EPISCOPAL PALACE, LINCOLN, LINCOLNSHIRE. THE situation of the Episcopal Palace at Lincoln, is on the south side of the hill, near the summit, which Leland describes as hanging in declivio. This once magnificent structure was began by bishop Robert de Chisney, to whom the site was granted by king Henry II. being the whole of the land including the foss, from the wall of the Bail of Lincoln, by St. Nicholas' church, to that of St. Andrew, and from thence east to the city wall; free and quit of landgavel partage, and all other things, with free licence to break a gate through the bail wall for his passage to and from the church. This bishop also founded St. Catharine's priory, but, by his public spirit in building and other munificent acts, he involved his see considerably in debt: he gave up the patronage of St. Alban's abbey, by which act the see of Lincoln lost that and fifteen parishes, whose manors belonged to it. He died January 26, 1167, and was buried in the cathedral. Hugh, commonly called St. Hugh Burgundus, who was consecrated September 2, 1186, enlarged this mansion with several apartments; some of which were of EPISCOPAL PALACE, LINCOLN. measures eighty-five feet in length from north to south, and fifty-eight broad, from east to west. The roof was evidently supported by two rows of pillars, of Purbeck marble: part of the pilasters, supported by corbel tables, are yet remaining at each end; these, being of octagonal shape, convey the opinion that the other pillars, as well as the materials, were of the same sort: the middle aisle, measuring from centre to centre of each pilaster, is thirty-three feet, and each side one twelve feet and a half. Four double windows on each side lighted this sumptuous room, and an elegant screen at the south end, of three pointed arches, now walled up with bricks, opened a communication with the principal apartments and kitchen, by means of a bridge of one large pointed arch. The grand entrance was at the south-west corner, through a beautiful regular pointed doorway, supported by clustered columns, with detached shafts and foliated capitals; two other recesses, with very high-pointed arches, one on each side, give peculiar spirit and elegance to the design. Attached to this entrance was once a porch, or vestibule, the present remains of which bespeak it to have been a structure of superior taste and elegance. This princely hall was finished by Hugh II. his successor, and doubtless furnished with all the pomp and magnificence peculiar to the age. Like many other works of architectural skill, it has, however, been obliged to submit to Time's unfeeling grasp, and the place where once the costly banquet stood arrayed in all |