This venerable ruin is, in despite of the exertions of the lord of the manor, fast disappearing; and, in all probability, before the lapse of another half century, the walls of it remaining will be level with the earth.

On the handsome bridge of nine arches, which spans the river Calder, at Wakefield is the very beautiful remain of Edward IV.'s chapel. It is undoubtedly ancient, and stands upon the site of one built by Edward III., which appears to have been pulled down and rebuilt by Edward IV., in the most elaborate style of the architecture of his period, in memory of his father, Richard, Duke of York, who was slain near Wakefield, in the battle fought between him and Margaret of Anjou, the boldspirited wife of Henry VI., in 1460. Edward IV. is therefore looked upon as the founder of the chapel. According to the following quotation from Leland, it should appear that the chapel was not alone indebted to the liberality of the monarch for its support. He says: "On the est side of the bridge is a right goodly chapel of our Lady, and two cantuarie [chantry] prestes founded in it of the fundation of the townesmen, as sum say, but the dukes of York were taken as founders, for obteyning the mortemayn. I heard one say that a servant of King Edward [IV.], or else of the Erle of Rutheland, brother to King Edward, was a great doer of it." Ten pounds per annum was the amount of the endowment for the payment of the two priests, which was withdrawn at the dissolution of the monasteries, since which period, the chapel has been allowed to fall into decay, and even within the last few years, its beautiful ornaments have received considerable damage. The chapel stands about the centre of the bridge, and as we have seen, on the east side. It projects over, and partly rests on the starlings of the bridge. Its general architecture is of the richest Gothic. Its dimensions are, in length about ten yards, in breadth eight. The east window, which overhangs the river, is adorned with traceries of the most delicate kind, and with perforated parapets. The west front is, however, the great feature of the building. It is divided in the lower part, by buttresses, into five compartments or recesses, having lofty pediments and pointed arches, in relief, with the spandrils richly flowered. Above is an entablature, with five smaller compartments with rounded arches, in relief, representing subjects from scripture. The whole is surmounted with battlements, part of which, however, as well as of the entablature, have been broken away. These different portions of the front are all enriched with such a profusion of delicately-beautiful ornaments, as to make the chapel quite an architectural gem.

CHAPTER XIV.

CROSSES.

CROSSES are a class of antique structures, kindred to that of abbeys. There are several of these still remaining in Britain. A writer remarks: The origin of market crosses seems obvious enough. The figure of the cross, during the middle ages, was the grand symbol of religion. It was placed everywhere-in churches, churchyards, by the roadside, to stimulate the devotions of the traveller, on spots where some event had occurred, the memory of which it was wished to perpetuate; and in public places where the people were in the habit of congregating. The use of the cross, therefore, to indicate the market-place, arose very naturally from the venera tion paid to it. It served as a rallying point, and was also intended to excite devotional feelings in those assembled for the purpose of buying and selling. A large number of market towns were in the immediate neighborhood, and stood upon the soil, of abbeys. The country-people who came to dispose of their grain, poultry, eggs, butter, &c., had to pay certain tolls on their commodities; these were gener ally collected at the "cross," or market-place; and frequently advantage was taken of the assembling of the people, to address them from the cross on some particular topic. By an easy transition, the term "cross" came to be applied, not to the figure which marked the spot, but to the entire spot itself. Almost every town in Britain has its "cross," or public place.

The first crosses were simple in their construction; if composed of stone, consisting merely of a single shaft, generally slightly elevated, and surmounted by a cross. Gradually they were converted into little structures, or buildings, of various forms, and adorned according to the taste or liberality of the founders. During the latter days of the Gothic, or rather the ecclesiastical architecture, the idea was adopted of enlarging the area where the cross stood, and arching it over, so as to afford a shelter during inclement weather, or, in the words of Leland, "for poore market folkes to stand dry when rayne cummeth." At the dissolution of the monasteries, almost every market-town in England had a cross, some of them exceedingly rich and elaborate in their architectural details. It is a matter of regret to the antiquary, and the lover of ancient monuments, that so few have been preserved.

Winchester Market Cross.

The engraving represents the market-cross of Winchester. In its adaptation to the uses of a market, it must yield to those of Chichester and Malmesbury; but as a work of art, it is undoubtedly the finest market-cross remaining in England. It is much to the credit of the then inhabitants of Winchester, that they saved it from destruction in 1770. Some commissioners of pavements had either sold it, or bargained for its removal, and the workmen had actually asembled in order to commence operation, when a number of the citizens gathered together, and by their spirited remonstrances, frustrated the attempt.

Mr. Britton terms the Winchester market-cross "a masterpice of art." The period of its erection is uncertain; but it is assigned, with every appearance of probability, to the fifteenth century. It is supposed that a more ancient cross occupied the site before the erection of the present one. The cross stands in the High street of Winchester, nearly in the centre of the city. It is elevated on five stone steps, each of which gradually diminishes in size, and consists of three stories, adorned with open arches, niches, and pinnacles, surmounted with small crosses. It appears to have had four statues originally, but only one now remains, under one of the canopied niches on the second story. This is generally said to be St. John the Evangelist; but ecclesiastical antiquaries are of opinion that it represents some martyred saint, from the circumstance of the statue "bearing a palm-branch, the sure token of a martyr." Mr. Britton gives the following dimensions:

"It now measures forty-three and a half feet from the ground to the summit; the lower tier of arches is seven feet ten inches high, and the statue is five feet ten inches."

The cross is still popularly called the "Butter cross," the dealers in butter having been in the habit of vending their particular commodity here down to the year 1772, when a new market-house was erected.

Chichester Market-Cross is pronounced by Britton to be "the most enriched and beautiful example of this class of buildings in England." It was erected by Bishop Story, of whom the Rev. Alexander Hay, the historian of Chichester, gives the following account:

Edward Story, doctor of divinity, fellow of Pembroke hall, in Cambridge, was consecrated bishop of Carlisle, October 14, 1468; and when he had sat nine or ten years there, was translated hither in 1478. He built the cross in the market-place, which, for beauty and magnificence, equalled, if not surpassed, any in the kingdom; and that the city might not be at any charge with it, he left (we are told) an estate at Amberley, worth full 251. per annum, to keep it in repair, which, a few years afterward, the mayor and corporation sold in order to purchase another of the same value nearer home. He founded also the grammar school in this city A. D. 1497, and died in January, 1502, in the 80th year of his age."

The Market-Cross stands in the centre of the city, at the intersection of the two principal streets, which run east and west and north and south. "Like those of Malmesbury, Glastonbury, Cheddar, &c.," says Mr. Britton, "it was intended to shelter persons who brought articles to the market. A large central column, from which spring numerous bold ribs, beneath a vaulted roof, and eight pier buttresses, support the superincumbent panelled wall, parapet, pinnacles, and flying buttresses. Shields, charged with the arms of the bishop already named [Story], impaling those of the reigning monarch, are attached to the buttresses; while the walls between the arches and the outer ogee mouldings are ornamented with sculptured mitres. These mouldings terminate with large and elaborate finials, which serve as brackets to pedestals in niches, which are surmounted by fine canopies. Three inscriptions on tablets fill as many niches, while large clock-dials are inserted above them. The clock was presented by Dame Elizabeth Farrington, as an hourly memento of her good-will,' in 1724. The open turret is comparatively modern, and executed in a very bad style." Charing-Cross was of an octagonal form and built of stone, and in an upper stage contained eight figures. In 1643 it was pulled down and destroyed by the populace, in their zeal against superstitious edifices. Upon the ground of similar zeal, Henry VIII. suppressed the religious houses of the kingdom, and seized their estates and revenues to his own use: the hospital of St. Mary Rouncival was included in this fate. On its ancient site stands the palace of the duke of Northumberland. It was built in the reign of James I., by Henry Howard, earl of Northampton, and, during his life, was called Northampton house. In 1642 it came to Algernon, earl of Northumberland, by marriage, and since then has been called Northumberland house.