[Scottish National Memorials Contents]
ROSEWOOD BOX, with glass top, containing King Malcolm the Fourth’s Charter in favour of the burgesses of St. Andrews, the two Silver Keys of the City, with silver chains attached, the Dies of two Seals belonging to the City, and the Gold Badge which was worn by the Convener of the seven Incorporated Trades. The Charter, which ‘was long believed to be the oldest genuine Scottish charter extant, is less than a post-card, while some of its overgrown successors are nearly a yard square.’ There is an excellent facsimile of it in the ninth volume of the New Statistical Account of Scotland. The Silver Keys were delivered to Charles the Second when he entered the city in 1650. The Convener’s Badge bears the emblems of the seven trades – the hammermen, baxters, wrights, tailors, fleshers, websters, and cordiners.
(960) Lent by the MAGISTRATES AND COUNCIL OF ST. ANDREWS.
Copy of THE STIRLING JUG, 1574, being one of the ancient official measures of the City of St. Andrews. The inscription is ‘Pinta Sancti Andreæ,’ under which there is a shield bearing a boar and a tree, with ‘S’ on one side of the shield, and ‘A’ on the other; and underneath, ‘Receptæ est hoc / pinta Scotice men / sora de Stirvilingo / per Patriciom Lermo / nth de Dersie melitem / prepositam civitat / is Sancti Andrie 1574.’ The lettering and arms, which are rudely done, were probably the work of a local craftsman. Below this inscription the date again occurs, but in larger figures; and on a small shield the letters ‘R D’ form a monogram – doubtless that of the maker.
(962) Lent by the MAGISTRATES AND COUNCIL OF ST. ANDREWS.
THE MACE OF ST. SALVATOR’S COLLEGE, silver-gilt in oak case with glass top, a medal attached to it bears on a scroll Kennedy’s motto, ‘Avicces a la fin,’ and the inscription, that ‘Jacobus Kanedi, illustris Santi andree antistes ac fudator. Collegii Stī Salvatoris, cui me donavit me fecit fieri Parisiis ano. dm̅. MCCCCLXI,’ (i.e.) ‘James Kennedy, the illustrious prelate of St. Andrew’s and founder of the College of St. Salvator, to whom he presented me, caused me to be made at Paris in the year 1461.’ Further, on a circular collar at the lower end of the stem is inscribed ‘lohn̅e Maiel gouldsmehe and verlete ofe chamer til ye lord ye Dalfyne hes made yis masse in ye toun of Paris ye zer of our lorde MCCCCLXI.’ A third inscription on a seal-like medal is as follows: ‘Dr. Alexr. Skene Collegij Sti Salvatoris nostri præpositus me temporis jnjuria læsam et mutilam publicis dicti Collegij sumptibus reparandam curavit Anno Dom. 1685.’ The head of the mace consists of a Gothic canopy of exquisite workmanship. Within it is a figure of the Saviour standing on a ball representing the world. Surrounding the Saviour are three figures bearing the Cross, the Sponge, and the Spear. On the outside of the Canopy are three figures representing a Prophet, a Priest, and a King. In each of three recesses there is the figure of Satan chained and guarded by lions. Under the Satanic figures are three shields bearing the heraldic insignia of the Church of Rome, of Bishop Kennedy, and of the see of St. Andrews. On the shaft, which is richly chased, are groups of miniature pulpits, in which stand angels and ecclesiastics preaching, praying, and reading the Word. The foot of the mace is formed by a group of lions. The whole length of this magnificent example of silversmith work is 3 ft. 10 inches. According to current tradition this mace and five others were towards the end of the seventeenth century found in Bishop Kennedy’s tomb in the Chapel of St. Salvator’s College, where it is supposed they had been concealed for safety. Three of these maces were given to the Universities of Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Edinburgh. One of the others is the mace of the University of St. Andrews, and the other (967) is the mace of St. Mary’s College, St. Andrews. The statement that three maces were bestowed upon the other Scottish Universities which is given in Lyon’s History of St. Andrews is, however, satisfactorily refuted by the records of these institutions. The mace of Edinburgh is frequently mentioned during the period when by the tradition it was resting in the tomb of Bishop Kennedy. It disappeared by theft in October 1787, and it is supposed that the thief was the notorious Deacon Brodie. A new mace – that now in use – was presented to the University in 1789 by Bailie William Creech, the publisher of the Edinburgh Edition of Burns. The record of the Glasgow University Mace (see page 220) is equally inconsistent with the theory that it ever was deposited in St. Andrews, or that the Glasgow University received it as a gift from the sister institution.
(965) Lent by the UNITED COLLEGE OF ST. ANDREWS.
THE SILVER MACE OF ST. MARY’S COLLEGE. This mace also is a fine example of Gothic silversmith work, although there is nothing to connect it with Bishop Kennedy. It is barely 4 ft. 2 in. in length, and its head is formed, like the Glasgow mace (see page 220), of three hexagonal stages, narrowing spire-like. The upper stage consists of six Gothic windows with rich traceries and mullions; in the middle stage are six figures representing the emblems of the Trinity, St. John the Baptist (?), St. Peter, St. Andrew, St. Kentigern, and Virgin and Child, and in the lower stage are six angels with expanded wings. It will be seen that in design it is very similar to the Glasgow Mace, which was made in 1465.
(967) Lent by ST. MARY’S COLLEGE, ST. ANDREWS.
CARVED OAK DROP, where the moulding is mitred, from the panelled roof of St. Salvator’s College, founded 1458.
(1254) Lent by MR. AND MRS. DODDS.
IRON STAND FOR SAND-GLASS, and the Sand-glass from John Knox’s pulpit in the United College.
(966) Lent by the UNITED COLLEGE OF ST. ANDREWS.
AN ENAMELLED RING, and the Silver Box, in which it was presented by the University of St. Andrews to Arthur Ross, Archbishop of St. Andrews, to which see he was promoted from Glasgow in 1684. The Revolution of 1688 deprived him and the other Scottish bishops of office. He died in 1704, being one of the last survivors of the Scottish Episcopate.
(1424) Lent by W. MURRAY THREIPLAND.
