AS I have previously mentioned, the building was begun in 1446, but, owing to the long Civil Wars, it dragged on until 1515; and it was in that year that a contract was entered into with one Barnard Flower, to glaze the windows "with good, clene, sure, and perfyte glass, according to the old and new lawe," or, as we should put it, the Old and New Testament. Barnard Flower died between July 25, 1517, the date of his will, and August 14, 1517, the date when the will was proved, having completed only four windows, one of which is generally believed to be that over the north door, while a second faces the organ on the same side. He describes himself as "Barnard Floure, the Kinges glasyer of England, dwelling within the precynt of Saint Martin hospitale, in the Burgh of Southwark, in the county of Surrey." In 1526 two contracts were entered into with other firms to complete the rest of the windows, which was done in 1531. Among the names of those who entered into the last contract were two Flemings. Windows of a similar kind, although smaller, are to be found at Fairford in Gloucestershire; these date from about 1490.
The windows of the Chapel contain the finest series in the world of pictures in glass on a large scale. The tracery is filled with heraldic devices. At the top of the centre light are the Royal Arms as borne by Henry VII, and the rest of the badges are Roses, Crowns, Portcullises, Hawthorn bushes and Fleur-de-lys, being all appropriate to Henry VII. There are also the initials H. E. (Henry VII and Elizabeth of York) and H. K. for Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon as Prince and Princess of Wales. These badges run all round the side windows. In each side window there are four subjects, two side lights above and two below the transom or crossbar, while in the centre light are four figures, men and angels alternately, "Messengers," as they are called, because they hold scrolls or tablets (in Latin) descriptive of the pictures at the sides. All the side windows, except the easternmost window on the south side, are carried out in a similar manner.
In most cases the two lower pictures illustrate two scenes in the New Testament, and the two upper ones give types of these scenes drawn from the Old Testament or elsewhere. There are exceptions to this arrangement, as, for instance, the first two windows on the north side and in those illustrating the Acts of the Apostles.
The main subjects of the windows are the life of the Virgin Mary and the life of Christ. The scenes begin with the Birth of the Virgin, in the westernmost window on the north side, and proceed through the principal events of our Lord's life to the Crucifixion in the east window. This is followed on the south side by the following events as recorded in the Gospels, of which the last depicted is the Ascension in the one opposite the organ. Next comes the history of the Apostles as recorded in the Acts, while the legendary history of the Virgin occupies the last two windows.[6]
The following diagram may be of use in helping my readers to decipher the windows on the north and south sides.
Window key
The Subjects of the Windows are as follows:
NORTH SIDE
Window I. (Westernmost.)
| 1. The offering of Joachim and Anna rejected by the High Priest. | 2. Joachim is bidden by an Angel to return to Jerusalem, where he would meet his wife at the Golden Gate of the Temple. |
| 3. Joachim and Anna at the Golden Gate of the Temple. | 4. Birth of the Virgin. |
Window II.
| 1. Presentation of a Golden Table (found by fishermen entangled in their nets) in the Temple of the Sun. | 2. Marriage of Tobias and Sara. |
| 3. Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple. | 4. Marriage of Joseph and Mary. |
At the bottom of each picture in this window there is a small compartment containing a half-length figure of a man or angel bearing a legend.
Window III.
| 1. The Temptation of Eve. | 2. Moses and the Burning Bush. |
| 3. The Annunciation. | 4. The Nativity.[A] |
Window IV.
| 1. The Circumcision of Isaac by Abraham | 2. The visit of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon. |
| 3. The Circumcision of Christ. | 4. The Adoration of the Magi.[B] |
Window V.
| 1. The Purification of Women under the Law. | 2. Jacob's Flight from Esau.[C] |
| 3. The Presentation of Christ in the Temple.[D] | 4. The Flight into Egypt. |
Window VI.
| 1. The Golden Calf on a Ruby Pillar. | 2. The Massacre of the Seed Royal by Athaliah. |
| 3. The Idols of Egypt falling.[E] | 4. The Massacre of the Innocents. |
Window VII.
| 1. Naaman Washing in Jordan. | 2. Jacob tempts Esau to sell his birthright. |
| 3. The Baptism of Christ. | 4. The Temptation of Christ.[F] |
Window VIII.
| 1. Elisha raises the Shumanite's Son. | 2. The Triumph of David.[G] |
| 3. The raising of Lazarus. | 4. The entry into Jerusalem.[H] |
Window IX.
| 1. The Fall of Manna. | 2. The Fall of the Rebel Angels. |
| 3. The Last Supper.[I] | 4. The Agony in the Garden.[J] |
Window X.
| 1. Cain killing Abel. | 2. Shemei cursing David. |
| 3. The Betrayal.[K] | 4. Christ mocked and blind-folded.[L] |
Window XI.
| 1. Jeremiah imprisoned. | 2. Noah mocked by Ham. |
| 3. Christ before Annas. | 4. Christ before Herod. |
Window XII.
| 1. Job tormented. | 2. Solomon crowned. |
| 3. The Scourging of Christ. | 4. Christ crowned with thorns. |
Window XIII.
The East Window is quite different. For one thing it is much larger, and has nine vertical divisions instead of five. Here, in the tracery, in addition to other heraldic badges, is the "Dragon of the great Pendragonship," holding a banner with the arms of Henry VII. Also there is seen the ostrich feather of the Prince of Wales with the motto "Ich Dien."[7]
In this window there are no Messengers with inscriptions; only six scenes from the Passion beginning at the bottom left hand corner, and each occupying three lights instead of two. In the first three lights below the transom is the Ecce Homo; in the centre three, Pilate washing his hands, the final moment in the trial. Our Lord is represented in the centre light with his back to the spectator. In the three on the right is Christ bearing the Cross. Here is shown Saint Veronica kneeling and offering to our Lord a handkerchief to wipe his face. The legend goes on to say that, when he returned it to her, his face was impressed upon it; and it is now one of the four great relics preserved in the piers of the dome of St. Peter's at Rome.
Above the transom, the left three lights contain the Nailing to the Cross. In the centre three is Christ crucified between the thieves. At the base of the Cross may be seen our Lord's robe on the ground, and two figures kneeling upon it and pointing down to pieces of paper or dice, a scene depicting the fulfilment of the prophecy: "They parted my garments among them and upon my vesture they did cast lots." In the right three lights the body of Christ is taken down from the Cross.
SOUTH SIDE
Window XIV.
The Brazen Serpent, after a picture by Rubens, now in the National Gallery.[M]
| 3. Naomi and her Daughters-in-Law. | 4. The Virgin and other Holy Women lamenting over the body of Christ. |
Window XV.
| 1. Joseph cast into the pit by his brethren. | 2. Israel going out of Egypt. |
| 3. Burial of Christ. | 4. The Harrowing of Hell. |
Window XVI.
| 1. Jonah vomited up by the Whale.[N] | 2. Tobias returning to his Mother. |
| 3. The Resurrection of Christ. | 4. Christ appearing to his Mother at prayer. |
Window XVII.
| 1. Reuben at the pit, he finds it empty, and Joseph gone. | 2. Darius visiting the lions' den finds Daniel alive. |
| 3. The three Marys at the Sepulchre, which they find empty. | 4. Christ, with a spade, appears to Mary Magdalene in the garden.[O] |
Window XVIII.
| 1. The Angel Raphael meets Tobias. | 2. Habakuk feeding Daniel in the lions' den. |
| 3. Christ meets the two Disciples on the way to Emmaus. | 4. The Supper at Emmaus. |
Window XIX.
| 1. The Return of the Prodigal Son.[P] | 2. The meeting of Jacob and Joseph. |
| 3. The Incredulity of St. Thomas. | 4. Christ appearing to the Apostles without Thomas.[Q] |
Window XX.
| 1. Elijah carried up to Heaven.[R] | 2. Moses receives the Tables of Law. |
| 3. The Ascension of Christ. | 4. The Descent of the Holy Ghost. |
Window XXI.
| 1. Peter and John heal the lame man at the gate of the Temple. | 2. The Apostles arrested.[S] |
| 3. Peter and the Apostles going to the Temple.[T] | 4. The Death of Annanias.[U] |
Window XXII.
| 1. The Conversion of St. Paul. | 2. Paul conversing with Jews at Damascus.[V] |
| 3. Paul and Barnabas at Lystra. | 4. Paul stoned at Lystra. |
Window XXIII.
| 1. Paul and the Demoniac Woman. | 2. Paul before the Chief Captain Lysias at Jerusalem. |
| 3. Paul saying farewell at Philippi.[W] | 4. Paul before Nero. |
Window XXIV.
| 1. The Death of Tobit. | 2. The Burial of Jacob. |
| 3. The Death of the Virgin. | 4. The Funeral of the Virgin. |
Window XXV.
| 1. The Translation of Enoch. | 2. Solomon receives his mother Bath-Sheba. |
| 3. Assumption of the Virgin. | 4. The Coronation of the Virgin.[X] |
Window XXVI.
The West Window was filled with stained glass depicting the Last Judgment, by Messrs. Clayton and Bell, of London, in 1879. There is no doubt that in the original scheme of the windows this was intended to be the subject of the west window.[8] Like the east window, it consists of nine lights, divided by a transom into two tiers. The general idea is to set forth the scene of the Judgment as within a vast hall of semi-circular plan. In the central light of the upper tier is seated the figure of our Lord on the throne of judgment. On each side of the principal figure are groups of angels jubilant with trumpets and bearing emblems of the Passion.
On the right and left, each in three divisions, are seated figures of Apostles and other Saints. In the three lights below the figure of our Lord are St. Michael and two other angels, the one on the dexter side (the left side as you look at it) bearing a Lily, the other on the sinister (right) holding a flaming sword. St. Michael in the centre is in full armour. He carries the scales of judgment, and rests one hand on a cruciferous shield.
The lower portions of the lights show, on the one side, the resurrection of the blessed, with angels receiving them. A special feature of the design is seen in the lowermost portion near the centre. Here appears the figure of the founder, King Henry VI. He rises from his grave gazing upward, and bearing in his hands a model of the chapel itself. On the other side the lost are shown, driven out by angels threatening them with flaming swords.
In the tracery are arranged various shields and heraldic devices, which comprise the arms of Queen Victoria, Henry VI, Henry VII, Henry VIII, the Provost (Dr. Okes), the Visitor (the Bishop of Lincoln, Chr. Wordsworth), F. E. Stacey, Esq. (the Donor), with those of King's College, Eton College, and the University.
The question has often been asked, How did the windows escape during the Civil War? There is one story that the west window was broken by Cromwell's soldiers (who certainly were quartered in the chapel), and that the rest of the glass was taken out and concealed inside the organ screen. Another, which appears in a small book called "The Chorister," is that all the glass was taken down and buried in pits in the college grounds in one night by a man and a boy. Both these stories are entirely fictitious. The best answer to the question may be found in the words of the Provost of Eton (Dr. M. R. James), who says, in one of his addresses on the windows: "It is most probable that Cromwell, anxious to have at least one of the universities on his side, gave some special order that no wilful damage should be wrought on this building, which, then as now, was the pride of Cambridge and of all the country round." The windows have been taken out and re-leaded at various times—first between 1657 and 1664; next in 1711-1712; thirdly in 1725-1730; fourthly in 1757-1765; fifthly in 1847-1850; and fourteen of them (one in each year) in a period extending from 1893 to 1906, by the late Mr. J. E. Kempe, when several mistakes which then existed were put right.
