52 BERE REGIS. 



good study of the gradual change of style from Early English to 

 Decorated and Perpendicular, are not sufficiently striking to call 

 for special notice in this short sketch. But the glory of the 

 church is the nave roof, which tradition assigns to Cardinal 

 Moreton, who was born, his history says, " not ffar from a 

 certaine towne called Beere," and was attainted after his flight 

 from the Battle of Towton as "John Moreton, late parson of 

 Blokesworth, in the shire of Dorset." He probably placed this 

 roof in his old parish church when Archbishop of Canterbury, for 

 the shield in the centre of the roof bears the arms of Moreton 

 quartered with those of the see of Canterbury; the apostle 

 opposite to the shield wears a Cardinal's hat, and may, perhaps, 

 represent the Cardinal ; and a further connection is proved by his 

 will, in which he leaves money for a priest to say mass in Bere 

 Church for his soul and those of his family. Here, then, is the 

 third touch of history. It will be remembered that Cardinal 

 Moreton caused a cessation of the Wars of the Roses by promoting 

 the marriage of Henry VII. and Elizabeth of York ; you may 

 look, not in vain, for the Tudor Rose, the result of that union. 



The roof, which had fallen into bad repair, was carefully 

 restored ten years ago, the carved work made good where 

 decayed, the quaint old hammer-beam figures repaired, and the 

 various beams and carvings coloured, according to the old prece 

 dent still remaining upon the wood. The huge head in the 

 centre, which even a reverent affection for the church cannot 

 commend, is supposed to be that of John the Baptist, though 

 little like our idea of the ascetic preacher in the wilderness. 



Tradition, which Hutchins follows, named the twelve figures 

 after the Twelve Apostles, but the tradition has been rudely 

 shaken by the late Mr. Street, backed by the Rev. S. Baring 

 Gould, who is the greatest authority on these matters living ; for 

 they point out that one figure cei'tainly is in deacon's dress, and 

 therefore could be none other than S. Stephen, S. Lawrence, and 

 St. Vincent. 



But time presses, and I must hasten to call your attention to 



