The Cape Society
May
- Wed 30 May 2012
- Royal Mile Crawl, Take Two
- The next Manor will be a continuation of the last, since we only made it half way down the Royal Mile. Again, please bring a story or two about the Royal Mile to share with Knights and guests as we sojourn at a few stops on the road to Holyrood Palace: some historical, some of interest and some convivial.
- Meet in No. 1 High Street between 7.30 and 8pm. We'll leave at 8pm. Guests welcome.
- Report
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The second instalment of the Royal Mile crawl saw Rob, Dave, Martin, Steve and guest Kevin, kick-off the evening inside No 1 High Street where some fine Stewart Edinburgh No. 3 beer was on tap. Apologies were received from Neil and Derran (who had only just become dad to little Karla: congratulations to him and Helene). Kevin was well-armed with a book on old Edinburgh, having the night before received a certificate at the City Chambers authorising him to conduct taxi tours of the City: well done. He provided one of the most interesting snippits of history during the evening, the fact Bovril was invented in the Canongate by John Lawson Johnston in his butchers shop. The major Cape-Connection of the evening was stumbled upon (no, we’d only had one pint by that point!) at Bibleland.
It brought to light the connection between the Psalm 133-inspired inscription on the wall and the Cape Club comments in the Speculative Society’s book describing the “expansive” translation of the Cape Motto: Concordia, Fratrum, Decus.
The inscription on the Bibleland wall reads
Behold how good a thing it is
And how becoming well
Together such as brethren are
In unity to dwell
The reference in the book of the Speculative Society can be read here (Page 48). Pure co-incidence or an influence on our 18th century members in creating the Cape watchwords?
We spotted loose Cape-Connections with Pirrie’s Close (it’s Leith street namesake being the former home of a few Knights), Lochend Close (in-keeping with the pseudonym of a member). We also wandered past Gibb’s Close, the scene of a Burke and Hare murder before sojourning at the Tolbooth Tavern for refreshment. The statue of Fergusson and Whitefoord house were commented on before we reached the Kilderkin (probably better known to Knights as Jenny Ha’s). The façade has changed but inside, all looks the same. The night ended here, in convivial fashion. Thanks to all who attended.
