18

STAINED GLASS

These windows, like those of St. Denis, consist of borders constructed upon similar principles,the historical parts being in medallions of the like kind, and the legends disposed of in the sameway, namely, in the border surrounding the subjects which form the medallions, or in straight lineson the back-grounds of them.

The principal difference of character consists in the main back-grounds of the windows,which, instead of being reticulated as those of St. Denis, are formed of deep and massive ruby, onwhich are displayed very free scrolls of semi-foliated ornaments of various semi-colours, which areso managed as to be taken up at each turn or division of this ornament, than which nothing of thekind can be more magnificent. * * * § Now, although these subjects leave no doubt upon the matter, thisvery ornament goes far to proclaim the date of execution, the very same kind, combined in differentways, being so plentifully and continuously used in connexion with the style of architecture whichimmediately succeeded, which strengthens the opinion that they adapted themselves to the style ofarchitecture which they had to treat with. It is stated that “ After the like calamities by fire, thischurch again suffered by it a. d. 1174, destroying the whole choir from the Angel steeple to theeast end, the chapel of the Virgin Mary, and many offices of the monastery; the Angel steeplebeing uninjured. Gervase, who witnessed it, gave a particular account respecting it: William ofSens began to restore and erect the new parts in a. d. 1175, but, falling from a scaffold fifty feethigh, he was, although not killed on the spot, obliged to discontinue it, and it was carried on byWilliam Anglus, who completed the east end of the choir, Trinity Chapel, and the round towercalled Becket’s Crown. In a. d. 1220 the Chapel and Altar, which had been consecrated to theHoly Trinity, were dedicated to St. Thomas the Martyr, whose relics were removed thither.” t Be-fore the Reformation this cathedral was adorned with much painted glass, the chapel of the HolyTrinity, in which was the shrine of Saint Thomas a Becket, being particularly distinguished in thismanner, (so that “ his history might have been completed from it.” +) Somner II has given anaccount of the pictures and inscriptions of twelve windows of Scripture, as follows :—

“ Fenestra in superiori parte Ecclesue Christi Cant, incipientes a parte Septentrionali.”

Fenestra Prima.

1. Moses cum rubo. In medio, Angelus cum Maria.

Rubus non consumitur, tua nec comburiturIn carne Virginitas.

2. Gideon cum vellere et conca.

Vellus ccelesti rore maduit, dum puellas venter intumuit.

3. Misericordia et Veritas. In medio, Maria et Elizabeth.

Plaude puer puero, Virgo vetulse, quia vero

Obviat hie pietas: veteri dat lex nova metas.

4. Justitia et Pax.

Applaudit Regi previsor, gratia legi.

Oscula Justitise dat Pax ; cognata Marise.

5. Nebugodonosor et lapis cum statua. Puer in prsesepi.

Ut Regi visus lapis est de monte recisus,

Sic gravis absque viro Virgo parit ordine miro.

6. In medio, Maria.

7. Moses cum Virga. In medio, Angelus et Pastores.

Ut contra morem dedit arida virgula florem,

Sic Virgo puerum verso parit ordine rerum.

8. David. “ Gaudebunt campi et omnia quae in eis sunt.”

9. Abacuc. “ Operuit coelos gloria ejus,” &c.

* For an exemplification, see Plate of lower part of East Window of Ely Cathedral.

-f- Abridged from Britton’s “ Canterbury Cathedral.” The reader will find the account given at length in Professor Willis’s “ Architec-tural History of Canterbury Cathedral.”

t Gostling’s “Walk,” &c., p. 311, 312.

§ “Antiquities of Canterbury,” 2nd. edition, by Nicholas Battely, M.A., London, 1703.