dividing the space into squares. The principals, purlins and plates of the south aisle are enriched with very fine carved foliage. The rood-screen, to which I have referred, and which was doubtless the feature of this beautiful church, from the portions which remain must have been highly ornate. Upon the cornice is carved a vine pattern, amongst the branches of which are a flight of doves, hunting scenes, fighting animals and birds and grotesque figures. The lower parts of the transom remain in situ. The panels are variously carved with foliage and flowers. Some of these carvings seem to portray sea-weeds and sunflowers conventionally treated. A part of the huge beam still extends across the chancelopening, where once the rood-loft was. It is richly carved on both sides. Here are bunches of grapes, appearing amidst leaves, pecked at by birds or grasped by terrible demons. On some of the carving animals are seen adorned with horns and facial contortions. A creature like a cat seizes two birds, one in either claw; a bird pecks at a long-eared baldhead; a serpent creeps away in terror. Hunting scenes abound. A hunter, with staff or cross-bow in hand, incites his dog to the chase. The dog is long-eared and bodied, showing how ancient is the breed of dachshund. A demon grasps in one hand the end of a scroll, biting it with exposed teeth. In all these carvings, and it would take much more space to describe them all, the creatures depicted are at dire variance one with another. A twisted pattern, like a cable, more or less frames in or separates the various subjects; and the workmanship, though rude, is bold and very effective, admirably thought out, and executed for the purpose, intended to be seen from a distance and understood at a glance. Similar portions of the south-aisle screen exist now behind the chancel stalls, the panels being there similarly treated. These are just fragments of the fan-traceried cone preserved with the original colouring more or less apparent. The rector, the Rev. Canon Martyn, is making a strenuous effort to restore this most valuable example of early sixteenth-century Cornish craftsmanship by completing the missing framework, and inserting here and there the remains of the original carved and traceried work in their true ST. BURYAN'S CROSS 117 positions. By this means the various loose and scattered, but priceless, fragments will be more securely preserved. It is sincerely to be hoped that this admirably planned restoration may be carried out. In Norman times this church was a most important one, but, alas! nothing is now left of that period except the scattered remains of two circular arches, which have been built up in the fifteenth-century north wall of the sanctuary. Parts of this wall have quite lately been removed, so that these Norman remains can now be better seen. the stalls are turned 66 Since the deadly "restoration round and the historic collegiate arrangement is destroyed. Most of the fine old carvings which remain were stored" by Mr. Butterfield, who had them painted just like a barber's pole. It is singular how tastes differ! re The old carved benches are gone. The roofs are freshly tunnelled in plaster, and tied with iron rods fantastically painted! The window-jambs are scarified. I should also mention that most of the windows are of late fifteenthcentury work, with square heads to the lights, and there is a finely proportioned porch built of surface granite like the tower on the same side. The tower is well proportioned and is of four stages, and has buttresses rising nearly to the battlements. A slate sundial adorns the entrance to the porch, having upon it the motto, "Pereunt et Imputantur," and bearing date 1747. Near the porch on the south side of the church, on a flight of granite steps, is an old Celtic cross. This is a good specimen of the "four-hole" cross, showing on the south side the rudely embossed figure of our Lord. On the head of the figure of our Lord is a nimbus similar to that on the churchyard crosses of Sancreed and Paul. The arms are very long and expanded where the hands ought to be in the tunic, which is terminated just above the knees, the much exaggerated feet being turned outwards at right angles. The five bosses on the reverse of the head of this cross are popularly said to be symbolic of the Five Wounds of Christ; but I know of no historic authority in evidence thereof. We have no record that in any Cornish cross these bosses were so intended by the carvers. Some people go out of their way to discover, and even elaborate, a system of symbolism out of ornament in cases where nothing of the sort was ever intended. The carver who first originated, say the centre boss, may have for artistic uniformity and effect added a boss on each limb of the cross without any ulterior motive at all. It remains for the curious in comparatively modern times to invest every little detail of ancient ornament with a subtle symbolism. Mr. A. G. Langdon mentions an amusing instance which came under his observation. Two young men made a discovery. At Phillack there is part of a coped stone, and along the top of the ridge is a rude cable moulding. It is hardly credible, but these two gentlemen counted the remaining notches forming the cable, and finding they came to thirty-two, decided at once that they represented our Lord's age. They were quite certain, because they had counted them twice! A somewhat similar holed cross at Paul Church has the toes of the figure close together. This cross, Buryan churchyard cross, is on the top of a flight of steps, and it is in the usual place near the entrance into the sacred edifice, suggesting due preparation previously to entering. At St. Levan is an ancient cross similarly placed, and in many other Cornish churchyards. The stoup at the doorway is mutilated, and a head or a cross appears to have been once embossed on the basin, but it is now knocked off. The corbel over the doorway was probably intended to hold the figure of the Blessed Virgin, or perhaps St. Buriana, but this is also missing. The font of Ludgvan granite, usually used in Cornwall for fonts, is ornamented by scroll-work and crosses, and is supported by four shafts. Round by the east window, on the north side of the church, on the outside, will be seen the arched remains of what was evidently a leper's window, the arch of the same old Norman artificial stone as the arches inside. Near the old cross in the churchyard, close to the entrancegate, is a quaint inscription on a tombstone. It reads thus: "In Memory of Capt. Willm Nath Simpson Delle son of William and Jane Delle of this Parish he was drown'd near St. Ives Nov 20, 1807 aged 2-" (last figure un |