[152] The pillar was restored to Edinburgh, and for some years stood
within an enclosed recess on the north side of St Giles’. When Mr
W. E. Gladstone rebuilt the Cross in 1885, a little to the south of
its former site, between St Giles’ Church and the Police Office, the
original pillar was replaced in its old position.
[153] Bishop Forbes inserts in his manuscript (which I possess) a
panegyrical epitaph for Ned Burke, stating that he died in Edinburgh
in November 1751. He also gives the following particulars from Burke’s
conversation:
‘One of the soles of Ned’s shoes happening to come off, Ned cursed the
day upon which he should be forced to go without shoes. The Prince,
hearing him, called to him and said: “Ned, look at me”—when (said Ned)
I saw him holding up one of his feet at me, where there was de’il a
sole upon the shoe; and then I said: “Oh, my dear! I have nothing more
to say. You have stopped my mouth indeed.”
‘When Ned was talking of seeing the Prince again, he spoke these words:
“If the Prince do not come and see me soon, good faith I will go and
see my daughter [Charles having taken the name of Betty Burke when
in a female disguise], and crave her; for she has not yet paid her
christening money, and as little has she paid the coat I ga’e her in
her greatest need.”’
[154] ‘Upon the 26th of February [1617], the Cross of Edinburgh was
taken down. The old long stone, about forty footes or thereby in
length, was to be translated, by the devise of certain mariners in
Leith, from the place where it had stood past the memory of man, to
a place beneath in the High Street, without any harm to the stone;
and the body of the old Cross was demolished, and another builded,
whereupon the long stone or obelisk was erected and set up, on the 25th
day of March.’—Calderwood’s _Church History_.