Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 2.djvu/419

Rh body, as if girt around the waist; over this is seen a flowing mantle, fastened on the breast by a brooch. The prick spur has a recurved point, without any neck. There is a poitrail, or strap, around the breast of the horse, and the cantel of the saddle is high. The tunic and mantle appear likewise in the portraiture of Geoffrey le Bel, the latter being of very unusual occurrence in connection with any features of military costume. The mode in which the drapery is treated, the folds being represented by parallel rolls, of almost equal breadth throughout their length, seems to characterize the rude sculpture of the twelfth century, of which several singular examples occur in Herefordshire and the neighbouring counties.

The Rev. John Horner, rector of Mells, Somerset, communicated a drawing of a mural painting recently discovered on the north wall of a chantry chapel, adjoining to the chancel of Mells church, and separated both from the chancel and north aisle by parclose screens. The painting, of which a representation is here given, was found in the western corner of this chapel, the faces of the figures being turned towards the east. On the removal of the first coats of whitewash the walls were found to have been entirely covered with texts of Scripture, probably inscribed thereon during the time of Edward VI.; these passages of Holy Writ were not found to correspond with any version known to Mr. Horner. On removing the surface whereon these had been painted, the original colouring of the walls appeared; and behind a large mural tablet the figures here given were discovered; the lower portion of the subject had been cut away in order to fix the tablet to the wall. The words inscribed above appear to have no reference to the figures. This chantry was an addition to the original fabric of the church, but it is not known by any distinctive name. Traces of colour may be found in all parts of the church: the upper walls of the south aisle were decorated with yellow stars on a red ground, and the pillars had evidently been covered over with arabesque ornaments. Over the north door are to be traced some remains of a figure of St. Chris-