and four of the Clock in the morning in honour of the Resurrection where two of the Eldest Monks of the Quire came to the Sepulchre set up upon Good-Fryday after the Passion all cover'd with red Velvet and embroider'd with gold and then did Cense it either of the Monks with a pair of silver Censers sitting on their knees before the Sepulchre Then they both rising came to the Sepulchre out of which with great reverence they took a marvellous beautiful Image of our Saviour representing the Resurrection with a Cross in his hand in the breast whereof was enclosed in most bright Chrystal the holy Sacrament of the Altar through the which Chrystal the Blessed Host was conspicuous to the beholders Then after the Elevation of the said Picture carried by the said two Monks upon a fair Velvet Cushion all embroider'd singing the Antheme of Christus Resurgens they brought it to the high Altar setting it on the midst thereof the two Monks kneeling before the Altar and Censing it all the time that the rest of the whole Quire were singing the foresaid Antheme of Christus Resurgens Which Antheme being ended the two Monks took up the Cushion and Picture from the Altar supporting it betwixt them and proceeding in procession from the high Altar to the South Quire door where there were four Ancient Gentlemen belonging to the Prior appointed to attend their coming holding up a most rich Canopy of purple Velvet tassell'd round about with red silk and a goodly gold fringe and at every corner of the Canopy did stand one of these Ancient Gentlemen to bear it over the said Images with the holy Sacrament carried by the two Monks round about the Church the whole Quire waiting upon it with goodly Torches and great store of other lights all singing rejoycing and praying to God most devoutly till they came to the high Altar again upon which they placed the said Images there to remain till Ascention-day Lodovic de bello Monte Bishop of Durham lieth buried before the high Altar in the Quire under a most curious and sumptuous Marble stone which he prepar'd for himself before he died being adorned with most excellent workmanship of Brass wherein he was most excellently and lively Pictur'd as he was accustomed to sing or say Mass with his Mitre on his head and his crosier-staff in his hand with two Angels finely pictur'd one on the one side of his head and the other on the other side with Censers in their hands Censing him and containing also most exquisite Pictures and Images of the twelve Apostles divided and bordered on either side of him and next them are border'd on either side of the twelve Apostles in another border the Pictures of his Ancestors in their Coats of Arms being of the Blood-Royal of France and his own Arms of France being a white Lyon placed upon the breast of his Vestment underneath the verses of his breast with Flower-de-luces about the Lyon the two Lyons pictur'd one under the one foot of him and another under the other foot supporting and holding up his Crosier-staff his feet adjoyning and standing upon the said Lyons and other two Lyons under them in the nethermost border of all being most artificially wrought and set forth all in Brass most curiously and beautifully in the said Through of Marble wherein was graven in Brass such Divine and Coelestial sayings of the Holy Scripture which he had peculiarly selected for his spiritual consolation at such time as it should please Almighty God to call him out of this Mortality whereof some of them are legible to these dayes as these that follow Epitaphium In Gallia natus De bello Monte jacet hic Lodovicus humatus Nobilis ex fonte Regum Comitumque creatus Praesul in hâc Sede Coeli laetetur in aede Praeteriens siste memorans quantus fuit iste Coelo quà m dignus justus pius atque benignus Dapsilis ac hilaris inimicus semper amaris Super Caput Credo quod Redemptor meus vivit qui in novissimo die me resuscitabit ad vitam aeternam et in carne meâ videbo Deum Salvatorem meum In Pectore Reposita est haec spes mea in sinu meo Domine miserere Ad Dextram Consors sit Sanctis Lodovicus in arce Tonantis Ad Sinistram Spiritus ad Christum qui sanguine liberat ipsum There were three pair of Organs belonging to the said Quire for maintenance of Gods Service and the better celebrating thereof One of the fairest pair of the three stood over the Quire door only opened and play'd upon on principal Feasts the pipes being all of most fine wood and workmanship very fair partly gilt upon the in-side and the out-side of the leaves and covers up to the top with branches and flowers finely gilt with the name of Jesus gilt with Gold There were but two pair more of them in all England of the same making one in York and another in Pauls Also there was a Lantern of wood like unto a Pulpit standing and adjoyning to the Wood Organs over the Quire door where they had wont to sing the nine Lessons in the old time on principal dayes standing with their faces towards the high Altar The second pair stood on the North side of the Quire being never play'd upon but when the four Doctors of the Church were read viz. Augustine Ambrose Gregory and Jerome being a pair of fair large Organs called the Cryers The third pair were daily used at ordinary Service There did lye on the high Altar an excellent fine Book very richly covered with gold and silver containing the names of all the Benefactors towards St. Cuthbert's Church from the first Original Foundation thereof the very Letters of the Book being for the most part all gilt as is apparent in the said Book till this day The laying that Book on the high Altar did shew how highly they esteemed their Founders and Benefactors and the Quotidian remembrance they had of them in the time of Mass and divine Service And this did argue not only their gratitude but also a most divine and charitable affection to the souls of their Benefactors as well dead as living which Book is as yet extant declaring the said use in the Inscription thereof There is also another famous Book as yet extant containing the Reliques Jewels Ornaments and Vestments that were given to the Church by all those Founders for the further adorning of Gods service whose names were on Record in the said Book that did lye upon the high Altar And they were also Recorded in this Book of the aforesaid Reliques and Jewels to the everlasting praise and memory of the Givers and Benefactors thereof The North Alley of the Quire At the East end of the North-Alley of the Quire betwixt two Pillars opposite one to the other was the goodly fair Porch which was called the Anchoridge having in it a marvellous fair Rood with the most exquisite Pictures of Mary
Dean whittingham perceiving them not to be Occupied nor Rung a great while before his time was purposed to have taken them down and broken them for other uses Then Thomas Spark the Bishop-Suffragan Iying at Durham and keeping House there at the same time having intelligence what the Dean's purpose was did send into York-shire with all speed for a Work-man and caused the said Bells to be taken down The fourth Bell remains there still and was never Rung since that was suspected and he caused those other three to be hung upon a new Work called the Lantern and made a goodly Chime to be set on the said Bells which cost him thirty or forty pounds which Chime endureth to this Day or else the said Bells had been spoiled and defaced The South-Angle of the Body of the Church Robert Nevel Bishop of Durham lyeth buried in his Ancestors porch in the South-Angle near to the Cloister-door on the South and Jesus Altar on the North of the Porch containing three Pillars and so much of the Angle having in it an Altar with a fair Alabaster-Table above it where Mass was daily Celebrated for their Souls and therein a Seat or Pew where the Prior was accustomed to sit to hear Jesus-Mass The East-end of the Porch where the Altar stood was clos'd up with a little Stone-wall somewhat higher then the Altar and Wainscotted above the Wall and the West-end with a little Stone-wall and an Iron grate on the top of the wall and all the North-side towards the Body of the Church inviron'd with Iron And also on the back-side behind the Nevels Altar from the Nevels Altar to the midst of the pillar behind the Church-door in compass from pillar to pillar there was a Chamber where one that kept the Church and rung the Bells at midnight did lodge Also over the Church-door the compass of four pillars two on either side when one enter'd within the Church-door was all cover'd over head with Wainscot very finely painted and varnished Azure and set out with stars of Gold And in the fore-part of the Wainscot from pillar to pillar within the Church over the Holy-water-stone there was a brandishing on the fore-part of the Wainscot or Roof very finely and curiously wrought and gilt with Gold as finely as the Angel and in the midst of the said brandishing there was a Star of a great compass like unto the Sun very artificially and most curiously wrought with Gold and enamell'd very richly to the beholders thereof so that there could not fall any dust or filth into the Holy-water-stone it was so close above and so close within the Church-door In the West-end of this South-Alley betwixt the two nethermost Pillars opposite to our Lady of Pitty 's Altar there was an Altar with a Rood representing the Passion of Christ having his hands bound with a Crown of Thorns on his head being commonly called the Bound-Rood inclosed on each side with Wainscot as was the said Altar of our Lady of Pitty 's Near unto the said Altar on the South-side adjoyning to the Galilee-door was the Grate wherein the Sanctuary-Country-men were wont to lye when they fled thither for resuge In the old time long before the house of Durham was suppress'd the Abbey-Church and all the Church-yard and all the circuits thereof was Sanctuary for all manner of men that had done or committed any great offence as in killing any man in his own defence or any person that had broken out of Prison and fled to the said Church-door and knocking and rapping at it to have it opened there were certain men that did lye alwayes in two Chambers over the said North-door for the same purpose that when any such offenders did come and knock strait way they were let in at any hour and then they did run strait-way to the Galilee-Bell and did tole it to the intent that any man that heard it might know that some man had taken Sanctuary And when the Prior had Intelligence thereof he sent word and commanded them to keep themselves within the Sanctuary that is to say within the Church and Church-yard and every one of them to have a Gown of black cloath made with a Cross of yellow called St. Cuthbert's Cross set on the shoulder of his left Arm to the intent that every one might see that there was such a priviledge granted by God unto St. Cuthbert's Shrine for all such Offenders to flye unto sor succour and safeguard of their Lives untill such time as they might obtain their Prince's pardon and that they should lye within the Church or Sanctuary within a Grate which Grate is remaining and standing to this day being made only for the same purpose adjoyning to the Galilee-door on the South-side And likewise they had Meat Drink Bedding and other necessaries for thirty seven dayes at the charge of the House such as were meet and necessary for such Offenders till such time as the Prior and the Convent could get them convey'd out of the Diocess And this Freedom was confirmed not only by King Guthrid but also by King Alured In the West-end of the said Church over the Galilee there is a most fine large Window of Glass being the whole story of the Root of Jesse in most fine colour'd glass very finely and artificially pictur'd and wrought in colours very goodly and pleasant to behold with Mary and Christ in her Arms at the top of the said Window in most fine colour'd glass also The Galilee and when the Chappel dedicated to the honour of St. Mary came to be called the Galilee And for the comfort of all Women and solace of their Souls there was an Ancient Church in the â—ern-Island where the Church of that Town now standeth which was appointed for Women to repair unto for hearing of Mass making their Prayers and receiving the Sacraments For which cause there was Chappel made and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary now called the Galilee upon the naming whereof it is to be noted as you may read in the Book intituled The Acts of the Bishops Chap. 26. Hugo Pusillar Bishop of Durham who was consecrated the 21. of December in the year of our Lord God 1154. at Rome by Pope Athanasius upon the Feast-day of St. Thomas the Apostle considering the diligence of his Predecessors in building the Cathedral Church which was finished but a few years before his time no Chappel being then erected to the Blessed Virgin Mary Mary whereunto it should be lawfull for Women to have access began to erect a new piece of work at the East-Angle of the said Cathedral-Church for which work there were divers Pillars of Marble-stone brought from beyond the Seas But this work being brought to a small height began through great clifts appearing in the same to fall down whereupon it manifestly appeared that it was not acceptable to God and Holy St. Cuthbert especially by reason of the Access which Women were to have so near his
a lock on it to be lock'd day and night Also there was standing on the Altar against the said Wall a most curious and fine Table with two leaves to open and shut again all comprehending the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ most curiously and richly set forth in most fine and lively Colours all like the burning gold as he was tormented and as he hung on the Cross which was a most lamentable sight to behold This Table was alwayes lock'd up but only on principal dayes Also the fore-part of the said Porch from the utmost corner of the Porch to the other there was a door with two broad leaves to open from side to side all of fine-joyned and through-carved work the height of it was somewhat above a man's breast and the upper part of the said door was stricken full of Iron pricks that no man should climb over which door did hang all in gimmes and clasps in the in-side to clasp them And on the principal dayes when any of the Monks said Mass at the Altar then the Table was opened which did stand on the Altar and the doors with two leaves which stood in the fore-part of the said Closet or Porch were set open also that every man might come in and see the said Table in manner and form as is aforesaid There was also in the height of the said Wall from Pillar to Pillar the whole story and Passion of our Lord wrought in stone most curiously and most finely gilt And also above the said Story and Passion there was the whole story and the Pictures of the twelve Apostles very artificially set forth and very finely gilt containing from the one Pillar to the other wrought very curiously and artificially in the side-stone And on the height above all the foresaid story from Pillar to Pillar was set up a border very artificially wrought in stone with marvellous fine colours very finely gilt with branches and flowers insomuch that the more a man look'd on it the more desires he had and the greater was his affection to behold it the work was so rarely curiously and finely wrought in the said stone that it could not have been finelier wrought in any kind of Metal And also above the height of all upon the Wall did stand the goodliest and most famous Rood that was in all this Land with the Picture of Mary on the one side of our Saviour and the Picture of John on the other with two splendent and glistering Arch-Angels one on the one side of Mary and the other on the other side of John So that what for the fairness of the Wall and stateliness of the Pictures and the liveliness of the painting it was thought to be one of the goodliest Monuments in the Church Also on the back-side of the said Rood before the Quire door there was a Loft and in the South end of the said Loft the Clock did stand and underneath the said Loft there was a long Form which did reach from the one Rood door to the other where men did sit to rest themselves and say their prayers and hear Divine Service Also every Friday at night after the Even-song was done in the Quire there was an Antheme sung in the Body of the Church before the Altar of St. John called Jesus-Antheme which was sung every Friday at night throughout the whole year by the Masters of the Quiristers and Deacons of the said Church and when it was done the Quiristers did sing another Antheme by themselves sitting on their knees all the time that their Antheme was singing before the said Jesus-Altar which was very devoutly sung every Friday night by the knelling of one of the Galilee Bells Thomas Castell Prior of Durham lyeth buried under a fair Marble stone in the Body of the Church being pictur'd from the waste up in Brass in the midst of the stone with his Verses or Epitaph upon it before Jesus-Altar where there was on the North-side betwixt two Pillars a Loft for the Masters and Quiristers to sing Jesus-Mass every Friday containing a pair of Organs to play on and a fair Desk to lay the Books on in time of Divine Service John Aukland Prior lyeth buried within the abbey-Abbey-Church of Durham John Burnby Prior of Durham lyeth buried under a fair Marble stone pictur'd in Brass from the waste up beneath the North door in the midst of the Church not much distant from the Marble Cross with his Verses or Epitaph adjoyning thereto There is betwixt the Pillars on the North-side which the Holy water did stand in and the Pillar which standeth over against it on the South-side from the one of them to the other a Row of blue Marble and in the midst of the said Row there is a Cross of blue Marble in token that all Women who came to hear Divine Service should not be suffered to come above the said Cross and if it chanced that any Woman came above it within the Body of the Church then straitwayes she was taken and punished for certain dayes because there was never Woman came there where the holy man St. Cuthbert was for the Reverence they had to his sacred Body Also if any Woman chanc'd to come within the Abbey-Gates or within any Precincts of the House if she had been seen but her length within any place of the said House she was taken and set fast and punished to give example to all others for doing the like The Causes wherefore Women may not come to the Feretory of St. Cuthbert nor enter within the Precinct annexed to the Monastery There are divers Books written of the Life and Miracles of that holy Confessor St. Cuthbert partly written by the Irish partly by the English and partly by Scottish men being not able to comprehend the same in one work For as venerable Bede reported in the Prologue of his Book which he wrote of the Life and Miracles of St. Cuthbert that there were many other things nothing inferiour to those which he wrote of the Life of that virtuous blessed Man which were related unto him and were commanded to be had in perpetual memory Which works though they were perfectly and deliberately finished it was thought inconvenient to insert or add any new matter Of which Books there is one entituled Of the coming of St. Cuthbert into Scotland taken forth of the Scottish History where among other things is set down the solitary Conversation of the said Holy Man St. Cuthbert as followeth Blessed St. Cuthbert for a long time led a most solitary Life in the Borders of the Picts at which place great concourse of people daily used to visit him and from whom by the providence and grace of God never any returned without great comfort This caused both young and old to resort unto him taking great pleasure both to see him and hear him speak In the mean time it chanced that the King's Daughter of that Province was got with Child by some young man
their eyes a Bridle hanging up in a Tree and a red Horse running towards them and offering himself to be Bridled to ease their pains in carrying the Chest wherein St. Cuthbert's body was lay'd Upon which Horse they carried him to Crake-Minster and rested them four Moneths from thence they brought him to Cuneagester now called Chester Anno Domini 1387. and there they remained with the body of St. Cuthbert 93. years during the rest of the time of the Danes Wars at the end whereof Aldwinus the Bishop fled with St. Cuthbert's body to Rippon to lye by the body of holy St. Wilfrid But four Moneths after their arriving at Rippon the Danes Wars did cease and then intending to bring him back again to Chester and coming with him on the East side of Durham to a place called Wardlaw they could not with all their force remove his body from thence which seemed to be fasten'd to the ground for that the Chariot wherein the holy Corps was carried miraculously stood unmoveable either by the strength of man or beast Which strange and unexpected accident wrought great Admiration in the hearts of the Bishop the Monks and their Associates Whereupon the Bishop fasted three dayes and pray'd to God with great reverence and devotion to know from God by Revelation what to do with him Which was accordingly granted them it being revealed unto Eadmer a virtuous man that he should be carried to Dunholme which is composed of the two Saxon words Dun signifying a Hill and Holme an Island in a River and there he should be received into a place of Rest But being again distressed because they were ignorant where Dunholme was as they were going a Woman that lacked her Cow did call aloud to her Companion to know if she had not seen her Cow who answer'd with a loud voice that her Cow was in Dunholme a happy and Heavenly eccho to the distressed Monks who by that means had intelligence that they were near their Journeys end where they should find a resting place for the Body of the Saint And thereupon with great joy and gladness they brought his Body to Dunholme in the year 1499. which was inculta tellus a barbarous and rude place replenished with nothing but Thorns and thick Woods save only in the midst where the Church now standeth which was plain and commodious for such a purpose Where they first built a little Church of Wands and Branches wherein they did lay his Body whence the said Church was afterwards called Bough-Church till they had built a more sumptuous Church wherein they might inshrine him which they assayed to do with all their power Uthred Earl of Northumberland aiding them and causing all the Countrey people to cut down all the wood and thorn-bushes which did molest them and so made all the place where the City now stands habitable and fit to erect Buildings upon which gave great encouragement to Aldwinus the Bishop to hasten the finishing of the Church Which accordingly being done he translated the Body of St. Cuthbert from the wanded or Bough-Church to the White-Chappel for so it was called which he had newly built which was a part of the great Church not yet finished where it lay four years But after the great Church was finished and consecrated upon the 20. of September he translated his Body out of the White-Chappel into the great Church which he made a Cathedral erecting his Bishop's seat at Durham where it still remaineth about 353. years after it was first Founded in the Holy-Island by St. Aidan and St. Oswald which was Anno Domini 637. and 306. years after the death of St. Cuthbert which was in the year 684. Bishop Aldwinus died thirty years after he had Founded his Bishop's See at Durham in finished his Cathedral Church in the year 1020. Which Church was famous for the Succession of six Bishops in it viz. Eadmundus Eadredus Egelrir Egelwin Waltherus whom William the Conquerour created Earl of Northumberland and William Carlipho or Carilef that magnificent Prelate who not being content with the smalness and homliness of the Edifice which Aldwinus built as being too little for so great a Saint did pull it all down 76. years after Alwinus had finish'd it and instead thereof did erect the magnificent and famous Structure which is now to be seen Malcolm King of Scotland Turgot then Prior of the Church and the Bishop himself lay'd the three first stones in the new Foundation upon the 30. of July as some say or on the 11. of August as others affirm in the year 1093. For which famous work Anthony Beak one of his Successors with a great sum of Money got him to be Canoniz'd This Bishop Carlipho caused the Monks to labour in the Holy work all the day long excepting meal-times and times of Prayer and Service King Malcolm being the chief Benefactor in the Building thereof The Bishop before the people ordained and appointed surgot then Prior to be his Arch-Deacon and Vicar-general within his Diocess and going to Rome two years before his death he obtained License of Popé Gregory the seventh to remove the Monks who were at Wermouth and Jarrow and were of the Order of St. Bennet to his Church at Durham where he placed them in the room of the Canons whom he expelled for their lewd and lazy lives But he did not live to see his Church finished for he dyed in the year 1095. two years after he had laid the Foundation Then Ranulph Flambard his immediate Successor favouring and with all his might furthering so good a work did in the 29. years that he was Bishop build the said Church from the Foundation almost to the Covering Yet was it not fully finished till the time that Nicholas Farnam or Fernham was Bishop and Thomas Melscome was Prior which two good men did Arch it over Anno 1242. viz. in the 26. year of King Henry the Third and they lye both buried under one stone in the Chapter-house But long before the Church was finished the Body of St. Cuthbert was by the said Bishop Ranulph translated again out of the Cloister-garth where the said Bishop Carlipho had made him a very sumptuous Tomb to lye in when he removed him out of the old Church which Aldwinus built for him which was then taken down that his fair Church now extant might be erected in the same place where that old Church was In which new Church was built a goodly fair and sumptuous Shrine called the Feretory or Fereter about three yards from the ground on the back-side of the great or high Altar which was at the East-end of the Quire where his Body was solemnly placed in an Iron Chest within the said Shrine and lay quietly without molestation till the Suppression of the Church as is above related And the said Book of the four Evangelists which fell into the Sea and was so miraculously brought to Land and found again was laid on the High Altar
in the Cloister-garth and his Picture thereupon most lively to behold to be a memorial of that holy man that every one that came through the Cloister might see all his Life and Miracles from his Birth and Infancy to his dying day He was of a Princely Extraction for his Father was a Prince and his Mother a Prince's Daughter as is aforesaid and may appear in the History of the Church at large In the time of King Edward the sixth this story was pull'd down by Dean Horn and broken all to pieces for he could never abide any Ancient Monuments Acts or Deeds that gave any light of or to godly Religion There is also in the Cieling of the said Cloister over head cut in Wainscot the Arms of certain Bishops and Noble-men as also Knights and other men of Worship who had bestowed any thing upon that Church There was a goodly Ceremony used by the Prior and Monks every Thursday before Easter called Maundy-Thursday There were eighteen poor aged men appointed to come to the Cloister-Abbey that day having their feet clean washed there to remain till such time as the Prior and whole Convent did come thither at nine of the Clock or thereabouts the Aged men sitting betwixt the Parlour-door and the Church-door upon a long Form which stood alwayes in the Church beyond the Revestry-door and was brought only on Maundy-Thursday into the Cloister The Prior and the Convent being come to the Cloister after some prayers said one of the Prior's Servants brought a Basin full of fair Water and the Prior did wash all the poor mens feet one after a nother with his own hands and dryed them with a Towell and kissed their feet Which done he liberally bestow'd thirty pence in money on every one of them with seven Red Herrings a-piece and did serve them himself with drink three loaves of bread and certain wafer-cakes All which done the Form was carried back into the Church to the place whence it had been taken that men might also sit on it there when they came to hear Divine Service which Form is yet remaining under the Te-Deum-Window and the Clock Also as you go out of the Cloister through an Entry to the Deans Lodging at the head of the stairs behind the door called the Vesher-door on the right hand behind the said door there is another door going into the Register wherein certain old written Books of Records and Evidences of the Monastical house of Durham did lye as also a Copy of the Foundation of the Hospital of Greatham which was also registred in the said Book of Records and there to be found if any misfortune should happen to the Foundation of the said Hospital of Greatham The Keeper of said Register-house was called George Baites and he was also Clerk of the Feretory at that time And it was ever the Register-House till of late that Mr. Tobias Matthew Dean of Durham altered the state of it unto another place called the Parlour as is aforesaid The South-Alley of the Cloisters On the South-side of the Cloisters adjoyning to the Cloister-door stood a Stool or Seat with four feet and a back of wood made fast in the Wall for the Porter to sit in and before the said stool it was boarded underfoot for warmth The last Porter was Edward Pattinson From the said stool Westward on the South-side there was a fair long Bench of stone almost to the Fraterhouse-door whereon certain Children sate a-row from one end to the other upon Maundy-Thursday being made for that purpose The whole Convent of Monks had every one a Boy assigned him whose feet they were to wash and wipe with a Towel which done they kissed the said Childrens feet every one the feet that he had washed and gave every Child thirty pence in money and seven Red Herrings and three loaves of bread and every one a certain wafer-cake the Monks serving every Child with drink themselves The Godly Ceremony thus ended after certain prayers said by the Prior and the whole Convent they did all depart in great holiness And at the end of the said Bench betwixt it and the Frater-house-door there was a fair Ambrie joyn'd in the Wall and another on the other side of the said door and all the fore-parts of the Ambries were thorow-carv'd-work to give Air to the Towels which were there kept for the Monks to dry their hands with before Meals The Stool and Bench Tobias Matthew Dean of Durham caused to be taken down and made as plain as the rest of the floor of the Cloister The Frater-House In the South-Alley of the Cloisters is a fair large Hall called the Prater-House finely Wainscoted on the North and South-sides as also on the West and on either part of the Frater-House there is a fair long Bench of Stone-Mason-work from the Cellar-door to the Pantry or Covey-door Above the Bench is Wainscot-work two yards and a half in height finely carved and set with embroider'd work and above the Wainscot there was a fair large Picture of our Saviour Christ the B. Virgin Mary and St. John in fine gilt work and excellent colours which Pictures though wash'd over with Lime yet do appear through it This Wainscot-work hath engraven on the top of it Thomas Castell Prior Anno Dom. 1518. Mensis Julii So that Prior Castell Wainscoted the Frater-House round about And within the said Frater-House-door on the left hand as one goes in there is a strong Ambrie in the Stone-wall where a great Mazer called the Grace-cup did stand which did Service to the Monks every day after Grace was said to drink in round the Table Which Cup was largely and finely edg'd about with silver and double-gilt with gold and many more large and great Mazers after the same sort amongst which was a goodly great Mazer called Judas-Cup edg'd about with silver and double-gilt with a foot underneath it to stand on of silver and double-gilt which was never us'd but on Maundy-Thursday at night in the Frater-House where the Prior and the whole Convent did meet and keep their Maundy There lay also in the same Ambrie the goodly Cup called St. Bede's Bowl the out-side whereof was of black Mazer and the inside of silver double-gilt the edge finely wrought round about with silver and double-gilt and in the midst of it was the Picture of the holy man St. Bede sitting as if he had been Writing The foot of the said Bowl was of silver and double-gilt with four joynts of silver coming down all double-gilt from the edge to the foot to be taken asunder In that Ambrie lay all the chief Plate that served the whole Convent in the said Frater-House on Festival dayes and a fine work of carved Wainscot before it and a strong lock yet so as none could perceive that there was any â—â—morie at all for the key hole was under the carved work of the Wainscot There 〈◊〉 also another fair large Ambrie withâ—â—… the said Frater-House-door
on the right hand as you go to the Cellar of Wainscot having divers Ambries within it finely wrought and varnished over with red varnish wherein lay Table-cloaths Salts and Mazers a Basin and Ewer of Latten with other things pertaining to the Frater-House and to the Loft where all the Monks did dine and sup And every Monk had his Mazer severally by himself to drink in and had all other things that served for the whole Convent and the Frater-House in their daily Service at their Dâ—â—t and at their Table And all the said Mazers were largely and finâ—ly edg'd with silver double-gilt and a fair Basâ—â—n and Ewer of Latten the Ewer pourtray d like a man on Horse-back as if he had been Riding a Hunting which served the Sub-Prior to wash at the foresaid Table where he sate as chief And within the said Frater-House the Prior and the whole Convent of Monks held their great Feast of St. Cuthbert in Lent having their Meat served out of the Dresser-Window of the great Kitchin into the Frater-House and their Drink out of the great Cellar And in the East-end being the highest end of the Frater-House and adjoyning to the Dean's House the high Roof of Lead was taken by Dean Whittingham and inclosed to his House and use and he made it a flat Roof of Lead whereby he gained at least twenty pounds Also in the East-end of the Frater-House stood a fair Table with a Shrine of Wainscot upon it being kept all the rest of the year for the Master of the Novices of the Elects and the Novices to Dine and Sup at having their Meat served in to them at a Dresser-Window from the great Kitchin and their Drink out of the great Cellar At which time the Master observed these wholesome and godly orders for the continual instructing of their Youth in Virtue and Learning That is One of the Novices at the Election and appointment of the Master did reade some part of the Old and New Testament in Latine at Dinner time having a convenient place at the South-end of the high Table within a fair glass-window compass'd with Iron and certain steps of stone with Iron Rails on the one side to go up to it to an Iron Desk there on which lay the Holy Bible Which reading being ended the Master did towl a gilt Bell hanging over his head thereby giving warning to one of the Novices to come to the high Table and say Grace which done they departed to their Books Within the Cloister-garth over the Frater-House-door was a fair Laver or Conduit for the Monks to wash their hands and faces being round cover'd with Lead and all of Marble saving the outermost walls within which they might walk round about the Laver. It had many Spouts of Brass with twenty four Brass Cocks round about it having in it seven fair Windows of stone-work and over it a Dove-coat cover'd with Lead finely wrought as appears to this day Adjoyning to the East-side of the Conduitdoor hung a Bell to call the Monks at eleven of the Clock to come and wash before dinner having their Closets or Ambries on either side of the Frater-House-door on the out-side within the Cloister kept alwayes with clean Towels to dry their hands The North-Alley of the Cloisters In the North-side of the Cloisters from the corner over against the Church-door to the corner over against the Dorter-door was from the height of the sole within a little of the ground unto the Cloister-garth all finely glazed and in every Window three Pews or Carrels where every one of the Old Monks had his Carrel several by himself to which having dined they did resort and there study their Books every one in his Carrel all the Afternoon till Even-songtime And this was their exercise every day Their Pews or Carrels were finely Wainscoted and very close the fore-side having carved work of Wainscot to let in light to their Carrels and in every Carrel was a Desk to lay their Books on And the Carrels were no greater than from one Stanchel to another of the Window Opposite to the Carrel against the Church-wall stood certain great Ambries of Wainscot full of Books as well the Ancient written Doctors of the Church as other prophane Authors with divers other holy mens works So that every one studied what Doctor he pleas'd having the Library at all times open to go and study in besides their Carrels The West-Alley of the Cloisters In the West-side of the Cloister South of the Dorter-door a little distant from the said door there is a strong House called the Treasury where all the Treasure of the House while it was a Religious House did lye having a strong door and two strong Locks Within the said Treasury was a strong Iron grate set fast in the ground-work in the Roof and in either Wall the breadth of the House so fast as not to be broken and in the midst of the Grate a door of Iron according to the Workmanship of the Grate with a strong lock upon it and two great shuts of Iron for the said door And within the said Grate was a four-square Table cover'd with green cloath for the telling of their Mony Within this Treasury were likewise the Evidences of the House and the Chapter-Seal as also the Evidences of several Gentlemens Lands in the Countrey who thought them safer there than in their own Custody Over against the said Treasury-door was a fair Stall of Wainscot were the Novices were taught And the Master of the Novices had a pretty Seat of Wainscot adjoyning to the South-side of the Treasury-Door over against the stall where the Novices sate And there he taught the said Novices both Forenoon and Afternoon No Strangers or other Persons were suffered to molest or trouble the said Novices or Monks in their Carrels while they were at their Books within the Cloister For to that purpose there was a Porter appointed to keep the Cloister-door The Dorter Dortoir or Dormitory On the West-side of the Cloister there was a large House called the Dorter where the Monks and Novices lay every Monk having a little Chamber of Wainscot very close to himself and their Windows towards the Cloister every Chamber a window by reason the partit on betwixt every Chamber was close Wainscoted and in every of their Chambers was a Desk for their Books On the West-side of the Dorter were the like Chambers with Desks and Windows toward the Infirmary and the Water The Novices had their Chambers in the South-end of the said Dorter adjoyning to the foresaid Chambers having eight Chambers on either side every Novice his Chamber to himself not so cloâ—â— nor so warm as the other Chambers nor having any light but what came in at the fore-side of their Chambers being all close else both above and on either side At either end of the said Dorter was a fair square stone wherein were a dozen Crossets wrought in the stone being alwayes fill'd and
of their Auncients being spoiled which were won at the said Battel at Branfield that there should be no remembrance of them in the Monastical Church of Durham And the said Saint Cuthbert's Banner was at many other places Besides it was thought to be one of the goodliest Reliques of any in England and it was born only upon principal dayes when there was a general Procession as on Easter-day Ascention-day Whitsunday Corpus-Christi-day and St. Cuthbert's day and some other Festival dayes It was st up at the East-end of the Shrine because it was so weighty Also whensoever it was born it was the Clerk's Office to wait upon it with his Surplice on with a fair red painted staff having a fork or cleft at the upper end of the staff which cleft was lined with silk and down under the silk to prevent the hurting or bruising of the pipes of the Banner which were of silver to take it down and raise it up again by reason of the weightiness thereof There was also a strong girdle of white Leather worn by him who carried St. Cuthbert's Banner when it was carried abroad and it was made fast to the said Girdle by two pieces of white leather and at either end of the two pieces of white leather a Socket of Horn was made fast to them that the end of the Banner-staff might be put into it For to ease him who carried the said Banner of St. Cuthbert because it was so heavy there were four men alwayes appointed to wait upon it besides the Clerk and the person who bore it The Vice-Prior had the keyes and keeping of St. Bede's Shrine which stood in the Galilee And whensoever there was any general Procession he commanded his Clerk giving him the keyes of St. Bede's Shrine to draw up the cover of it and to take it down and carry it into the Revestry Thence it was carried by four Monks in time of Procession every principal day and when the Procession was done it was brought back into the Galilee and the cover let down the keyes being return'd by the Clerk to the Master of the Feretory D. Richard Crosseby Master of the Novices There were alwayes six Novices who went daily to School within the House for the space of seven years together and one of the eldest Monks that was learned was appointed to be their Tutor The said Novices had no wages but meat and drink and cloathing for that space The Master or Tutor's Office was to see that they lacked nothing as Cowls Frocks Stamyne Bedding Boots Socks and when they did want any of these Necessaries the Master had charge to call upon one of the Chamberlains for such things for they never received wages nor handled any money in that space but went daily to their Books within the Cloister And if the Master found any of them apt to learn and that he apply'd himself to his Book and had a pregnant wit he gave notice thereof to thé Prior. And some time after he was sent to Oxford to School and there he did learn and study Divinity and the residue of the Novices were kept at their Books till they could understand their Service and the Scriptures Then at the seven years end they did sing their first Mass The House was no longer charged with finding them Apparel for then they entred into wages to find themselves Apparel which wages was twenty shillings in the year He had no more to find himself Apparel withal The eldest Monk in the House had no more except he had an Office His Chamber was in the Dorter D. John Porter alias John Smith called Master Segerston alias Sexton The Sexton's Exchequer was within the Church in the North-Alley over against Bishop Skirlaw's Altar on the Ieft hand as you go up to the Abbey to St. Cuthbert's Fereter His Office was to see that nothing were wanting within the Church as to provide Bread and Wine for the Church and Wax and Lights in Winter He had alwayes one Tun of Wine lying in the Exchequer aforesaid for the use of the said Church He had also Segerston-haugh in his keeping it was his charge and St. Mary's Cup-board was in his Office He was also to see all the glass Windows repaired and the Plummer's work of the Church as also the mending of the Bells and Bell-ropes and leathering and all other works that were necessary to be employ'd both within the Church and without and to see it kept clean All these things were to be call'd for at the Sexton's hands His Office was also every day to lock up all the keyes of every Altar in the Church every Altar having its peculiar Ambrie and some two and to lay them forth every morning betwixt seven and eight of the clock upon the height of the Ambrie being of Wainscot wherein they were lock'd standing within the North-Quire-door that every Monk might take the key and go to what Altar he was dispos'd to say Mass at They also went to the Chapter-house every day where all the Bishops in the old time were Buried betwixt eight and nine of the Clock and there pray'd for all their Benefactors and Founders who had bestowed any thing on that Church And at nine of the Clock there rung a Bell to Mass called the Chapter-Mass which was alwayes sung at the high Altar and he that sung the Mass had alwayes in his Memento all those that had given any thing to the Church One half of the Monks said Mass in the Chapter-Mass time and the other half that sung the Chapter-Mass said Mass in the high-Mass time There were at every Altar two Chalices and two silver Crewets appertaining to it with Albes and Vestments for the principal Feasts as also for all other dayes besides Every Altar had its double Furniture for adorning all parts of the Altar serving both for holy dayes and principal Feasts Their Founders and Benefactors were pray'd for every day and had in remembrance in the time of Mass The Sexton's Chamber was in the Dorter and he had his meat served from the great Kitchin to his Exchequer O. her Officers of the House of Durham D. Robert Bennet Bowcer of the House His Exchequer is a little stone-House adjoyning to the Coal-garth pertaining to the Great Kitchin a little distant from the Dean's Hall-stairs His Office was to receive the Rents of the House and all other Officers made their accompts to him and he discharged all the Servants wages and paid all the expences and sums of money that were laid forth about any work appertaining to the said Abbey His Chamber was in the Farmary and his meat was served from the great Kitchin to his Exchequer D. Roger Wreight Cellarer of the House His Exchequer was afterwards Dr. Tod's Chamber adjoyning to the West-end of the great Kitchin having a long Greese going up to it over the Solden-gates His Office was to see what expences were made in the Kitchin what Beefs and Muttons were spent in
with Pearl Stoles and Fannels There were also other very rich and costly Jewels and Ornaments pertaining to the said high Altar There were also two Crosses to be born on principal dayes for Procession one all of gold and the staff it stood in was of silver and of Gold-smith's work very curiously and very finely wrought and double gilt The other Cross was of silver and double gilt and the staff was of wood after the same workmanship and double gilt also There was another Cross of Chrystal that served for every day in the week There was born before the Cross every principal day a Holy-water-font all of silver very finely engraven and parcel-gilt which one of the Novices did carry In the North-side of the Quire there is an Ambrie nigh to the high Altar fasten'd in the Wall for to lay any thing in pertaining to the high Altar There is likewise another Ambrie in the South side of the Quire nigh the high Altar enclosed in the Wall to set the Chalices and Basons and the Crewets in that they did minister withal at the high Mass with locks and keyes for the same Ambries At the North end of the high Altar there was a goodly fine Lantern or Letteron of Brass where they sung the Epistle and Gospel with a great Pelican on the height of it finely gilt billing her blood out of her breast to feed her young ones and her wings spread abroad whereon did lye the Book in which they sung the Epistle and the Gospel It was thought to be the goodliest Letteron of Brass in all this Countrey It was all to be taken asunder with wrests every joynt one from the other Also there was lower down in the Quire another Lantern of Brass not so curiously wrought standing in the midst against the Stalls a marvellous fair one of Brass with an Eagle on the height of it and her wings spread abroad whereon the Monks did lay their Books when they sung their Legends at Mattins or at other times of Service Before the high Altar within the Quire above-mentioned were three marvellous fair silver Basons hanging in chains of silver one of them did hang on the South side of the Quire above the steps that go up to the high Altar the second on the North side opposite to the former and the third in the midst betwixt them both and just before the high Altar These three silver Basons had latten Basons within them having pricks for Serges or great waxen Candles to stand on the Latten Basons being to receive the drops of the three Candles which did burn continually day and night in token that the House was alwayes watching to God There was also another silver Bason which hung in silver Chains before the Sacrament of the foresaid high Altar but nearer to the Altar than the others hanging almost over the Priest's back which was only lighted in time of Mass and that ended extinguished There was further a goodly Monument belonging to the Church called the Paschal which was wont to be set up in the Quire and there to remain from the Thursday called Maundy-Thursday before Easter till the Wednesday after Ascention-day It stood upon a four-square thick plank of wood against the first greese or step hard behind the three Basons of silver that hung before the high Altar In the midst of the said greese is a nick wherein one of the corners of the said plank was placed and at every corner of the said plank was an Iron Ring whereunto the foot of the Paschal was adjoyned representing the Pictures of the four flying Dragons as also the Pictures of the four Evangelists above the top of the Dragons underneath the nethermost Boss all supporting the whole Paschal and the four quarters have been four Chrystal stones in the four small Dragons fore-heads four Chrystal stones as by the holes do appear And on every side of the four Dragons there is curious Antick-work as Beasts and Men upon Horses backs with Bucklers Bows Shafts and Knots with broad leaves spread upon the knots very finely wrought all being of most fine and curious Candlestick-metal or Latten-metal glistering as the gold it self having six Candlesticks for flowers of Candlestick-metal coming from it three on either side whereon did stand in every of the said flowers or Candlesticks a Taper of wax And on the height of the said Candlesticks or Paschal of Latten was a fair large flower being the principal flower which was the seventh Candlestick The Paschal in Latitude did contain almost the breadth of the Quire in Longitude it did extend to the height of the lower Vault whereon did stand a long piece of wood reaching within a mans length to the upper Vault or Roof of the Church whereon did stand a great long squared Taper of wax called the Paschal having a fine conveyance through the Roof of the Church to light the Taper withal In conclusion the Paschal was esteemed to be one of the rarest Monuments in all England The Passion Within the Abbey-Church of Durham upon Good-Fryday there was marvellous solemn Service in which service time after the Passion was sung two of the Ancient Monks took a goodly large Crucifix all of Gold of the Picture of our Saviour Christ nayled upon the Cross laying it upon a Velvet Cushion having St. Cuthbert's Arms upon it all embroider'd with gold bringing it betwixt them upon the Cushion to the lowest greeses or steps in the Quire and there betwixt them did hold the said Picture of our Saviour sitting on either side of it And then one of the said Monks did rise and went a pretty space from it and setting himself upon his knees with his shooes put off very reverently he crept upon his knees unto the said Cross and most reverently did kiss it and after him the other Monks did so likewise and then they sate down on either side of the said Cross holding it betwixt them Afterward the Prior came forth of his Stall and did sit him down upon his knees with his shooes off in like sort and did creep also unto the said Cross and all the Monks after him one after another in the same manner and order in the mean time the whole Quire singing a Hymn The Service being ended the said two Monks carried the Cross to the Sepulchre with great Reverence which Sepulchre was set up in the Morning on the North side of the Quire nigh unto the high Altar before the Service time and there did lay it within the said Sepulchre with great Devotion with another Picture of our Saviour Christ in whose Breast they did inclose with great reverence the most holy and Blessed Sacrament of the Altar Censing and praying unto it upon their knees a great space and setting two Tapers lighted before it which did burn till Easter-day in the Morning at which time it was taken forth The Resurrection There was in the Abbey-Church of Durham very solemn Service upon Easter-day betwixt three
in the said Monastical and abbey-Abbey-Church of Durham as a place most worthy and a fit Monument to preserve the memory of so great a Saint And at the West-end of the said Church Hugo who was also called Pudesay Pusar or de Puteaso Bishop of Durham and Earl of Northumberland King Stephen's Nephew did build a very fair and beautiful Chappel which he dedicated to the Virgin Mary and was called the Galilee or our Lady's Chappel but now simply called the Consistory And there in a silver casket gilt with gold he laid the Bones of Venerable Bede and erected a costly and magnificent Shrine of black Marble over it as is above declared He also Founded the Priory of Finkley in honour of St. Gordrick the Hermite He Founded also the Hospitall of Allerton and the famous Sherburne-Hospital near Durham He built also Elvet-Bridge over the Weer with two Chappels upon it He also built both a Mannor and Church at â—arlington and he bought of King Richarâ— the First the Earldome of Sadberge for 〈◊〉 â—uccessors And because those holy Bishoâ—â—nd Monks would not be unmindful of the least favour which was done for them and for the honour of their holy Saint Aldwinus on the out-side of his Church and Ranulph Flambard according to the intention of William Carlipho made the Pourtraiture of a Woman milking her Cow on the out-side of the North-west Turret of the Nine Altars at the building of the new Church in a thankful remembrance of that Maid who so fortunately in their great perplexity directed them to Dunholme where the Body of their great Saint was to rest untill the Resurrection which Monument though defaced by the Weather to this day is there to be seen The description of the Tomb which William Carlipho erected in the Cloister-garth till a fair Shrine might be made in his new Church where he might be inclosed William Carlipho Bishop of Durham before he took down the old Church built by Bishop Aldwinus did prepare a fair and beautiful Tomb of Stone in the Cloister-garth a yard high from the ground where St. Cuthbert was laid until his Shrine was prepared for him in the new Church that now is over which Tomb was laid a great fair and comely broad Through-Marble stone But when his Body was Translated to the Feretory where it was inshrined in honour of him they made a goodly large and curious Image of Marble representing St. Cuthbert very finely and curiously pictur'd and wrought in the stone with painting and gilding very beautiful and excellent to behold in that form in which he was wont to say Mass with his Mitre on his head and his Crosier-staff in his hand and his other Vestments very curiously engraven on the said Marble which after his body was inshrined in the new Church was placed above the said Tomb-stone and round about the said Tomb-stone both at the sides and at either end were set up neat Stanchells of Wood joyned so close that one could not put in his hand betwixt one and the other but might only look in and see that exquisite Picture which lay within them and was cover'd over above all very finely and closely like unto a little Chappel or Church Which comely Monument did stand in the Cloister-garth till the suppression of the Abbey over against the Parlour-door through which the Monks were carried into the Centry-garth to be buried which Parlour is now turned into a Store-house and a Room made above it for the Register's Office And also it did continue to the suppression of the House as is aforesaid and afterwards unto the time of Dean Horn who caused the said Monument of St. Cuthbert to be pull'd down and converted the Leads and all to his own use and the said Image of St. Cuthbert was laid on the one side against the Cloister-wall over against the Parlour-door as they go through into the Centry-garth And afterwards when Whittingham came to be Dean he caused the said Image of St. Cuthbert as he had done many other of the Ancient Monuments to be defaced and broken all to pieces to the intent that there should be no memory or token of that holy man St. Cuthbert or of any man who formerly had been famous in the Church and great Benefactors thereunto as the Priors his predecessors were left whole and undefaced in memory or token of that holy man St. Cuthbert who was sent and brought thither by the power and will of Almighty God and prov'd the occasion of the Building of the said Monastical Church and House where they have all their Livings and commodities to live on at this day The East-Alley of the Cloisters It was many years after the Building of the Cloisters to the time of Bishop Walter Skirlaw who was first consecrated Bishop of Lichfield He sat there one year and was translated to Wells and sat there two years and in September 1388. he was removed to Durham He gave towards the Building of the Cloisters two hundred pounds in his Life-time and four hundred pounds in his Will and he bestowed also two hundred and twenty pounds in the Building of the Dirivitory He sate Bishop of Durham eighteen years and died in the beginning of the year 1406. And after him Thomas Langley Bishop gave to the Building of the said Cloisters 838 lib. 17s 6d So that these two Bishops were the two first Founders and Builders of the said Cloisters and did bear all the charges of the Building and Workmanship of the said Work and were the first that did cause from the Cloister-door to the Church-door to be set in Glass in the Window the whole story and miracles of that holy man St. Cuthbert from the day of his Birth to his dying day And there you might have seen his Mother lying in her Child-bed and how that after she was delivered the bright beams did shine from Heaven unto her and upon the Child as he lay in the Cradle insomuch that to every mans thinking the Holy Ghost had over-shadow'd him for every one that did see it thought that the house had been all on fire the beams did shine so bright over all the House both within and without And the Bishop baptized the Child and called him Yullock in the Irish Tongue in English Cuthbert The Bishop's Name who baptized and had the keeping of the virtuous and godly Child was Eugenius The Name of the City where St. Cuthbert was baptized was Hardbrecunb for he was blessed of God even from his Mothers Womb. So that every Miracle that he did after from his Infancy was set in the said Windows by it self and under every miracle there were certain Verses in Latine declaring the contents and meaning thereof in most excellent colour'd glass most artificially set forth and curiously wrought And the said stories thus set up in the Windows were set in that place at the charge of those two godly Bishops to be annexed and joyned to the said Tomb of St. Cuthbert