Series 1 > Tours in Scotland 1747, 1750, 1760

xlviii
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
A slab of black Kilkenny marble was placed in the northern
transept of the Cathedral at the time of Bishop Pococke’s
restorations. Amongst the contributions to the Repair Fund
of the Cathedral, his name appears on the tablet for one
hundred guineas.
In another part of the Cathedral there is a stone on which is
cut the following inscription, believed to have been written by
this prelate—
HANC1
BASILICAM
VETUSTATE
LABESCENTEM
RESTITUERUNT
ORNARUNT
OSSORIENSES
ANNO
MDCCLXIII
The Bishop’s curious eye was quick to discover bits of the
stained glass that once filled the grand east window lying
scattered about, and which had lain unheeded for a century;
these he placed in a window over the west door. The original
window appeared so precious a work of art that it was coveted
by Rinuccini, the Pope’s nuncio, who offered Bishop Roth and
the chapter i?700 for it, as he desired to carry it to Italy, surely
a great price in those days (about 1645). The offer was
refused, and the window left, but only to be utterly destroyed
by the vandalism of Cromwell’s soldiers.
He built a colonnade leading from the door of the north
transept to the entrance into the palace garden. It was in the
Tuscan style, and in the carrying out of more recent and correct
improvements was removed, as it concealed this very remarkable
door of the Cathedral.
He also presented a rich cover for the communion table—
1 The people of Ossory restored and adorned this church, falling into decay
from old age, a.d. 1763.