Page:Bramshill, its history and architecture (by Sir William H. Cope).pdf/81

 Beginning on the side facing the Altar the subject in the medallion is: Aaron in the Holy of Holies praying before the Ark of the Covenant, in which are twelve rods, one of which is budding; the altar on which the Ark rests is vested like a Catholic altar of the middle ages. On his sleeve is his name (Aaron).

Large Subject: The people waiting without; two priests draw the curtains of the Sanctuary in which is seen the Ark; beyond which are two figures also looking in.

In the centre medallion: A figure of a King praying, probably David; (the head has been destroyed and supplied with a piece of drapery,) before him a lamb.

Large Subject: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The blessed Virgin crowned, and with long hair flowing over her shoulders, bears the holy Infant on her left arm, and holds an apple in her right hand. She is attired in an under robe of blue, and in a magnificent upper robe of red. She is surrounded by Angels, one of whom plays on a viol, another on a harp. Below are the heads of a multitude gazing upwards in adoration.

Medallion: the Prophet Isaiah, represented as an old bearded man; on his robe is his name. He bears a tablet, on which is a figure (of Jacob?) bearing an uprooted tree, branching into two boughs which bear twelve crowns; at the top it ends in a crowned  head. The allusion seems to be to Isaiah xxvii. 6.

The Tapestry is continued on the North-Eastern wall, where the first medallion represents a crowned figure vested in a crimson robe with an ermine cape; in his left hand he bears a sceptre and tablet, to which he points with the fore-finger of the right hand. This tablet contains a figure of the blessed Virgin, crowned, and richly robed in blue and red, riding on an eagle; in allusion to Revelations xii. 14.

Between this and the next medallion is represented the star—figured as a comet—appearing to the wise men, who are lying in a plain beside their tents.