EARLY ENGLISH, the term generally applied to the form of Gothic in which the pointed arch was first employed in this country. The early English succeeded the Norman towards the end of the 12th c., and merged into the decorated (q.v.) at the end of the 13th. Its characteristics are beautiful and peculiar. Retaining Much of the strength and solidity of the earlier style, it exhibited the graceful forms, without the redundancy of ornament which latterly degenerated into a fault in that which followed. Generally, it may be said to bear to the decorated something like the relation which an expanding rosebud bears to a full-blown rose. The windows are long and narrow, and when gathered into a group, are frequently surmounted by a large arch, which springs from the extreme moldinZ of the window on each side. The space between this arch and the tops of the windows is often pierced with circles, or with trefoils or quatrefoils, which constituted the earliest form of tracery. Each window, however, is generally destitute of any tracery in itself. "The moldings," says Parker, " in general consist of
alternate rounds and deeply-cut hollows, with a small admixture of fillets, producing a strong effect of light and shadow."—Gloss. of Architecture. Circular windows, however, still continued to be used, and trifoliated archways over doors are also to be found, as at Salisbury cathedral. By far the most characteristic feature of the style is the tooth. ornament (q.v.), which is often used in great profusion. Where foliage is used, it is cut with great boldness, so as to throw deep shadows, and prOduce a very fine effect. The under-cutting is often so deep as to leave nothing to connect the leaves with the moldings but the stalks, and occasionally the edge or point of a leaf. The term E. E. is said, by Parker, to have been introduced by Mr. Millers in 1805. It corresponds to Ogivale primitive of French writers, and is very often known as the first pointed or lancet-arched amongst ourselves. See GoTnic ARCHITECTURE.