266 THE ANTIQUITIES 



some years ago, but contained nothing except the skull 

 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, 

 that 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- 

 Templar. 1 



This order was distinguished by a red cross on the left 

 shoulder of their cloak, and by this attribute in their hand. 

 Now, if these stones belonged to Knights Templars, they 

 must have lain here many centuries; for this order 

 came into England early in the reign of king Stephen in 

 1113; and was dissolved in the time of Edward II. in 

 1312, having subsisted only one hundred and ninety-nine 

 years. Why I should suppose that Knights Templars 

 were occasionally buried at this church, will appear in some 

 future letter, when we come to treat more particularly 

 concerning the property they possessed here, and the 



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

 engraving of a Knight-Templar, by Hollar. 



