Bk. VI. Ch. III. VAULTS. 141 Thoi;gh we may hesitate with regard to the intention of the builders of Norwich, Ely, or Peterborough, there can be no doubt, from the alternate piers and pillars, that when Durham (Woodcut No. 568) was commenced it was intended that the nave should be covered 574. Nave of Peterborough Cathedral.' (Cath. Hb.) by a great hexapartite vault. Before, however, the intention could be carried out, the art of vaulting had been so far perfected that that 1 This, and a considerable number of the woodcuts in this chapter, are bor- rowed from the plates of the beatxtiful series of " Handbooks of the English Cathedrals," in course of publication by Mr. Murray. In order to prevent need- less repetition, they are marked Cath. Hb.
