Before the queen had been settled for many weeks in her capital,
the new-born zeal of the people against the old religion found vent
in a way that shewed in how little danger she was of being spoilt by
complaisance on the part of her subjects. The provost of Edinburgh,
Archibald Douglas, with the bailies and council, ‘causit ane
proclamation to be proclaimit at the Cross of Edinburgh, commanding
and charging all and sundry monks, friars, priests, and all others
papists and profane persons, to pass furth of Edinburgh within
twenty-four hours, under the pain of burning of disobeyers upon the
cheek and harling of them through the town upon ane cart. At the whilk
proclamation, the queen’s grace was very commovit.’--_D. O._ She had,
after all, sufficient influence to cause the provost and bailies to be
degraded from their offices for this act of zeal.
* * * * *
The autumn of this year, the weather was ‘richt guid and fair.’ In the
winter quarter, the weather was still fair, and there was ‘peace and
rest in all Scotland.’--_C. F._
* * * * *
[Sidenote: DEC. 16.]
William Guild was convicted, notwithstanding his being a minor and of
weak mind, of ‘the thieftous stealing and taking forth of the purse
of Elizabeth Danielstone, the spouse of Niel Laing, hinging upon her
apron ... she being upon the High Street, standing at the krame of
William Speir ... in communing with him, the time of the putting of ane
string to ane penner and inkhorn, whilk she had coft [bought] fra the
said kramer, of ane signet of gold, ane other signet of gold set with
ane cornelian, ane gold ring set with ane great sapphire, ane other
gold ring with ane sapphire formit like ane heart, ane gold ring set
with ane turquois, ane small double gold ring set with ane diamond and
ane ruby, ane auld angel-noble, and ane cusset ducat.’--_Pit._ This
account of the contents of Mrs Laing’s purse, in connection with the
decorations of the fifty young citizens who convoyed the queen in her
procession through the city, raises unexpected ideas as to the means
and taste of the middle classes in 1561.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: 1561.