Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/516

 422 The Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal. [Jan., introduction of several tasteless monu- ments, this sacred building has been greatly injured. Among these deformi- ties the spectator cannot omit to notice and reprobate the design and effect of an altar-tomb, the side and ends of which are covered by a mass of sculp- tured representations of human bones 1 The choir, with its aisles, is dissimilar in style, character and forms to any other part of the church ; and, from the authenticated particulars of the time of erection, is peculiarly interesting to the architectural antiquary. Over the range of arches of the choir is a triforium, con- sisting of a series of arches with clus- tered columns ; over which is the clere- story. East of the choir to the altar is the presbytery, which corresponds very nearly in style of columns, arches, &c, with the choh At the eastern extremity of the aisles, as well as behind the high altar, are three nights of steps leading to the Trinity Chapel. This is a very fine and interesting part of the building. Its style of architecture has the united characteristics of the latest circular, with its solidity, solemnity, and stability, and of the first pointed, with its more light, lofty, 'and tapering forms. Perhaps there is not a building in England, or on the Continent, to compare with Canterbury. Its crypt and columns, with the vaulting and floor ; the columns above, with their superincumbent arches, some semi- circular, some pointed, the style of the triforium and clerestory, also the side walls, windows, aisles, vaulting, roofing, buttresses, &c, sepa- rately constitute so many fine features of Christian Architecture, and collec- tively exhibit a masterly and novel de- sign, calculated to delight and gratify both the architect and the antiquary. In the midst of the Trinity Chapel was formerly placed a gorgeous shrine and chantry raised to Thomas A'Becket, or " St. Thomas the martyr ;" and here pilgrims and devotees of all nations and conditions were wont to resort, to offer up prayers, and present oblations. The paving-stones around the shrine are said to have been evidences of the frequency of devotional kneeling, by being worn nearly through. The immense value and ostentatious splendor of Becket's shrine are thus described by Erasmus, who saw it after the dissolution : ' In a chest or case of " wood was a coffin of gold, together with " inestimable riches, gold being the " meanest thing to be seen there ; it " shone all over, and sparkled and glit- " tered with jewels of the most rare and " precious kinds, and of an extraordinary ' size, some of them being larger than a "goose's egg; 'most of them were the " gifts of monarchs.' " We will here present our Review readers with a curious but authentic account of some of the pilgrimages to Thomas ABeckeVs Tomb.— In 1177, Philip, the Earl of Flanders, visited Canterbury, with a numerous retinue, and was met by King Henry II., (who is said to have instigated the murder of Becket.) Next came William, Arch- bishop of Rkeims, with a train of fol- lowers ; Louis YIL, King of France, visited the shrine in U79 in a pilgrim's garb, and was met by the nobility of both nations, as also by the English monarch. The French monarch pre- sented a rich cup of gold, with the famous jewel called the Regal of France, which was afterwards seized, during the confiscations of the Reformation, by Henry VIII., who had it set in a thumb-ring. The French King also granted one hundred tuns of wine, to be sent annually by himself and- his suc- cessors. Other monarchs and nobles followed this example. But the m.ost remarkable of all the pilgrimages to the shrine of the murdered Archbishop of Canterbury was that of the English King Henry II., who voluntarily sub- mitted himself to the following penances, as described b}" Lord Lyttelton : " The " King approached Canterbury, and "alighting from his horse, walked bare-