1612.—JOHN WEMYSS, of Pittencrieff, Excommunicated for the Slaughter of
his Brother.—“1612, Apr. 22.—Jhone
Wemymes, of Potincrieff,
excommunicated for the Sauchter of his
natural brother. God touched his heart with repentance. It was
therefore statuted and ordained that the
said Jhone sall
present himself fyve several
Sabbothes successive in the places of
publict repentans
within the Kirkes of Dunfermling,
Kirkaldie, Dysert,
Coupar, and St. Androis,
his compeirans to be in
linenis” (sackcloth). Pittencrieff is adjacent to Dunfermline.
(Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol. ii. p. 278.)
QUEEN
ANNE’S INFEFTMENT, &C.—The Scottish Parliament ratified “the morning
gift” of James VI. to his Queen in 1593. This year (1612) there was
confirmed an infeftment by James VI.
conveying the Lordship not only to the Queen, but also to “the heirs of
his body by him.” (See Fernie’s, Mercer’s, and Chal. Hist. Dunf.)
CHARACTER OF MR. ANDREW FOSTER, AND HIS MISDEEDS.—The Rev. Dr.
M’Crie say that Andro
Foster was “a person destitute both of gifts and grace. Having been
visited by Providence with sickness, he was, after his recovery, seized
with great distress of mind. He confessed that at the Assembly of
Glasgow, in 1610, he had sold Christ, for a paltry sum of money [viz.,
fifty merks Scots], received from the Earl of Dunbar, the king’s
Commissioner, as did some other ministers in that Assembly, to induce
them to vote in favour of the King’s project for the establishment of
prelacy. He also confessed that, having a numerous family, and being
very poor, he had, by means of a false key, at different times
abstracted money from the Kirk box. One Sabbath, the subject in his
ordinary course of lecture being John xii. 6, he was seized with such
horror when about to begin, that he ran out of the pulpit, expressing,
among other things, an apprehension that the magistrates were coming to
take him out to execution. Being in this situation, he silenced
himself, and requested Mr. Murray, for Christ;s
sake, to take the charge of the congregation. And yet, some time after
this, having been reduced to beggary, Archbishop
Spottiswood intruded him, in spite of the people, into the parish
church of Collace, near Perth, where he died
covered with debt and infamy.” (Row’s Hist. Kirk. Scot. For other
particulars, vide Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol. i.
pp. 417-419.)
A
CROSS, OR CRUCIFIX, Painted on the Minister’s seat in the Church of
Dunfermline.—Nr. Andrew Forster, minister of Dunfermline, “a weak-minded
man,” and of strong “Popish tendencies,” appears to have employed a
painter to paint on his seat in Dunfermline church a cross, or
crucifix, to the “great scandle of the
communitie.” As this is a curious affair,
we give the copy of a legal document referring to it:--
“Diocesan Synod, at St. Andrews, April, 1612.”
“Mr.
Andro Froster (cancellarius).
Thair was presented ane
letter from Mr. Andro Forrester, minister of
Dunfermling, offering excuis for his
absence, in respect of sickness; as also ane
apologie of his dealing in the
Scandall of the Crucifix,
payntit vpon my
Lord chancellor his dask in the said Kirk.
Quhairanent the scandal
foirsaid being wakened, it was thoucht
meitt that advys
be taken thairin befoir
any further be done in the Synode. The
mater, thairfoir, being
ryplie in all the circumstances considered and pondered, was
found to have giffen
gryt ofenss to the
haill country, and that the causer, as also
the paynter of that idolatrous monument, and
the minister foirsaid, have
highlie offendet.
To remedie quhairof,
power and commissioun was granted and
committed, and be thir
presentis ar granted and committed,
to the brethren of the privie
conferens of this
Synode, and such of the exerceis of
Dumfermling as ar
of the Diocese, together with Mr. JhoneHall,
Mr. Patrick Galloway, Mr. Robert Cornewall,
Mr. Adam Bannatyne, Mr.
Jhone Carmichael, Mr. William Scott, and Mr. David
Meirnis, to convein
with my lord archbishop, in the citie of St.
Andrews, vpon the twelfth day of
Maij nix to cum, with full and plane
powar to tham to
try and examine my lord chancellar in
dealing and interest in the said matter, and to do
quhat thei may for removing that
offens, according to the word of God and
lawes of this Kirk and Kingdom,
premittendo de rato,
&c. To the quilk day and place my lord
chancellar sal
be requirit to be present; and for that
effect, ane letter was
ordaine to be directed from this Synode.
Siclyk, it was statute that the
craftisman foirsaid
quho payntit the
crucifix sal be charged to
compeir, day and place above
expremit, for ordour
taking with him for his offens, as said is.
Also, the said Mr. Andro
Froster, in respect that after the
erectioun of the
foirsaid monument of idolatrie, did
nether mak advertisement to my lord
archbishop, neither to the brethren of the exerceis,
he being moderatour
thairof, nor has done anything in publick
quhilk might declaim his
dislykiing of the
ofirsaid fact; as also, being required
peremtorelie to be present at the Synode,
for purging himself befoir
thame, “nochtwithstanding
hes nocht
compeired. Thairfoir,
is decernit to be
suspenede from his ministrie, until
he be repooned be my lord archbishop and
commisounris above named. And in the
meantime it is appointed that the brethren of the
exerceis of Dumfermling
sall per vices, according to the catalogue,
supplie his place vpon
the Sabbath, and the failzier
ferein according to his
cours to be siclyk
suspendet. Finallie,
Mr. Robert Roch,
moderatour of the excerceis, is
ordained to intimate this present decreitt
to the said Mr. Andro.”
The
Lord Archbishop corresponded with the King on the subject. The King,
who was not altogether free of “Popish tendencies,” requests that no
further notice should be taken of the affair, as will be seen by the
next entry:--
“Synode,
Septr. 1612.
“Chancellar,--My
lord archbishop reported that, having acquainted the King’s
majestie with the
offens upon the paintrie of my lord
chancellar his desk, in the Kirk of
Dunfermling, had reported his hieness’ will
that the Kirk insist no further in process against his lordship, seeing
his majestie thought the
offens sufficientlie
removed.” (Vide Minutes of the Synod of Fife; Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol.
i. p. 417, &c.)
QUEEN
ANN’S LETTER TO HENRY WARDLAW, OF BALMULE, near Dunfermline.—This
letter, which has been often printed, is still extant, and in possession
of the Wardlaw family. As it illustrates old usages, it is here
reproduced:--
“To our
Right Trustie Servant,
Henry Wardlaw, of Balmule,
Chamberlain of our rents of Dunfermline.
“Anna Regina.
“Henry
Wardlaw, of Balmule,
“Having appointed the Lady Wintown younger
to assist for us at the Christning of the
Earl of Hume’s child, these are to require you to wait upon her at the
time, and, according to our custom, to distribute in our name amongst
the servants the sum of five hundred Merks Scots, and the same shall be
thankfully allowed to your again in your accompts.
Given under our hand at Whitehall, the 28th of October,
1612.”
(Fernie’s
History of Dunfermline., p. 105.)
THE EARL
OF DUNFERMLINE Represents the King in the Scottish Parliament.—In the
Parliament held at Edinburgh on 24th October, 1612, the King
appointed Alexander Seton, Earl of Dunfermline, to represent him, when
“the obnoxious prelatic Acts of a former General Assembly were ratified
by Act of Parliament.” (Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol. i.
p. 285.)
PROVOST OF DUNFERMLINE.—Thomas Wardlaw was elected Provost of
Dunfermline. (Burgh Records.)
1613.—THE “PAN-HOUSE.” At Limekilns, was built this year. (Vide Hist.
Dunf.; see also Annals Dunf. date 1581.) This appears to be one of the
earliest built Pan-houses on the shores of the Forth “for the making of
salte.”
THE
EARL OF DUNFERMLINE and Pinkie House.—This ancient house belonged to the
Abbots of Dunfermline. In the year 1613, it was enlarged, decorated,
and repaired by the Earl of Dunfermline for his residence. He appears
to have been proud of his worldly position; for, on the front of the
house, now hidden by a portico, the is a Latin inscription which states
that Lord Alexander Seton built this house—“Non ad
animi, sed ad
fortunaram et agelli
modum 1613”—that is, “Not after the fashion
of his mind, but after that of his fortune and estates, 1613.” (Cham.
Pict. Scot. vol. ii. p. 74, &c.)
THE
WHIRLBUT WARLOCK.—An old MS. of events, &c., in our possession, notes
that Tam Simpson, the warlock, was “carrying on his
prankis and deevilrie,” in his house
at Whirlbut, at the period.
Whirlbut is at Spittle Brig.
THOMAS
WARDLAW, of Logie, Provost of Dunfermline.
1614.—LORD WALDEN ENTERTAINED AT DUNFERMLINE.—“Theophilus
Howard, Lord Walden (afterwards Earl of Suffolk), in his
pleasure-journey through Scotland, arrived in Edinburgh, from thence he
proceeded to Dunfermline, accompanied by the Lord Chancellor, where he
was entertained, with all kindness and respect, for some days, when he
took his departure fo Culross.” (Domest.
An. Scot. vol. i. p. 454.)
ELYMOSYNER OF ST. LEONARD’S HOSPITAL.—According to a writ, or deed,
Thomas Walker, “laird of Rhodes,” near Dunfermline, was Almoner of St.
Leonard’s Hospital and Chapel in 1614.
THOMAS
WARDLAW, of Logie, Provost of Dunfermline.
1615.—PITREAVIE.—It
would appear, from an old manuscript in our possession, that Mr. Henry
Wardlaw, of Balmule, the Queen’s
Chamberlain, about this period, acquired the property of Pitreavie,
three miles south-east from Dunfermline.
DUNFERMLINE CHURCH with more than 2000 Communicants Enrolled.—A
Colleague is Recommended.—The following is from a Synod minute:--“Synode
at St. Androis, October, 1615—Dunfermeling.—Item,
the Synode considering
deeplie the largeness of the congregatioune
of Dunfermlin, having more than two thousand
communicantis, and weeknes and
infirmitie of Mr.Andro
Forster, minister, unable to bear the gryt
ane burthane
alane, thinkis
it altogether neidful that
ane other be joined with the said Mr.
Andro, in this
ministrie at the said kirk. For
procuring whairof, it is
ordainit that my lord archbishop and Mr.
Robt. Roch
sall deall with
my lord chancelleour, for his lordship’s
furtherance heirto.
Lykas, the brethren of the exerceis
thair sall
deall with the
parichinairs for thair
concurrans. Finallie,
willed my lord archbishop to provide ane
qualedied man, and to plant him
befoir the next Synode.”
(Vide “Minutes of the Synode of Fife,” date
1615.)
MR.
JOHN MORAY, or Murray, was admitted as one of the ministers of
Dunfermline. (See also An. Dunf. date 1622.)
1616.—DUNFERMLINE CHURCH VISITED BY THE LORD ARCHBISHOP—Strife,
Discontent, &c.—The following note is taken from “The Minutes of the
Synod of Fife,” date 1616:--“It is reported that the Kirk of
Dumferling has been visited by my lord
archbishop, at the whilk the parishioners
keeped by their strifes
and discontent with their minister, whilk
sinsque have burst forth. In regard
whairof the visitors have dealt earnestly
for ane new visitation. The Synod advised
the brethren of the exerceise, to do in the
visitation of that kirk, as may be
maist for the glory of God and
weill of that congregation. And to report
to the archbishop what they shall find, that he may do therein as he
shall find meet.”
MR.
ANDRO FOSTER, or Forster, demitted his office as Minister of
Dunfermline. (Fernie’s Hist. Dunf. p. 34, &c.)
MR.
JOHN MORAY, or Murray, who had for a short time been colleague with Mr.
Foster, but who had been silenced through contentions with him, &c., and
had left the charge, now returned to it, Mr. Foster having demitted his
office. (Fernie’s Hist. Dunf. p. 34; Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol.
i. pp. 419, 420.)
ROYAL
BURYING VAULT, DUNFERMLINE.—This Royal Burying-house, situated between
the three south-east buttresses of the “auld kirk,”
was probably erected when the repairs on the Church were in progress,
and intended for the Royal place of sepulture for the Royal
Family—probably, when the infant Prince Robert was interred in 1602.
King James ascended the English throne the year after the death of the
young Prince, and this burying-place thus became useless to them. In
the year 1616, Queen Anne gave a gift of the Vault to Henry Wardlaw, he
Chamberlain, who inserted an oblong stone above its door, with the
following inscription, in alto, cut on it:--
ANNA
REGINA MAGNÆ BRITANNIÆ
AC COMINA COMINII DE DVNFERM
MLINE DOMINO HENRICO WARDLA
W DE PITRAVIÆ MILITI ET SVIS POSTERI
S HVNC LOCVM IN SEPVLTVRAM DEDIT 1616.
That
is:--Anna, Queen of Great Britain, and Lady of the Lordship of
Dunfermline, gave to Henry Wardlaw, of Pitreavie, Esquire, and to his
posterity, this place of sepulture, 1616. Above this inscription, in a
triangular space cut on the stone, are the Wardlaw “arms” on a shield
together with the initial letters. ”H.W.” On the top of the stone, in
an angular direction, are “MEMENTO MORI” (remember death); on the lower
corners of the stone are the words, “ULTIMA DOMVS” (the last house);
and, in the space immediately above, on each side are skulls and
cross-bones. (Fernie’s Hist. Dunf. p. 105; Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol.
i. p. 120.)
Note.—There is a translation of the inscription on this stone given at
p., 120 of Chalmers’s History of Dunfermline, vol.
i. In it the writer has slightly altered it for the following
reasons, viz., Henry Wardlaw, Queen’s Chamberlain, was not a knight; his
son Henry was the first knight of the family. This son was created a
knight of Nova Scotia in 1631; therefore “Militi,”
in such a case, may be rendered “Esquire.” It will be observed that the
Queen, in her letter of date 1612, has addressed it—“To
aur Right Trustie
Servant, Henry Wardlaw.” If this stone was erected by his son, Sir
Henry Wardlaw, it must have been after 1631. In that case the date
1616, the date of the gift, has been given instead of that of its
erection.
1617.—THE OBIT REGISTER of Dunfermline, a small quarto, commences in
1617, and ends with the date 1657. “It is distinctly and beautifully
written.” (Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol. i. p.
83.)
KING
JAMES VI. in Dunfermline.—The King visited Scotland this year, for the
first time since his accession to the English crown in 1603. “He was
received with tumultuous joy” wherever he went. In the progress of his
journey, he visited Dunfermline in May, and again in June, where he
remained for some days each time. (Abridged Scot. Chron. p; 107, &c.)
PROVOST OF DUNFERMLINE.—Thomas Wardlaw, of Logie,
was elected Provost of Dunfermline in October. (Burgh Records.)
1618.—THE “ELIMOSYNER” OF ST. LEONARDS HOSPITAL, &C., granted a Writ of
Infeftment of four acres of land, of which
he was “the laird,” to William Mudy and his
spouse Margaret Eddison, April, 1618.
“O
RARE BEN JONSON” in Dunfermline.—According to tradition, Ben
Jonson visited Dunfermline in August, 1618.
The “Water Poet” and he were in Scotland at the same time, having both
walked, within a month of each other, from London to Edinburgh on foot,
both occupying about a month on the journey.
TAYLOR, “THE WATER POET,” in Dunfermline.—On July 14, 1618, John Taylor,
“The Water Poet,” left London on his “penniles
pedestrian journey to Scotland.” He arrived in Edinburgh on 13th
August, where, and in Leith, he appears to
have resided for about three weeks, indulging in eating, drinking, and
table-talk. Early in September he crossed from
Leith to Burntisland, and from thence went on foot to
Dunfermline. “He dwells with special delight on a dinner at which he
assisted here, given in his honour by Master
John Gibb, groom of his Majesty’s Chamber.
Several gentlemen, both Scotch and English, assisted also at the
banquet; and the Water Poet had to stand on the occasion “to his
colours.” (Vide The Water Poet’s “Penniless
Pedestrian Journey,” North Brit. Adver. And
Ladies’ Jour. Sept. 29, 1877.)
PROVOST
OF DUNFERMLINE.—Thomas Wardlaw, of Logie,
was re-elected Provost in October. (Burgh Records.)
1619.—PRINCE CHARLES (afterwards Charles I.), shortly after his mother’s
death (Queen Anne), was infeft on the 19th
of June in those parts of his mother’s Lordship of Dunfermline which had
not been alienated. (See also Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol.
i. p. 254.)
BURGH
RECORDS.—The sixth of the MS. volumes of the Burgh Records of
Dunfermline begins in May, 1619. (Burgh Records.)
PROVOST OF DUNFERMLINE.—Thomas Wardlaw, of Logie,
was re-elected Provost. (Burgh Records.)
1620.—RUINOUS STATE of some parts of the Abbey Nave.—“Although the great
repairs on the Abbey Nave appear to have been completed by
Dominus Dunfermling in 1607, yet in 1620 the
South or Royal Aisle showed symptoms of decay. During this year an
additional buttress on the south side of the Church (the middle one) was
erected to further strengthen the south wall (the date 1620 is on this
buttress, near the tip). The west part, inside of the South Aisle, was
also repaired in 1621, as shown by date 1621 on the roof at this part.”
(MS Note.)
PROVOST OF DUNFERMLINE.—Thomas Wardlaw, of Logie,
was re-elected Provost. (Burgh Records.)
1621.—REGALITY
HOUSE, NETHERTOWN.—An old house, which until 1861, stood on the north
side of East Netherton Street, was known as
the Regality House. It was a house of two storeys. The ground
apartment was vaulted. It appears to have been built in 1621, as this
date was on a stone over the door. In the year 1833, the writer visited
this house. In the vaulted apartment, ground floor, there was an
immense fire-place, into which was built a very large iron grate of fine
make. There was as “swing-piece” at one of its ends for holding a
sand-glass for the use of the cook, and other appliances. This fine old
grate probably came from the Abbey or Palace. The writer told the late
Mr. Joseph Paton of it, who at once
inspected it and purchased it for a trifle, and it was to be seen in his
museum, Wooers’ Alley, Dunfermline, until his death in 1874. Probably
the name “Regality House” was given to it after 1790. In this year,
amongst rubbish in the garret of this house, there were found a great
many MS. volumes of the Regality Court of Dunfermline, as also several
old Charters and Abbey documents. (See Annals, date 1792.)
AULD
KIRK.—The south wall and inside pillars were this year repaired. The
date 1621 is on the centre stone of the
arched roof of the aisle, behind the pillar, south side.
THE
LANDS OF HILL.—These lands, a mile south of Dunfermline, became the
property of William Menteith, of
Randieford, in 1621. (Chal. Hist. Dunf.
vol. i. p. 326.)
HENRYSON’S FABLES.—The Fables of Henryson, “guid
Scholemaister of Dunfermline, ”circa 1490,
&c., were this year published by Andro Hart,
Edinburgh.
PROVOST OF DUNFERMLINE.—Thomas Wardlaw, of Logie.
1622.—THE LANDS OF ABERCROMBIE, four miles S.W. of Dunfermline, were
united to the parish of Torryburn. They
were at a very early period an appanage of
Dunfermline Abbey.
ALEXANDER SETON, Earl of Dunfermline, died at his residence, Pinkie
House, Musselburgh, in June, 1622, and was buried in the family vault,
in Dalgety Church, near Dunfermline. The
following inscription, on a metal plate, was on his coffin:--
ALEXANDER SETONIUS, FERMELINODUNI COMES, SCOTIÆ
CANCELLARIUS, OBIIT 66 ANNO ÆTATIS SUAE, 16 JULY 1622.
That is,
“Alexander Seton, Earl of Dunfermline, and Chancellor of Scotland, died
16th July, 1622, aged 66 years. (See An. Dunf. dates 1662
and 1820)
CHARLES SETON, Earl of Dunfermline.—On the death of his father, Charles
Seton, his eldest son, succeeded to the Earldom of Dunfermline.
(Crawford’s Douglas Peerage, Fyvie’s
Charters, &c.)
LITERATURE.—A poem on the late Earl of Dunfermline was published in
Edinburgh this year, entitled—
T E
A R E S
For the
neuer sufficientlie
be-
wailed death of the late right ho-
nourable
and most worthie of
all honourable Titles.
A L
E X A N D E R
Earle of
Dumfermeling, Lord
Fyvie
and Vrquhart,
late Lord-Chancellar of Scotland.
_________
E D
I N B V R G H
Printed
by the Heires of Andro
Hart
ANNO DOM. 1622.
This
poem was republished in 1823, in eight quarto pages. John Lyn, of
Auldbar, is supposed to be the author. He,
in “bewailing strains,” highly eulogized the good Earl, and opens the
poem thus—
“Ah!must
my weake and care-benummed
hand
Paint out the sorrowes of this sorrowing
Land;
How can my pen make others’ passions knowne,
Which, as they are, can not expresse mine
owne;
This publike losse,
which was a losse to great,
Some heauen-taught Muse were fetter to
relate:
Yet whilst the Learned (who in silence sit)
Frame loftie Lynes
to serue as signes
of wit,
Sad care-crost Muse
vnto the world proclaime,
With woefull notes this Lamentable
Theame,
And sig so sadlie to each
listning eare,
That euerie eye for tribute pay a
teare.
Come euerie Age, Estate, and
Sexe, come all,
Come and bewaile this
statelie Cedar fall;
Come all wrong’d
Orphanes, come bewaile your
Syre,
Who did of late (but yet too soone)
Expyre;
Come woefull wodowes,
come you, weepe you fast,
Your Anchor and your hope, your help is past.”
“Rich
Burgers, you of whom hee once was
chiefe,
With teares bewray
vnto the world your
grieffe;
You at the Barre who
pleade your clients’ cause,
Mourne
that ye want to Judge that Judged your Lawes;
Graue
learned Judges, all burst foorth in
mone—
Your Light, you Lanterne, and your Guide is
gone,” &c.
And
concludes as follows:--
“Now,
being dead, this at our hands doth merite,
That as our bakes this badge of mourning bears,
VVee
should to Griefe pay tribute with our
teares.
But, ah! my Muse, breake of this our sad
decay,
Let brauer wits this
deepe taske
vnder-goe,
To waile his want and manifest our woe.”
MR.
JOHN MURRAY, Minister of Dunfermline, was deposed in 1622 for
nonconformity to “the Five Articles of Perth.” He died at
Prestonpans in 1632. (Chal. Hist. Dunf.
vol. i. p. 415.)
MR.
HARRIE MAKGILL was this year admitted minister of Dunfermline, as
successor to Mr. John Murray. (Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol.
i. p. 415, &c.)
PITLIVER.—Mr. John Dempster, Advocate,
Edinburgh, became (in 1622) proprietor of the lands and barony of
Pitliver, three miles south-west from
Dunfermline. (Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol. i. p.
305.)
PROVOST OF DUNFERMLINE.—Thomas Wardlaw, of Logie,
was elected Provost.
1623.—THE HILL-HOUSE FOUNDED.—The Hill-House, a stately mansion, about
half a mile south of Broad Street, Netherton,
was this year founded by William Monteith,
of Randieford, who, in 1621, purchased the
estate. Round the top of the staircase bartizan, outside, in large open
letters, are the following words in Latin:--
NI DEVS
ÆDIFICET DOMVM
That is,
“Except the Lord build the house.” (Ps. cxxvii.I.)
On a
stone connecting two long chimney-stalks, within the bartizan, there are
the following two inscriptions, cut in elegantly-formed Hebrew and Roman
characters:--
Namely,
“This is also vanity, and a great evil.”
Over
the dining-room windows are the effigies of two men—one cut on the stone
over each window—supposed to be King David and King James VI.; the one
sitting harp in hand, and the other—rather more than a half-length
figure—in the costume of his time, with ruffs. And on a stone panel
between these windows there are, cut in relieve, the following Hebrew
words:--
That is,
“The Lord hath chosen them that fear him.”
Underneath the first window of the staircase, at the main entrance
fronting south—but not at present visible from the ground, by reason of
a flat roof over the porch—is the date “1623,” with the following words,
in Hebrew and Latin, cut on two small stone panels:--
That is,
“Woe unto him that buildeth his house by
unrighteousness.” (Jeremiah xxii. 13.)
This
window has at its top the initials “W.M.,” surmounted by a
fleur-de-lis. These are evidently the initials of William
Monteith, who acquired the lands of the
“Hill” in 1621. (Vide also Chal. Hist. Dunf. vol.
i. p. 326.)
ADAM
BLACKWOOD, an eminent native of Dunfermline, died at Paris in 1623, aged
84. He resided the greater part of his life in France. He was a
senator in the Parliament of Poictiers, and
Professor of Law in the University of that city. He was the author of
several works; one of which, entitled “”Apologia pro
Regibus,” published in 1588; went through
two editions. He was a “a rampant defender” of the unfortunate Queen
Mary.
PROVOST OF DUNFERMLINE.—Thomas Wardlaw, of Logie.
1624.—FREE BURGESSES.—Two free burgesses “were maid” on the day before
the great fire, viz., “24 die May, 1624—Johne
Henrisone of fordell
beward of Court and
votting of ye haill
nigtbor’s convenit
wes entreid
burgess and freeman of this burgh gratis, and maid the
nytbors aith.”
Same day, “24 die May, 1624—George durie of
Craigluscar lykwys
entered burges and
frieman of ye said bruth gratis, and
maid ye nytbrs aith”
(the burgess oath). (Burgh Records, 24th May, 1624.) The
next meeting of the magistrates and Council of the burgh was on May 27th,
two days after the great fire, and although the houses were still
smouldering, no notice is taken of the
calamity, neither is it afterwards alluded to in the Burgh Records.
This is so extraordinary that it would appear to have been designed.
(See Annals, date 27th May, 1624, and following page.)
GREAT
FIRE OF DUNFERMLINE, 25th May, 1624.—The Burgh Records of a
great many towns in Scotland refer to this fire; but singular it is that
there is not the slightest notice taken of the calamity in the Burgh
Records of Dunfermline. This fire was accidental, and was caused by
some burning wadding or tow “from a fired gun” falling on the heather or
thatched roof of a house near the Rotten Row, which was set on fire, and
from thence it spread to other houses, until about
three_fourths of the town was destroyed. The 25th
May, 1624, was Wappinshaw-day in
Dunfermline, and, consequently a day for drill. A
bailie’s son was the culprit who fired the gun which caused the
calamity.
COMPLAINT TO THE PROVOST regarding a Malt Barn, Kiln, Coble, &c.—This is
the first entry in the Burgh Records two days after the great fire, and
it will be seen that no notice is taken of the smoking houses around.
Similar notices succeed, but nothing to indicate that a great fire had
occurred:--
“27th
die May, 1624.—The qlk day
qmperit Jane Phillan,
and gave in ye qmplaint to the
provst and baillies,
purchest at ye instance of David
Phillan against M. Thomas Wardlaw of
Logie. Archey
Douglas and Janet phillan his spouse
Berrand yt they
wer lawf
warnit to this day to
heer and see thame
declarit to have done
wrang in not removing fra the malt
barn, kiln cobell, corn barns
yaird caill of
land (for Keavle’s lot or portion) adjacent
zrto and half aiker
of land gontenit in ye
precpt at ye last term of witsunday
last bypast.” (Burgh Records, 27th
May, 1624.)
Such
is the first entry in these Records, two days after the fire, and is
inserted here merely that it may be joined to the two entries in a
previous page. (24th May, 1624.)
PUBLIC
NOTICES, &C., REGARDING THE GREAT FIRE.—The following are the public
notices regarding the Great Fire of Dunfermline:--
“The
Lords of the Privy Council to King James VI.”
“MOST
SACRED SOUERANE,--Thair
hes of lait
fallin oute, within the burgh of
Dunfermlyne vpoun
the xxv day of Maij
last, ane most lamentable and
fearefull accident, by
ane suddane and terrible
fyre, whilk
araise within the same, and
continewed so violent
ofr the space of foure
houris, as no foirsight
not strength of man wes able to resist it,
sua that the poore
inhabitantis who, with
mutche stryveing and
extreame hasaird
of thair lyveis,
opposed thame selffis
agains the violence of the
fyre, were constrained in the end to yield
to neccessitie, and to be
spectatowris of this
feareful visitatioun, wherein the
whole body of the toun,
whilk consisted of eleven scoir of
tenementis, and fourteen
scoir and sevin
families, wes within the space
foirsaid, brynt
and consumed, with the whole plennessing of
the houssis and the
barnis about the towne, wherein
thair wes
fyve hundredth bollis
of victual, sax yeiris of
aige, is totalie
ruined and undone, and the poore
inhabitantis, who wer
a companie of
industruous and verteous people, and
paynefullie and
cairfullie labourit for
thair leving,
ar reducit to
that extreame point of
miserye, that nothing is left thame
bot the cloathis
vpoun thair
backis, without a house or
holde to repoise
their languisheing
bodyis in, as some of us, who has seene
the desolatioun of this
poore toune, can
beare record. We haif
beene verie
solist and cairfull
for a supplie to this
poore toune, and
hes begun oure
selffis to gif good example to otheris,
and by oure letters we
haif recommendit
thame to the whole body of this estate: And whereas this
gentleman, your Majesties auld seruand,
hes, at the earnest desire of the
poore toune,
undertane to represent unto your
Majestie the desolate estate and
conditioun thairof,
they have petitioned ws that be him we
wald gif notice vnto
your Majestie of the
treuthe of his mater, whilk, in a
mater of this kynd, we could not
weel deny. In the
meantyme, we shall haif a
cair that the moneyis
quhilkis salbe
contributed for this earand
salbe providently managed and
rightlie distributit,
according to the qualitie and
necessitie of the
pairtyes interested, and in every other thing
whilk may procure the
comforte and relaiff of that
poore toun, no
thing salbe inlaiking
in ws whiche to
oure charge and placeis
apperteynis: And so, with
oure humble prayeris
vnto God, recommending your
Majestie, and all your
royall and princelie
advis, to the
protectioun of the Almightie, we rest
for ever.—Your Majesteis, most humble and
obedient subjectis and
seruitouris,
George Hay, Linlithgow.
Ja.
Glasgow Melros
Wigtoune
Glencairne
A. Mar
Buccleuche
“Haliruidhous, 16
Junij 1624.
To the King his most sacred and excellent
Majestie.”
(Melrose
Papers, vol. ii. p. 565, No. 329.) A similar notice was sent “to the
Prince his Highness” (Prince Charles), “because the
towne is your Highnes
owne.”
It
would appear from the foregoing document that some of the Lords of the
Privy Council had visited Dunfermline shortly after the fire, to see the
extent of the calamity, so that his Majesty and others might have
trustworthy information on the subject.
The
following are a few interesting notices regarding the fire:--From
Johnston’s unpublished (MS.) Hist. Scot. in the Advocated’ Library,
Edinburgh: “On Tuesday 25th day of May, At Dunfermline while
a wappinshaw was going on, William Anderson,
son til John Anderson, a bailff of the said
town, and Charles Richeson, his servant,
being shooting a shot with some of their friends in a certain place of
the town, a little piece of the lunt
flieth upon a thack-house,
which easily kindled; the fire increased with the violence of the wind,
and did flie from house to house, and
sometimes wald flie
over ane house without doing it any harm,
but wald burn the next house, till the great
admiration of all men. So that this fire burnt so
meikle of the town, that, excepted the Abbey and the Kirk
thereof, the tenth part were not free of it. This, by the
judgement of all beholders, was thought til
have been some divinity, or some witchcraft, rather nor this foresaid
accidental fire.” From this account it would appear that William
Anderson, son of Bailie Anderson, and Charles
Richeson were those who fired the unlucky shot, and that about
nine-tenths of the houses in the town were on fire and destroyed.
Calderwood in his History of the Kirk of
Scotland gives the time and the continuance of the fire:--“Dunfermeline
burnt upon the 25th May, (1624). A young boy in
Dunfermeline shooting a
gunne, a little piece of the lunt
(lint) flieth upon a
thacke house, which easlie kindled,
the fire increased with the violence of the wind, which was
verie vehement. The fire began at
twelf houres,
and burnt the whole toun. Some few
sclat houses excepted before
foure afternoone;
goods and gear within houses, malt and victuall
in malt kills and barns were consumed with the fire.” (Calderwood’s
Hist. Kirk. Scot., vol. vii. p. 607.
According to Calderwood, the fire began at
twelve o’clock noon, and continued until four o’clock afternoon, a
fierce storm of wind blowing all this while from the north-west. The
Chronicles of Perth notices this fire as follows: “Thair
we sane great fyre in
Dunferling, that brunt almaist the
haill toun in
four houris space.
Thaireafter, upone
thair supplication, voluntary contribution
wes grantit
thame throchout
the kingdom. Thair wes
collectit (in Perth) above
lxx. Merkis.”
Mur. Chron. Perth, vol.
i. pp. 24, 25. Balfour in his Annals of
Scotlandnotes, that the toun of
Dunermline consisted at this time of 220
houses, containing 287 families.
The
Aberdeen Records has the following minute on Dunfermline fire:--“Anno,
1624—Dunfermline, the town of , destroyed by accidental fire, 25th
May, consumed 220 tenements, occupied by 287 families, their whole
plenishing, with 500 bolls of grain in
barns. The town, containing 700communicants, and 320 children under six
years of age, said to be completely ruined. Voluntary contribution for
their relief, ordered by the head court of Aberdeen, convened for the
purpose; 1600 merks, collected by voluntary contribution as the town’s
benevolence, paid to the commissioner appointed for receiving it, for
which he granted a receipt.” (Inventory of the Records of Aberdeen,
vol. li. Pp. 123, 124, and 133; also
Fernie’s History of Dunfermlin, p. 134, &c.)
The
following minute is extracted from the Burgh Records of Edinburgh, 16th
July 1624:--“The quhilk day, Alexander
Clerk, provost, Mungo
Makcall, and Peter Somerville, baillies,
&c., being convenit, for
sua meikle as
the collectors appointed for collecting and ingathering of the voluntary
contribution appointed to be collectat
through this burgh, for re-edificing of the
said burgh of Dunfermeling, late brunt be
sudden fyre, as at mair
length is conteynit in the act of
counsall
maid theranent, of the
dait the second day of June last, is fund to extend to the
soume of four thousand
fyve hundredth pundis
eicht shillingis
seven pennyes [Scots];
thairfore, the provost, baillies, and
counsall, ordainis
the said collectors to pay the said somis to
Mr. Robert Drimond of
Woodcokdaill, and James Reid, zor.
burges of dumfereling,
appointet ressavers
of the same.” (Edin. Burgh Records; Chal.
Hist. Dunf. vol. i. p. 571, &c.)
From
these notices it would appear that about nine-tenths of the town were
destroyed during the brief space of four hours, on the disastrous 25th
May, 1624. The ravages of the fire appear to have been confined
principally to the area of the town lying on the north side of High
Street, viz., the Collier Row [Bruce Street]; the Rotten Row [West Queen
Anne Street]; North Chapel Street; the Cross Wynd;
all the north a part of the south side of the High Street; the upper
part of New Row, and the north side of Maygate.
The houses on the south side of the High Street were only partially
destroyed; the violent storm of wind at the time carried the flames and
sparks in some places across the street, and thus set fire to and
consumed many of them. The under parts of the houses in the town were
generally built of stone, the storey or storeys above were chiefly of
timber, and three-fourths of them were thatched with straw, heather,
and, in some instances, with “turf-sods,” which accounts for so many
houses being destroyed in the short space of four hours.
The
sketch………showing the locus of the fire and the direction of its “blasts
of flame,’ is taken from an old plan in the writer’s possession.
This
plan shows the extent of Dunfermline in 1624. The arrow-heads indicate
the direction of the wind during the fire (north-west); the long dark
streaks that of the smoke and flames driven by the violence of the wind
over the town according to old traditional accounts. Thus are exhibited
the extent and direction of the Great Fire.
The
documents which have been quoted show that there were 320 children in
the town under six years of age in 1624, or about one-fifth on the
population; the town would then have about 1600 inhabitants; there were
220 tenements. In these days dwellings were more crowded than now; at
present about 6 souls are allowed to each house; in 1624 the number
would be about 7 ¼ to a house; thus 220 x 7 = 1540 inhabitants. They
may be classified as follows:--Children under six years of age, 320, on
the communicant’s roll, 700; not on communicant’s roll (in which number
may be reckoned persons between the years of six and sixteen, and also
those who had a scruple to become communicants, 580; total, 1600 souls
in Dunfermline in 1624.
TRADITION.—A curious but absurd tradition may be noticed here,
viz,:--“A week or so before the Great Fire,
“a regiment of rats” were seen making their way up the Rotten Row, the
van being led by two rats leading a blind one by means of a straw
between them!” This dispersion of the animals, it is said, was taken as
an instance of their sagacity and foresight as to the coming fire. The
narrow street used by the rats in their flight was afterwards named the
“Rotten Row;” but this tradition comes to grief when it is recollected
that the said street was called the Ratton
Row or Rotten Row, as early as the year1487! (See An. Dunf. date
1487.) Rotten Row is derived from Ratton,
viz., unwrought timber, the houses being erected wholly of rough
undressed planks of timber; no stone used.
REBUILDING OF DUNFERMLINE—Garvock Wood,
&c.—Some old MSS. Notify that those of the inhabitants whose “finances
permitted them” began to rebuild and repair their houses immediately
after the fire had ceased; while the great bulk of the people had to
wait until the “unbringing of the public
benevolence contributions;” and that; during the latter end of 1624,
“the sound of the mallet, hammer, and saw, were heard in every quarter
of the town,” there being “large flocks of tradesmen at work.” At this
calamitous period the burgesses of Dunfermline had a right to cut wood
on the estate of Garvock, about a mile east
of the town; and they made such good use of their rights, that they left
the estate nearly denuded of its trees. These they had sawn into
planks, deals, &c., for rebuilding the second and third storeys of their
houses, the ground apartments being in general built of stone. The
mansion-house of Garvock, which crowned
Garvock, Hill, being thus shorn of much of
its natural beauty, the proprietor, Mr. Wellwood,
afterwards removed his residence to Pitliver,
besides losing Garvock Wood.
Towards the end of 1624, there are several minutes in the Burgh Records
of parties, by the dozen, who had been summoned for paltry debts before
the Burgh Court, for stanes, line, and
driving. One extract will suffice: “9 Dec., 1624—James
henrison compeard
for awing David Blair for work, and for stanes
and lime, 4lib.” He is ordered to pay the 4lib. There is no entry in
the Records of the large sums which the town must have received before
Dec., 1624, or theleast hint how the moneys
received were distributed. “Had a liberal distribution been made,
perhaps this ‘4lib’ of James Henrison’s to
David Blair would not have been on the books.”
PROVOST OF DUNFERMLINE.—James Reid.
“PUBLIC BENEVOLENCE” CONTRIBUTIONS.—The magistrates of Dunfermline,
shortly after the fire, had sent out to every town and parish in
Scotland petitions for “public benevolence” contributions, in which, as
has been shown in the response of a few quoted, they got seasonable
relief: Edinburgh sent £4500 8s. 7d. (Scots); Aberdeen, 1600 merks;
Perth, 70 merks, &c.; and no doubt every town and parish contributed.
It is highly probable that a very considerable sum would come to
Dunfermline for the relief of “the poor inhabitants,” but how much,
there is nothing on record to show. The King had been solicited for
aid. His bounty on the occasion is not known; but Prince Charles
(afterwards King Charles I.) who was solicited for pecuniary aid, gave
£500 Scots, “Dunfermling being his ain
toun.”
THE
HOUSE IN EAST HIGH STREET with Date of the Fire on it.—After the town
was rebuilt, a great many of the pious inhabitants place on the front
walls of their houses, above doors and windows, stones having on them
the date of the fire and mottoes taken form the Scriptures. These
“sermons in stones” have since then, in the
course
of “improvements,” been nearly all removed or destroyed. Only two
remained in 1877; one in the High Street (east end, north side); the
others on the house-top of Cross Wynd. The
house near the east of the High Street (north side), within a few yards
of the side of the East Port, according to tradition, was the
eastmost house in that direction which had
been overtaken by the flames and only partially destroyed. It would
likely be looked upon by its proprietor as a “supernatural gift.”
Hence, “Praise God for all his gifts” was an appropriate motto for his
memorial stone over the door. The engraving on the preceding page is a
representation of the stone.
The
stone, it will be seen, is a triangular one, having cut on it in alto
relieve the day and the year of the fire, “1624, 25
Maii.” Below are the initials, no doubt, of the proprietors and
heir in 1624.
PRAIS
GOD FOR
Is now
all that appears sin connection with it. It is probable, however, that
the stone would originally rest o a “lintel stane,”
which would have on it the concluding words of the motto, viz.:--
ALL HIS
GIFTS,
or
perhaps “All Hys Gygtes.”
As the motto now stands, it gives out “an uncertain sound,” and appears
to give the praise to the proprietor. It will be remembered that a
stone on Pittencrieff House had on it a similar motto. (See An. Dunf.
date 1610.)
PROVOST OF DUNFERMLINE—Thos. Wardlaw, of Logie,
(Burgh Rec.) According to another notice—Alexander Clerk, of
Pittencrieff.
