is throughort early Decorated, and somewhat later than the Lady-chapel itself. The foliage of the capitals and the bosses of the vaulting will repay careful examination. Many of the vaulting-ribs appear to spring from two grotesque heads,-one on either side of the low choir-screen,-which hold them between their teeth. The four supporting pillars and shafts are placed within the line of the choir-piers, thus producing the unusual intricacy and variety of the eastward view from the choir. At Salisbury, and in all other English cathedrals, the piers of the procession-aisles are placed in a line with those of the choir.

XXX. The Lady-chapel |Plate VII.], "a building of the very best age," and of extreme beauty, forms a pentagonal apse, in each side of which is a large window filled with early Decorated (geometrical) tracery. The Lady-chapel was the first part of the eastern addition which was undertaken, and was certainly already completed in 1326, when Bishop Drokensford assigns a portion of his own garden to one of the canons, and describes it as "about 200 feet from the east end of St. Mary's Chapel, lately constructed." The rich vaulted roof, springing from triple shafts at the angles, and the reredos, of the same character as the tabernacle-work in the choir, should be noticed. An arcade runs below the windows. The Lady-chapel, like the nave and transepts, was restored by Mr. Ferrey. Gilding and colour have been introduced with great judgment on the roof and on the capitals of the shafts. The pavement is of encaustic tiles. (See APPENDIX, Note IX.)

The stained glass with which the windows are filled is of the same date as the ancient glass in the choir. Except the east window, it is a confused mass of fragments, the colouring of which, however, is superb. The east window has been restored by Willement, and "as there can be no doubt that the old design has been adhered to in the restoration, the window in its present state shews at a glance, what the side windows shew only on careful examination, that the lower lights of these windows were filled with two tiers of figures and canopies. The tracery-lights of the east window are filled with angels bearing the instruments of the Passion. The topmost tracerylight of three of the side apsidal-windows contains the emblem of one of the Evangelists; the fourth emblem has evidently been lost; the other lights of the window on the north side next the east, contain heads of patriarchs; and those of the opposite window the heads of ecclesiastical saints. Some of these heads are very favourable specimens of the skill of the glasspainters of the period, and the idea of filling these small openings with busts, instead of entire figures, was happy. The same mode of filling the tracerylights is adopted in some of the other windows in the immediate vicinity of the Lady-chapel, which retain their original glazing. Amongst the busts are the heads of sainted popes and bishops, the names being written on labels behind.""

XXXI. At the extreme end of the north choir-aisle,

Undercroft of Chapter-house.

327

in St. Stephen's Chapel, are two effigies, assigned to Bishop SAVARICUS (died 1205) and Bishop AILWIN (circ. 997). The second cannot possibly be of this date, but both effigies are of the same character as those already noticed § XXVIII.

In the small north-eastern transept are the tombs of Dean FORREST, with effigy (died 1446); of John de Milton, Chancellor of Wells in 1337, and afterwards a friar minor; and of Bishop CREYGHTON (died 1672). The last effigy, in white marble, is a fine one. Some fragments of the original tiles remain in the pavement of this transept. (See APPENDIX, Note X.)

Against the wall of the choir is an effigy, with Early English foliage and details, assigned to Bishop GISO (died 1088). It belongs to the same period as those in the opposite aisle. Below it is the fine effigy of Bishop RALPH OF SHREWSBURY (died 1363). Remark the infula, or fillet twisted round the staff of the crozier, and the large jewelled ornaments at the back of the gloves.

XXXII. A low door on the north side of this aisle opens to a vaulted passage leading to the undercroft of the chapter-house. The passage is lighted by three small windows. A stone lanthorn in the wall, on the right near the door of the crypt itself, should be noticed. This door, which opens inward, is covered with fine old iron-work.

The undercroft seems to have been completed about the year 1286, when a chapter was called in order to consider the necessity of completing "the new structure

which had been a long time begun."

This " new structure" can have been only the chapter-house, the lower part of which is of very much earlier date than the upper. Like the chapter-house itself, the crypt is octangular; and an octangular pier surrounded by circular shafts rises in the centre. The vaulting-ribs which spring from these shafts rest again on eight round pillars, about six feet high, and placed at no great distance from the central pier. A second series of arched vaultings is carried from the pillars to brackets between the narrow windows, twelve in number. Close within the door is a curious piscina, in the hollow of which is sculptured a dog gnawing a

bone.

This building is on a level with the floor of the church; and in it was a great sink, by which all the water employed for washing the cathedral was formerly carried off. It possibly also contained a well.

In the undercroft are now preserved two effigies of early bishops, both of Early English character, and resembling those already noticed. Here are also an ancient cope chest; a wooden lanthorn, said to have been brought from Glastonbury; and the old works of the Glastonbury clock, the face and figures belonging to which still do their duty in the north transept.

XXXIII. From the east aisle of the north transept a door opens to the fine staircase which ascends to the chapter-house. It is lighted by two geometrical windows, west. The corbels supporting the first vaultingshafts on either side, representing a monk and a nun