n cope, which is supposed to rank as the
most magnificent garment belonging to the Church. It may be regarded as
a typical example of real English work, the "Opus Anglicanum" or
"Anglicum," which, although used for other purposes, such as
altar-cloths and altar-frontals, found apparently its fullest scope in
these large semicircular mantles.

Amongst the many copes treasured at South Kensington there are none,
amidst all their splendour, as fine as this, although the fragment of
the "Jesse" cope runs it very closely. There are many copes of this
period in different parts of the Continent--the Daroca Cope at Madrid,
one at Ascagni, another at Bologna, at St. Bertrand-de-Comminges, at
"St. John Lateran" at Rome, at Pienza and Toleda, and a fragment of one
with the famous altar-frontal at Steeple Aston. These are all assumed to
be of "Opus Anglicanum," and they may be described as being technically
perfect, the stitches being of fine small tambour stitch, beautifully
even, and the draperies exquisitely shaded.

The illustration showing the Syon Cope requires some little explanation.
It is wrought on linen, embroidered all over with gold and silver thread
and coloured silk. It is 9 feet 7 inches long, 4 feet 8 inches wide.
The whole of the cope except the border is covered with interlacing
quatrefoils outlined in gold. The ground of these quatrefoils is covered
with red silk and the spaces between them with green silk. Each
quatrefoil is filled with scenes from the life of Christ, the Virgin,
and figures of St. Michael and of the Apostles. On the green spaces are
worked figures of six-winged angels standing on whorls. The chief place
on the quatrefoils is given to the crucifixion, where the body of the
Saviour is worked in silver and cloth of gold. The Virgin, arrayed in
green tunic and golden mantle, is on one side and St. John, in gold, on
the other. Above the quatrefoil is another representing the Redeemer
seated on a cushioned throne with the Virgin, and below another
representing St. Michael overcoming Satan. Other quatrefoils show
"Christ appearing to St. Mary Magdalen," "The Burial of the Virgin,"
"The Coronation of the Virgin," "The Death of the Virgin with the
Apostles surrounding her," "The Incredulity of St. Thomas," "St. Simon,"
"St. Bartholomew," "St. Peter," "St. Paul," "St. Thomas," "St. Andrew,"
and "St. James." Portions of four other Apostles may be seen, but at
some period the cope has been cut down. In i