[Illustration: FIG. 480.--Arbroath Abbey.
(From a Drawing by Mr. T. S. Robertson.)]
During the 350 years of the existence of Arbroath Abbey many events happened entailing changes in the buildings. Thus, in 1272, a great fire occurred in the town, in which the abbey suffered. In particular the north-west tower is supposed to have been partly wrecked, and to have been rebuilt and carried to a greater height than formerly, or, at least, higher than the other tower. Again, in 1350, a grant was made by William, Bishop of St. Andrews, to enable the repairs to be completed of the “almost irreparable injuries” the abbey had suffered “from the frequent assaults of the English shipping.”[28] In 1380 the church was again injured by fire. So serious was this conflagration that the monks had to be distributed among other religious houses till the roofs of the choir, nave, and transepts were repaired. In connection with the repairs there is preserved in the Chartulary an interesting contract between
[Illustration: Fig. 481.--Arbroath Abbey. Carved Panel in Abbot’s House.
(From a Drawing by Mr. T. S. Robertson.)]
Abbot John Gedy and William of Tweddale, plumber, which is as follows:--
“This endentur beris wytnes that the yer of grace MCCCXCIIII. (1394-5), the xvi. day of the moneth of Feveryer, this _cunnande_ (covenant) was made betwene Johnne, abbot of Aberbrothoe, of the ta part, and Wilyam Plumer of Tweddale, burges of the cite of Andirstoun (St Andrews), of the tothir part; that is to say, that Wilyam Plumer sal theke the mekil quer wyth lede, and guttyr yt al abowt sufficiandly wyth lede, for the quhilkis thekyn and gutteryn the abbot sal pay till him xxxv. marcis at syndry termys, as he is wyrkand; and of the xxxv. marcis, v. marcis sal dwel style in the abbotis hand quhillys the quer be thekyt and _alurryt_ (battlemented) al abowyt with stane, and quhen it is allurryt about with stane he sal dycht it abowt wyth lede sufficiandly, as his craft askys; and quhen he has endyt that werk he sal be payt of v. marcis and a gown with a hude till his reuarde. Quhilk Wilyam Plumer sal fynd a man on his awn cost, and the abbot and convent a man alsua of thar cost quhil the werk be fullyly endyt. The abbot and the convent sall fynd al maner of gratht that pertenys to that werk quhil is wyrkande. Willam sal haf alsua for ilk stane fynyne that he fynys of lede iijd. (3 pennies), and a stane of ilk hynder that he fynys til his travel, and that day that he wyrkis he sal haf a penny till his _noynsankys_ (luncheon).” The indenture was then cut into two parts, and one half given to each of the parties, after receiving the seal of the other party.[29] About fifteen months after the work was finished William granted a receipt to the abbot for £20 sterling, paid to him for the _architectura magni chori_, and in full of all his claims for purifying or fining the lead, for his _nonesankys_, and the gown with the hood, as specified in the indenture.