and John with an Altar for a Monk to say daily Mass being in ancient times inhabited by an Anchorite whereunto the Priors were wont much to frequent both for the excellency of the place to hear the high Mass standing so conveniently unto the high Altar and withal so near a Neighbour to the Sacred Shrine of St. Cuthbert whereunto the Priors were most devoutly addicted The entrance to this Porch or Anchoridge was up a fair pair of stairs adjoyning to the North door of St. Cuthbert's Feretory under which stairs the Paschal did lye and in time of Lent the Children of the Ambrie were enjoyned to come thither daily to dress trim and make it bright against the Paschal Feast In this North-Alley of the Quire betwixt two Pillars on the South side before St. Blaise's Altar afterwards called Skirlaw's Altar lyeth buried Walter Skirlaw Bishop of Durham under a fair Marble stone very sumptuously beset with many brazen Images having his own Image most artificially pourtray'd in Brass in the midst thereof with this saying engraven upon his Breast Credo quoâ— Redemptor meus vivit et in die novissimo 〈◊〉 terrâ surrecturus sum et in carne meâ videbo Deum Salvatorem meum Right over the entrance of this North Alley going to the Song-School which was heretofore the Segefetons Exchequer there was a Porch adjoyning to the Quire oâ— the South and St. Benedict's Altar on thâ— North the Porch having in it an Altar aâ—â— the Rood Picture of our Saviour which Altar and Rood were much frequented in Devotion by Dr. Swallwell sometimes Monk of Duresme the said Rood having mighty sumptuous Furniture for Festival dayes belonging to it The South Alley of the Quire At the East end of the South Alley of the Quire adjoyning to the Pillar next St. Cuthbert's Feretory next the Quire door on the South side opposite to the aforesaid Porch in the said North Alley there was a most fair Rood or Picture of our Saviour called the black Rood of Scotland with the Pictures of Mary and John being brought out of Holy Rood-House in Scotland by King David Bruce and was won at the Battel of Durham with the Picture of our Lady on the one side of our Saviour and the Picture of St. John on the other side Which Rood and Pictures were all three very richly wrought in silver the which were all smoaked black over being large Pictures of a yard or five quarters long and on every one of their heads a Crown of pure beaten Gold of Goldsmith's work with a device or wrest to take them off and to put them on And on the back-side of the said Rood Picture there was a piece of work that they were fasten'd unto all adorn'd with fine Wainscot-work and curious Painting well befitting such costly Pictures from the midst of the Pillar up to the height of the Vault which Wainscot was all red varnished over very finely and all set forth with Stars of Lead every Star finely gilt over with gold And also the said Rood and Pictures had every one of them an Iron stuck fast in the back-part of the said Images that had a hole in the said Irons that went through the wainscot to put in a pin of Iron to make them fast to the Wainscot Thomas Hatfeald Bishop of Durham lyeth buried over against the Revestry-door in the South Alley of the Quire betwixt two Pillars under the Bishop's seat which he did make before he dyed his Tomb being all of Alabaster whereunto was adjoyned a little Altar which he prepared for a Monk to say Mass for his Soul after his Death the Altaring environed with an Iron grate Within this South Alley of the Quire was the Revestry where the Bishop or his Suffragane had a peculiar Altar where they did use to say Mass only at such time as they were to consecrate Priests or to give any holy Orders The Cross-Alley of the Lantern before the Quire Door going North and South In the former part of the Quire on either side the West door or chief entrance thereof without the Quire door in the Lantern were placed in their several Rooms one above another the most excellent Pictures all gilt very beautifull to behold of all the Kings and Queens as well of Scotland as England who were devout and godly Founders and Benefactors of this famous Church and Sacred Monuments of St. Cuthbert to invite and provoke their Posterities to the like Religious endeavours in their several Successions and Kingdoms whose names here after follow Edgarus Rex Scotorum Katharina Regina Angliae Davia Broys Rex Scotorum Richardus Secundus Rex Angliae Alexander Rex Scotorum Henricus Quartus Rex Angliae Richardus Primus Rex Angliae Alexander Rex Scotorum Matilda Regina Angliae David Rex Scotorum Edwardus Tortius Rex Angliae Henricus Secundus Rex Angliae Edwardus Primus Rex Angliae Henricus Quintus Rex Angliae Alexander Rex Scotorum Sibylla Regina Scotorum Gulielmus Rufus Rex Angliae Richardus Tertius Rex Angliae Gulielmus Conquestor Rex Angliae Haraldus Rex Angliae Johannes Rex Angliae Edwardus Secundus Rex Angliae Ethelstanus Rex Angliae Stephanus Rex Angliae Matilda Regina Angliae Knutus Rex Angliae Malcolmus Rex Scotorum Duncanus Rex Scotorum Henricus Tertius Rex Angliae Elianora Regina Angliae Henricus Primus Rex Angliae Elianora Regina Angliae Malcolmus Rex Scotorum Gulielmus Rex Scotorum In the Lantern called the New Work were hanging three very fine Bells which Bells were rung ever at Mid-night at twelve of the Clock for the Monks went evermore to Mattins at that hour of the Night There were four men appointed to ring the said Bells at Mid-night and at such other times of the day as the Monks went to serve God two of the said men appertaining to the Revestry who alwayes kept the Copes with the Vestments and five pair of silver Censers with all such goodly Ornaments pertaining to the high Altar Which two men did lye every night in a Chamber over the West end of the said Revestry And the other two men did lye every Night within the said Church in a Chamber in the North alley over against the Sextons Exchequer These two men did alwayes sweep and keep the Church cleanly and did fill the Holy-water-stone every Sunday in the Morning with clean water before it came to be hallowed and did lock in the Church doors every Night Also there is standing in the South Pillat of the Quire-door of the Lantern in a corner of the said Pillar a four-square stone which hath been finely wrought in every square a fair large Image whereon did stand a four-square stone about it which had twelve Cressets wrought in that stone which were fill'd with Tallow and every night one of them was lighted when the day was gone and did burn to give light to the Monks at Mid-night when they came to Mattins The North Alley of
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
Mary and Christ in her Arms in fine colour'd glass The Rite or Custome of burying Bishops in the Chapter-house The Bishops of Durham when they died were brought to the Abbey-Church of Durham to be interr'd and buried The Prior and Monks of Durham did meet the deceas'd at the Abbey-Church-yard gate at the Palace-green and received him there and brought him through the said Church into the Chapter-house to be buried at which burial there was used great solemnity and devotion by the Prior and the Monks of the Church of Durham according to the accustomable burying of Bishops in the Ancient time The accustomed burial of Bishops in those times was that they should be interr'd with the Habit they were wont to say Mass in with their Albes Stoles and Phannels and their other Vestments with Mitres on their Heads and their crosier-staffs in their hands and so laid in their Coffins with a little Chalice of silver other metal or Wax which Wax-chalice was gilt very finely about the edge and the knob in the midst of the shank of the Chalice and about the edge of the patten or cover and the foot of it also was gilt One of which Chalices was laid upon his breast in the Coffin with him and the cover thereof nail'd down to it and very solemn service was done at their Funerals The Prior and Monks had the Horses Chariot and all other things which came with the deceas'd Bishop being due to them by their Ancient custome as more plainly doth appear in the History of the Church of Durham alias Dunhelme at large And afterwards the Bishops came to be interred within the Abbey-Church of Durham and not in the Chapter-house in these latter dayes The Names of all the Bishops of Durham who were sumptuously buried out of the Chapter-house within the Abbey-Church of Durham as they were accustomed to say Mass with all their Furniture belonging thereto as their Predecessors had been in the Chapter-house as is aforesaid in every respect as appears by their Monuments and Inscriptions thereof Which Bishops had been great Benefactors to the said Church Anthony Beak Bishop of Durham and Patriarch of Jerusalem was the first Bishop that ever attempted to be buried in the Abbey-Church out of the Chapter-house and to lye so near the Sacred Shrine and Body of St. Cuthbert Lodovicus Beaumont Episcopus Richardus de Bury Episcopus Thomas Hatfield Episcopus Gualterus Skirlaw Episcopus Thomas Langley Episcopus Robertus Nevill Episcopus Cuthbertus â—onstall Episcopus This Cuthbert being deprived of his Bishoprick by Queen Elizabeth was kept Prisoner in the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury's House at Lambeth where he dyed a profess'd Catholick and lyeth buried under a fair Marble stone in the Parish-Church of Lambeth where he was first consecrated and made Bishop Forty years before that at the East end of the Chapter-house and on the South side of the Quire there was a Yard or Garth called the Centory-garth where all the Priors and Monks were buried in which said Garth there was a Vault all set within on either side with Mason work of free stone and likewise at either end and over the midst of the said Vault there did lye a fair Thorowstone and at either side of the stone it was open so that when any of the Monks was buried whatsoever bones were found in his Grave they were taken out of the Grave where he was buried and thrown through the same into the said Vault which Vault was made for the same purpose to be a Charnell-house to cast dead mens bones in There were also divers Gentlemen of good Worship buried in the said Centory-garth out of a desire that they might be buried nigh unto that holy man St. Cuthbert And amongst the rest there was one Gentleman of good Worship called Mr. Racket who was buried in the said Centory-garth near unto the Nine Altars-door over against the Shrine of the holy man St. Cuthbert who had a fair Tomb over him and a fair white Marble stone above the said Tomb whereon was wrought very curiously the Picture of the said Mr. Racket all in Brass in his Coat-Armour with his Sword girt about him and at every corner of the said Marble stone was one of the four Evangelists all in Brass likewise There was also another Gentleman called Mr. Elmeden buried in the said Garth without the Nine Altars door and a fair through-stone above him and divers other Gentlemen whose memories are now perished and all their Monuments defaced and gone Also in the same place all the Priors and Monks were buried in Ancient time All the Priors had every one a fair Through-stone laid upon their Tombs or graves some of Marble some of Free-stone Which stones Dean Whittingham caused to be pull'd and taken away and did also break and deface all such stones as had any Pictures of Brass or other Imagery-work or Chalice wrought and engraven upon them and the residue he took away and employ'd them to his own use and did make a washing-house of them at the end of the Centory-garth so that it cannot be discerned at present that ever any were buried in the said Centory-garth it is so plain and strait for he could not abide any Ancient Monuments nor any thing that appertained to a goodly Religiousness or Monastical Life Within the said Abbey-Church of Durham were two Holy-water-stones of fine Marble very artificially made and engraven and boss'd with hollow bosses upon the outer-sides of the stones very curiously wrought They were both of the same work but one much greater than the other and they were both taken away by Dean Whittingham and carried into his Kitchin and employ'd to profane uses and there stood during his Life and his people steeped their Beef and Salt-fish in them having a conveyance in the bottoms of them to let forth the Water as they had when they were in the Church And after his death the greater of the two Holy-water-stones was removed to the lower end of the Dean's Buttery where the water-Conduit is set and next unto the Wine-Cellar that therein the Servants might wash and make clean their Pots and Cups before they serve at the Table The foot of the said Holy-water-stone was laid without the Church door and was afterwards plac'd in the ground in one Lamb's Shop a Black-smith upon Framwell-gate-bridge-end and is now there to be seen Moreover Mrs. Whittingham after the death of her Huband took away the lesser Holy-water-stone out of the Dean's Kitchin and brought it into her House in the North-Baily over against the Dean's Orchard at the East-end of the Church and set it in their Kitchin And she also carried away divers Grave-stones of blew Marble and other Through-stones that lay upon the Priors and Monks out of the Centory-garth when she built her house in the Baily with stones Some of them are laid in the thresholds of the doors and two great ones did lie without the doors over against the Wall before
THE ANCIENT RITES and MONVMENTS OF THE Monastical Cathedral CHURCH OF DURHAM Collected out of Ancient Manuscripts about the time of the Suppression Published by J. D. of Kidwelly Tempora mutantur LONDON Printed for W. Hensman at the King's Head in Westminster-Hall M. DC LXXII TO My much Honour'd Friend JAMES MICKLETON Of the Inner-Temple Esq SIR IT hath alwayes been a commendable design in those Authors who have spent their Labours in the survey of Ancient places when they could no longer entertain us with an account of their flourishing condition to give us the most satisfactory prospect they could of their Ruines Such is the Relation given here of your Ancient Monastical and Cathedral Church of Durham of which I question not but much more might have been said had any one made it his business to give a compleat Description thereof As soon as this Piece in Manuscript came to my hands I must confess it renew'd in me the memory of my obligations to a famous Native of that place my early Friend and Patrone John Hall Esq to whom you were by a happy Alliance so nearly Related Wonder not then if partly upon that inducement and partly upon the score of your being an Inhabitant of the same City as also that of your being a person particularly addicted to the study of Antiquities I address the Print to your Patronage Which I do with this further wish that what I have occasionally communicated to the Publick may prove an incentive to your self or some others in your parts to make what Additionals you think fit concerning your St. Cuthbert and the Cathedral of Durham so famous through the World upon his account I am SIR Your most affectionate humble Servant J. DAVIES London Oct. 4. 1671. A TABLE Of the Principal Heads of this ensuing Treatise THe Nine Altars Pag. 1. St. Cuthbert's Feretory 6. The Quire 12. The Passion 21. The Resurrection 22. The North-Alley of the Quire 29. The South-Alley of the Quire 31. The Cross-Alley of the Lantern before the Quire-door going North and South 33. The North-Alley of the Lantern 36. An Ancient Memorial taken out of the best Antiquaries concerning the Battel of Durham in John Fosser's time 37. The South-Alley of the Lantern 50. The Causes why Women may not come to the Feretory of St. Cuthbert nor enter within the Precinct annexed to the Monastery 60. The North-Alley of the Body of the Church 64 The South-Angle of the Body of the Church 68. The Galilee and whence the Chappel dedicated to the honour of St. Mary came to be so called 73. The Rite or Custom of the Church of Durham in the burying of Monks 88. The Rite in burying of Priors 90. The Priors of Durham buried within the Abbey-Church 92. A Catalogue of the Bishops of Durham buried in the Chapter-House there 93. The Rite or Custom of burying Bishops in the Chapter-House 96. The Names of the Bishops of Durham who were sumptuously buried out of the Chapter-House within the Abbey-Church of Durham c. 98. Of St. Cuthbert's Death and the Translation of his body to Durham 105. The Tomb of William Carlipho in the Cloyster-garth c. 117. The East-Alley of the Cloysters 119. The South-Alley of the Cloysters 124. The Frater-House 126. The North-Alley of the Cloysters 131. The West-Alley of the Cloysters 132. The Dortoir or Dormitory 133. The Loft 136. The Common-House 137. The Guest-Hall 139. The Names of some of the Monks and Officers within the Abbey-Church of Durham 143. Processions in the Abbey-Church of Durham upon certain Festivals c. 156. Procession on the three Cross-dayes Ibid. Procession on Holy-Thursday Whitsunday and Trinity-Sunday 157. St. Cuthbert's Shrine defaced 159. St. Bede's Shrine defaced 161. The Procession upon Corpus-Christi-day within the Church and City of Durham before the Suppression of the Abbey-Church 162. THE ANCIENT RITES and MONVMENTS OF THE Monastical and Cathedral CHURCH OF DURHAM The Nine Altars FIrst in the Front or highest part of the Church were the Nine Altars Dedicated and Erected in honour of several Saints and from them taking their Names as the Inscriptions thereof shall declare The Altars being placed North and South one from another along the Front of the Church In the midst of the Front of the Church where these Nine Altars were placed was the Altar of the Holy Fathers St. Cuthbert and St. Bede having all the foresaid Altars equally divided on either hand on the South hand four and on the North hand four On the South were these four Altars following 1. The Altar of St. Oswald and St. Lawrence 2. The Altar of St. Thomas of Canterbury and St. Catharine 3. The Altar of St. Baptist and St. Margaret 4. The Altar of St. Andrew and Mary Magdalene being the outermost Altartowards the South On the South-Angle of the said Nine Altars next the Cemitery commonly called the Centry-garth and next the said Altar there was an Almery set wherein singing-Bread and Wine were usually placed at which the Sacristan of the Abbey caused his Servant or Scholar daily to give Attendance from six of the Clock in the Morning till high Mass was ended from out thereof to deliver singing-Bread and Wine to those who assisted the Monks to Celebrate and say Mass Richard de Bury Bishop of Durham lieth buried before this Altar under a fair Marble stone whereon his own Image was most curiously and artificially engraven in Brass with the Pictures of the twelve Apostles divided and embroider'd on either side of him and other fine Imagery-work about it much adorning the Marble stone On the North side of St. Cuthbert's Shrine and St. Bede's Altar were these four following 1. The Altar of St. Martin 2. The Altar of St. Peter and St. Paul 3. The Altar of St. Aidan and St. Helene 4. The Altar of the Holy Arch-Angel St. Michael being the outermost towards the North. Betwixt the two last Altars lyeth buryed Anthony Beek Bishop of Durham and Patriarch of Jerusalem in a fair Marble Tomb underneath a large Marble stone being the first Bishop that ever attempted to lye so near the sacred Shrine of St. Cuthbert the Wall being broken at the end of the Abbey to bring him in with his Coffin All the foresaid Nine Altars had their several Shrines and covers of Wainscot over-head in a very decent and comely form having likewise betwixt every Altar a very fair and large Partition of Wainscot all varnished over with fine branches and flowers and other Imagery-work most finely and artificially Pictur'd and gilt containing the several Lockers or Ambries for the safe keeping of the Vestments and Ornaments belonging to every Altar with three or four little Ambries in the Wall pertaining to some of the said Altars for the same use and purpose In the East end of the said Church there is a goodly fair round Window called St. Catharine's Window the breadth of the Quire all of stone and cunningly wrought and glaz'd having in it twenty
four lights very artificially made and the Picture of St. Catharine is set in Glass on the right side underneath the said Window in another glaz'd Window as she was set upon the Wheel to be tormented to death which Wheel did burst in pieces and caught the turners of it and with the pikes thereof rent them all to pieces St. Catharine being safe her self by the provision of Almighty God And in the said Window there was a frame of Iron wherein stood nine very fair Cressets of earthen metal fill'd with Tallow which were lighted every Night when Day was gone to give light to the Nine Altars and St. Cuthbert's Feretory in that part and over all the Church besides and they burned till break of Day next Morning In the South Alley-end of the said Nine Altars there is a good glaz'd Window called St. Cuthbert's Window which hath in it all the whole story and Miracles of that Holy man St. Cuthbert from his Birth and Infancy unto his end and the discourse of his whole Life marvellously fair and curiously set forth in Picture in fine colour'd glass according as he went in his Habit to his dying day being a most godly and fine story to behold of that Holy man St. Cuthbert In the North Alley of the said Nine Altars there is another goodly fair great glaz'd Window called Joseph's Window having in it all the whole story of Joseph most artificially wrought in Pictures in fine colour'd glass as it is read and set forth in the Bible very goodly and godly to the beholders thereof In St. Cuthbert's Feretory Next to these Nine Altars was the goodly Monument of St. Cuthbert adjoyning to the Quire and the high Altar on the West and reaching towards the nine Altars on the East and towards the North and South containing the breadth of the Quire in quadrant form in the midst whereof his sacred Shrine was exalted with most curious workmanship of fine and costly green Marble all lined and gilt with gold having four seats or places convenient underneath the Shrine for the Pilgrims or lame men setting on their knees to lean and rest on in the time of their devout Offerings and fervent prayers to God and Holy St. Cuthbert for his miraculous relief and succour which being never wanting made the Shrine to be so richly invested that it was esteemed one of the most sumptuous Monuments in all England so great were the Offerings and Jewels bestow'd upon it and no less the miracles that were done by it even in these latter dayes as is more patent in the History of the Church at large At the West end of the Shrine of St. Cuthbert was a little Altar adjoyn'd to it for Mass to be said only on the great and Holy Feast of St. Cuthbert's day in Lent At which Solemnity the Prior and the Convent did keep open Houshold in the Frater-house and dined altogether on that day and no day else in the year And at this Feast and certain other Festival dayes in time of Divine Service they were accustomed to draw up the cover of St. Cuthbert's Shrine being of Wainscot whereunto was fasten'd unto every corner of the said cover to a loop of Iron a very strong cord which cords were all fasten'd together at the end over the midst of the cover and a strong Rope was fasten'd unto the loops or binding of the said cord which Rope did run up and down in a pulley under the Vault above St. Cuthbert's Feretory for the drawing up of the cover of St. Cuthbert's Shrine And the said Rope was fasten'd to a loop of Iron to the North Pillar of the Feretory having very fine sounding silver Bells fasten'd to the said Rope which at the drawing up of the cover made such a goodly sonnd that it stirr'd all the Peoples hearts within the Church to repair unto it and to make their prayers unto God and the Holy man St. Cuthbert And that the beholders might see the glory and ornaments thereof the said cover had at every corner two hoops of Iron made fast to every corner of the Cover which did run up and down on four round staves of Iron when it was drawing which were made fast in every corner of the Marble that St. Cuthbert's Coffin did lye upon which said cover on the out-side was all over very finely and artificially gilt and also on either side of the said cover were painted four lively Images curiously wrought and miraculous to all the beholders thereof And on the East end was painted the Picture of our Saviour sitting in the Rain-bow to give Judgment very artificially and lively to behold and on the West end of the said cover was the Picture of our Lady and the Picture of Christ on her knee and on the height of the said cover from end to end was a most fine brandishing of carved work cut throughout with Dragons and Fowls and Beasts most artificially wrought and set forth to the beholders thereof And the in-side of the said cover was all varnished and colour'd with a most fine sanguine colour that the Beholders might see all the glory and all the ornaments thereof and at every corner of the said cover there was a lock to lock it down from opening and drawing the same up Also within the said Feretory on both North and South side there were Ambries of fine Wainscot varnished and finely painted and gilt over with fine little Images very beautiful to behold for the Reliques belonging to St. Cuthbert to lye in And within the said Ambries did lye all the holy Reliques that were offered to that Holy man St. Cuthbert and when his Shrine was drawn the said Ambries were opened that every man that came thither at that time might see the holy Reliques therein So that the costly Reliques and Jewels that were in the said Ambries and all the other Reliques that hung about within the said Feretory upon the Iron there were accounted the most sumptuous and richest Jewels in all this Land with the bountifulness of the fine little Images which stood in the French Pierre within the Feretory For great were the gifts and godly Devotion of Kings Queens and other States at that time towards God and holy St. Cuthbert in the Church Within this Feretory of St. Cuthbert were many fine little Pictures of several Saints of Imagery work all being of Alabaster set in the French Pierre in their several places the Pictures being curiously wrought engraven and gilt and the Nevil's Cross and Bull 's Head set upon the height and on the other side of the two doors in the said French pierre and also in divers other places of the French pierre besides which Feretory and French pierre were made at the charges of John Lord Nevil as may appear at large in the History of the Church At the East end of St. Cuthbert's Feretory were wrought upon the height of the Irons towards the Nine Altars very fine Candlesticks of
Iron like Sockets which had lights set in them before day that every Monk might have the more light to see to reade upon their books at the said Nine Altars when they said Mass and also to give light to all others that came thither to hear and see the Divine Service The King of Scot's Ancient and his Banner with the Lord Nevil's Banner and divers other Noble-mens Ancients were all brought to St. Cuthbert's Feretory and there the said Lord Nevill did make his Petition to God and that holy man St. Cuthbert and did offer Jewels and Banners to the Shrine of the Holy and Blessed man St. Cuthbert within the Feretory And there the said Banners and Ancients stood and hung till the suppression of the House The Lord Nevil's Banner-staff was done about with Iron from the midst upward and did stand and was bound to the Irons on the North-end of the Feretory and the King of Scot's Banner was bound to the midst of the said Irons and did hang on the midst of the Alley of the Nine Altars and was fasten'd to a loop of Iron being in a Pillar under St. Catharine's Window in the East end of the Church And a little after the suppression of the House they were all taken down spoiled and defaced that the memory thereof should be clean taken away though a great honour to the Realm and decent Ornament to the Church The Quire In the East end of the Quire joyning upon St. Cuthbert's Feretory stood the high Altar the goodliest in all the Church being a very Rich thing with many precious and costly Ornaments appertaining to it as well for every principal day as for every of our Lady's dayes The said High Altar and St. Cuthbert's Feretory is all of the French Pierre curiously wrought both in-side and out-side with fair Images of Alabaster and gilt being called in the Ancient History the Lardose the said curious workmanship of the French Pierre or Lardose reaching in height almost to the middle Vault and containing the breadth of the Quire in length In the midst whereof right over the said High Altar were artificially plac'd in very fine Alabaster the Picture of our Lady standing in the midst and the Picture of St. Cuthbert on one side and the Picture of St. Oswald on the other all richly gilt And at either end of the said Altar was a wand of Iron fasten'd in the Wall whereon did hang Curtains or Hangings of white silk daily The daily Ornaments that were hung both before the Altar and above were of red Velvet with great flowers of gold in embroider'd work with many goodly Pictures besides very finely gilt but the Ornaments for the principal Feast which was the Assumption of our Lady were all white Damask all beset with Pearl and precious Stones which made the Ornaments more glorious to behold Within the Quire over the high Altar hung a rich and most sumptuous Canopy for the Blessed Sacrament to hang within it which had two Irons fasten'd in the French Pierre very finely gilt which held the Canopy over the midst of the said high Altar that the Pix did hang in that it could not stir nor move whereon did stand a Pelican all of Silver upon the height of the said Canopy finely gilt giving her blood to her young ones in token of Christ who gave his blood for the sins of the World and it was goodly to behold for the Blessed Sacrament to hang in And the Pix wherein the Blessed Sacrament did hang was of pure gold curiously wrought of Gold-smith's work and the white cloath that hung over the Pix was of very fine Lawn all embroidered and wrought about with gold and red silk and four great knobs of gold curiously wrought with great tassels of gold and red silk hanging at them and at the four corners of the white Lawn cloath And the Crock that did hang within the cloath on which the Pix hung was of gold and the cord that drew it up and down was made of fine strong white silk And when the Monks went to say or sing high Mass they put on their Vestments in the Revestry both the Epistlers and the Gospellers they were alwayes revested in the same place And when the Office of the Mass was begun to be sung the Epistlers came forth of the Revestry and the other two Monks following him all three arow at the South Quire door and there did stand to the Gloria Patri of the Office of the Mass begun to be sung And then with great Reverence and Devotion they went all three up to the high Altar and one of the Vergers that kept the Revestry did go before them with a tipt staff in his hand as it was his Office so to do bowing themselves most reverently to the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar the one on the one side of him that said Mass and the other on the other Also the Gospeller did carry a marvellous fair Book which had the Gospels and Epistles in it and did lay it on the Altar which Book had on the out-side of the covering the Picture of our Saviour Christ all of Silver of Gold-smith's work all parcel-gilt very fine to behold which Book did serve for the Pax in the Mass The Epistler when he had sung the Epistle did lay the Book again upon the Altar and afterward when the Gospel was sung the Gospeller laid it down upon the Altar likewise untill the Mass was done Mass being ended they went all three into the Revestry from whence they came and carried the Book with them and one of the Vergers meeting them at the South Quire door after the same sort went before them into the Revestry There pertained also to the high Altar two goodly Chalices one of gold the other of silver double gilt and all the foot of it set full of precious stones That of gold was for principal dayes and the other to serve every day Likewise there were pertaining to the said high Altar two goodly great Basons of silver one for principal dayes double gilt a great large one and the other Bason for every day not so large being parcel-gilt and engraven all over and two great Crewets of silver containing quarts apiece parcel-gilt and graven all over and other two lesser Crewets for every day all of silver one pair of silver Censers for every day and two pair of silver Censers for every double Feast double gilt and two pair of silver Censers parcel-gilt and the Chains also for every principal day with two Ships of silver parcel-gilt for principal dayes and other two of silver ungilt for every day to carry Frankincense in and two silver double-gilt Candlesticks for two Tapers very finely wrought of three quarters height to be taken asunder with wrests other two silver Candlesticks for every dayes Service parcel-gilt with goodly and rich and sumptuous Furniture for every Festival day of changeable suits Divers of the Vestments were set all round about
at the foot of the said Cross in perpetual praise and memory for the said Victory and recovery of the said Battel till it was now of late within these thirty five years suddenly defaced and thrown down by some lewd and ill disposed persons who despised Antiquities and Worthiness of Monuments after the suppression of the Abbey And the Collection of this Memorial Antiquity was in the year of our Lord God 1593. John Fosser was the first Prior that ever attempted to be buried within the Abbey-Church out of the Centry-Garth He was buried in the North-plage before the Altar of St. Nicholas and St. Giles being the last of the three Altars in the North-plage towards the North over whom was laid a curious and sumptuous Marble stone which he prepared in his Life time with his own Image and other Imagery work engraven in Brass upon it with the Pictures of the twelve Apostles in Brass divided and bordered on either side of him with three other Pictures in Brass The South-Alley of the Lantern * Circa Annum Domini 1082. villa de Hemmingbrough data fuit Monachis Dunelm John Hemmingbrough Prior of Durham lieth buried in the South-plage on the right-hand as you go to the Revestry under a fair Marble stone with his Picture curiously engraven upon it having the twelve Apostles pictur'd on either side of him six South six North in Brass with other Imagery work all about his Head before the Altar of our Lady alias Howghells or Hoâ—gwells Altar being the first of the three Altars in the South-plage William Ebchester Prior of Durham lyeth buried in the South-Alley-plage on the right hand under a fair Marble stone before the Lady of Boltons Altar with his Verses or Epitaph engraven upon the said stone in Brass which stone was taken up there and removed and lyeth now before the Quire door the aforesaid Altar being the second of the three Altars in that plage Over which Altar there was a marvellous lively and beautiful Image of the Picture of our Lady so called the Lady of Bolton which Picture was made to open with gimmes from her Breast downward and within the said Image was wrought and Pictur'd the Image of our Saviour marvellous finely gilt holding up his hands and holding betwixt his hands a large fair Crucifix of Christ all of gold the which Crucifix was to be taken forth every Good-Fryday and every man did creep unto it that was in the Church at that time and afterwards it was hung up again within the said Image and every principal day the said Image was opened that every man might see pictur'd within her The Father the Son and the Holy Ghost most curiously and finely gilt and both the sides within her very finely varnished with green varnish and flowers of gold which was a goodly sight for all the beholders thereof And upon the stone which she did stand on underneath was drawn a fair Cross upon a Scutcheon called the Nevell's Cross signifying that the Nevells had born the charges of it Robert Ebchester Prior of Durham lyeth buried under a fair Marble stone with his Picture and Verses from the waste up in Brass before the said Lady of Bolton's Altar Next to the Lady of Bolton's Altar on the South was St. Fides's Altar and St. Thomas the Apostle being the third Altar in the South-plage There is a Library in the South-angle of the Lantern which is now above the Clock standing betwixt the Chapter-house and the Te-Deum-Window being well replenished with old written Doctors and other Histories and Ecclesiastical Writers In the North end of the Alley of the Lantern there is a goodly fair large and lightsome Glass-window having in it twelve long pleasant and beautiful Lights being made and built of fine stone which in the old time was gone to decay and the Prior at that time renewed and re-built it and called it the Window of the four Doctors of the Church which hath six long fair lights of glass in the upper part of the said Window and therein is Pictur'd our B. Lady with the Picture of our Saviour Christ in her Arms and the Picture of holy St. Cuthbert on the West side of her both which Pictures standing in the midst of the said Window in most fine colour'd glass and on the East side of our Lady are two Doctors of the Church pictur'd and the other two Doctors pictur'd on the West side of St. Cuthbert all being very large Pictures and very curiously set forth in fine colour'd glass And the Picture of Prior Casteil who bore the whole Charge in building the said Window both of stone and glass as is aforesaid is setting on his knees in fine blew glass in his habit and holding up his hands to our Lady under the feet of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose Image stands above his head one saying Virgo Mater Dei Miserere mei And there are other six fair Lights in the aforesaid Window under our Lady St. Cuthbert and the aforesaid Doctors that is beneath them being very finely glaz'd with all the Instruments of Christ's death set in round glass and wrought in fine colours in the said Window being all but one glass Window Also in the South end of the Lantern above the Clock there is a fair glass Window called the Te-Deum-Window very fairly glaz'd according as every Verse of Te-Deum is sung or said so is it pictur'd in the Window very finely and curiously wrought in fine colour'd glass with all the Orders of Angels viz. Thrones Dominations Cherubims c. with the Picture of Christ as he was upon the Cross Crucified and the B. Virgin Mary with Christ in her Arms as he was born These Monuments following were placed from the Lantern in the midst of the Church in their several places till you come to the West end of the Church adjoyning upon the Gallely In the Body of the Church betwixt two of the highest Pillars supporting and holding up the West side of the Lantern over against the Quire door there was an Altar called Jesus-Altar where Jesus-Mass was sung every Friday throughout the whose year And on the back-side of that said Altar there was a fair high stone Wall and at either end of the Wall there was a door which was lock'd every night called the two Rood-doors for the Procession to go and come in at and betwixt those two doors was Jesus-Altar placed as is aforesaid and at either end of the Altar was closed up with fiâ—e Wainscot like unto a Porch adjoyning unto either Rood-door very finely varnished with fine red varnish And in the Wainscot at the South end of the Altar there were four fair Ambries for to lock the Chalices and silver Crewets with two others for their Suits of Vestments and other Ornaments belonging to the said Altars for the holy-dayes and principal dayes And at the North end of the Altar in the Wainscot there was a door to come into the said Porch and
Feretory In consideration whereof the work was left off and a new one begun and finished at the West-Angle of the said Church into which it was lawful for Women to enter having no holy place before where they might have lawfull access for their comfort and consolation It is called the Galilee by reason as some think of the Translation of the same being once begun and afterwards removed whereupon it took the name of Galilee to which place such as repaired had granted unto them sundry pardons as plainly may appear in a Table there set up containing the said pardons Within the Galilee in the Chantry being all of most excellent blew Marble stood our Lady's Altar a very sumptuous Monument finely adorned with curious Wainscot-work above-head at the back and at either end of the Altar the Wainscot being devised and furnished with most Heavenly Pictures so lively in colours and gilt that they greatly adorned the said Altar where our Lady's Mass was sung daily by the Master of the Song-School with certain Deacons and Quiristers the Master of the Song-School playing upon a pair of very fair and fine Organs in time of our Lady's Mass wherein the first Founder of the said Chantry Bishop Langley his Soul was most devoutly pray'd for both in the beginning and ending thereof There was also belonging to the said Altar very sumptuous and glorious Furniture not only for principal dayes but for ordinary Service and for the preserving and safe-keeping of those goodly Suits of Vestments and Ornaments appertaining to the said Altar there was at either end thereof behind the Portal two very fine close Ambries all of Wainscot wherein after the celebrating of our Lady's Mass they were safely inclosed Thomas Langley Bishop of Durham lyeth buried under a fair Marble Tomb within the said Chantry before our Lady's Altar He founded upon the Palace-Green a Grammar-School and a Song-School with yearly stipends whereof two Priests were Masters who did daily say Mass and also daily pray'd for his Soul On the North-side of the said Galilee was an Altar called the Lady of Pitty 's Altar with her Picture carrying our Saviour on her knee as he was taken from the Cross a very dolorous aspect The said Altar was ordained for a Chauntry-Priest to say Mass every Holy day having above the Altar on the Wall the one part of our Saviour's Passion in great Pictures the other part being above St. Bede's Altar on the South-side There was on the South-side betwixt two Pillars a goodly Monument all of blew Marble the height of a yard from the ground supported by five Pillars at every corner one and under the midst one and above the said Through of Marble Pillars stood a second Shrine of St. Cuthbert's wherein the Bones of the holy man St. Bede were enshrined being accustomed to be taken down every Festival day when there was any solemn Procession and carried by four Monks in time of Procession and Divine Service Which being ended they convey'd it into the Galilee and set it upon the said Tomb again having a fair cover of Wainscot very curiously gilt and appointed to draw up and down over the Shrine when they pleas'd to shew the sumptuousness thereof And for further verity in this enarration of St. Bede's Shrine I have set down the Verses which are in the Ancient History declaring both the time of his Translation from St. Cuthbert's Tomb and withall the Maker and Founder of the Shrine in the Galilee Hugo Pulissar Bishop of Durham after he had finished the Chappel called the Galilee caus'd a Feretory of Gold and Silver to be made wherein the Bones of Venerabâ—â— Bede Priest and Doctor Translated and removed from St. Cuthbert's Shrine were laid In the first work whereof the lower parts thereof these Verses under-written were engraven in Latine now Translated into English as followeth In cujus Feretri prima fabricatura in parte inferiori isti versus sunt insculpti Continet haec theca Bedae venerabilis ossa Sensum Factori Christus dedit atque Datori Petrus opus fecit proesul dedit hoc Hugo donum Sic in utroque suum veneratus utrumque patronum In English This Coffin doth contain the Bones of venerable Bede Christ to the Maker sence did give and to the Giver Gold One Peter fram'd the work the cost Bishop Hugo made So Peter and Hugo Patrons both St. Bede inclos'd in mould Anno Milleno ter Centum septuageno Postquam Salvatorâ— arnem de Virgine sumpsit Tra stulit hoc Peretrum Cuthberti de prope tumba Istius Ecclesiae prior hic poscente Richardo De Castro dicti Bernardi cujus et ossa Non procul hinc lapide sub marmoreo requiescunt In the year of our Lord God One thousand three hundred and seventy Richard of Bernard-Castle did most earnestly procure that the Bones of St. Bede lying nigh St. Cuthbert's Shrine should be Translated into the Galilee there to remain This Richard upon his decease for the love he bore to St. Bede caused his own Bones to be laid neer him under a Marble-stone It appeareth in the Description of the State of the Church of Durham that the Bones of St. Bede were first laid in the Monastery of Jarrow and afterwards brought to Durham and placed in a golden Coffin on the right side with the Body of St. Cuthbert Egfridus a Priest Bishop of Lindisfarne in that time viz. in the year of Grace 1430. or according to others 1319. did affirm and certainly record that one Coffin did cover and contain both the Body of St. Cuthbert and the Bones of Venerable Doctor Bede On the South of the said Galilee was the Altar of St. Bede before which his Bones and Reliques lye Interred under the same place where before his Shrine was exalted Adjoyning to the lower part of the great Window in the West-end of the said Galilee was a fair Iron Pulpit with bars of Iron for one to hold them by going up the steps into the Pulpit where one of the Monks preached every Holy-day and Sunday at one in the Afternoon At the West-end of the South-Angle was a Font to Baptize Children when the Realm was interdicted by the Pope which Thomas Langley Bishop of Durham did only procure as a priviledge upon especial favour at the Pope's hands In the same west-West-end of the Galilee there be four fair colour'd and sumptuous glaz'd Windows In the first towards the South there are three fair Lights the middle having in it the Picture of Christ as he was Crucified on the Cross most curiously painted and wrought in glass with the Sun and Moon above the head thereof In the highest part of the said Light there is the Picture of the Star which appeared unto the three Wise men or Kings of Collen underneath depictur'd directing them to the East to search out the new-born Child Jesus the holy One born betwixt an Ox and an Ass to offer to him Oblations and Sacrifices of Gold Myrrh