The south and north fronts are divided into compart ments by square projections, which display two tier of pointed windows with various decorations. The first or undermost range having completed its ornaments, the wall terminates in a battlement, from which the lower roof springs to meet the inner wall, raised so high above this roof as to form space for the second range of windows ; this wall then terminates in a battlement similar to the under one, and receives the main roof, which is covered with lead. The succession of windows on the right and left of the transept being interrupted, windows have been formed under the great tower, on each side of the build ing, 40 feet by 20 feet, divided by mullions and tracery of curious workmanship. About the centre of the building, a square tower rises nearly 30 feet above the roof, sup ported by four massy pillars, each 29 feet 6 inches in cir cumference; from this rises a tapering octangular spire, with diminishing battlements. The spaces between the battlements are enlivened by pointed windows, and relieved by mouldings and small spires, the whole terminating in a ball and weather-cock at the height of 225 feet above the floor of the choir. Another square tower, somewhat less ornamented, rises on the west end of the church to a level with the first battlement of the tower above described, and is surmounted with a pyramidal roof covered with lead, and terminated by a ball and vane : this tower contains the bell and clock. The grained arches which support the stone floor of this tower are of singular workmanship, the middle part of the floor being finished with a circular opening, so large as to admit of a stair going up through it. Prior to the Reformation, and when the rites of the Roman Catholic religion were performed in the cathedral, the grand entrance was by the west end of the building, 17 feet high and 11 feet wide, surmounted by a great window. These openings are formed with beautiful mouldings, ter minating in pointed arches. The space which is now oc cupied as the outer High Church, constituted part of the choir, so that this department of the cathedral extended 152 feet, from the west end of the building to the four steps leading up to the organ gallery and screen of the nave, which was ornamented by a large window and figures of curious workmanship. The nave was what is now used as the inner High Church ; the space behind contained the altar : the arched roof of this part of the building is sup ported by five massy pillars, over which was a terrace walk adjoining the large window, in the east wall of the nave.
The vestry, on the north side of the altar, forms a cube of 28 feet : its vaulted ceiling is supported by a pillar 20 feet high. The chapter-house was in the north cross of the cathedral, and had a communication with the nave. The consistory house, in which the bishops held their ecclesiastical courts, projects from the south west corner of the building, and does not by any means contribute to the general harmony. This court-room is still occasion ally used by the commissary of the district : it is 25 feet by 23 feet, and is fitted up with a bench and seats, which evidently bear the marks of antiquity ; the royal arms over the bench has the letters C R. II. Immediately above the court-room is a repository for certain official documents connected with the court. The cemetery is of the same
dimensions, and is placed immediately under the nave, hav ing entries by a flight of steps, descending on the right and left of that which leads up to the nave at the east end of the choir. The space underneath where the altar stood, is said to have been a repository for relicts, and a cemetery for the bishops. The monument of St Mungo is shewn in this place, in a tolerable state of preservation.
Having thus given a description of the cathedral during the time the rites of the Roman Catholic religion were per formed in it, we have now briefly to enumerate the altera tions which took place in the buildings when the reformed religion was established. Before entering on this, how ever, it may be proper to inform our readers, that in 1579, when the fury of 'fanaticism had nearly reached its height, and while it was thought meritorious to destroy every edifice which had been consecrated for the service of the Roman Catholic religion, the magistrates, at the instiga tion of certain clerical and lay zealots, determined to raze the cathedral to the ground, and for this purpose had en gaged a numerous band of workmen to pull down the stately fabric. When these workmen were assembled by beat of drum, and with their unhallowed hands were about to pull down the carved work, the craftsmen of the city, to their immortal honour, assembled, and swore, that the first man who should pull down one stone of the building should be buried under it ; nor would they retire, till they had an assurance from the magistrates that no damage should be done to the fabric. Having thus weathered the storm, the cathedral was altered to contain three places of worship, the choir was divided into two by a stone partition, the west division being formed into a place of worship, under the name of the Outer High Church. The nave of the cathedral was fitted up, and termed the Inner High Church; and the cemetery, although low in the ceiling, when com pared with the others, was fitted up into a place of wor ship for the barony, or Landward parish. In the internal formation of these places of worship, it does not appear that much attention had been paid to taste or ornament ; on the contrary, when we observe the great windows and doors, and other admirable decorations then rudely block ed up, we are led to believe, that our early reformers dis liked every appearance of show or grandeur in their places of worship.
When it was resolved to fit up the interior of what is called the Inner High Church, in a style which might in some degree correspond with the magnificent external architecture of the cathedral, the magistrates entrusted the arrangements to the late Mr William Stark.
At that time, the entrance from the choir was by small side doors : the centre of the church was entirely filled with pews ; the galleries were deep and heavy ; the pulpit placed on one side ; and the great east window built with stone. The appearance is now compl: tely changed : the entrance is in the centre of the west end ; a passage leads from it to the pulpit near the other extremity. The gal leries, which were indispensable for accommodation, are placed behind the axis of the pillars of the church ; and the east window is opened, and filled with stained glass.