26 Transactiotis of the 



carved cusps and foliages, and are of very rare occurrence. But 

 by far the most remarkable feature of the chancel is the magnifi- 

 cent east window (which is considered one of the finest in Eng- 

 land), with the beautiful tracery of its transome and the deep red 

 colour of the ruby glass, for which the Middle Ages were so 

 celebrated. The fine combination of colour should also be noticed 

 especially by us Englishmen, who are not conspicuous for taste in 

 such matters. The upper part of the window contains the arms 

 of various benefactors of the church. In the centre are figured 

 Christ and the Virgin Mary, with several of the Jewish kings, 

 and on each side are sLx of the prophets. There are four other 

 windows which have recently been restored. Beneath the east 

 window is the gilded and coloured diaper-work of the reredos. 

 This diaper- work is copied from coloured silks which were brought 

 from the East, and were often used as hangings for the walls. 

 Above this are the arms of the Plantagenet, Berkeley, and De Clare. 

 The arms of Berkeley, which are found all over the cathedral, are 

 gules a chevron between ten crosses pattee argent. The choir is 

 the largest in England, but this is because the altar-screen, which 

 stood three bays from the east window, was removed. This is 

 rendered apparent by the difference in mouldings of the roof. 

 The choir and aisles are of the same height, which does not occur 

 in any similar building in England. This adds greatly to their 

 effect. To comiteract the thrust of the arches of the choir, it was 

 necessary to construct horizontal buttresses or beams in the in- 

 terior, and also strong buttresses and flying buttresses on the out- 

 side. There is, therefore, no clerestory, which detracts much 

 from the appearance of the exterior. At the east end of each 

 aisle are enamelled windows, which Nell Gwynne is said to have 

 presented to the cathedral. There are several tombs of the lords 

 of Berkeley, one of whom was a knight-templar, as is shown by 

 his crossed legs. On the south side is the Newton Chapel, which 

 contains the monument of the Newtons of Barr's Court. On the 

 west wall of this chapel is a beautiful monument, by Westmacott, 

 in memory of Charlotte Stanhope, and one of Bishop ,Grey, by 

 Bailey, who has also produced two in the north aisle, one a bust 

 of Southey, the other, which is a veiled figure, in memory of a 

 Mrs Middleton. Some of the monuments have very beautiful 

 verses on them, which are well worth studying. There is some 

 very amusing carving on the miserere stalls. In one, a fox is hold- 

 ing forth to some geese from the pulpit. In another, an old 

 gentleman, mounted on a sow, is having a tilting-match with an 

 old lady mounted on a turkey-cock ; they are both armed with 

 brooms, and the old lady has wisely preserved a second in reserve 

 behind her. 



