Descriptive account of the principal towns in Scotland

180
the last thirty years, and it has in consequence, lost
much of its antique appearance, and may now be styled
a handsome Barough Town. An ancient cross still
stands in the High Street.
There were temporary Barxacks for 2000 foot, and
500 Horse, with Artillery Barracks, erected in the
vicinity of the Town, during the late war.
The Town is joined by a Bridge of three arches,
across the Tyne, with the Nungate, which is without
the Royalty.
'The date of the erection of Haddington into a
Royal Burgh, cannot now be ascertained, as all its
ancient records are lost. It is certain, that a Nun-
nery was built about a mile below the Town, on the
north ; bank of the Tyne, in what is now called the
Nungate, by Ada, Countess of Northumberland, and
mother-of Malcolm the Fourth, and William the 'Lyon ;
for Nuns of the Certertian Order, in the year H78.
In^he charter of erection, it is stated as being near
meum Bur gum 4e Hadinton. The side walls of this
building are much delapidated, but the gables, with a
vestige of the roof still remain.
The Prioress conveyed a way the lands belonging
to this house, to William Maitland, younger of Le-
thington, in the year 1567. ^ft was in this Abbey
that the Parliament was convened, Jth July 1548,
during the siege of Haddington, which gave consent
to the carriage of Mary, Queen of Scots, with the
Dauphin, and for her education at the Court of
France.
The Town of Haddington was destroyed by fire,
in 1216, upon King John penetrating into East Lo-
thian, who burnt 'Dunbar and Haddington. It was