Work in the nave and in the south chapels was apparently in progress
during the reign of James IV., as the royal arms (Fig. 794), with the
letters I. Q. (Jacobus Quartus), and the date 1505 on the westmost
buttress testify.
On the south side of the cloister is the very charming doorway (Fig.
795) which leads into the church. It is, as is very usual, circular
headed, and enriched with a deep bay containing bold mouldings, which in
England would, from the square arrangement of their orders, be regarded
as of early date. But the style of the richly carved and undercut caps
and the foliaged hood mould clearly points to a later period than would
at first sight be supposed, certainly not earlier than the nave. To the
right of this, and along the east wall of the cloister (see Fig. 795),
are arched recesses of a late style; and in the south wall is an arcade
of trefoil form, with nail-head enrichments. The latter might also at
first sight be regarded as early work, but closer inspection shows that
it is an example of the late revival of early forms which prevailed
towards the close of the Gothic epoch.
Not a fragment remains to show how the cloister walk was enclosed. The
roof has evidently been of wood, from the corbels for the wall plate and
the holes cut in the wall to receive the timbers (see Fig. 795). These
probably rested on a series of pillars and arches running round the
outer side of the cloister walk, but whether of stone or timber cannot
now be determined. It seems not unlikely, from its entire disappearance,
that the outer arcade may have been of timber.
[Illustration: FIG. 794.--Melrose Abbey.