The Antiquary.

OCTOBER, 1880.

Old Glasgow.

PART II.

HIS discrepancy between the outer casing of the nave and its colonnades, and the identity of the former in many points with the fragmentary portion of the crypt, seems hitherto to have entirely escaped attention. The most recent tendency appears to be to err in date just as much the one way as the earlier writers did the other. Mr. Fergusson, in his "History of Architecture,"* thus states the case:-"The bishopric was founded by David I., but it was not until after several destructions by fire that the present building was commenced, probably about the year 1240. The crypt and the whole of the choir belong to the latter part of the thirteenth century, the nave to the fourteenth, and the tower and spire to the fifteenth." So also Muir, in his "Mainland and Island Characteristics," writes :-"In Glasgow Cathedral-famous from its entireness and the almost unrivalled grandeur of its cryptthe work in the choir, Lady chapel, and great crypt, is, with some slight exceptions, First Pointed, but generally late in the style, Second Pointed in the nave, chapter-house, lateral crypts, and other portions of the building, though in many or most of the details exhibiting a remarkable following of the earlier type." We cannot enter any further into the question here, but must leave the criteria just mentioned to speak for themselves.

Apropos of Blackader's aisle Mr. Macgeorge makes a curious mistake, stating that it is supposed to have been erected not later than the middle of the fourteenth century, so claiming the inscription relative to its dedication to be "a very early * Vol. ii. P. 208.

VOL. II.

By

example of Scottish vernacular."* whom the supposition has been made we are not informed, but there can be no doubt this crypt was erected by Blackader, as appears by his coat armorial on the buttresses, as the substructure for an extension of the south transept. But Blackader's episcopate and archiepiscopate only cover the period from 1484 to 1508, so that the crypt must have been built towards the close of the fifteenth century, in all probability subsequent to, and as the result of, the erection of the see into an archbishopric, a material difference in point of time for Mr. Macgeorge's argument. Our author strongly advocates the designation of this crypt from its dedication instead of the more popular name now in use as derived from its ostensible builder. This alteration he endeavours to support by another of these wild conjectures which mar to such an extent the value of the book under review. That after the lapse, and we may add the neglect, of a thousand years, it should have been reserved for the very close of the fifteenth century not only to dedicate a crypt to Fregus or Fergus, but also to found a south transept on what was "no doubt supposed to be the very spot of his interment," is a supposition for which no evidence, so far as we are aware, is forthcoming save that of mere assumption. As to the name, the point is not very material, and in these modern days, far from being "obviously improper," the one designation is just as true and as expressive as the other; but it may interest Mr. Macgeorge to learn that the name which he advocates was really applied to the crypt in question during the seventeenth century. In the (unpublished) Minutes of Session, under date Nov. 30, 1648, we find it recorded that:

"Anent the desire of the ministers for a burial-place in the isle called Fergus isle, the session thinks fit the desire be granted, and recommends the same to the mags and councill to give their consent."†

If a reform in nomenclature is so desirable, why should a beginning not be made with the absurd and still more inexcusable change from S. Thanew's or S. Tenew's to S. Enoch's -church, square, and railway-station ?

This phonetic transformation of local placenames recalls a controversy which Mr. Macgeorge might have very materially contributed to settle. At p. 128 it is positively stated that the stream known as the "Molendinar" "acquired its name from the mill of the bishop's manor." Why was the evidence for this fact not produced? Does the author not know that certain local inquirers have been perverse enough to affirm that this deceptive looking term is a mere Latinized corruption of an early name not necessarily connected in any way either with mills or millers.

The word first occurs in Joceline's "Life of Kentigern," written in the twelfth century. It is there rendered Mellingdenor, or Mellingdevor, subsequently the name is most frequently met with in legal documents, where it plays an important part in defining the boundaries of properties. In the fifteenth century it is referred to in the "Reg. Epis. Glas." as "rivulum de Malyndoner-Malindinor-MalendinorMalendinar," or "torrentem de Malyndinor" or "Malyndenor." In the sixteenth century out of seventeen references in the "Liber Proto collorum" it occurs eleven times as Malindinor, five times as Malindinore, once as Malindonor. Now these documents, including Joceline's "Life," of course are all in Latin, and yet, if the modern gloss and its assumed etymology be correct, the word is never once given except in what we must assume to be a colloquially corrupted form. The departure by Latinists, be it marked, from the true Latin orthography, is also in precise ratio to the antiquity of the reference. As a monk of Furness, Joceline may have erred in exactly rendering a local name, and yet, even by his time, we must suppose that the stream had not only received its designation from a particular use, but also that the name had become egregiously corrupted. Is this at all likely to have been the case? What is the evidence for its being so employed as a water-power, either then or afterwards, beyond that of mere verbal analogy?

Before quitting the subject of the Cathedral there is one point on which we must express

our hearty accordance with Mr. Macgeorge -viz., the Vandalism evinced some thirty years ago in the removal of the north-west tower and consistory house. We have no sympathy with that spurious sentimentalism which insists that, as the price of its conservation, a monument of antiquity shall be compelled to conform to the fleeting æsthetic fashion or fancy of the day. In this respect Glasgow Cathedral has been sadly bungled. Much rather would we have had the wasted outlines, than the crisp cement mouldings so elaborately introduced by Blore. Still more unpardonable was the substitution of the petty finials for the simple acus in which the pinnacles severely terminated, also the cross fleureé on the western gable for the lion sejant bearing a shield which from time immemorial crowned it. These are, however, mere matters of detail, easily to be corrected, as compared with the total demolition of the features just referred to. That they were plain and severe we do not doubt, that they ought therefore to have been removed we deny. In point of style they appear to have been very much akin externally to the existing chapter- house. Their historic interest may have been enhanced by their very baldness and absence of ornament. It is extremely probable that their erection took place after the Wars of Independence, when the country must have been wasted and impoverished to a remarkable degree. We could cite other instances where an equally striking contrast occurs, attributable to the same cause. Why should not these also be demolished? Because Scotland did not emerge from the Wars of Succession with the same superfluity of wealth, that she previously enjoyed, are remains built for actual necessity and not for show to be swept away? It did not mend matters that the plea was "new lamps for old ones," and that George Kemp and Gillespie Graham were severally enlisted to design western flanking towers. The old lamps went, for the new the requisite funds were not forthcoming, and so posterity was no doubt saved a world of objurgation.

It is impossible now to determine how it was intended to complete the western extremity of the nave. The existing windows might equally have been designed to be aisle-arches opening from it into western towers.

The

ingoings are not moulded like all the remaining nave-windows, but form merely a succession of splays precisely similar to those of the aisle-arch in the crypt. Mr. Macgeorge mentions that previous to the alterations no raggle or chasing had been cut from the insertion of a window-frame. This is quite likely to have been the case. The fact was elicited during a preliminary examination of the tower and consistory house, then on the eve of demolition, by the late Alexander (Grecian) Thomson and Mr. John Baird, architect in Glasgow. The result of this examination was the petition referred to by our author, the names being obtained by Mr. Baird. The presentation of the petition to the Town Council was unfortunately entrusted to a bailie who, turning the matter into ridicule, secured its rejection, and so ended the last effort to save these relics of the olden time.*

It is, however, a curious and apparently an unknown fact that the north-west tower "Laigh" or "Guttyf steeple" had a narrow escape from destruction just 260 years prior to its actual removal. From the aforecited Minutes of Session, under date March 7, 1588, we learn that :

"The commissioners appointed by the Kings Matie anent repairing the High Kirk and hail brethren of the Kirk Session of Glasgow thinks good that the laigh steeple be taken down to repair the mason work of the said kirk, and that the bell and knock be transported to the high steeple, and that the kirk have a quienzie left at the steeple aforesaid for relief thereof."

The difficulty seems to have been met in a more legitimate way, as in July, 1589, the town and parish pay each their quota of a thousand pounds expended in repairing the choir of the High Church.

The consistory house of later times was known at this period as the "Librair House," and under March 15, 1604, it is minuted that "The Session considering the consistory house was of old under the laigh steeple, order the commissary to repair to that place for his meeting, and to take the money that was

A copy of the petition referred to is appended to

Mr. Honeyman's pamphlet.

given him for repairing the Librair house for repairing it."

Did space permit, a large variety of curious notices could be given from the same source. As it now stands the western and principal approach to the Cathedral is no doubt its weakest point, the full effect of the building being only realized from the south-east. Much has lately been done toward opening up this part of the town, but if Mr. Macgeorge wishes to neutralize as much as possible the errors of the past let him advocate the entire removal of the Barony Church, with the adjoining school and sculpture yard, as also the "bridge of sighs," the superintendent's house, and the lodge connected with the necropolis. The bridge and road leading to it are utterly useless, a mere accommodation to a now obsolete state of things. The true entrance to the necropolis is at its lower angle, where a gate has been recently put up. With the superintendent's house placed to the south of this, all the obstacles mentioned removed, and the connection between the two sides of the ravine cut off, little more will be required toward the opening up of one of the noblest views of the cathedral that can possibly be obtained. Let Mr. Macgeorge co something to effect this object and he will deserve well of his country.

The woodcut on the following page represents almost the last existing relic of the bishop's castle, which stood immediately to the west of the Cathedral. It was demolished toward the close of the last century, the armorial bearings which had adorned the gateway being built into the wall of a private structure in the lower part of the town. They are now transferred to the keeping of Sir William Dunbar, of Mochrum; but it is to be regretted that they were not preserved either amongst the other fragments in the Cathedral, or in one of the local museums. The upper portion represents the royal arms of Scotland, with the initials I. 5.-(Jacobus V.), beneath these are the arms of Archbishop Dunbar, with the crosier in pale, and the salmon in base, below that again are the arms of Archdeacon Houston.

At the first the Reformation told very

especially those living in the upper part of the town, or that immediately adjoining the

Cathedral, where the Archiepiscopal court and residence of the great dignitaries of the church had been a fertile source of livelihood and emolument. To such an extent was this the case that in 1587 a supplication was presented to the Scottish Parliament "be the fremen and vtheris induellaris, abone the greyfriars wynde," entreating that some of the markets held at the city cross, then situated in the Trongate, might be transferred to

the upper and more ancient part of the town. Mr. Macgeorge states (p. 96) that "The Parliament ordered the matter to be looked into, but it does not appear that the petitioners succeeded in getting any of the 'mercattis' moved above the wynde." Now, the fact is, not only was the prayer of the petition granted, to the extent of appointing a Parliamentary commission, but notice also occurs of a subsequent modification of the change so effected.

From the Acts of the Scottish Parliament we find that on the 29th of July, 1587, an Act was passed

wherein, after narrating the terms of the supplication as quoted by Mr. Macgeorge, a commission is appointed consisting of Robert Lord Boyd, Walter Prior of Blantyre, and one-half of the Town Council of Glasgow, who are empowered "To convene

and tak order as thai sall think maist expedient for releif of the decay and necessitie of that part of Glasgow abone the gray freir wynde therof, ather be appointting of the mercate of salt, qwhilk cumis in at the over port, or the beir and malt mercat, vpoun the wynd heid of the said cietie or sic vther pairt

therabout wher the saids commissioneris or the maist part of thame sall think maist meit and expedient.*

The salt market appears accordingly to have had its locality shifted, but the change only gave rise to renewed dissatisfaction. On the 8th June, 1594, we find another Act passed wherein, after narrating the substance of the previous preamble and referring to the commission as having been appointed "for establisching of the beir marcat or salt marcat abone the wynd heid," proceeds "Quha thaireftir placit the salt marcat thair, qwhilk was altogidder incommodious, be reasone the same wes far distant fra the brig and watter of the said citie quhair the salt is maist vsit and pat the merchandis and fischeris quha bocht the same to greit expenss of cariage and transporting thairof fra the said wynd heid to the brig be the space of ane myle and "Acts of the Scottish Parliament," vol. iii. p.

505.

mair, lyk as the sellaris of the salt vpoun that occasioun removit thame selffis to the auld place narrer the said brig quhair the same wes sauld of befoir; and the saidis commissioneris wer myndit to have placit the beir and malt marcat abone the said wynd heid in place of the said salt marcat, gif be deceiss of the said umqle Robert lord Boyd, the said commission had nocht expyrit. For remeid quhair of our said soverane lord, with avise of his saidis estaitis, be thir presents, gevis and grantis full power and commissioun to his trustie counsellours Walter Prior of Blantire, lord privie seill, Robert Boyd of Badinheath, Daniel Foirsyth of Dykis, the ordiner ministeris of Glasgow, the provest and baillies therof or the maist pairt of thame to raise and lift the beir and malt marcat, and establische the same abone the wynd heid of the said citie. To the effect abone written, at ony pairt or place thairof maist commodious as thai sall think expedient, and to remove the said salt marcat to the auld statioun quhair it stude for the commoun benefite of the haill inhabitantis." *

We do not understand how Mr. Macgeorge has overlooked these important Acts.

The latter portion of the volume deals chiefly with the commercial progress of Glasgow, and so gradually escapes from the antiquarian element. In some points we think the author has scarcely realized the rapid strides made by the city during the last century, especially in the consumpt and manipulation of comestibles-e.g., take the article tea. Mr. Macgeorge considers that a century ago "a few boxes" only would have supplied all requirements. This scarcely comports with the liberal advertisements of the period, where the luxury is quoted at all prices, from three or four shillings a pound up to fifteen shillings for green tea. So much akin were commercial habits then to what they are now that we have, indeed, seen an advertisement, of date 1785, wherein intimation is made that the advertiser "has taken an oath that he will not adulterate teas." In the west, "ma conscience" seems to have been a mode of appeal familiar to other lips than those of Bailie Nicol Jarvie, and as used by that redoubtable worthy, forms a bit of local

* "Acts of the Scottish Parliament," vol. iv. p. 79.

colouring due, no doubt, to Sir Walter Scott's acute observation.

Mr.

In conclusion, we regret that a sense of duty has compelled us to mingle to such an extent blame with praise. To the privatelypublished "Armorial Insignia of Glasgow" no such exception could be taken. Macgeorge there knew his ground, and made a valuable and, in many respects, an original contribution to the history of the city. In so far as it is the aim of the present work, as already stated, "to cast a broader and a more philosophic light over the retrospect of twelve centuries," it also is an advance on previous local histories; but it ought to be the ambition of the historian to occupy, not a place at the bar, but a seat on the bench, and to exhibit, instead of special pleading, the calm impartiality of a judicial finding. Past experience has shown that this is a quality specially requisite in dealing with the history of a city like Glasgow, where, on the principle ab uno disce omnes, conjectures and suppositions are so speedily quoted, and made to do duty as facts. We hope still to see a second edition of this work, with the weak points of the first expurgated. In get up and typography the book is in every way creditable to the eminent firm by whom it is published, and from the variety of the subjects discussed, and the wide field from which the requisite information is gleaned, forms an interesting and suggestive volume.

W. G.

Our Colonies under the Merry Monarch.

HE merry doings of our "Merry Monarch" have usually been made the most of by historians, and we think very much to the prejudice of the more sterling qualities of his character. That Charles II. inherited a love of the fine arts from his unfortunate father, and that he did all he could to recover the numerous works of art which belonged to Charles I., but had been seized by order of the Commonwealth, our State Papers furnish ample evidence; and from the same sources we find