The Abbey-church. 145 



tion, is that of the angelic choir adoring the Divine Majesty, 

 represented as an old man seated in solitary state under 

 a high canopy in the midst of the heaven to which the 

 ladders lead. Statues of the twelve apostles, in three tiers, 

 stand against the cants of the turrets on either side of the 

 ladders. It is not certain what is meant by the human 

 figures ornamenting the centre muUions of the aisle-windows. 

 The one on the north side, clad in flowing robes, appears to be 

 holding an open deed, with appended seals ; the other seems 

 to have in his hand a pouch or money-bag. The apostolic 

 patrons of the church are represented by the two large statues 

 flanking the main entrance : under each of these was a 

 Latin inscription, now illegible. " The folding doors are a 

 curious example of the decorative carving of the time of 

 James I. The upper part displays an heraldic mantle, sur- 

 mounted by a knight's helmet and a griffin's head, — the crest 

 of the Montagues : on the mantle, two shields of arms." In 

 the spandrels between the architraves of this doorway are 

 carved labels with various emblems of the Passion, — wounded 

 hearts, crowns of thorns, pierced feet and hands, etc. It is 

 thought that the unoccupied niche above originally contained, 

 or was intended to contain, a statue of Henry VII., whose 

 arms (crowned) and supporters are sculptured at the base. 

 Heraldic and other emblems, with inscriptions, rather rest- 

 lessly dotted about, label-wise, form the majority of the minor 

 enrichments of this front. "On each buttress, near the 

 extremities of the aisles, is a piece of sculpture typifying the 

 name and the dream of Bishop Oliver King— namely, the 

 olive springing through a royal crown, and surmounted by 

 a mitre. Beneath are two mutilated figures of animals, under 

 each of which is an expanded roll," with traces of the text 

 from the parable of the trees choosing a king. Over the 



