shable. Above the upper panels
the buttresses are continued with several set-offs, and finished
with a small square pinnacle. The pinnacles have been crocheted and
terminated with a carved finial, but they are now greatly wasted
away. There were, doubtless, flying arches from the above buttresses
to the clerestory, but they must have fallen with the roof. A
somewhat elaborate north doorway has been introduced, in a style
similar to that of the buttresses, in the second bay from the west
tower. The arch is semicircular, and has an ogee canopy. There are
small niches above the arch on each side which contained statues,
now demolished. This doorway was probably constructed by Abbot
Crawford at the same date as the buttresses."[320]

"A series of buttresses was also erected about the same time on the
south side of the fabric. It is believed, however, that these
buttresses are partly old or are on old foundations. In order not to
interfere with the cloister walk, which ran along next the south
wall, and where it would have been inconvenient to have any
projections, the buttresses were carried in the form of flying
arches over the top of the cloister roof. At the clerestory level
flying arches, similar to those on the north side, rested against
the upper portions of buttresses and pinnacles introduced between
the windows. On the outside of the cloister walk the flying arch
abutted upon oblong masses of masonry, which probably at one time
were finished with pinnacles, but these no longer exist."[321]

Robert Bellenden, the twenty-fifth abbot of Holyrood, and successor
to Abbot Crawford,[322] presented the abbey with bells, a great
brass font, and a chalice of gold. He was also beneficent to the
poor, and completed the restoration of the fabric by covering the
roof with lead. This happened about 1528, and in 1539 the office of
commendator was given to Robert, natural son of James V., while
still an infant. The brass font was carried off by Sir Richard Lee,
an officer in Hertford's army, in 1544, and was removed to St.
Alban's Abbey. It was afterwards sold for old metal. The brass
lectern of the abbey was also taken by Sir Richard Lee, and
presented to the Parish Church of St. Stephen's at St. Alban's,
where it still is. It is in the form of an eagle with outstretched
wing, and contains