Antient State of the Cathedral Aberdeen: 
with the Seals thereof. 
T HIS Cathedral and Canonry, was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Traces of the 
enthufiafm, or peculiar ftrain of piety, which formed the principle of thefe dedica- 
*° prevalent in that age, are obfervable in the writings of its mod refpcdtable 
hiltonans. Boetius, mentioning the early dawn of devotion that illuminated the 
mind of the celebrated Bishop Elphingston, fays, “ One day when at Glafrow 
tt ar ) in .5 no£ / lve y ears he was miffing, and could no where be found, until, 
{< ? icei " diligent fearch, he was difeovered proftrate before the image of the Virgin, 
tf ln . die innermoft chapel of the Cathedral : and it was with much reluctance, and 
u W1£ l tears > when he was taken away, that he left the facred fhrine. This his fo great 
{f ant eai 'ly defire to contemplate that Image, was looked on as an omen of his 
M | uture greatnefs. Another time, when a youth, he had a vifion, that he was on his 
„ kn 5 Jf* im pl°ring the Virgin’s favour ; and ihe vouchfafed a gracious reply, laying. 
« 77 ” V i 1 f n ^° U atta * n die pontificate, for which you are defigned, you fhall aggrandize 
Mv Altars, and reftore the ancient fplendor of My Temples.” 
The above hiftorian is diffufe in his narrative of the fulfilment of thefe predictions ; 
ant gives a copious detail of the noble additions which he made to the facred build- 
^ngs, and of the very opulent manner in which he endowed and adorned the Cathedral. . 
^ conference of his admiration of thefe, he is almoft as full and particular in diftin- 
guilhing ms more remarkable embellishments, as are the facred writers in recording 
the ftniCture and hallowed contents of the SanCtuary and Temple of Jerusalem! 
1 he minifters of the lacred communications, faw the importance of.thefe brilliant ap- 
pendages of piety, wherewith religious rites were celebrated, in a fuperior point of 
view to what we can do now. There was a fymbolical fplendor in them, which filed 
a we, and gave an inviting aggrandizement to the offices of devotion. It was more- 
ewer to that profound veneration wherewith thofe pompous and myfterious rites were 
received, that the Catholic Church was indebted for the honorary emoluments, and 
tributary offerings, fo liberally beftowed by the princes and nobles of that a«e. 
The pious author of the memorials alluded to, feems to dwell with luxurious de- 
votion on the profufion of ornament and imagery; and on the richnefs of the facred 
veftments, with which the evangelical rites were then folemnized. " This ma<mifi- ■ 
f< cent church and choir were hallowed with twelve marble altars finely pohlhed 
<f and carved, and adorned with holy images, ftatues of faints, pictures, carpets, and 
„ nangmgs. ^ In the tapeftries furrounding the altars, were wrought the hiftories of 
< c £ n e Buffed Virgin, and of many faints and holy perlonages. There were banners 
« fine for folemn proceffions, crowns of gold, and mitres fet with pearls and pre- 
« . C10us ftones i croziers and rods of filver. The robes and mantles of purple and fine 
« iine /h were embroidered at the fides with figures of faints and angels, fet round with 
various gems and ftar6 of gold.” 
From amid three hundred articles particularly fpecified and deferibed in the inven- 
ones the three , bowing, only, are produced ; as lufficient to form an eftimate, and 
cHl • e aaec i uare idea °f tiie treafures devoted to the aggrandiz-ement of the 
urch, in that its raoft flourilhing asra in Scotland, intra ann. 1 500 and 1600. 
A fuperb Eucharist, or expositorium *, of filver, elaborately carved, and overlaid 
Wlth gold, two cubits high. 
A chalice and its patine of pure gold, fet with diamonds and large rubies ; 
height fifty-nine ounces. 
An image of the Bleffed Virgin Mary, offolid filver, weight 114 ounces. 
c j b rom man y concurring circumftances it is evident, that at the above tera the pre- 
0lIS metals, or money, were at leaft ten times their prefent value; the above articles, 
* See Antiquity, N" 14, 
/ 22 therefore. 
