1671. For bindinge one vol. of ye Polyglott Lexicon* for ye library, 7s.

1672. For carrying of bookes belonging to ye library att York from Carleton, where Mr. Newcombe had left them, 5s.†

1673. To Mr. Samuell Clark‡ towards ye funeral of Mr. Jo. Jackson, a minister, 10s. For the musick in the church on ye 2 assize Sundayes and on Easter day, 31. Spent at the George, when some of the residentiaryes went to discourse Mr. Bland§ about pensions, 4s. 4d.

1673. To Mr. Mangey|| for platinge ye vergers silver rods, besides ye old silver, 47. 2s. 6d. To George Haynes for ye irons for them, 5s. To Mr. Mangy for tipping, gilding, and engraving the horn,¶ 47. 5s.

1677. To a mason who came to view ye window yt was fallen, and to advise about it, 2s. 6d. To Mr. Conyers for Mr. Mathe Wilkinson for getting notice of our plate putt into ye gazette,** 17. To ye town clark and ye officers of ye Ld. Mayor for theire trouble about ye church plate, 17. To Robert Greaves for green baggs for ye sacrament plate and making them, 4s.

1678. To Mr. Beckeford for pasteinge together and repaireing an old record touching an old visitacion of the diocese of

* Probably the famous Bible compiled by Brian Walton. "1672. To Mr. Lambert for binding ye 2nd volume of ye Polyglott Lexicon, 7s. 1673. For carryage of a box with the Polyglott Lexicon in it from London, 18s. 3d. 1674. To Dr. Samways for a box and for postage of ye Polyglott Bible, and as given to Dr. Busby's servant, 6s. 4d."

+ Mr. Newcombe had been permitted to carry some of the books out of the minster library into the country, a privilege very rarely accorded. The name of Newcombe is not unknown to fame.

Probably the celebrated non-conformist, who was now drawing towards the close of his labours. Jackson held, I believe, the same religious opinions, and the Chapter contribute towards the expenses of his funeral.

§ Henry Bland was the agent and receiver for the Government. We do not know what the residentiaries wished to "discourse" him upon.

|| Arthur Mangey of Leeds, goldsmith, the father of Thomas Mangey, prebendary of Durham and a writer of some little note. Mangey ventured to forge the royal mint mark, and was hanged at York for his offence.

The celebrated horn of Ulphus, which had been rescued from destruction by Thomas, Lord Fairfax, and which he restored to the minster. A brass plate, the work of Mangey, bears an inscription which gives an account of its fortunes.

** The sacramental plate belonging to the minster was stolen about this time. Ten years afterwards a man was arrested for the offence, but I am not aware that it was ever brought home to him.

Durham* by the Archbishop of York dureing the vacancy of the see, 6s. 6d.

1679. To Mr. Dean for money laid out to Mr. Belwood for advice about Ld Erwin's candles,† 1. For bindeing a manuscript, 5s. To Joseph Georgizing, Archbishop of Samos, towards the building of the Greek church in London, 41. To Edward Hindle for new paveing and levelling the chancell of Belfreys church, 67. 6d.

1682. To Mr. Wm. York, as library-keeper, 31. for half a year. More by way of augmentation for extraordinary paines, 21. To Mr. John Thompson, goldsmith, for 2 silver flaggons for the cathedrall, 371. 5s.

1683. To ye late Lord Archbishop's§ clerk of ye chappell upon delivery of ye gilt plate left by his grace's will for ye use of ye Cathedrall, 10s. For a firre box wherein to preserve the old chamberlaine's accompte, 2s. 6d.

1686. To Wm. Sympson when he went to Justice Blythman with informacions against Daniell Awty|| in relacion to his stealing the Minster plate, 10s. To Mr. Benjamin Bryon for binding, bossing, and pasting the great Bible for the quire, 17s. 6d. To Mr. John Bolling for frame for preaching-table carver, 21. 9s. 4d. To Mr. John Jackson, writeing m', for writeing ye preaching table,¶ 17. 10s.

1689. To Mr. Richard Hawson, agent for the Earl of

* This document is now, I believe, in the Archbishop's registry. It is a very long roll, containing an account of a thorough visitation of the diocese of Durham, made by the Archbishop of York after the death of Bishop Kellawe in 1316. The right of the see of York to interfere in the Palatinate was always disputed, and even now the question is not thoroughly at rest.

+ One of the Ingrams had left a certain sum of money to assist in lighting the minster. It appears that the payment had been refused, upon which, legal proceedings had been begun. The church, I believe, failed in their cause. Mr. Belwood was a native of York, and a lawyer of great repute.

The Greek Church was just being erected in London. An account of it may readily be found elsewhere.

To supply the plate which had been stolen in 1676, Archbishop Sterne bequeathed to the minster the gilt communion plate used in the chapel at Bishopthorpe, "that is to say, one gilt bason, two gilt flagons, one gilt paton, one gilt chalice with cover, together with the cases wherein they are commonly layd up." I am not aware that this man was ever convicted. Ten years, it will be seen,

had elapsed since the perpetration of the offence.

The board on which the names of the different preachers in the minster throughout the year were placed in their proper order. This custom is still generally adhered to.

Danby, upon the delivery of the silver pastorall staffe, sometime belonging to the popish Bishop Smith, unto Mr. Dean for the use of the Cathedrall, 17. 1s. 8d. To Mr. Stainforth for coach hire for residentiaries when they went to meet Archbishop Lamplough att his first coming,† 13s. 6d.

1693. For rebuilding the gallows in the Horse-faire and the stocks in the Minster yard, 57. 5s. 10d. For matting the Archbishop's throne, 27. 11s.

1699. To Heneage Dering, Esq.,§ secretary to the Ld. Archbishop, upon his delivery of Bishop Smith's crosier staffe to ye clarke of the vestry, 17. 1s. 6d.

1700. To Mr. Oswald Langwith, which hee was directed to pay to my sister Squire (or to her son) on account of two old act books estrayed out of the Dean and Chapter's registry,|| 21. 3s.

1704. To Mr. Dean for Dr. Hick's¶ 2 folios about the Saxon Antiquities, to be kept in the library, 87.

* A silver pastoral staff of very elegant workmanship, and more than six feet in length. It is still preserved in the vestry, and has been more than once engraved. It was taken in that year of commotion, 1688, from James Smith, titular Bishop of Callipolis, by the Earl of Danby. The Pope had made Smith his Vicar Apostolic for the northern district, and he was soon pounced upon.

The advent of a new Archbishop was always the occasion of much festivity. As Lamplough was the first Bishop appointed by king William, there would be a great political demonstration when he came to his see.

The Dean and Chapter had the power of life and death within their jurisdiction. Peter prison was their gaol, and we now learn the site of the gallows. The criminals for the city and county were executed on Knavesmire.

§ Heneage Dering was a gentleman of a good Kentish family. He afterwards married Archbishop Sharp's daughter, and, entering into orders, he became Canon of York and Dean of Ripon.

|| Several act_books and registers of the Dean and Chapter disappeared, I fear, about this time. Torre gives extracts from several which are now missing. The loss of one, a register, devoted to the fabric, is greatly to be deplored.

The magnificent Thesaurus of Dr. George Hickes. Dean Gale was his intimate friend, and secured, no doubt, these volumes for the library.

II.-ECCLESIE SCHIRBURNENSIS UTENSILIA.*

Thær

This syndon tha cyrican madmas on Scirburnan. synd twa Cristes bec & ij rodan & j aspiciens, & j ad Te levavi, & ij pistol bec & j mæsse boc, & j ymener & j salter & j calic & j disc and twa mæsse reaf & iij mæsse hakelan & ij weoved sceatas & ij over brædels & iiij hand bellan & vj hangende bellan.

III.—QUATUOR CARTÆ SUPER ECCLESIA DE TOPCLIffe.

a.-CARTA DOMINI WILLELMI DE PERCY SUPER ECCLESIA DE TOPPECLIVE DATA FABRICE EBORACENSIS ECCLESIE. (MSS. Cotton. Claudius, B. III. 78a.) +

Willelmus de Percy omnibus hanc cartam visuris vel audituris salutem. Sciatis me donasse, concessisse, et presenti scripto confirmasse ecclesiæ Sancti Petri Eboracensis ecclesiam de Topecliva, cum omnibus pertinenciis suis, in perpetuam elemosinam, ad reficiendum, edificandum, per dispositionem domini Archiepiscopi et successorum suorum et Capituli Eboracensis,

* An inventory of the church goods at Sherburn in Elmet of a very early date, and in the Saxon character. It is extracted from a fly-leaf at the end of a manuscript of the Gospels in the custody of the Chapter clerk. The book itself is written in a fine bold hand, circa 900, and is of the quarto size. Prefixed is the canon, on eight leaves, arranged in compartments in which a good deal of architectural skill is manifested. At the end of the volume are several charters and Saxon documents, which have been hitherto unnoticed, including a list of the relics belonging to the Minster, and some very early deeds connected with land and its measures. At the beginning, on the fly-leaves, are several forms of oaths to be administered to the canons and other officers of the church. In fact, I should say that this is the very copy of the Evangelists upon which every new officer of the church took his oath from the year 900 downwards.

I append a translation of the document

"These are the churches' goods in Sherburn. There are two Christ's books (gospels), two roods, one aspiciens, and one ad Te levavi (service books beginning with those words), two books of epistles, one mass book, one hymnarium, one psalter, one chalice, and one dish, two mass vestments, three mass mantles (?), two woven sheets, two upper coverings, four hand bells, and six hanging bells.”

From these charters we learn how the church of Topcliffe came into the possession of the Dean and Chapter of York. The exact date of the grant is not known, but it must have been made between the years 1154 and 1181, the period during which Archbishop Roger presided over the see of York.

The donor was one of the most powerful and munificent barons in the north of England. He did good service at the battle of the Standard, and was the

quæ in ea edificanda cognoverint seu reficienda, precedente tamen domini Archiepiscopi auctoritate et assensu, sine quo predictum Capitulum nichil inde statuere possit. Neque de eo quod tesaurarius Eboracensis ad re-edificacionem et reparacionem Ecclesiæ solet exhibere quicquam propter hoc detrahatur. Si vero Archiepiscopus et Capitulum aliquando ab edificacione et reparacione ecclesiæ cessandum duxerint necessarium, redditus predictæ ecclesiæ omnes, nichilominus, ad vasa sacra et ea ornamenta quærenda, quæ tesaurarius invenire non debet, assignentur et expendantur. Ita quod nec Archiepiscopo vel Capitulo, post decessum R. de Alneto personæ nunc illius ecclesiæ, liceat redditus exinde ad alios quam predictos usus transferre. Hanc autem donacionem et concessionem feci pro salute animæ meæ et uxoris meæ Sibillæ, patris mei et matris meæ, filiorum quoque et filiarum mearum, omniumque antecessorum meorum, ut intercedat pro nobis ad dominum Beatum Petrum clavigerum regni celorum. Hiis testibus R. Archiepiscopo Eboracensi, Sibilla de Valloniis, Nicholao priore de Fontibus, Petro de Ros, Alano canonico Ebor., Marmeduc Darel, Baldewino de Bramhopa, Waltero de Bonvent, Radulpho de Helleya et Joelino fratre ejus, Johanne hostiario Archiepiscopi, Adam clerico de Torneuia Ricardo clerico de Kirkeby Malghum.

B.-CARTA ARCHIEPISCOPI SUPER EADEM. (Ibid. 78a.)

Rogerus, Dei gratia Eboracensis Archiepiscopus, apostolica sedis legatus, omnibus sanctæ matris ecclesiæ filiis, ad quos carta ista pervenerit, salutem. Universitati vestro notum facimus quod dedimus et concessimus Radulpho de Alne ecclesiam de Topeclive, cum omnibus pertinenciis suis, ipsumque ad presentacionem nobilis viri Willelmi de Percy, ea vacante, impersonavimus. Verum ipse Willelmus postmodum eandem ecclesiam, interveniente voluntate et auctoritate nostra, dedit et concessit ad

founder of the abbeys of Hampoll and Salley. He is said to have died in Palestine. The name of Sibill his wife has never yet appeared in the pedigree of the Percies.

From the village of Topcliffe the fabric derived a very considerable revenue. The church of that little village has been recently re-built; the original structure possessed several features of great interest, and many notices illustrative of the history of the building have already been given.

These charters are to be found in the great white register at York. These transcripts, however, were made from a chartulary among the Cottonian MSS., a most beautifully written and preserved volume of the deepest interest to any York historian. It contains many charters which are to be found in the great book at York, and many others which are missing in that noble volume; but the greater part of them are authenticated by the names of the witnesses being inserted, which may be looked for in vain in many parts of the MS. at York.