ABSTRACT
The inauguration of Alexander III is commemorated on a contemporary seal of Scone Abbey, which was probably struck shortly after the ceremony. This took place at Scone on 13 July 1249. Officiating are the earls of Fife and Strathearn, the bishops of St. Andrews and Dunkeld, and the abbot of Scone. The King’s Poet, whose duties were to recite the royal genealogy, to compose an ode, and to present the wand or sceptre of Kingship, is also portrayed. A seventh, smaller figure is depicted immediately behind the poet. He carries a triangular object at his left shoulder. Bannerman suggests that this represents the King’s harper, who is likely to have assisted the poet in his inaugural duties, and to have accompanied or performed the newly composed ode. The identity of the royal harper at this date is not known. The first musician to be described as “the King of Scotland’s harper” is Master Elyas, in 1278. However the Galloway-based family of Mac a’ Bhreatnaich clarsach-players provided harpers to the royal court for a number of generations, and Bannerman postulates that they came from the appropriate Gaelic cultural background to accompany the “ollamh rig Alban” or poet at the ceremony at Scone. 2
