caps. The gable is surmounted with a crucifix.

Most of the churches were rebuilt or extended during the fifteenth century. Many are famous for mediaeval painted glass. All Saints, North Street, has some early fourteenth-century glass. Amongst later work is a window illustrating the poem The Prick of Conscience by Richard Rolle of Hampole. It depicts the last fifteen days of the world, and under each panel are two lines of the poem. Another window depicts the “Corporal Acts of Mercy”. At St. John’s are portrayed events in the life of the Baptist, while at St. Michael’s, Spurriergate, the “Nine Choirs of Angels” are represented. In St. Martin’s, Coney Street, the west window, painted in 1447, illustrates the life of St. Martin. The clerestory contains fine figures of the four Doctors of the church, the four Evangelists, and Saints Barbara, Catherine, Wilfrid, and Denis. The east window at Holy Trinity, Goodramgate, is dated 1470. The five lights contain figures of St. George, the Baptist, the Holy Trinity which is represented as Our Father in Pity, St. John the Evangelist, and St. Christopher, with subject panels below. In another window is depicted St. Olaf.

Of the monastic churches, the nave of the alien Benedictine Priory of the Holy Trinity in Micklegate is still in use, it having been converted into a parish church. Adjoining the Rectory is a half-timbered house, still bearing the inn sign “Jacob’s Well”; it is now the Parish Room. It was in the year 1472 the residence of two of the chantry priests of the Priory Church. After the Dissolution it was purchased by Isabel Ward, the last prioress of the Benedictine Nunnery of Clementhorpe, who lived in it until her death in 1569.

York from the beginning of the fourteenth century to the end of the eighteenth was famous for its church-bell founding. The later founders were Oldfield, Smith, Seller, and Dalton, and many of their bells hang in the turrets and towers throughout the northern counties. St. Mary, Bishophill Junior, possesses two fourteenth-century bells, one is inscribed in Gothic capitals and bears a stamp with a figure of the Baptist. The other inscription is in bold black letter and bears a beautiful stamp of the Annunciation.

York was also renowned for the work of its gold-and silver-smiths. Much of the church plate is York made, and is principally of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It bears the York mark—half fleur de lys and half leopard head. Amongst the makers of church plate were George Mangy, William Busfield, and Marmaduke Best who made the gold loving-cup which belongs to the Corporation.

Scattered over the city are mansions of the Georgian period. These houses are built of red brick in Flemish bond and have stone quoins and doorways. The cellar areas were protected from the rough pavements by beautiful wrought-iron railings, whilst hammered scroll-work brackets supported torch extinguishers and the circle for the oil lamp. The rain-water conductors were of lead of rectangular shape, with spout-heads of elaborate workmanship, which bore heraldic devices, monograms, or dates. The leaden cisterns were similarly treated. The interiors of these houses have panelled walls with dentilled cornices and carved plaster ceilings, pedimented doorways, and chimney-pieces with oil paintings framed in the overmantel.

As the city was lighted by a few oil lamps, and watchmen were scarce, it was necessary for ladies in their sedans to be attended by torch-bearers. In Petergate, Gillygate, and Duncombe Street extinguishers still hang by the side of doors.

A residence for the Lord Mayor was built from the design of the Earl of Burlington, who was also the architect for the Assembly Rooms. The assemblies were originally held in the King’s Manor, but larger premises being required, Sir William Wentworth promoted a company and raised five thousand pounds to build the Assembly Rooms. Lady Wentworth was so proficient at shuttlecock that she broke one of the high windows. During a race week in 1735 there was paid for candles used at the assemblies the sum of thirty-six pounds five shillings.

The Theatre Royal was built by Joseph Baker on the remains of St. Peter’s Hospital. It became famous under the management of Tate Wilkinson, who was patentee of the theatres at York and Hull,

NORMAN PORCH, ST. LAWRENCE’S TOWER

and manager of those at Leeds, Bradford, Doncaster, Wakefield, and Pontefract. These theatres comprised the York circuit. He was a painstaking manager, and was in the habit, when a new piece was being introduced, of viewing it from the gallery. On one occasion, noticing some slovenly acting, he began to hiss vigorously. The “gods”, not being so hypercritical, and not recognizing him, cried, “Turn him out”, and turned out he was from his own theatre. During the Assizes, Races, and the winter, York was the favourite resort of the nobility and gentry of the north; concerts, dances, and card parties at the Assembly Rooms, and plays at the Theatre being the fashionable amusements. John Coleman, a later lessee, is said to have prepared his own playbills, which were couched in grandiose language. In this connection, a story is told to the effect that one morning at rehearsal, he exclaimed to the property man: “Have you all ready for to-night?” “Yes, all except the pedestal.” “The what?” thundered Coleman. “The pedestal,” was repeated. “What is that for?” roared the lessee. The property man took down the playbill and pointed out the words: “On this occasion Mr. Coleman will descend from his pedestal and enact the part of Bob Hawkins.”

The introduction of railways was welcomed by George Hudson, a draper in College Street. He took the foremost position in promoting the construction of a line to York. His name became one of the most prominent in the railway world and he was spoken of as the Railway King. He was thrice Lord Mayor of York and represented Sunderland in Parliament for fourteen years. The railway crisis ended his public career.

York is a garrison town with cavalry and infantry barracks on Fulford Road, and there is a summer camp of 1600 acres at Strensall. Around the city are considerable tracts of land known as strays and belonging to the freemen of the city. The strays contain altogether 743 acres. The Micklegate Strays of Knavesmire, Hob Moor, and Scarcroft have been recently acquired by the Corporation.

York is the assize town for the North and East Ridings. The city itself has been a county from early times, and has a sheriff and an assize of its own. The judges’ lodging is a large brick house in Lendal. The courts are within the castle yard, and the approach of His Majesty’s judges is announced by a fanfare from the high sheriff’s trumpeters.

The city is in the midst of an agricultural district, and on market days one hundred and fifty carriers’ wagons come heavily laden with passengers and produce for the open-air market held in Parliament Street.

For the accommodation of the public there are above two hundred inns and taverns. In the “Black Swan”, Coney Street, is preserved a coaching-bill, of which the following is a copy:—