524 ANTIQUITIES 



from the shape of its 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 3 . 



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 coftin 

 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 4 . 



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 Tem- 

 plars, they must have lain here many centuries; for 



a Tu the north wall of the North Chancel there is now no vestige of a 

 tomb. Several stone steps rising in succession occupy its lower part : 

 above these are the windows described in a succeeding page. E. T. B. 



4 See Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum, vol. ii. where there is a fine 

 engraving of a Knight-Templar, by Hollar. 



