then, in God's name and my own, I order | tower rising from the intersection of the nave that the whole xenium be carried to the hall of St. Andrew; and there, at the discretion of the prior and brethren of the church, be distributed to the strangers and poor, in honour of the festival." The monks after-dulph: the large bell-tower which stands bewards disputed, with much resoluteness, the right of the bishops to the xenium; but their differences were adjusted by the bishops consenting to receive a composition in money instead of the above-named provisions. From the conquest to the reign of Henry VIII. almost every king granted some liberties and privileges, both to the bishop of Rochester and to the prior of the convent; each confirmed, likewise, those granted by his prede

and other animals. In the upper part of the | with plain capitals and fillets round the middle, doorway the faces of the twelve apostles are by which they are united to the contiguous sculptured; and in a space above is a repre- piers. From the entrance of the choir to its sentation of the Saviour seated, with a book eastern extremity, the style of the building open in one hand, and the other raised as in has an uniform character; it is neat, lofty, the act of benediction; and on each side is and solid, though not heavy. The northern an angel inclining towards him, together part is denominated the chapel of St. William, with the symbols of the evangelists. Figures a saint whose repute brought such considerof this kind, it would seem, were anciently able profit to this priory as to raise it from a placed on the porch or entrance of the church state of poverty to affluence and riches. A as a security against the influence of evil large stone chest, much defaced, is all that spirits. This front had formerly (as it would remains of his shrine. The choir was newly appear from certain representations taken in paved and pewed about the year 1743, when the beginning of the past century) four octa- stalls for the dean and chapter, a throne for gonal towers, which rose above the roof to the the bishop (the latter being rebuilt by bishop height of two stories of small arches, and ter- Wilcox), and an altar-piece, were added; all minated in pyramids, only one of which, that of them neat, but not entitled to any higher nearest the centre, is now standing. All the commendation, and certainly ill suited to the other parts of the outside of the cathedral general character of the edifice, which, if not must be considered as extremely plain, if not very fine, is very venerable. In the centre altogether destitute of ornament, after behold- of the altar-piece is a painting by West, of ing the richly ornamented west front. the angel appearing to the shepherds. The altar, as in other churches in the Romish days, was placed at a distance from the east wall; and its exact situation may yet be ascertained from the triple stone seat under the third window in the south wall. On the front of this seat are the arms of the see of Rochester, of Christchurch, Canterbury, and, as supposed, of the priory of Rochester: beneath these shields were formerly the representations of three bishops, with mitres and croziers, and this devout sentiment in ancient characters :-

From the west door is a descent of several steps to the nave (in consequence of the accumulation of the earth at the base of the western front), the first five columns of which on each side, and half of the sixth, are in the massive Norman style, supporting semicircular arches, decorated with zig-zag mouldings, and having plain fluted capitals. Above the arches sustained on these columns is a second story of arches, corresponding both in size and ornament. Beneath these arches is the triforium or gallery, which communicates with the circular stair-cases in the angles of the west front. A very fine open timber roof represents angels bearing shields of arms; besides those of the bishopric, the priory, and the city of Rochester, are the arms of the priory of Christchurch, and of the archbishopric of Canterbury. The great tower, rising from the intersection of the nave with the west transept, is sustained by four obtusely pointed arches resting on solid masonry: a low octagonal spire, which had been rebuilt in 1749, has since been removed. The west transept is built in the pointed style; but, from having been erected at different periods, the architecture is not uniform. On the east side of this transept is a small door, which opens into a strong close room, with only one small window, well secured an apartment intended for the safe custody of the valuables which belonged to the altars in this part of the cathedral.

The choir, which is ascended from the nave by a flight of ten steps, leading through a plain arch in an unornamented stone screen, is six hundred years old, being first used at the consecration of Henry de Sandford, in 1227. It is ornamented, as well as other parts of the church, with small pillars of Petworth marble,

O. Altitudo divinaq Sapiencie et Sciencie Dei quam incomprehensibilia Sunt Judicia ejus et investigales vie ejus. At the south-east corner of the opposite cross-aisle is an arched doorway, richly carved and ornamented with a variety of figures, which formerly led to the chapter-house of the priory. This door-way has been injudiciously walled up to the size of a common square-headed architrave door, inserted in the centre. The sculpture is very rich, and is continued from the receding base of the doorway on each side over the whole front: it consists of the finest specimen of canopied niches, with effigies, to be seen in England. Detached recesses rise above each other, and contain figures, of which the lowest are supposed to represent king Henry I. and his queen Matilda; while, above, on each side, are bishops Gundulph, Ernulf, and others. Over the effigies of these bishops are represented cherubim and seraphim glorifying Christ, whose figure is sculptured standing beneath a canopy on the apex of the arch.

The chapter-house (which contains the library) is entered by this door-way, and is a long room running parallel with the south side of the choir. The books are contained in presses,

occupying the north side of the chapter-room; | part of it which extends under the north

and I may mention an excellent regulation adopted for keeping up and increasing this library-that every new dean and prebendary shall, on admission, contribute a certain sum towards the increase of the library; a good exchange for the entertainment which it was formerly customary to make on that occasion. In this library is that well-known and curious MS. called the Textus Roffensis, compiled chiefly by bishop Ernulfus in the twelfth century, which was published by Thomas Hearne, from a copy in the Surrenden library. During the troubles in the seventeenth century, this MS. was conveyed into private hands, nor could the dean and chapter, after the restoration, for two years discover where it was; and at last they were obliged to solicit the court of Chancery for a decree to recover it. Since which they have been once more in great danger of being deprived of it; for Dr. Harris, having borrowed it for the use of his intended history of this county, sent it up to London by water, and the vessel being by the badness of the weather capsized, this MS. lay for some hours under water before it was discovered, which has somewhat damaged it. There is also another ancient MS. here, entitled Costumale Roffense, thought by some to be more ancient than the other. Great part of this MS. has been published by Mr. Thorpe, in a volume under that title *. The latter work contains many curious particulars relative to the ancient tenures, services, rents, &c. of the manors within this diocese, which belonged to the priory; together with the valuation of the Peter pence payable to the popes from the cathedral churches in England.

The length of the cathedral from east to west is three hundred and six feet; and the breadth along the greater of the transepts (the west) is one hundred and twenty-two feet, and along the smaller ninety feet. The nave and side-aisles together are seventy-five feet in breadth; the nave only, between the columns, being thirty-three feet broad, and the choir the same. The width of the west front is ninety-four feet; the height of the great tower, one hundred and fifty-six feet.

The crypt, which is under the buildings of the choir eastward of the great transept, is a fine specimen of the early English style: the roof is plainly groined, and in that

aisle, the architecture is scarcely distinguishable from the Norman style. It is not meant that it was of the Norman age; because "a careful comparison between it and the superstructure (says an authority in matters of antiquarian taste*) will convince any intelligent observer that both were the work of the same architect." The same writer adds, that "the doors which open into the crypt from without are under pointed arches, as are the windows through which it was lighted: the latter are divided by mul lions, with ramified heads; and, before they were stopped up, were capacious enough to transmit sufficient light for the service and ceremonies of nine altars that formerly stood here. Some small remains of painting may still be discovered in that part of the crypt below St. William's chapel. In a circle is a representation of a vessel sailing, with large fish in the water in front; and, on one side, the upper part of a monk, with his hands uplifted as in prayer; under this, an eagle displayed."

In a re

There are many monuments in this church, both ancient and curious; but they are much mutilated, and most of the inscriptions obliterated. A plain stone chest in the south-east corner of the choir has been by some supposed to contain the bones of bishop Gun dulph, who died in 1107, at the age of eightysix. To the west of this, under the adjoining window, is another such chest, with the portrait of a bishop in his robes; supposed to be Thomas de Inglethorpe, the forty-fourth bishop of this see. cess opposite to this is a third stone chest, thought to contain the remains of bishop Laurence de St. Martin; and in the adjoining recess to the west, is a monument of a shrine-like character, supposed to have been erected by the monks in honour of the bishop Gilbert de Glanville. It is sculptured with heads of ecclesiastics in quartrefoil panels. To the west of this, on an altar-tomb, beneath a canopy, is a statue in red-veined marble of Walter de Merton, the celebrated founder of Merton college, Oxford, and bishop of this see, who died in 1277. The present monu ment, though its existence is a testimony of the respect shown by the warden (Sir Henry Savile) and fellows of Merton college, to the memory of their founder, in rebuilding a de molished monument, is, in no sense, equal to that which once existed. A costly tomb, highly adorned with enamelling in the style of the thirteenth century, was originally erected over his remains; his effigy, in episcopal robes, being engraved on a brass plate,

E. W. Brayley, esq., the writer of the "Kent" volume of the "Beauties of England and Wales.”

hind it."

429

The old man sighed, and attempted no reply. "A relative of mine," continued the lady, "his name is immaterial"-this was said somewhat sigcolonel of the regiment, Sir Henry Harvey Aston, an nificantly-"

-"served in India in the 12th foot. The

and fixed in the upper horizontal stone. | sir, have witnessed the withering traces it leaves beRound the verge of the tomb were Latin verses in praise of his good work in founding Merton college. But, this interesting memorial shared the fate of many similar works of art at the Reformation. It was destroyed; and the present monument, exhibiting a recumbent figure of the bishop with his arms, and a purse (the latter his badge as lord chancellor), was set up in the place of the original one.

This notice ought not to be concluded without naming the Royal Free Grammar School, which forms a part of the cathedral establishment; and was instituted for the education of twenty boys, to be called "king's scholars," with an upper and under master, to be paid by the church. There are four exhibitions to the universities, each of the yearly value of £5. This school has also, with that of Maidstone, four exhibitions of fifteen pounds each, with rooms in University college, Oxford; this latter privilege having been conferred, as a bequest by will, by the rev. Robert Gunsley, rector of Titsey in Surrey, in the year 1618. This school, according to the words of the charter (which is in Latin), was established, "That piety and useful learning may for ever grow and flourish, and may bring forth fruit in their day to the glory of God, and the benefit and ornament of the state *."

"Ut pietas et bonæ literæ perpetuo in nostrâ ecclesia suppullescant, crescant, et floreant ; et suo tempore in gloriam Dei et reipublicæ commodum et ornamentum, fructificent."

[We hope to have another opportunity of describing the late repairs of Rochester cathedral, to which we cannot at present more than allude.-ED.]

THE TAINT OF BLOOD*.

admirable disciplinarian, had the misfortune to become embroiled with his own nephew, a major in the same corps; went out with him, and fell. If ever man was beloved in a regiment, liked by his brother

officers, and confided in by the troops, major Allen
of manner, a mirth and gaiety of temperament and
address, that rendered him as a companion universally
popular. Immediately after the duel, he was put
under arrest, sent down to Madras, subjected to
He was released from
court-martial, and acquitted.
arrest, and ordered to return to his duty. He did so,
His spirits were gone-the cheerful-
an altered man.
ness which no difficulties could ruffle, and the plea-
santry which no annoyances could check, had wholly
disappeared. The taint of blood was upon him; and
he vainly struggled to emerge from the gloom with
which, for him, life was henceforth clouded. Active
hostilities were expected. The regiment lay before
Seringapatam, and there he died—of no wound, no
disease, unless you include among the catalogue of
human maladies quenchless regrets and ever-goading
remorse."

was that man. There was a frankness and cordiality

"He died a broken-hearted man," said the old soldier in a subdued tone.

The duel was

"Much the same sort of feeling," resumed the lady, "seems to have overshadowed another successful duellist: I allude to the well-known captain Best, the antagonist of lord Camelford. forced upon him, an abandoned woman promoted it, and lord Camelford, before he went to the ground, told his second that he himself was in the wrong; that Best was a man of honour; but that he could not bring himself to retract words which he had once used. He fell, at once the aggressor and sufferer. But captain Best was never his own man afterwards. He died at the early age of eight-and-forty, at a "the Blanquetts," near boarding-house, called

"IT is the taint of blood," suggested Miss Pye- Worcester. Sorrow and remorse had done on him mont.

"That term should be used sparingly," said that lady's uncle, who happened to be present; an old military man, who had seen life under various aspects, and was always more ready to listen than to condemn : we cannot measure our expressions too carefully; and the taint of blood

"Is one," interrupted the lady, "of which I know the meaning, and am prepared to defend it. You,

• From "The Bishop's Daughter," by the author of "The Life-book of a Labourer." Dalton, 1842. This book contains some interesting passages; but they are disjecta membra, not well worked up into a whole. Real names and events and fictitious ones are brought into somewhat perplexing contact. The bishop, after 14 years incumbency of Dovedale-the author lets us see he means Worcester-and with but one daughter, ought not to have died so much in debt. Neither, perhaps, ought the daughter, for the sake of the example, while really generous, to have seemed miserly. The work is decidedly inferior to its predecessor.-ED.

the work of years. In his closing hours, he is said to have told those who were in his confidence that the

duel and its results had embittered every moment of his life; that the whole scene was as fresh in his memory as if it had happened yesterday; and that there were times when lord Camelford seemed to stand before him, and gaze on him with an earnestness and tenacity that rendered life a burden. In consequence of some embarrassments-whence contracted I know not, for he inherited West India property to a considerable amount-he was for some time within the rules of the King's Bench. In his domestic arrangements too he was unfortunate. His marriage proved disastrous, and was dissolved by act of parliament. But he once and again declared that every sorrow would have sat lightly upon him, could he but have succeeded in wiping the stain of homicide from his brow."

The lady ceased, but the veteran mused on