Entry of James VI into Edinburgh facts for kids
The Entry of James VI into Edinburgh was a special celebration held on Friday, October 19, 1579. It marked the moment James VI of Scotland became an adult ruler. Before this, James had spent his childhood at Stirling Castle. Now, he came to Edinburgh to begin his rule as king.
This event was a type of ceremonial parade, known as a Royal entry. This was a common way across Europe to welcome a new king or queen, or for a ruler to visit a city for the first time.
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The King's Grand Welcome in Edinburgh
King James VI arrived in Edinburgh from Dalkeith Palace. His journey into the city was a big event. The streets were ready for him. Buildings were painted white, and people were asked to hang tapestries and fancy cloths outside their homes.
The Parade Route and Stops
The king's parade started at the West Port, one of the city gates. It then moved through several important places:
- The Overbow
- The Tolbooth
- St Giles Kirk (a church)
- The Mercat Cross (a market cross)
- The Salt Tron
- The Nether Bow
- Canongate Cross
- Finally, Holyrood Palace
Special Shows and Speeches
Along the way, there were many exciting performances and displays:
- West Port: Thirty-two important citizens of Edinburgh met the king. They carried a special canopy made of purple velvet over him. A lawyer named John Shairp gave a speech in Latin. There was also a living picture, called a tableau vivant, showing the story of the Judgement of Solomon.
- Overbow: A boy dressed as Cupid came down from a globe. He gave King James the keys to the city.
- Tolbooth: Four young women (likely played by boys) acted out the roles of Peace, Justice, Plenty, and Policy. These were seen as important virtues for a good ruler.
- St Giles Kirk: A character named Dame Religion asked the king to listen to a sermon. This sermon was about the duties of a king. A psalm was also sung.
- Mercat Cross: An actor playing Bacchus, the god of wine, shared wine with everyone watching.
- Salt Tron: The history of Scotland's kings was shown, possibly with portraits.
- Netherbow Port: An actor playing Ptolemy, a famous ancient scholar, presented the king's horoscope. This was a chart showing the positions of the stars at the time of his birth.
- Canongate Cross: A scene showed the end of the Pope's power in Scotland.
After the parade, King James went to Holyrood Palace. A new room was ready for his close friend, Esmé Stewart. A special sandy area was also made at Holyroodhouse for a game called "running at the ring," which was like a tournament. The celebrations continued at Dalkeith Palace, hosted by the former Regent Morton.
Other Scottish rulers had similar grand entries. For example, Mary, Queen of Scots had one in 1561, and Anne of Denmark had one in 1590.
Gifts for the King
The city of Edinburgh gave King James a very special gift. It was a collection of silver gilt plates and dishes. This "cupboard" of silver was made by skilled Edinburgh goldsmiths. It included a basin, two flasks, six cups, four candle holders, a salt shaker, a silver tray, and twelve silver plates. This valuable gift was worth a lot of money at the time.
Holyrood Palace Improvements
Before the king's arrival, Holyrood Palace was repaired and improved. These works happened in August and September 1579. The royal Master of Work, William MacDowall, was in charge.
Workers fixed the roof of a "Dancing House" and made a large chest for the king's pantry. They also put in new windows in the room for "Lord Lennox." The old hall, the chapel, and the gallery were plastered and painted. New rooms were also made for some of the king's staff. Women helped clean many rooms in the palace.
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