Amid a singular profusion of sculptured figures representing Hope, Faith, Charity, &c., was a bas-relief of Adam and Eve in Eden, bearing the following legend:—
Quhen Adam delvd and Eve span
Quhar war a' the gentiles than?
Between them was a female representing Taste, and inscribed Gustus. "On the eastern front of the castle was sculptured a head of Julius Cæsar, and under it Caius Jul. Cæsar, primus Rom. Imp. On the eastern wing were figures of Temperentia, Prudentia, and Justitia, which it is remarkable were among the first stones thrown down." (Scots Mag., 1800.) On the west wing was a Roman head of Octavius II., and five representations of the Virtues, beautifully sculptured. Sicut oliva fructifera 1376, In Domino Confido, 1400, Patriæ et Posteris, and many other valuable carvings, which are now preserved at Woodhouselee, adorned the walls and windows.
The east wing was said to have been built by Robert III.; Arnot informs us, that the centre was erected by James IV. for one of his mistresses, and about the close of the last century, Hamilton of Barganie made many additions to it. How the edifice obtained the name of Wright's or Wryte's-house is now unknown, as no proprietor of it who bore that name can now be traced; but the Napiers appear to have possessed the barony from an early period, and their names frequently occur in local records.
Alexander Napier de Wrichtyshouse appears as one of an inquest in 1488. His coat-armorial was a bend charged with a crescent, between two mullets. He married Margaret Napier of Merchiston, whose father was slain at the battle of Flodden. In 1581, among the commissioners appointed by James VI., "anent the cuinze," we find William Napier of the Wrightshouse, (Acta Parliamentorum) and in 1590, Barbara Napier, his sister, was convicted of sorcery, for which on the llth of May she was sentenced to be burnt at a "stake sett on the Castellhill, with barrels, coales, heather, and powder;" but when the torch was about to be applied, pregnancy was alleged, and the execution delayed. (Calderwood's Historic.)
In 1632, William of the Wrightshouse was a commissioner at Holyrood, anent the valuation of Tiends ; and two years after we find him retoured heir to his father William in certain lands in Berwickshire; but in 1626, "terrarum de Brounisfield, infra parochiam de Sanct. Cuthbert" belonged to Sir William Fairlie of Braid. In 1649 he obtained a crown charter of his lands (MS. Mag. Sigilli), and in 1680, the last notice of this old family will be found in the Inquisitionum Retornatarum, where it ends in a female.
Thus about the close of the 17th century, the Napiers had passed away, and their barony was possessed by the Laird of Pennicuick. All that now remains of them is their burial place on the north side of St. Giles' Cathedral, where may still be seen their mouldering coat-armorial, with this inscription:—
S. E. D.
Fam. de Naperarum interibus,
Hic situm est.
EDINBURGH, March, 1850.