DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61904#0183
HOLYROOD ABBEY AND PALACE. 171
did, only lamenting that prejudice could not diftinguifh betwixt
ornament and image. Charles II., after his reftoration,
appropriated the church of the abbey as the chapel royal ; and
had it handfomely fitted up for the fovereign and the knights of
the Order of the Thiftle, to whom the key of the church was
configned. He alfo eredted an organ in it. The chapel was
finally ruined at the revolution, by attempting to put a ftone
roof on it, which proved too heavy for the walls, and it fell,
demolifhing the whole interior. Since then it has remained a
ruin. Charles II. alfo had the palace rebuilt by Sir William
Bruce, and this is the date of the main portion of the
building.
The chief events connected with the palace, befides thofe
enumerated, belong to the reign of the unfortunate Mary. In
her time the building of the palace was modern, and fhe
occupied it during her Ihort and troubled reign with much
fplendour. In it fhe witnefied fome moft dreadful and moft
miferable tranfadfions, and the intereft and romance of her
forrowful life are thofe which ftill more than all others
envelope it.
For many ages the monarchs of England had been deter-
mined on the annexation of Scotland by arms, as they had
annexed Wales and Ireland. But, difappointed in this, no
fooner was James V. dead, leaving only a daughter, a week
old, to fucceed him, than Henry VIII. determined on fecuring
the union of this kingdom by the marriage of this daughter
with his fon Edward. Events defeated his defign; Mary
was married to the French dauphin, and became Queen of
France by her hufband’s acceflion to the crown as Francis II.
During her abode in France, Scotland was governed by her
mother, Mary of Guife, as queen-regent. But fhe had a
terrible time of it; Scotland being repeatedly invaded by the
did, only lamenting that prejudice could not diftinguifh betwixt
ornament and image. Charles II., after his reftoration,
appropriated the church of the abbey as the chapel royal ; and
had it handfomely fitted up for the fovereign and the knights of
the Order of the Thiftle, to whom the key of the church was
configned. He alfo eredted an organ in it. The chapel was
finally ruined at the revolution, by attempting to put a ftone
roof on it, which proved too heavy for the walls, and it fell,
demolifhing the whole interior. Since then it has remained a
ruin. Charles II. alfo had the palace rebuilt by Sir William
Bruce, and this is the date of the main portion of the
building.
The chief events connected with the palace, befides thofe
enumerated, belong to the reign of the unfortunate Mary. In
her time the building of the palace was modern, and fhe
occupied it during her Ihort and troubled reign with much
fplendour. In it fhe witnefied fome moft dreadful and moft
miferable tranfadfions, and the intereft and romance of her
forrowful life are thofe which ftill more than all others
envelope it.
For many ages the monarchs of England had been deter-
mined on the annexation of Scotland by arms, as they had
annexed Wales and Ireland. But, difappointed in this, no
fooner was James V. dead, leaving only a daughter, a week
old, to fucceed him, than Henry VIII. determined on fecuring
the union of this kingdom by the marriage of this daughter
with his fon Edward. Events defeated his defign; Mary
was married to the French dauphin, and became Queen of
France by her hufband’s acceflion to the crown as Francis II.
During her abode in France, Scotland was governed by her
mother, Mary of Guife, as queen-regent. But fhe had a
terrible time of it; Scotland being repeatedly invaded by the