Bishop of Moray, one of our congregation, died on the 

 15th of the Kalends of October (17th September)." For 

 the fact of his burial at Birnie, there seems to be no 

 authority beyond the assertion of Keith and Shaw, and 

 the strong probabilities of the case. 



The early seat of the Bishopric of Moray varied be- 

 tween Birnie, Kineddar, and Spynie, as we are informed by 

 Bishop Bricius himself. That the present church of Birnie 

 was erected during the earlier episcopates seems most pro- 

 bable from the evidence of its architecture. It is one of a 

 small number of Norman Churches existing throughout the 

 country which are attributed to the twelfth century. The 

 church is in the form of a parallelogram, with a small 

 apse or chancel at the east end, separated from the nave 

 by a beautiful and characteristic arch, supported on pillars 

 whose carved capitals form an index of their style and 

 period. The walls are constructed of square-cut blocks, 

 and the material used (according to the testimony of the 

 present learned and venerable successor of the Bishops), is 

 freestone from the coast. No doubt there were other 

 buildings in the neighbourhood of the church ; and, to 

 form a true idea of the aspect of the place in the time we 

 speak of, we must cover the whole surrounding country 

 with forest, where wild animals ranged and swine fed on 

 the beech-mast — through whose glades the hunting-horn 

 of King William the Lion would not unfrequently sound 

 as he rode out to the chase from his castle that rose over 

 the meaner roofs of his faithful burgesses of Elgin. That 

 he was often there there can be no doubt. The country 

 was by no means in a settled condition, and this particular 

 neighbourhood seems to have i-equired his presence in a 

 special manner. Many deeds in the Registrum Moraviense 

 are under the King's hand " apud Elgyn." 



Richard, described as " clericus regis," was elected 



