Among the interesting relics of Eboracum, or of York, under the Romans. are remains or memorials of Roman temples. About the end of the 6th century. Ethelbert, the Saxon king of Kent, was converted to the Christian faith by the preaching of the monk Augustine. Edwin, the fifth Saxon king of Northumbria, and • native, it is said, of York, had married Etbelburga, the daughter of Ethelbert, and, through her influence and the seal of Paulions, a companion of Augustine, became a convert, and with Coiffi, the heathen priest, and a considerable number of the nobles of his kincdom, was baptised by Pulliam' on F:aster-day, In the year 627, at York, io the church of St. Peter, which, says Bede, he had hutily constructed of wood while he was a catechumen, and preparing to receive baptism. Soon after wards, by the advice and with the aid of Paulinus, to whom he had given York as his episcopal see, the king made preparations for build ing a larger and a nobler church, in the midst of which the oratory that he had previously constructed, and in which he had been baptized, might be inclosed. He laid the foundation and began to wise the edifice; but before the walla were completed he was slain. The work was finished by his successor Oswald ; but when he also had fallen, and Paulinus (who during the life of Edwin had received the pallium from (tome, and been elevated to the rusk of archbishop of York) had been compelled to retire with Ethelburga into Kent, the church was wholly neglected, sad fell into ruins. In the episcopate of the celebrated Albert, who was elected to the see of York in the year 767, a new church was begun, finished, and dedicated; this edifice appears to have been one of the most magnificent of the Anglo-Saxon churches. A small but very interesting portion of this church, comprising a part of the earlier church built by Edwin, was brought to light daring the excavation of the present choir, after the calamitous fire in February, 1829.
Archbishop Thomas, who was appointed to the see by William the Conqueror in the year 1070, rebuilt the church, which had been in great part destroyed by fire. From remains of the crypt, discovered in the recent excavation and preserved beneath the floor of the present choir, a good idea may be farmed of the grandeur arid beauty by which the eutire edifies must have been distinguished. Archbishop. Roger, Grey, and Thorssby, with other dignitaries, at various periods repaired, altered, and added to the buildings of the flatbed rid.
York Minster, although wanting the uniformity of • building con structed from • well-arranged plan, le a magnificent structure. Its situation is low and confined ; yet its mass, and the grand scale on which every part is constructed, reader it an imposing object from whatever point it is viewed. The west, front la very grand ; the Immensity of the structure hare appear, very striking. The window is an unrivalled specious of the rich tracery that marks the style of the middle of the 14th century. The lofty towers arising from the
western aisles are onifoem and very graceful ; they are terminated b,y pinned.. and supported by buttresses, in every part highly enriched. Almost the whole of this (rout is adorned with a profusion of tracery and sculpture. The south transept is a noble piece of workmanship. Attached to it is a firm porch. The central tower is very fine, but appear. hardly high enough compared with the towers at the western sod, which are • few feet loftier ; it has been supposed that it was intended to be crowned with a lofty spire. The cathedral consists internally of a nave, choir, sod Lady chapel, each with its two aisles; north and south transepts, with two aisles, and a lantern in the centre ; and a chapter-r000s. with a vestibule on the north side. The elevation of the north transept presents five tall and very beautiful windows, commonly known as 'the five slaters;' above these are five other lancet windows of varied heights. The south transept is neither so regular nor so finished as other, though rather richer In the details. The nave is remarkably beautiful, and the aisles are unequalled for rrandeur In this kingdom ; they are as lofty as those at Wastmhuter, (ut no4 so narrow. The east window is about 78 feet high and 80 feat wide. It is divided Into compartments, each containing the representation of an historical event : In all about 200 subjects are repesseuted. The singularly elaborate and very interesting screen contain. statues of Use kings of England from William 1. to Henry VI. That of Henry VI. hi • modern statue, the original having been removed in the reign of Edward IV. Its place was supplied until recently by a statue of James I., which was placed in the vacant niche when he visited the minter. Upon this screen now stands the organ, perhaps the finest in the kingdom.
This magnificent cathedral is cruciform, measuring in length from base to base of buttresses east and west about 519 feet, and from base to base of the transepts 249 feet. The internal length east and west is 483 feet, of the transepts 222 feet 6 inches. The internal height of the nave is 93 feet, of the choir 101 feet, of the central tower externally about 198 feet, internally 182 feet 6 inches. The height of the western towers is about 201 feet to the top of the pinnacles, 178 feet 3 inches to the top of the battlement.
The chapter-house is a noble room of an octagonal form, the angular diameter being 60 feet 6 inches, and the height of the central boss from the floor 62 feet 2 inches. The roof is unsupported by any pillar. It has an elegant window in each of seven of its sides, the eighth having corresponding tracery. Under the wiudows are fifty-four stalls for the canons, the stalls being surmounted with rich crocheted canopies. It has a handsome wooden roof, which was brilliantly painted and gilt by Willemcnt. The floor is laid with a teaselated pavement.