St. Albans.]

WALLINGFORD’S SCREEN—PULriT—PISCINA.

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scabbard. But we need not detain our readers with what is manifest to everyreflecting mind—that if justice and redress were anywhere to be found inthose times, it was rather in the abbeys, than either in the Star Chamber orWestminster Hall.

® Screen of the great altar, or “ Wallingford’s screen,” was begun andfinished in the reign of Edward the Fourth, and is one of the best—if not theveiy best—specimens of the style and architecture of that epoch. It was themunificent taste of Abbot Wallingford, and his liberal encouragement of thearts, which have bequeathed this precious morceau to the admiration of pos-terity. It has suffered little from the lapse of time and the momentous changeswhich have passed over the abbey; and for beauty of design and elegance ofworkmanship is worth a pilgrimage. Its front consists of three divisions—acentre and two wings, the latter being perfectly symmetrical; the lower partof the centre displays a double series of small niches with rich canopies. Ongreat festivals of the Church this splendid tabernacle was covered with cloth ofgold or crimson, and, drooping from its lofty pinnacles in ample folds, must haveproduced an effect worthy of the gorgeous taste of Wolsey himself, who earnedthe “ state ecclesiastical ” to a higher pitch than any of his predecessors.

©f)C ^Pulpit, which is a fine specimen of oak carving, though not apparentlyof a remote date, is well deserving of attention; and in recalling the splendidceremonial of former times, with the impressive but simple and decorousservice of the present day, the mind is prepared to weigh and contrast thespiritual energies which, exercised under that canopy, have expounded thedoctrines and enforced the duties of a religious life. The pulpit of St. Albanswould be no bad subject in the hands of another Boileau.

On the right of the altar, and closely adjoining the screen, is the tomb ofAbbot Bamryge—an elaborately carved Gothic chapel or shrine, greatly admiredfor the beauty and delicacy of its workmanship, which is in high preservation.

Opposite to this, and occupying the corresponding arch, is another but lessornamental shrine to the memory of Abbot Whethamstead. Both are of nativestone—of a remarkably fine close texture, procured from the quarry of Tottenhoe,light Portland colour, and capable of being wrought into the most delicatetracery. Of this material all the finest chisel-work of the abbey is composed.

Erected against the south wall of the church, where a door formerly existed,is a beautiful Piscina, represented in many engravings. It has all the marks ofantiquity, and is said to occupy the spot where, in the earliest times ofChristianity in this country, two devout Eremites had chosen their cell, andthere, by a life of austere penance and mortification, left a holy example for theirbrethren in after times. As a fragment of the colossal Abbey, this traditionaryrelic is of itself a gem, and never fails to secure a full share of the stranger’s