from the fox; a monkey or baboon, one or more, and one of them here and there hugging a puppy in its bosom, a cat, &c. &c.

All

There are five large arched windows below in the outer-wall, with a pillar or column rising in the middle of each, and waving to the top of the arch in various shapes, some circular, others semicircular, &c. so that not one waving on the top of a pillar is like another. these windows are prettily carved even on the outside, particularly on the arches, with foliage, &c. having niches on the jambs, in which, probably, there have been statues of old, the pedestals of which are still remaining.

There are five lesser arched windows above, reaching almost to the top of the inner-wall, which appear to have had no pillar in the middle of each. The roof between the outer and inner wall, formerly leaded, now slated, with a slope to make the rain run the better off, covers the greatest part of these higher windows, and spoils the symmetry of the fabric.

On the east end, or altar, there are five lower spires with niches for statues, all adequate to those of the same model on the north-side, with four large windows, a pillar raised in the middle of each, as in the windows below in the north side, but differing from these in the various wavings on the tops of the arches, as well as from each other. The pedestals on which the statues have been placed, are all curiously wrought off in sculpture of antique and grotesque figures in basso relievo, varying from one another, and from those on the north side.

The south side is exactly the same with the north, as to the number and proportion of spires and windows; in the many ornaments of which still the same wild agreeable variety is most carefully observed.

There are spouts at proper distances, for letting the rain run down from the roofs, cut into various shapes, as the body of a lion, the head of an old man, &c.

On the west gable is a very plain ordinary bell-house, with places for two bells, and an iron cross still entire on the top of it. There have been two other iron crosses, one on each corner of this gable, of which the erect parts are only now remaining. The transverse pieces being quite worn away by the injuries of the weather.

The high roof is arched, and well covered with flag-stones.—The entry into this grand and sacred structure.is by two doors, one on the south, the other on the north side; both which shall be described in their places: and no person can enter into it, who has the smallest degree of solid thinking, without being struck with reverential awe at its august appearance; so much is it a temple of the adorable Deity, and eflects the greatest honour on the founder and endower. It is decorated with pillars, which delight the eye by a variety of aspect, and which have had their invention from good perspective, Tuscan, Rustic, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, and the Composite or Italic. Richard Augustine Hay's MS. Memoirs, Vol. II. p. 313*.

It would be very obliging if any Frother could give information where this book is to be found. J. S.

The height of the chapel within, from the floor to the top of the high arched roof, is 40 feet, 8 inches.

Breadth, 34 feet, 8 inches.

Length, 68 feet.

At the south-east corner you go down four steps to a flat, having on each hand a plain square niche in the wall; from which flat you descend twenty steps more, into a subterraneous chapel, which has been likewise the sacristy and vestry, whose height cannot be so exactly ascertained, as the floor is not laid with flag-stones, but is very uneven with rubbish and stones. However, with the utmost exact

ness that can be observed, it is in Height, 15 feet, 2 inches.

Breadth, 14 feet.
Length, 36 feet.

This sacristy is only subterraneous at the entry, or the west end of the east gabie, being all above ground, occasioned by the sudden declivity of the rising ground. There is only one window in it, which is in the east wall, and is arched and large, but without any pillar in the middle of it. Here, no doubt, there has been an altar, though there be no vestige of one now: when looking towards this window on your right-hand, i. e. on the south-side of the window, there is an escutcheon couped, Cathness and Roslin. The second part couped of three. In the first part three stars or molets. In the second three flowers de luce. In the third a heart.-In a direct line with the said escutcheon, on the north side of the window, is a ragged cross very distinct. It has had a low arched door, now shut up with stone and lime on the south wall, by which one could enter into the vestry, without going into the large chapel above ground.-It has two square niches in each side wall, wherein, I suppose, the sacred vessels have been kept: but, particularly, in the north wall there is a large arched opening, like a press, in which the iron hinges or hooks of a door ale still to be discerned. In this, it is supposed, the clerical vestments have been laid up. There has been another like arched opening in the south wall, which is now filled up with stone and lime. In the south-east corner there is a font, with a. little square niche close by the east side of it.—The arched roof of the sacristy is pretty plain, having only six ruged lines cut across, from side to side in basso relievo, and one on the top, from end to end, in the same way, and crossing the former ones at right angles. On the top of the entry, which is an arch, down to the sacristy, is. the high altar, 2 feet 7 inches, by two steps up from the south end of the large altar, with a beautiful font above it in the south wall: part of the floor of the high altar is demolished. On the high altar upon the east wall, is built something like a seat about two feet high, which, perhaps, may have been a prothesis or side-altar table.

The low or large altar, is only one step up, though, perhaps, more of old, from the floor of the chapel, of 6 inches and an half. It is in Breadth, 11 feet, 3 inches.

Length, 26 feet, 10 inches and an half,

312288B

The roof of the altar; composed of four double arches, not being so high as that of the chapel by one half, the height of it, from the floor to the tops of the double arches within, is 15 feet.

There are seven pillars or columns on the north side from end to end, including the pillar on the west wall, which is cut out in basso relievo; and as many on the south side.-There are likewise two pillars exactly in the middle of the chapel, proceeding from the step up to the altar westward.

The height of each pillar, including base and capital, is the exact fourth of the whole height of the chapel, from the floor to the top of the high arched roof.

Each range of pillars from the opposite wall to the center of the colonade or range, is distant eight feet two inches; from the center of each of the two pillars in the middle, proceeding from the face of the altar westward to the center of the pillars on each hand, north and south, nine feet two inches; diameter of the fust or shaft of each pillar at the middle point between base and capital, is two feet four inches; therefore the circumference must be seven feet.

The three pillars on the face of the altar have opposite to them on the east wall, or back of the altar, three smaller pillars cut out in basso relievo; and each range of pillars from east to west, has on the opposite wall an equal number of smaller pillars, cut out in the same way, each large pillar being united to its smaller opposite by an architrave; excepting the three columns on the fore-part of the altar, which are united to their smaller opposites by an arch, as all the large ones are from east to west, except some few which shall be remarked as we go along.-Every one of the three smaller pillars on the back of the altar has a niche on each side of its capital, in which a statue has been placed.-At the back of the altar on the east wall, are three risings like seats, each of them about two feet high, which, perhaps, may have been so many protheses or side-altar tables. And who knows, but that the large altar may have been divided into three equal parts, as so many different altars; of which more hereafter.— There are three little arched niches in the east wall or back of the altar, apparently for sacred vessels to stand in; the bottom of each of them being almost in a line with the tops of the above risings like

seats.

All the ornaments are in basso relievo, or cut out of the solid stone, as not one of the statues in niches, either within or without, is now to be seen.

Each architrave is united to the opposite architrave by a broad arch, every one of which arches is carved in like manner as the roof of the sacristy. And these arches, from architrave to architrave, form the roof between the outer and the inner wall, both on the north and south sides.

All the capitals of the pillars are prettily cut out into flower-work, foliage, or chaplets.

To begin, then, with a particular description of the several pieces of decoration.-The key-stone of the double arch immediately above

the high altar, or the entry down to the sacristy, is pendant about two feet, two inches, in a piece of fine foliage.

In the window at the back of the high altar, directly opposite to the said key-stone, in the south-east corner of the chapel, on each pilaster or jamb, were two cherubs, but one of them is quite broke off.

In this and every one of the lower windows there is a piece of castle-work, or a representation of a tower on each jamb; but some of them have been forcibly broken off. As also on each pilaster of the lower windows there is a niche for a statue, and the pedestal is for the most part cut out into a cherub.

Mr. Hay makes mention of a coat of arms above the high altar, but no such thing is now to be seen; as several parts of this glorious fabric, particularly the end of an arch at the north side of the above window broken to pieces, were a little defaced by the mob in 1688, on December 11, about ten o'clock at night, after they had pillaged the castle of Roslin; Vol. II. page 477. This mob, from the best authority, is said to have consisted mostly of Roslin's own tenants.

The first and principal pillar of the whole, placed at the adjoining corner of the low and high altar, just as you go down to the sacristy on your left hand, is commonly called the Apprentice's pillar, of which hereafter; but by Slezer, in bis Theatrum Scotia, fol. pag. 63. Lond. 1693, the Prince's pillar, I suppose from the princely founder.-It has on the base of it several dragons, in the strongest or first kind of basso relievo, as one can easily thrust a finger or two between some parts of the dragons and the base. The dragons are chained by the heads, and twisted into one another. This beautiful pillar has round it from base to capital, waving in the spiral way, four wreaths of the most curious sculpture of flower-work and foliage, the workmanship. of each being different, and the center of each wreath distant from that of the neighbouring one a foot and an half. So exquisitely fine are these wreathings, that I can resemble them to nothing but Brussels lace. The ornaments upon the capital of this pillar must be referred to another place, because they have a connection with other adjoining parts, and so go on with those of the lower altar from south to north. The key-stone of. the second double arch above the south end of the large altar, depends as the former one in a piece of foliage. The window opposite to the said key-stone is ornamented with cherubs, as the one formerly described; only in this all the four cherubs are entire.

The middle pillar on the fore-part of the altar, has its capital cut into flowers de luce in the first kind of basso relievo, so as some parts of the sculpture are quite free of the pillar, and the light passes through the openings. On this capital there are several cherubs playing different instruments of music, viz. psalters, &c.

The architrave joining the said pillar to the second middle pillar, down from the altar westward, has on both sides only foliage. Upon or above the capital of this second pillar, there is a hare eating a cabbage, and an elephant; besides some human figures defaced; and a Coat of arms facing westward, the field of which, two ragged crosses,

and two ships, without supporters. This ensign armorial is not mentioned by Mr. Hay. A little above this capital, in a direct line, there is a niche for a statue almost as big as the life, facing westward.

The key-stone of the third double arch is pendant as the two former ones, but ends in a representation of the star in the East at our Saviour's birth; on the south point of which stands the Virgin Mother with the babe in her arms. On her right hand, being the next point of the star, is the manger, and round from that on the other points are the wise men from the East, each of them having a long rod or staff in his hand. All these figures are extremely distinct.

Each corner of the window opposite to the star, has three cherubs (besides those which have been pedestals of statues on the back of the altar, four of which are in sight of the star) with a scroll waving up and down from hand to hand, representing, perhaps, the angelic declaration of the birth of the Messiah to the shepherds, and the heavenly choir, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will towards men.

The key-stone of the fourth and last double arch above the large altar, depends in length as the former ones, and is a piece of foliage. Two sides of this double arch, with your face towards the north-west, represents the resurrection, by people rising out of their graves like skeletons, and improving into proper forms placed close to the skeletons.

In the opposite window, being the fourth in the altar, north-east corner of the chapel, there are two cherubs with scrolls as above, and four without scrolls.

(To be continued.)

S

ACCOUNT OF

SHAKSPEARE'S CRAB-TREE.

HAKSPEARE's bench, and the half-pint mug out of which he used to take very copious draughts of ale at a public-house either in Stratford-upon-Avon, or the neighbourhood of that town, are well known to all our English Antiquaries, from their having been long in the possession of the late Mr. James West, by whose descendants I have no doubt they are carefully preserved, and will be long transmitted as heir-looms in the family: but with Shakspeare's CRAB TREE the Antiquarian Society probably are not so well acquainted.

There has been long a tradition in Warwickshire, that our great dramatic bard was a very boon companion; and the fame of two illustrious bands of good fellows, who were distinguished by the denominations of the TOPERS and the SIPPERS, is not yet extinct in that