The roofs of all the aisles are of stone, ribbed with in tersecting arches, the key-stones of which, especially in the choir, are carved with foliage of great delicacy. This fine vault is elevated 71 feet above the pavement of the church. The handsome tower, over the central piers, is disfigured by a low pyramidal roof, which has long suppli ed the place of an elegant wooden spire, consumed by lightning in 1670. The central portion of this cathedral was founded in 1138, by Earl Rognvalld or Ronald, in honour of his recently sainted kinsman. Two considera ble additions were made to it by two different prelates of the See of Orkney. Bishop Edward Stewart enlarged it considerably towards the east, and gave it a most elegant window, divided into five lights by slender mullions, and surmounted by a circular one divided into 12 compart ments. The whole window is 36 feet high, and 12 feet in breadth, and is externally surrounded by very bold mould ings. There is also a fine window in each end of the tran sept; that on the south is circular, and is more modern than the lancet-shaped double light in the north end. Bishop Robert Reid enlarged the cathedral by adding three piers to the west end about 1545. The pointed window in this part shows the decay of the art, more than the ornamented porch, whici, serves for the central door of the Cathedral.
The highest elevation of the present steeple is 140 feet. It is furnished with a fine chime of four well toned hells, three of which are of vast size, the gift of Bishop Maxwell. The following inscription round the largest hell, " Kober:. Bothwick made vie in the Castle of Edinburgh," shows that they were cast by the celebrated founder whose cannon are mentioned by the Scottish historians. This venerable pile fortunately suffered little injury from the rude hands of the reformers ; but the ravages of time and of neglect were too apparent on it till of late years. It narrowly escaped demolition from an Earl of Caithness in 1614; but was saved by the spirit of the bishop and the inhabitants. Since the days of Episcopacy. the only funds for its support and repair were derived from a small portion of the voluntary contributions received weekly at the church doors, and the trifling fees exacted on burials; which together seldom exceeded from L.10 to L.20. The rigidly economical application of these by the kirk session, have been suffi cient to prevent dilapidation. The increased revenues of the church enabled them to appropriate something even