Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 July 1908 — TO RESTORE HOLYROOD. [ARTICLE]

TO RESTORE HOLYROOD.

£40,000 Said to Have Been Guaraiv teed for the Purpose. - A sum of £40,000, or about ?200,000 is said to have been guaranteed tor the purpose of restoring the venera ble pile of the Abbey Church of the Holy Rood, adjoining the Royal Palace of the same name, a little outside Edinburgh. Holy Rood dates from the twelfth century. The exact year is uncertain, but 1128 is generally accepted as approximate.

According to the legend King Dav Id 1., who was hunting in tne neign boring forest, was attacked by a stag, which had been brought to bay by th fc hunting party. He was thrown to the ground by the furious animal and was in imminent danger of deatn.-

Suddenly, says the Rosary Magazine, a cross arose from the ground between the form of the beast and the monarch; and the stag, affrighted, fled The cross remained oh C.e spot. Its material substance was a mystery to those who examined It.

The occurrence was looked upon as miraculous. In gratitude to heaven the King ordained that a shrine should arise on the ground adjacent. He decreed that It be called the church of the Holy Rood, and gave it In the care of the Canons Regular of St. Augustine.

Vfhat remains of the abbey is called the Chapel Royal. It is only a fragment of the old building, but Is yet considerable. The portion formed the nave of the great abbey. Its walls are lofty, its windows tall, and Its western door of generous proportions The carving is rich, though not florid.

The tombs within the abbey walls include those of King David 1., King James 11., of Scotland, King James V and his Queen Magdalen, Henry, Lord Darnley, and many other members of the Scottish nobility. The grave of Riccio Is not within the abbey enclosure but in a passage leading to the Quadrangle of the palace.