On the east side of these inscriptions was a stone, on which were recorded the names and titles of the sons and daughters.
“This inscription enables us to fix the date of the erection of the monument—viz., between 1448, when Archibald was made Earl of Moray, and 1451, when James, the eldest son, was killed.”[185]
Fig. 922.—St. Bridget’s or St. Bride’s Church. Monument in South-West Angle of Choir.
As already mentioned, the outer wall has been extended so as to give width for the tomb. The arch of the canopy is flat and low, so that the space is dark at the back. The label is enriched with crockets, which run up into a foliaged finial of late character ([Fig. 921]). Over this a shield, bearing the Douglas Arms, surmounted by a helmet with a peacock for crest, and covered with a small enriched string course, is inserted in the wall. In a niche in the wall on either side of the shield there have been “wild men” as supporters, but one of these has been removed.
This monument is evidently of a later date than those on the north side, and is inferior in design and execution, as might be expected from its date.
To the west of the above monument, and in the extreme south-west angle of the church, there lies an effigy ([Fig. 922]) of beautiful workmanship and of an early date. It is apparently a female figure, the arms and head of which are damaged. The feet rest upon a bunch of foliage of first pointed design, greatly worn away. Such a footing for the effigy of a monument is rare in Scotland.
In the east wall two circular headed recesses occur under the large window, which may have been credence niches.