‘... whilk was Sanct Mark’s even, our sovereign lady, riding frae
Stirling (whereto she passed a little before to visie her son) to
Edinburgh, James Earl of Bothwell, accompaniet with seven or aucht
hundred men and friends, whom he causit believe that he would ride upon
the thieves of Liddesdale, met our sovereign lady betwixt Kirkliston
and Edinburgh, at ane place called the _Briggis_, accompaniet with ane
few number, and there took her person, [which he conducted] to the
castle of Dunbar. The rumour of the ravishing of her majesty coming to
the provost of Edinburgh, incontinent the common bell rang, and the
inhabitants ran to armour and weapons, the ports was steekit, [and] the
artillery of the Castle shot.’--_D. O._
The place indicated was well chosen for the purpose, being in an angle
of ground enclosed by the Almond River and the Gogar Burn, which meet
here; so that the queen and her little party could not have fled except
at considerable risk. The post-road from Linlithgow to Edinburgh still
passes by the spot, immediately after crossing the river Almond by the
Boat-house Bridge.[38] Thus characterised, it is perhaps of all places
on the road from Linlithgow to Edinburgh, that which Bothwell might be
expected to choose if he had been in no collusion with the queen, and
anxious to take her at advantage.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: MAY 11.]
The queen had time at this remarkable crisis of her history--when just
about to be married to Bothwell--to grant a letter to ‘the cunning men
of the occupation and craft of chirurgeons,’ freeing them from the duty
of attending hosts and wappenshaws, and also from that of ‘passing
upon inquests and assizes,’ in order that they might have ‘the greater
occasion to study the perfection of the said craft, to the uttermost of
their ingynes [abilities].’[39]
There is a common belief that surgeons and butchers are exempt from
serving on juries, on account of the assumed effect of their profession
in making them reckless as to destruction of life. Perhaps the notion
has in part taken its rise in this exemption from service for the
surgeons, though it appears to have been granted on more honourable
consideration.