CHURCHES IN THE RURAL DEANERY OF DORCHESTER. 55 



written in Hebrew characters on paper and inserted in the furniture 

 of churches, engraved on rings and other articles, and as it is found 

 in a mediaeval medical manuscript of the 14th century, as a 

 physical charm against fever (see Archseologia, vol. xxx., p. 400, 

 where a copy of the MS. is given), it is not impossible that it was 

 used as a talismanic charm against the plague. For further par- 

 ticulars see Archaeological Journal, vol. iii, p. 359; vol. iv, p. 78 ; 

 vol. xxiv, p. 68; vol. xxviii, p. 25. 



14. FRAMPTON. 



Very little that is ancient remains in this church ; the tower 

 was rebuilt in 1695 by Robert Browne, who added the north aisle 

 with its arcade a few years later ; the arcade was rebuilt in 1862, 

 when much of the new work in the church was added. 



The original church is said to have been built in the reign of 

 Edward IV. That the roof of the old church was of that date is 

 probable from the description of the decoration upon it "On square 

 panels were painted a rose and the sun issuing from it, the device 

 of King Edward IV." (Hutchins). There is nothing in the present 

 church (except a 13th century aumbry in the south aisle) which 

 shows an earlier date than Edward IV. The chancel arch and the 

 arcade dividing the south aisle from the nave would be about that 

 date, and so might be the square-headed Perpendicular doorway 

 inserted in the tower, and the large west window with plain tracery, 

 and the small two-light window. 



Carved on the capitals of the columns at each end of the south 

 arcade are grotesque figures of monks ; on the capital at the west 

 end two monks are represented as wrestling for a hoop. A copy 

 of an ancient illumination (Strutt's Sports and Pastimes) shows 

 figures in a similar attitude, but instead of a hoop a staff is the 

 object of contention. At the east end of the arcade two hoops are 

 behind the monks. On the capitals of the chancel arch are cut the 

 monogram of St. Mary and the sacred monogram. Similar capitals 

 will be found in Winterborne Church, and from the similarity of 

 the work it is possible that the carving in both churches might be 



