small dark aisle, opening from the north transept, and passing between the choir and Gundulph's tower. Across the middle of this aisle, at the head of a flight of steps, is a stone screen, opening by: a small pointed arched door-way. The steps are almost worn into an inclined plane, from which some idea may be formed of the great concourse of visitors which the devotion of that superstitious age induced to come on pilgrimage to this shrine. The pavement below the arches, which divide this Chapel from its eastern aisle, is composed of small tiles, wrought into a variety of geometrical forms. The square, the parallelogram, the lozenge, the triangle, and the circle, are all displayed in separate compartments. The vaulting, both of the nave and transept, is of stone, resting within the walls, on the capitals of tall, thin shafts of Petworth marble. The choir was newly paved, and pewed, about the year 1743: stalls for the Dean and Chapter, a throne for the Bishop, and an altarpiece, were at the same time added, in a neat style, though very unappropriate to the general character of the edifice. In the cen tre of the altar-piece is a good painting, from the pencil of West, of the Angel appearing to the Shepherds. The Altar, as in other Churches in the Catholic times, was placed at a distance from the east wall; and its exact situation may yet be ascertained, from the triple stone seat under the third window, in the south wall: on the front of this seat are the arms of the See of Rochester; of ChristChurch, Canterbury; and, as supposed, of the Priory of Rochester: beneath these were formerly the representations of three Bishops, with mitres and croziers; and this devout sentiment, in ancient characters: 0. Altitudo divinaq Sapiencie et Sciencie The Crypt, which extends beneath the whole of William de Hoo's edifice, has been thought to be of the Norman age; yet a careful comparison between it and the superstructure, will convince any intelligent observer, that both were the work of the same architect. The doors which open into the crypt from without, are under VOL. VII. OCT. 1806. pointed Tt pointed arches, as are the windows through which it was lighted: the latter are divided by mullions, with ramified heads; and be fore they were stopped up, were capacious enough to transmit sufficient light for the service and ceremonies of the nine Altars, that formerly stood here. Some small remains of painting may still be discovered in that part of the crypt below St. William's Chapel. In a circle is a representation of a vessel sailing, with large fish in the water in front, and on one side, the upper part of a Monk, with his hands uplifted as in prayer. Under this, on a shield, Or, an eagle displayed, sable, beaked and clawed, argent. The entrance into the present Chapter-House, which contains the Library, and is a long room running parallel with the south side of the choir, is near the south end of the east transept, beneath a very elegant pointed arched Door-way, which has been injudiciously walled up to the size of a common square-headed architrave door, inserted in the centre.' The sculpture is very rich; and is continued from the receding base of the door-way on each side, over the whole front. In a large hollow, between the inner mouldings, is a range of human heads, and flowers, in alternate succession. Beyond these, at the sides, and rising above each other in detached recesses, to the centre of the arch, are whole-length figures. The two lowermost, which are standing, have been thought to represent Henry the First, and his Queen Matilda; the former having the remains of a sceptre in his right hand, and a Church in his left; the latter, a book, or tablet, in her right hand, and in her left, which is uplifted, a broken staff, with two appendant labels. Above, on each side, are two figures seated, in episcopal or monkish garments: these, from their accompanying symbols, Mr. Denne conjectured to represent the Bishops Gundulph, Ernulph, Laurence de St. Martin, and Hamo de Hethe; to the latter of whom, the erection of this entrance is attributed. Over the uppermost Bishops, are angels, rising from clouds, *Custumale Roff. p. 176; where also is an elevation of this door-way. Mr. Carter has also engraved it in his Specimens of Ancient Sculpture and Painting. clouds, two on each side, apparently singing praises, and glorifying the Saviour, who is represented by a small figure, naked, standing beneath a canopy, in the centre of the arch. The hollow surrounding these figures, is perforated with holes, through which is trailed a branch of laurel; and above, within the inner moulding, are ranges of leaves. Rich branches of vine leaves surround the outer sweep of the arch, which rests on piers ornamented with graduated buttresses. The Library, which is contained in presses occupying the north side of the Chapter-Room, does credit to the taste and learning of the successive Chapters who have contributed to its selection. Among the Manuscripts, and preserved with great care, are those curious and valuable compilations, the Textus Roffensis, and the Custumale Roffense: the latter is said, by Dr. Harris, to have been written, or collected, chiefly by John de Westerham, who was a Monk, and Prior, in this Church, in the time of Hamo de Hethe, and who died in the year 1320.* It was first published from a transcript made by Dr. Thorpe, by his son, in 1788, and occupies thirty-six pages, closely printed, of the work to which it gives title: "It contains many curious particulars relative to the ancient tenures, services, rents, villeinage, &c. of the Manors within this diocese, which belonged to the Priory; together with the valua tion of the Peter Pence payable to the Pope from the Cathedral Churches in England." The whole length of this Cathedral, from east to west, is 306 feet: the length of the nave, from the west door to the steps of the choir, is 150 feet; that of the choir itself, 156 feet. The length of the west transept is 122 feet; that of the east transept, ninety feet. The breadth of the nave, and side aisles, is seventyfive feet; the breadth of the nave only, between the columns, is thirty-three feet; that of the choir is the same. The width of the west front is ninety-four feet; the height of the great tower, 156 feet. The MONUMENTS now remaining in this Cathedral, are respectable for their antiquity, and curious from their workmanship. A very plain stone chest, which stands in the south-east corner of the choir, has been supposed to contain the remains of BISHOP GUNDULPH, who died at the age of eighty-six. Under the adjoining window, westward from this, is another stone chest, on the top of which, in high relief, beneath a trefoil arched canopy, is the portrait of a Bishop in pontificalibus, with his crozier in his left hand, and his head reclined on a pillow: his right hand is broken off, but seems to have been upheld in the act of benediction. The entire figure, and canopy, are cut out of a single block of Petworth marble, highly polished: this is supposed to contain the bones of THOMAS DE INGLETHORPE, the forty-fourth Bishop of this See. In a recess opposite to this, on the north side, is a third stone chest, with a figure in a similar habit, under a canopy more highly ornamented: this is thought to contain the remains of BISHOP LAURENCE DE ST. MARTIN, who obtained the canonization of St. William. The adjoining recess, westward, contains a shrine-like monument, also of Petworth marble, which, notwithstanding the disaffection of the Monks to the Bishop, GILBERT DE GLANVILLE, is supposed to have been erected as an honorable tribute to his memory. The top, which is greatly defaced, appears to have contained a range of episcopal heads in quatrefoils, similar to those on the tomb of Archbishop Theobald, at Canterbury. In front is a series of seven pointed arches, rising from short octagonal and circular columns, with ornaments of expanded leaves in semi-relief, beneath the arches. In the south wall of the eastern transept, were two stone chests of Petworth marble, (supposed to contain the remains of two Priors,) only one of which is now visible, having a plain cross sculptured on the top. In the north wall of the eastern transept, is another stone chest, on which is sculptured a cross fleury; and in front, four circles, with leaves in the centres, and in the dividing angles. This has been imagined to be the Shrine of St. William; yet it is hardly probable that the bones of that Saint were ever deposited in so plain a receptacle; particularly as the pavement of this Chapel, at the present moment, marks out the precise spot where his shrine stood, by a slab in the centre of a square, formed of variously-figured mosaics. Westward 1 |