off the attention of the monks from their prayers."
One of these figures near the west gable represents a man in a kilt,
and Dr. Lees thinks that many worshippers in the Abbey in more
modern times have in the midst of long sermons found relief in the
contemplation of those curious carvings which the saint thus
vigorously denounced.[398]

St. Mirin's Aisle was erected in 1499, and there is a large pointed
window in the east end, having jambs with single shafts. It is
divided into four lights, and the arch-head is filled with good
simple tracery. Beneath the eastern window is a frieze of one foot
eight inches deep between two cornices of eight inches deep, which
were intended for sculpture. Three compartments, measuring four
feet, at the north or right side, and seven compartments, measuring
ten feet, at the south or left side, are carved and filled with
sculpture. Dr. Lees says the reference of them to Mirin is clear
beyond all doubt: "In the one on the extreme left we see Mirin's
mother bringing him to St. Congal. In the next St. Congal putting
the religious habit on Mirin. In the next Mirin taking oversight of
the monastery of Banchor. There is after this a blank, and then we
have certain sculptures relating to Mirin's encounter with the Irish
king, who wears a crown on his head. In the first we have the
servant of the King driving Mirin away from the door of the palace.
In the next the King roaring with pain and held by his servants. In
the next the Queen lying in bed with a picture of the Virgin on the
wall, it being the custom to hang such before women during
confinement. Then we have the King on his knees before Mirin, and
afterwards Mirin received by him with joy. The next two sculptures
represent the last two acts of the Saint--the brother looking
through the keyhole and seeing Mirin illuminated by a celestial
light, and the Saint restoring to life the dead man in the Valley of
Colpdasch.... As they are evidently earlier than the date of the
erection of the chapel, they have probably been transferred with the
relics of the Saint from an older shrine. They look like
twelfth-century work, but it is possible they may be even
earlier."[399] The ceiling of the chapel is beautifully groined, and
the east end, where the altar stood, is raised four steps above the
western part. T