Edinburgh Book of Days by Michael T R B Turnbull | eBook

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The Edinburgh Book of Days

By Michael T.R.B. Turnbull

The History Press

CHAPTER 1

January 1st

1661: King Charles II, on his accession, had written to the presbytery of Edinburgh, emphasising his determination to support the presbyterian form of church government established by law in Scotland. The Presbyterians had always been averse to the observation of particular days, which they deemed highly superstitious, perhaps even impious. When required to observe the Royal birthday, they answered 'That they kept with strictness the holy Christian Sabbath: that they would keep no other holiday. That, on the most cogent reasons, they did not observe Christmas nor Easter.' (Arnot, The History of Edinburgh)

* * *

1863: Till few years ago in Scotland, the custom of the wassail bowl at the passing away of the old year might be said to be still in comparative vigour. On the approach of twelve o'clock, a hot pint was prepared – that is, a kettle or flagon full of warm, spiced and sweetened ale, with an infusion of spirits. When the clock had struck the knell of the departing year, each member of the family drank of this mixture with a general handshaking, and perhaps a dance round the table, with the addition of a song. (Chambers, The Book of Days)

January 2nd

1877: On this day Father, later Canon, Edward Hannan, as Chaplain of St Patrick's Catholic Young Men's Society (CYMS), which he had founded, was recorded in the minutes to have enquired about a group of young Irishmen who had formed Hibernian Football Club. He asked for information on the Club, as he said 'it appeared it was outside our direction'. He wished to meet the members with a view to 'bringing them within our influence'. At a meeting of the CYMS on 20 February 1877, it was recorded that Father \ had had 'a conversation recently with some members of the Hibernian Football Club with respect to their placing themselves under the control of the Council' of the CYMS. It was noted on 27 February 1877 that officers of the Club were willing to come under the control and patronage of the council to be guided by Father Hannan, who would provide facilities and finance for the players. From being a casual grouping of young men who enjoyed a kick-about, Father Hannan gave Hibernian FC a formal structure and financial security. (Scottish Catholic Archives: GD82/812)

January 3rd

1503: The provost, bailies and council took action against the possible outbreak of the plague, which had been rife some years before. They ordered a proclamation to be made that all beggars without benefit of regular alms should leave the burgh and not return under pain of death. All persons found begging would be punished: in the case of men, they would have a hand cut off; in the case of women, they would be branded on the cheek and banished. Similarly, any young man or woman found in the burgh without regular employment or other financial support would be liable to the same punishments. (Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Edinburgh (ERBE))

* * *

1694: On this day the council debated the public scandal where several young women, pretending to sell lemons and oranges and other fruits, went through Edinburgh as common whores or thieves. They therefore ordained that no woman should walk through the streets and up to gentlemen's rooms carrying fruit-baskets, under pain of prosecution and imprisonment in the Correction House. On 12 January 1700 the bailies recommended that common thieves and whores should be marked on the nose by cutting out a piece of the left side of the nose with a branding-iron made for that purpose. (ERBE)

January 4th

1859: Newspaper advertisements, with their artful rhetoric, reveal so much about how life is lived. Some advertisements printed in The Scotsman on this day read:

PORTRAITS: The much-admired Patent Portraits are taken in any weather, and are warranted to stand in any climate — at Hay's, 68 & 70 Princes' Street, Edinburgh, for the Stereoscope, Lockets, Brooches, Cases, &c., Portraits on Paper, Plain or Coloured. Portraits and Pictures of all kinds COPIED. Prices from 2s. 6d. Upwards. Opinions of The Press: 'The remarkable Likenesses in the Galleries of Messrs G. & D. Hay evince the success of these artists in the highest departments of the photographic art.' — Edinburgh Courant. 'The untouched photographs of Messrs G. & D. Hay, Edinburgh, may be noticed, rivalling as they do, in clearness and delicacy, the finest productions of their class.' — Times.

Pier and Mantelpiece Mirrors and Console Tables , in Extensive Variety, and every species of Ornamental Carving and Gilding Designed, Made and Exhibited on the Premises of Messrs J. & J. Ciceri, Mantica, & TORRE, Late Ciceri & Pini, 81 Leith Street — Mirrors Packed and Guaranteed Safe at Destination.

James Cooke's Livery Stables, Meuse Lane, St Andrew Square. Private Broughams, Phaetons, Dog-Carts, Gigs, and Saddle-Horses, &c., on Hire Daily. N.B. — Horses Broke for Single and Double Harness.

January 5th

1593: Because of public commotion and disorder, the council decided on this day in January that there should be a more thorough watch and guard kept within the town. The bailies would recruit forty well-armed men to be on duty for a month, night and day and construct a wooden watch-house or guardhouse at the Mercat Cross. Other precautions taken at the time of these 'Papist plots' was a drummer stationed for three days on the High Street; exercises at the shooting-butts; a watchman located in St Giles' steeple between December and June; a trumpeter and a herald paid to proclaim publicly that all papists should leave the town. (ERBE)

* * *

1596: A proclamation was made, declaring perpetual peace between Scotland and England, and that none of the Borderers should invade each other, under the pain of death. Nevertheless, the general musters were still proclaimed to be held the following 2 February. (Diarey of Robert Birrel)

* * *

1859: 'Wind and Weather Predictions for 1859: The well-known and popular Captain Peter Turner, commander of the tourists' steamer on the Caledonian Canal, requests us to give our readers the benefit of a regular estimate of the weather that may be expected in Great Britain and Ireland during the year 1859.' (The Scotsman)

January 6th

1859: 'A meeting of the County Prison Board was held. The number of prisoners in custody was 394 — 192 of whom were females, and 267 being in separate confinement. The number in custody at this same date last year was 287, of whom 130 were women. The total number of commitments to the prison in December was 351, there being 89 commitments to the prison cells. The monthly average of prisoners in custody during December was 365, and 8 to the prison cells, the daily average of prisoners in the jail during the year being 354.' (The Scotsman)

'Assaulting A Policeman. — At the Police Court, before Bailie Forrester, four men, all Irish labourers, were charged with assaulting a policeman in the High Street on New Year's Day. One had obstructed a body of militiamen proceeding to the Castle, and was given in charge to the policeman, upon which his companions and himself joined in a brutal attack on the officer, knocking him down and kicking him violently.' (The Scotsman)

January 7th

1857: A concerned member of the public had a letter printed in The Scotsman on this day:

To the Editor: Sir, — It appears that this year, in Scotland, two deaths and several cases of serious stabbing have arisen from this ancient but foolish practice of 'first-footing' at the commencement of New-Year's morning — and indeed, unfortunately, there is seldom a New Year in Scotland without such fatal results. But besides such cases, which attract more public attention, the practice always gives rise to a large amount of evil in drunkenness and debauchery, and through the licence and excitement of the occasion, is often most corrupting even to previously respectable young men and women of the working classes. How much better in every way it would be if the greetings and rejoicings of the day were delayed till daylight, when evil deeds would be less likely to be committed, and the many innocent and instructive means of holiday recreation now generally provided might be enjoyed in sobriety. No doubt the practice has much abated of late years from what it was in former times, but it still exists to such an extent as to be a very serious evil — I am, &c. 'A Citizen'.

January 8th

1998: It was announced that generous grants from a number of funds would enable the Cramond Lioness to go on public display as the centrepiece of 'Pax Romana', an exhibition at the City Art Centre. Some 4ft 6ins long and 2ft high, the sandstone sculpture, dating from the second or early third century, depicts a lioness eating a man and was discovered by Robert Graham, the local ferryman. It was excavated from the Almond river-bed by archaeologists in January 1997 and is thought to have been part of twin sculptures on the tomb of a Roman official. Emperor Antoninus Pius' troops built a 6-acre fort and associated harbour at the mouth of the River Almond in AD 142. This was abandoned from the time of the construction of Hadrian's Wall, but the Emperor Septimus Severus and his son Caracalla came to Cramond between AD 208-11, when they re-established the Roman fort. From the evidence of inscribed stones discovered at Cramond, the fort was garrisoned by soldiers from various parts of the Roman Empire: the Second Legion Augusta (from Wales), the Fifth Cohort of Gauls (from ancient France) and the First Cohort of Tungri (from the Ardennes).

January 9th

1604: On this day Alistair MacGregor of Glenstrae was brought to Edinburgh. He had been captured by the Laird of Arkynles but escaped and was then caught by the Earl of Argyle. The Earl had promised that he would take him out of Scotland and so he was taken to Berwick under guard; the Earl kept his promise. But his guards were told not to free him and so he returned that evening to Edinburgh. There he was hanged at the Mercat Cross, with one of his associates on either side, but MacGregor was hanged the distance of his own height above his friends. In February, nine other MacGregors were hanged, and in March seven MacGregors and Armstrongs were hanged at the Mercat Cross. (Diarey of Robert Birrel)

* * *

1871: A curious letter was printed in The Scotsman on this day:

Sir, — I sent a lad today to pay my account for servants' beer, and he brought back 5 per cent discount, with a message that it was for the butler. I sent back the money so returned, saying that I knew nothing of the butler being so considered, and he was then told that he might keep the money to himself, as he had paid the account. I am, &c. 'A Householder'.

January 10th

1666: John Baptist Quarentino (aka Querento), an Italian mountebank (a 'quack' doctor, from the Italian montimbanco – to get up on a bench), was given a Royal warrant by the Privy Council to practice in Edinburgh, as long as he did not come into conflict with the work of the surgeons, and the town council extended his permission until 1 February, allowing him to set up his stage and sell drugs and cures until that date. On 10 October this was further extended; on 25 October when Quarentino (who described himself as a physician) again applied for a licence to erect a stage on the High Street for the sale of his medicines and for practising his methods of surgery. He was given permission to put up his stage at any part of the south side of the High Street between the top of Niddrie's Wynd and the Netherbow. The council asked the Dean of Gild to supply a diagram showing the location where the stage was to be erected until 1 January 1677. On 15 December 1676 the council again granted a warrant to Quarantino to continue putting up his stage until 2 February, but declared that they would not allow him any further permission after that. (ERBE)

January 11th

1455: A bond by the provost, bailies, council, and community of Edinburgh was made to William Prestoun, son and heir to the then deceased William Prestoun of Goirtoun, whereby, on the narrative that the deceased had at great cost and trouble procured the arm bone of St Giles, and had left the same without condition to the Kirk of St Giles of Edinburgh, they undertook within six or seven years to build an aisle outside of Our Lady's aisle where the deceased was buried, with a monument and altar; that whensoever the relic should be borne, the nearest in blood to the deceased should bear it before all others; and that a chaplain should be appointed for five years to sing for him. (ERBE)

* * *

1870: On this day an alluring advertisement appeared in The Scotsman:

Beautiful Hair for 1870. — Renew your youth with the New Year. Get a bottle of Mrs S. A. Allen's World's Hair Restorer. See how surely and quickly it does its work. Grey hair restored (not dyed) to its original colour, gloss and beauty; the thin hair thickened, and new growth promoted. No pomade or oil required with it. Sold by chemists and perfumers, only in large bottles, 6s. Depot: 566 High Holborn, London.

January 12th

1450: Led appropriately by William Skinner, representatives of the craftsmen Skinners signed a statute for the upkeep of the altar of St Christopher in the parish Kirk of St Giles and confirmed this by oath. For the rest of their lives, according to their means, they promised to support a chaplain and to pay for repairs and for adornments to the altar. Five shillings would be contributed for repairs to the altar whenever an apprentice was taken on. This agreement was signed by a notary public at the Church of St Mary in the Field, at the third hour of the afternoon, in the presence of three chaplains, a merchant of good repute and other specially invited witnesses. (ERBE)

* * *

1596: A proclamation was made declaring that the King had appointed eight Lords to examine the Exchequer Accounts, and impose regulation on the irregularities and disorders in Scotland. These Lords were known collectively as Octavians – Alexander Seton of Pluscartie, Walter Stewart of Blantyre, Mr John Lindsay, Mr Thomas Hamilton, Mr James Elphinston, Mr John Skene, Mr James Craigie of Killatie and Mr Peter Young of Seton. (Diarey of Robert Birrel)

January 13th

1567: On this day, Mary Queen of Scots and her son Prince James came to Edinburgh. King Henry Darney was lying sick in Glasgow with the smallpox. On the last day of January, the King and Queen came to Edinburgh; the King travelled in a chariot and took his lodging in the Kirk o' Field. On 9 February, the King was murdered in his lodging at the Kirk o' Field at around midnight. The house belonged to Sir James Balfour, provost of that kirk. The house was lifted into the air with gunpowder and the King's chamberman, John Tailor, was found alongside him, lying in a yard under a tree. The King, if he had not been cruelly wyrriet (strangled) with his own garters after he fell to earth, would have lived. On 15 February, King Henry was secretly buried during the night at Holyroodhouse. On 17 June, Captain William Blacketer was arrested under suspicion of being involved in the King's murder. On 24 June he was carried facing backwards in a cart from the Tolbooth to the Mercat Cross and then hanged for the murder of the King. In 1574, Black Ormistoune was hanged at the Mercat Cross for being present at the murder of the King. (Diarey of Robert Birrel)

January 14th

1586: From his contract of marriage with the daughter of a merchant in Edinburgh, it appears that the provision settled on George Heriot, a goldsmith and founder of Heriot's Hospital, joined to the dowry he got with his wife, amounted to £214 11s 8d. In 1597, Heriot was appointed goldsmith to Anne of Denmark, James VI's Queen and, soon after, was appointed goldsmith and jeweller to the King. Upon his Majesty's accession to the throne of England, Heriot followed his master to London. Becoming a widower, he came to Edinburgh and, in 1608, took a second wife, with whom he got a dowry of about £333. He returned to London, survived his second wife also, and died there on 12 February 1624, without leaving any lawful children. What wealth Heriot possessed is uncertain, but probably it was not under £50,000. He left legacies to two natural daughters and to his other relations and friends, to a great amount. The residue of his estate he left to the town council, and to the ministers of Edinburgh, in trust, for building and endowing a hospital for the maintenance and education of indigent children, the sons of burgesses of that city. (Arnot, The History of Edinburgh)

January 15th

1880: On this day The Scotsman printed several news stories:

Sudden Illness in the Street. — A well-dressed young man, who used crutches, being lame in one leg, fell down insensible in St Andrew Street, Edinburgh, between twelve and one o'clock this morning. He had just asked a policeman to show him the way to Elder Street. The constable, who saw him fall, obtained assistance, and had him conveyed on a stretcher to the Infirmary, where up to about two o'clock he was still insensible. He is supposed to be a medical student.

Edinburgh Police Court. — There were thirteen new cases at this Court yesterday — namely, six charges of drunk and incapable, three of theft, and one each of assault, breach of peace, loitering, and suspected theft.

Edinburgh Photographic Society. — The first popular meeting for the season under the auspices of this Society was held last night in Queen Street Hall, when a series of 'instantaneous studies from Nature' were shown by Mr William H. Davies, honorary lecturer of the Society, by means of the oxyhydrogen light. Mr Davies, in the course of some introductory remarks, pointed out the great disadvantages under which the photographer laboured in attempting to attain the successful representation of any animal or object in motion.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from The Edinburgh Book of Days by Michael T.R.B. Turnbull. Copyright © 2012 Michael T.R.B. Turnbull. Excerpted by permission of The History Press.
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