86 
THE ANCIENT GLASS IN YORK MINSTER. 
a sword, having on the hilt pommel a shield or a lion vamp. sa. St. 
C - - o - - - — ...... c W 
John is in a yellow gown and carries a palm branch in one hand 
and a disc with a golden eagle in the other. St. Andrew is in a 
green robe and bears a clasped book in one hand and cross sticks 
in the other. St. Bartholomew, in a yellow robe, holds in one hand 
a knife and in the other his skin complete with face. All except 
St. Bartholomew have their heads and feet bare. The backgrounds 
are green and red alternately. 
XVIII. First from East. Four Lights. 
This window is filled with clear glass, but formerly, according 
to Torre, each was filled with the figure of a holy man. 
XIX. The Great East Window, 1408. Nine Lights. 
The East Window (fig. 36) attracts admiration from all who 
behold it. It is the largest window completely filled with its 
original glazing, being 72 feet high and 31 feet in width, and con¬ 
taining about 1680 superficial feet of glass. The East window at 
Gloucester caihedral is larger and has fourteen lights, but it is not 
entirely filled with painted glass. 
The window consists of nine lights, divided horizontally into 
three stages, the lower two having inner stone mullions carrying a 
gallery ; above which the lights are grouped under three arches 
with transomed tracery. 
The lowest division has five tiers of subjects grouped under 
canopies, the middle division to the gallery has also five tiers of 
subjects grouped under canopies, and the upper division has three 
tiers of subjects grouped under canopies. The colours of the 
backgrounds to the compartments are alternately blue and red, 
whilst the backgrounds to the white canopies interchange colour. 
A copy of the contract for the glazing has been preserved. It 
recites :— 
“ Indenture between the Dean and Chapter of York and John 
Thornton of Coventry, glazier, for the glazing of the Great Window 
in the East Gable of the Choir of the Cathedral Church of York, 
which he shall complete the work of within three years from the 
beginning of the said work. And he shall pourtray the said 
window with his own hand, and the histories, images, and other 
