Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/612

576 extended much farther westward than it at present does. The central portion of the crypt consists of four severeys or bays; two are simple and plain, being semi-Norman, and two (towards the east) are early English, and very perfect, the details and mouldings being worthy of a careful examination. The ribs of the early English bays spring from triple clustered columns, 3 feet 9 inches high, in each angle of the bays with moulded capitals and bases. The upper moulding is horizontally fluted, similar to some Greek Ionic bases. The central shafts of the clustered columns are pointed, and the diagonal ribs have three mouldings; the centre one is pointed, and the outer are rolls. This pointed bowtell occurs frequently in semi-Norman and early English work, and is coeval with the introduction of the pointed arch. Suspended from the keystone of each is an iron ring. On each side of the two western bays of the centre aisle is a deeply recessed pointed window opening.” This crypt was the scene of the celebrated Cock Lane ghost excitement, in the year 1763. It is supposed by competent authorities that the original church of St. John was about 300 feet long, extending westward over the area of the present St. John-square, and that its transepts stood in a direct line with the great south gate and the north gate or postern.

The death of Queen Mary ended all hope of a revival of the langue of England. One of the earliest acts of her successor, viz., Statute 1, Elizabeth, c. 24, annexed to the crown all the property of the Order in England, without, however, enacting the dissolution of the corporate body established by the charter of Mary. The old priory now fell to the basest uses, and became the head-quarters of the Master of the Revels to the queen. The office of this functionary “consistethe,” says Edmund Tylney, “of a Wardropp and other several Roomes for Artiflcers to work in viz. Taylors Imbrotherers Propertimakers Paynters Wyredrawers and Carpenters together with a convenient place for ye Rehearsalls” (doubtless the great hall that had been the scene of so many royal councils and other splendours) “and settynge forthe of Playes and other Showes for those services.” This Edmund Tylney was appointed Master of the Revels on the 24th July, 1 79, and the priory was used as an office by him until 1607. It does not seem to have been