was fold for a great fum : he then launched farther into ibtpffl
bought the veffel, and two large lhips befides, with which he traded
to different parts o f Europe, and to Virginia; he alfo firft imported
iron to Glajgow, for before that time it was received from Sterlim
and Burrowjlonefs, in exchange for dyed fluffs : and, even the wine
ufed in this city was brought from Edinburgh. Yet I find na!
ftatue, no grateful infcription, to preferve the memory of Walla
Gibfon !
Glajgow, till long after the reformation, was confined to the i raj
that extends from the high-church, or cathedral, and the houfes tret:
palTed but little on the ground on each fide,. This place (whofeink
bitants at this time are computed to be forty thoufand) was fo incon-
fiderable, in 1357» as to be admitted into the number o f the cautionary
towns afligned to Edw. III. for the payment of the ranfonieo!
David II *. But the revenue of .the archbifhop was, at the reformation,!
little lefs than a thoufand pounds fterlingper annum, befides feveral
emoluments in corn of different kinds. Religion was, before that
period, the commerce o f our chief cities 5 in the fame manner as com,
merce is their religion in theprefent age.
T he s e e . Some writers attribute the foundation of this fee to St. Ketitigtn,
in 560, and make him the firft bilhop : others will give him no other
rank than that of a fimple faint. It is with more certainty known,)
that the cathedral was founded or refounded, in 1136, by John, governor
to David I, and who was the firft certain bilhop of the place;
for it was not eroded into an archbifhoprick till 1500, when Roltrl
Blacader had firft the title.
* dndirfon'i Difl. Commerce, I.
I This fine church was devoted to deftrudion by the wretched
iinifters of 1578, who affembied, by beat o f drum, a multitude
40 effed the demolition : but the trades o f the city taking arms,
declared that they would bury under the ruins the firft perfon who
ittempted the facrilege; and to this fenfible zeal are we indebted
for fo great an ornament to the place. It is at prefent divided into
t h r e e places for divine fervice-, two above, one beneath, and deep
■under ground, where the congregation may truly fay, clamavi ex
profundis. The roof o f this is fine, of ftone, and fupported by
■¡Uars, but much hurt by the crowding o f the pews.
I In the church yard is an epitaph on a jolly phyfician, whofe
¡jraftice fhould be recommended to all fuch harbingers o f death,
who by their terrific faces fcare the poor patient prematurely into
the regions of eternity :
Stay, paflenger, and view this ftone,
For under it lies fuch a one
Who cured many while he lived;
So gratious he no man grieved :
Yea when his phyfick’s force oft* failed,
His pleafant purpofe then prevailed ;
For of his God he got the grace
To live in mirth, and die in peace :
Heaven has his foule, his corps this ftone ;
Sigh, paflenger, and then be gone.'
Doftor Peter Low, 1612.
■ Befides this church are the College Church, Ramjhorn, ^rone, St.
mndrews and Wint, The Englijh chapel, college chapel, a highland
church, three feceding meeting-houfes, a Moravian, an in-
X dependent,
15 %
C a t h e d r a e .