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8. Heraclius baptizing the younger son of Chosroes , having slain the elder in battle.—-In-
scription on the font,
©radius fiaptijabit suuttt filtuttt jutttorrttt.
Inscription on the label,
J&eradtust ftltuttt ©ijosrots fiaptijabtt.
i
9. Heraclius bears the Cross in triumph into Jerusalem.—Inscription,
Sattrtattt trucdtt in ^tcrosolpntant portant.
10. The adoration of the Cross.—Inscription,
g'cta tructs mltatto xtoiii. ttal. ©G.
Lord Lindsay in his “ History of Christian Art” quotes from the “ Legenda Aurea” a historyof the Invention of the Cross ; and it may well be supposed that this glass was composed by onewho had the legend exactly as given therein thoroughly in his mind. St. Helena is said to havejourneyed in quest of the true cross about a.d. 320; and to have then discovered it miraculously.Some time after this it seems (or a part of it) to have fallen into the hands of Infidels, from one ofwhom, about a.d. 326, Heraclius , Emperor of Constantinople , retook it: this is alluded to in thelatter portion of this window. This window differs much in the mode of execution from that of St.Robert, it being mostly composed of white relieved by yellow and brown outlines ; the only colouringof a voluminous character is confined to the dresses of the figures : its date is the latter part of thefifteenth century. In the east window of the north aisle the specimens are not less interesting.They occupy three openings :
1 .
St Mary the Virgin, the Infant Jesus in her arms, who holds a dove.—Inscription on alabel,
g>’ta ifHaria.
2. St. Ursula with the Eleven Thousand Virgins.—Inscription,
Sfta ©mtla cunt xi. tit. Firgittutn ascrntrcns ttt ca-luttt.
3. St. Mary Magdalen.—Inscription,
&’ta Maria mag&aUtta.
Beneath the three last-named figures in the same window are as many subjects in compart-ments, which now form bases to them. They are most exquisite specimens of glass, and far surpassmost of the examples of this period. * They are as follows :
1. Ecclesiastical figures, habited as pope, cardinals, canons, bishops, &c., singing
mu Ians Ctfii gl’ia,
2. Eleven apostles singing
m &mt laus d honor trite.
3. Thirteen martyrs crowned, &c., singing
JEtt srtnpttmta smtla fieata.
The remainder of the glass is in the south aisle, and in what is supposed to have been theLady chapel. In the latter are small but beautifully executed portraitures of St. Elizabeth and St.Peter beneath canopies, and adjacent to these on the south side are figures of St. Roger, &'tus atogmi*;
* Windows exemplifying the “ Te Deum ” were much in vogue during this period. An old writer thus describes one formerly in Dur ham cathedral . “ In the south end of the aile of the Lantern, above the clock, is a fair large glass window, called the Te Deum window, veryfair glazed ; according as every verse of Te Deum is sung or said, so is it pictured in the window, very finely and curiously wrought in finecoloured glass, with the nine orders of angels, viz., thrones, dominations, cherubims, &c., with the picture of Christ crucified, and the blessed Virgin Mary with Christ in her arms.”—Description of the Ancient Monuments, &c., of the Monastical Church of Durham , before the Sup-pression, written in 1593, and published by the Surtees Society, 1842, 8vo. This interesting work contains a description of nearly all thestained windows which formerly adorned the abbey church of Durham .