Till-: WEST-BOW. — COVENANTERS. 95 



Descending the Castle-hill — a walk much frequented by the citizens on 

 account of the view, to which, in point of beauty and extent, it would be 

 difficult to find a parallel in Europe — we enter the Lawn-market, the buildings 

 of which carry us back to the olden times. 



Continuing to descend, we perceive the West-Bow on our right, a steep, narrow, 

 and curving street, which forms the passage of communication between the grand 

 thoroughfare of the High-street and the Grass-market — a name which, in spite of 

 its rural and peaceable designation, will awaken in its behalf some unpleasing but 

 exciting interest, and, we may add, painful associations.* The Grass-market was 

 the place of public execution, and the West-Bow the avenue through which the 

 dismal cortege descended from the ridge of the mountain city into the " valley 

 of the shadow of death." No sudden and extraordinary change was presented 

 in modern times by the aspect of this street. The criminal, walking in his 

 grave-clothes between two ministers, bade farewell with a sinking heart to the 

 well-known closes, the over-hanging balconies, the black and mouldering walls — 

 the haunts, perhaps, of his profligacy, and the witnesses of his crimes. He 

 did not know — and would little have cared had he known — that, in an earlier 

 age, those lofty and uncouth edifices were the dwellings of a very different 

 grade of society. The iron crosses in some of the walls had no power of associa- 

 tion to bring before his mind's eye the shadows of their ancient denizens — the 

 " knights Templars," and the " knights of St. John of Jerusalem." But emerging 

 at length into the more open area of the Grass-market — a wide oblong square, 

 surrounded by lofty but mean-looking houses — an object, near the further end, 

 arrested his eye, and, perhaps, at that moment, closed its sense against every 

 other in tliis world; it was the gallows-tree — tall and black — surrounded by a 

 scaffold, with a ladder placed against it for his ascent. The scene, overshadowed 

 by the bare, rude, mountainous rock which forms the eastern termination to 



to present a " report" on the mornings of national festivals. Under these circumstances it may be allowed to 

 resume its old title of " Castellum Puellarum."— " Ce chateau s'appelle le chateau des Pucelles, parce que 

 c'etait le sqour des jeunes princesses du sang Royale des Pictes!" — AVuin Manesson, 1686. The castle 

 was the principal residence of Alexander HI. His queen, Margaret, daughter of Henry III., complained 

 of it " as a solitary place, without verdure, and unwholesome from its vicinity to the sea." A physician 

 was sent from her father's court to visit her ; but it did not appear that the castle was unwholesome, what- 

 ever the youthful queen of a youthful husband might feel, or feign.- — M. Paris. The famous piece of 

 ordnance, Jl/ons Meg, is considered the palladium of the castle ; and after being carried away as a trophy, 

 was again welcomed, some years ago, to tlie citadel, by a triumphant procession. The carriage on wliich 

 it was hitherto supported, (Oct. 1835,) lately gave way with an alarming crash, so as to startle those 

 within hearing ; and from the delay which attends the business of repair, Mons Meg seems to be no longer 

 recognised " as connected with the glory and independence of Scotland !" 



• Scott and Scotland, by Lcilch Ritchie, 1835, — a work replete with graphic illustration. 



