50

Plate xm.-^Ji'eto of tin principal Currcto, Door , anti #ricl--

a©mtl0lu, on a larger scale.

The word oriel has been discussed by almost every writer on thisclass of antiquities, without any one arriving at a satisfactory result.Since the term is accepted, it would be folly to pursue an inquiry,which if elucidated, could not be said to be of any real utility.

There cannot, perhaps, be conceived an architectural form morecheerful to the interior, or more decorative to the exterior of a building,than an oriel window, to say nothing of its splendour, when the glass is“ ffloryssed with imagcrye,"* the magnificence of which it so admirablydisplays.

Two of the most florid examples extant are at John of Gaunt ’spalace, Lincoln, and at Hengrave Hall, Suffolk : the former does notbelong to the period embraced by this work, but its beauty and purityirresistably claim attention. The latter, though exceedingly picturesqueand fanciful, is less pleasing to an antiquary, from being strongly imbuedwith the Italian manner of embellishment.

Sir John Culluin, a very sensible writer on English antiquities,in his “ History of Hawsted,” speaking of the situations of windows,says, they were in general spacious, but placed high above the floors;and that the reason for so elevating them was an opinion whichprevailed, that they ventilated the apartments better when open thanlow ones; and that when shut, the air they admitted was less felt.“ This,” he adds, in a note, “ I am aware is a doctrine that has of latebeen combated by some French philosophers, who inform us, that,

Syr Libeaux Diasconios.