Proximate Landscape. 225 



christened, in 1633, King Charles I. happened to be 

 present, and took from his neck a gold, pearls, and 

 blue enamel chain, which he put round the neck of 

 the child, and which is now highly treasured as an 

 heirloom in the Wauchope of Edmonstone family. 



Little France. — Within a short distance of 

 Edmonstone lies Little France, consisting of a few 

 small houses which can scarcely with propriety be 

 designated a village. This spot is specially rich 

 in historical interest, and gets its name from the 

 French retainers of Queen Mary residing there 

 when she held her court at Craigmillar Castle. 

 Within recent years there stood at the west side 

 of the road a small thatched cottage which tra- 

 dition asserted to be a remnant of the original 

 village of Little France. In corroboration of this 

 tradition, it may be mentioned that an oak lintel 

 above the door had some words inscribed upon it in 

 the French language. On the cottage becoming 

 tenantless it was maliciously set on fire, so that this 

 interesting relic of bygone days was completely 

 destroyed. It is here, as observed in a previous 



