frequent in England.* There are foliated bosses at the intersection of all the ribs in the vaulting, which, it will be remembered, is wholly of timber, and a more elaborate boss in the centre of the lantern. The wall of each smaller or diagonal side of the octagon is relieved with three canopied and crocketed niches, once filled with statues, the pedestals for which remain. The hood mouldings over the arches leading into the aisles, are terminated with heads, or other devices admirably carved.. Four of these are, in all probability, portraits, those at the north-west, of Edward III. and Philippa his queen: those at the south-east, of Bishop Hotham, and Prior Crowden,† names intimately connected with the architectural history of Ely about this time. But the most remarkable portion of the decorations of this fabric yet remains to be noted. The vaulting shafts at each angle of the octagon are interrupted at about half their height by richly canopied tabernacles, each adapted to receive one larger and two subordinate figures. These tabernacles are supported on brackets which are enriched with finely executed alto relievos of the most important events in the legendary history of S. Etheldreda, the patron-saint of the Cathedral Church of Ely, thus splendidly adorned in her honour.‡

One would suppose that these works were sufficient to try the energies of the Bishop and convent of Ely, during the whole course of their erection; but in fact another and still more gorgeous fabric had been commenced before the fall of the tower, and was in progress during the rest of the episcopate of Bishop Hotham, and was yet unfinished at the death of Simon Montacute, his successor, in 1344. § This was the Lady chapel, the history of which makes us acquainted with one of the most interesting characters connected with ecclesiastical architecture.

John of Wisbeach had commenced this chapel out of the alms of the faithful, in honour of the ever Virgin Mary, on the festival of her Annunciation, 1321, the venerable and ingenious Allan of Walsingham,|| then sub-prior, laying the first stone. Now at the com

*The great west window at Dumblane, in Scotland, is a good example of a double plane of tracery.

The same portrait occurs again in Prior Crowden's chapel, but with features altered by advancing years.

These subjects are thus arranged, according to the description in Winkle's Cathedrals. "Beginning at the right side of the north-west arch, the first represents her reluctant marriage with Egfrid, King of Northumberland. 2. Her taking the veil in the monastery of Coldingham. 3. Her pilgrim's staff taking root while she slept by the way, and bearing leaves and shoots. 4. Her preservation, with her attendant virgins, on a rock surrounded by a miraculous inundation, when the king pursued her with his knights to carry her off from her monastery. 5. Her instalment as abbess of Ely. 6. Her death and burial. 7. A legendary tale of one Brithstan, delivered from bonds by her merits after she was canonized. 8. The translation of her body."

The Lady chapel was commenced in 1321. The tower fell in 1322. Hotham was Bishop from 1316 to 1336, and Montacute from 1336 to 1344. Alan of Walsingham was Sacrist almost the whole of this time.

Hist. Eli. Wharton. 651.

66

mencement of the said chapel, brother John had very insufficient means in his hands or in his treasury for the prosecution of so great an undertaking but firmly trusting in the Divine aid, he commended himself and his work to GOD Almighty, and the Blessed Virgin; praying GOD earnestly and without intermission that He would assist him in all his need: and God Almighty, Who according to His merciful purpose, maketh poor and maketh rich, abaseth and lifteth up, never suffered him either to abound overmuch, or to be greatly in want during the whole of the work; but kept him always as it were in an equal balance, lest he should either exalt himself in his abundance, or be cast down in his need. Now it came to pass that one day he assembled some of the monks and some seculars, and earnestly entreated their assistance in digging the foundation. When the time came, they commenced digging one night, each alone, in the place assigned him; but it fell out that the forementioned brother John was digging by himself in the place which fell to his lot, and there, unknown to all his companions, (by GoD's appointment as it should seem) he found a brazen urn full of money, as if it had been placed there on purpose to relieve the necessity which was pressing on him. And when the night was almost passed, at day-break a little rain began to fall, so as to inconvenience the labourers; and calling his companions together; Come," said he, " my brethren and fellow-labourers, I give you many thanks for your hearty work, and now it is time for you to rest a while. I commend you therefore to GOD, and may He worthily requite your toil." When they were gone, he alone remained, and taking up the urn with all possible secresy, he placed it in the dormitory under his bed. He took the money, obscured as it was by rust, and cleansed it by rubbing it with chalk and water, and out of that, so long as it lasted, he paid the wages of the labourers. Meanwhile he was not ashamed to receive from the Christians who came to the place, whatever he could obtain, either by begging or selling. Thus passing his life in various labours, by great good management, and by begging, borrowing, and exposing to sale such things as by the laws of his order he might call his own, together with the assistance of the Bishop and other venerable men, and the alms of the people, when he had continued the work for twenty-eight years and thirteen weeks, with the greatest care, and when he had now finished the stone structure, together with the images within and without the chapel to the number of one hundred and forty-seven, besides the small images in the table over the altar, and besides the images "at the entrance" in the chapel, and the wood-work also covered with lead, and the eastern gable with two windows on either side of the chapel most beautifully fitted with iron and glass, he died, in a season of pestilence, on the 17th of June, 1349, and left his office to his successor unburdened with any debt. Besides which, there was

found laid up after his death to the value of one hundred pounds and more, with jewels and sums of money for the perfecting of the remainder of the work.*

This beautiful chapel, on which such true-hearted zeal was expended, is in some respects unique, in all respects remarkable. It extends eastward, parallel with the choir, from the north-east angle of the north transept, and consists of five compartments, marked externally by far projecting buttresses which rise over the parapet in richly crocketed finials; the pairs of buttresses at the angles forming larger and turret-like pinnacles. The windows are all of ample proportions, those at the side of five lights, those at the east and west of eight lights respectively. The tracery is throughout of the richest decorated. The whole of the surface of the west end, even to the buttresses and the gable-cross, is enriched with foliated niches, all originally filled with imagery of beautiful character. In the interior all is gorgeous, from the floor to the roof. A rich arcade of tabernacle work runs round the whole chapel beneath the windows. The spaces between the windows and the window jambs themselves are enriched with canopies, from which the figures have fallen, but portions of many of the groups in several parts of the chapel still remain, proving that the legendary history of the Blessed Virgin is here profusely illustrated, as that of S. Etheldreda is in the interior of the great octagon. The groining is elaborately decorated with bosses at all the intersections of the ribs, which are multiplied by the cross ribs, which give this an early place among liern vaults. In a word, when the statues mentioned in the history were perfect, and the windows were still gorgeous with coloured glass, this must have been a work to compen sate the toil and self-devotion of many years.

G. A. P.

ROBERT NELSON ON RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

Ir was stated in our January Number, that about the end of the seventeenth century a number of Religious Associations were formed by pious members of the Church with a view of arresting that flood of ungodliness and indifference which had come in with the Revolution of 1668.

It will be interesting, we think, to our readers to possess some further account of them. The following is extracted from the Preface to Nelson's "Fasts and Festivals." And we will only add this single remark, that the general religion of the nation can only be elevated by the improvement of the personal reli

* Hist, Eli. Wharton, p. 651.

gion of individuals; and that there is little likelihood of this being done effectually till the laity in every rank and especially we would say the middle or trading classes of the community-learn that they have a part to bear in this most important and most blessed work. The direction of the Clergy, as this pious layman felt, would doubtless be required, but the movement itself should originate from the laity themselves.

"Upon this occasion, I think it a great piece of justice to acknowledge and commend the pious and devout practices of the ' Religious Societies;' who in this point, as well as in many others, distinguish themselves by their regular conformity and obedience to the laws of the Church; for they constantly attend the public assemblies upon such holy seasons. And till they can communicate regularly in their own parish Churches upon such days, they embrace those opportunities that are provided, there being two Churches in London (S. Mary-le-Bow and S. Dunstan in the West) employed for that purpose; where they as duly receive the Blessed Sacrament upon all festivals as they perform all the other acts of public worship. How they spend the vigils in preparing their minds for a due celebration of the ensuing solemnity, is more private, but not less commendable. And the great care they take to suppress the dawnings of enthusiasm, and to discountenance the first appearance of any vicious practices amongst their members; and the methods they impose before delinquents are entirely reconciled or totally rejected is such a preparation of the minds of the laity for the reception of that discipline which is wanted in the Church, that if ever we are blessed with what good men wish for and bad men fear, these Religious Societies will be very instrumental in introducing it, by that happy regulation which prevails among them. And while they pay that deference which they profess to their Parochial Ministers, and are ready to be governed by their directions, and are willing to submit their rules and orders to the judgment of the reverend Clergy, I cannot apprehend but that they must be very serviceable to the interest of religion, and may contribute very much to revive that true spirit of Christianity which was so much the glory of the primitive times. And I see no reason why men may not meet and consult together, to improve one another in Christian knowledge, and by mutual advice take measures how best to further their own salvation, as well as promote that of their neighbours, when the same liberty is taken for the improvement of trade, and for the carrying on the pleasures and diversions of life. And if at such meetings they shall voluntarily subscribe any certain sums to be disposed of in such charities as shall seem most proper to the majority of their members, I cannot imagine how this can deserve censure, when the liberal contributions of gentlemen to a horse-race or a music-meeting have never been taxed with the least illegality."

THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE.

[This article is partly translated, partly adapted.]

"I WISH I was like little Samuel," said William, with a deep sigh, as he closed the Bible which was lying before him.

William, who was seated on a little chair, had become so quiet, that his mother had forgotten that he was in the room, till she heard him utter the remarkable words, "I wish I was like little Samuel."

"And who, my darling child," said she, "is this Samuel ?"

Overjoyed at being able to answer this question, William instantly replied, "O my dear mother, Samuel was a very holy child, son of Elkanah and Hannah; his mother dedicated him to the LORD, and he served Him all his days; he was girded with a linen ephod, and his mother made him every year a little coat, which she brought him when she visited him." So saying, little William stood up, leaned both his arms on his mother's bosom, and said with deep earnestness, as he gazed up at her, Pray, my dear mother, do dedicate me too to the LORD!"

"Wherefore, my love?"

"Because, mother, I would gladly live in the house of the LORD, and serve at His altar: then perhaps He would call to me from heaven, as He did to Samuel, and would say, William !' and I would reply, Speak, LORD! for Thy servant heareth." "

"And what then ?"

"And then, dearest mother, perhaps the LORD would tell me things which I ought to know; how to be good, how to please Him, how to live holily, and how, when I die, to go to heaven. Dear mother! Samuel was a happy child, but Eli's sons were on the contrary so wicked that GoD slew them. O never may I be wicked like them, but rather, like Samuel, be dedicated to the LORD."

William's mother laid her work aside, and pressed him to her heart. Her eyes overran with tears of joy as she said, "O may the holy wish of my child be fulfilled, through Him Who alone can have suggested it! My dearest child, thou art already consecrated to the LORD."

"How so, my mother?"

"Before I fully answer that question, I would wish to carry thee beyond the example of Samuel, beautiful and engaging as that is. Thou hast just read the words, The child Samuel grew on, and was in favour with the LORD, and also with man.'* As he grew in stature, so did the LORD's favour (it is implied) grow towards

* 1 Sam. ii. 26.