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
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
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
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
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-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
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