side lengthwise. From end to end of the Hall, therefore, there are three parallel lines of pendants, and four parallel lines of arches. The spandrels of these hanging arches are filled with delicate perpendicular open tracery. On either side-wall, along the line from which the ceiling ascends, there is a series of panels ornamented with quatrefoils. The vault of the roof is covered with panels, ornamented with richly-moulded longitudinal and cross ribs which divide the space between each of the arches. into four equal compartments; and these mouldings, together with the main ribs themselves, are decorated with a profusion of flowers and knots of foliage. In the centre of the fourth bay from the south is an hexagonal louvre, or lantern, the use of which in ancient houses was, I scarcely need add, to allow of the escape of the smoke from the fire, which was made against the reredos in the middle of the floor below. Whether the present one was ever used for this purpose is doubtful; as there existed a fireplace at the north end of the Hall, the opening of which measured 7 feet 8 inches by 5 feet 6 inches, independent of its exterior mouldings, and another is still visible on the east side. It should be added that the present differs from the generality of our timber roofs by being an inner one, and covered by another on the outside. Instead of this, the usual plan was to exhibit the actual timbers of which the external roof was composed, to which were applied ornaments and other additions, in agreement with the taste or skill of the constructor.

It has been supposed by some that the roof, as we now see it, is not complete, but that it has suffered mutilation and curtailment at one if not both ends. The restoration demonstrated that such was not the fact, from the conclusive circumstance that the extreme trusses were only half the thickness of the others, and were furnished with mouldings on the inner side only. I am indebted to Mr. Carlos for this information, which completely sets the question at rest.

The walls below the windows are perfectly plain, and composed of rubble plastered over. They were intended to be covered with. tapestry.

No original entrance into the Hall now remains, except a flat

arched doorway communicating with the Council Chamber. The main entrance was no doubt under the Minstrels' Gallery at the south end; but this spot has long formed the passage to Crosby Square, and all vestiges of its ancient appearance have ceased to exist.

The oriel, which stands on the west side of the Hall, and towards its northern extremity, is one of the finest specimens now remaining. (See vignette, p. 35.) It rises to the entire height of the room, and is 10 feet 10 inches in width, and 8 feet 5 inches in depth from the inner line of the wall beyond which it projects. It is formed by five sides of an octagon, at the angles of which are clustered shafts which rise from octagonal plinths. From the capitals of these delicate shafts spring ribs, which diverge and form the groining of a richly-ornamented stone ceiling. At the numerous points where the ramifications intersect each other are bosses of foliage, that in the centre larger than any of the rest, and bearing in high relief the crest of Sir John Crosbie-a ram trippant argent, armed and hoofed or. I scarcely need add that the ancient glass with which the oriel was furnished, and which no doubt was magnificent, has entirely perished.

I have nothing to communicate with regard to the interiors of the Council Chamber and Throne Room over it, which, you will recollect, constitute, together with the Hall and some vaults to be noticed presently, the sole remaining portions of the original structure. An external doorway, small and flat-arched, occupies the angle between the Hall and Council Chamber. Before the late restorations the height of this building was divided into three stories, but the previous division into two floors is again introduced. They are noble rooms; but the appearance which they now present is entirely the effect of modern renovation.

There only remain to be described the numerous vaults just referred to, which are chiefly possessed of interest as marking the site of a portion at least of the original edifice. They extend over a large surface, and are used as cellars by the occupiers of several of the neighbouring houses. For the most part they are ceiled with elliptical brick arches plastered over. One however, 35 feet by 16, situated at the south-west of the Great Hall, and to which are attached the remains of a staircase that led to the apartments

above, is of a richer character. It formed the substructure of a building, which, together with the Hall and the Council Chamber, formed three sides of one of the quadrangles of which the house was composed, and differs from the others by being vaulted in chalk with ribs of stone. And a conjecture has been advanced, from its higher degree of ornamentation, that the building which surmounted it was the domestic chapel.

Our survey of this noble mansion-the first of a series in illustration of old London and Middlesex domestic edifices-is now as complete as the space at my disposal will allow. We have traced its history from the ancestral days of its worshipful founder, through times of wealth, hospitality, and splendour, as well as of degradation and reckless injury, to its present period of comparative restoration. We have glanced at the noble array, solemnly passing in imagination before us, of worthies who successively owned or tenanted the place. And we have technically examined such of its architectural glories as time and vandalism have been prevailed upon to spare. You will not, I trust, have considered the time. wasted which has been devoted to such an object. For in the midst of destruction so sweeping and wholesale, we may indeed congratulate ourselves on this happy conservation of the finest parts of a building associated in such close intimacy with what we love best in secular literature, and admire most in constructive art. We may indeed be thankful that, among all the changes so conspicuous around us, we have yet accorded to us the possession of a scene which can recal such memories as those in which we have been luxuriating, and which can make us live in spirit with so many of the great and good who have passed away from the eye of sense. An edifice well deserves our reverence and regard, whose venerable walls, solemn chambers, and diversified history can reveal beauties, suggest associations, and elicit remembrances, at once so fair, so national, and so grandly great.

[The Council have the pleasure of very thankfully acknowledging the liberality of their noble President, Lord Londesborough, in presenting the engravings which accompany the foregoing Paper, as well as that which occupies the following page.]

Central portion, actual size, of an Ivory Triptych, of the XIVth Century, found in Haydon Square, Minories, on the site of the Abbey of the Nuns Minoresses,

In the possession of the Rev. Thomas Hugo.

NOTICES OF ST. HELEN'S, BISHOPSGATE,

AND ESPECIALLY OF THE EMINENT PERSONS WHO LIE THERE INTERRED.

BY THOMAS LOTT, ESQ. F.S.A.

[Read in Crosby Hall, January 28, 1856.]

WITH regard to the Church of St. Helen's, it is not my intention in the present paper to attempt any description of the building itself, which has already been so well described in the various histories of London that the task on my part would be needless. My friend, the vestry clerk of St. Helen's, William Jones, Esq. of Crosby Square, having, however, kindly lent me some interesting MSS. purchased by him several years since of the son of the late Mr. Olding, respecting the Church, I have thought that a few extracts from them would not be out of place on the present occasion:

"St. Helen, to whom the Priory and Church were dedicated by Constantine Chlorus, governor of the Britons and Romans, was mother of Constantine the Great, the first Christian Emperor of Rome. She was the daughter of Coel, Prince of the Britons, and born at Colchester, in Essex, according to the British Chronicles; but some Greek writers, among whom is Nicephorus, relate that she was born at Dupranum, in Bythinia, being the daughter of an host in that city, who brought her to Constantius, then happening to be there in his passage as Ambassador in Persia. He became enamoured of her on account of her beauty and comeliness, and had a child by her, who was named Constantine. Cardinal Baronius, however, disputes this story, and avers that she was a Briton, and was Constantius's lawful wife.

"This is the same Helen who in ancient writings is named Piissima et Venerabilis Augusta. She went to Jerusalem, and there discovered the Cross on which Christ was crucified. She left Quirinus as Bishop of Jerusalem, and afterwards returned to Rome, where she died, and was buried about the year of our Lord 326, aged 80 years. She was afterwards translated by her son Constantine from Rome to Constantinople, and from thence,