The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-10-31
Roslin Castle and Chanel.

Tradition relates that the design for
this celebrated chapel was drawn at
Rome; and, in order that it might be
properly executed, the founder caused
dwellings to be built near il for the
workmen, the ancient village being half
mile distant. He gave them houses
and lands in proportion to their abili-
ties, with such salaries as attracted the
boring kingdoms.
The chapel is surrounded with hand
some stone wall, having an entrance on
the north side. The entry into the
chapel is by two doors, one on the north
the other on the south side. The height
of the chapel within, from the floor to
the top of the arched roof, is forty feet
eight inches: breadth, thirty-four feet
eight inches; length, sixty-eight feet.
At the southeast corner there is a de-
scent, by fight of twenty steps, into a
crypt or chapel, partly subterraneous,
which is supposed to have served as a
sacristy and vestry; the east end of the
building is above the ground, occasioned
by the sudden declivity of the kill. The
height is fifteen feet; breadth, fourteen
feet; length, thirty-six feet; it is lighted
by single window.
The whole chapel is profusely deco
rated with sculpture, both within and
without. On the outsides are number
Of inches for statues; but whether any
we're ever placed there is doubtful The
inside is divided into middle and TWO
side aisles, by seven columns on each
side. supporting pointed arches: and
over them, in the middle aisle, which is
higher than those on each side, is q row
of windows. The roof, the capitals,
keystones and architraves, are all COW
cred with sculptures, representing flow
ers, foliage, events in sacred history,
ures, executed with astonishing neatness.
The 'prentice's pillar, by some called
the princes pillar, supposed in compli-
ment to the princely founder, or, more
probably, from its superiority to the
others, has, on its base, a number of
dragons and other monsters, whose in
terwoven tails are quite clear of, or de
tached from, its surface. The dragons
are chained by the heads, and twisted
into one another. This beautiful pillar
has round it, from base to capital, wav.
ing in spiral way, four wreaths of the
most curious sculpture of fower-work
and foliage, the workmanship of each
being different, and the center of each
wreath distant from that of the neigh
boring one eighteen inches. These
wreathings are SO fine that they can bt
compared to nothing else but Brussels
lace. The ornaments upon the capita
of this pillar are, the story of Abraham
offering UP Isaac, man blowing on {
Highland bagpire, with another mar
lying by him.
There is a legend related concerning
the building of this pillar. 1t is: Thai
the master-mason having occasion to &C
to Rome for further information, on ac
count of difficulties he had experienced
his apprentice, in his absence, carried OF
the work and finished this pillar. Tht
master, on his return, stung with envy
slew him bya blow of his hammer. Blu
this IS all fiction. Similar stories are
told of other buildings; one, in partic
ular, of the rose window at Rouen, sait
to have been carved by an apprentice
whose master, out of jealousy, slew him
The legend adds that, being condemned
tosuffer for his crime. no workman coulc
be found capable of completing hi
work; wherefore he was pardoned b,
the Pope, and, having finished the
building, became monk of sever
order.