fine branches and flowers, and other imagery work, containing the several lockyers and amberies for the safe keeping of the vestments and ornaments belonging to the altar, with three or four little amberies in the wall, for the same use and purpose." Before the great centre window, it appears also, that nine cressets, or lamps, were suspended, whose light was so great, as to make every part of the Church visible during the whole time they were kept burning.

Many distinguished prelates, and other eminent persons, have been interred in this Cathedral, and their remains covered with beautiful tombs and brasses, which have mostly been swept away by the hands of sacrilege or fanaticism, since the days of Henry the Eighth the principal monument now remaining, is that to the memory of Bishop Hatfield, on the south side of the choir. The basement story of the episcopal throne serves as a canopy to the altar-tomb of this prelate, whose effigies is in fine preservation, and has been thus described by Mr. Carter. "This beautiful statue has fortunately been preserved in a nearly perfect state to this time; a few of the most prominent parts having only suffered. The Bishop is habited in his episcopal dress, richly adorned with sculpture, painting, and gilding, in imitation of embroidery. The outer garment is the chasuble in its ancient ample form, and much ornamented. On his hands are the episcopal gloves, embroidered on the back; on his left arm is the maniple. Beneath the chasuble is the linen alb, or surplice; and under that appears another garment or tunic, on which are richly embroidered three shields of arms. On the central shield are the arms of England; in the two lateral ones, the Bishop's own coat. The honor of bearing the arms of England in this manner, seems a proof of the high estimation in which this magnanimous prelate was held by his sovereign, and perhaps might have been granted to him in consequence of the distinguished part he bore in the signal victory of Neville's Cross. The feet of the Bishop are covered with rich, embroidered shoes; and on his head is the mitre, of its ancient low form." The painting and gilding which adorned the statue, as well as the emblazonments and arms which ornamented the

whole

whole tomb, are now entirely hidden and defaced by a thick coat of light yellow.

Some beautifully ornamented Doorways, in the Norman style, are connected with different parts of the Cathedral; two of them have been thus described in the account published by the Society of Antiquaries, which is also accompanied by elevations and ground-plans. "The proportion of the door entering into the north cloister, from the west end of the south aisle, is very striking, and it has much the air of a Roman arch. On each side the opening are three columns: the two exterior ones are united in an uncommon mode. They are covered with diagonal mouldings, which, by meeting at the union of the column, form diamond pannels. The single column on the left has lozenge pannels placed alternately, and each filled with a flower. That on the right has larger diamonds, filled with flowers, and divided by beads: the ornaments of both the capitals are varied. The architrave is divided into three parts; the first and second have the diagonal or zigzag: the exterior division is of uncommon form; it consists of a sort of semi-octagonal band. The two oblique faces are hollowed like cavettos: the middle face is flat, and enriched with leaves. Over all are laid large pateras, ornamented with flowers and foliage."

The second door opens from the north side of the cloisters into the east end of the south aisle of the nave, and is equally rich and singular in its decorations with the former. "The three columns on each side stand on a surbase: their shafts are plain, and their capitals rather of a simple form; they are detached from the wall in the manner of the early English style: within them is a flat ground, in which is the opening of the doorway. This ground is highly enriched with an uncommon variety of the diagonal moulding, edged with beads, and with roses in the pannels. An unaccountable irregularity of design occurs in the left-hand of the arch: the architrave is divided into four parts; the first, a cavetto, with detached roses; the second is a bold convex, covered with a double frett, beaded; the third is also convex, with a turited band, also beaded; the exterior is likewise convex, and resembles a bundle

D 4

a bundle of twigs, with the young shoots or stalks of leaves cut off short: these twigs are also beaded. This ornament seems, by some small parts yet remaining, to have been continued on each side, over other arches."

The Cloisters adjoin the Cathedral on the south, and were erected between the years 1389 and 1438, at the expence of 8381. 17s. 6d. six hundred of which was paid by Bishop. Skirlaw, and the remainder by Cardinal Langley. They form a quadrangle of 147 feet, having eleven open windows in each front, the mullions and tracery of which were repaired in the pointed style some years ago. They are ceiled with pannels of Irish oak, originally ornamented with emblazoned shields of the arms of various illustrious personages who contributed to enrich the Church by their benevolence or piety: scarcely any of these embellishments are now distinguishable.

On the west side the cloisters is the Dormitory, which is entered by a flight of stone steps, and is an apartment of very large proportions, but ill lighted, and desolate in its aspect. Under the dormitory were the song school and treasury; in which, according to Mr. Hutchinson, are lodged, "about ninety royal charters and grants, fifty-two deeds by nobles and barons, and 266 by inferior gentry; about 131 by popes, bishops, priors, &c. and 130 other original deeds and copies: altogether 670.

On the east side of the cloisters was the Frater-house, or Monk's Hall, which Dean Sudbury converted into an elegant Library for the Dean and Chapter about the year 1680. This apartment has just been repaired; and the excellent collection of. books destined to fill its shelves are at present in confusion. Various Roman inscriptions, found in the bishopric, and in the adjoining county of Northumberland, are here deposited; as well as many records and curiosities, and among them a copy of Magna Charta, dated 12th November, 1216; another, dated 11th February, 1224; (from these Judge Blackstone made his collations;) a manuscript copy of the Bible, in four volumes folio, 600 years old; and Bede's five books of History, of the same date,

The Chapter-House, which stood on the east side of the cloisters, was mostly pulled down during the late repairs of the Cathe dral its form was an oblong square, terminating in a semi-circle towards the east. Its internal arrangement is spoken of as bearing “ a striking resemblance to the most ancient Christian churches." In this building many of the ancient Prelates* were entombed; and against the east end was the stone chair or throne in which the new Bishops were installed.

From the cloisters is a passage leading to a spacious oblong square, called the College, which occupies the most pleasant part of the city, and is chiefly inhabited by persons whose offices attach them to the Cathedral. Here is the Deanery and Prebendal houses: the latter being well built, and partly modern, have a very respectable appearance. The Deanery was formerly the Prior's lodgings; but scarcely any of the apartments remain un

altered:

The general burial-place of the Monks was the Cemetery, or Centry Garth, which extended eastward from the Chapter House; and in which was placed the Stone Cross of St. Ethelwold, said to have been removed from the church at Lindisfarne. In the Cathedral church-yard, which ranges on the north side, among numerous other memorials of departed merit, is an altar-tomb to the memory of the respected author of The Economy of Human Life, and other esteemed works; with this inscription, composed by Joseph Spence, A. M. Professor of Modern History at Oxford.

If you have any respect

For uncommon Industry and Merit,

Regard this Place;

In which are interred the Remains

Of

MR ROBERT DODSLEY:

Who, as an Author, raised himself
Much above what could have been expected
From one in his Rank of Life,
And without learned Education:
And who, as a Man, was scarcely
Exceeded by any, in Integrity of Heart,
And Purity of Manners, and Conversation.
He left this Life for a better

September 23d, 1764, in the 61st Year of his Age.

altered: the kitchen was originally the kitchen of the monastery, and has been characterized by a modern artist, as a "masterpiece of masonry:" its form is octangular, and its dimensions very large. The roof is vaulted, and, in its general construction, it resembles the Abbot's kitchen at Glastonbury. At the upper end of the square is a neat fountain, or reservoir, for supplying the neighbouring families with water, which is brought in pipes from Elvet Moor, about a mile distant.

The stone Gateway at the entrance of the College from the Baileys was erected by Prior Castell, about the year 1515. Above it was the Chapel of St. Helen, and the old Exchequer, where all the rents reserved in the chapter leases are made payable.

When the possessions of the Benedictine Priory, established here. by Bishop Carilepho, were surrendered to Henry the Eighth, in the year 1540, the whole endowment of the See* amounted to upwards of 28211. annually; and though in the time of the Commonwealth, episcopal estates to the amount of 68,1211. 15s. 9d. were sold by the Parliament's Commissioners, the revenues of this Church are still of greater value than those of any other bishopric in England. In 1541, Henry the Eighth granted a new foundation charter, directing, that the Cathedral Church,† instead of being dedicated, as before, to the Blessed Mary the Virgin, and St. Cuthbert the Bishop, should thenceforth bear the denomination

* The annual revenues of the Convent, according to Dugdale, were valued at 13661. 10s. 5d. according to Speed, at 16151. 148. 10d.

+ As the dimensions of the various parts of the Cathedral have hitherto been only incidentally mentioned, it may be expedient to give a connected view of the different admeasurements. The entire length of the structure, exclusive of the Galilee, is 411 feet; the length of the nave is 260 feet; its width 74; and its height 69 feet, six inches: the cross aisle at the west end of the nave, is 90 feet long, and 18 wide from the centres of the columns: the length of the middle transept is 170 feet; and its width, including its side aisles, 57: the length of the choir is 120 feet, its width 74: the east transept, or Chapel of the Nine Altars, is 130 feet long, and 51 wide: the height of the great tower is 214 feet; that of each of the west towers, 138: the extent of the Galilee, from east to west, is 50 feet; from north to south, 80 feet.