V e s t r y -Room.
C lo i s t e r s .
F r a t r y and
L i b r a r y .
C r o m w e l ’s
U n iv e r s i t y .
A T O U R
, The tomb of biihop Langley is near that of Bede. This pj
was chancellor of England in the reign of Henry IV. but refigned |
high poft, on being confecrated biihop of Durham. Tie obtained® I e i g h t e e n free-fchoolfcholars. They had liberty of purchafing
cardinal’s hat in 1411 ; and after doing many a£ts. of munificJ F as ^a r as thoufand pounds a year; had a common feal,
died in 1437.
In the veftry-room, is preferved thè rich plate belonging to H
cathedral ; and here are ihewn five moft fuperb veftments fori
facred fervice : four are of great antiquity: the fifth was giveiibj Charles I.
The cloifters, adjacent to the church, are 147 feetfquare, and|ij
neat. The chapter-hpufe opens into them : is a plain b u ild in F
form of a theatre ; on the fides are pilaiters, the arches' interfefl!
each other. At the upper end is a itone chair, in old times the fat
of the biihop.
The old Fratry was converted into a noble library by dean Ml
bury, who not living to complete his defign, by will dated 16M
bound his heir Sir John Sudbury, to fulfil his intention. Thilit;
likewife the repofitory of the altars, and other Roman antiquin
difcovered in the bilhoprick. The dormitory, the loft, the kitchn
and other parts of the antient abby, are ftill exifting, and ftiìl of é
to the prefentpoffelTors.
The prebendal houfes are very pleafantly fituated, and have bi|
wards a moft beautiful view. After the fubverfion of monarchy!
Cromwel, in 1657, on the petition of the inhabitants of the county®
converted the houfes belongi ng to the dean and chapter, into an
provoft, two preachers, four profefiors, four tutors, four
[ool-mafters (fellows) twenty-four fcholars, twelve exhibitioners,
b many other privileges. On the accefiion of Richard, thefe new
[demies were not wanting in gratitude to the memory of their
ker; for in their addrefs to the fuceelTor, they compared Cromwel
and gave him the prowefs of our fifth Henry, the pru-
hce of our feventh Henry, and the piety of our fixth Edward;
id recommended to the vital beams of the piteous afpebi of hisfon, his
L ireSion, an orphan fcarce bound up in its fwaddling cloaths. This
bhan thrived apace ; it endeavoured to confer degrees, and mimic
grown-up filters of Oxford and Cambridge, who checked its pre-
inptions by petitions to the new proteitor. But in lefs than two
b, the ill-patched machine of government fell to pieces, and with,
this new feminary for knowledge.
¡There are two handibme bridges to the walks over the Were ■ from
it the profpeft is particularly fine,, towards the cathedral and
pie; and another bounded on each fide by wood, with the
leple of Elvet, a place adjoining to Durham, foaring above,
[here is alfo a third bridge, which joins the two parts of the town,,
id is covered with houfes.
I had heard on my road many complaints of the eccleiiaftical go-
[rnment this county is. fubjedt to •, but from the general face of the
wintry, it feems to thrive wonderfully well under it. Notwith-
univerfity, and alfigned certain lands and revenues in the neighbor^: landing the bifhops have ftill great powers-and privileges, yet they
hood of the city for its fupport. This ihort-lived feminary confak| [etefttipped of ftill greater by ftatqte of the 27th of Henry VIII.
M r. A l l a h .
bhe time of the Conqueror,, it was a maxim, quicquid R ex halet
extra
A n t ie n t powers'
of B ishops.