Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of York: A Description of Its Fabric and A Brief History of the Archi-Episcopal SeeClutton-Brock, A. (Arthur)
History
Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of York: A Description of Its Fabric and A Brief History of the Archi-Episcopal See
Clutton-Brock, A. (Arthur)
York Minster
The minster, for all its size, age, and importance, contains curiously
few tombs of interest. Though most of the earlier bishops were buried
within its walls, not more than three of their monuments are really
remarkable. Only one member of the royal family, William of Hatfield,
the infant son of Edward III., lies there, and very few persons of
distinction. It is not proposed therefore to give a description of any
tombs, except such as are notable for beauty or interest.
#Monuments In The Nave.#--In the north aisle, three bays from the west
end, is a monument of late Perpendicular work, said to be the tomb of
Archbishop Roger, who died in 1181. It is possible that his bones were
transferred here from the choir, though there is no record of such
transference. This tomb was opened and restored in 1862, when some bones
and remains of ecclesiastical vestments were found in it. The
restoration appears to have been arbitrary and inaccurate.
[Illustration: Effigy of Manley.]
The tomb is recessed in the wall of the aisle, and consists of a lower
storey for the coffin with a flat top, with a front of open stone work
in eight divisions, each containing a quatrefoil. Above is a very obtuse
arch with plain mouldings, with a row of "Tudor flower" ornaments on the
top, and a figure of the Virgin in the middle. There are two birds
holding scrolls in their beaks on either side of her. These have been
changed by the ingenious restorers into eagles bearing ears of wheat.
All other monuments of importance in the nave were destroyed by the
Puritans, or at the Reformation.
A word must be said, however, as to the tomb and shrine of St. William,
the patron saint of the minster.
William Fitzherbert was a great-grandson of the Conqueror, and an
opponent of the monks. He was expelled from his episcopacy in 1147, but
returned to it in 1153. He is stated to have performed a miracle
immediately on his return, and died about immediately afterwards in
1154. He is said to have been poisoned, whilst celebrating mass, out of
the holy chalice itself. It was perhaps the peculiar atrocity of his end
which gave him so great a reputation for sanctity. During his life he
does not seem to have been distinguished above other archbishops for
learning, piety, or good deeds. He was not canonised until 1284. It is
difficult to understand either why the minster had not obtained a patron
saint before this time, or why the choice eventually fell upon St.
William. No doubt the authorities felt the want of a shrine fit to be
enriched by the visitations of pilgrims, and were encouraged by the
example of the shrine of St. Thomas of Canterbury to obtain one as soon
as possible. We can only suppose that they chose St. William for want of
a more distinguished patron. At all events, his shrine never obtained
the celebrity of that of St. Thomas of Canterbury, and in after years
was probably regarded as inferior in sanctity and interest even to that
of Archbishop Scrope in the minster.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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