23 



and the amount of the rents paid for them proves that they were 

 something superior to the sheds or stalls described in the 

 * Pictorial History.' It need not be contended that the York 

 shops of the 14th century bore any resemblance to the spacious 

 and elegant Depot or Boutique of the present day. It is 

 apparent that many of these shops formed no part of the dwell- 

 ing-houses, but were detached and separate : and most probably 

 many of them were huddled together in the more frequented 

 streets and thoroughfares, which from their gloominess and 

 narrowness would resemble in some respects the bazaar of an 

 Eastern city in modem times. 



It may not be deemed an inappropriate illustration of the 

 preceding facts, if I attempt to present to you a sketch, neces- 

 sarily shght and imperfect, of the external aspect of York towards 

 the close of the 14th century. 



I will commence with the Minster, which must always 

 possess the first claim to our regard and admiration. To the 

 refined taste and religious zeal of those eminent prelates, 

 Romayne, Melton, and Thoresby, we are indebted for the 

 nave, the chapter-house, and the choir : and the munificence of 

 Skirlaw gave a noble finish to the whole by raising the central 

 tower. The contract for executing the glazier's work of the 

 great East window is dated in 1405, so that the fabric of the 

 choir was, most probably, intire before that time ; and as the 

 "Western towers were erected a few years afterwards, it is but a 

 slight anachronism to say that at the period chosen for our 

 imaginary survey, our beautiful cathedral was nearly as com- 

 plete as we see it at this day. 



Next to the Minster in importance was St. Mary's Abbey, 

 the great Benedictine monastery among the interesting ruins of 

 which we are now assembled. The most eminent of its abbots, 

 Simon de Warwick, died in the preceding century. To him are 

 ascribed the construction of the boundary walls and towers, and 

 the completion of the church. The chapter-house, and the lodge 

 and gateway, and great part of the abbatial buildings were of a 

 still earlier date; and although there were some subsequent 

 erections, we may safely assert that the magnificence of this 



