17th of September

Saints Socrates and Stephen, martyrs, beginning of 4th century. St Rouin, Rodingus, or Chrodingus, abbot of Beaulieu, about 680. St Lambert, bishop of Maestricht, and patron of Liege, martyr, 709. St Columba, virgin and martyr, 853. St Hildegardis, virgin and abbess, 1179.

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Born. – Jean Antoine, Marquis de Condorcet, distinguished mathematician, 1743, Picardy.

Died. – Henry Bullinger, Swiss Reformer, 1575, Zurich; Cardinal Robert Bellarmin, celebrated controversialist, 1621, Rome; Philip IV. of Spain, 1665.

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On this Day in Other Sources.

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On the 17th [September, 1561], as she rode through Perth, she was taken ill, and was carried, from her horse, to her lodging: with such sudden affections, she seems to have been afflicted, after any great unkindness or grief. She was presented, by this town, where she was well received, with a heart of gold, full of gold: But, she liked not the pageants, said Randolph to Cecil; as they did too plainly condemn the errors of the world. What he did not tell, cannot now be told: But, it is, sufficiently plain, that there was something in the pageants, which gave the Queen a fit of illness. This, then, is the second example, which shows, that the good men of Edinburgh, and of Perth, when they wished to do honour to the Queen, studiously offered her an affront. 

– Life of Mary, pp.42-61.

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On the 17th of September, [1562, Queen Mary] reached Spynie castle, the ancient seat of the bishoprick of Moray. 

– Life of Mary, pp.62-77.

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In April, this year [1594], Bothwell comes to Leith with 500 horse, and the King raises the town of Edinburgh, to apprehend him; but he flees by the way of Dalkeith. 

Diverse [people] were hanged this year, for [receiving] and entertaining of him; as… Alan Orme, brother to [David] the Laird of Mugdrum, the 17th of September;.. for the same cause. 

– Historical Works, pp.340-416.

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The government of Scotland was never weaker, nor more open to all bad influence, than in the years preceding James’ accession to the English throne. Ardkinglas was powerfully backed, and the king appears to have condescended to a juggle to save him from the penalties of the law, while he assumed the semblance of urging on its ministers to do their office. On September 17, 1596, in the High Court at Edinburgh, “Johne Campbell of Ardkinlase was dilatit of airt and pairt of the crewall murthour and slauchteris of umquhill Sir Johne Campbell of Calder knycht and umquhil McInturner wechman of the place of Tanestrie.” The Justice-Clerk produced a warrant by the King requiring him to proceed in the trial; the King’s Advocate produced a similar mandate (they were then too common, for the King interfered the more as he more felt his weakness). Ardkinglas was present and took instruments of his compearance. 

– Sketches, Appendix IX.

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Inventar of Geir… In witnes quhairof, writtin be William Meiklejohne noter publict, wee… hes subscryvit thir presents with our handis at Balloch the sevinteine day of September 1640 yeires, before thir witnessis, Sir Patrik Ogilvie of Inchmartine, Ardchibald Campbell fear of Glenlyon, Patrik Campbell of Edinample, Ardchibald Campbell brother german to the Laird of Laweris, Robert Andersone his servitor, and the said William Meiklejohne wreitar heirof. 

– Sketches, Appendix VI.

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Sep. 17 [1647]. – A letter of this date, from James Morphie, tailor in Edinburgh, to the Earl of Airlie, has been preserved, and is in its way a curious memorial of the past. When found a few years ago in Cortachy Castle, it contained five pieces of cloth, being, we may presume, those alluded to by the writer, and all as fresh as on the day they were cut. 

‘RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD – I received your Lordship’s letter, and have tried for the nearest swatches of cloths I could find, conform to the orders received, and has inclosed them in this letter, with the prices written by them. As for the Kentish cloths your lordship desired, there is few or none to be found; but we expect some to be home shortly. There is only ane swatch of Kentish cloth here, with the price thereof. Likewise receive the piece that was taken out of the tail of your lordship’s doublet. Any of thir clothes your lordship pleases, send for them by the first occasion, or [ere] they be gone. Not troubling your lordship ony forder, but rests your lordship’s humble and obedient servant, JAMES MORPHIE. From Edinburgh, the 17 day of September 1647. [Addressed] For the Right Honourable the Earl of Airly.’ 

The letter and pieces of cloth were placed in the Arbroath Museum. 

– Domestic Annals, pp.257-277.

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2427. Indictment against John Caldwell, for Robbing the Post Boy, &c. 17th September, 1736.

– Memorial Catalogue, Gallery 1.

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On the 17th [September, 1745, Sir John Cope] was at Corstorphine, less than four miles distant from the capital, and to avoid exposing his troops to the Castle guns in advancing, he wheeled southward towards Slateford, and fixed his quarters at Gray’s Mill, two miles from the city. 

– Old and New Edinburgh, pp.322-329.

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2153. A full collection of All the Proclamations and Orders, published by the Authority of Charles, Prince of Wales, since his Arrival in Edinburgh, the 17th Day of September [1745].

– Memorial Catalogue, Gallery 1.

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On the 17th September, [1745,] a little less than a month after the unfurling of the Royal Standard, Edinburgh fell into the hands of Charles Edward. The citizens were amazed at the motley crowd of poor-clad and worse armed men that had baffled the military power of a regular army, and without the loss of a single life had taken possession of the capital of an ancient kingdom. A number of Lowland gentlemen now joined the fortunate Prince, among these were Lord Elcho, Sir Robert Thriepland, Lockhart the younger of Carnwath, and James Hepburn of Keith, who was described as the model of a Scottish gentleman. These men had no sympathy with the divine right of Kings, but joined the standard out of resentment for the wrongs inflicted upon their country by the Treaty of Union. The next day King James VIII was proclaimed at the Cross of Edinburgh, and the same evening a splendid ball was given at Holyrood. It is recorded that the common people wept with joy at this signal of the restoration of their ancient monarchy, so little did they appreciate the so-called blessings of the Union, which some in our time so ignorantly extol. 

– How Scotland Lost Her Parliament, Chapter IV. 

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   “ ‘Notwithstanding of this solemn contract, the people of England – statesmen, legislators, historians, journalists, and others – have for these many years by-past, by the use of the terms ‘England’ and ‘English,’ for the United Kingdom, its people, and institutions, dominions, and colonies, and by representing the ‘Flags’ and ‘Ensign Armorials’ of the United Kingdom as those of ‘England,’ sought to set aside these articles of the treaty, and impose upon the ignorant and unthinking, and upon foreign nations, the belief that Scotland, in place of being a co-equal portion of the Union, stands in some subordinate and less honourable position, and that the Scottish nation has been merged in the English, as if by conquest, annexation, or otherwise. Such a representation is dishonouring to the Scots, subversive of their national traditions and associations, injurious to their position as a people, and by necessary consequence to their political, social, and material interests. The subscribers to this document, and all who may adhere to them, do, therefore, make this formal and solemn protest against the practice complained of, and request that the same shall be respectfully communicated to her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen and to the principal Ministers of State, and shall be published in the journals of Great Britain and the colonies, and of the principal nations of Europe and America – certifying all to whom it may come that the practice so referred to is illegal, unjust, and dishonourable; and should not be imitated or countenanced by any who hold in respect the ancient and independent Scottish nation, or the people of Scotland individually.’ ” 

– London Daily News, Saturday 17th September, 1864. 

– Treaty of Union Articles, 1850-1875.