THE ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND FROM THE EARLIEST CHRISTIAN TIMES TO THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. _Edinburgh: Printed by George Waterston & Sons_ FOR DAVID DOUGLAS. LONDON, SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT, AND CO., LIMITED CAMBRIDGE, MACMILLAN AND BOWES GLASGOW, JAMES MACLEHOSE AND SONS THE ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND FROM THE EARLIEST CHRISTIAN TIMES TO THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY BY DAVID MACGIBBON AND THOMAS ROSS AUTHORS OF “THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND” _VOLUME TWO_ [Illustration] EDINBURGH: DAVID DOUGLAS MDCCCXCVI _All rights reserved._ PREFACE. As this Volume contains drawings and descriptions of the examples of the First Pointed and Middle Pointed Periods in Scotland, and, therefore, illustrates the finest of our mediæval edifices, it may be convenient at this stage to consider the position these buildings occupy in relation to the general system of Gothic architecture in other countries. There can scarcely be any question as to the Gothic style having been imported into, and not being native to, this country. We have already seen that the Norman style was gradually introduced from England, and was afterwards superseded by the transition style. The buildings of the first pointed period also show unmistakable indications of their design having been brought from England,[1] while those of the middle pointed period, although clearly allied in style to English examples, exhibit in their details a few signs of other influences. Although many of our Scottish edifices contain much beautiful work, and all are full of interest, it must be admitted that even the best examples of Gothic in this country cannot claim to give full expression to the fundamental principles of the Gothic style as developed in its native home, the Royal Domain of France. The style being here an exotic, and being carried out rather as imitative than as original, it is naturally to be expected that it should disclose symptoms of departure from the spirit which animated those by whom it was wrought out and developed. And that is, in fact, the case.