Secret of the Pillars

The Secrets of the Pillar

John Vass continues his look at some of Scotland’s more fascinating legends,

the ones passed down, often with little regard to the truth.

The Sheer richness of the sculptured masonry and the fact that 15^th century Roslyn Chapel belongs, architecturally at least, to the age of the Crusades helps set the scene.

And its ancient link with the Holy Land (St Clair of Roslyn Castle went with knights who took the heart of Robert Bruce to Palestine) seems to make the story acceptable… that the Holy Grail, the chalice used at the Last Supper, is hidden in the chapel.

Today Roslin is a quiet little town, but in medieval times it was a seat of great power and a place of great wealth, where a traveller from the south might stop-over on his way to the Scottish court to sell what treasures he had.

And if we must give anything for the Arthurian legends, it must me assumed the king and his knights were the protectors of the Holy Grail during their era.

How it would come into the possession of the St Clairs is anyones’ guess, if it ever did. Yet many believe that the quaint architecture was a much later St Clair’s attempt to provide a fitting resting place for this sacred treasure of which he family were guardians.

One of the stone piers in the chapel not only supports the roof, but the Holy Grail story as well. It is better known as the ‘Prentice Pillar and visitors from around the world come to admire it… and wonder.

The story goes that the master mason was unsure of the design and measurements and so obtained permission to go to Italy to see a similar pillar. The plan showed reed strips of foliage, antique in design and starting from the base at the four points of the compass the strips circles through 180 degrees to the head of the pillar.

The mason’s apprentice understood the complex measurements and by the time the master had returned the underling had completed the pillar.

It is said that the master killed his apprentice with a mallet that very day. But did he? Was the apprentice killed so that he could never tell what was inside or under the pier? And why was a special pier with sculpture so complex a master mason had to travel across Europe to study similar work before he dared tackle it?

Over several decades metal detectors have been seen as the way to prove or disprove the Holy Grail legend.

But no metal detector searches have been permitted.

Private individuals are discouraged from every form of detective work, although photography is permitted inside the chapel. “We know of no grounds on which to base this story about the Holy Grail, so we discount it,” says the chapel custodian.

“Then again, we have never established beyond doubt that the ‘Prentice Pillar does not shield the Holy Grail.”

What of the ten barons buried in full armour in the chapel’s vault? Are they some form of heavenly guard?

One of them is believed to be the third Earl of Orkney, also a St Clair. The odd thing about him is that he was appointed Grand Master Mason of Scotland by James II. Added to all that is the fact that Slezer, writing in 1693, does not call the south pier the ‘Prentice Pillar but the Prince’s Pillar, presumably after the Prince of Peace whose chalice it preserves.

Of course, a full examination could be carried out without disturbing either the pillar or any other part of the chapel. But think how positive findings would ruin a delightful old story like the legend of the Holy Grail.

Edinburgh Evening News