CHAPTER IV. THE CHAPEL OF THE GUILD. Erected in time of Henry VII.-Old chancel-Sir Hugh Clopton's monument-Remarkable paintings disclosed during repairs-Probably seen by Shakespeare. THE Guild Chapel, which is immediately beside the Guild Hall and Grammar School, was erected by Sir Hugh Clopton in the reign of Henry VII., and its architecture is in the style of that period. The building is a good one, but not highly ornamented, and the square tower is rather low. The windows are similar in style to those in the chancel of Stratford Church. When the old structure was pulled down in Henry VII.'s time for the erection of the present fabric, the chancel apparently was left, for it is different from the rest of the building, in style, colour of stone, and masonry, and is evidently of greater antiquity. It may possibly be part of the original chapel, built by Robert de Stratford in 1296. Against the east wall of the nave is erected a monument to Sir Hugh Clopton, who built the chapel at his own expense. The inscription recounts the good deeds of this benefactor to Stratford, such as his building the bridge over the Avon. In 1804, during the repair of the chapel, a series of remarkable paintings was discovered below the coats of whitewash with which the walls had been covered. Those in the chancel were chiefly on the subject of the true cross, as might be expected, when we remember that the fraternity bore the title of "The Guild of the Holy Cross." One painting represented its rescue from the pagan Chosroes, king of Persia, by the Christian emperor Heraclius. Others figured its discovery at Jerusalem by Helena, the mother of Constantine. In the nave, on the west wall, upon the south side of the arch, was represented the Martyrdom of Thomas à Becket, who kneels at the altar while the knights who slew him are hewing him down and stabbing him with their swords. Beneath this St. Michael was represented bearing a scroll with a number of verses written on it, describing the vanity of human ambition. Over the arch was a picture of the Day of Judgment, part of which represented the torments of the wicked. On the north side of the arch was figured the combat between St. George and the Dragon, and below it an allegorical painting on a moral subject, having scrolls with inscriptions. It seems, too, that the Dance of Death was painted on the walls, but it is not known where. The paintings in this chapel were mutilated at the time of the Reformation, the crosses especially being defaced. It was probably in the Puritan age that the defacement was completed, although it is not known when the whitewash was first put on. We are inclined to think that Shakespeare, as a boy, must have seen these impressive pictures, though certainly they had suffered some violence before then. Whether or not the school was kept in the chapel, he must have been in it times untold; and such scenic representations would awaken extraordinary feelings in a mind like his. We cannot but regret that the destruction of Roman Catholic works of art was so indiscriminate. Those who destroyed them did not know how important a purpose they might one day serve. Of the paintings which adorned this structure, a set of beautiful coloured engravings has been published, which are taken from drawings made at the time of their discovery. |