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Edinburgh
Welcome to Edinburgh, capital of Scotland and home of John Knox Orange and Purple District L.O.L.No5. One of Europe's finest cities, Edinburgh has a cultural and historical tradition stretching back to the 7th century, when the first fortress was built on the rock where the splendid castle now stands. It is a highly photogenic city - a blendof beauty and ugliness, industry and art - the product of a long and occasionally bloody history, it is also an argriculturally distinguished city with its dominent castle, medieval Old Town and renowned New Town, overlaid by all the aspirations of the victorians, when it becameknown as the "Athens of the North", and the expediences of today.
The focus of Edinburgh is undoubtedly its castle, as instantly symbolic of Edinburgh as the Parthenon is of Athens. Built so commandingly on volcanic rock, it can be seen from all parts of the city. The oldest part is the beautiful and simple little Norman chapel with the famous cannon Mons Meg standing next to it. The history of the castle is almost a history of Scotland and this is reflected in many of the rooms to be seen, such as James IVs Great Hall with it's fine hammerbeam roof and displays of weaponry. The splendid Scottish Regalia is on display inthe Crown Room and the Edinburgh Milatary Tattoo is held every year in the Castle Esplanade.
The last time the County Grand Lodge of the East held it's Annual Rally in Edinburgh we marshalled very near to the Palace of Holyroodhouse which is the official residence of H.M. The Queen. It has a history stretching back to 1128, when an abbey was built there, but most of what can be seen today dates from a rebuilding carried out for Charles II.
The Royal Mile is the bent spine of Old Edinburgh, running down a steep rocky ridge from the Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, from Castlehill through the Lawnmarket into the High Street and down the Canongate to the open meadows below Arthur's Seat where previous "12 July" Rallies have been held. At the High Street, a beautiful 15th century crown steeple adorns St Giles Cathedral, the High Kirk of Edinburgh and the hub of much of the nation's history. The gothic nave is hung with the colours of the Scottish Regiments and there are many historic memorials in the cathedral, including those of John Knox and R.L.Stevenson. John Knox was minister of St. Giles in the turbulent 16th Century and it was also here in 1637 that Jenny Geddes threw her famous stool, with the cry "Will ye read that book (The Prayer Book) in my lug".
John Knox House which juts out over the cobbles just before the High Street becomes the Canongate. Many authorities believe that the great preacher, "father" of the Scottish Reformation and disciple of John Calvin, lived in this house from 1561 to 1572, that this was his manse when he was minister of St. Giles. The house is known to have been built in 1490 and is certainly one of the most attractive of Edinburgh's historic dwellings, it is knnown to be typical of much of the old town, and its pretty timbered galleries, once a common feature of the skyline, is probably the only surviving example to be seen in Scotland.
Further down the Royal Mile is the old Canongate Toolbooth, made distinctive by its projecting clock and outside stairs, where many leading Convanters were imprisoned awaiting trial, tortured by the gruesome "Boot" and to face either further imprisoned on the Bass Rck or the last journey up the hill of the High Street and down the "sanctified bends of the Bow" to the scaffold in the Grassmarket, and in some cases such as James Guthrie and Donald Cargill to finally have their heads fixed upon the Netherbow Port. The Grassmarket is the present day site of the "Covanter's Memorial".
Greyfriar's Churchyard also has a special place in Scotland's history and not because of the faithful terrier, Greyfriar's Bobby, whose devotion to his dead master made him one of the most famous dogs in the world. Bobby is buried at Greyfriars and his memorial fountain is just across the road on George IV Bridge. But the significance of the old kirkyard is its connection with the Covanenters. The National Contenant was signed here - sometimes in blood - on 28th February 1638 and after the Battle of Bothwell Bridge on 22nd June 1679, 1200 Convanters were held prisoner in the open yard,rigorously guarded and poorly fed. Greyfriars is the resting place of many Convananters and other notable scots, and the Old Church, much altered since it was built in 1614, sports copies of the Convenanter's flags. The "Martyrs' Monument" stands in a corner of the Churchyard.
It can be clearly seen that Edinburgh has much to offer to the tourists and it is no wonder that the city is filled with visitors most of the year round.