was a great architect, was
Dean of Rochester, and helped King James the Sixth to write his
Basilicon Doron, and was left in full power by Mr. Herriot to build this
hospital, which he hath done more like a princely palace than a
habitation for necessitous children....

To the north of Herriot's work, from whence its fine avenue ascends, and
to the west of the Cowgate, is the Grass-Market, like Smithfield at
London, where they sell their horses, corn and hay, and is as spacious
as Smithfield is; and from it is the West Port or Gate, out of which is
a large suburb, as it is at most of the others. The City of Edinburgh is
a good English mile from the Palace to the Castle in a direct line; and
taking in the suburbs called the West-Port, Bristol,[70] Paterrow,[71]
Pleasants,[72] Canongate, and Calton, may be four miles in
circumference.

This Grass-Market, or Smithfield, lies directly under the Castle, which
is built on a high rock at the west end of the city, and over-looks and
commands it. The rock on which this castle is built is inaccessible on
all sides, except just the front from the town, which rises by an easy
ascent on the ridge of the hill all the way from the Palace: However,
this front is secured by a half-moon, at least 200 feet perpendicularly
high, well stored with artillery, besides other lower works towards the
gate, that make it impregnable. There is also a royal palace in this
castle, finely built of free-stone, with very noble apartments; in one
of which, King James the sixth of Scotland, and first of England, was
born. You may imagine the prospect, very delicious and unbounded from
such a height as this; for you not only see all Edinburgh under you, but
the whole course of the firth from the Bass to Stirling; the coasts of
Fife on the other side of the sea, and many score miles into the
country.

FOOTNOTES:

[64] Edinburgh appeared much like this during the first half of the
eighteenth century.

[65] Tron.

[66] Gueldres.

[67] Advocates' Library.

[68] _Fleurs-de-lis._

[69] See p. 18.

[70] Bristo.

[71] Potterrow.

[72] Pleasance.

THE JACOBITE ATTEMPT OF 1719.

+Source.+--_A Fragment of a Memoir of Field-Marshal James Keith,
written by himself, 1714-1734_, p. 35. (Edinburgh: Spalding Club,
1843.)

... To explain the reasons that now carried me to Spain, its necessary
to go back to the month of August of this year,[73] when the English,
without any previous