Transactions. 41 



This interesting monument stands on the south of the 

 church, within an iron railing, which encloses also tombstones 

 in Major Adair's burying ground. The stones, it is stated, 

 formed part of the east window of the chapel, and were only 

 brought to light when the workmen were excavating the hill 

 for the foundation of the present church. 



The chapel had long disappeared, the materials having 

 been from time to time carried off for other purposes. 



It was standing undecayed in 1552,* and old Sir 

 Richard Maitland of Lethington, who wrote an account of 

 the House of Seyton, says he had heard mass in it. After 

 the Reformation it would no doubt fall into neglect, and in 

 1715 the remaining materials were taken to make up the 

 defences of the town against the rebel army then threaten- 

 ing Dumfries. When the defences also came to an end, the 

 materials would be appropriated in many ways. 



The present church on the site of the chapel was erected 

 in 1838— a period of 510 years at least from the foundation 

 of Sir Christopher's chapel. 



In Robertson's Index of Old Charters, the following is 



the title of the charter of erection by King Robert Bruce :— 



Charter of the foundation of ane chappel near Dumfries, 



and £5 strivelig dotted thereto by the King furth of 



the lands of Carlaverock, where Christopher Seton, 



his good brother, was slain in his Majesties service. 



The date is not given, but it would probably be about 



the year 1323 or 1324. 



The £5 "dotted" or dotated by the King furth of the 

 lands of Carlaverock would not maintain a permanent chap- 

 lain, but it might and probably did secure daily mass being 

 said by an itinerating or mass priest. 



In this point of view, and also having regard to the 

 locality on which it was built, the size of the chapel becomes 

 a matter of probable conjecture. It would be in the nature 

 of an oratory or chantry chapel, and of limited size. We 

 find accordingly that when the excavations Avere being made 



* Burke's Peerage.— Art. Seton. 



