 His Majesties designe is by this purchase to have ane accesse from his new garden marked 10. into the great Park ; and therefore it would be seen to whom the grounds marked Enclosed in the preceding letter. 170 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. 16. and 17. doe belong; that if they be not the Kings already, they may be purchased together with the ground on the east side betwixt the Deanes house and the old Park-dyke as farre as the Clockmill, to the end the Kings passage to the Great Park may be vninterrupted. 5 The grounds belonging to the Earle of Roxburgh marked 29. and the grounds on the back of the South-garden may be also considered. Now as to the House itselfe within. 6 In the Ground Plane, that which is designed for the low Chappell is to be made a large vaulted cellare; For his Majestie will have noe Chappell in this new house, but ane entrie from the Guarde Chamber on the Royall Apartement towards the East into the Church, and his private family prayers in or near the Presence as in Whitehall and his other houses here. The rest of his Directions as to the first Story will be better vnderstood when mentioned in what concerns the second Story. 7 As to the second Story his Majestie does noe way approve of three Royal Aparte- ments, they being absolutely unnecessary : For he will only have his oune Great Apartement to the East upon the new Privy Garden and the old Royall Apartement where it now is, the Privy Chamber of it being enlarged as is proposed, and the Drawing roome and Bed Chamber to be as it now is in the North-towr. His Majestie does alsoe much dislike his Privy Gallery, and would have it converted into conveniencyes for Robes and back staires for the Royall Appartement to the East. And becaus the staires marked with the Crosse ( x ) are too litle for that Royall Apartement, his Majestie would have a large pair of Staires made to come to the second Storie at the North end of the Privy Gallery, and the other back staires marked with ane (0) may be further advanced Northward. By this meanes the whole North and South sides of the Court in the second Storie may be devided into convenient apartements which his Majestie will have to serve the Court, in the second and third Storie, when he is there, and to serve for convenient apartements when he is not there to such officers as he shall appoint them for. 8 The upper Storie of the Chappell above the Great Celler his Majestie intends for a Councell-Chamber with ane outer roome, and the Closets for Clerks. And that the lowe Kitchines and Cellers in the ground Storie may remaine for the vse of the South and North apartements in the second and third Stories; but his Majesties Great Kitchins and other Offices to be without the Squair towards the Chancellors Court. Concerneing the outward Fabrick. 9 His Majestie likes the front very well as it is Designed, Provided the Gate where the Kings coach is to come in, be large enough. As also he likes the taking doune of that narrow upper parte which was built in Cromwells time. Hee likes not the covering of all that betwixt the two Great toures with platform at the second Storie, but would have it heightened to a third Storie, as all the Inner Court is, and sklaited with skaily as the rest of the Court is to be ; By which meanes a whole Storie will be gained, only with the expense of the heightning of ane aisler wall. His Majestie thinks the way proposed for the Inner Court would be very noble; but he will not goe to that charge, and therefore his pleasure is that it be plaine aisler, as the front is, with table divisions for Stories; And if that be judged too great ane expense, he will rest satisfied that it be good handsome rough work with handsome moulderings for the windowes, and table divisions for the Stories. 10 His Majestie likes very well to have chimneys in the corners of roomes where it is not soe convenient to sett them in any of the sides; and hath made his new House at New Markett with all the chimneys in the corners. 11 His Majestie leaves the ordering of that which is vnder the Kings Royall Eastern Apartement, as also the apartements of the second Storie in the South and North sides, together with the third Story all round the Court, together with the Back staires and other conveniences, to Sir William Bruce, his Majesties Surveyors contrivance. THE BUILDING OF HOLYROOD. 171 It is his Majesties pleasure that the Lords Commissioners of his Treasury consider these alterations and directions with the advice of Sir William Bruce, and returne ane ansswer accordingly, yet that preparations be made, and the work goe on with all the speedy dispatche possible : And that a full Drawght of the whole Designe be sent to the King soe soone as it can conveniently be made ready. These orders were read againe to his Majestie and approved, with this addition, that a little gallerie for a passage be made betwixt his Majesties old appartement and his great new appartement on the East. Either to goe from the old drawing roome to the new gard chamber, or from the privie chamber in the old appartement to that new gard chamber. The rest of the north side of the Court to be disposed as is abovesaid. At his Majesties Castle of Windesor the 3d day of June 1671.—By his Majesties command. Lauderdaill. A contemporary connoisseur did not approve of the new house at Newmarket, especially disliking the arrangement of the chimneys. From John Evelyn’s Diary, 22nd July, 1670.—Passing through Newmarket, we alighted to see his Majesty’s house there, now new-building; the arches of the cellars beneath are well turned by Mr. Samuel the architect, the rest mean enough, and not fit for a hunting house. Many of the rooms above had the chimneys in the angles and corners, a mode now introduced by his Majesty, which I do at no hand approve of. I predict it will spoil many noble houses and rooms, if followed. It does only well in very small and trifling rooms, but takes from the state of greater. The six original drawings executed by Robert Mylne for the King have remained in the family since his decease in 1710, and are thus available for reproduction after the lapse of over two centuries. They are in a good state of preservation, and are of great historic interest—for they show how the Palace, as it now is, came into existence. The elevation of the east side of the inner quadrangle shows the same strict adherence to classical models as does the finer faqade that forms the garden front towards the east, with the fine view of Arthur’s Seat and the Salisbury Crags. The quadrangle is 94 feet square, and the entire length of the western front extends to 215 feet. In the centre is the grand entrance, composed of four Doric columns, over which are sculptured the Royal Arms of Scotland, below an open pediment, on which are two reclining figures ; the whole surmounted by a small octagonal tower, terminating in an Imperial Crown. The finest room in the existing Palace is the great picture gallery, which is 150 feet long by 24 feet broad, and forms a noble apartment for state ceremonies. Here the representative Peers of Scotland are elected, and the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly holds his levees. Here the Pretender gave his balls to the Jacobite party during his brief occupation of Edinburgh. THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. We now insert the Order and Directions from the Lords Treasurer to repair Holyroodhouse and Castle of Stirling &c. :— 20th July 1671.—The Lords Commissioners of his Majesties Treasurer in pursuance of his Majesties comands do appoint Sir William Bruce his Majesties Surveyor generall forthwith to proceed to the repairing of his Majesties Pallace of Holyroodhouse by ordering the taking down of all the Iron grates of the windows in the front of the House, And that with all possible diligence he make effectual and speedy provision of stone lime timber Iron, glasse, and all other necessaries for that work in the most frugall way and to the best advantage he can. He observing in all his Majesties directions and orders of which just doubles are herewith delivered to him. As also the said Lords in pursuance of his Majesties further commands for repairing his Majesties Castle of Sterling do appoint the said Sir William Bruce That forthwith care be taken for prompt repairing of the Boofe and alleries of the said Castle And that provision be made for what concernes the wright and glasse work of the pallace and other roomes needfull therein, which is forthwith to be gone about So that this part of the repairing may be also finished betwixt and the first of November next, &c. As also that he take care to provide all necessaries for making up Ship carriages for the Canon in the said Castle, the provision and Workmanship being left to his care as above. As also that he view the dyke of his Majesties park at Sterling And take prompt course for effectual repairing of it, for the use his Majestie designes it And for the speedv perfecting of it, that he make the best bargain he can. For all which this shall be to him a sufficient warrant. Given at Edinburgh the 20th day of July 1671. We now insert the translation of the Grant, under the Great Seal, by King Charles II., of the appointment, until recalled, 1 of Sir William Bruce of Balcasky, Knight Baronet, as General Overseer and Superintendent of Works for the special reparation and building of the Palace of Holyrood, and other Buildings in Scotland, which, by reason of the recent calamitous times, have become dilapidated, and some in a ruinous condition :— £3,600 Scots Yearly, in Full Satisfaction of the Customary Emoluments Enjoyed by Former Masters of Works. 2 Given at Windsor, 3rd June 1671.—CHABLES R, By the grace of God, King of Scotland, England, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, to all his good men to whom our present letters shall come, greeting: Know ye, whereas we are earnestly desirous that certain of our palaces and castles in our Kingdom of Scotland, which lately, by the injuries of a calamitous time, are either altogether fallen down or become unfit for dwelling in, should be built and restored, particularly our Itoyal Palace of Holyroodhouse; and, because it is expedient for this purpose that some fit person should be appointed who should superintend the appointment of workmen, and the building and direction of the said works, and we having sufficiently understood the integrity of soul, faithfulness, and remarkable ability of our well-beloved servitor, Sir William Bruce of Balcasky, knight baronet, and his skill in architecture, and other qualifications worthy of such a trust: Therefore we have made, constituted, and ordained, and, by the tenor hereof, make, constitute, and ordain the foresaid Sir William Bruce our General Overseer and Superintendent, to take care of and attend to all works at our said Palace of Holyroodhouse, and such other buildings and 1 Warrant of Recall, dated 30 th May 1 G 78 . 2 Original in Latin. THE BUILDING OF HOLYROOD. 173 palaces belonging to us, within our foresaid kingdom, as we, by warrant directed to the commissioners of our Treasury, shall ordain to be repaired; with full power to the foresaid Sir William Bruce to substitute and create deputes under him, one or more, as the said work shall require (for whom he shall be bound to answer), and all other persons necessary, such as masons, wrights, glaziers, slaters, plumbers, smiths, painters, plasterers, and all other workmen of whatever kind, pioneers or barrowmen, as shall seem to him expedient, and to make use of them on all occasions, and admit them to work, at such rates and prices, and upon such conditions, as it shall please him to agree on with them ; which Sir William shall not be bound to make use of or admit anyone under name of our masters in any of the said crafts or occupations ; to whom also it shall be lawful to summon before him the foresaid workmen, to render an account of their work, and to pay to them what was agreed and covenanted on between them, as resources and power shall be had to that effect: Provided always that the foresaid Sir William Bruce shall render an account and reckoning to the Lords of our Treasury and their successors, or others whomsoever to be ordained by us, of the agreements to be entered into by him, and of whatever sums of money to be received by him and expended, whenever he shall be required, and that he shall be bound to follow such orders, directions, and instructions as he shall receive from us, or the said Commissioners of our Treasury and their successors, in our name, in time to come; and, during the time of the said reparations, we will and ordain, for the advantage of our service, and the better administration of the said works, that our foresaid general superintendent shall have the use of some parts of our said palaces, and the keys of the same, for his proper habitation, and for the habitation of his deputes, under masters, keepers of storehouses, and all other officers necessary to be admitted by him to any of the said works, and also for the better keeping and preservation of the whole materials and tools necessary for this effect to be laid up and provided ; without prejudice of the rights granted to the heritable keepers of the said palaces after the said repairs and buildings shall be finished, which shall in nowise be infringed or prejudiced; with power also to the said Sir William Bruce, during the space aforesaid, to do all other things necessary and requisite, as shall to him seem expedient; and to punish, mulct, incarcerate, and amerce delinquents and transgressors at the said works ; and to fix, hold, and continue, for this effect, courts, by himself or his deputes (as oft as need shall be), within the said palaces, houses, and precincts thereof, to us pertaining ; to make, create, appoint, and cause be sworn, clerks, serjeants, officers, and other members of Court necessary as becomes : Moreover, we prohibit and interdict all other persons from molestitig the said workmen or their servants for any quarrel or enormity to be committed by them within the said works, and which have a relation to the same, during the time in which they actually remain in our service ; and, also, we have given, granted, and disponed, and, by the tenor hereof, give, grant, and dispone to the foresaid Sir William Bruce the salary of Three hundred pounds money sterling, to be paid to him yearly, at the terms of Whitsunday and Martinmas, by equal portions, beginning and uplifting for the first at the term of Whitsunday next to come, in this instant year of our Lord One thousand six hundred and seventy-one, and so thereafter in time to come every term, till the same be retracted by us : Moreover, we hereby charge the Lords of our Treasury, or our principal Treasurer or depute, and their successors, to prescribe a method for preparing and making payment to the foresaid Sir William Bruce of the said annual salary, which shall be allowed to them in their accounts, which salary shall be in full contentation and satisfaction to the foresaid Sir William Bruce of the casualties formerly enjoyed by our masters of works, to wit — scaffolding, old furnishings, and materials of the said works which have been demolished, and otherwise by us disposed of, and of all other emoluments and casualties in any wise due by the said office, and in satisfaction of all other expenses to be expended in the said administration : In witness whereof, to these presents we have commanded our great 174 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. seal to be appended, at our Court of Windsor Castle, the third day of the month of June, the year of our Lord One thousand six hundred and seventy-one, and of our reign the twenty-third year. By signature superscribed with the hand of our Sovereign Lord the King. Lord Lauderdale to Lord Hatton. Ham, 2nd June 1671. Yesterday I dispatched honest W. Sharp from this, to-day he beginnes his journey, and intends to be this day sennight at Stainehill. I shall not spend words in commending his honestie and kindness. We have both as much reason for it as men can have, he hath exactly performed what I called for, and will give you exact account of all that I would say. I shall therefor only touch some heads. He brings home the booke of Halyrudehouse, and to-morrow, God willing, I shall dispatch the King’s formal orders for it from Windsor (whither I am this day going), as also Sir W. Bruce’s commission well amended with other papers. He will tell you my firm resolution of dividing the great roome at Thirlestane Castle, by making the great chamber 36 foot long, and leaving 17 foot for the then partition, and the outter roome by shutting the doore that goes now from the Turnpek into the little drawing-room (if it be thought useful), and by opening the window which I proposed on the northsyde wall of the great chamber, but of all this I shall write particularly after I hear from you and W. Bruce, which I doe long for, especially to see a rough draught of my new Pavillion. Ham, 3rd June 1671. Now I am returned from Windsor where I have well dispatched all I did designe. Will Sharp will shew you all, I doe not dispatch them to-night for from his coach yesterday morning he sent me word not to dispatch them till teusday, that he may deliver them all himself. . . . Ham, 5 tli June 1671. Dear Brother,— When I waited on his Majestie last at Windsor I was commanded, and with much earnestness, to endeavour to buy from the Earl of Marr his heritable right of keeping the Castle of Sterling, for the King thinks (and with a great deal of reason) that it is very unreasonable that the most considerable place of the Kingdome should be in the hands of any subject by inheritance. God knows who may succeed, and such a thing should not be under hazard of comprysysing sale or adjucation. Especially seeing it is intended to be made strong. I told his Majestie it would be very deare if he offered to buy it. The grandfather of the Earle got two thousand pound for the heritable right of keeping the Castle of Edinburgh (which hath a good revenue belonging to it), and this if well guided oght to be much cheaper, for this Earl Marr is low and wants money and hath no child. And therefor I proposed to recommend the care of this to you, and I hope you will give a good account of it. This the King well approved, and said, “ Write to him, I beseech you, and let him do what he can.” Now, I pray you, goe secretly and actively about it. Advise with honest Kincardine; I know no other, and I wold have it secret. Think, if you can, of some fitt person in whose name it may be desired to be boght—perhaps Lord Elphinston, or who you please. Or see if handsomely the Earl of Marr may by some of his guiders be persuaded to offer to sell it even to the King, rather than it failed. In a word, doe what you can and as you best can. The next particular concerns myself. The King in expectation that this week the Bass will be his, hath been pleased to tell me I shall be Governor of it. Therefor, with advice of my Lord Advocate, send me up a signature for that office, and let it be docketed by him, I know not clearly whether the King intends it for me heritably, or only for life. THE BUILDING OF HOLY ROOD. 175 27 tli June 1671. . . . But ere I answer it, I must entreat you to tell Sir Wm. Bruce from me that I much desire the hastening C. Dysert’s gate. The King and Queen will be hear this summer. It will he a shame not to have the gate up, and hasten notice whether the Iron gates for it can be made in Scotland or not. Lord Kincardine to Lord Lauderdale. Edenb., 27 th July —71. Wee hade nothing at Councell to-day of publique coneernement, nor any privat busines of great consequence yesterday at the commission for auditing E. Craufords accompts wee got a recommendation to the King staved off till the issue of the whole accompt be knowne for the reasons I told you in my last so it is not like you shall have any trouble of it at this tyme. To-day wee have agreed w c Ro. Mylne for the mason worke and all materials and callages belonging to it, and scaffolding for 4200 lib. st. and the worke already done is to be comprehended in it. And the feneshing that w" was beginne by the usurpers on the top of the house so as it shall joyne with the two touers the kitchin court and preuie garden walls and the court walls are likewise included he is to have 2000 deals and 500 trees to the bargaine for scaffolding. Wee are all very glade to be rid of it, for wee were mightely affrayed of the trouble of the callages L. H. Will Bruce and I thinke of going Saturday to see Thirlston Castle. For Sir Wm. Bruce of Balcascie, his Majesties Surveyor General. Order to Survie the Bass and provide materials and repair it. At Edinburgh, 6th September 1671.—It being necessarie in pursuance of his Majesties commands to us, that the Houses and Buildings on the Majesties Island of the Bass be surveighed and the necessarie reparations therof fourwith gone about—You are with all convenient dilligence to repair thither . . . necessarie to . . . before next winter. The building of the Palace being now fairly undertaken, and the pre¬ liminaries agreed upon, we must reserve to another chapter the various particulars connected with the actual execution of this historic structure. CHAPTER X. THE COMPLETION OF THE PALACE. THE DUKE OF LAUDERDALE-LORD HATTON-SIR WILLIAM BRUCE-SIR WILLIAM SHARP-ROBERT MYLNE. AYING detailed a great variety of transactions, and quaint corres¬ pondence between the king and his official advisers, we open the present chapter by giving the complete text of the interesting- contract betwixt Sir Wm. Bruce, Sir Win. Sharp of Stainiehill, and Robert Mylne, His Majesty’s Master Mason, for the re-building and reparation of His Majesty’s Palace of Holyrood. This document is really the most important contract relative to the present building, and provides a date for the whole structure. At Cannongate & Edinburgh 11 & 12 March 1672.—£57,000 Scots. It is appoynted contracted finallie agriecl and ended betwixt Sir William Bruce of Balcaskie knight and baronett his Majesties Surveyare Generali and Sir William Sharpe of Staniehill knight his Majesties Cash Keeper on the cine pairt and Robert Mylne his Majesties Master Measone on the other pairt in manner followeing That is to say forsaemeikle as itt is agried by his Majesties speciall order and appointment that his Majesties royall palace and house at Halvrudehouse be furthwith repaired and budded in maner underwritten And according to the designes and mappe thereof both in piano & perspective exhibited and presented be the sd Surveyare Generali to and approven be his Majestie Therefore and for the soumes of money afterspecefeit to be payed be the sd Sir William Sharpe to the sd Robert Mylne at the termesand in maner after-mentioned The sd Robert Mylne binds and oblidges him his aires executores and successores whatsomever to repaire and build his Majesties sd house and palace of Halvrudehouse both outter and inner courts therof In the severall walls towres galleries entries staire caices turnepyckes rowmes, and haill remanent structure building and reparationes both of old and new worke (in swae farre as concernes measone worke scaffolding takeing doune of the old worke digging and redding of the ground for founding) with the haill furniture thereof according to the severall designes in height length breadth and other dimensiones of the samyne and in the severall arches volts columnes entablators doores windoores chimney peeces and others And in all the formes and orders of architecture As the same is delineat be the THE COMPLETION OF THE PALACE. 177 scale and sett doune in the mapp in plan and perspective be the sd Surveyare Generali and sub 1 be him off the dait of thir presents And shall furnish all materialls and other instruments requisite and necessare for the sd structure and building such as squaire frie stane and other stones lyme sand water dailies and trees for scaffolding and for centries and devalling of the voults ludges cranes blockes taickle nailles and all other materialls necessare and convenient for the sd building And shall transport the samyne materialls to the said house and palace And shall furnish outredde and set off the sd measone worke be order directione and to the satisfactione of the sd Surveyare Generali All upon the sd Robert Mylne his owne proper charges and expenss and within the limited space and tyme as is prescryved in maner aftermentioned And it is hierby declaired that what of the old work is alreadie done such as the slopping of the voults takeing out of the iron stanchers and grates out of the windoores enlargeing and repaireing the samyne and other worke alreadie done within the sd palace Is a pairt of this present bargaine done and to be done upon the sd Robert Mylne his charges And speciallie but prejudice of the generalitie forsd The sd Robert Mylne binds and oblidges him and his forsds to sloppe the voults under the rowmes called the guard halle presence and lobbie and to take about two foott of the south wall of the old towre which falls within the lobbie to enlarge the breadth of it Two foot As alsoe to heighten the jestings levell with the guard hall or presence And the nixt floore in the thrid storie Thrie foot higher then at present And to alter build heighten and enlarge the haill doores chimneys turnpyckes staires and windoores And to worke ye samyne in fyne handsome and neattmuldrie work And the doores and entries of the haill old rowmes In new ribbats foils newells and lintells where the samyne are necessare to be repaired and renewed And the severall doores windoores privie staires and turnpyckes upon the north-east corner of the old tower which is to goe to the jdatforme upon the top thereof to be altered adding new stone stepps where the samyne are necessare And to remove and take doune the Cape House upon the sd plattforme and to help repaire and finish the whole stone worke of the sd palace now habitable in doores windoores chimneys staires and others to answer convenientlie the whole uses thereof proper and requisite Item the sd Robert Mylne binds and obleidges him and his forsds to take doune and demolish the whole old pile of building now designed to be rebuilt and all other old worke necessare to be takine downe anywher within the precinct relateing to the present reparationes And that pairt of the west quarter the inner wall wherof is to be slopped for letting in the galleries and pillares therof in maner underwritten. And by takeing doune of the which quarters and walls therof and rebuilding the samyne in maner after specefeit The sd inner court is to be inlarged as is designed to the space of Nyntie ane foott and ane half squaire And to redde the ground and fitt the samyne for sufficient and solide founding And to found and build therupon ane great towre upon the south pairt of the front of the sd palace equidistant from the present entrie in the sd front with the old tower alreadie built upon the north pairt therof And that of fyne smooth and good aisler worke Excepting so much as serves for a gavell to my Lord Chauncelloures house and falls within the rooffe therof which is to be done in good sufficient cloured rugh worke And every way to finish it in height breadth length shape doores rowmes and windoores according to the order and dimensiones in forme and maner lyke unto the sd old tower The ground storie wherof is to be weill and handsomelie arched and voulted with stone partitiones and doores convenient for cellares And upon the north therof to make build and erect ane fyne handsome scale staire Twentie thrie foott squaire All of aisler fyne hewen stone to serve the secound storie fynelie wrought with fyne railles and ballasters with handsome pilasters globes and pendents Each steppe being of one peece and lopped knitt and hung in the other according to the draught and modell therof done and wrought in timber as the samyne is designed be the sd Sir William Bruce Item the sd Robert Mylne binds and oblidges him and his forsds to erect and build round about the foure corners of the inner court of the sd palace gallaries consisting of Ten foots of THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. 178 breadth with pilasters columns with their basis capitalls arches and entablatures exactlie and weill done in their true proportiones therof according to the Dorricke Order as is designed in the sd draught and mappe and to cutt out and sett in the samyne in the walles of the west quarter alseweill done and answerable to these upon the other thrie quarters of the sd new worke The intercolumnes whereof as alsoe the thrie intercolumnes upon each syde of the thrie which stands thrie foott off from the rest upon that east quarter to be filled up thrie or foure foott high As shall be judged most convenient be the sd Surveyare at ane foott thick exactlie ane foott in from the utter face of the pilaster of aisler worke Item to pavement and lay the sd galleries round about the sd palace in the inner court therof with fyne gray stone pavement exactlie and orderlie joyned and alse smoothly joyned and wrought as paper with ane botle round towards the court Item to build the whole walls round the sd court and without the samyne in exact fyne aisler work (Except what shall be hierafter excepted) with thrie entablatoures round about the sd court within and without The first at the first floore of the Dorricke Order The secound at the secound floore of the Ionicke Order And the third round the toppe of the walls within and without of Corinthian Order All off them haveing ther true proportiones ornaments and projectures of fyne weill cutt and joyned stone worke The uppermost therof having ane caveto or casement hollowed or guttered out in the upper cornish of thrie inches broad and thrie inches deep for lodgeing of ane leaden spoutt to convoy the water falling from the rooffe with ane covenent devall from the midle upon each hand to the corners of the inner court with ane round holl comeing from the sd corner out att and under the corona of that cornish for ane lead pype to be brought that way to spill and convoy the water that comes from the rooffe And also upon that east syde within and elsewher wher it may be convenientlie placed as shall be designed be the sd Surveyare and to build worke and finish all the windoores chimneys and handsomelie to pavement ther hearths voults and stone worke bwild the severall partitiones As the samyne are designed and drawen in the sd mappe in plan and perspective be the sd Surveyare Generali The steps of staires each of them to be of one peece smoothlie cutt with round botles and exactlie joyned and finished with windoores and doores fynlie arched with streight pends The cast thereof not being discerneable to prevent the evill of timber safe lintells The whole stone worke upon the insyde of the court and outsyde therof (Except the east face of the wall of the fore old worke In swae farre as the samyne is not designed to be takine downe allennarlie) shall be all of good aisler work exactlie joyned and fynelie cutt smooth as paper Excepting these pairts therof alsoe that falls within rooffes or lookes to the backe court wher the Lord Chancellour now dwells which is to be done in good cloured rugh worke The whole walls without partitiones doores staire caices windoores chambers rowmes voults and uthers within are sutficientlie designed and understood in ther severall proportiones dimensiones number length breadth and height be the sd draught in piano and perspective signed and sub 1 be the said Surveyare in maner forsd Item the sd chimnayes are to be wrought be the sd Robert Mylne in fyne aisler worke Ten foott above rooffe haveing ther finishing in the toppe with ane entablatour of good order soe that they may resemble on ane other according to the draught therof Item the sd Robert Mylne binds and oblidges him and his forsds to take doune the stone worke of the gavells of the roofe above the Lobby And to build up ane syde wall in place therof of good aisler worke Alse good and joyneing with the worke latelie built above the old allering and raise and joyne the samyne to the tower alse high as the sd new worke And soe continue the same from the south end of the sd new worke and to joyne the samyne with the south tower now to be built and to finish the same with the doores windoores chimneys and entries according to the sd draught Swae y l the samyne may correspond and have good access to the former works Item the sd Robert Mylne shall take out the iron graitts out of the windoores in the haill frontis- peece of the sd palace and shall inlarge the samyne windoores according to the sd draughts and putt in new ribbats lintells and soils in place of these that beis found faultie and carie THE COMPLETION OE THE PALACE. i/9 the tableing upon the said front at the floore of the secound storie All alyke levell round which for the present loupps or ryses from the corners higher along the front Alsoe upon the sd Robert Mylne his owne charges Item the sd Robert Mylne be thir pn ts binds and oblidges him and his forsds to build and finish the kitchen court as the samyne is designed be the sd mappe as sd is And for that effect to demolish and ding doune the old walls redde opine and cast the ground for ane sufficient foundatione And to build the sd kitchens baikhouss and pastrie rowmes scouldrie and others necessare office-houss with ther doores transes staires windoores chimneys ovens great and small arches crosskeying syvers and pends being large rowmes and chimneys according to the draughts of foott high and to build ane draw well in the sd court and to finish the haill stone worke of the samyne walls gates doores transes staires and entries therof and furnish all materialls therto as sd is Alseweill stones great as small pavement for pavementing the kitchens transes chimneys lyme sand water scaffolding lodges and nailles therunto Comprehending rigging and capeing stones and wells for draweing of water in the respective kitchens and all others necessare and all materialls instruments and furniture requisite for the sd worke imediatlie above written swae farre as concernes measone worke and digging and redding of ground upon the sd Robert Mylne his owne proper charges and expenss Item the sd Robert Mylne binds and oblidges him and his forsds upon his owne expenss as sd is to build the gardine walls of the privie gardine now designed towards the east Two hundereth foott squaire foure ells high above the levell of the gardine and superfice of the ground with ane fyne hewen cape of frie stone above the sd foure ells As alsoe in the midle of the sd gardine to sett ane handsome and weill hewen basone round about sexteine foott diameter with ane pedestell for ane statue in the midle exactlie weill pavemented in the bottome The gates doores and entries of the which gardine dyche from the palace to it and from the sd gardine to any other place shall be of rich fyne and orderlie worke according as is or shall be designed be his Majesties sd Surveyare and to cast and redde the ground and remove the old walls and furnish all materialls necessare for the sd walls in maner forsd Item the sd Robert Mylne binds and oblidges him and his forsds to build other two walls in the outter court of the sd palace The ane running from the south and southmost side of the sd new tower now to be built as sd is and the other from the northmost syde of the north old tower alreadie built both as farre west as the breadth of the present outter court in good rugh worke Twelve foot high above ground with ane handsome hewen cape above it And on the midle of either of the sd Syde walls opposite to other to build and finish ane handsome beautifull gate in rich and orderlie pillare worke As shall be designed be the sd Surveyare and shall redde the ground and transport and furnish all materialls as sd is for the sd walls of the sd court gates and entries upon the sd Robert Mylne his owne charges and expenss as is above written Item the sd Robert Mylne is to lay the haill Inner court with good and sufficient calsey whinstone squarlie cutt and exactlie laid outband and inband As the samyne is pntl ie wrought all without the pillares and pavement of the sds galleries and peatches swae laid and wrought with devalls on all sydes and guttered for convoyeing of the raines and water that falls in the sd court into the sd Syvers to be built in the severall corners therof All which syvers are to be digged built caped and covered with flag stones closelie laid for caryeing away convenientlie the sds raines and water falling from the rooffe and within and without the said court Item the sd Robert Mylne binds and oblidges him and his forsds to pavement all the chimneys in the building putt in tyles and irons to support the tongs As alsoe to pavement the whole kitchens galleries transes of the sd buildings and to pave with calsey stone the haill sellares The transes therof being paved with good and sufficient pavement squaire stones And putt in water pypes in such places of the offices and other places elsewher convenient (the pypes being furnished to him be the sd Surveyare) And to cutt hewe and build all the gates and publicke doores of fyne muldrie worke arched as may be requisite And in lyke maner the sd Robert Mylne by ane new agriement with the sd iSo THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Surveyare binds and oblidges him and his forsds to finish the whole insyde of the court (Excepting the insyde of the west quarter) As alsoe the haill outsyde of the east quarter that looks to the designed privie gardine in pillare worke consisting of thrie orders viz the first from the ground the Dorricke order the secound storie the Ionicke order And the thrid storie the Corinthian order With the entablator therto belonging and proper for each of the sd orders Conforme and exactlie according to these alreadie finished upon the north west corner of the sd Inner Court Which is hierby declaired to serve for a patterne for the rest And the windoores alreadie finished in the same corner lykewayes to serve for ane patterne to the whole windoores in the insyde of the court and that syde toward the sd designed privie gardine upon the east And that in lieu of the worke of the windoores beforementioned Which is declaired to be restricted to these two windores alreadie mentioned and finished in the north west cornere As lykewayes the sd Robert Mvlne binds and oblidges him and his forsds to take doune the old worke betwixt the north tower and the Kirke And rebuild the samyne in good aisler worke with windoores conform to and exactlie according to the aisler of the tower and the work of the windoores and tablings of the samyne Excepting the uppermost tabling Wherupon rests Which is to be a fyne cornish as shall be designed be the sd Surveyare And generallie the sd Robert Mylne be thir presents binds and oblidges him and his forsds to finish the whole works As they are mapped in height breadth doores windoores staires passages Nothing excepted to make all the works and access therto handsome and convenient with windoores above doores wher necessare stoole rowmes. And to alter and change any peece of worke the sd Surveyare shall order and requyre after the samyne is done on such reasonable allowance therfore as shall be condescended upon be the sd Surveyare And in caice of any worke wrought amiss or unsufficientlie be the sd Robert Mylne To take doune alter and make right and good the samyne of new againe to the satisfaction of the sd Surveyare upon the sd Robert Mylne his owne proper charges and expenss And lastlie the sd Robert Mylne binds and oblidges him and his forsds to finish and outtrede the sd workes and buildings compleatlie and sufficientlie weill wrought The aisler exactlie joyned and perfectlie smoothed broatched worke and other walls All of them with outband and inband stones compleatlie fortified for ther severall uses Especiallie for the supporting of roofes and doores To the satisfaction of the sd Surveyare All the haill measone works done and that is designed and intended to be done be the sd reparations and buildings and haill furniture therof abovewritten Is to be expeded and weill done be the sd Robert Mylne and on his owne charges and expenss and to the satisfactione of the sd Surveyare and according to the sd mappe in plan and perspective and to be fullie compleated and that betwixt and the ffyfteine day of November j" 1 vi c & seventie thrie yeares And to make payment to the sd Sr William Sharpe for his Majesties use of the soume of Two hundereth pounds Sterling money of liquidate expenss in caice of failzie by and attour the fulfilling of the premises jfor the qlks Causs and on the other pairt It was agried of before that the sd Robert Mylne should have jfoure thousand & two hundereth pounds sterling And now of late be reasone of some additiones of the sd worke which wer not mentioned in the first agriement such as the caryeing up the sd pillares to the toppe of the house And on the east face of the east quarter that lookes to the designed privie gardine and others That he should have ffyve hundereth and jiftie pounds sterling money more extending in the haill to the soume of jfoure thousand seven hundereth and jiftie pounds sterling forsd Wherof the sd Robert Mylne hes alreadie receaved from the sd Sr William Sharpe the soume of Twelf hundreth punds money above written And exoners and discharges him of the samyne for now and ever And as to the superplus of the sd soume Extending to the soume of Three thousand five hundreth and fiftie punds money above exprest The sd Sr William Sharpe be thir presents bmds and oblidges him his aires and exers To make payment of the samyne to the sd Robert Mylne his aires or asigneys In maner and at the termes following viz the soume THE COMPLETION OF THE PALACE. i8t of Sex hundreth punds money above written at Whitsunday j" vi' & seventie twae yeares The soume of other Sex hundreth punds money foresaid therof at Lambes j'" vi“ & seventie twae yeares Item other Sex hundreth punds money abovewritten therof at Mertimes j“ vi° & seventie twae yeares Item other Sex hundreth punds money foresaid therof at Candlemes j m vi c & seventie three yeares Item other Sex hundre thpunds money abovespecefeit therof at Whitsunday j” vi c & seventie three yeares And the soume of ffive hundreth and fiftie punds money above exprest In full and compleat payment of the sd haill soume of ffowre thousand seven hundreth and fiftie pounds money forsd Att the finishing and eompleateing of the sd haill worke With the soume of fiftie punds money foresaid of liquidat expenss & penaltie for ilk termes failzie therof By and attour the sd prinll soumes and togither therwith Togither alsoe with the dew and ordinare annual rent of the samine principall soume durring the not payment therof after the termes of payment respective abovewritten Lykeas the sd Sr William Bruce be advyse and order of the Lords of His Majesties Thesaurie hes delyvered or shall cause to be delyvered to the sd Robert Mylne and his servants the number of two thousand good and sufficient strong dailies With fl'yve hundereth double trees for scaffolding with the haill blockes and taickell provyded for the sd worke out of the store of the sd worke Item the sd Sr William Sharpe binds and oblidges him and forsds to purchase and procure to the sd Robert Mylne the haill grass in the yeards called St Anthonies yeard and that yeard which adjoynes to the north pairt therof for grasseing of the sd Robert his worke horse allennarlie gratis frielie without any payment of maill or dewtie therfor And lastlie the sd Sr William Bruce his Majesties Surveyare hierby dispones and makes over to the sd Robert Mylne the haill stones either hewen stone or wall stone To be takine doune within the sd buildings To be disposed of be him in rebuilding of His Majesties sd palace as he shall thinke expedient And for the more securitie both the sd parties are content and consents thir presents be insert and regrat in the bookes of counsell and sessione or bookes of Exchecker And ane decreit of the Lords therof interponed therto swae that letters and executions of horneing on Sex dayes k others necessare may be direct hieron as effiers And to that effect they constitute Ther procuratores &c In witnes whereof (written be John Cunninghame servitoure to Mr John Baine of Pitcarlie Wryter to the Signet) Both the sd parties hes subscribit thir puts with ther hands day moneth yeare of God & place respective forsds Before thir witnes respective viz to the subscriptiones of the sd Sr William Bruce at Cannongate the sd Eleventh day of March and yeare forsd The sd Mr John Baine Mr John Smith his servitour and the sd John Cunninghame And to the subscriptiones of the sd Sr William Sharp & Robert Mylne at Edr the sd Twelfth day of March & yeare forsd Thomas Moncrieff of yt ilke & the said Mr John Baine the sd Mr John Smith & the sd Jon Cunninghame The sd Mr John Smith haveing filled up the termes of payment with the soumes. THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. We now insert seven letters belonging to the years 1672-3 :— Lord Lauderdale to Sir Wm. Bruce. York, 1 6th October 1G72. I have seen your letter to my brother and you take your meassures amiss in judging me at London already, indeed I must cry what haste. As for the business of the pearle, I shall doe my best and give you an account; but let not Cap 1, Hamilton come away till you hear from me whether it be favorable or not. Send frequent accounts of my works and direct them to An. Forrester, by whom you shall have answer. But my business at this time is a secret, which W m ' Sharp must by no means know, lest he worrie both you and me. The truth is, I mean to finish Brunsten first of all, after Thirlestane Castle, and let Lethington stand a blow till the park dyke be finished and all the copses planted. None knows this, no, not my brother, only I have stopt the removing the new baight down from Leith this year. Doe you therefore haste to me the draught of Brunsten Offices and all, with all the speed you can, to the end I may send you my positive resolution this winter, for I mean to build these next summer, and none shall know it till I send you my positive orders. Finish on any terms vour bargane for the bridge there, also the Avenue planted, and hasten to me the draught of Brunsten. Adieu. For Sir Wm. Bruce, &c. Ham, 23 rd October 1672. I was very well pleased with your draught of Brunstein which you sent me long ago, yet I could not return you an answer until first I knew my own mind about it, nor had I even time to consider it thoroughly, until after the Earl of Kincardine and my brother were gone, then I came hither and made alterations which you will here see, and drew this draught which I here send to you to be considered, together with your own original draft, of all which I have kept coppies, so that we may convers upon the alterations without sending draughts any more. Now I will answer your letter, and then give you the reasons of my alterations. In the first place, I do not intend a house of much receite, and, therefore, though I like the seat very well, I will only patch what is already built, and make myself a very convenient lodge, but will by no means build a fine house there. I mean, God-willing, to pursue the design of the gardens, as we resolv’d at parting. I mean to pursue that same designe for the house which you and I first agreed upon, and whereof you have now sent me an exact draught, which I have altered, and I shall here give you the reasons of my alterations. First, I do not love to turn immediately into my great stairs from the court, and whereas you propose in the first story three bed-chambers, with three anti-chambers, I am resolved I will have none at all upon that story. Secondly, I do not like my great chamber to be on the west side as you propose it, for as you say very well it must not have lights to the west side, because of looking into the kitchen court, and then it shall have no lights but in to the pav’d court, where it should see nothing but the walls of the east side. Besides this, by your draught I should have no dining-room but that which you mark with the letter A, which is miserably little, and can never have conveniences for a dining-room, and so I should be forc’d to eate constantly in the second story, which would keep it always nasty ; therefore I am resolv’d to turn the great chamber to the east side, where I shall have three fair lights looking upon the sea and upon Fife, and the fourth light looking upon the garden, and I mean to have my great stairs upon the east side, and my back stairs upon the west. By this means I shall gain my beloved litle low gallery, which, though you despise because of the lownes and the narrowness, yet I shall like it well as a good passage to the garden, where I will have a billiard-board and other conveniences. I like very well your THE COMPLETION OF THE PALACE. 183 proposition of those three conveniences which you proposed for my own apartment on the south side of the second story, betwixt the two turnpikes, which I would have supported by pillars upon the court arch’d towards the south side, to support those three convenient rooms for my own apartment, which you know better how to finish than I do. And now let me describe to you this draught which I send you. In the first story A is my little gallery, B an anti-room to the parlour, D my low parlour, C my tobacco-room, E the great stairs, F a dining-room for the gentlewomen, &c., G a room for keeping of the sweetmeats, H a dining-room for my steward and waiters, I a buttery, K for keeping candle-sticks, brooms, &c. As to the kitchen and sellers I like them well as you propose them, only you must add then in the kitchen-court a room for the meanest servants to eate in. As to the second story, you will see from the great stairs there is a vestibule, then the great chamber (the very same which is now the hall), then my wife’s closet upon the left hand, and on the right hand a drawing-room ; then my wife’s bed-chamber and mine where there is a corner chimney, because for inlarging of that bed-chamber, and in respect of the low gallery that wall betwixt the present drawing-room and bed-chamber must be taken down, as also the present gavel that lookes to the west is to be taken down. Then following towards the west there is another drawing-room, my dressing-room which is on the west side of the house, and my closet, and on the same west side there is further a drawing-room and bed-chamber, and a closet. . . . Now the reason why I recommended secrecy to you when I first called for the draught, was because I stood in awe of Sir Wm. Sharpe, and was unwilling to give him an alarme before I had taken my resolutions ; but now there is no remedy. I am resolved to build this summer, and therefore you must adventure to tell him the whole matter. I hope he will not beat you, the worst is but a chiding and clawing of his lugg divers times, and calling where is the-cash, to which you shall answer him in my name, as Diego did in the play called the Spanish Curate, “ Even where you please, you are wise and know better where to get the money than I do.” This was Diego’s answer when they asked where the money was towards all the great legacies he had made, and this is my answer to Sir Wm. Sharp as to the building of Brunstein, which I doubt must be built, and even this year too. But for his comfort the great building of Liedington shall stand still untill first Thirlstein Castle, and secondly Brunstein be finished ; but I give no positive directions untill first the draught be agreed upon by us all, to which purpose you shall call a committee, consisting of the Earl of Kincardine and my brother, yourself, and Sir Wm. Sharp, you shall all of you lay your nodles together, consult gravely upon this letter and the draught, and let me have your opinions freely. All is new to the Earl of Kincardine and my brother (for it was resolv’d after they went away), ’tis ten to one you shall not all be of a mind, but let me have your opinions freely, with your reasons, and then you shall know more of my mind. Lauderdaill. For Sir William Bruce att Edinburgh. Ham, 7 th November 1672. Sir,—I have received your letter, dated October the 8th, but could not sooner give you thanks for itt. We are safely arrived here, and I am not a little pleased with this place, especially seeing the privacy of itt enables me to write to my friends, and to reflect upon their kindness, which I shall never forgett. My brother Haton and Kincardin will soon leave this, and I shall send a master joyner, a very honest man, who will cary his sonn to leave him at Lauther. He is very able to advise and to see through all the worke which falls within his trade. I hope you shall find satisfaction to employ him in the king’s worke. He is to take all worke by the jeab, only you must find the materials, and for the rest you are to agree. I shall send upon bords a patern of the worke for the painter, but I think 184 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. you shall do well to make use of a Dutch man, for there are none here who does worke so well as those of that nation. I bese:*ch you assur vour lady of my most affectionate kindness, and be so well to me to believe I am your real friend, Lauderdale. For Sir William Bruce of Balcaskie. Ham, 24 tli December 1672. Here enclosed are my thoughts fully as to my house at Brunstein, which I doe resolve, God willing, to build nest year, and therefore I pray you let me have your advice speedily, to the end I may send my positive resolutions. One thing I desire you to take notice of_that I am positive in putting my great chamber on the east side looking to the sea : that I will have no bed-chambers on the first storie. I much desire a low dining-room, and I have designed it as my little low library. X am not troubled with the narrowness (it is as broad as the galleries at Whitehall), only I regret the lownes, but I know no remedie. Always let me know your opinions freely, with a gross estimate of the charge, and then I shall be positive upon all. Do not make more haste than you can conveniently with the draught of my other houses, though I would faine have them, especially Thirlestan Castle, for I cannot finde that which I had here. And so adieu. For Sir William Bruce of Balcaskie. Whitehall, 3 rd Aprile 1673. I thank you for yours to Andrew Foster of the 24th March, and for the care you expressed in it of my buildings. I am sure I told you before I was well pleased with the last edition of Brunstain, which I confess was much mended from that I sent down. But there is a necessity of a new addition which now I propose. In noe place is a chappell more necessary than there, where the house is so farre from the church, yet my wife and I were pusled where to place it; but at last we condescended on a place which will be very convenient. You know that in the last draught already approved of, there are two pavilions on that side of the house which is towards the garden . . . the addition of two more to the other side, in which is the entry, will make the sight of the house much more fine, because on whatever side you come you will have the sight of two pavilions, and that pavilion (of these two new ones) which is next to the sea, I would have to be the* chappell into which the servants may enter below, at the foote of the great staire, and there may be a convenience above for my wife and me to enter into a loft. If it may consist with the uniformity of the building to have this pavilion a little larger than the other pavilions, it will doe well ; if not, I will rest satisfied to have it of the same proportion with the rest. As for the other new pavilion towards the kitchen side, there will be uses enough for it, and there may be a vault under it. This I think will be noe great change, yet will add a great convenience to the house, and make the entrie handsome. You need not for this delay the sending of the draught of my houses, for you may send me a rough draught of these two pavilions upon the scale of my house at Brunstown, and upon my approving of them you may doe them over againe fairly. Acquaint the Earl of Kincardin, my brother, and Sir William Sharpe with this, and I know they will approve of it. I need not repeat that I will have all the house, new and old, pavilions and all, covered with blew skailyie, because I told you it before, and of this I expect a quick answer. I am glad you are going to Thirlstane Castle, and the sooner the church will be removed THE COMPLETION OF THE PALACE. 185 it will be the better. Advertise me what they are doing there, for I have agreed with two Dutch men, who are excellent joiners, and have made all my shapies and lyneings of my rooms at Ham, to goe down, and it may be they will carry with them a Dutch painter with paterns. Mr. Lyon is very welcome to me, and I will doe him all the goodness and furtherance I can.—I am, Sir, your most affectionate servant, Lauderdale. For Sir W. Bruce. Ham, 15 th April 1673. I thank you heartily for the planes and perspectives of my three houses, with which I am very well pleased. I have perused your exact account of all my buildings in your letter of the 5th April to Andrew Forrester, and shall now give you a clear answer to all. I am glad the avenue is so hard and that it is planted, and that the tarras and the new stairs look so very well; but I am sure the maison work will not be so soon finished. For you may remember that parting I was very positive to have the two pavilions next the house upon the west side raised one story higher, yet your joint advices to have me delay the ordering of it until I should see the perspective was submitted to by me. But now having well considered the perspective of the front, I am more confirmed than ever of the absolute necessity of raising those pavilions one story higher, which must of necessity be presently done. Therefore, without further debate, you shall order the present taking down the roofs of these two pavilions, and the raising each of them one story higher, so the same roof will serve again and the same skilly very near. This I know will cost money, but without it I shall never endure the front of my house, and therefore of necessity it must be presently done. Seeing you tell me a fourth part of the sklaits of the whole house of Thirlestane Castle will not serve longer, and that it is your opinion that it be all covered new with blew skaily, I do heartily concur with that opinion, and desire it may be ordered accordingly. Now, as to what you write concerning the church at Lawther. I have caused Andrew Forrester write twice to my brother that I approve of the making use of my chappel for the parish, and the fitting it with rough dails for seats and lofts till the new church be built; therefore, I do appoynt the carrying away of the old church unto the place where the new church is to be built, and that as soon as my chappel may be provided for the parish. You enquire what I will allow for the new church, and all I can say is that I would have it decent and large enough, with a handsome little steeple ; if any of the timber of the old church will serve, it will be so much the cheaper, but I can say now no more till I see the draught which you promise me, and I would have both plan and perspective. I shall pass by Liedington as you doe. About a fortnight agoe I wrote to you a proposition for adding two pavillions to Brunston upon the side of the entry gate, that on the north side for a chappel, and that on the other over against it for twenty uses ; until I hear your opinion I shall say no more of it. As to the kitchen, I like well the change, from being under ground to be above ground, for being above ground it will be cleanlier and every way better, and if you approve of my two pavilions, the one of them will cover it sufficiently. As for your question for sclaiting of the old house, it must be done with blew skailly as the new, and the sklait of it will serve for many uses. You shall have shortly my opinion concerning the gardens, and I am very well pleased you are so forward in the preparations for the building, which I pray you let go on. I like very well of the draughts of the eastern pavilions at Thirlestane Castle, but I do not intend to have them built this year. We shall have to do so much with raising the western pavilions, and building the church, and making the gardens on the south side, that 2 a THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. 186 I will not be guilty of undertaking more for this summer. Only let preparations for them when it is season, for they shall be built next year if it please God to give me life. I desire the south garden may be finished as my wife appoynted, and I like very well what you propose for making the south garden more square, and I would fain have it finished so as this next season may not be lost as to the planting. We must not forget the building a wall about the little park there, which is much more necessary than the eastern pavilions. To conclude, the expectation of joyners fit for the work from this place has been the reason of not sending sooner concerning the finishing the wainscoat and other joyners work, but now I have engaged two excellent joyners, they are Germanes; they have wrought much for the finishing of this house, and have made the double chassee for the windows—in a word, they are sober fellows, understand English enough, and most excellent workmen, both at that trade and for making of cabinets. Within these ten days they will be ready, and shall bring with them full instructions concerning the finishing both of Thirlestane Castle and Brunsten. They shall also bring paterns both for hinges and bolts, which by a patera may be very well wrought there. I will send them by sea to New Castle, where John Cockburn shall dispatch them to Thirlstane Castle by land, and Hary Hume shall brino- them to you. This, I think, is a full answer to yours, and you are to communicate it to my brother and the rest of my building committee, so soon as you can see them. I shall say no more but that I am your real friend to serve you. Lauderdale. The warrant to Sir W. Bruce, in reference to repairs at Holy rood :— 6th August 1673.—The Lords Commissioners of his Majestie’s Thesaurer doe hereby appoint Sir William Bruce Surveyor Generali of all his Majestie’s works, to mak such necessaire reparations as are required to be in that ludging within his Majestie s palace of Holyroodhous, where the Lord Chancelor is now dwelling, and in that other ludging there where his Grace the Duke of Hamilton is. For which this shall be ane sufficient warrand. Rothes. Dundonald. Ch. Maitland. At the close of the year 1674, it became necessary to provide further funds from the Royal Treasury, and the following documents will illustrate the steps taken for the effectual accomplishment of this object. It was no unusual thing, in the days of King Charles II., for the administration to find more ways than one of spending the public money. Extract from a warrant of King Charles to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, concerning the building of Holyroodhouse :— Given at Whitehall, 12th December 1674.—Upon consideration likewise of your letter of the last of July, concerning the building of our Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the report made by our Treasurer Deput of the condicion of that work, we do approve of the advance of four hundred pounds sterling, which you made at that time for defraying the (then) necessary expenses thereof; and do further authorise you to employ the sum of one thousand pounds sterling, to be paid forth of the last twelve months’ supply, towards the carrying oil of the works at the said building, so as the present stone work in hand and the roof may be finished, and other necessaries about it compleated, so far as this sum will reach, until we shall signify our further pleasure thereanent. And that you consider the further charge as THE COMPLETION OF THE PALACE. 18 / to the finishing that work and order it so as may be with the least expense to us. For all which this shall be your warrant, and so we bid you heartily farewell.—By His Majesties commands. Lauderdale. Reparations at Holyroodhouse. 19th December 1674.—Report by His Majesties Treasurer Depute of the condition and progress of the work, building, and reparations at His Majesties palace of Holyroodhouse, being appointed to visit the same by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesties Treasurers :— Having visited and gone through the whole roums of the new building of this palace In all the stories thereof, both rooffed and unrooffed, finished and not finished I find the north quarter thereof Including the great gallerie to be whollie finished in rooff floorings, plastering, timber linings, windows, casements, glass, doors, locks Ironwork in all the stories thereof! Excepting only some few finishings above the doors and chimneys thereof, which is yet to doe. The East quarter Is wholly finished in the rooft thereof both lead and slates work the floorings thereof Are all finished except the ground storie And three other roums in the second and third stories All the windows in cases and casements finished Severall of the roums thereof plastered The King’s great Bed chamber and Ante chamber Are fan- advanced in the plaster being fyne fretwork All the staires of these two quarters finished. The south quarter A third part of it is rooffed and sarked redie for the lead and slaite. The roof! of the rest is allready made for the onputting. The Jeasts of that quarter About third parts are build in with the walls And about a fourth part being in the second and third storie Are not yet put up, but are provyded, and are making ready to put up. The new tower All finished without in the stone work Except the breastwork and the top thereof that is appointed to go round the Leads. The timber rooff thereof is finished and ready to put on. All the casses of the windows in the South quarter and tower ready and some of the casements none of that quarter nor of the new tower Is yet floored, but the flooring daills Are all readie to lay down and seasoned and waits only for the putting on of the rooff. Materials for building in Stone in the possession of Sr William Bruce and his Servants for the said pallace. There is a great quantity of daills for flooring, for plastering, and for rooff sarkino- lying readie in severall places within the house which it was not possible to number As likewise some in the Lyon yard. And it is Judged by all that the provision of daills will be sufficient to finish the whole house in floorings, divisiones, doors, plastering, and sarkino- of the rooff. Item, ther is sufficient quantity of french glass of the best for glaising the whole house. Item, ther is sufficient provision of oyll, whyt lead fit for common painting in the house. Item, ther is sufficient provisions of marble stones and tyles for chimneys Als much as will near serve the whole house. Item, ther is sufficient provision of Ironwork for all the windows. Provisions wanting and presently useful:— For covering the South quarter of the house and of the tower There is wantincr of lead 4000 stone. Of wainscot 12 foot long there is wanting 80. Of short knappell Ther is wanting 200. Of daills for lining of windows and other finishings Ther is wanting at least 3000. Of marble chimneys for the 2nd storie Ther is wanting 10. Locks and Keyes are wanting for the East and South quarters. i88 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Ther is no naills in store. Ther is no Ironwork in store Except what is here mentioned. It is now good time to agree for a piece of ground to be ane entrie to the Church so that the present passage may be stopt which Incommods the north syde of the north quarter exceedingly and a small charge will doe it. ^ ° Ch. Maitland. In the year 1675, the Treasurer Depute was rising in the royal favour, and obtained a grant of apartments at Holyrood:— 9th March 1675 .—CHARLES R.—Right trusty and wellbeloved Cousins and Councellors, and right trusty and wellbeloved Councellor, Wee Greet you well: Whereas We have seen fit that the Lord H our Treasurer Deput be Lodged in our Palace of Holyrood House for his better accommodation in his constant attendance upon our Service, and have by our warrant of the date of these presents required the Duke of Hamilton Keeper of our said Palace to take care that he be accordingly settled in fit lodgings therein as they are particularly mentioned in this enclosed Warrant to him thereanent, which you shall insert and Registrate in vour Books of our Treasury and Exchequer. Therefore our will and pleasure is, and we do hereby require you forthwith to give order that these Lodgings be put in sufficient repair as to all things necessary for his convenient accommodation for his being lodged therein. For which this shall be your sufficient warrant—And so We bid you Farewell.—By His Majesties Command. J ' Lauderdale. 9th December 1675.—Sir William Bruce Surveyur Generali of his Majesties Works. Apud Edinburgh 15th February 1676.—Abreviat of bygon Accompts resting for work wrought at his Majesties Palace of Holyrudehous and of Fies and Sallaries relating thereunto preceding 1st February 1676 with an Estimat of Materials and Workmanship to be furnished and done for finishing and completeing the said work. THE COMPLETION OF THE PALACE. £ s. d. Resting to Workmen of bygone Accompts wrought for and of ties and Sallaries relating to the said Work preceiding 1st February 1676, 12000 0 0 Ther is to be provyded of daills 1500 at 50 u per hundred, 7500 0 0 Item, of double tries for Office houses 500 at \ crown per piece, . 750 0 0 ,, of great Wainscot 50 at 12” per piece, .... 600 0 0 ,, of short Wainscot 140, ..... 240 0 0 ,, 500 single spars or tries, ...... 300 0 0 ,, 600 ston weyght lead at 30 s1 ' per ston, .... 900 0 0 Wright work at 10 d a daill for 1500 daills, .... 7500 0 0 ,, Plaistering the South quarter and new tower yet to doe, 3600 0 0 „ Sklaitwork yet to doe in the Office houses 30 rude at 70" per rude, 2100 0 0 ,, Naills to the Work yet to doe, .... 2000 0 0 ,, Workmanschip of Glass yet to doe, ..... 1200 0 0 „ Smith work yet to be done, ...... 3000 0 0 ,, Gardens Levelling gravell and Grassworkes and bringing in the watter to the hous, ...... 4000 0 0 Workmanschip of Colours and paynting yet to doe, 2000 0 0 The old work to the West yet to Lead takes 1400 stone, lead at 37 sh per ston, workmanschip included, ..... 2800 0 0 For timber to this roofe flooring and window lyning and workmanschip thereof, ........ 2000 0 0 40490 0 0 Totall of both 52490" 1 Scots. Warrant by King Charles II. Concerning the Palace of Holyrood, Given at Whitehall 21st February 1676. To our right trusty and wellbeloved Cousins and Counsellors, and to our right trusty and wellbeloved Councellor, the Lords Commissioners of our Treasury of our ancient Kingdome of Scotland. CHARLES R.—Right trusty and welbeloved Cousins and Couneellors, and right trusty and welbeloved Councellor, Wee greet you well: Wee have seen and considered yours of the 15th instant to the Duke of Lauderdale, in answer to our letter of the 23rd December last, with the Estimate made by you of the charge requisite for finishing of the work at our Palace of Holyroodhouse; And wee doe approve of the totall Summe mentioned in your Estimate (being four thousand three hundred and seaventy-four pounds, three shillings and four pence sterline money) as necessary for buying the Materialls yet to be provided for the finishing of the worke, for the Charges and Expenses of the workmanship thereof, and for the arreares of workman, and fees and salaries due for worke done before the first day of this instant; as also for levelling the Gardens, Graved and Grasseworks and bringing in the water to the House; of all which you are more proper Judges than wee; And therefore wee doe hereby authorise and require you to advance the said Summe for compleating the said works; not doubting but you will take special care that the money be layd out at such times and in such manner as the Materialls may be bought to the best advantage, both as to their cheapnes and usefulness for the buildings, that the worke be as well and handsomely finished as that Charge will allow, and that if you shall find 190 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. any unnecessary Fees or Salaries you will cut them off. Wee hare received information from the Duke of Lauderdale concerning the West quarter of that our Palace, and wee doe hereby order you to cause that parte thereof which was built by the Usurper’s (and doth darken the Court) to be taken downs. To the end the inside of that quarter may be finished in Pillar-worke agreeable with the other three quarters. The undermost storie of which west quarter being already ordained to be in Pillar-worke, conforme to the rest, as is contained in the Mason's first contract, to be done by him for the Summe then agreed upon, there wilbe only a second storie of Pillar-worke to be built at our Charge. You shall doe well to consider if it is not fit that the Gate be passable for a Coach to goe into the Court, and that the great Iron-windows in the Front be taken away and made handsom. Wee have also considered what you write in that letter concerning the severall applications made unto you by Kobert Milne Master-mason of that worke, in reference to his losses upon that occasion, together with your opinion given thereupon unto us, and wee doe hereby allow and authorise you, when the whole worke shalbe finished as it is undertaken by him in the Contract, to give him the Summe of five hundred pounds sterline money (seing you think it reasonable) besides what is conditioned to be payed unto him by the contract. Foi doeing all which, this shalbe your warrant; and so wee bid you Farewell.—By his Majesties command. Lauderdale. Warrant to Sir William Bruce to take down the several buildings put up by the usurpers :— Edinburgh last of February 1676.—The Lords Commissioners of his Majesties Treasury conforme to his Majesties Letter to them dated 21 February last doe order and authorise Sir William Bruce Surveyor Generali of his Majesties Works with all possible diligence to demolish and take downe the buildings and roomes built by the usurpers above the front of the West quarter of his Majesties palace of Holyrudhous and to designe and order the rebuilding thereof in pillar work conforme to and with the Dorick and lonick orders and to finish the ends above the plattforme of the front order agreeing with the Corinthien Style also to provide Timber lead and all other necessaries for the finishing of that quarter equally as well as the rest of the hous is. And the Lords recommend to his Majesties Treasurer deput to apoint Sir William Brace and the Master Mason to meit Thursday next with his Lordship to settle upon task the whole ston work in manner and conform to the former Contract made with the Master Mason for Workmanship and Materialls-oblidging him to finish the same betwixt and October next and Ordane a double of his Majesties letter to be given to Sir William and the Master Mason and according thereto that he order the finishing the rest of the works therein mentioned and lastly authorises the said Sir William to bring off of the watter that comes from St. Anthonies well a branch or small pipe of about halfe inch bore with that watter pure and unmixed with any other that comes directly from that spring to be setled to run out at the most convenient place he can contrive for publick use and that the whole other work beside the Mason worke be finished within 12 moneths efter the date hereof .—Sic Subscribitur. Eothes. Atholl. Dundonald. We here insert two important contracts relating to Holyrood in the year 1676 THE COMPLETION OF THE PALACE. 191 The Contract betwixt Sir Wm. Bruce Sir Wm. Sharp and Bobert Mylne His Majesties Master Mason for taking down the Ashlar Work and Rough Work within on the West Quarter built by the English at His Majesties Palace of Holyrood. At Halyrudehouse March 1676 (.£3888 Scots).—It is appoynted contracted agried and ended Betwixt Sir William Bruce of Balcaskie knight & baronett His Majestie’s Surveyare Generali and Sir William Sharp of Stainiehill knight his Majesties Cash Keeper on the ane pairt and Robert Mylne His Majesties Master Meassone on the other pairt In maner following That is to say ffor sae meikle as it is agried by speciall order and appoyntment of the Lords of his Majesties Thesaurie to the said Surveyare Generali that att the sight of the Lord Thesaurer Deput The Aisler Work built by the English att his Majesties Palace of Halyrudehouse and the rough work within upon the west quarter shall be taken doune and rebuilt In maner efterspecefeit Therefore and for the soumes of money vnderwrittin to be payed to the said Robert Mylne be the said Sir William Sharpe In maner efterspecefeit The said Robert Mylne binds and obleidges him and his airs and successors to demolish the said Aisler Worke which stretches betwixt the two tours in the front of the said palace and to take it alse laigh doune as the batlement As also to demolish the rouo-h worke in the inner pairt therof soe low ase the tope of the vaults in the first storie Item To hew polish and prepaire furnish sett and lay the haill storie of the Ionicke Order in the same maner that the other thrie faces of the Court is alreadie done And to finish it att the bight of the Ionicke Cornishe and to make vacnikces ffor syvers for caryeing avay the raine water ffrom the roffe Item To hew polishe and prepaire furnish sett and lay att each end of this Ionicke Order ane storie height of the Corinthiane Order and Intablatour therof reaching through the breadth of this foir building And retourning to the toure on ilk hand Being foundit on the old batlement into which retourned work ther falls to be eight windores twelve columes of the same order that the Corinthiane is done alredie within the Court Item To putt in two chymneyes the on in the gaurd hall and the other in the presence And to finish them lyke the other chimnayes In the top And to finish the said haill worke furnish all manner of Materialls relateing to the stone worke scaffolding comprehendit upon the said Robert Mylne his owne proper charges and expenss Betwixt & the Second day of February nixt to come Togither with the soume of ffyve hundred merkes Scots money of liquidate penaltie & expenss In caice of failyie By and attour the fulfilling hereof And if any of the said Worke shall not be done conforme to the severall designes given be the said Surveyare In that caice the said Robert Mylne Binds and obleidges him & his forsaids To take doune & rebuild the samyn of new againe Conforme to the said designes vpon his owne charges and expenss ffor the qlks causs And on the other pairt The said Sir William Sharpe be thir presents Binds and obleidges him and his airs executors and successors quhatsumevir To make payment to the said Robert Mylne and his airs executors or assignais of all and haill the soume of Thrie hundred and Twentie four pownds Sterling money With the Benifite of the whole old stones taken doune In the said worke whereof the soume of Ane hundred pownds money forsd is payed presentlie In hand off quhich the said Robert Mylne grants the receitt And discharges the said Sir William Sharpe and his foirsaids And all others whom it effeirs of the samyne for ever The soume of Ane hundred & twentie flour pownds money forsaid Betwixt and the first day of August next to come And the soume of Ane hundred pownds money foirsaid In compleat payment of the foirsaid haill soume of Thrie hundred and twentie ffour pownds att the finishing and compleitting of the said worke With the soume of Twentie ffyve pownds sterline money forsaid of liquidate penaltie & expenss for ilk ane of the said two termes failyie Togither with the ordinare annual rent of the said principall soumes dureing the not payment therof efter the respective termes of payment of the samyn above writtin Consenting for the maire 192 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. securitie Thir presents Be insert & registrat In the bookes of Counsell and Sessione or of any other judicatorie competent That ane decret be interponit therto And the horning on sex dayes and other executorials necessare be direct hereon as effeirs And therto constitutes Ther procuratores &c In witnesse quherof (writtin be Mr Donald M‘Leoid servitor to Mr John Baine of Pittcairlie writer to the Signet) Both the said pairties have subscrivit thir presents with ther hands day moneth year of God and place respective forsaid Befoir thir witnes Charles Maittland of Hattowne his Majesties Thesayrer Deputt & James Ferquhar his servitor and Ferquhare McCulloch servitor to the said Mr Jon Bayne inserter of the daitt and witness. Edr 3d January 1679.—Compeired Sir Wm Purves his Ma : Solicitor as procuratore for the within designed Sir Wm. Sharp and Sir Wm Bruce and Mr Tho : A eitch advocat as procuratore for Robert Mylne who consented to the registration hereof in the bookes of Excheq' conform to the claus of registration within mentioned. Lords approbation of the severall places designed for the buildings of the Abay:— Edinburgh, 26th July 1670.—Whereas it is represented unto us by Sir William Bruce his Majesties Surveyor generall That in respect his Majesties palace of liolyroodhous is far advanced and drawee now neir to a finishing It is necessar to consider what may be done with the front betwixt the two towers therof for embellishing and making the same more agreable with the rest of the work And that wee might appoint some persons to treat with the Heretors of the several tenements and yairds necessar to be brought in for the designed passage of the direct entry to the said palace As also craving our applause of the situation of the places for building the severall publick offices viz King and Queens kitchens paistrie roomes scaldries &c designed by him the one halfe therof for the Kings apartment to be budded at the south-east corner of the said pallace paralell with the church and the other half for the Queen’s apartment on the north syde of the said pallace in that piece of oround lately taken in and which was the entry to the church upon the west The entries and back courts thereof employing and taking up a small part of the north garden And lastly to consider the finishing of the new designed privy garden towards the east And wee having recommended to the Earle of Argyll and Lord Thesaurer deput upon the place to call the said Surveyor and to visit and consider each particular above mentioned and then- report being seriously deliberat by us Wee doe approve of the places above mentioned for situating and budding the King and Queen’s publick Offices in And require the Surveyor to give order to the Master Mason that forthwith he sett about the samen and finish them with all possible hast upon his own charges being contained in his first contract As also to aoree for back courts and other offices necessar for the accommodation of the north quarter in the said piece of ground lying to the north thereof Item wee authorise the said THE COMPLETION OF THE PALACE. 193 Surveyor first with all convenient diligence to take doune the outside of the west quarter betwixt the two towres to the ground and to cause rebuild the samen in plain aisler work to the height of the insyde with ane handsome large gate in the middle ordorly windows in the front finishing in the top with a cornice with ballasters and pillasters above the samen And to setle and agrie for the measson work and materials therof presently at the sight of his Majesties Thesaurer Deput so that the samen may be finished betwixt and the first of November next Item wee doe applaud of the finishing of the new designed privy garden to the east in a square betwixt the church on the north syde and the designed King’s Offices on the south syde green and gravell plotts and walkes And lastly wee recommend to his Majesties Thesaurer deput to setle and aggrie with the heretors of the several tenements and yards necessar to be brought in for making of a large and convenient passadge for the designed direct entry to the said pallace for which thir presents sail be to them a sufficient warrant As also to the Surveyor for observing the haill premises .—Sic Subscribitur. Rothes. Argyll. Dundonald. Contract betwixt Sir Wm. Bruce Sir Wm. Sharp amd Robert Mylne His Majesties Master Mason for taking Down and Rebuilding in Doric Order the Fore Front Wall between the Two Towers of His Majesties Palace of Holy- rood. At Halyrudehouse July 1676 (£4200 Scots).—It is appoynted contracted agried and enditt Betwixt Sir William Bruce of Balcaskie knight and baronett his Majesties Surveyare Generali and Sir William Sharpe of Stainehill knight his Majesties Cash Keeper on the ane pairt And Robert Mylne his Majesties master meassone on the other pairt In maner followeing That is to say forsameikle as it is agried by speciall order and appoyntment of the Lords of his Majesties Thesawrie to the said Surveyar Generali that att the sight of the Lord Thesawrer Deputt the foir ffront wall betwixt the two towres of his Majesties palice of Halvrudehowse shall be takine downe and rebuilded in maner eftirspecefeit Therfor and for the soumes off money vnderwritten to be payed be the said Sir William Sharpe to the said Robert Mylne in maner eftirmentionet The said Robert Mylne be thir presentts binds and obleidges him & his airs executors and successors quhat sumevir To take downe the ffoir frontt wall of the said palice ffrom the Battlement to the Bottome And to rebuild the same vpon the old fundatione in exact aisler smoothe as paiper close joynted Item To make ane gaitt of the Dorricke order Tuo columes vpon each syde of the said gaitt with pedestell Basse colume chapterhead and intablator of ane Modell according to threttie ane foott height Raill and Ballesters and pilasters with proper finisheing above about and alongest the said intablitowre quhich rownes from towre to towre As also above the cornishe of the In syde to the quholl breadth of the court The cornishe enriched onelie with dentellie The columes tuo pairt sett off the portch and the portch thrie or ffour foott off the naiked of the wall of the front The doore within consisting of six ffoott and twelve ffoott With ane architrave goeing rownd freise and cornise finisheing above by ane modell accordeing to threttine foott high with ane plint above the cornise The out side off itt plume with the first face of the architrave above quhich the Scotts armes is to be sett exactlie weill cutt with the supporters standing on the said plint Mantleing crowne & creist built and wrought weill in ane hansome copairtment or howseing The windores in the ffront consisteing of the number of Ten of the same forme and ffashione of these in the new towre As the same and quholl worke is particularlie designed extenditt and seigned by the said Surveyar And to finishe the quholl worke furnishe all maner of materialls relaitteing to the said stone worke scaffolding comprehenditt vpon the said Robert Mylne his own proper charges and expenss 194 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Betwixt and the Seconde day off February nixtocome Togither with the soume of Twentie ffyve pownds Sterling money of liquidate penaltie & expense in caice of ffealzie By and attowre the fullfilleing heirof And in caice ther shall be any of the said worke qch shall nott be done conforme to the severall designes given be the said surveyare In that caice the said Robert Mylne binds and obleidges him and his forsds To take downe and rebuild the same of new againe conform to the sd designes vpon his own charges ffor the qlks causs and on the vther pairt the said Sir William Sharpe be thir presentts binds and obleiss him his airs executors & successors quhat sumevir To make payment to the said Robert Mylne & his forsds The sowme of Thrie hundred A Ffyftie pounds Sterling money with the Benefitt of the haill old stones takine downe In the said worke & whereof the soume of Ane hundred pownd sterling money is payed presentlie In hand of qch the sd Robert Mylne grants the receipt and discharges the sd Sir William Sharpe & his forsds and all vthers quhom itt effeirs of the samyne ffor ever The soume of Ane hundred fyftie pounds therof Betwixt and the eleventh day of November nixtocome And the soume of Ane hundred pownd sterling money In compleitt payment of the sd haill soume of Three hundred & fyftie pownds sterling money forsaid att the finishing and compleitting of the said worke With the soume of Twentie ffyve pownds sterling money forsd of liquidate expenss for ilk ane of the said tuo termes fealzie By and attowre the sd principall soumes and Togither therwith consenteing to the registratione hierof in the books of cownsall & sessione or any vther judges books competent & that ane decreit be interponed thereto swa that letters & executions of horning & poynding on six dayes & others necessar be direct hereon And constituts Ther procurators &c In witnes qrof writtine be Ferquhard McCulloch servitor to Mr Jon Bayne of Pittcairlie Baith the sd pairties have subscribit thir presents with ther hands day moneth place & year of God respective written Befoir thir witness Charles Maittland of Haltowne his Majesties thesaurer deputt and Ferquhar servitor to the said thesaurer deputt & the said Ferquhard McCulloch Edr 3d January 1679.—Compeired Sir Wm Purves his Maj : Solicitor as procurator for the within designed Sir Wm Sharp & Sr Wm Bruce and Mr Tho : Veitch advocat as procurator for Robert Mylne who consented to the registration herof In the books of Excheqr conform to the clause of registration within specified. We now give some interesting Extracts from an Account Book of the Expenses on the Reparations of his Majesty’s several Palaces in Scotland, discovered in a Charter Chest by Robert W. Mylne, F.R.S., Oct. 1850, at Kinross House, Loch Leven, formerly the seat of Sir Wm. Bruce of Balcaskie, Bart., and then the property of Sir G. Graham Montgomery, Bart., by whose kind permission the search was made. This important document is now in the Register House, Edinburgh. THE COMPLETION OF THE PALACE. 195 Accompt of Moneyes payed out by Sir William Bruce Generali Survayer to his Majesties workes upon the Reparation of his Majesties Pallace of Hallyrude- house from and after Jan. 2, 1674 :— 1674. Jan. 19. 29. Feb. 7. 14. 17. 21 . 27. Mar. 5. 11 . 13. 14. 16. 23. April 4. 8 . May 13. Discharge—Scots Money. Payed to Allex. Montgomerie ane of the Oversiers of the works...for paying of Barrowmens dayes wages that wrought att severall necessarie workes att this Pallace from Monday June 30 to Saturday night Aug. 30 To William Wilson for attending the severall gates and doors of the work from June 1 to Nov. 10, 1673, and for working as ane ordinairie barrowman...at 6s. 8d. per day ......... To James Herriott...for 197 loads lyme furnished by him towards the building of the great Syvers ......... To James Bannantyne for 173 punscheon loads of Lyme .... To Jacob De Wett—Dutch Paynter,...—for two several chimney pieces paynted by him and for paynting in marble eoullour ane chimney To Isobell Fermour, nail wyffe...for nails...delyvered in by her to James Bruce, storemaister ......... To William Livingston for 470 loads of sand at 4s. scots per load furnished by him to the great Syvers ........ To James Calder, cairter,...for carrying of lead from Leith to the West Port of Edinburgh to the Plumbers house there to be casten for the use of this Pallace. To Wm. Steinson, Merchand for 847 stones 2 lb. weyt of lead...att 28s. scots per stone ......... To John Halbert and George Dunserfield, Inglish plaisterers...for plaisterino- the 3rd roome in the 3rd storie of the inner syde of the north quarter of this Pallace measuring in all with the cornice 70 yards at 6s. ster. the yaird conform to contract ......... To Sir James Standsfield for 60 great tries betwixt 28 and 30 footes long To Bailyie John Johnston, Merchand in Edinburgh...for 14260 daills To Allex. Montgomerie 250 merks as ane half years Salarie from Sept. 1, 1673 to March 1, 1674 allowed to him for attending and oversieing the workes . To ditto Montgomerie, for coals furnished by him for dryeing of roomes that wer plaistered in the roofe ...... To James Keunewie...ane half years sallarie from Sept. 1,1673 to March 1 instant allowed to him as Clerk to the reparations of his Majesties severall Pallaces and Castles in this Kingdome ..... To James Bayne, wright,...for severall sorts of timber To the said James Bayne, wright, for severall sorts of timber To Eobert Mylne, Master Meason, for dayes wages dew to Measons and Barrow- men that wrought att severall byworkes att this Pallace from August 18 to November 11, 1673 and for materialls furnished by him to the said byworkes To Eobert Mylne for dayes wages dew to Measons that wrought att the great Syvers in St. Annes yairds from December 8, 1673 to February 28, 1674 To Allex. Eizatt, Plumber for casting, working and laying upon the roofe of this Palace 2323 stones 14£ lb. weyt of lead, the samen being for the roofe of the North qrter and the gutters on the wall heads of the South and North sydes of the said qrter with spouts going doun within the walls of that qrter and the gutter to the toofall of the Church and the littell platform of the litle door that leads into the said toofall....... To John Drumond oversier of the Qwarriers in the Park sex weekes sallarie To John Callender, Smith,...for Smith work By the maintenance of the Cart Horse (that is keept for carrying away the rubbish of this Palace) at 12s. scots each day from Sept. 1, 1673 to March 1 instant being 181 days ........ To Eobert Mylne, Master Meason...for days wages of Measones and Barrowmen... together with stone furnished by him .... To Wm. Baird, Lymeman for 70 loads of Lyme... to the building of the great Syvers To Wm. Eichardsone, Merchand...for 1111 stoneweyght of lead...att 28s. scots each stone ....... To Eobert Greenhorn, tanner, for hair for plaistering To Eobert Baird of Sauchtenhall for 360 knappald bought from the fishing Companie £ s. d. 336 14 0 45 13 0 131 7 0 115 7 0 98 12 0 899 0 0 94 0 0 10 8 0 1185 19 0 252 0 0 800 0 0 7267 10 0 166 14 0 24 19 0 200 0 0 1500 5 0 4167 7 0 549 19 0 402 0 0 774 13 0 24 0 0 3146 16 0 108 12 0 86 11 0 46 14 0 1555 8 0 41 7 0 672 0 0 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. 196 1674. June 16. To James Brown, Smith, for Ironwork wrought and pairt furnished by him., betwixt June 2, 1672 and July 29, 1673 „ To James Boig and Wm. Bailyie, Cairters ..... 23. To the relict of James Adamson, Plumber . July 14. To Robert Douglas, Merchand in Newcastle for 946 st. 12 lb. weyt of Pig lead...att 29sh. scots each stone ...••••• 16. To David Binning for 29 Creills French glass at 25 li. per Creill . 23. To John Callender, Smith, for iron work furnished by him to my Lord Chancellors Lodgeing at Hallyrudehouse since Nov. 20, 1672 .... 31. To Alexr. Taylyeor in Leith...for rent of a Cellar . . ■ • Aug. 3. The accomptants Sallarie for the space of three qrters preeceding this instant term of Lammas 1674 as Generali Survayer to his Majesties works in this Kingdome 11. To Christopher Robertson for 75 stone weyt of hair . . • 22. To John Greenlaw and Robert Scotland, Measons, for work, and building att the great Syvers of this Palace at 11 lb. scots per rude .... Sept. 4. To Andrew Paterson, wright,...for several plaister moulds . Oct. 1. To Robert Greenhorn, tanner, for common hair att 6s. 8d. per stone and whyte hair at 2 lib. sterling per stone . • • • • • Dec. 26. To Thomas Osewald, Robert Murray, and Alexr. Comerie Sawers...for sawing timber, viz. deals for lathing at 15 lib. per great hunder and sawing of tries for partitions at lOd. scots per square foote ...... Jan. 12. To Bailyie John Penman, Merchand in Edr. for a years rent of ane cellar in Leith Feb. 8. To Mr. Andrew Burnett of Wariestone.. .for fraught of whyte lead and tylles imported from Holland to Leith...being in all 18 barrills bulk att 1 lib. 8s. scot for each barrill bulk of freight, being the time of the warres 13. To David Calderwoode, Merchand in Edinburgh for 12 Chests of French glass 22. To John Maisterton, Glasier, for the haill Glass work and furnishing, wrought and furnished by him to the said Pallace and horse and foote guards from the moneth of March 1671 to Nov. 1674, excepting the works and furnishing, wrought by him in the said space in severall places thereof since demolished, the accompt whereof is yet to be given in . . ■ ■ To John Maisterton, glazier, for Glass work and furnishing wrought and furnished by him in the space forsaid in that qrter of Hallyrudehous whair my Lord Chancellor lodgeth ...•■••• To the said John Maisterton for Glass work and furnishing to his Grace the Duke of Hamiltones lodgings in the space forsaid • 24. To Hugh M'Gie for grinding of Whyte lead in oyle and laying on the same att the said Pallace of Hallyrudehouse . . • • • Mar. 1. To William Smith, Merchand in Leith for tyles and whyte lead imported from Holland . More to the said Smith...for more whyte lead and Marble stones imported also from Holland . . • ... 4. To James Boig, cairter for carrieing of timber from Leith . . The Accomptants Sallarie as Generali Survayer to his Majesties works in this Kingdome for the half year preceding Candlemass 1675 8. By the maintenance of the Cart horse...at 17s. scots per day being in all 181 days ...and which day lie maintenance for the said space is 5s. scots more than att any tyme heirtofore placed in respect of the dearth of horse provisiones that tyme 18. To Allexr. Eizatt, Plumber for workmanship of 1906 stones 15 lb. weyt of lead melted, casten in cakes and layd on by him upon a great part of the roofe of the East qrter, cornishes, and gutters on the wale heads of the said East qrtei of the said Pallace at 6s. 8d. 24. To John Callender, Smith, for Iron Glasbands furnished and wrought by him for the Glass windows of the Church of Hallyrudehouse in the winter 1673 for secureing and closing up the said windows to keep out the stormie weather the tyme that my Lord Comissioner his Grace was heir • To William Sharp of Staniehill his Majesties Cash Keeper in name of his Grace the Duke of LauderdaUl for 38 great timber geasts from 32 to 40 footes length and from 17 to 20 inches thick ..■•••■ April 1. To James Cockburn Merchand for 298 lb. weyt of oaker • May 11. To William Livingston, Sandman, for 500 loades of sand 13. To James Bayne, wright, for wrights dayes wages wrought by his servants...at severall byworkes...from March 13, 1671 to Feb. 20,1675 £ s. d. 340 3 0 192 0 0 150 7 0 1372 16 0 725 0 0 307 5 0 37 19 0 2700 0 0 25 0 0 541 10 0 101 0 0 65 10 0 275 9 0 46 0 0 25 4 0 216 0 0 1135 10 0 81 8 0 18 15 0 57 0 0 943 8 0 837 7 0 74 0 0 1800 0 0 153 17 0 635 13 0 137 14 0 1140 0 0 59 2 0 100 0 0 2850 15 0 THE COMPLETION OF THE PALACE. 197 1675. May 18. June 2. 30. July 3. 31. Aug. 4. 12 . 25. Sept. 3. 6 . Oct. 4. 8 . 16. Nov. 5. 10 . 20 . 26. Dec. 15. To the said James Bayne, wright, for several sorts of timber and for glew . To James Bannatyne...for 350 punsheon loads of lyme...for the use of the building of the new dyckes in the Churchyaird which runnes from the Church toward the highway that leads from the Watergate eastward To Wm. Williamson, Officer, for two and ane half years Sallarie...at 15 lib. scots in the year...for attendance as Officer to the workes and courts To John Drumond for 13 weekes and 3 days sallarie dew to him for attending and shutting the gates, entries and passages about the work To Mr. De Wet—Paynter—for ane piece of historie paynted and placed in the roofe of the Kings bed chamber in the second storie of the East qrter on the syde towards the privie garden ....... To Allex. Montgomerie and John Drummond oversiers—for paying of dayes wages dew to certain sledders for sledding of stones from the quarrie in the Park and from the Deanes lodgeing there, to the buildings of the new dykes that separates the Churchyaird from the Pallace ...... To John Clerk, Smith, for sundrie sorts of nailes ..... To Thomas Alborn—plaisterer—for plaister work ..... To William Richardson...for 18 pair brass knups for batts to Chimneyes for supporting tongs and shovells ....... To Robert Hutchieson Merchand Edinburgh...for two stones of glew To Normand Bruce and Robert Lillie, Measons...for 24 roodes of new dykes latelie built by them being the new dykes built to separate betwixt the Pallace and Churchyaird...at 11 lib. scots per roode ...... To Margaret Brisbane...for 6 stones 6 lb. weyt of glew .... For the maintenance of the Cart Horse... 184 dayes at 17s. scots per day in respect of the dearth of all sorts of horse provisions, he being fedd upon Accomptants provisions for his own horse...as per Instructions . . . . To Wm. Garriock, Stonekeeper...for his half years Sallarie. To James Kennewie, ane years sallarie allowed to him as Clerk to the buildings . To James Boig, Carter, dew to him for carrieing of timber from Leith To Allex. Montgomerie—for Quarriers and Barrowmen that wrought at the quarrie in the Park of Hallyrudehouse—in winning of pavement for pavementing the latter meat roome of my Lord Thessaurier Deputs appartement To John Cooke, Skipper...for two thousand large deals . . . . To John Andrew, Merchand, for 28 lb. weyt Indian red at 7s. 6d. the lb. weyt To Malcolm Henderson, for threttie double tries ..... To Sir James Stansfield, for 3368 stones and 11 lb. weyt of Pigg-lead...for the use of the buildings...being at 30s. scots per stone ..... To John Schand for 257 stones 11 lb. weyt pigg lead .... To John Maisterton, Glasier, for 311 footes of new Inglish Glass furnished wrought and put by him in the Church of Hallyrudehouse att 11s. 3d. per foote for each foote square of 12 inches measure and for taking doune, dighting setting in new lead and putting up agayn in the said Church 130 footes of old Glass at 5s. 74d .. .which said glass windows being repaired the tyme that my Lord Commissioner his Grace was heir in the tyme of the Parliament in the stormie winter 1673 for the better accomodation to his Grace...which otherwayes would not have been ordered to have been repaired on his Majesties expense .... To John Houlbert, Plaisterer, for severall sorts of plaistering work wrought by him...since his coming to Scotland to work at the said Pallace...by him or George Dunsterfield his pairtner (excepting the first frett ceiling wrought by them in ane bedchamber of the 3d storie of the North qrter) and that in the severall roomes of the said Pallace .... Total of the Discharge Total of the foregoeing Dischairge consisting in tuentie four pages amounts to Thriescoir fourtein thousand tuo hundred nyntie five punds six shillings, 4d. scots. Ch. Charge. Total of the Charge as the samein stands summed up in two pages at the beginning of this booke extends to .... £ s. d. 1449 12 0 233 6 0 37 10 0 54 0 0 120 0 0 95 0 0 284 14 0 1100 0 0 10 16 0 10 13 4 264 0 0 30 12 0 156 8 0 200 0 0 400 0 0 207 13 0 31 4 0 1200 0 0 10 10 0 36 0 0 5053 0 0 386 0 0 211 10 0 1564 2 6 74,295 6 4 [£6341 5 0 Sterling.] Maitland. £93,822 2 0 198 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Discharge. The haill soume payed out upon the Reparationes of the Palace of Hallyrudehouse by Sir Wm. Bruce from the 19th Jan. 1674 to 17th Dec. 1675...amounts to . . £74,295 6 4 The haill summe payed out upon the reparationes of the Castle of Edinburgh . 404 0 0 The haill summe payed out upon the reparationes of the Pallace and Castle of Stryveling . 8645 2 0 The haill summe payed out upon the reparationes of the Bass . ■ 4168 1 0 Summa . . 87,512 9 4 Edinburgh 17 December 1675.—The Lords Comissioners of his Ma. Therie. haueing perused, considered and calculated the foregoing accompt Chairge and Discharge thereof Find the Chairge amount to Fourescoir threteene thousand eight hundred and tuentie tuo punds 2s. and the Discharge, the soume of Fourescoir seavin thousand five hundred and tuelve punds 9s. 4d. so that the Chairge exceeds the Discharge in the soume of Six thousand three hundred and nine punds 12s. 8d., for which Sir Wm. Bruce Accomptant is to hold compt in his next accompts. Rothes. Ch. Maitland. Dundonald. Discharge—Scots Money. 1675. Dec. 22. Payed to John Drumond oversier of the Quarriers and Barrowmen that wrought-at casting doune the Deanes lodeging be-east the Pallace thereof...for winning of wall stones for building the new dyke that divides betwixt the Kings Gardens and the new Passage to the Church ...... 28. To James Herriott...for 100 punscheon loads of lyme . . . . Payed more...for 801 punscheon loads...for plaister work . . . . 1676. Feb. 1. To Bartholomew Gibson...for 143£ dayes of ane man horse and cart...at 24s. scots each day ...••••••■ 2. To severall workmen ditchers...for casting and digging the ground from St. Antons Well to the Pallace and from other places...for bringing in of water to the said Pallace . • • • • ■ Mar. 8. To Sir Wm. Sharp of Staniehill for the ac 6 of John Kirkwoode Servitor to the Duke of Lauderdaill...payed out by the sd John Kirkwoode at London for nyne Marble Chimney pieces bought at London. ..conform to the contract past betwixt Mr. Maitland and the Meason at London ..... 9. To Alexr. Hallyburton, Skipper in Leith...for the fraught of the saids Marble Chimneys from Burntisland to Leith ..■••• 21. To Mr. Hugh Kinross...for 1748 stone weyt of lead...at 30s. scots per stone 22. To John Callender, Smith—for severall sorts of Iron work—from March 5, 1675 till Feb. 23, 1676 . • • • May 10. To Ditchers...for casting of ditches from the severall vaults or cisterns in the Park for bringing in the Spring water to the Pallace • 15. To Ditchers—for filling up again some of the ditches...of the pypes as were layed therein 25. To Malcolm Henderson...for 80 daills ..•••• July 19. To Normand Bruce, Meason...for dayes wages dew to himself and other measons employed...at the building of the severall Kellheads and cisterns and Syvers and conduits...for bringing in of water from severall qrters in the Park To said Normand Bruce...for dayes wages dew to Measons...at building of severall stone partition walls for divyding the great vault in the tower . 24. To Allexr. Steinson, writer in Edinburgh as factor for Thos. Crumbie, burges in Kirkcaldie...for the freight and avarage of seaven chests of wrought Marble Chimneyes imported from London in the beginning of March 1676 To Thos. Eizatt...for 21 dayes wages...at 36s. scots per day att setting of severall Marble Chimneyes in the said Pallace •••••• 26. To Daniell Dalrymple Merchand...the pryce of deals double and single tries...for the use of the buildings...at 46 lib. per hundreth reckoning each hundreth double tries for two hunder single according to custom in such barganes Aug. 4. To Normand Bruce Meason...for dayes wages dew to himself and other meassones imployed by him...in building up of two of the Church doores, building ane new coale court...and raiseing, laying and carrieing through ane Syver 9. To Thomas Alborn, Plaisterer,...for several sorts of Plaister work . „ To Thomas Alborn...for Pitleslie lyme ..•••• £ s. d. 35 7 8 66 13 0 534 0 0 171 18 0 145 13 0 2162 8 0 15 0 0 2622 0 0 2177 18 0 177 13 0 16 16 0 40 0 0 337 10 0 271 10 0 48 0 0 37 16 0 1932 0 0 55 3 0 659 10 0 44 11 0 THE COMPLETION OF THE PALACE. 199 1676. Aug. 18. To Walter Scheill, turner in Cannonegate...for turneing of wainscott ballasters, standing and hanging knups for the timber scaile stair in the middle of the North syde qrter ........ 24. To James Hill, Calswaylayer, for laying of 27 roods calsway in the new passadge that.leads to the Church...(since the closing up of the West door thereof) Sept. 1. To Sledders for sleding of stones...to the Water Vaults Cisterns and Syvers built in the said Park for bringing in of water to the Pallace 7. To Henry Frazer, Paynter...for furnishing of Inglish lead gold, and guilding of two great and two lesser Copper Globs with their Stalks that are fixed upon the tops of two turnpyekes above the lead platform of the East qrter 16. To Robert Sandielands, Merchand in Edinburgh...for 60 wanscott 23. To Alexr. Eizatt...plumber...for meling casting and laying 3494 stones 7 lb. weyt of cake lead upon severall places of the said Pallace .... 30. To Archibald Greenlaw...as the price and freight of two boats loadeing of stones out of the quarrie at the South Queens ferrie ..... Dec. 7. To John Meikle, Copper Smith...for Copper Globs being in number eight large and eight lesser.. .for decorements and finishings upon the tops of the severall turretts and turnpyeks of the Pallace ....... 20. To James Bayne, wright...for 918 dayes wages wrought by his servants at the severall reparationes of the severall stories of the North qrter and putting up of the timber skaill stair there and sundrie other workes...at 15 sh. scot per day . „ To the said James Bayne for dayes wages...betwixt June 7,1675 and July 29,1676 at the demolishing the Deanes lodgeing West qrter of the Pallace, the two upper stories thereof and gallarie that went off from the North syde thereof to the old Privie Garden ....... Dec. 30. To John Schand, Merchand...for 3805 stones 9 lb. weyt of lead 1677. Jan. 3. By the pryce of ane qrtdaill of Linseed oyle sent home from Rotterdam conforme to...accompt thereof being 60 gs. 18 st. 8d. at 23s. scots „ To John Brand, baxter, for 29 lake stones for soles of ovens 22. By ten Pounds sterling...payed to Gilbert Spence factor, for his paynes and charges in bespeaking and provycling in Holland certain materiall in 1672 23. To Thomas Oliphant, wright.. .for furnishing of timber and makeing of Moulds thereof to be paterns for certain of the Meason work .... Feb. 17. To Robert Mylne, Master Meason...2400 lib. scot in full...payment to him of 280 lib. sterling claimed for certan byworkes wrought by him...preceeding March 5, 1675 . . . . . . Mar. 3. To John Houlbert, Plaisterer...for plaister work wrought by him . 7. To sex hundreth fyne large wanscott planks readie sawen, imported from Rotterdam for lyening severall of the roomes of the Kings owne appartment 1047 0 0 Payed for Dutie thereof Custome House of Leith . 42 10 0 Freight thereof as per agreement .... 120 0 0 For entrie and sufferance money . . . . 14 0 For carieing thereof from the Ship to a Closs yaird . 7 4 0 14. To Qwarriers and Barrowmen for Slapping and taking doune the stones at the Deanes lodging from Sept. 7 until Dec. 30, 1676—the said stones being for building up of the office houses on the North syde of the North qrter next the Church ......... 29. To George Bartholm, qwarrier in the South Queens ferrie...for two boats loadeings of stones ........ April 6. To Mr. De Wet—Paynter—for drawing and extending at large his Majesties two coates of Armes with supporters &c. belonging thereto to be a patern to the Meason for cutting the saids coates of armes in stone...the one whereof stands since put up upon the middle of the upper pairt of the west fronteice of the east qrter of the Pallace and the other over the top of the gate of the said Pallace . June28. To James Bayne, Wright...for daills and great Geasts . Sept. 12. To John Nicoll, Gairdiner for levelling and filling up the earth from the top of the syvers in St. Annes yairds ....... Oct. 9. To Margaret Brisbane, Glew-seller in Dundie...for Glew . . . . Dec. 12. To James Cuthbertson, gairdiner in Heriot’s Hospital yairds...for levelling 1678. Mar. 2. To James Porteous, wright, for making a moddell of the Cupuloe of the Gate of the said Pallace with the Moddell of the Pedestall and Ballasterers £ s. d. 35 8 0 117 0 0 764 10 0 25 0 0 600 0 0 1164 16 0 50 0 0 105 13 6 688 18 0 945 7 0 5708 7 0 80 10 0 52 4 0 120 0 0 14 2 0 2400 0 0 2406 9 9 1217 18 0 209 3 0 71 0 0 36 0 0 6593 2 0 40 0 0 25 4 0 333 7 0 24 0 0 200 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Mar. 2. To James Alexander, paynter...for paynting work on the lyeneings of the walls, doores, windowes, chimney-pieces, washing boards, &c.. .grinding the collours, puttieing, prymeing and painting thereof . • • June 6. To Sledders for sledding of stones from the Deans lodgeings to the buildings of the office houses next the Church ••••■• Sept 12 To James Eoss...for sex hundred Birran dailes • Oct. 5. To James Mackburg...for 200 whyte tyles at 6 lib. per hunder...for repairemg certain chimneyes . • • • • • Dec. 13. To John Schand—Merchand at Edinburgh...for fourtie sex creills of the fynest French window-glass...at 25 lib. scots each creill ■••• 31. To Thomas Carsan, cowper...for tubs and bucketts . ■ 1679. Jan. 9. For coales furnished to the Plaisterers in 1674, 75, 76, 77, for baking their fret work plaister and for putting up the work in the winter tyme...l53 loads at 11s. scots per load over head .•••••• To Walter Sheill, turner...for turneing four pillars of the moddel of the outter gate at 8s. scots the piece and 23 ballasters for the top of the south skaill-stair at 6s. scots the piece ..•••••• Feb. 15. Payed ane half years Sallarie...dew to the Accomptant . . • ■ 22. To Jan Vansantvoort—Carver...for cutting carving and upputtingof several pieces of carved work upon the Chimney and door pieces of his Majesties appartement in the East qrter. . • • • • • ’ To Alexr. Eizatt, wright...for upputting of severall lyneings of windowes, washing boards, doores, doore pieces, chimney pieces, wall plates and architreives in the severall rooms . • • • • ' ' 26. To workmen at Leith, for carting of fourtein great stones at Leith, for the Cupuloe over the entrie or gate of the Pallace 28. To Normand Bruce...Measson, for workmanship ■ Mar. 3. To Sir Win. Binning, of Waliefoord...for 29 dozain of great Geasts furnished and delyvered in by him to the works at the Pallace • „ To James Smith, Measson...for dayes wages tu himself and servants 4. To James Bayne, wright.'..for plaister work wrought by him in severall parts of the Pallace and in my Lord Chancellor’s lodgeings...from the year 1671 to this 4th of March 1679 . • • • ' ‘ To the said J. Bayne...for timber and workmanship upon repairing the horse and foote guards and coatch-houses and stables 11. To John Houlbert, Plaisterer...for several sorts of plaister work . „ To the said John Houlbert...for the plaister work of the roofe and corneishes of the great scail stair on the south west corner . . • ■ • To Robert Meikle, Master of the quarrie at Dalgatie...for a certain quantitie of stones furnished by him from the said quarrie towards the budding of the Cupuloe at the Pallace of Hallyrudehouse which is over the Gate To George Mylne, in the Gutter, for 111 punscheon loades of lyme To Robert Mylne, Meason, for days wages' and materiall furnished by him to severall byworkes...in the North qrter...from Dec. 15, 1674 to Nov. 8, More to him...for work and furnishing, wrought and furnished by other Measons about the Pallace upon the Kings dayes wages (and which the^said Robert was lyable to have done by contract)...from Feb. 24 to Oct. 13,1677 11 To John Callender, Smith, conform to the severall attested accompts By ane other accompt of nailes ’’ By ane accompt of several sorts of Iron work • To J Cuthbertson, Gairdiner in Herriotts yairds • ‘ ” To George Wallace, paynter, for his grinding of oyle coullour and laying on the same twyce over upon the two turratts or turnpyck heads on the top of the leads of the east qrter . • • • • To John Morton, glasier...for glass work and furnishing To Andrew Cassie, sclaitter . . • • • ; . ' ’ 13 . To James Bayne, wright, 500 Merks ordered by the Lords Comissioners-to be payed to him in consideration of the greatness of the Corneice betwixt the lead roofe and the Skailzie • Total of the Discharge £ s. d. 975 17 0 167 0 0 252 0 0 12 0 0 1150 0 0 33 8 0 84 3 0 8 10 0 1800 0 0 408 0 0 1360 19 0 8 8 0 2927 9 0 2212 16 0 825 1 0 1239 8 0 508 5 0 1996 *2 0 271 10 0 281 12 0 74 0 0 917 19 0 216 4 0 232 13 0 183 13 0 1881 16 0 100 0 0 12 0 0 1607 9 0 276 6 8 333 6 8 102,786 6 9 [£8565 10 0 Sterling.] THE COMPLETION OF THE PALACE. 201 Edinburgh 13th March 1679.—The Lords Commissioners of his Majesties Theasurie hauing perused, considered and calculated the foregoing Accompt, Charge and Discharge thereof, find the Charge extende to the some of One Hundred Five Thousand nynnty five punds 10s. 8d. and the Discharge to the some of One Hundred and Tuo Thousand seavin hundred fourscoir six pund 6s. 9d.—(the instructions whereof ar delivered into the Clerk) sua that the Charge exceids the Discharge in the some of Tuo Thousand three hundred nyne punds 4s.—which the Accomptant has instantly delivered into Sir Wm. Sharp, his Majesties Cash Keeper for his Majesties use. And therefore heirby exoner and discharge Sir Wm. Bruce Accomptant of the whole foresaid Charge and of all other soums of money received by him preceeding as they are made in this and in former accompts made by him and of the instructions of the Discharge delivered in, in manner above mentionat for now and ever. Rothes. Dundonald. Ch. Maitland. Reparations of his Majesties Palace and Castle of Stryveling. Discharge. 1674. June 24. Payed to John Buchannan, Measson in Stryveling for repairing the Park dykes thereof conform to Contract, and for three dayes wages dew to a Measson and Barrowman in mending of the gates of the said Park dykes 25. To the relict of James Adamson, Plumber .... 1675. May 13. To James Bayne, Mr Wright for wright work wrought by him att the said Pallace and Castle of Strvyeling from the year 1671 to Jan. 22, 1675 in raising and laying floore, putting up and cleating of roofes, lyning of walls, making and upputting and fixing of window cases, casements and broads, making and planting of mullars, making of doors, souldiers beds and sundrie other workes . „ To John Callender Chalmerlane to the Earl of Kincardine for 439 stones 11 lb. weyt lead...that had been taken off the said Earles house at Culrose (being 30s. scots per stone) ........ „ To the said John Callender for stones furnished from the said Earl of Kincardine his qwarrie at Langannatt to the reparations att the said Castle in the years 1671, 72, and 73 . 1676. Aug. 9. To Thomas Alborn, plasterer, for work in the year 1675 and 1676 . 1677. Feb. 23. To John Maisterton, Glazier...for furnishing and upputting of 1533J footes (at 12 inches measure) of English Glasse in the said Pallace and Castle in the year 1676 at 11s. 3d. the said foote 1679. Jan. 11. By 40s. sterling allowed to James Kennewie for each journey of three journeys he made to and from the said Castle and staying there severall dayes each tyme at measuring the works ..... „ For the Accomptants charges and expence in going to Stryveling Castle—First for making the Mapps of the Castle to be sent to his Majestie and for surveying the Park dykes being made new, the Pallace most pairt now rooft, floored, windowed with case casements and glass and plaistered which occasioned my being there eight and ten dayes togither for ten or twelve several tymes with the undermaisters £ s. 2475 16 322 2 3566 9 659 11 284 13 823 6 862 0 72 0 600 0 d 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 Reparations of Edinburgh Castle. Discharge. 1674. May 27. layed to Robert Mylne, Master Measson...for Meason Work wrought by him thereat from the 3rd August to the 27th Sept. 1673 1675. Mar. 4. To John Callender, Smith...for Iron work . „ Payed more to the said John Callender...for more Iron work „ To James Bayne, wright...for workmanship and furnishing to the Castle of Edinburgh in the years 1672, 73, and 74 2c £ s. d. 200 16 0 84 13 0 118 11 0 1114 17 0 202 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Reparations at the Bass. Discharge. 1673. July 24 . Payed to John Duff, smith att the Bass...for Iron work .... 1674. Mar. 11. To Robert Mylne, Master Mason...for sex rudes of rigging stones furnished by him for the use of the reparations att the Bass ..... Aug. 3. To Robert Mylne...for paying of measones dayes wages . Sept. 18. To Charles Maitland in name of Robert Maitland keeper of the Bass and overseer of the reparations for lyme stones, and other materials . Dec. 30. To Robert Mylne...for dayes wages dew to meassones .... 1675. Feb. 24. To Charles Maitland in name of Robert Maitland...for twentie tuo weekes sallarie ...at 4 lib. per week Mar. 13. To James Bayne, Master Wright, for dayes wages dew to wrights at 16s. scots per day to each man ....•••• July 20. To John Myln, qwarrier at Dirletoun...for winning of 200 flags . To John Maisterton, Glazier...for 57 foote 11 inch of new Inglishe Glass . 1676. Dec.20. To James Bayne, Wright, for dayes wages dew...from Jan. 1 to May 1, 1675 . To Robert Mylne, Meassone, for carridge of twentie tries from the Pallace of Hallyrudehouse to the Shoar of Leith being to be transported from thence to the Bass ..••••••• £ s. d. 90 9 0 29 14 0 150 0 0 207 7 0 261 0 0 88 0 0 1491 4 0 18 0 0 33 11 0 252 0 0 12 0 0 In the year 1678, Sir William Bruce, who had so long enjoyed the entire favour of the Crown, and superintended the works at Holyrood, was now dismissed from his official position, on the ground that his post had become useless. Such work as remained to be done apparently fell to Charles Maitland, better known as Lord Hatton, 1 and occupying the important position of Treasurer Depute. No doubt these changes were carried out under the supreme influence of the powerful Duke of Lauderdale. The warrant for recalling Sir William Bruce his Gift of the Office of Surveyor General:— 30th May 1678 —CHARLES R. Whereas by a Gift under the Great Seale of our ancient Kingdome of Scotland Wee did nominate and appoint Sir William Bruce of Balcaskie to be our Surveyour Generali of our Buildings within that our Kingdome, and thereby did Give and Grant unto him the fees priviledges powers & others at length therein mentioned &c &c. And seeing that Gift was granted by us to the said Sir William for designing and ordering the Buildings & repaireing our Palace of Holyroodhouse & for other reparations then commanded by us And that now the said Buildings and reparations are (upon the matter) finished and that there is no further use of any such Office of Surveyour Generali Therfor it is our Will and pleasure and wee do hereby declare the said Gift of Surveyour Generali &c &c to be voide and null Extincted Expired & recalled by us &c. By his Majesties command. Lauderdale. Instructions to The Lord Hatton his Majesty's Thesaurer Deput in Scotland :— i Sir Charles Maitland, Bart., of Hatton, brother to the Duke of Lauderdale. He was a Lord of the Court of Session, and afterwards succeeded his brother as third Earl of Lauderdale.—K. S. M. THE COMPLETION OF THE PALACE. 203 19th October 1678.—CHARLES R.—Instructions for our Treasurer Deput of our ancient Kingdome of Scotland in relation to the building & repairing of our Pallaces Castles Forts & Garrisons. Seeing it properly belongs to your Charge to oversee and take care of the Buildings & Reparations made at or in our Pallaces &c. &c. &c. You are therefore carefully to oversee the same accordingly from time to time and to give all necessary orders thereanent and to employ workmen and others &c. And particularly our Pallace of Holyroodhouse that the same be finished and compleated in all the buildings Offices Courts Gardens and haill accommodations Avenews and severall pertinents thereof And of our Castles of Edinburgh, Striveling, Dumbarton, Blacknesse and of our Island of the Basse &c. &c.—By his Majesties command. Lauderdale. Warrant to The Duke of Hamilton concerning the Lodgings to be appointed for The Duke of Lauderdale in his Majesty’s Palace of Holyrood¬ house :— 19th October 1678—CHARLES R.—Whereas Wee have seen it fit that the Duke of Lauderdale our Secretary have convenient lodgings within our Palace of Holyroodhouse in the South Quarter thereof including the new Tower, so much of that tower as is above the Councell Chamber with all kind of Offices necessary for his accommodation, Together with a Coach house and Stables and that Wee have given our Commands to the Commissioners of our Treasury and Treasurer Deput to make choice of and appoint unto him convenient lodgings in the said Quarter and Tower &c. &c.—By his Majesties command. Lauderdale. To the Duke of Hamilton Keeper of our Palace of Holyroodhouse. The Report by Sir Charles Maitland, Lord Hatton, his Majesty’s Treasurer Depute, stating the condition of his Majesty’s Castle of Edinburgh, as it now is:— Edinburgh, March 4, 1679.—Having visited and considered particularlie the magazins of arms, of powder and other amunition ; and, in the 2d place, the old fortification and the late new fortification, consisting of a dry graft, &c.; and, in the 3d place, the buildings and reparations seperate from any fortification— I find first as to the magazines That the whole numbers of arms, of great gunns, inortar- peeces, shot of all sorts, great and small bombs, of fire armes, musquets, firelocks, carobines, pistolls, picks and other armes quhatsomever with the whole quantitie of powder and match put into exact Inventory at Mr. John Drumond of Lundies entries to the keeping of the Magazines, and which Inventar is dated the 11th of Januarie 1678, and is signed by the Commissioners of the Treasurie and by Lundie. What further quantities of armes, and of amunition, powder, &c., has been delivered in since the taking of the said Inventar will appear by the generall orders of the Treasurie, and by Sir Wm. Sharp’s cash Ledger, his accompts, and what is given out by Lundie will appear and be instructed by the Warrants direct to Lundie. By this method the ballance remaining in the Castle now will particularlie appear; bot by looking upon the remaining quantities of match, I find it to be very small, and a great peert of it utterly rotten and spoyled by long lying and evill keeping, and that it has in all appearance never been good; and I find not above 80 or 90 carobines in all the magazine which is fitt wer helped, I find by the Inventar there were in the powder magazine at Lundie’s entrie 413 carobines, and that there is now in the magazine 406 barrells of powder, besides what is in the Castles of Stirling and Dumbartoun, and what is otherwise 204 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. given out by order. As to the condition of the fire armes, I find many of them not fixed and usles with rust. As to the fortifications I find the old fortification nothing of it weakened, taken away or broken doune by the adding of the new, bot by the contrair I find it in severall places repaired, hightned and more tenable, nor doth the new toutch the old except at the foundations of the old. I find the new fortification very near finished, for it only consists of a dry ditch walled ORDNANCE PLAN OF EDINBURGH CASTLE. in both sides with a parapett or breastwork within for planting of gunns, &c., and a glasis without, and all this is finished bot some small part of the coping. And concerning this new fortification as to the masone work and materialls, for that Sir W m. Sharp is under Contract with Robert Mille. Ther is a small addition of two walls, both being about 60 foot in length and 4 foot thick and 16 foot high, which are yet to found, which being done will compleat the stone work, &c., of the new fortification, bot these two walls are not in Robert Mills THE CASTLE, FROM A DRAWING BY T. RANDBY, CIRCA 1750. bargaine, being thought on since it was made. These two walls may consist of 6 roods or 7 at most, which at £7 sterling per rood is £42 sterling. Ther is yet two Imbrasseurs towards the Castle hill which by the Agreement Robert Mill is obleidged to repair. It is proposed by the Ingineer that for compleatmg the new fortification the old wall of the Castle may be taken doune, to witt, from the present draw¬ bridge at the 2d gate till the round to the south end of the great halfe round bastion, and that*in place therof a low wall of 8 foots in hight may be built to cover the sight of the 2d THE COMPLETION OF THE PALACE. 205 gate, and that this wall may be founded much nearer the halfe round bastion than the old high wall now standing is; bot this may be done at any tyme after the new work is ended, and ought to be well considered before it be undertaken. I find the whole platform whereupon the cannons revoylve when they are shott totalie deranged, and it is my opinion that the place upon which the wheells stand when the cannon revoylveth may be stronger paved, and that the rest may be raissed so far as the carriage of the cannon watched and betwixt the Imbrasseurs. I find many of the Imbrasseurs upon the great halfe round batterie and upon the streight batterie that joyneth to it, ruinous in the wheels, soels and stone work, so that stones have fallen over and endangers the souldiers in the low guard, and in my opinion it were fitt presently to consider how they should be repaired. It is further proposed by the Inginier that a wall of 3 foot thick and 12 foot high may be built on the top of the rock on the west syde of the Castle whereupon the powder magazine stands. This wall will consist of 36 roods of work, may be wrought for £5 sterling per rood, all expense borne, and can be no less, which is in all £180 sterling. Ther is likeways another low wall to make a batterie on the south west side, near to the new brewarie to be built, which may consist of 10 roods at the forsaid price. This, with some other small and inconsiderable reparations, is all that relates to the fortifications, except a new drawbridge and 3 or 4 gates which are ordered to be made. As to the building within the Castle, I find the Magazine where the armes lyes—the flooring of it, in the 3rd storie thereof, is most of it ruinous, and must be newlie layd, which will take at least 206 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. 400 daills, besides new joists to be put in for those that are faultie, and the rooff of it rains in some places. I find the new house designed for lodging of the cannon and carriages is finished except a little of the slaite rooff and some timber window brods, and some a 3d part of it to be raised. The dimensions of this house is about 50 foot long and 20 foot wide. I find there is a new brew house built within the Castle on the south west side thereof, which is slaited bot is not yet floored overhead in the 2d storie thereof, and that ther is lying in stone a great copper for brewing and other fatts and coolers for that purpose. To the west of the brew house I find the whole stone work off a maltbarn and malt kilne built betwixt two and three years agoe, but I do not find any order for it. It is my opinion that the barn and kiln are altogether useless, for if ther be no seidge then the souldiers are furnished with drink as they have been thes 16 years bygone. If there be warr or seidge, then malt cannot be made without there be bear in store to make it of, and it is THE CASTLE, FROM GORDON OF ROTHIEMAY’S MAP, 1647. much better and near als cheap to provyde malt as bear, for malt will keep and bear will not keep. Bot the cheefe reasone is that the kilne and barne are within 180 foot of the great powder magazine, and the winds in the Castle being so violent and frequent, it is hardlie possible to keep the kiln from fyring, which if it take fire, who will or can answer bot it may endanger the powder magazine, being so near, and consequentlie the whole Castle, and therefore it is thought saifest to slight the kilne and barne altogether and never to use them. The brew house being finished may stand, and in case of war may be usefull, and need not be used till then, nor ought not for fear of danger of fire as I have sayd. I find within the body of the Castle, near the great hall, a house of 3 stories high which is informed to have been burnt by the usurpers. This is jested and hes rooff and sarking fitt for to be leaded. It is informed this is for the Ensignes accomodation, bot by what order repaired, I know not. I find there are severall reparations within doors in the bodie of the Castle, in severall THE COMPLETION OF THE PALACE. 20 7 roums, such as plaine plaister partition walls, flooring, chimney pieces of timber and solagements which appear to have been necessarie for the more convenient accomodation of the officers. The fortifications, old and new, with those reparations and new buildings abone mentioned, the expense wherof will appear by Sir Wm. Sharp’s accompts, and there is yet resting to severall workmen a considerable soume of money—viz. : To Robert Mill Master Masone, £400 sterling, for work alreadie done before November last—To severall workmen preceding Lundie’s entrie £200 sterling—To workmen since his entrie £240 sterling, with some other small debts not yet stated, which in hail will extend to more than £850 sterling; and this besides £300 sterling dew to Robert Mill upon his last bargane, which will be finished 3 or 4 months hence. Therefor till all those accompts be examined, and till they be satisfyed, it is my opinion the work cease, except so far as concerns the masone work of the fortification, which is Robert Mill’s bargaine, and ought not to be interupted. I find the cannon wheells most of them decayed and ther being new ones provyded it is my opinion that these be payed for that are ready, and the bargaine made therefor approved. Ther being severall cannon to be mounted in the Castle which are not EAST SIDE OF THE COURTYARD OF EDINBURGH CASTLE. yet brought there, it is first to advise whether they shall be ship carriages, they being much cheaper than fixed carriages, 4 for one at least, and they being much used by the King in many of his forts in England, and that his Majestie expresly ordered them to be used here in all his castles and forts in this kingdome. There is ten Iron cannons at Leith, halfe culverines, halfe demi-culverines, which wer sent by his Majestie to be placed in the Islands of the Bays. Ther is already some small guns there, Sicare and Mineau bore, and so ther is not use for all these great gunns to be sent to the Bays, so that six of them or seven may go to the Castle of Edinburgh, one to Blackness; and in place of them that goes to the Castle, it is proposed ther may be two small brass gunns sent to the Bays out of the Castle. Ther is likewise lying at Leith eight small iron gunns, Secare and Mineaus, 4 whereof or 5 must goe to Blackness. The rest must goe to the Castle of Edinburgh. Ther is likeways at Leith two Iron culverines, which were exchanged for gunns which came from Zetland by order, and these may goe to the Castle of Edinburgh His Majestie was pleased to give order for transporting of some brass gunns from the Castle of Dumbarton to the Castle of Edinburgh, which cannot be done till the place be visited to choose what are fittest. 208 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Provision for strong beer, so needful for troops, was made by the following order :— 19th June 1674.—A note of such things as ar absolutely necessar to be provyded for the garrison of Edinburgh Castle :— 1 . Imprimus, a large Caldron for brewing, the other brewing loomes being already provyded. Memorandum by the Lords of the Treasury. 14th March 1675.—The Lords Commissioners of his Majesties Treasaury doe hereby Recommend to the Lord Treasaurer deput to visit the ground where the addition to the fortifications of Edinburgh Castle is to be. And for that effect to call for Mr. Sleyer, his ENTRANCE TO QUEEN MARY’S ROOM. REGENT MORTON’S GATEWAY. Majesties Engineer, and such Workmen as his Lordship sail think fitt, to help to put ane Estimat of the Charge and expense the same may amount to. That his Lordship may bargain with some Merchants for bringing home of 50 Barrels of pulder to be put up in his Majesties Magazine. The following list of Cannon in his Majesty’s Garrison of Stirling, Feb. 24, 1681, will prove of interest :— CORBEL ON STAIRCASE OF THE HALL. 4 Brass Cullvering. 1 Brass demi-Cullvering. 1 Iron Saiber. 5 Iron Miniones. 1 Brass Fallconer. There are also at Stirling Castle 2500 muskets and picks. THE COMPLETION OF THE PALACE. 209 A list of Cannon in his Majesty’s Garrison of Dumbarton Castle, Feb. 24, 1681 1 Spanish piece, 7 inch bore of Brass. 2 Scots peeces, 7 inch bore of brass. 3 Brass demi-Cullvering. 5 Brass Saibers. 6 Brass Miniones. 1 Brass Fallconer. A list of Cannon ball in his Majesty’s Castle of Edinburgh, Feb. 24, 1681 :— 60 Demie Cannon Ball. 1210 Whole Cullvering Ball. 840 Demi Cullvering Ball. 300 Saicker Ball. 8760 Minione Ball. 220 Falione Ball. 2690 Hand Granades. 78 Mortar Shells. 24 Bombs. 6 Chists of cut Shot. WINDOW AND BATTLEMENT ON EAST SIDE OF THE COURTYARD. A list of Arms and Ammunition in his Majesty’s Magazine at Edinburgh, Feb. 24 :— 9248 Musquets. 6640 Banderolls. 800 Bundles of Match. 660 Barrels of Powder. 600 Pair of Pistolles. 400 Pair of Hulsters. 600 Chists of Musket Ball. 2756 Swords. 2800 Picks. 1000 Dragun’s Arms. 565 Belts. 464 Boottes. 234 Carrabeins. 330 Horsemen’s Lances. 4 Brass demi-Cannon. 7 Haillfrone Cullvering. 11 Iron demi-Cullvering. 2 Iron Saibers. 2 Iron Miniones. 1 Brass Fallconer. 4 Brass Miniones. 3 Mortar pieces. 210 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. For the various works above mentioned, and for other purposes, ready money was much needed by the Scottish administration, and the following letter was addressed to the Earl of Linlithgow by Robert Mylne, Collector of Customs, sometime Provost of Linlithgow, and afterwards known as Sir R. Mylne, Bart., of Barnton, near Edinburgh. He was descended from Robert, Provost of Dundee :— Leith, 28th July 1679.—Right Honorable,— Vpon fryday last I went throghe all places quhair I knew thair was any Cashe to have gotin your Lordship ane hundreth pound in Inglish money, but could find non, And for gold I thoght your Lordship wold accept of Generali Dalyels offer, and I am hopfull that wee may have it returnd to him in 2 or three moneths, but Least your Lordship should have vse for monyes, I left with James Hay one hundreth pounds sterling to be given in to your Lordship, upon a receit in part payment of that precept of Sir Wm. Sharp’s. If I could have payed it all at this tym I should not have faild to doe it. I doe assuir your Lordship it was with much difficultie I got it; your Lordship may Leive the precept with any person you please, and I shall be carefull to pay it with the first incomes. I pray God give your Lordship a good, safe and prosperous Journey is the earnest desyre of,—Right honorable, your Lordship s faithfull servant. All persons holding permanent office under the Crown appear to have claimed, and obtained, exemption from taxation. Here follows the Ratification in favour of his Majesty’s Smith, Mason, Wright, and other Servants of their exemptions from Taxations, &c. :— 1681.—Our Soveraigne Lord and the Estates of this present Parliament past in favors of his Majesties Servants viz. John Callendar his Majesties Blacksmith and Locksmith, Alexander Reid his Majesties Goldsmith, Robert Mylne Master Mason, James Baine Wright, Andrew Cassie Sklaiter, Andrew Forrester Bower, Alexander Home Talyeor, James Rae Barber, and John Mastertoun Glasier for themselves And in name and behalfe of the Remanent of his Majesties servants in their respective Imployments Conforme to their several gifts granted thereanent And particularly the 275 Act of Parliament of the 15th Parliament of King James the Sext And also the severall and particular Gifts granted be his Majestie to his respective Servants . . . whereby his Majesties Servants are excused and declared free of all Stents Taxations Watchings Wardings and other impositions whatsoever that can be imposed upon them . . . Therefore his Majestie and estates of Parliament not only revives the several Acts of Parliament Granted be his Majestie and his Royal Progenitors In favour of his Servants in their several and respective trades artifices and employments And particularly the said 275 Act of the 15th Parliament of King James the sext . . . And declares them and their successors in office to be excused and free of all the Stents and Taxations watchings wardings and other Impositions whatsomever imposed or to be imposed hereafter. Some further works were carried out by the King’s express order in Edinburgh, and we here insert a copy of the King’s letter to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, concerning the Reparations of his Majesty’s Castles and Houses in Scotland :— THE COMPLETION OF THE PALACE. 211 9th March 1681.—CHAELES E.—Eight trusty and right entirely beloved Cousin and Councillor, Eight trusty and well beloved Cousins and Councillors, and right trusty well beloved Councillor, Wee greet you well. Having resolved upon consideration of the present state of our Castles and Houses in that our ancient Kingdome to repaire the same soe as they may be most useful upon all occasions for our Service and accomodation, We have now thought fit to signify our pleasure That you order and appoint some faithfull and skilfull Persons to view our said Castles and Houses to the end they may not only give a perfect account of the condition in which they shall find the same, but may also make a true estimate (according to the best of their judgement) of the expenses that will be needfull to be laid out for the reparations which shall be requisite for the purposes already mentioned. Whereof wee desire a Eeport from you with all convenient diligence. And you may very soone thereafter expect the further signification of our pleasure in that affaire. So wee bid you heartily farewell.—By his Majesties command. Morray. The result of this order will appear in the document next following :— Estimat of Work to be Made at His Majesties Palaces and Castles in this Kingdome. Holyroodhouse, 28th March 1681.—Followes the Estimat Eelating to the last Article of the Instructions given by the Lords Commissioners of his Majesties Treasury to his Majesties Treasurer depute. 19th March 1681.—Estimat of Work yet to be done at his Majesties Palace of Holyroodhouse His Castles of Edinburgh Stirling and Dumbarton made by his Majesties Treasurer depute. First as to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Sterlinc. The Guard Hall and presence upon the front to be plaistered plaine, including materialls ......... £30 0 0 For wanscoting in materialls and workmanship . . . . 40 0 0 There is six rooms in the ground storie of the south quarter, for plastering these 40 0 0 For flooring and pavying these, materialls included and for finishing . . 80 0 0 For pavyeing the Garden parlour . . . . . .10 0 0 For levelling the Garden and parter without it and for caryeing and removing earth and the rubbish of the house . . . . 150 0 0 For building the walls of the great parter and of the Kitchen Court, including the privie and cariage of the materials . . . . 350 0 0 For building the walls of the great outter Court and placing 3 great Gates there, in work materialls and carriages . . . . 200 0 0 For building a Guardhouse for horse and ffoote . . . 250 0 0 For sklaiting and sklaits to the great Kitchen, being 140 foote 24 ffoote wide with two jambs or wings . . . . . . 80 0 0 Daill boards for floorings and Eoofe, being 3 storys . . . 100 0 0 Workmanship of these floors and roofe . . . . . .60 0 0 Plaister and Materialls for it . . . . . . 40 0 0 Glass and Glasswork . . . . . . . .4000 Paveing . . . • • • • • 40 0 0 Summa is . £1510 0 0 The Gravelling and Finishing of the Gardens of Holyroodhouse cannot be estimate till his Majestie think fitt to order in what manner they are to be finished. 212 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. With the above-mentioned sheet of accounts we may consider the Palace of Holyrood finally completed. Less beautiful than the ruined church of the monastery, it is yet a noble pile, illustrating the history and feeling predominant on the Restoration of the House of Stuart. During this century and the next, the classical style was in high favour in Edinburgh ; and perhaps the most elegant feature in this Palatial structure is the neat blending of the columns of the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian order on the three stories of the garden front. If the King had not made objection there would have been considerably more external decoration. As it is, the whole structure falls far short of the intentions of the earlier Kings of Scotland, though sufficient for all actual needs. As the Palace was then finished, it has since remained, a noble and enduring memorial of the Sovereign Princes of the ancient House of Stuart. CHAPTER XI. ROBERT MYLNE OF BALFARGE, MASTER MASON TO CHARLES II., JAMES II., WILLIAM AND MARY, AND QUEEN ANNE. THE CROSS OF PERTH—THE HOSPITAL AT LARGO—THE CLYDE BRIDGE—MYLNe’s SQUARE—THE SHORE OF LEITH—THE CASTLE OF EDINBURGH—SIR ROBERT MYLNE OF BARNTON. the royal residence was in course of erection, the subjoined -of-arms was duly registered in the Lyon Office, Edinburgh, in year 1672. All the documents of this office prior to the accession of King Charles II., are lost or destroyed, and hence definite information of an earlier date is not easy to obtain. Numerous coats- of-arms, as was natural, were registered after the restoration of the House of Stuart in the Herald’s Office of Scotland, and some new grants were made. Pont speaks of the Mylne Arms in 1624 as then well known to students of heraldry. ARMS OF ROBERT MYLNE OF BALFARGIE—FIFE 1672. REGISTER OF ARMS—LYON OFFICE—SCOTLAND—1672. Robert Mylne of Balfarge his Majesties Maister Measone Nevoy and representer of the deceast John Mylne late Maister Measone to his Majestie and which John was lawfull sone to the deceast, THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. John Mylne also his Majesties Maister Measone and which John was lawfull sone to the deceast John Mylne likewise his Majesties Maister Meason and which John was lawfull sone to the deceast, Thomas Mylne in like manner his Majesties Maister Measone which Thomas was sone to the deceast, Alexander likewise his Majesties Maister Measone and which Alexander was sone to the deceast John also his Majesties Maister Measone be vertue of ane gift granted to him thereof be K. James the third of ever blessed memorie of the date the day of years, 1 Bears, Or, a Cross moline azure, quarter pearced of the field betwixt three Mollets of the second ; On ane helmet befitting his degree with a mantle gules doubled argent and torse of his collours is set for his Crest Apelles head couped at the shoulders proper Vested about at the neck Vert, on the head a helmet Azure Beaver turned up and a plumaish gules. The Motto in ane Escroll above Tam arte quam marte. Robert Mylne’s first work of any importance was the erection of the new Cross of Perth, in consequence of the destruction of the ancient Cross under the Commonwealth. The Corporation had intended his uncle to under¬ take this matter, but death intervened. From the Register of Acts of Council of Perth. 26th February 1666.—The counsell all in ane voice aggries that George Conquerour present thesaurar goe about the provyding of materialls for building the mercat cros vpon that same fundatione quhair it stood formerlie and caus build the samene with all expeditione and that it be done in the most decent maner as other croses are in other royall borrowes which the said thesaurar hes presentlie vndertaken to doe. 21 st May 1666.—The counsell appoints the thesaurar to put vp a stage at the croce for keiping a solempnity thair the 29 instant [the King’s birthday] and furnish wyne and glasses. 4th November 1667.—The counsell continews their thochtis anent the building of the crose till the nixt counsell day. 11 th November 1667.—-The counsell all in ane voice appoynts Alexander Jamiesone thesaurar to goe about the building of a croce inferior to none in Scotland—and for that end desyres the pro vest to wreat to John Mylne to know his dyett at Leslie that thrie or fowr of the counsell may goe and agrie with him thair—otherwayes if his leasour can serve that he may come to the towne heir. 18th November 1667.—The provest reportit he hes writtine to Mr. Mylne 2 anent the building of the croce. 27th January 1668.—The counsell desyres the provest to wreat to Robert Mylne to come heir with all expedition anent the building of the croce and to speik with him thairanent and reportt. 17th February 1668.—This day producit be the provest ane returne from Robert Mylne who hes writtine to be heir this weik. In order to which the counsell nominats and appoynts the magistrats and deane of gild with Alexander Jacksone William Crie and Robert Gairdne to meit with the said Robert Mylne and agrie with him for building of the croce with all expeditione and to report this day 8 dayes. 28th May 1668.—The counsell having met with Robert Mylne Master Meassone for building of the croce have agried with him for the sowme of tua hundreth pound sterling 1 Most likely 1481. 2 John Mylne, of Edinburgh. ROBERT MYLNE OF BALFARGIE. 215 monie the termes of payment thairof the one half at Martymis 1668 and the other at the perfyting thairof. The counsell approwis the report of those who met with him for aggrieing with him for that effect. 16th November 1668.—This day subscryved ane band to Androw Blair of Corbs of and wpon the sowme of tua thousand markis Scotts monie principal! payable to him and to his assignayis at Marty mas j m vj c and sixtie nyne years with ane years annualrent thairof with tua hundreth pounds monie of penultie and annualrent thairin conteinit—which band is dated the sixtein day of November 1668 years instant—and this band is but 1 prejudice of ane other band granted be the counsel to him and Margaret Threipland his spous of and wpon the sowme of fywe thousand markis monie quhich band is dated 7 November 1667— which band of tua thousand markis granted to the said Androw Blair is presentlie borrowed from him to satisfie and pay Robert Mylne Master Meassone to His Majestie for building of the croce in pairt of payment and quhairwpone he hes giwine dischairge thairon which dischairge is dated the threttie day of October 1668 yearis and presentlie delyvered to Bailie Jamiesone. 7th December 1668.—Compeired Androw Mylne miliar in presence of the counsell and gawe his oath for his fidelitie to be ane of the ordinar millaris at the Ower Mylne and Androw Archer maltman became cautioner for him. 29th March 1669.—This day receaved ane lettre of Robert Kinloch merchant in Dundie requyring the sowme of 2000 markis resting be the counsell to Mr. Alexander Mylne late minister at Dundie. Thairfoir the counsell all in ane voice ordaines the thesaurer to provyd the said 2000 markis againe Witsonday nixt 1669 for satisfying of the said Robert Kinloch or els to borrow the samyne. 19th April 1669.—The counsell aggries that Charles Wilsone be wreat for to gild the croce with all conveniencie and the provest to wreat to my Lord Lyone for a licence to him to come ower for that effect. As als ordaines the said thesaurer to giwe to Mr. Mylnes men thrie dollors presentlie which 3 dollors with ane dollor and ane halff befor makis in haill tuentie markis Scots. 26th April 1669.—The counsell appoynts Mr. Alexander Orme James Shioch Patrick Wrquhart William Crie Thomas Black Robert Gairnes with the present magistrats to meit with Charles Wilsone gilder and aggrie with him aither for a penny or days wadges for gilding of the croce and oyling thairof as they sail think expedient and to report the nixt counsell day. 24th May 1669.—The counsell all in ane voice nominats and appoynts George Jacksoun present thesaurer of Perth to giwe to Robert Mylne Master Measson to His Majestie for building and finishing the croce the sowme of four thousand and tua hundreth markis Scots monie and that in full contentatione and satisfactione of all that quhilk he can ask or clame of the toun of Perth as to the stone work—he satisfeing Thomas Black for the skaffolds and the cariers for cariing of stones to the said croce. The counsell ordaines the thesaurer to prepair again the 29 May 1669 instant tua gallonis of French wyne with tua dussone of glasses to be druckine and rune one the croce the said day. 28th June 1669.—The council borrow several sums of money—The which sowmes wes borrowed for payment of the sowmes of monie efterspecifiet viz. The sowme of tua thousand markis thairof to Robert Kinloch merchant burges of Dundie husband to Jean Mylne laufull dochter and executrix dewlie confirmed to vmquhill Mr. Alexander Myln late minister of Langforgun and that in compleit payment of the lyk sowme resting be the toun counsell to the said Mr. Alexander Mylne conforme to thair band of the dait the penult day of Maii 1 Without. 2\6 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. j m vj c and fyftie nyne years—which band wnregistrat is this day reteired and judiciallie cancelled. . . . The council borrow £1000 Scots from Isobell Shaw relict of the deceased Hugh Mitchell of Kincarroquhy. This sowme of 1000 pound with the od fyve hundreth markis of Thomas Ross 3000 mark band abowe specifeit wes borrowed for payment to Robert Mylne Master Meassone as a pairt of the price of the croce—which sowme of 2000 markis presentlie payed with the sowme of other 2000 markis formerlie payed to him that wes borrowed from Andrew Blair of Corbs and the sowme of tua hundreth markis added thairto by Georg Jacksoun present thesaurer is the full pryce of the croce appoynted to be payed to the said Robert Mylne by the toun counsell whairwpon the said Georg Jacksoun thesaurer hath ane dischairg from the said Robert Mylne wnder his hand. Toe the toun hawing borrowit four thousand markis for paying of the croce the thesaurer being superexpendit he is onlie to compt to the toun for 200 mark. 12 th March 1688.—The counsell recommends to the provest to wreit to Mr. Milne 1 the Kings Master Meassone anent the tuo persones he recommended to the provest for searching out of coall in the eomone moore to be sent heir wpon the tounes expenssis against the first of Appryll that the trew certantie may be knowen. Extract from Index to Acts of Council. 24th September 1694.—Act approving contracts for building the council house and clerk’s chambers entered into with William Mill wright at Dupplin. From Peacock’s History of Perth. In 1652 Cromwell demolished the Cross, and applied its materials to the erection of his citadel. In 1668, after the restoration of Charles II., the magistrates contracted with Mr. Mylne of Balfargie, the King’s Master Mason, to rebuild it, and make it as elegant as any in Scotland for £200 ; and in the following year, when it was finished, they issued an order to write Lord Lyon for a license to Charles Wilson to gild it with the royal arms and those of the town. It had a spacious terrace above. It was 12 feet high and had a flight of steps within. On the anniversary of the Restoration, 29th May 1669, “the treasurer was appointed to cover the terrace of the new Crois with a carpet, and to prepare glasses and two gallons (Scots) of French wine, to be run out of the mouths of the lions, bears, and griffins, and other heads with which the Cross was ornamented.” In 1765 the Town Council, in consideration of the Cross being an impediment on the street, empowered the Magistrates to move it. It was, therefore, disposed of at a public sale to a mason, he being the highest bidder, for five pounds. He immediately took it down and carried off the stones. The Spey Tower was a fortress on the city wall, and was taken down about 1810. After the completion of the Town Cross, the official connection between the Corporation of Perth 2 and the King's Master Mason seems to have come to an end. 1 He was made Burgess of Edinburgh, 23rd May 1660, and Guild Brother, 12tli April 1665. 2 From Penny’s Traditions of Perth .—In Perth there are eight corporations, styled “ Incorporated Trades,” seven of these possess the ordinary exclusive privileges. They are founded on immemorial usage. The Corporations are—Hammermen, Bakers, Glovers, Wrights, Tailors, Fleshers, Shoemakers, and Weavers. The trades have a board, termed the Convener Court, composed of the trade members of the Council and the deacon of the weavers. ROBERT MYLNE OF BALFARGIE. 217 The erection of Wood’s Hospital at Largo was another of the earlier works undertaken by Robert Mylne. The whole of the original structure has now been removed, but some of the old plans are still in existence. From the Chronicles of Fife, or Diary of John Lamont of Newton. April 1665.—About the beginning of this monthe, the Hospitall att the Church of Largo in Fyffe, appointed to be buelded by the deceased John Wood, was founded at this time by Robert Mill, Master Mason in Edinburgh, and some men that he hyred for the worke, some measones, some quarries, some barrowmen, to the number of 18 or 20 persons or thereby, he undertooke to build it for a penny, and to deliver the keys to the Overseirs, viz., Earl of Weyms, Lundy, Largo, Kirke Sessioun of Largo, Balfoure, Pat Scot of Langshawe and Sir Thomas Gourlay of Kincraigej and Mr. John Alleys, Advocate in Edinburgh. Some say that he was to have for the worke, being compleat, nyne thousand merks Scots, and if it was founde well done, 500 merks more. About the end of August 1665 the roofe was put on this buelding, and sclaitted and glased. It consisted of thrie rooffes—one to the east, one to the north, and one to the west. The entrie of it looked to the south. It was a buelding that consisted of 14 divers roomes, with a publicke hall: in each rownie ther was a bed and a closett and a lowme, being all fyve rowmes with a large garden; a stone bridge for its entrie, a howse besyde for the gardiner, two story high. About 6 persons were entered to stay at the said hospitall about Candelmisse 1667. Leslie House was also built under the direction of the King’s Master Mason, 1 2 and the worthy Countess stayed at home to superintend the works, while the Earl of Rothes was attending the Royal Court in London. A good deal of furniture was sent to the north from the southern capital in October 1670, though it “would be Martinmas before Mr. Mill could finish the Galarie.” Balgonie had hitherto been the family residence, and John Mylne had been consulted upon these works just before his death in 1667. Numerous letters from the Duchess of Rothes are still extant at Kinross, relative to this matter, chiefly addressed to Sir W. Bruce. After the restoration of the Royal Family, and the general cultivation of the arts of peace by the vast mass of the people, the question of the proper water supply of Edinburgh received particular attention, and was discussed within the walls of the Parliament House of Scotland. In 1672 application was again made to Parliament for liberty to raise the money, requisite for the undertaking, by a tax on fire-hearths. Having succeeded in their application, the Council, on the 22nd May 1674, contracted with Peter Brauss, or Bruschi, a German engineer, for the sum of £2900 sterling, to bring the water of Tod’s Well, at Comiston, into Edinburgh, in a leaden pipe of 3-inch bore, and to build a fountain-head, as also five cisterns—namely, one at the Weigh-house, the Cross, the Tron Wynd, the head of Niddry Wynd, and one near the 1 Robert Mylne was Deacon of the Masons in 1674, and again in 1686-87, and Master of the Edinburgh Lodge (Mary’s Chapel) in 1674, and again 1686-8. His uncle John had been Master seven different years. 2 E THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Netherbow; the whole to be completed by the first day of October 1674. These cisterns were found insufficient to supply all parts of the town; and in consequence, the Council, in December 1674, contracted with Robert Mylne, master mason, to build, under the direction of Sir William Bruce, other seven wells or cisterns, “ all in guid sufficient ashlar work.” The City Treasurer’s account, from November 1674 to 1675, contains various entries of payments for work on the streets in connection with the building of these ■wells or cisterns ; and one item shows that the civic dignitaries of those days were not altogether prosaic or deficient in their appreciation of the graces of poesy when brought to bear upon their work. “For printed verses on the King’s Birth-Day, in commendation of the Watter Works,' it appears that no less a sum than £14 Scots was paid “ by order of the Magistrats, to “ Mungo Murray, Poet.” Robert Chambers to K. W. Mylne, F.R.S. Here is a letter containing a good deal of curious information regarding your ancestor Robert. Pray get the extracts copied, if you choose. ... It will be obliging if you can supply any information about the building of the Bow Well, which Messrs. Richardson are now restoring at their own expense.—Yours very sincerely, R. Chambers. James Brichan to Messrs. Richardson Brothers, Edinburgh. 26fA July 1861. I have, at your request, examined the following records with the view of obtaining information about the Bow Well now repairing. 1. The Edinburgh Council Register (1672-1682) and circa 1732, the date which said Well bears. 2. The Town of Edinburgh’s Accounts, circa 1732. 3. The Minutes of the Incorporation of St. Mary’s Chapel, circa 1732. In these Records and Accounts of 1732 or ’3 there is no mention whatever of the Bow Well. I think the following notes from the Council Register will interest you : Between the dates 1st May 1672 and 22nd May 1674, various motions were made in the meetings of the Council for introducing, or, as they better styled it, inbringing water into the city. At the latter date, 22nd May 1674, the Council contracted with Peter Brauce for laying leaden pipes to bring water into the city, and for building a Fountain Head and Four cisterns, namely, one at the Weigh house, one at the head of the Frier Wynd, one at the Cross, one at the head of Niddry’s Wynd, and one near the Netherbow, the whole to be completed by 1st October 1674. (The one near the Netherbow was evidently the Fountain Head, as it seems to be at this day). On 27th November 1674 the Council made a contract with Robert Milne, Master Mason, for budding a fifth well (fifth, of course, exclusive of the Fountain wed), said well to be built at the head of Forester’s Wynd. On 30th December 1674 the Council contracted with Robert Mill, Master Mason, under the direction of Sir William Bruce, to build— ROBERT MYLNE OF BALFARGIE. 219 (1) Ane large cistern at the head of the West Bow fyfteen foot in lenth and ten foot in breideth and six foot in deepnes and to lay the volt with carrag and lyme quhich volt is to be of polishit aisler and to leave two holls therein quherin two pypes ar to be laid and roume for ane other pype at the top of the cistern for conveying the excrescence water doun the West Bow, and to build the top thereof according to Sir William Bruce draught and to erect ane litell cistern at the foot of the West Bow. (2) Ane other large cistern at Forester’s Wynd head. (3) Ane other at the Cross. (4) And ane other at Nidderis Wynd head. (5) And the fyft neir the Netherbow. All of the wydnes and deepnes seyd. And to erect a small cistern at the head of the Cannongait. And als to build ane small cisterne in the Fisch Mercat. Ane other at Forester’s Wynd foot, all in good sufficient aisler work. The cost of the whole was to be £650 sterling. On the same day (30th December 1674) the Council contracted with Peter Brauss for laying pipes from the principal wells to the lay wells or by cisterns. On 25th May 1682, Peter Brauss, on the ground that he had been promised a gratuity beyond the amount named in contract for bringing in the water, that the water works had continued in good condition since their completion in the year 1674, and that the time during which he was bound to uphold them had long since expired, claimed payment of said gratuity, and the Council accordingly allowed him the sum of £600 Scots in full of all claims. From the above notes it seems manifest that the date 1732 on the Bow Well must be the date either of its repair or of its re-erection. On one occasion the Master Mason became cautioner for David Mather, who in the religious controversies of the times had got into trouble by frequenting conventicles :— I David Mather sone to David Mather smith in Brigneit as principal! and with me Robert Mill master mason Bind and oblidge ws conjunctly and severallie that I the said David Mather shall keip the Kings peace and that hereafter I shall not be present at any conventicles or privat meitinges under such panialties as the councill shall think titt in case of faylie And I the said David Mather bind and oblidge me to warrand and releive my cautioner of the premisses and of all cost or expensses he shall happen to incurr therthrow in any sort consenting thir presents be registrat in the books of Privy Councill that lettres and executoriallis may be direct hereupon in form as effeiris and constitutis. Procuratouris etc. In witnes quhairoff we have subscryved these presentis Att Edinburgh the last day of Junij 1670 before these witnesses Hugh Stevenson wrytter in Edinburgh wrytter hereof and Mr. Alexander Gibsone one of the Clerkis of the Council. David Mather. Ro. Mylne. Al. Gibson witnes . Hugh Stevensone witnes . The following documents relate to transactions between Robert Mylne and the Laird of Glenurchy, in the year 1673 :— I Robert Milne Master Maissone to his Majestie grants me by these presents to have receaved from Johne Campbell of Glenurchye the soume of £219, 6s. 8d. scots and that as 220 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. ane years annual rent from Candlmas 1672 till Candlmas last of the soume of £3,654 due by the said Johne Campbell to me as Assignay constituted by Johne Earle of Rothes &c. Lord Chancelor of Scotland to ane bond granted by the said Johne Campbell to him of the date the penult day of March 1672 In and to the which bond the said Earle of Rothes has constituted me his assignay conforme to his assignatione granted to me of the date the third day of Junij 1672 Therefor I doe heirby discharge the said Johne Campbell of Glenurchye his airs and successors and all whom it effeirs off the said soume of £219, 6s. 8d. money forsaid as ane years annual rent of the said principal soume contained in the said bond And does bind and oblidge me my airs and successors whatsomever to warrant this present discharge to be good and sufficient to the said John Campbell and his forsaids at all hands and against all deadlie as La we will And consents thir presents be insert and registrat in the books of Sessione or any others needfull therein to remain ad futuram rei memoriam. And if need beis that execution may followe heirupon in forme as effeirs And therto constituts my procuratores In witness quherof (writtin be Mr. Alexander Campbell, brother to the said Johne Campbell) I have sub¬ scribed thir presents with my hand at Canongate the 10th day of March 1673 Befor these witnes the said Mr. Alexander and George Small his servitor. Ro. Myllne. Ar. Campbell, witness. George Campbell, ivittnes. Be it knowen to all men by these presents me Robert Milne his Majesties Master Masone and assigney efter specefeit fforsaemeiklas Johne Campbell of Glenurchy by his bond of the date the penult day of March 1672 was bound and oblidged to content and pay to Johne Earle of Rothes Lord Highe Chancellor of Scotland the soume of £3,654 scots money of principall with the ordinal’ annual rent thereof from Candlmas then last bypast and that betwixt the date of the said Bond and the terme of Mertmes then next to come And the said Johne Earl of Rothes by his assignatione subscrivit with his hand of the date the third day of Junij 1672 did constitute me my aires executoris and assignayes his very lawfull cessioners and assignayes In and to the said bond and obligatione principall soume annual rents and expenss therein contained as the said assignation of the date forsaid in itself more fullie beares And now seeing the said Johne Campbell of Glenurchy hes at the granting heirof made payment and satisfactione to me the said Robert Milne of the soume of 5686 merks, 5s. 8d. Scots money and that in full and compleit payment and satisfactione off* the heall soumes principall annual rent and expenss contained in the bond and assigna¬ tione above writtin Therefor witt ye me the said Robert Milne To have discharged Lykas I by these presents exoner quytt claim and simpliciter discharge the said Johne Campbell his aires executors and successors and all whom it effeires off the forsaid principall soume annual rents and expenss contained in the said Bond granted by the said Johne Campbell and of the principall soume expenss and annual rents contained in the said assio-natione granted by the said Noble Earle And off the said Bond and assignatione themselves heall heads clauss tenors and contents of the same for now and ever And I doe bind and oblidge me my aires executors and successors to warrand this my discharge to be good valid and sufficient to the said Johne Campbell and his forsaids at all hands and against all deadlie In token whereof I have heirwith delivered to the said Johne Campbell the said Bond and assignatione to be keept or cancelled by his forsaids att pleasure and for the more securitie consents thir presents be insert and registrat in the Books of Councell and Sessione or any others needful therein to remaine ad futuram rei memoriam And if need beis that all executione necessary may pass heirupon in forme as effeirs And theirto constitutes my procurators In witness quherof writtin by Mr. Alexander Campbell writer in Edinburgh I have subscrivit ROBERT MYLNE OF BALFARG1E. 221 thir presents with my hand Att Edinburgh the 3rd December 1673 Before these witness the said Mr. Alexander James Scott my servitor and Neill Campbell servitor to the said Mr. Alexander. Bo. Myllne. 1 An. Campbell witnes. Ja. Soott vnttnes. Neill Campbell witnes. Besides the hospital at Largo, and other works already mentioned, Robert Mylne, as might be expected, was now called upon to take a prominent part in building operations in various parts of Scotland. After the completion of the famous Palace of Holyrood, he was able to find time for such under¬ takings ; and in the year 1682 he entered into a formal contract to erect a bridge of a single arch over the Clyde, in the county of Lanark. No ruins thereof now remain. The actual site, however, was well selected at the most convenient place for crossing the river, which is here restricted within a rocky channel, though for many miles above this point traversing alluvial flats and draining high, undulating moorlands. Good foundations were obtained in the solid rock, while a projecting crag of Lower Silurian has given rise to a deep pool or “weil” in the winding bed of the stream, a few yards above the site of the bridge. The close contiguity of the adjacent Roman road or causeway suggests an appropriate explanation of the curious name of this spot, no longer in use amongst the inhabitants. On the modern map Romellweill Crags has given place to Ram’s Horn Pool. We here insert the complete details concerning the contract betwixt William Baillie of Little Gill and Robert Mylne of Balfarge, His Majesty’s Master Mason, for building a stone bridge of one arch of 45 feet span over the river Clyde at Romellweill Crags, 29 miles above Lanark, the said William Baillie being empowered by Act of Parliament to raise subscriptions and levy tolls :— At Edinburgh, 30th March 1682—£3600 Scots.—It is appoynted agried and finahie contracted betwixt the parties following That is to say William Baillie of Little Gill and 1 In connection with this matter Francis Shaw wrote from Aberdeen in 1868 :— On Friday I returned from Taymouth, where I had been engaged for the present Earl as to his claim to the Peerage. While there I noted an entry about R. Mylne, who was apparently a prosperous man. 1673. —Charge of money received by Mr. Alexander Campbell brother to John Campbell of Glenurchye upon accompt of his said brother. Inter alia. —1673. March 10.—From Robt. Milne, his Majesties Master Measone, £666, 13s. 4d. (Scots). March 10. — Discharge — To Robert Milne, the King’s Master Massone, fora year’s annual rent, from Candlemas 1672 till Candlemas 1673, of £3654 due by Glenurchye by Bond to the said Robert Milne, per discharge £219, 6s. 8d. 1674, December 3.—Paid Robert Milne, his Majesties Master Messon, his Bond assigned to him by the lord of Rothes in principal and interest, £3790, 19s. lOd. THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. his cautioner after-specifeit on the ane pairt and Robert Mylne of Balfarge his Majesties Master Measone on the other part in maner following That is to say the said Robert Mylne for the soume of mony underwrittin to be payed to him as followes Binds and obleidges him his aires executors intromittores with his lands rents goods gear and successors quhat- sumever to found build and erect ane bridge over and upon the watter of Clyd at that pairt thairof quhair the rock and craig commonlie called Romellweill Craigs are situate Which bridge is to consist of ane airch of fourtie fyve foot daylight fiftein foot broad betuixt summer and summer and be threttie tuo foot from the bottome of the runeing of the watter to the tope of the bridge And is all to be wrought and done in substantial Aisler work in land skaills airch and raill thairof the land scaill runeing back on each syd tuentie foot and of Aisler work as said is And the haill soliditie of the work of this bridge to be made up of solid stone and lyme and to calsie the same the length of ane Hundreth foott And lyk- wayes to build ledgements on each syd cut in the top with a semicircle thrie foot above the said calsie mitered each joynt to another quhich thrie foott is includit in the former threttie tuo foot Lyke as the said Robert Mylne binds and obleidges him and his forsaids by thir presents to build and erect upon the midle of the said bridgement or att either end for ane raised gait or chanzie to stop the passage att the said bridge the said William Baillie furnishing iron and lead thairto As also the said Robert Mylne hierby binds and obleidges him and his forsaids to build found and erect ane house of two storie hight for a change att the west end of the bridge consisting of fourtie foott of lenth and eightein foott within the walls and thretein foot from the fundatione to the levelling of the cuples with a scale staire to the first storie without the said houss Which house is to have therm tuo hewin doors onlie with six heuen windowes and four hewen chimneys And in lyke maner the said Robert Mylne binds and obleidges him and his forsaids to furnish all timber short and long for the use of the forsaid bridge allenerlie and to transport the same to the place upon his own proper charges and expenss And to enter to the building of the bridge and house betuixt and the tenth day of the said month of Apryle and furnish and perfyt the same in measson work compleitlie betuixt the day and dait heirof and the terme of Mertimes nixt to come in this instant year of God 1682 And hierto the said Robert Mylne binds and obleidges him and his forsaids in the most ample forme that can be devysed And incase it shall happen him to faillie in perfyteing of the said bridge and house betuixt and the terme abovemen- tioned in that case he be thir presents binds and obleidges him and his forsaids to content and pay to the said William Baillie his aires or assignies the soume of thriescor pound sterling mony forsaid as for liquidat expenses damnage and intrist to be sustained theranent bv and attour perfyteing of the said work in maner abovewrittin Lyke as att the ending and perfyteing of the samen work the said Robert Mylne binds and obleidges him and his abovewritten by thes presents to deliver to the said William Baillie or any others in his name the haill timber to be made use for building of the said bridge in lew and compensa- tione quhairof the said William shall be obleidged and be thir presents binds and obleidges him and his aftermentioned to furnish and provyd to the said Robert ane qualified wright As also to furnish nailles to the said work upon his oun proper charges and expenses And in the other pairt the said William Baillie of Litlegill be the tenor hierof faithfullie binds and obleidges him his aires executors intromittores with his lands rents goods gear and successors quhatsumever to make good and thankfull payment to the said Robert Mylne his aires executors or assignies of all and haill the soume of thrie hundreth pound good and usuall mony of Ingland with four chalders good and sufficient oat maill with tuentie wedders under the work in maner att the termes following Videlicet the soume of fiftie pound sterling mony forsaid which the said William Baillie hes instantlie advanced to the said Robert Mylne att the subscryveing hierof and quhairof the said Robert grants the recept and for him and his forsaids discharges the said William Baillie therof for now and ever And the lyk soume of fifty pound sterling mony forsaid betuixt and the first day of July nixt to ROBERT MYLNE OF BALFARGIE. 22 3 come in this instant year of God 1682 And the sonme of one hundreth pound sterling mony forsaid vpon the completing of the land scaills for the arch And the lyk soume of ane hundreth pound sterling mony abovewrittin in compleit payment of the said haill principall soume of thrie hundreth pound sterling mony forsaid att the finishing and com¬ pleting of the said haill work. And in case that the said William Baillie and his forsaids faillie in payment of the said last hundreth pound sterling att the finishing of the said work in that case he as principall and with him . . . who by the tenor hierof becomes cautioner souertie and full debtor for and with him faithfullie binds and obleidges them and ilk ane of them conjunctlie and severallie ther aires executors intromittors with ther lands rents goods gear and successors quhatsumever to make good and thankfull payment to the said Robert Mylne and his forsaids of the said soume of ane hundreth pound sterling mony forsaid within the space of tuo full years nixt after the finishing and perfyteing of the said haill work abovewrittin with the dew and ordinar annual rent therof conforme to the act of parliament frae the tyme of the finishing of the said work untill the compleit payment therof And sicklyke the said William Baillie be thir presents Binds and obleidges him and his forsaids to make payment and deliverance to the said Robert Mylne and his forsaids of the said four chalder oat maill and tuentie wedders in maner and att the terms following Videlicet ane chalder and ane half of the said victuall with the said twentie wedders att and upon the first day of June nixt to come in this instant year of God and another chalder and ane half therof att and upon the first day of August also nixt to come And the last chalder therof in compleit payment of the same att the finishing and compleiting of the said work And farder the said William Baillie be thir presents binds and obleidges him and his forsaids to furnish to the said Robert Mylne and his forsaids ane sufficient drye quarrie for winneing of stone for the said bridge allanerlie quhich the said Robert is to wine vpon his oun proper charges and expenses And the said William hereby obleidges him and his forsaids to wine the stones for the forsaid house himself and carie and transport the same with the haill sand lyme stone and watter necessar for the said bridge to the place forsaid quhair the same is to be built vpon his own proper charges and expenses And lykewayes to deliver to the said Robert the haill stones hewn and unhewhen for advancement of the said work lyeing aither att the place or quarrie and to transport the same in maner forsaid And lykewayes the said William Baillie be the tenor heirof binds and obleidges him and his above-written to provyd the said Robert ane sufficient chamber for his comeing and going to the said work with ane howse neir the place for his servants to lye in they alwayes furnishing themselfs beds meat drink and vther furnitur for themselfs vpon ther oun charges and expenses And faillieing of the fulfilling of the said William Baillie his obleidgment above-written heirin contained in that case he be thir presents binds and obleidges him and his forsaids to content and pay to the said Robert Mylne and his forsaids the soume of ten pound sterling mony forsaid as liquidat expenses damnage and intrist presentlie modified and agried upon to be sustained be them theranent for ilk faillie theranent by and attour performance and fulfilling the samen And finallie the said William Baillie be the tenor heirof binds and obleidges him and his forsaids to warrant frie relive and skaithles keep the said his cautioner abovenamed and his forsaids of ther cautionrie above-written hierin contained and of all and frae all payment of the soumes of mony above-specifeit wherfor they stand obleidged for him in maner abovementioned And of all and frae all loss cost skaith damnage and expenses they shall hapen to sustaine or incurr thertrow in any maner of way att all hands and against all deadlie as law will And for the more securitie we ar content and consent that thir presents be insert and registrat in the books of Counsell and Session or in any lawfull register within this realme To have the strenth of ane decreit of any of the Judges therof interponed hierto that letters of horneing on ten dayes and vthers neidfull in forme as effeirs may be direct hierupon And for that effect constituts Mr Robert Deans and Mr Alexander Dunlop advocates conjunctlie and severalie ther procurators In witnes 224 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. quherof (written be Alexander Hay servitor to Robert Mylne writer in Edinburgh) both parties have subscrivit thir presents with ther hands dayes months places and year of God respective above-written befor thir witnesses Thomas Milne of Muirtoun and the saids Robert Milne and Alexander Hay witness to the subscriptiones of the saids William Baillie and Robert Mylne att Edinburgh the said threttie day of March And to the subsc.riptione of the said cautioner att Sic subscribitur. —Will: Baillie R : Mylne Ro : Milne witnes Alexr. Hay witnes Tho : Milne witnes. Extracts from Scottish Acts of Parliament:— 14th February 1661.—A Petition was presented to His Majesty’s Commissioner and the Estates of Parliament by Claud Baillie and others, in name of the inhabitants of the parishes of Roberton and Evandell, for the erection of a Bridge on the river Clyde. The reasons for the necessity of erecting a bridge are stated to be that frequentlie in thes lait yeires, thair hath a verie great number of persones als weill passengeres from afar as duelling neir by perisht . . . besydis the great prejudices often susteined by otheres throw being retardit severall dayes togidder, in thair voyadges, on thair lawfull affaires ther being nather bridg theron the the lenth of 24 myles wnder nor above at all nor fitting place for ferrie bott throw the feircenes of the current, neir the steip mountaines and hillis And withall we humblie offer to your Grace and honourable Estaites of Parliament That ther is wpon the verie center (as it wer) of all . . . croce wayes and passadges ane most convenient place on the said river naturallie sitwat so, alsweill throw the river its contracting of the channell into a narrow cut over As throw the firmness of the grund on the other syd being ston and rock. In the same year, in answer to the Petition, an Act was passed by the Estates of Parliament for building Ramelwellcraigs Bridge, which bears that considering so great a work cannot be conveniently budded vnles ther be ane discreit man to vndertake the work And haveing delt with William Baillie of Litlegill, vpon whose ground the said bridge over Clyd will necessarly stand, and ... as being a persone of good interest in that Cuntrey to effectuat the same And that he for the good of the publict has undertaken the same Thairfor the saids Estates of Parliament . . . ordaines ane voluntary contribution to be collected and gathered by and for him in such wayes personally or parochionally as he shall think most expedient throw all the paroches both in burgh and landward on the south side of the water of fforth . . . and heirby give and grant to the said William Baillie of Litlegill his aires or assignayes, ane Custome to be payd at Clyds bridge only to him or any others he or they shall appoint, for exacting thairof as followes To wit from each footman or woman tuo pennies Scots, for each horse with his load or ryder sex pennies Scots, for nolt beast or single horse four pennies, for ilk sheip tuo pennies And these rates to be in satisfaction of the custome of both bridges And to be exacted of all persones and goods that shall passe at any of them And these customes to continew dureing the space of tuentie seven yeers after the compleiting of the said bridge And . . . gives thanks to the said William Baillie for vndertakeing the said work . . . because he hes instantly fund caution for building of the said bridge within the space of tuo yeers next after the date heirof. In 1663 a second act was passed as follows :— Forasmuch as the Estates of Parliament understanding the necessity to have a stone bridge built over the river of Clyd at Ramelwellcraigs neir to the Catchappell, and ane other bridge over the water of Duneden which runs Contiguous to the former, Ther being comon hie passages and mercat wayes ther and in which diverse personnes have at severall tymes perisht That therefore by their Act of March 8, 1661, Granted general recommendation for a voluntary contribution to be collected on this side of the water of fforth for building of the saids bridges and entrusted the collecting thereof and of a small impost with the building of the bridges to William Baillie of Litlegill. ROBERT MYLNE OF BALFARG1E. 225 And to the effect that it may appeare what the true expense of the building and holding up of thir bridges will amount to, And to the end that the work be neither neglected nor the Cuntrie vnnecessarly overburthened, It is heirby appointed that the said William Baillie shall cause a survey be taken of the forsaids works be his Maiesties Master of Works or by Johne Milne, Master Mason, That ane estimate being made by them what the expense of the building and keeping up of these bridges will amount to. The Lords of his Majesties privy Councill after consideration of both may either prorog or diminish this imposition as they shall think fit. Note .—The position of Littlegill is marked on the Ordnance Map, and is about 2^ miles north of Abington, a station on the Caledonian Railway south of Carstairs. The old Bridge has not existed for many years, probably removed from altered circumstances as to lines of communication, and another Bridge of three Arches was erected in 1770 at a distance of 360 yards below the old site. H. Cadell to R. W. Mylne, F.R.S. Ardachullin, Loch Stack, Sutherland, 15 tli June 1886. As this is a stormy day, I have some spare time to send you some more particulars about the old bridges over the Clyde. When I arrived at Abington I applied to an old man of ninety, who said he had never seen or heard of the Bridge of 1682, and that the present Clyde Bridge was built by Russell & Telford last century. I was advised by a man who lives at the place to apply to Mr. Neilson, tenant of Little Gill farm, who is interested in the antiquities of the district. Neilson showed me the exact site of the old bridge, above the present Clyde’s Bridge, at least to within a yard or two, and I have indicated it as accurately as possible on the tracing sent to you. Not the least vestige of the old building remains ; but Neilson told me a man had once picked some stone and lime off the surface of the rock on the west side of the river, below the cottages at Clyde’s Bridge. On the east side, the surfaces of the beds of graywacke appear smooth at one place, as if levelled for the foundation of a building; but to see this levelled place requires good eyes, such as antiquarians are wont to have, like Jonathan Oldbuck when in search of Prastoria. At this point the river is narrowest, and could easily be spanned by a 45 feet arch. The site of the “ Change,” a public-house, built at the same time as the old bridge, is accurately known, as Mr. Neilson told me he remembered the jambs and gable of the building to have stood at the south end of the jDresent cottage at Clyde’s Bridge, before they were removed to make way for modern improvements. The present bridge of 1769 is not built of the underlying graywacke, but of the softish dark red sandstone which Mr. Peach says is from the Lower Old Red Sandstone—a formation which forms the hills to the east. If the old bridge were built of the same material (which is probable, as the hard Silurian grits and greywackes are difficult to hew), the rock must have been carted at least one and a-half miles. The nearest limestone is an outlier of carboniferous limestone on a hill west of Newton, and about three miles N.N.W. of Clyde’s Bridge. Another limestone outlier occurs at Wildshaw, four miles west of this part of the Clyde. Both limestones have been extensively quarried, and the mortar for the Romellweill Bridge was probably brought from the former, as the nearest old limekilns are found near Newton, and are somewhat less than three miles off. The “ Craigs ” are, no doubt, the rocks along the sides and bed of the river here, as the country is smooth and featureless for miles around, and the banks of the river are terraces of flat alluvium. “ Craig ” is often a synonym for “ rock,” and is, perhaps, philologically the 2 F 226 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. same word, and I have known it applied to a knob of rock not more than 10 or 12 feet hicrh, so that the word has not necessarily anything to do with height. Mr. Neilson thinks Romellweill Pool is just a form of Ram’swell Pool. The fact that the other old bridge above Duneaton is at a place called the Sheep s Pool, shows that people were in the habit of giving places sheepish titles hereabouts. As to the other old bridge which once existed near Duneaton, and which Mr. Neilson supposed to have been built by Mr. Mylne also, all I know about it is the site, which was also shown on the tracing. The bridge was at a rocky part of the Duneaton Burn, where the stream is narrow, just above the Sheep’s Pool—the only pool in the stream for several hundred yards above its mouth. The site of the old bridge is about 360 yards above the present bridge, built in 1770, and is indicated by remains of an old embankment on each side. I found a piece of red sandstone in one of these old mounds, and I daresay more might be obtained if the heaps were dug into. As the easily-cut sandstone required to be brought here several miles, also the underlying rock being grit and graywacke as at Clyde’s Bridge, it occurred to me that the stone of the old bridges might have been entirely removed, and made use of in building the newer bridges—a circumstance which would explain the absence of all traces of the more ancient buildings. This point might, I daresay, be definitely settled if the contracts for the new bridges could be found, for they would probably contain some reference to the older edifices which they were to supersede. The old man who told me the present bridges were by Russell & Telford, said that they were both built under the same contract, and I daresay it would not be difficult to lay hands on the document. ROBERT MYLNE OF BALFARGIE. 227 As regards the present bridges, the Clyde’s Bridge is in three spans. The central arch has a span of 41 feet, and the side arches .111 feet. The breadth is 14 ft. 2 in. at the piers, and the distance between the springing of the central and side arches, 11 feet. Duneaton Bridge is in two arches, each 32-| ft. span, as nearly as I could measure with a 2 ft. rule. The original breadth inside piers seems to have been 13 ft. 10 in., but, as stated on a stone, the bridge was repaired in 1820, and an additional breadth of 9 ft. was apparently added on the side next the Clyde. There were masons’ marks on both bridges, which are built of squared courses of rubble, with ashlar voussoirs and facings. From these I conclude that both were built by different masons, probably at the same time, and that there were probably more men at work on Clyde’s Bridge, which is the largest. Upon the Shore of Leith, beside the breezy Firth of Forth, Robert Mylne erected some tenements for his own use and benefit, which are still in existence. I 11 the year 1677 he obtained a grant of waste land adjoining the well-known harbour, under an Act of the Town Council of Edinburgh, and the next year began to erect a large stone building, with a back court, measuring altogether 96 feet by 79. In the year 1685 a further disposition of this ground was made by the good town in favour of Robert Mylne, with a substantial addition along the sea-shore, where he undertook to erect a sufficient bastion for resisting the encroachments of the waves; and also agreed to leave sufficient space to the north “gabel” of his tenement for a suitable entrance to the adjoining Timber Bush. In the next year, he further undertook to construct a “ wynd mill of the largeness of threttie two foot diameter over the walls.” The above-mentioned block of buildings, commonly described as “ the great stone tenement upon the Shore of Leith,” are amongst the oldest inhabited houses beside the great harbour in this busy and thickly-populated suburb of Edinburgh, which has always served as the sea-port of the Scottish Capital. They are in part owned by the present writer, subject to the original feu-duty to the Corporation of Edinburgh. In the charter of September 1685 are found the words of description as given below:— Totum et integrum dictum tenementum Terrse nuper redificatum per dictum Robertum Milne Et illam vastam terrain tam latam quam dictum tenementum ex boreali parte ejusdem inter boreale gabellum ejusdem tenementi et munimentum de Bastione reservandum tamen liberum introitum. Within the limits of the ancient jurisdiction of the town of Edinburgh, Robert Mylne has also left distinct marks of his personal impress. His name is commemorated not only in Milne’s Square, but in Milne’s Court further up the High Street, and in the Mylne Battery at the Castle. These open places or squares, called after him, were found to be most popular with the chief denizens of Edinburgh ; and many eminent people might be 228 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. mentioned as having inhabited the tenement, erected in 1689, which has recently been in part rebuilt as a branch of the Bank of Scotland at the east corner of Cockburn Street and High Street. There is a considerable frontage to Milne’s Square, which represents one of the earliest of the improvements in old Edinburgh, to afford more breathing space to the aristocratic dwellers in the crowded and narrow closes, before the gently moved across to the green fields on the other side of the North Loch. The tenement is also associated with the stirring times of the Union, for it was in a “ laigh shop,” or cellar, on its basement floor that the deed of Union is said to have been signed and sealed. The tradition on the subject is that the Commissioners assembled in an ornamental summer-house at Moray House to affix their signatures to the Treaty of Union, but, driven out of that place by the infuriated mob, they took refuge in the “laigh shop" already men¬ tioned, and there completed the deed which was to have so beneficial an influence on the fortunes of the two countries. The entrance to the “laigh shop,” or cellar, from the High Street has long since been closed, but the cellar still exists, and has not been disturbed by the building operations, executed by J. M'Lachlan, architect, of York Place, in the Scottish baronial style, worthy of this interesting and important site. The ancient stone, with the arms and initials of the founder, and date 1682, has been carefully let into a protected portion of the new wall. One of the main architectural features of the imposing pile is an octagonal tower at the corner of the High Street and Cockburn Street, which is carried up above the fifth storey and finished with an embrasured parapet. To the east of this, on the High Street front, a boldly-projecting line of oriel windows is carried up from the first to the top floor, and is finished off with a crow-stepped gable. The oriels are each surmounted with a varied pediment; and on the first floor level, between the oriel and the tower, is a handsome open balustrade. On the street floor is a spacious entrance to the bank, placed just underneath the corbelling of the octagon tower, and eastwards three large circular-headed windows. To Cockburn Street the elevation shows a part of the corner tower, and in the wall at the High Street level a range of circular-headed windows. Further down the street there is a characteristic corbelled-out small oriel. Immediately to the north of this is a wide doorway, with ornamental features, by which there is access to the different flats of the building. Other architectural features of the Cockburn Street elevation consist of crow-stepped gablets, dormer windows, and corbelled turrets. We now insert three notices of the brief reign of the irresolute monarch, King James VII. ; one relating to the city of Edinburgh, one to the Chapel of Holyrood, and one to the Castle :— ROBERT MYLNE OF BALFARGIE. 229 Ratification in favor of Robert Milne his Majesties Master Masson of ane Act of the Town Council of Edinburgh and Ratification of his Majesties secret Council thereof anent the building of burnt and ruinous houses within the burgh of Edinburgh and gadge made conforme thereto of the great ston land at the head of Dicksones Closs. 3rd December 1687.—To our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousins and Coun¬ cilors, our right trusty and entirely beloved Cousins and Councellors', and our right trusty and welbeloved Cousins and Councellors, James Earle of Perth our Chancellor, and the rest of the Lords Commissioners of our Treasury of our ancient Kingdome of Scotland. JAMES R. —Right trusty and right welbeloved Cousins and Councellors, right trusty and entirely beloved Cousins and Councellors, and right trusty and welbeloved Cousins and Councellors, Wee greet you well. Whereas wee haue resolved that our Chappell at Holyroodhouse (formerly made use of as the Parish Church of the Canongate) be repaired and put in order with all possible expedition, to the end it may be fitted in all things for being our own Catholick Chappell where divine service may be performed; and likewise be made capable of the ceremonies and solemnities of the most ancient and most noble Order of the Thistle : And whereas wee doe well know that the much greater part of the work and materialls needfull for this reparation can be had much better and cheaper at London than in Scotland ; And therefore haue ordered our right trusty and right wel¬ beloved Cousin and Counsellor Johne Earle of Melfort one of our Principal! Secretaries of State to engage Mr. James Fowlis Merchant in London to become bound to the Carvers, Joyners, and other workmen here to be employed in and about the said work and repara¬ tion, who would not undertake the same without good security in our City of London for performance of the conditions that are agreed on with them for that effect. In order whereunto the said Earle of Melfort having by our expresse order and speciall command, signed the severall Bills of Exchange here undermentioned drawn by him upon Maxwell of Kirkonnell and John Drummond two of our Receivers and Paymasters, for the punctuall payment whereof the said Earle has given his own private security to the said Mr. James Foulis, viz., One Bill for nine hundred twenty two pounds and six shillings sterling payable here the 20th day of January next; Item, a Second Bill of Exchange for four hundred and seventy pounds and eight shillings sterling payable here the 20th of February next; Item, a third Bill for four hundred and ten pounds sterline money payable at Edinburgh the first day of May next ensuing the date of these presents : In which three Bills (all payable to the said Mr. James Foulis or his order) the exchange and other reasonable allowances being already included, it is now our expresse will and pleasure, and wee doe hereby authorise and strictly require you to make or cause to be made exact and punctuall payments of the severall summes mentioned in the said Bills upon the respective days aforesaid when they shall become due Wherein you are not upon any consideration to faile, not only for the reason of our having obliged the said Earle of Melfort to engage his own private credit for the punctuall performance of the same, but also because wee are obliged to pay interest to the said Mr. James Foulis from and after the respective days aforesaid so long as the said summes, or any of them shall remaine unpaid ; which wee doe hereby recommend unto your speciall care to prevent, as that which will be very unacceptable unto us. And in regard that for compleating the said works and reparations there wilbe a further charge and expence of moneys needfull for Mason Work, Paving, Glasing, Sarking, and Roofing, it is our further expresse will and pleasure that you pay or cause to be paid such summe or summes of money as shalbe from time to time needfull for the same, or for any other necessaries that wilbe requisite for that effect, so as the whole work and reparation may be fully compleated, and our own said Chappell be exactly put in order for the purposes already mentioned before the first day of May next to come precisely : In failour of which wee cannot but be highly displeased And therefore doubt not you wilbe most carefull to have the same fully per- 230 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. formed. For all which these presents shalbe to you, and all others respectively who may be therein any way concerned, particularly to the Lords Auditors of your accompts for allowing the payments of the severall summes, and the other charges and expences already mentioned, a sufficient warrant. And so wee bid you heartily Farewell. —By his Majesties command. Morray. Castle of Edinburgh. Precept to Robert Miln, Master Mason, for the sum of £50 sterling, for reparations done by him at the Castle of Edinburgh, dated 17th August 1689, and allowed in the great Book of Accounts, page 276. Another precept, dated 9th November 1689, for reparations done by him at the said Castle of Edinburgh, for £100 sterling, allowed in the same page. The accession of King William III. wrought many changes in the north. The servants and officials of the ancient, but fallen, House of Stuart were at first looked upon with disfavour and suspicion by the new Sovereign and his Government, though upon the whole great moderation was shown in the conduct of public affairs. The Master Mason of Charles and James was not apparently in favour with the Court; and so the new Master of Work, in the person of Sir A. Murray of Blackbarony, seems to have obtained the supreme control of affairs, while the rights, privileges, and life interest, as well as the Court position of the older official was respected. If the documents were forthcoming, we should perhaps see something of the same kind occurred in reference to John Roy tell, after Mary Queen of Scots was placed in captivity by her disloyal subjects. Certain work was, however, executed for King William, as is shewn by “ Ane Accompt of worke done be Robert Milne, Mason, in and about the Palace off Halyrudhous in June and July 1689 ” :— This uorke I attest to be done by the said Robert Milne preceding the 29th off Jully 1689. , TT J Jo. Hamilton. £ s . cl . Scottis. The Rang in the Sutth Wast Kitchin and 9 Stofes . 15 0 0 3 Dores hilt wp and laim for harling . 15 0 0 Thrie neue bult Stofes and 4 manded and for furneshing off faiar stones 12 0 0 9 Stofes in the north Kitchin and 2 larg pefment 15 0 0 The halping the blauing off the ofines northsaid 3 0 0 10 Stofes doun in the Kinges Kitchines and the furneshing oft on hundare brike and laim to tham . 18 0 0 Furneshed in that baikhouse 7 stones for the soles and 2 for the chikes stones 1 mouth stone 2 soles • 24 0 0 20 fut off* pefemant in Mr. Kanetoves late apartement 7 0 0 71 ales off* wark in bilding wp oft' a gat in the Bur Close 12 0 0 Scotes Mune £121 0 0 MEMBERS OF THE INCORPORATION OF TRADES, MARY'S CHAPEL, EDINBURGH.—REPRESENTED Tho Picture was painted by Roderick Chalmers in 1721. originating from a Gift of 500 Merles to the Incorpt] and builder of Holyrood Palace in 1671. The Picture was agreed to be executed "in the saini Reduced from the original (73 12 inches) b WO AO ED IN THEIR SEVERAL CRAFTS IN FRONT OF TIIE ROYAL PALACE OF HOLY ROOD. by Gilbert Smyth, Deacon, grandson by marriage to Robert Mylne of Balfarg, King’s Master Mason and figures ” as one formerly painted and placed over the Chimney Piece of the Hall. Doyle for Robert Mylne of London. ROBERT MYLNE OF BA LEAR GTE. 231 George Bailie of Jerviswood Receauer of their Majesties Rents Pay unto Robert Miln Master Maison the soume of one hundrid and twentie poundis Scottis in full of this accompt and that out of the arrearis of the Rents of Orknay for which these presents and his receipt salbe your warrand. Daited at Edinburgh 10th day of Janury 1695. Cassillis. Breadalbane. Raith. Much interest may well be taken in the curious picture of the principal trades of Edinburgh at work before the west front of the Palace of Holyrood. The following notes from the minutes of the Writers to the Signet, Edinburgh, show Robert Mylne’s brief connection with that learned Society, during the last five years of the seventeenth century :— 14th August 1695.—The Keepers of the Signet and Commissioners of the Writers, considering the propriety of having “ a convenient house bought, where the signet office and warrants thereof might be kept, and the writers may meet on all occasions,” and there being a building by Robert Milne, of Alexander Combie’s land, where a house may be conveniently had, it is agreed to call a general meeting to consider the matter. 15th August 1695.—A committee is appointed to meet with Robert Mylne and Patrick Steell, to treat with them anent the purchase of the house, with power to complete the bargain. 11 th November 1695.—The committee report their meeting with Robert Mylne and Patrick Steell for the purchase of “ ane lodging in the new tenement building by them opposite to the stone shop, for use of the writers,” and that they had contracted with them for the said lodging, of which a subscribed plan was also produced, at the price of 5500 merks. This transaction is ratified. 1st June 1696.— It is agreed that Robert Miln and Patrick Steill be spoken to that they should furnish and complete the lodging bought from them. The commissioners let to the writers the said lodging lately acquired from Robert Mylne and Patrick Steill, for the current year, at a rent of 300 merks per annum, in regard it is not fully furnished, and thereafter for a yearly rent of £20 sterling ; reserving for the use of the commissioners and the whole society the great northmost room for their meetings. 8th June 1696.— The committee are instructed to meet with the builders, and to call skilled tradesmen to inspect the lodging as to whether it is properly built and furnished, in terms of the contract, and to see the same fulfilled. 2nd October 1696.—One dollar of “ drink money” is allowed to the wrights employed in finishing the lodging. 12 th July 1697.—The account of David Burton, glazier, for glass to the new lodging, amounting to £73, 4s. scots, is ordered to be paid. The committee anent the lodging report that they met and made account of the deductions to Robert Miln for the deficiences in his part of the contract. 24th November 1697.—The account of Deacon Paterson, wright, for his work upon the rooms of the lodging, amounting to £1088 Scots, is ordered to be paid. 17th January 1698.—The meeting “ allow of the chimney piece given by Robert Miln to compense the deficiency in so far as he and Patrick Steill are short of fulfilling the contract; ” and 10 guineas are to be given by the Treasurer “as a compliment for the earnest of the house, and the name of the court which they are to put up above the principal gate in gilded letters, before payment be made, and to call the same the Writers’ Court.” 232 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Letter from the Rev. W. MacLeod. I enclose notes from the Writers’ Minutes. This building stands near the Royal Exchange and the Council Chambers, and is still named the Writers’ Court; but, of course, the Society now meets in the Signet Library. At the close of the century, some repairs were needed at Panmure House, and at Heriot’s, while Lord Annandale was making additions and improvements at his own country residence. Money was also due, but not paid, on account of works carried out both at Holyrood and the Castle of Edinburgh, and payment of the whole sum was not readily forthcoming. Poor Sir William Bruce, after all his devoted service to the Crown, found himself imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle, apparently by mistake : Earl of Panmure to Sir William Bruce at Kinross. Panmure, 12 th February 1693. Sir—I thought to have had the good fortune of seeing you here before this time, and I still hope that you will doe me that favour when your eonveniency can allow you. Seeing you was pleased to desire the draughts of this house I have sent them by this bearer; and when you have been at the pains to consider them, I shall be glad to have your opinion both as to the Offices which are yet to build as also what reformations you think might be made within the house, and I hope you will excuse this trouble given you by,—Sir, your most humble My wife gives you her humble service and both of us to my Lady. Heriot’s Hospital. Edinburgh, 6th March 1693. The same day Robert Myll, Master Mason, presented a draught for finishing the Steeple of the Hospitall, which being considered by the CounciU, they give order and warrand to Thomas Fisher, Thesaurer, to enter in Contract with the said Robert Mylne for finishing the said steeple, and to make payment to him of the soume of Three thousand and ane hundreth merkis Scots for doing thereof at such termes as they shall agree upon. Lord Annandale to Sir William Bruce. Craigie Hall, the 2Zrd off September 1693. Sir—I am some I saw you nott for a day or two before you parted from town. I was enquiring for you att your Lodgings. I will give no directions nor order the alteration off annie thing in my building without acquainting you, hoping to have your approbation and consent; and therefore I am now to tell you that I am positive to have the windowes of the other storie six foott at least deep and chasse, which I think will make a compleatt stone and will be the pleasure of the house, and itt were hard to loose for two foot more of wall. I see vou have made take away the pillar which was next the stair, which looks weill and makes more room to the stair ; but I am of oppinion that the pillar which is next the vestibule should go away also, and all should be open to the stairs, which will enlarge the vestibule a treat deal, and make it look handsome, greatt, and pleasant; for as it is now, the vestibule looks butt strait and little, and you know the less your look be bounded att your first entne the greater is the satisfaction, besides it shall add extremelie to the light and pleasure of the staires All this is very obvious to my sight and sense att present, having vued narrowlie the building this afternoon, else I should nott have ventured to have dealt so freelie with you in point off contrivance, and therefore I hope you’l give your directions and orders in ROBERT MYLNE OF BALFARGIE. 233 this matter. I can give you no newes, for there is none. This afternoon our secrettaire is gone the length of Ormiston on his way to London.—I am ever, with all sinceretie, Sir, your true friend and humble servant, Annandale. Abstract of Accounts of Robert Mylne for works at Holyrood Palace :— Amount of Due to R. Mylne Due to R. Mylne Contracts. in 1681. in 1699. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. On Contract, March 1672 4750 0 0 16 0 0 ,, March 1676 674 0 °1 100 0 0 100 0 0 „ July 1676 324 0 oJ By letter, 21st February 1676 500 0 0 230 0 0 230 0 0 Extra on last Contract 50 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 By Sir W. Sharpe, for Works 14 0 0 14 0 0 „ „ . . 44 16 8 44 16 8 Work for Duke of Albany in 1679 35 0 0 35 0 0 Kitchen Gable, &c. .... 20 0 0 20 0 0 6 years’ Salary, ’71 to ’76 120 0 0 4 years’ Salary, ’77 to ’80 80 0 0 80 0 0 40 0 0 To accounts attested, 6th March 1680 35 12 0 „ ,, by Mr. Smith 29 0 0 20 0 0 „ „ 1686 36 19 2 36 19 2 „ ,, by Mr. Smith . 38 0 0 38 0 0 Kirkonale Contract .... 10 0 0 10 0 0 Repair St. Andrew’s Chapel, 1688 33 6 8 33 6 8 To the Lords Sederunt for building a great Kitchen 500 0 0 500 0 0 ,, „ Chimney 3 6 0 3 6 0 For T. Bains, for relief of Cautionary 177 0 0 177 0 0 Salary from 1680 to 1699, 19 years . 380 0 0 380 0 0 £1234 3 10 £589 16 8 £1818 11 10 Total due to Robert Mylne in 1699, £1818, 11s. lOd. sterlin c. D Abstract of Accounts of Robert Mylne for works at the Castle of Edinburgh : — Amount of Due to R. Mylne Due to R. Mylne Contract. in 1681. in 1699. £ s. d. £ S. d. £ 5. d. On Contract, 3rd August 1677 . . j 1224 4 6 305 11 3 205 0 0 „ Midsummer 1678 52 0 0 52 0 0 52 0 0 To Account attested, 1679 26 0 0 16 0 0 „ „ 6th March 1681 51 11 0 51 11 0 On Contract, 6th January 1685 280 0 0 258 17 rj ,, 10th March 1685 1292 15 7 £2926 11 1 £578 11 3 £362 8 7 Total due to Robert Mylne in 1699, £362, 8s. 7d. sterling. 2 G 234 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Out of these sums of money due there arose the Assignation by Robeit Mylne to John Montgomery in 1699 :— Be it knowen to all men be thir present letters, me, Robert Milne oi Balfarg Forasmuch as I haveing repaired the Duke of Hamiltoun s Loodgeings in the Abbay ot Hollyroodhouse in the year 1689, and haveing given in ane accompt thairof to the Lords of his Majesties Thesaury, they therafter remited the same to Sir Archibald Murray of Blackbarronie, present Master of his Majesties Work, to peruse the said accompt of Measson work done be me in the said Abbay of Hollyroodhouse, and conforme therunto he be his Report of the dait, the 24th day of Februarie 1693, found ther wes resting to me of the said accompt the soume of £10 sterling money. And therafter, I haveing produced the said accompt, with the attestation therof, before the saids Lords of his Majesties Thesaury, they be ther precept of the dait, the day yeares, ordered George Baillie of Jerviswood, then generall Receiver of his Majesties Rents, to pay unto me the said soume of £10 starling in compleit payment of the said accompt of Measson work wrought be me in the said Abbay, as the said accompt, attestation, and precept on the end therof more fully beares. And now seeing I have not as yet received payment of the said soume ot £10 starling money from the said George Bailly of Jerviswood, witt ye me for ane certaine soume of money presently advanced and payed to me be Master John Montgomery, Wryter to the Signet, equivalent to the soume abovewritten after-asseigned, to have made, constitut, and ordained, lykas be thir presents I make, constitute, and ordaine the said Master John Montgomery, his aires and assignayes, my undoubted and irrevocable cessioners and assignayes, in and to the forsaid sume of £10 starling money contained in the said accompt, and in and to the said accompt itselfe attestation therof and precept in the end of the same, with all that hes followed or may follow therupon, turneing and transferring the same frae me, my aires and all otheris my assignayes, to and in favouris of the said Mr. John Montgomery and his forsaids, whom I heirby surrogat and substitut in my full right, vice, and place of the premisses for ever, with full power to him and them to ask, crave, receive, intromett with, and uplift the forsaid soume contained in the precept abovementioned, and if neid beis, to call, charge, and pursue therfor decreits and sentences theranent to recover and cause execut, acquittances and discharges to give upon recept therof, qulnch shall be alse sufficient to the receiveris as if I had given the samen myselfe, compone, transact, agree theranent, and generally all and sundry other things anent the premisses to doe, use, and exerce that I might have done before the making heirof, bott revocation, or againe calling quhatsomever, oblidgeing me, my aires, and successouris to warrand this present assignation to be good, valid, and sufficient to the said Mr. John Montgomerie and his forsaids from my oune propper fact and deed allanerly : That is to say, I have not as yet received payment of the forsaid soume, nor have granted any other right or assignation in hurt and prejudice heirof. In token quhairof I have instantly delyver’d up to the said Mr. John Montgomery the forsaid accompt, attestation, and precept in the end therof, to be keeped and used be him and his forsaids as ther oune proper evidents in all tyme comeing. And for the more security I am content and consentis thir presentis be insert and registrat in the Books of Councill and Session, or any others Judges Books competent within this kingdome, therm to remain for preservation, and if need beis, that letters may pass heiron in forme as effeires. And for that effect constituts my procuratouris, &c. In witnes quhairof (wryttin be Hugh Mitchell, Servitor to Charles Milne, Wryter to the Signet), I have subscryved thir presents with my hand, att Edinburgh, August 31, 1699. Before these witnesses, Duncan Buchannan, wright, burges of Edinburgh, and the said Hugh Mitchell, wryter fforsaid. Mylne. Duncan Buchanan, witnes . Hugh Mitchell, witnes . ROBERT MYLNE OF BA LEA RG IE. 2 35 In the month of November 1708, an effort was made to recover the arrears so long due, as the subjoined petition demonstrates:— The Petition of Robert Mylne, Principal Master Mason to Queen Anne, to the Lord Chief Baron and Barons of Exchequer for the Payment of £4800 Scots, BEING TWENTY YEARS’ FEES NOW DUE TO HlM BY RlGHT OF THE SAID OFFICE. Humbly Sheweth, — That whereas, by King Charles the Second, his Gift under the Privy Seall. of the date the last of February 1608, I was nominat and ordained to be his principal Master Mason during all the dayes of my lifetyme, with the fee of Ten Pound Scots monthly and yearly during the said space, as also of ane honest sute of cloaths yearly, or Ten Pound Sterling as the value therof whereby there is due to me, from Martimes 1688 to Martimes 1708, at 20 Pound Sterling per annum for twenty years, the soume of Four Hundred Pound Sterling, for which necessary it is that I have your Lordships’ Certificat for ascertaining my said debt, and giving me a claim for the same, according to the order prescribed by the Act of Parliament, which debt and claim thereof is evidently due to me for the space forsaid as said is ; In respect that, albeit my gift was granted by King Charles the Second, yet it was granted to me expresly during my life, and the said fee and sailary being likways granted to me for the same space of my life in the body of my gift, there can be no question but that both the office and fee belong to me during my said lifetime, and the fee and sallary did no more depend upon the life of the said King Charles, the granter, than my office did, which for certain it did not; It is true that, in the late Act of Parliament ordering the payment of debts out of the equivalent, it is provided that the fees and sallaries resting should be payed to such as served Her Majestie or the late King William, but, with submission, I am able to subsume exactly in the terms thereof, in as much as I am ready to prove, by authentic documents, by precepts for payments, and other orders and accounts, how that I did actually serve King William, as I have been always ready to serve her present Majestie upon all occasions when required, and, if I got not a new gift from King William or from Her Majestie, it was partly on the consideration that my said former gift is still standing during my life; as to which your Lordship may be the better satisfied, that I am able to instruct that the gift of this very office hath been given and continued to my ancestours in blood from the time of King James the Third, and for now more than two hundered years : Seeing then that my gift is so dear, during my life, with my fee and sallary appointed thereby for the same space, and that accordingly I have in that capacity served King William, and am still Her Majesties servant. May it therefor please your Lordships, in consideration of the premises, to grant me your Certificat for the said soume of Four Hundred Pound Sterling, due to me of arrears, as said is, to the effect I may give in my claim thereof upon the equivalent, in order and manner prescribed by Act of Parliament. Robert Mylne, Her Majesties Master Mason. Moreover, Hugh Wallace, His Majesty’s cash keeper from May 1, 1682, to April 14, 1688, seems to have kept back some money payments, passed and approved by the Archbishop of Glasgow, and the other Lords Auditors to the then Lord High Treasurer. This conduct eventually led to legal proceedings. 1 1 From the Great Book of Accounts. By a fitted account of the 14th of April 1688 by the Lords Auditors, there is allowed to the then Lord High Treasurer and Treasurers Depute, and Hugh Wallace of Inglistounne, then his Majestie’s Cash Keeper, the following three articles as paid to Mr. Milne, his Majestie’s Master Mason—viz.: THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. 23 6 We now insert two letters bearing on the deliverance of Sir W. Bruce from close confinement in Edinburgh : For Sir William Bruce at the Castle of Edinburgh, Scotland. June the 10 th 1708. glE _I W as very much concerned before I received the favour of your letter of the 24th of April from the Castle of Edinburgh to find you were there with many of your countrymen ; but knowing it could only be upon suspition, was in hopes when the French fleet was gon you would have been sett at liberty ; and tho’ as you mentioned you were sent for to London I see in a publick newspaper call’d the Post Boy, you with soume others are respited, and 1 hope in order to prevent the trouble of an inconvenient journey depending on that, 1 ven er to direct this to yourself, with the inclosed discharge for Whitsunday’s annuity, returning many thanks for the care you had taken my affairs should not suffer in case of your absence. Sir Charles Lyttelton was considering if he could have seen you in the way of your journey to town, but the strait road, he says, would be more than fourty miles distance from him.— Sir wee’ both are ever your obliged and affectionate humble servant. ’ M. Ruthven. I hope this will have better luck than to be torn, as my last discharge happened to be. For Sir William Bruce, Baronet, at Kinross, to be sent from the Post House at Edinburgh, Scotland. Brentford, August the 31s£ 1708. Sir -I was very sorry to see by your letter of the 19th of June your confinement lasted so loner and was glad to hear by Mr. Reid that you was at liberty and m good health m the country No misfortune to yourself or indeed trouble in my affairs ever makes you forget your great charity to me, as I find by your kind endeavours even in your imprisonment to have got Mr. Wallace pay my Whitsunday’s annuity easily, and since those would not prevail in leaving Mr. Reid behind you at Edinburgh, to charge for it and remitt to me, To Robert Milne, his Majestie’s Master Maison, the sum of £1292, las. id. sterling for several works wrought by him in his Majestie's Castle of Edinburgh, from the 18th of March 1685 to the 1st of March 1686, conform to an estimate of the said works given in under the hands of his Majestie's Ingeneer, and an order by the Lord Treasurer Depute, to contract therefore accordingly, and an contract past, conform thereto, and to an particular account relative to the said contract, under the hands of the Ingeneer and Overseer of his Majestie’s works, attesting the surveying, measuring, and completrng thereof, and the said Robert Mykre his discharge accordingly indexed, . To the said Robert Milne, the sum of £280 sterling, for several other Masson work done and performed by him within the said Castle of Edinburgh, conform to and other contract, dated 6th January 1685, attested to he done by his Majestie’s Engineer and Overseer of his Majestie’s Works, and the said Robert Miln, his receipts accordingly dated the 6th March 1685. Indexed, . ■ • • • ' ’ To the said Robert Milne, the sum of £36, 19s. 2d. sterling, for several works wrought by him about his Majestie’s Palace of Holyroodhouse in the year 168o, conform to ane particular accompt thereof, attested by the Overseer of his Majestie’s Works, and receipt accordingly indexed, • £15,513 7 0 3360 0 0 443 1 0 Scots £19,316 17 0 Sterline £1609 14 0 Auditors — Archbishop of Glasgow. Earles Linlithgow and Lauderdale. Vis. Tarbat. Geo. Lockhart. George M'Kenzie. ROBERT MYLNE OF BALFARGIE. 237 ■which he has done very carefully, and Mr. Campbell paid the money on Saturday. I am extremely obliged to you, and thank you for this and your many more great favours to, Sir, your most humble servant. M. Ruthven. We now give particulars of two agreements registered in 1708 and 1709 :— Law and Mylne and Paterson, 1708. 26th May 1681.—At Edinburgh 15th day of March 1708.—William Law, Goldsmith, one of the partners in the tenement that is erecting and building on the East side of the Entry to the Parliament House on the one part, and Robert Mylne of Balfarge, his Majesties Master Mason, and Andrew Patersone, late Deacon of the Wrights. .... Robert Mylne to build the aforesaid tenement in sufficient Ashler work towards the High Street, 104 feet in length and 35 feet towards the highway .... the deceased Mr. John Bain of Pitcairlie—to consist of six stories high above the ground. All to be done conforme to ane draught of the samen drawen, and extended by the said Robert Mylne .... John Pattersone shall work and furnish “All kind of wright work and scaffolding, with jeasts of fourteen els long, and well-seasoned daills and wainscot of all sorts. As also the haill smith work .... locks for the four doors not exceeding four Pounds scotts . . . . likewise all plaster work and furniture .... to be done in fine plaster work. And the haill glass work .... in good new castte glass. All plumber work for the roof, which is to be covered with lead. £83, 13s. Sterling money is the first payment, and £250, 19s. the total sum. Ro. Mylne, A. Paterson, George Graham, ivitness. Alexdr, Reid. John Vans. Ro. Mylne, Writer Eindinburgh. Adam Watt. 18th January 1709.—Agreement between Robert Milne of Balfarg, Her Majesty’s Master Mason, and Radalph Grinlay and George Cleghorn, masons in Queensferry, by which the latter become bound to Cast the ground between the new bridge and the Little bridge upon the Almond Water in the Sheriffdome of Linlithgow to the Westward, on both sides, and prepare the same for causewaying; for which they are to receive 200 merks scots. Dated at Edinburgh 23rd April 1702. Robert Mylne of Balfarge, 1 the King’s Master Mason, died in his own house at Inveresk on December 10, 1710, at the age of 77. He had acquired the property by purchase from John Reynd, Merchant, Burgess of Edinburgh. It had formerly belonged to the Earl of Dunfermline, whose title was again derived from the Abbot of that town. He bequeathed it to his second son David, from whom it passed to his daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Morse, and was apparently sold by her representatives in 1773. The property, or part of it, is mentioned in her will made in 1762. 1 From the Particular Register of Seisins, Fife and Kinross. Robert Milne of Balfarge, and Elizabeth Meikle, his spouse, bad seisin in liferent, and William Milne, their son, in fee, of the Templelands of Balfarg, lying in the parish of Markinch, regality of Drem and Sheriffdom of Fife, on a Precept of Seisin by Margaret, Countess of Rothes and Haddington, and the Tutors of Thomas Earl of Haddington, her son, superiors of the said lands, dated at Leslie 22nd September 1693. Instrument of Seisin dated 25th September and registered 3rd November 1693. He first acquired the lands of Balfarge in 1673 from David Weems. Sir T. Malcolm, Bart., was one of the witnesses to this transfer, dated at Balbcdie, August 11. 238 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. He was buried beside his uncle John in the family vault in the Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh, and the well-known monument by the entrance gateway was erected to his memory, and that of his uncle, who predeceased him 43 years. His own epitaph runs as follows :— Here lyes the famous Robert Milne Laird of Balfargie, who had more skill In mason craft himself alone Than most his brethren joined in one. And on another part of the monument— Sacred to the Memory of Robert Mylne of Balfargie Master Mason to several Kings of Scotland And Surveyor to this Citie Who during an active life of honest fame Builded among manie extensive works M vine’s Court, Mylne’s Square and The Abbie of Halierud House Leaving by an worthy wife Eight sonnes, and six daughters All placed in the world with credit to himself And consecrated this Monument To the honour of his ancestrie.—Died, Deer. 10th, 1710, aged 77. At this, the last moment of life, Robert Mylne was doubtless surrounded by his numerous descendants. There were children and grandchildren to mourn his loss, none of whom ever reached his own high standard in the profession of architecture. We now give some account of Sir R. Milne of Linlithgow. The following Excerpts are taken from a Manuscript Memorial or Statistical Account ot the Burgh of Linlithgow, written about the year 1738, by a friend of Provost Bucknays, with notes by Dr. Baron Seton of Preston, in 1800 Andrew Glen was chosen Provost. He had the happiness to see the joyful restoration of the King, anno 1660. There was a universal spirit of joy overspread the whole kingdome on the Restoration, but the town of Linlithgow carried their transports of joy to an extravagance that no other burgh imitated; for on 29th May 1661, in celebrating the King’s Birthday and the day of the Restoration, to testify their abhorrence of all the transactions of the late times, thev burnt the Solemn League and Covenant at the Cross, and all the harsh things that had been done against the Royal Interest, as the Act of the Kirk Session, the Remonstrance, &c„ with a great deal of solemnity, that was much censured as a profane scoffing of a thing that was so far sacred as that the holy name of Almighty God was invoked therein ; but this unjustifiable conference was not at all the deed of the Council, or even of their Provost Glen, for he was not present ; it was done entirely by Robert Milne, afterwards Sir Robert Milne, then one of the Baillies, and Mr. Ramsay, the minister of the town, who had taken the covenant and pressed it on others, and was such a time server that he now complied with the change of the government of the Church, took institution from a Bishop, renounced the Covenant, was high for Episcopacy as much as he had been for Presbetery in the late times. He came to be Dean of Glasgow, Parson of Hamilton, Bishop first of Dunblane and then of Ross, where he was when Episcopacy was again ROBERT MYLNE OF BALFARGJE. 239 overturned at the Revolution. Provost Glen was Commissioner to the Parliament for the town of Linlithgow at the first Parliament after the Restoration, and being a man in whom the town had the greatest confidence imaginable, as a person who would be alike true to their interests, they sent him up to address the King at London in favour of the town, and instructed him :— 1. To endeavour the stopping the signature of the Borowstoness. 2. To seek confirmation of the Port of Blacknesse, and all things relating thereto. 3. For instruction of our rights and liberties to take with him our last Confirmation in this present Parliament. 4. To supplicate for rebuilding our Tolbooth and haill houses in the Kirk Gate to the King’s Palace, all raised by the English, and for reparation of the losses of the town. 5. For a new gift of the imposts at the Bridge. 6. A signature for a new Fair between the 20th day of Yool and the month of March. These instructions are signed and delivered on the 9th March 1662. The Provost discharged his commission with fidelity and a good degree of success. In 1667 Robert Milne was chosen Provest. He had been a Bailie in 1661 when the Covenant was burnt. He was then a rising young man, and would needs signalise his loyalty in running down and ridiculing all that had been done in the late times. I am not much inclined to make any observations or comment on the outward dispensations of Providence, for the sun shines on the good and the evill, and the rain rains on the just and the unjust, and the favour of heaven is not to be measured by what befalls men in this world, as to external circumstances of prosperity and adversity ; yet it was much observed that though this gentleman, Sir Robert Milne, rose to great wealth, was possessed of considerable land, was the great taxman and fermer of the Customs, a Knight Baronet, yet he suffered before his death a great reverse of fortune, his estate visibly melted away, and he died in extreme low circumstances at the Abby of Holyroodhouse. I profess I have not the least view of reflecting on Sir Robert Milne in this observation ; only, since the catastrophe of fortune that befell him has been observed by others before me, I could not pass it by without taking notice of it. And I leave every one that reads this memoriall to comment on it as he pleases. Provost Milne, I mean Sir Robert Milne, continued to be yearly elected Provost till 1678 inclusive, for the space of eleven years ; but, at the Michaelmas that year, Andrew Glen was chosen Provost. He continued for two years till 1680, then Alexander Milne of Carriden was chosen Provost. He continued till 1682 ; but though he was a man perfectly well disposed to the Government both in Church and State, yet being judged somewhat remiss in pressing the oath of the Test upon the inhabitants that scrupled it in the time appointed by law, and that he did not oppress or persecute some dissenters from the publick established worship in the town, he was laid aside from his office, and the Privy Councill, by a very extraordinary encroachment and invasion on the rights and priviledges the burgh had so long enjoyed, and ratified and so often confirmed to them by Acts of Parliament of choosing their own Magistracy, appointed Alexander Lord Livingstoun, eldest son to the Earl of Linlithgow, to be Provest, meerly by an Act of Councill, the 11th of December 1683, constituting him Provest of the Burgh of Linlithgow till Michaelmas nixt; so Provost Milne, beeing all submission, he retired without a struggle, and left the chair to the noble person that was so irregularly brought into it. But it seems Provost Milne soon gave such new testimonies of his loyalty and the serving of Government in their own way, that all matters were made up betwixt the Lord Livingstoun and the Council of the town, so that at the next ensuing Michaelmas, the 6th of October 1684, Provest Milne was chosen Provest, and he continued till the death of King Charles. 240 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. From the Linlithgow Town Council Records. 1 Minutes of Meeting, 10th November 1667—Robert Mylne, Provost. The which day the Provost presented to the councill ane draucht of John Mylne, the King’s Master Mason of the fabrick of our Tolbuith, thrie stories heich, which the councill has approvin with the 1 From the Town Council Records of Linlithgow. Die 22 Sepris 1648._And therafter upon the ellevint of Sepr. instant the Earle of Lanrik Arane came and was quartered upon the said bruch and remained 24 hours, consisting of 2500 foot with the haill officers and commanderis therof and ane great number of troupss. And that the haill souldiers and many of the officeris compelled those with whom they war quartered to give tham four dayes pay at ther away going,—haveing plundered many houses within the bruch. And that the said Lord Chanr. his armie conducted with General Leslie ; and Lieut.-Genall Leslie came with the said armie on Twysday the 12 day of Sepr. instant, and his wholl foot remained neir and within the said bruch untill Monday therefter. And that thay war furnished be the said bruch in meill, breid, cheise and nill for four dayes in the said weilte, by goeing from hous to hous, and ressaveing breid and cheise, and also ressaving from thir personis efter, the quantities of meill following, viz., fra William Adam in Ochiltree 15 bolls 1 lirlott meill; out of Kiccarton's sellar, 8 bolls meill; from Mr. Walter Dundas, 8 bolls meill J from James Ronald in Haughmylne, 2 bolls 2 fir. meill ; and also that ther was delyvered at the wasterin armie first comeing eist, to the regiment of horse therof commandit he Collonell Robert Mont¬ gomerie, and takin out of the said bruch to theme, breid, sill, cheise, and wyne, as sufficed 2000 troupperis,—meikle of the forsd broad and cheise being ressaved from hous to hous, and meikill from the puir baxteris,—and barrells delyvered be browsteris wherin they aucht not to be losseris. Thairfoir appoyntis Thomas Heart, William Hart, Andro Smyth, and William Bell, to goe throw the towne and take speciall notice of the haill barrells of aill delyvered and of the wheat breid delyverid be baxteris, and to draw up ane not of ther names and quantitie delyvered, and to report the samen to the Counsall this day aucht days ; and this is by and attour the destruction of the haill cornis about tbe toune. Mem. _For several years about this time, the burgh paid £388, 16s. Scots per month for support and mainten¬ ance of the Crown, besides keeping up two companies of soldiers, and furnishing extra men in time of war. Die 15 Nuvris. 1650._ . . . Upon advertisement from Collonell Sanderson Governor of Lythgow that he lies in his handis the haill chartors and evidentis concerning our bruch, and demanding for ransome therof £100 sterling certifieingupon our refuisall to pay the same that he will burne thame, and seeing Monday next we most answer therto, and not knowing what to do therintill not to be estimit and sensurit as complyeris: They made choyce of Mr. Andro Ker Clark to ryid to Stirling and supplicat the Comision of Kirk now sitting ther advyis how we sail behafe ourselfs therin not complying ; and if it.be possible to return ther answer the morrow. [They were finally obtained for £30.] Culros, Die 7 Janry. 1651.— ... The quhilk day, George Bell and Robert Bell declared that conforme to the last dayis ordinance they have transpoitit our evidentis in two ledger kistis to Bundle, who war gladlie ressaved by the magistrate therof, and put besyd thair awin wreittis, and lies promised to tak such cair therof as thay war thair awin ; wherewith the honest men ar pleised, and made choyce of George Bell and Robert Bell, keepers of the keyes therof, during ther pleisour. Die 2 Octobris 1651.— . . . The Counsall considdering that thay resseved certane information that the haill evidentis of our bruch are seized upon by the Inglisli at ther intaking of Dundie, having sent them ther for shelter, having redefined them befoir from the Inglish when thay seized upon thame heir, and that thay are presentlie laying m the Provest of Dundie’s hous, with the wreites of thair towne undir the custody of the Tnglish, and being advertised that the longer that we ar in the lousing of thame thair will be meny lost of thame, and knowing perfectlie that thair will be no little chairges depursit in doing therof, and that ther ar sindrie that hes thair wreittes in shelter with the Towne’s wreittes who ought and sould pay thair proportionall pairt of all moneyis that sail be giffin in lousing of the saidis wreittis and expensit in bringing thame home ; thairfoir be pluralitie of voyces thay have electit George Bell eldir Robert Bell, and the dark to rydo to Dundie on Monday next, and to tak notice of the wreittes belonging to our neighbours, and to aggrie and satisfie for the same, and bring thame home in as easie terms ns may be, and the Counsall obliges them to approve what thay sail do therintill. Die 14 Octobris 1651.— ... The quhilk day thoss nominate by the Counsall to ryed to Dundie for receiving of our evidentis and bringing thame home maid report that conforme therto thay ryid to Dundie, and having (efter great entreatie) ressaved access to separat our wreittis from the wreittis of Dundie, being all mixed togither thay put thame in the two ledger questis wherin thay war putt and sent to Dundie. Having giffin Lieut. Kilpatrick, as having warrand from Collonell Morgone, who seized upon our wreittes and detained tham, .448 Scotis for the ransome of thame, and that thay ar brocht home at the least so mony as was preservit, and ar for the present m tile provest’s house’in the ledger quistis, and with all producit ane accompt of thair haill chairges therat particularly red and approvin, and extending all in the haill to the soume of 4123, 8s. 2d. The Counsall ordeinis the said soume to be laid upon those that had onie wreitts ther preservit with the townes wreittis proportionally according to the worth and number of everie one’s wreittis, and devydit accordingly in swa far as it is expedient to be done for the eis of the towne, and they have made choyce of the Provost, Eaillics, James Glen, Deano of Gild, and the clank presentlie, to go PLANS TOLBOOTH OF LINLITHGOW. a . d . 1667. ....... I .. ^ ... . FACSIMILE OF CONTRACT FOR Quarrying Stones for Tolbooth of Linlithgow. Contract betuixt the Magistrats of Linlithgow and James Young Quarreor—1670. Att Linlithgow the ffourt day of Appryll jm vjc and sevintie yeires It is contracted and fmallie agreid betuixt the Provist and Baillies of the brugh of Linlithgow on the ane pairt and James Young Quarreour at Kingcavill Quarrell on the other pairt In maner efterspecefeitt That is to say the said James Young be thir presents ffaithfullie undertacks binds and obleiss him to win putt out and squair all sorts of Staines necessar out of the said Quarrell of Kingcavill ffor building of the Tolbuith of the said brugh and Gramer schooll of the samen as followes to witt Aisler Kabetts Jamms and Ballasters to be of the lenth and thicknes as is heirefter sett doun and not to remove ffrom the said Quarrell nor from the workeing therat untill the compleitt building and ffinishing of the said tolbuith and Gramer Schooll And to red the said Quarrell and to keip it red And to keip sufficent and able workmen therat ffor wineing of all stones necessar and not to suffer the meassones and other workmen at the said tolbuith and Gramer schooll to lye idle for want of stones and that vntill the compleiting of the tolbuith and Gramer Schooll att the leist dureing the Magistrats pleasur And Siclyk the said James Young at the Magistrats ther disyre lies accepted and be thir presents accepts Robert Smith Quarreor to Be servand and helper to him in wineing of the saids haill staines to the foirsaid tolbuith and Gramer schooll And he be thir presents binds and obleiss him thank- fullie to pay and delyver to the said Robert Smith eight shilling scots each day for his service vntill the compleitiug of the said tolbuith and Gramer schooll At the leist dureing the Magistrats pleasur And that weiklie when he shall desyre the same nixt efter his entrie therto which is declared to be and begine the morrow being Tewsday the ffyfth of this currant And what the said James shall farder delyver to the said Robert for his service weiklie or dailly mor nor is concordit to be given to him as is above writtin it is remittit to the said James Young his discretione what to give him at his removeall from him and his service, And it is concordit vnto that in caice it shall happin the said James Young to die or to be seick or vnable to work or in caice of his vnthankfull service or ffrawardnes to furnish stones for the vse of the tolbuith aud Schooll then and in thes caices or any of them the said James be thir presents now as then and then as now Grants ffull libertie and permissione to the said Robert to continew workeing att the said Quarrell and to win and putt out all kynd of Staines necessar for the said tolbuith and Gramer schooll And the said Robert is allwayes to be countable to the said James fior all the Staines that he shall win and sell at the said Quarrell He being first payed of Iris awin wadges as affoirsaid And als payed of what the said Robert shall deburse for Redding of the quarrell and for what wadges he shall pay to others for helping him to win the saids staines And to except and allow noe mor for his service bot according to Agnement above- wri ttin ffor THE quhilks CAWSS the saids Provist and Baillies be thir presents Binds and obleiss them and ther successors to pay and thankfullie delyver to the said James Young Quarreor for each foot of Long staines from tuelve inches thick to eight inches tuo shilling Scots and the shortest of the foersaids staines being ffour or ffyve foot at lenth And for each hundereth of Aisler Rabetts Ballasters or Jamms of thrie foots tuo foots and ane halfe And the shortest to be ane foot and ane halfe in lenth and of thicknes tuelfe eliven ten or at the lawest to be eight inches thick of new meassur squair work the sowme of Ten pounds money abovewrittin And all stones which the said James hes flurnished for the vse of the said tolbuith preceiding the dait heirof he be thir presents acknowledges him to be compleitlie satisfeid therfoir Lykas he be thir presents grantis him to have receaved from the saids Magistrats the sowme of Tuentie flour pounds money foirsaid of advanced money to be allowed in the first end of what stones shall be ffurnished efter this day Quherof he grants the recept and discharges them therof Lykas the saids Provist and Baillies obleiss them and ther abovewrittin to satislie and pay to the abovenamit James Young ffor the haill staines which shall be receaved from him at the said Quarrell for the vse abovementioned and that accordinglie as they shall be receaved at the pryce abovewrittin designed for the samen And that weiklie or monethlie whenever he shall disyre the samen the saids advanced moneyes being allwayes first allowed And als the said James be thir presents submitts to the Magistrats ther discretione what they will willinglie delyver to him in bounteth for reading of the said quarrell and that at the close of the tolbuith and Gramer schooll or when the Magistrats pleises And both of the saids parties obleiss them to perform this present contract to vtheris in soe farr as they are obleist therby And the pairtie failyer obliss him to pay to the other pairtie observer or willing to observe ane hundereth merks Scots for each failyie by and attour the performeiug of the premises And for the mair securitey both the saids parties are content and consent that ther presents be insert and registrat in the bookis of Counsell and sessione or in any other ordinar register ther to have the strenth of ane act and decreitt with lettres of horneiug on six dayes only And all vtheris in form as effeires may pas heirupon And for that effect they constitut Ther procuratouris In witnes quherof both the saids parties have subscryvit thir presents day yeir and place foirsaids Befoir thir witness Win Ker sone to Mr Andro Ker Clerk of Linlithgow Alex r Keir his servitor wryter heirof and David Slowand ane of the officers of the said brugh (signed) Ro : Mylne provest James Keir Baylife—Ro T Craufurd Baillie—etc. ROBERT MYLNE OF BALFARGIE. 24 r compt. to the said John, and of his expenses, being £88, 12s., ordering Gaven Merschell, Baillie, to pay the foirsaid soume out of his collections of Is. on the boll of malt. and visit the wreittis, ordour the same, and distinguish the towne’s wreitts from other persones wreitts, and every man’s wreittis be themselfes that thay upon payment may ressave tharne. Die 20 Dec. 1651.—The quhilk day the Provest reported to the Counsall that ther is layed upown thame and Queenisferrie, in cess, by the Inglish £28 sterling monethlie, and that we are ordeinit to pay the same betwix and Fryday next undir the pain of quartering ; and that our pairt therof at the least will be £20 sterling,—the Counsall considering the evill therof both throw our inabilitie to pay the same, and of the necessitie of payment thereof, for eviting of farder danger and inconvenience therby ;—And that ther ar thrie weickes cesment alreadie in our handis upliftit, and ther remaines £12 sterling to be devydit upon the inhabitants thairfoir they ordein the same to be done, and to be in readiness to be payit again Fryday next, to be reteinit unpayed so long as it is possible, expecting eisment of our cesse. Die 27 Dec. 1651.—The quhilk day the Provest declared that he had giffen in a note to Collonell Lycoat, Collonell Kid and Major Kid, of the lossis susteinit throw the Inglish incoming. Being all calculat together extendi, to £20,500 sterling, with a supplication to that purpos ; And quhilk thay acceptit favorablie ; and hes promised to befriend us being sensible and suir knowledge of our extraordinarie lossis : And that it restis now that two war choysin to ryid to Edinburgh to supplicat General Major Lambert and otheris commissioneris of the Inglishes that hes powar to diminisch our cess. . . . Die 12 Ajirilis 1656.—The quhilk day the Provest producit ane ansyr from his hichness Councill in Edinburgh to the supplication given in be us to thame for re-edifying of our Tolbuith—being razed—and the stones and timer being applied towardis the workis and fortifications about the Castile of Lythgow.—Thay ansyr that thay expect we do furth- with to proceid to the erecting of a tolbuith ; and in regaird our former tolbuith was pulled doune in a public calamities consideration sal be had thairof in the next distribution of abatements upon the next settling of the monethlie assess, of the date 29 March 1656. The Councell having red and considerit the foirsaid Act, continues ony farder prosequiting therto untill the next Councell day. [The estimate, given in next year, was £15,666, 4s. 8d. Scots.] Die 15 Mail 1660.—The which day the Provest, Baillies, and Councell, seeing it hath pleased the Almichtie God, who lives and reignes eternallie, owt of his frie love unto thir kingdomes and churches therin, efter the calamities of mony yeiris by past, most wonderfullie to move the heartis of the Lordis and Comonnes now assembled in the Parliament of England, owt of ther loyaltie and alledgeance, to declair and proclame Charles the Second our Soveraigne Lord, as the undoubted and richteous Soveraigne of the thrie crownes of the realmes of Scotland, Ingland, and Ireland. Thairfoir thay, in testimonie of thair loyaltie and joy therof, have thought fitt to caus publish the same unto all his Majesties subjectis within this bruch, ouir the croce, be touk of drwme, and to be countenanced be the Councell, and other honest men of the bruch; and ordeinis the bellis in the stiple to be rung, and bonfyres to be sett furth at nicht be all the inhabitantis. Die 29 Martii 1662.—The quhilk day the Councill has maid choyce of Robert Mylne, deane of gild, to attend and supplicat the Lordis of the Secreit Councill upon ane supplicatioun by the justice of peace of this shirefdomc to them for re-edifying of our Tolbuith, off the which supplicatioun the tenor follows :— Unto the Right Honoll. the Lordis of his Majesties Privie Councill, The humble Petition of his Majesties Justices of Peace of the Schyre of Linlithgow, Showeth, —That wher your Lordships petitioners having met this fourt day of March 1662, conforme to ther instructions conteined in the 28 Act of the last session of Parliament, and eftir tryal, finding no goales nor prisson houss within the bruch of Lythgou, hed bruch of the sliirefdome thairof (the same being razed to the ground be the Inglish at thair incoming to this kingdome in anno 1650), wherin to secure and imprisons delinquents and sicklyke, finding the said bruch (be information of the magistrates therof, and to your petitioners awin certane knaledge) to be depauperat through the late tymes that thay are nowayes able to rebuild the said goales : Your Lordships petitioners therfoir conceaved humblie it ther dewteis hearby to informe your Lordships therwith. May it therfoir pleise your Lordships to consider heirupoun and to tak some effectual course in provyding of Goales and Prisson Houses in the said bruch for accommodation of the said schyre. And your Lordships Petitioners sail evir pray, &c. (Sic Sub.) Thomas Drummond. W. Shairp. Jo. Dundas. J. Hamilton. W. Hamilton. Tho. Hamilton. Pet. Coluill. Dav. Mitchell. 2 H 24'. THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. And in obedience to the foirsaid frame, they have considerit that the ground from Tolbuith be first red, and for effectuating therof they desyred the Provest, with Baillies Heart and Crauford, with the Deane of Gild, to try furth qualifit men for doeing therof, and to aggrie with tham for the effect with expedition. 30th November 1667.—John Smith, cairter, is paid £29, 5s. for driving stones for the Tolbuith. 4th July 1668.—The Dean of Gild and Baillies are ordered “ to concord and sattell with a Maister Measone for the building of our Tolbuith ; and with a quarrier for wining of stones for the building and compleating the Tolbuith.” The two following documents, under the Great Seal of Scotland, refer to Sir Robert Mylne :— 23rd July 1675.—Charter by King Charles II. in favour of Robert Mylne, present Provost of the burgh of Linlithgow, his heirs and assignees, of a tenement of laud lying in the said burgh on the north side of the high street, which belonged before to the deceased Sebastian Ashtoun, and was now at the disposition of the Crown, because the said Sebastian died without heirs of his body : To hald of the Crown in free burgage for the usual services of the burgh. 20th December 1678.—Confirmation by King Charles II. of an obligation granted by Alexander Earl of Kincardine as principal, and Sir Alexander Bruce of Broomhall as cautioner, To the Right Honoll the Lords of his Majesties Privy Councill. The Humble Petition of the Provest, Baillies, and Councill of Linlithgow, Humbly Sheweth ,—That wham your petitioners being destitut of a Prison House or Goall evir since the yeir 1651, at which tyme not only was the Prisone House destroyed by the Inglisli usurpers, but their towne and inhabitants were harrassed and undone, so that they ar not as yet in a capacity to rebuild any prisson hous by thameselffis without supply. Wherby not only delinquentis and vagabonds apprehendit within the towne and shirefdom dois mak thair escape. But thay ar rendered incapable to do that dewty and service which becomes magistrate who desyres to be faithfull to his Majestie. May it therfoir please your Lordships to find owt some effectual way how their prison house may be rebuildit. Or at the least that the petitioners’ condition may be recommendit by your Lordships to the Kingis majestie. And your petitioners sail ever pray, &c. Die quinta Aprillis 1662.—The which day the Deane of Gild disehargit his comission to the secret councill, and reportit that the Councill war not clear to satisfie the instant desyr of our supplicatioun anent the re-edifieing of our Tolbuith : And thay advysed us to acquent the next meiting of the Parliament thairof: And promised to give thame ther best information for cleiring thame to satisfie the instant desyr of our said supplicatioun, which was approvin; with the compt of his expenss being £30, 10s. Die 10 Novembris 1662.—The same clay ane ratificatioun of Parliament in our favouris was red, whairin ther is a new fair be our King granted, to be holden within our bruch, and about the same yerlie, upon the 14th day of Februar for thrie days; with full powar and libertie to ressave and uplift double custom of that which formerlie was ressaved both within and about the bruch and at the bridge. Die 12 Decern. 1681.—The Proveist declaired to the Councill that Wm. Ker, clerk, had clemittit his charge as clerk, because he had noe cleirnes to take the test: And that the toun was greatlie prejudged throw want of a clerk. And recommended to the Councill the tryeing of some fite person for that office. And lykwayes he declaired that he had agreid with Earl of Lythgow to give him ane himdereth and twentie guinyies, of gold extending to £1620 Scots at £13,10s. the piece for granting ane rycht to the toun off ane nyntein yeir gift, commencing from Mertimes last, off the bridge customs granted be the Kingis Majestie to his Lordship, and that he had set the customs of the said bridge till Mertimes next to John Gibbisoun, merchant, for five hundereth merkes Scots. 16 Junii 1685.—Militiamen to have 6s. a day while on King’s service. 12 Sepris 1685.—The prowest produced ane Act of Parliament, daited the 16 of Junii last, granting to the toun the customes of the bridge in all tyme to come, efter the expyreing of the Earl of Linlithgow’s gift. ROBERT MYLNE OF BALFARGIE. 243 to Robert and Alexander Mylnes, lately Provosts of Linlithgow, their heirs and assignees, for an annualrent of £480, as interest of £8000, furth of the barony of Tulliallan and mains thereof, in the Stewartry of Strathern and shire of Perth : holding of the King in free blench, in manner contained in the said obligation, which is dated 2nd August 1676, containing provision of reversion by redemption of the said annualrent. From the Privy Seal Register of Scotland. 5th August 1664.—Charter of apprising- in favour of Alexander Mylne, merchant burgess of Linlithgow, of a large building in Stirling belonging to John, Earl of Mar, and also of the lands and lordship of Alloway, lands of Grange, forest of Clackmannan, &c., all which subjects belonged before heritably to James Crichton of Castlemaynes, son of John Crichton, who was brother-german to the late William, Earl of Dumfries, and also as heir to the late John Crichton, his brother, at whose instance the said lands and others were apprised from John, Earl of Mar, by decreet at Edinburgh on 24th April 1649 ; and were resigned by the said James Crichton for new infeftment to be given to the said Alexander Mylne. 1 At Edinburgh, 23rd May 1696. — Compeared Mr. Thos. Yeach, Advocat for Alex. Mylne, now of Carriden ... be it ken forasmuch the deceased Alex. Mylne of Carriden, my father, by his bond . . . given on the 12th August 1684, borrowed and received from Dame Jean Elphinstone, spouse to Sir Robert Mylne of Blackburn [therein designed spouse to Robert Mylne of Binning] for herself, and in name and behalf of Anna Mylne, her lawful daughter, and Sir Robert, 2000 merks, which bond obliges him [his father] and his heirs to pay the same in life rent to Dame Jean, and on her decease to Anna Mylne. Witness Robert Allan, merchand in Edinburgh and Indweller in Leith. Extracts from Dundee Town Council Records:— 20th August 1695.—The Council refers to the Magistrates and Convenor to consider if it be necessar for the town to buy the burgh of Barronie of the Hill of Dundie, and lands be-east the same, belonging to Sir Robert Milne. 27th August.—Continues the report about the buying of the hill till the next council day. 1 June 11, 1605.—Bond by Andrew Mylne, elder, chirurgeon, burgess of Linlithgow, and Janet Jameson, his spouse, whereby for the love which they have to Janet Craig, their niece [or grandchild], and specially because Andrew Craig, merchant burgess of Edinburgh, her father, son-in-law of the granters, for the love which he had to Janet Mylne, their daughter and his spouse, would infeft her in liferent, and the heirs betwixt him and her in fee, in that “ heich ludging newlie biggit be him in the seller within the turnpyke thereof, of the tenement of land perteining to him in heritage, lying in the brugh of Edinburgh, in the clois called Libbertous Wynd, on the east syde tliairof, and that by and attour performing the heids of thair contract matrimonial!,”—therefore the granters become bound to pay to the said Janet Craig and the heirs of her body, which failing, to Robert Craig, her brother, and the heirs of his body, which failing, to any other children of the said Andrew Craig and Janet Mylne, the sum of 500 merks; and if the said grandchildren, Janet and Robert, should die before the granters, the said 500 merks should then be paid to the said Andrew Craig and Janet Mylne in liferent, and to Andrew Mylne, the granters’ son, and his heirs in fee.— Dated at Linlithgow 7th June 1603. Witnesses — Henry Drummond of Kingsfield. Robert Craig, brother-german to Mr. Thomas Craig, Advocate. 244 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. 17th September.—Continues jet the buying of the Hill and burgh of barronie thereof. And ordains the Magistrates—present and old—Dean of Guild, and Convenor, to meet this day and consider the papers thereof, and to write to Sir Robert Milne their opinion concerning the bargain. 1st October.—The Council refers to the present and old Magistrates, the Councill or to the Guild, and John Kirkland, to meet anent the buying of the burgh of barronie, of the Hill of Dundie [and] lands thereto adjacent, sold be the Earl of Lauderdale to Sir John Maitland, his son, and Sir Robert Milne. [The purchase of these lands was effected in 1697.] Sir Robert Mylne migrated from Linlithgow to the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, and purchased the estate of Barnton, which has since frequently changed hands, and is now being developed as a new suburb of Edinburgh :— The Ancient and Modern State of the Parish of Cramond, by John Law of Lauriston—1794. On a gentle declivity at the northern extremity of Corstorphine Hill, and almost in the centre of the parish, stands Barntoun House ; the principal part, extending about 70 feet by 40 feet, was built in 1681 by Sir Robert Miln of Barntoun. At the N.W. corner is part of the old mansion of the Lords of Balmerinoch, with the date 1623 on one of the windows, adjacent to which, on the north, is a chapel built in 1770 by Lord and Lady Glenorchy. Barntoun was purchased by Robert Miln, one of the farmers of customs and excise, who in 1685 accpiired the lands of Binny, and was created a baronet in 1686 ; but his affairs falling into disorder, he was obliged in 1691 to dispose of Barntoun to George Hamilton of Binnv. This gentleman was also created a baronet in 1692, but being deeply engaged with Sir Robert Miln, and involved in many intricate transactions, he was soon constrained by his creditors to sell the barony of Barntoun, which was purchased by Lord John Hamilton, Earl of Ruglen, 1 the disposition being dated 24th August 1695. John, Earle of Lauderdale, His Lordship’s Accompt to Sir Robert Mylne. Imprimis , for moneys advanced on the faith of your Lordship’s father’s commission to your Lordship and me, .... For moneys advanced for sommes where your Lordship and I am bound in for your Lordship’s father, but not contained in the disposition . . . and interest, ..... For money depursed on the plea with the Earle of Aberdeen, . For ane bond of your Lordship, 7th April 1693, Interest therof to Whitsunday 1701, . . . . . For a bond of your Lordship’s father’s to Lilias Elphinston, 2 and now to my wife, with the interest of, since Whitsunday 1674 to Whitsunday 1701, For Anderson’s apprysing on the estate of Lauderdaile, I payed to your Lordship,........ For interest thereof frae Whitsunday 1685 to Whitsunday 1701, £14,335 0 2 18,135 16 8 5,341 6 8 2,741 6 8 1,103 0 0 3,340 0 0 5,333 6 8 4,393 6 8 £54,723 5 4 1 He became Earl of Selkirk. 2 In another account, “ Lilias Elphinston, which said Robert Mylne has right to by his wife. . . .” Mem .—Sir J. Hamilton, now of Tulliallan, is assignee to Sir R. Mylne’s affairs. ROBERT MYLNE OF BALFARG1E. 245 Sir Robert was unable to put his affairs in good order after the final overthrow of the House of Stuart. 19th November 1707.—Assignation by Sir Robert Milne of Tulliallan, Baronet, in favour of Robert Milne, Writer in Edinburgh, in consideration of his being due a consider¬ able sum of money to the said Robert, of £786, 13s. 4d., and penalty contained in a bond granted by the deceased James Baine, His Majesty’s Master Wright; £480 as price of 1000 deals, furnished to the said deceased James Baine ; and £960 for 2000 deals to the same.—Dated at Holyroodhouse, 12th January 1706. [Robert Milne, second son to the said Sir Robert, is a witness.] From the notices above mentioned, relating to Sir Robert Mylne of Barnton, sometime Provost of Linlithgow, we notice the wonderful changes of fortune that were wont to overtake leading royalists throughout Scotland, during the closing years of the seventeenth century. With the House of Stuart he rose and fell, and the Baronetcy in his family became extinguished, so far as direct descent is concerned, on the death of Sir John Mylne, Governor of Cowes Castle, in 1791. The famous Act of Union, after much strenuous opposition, was satis¬ factorily passed in the year 1707, during the happy reign of good Queen Anne. It was hereby enacted that the two Parliaments of Great Britain should in future sit together, as one united assembly, in the ancient City of Westminster; and as a consequence of this fundamental alteration, most of the minor Offices of the Scottish Court became extinct, or were practically abolished by complete absorption in the superior post in London. A general Supervisor was appointed on July 15, 1707, to take charge of the royal Castles and Palaces throughout the entire kingdom of Scotland, in the person of James Smith of Whytehill, 1 who had married Janet, eldest daughter of Robert Mylne, Master Mason to the Queen. He also achieved some notoriety as an inventor of machines for supplying towns with water, about which he petitioned the Scotch Parliament on several occasions. He was born c. 1646-50. About 1689 he purchased the estate of Whitehill, in the parish of Inveresk, near Edinburgh, from the Prestons, and also portions of land at Parkend and the Magdalen Bridge in the same parish; and received a grant of arms (Azure three flames of fire, or ; on a chief argent, a thistle, vert) from the Lord Lyon of Scotland. He possessed at this time a tenement in Niddry’s Wynd in Edinburgh. I 11 1696 he is assignee qud creditor in the testament-dative of one Mr. James Smyth, secretary to the Earl of Perth, who died about this time. In 1701 he is the “cautioner” for Miss Marianna Smith, apparently his daughter, on her marriage; and two years later he buys another piece of land at Parkend. In 1706 he sold part His assistant, John Hamilton, erected the sun-dials still existing at Kinross House. 246 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. of Whitehill, but lays out some money to repair his “ dykes ” at Parkend. In 1713 his daughter Bella was married to one Gilbert Smith in Edinburgh ; and thirteen years later he assigns the remainder of his property of Whitehill to his son-in-law Gilbert, in security for a debt of £365 sterling. He was dead in 1729, leaving two surviving sons, Gilbert and Clematirick. Gilbert Smith was appointed Master Mason during pleasure by King George I., on 4th March 1715 :— GEORGE, by the Grace of God, King, &c.—Forasmuch as we being informed of the qualifications and fitnes of Gilbert Smith, mason, burges of Edinburgh, for exerceing and dis¬ charging the office of our Master Mason in Scotland. Therefore witt ye us to have nominated, constituted, and appointed, likeas we by these presents nominate, constitute, and appoint the said Gilbert Smith, during our pleasure only, to be our Master Mason of all our palaces, castles, houses, forts, and other buildings within that part of our said kingdom called Scotland; giving, granting, and disponing to him the said place and office during the space foresaid, with all freedoms, privileges, profits, immunities, and casualities whatsoever thereunto belonging to be brooked and enjoyed by him sicklike and alse freely in all respects and conditions as any of his predecessors therein did posess and enjoy, or might have posest and enjoyed the same at any time heretofore; and especially with power to him to have and enjoy all privileges, freedoms, and immunities that are competent by law to tradesmen having commissions from us, and particularly with the benefite of exemption from watching and warding within burgh.—Given at our Court at St. James’s, and under our Privy Seal of Scotland, the 19th day of January 1715, in the first year of our reign. Per signaturam rnanu S.D.N. Regis suprascriptam. Sir John Anstruther of Anstruther was appointed by King George I. sole Master of Works and Director General of all the royal buildings within the kingdom of Scotland, and was succeeded by George Dundas in the year 1743. Over these Masters of Work were placed the Barons of the Scottish Exchequer. Afterwards, in accordance with the modern custom of putting- all Offices of State in commission, suitable Commissioners were appointed, and at the present time H.M. Office of Works for Scotland is administered as a department of the London Office of Works, which was separated from H.M. Woods and Forests Commission in 1851. This Office possesses complete jurisdiction over the whole of the Crown Lands in Great Britain, including picturesque ruins like Linlithgow. Falkland Palace, however, has passed into private hands, and is now in possession of an excellent antiquary, the Marquess of Bute; who is at the present time the hereditary keeper. The actual system of management, which prevails in reference to the Crown Lands, will be made more clear by explaining that the Woods and Forests Commission collect the revenue due to the Crown, while the Office of Works look after the needful expenditure upon the Crown buildings. ROBERT MYLNE OF BALFARGIE. 247 In 1832, by 2 & 3 Will. TV., cap. 112, the authority of the Barons of the Exchequer was transferred to the Woods and Forests Commission, and all distinction in the system of management as between Scotland and England came to an end. Formerly royal money spent in either country had to be provided from the kingly revenue in the same district. Hence but little was spent in Scotland under the first three Hanoverian Sovereigns. It is worthy of note that there is still existing an hereditary Chamberlain of the Lordship of Dunbar, who is entitled to collect the revenue, whom the Crown has no power to remove. Amongst the various holders of the office of Surveyor General of Works, abolished in 1782, Sir Christopher Wren, the great architect of S. Paul’s, was the most distinguished. Early in the present century a curious attempt was made by George IV., while Prince Regent, to revive the grants of the office of Master Mason to the Crown under the Privy Seal. This event occurred in the year 1819 :— GEORGE P. R.—Our Sovereign Lord being informed of the qualifications and fitness of James Smith, mason and builder of Edinburgh, for excercising and discharging the office of His Majesty’s Master Mason in Scotland, therefore His Majesty ordains a letter to be made and passed under the Privy Seal of that part of His Majesty’s United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called Scotland, nominating, constituting, and appointing, like as His Majesty by these presents nominates, constitutes, and appoints the said James Smith, during His Majesty’s pleasure only, to be His Majesty’s Master Mason of all His Majesty’s palaces, castles, houses, forts, and other buildings within that part of His Majesty’s said United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called Scotland; giving, granting, and disponing to him the said place and office during the space aforesaid, with the freedoms, privileges, fees, profits, immunities, and casualties whatsoever thereunto belonging, to be brooked and enjoyed by him, siklike and as freely in all respects and conditions as any of his predecessors therein did possess and enjoy, or might have possessed and enjoyed, the same at any time heretofore; and especially with power to him to have and enjoy all privileges, freedoms, and immunities that are competent by law to tradesmen having commissions from His Majesty, and particularly with the benefit of exemption from watching and warding within burgh, and that the same letters be further extended in the most ample form with all clauses needful.—Given at His Majesty’s Court at Carlton House, the 14th day of April 1819, in the fifty-ninth year of His Majesty’s reign. May .it please your Majesty—These contain your Majesty’s warrant for a letter to be passed under your Majesty’s Privy Seal of Scotland, nominating and appointing James Smith, during your Majesty’s pleasure only, to be your Majesty’s Master Mason of all your Majesty’s palaces, castles, and other your Majesty’s buildings in Scotland, with all freedoms, liberties, and immunities thereunto belonging, and especially with the benefit of exemption from watching and warding within burgh.—By the command of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, in the name and on behalf of His Majesty. Sidmouth. Fler. Norton. John Stuart. William Adam. J. Clerk Rattray. 248 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Exchequer Chambers, Edinburgh, 17th June 1819.—Presented to the Right Honour¬ able the Lord Chief Baron and Barons to His Majesty’s Court of Exchequer in Scotland bv Robert Stuart, D.P.S. Exchequer Chambers, Edinburgh, 17th June 1819.—Entered in the General Register of Signatures. J IJ . Longmorf,, D.H.U. It would be beyond the scope of this work to enter upon any detailed account of the interesting lives of the Masters of Work to the Crown. Neither will it be possible to trace in outline the general character of the administration and management of the Royal Domain in North Britain under the Hanoverian Kings, to describe the gradual improvement of the fortifications on the Firth of Forth and elsewhere, or to give a graphic account of the burning of Linlithgow Palace, or the Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1745. BOOK IV. dbe descendants of tbe flfoaster tUdason to <$lueen Hnne. I BOOK IV. Dbc Descendants of tbe fIDasteu tTDason to ■« Rime; Hie School of Deign at Florence and the Institute of Bologna. CITIZEN OF ROME, LONDON. EDINBURGH. GLASGOW, DUMBARTON. ARCHITECT. ENGINEER. SURVEYOR. Architect of Blackfriars Bridge. Engineer to the New River Company for 42 years. Surveyor to S. Paul's Cathedral for 50 years. BORN IN EDINBURGH, 1733. DIED IN LONDON, 1811. CHAPTER XIII. ROBERT MYLNE OF LONDON, F.R.S. ARCHITECT OF BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE, LONDON-ENGINEER TO THE NEW RIVER COMPANY — SURVEYOR TO S. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL — SURVEYOR TO THE STATIONERS’ COMPANY. BRIEF sketch of the remarkable career of Robert Mylne, who migrated from the north to the great capital of England, and there rose to eminence and distinction, will occupy the entire space of this present chapter. His youthful connection with the Edinburgh Lodge of Freemasons came to an early conclusion, in consequence of his leaving “ the good town ” for ever as a place of permanent residence. Robert Mylne, eldest son of Thomas Mylne, was, on January 14, 1754, “ admitted entered prentice as honorary member, and paid to the Lodge one pound one shilling sterling, with the ordinary dues to the Grand Lodge and entered prentices.” Having, on the 24th of the month, “ been examined in presence of the Lodge, and given satisfaction as to his proficiency in the duty of apprentice, he [in company with a brewer and others] was past to the degree of fellow craft as honorary member”; and upon “giving satisfaction to the lodge of his proficiency as fellow craft, was (April 8, 1754) raised to the degree of Master Mason.” The fact that though an architect by profession, he was admitted as a gentleman mason, marks the progress the Lodge had at that time made in the practice of Symbolical Masonry. His name last appears in the sederunt of the meeting on S. John’s Day, 1759, at which Fraser of Lovat and a large number of other visitors were also present. Not long after his formal admission as a Master Mason in the Edinburgh Lodge, early in the month of April 1754 he sailed from Leith for the coast of France, and passed up the river Seine, with its beautiful wooded banks and 262 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. broad water-way, past the great town of Rouen, with its noble cathedral and the grand pile of S. Ouen, to Paris. Here he studied the various architectural features of that famous city, from the chaste and beautiful Sainte Chapelle, with its delicate tracery and slender mullions, erected by S. Louis, King of France, to the gorgeous Tmllen.es and stately Louvre, and the imposing edifices that mark the classic triumphs of Louis XIY. Quitting the gay town of Paris for the busy commercial centre of Marseilles, he took ship for Civita Yecchia, the principal harbour on the shores of Latium, and then walked on foot from the Papal seaport to the Papal capital. Once within the vast walls of the Eternal City, he found countless objects of the greatest interest to study—priceless specimens of antique and mediaeval art, huge monuments of architectural skill and daring, constructed by the autocratic order of mighty emperors and popes, who seem to have thought the whole race of mankind chiefly formed for the particular purpose of carrying out their imperious will. Like many another visitor from every quarter of the civilised world, the young architect, hitherto accustomed to the grey skies and the bleak lands that border the cold North Sea, was utterly astonished at the warmth of beauty and the haughty magnificence of the whole scene. He lingered in the mighty old-world city, and entered upon a serious course of study, enduring for the space of nigh four years. He took a special interest in the method ol water supply. He attended the various classes in the Academy of St, Luke with credit and distinction. He caught something of the magic spell of Rome. Together with his brother he is referred to in the correspondence of Andrew Lumisden, Secretary to the Stuart Princes, then lonely exiles in the States of the Church. The solemn occasion of the presentation of the silver medal at the Papal Palace of the Capitol (so far famed in classic story), in the presence of the Cardinals, was an auspicious moment in his student life, and proved to be one important element in the real success of his future career. The very spot recalled the marvellous triumphs of the greatest Empire of the world—her law, her army, her architecture. And it is noteworthy that in all his own designs Robert Mylne never swerved from the classic models, so powerfully and so graciously impressed upon his mind in early manhood. In all ages men of genius have sought inspiration, with more or less success, from the superb productions of ancient days, that, notwithstanding their antiquity, still dominate the cultivated taste of the civilised world. A tour round Sicily also strengthened his admiration of the skill of the ancients in the art of building, and he made elaborate drawings at Girgenti and Taormina, and other places of special archaeological interest, occasionally ROBERT MYLNE OF LONDON, F.R.S. 263 making fresh discoveries of importance. It is said that Piranesi availed himself, through his kindness, of some of his notes in preparing his great work. In those days, there was even more need and wider scope for careful inquiry and thorough study of the noble antiquities of Sicily than is the case at the present time. Still, however, it remains true that the attention of the learned is more frequently engrossed with the marvellous remains to be found throughout the Italian Peninsula, to the partial neglect of the largest and most interesting of the Mediterranean islands. Robert Mylne was soon compelled, by pressure of time, to return to the mainland; and after a short stay in the Papal Capital, he quitted Rome for ever in 1759, and started northwards for Florence, Bologna, and Venice, collecting architectural and archaeological notes in these delightful towns, as well as in the principal cities of the broad plain of Lombardy. Then he crossed the wild ridge of the snowy Alps, and passing through the Grisons and the so-called plain of Switzerland, went by water down the Rhine from Bale to Holland, visiting the famous specimens of architecture at Strasbourg and elsewhere on the way. From the Netherlands he crossed -by sea to Harwich, and reached London just about the time that public notice was given by the Lord Mayor and Corporation of the new designs required for the erection of Blackfriars Bridge. The following extracts were kindly made some years ago by James Dennistoun, the distinguished author of the well-known History of the Dukes of Urbina :— Extracts prom the Letterbook of Andrew Lumisden, Author of the Antiquities of Rome, and Secretary to the Stuart Princes, 1750-70. To Richard Morrison, May 6, 1755. The two brothers, Messrs. Mylne, delivered to me your letter of December last. They appear to be good young men, and I have already been of some use in recommending them to one who has put them in a proper way to pursue their studies. If they are diligent, as I hope they will be, they will reap great advantage in examining the many fine things to be seen here in their profession. To Richard Morrison, November 2 , 1756. The two brothers Mylne are still here. They are honest young men, very diligent, and have good capacities for their profession. I hope, when they return home, they will meet with suitable encouragement. To Lord George Murray, September 26, 1758. As I know, my Lord, how much you interest yourself in whatever gives reputation to our country, I cannot but mention to you that Robert Mylne, from Edinburgh, received last week at the Capitol, in the presence of a number of Cardinals, the first prize for architecture. There were young men of different nations, as well as Italians, that competed 264 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. with him. His drawings are a proof of his good taste and great knowledge of ancient architecture. He deserves the encouragement of his country. To His Sister, the Wife of Sir R. Strange, October 7, 1758. I cannot but send you enclosed a poetical epistle wrote by an ingenious friend of mine to Mr. Mylne, on his getting the first prize in architecture at the Capitol. As he is a very- worthy young man, whom I greatly esteem, I beg you would send the verses to Edinburgh, to be published in the Scots Magazine. To Sir B. Strange, in London, October 17, 1759. Offer my kind compliments to Mr. Mylne; assure him what a pleasure it would be to me to hear that he is employed to build the new Bridge of London. Was merit to be preferred, I am persuaded he would be the person. And again on November 26, 1759 :— It will be a great pleasure to me, and some others here, if our honest friend Mylne is employed for the new Bridge. If justice is done him, he ought to be preferred to any of the British architects who have visited Italy of late years. Pray offer him my kindest compliments. And again on February 5, 1760 :— I long to hear of Mr. Mylne’s success. I am told that there are several papers published for and against his eliptic arches. I have not seen any of them. And again on March 26, 1760 :— Make my compliments to Mr. Mylne. I heartily congratulate with him on his victory, which, on many accounts, gave me a very sensible pleasure. Honour and fortune to him will be the consequence of this undertaking. I beg he will take the trouble to send me a small sketch of his bridge. From Paris, to Mr. Walker, at Rome, May 13, 1770. I am, I confess, at a loss to express the pleasure I feel in reading the verses you now address to’your ingenious friend Mr. Mylne. They are worthy of you both. I shall care¬ fully preserve them with your other compositions, with which you were pleased to favour me, and which I consider as a real treasure. If Mr. Mylne’s modesty prevents his publishing these verses, I hope some friend will do it. To Robert Mylne, September 10, 1770. In transmitting you this letter, Mr. Morrison gives me an opportunity of asking how you do, and to return you a thousand thanks for your kind remembrance of me. Particular reasons long prevented me from writing to my friends, otherwise I should certainly have wrote you ; however, I never let slip an occasion of inquiring about you. The figure you make in your profession cannot but give me infinite pleasure. But, blessed with superior talents, how could it be otherwise ? I anxiously long to see your magnificent bridge, and others of your elegant works, and to assure you personally, as I now do with my pen, how sincerely I interest myself in all your concerns. The competition amongst the London architects for the rebuilding of Blackfriars Bridge created some stir in the metropolis during the closing years of the reign of George II. The choice of the Lord Mayor and Corporation fell upon Robert Mylne, just returned from Italy with a high reputation. SLACKS ROBERT MYLNE. DIMENSIONS OF BRIDGE fret, m Length between Quay walls. 1002..6 D“ between Abutments. .. .944..0 Width between Parapete.-.42 2 Clear lineal Waterway.. . . 794-0 Summit of Roadway above mean tide level . .4S_ 9 Sectional water area at high water (inl8S6)... 1S78S..O .DTavaraje at 300 yf*above andidow Bridge 21384 .0 NOTE. The Brrfyc-cxra X approaches and temno, foot on area. if tween pat MEW a ROBERT W. MYLNE . AR 1 Suhm DIMENSIONS OF BRIDGE Length between Quay waits.. - - 848 0 D° "between Abutments 766.0 Width bevween Partprs .......... .-68- 8 Clear lineal Waterway 692 6 Summit of B oaclway above mean tide level .42. 9 Sectional water area a---DL.~-. 12430 -0 .H 0 ..area at higliwauir-.18S80-0 NOTE The width between ah Mw Thames JCmianbnenJy- iti grantee erected by ict Engineer FRS.i c 1769 is made to conform to At intended irtdr/e is proposed lo he executed ROBERT MYLNE OF LONDON, F.R.S. 265 Through the kindness of W. J. Harvey, Esq., we are enabled to reproduce the centre portion of the original design sent in by Sir W. Chambers. The Original Coloured Drawing, on the scale of 7-f inches to 120 feet, is 6 feet 4 inches in length by 17J inches in width, and has inscribed above the centre portion “ The Front of a Design for the Intended Stone Bridge at Black Fryars by [Sir] W. Chambers, Architect to the Prince of Wales,”— who in the following year ascended the throne as King George III. Besides the elevation there is also a plan of the superstructure, an end view of the same, and a plan of the main piers. The complete number of arches was thirteen, and the elegant colonnading over the centre arch is the most characteristic portion of the whole design, combining both the charm of originality and chaste correctness of style which we might expect at the hands of the distinguished architect of Somerset House, overlooking the calm waters of the Thames. If the Corinthian columns have little apparent use, the same might be said of the famous marble statues on the Bridge of S. Angelo in Rome, one of the most beautiful structures in the world. Amongst sixty-nine competitors, many of whom were men of long experience and high position, Mylne was the successful candidate; and thus, while yet young, he entered upon the most important work of his whole life. It was but natural that some professional jealousy was aroused by the appointment of one so young, and almost a stranger; but in the result the kindly prophecy of Andrew Lumisden was ampLy fulfilled. The new bridge, built of Portland stone, was a decided success, and “ honour and fortune were the consequence of the undertaking.” A long and useful professional career at once opened out for the young architect. The public ceremony of laying the foundation stone was made the occasion of much official display. On November 30, 1760, the Lord Mayor attended in state, and duly performed this solemn function in the presence of the principal officers of the Corporation. From the Gentlemen’s Magazine. 7th June 1760.—This day the first pile towards building the New Bridge at Black- fryars was drove in the middle of the Thames. On the 12th this pile was broken by a barge. 31st October 1760.—This day the first stone of the intended new bridge at Black- friars was laid in the north abutment, by the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, attended by several aldermen and commoners of the committee, by striking the same by a mallet, the officers laying thereon at the same time the city sword and mace. Several pieces of gold, silver, and copper coin of his late Majesty were placed under the stone, together with a silver medal, &c. 23rd June 1761.—Sir Robert Ladbroke, with many other gentlemen of the committee for building Blackfriars Bridge, went on board the caisson, and laid the first stone of the first pier. 2 L 266 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Another account of the same event is given in the pages of the Annual Register :— 31st October 1760.—This day about noon the first stone of the new bridge was laid. Several pieces of gold, silver, and copper coins of his late Majesty were placed under the stone, together with a silver medal given to Mr. Mylne, the architect, by the Academy of St. Luke, with a copper rim round it, having the following inscription :—In Architectura prmstantke praemium (ipsa Roma Judice) Roberto Mylne Juveni Britannico, datum 1758. On the other side:—Robertas Mylne pontis hujus architector grata animo posuit. The beautiful silver medal above mentioned is in itself a work of art of no mean merit. It was one of the two Papal medals that Robert Mylne succeeded in winning from the Academy of S. Luke. The first was granted under the Pontificate of Clement XIII., the second under that of Clement XIY. Thinking, perhaps, that this early success was partly instrumental in his obtaining the important appointment as architect to Blackfriars Bridge, he deposited the silver medal within the foundation-stone. For more than a century it was hidden away beneath the placid waters of the Thames, and being recovered at the recent rebuilding of this bridge, was placed by the Lord Mayor and Corporation of the City of London in the Guildhall Museum. On the opposite page will he found a good engraving of both these medals. On the one side appears the evangelist S. Luke occupied in the art of painting, with the holy angels as onlookers of his skill, and judges of his proficiency, with the emblematic ox below; on the other side are found excellent portraits of Charles Rezzonico, the pious Venetian, who was elected Pope, July 6, 1758, as Clement XIII., whose lovely tomb was sculptured by Canova, and Ganganelli, of a noble family in the Duchy of Urbino, who became Clement XIV. in May 1769. The great arch of 100 feet span was formally opened October 1, 1764, when the Lord Mayor, sheriffs, and aldermen were rowed underneath in the gorgeous city barge. The slow progress of the extensive works at Blackfriars nearly covered the space of ten years. Keen controversy arose in regard to money payments, and the actual shape of the arches. On this last point a variety of letters appeared in the public press; and the great Dr. Johnson himself wrote thrice to the Daily Gazetteer in December 1759, in favour of semi-circular as opposed to the nine elliptical arches exhibited in the actual designs. This little difference of opinion, however, threw two men of distinction into close contact with each other, and ended in the happy formation of a warm friendship that endured for many years. During the long period of construction, other people besides Dr. Johnson issued fierce criticisms on the elliptical arches, and a remarkable BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE DURING CONSTRUCTION. ROBERT MYLNE OF LONDON, F.R.S. 267 poem, entitled the Ghost, published by Charles Churchill in 1763, contains a fair sample of the popular feeling. A capital engraving of the half- completed bridge, with the scaffolding as yet unremoved, was executed by Piranesi of Rome, and forms an appropriate illustration of this Book. Here the actual process of construction is well illustrated, and a suitable memorial preserved for future ages. We see the method by which the youthful architect overcame the scientific difficulties of the elliptical arch, and brought his noble bridge to perfection. A view of the approved design was engraved in 1760, and an engraved plan and elevation, published by R. Baldwin, in the year 1766. Mylne’s method of centering was much commended. Between the arches double Ionic columns were placed against the face of each pier. These columns formed the most characteristic portion of the whole design. Strange to say, in spite of the unusual fact that the actual cost of the Bridge was a trifle less than the estimate of £153,000, great difficulties were raised in regard to payment; and it was not till the year 1766 that a satisfactory settlement was obtained, when the architect received the final remuneration of £300 per annum salary during the execution of the Bridge, 5 per cent, for work done, 1 per cent, on sales and purchases, and £100 per annum for five years attendance at the various official meetings in connection with the bridge works. The total length was 995 feet, and the width 42. After the lapse of one hundred years, greater requirements in waterways, and more width for the increase of traffic, as well as the need of more moderate gradients, caused the removal of the old Bridge in the year 1868, when the present handsome structure was erected at the expense of the Corporation of London. Between the years 1762-5 Robert Mylne erected the well-known S. Cecilia’s Hall, in the city of Edinburgh, designed after the elegant model of the Opera House at Parma, in the sunny plains of Lombardy. Lord Cockburn, in his charming memorials, describes the Hall and its occupants:— S. Cecilia’s hall was the only public resort of the musical world, and besides being our most selectly fashionable place of amusement, was the best and most beautiful concert room I have ever yet seen. And there I have myself seen most of our literary and fashionable gentlemen predominating with their side curls and frills and ruffles and silver buckles, and our stately matrons stiffened in hoops and gorgeous satin, and our beauties with high-heeled shoes, powdered and pomatomed hair, and lofty and composite head-dresses. All this was in the Cowgate, the last retreat now-a-days of destitution and disease. The building still stands, though raised and changed (as to the exterior), and is looked down upon from the South Bridge over the eastern side of the Cowgate Arch. Kincaid also mentions this Hall:— The room is excellently adapted for music, being oval, having a concave ceiling of the same form; the seats are ranged round the room in such a manner as to have a large area 268 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. in the middle. It only remains to add that the sole light of the Hall is from a compara¬ tively small oval light in the centre of the oval ceiling like the single eye of a Cyclops. The amount of light introduced by this one vertical light, like the Pantheon in Rome, is remarkable. On September 8, 1767, he registered his ancestral coat-of-arms in the Lyon Office, Edinburgh, as the heir and direct successor of Robert Mylne of Balfargie, Master Mason to the Crown of Scotland. In the year 1762, he was first brought into connection with the New River, founded in the reign of King James I. by the famous Sir Hugh Myddelton. “ The matter," observes Stowe, with his usual quaintness, “ had been well mentioned though little minded, long debated but never concluded, till courage and resolution lovingly shook hands together, as it appears, in the soul of this no way to be daunted, well-minded gentleman.” In 1767, he was appointed Joint-Engineer, as assistant to Henry Mill, who had been connected with the New River since the year 1692, and died December 26, 1770. In this year he became Chief-Engineer to the Company, and so continued till his death. The first stone of the new offices in Clerkenwell was laid June 28, 1770, and the older portion refaced in 1782. The Old New River Office had been burnt down December 24, 1769. For above forty years he had the chief charge of the most important of the Water Companies of London, residing at the New River Head, and looking after the purity and efficiency of the supply for the rapidly growing Metropolis of the British Empire. After a careful examination of the system of management, every one will agree that the business of the Company was conducted in the best possible way. On his death he was succeeded by his son, who held office for half-a- century. Upon the monumental pedestal, not far from the source of the New River, on an island in the stream, Robert Mylne placed the following inscription Sacred to the Memory of Sir HUGH MYDELTON, Baronet, Whose successful care, assisted by the patronage of his King, conveyed this stream to London. An immortal work, since man cannot more nearly imitate the Deity than in bestowing health. Of the vast number of other works with which his name is connected, it will not be possible to give full details in the space available. We must ROBERT MYLNE OF LONDON , F.R.S. 269 be content with a general outline of his marvellous activity and brilliant career, occupying nearly half-a-century. In the year 1764 he was appointed by the Duke of Portland to build a bridge at Welbeck Abbey; and in the following year erected Almack’s in King Street, S. James’, now known as Willis’ Rooms. The whole of this structure has recently been refaced along the street front. In the year 1766 he was appointed by His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury to be Surveyor to S. Paul’s Cathedral, as well as to the Palace at Croydon, and the Abbey Church of S. Alban’s in Hertfordshire. He also erected a substantial house in Lichfield Street for Dr. Hunter, then famous amongst men of science. In the following year he was appointed by the Dean and Chapter Surveyor to Canterbury Cathedral. In the year 1768 he executed various works for the Bishops of Bangor and Lichfield, and was also employed by the Bishop of Derry on the Bridge of Londonderry in the north of Ireland, as well as by the Marquis of Lome in the west of Scotland. In the year 1770 he began to build the City of London Lying-in Hospital, and made a special survey of Fulham Palace for the Bishop of London, together with his Lordship’s house in S. James’ Square. He surveyed the ecclesiastical property at Croydon and Rochester, and made official reports thereon. He also carried out certain alterations at Tusmore House, in the county of Oxford, and designed some interesting decorative work in the classical style for Wormleybury, Herts. The noble bridge at Blackfriars was now completed, and he was thus enabled to undertake fresh work at a considerable distance from London. In the year 1772 he visited the ancient town of Newcastle, 1 and was appointed by the Lord Bishop of Durham Architect to the southern portion of the new Bridge over the Tyne, while the northern portion was entrusted to the care of John Wooler by the Mayor and Corporation. The two architects worked together, and produced the eighteenth century bridge, which was the joint property of the town and of the ecclesiastical principality of Durham. This handsome structure, which cost nearly £60,000, and was 300 feet long, was removed in 1873. 1 From Mackenzie’s Newcastle. On October 14, 1774, the foundation-stone of the Bishop of Durham’s part of the Tyne Bridge was laid, and the work was conducted by Mr. Mylne, Architect. On July 8, the following year, his first arch was closed in, on which occasion there were great rejoicings in Gateshead. The stones were from a quarry in a field behind Oakwell gate, where the stones were procured to build the steeple of Gateshead Church. The first stone of the Corporation part of the Tyne Bridge was laid by Sir Matthew White Ridley, Bart., on April 25, 1775, amidst a vast concourse of spectators. The stones used in building this part of the bridge were taken from two different quarries, the one situated at Elswick, and the other at S. Anthony’s. The Corporation inserted a medal in the south-east corner of their first new pier:—This stone, being the boundary of the Corporation of Newcastle southward, was laid a.d. 1776, in the Mayoralty of Charles Atkinson, Esq.; W. Cramlington, Sheriff.” 270 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. Here follows an antiquarian letter on the Bridge of Perth :— James Cant to Robert Mylne, F.R.S. Perth, 2 8 th February 1774. Dear Sir, —Please to know that the bridge was built in the reign of Robert Bruce; I had in my custody his order for it a.d. 1329, which I have published. I have also the original contract betwixt the magistrates of Perth and the tutors of Pilshwells, for the liberty of stones from their quarry in our neighbourhood to build the bridge of Perth, dated 1599. This is the bridge which Mr. Mylne built, which was destroyed 1621. You are right in your conjecture that it was John Mylne who built the bridge, and as his successor was also John, you may freely supply the name in the monumental inscription at Perth. I have written to a friend at Linlithgow, and shall in my next advise you of his answer. I was mistaken when I wrote you that Carulden was in West Lothian, it is situated at the mouth of Carron river, about three miles from Linlithgow. I was a few nights ago in company with a gentlemen and his sister, the grandchildren of Alexander Mylne of Carulden, whose father was Provost of Linlithgow, and entertained the Duke of York at his house, and the Duke of Marleburgh, who was then his royal Highness’ page. Mr. Mylne was a member of the Scots Parliament, and had an offer from the Duke of being Receiver-General of the Revenue, which he declined, that he might be at liberty to vote against the Duke’s measures for introducing Popery. Mr. Mylne was a zealous Protestant. The gentleman to whom I am obliged is to give me further accounts of those Mylnes from a lady, a relation of his, to whom he was to write; we shall see if there was any connection betwixt them and the Mylnes of Balfargie. I have conversed with Thomas Mylne, and seen the progress of his descent from a family of Mylnes at Errol, as far back as the Restoration. I see his great-grandfather was a respected man, a noted mason, and lived in our neighbourhood at the Mill of Duppline; but whether or not he is connected with your Mylnes it doth not yet appear. The fact to be proved is precisely this, whether or not James Mylne, mason at New Mill of Duppline, who was born about 1636, and was a feuar at Errol, was of the Mylnes of Balfargie. There is a young lady, Miss Blair at Edinburgh, a grandchild of James Mylne, apothecary in Edinburgh, who was son to James Mylne, feuar in Errol, and mason at Duppline; she claims the propinquity, and stands in the same kin with our Thomas Mylne. I am of opinion it may be found out at Edinburgh if this James Mylne, apothecary, was a relation of your Mylnes of Balfargie,—was his uncle or cousin, &c. If Elizabeth Morse was first cousin of James Mylne the apothecary, then Miss Blair and Thomas Mylne have a little, otherwise not. James Cant. We now give the letters relating to the old Bridge of Glasgow :— Arthur Connell, 1 Lord Provost of Glasgow, to R. Mylne, F.R.S. Glasgow, 5 th September 1774. Sir, —Your friends, I am informed, expect to see you in Edinburgh this week. If time and business allow to extend your jaunt west to this city, it will give me great pleasure. 1 At and. within the Exchange Coffie House of Glasgow, the twentieth day of September One thousand seven hundred and seventy-four years.—Which day convened Arthur Connell, Esq., Lord Provost, William Simpson, Baillie, and James Buchanan, Dean of Guild of the City of Glasgow, Colin Dunlop, Esq. of Carmyle, Colin Rae of Litle- govan, Esq., James Dunlop, younger of Carmyle, Esq., William Murdoch, Wright in Gorballs, and Malcolm M'Leod Taylor there,—all members of the Committee for widening or enlarging the Old Bridge of Glasgow; William Shaw, mason in Glasgow, being also present and attending the meeting. The Committee having reconsidered the proposals given into them by the said William Shaw for widening or enlarging the said Old Bridge, with the minute of the first of August last, subscribed by the said Arthur Connell and the said William Shaw, with respect to taking the opinion of Mr. Robert Mylne, architect in London, as to the propriety of executing any of the four proposals made by the said William Shaw for widening or enlarging the said ROBERT MYLNE OF LONDON , F.R.S. 271 We have under consideration at present the enlarging of the old bridge over the Clyde, about which there are various opinions. As you told me when in London you intended making a visit to your friends in Scotland this summer, and probably would go so far west as Inveraray, we have suspended all proceedings in this our bridge, in expectation of seeing you here, and laying the difficultys of this work before you for your opinion and advice. Your droping me a short line, then, on receipt of this, appointing the day when you think you will be in Glasgow will very much oblige,—Sir, your most obedient humble servant, Arthur Connell. Eobert Mylne, Esq. James Dunlop to R Mylne, F.E.S. Glasgow, 3 rd December 1774. I had the pleasure to receive your letter some time ago, and am much obliged by your friendly attention. I have since seen your elegant plan of an addition to the old bridge, and the scroll of an agreement with Mr. Shaw, for the execution of it. Upon examining the ground on the Gorbal side, it has been found that to make the ascent tolerably easy there will be a necessity for raising the street so high that the damage done to the houses will be Old Bridge, and how far the laying to or joining a New Bridge to the said Old Bridge will he proper, and make a sufficient bridge in point of stability and duration; and the Committee having caused the said Mr. Robert Mylne lately inspect and accurately examine the said Old Bridge and foundations thereof, and he having given it as his opinion that the said foundations are firm and stable; and that a New Bridge of the breadth of ten foot and one half foot of clear gateway may be laid to the said Old Bridge, but that some particular articles in the mode or plan proposed by the said William Shaw, for making the said addition of ten and a half foot behooved to be varied, and some other pieces of work substitute in their place, of all which he, the said Mr. Robert Mylne, was to make a plan, and to give particular instructions with respect to the execution of the foresaid intended additional bridge of ten and a half foot of clear gateway; and the foresaid Committee and the said William Shaw, considering that the plan and directions to be given by the said Robert Mylne for executing the said additional bridge have not yet come to hand, and being desireous to have preparations made for carrying on the work with all expedition, and that for this purpose the said William Shaw has laid down and begun to hew stones for executing the said additional bridge; and it being now agreed betwixt the aforesaid Committee and the said William Shaw, that he shall make and do a new and additional bridge of the breadth of ten foot and one half foot clear, to be joined and laid to the said Old Bridge according to a plan to be made out, and the directions and instructions to be given by the said Mr. Robert Mylne : therefore he, the said William Shaw, hereby undertakes and engages to build and erect the said additional bridge of the breadth afore¬ said, in the precise terms of and agreeable to the foresaid plan to be made out, and the directions to be given by the said Robert Mylne; and in case the execution of the said plan shall require less money than the execution of the plan and proposals made by the said William Shaw to the said Committee, for building the said additional bridge of the breadth of ten and one half foot Then it is agreed that such deduction shall be made from the price at which the said William Shaw proposed to build the said additional bridge of the breadth aforesaid, as the said Robert Mylne shall determine; and, on the other hand, in case the execution of the plan to be made out by the said Robert Mylne shall require, or occasion more expence than the execution of the proposals made by the said William Shaw, for building the said additional bridge of ten and a half foot broad; then, and in that case, the Committee agree the said William Shaw shall receive the difference, as the same shall be ascertained and determined by the said Robert Mylne, sole arbiter, hereby elected by both partys for that purpose, and whatever he shall determine in the premises, or on any differences whatever which may arise betwixt the partys, with respect to the execution of the plan, and directions to be given by him for building the said additional bridge shall be final and concluding to both partys; and it is further agreed that whenever the plan and instructions aforesaid to be made and given by the said Robert Mylne shall come to hand, a formal and legal contract for executing the said additional bridge shall be entered into; it being hereby declared that the price at which the said William Shaw proposed to build and execute the said additional bridge of ten and a half foot broad, and taking down the points of the piers of the old bridge on the upperside thereof to the foundation, that is, as low as the plattform, was, one thousand two hundred and fourty-five pounds sterling. In testimoney whereof these presents are signed by the said Arthur Connell as prases of the foirsaid Committee and by their appointment, and by the said William Shaw, at place, day, month, and year of God first beforewritten. (Sic Sub.) Arthur Connell. William Shaw. . 272 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. very great; indeed, so great that our funds are by no means equal to indemnify the proprietors. The gentlemen of the Committee have desired me to ask your opinion of the practicability of lowering the great arch next the Gorbals, which appears to be the only way to reconcile all parties. Our people say, that from experience it has been found that the ice and floods always come to the other side, though, from reason, I agree with you in thinking it should be otherwise. If this, however, is the case, the danger from contracting that arch will not be so great. By-the-bye, is there any possibility of lowering that arch without contracting it. Shaw seems willing to undertake to lower the arch, but we will not think of allowing him without your approbation. Upon the whole, my dear sir, I am afraid there is no other way by which all parties can be reconciled; and carrying this matter into execution will be of great service to the town and country in general, and to myself in particular ; and if once we allow people to cool, we may not perhaps for a long time have another opportunity. I beg, therefore, your advice upon the alteration of the plan, not as a proper one, but as the only one our situation permits us to receive. It will make me very happy to be informed that you are of opinion it can be carried into execution in this way. . . . Glasgow, 9 th January 1775. Dear Sir, —I am favoured with your letter of the 25th December, and am very happy to observe that the information of the ice keeping mostly to the north in the river Clyde, near Glasgow, may in some degree alter your opinion with regard to the expediency of lowering the large arch next the Gorbals, which, as I hinted to you before, will be of the utmost consequence to all concerned. As you desire, I have sent you by Lord Frederick Campbell, who leaves this to-morrow, the plans and papers you formerly made out. Upon your own plan, the declivity of the street is marked on the Gorbal side by the pencilled line BA, the street coming to a level at A ; and on the Glasgow side by the pencilled line CD. The great point we wish for, is to lower the great arch, so as to lessen the ascent to the bridge, without being obliged to raise the street of the Gorbals. It will be very obliging how soon you can return the plan, &c., with your opinion, as the season comes on apace. Accept of my best thanks for the attention you have been so kind as to pay to my request, and any opportunity of showing my gratitude will give me very great pleasure.—In the meantime, I am, truly, Dear Sir, your most obedient servant, James Dunlop. Glasgow, 3rd February 1775. I wrote you some time ago, and as you desired, sent the plans and papers concerning the bridge, with the addition as you directed, by Lord Frederick Campbell, which I hope you have received. You are no doubt much hurried at this season of the year, and can but ill spare time for so trifling a business as this ; it would be of great consequence to us, how soon you can return the plan with the proposed amendments, as the season is now advancing; and after the plan comes, there are some little preliminaries to settle before the work can begin. I once more ask pardon for giving you all this trouble, and beg you will believe me, truly, James Dunlop. Glasgow, 9 th March 1775. I received your obliging letter some time ago, and your plan of the old bridge, with the amendments on it, is since come to hand, which gives entire satisfaction to all concerned. Upon laying this plan before Mr. Schaw, he asks what the subscribers think a very exorbitant sum for the execution of it—no less than £1050—a sum far beyond the funds for the purpose. You know his estimate on his own plan was £1250 ; and I remember you said you thought the difference of expense between yours and his could not be great. The imagine Mr. Schaw wishes to take the advantage. I shall be glad to have your answer in course if convenient,—And I am very truly, Dear Sir, your most obedient servant, name. The sum, I am afraid, is more suited to their funds than to your merit, and in my humble opinion, you are well entitled to as much from the town. I should not be so indelicate as to tell you the situation of these funds, were it not that the town-clerk had represented them so high. The fact is, that supposing all their subscriptions good, they have only £1350, and are obliged by their agreement with Mr. Shaw to pay him £1340. Allow me to wish you a good journey,—And believe me always, Dear Sir, your most obedient servant, He also surveyed Inverary Castle for the Duke of Argyll, and made a professional examination of Garrow Bridge. He took this opportunity of remaining sometime in the kingdom of Scotland, and was everywhere well received. The Corporation of Glasgow presented him with a handsome silver salver. send a piece of silver plate which they beg Mr. Mylne’s acceptance of, as a present from the city of Glasgow, as expressive of the sense the Magistrates and City Council have of Mi-. Mylne’s good offices to that Corporation. For this further mark of favour he expressed his “ unfeigned and grateful ” thanks. The inscription is in the following terms :— . . . Thomas Mylne’s grandfather, who was a wright at Duppline (whose father was a Mason), was employed by contract with the magistrates to build the council-house, pack- 274 THE MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. house, and clerk’s chamber. He has been a man of figure, and ingenious, as the wrights of Perth were not employed. It seems originality has been characteristic of the Mylnes of this country. I’m ready to believe that your family and theirs have been the same at a distant period. . . . The account of the Mylnes of Caridden, I have from my very good friend, Collector Craigie of the Customs at Perth, a cousin of Craigie of Glendoicks, and of Craigie of Kilgraston ; by his mother he is a grandchild of Mylne of Caridden. When he entered Mason in the lodge at Edinburgh, his aunt told him that it became him to be a Freemason, as he was sprung of Masons. I’m apt to believe that this is presumptive proof of his descent from your house. Enclosed you have an account of these Mylnes, which I received from Mr. Craigie. And to show you that I did not forget the inscription at Linlithgow, you have enclosed two letters from my friend Mr. Stewart, at Linlithgow, by which you see the builder of the Bridge of Dee was not a Mylne. It was indeed a barbarity more than Gothic to destroy such a fine cross. If I shall have the pleasure to see you at Perth, when you come to Pitlour, the seat of Colonel Skene, I shall show you some of the heads that were on the cross, built in the front of some new houses. I believe either you or your brother would have given triple the money for that fine building, had ye known its history. There is a gentleman in this town, Maxwel of Laikiebank, in Fiffe, who remembers to have seen Robert Mylne of Balfargie, and says that he had an aunt, who sometimes resided at Balfarg with her aunt, who was Lady Balfargie, whose name was Wemyss, a daughter of Wemyss of Fingask. Mr. Maxwel is yet a vigourous man, although after eighty years.— I am, with esteem, Dear Sir, your most obedient humble servant, James Cant. P.S .—I had almost forgot to tell you that about a month ago, after the spring inundation, another pillar was discovered on the bank of Almond, in the same place. ... At the bottom of the pillar was found an earthen pot, broken in pieces before it could be taken out. It is above an inch in thickness. It is shaped like a jar, with a narrow mouth, and stood upon a pedestal, four square, about a foot diameter, with a turned up selvege above an inch thick, of the same clay, well-burnt. Below this was an oblong square piece of lead, about half an hundredweight, like unto one of our common bars of lead. On one of the sides is the following date, which has puzzled all our antiquaries:— It appears to be Roman, and I apprehend that the Romans had a station at this place, when they engaged and defeated Galgacus, at the foot of the Grampian Mountains, under Agricola the Proconsul, who was shortly after recalled by Domitian, as Tacitus, his son-in- law, informs us. The pot is not like the common urns ; it had two circular handles, about two inches in length, and about one inch diameter ; it stood upon three feet, about the same length and dimensions with the handles. There was found in the same place the handle of a sword, almost consumed with rust; it was hollow, and filled with wood, to which it is likely the sword or scymater had been affixed. . . . Early in the year 1774 he was made Treasurer of Heriot’s Hospital, Edinburgh, and on his return to London was appointed to build Addington Lodge, Croydon, for Alderman Trecothick, Lord Mayor of London in 1770, —from 1807 the country residence of the Archbishops of Canterbury. In the year 1775 he was appointed Clerk of the Works by the Governors of Greenwich Hospital, and executed important improvements in this famous home for the worthy pensioners of the Royal Navy. He also sounded the ROBERT MYLNE OF LONDON, F.R.S. 275 harbour and examined the bridge at Great Yarmouth, as well as the bridge of Kelso, and in the following year made an official report on the general condition of the ancient fabric of the Cathedral Church of the Prince Bishops of Durham. In the year 1780 fresh work opened out, and Robert Mylne made a survey of the 'Great Tower of Rochester, erected a large house for his own use in New Bridge Street, Blackfriars, which afterwards became the York Hotel, and was taken down in 1863 to make room for the present Ludgate Hill Station of the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway. He also journeyed to the north, and completed the four large rooms at Inverary Castle for the Duke of Argyll, besides giving valuable advice in regard to his Grace’s property in the neigh¬ bourhood of London. We here insert one of the bills as a specimen. 1 1 His Grace the Duke of Argyll, for Business done in London. 1779. Brought from a former page, April 28. Went to Twickenham and examined and inspected Mr. Gilles’s villa—waiting on Mr. Gilles in the city for purchase, &e., and expenses, ..... 30. Waiting on his Grace about a villa near Old Windsor. Called on Mr. Christie, agreed with him for taking it. Waiting on his Grace twice thereafter on the same subject, . 1780. June 30. Surveyed the house in Marlborough Street at the request of Mr. Ryder, to see and ascertain if the repairs had been done by Mr. Brilly, the tenant, and waiting on Mr. Ryder, .......... Five per cent, commission on the following bills of work done at Argyll house, and in the new offices next the Meuse. Brickwork by N. Maycock from January 1779 to June 1780, mending, tyling, &c., ....... 1782. Novr. 1. Attending on Mr. Ryder for consultation on value of ground rent of Lady Greenwich, &c., and 4. and the purchase thereof, and also on the house in Marlborough Street as to what was best to be done with it about letting, repairs, tenants, &c., .... March 1. To 5 per cent, commission on the following bills of work done in finishing the study, lobby, &c., at Argyll house, and cleaning and repairing the front gates, screen wall, airy, &c.:— No. 1. Mason work by Mr. Dival, . 2. Brick work by Mr. Clark, . 3. Plaster work by Mr. Papswortli, 4. Carpenter and joiner work by Mr. Wyat, 5. Painting by Mr. Newman, . 6. Smith work by Mr. Clark, . 7. Smith work by Mr. Brodie, 8. Chimney piece by Mr. Coade, 9. Carpenter and joiners work by Mr. Stevenson, 10. Plumber’s work by Mr. Banner, £10 4 21 16 26 10 8 5 8 1 8 16 1 13 6 16 151 8 20 15 Settled 1st March 1783. Bill made out and sent March 16th, 1783. 20)£264 6 0 £16 0 7 2 17 0 1 1 0 £19 18 7 0 10 6 42 12 6 1 11 6 In 1776, during the execution of the works at Inverary Castle, John, 5th Duke of Argyll, presented the distinguished architect -with a fine portrait of his Duchess, Elizabeth Gunning, Dowager Duchess of Hamilton. This interesting picture was restored to the family by Robert W. Mylne, F.R.S., and given to George, 8th Duke of Argyll, by his Grace’s sons on his 65th birthday, April 30, 1888. tf..- Sir,—I am much inclined to have some more Balustrades on the Bridge here, as it appears to me that so long an extent of solid parapet looks a little dead and heavy. I think they may be placed either on the Crown or Centre of the Arches, or on the top of the Pillar which forms the abuttment. Let me know whether you approve of either of these alterations, which, I think, would make the Bridge look lighter and better. You must send me an answer by the return of the Post, as the work is drawing to a conclusion, and it will soon be too late to make any alteration.—I am, Sir, your humble servant, Argyll. In the year 1783 Robert Mylne made an official report for the House of Commons on the general state of the mines at Amlwch in Anglesea, and also reported upon Beaumaris, Conway, Shrewsbury, and Dorchester; while in the next year he found special employment at Southampton Dock, the Isle of Wight, Gosport, and Portsmouth. Hampshire just now received his particular attention, but the fact is there was hardly any portion of Great Britain which did not, at one time or another, come under his professional notice. In the year 1786 he made various alterations for the Duke of Argyll at Rosneath Castle, 1 the plans for which had been previously submitted for his 1 His Grace the Duke of Argyll on Account of Business done in Scotland. 1773. May 1. Gave a sketch for a post and chain to go round the moat of the Castle, August 29. Sent to Inverary a design for ornamenting the ceiling of a circular dressing-room, bespeak¬ ing the papie machice for it in London, and sending the same to Inverary, Paid Carriage for do., 1774. March 14. Gave a design of the new front of the town and port of Inverary towards the Castle, May 6. Sent to Inverary a drawing of a large building or shed then erecting there, with alterations in the roof and upper parts of it, and directions on the construction thereof, 1775. August 30. Nine days on a journey from Edinburgh to Inverary, stay there, and returning as far as Glasgow. Various consultations during four days’ stay at Liverary on the scite of dairy farm, a lodge at Garron Bridge, and many other matters in the Castle and offices, Money disbursed in expences of travelling on the said journey, .... Oct. 27. Wrote his Grace, and sent from London a drawing for iron railings round the moat of Castle, with directions for its construction, ...... Deer. 6. Gave a design (consisting of an elevation section of two plans) for a dairy farmhouse, with a large room over it, proposed to be erected at Kilbride, on the side of Loch Fyne, ,, Gave a design (of two elevations plain), section of a lodge and gate for the entrance into the park at Garron Bridge, ........ 1776. Feby. 19. Gave a plan, with elevations and section on one sheet, for making the buildings behind the garden into a compleat farmyard, ....... August 29. Eight days on a journey from Edinburgh, stay at Inverary, and returning as far as Glasgow. Various consultations, during three days’ stay, on the scite of a new kirk, a new approach from the town to the Castle, new covered way from Castle to the offices, and several other matters about the Castle offices, farm roads and grounds, Money disbursed in expences of travelling in the said journey, Gave a design of four drawings for altering the pidgeon-house into a round temple, £1 1 0 5 5 0 0 10 8 £6 16 8 3 3 0 1 1 0 18 18 0 8 4 3 2 2 0 16 16 0 8 8 0 5 5 0 /70 13 11 16 16 0 7 15 0 12 12 0 ROBERT MYLNE OF LONDON\ F.R.S. 2 77 Grace’s inspection, and some particulars of which will be found below after the account of the works at Inverary. He also executed various works at the Bridge over the Menai Straits, in North Wales. 1777. Jan. 15. Waited on liis Grace in town, gave a long drawing, wherein Garron Bridge, the two lodges, and fence-wall, fa i*i [ ^iT The difficulty in the way of composition in the case of this book is greater than at first appears. Much of the labour expended is only fruitful in producing a negative result. Many a folio of ancient record, in contracted mediaeval Latin or ill-spelt English, has to be searched with care and skill on the chance of meeting with interesting notices of the royal architects and their works, and yet in the end none such are found. The grand total of result is only this : that there is proof positive that nothing was done by the King or his architect at this particular time. The kingdom of Scotland, however, is well circumstanced in one respect, in regard to any antiquarian inquiry of the kind. For the great mass of all the ancient documents, relative to the middle ages, are collected together in the Register House in Edinburgh, and are in the safe custody of skilled experts, keen on their due preservation. They are also of easy access to an intelligent public. The various imperfections in these collections are due to the wild recklessness of days of past trouble, or the disastrous shipwreck in the Firth of Forth. Yet the vast collections of early MSS. in the actual possession of the Government sadly need sorting, arranging, and cataloguing; and there appears to be a strange difficulty in regard to the due provision of the necessary funds for this purpose. Who can say what valuable discoveries might not yet be made amongst the MSS. already stored in Her Majesty’s Register House ? I have only now got a spare hour to review my visit to Aberdeen. I had a letter of introduction from Dr. Stuart to Mr. Ligertwood, sheriff-clerk, who introduced me to Mr. Robb, depute town-clerk—Mr. Gordon, the town-clerk, being absent at Glasgow. Mr. Robb supplied me with the volumes I needed in the private room of Mr. Gordon. I searched first a Minute Book of Sasines from 1579 to 1620. But on going to the record I found it included other volumes than those referred to in the minute book; I then searched the record, for the period indicated in the notes herewith sent. I inquired as to a Town Rental Book, but the clerk said he knew of none. I looked over all the presses and shelves, but found none. | I searched the Deeds from 1622 to 1624 inclusive, but met with nothing to quote. I compared the printed extracts with the record and found them substantially correct. Neither by inquiry nor search did I learn anything of the Treasurer’s Account for 1620-4. I searched burgess list from 1580 to 1632, but found no James Mylne, nor any Robert, accept those already noted by Mr. Shaw, which, of course, I did not extract, as the entries throw no further light upon 302 APPENDIX. There is no separate register of burgesses till 1637. Before that time they are entered in the minutes of council—sometimes among other matters, and sometimes gathered into lists at the beginning or end of volumes. The clerk allowed me the use of the premises in the evening also, so that I had full time, and had no opportunity and no desire for idling and sight-seeing. Sometimes these ancient archives are far from complete. We take, as an example, the existing records of some of the old corporate towns : in Brechin, a royal burgh, the register of Baptisms only begins in the year 1612, and the other records begin soon after. Of Montrose the same is also true. At Forfar, the Burgh Records commence 1660, while . the Commissary Books giving contracts, &c., begin in 1594. The Sheriff-Clerk writes :_ Forfar, 4 th October 1858. I received your letter of the 20th ult., when I was absent from Forfar, and I could not reply to it till my return. I find that there are no records in my possession which are likely to give you the information you desire nor can I suggest to you any channel, beyond an examination of the register in Edinburgh, which offers any prospect of a successful search. The Parish Register of Inverness begins 1604, Elgin 1609, Forres 1675. In ancient towns like Perth, where the records go back a long way, there are often awkward gaps at critical periods. In this city the Register of Acts of Council commence as early as 1500, but there is a gap from 1641 to 1644, and again from 1647 to 1652. The Sasines begin 1544, with a gap 1601-1620. The difficulty, moreover, of reading and arranging for search the great mass of existing documents is oftentimes considerable, as may be seen by the subjoined letters. Thomas Thomson to R, W. Mylne, F.R.S. Edinburgh, 26 th February 1863. I now send you a contribution to your family history. It is taken from a curious MSS. of Robert Mylne, writer in Edinburgh, belonging to my friend John C. Bowall, Esq., and consists of an alphabetically- arranged extract from the Minute Book of the Privy Seal Register. If you think it worth while you can obtain copies or extracts from any of the resignations, contracts, remissions for slaughter, charters, or other writs contained in it, as the Privy Seal Record exists from 1497 down to 1651, and is a very well kept register and easily read comparatively. I once examined it from 1st July 1590, vol. lxi., down to 21st October 1605, vol. lxxiw—13 volumes, many years ago, when searching for letters of legitimations, and found it to contain letters of gift, pensions, remissions, escheats, or forfeitures for crimes, such as slaughter and adultery, letters of exemption from attending the army, presentations to churches, &c. &e. It is a most curious record, and if there is any foundation for your monumental pedigree, it is a likely place to find corroboration of it. Indeed, with the single exception of the Privy Council Register, I know of no record likely to contain royal letters or grants to Kings’ Masons. The Minute Book from which the excerpts are taken is not well kept, and, I fear, does not contain the Christian names of the Mylnes, otherwise R. Mylne would have always inserted them, which he seldom does. This, of course, with the want of dates, will make it necessary to search the principal record volume by volume, as I did, and that is no difficult task, as I was a very young antiquary when I did it many years ago. You will see that the extracts have been made by a party who read the record from the beginning, and that the first are the earliest in date. You would of course require to employ Brechin for the two first pages, as at these dates the decyphering of the record is not so easy as later when my search was made. Some of the entries promise to reward investigation, such as p. 4, Masons of Dundee licensed to choose a deacon. This is a royal licence applied for and obtained by your earliest ancestor yet proved; John Mylne was certainly living in Dundee, and in extensive employment along with G. Thomson there. In another letter, this same writer speaks of “ the Government Printing of Records, soon to begin with the Privy Seal Register,” but fears that the complete result “ will not be given to the public for years ” to come. Then he adds :— APPENDIX. 303 There are records in the register office which will never be printed, which are very prolific of family history—I mean the Books of Acts and Decreets ; all our ancestors were litigious, and their names appear either as personally engaged in lawsuits, or as tenants of land or witnesses in suits. This record is unfortunately very bulky and has no index. It was in it that I found the proof of connection which secured to Mr. Murray of Philiphaugh his Baronetcy. On another occasion he writes:— I am glad you have interested Mr. Adam of the Council Chambers in your family. I find him indefatigable and intelligent in all such matters, and he is always finding something old worth knowing. I have now read over all the Edinburgh Protocol Books from 1500 to 1600, and not one Mylne of your family occurs in the series. Mr. Marwick is interested in the Convention of Burgh Becords. We just give one other example of the terrible fruitlessness of some portions of the work which it has been necessary to undertake :— Rev. W. MacLeod to B, W. Mylne, F.R.S. Edinburgh, 13 tli February 1885. I duly received your letter of the 7th inst., but waited until the search was finished before replying. The number of volumes from 1599 to 1609 is thirteen. As there is no minute book for these we have searched them page by page. The result, I regret to say, is nil, or nearly so. The only instance found is stated below:— Secretary’s Register of Sasines : The Lothiaxs. Yol. III. fol. 36—21 st June 1606.—Andro Mylne is witness to a renunciation by Robert Stewart, bailie of Linlithgow, to George Cornwall, also one of the bailies there.—Dated 7th June 1606. David Laing, the learned Librarian to the Signet, was always most kind and courteous in giving aid and assistance from time to time in the preparation of this Book, and the following anecdote, illustrating his vigour and activity at the age of 86, is from the pen of A. Kerr, sometime of H.M. Office of Works :— As to Mr. Laing, he is very well, and as lively and active minded as ever, and is to be found either at his residence, Portobello, or the Signet Library. I have one incident to tell you of him which, I think, you will like :—In October last (1877) he fixed a day to make a long-deferred visit to Loch Leven and examine the buildings upon the island of St. Serf, along with some local friends. The previous night was very stormy, and I was to meet him at the Waverley Station at 8.30. The morning continued dark and stormy, with severe wind and sleet. I thought there was no use going, but if Mr. Laing appeared I would never forgive my absence. I went, and there was he, all ready waiting in the station. The journey was a stormy one, snow falling heavily; we called at Mr. Anderson’s, Petty Hill; a gentlemen there played the American organ beautifully, and sang the beautiful hymn “ O God of Bethel,” Mr. Laing joining in singing. On getting to the Loch, the storm was so severe and the water so broken that the boatmen would not go out. Mr. Laing came close up to me and said, “We must not be beat.” I 11 a short time the water got more smooth, and the first to enter the boat was David Laing; just think of the pluck of a man of 86. I am very much pleased that I have the faculty of veneration for such a person ! Three years later, in January 1880, Sir James Marwick, Town-Clerk of Glasgow, writes :— I shall send the salver (given to Robert Mylne by the Corporation) by the Caledonian Railway at once. Or, if you would prefer, I could restore it to you in proprid persond. I am quite sure that there is but one opinion among all persons of like tastes with yourself, as to the loss which Scotland, and England too, has sustained by the death of our old friend David Laing. It is much to be regretted that his unique collection should have been dispersed; and I think there is little doubt, had he anticipated death, he would have taken means to secure that his Library should have been offered to one or other of the Scotch Universities, or Public Libraries. I have no doubt the funds would have been raised in Glasgow to present the books to the University here. As it is, those who knew the old gentleman best say that could he have foreseen the enormous prices realised he would have been more proud of that than of anything else. 304 APPENDIX. Two letters, received by the Author with grateful thanks, must close this Appendix Major-General Sir H. Ponsonby to the Rev. R. S. Mylne Windsor Castle, December 17, 1891. Dear Sir, In reply to your letter I am commanded by the Queen to inform you that Her Majesty will be happy to accept the dedication of your work The Master Masons to the Grov-n of Scotland.—I have the honour to be. Sir, your obedient Servant, Henry P. Ponsonby. M. Isidorus Carini to the Rev. R. S. Mylne. Bibliotheca Apostolica Yaticana. Illustrissime Domine, —Librum tuum Pontifex Maximus libenter accipiet, in hac Bibliotheca Apostolica servaturum. Propterea et ego, quern ipse Bibliothecas su;e pnefecit, non vulgares de hac voluntate tua gratias ago. \ ale in multos annos, ac scito me tibi esse addictissimum, et obsequeutissimum. Dabam XYI., Kcd. Feb. 1892. Isidorus Carini, Prafcctus. PEDIGREE OF THE FAMILY OF FRANCHE. JOHN FRANCHE, d. 1489, buried in Linlithgow Church. Thomas Tranche, Master Mason to the Bishop of Aberdeen for building the Bridge of Dee, Master Mason to King James V., 1535, d. circa 1550. ! John. Robert. Thomas, d. 1530, buried in Aberdeen Cathedral. PEDIGREE OF THE FAMILY OF MYLNE, MASTER MASONS TO THE CROWN OF SCOTLAND. JOHN MYLNE, 1. Master Mason to James III., 1481 (?) d. before 1513. | Alexander, Abbot of Cambuskenneth, Robert Mylne, 2. Master of Works to the Bridge of Dunkeld, Provost of Dundee, First President of the Court of Session, d. 1549. d. 1548. Robert. James. Andrew. Thomas Mylne, 3. Master Mason to Queen Mary (?) I John Mylne, 4. Master Mason to James VI., Master of the Lodge of Scone, d. 1621. John Mylne, 5. Master Mason to Charles I., Master of the Lodge of Scone, d. 1657. l John Mylne, Alexander Mylne, 6. Master Mason to Mason and Sculptor, Charles I. and Charles II., d. 1643. Captain and Master of Pioneers, &c., Robert Mylne, Principal Master Gunner, 7. Master Mason to Charles II., d. 1667. d. 1710. I I_:_^ Marion, I III! I I ' I m. Sir W. Thomson. William Mylne, John, David. George. Robert. Charles. James. Thomas. 8. Architect, d. 1700. Issue. Issue. Issue, d. 1728. _ ! William, Thomas Mylne, Sailor. 9. Architect, One son who died d. 1763. unmarried. | Robert Mylne, William, 10. Architect and Engineer, Architect, d. 1811. d. unmarried, _| 1790. Robert, William C. Mylne, Soldier, 11. Architect and Engineer, d. unmarried, d. 1863. at sea. |_ Robert W. Mylne, William C., Evkrard, 12. Architect and Engineer, Engineer, Solicitor, d. 1890. d. 1876. d. 1865, | unmarried. Rev. Robert Scott Mylne. William John Home Mylne. PE D William. One Son, d. unm. JOHN MVLi] JOHN MYLNE of Dun Builder of the Bridge of ] ; d. 1621, buried at Pert; John of Perth, = Isobel Wilson. Master Mason to Charles I., 1631, d. 1657. John of Edinburgh b. 1611. d. 1667, Master Mason to Charles I. and II I Euphemia. = T. Scott. Agnes Eraser. = Janet Primrose. = Janet Fowlis. Marion. = Sir W. Thomson. William, b. 1662, d. 1728. Elizabeth. = D. Morse. Leaves some Property to Peter of Musselburgh. ,’ID. George, d. unm. Robert. = Margaret Charles. -Tames, Neilson. I Merchant im Barbados. 1 Robert, 1 Margaret, 1 1 Charles, Five Daughters. DJ d. unm. d. unm. settled in Ireland. Thomas, = Elizabeth John, Margaret. = John MacLeish. Anne. = Tho. Kirkwood. d. 1763. I Duncan. Alexander, d. young. Robert, Thomas, d. young. I Robert of London, b. 1733, d. 1811, S. Paul’s. = Mary Home , 2 770. b. 1748, d. 1797. Robert, b. 1779, d. 1798, unn I William, I. unm., 1790, buried in Dublin. Anne. = Sir John Gordon, Bart., of Earlston. William = Mary S. Coxhead, 4 Maria, Emilia, Chadwell, 1813. b. 1791, b. 1772, b. 1773, b. 1781. I d. 1874. d. 1794. d. 1798, d. 1863. Harriet, = D. Campbell. b. 1774, d. 1834. I Robert = Hannah illiam, 1852. Scott, b. 1817, I b. 1826, d. 1890. d. 1885. W William = Augusta Chadwell, Miles. b. 1821, d. 1876. Everard, b. 1825, d. 1865, unm Emily. = C. Riving" Rev. Robert Scott. I William John = Jean Ellen- Home. 1890. Oakley. I John Everard Home. 1 Apparently father of Admiral Sir David Milne, father of Sir Alexander Milne, Bart., Admiral of the Fleet .—Sec Burke. 3 Sister to Sir Everard Home, Bart. r R E E 5 o? Dundee. HELEN KENNEREIS. I Barbara. = Alex. Peiris. = Anna Vegilman. Barbara. Margaret. = Thos. Storie, Wright. 1643, d. No Issue. 1 ert of Balfargie, 1633, d. 1710, ter Mason to the wn, 1668-1710. der of Holyrood. Elizabeth Meikle of Cramond. i i Alexander, Barbara. d. young (’!). ARET HART. 1 Thoma.. Janet.=James Smith of Whitehill. Anne. = | R ' Margaret. = T. Anderson. Mary. = L. Anderson. Eliz!beth. = John Dobie. Mary. David. Peter of Musselburgh. David. 1 John, d. before 1800. Elizabeth. 3 = Rob. Selby. = Col. Duncan. Charlotte, = C. Greaves. Leonora, = P. Gaussen. b. 1785. b. 1788. Bower. = C. D. Campbell. Their daughter Jane married Admiral Sir Charles Thompson, Bart. Her nephew, John F. Mackarness, became Bishop of Oxford, and George, Bishop of Argyll. PEDIGREE JVlYIi^ES of ]VIuirton and JVIglnefield. THOMAS MYLNK, = M .rii§e_ ®i A let. I M'Al.lllM stsssssr = Agnes Fletcher James I’ikrsoxe of Kasterloilf. S~ cHS- 1 ST •'tli October 1840. served heir to his ltovnl Navy x. - James KlNXAlliD, d. heforu 1088. ISABELLA, b. 1840. 1838. All lout in the" Dunbar ” olf Sydnoy N.S.W., Army. 1 104lh Regiment. Queensland. 201b August 1857. W. It, Kkrmack. C.K„ 1 il. of W8, b. 1853. ^BijjhtHon. ike Loin 0. 1- REIIEHICA, TawNSUEND WERE G. W. Mocltree Vicar of Addington. ::el “ William Sydney, Ariiutoxot Klikaueth Graham Tiiomar Anne Ethel = Wm. Ooilvie HkiIena. Nina Jaminv William Elisabeth Kmelia Jane Margaret Aunks. Katherine James Elizabeth, Kmelia Mart 1802, Mtnmut Doiious, Ernest, Hkrdrrt, Douglas Maude. of Jolgilhar, la 1871. Beatmce, 1e 1470, Kkrmack. Frances, Mart, Fletcher, Roberts, b. 1584. Isabella, Graham, b. 1870. Korkrir, ll 1883. fss: sis: wsl. .gb, jgbsu “ribr* “wa— * Graham*town. South Africa, was named after thoir son. 1 Helen, daughter of .'Eneas Maokay, married, brstly. Sir David MoNcrikefe, Bart., of Moncriotfe; and secondly, Georoe Karl oe Bradkoris 1 llis eldest daughter married Sir William I-istos Foulis, Bari., of Colinton PEDIGREE OF ROBERT MYLNE, PROVOST OF DUNDEE. I Robert. = Margaret Kinloch. I Robert. ROBERT MYLNE, = ELIZABETH OBITER. Provost of Dundee. I d. 1549. 1 .Tames, = Andrew, = Catherine Guild. d. before I Burgess of Dundee, I 1548. Edinburgh, and | Linlithgow. James. Robert, Andrew, = Janet Nairne. Surgeon, Burgess = Agnes Reid. of Linlithgow, Provost, 1565, d. 1596. i I William. Thomas, Master Mason (?). Andrew, Surgeon, Burgess of Linlithgow, d. 1611. = Janet Jamieson. Thomas, Surgeon, Burgess of Glasgow. I Andrew, Surgeon, Burgess of Glasgow. I Thomas, alive in 1643. Surgeon, Burgess of Glasgow. I Andrew, Surgeon, Burgess of Linlithgow. I Alexander, = Elizabeth Bell. Robert. Merchant, Burgess of Linlithgow, d. 1646. Provost, 1618. I Alexander. I Sir John- of Carriden, Kt., b. 1627. Christian, only d. of Alex. Bruce. Alexander, William, Andrew, b. 1633, b. 1634. b. 1637. d. before 1659. Alexander, = Margaret Ramsay. Provost of I Linlithgow. Alexander, Five other Sons, sold Carriden, d. in Spain, 1710. I Sir Robert = of Barnton, Bart., in 1686. Provost of Linlithgow. Will registered, 1721. Jean, d. of Lord Elphinstone. Sir Charles, d. 1764. Mary, d. of Sir Wm. Drummond of Hawthornden. Sir John, Jane. = Sir W. Drummond Governor of of Hawthornden. Cowes Castle, d. unm. 1791, aged 89. 1 For account of disbursements on his estate, see Maxwell’s Old Dundee, vol. ii., p. 300. 2 The witnesses at his baptism were Earl of Linlithgow, Earl of Wigton, Sir John Hamilton of Maidland. THE CAMPBELL PEDIGREE. NEIL CAMPBELL, = HENRIETTA CAMPBELL. Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, 172S, and Chaplain to George II., d. 1761, Patrick, b. 1713, d. 1737. Colin, b. 1718. Neil, b. 1721. Duncan,•= Rebecca Campbell. b. 1726. = Elizabeth Mumford. Ann, b. 1712. Mumford. = Fleet. William Newel. nil ' i i 1 Dugald, John, = Mary Duncan, = Harriet Henrietta. = Col. Campbell. Mary. = Capt. Wilcox. Ann. = Peate. Launce. = Capt. Glover b. 1760,’ b. 1765, Doyle. b. 1774. I Mylne. d. at sea. d. 1841. ! i i Charles = Bower C. Harriet. = Col. R. Home. Mary = Edward Dugald. I . Mylne. Alexivina. Hall Lloyd. John. = Mai a Davis. Duncan Archibald, d. 1829. William, = M. Hilton, d. 1845. d. 1880. Archibald Frederick Duncan. William. Harriet = Rev. C. Miller. Julia. William = Constance Dugald. 1879. Julia I Tuson. Charles. = Eliz.abf.th I Smith. Margaret Constance. I I Elsie. Maybury. THE SCOTT PEDIGREE. JAMES SCOTT of Chigwell, Essex (?). ! John of Northend, Fulham. 1 Thomas, M.P. for Bridport, b. 1722, d. 1S16. Samuel. William, = b. 1730, 1 d. 1785. | - —. Jeffreys, b. 1743, d. 1835. James, d. unm., 1793, aged 60. Monument in Hammersmith Church. Anne, = only child. Sir John Hales of Coventry. 1 James, = Martha, d. of M.P., 1 T. Winter. of Rotherfield. | = Margaret Snell. 1 1 George — Hannah Lucy, d. of of Ravenscourt, Harry Stoe, d. 1816. J.P. = Hannah, d. of Samuel | Gibson, d. 1884, aged 96. James Winter of Rotherfield, J.P., D.L., M.P. 1 1 r 1 Lucy, William. Thomas, George, d. of Rev. d. 1893, Colonel in Sir S. C. aged S3. Royal Jervoise. Cavalry. 1 Septimus, Indian Judge. 1 Alfred, Major, 1st Dragoons. 1 Rev. Aubrey John, Rector of Tytherley, Hants. 1 Lucy, d. unm., 1886, aged 77. 1 Marianne. = F. Mangles. d. 1878. | Georgiana, d. 1891. 1 1 = Rev. A. Mangles, Jessy Emma. = C. J. Stevens. Hannah, = Robert \Y. Mylne, Vicar of Horsell, d. 1885. j d. 1890. 1 Frederick S. 1 1 Rev. William. Arthur. 1 1 Lucy. Mary. = D. Elwe 1 Grace. = M. Wilkinson. 1 1 1 Rev. W. J. Home. Jessy Robert S. Louisa. i 1 1 Walter Rev. 1 Archibald Lucy Katherine = Sir Elinor. = Major.-Gen. Dora. = Capt. Wellesley, of Charles T., Gertrude. Maria. C. H. Sir C. D’Oyly. R.. W. Spicer. d. of Lord Queensland. Vicar of Miller, Charles S. John’s, Bart. J.P., D.L., Wellesley. 1 Forres, N.B. b. 1833, Fellow of All Souls’ College. Son of the first Duke of Wellington. INDEX. Aberdeen Bridge, 38. _Corporation of, 14, 55, 113. -— Tolbootli, 112. - W. Elphinstone, Bishop of, 9, 37. Accounts of Lord High Treasurer, 1473, 1. Act of Union, 245. Adam, John, 256, 259. Agreements, Mylne and Law, Mylne and Grinlay, 237. Alexander, Anthony, Master of Work, 115, 130. Allison, Robert, Grand Clerk, 130. Angus, Archibald, Earl of, 5. Annandale, Lord, 150, 232. Anne of Denmark, Queen of England, 62. Anstrutlier, Sir J., 246. Architect, use of title, 253. Assignation by R. Mylne, 234. Assignment of Altar of S. John in S. Giles to the Masons, 5. Argyll, Archibald, Marquis of, 126. -Duke of, 273, 275-8. —--- Earl of, 192. Athole, Countess of, 19. _Earl of, 87, 112, 190. Aytoune, William, 117, 139. Baillie, William of Little Gill, 221. Bain, James, 156, 195, 201. Balantyne, Abbot, 9. Balcanqual, Dean of Rochester, <8, 117. Balfarge, 213, 237. Balfour, Harie, 54. Balmerino, Lord, 126, 244. Bannatyne House, 68. Banks, Sir J., 281. Bar of ancient lead, 274. Barnton House, 244. Bass Rock, 175, 202. Bellenden, Lord, 150, 152. Binning, Sir Wm., 200. Blackfriars Bridge, 264-7. Bodleian Library, Oxford, 148. Boiss, George, 64. Boston, U.S.A., 287. Boulton & Watt, 288-90, 293. Bourbon, Antoinette de, Duchess of Lorraine, 52, 54. Bourdeaux wine, 99, 216. Brandeir, 21, 29, 92. Breadalbane, Lord, 231. Bridge at Cambridge, 286. Brownhill, John, Master Mason, 33, 40. Bruce, Sir W., 152, 164, 166, 167, 172, 175, 176, 182, 184, 202, 236. Bruges, Town of, 7. Brunstane House, 182, 184. Cambuskexnetu, Alexander, Abbot of, 17-35, 43, 57. Cant, James, 270, 274. Canterbury, Archbishop of, 123, 269, 274. Cassillis, Earl of, 126. Catholic Chapel in Holyrood, 229. Chambers, Sir W., 265. Charles I., 99, 101, 123, 134, 149. -II., 103, 147, 161, 169, 172, 189, 211, 216 Chepman, Walter, 13, 16, 58. Clement XIII., Pope, 266. - XIV., Pope, 266. Clifton, Sir R., 296. Clyde Bridge, 221-7. Cochrane, Robert, 1, 4. Connell, Arthur, Provost of Glasgow, 270. Contract for Edinburgh Tolbootli Tower, 9. Contracts to build Holyrood, 176-81, 191-4. Conventicles, 219. Convention of Royal Burghs, 146. Covenant, Burning of, 238. Cowper, Wm., Minister of Dundee, 89. Crawford, Earl of, 68, 87, 142, 175. Crechtoun, Provost of, 13. Cromwell, Oliver, 145. Crown Steeple of Aberdeen, 138. --Linlithgow, 138. s. Giles, Edinburgh, 137, 143. Croy, 21. De Wett, 157, 195, 197, 199. Doucat, 68. Douglas, 15, 71, 83, 126, 139, 163. - Earl of, 82. Doune Castle, 60. Dumbarton Castle, 71, 120, 203, 209, 259. Dundas of Dundas, 11. Dundee, Corporation of, 63, 65, 127, 243. - Licence to repair harbour, 109. Dundonald, Lord, 164, 186, 190, 193, 201. Dunfermline, Abbey of, 62. Dunkeld Bridge Accounts, 18. -George, Bishop of, 14, 16, 18, 29. Durham, 136. -Bishop of, 269, 275, 279. Durhame, Sir Alexander, 151. Drum House, 66. Drummond Castle, 112. Drummond, Sir Robert, of Carnock, 54, 60. Dysart, Lady, 167. Edinburgh Bishopric, 123, 162. -Cross, 107. — Householders in 1512, 15. — Incorporation of Masons, 5, 55. ;o6 INDEX. Edinburgh Infirmary, 252. -- Map in 1544, 16. - Netherbow Port, 105. — North Bridge, 253-8. -Parliament House, 35, 131, 137. — Paving contract, 45. -Tron Church, 135. - Water supply, 142, 217, 278. - West Port, 107. - Castle, 71, 73-5, 114, 118, 134, 147, 174, 201, 203-9, 233, 298. Eldar, Sir Andrew, 88. English lead gold, 199. Evelyn, John, 171. Exemptions from taxation, 210. Falkland Church, 111. -Palace, 42-4, 49, 119. Fen drainage, 281, 285-6. Fletcher, Sir John, Lord Advocate, 146. Flodden, Battle of, 8, 15, 57. Franclie, John, inscription to, 36. -Thomas, inscription to, 39. —- Thomas, Master Mason, 36, 40, 44, 51. Frankfort, 296. French glass, 187, 196. Garroun, 20. George I., 246. -— II., 249, 252, 264. -HI., 265. -- IV., 247. Gladney House, 126. Glasgow Bridge, 259, 270-3. Glen, Provost Andrew, 238. Glenurchy, Laird of, 219. Gordon of Rotlnemay, 131, 144, 206. Gowry House, 86. Grafton, Duke of, 285. Greenwich Hospital, 274. Greff, 69. Greyfriars, inscription, 159, 238, 250. Guise, Duke of, 52. Hagbut, 107. Hall, Sir B., 132. Hamburgh, 286. Hames, 23. Hamilton, Duke of, 161, 166, 188, 203. -Sir James, 51. Henry VIII., King of England, 32. Herald’s Office of Scotland, 213. Ileriofs Hospital, 77, 117, 139, 232. Hertford, Earl of, 10, 16. Hexham Bridge, 278, 291. Holland, 166, 196, 199. Holyrood, Abbot of, 9, 51. ---Accounts, 189, 195-201, 233. -- Chapel, 170. -Inscription on tomb, 131. --— Letters on, 150-2. -Letter on plans, 166. ---Letter on title, 149. -Plan of, 149. -Repairs, 164, 172, 211. -Sun-dial, 115. — Trades before, 231. -— Water pond, 114. -Works at, 10, 42, 76, 122, 169, 195, 230. Inchgarvie, 11. Incorporation of Masons, 5, 55, Inscription to John Mylne of Edinburgh, 159. -John Mylne of Dundee, 100. — Robert Mylne of Balfargie, 238. -Robert Mylne of London, 282, 283. — William C. Mylne, 290. Inverary, 273, 275-7. James III., 1, 4, o, 8. - IV., 8, 10, 15, 149. — V., 10, 15, 32, 34, 41, 42, 47, 51, 54, 149. -VL, 41, 54, 59, 101, 128. -Statue of, 105. -VII., 228. Jedburgh, Abbey of, 138. Johnson, I)r., 266. Kaip, 67. Kincardine, Earl of, 165, 175, 182, 183, 242. Kingudie, 43, 47, 49, 112. Kintyrc, 49. — Earl of, 126. Kirkcaldy, borough of, 126. Kyd, Alexander, Subchantor of Aberdeen, 113. Ladbroke, Sir R., 265. Laing, David, 77. Landstaile, 24. Lambert, Benjamin, 105. Lamont, John, of Newton, 145, 217. Largo Hospital, 217. Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, 123. Lauder, Bridge of, 5. -Church of, 185. Lauderdale, Lord, 150, 162, 164, 174, 182, 184-9, 203. Leith, 9, 53, 96, 145, 146, 198, 207, 210. -Shore of, 227. Leo X., Pope, 30. Leslie House, 158, 217, 237. Licences granted by James IV. and V., 10-14. -granted 1538-90, 58. Lichtis, 67. Limerick Waterworks, 294. Lindores, Abbot of, 3. Linlithgow, 3, 39, 41, 51, 71, 118, 240, 248. -— Bells, 9. List of Arms, Ac., 209. -Masons and Apprentices, 61, 108. -Masons in Perth, 130. Lists of Masons at work on the Royal Castles, 71-4, 118-22. Liverpool Corporation, 286. Logy, Leonard, 10, 149. Lowric, Alex., 87. Lumisden, Andrew, 263. Lummingis, 67. Macbreck, Archibald, 88. Mackarness, George, Bishop of Argyll, 298. M'Lachlan, J., 228. Maitland, Charles, Lord Hatton, 164-7, 175, 188, 192-4. Mar, Earl of, 4, 34, 73, 101. Martyn, Mogin, 45, 88. Mary Queen of Scots, 53, 161. Mary’s Chapel Lodge, 61, 77, 130, 133, 217, 249, 253, 261. Masters of Works at Linlithgow, 4. Materials in possession of Sir W. Bruce, 187. Maxwell,, Commissary of Dumfries, 140. Inchaffray, Abbot of, 86. INDEX. 307 Merlyon, Wat, 10. jNIilne, Alexander, Minister of Dundee, 146, 215. Monk, General, 146. Monk’s Tower, 86. Montgomery, Sir G., Bart., 194, 297. Moore, C. H., of America, 8. Morvo, John, 8. Murray, James, Master of Work, 69, 115, 118, 136. -Sir A., 230. _Sir G., 97. Myddelton, Sir H., 268, 2S4. Mylne, Alexander, Abbot of Cambuskenneth, 17-35, 43, 57. Mylne, Alexander, Sculptor, 115, 130-2. - John, 2-8, 54. _John, of Dundee, 65-9, 90-100. _John, of Edinburgh, 133-60. _John, of Perth, 104-30. _Sir John, Bart., 245. _Sir Robert, Bart., 158, 210, 23S, 244. _- Robert, of Balfarge, 162-238. _ Robert, of London, 261-S3. - Robert W., 290-8. _Thomas, of Powderhall, 249-53. _William, 253-60. - William C., 284-90. Mylne’s Square, 228. Nesbit, Alex., 108, 136, 157. Newbottle, Abbot of, 13. New River, 268, 280, 285, 295. Newcastle, 141. _Bridge, 269. Nicholay, Sir James, Master of Work, 33. Nopps, 20, 25. Nottingham Bridge, 296. Nwnschanks, 21. Nycoll, James, 92. Oath of Burgess, 251. Orford, Earl of, 285. Orkney, 34, 231. Panmurb, George, Earl of, 153. _House, 153-8, 232. Paris MSS., 54. Parliament of England, Commissioners to, 145. _House, Edinburgh, 35, 131, 13/. Peebles, John of, Bishop of Dunkeld, 80. Pepys, 162. Peter the Flemishman, 44. Peterborough,-Dr. Creighton, Bishop of, 137. Perth, Acts of Council, 89, 216. _Bridge repairs, 100-3. _--— washed away, 99. -Burgess Register, 84. -Charters of Robert III., 81-4. -Cross, 214. -Dean of Guild, 90. _Kirk Session Register, 87, 99. -Letter of James VI., 94. _Letter to James VI., 93. _Masters of bridge work, 88. -Poor, 87. _Sheriff Court Records, 86. -Silver Bell, 97. -Perth, Earl of, 96, 114. Petition to Lord Chief Baron, 235. Piranesi, 263, 267. Portland, Duke of, 269. Primrose, Sir A., 143. -James, 95. Pynours, 20. Rennie, John,- 281, 2S6. -Sir J., 288. Report on Edinburgh Castle, 203-7. Richardson, Robert, Canon of S. Victor in Paris, 33. Rocli, James, 129. Rome, 88, 134, 262. Roseneath Castle, 278. Ross, Countess of, 5. -David Pantar, Bishop of, 34. Rothes, Earl of (afterwards Duke), 152, 15S, 164, 186, 201, 217, 220. Rotterdam, 199. Roy, Nicholas, 2, 46. Roytell, John, 52, 53, 70. Ryddillis, 27. S. Cecilia’s Hall, 267. S. Paul, Chapter of, 269, 281, 2S2. S. Victor in Paris, 31. Schaw, William, 62. Scone, Ancient Lodge of, 128-30. -David, Lord, 110. Scrymgeour, John, 43, 49. Session, Court of, 34. Sharp, Sir W., 150, 152, 176-9, 192, 203. Skoippis, 25. Smeaton, 256, 259, 279, 281. Smith, Gilbert, 246. _James, of Edinburgh, 247. -James, of Whytehill, 245. Spey Tower, 86. Sunderland, 291. Stationers’ Company, 280, 285, 297. Stansffeld, Sir J., 195, 197. Stirling, 5, 85, 243. _‘_ Castle, 3, 33, 42, 47, 72, 119, 201, 208. Strachan, Sir Alex., 130. Telford, Sir T., 79, 225, 294. Thettis, 25. Thirlestane Castle, 167, 168, 182. Thomson, Sir W., 145, 160. Thomtoun, James, Precentor of Moray, 56. Vansantvoort, Jan., 200. Wallace, William, 70, 75, 78. Warrant as to Holy rood, 189. _to take down buildings, 190. _ recalling Sir W. Bruce’s office, 202. - to Duke of Hamilton, 203. Water supply, Edinburgh, 142, 217-9, 278. _Dublin, 260. --- Glasgow, 285. _London, 268, 280, 285, 295. Wcdderburne, Sir Alex., 146. -James, 64. -- John, 110. Wesps, 20. Wilson, Sir D., 298. Wren, Sir C. : 247, 2S2. Writers to the Signet, 231. EDINBURGH: PRINTED BY SCOTT & FERGUSON and BURNESS & COMPANY.