OS1/11/100/93

Continued entries/extra info

Parish of the City of Edinburgh -- [page] 93

"King James II. by his charter of the twentieth of his reign anno 1456 granted to the Edinburghers
a spot of ground on the northeastern side of the Craigend gate, and eastern side of the pathway
Leading to Leith whereon to hold Tilts and Tournaments at presents Called the Greenside, This piece
of ground in the year 1520 was by the Common Council of Edinburgh with consent of the King and
Archbishop of St. Andrews, granted to certain Carmelite Friars to erect a convent on which proved
of no long duration. for John Robertson a merchant in Edinburgh, pursuant to a vow, on his receiving
a signal mercy from god erected by a licence from the town council, on the Site of the Said
Monastery an house or hospital for leprous persons to be under the direction & government of the
Said Council who appointed a committee to Settle the Same who drew up certain very severe Constitutions
to be observed by them, under no less a penalty than that of being hanged; and to shew they were
in earnest ordered a gibbet to be erected at one end of the said hospital to enforce the observation
of their Statutes."
Maitlands History of Edinburgh
Page 214

"At the foot of the hill "(Greenside)" is a long level space of ground lying on the east of the road
to Leith that is between the site of the modern Greenside street and the hill. It was given by King
James II. to the Citizens in 1456 for tournaments and sports of chivalry; but has since been turned
to another use. For with the Consent of King James V. and the Archbishop of St. Andrews, the town
Council granted it to a community of Friars whereon to build a monastery which they named in
honour of the Holy Rood. It is to this house of religion, the latest that was established in Edinburgh
that we shall now follow the traveller."
Lectures of the Christian Antiquities
of Edinburgh vol. [volume] 2 p. [page] 125
Edition 1847