1000, and the two latter, A. D. 1026. It has been observed, by more than one writer on the subject, that sculptured figures of the thirteenth century are superior to similar performances of the two succeeding centuries: from this circumstance a conclusion arises in direct opposition to the assertion that English art was derived from France or Italy. Had that been the case, the same gradation as in the workmanship of the parent schools would have been apparent; yet the custom of carving a figure of the deceased in bas relief on the tomb seems likely to have been brought from France, where it was continued in imitation of the Romans.

Nearly opposite the tomb assigned to Bishop Burwold is that of Bishop John Harewell, chancellor of Gascony and chaplain to Edward the Black Prince, who died in 1386, and was buried before the altar of St. Calixtus. His effigy of alabaster has been much defaced; the bishop's mitre is curiously decorated, but the head of the crosier, generally of rich workmanship, is gone.

The monument of Bishop William Bitton, the second bishop of Wells of that name, is placed at the back of the cathedral choir, between the second and third pillars from the west. He died in the year 1274. The tomb consists of a marble slab, on which is sculptured an episcopal figure in high relief, and in the act of conferring benediction.22 Angels, with censers, performing the service of acolytes, fill the spandrils of the ornamented niche, in which this bishop is enshrined.

At the eastern end of the church towards the Lady Chapel is a small transept, on the north, called St. John's Chapel, in which is a monument erected in memory of Bishop Gilbert Berkeley, who died in the year 1581. He was very rich, but, adds sir John Harrington, "neither church nor the poor were the better for it."

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On the eastern side of the same chapel is a monument and 22 It was an ancient custom for the bishop, before he received the eucharist in the sacrifice of the mass, to bless the people in a form of prayer appropriate to the feast of the day. This solemn observation was made on the fraction of the host, and as that was the time at which a blessing was asked for the living, so also it was the special moment when on the day of burial the deceased was prayed for by name. This blessing was given originally by the imposition of hands, but, at a later age, that ceremony was disused, and the sign of the cross alone accompanied the benediction of the people. See a very interesting dissertation by John Gage, Esq., on St. Æthelwold's Benedictional, an illuminated M. S. of the tenth century, in the library of his grace the Duke of Devonshire.--Archæologia, vol. 24.

effigy of Bishop Robert Crichton, who had been in exile with King Charles II. at the Hague, as one of the chaplains to his majesty. He died on the 21st of November, 1672, æt. 78. On his monument are the arms of the see of Wells combined with those of Bath. The arms now used by the bishops of Bath and Wells, it is needless to say, are the arms of the see of Wells alone. Near this monument is an altar tomb, with a cumbent figure of a priest represented in his canonicals, said to be in memory of Dean Forest, who died in 1446; and some mural tablets of members of the Brydges family, formerly of Wells.

In that part of the small southern transept called St. Katherine's Chapel is a monument attributed to Bishop William Bitton, who died in the year 1264, the first bishop of Wells of that name, and is said to have been buried in the chapel of the Virgin Mary. His tomb has since been removed, and to what part is doubtful. The episcopal figure is much mutilated, but had formerly been painted.'

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Eastward of this ancient tomb, in the Lady Chapel, is a very light and elegant specimen of monumental architecture, erected to commemorate Bishop John Drokensford, keeper of the king's wardrobe and privy seal, and under-treasurer of the royal exchequer. This bishop of Wells died at Dogmersfield, in Hampshire, on the 13th of May, 1329. The altar tomb is surmounted by a canopy, consisting of eight buttresses, carried up in small pinnacles, and supporting intermediate highly pointed gables, the crocketed ridges of which terminate in ornamental finials; but there is neither effigy nor inscription. Bishop Drokenford's chantry was endowed in year 1328 with ten pounds, payable yearly to three chaplains, out of the manor of Middleton and the church of Berrow, near South Brent, in Somersetshire.

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The windows of the Lady Chapel are of painted, or rather stained glass, and produce a most beautiful effect when casting their brilliant hues on the fine architectural forms in this part of the Cathedral; but through lapse of time, neglect, and spoliation, the windows had become mutilated, and the pieces which composed

24 This bishop appears to have been not inattentive to the worldly interests of his family, many of whom were in the church. William, his brother's son, was made archdeacon of Wells, and became afterwards bishop. Richard Bitton was precentor; Nicholas, the bishop's brother, was treasurer; John Bitton, another brother, was rector of Ashbury, in which he was succeeded by Thomas Bitton. There was also Thomas Bitton, dean of Wells, who was appointed bishop of Exeter, in 1291.