OS1/26/20/10

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 10
[Continued]
"of the Aisle of the Nave, for the greater Solemnity of Processions, and Over the Western Side of the Cloister, Was thirdly the Dormitory of the Monks, along room, divided into Separate Cells, each Containing a bed, With a Mat, Blanket, and Coverlet, also a desk and Stool for each Monk This appartment had a door which opened immediately into the Church, on Account of Midnight Offices of devotion, Fourthly Attached to the Side of the Cl[oister] Opposite to the Church, Was the Refectory, Where the monks dined,* * * Fifthly near the Refectory, under which were Cellars, was the "[lacutorium]" or Parlour, an Apartment answering to the Common room of a College, where, during the intervals of Prayer and Study, the monks sat and Conversed, Was the only room in which a Constant fire was Allowed in Winter, beyond it were the Kitchen and Offices, and immediately Adjoining, the Buttery and Lavatory Sixthly, on the eastern Side of the Cloister, and in the Centre, Stood the Chapter House, Where the Public buisiness of the Abbey was transacted, * * Such Were the general Arrangements of Our Ancient Monasteries, and So far as can be traced. the Abbey of Paisley may, with Some degree of truth, [to] conceived to have once boasted the extent, Arrangement, and Accommodation I Have Attempted to describe, * * * The Abbey Church of Paisley, now no longer a Church in the fields, Was built after the model of a Cathedral, in the form of a Cross and Surmounted by a lofty Steeple of the most exquisite Workmanship. The interior was Adorned With a number of Alters, dedicated to the Virgin, St Mirren, St Columba, St Ninian, St Nicholas, St Peter, St Katherine, and St Anne, at which Chaplains Officiated, * * * * In 1560 the Earl of Argyle,Lord Ruthven and Others, gave Orders for Purifying the Churches, by destroying all Sorts of Idolatry found Within and Without them, but the Order not [been] So Sufficiently executed as the zealots of reform required,a more Sweeping desolation was made by the Earls of Arran, Argyle, and Glencairn, [to] Whom was committed the demolition of all Abbey Churches, and all monuments of Idolatry in the West of Scotland, * * * It is unnecessary to add that this Church shared the Same fate with almost every Similar establishment in the Country, in the heat of the infuriated zeal which Characterized that Period, * * * * At this time, the lofty Steeple, and a great Part of the Church were demolished, [The] only Part of the fabric that was preserved is the Chancel or Nave, * * * The Abbey of Paisley was the family burial Place of the Stewarts before their accession to the throne, Allan, the Son of Walter, the founder, was interred in the Abbey in 1204, and Walter, Son and Successor

Transcriber's notes

Words on right side of page often cut off but transcription attempt made