The poetical works of Sir Walter Scott, with memoir of the author.

202 THE LAY OF [CANTO VI.
Seem'd all on fire within, around,
Deep sacristy' and altar's pale;
Shone every pillar foliage-bound,
And glimmer'd all the dead men's mail.2
1 [First Edit. —" Both vaulted crypt," &c.]
2 The beautiful chapel of Roslin is still in tolerable preserva
tion. It was founded in 1446, by William St. Clair, Prince
of Orkney, Duke of Oldenburgh, Earl of Caithness and Stratherne, Lord St. Clair, Lord Niddesdale, Lord Admiral of the
Scottish Seas, Lord Chief Justice of Scotland, Lord Warden
of the three Marches, Baron of Roslin, Pentland, Pentlandmoor, &c., Knight of the Cockle, and of the Garter, (as is
affirmed,) High Chancellor, Chamberlain, and Lieutenant of
Scotland. This lofty person, whose titles, says Godscroft,
might weary a Spaniard, built the castle of Roslin, where he
resided in princely splendour, and founded the chapel, which
is in the most rich and florid style of Gothic architecture.
Among the profuse carving on the pillars and buttresses, the
rose is frequently introduced, in allusion to the name, with
which, however, the flower has no connection; the etymology
being Rosslinnhe, the promontory of the linn, or water-fall.
The chapel is said to appear on fire previous to the death of
any of his descendants. This superstition, noticed by Slezer
in his Theatrum Scotioe, and alluded to in the text, is probably
of Norwegian derivation, and may have been imported by the
Earls of Orkney into their Lothian dominions. The tombfires of the north are mentioned in most of the Sagas.
The Barons of Roslin were buried in a vault beneath the
chapel floor. The manner of their interment is thus described
by Father Hay in the TMS. history already quoted.
"Sir William Sinclair, the father, was a leud man. He
kept a miller's daughter, with whom, it is alleged, he went to
Ireland; yet I think the cause of his retreat was rather occasioned by the Presbyterians, who vexed him sadly, because
of his religion being Roman Catholic. His son, Sir William,
died during the troubles, and was interred in the chapel of
Roslin the very same day that the battle of Dunbar was