the north wall of this chapter-house there are 5 stalls, cut by way of nitches, for the Bishop, or the Dean, in the Bishop's absence, and the dignified Clergy to sit in. The middle stall, for the Bishop or Dean, is larger and raised a step higher than the other four. They were all well lined with wainscoat. Some of the dimensions of this church may be seen as follows: In taking these dimensions I have not studied a scrupulous exactness; and in some of them it was not possible to do so. The spires of the two west towers are fallen, but the stone-work is pretty entire. No part of the great tower in the middle now stands. The two eastern turrets, being winding stair-cases, and vaulted at the top, are entire. The walls of the choir are pretty entire; and so is the whole chapter-house; but the walls of the nave and traverse are mostly fallen. It is a mistake, that this stately edifice was either burnt or demolished by the mob at the Reformation. The following act of Privy Council shows the contrary, viz.-" Edinburgh, Feb. 14, 1567-8. Seeing provision must be made for maintaining the men of war (soldiers) whose services cannot be spared, until the rebellious and disobedient be reduced; therefore appoint, that the lead be taken from the Cathedral Churches of Aberdeen and Elgin, and sold for sustenation of the said men of war. And command and charge the Earl of Huntly, Sheriff of Aberdeen, and his Deputies, Alexander Dunbar of Cumnock, Knight Sheriff of Elgin and Forres, and his deputies, William, Bishop of Aberdeen, aud Patrick, Bishop of Moray, &c.; that they defend and assist Alexander Clerk and William Birnie, and their servants in taking down and selling the lead, &c., signed R. M." The lead was, accordingly, taken off these churches, and shipped at Aberdeen for Holland; but soon after the ship had left the river, she sunk, which was owing, as many thought, to the superstition of the Roman Catholic Captain. Be this as it may, the Cathedral of Moray, being uncovered, was suffered to decay as a piece of Romish vanity, too expensive to be kept in repair. Some painted rooms in the towers and choir, remained so entire about the year 1640, that Roman Catholics repaired to them to say their prayers. The great tower in the middle of the church, being uncovered, the wooden work gradually decayed, and the foundation failing, the tower fell, anno 1711, on a Peace Sunday, in the morning. Several children were playing, and idle people walking within the area of the church, and, immediately as they removed to breakfast, the tower fell and no one was hurt. If The College of Elgin was an appendage of the Cathedral, and properly falleth to be next described. A College is an incorporated society, having particular rules or canons for their government. the College was not annexed to the Cathedral Church, but to an ordinary church, it was called a Collegiate Church, and the head or ruler of the College was called Provost or Dean; but in a Cathedral with a College, the Bishop was the ruler. These Colleges were instituted for performing Divine Service, and singing masses for the souls of their Founders, or their friends. They consisted of Canons or Prebendaries, who had their Stalls for orderly singing the canonical hours, and were commonly erected out of parish churches, or out of the Chaplainries belonging to churches. |