ALDWINE,

who was the head of the monaſtic houſes of Jarrow and Weremouth, at the time their monks were tranſlated to Durham, was made the firſt prior of the [65] convent. He was originally of Wincelcambe ^*, but having an irreſiſtible deſire to viſit the venerable monaſtic remains in the north, travelled into this province, accom⯑panied by two monks from Eveſham. They arrived in this country in the year 1073, and firſt ſat down at Monkcheſter, now Newcaſtle; but on the invitation of biſhop Walcher, came to the ruined houſe of Girwa or Jarrow. That place ſoon becoming crowded by the number of devotees who reſorted thither, ſeveral colonies emigrated from thence: One body of monks ſettled at Streoneſchale or Whitby; another at York, from whom aroſe the noted monaſtery of St Mary; another went to Melros; and a fourth to Weremouth. Aldwine enjoyed his new dignity but a very ſhort time, he departing this life on the 12th of April, 1087 ^*. His ſucceſſor

TURGOT,

to whom the modern hiſtorian is ſo much indebted for information touching the ancient ſtate of this See, was ſaid to be of noble birth, and, in his youth, one of thoſe unhappy perſons who were confined in the caſtle of Lincoln, ſoon after the Norman conqueſt: Eſcaping from priſon, he fled to Norway, and was graciouſly received. Some years after, returning to England, he ſuffered ſhipwreck, and loſt all his effects. He reſorted to Durham, where he obtain⯑ed protection of biſhop Walcher, who recommended a religious life to him, and placed him under the tuition of Aldwine at Jarrow. From that monaſtery he went to Melros; from thence to Weremouth, where he aſſumed the monaſtic habit; and, laſtly, returned to Durham. On Aldwine's death, Turgot, with the general aſſent of the prelate and monaſtery, was elected prior of Durham in the year 1087, the office of archdeacon being annexed to that dignity. The monaſtery profited greatly by his prudent government; the privileges were enlarged, and revenues conſide⯑rably increaſed by his influence; and he promoted many improvements in the ſacred edifices. He contributed an everlaſting ornament to the monaſtery by the Eccleſi⯑aſtical Hiſtory which he compiled, beginning with the foundation of the See, and proceeding to the year 1096. After filling the office of prior with great dignity and piety for near twenty years, he was elected biſhop of St Andrew's and primate of Scotland in 1107, and conſecrated by archbiſhop Thomas, at York, on the 1ſt of Auguſt, 1109^†. Diſſentions ariſing between biſhop Turgot and the king of Scot⯑land, the prelate's anxiety and diſtreſs of mind brought on a decline of health, [66] under which he obtained permiſſion to return to England; and came back to Durham in the year 1115, where he reſided little more than two months before his death. Stevens ſaith, that he returned to Durham after the death of king Malcolm and his queen ^*. He was buried in the chapter-houſe, between biſhops Walcher and William.

After Turgot's departure for the See of St Andrew's, unhappy diſſentions took place between the monaſtery and biſhop Flambard; no prior was appointed for a conſiderable time; and the duties of archdeacon, official, and vicar-general, were ſevered from the office of prior: The biſhop alſo poſſeſſed himſelf of ſeveral of the conventual eſtates, as lands beyond the bridge which he built, called Framwel⯑gate or Durham bridge, Staindrop, Blakiſton, lands in Wolviſton and Burdon, and the church of Siggeſton.

Before we advance further in the hiſtory of this church, it is neceſſary to obſerve, that the monks tranſlated thither were of the Benedictine order. They followed the rules of St Benedict, who was born at Norſi, in the dukedom of Spoletto, in Italy, about the year 480, and died about 543. But his rule ſeems not to have been confirmed till 52 years after his death, when pope Gregory the Great gave a ſanction to it. The habit of theſe monks was a black looſe coat, or a gown of ſtuff reaching down to their heels, with a cowl or hood of the ſame, and a ſcapu⯑lary; [67] and under that, a white habit, as large as the former, made of flannel, with boots on their legs; and from the colour of their outward habit, they were gene⯑rally called Black monks. This rule was introduced into England in king Edgar's time, but never perfectly obſerved till after the Conqueſt. Of this order were all our cathedral priories, except Carliſle and moſt of the richeſt abbeys in England.

The Benedictines were obliged to perform their devotion ſeven times within four-and-twenty hours ^*. At cock-crowing, or the NOCTURNAL: This ſervice was performed at two o'clock in the morning: The reaſon for pitching upon this hour, is taken partly from David's ſaying, At midnight I will praiſe the Lord, and partly from a tradition of our Saviour's riſing from the dead about that time. MATINS: Theſe were ſaid at the firſt hour, or, according to our computation, at ſix o'clock: At this time the Jewiſh morning ſacrifice was offered: The angels likewiſe were ſup⯑poſed to have acquainted the women with our Saviour's reſurrection about this hour. The TIERCE; which was at nine in the morning, when our Saviour was condem⯑ned and ſcourged by Pilate. The SEXTE, or twelve at noon. The NONE, or three in the afternoon: At this hour it is ſaid our Saviour gave up the ghoſt; be⯑ſides which circumſtance, it was a time for public prayer in the temple at Jeru⯑ſalem. VESPERS, at ſix in the afternoon: The evening ſacrifice was then offered in the Jewiſh temple; and our Saviour is ſuppoſed to have been taken down from the croſs at this hour. The COMPLINE: This ſervice was performed after ſeven, when our Saviour's agony in the garden, it is believed, begun. The monks going to bed at eight, had ſix hours to ſleep before the Nocturnal began: If they went to bed after that ſervice, it was not, as we underſtand, reckoned a fault; but after mattins they were not allowed that liberty. At the tolling of the bell for prayers, the monks were immediately to leave off their buſineſs; and herein the canon was ſo ſtrict, that thoſe who copied books, or were clerks in any buſineſs, and had begun a text letter, were not allowed to finiſh it. Thoſe who were employed abroad about the buſineſs of the houſe, were preſumed to be preſent, and excuſed other duties; and that they might not ſuffer by being elſewhere, they were parti⯑cularly recommended to the divine protection. The monks were obliged to go al⯑ways two together; this was done to guard their conduct, to prompt them to good thoughts, and furniſh them with a witneſs to defend their behaviour. From Eaſter to Whitſuntide the primitive church obſerved no faſts; at other times the reli⯑gious were bound to faſt till three o'clock on Wedneſdays and Fridays; but the twelve days in Chriſtmas were excepted in this canon. Every day in Lent they were enjoined to faſt till ſix in the evening: During this ſolemnity, they ſhortened their refreſhment, allowed fewer hours for ſleep, and ſpent more time in their de⯑votions; but they were not permitted to go into voluntary auſterities, without leave from the abbot. They were not to talk in the refectory at meals, but hearken to the ſcriptures read to them at that time. The Septimarians, ſo called from their weekly offices of readers, waiters, cooks, &c. were to dine by themſelves, after the reſt. Thoſe who were abſent about buſineſs, had the ſame hours of prayer pre⯑ſcribed, [68] though not the ſame length of devotions. Thoſe ſent abroad, and ex⯑pected to return at night, were forbidden to eat till they came home: But this canon was ſometimes diſpenſed with. The Compline was to be ſolemnly ſung about ſeven at night: The ſervice concluded with this verſe, Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, and keep the door of my lips. After this ſervice the monks were not al⯑lowed to talk, but went to bed immediately. They were all to ſleep in the ſame dormitory, but not two in a bed: They lay in their cloaths. For ſmall faults they were excluded the public table; but for greater, were debarred religious commerce, and the ſervice of the chapel: And thoſe converſing with a perſon under ſuch cenſure, were liable to the ſame puniſhment. Incorrigible criminals were ex⯑pelled the monaſteries. When a brother was again received after expulſion, he loſt his ſeniority, and was placed the laſt in the convent. Every monk was to have two coats and two cowls; and when they had new cloaths, their old ones were given to the poor: Each had a table-book, a knife, a needle, and a handkerchief: The furniture of the bed was a mat, blanket, rug, and pillow. The ſuperior was never to dine alone; ſo, when there were no ſtrangers, he was to invite ſome of his brethren to his table.—Such were the regulations of this monaſtery.

In the year 1109 the biſhop conſented to nominate

ALGAR

to be prior^*. He preſided over the monaſtery till the year 1137, (according to Ste⯑vens) when he departed this life. The biſhop was reconciled to the convent in this prior's time, and in the year 1128 reſtored ſeveral of the poſſeſſions which he had uſur⯑ped, and filled the vacant offices. In a ſolemn act of expiation, he confirmed the reſti⯑tution, by offering a ring at the high altar, and granting two ſeveral written charters to that purpoſe^†. He alſo enlarged and ornamented the common hall of the mona⯑ſtery, and gave to the convent the hermitage, church, and poſſeſſions of Finchale. He opened out the north front of the cathedral church, and cleared away all the buildings which crowded the area or plain between the cathedral and caſtle, ren⯑dering it a level and beautiful ſquare, which then took the name of the Placea, or Green Place, of which we ſhall ſpeak in courſe. After this prelate's death, the monks proceeded in the building of the church, and during the vacancy of the See finiſhed that great work.

Galfrid, ſurnamed Rufus, who ſucceeded to the biſhopric, built the chapter-houſe for the convent. Soon after Algar's death,

ROGER

was made prior; a man of the moſt pious life, brought up from infancy in the diſcipline of the cloiſter. He held a controverſy with archdeacon Wazo, touching the place of honour on the right-hand of the biſhop; which was adjudged to be the prior's right, by biſhop William de Sancta Barbara, in the year 1147. He held his dignity during the whole time of Cumin's uſurpation, and departed this life in the year 1149 ^‡.

LAWRENCE

was then made prior ^*; after whoſe coming in biſhop William ſurvived only three years, and was ſucceeded by biſhop Pudſey, in the year 1153. The prior is deſcribed as a man of approved diſcretion, of a heart ſuperior to evil, poſſeſſing a refined eloquence, and duly diſciplined in religious rules. Strenuous in the matter of Pudſey's election, he was included with the reſt of the religious body in the ſentence of excommunication pronounced by the archbiſhop of York, and underwent the diſcipline of the whip in Beverley church; after which he travelled to Rome with biſhop Pudſey, and died as he was returning in the year 1154. His remains were brought to Durham, and interred in the cemetery-yard ^†. He was a man of ſingular prudence and learning, a great writer, and many of his works are ſpoken of with much applauſe. There are nine MSS. of his in the biſhop's library ^‡. He was ſucceeded by

ABSOLOM,

a perſon of whom little more is known than that he had a foreign education, and was but a ſhallow ſcholar. He was under the biſhop's diſpleaſure during the whole time he held this high office, and from weakneſs and want of reſolution ſuffered the angry prelate to infringe the privileges of the convent in various inſtances. He departed this life in the year 1162 ^‖.

THOMAS

was ſoon after elected prior. He could not brook the inſolence which biſhop Pudſey diſcovered on every occaſion, and was of too great rectitude of mind to ſuffer paſſively the infringements that prelate repeatedly made on the rights of his monaſtery. He entered into a conteſt with the biſhop concerning the church of Allerton. The monks not ſupporting their prior in this juſt ſuit, the biſhop depoſed him, or conſtrained him by his perſecutions to reſign. In diſguſt with the world, he retired to one of the Farne iſlands, in which St Cuthbert formerly had his reſi⯑dence, and, reſtoring ſome of the buildings, lived the life of a recluſe, and died there in 1163 ^§.

GERMAN

ſucceeded in the year 1163. He was a monk of this houſe, and deſcribed to be of a patient and forbearing diſpoſition, prudent and peaceful; that, from his predeceſſor's example, he thought it better to ſubmit to the troubles of the [70] monaſtery, than encreaſe them by fruitleſs contention: He continued prior to the time of his death, which happened in the year 1186. In his time, reſtitution was made to the convent of ſeveral matters which biſhop Flambard had taken away, as well as others with-held by the then prelate ^*; but it was not till the time of his ſucceſſor,

BERTRAM,

that the abbot's ſeat in the choir and chapter-houſe was reaſſumed, the pri⯑ors having been denied that place of honour for ſeveral years, whilſt under the prelate's diſpleaſure. It appears that the office of prior was vacant for two years, Bertram not being elected till the year 1188 or 1189. He ſurvived biſhop Pudſey, and for ſome years before his death had power to conciliate the mind of that prelate, and reconcile him to the convent ^†.

Hugh Pudſey, after the example of his predeceſſors, was deſirous of contributing to the beauty and magnificence of the church at Durham, and projected a ſumptu⯑ous addition towards the eaſt. The only author who mentions this, is Geoffrey de Coldingham ^‡, who tells us, that he began to erect a new work at the eaſt end of the church, for which he imported from abroad marble columns and baſes; but having laid the foundations, and carried up the walls to ſome conſiderable height, employing the moſt ſkilful artiſts therein, the building repeatedly failed and ſhrunk, to the imminent peril of the workmen; which ſufficiently indicated to him, that the intended work was not acceptable to Heaven and St Cuthbert: So that he de⯑ſiſted therefrom, and built the Gallilee at the weſt end of the church, for the re⯑ception of women; where they might have the benefit of the holy offices, being otherwiſe debarred from the ſolemnities. It doth not appear the marble columns were placed in the Gallilee. It muſt be obſerved in this place, that the eaſtern tranſept of the church is rather a ſingularity, and was not built near the time of the other parts; the architecture throughout the whole being different. Great im⯑provements in architecture were made, from the aera of the foundation by biſhop William, to the time of biſhop Pudſey's death: The more elegant Gothic order [71] took place of the Saxon, and the pointed arches came in uſe: All the windows of this part of the edifice, in the lower arrangement to the eaſt, are pointed: The cluſtered pilaſters are chiefly of marble, though ſhamefully defaced and bedaubed with a waſh of lime and ochre: There are no marble pilaſters in any other part of the church, or any of the like order of maſonry. Although no hiſtorian tells us who finiſhed this work, yet that it was begun by biſhop Pudſey is certain, and left by him unfiniſhed for reaſons hid in ſuperſtitious allegory; probably it was com⯑pleated in the time of biſhop Farnham and prior Thomas Melſonby. The Gallilee, ſaid to be built by biſhop Pudſey, doth not appear to be wholly a new erection; it is probable he improved it, and appropriated the place to the pious purpoſe before aſcribed to it: It is formed with a triple range of pillars, ſo as to divide it into five ailes, nearly of equal width; the arches are circular, and ornamented with zigzag mouldings; the pillars are light, and cluſtered; above the arches is a dead facing or wall, which goes up to the roof, without any apparent utility, and far from be⯑ing ornamental; the windows are pointed. It is noted to us, that a certain part of the moſt ancient churches had a place called the Gallilee, where the proceſſions ended ^*: Thoſe proceſſions were made on the Sabbath-day, to ſignify or comme⯑morate the paſſage of the diſciples into Gallilee; ſo that in every church where thoſe proceſſions were practiſed, a certain ſtation therein had that name.

Biſhop Pudſey gave to the church many rich ornaments, and greatly enlarged the power of the monaſtery: The Yorkſhire churches, until the time of this pre⯑late, appertained to the biſhops, as appears by a deed of compoſition made with the archbiſhop of York about the year 1174; but Pudſey granted them to the convent ^†.

[72]On biſhop Pudſey's death, Hugh Bardolph had cuſtody of the temporalties of the See, whoſe officers entered the church, and took by violence the keys of the city gates from St Cuthbert's ſhrine. Philip, who ſucceeded to the biſhopric, held violent contentions with the monaſtery, prior Bertram ſtrenuouſly maintaining the rights and privileges of his convent. The perſecution this prelate exerciſed againſt the religious body, was ſcandalous to religion; but how far the injuries and indig⯑nities he received might irritate, we know not ^*. Prior Bertram ſurvived him, but did not live to ſee his ſucceſſor in the See; for diſſentions aroſe concerning the election of a prelate, the convent not being willing to ſubmit to the papal injunc⯑tions, or the king's nomination; and during this ſtate of perplexity, the prior de⯑parted this life in the year 1209.

The diſagreement which ſubſiſted between the late prelate and his convent pre⯑vented improvements taking place in the ſacred edifices; and it is apprehended the eaſtern tranſept of the cathedral church was neglected during that biſhop's time.

[73]In the annals of the biſhops it is obſerved, that a vacancy of the See took place after the death of Philip of Poicteu, for the ſpace of nine years and upwards, in which period, Wharton notes, much darkneſs and perplexity appear in the hiſtory of this church, occaſioned by the diſtraction of the religious body, who had neglect⯑ed their records; ſo that, if during this vacancy the eaſtern tranſept was proceeded in, it is not mentioned by the ſcribes of the houſe in any of their chronicles.

WILLIAM,

a native of Durham, was elected ſucceſſor to Bertram during the vacancy of the See, the king having granted licence to the convent for that purpoſe. He depart⯑ed this life in the year 1214, or, as ſome ſay, 1219. If we reſt upon the credit of Wharton, he died before Richard de Mariſco had the biſhopric. Geoff. de Cold⯑ingham tells us of an honourable diſtinction given to this prior of Durham by the legate archbiſhop of York, at a council held there, in which the prior, in the place of the biſhop of Durham, had the right-hand of the legate both in council and at dinner ^*.

RALPH KERNECH

ſucceeded to the office of prior, and governed the church for nineteen years. He departed this life in the year 1203. In the ſecond year of the epiſcopacy of Rich⯑ard de Mariſco a reconciliation took place between the prelate and monaſtery, and the biſhop by his charter confirmed to the prior and convent all the liberties and privileges granted to them by biſhop William de Carilepho; and as an additional bounty, appropriated to them the church of Dalton, (alias Datton) for the better ſupport of their houſe, and alſo confirmed the appropriations of the churches of Aycliff and Pittington.

In the year 1228 Richard Poor was tranſlated to the See: He lived on terms of amity with the monaſtery, entering into a convention with the prior and convent, for preventing future diſputes with their biſhops, quieting their poſſeſſions, and aſ⯑certaining their privileges ^†.

THOMAS MELSONBY

was elected prior in 1233; and on the deceaſe of biſhop Richard, in the year 1237, was nominated to ſucceed him, and with much reluctance ſubmitted to the choice. He was objected to by the king, who alledged many things againſt him of a politi⯑cal nature ^*, and others perſonal: ‘That he was an infringer of the liberties of the church, was diſeaſed in body, had broken his vow, and diſregarded religious in⯑junctions, particularly the ordained faſts; that he was guilty of ſimony, was il⯑literate,’ and ſuch like charges, equally ſlanderous and untrue. After ſuch an oppoſition, unwilling the See ſhould longer continue vacant, he renounced his elec⯑tion, and biſhop Farnham ſucceeded. Fearful of the king's reſentment, he reſigned his office in the year 1244, and retired to Farne iſland, where in acts of piety and charity he ſpent the remainder of his life. His body was brought to Durham to be interred. In the year 1242 the prior, with the approbation and aſſiſtance of the biſhop, began to remove the whole of the old roof from the cathedral church, and gave this noble edifice the additional elegance of a vault of ſtone-work. Willis aſ⯑cribes this work to the biſhop in theſe words: ‘Biſhop Farnham, (temp. Hen. III.) vaulted over the roof of the church with ſtone.’ Whoever pays due attention to the mode of architecture in this part of the edifice, will eaſily diſcover that the roof of the choir and eaſtern tranſept are of ſimilar workmanſhip. Grayſtanes, who was a monk of Durham, and lived within a century of the time we are ſpeaking of, is moſt to be credited; and his words are, ‘Anno Domini 1242, incoepit Thomas prior novam fabricam eccleſiae circum feſtum S. Michaelis, juvante epiſcopo,’ &c.^† The prior alſo projected an additional work; for it is equally obſervable, that the tower of the ſteeple called in Davies's book the New Work and the Lanthern, are of the ſame order and workmanſhip, and expreſs the ſame date ^‖. The faciae under the windows of the eaſtern tranſept are ornamented with roſe-niches; the gallery of the lanthern is formed of open roſes. The gallery of the tower of Melros abbey is [75] ſimilar to this, and that edifice was built in the twelfth century ^*. The windows of the lanthern are pointed and ornamented with tabernacle work in pinnacles, which kind of decoration appears no where but on the buttreſſes of the eaſt front. The pilaſters to the windows in the lanthern are ſimilar to thoſe in the eaſtern tranſept, and not like any other parts of the edifice. It is not eaſy to determine what kind of center tower this church firſt had; but, from the uniformity of the outſide plan, it may be conjectured it was ſimilar to the weſtern towers, and without much or⯑nament. Three bells hung in the center tower, which were rung to give notice of the ſervices of the church; four bells for other occaſions, as rejoicings, &c. were being in the north-weſt tower adjoining the Gallilee. The new work or lanthern terminated at the gallery vulgarly called the bellringers walk. The upper tower was added ſome years after, in biſhop Stichill's time. It is impoſſible prior Tho⯑mas ſhould, in the two years preceding his reſignation, compleat ſo great and ex⯑penſive a work; but certain it is, he firſt brought it forward.

BERTRAM DE MIDDLETON

was elected prior on the 22d of September 1244, and reſigned that dignity on the 15th of Auguſt 1258. Biſhop Kirkham (on his acceſſion in this prior's time) con⯑firmed to the monaſtery the grants of his predeceſſors, and gave them the church of Heighington for the better ſupport of hoſpitality, together with a large tract of land at Horſley-Hope. In this prior's time, the papal grant of the kingdom of Apulia and Sicily took place, for which the biſhop of Hereford engaged to the holy See, that the clergy of England ſhould pay 38,000 marks, to be borrowed for that pur⯑poſe [76] ^*. Againſt this contract our prior appealed, alledging, that he and his con⯑vent were at all times ready to obey the pope in things lawful and practicable; but to ſpoil their churches of their goods, to ſubvert their liberties, and ſtraiten their maintenance, would be ſuch an indignity to the church, ſcandal to the clergy, and reproach to religion itſelf, that they never could aſſent thereto. It cannot be doubt⯑ed but this reply would prove offenſive, as well to the See of Rome as the crown of England; and in 1258 we ſee the prior reſigning his dignity, though the hiſtorians of that time do not immediately expreſs it to be in conſequence of ſuch diſpleaſure. On the 17th of the calends of Auguſt the prior petitioned the convent to admit of his reſignation, and that they would provide a maintenance for his retirement, al⯑ledging at once his want of conſtitutional abilities to execute the duties of his high office, and alſo the ſervices he had undergone in forty years monaſtic life, fourteen of which he had been prior; he aſſerted, he had obtained a bull for his diſmiſſion, but would not uſe its authority. Meſſengers were accordingly ſent to the biſhop with his requiſition, who in return commanded his commiſſioners to hear the al⯑legations, and they by virtue of their authority admitted the ſame, and committed the care of the ſpiritualties of the monaſtery to the ſub-prior, and the temporalties to R. de Waltham, conſtable of the caſtle. The convent aſſigned to Bertram for his maintenance, the churches of Pittington, Heighington, &c. Notwithſtanding the great work he had carried on in the church for two years, he left to his ſucceſſor in the conventual treaſury 11,000 marks. He was not only a zealous churchman, giving up his life to acts of piety, but alſo a punctual maintainer of the rights of the monaſtery. He left to the monaſtic library many of his compoſitions and learned works. His name was held in pious veneration by the cloiſter. His frugality was manifeſted in his management of the revenue allotted him, for therewith he not only ſupplied the neceſſities of life, but was enabled to build at Beaurepaire a lodge or ſummer retreat, with a chapel, not inferior in elegance to other erections of the like nature in the dioceſe.

HUGH DE DERLYNGTON,

ſuperior of the convent, in the ſame year Bertram reſigned, was elected prior ^*, and poſſeſſed that dignity until the 8th day of January, 1272, when he thought proper to abdicate the office, alledging his infirmities ^†. During the wars of the barons, he conducted himſelf ſo prudently, as to ſave the poſſeſſions of the church from depredations by either party. He contributed greatly to the magnificence of his convent. He built the belfry on the ſummit of the great tower of the cathedral church, and enlarged the organ: He alſo emparked Muggleſwick and Beaurepaire. At Wardelau, as one author writes, he erected a lodge or camera, a hall and chapel, which were afterwards deſtroyed by the Scots in their incurſion: He built a lodge or camera at Muggleſwick; the remains of which, and alſo that at Beaurepaire, will be deſcribed in the progreſs of this work ^‡. In this prior's time, a bull was obtained from the pope for the appropriation of Hoveden church for an addition of ſixteen monks; but, at a conſiderable expence, he procured the appointment to be converted into prebends, apprehending they would prove as honourable and advan⯑tageous promotions, and as acceptable to the clergy whom he wiſhed to ſerve, as if the original inſtitution was maintained. This prior was diſtinguiſhed for his hoſpi⯑tality and charitable actions: Whenever he came to his houſe, the poor people, to whom his kitchen was ever open, danced before him: P [...] [...]im the ſcriptures were fulfilled, in cloathing the naked and feeding the hungry. It is ſaid of him, that the common coinage of a denarius or penny was reduced to five mites, that he might diſtribute handfuls of that ſmall money to a greater number of objects. When advanced in years, and obliged to travel in a chariot, he conſtantly threw money from thence to the poor. He was a perſon of approved wiſdom, as well as of a magnificent mind. Frequent applications were made to the biſhop to re⯑ceive his reſignation, pleading his infirmities and age, which in the event produced an altercation between the convent and prelate concerning profeſſion of obedience by the monks ^‖, the convent alledging their prior was not of the ſame rank with others, he having the privileges of an abbot, and the monk's profeſſion was the right of an abbot. But at length the convent agreed, that the monks ſhould firſt make profeſſion to the prior and then to the prelate, and receive his ſolemn bene⯑diction: Whereupon they ſent meſſengers to the biſhop, that they were willing [78] to make their profeſſion and receive his benediction; but the buſineſs was ſtill de⯑layed, on account of ſome formalities which remained unſettled, until the 10th of January, when the biſhop in the chapter-houſe accepted the prior's reſignation, and the manors of Wardelau (according to our author's words) and Muggleſwick were aſſigned for his maintenance; the biſhop added Ryton thereto. Theſe affairs being ſettled, a converſation took place between one of the monks and the biſhop, in which the biſhop complained with warmth that "he had ſuffered greater indignity and diſreſpect than any of his predeceſſors;" but declared, "he would ſeek ſatis⯑faction in God's good time." He had ſcarce departed the gates before his ſeneſcal, with the conſtable of the caſtle and their officers, entered the convent, pronouncing, that they came at the prelate's command, in his place, to have cuſtody of the houſe during the vacancy of the office of prior. The next day the ſeneſcal, calling the ſub-prior and other officers of the houſhold into the hall, commanded the porters, the marſhal, and other ſecular ſervants of the monaſtery, to come forth, ſaying, the houſe was in the cuſtody of the lord biſhop, therefore he deſired to ſee who were proper to take care of it, that he might take their oaths of fidelity, remove thoſe he did not approve, and ſubſtitute others in their places. He was anſwered, ſuch proceedings were altogether unprecedented; and it was with difficulty he was per⯑ſuaded to wait till [...] next day, to give the convent time to conſult the biſhop thereon. Two of [...] [...]ethren were ſent without delay to the biſhop, with a peti⯑tion for licence to elect a prior; on peruſing which, he rejected it, not being ad⯑dreſſed to him as ſupreme lord and patron; alledging, if he was not patron, they were under no neceſſity to ſeek a licence. When the monks ſaid the inſtrument was in the uſual form, he contradicted them, aſſerting, that after the death of prior Thomas, his predeceſſor biſhop Farnham for the ſame cauſe rejected the conventual petition. On the return of the meſſengers, many of the convent recollected that the cauſe of ſuch precedented rejection was not as alledged by the biſhop; for in the inſtrument referred to, the biſhop was addreſſed as father and patron in ſpiritu⯑alties and temporalties, but the ſeal of the convent by accident had been ſeparated from the inſtrument before it came to the prelate's hands, which occaſioned it to be renewed before he granted his licence. It was accordingly ſet forth in the argu⯑ments on this ſubject, that as the biſhop was in fact patron of the church, no reaſon appeared why he ſhould not be addreſſed as ſuch in their proceſs; which was aſſent⯑ed to. On the ſucceeding day letters were iſſued, in which he was ſtiled Reverend father and patron: Meſſengers being ſent therewith, they were graciouſly received, and licence for the election of a prior was immediately granted; in conſequence of which the biſhop's officers were withdrawn from the convent.

In prior Bertram's time a bull was obtained from the See of Rome for quieting the convent in their privileges, and confirming the ſame, of which Walter archbi⯑ſhop of York granted his teſtimonial and certificate of inſpection ^*. In prior Hugh's [] time, the ſame archbiſhop certified the penſions due from the churches belonging to the priory lying within the dioceſe of York; which was afterwards confirmed by archbiſhop Nevill ^†. About the year 1254 the archbiſhop made an order, at a viſita⯑tion held at York, touching the holy veſtments and other church furniture and or⯑naments. As the various particulars of this conſtitution give a light to the cuſ⯑toms of the church, and diſcover the manner and circumſtances of religious exer⯑ciſes, ſome of them merit notice in this place. ‘That the habits of the clergy ſhould be provided at the charge of each reſpective pariſh, and be rich in propor⯑tion to the wealth of the inhabitants: That they ſhould be provided with a croſs [80] for proceſſions, and another leſſer one for the uſe of funerals: That they ſhould have a bier for the corpſe, a veſſel for holy water, an oſculatorium or a picture (probably of our Saviour or the holy Virgin) for the people to kiſs, a candleſtick for the paſchal taper, an incenſe pot, a lanthorn, with a ſmall bell, to uſe when the hoſt was carried to the ſick: A veil to ſkreen the altar from ſight during Lent; with two candleſticks pro ceroſerariis, that is, for thoſe that lighted up the tapers, and carried them from one part of the church to another, which was the buſineſs of the acolyte. Among the books for divine ſervice the following were to be provided: Legenda ^*, Antiphonare ^†, Gradale ^‡, Pſalterium, Tropari⯑um ^‖, Ordinale ^§, Miſſale et Manuale.’

‘The pariſh was to provide an altar-piece for the great altar, three ſurplices, a decent pix for the hoſt, a banner for Rogation-days, bells and ropes; a baptiſ⯑mal font, with a lock to it; a chryſmatory, or veſſel for keeping the holy oil uſed in baptiſm and confirmation. They were likewiſe to provide images, parti⯑cularly a principal figure to the chancel, which was to repreſent the ſaint in ho⯑nour of whoſe memory the church was conſecrated ^¶.’

RICHARD CLAXTON,

prior of the cell of Holy Iſland, was elected prior of Durham on the 26th of Jan. 1273, and in the 12th of the pontificate of biſhop Stichill; on the ſecond day fol⯑lowing he was confirmed at Darlington, was inſtalled by the archdeacon of Dur⯑ham on the day of the purification of the Virgin Mary, and three days afterwards confirmed the proviſion made for his predeceſſor on his reſignation. Before the above inſtance, we are not told by any hiſtorian of the priors having the ſolemni⯑ties of confirmation and inſtallation, though it is probable it was an ancient uſage here. The prior abdicated his office on the 27th of December, 1285: No reaſon is aſſigned by our author for this act, who tells us, that the prior was not only a man of great piety and hoſpitality, but of ſtrict circumſpection and attention touching the rights of the monaſtery; and notwithſtanding the great proviſion made for prior Hugh, and the expenſive litigations proſecuted between the arch⯑biſhop of York and his church, the convent abounded in wealth during his whole adminiſtration. He had aſſigned him for maintenance the cell of Weremouth, with the tithes of Southwick. In May, 1274, pope Gregory IV. held a council at Lyons, to which the prior was called, but did not attend, having only his proctors there: Biſhop Stichill dying in that year, the archbiſhop during the va⯑cancy of the See appointed a viſitation to be held in the chapter-houſe at Durham the day before the vigil of All-Saints, which was ſubmitted to at that time; after which ceremony the archbiſhop repaired to the caſtle, where he was entertained, Henry de Horncaſtre, then ſacriſt of the cathedral church of Durham, bearing the [81] crucifix before him ^*. Robert de Grayſtanes gives an inſtance of the authority of the prior, which ſhews one of the ancient cuſtoms of the monaſtery, viz. ‘That biſhop Stichill, whilſt he was reſident in the caſtle at Durham, made it his cuſ⯑tom to ſend wine to the convent: One day he ordered his butler to carry wine to the ſub-prior's table, which on being preſented gave offence to prior Hugh, who preſided at the upper table, and thereupon he ſtruck the table, and put an end to dinner in the middle of the meſs^†.’

Biſhop Robert de Inſula, who ſucceeded to the See, gave to the prior and con⯑vent the advowſon of the church of Meldon in his dioceſe, accepting in exchange the ſole preſentation to the church of Waldeneſtow, in the dioceſe of Lincoln, to which the prior and convent had an alternate right with him: He alſo granted them Freewarren in Billingham, with the woods there. On prior Claxton's re⯑ſignation,

HUGH OF DERLYNGTON

was recalled to that dignity on the 11th of January, 1285; was confirmed by the biſhop on the 31ſt of the ſame month, and inſtalled on the 7th day of February following^‡. He continued a ſhort time in office under this ſecond election, his laſt reſignation taking place on the 11th of March, 1290, or according to Gray⯑ſtanes 1289 ^§. That author tells us, the prior came to an agreement with the archbiſhop of York, aſſenting to his exerciſe of juriſdiction over the churches of the dioceſe during a vacancy of the See of Durham, as appears by an inſtrument in writing, dated in the year 1286, on which all preceding cenſures and judicial ſen⯑tences touching that matter were reſcinded. He ſays, the prior before his ſecond abdication was in a ſuperannuated ſtate of mind, yet ſo obſtinate and reſentful, that when application was made for his removal on account of his incapacity, he ſent meſſengers to the biſhop, with a promiſe of large bribes, to induce him to deny his ſuſpenſion, which did not prevail; whereupon he yielded with great reluctance to a ceſſion of his office.

RICHARD DE HOTOUN

, prior of the cell of Lynche or Latham, was elected on the 24th of March to ſuc⯑ceed Hugh of Derlyngton; was confirmed by the biſhop on the 28th of the ſame month, and inſtalled on the 9th of April. This prior was of a bold and virtuous mind, and having to do with the overbearing and proud prelate Bek, was obliged to exert himſelf for the preſervation of the privileges of his church: A diſpute ſoon aroſe between them, which was fermented to a violent height, as has already been related in the annals of that prelate^‖; the excommunication, ſuſpenſion, and inter⯑diction of the prior being at length the conſequence of their conteſt. The biſhop thereupon commanded the convent to elect a prior; and they not obeying, he ob⯑truded upon them Henry de Luceby, who then preſided in the cell of Holy Iſland: He was accordingly inſtalled, on prior Richard being dragged from his ſeat by the violent hands of a monk devoted to the biſhop. Grayſtanes tells us, that a ſavage [82] from the wilds of Tyndale was brought into the church to do this act; but bei [...] ſtruck with awe, he retired from the preſence of the man, and declared no go [...] could tempt him to the outrage; yet what the barbarian abhorred, was perp [...] ⯑trated by one who had profeſſed his obedience to the ſuperior whom he aſſiſted depoſe. Thus prior Hotoun was put under confinement, and Luceby govern [...] the convent. In this ſituation affairs remained ſome time; the prior effected h [...] eſcape into Cleveland, where he remained until the parliament aſſembled at Li [...] ⯑coln, when he preſented a complaint againſt the prelate, and obtained recom⯑mendatory letters from the king for relief at the court of Rome. The prior bein [...] maſter of a perſuaſive eloquence, with much erudition, and a graceful perſon gained the ear of the pope, and a decree of reſtitution was pronounced in his fa⯑vour, which was publiſhed in the church at Durham in the month of April, 130 [...] Luceby had poſſeſſion of the prior's apartments, where he retained ſuch friends a [...] had courage to remain with him; in that ſituation they meanly deſcended to th [...] act of ſpoiling the veſſels belonging the houſe, ſtripping off the ſilver ornaments and taking poſſeſſion of ſuch plate as fell under their hands; with theſe attempt⯑ing to eſcape, and being oppoſed, they threw the valuables over the walls, and ſtole out by way of the hog-yard. Luceby, whilſt he uſurped the office, retained many of the principal men of the palatinate in his family, and lived in a ſplendid manner, that thereby he might win the approbation and eſteem of the people; but ſuch meaſures did not prevail, for many treated him with high contempt. He paid great attention to the ſacred edifices; the ſacriſtaria was his firſt work; he repair⯑ed the roof of the nave of the church, built the veſtry room, and at a great ex⯑pence procured bells, veſſels, and ornaments. Grayſtanes ſays, he conducted him⯑ſelf in the office of prior, both at Holy Iſland and Durham, with ſuch decorum, that it was the opinion of many, had he come duly to the latter dignity, a better prior ^* had not been for a long time.

In the year 1303, on the day of St Peter ad Vincula, prior Hotoun returned to Durham, and was received moſt cordially by the convent, who held a feſtival on the occaſion: An inquiſition was afterwards taken by men of the county of Nor⯑thumberland touching the damages ſuſtained by the convent under the biſhop's perſecution, by the ſeizure of their revenues and deſtruction of their parks, in which the biſhop employed the moſt able advocates the kingdom afforded, whilſt the prior's cauſe was managed by one only, whoſe name was William de Herle, and whom Grayſtanes perpetuates; when the biſhop was juſtly condemned in a large ſum of money. The pope dying ſoon after, the biſhop obtained from his ſucceſſor a bull, requiring the archbiſhop of Canterbury and the biſhops of Lincoln and Wincheſter to viſit the chapter of Durham, on an accuſation lodged againſt the prior for dilapidations and divers offences, touching which the prelates were com⯑manded [83] to enquire; but pope Benedict departing this life, the biſhop's purpoſe was fruſtrated, till pope Clement, who created B [...]k patriarch of Jeruſalem, at his ſuggeſtion ſuſpended the prior from all adminiſtration, as well in ſpirituals as tem⯑porals. The prior, on his journey to Rome for redreſs, paſſed the winter near Canterbury, ſending from thence two monks of his convent, as proctors: Whilſt he remained there, the biſhop committed the care of the monaſtery to Luceby; and the abbot of Leiceſter with the pope's mandatory letters accompanied him to Dur⯑ham, to give him poſſeſſion; but on their arrival, they ſound the gates ſhut againſt them, and their admittance refuſed; on which, they pronounced an excommuni⯑cation againſt the whole ſociety: This brought on a litigation, at the inſtance of the prior, for an offence againſt the crown, on their preſuming to execute the powers of the See of Rome in matters temporal, and a grievous ſine was impoſed upon the offenders.

The prior returned from the South to meet the king at Durham, and on the feſ⯑tival of St Oſwald the martyr, celebrated maſs in the royal preſence at the altar of St Oſwald. The king granted him licence to viſit Rome, and recommendatory letters to the pope for redreſs, with which he paſſed into Italy, but did not live to return: He met with a favourable reception from the pope and college, and on the 24th of October obtained a ſentence of reſtitution, but was decreed to pay one thouſand marks to the apoſtolical chamber for the ſame. On the 9th of Jan. (Grayſtanes ſays in the year 1307, but from other authorities in 1308) the prior de⯑parted this life; and that the See of Rome might be indemnified for the loſs of the fine, all his goods, plate, books, horſes, and effects then in Italy, were confiſcated.

Prior Hotoun was not deficient in public works, notwithſtanding the troubles in which he was embarraſſed: He compleated the manor-houſe of Houghhall; with the biſhop's licence he purchaſed Oxford Place, afterwards called Durham College, and made the firſt erections there ^†: He alſo built the chapel De Belio Loco, af⯑terwards [84] called Beaurepaire or Bearpark. The convent received a grant of free⯑warren in their territories at Winſton about this time.

During this prior's office, the diſpute which aroſe between Ralph lord Nevill, of Raby, and the convent, in the time of prior Claxton, was continued, and did not ſubſide for ſeveral years. The account we have of it is to the following effect, as given by Dugdale in his Baronage, vol. i. p. 292.

"About the 13 Edw. I. 1285, there was much variance between the inhabitants of the biſhopric of Durham and Anthony Beke (that great prelate) then biſhop of Durham, by reaſon he had compelled them to go twice into Scotland with horſe and arms, which they alledged to be contrary to right, in regard they held their lands to defend the body of St Cuthbert; and that they ought not, either for king or biſhop, to go beyond the rivers of Tyne and Tees. Ralph Nevill, then lord of Ra⯑by, was the chief countenancer of thoſe who oppoſed the biſhop. Not long after, another diſpute aroſe between this Ralph and Hugh de Derlyngton then prior of Durham, about the offering of a ſtag every year upon St Cuthbert's day in Septem⯑ber; which (in truth) was rather a rent than an oblation, in regard he held Raby with the eight adjoining townſhips, by the yearly rent of four pounds and a ſtag. For contrary to the cuſtom of his anceſtors, he not only required, that the prior of Durham, at the offering of the ſtag, ought to feaſt him and all the company he ſhould bring, but that the prior's own menial ſervants ſhould for that time be ſet aſide, and his peculiar ſervants and officers put in their ſtead. Whereupon amongſt other of his gueſts he invited John de Baliol of Barnard Caſtle, who refuſed to go with him, alledging, that he never knew the Nevills to have ſuch a privilege there; Sir Wm de Brompton, the biſhop's chief-juſtice, likewiſe acknowledging, that he himſelf was the firſt who began that extravagant practice; for being a young man, and delight⯑ing in hunting, he came with the lord Nevill at the offering of the ſtag, and ſaid to his companions, "Come let us go into the abbey and wind our horns," and ſo they did. The prior farther adding, that before the time of this Ralph, none of his pre⯑deceſſors ever made any ſuch claim, but when they brought the ſtag into the hall they had only a breakfaſt; nor did the lord himſelf ever ſtay dinner, except he was invited.

In the 5 Edw. III. 1331, Ralph Nevill (ſon of the former) doing his fealty to William de Couton then prior of Durham, upon Lammas-day, for the manor of Raby, he told him he would offer the ſtag as his anceſtors had done; ſaving that, whereas his father required, that the prior's ſervants ſhould be ſet aſide at that time, and his own ſerve in their ſtead; he would be content, that his ſhould attend to⯑gether with thoſe of the prior: And whereas his father inſiſted, that his ſervants ſhould only be admitted at dinner; he ſtood upon it, that his ſhould be there en⯑tertained the whole day, and likewiſe the morrow at breakfaſt.

Whereunto the prior made anſwer, that none of his anceſtors were ever ſo ad⯑mitted, and that he would rather quit the ſtag, than ſuffer any new cuſtom to the prejudice of the church. But to this Ralph replied, that he would perform the whole ſervice or none, and put the trial of his right upon the country. The prior, therefore, knowing him to be ſo powerful, and that the country durſt not diſpleaſe him, declined the offer. However, at length to gain his favour, (in regard he had no ſmall intereſt at court, and might do him a kindneſs or a diſ⯑pleaſure) [85] was content for that one time he ſhould perform it as he pleaſed, ſo that it might not be drawn into example afterwards; and for that purpoſe propoſed, that indentures ſhould be made between them.

Whereupon the Lord, Nevill brought but few with him, and thoſe more for the honour of the prior than a burthen, and ſo ſhortly after dinner took his leave, but left one of his ſervants to lodge there all night, and to take his breakfaſt there on the next day; proteſting, that being both a ſon and tenant to the church, he would not be burthenſome to it, in reſpect it would be no advantage to himſelf, but might much damnify it, if he ſhould bring with him as great a train as he would, ſaying, What doth a breakfaſt ſignify to me? Nothing. And likewiſe, that if the prior would ſhew, that he had no right to what he ſo claimed, he would free⯑ly recede therefrom; and if he had a right, he would accept of a compoſition for it, rather than be burthenſome to the convent; but if they ſhould put him to get his right by law, then he would not abate any thing thereof.

Whereupon enquiry being made amongſt the oldeſt monks of the houſe, they affirmed, that being of eight years ſtanding when his father was before repulſed, they had often ſeen the ſtag offered, and that he never ſtaid dinner but when the prior invited him; and ſome ancient men of the country teſtified as much; as al⯑ſo, that as ſoon as the ſtag was brought, they carried him to the kitchen, and thoſe who brought him were taken into the hall to breakfaſt, as they that brought their rents uſed to be.

Moreover, when it happened that any of the lords Nevill were deſired to ſtay dinner with the prior, his cook was admitted into the kitchen to prepare a diſh for him; ſo likewiſe another ſervant in the cellar to chuſe his drink, and in like manner ſome other at the gate, who knew his ſervants and followers, merely to let them in, and keep others out, who, under pretence of being his ſervants, might then intrude; but this was only done by the prior out of courteſy and reſpect, and not at all of right.

Hereupon Henry le Scrope, one of the juſtices, affirmed, that he had been of counſel with Ralph Nevill (father of this Ralph) when he brought his writ of Novell Diſſeiſin againſt the prior; and told him that he had no right at all: Where⯑upon Ralph let fall his ſuit.

Some ſaid, that making this claim out of his own ſee, he ought there, (viz. in the priory) to ſhew ſome ſpecial evidence to aſſert his claim. Others, that as the prior did challenge nothing of him, but what was reſerved by the grant; ſo could not he, unleſs he ſhewed a charter for it. And beſides, claiming to be entertained with as many as he ſhould bring, and not ſpecifying the number, there could be no lawful reaſon for it; becauſe the ſtag was always offered on Holy Rood day, whereupon grew an old ſong in rhyme, as a lamentation for Robert de Nevill, his great grandfather.

[86]Moreover, it was further ſaid, that it never had been the cuſtom of the prior to make a feaſt on that day, when the ſervants of ſo great a perſon was to offer; and that the prior uſually on St Cuthbert's day had wont to dine with the biſhop at ſome of his own manor-houſes; therefore, who ſhould compel him to make a feaſt at home? Likewiſe, that thoſe lands were given to the anceſtors of this lord Nevill, when they were not ſuch great men as to have a marſhal, a butler, and other ſervants of ſtate; for in thoſe days, they had no more than Raby with its appurte⯑nances, which was not then of ſo much worth as it is now; for Brancepeth and Raſ⯑kelfe came to them ſince by marriage; as alſo other lands in Yorkſhire and Rich⯑mondſhire: Therefore it could not be thought that the prior of Durham did give lands of ſuch value, and purchaſe the ſervice to be done for them at ſo high a rate, eſpecially conſidering, that in the prior's land book, not only all the ſervices are exactly regiſtered, but whatſoever others ought to receive of him. And laſtly, that there is not ſo much as mention made of this ſervice in any of their chroni⯑cles."

During the vacancy of the priory, the biſhop ſeized the temporalties of the con⯑vent, and by Stephen Mauley (de Malo-lacu) his vicar-general, diſplaced the ſub⯑prior, the priors of the cells, and many who were adherents of the deceaſed prior, appointing others in their places: The prior of Coldingham alone was continued in his office. This Grayſtanes exclaims againſt as a flagrant breach of the privileges of the convent, though the biſhop alledged the members of the houſe were not ca⯑pable of holding offices, by reaſon of the ſentence of excommunication, which re⯑mained unpurged. In this period much perplexity aroſe touching preſentations to vacant churches, till it was determined they ſhould be made jointly, under the title of Anthony biſhop of Durham and the convent of Durham, the office of prior being va⯑cant. In the year 1308, on the morrow of the Purification, the biſhop viſited the chapter in the order preſcribed by pope Boniface, when, for no other irregularity or offence than their attachment to the prior in his ſtruggles againſt the prelate's oppreſſions, he ſuſpended the following members of the ſociety for ten years:— Richard de Aſlakby, who was ſub-prior in prior Hotoun's time; Galfridus de Bur⯑don, prior of Finchale; and Nicholas de Rothbury, almoner of Durham. But archbiſhop Greenfield, in his viſitation during the vacancy of the See, after the prelate's death, annulled the ſentence^*.

The king, jointly with the patriarch, applied to the pope in favour of

WILLIAM DE TANFIELD,

then prior of Wederhall, and he was accordingly appointed Hotoun's ſucceſſor on the 24th of February, 1308: In this act we have a flagrant inſtance of the corrup⯑tion of the holy See; for the price of his collation was not leſs than 3000 marks to the pontiff, and 1000 to the cardinals. He was inſtalled on the feaſt of St Cuthbert in September following, many of the nobility with ſeveral prelates be⯑ing preſent at the ceremony.

Under the oppreſſive ſpirit of the prelate, the priory ſuffered greatly; being not [87] only much impoveriſhed by the expences incurred, and heavy debt contracted on account of their litigations with him; but alſo greatly embarraſſed and diſtreſſed by the defection of the prior of Coldingham, who renounced his obedience and ſubjection to the monaſtery: The prior of Durham viſited that convent, and diſ⯑placed the prior for his offence, appointing another in his room: After having re⯑ceived the homage and fealty of the terr-tenants of the ſhrine, he followed the de⯑poſed prior to Stamford, whither he haſtened to lay his complaint before the par⯑liament, hoping the king and his miniſters would ſupport him againſt his ſuperior, as he was perſonally known to them, having carried the banner of St Cuthbert in the Scotch war; but in this was diſappointed, for the countenance of the court was denied to ſuch injurious proceedings.

The prior of Durham obtained permiſſion to viſit Rome, where he ſtaid till the prelate's death. On the acceſſion of biſhop Kellow, the convent experienced a happy change of circumſtances, and received repeated marks of that prelate's coun⯑tenance and favour; he reverſed all the oppreſſive acts of his predeceſſor, and re⯑ſtored the ancient privileges of the monaſtery, eſpecially in the material point, that during the vacancy of the priory, none ſave the ſub-prior and chapter ſhould intermeddle with the ſpiritualties or temporalties of the convent; the biſhop re⯑taining to the See the right of having one clerk in the houſe as a nominal guardian thereof, with three horſes and three ſervants, without claiming to have any further concern with the goods of the houſe. By the gift of this prelate, the convent had Waſtrophead, with a fiſhery in the river Were.

In the year 1313 ^*, the prior finding his health decline, and the attacks of old age haſten upon him, reſigned his office, and had allotted for maintenance the cell of Jarrow and the manor of Wardle ^†; he lived in retirement until the month of Feb⯑ruary, 1342, when he departed this life: He is deſcribed to us as a man of good ſtature, a graceful countenance, and pleaſing carriage; laviſh and diffuſive, he was remarked to be improvident of his reſources, delighting in a numerous retinue, re⯑peated and ſplendid feaſts. We hear of no public works by this prior; and, indeed, under the unhappy circumſtances in which he was involved during the patriarchs time, together with his own expenſive mode of life, we cannot wonder at the neglect^‡.

[88]Licence in a ſhort time being obtained for electing a prior,

GALFRID DE BURDON,

then ſub-prior of the convent, was placed in the chair, about the time of the feſti⯑val of Peter and Paul, 1313, and ſoon afterwards received confirmation, and was inſtalled: In 1316 ^*, he had the mortification to have his ſweet country retreat at Beaurepaire, which was embelliſhed with every ornament known to the taſte of thoſe times, pillaged and defaced by a party of marauding Scots. He is ſpoken of by ancient authors in the moſt honourable manner: Grayſtanes remarks of him, as a ſpecial ſingularity, Viros diligens habere in familia et non pueros, equos pro vectura et non equulos: This prompts diſagreeable conjectures touching a monaſtic life, on which an inference ariſes, that the cuſtom of entertaining boys had grown ſcanda⯑lous; or otherwiſe the hiſtorian, a monk of that church, would not have marked that part of the prior's character with the eulogium, Iſte in familia erat honorificus, viros diligens, &c. &c. Singularity of character, even in the exerciſe of virtue, oc⯑caſions enmity; for the reformation of any vice is a public reproach to thoſe im⯑merſed in the practice of it: The prior, with all his good qualities, was the object of much wrath; he was accuſed with virulence at biſhop Beaumont's viſitation, and many miſdemeanors were laid to his charge by his brethren ^†, which induced him to reſign his important office on the 25th of January, 1322; he having the cell of Weremouth, with the tithes of Weremouth and Fulwell, aſſigned for mainte⯑nance: Grayſtanes ſays, that though he had good grounds for defence, he was in⯑duced to ſubmit, rather than involve the houſe in litigation and expence ^‡. Soon after this reſignation,

WILLIAM DE GUISBURN

was elected prior, a man equally eſteemed for his learning and religious life; but on the following Lord's-day, when every one expected he ſhould receive confirma⯑tion of the holy office, he entered the chapter-houſe, and renounced his election ^§: Whereupon the chapter proceeded to a new election, and

WILLIAM DE COUTON

was choſen prior; he ſoon afterwards received confirmation, and was ſolemnly in⯑ſtalled on Holy-rood-day: Grayſtanes ſays ^‖, he was Vir utique Deo et hominibus amabilis. In this prior's time, a diſagreeable controverſy was determined, touching a claim made by Goldeſburgh, archdeacon of Durham, of juriſdiction in right of his office over the churches appertaining to the monaſtery lying between Tyne and Tees: It had been uſual for the archdeacon^¶ to exerciſe archidiaconal juriſdiction in the name of the prior in the churches of the convent, by virtue of an agree⯑ment made between them, for which an annual ſum was paid as an acknowledg⯑ment; on Goldeſburgh's refuſing payment of the compoſition money, and perſiſt⯑ing in the exerciſe of juriſdiction, the diſpute aroſe; by compromiſe it was ſettled, [89] that the prior ſhould enjoy archidiaconal juriſdiction in the churches of Jarrow and Weremouth, and Goldeſburgh throughout the reſt for life. The convent had a diſpute of the like nature with the archdeacon of Northumberland, which was compromiſed in the year 1331 on the like terms; but on his death, new diſturb⯑ances aroſe, and his ſucceſſor claimed the like privilege.

A mortality raged among the horned cattle, and made a dreadful havoc during this prior's time. After preſiding nineteen years, he departed this life at Pitting⯑ton, on the 26th day of February, 1342, and was buried in the cemetery-yard of the cathedral church among his predeceſſors ^*. It appears he was a monk of the abbey of Fountains ^†. His memory was much revered in his monaſtery; for with a truly pious life, he diſplayed much benignity of heart, in a humble carriage to⯑wards his brethren, which ſoftened the rigours of the cell, and rendered the cloiſ⯑ter cheerful: To ſtrangers, and thoſe received at his table, he appeared eaſy of ac⯑ceſs, and pleaſant in converſation; always affording a liberal, or rather magnificent entertainment: Religion fixed its genuine impreſſion on his countenance, benevo⯑lence in ſmiles. He was ſucceeded by

JOHN FOSSOUR,

formerly a monk of Durham, and prior of the monaſtery of Weremouth, who was elected the 16th of March, 1342, and confirmed and inſtalled on the laſt day of the ſame month: Chambrè ſpeaking of him, ſays, he was a man of much wiſdom, with a prevailing eloquence, ſo that many took the habit in his time ^‡: He cauſed an account to be had of the goods and poſſeſſions of the monaſtery, for the better management and protection thereof; and appointed a burſer of great providence and diſcretion, by whoſe care and aſſiduity, during the courſe of ſix years, 758 l. 3 s. 6 d. of the old debts of the convent were diſcharged, 492l. 7s. 7d. was ex⯑pended out of the treaſury in public works, and 209l. 5s. 3d. in contributions: He cauſed all the miſſals of the church to be removed, one of which, lying at the altar of St Nicholas and St Giles, coſt him 22 l. At the north end of the middle tran⯑ſept of the cathedral church, he made a large window of ſix lights, with three leſſer windows, near the altar of St Nicholas and St Giles, which was the third and laſt altar in that aile to the north, in the maſonry of which he expended 100 l. and 25 l. in glazing. Stevens ſeems to confound Chambrè's account ^‖; and the great window made by our prior is named twice, ſaying, he made another large and ſumptuous window of ſix lights, whereas on a view of the church the error is eaſily diſcovered. He ordained, with conſent of the chapter, that a daily maſs ſhould be ſaid for his ſoul at the abovementioned altar by one monk, for whoſe penſion, with the maintenance of the windows, and for proviſion for his anniverſary, he appro⯑priated lands to the convent. He provided a rich veſtment with three copes, for the ceremonies of his anniverſary. He inſtituted a chantry at the aforeſaid altar, which was called the chantry of the Holy Trinity, for the celebration of divine ſervice for ever; and under the biſhop's licence purchaſed lands in North Pittington, Wol⯑viſton, [90] and Billingham for its endowment, for which he expended 66l. 10s. 9d. and for the erection thereof 20l. ^* He gave for the uſe of the altar a chalice of the value of 6l. 13s. 4d. with three albes chaſubles and palls; alſo images in ala⯑baſter of the holy Trinity and bleſſed Virgin, with tabernacles and other ornaments, of the price of 22l. He expended in other edifices and ornaments about the church 402l. 6s. 8d. and made a window at the ſouth end of the common hall, which coſt him 40l. In his time many reparations and new works were made, as well within the church as without, particularly in the kiln ^†, granary, and kitchen, the great window of ſeven lights at the weſt end of the nave, three other windows in the north ſide of the nave, two on the north ſide of the choir by John de Tickhill, and two on the ſouth by the feretory: Alſo, in this prior's time, the lord Ralph Nevill preſented to the church a veſtment of red velvet, and obtained permiſſion that he and his lady Alicia ſhould be buried within the walls of the church, which had not been granted before to a layman. John lord Nevill his ſon, at the inſtance of Ri⯑chard de Birtley and John de Cornvall, then feretraries of the church, cauſed to be made a new work of marble and alabaſter for St Cuthbert's tomb, which coſt up⯑wards of 200l. and at the prior's requeſt, the elegant tabernacle work, which di⯑vides the feretory from the high altar, was procured, towards the expence of which lord Nevill gave 600 marks. It was made in London, and ſent down by ſea; but before our munificent prior could ſee it erected, attacked by various infirmities, he departed this life at Beaurepaire, on the 12th day of November, in the 90th year of his age, and 33d of his priorſhip, A. D. 1374. He was buried at the north end of the middle tranſept, before the altar of St Nicholas and St Giles, his tomb being co⯑vered with marble prepared in his life-time and curiouſly wrought ^‡; Robert de Syreſton, a monk of the houſe, well acquainted with his virtues, inſcribed it with the verſes^§ in the notes, as given by Browne Willis, p. 225.

In this prior's time was fought the great battle of the Red-Hills, in which David Bruce was taken priſoner. The victory was announced to the people of the city by the eccleſiaſtics ſinging a ſolemn hymn or Te Deum on the top of the ſteeple of the cathedral church, in conſequence of a ſignal from the monks at Maiden Bower. This cuſtom was continued on the anniverſary, till the times of general confuſion in the 16th century. The reſtoration of king Charles was a matter of ſuch great joy to this church, that the ceremony was revived on the 29th of May, on which day it is ſtill annually performed. This prior had licence in 1344 to purchaſe [91] lands in Monketon and Monkheſleton ^*; and certain articles of agreement between the biſhop and the convent were ratified whilſt he preſided ^†.

On the petition of Ralph lord Nevill for a burial place within the church, the prior and convent granted their licence for making a ſepulchre on the ſouth ſide of the nave, to which the conventual ſeal was affixed, then bearing the impreſſion of the head of St Oſwald: Et conceſſerunt cis cum litera ſub ſigillo capitis Sancti Oſwal⯑di ^‡. This was thought the moſt proper place to preſent to the reader the drawing of that ſeal, where it is ſo indiſputably authenticated. The croſs ſide or reverſe is remaining at preſent in the dean and chapter's library, from whence Mr Allan took ſeveral impreſſions in wax, but the head ſide is loſt ^‖.

[92]Application was made to the See of Rome by king Edward III. that the church of Hemingburg in Yorkſhire ſhould be appropriated to this church, which the pope in the year 1372 refuſed, becauſe of the populouſneſs and other exceſſes thereof. The epiſtle of pope Gregory II.^* ſhews the ſtate of the monaſtery at that time. The king's letter prayed the appropriation to be made propter neceſſitates eis incumbentes; to which the pope replied, he was informed the religious body conſiſted of 150 perſons, with four dependent abbies, where priors had been inſtituted; beſides which they held, appendent to the monaſtery, thirteen pariſh churches, and to many others they had the right of collation: That, by reaſon of their opulence, they were guilty of great enormities; when they travelled, they were each attended by three or four horſemen, and made an appearance inconſiſtent with religious humility; and that in their expences, as well in proviſion for their table as apparel and other ordinary matters, they were guilty of great exceſs.

ROBERT DE WALWORTH

, alias Benington, alias Berrington, ſucceeded to the office of prior, he being elected on the 11th of December 1374, and confirmed on the 24th of the ſame month. The elegant work which his predeceſſor Foſſour and lord John Nevill gave to this church, this prior was at the expence of erecting, employing therein ſeven artiſts near a year. In the year 1380 the high altar was compleated and ſolemnly dedica⯑ted to the holy Virgin, St Oſwald the royal martyr, and St Cuthbert, the whole convent appearing in proceſſion and aſſiſting at the ceremony ^†.

The convent was greatly enriched by him: In 1378 he obtained licence to pur⯑chaſe lands ^‡, and in 1379 received a charter of confirmation of various purchaſes made in Wolviſton, Billingham, Great Burdon, Aycliff, Fery, Monkheſildon, Ed⯑mundbyers, Durham, Hett, Heburn, Spennyngmore, Rayley, Aldernage, Elvet in Durham, and the old borough of Durham ^‖. In 1380 he had confirmation of the exchange of Henknowl for lands in Wolviſton, made with John de Belaſys ^§. In the ſame year a licence was procured for the purchaſe of other lands, of the annual value of 200 marks, for the maintenance of eight monks, and eight ſecular ſcholars to ſtudy in Durham college, Oxford ^¶. In 1388 another licence was granted for the purchaſe of lands at Helay, and lands and tenements in Gateſhead Whyckham, the old bridge at Durham, Clayport, Sadlergate, the North-Bailey, Fleſhhewer-Raw, Framwelgate, Pipewellgate, Weſt and Eaſt Merrington, Aycliffe, Fery, Wolviſton, Heſledon, Le Brome, North Pittington, Eaſt Rainton, Hebern, Burdon, Billing⯑ham, Edmundbyers, St Giles's or the ſtreet of St Egidius, Alertongate in Dur⯑ham, [93] the old borough of Durham, Elvet and Cocken^*. In 1390 Wm de Scrope pre⯑ſented, at the feretory of St Cuthbert (in ſatisfaction for certain offences by him com⯑mitted againſt the rights of the church) a jewel of the value of 50l.^† This prior ob⯑tained from pope Urban VI. a bull, that he and his ſucceſſors ſhould be inveſted with the mitre, paſtoral ſtaff, rings, ſandals, and other pontifical inſignia, and was the firſt prior in this church authoriſed to uſe the ſame ^‡. He appeared rigidly attentive to [94] the rites of the church in the ceremonies of biſhop Hatfield's interment. Chambrè tells us ^*, the executors applied to the convent to permit the chariot on which the remains were brought to enter the church, and that the ſame with the horſes might be returned; or otherwiſe they ſhould be obliged to take the body from the vehicle on the outſide of the church-yard, and carry it on men's ſhoulders into the church, becauſe the chariot and horſes were not the late prelate's property at the time of his death, he having previouſly diſpoſed of them. To this the prior, with the aſſent of the convent, replied, that he would not conſent on any conſideration to the infringe⯑ment of any of the privileges of his church; but that the ſacriſt ſhould have the cha⯑riot, horſes, and all the veſtments, with which the remains ſhould enter the north gate, together with the chapel, and all other the epiſcopal ornaments uſed at the in⯑terment. The lord Nevill and four others of diſtinction were choſen to determine upon this claim; who adjudged, that by ancient cuſtom all theſe matters appertained to, and were the right of the church; but they compromiſed the ſame in the preſent inſtance, and the executors conſented to pay 200l. in lieu of the articles demanded, in order that the ſplendor of the interment might not be diminiſhed, or the intended ceremony diſturbed ^†.

After preſiding in the monaſtery ſeventeen years, the prior died, and was buried before the altar of St Benedict, being the firſt of the three altars in the north limb of the middle tranſept. His tomb was covered with marble, and ornamented with his effigies in braſs and other curious work ^‡.

JOHN DE HEMMINGBURG

ſucceeded in the ſame year, and held this important office twenty-five years ^‖. In his time the biſhop's right to receive profeſſion of the monks was re-claimed, and, after much litigation and an appeal, the biſhop withdrew his ſuit. The juriſdiction of the convent's churches within the dioceſe of York was again agitated during this [95] prior's office, and was determined againſt the archbiſhop ^§. He ſent his proctor to the convocation at York in the year 1398. The prior departed this life in the year [96] 1416, and was interred in the ſouth limb of the middle tranſept of the cathedral church, before the altar of the holy Virgin, being the firſt from the ſouth aile of the choir. His tomb was covered with marble, wrought with his effigies and thoſe of the twelve apoſtles in braſs ^*. To him ſucceeded

JOHN DE WESSYNGTON,

who was elected the 5th of November, 1416. This learned prior wrote many tracts, particularly one, De juribus et poſſeſſionibus eccleſioe Dunelm. ^† wherein he proves, that the priors of Durham were always inveſted with the dignity of abbots ^‡. There are ſome of his MSS. in the dean and chapter's library, B. 5, N. 1. The account of the paintings in the windows, and of the ornaments and ceremonies of the church, now extant, is by ſome attributed to him. He renewed the diſpute with the biſhop touching the profeſſion of the monks, which was determined in the prior's favour; and preſided at the general chapter held for the order of St Benedict, at Northampton, in the year 1426. In his time, ſeveral licences were obtained for ac⯑quiring lands by the monaſtery ^‖, in Coupan, Billingham, Burdon, Eaſt-Rainton, and Fery on the Hill, and alſo in Barmeton, Eaſt, Weſt, and Middle-Merrington, the barony of Elvet near Durham, and the old borough of Durham; and alſo a licence to receive the manor of Heworth near Aykley, according to the diſpoſition and ordinance of prior Hotoun. We have a correct liſt of the fraternity of this monaſtery, reſident at the time of the viſitation of John Marchall, L. L. B. vicar-general to the biſhop, in the month of January 1437 ^§. Prior Weſſyngton preſided [97] thirty years, and departed this life in the year 1446 ^*. He was buried before the door of the north aile, near to St Benedict's altar: On his tombſtone was an in⯑ſcription on braſs, now totally loſt.

WILLIAM DE EBCHESTER

was elected prior on the 30th of June ^† 1446, holding the chair ten years and three months. He reſigned in the year 1456; and ſurviving that act but a ſhort time, was interred under a marble ſtone in the ſouth aile of the middle tranſept, before the altar of the holy Virgin, called our Lady of Bolton, which was erected by the Nevills: This was the ſecond altar in that place. His tomb, Willis ſays, was in⯑ſcribed as in the notes ^‡. He was ſucceeded by

JOHN DE BURNABY, D. D.

who was elected the 25th of October ^‖ 1456, and preſided eight years. He died in the year 1464, and was buried on the 15th of October, in the middle aile of the nave, oppoſite the cloiſter door. On the marble which covered his tomb was his effigies in braſs.

RICHARD^* BELL, B. D.

was elected the 26th of November 1464: He preſided here thirteen years and twenty weeks, and was conſecrated biſhop of Carliſle on the 6th of March 1478. Whilſt prior of Durham, we find him named ſeveral times in the commiſſions of Edward IV. on treaties with the king of Scots. He died in 1496, and was interred in the middle of the choir of Carliſle cathedral; his tombſtone, with the effigies in braſs, and other ornamentals, are ſtill in good preſervation. His ſucceſſor

ROBERT EBCHESTER, D. D.

was elected the 26th of November 1478; preſided only ſix years, and during that time obtained ſeveral licences to increaſe the poſſeſſions of the convent^†. He de⯑parted this life on the 29th of June 1484, and was interred in the ſouth aile of the middle tranſept, before the altar called our Lady of Bolton's, under a marble tomb⯑ſtone, ornamented with his effigies in braſs, the inſcription (given by Willis) as in the notes ^‡. His ſucceſſor

JOHN AUCKLAND, D. D.

was elected on the 16th of July 1484; preſided ten years; and, departing this life in the year 1494, was interred within the church ^‖. He was ſucceeded by

THOMAS CASTELL, D. D.

who was elected the 4th of May 1494, and held his office twenty-five years. The church was not purged, even in this age, of its groſſeſt ſuperſtition; for we find an account in Chambrè of a healing performed on one Richard Poell, a courtier of king Henry VII. at the tomb of St Cuthbert ^§. In this prior's time we have a liſt of the brethren of the monaſtery, as given in the notes^¶. Much friendly inter⯑courſe [99] appears between biſhop Fox and the convent, and many ſpecial marks of fa⯑vour were ſhewn by the prelates. The prior was made maſter of the biſhop's game, with a grant of veniſon from his foreſts and parks at pleaſure^*. Biſhop Bainbrigg alſo ſhewed great attention to the monaſtery: In 1508 he granted his charter of confirmation, with an inſpeximus of the grant of biſhop Pudſey of Muggleſwſck in exchange for Hardwick, with the paſture of Horſleyhope, Hiſterhope, and Balding⯑hope; of the grant of biſhop Kirkham of the woods and waſtes in Horſleyhope, by metes and bounds ^†; alſo of the grant of biſhop Kellow of all the waſte and moor⯑lands from the weſt gates of the priory of Finchale, by metes and bounds ^‡; and alſo granted licence to the monaſtery to purchaſe in mortmain, in which inſtrument is compriſed a general indemnity ^‖. The ſame prelate granted to the prior and convent all the waſte lands lying between the bridge of Framwelgate and the bridge of Elvet, and between the walls of the caſtle and the cathedral church and the wa⯑ter of the Were, rendering 13s. 4d. rent^§. He alſo granted free-warren in the prior's parks at Muggleſwick, Helay-field, Bear-park, and Raynton-park, and in the woods of Strathowe, Witton, Mayner, Sacriſtonheugh, Hayning-wood, Herber-cloſe, and Ferycliff, Baxtenford-wood, Raley with Raley-wood and the fields and meadows thereto appertaining, Oldingrege with the fields and meadows thereof, Alton-field, and Moreby-bank ^¶. The eaſt gates of the abbey, now called the Col⯑lege Gates, having gone to decay, prior Caſtell rebuilt the ſame in a ſumptuous ſtile, with a porter's lodge thereto; above the gateway he erected a chapel in ho⯑nour of St Helen, where the laity twice a day were admitted to the celebration of maſs, for which two prieſts were aſſigned by the convent, who had their chamber adjacent to the chapel. He alſo reſtored the great north window of the middle tranſept of the church, in which he cauſed to be repreſented, in painted glaſs, the fi⯑gures of the four Evangeliſts, together with the holy Virgin and St Cuthbert; under which his own figure was depicted, kneeling, with elevated hands, and a label bear⯑ing this petition, Virgo, tuum natum fac nobis propitiatum, or, as Davies has it, Virgo [100] mater Dei miſerere mei. He purchaſed and gave to the convent two mills, from thenceforth called Jeſus' Mills, and covered them with lead; for which he obtained the pious memorial of being commemorated in Jeſus' maſs ^*. The tower on Farn iſland was built by him ^†. Prior Caſtell departed this life on the 2d of April 1519, and was interred in the middle aile of the nave before Jeſus' altar, his effigies in braſs being wrought on his tombſtone, with the inſcription in the notes ^‡, as given by Willis.

The office continued vacant near five years, during which period, Wharton ſays ^‖, the biſhop received the revenues; but Stevens contradicts this aſſertion in theſe words, ‘What Mr Wharton ſays of the biſhop's aſſuming the priory revenues be⯑fore the election of prior Hugh, is, as I am informed by my honoured friend Mr Thomas Baker, a miſtake.’ We muſt not depend too much on this bare con⯑tradiction; for near the cloſe of biſhop Ruthall's epiſcopacy, and on Wolſey's ad⯑vancement to the See, we cannot wonder at ſuch a miſapplication ^¶. Before we proceed to prior Hugh's life, the records in the notes may perhaps be eſteemed worthy of notice ^**.

HUGH WHITEHEAD

ſucceeded to the priory, in the year 1524. He was cuſtos of Durham college, Ox⯑ford ^*, and is ſpoken of by hiſtorians in a very reſpectable manner. Chambrè tells us ^†, he was uniformly religious, and his whole ſpirit breathed divine love. He retained in his houſhold perſons of diſtinguiſhed character, by whom he was moſt honourably ſerved; kept a liberal table; made great repairs at Beaurepaire; built a new hall at Pittington, called the prior's hall, with various other edifices; was not only munificent, but excellently charitable, and in his private life truly exemplary. He held the office eighteen years; and on the 31ſt day of December 1540, joining with the convent, ſurrendered the monaſtery into the king's hands ^‡, the revenues whereof were then rated at 1366l. 10s. 5d. according to Dugdale, but by Speed at 1615l. 14s. 10d.

[102]On the 12th of May 1541 the king granted his Foundation Charter ^* to this church, inſtituting therein a dean and twelve prebendaries, and ordaining, that in⯑ſtead [103] of the title of the cathedral church of the bleſſed Mary the Virgin, and St Cuthbert the biſhop, that the ſame ſhould for ever thereafter bear the denomination of the ca⯑thedral [104] church of Chriſt and bleſſed Mary the Virgin. He thereby nominated Hugh Whitehead the firſt dean; Edward Hyndmers, D. D. firſt prebendary; Roger Wat⯑ſon, [105] D. D. the ſecond; Thomas Sparke, B. D. ſuffragan of Berwick, the third; William Bennet, D. D. the fourth; William Todd, D. D. the fifth; Stephen Mar⯑ley, B. D. the ſixth; Robert Dalton, B. D. the ſeventh; John Towton, B. D. the eighth; Nicholas Marley, B. D. the ninth; Ralph Blaxton, the tenth; Robert Ben⯑net, the eleventh; and Wm Watſon, the twelfth. He made them and their ſuc⯑ceſſors a body corporate, by the name of The dean and chapter of the cathedral church of Chriſt and bleſſed Mary the Virgin; empowering them, under that deno⯑mination, to do all legal acts, and plead and be impleaded. He granted them all the ſcite of the monaſtery, and the ancient rights, liberties, and privileges thereof. The Endowment ^* made by the king bears date the 16th of May 1541: Theſe two inſtruments, being of much conſequence, are inſerted at length in the notes.

[106]The eſtabliſhment, beſides the dean and prebendaries, conſiſted of twelve mi⯑nor canons, a deacon, ſub-deacon, ſixteen ſinging-men, a maſter of the choriſters, [107] ten choriſters, a divinity reader, eight almſmen, two maſters of the grammar-ſchool, eighteen ſcholars, two vergers, two porters, two ſextons, two barbers. Willis ſays, [108] ‘The king converting the priory into a college of ſeculars, aſſigned his new dean and prebends their reſpective apartments out of the old monaſtery, within the [109] precincts of which the biſhop, dean, prebendaries, and other members, have very good houſes, the beſt of any cathedral in England, according to the dignity of [110] the prebends, which are reputed more richly endowed than any other church, ow⯑ing, as I hear, to the members allotting themſelves, at firſt, their reſpective divi⯑dends [111] or ſhares out of the chapter lands, and not leaſing them in common, by [112] which practice (in this ſole church of the new foundation) ſome prebends are of [113] more value than others, whereas in the reſt they are all equal, as they [114] might be here poſſibly at firſt, though the improvements of eſtates have made a diſproportion, as it now continues.^*.’

[115]Dean Whitehead, Chambrè informs us, ſell under the diſpleaſure of the court, and, being accuſed of miſdemeanour againſt the ſtate, together with biſhop Tunſtal and Hyndmers his chancellor ^*, was ſummoned to appear before the council; be⯑ing much agitated under ſuch circumſtances, and diſtreſſed by unuſual fatigue and travelling, he fell ſick ſoon after his arrival in London, and dying, was interred in Trinity Church in the Minories, in the year 1548, having enjoyed the office of dean only ſix years. Willis ſays ^†, ‘The Hiſtory of Durham ſays he died at London in 1548, and was buried in the Minories there; which A. Wood in his Athenae alſo mentions, and tells us this epitaph was placed over his graveſtone, though it is now periſhed, as I found when I ſearched that church: Here lyeth the Body of Hugh Whitehead, the laſt Prior of Durham, and firſt Dean thereof, who died at London — and was buried in the Church of the Mino⯑ries, Anno —’

The office of dean appears to have remained vacant three years from the death of Hugh Whitehead, or that he did not die in the year 1548; for it was not till the 18th of November, 1551, that

ROBERT HORN, D. D.

ſucceeded, it being expreſly ſaid in the patent (5 Edw. VI. part 3) that the king preſented him on the vacancy occaſioned by the death of Whitehead. Some au⯑thors have aſſerted he was born in the biſhopric of Durham ^‡, but the more proba⯑ble account is ^§, that he was the ſon of John Horn, ſon of William Horn, of Cletor [116] in Copeland, in the county of Cumberland, was educated in St John's college, Cambridge, where he commenced doctor in divinity, and went out ad eundem 9th July 1567. It is ſaid he was nominated to the biſhopric of Durham in 1552, biſhop Tunſtall being then living, who declined accepting it, as the conditions were ſuch he could not approve: ^* It is certain there was much diſagreement between him and that prelate. Soon after the acceſſion of queen Mary, Horn was ejected, and became a voluntary exile for the cauſe of faith, living abroad the whole of her reign. At the head of the epiſcopal party at Frankfort he greatly diſtinguiſhed himſelf, be⯑ing choſen Hebrew-reader to the Engliſh ſociety there ^†. In a bitter conteſt with one Aſhley, his bigotry rather than his tolerant ſpirit was diſplayed ^‡. On the ac⯑ceſſion of Elizabeth, being reſtored to his deanry, he continued but a ſhort time be⯑fore his appointment to the biſhopric of Wincheſter, which happened in the year 1560. At the conference at Weſtminſter, he was choſen one of the diſputants con⯑cerning the ſervices of the church ^§. A ſuit was proſecuted againſt him by biſhop Bonner, touching the ſupremacy oath^¶, which was ſuperſeded by the fortunate in⯑terpoſition of the ſtatute on conſecrations. He departed this life on the 1ſt day of June 1579. The place of his interment is variouſly ſpoken of; moſt probably it was in the church at Wincheſter, near the pulpit; but Willis and Stevens ſay in the Minories church, London. The inſcription on his tomb has been given us in the Hiſtory of Wincheſter, publiſhed in 1773 ^**. Under the Life of John Whyte^†† he is thus mentioned: ‘He was reported by a certain author ^‡‡ to be a man of great mind and profound ingenie, and no leſs ſagacious in detecting the crafts of his adverſaries, than prudent in preventing and avoiding them. He was alſo a fre⯑quent preacher, and an excellent diſputant, and wrote in the mother-tongue an Anſwer to John Fackenham's Scruples ^§§ concerning the oath of ſupremacy. He gave way to fate in 1579, leaving this character behind him, given by one belonging to the church at Durham, who, ſpeaking of his demoliſhing ſeveral ancient monuments of that church while dean thereof, tells us, that he could ne⯑ver abide any ancient monuments, acts or deeds, that gave any light of or to godly reli⯑gion." His character, as given by Fuller ^‖‖, is to this effect: "A worthy man ground betwixt papiſts and ſectaries, who ſported with his name, and twitted his perſon as dwarfiſh, carping at the caſe, when they were not able to find fault with the jewel. Whatever his mould might be, he was made of good metal, as being of a ſprightful and fruitful wit.’ He publiſhed two of John Calvin's ſermons in [117] Engliſh, to which he prefixed his Apology, wherein he gives an account of himſelf, and the reaſons for his flight. There are many things in this Apology worthy re⯑marking ^*, eſpecially the complaints of hard and unjuſt dealing towards him, by biſhop Tunſtall, and by Gardiner biſhop of Wincheſter, and of the ſad change there was on the acceſſion of queen Mary. Strype ſays, ‘This Apology is well worthy the preſerving; therein he relates at large how he was ſummoned up from Durham to the privy-council: And thereby the biſhop of Durham and the biſhop of Wincheſter accuſed him of divers things that were merely falſe, on pur⯑poſe to bring him into trouble; as that he, being dean of the church, took upon him to meddle in the biſhop's office; that in his new learning he preached here⯑ſy; that he was a Scot; that he brought a wife into that church, where never woman came before: Of all which, with ſundry other charges, he acquits him⯑ſelf in this Apology ^†.’ On dean Horn's ceſſion,

THOMAS WATSON, D. D.

was appointed by queen Mary, the 18th of November 1553. He was rector of North-Crawley in the county of Bucks, and maſter of St John's college, Cam⯑bridge. Soon after his advancement to this deanry, an act ^‡ was paſſed to enable [118] the queen to make ſtatutes and ordinances for the government of collegiate churches and their poſſeſſions, the former law of Henry VIII. having become obſolete for want of being duly carried into execution, as appears by the preamble. This power, as we obſerved before ^*, was as much confined to the queen as the other was to Hen. VIII. ſo that ſtatutes conſtructed, or reformations of ſuch ſtatutes, not done by queen Mary, and without authority of parliament, are void and of no va⯑lidity.

The preſent ſtatutes of this church were drawn up by Nicholas Heath archbiſhop-elect of York, Edmund Bonner biſhop of London, Cuthbert Tunſtall biſhop of Durham, Thomas Thirlby biſhop of Ely, and William Armiſtead chaplain to their majeſties, who were commiſſioned for that purpoſe; and they received confirma⯑tion ^† under the great-ſeal the 20th day of March, in the firſt and ſecond years of the reign of Philip and Mary ^‡.

DEAN WATSON,

chaplain to Gardiner biſhop of Wincheſter, was eſteemed a warm Roman Catho⯑lic^*; and was a great favourite with cardinal Pole^†: Continuing dean of Durham until the year 1557, he was made biſhop of Lincoln by papal proviſion, the bull bearing date the 24th of March; and was conſecrated on the 15th of Auguſt. There is ſome doubt whether his deanry was then reſigned, for he wrote himſelf Biſhop of Lincoln, and Dean of Durham, till the 26th of September, 1558: He was removed from the See of Lincoln by authority of parliament, in the beginning of queen Elizabeth's reign, as being an enemy to reformation, and the queen's ſupremacy over the church; having threatened her majeſty with excommunica⯑tion^‡. Becoming highly obnoxious to the new principles, he was impriſoned in the Tower of London, in 1559^§, and there remained, or in ſome other durance in or about London, until the year 1580^‖; when, together with Jo. Feckenham and others, he was ſent priſoner to Wiſbich-caſtle, in Cambridgeſhire, and dying there, was privately buried on the 17th of Sept. 1584, in Wiſbich church, without any monument. In his youth he wrote ſeveral poems ^¶; in elder life, being then of a ſour diſpoſition, as one writer ſaith^**, and learned in deep divinity, but ſurly, with an auſtere gravity ^††: He publiſhed ſeveral religious tracts, particularly two ſermons, preached before queen Mary, touching the real preſence in the ſacraments ^‡‡. Pitts gives him the character of a famous preacher, a ſolid divine, and a good poet^§§.— On the 23d of July, 1558 ^‖‖, he was ſucceeded by

THOMAS ROBERTSON,

who was born either at, or in the neighbourhood of Wakefield, Yorkſhire; was originally of Queen's College, Oxford, and afterwards of Magdalen College, where⯑in he had a fellowſhip: Was maſter of the adjoining ſchool; and about the year [142] 1539, was treaſurer of the church at Saliſbury. It is ſaid the congregation of Regents were ſupplicated by him, for admiſſion to the reading of the ſentences, being then eſteemed Flos & decus Oxonii. In 1540, by the intereſt of Langland, biſhop of Lincoln, he was made archdeacon of Leiceſter, and enjoyed that office till the year 1560: Was ſome time rector of St Laud's church, at Sherrington, in the county of Bucks; and in 1546, was inſtituted vicar of Wakefield, on which he re⯑ſigned his treaſurerſhip: His character was that of a correct grammarian, and that he greatly exceeded his predeceſſors in the education of his pupils; he added ‘Quae genus’ to Lilly's grammar: In the year 1549, we find him named among thoſe who were appointed by King Edward VI. to compoſe the church liturgy. At the time the deanry of Durham was given, the queen greatly reſpected him for his piety and learning, would have nominated him to a biſhopric, which was modeſtly refuſed. He was the author of ſeveral grammatical works; was ejected from his deanry in 1559, to make room for Dr Horn's reſtoration. On Horn's pro⯑motion to the See of Wincheſter, he might have been replaced, on taking the ſu⯑premacy oath, but refuſed: He reſigned his archdeaconry to avoid the diſgrace of an ejection, and though a better adverſary to reformation, and buſy in ſpreading his arguments in Yorkſhire, was overlooked, as ſome thought, becauſe of his lame⯑neſs^*; but Willis^† ſays, he was taken into cuſtody: What afterwards became of him, our authorities are ſilent^‡.

ROBERT HORN,

in 1559, was reſtored to this deanry, but remained a very ſhort time, being made biſhop of Wincheſter, the 16th February, 1560^‖. In the ſame month

RALPH SKYNNER

was appointed dean, and inſtalled on the 5th of March following: He was a ſtudent of New College, Oxford; whether he took the degree of maſter of arts, or of any other faculty, in that univerſity ^§, is not known, but being elected warden of that college in May, 1551, was on that occaſion ſtiled maſter of arts: Wood and others note him as a member of the Houſe of Commons in the year 1554^¶: Archbiſhop Parker recommended him to this deanry, and gave him the character of being "learned, wiſe, and expert^**." On the 22d of June, 1561, a recantation ſermon was preached by him at Paul's Croſs, wherein he gave warning of a note book he had printed, bidding every man take heed of it, as very hereſy ^††. In 1559, he was [143] appointed maſter of Sherburn hoſpital in this county: In 1561, was made temporal chancellor; and being rector of Sedgfield, in the ſame county, died there, and was interred on the 21ſt of January, 1562-3.

In this dean's time, it was agreed in Chapter, that certain tithes ſhould be annex⯑ed to each prebend; the ſame was confirmed under dean Whittingham, and the augmentation hath continued to this time, (ſee page 127.) To him ſucceeded

WILLIAM WHITTINGHAM,

on the 19th of July, 1563, who was inſtalled on the 8th of October^*. He was born in the city of Cheſter, ſon of William Whittingham, Eſq by a daughter of —Haughton, of Haughton Tower: Became a commoner of Brazen-Noſe Col⯑lege in Oxford, in the year 1540, being then 16 years of age, where he made great proficiency in literature^†: Having become bachelor of arts, he was elected fellow of All-Souls', in 1545: And two years afterwards, was made one of the ſeniors of Chriſt-Church, on its foundation by K. Henry VIII. who endeavoured to re⯑pleniſh the ſame with the firſt ſcholars of the univerſity. On the 17th of May, 1550, having obtained leave to travel for three years, his time was ſpent chiefly at the univerſity of Orleans, where he married the daughter of Lewis Jacquiene^‡. He returned to England in the latter end of the reign of K. Edward VI. but on the acceſſion of Q. Mary, was one of the fugitives to Frankfort, and afterwards be⯑came a member of the church of Geneva: On John Knox's leaving that ſociety, to return to Scotland, Whittingham was prevailed upon by Calvin to become a mini⯑ſter of the church: He engaged, with other learned men of that ſociety, in an Engliſh tranſlation of the Bible; but it was not finiſhed before ſeveral of thoſe em⯑ployed therein returned to England, on Q. Elizabeth coming to the crown: Whit⯑tingham remained near eighteen months at Geneva, to perfect the work; during which time, he reduced into metre five of David's pſalms, (inſcribed W. W.) of which the 119th was one; together with the ten commandments, and a prayer, now placed at the end of the verſion. Soon after his return to England, he was employed to accompany Francis, earl of Bedford, on his embaſſy of condolence for the death of the French king, in 1560: And he attended Ambroſe, earl of War⯑wick, to Newhaven, to be preacher there, whilſt the earl defended it againſt the French; on which occaſion he ſhewed a reproachable diſpoſition, in ſpiriting the people againſt uniformity: The earl, either to be rid of him, or through an eſteem, which even his improprieties could not wean, obtained this deanry of the queen, on Skynner's death, although the ſame had been promiſed by her majeſty to Dr Wilſon, then one of her ſecretaries of ſtate. Whittingham enjoyed the deanry ſixteen years; was a violent oppoſer of meaſures touching the ſacerdotal veſture, and uſed all his influence with the earl of Leiceſter therein; ſupporting Biſhop Pilkingtru's [144] arguments to the utmoſt of his power: He wrote to the earl, and, as Collier ob⯑ſerves^*, ‘Wrought the point with more heat than his biſhop, and made the colours more glowing: He cited ſeveral of the fathers, though wide of his pur⯑poſe, and at length fell into vehemence and coarſe language.’

Notwithſtanding all applications to the contrary, the order touching ſacerdotal veſtments iſſued in 1564^†, and was urged in ſuch a manner, that they that refuſed the ſame were not permitted to exerciſe their miniſtry; on which the dean ſub⯑mitted thereto. It was not long before he was ſeverely upbraided, for this com⯑pliance, by one who was with him at Geneva: But finding an apt reply, anſwering, that he and others knew, and had heard John Calvin ſay, ‘That for external matters of order, they might not neglect their miniſtry, for ſo ſhould they, for tithing of mint, neglect the greater things of the law.’ He was a great advocate for ſing⯑ing in the church, and provided the beſt anthems uſed in the queen's chapel, being himſelf ſkilful in muſic ^‡. Whittingham did eſſential ſervices to government in the rebellion, 1569, and was a warm defender of the privileges of his church, in oppoſing the archbiſhop's viſitation, in 1577 ^‖. Richard Bancroft, in his writings, called him, the falſe and unworthy dean of Durham ^§: He rendered himſelf ob⯑noxious at court, by a zealous preface, wrote by him, to Chriſtopher Goodman's book ^¶, which profeſſedly denied the right of governing to belong to a woman: This occaſioned him to become the mark of public reprehenſion. Archbiſhop Sandys, in the viſitation of this province, ‘having heard of ſome irregularities in the church of Durham, (that See being then void) begins a viſitation thereof: The dean whereof, he underſtood, was no ordained miniſter, according to the order of the church of England, having received his orders at Geneva, in the Engliſh congregation there. But that church refuſed his viſitation; which cauſed a conteſt between the ſaid church and the archbiſhop, which proceeded even to an excommunication: And for the better ſearching into the merits of the cauſe, and for putting ſome good concluſion to this difference, a commiſſion was at length, by the lord-keeper, iſſued out, to ſome perſons to hear it ^**.’— This commiſſion we have in Rymer's Foedera, vol. xv. p. 785, dated 14th of May, 1578. It was directed to the archbiſhop of York, the lord preſident, the biſhop of Durham, the dean of York, and others, to enquire into dean Whittingham's orders. Upon the examination it did not appear, that he was ordained according to the [145] order of Geneva, as then eſtabliſhed; nor according to the law of this realm; for the ordination of K. Edward VI. was repealed by Q. Mary, and that repealed 1ſt of Q. Elizabeth; and that of K. Edward, reſtored the 8th of Q. Elizabeth. The dean's certificate produced, was, ‘that it pleaſed God, by lot and election, of the whole Engliſh congregation, to chooſe him to the office of preaching, &c.’ But this being objected to, he produced another certificate, viz. ‘That it pleaſed God, by the ſuffrages of the whole congregation, orderly to chooſe W. Whittingham into the office of preaching:’ It was objected, that there was no ordination by election or lot, in any church in Europe: The archbiſhop was for depriving him, but the dean of York and lord preſident were againſt it; and ſaid, it was not fit to allow popiſh orders, and refuſe orders of reformed churches. The dean ſoon after departing this life, nothing was determined^*.

Dean Whittingham was guilty of much profanation on the pious monuments and ſacred remains in this church. The account given by Wood ^†, of thoſe acts of violence and irreligion, is ſhortly ſtated to the reader; but antecedent thereto, we beg leave to obſerve, that in all ages, and with all people, where civilization and the true ſpirit of religion prevailed, things applied to pious offices and religious ceremonies were held in ſuch veneration, that defiling and employing them in mean and contemptuous uſes, was forbidden and puniſhed. The example of Balthazar, in holy writ, is tremendous; though the ſuperſtitious rites of the Jewiſh temple might render the veſſels he abuſed, as odious to thoſe who ſtripped them from the ſacred places, as ever dean Whittingham held the veſſels of the church at Durham. Diſturbing the aſhes of the dead, is an offence to human nature, ſuch as the moſt ignorant of ſavages refrain from; poliſhed nations of antiquity held ſuch remains in the higheſt veneration, and did not conceive the moſt depraved mind capable of their profanation: The Egyptian who left his father's corps unredeem⯑ed, was denied the privileges of ſociety. In profane hiſtory, the ſtory of Cambyſes affords us reflections of the like nature. The learned Dr Prideaux is a ſufficient authority to quote this inſtance^‡; and his words are, ‘As he mounted his horſe for the march, his ſword falling out of the ſcabbard, gave him a wound on the thigh, of which he died a few days after. The Egyptians remarking, that it was in the ſame part of the body, where he had afore wounded the Apis, reckoned it as an eſpecial judgment from Heaven upon him, for that fact, and perchance they were not much out of it: For it ſeldom happening, in an affront given to any particular mode of worſhip, how erroneous ſoever it may be, but that religion is in general wound⯑ed thereby; there are many inſtances in hiſtory, wherein God hath very ſignally puniſhed the profanations of religion in the worſt of times, and under the worſt mode of heathen idolatry." Wood proceeds thus, "The works of impiety that Whit⯑tingham performed, while he ſat dean of Durham, were very many, among [146] which I ſhall tell you of theſe. Moſt of the priors of Durham having been buried in coffins of ſtone, and ſome in marble, and each coffin covered with a plank of marble, or free ſtone, which lay level with the paving of the church, (for ancient⯑ly men of note that were laid in ſuch coffins, were buried no deeper in the ground than the breadth of a plank to be laid over them, even with the ſurface of the pave⯑ment) he cauſed ſome of them to be plucked up, and appointed them to be uſed as troughs, for horſes to drink in, or hogs to feed in. All the marble and free ſtones alſo that covered them, and other graves, he cauſed to be taken away and broken, ſome of which ſerved to make pavement in his houſe. He alſo defaced all ſuch ſtones as had any pictures of braſs, or other imagery work, or chalice wrought, engraven upon them; and the reſidue he took away and em⯑ployed them to his own uſe, and did make a waſhing houſe of them, at the end of the centery garth; ſo that it could not be diſcerned afterwards that ever any were buried in the ſaid centery garth, it was ſo plain and ſtraight. The truth is, he could not abide 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 boſſed with hollow boſſes, upon the outerſides of the ſtones, very curiouſly wrought. They were both of the ſame work, but one much greater than the other. Both theſe were taken away by this unworthy dean, and carried into his kitchen, and employed to profane uſes by his ſervants, ſteeping their beef and ſalt fiſh in them, having a con⯑veyance in the bottoms of them, to let forth the water, as they had when they were in the church, to let out holy-water, &c. He alſo cauſed the image of St Cuthbert, (which before had been removed from its proper place by dean Robert Horn, who alſo had a hand in ſuch impieties) and alſo other ancient monuments to be defaced and broken all to pieces, to the intent that there ſhould be no memory of that holy man, or of any other who had been famous in the church, and great benefactors thereto, (as the priors his predeceſſors were) left whole and undefaced. I ſay it again, that he did this to the end, that no memory or token of that holy man, St Cuthbert, ſhould be left, who was ſent and brought thither by the power and will of Almighty God, and was thereupon the oc⯑caſion of the erection of the monaſtical church of Durham, where the clergy and ſervants have all their livings and commodities from that time to this day. At length, after his many rambles in this world, both beyond and within the ſeas, and his too forward zeal for promoting his Calviniſtical (if not worſe) opinions, whereby much miſchief happened to the church of England, he did unwillingly (being then full of worldly troubles) ſubmit himſelf to the ſtroke of death, on the 10th day of June, 1579, and was buried in the cathedral church of Durham; ſoon after was a tomb-ſtone laid over his grave, with an epitaph of twelve long and ſhort verſes, engraven on a braſs plate, faſtened thereto; which, with moſt, if not all of the monuments, which were ſet up after his time, were miſerably defaced by the Scots, when they invaded England, in 1640. So that as he had [147] before in a woeful manner, violated the monuments of his predeceſſors and others, ſo was his, by invaders; and nothing now left to preſerve his memory, or perſon to ſhew the place where his carcaſe was lodged.’ After what Wood has ſaid of our dean, it is juſtice to his character to gather up the ſentiments of other authors^*. ‘The Lord Burleigh being advanced to the white ſtaff, his place of ſecretary of ſtate, if we believe A. Wood, was likely to be given to dean Whit⯑tingham, ſo noted a Puritan, that he has many an ill word from that Oxonian, who however ſays of him, had he ſtirred in it, and made intereſt with his friend Robert, earl of Leiceſter, he might have obtained it.’ Bancroft, another ſuch rigid doctor as Whitgift, in a treatiſe of his, ſtiles Whittingham ‘the falſe, un⯑worthy dean of Durham, for taking upon him that deanry, when he was only maſter of arts, and, by the ſtatutes of the church at Durham, he ſhould have been a doctor or bachelor of divinity: With ſuch ſtraws are theſe men's heads ſtuffed. It gave alſo great offence, that he ſhould content himſelf with a Geneva ordi⯑nation, and for this they did not forbear injuring him, in ſaying he encouraged Knox and Goodman, in ſetting up ſedition in Scotland; for the ſettlement made by Knox in Scotland, was the reformed religion, and not ſedition. Dr Sandys, now archbiſhop of York, ſuſpecting that the gentle hand of Dr Pilkington, late biſhop of Durham, had given the Puritans too much encouragement in that dioceſe, reſolved to viſit it himſelf, Dr Barnes, the new biſhop, having complain⯑ed to him, of the number of non-conformiſts, whom he could not reduce to the orders of the church. But whatever his pretence was for this grand viſitation, the real deſign was ſuppoſed to be againſt Whittingham, whom Sandys valued not the more for having been a fellow exile with him in Germany, in the bloody reign of queen Mary. He was a divine of great learning, an admirer of Calvin and the church of Geneva, which the late honourable and reverend Dr Compton, biſhop of London, ſtiled his brethren, in a letter he wrote to them, and which the Laudeans treat with contempt or indignation, as ſchiſmatics. It ſeems dean Whittingham had only had Geneva ordination, which I believe as much, as that the ſun is now ſhining in a very fine day, is by the bulk of the inferior clergy, and younger academics, at this time looked upon to be no more an ordination than that of a veſtry would be. There were thirty-four other articles againſt him; but that was like an ignorant ruſtic's inſiſting to have a fellow hanged for ſtealing his gooſe, when he had juſt been convicted of burglary: The latter was ſufficient to hang him, and the gooſe afterwards not worth mentioning. If he was no prieſt, as archbiſhop Sandys urged, on account of his foreign ordination, that would have outed him of courſe, and then what ſignified the other roll of articles: But the dean, inſtead of anſwering the charge, ſtood by the rights of the church of Durham, and denied the archbiſhop's power of viſitation; upon which [148] the archbiſhop excommunicated him, that is, denied him the privilege and benefit of receiving the Lord's ſupper. The dean appealed to the queen, who directed a commiſſion to the archbiſhop, to the lord preſident of the North, and to the dean of York, to hear and determine the validity of his orders, and to enquire into the other miſdemeanors contained in the articles: The lord preſi⯑dent was a favourer of the Puritans, and Dr Hutton, dean of York, of Whit⯑tingham's principles, and boldly averred, that the dean was ordained in a better ſort than even the archbiſhop himſelf; ſo that the commiſſion came to nothing. Sandys, vexed at the diſappointment, and at calling in queſtion his right of viſi⯑tation, the reader ſees how it goes, the power, the denomination, the ſelf ever uppermoſt, obtained another commiſſion, directed to himſelf, to the biſhop of Durham, the lord preſident, (he muſt come after notwithſtanding his precedency) the chancellor of the dioceſe, and ſome others, whom he could depend upon, to viſit the church of Durham: The aim of Sandys and Barnes was to deprive Whittingham of his deanry, as a layman. When the dean appeared before the commiſſioners, he produced a certificate under the hands of eight perſons, for the manner of his ordination; upon which the lord preſident roſe up, and ſaid, I cannot in conſcience agree to deprive him for that cauſe only, for it will be ill taken by all the godly and learned, both at home and abroad, that we ſhould allow of the popiſh maſſing prieſts in our miniſtry, and diſallow of miniſters made in a reformed church; upon which the commiſſion was adjourned ſine die.— One cannot help obſerving here, how the noble and the wiſe abhorred perſecu⯑tion, and how enlarged their minds were in compariſon with the lordly eccle⯑ſiaſtics. Theſe proceedings of the archbiſhop againſt the dean were invidious, and loſt him his eſteem, both in city and county. Beſides the calling the dean's ordination in queſtion, was contrary to the ſtatute 13th Elizabeth, by which the ordinations of foreign reformed churches were declared valid; and thoſe that had no other orders, were made of like capacities with others, to enjoy any place of miniſtry within England. It is ſtrange the archbiſhop of York, and the biſhop of Durham, among other articles againſt the dean, did not think of that mentioned by Wood, the Oxonian, who doubtleſs thought it of the higheſt im⯑portance, which was, that he was only graduated maſter of arts, whereas the ſtatutes of the church of Durham required, that the dean ſhould be a bachelor of divinity^*. What trifles do they hoard up for treaſures! He is charged with hor⯑rid impieties by Wood, &c. &c. ſure I am that all theſe, and other the like im⯑pieties, as the Oxonian calls them, are in no degree ſo impious, as what himſelf ſays of that idolatrous monk Cuthbert's being brought to Durham, by the power and will of Almighty God, to ſet up a church full of idols, and prieſts almoſt as ſtupid as the wooden images they worſhipped ^†.’ The reader now hath both ſides of Mr Whittingham's character.

[149]The agreement entered into in Dean Skynner's time^*, touching an augmentation of the prebends, was confirmed on the 20th of November, 1573^†.

In 1577, the diſturbances between the chapter and their tenants, became ſo ſerious, as to require the interpoſition of the ſtate, and thereupon the queen's privy council in the north were ordered to hear the parties, and make determination thereon; on which occaſion an adjudication was made, as a perpetual ordinance to be obſerved between them ^‡

[150]Dean Whittingham died at Durham, on the 10th of June, 1579, and was interred [151] in the cathedral church: The inſcription^* given in the notes was placed upon his [152] monument, which, ſoon after its erection, met with the ſame fate as he had treated others.

THOMAS WILSON, LL. D.

was appointed dean on the 5th day of February next following Whittingham's death, and was inſtalled the 28th, by Ad. Holyday his proxy. He was born in Lincolnſhire, and elected a ſcholar in King's College, Cambridge, in the year 1541: Was tutor to Henry and Charles Brandon, dukes of Suffolk, and domeſtic chap⯑lain to Charles, and Katharine, his ducheſs, and afterwards to queen Catherine Parr^*. He was a voluntary exile in the time of queen Mary, and travelling to Rome in 1558, was put into the Inquiſition there, on a charge of hereſy, ſaid to be contained in his writings on logic and rhetoric: He ſuffered the torture, and would have been put to death on refuſing to deny his faith, had not a fire happened, which induced the populace to force open the priſon, that thoſe conſined might not periſh; by which accident he eſcaped^†. Queen Elizabeth made him maſter of the hoſpital of St Catherine, near the Tower, and maſter of requeſts; after which he became ſecretary of ſtate and privy-counſellor. He was on many occaſions ſent abroad as ambaſſador, and his reſidence as dean was much diſpenſed with^‡. After Whit⯑tingham's death, we hear no more of that vile character, the Augean ſtable, given to the cathedral church of Durham, in biſhop Barnes' writings. The dean died on the 16th of June, 1581, and was buried at St Catherine's. He wrote a much ap⯑proved book againſt uſury^‖.

The deanry continued vacant two years, and on the 31ſt of Auguſt, 1583,

TOBIAS MATTHEW,

rector of Biſhop-Weremouth, in this county^§, was appointed dean, then thirty-ſeven years of age. Strype ſpeaks of him thus^¶:—‘A great preacher, and a pious, holy man: This venerable prelate firſt entered into orders by the motion and counſel of Dr Calfhill, a learned dignitary of the church in thoſe times, and his couſin; though his father and mother, perſons of good quality, who ſeemed to be diſ⯑affected to religion, were not inclinable thereto, as I have ſeen in a letter of the ſaid Calfhill, ſoon after written to Sir William Cecil, That he was bound by all honeſt means to prefer his couſin, as well in reſpect of his rare abilities, as alſo for that he had followed his advice, in entering into the miniſtry, againſt the good will of father and mother, and other his able friends. Matthew was ſoon ſent for to court by the earl of Leiceſter, having been recommended to him by his ſaid kinſman; as alſo the ſaid ſecretary Cecil, who by ſoliciting the queen, obtained for him the deanry of Durham, though ſhe ſtuck a good while, becauſe of his youth and his marriage.— When he departed from court to Durham, Cecil, (now lord Burleigh) according to his grave and godly way, gave him much good counſel for his wiſe and good [153] behaviour of himſelf, and diſcharging of his duty in that place; and die next year ſent him a letter of the ſame import, by Mr. Tonſtal going down thither.’

Matthew anxiouſly ſolicited the lord-treaſurer to diſpatch him quickly to Durham, after he was appointed dean^*, as in caſe of his non-reſidence, twenty-one days be⯑fore Michaelmas, the whole crop of hay and corn, and other fruits, belonging to the tithe and glebe, appropriated to his deanry, would go to the prebendaries who did reſide^†. It ſeems the great men then in power had an eye to ſelfiſh gains, from eccleſiaſtical preferments, for the lord treaſurer ſought to obtain a leaſe of Pit⯑tington, from Dean Matthew, on which there were at that time two unexpired leaſes for long terms, which obliged the dean to draw an unfavourable picture of his poſſeſſions^‡. An attempt was made by Mr Carey, ſon to the lord Hunſdon, to diſ⯑ſeize the church of Billingham and Holme, part of the dean's corps, upon pretence of concealed lands, given to ſuperſtitious uſes; and a fuit was alſo projected by one Brackenbury, touching thoſe places.—Matthew was made Biſhop of Durham^‖ in 1594; and after a vacancy of two years,

WILLIAM JAMES

was appointed dean, on the 5th of June, 1596, and was inſtalled by Clement Col⯑more, his proxy: He was born at Sandbach, in Cheſhire; ſon of Mr John James, of Ore^§, in Staffordſhire, by Ellen his wife, of the family of Bolt, of Sandbach^¶: He was admitted ſtudent in Chriſt-Church, Oxford, in 1559, and took the degree in arts: Afterwards entering into holy orders, was admitted to the reading of the ſen⯑tences in 1571, being then divinity reader in Magdalen College. The next year, was elected maſter of Univerſity College; and on the 27th of Auguſt, 1577, became arch⯑deacon of Coventry: In 1584, was made dean of Chriſt-Church, Oxford; and in 1606, ſucceeded biſhop Matthew in the See of Durham^**. After him

ADAM NEWTON,

a Scotchman and a layman, obtained the deanry, and was inſtalled the 27th of Sep⯑tember, in the ſame year, by his proxy, Mr Ewbanke: He was tutor to prince Henry, eldeſt ſon of king James I. and wrote his life^††. Newton held the deanry till the year 1620, when a reſignation was made in conſideration of a large ſum of money^‡‡: About that time he was created knight and baronet: Was a man of learning, and wrote ſeveral things of note^‖‖. He died on the 13th of September, [154] 1626, and was interred at Charleton, near Greenwich, in Kent^*.—By the means before noted, a vacancy took place for the admiſſion of

RICHARD HUNT, D. D.

who was preſented on the 3d of May, admitted the 8th, and inſtalled the 29th of the ſame month, 1620^†. He had been rector of Fobſham; alſo vicar of Terrington, on the preſentation of king James I. 1603, and rector of the ſame place, on the pre⯑ſentation of Sir John Stanhope, knight, 1609^‡: Was made a prebendary in the ſecond ſtall of Canterbury cathedral, in the year 1613 or 1614^‖; and was chaplain to king James. In 1633, the dean and chapter petitioned the king, (then at Dur⯑ham) for a confirmation of their charters and endowments, as in the notes^§. The [155] dean died on the 1ſt of November, 1638, and was buried in the cathedral church of Durham, under the ſeat ſet apart for the prebendaries' wives: His epitaph was in⯑ſcribed on a tablet of wood, fixed to the adjoining pillar, which not being eſteemed ornamental, was taken down and thrown into the veſtry-room. Willis gives the in⯑ſcription as in the notes^*.

WALTER BALCANQUALL

was appointed dean, and inſtalled on the 14th of May, 1639 ^*. He was by birth a Scotchman; educated at Pembroke Hall, and there took the degree of bachelor in divinity: Was appointed the king's chaplain; and on the 16th of De⯑cember, 1617, made maſter of the Savoy, which he reſigned the ſucceeding year, in favour of the able, but deſultory Marc Antonio di Dominis, archbiſhop of Spalato, a refugee, in reward for his converſion to Proteſtantiſm: That year he was ſent to the ſynod of Dort, to repreſent the church of Scotland. In February, 1621, Marc Antonio left England, and recanted, whereupon Mr Balcanquall was re⯑ſtored to the maſterſhip of the Savoy: In 1624, having obtained naturalization^†, and taken the degree of doctor in divinity, he was inſtalled dean of Rocheſter on the 12th of March. A ſhort time after his becoming dean of Durham, thoſe com⯑motions aroſe in the ſtate, which forced him from his maſterſhip and deanry, when he was plundered, ſequeſtered, and obliged to fly for perſonal ſafety. The Scotch troops vented their ſpleen on the cathedral church; and defaced all the monuments in the nave: The dean fled to the king at Oxford, and afterwards ſhifted from place to place, to eſcape the fury of the rebels: Being the mark of much inveteracy, as they attributed to him the writing of the king's declaration, in 1639. His epitaph ex⯑preſſes, that he eſcaped from the ſiege of York, and in the extremity of a bad ſeaſon, through inexpreſſible danger, took refuge at Chirk Caſtle, in Denbighſhire; but ſinking under the fatigue of the journey, and ſeverity of the weather, died there on Chriſtmas-day, 1645, and was interred in the pariſh church of Chirk; where, ſome years afterwards, a ſmall mural monument was erected to his memory, by Sir Thomas Middleton, of Chirk Caſtle, at whoſe requeſt, Dr Pearſon, then biſhop of Cheſter, compoſed the epitaph ^‡.

[157]Diſputes ſubſiſted between the chapter and their tenants, when the dean firſt came to this church, which were laid before the council, and an order made there⯑on, dated the 11th March, 1639, which ſhews, that innovations were renewed, and freſh attempts had been made againſt the leaſeholders, which government would not encourage^*.

CHRISTOPHER POTTER, D. D.

was nominated in January 1645^†, to this deanry, but died in March following, and before he was inſtalled: He was born in the barony of Kendal, in Weſtmoreland; was educated in Queen's College, Oxford, and became a fellow thereof. In 1626, he ſuc⯑ceeded Dr Barnard Potter, his uncle, in the provoſtſhip of his college, and the next year proceeded in divinity. When Dr Laud became a favourite at court, he was in⯑duced to be his follower, and thereupon eſteemed an Arminian: In the latter end of the year 1635, then being chaplain in ordinary to the king, he was made dean of Wor⯑ceſter; [158] and in 1640, executed the office of vice-chancellor of Oxford, not without much trouble from the puritanical party: In the rebellion, he ſuffered much in the royal cauſe: Was a perſon greatly eſteemed by all who knew him, for learning and piety: Was exemplary in his manners and diſcourſe; of a courteous carriage, a ſweet and obliging temper, and a comely preſence ^*.

This period of time muſt not be paſſed over without obſerving, that archbiſhop Laud was very urgent for the eſtabliſhment of decent regulations in the church ſervice, and particularly for placing the communion table at the eaſt end of the church, and encloſing it with a rail, to ſecure it from profanation and common buſineſs: But in 1641, the commons interpoſing their authority in thoſe matters, the table was ordered to be removed, the rails taken away, the chancel levelled, ornaments to be diſuſed, as baſons, tapers, candleſticks, &c. and that bowing at the hallowed name, towards the eaſt, ſhould be forborn. In ſhort, the hour was come, when religious veneration was extinguiſhed, and ſlovenlineſs, diſorder, and irreve⯑rence, ſimilar to the rudeneſs of a Jewiſh ſynagogue, were tolerated in the churches^†.—On the 6th of March, 1645,

WILLIAM FULLER, D. D.

was appointed dean of Durham; but it is doubtful was never inſtalled: He was born at Hadleigh, in Suffolk, the ſon of Andrew Fuller; received his education in Cambridge, and was much noted for his learning, piety, and prudence: Was chaplain in ordinary to king James I. and king Charles I. and eſteemed an excellent preacher; having preached ſeveral times before the king at Oxford. In 1636, he was made dean of Ely, and had the vicarial church of St Giles, near Cripplegate, London.— ‘In the beginning of the rebellion, 1642, he was ſequeſtered from his church pre⯑ferment, impriſoned, and ſpoiled of all, for his loyalty to his prince, by the im⯑petuous and reſtleſs Preſbyterians ^*.’ After Oxford was ſurrendered, the dean retired to London, where he lived in obſcurity and poverty, in an advanced age, and full of ſorrows, till death releaſed him from miſery and fears, though not from perſecution; at the age of ſeventy-nine, he departed this life, on Holy Thurſday, the 12th of May, 1659; but the vengeance of thoſe days of confuſion followed him to the tomb, for his remains were denied interment in his own church of St Giles, ſo that his body was ſtolen to the grave, to the church of St Vedaſt, in Foſter⯑lane, where it reſts in the ſouth aile. His daughter Jane, (who married Dr Brian Walton, biſhop of Cheſter) on the reſtoration of peace and government to this country, cauſed a monument to be erected to his memory^†.

[160]In the Annals of the Biſhops are fully related, the circumſtances which befel this church during the uſurpation; and to which, for avoiding prolixity and repetition, we muſt refer the reader.

On the commiſſion of ſurvey, iſſued, relative to the poſſeſſions of the church, the commiſſioners returned the certificate into the regiſter office of the court of chan⯑cery at Durham, dated the 1ſt of October, 1649, ſtating the nature and tenure of the dean and chapter's lands^*.

[161]The year following dean Fuller's death

JOHN BARWICK, D. D.

was appointed to this deanry: He was born at Weatherſlake, in Weſtmorland, in the year 1612, was educated at Sedbergh ſchool, in Yorkſhire, and admitted of St John's College, Cambridge, in 1631, of which he became a fellow: Was incorpo⯑rated bachelor of divinity at Oxford, in February, 1661; and was chaplain to biſhop Morton, who, in 1645, collated him to a prebend in this church, and when that prelate fell in the political confuſion of the times, Dr Barwick was turned out of his fellowſhip and prebend: It is ſaid he aſſiſted Dr Hewitt in the melancholy duties of the ſcaffold; and was highly inſtrumental in king Charles II.'s reſtoration ^*. [162] On the king's return, he became doctor in divinity^*, and chaplain in ordinary to his majeſty; and in conſideration of his great ſufferings, impriſonment, and perſe⯑cution in the royal cauſe, had the deanry of Durham conferred on him, and was in⯑ſtalled on the 1ſt of November, 1660, by his proxy, Dr Carlton: He preached at the cathedral on the occaſion of Dr Coſins' election to the See: In the ſame year, he had the rich rectory of Houghton-le-Spring, which he held till December, 1661. Whilſt he held the deanry, he cauſed the cathedral and all the prebendal houſes to be repaired; erected the grammar-ſchool from the ground, and made it a nurſery of good literature. He brought water into the college, to ſupply the occaſions of all the prebendaries' houſes; reformed the manners of his clergy, and augmented the ſalaries of the poorer ſort; and did many other public acts for the benefit of his church^†. The chapter not only gave their conſent to all theſe matters, but did all in their power to promote them; yet they were ſo far from exacting in the fines on their leaſes, and were ſo beneficial to all the poor, that, in an age very little favourable to the clergy, they are mentioned with honour for their humanity, can⯑dour, and piety. Nay, in many caſes, they were ſo bountiful as to recede from their own right, in favour of their ſucceſſors, that the revenues of the church might deſcend to them with ſome augmentation.—Tempora mutantur!

On the 19th of October, 1661, he was removed from Durham, and made dean of St Paul's; and in the ſame year, on Dr Fearn's being made biſhop of Cheſter, was choſen prolocutor of the convocation, and held the ſame till his death, which hap⯑pened on the 22d of October, 1664, aet. 53. His remains were interred at St Paul's, and an elaborate epitaph was inſcribed on his monument^‡. He wrote and publiſhed many ſermons and other things, among which was the Life and Character of Dr Morton, before mentioned. Upon being informed of his intended removal from the deanry of Durham, he inſtantly put a ſtop to all leaſing of farms, (even ſome, where the fine had been already agreed upon between the chapter and the [163] tenants) that the revenue of the deanry might come more intire to his ſucceſſor, who was ſoon to take poſſeſſion of it^*. This and other acts of ſeverity, occaſioned the tenants to petition the king, ſetting forth their grievances, eſpecially a breach of thoſe ordinances which were made in the reign of queen Elizabeth^†. The peti⯑tion was referred to commiſſioners; an anſwer was given in by the dean and chap⯑ter, in 1662, and an interlocutory order was made in the matter; but whether any final determination was had, we cannot at preſent aſcertain^‡.

[164]On Dr Barwick's promotion,

JOHN SUDBURY, D. D.

ſucceeded to this deanry, and was inſtalled on the 25th of February, 1661. He was born at St Edmondſbury, and before his coming to the deanry, was one of the [165] prebendaries of Weſtminſter: He ſuffered all the diſtreſſes attending the diſtracted [166] ſtate of the church during the uſurpation, with great magnanimity and virtue of mind; retaining his loyalty, and ſupporting the clerical character with dignity and fortitude: Was a great benefactor to his native place; and ſhewed an exalted and munificent ſpirit while dean of Durham: He began to build the preſent library in the cloiſter where the refectory ſtood, and expended thereon 1500l. or as others ſay, 1000l. but died before it was completed: The vicarage houſe of Billingham, in this county, was built by him. The dean departed this life in the year 1684, aet. eighty, and was interred in the cathedral church, before the dean's ſtall in the choir: His tomb-ſtone was inſcribed with the epitaph given in the notes ^*. Poſſeſ⯑ſed [167] of a conſiderable eſtate, he deviſed the ſame to his nephew Sir John Sudbury^*; after his own death and that of his lady, it was limited to the dean's neice, who married Mr Tempeſt, of Old Durham, and with whom the dean gave a large portion.—He was ſucceeded by

DENIS GRANVILLE^†, D. D.

a younger ſon of the loyal and valiant Sir Bevil Granville, and brother to John, the firſt earl of Bath of that family. After a ſuitable education, in September, 1657, he was admitted a fellow commoner of Exeter College, in Oxford. On the 28th of September, 1660, was created maſter of arts; and ſoon after, marrying Anne, youngeſt daughter of biſhop Coſins, was collated by his lordſhip on the 16th of September, 1662, to the archdeaconry of Durham; and to the firſt prebend in the cathedral church, which he exchanged for the ſecond, April 16, 1668. He had alſo, of his gift, the rectories of Eaſington and Elwick; and in the room of the latter, the living of Sedgefield. But he took a very regular and exemplary care of them, in the due diſcharge of all miniſterial functions, as appears by the directions given to his curates, printed among his works, On the 20th of December, 1670, he was created doctor in divinity, being then chaplain in ordinary to his majeſty, as he had been for ſeveral years before; and on the 14th of December, 1684, was in⯑ſtalled dean of Durham. Thus poſſeſſed of ſuch great preferments, he might have long enjoyed them with much profit and honour to himſelf and friends; and have continued to be an ornament to his function, and a general benefit to the world: But ſome abſurd notions entertained of the unlimited extent of the prero⯑gative, together with his ſtrict adherence to the doctrines of paſſive obedience and non-reſiſtance, involved him in inextricable difficulties. For, poſſeſſed with the [168] indiſpenſableneſs of their obligation, upon the prince of Orange coming to reſcue this nation from the dangerous attempts made upon our religion and liberties, the dean oppoſed the meaſures taken for our common ſafety to the utmoſt of his power; by preaching, delivering charges to the clergy, ſending up an addreſs to king James, and ſubſcribing a ſum of money for his ſervice. And when all his endeavours proved ineffectual, he was ſo entangled with thoſe abſurd doctrines, that, rather than ſubmit to king William, he choſe to loſe his great preferments, and go into a voluntary exile; and, quitting Durham the 11th December, 1688, he arrived the 19th of March following, at Honfleur, in France. In February, 1689, he took a hazardous journey to England, whereby he got a ſmall ſupply of money, to ſubſiſt abroad. His brother, the earl of Bath, (who was warm in the intereſt of the prince of Orange) endeavoured for ſome time to ſecure his revenues; but as no con⯑ſiderations whatever could induce him to ſwear allegiance to king William and queen Mary, he was at length deprived of all his preferments, February 1, 1690. He not only refuſed himſelf, but likewiſe did all in his power to deter, or rather to terrify others from taking the oaths, by repreſenting the revolution as a rebellion and uſurpation. Having no proſpect, after the late king James's defeat in Ireland, of recovering his benefices, he repaired to the abdicated monarch's court, at St Germain; where, though he had reaſon to expect an uncommonly kind reception, yet, becauſe he was a proteſtant, he was ſoon obliged to retire, not only from court, but alſo from the town. 'Tis ſaid, that upon the death of Dr Lamplugh, he had the empty title of archbiſhop of York conferred upon him by king James. In 1695, he came incognito to England, where he found no encouragement to make any ſtay. Having for ſome years enjoyed but an indifferent ſtate of health, he died at his lodgings in Paris, the 8th of April, 1703, aged 64, and was buried at the lower end of the church-yard of the Holy Innocents in that city. His nephew, lord Lanſ⯑down, draws his character to great advantage in the following words:—‘Sanctity ſate ſo eaſy, ſo unaffected, and ſo graceful upon him, that in him we beheld the very beauty of holineſs. He was as chearful, as familiar, as condeſcending in his converſation, as he was ſtrict, regular, and exemplary in his piety; as well⯑bred and accompliſhed as a courtier, and as reverend and as venerable as an apoſtle. He was indeed apoſtolical in every thing, for he abandoned all to follow his lord and maſter.’ From this man's example, we may learn the great dan⯑ger and miſchief of propagating abſurd and unreaſonable doctrines. Since there will always be found ſome perſon or other, that will embrace and ſtiffly defend them, though never ſo much to their own, or others prejudice: All not being equally endowed with the ſame penetrating genius, or not having a yielding con⯑ſcience alike ^*.

THOMAS COMBER, D. D.

was inſtalled dean on the 15th of June, 1691, on the deprivation of Granville: He had his education in Sydney College, Cambridge; in 1677, was made prebendary [169] of York, and had the ſtall of Holme; and in 1681, was removed to the prebend of Fenton in that cathedral: In 1683, he was collated to the precentorſhip there, by archbiſhop Dolben: After the revolution, was made chaplain in ordinary to king William and queen Mary, and obtained the deanry of Durham by the recommen⯑dation of lord Fauconberg and archbiſhop Tillotſon^*: There was allowed him 160l. for dilapidations in his deanry, which was never received; yet he expended in re⯑parations about 400l. He departed this life on the 25th of November, 1699, aet. 55, and was interred at Stonegrave in Yorkſhire^†.

HON. JOHN MONTAGUE, D. D.

fourth ſon of the earl of Sandwich, was inſtalled the 19th June, 1699. In 1680, he was appointed maſter of Sherburn hoſpital, in this county. In 1683, he was made maſter of Trinity College; and in 1687, choſen vice-chancellor, and preben⯑dary of the fourth ſtall in Durham cathedral, and after of the eleventh. He died on the 23d of February, 1727, aet. 73, and was interred at Barnnoll, the burying place of the family.

On Dr Montague's deceaſe,

HENRY BLAND, D. D.

was appointed to this deanry, and inſtalled the 6th of May, 1728, by his proxy Mr Walter Oſtley: He was a native of Yorkſhire, and received the firſt rudiments of literature at Eton ſchool, where he contracted a friendſhip with Sir Robert Walpole: Was admitted ſcholar in King's College, Cambridge, in 1695, in which year Sir Robert alſo took his admittance: Was made rector of Harpley^‡, on the death of Dr Henry Colman, in the year 1715, by the preſentation of William Hookes, Eſq and Elizabeth his wife, which living he held to the time of his death: Was made chaplain to the king, and alſo of the royal hoſpital at Chelſea, in 1716; took his degree of doctor in divinity in 1717; and was appointed maſter of Eton ſchool 1719: On the 13th of December, 1723, was inſtalled canon of Windſor, and ad⯑mitted dean of Durham the 12th of March, 1727: In February, 1732, he reſigned his ſtall in Windſor, on being made provoſt of Eton College: Died at Eton on the 24th of May, 1746, and was interred in a vault in the antichapel there; leaving two ſons and three daughters.—To him ſucceeded

THE HON. SPENCER COWPER, D. D.

a ſon of lord chancellor Cowper: He was inſtalled on the 21ſt of July, 1746, by his proxy Mr Wadham Knatchbull: Was rector of Fordwich in Kent, and alſo one of the prebendaries of Canterbury, which he reſigned on this promotion: He died at [170] the deanry houſe on the 25th of March, 1774, aet. 62, and was interred in the eaſt tranſept of the cathedral church called the Nine Altars, where a monument is erect⯑ed to his memory^*.

THOMAS DAMPIER, D. D.

was inſtalled dean on the 17th of June, 1774: Was prebendary of Canterbury, which he exchanged for a canonry at [...]indſor. Inſtalled in the ſecond prebend at Dur⯑ham, the 20th of April, 1771; and exchanged it in March, 1773, for the maſterſhip of Sherburn hoſpital, wherein he was inducted the 10th of the ſame month, and af⯑terwards reſigned it in favour of his ſon, the preſent dean of Rocheſter. Died at Bath the 31ſt of July, 1777.

HON. WILLIAM DIGBY, LL. D.

dean of Worceſter, and canon of Oxford, was inſtalled dean of Durham the 20th of September, 1777, and now enjoys that dignity.

PREBENDARIES OF THE FIRST STALL^†.

EDWARD HYNDMERS, D. D. was nominated in the foundation charter: He was a Benedictine monk, and ſpiritual chancellor to biſhop Tunſtall; took his bachelor's degree at Oxford, 1513; made warden of Durham College about 1527, and pro⯑ceeded doctor in divinity in July, 1535. He died in 1543, and was ſucceeded by

JOHN CRAWFORD, or CRAWFORTH, D. D. who was preſented by king Henry VIII. the 7th of September, 1543^‡. Was vicar of Midford, in the county of Nor⯑thumberland, the 12th of June, 1546, which he reſigned before the 16th of July, [171] 1561. Was ſpiritual chancellor to biſhop Tunſtall, and probably held both his prebend and chancellorſhip till his death: He gave St Auguſtine's works, edition 1529, to the library. By his will, dated the 4th of January, 1561, he or⯑dered his body to be buried in St Michael's church, Witton, if he died there; otherwiſe, before Boulton's altar, in Durham cathedral, nigh the clock.

ROBERT SWYFT, LL. D. was collated the 28th of March, the mandate to induct him dated the 29th of March, and he was inſtalled the 8th of April, 1562. He was born at Rotheram, in Yorkſhire; educated at St John's College, Cambridge; ſtudied the law, and took his degrees at Louvain. Having obtained a fellowſhip in St John's, and being rector of Sedgefield, void by the deceaſe of dean Skynner, was ordained deacon and appointed prebendary by biſhop Pilkington, the 5th of Octo⯑ber, 1563, ad titulum eccleſiae ſuae de Sedgefield: Was ſpiritual chancellor during biſhop Pilkington's prelacy, and for a ſhort time after biſhop Barnes came to the See; and was rector of Sedgefield above forty years: He married Ann, daughter of Thomas Lever, maſter of Sherburn hoſpital; and departing this life about the year 1599, was interred under the organ loft of the cathedral church, on the north ſide of the choir door^*.

JAMES RAND, A. M. an. 1599, was prebend of Litchfield, and half brother to biſhop Neile; collated to Norton vicarage, the 29th of October, 1578: Reſigned his prebend the 4th of October, 1620, and died at Norton, where he was interred the 19th of November, 1621.

ROBERT NEWELL, D. D. was inſtalled the 20th of October, 1620: Was half brother to biſhop Neile, and his chaplain: He was a Cambridge man, but incorpo⯑rated doctor in divinity at Oxford, 1600: Was made treaſurer of Chicheſter the 25th of November, 1610: Prebendary in the ninth ſtall of Weſtminſter, 1613: Subdean of Lincoln, the 14th of May, 1613, which he quitted the ſame year: In⯑ſtalled archdeacon of Bucks, the 24th of April, 1614: Prebendary of Clifton, in Lincoln church, the 26th of April, 1614: Rector of Iſlip, in the county of Oxford, and of Crawley, in the county of Bucks; and had ſome preferments in Wincheſter cathedral, where he is ſuppoſed to be buried; having departed this life in the year 1643. He reſigned his prebend in 1638^†.

GABRIEL CLARK ^‡, D. D. was collated and inſtalled the 1ſt of Auguſt, 1638, being removed from the third ſtall in this church: He was of Chriſt-Church, Ox⯑ford, and chaplain to biſhop Neile: Was collated to the archdeaconry of Northum⯑berland, the 7th of Auguſt, 1619, which he reſigned two years after: Was collated [172] to the archdeaconry of Durham, the 11th of October, 1620, and to Elwick the 6th of September that year: Was made maſter of Gretham hoſpital, the 24th of July, 1624: Was inthroned as proxy for biſhop Coſins, but died before the biſhop made his firſt viſit the 19th of July, 1662: The 20th of May, 1637, was appointed by the chapter, with two others, (by letter of attorney) to proſecute their ſuits: The 4th of September, 1661, was choſen proctor to the convocation. He was prebendary here forty-two years in the whole, viz. in the ſixth ſtall three years, the third ſtall twelve years, and in this ſtall twenty-ſeven years; and it is very remarkable, was inſtalled the ſame day of the ſame month, into each prebend. He died at Durham the 10th of May, 1662, and was buried in the cathedral near the clock^*, being that year ſubdean.

DENNIS GRANVILLE, D. D. inſtalled the 24th of September, 1662; afterwards dean of Durham ^†.

THOMAS SMITH, D. D. was removed from the fourth prebend; collated the 21ſt of April, and inſtalled the 1ſt of July, 1668. He was born at Whitewall, in the pariſh of Aſhby, in Weſtmorland; was educated at Appleby ſchool, and thence ſent to Queen's College, Oxford, where he obtained a fellowſhip, and was employed as a tutor: Was nephew to Dr Barlow. Auguſt 2, 1660, he was created bachelor of divinity; and the 14th of November in that year, inſtalled a prebendary of Carliſle: In November or December following, obtained the degree of doctor in divinity by diploma: On the 23d of March, 16 [...]0, was made prebendary of Litchfield. During the rebellion he lived in retirement, in Cumberland, and there married. After the reſtoration, was made chaplain in ordinary to the king: On the 4th of March, 1671, was made dean of Carliſle; and in 1684, was elected to that biſhopric, and quitted his ſtall at Durham. He died at Roſe-caſtle, on the 12th of April, 1702, aet. 78^‡, and lies buried in the cathedral at Carliſle, before the high altar.

WILLIAM GRAHAM, D. D. was inſtalled the 16th of Auguſt, 1684 He was ſon of Sir George Graham, of Netherby, and younger brother of Richard, lord viſcount [173] Preſton: Was educated at Chriſt-Church, Oxford, where he took the degree of maſter of arts, the 11th of March, 1680, and was diplomated doctor in divinity, the 14th of June, 1686: Was chaplain in ordinary to the princeſs Ann of Denmark: Collated to the rectory of Whickham, and inducted therein the 10th of Auguſt, 1685: Inſtalled dean of Carliſle, the 23d of June, 1686, and of Wells the 28th of July, 1704. He died the 5th of February, 1711, and was buried at Kenſington^*.

JOHN BOWES, D. D. was removed from the fifth ſtall, collated the 1ſt of May, inſtalled the ſecond of that month, 1712: He was the fifth ſon of Thomas Bowes, of Streatlam-caſtle, Eſq and next brother to William Bowes, many years member in parliament for this county: Was rector of Elwick, 1701, but reſigned for the rectory of Biſhop-Weremouth, to which he was inducted the 6th of September, 1715. He expended in rebuilding and ornamenting his prebendal houſe, about 1000l. towards which he had an allowance of wood from the chapter, to the value of 250l. He died unmarried, the 14th of January, 1721.

THOMAS RUNDLE, LL. B. was preſented the 23d of January, and inſtalled the 14th of February, 1721, but quitted it the ſame year for the twelfth ſtall: Was of Exeter College, Oxford, where, on the 26th of June, 1710, he obtained a bachelor's degree, and on the 27th of July, 1723, that of doctor of laws: Was chaplain to biſhop Talbot, archdeacon of Wilts, and treaſurer of Sarum, in 1720: Was collated to the rec⯑tory of Sedgefield, 1722; and, in 1727, was made maſter of Sherburn hoſpital, both which he reſigned in 1735, on being conſecrated biſhop of Derry, in Ireland. He departed this life in April 1743^†.

THOMAS MANGEY, firſt LL. D. afterwards D. D. was removed from the fifth ſtall: Collated the 22d of December, and inſtalled the 16th of January, 1722: Was ſon of Arthur Mangey, a goldſmith, at Leeds; fellow of St. John's College, Cam⯑bridge, afterwards chaplain to Dr Robinſon, biſhop of London: He was deputy to Dr Lupton, as preacher at Lincoln's Inn, and chaplain at Whitehall: Was made rector of Ealing, in Middleſex, which he reſigned in 1754; had the living of Guild⯑ford, and was rector of St Mildred, Bread-ſtreet, London, to the time of his death. When Dr Robinſon, at the requeſt of biſhop Crew, conſecrated Sunderland church, on the 4th of September, 1719, Dr Mangey preached the ſermon, for which he was rewarded with a prebend in the cathedral church: He married one of the daughters of archbiſhop Sharpe^‡. When treaſurer of the chapter at Durham, he greatly advanced the fines upon the tenants, and improved the rents of his pre⯑bendal lands near 100l. a year. He died at Durham on the 6th of March, 1755, and was interred in the eaſtern tranſept of the cathedral church ^§.

[174]WILLIAM WARBURTON, D. D. was inſtalled by proxy, the 11th of April, 1755. He ſerved ſome years as clerk to an attorney at Newark upon Trent, and afterwards was a ſchoolmaſter^* there, but never received a univerſity education. ‘He was a great flatterer of Sir Robert Sutton, afterwards of archbiſhop Potter's ſon, and Mr Allen, of Prior Park, near Bath, whoſe niece he married, with a large portion^†.’ He was preacher of Lincoln's Inn, and was made dean of Briſtol in October, 1757: On the 20th of January, 1760, was conſecrated biſhop of Glouceſter at Lambeth, and had leave granted to hold this prebend and Briante Broughton rectory, in the county of Lincoln, in commendam: Was chaplain to king George II. He wrote much, particularly A Treatiſe on the Divine Legation of Moſes^‡.—After uſing Mr Pope very groſsly, in a letter to Dr Birch, by his power in the arts of adulation, he inſinuated himſelf at laſt ſo far into that poet's good opinion, that all his manuſcripts were left to his care. In 1768, he transferred the ſum of 500l. bank 4 per cent. annuities conſolidated, to Lord Mansfield, Judge Wilmot, and Mr Cha. Yorke, upon truſt for the purpoſe of founding a lecture in the manner of a ſermon, to prove the truth of revealed religion in general, and of the Chriſtian in particular, from the completion of the Prophecies in the Old and New Teſtament, relative to the Chriſtian church, eſpecially directed to arraign the apoſtacy of Rome. Biſhop [175] Warburton died at Glouceſter, the 7th of June, 1779, upwards of fourſcore years of age, and lies buried in the cathedral there ^*.

CHARLES COOPER, D D. was inſtalled the 30th of Auguſt, 1779: He was a prebendary of York, and now holds the rectory of Kirby-over-blow, in Yorkſhire.

PREBENDARIES OF THE SECOND STALL^†.

ROGER WATSON, D. D. a monk of this church, appointed May 12, 1541: He was inſtituted to the rectory of Rothbury, in Northumberland, the 2d of September, 1550; and to the vicarage of Pittington, the 25th of October, 1560 ^‡. Was ferrarius at the diſſolution of this houſe; and died in September, 1561. By his will, dated the 7th of that month, he ordered his body to be buried in the cathedral church, be⯑fore the choir door, as nigh Mr Caſtell, (formerly prior it is ſuppoſed) as might be convenient.

JOHN PILKINGTON, D. D. (frater et ſacellanus epiſcopi) collated the 1ſt of October, and inſtalled the 8th, 1561. He was born in Lancaſhire; ordained a prieſt by biſhop Grindal, the 25th of January, 1559, being maſter of arts, and [176] fellow of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge ^*. On the 5th of December, 1563, was col⯑lated archdeacon of Durham. He died in 1603, and was buried in this church without any monument.

JOHN BROWNE, A. M. 1603, reſigned the 1ſt of Auguſt, 1620.

AUGUSTIN LINDSELL, D. D. was removed from the tenth ſtall, and inſtalled here 5th of Auguſt, 1620. He was born at Burnſed, in the county of Eſſex; was a fellow of Clare Hall, and made a prebendary of Lincoln, the 6th of November, 1612, and Melſworth, in the county of Hants, and was collated to Houghton-le-Spring, by biſhop Neile the 7th of June, 1623; made dean of Litchfield in 1628, and elected biſhop of Peterborough, the 22d of December, 1632, when he reſigned his deanry: He was tranſlated to Hereford, the 7th of March, 1633, and died ſud⯑denly in his ſtudy ^†, the 6th of November, 1634, and was buried there ^‡. He com⯑poſed a regiſter of the church of Durham, which is cited in Reyner's Apoſtol. Benedict. Tract. I. p. 78.

JOHN WEEMES, A. M. was inſtalled the 7th of June, 1634: Was a Scotchman, and miniſter of Laythaker, in Scotland; promoted at the ſpecial recommendation of king Charles I. and was a learned writer in divinity: He died in the year 1636 ^‖.

JOSEPH NAYLOR, D. D. was collated the 10th of November, 1636: Was born at Wakefield, in Yorkſhire, fellow of Sidney College, Cambridge, and chaplain to biſhop Morton; was collated to the archdeaconry of Northumberland, the 25th of February, 1632, and to Sedgefield rectory, the 19th of January, 1634. He applied to Mr Lever, for his aſſiſtance in procuring the payment of the dues of the living of Sedgefield in Oliver's time, and afterwards wrote Mr Lever a warm letter of thanks for what he did therein ^§. On the 3d of May, 1661, he was choſen a proctor for the chapter, at the convocation of York: His prebendal houſe was in effect wholly [177] ruined, which he rebuilt and enlarged in 1662. He was the author of Additions to the Hiſtory of Biſhop Morton's Life, wrote by his father-in-law, R. Baddely, the biſhop's ſecretary ^*. Dr Naylor died the 6th of January, 1667, and was buried in the chancel of his church at Sedgefield ^†.

DENNIS GRANVILLE, A. M. removed from the firſt prebend, and inſtalled the 16th of April, 1668; afterwards was made dean ^‡.

Sir GEORGE WHELER, knight, and D. D. was collated the 1ſt, and inſtalled the 9th of December, 1684, by his proxy: Was deſcended of the family of Whelers, in Kent, and born at Breda, in Holland: Was of Lincoln College, Oxford, 1667, where he entered as a commoner, and afterwards as gentleman commoner, under the tuition of Dr Hicks: He obtained the degree of maſter of arts, 1683, but pre⯑vious thereto had travelled over the greateſt part of Greece: On his return, pre⯑ſenting a journal of his travels to king Charles II. was knighted. He took his doctor in divinity degree by diploma on the 18th of May, 1702: Held the vicarage of Baſingſtoke, in Hampſhire; was curate of Whitworth, in this county, 1703, rector of Winſton, 1706, of Houghton-le-Spring, 1709, and had the appointment of official to the dean and chapter of Durham: His temporal eſtate amounted to 1400l. a year, or thereabouts. He died on the 15th of January, 1723, aet. 74, and was interred at the weſt end of the nave of Durham cathedral, near the tomb of the Venerable Bede, where a handſome monument is erected to his memory ^‖.

MARTIN BENSON, A. M. was collated the 25th of January, and inſtalled the 5th of February, 1723, by his proxy, Mr Stonhewer, of Waſhington. He was of [178] Chriſt-Church, Oxford, and attended Lord Pomfret in his travels, as tutor: Was chaplain to king George II. 1727, a prebendary of Saliſbury, archdeacon of Berks, and rector of Blechley, in Bucks; was created doctor in divinity at Cambridge, in 1730, when the king viſited that univerſity, and was conſecrated biſhop of Glouceſ⯑ter, the 19th of January, 1734, being permitted to hold this prebend in commendam. He died at Glouceſter, on the 30th of Auguſt, 1752, and was buried in the cathe⯑dral there.

JAQUES STERN, LL. D. was collated to this prebend by king George II. it having fallen void during a vacancy of the See, by the death of biſhop Butler, and was in⯑ſtalled by proxy, the 31ſt of May, 1755. He was collated to the prebend of Abſ⯑thorpe, in York cathedral, and reſigned the ſame for Ulleſkelf, 1731: Was made precentor of York, the 24th of November, 1735; afterwards canon reſidentiary and prebendary of Driffield, and chaplain to archbiſhop Blackburn, by whom he was collated to the archdeaconry of Cleveland, the 24th of November, 1735, which he reſigned for that of the Eaſt Riding, April 1750. He was alſo rector of Riſe, and vicar of Hornſea cum Riſton, both in the Eaſt Riding: On being preſented to this ſtall, he reſigned the archdeaconry of the Eaſt Riding: Died at his houſe in York, the 9th of June, 1759, and was buried at Riſe^*.

WILLIAM MARKHAM, LL. D. maſter of Weſtminſter ſchool, was inſtalled the 20th of July, 1759. Was of Chriſt-Church, Oxford, where he took a maſter of arts degree, the 20th of March, 1745; on the 20th of November, 1752, a degree of bachelor of civil law, and on the 24th of the ſame month, a doctor's degree was ob⯑tained. In the month of January, 1764, he quitted the maſterſhip of Weſtminſter ſchool: In February, 1765, was made dean of Rocheſter: Was chaplain to king George II. and king George III. and vicar of Boxley, in Kent. On the 12th of October, 1767, he was promoted to the deanry of Chriſt-Church, in Oxford; con⯑ſecrated biſhop of Cheſter in January 1771, and in the ſucceeding month, was ap⯑pointed preceptor to the Prince of Wales: In 1777 he was tranſlated to the arch⯑biſhopric of York.

[179]THOMAS DAMPIER, D. D. was inſtalled the 20th of April, 1771: He was canon of Windſor. In 1773, he reſigned this ſtall for the maſterſhip of Sherburn hoſpital, and ſucceeded to the deanry of Durham in 1774 ^*.

HENRY EGERTON, D. D. brother to the preſent lord biſhop of Durham, ſucceed⯑ed to this ſtall in the year 1773. He was rector of Whitchurch, in the county of Salop, archdeacon of Derby, reſidentiary of Litchfield, and prebend of Holme, in York cathedral, which he reſigned in May 1773. He now holds the rectory of Biſhop-Weremouth, in this county.

PREBENDARIES OF THE THIRD STALL^†.

THOMAS SPARKE, B. D. appointed by the foundation charter, May 11, 1541. He was of Durham College, Oxford, and took his bachelor of divinity's degree in 1528, being at that time prior of the cell of Lindisfarne: In the year 1529, he left the univerſity cum pannis ſuis, to come to the monaſtery of Durham, and was cham⯑berlain there at the diſſolution. He was conſecrated ſuffragan biſhop of Berwick, June 1537, in which dignity he continued during the remainder of his life; the royal mandate to archbiſhop Lee for his conſecration, bears date the 12th of June, 1537, and the 20th of June following, biſhop Tunſtall empowered him to exerciſe his chorepiſcopal authority through the whole dioceſe of Durham; and likewiſe granted him, by letters patent under his palatine ſeal, an annuity of forty pounds out of his manor of Auckland, to be paid half yearly, until he ſhould be preſented to an eccleſiaſtical benefice of the yearly value of fifty pounds: He was collated to Gretham hoſpital September 6, 1541, and to Wolſingham rectory the 14th of June, 1547; and departed this life in the year 1571. Though by his will, dated the 25th of January, 1563, he ordered his body to be buried in Durham cathedral, before our Lady's or Houghwell's altar, yet he was interred in the choir of Gretham chapel, near the ſepulchre of William Eſtfield, a former maſter there.

JOHN FOX, A. M. the martyrologiſt, was collated the 2d of September, and in⯑ſtalled the 14th of October, 1572. This perſon, averſe to the habits of the church of England, which were here kept up in great ſtrictneſs, quitted his ſtall within the year, probably on that account: He was born at Boſton, in the county of Lincoln: Was fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, and took the degree of maſter of arts in 1543. Holland ſays he never had any eccleſiaſtical preferment; and Wood, that he was only prebend of Shipton ^‡, in Saliſbury, and vicar of St Giles', Cripplegate. He wrote [180] an epitaph on biſhop Pilkington, his benefactor: Died the 18th of April, 1587, aet. 70, and was buried in the chancel of his vicarial church of St Giles ^*.

ROBERT BELLAMY, M. D. was inſtalled the 13th of October, 1573: Was of St John's College, Oxford, and admitted doctor in phyſic the 23d of June, 1571; was collated to Eggleſcliff, in this county, the 6th of February, 1577; inſtituted to Whalton, in Northumberland, the 9th of Auguſt, 1579, which he reſigned: Was collated rector of Houghton, the 25th of January, 1584; and was chaplain to biſhop Barnes. He quitted his prebend and Houghton living for Sherburn hoſpital, to which he was collated in November 158 [...], and died poſſeſſed thereof in 1606.

ROBERT HUTTON, B. D. was inſtalled the 13th of December, 1589: Was ſenior fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge; and collated to Houghton le-Spring, the 4th of December, 1589, where he purchaſed an eſtate, and built a houſe, now poſſeſſed by his deſcendants: He was younger brother to biſhop Matthew Hutton, and mar⯑ried a daughter of biſhop Pilkington: Was proſecuted in the high commiſſion court in 1621, for reflecting, in a ſermon preached at the cathedral, on the king, the biſhop, the church and its ceremonies. He died at Houghton in 1623, and lies buried in the choir of the church there ^†.

GABRIEL CLARK, A. M. inſtalled the 1ſt of Auguſt, 1623, was removed to the firſt ſtall^‡.

JOHN NEILE, A. M. afterwards D. D. was collated the 1ſt of Auguſt, 1635: Was nephew to the biſhop. On the 27th of October, 1638, he was made archdeacon of Cleveland; the 20th of September, 1660, prebendary of Strenſhall, in York cathe⯑dral; inſtituted vicar of Northallerton, the 2d of May, 1669, and appointed dean of Ripon in May, 1674. He was rector of Beeford, in Holderneſs, and exchanged for Sigſton near Northallerton; in 1661, was prolocutor in the convocation at York, when the common prayer book was reviſed. He died the 14th of April, 1675, and was buried at Ripon ^§.

THOMAS MUSGRAVE, D. D. was inſtalled the 12th of July, 1675. He was of Queen's College, Oxford; and on the 5th of May, 1662, took the degree of maſter of arts, and bachelor and doctor in divinity in October, 1685: Was collated to the archdeaconry of Carliſle, the 25th of March, 1668, and to the third ſtall in that church, 1669: On the 22d of Auguſt, 1675, was collated to the rectory of Whit⯑burn, in this county: In 1676, he reſigned his prebend in Carliſle cathedral, and the 13th of October, 1684, was admitted dean there. He departed this life the 28th of March, 1686, and was buried in the cathedral church at Durham, near the clock ^‖.

[181]JOHN CAVE, A M. was inſtalled the 15th of May, 1686: He was ſon of John Cave, vicar of Great Milton, in Oxfordſhire, and educated at Tame ſchool: In 1654 he was of Magdalen College; on the 24th of September, 1660, was choſen a fellow of Lincoln College; and on the 30th of April, 1661, had a degree of maſter of arts: He was chaplain to biſhop Crew, had the rectory of Gateſhead, and ex⯑changed with Mr Richard Werge, for Nailſton, in Leiceſterſhire; alſo held the rectory of Cole Orton, in that county, where he died in the month of October, 1690, aet. 52, and was interred there^*.

SAMUEL EYRE, D. D. was inſtalled the 10th of November, 1690. He was of Lincoln College, Oxford, and on the 8th of July, 1687, took his degree of doctor in divinity: In April 1686, he was collated to the rectory of Whitburn. Died in 1694, and lies buried in the cathedral church at Durham, near Dr Swyfte, on the north ſide of the choir door, under the organ-loft^†.

JAMES FINNEY, D. D. was inſtalled on the 27th of November, 1694: Was of St John's College, Oxford; on the 5th of July, 1676, took a maſter of arts degree; and on the 14th of April, 1698, was diplomated doctor in divinity. He held the vicar⯑age of Kirklington, belonging to the college, and was chaplain to lord Burlington: In the year 1689, was made prebendary of Huſthwaite, in the church of York, and was rector of Long Newton, in this county, in 1690, and built the parſonage houſe, which coſt him 700l. afterwards had the rectory of Ryton, alſo in this county, and built an elegant houſe there, which coſt him about 1200l. On taking this ſtall he reſigned the prebend of Huſthwaite; died on the 10th of March, 1726, and was buried in the eaſtern tranſept of this church ^‡.

THOMAS SECKER, A. M. was collated the 3d of June, and inſtalled, by proxy, the 16th, 1727. He was born in 1693, at Sibthorp, in Nottinghamſhire; took the de⯑gree of doctor in phyſic at Leyden, in March 1721, and in April following, became a gentleman commoner of Exeter College, Oxford: Was ordained deacon, being bachelor of arts in 1722, in which year he was chaplain to biſhop Talbot: On the 12th of February, in the ſame year, he was collated to Houghton-le-Spring: On the 4th of February, 1723, he took his maſter of arts degree; and on the 17th of June, [182] 1727, was inducted to Ryton rectory; and in July, 1733, took his doctor's degree in law at Oxford, having in the preceding month of May been inſtituted to the rectory of St James's, Weſtminſter, when he reſigned Ryton. On the 19th of January, 1734, he was conſecrated biſhop of Briſtol; and on the 13th of April, 1737, was tranſlated to the See of Oxford: He was inſtalled prebend of Purpool, and then dean of St Paul's, the 11th of December, 1750: Held this prebendary in commendam with his biſhoprics, but reſigned it, and the rectory of St. James, on his receiving the deanry: In April, 1758, he was confirmed archbiſhop of Canterbury; died on the 3d of Auguſt, 1768, aet. 75 ^*; and was buried in the paſſage from the garden door of his palace to the north door of his church at Lambeth, and forbad any monument or epitaph to be placed for him any where.

THOMAS CHAPMAN, D. D. was preſented by the king ſede vacante, and inſtalled the 1ſt of January, 1750. Was the ſon of John Chapman, of Billingham, in this county, where he was born ^†: Was educated at Richmond ſchool, in Yorkſhire; en⯑tered of Chriſt College, Cambridge, and became fellow thereof: In 1746 was maſter of Magdalen College, and on the 4th of November, 1748, was appointed vice chan⯑cellor: He was chaplain to king George II. In 1749, was rector of Kirby-over-blowers, in Yorkſhire: In 1758, was appointed official to the dean and chapter of Durham; and on the 9th of June, 1760, departed this life at Cambridge, aet. 43, and was buried in the college chapel there^‡.

THOMAS BURTON, D. D. was inſtalled the 18th of Auguſt, 1760, and was re⯑moved to the twelfth prebend: Was the ſon of Dr Thomas Burton, of Chriſt-Church, where he was ſtudent, and obtained a maſter of arts degree on the 28th of June, 1731: Was vicar of St Mary's, Oxford, and reſigned for the rectory of Bats⯑ford, in Glouceſterſhire: Was prebendary of Glouceſter, and archdeacon of St David's. He died the 17th of July, 1767, at Batsford.

GIDEON MURRAY, D. D. was inſtalled the 20th of Auguſt, 1761: Was the ſecond ſon of lord Elibank, in Scotland; was of Baliol College, Oxford, where, on the 6th of June, 1735, he obtained a maſter of arts degree: Was prebendary of Lincoln, and vicar of Gainſborough, in Lincolnſhire, which he reſigned, and after⯑wards had the rectory of Carlton, in Nottinghamſhire. He died at London in the month of June, 1778.

RICHARD FAWCETT, D. D. was inſtalled the 13th of July, 1778: He was the ſon of an eminent counſellor, recorder of the city of Durham, and had his education at the grammar ſchool there: He was fellow of Corpus-Chriſti College, Oxford; had the rectory of Gateſhead, and maſter of K. James's hoſpital there; chaplain in or⯑dinary to king George II. and III. and vicar of St Nicholas', in Newcaſtle upon Tyne. He died at Durham, the 29th of April, 1782, and was interred in the cathedral, near to dean Cowper.

[183]HENRY CHAYTOR, LL. D. ſecond ſon of Henry Chaytor, of Croft, in the county of York, Eſq. Had his education at Appleby ſchool, in Weſtmoreland, and af⯑terwards entered of Magdalen College, Cambridge, and became fellow of that ſo⯑ciety. In 1759, was preſented by his father to the vicarage of Kirkby-Stephen, in Weſtmoreland: In 1767, took his doctor's degree: In 1773, preſented to the vicar⯑age of Catterick; and in 1778, to the rectory of Croft, by the king. He reſigned Kirkby-Stephen, and had his ſtall conferred on him by the preſent biſhop of Dur⯑ham, the 24th of July, 1782, and was inſtalled the ſame day.

PREBENDARIES OF THE FOURTH STALL^*.

WILLIAM BENNET, D. D. a monk of Durham on the foundation, the 12th of May, 1541. He was collated to Kellow vicarage the 4th of March, 1547, but re⯑ſigned the ſame, together with his prebend, in the ſame year, and retired to Aycliff vicarage, where he died, and was buried the 20th of February, 1583^†.

HENRY NAUNTON, A. M. rector of Eggleſcliff, in this county, was inſtalled on the 3d of November, 1579. He was inſtituted to Gainford church, alſo in this county, the 27th of October, 1575, and was collated to Bedlington, in Northum⯑berland, on the 14th of April, 1581. The time of his death is uncertain, he was buried in Durham cathedral, near to chancellor Swyfte.

EMANUEL BARNES, D. D. was removed from the fifth prebend to this ſtall, in the year 1607. He was a near relation to biſhop Barnes, and was collated to the rectory of Houghton-le-Spring, on the 5th of March, 1583. In 1587, was rector of Wolſingham^‡: He had the prebend of Fenton, in York cathedral, and the rectory of Craike; and died in the year 1614.

PETER SMART, A. M. was removed from the 6th prebend to this ſtall, the 10th of July. 1614. He was born in Warwickſhire, a miniſter's ſon: Was educated at Weſtminſter ſchool, a batteler at Broadgate Hall, aet. 19, in the year 1588, in which year he was elected a ſtudent in Chriſt-Church, Oxford, and on the 9th of July, 1595, took the degree of maſter of arts: He was maſter of Durham ſchool in 1598, [184] was ordained deacon and prieſt the 30th of November, 1609, and was chaplain to biſhop James, by whom he was collated the 30th December, 1609, to the ſixth prebend in this church: In the year 1614, he had the rectory of Bolden, and was appointed maſter of Gateſhead hoſpital, the 2d of March, 1612. Biſhop James was inſtrumental in promoting him to be one of the high commiſſioners for the pro⯑vince of York. On the 7th of July, 1628, he preached in the cathedral that ſeditious ſermon, whereof we have given an extract in the life of biſhop Coſin, (vol. i. p. 534) and for which he was degraded and diſpoſſeſſed of all his eccleſiaſtical preferments, and fined five hundred pounds, for the non-pay⯑ment of which he ſuffered eleven years impriſonment in the King's-Bench, and at length was ſet at liberty by the Houſe of Commons in 1640. He was in London the 31ſt of October, 1648, as appears by the date of one of his let⯑ters. On Dr Carr's death, who ſucceeded to this ſtall on his deprivation, he was reſtored to his prebend by the Lords, and lived to the year 1652, or near it, having paſſed his 82d year. At the like inſtance of the Lords, he was preſented by the dean and chapter to Aycliff, the 20th of November, 1641, but refuſed; petitioning, it might be given to one Carwardine, who enjoyed it a conſiderable time^*.

THOMAS CARR, D. D. was inſtalled the 30th of March, 1631. He was born in Yorkſhire, and educated partly at Peterhouſe, and tranſlated to Jeſus' College, Cam⯑bridge: Was inſtituted the 7th of April, 1632, to the vicarage of Aycliff: Was chaplain to Thomas earl of Strafford, and attended him on the ſcaffold when be⯑headed; [185] by his intereſt the doctor was preferred to the rectory of Hugge [...], in the county of York. He was ſequeſtered, and went beyond ſeas in the time of the re⯑bellion, and died at Leghorn after the Reſtoration, in his way to England, where he was honourably interred by the duke of Tuſcany. Brown Willis ſays, ‘I met with the will of Dr Thomas Carr, dated the 13th of July, and proved the 13th of November, 1641, in which he gives his wife his effects at Aycliff, with orders to be buried in the Black Friars, London^*.’

JOHN BARWICK, B. D. about 1642, was removed from the eighth prebend, but never inſtalled: Was made dean of Durham^†.

THOMAS SMITH, D. D. prebendary of Litchfield, was inſtalled the 20th of July, 1661; and in 1668 was removed to the firſt ſtall ^‡. Was preſented alſo by king Charles II. in majorem corroborationem tituli.

JOHN DURELL, D. D. was collated the 21ſt of April, and inſtalled by proxy, the 1ſt of July, 1668. He was born in Jerſey, was of Merton College, Oxford, re⯑tired to France, and took a maſter of arts degree at Caen, in Normandy: Was or⯑dained at Paris, by the biſhop of Galloway, at the chapel of the Engliſh reſident: In the year 1661, he was one of the French preachers in the Savoy chapel: In 1663, was made prebendary of Northaulton, in the church of Sarum, and chaplain to the king; in the next year, was made prebendary of Windſor, and on the 26th of July, 1677, was appointed dean there, and had the rectory of Witney, in the county of Oxford. He died on the 8th of July, 1683, aet. 58, and was buried at Windſor. His wife tranſlated the Whole Duty of Man into French. His ſon was a brigadier general and governor of Dunkirk ^§.

JOHN MONTAGUE, D. D. was inſtalled the 10th of November, 1683: Was maſter of Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1683, which he reſigned, and was made maſter of Sherburn hoſpital; in 1692, was removed to the eleventh prebend; and afterwards, in 1699, made dean of Durham^‖.

THEOPHILUS PICKERING, D. D. was inſtalled by proxy, the 3d of June, 1692. He was the 7th ſon of Sir Gilbert Pickering, of Tichmarſh, in the county of North⯑ampton, baronet, and born the 10th of May, 1663: Was fellow of Sidney College, Cambridge, 1687; chaplain to lord Crew, the 13th of November, 1690; rector of Gateſhead, the 5th of December, 1695, and of Sedgefield, the 31ſt of Auguſt, 1705, where he died the 20th of March, 1710, and was interred in the chancel of that church ^¶. He quitted this prebend for the eleventh ſtall.

[186]PHILIP FALLE, A. M. was inſtalled the 1ſt of February, 1699: Was born in the iſland of Jerſey, of which he wrote the hiſtory, in 1694, much quoted by biſhop Gibſon, and greatly enlarged and reprinted in 1734. He was a commoner of Exeter College, in Michaelmas term, 1669, aged 14; and took a maſter of arts de⯑gree at Albion-hall, the 8th of July, 1676: Was miniſter of St Saviour's, in Jerſey, and rector of Shenley, in Hertfordſhire, at which latter place he built an elegant houſe, which coſt him 1000l. At the Revolution, he was ſent by the ſtates of the iſland of Jerſey to king William and queen Mary, and by them was recommended to a prebend in Durham. The golden prebend was then vacant; but the biſhop removed Dr Pickering to it, and gave Dr Falle this ſtall, of which he afterwards complained. The repairing of the prebendal houſe coſt him 200l. He died at Shenley, in the year 1742, aet. 87, and left his excellent library, (except a collection of ſacred muſic, which he gave to the library at Durham) to the iſland of Jerſey ^*.

JAMES GISBURN, A. M. was collated the 22d of May, 1742, and inſtalled the 21ſt of July following. He was born at Loughborough, in Leiceſterſhire; was of Jeſus' College, Cambridge, and afterwards obtained a fellowſhip in Queen's College. He had the rectory of Stavely, in Derbyſhire, by the gift of lord James Cavendiſh; and departed this life on the 7th of September, 1759, aet. 72.

JAMES DOUGLAS, D. D. was inſtalled the 11th of October, 1659, being removed from the fifth ſtall. He was by birth a Scotchman, of the Tiviotdale family; was educated at Eton, and an exhibitioner of Baliol College, Oxford: Had a ſmall living near Bridgewater; afterwards was vicar of Kellow, 1735, and rector of Long Newton, 1742, which he reſigned for this prebend, and the rectory of Great Stain⯑ton, in this county; was alſo curate of Witton Gilbert. He departed this life on the 29th of July, 1780, and was interred in the eaſtern tranſept of Durham cathedral.

FRANCIS EGERTON, A. M. ſecond ſon of the preſent biſhop of Durham, was in⯑ſtalled the 13th of November, 1780. He was made rector of Whitchurch in February, 1781.

PREBENDARIES OF THE FIFTH STALL^†.

WILLIAM TODD, D. D. by the foundation the 12th of May, 1541. He was ad⯑mitted doctor at Oxford, the 13th of April, 1537; was vicar of Northallerton, in [187] the county of York, 1553, and reſigned the ſame the 5th of September, 1561: Was alſo archdeacon of Bedford: He was deprived of this prebend in the year 1567, for which no reaſon appears in the authorities before us ^*.

RALPH LEVER, A. M. was collated the 14th of October, and inſtalled the 17th, 1567. He was admitted ſcholar in King's College, Cambridge, from Eton ſchool, 1558, and took the degree of doctor in divinity, in St John's College, 1577: Was tutor to Walter earl of Eſſex, in 1564; was collated to Waſhington in 1565, and to the archdeaconry of Northumberland, the 21ſt of Auguſt, 1566, which he reſigned in 1573: He was collated to the rectory of Stanhope, the 17th of November, 1575, and to Sherburn hoſpital, the 16th of July, 1577: Was chaplain to biſhop Pilking⯑ton, and one of the commiſſaries for the dean and chapter in the conſiſtory, upon the vacancy of the See, by the death of that prelate. He was a troubleſome non-confor⯑miſt, and very diſobedient to his patron in trifles and ſrivolous matters. He died in 1585 ^†.

EMANUEL BARNES, D. D. was inſtalled the 29th of July, 1585. He was pre⯑ſented to this prebend by Robert Tailbois, gentleman, patron inter alios pro hac vice tantum, the 26th of July, 1585, and was admitted by the biſhop on the 27th: Was removed to the fourth ſtall^‡.

JOHN CALFHILL, A. M. was preſented on the reſignation of Barnes. He was chaplain to biſhop Matthew, and was inducted to Redmarſhall, in this county, in July, 1599, where he died, and was buried in 1619. By the regiſter of dean James, it appears that Henry Naunton was vicar of Bedlington, and that Thomas Colmore was preſented to that vicarage by the dean and chapter, the 23d of Auguſt, 1603; therefore it is probable, that Barnes ſucceeded Naunton in the 4th ſtall that year, and conſequently Calfhill ſucceeded Barnes in this ſtall the ſame year ^‖

JOHN CRADOCK, A. M. was collated tho 7th of Auguſt, and inſtalled the 18th, 1619. He was collated to the archdeaconry of Northumberland in the year 1619, and reſigned it the 6th of Auguſt the ſame year, being appointed the biſhop's ſpiri⯑tual chancellor, and vicar general that day. Was preſented to Northallerton, the 23d of February, 1624, and had the rectory of Gainford, in this county, and vicarage of Woodhorn, in Northumberland, at which latter place he died in 1627, and was buried in the church there. There was a complaint againſt him [188] in parliament for extortion ^*. He died by poiſon, for which his wife was accuſed and tried, but was acquitted ^†.

ELEAZAR DUNCAN, B. D. was inſtalled the 8th of January, 1627. He was of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge; had a fellowſhip, and, in 1633, obtained a degree of doctor in divinity. He was ordained deacon by biſhop Laud, the 13th of March, 1624 ^‡; and received prieſt's orders from biſhop Neile, the 24th of September, 1626, whoſe chaplain he was. On the 13th of November, 1629, was inſtalled a preben⯑dary of Wincheſter; on the 1ſt of May, 1640, prebendary of Knareſborough, in York cathedral; and on the 10th of April, 1633, was collated to the rectory of Haughton, near Darlington, in this county. He was chaplain to king Charles I. and died in exile, 1649 or 1650 ^§.

THOMAS DALTON, D. D. was promoted by king Charles II. and inſtalled the 2d of November, 1660: Was rector of Berwick, in Elmet, in the county of York, and of Dallam, in the dioceſe of Ely. He reſigned this prebend.

THOMAS CARTWRIGHT, D. D. on Dalton's reſignation, was collated the 6th of November, 1672, by king Charles II. the See being vacant, and was inſtalled the 15th of the ſame month. He was the ſon of Thomas Cartwright, of Broxwood, in Eſſex, and was born at Northampton, the 1ſt of September, 1634: Was firſt of Magdalen College, then of Queen's College, Oxford; had the vicarage of Waltham⯑ſtow, in Eſſex; was preacher of Mary Magdalen, in Milk-ſtreet, London; vicar of Barking, in Eſſex; miniſter of St Thomas the Apoſtle, London; a prebendary of Weſtminſter, and of Twiford, in St Paul's; alſo prebendary of Shalford, in Wells; chaplain in ordinary to the king, and dean of Ripon. He was eccleſiaſtical com⯑miſſioner, and one of the delegates to enquire into the affairs of Magdalen College. To conclude all his eccleſiaſtical promotions, in the year 1686, he was conſecrated biſhop of Cheſter. At the Revolution he fled into France, and came with king James into Ireland, where he departed this life on the 15th of April, 1689, at the city of Dublin, aet. 55 ^‖, and was interred in Chriſt-Church.

CONSTANS JESSOP, D. D. was inſtalled the 15th of November, 1686, deſcended from Conſtantine Jeſſop, a remarkable preſbyterian preacher: On the 27th of June, 1666, he obtained a degree of maſter of arts in Magdalen College, Oxford, and on the 4th of June, 1685, that of bachelor and doctor in divinity. He had the rectory [189] of Brington, in the county of Northampton, where he died, and was interred, on the 10th of March, 1695, aet. 55 ^*.

JOHN BOWES, D. D. was inſtalled the 21ſt of April, 1696, and was removed to the firſt ſtall ^†.

NATHANIEL ELLISON, D. D. was collated the 30th of September, and inſtalled the 1ſt of October, 1712: Was of Edmund's-hall, Oxford, and from thence choſen fellow of Corpus-Chriſti College; on the 22d of February, 1678, he obtained the degree of maſter of arts; and on the 7th of May, 1702, that of bachelor and doctor in divinity: Was made archdeacon of Stafford, the 14th of July, 1682 ^‡, collated to the vicarage of Newcaſtle, 1694, and rector of Whitburn, 1704. He died at New⯑caſtle, in May 1721, aet. 63, and was interred in St Nicholas' church there ^§.

THOMAS MANGEY, LL. D. was inſtalled the 20th of May, 1721, and removed to the firſt ſtall ^‖.

JONATHAN HALL, A. M. afterwards D. D. was inſtalled the 21ſt of January, 1722. He was the ſon of John Hall, a draper and alderman of Durham: Was a fellow of St John's College, Cambridge, where, from his mean principles, he be⯑came diſagreeable to the ſociety, and, in order to get rid of his company, they pre⯑ſented him to the rectory of Cockfield, in the county of Suffolk: He was chaplain to the lord Cadogan, when ambaſſador to the States-General, and chaplain to the garriſon at Berwick. He died, after a long illneſs, on the 12th of June, 1743, and was privately interred in the eaſtern tranſept of this cathedral, without any monument, though it is ſaid he left his nephew 20,000l.

ROBERT STILLINGFLEET, A. M. afterwards D. D. was inſtalled the 20th of July, 1743, was the ſon of Dr Stillingfleet, dean of Worceſter, and grandſon of the great biſhop Stillingfleet: Was of Wadham College, Oxford, where he took a maſter of arts degree, the 1ſt of July, 1729, and bachelor and doctor in divinity the 6th of [190] May, 1748: He was chaplain to biſhop Talbot, and afterwards to biſhop Chandler: He was collated, in 1731, to the rectory of Gateſhead, to Ryton in 1732, and was made maſter of Sherburn hoſpital in 1738, and held the ſame, with this prebend, to the time of his death, which happened at Briſtol, on the 3d of Auguſt, 1759 ^*.

JAMES DOUGLAS was inſtalled the 17th of Auguſt, 1759, and was removed to the fourth ſtall ^†.

SAMUEL TERRICK, A. M. inſtalled the 8th of December, 1759. He was ſon of Samuel Terrick, prebendary of York, the elder brother of biſhop Terrick, and was of Clare Hall, Cambridge. He died ſuddenly at Stilton, on the 8th of Auguſt, 1761, aet. 55, and was buried at Peterborough.

JOHN MOORE, A. M. afterwards D. D. was inſtalled by proxy, the 26th of Sep⯑tember, 1761. He was fellow of Pembroke College, Oxford, where, on the 28th of June, 1751, he took a maſter of arts degree; in 1763, was made canon of Chriſt-Church, where he took the degrees of bachelor and doctor in divinity, the 1ſt of July, 1763: Was chaplain to his majeſty king Geo. III.; in 1771, he was appointed dean of Canterbury; and conſecrated biſhop of Bangor, in 1775. In 1783, he was advanced to the Metropolitan See of Canterbury, which he now enjoys.

THOMAS FOTHERGILL, D. D. provoſt of Queen's College, Oxford, was inſtalled the 27th of May, 1775, on Dr Moore's reſignation.

PREBENDARIES OF THE SIXTH STALL ^‡.

STEPHEN MARLEYE, B. D. a monk of Durham, appointed on the foundation, the 12th of May, 1541. He was ſub-prior, and maſter of the frater-houſe, at the diſ⯑ſolution. The place allotted for his lodging was the refectory of the almerey children, north of the abbey gates, which he altered into a dwelling-houſe. He was deprived in the year 1572, but no reaſon appears.

PETER SHAWE, A. M. was inſtalled the 12th of Auguſt, 1572,—when he died is uncertain ^§.

WILLIAM SELBY, A. M. was collated on the 12th of July, 1608. In 1607, he was preſented by the chapter to the vicarage of Berwick upon Tweed, and on the 1ſt of March, 1608, to the vicarage of Kirk Merrington,—when he died is uncertain.

[191]PETER SMART, A. M. was collated the 30th of December, 1609. He was re⯑moved to the fourth ſtall ^*.

ROBERT COOK, A. M. and afterwards D. D. was collated the 20th of July, 1614. He was the ſon of William Cook, of Beeſton, in the pariſh of Leeds, and was bap⯑tized there the 23d of July, 1550: Was a ſtudent of Brazen-Noſe College, and elected probat fellow in 1572: In 1576, he obtained the degree of maſter of arts; was made proctor of the univerſity in 1582, and took a bachelor in divinity's degree in 1584. In June 1590, he reſigned his fellowſhip, and was inſtituted to the vicarage of Leeds in December following: Was much eſteemed as a learned man, and pious preacher: In January, 1614, he died at Leeds, and was interred at St Peter's church there ^†.

FERDINANDO MOORCROFT, A. M. was collated the 6th of January, 1614: Was maſter of Gretham hoſpital, in this county, which he reſigned on his removal to the eleventh ſtall, the 13th of July, 1619: On the 6th of November, 1608, he was col⯑lated to Stanhope, and, in 1625, to Heighington; died about the year 1641, and was buried at Goſwick, in the county of Lancaſter ^‡.

DANIEL BIRKHEAD, D. D. collated the 14th of July, 1619; was removed the 3d of Auguſt, 1620, to the 10th ſtall. He had the rectory of Winſton; in 1610, was collated to Eggleſcliff; died in 1624, and was interred in the cathedral at Durham, on the 27th of November ^§.

GABRIEL CLARKE, A. M. was inſtalled the 5th of Auguſt, 1620, and removed to the third ſtall the 30th of July, 1623 ^‖.

JOHN ROBSON, A. M. was inſtalled the 1ſt of Auguſt, 1620. He was rector of Morpeth in 1611; was inſtituted to the rectory of Whalton, in Northumberland, the 1ſt of June, 1615; was returned a member in parliament for Morpeth, in the third parliament of king James I. but not allowed to ſit, as being in holy orders: He was one of the chapter proxies to the convocation held at York in May, 1625: He was buried in Durham cathedral in 1645 ^¶.

[192]RICHARD WRENCH, B. D. was collated about the 14th of February, 1645, by biſhop Morton, but not inſtalled for ſome years, on account of the war: Was born in the city of Cheſter; chaplain to biſhop Morton, and fellow of St John's College, Cam⯑bridge, from whence he was ejected by the earl of Mancheſter. Biſhop Coſin's mandate to induct him was dated the 18th of March, 1660, and his inſtallation on the 20th of that month. He was inſtituted to Heighington vicarage, the 25th of November, 1661; was collated to Boldon the 16th of October, 1665; departed this life on the 26th October, 1675, and buried in this cathedral^*.

RICHARD KNIGHTLEY, A. M. was inſtalled by proxy, the 17th of November, 1675, and was removed to the ſeventh ſtall. He was ſon of Thomas Knightley, rector of Byfield, in the county of Northampton; had the livings of Charwelton and Aſton, the latter of which he reſigned on the death of his father, 1688, when he was preſented to Byfield, where he died the 17th of September, 1695, aet. 59, and was interred there^†.

[193]JOHN MORTON, D. D. was inſtalled November 29, 1676: He moved from the ſeventh to this ſtall, the revenue of which is much inferior, to oblige biſhop Mor⯑ton, who wiſhed to place his chaplain, Knightley, therein: Was of Lincoln College, where he took the degrees of maſter of arts the 27th of June, 1667; bachelor of divinity, the 11th of November, 1674; and doctor in divinity, by diploma, the 6th of April, 1692. He was made rector of Boldon upon Mr Wrench's death, in 1676, and afterwards had Eggleſcliff. In October, 1685, was collated to the archdeaconry of Northumberland, and to the rectory of Sedgefield, in 1711, where he died, the 16th of November, 1722, and was interred^*. He built his prebendal houſe whilſt in the twelfth ſtall, to which he was removed in 1685; he alſo built the parſonage houſe at Eggleſcliff, and made great improvements at Sedgefield. In 1685, there was a controverſy between him and Sir George Wheler, concerning precedency; the queſtion being, whether the ſeniority was to be accounted from admiſſion to any new ſtall, or admiſſion to the church and chapter by the firſt inſtallment; and the biſhop, as viſitor, determined in favour of Dr Morton.

FITZHERBERT ADAMS, D. D. was inſtalled the 11th of Auguſt, 1685; was removed to the tenth ſtall in 1695; and from that to the eleventh, in 1711: Was of Lincoln College, Oxford, where he took the degree of maſter of arts in June, 1675; bachelor in divinity, the 2d of January, 1682; and doctor in divinity, the 3d of July, 1685: Was inducted to Waſhington rectory, the 29th of September, 1683, and elected rector of Lincoln College, the 2d of May, 1685. Was vice chancellor of Oxford in 1695, where he departed this life, the 17th of June, 1719, and was in⯑terred in All-Saints' church, Oxford. He received 1500l. for renewing the leaſe of Twiford, and laid out that ſum in beautifying the chapel of Lincoln College, and the rector's lodging: Was a benefactor to All-Hallows' church, and left 200l. to pur⯑chaſe a parſonage houſe: He left his library to the college^†.

[194]HENRY DOBSON, D. D. was inſtalled the 8th of June, 1695. He was collated to the rectory of Boldon in 1692; was of Magdalen College, where, on the 3d of June, 1677, he took a maſter of arts degree; bachelor in divinity the 17th of December, 1689; and doctor in divinity the 23d of January, 1693: He died at London, the 23d of March, 1717, aet. 67, and was buried in St Margaret's church-yard, Weſtminſter.

JOHN DOLBEN, D. D. was inſtalled the 17th of April, 1718, and removed to the eleventh ſtall. He was the grandſon of archbiſhop Dolben, and ſon of Sir Gilbert Dolben, baronet^*. Was born at Biſhop Thorpe, near York; received the firſt rudi⯑ments of literature at Weſtminſter ſchool, from whence he was removed to Chriſt-Church, Oxford, where he took the degree of maſter of arts on the 8th of July, 1707, and bachelor and doctor in divinity the 6th of July, 1717. He was ſub-dean of the Chapel Royal in the reign of queen Anne, and had the rectory of Burton Latimers, and vicarage of Fyndon, in the county of Northampton. On the death of his father, in October, 1722, he ſucceeded to the baronetage and eſtates; departed this life at Durham on the 21ſt of November, 1756, aet. 73, and was in⯑terred at Fyndon^†.

WILLIAM WATS, D. D. was inſtalled on the 18th of Auguſt, 1719. He was born at Barnſhall, in the county of York, and was fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford, where, on the 17th of June, 1708, he took the degree of maſter of arts; on the 11th of July, 1719, that of bachelor in divinity; and, on the 21ſt of October following, of doctor in divinity; and was a noted tutor in his college: In 1721, he was collated to the rectory of Wolſingham: Died at Durham on the 5th of February, 1736, aet. 50, and was buried at the Weſt end of the nave of Durham cathedral, below the font^‡.

[195]HENRY BLAND, A. M. was inſtalled Auguſt 2, 1737. He was the eldeſt ſon of Henry Bland, dean of this church; received the firſt rudiments of literature at Eton, from whence he was removed to Chriſt-Church College, Oxford; admitted a gentleman commoner, and took a bachelor of arts degree; he obtained an honorary degree of maſter of arts at Cambridge; and in 1747; a degree of doctor in divinity. On the 23d of Auguſt, 1735, he was inducted to Waſhington, and alſo held the rectory of Biſhop Weremouth. He was formerly beneficed in Lincoln. Died at his prebendal houſe on the 7th of May, 1768, aet. 64, and was interred in the eaſtern tranſept of this cathedral ^*.

CHARLES WESTON, A. M. was inſtalled the 2d of Auguſt, 1768, being removed from the ninth ſtall: Was a grandſon of the biſhop of Exeter, and ſon of Edward Weſton, of the city of Lincoln, Eſq writer of the Gazette for many years, and one of the chief clerks of the ſignet office: Was a ſtudent of Chriſt-Church, and took a maſter of arts degree on the 18th of April, 1755: Rector of Thirfield, in the county of Hertford.

PREBENDARIES OF THE SEVENTH STALL^*.

ROBERT DALTON, B. D. appointed on the foundation, the 12th of May, 1541. In the year 1560, he was deprived for recuſancy, and committed to the cuſtody of lord Dacres, of the north; was inſtituted to Billingham in 1547; and eſteemed rich, but arrogant and unlettered. The place allotted to him, at the ſuppreſſion of the convent, was the granary for wheat and malt, which he converted into a handſome dwelling.

THOMAS SAMPSON was inſtalled the 9th of September, 1560, by proxy, at which time he had no degree. He was preſented by queen Elizabeth, and admitted, by her commiſſioners for ſpiritualties, ſede vacante: Was one of thoſe concerned in tranſ⯑lating the Bible. He was dean of Chicheſter, 1552; rector of All Hallows', Bread⯑ſtreet; and made dean of Chriſt-Church, Oxford, 1561, of which he was deprived in 1565; afterwards was made maſter of Wigſtan's hoſpital, in Leiceſter, where he died the 9th of April, 1589, and was buried ^†. He was ſucceeded by

WILLIAM BIRCH, A. M. inſtalled the 4th of July, 1562: Was rector of Gateſhead, and deprived for non-conformity, 1567 ^‡. He was warden of Man⯑cheſter College, 1560; rector of Stanhope, the 25th of Auguſt, 1564; and alſo of Gateſhead.

LEONARD PILKINGTON, D. D. was collated the 1ſt of Auguſt, and inſtalled the 6th of September, 1567: He was brother to the biſhop and Joſeph Pilkington, and rector of Middleton, the 20th of March, 1560: Was admitted maſter of St John's College, Cambridge, the 19th of October, 1561, which he reſigned in 1562; was regius profeſſor of divinity there in 1561; was rector of Whitburn, where he built the houſe now Sir Hedworth Williamſon's, and the great parſonage barn. In 1592 he was treaſurer of this church ^§.

MARMADUKE BLAKISTON, A. M. was the ſon of J. Blakiſton, of Blakiſton, Eſq was inſtalled in 1601, and was vicar of Woodhorne, and treaſurer of this church in 1606: On the 14th of October, 1585, was collated to Redmarſhall; and in July, 1599, to Sedgefield: On the 25th of November, 1615, was collated to the arch⯑deaconry of the Eaſt-Riding of Yorkſhire; and the 6th of March, 1617, was inſtall⯑ed prebendary of Wiſtow, in York cathedral. In 1623, he reſigned his ſtall at [197] York in favour of his ſon, Thomas Blakiſton; in 1625, he did the ſame touching his archdeaconry, in favour of J. Coſin, afterwards biſhop, who married his daughter ^*; and in 1631, he reſigned this prebend and Sedgefield, in favour of his ſon, Robert Blakiſton. He died at Newton, near Durham, the family ſeat, and was interred in St Margaret's church, Croſsgate, the 3d of December, 1639 ^†.

ROBERT BLAKISTON, A. M. was collated the 27th of November, and inſtalled the 14th of December, 1631. He married biſhop Howſon's daughter, and died the 17th of January, 1634, before his father, but ſurvived the biſhop: He was one of the eight prebendaries that ſupported the canopy over the head of king Charles I. when he came to viſit the cathedral ^‡.

MATTHEW LEVET, A. M. was collated the 24th of January, 1634: Was fellow of St John's College, Cambridge, and pupil to biſhop Morton: He had a pre⯑bend, and was ſubdean in Ripon Church, and held his preferments in 1641, but how much longer doth not appear ^§.

ISAAC BASIRE, D. D. was inſtalled the 12th of Auguſt, 1643. In the Biogra. Brittannia, we are told he was born in Jerſey, from the authority of Wood ^‖, which the annotator contradicts, but without telling us the certain place of his nativity. Grey, in his MS. Notes, ſays, he was born at Rouen, in Normandy, but quotes no authority; the place of his education is equally uncertain. The firſt of his being noted to us is under the patronage of biſhop Morton, who ordained him deacon and prieſt whilſt biſhop of Litchfield, and made him his chaplain: In September, 1636, he was collated to the church of Eggleſcliff; in July, 1640, he had the degree of doctor in divinity conferred upon him at Cambridge, by mandate, and was incor⯑porated in the ſame at Oxford, in November following; about which time he was made chaplain in ordinary to king Charles I. On the 24th of Auguſt, 1644, was appointed to the archdeaconry of Northumberland; and, on the 7th of July, 1646, was inducted to the rectory of Stanhope, on the preſentation of king Charles I. On the breaking out of the rebellion, he was ſequeſtered, plundered, and obliged to ab⯑ſcond, and after flying to the king at Oxford, and ſharing in the diſtreſſes of his ſove⯑reign, he fled the kingdom, and went to propagate the doctrine of the church of Eng⯑land among the Greeks and Arabians, travelling through Apulia, Naples, Sicily, Morea, &c. into Syria and Paleſtine. During his travels he collated the ſeveral confeſ⯑ſions of faith of the different ſorts of Chriſtians, Greeks, Armenians, Jacobites, Maro⯑nites, &c. which he kept by him in their own languages: In his travels he endured many hardſhips, particularly in 1653, he paſſed from Aleppo to Conſtantinople by land, being 600 miles, without either ſervant, or Chriſtian, or any man with him, that could ſpeak the Frank language; yet, by the help of ſome Arabic acquired at Aleppo, he performed that journey in the company of twenty Turks, whoſe courteſy [198] was purchaſed by his diſpenſing to them in the phyſical line, he having ſtudied me⯑dicine at Padua. On the Reſtoration, he was recalled to England, and put in poſ⯑ſeſſion of his eccleſiaſtical benefices. He was the author of many religious tracts and diſcourſes, as alſo the Life of Dr Coſin, biſhop of Durham, publiſhed with his funeral ſermon. He departed this life on the 12th of October, 1676, aet. 69, and was interred in the cathedral church-yard at Durham ^*.

JOHN MORTON, B. D. was inſtalled the 16th of October, 1676, and ſoon after removed to the ſixth ſtall ^†.

RICHARD KNIGHTLEY, A. M. was inſtalled the 29th of November, 1676, removed from the ſixth ſtall ^‡ He died at Byfield, in the county of Northampton, 1695.

JOHN SMITH, D. D. was inſtalled the 26th of September, 1695. He was the eldeſt ſon of Mr William Smith, rector of Lowther, in Weſtmoreland; was ad⯑mitted a minor canon of this church on the 20th of July, 1682, and had the office of precentor: On the 20th of July, 1683, he was appointed to Croxdale curacy; and the 1ſt of July, 1684, to Witton-Gilbert curacy. On the 12th of June, 1695, was collated to Gateſhead rectory and hoſpital; and in July, 1696, took the degree of doctor in divinity: And on the 28th of July, 1704, was collated to Biſhop-Were⯑mouth, having previouſly reſigned Gateſhead. He repaired and altered his preben⯑dal houſe at the coſt of 200l. and expended 200l. in repairs of the chancel at Were⯑mouth. He rebuilt the parſonage houſe at no leſs coſt than 600l. receiving of Dr Grey's executors for dilapidations not above 100l. and in his aſſerting and recover⯑ing the rights of that church, he expended 600l. notwithſtanding which he died rich ^§. At the time of his death he was printing a moſt correct edition of Venerable Bede's works, the preparing of which coſt him fourteen years labour: This was publiſhed by his ſon after his deceaſe, in April 1722. He died at Cambridge in the month of July, 1715, and was interred in the anti-chapel of St John's College chapel ^‖.

[199]THOMAS EDEN, LL. D. was inſtalled the 23d of Auguſt, 1715, being removed from the ninth ſtall. He was the fourth ſon of Sir Robert Eden of Weſt-Auck⯑land, baronet; was educated at Newcaſtle ſchool, under the famous Thomas Rud, and admitted of Trinity Hall, Cambridge: He was chaplain to lord Crew; col⯑lated to the rectory of Winſton in 1709; and to Brancepeth, 1749. Upon Sir Geo. Wheler's death, he was appointed official to the dean and chapter, the 12th of February, 1723. He died on the 3d of March, 1754, aet. 71, and was buried in the cathedral church-yard, by his will expreſsly prohibiting his remains being interred in any church ^*.

[200]JOSEPH SPENCE, A. M. was inſtalled the 24th of May, 1754: Was born of poor parents in Northamptonſhire; educated at Wincheſter ſchool; was of Trinity College, Oxford, where he continued two years; and afterwards of New College, where he held a fellowſhip, and took a degree of maſter of arts, the 2d of November, 1727: Was inſtituted to the rectory of Birchanger, in Eſſex, the 10th of Auguſt, 1728, which he reſigned about December, 1742; was preſented, by the warden and fellow of New College, to the rectory of Harwood Magna, in the county of Bucks; and was made profeſſor of modern hiſtory at Oxford, in the room of Dr Holmes, who was appointed dean of Exeter in 1742. He died the 20th of Auguſt, 1768, at Byfleet, in Surry, aet. 65 ^*.

NEWTON OGLE, D. D. inſtalled the 27th of October, 1768, the ſon of Nath. Ogle, M. D. of Kirkley, in the county of Northumberland, phyſician to the army under the duke of Marlborough. Dr Newton Ogle was made archdeacon of Surry, in 1761, and inſtalled dean of Wincheſter the 21ſt of October, 1769.

PREBENDARIES OF THE EIGHTH STALL^†.

JOHN TOWTON, S. T. B. appointed at the foundation, the 12th of May, 1541. He was deprived for recuſancy on the royal viſitation, 1560.

ADAM SHEPERDE was inſtalled the 18th of July, 1560, being preſented by the queen, the See vacant: He was admitted by Dr Watſon and Dr Crawforth, pre⯑bendaries of this church, who were guardians of the ſpiritualties, by virtue of a commiſſion from the chapter of York, their archbiſhop being deprived, and the dean abſent ^‡. He died in the year 1563.

[201]THOMAS LEVER was inſtalled the 21ſt of February, 1563. He was born in Lancaſhire, and was preacher to king Edward VI. was elected maſter of St John's College, Cambridge, the 10th of December, 1551; was contemporary and fellow col⯑legian with biſhop Pilkington, archdeacon of Coventry, and on the 28th of January, 1562, made maſter of Sherburn hoſpital, in which year he ſubſcribed the articles. He changed his religion in queen Mary's reign, and was deprived, in 1567, of his prebend for refuſing to comply with eccleſiaſtical orders, but kept the hoſpital to the time of his death, which happened in July 1577, and was interred there.^*

RICHARD LONGWORTHE, D. D. was collated the 9th of November, and inſtalled the 3d of January, 1567. He was born at Bolton, in Cheſhire, and ordained deacon the 9th of March, 1560, being maſter of arts, and fellow of St John's College, Cam⯑bridge, at the age of twenty-ſeven: Was admitted maſter of St John's, the 11th of May, 1564, which he reſigned in December, 1569; was inſtalled prebend of Wor⯑ceſter, the 3d of June, 1568; and promoted to the deanry of Cheſter, the 28th of February, 1572, upon which he reſigned his prebend in this cathedral. He de⯑parted this life in 1579; and by his will, dated the 19th of April in that year, gave a legacy to his hoſt at the Red Lion, in Holborn, ſo that it is probable he died there.

FRANCIS BUNNEY, A. M. was inſtalled the 13th of May, 1572. He was the third ſon of Richard Bunney, of Newland, near Wakefield, Eſq born on the 8th of May, 1543; was fellow of Magdalen College, in 1563; chaplain to the earl of Bed⯑ford; collated to the archdeaconry of Northumberland, the 20th of October, 1573, which he reſigned for the rectory of Ryton, to which he was inducted the 13th of September, 1578. He died on the 16th of April, 1617, aet. 75, and was interred in Ryton church ^†.

FRANCIS BURGOYNE, D. D. was inſtalled the 6th of May, 1617. He was col⯑lated to Biſhop-Weremouth in 1595; was rector of Spofforth, in the county of York; and collated to the archdeaconry of Northumberland, the 13th of September, 1631. He died in 1633 ^‡.

ANTHONY MAXTON, A. M. was collated the 23d of May, 1633. He was a Scotchman by birth, and recommended to biſhop Morton, by king Charles I. he took deacon's orders in 1608; and was ordained prieſt in 1609: Was collated to Wolſingham rectory the 21ſt of June, 1614; and inſtituted to the rectory of Middle⯑ton [202] in Teeſdale, on the 10th of July, 1619, on the preſentation of Charles, then Prince of Wales. He died about the year 1641, and was interred at Wolſingham ^*.

JOHN BARWICK, D. D. was collated by biſhop Morton, but never inſtalled, as he reſigned this ſtall for the fourth prebend ^†.

ROBERT GREY, D. D. was collated the 10th of May, 1652, but not inſtalled till the 2d of November, 1660. He was the brother of lord Grey, of Wark; was col⯑lated to the rectory of Biſhop-Weremouth, the 15th of March, 1652: His parſonage houſe being greatly injured in the turbulent times, he was obliged to rebuild the front of it. In July, 1660, he was made bachelor of divinity at Cambridge, by man⯑damus, and in September following, was in like manner created doctor in divinity: He departed this life the 9th of July, 1704, aet. 94, and was buried at Biſhop-Were⯑mouth.

ROBERT OSTLY, A. M. was collated the 28th of July, 1704. He was rector of Abinger, in Surry, was of Trinity College, Cambridge, and many years chaplain to biſhop Crew. He died on the 11th of May, 1743, at his rectory, where he was in⯑terred ^‡.

JAMES LESLEY, A. M. was inſtalled the 20th of July, 1743. He was a native of Ireland, curate of St. Nicholas', Dublin, married a niece of biſhop Chandler, to whom he was chaplain: Was collated to Wolſingham in 1741, and reſigned it for Sedgefield, to which he was collated in May, 1747, being at that time doctor in divinity, an Iriſh degree of Trinity College, Dublin: Was a man of little learning. He accept⯑ed the biſhopric of Limerick, in Ireland, for a reſignation of this ſtall, and the rectory of Sedgefield, in favour of Dr Lowth, then archdeacon of Wincheſter, who declined the biſhopric of Limerick, but had liberty to exchange the appointment for Engliſh preferments. He died at Dublin.

ROBERT LOWTH, D. D. was inſtalled the 29th of October, 1755, on Leſley's re⯑ſignation. He was a ſon of William Lowth, prebendary of Wincheſter; educated at Wincheſter ſchool; became ſcholar and fellow of New College; took the degree of maſter of arts, on the 8th of June, 1737; and that of doctor in divinity, by di⯑ploma, the 8th of July, 1754. In 1750, he was made archdeacon of Wincheſter, which he reſigned: Was inſtituted to the rectory of Sedgefield, the 23d of October, 1755; was chaplain to lord Huntington, lord-lieutenant of Ireland, and to their majeſties George II. and III. On the 17th of May, 1766, he was conſecrated biſhop of St David's; and tranſlated to Oxford, in 1767, holding this prebend, and his rectory, in commendam. In March, 1777, he reſigned Sedgefield, and was removed to the See of London, where he now ſits.

RICHARD KAYE, LL. D. was inſtalled the 10th of July, 1777, ſub-almoner to his majeſty. He reſigned this ſtall in 1783, on being appointed dean of Lincoln.

[203]CHARLES POYNTZ, D. D. was educated at Chriſt-Church, Oxford, where, he took his maſter of arts degree, the 4th of May, 1759; bachelor in divinity, the 25th of November, 1769; and doctor in divinity, the 7th of December, 1769: Was inſtalled in this prebend the 24th of January, 1784. He holds ſome eccle⯑ſiaſtical preferments in Norfolk and Wales.

PREBENDARIES OF THE NINTH STALL^*.

NICHOLAS MARLEY, B. D. the 12th of May, 1541, by the foundation. He was inſtituted to Pittington vicarage, the 9th of April, 1548; was deprived thereof in 1560, and ſentenced not to come within eight miles of Durham. He was alſo de⯑prived of this ſtall, for recuſancy.

THOMAS HORTON, clerk, was preſented by queen Elizabeth, the 15th of January, 1560, the See being then vacant: It is probable he was never inſtalled, as he re⯑ſigned the ſame month ^†.

WILLIAM STEPHENSON, B. D. was preſented by queen Elizabeth, and inſtalled the 28th of January, 1560. The queen appointed him preacher at Berwick, and diſpenſed with his reſidence, allowing him the full profits of his prebend ^‡. He was appointed official to the dean and chapter, for Northumberland, the 24th of May, 1561; was vicar of Gainford, and alſo vicar of Hartburn. He died in the year 1575, and was buried before the choir door of this cathedral.

RICHARD FAWCETT, B. D. was inſtalled the 10th of January, 1575. He was in⯑ducted to the rectory of Boldon, the 14th of April, 1575. By his will, he ordered his remains to be interred in the chancel of Boldon church ^§.

GEORGE MOORCROFT, A. M. In a liſt of the prebendaries who anſwered at the viſitation of biſhop James, 1610, it appears he had this ſtall. He was rector of Stan⯑hope and Wolſingham, and died in 1648 ^‖.

[204]THOMAS TRIPLETT, D. D. was collated to this prebend the 20th of March, 1648, by biſhop Morton, though not inſtalled till the 2d of November, 1660. He was born at or near Oxford, and was ſtudent in Chriſt-Church; had Whitburn in 1631; was rector of Waſhington in 1640; held a prebend in York cathedral, 1641, and another in Sarum 1645; and within thoſe periods was vicar of Woodhorn, in Nor⯑thumberland. He exchanged his ſtall in this church with Dr Sancroft, for one at Weſtminſter. Died the 18th of July, 1670, aet. 70, and was buried in Weſtminſter abbey^*.

WILLIAM SANCROFT, D. D. was inſtalled the 11th of March, 1661. He was born the 30th of January, 1616, at Freſſingfield, in the county of Suffolk, the fami⯑ly's place of reſidence for three hundred years. At the age of eighteen he was placed at Emanuel College, Cambridge, and matriculated in the year 1634: In 1637, was admitted to the degree of bachelor of arts; and maſter of arts in 1641; the year following, was elected a fellow of his college; and took the degree of bache⯑lor in divinity in 1648, but, refuſing to take the covenant, was ejected from his fel⯑lowſhip in the year 1649; upon which he went abroad, and became intimately ac⯑quainted with the moſt conſiderable Engliſh loyaliſts then in exile. In 1660, he was choſen one of the univerſity preachers, though it appears he was at Rome when king Charles II. returned to England^†. Soon after the Reſtoration, Dr Sancroft came home, and biſhop Coſin, who knew him abroad, appointed him one of his chaplains; and on the 7th of December, 1661, he was collated to the rectory of Houghton-le-Spring, in which year he aſſiſted in renewing the liturgy. By mandamus, he was created doctor in divinity in the month of March, 1661-2; and on the 14th of Auguſt following, was elected maſter of Emanuel College, which he governed with great propriety. In the beginning of the year 1663-4, the doctor was promoted to the deanry of York, which he held but a ſhort time, yet long enough to expend 200l. more than the revenue produced, in repairs and other incident charges; during that ſhort period bringing the church accounts into excellent order. On the death of Dr John Barwick, in 1664, he was removed to the deanry of St Paul's, ſoon after which he reſigned Houghton, and the maſterſhip of Emanuel. He now gave much attention to the repairs of his church, till the fire, in 1666, occaſioned all his thoughts to be employed in rebuilding that fabric, to which he contributed 1400l. beſides un⯑wearied endeavours to promote a ſubſcription: He rebuilt the deanry houſe, and improved the revenue thereof, as well as other livings in his gift, as dean. In 1668, he was admitted archdeacon of Canterbury, on the king's preſentation, which he reſigned in 1670. In 1677, being then prolocutor of the convocation, he was ad⯑vanced by king Charles II. to the archbiſhopric of Canterbury, in which moſt con⯑ſpicuous character, ſurrounded with the perils and errors of the times, he conducted himſelf with ſingular prudence, perſpicuity, and religious virtue: His revenues were not diſſipated in luxury and oſtentation, but diſpoſed in works of charity, muni⯑ficence, [205] and hoſpitality. He reſigned this ſtall in 1674, having rebuilt the preben⯑dal houſe. He attended king Charles II. on his death bed, when it is ſaid, he made ſome remonſtrances, and preſſed ſundry exhortations on the ſovereign, towards which the complexion of the court had warmed his ſpirit. In 1686, the doctor re⯑fuſed to act in the commiſſion iſſued by king James II. for eccleſiaſtical affairs; and in 1688, was committed to the Tower, with ſix other biſhops, for preſenting a peti⯑tion to the king, againſt reading his majeſty's declaration of indulgence. The court pronouncing this petition libellous, on the 29th of June the prelates were tried for a miſdemeanour, but, to the general ſatisfaction of the nation, were acquitted. He engaged his good offices for the diſſenting Proteſtants, foreſeeing the revolution that was approaching. On the 3d of October, accompanied with eight biſhops, he at⯑tended the king, who had demanded their counſel, and then, with a freedom virtue only inſpires, urged the moſt ſerious and important advice to his ſovereign, touch⯑ing the unhappy ſituation of the ſtate. A few days after, though very earneſtly preſſed by his majeſty, he refuſed to ſign a declaration of abhorrence of the Prince of Orange's deſigns; and on the 17th of November, he joined in another petition, for a free parliament. On the king's abdication, he ſigned, and concurred with the lords ſpiritual and temporal, aſſembled at Guildhall, in a declaration to the Prince of Orange for a free parliament, ſecurity of our laws, liberties, and properties, and of the church of England in particular, with a due indulgence to Proteſtant diſſenters: But when that prince and his conſort were declared king and queen, he refuſed to take the oaths to their majeſties, was ſuſpended the 1ſt of Auguſt, 1689, and deprived the 1ſt of February following. The above fact counteracts all the principles he ap⯑peared to have adopted, and leaves his character under ſuſpicion, or marked with duplicity, inſincerity, and want of truth. The editor^* of the Collectanea Curioſa, embarraſſed at this point, ſays, ‘As for the archbiſhop's character, let it be learned from his actions; for if we go for it to the writers of oppoſite parties, it will ap⯑pear, in different hands, as different as poſſible. He certainly gave the ſtrongeſt inſtance poſſible of ſincerity, in ſacrificing the higheſt dignities, and other the greateſt advantages, to what he thought truth and honeſty.’ He continued at Lambeth till June, 1691, and then retired to his native place, where he ſpent the remainder of his life in ſtrict retirement, and died on the 24th of November, 1693, aer. 77. The before mentioned editor ſays, ‘His grace left behind him a vaſt multitude of papers and collections in MS. and therein more perhaps wrote with his own hand, than any man either of this or the laſt age ever did write^†. Upon his deceaſe they came into his nephew's hands, and after his nephew's death, they were purchaſed by the late biſhop Tanner, who gave them, with the reſt of his valuable MSS. to the Bodleian library, Oxford^‡.’

[206]THOMAS HOLDSWORTH, A. M. was inſtalled the 1ſt of June, 1675, on the pre⯑ſentation of king Charles II. in theſe words, Ad noſtram donacionem ſpectant. virtute prerogativae regiae, racione temporalium ejuſd. epiſcopatus in manibus noſtris exiſtent. He was rector, or dean as he is ſtiled, of Middleham, in the county of York: The time of his death is uncertain^*; Willis ſays 1680.

HENRY BAGSHAW, D. D. was inſtalled the 20th of July, 1680. He was born at Broughton, in Northamptonſhire; received his firſt rudiments at Weſtminſter ſchool, from whence he was elected ſtudent of Chriſt-Church in 1651: He was chaplain to Sir Richard Fanſhaw, ambaſſador in Spain and Portugal; after his return was made chaplain to archbiſhop Stern, who gave him the prebend of Southwell, and rectory of Caſtleton, in Synderick: In 1667, he held the prebend of Barneby, in York cathe⯑dral; and in 1668, that of Friday Thorp. He took a bachelor of divinity's degree on the 7th of July, 1668; and on the 28th of November, 1671, that of doctor in divinity: In 1672, was made chaplain to the lord-treaſurer Danby, and rector of St Botolph's church, near Biſhopſgate, London, which was exchanged for Houghton-le-Spring, where he departed this life on the 30th of December, 1709, aet. 77, and was interred in the chancel of the church there^†.

WILLIAM HARTWEL, D. D. was inſtalled the 7th of February, 1709, and re⯑moved to the tenth prebend^‡: In 1681, he was inſtituted to the rectory of Whickham; and in 1685, to that of Stanhope, where he made great improvements in his par⯑ſonage houſe and gardens. He departed this life on the 1ſt of June, 1725, and was buried at the north end of the middle tranſept in this cathedral ^§.

[207]THOMAS EDEN, LL. D. was inſtalled the 24th of July, 1711, and was removed to the ſeventh ſtall^*.

[208]WILLIAM LUPTON, D. D. was inſtalled the 20th of September, 1715. He was fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford, lecturer of St Dunſtan's, in Fleet-ſtreet, Lon⯑don, morning preacher in Lincoln's Inn, and afternoon lecturer in the Temple: Was vicar of Richmond, in Yorkſhire, for one year, and reſigned in the ſpring, 1706. In a ſermon preached on Prov. iii. 16. he complimented biſhop Crew very highly on the fiftieth anniverſary of his conſecration. He preached lady Moyer's lectures, but an indifferent performance; at his death, he deſired none of his diſ⯑courſes might be publiſhed, acknowledging he was not that great man the world thought him ^*. On the 1ſt of July, 1700, he took a maſter of arts degree; that of bachelor of divinity the 14th of February, 1708; and doctor in divinity the 13th of February, 1711. He died at Tunbridge Wells the 14th of December, 1726.

JOHN JOHNSON, LL. D. was inſtalled on the 18th of January, 1726. He was curate to Mr Bruce, vicar of Middleton-Tyas, in Yorkſhire, in the year 1700. He had no univerſity education, but on the 13th of January, 1731, was admitted in Brazen-Noſe College, to a degree of bachelor of civil law, by diploma; and on the 16th of June, 1726, to that of doctor in civil law. He profeſſed a knowledge of ſurgery, and attempted many deſperate caſes, in one of which ſucceeding with lady Clayton, one of the maids of honour, by her intereſt at court, was appointed do⯑meſtic chaplain to the lady Caroline, then princeſs of Wales; and by king Geo. II. was preſented to the vicarage of Manfield, in the county of York: He afterwards had Hurworth rectory, by preſentation of Charles Pinkney, Eſq 1714; and died in poſſeſſion of that living, the 14th of October, 1761, aet. 84, where he lies interred^†.

CHARLES MORGAN, A. M. was inſtalled by proxy, the 25th of February, 1762. Was ſtudent of Chriſt-Church, where he took a degree of maſter of arts on the 24th of March, 1757: Was chaplain to biſhop Trevor, and reſigned this prebend for the rectory of Haughton, near Darlington, into which he was inducted the 9th of June, 1764: He died at Scarborough, on the 26th of the ſame month, aet. 32, and was in⯑terred in the porch of his church at Haughton ^‡.

CHARLES WESTON, A. M. was inſtalled the 11th of Auguſt, 1764, and removed to the ſixth ſtall ^§.

JOHN SHARP, D. D. eldeſt ſon of Thomas Sharp, prebendary of the tenth ſtall, vicar of Hartburn, and archdeacon of Northumberland, was inſtalled on the 11th of Auguſt, 1768.

PREBENDARIES OF THE TENTH STALL^‖.

ROBERT BLAKISTON, on the foundation, the 12th of May, 1541. He died in the year 1550.

[209]JOHN RUD, B. D. chaplain in ordinary to king Edward VI. and was preſented by him on the 20th of June, 1550, ex aviſamento & conſenſu privati conſilii ſui, and was inſtalled on the 22d of July following: He was alſo inſtalled a prebendary of Win⯑cheſter, in 1551, but on the acceſſion of queen Mary, was deprived in 1553 ^*.

GEORGE BULLOCK, D. D. was preſented by queen Mary, and inſtalled on the 9th of May, 1554. On the 12th of May, in the ſame year, he was admitted maſter of St John's College, Cambridge. On the preſentation of Philip and Mary, was in⯑ſtituted vicar of St Sepulchre, London, the 11th of February in that year, but re⯑ſigned that church before the 2d of October, 1556: In the year 1559, he was de⯑prived, fled beyond ſea, and lived at Antwerp, in the monaſtery of St Michael, where we preſume he died in 1580^†.

JOHN RUD, reſtored in 1559. He died in the year 1578^‡, and was buried in this cathedral.

HUGH BROUGHTON, A. M. was collated the 13th, and inſtalled the 14th of November, 1578. He was a fellow of Chriſt College, Cambridge, and learned in the Eaſtern languages, but was eſteemed arrogantly opinionative: Was collated to Waſhington rectory the 6th of May, 1580, and reſigned his prebend that year. He died the 4th of Auguſt, 1612 ^§.

RALPH TUNSTALL, A. M. was inſtalled the 9th of November, 1580. He was domeſtic chaplain to archbiſhop Grindal, prebendary of Knareſbrough, in York cathedral, the 15th of March, 1571; maſter of St Mary Magdalen's hoſpital, at Ripon, the 24th of September, 1572; and collated to the archdeaconry of Northum⯑berland, the 29th of October, 1581. He departed this life in March, 1618 ^‖.

AUGUSTIN LINDSELL, D. D. was inſtalled the 8th of April, 1619, and removed to the ſecond ſtall ^¶.

[210]DANIEL BIRKHEAD, D. D. was removed from the ſixth prebend ^*, and inſtalled the 5th of Auguſt, 1620. He died in 1624.

JOHN COSIN, D. D. was collated the 4th of December, 1624, and conſecrated biſhop of Durham, 1660 ^†.

DANIEL BREVINT, A. M. was preſented by king Charles II. ſede vacante, and in⯑ſtalled the 15th of March, 1660: Was born in the iſland of Jerſey, and educated at Jeſus College, Oxford, where he was incorporated maſter of arts, and was the firſt fellow of the French fellowſhip, founded by king Charles I. Was made maſter of arts at Saumur, in France, where he was a voluntary exile, miniſter of a church in Normandy, and chaplain to the Prince of Turin. In 1661, he was created doctor in divinity at Oxford; was inſtituted to Brancepeth, the 10th of September, 1662; and was dean of Lincoln, where he died the 5th of May, 1695, and was interred in the cathedral there ^‡.

FITZHERBERT ADAMS, D. D. was inſtalled the 8th of June, 1695, being re⯑moved from the ſixth ſtall ^§: He was alſo removed from this ſtall to the eleventh.

WILLIAM HARTWELL, D. D. was inſtalled the 14th of June, 1711, being re⯑moved from the ninth ſtall ^‖. He died the 1ſt of June, 1725.

GEORGE SAYER, A. M. was inſtalled the 30th of June, 1725. He was the ſon of George Sayer, of Doctor's Commons, and brother of Dr Exton Sayer, ſpiritual chancellor of Durham ^¶: This family ſprung from Croft in Yorkſhire. Mr George Sayer, the prebendary, was of Oriel College, where he took a maſter of arts degree, the 14th of December, 1719; and that of doctor in divinity, the 5th of May, 1735. He was chaplain to biſhop Talbot, and married a daughter of archbiſhop Potter: Was collated to the vicarage of Witham, in Eſſex, by biſhop Robinſon, in 1722, which he reſigned in 1732: In 1730, was collated to the archdeaconry of Northum⯑berland, with Eaſington, on which he agreed to reſign this ſtall, but biſhop Talbot's death intervening, it was not ſurrendered till the 26th of September, 1732, to biſhop Chandler, he having applied to the crown for confirmation of the above preferments: He died at Bruſſels in 1761, having retired thither on account of his embarraſſed cir⯑cumſtances.

THOMAS SHARP, D. D. was inſtalled the 1ſt of December, 1732. He was a younger ſon of archbiſhop Sharp; was admitted of Trinity College, about the year 1708, aet. 15; where he obtained the degree of doctor in divinity, In 1729, and was fellow: He was chaplain to archbiſhop Dawes; and on the 19th of July, 1720, was [211] collated to the rectory of Rothbury, in the county of Northumberland: He held the prebend of Southwell, and afterwards that of Wiſtow, in York cathedral: In 1722, was collated to the archdeaconry of Northumberland; and in 1755, ſucceeded Dr Mangey, in the officialty of the dean and chapter: He departed this life on the 16th of March, 1758, and was interred in this cathedral, in the place called the Gallilee ^*.

Sir HENRY VANE, Bart. LL. D. was inſtalled the 5th of April, 1758. He was the third ſon of George Vane, Eſq of Long-Newton; educated at Durham ſchool, from whence he was entered of Trinity College, and there had a fellowſhip: Was chaplain to biſhop Trevor, and on the 21ſt of April, 1754, was inducted to Stain⯑ton, in this county; on the 7th of July, 1761, was admitted to the degree of doctor of laws: He exchanged Stainton for Long-Newton, which he now enjoys. In 178 was created a baronet.

PREBENDARIES OF THE ELEVENTH STALL^†.

ROBERT BENNET, a monk, and burſar of this convent at the diſſolution, appoint⯑ed by the foundation, the 12th of May, 1541. He was inſtituted to the vicarage of Gainford on the 18th of December, 1558, and departed this life in Auguſt, 1558.

ANTHONY SALVIN, B. D. was inſtalled the 12th of October, 1558, being re⯑moved from the twelfth ſtall, in which year he was made vicar general on Dr Hynd⯑mers' death: He was a younger ſon of Gerrard Salvyn, of Croxdale, in this county; was collated to a prebend in Norton church, the 10th of May, 1544; maſter of Sherburn hoſpital, in 1552; and held the rectories of Winſton and Ryton, which he reſigned on being collated to Sedgefield, on the 20th of December, in the year 1558; but was ſoon after deprived of all his eccleſiaſtical preferments, and ſentenced not to depart five miles northward of Kirby-moor-ſide, in the county of York, or to go to the city of York: He is noted as a perſon well eſteemed in the country, but a man of mean erudition ^‡.

JOHN HENSHAW, or HENNESHEY, clerk, was preſented by queen Elizabeth, ſede vacante, and inſtalled the 29th of November, 1559. He died the next year ^§.

[212]ADAM HOLYDAY was inſtalled the 3d of January, 1560. He was preſented by queen Elizabeth, ſede vacante, and admitted by Dr Watſon and Dr John Crawforth, who were guardians of the ſpiritualties of this See, by a commiſſion from the chap⯑ter of York, that See being then vacant by the deprivation of the archbiſhop, and the dean being abroad in foreign parts. The ſame year the queen preſented him to the rectory of Biſhop-Weremouth; and in 1561, he was appointed by the chapter to collect the queen's tenths ^*. His ſucceſſor was

CLEMENT COLEMORE, LL.D. who was inſtalled the 9th of May, 1590. He was ordained a deacon by biſhop Barnes, the 22d of December, 1583; and received prieſt's orders the 20th of December, 1584, then being ſpiritual chancellor and vicar general of this dioceſe ^†: He was fellow of Brazen-Noſe College, and proctor in 1578; and on the 5th of July, 1582, was admitted to the degree of doctor of civil law: Was inſtituted to Brancepeth on the 15th of April, 1584; was made preben⯑dary of Gaia Major, in Litchfield church, the 13th of February, 1586; and depart⯑ed this life on the 18th of June, 1689, aet. 69, and was interred in this cathedral ^‡.

FERDINANDO MOORCROFT, A. M. was collated the 14th of July, 1619, being removed from the ſixth ſtall ^§. He died about the year 1641.

RALPH BROWNRIGG, D. D. ſucceeded about 1641. He was chaplain to biſhop Morton, who gave him the archdeaconry of Coventry, in 1631; was prebendary of Ely, in the fifth ſtall, 1621; rector of Baily, and maſter of the Temple; and elected to the biſhopric of Exeter, the 31ſt of March, 1642. He departed this life on the 7th day of December, 1659, and was buried in the Temple church ^‖.

[213]THOMAS WOOD, D. D. was preſented by king Charles II. ſede vacante, the 7th of July, and inſtalled the 10th of December, 1660. He was born at Hackney, and received his firſt rudiments, at Weſtminſter ſchool, from whence he was elected ſtudent of Chriſt-Church, Oxford, in 1627; and was admitted to the degree of doctor in divinity, in 1641: Was made chaplain in ordinary to king Charles I. when he was twenty-eight years of age, and collated to the rectory of Whickham on the 2d of July, 1635. He travelled to Rome during the Rebellion, and ſoon after the Reſtoration was made chaplain to king Charles II. In 1663, was appoint⯑ed to the deanry of Litchfield; and in 1671, was conſecrated biſhop of that dioceſe, and held this prebend in commendam: He died at Aſtrop Wells, in Northampton⯑ſhire, on the 18th of April, 1692, and was interred at Ufford, in Suffolk ^*.

JOHN MONTAGUE, D. D. was inſtalled the 3d of June, 1692, being removed from the fourth ſtall ^†.

THEOPHILUS PICKERING, D. D. was inſtalled the 1ſt of February, 1699, being removed from the fourth ſtall^‡. He died the 20th of March, 1710.

FITZHERBERT ADAMS, D. D. was inſtalled on the 14th of April, 1711, being removed from the tenth ſtall ^§. He died the 12th of June, 1719.

JOHN DOLBEN, D. D. was inſtalled the 18th of July, 1719, being removed from the ſixth ſtall ^‖. He died the 21ſt of November, 1756.

WADHAM KNATCHBULL, LL. D. was inſtalled the 8th of January, 1757, being removed from the twelfth ſtall. He was the third ſon of Sir Edward Knatchbull, of Merſhamhatch, in the county of Kent, Bart. a fellow of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and took a degree of doctor of laws in July, 1741; was chaplain to biſhop Chandler; and in 1738, inducted to the family living of Chilham, in Kent. He departed this life [214] on the 27th of December, 1760, and was interred in the Galilee of this cathe⯑dral ^*.

SAMUEL DICKENS, D. D. was inſtalled the 19th of March, 1761, being removed from the twelfth ſtall: Was a ſtudent of Chriſt-Church, Oxford, and chaplain to biſhop Trevor: On the 9th of July, 1743, was admitted to a degree of maſter of arts, and bachelor in divinity, on the 25th of October, 1752; and that of doctor in divinity, the 20th of June, 1753: In the year 1752, he was proctor of the univerſity; and in 1754, was made the king's Greek profeſſor: He was made official to the dean and chapter of Durham, in 1760; and on the 8th of January, 1762, was appointed archdeacon of Durham, with the rectory of Eaſington annexed.

PREBENDARIES OF THE TWELFTH STALL^†.

WILLIAM WATSON, a monk of Durham, by the foundation, the 12th of May, 1541: He died in the year 1556.

ANTHONY SALVIN, B. D. was collated the 12th, and inſtalled the 16th of Octo⯑ber, 1556, and removed to the eleventh ſtall^‡.

GEORGE CLIFFE, B. D. was collated by queen Mary, the 13th of September, 1558. Was inſtituted to the vicarage of Billingham, the 29th of May, 1560, [215] whereof he was deprived in 1565: Was collated to the rectory of Elwick, the 17th June, 1562; and inſtituted to Brancepeth rectory, the 29th of March, 1571, which he reſigned in 1584; and was again inſtituted to Billingham, the 11th of January, 1684. He died in 1695^*.

HENRY EWBANKE, A. M. was inſtalled the 8th of September, 1596; and reſign⯑ed the ſame, the 5th of October, 1620: Was collated to Waſhington, the 24th of December, 1583; and to Winſton in 1588; was inſtituted to St Mary's hoſpital in Newcaſtle, the 15th of March, 1585, which he reſigned in 1615: He was preben⯑dary of Gaia Minor, in Litchfield church, in 1581; and was removed to Weeford prebend, in the ſame church, 1586; and reſigned the latter, 1612: Was collated to the rectory of Whickham, on the 5th of September, 1620; and departed this life in 1628^†.

WILLIAM JAMES, A. M. was inſtalled the 6th of October, 1620. He was nearly related to biſhop James, and was public orator at Oxford, in 1601; was col⯑lated to Craike, on the 10th of July, 1614; to Waſhington, on the 12th of Sep⯑tember, 1616; to Ryton, in May 1617; and to Merrington, in Auguſt, 1629. He rebuilt his prebendal houſe; was one of the proxies for the chapter, at the convo⯑cation at York, 1625; and one of the prebendaries who ſupported the canopy over the head of king Charles I. when at Durham. He died in the month of January, 1659, and was interred in this cathedral^‡.

GUY CARLETON, D. D. was preſented by king Charles II. ſede vacante, and in⯑ſtalled the 2d of November, 1660: Was born at Brampton Foot, in Gilſland, in the county of Cumberland, and was educated at Carliſle, from whence he was ſent to Queen's College, Oxford; was fellow thereof, and proctor of the univerſity, in 1635: He held the vicarage of Bucklerſbury, in Berkſhire: Was collated to Wol⯑ſingham, in November, 1660, and the ſame year had the deanry of Carliſle: In 1671, was conſecrated biſhop of Briſtol; and, in 1678, was tranſlated to the biſhop⯑ric of Chicheſter, holding this prebend in commendam: He departed this life on the 6th of July, 1685, aet. 80, and was buried in his cathedral church ^§.

JOHN MORTON, D. D. was inſtalled the 18th of July, 1685, being removed from the ſixth ſtall ^‖. He died in 1722.

[216]THOMAS RUNDLE, LL. B. was inſtalled the 3d of December, 1722, being re⯑moved from the firſt ſtall ^*. He died in 1743.

WADHAM CHANDLER, A. M. was inſtalled the 21ſt of July, 1735: Was the youngeſt ſon of biſhop Chandler; received his firſt rudiments at Eton ſchool, from whence he was admitted in Clare Hall, Cambridge: Was appointed ſpiritual chan⯑cellor of this dioceſe, in September, 1731; collated to Biſhop-Weremouth, in May, 1732: In July, 1733, was inducted to Waſhington; and made maſter of Sherburn hoſpital, in 1735, whereby he vacated his two rectories: He died at Aix, in France, the 2d of June, 1737, and his remains were brought over to be interred in the Gal⯑lilee of this cathedral.

WADHAM KNATCHBULL, LL. D. was inſtalled the 17th of June, 1738, and re⯑moved to the eleventh ſtall^†.

SAMUEL DICKENS, D. D. was inſtalled the 8th of January, 1757, and removed to the eleventh ſtall ^‡.

THOMAS BURTON, D. D. was inſtalled the 11th of May, 1761, being removed from the third ſtall^§. He departed this life in 1767.

EDMUND LAW, D. D. was inſtalled the 8th of Auguſt, 1767: Was of St John's College, Cambridge, but invited to Chriſt's, and choſen a fellow of that ſociety: Was one of the Zodiack, as a ſet of learned and ingenious young men in the univer⯑ſity were then called, and diſtinguiſhed himſelf very early by writing on the Being and Attributes of God; and eſpecially in his notes on his tranſlation of archbiſhop King's Origin of Evil; wherein our ideas of ſpace, time, and immenſity, and the ſelf-exiſtence, neceſſary exiſtence, and unity of God, are more accurately enquired into, and diſcuſſed with greater clearneſs and preciſion, than by any writer before or ſince, on ſuch abſtruſe metaphyſical ſubjects. He was alſo principally concerned in pub⯑liſhing an excellent edition of Stephens's Theſaurus. In 1739, he accepted the rectory of Grayſtoke, to which he was preſented by the univerſity. When Mr Howard, now duke of Norfolk, ſold the advowſon, he ſtipulated with the purchaſer in favour of Mr Law, for a preſentation from a Proteſtant patron. Mr Law accordingly re⯑ſigned this rectory, and had a new preſentation from Dr Aſkew, the purchaſer. This allowed him to remove to Salkeld, the corps of the archdeaconry of Carliſle, a much more healthy ſituation, given him by biſhop Fleming. While in Cumber⯑land, he publiſhed Conſiderations on the Theory of Religion, which has gone through ſeveral editions; Litigiouſneſs repugnant to the Laws of Chriſtianity, an aſſize ſermon, at Carliſle, and a charge on the Nature and Neceſſity of Catechiſing. In 1747, he proceeded to doctor in divinity: The divinity ſchool was unuſually crowded, and the rigidly orthodox were ſo alarmed at his queſtion, that it gave occaſion to much al⯑tercation afterwards, in a variety of publications; but he himſelf, unwilling to give further offence, ‘thought it a part of Chriſtian prudence not to be more explicit on the ſubject, till men appear more willing to ſubmit their vain philoſophy to the authority of God's word, and are diſpoſed to examine things with greater atten⯑tion [217] and impartiality; concluding in the words of honeſt biſhop Taylor, that he had been ſo puſhed at by herds and flocks of people, that follow any body that whiſtles to them, or drives them to paſture, that he was grown afraid of any truth that ſeemed chargeable with ſingularity.’ In 1755, he returned to Cambridge, having been choſen maſter of St Peter's College, when he reſigned the archdeaconry, but kept the rectory. He ſerved the office of vice-chancellor, in 1756, and, having a numerous family, he afterwards accepted the office of principal librarian, and that of caſuiſtical profeſſor; and had alſo the archdeaconry of Stafford, and a ſtall in the church of Lincoln, given him on his promotion to the See of Carliſle, in 1769; he kept the headſhip of his college, and had the rectory of Greyſtoke in commendam.— He publiſhed only two or three ſermons afterwards; but, though advanced to a great age, ſuch was his veneration for the great Mr Locke, and his love for freedom of en⯑quiry, that he ſurpriſed the world with an excellent edition of the works of that great philoſopher in four volumes, folio.—He is ſtill living.

JOHN ROSS, D. D. was inſtalled the 17th of March, 1769. He was born at Roſs, in the county of Hereford, and was fellow of St John's College, Cambridge; was preacher at the Rolls chapel, and private tutor to Thomas viſcount Weymouth, who preſented him to the vicarage of Frome Zalwood, in Somerſetſhire: He was chaplain to the king, by whom he was preſented to this prebend, on the 28th of February, preceding his inſtallation. In 1777, was conſecrated biſhop of Exeter, when he reſigned this ſtall, and was ſucceeded by

THOMAS DAMPIER, D. D. (ſon to the late dean) who was inſtalled the 26th of February, 1778; ſucceeded his father as maſter of Sherburn hoſpital; and is now dean of Rocheſter.

ARCHDEACONS OF DURHAM^*.

LEOBWIN, or LEOFWYN, ſeems to have been the firſt archdeacon, by whoſe miſ⯑conduct the murder of biſhop Walcher was occaſioned. Le Neve ſays, thence ‘the very name of archdeacon grew ſo mighty odious to the people, that the ſucceed⯑ing biſhop thought proper at that time to ſink the title, and veſt the power in the prior of Dunholme; but, after ſome time, the memory thereof being pretty much worn away, the title and office were reſumed, and this ſeems to be about the year 1188.’

ALDWIN, who dying the 12th of April, 1087, was ſucceeded by

TURGOT, on whoſe being made biſhop of St Andrew's, in Scotland, in the year 1108^†,

[218]MICHAEL ſucceeded in biſhop Ralph's time, and reſumed the title and office, as a diſtinct perſon from the prior of Durham^*.

ROBERT DE ST AGATHA occurs A^o 1129, and 1131 ^†.

WAROW, or WAZO, ſucceeded in the year 1147^‡. As did

RANNULPH, about 1150^§. And

LAWRENCE, D. D. An. 1153. He and Laurence the prior went to Rome, to defend the election of Hugh Pudſey to this See. Obiit 11th of April, 1176. After him occurs

WILLIAM, in the year 1174^‖.

JOHN, ſubjoined by this title as witneſs to a deed of biſhop Hugh's, about 1180^¶.

BURCHARD DE PUDSEY occurs about 1109, and died poſſeſſed of this dignity, the 6th of December, 1196^**.

AIMERICK DE TALBOYS, nephew to biſhop Philip de Poictiers, whom I find poſ⯑ſeſſed in 1198 and 1214, next year after which he is ſaid to be appointed high-ſheriff of Northumberland^††.

SYMEON occurs archdeacon of Durham, with Alanus, archdeacon of Northum⯑berland, witneſſes to a grant of biſhop Richard, the 6th of May, 1218.

WILLIAM occurs in 1219. Willis ſays, ‘I take him to be the ſame with Wil⯑liam de Lanim, whom I meet with in 1226 and 1236; he died, as I find by a note, An. 1249.’ Le Neve tells us it appears, he ‘Was archdeacon of Dunholme, in 1219, by an ancient inſcription in a window, in the hall of Univerſity College, Oxford:’ He adds, ‘I believe this was the ſame with W. de Lanim, if ſo, I hear of him again 1234^‡‡.’

THOMAS DE ANESTY was poſſeſſed in 1250. Le Neve ſays, he was alſo arch⯑deacon of Northumberland ^§§.

RICHARD or ROBERT DE SANCTA AGATHA, archdeacon of Durham, was col⯑lector [219] of the tenths in the dioceſe of Durham, the 7th of September, 1266^*; he occurs as witneſs to a charter in 1271, by the name of Robert^†.

ANTHONY BECK held this dignity in 1275 and 1283, in which latter year he was conſecrated biſhop of Durham^‡, and was ſucceeded by

WILLIAM DE LUDA, anglice Lowth, who held it in 1284; and being made biſhop of Ely, in 1290^§, was ſucceeded by

S. DE FARLINGTON, who held it in 1296.

WM DE S. BOTULPHO occurs in 1300 and 1308^‖.

THOMAS DE GOLDESBURGH occurs in 1311^¶: He died in 1333, whereupon the biſhop conferred this dignity on his nephew Aumerick de Bellomonte, but the king diſapproving of this appointment, nominated thereto

ROBERT DE TAUNTON; but whether he enjoyed the office ſeems uncertain, though the king repeated his patent by way of confirmation: He dying in 1335^**, the next who occurs is

AUMERICK DE BELLOMONTE, in 1336 and 1338. His ſucceſſor was

THO. DE NEVILL, who occurs in July 1340 and 1356. He died in the year 1362; was prebendary of Bole, in the church of York; a prebendary of Hoveden; and alſo of Darlington, in this dioceſe, and rector of Thorp-Baſſet, in the county of York.

WILLIAM DE WESTLEE next occurs, in 1362; he was temp. chancellor^††.

ALEXANDER DE NEVILL occurs the 12th of January, 1370. It ſeems doubtful whether this was the ſame perſon who was preferred to the See of York, in 1374, as Willis tells us;—no ſuch perſon is named by Le Neve^‡‡.

GABEVAN is the next on the liſt, a Roman cardinal, noted by Fox in his Martyrs, vol. i. p. 563, who informs us he held the office in 1378: But this is an error of our author, for by the Parliament Rolls, 50 king Edward III. an. 1376, it appears, Communes in Parliamento inter alia regni gravamina queruntur quod Jacobus de Urſinis cardinalis quidam Romanus, archidiaconatum Dunelm. tenuit.

WILLIAM DE BASINSTOKE, otherwiſe called Mundy de Baſingſtoke, was collated the 13th of Auguſt, 1379^§§.

[220]AGAPITUS DE COLUMPNA CARDINALIS S. PRISCAE held it in 1380, as we learn from Rym. Foedera, vol vii. p. 276: In which authority

PILEUS Cardinalis S. Praxedis is mentioned the 11th of July, 1381^*. He being preſented by the king during a vacancy of the See.

THOMAS DE WESTON, prebendary of Grindal, in the church of York, and one of the prebendaries of Hoveden, held this office in 1393; and dying in the year 1408^†, was ſucceeded by

ALAN DE NEWARKE, who reſigned on the 15th of February, in the ſame year.

JOHN HOVINGHAM, LL. D. was collated the 16th of February, 1408; and occurs poſſeſſed of this office, the 4th of May, 1416^‡.

JOHN KEMPE ſucceeded the 13th of October, 1417; on whoſe promotion to the See of Rocheſter, an. 1419^§,

ROBERT GILBERT was promoted by the crown, and we find him poſſeſſed there⯑of in 1420. In the year 1436, he was conſecrated biſhop of London, but who ſuc⯑ceeded him here is uncertain: One Robert Rollinſon is named, but no authority ap⯑pears.

WILLIAM LE SCROOPE was promoted to this dignity in 1437, and held it twenty-ſix years: He died the 5th of May, 1463, and was buried in York cathedral^‖.

RALPH BOOTH, prebendary of Norton, occurs in 1463: It is probable that biſhop Booth, who was conſecrated in 1457, before his tranſlation to York, collated Ralph to this dignity, as he did to the archdeaconry of York, in 1477: He held both to the time of his death, which happened in 1497: Was temporal chancellor of Durham.

THOMAS COLSTON, LL. B. next occurs; nephew to biſhop Fox, who collated him the 20th of April, 1497^¶. He reſigned, and

ROGER LEYBOURNE ſucceeded the 24th of January, 1499. He Was temporal chancellor of Durham, maſter of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, a prebendary of York, and occurs archdeacon of York, on the 10th of September, 1503; and in the ſucceeding year, was conſecrated biſhop of Carliſle.

JOHN BOERNIUS, a Genoeſe clerk, was obtruded into this dignity by the pope: He reſigned in 1515, but reſerved to himſelf a penſion of 50 l. per ann.

WILLIAM FRANKLEYN, B. D. occurs in 1531. He was both temporal and ſpi⯑ritual chancellor to the biſhops Ruthall, Wolſey, and Tunſtall; held the rectory of Houghton, in the fourteenth year of king Henry VIII. In the year 1538, was made dean of Windſor; and about the ſame time rector of Chalfonte, in the county of Bucks: In 1545, being maſter of St Giles's hoſpital, at Keypier, he ſurrendered the ſame into the king's hands, as alſo great part of the revenue of Windſor deanry; but [221] being complained of for concealment, was obliged to ſurrender the entire deanry in 1553, keeping all his other preferments to the time of his death, which happen⯑ed about the year 1555: The place of his interment is uncertain, but it is probable he was buried obſcurely at St Giles's, Chalfonte^*.

BERNARD GILPIN, B. D. ſucceeded in this archdeaconry, in 1556, but quitted it in about four years;— the particulars of his life will be inſerted under the head of Houghton pariſh, in the ſequel.

JOHN EBDEN, B. D. and prebendary of Ely, was appointed by queen Elizabeth, during a vacancy of the See, on the 22d of May, 1560: Was proctor of the univer⯑ſity of Cambridge, and had rich benefices in the dioceſe of Ely and Wincheſter, in the latter of which he was archdeacon: Did not hold his office in this church long^†, for we find

JOHN PILKINGTON, B. D. brother and chaplain to biſhop Pilkington, ſucceeded the 5th of December, 1563. He was interred in this cathedral, without any monu⯑ment, A^o 1603^‡.

WILLIAM MORTON, B. D. was collated the 19th of November, 1603: Was rector of Long Newton, in 1588; and vicar of St Nicholas' church, in Newcaſtle, where he was interred, the 18th of July, 1620.

GABRIEL CLARKE, D. D. was collated the 9th of September, 1621. Died in 1662, and was buried in this cathedral^§.

DENNIS GRANVILLE, D. D. ſucceeded, being collated the 16th of September, 1662: Was deprived in 1691^‖; and ſucceeded by

[222]ROBERT BOOTHE, B. D. the 15th of May, 1691: Was dean of Briſtol, where he died, and was interred the 18th of Auguſt, 1730.

GEORGE SAYER, A. M. ſucceeded on the 3d of November, 1730. He died in 1761^*, and was ſucceeded by

SAMUEL DICKENS, D. D. on the 8th of January, 1762^†.

ARCHDEACONS OF NORTHUMBERLAND.

This dignity, with Howick rectory annexed, was valued, in 1534, at 36l. 13s. 4d.

RANULPH NEPOS E'PI RANULPHI, witneſs to the biſhops charter, ſans date, oc⯑curs in 1131.

ROBERT held this office in 1140, as did

RALPH, in the year 1141 and 1153, and^‡

WILLIAM, 1160.

DURAND enjoyed it in 1174^§; we have then a great vacancy, for the firſt nomi⯑nee that occurs is

RICHARD DE MARISCO, archdeacon of Richmond, and afterwards biſhop of Dur⯑ham, and lord chancellor, an. 4 Joh. regis, 1212; occurs again in 1223. He ad⯑miniſtered the oath to king John, which the ſovereign took to the pope^‖.

ALAN DE LENN is the next that occurs, in 1219^¶.

THOMAS DE ANESTY was preferred thereto by the king, during the vacancy of the See, the 5th of April, 1248; and quitted it for the archdeaconry of Durham, in 1250.

THOMAS DE HEREFORD died poſſeſſed of the office, in Auguſt, 1253^**; and the next we find is

RICHARD DE MIDDLETON, the 23d of September, 1270; and after him

ROGER DE HERTBURN, in 1288; and

NICHOLAS DE WELLS, in 1310, and 1311^††.

ROBERT DE PICKERING, on the 12th of June, 1312: Was made dean of York^‡‡, and it is probable quitted the archdeaconry in 1314, in favour of

THOMAS CHARLTON, LL. D. who was conſecrated biſhop of Hereford, in 1327^§§, upon whoſe reſignation

[223]JOHN DE CHARLETON was preſented by the king, the 16th of February, 1328^*.

EDMUND HOWARD occurs in the year 1343; and

WILLIAM DE SHREWSBURY, in 1353 and 1355^†: Was prebendary of Longden, and archdeacon of Salop, in Litchfield cathedral.

JOHN DE BAMBURGH occurs in 1361^‡; and was ſucceeded by

RICHARD DE BARNARDCASTLE, who was collated the 10th of September, 1362: Was temporal chancellor of this palatine, and ſeems to be the ſame perſon that erected the ſhrine of St Bede, and was interred near thereto. He reſigned for the deanry of Auckland, in 1369.

THOMAS DUFFIELD was collated the 19th of Auguſt, 1369^‖.

WILLIAM DE BEVERLEY ſucceeded by exchange, in January, 1369: Was pre⯑bendary of Stillington, in York cathedral.

JOHN DE DERBY was preſented by king Edward III. during a vacancy of the See, the 9th of February, 1370, and William de Beverley was ejected^§.

JOHN REFAME occurs in 1386 and 1397^¶.

JOHN DE DALTON, in 1409.

JOHN RICHARDSON reſigned in 1410.

HENRY ELTON ſucceeded, and ſoon after reſigned^** to

JOHN RICKENGALE, who poſſeſſed it a very ſhort time; for we find he reſigned it in favour of

JOHN AKUM, in 1411; and on his reſignation

JOHN RICKENGALE again had this office: Was made biſhop of Cheſter^††, 1426.

ROBERT BURTON, D. D. occurs in 1421^‡‡.

MARMADUKE LUMLEY occurs in 1422 and 1427: Was precentor of Lincoln, rector of Stepney, in Middleſex, and of Charius, in Kent: In 1430, was conſe⯑crated biſhop of Carliſle; and in 1450, was tranſlated to the biſhopric of Lincoln. He died in 1451^§§.

ROBERT BURTON occurs again in 1427, on the reſignation of Lumley^‖‖; and

WILLIAM GRAY occurs in 1448^¶¶.

JOHN BURNE occurs in 1464.

ROBERT MASON, LL. D. occurs in 1481. He was precentor of Lincoln, maſter of Trinity Hall, Cambridge^**, and prebendary of Farendon; was alſo one of the [224] prebendaries of Norton in this county; died poſſeſſed of this dignity in 1493, and was interred in Lincoln cathedral^*.

RALPH SCROPE inſtituted the 23d of February, 1493: Was prebendary of North Kelſey, or Aileſbury, or perhaps both ſucceſſively, in Lincoln cathedral, and rector of Hambledon, in Bucks: Was ſucceeded by

ROBERT DAVELL, or DOVELL, LL. D. who appears poſſeſſed of this dignity in 1518 and 1541: Was a canon of Exeter, and had Holm prebend, in York, the 29th of May, 1541. He died in the year 1557^†.

WILLIAM CARTER, D. D. was collated the 3d of November, 1558: He was deprived, and ſentenced to remain at Thirſk, or within ten miles, on account of his recuſancy^‡: Died at Mechlin, in Brabant, in the year 1578.

WILLIAM KINGE, B. D. of King's College, Cambridge: Was preſented by queen Elizabeth, the 1ſt of January, 1560, being her chaplain^§: Was prebendary of Canterbury and Windſor, at the latter of which places he died, and was interred the 23d of September, 1590^‖: Was deprived of this archdeaconry for non-reſi⯑dence, ſome time before his death.

RALPH LEVER, A. M. was collated the 21ſt of October, 1566: Was a preben⯑dary in the firſt ſtall of this church, reſigned this dignity in the year 1573, and was ſucceeded by

FRANCIS BUNNEY, A. M. who was collated the 20th of October, 1573; re⯑ſigned on being inducted to the rectory of Ryton.

JAMES BOLD, D. D. was collated the 25th of September, 1578: Was of Cor⯑pus-Chriſti College, Oxford, and admitted to the degree of doctor in divinity, in April, 1576: He reſigned in 1581^¶; and was ſucceeded by

RALPH TUNSTALL, A. M. who was collated the 29th of October, 1581: Was rector of Croft, in Yorkſhire, and prebendary of this church, in the tenth ſtall^**.

JOHN CRADOCK, A. M. vicar of Gainford: Was collated in 1619, and reſigned on being appointed to the fifth ſtall in this church^††.

GABRIEL CLARKE, D. D. was collated the 7th of Auguſt, 1619. In Septem⯑ber, [225] 1621, was appointed archdeacon of Durham, and reſigned Northumberland. He was alſo prebendary of this church.

FRANCIS BURGOINE, D. D. was collated the 13th of September, 1621: Held the eighth ſtall in this church, and died in 1633.

JOSEPH NAYLOR, D. D. rector of Sedgefield: Was collated the 25th of Feb⯑ruary, 1633: Held the ſecond prebend in this church.

WILLIAM FEATHERS, B. D. was collated the 24th of November, 1636, on the reſignation of Naylor: Was chaplain to biſhop Morton.

EVERARD GOWER, B. D. was collated the 9th of May, 1638. In 1640, was vicar of Norton; in 1641, rector of Stanhope, and chaplain to biſhop Morton^*.

ISAAC BASIRE, B. D. his ſucceſſor, was collated the 24th of Auguſt, 1644: Was a prebendary of this church, in the ſeventh ſtall. Died in 1676; and

WILLIAM TURNER, D. D. ſucceeded, the 30th of October, 1676: Was rector of Stanhope: Departed this life at Oxford, the 20th of April, 1685, aet. 45, and was interred in St Giles's church there^†.

JOHN MORTON, B. D. ſucceeded the 5th of October, 1685: Was a preben⯑dary of this church in the 12th ſtall, and died in 1722.

THOMAS SHARP, A. M. was collated the 27th of February, 1722. A preben⯑dary of this church, in the tenth ſtall: Died in 1758; and was ſucceeded by

THOMAS ROBINSON, D. D. who was collated in Auguſt, 1758: Was pre⯑bendary of Peterborough and Landaff, and vicar of Ponteland, in Northumberland. Died in 1761 ^‡.

JOHN SHARP, D. D. was collated the 21ſt of April, 1762. Inducted to the vicarage of Hexham, in Northumberland, the 1ſt of January, 1749-50; collated to the ninth ſtall in 1768; and nominated to the perpetual curacy of Bamborough, in 1773.

AFTER a tedious arrangement of the ſeveral eccleſiaſtics who ſat in this church, the reader's attention is required to a deſcription of the ſacred edifices, with a comparative view of their ancient ſtate and ornaments.

The traveller is conducted to this cathedral by the Place or Place-Green, where the whole north front lies open to the view. The ſituation is ſingularly grand and noble, the building ſtretching along the crown of an eminence, about eighty feet perpendicular from the ſurface of the river, which waſhes its baſe; on the eaſt ſide [226] the Bailey intervenes between the church and the brink of the hill; and on the weſt this venerable pile riſes on the points of rocks, which ſhew themſelves on the ſum⯑mit of the mount, and almoſt overhangs the ſtream: On this elevated ground the whole edifice has the moſt ſtriking and auguſt appearance. The towers to the weſt were anciently crowned with ſpires, covered with lead; the windows of the nave are under circular arches, of the original model; in the other parts (excepting the upper tier of the choir) moſt of them are of a different form and age. This front is now under repair, the ſtones being all chiſſeled over, and the decayed parts reſtored; the towers will receive new decorations, very different from the ancient ones, and the niches be ſupplied with new ſculptures; the expence is eſtimated at thirty thouſand pounds, to be paid out of the Chapter's treaſury:—A diſtinguiſhed act of public munificence!

As the propoſed changes will effectually remove from the traveller's eye the ancient appearance of this edifice, it was thought expedient to preſent the public with a re⯑preſentation of the church in the ſtate it was before the repairs began; and not⯑withſtanding the elegance of the preſent deſign, it is apprehended ſome of the ornaments might have been choſen with greater propriety: Above the great win⯑dow of the middle tranſept, in two roundels, were the figures of Benedictine monks, cut in relief; by the mode of the ſculpture, expreſſive of the age of the building. They led the judicious eye immediately to the aera, and gave an example of the ſtate of that art: Theſe roundels are now ſupplied with two fine new figures—the one a prior, ſeated in his inſtallation chair; the other, an effigy of biſhop Pudſey, cut from the figure on his epiſcopal ſeal, as given in the plate of his charter to the city of Durham ^*. A century after this the figures will betray the ſpectator into an error, and lead him to determine, that this part of the ſtructure was erected, or at leaſt rebuilt, by that prelate. On the weſt corner tower of the eaſt tranſept, were the effigies of thoſe perſonages who attended the propitious cow, by which the monks diſcovered this ſeat of eaſe and magnificence; the cut ſhews the receſs and ſculp⯑tures in their decayed ſtate, the figures being now reſtored and finiſhed with much

[227] art. The great tower of the church, as remarked in the preceding part of this work, is much more modern than the reſt, being built as high as the gallery, by prior Melſanby, who acceded in the year 1233, and his ſucceſſor, prior Middleton: Prior Hugh, of Darlington, who was elected in 1258, finiſhed the work, by build⯑ing the belfrey or upper tower. The tabernacle work, pointed arches, and ornament on the outſides of the building, confirm thoſe dates; for then the Gothic ſtile was in general acceptation: The buttreſſes of the tower are graced with niches canopied and finiſhed with tabernacle work, in which are ſtatues repreſenting the great patrons of the See, in tolerable ſculpture. The height of this tower, Willis ſays, is two hundred and twenty-three feet, deſcribing the lanthern to be one hundred and ſixty-two feet, and the belfrey ſixty-one feet; but Mr Nicholſon's admeaſurement, which is moſt to be depended upon, makes the whole height two hundred and fourteen feet, that is, the dome or lanthern one hundred and ſixty, and the bel⯑frey fifty-four feet.

It appears that the Place-Green, before prior Algar's time, in 1109, was crowd⯑ed with houſes, and to him we owe that great elegance of an open area between the cathedral and caſtle, giving the two edifices at once to the ſpectator's view; he hav⯑ing cauſed the buildings to be removed, and the ground to be reduced to a plain. The entrance to the church was by a portico, of much more modern work than the reſt of the building, formed by pilaſters and circular arches, the upper ſtructure ſupported by flanking buttreſſes, from whence ſprung a pointed arch, the whole terminating at a point in the center: The arms of queen Elizabeth, in ſtucco work, were placed on the diviſion of two circular arches, where formerly were the win⯑dows of a ſmall chapel: The portico, during the late repairs, was rebuilt and highly ornamented: There were anciently two chambers above the north door, where perſons were lodged to hear the call of ſuch as came to claim ſanctuary, and who rang the bell to give notice thereof; after which the fugitive was ſecure from ſe⯑cular authority^*. There was alſo an ancient chapel, dedicated to the holy croſs, in this place; and in prior Kerneck's time, viz. 1214, we find an aſſignment of twenty ſhillings yearly out of the mills of Browney, or Bruna, given to the houſe by Alan and Henry de Melſanby, with fifty acres of land in Pitenden, for a chaplain to cele⯑brate maſs for the ſoul of Alan de Melſanby, which chaplain was allowed his cor⯑rody [228] in the houſe^*. The entrance down into the church is by three ſhallow ſteps.

It is unneceſſary to preſent to the reader a diſſertation on the ancient modes of architecture, to elucidate a deſcription of the work, in the various parts of this edifice; the age of it is known, and the alterations made therein are almoſt criti⯑cally aſcertained: What we commonly call the Saxon architecture in ſuch edifices, is in fact Roman; for thoſe who conſtructed the religious buildings which aroſe in the earlieſt aera of the Norman acceſſion, formed them after the models of workmen procured from the continent, (ſpoken of by Richard, prior of Hexham, l. i. cha. 3.) and came over to conſtruct our capital buildings, expreſsly "according to the Roman manner." This ſtile prevailed till about the concluſion of king Henry the Firſt's reign, when, what we now call Gothic was inſtroduced into Britain, ſo that in this church we find ſome ſtrokes of the improved ſtile; for as the building was begun in 1093, ſo it was many years before it was completed: The walls were leſt unrooſed by biſhop Flambard at his death; and the reader will recollect that biſhop William brought the deſign with him from Normandy^†. The ingenious traveller Mr Pennant, ſays, "In the inſide is preſerved much of the clumſy, yet venerable magnificence of the early Norman ſtile." The gateway, which is ten feet wide, is ornamented within on each hand with pilaſters; the inner one, or that neareſt the gate, very richly emboſſed with foliage, and figures in a light and ele⯑gant ſtile; the other plain: The inclining arches are ſemi-circular; the inner mem⯑bers carved in the zig-zag figure; the outward one embatteled or dentelled. The venerable pile ſtrikes the viſitor on his entrance with an awful ſolemnity not to be expreſſed; the ſtately and maſſive columns, the long extended ailes, the gloom which ſhadows the ſucceſſion of arches, all contribute to affect the mind with an at⯑tention beſt known by being experienced: Ideas ariſe replete with the diſtant an⯑tiquity of the place, the piety of thoſe from whom the ſtructure had its origin, and the devotion which warmed the breaſts of the religious whoſe characteriſtic virtues ſhone forth in the holy places. The plan or deſign of this building is more regu⯑lar than generally to be found in ſtructures of the like age: The length of the whole church within, excluſive of the gallilee, is four hundred and eleven feet; that of the nave, from the weſt window to the center of the columns which ſupport the tower, is two hundred feet, and its width ſeventy-four feet, of which the center aile, from baſe to baſe of the pillars, is twenty-eight feet. The ſuperſtructure is ſupport⯑ed on two rows of columns. Mr Pennant ſays, the pillars are vaſt cylinders twenty-three feet in circumference: The two extreme columns to the weſt riſe from baſes of the form of a complicated croſs, having pointed projections from the interior angles; the dimenſions of each baſe are fifteen feet every way, being exactly ſimilar [229] to thoſe which ſupport the columns of the tower and dome, vulgarly called the lanthern; the pillars are cluſtered, having three ſemi-circular pilaſters in each front, divided by an angular projection: The next column eaſtward riſes from a baſe of the form of a croſs, twelve feet each way, ſupporting a cluſtered pillar, the pilaſters of which, towards the center aile, run up to the roof through the facia, between the upper windows; the next riſes from a ſquare baſe of eight feet, and is richly fluted, terminating with a plain capital, which ſupports the gallery above the ſide aile: Each intermediate pillar is cluſtered like thoſe deſcribed in the ſecond place, ſtretch⯑ing up to the roof, and thoſe in the intervals are circular, making the ſucceſſion conſiſt of a cluſtered pillar, and a round one alternately; the firſt round pillar is fluted as before deſcribed, the ſecond covered with the zig-zag figure, and the third grooved with the figure of a net. The pillars oppoſite to each other are exact⯑ly ſimilar in ornaments and dimenſions: It is alſo to be obſerved, the cluſtered and round pillars through all the building have their baſes of the dimenſions before ſet forth: All the ſide walls are decorated with pilaſters oppoſite to the columns, and the interior ſpaces under the windows are filled with double pilaſters and interſect⯑ing round arches throughout the whole building, except only in the eaſt tranſept. The arches between the great columns are all ſemi-circular, the outward members dentelled, the interiors zig-zag'd: The under gallery opens to the middle aile, with one round arch divided within into two arches, ſupported on a center pillar. There is an upper gallery of ſingle arches. At the weſt end of the nave is a ſhort croſs aile or tranſcept, in length ninety feet, and eighteen feet wide from the cen⯑ters of the columns, over the ends of which riſe the weſt towers; according to Willis, one hundred and fifty-eight feet in height, but by Nicholſon's admeaſure⯑ment only one hundred and thirty-eight feet. At the end of each ſide aile is a gate⯑way, which opens into the gallilee. The ancient ornaments of the north aile are pointed out to the reader in the notes^*. There are ſix large windows to give light [230] to this aile, but all the old painted glaſs is deſtroyed. The vaultings of the ſide ailes are ſemi-circular, and croſſed with groined arches in plain rolls, interſecting each other in the center. The middle aile of the nave is ſixty-nine and a half feet in height; the roof was vaulted with ſtone about the year 1242, by prior Melſonby; the ribs interſect each other in pointed arches, ornamented with zig-zag workin the fillets: There are ſeven upper windows to the north, and ſix to the ſouth. At the eaſt end of the nave, between the pillars which ſupport the great tower, anciently ſtood Jeſus's altar, with all its decorations, no traces of which remain ^*. Behind the [231] altar, and between the two round pillars, were interred priors Aukland and Caſtell, and nearer to the font prior Burnaby ^*. In the center of the four weſt pillars, is the font, an elegant marble baſon, over which is a fine piece of tabernacle work in red oak, of an octagon form, richly ornamented, and of excellent workmanſhip, ſupported by four columns about eight feet in height, the whole being about thirty feet high, terminating in a pinnacle, and decorated with a dove extending her wings. To the eaſt of the font, between pillar and pillar, is a croſs of black marble laid in the pavement, beyond which women were ſtrictly prohibited advancing towards St Cuthbert's ſhrine ^†. In the middle of the ſouth aile, oppoſite to the ſecond pillar [232] from the cloiſter door, was the tomb of biſhop Nevil; between the ſecond and third pillar ſtands an altar tomb of John lord Nevil, and between the next adjoining pil⯑lars, the tomb of Ralph lord Nevil. Ralph lord Nevil died in the year 1347, and, as I obſerved before, was the firſt layman ſuffered to be buried within the walls of this church. His remains were brought in a chariot drawn by ſeven horſes, as far as the gates of the church-yard, and then borne on the ſhoulders of his knights into the church: The abbot of St Mary's, of York, performed the funeral offices, and he was interred before the altar of the holy croſs, where he obtained a maſs to be daily ſaid: His wife Alicia was afterwards buried near him. It was then a cuſtom to make offerings at the interment of great men, and eight horſes, four for war, with four men armed and capariſoned, and four for peace, were on this occaſion the holy gift; together with three veſtments of cloth of gold, interwoven with flowers. His ſon, John Nevil, redeemed four horſes by the payment of one hun⯑dred mares: But Mr Pennant obſerves, ‘This favour was not done gratis by the holy men of the place: Ralph had preſented them with a veſtment of red velvet, richly embroidered with gold, ſilk, great pearls, and images of ſaints, dedicated to St Cuthbert ^*. His widow alſo ſent to the ſacriſt one hundred and twenty pounds of ſilver, for the repairs of the cathedral, and ſeveral rich veſtments for the performance of the ſacred offices ^†. This was the nobleman who was ſo in⯑ſtrumental [233] in gaining the victory of Nevil's Croſs;’ or the Red Hills. The tomb of John, his ſon, is alſo an evidence of the convent's favour obtained by rich gifts. Theſe monuments were ornamented with the recumbent effigies of the great perſonages there interred, and ſurrounded with ſmall figures of eccleſiaſtics in ala⯑baſter, finely wrought, but now mutilated and almoſt totally defaced: When the general diſregard for religious edifices took place of old veneration, this church was thought the propereſt place of confinement and ſecurity for the Scotch priſoners after the battle of Dunbar; and they pillaged and deſtroyed every thing within their reach,—fulfilling the ſcriptures literally, making this holy place, in truth, a den of thieves ^*. At the north end of the weſt tranſept was St Saviour's altar; and at the ſouth end, the grate, on which thoſe who were under ſanctuary lay; the remains of all which, with the Lady of Pity's altar, and the holy water baſons, are totally effaced. In the ſouth aile are ſix windows, in which are ſome broken re⯑mains of painted glaſs ^†. Over the two gates of the gallilee are ſhields of arms of [234] biſhop Langley. The weſt window of ſeven lights, was made in prior Foſſour's time, by John Tickhill, under which are the monuments of Sir George Wheeler, Dr Knatchbull, and Dr Watts ^*. There is a little door by which the officiating prieſt paſſed to the altar of the virgin in the gallilee. The fine paintings in the weſt windows are all defaced ^†. In the ſouth aile, oppoſite to the north entrance, is a large gateway into the cloiſter, highly wrought and decorated, with a range of three inclining pilaſters, ſupporting ſemi-circular arches; the pilaſters are variouſly cut in ſquares and circles, emboſſed with flowers, figures of animals, and the zig-zag ornaments: Their capitals are finiſhed with figures of animals; and the out⯑ward arch is decorated with groteſque figures in circles. At the eaſt end of this aile is another gateway into the cloiſter, but not ſo large as the laſt deſcribed, form⯑ing a portico in the thickneſs of the wall, by inclining pilaſters and arches; the out⯑ward bow is ornamented with a band of thorns, the ſecond a rich cordage, the third embattled or dentelled, the next a fillet of roſes, and the laſt a double zig-zag.

The great croſs aile, or middle tranſept of this church, has an aile towards the eaſt at both ends; the entrance into the choir, projecting in the center, equal there⯑to. This tranſept is one hundred and ſeventy feet in length, and fifty-ſeven feet in width, including the aile; without which it is only forty feet from the centers of the great columns which ſupport the dome. The clock anciently ſtood behind Jeſus's altar, in the middle of the nave, fronting the choir door, but is now placed at the ſouth end of the tranſept, and was built in its preſent elegant form, in 1632, in dean Hunt's time. The body of this tranſept is ſeparated from its ailes at each end by two round pillars, and one cluſtered one; one of the round pillars is grooved in a [235] ſpiral form, and the other in the zig-zag figure: Thoſe ailes are now incloſed with a wood ſcreen; that on the ſouth end being fitted up for the morning ſervice at ſix o'clock; the other to the north not of preſent uſe: Each aile is lighted by three windows to the eaſt, and one at the end, and anciently had three altars: In the ſouth limb, Howell's, or the altar of the holy virgin, next to the choir; the lady of Boulton's altar, alſo dedicated to the holy virgin, and the altar of St Fides, and St Thomas the Apoſtle, the laſt: Before Howell's altar, prior John de Hemingburg was interred, and the priors William de Ebcheſter, and Robert de Ebcheſter, before the lady of Boulton's altar ^*. In the north limb, St Benedict's altar ſtood next the choir; the [236] next St Gregory's; and the altar of St Nicholas and St Giles the laſt to the north: Before St Benedict's altar were interred priors Berrington and Weſſington; and prior Foſſour before the altar of St Nicholas and St Giles, he being the firſt prior buried within the walls of this church. The windows of this tranſept were ele⯑gantly glazed with painted glaſs, of which little remains. The picture of St Bede, an elegant figure in a blue habit, is yet perfect, and part of the repreſentation of the crucifixion, as deſcribed in the notes ^*. The north window was made by the muni⯑ficent prior Foſſour, under a pointed arch, as alſo three windows in the aile; but the [237] great window going ſoon after to decay, was reſtored by prior Caſtell, who ac⯑ceded in 1494, and ornamented it with much painting: There is a large window on the weſt ſide of the tranſept, near the end. The ſouth window, before deſcribed in the notes, is called the Te Deum window. The choir is now incloſed with a ſcreen of oak, covered in a bold ſtile with feſtoons of fruits and flowers, and an en⯑tablature of a rich foliage pattern. This takes place of the old pannelled work, on which were painted the images of the great patrons and benefactors of this church; under each of which was an hiſtorical inſcriptions in letters of gold ^*. (The ſcreen at Hexham, deſcribed in the View of Northumberland, and by Mr Pennant, gives an idea of what our cathedral paintings were.) The ailes are incloſed by handſome gates, [238] carved with foliage and open work: Above the ſcreen, ſtands an excellent organ ^*, richly ornamented ^†. There are brackets for ſtatues againſt the pillars of the tranſept, on each ſide of the entrance into the choir. In the center of this tran⯑ſept is the great dome or lanthern, ſupported on four cluſtered pillars, from the floor to the center of the roof one hundred and ſixty feet in height^‡. This being built [239] in the beginning of the thirteenth century, has many marks of a refined taſte: Round the bottom of the dome is a hanging gallery ſupported on corbles, each intermediate one ſculptured with a human figure; the breaſt work or battlement of the gallery is formed in open roſe work: The ſuperſtructure is ornamented in pannels with pilaſters, terminating in tabernacle work: There are two long windows in each front, ſeparated by a round pilaſter, whoſe capital is pierced in flowers and foliage; pilaſters of the ſame order are placed in the angles, and from the eight pilaſters ſpring the groins of the arched roof or vault of the dome, which are braced at in⯑tervals, and finiſhed with a circle in the center, in a light and beautiful taſte.

The aſcent from the tranſept is by two marble ſteps to the choir, entering which, the viſitor is ſtruck with the magnificence and ſolemnity of the ſcene. The choir is one hundred and twenty feet in length, and in width equal to the center aile of the nave, the chief pillars running parallel through the whole building. The ſide ailes are not ſo wide as thoſe of the nave, the width of the choir being only ſeventy-ſix feet. The floor is laid with black and white marble^*. The ſtalls are elegant; the [240] biſhop's ſtall being on the right-hand ſide of the entrance, the dean's on the other; [241] one for the temporal chancellor on the dean's left-hand, and thoſe of the preben⯑daries [242] and archdeacons in ſucceſſion; the minor canons next; one at the extremity [243] towards the eaſt on the ſouth ſide, for the vicar-general of the dioceſe; and others on both ſides, for the reception of the judges of aſſize, ſheriff, mayor, and corpora⯑tion of the city, &c. on ſuch accuſtomed days as they attend divine ſervice there; the whole finiſhed in a magnificent ſtile with tabernacle work. Beneath the ſtalls are ſeats for the lay-ſingers, choriſters, almſhouſe-men, and ſcholars of the founda⯑tion. Advancing towards the altar, where the ſtalls terminate, the pavement is elevated one ſtep, and on the right-hand is the biſhop's throne, erected by biſhop Hatfield, over the vault prepared for his own monument, and built in a ſtile con⯑ſiſtent with the proud idea he held of the dignity of his mitre. Mr Pennant ſpeak⯑ing of it, ſays, ‘In the choir is the biſhop's throne, elevated to an uncommon height, erected in times of the triumph of ſuperſtition. A painful aſcent to the preſent prelate, whoſe wiſh is directed more to diſtinguiſh himſelf by benevolence and ſincerity, than any exterior trappings or badges of dignity.’ The aſcent to the throne is by many ſteps; in the center is a chair of ſtate, richly ornamented, and canopied over head with tabernacle work, coloured and gilt; on each ſide, the throne is lined with tapeſtry, and otherwiſe handſomely furniſhed, large enough to receive the chief temporal officers, with the ſervants who are about the prelate's perſon: The biſhop, when he goes to his throne, is always preceded by a perſon [244] bearing a maſſy gilded mace, in diſtinction of his ſecular power. Chambrè tells us, Novum ad auſtralem partem chori...juxta ſtallos monachorum curioſum opus conſtruxit, in medio cujus ſtallum epiſcopale, imaginibus ſubtiliter ſculptis, ſumptibus copioſis in opera⯑rios largiſſime impenſis, honorifice circumſeptum, fecit & decenter ordinavit ^*. The images are all removed. Below the throne are ſtalls for the prebendaries' ladies: On the oppoſite ſide of the choir, where biſhop Skirlaw's tomb was, are other ſtalls for the ladies of the biſhops, and dean's families and others; and cloſe adjoining is the pulpit, finely ornamented with inlaid figures in the Italian ſtile, repreſenting ſome of the apoſtles, the ground Swediſh oak; the figures are almoſt as large as life, ſo artfully ſhadowed as to appear like a delicate painting in bronze: The ſounding board is ſupported by one column. The opening into the ſide ailes to which you deſcend by five marble ſteps, is by a gate, and two ſide lights of open tracery work, in wood, finely executed and finiſhed above with tabernacle work. The choir com⯑prehends four pillars on each ſide, two of them cluſtered, and two round, the round ones cut in the ſpiral figure: The double gallery above the ſide ailes is formed of circular arches, each of the lower openings divided by a ſingle column. The roof was repaired, or rather new vaulted by prior Hotoun, who acceded in 1289; it is of elegant Gothic work, the ribs of the arches terminating in points ornamented with roſes, the fillets pierced in roſes and croſſes: Some of the decorations of the center roſes are ſingular; one next to the organ contains a human figure, with three round balls in an apron, not unuſual among the heathen emblematical effigies. From the altar rails eaſtward, the whole work appears nearly of the ſame date, and by the ar⯑chitecture of this part of the edifice, we are led to conclude that the building origi⯑nally terminated here, and was opened further eaſtward to form a connection with the eaſt tranſept: The columns which riſe at the altar rail, are little more than the plain facing of a common wall, ornamented with long ſmall round pilaſters, ſingle and belted in the middle, their capitals pierced, decorated with figures of animals, and finiſhed above with tabernacle work; the whole appearing like ornaments placed occaſionally there: The opening of the gallery in this part is different from the reſt of the church, conſiſting of three pointed arches, ſupported by columns whoſe capitals are richly pierced, and the fillets of the arches are pierced and highly decorated; there is alſo an interior pillar ſupporting a groined vaulting. Here the building appears to have been broken off and the eaſt wall removed. The vaulting of the roof is continued, and over the altar table finiſhes with a fine pointed arch, ſupported on cluſtered pillars, ranging with the ſide of the eaſt tran⯑ſept; the capitals and the fillets or mouldings of the arch are highly finiſhed with pierced work, and bear no degree of ſimilitude to any of the more weſtern parts of this edifice. Within the altar rails eaſtward, from the plain columns before deſ⯑cribed, are four ſeats on each ſide of the altar table, for the officiating prieſts to reſt, formed of pillars, ſupporting pinnacle work, of the ſame materials and deſign as the work behind the altar, and moſt probably erected at the ſame time: Theſe ſeats are cloſed from the ailes behind with a wall, which proves the occaſionality, by [245] being diſſimilar to the reſt of the aile^*. The altar ſcreen, which is very beauti⯑ful, is thus ſpoken of by Chambrè: ‘The marble tomb for St Cuthbert's feretory being finiſhed, at the like inſtance of the prior and monks, lord John Nevil gave to the church the work above the altar, called lavadoſe, which coſt him ſix hundred marks, and was encloſed in caſes, and ſent from London by ſhipping^†.’ This ſcreen is in pinnacle work, of plaſter of Paris, with pedeſtals for ſtatues, richly canopied: Was put up at the expence of the convent, and finiſhed by prior John Berrington, of Walworth, in the year 1380, when the high altar was dedicated with much ſolemnity^‡.

[246]By a door at each end of the table, you enter into St Cuthbert's feretory, thus ſpoken of by Mr Pennant, ‘Behind the altar ſtood the ſhrine of St Cuthbert, once the richeſt in Great-Britain: The marks of pilgrims' feet in the worn floor ſtill evince the multitude of votaries: At the diſſolution his body was taken out of the tomb, and interred beneath.’ It is now ſtripped of every ornament; is thirty-ſeven feet in length, and twenty-ſix in width, eaſtward from the altar ſcreen; raiſed with ſtone work about eight feet high, and ſurrounded with wainſcot, in which no great elegance appears; it is formed with apertures divided by columns, and ornamented with an entablature: The pillars are finiſhed with light pinnacles of tabernacle work: In ancient times it is preſumed the wainſcot was covered within with rich hangings. The marble monument which John lord Nevil gave to incloſe St Cuthbert's remains, is no more; a large blue ſtone is placed in the floor, where his bones reſt, and it is preſumed have long teſtified their corruptibility^*. In the choir biſhop Beaumont and biſhop Pilkington were interred.

[247]The ailes of the choir are vaulted like the ailes of the nave. In the north aile, [248] oppoſite to biſhop Skirlaw's tomb, is a ſtone ſeat with the ſhields of his arms. There St Blaſe's altar ſtood. What is ſaid in the ancient deſcriptions of this church, touching a porch called the anchorage, of which no remains is to be traced, or of the ſtairs deſcribed to adjoin to the north door of St Cuthbert's feretory, confirms our judgment that the whole eaſt end of this edifice was altered in the thirteenth century; and it is to be obſerved, that the columns at the ends of the ailes are [261]

[249] cluſtered, of various ſmall pilaſters, like thoſe of the whole eaſt tranſept: The arches are pointed, and with the capitals of the columns richly wrought in pierced work like thoſe of the high altar: This aile is lighted by four windows, three of which are of pointed arches, and two made by John Tickhill, in prior Foſſour's time. At the eaſt end of the ſouth aile, was alſo an ancient porch, deſcribed to be ſimilar to that on the north where the rood of Scotland was placed; of which there are no re⯑mains: Under the laſt window the wall is ornamented with pilaſters and tabernacle work, and there is a door-way (now ſhut up) which led into the cemetery garth^*. [250] In this aile are the ſacriſtaria and veſtry rooms built by prior Hotoun, and oppoſite thereto the tomb of biſhop Hatfield, ‘who died in 1381, ornamented with as many coats of arms as would ſerve any German prince^*.’ Under the vaulting is a recumbent effigy of the biſhop in his epiſcopal attire, of white marble, the work [251] around it gaudily ornamented with gilding and green, and every where covered with blazonings of arms ^*; of which we have given remarks in the notes to that prelate's life. A corner of this ſuperb monument reſts on an ancient tombſtone, and has preſerved it from the general deſtruction which ſwept away the monumental inſcriptions, when the new pavement was laid: A miſtaken zeal in all reformations has preſſed the parties headlong into an extreme, in many points as reprehenſible as that which they tried to eſcape; for a vehement deſire of eradicating ſuperſtition, urged ſacrilegious hands againſt the monuments of thoſe whoſe memories were dear to the learned, whoſe examples and virtues were worthy the emulation of ſucceed⯑ing ages, and with a contempt that was at once irreligious and brutal, reformiſts ruſhed forward to deface memorials which they had not merit to purchaſe. To ſweep away from the eye the mementos of monks, priors, and prelates of the con⯑demned church, the tombſtones were torn up, leſt they ſhould reproach the living with remembrance of the excellencies of the dead: A new pavement was laid down in the beginning of the laſt century. The monument which prompted this di⯑greſſion, ſo far as the inſcription is legible, covers the remains of Emery de Lomley, prior of the cell of Lathom, in Lancaſhire, dependant on this church; who was one that voted Robert de Grayſtanes might have the See of Durham ^†. Two windows in this aile were made in prior Foſſour's time by the feretory.

At the eaſt end of the ſide ailes are gates leading into the eaſt tranſept, common⯑ly called the Nine Altars ^‡, the deſcent into which is by ſeveral ſteps: It is one hundred and thirty feet in length, and in width from the ſcreen of the high altar fifty-one feet, making the whole length of the church four hundred and eleven feet. St Cuthbert's feretory projects twenty-ſeven feet into the tranſept, and is elevated [252] about eight feet above the pavement. This tranſept is lighted by one large window [253] at each end, under pointed arches, with much tracery, in the glaſs of one of which [254] was depicted the hiſtory of St Cuthbert, and in the other the hiſtory of Joſeph, both now totally defaced: To the eaſt it is lighted by a double range of windows, the lower tier conſiſting of nine long windows; in the center of the upper tier is a large circular window, called St Catherine's window, having three long windows on each ſide, the arches of which are all pointed. By the engraving given from Mr Nicholſon's drawing and admeaſurement of the whole eaſt end of the church, the reader will diſtinguiſh the ſimilarity of ſtile in this tranſept and the tower; and, we hope, will be convinced that the obſervation as to their date is not ill grounded: On the projections of this front are two effigies, in the printed deſcriptions of the church ſaid to repreſent biſhop William on the ſouth, who began the preſent edifice; and on the north biſhop Flambard, who tranſlated St Cuthbert's body to the ſhrine pre⯑pared for him therein; the firſt attired in his mitre and epiſcopal inſignia, the other having his head uncovered: But it is more probable they are the effigies of biſhop Farnham^*, and his contemporary prior Thomas of Melſonby, for biſhop Anthony Beke, who died in 1310, was interred near the altar of St Michael, and the wall was broken through to admit his remains; which is a proof this part of the edifice and its altars were then made. We will conclude theſe obſervations by ſaying, it is preſumed this moſt elegant part of the edifice was finiſhed by prior Richard de Hotoun, who, it is certain, roofed the choir, and acceded to the priory in 1289. The pilaſters of this tranſept, from whence riſe the groins of the roof, are of an angular projection, light and elegant: On each ſide of the great window the pilaſters conſiſt of a cluſter of ſmall circular columns, one of larger dimenſion in front, and ſix on each ſide to form the projecting angle, belted in two places at in⯑tervals, with a triple roll, the capitals pierced in flowers; the pilaſters between each window are compoſed of a front column, and four on each ſide, in an angler pro⯑jection, belted and capitalled as the larger ones; every other column is of black marble, the intermediate ones of white free ſtone, which had a beautiful effect be⯑fore they were, from the miſtaken zeal of reformation, daubed over and concealed as they now remain, with waſhing and oker. Under each tier of windows a gal⯑lery runs the whole length of the tranſept: The nine altars were placed one under each window to the eaſt, the wall ornamented with ſhort pilaſters and open niches in the roſe figure, exactly ſimilar to the gallery of the dome: The vaulted roof is ribbed, the ribs meet on three circles; the ſilletings of the ribs are pierced like thoſe of the choir, with roſes and croſſes: The circles are beautifully ornamented, the moſt northern one being pierced with a rich garland of flowers; that in the center is ſculptured with four figures finely relieved, repreſenting the evangeliſts [255] kneeling, with their proper emblems: The ſouthern circle is of elegant ſculpture, exhibiting the revelation of Chriſt's nativity.

The gallilee at the weſt end of the church, as was obſerved before, was by ancient authors ſaid to be appropriated by biſhop Pudſey, for the reception of women, being originally deſigned for the ſervice of proceſſions: It is in breadth from eaſt to weſt fifty feet, and from north to ſouth eighty feet; divided into five ailes, by four rows of pillars, running eaſt and weſt; three pillars and two pilaſters, in each range; the pillars formed of four ſmall round columns placed together, whoſe baſe is only two feet ſquare; the pilaſters conſiſt of two round columns, de⯑tached from the walls, their capitals ornamented with a leaf and mouldings; the arches are circular, and cut underneath and on the ſides with the zig-zag figure; the roof is not vaulted ^*: It is lighted with three large windows to the weſt, with flat or elliptic arches, and one ſmaller window at each extremity under pointed arches; to the ſouth, four windows with pointed arches; the north ſide is built up, and uſed for the regiſter's office: The old entrance was from the north, by a ſmall yard adjoin⯑ing to the church-yard, ſo that the women need not come within the gates of the church: The door circular, with pilaſters and mouldings, greatly decayed. The gallilee on the ſouth ſide is now ſtalled and benched for the biſhop's conſiſtory court^†. In the center of the eaſt wall was an altar dedicated to the [256] [257] [258] holy virgin ^*; to the ſouth of which lies the marble ſtone which covers the re⯑mains [259] of Venerable Bede ^*; his altar being immediately behind Sir Geo. Wheler's monument: Adjoining to the altar of the holy Virgin is the tomb of cardinal Langley ^†. From the mode of architecture obſerved in this place, together with [260] the circumſtance of the arms above the entrances, we are led to conjecture that the gallilee in the preſent form is to be attributed to cardinal Langley, in the beginning of the fifteenth century, who, as was before obſerved, expended in reparations and additional works therein, 499l. 6s. 7d. The form of the pillars, and the center windows, with the various fragments of ornaments which appear in the outward wall to the weſt, ſtrengthen the ſuppoſition that the preſent edifice was the cardi⯑nal's. Bede died at Jarrow monaſtery in 734; was tranſlated to this church by biſhop Pudſey; and in 1340, found his final reſting place under the care of Richard de Barnardcaſtle in the gallilee, who was interred near the remains ^*: The like veneration induced cardinal Langley to repair and embelliſh this edifice, as he choſe to have his body depoſited near the ſaint: The cardinal alſo founded a chantry in the gallilee, to the honour of the bleſſed Virgin, and "glorious confeſſor St Cuth⯑bert ^†." Biſhop Nevil granted a licence for erecting a guild or fraternity to the honour of St Cuthbert, in the gallilee, with a power to purchaſe lands not exceeding ten pounds a year ^‡.

[261]The cloiſter^* on the north ſide of the church is a quadrangle of one hundred [262] and forty-ſeven feet, having eleven windows on each front, which it is ſaid were [263] glazed, but are now open; the mullions and tracery were lately repaired in a neat Gothic ſtile. Entering by the weſt door from the church, the ſtairs leading to the dormitory are immediately on your right-hand, extending the whole length of the weſt cloiſter, forty feet wide, ill lighted, and a melancholy manſion: The center is flagged about ſix feet wide, the ſides having been boarded and encloſed for the monks cells: Under the dormitory was the ſong-ſchool and treaſury^*. The com⯑mon-houſe, [264] the infirmary, the gueſt-hall, and other offices, in uſe before the diſſolu⯑tion, are now converted to other purpoſes, for the convenience of the prebendaries.

The cloiſters were erected at the expence of biſhop Skirlaw and cardinal Langley, the former giving thereto 600l. and the latter 238l. 17s. 6d. ^*: They are ceiled in pannels with Iriſh oak, ornamented, particularly in the eaſt walk, with ſhields of the arms of various illuſtrious perſonages, patrons of the church, blazoned in colours^†, moſt of which, from being expoſed to the air, are now greatly defaced^‡. In the [265] north walk of the cloiſters were caſes for books for the uſe of the monks: In the [266] eaſt walk was the old library, now converted into offices for the regiſter, a council chamber, and other conveniencies for the chapter's buſineſs: In this walk is the chapter-houſe, in length ſeventy-five feet, and thirty-five in breadth, a neat build⯑ing, in the form of a theatre, vaulted with ſtone, without any pillars; the ſide walls are ornamented with pilaſters and interſecting arches, like the church: It is lighted by five windows at the ſemicircular end to the eaſt, two ſide lights, and one to the weſt: The groins of the vault ſpring from corbles ſupported by human figures, in the manner Atlas is uſually repreſented; the mouldings of the ribs are cut with the zig-zag figure: three rows of ſtone benches, one above another, run round the building: To the eaſtward of the center is a ſtone chair, with much carved work, the biſhop's ſeat in old times when he viſited, and wherein the prelates are inſtalled. Adjoining to the chapter-houſe, on the ſouth, was a priſon for offending monks; and at the ſouth end of the cloiſter there is a paſſage into the cemetery garth. The building of the chapter-houſe was originally the work of biſhop Rufus, about the year 1136, but it was afterwards vaulted and embelliſhed by ſucceeding prelates, particularly by biſhop Skirlaw, to whom much of the preſent edifice is aſcribed. In this place were interred at the eaſt end, biſhop Rob^t de Inſula, and biſhop Kellow; further to the weſt, biſhops Rufus, William de Sancta Barbara, and biſhop Flam⯑bard; near to thoſe biſhop Pudſey, and Philip of Poictiers; weſtward of thoſe, biſhops Richard de Mariſco, Aldune, Walcher, Turgot the prior, and biſhop Stichill; and on each ſide of the entrance, biſhops Walter de Kirkham, and Richard de Farnham: Robert de Grayſtanes was alſo interred here. Davies and the old roll place ſome other biſhops in the chapter-houſe, but are the only authorities we find. The monks were buried in the cemetery-garth, and there ſtood that venerable monument Ethelwold's ſtone croſs, which was removed from [267] Lindisfarn: Leland ſaw it there^*: It ſhared the ſacrilegious deſtruction which deans Horn^† and Whittingham impiouſly committed on our religious antiquities. The ſouth walk of the cloiſter has the library, begun by dean Sudbury, on the ſcite of the old frater-houſe, and finiſhed by his ſucceſſor, towards which he charged his executors with a ſufficient ſum^‡: It is an elegant room, adorned with ſome toler⯑able

[268] portraits of biſhops, and ſtored with an excellent collection of books: Here are depoſited many Roman inſcriptions, and other remains found in this and the ad⯑joining county of Northumberland. Such as relate to this county will be noted in the ſequel, in their due place^*. The cloiſter-yard once contained, in a tempo⯑rary erection, the remains of St Cuthbert, before his laſt tranſlation into the fere⯑tory of the preſent church: His ſtatue was afterwards erected in the ſame place. [269] The whole ſquare of the cloiſter is vaulted underneath, ſupported on ſhort columns, and totally dark, in its various ailes like a labyrinth, from whence the return is not eaſily found; a melancholy receſs for religious ſeverity, penitence, or puniſhment! It is formed of excellent maſon work, and did it not ſtrike the viſitor with horrible ideas of miſtaken auſterity, is as admirable as many other parts of the ſacred edifices. The only entrance is a narrow and low arched way under the library, opening into the deanry kitchen court. Hegge ſays, ‘The ſubterraneous paſſages under this church (as in other abbies) are manie; but what end theſe ſubſtructions under ground, ſhould have in the makers intent, whether to conceal their treaſures in tyme of invaſion, or for worſe purpoſes, I cannot determine. One of which cavernes (where ſometime ſtood Ethelwold's croſſe) covered with a round ſtone, leadeth to the caſtle.’

At the ſouth-eaſt corner of the cloiſter is a paſſage into the ſpacious oblong ſquare of prebendal houſes, about one hundred and forty paces in length, and ninety in width: It is much broken into by the deanry garden, which ſpoils its appearance. There is a fountain of water at the upper end, for the ſupply of all the families, [270] brought in pipes from Elvet-moor, the diſtance of a mile^*; and alſo a pump well in the ſquare. The prior's hall in the deanry is not altogether in the ancient ſtate, but yet large enough to receive two hundred perſons at ſupper, on a late entertain⯑ment given by the preſent dean: The ancient ſouth window remains: The gateway into the Bailey-ſtreet ſtands in its original form, built by prior Caſtel a ſhort time before the diſſolution, as before-mentioned ^†: The kitchen is curious, being of an octagonal form, vaulted, with a cupola light, the chimnies concealed, and in other particulars greatly ſimilar to the abbot's kitchen at Glaſtonbury.

Adjoining to the college or ſquare is a terrace walk, one hundred and ſixty paces long, raiſed on arches, commanding a pleaſant view of the river and its delightful banks: This, like other munificent works of the chapter, is open at all times for the recreation and pleaſure of the public.

The Biſhop's Alms-Houſe, and Schools on the Green.

Biſhop Coſin's deed of foundation of the alms-houſes on the Place-Green, and re-eſtabliſhment of the ſchools there, is to the following effect:

"John, by God's grace and permiſſion, biſhop of Durham: To all the faithful ſons of Chriſt and holy mother church, that may ſee or hear theſe preſent letters, or this public inſtrument, health and bleſſing. For as much, as among other works of piety and exerciſes of Chriſtian religion, which appertain to the office of a biſhop, we were diligently to provide and take care, that our epiſcopal caſtles, and in them eſpecially our chapels, and ſome other places and buildings adjoining, deſtined for public uſes, (all which indeed we found almoſt quite deſtroyed either by the violence of the times, or the neglect and malice of men) might be duly repaired as ſoon as poſſible, and where neceſſary rebuilt. Know ye, therefore, that we have not only repaired, and brought into better form, in every part, our foreſaid epiſcopal caſtles, and the ſacred chapels therein, at our own proper charges, but alſo have built anew two ſchool-houſes, anciently erected by the appointment of the moſt reverend prelate and lord, lord Thomas Langley, our predeceſſor, on the biſhop's palace-green, in [276] Durham, on the eaſt ſide of the ſaid green; (lately almoſt fallen and left waſte by the violence of the times and neglect of men) the one of which ſchools was deſigned for inſtructing boys in the rudiments of learning, unto the Latin and Greek gram⯑mar; and the other to inſtruct boys in the art of writing and plain ſongs; with a ſtipend of 8l. 6s. 8d. annexed, for the maſter of each ſchool, to be paid yearly by the king's officers; and with a penſion in like manner of forty ſhillings, to be paid by the officers of us and our ſucceſſors, viz. our auditor and receiver, yearly to the ſame maſter; which we have thought good, as much as in us lies, ſhould be ratified and confirmed. Know ye, furthermore, that we the biſhop aforeſaid, have built and placed between the ſame ſchools, another building or alms-houſe, containing in it eight chambers for the entertainment and dwelling of ſo many poor people, viz. four men and four women. And now for the due maintenance and ſupport of the ſame poor men and women, and the repairs of the houſes aforeſaid, when ſuch ſhall be needful, we make known unto all, that by this our charter, we give and grant an annuity of ſeventy pounds, to iſſue out of the manor or lands of Great-Chilton, in the county of Durham, lately bought with our own proper monies, to be diſtributed among the ſame poor men and women, and duly to be paid yearly, at four quar⯑ters of the year, according to an indenture made between us on the one part, and the honourable Charles lord Gerard, baron of Brandon, together with Sir Henage Finch, knight and baronet, the king's ſolicitor, Sir Gilbert Gerard, knight and baronet, our high-ſheriff in the county palatine of Durham, Sir Nicholas Cole, of Kepier, in the county of Durham, knight and baronet, and George Davenport, clerk, rector of Houghton-le-Spring, in the county of Durham aforeſaid, our truſtees on the other part; and bearing date the 12th day of Auguſt preſent, as it may appear more fully by the ſaid indenture. Therefore we will and ordain by this our charter, that the aforeſaid ſum of ſeventy pounds, for the maintenance and ſupport of eight poor people, living in our hoſpital or alms-houſe aforeſaid, and for the repairs thereof, be diſtributed and paid yearly in this manner as followeth. Firſt of all, ſhall be paid to each of the eight poor people aforeſaid, by the biſhop's auditor and receiver, the yearly penſion of 6l. 13s. 4d. at four feaſts of the year, ſpecified in the aforeſaid indenture, by equal portions: Secondly, that to each of the ſaid poor people be given yearly, by the ſaid auditor and receiver, at the feaſt of St Bartholomew, 15s. for buying coals or fuel, and repairing their chamber windows, as oft as need ſhall require: Thirdly, that the ſum of 5l. every year be re⯑tained in the hands of the ſaid auditor and receiver of the biſhop of Durham for the time being, for buying gowns (called liveries) for the ſaid poor men and women, [277] every third year: Fourthly, that the ſum of 20s. in like manner be placed in the hands of the ſaid auditor and receiver, for repairing the ſaid houſes when it may be needful: Fifthly, that the ſum of 4l. in like manner, be paid duly at the feaſts aforeſaid, by equal portions, unto ſome honeſt woman, to be named by us and our ſucceſſors, biſhops of Durham, that may daily attend upon the aforeſaid poor people, in their ſickneſs and other neceſſity: Laſtly, that the aforeſaid auditor and receiver reſerve in their hands yearly 13s. 4d. to purchaſe gloves, as a token for their at⯑tention and care. Furthermore, we will and ordain, that all ſuch poor people, be⯑ing bachelors or widowers and widows, be of honeſt repute and good converſation, and ſixty, or at leaſt fifty years of age; whereof three men and ſo many women ſhall be natives, or at leaſt inhabitants of Durham, by the ſpace of twenty years: But the other two, that is, one man and one woman, ſhall be choſen out of the vil⯑lage or pariſh of Brancepeth: The cure of which church we anciently had; to be nominated by us during our life, but after our death by our beloved daughters the lady Mary Gerard, the lady Elizabeth Burton, Mrs Frances Gerard, alias Blakeſton, and Mrs Anne Greenvile, in their turns after the order of their ages, and by the longer livers and longer liver of them: And after the death of them all, by our ſucceſſors, the biſhops of Durham in a full See; but by the dean and chapter of our cathedral church of Durham, in a vacancy, from time to time as often as any place of the ſaid poor men and women ſhall happen to be void, for ever. And that this pious and charitable intention of ours may take better effect, we have choſen, named, aſſigned, and conſtituted, and by theſe preſents for us and our ſucceſſors, do chooſe, name, aſſign, and conſtitute our beloved in Chriſt, William Unthanke, William Widdrington, Robert Blunt, and Charles Calvert, and our beloved Grace Hutchin⯑ſon, Jane Cummin, Eleanor Pearſon, and Mary Atkinſon, to be the firſt poor men and women of the ſame hoſpital or alms-houſe, there to remain to be maintained and relieved during their natural lives; unleſs in the meanwhile they be removed, or that it ſhall happen that any one of them be removed thence for ſome reaſonable cauſe, by us and our ſucceſſors. We will alſo, and ordain, that all ſuch poor people, and their ſucceſſors, ſhall reſide and lodge in their own chambers. Fur⯑thermore, we appoint that the poor men and women ſhall duely ſay not only the private prayers aſſigned to them, by us, in their own chambers; but alſo frequent the prayers morning and evening, in the choir of our cathedral church in Durham, unleſs they be detained at home by ſome real ſickneſs: That they all go to church, two by two, both men and women, in their gowns, modeſtly, decently, and in or⯑der: That they ſhall ſit next after the king's beadſmen, ſounded in the ſame cathe⯑dral church; and there demean themſelves humbly and devoutly. Laſtly, we will and conſtitute, that all ſuch poor people be ſubject as well to the ordinary juriſ⯑diction of us and our ſucceſſors, as to all decrees, commands, and ſtatutes, duely and lawfully to be eſtabliſhed and ordained by us and our ſucceſſors, biſhops of Durham. And we do hereby declare, as well the ſaid ſchools, reſtored and built by us, as alſo our new and peculiar foundation of the ſaid alms-houſe, ſhall be eſtabliſhed for ever. We put up our moſt humble thanks to the Omnipotent and Gracious Divinity, who hath vouchſafed to grant unto us, whilſt we ſojourn in this [278] mortal life, and look for his bleſſed eternity in Heaven, ability to provide for, and perfect theſe our works of piety and charity, which we truſt will be acceptable to him. In teſtimony, &c. we have cauſed theſe our letters to be made patent, and thereto have put our ſeals, both epiſcopal and palatine. Witneſs, Sir Francis Goodrick, knight, our temporal chancellor. Given at our caſtle at Durham, on the thirty-firſt of Auguſt, in the year of the reign of our ſovereign lord Charles the Second, by the grace of God, king of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, de⯑fender of the faith, the twentieth, and of our conſecration the eighth, and in the year of Chriſt 1668."

Biſhop Coſin's library ^* is mentioned in his will to this effect, ‘That a great number of his books valued at above one thouſand pounds he had given to the public library of St Peter's College, in Cambridge; the reſt of his books, accord⯑ing to a catalogue ſigned by him, he, by a ſpecial deed, gave to a public uſe in a new library that he had built upon the Palace-Green in Durham, for the com⯑mon benefit of the clergy and others that ſhould reſort thereto, the whole col⯑lection having coſt him near three thouſand pounds, and the care of near fifty-five years together.’ He, by deed, dated the 20th of September, 1669, granted a ſtipend for a librarian, with ordinances therein touching his office ^†.

In the exchequer ^‡ are depoſited the biſhop's evidences, of which archbiſhop Sancroft, a prebendary in the ninth ſtall of our cathedral, obtained liſts or [279] ſchedules, which have lately been publiſhed from the Clarendon Preſs in Oxford, with other miſcellaneous tracts, entitled Collectanea Curioſa. They might not be eſteemed of ſufficient importance to take up ſo many pages in this work as their inſertion would neceſſarily require, therefore we muſt refer the reader to that pub⯑lication, N^o x. vol. ii. p. 93, &c.

The traveller approaching

THE CASTLE ^*

enters by the gateway built by biſhop Tunſtall.

Before we proceed in the deſcription of the preſent edifice, it is neceſſary to make ſome few obſervations on the form and conſtruction of fortreſſes of the like date. We remarked, that it was probable there was a place of ſtrength and defence on the caſtle hill, before the Conqueror, returning from his Scotch expedition, thought it expe⯑dient in this province, which was ſo neceſſary and natural a barrier againſt the more northern powers, to erect a caſtle ^†. The caſtle upon Tyne was a work of near the ſame period of time ^‡, but the form of that edifice in no wiſe correſponds with any part of the fortreſs now under conſideration, and indeed it is difficult to determine what part of the preſent caſtle owes its origin to William the Conqueror. Towers of an octagonal form, we conceive, were not uncommon with the Normans; yet we do not apprehend the preſent tower was of Norman architecture: The lofty mount moſt probably attracted the founder's attention: But we have met with very little evidence to ſupport ſuch a poſition. The ingenious Mr Groſe ſays ^§, [280] ‘The materials of which caſtles were built, varied, according to the places of their erection; but the manner of their conſtruction ſeems to have been pretty uni⯑form. The outſides of the walls were generally built with the ſtones neareſt at hand, laid as regularly as their ſhapes would admit; the inſides were filled with the like materials, mixed with a great quantity of fluid mortar, which was called by the workmen grout-work: A very ancient method of building uſed by the Romans, and quoted by Palladio, and all the writers on architecture. The angles were always coigned, and the arches turned with ſquared ſtone, brought from Caen, in Normandy, with which the whole outſide was now and then eaſed. Sometimes inſtead of ſtone the inſides of the walls were formed with ſquared chalk, as is the caſtle of Guildford. When the Normans found the ruins of an ancient building on the ſcite of their intended ſtructure, they either endeavoured to incor⯑porate it into their work, or made uſe of the materials; as may be ſeen by many buildings of known Norman conſtruction, wherein are fragments of Saxon archi⯑tecture, or large quantities of Roman bricks, which has cauſed them often to be miſtaken for Roman or Saxon edifices. The general ſhape or plan of theſe caſtles depended entirely on the caprice of the architects, or the form of the ground intended to be occupied; neither do they ſeem to have confined themſelves to any particular figure in their towers, ſquare, round, and poligonal, oftentimes occur⯑ing in the original parts of the ſame building. The ſituations commonly choſen were ſteep rocks, cliffs, eminences, or the banks of rivers.’ To this obſervation we muſt add, that the fortifications on the ground now under conſideration, occupied or encloſed the whole ſummit of the hill; the outward wall running along the very brink of the eminence, and forming an oval figure; at the northern extremity of which the caſtle ſtands, on the neck of land, where the ground deſcends ſwiftly to the lower town, called the borough; the river runs almoſt round the whole walled or fortified eminence, except at that part where Claypath or Cluerport gate ſtands; at which point, the eaſtern or weſtern channels drawing neareſt together, give the walled or fortified part of the town the figure of a horſe ſhoe, ſo that the river to thoſe fortifications ſerved in lieu of a moat: The natural aſcent from the river to the foot of ſome parts of the city wall, is upwards of eighty perpendicular feet. ‘In towns (Mr Groſe ſays, p. 9) the appellation of ballium was given to any work fenced with paliſades, and ſome times maſonry, covering the ſuburbs; but in caſtles [281] was the ſpace immediately within the outer wall. When there was a double enceinte of walls, the areas next each wall were ſtiled the outer and inner ballia. The manner in which theſe are mentioned in the ſiege of Bedford caſtle, ſuf⯑ficiently juſtify this poſition: The caſtle was taken by four aſſaults; in the firſt was taken the barbican, in the ſecond the outer ballia, at the third attack the wall by the old tower was thrown down by the miners, where, with great danger they poſ⯑ſeſſed themſelves of the inner ballia, through a chink; at the fourth aſſault the miners ſet fire to the tower, ſo that the ſmoke burſt out, and the tower itſelf was cloven to that degree, as to ſhew viſibly ſome broad chinks, whereupon the enemy ſurrendered.— This receives further confirmation from the enumeration of the lands belonging to Colcheſter caſtle, wherein are ſpecified "the upper bailey, in which the caſtle ſtands, and the nether bailey, &c." The wall of the ballium in caſtles was com⯑monly high, flanked with towers, and had a parapet, embattled, crenellated, or garretted for the mounting of it. There were flights of ſteps at convenient diſ⯑tances; and the parapet often had the merlons pierced with long chinks, ending in round holes, called oillets.’ Whether, at Durham, there was an inner and outer ballium, is uncertain; the two ſtreets now called the Baileys, are ſometimes diſtinguiſhed by the names of the high and low Bailey, and north and ſouth Bailey, and prompt an idea, that ſuch might be the original form of the fortification; but when the preſent cathedral church was built, the diſtinction and interior wall per⯑haps was removed, as no remains thereof now appear.

Within the ballium were lodgings or barracks, for thoſe whoſe ſervice it was to defend the caſtle perſonally, either as principals or ſubſtitutes; ſo in the Baileys the houſes were anciently held in capite by the ſervice of caſtle ward, and many chief perſonages had tenements therein for greater ſecurity in times of public danger ^*: Beſides the cathedral church and monaſtery, there were included in the ballium, two pariſh churches, St Mary the Great or Le-Bow, and St Mary the Leſs.— ‘The entrance into the ballium was commonly through a ſtrong machicolated and embattled gate, between two towers, ſecured by a herſe or portcullis; over this gate were rooms originally intended for the porter of the caſtle: The towers ſerved for the corps de garde. On an eminence, in the center commonly, though not always, ſtood the keep or dungeon, ſometimes, as in the ſiege of Bedford caſtle, emphatically called the tower; it was the citadel or laſt retreat of the garriſon, often ſurrounded by a ditch, with a draw bridge and machicolated gate, and occaſionally with an outer wall, garniſhed with ſmall towers: In large caſtles it was generally a high ſquare tower, of four or five ſtories, having turrets [282] at each angle; in theſe turrets were the ſtaircaſes, and frequently as in Dover and Rocheſter caſtles, a well. If inſtead of a ſquare, the keep or dungeon happened to be round, it was called a juliet, from a vulgar opinion that large round towers were built by Julius Caeſar^*.’ We find mention made of five gates to the bal⯑lium: The great north gate, which flanked the keep to the eaſt, and filled up the ſpace between it and the wall, which led down into the borough: This was of the greateſt ſtrength, as it commanded the moſt important and leaſt guarded approach: When it was rebuilt by biſhop Langley, he thought it neceſſary to make it as ſtrong as the art of fortification could then render it, not only as a defence to the fortreſs and monaſtery, but as a priſon for criminals and captives, without lodging them in the cells and vaults of the great tower; to thoſe ends he conſtructed the gateway ^†, with double gates towards the Bailey, an outward gate towards the city, with a port⯑cullis, an open wall or receſs between the gates, with ſalliports and upper galleries for the annoyance of aſſailants who might force the firſt gate. What the ancient gateway and tower were, we are ignorant; but it ſeems that keeping it was a poſt of honour, ſought after by perſons of the firſt diſtinction in antiquity for heroiſm and family. By the record preſented to the reader, it appears that the lord Thomas Gray, in biſhop Hatfield's time, was poſſeſſed of the lodge or chamber in the tower, and the gate is deſcribed as leading ad hoſpicium Dureſmi, to the Durham inn, a place, by the application, apparently of as much note in 1353, as the north gate of the ballium ^‡. The ancient gate was ſtrengthened with a ſalliport or poſtern gate, not now known, and a round tower at the end of the moat, which is ſtill in being; it is [...]o deſcribed in biſhop Skirlaw's time ^§.

The ſecond gate was called King's gate, now totally removed, which commanded the ford over the river into Elvet ^‖: The third gate was called Owen gate, where [283] Queen-ſtreet now is; but it is apprehended this was an inner gate, and led into the Placea or Place-Green: The fourth gate was called Sidgate, now Duncow-lane: The fifth gate, called the Water gate, was anciently ſtiled La Porte du Bayle ^*, or the Bailey gate, and was the gate of the outward ballium, if the fortifications had that diſtinction, commanding another fording place over the river. This gate ſtood, till late years, in its ancient form. Biſhop Nevil, in the twelfth year of his epiſco⯑pacy, (1449) granted to Robert Rodes and his heirs, liberty to annex this gate to his manſion-houſe, with the power of cloſing and opening the ſame at pleaſure ^†: This grant was an open violation of the articles of convention before ſtated, by which all the biſhop's liege people were decreed to have the privilege of paſſing that way to and from the ſhrine of St Cuthbert, except in time of war, when the exigencies of ſtate required the gate to be cloſed for ſecurity of the city; the gate was conſtantly cloſed at night by the owner of the adjacent tenement, and no car⯑riages were at any time ſuffered to paſs that way; until the Rev. Henry Egerton, one of the preſent prebendaries of Durham, having purchaſed the adjacent grounds, widened the ſtreet, and promoted the building of a ſpacious arch, of Roman architecture, without gates, in the place of the old gateway: This would have proved little more than an ornament to the city, had not the dean and chapter, with a munificence which diſtinguiſhes that worſhipful body in all their public works, laid it open for the uſe of gentlemen's families; whoſe carriages only are permitted to paſs along the elegant new bridge, lately erected by them: A bounty reſerved to this age.

At this gate the ancient wall of the ballium appears, ſtretching along the brink of the hill towards the church of St Mary-le-Bow, where King's-gate anciently ſtood. The wall is defended at intervals with ſquare projecting turrets or baſtions; but few of them retain ſo much of their original figure as to furniſh a probable conjecture touching their ſtrength, when in a perfect ſtate: The wall ſhews evident marks of a parapet and breaſt wall or embrazure.

In the firſt volume, page 113, we offered ſome conjectures relative to the caſtle: It is pretty well eſtabliſhed that William the Conqueror ordered a fortreſs to be erected here; and it is probable, the works which then defended the mount, attract⯑ed the attention of the Norman; whether thoſe works merited the name of a caſtle is not eaſy to determine, or what they really were; though from the mode of the Saxons, we may preſume they conſiſted of breaſt works or circumvallations, of which the preſent terraces may be ſome remains. Huntingdon's language, touching the ſovereigns erecting a caſtle here de Novo, prompts an idea, that ſome conſiderable edifice ſtood on this ground before the Norman times ^‡.

[284]About the year 1177, the caſtle of Durham conſiſted chiefly of a tower; in the note referred to ^*, it is only called Turrim de Dunelm, and alſo in biſhop Hatfield's time in the preceding note, relative to the north gate, in which it is deſcribed as leading to the tower; and indeed many judicious perſons, with great probability, have conjectured, the original fortreſs was no more than a tower, and was after⯑wards ſtrengthened with a ballium on the ſide oppoſite to Framwellgate bridge, garniſhed with baſtions and ſquare towers; where the wall was built on the edge of rocks riſing almoſt perpendicular from the river: On this ſide ſeveral ancient towers yet remain, of little uſe to the preſent manſion ^†. When Framwellgate bridge was built by biſhop Flambard, in the opening of the twelfth century, he carried on a ſtrong wall between the caſtle and the church; and it is probable he built the laſt mentioned towers to command the paſs: The bridge had alſo a ſtrong gateway and tower: Building this bridge neceſſarily occaſioned a paſſage to be made from thence into the borough; and on that account, biſhop Flambard ſtrengthened that ſide of the caſtle, between the bridge and the north gate before ſpoken of, with a moat; which, from the example before given, was undoubtedly for⯑tified with round towers or baſtions. ‘The method of attack and defence of fortified places practiſed by our anceſtors before, and even ſome time after the invention of gunpowder, was much after the manner of the Romans; moſt of the ſame ma⯑chines being made uſe of, though ſome of them under different names: They had their engines for throwing ſtones and darts of different weights and ſizes: For ap⯑proaching the walls they had moveable towers ^‡.’ So that the more lofty the forti⯑fication, conſequently it was more difficult of aſſault by the machines uſed in ſieges. "Of the vaſt force" of the engines, ‘ſurpriſing ſtories are related; no wall, how⯑ever thick, was able to reſiſt their ſtroke; and in the field they ſwept away the deepeſt files of armed men; with them were thrown not only large milſtones, but ſometimes the carcaſes of dead horſes, and even living men ^§.’

Many of the keeps or dungeons, in the ancient caſtles, are placed in the ſame ſituation of the ballium, as the caſtle of Durham, as Conniſborough caſtle, Tick⯑hill, Portcheſter, Cambridge, Oxford, Tunbridge, and ſeveral others. The mount on which Durham tower ſtands is near forty-four perpendicular feet in height, from the level of the Place-Green, to the foot of the building, and it appears to [285] have been forced from the level; to the above eminence add the natural height of the whole hill from the level of the river, and it will be upwards of one hundred and thirty perpendicular feet. It is the opinion of a ſkilful architect ^*, that the foundation of this tower goes down to the rock; and by the falling in of ſome arches, we diſcover that the whole erection is vaulted underneath; but as thoſe vaults, from their apparent depth, do not occupy above a fourth part of the height of the mount, we are left to conjecture in what manner the reſt of the eminence was forced or ſupported: It is apprehended, that after the Norman tower was built, the mount did not remain cut out into terraces agreeable to the preſent form, but that the ſides were regularly ſloped from the building to the plain, to render it as difficult to be climbed as poſſible, forming a regular glacis or talus round the tower; and that the approach to the gate of the tower was by a long ſlight of ſteps, from the inner court, ſo narrow that two perſons only could paſs at a time; and ſo open on each ſide that an aſſailant oppoſed might be tumbled headlong to the bottom. Mr King, deſcribing Coningſborough caſtle in the 6th volume of the Archaeologia, ſays, ‘The firſt thing that ſtrikes the eye is a very remarkable ſloping part of the foundation walls, riſing to a great height like a mount, and having in many parts, in conſequence of its being covered with earth and moſs, the appearance of a ſmall hill exactly of the ſame dimenſions as the caſtle itſelf; the bottom of this ſloping part appears almoſt circular, but higher up are ſeen more fully, ſix vaſt projecting buttreſſes, aſcending in a ſtill more ſteep direction, to prop and ſup⯑port the building. Immediately above this ſloping part the tower riſes perpendi⯑cularly to a great height: Its inſide forms a compleat circle; but on the outſide appear ſix additional ſquare turrets, which are, however, merely the continuation upwards of the buttreſſes juſt mentioned.’ Before the preſent terraces of our tower were formed, perhaps the ribs of the foundation appeared ſupporting the but⯑treſſes of each angle; and by ſuch a baſe, mining, which was much practiſed in an⯑tiquity, would be impeded or rendered impracticable: The tower of Coningſborough caſtle forms an hexagon; Durham tower an ill-formed octagon of irregular ſides; ſome of the fronts exceeding others in breadth ſeveral feet; the angles are ſupport⯑ed by buttreſſes, and a parapet has run round the ſummit of the whole building, with a breaſt wall and embrazure: The diameter of this tower in the wideſt part is ſixty-three feet ſix inches, and in the narroweſt ſixty-one feet: It has contained four ſtories or tiers of apartments, excluſive of the vaults: The great entrance is on the weſt ſide: There is nothing now left of this edifice but the mount, vaults, and outſide ſhell; which latter, from its noble appearance, and the great ornament [286] it is to the city, has been an object of attention of many of the prelates.— Chambrè tells us biſhop Hatfield built a tower to the caſtle; In caſtello Dunelm. aedificiae quae antiquitate & vetuſtate conſumpta et debilitata fuerant, renovavit; & autam epiſcopalem & aulam conſtabulari cum aliis aedificiis in eodem de novo conſtruxit. Urbem Dun. licet hanc natura & muri ſatis munierunt, turre tamen fortiori ſumptibus ſuis in caſtello conſtructa, ipſe reddidit fortiorem. Indeed from the whole mode of architecture, the roſes which ornament the ſummits of the buttreſſes, and the form of the windows, we are led to conceive that the preſent ſhell was the work of biſhop Hatfield, and repaired and kept ſtanding by his ſucceſſors ^*. The tower was only lined round the outward wall with apartments, ſo as to leave an inner area or wall from top to bot⯑tom, by which the engines of war, and neceſſaries in time of danger and attack, were drawn up and diſtributed to the ſeveral parts of the building: Thoſe apart⯑ments have been approached by five different ſtaircaſes or turnpikes in the angles, the remains of which are yet viſible, ſo that the parapet could be mounted, the gal⯑leries lined with armed men, and the apartments guarded in a very ſhort time, and equally as quick the garriſon could deſcend, and be ready for a ſally. At preſent the mount, as we obſerved before, is formed into terraces, as well for ornament as recreation: The uppermoſt terrace is ten feet wide, and laid with gravel, command⯑ing a proſpect not only of the whole city and its beautiful environs, but alſo an ex⯑tenſive view of the country as far as Gateſhead-fell, Penſhaw, Newbottle, Warden Law, and Quarrington, with the nearer objects, Newton-hall, Pittington, Sherburn, Aykley-heads, and other places of note: Between this and the lower terrace is a graſs ſlope, ſupported by a breaſt wall, and you deſcend by twenty-three ſteps; the ſecond terrace is of equal breadth with the other, and laid with gravel, and is in like manner ſeparated from the loweſt terrace by a graſs ſlope and breaſt wall, to which you deſcend by twenty-one ſteps; this terrace is of like width and form as the others, and is twenty-two ſteps above the level of the garden below.

Biſhop Pudſey, who acceded to the biſhopric in 1153, reſtored ſome part of the caſtle, which had ſuffered by fire. To this prelate we are induced to attribute the building of the firſt hall to the palace; but with other parts of the caſtle going to decay, the preſent hall, with the conſtable's-hall, were afterwards erected by biſhop Hatfield: This prelate's works were magnificent; an improved taſte prevailed in his time, and much ornament was introduced in buildings of this kind: The hall erected by him, we are told, was near one hundred and twenty yards in length, of a proportionable height and width, and lighted on every ſide; the roof of wood was ornamented in every rafter, and other decorations were given to this ſpacious room. It is deſcribed as having two princely [...]eats, one at each end: There were pulpits or galleries on each ſide, wherein the trumpeters or wind muſic uſed to ſtand to play [287] while meat was uſhered in ^*. On the day biſhop Bury was enthroned, A. D. 1333, he entertained in the hall the king and queen of England, the queen dowager of England, the king of Scotland, the two Metropolitans, and five other biſhops, ſeven earls, with their ladies, all the nobility north of Trent, with a vaſt concourſe of knights, eſquires, and other people of diſtinction, among whom were many abbots, priors, and other religious^†. Biſhop Fox found it too expenſive to keep this ſpacious hall in repair, or it was too large for his neceſſary purpoſes, and therefore he reduced it conſiderably; he took away the ſeat at the ſouth end, and converted that part into a kitchen and ſteward's apartments, ſo that it was leſſened at leaſt one-third of its original ſize; yet there remained room enough for the entertain⯑ment of the princeſs Margaret, and her attendants, in her way to Scotland; on that occaſion, we read, that all the nobility and people of diſtinction of the northern parts, as well ſpirituals as temporals, were preſent, and the ſervices conſiſted of that gorgeous diſplay of proviſions, called by the writers of that time double dinners. This prelate began to repair the great tower, and built a hall, kitchen, and ſome other apartments therein, but before his plan was far advanced, he was tranſlated, and no further progreſs was made in that work: We ſee his arms in the partition wall of the great hall. Biſhop Tunſtall made great repairs to the caſtle, he built the preſent gateway and tower, and flanked it with a ſtrong wall on either hand: He brought water to the palace in pipes, it being ſupplied before by wells and reſer⯑voirs; he erected the preſent gallery, and made a new approach to the apartments there; he alſo built a beautiful little chapel, which has received improvements from ſucceeding prelates, as the arms of Coſin and Talbot placed therein denote. We ſhould not omit to remark in this place, that on the facing of the entrance into the ſtalls, at the weſt end, is a ſtriking mark of Wolſey's arrogance; on the oak are carved the cardinal's arms, taking the dexter ſide againſt the arms of his principality and See of Durham. Biſhop Barnes and Neile made great repairs: The latter en⯑larged the windows, and thereby gave the apartments a new degree of elegance.

The great tower became an object of incumbrance ſoon after the Reformation; and at length, in biſhop Morton's time, it was one of thoſe erections for which the biſhops were decreed to be diſcharged from future dilapidations, ſo that nothing but the love of ornament, and the ſolemn grace it added to the aſpect of the caſtle in particular, and to this beautiful city in general, has ſince that period for a cen⯑tury and a half ſaved it from utter demolition and ruin.

Biſhop Morton had the honour of a royal viſit at his caſtle of Durham, and then diſplayed the ancient hoſpitality and magnificence of the prelates of this See; he entertained king Charles I. and all his retinue in the hall of this palace, when he [288] made his tour into Scotland, expending, as it is ſaid, no leſs a ſum than fifteen hundred pounds a day on the occaſion. Biſhop Coſin, whoſe memory is dear to thoſe that venerate the ancient ſeats of our prelates, put the caſtle of Durham into repair, made a new entrance into the hall, renewed the fountain, added many apart⯑ments, and gave much ornament to the exterior parts; he again reduced the hall, by taking off an audience room at the north end, at the foot of the great ſtaircaſe; and put a ſcreen of wainſcot at the ſouth end, to conceal the paſſages to the kitchen and offices; he alſo wainſcotted the hall round about. In its preſent ſtate the hall is one hundred and eighty feet in length, thirty-ſix feet in width, and about fifty feet in height to the rafters; is lighted by three large windows to the weſt, and two to the eaſt. Since biſhop Coſin's time, ſucceeding prelates have made improve⯑ments, which, as well as the work of more remote ages, are diſtinguiſhed by the arms placed on various parts of the building. Biſhop Trevor did a great deal, particularly to the north front, which opens upon a terrace eighty paces long above the moat, terminated by the round tower before ſpoken of: He improved many of the apartments by putting in chimney-pieces of ſtone-work, highly wrought in the Gothic ſtile, and well adapted to the figure of the rooms, making very large ſaſh windows in the ſame order, and ſtuccoing the walls and ceilings, in which work he employed the ableſt maſters ^*.

The church of Saint Mary-le-Bow is ſaid to ſtand upon the ground where St Cuthbert's remains were firſt lodged, in a tabernacle of boughs and wands, before a proper receptacle was formed, within the limits of the preſent cathedral: It is within the deanry of Eaſington, and under the patronage of the archdeacon of Northum⯑berland ^†.

[289]In the beginning of the laſt century this church became very ruinous, and on the 10th of December, 1637, the following agreement was entered into, and written in the pariſh regiſter: ‘The Bow church at Durham was agreed to be pulled down, being very ruinous, and to be rebuilt by the pariſhioners; Mr John Heath giv⯑ing that piece of ground which is now the church-yard, and there was gathered by way of contribution, towards the rebuilding of the ſaid church, 117l. 14s^*. Concluded and agreed upon by the miniſter, church-wardens, and others the pariſhioners, that the church being partly fallen down, and the reſidue that ſtands being ſo decayed and rotten, that it cannot long continue without immi⯑nent danger, ſhall be pulled down and re-edified, and that ſufficient ceſſments ſhall be laid on to that purpoſe^†.’

The rector's income was anciently very trivial, as it aroſe by fluctuating circum⯑ſtances^‡; but by virtue of lord Crewe's will, ten pounds a year was annexed to it for ever ^§.

It appears that thoſe direful years of anarchy and confuſion, which ſoon after ſucceeded the date of the above reſolution, prevented the repairs proceeding; for [290] it was not till the year 1685, the new church was opened for divine ſervice; and in a note of Randal's, it is ſaid, ‘This was done leaſt the Papiſts ſhould get poſ⯑ſeſſion of this empty church by ſome grant from the crown.’ In the year 1722, the living was augmented by queen Anne's bounty, and ſubſcriptions to the amount of 170l. were obtained for that purpoſe^*.

[291]This church is built of hewn ſtone, in a very neat ſtile, uniform, and without ailes, and is well lighted. The entrance from the ſtreet is at the weſt end, under the tower; the ceiling is flat, unſupported by pillars, and is ſtuccoed in ſquares: It is regularly pewed, and wainſcotted round, with a gallery at the weſt end ^*.

THE HOSPITAL OF KEPIER,

to which this borough belonged, was firſt founded in the year 1112, by Ralph Flambard, biſhop of Durham, who (acceeded to this See A. D. 1099) for a maſter and brethren, and dedicated the ſame to St Giles: He endowed it with the vill of Caldecotes, and a mill upon Milburne, with two ſheaves of corn from his demeſne lands in the vills of Newbotel, Houghton, Weremouth, Ryhope, Eaſington, Sedge⯑field, Shirburn, Querrington, Newton, Cheſter, Weſhington, Boldon, Cleadon, Whickham, and Ryton ^*

In the reign of king Stephen, when Cumin contended for the biſhopric, his re⯑tainers burnt the hoſpital and church of St Giles, and laid the whole borough in aſhes: In this ſtate it remained till Hugh Pudſey came to the See, who confirmed his predeceſſors foundation and endowment, reſtored the edifices, augmented the houſe, and granted ordinances for its government; appointing, that the fraternity ſhould conſiſt of thirteen, with a maſter, of which number ſix ſhould be chaplains, to officiate in the chapel of the hoſpital, one of whom was to be confeſſor, and the [300] others to hold domeſtic offices^*. By another charter he granted to the hoſpital a free borough in the ſtreet called St Giles, exempted of in-toll and out-toll, aids, cuſtoms, ſervices, and other exactions, and gave them paſturage ad averia ſua, Hayam & extra; focale, & maeremium, and pannage in his foreſt. He alſo gave them a toft in each of the townſhips of Houghton, Ryhope, Eaſington, Darlington, Sedgefield, Boldon, and Whickham, where they had tithes of his demeſnes. Biſhop Pudſey, by the other deed noted by Stevens' Mon. vol. ii. p. 265, grants them Quitteleys and Swyneleys, in Weredale, by boundaries; alſo granted a lead mine, ad cooperendum eccleſiam St'ae Mariae & omnium ſanctorum & infirmatorium hoſ⯑pitalis praedicti; and alſo an iron mine in Rokehope, for their carriages, &c. paſ⯑turage for all cattle within the limits, et pedes canum eorum non ſint ibi neq. ad Wache⯑riam in Weredale, tuneati ſed paſtores decant eos ligatos proferis ad averia ſua ſenanda pro Lupis. A toft called Laundene, tithes of the lands of Bradwode and Beſan⯑ſkeldes, uſq. ad Wycheles & unam travam bladi, from each carucate in Weredale, tithes of all aſſarts or new cultivations, for which he then took money payments, or kirſete, (Kirkſeed)^†.

[301]After the reſtoration of this hoſpital, we hear of no misfortune interrupting the tranquillity of the ſociety till the diſſolution. In the 26th king Henry VIII. the re⯑venue was eſtimated at 186l. 10d. in the whole, and 167l. 2s. 11d. a year clear. It was ſurrendered the 14th of January, 36th king Henry VIII. 1545, and granted that ſame year to Sir William Paget.

In biſhop Nevill's time, the ſeveral evidences belonging to this hoſpital were ex⯑emplified and confirmed, from copies or other muniments, the originals having been deſtroyed in the reign of king Stephen, in 1146, when the houſe was burnt^*.

Kepier came into the poſſeſſion of the family of Heath, by purchaſe from the Cockburnes, in the time of biſhop Pilkington^†, and continued in that family till the year 1658, when they ſold it to Ra. Cole, Eſq whoſe ſon, Sir Nicholas Cole, ſold it in parcels to the families of Tempeſt, Carr, and Muſgrave, the preſent owners. [302] And Tempeſt, by an intermarriage with the heireſs of the Heaths^*, gained the other poſſeſſions of that family, and again united it with Old Durham.

Kepier houſe ſtands in a very low ſituation, not a mile from the city, on the banks of the river, and commanding a very ſhort proſpect. Of the hoſpital no⯑thing remains but the gateway; part of the ſuperſtructure of which appears much more modern than the arching of the gate: There are two ſhields of arms on the front, one on the dexter ſide appears to be the arms of Tinmouth monaſtery, the other ſo much effaced by time that the bearings cannot be perfectly aſcertained; but how Tinmouth came to have any authority or intereſt here, we have not diſ⯑covered; and indeed the exact ſucceſſion of maſters is not known.

The borough tenure is of a mixed nature, the tenements being aliened by deed for ninety-nine years, which conveyance muſt be attended with an admittance from the lord, or his court-holder; and from admittance of alienee or heir, the widow has her frankbank.

THE CHURCH OF ST GILES.

The church of St Giles has marks of diſtant antiquity; it has no ailes, and much reſembles the old church at Jarrow, being narrow, long, and very lofty: It is thirty paces in length, and only ſeven wide; the rafters of the roof are ſupported on brackets; it is lighted to the ſouth by ſix irregular windows, and two to the north; the tower riſes from a pointed arch. The arch which ſeparated the chancel from the nave is broken down: The chancel is ten paces long, and of equal width with the reſt of the church; has a modern window to the eaſt, two windows under point⯑ed arches to the ſouth with pilaſters, and one ſimilar to the north. The font is a large uncouth cauldron. There is a recumbent effigy cut in wood, in the chancel; tradition ſays it belonged to the tomb of one of the Heaths, pourtrayed in a complete ſuit of armour, his ſword ſheathed, the hands elevated, and head reſted on a hel⯑met, with a bear's paw for the creſt; at the feet theſe words Hodie Michi ^*.— Probably this was the effigy of John Heath, who was buried in the chancel, in the year 1591.

[304]The traveller who is conducted to this church, ſhould be admitted at the north door, and depart from the ſouth door, where a noble proſpect opens to the view, too extenſive for a picture, and too rich for deſcription. The inadequate ideas which language can convey, are to be lamented by the reader who has a taſte for rural beauties, and the elegance of landſcape. The church of St Giles ſtands upon very elevated ground, open to the ſouth where the view is unobſtructed. In front the meadow grounds form a ſteep deſcent to the river; on one wing cloſed by the wood called Pelaw Wood, on the other by the buildings of the ſtreet. At the foot of the hill the river Were forms a beautiful canal, almoſt a mile in length, termi⯑nated by Elvet bridge to the right, and by the wooded incloſures of Old Durham on the left. On the oppoſite ſhore is the race ground, conſiſting of an extended tract of level meads, from whence, by a gradual aſcent, riſe the two Elvets; the ſtreet of Old Elvet running parallel, the other obliquely, bordered with gardens, and terminated by Elvet church; a handſome ſtructure. The channel of the river lying between New Elvet and the Bailies, affords an agreeable break or change in the objects; the ſloping gardens being ſeen over the buildings of Elvet, ſoftened to the eye with that pleaſing teint which the diſtance produces. On the brink of the aſcent ſtand the Bailies, object riſing gradually above object, guarded with the remains of the town wall, and crowned with the cathedral church, which in this view preſents the north and eaſt fronts, like the mitre which binds the temples of its pre⯑late; giving the nobleſt ſupreme ornament to the capital of the principality. To the right Elvet bridge, with ſeven arches, receives the ſtream, and intercepts a fur⯑ther view of the progreſs of the river: Over it, tier above tier, riſe the buildings of Sadler-ſtreet, the gloomy and ſolemn towers of the gaol, and the battlement and octagonal tower of the caſtle; the trophies of civil juriſdiction wearing the aſpect of old ſecular authority, and the frowns of feudal power. Between the chief objects, the cathedral and caſtle, on the nearer back ground, South-ſtreet, with its hanging gardens, makes a fine curvature; behind which Brandon Mount, with a ſpit of high land extending towards Auckland, form the horizon. Further to the right, [305] from the banks of the river, riſe the buildings of the Market-place, crouding the tower of the church, from whence the ſtreets of Claypeth and Gillygate extend. Thus far deſcription has proceeded without much faultering, but in the other di⯑viſions of the ſcene it is faint and totally inadequate: Whoever would know the reſt muſt come and view it ^*. Over the meadows, in the center, a precipice riſes near one hundred perpendicular feet in height, called MAIDEN CASTLE, fear, or cliff; the ſteep ſides of the hill to the right and left are covered with a foreſt of old oaks, and the foot of the cliff is waſhed by the river, whoſe ſtream appears again at this point. The lofty ridge of hills cloathed with oaks, ſtretching away, forms a ziz-zag figure; at the moſt diſtant point of which, the great ſouthern road, up the new incloſed grounds of Elvet moor, is ſeen climbing the hill, for near a mile, be⯑yond which very diſtant eminences form a blue-tinged horizon. To the left of Maiden caſtle cliff you look upon a rich valley, highly cultivated, extending nearly five miles in length and two in width, bending to the ſouth-weſt, through which the river winds its ſilver ſtream, in the figure of an S: Hanging woods ſhut in each ſide of the nearer vale, where are finely diſpoſed, the pleaſant village of Shincliff, the bridge of three arches, the villa of William Rudd, eſq and Hough-hall houſe: The extreme part of the valley is cloſed by the woods of Shincliff, Butterby, and Croxdale, forming an elegant amphitheatre; over theſe riſe diſtant hills, lined out with incloſures, giving the yellow and brown teint to the landſcape over the richer coloured woods. The whole finiſhed with an elevated horizon, on the wings of which are ſcattered the villages of Ferryhill and Merrington; the tower of Mer⯑rington church forming a beautiful and lofty obeliſk. One of the greateſt excel⯑lencies of this landſcape is, that the ground riſes gradually before you, and juſt ſuch a diſtance is maintained as preſerves all the objects diſtinct; not like the landſcapes painted by the Flemiſh and Dutch maſters. To the left you look down upon Old Durham houſe, its terraces and hanging gardens, with a fine bend of cul⯑tivated country ſtretching away through another opening of the hills towards the eaſt, bounded by the high grounds of Quarrington, and the cliffs of Coxhoe Lime⯑kilns; more ruſtic than the other views, and being in a ſimpler nature, affords a pleaſing variety to the eye of the man of taſte, who ſtands (if we may be allowed the extravagant expreſſion) on this enchanted ground ^†.

Old Durham houſe is gone to decay, nothing now remaining but apartments for a farmer: It was anciently the ſeat of the Booths, afterwards of the Cockburns, lords of Ormſton, and in more modern times became the eſtate of the Tempeſts, to which latter family it paſſed by intermarriage with the heireſs of the Heaths. The gardens are formed into terraces of a conſiderable length. This ſweet retirement is become a place of public reſort, where concerts of muſic have frequently been performed in the ſummer evenings, and the company regaled with fruit, tea, &c. The gardens are open all ſummer for rural recreation. The terraces command the elegant valley proſpect before deſcribed.

[306]At the corner of the garden ſome few years ago were the remains of a very an⯑cient building, with a circular window, and other appearances of the chapel form. When the Scots burnt the hoſpital of Sherburn, it is probable they deſtroyed the camera here. Of Poulton, Grainge, Ramſide, and Ravensflat, mentioned in the book of rates to lie in this pariſh, there is nothing remarkable^*.

[307]Magdalen chapel ſtood on the north ſide of Gillygate, in an adjacent field, the ruins of which ſhew it was a little mean edifice.

On a flat plot of ground, between the roads leading to Sunderland on the one hand, and Sherburn hoſpital on the other, a little before they unite, is a ſquare platform raiſed above the common level, which was anciently called the Maiden's Bower, where the fine croſs ſtood which was removed into Durham market-place at the inſtance of William Wright, as before mentioned. Mr Cade, in the tract particularly noted in the next page, ſays, ‘The ground plot and ramparts of the watch tower which ſerved for ſignals to (a ſtation placed by him at Old Durham) Maiden Caſtle, are viſible and almoſt entire at the entrance of Gillygate moor, and exactly correſpond in form with thoſe on the Roman wall in Northumber⯑land.’ For want of diſtinguiſhing what entrance to the moor theſe remains (deſcribed by Mr Cade) lie near, we have not been able to diſcover this piece of antiquity, and know of no other veſtigia of old work than the ground work of the old croſs.

FINCHALE,

on the banks of the river Were. It was a place of ſome conſequence in the early ages of the Britiſh church, for we hear of a ſynod being held here in the year 792^‡, in the time of Higbald, biſhop of Lindisfarn, for the purpoſe of regulating church diſ⯑cipline and manners: And it ſeems another ſynod was held here in the year 810^§.

In the beginning of the twelfth century, St Godric, a hermit, ſought this ſeclud⯑ed ſituation for his devotions, mortifications, and ſeverities, where he lived ſixty-ſix years, and died in the year 1170. Soon after the hermit ſettled here, biſhop Flambard granted to the monaſtery of Durham, in free alms, the hermitage of Finchale, with its waters, fiſhings, rights, and privileges, ſubject to Godric's life, who ſhould hold of them; and after his death, that it might be the habitation of ſuch of their brethren as they ſhould appoint^‖. Gul. Neubrigenſis, gives a parti⯑cular account of this man. In cibo et potu, in verbo et geſtu, homo ſimpliciſſimus, decente cum gravitate ſervare modum ſtuduit. velox ad audiendum, tardus autem ad loquendum, & in ipſa locutione parciſſimus. The hermit erected a ſmall chapel here, and dedi⯑cated it to St John the Baptiſt: Though he died in great agonies, this writer deſ⯑cribes him in vultu autem ejus mira quedam dignitas et decus inſolitum viſebatur ^¶. As to

[]

[321] his way of life, take the ſame author, Quem tandem poſt multam luſtrationem inveniens, ibidem, cum ſorore paupercula primum, & ea defuncta ſolus, multo tempore habitavit.

About the year 1180, biſhop Pudſey granted a foundation charter for a cell at Finchale ^*, by which it appears two monks of Durham, Reginald and Henry, had poſſeſſed themſelves of Godric's hermitage, and had ſome allowances made them for their ſupport. Henry, the biſhop's ſon, was about to found a religious houſe at Backſtanford ^†, which the convent of Durham did not approve, being eſteemed an intruſion on their rights; an agreement ſoon took place on the following terms; the convent granted to Henry, Finchale, with its appurtenances, to the intent that he ſhould build a church there, and inſtitute a convent of monks; thus he was in⯑duced to transfer his works of piety to this retirement, where he erected proper accommodations for a colony of Benedictines, choſen out of the convent of Dur⯑ham, over whom was placed Thomas the ſacriſt, as prior, in the year 1196. This houſe received conſiderable augmentations by various pious donations ^‡.

When the church and other edifices at Finchale were erected, the remains of which are yet ſtanding, it is not poſſible to determine with preciſion, no evidence thereof being found in the archives of the dean and chapter: From the order of building ſeen in ſome parts of the ruins, much may be attributed to Henry the biſhop's ſon; but other parts appear of older date. The ſolemn remains are [322] ſituated in a very deep vale, on the banks of the river, where the ſtream making a ſweep, forms a little level plot, which is almoſt covered with the buildings; ſhel⯑tered to the north by the lofty rocks and hanging woods of Cocken, and on every other ſide by ſteep hills. The river flows ſwiftly over a rocky channel; and the murmuring of the waterfalls is re-echoed from the groves and cliffs. The preſent buildings are much diſunited, ſo that it is impoſſible to trace all the ancient offices of this religious manſion.

At the entrance into the church, at the weſt end, on the right-hand, is a ſquare vault, the roof of which is groined from the angles and the ſide walls, and ſupport⯑ed in the center by a ſhort octagonal pillar: There was an aqueduct to this place, and it had an upper apartment. The church, though ſmall, is in the form of a croſs; the gateway, at the weſt end, has a pointed arch of ſeveral members, riſing from ſmall round columns or pilaſters, with plain capitals: The nave is twenty-eight paces in length, and ſeven in width. In the center of the croſs it appears there has been a tower or ſpire, ſupported on four circular pillars, very ſhort and heavy, exceeding even part of Durham cathedral for diſproportion: The pillars are ſo maſſive, that one of them contains a turpike ſtaircaſe, which led to the ſuper⯑ſtructure; they form a ſquare of equal ſides, twenty-one feet from pillar to pillar, the capitals of an octagonal form: The center had a dome or vaulted roof, with in⯑terſecting ribs, and on the eaſt ſide one pointed arch remains. In the etching given in Stevens' Monaſticon, drawn by King, a ſhort octagonal ſpire of ſtone is placed on the tower. On the north ſide of the nave, are four pillars ſupporting pointed arches; the pillars round, with capitals formed of double rolls, conſtructed of a durable ſtone, and entire; the ſouth ſide is cloſe, a long cloiſter or paſſage running on the outſide to communicate with the ſouth limb of the croſs. The north and ſouth limbs of the croſs are exactly equal in length and width, being twelve paces long and ſeven broad: They are very ill lighted; one great window in the ſouth limb, towards the eaſt, being the chief: Indeed it appears that thoſe parts have been added to the original ſtructure, or rebuilt; as they are in no wiſe ſimilar to the other parts in maſonry or materials. The choir is remarkable; from the eaſt window, ten paces in length, it is incloſed with high dark walls, and from thence to the croſs, being nine paces, (the whole nineteen paces long) are two round columns on each ſide, ſimilar to thoſe in the nave, bearing three pointed arches: The eaſt window has been ſive paces wide, (as appears from the meaſure⯑ment of the ſole, for all the reſt is gone) with outward buttreſſes, ornamented with ſtone pinnacles, one of which on the ſouth ſide ſtill remains. It is very ſingular that windows of a modern date have been placed between the pillars, to fill up the arches, formed of a yellow and periſhable kind of ſtone; which work now ſeparates itſelf from the arches: The yellow ſtone has been won from the bed of the river, and is of the ſame kind with thoſe of which the out-buildings are conſtructed; the co⯑lumns and arches are of a bluer nature, and in no wiſe injured by time; they ſeem to be of the Normandy ſtone, much like the columns and caſtings of ſeveral of the ancient caſtles. Allowing this obſervation to be juſt, we ſhould be apt to conjec⯑ture theſe columns and arches originally divided the center from a ſide aile; but [323] on ſtrict ſearch, no foundations or other work was diſcovered which could encourage this idea: If there were no ſide ailes, then this was a fabric of ſingular conſtruction; for it will follow, that the nave and part of the choir were open to the air on the ſides, like a cloiſter: There is ſomething ſimilar in the abbey of Furneſs, in Lan⯑caſhire, where a part on the north ſide is open. The founder, in imitation of the ſeverities of St Godric, might think it expedient to deprive the monks of indul⯑gence, and leave the church open to the air; but in after ages, when the religious profeſſed more outſide ſhew than real zeal, yielded to the faſcinations of luxury, and ſtudied gratifications and ſoftneſs, they cloſed the arches with windows, made covered paſſages, and transformed this building to its preſent model: As its ſolenm beauties are much admired, if the windows were diſplaced, and the co⯑lumns and arches laid open, it would greatly improve its appearance, and render it ſtill a finer objet from the walks of Cocken.

The reſt of the monaſtic buildings are very ragged and ruinous: In one part a bow window is projected from a pilaſter in the wall, and ſeems to have appertained to ſome chief apartment. The hall or refectory has been a handſome edifice; it ſtands on the ſouth ſide of a court, nearly of equal ſides, about twenty-ſix paces every way; is twelve paces long, and eight wide, within the walls; having five re⯑gular windows to the ſouth, and four to the north; in the ſtaircaſe or entrance is a large window to the ſouth: The vault underneath is ſupported by a row of four octagonal pillars in the center, without capitals, from whence the groins are ſprung; the pilaſters in the walls and angles are capitalled; the ribs are of hewn ſtone, meeting in points, and the interſtices of the vault wedged with thin ſtones; the whole a fine piece of architecture. This vault is lighted by ſix ſmall windows to the ſouth, and is not above eight feet in height to the crowns of the arches.

It is ſaid that St Godric, and alſo Henry de Puteaco, or Pudſey, lie interred here; but the floor of the church is covered with ruins, and grown over with brambles and weeds, ſo as to prevent, without much labour, a ſearch for their tombs ^*.

The revenues of this houſe, 26th king Henry VIII. were valued at 122l. 15s. 3d. according to Dugdale, and 146l. 19s. 2d. Speed. At the diſſolution it conſiſted of a prior and eight monks ^†. The manor and cell of Finchale were part of the poſ⯑ſeſſions reſtored to the church on the foundation of a dean and chapter, by king Henry's deed of endowment.

[324]Finchale being part of the prebendal corps lands, the beauty of the retirement induced Mr Spence ^* to make a good room in the farm-houſe near the abbey, with a bow-window overhanging the murmuring ſtreams of the Were, and looking upon the ſweet ſequeſtered walks of Cocken, but turning its back upon the vener⯑able ruins.

The pleaſant village of SHINCLIFF lies within a mile of Durham, ſheltered by hills on every ſide, except towards the ſouth-weſt, where it opens to the river Were, with rich meadow lands. Biſhop Carilepho granted it with other lands to the convent of Durham ^†. There was an ancient bridge over the river at this place, which, in biſhop Fordham's time, was gone to decay; collections have been made for repairing it, but the money being embezzeled or miſapplied, a commiſſion of account iſſued, dated 14th of January, 1385^‡: It ſeems the meaſure was ineffectual, for his ſucceſſor, biſhop Skirlaw, erected a ſtone bridge of three arches, which ſtood till the year 1752, when the violent flood on the 7th of February undermined and threw down one of the piers, which carried with it two of the arches; the bridge was reſtored the following ſummer at the public expense ^§. It is ſaid Shincliff was the birth place of biſhop Sever, abbot of St Mary's, York. We find the family of Aſlakby had poſſeſſion here in biſhop Langley's time. It has been the ſeat of the family of the Hoppers of late years, whoſe preſent repreſentative is Robert Hopper Williamſon, eſq

Near this village William Rudd, eſq built his villa, ſeated in a delightful retire⯑ment, commanding a ſolemn view of the ſequeſtered vale, with its hanging woods, which form a beautiful amphitheatre; a ſcene excellently adapted to ſtudy and contemplation.

On the other ſide of the river ſtands Houghall, part of the prebendal lands of the church. The manor houſe was built by prior Hotoun, who, notwithſtanding the embarraſſments he ſuffered under the perſecuting ſpirit of biſhop Bek, com⯑pleted this and other conſiderable pious works. No certain etymology of the name of this place is obtained; from its ſituation, in a low and watry plain, we may adopt the word hough, which in this country has acceptation for a plain by the ſide of the river; which is ſufficiently deſcriptive of the ſcite of this place. There was in the cathedral church, as before noted, an altar called Howall's altar, erected [325] perhaps by ſome benefactor who beſtowed this place on the church; or indeed it might be called Hotoun's hall, from the prior who built it in the thirteenth century; the corruption to Houghhall ſeems a familiar one. The houſe has been moated round and otherwiſe fortified: Tradition ſays Sir Arthur Hazelrigge poſſeſſed it, and that Oliver lodged there for ſome time; it is certain it was refitted, and perhaps put into a ſtate of defence by ſome of that party; the arms of Cromwell now remain on one of the mantle-pieces in the houſe.

At the diſtance of a mile to the ſouth-weſt, but on the oppoſite ſide of the river, ſtands

BUTTERBY,

anciently written Beautrove, from its beautiful ſituation. The river Were runs almoſt round the chief part of the eſtate, the neck of land which divides the ſtreams being only about two hundred yards wide. Here, it has been imagined, ſtood the ancient hoſpital of St Leonard; the founder and inſtitution not now known. The lands are remarkably fertile; the river near the houſe falls ſwiftly over a rough channel, under high rocky ſhores and hanging woods: On the more diſtant ſide of the eſtate the river flows deep and ſlow, forming a canal a mile in length, where the adjacent lands make a conſiderable plain. There is not a ſweeter rural ſcene in the whole county, unadorned and in ſimple nature, for art has not yet extended her hand hither, further than in the ordinary courſe of agri⯑culture. As this place is remarkable for its beauty, ſo it is for natural curioſities; ſurrounded with the river, from the fiſſure of a rock, which lies about forty feet from the ſhore, flows a conſiderable ſpring of ſalt water, mixed with a mineral quality. The ſituation of this ſpring ſubjects it to a mixture of freſh water, ſo that it is difficult to know how much ſalt it contains in its pureſt ſtate; on ſeveral trials it has yielded double the quantity produced from ſea water. The ſhore for a con⯑ſiderable diſtance ſhews many ouzings, or ſmall iſſues of ſalt water; from which cir⯑cumſtance, and by a dike or break of the rocks in the channel of the river, a little above the ſpring, it is preſumed a rock or bed of ſalt might be won of ſome value: It has never been ſearched for; the family who lately poſſeſſed the eſtate, from a love of retirement and eaſe, neglected a trial. The ſpring is much reſorted to in ſum⯑mer for its medical qualities; but as the well is not incloſed by any building, it is frequently overflowed by the river. This water is reputed to be an effectual reme⯑dy for a diſeaſe known among people employed in ſmelting and refining houſes be⯑longing to the lead works. Half a pint is ſufficiently purgative for the ſtrongeſt perſon. Within a few yards of the ſalt ſpring, on the oppoſite ſhore, is a fluent ſpring ſtrongly impregnated with ſulphur, without any vitriolic or other compound^*.

[326]The proſpect from an adjacent head-land, called Croxdale Scar, is deſervedly admired by every viſitant: It commands an extenſive view of the valley towards the weſt, with the channel of the river for ſeveral miles through a country highly cultivated. Over a fine plain, at the diſtance of a mile, are ſeen Sunderland bridge of four arches, with Croxdale, the beautiful ſeat-houſe of William Salvin, eſq on the left, and Burnigill on the right; the ſcene animated by paſſengers on the great ſouthern turnpike road: Beyond the bridge the vale narrows and winds towards the ſouth, diverſified by woodlands, cottages, and incloſures: To the right you look down upon the vale of Butterby, belted round with the cryſtal waters of the Were, and the eye traces its varied ſhores, its rocks and ſylvan ſcenes: Be⯑yond which lies an extended valley, terminated by the village of Shincliff, and in⯑cloſed on every ſide with lofty foreſts.

The manor-houſe of Butterby ſtands in a pleaſant garden, which, with the whole offices are incloſed by a deep moat, walled round, and though now dry, is capable of being filled with water to the depth of 15 feet: The entrance is by a ſtrong gate⯑way and bridge. The ſecluded ſitua [...]ion of the houſe ſhuts it from diſtant proſ⯑pects; but ſuch as it commands are romantic and rural. In cleanſing the moat ſome years ago, in a large ſtone trough were found a coat of mail, with a cap of chain work quilted in canvas, a halbert, breaſtplate and buckler: In an adjacent field, where it is ſuppoſed an ancient chapel ſtood, many ſtone coffins and holy water jars were dug up.

[327]This is a manor and conſtablery of itſelf, free of all manner of tithes, paying a preſcript rent of 1l. 13s. 4d. to the curate of Croxdale, at Midſummer.

Butterby was part of the ancient poſſeſſions of the Lumleys, of Lumley caſtle: Sir Marmaduke Lomeley held it, and from him it deſcended to Robert his ſon, who died ſeiſed thereof in the 36th year of biſhop Hatfield, 1381, as appears by an in⯑quiſition taken at Durham, before Will. del Bowes, eſcheator: Ralph de Lumley was his brother and heir, and was poſſeſſed thereof at the time of his attainder, 1ſt king Henry IV. 1329; after which, in great bounty, the crown in the following year granted to Eleanor his lady, daughter of John lord Nevil of Raby, and ſiſter of Ralph earl of Weſtmoreland, 20l. a year out of the duties of Hull, together with the manors of Beautrove and Stranton: Thomas, her eldeſt ſon, died poſſeſſed of the caſtle of Lumley, and manors of Stanley, Stanton, Rickleſden, and Beautrove, in the 5th Henry IV. leaving his eldeſt ſon Sir John, who was reſtored in blood in the thirteenth year of that reign. As we do not find Beautrove in any future in⯑quiſitions taken on the deaths of the Lumley family, we may conclude it paſſed as a marriage portion with Margaret, one of the daughters of Ralph Lumley, who mar⯑ried Sir John Clervaux of Croft, or otherwiſe ſold into that family; for Elizabeth, the heireſs of Clervaux, married Chriſtopher Chaytor, and carried with her large poſ⯑ſeſſions: And we find, in the 8th year of queen Elizabeth, this Chriſt. Chaytor was poſſeſſed of Beautrove, and ſuffered a recovery ^* thereof in Cur. D'nae reginae apud Dunelm. Had this eſtate come into the crown by the attainder of George Lumley, in the 29th king Henry VIII. we know of no grant of ſo early a date as to admit ſuch limitations taking place in the Chaytors' family, as required a recovery being ſuffered, as before noted, to dock and defeat the ſame; the whole length of time being only, a period of twenty years. Nicholas Chaytor, of Croft, in the county of York, eſq by his will, dated February 8, 1665, made ſeveral proviſions out of this manor for his younger children, and ſubject thereto the eſtate deſcended to his eldeſt ſon Sir William Chaytor^†. In the 6th year of king William III. 1695, an act [328] of parliament was obtained, intituled, an act to veſt certain lands of Sir William Chaytor, bart ^*. in Yorkſhire and Durham, to be ſold for payment of debts charged thereon, and to ſecure portions for younger children; by virtue of which the manor of Butterby was ſold in 1713, to Thomas, John, and Humphrey Doubleday, ſons of Robert Doubleday, then late of Jarrow, in this county, a Quaker family, under which purchaſe it ſoon after became the ſole property of Humphrey, ſave one-third of the ſalt-ſprings reſerved to the uſe of John Doubleday and his heirs. Humphrey's eldeſt ſon, Martin Doubleday, dying a bachelor, he deviſed the manor with his other eſtates, to his mother, who, by her will, deviſed the ſame upon truſt to be ſold; and it hath lately been purchaſed by Mr Ward of Sedgefield.

About a mile ſouth of Butterby is

CROXDALE,

the ſeat of the family of Salvin^†; an excellent houſe, placed on a lofty ſituation, and commanding a moſt beautiful proſpect of the vale through which the river Were winds its courſe, ſtretching ſeveral miles towards the ſouth-weſt; Sunderland bridge is in front, and the enlivened proſpect of the great ſouthern road with the paſſengers, at the agreeable diſtance of half a mile. It is bordered by extenſive woods and plantations, and embelliſhed with pleaſure grounds and gardens in a good taſte.

The firſt mention made of Croxdale in the records before us, is in biſhop Lang⯑ley's inſpeximus, dated 1431 ^‡, of a grant of biſhop Anthony Bek, dated 1299, whereby the prelate granted to Walter de Robiry, certain lands of Queryndon moor, extending to the fields of Croxdale; and alſo an inſpeximus of Richard of Routhbery's grant of the ſame lands to John de Denum ^‖; another inſpeximus of a [329] grant from John de Denum to Richard de Routhbery for life, of the manor of Croxdale, with the before mentioned lands, by the ſervice of a roſe at the feaſt of St John the Baptiſt. In the 37th year of biſhop Hatfield, the manor was in the poſſeſſion of Robert de Whalton, who obtained licence to alien the ſame, with limitations to his iſſue^*. In the 14th year of biſhop Skirlaw, A. D. 1402, it ap⯑pears by an inquiſition, that the manor of Croxdale was in the hands of truſtees, to the uſe of the heirs of Robert Tirwhit, held of the lord biſhop in capite, by ſuit at three head courts.

In 1474, we find Croxdale was become the poſſeſſion of the Salvin family, and that Gerard Salvin died ſeiſed of the manor^†, and Gerard was his ſon and heir, then [330] of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, from which time the family have held an uninterrupted poſſeſſion.

There is a chapel here under St Oſwald's, which being only three miles from Durham, was generally ſerved by a monk from the convent: It is a mean building, conſiſting of a nave or body and chancel, very dark, and in poor repair: No arms or monuments, or any thing memorable. It is in the deanry of Eaſington, and a Peculiar belonging to the dean and chapter of Durham, not certified or in charge, conſequently pays no firſt-fruits or tenths, but only 2s. 6d. as procurations to the biſhop. The real value (1767) was 52l. 10s ^*.

[331]A ſmall rivulet runs at the foot of the pleaſure grounds, called Croxdale beck; this water paſſes through a very romantic channel, and ſupplies a paper-mill: It makes its way in a deep and narrow dell, juſt ſufficient to admit a winding road to the mill. The rocks on each hand are ſhaken and columnar, affording ſeveral grand and awful ſcenes; the precipices overhang the vale; and large foreſt trees, bend⯑ing from the cliffs, extend their ſolemn ſhade on every ſide. The natural grottos watered with caſcades, the moſſy banks, the falling ſtreams of the brook, the gloom of the thick foliage, the groteſque rocks, the ſpreading arms of the oaks, the graſſy plots that border the rivulets, all conſpire to pleaſe the mind that has a taſte for ſolitude, romantic ſcenes, and rural meditation. Was a little art employed to ſmooth the paths, to remove ſome few deformities, and with a ſkilful hand to dreſs the wild beauties of the vale, we know not where a more extraordinary ſcene could be found. The dell is ſo deep, that on very few days in the year the ſun's rays touch the mill-houſe, and a perſon might live there for an age and never enjoy that ſpectacle. In days of deep ignorance and ſuperſtition, this dell was thought to be the reſidence of evil ſpirits; an idea which gained credit, perhaps, from its being a place reſorted to by robbers and vagabonds. To baniſh the infernal inhabitants, a croſs was erected here, which gave name to the adjacent lands, this being in ſe⯑veral old writings wrote Croixdale; ſo the deſert of Croſs-fell, in Cumberland, is in old authors and charts called Fiends Fell; and ſince the erection of a croſs there⯑on, to vanquiſh the legions of Satan, it has obtained the preſent name of Croſs-Fell.

Returning towards Durham by the turnpike road,

BURNHALL

lies to the left, the ſeat of Geo. Smith, eſq ^* The houſe ſtands in a low ſituation, on the banks of the river Bourn or Brune, from whence the houſe took its name. Mr Smith has made great improvements to his ſeat and adjacent lands: A farm⯑houſe, [332] on the oppoſite ſide of the turnpike road, is called Old Burnhall. In the 25th year of biſhop Hatfield, we find this manor was the eſtate of Robert de Brackenbury, held of the lord of Brancepeth by the fourth part of a knight's fee, value 10l.^* In the 5th king Richard II. 1381, it was called in the record Burne⯑magna, and was then held by Alicia the daughter and heireſs of Gilbert de Brack⯑enbury, of John de Nevill, lord of Raby. It came into the family of the Claxtons by marriage with Maud, daughter and heireſs of Will. de Brackenbury, and was then held of the earl of Weſtmorland. It was afterwards the property of the Peacocks ^†.

Near Burnhall houſe is a houſe vulgarly called Farewell Hall, ſituated on the ſide of the turnpike road; this was the family houſe of the Farnhams, who poſſeſ⯑ſed a conſiderable landed property. The manor of Relley, which lies at the point of land between the rivulets of Brune and Derneſs, with lands in Aldernage, by the licence of biſhop Bury, were purchaſed by the convent of Durham of Richard de Caſtro Bernardi ^‡.

ALDERNAGE HOUSE, otherwiſe called Aldin-Grainge, in a pleaſant retired ſitu⯑ation on the banks of the Brune, was the place of reſidence of John Bedford, eſq M. D. in the laſt years of his life; with a conſiderable eſtate adjoining, held un⯑der the dean and chapter of Durham, by leaſe for twenty-one years ^‖.

BROOME is frequently mentioned in our ancient records. By an inquiſition taken in the third year of biſhop Bury, it appears, lands in Broome were the poſ⯑ſeſſion of Conſtantia del Brome, who held them in capite by fealty and ten ſhillings rent, and Thomas del Brome was her ſon and heir. In the year 1362, Richard de Wyteparys died ſeiſed of lands in Netherbrome, held of the biſhop of Durham at 6s. 8d. rent, which paid a rent-charge of 20s. yearly to the prior of Durham; and alſo lands in Overbrome, held of the prior of Durham at 2s. rent. By biſhop Hat⯑field's [334] ſurvey ^* it is ſtated, that one Robert Belford held lands which formerly be⯑longed to the family of Brome, and that there were ſundry other proprietors, among whom the prior of Durham is noted to be in poſſeſſion of Wyteparys lands. In the 31ſt year of biſhop Hatfield, by an inquiſition taken on the death of Thomas de Hexham, whoſe heirs are named in the ſurvey before noted, we find he died ſeiſed of the manor of Broome, held of the prior of Finchale by fealty and four ſhillings rent. In a licence of biſhop Fordham's, for the priory of Dur⯑ham to obtain lands in mortmain, dated 1388, certain lands in Le Brome are mentioned ^†, formerly the eſtate of John Cawoode, named in the ſurvey before re⯑ferred [335] to, T'e. de Pr. ut de Cella ſua Fynkhall. In the beginning of the fifteenth century, the 27th year of biſhop Langley, it became part of the great poſſeſſions of the Foſſour family, who afterwards wrote their name Forcer^*.

Part of BEAUREPAIRE, or BEARPARK^†, lies in the pariſh of St Oſwald, particularly the remains of the prior's houſe^‡. Originally part of the poſſeſſions of the biſhop, it was obtained in exchange by prior Ber⯑tram, for Moorhouſe; who, having a deſire for a rural retreat for himſelf and ſucceſſors, in this place erected a camera or lodge, with a chapel. Prior Hugh, of Darlington, who ſucceeded him at the diſtance of about fourſcore years, in biſhop Stichill's time, encloſed the park; it is alſo ſaid by the monkiſh writers, he built a camera here, which we may conceive implies he added to or improved prior Bertram's erections. Whilſt biſhop Bek perſecuted the convent, he broke down the fences of the park, and drove out the game. In the reign of king Edward II. the Scotch, among other depredations committed in the environs of the city, pil⯑laged and defaced this beautiful retreat. Prior Foſſour ^‖ had great pleaſure in this [336] place; to him we may attribute part of the embelliſhments, for the architecture of the chapel points out the improvements of a refined age; and as he acceded to his office in 1342, it may be preſumed he reſtored Beaurepaire after the deſtroying hand of the Scots, in 1346, when David Bruce, as Camden ſays, ferro & flamma foeviſſet. As authors are ſilent touching Beaurepaire from this period, it is probable nothing material happened to it till the diſſolution. The manor, with the houſe and park, were part of the poſſeſſions of the monaſtery, reſtored by the king's en⯑dowment, after the inſtitution of the dean and chapter.

In the time of dean Granville, who was inſtituted in 1684, an inquiſition was taken of the deanry poſſeſſions, in which we find Beaurepaire thus deſcribed: "Proe⯑ter domos ſive aedificia apud Dun. fuit & eſt ſpectan. ad decan. decanat. Dun. et 40, 50, aut 60 annos ultimo elapſ. et ultra, necnon p' te'pus, cujus contrarii memoria hominis non exiſtit, fuit ſtan. & exiſten. apud Bearparke, infra com. & dioc. Dun. quaedam domus manſional. vocat. the manor houſe of Bearpark, quae quidem domus manſionalis diſtans eſt a decanatu Dunelm. p' unu. miliare Anglicanu. vel eo circiter; ac infra eand. dom. manſionalem ſunt, ſeu ſaltem antiquitus & ab initio fuere ſtan. & exiſten. Cameae ſeu partitiones & cellae particular. ſequen. viz. a hall, two paſſages near the hall, one large kitchen and an oven in it, a back room adjoining on the weſt end of the kitchen, a dining room, a great room leading to the chapel called the dormitory, ſome arches, and two rooms above the arches, a chapel and a room under it, three rooms or two at leaſt called the prior's chamber, and the weſtern room thereof called the prior's lodgings, a little room adjoining the prior's chamber, a ſtaircaſe, and vaults under all and every the lower or floor rooms of the ſaid manſion houſe, excepting the hall and kitchen, and the room aforeſaid adjoining the kitchen. And at Bearpark aforeſaid, there formerly have been belonging to the ſaid manor houſe, ſeveral courts and gardens that were walled about; and alſo ſundry out-houſes, which are now wholly dilapi⯑dated, and nothing to be ſeen or perceived but the ruins thereof. Et etiam ſedes, locus, ſive villa de Bearparke, eſt & ab antiquo fuit maneriu. ac domus manſional. terraeq. dominical. ejuſd. manerij & aedificiae & ſtructurae reliquae reliqua praementionat. ad cand. dom. manſional. ſpectan. necnon tenementa & parcu. ejuſd. manerij, aliaq. pro⯑ficua & emolumenta infra precinctus & territoria dict. manerij annuatim emergen. no'ric ſunt pars & parcella corporis decanat. Dun. &c. Et terrae dominical. & tene⯑menta ac parcum manerij de Bearparke aliaq. proficua infra terris dom. ejuſdem manerii ſunt & pro 20, &c. annos ultimo elapſos et ultra fuere annuatim de claro valen. ſu⯑mam 300l. 295l. 290l. 285l. aut 280l. legalis monetae Angliae, ac praed. J. Sudbury durante toto tempore p' q'd fuit decan. ex terris dominical. & tenementis ac parco aliiſq. emolumentis manorij de Bearparke, ſum'am 6000l. &c. de claro leg'lis monetae Angliae habebat p'cipicbat & in uſu. ſuu. convertebat ^*." The ſituation of this houſe is excellent, about two miles to the north-weſt of Durham, on a lofty eminence, above the rivulet of Brune, in a dry ſoil, and ſurrounded with cultivated lands, having a long extended level mead to the ſouth; ſine coppices are ſcattered over the ſteep deſcents on both ſides of the river; and there is a beautiful proſpect to the [337] north, rendered highly pictureſque by the town and church of Witton-Gilbert and the adjacent hamlets. Much deſtruction has been made in the buildings ſince dean Granville's time; and nothing but naked and diſtracted walls remain of this once beautiful place. The chapel is thirteen paces long and eight wide; the eaſt win⯑dow conſiſts of three lights, circular at the top and very plain; there are three win⯑dows on each ſide, each divided by a mullion into two lights, their framing on the outſide ſquare: The wall is ſtrengthened with a buttreſs of neat hewn ſtone work between each window, and a cornice runs round the building of the zig-zag figure: There is a door on the north ſide of the chapel from the court^*. The walls of the chapel in the inſide are ornamented with a regular ſucceſſion of ſmall round columns or pilaſters, belted in the midſt, the capitals filled with a garland of open cut foliage, of a delicate work; from whence ſpring pointed arches, three pilaſters and two arches in each ſpace between the windows: The weſt end is equally finiſh⯑ed with pilaſters and arches; and there is a ſmall window in the center: At each ſide of the eaſt window is a pedeſtal, for a ſtatue, of conſiderable ſize. The apart⯑ment under the chapel is lighted by ſmall ſquare windows; but as the floor of the chapel is gone, it is not eaſy to determine how it was conſtructed. Adjoining to the chapel on the weſt is a long building, the two gabels of which are ſtanding, having a large window of ſix lights to the ſouth: This was moſt probably the re⯑fectory. On the north are the remains of a building, twenty paces in length, light⯑ed to the eaſt by three windows, which we conjecture was the dormitory: The other remains are ſo ruined and confuſed, as to render them totally indiſtinct. There is a door caſe ſtanding, which has been the entrance into the garden or ſome chief court, with the arms of the See in the center. The principal parts of this edifice are delineated in the plate on the next page^†.

The Scotch army, before the battle of the Red Hills, in 1346^‡, (called by many writers the battle of Nevill's Croſs, from the croſs erected on the ground after the

victory) lay at Beaurepaire. In the Chronique of William de Pakington, it is thus ſpoken of: ‘About this tyme, by the meane of Philip Valoys, king of France, David, king of Scottes enterid yn to the north marches, ſpoiling and burning, and toke by force the pyle of Lydelle, and cauſid the noble knight Walter Selby captayne of it, to be ſlayne afore his owne face, not ſuffering him ſo much as to be confeſſed. And after he cam to the coſte of Dyrham, and lay there at a place caullid Beaurepaire, a manor of the prior of Dureſme, ſet in a parke; and thither reſorted many of the cuntery aboute, compounding with hym to ſpare their groundes and manurs. Then William Souch, archebiſhop of York, the counte of Anegos, Mounſeir John de Montbraye, Mounſeir Henry de Percy, Mounſeir Rafe de Neville, Mounſeir Rafe de Haſtinges, Mounſeir Thomas de Rokeby, then ſheriff of Yorkſhire, and other knightes and good men of the northe, marchid toward the Scottes, and firſt lay yn Akeland park, and in the morning encounterid with Syr William Duglas, killing of his band 200 menne; and he, with much payne, eſcapid to Burepaire, to king David, declaring the cuming of the Engliſh hoſt. Wher then king David iſſued, and faught upon a more nere to Dureſme toune, and there was taken priſoner, and with hym Syr Wylliam Douglas, the Counte of Menethe, and the Counte of Fyfe, and greate numbre of the communes of Scotland ſlayn. The king, becauſe he was wondid in the face, he was caried to Werk, and there he lyd, and thens brought to Lon⯑don.’ We have repeated this account becauſe it contains ſome circumſtances not named by modern authors. The year in which this battle was fought, was pro⯑ductive of the moſt glorious laurels that wreathed the ſword of Edward III. and the Scotch received ſuch humiliations as that nation never before experienced. [339] The king of England, with an army greatly inferior to his foes, by the valour and intrepid conduct of his heroic ſon, obtained a glorious victory at Creſſy. He then formed a blockade before Calais, which, with other diſtreſſes, induced the king of France to ſend propoſals to the court of Scotland, for making an invaſion on the borders: The abſence of Edward, the vaſt ſupplies of men and money which his campaign required, the exhauſted ſtate of England, afforded a probable appearance that David's projected expedition might be attended with ſucceſs: The king of France's object was not honour to the Scotch crown, but to amuſe the king of England, or draw off ſome of his forces: A conſiderable ſum of money and rein⯑forcement of troops were ſent into Scotland, and the king, with the aſſent of his parliament aſſembled at Perth, engaged in the expedition. Edward having enter⯑tained doubts, that during his abſence a ſtorm would be gathering on the brow of his known adverſary, diſpatched meſſengers to the court of Scotland, to amuſe by offers of a reſtitution of Berwick, on condition that the Scotch would ſtand neuter in the conflicts between England and France; but contrary to the opinion of many of his moſt ſkilful peers, David rejected the propoſed terms of amity, and prepared to invade England: He collected a powerful army, conſiſting, according to Rapin, of 30,000 men; other authors, particularly Froiſſart, Speed, Barnes, and Knighton greatly exaggerate the numbers; with theſe, in the beginning of October, 1346, David entered England by the weſtern march, ſhewing tokens of a bloody and ſa⯑vage mind in his outſet, by putting the garriſon of Liddell tower to the ſword, and marking his progreſs through Cumberland with wanton ſlaughter and deſolation. He advanced to the county of Durham, and approached the city. The queen of England ſummoned the prelates and military tenants to attend her at York, where meaſures were concerted for oppoſing the invaders, and a body of troops, amount⯑ing to about 16,000 men, were aſſembled with all ſpeed; whilſt David, with his army, lay at Beaurepaire, the aſſociate lords encamped in Auckland park. Douglas, with a choſen troop, reconnoitering the Engliſh, was engaged near Merrington; his detachment was put to the rout, and he eſcaped to the king with much peril. Rapin tells us, the queen of England led the Engliſh forces to battle; but that aſ⯑ſertion is not ſupported by any cotemporary writer of credit: David looked upon his adverſaries as a raw and undiſciplined army, not able to ſtand againſt his hardy veterans, and ſhewed ſigns of great impatience before the troops engaged, pre⯑ſuming that victory was certain, and that the riches of the city were due to his plundering ſoldiers: The Engliſh army was drawn up in four diviſions; lord Henry Percy commanded the firſt, ſupported by the earl of Angus, the biſhop of Durham, and ſeveral northern nobles; the ſecond body was led by the archbiſhop of York, accompanied by the biſhop of Carliſle, and the lords Nevill and Haſtings; the biſhop of Lincoln, the lord Mowbray, and Sir Thomas Rokeſby led the third di⯑viſion; and at the head of the fourth was Edward Baliol, ſupported by the arch⯑biſhop of Canterbury, the lord Roos, and the ſheriff of Northumberland: Each diviſion conſiſted of four thouſand men, and the archers and men at arms were diſtributed through the whole corps: The author of the Border Hiſtory, probably from his own conjecture, for he quotes no authority, alledges ‘That beſides the [340] forces above named, a ſtrong and gallant party under the lords Deincourt and Ogle, guarded queen Philippa, who, in the morning before the battle, having rode along the ranks, and exhorted every man to do his duty, to maintain the honour of his king and country, and take revenge upon their barbarous inva⯑ders, recommended her people to the protection of God, and retired to a ſmall diſtance from the place of action.’ The Scotch army was drawn out in three diviſions; the firſt was led by the high ſteward of Scotland, and the earl of March; the earl of Murray and lord Douglas commanded the ſecond; and the third, con⯑ſiſting of choice troops, in which were incorporated the flower of the Scottiſh no⯑bility and gentry, ſuſtained by the French auxiliaries, was commanded by the king in perſon. With much heroic ardour the Scotch king ordered the trumpets to ſound the charge: The high ſteward, who led the van, being ſore galled by the Engliſh archers, ruſhed on with ſuch impetuous fury, that he threw them into con⯑fuſion, and drove them back on lord Henry Percy's diviſion; and the Scotch puſh⯑ing on vigorouſly with their broad ſwords and battle axes, broke them ſo much, that if relief had not inſtantly been ſent them, they would have been put to the rout; but Baliol, ruſhing in with a body of horſe, threw the Scotch battalion into confuſion, and gave the Engliſh time to rally and regain their ground, whilſt the high ſteward was obliged to retreat and reform his diſtracted array: In this ma⯑noeuvre he is ſaid to have ſhewn great generalſhip, performing the evolutions in a maſterly manner, and with little loſs. Baliol, with equal ſkill, gave his troops breath, made no purſuit, and when leaſt ſuſpected, rapidly charged the king's di⯑viſion in flank, whilſt they fought man to man in front: Unrelieved, and diſtreſſed with this complicated battle, the king fought deſperately, repeatedly bringing back his flying troops to the charge, encouraging them by his example, his exhortations and prayers: Aſhamed to deſert their prince in ſuch jeopardy, a brave phalanx threw themſelves around him, and fought till their numbers were reduced to little more than eighty: In this deſperate ſtate, and bleeding with many wounds, David ſcorned to aſk for quarter, hoping he ſhould ſtill be relieved, At length reſiſtance was vain, a tumultuous multitude, with ſhouts of victory, ruſhed upon him; and he at length was made priſoner to John Copeland, a Northumbrian eſquire. The diviſion under Douglas and Murray, ſtruck with a panic at the fate of the royal legion, and overpowered with numbers, were ſoon broken and routed: Murray died on the field, and Douglas was made priſoner, and few of the inferior officers eſcaped the ſword. ‘The Scotch king, though he had two ſpears hanging in his body, his leg deſperately wounded, and being diſarmed, his ſword having been beat out of his hand, diſdained captivity, and provoked the Engliſh by opprobious language to kill him: When John Copeland, who was governor of Roxborough caſtle, adviſed him to yield, he ſtruck him on the face with his gauntlet ſo fiercely, that he knocked out two of his teeth: Copeland conveyed him out of the field as his priſoner. Upon Copeland's refuſing to deliver him up (his royal captive) to the queen, who ſtayed at Newcaſtle during the battle, the king ſent for him to Calais, where he excuſed his refuſal ſo handſomely, that the king ſent him back a reward of 500l. a year in lands, where he himſelf ſhould chuſe it, near his own [341] dwelling, and made him a knight banneret^*.’ This battle was fought on the 17th of October, 1346, and laſted only three hours, beginning at nine in the morn⯑ing, the victory being declared by ſound of trumpet at noon: The loſs of the enemy was eſtimated at 15,000, the chief of whom were the earls of Murray and Strathern, the lord conſtable David Hay, the lord marſhal Edward Keith, together with the lords chancellors and chamberlain of Scotland, the lords Philip Meldrum, John Stewart, and Alan Stewart his brother, ſir Alexander Bothwell, the king's ſtandard bearer, ſir Alexander Ramſay, and others of high rank. Among the priſoners were the earls of Fife, Sutherland, Monteith, Carrick, and Wigton, the lord Douglas, the biſhops of St Andrew and Aberdeen, James Douglas, ſir Malcolm Fleming, with many men of diſtinction. Hiſtorians have not mentioned what particular loſs was ſuſtained on the part of the Engliſh. Knighton tells us of four knights and five eſquires only, who fell in the field; and Dugdale ſays the lord Haſtings was mortally wounded: But in ſo bloody a battle it is impoſſible but many men of diſtinction would fall in the Engliſh army.

The ground where this battle was fought is hilly, and in many parts very ſteep, towards the river, ſo that it is not poſſible to conceive how ſuch an armament could be arranged and engage in any order. The account given of this battle, and of the ſubſequent tranſactions of the convent, by the writers of that houſe, as pub⯑liſhed by Davies, and contained in Sir John Lawſon's MSS. and Mr Hogg's Roll, is to the effect given in the notes^†. The hilloc called the Maiden's Bower, where St Cuthbert's banner was diſplayed, whilſt the monks put up their prayers to Heaven, within hearing of the noiſe and buſtle of the conflict, where

is yet to be ſeen in the depth of the valley, by the hedges of Shaw wood^*.

[343]Near the turnpike road leading from Durham to Newcaſtle ſtands AYKLEY-HEADS HOUSE, the property of Mr Francis Johnſon, in a fine elevated ſituation, [344] commanding pictureſque views of ſeveral branches of the city of Durham, ſeen through various openings of the hills: The gardens and pleaſure grounds are laid [345] out in a good taſte, and the adjacent lands are highly cultivated: This villa being within a mile of Durham, is a moſt deſirable retreat: The manſion-houſe was built by Mr John Dixon, an eminent attorney at law, uncle to the preſent owner; and it is preſumed, is not a place of higher antiquity, as we do not find it mentioned in any records, ſave the proceedings in elegit touching the poſſeſſions of Thomas Billingham in the middle of the laſt century, mentioned with Crookhall^*.

FRAMWELGATE, called in the old evidences the borough of Framwelgate, being incorporated with the city of Durham, affords no matter for particular attention in this place; what is already ſaid of the city or borough of Durham having immediate [346] relation thereto. It conſiſts of one long ſtreet leading from the bridge towards Newcaſtle ^*.

CROSGATE, which begins near the bridge, branches out into three limbs; South-ſtreet to the leſt, and Allergate, or Allertongate, to the right. In the point where South-ſtreet ſeparates from Croſgate, on an elevated ſituation, ſtands the church or chapel of St Margaret, to which you aſcend by two deep flights of ſteps.

This church has ſuffered great alterations ſince its firſt erection; the architecture being various. The altar is aſcended to by three ſteps, from which the chan⯑cel is five paces in length, being eight paces in width; the ſouth ſide is laid open by a wide pointed arch; the whole extent of the chancel forming a ſpacious porch; the north ſide is opened half way by a ſmall arch. The body of the church hath a center and two ſide ailes, is in length ſeventeen paces, and of equal width. The ſouth aile is formed by three ſhort round pillars, ſupporting circular arches; the north aile by three long ſmall pillars, with circular arches. The church is lighted by five modern windows to the ſouth, and four to the north, more ancient. It hath a tower^†.

St Margaret's is in the deanry of Cheſter, and a Peculiar belonging to the dean and chapter of Durham, formerly a chapel of eaſe to St Oſwald's ^‡. In the year [347] 1431, the inhabitants of this chapelry obtained a licence for the dedication of the church, and having ſepulture there ^*. There was an ancient chantry in this church, dedicated to the Bleſſed Virgin; but who was the founder is not known. The an⯑nual income was 7l. 14s. 8d. out of which is yearly paid to the king's receiver forty ſhilllings ^†.

[348]The manor of Harberhouſe lies within this chapelry, the ancient eſtate of the Forcers. In Hatfield's Survey it is ſaid, that William Kellowe held the manor of Harebarowes at two ſhillings rent ^*; and we find Agnes de Kellowe died ſeiſed thereof in fee tail to her and the heirs of her body begotten by William de Kellowe, in the eleventh year of biſhop Langley, A. D. 1417 ^†, and that Johan, the wife of John Foſſour, was her heireſs. On the 20th of October, in the firſt year of biſhop Sever, John ſon and heir of Thomas ſon and heir, and John and Cecily his wife, had livery of Harberhouſe, with lands in Kellowe, Plawſworth, Nunſtanton, and Great Kellowe. It continued in the family of Forcer to the death of Baſil Forcer, the laſt male of that houſe, who died about ten years ago.

The chapelry of

WITTON GILBERT

lies within the pariſh of St Oſwald. The village is pleaſantly ſituated on the north banks of the rivulet Brune, commanding a beautiful proſpect to the ſouthward; the ruins of Beaurepaire being the chief objects in front, with the adjacent wooded banks of the rivulet.

This church is dedicated to St Michael, and was founded in the year 1423 ^‡; William Battmanſon and John Shephardſon, ſoliciting the prior and his brethren under pope Clement III. It is in the deanry of Durham, being anciently a chapel of eaſe to St Oſwald's; is a Peculiar belonging the dean and chapter of Durham, [349] and not being in charge, pays no firſt fruits or tenths^*. The chapel being too ſmall to contain the pariſhioners, a gallery was built at the weſt end in 1742. The manor of Witton Gilbert was the eſtate of Iſabell, the wife of William Clax⯑ton, eſq who married to a former huſband William de Laton; on the iſſue of which firſt marriage Witton was ſettled in tail; of that marriage there was iſſue Elizabeth, who intermarried with Peter Tylliall, chiv^†. It deſcended to Robert their ſon and heir, and in failure of iſſue came to his ſiſters and coheireſſes, Iſabel, who married John Colvylle, and Margaret, the wife of Chriſtopher Moreſby, in whoſe families it continued in moieties for a conſiderable time^‡. We find Fulford was the poſſeſſion of the family of Lyndley, in the time of biſhop Langley ^‖.

[350]KIMBLESWORTH in the old books is called a rectory; the church has long been gone to decay, and the pariſh united to Witton Gilbert: Was a diſcharged living in the deanry of Cheſter, and a Peculiar belonging to the dean and chapter of Durham: It lies about two miles eaſt of Witton, and was given to the monaſtery of Durham about the year 1220. So far back as the year 1593 we find this church in decay^*; and by entry made in the pariſh regiſter of Witton, it appears the pariſhioners came to the following agreement,—‘The Aſcenſion-day being the 9th day of May, viz. A^o D'ni 1593, Mem. That the day and year aboveſaid it is concluded and agreed upon between the pariſhioners of Witton Gilbert and the pariſh of Kymbleſworth, that for ever hereafter, it ſhall be lawful for the ſaid pariſhioners of Kymbleſworth, in reſpect of their want of a church at Kymbleſworth, to come to the ſaid church of Witton aforeſaid to divine ſervice and ſacraments, and whatſoever other rites, viz. burials, weddings, and churchings ac⯑cordingly as law requireth. Provided always, that our byſhop of Durham and Mr Dean do not withſtand or let this their grant and agreement. And in con⯑ſideration [351] of this aboveſaid agreement, the aforeſaid pariſhioners of Kymbleſ⯑worth ſhall ever hereafter pay or cauſe to be paid unto the ſaid church of Wit⯑ton Gilbert, all and all manner of ſeſſments accordingly to their ancient rent, to pay to the ſaid church of Witton as they pay, viz. ſo much of the pound as they lay for themſelves. And where it was agreed, that in reſpect of the ſurplice and other things, that the ſaid pariſhioners of Kymbleſworth ſhould pay 11s. viijd. which 11s. viijd they did pay unto the hands of the church-wardens of Witton Gilbert, upon Trinity Sunday the year aboveſaid^*.’

Ra. Eure died ſeiſed of the manor of Kymbleſworth in the fourth year of biſhop Booth, and livery was made to his coheireſſes, Ann, the wife of Ra. Conſtable, Iſabel, the wife of William Conſtable, and Henry Thwaites, his couſins, on the 24th of September, in the firſt year of biſhop Sherwood ^†, 1485.

Sacriſton-heugh, as part of the poſſeſſions of the cathedral church, is before noted. Of Simperley we find nothing remarkable in the records.

MEDOMSLEY^*,

a pleaſant village, on an elevated and healthful ſituation, and a dry ſoil, ſkirted with good meadow grounds; the more diſtant country conſiſting of new cultivated lands, which promiſe a due reward to the induſtry of the inhabitants, who are ſkilful in agriculture, whilſt the enlivened proſpect is yearly improving upon the traveller. You command from hence a fine view into the rich vale of Derwent-water, poſſeſſing all the beauties of cultivation, mingled with a variety of wood⯑lands, together with a more diſtant proſpect of the lands north of Tyne.

The church of Medomſley is ſuperior to many in this part of the county; it ſtands lofty, and is viewed at a conſiderable diſtance; the building is of ſtone, covered with lead, but has no tower^†: The nave is about ſixty-five feet in length, [372] and twenty-two feet in width; lighted to the ſouth by three windows, two of double lights, the middle one ſingle: The chancel opens by a fine pointed arch riſing from corbles or brackets; it is thirty-five feet in length, and twenty in breadth, lighted to the eaſt by three long windows; the piers ornamented with ſmall round columns or pilaſters, belted in the midſt, having foliated capitals: To the ſouth there are three windows, two under pointed arches, and one of two lights under a circular arch: By the ſculptures and heads ſcattered in the walls, it ſeems this ſtructure has anciently been more ornamented. This church is dedicated to St Mary Magdalen; it ſtill depends upon Lancheſter, though ſerved by a diſtinct curate.

The firſt perſon of conſequence we find mentioned as owner of lands at Medomſley, is William de Felton, chiv. who held the vill with Hamſterley, of the biſhop of Durham in capite, the vill of Medomſley by homage and fealty, and twenty-four ſhillings rent, payable at the biſhop's exchequer, valued at twenty ſhillings, and Hamſterley at four pounds rent, no value ſet forth^*. In the twenty-ſecond year of biſhop Hatfield, by an inquiſition taken on the death of William de Felton, ſon of the former William, it appears he held the manor of Medomſley in fee tail, except the lands called Tailbois's lands and Haddames's lands, containing two meſſuages and thirty acres, paying the ſame rent: He not having iſſue, the eſtates deſcended to his brother John: This John appears in biſhop Hatfield's Survey, and there Hamſterley is called one hundred and ſixty acres: Several ſub⯑ſequent inquiſitions ſhew that John was half brother to William by a ſecond venter, and ſucceeded to the eſtates by virtue of an intail, created by the general anceſtor, under a fine levied of the premiſſes^†. John, the ſon of John de Felton, dying without iſſue, the manor deſcended to his ſiſter Elizabeth^‡; ſhe married Edmund Haſtings, eſq and by him had John her ſon and heir; Henry Boynton was her ſecond huſband^‖. John Haſtings died in the fourth of biſhop Nevill, leaving a ſon, Edmund, of tender years; and of that family's poſſeſſion we find no further notice in the records. In the time of biſhop Skirlaw John lord Nevill held lands at Medomſley, of John de Fenton, of two ſhillings rent, and in the twelfth year of that biſhop, William de Weſſington, eſq died ſeiſed of lands in Medomſley, held of the heirs of John de Felton: The families of Bowes and Redheugh had alſo ac⯑quired ſome poſſeſſions here; one of the heireſſes of Redheugh married Henry Boteler, and that family thenceforth held lands at Medomſley^§. We have not [373] found when the family of Haſtings aliened the manor, but it appears the Nevills acquired it, and it was under forfeiture on the attainder of the earl of Weſtmore⯑land, and compriſed in the grant to the citizens of London upon the great truſt for ſale^*.

HOUSETREE is the next place mentioned in this extenſive pariſh. In biſhop Hatfield's time the manor was the eſtate of the Birtleys^†, of fifteen ſhillings rent, and value ten ſhillings. This family had large poſſeſſions in the county. Iſabell, the wife of John, died in the third year of biſhop Skirlaw, and on the inquiſition then taken the manor and lands thereto appertaining are ſet forth at ſixty ſhil⯑lings and ten-pence rent, value twenty-ſix ſhillings and eight-pence. About the year 1429, Thomas Birtley ſold the manor to William Chaunceller, who ſettled the ſame on Thomas his ſon, by Alice Wandesforth, and the heirs of his body, remainder to Richard another ſon, and the heirs of his body, remainder to Mar⯑garet the wife of William Claxton, Richard's ſiſter, and the heirs of her body, re⯑mainder to the right heirs of William Claxton in fee ſimple. By virtue of the before ſtated limitations this manor became the eſtate of the Oſberns of Sheles, by Alice the wife of John Oſbern, who was the daughter of Alice Myddleton, and the grand daughter of Beatrix, Thomas Chaunceller's ſiſter. The manor is deſ⯑cribed in the above inquiſition to conſiſt of a new built hall cum Stramine tect. roofed with ſtraw, an ancient ruined houſe, a ſtone built chamber, and one hundred acres of land.

KYO-LEIGH was the eſtate of the Birtleys, and by them held of the maſter of St Edmund's hoſpital, in Gateſhead, by the ſervice of a roſe on St John the Baptiſt's day^‡. The family of Chauncellers held conſiderable lands in this manor.

BURSBLADES appears in the Boldon Book; Gilbert Chamberlain then held the vill by virtue of an exchange, and a meſſuage with fourſcore acres of land there, [374] paſſed by the ſame limitations as thoſe created of Houſe tree. The manor was in the hands of the biſhop. In the fifth year of biſhop Hatfield we find this vill was the eſtate of Thomas de Gildeford, held of the biſhop by homage, fealty, and ſuit of court, and was valued at twenty ſhillings ^*; he alſo held a wood there, called Le-ſmethe-ſtrecher, at one mark rent, and a paſture called Dependen, at ten-pence rent; he held the vill of Merley of Gilbert de Merley, by fealty and ſuit of court. In failure of iſſue theſe eſtates deſcended to Johan the daughter of Thomas de Gildeford's ſiſter, who married Robert Grame^†; and by an inquiſition taken in the eighth year of biſhop Skirlaw^‡, it appears that Johan aliened the premiſſes without licence to her ſon William Grame, whoſe name appears in biſhop Hat⯑field's Survey; he died in the fifteenth year of biſhop Skirlaw: And we find this family remained poſſeſſors for ſeveral years. There was a family who took the local name of Burſblades, and held conſiderable poſſeſſions there of the biſhop, paying ten ſhillings rent, and alſo held of the lord of Burſblades lands, paying the third part of a pound of Cumin ^‖. The family of Birtley alſo had lands here^§, and in biſhop Langley's time, we find John de Gildeford held lands of the Grames.

BILLINGSIDE, which is next named, is little mentioned in the ancient records, other than what appears in biſhop Hatfield's Survey: We find a family called Gourlay held lands here, not noticed in that record^¶.

BRADLEY, near Medomſley, was a manor of the De Feltons; the family of Red⯑houghs held of them in the third year of biſhop Skirlaw by ſuit of court at Me⯑domſley, and it was then valued at twenty ſhillings. It was afterwards the eſtate of Roger Thornton, whoſe daughter and heireſs, Elizabeth, married Sir George Lumley, and transferred to him her family's large poſſeſſions^**. It gave name to a reſident family, and William de Bradley held lands there of the lord of the [375] manor in biſhop Bury's time, by the payment of a roſe and a pound of pepper for all ſervices ^*.

CRUKTON, as it is called in the Boldon Book^†, or Crokehugh in the records of biſhop Langley, now called Crook-hall, was the eſtate of the Hiltons, and by Wil⯑liam de Hilton aliened to Peter Tilliol^‡; it is uncertain how long it continued in that family. For more than a century paſt it has been the eſtate of the Bakers, of Sir George Baker, knight, recorder of Newcaſtle, and his ſon George Baker, eſq ^‖; whoſe charitable donations, with the wiſe diſpoſition thereof, by his brothers and truſtees, the city of Durham will ever gratefully remember.

GREENCROFT next named is the ſeat of George Clavering, eſq a ſpacious old manſion, placed on an elevated ſituation, with a ſouthern aſpect, commanding a view of Lancheſter, with a proſpect of the winding vale. The houſe is ſheltered with fine plantations, and the adjacent grounds are beautiful. Greencroft is men⯑tioned in the Bolden Book with its ſervices, the villains there having the twelfth part of the mill-pool of Lancheſter to repair, and to carry the biſhop's wine with four oxen: In biſhop Hatfield's Survey they are ſaid to find two greyhounds for the biſhop's great chace. In that prelate's time Robert de Kellawe de Lumley, and John Rugheved held the vill of Greencroft, under the title of Dringes ^§. The Roughheads held a moiety of Greencroft in the time of biſhop Bury, by fealty, two ſhillings rent, and ſuit at all the biſhop's courts at Durham, and performing with his other parcener the ſervice of leading the third part of a dole of wine yearly, repairing a twelfth part of the mill and mill-pool of Lancheſter, and grinding at that mill under a thirteenth portion for the mulcture, and paying to the biſhop's [376] head foreſter for an aſſart two ſhillings and ten-pence, and eight hens ^*. They held their moiety for many generations; but how long the Kellawes were poſſeſſed we have no evidence before us, their moiety becoming the eſtate of the Evers, of which Ralph Ever, eſq died ſeiſed in the ſeventeenth year of biſhop Langley. Thomas Claxton was poſſeſſed of a moiety in the fifth year of biſhop Booth ^†, and the ſame deſcended to Ralph his ſon, who died in the fifteenth year of biſhop Booth, leaving John his ſon and heir. This family's large poſſeſſions came to the crown by attainder of Robert Claxton. In 1468, one Thomas Forſter was poſ⯑ſeſſed of the hall of Greencroft, as heir of W. Forſter, by Alice his wife ^‡, and conveyed to one Thomas Hall, Overhouſe and a moiety of the park of Greencroft ^‖. Greencroft has been the place of reſidence of a branch of the family of Claverings, above a century paſt ^§.

The firſt notice we find taken of WHITLEY manor in the records, is in the time of biſhop Bury, when it gave name to the reſident family, and John died ſeiſed thereof in the ſixth year of that prelate, he having held the ſame by fealty, and thirty-four ſhillings and eight-pence rent. He alſo held lands in Holmſide, of John de Bertley by fealty, and one penny rent. In the fifth of biſhop Hatfield we [377] find one John de Parco poſſeſſed of a third part of the manor [...] [...]lings yearly to Marmaduke de Lomley. By the ſurvey of the la [...] me [...] [...] late, it appears that Thomas Umfravill then poſſeſſed the manor, and died [...] thereof in the ſixth year of biſhop Fordham, together with Holmſide, and they continued in that family till the male line failed as after mentioned. Whitley ſoon afterwards became the eſtate of the Nevils, and on the death of Ralph earl of Weſtmoreland, deſcended to Ralph his grandſon^†; and in 1430 we find a pardon for the alienation of this manor, to Tunſtall and others, but the truſt doth not ap⯑pear ^‡. It afterwards became the property of the Tempeſts.

HOLMESET, now known by the name of Holmſide Hall, the eſtate of the Whit⯑tinghams, is mentioned next. It is named in the Boldon Book as rendering one mark to the biſhop, and performing the ſervice of carrying his wine with four oxen, and finding one man for forty days in the biſhop's foreſt, at the fawning ſeaſon, and forty days at the rutting ſeaſon. In biſhop Fordham's time this was the poſ⯑ſeſſion of Thomas Umfraville, who held the vill of Holmeſet by homage and fealty, with the ſervices above, and was then valued at forty ſhillings ^‖. In the ſeventeenth year of biſhop Langley, the male line failed in the death of Gilbert de ^* [378] Umfraville, and his poſſeſſions deſcended to five coheireſſes, his ſiſters, who had in⯑termarried with Elmedon, Rither, Lambton, Conſtable, and Hagerſton. Holmeſide became the eſtate of the Tempeſts, and Robert Tempeſt died ſeiſed thereof in the ſeventh of biſhop Fox, together with the manor of Whitley and Green Shipley^*; and it was the place of reſidence of Thomas Tempeſt in 1530, who obtained licence to celebrate a marriage between him and Anna Lynthall, of Brancepeth, dated the 21ſt of November ^†.

[379]The ancient poſſeſſors of the manor of COLE-PIKE-HILL, vulgarly called Colpig⯑hill, were the family of Parkes: In the latter end of the fifteenth century, in the time of biſhop Booth, iſſue male failing, it came into the family of Walkers, by marriage of Iſabell the daughter of Edward Parke^*: In the inquiſition it is deſ⯑cribed ‘The manor of Colpikehill, with the appurtenances held of the lord biſhop in capite by military ſervice, and rendering to the ſaid biſhop, at his ex⯑chequer in Durham, yearly at the uſual term, fourteen ſhillings and five-pence: And there are in that manor ſix tenements and one hundred acres of land, which Richard del Parke, Edward's father, lately had of the lord Nevil, a meſ⯑ſuage and three acres of land, formerly Ade Scot's, and a meſſuage and thirty acres of land, which were formerly John Scot's and Alice his wife's: The pre⯑miſſes were worth yearly, above all repriſals and out-goings, forty ſhillings.’— It paſſed from the family of Walkers on the death of William Walker, without iſſue, in the ſixth year of biſhop Dudley, he leaving his wife Alicia ſurviving, and ſeveral ſiſters. The manor afterwards came to the family of the Newtons, and by marriage to the preſent Andrew Robinſon Bowes, eſq where he has a neat little manſion, on a fine elevated and healthful ſituation, in a good ſporting country. He has lately erected ſtables and other conveniences adapted to a hunting ſeat, to which uſe he now appropriates it.

SATLEY is next named; a ſmall place creeping in a narrow vale, with a mean chapel placed on an eminence to the north: It was formerly a chapel of eaſe to Lancheſter, but was ſevered in the year 1768 in conſequence of endowment, under an augmentation by queen Ann's bounty. It was anciently a diſtinct chapelry, and had a releaſe of all tithes, obventions, and claims, granted by Philip de Sancta Helena, rector of Lancheſter, and confirmed by biſhop Richard de Mariſco: It is not in charge^†.

The firſt proprietor we find of the vill of Satley was Robert de Grenewelle, in the ſixth year of biſhop Beaumont, who held of the biſhop in capite, paying forty ſhillings rent, and thirteen ſhillings and four-pence for the mill ^‡. No farther mention is made of this family there, the lineal deſcendant now poſſeſſing Green⯑well, otherwiſe called the Ford, half a mile to the ſouth of Lancheſter town; a pleaſant retirement. Hugh de Teſedale had lands in Satley-heigh, of ſix-pence rent, and in Shorneton, held in drengage, in the fifth year of biſhop Hatfield.— John del Chambrè, in the ſame year, had lands there, held of the biſhop by fealty and four ſhillings rent; he left four ſiſters, of whom Juliana was one, and Eda the [380] daughter of another ſiſter his heirs: Juliana married Peter de Heſwell^*, and they held the manor of Satley by homage, fealty, ſuit at three head courts, and four ſhillings rent. By biſhop Hatfield's Survey it appears the Heſwells got the lands of Eda, another of the heireſſes of John del Chambrè, and that the vill of Satley was then the poſſeſſion of William de Merley ^†. The Heſwells held lands here for many generations, and the Merleys in the twelfth year of biſhop Langley, fail⯑ing in male iſſue, on the death of William Merley the eſtates deſcended to divers females, his ſiſter's children, and under that ſub-diviſion were diſperſed in other families ^‡. The family of Ever poſſeſſed ſome ſmall portions of land here ^‖.

BUTSFIELD is ſeldom mentioned in our records. It was the ancient eſtate of the Heſwells, and in the firſt year of biſhop Bury, in an inquiſition taken on the death of William de Heſwell, we find he held lands there of the biſhop in capite by homage and foreign ſervice, and thirty-three ſhillings rent. In biſhop Hat⯑field's Survey, Heſwell's lands appear in the hands of the lord under a writ of ceſ⯑ſavit; the operation of which ancient proceſs was to ſeize the eſtate of him neglecting or ceaſing to perform his ſervices to the lord of the fee; and as we hear no more of thoſe lands in the records, it is probable they never were reſtored^§.

Nothing relative to SCATERLY appears in the records.

LANGLEY is named next. The extenſive ruins of the ancient hall yet remain in a fine elevated ſituation, of a ſouthern aſpect, near the banks of the river Brune, embowered in a thick foreſt. The firſt note we have of this place is in the Boldon Book, where it is mentioned to have been granted to Arco le Diſpenſer, by biſhop Pudſey, in reward of ſervices performed, as well to Henry biſhop of Winton as him⯑ſelf, the biſhop of Durham having purchaſed a moiety of the premiſſes for the pur⯑poſe of that gift^¶. Langley having afterwards eſcheated to the See, biſhop Rob. de [381] Inſula granted the ſame to Henry de Inſula about the year 1280^*. How this manor eſcheated we have no evidence. About the year 1306, the manor having again reverted to the See, was granted by biſhop Bek to lord Henry Percy, and the gift received ratification from king Edward II. in the fourth year of his reign, 1310^†. How long it continued the eſtate of the Percys we are alſo ignorant. In biſhop Hatfield's Survey it is ſet forth, that ‘Richard le Scrope held the vill of Langley, formerley the eſtate of Henry de Inſula;’ and by the inquiſition taken at his death in the ſixteenth year of biſhop Skirlaw^‡, it appears he held the ſame by the fourth part of a knight's fee, paying yearly ſeven ſhillings at the biſhop's exchequer, and performing ſuit at three chief courts: He was ſucceeded by Richard ſon of Roger, then an infant of ten years old. By an inquiſition taken in the fifteenth year of biſhop Langley, 1421, on the death of Richard lord Scrope of Bolton, it is ſtated, that he had diveſted himſelf of the manor and vill of Lang⯑ley ſome time before his death, and that Ralph Eure, chiv. was ſeiſed thereof to him and his heirs; and by an inquiſition taken on his death, in the ſeventeenth year of the ſame biſhop, he appears to have died poſſeſſed thereof by the name of Maneria & villa de Langley & le waterfall cum p'tin. que h'uit ex feoffo. Rici de Scrop, chiv. We do not find Langley mentioned in any ſucceeding inquiſition taken on the death of any of the Eures. In the ſecond year of biſhop Booth, on the death of Henry lord Scrope ^‖, it is ſtated in the inquiſition then taken, that [382] Richard le Scrope and others had been enfeoffed in this manor, with divers other eſtates, by virtue of the licence of biſhop Nevill, but the truſt is not ſpecified: The feoffor Henry left John his ſon and heir, who was grandfather of Henry after mention⯑ed, and probably the confidence repoſed conſiſted of divers limitations in tail, by vir⯑tue of which it deſcended to Henry lord Scrope the feoffor's grandſon, who by the inſcription after mentioned, is preſumed to have built the hall, of which the pre⯑ſent ruins are remains. An engraving of this inſcription was publiſhed in the Antiquarian Repertory in 1775, from a drawing made by Mr Rob. Hutchinſon, in 1771, and we preſume communicated by Thomas Gyll, eſq with the following account^*. ‘At Langley hall, in the pariſh of Lancheſter, is a mantle-piece of ſtone, over a large fire place, with an inſcription thereon in capital letters: The inſcription relates to Henry lord Scrope, of Bolton, in Yorkſhire, who married Margaret the daughter of Thomas lord Dacre, of Gilſland, in Cumberland. The arms on the ſecond quarter are thoſe of Tibetot, or Tiptoft, an heireſs of which family married an anceſtor of the ſaid Henry lord Scrope, whoſe coat of arms are engraved with hers, and the ſame are depicted in the upper windows on the ſouth part of the pariſh church of Richmond, in Yorkſhire. The eſcut⯑cheon, by the diviſion on the wife's ſide, on the right hand, looks as if intended for him and his two wives, for he was twice married; but the arms on the ſide of the wives are ſo worn away that they are not diſtinguiſhable. The upper⯑moſt ſeems as if ſomething like bars or barry were in them; bars were in the arms of Greyſtock: The other ſhould be Scrope of Upſal, his ſecond wife, whoſe name was Alice, daughter of Thomas lord Scrope, of Upſal, by Margaret his wife, daughter of Thomas lord Dacres, grandfather of Thomas lord Dacres above mentioned.’ We muſt obſerve further on this inſcription, that the lines are not to be read direct, but are broken in the center, and ſtands thus, ſo far as the letters are diſtinct:

by this it appears he was the eleventh lord of Bolton, and ſhe the daughter of lord Dacre, of Greyſtoke. Mr Allan further illuſtrates this matter by the genealo⯑gical table on the next page.

From the family of Scrope, Langley came into the family of Paulet, by marriage with one of the natural daughters of Emanuel Scrope, earl of Sunderland, and not many years ago was ſold by Mr Paulet, ſon of lord William Paulet, who was the ſecond ſon of the firſt duke of Bolton, to Henry Lambton, eſq of Lambton, late member of parliament for the city of Durham, and is now the property of John Lambton, eſq the heir general of that ancient family.

The manor of Rydding was part of the large poſſeſſions of Gocelinus Surtays: At the time of his death it was held of the biſhop of Durham, at two marks rent^†, [383] then valued at twenty ſhillings. By an inquiſition taken on the death of Alexan⯑der Surtays, in the thirty-ſixth year of the ſame biſhop, it was returned, that he had enfeoffed William de Skipwyth and others in this manor with other eſtates, ‘to the intent that his heir ſhould not take until he attained his full age, thereout to pay his debts; and when his heir attained that age, then that the truſtees ſhould enfeoff him in the premiſſes; which conveyance was made in fraud and colluſion to prevent the lord having ward and marriage of the heir.’ In all future inquiſitions taken on the death of the Surtays, no mention is made of Ryd⯑ding, ſo that probably it had become an eſcheat, of which there had been no re⯑mittance.

The ancient records furniſh no more of Stobbilee than that in the ſeventh year of biſhop Skirlaw it was the poſſeſſion of the family of Thweng, held of the biſhop in capite, rendering fourteen ſhillings at the exchequer, and was of the clear value of thirteen ſhillings and four-pence.

Of BROOM and SLALEY there is nothing remarkable on record, or of NOSTEELS and PECHE.

HELEY is mentioned in the Boldon Book as the property of Alan de Chilton; it had given a local name to a reſident family^*, for in the firſt year of biſhop Hat⯑field, we find one Peter de Heley died poſſeſſed of the manor, which he held of the [384] biſhop in capite, rendering ſix ſhillings and eight-pence for all ſervices, of the clear value of one hundred ſhillings; Richard the ſon of Hugh de Chilton was found his heir: In biſhop Hatfield's Survey it appears, that the priory of Durham had ac⯑quired this manor in mortmain, and it is noted as having been the eſtate of John de Chilton, from whom it is probable it was purchaſed.

The firſt notice we find of CONSET, or as it is called in the old records Conkeſheved, is in the Boldon Book, where it is ſaid Arnold Baker had it in exchange for Trilleſ⯑den. By an inquiſition taken on the death of Thomas Grey, chiv ^*. it appears, he, with his wife Margaret, held a moiety of this manor by homage, fealty, and a rent of eleven ſhillings, then of the clear value of forty ſhillings: And by the ſur⯑vey made by that prelate it is ſtated, that William de Stokes held the other moiety, formerly the eſtate of Richard Harpyn and Hugh Skewland. In an inquiſition taken on the death of Robert ſon of Ralph de Nevil, in the thirteenth year of the ſame biſhop, it is ſet forth, that jointly with Margaret his wife, in her right, under a feoffment made by Thomas Grey deceaſed, her former huſband, to her and the heirs of his the ſaid Thomas's body, he held a moiety of the manor of Conkeſheved, by the ſervices before mentioned, and the park of Conkeſheved held alſo of the biſhop under ten ſhillings rent. In the tenth of biſhop Langley it was returned on an inquiſition, taken after the attainder of Thomas Grey, that at the time of his forfeiture he was poſſeſſed of Conſet Park, and a moiety of the vill of Conſet ^†. We have ſeveral ſucceeding inquiſitions, on a claim ſet up by the heir of Thomas Grey, of an intail created of his eſtate, by virtue of which limitations the forfeiture was contended; but as no act of reſtitution appears in the records of that time, it is to be preſumed the pretence proved futile; and we do not ſee Conſet ſpecified in any future inquiſition touching that family, till after the 18th year of biſhop Nevill, when on the petition of Ralph Grey the biſhop's nephew, ſon of Alicia his ſiſter, they were regranted, with Urpath, Rowley, and other forfeited eſtates ^‡. A moiety afterwards became the property of the Middletons of Silkſworth ^‖. Another moiety of Conſet was the eſtate of William Pegham, by the feoffment of William Melot, with various limitations to his iſſue, and remainders to other branches of his family, by virtue of which it veſted in Margaret the wife of William Ward ^§, in whoſe family it continued till by the marriage of Iſabella, the heireſs, with John Birtley, it paſſed to that family, of whoſe heireſſes one married a Kellawe, and the other Egleyne.

[385]KNYCHELEY, by biſhop Hatfield's Survey, appears to have given a local name to its poſſeſſor, and that it afterwards was the eſtate of Robert de Kylowe: It ſoon after became part of the property of the Surtays family; and in the fourteenth of biſhop Skirlaw it belonged to Thomas de Claxton, held of the biſhop by military ſervice, paying fifteen ſhillings yearly at the exchequer, and was then of the clear yearly value of ſeventy-eight ſhillings and four-pence^*. In biſhop Langley's time it was the eſtate of the Eures, and for ſome deſcents remained with them.

IVESTON is named in the Boldon Book, with its ſervices. In biſhop Hatfield's Survey the manor or vill is ſet forth as part of the poſſeſſions of Kepyer hoſpital^†. Robert Hall, in the ſixteenth year of biſhop Booth, died ſeiſed of forty-ſix acres of land there, held of the biſhop in capite, leaving Robert Hall of Stanley his heir^‡.

Of BENFIELDSIDE we have nothing more in the records than what appears in Hatfield's Survey^‖; and of NEWBIGGIN, HARTIBUKE and FORDS there occurs nothing memorable.

PONTOP, in the ſixteenth year of biſhop Hatfield, was the eſtate of John de Gourley and Johanna his wife, limited to the heirs of their bodies; alſo a moiety of the manor of Shepmanſteel and land in Byllingſide, held of the biſhop by ho⯑mage and fealty, and certain rents ^§. It continued in that family a long time, and by an inquiſition taken on the death of William de Gourley, in the eighth year of biſhop Skirlaw, it appears the manor was held by the ſervice of offering yearly Unum Byſancum at St Cuthbert's ferretory on his feſtival, and another to the biſhop by way of oblation. It afterwards became the eſtate of the Claxtons, and in the 25th year of biſhop Langley, on the death of William Claxton, is deſcribed [386] to conſiſt of a manſion-houſe and garden, an hundred acres of land, and an hundred acres of paſture, held under fifteen ſhillings rent and ſuit at three capital courts. It then came into the family of Bulmers, and Bertram Bulmer ſold it to Anth. Meabourn in the twentieth of queen Elizabeth ^*. It is now part of the poſſeſſions of the Swinburns.

ROWLEYS are diſtinguiſhed in biſhop Hatfield's Survey by the names of Eaſt and Weſt Rowley^†; and Thomas Grey is therein ſaid to hold the manor of Weſt Rowley, with the demeſne lands, and the heirs of Hugh de Redhugh the vill of Eaſt Rowley, formerly the eſtate of William Roule. In the twenty-ſixth year of that prelate it appears by an inquiſition taken on the death of John de Howden, that he died ſeiſed of the manor of Rowley, which we preſume implies Eaſt Rowley, held of the biſhop in capite, by homage, fealty, ſuit at three chief courts, and ſix ſhillings and eight-pence rent. He left no iſſue, and his eſtates deſcended to his ſiſter's daughters, one of whom, Agnes, married Thomas Beke to her ſecond huſband, having iſſue by her firſt huſband Hugh del Redhugh a ſon, Hugh, who was heir to this manor, and poſſeſſed the ſame after her death, in the eighth year of biſhop Skirlaw: The male line of the family of Redhugh, as obſerved before, fail⯑ing, their poſſeſſions were ſevered among coheireſſes. The poſſeſſions of Grey, af⯑ter being in Robert de Nevill for a ſhort time, came to Thomas Grey, who was attainted, and were reſtored to Ralph Grey, with Conſet as before mentioned. The family of Bland held of the prior of Durham a ſmall parcel of land here.

COLLIERLY was the eſtate of the Gildfords in biſhop Bury's time, and remained part of their poſſeſſions till the name was extinguiſhed in female iſſue ^‡. They alſo poſſeſſed Green-lawe near Collierly, which the Redhughs afterwards acquired. Robert Rhodes died in the ſeventeenth year of biſhop Booth; and by an inquiſi⯑tion then taken, it is ſtated, that he had conveyed this manor, with the lands called Greenlawe, held under Ralph earl of Weſtmoreland, by his deed dated the 1ſt of April, fourteenth Edward IV. to John Hebburn and William Lawſon, but no truſt is ſpecified; and that he died without iſſue, leaving Alicia, the wife of Richard Bainbrigg, daughter of John Rhodes his brother his heir. This manor was divided by two parceners, and in the ſeventeenth year of biſhop Dudley, Johan, the wife of Robert Robſon, died ſeiſed of one moiety thereof, with a moiety of Greenlawe and Smether Strother, leaving Thomas Hodgſon, her ſon by a former huſband, her heir. The records before us do not point out how the other moiety deſcended.

[]

LUMLEY CASTLE

is the next place of obſervation. This caſtle, one of the ſeats of lord Scar⯑borough, ſtands on a fine elevated ſituation, ornamented with beautiful planta⯑tions; the lands riſe gradually from the channel of the river Were on the ſouth and weſt ſides; and on the north is the rivulet called Lumley beck: The eaſt front of the caſtle ſtands immediately on the brink of a very deep valley, full of wood, through which the brook winds towards the Were. The form of this edifice is ſquare, having a projecting tower at each angle, and a court or area in the center: The corners of each tower are guarded with [...]u [...]treſſes, crowned with a ſmall turret or obſervatory; what is ſingular in the turrets is, that they are oc⯑tangular, ſo that they overhang the face of each ſquare of the baſe, and are machi⯑colated or open for the purpoſe of annoying aſſailants by caſting down ſtones, &c. which gives the edifice a ſingular appearance: The caſtle is built of a yellow free-ſtone, which makes it look bright and beautiful at a diſtance. The chief entrance is at the weſt front, by a double ſlight of ſteps, and a platform, which fills the whole ſpace between the tower; the ſouth front is modern, and brought forward almoſt parallel with the tower, ſixty-five paces in length; the north front is ob⯑ſcured [400] by offices; and the eaſt front retains its ancient form: There is a gateway in the center of the eaſt front, which projects and is guarded by ſquare turrets at the angles, with obſervatories as before deſcribed; above the gate is a gallery formed in the arch, with apertures to annoy an enemy: Above this gate are ſix ſhields of arms boldly cut in ſtone, with their ſeveral creſts, cotemporary with the building, and which critically give us the date of it.

The arrangement of the arms is as follows: In the center, and elevated above the reſt, are the arms of France and England quarterly, being, as we preſume, the arms of king Richard II. as in that reign Sir Ralph Lumley obtained licence from biſhop Skirlaw, dated 1389, to caſtellate his houſe of Lumley; and the architec⯑ture of this front is a grand model of the taſte of that age: The act of Richard II. mentioned by Mr Pennant, had been intruſional or merely confirmatory^*. In the center are the arms of Lumley, as adopted from the Thwengs, whoſe heireſs married into this family; on the dexter ſide the arms of Percy, the creſt a lion paſſant; on the ſiniſter ſide, Nevill, with the bull's head for the creſt; the loweſt arms on the dexter ſide are thoſe of Cowley, creſt a ram's head; on the ſiniſter ſide the arms of Hilton baron Hilton, and Moſes's head for the creſt. There are three ſtories of apartments in this front, with mullioned windows guarded with iron: Between the walls and the brink of the precipice, is juſt ſpace enough for a terrace, which in early times was guarded with a curtain wall: The dell is very deep, the banks are ſteep, and now filled with large foreſt trees: The uniformity of the eaſt front, the arrangement of the arms, and the whole appearance of the maſonry, teſtify that this was part of the original ſtructure, and a chief entrance; for ſhould we form our conjecture from the appearance of the center area, we ſhould conclude every front of the caſtle was ſimilar to this.

Many accounts and prints have been publiſhed of this beautiful place, which ſtrikes the eye of the traveller on the great northern road; the moſt excellent of the prints was by Hearne and Byrne: We will in the firſt place ſelect from the various publications ſuch matter as appears moſt worthy attention, and then pro⯑ceed with our view. All that Camden ſays of it is, ‘that it is encloſed with a park.’ In Ruſſell and Owen's England Diſplayed, it is deſcribed to contain [401] ‘a great number of ſpacious apartments, ſome antique and others modern: The paintings are valuable, many of them repreſenting the anceſtors of that noble family, for ſome centuries paſt, in the habits of the time. The park, beſides the pleaſantneſs of the ſituation, has another and ſtill more valuable circum⯑ſtance to recommend it, that of being full of veins of coal; this, together with a navigable river, by which the coals are carried down to Sunderland, render Lumley park an inexhauſtable mine of treaſure to the family.’ In one of the monthly magazines we are informed by a paper ſigned Edward Barras, ‘that the park is walled round with hewn ſtone, had formerly deer, but after it was re⯑duced and the pales removed, they ſickened and died." And he adds, "there are ſeveral dates upon different parts of the caſtle; one was pointed out to me, on the inner ſide of one of the eaſtern turrets, where the letters I. L. 1550 appear, though almoſt defaced.’ Much repair has been given to the inner walls of the area; and on one of the eaſtern towers are two long ſtrings of eſ⯑cutcheons cut in ſtone, and placed in the building, nine in each row, with the arms of Lumley in the center at the bottom, and in two ſmall ſhields at the top, a fleur⯑de-lis on the dexter ſide, and a roſe on the ſiniſter: In thoſe ſtrings the Lumley arms are impaled, with the ſeveral families wherewith they intermarried.

There is a tradition at Cheſter, that about a century ago, the remains of an old chapel ſtood about three hundred yards to the north-weſt of the caſtle, with ſeveral vaults and ſubterraneous paſſages: A hill called Chapel hill, is well known, but no one about the caſtle could give any information touching the buildings.

From the platform at the entrance into the hall you command a beautiful proſ⯑pect. At the foot of the avenue which leads up to the caſtle, is a fine baſon of water, with a ſalmon lock, and fiſhermen's cottage; over which, on the oppoſite riſing grounds, you view the town of Cheſter, the deanry houſe, and church, at a pleaſing diſtance: The more extended landſcape comprehends the great northern road, animated with paſſengers, the houſe of Flalts, (formerly belonging to the Allans ^*) the village of Pelton, and other ſtriking objects; and the back ſcene con⯑ſiſts of broken and irregular grounds, every where ſcattered over with cottages. A cultivated ſcene fills the view to the left: In a variety of ſituations you ſee the winding ſtreams of the Were: On the one hand the town of Great Lumley, on the other Walridge, and the hermitage, with many hamlets in the vale; whilſt the diſtant landſcape is terminated by Plawſworth, and the plantations above Newton⯑hall.

[402]The hall is a proportionable room, twenty paces in lenth. Here is an arrange⯑ment of portraits at full length of the chief perſonages of the noble family of Lumley, together with a tablet, and in an oval, bordered with arms, the follow⯑ing inſcription ^*.

LIVLPHVS Nobilis Generoſuſ (que) Miniſter Ex Angloſaxonu' Genere Vir clariſſi⯑mus qui late per Angliam Poſſeſſiones multas Haereditario jure poſſidebat cum te'pore Regis Guili⯑elmi primi Co'quiſitoris Angliae Norma'ni ubi (que) ſaeviret, et Quia Cuthbertu' Dunolmenſem Antiſtitem inter Divos Relatum, multum dilexerat, cum ſuis ad Dunolmum ſe co'tulit, Et ibidem Walchero Epiſcopo adeo devenit charus et acceptabilis, Ut abſ (que) illius conſilio nihil conſulte fieri videretur: Multorum dehinc Odium ſibi conflavit, donec a Gilberto quodam aliiſ (que) ſceleratis dicti Epiſcopi Miniſtris crudeliter tandem occideretur in cujus necis Vindictam Northumbr. Walcherum Preſulem innocentem apud Gates⯑hed trucidarunt anno MLXXX. Ex Aldgitha co'juge Northumbroru' Comitis Aldredi filia Liulphus filium ſuſcepit Uctredum, Patrem Gulielmi de Lumley ejus nominis primi, a cujus loci Dominio ſui poſ⯑teri cognomina ſunt ſortiti, Gulielmum iſtum Uctredi filium Dunolmenſis Epiſcopus Hugo eiſdem erui immunitatibus volvit, Quibus caeteri ſui Barones in Epiſcopatu gaudebunt, et ſecundi Henrici Regis cartam inde obtinuit: Tanti beneficii non immemor Gulielmus, villam ſuam de Dictona in Alvertonſchira eodem Epiſc⯑opo et Succeſſoribus ſuis liberaliter contulit. A primo Gulielmo Oritur ſecundus, a ſecundo tertius qui ex filia Gualteri Dau⯑dre Equitis Rogerum filium procreavit, maritum Sibellae coh⯑aeredis inclyti Baronis Hugonis de Morwyco Inde natus Rober⯑tus, qui ex Lucia Sorore et Haerede Thomae Baronis de Thwenge, Marmaducum filium genuit, Paternorum armorum deſertorem pri⯑mum, ſibi ſuiſ (que) retentis maternae ſtemmatis inſignibus. Procreat⯑is ex Margreta Holand conjuge ſua, Radulphum Equitem ſtrennum, Quem Rex Richardus ſecundus anno regiminis octavo ad Baronis Regni dignitatem evexerat: Ducta (que) Aleonora primi Comitis Weſtmariae ſorore Johannem tulit Qui ex Felicia Uxore, Thomam ſuſ⯑cepit, cui Margarete conjunx filia Jacobi Harington Equitis, Georgium Enixa eſt, Maritum Elizabethae haeredis Rogeri Thornton Ar⯑miger, inde Pater efficitur illius Thomae. Qui ex magni Regis Edovardi quarti filia naturali, Richardum ſuſceperat. Is an⯑nam ducens ſororem Gulielmi Baronis Coigners, Johan⯑nem reliquit haeredem, ſponſum Joannae filiae Henrici Le Scr⯑oope de Bolton Baronis eximii, avum Johannis ultimi Baronis de Lumley hoc Conditorio in certam ſpem ſuturae reſurre⯑ctionis repoſiti: Quem illi Georgius filius, ex Jana Cohaere⯑de Richardi Knightley Equitis, unicum reliquerat Nepo⯑te mac haeredem: Bino conjugio ſaelix ultimus hic Johannes ſuit, Janae ſcilicet Arundeliae Comitis Henri⯑ci filiae aetate maximae et cohaerede: Necnon et Eliza⯑bethae filiae Johannis Baronis Darey, Foeminae non Solum Proſapia et antiquo ſtemmate Nobiles Sed quod magis laudandum, virtutibus Pudici⯑tia, verecundia, et amore conjugali Nobi⯑liſſimae. Ex illarum prima nati ſilii duo, Carolus et Thomas, filia (que) unica Maria, haud din ſuperſtites Sed in ipſa infantia meſtiſ⯑ſimis ſatis ſublati^‡.

[403]The pictures are placed in the following order. 1. Liulphus. 2. Uchtred. 3. Gulielmus, who married Heſleden. 4. Sir William de Lumley. 5. William de Lumley, who married Daudre. 6. Sir Robert de Lumley, who married Lucy Thwenge. 7. Sir Marmaduke Lumley, who married Margaret Holland. 8. Sir Ralph de Lumley, the firſt baron in his parliament robes. 9. Sir John de Lum⯑ley, who married Felicia Redman. 10. King Richard II. ſitting in a chair of ſtate, lord Lumley in his robes kneeling, above the figure R. R. II. An' D'no 1385, A^o Reg. 8. 11. Sir Thomas Lumley, who married Margaret, daughter of Sir James Harrington: He received knighthood as a reward for his military proweſs, and was employed by government in ſeveral momentous negociations: In the twenty-eighth, twenty-ninth, and thirty-firſt years of king Henry VI. was guarrantee for the king of England in the Scotch treaties: In the thirty-third year of that reign was made governor of Scarborough caſtle for life; a moſt diſtinguiſhed truſt: Was entruſted in many other appointments of government. It appears he was equally a favourite with king Edward IV. for in the firſt year of that reign he obtained a re⯑verſal of his grandfather's attainder; had ſummons to parliament for the remainder of his life, and was employed in various confidential matters by his ſovereign, par⯑ticularly in the negociations with king James of Scotland, touching his marriage. 12. George lord Lumley, who married Elizabeth Thornton. 13. Sir Thomas Lumley, who married Elizabeth, natural daughter of king Edward IV. 14. John de Lumley, who married Joan, daughter of Henry lord Scrope. 15. Richard de Lumley, who married Ann, daughter of Sir John Conyers. 16. George Lumley, who married Jane, daughter of Sir Richard Knightley. 17. Elizabeth, daughter of John lord Darcy of Chiche, and ſecond wife of Sir John Lumley, who was reſtored in blood the firſt of king Edward VI. and had the ancient barony revived.

The great dining-room is in the ſouth-weſt tower, elegantly ſtuccoed, with a vaulted roof; on one ſide it commands a view of the adjacent meadows, the ſloping banks of the river Were, highly cultivated; with a fine canal, formed by a curva⯑ture of the ſtream: at the end windows, a proſpect down the avenue, with Cheſter and the chief objects deſcribed from the platform.

The little dining-room has ſeveral fine portraits. John lord Lumley, 1563, a three quarter piece; a pleaſing picture: There are other two portraits of this perſonage in the muſic-room, one dated 1588, the other 1591. This John was the ſon and heir of George Lumley, who ſuffered death as before mentioned, and grandſon and heir of John lord Lumley. In the ſixth year of king Edward VI. he was reſtored in blood, and that he and the heirs male of his body ſhould hold and bear the name, dignity, ſtate, and pre-eminence of a baron of this realm, &c. On the 29th of September, 1553, he was made one of the knights of the bath, and attended with his lady at the coronation of queen Mary, he among the barons, and ſhe one of the ſix ladies who ſat in the chariot of ſtate, dreſſed in crimſon velvet, &c. He was one of the two lords who introduced the firſt Ruſſian ambaſſador to audience: Was in employ in the firſt years of queen Elizabeth, but being ſuſpected of intrigue in the affairs of the queen of Scots, was taken into cuſtody with his father-in-law, the carl of Arundel, in the twelfth year of that reign, and was a great favourite with [404] the earl, as appears by his will. He afterwards came into great confidence with the queen, and was one of the lords commiſſioned to ſit in trial of the unhappy victim of Elizabeth's jealouſies, and with a firmneſs ſome hiſtorians have ſpoken of with expreſſions of ſurprize, delivered his opinion that the ſentence was juſtly pronounced againſt the queen of Scots. In the forty-fourth year of the queen he was one of the peers who ſat on the trial of Robert D'Evereux, earl of Eſſex. On the acceſſion of king James he experienced many teſtimonies of royal confidence: Camden made moſt honourable mention of him: ‘He was a perſon of entire vir⯑tue, integrity, and innocence; and in his old age a complete pattern of true no⯑bility. He had ſo great a veneration for the memory of his anceſtors, that he cauſed monuments to be erected for them in the collegiate church of Cheſter in the Street, in order as they ſucceeded one another, from Liulphus down to his own time, which he had either picked out of the demoliſhed monaſteries or made new.’ By his will he deviſed his eſtates, particularly the caſtle and manor of Lumley, to Richard Lumley, eldeſt ſon and heir apparent of Roger Lumley, eſq ſon of Anthony, brother to John lord Lumley his grandfather. He married Jane, the eldeſt of the two daughters of Henry Fitz-Allan, earl of Arundel, and by her had three children, who died in infancy; and to his ſecond wife married Elizabeth, daughter of John lord Darcy of Chiche, who ſurvived him, and by whom he had no iſſue: He died on the 11th of April, 1609, and was buried in the church at Cheam. The ancient barony of Lumley expired at his death.

The portrait of Garcia Sarmienta Cuna is next; a full length, in armour, a ruff, red ſtockings, white ſhoes, a white croſs on his breaſt, a ſpear in his hand. Out of a window a view of the ſea. He was captain of the guard to Philip II^*.

Ferdinand duke of Mar, 1557, in rich armour.

A full length of the duke of Monmouth, with a ſweet countenance and long hair.

Jane Fitz-Alan, the firſt wife of John lord Lumley, in black robes, a ſmall ruff, with gloves in her hand: This is a beautiful portrait; her dreſs is gracefully orna⯑mented with ſtrings of jewels. She was a lady of uncommon learning, having tranſlated from the Greek into Latin ſome of the orations of Iſocrates, and the Iphi⯑genia of Euripides into Engliſh. She compliments her father highly in a dedica⯑tion to him, prefixed to one of the orations, which begins Cicero, Pater honoratiſſime, illuſtris, &c. She died before her father, as appears by his will ^†.

In the muſic-room: Thomas Ratcliff, carl of Suſſex: A full length, in white ar⯑mour, and gold brocade breeches, young and handſome, a ſtaff in his right hand, his left re [...]ing on a ſword: His helmet with an enormous plume placed on a table: This motto amando & ſidendo traopo, ſon ruinato. This nobleman was a figuring character in the reigns of Mary and Elizabeth, frequently employed in embaſſies, in both reigns deputy of Ireland, and in the firſt an active perſecutor of the Proteſtants: He conformed outwardly to the religion of his new miſtreſs, was appointed by her preſident of the north, and commanded againſt and ſup⯑preſſed the rebellion of the earls of Northumberland and Weſtmoreland, notwith⯑ſtanding [405] he ſecretly approved the opinions they armed in favour of. He was the ſpirited rival of Leiceſter; but the death of Suſſex left the event of their diſpute undetermined^*.

A fine portrait in a purple robe, inſcribed Duke of Suffolk, 1593. Who this picture repreſents is uncertain,—the laſt duke, Henry Grey, was beheaded 1553.

Viglius, preſident of the council in the low countries, 1560. A three quarter piece, in a black gown furred in front, a black cap, ſitting in a chair: A fine old face.

A fine portrait of one of the Lumleys; but what perſonage is not known.

A three quarter length of a man in a ſcarlet robe, over the left ſhoulder a white mantle, a ſcarlet cap tied in the middle, and open behind, a narrow white ruff, and a collar of the fleece; the ſcarlet robe is furred with white, on which are ſe⯑veral times repeated the words Ah! amprins au ra jay! Oh, had I undertaken it!"

Over the chimney, the duke of Buckingham.

A half length of Robert earl of Saliſbury, miniſter in the laſt years of queen Elizabeth, and firſt of king James I. dreſſed in black, a bell on the table, and a letter directed to him by all his titles, round the neck a green ribband, with the George: Above his head Sero ſed ſerio.

Sir William Peter, or Petre, a native of Devonſhire, fellow of All-Souls Col⯑lege, and afterwards ſecretary of ſtate to four ſovereigns, Henry VIII. Edward VI. Mary, and Elizabeth. His prudence in maintaining his poſt in reigns of ſuch dif⯑ferent tempers is evident; but in that of Mary he attended only to politics, of Elizabeth to religion ^†.

Queen Mary and queen Elizabeth; of a ſevere countenance.

Dudley earl of Leiceſter, in a three quarter piece, dated 1587, with the collar of the garter, and ſtaff in his right hand.

Andrew Doria, a three quarter length, the great Genoeſe admiral and patriot. He is dreſſed in black, in a cap, a long beard, a collar with the fleece pendant, a truncheon in his hand, and a dagger in his girdle: View of ſhips through a window.

John lord Lumley, 1588, aet. 54. A full length, in rich armour. Another in his robes, with a glove and handkerchief in one hand, a little black ſcull-cap and white beard, dated 1591. The latter portrait, Mr Pennant ſays, he believes was the performance of Richard Stevens, an able ſtatuary, painter, and medaliſt, men⯑tioned by Mr Walpole ^‡: He further adds, ‘This illuſtrious nobleman reſtored the monuments that are in the neighbouring church, was a patron of learning and great collector of books, aſſiſted by his brother in law Humphrey Lhuyd, the famous antiquary. The books were afterwards purchaſed by king James I. and proved the foundation of the royal library. Mr Granger ſays, they are a very valuable part of the Britiſh Muſeum.’

[406]The drawing-room, elegantly furniſhed with crimſon damaſk. A picture of king Charles II. on horſeback.

In a dreſſing-room, over the fire place, Zebedeus Jacobus Major, Salome, Chriſto coevus.

A group of four, a fine picture, ſuppoſed by Holbein.

In the lodging-rooms, &c. &c. John lord Ruſſel; a fine portrait.

A portrait of a lady, in a ſingular dreſs of black and gold, with a red and gold petticoat, dated 1560. Mr Pennant's account of this picture is, ‘This is called Elizabeth, third wife of Edward earl of Lincoln, the fair Geraldine, celebrated ſo highly by the earl of Surry; but ſo ill favoured in this picture, that I muſt give it to his firſt wife Elizabeth Blount: Geraldine was the young wife of his old age. Her portrait at Woburn repreſents her an object worthy the pen of the amorous Surry.’

Sir John Petre; a very fine portrait.

Ambroſe earl of Warwick, ſon of the great Dudley duke of Northumberland: His dreſs a bonnet, furred cloak, ſmall ruff, and pendant George. This peer fol⯑lowed the fortunes of his father, but was received to mercy, and reſtored in blood; was created earl of Warwick by queen Elizabeth, and proved a gallant and faithful ſubject: He died in 1589, and lies under an elegant braſs tomb in the chapel at Warwick.

The earl of Surry; whom Mr Pennant ſtiles, ‘the gallant, accompliſhed, poeti⯑cal earl of Surry; in black, with a ſword and dagger, the date 1545. The or⯑nament, ſays Mr Walpole, of a boiſtrous, yet not unpoliſhed court; a victim to a jealous tyrant and to family diſcord. The articles alledged againſt him, and his conviction, are the ſhame of the times.’

King Edward VI. a full length.

Ralph Lumley, 1567; a ſmall full length portrait.

Sir Thomas More, a half length, dreſſed in that plainneſs of apparel which he uſed, when the dignity of office was laid aſide; in a furred robe, with a coarſe capuchin cap. He was the moſt virtuous and the greateſt character of his time; and by a circumſtance that might humiliate human nature, fell a victim for a reli⯑gious adherence to his own opinion, after being a violent perſecutor of others for firmneſs to the dictates of their own conſcience: To ſuch inconſiſtencies are the beſt of mankind liable ^*.

William Cecil, lord high treaſurer of England, a half length, in black, collar of the garter.

A good half length of Mr Thomas Wyndham, drowned on the coaſt of Guinea, aged 42, M. D. L. a robuſt figure in green, with a red ſaſh, and a gun in his hand.

The earl of Eſſex in a full length, dreſſed in black, covered with white em⯑broidery. Mr Pennant, ſpeaking of this picture, ſays, ‘the brave, impetuous, preſuming Robert earl of Eſſex: A romantic nobleman, of parts without diſcre⯑tion, [407] who fell a ſacrifice to his own paſſions, and a vain dependance for ſafety on thoſe of an aged queen, doting with unreaſonable love, and a criminal credulity in the inſinuation of his foes.’

In a low room, Sir Nich. Carew, maſter of the horſe to king Henry VIII. There is great ſpirit in his countenance; a white feather in his hat, his head bound round with a gold ſtuff handkerchief. He was beheaded in 1539, as lord Herbert ſays ^*, for being of council with the marquis of Exeter, a favourer of the dreaded cardinal Pole, then in exile. During the time of his confinement in the Tower he imbibed the ſentiments of the reformers, and died avowing their faith ^†.

The laſt earl of Arundel, a three quarter piece: His valour diſtinguiſhed him in the reign of king Henry VIII. when he ran with his ſquadron cloſe under the walls of Bulogne, and ſoon reduced it. In the following reign he oppoſed the miſuſed powers of the unhappy protector, Somerſet, and yet declined connection with the great Northumberland. He ſupported the juſt rights of queen Mary; was impriſoned by the former, but on the Revolution was employed to arreſt the abject fallen duke: He was cloſely attached to his royal miſtreſs by principles of religion: In his declining years he aimed at being huſband to queen Elizabeth. Had her ma⯑jeſty deigned to put herſelf under the power of man, ſhe never would have given the preference to age. On his diſappointment he went abroad, and on his return firſt introduced into England the uſe of coaches ^‡.

The firſt earl of Bedford, engraved among the illuſtrious heads.

Killigrew, gentleman of the bedchamber to king Charles II. in a red faſh, with his dog: A man of wit and humour, and on that account a great favourite with the king.

A three quarter length, unknown, dated 1596, aged 43, dreſſed in a ſtriped jacket blue and white, black cloak and breeches, white ruff, gloves on, collar of the garter, and a high crowned hat.

Paracelſus, thus deſcribed by Mr Pennant, ‘A half length of the famous ec⯑centric phyſician and chymiſt of the fifteenth century, Philip Theophraſtus Para⯑celſus Bombaſt de Hohenheim; on the picture is added alſo the title Aureolus. The cures he wrought were ſo very ſurpriſing in that age, that he was ſuppoſed to have recourſe to ſupernatural aid; and probably, to give greater authority to his practice, he might inſinuate that he joined the arts medical and magical. He is repreſented as a very handſome man, bald, in a cloſe black gown, with both hands on a great ſword, on whoſe hilt is inſcribed the word Azot. This was the name of his familiar ſpirit, that he kept impriſoned in the pummel, to conſult on emergent occaſions. Butler humourouſly deſcribes this circum⯑ſtance:’

[408]A head of Sir Anthony Brown, a favourite of king Henry VIII. with a buſhy beard, bonnet, and order of the garter. He was maſter of the horſe to that prince, and appointed one of the executors of his will; and of the council to his young ſucceſſor ^*.

A half length inſcribed Fernandes de Toledo duke of Alva, in rich armour, with his baton, ſhort black hair and beard: A great officer, and fortunate till his reign of cruelty. He boaſted, that he had cauſed, during his command in the Low Countries, eighteen thouſand people to periſh by the executioner. He viſited England in the train of his congenial maſter Philip II. Mr Pennant ſpeaking of this picture ſays, he imagines this portrait was painted when the duke was young, for he had ſeen one ſent into England by the late Mr Benjamin Keen, then in the poſſeſſion of the biſhop of Ely, which repreſented him with a vaſt flowing white beard ^†.

Doctor Stukeley, in his Iter Boreale, in 1725, before mentioned, ſays, ‘At Lumley caſtle is a curious old picture of Chaucer, ſaid to be an original.’ We could not find any ſuch portrait, neither is it mentioned by Mr Pennant.

There is a wooden equeſtrian ſtatue of Liulphus in the houſe, with his battle-ax in his hand. Mr Pennant tells the following ſtory: ‘When king James I. in one of his progreſſes was entertained in this caſtle, William James, biſhop of Dur⯑ham, a relation of the houſe, in order to give his majeſty an idea of the im⯑portance of the family, wearied him with a long detail of their anceſtry, to a period even beyond belief, O mon, ſays the king, gang na farther, let me digeſt the knawledge I ha gained; for, by my ſaul, I did na ken Adam's name was Lumley ^‡.’

The foot walk to Lumley caſtle from Cheſter, leads through fine meadows, and by the fiſh lock: They take about ſix hundred ſalmon here in a ſeaſon.

We muſt not depart from this beautiful place, without remarking, that on failure of iſſue in John lord Lumley, Dr Lloyd was competitor with Richard earl of Scarborough, for the barony, which was determined in 1723, in favour of the earl.

GREAT LUMLEY has nothing remarkable but the ruins of an old hall. There was a partition of the Lumley eſtates in the time of king Henry III. to three co⯑heireſſes, which might occaſion the following circumſtances: In the firſt year of biſhop Booth, Margaret, the wife of Chriſtopher Moreſby, died ſeiſed of a moiety of the waſted manors of Eaſt Hall and Weſt Hall, in Great Lumley, conſiſting of 100 acr. of tillage land, 30 acr. of wood, and 30 acr. of moor, with a moiety of a fiſhery in the river Were, held of the biſhop in capite, by half a knight's fee, leaving Ch. Moreſby her ſon and heir, an infant; and we hear no more of that family there from that period, ſo that it is probable his moiety reverted to the Lumleys. [409] Thomas Lumley's daughter Elizabeth, married William Tyllyoll; and in the fourth year of biſhop Dudley, by an inquiſition taken on the death of the ſame William Tyllyoll de Lumley Magna, arm. it appears he died ſeiſed of a moiety of Great Lumley, leaving Phillis, the wife of William Muſgrave, and Margaret Tyllyoll, his daughters by his wife Elizabeth, coheireſſes.

As in our itinerary we paſs through the chapelries of Tanfield and Lameſley diſtinctly, and apart from the mother church, we will firſt notice thoſe places men⯑tioned in the book of rates, as lying within the ſeparate diſtrict of Cheſter ^*: The firſt of which,

HARRATON,

is ſituate about a mile below Cheſter, a ſeat of John Lambton, eſq on the banks of the river Were, whoſe border abounds in romantic ſcenery ^†. This was anciently the ſeat and eſtate of the D'Arcys, who conveyed to the Hedworths, and they re⯑mained poſſeſſors till the year 1688, when John Hedworth, eſq the laſt heir male of that family died, and left two daughters Dorothy and Elizabeth his coheireſſes: Dorothy, the elder, married Ralph Lambton, eſq a younger ſon of the Lambton family of Lambton hall, and Elizabeth married Sir William Williamſon, of Monk⯑wearmouth, baronet. In 1714, William Lambton, eſq purchaſed lady William⯑ſon's moiety. In the ſame year a family ſettlement was made by Ralph Lamb⯑ton and his wife, with divers limitations and remainders, by virtue of which the eſtate has hitherto paſſed in the family.

URPETH,

by the Boldon Book, appears to have had dringage tenure, wherein, among other duties, we find that of feeding dog and horſe, and finding fifteen cords, and two greyhounds for the great chace, carrying a tun of wine, the millſtones for Durham mill, attending the court, going on embaſſies, and making repairs at Cheſter mill ^‡. [410] The firſt perſon noted in the records as poſſeſſing this manor, is Thomas de Ur⯑peth, who held the ſame of the lord biſhop in capite, except five lands of huſbandry, and an aſſart there called the Rydding, which Alexander de Kibbleſworth, who married his daughter Idoma, then had; Thomas doing homage and fealty, and ren⯑dering ſixty ſhillings yearly at the biſhop's exchequer, plowing and harrowing eight acres of the lord's land at Cheſter, having proviſions found by the biſhop during ſuch work, preparing three balks of land for ſeed corn in Autumn, with twenty-four men each, and one with twelve, the biſhop providing them, for every three men, a loaf of bread, of the aſſize of eight to the buſhel, a flaggon of beer, and a portion of cheeſe of half a ſtone weight; beſides the dringage ſervice as ſtipulated in the Boldon Book^*. In biſhop Hatfield's Survey it appears, that Thomas Grey of Heton, then held the manor, and he died ſeiſed thereof in the twenty-fifth year of that prelate: It was part of the forfeiture on the attainder of Thomas Grey, and in the eighteenth year of the epiſcopacy of biſhop Nevill, he granted the ſame to Ralph Grey his nephew. In the ſeventeenth year of biſhop Booth, John Park died ſeiſed of this manor, together with the Rydding. By this in⯑quiſition it appears, that the manor was held per forinſecum ſerv. paying alſo twenty ſhillings rent by the hands of the coroner of Cheſter ward, carrying a tun of wine, and doing ſuit at the county. We find John Hedworth, eſq in the time of biſhop Sever, obtained licence to alien his lands in Urpeth ^†.

The firſt owners we find of PELTON were John de Hadham, and Hugh Burdon, which latter, in the time of biſhop Beaumont, held a moiety of the vill of Pelton, of the before mentioned Hugh, by homage and the ſixth part of a knight's fee: It afterwards was the eſtate of the Redhoughs, and was aliened to Robert Whelp⯑ington, and became at length the eſtate of Ralph earl of Weſtmoreland, of which he died ſeiſed in the twentieth year of biſhop Langley, and was part of the eſtates forfeited on the attainder. William Chancellor had ſome lands here, as appears by a pardon for purchaſing without licence, dated 15 July, 1529.

[411]The manor of BIRTLEY, in the ſeventeenth year of biſhop Hatfield, was held of the biſhop by Will. de Birtley, who alſo held the manor of Tribley at twenty ſhil⯑lings rent, and attending the great chace with two greyhounds^*. The Birtleys held a moiety of the manor of Birtley for ſeveral generations. It became the eſtate of the Nevills, who held the vill for ſome time jointly with Gilbert Elgyne, who married Elizabeth, one of the heireſſes of William de Birtley, and was part of the forfeitures on the attainder: Tribley manor became the eſtate of the Lamb⯑tons, in the time of biſhop Langley ^†.

EDMUNDSLEY ^‡ gave name to a reſident family, and in the ſixteenth year of biſhop Hatfield, William de Edmanſley died ſeiſed of the vill, which he held in ca⯑pite [412] by homage, fealty, and ten ſhillings rent at the biſhop's exchequer: By the ſame biſhop's ſurvey, it appears that John Killinghall held the manor. In the thirty-fifth year of the ſame prelate, we find Rob. de Umframvill, eſq died ſeiſed of this manor, rendering d [...]ar. orar. ^* for the ſame; alſo forty acres of land there, called the Marle-park, of nineteen ſhillings and three pence rent. In the firſt year of biſhop Skirlaw, on an inquiſition taken on the death of John de Nevill, it was returned that he died ſeiſed of this manor, and Ralph earl of Weſtmoreland alien⯑ed the ſame to John Hoton, ſome time before the ſixth year of biſhop Langley, the manor being then eſtimated at one hundred ſhillings yearly value.