The roof is of excellent fan-tracery, consisting of two bays, running north and south, with a small portion of panelled barrel vaulting at each end. It rises from shafts, of which the central ones at each end are corbelled off. The eastern one would have interfered with the altar of the chapel, the western with the doorway[62] which then opened behind the high altar, and whose arch may still be traced.” The angel which acts as a corbel over the Transitional recess is very finely conceived and carved, as also are the bosses of sculpture on the screens. Indeed they are as fine as anything the Perpendicular men ever did. The recess itself is shown on p. 61. The centre cross is 2 feet 3 inches square and is cut out of a stone 1 ft. 9 in. thick, the four spandrils between the arms being pierced through to the high altar. The height of the top of the cill is about 3 feet from the present floor of the chapel and 1 ft. 6 in. from that of the sanctuary. As already mentioned,[63] the lower part was found to contain human bones, run into a solid mass with mortar to prevent desecration, which probably was done at the time of the religious changes in the sixteenth century. The other crosses surrounding the large one are probably some of those cut for dedication purposes; and as the lowest at any rate is earlier than the centre, it is probably a once much venerated relic of St. David’s own church before that of De Leiâ.
BOSSES ON THE CORNICE.
On the opposite side of this chapel—i.e., in the wall between Bishop Vaughan’s Chapel and the ante-chapel—is more finely detailed Perpendicular work.
RECENTLY DISCOVERED WINDOW IN BISHOP VAUGHAN’S CHAPEL.
In 1898 an interesting discovery was made, and our view was taken the same year immediately after. On the west side of this wall stood the altar to the Holy Trinity, with a tall canopied niche on each side.
On either side of these again traces of a four-centred arch showed faintly through the smooth ashlar at the back, and on removing the ashlar two beautiful windows were disclosed. They have their saddle-bars and stancheons in situ, in some places almost rusted through, and it is clear that the windows have not been, nor were they intended to be, glazed. Another interesting point is that they seem scarcely to have been finished before they were walled up again, for the masonry has not even been rubbed down. This seems so unusual a treatment for windows of such refinement, that one is tempted to conjecture that some zealous subordinate of the Bishop’s, anxious to give him a pleasant surprise, had, during his absence, caused these windows to be made, but on his return the incensed prelate promptly ordered their immurement. A squint was, however, left in the centre light of each window, so that from the Trinity Chapel altar the celebrations at those at the east end of the north and south aisles could be seen. When removing the masonry in 1898, it was decided to leave these squint-stones in order not to destroy an important link in the history of these windows.
