[56] In the interior of these towers the courses run level with those of Archbishop Roger's work--a fact which has been taken as indicating that the lowest portion of the towers internally (but not, of course, the tower arches) may be actually his work. The theory that his west front was flanked by towers or chambers of some kind is not improbable. [57] A triforium is properly a gallery, open to the church, between the internal and external roofs of the aisles, but here there were no aisles, and the gallery or passage is in the thickness of the wall. [58] This term will be used wherever the usual term 'vaulting-shaft' is inapplicable. [59] The earth here has apparently been brought in from outside. Can it have come from some sacred spot abroad? The original floor, if not earthen, may possibly have rested on the set-off. [60] It has been suggested, however, that they may be relics of a feast buried here to defile the site of the altar. The bones in question are now in the Lady-loft. [61] With one of the deposits was found a brass bodkin of the type used in the sixteenth century. [62] It was Walbran, again, who gave these reasons for assigning the crypt to Wilfrid. Before his time it was thought to have been built during the Roman Occupation. [63] See article by Mr. J. T. Micklethwaite, V.P.S.A., in _Archaeol. Journ._, vol. xxxvii. p. 364. [64] A _confessio_, it need hardly be said, has nothing to do with a confessional. The word is probably to be explained as meaning the tomb of one who had been a witness or _confessor_ of the Faith. [65] In making excavations for laying the wind-trunk of the organ the exterior of this wall was laid bare and appeared extremely rough. This, however, does not prove that it had never been meant to be seen. It may have been faced with smooth stones, which, just because they were exposed, attracted attention, and were removed by later masons for use elsewhere.--_Mr. Micklethwaite._ [66] Among the five known Saxon crypts (all of the _confessio_ type) Ripon and Hexham alone show this peculiarity. [67] See _Proceedings Soc. Antiq._, 16th June 1892. [68] In making the above-mentioned excavation in 1891, Mr. Micklethwaite found what was presumably the floor of the body of Wilfrid's church. It was of plaster 3 inches thick, and was 1 foot 7 inches below the floor of the present Cathedral. [69] The explanation of the crypt as a _confessio_ is due to Mr. Micklethwaite, and is ably set forth, with its consequences, in _Archaeol. Journ._, vol. xxxix. p. 347. [70] The square termination of the crypt is in favour of a square presbytery; while his Roman proclivities are perhaps slightly in favour of an apse, and of aisles. [71] _Surtees Soc._, vol. lxxiv. p. 83.