The sketch of the chapter house (Fig. 565) shows the interior looking north-west, with the double door and two side windows which face the cloister. The apartment is about 29 feet square, and has a central pillar on which the vaulting rests. A figure of the Agnus Dei may be observed on one of the bosses. The chapter house has evidently, from the first pointed details visible in the door, windows, and corbels, been erected in the thirteenth century; but the details of the central pillar, with its slender shafts introduced amongst the mouldings, clearly indicate a restoration of the chapter house at a date well advanced in the fifteenth century. The fireplace is of modern design. Still further to the south is the monks’ hall or fratry (Fig. 566), a chamber 45 feet long by 28 feet wide. It is vaulted, and the vaulting is carried by two central pillars. These are plain octagons, into which the chamfered ribs of the arches die. The tracery in the window at the south end is modern, but the large opening is old, having been made so as to admit as much sunshine as possible from the south. This apartment is now used for service by the Free Church of the district, and contains the old pulpit, brought from the ancient church of St. Giles in Elgin, when it was rebuilt, an interesting example of florid Renaissance carving. There can be little doubt but that all these buildings south from the lady chapel belong chiefly to the restoration instituted by the Benedictines in the fifteenth century. In the interior of the south-west angle of the transept may be observed a wide stone staircase. This leads to the upper floor of the buildings which lie to the south of the transept, and were formerly the monks’ dormitories. One small room over the lady chapel may possibly have been a scriptorium or an oratory. This part of the domestic edifices has now been restored and roofed in, and set aside by the Duke of Fife as a place of shelter and amusement for the visitors to the priory. The cloister garth is planted with shrubs and kept in good order. Owing to the slope of the ground there have been steps up to the south entrance to the garth, and there still remain steps at the north door, which is a semicircular doorway of good, though late, design. It is evidently meant for a reproduction of Norman work. Another doorway is still preserved at the south-west angle of the cloister, which was probably the entrance to the refectory. Owing to the [Illustration: FIG. 565.--Pluscarden Priory. Chapter House, looking North-West.] [Illustration: FIG. 566.--Pluscarden Priory. Interior of Fratery.] slope of the ground, the refectory and fratry have been raised on vaulted cellars. Of the prior’s house only the ruins of some of the walls remain. These show that it has been extensive, but there are no features to give a clue to its date. Some remains of the priory mill, which adjoined the prior’s house, are also still observable. ST. MUNGO’S CATHEDRAL, GLASGOW.