[2] I scarcely know how to trust myself with the mention of that most appalling, unprecedented, act of a one-third madman and two-thirds rogue—Jonathan Martin by name—who set fire to the choir of York Minster: a fire which was almost miraculously stopt in its progress towards the destruction of the entire Cathedral. This had been a result which Martin would have rejoiced to have seen effected. This horrid deed, at the very thought of which the heart sickens, took place on the 2d of February, 1829.
[3] I gather the following from the abridged English version (1693) of Dugdale’s Monasticon as quoted by Drake. Where is even the Protestant bosom that does not heave heavily as it reads it? “To this Cathedral did belong abundance of jewels, vessels of gold and silver, and other ornaments; rich vestments and books,—amongst which were ten mitres of great value, and one small mitre set with stones for the ‘Boy Bishop.’ One silver and gilt pastoral staff, many pastoral rings, amongst which one for the bishop of the boys. Chalices, viols, pots, basons, candlesticks, thuribles, holy-water pots, crosses of silver—one of which weighed eight pounds, six ounces. Images of gold and silver; relicts in cases extremely rich; great bowls of silver; an unicorn’s horn; a table of silver and gilt, with the image of the Virgin enamelled thereon, weighing nine pounds, eight ounces, and a half. Several Gospellaries and Epistolaries, richly adorned with silver, gold, and precious stones. Jewels, affixed to shrines and tombs, of an almost inestimable value. Altar cloths and hangings, very rich; copes of tissue, damask, and velvet, white, red, blue, green, black, and purple. Besides this, there was a great treasure, deposited in the common chest in gold chains, collars of the Order of the Garter, with large sums of old gold and silver.”
[4] The spires of the Cathedral were finished in 1880, and the completion of the edifice was celebrated before the Emperor William I. on October 15th of that year.—E. S.
[5] Remigius was a monk of Fescamp in Normandy, and brought over here by William the Conqueror. He was worthy of all promotion. Brompton tells us that he began to build the Cathedral in 1088, and finished it in 1092, when it was consecrated; but the founder died two days before its consecration.
[6] This must have been “Great Tom,” the First, cast in 1610; preceded probably by one or more Great Toms, to the time of Geoffrey Plantagenet. “Great Tom,” the Second, was cast by Mr. Mears of Whitechapel in 1834, and was hung in the central tower in 1835. Its weight is 5 tons, 8 cwt.; being one ton heavier than the great bell of St. Paul’s Cathedral.... “Great Tom,” the First, was hung in the north-west tower.
[7] Robert Bloet was a worthy successor of Remigius, the founder. Bloet was thirty years a bishop of this see—largely endowing it with prebendal stalls, and with rich gifts of palls, hoods, and silver crosses. He completed the western front—and, perhaps, finished the Norman portion of the nave, now replaced by the Early English.... Geoffrey Plantagenet was a natural son of Henry II., and was elected in 1173.... The latter years of his life seem to be involved in mystery, for he fled the kingdom five years before his death, which happened at Grosmont, near Rouen, in 1212.
[8] It has been estimated that every stone of these huge Pharaonic temples cost, at least, one human life.
[9] The arms of Cœur were what are called parlantes: azure, fess or, charged with three shells or (recalling those of St. James his patron), accompanied by three hearts, gules, in allusion to his name.
[10] The fortune of Jacques Cœur became proverbial: they said: “Riche comme Jacques Cœur.”
[11] The word cœurs is indicated by hearts.