Grampian Club > Monuments and monumental inscriptions in Scotland > Volume 1

100 EDINBURGHSIIHIE.
James V., and his first queen, Magdalene of France ; Arthur, Duke
of Albany, second son of James V. ; and Henry, Lord Darnley.
According to Fordoun, David II. died in Edinburgh Castle in 1371,
and was buried near the high altar — an elaborate Latin epitaph
being inscribed upon his tomb. This long since disappeared.
In the Advocates Library a MS., supposed to be in the hand-
writing of Sir Eobert Sibbald, presents the narrative of a search
made in the royal vault in 1683. We present it entire : —
" Upon ye xxiv of January, MDCLXXXIII, by procurement of
ye Bisehop of Damblayne, I went into ane vault in ye south-east
corner of ye Abbey Church of Halyrudehouse, and yr. were present
ye Lord Strathnavar and E. Forfare, Mr. Robert Scott, minister of
ye Abbey, ye Bishop of Dumblayn, and some utheris. Wee viewed
ye body of King James ye Fyft of Scotland. It lyeth within ane
wodden coffin, and is coveret wyth ane lead coffin. There seemed
to be haire upon ye head still. The body was two lengths of my
staf, with two inches more, that is twae inches and mare above twae
Scots elne ; for I measured the staf with ane elnwand afterward.
" The body was coloured black with ye balsam that preserved it,
which was like melted pitch. The Earl of Forfare took the
measure with his staf lykeways. There was plates of lead, in
several long pieces, louse upon and about the coffin, which carried
the following inscription, as I took it from before the bishop and
nobleman in ye isle of ye church : —
" Illvstris Scotorvm Eex Jacobvs Ejvs Nominis v .Etatis
Sue Anno xxxi Regni vero xxx Mortem Obiit In
Palacio De Falkland 14 Decembris Anno Dni. MDXLII
Cvjvs Corpvs Hie Traditvm Est Sepvltvre.
" Next ye south wall, in a smaller arch, lay a shorter coffin,
with ye teeth in ye skull. To the little coffin in the narrow arch
seemeth to belong this inscription, made out of long pieces of lead
in the Saxon character : —
" Magdelena Francisci Eegis Franciee
Primo-genita Eegina Scotite, Sponsa Jacobi V.
Eegis. A.D. MDXXXVii. Oblit.
" There was ane piece of a lead crown, upon the syde of whilk I
saw two floor dc leuces gilded ; and upon ye north side of ye coffin
lay two children, none of the coffins a full elne long, and one of
them lying within ane wod, the other only the lead coffin.
" Upon ye south syde, next the King's body, lay ane gret coffin