| 12 | A B B | |
it is worthy of observation, that as far as
the gates of the choir, the pillars are fil-
letted with brass, but all beyond with
stone. Answering to the middle range of
pillars, there are others in the wall, which
as they rise, spring into semiarches, and
are every where met in acute angles by
their opposites, and meeting in the roof
are adorned with a variety of carvings.
On the arches of the pillars are galleries of
double columns fifteen feet wide, covering
the side isles, and enlightened by a middle
range of windows, over which there is
an upper range of larger windows, and
by these, together with the four capital
windows, facing the north, east, south
and west, the whole fabric is so admira-
bly enlightened, that in the day you are
never dazzled with its brightness, nor
incommoded by its being too dark. But
before we leave these capital windows,
which are all finely painted, it is necessary
to observe, that in the great west window
is a curious painting of Edward III. to the
left of which in a smaller window is a
painting of one of our Kings, supposed to
be Richard II. but the colours being of a
water blue the features of the face cannot
be distinguished. On the other side the
|
| | great |
|
| A B B | 13 |
great window is a lively representation of
Edward the Confessor in his robes, and
under his feet are painted his arms. At
the bottom of the walls between the pillars
are shallow niches, arched about eight or
ten feet high, on which the arms of the
original benefactors are depicted, and over
them are their titles, &c. but these are
almost all concealed by the monuments of
the dead placed before them, many of
which are extremely noble, and which we
shall particularly examine after having gone
through the several parts of the edifice.
After viewing the open part of the
church, the next thing to be seen is the
choir, which can only be done during the
times of divine service. The grand en-
trance into it is by a pair of fine iron gates,
on each side of which is a very magnificent
tomb. The floor is paved with the finest
black and white marble. The ancient
stalls are covered with Gothic acute arches,
supported by small iron pillars, and are
painted purple; but what is most worthy
of observation, is an ancient portrait near
the pulpit, of Richard II. sitting in a gilt
chair, dressed in a green vest flowered with
gold, with gold shoes powdered with pearls.
This piece is six feet eleven inches in length,
|
| | and |
|
HomeVolume IPage Group i - 19
