[27] That part of the novel which represents Claverhouse eating his disjeune in the hall of Tillietudlem and seat of “his most gracious Majesty Charles the Second,” must therefore be considered as entirely unfounded in truth. Could Scribbie Young’s “tower” be the Tillietudlem of the Tale? Surely not. And, besides, we are given to understand that a small eminence or knoll in the neighbourhood of Lanark Castle, which has probably been at some former period surmounted by a ruin, is popularly termed Tillietudlem.
[28] Crichton says, “King was a bra muckle carl, with a white hat and a great bob of ribbons on the back o’t.”
[29] Even the loftiness of the surrounding buildings is taken into account. “The uncommon height and antique appearance of these houses,” says the author, “some of which were formerly the property of the Knights Templars and the Knights of St. John, and still exhibit upon their fronts and gables the iron cross of these orders, gave additional effect to a scene in itself so striking.” This sentence, it is somewhat remarkable, is also used (perhaps I should say repeated) by Sir Walter Scott, when he finds occasion to describe the same scene in his “Provincial Antiquities of Scotland.”
[30] The shop from which the rioters procured the rope, was a small shop in the second or middle division of the West Bow (No. 69). It was then kept by a Mrs. Jeffrey, but was not a rope-maker’s shop. It was a shop of huckstery or small wares, in which ropes were then included. It seems yet to be occupied by a person of the same profession (Mrs. Wilson).
[31] There is an engraving of this medal in Boyer’s “History of Queen Anne,” p. 511.
[32] Mr. John Semple, of Carsphearn.
[33] We are glad to observe that the biographical works of Patrick Walker are shortly to be reprinted by Mr. John Stevenson, Bookseller, Prince’s Street, whose shop is well known, or ought to be so, by all the true lovers of curious little old smoke-dried volumes.
[34] Birrel’s account of this matter is as follows:—“[1600.] The 2 of Apryll, being the Sabbath day, Robert Auchmutie, barber, slew James Wauchope, at the combat in St. Leonard’s Hill; and, upon the 23, the said Rt. put in ward in the tolbuith of Edr.; and in the meine time of his being in ward, he hang ane cloke w’t’out the window of the irone hous, and anither w’t in the window yr.; and, saying yat he was sick, and might not see the light, he had aquafortis continuallie seithing at the irone window, quhill, at the last, the irone window wes eiten throw; sua, upon a morneing, he caused his prentes boy attend quhen the towne gaird should have dissolvit, at q’lk tyme the boy waitit one, and gaif hes Mr ane token yat the said gaird wer gone, be the schewe or waiff of his hand-curche. The said Robt. hung out an tow, q’ron he thought to have cumeit doune; the said gairde espyit the waiff of the hand-curche, and sua the said Robt was disappointit of hes intentione and devys; and sua, on the 10 day, he wes beheidit at the Cross, upon ane scaffold.” P. 48, 49.
[35] The Gallowlee was not the usual place of execution; but the most flagrant criminals were generally hung there in chains. Many of the martyrs were exhibited on its summit, which Patrick Walker records with due horror. It ceased to be employed for any purpose of this kind about the middle of the last century; since which period with one exception, no criminals have been hung in chains in Scotland. Its site was a rising ground immediately below the Botanic Garden, in Leith Walk. When the New Town was in the progress of building, the sand used for the composition of the mortar was procured from this spot; on which account the miracle of a hill turned into a valley has taken place, and it is at the present day that low beautiful esplanade of which Eagle and Henderson’s nursery is formed. The Gallowlee turned out a source of great emolument to the possessor, sixpence being allowed for every cartful of sand that was taken away. But the proprietor was never truly benefited by the circumstance. Being addicted to drinking, he was in the habit of spending every sixpence as he received it. A tavern was set up near the spot, which was formerly unaccommodated with such a convenience, for the sole purpose of selling whisky to Matthew Richmond,—and he was its only customer. A fortune was soon acquired of the profits of the drink alone; and when the source of the affluence ceased, poor Matthew was left poorer than he had originally been, after having flung away the proffered chance of immense wealth. Never did gamester more completely sink the last acre of his estate, than did muckle Matthew Richmond drink down the last grain of the sand-hill of the Gallowlee!
[36] We are indebted for the following ingenious and elaborate article to the gentleman who supplied the notice respecting the “Bodach Glas,” at [page 25].