_Arches are almost invariably of the semicircular form, but occasionally stilted, and the only variety in the proportions of arcades, depends upon the height of the piers, the height of the opening averaging in general about twice its width. The earliest arches are simply semicircular apertures in the wall, with a plain or single soffit ; but owing to the extreme thickness of the walls, the intrados was very soon broken into two surfaces, so as to form a concentric rib or sub-arch attached to the soffit of the outer or main arch ; in the majority of instances, the sub•arch is placed in the centre of the main arch, so as to form a recess or angle on either side, but occasionally, the sub-areh is set back, so as to present a recess on one side only, the other side being flush with the face of the wall. Sometimes we find two sub-arches, one under the other, thus presenting three soffits, and two recessions on either side of the arch. The edges of these soffits are lbr the most part rectangular, but are sometimes chamfered or rounded, which is an indication of later work ; still later in the style, we find round and other mouldings introduced, and the intradosses and frees of the arches en riched with the zigzag and other mouldings and ornaments, characteristic of the style. Some chaneel-arches are deeply recessed, and enriched with a number of decorative mould ings, as are also the arches of doorways, of w inch we shall speak more particularly presently.
The piers supporting the principal arches of construction, such as those separating the nave and aisles, are exceedingly massive, frequently of stunted proportions. The simplest form presents a plain shaft on a square plan, which was afterwards recessed at the four angles with a rectangular nook, and this again was frequently filled up with a slender shaft. The same form is not unfrequently varied in appearance by the addition of a semicircular projection on two of the pier, so that we have a square pier recessed at the angles, into which recesses slender cireula• shafts are introduced, and having half' a cylindrical column of massive proportitcs engaged to two opposite sides of the !lief', the remaining sides being left plain : the former answer the of supports to the sub-arches, N5'11110 the latter range with the length of the building. This plain face was sometimes broken by a lofty shalt reaching from the ground to the springing of the vault. commonly termed a vaulting-sha•t. Al assive cylin drical shafts are cry common, and are sometimes enriched with spiral or longitudinal flutings or hands, and sometimes with the zigzag milament disposed in it variety of ways. Octagonal shafts are also to be Met. with, though not nearly so frequently as the preceding, with which they sinnetimes alter nate in a series of arches : sometimes, too, the shafts are made to appear as made up of a cluster of slender pillars. Cylin drical shafts, such as ftinn principal supports in an edifice, ere most frequently, as we have just observed, of massive pro portions, but in one or two instances we find them approxi mating to classical proportions, as in 13ecket's Crown, Canter bury, in which example they bear in every respect a closer resemblance to the classical than probably in any other in England. Slender circular shafts, however, are very much
employed as subordinate mem hers and oniatn ental accessories, an example of w hick has been alluded to in the case of the square, pier w ith nook-shafts at the angles ; they are also much employed in the jambs of doorways and windows in a similar position, and as bearing shafts where an arch is sub divided into two or three apertures, as in two-light windows, and in the triforia mid clerestories of large churches. They are used very largely in the blank arcades which decorate the walls, and also as Vaulting-MIAS. 111 all such eases their proportions and treatment ditli2r very considerably : some are much more slender than others, and sonic are plain, whilst others are enriched with carving of various patterns, amongst which the spiral groove or band of the zig-zag ornament are of constant occurrence : sometimes, too, spiral bands intersect each other so as to form diamond-shaped compartments throughout the surlitee; and at other times the shaft is orna mented with scroll-work, or diamond-shaped leaves, and such like enrichment. In principal piers we occasionally but rarely find clustered shafts.
The capitals partake of great variety of character. some assimilating more or less closely to the Corinthian and other classical examples. They are fur the most part, however, rude and unskilful imitations, and have a heavy appearance contrasted with the originals ; the foliage is more crowded and irregular, and the capital itself much more squat, mid therefore less elegant, than the classical examliles. Many specimens of sculptured foliage exist which can scarcely be said to have been borrowed from such sources, sonic of which are not unworthy of praise. Some have interlaced bands or foliage in slight relief from the surface, and others are sealp hired with grotesque representations of men and animals. Amy capitals are quite plain, the must common of which is the cushion capital : this is 4cl:hie:II frm, beimg rounded at the lower end to meet the shaft, the profile of the curve pre senting somewhat the appearance of the ovolo moulding ; or it may be described as an inverted cone of convex contour spreading upwards, but intersected at about half its height by four vertical planes parallel to the four sides of the abacus, which produce as many flat surfaces rectilinear at the top and sides, lint convex at the lower side where it intersects with the curve. Sometimes the side of the capital consists of many such figures of smaller dimensions placed side by side, the lower edge of the flat surfhce presenting a scalloped appear ance, and beneath each of the scallops is a kind of inverted semi-cone, which meets the neek-mould of the shaft. The variety of capitals is, however, so great, that it would be useless to attempt to describe them all ; they almost invaria bly terminate with a heavy square abacus, with a plain face chamfered only on the lower edge.