Pringle’s of Greenknowe Tower

Greenknowe Tower (owned  by Historic Scotland, open all year)
The ruined L-plan tower bears the date 1581 and the initials of J. Seton  of Touch and his wife J. Edmonstone. It was later purchased by the Pringles of Stichel. Greenknowe was sold in 1785 to George Fairholme of  Greenhill.

Three of the angles of the building are surmounted by small turrets  with gun loops and in the re-entrant angle above first floor level rises a  stair turret. In the basement is a vaulted kitchen with an arched  fireplace. A wide newel stair rises only to the first floor, the rooms  above are accessed from the turret stair.

Greenknowe came to the Setons by marriage with a Gordon heiress. In the 17th century it passed to the Pringles of Stichel and was the home of the  famous Covenanter Walter Pringle of Greenknowe, whose memoirs were published at Edinburgh in 1723 (see below). The well preserved ruins  are in the care of Historic Scotland.

The Memoirs of Walter Pringle of Greenknowe

First written over out of the Original by James Pringle of Greenknow, 1684. And  carefully transcribed. Edinburgh 1723.

At the age of 11 Walter and his brother  went to Stirling for one or two years to be taught by James Lockie, a non-conformist minister who was  not allowed access to a church. In 1638  Walter went to study with Thomas Wilkie,  Minister of Leslie.

SECT IV November. 1ft. 1662

In the year 1639, I was at Leith School, then did youthful Lufts and Corruptions begin to prevail over me, being  ftronger in me than the Grace of God. I will not mention my  particular Abominations; for what God hath hid and covered, I will not  reveal: Only to mine own Shame, and to his Praife,  who fpared me, and had Mercy upon me, I confefs that for the Years together, I was  the chief of Sinners; yet I was never without Conviction, knowing that I  was not then in the Way of Peace, and Life; and that if I fhould have died, in  fuch a Cafe, at that Time, Damnation would have been my Lot.

He continues:

Thefe Years of Darknefs,  Deadnefs, and Sinfulnefs, one of them  was fpent, or rather loft, in Leith, two at  Edinburgh College, five at Home and in the Wars (being a Volunteer) and  two in France.

SECT VI November. 24th. 1662

In June 1648, I came home from France,  and was much preffed by my loving Father to Marrie, feveral were fpoken of to me, but I would not  incline fo much as to go and fee any, untill the good Providence of my God led me  to fee my Wife, at her Brother in Law Whitebank,  his Houfe of Blackhaugh,  where I went to ftay a Night with my Old and  Intimate Acquaintance; without the leaft purpofe of feeing her, or any other. And  (altho I had been often to her Brothers Houfe)  yet had not feen her: Neither did I think  that he had a Daughter for Marriage, (though I loved the Family) but I  found it other ways, and from this Time my Affection was to her.

SECT IX December. 22nd. 1662

In November, 1649. We were Married, at Stow, by that Renowned  Mr. James Guthrie. My Wife remaind in Torwoodlie,  about fix Months: And thereafter came home to  Stichill, where we ftayed Five Years  with my Mother, and with us, there were five of my Brothers Children,  (for Elizabeth ftayd always with her Mother, and the two youngeft Sons, were removd by Death) My  Sifters Son, and my dear Friend Mr. James Aird,  during this Time , we had a very Loving,  Sweet and Peaceable Society. My Wife did grow in Grace, and in the  knowledge of God, of which, She is more able  to give an Account, than I am.

SECT X December. 25th. 1662

Until the Englifh Army came into Scotland, I was much taken up with Suits of Law for my  Pupils, being always a Defender.

When the Englifh came in, I went to our Army, and had my Mother, my Wife, and the  Children in Edinburgh, until we were defeat at  Dumbar, after which I brought them Home to Stitchil; and my Wife being big with Child, I ftayed with her until  fhe was delivered of our Daughter Kathrin, upon the 10th Day of November 1656: the next Day a Party of the Englifh came in, and took up all this  Country; where upon I went and ftayed 8 days  in, and about Torwoodlie, then being  accompanied by my Brother Torwoodlie, I came  in the Night Time to fee my Wife; And as we were returning back, it was  my Lot to rencounter one of the Englifh upon Horfe Back, whom I killed, knowing that I would not get a  Prifoner carried to our Army, for we had Difficulty to get to it  our felves: And that which cleared me the  more in this was, That he never asked Quarters.

Walter intended to join his friend  Colonel Gilbert Ker, but at St. Johnston the  news came of the total defeat of Kers forces at Hamilton.

SECT XI December. 31ft. 1662

I remained at St.  Johnftoun until the Caftle of  Edinburgh was to be rendered to the Englifh,  and my own, and my Pupils, their Writes being there, I took Occafion to come over to Edinburgh, upon our  Chancellours Pafs, and from thence I came  Home to Stitchill; where I was not many  Days, until the Englifh got Knowlege of me, and of that which I had  done; whereof, and of their Purpofe to  apprehend me, I was advertifed, tho I had  not the leaft Inclination to go from Home,  yet preffed by my Friends, I went to  Northumberland, and ftayed fome few Days, in my  Cufin Major Pringles Houfe; after  which I returned Home, and expected every Day to have been taken, if not worfe; For I was informed, That the Man who  was killed, had Friends who made many Vows to be  aveanged; but Nothing could move me in the Frame of Spirit, where  in I was: Yea, many a Time I then thought, That I could as willingly  have opened the Buttons of my Breaft, to  receive Deaths Stroke, as ever I did, to go to Bed. At length a Party  of Horfe came and took me Prifoner that Night at  Darnick; where (I will never forget) it was my Ordinar, to read the 100 Pfalm, which I did with very much Joy and  Peace; although (as to the outward) it was the  darkeft Hour of Trouble, which I have had in my Life: I was alone  with them all that Night, for thefe of the Houfe, I knew not. The next Morning my  Mother in Law came to free me, and that Day I was carried to Selkirk,  and examined by Major Robertfon, of whofe Regiment the Man had been; I denyd  nothing, but pleaded, That I was a Souldier, ftanding upon Defence of my Country, from  the Invafion. Afterwards I was let go, upon  my Father in Law, and Whitebank their bond  of 2000 Lib. Sterling Penalty that I fhould compear again.

Walters friend James Aird had been soliciting support for him  from the Chief Officers of Edinburgh.

When I went  fecretly to Edinburgh and laid my Bufinefs,  as it ftood, before my worthy Lord Wariftoun, he advised me not to compear, and fo did others; but I could never agree to that, but gave up myfelf into the Hands of God.

SECT XII January. 1ft. 1663

At laft, the  Chief Officers were content to refer the matter, to the Captain of whofe Troop the Man had been, to whom my  Mother very fpeedilie payed a Hundreth and Fifty Pound  Sterling, for the Ufe of the Mans Friends,  as they pretended. In all this, I was wholly  Paffive: For all was done by Mr. Aird,  only my Mother payed the Money at Torwoodlie, where the Captain had his  Quarters.

SECT XIII January. 31ft. 1663

In the Year 1651. I became a conftant Hearer of thatlivelie Man Mr. John  Livinftoun, going every Sabbath-Day from  Stitchill to Ancrum.²

SECT XIV February. 28th. 1663

I Came from  Stitchill, to remain at Greenknow, in  March 1655. After which I was no more a conftant Hearer of Mr. Livingftoun, being taken up  with Worldly Bufinefs through the Week, my Defire was to reft on the Sabbath, that is, to bring in my Mind, from off all Thingselfe, to think of my God.

SECT XV March. 16th. 1663

Bleffed be my God, who upon Tuefday laft gave unto me another Child.

SECT  XVI May. 29th. 1663

It comes to my  Rememberance to mention a Paffage concerning my Eldeft Son Robert, how that  upon Saturday, the 23d. of April, 1653, being the Day whereon I came  home to Stitchill from London, I heard at Wooller, that he was  dangerouflie fick, and (as was  thought) could not be living till I got home: And when I came, I found  him at the very point of Death, upon which I went alone to pray for thee  my Son (who was about fixteen Months Old).

The records show that Robert did not  die.

SECT XVII August. 11th. 1663

When firft I  came to dwell here, it was much upon my Spirit, to  intreate my God, who doth appoint the Bounds of every ones  Habitation, as Acts 17. 26.  gracioufly to fhine upon us in  this Houfe, and (as then I was led to  mention in a Letter to my worthy Brother Whitebank)  That as the Name of this Place is Green, fo he might pray the Lord to make it green, and  flowrishing.

SECT XIX September. 3rd. 1663

I am very defirous to haften through what is past, therefore I  only incline to mention fhortly, mine Imprifonment in the  Caftle of Edinburgh, upon the 26th. of September 1660, with Sir  Andrew Ker of Green-head, with whom I had  very fweet Fellowfhip for 15 days; which was the Time we were in Prifon,  and one of the fweeteft Times I have yet  had; for both of us were led forth to rejoice in the Crofs of our Lord Jefus Chrift, and were moft willing (through his Grace and Strength) to forsake all for him.

SECT XX October. 5th. 1663

Bleffed for ever be my God, who of his rich free Grace, hath fo fhind upon the Families of Torwoodlie and Stitchil.  O! That you who come after may  tafte of the fame Goodnefs. You are compaffed about with a great Cloud  of Witneffes.

Walters Aunt, Lady  Haining, died on 28th September, 1663. His sister, Craiggie, died on 24th November, 1663. He  was also moved by the death of the Sister of Eccles at 3pm on Monday  11th March, 1664.

In 1664 Walter was persecuted for his  religious non-conformity. He was fined by Middleton in the Parliament of  1662 L.3000.

SECT XXVIII December. 5th. 1664

Upon Thurfday,  the 24th of November laft, I was taken from  this Place, by three of the Life-guard, the fourth had fallen fick at Whiteburn,  and a Meffanger of Arms, that Night to Gingle-Kirk, and upon the Morrow, into the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, where I thought to  have ftayd fome Time, and to have written  to you, my Children, while there a Prifoner of Jefus Chrift.

The site of the Old  Tolbooth in Edinburgh is marked by a cobblestone heart and anoutlne which marks where its entrance lay.  Built in 1466 and extended by the New Tolbooth shortly after 1561, it was demolished in 1817. The building was in turns  a chapter house for St Giles Cathedral, meeting place of Parliament, the  law courts, the town council, and in the 1560s, of the General Assembly  of the Reformed Kirk, Later it degraded into the role of prison, where  many artistocratic heads were displayed;  including those of the Regent Morton in 1581, Montrose in 1650, and the  8th Earl of Argyll in 1661. The Tolbooth keys and doors were saved and are now at Abbotsford House.

From the tolbooth,  Walter was taken before a second High Commission, without himself  appealing, where a sentence was passed that he be fined and bound over  to appear before the magistrates of Elgin, on or before 1st January  1665, and abide at the Kings pleasure in the town. If the fine was not  paid by Candlemas, he was to enter the Elgin tolbooth.

On the 22nd December, 1664, Walter set  off for Elgin, but before reaching Edinburgh his brother Torwoodlee had entered a petition in his  name to the Lords of Council, who granted a stay until the end of  January. On the 10th January, Walter attended the High Commission, but  they did not sit, and adjourned until the 24th.

On the 24th February, Walter left Greenknowe to appear at Elgin. The Elgin  town council sentenced Walter to the tolbooth.  On the 20th May he was liberated from close prison by order of the Lords  of Secret Council after requests by the family, but still had to remain  within the boundaries of Elgin town.

SECT XXXIII August. 31st. 1665. Elgin

For the space of some weeks past, I have  been entertained with the expectation of liberty to go home, which,  though it would be matter of very much joy to me, yet it hath been my  constant desire that it might not succeed, unless it were the good will  of my God.

SECT XLV March. 10th. 1666. Greenknow

Upon the 6th Day of February, my  Friends, by their affectionate pains, without my knowledge, did procure  from the High Commission, the change of Confinement from Elgin to mine  own home, and three miles about, for the payment of Two Hundreth Pounds Sterling, and bond by Stitchill and Torsonce,  for my Peaceful and Inoffensive behaviour.