Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/354

 278 ON THE ARCHITECTURE OP Reticulated figures, forming a magnificent species of transom. Within there is much rich sculpture, pinnacles, &c., not forming part of the design of the tracery. In the Jesse window on the north side, the two tendencies run so much into one another that it is hard to distinguish them. The actual tracery is of a form common enough, an intersection incomplete at the top ; but besides the images with which the mullions and jambs are loaded, the branches thrown off between the mullions must be considered as something intermediate between real tracery and mere extraneous sculpture. The window is rich, and, from its unique character, extremely valuable ; still there is some- thing of a confusion of ideas about it, which prevents its being altogether pleasing. Seen from without, it is still less so ; here the display of sculpture being not seen, the branches assume the character of mere tracery-bars, and, as such, are very unsatisfactory. The south window is remarkable as being an early instance of Perpendicular tracery, for such, though there is no reason to consider it as of later date than the rest, it decidedly is in its main lines. The fondness for sculptured ornament comes out here nearly as conspicuously as in the other two, and the other tendency alluded to is at work also, though less busily. The tracery is of the Alternate kind, the basement-lights being of equal width Avith those beneath them. It may be considered to spring from the transom, as the mullions of the range above it are not a continuation of those below, but spring from the apices of the lights below, just like the basement lights. Consequently, while the lower part has four lights of the ordinary arrangements, tlie upper has three whole lights and half a light, so to speak, on each side. The late form of the tracery in this window is an exception to the general character of this portion of the church. In its other details it more frequently reproduces forms earlier than from its date we should have expected. Thus the east window has distinct and banded jamb-shafts, very different from the mere bowtells in the south aisle of the nave, and its tracery, as well as that of the north window, is as much Geometrical as Flowing. Externally, too, in one of the buttresses we have that most singular phenomenon, a niche of the fourteenth century adorned with the chevron of the