DURING THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY.

43

gram shapes, which contain figures of prophets and apostles holding inscribed labels. * Unfortu-nately this glass is at present in a. very imperfect, fragmental, and mutilated state, and requires a verycareful examination to ascertain and judge of its original perfection ; the whole of the back-groundshave however been most elaborately damascened, and it was composed of material of the highestorder of beautiful colours. In its original state this window must have been a most glorious exam-ple, and a more charming conception has perhaps scarcely ever existed, containing as it did gor-geous heraldry, the threading vine, and the wine-like effect of the enriched ruby counterchanged withthe damascened blue, producing an entire display of symbolic and heraldic blazonry, but at the sametime incorporating figures which still preserved a- pictorial interest, and thus keeping up the feeling ofthe preceding styles by incorporating medallioned effects, and so making each separate aperture ofthe window a perfectly decorated enrichment, without deteriorating the art by interfering with thearchitecture, as in the succeeding style, which produced figure and canopy, architecture withinarchitecture, and as it were assumed the province of the statuary.

There is an objection felt now to placing armorial bearings in east windows from a fear of vio-lating true principles; but here, as we have shewn, it was abundantly used, and this is only oneamongst the many examples which prove it to be quite in accordance with ancient practice.

Canopied design is next in order, of which there are many varieties, adapted according to thecircumstances of their situations. The windows to the north and south of the choir of Bristol cathe-dral have been filled with heraldic figures and canopies, one of which still remains, but it is dis-jointed. This is circumscribed by a border of semi-lozenges of yellow on a ruby ground; the cen-tral part contains a knight in plated armour, with a gorget of mail; he bears a shield on which isemblazoned his arms, gules a cross argent, and he is holding a lance, to which is affixed a pennon,emblazoned as his shield. This figure is on an enriched blue ground, on each side of which risecolumns terminating with pinnacles, which support a lofty canopy composed of a very acutecrocketed gable, with a trefoil arch beneath it. Many shapes and paneled entablatures of differentcolours are introduced, surmounted by tabernacle work and buttresses on an entire ruby ground.These windows further exemplify the practice not only of introducing heraldry, but heraldic figures,into the most sacred parts of a church.

It is worthy of remark, that in the whole of this glass the diapering was not accomplished, asin the later examples, by cleaning out the patterns from dark grounds, but by developing them withthinly described lines, and occasionally by reticulating and producing a lace-work like effect. Ihewhole character of these works has been exceedingly bold, but the minor parts and the details aremost minutely and carefully pencilled. The windows, although they bear ample evidence of havingbeen magnificently filled, are now principally occupied by mutilated remains, sadly jumbled together.

The Abbey Church of Tewkesbury

possesses still some fine remains, which on an extensive scale further shew not only the identity ofthe principles of heraldry with those of stained glass, but the disposition at this time of freely intro-ducing figures of lay and military persons and heraldry into the sanctuary. These windows, on thenorth and south of the chancel of this church, comprise knights, armour, arms, canopies, and borders.The tracery parts consist of rich scrolls of vines, very similar in character to those in the East win-dow of Bristol cathedral, but they are entirely white, excepting the central boss, from which theornament emanates, and are on a massive ruby ground richly diapered. The lower or principallights, four of which are in each window, contain knights in complete armour of plate and mail,each having a surcoat on which their several arms are emblazoned, one hand resting on the hilt of thesword, which depends from the girdle, the other holding a lance. They represent Clare, Zouch, &c. f

* Vide Plate of West Window of Snettisham Church, Norfolk , which will give a perfect idea of it.

f They are represented by Lysons in his “ Gloucestershire Antiquities,” Plate LXVI., and partly by Carter in his “ Painting andSculpture.”