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-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
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
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
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