V. Corbels, Gurgoyles, Poppy Heads, etc.

The corbels which occur in the interior of churches generally represent the Heavenly Host — often with various instruments of music, as if taking a share in the devotions of the worshippers. This idea is most fully and beautifully carried out in late perpendicular roofs : where the various orders of the heavenly hierarchy hover, with outstretched wings, over the sacred building — an idea evidently derived from the cherubim that spread their wings over the ark, and the apostle's explanation, ' which things the angels desire to look into.' Often, however, benefactors to the Church are here portrayed. The gurgoyles, on the contrary, represent evil spirits as flying from the holy walls : the hideousness of the figures, so often, by modern connoisseurs, ridiculed or blamed, is therefore not without its appropriate meaning.
We must now say a few words on the least pleasing
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part of the study of symbolism : we mean the satirical representations which record the feuds between the secular and the regular clergy. Thus, in the churches of the former, we have, principally as stallwork, figures of a fox preaching to geese : in those of the latter an ass's head under a cowl : or, which is very frequent, both in woodwork and as a gurgoyle, the cowled double face. As a specimen of these designs, we may mention the stalls * in East Brent, Somersetshire. A fox hung by a goose, with two cubs yelping at the foot of the gallows, a monkey at prayers, with an owl perched over his head : another monkey holding a halbert : a fox with mitre and staff, a young fox in chains, a bag of money in his right paw, and geese and cranes on each side. To these objectionable devices we may add those which to us appear simply profane or indecent if such as the baptism of a dog in one of the Stamford churches, and others in Northampton, S. Peter's, of Norman date. One of the grossest which we have ever seen is to be found on the north side of the chancel arch of Nailsea, Somersetshire. On the towers of some Norman churches, the evange- listic symbols are represented. So in Stow church, Lincolnshire. Tiles ought not to have the cross on them : for though Christ is indeed the foundation of the Church, yet these holy symbols should not be exposed to be trodden under foot. Heraldic devices are here more proper, to signify the worthlessness of worldly honours in the sight of God.
* Rutter's Delineations^ p. 89.
f It is fair to observe that our designating them so may be the effect of our own ignorance.