TARRANT RUSHTON CHURCH. 63 



century MS., and pleaded that if the oval pointed figure, called 

 by Albert Dtirer ' vesica piscis,' has any relation to the early 

 Christian symbol 1x9"*, a fish, it was only natural that this rude 

 outline of a fish, as some assert it to be, should occasionally be 

 shown in a horizontal the usual swimming position. All this 

 might have been in vain if I had not been enabled, by the 

 suggestion of a kind and valued friend, the Rev. C. F. Saxby, 

 to refer to a passage in Archaeologia Cantiana, where a 'horizoDtal 

 vesica piscis,' in combination with round arches, is figured and 

 described as unique. This settled the question as to a ' horizontal 

 vesica piscis ' being a genuine feature of Early English architecture, 

 but I should be much interested by hearing of other examples."* 



On reading this, I at once thought of what had puzzled me and 

 others so long, and hastening to look in the light which Dr. Baron 

 had thrown on it, there I saw the " horizontal fish," and there 

 could be no doubt about it. The Lamb is uttering His own 

 Great Name 'IX0T2 'iij<roi~s Xpurrbs 0eoD fibs Zwrfip '. Jesus Christ 

 Son of God Saviour. 



But what about the other two figures ? It is wonderful when 

 the reins are given to the imagination what a variety of directions 

 it may take, especially in different persons, and with what curious 

 results. May I illustrate this in the case of our lintel ? For 

 myself, as I knew that in Norman Churches the tympanum over 

 the door commonly refers to some incident in the life of our Lord, 

 or to something in the history of the patron saint, I was disposed 

 to regard the figure towards the east as representing Our Lord in 

 the act of teaching or blessing ; and as the Lamb and the Dove are 

 two great emblems in the Gospel, the third figure is again probably 

 Our Lord, the Giver of the First-fruits of the Spirit. ; 



But now for other views. Hutchins considered the three figures 

 to represent the three Persons of the Blessed Trinity an opinion 

 to which I am entirely opposed and the last editors of Hutchins 

 reject it. It is, however, still held by some. Mr. C. E. Keyser, 



* Dr. Baron had passed away before his paper came into my hands. 



