414 ANTIQUITIES 



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 199 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 a half in breadth, and is wainscoted all round, as high 

 as to the bottom of the windows. [It is raised one step 

 above the body of the church.] The space for the com- 

 munion table is raised two steps above the rest of the floor, 

 and railed in with oaken balusters. [Over the communion 

 table is a painting in tLree compartments of the Offering of 

 the Wise Men, presented by Benjamin White, Esq. It is 

 attributed to John de Maubeuge.] 



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 the north wall two very distant small 

 ones, unequal in length and height : and in the south wall 

 are two, one on each side of the chancel door, that are broad 

 and squat, and of a different order. At the east end of the 



1 Sec Dugdale, "Monasticon Anglicanum," vol. ii. where there is a 

 fine engraving of a Knight- Templar, by Hollar. Gr. W 



