#cowgatehead

[scotianostra]

On 9th December 1688 serious rioting started in Edinburgh, it eventually spread across Scotland.

A lot of sources state the 10th, but the riots started on the 9th.

It became known as the Holyrood Riot, but in reality, the riots in general were anti-Catholic, the original name being where they began.

It all kicked off because King James VII had a baby son. Having become king on the death of his brother, Charles II, in 1685, James survived the rebellions by the Duke of Monmouth and the Earl of Argyll, both of whom paid with their heads for their insurrection.

No doubt emboldened by his success, James had proclaimed tolerance of religion, especially his own Roman Catholicism which led him to establish a Jesuit academy in the Palace of Holyroodhouse in 1686. The following year many Christians in Scotland’s established Kirk welcomed the king’s intervention, the Declaration of Indulgence, which meant they could have their own places of worship, but James also continued with the persecution of the Covenanters who refused to recognise his absolute monarchy, and “The Divine Right”

A 26-year-old minister, James Renwick, became the last of the Covenanter Martyrs when he disowned James VII’s royal authority and was hanged in the Grassmarket in Edinburgh on February 17, 1688. In any case the vast majority of the clergy and the people opposed any measure of tolerance towards Catholics which James had tried to impose by the “divine right” of kings after both the English and Scottish Parliaments rejected his measures.

James also began to put his fellow Catholics into positions of authority and Protestants could only hope that James, by then in his mid-50s, would soon die as his appointed heir was his daughter from his first marriage, Mary, a Protestant married to the very Protestant Prince William of Orange, the leader of the Dutch Republic.

On June 10, 1688, those hopes of a Protestant succession were dashed when James’s Catholic wife Mary of Modena gave birth to a son, James Francis Edward Stuart, who was baptised a Catholic.

Just five days after the new heir’s birth, seven bishops of the Church of England were put on trial for asking to be excused from reading from the pulpit James VII’s latest version of the Declaration of Indulgence. They included the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Sancroft.

Widespread anti-Catholic riots took place in England and Scotland during the trial which ended with the Seven Bishops being cleared. Senior Protestant politicians faced with a Catholic dynasty decided to invite William and Mary to take the throne and thus the so-called Glorious or Bloodless Revolution took place in November, 1688. It was neither Glorious nor Bloodless – as the Battle of Killiecrankie would show a few months later – but that’s how William’s spin doctors portrayed it.

James went into exile in France but to make sure he went, the Edinburgh Mob gathered on December 9 and 10, 1688, determined that the so-called “Jesuit threat” of Roman Catholicism would not return to Scotland.

On December 9, a mob began to gather and the following morning the Town Council rushed out a proclamation ordering children and servants to stay indoors.

Remarkably, we have an eye-witness account of the events in Edinburgh that day, preserved in the National Library of Scotland, produced by Alexander Adamson, then a divinity student in the capital, and one of the rioters.

“...The next morning [Monday 10th December 1688] by ten the [Edinburgh] Town Council sat, and about eleven in the forenoon emitted a proclamation: discharging tumults and requiring masters of families to keep their children and servants within doors; but it was no sooner read than it was torn: the officers and drummers being severely beat in several places of the city. They were forced to return to their masters to tell how they were treated.

All continued quiet till twilight when the mob began to gather. The first appearance they made was about the Cowgatehead, from thence going to the Grassmarket where they provided themselves with staves and torches. They come up the West Bow and enter a drummer’s house in the Castlehill whence they took two drums, one of which they broke before they passed the weighhouse, so down the street they come beating with their drum, till past the Nether Bow and in the Canongate head they made a stop, seeing the guard drawing out at the Canongate Tolbooth and sent one to enquire what the matter was. The Captain replied it was to put respect upon them. They answered they would have none of his respect and required he might call in his guards immediately.....”

Adamson himself was one of the wounded but he found out later that the mob broke into the Abbey and did fearsome damage, including desecrating royal tombs, removing pictures, written records, and the Abbey’s gold and silver vessels which were burned.

Other Catholics and their clergy were attacked elsewhere in Scotland, but the riots soon died down when William and Mary had arrived in London.

[pershing100]

Cowgatehead, Edinburgh

[digitalebrandung]

cowgatehead

[colinmyersphotography]

Taken from my favourite spot anywhere in the #Old #Town to shoot the #castle; with the #Grassmarket below, #Cowgatehead to the left and the #Cowgate itself to the right. I've spent so much time in this part of the Old Town down the years, it's probably ingrained in my head forever.... . (at Edinburgh, United Kingdom)

[thejohnfleming]

Edinburgh Fringe Day 6: A terrifying smile and a lack of terrorism security

Edinburgh Fringe Day 6: A terrifying smile and a lack of terrorism security

Yesterday’s blog ended with a mention of believable and unbelievable anecdotes.

Alexander Bennett’s bloody battle to perform

This morning, I had a long conversation with comedian Alexander Bennett – to whom all hail – in which we discussed the idea of simply making up some bizarre – completely false – event which allegedly happened during his Terrifying Smileshow today… simply to promote the fact…

[scottishdreams]

Edinburgh > | Red Telephone booth, a photo from Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh old town architecture:An iconic red telephone-booth, corner of W-Bow at Victoria st. and Cowgatehead opposite view from... http://ift.tt/2r6aEe6

[scotianostra]

On 9th December 1688 serious rioting started in Edinburgh, it  eventually spread across Scotland.

A lot of sources state the 10th, but the riots started on the 9th.

It became known as the Holyrood Riot, but in reality, the riots in general were anti-Catholic, the original name being where they began.

It all kicked off because King James VII had a baby son. Having become king on the death of his brother, Charles II, in 1685, James survived the rebellions by the Duke of Monmouth and the Earl of Argyll, both of whom paid with their heads for their insurrection.

No doubt emboldened by his success, James had proclaimed tolerance of religion, especially his own Roman Catholicism which led him to establish a Jesuit academy in the Palace of Holyroodhouse in 1686. The following year many Christians in Scotland’s established Kirk welcomed the king’s intervention, the Declaration of Indulgence, which meant they could have their own places of worship, but James also continued with the persecution of the  Covenanters who refused to recognise his absolute monarchy, and “The Divine Right”

A 26-year-old minister, James Renwick, became the last of the Covenanter Martyrs when he disowned James VII’s royal authority and was hanged in the Grassmarket in Edinburgh on February 17th, 1688. In any case the vast majority of the clergy and the people opposed any measure of tolerance towards Catholics which James had tried to impose by the “divine right” of kings after both the English and Scottish Parliaments rejected his measures.

James also began to put his fellow Catholics into positions of authority and Protestants could only hope that James, by then in his mid-50s, would soon die as his appointed heir was his daughter from his first marriage, Mary, a Protestant married to the very Protestant Prince William of Orange, the leader of the Dutch Republic.

On June 10, 1688, those hopes of a Protestant succession were dashed when James’s Catholic wife Mary of Modena gave birth to a son, James Francis Edward Stuart, who was baptised a Catholic.

Just five days after the new heir’s birth, seven bishops of the Church of England were put on trial for asking to be excused from reading from the pulpit James VII’s latest version of the Declaration of Indulgence. They included the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Sancroft.

Widespread anti-Catholic riots took place in England and Scotland during the trial which ended with the Seven Bishops being cleared. Senior Protestant politicians faced with a Catholic dynasty decided to invite William and Mary to take the throne and thus the so-called Glorious or Bloodless Revolution took place in November, 1688. It was neither Glorious nor Bloodless – as the Battle of Killiecrankie would show a few months later – but that’s how William’s spin doctors portrayed it.

James went into exile in France but to make sure he went, the Edinburgh Mob gathered on December 9 and 10th, 1688, determined that the so-called “Jesuit threat” of Roman Catholicism would not return to Scotland.

On December 9, a mob began to gather and the following morning the Town Council rushed out a proclamation ordering children and servants to stay indoors.

Remarkably, we have an eye-witness account of the events in Edinburgh that day, preserved in the National Library of Scotland, produced by Alexander Adamson, then a divinity student in the capital, and one of the rioters.

“…The next morning [Monday 10th December 1688] by ten the [Edinburgh] Town Council sat, and about eleven in the forenoon emitted a proclamation: discharging tumults and requiring masters of families to keep their children and servants within doors; but it was no sooner read than it was torn: the officers and drummers being severely beat in several places of the city. They were forced to return to their masters to tell how they were treated.  

All continued quiet till twilight when the mob began to gather. The first appearance they made was about the Cowgatehead, from thence going to the Grassmarket where they provided themselves with staves and torches. They come up the West Bow and enter a drummer’s house in the Castlehill whence they took two drums, one of which they broke before they passed the weighhouse, so down the street they come beating with their drum, till past the Nether Bow and in the Canongate head they made a stop, seeing the guard drawing out at the Canongate Tolbooth and sent one to enquire what the matter was. The Captain replied it was to put respect upon them. They answered they would have none of his respect and required he might call in his guards immediately…..”

Adamson himself was one of the wounded but he found out later that the mob broke into the Abbey and did fearsome damage, including desecrating royal tombs, removing pictures, written records, and the Abbey’s gold and silver vessels which were burned.

Other Catholics and their clergy were attacked elsewhere in Scotland, but the riots soon died down when William and Mary had arrived in London.

Find lads more info from  The Bulwark Magazine of the Scottish Reformation Society at the link below

http://www.scottishreformationsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Issue1-2017-Jan-Mar_v3.pdf

[scotianostra]

On 9th December 1688 serious rioting started in Edinburgh, it  eventually spread across Scotland.

A lot of sources state the 10th, but the riots started on the 9th.

It became known as the Holyrood Riot, but in reality, the riots in general were anti-Catholic, the original name being where they began.

It all kicked off because King James VII had a baby son. Having become king on the death of his brother, Charles II, in 1685, James survived the rebellions by the Duke of Monmouth and the Earl of Argyll, both of whom paid with their heads for their insurrection.

No doubt emboldened by his success, James had proclaimed tolerance of religion, especially his own Roman Catholicism which led him to establish a Jesuit academy in the Palace of Holyroodhouse in 1686. The following year many Christians in Scotland’s established Kirk welcomed the king’s intervention, the Declaration of Indulgence, which meant they could have their own places of worship, but James also continued with the persecution of the  Covenanters who refused to recognise his absolute monarchy, and “The Divine Right” 

A 26-year-old minister, James Renwick, became the last of the Covenanter Martyrs when he disowned James VII’s royal authority and was hanged in the Grassmarket in Edinburgh on February 17, 1688. In any case the vast majority of the clergy and the people opposed any measure of tolerance towards Catholics which James had tried to impose by the “divine right” of kings after both the English and Scottish Parliaments rejected his measures.

James also began to put his fellow Catholics into positions of authority and Protestants could only hope that James, by then in his mid-50s, would soon die as his appointed heir was his daughter from his first marriage, Mary, a Protestant married to the very Protestant Prince William of Orange, the leader of the Dutch Republic.

On June 10, 1688, those hopes of a Protestant succession were dashed when James’s Catholic wife Mary of Modena gave birth to a son, James Francis Edward Stuart, who was baptised a Catholic.

Just five days after the new heir’s birth, seven bishops of the Church of England were put on trial for asking to be excused from reading from the pulpit James VII’s latest version of the Declaration of Indulgence. They included the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Sancroft.

Widespread anti-Catholic riots took place in England and Scotland during the trial which ended with the Seven Bishops being cleared. Senior Protestant politicians faced with a Catholic dynasty decided to invite William and Mary to take the throne and thus the so-called Glorious or Bloodless Revolution took place in November, 1688. It was neither Glorious nor Bloodless – as the Battle of Killiecrankie would show a few months later – but that’s how William’s spin doctors portrayed it.

James went into exile in France but to make sure he went, the Edinburgh Mob gathered on December 9 and 10, 1688, determined that the so-called “Jesuit threat” of Roman Catholicism would not return to Scotland.

On December 9, a mob began to gather and the following morning the Town Council rushed out a proclamation ordering children and servants to stay indoors.

Remarkably, we have an eye-witness account of the events in Edinburgh that day, preserved in the National Library of Scotland, produced by Alexander Adamson, then a divinity student in the capital, and one of the rioters.

“...The next morning [Monday 10th December 1688] by ten the [Edinburgh] Town Council sat, and about eleven in the forenoon emitted a proclamation: discharging tumults and requiring masters of families to keep their children and servants within doors; but it was no sooner read than it was torn: the officers and drummers being severely beat in several places of the city. They were forced to return to their masters to tell how they were treated.  

 All continued quiet till twilight when the mob began to gather. The first appearance they made was about the Cowgatehead, from thence going to the Grassmarket where they provided themselves with staves and torches. They come up the West Bow and enter a drummer’s house in the Castlehill whence they took two drums, one of which they broke before they passed the weighhouse, so down the street they come beating with their drum, till past the Nether Bow and in the Canongate head they made a stop, seeing the guard drawing out at the Canongate Tolbooth and sent one to enquire what the matter was. The Captain replied it was to put respect upon them. They answered they would have none of his respect and required he might call in his guards immediately.....”

Adamson himself was one of the wounded but he found out later that the mob broke into the Abbey and did fearsome damage, including desecrating royal tombs, removing pictures, written records, and the Abbey’s gold and silver vessels which were burned.

Other Catholics and their clergy were attacked elsewhere in Scotland, but the riots soon died down when William and Mary had arrived in London.

Find lads more info from  The Bulwark Magazine of the Scottish Reformation Society at the link below

http://www.scottishreformationsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Issue1-2017-Jan-Mar_v3.pdf

[colinmyersphotography]

The view from the foot of the centuries old #Candlemaker #Row, leading on to #Cowgatehead and looking on through the #Grassmarket ahead, #Cowgate to the right and of course, our fine auld castle right up there on #Castle #Rock keeping watch on everything below..... .

[thejohnfleming]

Cunning comic Becky Fury’s mis-billed Edinburgh Fringe show is already a riot

Cunning comic Becky Fury’s mis-billed Edinburgh Fringe show is already a riot

Bad news for anyone confused by the recent flurry of blogs about fake Malcolm Hardee Cunning Stunt Award and connected events.

In a blog two days ago, I mentioned that last year’s winner, Becky Fury, had suddenly had her Free Fringe venue changed and was out-of-pocket to the tune of several hundred pounds for her Fringe Programme entry which now has a totally incorrect venue listed.

Becky Fury…

[colinmyersphotography]

The very heart of the #oldtown , at the foot of #Candlemaker #Row looking on through #Cowgatehead towards the #Grassmarket . The wee #lights of the #hotel and the #pubs , the less common purple lighting on the #Castle and the hustle of evening on the Grassmarket make this #quintessential #oldedinburgh. www.facebook.com/oldedinburgh (at Old Town, Edinburgh)

[colinmyersphotography]

The Grassmarket; it's a real hive of activity. It's ALWAYS been a real hive of activity. It's been the central focal point in the Old Town for centuries where folks have traded, eaten, drank and cavorted and, not forgetting the gallows where public hangings would regularly draw crowds of thousands...the gallows being located a few short steps from this shot and not far from where I stood to take this thinking about it. Nothing but an old phone box for colour, the burst of light from the lampposts on Cowgatehead and into the Cowgate itself and some nice shiny old cobbles for good measure following a good downpour. Anyway, hive of activity. Yep. It is. Always. Unless you time it well, go at the right time and get a shot with no people, cars, buses or any traffic of any sort. You wont find too many occasions when that happens. When you do, enjoy. I did. Here it is, immortalised forever. Deserted Grassmarket by night... www.facebook.com/oldedinburgh www.facebook.com/magicofmidlothian #edinburgh #oldedinburgh #scotland #visitscotland #grassmarket #oldtown #cowgate #cobbles #deserted #night #history #colourpop #coloursplash #oldedinburgh #colinmyersphotography (at Grassmarket)

[thejohnfleming]

Reports of an attempted coup within the Free Fringe at the Edinburgh Fringe

Reports of an attempted coup within the Free Fringe at the Edinburgh Fringe

Street art at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2012

I once had to write an encyclopaedia entry on ‘Christianity’ in, I think it was, 23 lines.

It was an utter nightmare because, almost as soon as Christianity started, it broke into schisms which then, themselves, broke into other schisms. One might almost call them catty-schisms.

Or not.

I would not like to write an entry on the Edinburgh Fringe,…

[thejohnfleming]

Gilded Balloon venue’s deal excretes on the spirit of the Edinburgh Fringe

Gilded Balloon venue’s deal excretes on the spirit of the Edinburgh Fringe

Publicity for the 2012 Hardee annual show

We hope to stage the annual Malcolm Hardee Comedy Awards Show this year, as usual, on the final Friday of the Edinburgh Fringe – 26th August – but not in its normal venue of the Counting House Ballroom.

This is because, today, The Gilded Balloon(a pay-to-enter venue) has ‘poached’ The Counting House venue(s) – including the Pear Tree and Blind Poet – from…

[thejohnfleming]

PBH Free Fringe act sacrificed on a road paved with good Edinburgh intentions

PBH Free Fringe act sacrificed on a road paved with good Edinburgh intentions

Sit back with a good supply of tea for this blog. Extensive, exhaustive and possibly exhausting quotes are included. People not living inside the bubble of the Edinburgh Fringe might be advised to look elsewhere.

The whole Cowgatehead saga at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe is too complicated to go into yet again. Read past blogs for clarification but beware your head may explode with details.

Suffi…

[thejohnfleming]

Bad signs at the Edinburgh Fringe while I bristle and Lewis Schaffer kisses me

Bad signs at the Edinburgh Fringe while I bristle and Lewis Schaffer kisses me

Lewis Schaffer bestowed his blessings on me

I used to have a beard for 25 years, then cut it off. I think I am going to grow one again but have not yet figured how I can explain this as anything other than laziness.

And I may spend one day without wearing my spectacles.

A couple of hours after I posted yesterday’s blog mentioning Lewis Schaffer, I inevitably bumped into him. He kissed me on the…