OF SELBOKNE 245 



From the east wall project four stone brackets, which I conclude 

 supported images and crucifixes. In the great thick pilaster, jut- 

 ting 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 intercourse that subsisted between 

 them and the priors of Selborne. 



We must now proceed to the chancel, properly so called, which 

 seems to be coeval with the church, and is in the same plain 

 unadorned style, though neatly kept. This room measures 

 thirty-one feet in length, and sixteen feet and an half in breadth, 

 and is wainscoted all round, as high as to the bottom of the 

 windows. The space for the communion table is raised two 

 steps above the rest of the floor, and railed in with oaken bal- 

 usters. Here I shall say somewhat of the windows of the 

 chancel in particular, and of the whole fabric in general. They 

 are mostly of that simple and unadorned sort called Lancet, some 

 single, some double, and some in triplets. At the east end of 

 the chancel are two of a moderate size, near each other ; and in 



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

 of a Knight- Templar by Hollar. 



