24 



splendid monastery, and (to use the words of its learned and 

 venerable historian) "the exquisite taste and unrivalled ele- 

 gance" of its various parts, were at no period displayed in 

 greater perfection than at the close of thel4th century. ' 



Separated from St. Mary's Abbey only by that most interest- 

 ing relic of a more remote antiquity, the Roman vallum and 

 tower, stood the wealthy Hospital of St. Leonard, which Drake 

 calls " one of the antientest as well as noblest foundations of 

 that kind in Britain." The few remains now existing of the 

 buildings that belonged to this establishment, and especially 

 the elegant gable of the infirmary chapel which is once more 

 restored to the light of day, shew that in architectural style 

 and decoration, it was not unworthy of being in the immediate 

 vicinity of St. Mary's Abbey. 



The fortifications of the city were at this time probably in 

 their most entire and perfect form. It was in the year 1327 

 that King Edward III., whilst on one of his progresses against 

 the Scots, issued his mandate to the citizens of York, requiring 

 them to put the city and her walls ditches and towers into a 

 sufficient state of defence, for the safety of his mother brother 

 and sisters, while they abided in it. We cannot doubt that the 

 citizens would readily obey the command of a monarch who was 

 their frequent visitor and liberal benefactor. In the opinion of 

 antiquaries, the superstructure of the principal bars or gates, 

 especially of Micklegate Bar and Monkgate Bar, ^ which are 

 singularly fine specimens of military architecture, bears evident 

 marks of being of the age of Edward III. 



Let us imagine ourselves citizens of York four centuries and 

 a half ago, and desirous of taking a general view of the city. 

 We will embark in the ferry-boat at St. Leonard's landing near 

 the Water-tower, and cross the river to the tower of North- 

 street Postern, at this period called Barker-tower. On our 

 passage we shall not fail to observe the church and conventual 

 buildings of the Friars Eremites, commonly called the ' Austyn 

 Freres/ occupying a considerable space on the brink of the river 



^ " Account of the Abbey of St. Mary, York," by the Kev. C. Wellbeloved. 

 Vetusta Mon. Vol. V. 



2 Monkgate Bax is the old name. It is now usually called Monk Bar. 



