Bk. VI. Ch. III. CIIAPTER-IIOUSES. 173 any apparent incongruity, the parliament-house of the nation, instead of the council-chamber of a monastic establishment ; and all the par- liaments of the kingdom were held within its walls till the dissolution of the religious orders placed the more convenient rectangular chapel of St. Stephen at their disposal. Now that it has been restored, we are enabled to judge of the beauty of its proportions ; and, from the remains of paintings which have been so wonderfully preserved, of the OOo. Chapter-House, Bristol. (Cath. Hb.) beauty of the art with which it was once decorated. It only wants colored glass in its windows to enable us to realize the beauty of these truly English edifices. That at Bristol is late in the style (1155-1170), and consequently almost approaches the transitional epoch, but is very rich and beau- tiful. The eastern end has been unfortunately pulled down and
