[Illustration: FIG. 555.--Elgin Cathedral. Monuments in South
Transept.]
of the south transept, called the Innes aisle (Fig. 555), is the
canopied monument, bearing the arms (said to be) of Alexander Stewart,
Duke of Albany, who died in 1481. The shield on the sinister side of the
tomb bears the fesse chequé and three antique crowns, the arms of the
lordship of Garioch. Another canopied monument in the south wall, to the
left of the above, is said to be that of Robert Innes of Innermarkie.
These monuments are late, and a good deal damaged. The coats of arms on
the shields do not correspond with those of the persons named above.
The north transept, called the Dunbar aisle, also contains several
remnants of tombs. One in the north wall still retains the mutilated
effigy of Bishop Columba Dunbar (1422-35), and another that of Sir
Alexander Dunbar of Westfield, who died in 1497. In Slezer’s time the
north gable of this transept was complete, and showed in elevation two
stories of three single windows in each, surmounted by a triple light in
the gable.
[Illustration: FIG. 556.--Elgin Cathedral. Monument of William Hay of
Lochley.]
One of the most interesting monuments in the cathedral is that of a
knight in full armour (Fig. 556) near the entrance to the Lady Chapel.
It bears the following inscription:--“Hic jacet Wills de la Hay, quondam
dominus de Lochloy, qui obiit VIII die mensis Decembris Anno Domini
MCCCCXXI.” He was of the family to whom Inchoch Castle belonged, which
lies a short way west of Forres.[56]
Amongst the mutilated fragments of sculpture preserved at the cathedral
is a portion of a gigantic statue, said to be that of Bishop John Innes
(1407-14). It was found at the base of the north-west pillar of the
central tower, of which that bishop commenced the erection. The
inscription on his tomb was as follows:--“Here lieth in Christ the Rev.
Father and Doctor of Divinity John de Innes who began this distinguished
edifice and for seven years sedulously continued the building.”[57] The
tower was rebuilt in 1538 (as already mentioned), and a representation
of it, as it existed in 1693, may be seen in Slezer’s view. It is there
shown as a plain, square erection, with a large window on each side, and
colossal statues at the angles. The so-called statue of “Bishop Innes”
is, doubtless, one of these; but whether it formed part of the original
tower of the fifteenth century, and was replaced on the rebuilt tower of
the sixteenth century, or was a new statue of the latter date, it is
difficult to decide.
The following is a short epitome of the dates of the different portions
of the cathedral as pointed out in the foregoing description:--
The transept was erected about the date of the foundation of the
cathedral in 1224. It may possibly have formed part of the previous
Church of the Trinity, but seems more likely to have been built after
the conversion into the cathedral.
The western towers follow soon after, being of early first pointed work.
The western portal is somewhat later than the towers.
The west part of the north wall of the choir appears to be older than
the remainder of that portion of the edifice, and this may possibly have
been part of the original Church of the Trinity; but the general work of
the choir and nave and the original chapter house would appear to have
been carried out during the thirteenth century. The first pointed work
would probably be all completed shortly before the War of Independence,
which stopped all architecture in Scotland for a long period.
The cathedral was then practically completed, and so remained for about
a century.
The next great change occurred after the destruction of the edifice by
the “Wolf of Badenoch” in 1390. The nave and chapter house would appear
to have been much destroyed, and were almost rebuilt during the
fifteenth century. The west front above the portal and the whole of the
nave were, doubtless, reconstructed about the time of Bishop Columba
Dunbar (1422-35). The chapter house appears to have been restored in the
time of Bishop David Stewart (1482-1501). The architecture of the nave
and chapter house corresponds with the respective dates of these
prelates, and also bears their coats of arms engraved on each
department.