Page:The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland ( Volume 3).djvu/513

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the Hays of Errol. Fig. 1451 appears to represent a pair who have been guilty, and are suffering under the prospect of finding themselves in the hands of the headsman.

Fig. 1448.—Coupar Abbey.

Main Piers of Nave.

On a house opposite the abbey occur the royal arms, shown by Fig. 1452, and throughout the village there are numerous carved and moulded stones to be seen, showing that the whole place has been built out of the ruins of the monastery.

In the Chamberlain's Accounts for 1563 he describes the chapel "as being so completely wrecked, that with a view to preserve the timber, he had built up both doors; also the undermost door of the steeple. In the cloister he had collected the slates which had been removed from the roof. He had also repaired the broken windows, providing them with iron framework. The abbot's apartments he had partially

Fig. 1449.—Coupar Abbey.

Broken Slab.

restored, and with proper fastenings made secure the granaries and store-houses. From having, in August 1562, accommodated the royal stud (during a passing visit of Queen Mary), the stables of the monastery are in the Account styled the 'quenes stables.'"[1]

We have already referred to the Earls of Errol as benefactors to the abbey, and amongst the Errol Papers[2] there occurs a "Copy of the Tabill Quhilk ves at Cowper of all the Erles of Erroll quhilk ver Buryd in the Abbey Kirk thair," from which it appears that sixteen Earls were buried in the monastery. Of these we suppose no memorial now remains; but we may take this opportunity of introducing a sketch (Fig. 1453) of a recumbent figure, now built into the churchyard wall of

  1. Rental Book of Coupar, Vol. II. p. xxxiv.
  2. The Spalding Club Miscellany, Vol. II. p. 348.