ページの画像
PDF
ePub

-"That race is gone, of look sublime,

Calm in deameanor, courteous and sincere ;

Yet stern when duty called them, as their clime,
When it flings off the autumnal foliage sere,

And shakes the shuddering woods with solemn voice severe.”

The

Near this is the original copy of the Confession of Faith, beautifully executed with the pen. large letters at the beginning of each sentence are painted or illuminated. It was subscribed first by the King's majesty and his household, in 1580, and by ordinance of the Lords of Council and acts of the General Assembly, in 1590. At the bottom it is stated that it was written by William Ayton, Around it are the seals of the magistrates

mason.

of the different counties of Scotland.

In another room there are some Roman missals, very elegantly executed in illuminated penmanship, with curious pictures; also, a number of old copies of the sacred Scriptures, written before the invention of printing, and one bearing date 1450, printed from wooden types. The paper of this copy is still white, and the printing clear and distinct.

In the Edinburgh Antiquarian Museum are a great many valuable curiosities-among others, the original address, engrossed on vellum, and

bearing the signatures of one hundred and two heritors and heads of Highland clans, transmitted to George I., on his accession to the British throne in 1714, which, having been prevented by court intrigue from being presented to his majesty, the clans, in resentment of this neglect, raised the standard of rebellion in 1751,-the nails of Robert the Bruce's coffin, found at Dunfermline,-a banner borne by the Covenanters on the field of battle, on which the motto, "Christ's Crown and Covenant," is painted, and "the Maiden," an instrument of execution in use in Scotland in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, by which were exe. cuted Regent Morton, President Spottiswoode, the Marquis of Argyll, and many others of the noblest and best blood of Scotland. On an antique stone, Copper and best blood of Scotland. which was dug up in the Inveresk churchyard, is the following expressive couplet :

"The eye finds, the heart chooseth,

The hand binds, but death looseth."

Of all the curiosities, the one that interested me most, was Jenny Geddes' stool, with the date 1565 carved on it, the same with which the immortal Janet Geddes struck the initial stroke in the great

civil war, by hurling it at the Dean of St. Giles's head, on his proceeding for the first time to read the Liturgy in the Cathedral Church of St. Giles, Edinburgh, on Sunday, 23d July, 1637. On that day a great crowd resorted to the Cathedral. All was quiet till the Dean began to read the service, when, at some words which displeased Jenny, she started up, and seizing the stool upon which she had been sitting, threw it at the desk, exclaiming, “Villain, dost thou say mass at my lug!" Some sitting near, followed her example, till the whole church was in an uproar; and the Dean, obliged to leave the desk, along with the Bishop, was driven from the church by a handful of women. This stool is a folding one, somewhat like the modern chair canes. It may seem strange that this old worthy had to carry her seat with her, but it must be remembered that while popery was the dominant religion, there were no seats in the churches. Previous to 1586, neither pews nor forms were used in any of the places of worship. In 1588 some ash trees in the High Churchyard at Glasgow were ordered to be cut down "to make forms for the people to sit on in the Kirk."

Few places in Edinburgh possess greater inter

est, from historical association, than the venerable old house at the head of the Netherbow, (a very accurate engraving of which adorns this volume,) once the residence of my namesake, that holy man of God, John Knox.

To the energy, decision, sham-hating, truthloving, God-fearing spirit of John Knox, Scotland owes her religious liberty, as she does her civil freedom to the patriotism of Bruce. To them she owes her regeneration-they were both heroes, but the glory of the former far outshines that of the latter-Bruce attained an earthly crown, but a far brighter, even a heavenly diadem, encircles the brow of Scotland's great Reformer. The memory of the just shall live, and the name of John Knox is held in the highest reverence, not only in his own country, but throughout the Protestant world.

This old-fashioned edifice, which was fast falling to decay, has been recently repaired, without destroying its ancient appearance, by the worthy citizens of Edinburgh, who wish to preserve, by some prominent mark, the remembrance of one who did so much for Scotland. Over the door is this curious inscription :

LUF. GOD. ABOVE. AL. AND. YOUR. NEIGHBOUR. AS. YOURSELF.

I had the pleasure of an interview with Professor Wilson, the celebrated Christopher North of Blackwood. He lives in a very handsome house in Gloucester Place, in the new town. I was shown by a servant into a room, the walls of which were profusely adorned with paintings. I had been seated but a few minutes when the Professor appeareda tall, strongly built, noble looking man, with large chest, fine forehead, shaggy hair, and great whiskers. He received me very kindly. I apologized for intruding upon him, but he soon set me at ease by his agreeable and lively manner. He is now considerably advanced in years, (perhaps sixty,) and yet there is all the sprightliness of manner and energy of mind which one would expect in youth or middle age. He inquired about our American literary men-said that Mr. Bancroft had spent some time with him not long since-that Mr. Bryant had also called on him, but being absent, he did not see him; spoke of Prescott, and the merit of his histories; of Longfellow, and the finish that characterized his poems; mentioned that he had just received two volumes from Mr. Dana, and seemed quite at home on the subject of our American literature. He inquired about the length.

« 前へ次へ »