"Divine service being ended, the streets were so filled with bonfires on
every side, that it was not without hazard to go along them. The
magistrates about four o’clock in the afternoon went to the Earl of
Linlithgow’s lodging, inviting his Lordship to honour them with his
presence at the solemnity of the day. So he came with the magistrates,
accompanied by many gentleman, to the market-place, where a table was
covered with confections. Then the curate met them, and prayed, and
sang a psalm, and so eating some of the confections, they threw the rest
among the people; the fountain all that time running French and Spanish
wine of divers colours, and continued running for three or four hours.
The Earl, the magistrates, and gentlemen, did drink the King and Queen
their good health, and all royal healths, not forgetting His Majesty’s
Commissioner his health, Lord Middleton, and breaking several baskets
full of glasses. At the market-place was erected an arch standing upon
four pillars, on the one side whereof was placed a statue in form of an
old hag mare, having the Covenant in her bands, with this
superscription, ’A Glorious Reformation;’ on the other side was placed a
statue in form of a whiggie mare, having the Remonstrance in her hands,
with this superscription, ’No Association with Malignants;’ within the
arch, on the right hand, was drawn a Committee of Estates, with this
superscription, ’An Act for delivering up the King;’ upon the left hand
was drawn the Commission of the Kirk, with this superscription, ’A
Commission of the Kirk, and Committee of Estates, and Act of the West
Kirk of Edinburgh;’ and upon the top of the arch stood the devil as an
angel of light, with this superscription, ’Stand to the Cause;’ and on
the top of the arch hung a tablet with this—
’From Covenantors, with their uplifted hands;
From Remonstrators, with their associate bands;
From such Committees as govern this nation;
From Kirk Commissions, and from their possession.
Good Lord deliver us.’
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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