26 



The Parish Church of 8. Michael, Merc. 



of the solid with the voussoirs of the arches in the pointed windows, 

 and on the square head in the other (the carvings at the sides and 

 apex outside the east window are a peculiar feature) ; and all have 

 inside arches with mouldings dying out on to the jambs. The 

 label terminals of each of the two south windows are carved to 

 represent a male and female (those to the five-light window might 

 be intended for Sir John and Lady Bettesthorne, and there is a 

 striking resemblance in the features to those on his brass) . In the 

 tracery of this window the original glass remains almost intact. 

 There are figures of S. Nicholas, S. Martin, S. Christopher, and an 

 Archbishop, probably S. Thomas of Canterbury. This glass is 

 of the rich brown colouring so noticeable in the almost con- 

 temporary window in the Lady Chapel at Edington ; the free oak- 

 leaf foliage in the two middle pieces is unusual. The old glass 

 with coats of arms which Aubrey notes in the east and south 

 windows is not mentioned by Hoare, and had probably disappeared 

 before his time, although a beautiful piece of glass, the lead-work 

 of which is a work of art in itself, representing the arms of 

 Bettesthorne quartering Berkeley, impaling Fitzhugh, said to have 

 been removed from the chapel (with another coat now lost) in 1865, 

 was found by Mr. Troyte Chafyn- Grove in Zeals House and put in 

 the south window of the sanctuary in 1893. 



All the wrought stone- work of the chapel is Chilmark. 



There are some remains of fourteenth century paving tiles 

 preserved near the steps, which are doubtless those mentioned by 

 Sir E. C. Hoare. 1 



Behind the door in the staircase a large arched aumbry is formed 

 in the wall with rebate for shutter, and there is in the south wall 

 of the sanctuary a large piscina with moulded shelf, moulded jambs, 

 and arch with early-looking stop, the label cut away. The original 

 oak door exists at the foot of the turret stairs, and it has good 

 scroll hinges, probably those mentioned in the footnote to Jackson's 

 Aubrey. 



In the floor of the chapel, in front of the altar, is the fine brass 

 of the founder, John Bettesthorne, lord of Chadenwyche, who died 



1 Hundred of Mere, p. 12. 



