”• -/ V (_ K end fit* U l ) ~j AN ELUCIDATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF vas often intended to convey moral instruction, or historical infor- mation, by means of sculptured devices, rebuses, or armorial badges. Buttresses. — A mass of masonry attached to, and pro- jecting from, the external surface of the wall, serving to 41 counteract the pressure of the vaulting, &c. In buildings ascribed to the Anglo-Saxons and Anglo-Normans, the walls are of so great a thickness that we find few external buttresses. Where they occur, in this style of architecture, they have only a slight projection, and are usually quite destitute of ornament. The inferior solidity of the walls in structures erected in the English or pointed style, united with other causes, led to the frequent introduction of buttresses. In this mode of building, they are generally very prominent, and are often surmounted with enriched pinnacles. Campanile. — A bell tower. The tower for the reception of bells is well known to have been usually attached to the body of the Church, and to have been commonly placed at the west end. Such, however, was not uniformly its situation. It was sometimes detached from the sacred fabric, particularly in the instances of abbey-churches. The cathedrals of Chichester, Salisbury, and Worcester, had each a Campanile, distinct from the church. The bell-tower of the first-named structure is still remaining, at the N. W. angle of the cathedral- close. In Italy (according to the remark of Mr. Dallaway), the Campa- nile is invariably detached from the main building. Charnel, or Carnary. — To most large cemeteries, or consecrated burial-places, there was attached a charnel, “ it being esteemed,” says an ingenious catholic writer, 6( a pious act, arid arguing a belief in the general resurrection, to collect every fragment of the human frame which happened to be dis- persed, and to dispose of it, in the most decent manner, in a place appointed for that purpose.” To the Charnel, or Carnary, was usually annexed a chapel, in which prayers were offered up, u for the repose of the forgotten dead to whom the said frag- ments belonged.” Clerestory. — A range of windows, placed above those constructed in the main walls of the building. Cloisters. — The ancient canons enacted that cloisters should be built near the church. Their four sides had parti- cular designations; the western side was appropriated to the schools ; the side next the church to moral reading ; and the two other sides seem to be conjoined with the duties of the church and chapter. The centre of the quadrangle was a green plot, with a tree in the midst. The cloister, or claustrum, however, in the simplicity of its first mode of construction, appears to have been designed chiefly as a covered walk, or ambulatory, for the exercise, and the contemplative or conversational recreation, of the religious, within the boundary of their own walls. It has been described as an imitation of the peristyle of the Greeks, and the piazza of the Italians. Originally, it was of small proportions and of plain architecture ; but was gradually enlarged, in conformance to the increased splendour of ecclesiastical establishments ; and many cloisters became, at length, conspicuous examples of beauty in decoration. The advantages to health, study, and tranquil relaxation, afforded by these covered walks, were so obvious, that they were progressively appended to nearly every cathedral, and large monastic church, in this kingdom. Al- though in very dissimilar stages of preservation or decay, instances of the architectural talent bestowed on the cloisters attached to opulent religious foundations, are still to be wit- nessed in many parts of England. The most richly ornamented cloister now remaining, is that on the north side of Gloucester cathedral, which was finished in 1390. At Norwich is, also, a cloister of abundant decoration, the chief parts of which were erected at different times between the years 1297, and 1430, through the liberality of various affluent contributors. From the above examples we may, perhaps, be induced to admit that a modern writer is not guilty of exaggeration, when he observes that these buildings were, at length, cc found to admit of the full embellishment of the shrines and chapels, existing in other parts of the church.” To heighten the dignity of effect, and to add to the warmth and comfort of the ambulatory, the win- dows, at least in the upper part, were filled with painted and storied glass. The walls were also painted in fresco. Some- times, the claustral ambulatory consisted of two stories, as in 43 the instance of that appended to the old cathedral of St. Paul, London. On the walls of that cloister was painted the Dance of Maccabre (Holbein’s Dance of Death). No architects appear to have bestowed so much attention on the claustrum, as those of our own country. It is remarked by Mr. Dallaway, that, on the continent, almost every convent has its cloisters ; and those annexed to the great churches are probably the best; but they are chiefly plain, unornamented enclosures, for the purposes of exercise and devotion. Clustered Column. — Shaft, or body of the column, formed of small semi-circular parts, joined towards a common centre ; the cylinders were sometimes divided by hollow spaces, or mouldings. The time at which columns of this description were first introduced, together with some further particulars of information, are thus stated by Mr. Essex (Archseol. vol. iv.) “ In the middle of the 12th century, many alterations were made in the style of architecture; and the bases and capitals of the pillars, and very often the pillars themselves, surrounded with small shafts, were made of marble, highly polished. Marble was used for these purposes until the latter end of Edward the Second’s reign, though the other parts of buildings were executed with common stones, of moderate dimensions, and laid in the same manner as in the preceding ages. But, in the following reign, we find that marble was much neglected (either on account of the great labour required in cutting and polishing, or because they found that the tine polish that was given it was not of long continuance); and before the end of Edward the Third’s reign, it was quite disused.” Corbel. — A support projecting from the face of the wall, and usually carved in a grotesque head, or a flower, a mass of foliage, &c. From corbels issue columns, ribs of the vaulting, &c. Lord Orford (Anecd. of Painting, vol. i. p. 3.) attributes the introduction of corbels, thus fantastically carved, to Marchion of Arezzo; but Mr. Whittington, in the Appendix to his work on “ Gothic Architecture,” observes, that “ projecting figures and heads, supporting consoles, like the corbels of 44 Gothic buildings,” are to be found in the remains of the baths of Dioclesian at Rome, as represented in c( Adams’s Views.” Creepers. — Are leaves carved on the outward angles of pinnacles, canopies, spires, &c. Crypt. — A vaulted, subterranean apartment, constructed beneath many ancient churches. The dreary recesses so termed, have given rise to much antiquarian speculation. That they were originally, in some instances, connected with devotional purposes, is evident from the writings of Richard, prior of Hexham ; who, in describing the church of that place, notices the “ crypts, with oratories subterraneous , having winding passages leading to them.” It will be recollected that beneath the old cathedral of St. Paul’s were situated, in what was called (e the crouds,” two places appropriated to divine worship ; — Jesus chapel, and the church of St. Faith. In the “ under- croft,” or crypt, of Canterbury cathedral, is also still existing the u Walloon Church.” In regard to the antiquity of these gloomy apartments, it may be remarked that they are usually constructed in the circular (Saxon or Norman) style of architec- ture. That they were sometimes used as places of sepulture is extremely probable ; but an intelligent modern antiquary sup- poses that they were not, in general, designed for such a purpose, but were originally intended as sanctuaries. (See Letter from T. Walford, Esq. F. S. A. to J. Norris Brewer, Beauties of Eng. Introd.) Fan-Work. — Is the name bestowed on the ornaments of that species of fretted roof, upon a diminutive scale, which consists in the frequent cc reduplication of a small vault, springing from four semicircular groins at the angles, which rest upon pilasters.” Finials. — The flowers, or foliage, terminating spires, pinnacles, &c. Flying Groins. — Composing vaulting with galleries over, issuing from corbels only. Galilee. — This is the name bestowed on the porch, formerly placed at the west end of most large churches; 45 instances of which are still remaining at Durham and Ely cathedrals. “ In these porches/’ says Dr. Milner, “ public penitents were stationed ; dead bodies were sometimes deposited, previously to their interment ; and females were allowed to see the monks of the convent, who were their relatives. We may gather from a passage of Gervase, that, upon a woman’s apply- ing for leave to see a monk, her relation, she was answered, in the words of scripture: “ He goeth before you into Galilee; there you shall see him.” The appropriation of the name is thus explained by Mr. Millers; ec As Galilee, bordering on the Gentiles, was the most remote part of the Holy Land from the holy city of Jerusalem, so was this part of the building most distant from the sanctuary, and was occupied by those unhappy persons, who, during their exclusion from the mysteries, were reputed scarcely, if at all, better than heathens.” On the abrogation of canonical penances, in consequence of the frequent crusades, the Galilee, or penitential porch, became unnecessary; and was superseded, greatly to the embellishment of the struc- ture, by a broad and lofty window, sometimes engrossing nearly the whole of the west end. Horse-shoe Arch. — This species of arch is not of frequent occurrence, and is formed by an arc of a circle somewhat greater than the semi-circle. Lanthorn.— This term, as applied to architecture, signi- fies that part of the tower of a church which is perforated, and left open, so as to produce the effect of the louvre on the interior. Of this architectural production we have fine speci- mens in the cathedral churches of Ely and Peterborough. As nearly the whole inside of the lanthorn, or perforated tower, is intended to be seen from below, the windows and side arches are generally much wrought and ornamented. Nodi — Are the ornaments covering the intersections of the ribs of the vaulting (See Boss, or Orb) . Piscina, or Lavacrum — Is a hollow and perforated basin of stone, placed in a small niche, or fenestella, cut in the sub- stance of the south wall. It is usually situated near the sedilia, F 4 G being evidently designed for the use of the altar, which formerly adjoined that part of the church ; but it is not unfrequently found alone in the south walls of chancels and aisles. Some- times the piscina has a double hollow, both perforated, or having a small hole in the centre. Where two drains occur, it is believed that one was designed to carry away the water in which the priest’s hands had been washed, and the other to receive that in which the chalice had been rinced. The con- secrated host, which time or accident had rendered impure, was also dismissed through the same channel. The fenestella, or niche, is generally ornamented, and is sometimes divided into an upper and lower compartment, the former of which acted as a receptacle for the cruets, or ampullae, holding the consecrated wine and water. It may not be superfluous to remind the reader, that we frequently see, in ancient churches, a small square cavity in the south wall of the chancel, distinct from the piscina. It is said, in the Work termed