284 ANTIQUITIES 



but some are decayed through age, and the rest much dis- 

 guised by modern alterations. 



At the upper end of this aisle, and running out to the 

 north, stands a transept, known by the name of the North 

 Chancel, measuring twenty-one feet from south to north, and 

 nineteen feet from east to west : this was intended, no doubt, 

 as a private chantry ; and was also, till of late, divided off 

 by a gothic frame-work of timber. In it's north wall, under 

 a very blunt gothic arch, lies perhaps the founder of this 

 edifice, which, from the shape of it's arch, may be deemed 

 no older than the latter end of the reign of Henry VII. The 

 tomb was examined some years ago, but contained nothing 

 except the scull and thigh-bones of a large tall man, and the 

 bones of a youth or woman, lying in a very irregular manner, 

 without any escutcheon or other token to ascertain the names 

 or rank of the deceased. The grave was very shallow, and 

 lined with stone at the bottom and on the sides. 



From the east wall project four stone brackets, which I 

 conclude supported images and crucifixes. In the great 

 thick pilaster, jutting out between this transept and the 

 chancel, there is a very sharp gothic niche, of older date 

 than the present chantry or church. But the chief pieces 

 of antiquity are two narrow stone coffin-lids, which compose 

 part of the floor, and lie from west to east, with the very 

 narrow ends eastward : these belong to remote times ; and, 

 if originally placed here, which I doubt, must have been part 

 of the pavement of an older transept. At present there are 

 no coffins under them, whence I conclude they have been 

 removed to this place from some part of a former church. 

 One of these lids is so eaten by time, than no sculpture can 

 be discovered upon it ; or, perhaps, it may be the wrong side 

 uppermost : but on the other, which seems to be of stone of 

 a closer and harder texture, is to be discerned a discus, with 

 a cross on it, at the end of a staff or rod, the well-known 

 symbol of a Knight-Tem,plar? 



This order was distinguished by a red cross on the left 



P See Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum, Vol. II. where there is a fine 

 engraving of a Kniyht-Templar, by Hollar. 



