QUERIES., J. E. F & G. Neilson, (Jan., 1895), pp.49-50.

Ancient Market Cross of Glasgow.

“IN some histories of Glasgow it is stated that the Market Cross originally stood at the place where the High Street, Rottenrow, and Drygait converge. For example, Mr. Macgeorge in “Old Glasgow” (3rd ed., p. 121) remarks that in a deed dated 1433 the High Street “is called ‘the gat at strekis fra the mercat cors tyll the He Kirk of Glascu.’ The first cross of the burgh stood at the junction of the Rottenrow with Drygate.” The deed from which the quotation is made is a grant to the Blackfriars of a piece of ground situated to the south of their convent, and therefore the cross must at that time have been situated at the foot of the High Street. Perhaps some one may be able to state at what time it stood at the Rottenrow and to cite authority. From the City Charters it appears that King William the Lion (1175-8) authorised the Bishops to have a burgh at Glasgow, with a weekly market and freedoms and customs thereof; but perhaps it does not necessarily follow that in these days there was also a Market Cross. Is it possible that there is a misconception somewhere, and that the supposed “first cross” was only the crossing, or Quadrivium, as it is continually termed in the Protocol Books? It may be supposed that the bishops would be desirous of having the traffic and turmoil of the weekly market carried on at some little distance from their church and residence; and besides, the vicinity of the river, with perhaps a primitive bridge, would form additional inducements for choosing the foot and not the top of the steep High Street as the site of the market, with, in course of time, its adjunct the Market Cross.

J .E. F.”

Low-side Windows.

“ARE there any so-called low-side or leper windows in Scottish Churches? The leper theory as to their purpose in English Churches appears to be entirely unsupported by evidence.”

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Benefit of Clergy.

“THIS appears to have been confined within much narrower limits in this country than in England. Has the history of the Institution been written?”

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Camps.

“WHAT literary evidence exists as to the characteristics of (a) Norse encampments, including of course Danish in that term; and (b) the encampments of English armies during Scottish and French campaigns?”

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Ancient Bridges.

“WHAT are the date-indicating architectural points of early bridges? How many are there in Scotland which in their present shape belong indisputably to a period earlier than the year 1500? And what are the distinguishing features possessed by them in common?

GEO. NEILSON.”