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Article BASILICA ANGLICANA—VII. ← Page 2 of 3 Article BASILICA ANGLICANA—VII. Page 2 of 3 →
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Basilica Anglicana—Vii.
carved , and the greatest attention aud euro seem to have been taken by the artificers that their work should not only command the admiration of their contemporaries , but should endure for the edification aud delight of many generations of men to come after them . The writer has a partiality for making acquaintances in a
church , more particularly when the visitor is one who seeks , like himself , apart from the pautiug crowds of cities , tin hour or two of contemplation and reverie . The solitude seems to be deepened when two minds share it , each communicating to the other its inmost thoughts ; each searching its inmost depths , and bringing up pearls of priceless wisdom
which are only enriched by being distributed , and arc not sullied by being exposed . He remembers on one occasion entering the cathedral on a dreary winter ' s morning . The snow was on the ground , aud as it was Christmas week the organist and choir were practising sonic music which was to be specially introduced . As he was listening , his attention
was arrested by a feeble cough . Looking around , he saw a little old man hobbling along the nave by the aid of a staff which was somewhat taller than himself . His hair was long and very white , and fell in glossy silver bands over the high collar of his blue surtoufc . His eyes were of the lightest blue , and there was an exjiression of benignant susceptibility
iu their liquid brightness that Avon sympathy on the . instant . As the old mau passed , he politely saluted the stranger , by putting his hand slowly to his forehead , and then proceeded on his way . The old gentlemau was seen no more that day , but some time afterwards a funeral procession passed along before the writer ' s window . The equipage was evidently
such as would be provided for a person in humble life , but there might be observed two or three gentlemen ' s carriages . Whoever might be the poor wayfarer to Hades , it was evident that ho did not depart upon his journey without the good wishes of his fellow citizens . U pon making inquiries , we discovered that the poor mortal coil which was going to its last resting place , was no other than that of our little
• acquaintance of the cathedral . " lie seems said we to our informer , " to receive more honour than is usually given to one in his station . " " Yes , " was thc reply , " he was much esteemed , although his fame was achieved by a rather mad-cap exploit . In his youth he served with Nelson . He had the good fortune to be scut home as a servant with , the officer appointed to carry the despatches from the commander-in-chief to tho
Admiralty . He was , therefore , one of the first to be acquainted with a most important victory , gained by the English admiral over tho French fleet ; and the moment he set foot iu London , he took coach and arrived at Norwich at about twelve o ' clock at noon . When the citizens were coming out of churchthey were much surprised to see crowds of
, persons running in all directions , some staring as if their eyes were fascinated , or themselves turned maniacs . It was not long before the cause of all this commotion made itself apparent . The youth in his enthusiasm to proclaim the welcome tidings , had climbed up to the roof of the cathedral , and was now resolutely ascending the spire . The populace were
in a delirium of excitement , and shouted at the youth to pause before he ascended any higher . But he heeded them not , and on ho went to the very summit of the spire , where he waved his hat and gave three hearty cheers for Old England and King George . This feat is recorded as having taken place in July 1798 . The old man was ei ghty-four years of
, age when he died . He enjoyed a good service pension , and the evening of his life was serene and free from care , and it was his custom in unfavourable weather to saunter amongst the cloisters , sometimes chatting with a prebendary , or supported by his little grauddaughter who read to him passages from works of adventure and travelof which he retained his
, admiration to the last moment of his life . These cloisters are of the most elaborate construction , and afford from their excellent state of preservation a very tolerable idea of what these monastic appendages were like
Basilica Anglicana—Vii.
iu the palmy days of those institutions . They were mostly used by the monks for exercise or study , who repaired thither to read their breviary or to meditate . Although all these cloisters bear a strong resemblance to each other , tiny one who takes the trouble of minutely examining them will soon learn that they are the work of different periodsand differ
, considerably—affording on that account a valuable study to the architect , and a curious object of investigation to the antiquary . They were begun by Bishop Walpole in 1297 , and although proceeded with by several bishops , were not completed till the prelacy of Bishop Alnwyck in 1430 . The tracery of the arches is very beautiful , exhibiting all the
variations of the "\ Decorated" style , and in the parts most recently erected , the early forms of the florid or perpendicular tracery . The stone vaulting of the roof is an object worthy of admiration . The groins arc as it were fastened at the points of intersection by massive bosses , on which are carved several scriptural figuresranging with those on the roofs of
, the naves and transepts of the cathedral . There is a door at the south-west corner , which deserves a more than passing attention . It was within this doorway or porch that in olden times couples were accustomed to take their stand who were about to be married ; this use of it is indicated by a carved representation of tho espousals of our first parents ou
the tympanum or space within the arch above the door . There were intervals , however , when Norwich Cathedral was free from scenes of riot , and festivity usurped their place . The mayor of the city was wont to repair to the sacred building in company with his sheriff and court of common council to hear a sermon preached by one of the most
eminent of the local clergy . The service and sermon ended , he feasted all the nobles and gentlemen of the county , the abbots , and 'the canons of the cathedral—iu short , till the great ones of the county . As illustrating the manners and eloquence of those days , although but remotely connected with our subject , we insert the following A ery curious documents : —
"Anno Domini , 1561 . "William Mingay , Esq ., mayor of the city of Norwich : his expenses for a dinner at which he feasted the Duke of Norfolk , & c , the lords , knights , and gentry of the country : —¦ " S stone of beef , at 11 lb . to the stone . . £ 0 5 -1 2 collars of brawn 0 1-1 ¦ 1 geese 0 14
8 jiints of butter Old A fore quarter of veal 0 0 10 A hind quarter do 0 10 A leg of mutton . . . . . . 0 0 3 A loyn of mutton and shoulder of veal . . 010 A breast and coast of mutton . . . 007 ( i plovers 0 10
4 brace of partridges 0 2 0 4 couple of rabbits 0 18 2 guinea pigs 0 10 4 couple of hens . . . . , . 020 2 couple of mallards 0 10 84 eggs 0 10 2 bushells of flour 0 10
1 C loaves of white bread . . . . 00 4 18 wheatcn bread 0 0 0 0 loaves niislin ditto . . . . . 0 0 ' . ) 1 barrel double beer 0 2 0 1 barrel small ditto 1 ) 10 1 quarter of wood 0 2 2 Nutmegsmacecinnamonand . . 003
, , , greens 4 pound of barbcrys and sugar . . . 010 Fruit'and almonds 0 0 7 Sweetwater and perfumes . . . . 004 10 oranges 0 0 2 2 gallons white wine and claret . . 020 1 quart of sack . . . . . . 000 1 quart of malmsey . . . . . 00 5
1 quart of bustard 0 0 3 1 quart of muscadine 0 0 0 Total . . . £ 1 IS 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Basilica Anglicana—Vii.
carved , and the greatest attention aud euro seem to have been taken by the artificers that their work should not only command the admiration of their contemporaries , but should endure for the edification aud delight of many generations of men to come after them . The writer has a partiality for making acquaintances in a
church , more particularly when the visitor is one who seeks , like himself , apart from the pautiug crowds of cities , tin hour or two of contemplation and reverie . The solitude seems to be deepened when two minds share it , each communicating to the other its inmost thoughts ; each searching its inmost depths , and bringing up pearls of priceless wisdom
which are only enriched by being distributed , and arc not sullied by being exposed . He remembers on one occasion entering the cathedral on a dreary winter ' s morning . The snow was on the ground , aud as it was Christmas week the organist and choir were practising sonic music which was to be specially introduced . As he was listening , his attention
was arrested by a feeble cough . Looking around , he saw a little old man hobbling along the nave by the aid of a staff which was somewhat taller than himself . His hair was long and very white , and fell in glossy silver bands over the high collar of his blue surtoufc . His eyes were of the lightest blue , and there was an exjiression of benignant susceptibility
iu their liquid brightness that Avon sympathy on the . instant . As the old mau passed , he politely saluted the stranger , by putting his hand slowly to his forehead , and then proceeded on his way . The old gentlemau was seen no more that day , but some time afterwards a funeral procession passed along before the writer ' s window . The equipage was evidently
such as would be provided for a person in humble life , but there might be observed two or three gentlemen ' s carriages . Whoever might be the poor wayfarer to Hades , it was evident that ho did not depart upon his journey without the good wishes of his fellow citizens . U pon making inquiries , we discovered that the poor mortal coil which was going to its last resting place , was no other than that of our little
• acquaintance of the cathedral . " lie seems said we to our informer , " to receive more honour than is usually given to one in his station . " " Yes , " was thc reply , " he was much esteemed , although his fame was achieved by a rather mad-cap exploit . In his youth he served with Nelson . He had the good fortune to be scut home as a servant with , the officer appointed to carry the despatches from the commander-in-chief to tho
Admiralty . He was , therefore , one of the first to be acquainted with a most important victory , gained by the English admiral over tho French fleet ; and the moment he set foot iu London , he took coach and arrived at Norwich at about twelve o ' clock at noon . When the citizens were coming out of churchthey were much surprised to see crowds of
, persons running in all directions , some staring as if their eyes were fascinated , or themselves turned maniacs . It was not long before the cause of all this commotion made itself apparent . The youth in his enthusiasm to proclaim the welcome tidings , had climbed up to the roof of the cathedral , and was now resolutely ascending the spire . The populace were
in a delirium of excitement , and shouted at the youth to pause before he ascended any higher . But he heeded them not , and on ho went to the very summit of the spire , where he waved his hat and gave three hearty cheers for Old England and King George . This feat is recorded as having taken place in July 1798 . The old man was ei ghty-four years of
, age when he died . He enjoyed a good service pension , and the evening of his life was serene and free from care , and it was his custom in unfavourable weather to saunter amongst the cloisters , sometimes chatting with a prebendary , or supported by his little grauddaughter who read to him passages from works of adventure and travelof which he retained his
, admiration to the last moment of his life . These cloisters are of the most elaborate construction , and afford from their excellent state of preservation a very tolerable idea of what these monastic appendages were like
Basilica Anglicana—Vii.
iu the palmy days of those institutions . They were mostly used by the monks for exercise or study , who repaired thither to read their breviary or to meditate . Although all these cloisters bear a strong resemblance to each other , tiny one who takes the trouble of minutely examining them will soon learn that they are the work of different periodsand differ
, considerably—affording on that account a valuable study to the architect , and a curious object of investigation to the antiquary . They were begun by Bishop Walpole in 1297 , and although proceeded with by several bishops , were not completed till the prelacy of Bishop Alnwyck in 1430 . The tracery of the arches is very beautiful , exhibiting all the
variations of the "\ Decorated" style , and in the parts most recently erected , the early forms of the florid or perpendicular tracery . The stone vaulting of the roof is an object worthy of admiration . The groins arc as it were fastened at the points of intersection by massive bosses , on which are carved several scriptural figuresranging with those on the roofs of
, the naves and transepts of the cathedral . There is a door at the south-west corner , which deserves a more than passing attention . It was within this doorway or porch that in olden times couples were accustomed to take their stand who were about to be married ; this use of it is indicated by a carved representation of tho espousals of our first parents ou
the tympanum or space within the arch above the door . There were intervals , however , when Norwich Cathedral was free from scenes of riot , and festivity usurped their place . The mayor of the city was wont to repair to the sacred building in company with his sheriff and court of common council to hear a sermon preached by one of the most
eminent of the local clergy . The service and sermon ended , he feasted all the nobles and gentlemen of the county , the abbots , and 'the canons of the cathedral—iu short , till the great ones of the county . As illustrating the manners and eloquence of those days , although but remotely connected with our subject , we insert the following A ery curious documents : —
"Anno Domini , 1561 . "William Mingay , Esq ., mayor of the city of Norwich : his expenses for a dinner at which he feasted the Duke of Norfolk , & c , the lords , knights , and gentry of the country : —¦ " S stone of beef , at 11 lb . to the stone . . £ 0 5 -1 2 collars of brawn 0 1-1 ¦ 1 geese 0 14
8 jiints of butter Old A fore quarter of veal 0 0 10 A hind quarter do 0 10 A leg of mutton . . . . . . 0 0 3 A loyn of mutton and shoulder of veal . . 010 A breast and coast of mutton . . . 007 ( i plovers 0 10
4 brace of partridges 0 2 0 4 couple of rabbits 0 18 2 guinea pigs 0 10 4 couple of hens . . . . , . 020 2 couple of mallards 0 10 84 eggs 0 10 2 bushells of flour 0 10
1 C loaves of white bread . . . . 00 4 18 wheatcn bread 0 0 0 0 loaves niislin ditto . . . . . 0 0 ' . ) 1 barrel double beer 0 2 0 1 barrel small ditto 1 ) 10 1 quarter of wood 0 2 2 Nutmegsmacecinnamonand . . 003
, , , greens 4 pound of barbcrys and sugar . . . 010 Fruit'and almonds 0 0 7 Sweetwater and perfumes . . . . 004 10 oranges 0 0 2 2 gallons white wine and claret . . 020 1 quart of sack . . . . . . 000 1 quart of malmsey . . . . . 00 5
1 quart of bustard 0 0 3 1 quart of muscadine 0 0 0 Total . . . £ 1 IS 1