25 



between St. Leonard's hill and the Common-hall ; or as Leland 

 quaintly describes it " betwixt the tower on Ouse-ripe and Ouse 

 bridge." From Barker-tower we will ascend to the terrace walk 

 of the city wall, and proceed at once to the angular bastion at 

 the highest part of the ramparts, (that which forms a striking 

 point from these grounds,) and through an embrasure in one of 

 its northerly faces what a magnificent coup d'oeil ii afforded us ! 

 Looking across the river, the abbey church and the whole of 

 the abbatial buildings within the inclosure of St. Mary's — the 

 hospital and church of St. Leonard's — and in the back ground, 

 the Minster itself — ^form an assemblage of picturesque and archi- 

 tectural objects of surpassing beauty and grandeur. Having 

 sated our eyes with gazing on this scene, we will turn from 

 the bastion ; and immediately below the walls, the Dominican 

 monastery of the Friars Preachers* to whom this scite was 

 granted by King Henry III. will engage our attention for a few 

 moments. Passing onwards to the city-wall on the easterly side 

 of the gate or bar called Mickel-hythe, with its " lofty turrets 

 and handsome battlements," we stop to admire the extensive 

 monastic buildings, stately church, and luxurious gardens be- 

 longing to the establishment of Benedictine Monks, called the 

 Priory of the Holy Trinity, extending from the ramparts to 

 Trinity-lane, and from the street of Micklegate to the precincts 

 of the antient prison or vetus hallium belonging to the Arch- 

 bishops of York, which is the next object to attract our notice. 

 Having passed its gloomy dungeons we find ourselves on the 

 summit of an artificial mount raised within the circuit of the 

 walls, commanding an extensive view of the river and the various 

 objects on its left or northerly bank, the most conspicuous of 

 which is the royal castle of the county of York with its em- 

 battled walls and numerous towers, and on an artificial hill of 

 corresponding magnitude to that on which we now stand, rises 

 pre-eminent in beauty and picturesque effect, the fortress or 

 citadel which afterwards acquired the name of Clifford's Tower. 

 Under the shelter and protection of this tower, and occupying a 

 large space between it and the river, is the important establish- 



* The scite of this monastery is now occupied hj the Bailway station. 



