A door in the westernmost bay of this aisle opens to two plain Norman rooms, now used as vestries. In the Perpendicular period an “eastern chamber” of two stories was added to this Norman building, and served as the treasury of the cathedral.
XXII. The great south transept retains much of its Norman work, but was much altered during the Perpendicular period. The east wall is entirely Norman, and is covered with five ranges of arcades, all of which are blank except those at the levels of the triforium and clerestory, which open to a wall-passage. The transept is only lighted on this side by two Norman windows in the clerestory. A large Norman arch, including two smaller, all much enriched, occupies the triforium space above the arch opening to the choir-aisle; and perhaps indicates that the Norman triforium
BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY.
Plate X.
has been already mentioned, to the Archive Room and Chapter Library, above the great north transept. This room has been thoroughly restored by Mr. G. G. Scott. The Library contains about 2,000 volumes, many of great rarity and interest. Nearly all are chained to the shelves; and the general appearance of the carefully guarded treasures is sufficiently curious. [Plate X.] Among the most remarkable printed books are—A series of Bibles, ranging from 1480 to 1690; Higden’s Polychronicon, by Caxton, 1495; Caxton’s Legenda Aurea, 1483; and Lyndewode Super Constitutiones Provinciales, 1475. Of the MSS., by far the most interesting is an ancient Antiphonarium containing the old “Hereford Use.” This “sets forth not only the services of particular days, the chants to be used and the lectures to be read, but contains a treatise on music and an ample calendar, in which are noted the obits of the benefactors and bishops of the church; and by which, with the aid of the Dominical letter, we are enabled to assign to the volume the date of 1265[37]”. It was purchased at a book-stall in Drury-lane about the year 1820; and redeemed by the Dean and Chapter, who restored it to its original and legitimate resting-place. Here also is preserved, carefully protected by plate glass, the remarkable Map of the World, [Plate XI.,] which is one of the most valuable relics of mediæval geography. It was the work of a certain Richard of Haldingham and of Lafford, (Holdingham and Sleaford in Lincolnshire,) who has commemorated himself in the following verses:—
“Tuz ki cest estorie ont
Ou oyront, ou luront, ou veront,
Prient à Jhesu en deyté
De Richard de Haldingham e de Lafford eyt pité
Ki l’at fet e compassé
Ke joie en cel li seit doné.”
The latter part of the thirteenth century is the date which has usually been assigned to it; but M. D’Avezac, President of the Geographical Society of Paris, who has recently examined the map with much care, arrives, from internal evidence, at the conclusion that it was designed at the beginning of the year 1314[38]. The map itself (drawn on thick vellum, and glued to a framework of oak) is founded on the mediæval belief that all geographical knowledge resulted from the observations of three philosophers, (here named Nichodoxus, Theodotus, and Policlitus,) who were sent forth by Augustus Cæsar to survey the three divisions of the world, when it was about to be taxed at the birth of our Lord. The Emperor is accordingly figured giving his directions to the philosophers. The world is represented as round, and surrounded by the ocean. At the top of the map, which represents the east, is Paradise,
