course of many ages, to the magistrates and council, for the benefit of Saint Thomas' hospital, which was, at that period, the asylum of decayed guild brethren. At the same time, however, the chaplains reserved to themselves the liferent of the property, so alienated, for their maintenance and support. King James VI. in the year 1583, granted to the magistrates and council a charter, by which he confirmed to them the right to all the property so transferred by the chaplains. This grant comprehended also the crofts of land formerly belonging to the monastic institution of the Black and White Friars of Aberdeen, which had been suppressed at the time of the Reformation. But, although the magistrates presented to the king one thousand merks, as a composition to the crown for these crofts, yet when parliament sanctioned that grant, July 21st, 1593, the crofts were excepted from the ratification. In the course of our researches, we have not been enabled to ascertain, with sufficient accuracy, the period when the ancient structure of Saint Nicholas church was originally erected; we must, therefore, allow that to remain in undisturbed oblivion. At the epocha of the Revolution, it was regarded as one of the handsomest parish churches in Scotland. It was built in the Gothic style; and the dimensions of its nave, the roof of which was supported by eight columns on each side, were one hundred and seventeen feet of length, by sixty-six feet of breadth, including the side aisles. There were six galleries in it, three on each side, the fronts of which, and of many of the pews in the body of the church, were constructed of black oak, having various emblematical figures neatly cut in relievo. The serviceable parts of these were fortunately preserved, previous to the fabric falling to ruins, and appropriated to seats in the East church, where they still remain. The church, which had three doors, and thirty-three windows, was, in the time of popery, divided from the quire by a wooden screen, there being open arches under the steeple for a communica tion Council Register, vol. xxviii. p. 543. vol. xxxi. p. 575.-Acts of Parliament, vol. iv. p. 39. tion betwixt the two places of worship; but those were, subsequently to the Reformation, built up with stone, so as to form two separate churches.* After this period, it was illuminated, on solemn occasions, by eight double brazen chandeliers, suspended from the roof; and in the centre of it there was also suspended, by an iron chain, a globe, which answered for a meridian line. The walls were ornamented with texts of scripture painted upon them, according to the usage of the time.† About the beginning of the eighteenth century, it became ruinous and unserviceable; and was abandoned as a place of worship about the year 1732. The lead was afterwards stripped from the roof; and, in the year 1742, the columns of the nave having given way, the whole fabric fell to pieces, in consequence of natural decay; and, in its fall, destroyed many of the ancient monuments and tomb stones, which had, in the course of many ages, been constructed within its area. The remains of those were wholly neglected; and, when the church was afterwards rebuilt, those fragments of the stones which were taken from the ruins were defaced, and appropriated, without distinction, to the pavement of the new church. THE QUIRE OF SAINT NICHOLAS. In the year 1477, the magistrates and town council, on the solicitation of Thomas Spens, bishop of Aberdeen, commenced the erection of this fabric on the east end of the church. To defray the charge of the undertaking, the council and community agreed to appropriate the customary fees of the alderman, baillies, dean of guild, and of the abbot and prior of Bon-Accord, with the whole annual revenue of the borough, for seven years, and longer, if found necessary. John Gray and Richard Ancram were appointed architects of the building, and master masons, with a salary, to the former, of twentyfive§ merks, and to the latter of twenty merks yearly. Alexander VOL. II. * Council Register, vol. xxxvi. p. 556. F Chalmers, + MS. in the Advocate's Library, Edinburgh. Council Register, vol. lx. p. 260. vol. lxi. p. 48. § This was equal to about L.7 2s. 2d. sterling money, 12. George II. Chalmers, the provost, superintended the progress and execution of the work, in consequence of an order of the town council.* In order to accomplish, with the greater celerity, the execution of this public undertaking, the citizens, with their wonted liberality, contributed individually towards the expense of the building, by voluntary subscription; and several of them appear to have advanced money, by way of loan, for the same purpose. † The stones used in the structure were imported, by sea, from Caussie, in Moray, at a considerable charge; the lime for the mortar was brought from Dysart, at the price of 16s. the chalder; and the lead for covering the roof from England, ten fother, of 128 stone each, having been purchased, in exchange for four and an half lasts of salmon.+ The undertaking was extremely languid in its progress, at least it would appear so in modern times; for the structure was finished only in the year 1507, when thirty-four stalls were ordered to be constructed in it for the members of the ecclesiastical college. John Findon, wright, contracted with the magistrates for the execution of this branch of the work, for which he was to receive L.200 in money, besides a bounty, according to their discretion. § The quire, which is now distinguished by the name of the East church, is a neat Gothic building, entirely divested of ornamental or carved work. It is eighty-six feet of length to the breast of the chancel, and sixty-four feet of breadth, including the side aisles. The roof of the nave is supported by four arches on each side, which spring from Gothic columns, without any ornaments. Subsequently to the Reformation, this church had been fitted up, with a double gallery * Council Register, vol. vi. p. 480. et seq. vol. vii. p. 477. 546. 622. 1073. + The subscriptions by the citizens, were, in money, L.44 4s. 2d. one French crown, and two English groats; in salmon, 80 barrels ; in lentrin ware, (forte stock fish,) 287 dozen; and in fute fell, (sheep skins,) 18 dozen; besides gratuitous assistance from the inhabitants as labourers.[Council Register, vol. vii. p. 546. 1073.] Council Register, vol. vii. p. 477. vol. viii. p. 743. § Ibid. vol. viii, p. 777. gallery in the west end, and three galleries on each side, under the arches. The upper gallery, in the west end, is appropriated to the members of the corporation of seamen, over which a ship is suspended from the roof. The pulpit and reader's desk are on the north side; and the church is illuminated, on solemn occasions, by three brass double chandeliers, also suspended from the roof. The chancel, which is eighteen feet by twelve, was in the east end of the quire; and under it was a neat chapel, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, but, in modern times, converted to secular purposes. In this chapel a chantry was founded, in the year 1520, for celebrating yearly, at the altar, a mass of requiem for the souls of David Menzies, of Gilbert Menzies, and of Marjory Chalmers, his spouse, and of their parents and relations; for which the former had presented to the curate and chaplains of the church, in the same year, a donation of L.20, in money, to enable them to rebuild and repair their houses in the town.* On the north side of the quire the vestry is situated, having under it a vault, which, in the arbitrary times of the reformed church, was appropriated as a place of confinement for ecclesiastical delinquents; and over the vestry there was a gallery, or apartment, in which was deposited a collection of books belonging to the church. These were, after the Reformation, kept under the charge of the bishop and minister; but, some years subsequently to the institution of Marischal college, they were presented, by the magistrates, to the principal and regents, and formed the foundation of the present library belonging to it. † In the year 1508, upwards of thirty years posterior to the commencement of the building, the quire having been prepared for divine worship, William Elphinston, bishop of Aberdeen, consecrated it, with the usual solemnities. On this occasion, the magistrates provided a splendid entertainment for him and his attendants, and afterwards presented to him a propine of two puncheons of claret wine, with F 2 * Cartulary, f. 53. + Council Register, vol. xliv. p. 50. vol. xlv. p. 128. vol. xlvi. p. 490. with wax and sweet-meats, according to the custom of the age; the expense of the whole being L.16 3s. 8d.* John Turnbul was, about the same time, appointed, by the magistrates, chief cantor, and superintendent of the musical department of the quire, with an annual salary of L.10. Sometime afterwards Walter Strachan, singer, and eight choristers, were added to the establishment. His salary was only 20s. annually; but he was to receive his meals from the citizens, alternately, through the week, until he should be better provided. † Notwithstanding the liberality with which the community had contributed towards the expense of erecting the quire, and to the ministers of religion belonging to the church, yet it appears, that, in the year 1524, divine service had been almost neglected in both places of worship. This seems to have been occasioned by some schism or dissension among the chaplains, who had deserted the service of the church. The provost was, on this account, deputed by the citizens to repair to Gavin Dunbar, bishop of Aberdeen, for the purpose of complaining of this neglect; and, in their names, to request his Lordship to recommend to some other prelate to reconcile the differences which subsisted among the ecclesiastical members. What redress was given upon this complaint we have not been informed; but, a few years afterwards, it appeared, that a voluntary contribution had been made, by the citizens, of eight barrels of salmon, and L.26 9s. in money, for defraying the expense of purchasing two sacerdotal vestments of cloth of gold, two chesopes, four tunicales, and two cops of gold cloth, "for the honour of the church, and of Saint Nicholas, their patron."‡ In the year 1537, all the cantors of the quire, who enjoyed salaries from the town, were, by an act of council, ordered to be discharged. Probably this had been in consequence of some indication of the Reformation making its appearance in the north. Soon afterwards, however, + Ibid. vol. viii. p. 463. 1092. Council Register, vol. viii. p. 937. |