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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11403 ***
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+    +--------------------------------------------------------------+
+    | Transcriber's Note:                                          |
+    |                                                              |
+    | Inconsistent hyphenation and archaic spelling in the         |
+    | original document has been preserved.                        |
+    |                                                              |
+    +--------------------------------------------------------------+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+[Illustration: COVENTRY, THE THREE SPIRES.]
+
+
+
+
+THE CHURCHES OF COVENTRY
+
+A SHORT HISTORY OF THE
+CITY & ITS MEDIEVAL
+REMAINS
+
+BY
+FREDERIC W. WOODHOUSE
+
+WITH XL ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+[Illustration: ARMS OF COVENTRY]
+
+
+LONDON GEORGE BELL & SONS 1909
+
+
+
+
+CHISWICK PRESS: CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND CO.
+TOOK COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON.
+
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+
+The principal authorities for the history of Coventry and its churches
+have been Dugdale's "Antiquities of Warwickshire" and the "Illustrated
+Papers and the History and Antiquities of the City of Coventry," by
+Thomas Sharp, edited by W.G. Fretton (1871). Besides these the many
+papers by Mr. Fretton in the Transactions of the Birmingham and
+Midland Institute and other Societies, and the "History and
+Antiquities of Coventry" by Benjamin Poole (1870) have been the main
+sources of historical information. The Author is, however, responsible
+for the architectural opinions and descriptions, which are mainly the
+outcome of a lifelong acquaintance with the city and its buildings,
+fortified by several weeks of study and investigation recently
+undertaken.
+
+He desires to acknowledge his deep obligations to the Vicars of the
+several churches for leave to examine, measure and photograph the
+buildings in their charge; to Mr. J. Oldrid Scott for the loan of
+drawings of St. Michael's; to Mr. A. Brown, Librarian of the Coventry
+Public Library for advice and help in making use of the store of
+topographical material under his care; to Mr. Owen, Verger of St.
+Michael's and Mr. Chapman, Verger of Holy Trinity, for help in various
+directions, and to Mr. Wilfred Sims for his energy and care in taking
+most of the photographs required for illustration.
+
+The other illustrations are reproduced from drawings made by the
+author.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+MONASTERY AND CITY                                              3
+
+THE RUINS OF THE PRIORY AND CATHEDRAL CHURCH                   16
+
+ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH:
+  CHAPTER I. HISTORY OF THE CHURCH                             21
+         II. THE EXTERIOR                                      29
+        III. THE INTERIOR                                      41
+
+HOLY TRINITY CHURCH:
+  CHAPTER I. HISTORY OF THE CHURCH                             61
+         II. THE EXTERIOR                                      65
+        III. THE INTERIOR                                      69
+
+ST. JOHN BAPTIST'S CHURCH                                      79
+
+THE GREY FRIARS' CONVENT (CHRIST CHURCH)                       91
+
+THE WHITE FRIARS                                               94
+
+ST. MARY HALL                                                  96
+
+THE CARTHUSIAN MONASTERY                                       99
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+COVENTRY, THE THREE SPIRES                         _Frontispiece_
+
+ARMS OF THE TOWN                                     _Title-page_
+
+VIEW FROM THE TOP OF BISHOP STREET                              2
+
+COOK STREET GATE                                                7
+
+SEAL OF THE PRIORY                                             15
+
+WEST END OF THE PRIORY CHURCH                                  16
+
+REMAINS OF THE NORTH-WEST TOWER IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY      17
+
+ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE NORTH                                   20
+
+ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE NORTH-WEST                              28
+
+INTERIOR OF THE TOWER FROM BELOW                               31
+
+THE WEST PORCH                                                 33
+
+SOUTH PORCH FROM ST. MARY HALL                                 34
+
+SOUTH-WEST DOORWAY                                             35
+
+INTERIOR OF ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE WEST                        40
+
+TOWER ARCH                                                     42
+
+BAY OF NAVE, NORTH SIDE                                        43
+
+INTERIOR FROM THE SOUTH DOOR                                   45
+
+THE CHOIR FROM ST. LAWRENCE'S CHAPEL                           46
+
+POPPY HEAD, LADY CHAPEL                                        48
+
+MISERERE, LADY CHAPEL                                          48
+
+CHEST IN NORTH AISLE                                           50
+
+THE NETHERMYL TOMB                                             51
+
+THE SWILLINGTON TOMB                                           54
+
+ALMS-BOX                                                       56
+
+HOLY TRINITY FROM THE NORTH (ABOUT 1850)                       60
+
+PLAN OF TRINITY CHURCH                                         66
+
+INTERIOR OF HOLY TRINITY, FROM THE WEST                        68
+
+NORTH SIDE OF NAVE--EASTERN BAYS                               71
+
+PULPIT                                                         73
+
+ARCHWAY BETWEEN THE NORTH PORCH AND ST. THOMAS'S CHAPEL        74
+
+ALMS-BOX                                                       77
+
+CHURCH OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST                                     80
+
+PLAN                                                           85
+
+INTERIOR                                                       87
+
+CLEARSTORY WINDOWS                                             88
+
+THE SPIRE OF CHRIST CHURCH                                     92
+
+GREY FRIARS' CHURCH (PLAN OF CROSSING)                         93
+
+ST. MARY HALL                                                  96
+
+PLAN                                                           98
+
+PLAN OF ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH                             _At End_
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: VIEW FROM THE TOP OF BISHOP STREET.]
+
+
+
+
+CHURCHES OF COVENTRY
+
+MONASTERY AND CITY
+
+
+The opening words of Sir William Dugdale's account of Coventry assert
+that it is a city "remarkable for antiquity, charters, rights and
+privileges, and favours shown by monarchs." Though this handbook is
+primarily concerned with a feature of the city he does not here
+mention--its magnificent buildings--the history of these is bound up
+with that of the city. The connection of its great parish churches
+with the everyday life of the people, though commonly on a narrower
+stage, is more intimate than is that of a cathedral or an abbey
+church, but it is to be remembered that without its Monastery Coventry
+might never have been more than a village or small market town.
+
+We cannot expect the records of a parish church to be as full and
+complete as those of a cathedral, always in touch through its bishops
+with the political life of the country and enjoying the services of
+numerous officials; or as those of a monastery, with its leisured
+chroniclers ever patiently recording the annals of their house, the
+doings of its abbots, the dealings of their house with mother church
+and the outside world, and all its internal life and affairs. In the
+case of Coventry, the unusual fulness of its city archives, the
+accounts and records of its guilds and companies, and the close
+connection of these with the church supplies us with a larger body of
+information than is often at the disposal of the historian of a parish
+church. As therefore, in narrating the story of a cathedral some
+account of the Diocese and its Bishops has been given, so, before
+describing the churches of Coventry, we shall give in outline the
+history of the city which for 700 years gave its name to a bishop and
+of the great monastery whose church was for 400 years his seat.
+
+Though Dugdale says that it is remarkable for antiquity, Coventry as
+a city has no early history comparable with that of such places as
+York, Canterbury, Exeter, or Colchester, while its modern history is
+mainly a record of fluctuating trade and the rise and decline of new
+industries. But through all its Mediæval period, from the eleventh
+century down to the Reformation, with an expiring flicker of energy in
+the seventeenth, there is no lack of life and colour, and its story
+touches every side of the national life, political, religious, and
+domestic. The only evidence of extreme antiquity produced by Dugdale
+is the suffix of its name, for "_tre_ is British, and signifieth the
+same that _villa_ in Latin doth;" while the first part may be derived
+from the convent or from a supposed ancient name, Cune, for the
+Sherborne brook.
+
+The first date we have is 1016, when Canute invaded Mercia, burning
+and laying waste its towns and settlements, including a house of nuns
+at Coventry founded by the Virgin St. Osburg in 670, and ruled over by
+her.[1]
+
+But there is no sure starting-point until the foundation of the
+monastery by Earl Leofric and the Countess Godiva, the church being
+dedicated by Edsi, Archbishop of Canterbury, in honour of God, the
+Virgin Mary, St. Peter, St. Osburg, and All Saints on 4th October,
+1043. Leofwin, who was first abbot with twenty-four monks under his
+rule, ten years after became Bishop of Lichfield. The original
+endowment by Leofric, consisted of a half of Coventry[2] with fifteen
+lordships in Warwickshire and nine in other counties, making it (says
+Roger de Hoveden) the wealthiest monastery of the period. Besides this
+the pious Godiva gave all the gold and silver which she had to make
+crosses, images, and other adornments for the church and its services.
+The well-known legend of her ride through Coventry first appears in
+the pages of Matthew of Westminster in the early fourteenth century.
+The Charter of Exemption from Tolls is not in existence, and the story
+of Peeping Tom is the embroidery of the prurient age (1678), in which
+the pageant was instituted. In a window of Trinity Church figures of
+Leofric and Godiva were set up about the time of Richard II, the Earl
+holding in his right hand a Charter with these words written thereon:
+
+    I Luriche for the Love of thee
+    Doe make Coventre Toll-free.
+
+Abbot Leofwin was succeeded in 1053 by Leofric, nephew of the great
+earl; and he by a second Leofwin, who died in 1095. The first Norman
+bishop of Lichfield had, in compliance with the decision of a Synod
+(1075) in London fixing bishops' seats in large towns, removed his to
+St. John's, Chester. But his successor, Robert de Lymesey--whose greed
+appears to have been notable in a greedy age--having the king's
+permission to farm the monastic revenues until the appointment of a
+new abbot, held it for seven years, and then, in 1102, removed his
+stool to Coventry. Five of his successors were bishops of Coventry
+only, then the style changed to Coventry and Lichfield, and so
+remained till 1661, when (in consequence of the disloyalty of Coventry
+and the sufferings of Lichfield in the royal cause) the order was
+reversed!
+
+In 1836 the archdeaconry of Coventry was annexed to Worcester and its
+name disappeared from the title, and now it is probable that Coventry
+will soon again give her name to a See without dividing the honour.
+For the joint episcopal history the reader must be referred to the
+handbook in this series on Lichfield Cathedral. In this place will
+only be given that of the Monastery as such, and specially in
+connection with its "appropriated" parish churches and the City in
+which it stood. That history is not essentially different from that of
+other monasteries. Though its connection with the See and the rival
+claims and antagonisms of the respective Chapters produced a plentiful
+crop of serious quarrels, its relations with the townsfolk were free
+from such violent episodes as occurred at Bury St. Edmunds or St.
+Albans. The Chapter of Lichfield consisted of secular priests (Lymesey
+and his next successor were married men), while the Monastery, though
+freed by pope and king from any episcopal or justiciary power and with
+the right of electing its own abbot, was, like all monastic bodies,
+always jealous of the encroachments of bishops, and regarded secular
+priests as inferior in every respect. The opinion of the laity who saw
+both sides may be gathered from Chaucer's picture of a "poore Persoun
+of a toun." He knew well enough how the revenue, which should have
+gone to the parish, its parson and its poor, went to fill the coffers
+of rich abbeys, to build enormous churches and furnish them
+sumptuously, to provide retinues of lazy knights for the train of
+abbot or bishop, and to prosecute lawsuits in the papal courts.
+
+But when bishop and abbot were one and the same, the monks still
+claimed the right of election, and so for generations the history of
+the diocese is a tale of strife and bickering, and how it was that
+pope, king or archbishop did not perceive that it was a case of
+hopeless incompatibility of temper, or, perceiving it, did not
+dissolve the union or get it dissolved is difficult to see. Probably
+the injury done to religion weighed but lightly against vested
+interests and the power of the purse. The Monastery was, however, as
+Dugdale says, "the chief occasion of all the succeeding wealth and
+honour that accrued to Coventry"; for though the original Nunnery may
+have been planted in an existing settlement, or have attracted one
+about it, the greater wealth of the Abbey, its right to hold markets,
+and all its own varied requirements would quickly increase and bring
+prosperity to such a township, as it did at Bury St. Edmunds,
+Burton-on-Trent and many another.
+
+In the thirteenth century the priory was in financial straits, through
+being fined by Henry III for disobedience. Later, however, he granted
+further privileges to the monks, among them that of embodying the
+merchants in a Gild. In 1340 Edward III granted this privilege to the
+City. From an early period the manufacture of cloth and caps and
+bonnets was the principal trade of Coventry, and though Leland says,
+"the town rose by making of cloth and caps, which now decaying, the
+glory of the City also decayeth," it was only destroyed by the French
+wars of the seventeenth century. But in 1377, when only eighteen towns
+in the kingdom had more than 3,000 inhabitants, and York, the second
+city, had only 11,000, Coventry was fourth with 7,000. Just one
+hundred years later 3,000 died here of the plague, one of many
+visitations of that terrible scourge. At the Suppression it had risen
+to 15,000, and soon after fell to 3,000, through loss of trade for
+"want of such concourse of people that numerously resorted thither
+before that fatal Dissolution."
+
+But if the town grew apace so did the Monastery. Thus, when in 1244
+Earl Hugh died childless his sisters divided his estates and Coventry
+fell to Cecily, wife of Roger de Montalt. Six years later the
+Monastery lent him a large sum to take him to the Holy Land, and
+received from him the lordship of Coventry (excepting the Manor House
+and Park of Cheylesmore) and the advowson of St. Michael's and its
+dependent chapels, thus becoming the landlords of nearly the whole of
+Coventry.
+
+[Illustration: COOK STREET GATE.]
+
+Civic powers grew with the growth of trade. Before 1218 a fair of
+eight days had been granted to the Priory, and later another of six
+days, to be held in the earl's half of the town about the Feast of
+Holy Trinity. In 1285 a patent from the king is addressed to the
+burgesses and true men to levy tolls for paving the town; one in 1328
+for tolls for inclosing the city with walls and gates, while in 1344
+the city was given a corporation, with mayor, bailiffs, a common seal,
+and a prison. As the municipal importance and the dignity of the city
+increased, the desire for their visible signs strengthened, and so, in
+1355, work was begun on the walls, Newgate (on the London Road) being
+the first gate to be built. Such undertakings proceeded slowly, and
+nine years later the royal permission was obtained to levy a tax for
+their construction, "the lands and goods of all ecclesiastical persons
+excepted."
+
+Twice afterwards we hear of licence being granted by Richard II to dig
+stone in Cheylesmore Park, first for Grey Friars Gate, and later for
+Spon Gate, "near his Chapel of Babelake." The walls so built were of
+imposing extent and dimensions, being three yards in breadth, two and
+a quarter miles in circumference, and having thirty-two towers and
+twelve gates.[3] Nehemiah Wharton, a Parliamentary officer in 1642,
+reports of the city that it is:
+
+   Environed with a wall co-equal, if not exceedinge, that of
+   London, for breadth and height; and with gates and battlements,
+   magnificent churches and stately streets and abundant fountains
+   of water; altogether a place very sweetly situate and where there
+   is no stint of venison.
+
+To return to the monastic history. We have seen how, in the
+mid-thirteenth century the Monastery had become the landlord of the
+city; shortly before this it had been so impoverished with ceaseless
+quarrels with the King and the Lichfield Chapter, involving costly
+appeals to Rome, that the Prior was reduced to asking the hospitality
+of the monks of Derley for some of the brethren. A period of
+prosperity followed and many benefactions flowed in, including the
+gift of various churches by the king. It was after twenty-six years of
+quarrelling that the Pope, in 1224, had appointed to the bishopric
+Walter de Stavenby, an able and learned man. During his episcopacy the
+friars made their appearance in England, and by him the Franciscans
+were introduced at Lichfield, while at Coventry Ranulph, Earl of
+Chester, gave them land in Cheylesmore on which to build their oratory
+and house.
+
+They were not generally welcomed by the monks. A Benedictine laments
+their first appearance thus "Oh shame! oh worse than shame! oh
+barbarous pestilence! the Minor Brethren are come into England!" and
+at Bury they were obliged to build outside a mile radius from the
+Abbey. The parish priests also soon found out that they were undersold
+in the exercise of their spiritual offices and although no doubt many
+badly needed awakening they were not, on that account, the more likely
+to welcome the intruders.
+
+Another innovation, affecting the fortunes of the parish priest, had
+its beginning under the rule of Bishop Stavenby though its greatest
+development occurred in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. This
+was the foundation of Chantries designed primarily for the maintenance
+of a priest or priests to say mass daily or otherwise for the soul's
+health of the founder, his family and forbears. The earliest we hear
+of are one at Lincoln, and one at Hatherton in Coventry Archdeaconry
+while the Bishop himself endowed one in Lichfield Cathedral. Many were
+perpetual endowments (£5 per annum being the average stipend), others
+were temporary, according to the means of those who paid for the
+masses--for a term of years or for a fixed number of masses. Although
+chantry priests were often required to give regular help in the church
+services or taught such scholars as came to them or served outlying
+chapelries, the system permitted a great number to live on occasional
+engagements and was doubtless productive of abuses. Chaucer tells us
+that his poor parson was not such an one as
+
+    ... left his sheep encumbered in the mire,
+    And ran unto London, unto Saint Poul's,
+    To seekë him a chantery for souls.
+
+The number of chantries in the different cathedrals varied very
+greatly, Lichfield had eighty-seven, St. Paul's thirty-seven, York
+only three. Monks' churches had few or none while in town churches
+they were numerous, London having one hundred and eighty, York
+forty-two, Coventry at least fifteen besides the twelve gild priests
+of the chapel of Babelake. Most were founded in connection with an
+existing altar, some had a special altar, at Winchester, Tewkesbury
+and elsewhere they were enclosed in screens between the pillars of the
+nave, or a special chapel was added to the church.
+
+It was in the thirteenth century also (1267) that the monastery
+obtained the grant of a Merchants' Gild; with all the privileges
+thereto belonging, the earliest of those which contributed so much to
+the renown of Coventry. These were Benefit Societies, insuring help to
+the "Brethren and sistren" in old age, sickness or poverty, securing
+to them the services of the church after death and in all cases
+established on a strictly religious basis and placed under the
+protection of a Saint, or of the Holy Trinity. The regulation and
+protection of trade interests, generally aiming at monopoly and the
+exclusion of outsiders, were later developments. But without doubt
+they were public-spirited bodies according to their lights,
+maintaining schools (as at Stratford-on-Avon) hospitals and
+almshouses, and giving freely on all occasions of public importance.
+By pageants too, they contributed to the happiness and amusement of
+the people as well as by the presentation of Mysteries and Moralities,
+to their instruction and edification. But in the eyes of the
+Reformers, or of grasping courtiers, all this went for nothing when
+weighed against the heinous offence of supporting chaplains to pray
+for deceased members and so (6 Edward VI) they were suppressed along
+with the chantries, and their property confiscated, "the very meanest
+and most inexcusable of the plunderings which threw discredit on the
+Reformation."
+
+Here, the city bought back everything which had belonged to the
+Trinity and Corpus Christi Gilds, with various almshouses and the
+possessions of the majority of the Chantries; while previously at the
+Dissolution it had bought the abbey-orchard, and mill, and the house
+and church of the Grey Friars.
+
+In 1340 Edward III granted Licence to the Coventry men to form a
+Merchants' Gild with leave "to make chantries, bestow alms, do other
+works of piety and constitute ordinances touching the same." This was
+St. Mary's Gild. Two years later that of St. John Baptist was formed
+and a year later that of St. Katherine, the three being united into
+the Trinity Gild before 1359. Of the chapel (now St. John's church)
+begun in 1344 by the St. John's Gild and the "fair and stately
+structure for their feasts and meetings called St Mary Hall" built in
+1394 by the united Gilds more will be said later (p. 81 and p. 97).
+The end of the fourteenth century and the fifteenth brought to
+Coventry a full share in the events and movements of the time. In 1396
+the duel between Hereford and Norfolk was to have taken place on
+Gosford Green (adjoining the city) and Richard II made the fatal
+mistake of banishing both combatants. At the Priory in 1404 Henry IV
+held his Parliament known, from the fact that no lawyers were summoned
+to it, as the "Parliamentum Indoctorum." Setting itself in opposition
+to ecclesiastics, it proposed to supply the King's needs by taxing
+church-property. As in the matter of the city walls, the church
+contrived to avoid bearing its share of the public burdens and the
+chronicler ends thus: "Much ado there was; but to conclude, the worthy
+Archbishop (viz. Tho. Arundell) standing stoutly for the good of the
+Church, preserved it at that time from the storm impending." One
+branch of his argument is noteworthy, that as the confiscation of the
+alien priories had not enriched the King by half a mark (courtiers
+having extorted or begged them out of his hands), so it would be were
+he to confiscate the temporalities of the monasteries. Henry VIII had
+reason to acknowledge the fulfilment of the prophecy.
+
+Soon after this, in 1423, Coventry showed its sympathy for Lollardry
+when John Grace an anchorite friar came out of his cell and preached
+for five days in the "lyttell parke." He was opposed by the prior of
+St. Mary's and by a Grey Friar who however were attacked and nearly
+killed by the mob.
+
+The royal visits which earned for Coventry the title which it still
+bears as its motto 'Camera principis' were frequent in this century.
+In 1436 we hear of Henry VI being there, and in 1450 he was the guest
+of the monastery and after hearing mass at St. Michael's Church
+presented to it for an altar-hanging the robe of gold tissue he was
+wearing. The record in the Corporation Leet book is interesting enough
+to quote:
+
+   The King, then abydeng stille in the seide Priory, upon Mich'as
+   even sent the clerke of his closet to the Churche of Sent Michel
+   to make redy ther hys clossette, seying that the Kynge on Mich'as
+   day wolde go on p'cession and also her ther hygh masse. The Meyre
+   and his counsell, remembreng him in this mater, specially avysed
+   hem to pray the Byshoppe of Wynchester to say hygh masse afore
+   the Kynge. The Byshoppe so to do agreed withe alle hys herte;
+   and, agayne the Kynges comeng to Sent Michel Churche, the Meyre
+   and his Peres, cladde in skarlet gowns, wenton unto the Kynges
+   Chambar durre, ther abydeng the Kynges comeng. The Meyre then and
+   his peres, doeng to the Kyng due obeysaunse ... toke his mase and
+   bere it afore the Kynge all his said bredurn goeng afore the
+   Meyre til he com to Sent Michels and brought the Kynge to his
+   closette. Then the seyde Byshoppe, in his pontificals arayde,
+   with all the prestes and clerkes of the seyde Churche and of
+   Bablake, withe copes apareld, wenton in p'cession abowte the
+   churchyarde; the Kynge devowtely, with many odur lordes, followed
+   the seyd p'cession bare-hedded, cladde in a gowne of gold tissu,
+   furred with a furre of marturn sabull; the Meyre bereng the mase
+   afore the Kynge as he didde afore, tille he com agayne to his
+   closette. Att the whyche masse when the Kyng had offered and his
+   lordes also, he sende the lorde Bemond, his chamburlen, to the
+   Meyre, seying to him, "hit is the Kynges wille that ye and your
+   bredurn com and offer;" and so they didde; and when masse was
+   don, the Meyre and his peres brought on the Kynge to his chambur
+   in lyke wyse as they fet hym, save only that the Meyre with his
+   mase went afore the Kynge till he com withe in his chambur, his
+   seyd bredurn abydeng atte the chambur durre till the Meyre cam
+   ageyne. And at evensong tyme the same day, the Kyng, ... sende
+   the seyde gowne and furre that he were when he went in p'cession,
+   and gaf hit frely to God and to Sent Michell, insomuch that non
+   of the that broughte the gowne wolde take no reward in no wyse.
+
+In 1451 he made the city with the villages and hamlets within its
+liberties into a county "distinct and altogether separate from the
+county of Warwick for ever," and in 1453 the King and Queen again
+visited the Priory. Perhaps out of gratitude for all this royal
+favour, Coventry adhered to the Lancastrian cause and in 1459 was
+chosen as the meeting place for the "Parliamentum Diabolicum," so
+called from the number of attainders passed against the Yorkists. The
+year 1467 however saw Edward IV and his Queen keeping their Christmas
+here, while less than two years later her father and brother were
+beheaded on Gosford Green (Aug. 1469).
+
+After the king's landing at Holderness in 1471 the king-maker,
+declining a contest, occupied the town for the Lancastrians, and
+Edward passing on to London soon after turned and defeated the earl at
+Barnet. After Tewkesbury Edward paid the city another visit, and in
+return for its disloyalty seized its liberties and franchises, and
+only restored them for a fine of 500 marks. Royal visits still
+continued. Richard III came in 1483 to see the plays at the Feast of
+Corpus Christi; in 1485 Henry VII stayed at the mayor's house after
+his victory at Bosworth Field; and in 1487 kept St. George's Day at
+the Monastery, when the Prior at the service cursed, by "bell, book,
+and candle," all who should question the king's right to the throne.
+The importance of the Gilds is shown by the king and queen being made
+a brother and sister of the Trinity Gild; and the part that pageantry
+played in the lives of all men is seen in the many occasions on which
+kings and princes came hither to be entertained, not only with the
+plays "acted by the Grey Friars" but those in which the "hard-handed
+men" of, for instance, the Gild of the Sheremen and Tailors, "toil'd
+their unbreathed memories" in setting forth such subjects as the Birth
+of Christ and the Murder of the Innocents. But although Henry VIII
+himself was received in 1511 with pageantry and stayed at the Priory,
+royal favours and monastic hospitality availed neither men nor
+buildings when the Dissolution came. On 15th January, 1539, Thomas
+Camswell, the last Prior of St. Mary's, surrendered. "The Prior,"
+reported Dr. London, the king's commissioner, "is a sad, honest priest
+as his neighbours do report him, and is a Bachelor of Divinity. He
+gave his house unto the king's grace willingly and so in like manner
+did all his brethren." The Doctor asks for good pensions for the
+dispossessed, not on the plea of justice but so that "others
+perceiving that these men be liberally handled will with better will
+not only surrender their houses, but also leave the same in the better
+state to the King's use."
+
+The yearly revenue had been certified in the valuation at _£731 19s.
+5d._ Deducting a Fee-Ferme rent to the Crown, reserved by Roger de
+Montalt, and other annual payments, the clear remainder was _£499 7s.
+4d._ Bishop Rowland Lee, writing to "my singular good Lord Cromwell,"
+implies that he had a promise from him to spare the church. "My good
+Lord," he says, "help me and the City both in this and that the church
+may stand, whereby I may keep my name, and the City have commodity and
+ease to their desire, which shall follow if by your goodness it might
+be brought to a collegiate church, as Lichfield, and so that fair City
+shall have a perpetual comfort of the same, as knoweth the Holy
+Trinity, who preserve your Lordship in honour to your heart's
+comfort."
+
+But his entreaties, and those of the mayor and corporation, were all
+in vain, the church and monastic buildings were dismantled and
+destroyed piecemeal, and like so many other magnificent structures
+became a mere quarry for mean buildings and the mending of roads.
+
+The site having been granted by Henry VIII to two gentlemen named
+Combes and Stansfield, passed soon into the hands of John Hales, the
+founder of the Free School, and in Elizabeth's reign was purchased by
+the Corporation.
+
+The changes in religious opinion of the successive sovereigns were
+felt here by many poor victims. Seven persons were burnt in 1519 for
+having in their possession the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments,
+and the Creed in English, and for refusing to obey the Pope or his
+agents, opinions and acts that would have been counted meritorious
+twenty years later. In 1555 Queen Mary burnt three Protestants in the
+old quarry in Little Park--Laurence Saunders, a well-known preacher,
+Robert Glover, M.A., and Cornelius Bongey.
+
+Ten years after this Queen Elizabeth's visit was the occasion of much
+pageantry and performing of plays by the Tanners', Drapers', Smiths',
+and Weavers' Companies, and in 1575 the men of Coventry gave their
+play of "Hock Tuesday" before her at Kenilworth Castle. In 1566 Queen
+Mary of Scots was in ward here, in the mayoress' parlour, and in 1569
+at the Bull Inn.
+
+Coming down to the opening of the Civil War we find that a few days
+before the raising of his standard at Nottingham Charles summoned the
+city to admit him with three hundred cavaliers, and received for
+answer that it was quite ready to receive his Majesty with no more
+than two hundred. Whereupon he retired in displeasure, and reappeared
+some days later with the threat to lay the city in ruins if it should
+persist in its disloyalty. The townsfolk being in no mind to receive a
+garrison, the King planted cannon against Newgate and broke down the
+gates but was met with a fierce musquetry fire from the walls,
+followed up by a vigorous sally, in which the citizens did much
+execution and took two cannon.
+
+To prevent the like happening again, the walls were in 1662 breached
+in many places and made incapable of defence. Just one hundred years
+later New-gate was taken down, and others followed from time to time,
+until now there are left only the remains of two of the lesser
+ones--Cook Street Gate, a crumbling shell (p. 7), and the adjacent
+Swanswell or Priory Gate, blocked up and used as a dwelling.
+
+In 1771 was finally destroyed the famous Cross which had been built,
+1541-3, by Sir William Hollis, once Lord Mayor of London, who came of
+a Coventry family. It was described by Dugdale as "one of the chief
+things wherein this City most glories, which for workmanship and
+beauty is inferior to none in England." A few relics of it exist in
+St. Mary Hall, a statue of Henry VI, and, in the oriel, two smaller
+figures. So too does the very interesting contract for its building,
+which shows how much was left to the craftsman's pride in his work and
+how little he was trammelled by conditions, save that the work was to
+be "finished in all points, as well in imagery work, pictures, and
+finials, according to the due form and proportion of the Cross at
+Abingdon."
+
+Another building, which was destroyed in 1820, was the Pilgrims' Rest,
+a fine timbered house of three storeys, "supposed," as the inscription
+upon it records, "to have been the hostel or inn for the maintenance
+and entertainment of the palmers and other visitors to the Priory."
+Some pieces of carved work were patched together in the windows of the
+inn built on its site and there remain.
+
+The modern history of Coventry, consisting of the ordinary events and
+vicissitudes of civic life and the changes and fluctuations in its
+trades, apart from that of its parish churches which is elsewhere
+given, does not come within the scope of this handbook.
+
+[Illustration: SEAL OF THE PRIORY.]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 1: St. Osburg's name is not found in the Calendar. As at the
+Dissolution the Cathedral possessed relics of St. Osborne, including
+his head in copper and gilt, these saints may be identical.]
+
+[Footnote 2: Earl Street and Bishop Street are still principal streets
+in either half of the town.]
+
+[Footnote 3: The walls of London were about three and a quarter miles
+long (including the river front), with ten or eleven gates; those of
+York three miles, of Chester hardly two.]
+
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR OF THE WEST END OF THE PRIORY CHURCH.]
+
+
+
+
+THE RUINS OF THE PRIORY AND CATHEDRAL CHURCH
+
+
+The Priory buildings and grounds covered a large area to the North of
+the two parish churches on the gentle slope descending to the little
+river Sherbourne, Priory Row forming its southern boundary.
+
+The church occupied the South-West portion of this site, extending
+about 400 feet from the excavated west end to a point a little beyond
+the narrow lane called Hill Top. The excavation shows that the church
+stood on a sloping site, the floor level being some ten feet lower
+than that of Trinity Church. It was cruciform, with two western towers
+and a central one, and is believed to have had three spires similar to
+those of Lichfield but probably earlier in point of date. On the
+substructure of the North-West Tower now stands the house of the
+_mistress_ of the Girls' Blue Coat School. The interior of the West
+end to a height of 5 to 8 feet, with the responds of the nave arcades
+and of the tower arches, is visible and in good condition. The
+beginning of the turret stair in the South-West tower is exposed, but
+the basement of the house unfortunately occupies the lower part of the
+northern one. The exterior of this is however easily accessible from
+an enclosure known as the Wood Yard, the much decayed spreading plinth
+and a few feet of walling above it not having been destroyed. Above
+this, grievous damage has been perpetrated by the casing and complete
+obliteration of the mouldings and arcading which remained. The towers
+were placed outside the line of the aisles as at Wells, the total
+width of the West front, 145 feet, being nearly the same in both
+cases. There are still indications of the position of the great west
+door, but the height of the inner plinth shows that there was always a
+descent of several steps into the church. At the south transept where
+was "the Minster durra that openeth to the Trinite Churchyarde," the
+descent must have been considerable. The remains show that the nave
+dated from the first half of the thirteenth century, while fragments
+of wall near the site of the transept with indications of lancet
+window openings are probably a little earlier than the west end.
+
+[Illustration: REMAINS OF THE N.W. TOWER (IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY).]
+
+Whether the church of Leofric and Godiva, dedicated in 1043, had
+survived wholly or in part until this time cannot be known, but,
+judging from the history of most other great monastic churches and
+from the known wealth of the monastery, it may almost be taken for
+granted that the Norman bishops and priors rebuilt much if not all.
+Some relics of Norman work have been found but the covering of the
+site with roads, graves and houses precludes the systematic
+exploration and survey which alone could solve this question and make
+clear the outlines of the plan of the whole establishment.
+
+The entrance to some wine-cellars in Priory Row gives access to the
+old pavement level of part of the choir and transept. From the fact
+that a brick vault forms the roof the cellars have often been looked
+upon as the crypt of the church but this is erroneous; the vault is a
+later insertion and if any crypt exists it lies below this level. To
+the east of the cathedral was the Bishop's Palace, the gardens of it
+extending over the detached burial ground of St. Michael's to the east
+of Priory Street. The grandeur of this assemblage of buildings
+grouping, with the spires of the churches behind and rising so
+magnificently above the houses of the city can best be realized by
+going to the top of Bishop Street whence may be obtained the finest
+view of the two spires that remain (see p. 2).
+
+
+
+
+ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH
+
+
+[Illustration: ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE NORTH.]
+
+
+
+
+ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
+
+
+The early history of St. Michael's Church is very obscure. The fact
+that Domesday mentions no parish churches proves nothing. There can be
+little doubt that one at least existed. Though we have an earlier
+record of St. Michael's it is commonly held that Trinity is the elder
+foundation.
+
+Of St. Michael's the first notice we have is when Ranulph, Earl of
+Chester, in the days of Stephen, about 1150, granted the "Chapel" of
+St. Michael to Laurence, Prior, and the Convent of St. Mary, "being
+satisfied by the testimony of divers persons, as well Clergy as Laity,
+that it was their right." Fourteen dependent chapels in the
+neighbourhood or within a few miles went with it and the number of
+these dependencies is held to show that it was "a primitive Saxon
+parish and of considerable importance." In 1192 Ranulph Blundeville,
+grandson of the former Ranulph, gave tithe of his lands and rents in
+Coventry and bound his officers under pain of a grievous curse to make
+due payment.
+
+In the early thirteenth century a dispute arose between Bishop
+Geoffrey de Muschamp and the Priory as to the right of presentation,
+the Bishop claiming on the ground of being Abbot as well as Bishop.
+This was settled in 1241 by the Priory renouncing its claim in
+consideration of receiving a share of the income but in 1248 an
+exchange was effected, the Priory giving the advowsons of Ryton and
+Bubbenhall[4] (not far from Coventry) for St. Michael and its chapels
+and engaging to provide proper secular priests with competent support.
+In 1260 the church was appropriated to the monastery together with
+Holy Trinity and its chapels and although in the arrangement of 1248
+twenty-four marks (£16) had been assigned to the vicarage, in 1291 we
+find the priory receiving fifty marks and paying the vicar eight and a
+half.
+
+Since 1537 the patronage has with that of Trinity, been exercised by
+the Crown.
+
+The internal evidence of the date of the building is given in the
+description of the fabric. Of external evidence in the shape of
+records or deeds we have very little. Tradition says that there was
+once a brass tablet in the church bearing the following lines:
+
+    William and Adam built the Tower,
+      Ann and Mary built the Spire;
+    William and Adam built the Church,
+      Ann and Mary built the Choir.
+
+Now we know that William and Adam Botoner, who were each Mayor thrice
+between 1358 and 1385, built the tower, spending upon it £100 a year
+for twenty-two years, but what foundation there is for the other
+statements cannot now be determined. The tower was in building from
+1373 to 1394, and the choir is contemporary with it, the nave was in
+building from 1432 to 1450, and the spire was begun in 1430. As
+William was Mayor in 1358 it can hardly have been less than one
+hundred years after his birth that both nave and spire were begun. It
+is however, likely that other members of the family (if not he, by
+bequest) contributed largely to the general building fund.
+
+Much of the history of a parish church is concerned with its internal
+economy but even the records of this are not quite trivial for they
+enlighten us on many points wherein we are rightly curious. We are,
+for instance, constantly reminded, as Dr. Gasquet points out in
+"Mediaeval Parish Life," that "religious life permeated society in the
+Middle Ages, particularly in the fifteenth century, through the minor
+confraternities" or gilds.
+
+Thus the Drapers' Gild made itself responsible not only for the upkeep
+of the Lady Chapel but also for the lights always burning on the
+Rood-loft, every Master paying four pence for each "prentys" and every
+"Jurneman" four pence. The cost of lights formed a serious item in
+church expenditure, needing the rent of houses and lands for their
+maintenance. Guy de Tyllbrooke, vicar in the late thirteenth century,
+gave all his lands and buildings on the south side of the church to
+maintain a light before the high altar, day and night, for ever, "and
+all persons who shall convert this gift to any other use directly or
+indirectly shall incur the malediction of Almighty God, the Blessed
+Virgin, St. Michael and All Saints."
+
+Royal visits to the church have been noticed in the history of the
+priory and city, especially that in 1450 which was apparently intended
+to mark the completion of the church. Reference has also been made to
+the plays and pageants with which such visitors were entertained. The
+site for the performance of the cycle of Corpus Christi plays was the
+churchyard on the north of St. Michael's. Queen Margaret, whose visits
+were so frequent that the city acquired the fanciful title of "the
+Queen's Bower" came over from Kenilworth on the Eve of the Feast in
+1456, "at which time she would not be met, but privily to see the play
+there on the morrow and she saw then all the pageants played save
+Doomsday, which might not be played for lack of day and she was lodged
+at Richard Wood's the Grocer."
+
+There is evident reference to the dedication of the church in the
+pageant of the "Nine Orders of Angels" shown before Henry VIII and
+Queen Catherine in 1510 (p. 47).
+
+The history of the church since the Reformation has been not unlike
+that of a vast number of others. Fanatic destruction, followed by
+tasteless and incongruous innovations, and these again by
+"restorations" sometimes as destructive, sometimes as tasteless, and
+nearly always feeble; such is their common history. In 1569 even the
+Register books were destroyed because they contained marks of popery,
+while from 1576 onward a want of repair is plainly suggested by
+frequent items of expenditure for catching the stares (starlings) in
+the church, at one time for a net, at another for "a bowe and bolts
+and lyme." In 1611 James I addressed a strongly worded letter to the
+Mayor and Corporation and the Vicar requiring them to reform the
+practice of receiving the Holy Sacrament standing or sitting instead
+of kneeling, "As we our Self in our person do carefully perform it."
+Whereupon the Bishop wrote that he "felt persuaded that there were not
+above seven of any note who did not conform themselves" to the church
+ordinances; while the Vicar said he "did not know of _half seven_ of
+any note but do the like."
+
+A Puritanical writer in 1635 thus mentions the changed position of
+the Communion Table, which had formerly stood away from the east wall:
+"The Communion Table was altered which cost a great deal of money; and
+that which is worst of all, three stepps made to go to the Comm'n
+Table altar fashion--God grant it continueth not long." Even the font,
+given by John Cross, mayor, in 1394, had to give place in 1645 to
+something less offensive to Puritan feeling, and in the same year the
+brass eagle, given in 1359 by William Botoner, was "sold by order of
+vestry for _5d._ the lb., _8l. 13s. 4d._" The rehanging of the bells
+in 1674 led to the destruction of the beautiful groined vault within
+the tower, and the year 1764 saw the completion of a series of
+galleries all round the church. Throughout all this destruction and
+desecration the citizens happily retained their pride in the great
+steeple, and by constant attention and rebuildings contrived to
+preserve it when negligence might have caused its ruin. The scrupulous
+care given to such work is well shown by items in an account for
+repairs, of date 1580:
+
+  Payed to George Aster for poyntynge ye steple      £ 7  2 8
+  Payed for 3 quarter and a halfe of lyme                13 4
+  Payed for egges                                         8 4
+  Payed for glovers pecis, woode & tallowe, abowte
+    the lyme                                              5 6
+  Payed for a load sand                                     7½
+  Payed for 4 stryke of mawlte and gryndyng               7 8½
+  Payd for 6 gallons of worte more                        2 0
+  Payd for gatherynge of slates & oyster shelles            3¼
+  Payd to Cookson for the cradle and 3 other pullesses    5 8
+
+The glovers' snippings were for making size, which, with the eggs,
+malt and wort were used in place of water for tempering the mortar.
+Lightning seriously damaged the spire in 1655 and 1694, in the former
+case causing much injury to the nave roof by falling stone. In 1793
+Wyatt, the architect responsible for so much destruction of Mediæval
+work in various cathedrals, advised that a timber framework to carry
+the bells should be built up within the tower from the ground and that
+the tower arch should be bricked up. All this has been changed since
+1885, the bells now hang (but are not pealed) in the octagon, the
+chimes and clock are in the chamber below, the arch is opened and the
+groining restored.
+
+All galleries had been taken down in 1849 and the present seats,
+giving room for near 2,500 persons, introduced, while the incongruous
+wall-arcading in the apse was soon after added. At the same period
+many important sepulchral monuments, probably stigmatized as
+"excrescences," were taken down and removed to other parts of the
+church.
+
+Five years after this the exterior of the aisle walls was recased with
+the same friable sandstone. In 1860 the reredos was erected, the
+subjects of the panels being the sacrifices of Abel, Noah,
+Melchisedec, and Abraham, and the Last Supper. To the latest
+restoration, which included entire recasing of tower and spire,
+clearstories and chancel, the new sacristy at the south east, and
+other work, Mr. George Woodcock, a Coventry citizen, gave £10,500, and
+the sum of £39,500 was raised and expended, the re-opening taking
+place on 22nd April, 1890.
+
+In 1850 a dispute of considerable public interest with regard to the
+levying of the church rate between the vicar and the wardens and
+overseers was decided in the Court of Queen's Bench. An Act of
+Parliament of 1780 had empowered the wardens to levy a rate in lieu of
+tithe for the stipend of the vicar, to produce not less than £280 nor
+more than £300. The wardens having ever since allowed their powers to
+remain in abeyance, the vicar claimed the right to make the rate as
+his predecessors had done. Lord Campbell and three other judges were
+however unanimous in giving judgement against him.
+
+The latest event in the history of the church is probably the most
+important. It has now been constituted a pro-cathedral for the
+proposed Diocese of Warwickshire, and a Capitular body has been
+formed. The statutes were promulgated by the Bishop of Worcester on
+the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, 1908. The Chapter now
+consists of twenty-four members:--the Bishop, the Vicar of St.
+Michael's (Rev. Prof. J.H.B. Masterman), the Archdeacon of Coventry,
+the Chancellor of the Diocese, ten priest canons and ten lay canons,
+with provision for the admission of a future second archdeacon. There
+are resemblances here to the constitution of the Southwark Chapter,
+consisting of four clerical and four lay canons, but at Coventry some
+of the lay canons are elective and for fixed periods. Doubtless the
+immense increase of population in the county, especially in this part
+(Birmingham is already a separate diocese), demands further oversight
+and much strenuous church work, and doubtless, too, the same religious
+enthusiasm which brought into existence the beautiful structures of
+Coventry's golden age will be able to meet the demand and cope with
+the new problems and aspirations of the present day. But the
+archaeologist trembles to think what may be done should the attempt be
+made to transform a building planned on the simplest parish-church
+lines into the semblance of a cathedral. It cannot be successful, and
+the original character of the church is but too likely to be
+sacrificed in the attempt.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 4: These have ever since remained prebends of Lichfield.]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE EXTERIOR OF THE CHURCH
+
+
+The church is built on a site descending towards the east, so that the
+chancel floor is more than twelve feet above the present street level.
+The narrow street on the south, Bayley Lane, gives us a succession of
+picturesque partial views but no general one, while on the north the
+rather formal avenue dividing the churchyard obscures much of the
+structure. On the whole, the most comprehensive prospect is to be had
+from the north-east, at the lower end of Priory Row. But no general
+point of view is needed, external or internal, to enable us to
+understand the plan or arrangement, which is almost as simple in form
+as a village church.
+
+The typical English church plan consists of a nave with aisles, a long
+unaisled chancel with square east end, porches or doors on north and
+south, and a western tower, and this, save for its apsidal east end,
+but amplified by accretions in the form of chapels belonging to the
+many Gilds of the city, is the plan of St. Michael's.
+
+In no part, however, do we find the chapels so set as to produce a
+pseudo-cruciform plan.
+
+Before the latest restoration the walls were entirely of the local red
+sandstone, very similar in quality and appearance to that of which
+Chester Cathedral was built, and the extent of its decay, especially
+on the tower, was as grievous. Hardly a piece of external moulding or
+carving preserved its original profile or form, and some of the tower
+buttresses had lost so large a proportion of their substance not far
+above ground that they appeared to hang to the walls rather than
+support them. All save the aisles, which were refaced in the sixties,
+have now been cased with Runcorn Stone nearly the same in colour and
+much harder in texture.
+
+The special glory of the church is its =steeple=. No doubt
+intentionally its height of 300 feet is practically equal to the
+length of the church. Only one other parish church, Louth in
+Lincolnshire, has a steeple as high as this, and those of only two
+English cathedrals, Salisbury and Norwich, exceed it.
+
+There is, however, an essential difference to be noted in the position
+of these spires, those of the cathedrals at the centre, the crowning
+point in the composition, those of the parish churches at the west
+end, springing sheer from the ground. While the former have a more
+intimate relation to the building the latter have an almost
+independent existence in keeping with the theory which regards them
+more as symbols of municipal pride and power than as expressions of
+spiritual aspiration.
+
+But however mixed the motives for their erection, religious forms and
+symbolism governed the design. Thus we have here three principal
+divisions--tower, octagon, spire, and nine stories or stages in all,
+six belonging to the tower and octagon, and three to the spire. Then
+in its dimensions we find that the total height is 300 feet,[5] the
+plan (exclusive of buttresses) is 30 feet square, while in its
+proportions the number 30 is interwoven, so to speak, with a simple
+arithmetical progression of heights in each story. Thus it is 30 feet
+from the ground to the spring of the lowest five-light windows, 30
+feet again to the spring of the single-light windows, 27 feet more to
+the spring of the grouped windows above, and another 30 to the spring
+of the belfry windows. Thence it is 15 feet to the cornice below the
+battlements. The remainder is divided into a series of 20 feet
+heights, two twenties from cornice to top of parapet of octagon, 20 in
+each of the two decorated stages of the spire, 20 to centre of the
+upper spire-lights, three twenties to the finial. If we look at the
+stories as marked by the string-courses below the windows we find 50
+feet given to the door and great window and then 20, 30, and 40 feet
+stages, reaching to the top of the parapet. The reader will have
+noticed the interposition of a 27 feet space among the thirties, and
+the reason for this is worth explaining.
+
+It is now known that the tower could not be built in line with the
+centre of the proposed new nave because of the existence of a
+filled-in pit or quarry at its north-west angle. But the builder was
+rash enough to build the north-west buttresses beyond the edge of the
+old excavation and resting on the looser material. The consequences
+might have been foreseen. By the time the building had reached the
+grouped windows the settlement or sinking was considerable and an
+effort was made to remedy it, first by reducing the height of this
+(the weakest story), by one yard and next by starting the courses
+level once more. Five hundred years later and we find that whereas the
+sinking is 7½ inches near the ground level it is only 4 inches at the
+windows, plainly showing that it had sunk 3½ inches before the remedy
+was applied and four inches since. The writer is informed by the
+architect (Mr. J. Oldrid Scott) that all this angle was so full of
+rents and cracks that (coupled with the decay of the stone, especially
+in the buttresses) it was surprising that the whole had not fallen. A
+curious disregard of what we look on as a natural sentiment is to be
+noted in this connection, for the builders used a quantity of fine
+sepulchral slabs from the churchyard as filling for the foundations.
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR OF THE TOWER FROM BELOW.]
+
+In magnificence of design the tower exceeds that of any other parish
+church in England, the uppermost story being the richest in detail.
+The variety of treatment and gradual increase in elaboration of the
+upper stories is admirable, the larger expanses of wall in the lower
+giving the necessary effect of stability to the whole. The =west door=
+is very insignificant, and might perhaps, with advantage to the
+composition, have been left out. It has the only four-centred arch in
+the whole. On each side of the great windows are niches with
+(restored) figures of saints and benefactors, twelve in all, including
+Earl Leofric and his famous wife, the Botoners and several kings.
+Sculpture appears again on the belfry stage. On the west and north
+sides the niches are in three tiers of three on either hand of the
+tall louvred windows, but on the south and east sides one tier is
+absorbed by the stair turret. All these have been renewed, but the
+remains of some of those which were taken down can now be seen in the
+crypt, and the one which is best preserved, by a happy coincidence the
+patron saint, is now placed within the church.
+
+The octagon, which connects so finely the tower and spire, has four
+two-light windows on the cardinal sides, the other sides having blank
+panelling of similar design. Its parapet has square pinnacles,
+intended to carry seated figures. From each of the great tower
+pinnacles two ogee-shaped flying buttresses spring to the near angles
+of the octagon. A recent writer criticizes these as too flimsy in
+effect, but the fact that they are in pairs obviates this defect from
+most points of view. The walls of the octagon are 2½ feet thick at the
+base, but, as the inner slope of the spire begins at the level of the
+window transoms, the thickness at its parapet is more than 3 feet. The
+greater weight in this part corrects any tendency in the spire to push
+outwards the upright walls of the octagon; so well has it done this
+that no artificial helps, such as iron stays or bands, have been
+found necessary to add to its stability. Though so slender in
+appearance, its stonework is thicker than that of many later spires,
+for whereas Kettering is 14 inches thick for the first 10 feet and
+only 6 inches above, while Louth decreases from 10 to 5, St. Michael's
+diminishes from 17 to 11. The inclination from the upright of its
+sides is very slight, less than that of most others; Chichester
+having an angle of 7½°, Kettering 6°, Louth 5°, St. Michael's 4½°.
+
+[Illustration: THE WEST PORCH.]
+
+The decoration of the spire is admirably designed in relation to the
+slenderness of the tower, and its own height above the eye. The first
+stage is panelled so as not to present too great a contrast to the
+octagon, and the next is also panelled and has narrow canopied slits
+on alternate sides, with four thin buttress-like projections on each
+face. These provide the slight entasis to the outline which is found
+in so many spires, as it is in classic columns, and is designed to
+correct the appearance of hollowness which would occur in so long a
+straight line. The upper two-thirds of the spire has triple angle
+rolls, and, just halfway in the total height, are eight canopied
+panels of which four are pierced. The beauty of the steeple and its
+pre-eminence among those belonging to parish churches (even if such a
+reservation be necessary) sufficiently justifies the length of this
+description.
+
+[Illustration: SOUTH PORCH, FROM ST. MARY HALL.]
+
+The oldest existing part of the church is the large =south porch=,
+almost facing the entrance to St. Mary Hall. The date of this is not
+later than 1300. Each jamb of the outside arch has four external and
+two internal attached shafts; the pointed arch is deeply moulded,
+while the arch rising from the fourth shaft is of round-headed trefoil
+form. The ceiling is vaulted with diagonal and intermediate ribs, and
+has the appearance of having been added rather later.
+
+A doorway on its east side led to the Cappers' Chapel and there is a
+chamber over the porch for centuries appropriated to the meetings of
+the Cappers' Company. The present chapel and chamber are contemporary
+with the nave.
+
+[Illustration: SOUTH-WEST DOORWAY.]
+
+The external wall of the Dyers' Chapel (now the Baptistery) is canted
+so as not to block the Lane, St. Mary Hall having been already built.
+Passing east, the road dips gradually and gives this end of the church
+a more imposing elevation. After the Cappers' Chapel, there is only a
+single aisle forming the Mercers' Chapel and extending as far as the
+Presbytery. A door here, made in 1750, is opposite to the Drapers'
+Hall. The apse is now encircled with a series of sacristies divided
+into five chambers and spanned by flying buttresses. The first two
+bays on the south were built at the last restoration the vestry then
+removed not being part of the original design. Beneath them on the
+ground level is the engine-room pertaining to the organ. Though
+sometimes spoken of as an Ambulatory its position on a lower level,
+its original want of connection with the south side and above all the
+need for sacristies in so large a church dispose of the idea.
+
+Some have thought that the apsidal Lady Chapel of Lichfield Cathedral
+built about fifty years earlier suggested an apsidal termination in
+the design of Coventry, but a certain difficulty in the way of the
+designer may have led him to adopt this solution. The normal
+Perpendicular east end had one large window, but owing to the great
+width of this chancel the proportions of such a one would have been
+nearly square, and the spring of the arch have been very low. A few
+years later and the depressed four-centred arch might have been
+adopted but, fortunately, its time was not yet.
+
+The plans of the apses of Lichfield and Coventry differ in the angle
+at which the sides are inclined to the chord of the apse, the former
+having the usual angle of 45°, the latter one of more than 60°.
+Externally this is not so pleasant as the more "commonplace" form, the
+great dissimilarity of the several angles being unsatisfactory and the
+third side too quickly lost to view, but within the church these
+points are not noticed.
+
+So little time elapsed between the building of the choir and nave that
+we find no marked difference of style as we proceed westward along
+either flank of the church. The =Lady Chapel=, known as the Drapers'
+Chapel, from its use and maintenance by that Gild, occupies the three
+bays of the North chancel aisle. From its elevation above the ground
+it was often spoken of as the "Chapel on the Mount," Capella Beatæ
+Mariæ de Monte. All the four windows are of seven lights, the three
+northern having a somewhat unusual transom band of fourteen
+quatrefoils, at the spring of the arch. The two windows of St.
+Lawrence's Chapel have a transom across the lights and a band of seven
+quatrefoils at the spring.
+
+The buttresses of the Lady Chapel are rather richer in design than
+those of St. Lawrence's Chapel. The lower level of its parapet
+indicates some difference of date. The plan of this part of the church
+presents problems which bear on those connected with the rest of the
+church (p. 44). Beneath St. Lawrence's Chapel and extending under the
+north aisle westward are two crypts, entrance to them being by two
+doors from the churchyard, their position is shown on the general
+plan. It will be seen that the western one is of two aisles, each of
+three bays, while the eastern is only one bay in length. The entrance
+to the western was at first in the middle bay but this was blocked
+when the Girdlers' Chapel was built. That the eastern crypt was added
+later, and the present Lady Chapel later still is shown by the
+presence of windows in the east wall of both parts and other
+indications. But while the history of the church shows that the
+original Lady Chapel and crypt or charnel-house, were built soon after
+1300, the present superstructures belong to a time about one hundred
+years later. Now as the western crypt may be safely assigned to the
+earlier date the Lady Chapel doubtless stood over it and flanked the
+old chancel of the church, in its normal position in fact as the
+existing one is now. But a point which remains to be explained is that
+the walls of the crypt are parallel to the line of the new chancel and
+not to the line of the old or new naves. It seems certain therefore
+that the inclination of the new chancel is a simple perpetuation of
+the old arrangement, and if not, the position of the crypt is hard to
+account for.
+
+It is generally supposed that these crypts were used as Mortuary
+Chapels and the eastern one has in fact a piscina and aumbry, showing
+that there was once an altar. But for some centuries they served as a
+charnel-house, and are so called in a papal grant of Indulgences. In
+1640 there is an entry in the church accounts of five shillings for
+"cleansinge the charnel-house and laying the bones and sculles in
+order."
+
+They now contain fragments that have been removed or discovered in the
+course of various restorations. A small Norman scalloped capital,
+another of Early English workmanship and a voussoir showing the Norman
+zig-zag or chevron are interesting relics of structures earlier than
+anything now existing, while a number of the decayed statues from the
+tower find here a dark and damp repose very different from the airy
+outlook enjoyed by them for five centuries. It will be seen that they
+are near life size and are executed in a gray sandstone which has
+stood the weather much better than the red. The outer north aisle
+containing the Girdlers' Chapel on the east and the Smiths' or St.
+Andrew's Chapel on the west of the porch, is plainly of later date.
+The windows have depressed, distinctly four-centred arches, and in
+1730 their five lights had simply cusped heads, the mullions running
+up to the architrave.
+
+The =north porch= has only a slight projection. Above the four-centred
+arch are two two-light canopied windows opening into the church. The
+soffit of the doorway is panelled. On the west side where is now a
+canopied niche was formerly an external pulpit reached from within by
+the staircase which leads to the roof. It is shown in the 1730 view.
+On the east side are two odd little flying buttresses, intended
+apparently to repeat the inclined surface of the other side. The two
+north aisles are fortunately not carried westward so far as the nave,
+which projects a half bay beyond them and so prevents the otherwise
+unrelieved flatness of this part. The most effective of the porches is
+that on the west front, just north of the tower. It appears to have
+been built after the nave was finished, and may have been added
+expressly to provide a more dignified entrance to the church when
+Henry VI came in state in 1451, for it faces directly up the nave. The
+groining with cusped panels and numerous bosses has escaped
+restoration. The five niches above the porch are statueless, and so
+are those on the porch front. May they long continue so! The doors are
+largely original and are finely panelled and carved.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 5: At the last restoration the height was reduced to 298
+feet.]
+
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR OF ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE WEST.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH
+
+
+From within the door by which the church is usually entered, that near
+the south-west angle, we obtain an overpowering impression of the
+special characteristic of the interior, its spaciousness, for it is
+here more than 100 feet wide and the east window is nearly 240 feet
+distant.
+
+The =nave=, which is 37 feet 6 inches wide in the clear, is wider than
+that of many cathedrals, and much exceeds that of most parish
+churches, the widest (Worstead) given in Brandon's "Parish Churches"
+being 29 feet. Boston alone exceeds it by about 3 feet. While the
+ordinary aisle width ranges from 10 to 14 feet, the north aisle here
+is 23 feet, the outer north and the south being each 17 feet. The
+total internal length is 265 feet, exclusive of the sacristy; Boston,
+the only larger one, being 284 feet, while very few exceed 200 feet,
+and most are far smaller. The greatest internal width is 120 feet;
+Manchester, a double-aisled collegiate church, is about the same, and
+York Minster is 106 feet. Finally, the area is about 22,800 square
+feet, probably greater than that of any other English parish church,
+indeed, St. Nicholas, Yarmouth, is the only one which pretends to
+rivalry in this respect. Size is, of course, only one element in the
+impressiveness of a building, and may even be neutralized by the
+treatment (as, for instance, in the Duomo of Florence and St. Peter's,
+Rome, by increasing the size of its parts rather than multiplying
+them), but these few comparisons will help the visitor to judge how
+far this element colours his appreciation of the whole. As an
+illustration of mediæval methods of church building, it is interesting
+to trace the growth of the structure with the help of the few
+historical notices already given and the evidence of the building
+itself. The subject is full of difficulties, and the writer does not
+hope to solve them conclusively, but to put before the reader the main
+points which have to be considered before forming a judgement.
+
+[Illustration: TOWER ARCH.]
+
+Both historic and structural evidence agree that there was an existing
+smaller church when the tower was built in the last quarter of the
+fourteenth century, that the choir and apse were either contemporary,
+or begun a few years earlier, and that the nave was built between 1434
+and 1450. The south porch and the west crypt (beneath the original
+Lady Chapel) are almost contemporary (p. 34), belonging to the
+beginning of the fourteenth century. Now the axis of the tower is
+parallel to the axis and walls of the nave, while the centre line of
+the choir is deflected towards the north about 7°. Notwithstanding
+this, however, owing to the tower not being central with the nave, the
+axis of the choir, if prolonged, runs directly to the centre of the
+tower arch, as may easily be seen by anyone who stands there and looks
+along the ridge of the choir roof. (_See_ dotted line on Plan.)
+
+[Illustration: BAY OF NAVE, NORTH SIDE.]
+
+Next we see above the =tower arch= the mark of the old nave roof and
+the old north wall of the nave. These show that the south wall stood
+where the present one does, and the low-pitched fourteenth century
+roof-line suggests incidentally this alternative: _either_ a
+clearstory had been added to the nave before the building of the new
+chancel or tower was in contemplation, _or_, when the huge tower was
+built it was felt necessary to raise the nave roof so as to lessen the
+disproportion. But, if we adopt the latter alternative we must accept
+too the improbability that this expense should have been incurred when
+the inadequacy of the old narrow nave of 15½ feet compared with a
+chancel of 33 feet must have been so obvious. This is one of the
+difficult questions.
+
+Then it is held by some that the axis of the old nave and chancel was
+in line with that of the present choir; but the south porch, built
+more than one hundred years before the new nave, is at right angles
+with it which would hardly have been the case had the two naves not
+been on the same lines.
+
+Needless to say the old east end could scarcely have extended beyond
+the present nave, so that the new chancel was probably built without
+disturbing the old church. The position of the older Lady Chapel
+supports this view, while its bearing towards the north, as already
+pointed out, indicates that the deflection of the new chancel is
+simply copied from the older one.
+
+The position of the south porch proves also that the south aisle was
+as wide as the present one, while the fact that it was wider than the
+nave shows that it was almost certainly not designed at the same time.
+
+The nave is of six bays and is 54 feet high at the centre, while each
+arch is 20 feet wide in the clear. The piers are slender, but, owing
+to the depth of the panelling above the arches and the large size of
+the windows, the weight upon them is reduced to a minimum. Shafts
+carried up from the ground support the roof brackets, and there are
+intermediate ones over the centre of each arch. The clearstory windows
+of four lights each are in pairs, and the mullions are carried down to
+form panelling and finish on the backs of the arches, which recede in
+two sloping faces and form a somewhat unusual feature in the treatment
+of the wall surface. The detail of the piers and arches is rather
+weak, even for Perpendicular work.
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR FROM THE SOUTH DOOR.]
+
+The =chancel= is about 93 feet long, and in height and width is 4 or 5
+feet less than the corresponding nave measurements. Its width further
+diminishes by about 3½ feet in the length of the three bays. The
+omission of a chancel arch is a step towards the ideal simplicity of
+the late Perpendicular churches (_e.g._, St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich),
+running from east to west without break, but the large rood piers and
+reduced width and height of chancel make the pause demanded in so
+long a church. The step at this point is of oak, and is probably the
+original sill of the rood screen. The large figures of SS. Peter and
+Paul were placed on the piers in 1861. Of the three arches which open
+on either hand the centre one is widest, having four-light windows,
+instead of three-light, over it. The panelling beneath the clearstory
+is richer than that in the nave. The five four-light windows of the
+apse are lofty and divided by two transoms, but the design is somewhat
+commonplace. The glass of the middle three is a memorial to Queen
+Adelaide, dated 1853. The other two are filled with fragments of the
+ancient stained glass of the church (p. 56).
+
+[Illustration: THE CHOIR FROM ST. LAWRENCE'S CHAPEL.]
+
+The roof is very similar to that of the nave. Both are of very low
+pitch, with tie-beams supported by curved brackets. There are two
+longitudinal beams (purlins) on each side, and each division of the
+roof made by these main timbers is sub-divided by mouldings into
+panels, all the intersections and angles being decorated by carved
+bosses or pateræ, with angels upon the tie-beams. Where the roofs of
+nave and chancel join there is a cove to connect the two levels; and
+on the tie-beam above this was found a Latin inscription, giving the
+attributes and powers of the nine choirs of angels forming the
+hierarchy of Heaven. Translated it is as follows:
+
+  SERAPHIMS burn in love of God.
+  CHERUBIMS possess all knowledge.
+  THRONES, of them is judgement.
+  DOMINIONS preside over angelic spirits.
+  VIRTUES effect miracles.
+  POWERS have rule over demons.
+  PRINCIPALITIES protect good men.
+  ARCHANGELS are set over states.
+  ANGELS are the messengers of the Lord.
+
+Bare and shorn as it is of its ancient magnificence, St. Michael's is
+in its structure a monument of the importance and wealth of the Gilds.
+Many of them built or maintained chapels and altars, adding largely to
+the already spacious proportions given to the main structure by the
+munificence of a few rich citizens. That in 1491 there were eleven
+altars we know from the will of Thomas Bradmedow, directing that
+eleven torches, price _2s. 4d._, be given every Good Friday, one to
+every altar. Besides the High Altar there were those of Our Lady,
+Jesus, Holy Trinity, St. John, St. Anne, St. Katherine, St. Thomas,
+St. Andrew, St. Lawrence, All Saints.
+
+The application to the =Lady Chapel= of the present name, the
+"Drapers' Chapel," is probably subsequent to 1518, when John Haddon, a
+draper, provided by will for the support of a priest, "to singe in the
+Chapell of our Ladye in the Church of Saint Mychell." But long ere
+this, by an instrument dated from St. John Lateran, A.D. 1300, eighth
+year of Pope Boniface, Indulgences for forty days were granted for all
+persons coming to confess before her altar in St. Michael's Church on
+the Nativity, Conception, Annunciation and Assumption of the glorious
+Virgin Mary. Also 700 Indulgences for 720 days were granted for
+building "the Chapple and Charnell house of St. Michaell, Coventry."
+The Drapers' Company was responsible for other things than the
+priest's stipend as this extract from their Rules shows: "1534. Ev'y
+mastur shall pay toward ye makyng clene of oure Lady Chapell in saynt
+Mychell's churche and strawyng ye setus [seats] wt rusches in somer
+and pease strawe in wyntur, everyone yerely _2d._"
+
+[Illustration: POPPY HEAD, LADY CHAPEL.]
+
+The piers at the chancel entrance contain the staircases leading to
+the roofs and formerly to the rood loft. The screen on the west side
+of the chapel was put together from fragments brought together from
+various parts of the church. Against it, and on the south side, are
+fifteen of the ancient stalls. Several admirable ends and elbows
+remain, and some of the twelve ancient Misereres are of special
+interest. Three represent scenes from the popular mediæval allegory of
+"the Dance of Death."
+
+The centre groups are: (1) a death bed, (2) a kneeling man being
+deprived of his shirt and a cripple waiting to receive it (?), and (3)
+a very well-expressed burial scene. The side groups in each show Death
+leading by the hand personages of various ranks, including a pope. Of
+the others, Satan in chains, the General Resurrection, and a
+delicately executed Tree of Jesse are the best.
+
+[Illustration: A MISERERE, LADY CHAPEL.]
+
+Several monuments formerly in this chapel are now elsewhere in the
+church. A memorial to the Hon. F.W. Hood, killed in battle in 1814, is
+by Chantrey. On the north wall is a brass plate bearing the following
+inscription:
+
+   Here lyeth Mr Thomas Bond, Draper, sometime Mayor of this Cittie
+   and founder of the Hospitall of Bablake, who gave divers lands
+   and tenements for the maintenance of ten poore men so long as the
+   world shall endure and a woman to looke to them with many other
+   good guifts; and died the XVIII day of March in the yeare of our
+   Lord God MDVI.
+
+The =Communion Table= is a fine example of early seventeenth century
+work, and outside the screen is a very beautiful oak chest, believed
+to date from the time of Henry VII. From the Lady Chapel we pass into
+that of St. Laurence. Its two windows are filled with glass to the
+memory of past mayors. The dates, 1860 and 1862, sufficiently suggest
+their artistic merit. Several old monuments are upon the north wall,
+one of 1648 with an extravagant inscription to Thomas Purefoy, a boy
+of nine; another to Mrs. Bathona Frodsham, a daughter of the John
+Hales who bought so much monastic property, and founded the Grammar
+School. The tomb of his first wife, Frideswede, near which he was
+buried, may be seen in the Dugdale view near the north porch.
+
+The outer north aisle contained the Girdlers' Chapel. The arcade which
+divides the aisles shows the consummation of the process which
+converted columns into piers by the omission of capitals and bases and
+the continuation of the mouldings from pier into arch.
+
+The altar was below the eastern window, the piscina (restored) stands
+on the south side.
+
+The Company has been long extinct and no documents exist. We know,
+however, that Haye's Chantry was founded by a Girdler in 1390, for a
+Mass to be sung daily at All Saints' altar, and may therefore conclude
+that it was in this chapel.
+
+In the two western bays of the same aisle was St. Andrew's Chapel,
+supported and probably founded by the Smiths' Company. The first
+notice of its existence occurs in 1449, but as this part was not built
+until 1500 it was perhaps originally in the adjoining aisle. The
+window tracery is modern. The panelling within the internal arches and
+between the windows should be noted. The floor near the wall is partly
+paved with much worn ancient tiles.
+
+Several large monuments have been brought hither from the Drapers'
+Chapel. An altar tomb of black marble is to the memory of Sir Thomas
+Berkeley, only son of Henry, Lord Berkeley, who died in 1611; another
+of 1640, to William Stanley, Master of the Merchant Taylors' Company
+of London and a benefactor of St. Bartholomew's Hospital and of his
+native city, Coventry. While these are ponderous and unlovely that of
+Julian Nethermyl, at the west end of the principal north aisle, is a
+work of interest and much beauty. It is an altar tomb with a
+sculptured panel on one end and one side, the other end and side
+having been next to walls. It is of interest as an early example of
+the Italian style then finding its way into England, and an example so
+free from Gothic influence that there can be little doubt that a
+foreign craftsman was employed upon it. On the centre of the long
+panel is a mutilated crucifix, and a brief inscription with a shield
+of arms beneath. On either hand kneel Julian Nethermyl and his wife,
+with five sons behind him and five daughters behind her. A cherub at
+each end pushes aside a curtain. The group of sons is well treated,
+the variations in pose and dress show the hand of one who was
+accustomed to study composition, and the result is very different from
+the formal repetition of equal or lessening figures usual on mediæval
+brasses and Elizabethan tombs. The Latin inscription is partly
+illegible, translated it runs:
+
+   Here lies Julian Nethermyl, Draper, formerly Mayor of this City,
+   who died the 11th day of the month of April in the year of our
+   Lord 1539 and also Joan his wife, to whose souls God be
+   propitious. Amen.
+
+[Illustration: CHEST IN NORTH AISLE.]
+
+A small brass on the wall to the memory of Mary Hinton, wife of a
+vicar, who died in 1594, represents her kneeling at a faldstool, and
+facing a row of four swaddled infants laid upon the floor.
+
+Near by is the old Purbeck marble font, said to have been given by
+John Cross, Mayor, in 1394.
+
+As, however, the form, material, and shallow decoration are all quite
+consistent with a thirteenth-century date there can be little doubt
+that this one is the predecessor of that given by John Cross, which
+was condemned and removed by the Puritans as superstitious. A small
+brass, bearing a shield with four crosses, the ancient merchant mark,
+is fixed upon it.
+
+[Illustration: THE NETHERMYL TOMB.]
+
+Beyond the west door is the north-east buttress of the tower,
+strengthened by a mass of masonry, part of which formed part of the
+old nave wall. The tower arch is high and very narrow, owing to the
+narrowness of the old nave. The interior of the tower is very
+effective, both from the height, which is almost 100 feet to the crown
+of the vault, and the beautiful lighting of the upper stages. Each of
+the large windows of the ground story is set in a recessed arch, and
+between the two lantern stages is a range of panelling. The vertical
+lines of the various stages are not continuous, a want of regularity,
+which would probably not have occurred had it been built a century
+later. Upon the floor of the tower are two small brasses, which mark
+respectively the centre of the tower and the point below the apex of
+the spire, showing that the spire has an inclination of 3 feet 6
+inches towards the north-west. On the walls of the tower two very
+large brasses record the names of the Vicars of the church since 1242,
+and of the Bishops in whose Dioceses Coventry has been included from
+the earliest times. Of the latter, four were Bishops of Mercia,
+twenty-seven of Lichfield, six of Coventry, thirty-three of Coventry
+and Lichfield, thirteen of Lichfield and Coventry, four of Worcester,
+and two Bishops-Suffragan of Coventry.
+
+The south aisle is 6 feet narrower than the north at the west end, but
+its want of parallelism adds 7 feet to its width at its far eastern
+end.
+
+The south-west doorway has its original doors, though these have been
+subjected to restoration. The first chapel on the south side belonged
+to the Dyers' Company. When the principal trade of Coventry was the
+manufacture of woollen and worsted stuffs and the production of a
+special blue thread, so excellent that it gave rise to a proverbial
+expression, "he is true Coventry Blue", the Dyers were an important
+Company.[6] A chantry known as Tale's was probably attached to this
+chapel, as the salary of the priest, _£5 6s. 8d._, was paid by the
+Dyers' Company of London. An upper chamber for the priest existed as
+late as 1607; the floor corbels still remain. A large marble monument
+(removed hither from the chancel) has medallion portraits of two
+ladies--Dame Mary Bridgeman and Mrs. Eliza Samwell. The former with
+her husband, Sir Orlando (Lord Keeper of the Great Seal under Charles
+II), both died in 1701. The latter, dying in 1724, "ordered this
+monument to be erected as a remembrance of their great and loving
+friendship."
+
+The Chapel is now the =Baptistery=. A large eighteenth-century marble
+font was removed to the Lady Chapel and a new Gothic one put in its
+place, so that there are now three in the church.
+
+The south porch (1300) is the earliest part of the existing church.
+The inner doors appear to be of the early sixteenth century, the
+outer, though old, are of much later date and are not part of the
+original scheme. On the wall on each side of the inner doors are
+brasses of some interest. That on the right hand has a curious epitaph
+which runs thus:
+
+   Here lies the body of Captn Gervase Scrope, of the family of
+   Scropes, of Bolton in the County of York, who departed this life
+   the 26 of August, Anno Dni 1705, aged 66.
+
+   An Epitaph, written by himself, in the agony and dolorous paines
+   of the gout and dyed soon after.
+
+    Here lyes an old toss'd Tennis Ball
+    Was racketted, from spring to fall,
+    With so much heat and so much hast,
+    Time's arm for shame grew tyred at last.
+    Four kings in camps he truly served.
+    And from his loyalty ne'er swerved,
+    Father ruin'd and son slighted,
+    And from the Crown ne'er requited.
+    Loss of estate, relations, blood,
+    Was too well known, but did no good;
+    With long Campaigns and paines oth' gout
+    He cou'd no longer hold it out.
+    Always a restless life he led,
+    Never at quiet till quite dead.
+    He marry'd in his later days,
+    One who exceeds the common praise
+    But wanting breath still to make known
+    Her true affection and his own,
+    Death kindly came, all wants supplied
+    By giving rest--which life deny'd.
+
+The other brass, of 1609, has a portrait of Ann Sewell in Jacobean
+costume, kneeling, with an epitaph in which she is described as "a
+worthy stirrer up of others to all holy virtues."
+
+A doorway leads to a priest's chamber over the porch, sometimes
+incorrectly spoken of as the Cappers' Chapel. It is still used for the
+annual meeting of the Company, but is inaccessible to the public.
+
+The next chapel eastwards is St. Thomas', belonging until 1629 to the
+Cappers' and Feltmakers' Company. In 1531 they were associated in its
+maintenance with the Woollen Cardmakers who had founded it in 1467 and
+had after declined in importance. Leland, as we have seen records
+also the decay of the Cappers' industry. A large eighteenth-century
+monument conceals the original doorway from the porch. The eastern
+part of the south aisle as far as the screen formed another chapel as
+the dilapidated piscina in the south wall shows. The organ is now
+placed in the first bay of the chancel aisle, the whole aisle having
+once formed the Mercers' Chapel.
+
+[Illustration: THE SWILLINGTON TOMB.]
+
+Where the altar once stood are now steps descending to the sacristies.
+On the right of the window is the statue of St. Michael brought hither
+from the tower (p. 32). The finely carved corbel on which it stands
+was discovered among rubbish in the recess below. Three altar tombs
+now stand against the south wall. The eastern has the recumbent
+effigies of Elizabeth Swillington and her two husbands. The
+inscription (translated) runs: "Pray for the soul of Elizabeth
+Swillington, widow, late the wife of Ralph Swillington, Attorney
+General of our Lord King Henry VIII, Recorder of the city of Coventry,
+formerly the wife of Thomas Essex Esq: which said Elizabeth died A.D.
+15..." She died after 1543. The side and ends have arcaded panelling
+containing shields of arms. At the west end is a realistic
+representation of the Five Wounds. The effigy of Thomas Essex is in
+armour, that of the Recorder in official robe and chain. The head of
+each rests on a helmet, and the lady wears the "pedimental" headdress
+of Tudor fashion. The arcading is purely Renaissance in detail though
+the general treatment is mediæval. The figures are in dignified
+repose, wholly free from the later affectations of the Elizabethan
+school yet evidently individual portraits. The second tomb dates from
+1640. The top is far too heavy for the little Ionic pilasters below.
+
+The third, traditionally called Wade's tomb, probably belongs to John
+Wayd, a Mercer, who lived in Coventry in 1557, but no inscription
+remains.
+
+There are seven shields of arms on the side, nearly all defaced, a
+motto "Ryen saunce travayle," and nine images in low relief which
+present quaint studies of early sixteenth-century costume.
+
+The matrices of brasses are still visible in several parts of the
+church. Sir James Harrington, writing in the reign of James I, tells a
+curious story of their loss:
+
+   The pavement of Coventry church is almost all tombstones, and
+   some very ancient, but there came in a zealous fellow with a
+   counterfeit commission, that for avoiding superstition, hath not
+   left one pennyworth nor penny breadth of brass upon all the
+   tombs, of all the inscriptions, which had been many and costly.
+
+The last monument that need be mentioned is upon the wall over "Wade's
+tomb." Twenty-six verses of eulogy follow these opening lines:
+
+   An Elegicall epitaph, made upon the death of that mirror of women
+   Ann Newdigate; Lady Skeffington, wife of that true moaneing
+   turtle Sir Richard Skeffington, Kt., and consecrated to her
+   eternal memorie by the unfeigned lover of her vertues, Willm.
+   Bulstrode, Knight. (She died in 1637, aged 29).
+
+The present organ was built by Henry Willis and erected in 1887. It is
+a four-manual and pedal instrument and has fifty-three stops.
+
+The old organ on which Handel played more than once, stood on a raised
+platform at the west end. It was the work of Thomas Swarbrick of
+Warwick, a German by birth, in 1733. He also built those of Trinity
+Church, St. Mary, Warwick, Lichfield, St. Saviour Southwark,
+Stratford-on-Avon, and Amsterdam.
+
+The best of the ancient glass now remaining has been collected into two
+windows, one on either side of the apse. Much was brought from the
+clearstory where six windows on the south and all save one on the north
+side still have panels made up of a mosaic of fragments with portions
+here and there of which the subject is intelligible. From what remains
+in the tracery we may gather that there was a row of eight angel
+figures filling the spaces immediately over the lights. Some of these
+or similar ones, are now in the apse. They are represented as covered
+with feathers and standing on wheels and each holds a scroll over the
+head with inscriptions in very contracted Latin. A few less fragmentary
+pieces may be found, _e.g._, in the north window, Judas giving the
+traitor's kiss, in the north clearstory the arms of Trenton and
+Stafford, mentioned and figured by Dugdale, in the south, the figure of
+a man in a red gown kneeling with a scroll inscribed "deo gracias" and
+over his head "groc(er) de london"--doubtless a donor. Of modern glass
+there is a great amount but little worth mentioning save on account of
+the persons commemorated. One window in the Lady Chapel is a memorial
+of the Prince Consort and one in the Mercers' Chapel is of interest as
+a deserved memorial to Thomas Sharp the Antiquary to whose labours all
+later historians of the city are so deeply indebted. He died in 1841.
+
+[Illustration: ALMS-BOX.]
+
+The pulpit is of brass and wrought iron, the work of Frank Skidmore a
+native of Coventry who made also the choir screen of Hereford
+Cathedral and the metal work of the Albert Memorial at Kensington. It
+was placed here in 1869. The bells, ten in number, now hang in the
+octagon. They were cast in 1774 and weigh nearly seven tons. The first
+peal was hung in 1429 and a clock existed in 1467. In 1496 an Order of
+Leet ordained that "all manner of persons that will have the bells to
+ring after the decease of any of their friends, shall pay for a peal
+ringing with all the bells, _2s._ and with four bells, _16d._, and
+three bells _4d._"
+
+The six bells were cast into eight in 1674 and the present tenth has
+the same inscription as the heaviest of the old peal:
+
+    I am and have been call'd the common bell
+    To ring, when fire breaks out, to tell.
+
+The chimes, which existed as early as 1465, were restored in 1895,
+after a silence of ten years, in memory of Lieut.-Col. Francis William
+Newdigate. Electric lighting has been introduced throughout the
+church.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 6: _See_ Fuller's "Worthies of England." In 1428 an Act of
+Leet ordered that no person should dye any wool or cloth with "a
+deceitful colour called Masters or Medleys brought into Coventry by a
+Frenchman."]
+
+
+[Illustration: HOLY TRINITY FROM THE NORTH.
+_From a lithograph--about 1850_.]
+
+
+
+
+HOLY TRINITY CHURCH
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
+
+
+Although the first mention of this church which the indefatigable
+Dugdale could find was its appropriation to the priory in 1259-1260,
+it is tolerably certain that its foundation was much earlier. As
+before said, it is reputed to be older than St. Michael's and its
+position close to the monastery suggests that it had been built, as
+often happened, for the parishioners by the monks who disliked their
+intrusion within the priory church. The appropriation at this time may
+have been rather of the nature of a confirmation of the rights of the
+priory than the institution of a new condition of things. As, in 1391,
+the chancel had to be rebuilt being "ruinated and decayed" we may
+conclude that it was probably older than the present north porch which
+is certainly not later than 1259. It was at the same time lengthened
+by twenty-four feet, the convent giving one hundred shillings per
+annum for eight years and six trees, the parishioners finding all
+other material and workmanship. The convent and parish also agreed to
+support and keep it in repair at their joint charges.
+
+From 1298, when Henry de Harenhale was appointed, the list of vicars
+is complete, but in a cartulary of the priory mention is made of Ralph
+de Sowe, vicar of Trinity, as giving a tenement in Well Street, for
+the celebration of his anniversary.
+
+There are but few landmarks in its history, and dates affecting the
+structure can generally be assigned by internal evidence alone. The
+nave arcades had already been rebuilt before the chancel was touched,
+and a piece of work of the same period is to be seen in the five-light
+Decorated window, in the Consistory Court which now opens into the
+large chamber over the porch. We have no record of the building of the
+clearstory and roof of the nave. The resemblances between this
+clearstory, and that of St. John's chancel, raise the question of
+priority. The fuller development at St. John's of the peculiar
+treatment of the angles points to its being a little later but
+probably both fall within the second and third quarters of the
+fifteenth century.
+
+For a church of this size the chapels, altars and chantries were very
+numerous, there being probably fifteen altars in all. In 1522 the
+establishment of clergy consisted of a vicar, eleven parochial priests
+and two chantry priests. Dugdale enumerates six chantries so that it
+is evident that here as often elsewhere some of the parochial priests
+derived the whole or a part of their support from their performance of
+the duties of chantry priests.
+
+Many chantry priests on the other hand had other duties and took part
+in other services than the daily mass for which the chantry was
+founded.
+
+So much that is of interest in the religious life of the period is
+connected with the chantries that it is worth while recording some of
+the scattered notices that have come down to us.
+
+To begin with the Chapel of Our Lady, the earliest mention we have of
+it is in 1364 while in 1392 the Corpus Christi Gild endowed a priest
+there to sing mass for the good estate of Richard II, Anne his queen,
+and the whole realm of England, to be called St. Mary's priest. The
+indenture sets forth that "he is to be at Divine service on Sundays
+and double Feasts in the chancel and at Matins, Hours, Masses,
+Evensong, Compline and other offices used in the said church and also
+daily at _Salve_ in our Lady's Chapel unless hindered by reasonable
+cause." The records of the Dissolution of the Chantries show how much
+town property must have been held by them, while from these and other
+sources we learn the extent of their belongings in tenements,
+messuages, rent charges and the like. Thus in 1454 Emot Dowte gave
+several tenements to this altar and in 1492 Richard Clyff "late parson
+of St. George in London," left a house in Well St. to the church "to
+the intent that the mass of Our Lady may be observed the better." In
+1558 (the year of Elizabeth's accession) William Hyndeman, alderman
+and butcher, directs that his body be buried in the Lady Chapel "as
+aldermen are wont to be buried, towards the charges whereof I give
+twenty nobles to be levied of my quick cattle and if it be too little
+then I will that Sybil my wife shall lay down _20s._ more." He also
+orders an obit to be kept after the death of his wife "yearly for
+ever;" a form of words that must surely have sounded unreal after the
+changes of the last two reigns.
+
+Perceye's chantry again, which Dugdale considered the oldest (though
+he does not give the date) was endowed in 1350 with six messuages, one
+shop, six acres of land and 40s. rent, all lying in Coventry, to which
+in 1407 William Botoner and others, added a messuage and twenty-four
+acres of land in the city for another priest.
+
+Then the chantry of the Holy Cross (1357) founded for two priests to
+sing daily a mass for the good estate before death and for the souls
+after of the royal family, and for the founders and the members of the
+Fraternity of the Holy Cross, was endowed with seven messuages,
+fourteen shops and sixteen acres of land in the city.
+
+Dugdale enumerates also four others, Cellet's, Corpus Christi,
+Lodynton's and Allesley's, to which should probably be added Marler's,
+assigned by him to St. Michael's. The first two are doubtless the same
+foundation, for in 1329 land and tenements were granted to the priest
+of Corpus Christi Chapel for the health of the soul of William Celet
+and others.
+
+It was almost certainly situated in the south transept, on the upper
+level over the vaulted passage. The position of Lodynton's chantry
+(1393) is not known; Allesley's, founded in the reign of Edward I, was
+sung at St. Thomas's altar.
+
+Richard Marler stipulates in his will that his priest is to have the
+"stypend or wagis of nyne marks by yere so long as he shall be of good
+and prestly conversacyon and demeanor, wt' a p'vyso that yf the seyde
+prest be ffounde otherwyse, after monyc'on and reasonable warnyng to
+hym geven, he to be removed."
+
+Much of the later history of the church relates to the destruction of
+its fittings and furniture or to restorations almost as grievous. In
+1560 _2s. 6d._ was paid for taking down the carving about the high
+altar, while the Mayor bought the panelling of the altar for _33s.
+4d._, the vail for _5s._, the "thing that the sacrament was in over
+the altar _1s._," the "peyre [pair of candlesticks?] that was upon the
+altar _5d._" Perhaps he thought that all these things would be wanted
+again ere long. In 1547 a quantity of costly vestments and banners had
+been sold and we find in the accounts a number of such items as
+these: "Sold the 6 day of Jennery 5 copps of red teyssew to Mr.
+Roghers, now mayre (and 4 other persons) pryce of the sayd copps,
+_10l._ To Bawden Desseld one cope of red velvet, _5l._ Mr. Schewyll a
+grene velvet cope, _30s._"
+
+But before Mary's death we have a lengthy inventory of copes,
+vestments, albs, banners and the like, some of which may have come
+back to the church from the buyers at the sale eleven years before.
+
+The church must have looked like a builder's yard in 1643 when the
+Committee and Council of War pulled down divers houses outside
+Bishop's and Spon Gates and stacked the materials here, while the
+changes of government are indicated by the payment in 1647 of _3s.
+6d._ "to Hopes for defacing the King's Arms" and in 1660 of _6s._ to
+"Hope for the King's Arms."
+
+Five years after this the spire, which had caused much anxiety and
+expense for many years, was blown down in a gale, falling across the
+chancel and causing much destruction. All was restored and the spire
+rebuilt in three years. Reference has been made to the existence of a
+vaulted passage through the south transept. This was made necessary by
+the position of an ancient building known as Jesus Hall which adjoined
+the transept and thus blocked the way from "the Butchery" in this
+direction. The Hall had probably been long used as the residence of
+the priests attached to the church but nothing is known of its origin.
+It was destroyed in 1742. Only in 1834, when the exterior of the
+church was recased was the passage blocked and the floor of the upper
+chapel removed.
+
+The Register records the marriage of Sarah Kemble with William Siddons
+on 25th November, 1773.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE EXTERIOR OF THE CHURCH
+
+
+The church of Holy Trinity loses much, in popular estimation at least,
+by its nearness to St. Michael's. It invites comparison of the most
+obvious sort. It is not nearly so large and its spire is not so high,
+these facts alone are sufficient to account for the popular view.
+Fuller, in his "Worthies" says of the two churches, "How clearly would
+they have shined if set at competent distance! Whereas now, such their
+Vicinity, that the Archangel eclipseth the Trinity."
+
+The plan is quite unlike that of its neighbour, being cruciform, with
+a central tower, a short nave, and a chancel distinctly longer than
+the nave. On the south both nave and chancel have a single aisle, the
+transept projecting beyond it and there is a vestry at the east end.
+On the north there is a similar aisle with a Lady Chapel at the east
+corresponding to the Vestry, but a large porch and several chapels
+fill up the spaces so that the transept does not in plan project.
+
+Looking at the exterior as a whole it may be said that the more
+moderate length (194 feet), the central spire, 230 feet high, and the
+transepts unite in forming a more satisfactory composition than the
+long body and immense western steeple of St. Michael's. There however,
+the superiority ceases for the frequent "recasings" and restorations
+have left hardly a stone of the exterior that has not been renewed
+again and again, and the dates of these operations, 1786, 1826, 1843,
+sufficiently suggest the degree of knowledge and feeling likely to be
+manifested in the work.
+
+Probably most of the structure was first built of the same friable red
+sandstone as its greater neighbour. Much of the recasing has been
+executed in a rather harder gray sandstone, but the tower and spire
+are still red.
+
+The tower above the roofs, is of two stages, the upper, or bell
+chamber, and the lower or lantern opening into the church. Below this
+are small windows with the lines of the old high-pitched roof visible
+above the present transept roofs, but in the nave and chancel the
+lines of the old roofs are now within the church, the clearstory
+having since been added. Each face of the tower is divided, apart from
+the narrow angle buttresses, into six vertical divisions separated by
+thin projections of buttress form. On the south and west the stair
+turret absorbs one of the outer divisions. Each division is curved in
+plan in a curious way, which may be the perpetuation of a feature of
+the original design, but was more probably introduced or modified by
+the person who recased the tower in 1826. That there was sculpture we
+know, for in 1709 ten shillings was paid for taking the images down
+from the steeple. The smallness of the sum indicates that they were
+few in number, and if they occupied similar positions to those on the
+belfry stage of St. Michael's, and the structure was as decayed as was
+the tower of that church it is probable that the cutting away of the
+niches may have suggested the curving of the surfaces especially as
+the tower would be thereby lightened. As it is we cannot be certain of
+much else than that there were vertical divisions serving to emphasize
+the impression of height and that the openings were in the same
+positions as now.
+
+[Illustration: PLAN OF TRINITY CHURCH]
+
+The spire blown down in 1665 had been in the previous ninety years
+five times repaired and repointed. We cannot now say whether the
+original design was at all closely followed in the rebuilding, but its
+present likeness to St. Michael's suggests doubts. The lowest stage
+which takes the place of the octagon and may be an intentional
+imitation of it, has almost upright sides with two-light windows on
+the cardinal faces and panelled ones on the oblique sides, while the
+remaining stages correspond in number and partly in design with those
+of St. Michael's.
+
+In 1855 it was considered that the bells endangered the safety of the
+tower, and after recasting by Mears of London they were rehung in a
+timber campanile in the north churchyard. Even now they cannot be
+pealed.
+
+The deplorable refacings have left few features of interest on the
+outside. Were Gothic architecture still a living and not merely
+imitative and academic art, one would welcome a complete renewal of
+all outside work--not an imagined harking back to the work of the
+fifteenth century but showing the lapse of the centuries from the
+fifteenth to the twentieth as clearly as does the north porch the
+change from the thirteenth to the fifteenth.
+
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR OF HOLY TRINITY, FROM THE WEST.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE INTERIOR
+
+
+It is with a feeling of expectation followed by one of relief that we
+pass within the church, for restoration has there rarely the same
+excuse for its devastations as the action of wind and weather on the
+exterior too generously gives it, and this church is no exception to
+the general rule.
+
+The clearing away of galleries, the provision of new seating and the
+renewal of much window tracery have been the principal changes, the
+greatest loss being the destruction of the Corpus Christi Chapel. The
+nave is of moderate width and consists of only four bays, the eastern
+arches being narrower and made to abut against the tower after the
+manner of flying buttresses. The columns are clusters of four large
+filleted shafts separated by small ones while the bases are high and
+evidently meant to be seen above the benches. The caps are shallow and
+very simple, while the shafts of each pier reappear as part of the
+arch moulding.
+
+The arcade as a whole is remarkably strong and dignified, it would
+perhaps have gained by the addition of a bay in length. In the absence
+of precise records it may be assigned to the second quarter of the
+fourteenth century or a little later. Above the tower arch can still
+be seen, beneath the painting and plaster, the marks of the older
+steep roof. The nave of Stratford-on-Avon Church has points of
+resemblance to this. There too we have a fourteenth-century arcade
+(but much simpler) with a fifteenth-century panelled wall and
+clearstory above, and the panelling comes down on to the backs of the
+arches in a similar though somewhat simpler manner.
+
+Owing to the inequality of the eastern arches there is, in the
+position of the windows and roof principals a curious disregard of the
+lines of the piers and the centres of arches. There are eight equal
+bays in the roof and each corresponds to two two-light windows. It is
+interesting to compare the design of this clearstory with that of St.
+Michael's. It has more solidity to accord with the more vigorous
+arcade though the treatment of the panelling is similar. The height
+from the arch to the roof is much less in proportion, but the sills of
+the windows are kept lower and the heads are square. The form of the
+windows is perhaps determined in part by the desire for more space for
+stained glass, but it is also the logical outcome of the space
+afforded by the level lines of a wooden roof just as the use of the
+pointed window follows from the use of pointed vaulting. The treatment
+of the angles after the manner of the thirteenth century "shouldered"
+lintel in order to take off the harshness of the rectangular form and
+to give a better bearing for the lintels is noteworthy and should be
+compared with the more developed forms at St. John's Church.
+
+Above the tower arch is a painting of the Last Judgement, discovered
+in 1831. It is now so much darkened that very little can be made out.
+The following is a description of its appearance before 1860: In the
+centre is the Saviour clothed in crimson and seated on a rainbow.
+Below are the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist with the twelve
+Apostles arranged on each hand. Two angels sound the summons to
+Judgement, and on the right of our Saviour, steps lead to a portico
+over which three angels look down on the scene and others welcome a
+pope who has just passed St. Peter. On the Saviour's left are doomed
+spirits being conveyed by devils in various ways and in ludicrous
+attitudes to the place of torment, represented in the usual manner by
+the gaping mouth of a monster, vomiting flames of fire. A large
+painting of a crucifix, with a priest kneeling beside it and angels
+flying above, was discovered at the same time on the north side of the
+Chancel but was too much mutilated to be thought worthy of
+preservation.
+
+The =roofs= throughout are of low pitch, and almost all resemble one
+another in design. Those of the nave, chancel, archdeacon's chapel (on
+the west of the north porch) and transepts are divided by their
+principal timbers into large panels, which are again subdivided by
+mouldings upon the boarded ceiling. At all angles and intersections
+there are carved leaves, and stars in relief adorn each panel. All
+these roofs are painted in accordance, it is said, with existing
+indications of the original colouring. The ground is blue, the
+mouldings red and white, the stars and carving are gilt. The nave roof
+spandrels, above the tie-beams, have large painted figures of angels,
+supporting between them shields emblazoned with the instruments of
+the Passion. These are also said to be reproductions, but it appears
+likely that time had left much to the imagination of their restorer.
+
+[Illustration: NORTH SIDE OF NAVE, EASTERN BAYS.]
+
+Nevertheless, the whole effect of the roofs is harmonious, a result
+apparently obtained by the use of a blue far removed from the
+ultramarine tint too often employed.
+
+Since the removal of the ringing floor, in 1855, the lantern stage of
+the tower has been once more visible from the church. A wooden vaulted
+ceiling was at the same time inserted where a stone one had originally
+been built or intended.
+
+The =chancel= is dark owing to the small clearstory windows, the low
+outer north aisle, and the concealment of a south window by the organ.
+At the first pier east of the tower came the rood-screen, and on the
+south side (in the aisle) the door to it may be seen at a height above
+the floor. Access must have been by steep steps against the wall, or
+from the top of another screen across the aisle. The church accounts
+of the year 1560 tell us what it cost to remove:
+
+  Payd for taking down ye rode and Marie and John        _4s. 4d._
+  Payd to ye carpenter for pullyng down ye rode lofft    _4s. 8d._
+
+On the east side of the tower wall can be seen the line of the
+original roof, showing the height before the rebuilding in 1391.
+Although there is space for larger windows the aisle roof prevented
+their sills being brought lower. The west arch of the south arcade has
+been forced out of shape by the pressure of the tower piers and
+arches; certainly the piers, which are little more than 4 feet square,
+seem slender enough for the support of so lofty a steeple.
+
+Attached to this south-east tower pier is the stone pulpit, one of the
+two special glories of the church, the other being the brass eagle.
+The pulpit is either contemporary with the pier or nearly so. There is
+apparently some difference in the texture and colour of the stone, but
+as it is probable that a finer-grained stone would be chosen for work
+of this character, this need not imply a difference of date. It was,
+however, probably added at the same time as the nave clearstory. The
+authors of "English Church Furniture" assign it to 1470.[7] Before
+1833 (when restored by Rickman) it had been hidden from sight by
+wood-work and a clerk's desk at a lower level. The lower part is
+boldly corbelled out and the junction of the octagon with the pier
+shafts is well managed, but the upper open-panelled part is rather too
+definitely cut off from the lower by the battlemented cornice. Very
+few examples of this class of pulpit exist in England, and none equal
+in importance.
+
+The eagle =lectern= is a magnificent example of brass casting. It is
+generally attributed to the late fifteenth century. This eagle
+narrowly escaped being sold by the Puritans for old brass, as happened
+to that of St. Michael's. It closely resembles one belonging to St.
+Nicholas' Chapel, Lynn, save that the latter is not equal in
+refinement of detail and proportion, and the bird is less vigorous in
+pose and modelling. In 1560 there was "paid for skowring ye Egle and
+candell styckes, _10d._," and "for mending of ye Egle's tayle, _16d._"
+
+[Illustration: PULPIT.]
+
+At least nine chapels and fifteen altars are known to have existed in
+the church. The present choir vestry on the north side was the Lady
+Chapel. A simple piscina on the south side, about a foot above the
+present floor, shows that the old floor level was much lower.
+
+The =north aisle= is lofty and has a clearstory of three windows over
+the arcade. In the outer aisle was located Marler's, or the Mercers',
+Chapel, founded in 1537, and beneath it is a crypt or charnel house,
+now closed save for small ventilating openings.
+
+[Illustration: ARCHWAY BETWEEN THE NORTH PORCH AND ST. THOMAS'S
+CHAPEL.]
+
+The black oak roof of low pitch has the panels of the western bay only
+richly carved with vine leaves and grapes. Its date is, perhaps, as
+late as the foundation of the chantry. The piscina is in the north
+wall.
+
+West of the north transept is =St. Thomas's Chapel=. Dugdale says that
+Allesley's chantry was founded in the time of Edward I, at the altar
+of St. Thomas the Martyr, "in a chapel near adjoining to the church
+porch." The chapel is certainly older, for the beautiful double
+doorway from the porch is not later than mid-thirteenth century. The
+outer doorway of the porch was rebuilt in the fifteenth century. The
+inner one, with a finely moulded arch with angle shafts and the vault
+with simple diagonal ribs carried on shafts, is of the early
+thirteenth century. It is to be regretted that this fine porch is not
+better seen. Signs of the puzzling reconstructions that have occurred
+in this part are visible in the aisle wall. Two lancet windows high up
+are of the same date as the porch, and are blocked by the chamber
+since constructed above St. Thomas's Chapel, and parts of other window
+jambs are seen at different levels.
+
+The Archdeacon's Chapel or consistory court, to the west of the porch,
+is now one of the most interesting parts of the church.
+
+It is divided from the north aisle by two lofty arches with an
+octagonal column. The original dedication is not known, but in 1588 it
+was already used as an Ecclesiastical Court, and the next year a
+bishop's seat was made for use in it. In the south-west angle is a
+tall, narrow recess, once closed by a door. Lockers of this
+description were constructed for the safe keeping of the shaft of the
+processional cross, and for the staves of banners. On the east side
+the roof now cuts across the head of a window of reticulated tracery
+of the early fourteenth century. Most of the monuments have been
+brought hither from various parts of the church; only two or three are
+of general interest. A late Perpendicular canopied tomb, rudely carved
+and badly fitted together, stands against the north wall, but there is
+nothing to show whom it commemorates. On the east wall is the monument
+of Dr. Philemon Holland, with a long Latin epitaph. Fuller says of
+him: "he was the translator general in his age, so that those books
+alone of his turning into English will make a country gentleman a
+competent library for historians." Born at Chelmsford in 1551 he
+settled at Coventry in 1595, was usher and then master of St. John's
+Free School for twenty-eight years, and died in 1636 in his
+eighty-fifth year. During his usher-ship Dugdale was a pupil of the
+school.
+
+An engraved brass to John Whithead, who died in 1597, is interesting
+for the sake of the costumes of himself and his two wives. Three stone
+coffins have also been deposited here, and two sheets of lead from the
+roof recording, in fine bold lettering, the repairs executed in 1660
+and 1728. In the middle window on the north side are the only
+remaining fragments of ancient glass. As late as 1779 there were
+"portraits" of Earl Leofric and the Countess, and also, it is said, a
+smaller figure of the lady in a yellow dress on a white horse. Part of
+a small figure holding a spray of leaves and part of a galloping
+horse are pointed out as the remains of this. To the writer the figure
+appears to be clearly that of a man, and the horse and rider's leg not
+to have belonged to it.
+
+The modern stained glass is very unequal in character, and some is
+very poor indeed. The windows at the west, especially one in memory of
+Mr. Wm. Chater, a late organist, may be regarded as exceptions. There
+are still, fortunately, many which are not filled with pious
+memorials.
+
+The =font= is the original pre-Reformation one of the fifteenth
+century, which was removed by the Puritans in 1645 (though devoid of
+sculpture) and brought back after the Restoration. It stands on three
+steps, is panelled on bowl and stem, and rather brilliantly adorned
+with gold and colour.
+
+The south aisle was no doubt divided into two chapels, that on the
+west belonging to the Barkers' or Tanners' Gild. A small piscina
+against the south wall indicates the position of its altar. The wall
+below the windows is recessed so as to form a seat the whole length of
+the aisle.
+
+The =south transept=, containing the Corpus Christi and Cellet's
+chantries, has lost its original character completely. The piscina,
+high up on the south wall, shows that the floor level was some 9 feet
+above that of the church. The reason for this has been already
+explained. The organ chamber is quite modern. The best authorities
+place the chapel of the Butchers' Gild in the south aisle of the
+chancel, but do not say to whom the eastern chapel in the nave aisle
+belonged. It is known that there was a Jesus Chapel, and, in view of
+the proximity of Jesus Hall, it is believed by some that this was its
+position.
+
+The present clergy vestry is a fine room, having an excellent dark oak
+roof with heavy beams and well carved bosses at the intersections of
+the timbers. The Royal Arms over the fireplace were painted there in
+1632. Although usual, the placing of the king's arms in churches was
+not compulsory until the Restoration; few earlier now remain, and this
+placing of them in the vestry rather than the body of the church is
+suggestive of a compromise between opposing factions. A portrait of
+Walter Farquhar Hook, Vicar from 1828-37 and afterwards Dean of
+Chichester is hung here.
+
+It seems probable that this was a chapel, perhaps that of the Holy
+Trinity, to whom an altar was dedicated.
+
+The history, as traced in the church accounts, of the various organs
+used in the church gives some idea of the fluctuations of opinion as
+to the propriety of their use. In 1526 John Howe and John Climmowe,
+citizens and organ makers of London, contracted to provide, for £30,
+"a peir of Organs wt vij stopps, ov'r and besides the two Towers of
+cases, of the pitche of doble Eff, and wt xxvij pleyn keyes, xix
+musiks, xlvj cases of Tynn and xiiij cases of wood, wt two Starrs and
+the image of the Trinite on the topp of the sayed orgayns." In 1570
+the "payer of balowes" were sold, and in 1583 the pipes, "wayeng
+eleven score and thirteen pounds, went for fourpence half-farthing the
+pound." In 1632 a new one was obtained but its life was short, for in
+1641 the Puritan party caused it to be sold "for the best advantage."
+
+[Illustration: ALMS-BOX.]
+
+Once more, in 1684, another was purchased from Mr. Robert Hay wood of
+the City of Bath for £100; then, in 1732, Thomas Swarbrick of Warwick
+built one for £600, for which a gallery was erected across the nave.
+
+In 1855 this gave place to a new one by Foster and Andrews of Hull,
+costing £800; and this was rebuilt by Messrs. Hill and Son in 1900.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 7: "English Church Furniture." (Antiquary series.) J.C. Cox
+and A. Harvey.]
+
+
+[Illustration: CHURCH OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST, FROM BOND'S HOSPITAL.]
+
+
+
+
+ST. JOHN BAPTIST'S CHURCH
+
+The church of St. John Baptist has a history quite different from that
+of the other parish churches and is specially interesting as a
+building belonging to a very limited class, namely, Collegiate
+Churches owned by a Gild. Though Dugdale says that the "first and most
+antient of the Gilds here was founded in the 14th Ed. III (1340)" it
+is probable that, as in other places, religious gilds had for long
+existed here and that the royal license or Charter of this date was
+like that of Stratford-on-Avon in 1332, really a reconstitution or
+confirmation of the Gild's rights, privileges and possessions.
+
+This earliest one was known as the Merchant or St. Mary's Gild and its
+first ordinances provided that "the brethren and sisteren of the gild
+shall find as many chaplains as the means of the gild can well
+afford." Then in 1342 that of St. John Baptist and in 1343 that of St.
+Katharine was founded. The former at once founded a chantry of six
+priests to sing mass daily in the churches of St. Michael and the
+Trinity for "the souls of the King's progenitors and for the good
+estate of the King, Queen Isabella his mother, Queen Philippa his
+Consort and their children" and others, besides the members of the
+Gild. In 1344 this Gild, desiring to have a building for its exclusive
+use, received from Queen Isabella a small piece of land called
+Babbelak on which to build a chapel in honour of God and St. John, two
+priests being required to sing masses daily for the souls "of her dear
+lord Edward," John, Earl of Cornwall and others. Did she seek to
+satisfy her conscience thus for the woes she had brought upon her
+_dear lord_? The site thus given measured 117 feet from north to south
+and about 40 feet from east to west giving room for the chancel only
+of the present church, this being dedicated in 1350. But in 1357
+William Walsheman, valet to the Queen and now her sub-bailiff in
+Coventry gave further land, added a new aisle and increased the number
+of priests while the Black Prince in 1359 gave a small plot on which,
+perhaps, the tower and transept now stand. Within the next ten years
+Walsheman and Christiana his wife gave to the Gild certain tenements,
+called the "Drapery," in the city to build a chapel in honour of the
+Holy Trinity, St. Mary, St. John, and St. Katharine "within the Chapel
+of Bablake." William Wolfe, mayor in 1375, is mentioned as a "great
+helper" in the work at the church, the original nave and aisles being
+probably built at this time, and some reconstruction of the choir.
+Records are wanting of the subsequent alterations which gave it its
+present form. The north clearstory of the nave shows the original
+design while that of the choir and the south side of the nave belong
+to the fifteenth century as do the tower and the cruciform arrangement
+of the building. Leland's "Itinerary" gives the following description:
+"There is also a Collegiate Church at Bablake, hard within the West
+Gate (Spon Gate) alias Bablake Gate, dedicated to St. John.... It is
+of the foundation of the Burgesses and there is a great Privilege,
+Gild or Fraternity. In this College is now a Master and eight
+ministers and lately twelve ministers." Stowe adds that there were
+twelve singing men and extant deeds mention "Babbelake Hall" in which
+the warden and priests lived.
+
+Many interesting entries of expenditure are to be found in the gild
+accounts showing how the Eve of St. John (Midsummer Eve) and other
+festivals were celebrated before the suppression of the gilds by
+Edward VI. In 1541 we have the following (the spelling is somewhat
+modernized):
+
+   Expenses on Midsummer Even and on the day,--Item, 2 doz. & a half
+   cakes, _2s. 6d._; spice cakes, _12d._; a cest' ale and 4 gals.
+   _4s._; 2 gals, claret wine _16d._; 2 gals. malmsey, _2s. 8d._; 2
+   gals. muskedell _2s. 8d._; to Mr. Mayor _3s. 4d._; the Mayor to
+   offer, _8d._; to priests, clerks and children, _2s. 4d._; the
+   waits, _6s. 8d._; to poor people _6s. 8d._; to the cross-bearers
+   and torch-bearers, _8d._; the bellman, _4d._; the hire of pots,
+   _4d._; boughs, rushes and sweeping, _8d._; a woman 2 days to
+   cleanse the house, _4d._; half a hundred _3d._ nails, _1½d._;
+   half a pound of sugar, _4½d._; to the crossbearer and torchbearer
+   for St. George Day, Holy Rood Day, Shire Thursday and Whit
+   Sunday, _12d._; to 2 children for the same days, _6d._ Summa
+   (total) _38s. 2d._
+
+That these anniversaries and wakes led to much unseemly revelling we
+have evidence that cannot be gainsaid. The Trinity Gild decided in
+1542
+
+   that no obite, drynkyng or com'en assemblie, from henceforth
+   shall be had or used at Babalake, except onelie on Trinitie even
+   and on the day, which shall be used as it hath been in tymes
+   past. And that also the P'sts of Babelack shall say _dirige_ on
+   midsum' even and likewise masse of _requiem_ on the morrowe, as
+   they have used to doo. And that the Meire shall not come down
+   thether to _dirige_ ov(er) night for dyv's considerac'ons and
+   other great busynes they used. And on the morowe thei to go
+   thether to masse and brekefast, as thei have used to doo.
+
+Dugdale quotes from an old MS. an interesting passage bearing on this
+question:
+
+   "And ye shall understond and know how the Evyns were furst found
+   in old tyme. In the beginning of holi Chirche, it was so that the
+   pepull cam to the Chirche with candellys brennyng and wold _Wake_
+   and come with light toward nyght to the Chirch to their
+   devocions; and afterwards they fell to lecherie and songs,
+   daunces, harping, piping and also to glotony and sinne and so
+   turned the holinesse to cursaydnesse; wherefore holi faders
+   ordeined the pepull to leve that _waking_ and to fast the Evyn.
+   But it is called _Vigilia_, that is _Waking_ in English and it is
+   called the Evyn, for at Evyn they were wont to come to Chirche."
+
+In 1362 Queen Isabella helped to procure from the bishop a licence for
+one Robert de Worthin, priest, to become an anchorite and to inhabit a
+hermitage attached to the north aisle of the chancel. Traces of the
+foundations of this have been found on the site of the modern vestry.
+
+When the college was suppressed in 1548 the King granted to the mayor,
+bailiffs and corporation, on their petition, the church and its
+appurtenances in Free Burgage for ever on payment of _1d._, per annum
+and gave them "all the rents, revenues and profits of the said
+church."
+
+But these gifts were not sufficient to support the church and its
+services, so that the latter were irregular and repairs were
+neglected. In 1608 Mayor Hancox procured the delivery of a Saturday
+lecture "for the better fitting of the people for the Sabbath." In
+1641 Simon Norton, alderman, left property to his son Thomas, on
+trust, the condition being that if at any time St. John's should
+become a parish church, he or his heirs should pay _£13 6s. 8d._ to
+the minister out of rents of lands in Coundon, and also the tithes of
+lands in Clifton.
+
+Prisoners from the Scottish army being quartered on the city in 1647,
+many were confined in this church and wrought much damage and
+desecration. From this time services were only occasionally held,
+until 1734, when an Act of Parliament was obtained making it a Parish
+Church, appointing a district to it and enabling the Master and Usher
+of the Free Grammar School to be Rector and Lecturer of the church.
+The mayor, bailiffs, and commonalty were made patrons, but in 1835,
+these arrangements having failed to work satisfactorily, the patronage
+was transferred to trustees who acted as managers of the school and in
+1864 the lectureship was abolished, the rectory was severed from the
+office of Head Master and the Trustees of the school were charged with
+a payment of £200 per annum towards the stipend of the Rector. In 1874
+the advowson was sold to a private person. A great deal of
+restoration, justifiable and otherwise, has taken place, the decay of
+the local sandstone having made large repairs necessary. In 1861 much
+renewal of the external stone work was carried out. Unfortunately
+shortsighted ideas of economy led to the use of the same poor stone
+and much has recently had to be done over again, this time with the
+harder Runcorn stone used also at St. Michael's. The interior was
+restored in 1875, galleries erected in 1735 and 1838, and high pews
+were removed, the floor, which had been raised three feet, lowered,
+the lantern stage of the tower opened up by removing a ringing floor
+and a light iron gallery above the tower arches provided for the
+ringers. The original groined ceiling has thus been made visible from
+below.
+
+
+THE EXTERIOR
+
+Although small in area compared with the other churches, both exterior
+and interior give an impression of size and dignity which does not
+belong to many much larger buildings. In the exterior this is no doubt
+due to the pseudo-cruciform arrangement, the bold central tower and
+the height of the main roof, which would have appeared even greater
+had the roadways not been so much raised.
+
+The =tower= is in two stages, a lofty lantern story having two
+transomed two-light windows on each face and a shorter upper one
+having smaller windows without transoms and a battlemented parapet.
+Large skeleton clock-dials disfigure the windows of this story. Narrow
+buttress strips on either side and between the windows run through and
+serve to connect the stories. The north-east angle has an octagonal
+stair turret carried up above the parapet. The other angles have
+narrow buttresses running up to circular bartizans boldly corbelled
+out from the battlements. This is an extremely unusual feature in
+ecclesiastical architecture but is common on fortified structures. Of
+the City gates, Gosford Gate had machicolated ones but not Spon Gate
+adjacent to the church.
+
+[Illustration: ST. JOHN BAPTIST.]
+
+The spacing of the windows and buttresses of the south aisle and the
+position of the large transept window show how the later changes were
+effected. The three windows and the buttresses with niches and
+canopies almost certainly belong to the part built by Walsheman after
+1357. The two in the chancel aisle are recent insertions. The doorway
+at the south-west corner occupies the position where indications
+showed that an original door had existed. There is also a small
+priest's doorway of which the jambs are ancient. The clearstory was
+restored in 1861 "from sufficiently clear indications" in the remains
+of the original windows. The whole of this part is worthy of careful
+study and should be compared with the corresponding parts of Trinity
+Church. Everywhere we see signs of individual thought and design
+mainly directed to softening the rigidity of the horizontal lines of
+the square-headed and transomed "Perpendicular" windows. The method of
+cusping the drop-arch and the varied treatment of these in nave,
+choir and transepts are noteworthy while the little quatrefoil at the
+intersection of mullion and transom is a really happy innovation. The
+flying buttress over the south aisle restores a feature of the old
+building which had disappeared. Of the variously panelled and
+battlemented parapets, of nave, chancel and aisles a view of 1864
+gives no visible hint. As the report of Sir (then Mr.) G.G. Scott in
+1856 specifies as desirable the "renewing all the parapets according
+to the portions of the original which remain," we can only hope (but
+with no sense of certainty) that these parts are faithfully
+reproduced.
+
+The limited site on which the chancel was built (only 40 feet deep)
+caused the builders to omit any buttresses or other projections at the
+east end. The east window was renewed in 1861 but the proportions are
+not good and it is said that one light was suppressed although the old
+sill remained intact.
+
+The west end has a large six-light window with two transoms. It was
+restored in 1841 and is said to be a precise reproduction of the
+original design. On the gable above it is a large niched pinnacle
+which appears to be an "unauthorized" addition.
+
+While the north aisle is later than the south, the clearstory, as has
+been said is earlier, being of late Decorated date with large
+three-light windows of reticulated tracery. The north transept is more
+consistent in style than the south. The large four-light window is
+peculiar in design. It has one transom and the tracery is brought down
+much below the spring of the arch. The centre mullion is very solid,
+coming forward almost to the wall face both inside and out and running
+up to the apex of the arch. The clearstory windows in both transepts
+are similar in general design to those of the south clearstory of the
+nave but with variations suggesting a rather later date. A very
+effective view of the north side can be had from the quadrangle of
+Bond's Hospital, though here too it loses on account of the depressed
+site in which it lies.
+
+
+THE INTERIOR
+
+The interior is not less impressive for its size than the exterior,
+Sir G.G. Scott even saying that he knew of no interior more beautiful
+than St. John's.
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR, ST. JOHN BAPTIST.]
+
+[Illustration: CLEARSTORY WINDOWS.]
+
+All at least will agree that there is something about it striking and
+dignified which is obviously not concerned with mere size, is largely
+independent of elaboration of detail and may therefore be safely
+attributed to its satisfactory proportions and broad effects of light
+and shade. Its plan is quite simple consisting of a nave and choir
+with north and south aisles, a transept not projecting beyond the
+aisles at either end and a central tower. Yet, although it is more or
+less oblong as a whole, there is hardly a right angle or two parallel
+walls throughout the church. In most cases these discrepancies are not
+apparent, nor do they appear likely to have been intended to produce a
+studied effect. Thus a diminution in width towards the east (as at
+Manchester) may be expected to add to the apparent length, but here
+the south aisles of both nave and chancel expand instead of
+contracting. By standing within either transept and looking up at the
+roof the want of parallelism of the walls and other irregularities are
+plainly seen. The nave has only three bays, the arches being rather
+lofty and the arch mouldings of the characteristic shallowness of the
+period. The south-west pier had to be rebuilt on account of settlement
+and there are signs of it in the south-east arch next the tower. The
+name Bablake is said to have been derived from a pond or conduit near
+by and the site may have been swampy, thus affecting the foundations.
+The district is even now liable to flooding from the Sherborne (or
+Shireburn) stream and as late as January 1900 the waters rose over
+five feet within the church as a brass plate at the west end
+testifies.
+
+The graceful treatment of the windows of the nave and choir
+clearstories is shown in the illustration. Comparing these with the
+clearstory of Trinity nave (p. 71) questions of priority arise. If not
+designed by the same mind the influence of one on the other is easily
+seen. On the whole the greater rigidity of treatment and the anxiety
+to increase the area of glass in the Trinity windows suggest that the
+date is rather later and that the designs did not spring from the same
+brain. The roof is very simple, the curved brackets springing from the
+shafts which run down to the arches below. The wall is deeply recessed
+beneath the windows. The north windows, however, are continued down in
+plain panels, but this only makes more apparent the fact that they are
+not placed centrally over the arches.
+
+The north aisle has a doorway and two north windows. The windows are
+of good Perpendicular design, and the mullions are continued down the
+wall below, forming panels. The lowered sill and recess probably
+formed a convenient retable to an altar against the wall. The west
+window preserves some fragments of glass dated 1532. There is an
+obliterated inscription and small etched figures--among them an
+acolyte carrying a cross, one of those whose services are mentioned in
+the accounts after this wise: "to the crosebeirer and torchebeirer,
+for Seynt George day, hollieroode day, shire thuresday and Whit
+Sunday, _12d._; to 2 childern for the same dayes _6d._"
+
+The south aisle of the nave, including the lower part of the transept,
+is doubtless the aisle erected for the Gild by William Walsheman in
+1357. The two windows are not central with the nave arches, and the
+third is not in the centre of the transept. Their tracery is somewhat
+peculiar in design and refined in detail, and has the transitional
+character one would expect from its date. There are signs on the face
+of each western tower pier of the altars which once stood there,
+probably those of the Trinity and St. Katharine, which are known to
+have existed.
+
+The eastern piers of the tower are later than the western, and very
+unlike them in plan. A bold and ingenious treatment of the vaulting
+shaft of the tower groining is used on these piers; on the western
+ones the shafts stop upon the ends of the hood moulding.
+
+The choir is now closed by a screen carrying a large rood carved in
+oak. Like St. Michael's, but to a smaller extent, the axis of the
+choir inclines to the north. Whether symbolic, or only a part of what
+may be described as the studied irregularity of the whole building it
+is hard to say. The column on each side of the choir is later than the
+east respond and also later than the west tower pier, but corresponds
+with the east tower pier. The deep panelling beneath the windows must
+have been carried out when the clearstories were constructed in the
+fifteenth century.
+
+The south aisle of the choir, the original chapel of the patron saint,
+is now fitted up and used as a morning chapel. The piscina still
+remains in the south wall, and there is a trace of the old altar
+visible on the wall.
+
+The east end of the north aisle is now the organ chamber, and was
+originally the Lady Chapel. The base of the altar still exists, and so
+does the piscina in the south wall.
+
+In connection with these or other altars we hear of a payment of
+_22d._, in 1474, for painting a cloth for the image of St. John
+Baptist, and in 1462 sums of _40s._ and _7s._ were paid to a sculptor
+of Burton-on-Trent for an alabaster statue of the Virgin and a base
+for it.
+
+At the foot of the south-west tower-pier are some decayed but
+interesting ancient tiles. The new ones have been copied from them.
+
+The vicissitudes in the church's fortunes have left little for us to
+see that is not part and parcel of the structure.
+
+That there were "orgaynes" as early as 1461 we know from entries in
+the city records giving the cost at different times of wire, glue,
+nails, thread, etc., for the reparation of them, while a payment of
+_2d._ for "a string" suggests that they were a combination of wind and
+string stops, similar to the 1733 organ of St. Michael's as built by
+Thomas Swarbrick. In 1519 the Prior bought the "metell of ye old
+orgayns in bablake" for _9s. 10d._, but doubtless the new one
+disappeared in the troublous times that followed. A new one has
+recently been set up.
+
+The pulpit is of stone and quite new, and the font, erected in 1843,
+is a copy of that of St. Edward's, Cambridge.
+
+There are five bells, the inscriptions on them being as follows:
+
+  1st. Henrycus Bagley. M.C. Fecit 1676.
+  2nd. Pack & Chapman. London 1778. Richard Eaton, Church-warden.
+  3rd. Henric Dodenhale, Fecit. M.C.E.I.C.R.I.
+  4th. (Illegible.) Probably of the end of fifteenth century.
+  5th. I ring at six to let men know
+       When to and from their work to go.
+
+Neglect and decay it has been seen had provided only too plausible
+excuses for restoration. In 1858 the church had a narrow escape from a
+worse fate, for it was proposed to extend it in some direction, and
+the architect suggested the lengthening of the north transept and the
+addition of a new north aisle. Probably lack of funds alone prevented
+the carrying out of a proposal which would have completely spoilt the
+proportions of this beautiful interior.
+
+
+
+
+THE GREY FRIARS' CONVENT
+
+CHRIST CHURCH
+
+
+The third of the "three tall spires," albeit nothing else remains of
+the church to which it belonged, deserves that some notice should be
+given of it and of the men who reared it.
+
+In 1234, eleven years after their first coming into England, the
+Franciscan Friars are heard of at Coventry, Ranulph, Earl of Chester,
+having granted them land for their oratory, and the Sheriff of
+Warwickshire, on behalf of the King, giving them shingles from the
+woods of Kenilworth wherewith to cover it. In 1359 the Black Prince,
+then owner of the Manor and Park of Cheylesmore, just outside the
+walls of the city and adjacent to their convent, granted them so much
+stone from his quarry there, "as they should have occasion to use
+about their buildings and walls," and probably at this time the
+church, of which Christ Church spire is a remnant, was built.
+
+At the same time he gave them "liberty to have a postern into the
+Park to carry out any of their convent that should be diseased."
+
+The house was surrendered to the King in 1539, the warden and ten
+brethren being compelled to sign a humiliating document, in which they
+professed to "profoundly consider that the perfection of Christian
+living doth not consist in dumb ceremonies, wearing of a grey coat,
+disguising ourself after strange fashions, ducking, nodding and
+becking, in girding our selves with a girdle full of knots and other
+like Papisticall ceremonies."
+
+[Illustration: THE SPIRE OF CHRIST CHURCH.]
+
+It is certain at least that they had no accumulated wealth. Whatever
+they had received had been distributed for the advantage of the Church
+or the poor. At their suppression they had neither lands, tenements,
+nor other possessions, save their church and house and the land these
+stood on. The site was granted to the city and the buildings thrown
+down, only the spire with its supporting walls and arches being
+allowed to stand until 1829, when it was incorporated with the new
+nave of Christ Church from the designs of Rickman, to whom we are
+indebted for the first comprehensive and systematic account of English
+Mediæval architecture. The work shows how imperfectly in those days
+even a genuine admirer of Mediæval Art understood its spirit.
+Unfortunately the tower and spire were recased with new stone, and the
+original character of the work largely disappeared. The total height
+is 204 feet, exclusive of the vane. The plan of the old church was
+interesting, especially in the arrangement of the crossing. The short
+transepts had little real relation to choir or nave, which were almost
+completely separated from one another, the nave being intended for the
+use of the public.
+
+The narrowing of the tower from east to west, and the insertion of
+secondary north and south arches to carry the slender octagonal tower
+is unusual and ingenious. The whole length was 250 feet, and the
+transepts were 96 feet from north to south. The nave and choir
+differed little in length.
+
+[Illustration: GREY FRIARS' CHURCH (CROSSING).]
+
+The connection of the Franciscans with the production of the
+Mysteries, or sacred plays, should not pass unnoticed. Dugdale, who
+had spoken with eye witnesses, thus alludes to the subject:
+
+   Before the suppression of the Monasteries this City was very
+   famous for the Pageants that were played therein upon Corpus
+   Christi-day; which occasioning very great confluence of people
+   thither from far and near, was of no small benefit thereto; which
+   Pageants being acted with mighty State and Reverence by the
+   Friars of this House, had Theatres for the several scenes, very
+   large and high, placed upon wheels and drawn to all the eminent
+   parts of the City for the better advantage of spectators; and
+   contained the story of the Old and New Testament, composed in the
+   old English Rithme, as appeareth by an ancient MS. intituled,
+   _Ludus Corporis Christi_, or _Ludus Coventriæ_.
+
+Along with a number that were performed by the city companies they are
+still to be seen in the British Museum. We know that the Friars
+presented them as late as 1492, when Henry VII was present with his
+Queen to see the plays "acted by the Grey Friars."
+
+No remains exist of the domestic buildings of the Friary. The
+well-known Ford's Hospital hard by is often called Grey Friars'
+Hospital, but this arises merely from the situation. It was founded in
+1529 by Mr. William Ford of Coventry, Merchant of the Staple, for five
+men and one woman, but is now inhabited by women only. It is an
+exceptionally beautiful example of Tudor timber construction in
+perfect condition.
+
+
+
+
+THE WHITE FRIARS
+
+
+The Carmelite or White Friars were, says Dugdale, fixed in Coventry in
+1343 by Sir John Poultney who had been four times Lord Mayor of
+London. Although their buildings were ornate and extensive, their
+revenue apart from oblations amounted to only _£3 6s. 8d._ per annum
+and the whole came to less than £8. At the Dissolution the house and
+its revenues came eventually to John Hales, Clerk of the Hanaper to
+Henry VIII. Having amassed a great estate in monastery and chantry
+lands, Hales founded the Free School in Coventry, the Church of the
+White Friars being at first used for the purpose. Later, he made of
+the Friary a dwelling and removed the school to St. John's Hospital,
+granted to him by the king in 1545. Part of the church of the Hospital
+still exists at the foot of Bishop Street, but the school has been
+removed to new buildings in the Warwick Road.
+
+Of the buildings of the White Friars there are considerable remains
+incorporated with the Union Workhouse at the top of Much Park Street.
+The east walk of the cloister, 150 feet in length, has a fine groined
+roof of the fifteenth century. A range of vaulted apartments runs
+alongside the cloister on the east side, divided midway by the
+vestibule to the Chapter House now destroyed. The upper story above
+the cloister and the range of rooms was, we may assume, the friars'
+Dormitory. A huge fireplace and a bay window are part of John Hales'
+reconstruction. The gateway to the south-west corner of the cloister
+remains, and the outer gate of the precincts may still be seen in Much
+Park Street.
+
+
+[Illustration: ST. MARY HALL.]
+
+
+
+
+ST. MARY HALL
+
+
+The Gilds were so important a part of the religious and social life of
+the city that it is imperative that some notice of their hall, which
+stands in suggestive proximity to the churches, should be given. St.
+Mary Hall, opposite the south side of St. Michael's is one of the most
+complete and beautiful examples of a fifteenth-century town dwelling
+now remaining in England. It originally belonged to the Gilds of Holy
+Trinity and Our Lady to which were united at a later time those of St.
+Katharine and St. John Baptist, the oldest to be founded. By the fine
+groined gateway we enter the courtyard, on the south side of which is
+the kitchen, probably the hall of an older structure of the first half
+of the fourteenth century, the present hall and its undercroft on the
+west side having been built between 1394 and 1414. On the east side is
+the entrance to the staircase leading to a gallery from which the hall
+is entered. At this end is the Minstrels' Gallery and beneath it are
+three doorways, the centre one leading to the kitchens below, that on
+the right to the old Council Chamber, that on the left to a smaller
+room known as the Princes' Chamber. From the Council Chamber is
+reached the stone-groined Treasury, now used for the safe keeping of
+muniments and records. It forms the first floor of a low tower.
+
+The hall, 70 feet by 30 feet, is of five bays, with the usual dais and
+oriel window at the far end from the entrance.
+
+[Illustration: ST. MARY HALL.]
+
+The nine-light window over the dais has its original glass, made, it
+is believed, by the John Thornton of Coventry who is known as the
+maker of the east window of York Minster. The upper part has numerous
+coats of arms of kings, cities, and princes, while the nine lights are
+filled with "portraitures of several kings in their surcotes," William
+I, Richard I, Henry III, IV, V, VI, King Arthur, the Emperor
+Constantine, and another unnamed. The windows on either side of the
+hall have suffered grievously. Those on the west (left) were deprived
+of their heraldry and portraits in 1785. In those on the east new
+glass with poor imitations of the ancient series of figures and
+coats-of-arms was placed in 1824. At the same time the wainscotting
+painted in 1580 with inscriptions and heraldry was cleared away and
+replaced with cement. The inscriptions were copied with care, but "the
+ornamentation was followed without any very fastidious copying of the
+uncouth ancient style"![8] The timber roof is of low pitch, with
+traceried spandrels above the tie-beams. Angels playing on a variety
+of instruments are placed at the centre of each tie-beam and there is
+much good carving of foliage and animals at the intersections of the
+timbers. The most famous adornment of the hall is the tapestry behind
+the dais. The following views as to its origin and subject are those
+of George Scharf the antiquary. It is of Flemish design but probably
+of English manufacture, is woven, not embroidered, and was made in the
+early sixteenth century for the place it occupies, its compartments
+corresponding with those of the window. It is in six compartments in
+two rows. The upper central has a figure of Justice, an insertion
+probably in the place of Christ, angels with the instruments of the
+Passion being on either side. The lower central represents the
+Assumption of the Virgin in presence of the apostles. The upper left
+in order from the centre has eleven saints, SS. John Baptist, Matthias
+(?), Paul, Adrian, Peter, George, Andrew, No. 8(?), Bartholomew,
+Simon, Thaddeus. The corresponding female saints on the right are SS.
+Katherine, Barbara, Dorothy, Mary Magdalen, No. 5 (?), Margaret,
+Agnes, Gertrude of Nivelle, Anne, Apollonia.
+
+The lower left has a king kneeling at a prie-dieu on which is his
+crown and an open book. A cardinal kneels behind him but there is no
+other ecclesiastic among the seventeen courtiers standing behind. In
+the opposite compartment is a queen kneeling with a number of ladies,
+among whom are two in monastic dress. Although the work belongs to the
+reign of Henry VII, the king and queen are almost certainly Henry VI
+and Margaret of Anjou.
+
+On the walls are portraits of later sovereigns from William III to
+George IV, that of George III being by Lawrence. The Mayoress' Parlour
+opening from the dais has been drastically restored. It contains
+portraits of Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, James I, and Charles I, and
+four benefactors to the city, John Hales, founder of the Free School,
+Sir Thomas White, Thomas Jesson and Christopher Davenport.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 8: "Coventry: its History and Antiquities," B. Poole, 1870.]
+
+
+
+
+THE CARTHUSIAN MONASTERY
+
+
+Little remains of this monastery which stood on the south side and not
+far from the city. The Order settled in Coventry in 1381 only ten
+years after the foundation of the London Charter-house. At the
+Dissolution the Prior and brethren, ten in all, did not emulate the
+heroism of the London monks and were fortunate enough to obtain
+pensions instead of martyrdom. Some trifling remains exist
+incorporated in a modern mansion, and a wall of the garden shows the
+position of doors which led to the isolated cells of the monks. The
+Botoners had given freely to the building of the church and cloisters
+of which Richard II laid the first stone in 1385 and afterwards
+largely endowed "on condition that they should find and maintain
+within the precinct of their house, twelve poor scholars from seven
+years old till they accomplished the age of seventeen years, there to
+pray for the good estate of him the said King and of his Consort,
+during this life, and for the health of their souls after death."
+
+
+
+
+INDEX
+
+
+Abbots of Coventry, 4.
+
+Alms-boxes, 56, 77.
+
+Apse, 36.
+
+
+Bells, 56, 91.
+
+Benefactors of Coventry, 99.
+
+Botoner, William and Adam, 22.
+
+
+Carthusian Monastery, 99.
+
+Chantries, Foundation of, 9.
+
+Christ Church, 91.
+
+City, History of, 1-15.
+
+Cross, 15.
+
+
+Dissolution of Monasteries, 13.
+
+Duel, Hereford and Norfolk, 11.
+
+
+Evens or Wakes, 83.
+
+
+Fonts, 51, 76.
+
+Ford's Hospital, 94.
+
+Friars, Coming of, 8.
+
+
+Grey Friars Convent (Christ Church):
+  History, 94.
+  Plan of Crossing, 93.
+  Suppression, 92.
+
+Gilds, 6, 10.
+
+Glass, Ancient, 56, 75, 89.
+
+Godiva and Leofric, 4, 75.
+
+
+Hales, John, 14, 94.
+
+Hermitage. 83.
+
+Hospital, Ford's, 94.
+
+Hospital, St. John's, 94.
+
+
+Lollards, 11.
+
+
+Martyrs, 14.
+
+Midsummer Eve, 82.
+
+Misereres, 48.
+
+Monastery, History, 1-15.
+
+Monastery Ruins, 16-18.
+
+
+Orders of Angels, 47.
+
+Organ, 55, 77, 90.
+
+
+Pageants and Plays, 13, 14, 93.
+
+Parliamentum Indoctorum, 11.
+
+Parliamentum Diabolicum, 12.
+
+Persecution, 14.
+
+Pilgrims' Rest or Guest House, 15.
+
+Priory, Ruins, 16-18.
+
+
+Royal visits:
+  Henry VI, 11, 12.
+  Margaret, 23.
+  Edward IV, 12.
+  Richard III, 13.
+  Henry VII, 13.
+  Henry VIII, 13.
+  Elizabeth, 14.
+  Mary Queen of Scots, 14.
+  Charles I, 14.
+
+
+St. John Baptist Church:
+  History, 81.
+  Exterior, 84.
+  Interior, 86.
+  Bells, 91.
+  Clearstory windows, 85.
+  Collegiate foundation, 81.
+  Glass, ancient, 89.
+  Organ, 90.
+
+St. Mary Hall:
+  Glass, ancient, 97.
+  Plan, 98.
+  Portraits, 99.
+  Tapestry, 98.
+
+St. Michael's Church:
+  History, 21-26.
+  Exterior, 29.
+  Interior, 41.
+  Apse, 36.
+  Bells, 56.
+  Brasses, 51, 55.
+  Chapels:
+    Cappers', 53.
+    Drapers' or Lady, 36, 47.
+    Dyers', 52.
+    Mercers, 54.
+  Chapter, Constitution of, 25.
+  Chest, 50.
+  Crypt, 36.
+  Font, 51.
+  Glass, ancient, 56.
+  Old church, position of, 42.
+  Organ, 55.
+  Porch, south, 34.
+  Proportions of Steeple, 30.
+  Pulpit, 56.
+  Spire, 32.
+  Tombs:
+    Berkeley, 49.
+    Bond, 49.
+    Nethermyl, 50.
+    Skeffington, 55.
+    Swillington, 54.
+    Wade's, 55.
+
+
+Trinity Church:
+  History, 61.
+  Exterior, 65.
+  Interior, 69.
+  Chapels:
+    Archdeacon's, 75.
+    Butchers', 76.
+    Corpus Christi, 76.
+    Marler's, 73.
+    St. Thomas's, 74.
+  Clearstory, 69.
+  Font, 76.
+  Glass, ancient, 75.
+  Lectern, Eagle, 73.
+  Organ, 77.
+  Plan, 66.
+  Pulpit, 72.
+  Spire, 66.
+  Tombs:
+    Philemon Holland, 75.
+    Whithead (Brass), 75.
+
+
+White Friars' Convent, 94.
+
+
+[Illustration: ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH]
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
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+    M.A., F.R.A.S.
+
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+
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+
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+
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+
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+
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+
+  ST. MARTIN'S CHURCH, CANTERBURY. By Rev. CANON ROUTLEDGE, M.A.,
+    F.S.A. 24 Illustrations.
+
+  THE CHURCHES OF COVENTRY. By FREDERIC W. WOODHOUSE.
+
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+
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+
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+
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+Opinions of the Press.
+
+"For the purpose at which they aim they are admirably done, and there
+are few visitants to any of our noble shrines who will not enjoy their
+visit the better for being furnished with one of these delightful
+books, which can be slipped into the pocket and carried with ease, and
+is yet distinct and legible.... A volume such as that on Canterbury is
+exactly what we want, and on our next visit we hope to have it with
+us. It is thoroughly helpful, and the views of the fair city and its
+noble cathedral are beautiful. Both volumes, moreover, will serve more
+than a temporary purpose, and are trustworthy as well as
+delightful."--_Notes and Queries_.
+
+"We have so frequently in these columns urged the want of cheap,
+well-illustrated, and well-written handbooks to our cathedrals, to
+take the place of the out-of-date publications of local booksellers,
+that we are glad to hear that they have been taken in hand by Messrs.
+George Bell & Sons."--_James's Gazette_.
+
+"The volumes are handy in size, moderate in price, well illustrated,
+and written in a scholarly spirit. The history of cathedral and city
+is intelligently set forth and accompanied by a descriptive survey of
+the building in all its detail. The illustrations are copious and well
+selected, and the series bids fair to become an indispensable
+companion to the cathedral tourist in England."--_Times_.
+
+"They are nicely produced in good type, on good paper, and contain
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+imagine architects and students of architecture will be sure to buy
+the series as they appear, for they contain in brief much valuable
+information."--_British Architect_.
+
+"Each of them contains exactly that amount of information which the
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+disposition of the various parts is judiciously proportioned, and the
+style is very read-able. The illustrations supply a further important
+feature; they are both numerous and good. A series which cannot fail
+to be welcomed by all who are interested in the ecclesiastical
+buildings of England."--_Glasgow Herald_.
+
+"Those who, either for purposes of professional study or for a
+cultured recreation, find it expedient to 'do' the English cathedrals
+will welcome the beginning of Bell's 'Cathedral Series.' This set of
+books is an attempt to consult, more closely, and in greater detail
+than the usual guide-books do, the needs of visitors to the cathedral
+towns. The series cannot but prove markedly successful. In each book a
+business-like description is given of the fabric of the church to
+which the volume relates, and an interesting history of the relative
+diocese. The books are plentifully illustrated, and are thus made
+attractive as well as instructive. They cannot but prove welcome to
+all classes of readers interested either in English Church history or
+in ecclesiastical architecture."--_Scotsman_.
+
+"They have nothing in common with the almost invariably wretched local
+guides save portability, and their only competitors in the quality and
+quantity of their contents are very expensive and mostly rare works,
+each of a size that suggests a packing-case rather than a coat-pocket.
+The 'Cathedral Series' are important compilations concerning history,
+architecture, and biography, and quite popular enough for such as take
+any sincere interest in their subjects."--_Sketch_.
+
+
+LONDON: GEORGE BELL AND SONS YORK HOUSE, PORTUGAL STREET, W.C.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bell's Cathedrals: The Churches of
+Coventry, by Frederic W.  Woodhouse
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11403 ***
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+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of Bell's Cathedrals: The Churches of Coventry, by Frederic W. Woodhouse.
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+<body>
+<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11403 ***</div>
+
+<br />
+<hr />
+<br />
+
+<div class="tr">
+<p class="cen" style="font-weight: bold;">Transcriber's Note:</p>
+<br />
+<p class="noin">Inconsistent hyphenation in the original document has been preserved.</p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<hr />
+<br />
+
+<div class="img"><a name="frontis" id="frontis"></a>
+<a href="images/frontis.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/frontis.jpg" width="85%" alt="COVENTRY, THE THREE SPIRES." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">COVENTRY, THE THREE SPIRES.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<hr />
+<br />
+
+<h1>THE CHURCHES OF<br />
+<big>COVENTRY</big></h1>
+
+<h3>A SHORT HISTORY OF THE<br />
+CITY &amp; ITS MEDIEVAL<br />
+REMAINS</h3>
+
+<h4 style="margin-bottom: -1px;">BY</h4>
+<h3 style="margin-top: -1px;">FREDERIC W. WOODHOUSE</h3>
+
+<h5>WITH XL ILLUSTRATIONS</h5>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="arms" id="arms"></a>
+<a href="images/arms.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/arms.jpg" width="12%" alt="ARMS OF COVENTRY." /></a><br />
+<h5 style="margin-top: .2em;">ARMS OF COVENTRY</h5>
+</div>
+
+<h5>LONDON GEORGE BELL &amp; SONS 1909</h5>
+
+<br />
+<hr />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<h5>CHISWICK PRESS: CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND CO.<br />
+TOOK COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON.</h5>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">vii</a></span><br />
+
+<h3>PREFACE</h3>
+<br />
+
+<p>The principal authorities for the history of Coventry and its churches
+have been Dugdale's "Antiquities of Warwickshire" and the "Illustrated
+Papers and the History and Antiquities of the City of Coventry," by
+Thomas Sharp, edited by W.G. Fretton (1871). Besides these the many
+papers by Mr. Fretton in the Transactions of the Birmingham and
+Midland Institute and other Societies, and the "History and
+Antiquities of Coventry" by Benjamin Poole (1870) have been the main
+sources of historical information. The Author is, however, responsible
+for the architectural opinions and descriptions, which are mainly the
+outcome of a lifelong acquaintance with the city and its buildings,
+fortified by several weeks of study and investigation recently
+undertaken.</p>
+
+<p>He desires to acknowledge his deep obligations to the Vicars of the
+several churches for leave to examine, measure and photograph the
+buildings in their charge; to Mr. J. Oldrid Scott for the loan of
+drawings of St. Michael's; to Mr. A. Brown, Librarian of the Coventry
+Public Library for advice and help in making use of the store of
+topographical material under his care; to Mr. Owen, Verger of St.
+Michael's and Mr. Chapman, Verger of Holy Trinity, for help in various
+directions, and to Mr. Wilfred Sims for his energy and care in taking
+most of the photographs required for illustration.</p>
+
+<p>The other illustrations are reproduced from drawings made by the
+author.</p>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">viii</a></span><br />
+<a name="toc" id="toc"></a><hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">ix</a></span><br />
+
+<h3>CONTENTS</h3>
+<br />
+
+<div class="centered">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="65%" summary="Table of Contents">
+  <tr>
+  <td width="20%">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td width="65%">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="tdr" width="15%"><span style="font-size: 80%;">PAGE</span></td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#MONASTERY_AND_CITY">Monastery and City</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">3</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_RUINS_OF_THE_PRIORY">The Ruins of the Priory and Cathedral Church</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">16</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#ST_MICHAELS_CHURCH">St. Michael's Church:</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">&nbsp;</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdrsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">Chapter I.</a></td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">History of the Church</td>
+  <td class="tdr">21</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdrsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">Chapter II.</a></td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">The Exterior</td>
+  <td class="tdr">29</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdrsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">Chapter III.</a></td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">The Interior</td>
+  <td class="tdr">41</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#HOLY_TRINITY_CHURCH">Holy Trinity Church:</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">&nbsp;</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdrsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_HT">Chapter I.</a></td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">History of the Church</td>
+  <td class="tdr">61</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdrsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_HT">Chapter II.</a></td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">The Exterior</td>
+  <td class="tdr">65</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdrsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_III_HT">Chapter III.</a></td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">The Interior</td>
+  <td class="tdr">69</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#ST_JOHN_BAPTISTS_CHURCH">St. John Baptist's Church</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">79</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_GREY_FRIARS">The Grey Friars' Convent (Christ Church)</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">91</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_WHITE_FRIARS">The White Friars</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">94</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#ST_MARY_HALL">St. Mary Hall</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">96</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_CARTHUSIAN_MONASTERY">The Carthusian Monastery</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">99</td>
+  </tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">x</a></span><br />
+<a name="toi" id="toi"></a><hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">xi</a></span><br />
+
+<h3>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h3>
+<br />
+
+<div class="centered">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="65%" summary="List of Illustrations">
+  <tr>
+  <td width="80%">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="tdr" width="20%"><span style="font-size: 80%;">PAGE</span></td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#frontis">Coventry, the Three Spires</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr"><i>Frontispiece</i></td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#arms">Arms of the Town</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr"><i>Title-page</i></td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep002">View from the Top of Bishop Street</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">2</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep007">Cook Street Gate</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">7</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep015">Seal of the Priory</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">15</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep016">West End of the Priory Church</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">16</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep017">Remains of the North-West Tower in the Eighteenth Century</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">17</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep020">St. Michael's from the North</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">20</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep028">St. Michael's from the North-West</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">28</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep031">Interior of the Tower from Below</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">31</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep033">The West Porch</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">33</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep034">South Porch from St. Mary Hall</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">34</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep035">South-West Doorway</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">35</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep040">Interior of St. Michael's from the West</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">40</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep042">Tower Arch</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">42</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep043">Bay of Nave, North Side</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">43</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep045">Interior from the South Door</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">45</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep046">The Choir from St. Lawrence's Chapel</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">46</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep048a">Poppy Head, Lady Chapel</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">48</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep048b">Miserere, Lady Chapel</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">48</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep050">Chest in North Aisle</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">50</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep051">The Nethermyl Tomb</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">51</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep054">The Swillington Tomb</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">54</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep056">Alms-Box</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">56</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep060">Holy Trinity from the North (about 1850)</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">60</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep066">Plan of Trinity Church</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">66<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">xii</a></span></td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep068">Interior of Holy Trinity, from the West</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">68</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep071">North Side of Nave&mdash;Eastern Bays</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">71</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep073">Pulpit</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">73</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep074">Archway between the North Porch and St. Thomas's Chapel</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">74</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep077">Alms-Box</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">77</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep080">Church of St. John Baptist</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">80</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep085">Plan</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">85</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep087">Interior</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">87</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep088">Clearstory Windows</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">88</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep092">The Spire of Christ Church</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">92</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep093">Grey Friars' Church (Plan of Crossing)</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">93</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep096">St. Mary Hall</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">96</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep098">Plan</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">98</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep103">Plan of St. Michael's Church</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr"><i>At End</i></td>
+  </tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a></span><br />
+<hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"></a></span><br />
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep002" id="imagep002"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep002.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep002.jpg" width="50%" alt="VIEW FROM THE TOP OF BISHOP STREET." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">VIEW FROM THE TOP OF BISHOP STREET.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<a name="MONASTERY_AND_CITY" id="MONASTERY_AND_CITY"></a><hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">3</a></span><br />
+
+<h1>CHURCHES OF COVENTRY</h1>
+
+<br />
+
+<h3>MONASTERY AND CITY<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+<br />
+
+<p>The opening words of Sir William Dugdale's account of Coventry assert
+that it is a city "remarkable for antiquity, charters, rights and
+privileges, and favours shown by monarchs." Though this handbook is
+primarily concerned with a feature of the city he does not here
+mention&mdash;its magnificent buildings&mdash;the history of these is bound up
+with that of the city. The connection of its great parish churches
+with the everyday life of the people, though commonly on a narrower
+stage, is more intimate than is that of a cathedral or an abbey
+church, but it is to be remembered that without its Monastery Coventry
+might never have been more than a village or small market town.</p>
+
+<p>We cannot expect the records of a parish church to be as full and
+complete as those of a cathedral, always in touch through its bishops
+with the political life of the country and enjoying the services of
+numerous officials; or as those of a monastery, with its leisured
+chroniclers ever patiently recording the annals of their house, the
+doings of its abbots, the dealings of their house with mother church
+and the outside world, and all its internal life and affairs. In the
+case of Coventry, the unusual fulness of its city archives, the
+accounts and records of its guilds and companies, and the close
+connection of these with the church supplies us with a larger body of
+information than is often at the disposal of the historian of a parish
+church. As therefore, in narrating the story of a cathedral some
+account of the Diocese and its Bishops has been given, so, before
+describing the churches of Coventry, we shall give in outline the
+history of the city which for 700 years gave its name to a bishop and
+of the great monastery whose church was for 400 years his seat.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">4</a></span>Though Dugdale says that it is remarkable for antiquity, Coventry as
+a city has no early history comparable with that of such places as
+York, Canterbury, Exeter, or Colchester, while its modern history is
+mainly a record of fluctuating trade and the rise and decline of new
+industries. But through all its Medi&aelig;val period, from the eleventh
+century down to the Reformation, with an expiring flicker of energy in
+the seventeenth, there is no lack of life and colour, and its story
+touches every side of the national life, political, religious, and
+domestic. The only evidence of extreme antiquity produced by Dugdale
+is the suffix of its name, for "<i>tre</i> is British, and signifieth the
+same that <i>villa</i> in Latin doth;" while the first part may be derived
+from the convent or from a supposed ancient name, Cune, for the
+Sherborne brook.</p>
+
+<p>The first date we have is 1016, when Canute invaded Mercia, burning
+and laying waste its towns and settlements, including a house of nuns
+at Coventry founded by the Virgin St. Osburg in 670, and ruled over by
+her.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p>
+
+<p>But there is no sure starting-point until the foundation of the
+monastery by Earl Leofric and the Countess Godiva, the church being
+dedicated by Edsi, Archbishop of Canterbury, in honour of God, the
+Virgin Mary, St. Peter, St. Osburg, and All Saints on 4th October,
+1043. Leofwin, who was first abbot with twenty-four monks under his
+rule, ten years after became Bishop of Lichfield. The original
+endowment by Leofric, consisted of a half of Coventry<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> with fifteen
+lordships in Warwickshire and nine in other counties, making it (says
+Roger de Hoveden) the wealthiest monastery of the period. Besides this
+the pious Godiva gave all the gold and silver which she had to make
+crosses, images, and other adornments for the church and its services.
+The well-known legend of her ride through Coventry first appears in
+the pages of Matthew of Westminster in the early fourteenth century.
+The Charter of Exemption from Tolls is not in existence, and the story
+of Peeping Tom is the embroidery of the prurient age (1678), in which
+the pageant was instituted. In a window of Trinity Church figures of
+Leofric <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">5</a></span>and Godiva were set up about the time of Richard II, the Earl
+holding in his right hand a Charter with these words written thereon:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">I Luriche for the Love of thee<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Doe make Coventre Toll-free.<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Abbot Leofwin was succeeded in 1053 by Leofric, nephew of the great
+earl; and he by a second Leofwin, who died in 1095. The first Norman
+bishop of Lichfield had, in compliance with the decision of a Synod
+(1075) in London fixing bishops' seats in large towns, removed his to
+St. John's, Chester. But his successor, Robert de Lymesey&mdash;whose greed
+appears to have been notable in a greedy age&mdash;having the king's
+permission to farm the monastic revenues until the appointment of a
+new abbot, held it for seven years, and then, in 1102, removed his
+stool to Coventry. Five of his successors were bishops of Coventry
+only, then the style changed to Coventry and Lichfield, and so
+remained till 1661, when (in consequence of the disloyalty of Coventry
+and the sufferings of Lichfield in the royal cause) the order was
+reversed!</p>
+
+<p>In 1836 the archdeaconry of Coventry was annexed to Worcester and its
+name disappeared from the title, and now it is probable that Coventry
+will soon again give her name to a See without dividing the honour.
+For the joint episcopal history the reader must be referred to the
+handbook in this series on Lichfield Cathedral. In this place will
+only be given that of the Monastery as such, and specially in
+connection with its "appropriated" parish churches and the City in
+which it stood. That history is not essentially different from that of
+other monasteries. Though its connection with the See and the rival
+claims and antagonisms of the respective Chapters produced a plentiful
+crop of serious quarrels, its relations with the townsfolk were free
+from such violent episodes as occurred at Bury St. Edmunds or St.
+Albans. The Chapter of Lichfield consisted of secular priests (Lymesey
+and his next successor were married men), while the Monastery, though
+freed by pope and king from any episcopal or justiciary power and with
+the right of electing its own abbot, was, like all monastic bodies,
+always jealous of the encroachments of bishops, and regarded secular
+priests as inferior in every respect. The opinion of the laity who saw
+both sides may be gathered from Chaucer's picture of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">6</a></span>a "poore Persoun
+of a toun." He knew well enough how the revenue, which should have
+gone to the parish, its parson and its poor, went to fill the coffers
+of rich abbeys, to build enormous churches and furnish them
+sumptuously, to provide retinues of lazy knights for the train of
+abbot or bishop, and to prosecute lawsuits in the papal courts.</p>
+
+<p>But when bishop and abbot were one and the same, the monks still
+claimed the right of election, and so for generations the history of
+the diocese is a tale of strife and bickering, and how it was that
+pope, king or archbishop did not perceive that it was a case of
+hopeless incompatibility of temper, or, perceiving it, did not
+dissolve the union or get it dissolved is difficult to see. Probably
+the injury done to religion weighed but lightly against vested
+interests and the power of the purse. The Monastery was, however, as
+Dugdale says, "the chief occasion of all the succeeding wealth and
+honour that accrued to Coventry"; for though the original Nunnery may
+have been planted in an existing settlement, or have attracted one
+about it, the greater wealth of the Abbey, its right to hold markets,
+and all its own varied requirements would quickly increase and bring
+prosperity to such a township, as it did at Bury St. Edmunds,
+Burton-on-Trent and many another.</p>
+
+<p>In the thirteenth century the priory was in financial straits, through
+being fined by Henry III for disobedience. Later, however, he granted
+further privileges to the monks, among them that of embodying the
+merchants in a Gild. In 1340 Edward III granted this privilege to the
+City. From an early period the manufacture of cloth and caps and
+bonnets was the principal trade of Coventry, and though Leland says,
+"the town rose by making of cloth and caps, which now decaying, the
+glory of the City also decayeth," it was only destroyed by the French
+wars of the seventeenth century. But in 1377, when only eighteen towns
+in the kingdom had more than 3,000 inhabitants, and York, the second
+city, had only 11,000, Coventry was fourth with 7,000. Just one
+hundred years later 3,000 died here of the plague, one of many
+visitations of that terrible scourge. At the Suppression it had risen
+to 15,000, and soon after fell to 3,000, through loss of trade for
+"want of such concourse of people that numerously resorted thither
+before that fatal Dissolution."</p>
+
+<p>But if the town grew apace so did the Monastery. Thus, when in 1244
+Earl Hugh died childless his sisters divided his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">7</a></span>estates and Coventry
+fell to Cecily, wife of Roger de Montalt. Six years later the
+Monastery lent him a large sum to take him to the Holy Land, and
+received from him the lordship of Coventry (excepting the Manor House
+and Park of Cheylesmore) and the advowson of St. Michael's and its
+dependent chapels, thus becoming the landlords of nearly the whole of
+Coventry.</p>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep007" id="imagep007"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep007.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep007.jpg" width="53%" alt="COOK STREET GATE." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">COOK STREET GATE.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Civic powers grew with the growth of trade. Before 1218 <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">8</a></span>a fair of
+eight days had been granted to the Priory, and later another of six
+days, to be held in the earl's half of the town about the Feast of
+Holy Trinity. In 1285 a patent from the king is addressed to the
+burgesses and true men to levy tolls for paving the town; one in 1328
+for tolls for inclosing the city with walls and gates, while in 1344
+the city was given a corporation, with mayor, bailiffs, a common seal,
+and a prison. As the municipal importance and the dignity of the city
+increased, the desire for their visible signs strengthened, and so, in
+1355, work was begun on the walls, Newgate (on the London Road) being
+the first gate to be built. Such undertakings proceeded slowly, and
+nine years later the royal permission was obtained to levy a tax for
+their construction, "the lands and goods of all ecclesiastical persons
+excepted."</p>
+
+<p>Twice afterwards we hear of licence being granted by Richard II to dig
+stone in Cheylesmore Park, first for Grey Friars Gate, and later for
+Spon Gate, "near his Chapel of Babelake." The walls so built were of
+imposing extent and dimensions, being three yards in breadth, two and
+a quarter miles in circumference, and having thirty-two towers and
+twelve gates.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> Nehemiah Wharton, a Parliamentary officer in 1642,
+reports of the city that it is:</p>
+
+<div class="block"><p class="noin">Environed with a wall co-equal, if not exceedinge, that of
+London, for breadth and height; and with gates and battlements,
+magnificent churches and stately streets and abundant fountains
+of water; altogether a place very sweetly situate and where there
+is no stint of venison.</p></div>
+
+<p>To return to the monastic history. We have seen how, in the
+mid-thirteenth century the Monastery had become the landlord of the
+city; shortly before this it had been so impoverished with ceaseless
+quarrels with the King and the Lichfield Chapter, involving costly
+appeals to Rome, that the Prior was reduced to asking the hospitality
+of the monks of Derley for some of the brethren. A period of
+prosperity followed and many benefactions flowed in, including the
+gift of various churches by the king. It was after twenty-six years of
+quarrelling that the Pope, in 1224, had appointed to the bishopric
+Walter de Stavenby, an able and learned man. During his episcopacy the
+friars <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">9</a></span>made their appearance in England, and by him the Franciscans
+were introduced at Lichfield, while at Coventry Ranulph, Earl of
+Chester, gave them land in Cheylesmore on which to build their oratory
+and house.</p>
+
+<p>They were not generally welcomed by the monks. A Benedictine laments
+their first appearance thus "Oh shame! oh worse than shame! oh
+barbarous pestilence! the Minor Brethren are come into England!" and
+at Bury they were obliged to build outside a mile radius from the
+Abbey. The parish priests also soon found out that they were undersold
+in the exercise of their spiritual offices and although no doubt many
+badly needed awakening they were not, on that account, the more likely
+to welcome the intruders.</p>
+
+<p>Another innovation, affecting the fortunes of the parish priest, had
+its beginning under the rule of Bishop Stavenby though its greatest
+development occurred in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. This
+was the foundation of Chantries designed primarily for the maintenance
+of a priest or priests to say mass daily or otherwise for the soul's
+health of the founder, his family and forbears. The earliest we hear
+of are one at Lincoln, and one at Hatherton in Coventry Archdeaconry
+while the Bishop himself endowed one in Lichfield Cathedral. Many were
+perpetual endowments (&pound;5 per annum being the average stipend), others
+were temporary, according to the means of those who paid for the
+masses&mdash;for a term of years or for a fixed number of masses. Although
+chantry priests were often required to give regular help in the church
+services or taught such scholars as came to them or served outlying
+chapelries, the system permitted a great number to live on occasional
+engagements and was doubtless productive of abuses. Chaucer tells us
+that his poor parson was not such an one as</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">... left his sheep encumbered in the mire,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And ran unto London, unto Saint Poul's,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">To seek&euml; him a chantery for souls.<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>The number of chantries in the different cathedrals varied very
+greatly, Lichfield had eighty-seven, St. Paul's thirty-seven, York
+only three. Monks' churches had few or none while in town churches
+they were numerous, London having one hundred and eighty, York
+forty-two, Coventry at least fifteen besides the twelve gild priests
+of the chapel of Babelake. Most were <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">10</a></span>founded in connection with an
+existing altar, some had a special altar, at Winchester, Tewkesbury
+and elsewhere they were enclosed in screens between the pillars of the
+nave, or a special chapel was added to the church.</p>
+
+<p>It was in the thirteenth century also (1267) that the monastery
+obtained the grant of a Merchants' Gild; with all the privileges
+thereto belonging, the earliest of those which contributed so much to
+the renown of Coventry. These were Benefit Societies, insuring help to
+the "Brethren and sistren" in old age, sickness or poverty, securing
+to them the services of the church after death and in all cases
+established on a strictly religious basis and placed under the
+protection of a Saint, or of the Holy Trinity. The regulation and
+protection of trade interests, generally aiming at monopoly and the
+exclusion of outsiders, were later developments. But without doubt
+they were public-spirited bodies according to their lights,
+maintaining schools (as at Stratford-on-Avon) hospitals and
+almshouses, and giving freely on all occasions of public importance.
+By pageants too, they contributed to the happiness and amusement of
+the people as well as by the presentation of Mysteries and Moralities,
+to their instruction and edification. But in the eyes of the
+Reformers, or of grasping courtiers, all this went for nothing when
+weighed against the heinous offence of supporting chaplains to pray
+for deceased members and so (6 Edward VI) they were suppressed along
+with the chantries, and their property confiscated, "the very meanest
+and most inexcusable of the plunderings which threw discredit on the
+Reformation."</p>
+
+<p>Here, the city bought back everything which had belonged to the
+Trinity and Corpus Christi Gilds, with various almshouses and the
+possessions of the majority of the Chantries; while previously at the
+Dissolution it had bought the abbey-orchard, and mill, and the house
+and church of the Grey Friars.</p>
+
+<p>In 1340 Edward III granted Licence to the Coventry men to form a
+Merchants' Gild with leave "to make chantries, bestow alms, do other
+works of piety and constitute ordinances touching the same." This was
+St. Mary's Gild. Two years later that of St. John Baptist was formed
+and a year later that of St. Katherine, the three being united into
+the Trinity Gild before 1359. Of the chapel (now St. John's church)
+begun in 1344 by the St. John's Gild and the "fair and stately
+structure for their feasts and meetings called St Mary Hall" built in
+1394 <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">11</a></span>by the united Gilds more will be said later (p. 81 and p. 97).
+The end of the fourteenth century and the fifteenth brought to
+Coventry a full share in the events and movements of the time. In 1396
+the duel between Hereford and Norfolk was to have taken place on
+Gosford Green (adjoining the city) and Richard II made the fatal
+mistake of banishing both combatants. At the Priory in 1404 Henry IV
+held his Parliament known, from the fact that no lawyers were summoned
+to it, as the "Parliamentum Indoctorum." Setting itself in opposition
+to ecclesiastics, it proposed to supply the King's needs by taxing
+church-property. As in the matter of the city walls, the church
+contrived to avoid bearing its share of the public burdens and the
+chronicler ends thus: "Much ado there was; but to conclude, the worthy
+Archbishop (viz. Tho. Arundell) standing stoutly for the good of the
+Church, preserved it at that time from the storm impending." One
+branch of his argument is noteworthy, that as the confiscation of the
+alien priories had not enriched the King by half a mark (courtiers
+having extorted or begged them out of his hands), so it would be were
+he to confiscate the temporalities of the monasteries. Henry VIII had
+reason to acknowledge the fulfilment of the prophecy.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after this, in 1423, Coventry showed its sympathy for Lollardry
+when John Grace an anchorite friar came out of his cell and preached
+for five days in the "lyttell parke." He was opposed by the prior of
+St. Mary's and by a Grey Friar who however were attacked and nearly
+killed by the mob.</p>
+
+<p>The royal visits which earned for Coventry the title which it still
+bears as its motto 'Camera principis' were frequent in this century.
+In 1436 we hear of Henry VI being there, and in 1450 he was the guest
+of the monastery and after hearing mass at St. Michael's Church
+presented to it for an altar-hanging the robe of gold tissue he was
+wearing. The record in the Corporation Leet book is interesting enough
+to quote:</p>
+
+<div class="block"><p>The King, then abydeng stille in the seide Priory, upon Mich'as
+even sent the clerke of his closet to the Churche of Sent Michel
+to make redy ther hys clossette, seying that the Kynge on Mich'as
+day wolde go on p'cession and also her ther hygh masse. The Meyre
+and his counsell, remembreng him in this mater, specially avysed
+hem to pray the Byshoppe of Wynchester to say hygh masse afore
+the Kynge. The Byshoppe so to do agreed withe alle hys herte;
+and, agayne the Kynges comeng to Sent Michel Churche, the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">12</a></span>Meyre
+and his Peres, cladde in skarlet gowns, wenton unto the Kynges
+Chambar durre, ther abydeng the Kynges comeng. The Meyre then and
+his peres, doeng to the Kyng due obeysaunse ... toke his mase and
+bere it afore the Kynge all his said bredurn goeng afore the
+Meyre til he com to Sent Michels and brought the Kynge to his
+closette. Then the seyde Byshoppe, in his pontificals arayde,
+with all the prestes and clerkes of the seyde Churche and of
+Bablake, withe copes apareld, wenton in p'cession abowte the
+churchyarde; the Kynge devowtely, with many odur lordes, followed
+the seyd p'cession bare-hedded, cladde in a gowne of gold tissu,
+furred with a furre of marturn sabull; the Meyre bereng the mase
+afore the Kynge as he didde afore, tille he com agayne to his
+closette. Att the whyche masse when the Kyng had offered and his
+lordes also, he sende the lorde Bemond, his chamburlen, to the
+Meyre, seying to him, "hit is the Kynges wille that ye and your
+bredurn com and offer;" and so they didde; and when masse was
+don, the Meyre and his peres brought on the Kynge to his chambur
+in lyke wyse as they fet hym, save only that the Meyre with his
+mase went afore the Kynge till he com withe in his chambur, his
+seyd bredurn abydeng atte the chambur durre till the Meyre cam
+ageyne. And at evensong tyme the same day, the Kyng, ... sende
+the seyde gowne and furre that he were when he went in p'cession,
+and gaf hit frely to God and to Sent Michell, insomuch that non
+of the that broughte the gowne wolde take no reward in no wyse.</p></div>
+
+<p>In 1451 he made the city with the villages and hamlets within its
+liberties into a county "distinct and altogether separate from the
+county of Warwick for ever," and in 1453 the King and Queen again
+visited the Priory. Perhaps out of gratitude for all this royal
+favour, Coventry adhered to the Lancastrian cause and in 1459 was
+chosen as the meeting place for the "Parliamentum Diabolicum," so
+called from the number of attainders passed against the Yorkists. The
+year 1467 however saw Edward IV and his Queen keeping their Christmas
+here, while less than two years later her father and brother were
+beheaded on Gosford Green (Aug. 1469).</p>
+
+<p>After the king's landing at Holderness in 1471 the king-maker,
+declining a contest, occupied the town for the Lancastrians, and
+Edward passing on to London soon after turned and defeated the earl at
+Barnet. After Tewkesbury Edward paid the city another visit, and in
+return for its disloyalty seized its liberties and franchises, and
+only restored them for a fine of 500 marks. Royal visits still
+continued. Richard III came in 1483 to see the plays at the Feast of
+Corpus Christi; in 1485 <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">13</a></span>Henry VII stayed at the mayor's house after
+his victory at Bosworth Field; and in 1487 kept St. George's Day at
+the Monastery, when the Prior at the service cursed, by "bell, book,
+and candle," all who should question the king's right to the throne.
+The importance of the Gilds is shown by the king and queen being made
+a brother and sister of the Trinity Gild; and the part that pageantry
+played in the lives of all men is seen in the many occasions on which
+kings and princes came hither to be entertained, not only with the
+plays "acted by the Grey Friars" but those in which the "hard-handed
+men" of, for instance, the Gild of the Sheremen and Tailors, "toil'd
+their unbreathed memories" in setting forth such subjects as the Birth
+of Christ and the Murder of the Innocents. But although Henry VIII
+himself was received in 1511 with pageantry and stayed at the Priory,
+royal favours and monastic hospitality availed neither men nor
+buildings when the Dissolution came. On 15th January, 1539, Thomas
+Camswell, the last Prior of St. Mary's, surrendered. "The Prior,"
+reported Dr. London, the king's commissioner, "is a sad, honest priest
+as his neighbours do report him, and is a Bachelor of Divinity. He
+gave his house unto the king's grace willingly and so in like manner
+did all his brethren." The Doctor asks for good pensions for the
+dispossessed, not on the plea of justice but so that "others
+perceiving that these men be liberally handled will with better will
+not only surrender their houses, but also leave the same in the better
+state to the King's use."</p>
+
+<p>The yearly revenue had been certified in the valuation at &pound;731 19<i>s.</i>
+5<i>d.</i> Deducting a Fee-Ferme rent to the Crown, reserved by Roger de
+Montalt, and other annual payments, the clear remainder was &pound;499 7<i>s.</i>
+4<i>d.</i> Bishop Rowland Lee, writing to "my singular good Lord Cromwell,"
+implies that he had a promise from him to spare the church. "My good
+Lord," he says, "help me and the City both in this and that the church
+may stand, whereby I may keep my name, and the City have commodity and
+ease to their desire, which shall follow if by your goodness it might
+be brought to a collegiate church, as Lichfield, and so that fair City
+shall have a perpetual comfort of the same, as knoweth the Holy
+Trinity, who preserve your Lordship in honour to your heart's
+comfort."</p>
+
+<p>But his entreaties, and those of the mayor and corporation, were all
+in vain, the church and monastic buildings were <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">14</a></span>dismantled and
+destroyed piecemeal, and like so many other magnificent structures
+became a mere quarry for mean buildings and the mending of roads.</p>
+
+<p>The site having been granted by Henry VIII to two gentlemen named
+Combes and Stansfield, passed soon into the hands of John Hales, the
+founder of the Free School, and in Elizabeth's reign was purchased by
+the Corporation.</p>
+
+<p>The changes in religious opinion of the successive sovereigns were
+felt here by many poor victims. Seven persons were burnt in 1519 for
+having in their possession the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments,
+and the Creed in English, and for refusing to obey the Pope or his
+agents, opinions and acts that would have been counted meritorious
+twenty years later. In 1555 Queen Mary burnt three Protestants in the
+old quarry in Little Park&mdash;Laurence Saunders, a well-known preacher,
+Robert Glover, M.A., and Cornelius Bongey.</p>
+
+<p>Ten years after this Queen Elizabeth's visit was the occasion of much
+pageantry and performing of plays by the Tanners', Drapers', Smiths',
+and Weavers' Companies, and in 1575 the men of Coventry gave their
+play of "Hock Tuesday" before her at Kenilworth Castle. In 1566 Queen
+Mary of Scots was in ward here, in the mayoress' parlour, and in 1569
+at the Bull Inn.</p>
+
+<p>Coming down to the opening of the Civil War we find that a few days
+before the raising of his standard at Nottingham Charles summoned the
+city to admit him with three hundred cavaliers, and received for
+answer that it was quite ready to receive his Majesty with no more
+than two hundred. Whereupon he retired in displeasure, and reappeared
+some days later with the threat to lay the city in ruins if it should
+persist in its disloyalty. The townsfolk being in no mind to receive a
+garrison, the King planted cannon against Newgate and broke down the
+gates but was met with a fierce musquetry fire from the walls,
+followed up by a vigorous sally, in which the citizens did much
+execution and took two cannon.</p>
+
+<p>To prevent the like happening again, the walls were in 1662 breached
+in many places and made incapable of defence. Just one hundred years
+later New-gate was taken down, and others followed from time to time,
+until now there are left only the remains of two of the lesser
+ones&mdash;Cook Street Gate, a crumbling shell (p. 7), and the adjacent
+Swanswell or Priory Gate, blocked up and used as a dwelling.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">15</a></span>In 1771 was finally destroyed the famous Cross which had been built,
+1541-3, by Sir William Hollis, once Lord Mayor of London, who came of
+a Coventry family. It was described by Dugdale as "one of the chief
+things wherein this City most glories, which for workmanship and
+beauty is inferior to none in England." A few relics of it exist in
+St. Mary Hall, a statue of Henry VI, and, in the oriel, two smaller
+figures. So too does the very interesting contract for its building,
+which shows how much was left to the craftsman's pride in his work and
+how little he was trammelled by conditions, save that the work was to
+be "finished in all points, as well in imagery work, pictures, and
+finials, according to the due form and proportion of the Cross at
+Abingdon."</p>
+
+<p>Another building, which was destroyed in 1820, was the Pilgrims' Rest,
+a fine timbered house of three storeys, "supposed," as the inscription
+upon it records, "to have been the hostel or inn for the maintenance
+and entertainment of the palmers and other visitors to the Priory."
+Some pieces of carved work were patched together in the windows of the
+inn built on its site and there remain.</p>
+
+<p>The modern history of Coventry, consisting of the ordinary events and
+vicissitudes of civic life and the changes and fluctuations in its
+trades, apart from that of its parish churches which is elsewhere
+given, does not come within the scope of this handbook.</p>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep015" id="imagep015"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep015.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep015.jpg" width="25%" alt="SEAL OF THE PRIORY." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">SEAL OF THE PRIORY.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<hr style="width: 15%;" />
+<br />
+
+<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> St. Osburg's name is not found in the Calendar. As at the
+Dissolution the Cathedral possessed relics of St. Osborne, including
+his head in copper and gilt, these saints may be identical.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Earl Street and Bishop Street are still principal streets
+in either half of the town.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> The walls of London were about three and a quarter miles
+long (including the river front), with ten or eleven gates; those of
+York three miles, of Chester hardly two.</p></div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<a name="THE_RUINS_OF_THE_PRIORY" id="THE_RUINS_OF_THE_PRIORY"></a><hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">16</a></span><br />
+
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep016" id="imagep016"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep016.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep016.jpg" width="85%" alt="INTERIOR OF THE WEST END OF THE PRIORY CHURCH." /></a>
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">INTERIOR OF THE WEST END OF THE PRIORY CHURCH.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+
+<h3>THE RUINS OF THE PRIORY AND CATHEDRAL CHURCH<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+<br />
+
+<p>The Priory buildings and grounds covered a large area to the North of
+the two parish churches on the gentle slope descending to the little
+river Sherbourne, Priory Row forming its southern boundary.</p>
+
+<p>The church occupied the South-West portion of this site, extending
+about 400 feet from the excavated west end to a point a little beyond
+the narrow lane called Hill Top. The excavation shows that the church
+stood on a sloping site, the floor level being some ten feet lower
+than that of Trinity Church. It was cruciform, with two western towers
+and a central one, and is believed to have had three spires similar to
+those of Lichfield but probably earlier in point of date. On the
+substructure of the North-West Tower now stands the house of the
+<i>mistress</i> of the Girls' Blue Coat School. The interior of the West
+end to a height of 5 to 8 feet, with the responds of the nave arcades
+and of the tower arches, is visible and in good condition. The
+beginning of the turret stair in the South-West tower is exposed, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">17</a></span>but
+the basement of the house unfortunately occupies the lower part of the
+northern one. The exterior of this is however easily accessible from
+an enclosure known as the Wood Yard, the much decayed spreading plinth
+and a few feet of walling above <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">18</a></span>it not having been destroyed. Above
+this, grievous damage has been perpetrated by the casing and complete
+obliteration of the mouldings and arcading which remained. The towers
+were placed outside the line of the aisles as at Wells, the total
+width of the West front, 145 feet, being nearly the same in both
+cases. There are still indications of the position of the great west
+door, but the height of the inner plinth shows that there was always a
+descent of several steps into the church. At the south transept where
+was "the Minster durra that openeth to the Trinite Churchyarde," the
+descent must have been considerable. The remains show that the nave
+dated from the first half of the thirteenth century, while fragments
+of wall near the site of the transept with indications of lancet
+window openings are probably a little earlier than the west end.</p>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep017" id="imagep017"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep017.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep017.jpg" width="48%" alt="REMAINS OF THE N.W. TOWER (IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY)." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">REMAINS OF THE N.W. TOWER (IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY).<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Whether the church of Leofric and Godiva, dedicated in 1043, had
+survived wholly or in part until this time cannot be known, but,
+judging from the history of most other great monastic churches and
+from the known wealth of the monastery, it may almost be taken for
+granted that the Norman bishops and priors rebuilt much if not all.
+Some relics of Norman work have been found but the covering of the
+site with roads, graves and houses precludes the systematic
+exploration and survey which alone could solve this question and make
+clear the outlines of the plan of the whole establishment.</p>
+
+<p>The entrance to some wine-cellars in Priory Row gives access to the
+old pavement level of part of the choir and transept. From the fact
+that a brick vault forms the roof the cellars have often been looked
+upon as the crypt of the church but this is erroneous; the vault is a
+later insertion and if any crypt exists it lies below this level. To
+the east of the cathedral was the Bishop's Palace, the gardens of it
+extending over the detached burial ground of St. Michael's to the east
+of Priory Street. The grandeur of this assemblage of buildings
+grouping, with the spires of the churches behind and rising so
+magnificently above the houses of the city can best be realized by
+going to the top of Bishop Street whence may be obtained the finest
+view of the two spires that remain (<a href="#imagep002">see p. 2</a>).</p>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">19</a></span><br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<h2>ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH</h2>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<a name="ST_MICHAELS_CHURCH" id="ST_MICHAELS_CHURCH"></a><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a><hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">20</a></span><br />
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep020" id="imagep020"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep020.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep020.jpg" width="85%" alt="ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE NORTH." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE NORTH.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">21</a></span><br />
+
+<h2>ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH</h2>
+
+<h3>CHAPTER I<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+
+<h4>HISTORY OF THE CHURCH</h4>
+<br />
+
+<p>The early history of St. Michael's Church is very obscure. The fact
+that Domesday mentions no parish churches proves nothing. There can be
+little doubt that one at least existed. Though we have an earlier
+record of St. Michael's it is commonly held that Trinity is the elder
+foundation.</p>
+
+<p>Of St. Michael's the first notice we have is when Ranulph, Earl of
+Chester, in the days of Stephen, about 1150, granted the "Chapel" of
+St. Michael to Laurence, Prior, and the Convent of St. Mary, "being
+satisfied by the testimony of divers persons, as well Clergy as Laity,
+that it was their right." Fourteen dependent chapels in the
+neighbourhood or within a few miles went with it and the number of
+these dependencies is held to show that it was "a primitive Saxon
+parish and of considerable importance." In 1192 Ranulph Blundeville,
+grandson of the former Ranulph, gave tithe of his lands and rents in
+Coventry and bound his officers under pain of a grievous curse to make
+due payment.</p>
+
+<p>In the early thirteenth century a dispute arose between Bishop
+Geoffrey de Muschamp and the Priory as to the right of presentation,
+the Bishop claiming on the ground of being Abbot as well as Bishop.
+This was settled in 1241 by the Priory renouncing its claim in
+consideration of receiving a share of the income but in 1248 an
+exchange was effected, the Priory giving the advowsons of Ryton and
+Bubbenhall<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> (not far from Coventry) for St. Michael and its chapels
+and engaging to provide proper secular priests with competent support.
+In 1260 the church was appropriated to the monastery together with
+Holy Trinity <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">22</a></span>and its chapels and although in the arrangement of 1248
+twenty-four marks (&pound;16) had been assigned to the vicarage, in 1291 we
+find the priory receiving fifty marks and paying the vicar eight and a
+half.</p>
+
+<p>Since 1537 the patronage has with that of Trinity, been exercised by
+the Crown.</p>
+
+<p>The internal evidence of the date of the building is given in the
+description of the fabric. Of external evidence in the shape of
+records or deeds we have very little. Tradition says that there was
+once a brass tablet in the church bearing the following lines:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">William and Adam built the Tower,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Ann and Mary built the Spire;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">William and Adam built the Church,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Ann and Mary built the Choir.<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Now we know that William and Adam Botoner, who were each Mayor thrice
+between 1358 and 1385, built the tower, spending upon it &pound;100 a year
+for twenty-two years, but what foundation there is for the other
+statements cannot now be determined. The tower was in building from
+1373 to 1394, and the choir is contemporary with it, the nave was in
+building from 1432 to 1450, and the spire was begun in 1430. As
+William was Mayor in 1358 it can hardly have been less than one
+hundred years after his birth that both nave and spire were begun. It
+is however, likely that other members of the family (if not he, by
+bequest) contributed largely to the general building fund.</p>
+
+<p>Much of the history of a parish church is concerned with its internal
+economy but even the records of this are not quite trivial for they
+enlighten us on many points wherein we are rightly curious. We are,
+for instance, constantly reminded, as Dr. Gasquet points out in
+"Mediaeval Parish Life," that "religious life permeated society in the
+Middle Ages, particularly in the fifteenth century, through the minor
+confraternities" or gilds.</p>
+
+<p>Thus the Drapers' Gild made itself responsible not only for the upkeep
+of the Lady Chapel but also for the lights always burning on the
+Rood-loft, every Master paying four pence for each "prentys" and every
+"Jurneman" four pence. The cost of lights formed a serious item in
+church expenditure, needing <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">23</a></span>the rent of houses and lands for their
+maintenance. Guy de Tyllbrooke, vicar in the late thirteenth century,
+gave all his lands and buildings on the south side of the church to
+maintain a light before the high altar, day and night, for ever, "and
+all persons who shall convert this gift to any other use directly or
+indirectly shall incur the malediction of Almighty God, the Blessed
+Virgin, St. Michael and All Saints."</p>
+
+<p>Royal visits to the church have been noticed in the history of the
+priory and city, especially that in 1450 which was apparently intended
+to mark the completion of the church. Reference has also been made to
+the plays and pageants with which such visitors were entertained. The
+site for the performance of the cycle of Corpus Christi plays was the
+churchyard on the north of St. Michael's. Queen Margaret, whose visits
+were so frequent that the city acquired the fanciful title of "the
+Queen's Bower" came over from Kenilworth on the Eve of the Feast in
+1456, "at which time she would not be met, but privily to see the play
+there on the morrow and she saw then all the pageants played save
+Doomsday, which might not be played for lack of day and she was lodged
+at Richard Wood's the Grocer."</p>
+
+<p>There is evident reference to the dedication of the church in the
+pageant of the "Nine Orders of Angels" shown before Henry VIII and
+Queen Catherine in 1510 (p. 47).</p>
+
+<p>The history of the church since the Reformation has been not unlike
+that of a vast number of others. Fanatic destruction, followed by
+tasteless and incongruous innovations, and these again by
+"restorations" sometimes as destructive, sometimes as tasteless, and
+nearly always feeble; such is their common history. In 1569 even the
+Register books were destroyed because they contained marks of popery,
+while from 1576 onward a want of repair is plainly suggested by
+frequent items of expenditure for catching the stares (starlings) in
+the church, at one time for a net, at another for "a bowe and bolts
+and lyme." In 1611 James I addressed a strongly worded letter to the
+Mayor and Corporation and the Vicar requiring them to reform the
+practice of receiving the Holy Sacrament standing or sitting instead
+of kneeling, "As we our Self in our person do carefully perform it."
+Whereupon the Bishop wrote that he "felt persuaded that there were not
+above seven of any note who did not conform themselves" to the church
+ordinances; while the Vicar said he "did not know of <i>half seven</i> of
+any note but do the like."</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">24</a></span>A Puritanical writer in 1635 thus mentions the changed position of
+the Communion Table, which had formerly stood away from the east wall:
+"The Communion Table was altered which cost a great deal of money; and
+that which is worst of all, three stepps made to go to the Comm'n
+Table altar fashion&mdash;God grant it continueth not long." Even the font,
+given by John Cross, mayor, in 1394, had to give place in 1645 to
+something less offensive to Puritan feeling, and in the same year the
+brass eagle, given in 1359 by William Botoner, was "sold by order of
+vestry for 5<i>d.</i> the lb., 8<i>l.</i> 13<i>s.</i> 4<i>d.</i>" The rehanging of the bells
+in 1674 led to the destruction of the beautiful groined vault within
+the tower, and the year 1764 saw the completion of a series of
+galleries all round the church. Throughout all this destruction and
+desecration the citizens happily retained their pride in the great
+steeple, and by constant attention and rebuildings contrived to
+preserve it when negligence might have caused its ruin. The scrupulous
+care given to such work is well shown by items in an account for
+repairs, of date 1580:</p>
+
+<div class="centered">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="60%" summary="Account of Repairs">
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl" width="80%">Payed to George Aster for poyntynge ye steple</td>
+  <td class="tdr" width="20%" style="padding-right: 1em; white-space: nowrap;">&pound; 7 &nbsp; 2 &nbsp; 8</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl">Payed for 3 quarter and a halfe of lyme</td>
+  <td class="tdr" style="padding-right: 1em; white-space: nowrap;">13 &nbsp; 4</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl">Payed for egges</td>
+  <td class="tdr" style="padding-right: 1em; white-space: nowrap;">8 &nbsp; 4</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl">Payed for glovers pecis, woode &amp; tallowe, abowte
+    the lyme</td>
+  <td class="tdr" style="padding-right: 1em; white-space: nowrap;">5 &nbsp; 6</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl">Payed for a load sand</td>
+  <td class="tdr" style="white-space: nowrap;">7&frac12;</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl">Payed for 4 stryke of mawlte and gryndyng</td>
+  <td class="tdr" style="white-space: nowrap;">7 &nbsp; 8&frac12;</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl">Payd for 6 gallons of worte more</td>
+  <td class="tdr" style="padding-right: 1em; white-space: nowrap;">2 &nbsp; 0</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl">Payd for gatherynge of slates &amp; oyster shelles</td>
+  <td class="tdr" style="white-space: nowrap;">3&frac14;</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl">Payd to Cookson for the cradle and 3 other pullesses</td>
+  <td class="tdr" style="padding-right: 1em; white-space: nowrap;">5 &nbsp; 8</td>
+  </tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>The glovers' snippings were for making size, which, with the eggs,
+malt and wort were used in place of water for tempering the mortar.
+Lightning seriously damaged the spire in 1655 and 1694, in the former
+case causing much injury to the nave roof by falling stone. In 1793
+Wyatt, the architect responsible for so much destruction of Medi&aelig;val
+work in various cathedrals, advised that a timber framework to carry
+the bells should be built up within the tower from the ground and that
+the tower arch should be bricked up. All this has been changed since
+1885, the bells now hang (but are not pealed) in the octagon, the
+chimes and clock are in the chamber below, the arch is opened and the
+groining restored.</p>
+
+<p>All galleries had been taken down in 1849 and the present <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">25</a></span>seats,
+giving room for near 2,500 persons, introduced, while the incongruous
+wall-arcading in the apse was soon after added. At the same period
+many important sepulchral monuments, probably stigmatized as
+"excrescences," were taken down and removed to other parts of the
+church.</p>
+
+<p>Five years after this the exterior of the aisle walls was recased with
+the same friable sandstone. In 1860 the reredos was erected, the
+subjects of the panels being the sacrifices of Abel, Noah,
+Melchisedec, and Abraham, and the Last Supper. To the latest
+restoration, which included entire recasing of tower and spire,
+clearstories and chancel, the new sacristy at the south east, and
+other work, Mr. George Woodcock, a Coventry citizen, gave &pound;10,500, and
+the sum of &pound;39,500 was raised and expended, the re-opening taking
+place on 22nd April, 1890.</p>
+
+<p>In 1850 a dispute of considerable public interest with regard to the
+levying of the church rate between the vicar and the wardens and
+overseers was decided in the Court of Queen's Bench. An Act of
+Parliament of 1780 had empowered the wardens to levy a rate in lieu of
+tithe for the stipend of the vicar, to produce not less than &pound;280 nor
+more than &pound;300. The wardens having ever since allowed their powers to
+remain in abeyance, the vicar claimed the right to make the rate as
+his predecessors had done. Lord Campbell and three other judges were
+however unanimous in giving judgement against him.</p>
+
+<p>The latest event in the history of the church is probably the most
+important. It has now been constituted a pro-cathedral for the
+proposed Diocese of Warwickshire, and a Capitular body has been
+formed. The statutes were promulgated by the Bishop of Worcester on
+the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, 1908. The Chapter now
+consists of twenty-four members:&mdash;the Bishop, the Vicar of St.
+Michael's (Rev. Prof. J.H.B. Masterman), the Archdeacon of Coventry,
+the Chancellor of the Diocese, ten priest canons and ten lay canons,
+with provision for the admission of a future second archdeacon. There
+are resemblances here to the constitution of the Southwark Chapter,
+consisting of four clerical and four lay canons, but at Coventry some
+of the lay canons are elective and for fixed periods. Doubtless the
+immense increase of population in the county, especially in this part
+(Birmingham is already a separate diocese), demands further oversight
+and much strenuous church work, and doubtless, too, the same religious
+enthusiasm which brought <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">26</a></span>into existence the beautiful structures of
+Coventry's golden age will be able to meet the demand and cope with
+the new problems and aspirations of the present day. But the
+archaeologist trembles to think what may be done should the attempt be
+made to transform a building planned on the simplest parish-church
+lines into the semblance of a cathedral. It cannot be successful, and
+the original character of the church is but too likely to be
+sacrificed in the attempt.</p>
+
+<br />
+<hr style="width: 15%;" />
+<br />
+
+<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> These have ever since remained prebends of Lichfield.</p></div>
+
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">27</a></span><br />
+<hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">28</a></span><br />
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep028" id="imagep028"></a><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep028.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep028.jpg" width="52%" alt="ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">29</a></span><br />
+
+<h3>CHAPTER II<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+
+<h4>THE EXTERIOR OF THE CHURCH</h4>
+<br />
+
+<p>The church is built on a site descending towards the east, so that the
+chancel floor is more than twelve feet above the present street level.
+The narrow street on the south, Bayley Lane, gives us a succession of
+picturesque partial views but no general one, while on the north the
+rather formal avenue dividing the churchyard obscures much of the
+structure. On the whole, the most comprehensive prospect is to be had
+from the north-east, at the lower end of Priory Row. But no general
+point of view is needed, external or internal, to enable us to
+understand the plan or arrangement, which is almost as simple in form
+as a village church.</p>
+
+<p>The typical English church plan consists of a nave with aisles, a long
+unaisled chancel with square east end, porches or doors on north and
+south, and a western tower, and this, save for its apsidal east end,
+but amplified by accretions in the form of chapels belonging to the
+many Gilds of the city, is the plan of St. Michael's.</p>
+
+<p>In no part, however, do we find the chapels so set as to produce a
+pseudo-cruciform plan.</p>
+
+<p>Before the latest restoration the walls were entirely of the local red
+sandstone, very similar in quality and appearance to that of which
+Chester Cathedral was built, and the extent of its decay, especially
+on the tower, was as grievous. Hardly a piece of external moulding or
+carving preserved its original profile or form, and some of the tower
+buttresses had lost so large a proportion of their substance not far
+above ground that they appeared to hang to the walls rather than
+support them. All save the aisles, which were refaced in the sixties,
+have now been cased with Runcorn Stone nearly the same in colour and
+much harder in texture.</p>
+
+<p>The special glory of the church is its <b>steeple</b>. No doubt
+intentionally its height of 300 feet is practically equal to the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">30</a></span>length of the church. Only one other parish church, Louth in
+Lincolnshire, has a steeple as high as this, and those of only two
+English cathedrals, Salisbury and Norwich, exceed it.</p>
+
+<p>There is, however, an essential difference to be noted in the position
+of these spires, those of the cathedrals at the centre, the crowning
+point in the composition, those of the parish churches at the west
+end, springing sheer from the ground. While the former have a more
+intimate relation to the building the latter have an almost
+independent existence in keeping with the theory which regards them
+more as symbols of municipal pride and power than as expressions of
+spiritual aspiration.</p>
+
+<p>But however mixed the motives for their erection, religious forms and
+symbolism governed the design. Thus we have here three principal
+divisions&mdash;tower, octagon, spire, and nine stories or stages in all,
+six belonging to the tower and octagon, and three to the spire. Then
+in its dimensions we find that the total height is 300 feet,<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> the
+plan (exclusive of buttresses) is 30 feet square, while in its
+proportions the number 30 is interwoven, so to speak, with a simple
+arithmetical progression of heights in each story. Thus it is 30 feet
+from the ground to the spring of the lowest five-light windows, 30
+feet again to the spring of the single-light windows, 27 feet more to
+the spring of the grouped windows above, and another 30 to the spring
+of the belfry windows. Thence it is 15 feet to the cornice below the
+battlements. The remainder is divided into a series of 20 feet
+heights, two twenties from cornice to top of parapet of octagon, 20 in
+each of the two decorated stages of the spire, 20 to centre of the
+upper spire-lights, three twenties to the finial. If we look at the
+stories as marked by the string-courses below the windows we find 50
+feet given to the door and great window and then 20, 30, and 40 feet
+stages, reaching to the top of the parapet. The reader will have
+noticed the interposition of a 27 feet space among the thirties, and
+the reason for this is worth explaining.</p>
+
+<p>It is now known that the tower could not be built in line with the
+centre of the proposed new nave because of the existence of a
+filled-in pit or quarry at its north-west angle. But the builder was
+rash enough to build the north-west buttresses beyond the edge of the
+old excavation and resting on the looser material. The consequences
+might have been foreseen. By the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">31</a></span>time the building had reached the
+grouped windows the settlement or sinking was considerable and an
+effort was made to remedy it, first by reducing the height of this
+(the weakest story), by one yard and next by starting the courses
+level once more. Five hundred years later and we find that whereas the
+sinking is 7&frac12; inches near the ground level it is only 4 inches at <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">32</a></span>the
+windows, plainly showing that it had sunk 3&frac12; inches before the remedy
+was applied and four inches since. The writer is informed by the
+architect (Mr. J. Oldrid Scott) that all this angle was so full of
+rents and cracks that (coupled with the decay of the stone, especially
+in the buttresses) it was surprising that the whole had not fallen. A
+curious disregard of what we look on as a natural sentiment is to be
+noted in this connection, for the builders used a quantity of fine
+sepulchral slabs from the churchyard as filling for the foundations.</p>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep031" id="imagep031"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep031.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep031.jpg" width="57%" alt="INTERIOR OF THE TOWER FROM BELOW." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">INTERIOR OF THE TOWER FROM BELOW.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>In magnificence of design the tower exceeds that of any other parish
+church in England, the uppermost story being the richest in detail.
+The variety of treatment and gradual increase in elaboration of the
+upper stories is admirable, the larger expanses of wall in the lower
+giving the necessary effect of stability to the whole. The <b>west door</b>
+is very insignificant, and might perhaps, with advantage to the
+composition, have been left out. It has the only four-centred arch in
+the whole. On each side of the great windows are niches with
+(restored) figures of saints and benefactors, twelve in all, including
+Earl Leofric and his famous wife, the Botoners and several kings.
+Sculpture appears again on the belfry stage. On the west and north
+sides the niches are in three tiers of three on either hand of the
+tall louvred windows, but on the south and east sides one tier is
+absorbed by the stair turret. All these have been renewed, but the
+remains of some of those which were taken down can now be seen in the
+crypt, and the one which is best preserved, by a happy coincidence the
+patron saint, is now placed within the church.</p>
+
+<p>The octagon, which connects so finely the tower and spire, has four
+two-light windows on the cardinal sides, the other sides having blank
+panelling of similar design. Its parapet has square pinnacles,
+intended to carry seated figures. From each of the great tower
+pinnacles two ogee-shaped flying buttresses spring to the near angles
+of the octagon. A recent writer criticizes these as too flimsy in
+effect, but the fact that they are in pairs obviates this defect from
+most points of view. The walls of the octagon are 2&frac12; feet thick at the
+base, but, as the inner slope of the spire begins at the level of the
+window transoms, the thickness at its parapet is more than 3 feet. The
+greater weight in this part corrects any tendency in the spire to push
+outwards the upright walls of the octagon; so well has it done this
+that no artificial helps, such as iron stays or bands, have <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">33</a></span>been
+found necessary to add to its stability. Though so slender in
+appearance, its stonework is thicker than that of many later spires,
+for whereas Kettering is 14 inches thick for the first 10 feet and
+only 6 inches above, while Louth decreases from 10 to 5, St. Michael's
+diminishes from 17 to 11. The inclination from the upright of its
+sides is very slight, less than that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">34</a></span>of most others; Chichester
+having an angle of 7&frac12;&deg;, Kettering 6&deg;, Louth 5&deg;, St. Michael's 4&frac12;&deg;.</p>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep033" id="imagep033"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep033.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep033.jpg" width="57%" alt="THE WEST PORCH." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">THE WEST PORCH.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The decoration of the spire is admirably designed in relation to the
+slenderness of the tower, and its own height above the eye. The first
+stage is panelled so as not to present too great a contrast to the
+octagon, and the next is also panelled and has narrow canopied slits
+on alternate sides, with four thin buttress-like projections on each
+face. These provide the slight entasis to the outline which is found
+in so many spires, as it is in classic columns, and is designed to
+correct the appearance of hollowness which would occur in so long a
+straight line. The upper two-thirds of the spire has triple angle
+rolls, and, just halfway in the total height, are eight canopied
+panels of which four are pierced. The beauty of the steeple and its
+pre-eminence among those belonging to parish churches (even if such a
+reservation be necessary) sufficiently justifies the length of this
+description.</p>
+
+<a name="imagep034" id="imagep034"></a>
+<div class="imgl" style="width: 40%;">
+<a href="images/imagep034.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep034.jpg" width="100%" alt="SOUTH PORCH, FROM ST. MARY HALL." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">SOUTH PORCH, FROM ST. MARY HALL.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The oldest existing part of the church is the large <b>south porch</b>,
+almost facing the entrance to St. Mary Hall. The date of this is not
+later than 1300. Each jamb of the outside arch has four external and
+two internal attached shafts; the pointed arch is deeply moulded,
+while the arch rising from the fourth shaft is of round-headed trefoil
+form. The ceiling is vaulted with diagonal and intermediate ribs, and
+has the appearance of having been added rather later.</p>
+
+<p>A doorway on its east side led to the Cappers' Chapel and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">35</a></span>there is a
+chamber over the porch for centuries appropriated to the meetings of
+the Cappers' Company. The present chapel and chamber are contemporary
+with the nave.</p>
+
+<p>The external wall of the Dyers' Chapel (now the Baptistery) is canted
+so as not to block the Lane, St. Mary Hall having been already built.
+Passing east, the road dips gradually and gives this end of the church
+a more imposing elevation. After the Cappers' Chapel, there is only a
+single aisle forming the Mercers' Chapel and extending as far as the
+Presbytery. A door here, made in 1750, is opposite to the Drapers'
+Hall. The apse is now encircled with a series of sacristies divided
+into five chambers and spanned by flying buttresses. The first two
+bays on the south were built at the last restoration the vestry then
+removed not being part of the original design. Beneath them on the
+ground level is the engine-room pertaining to the organ. Though
+sometimes spoken of as an Ambulatory its position on a lower level,
+its original <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">36</a></span>want of connection with the south side and above all the
+need for sacristies in so large a church dispose of the idea.</p>
+
+<p>Some have thought that the apsidal Lady Chapel of Lichfield Cathedral
+built about fifty years earlier suggested an apsidal termination in
+the design of Coventry, but a certain difficulty in the way of the
+designer may have led him to adopt this solution. The normal
+Perpendicular east end had one large window, but owing to the great
+width of this chancel the proportions of such a one would have been
+nearly square, and the spring of the arch have been very low. A few
+years later and the depressed four-centred arch might have been
+adopted but, fortunately, its time was not yet.</p>
+
+<p>The plans of the apses of Lichfield and Coventry differ in the angle
+at which the sides are inclined to the chord of the apse, the former
+having the usual angle of 45&deg;, the latter one of more than 60&deg;.
+Externally this is not so pleasant as the more "commonplace" form, the
+great dissimilarity of the several angles being unsatisfactory and the
+third side too quickly lost to view, but within the church these
+points are not noticed.</p>
+
+<a name="imagep035" id="imagep035"></a>
+<div class="imgr" style="clear: both; width: 40%;">
+<a href="images/imagep035.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep035.jpg" width="100%" alt="SOUTH-WEST DOORWAY." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">SOUTH-WEST DOORWAY.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>So little time elapsed between the building of the choir and nave that
+we find no marked difference of style as we proceed westward along
+either flank of the church. The <b>Lady Chapel</b>, known as the Drapers'
+Chapel, from its use and maintenance by that Gild, occupies the three
+bays of the North chancel aisle. From its elevation above the ground
+it was often spoken of as the "Chapel on the Mount," Capella Beat&aelig;
+Mari&aelig; de Monte. All the four windows are of seven lights, the three
+northern having a somewhat unusual transom band of fourteen
+quatrefoils, at the spring of the arch. The two windows of St.
+Lawrence's Chapel have a transom across the lights and a band of seven
+quatrefoils at the spring.</p>
+
+<p>The buttresses of the Lady Chapel are rather richer in design than
+those of St. Lawrence's Chapel. The lower level of its parapet
+indicates some difference of date. The plan of this part of the church
+presents problems which bear on those connected with the rest of the
+church (p. 44). Beneath St. Lawrence's Chapel and extending under the
+north aisle westward are two crypts, entrance to them being by two
+doors from the churchyard, their position is shown on the general
+plan. It will be seen that the western one is of two aisles, each of
+three bays, while the eastern is only one bay in length. The entrance
+to the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">37</a></span>western was at first in the middle bay but this was blocked
+when the Girdlers' Chapel was built. That the eastern crypt was added
+later, and the present Lady Chapel later still is shown by the
+presence of windows in the east wall of both parts and other
+indications. But while the history of the church shows that the
+original Lady Chapel and crypt or charnel-house, were built soon after
+1300, the present superstructures belong to a time about one hundred
+years later. Now as the western crypt may be safely assigned to the
+earlier date the Lady Chapel doubtless stood over it and flanked the
+old chancel of the church, in its normal position in fact as the
+existing one is now. But a point which remains to be explained is that
+the walls of the crypt are parallel to the line of the new chancel and
+not to the line of the old or new naves. It seems certain therefore
+that the inclination of the new chancel is a simple perpetuation of
+the old arrangement, and if not, the position of the crypt is hard to
+account for.</p>
+
+<p>It is generally supposed that these crypts were used as Mortuary
+Chapels and the eastern one has in fact a piscina and aumbry, showing
+that there was once an altar. But for some centuries they served as a
+charnel-house, and are so called in a papal grant of Indulgences. In
+1640 there is an entry in the church accounts of five shillings for
+"cleansinge the charnel-house and laying the bones and sculles in
+order."</p>
+
+<p>They now contain fragments that have been removed or discovered in the
+course of various restorations. A small Norman scalloped capital,
+another of Early English workmanship and a voussoir showing the Norman
+zig-zag or chevron are interesting relics of structures earlier than
+anything now existing, while a number of the decayed statues from the
+tower find here a dark and damp repose very different from the airy
+outlook enjoyed by them for five centuries. It will be seen that they
+are near life size and are executed in a gray sandstone which has
+stood the weather much better than the red. The outer north aisle
+containing the Girdlers' Chapel on the east and the Smiths' or St.
+Andrew's Chapel on the west of the porch, is plainly of later date.
+The windows have depressed, distinctly four-centred arches, and in
+1730 their five lights had simply cusped heads, the mullions running
+up to the architrave.</p>
+
+<p>The <b>north porch</b> has only a slight projection. Above the four-centred
+arch are two two-light canopied windows <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">38</a></span>opening into the church. The
+soffit of the doorway is panelled. On the west side where is now a
+canopied niche was formerly an external pulpit reached from within by
+the staircase which leads to the roof. It is shown in the 1730 view.
+On the east side are two odd little flying buttresses, intended
+apparently to repeat the inclined surface of the other side. The two
+north aisles are fortunately not carried westward so far as the nave,
+which projects a half bay beyond them and so prevents the otherwise
+unrelieved flatness of this part. The most effective of the porches is
+that on the west front, just north of the tower. It appears to have
+been built after the nave was finished, and may have been added
+expressly to provide a more dignified entrance to the church when
+Henry VI came in state in 1451, for it faces directly up the nave. The
+groining with cusped panels and numerous bosses has escaped
+restoration. The five niches above the porch are statueless, and so
+are those on the porch front. May they long continue so! The doors are
+largely original and are finely panelled and carved.</p>
+
+<br />
+<hr style="width: 15%;" />
+<br />
+
+<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> At the last restoration the height was reduced to 298
+feet.</p></div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">40</a></span><br />
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep040" id="imagep040"></a><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep040.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep040.jpg" width="52%" alt="INTERIOR OF ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE WEST." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">INTERIOR OF ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE WEST.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">41</a></span><br />
+
+<h3>CHAPTER III<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+
+<h4>THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH</h4>
+<br />
+
+<p>From within the door by which the church is usually entered, that near
+the south-west angle, we obtain an overpowering impression of the
+special characteristic of the interior, its spaciousness, for it is
+here more than 100 feet wide and the east window is nearly 240 feet
+distant.</p>
+
+<a name="imagep042" id="imagep042"></a>
+<div class="imgl" style="width: 30%;">
+<a href="images/imagep042.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep042.jpg" width="100%" alt="TOWER ARCH." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">TOWER ARCH.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The <b>nave</b>, which is 37 feet 6 inches wide in the clear, is wider than
+that of many cathedrals, and much exceeds that of most parish
+churches, the widest (Worstead) given in Brandon's "Parish Churches"
+being 29 feet. Boston alone exceeds it by about 3 feet. While the
+ordinary aisle width ranges from 10 to 14 feet, the north aisle here
+is 23 feet, the outer north and the south being each 17 feet. The
+total internal length is 265 feet, exclusive of the sacristy; Boston,
+the only larger one, being 284 feet, while very few exceed 200 feet,
+and most are far smaller. The greatest internal width is 120 feet;
+Manchester, a double-aisled collegiate church, is about the same, and
+York Minster is 106 feet. Finally, the area is about 22,800 square
+feet, probably greater than that of any other English parish church,
+indeed, St. Nicholas, Yarmouth, is the only one which pretends to
+rivalry in this respect. Size is, of course, only one element in the
+impressiveness of a building, and may even be neutralized by the
+treatment (as, for instance, in the Duomo of Florence and St. Peter's,
+Rome, by increasing the size of its parts rather than multiplying
+them), but these few comparisons will help the visitor to judge how
+far this element colours his appreciation of the whole. As an
+illustration of medi&aelig;val methods of church building, it is interesting
+to trace the growth of the structure with the help of the few
+historical notices already given and the evidence of the building
+itself. The subject is full of difficulties, and the writer does not
+hope to solve them conclusively, but to put before the reader the main
+points which have to be considered before forming a judgement.</p>
+
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">42</a></span>
+
+<p>Both historic and structural evidence agree that there was an existing
+smaller church when the tower was built in the last quarter of the
+fourteenth century, that the choir and apse were either contemporary,
+or begun a few years earlier, and that the nave was built between 1434
+and 1450. The south porch and the west crypt (beneath the original
+Lady Chapel) are almost contemporary (p. 34), belonging to the
+beginning of the fourteenth century. Now the axis of the tower is
+parallel to the axis and walls of the nave, while the centre line of
+the choir is deflected towards the north about 7&deg;. Notwithstanding
+this, however, owing to the tower not being central with the nave, the
+axis of the choir, if <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">43</a></span>prolonged, runs directly to the centre of the
+tower arch, as may easily be seen by anyone who stands there and looks
+along the ridge of the choir roof. (<i>See</i> dotted line on Plan.)</p>
+
+<p>Next we see above the <b>tower arch</b> the mark of the old nave roof and
+the old north wall of the nave. These show that the south wall stood
+where the present one does, and the low-pitched fourteenth century
+roof-line suggests incidentally this alternative: <i>either</i> a
+clearstory had been added to the nave before the building of the new
+chancel or <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">44</a></span>tower was in contemplation, <i>or</i>, when the huge tower was
+built it was felt necessary to raise the nave roof so as to lessen the
+disproportion. But, if we adopt the latter alternative we must accept
+too the improbability that this expense should have been incurred when
+the inadequacy of the old narrow nave of 15&frac12; feet compared with a
+chancel of 33 feet must have been so obvious. This is one of the
+difficult questions.</p>
+
+<a name="imagep043" id="imagep043"></a>
+<div class="imgr" style="width: 32%;">
+<a href="images/imagep043.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep043.jpg" width="100%" alt="BAY OF NAVE, NORTH SIDE." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">BAY OF NAVE, NORTH SIDE.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Then it is held by some that the axis of the old nave and chancel was
+in line with that of the present choir; but the south porch, built
+more than one hundred years before the new nave, is at right angles
+with it which would hardly have been the case had the two naves not
+been on the same lines.</p>
+
+<p>Needless to say the old east end could scarcely have extended beyond
+the present nave, so that the new chancel was probably built without
+disturbing the old church. The position of the older Lady Chapel
+supports this view, while its bearing towards the north, as already
+pointed out, indicates that the deflection of the new chancel is
+simply copied from the older one.</p>
+
+<p>The position of the south porch proves also that the south aisle was
+as wide as the present one, while the fact that it was wider than the
+nave shows that it was almost certainly not designed at the same time.</p>
+
+<p>The nave is of six bays and is 54 feet high at the centre, while each
+arch is 20 feet wide in the clear. The piers are slender, but, owing
+to the depth of the panelling above the arches and the large size of
+the windows, the weight upon them is reduced to a minimum. Shafts
+carried up from the ground support the roof brackets, and there are
+intermediate ones over the centre of each arch. The clearstory windows
+of four lights each are in pairs, and the mullions are carried down to
+form panelling and finish on the backs of the arches, which recede in
+two sloping faces and form a somewhat unusual feature in the treatment
+of the wall surface. The detail of the piers and arches is rather
+weak, even for Perpendicular work.</p>
+
+<p>The <b>chancel</b> is about 93 feet long, and in height and width is 4 or 5
+feet less than the corresponding nave measurements. Its width further
+diminishes by about 3&frac12; feet in the length of the three bays. The
+omission of a chancel arch is a step towards the ideal simplicity of
+the late Perpendicular churches (<i>e.g.</i>, St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich),
+running from east to west without break, but the large rood piers and
+reduced width and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">45</a></span>height of chancel make the pause demanded in so
+long a church. The step at this point is of oak, and is probably the
+original sill of the rood screen. The large figures of SS. Peter and
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">46</a></span>Paul were placed on the piers in 1861. Of the three arches which open
+on either hand the centre one is widest, having four-light windows,
+instead of three-light, over it. The panelling beneath the clearstory
+is richer than that in the nave. The five four-light windows of the
+apse are lofty and divided by two transoms, but the design is somewhat
+commonplace. The glass of the middle three is a memorial to Queen
+Adelaide, dated <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">47</a></span>1853. The other two are filled with fragments of the
+ancient stained glass of the church (p. 56).</p>
+
+<div class="img" style="clear: both;"><a name="imagep045" id="imagep045"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep045.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep045.jpg" width="50%" alt="INTERIOR FROM THE SOUTH DOOR." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">INTERIOR FROM THE SOUTH DOOR.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep046" id="imagep046"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep046.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep046.jpg" width="60%" alt="THE CHOIR FROM ST. LAWRENCE'S CHAPEL." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">THE CHOIR FROM ST. LAWRENCE'S CHAPEL.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The roof is very similar to that of the nave. Both are of very low
+pitch, with tie-beams supported by curved brackets. There are two
+longitudinal beams (purlins) on each side, and each division of the
+roof made by these main timbers is sub-divided by mouldings into
+panels, all the intersections and angles being decorated by carved
+bosses or pater&aelig;, with angels upon the tie-beams. Where the roofs of
+nave and chancel join there is a cove to connect the two levels; and
+on the tie-beam above this was found a Latin inscription, giving the
+attributes and powers of the nine choirs of angels forming the
+hierarchy of Heaven. Translated it is as follows:</p>
+
+<p class="noin" style="margin-left: 10em;"><span class="sc">SERAPHIMS</span> burn in love of God.<br />
+<span class="sc">CHERUBIMS</span> possess all knowledge.<br />
+<span class="sc">THRONES</span>, of them is judgement.<br />
+<span class="sc">DOMINIONS</span> preside over angelic spirits.<br />
+<span class="sc">VIRTUES</span> effect miracles.<br />
+<span class="sc">POWERS</span> have rule over demons.<br />
+<span class="sc">PRINCIPALITIES</span> protect good men.<br />
+<span class="sc">ARCHANGELS</span> are set over states.<br />
+<span class="sc">ANGELS</span> are the messengers of the Lord.
+</p>
+
+<p>Bare and shorn as it is of its ancient magnificence, St. Michael's is
+in its structure a monument of the importance and wealth of the Gilds.
+Many of them built or maintained chapels and altars, adding largely to
+the already spacious proportions given to the main structure by the
+munificence of a few rich citizens. That in 1491 there were eleven
+altars we know from the will of Thomas Bradmedow, directing that
+eleven torches, price 2<i>s.</i> 4<i>d.</i>, be given every Good Friday, one to
+every altar. Besides the High Altar there were those of Our Lady,
+Jesus, Holy Trinity, St. John, St. Anne, St. Katherine, St. Thomas,
+St. Andrew, St. Lawrence, All Saints.</p>
+
+<a name="imagep048a" id="imagep048a"></a>
+<div class="imgl" style="width: 25%;">
+<a href="images/imagep048a.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep048a.jpg" width="100%" alt="POPPY HEAD, LADY CHAPEL." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">POPPY HEAD, LADY CHAPEL.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<a name="imagep048b" id="imagep048b"></a>
+<div class="imgr" style="width: 35%;">
+<a href="images/imagep048b.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep048b.jpg" width="100%" alt="A MISERERE, LADY CHAPEL." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">A MISERERE, LADY CHAPEL.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The application to the <b>Lady Chapel</b> of the present name, the
+"Drapers' Chapel," is probably subsequent to 1518, when John Haddon, a
+draper, provided by will for the support of a priest, "to singe in the
+Chapell of our Ladye in the Church of Saint Mychell." But long ere
+this, by an instrument dated from St. John Lateran, <span class="fakesc">A.D.</span>
+1300, eighth year of Pope Boniface, Indulgences for forty days were
+granted for all persons coming to confess before her altar in St.
+Michael's Church on the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">48</a></span>Nativity, Conception, Annunciation and
+Assumption of the glorious Virgin Mary. Also 700 Indulgences for 720
+days were granted for building "the Chapple and Charnell house of St.
+Michaell, Coventry." The Drapers' Company was responsible for other
+things than the priest's stipend as this extract from their Rules
+shows: "1534. Ev'y mastur shall pay toward ye makyng clene of oure
+Lady Chapell in saynt Mychell's churche and strawyng ye setus [seats]
+wt rusches in somer and pease strawe in wyntur, everyone yerely 2<i>d.</i>"</p>
+
+<p>The piers at the chancel entrance contain the staircases leading to
+the roofs and formerly to the rood loft. The screen on the west side
+of the chapel was put together from fragments brought together from
+various parts of the church. Against it, and on the south side, are
+fifteen of the ancient stalls. Several admirable ends and elbows
+remain, and some of the twelve ancient Misereres are of special
+interest. Three represent scenes from the popular medi&aelig;val allegory of
+"the Dance of Death."</p>
+
+<p>The centre groups are: (1) a death bed, (2) a kneeling man being
+deprived of his shirt and a cripple waiting to receive it (?), and (3)
+a very well-expressed burial scene. The side groups in each show Death
+leading by the hand personages of various ranks, including a pope. Of
+the others, Satan in chains, the General Resurrection, and a
+delicately executed Tree of Jesse are the best.</p>
+
+<p>Several monuments formerly in this chapel are now elsewhere in the
+church. A memorial to the Hon. F.W. Hood, killed in battle in 1814, is
+by Chantrey. On the north wall is a brass plate bearing the following
+inscription:</p>
+
+<div class="block"><p>Here lyeth M<span style="vertical-align: super;">r</span> Thomas Bond, Draper, sometime Mayor of this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">49</a></span>
+Cittie and founder of the Hospitall of Bablake, who gave divers
+lands and tenements for the maintenance of ten poore men so long
+as the world shall endure and a woman to looke to them with many
+other good guifts; and died the <span class="sc">XVIII</span> day of March in
+the yeare of our Lord God <span class="sc">MDVI</span>.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The <b>Communion Table</b> is a fine example of early seventeenth century
+work, and outside the screen is a very beautiful oak chest, believed
+to date from the time of Henry VII. From the Lady Chapel we pass into
+that of St. Laurence. Its two windows are filled with glass to the
+memory of past mayors. The dates, 1860 and 1862, sufficiently suggest
+their artistic merit. Several old monuments are upon the north wall,
+one of 1648 with an extravagant inscription to Thomas Purefoy, a boy
+of nine; another to Mrs. Bathona Frodsham, a daughter of the John
+Hales who bought so much monastic property, and founded the Grammar
+School. The tomb of his first wife, Frideswede, near which he was
+buried, may be seen in the Dugdale view near the north porch.</p>
+
+<p>The outer north aisle contained the Girdlers' Chapel. The arcade which
+divides the aisles shows the consummation of the process which
+converted columns into piers by the omission of capitals and bases and
+the continuation of the mouldings from pier into arch.</p>
+
+<p>The altar was below the eastern window, the piscina (restored) stands
+on the south side.</p>
+
+<p>The Company has been long extinct and no documents exist. We know,
+however, that Haye's Chantry was founded by a Girdler in 1390, for a
+Mass to be sung daily at All Saints' altar, and may therefore conclude
+that it was in this chapel.</p>
+
+<p>In the two western bays of the same aisle was St. Andrew's Chapel,
+supported and probably founded by the Smiths' Company. The first
+notice of its existence occurs in 1449, but as this part was not built
+until 1500 it was perhaps originally in the adjoining aisle. The
+window tracery is modern. The panelling within the internal arches and
+between the windows should be noted. The floor near the wall is partly
+paved with much worn ancient tiles.</p>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep050" id="imagep050"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep050.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep050.jpg" width="85%" alt="CHEST IN NORTH AISLE." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">CHEST IN NORTH AISLE.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Several large monuments have been brought hither from the Drapers'
+Chapel. An altar tomb of black marble is to the memory of Sir Thomas
+Berkeley, only son of Henry, Lord <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">50</a></span>Berkeley, who died in 1611; another
+of 1640, to William Stanley, Master of the Merchant Taylors' Company
+of London and a benefactor of St. Bartholomew's Hospital and of his
+native city, Coventry. While these are ponderous and unlovely that of
+Julian Nethermyl, at the west end of the principal north aisle, is a
+work of interest and much beauty. It is an altar tomb with a
+sculptured panel on one end and one side, the other end and side
+having been next to walls. It is of interest as an early example of
+the Italian style then finding its way into England, and an example so
+free from Gothic influence that there can be little doubt that a
+foreign craftsman was employed upon it. On the centre of the long
+panel is a mutilated crucifix, and a brief inscription with a shield
+of arms beneath. On either hand kneel Julian Nethermyl and his wife,
+with five sons behind him and five daughters behind her. A cherub at
+each end pushes aside a curtain. The group of sons is well treated,
+the variations in pose and dress show the hand of one who was
+accustomed to study composition, and the result is very different from
+the formal repetition of equal or lessening figures usual on medi&aelig;val
+brasses and Elizabethan tombs. The Latin inscription is partly
+illegible, translated it runs:</p>
+
+<div class="block"><p>Here lies Julian Nethermyl, Draper, formerly Mayor of this City,
+who died the 11th day of the month of April in the year of our
+Lord 1539 and also Joan his wife, to whose souls God be
+propitious. Amen.</p></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">51</a></span>A small brass on the wall to the memory of Mary Hinton, wife of a
+vicar, who died in 1594, represents her kneeling at a faldstool, and
+facing a row of four swaddled infants laid upon the floor.</p>
+
+<p>Near by is the old Purbeck marble font, said to have been given by
+John Cross, Mayor, in 1394.</p>
+
+<p>As, however, the form, material, and shallow decoration are all quite
+consistent with a thirteenth-century date there can be little doubt
+that this one is the predecessor of that given by John Cross, which
+was condemned and removed by the Puritans as superstitious. A small
+brass, bearing a shield with four crosses, the ancient merchant mark,
+is fixed upon it.</p>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep051" id="imagep051"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep051.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep051.jpg" width="85%" alt="THE NETHERMYL TOMB." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">THE NETHERMYL TOMB.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Beyond the west door is the north-east buttress of the tower,
+strengthened by a mass of masonry, part of which formed part of the
+old nave wall. The tower arch is high and very narrow, owing to the
+narrowness of the old nave. The interior of the tower is very
+effective, both from the height, which is almost 100 feet to the crown
+of the vault, and the beautiful lighting of the upper stages. Each of
+the large windows of the ground story is set <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">52</a></span>in a recessed arch, and
+between the two lantern stages is a range of panelling. The vertical
+lines of the various stages are not continuous, a want of regularity,
+which would probably not have occurred had it been built a century
+later. Upon the floor of the tower are two small brasses, which mark
+respectively the centre of the tower and the point below the apex of
+the spire, showing that the spire has an inclination of 3 feet 6
+inches towards the north-west. On the walls of the tower two very
+large brasses record the names of the Vicars of the church since 1242,
+and of the Bishops in whose Dioceses Coventry has been included from
+the earliest times. Of the latter, four were Bishops of Mercia,
+twenty-seven of Lichfield, six of Coventry, thirty-three of Coventry
+and Lichfield, thirteen of Lichfield and Coventry, four of Worcester,
+and two Bishops-Suffragan of Coventry.</p>
+
+<p>The south aisle is 6 feet narrower than the north at the west end, but
+its want of parallelism adds 7 feet to its width at its far eastern
+end.</p>
+
+<p>The south-west doorway has its original doors, though these have been
+subjected to restoration. The first chapel on the south side belonged
+to the Dyers' Company. When the principal trade of Coventry was the
+manufacture of woollen and worsted stuffs and the production of a
+special blue thread, so excellent that it gave rise to a proverbial
+expression, "he is true Coventry Blue", the Dyers were an important
+Company.<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> A chantry known as Tale's was probably attached to this
+chapel, as the salary of the priest, &pound;5 6<i>s.</i> 8<i>d.</i>, was paid by the
+Dyers' Company of London. An upper chamber for the priest existed as
+late as 1607; the floor corbels still remain. A large marble monument
+(removed hither from the chancel) has medallion portraits of two
+ladies&mdash;Dame Mary Bridgeman and Mrs. Eliza Samwell. The former with
+her husband, Sir Orlando (Lord Keeper of the Great Seal under Charles
+II), both died in 1701. The latter, dying in 1724, "ordered this
+monument to be erected as a remembrance of their great and loving
+friendship."</p>
+
+<p>The Chapel is now the <b>Baptistery</b>. A large eighteenth-century marble
+font was removed to the Lady Chapel and a new Gothic one put in its
+place, so that there are now three in the church.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">53</a></span>The south porch (1300) is the earliest part of the existing church.
+The inner doors appear to be of the early sixteenth century, the
+outer, though old, are of much later date and are not part of the
+original scheme. On the wall on each side of the inner doors are
+brasses of some interest. That on the right hand has a curious epitaph
+which runs thus:</p>
+
+<div class="block"><p>Here lies the body of Capt<span style="vertical-align: super;">n</span> Gervase Scrope, of the family of
+Scropes, of Bolton in the County of York, who departed this life
+the 26 of August, Anno Dni 1705, aged 66.</p>
+
+<p>An Epitaph, written by himself, in the agony and dolorous paines
+of the gout and dyed soon after.</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">Here lyes an old toss'd Tennis Ball<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Was racketted, from spring to fall,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">With so much heat and so much hast,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Time's arm for shame grew tyred at last.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Four kings in camps he truly served.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And from his loyalty ne'er swerved,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Father ruin'd and son slighted,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And from the Crown ne'er requited.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Loss of estate, relations, blood,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Was too well known, but did no good;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">With long Campaigns and paines oth' gout<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">He cou'd no longer hold it out.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Always a restless life he led,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Never at quiet till quite dead.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">He marry'd in his later days,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">One who exceeds the common praise<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">But wanting breath still to make known<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Her true affection and his own,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Death kindly came, all wants supplied<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">By giving rest&mdash;which life deny'd.<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+</div>
+
+<p>The other brass, of 1609, has a portrait of Ann Sewell in Jacobean
+costume, kneeling, with an epitaph in which she is described as "a
+worthy stirrer up of others to all holy virtues."</p>
+
+<p>A doorway leads to a priest's chamber over the porch, sometimes
+incorrectly spoken of as the Cappers' Chapel. It is still used for the
+annual meeting of the Company, but is inaccessible to the public.</p>
+
+<p>The next chapel eastwards is St. Thomas', belonging until 1629 to the
+Cappers' and Feltmakers' Company. In 1531 they were associated in its
+maintenance with the Woollen Cardmakers who had founded it in 1467 and
+had after declined in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">54</a></span>importance. Leland, as we have seen records
+also the decay of the Cappers' industry. A large eighteenth-century
+monument conceals the original doorway from the porch. The eastern
+part of the south aisle as far as the screen formed another chapel as
+the dilapidated piscina in the south wall shows. The organ is now
+placed in the first bay of the chancel aisle, the whole aisle having
+once formed the Mercers' Chapel.</p>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep054" id="imagep054"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep054.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep054.jpg" width="85%" alt="THE SWILLINGTON TOMB." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">THE SWILLINGTON TOMB.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Where the altar once stood are now steps descending to the sacristies.
+On the right of the window is the statue of St. Michael brought hither
+from the tower (p. 32). The finely carved corbel on which it stands
+was discovered among rubbish in the recess below. Three altar tombs
+now stand against the south wall. The eastern has the recumbent
+effigies of Elizabeth Swillington and her two husbands. The
+inscription (translated) runs: "Pray for the soul of Elizabeth
+Swillington, widow, late the wife of Ralph Swillington, Attorney
+General of our Lord King Henry VIII, Recorder of the city of Coventry,
+formerly the wife of Thomas Essex Esq: which said Elizabeth died
+<span class="fakesc">A.D.</span> 15..." She died after 1543. The side and ends have
+arcaded <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">55</a></span>panelling containing shields of arms. At the west end is a
+realistic representation of the Five Wounds. The effigy of Thomas
+Essex is in armour, that of the Recorder in official robe and chain.
+The head of each rests on a helmet, and the lady wears the
+"pedimental" headdress of Tudor fashion. The arcading is purely
+Renaissance in detail though the general treatment is medi&aelig;val. The
+figures are in dignified repose, wholly free from the later
+affectations of the Elizabethan school yet evidently individual
+portraits. The second tomb dates from 1640. The top is far too heavy
+for the little Ionic pilasters below.</p>
+
+<p>The third, traditionally called Wade's tomb, probably belongs to John
+Wayd, a Mercer, who lived in Coventry in 1557, but no inscription
+remains.</p>
+
+<p>There are seven shields of arms on the side, nearly all defaced, a
+motto "Ryen saunce travayle," and nine images in low relief which
+present quaint studies of early sixteenth-century costume.</p>
+
+<p>The matrices of brasses are still visible in several parts of the
+church. Sir James Harrington, writing in the reign of James I, tells a
+curious story of their loss:</p>
+
+<div class="block"><p>The pavement of Coventry church is almost all tombstones, and
+some very ancient, but there came in a zealous fellow with a
+counterfeit commission, that for avoiding superstition, hath not
+left one pennyworth nor penny breadth of brass upon all the
+tombs, of all the inscriptions, which had been many and costly.</p></div>
+
+<p>The last monument that need be mentioned is upon the wall over "Wade's
+tomb." Twenty-six verses of eulogy follow these opening lines:</p>
+
+<div class="block"><p>An Elegicall epitaph, made upon the death of that mirror of women
+Ann Newdigate; Lady Skeffington, wife of that true moaneing
+turtle Sir Richard Skeffington, Kt., and consecrated to her
+eternal memorie by the unfeigned lover of her vertues, Willm.
+Bulstrode, Knight. (She died in 1637, aged 29).</p></div>
+
+<a name="imagep056" id="imagep056"></a>
+<div class="imgr" style="width: 18%;">
+<a href="images/imagep056.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep056.jpg" width="100%" alt="ALMS-BOX." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">ALMS-BOX.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The present organ was built by Henry Willis and erected in 1887. It is
+a four-manual and pedal instrument and has fifty-three stops.</p>
+
+<p>The old organ on which Handel played more than once, stood on a raised
+platform at the west end. It was the work of Thomas Swarbrick of
+Warwick, a German by birth, in 1733. He also built those of Trinity
+Church, St. Mary, Warwick, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">56</a></span>Lichfield, St. Saviour Southwark,
+Stratford-on-Avon, and Amsterdam.</p>
+
+<p>The best of the ancient glass now remaining has been collected into
+two windows, one on either side of the apse. Much was brought from the
+clearstory where six windows on the south and all save one on the
+north side still have panels made up of a mosaic of fragments with
+portions here and there of which the subject is intelligible. From
+what remains in the tracery we may gather that there was a row of
+eight angel figures filling the spaces immediately over the lights.
+Some of these or similar ones, are now in the apse. They are
+represented as covered with feathers and standing on wheels and each
+holds a scroll over the head with inscriptions in very contracted
+Latin. A few less fragmentary pieces may be found, <i>e.g.</i>, in the
+north window, Judas giving the traitor's kiss, in the north clearstory
+the arms of Trenton and Stafford, mentioned and figured by Dugdale, in
+the south, the figure of a man in a red gown kneeling with a scroll
+inscribed "deo gracias" and over his head "groc(er) de
+london"&mdash;doubtless a donor. Of modern glass there is a great amount
+but little worth mentioning save on account of the persons
+commemorated. One window in the Lady Chapel is a memorial of the
+Prince Consort and one in the Mercers' Chapel is of interest as a
+deserved memorial to Thomas Sharp the Antiquary to whose labours all
+later historians of the city are so deeply indebted. He died in 1841.</p>
+
+<p>The pulpit is of brass and wrought iron, the work of Frank Skidmore a
+native of Coventry who made also the choir screen of Hereford
+Cathedral and the metal work of the Albert Memorial at Kensington. It
+was placed here in 1869. The bells, ten in number, now hang in the
+octagon. They were cast in 1774 and weigh nearly seven tons. The first
+peal was hung in 1429 and a clock existed in 1467. In 1496 an Order of
+Leet ordained that "all manner of persons that will have the bells to
+ring after the decease of any of their friends, shall pay for a peal
+ringing with all the bells, 2<i>s.</i> and with four bells, 16<i>d.</i>, and
+three bells 4<i>d.</i>"</p>
+
+<p style="clear: both;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">57</a></span>The six bells were cast into eight in 1674 and the present tenth has
+the same inscription as the heaviest of the old peal:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">I am and have been call'd the common bell<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">To ring, when fire breaks out, to tell.<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>The chimes, which existed as early as 1465, were restored in 1895,
+after a silence of ten years, in memory of Lieut.-Col. Francis William
+Newdigate. Electric lighting has been introduced throughout the
+church.</p>
+
+<br />
+<hr style="width: 15%;" />
+<br />
+
+<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> <i>See</i> Fuller's "Worthies of England." In 1428 an Act of
+Leet ordered that no person should dye any wool or cloth with "a
+deceitful colour called Masters or Medleys brought into Coventry by a
+Frenchman."</p></div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">58</a></span><br />
+<hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">59</a></span><br />
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep060" id="imagep060"></a><a name="HOLY_TRINITY_CHURCH" id="HOLY_TRINITY_CHURCH"></a><a name="CHAPTER_I_HT" id="CHAPTER_I_HT"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep060.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep060.jpg" width="52%" alt="HOLY TRINITY FROM THE NORTH." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">HOLY TRINITY FROM THE NORTH.<br /><i>From a lithograph&mdash;about 1850</i>.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">61</a></span><br />
+
+<h2>HOLY TRINITY CHURCH</h2>
+
+<h3>CHAPTER I<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+
+<h4>HISTORY OF THE CHURCH</h4>
+<br />
+
+<p>Although the first mention of this church which the indefatigable
+Dugdale could find was its appropriation to the priory in 1259-1260,
+it is tolerably certain that its foundation was much earlier. As
+before said, it is reputed to be older than St. Michael's and its
+position close to the monastery suggests that it had been built, as
+often happened, for the parishioners by the monks who disliked their
+intrusion within the priory church. The appropriation at this time may
+have been rather of the nature of a confirmation of the rights of the
+priory than the institution of a new condition of things. As, in 1391,
+the chancel had to be rebuilt being "ruinated and decayed" we may
+conclude that it was probably older than the present north porch which
+is certainly not later than 1259. It was at the same time lengthened
+by twenty-four feet, the convent giving one hundred shillings per
+annum for eight years and six trees, the parishioners finding all
+other material and workmanship. The convent and parish also agreed to
+support and keep it in repair at their joint charges.</p>
+
+<p>From 1298, when Henry de Harenhale was appointed, the list of vicars
+is complete, but in a cartulary of the priory mention is made of Ralph
+de Sowe, vicar of Trinity, as giving a tenement in Well Street, for
+the celebration of his anniversary.</p>
+
+<p>There are but few landmarks in its history, and dates affecting the
+structure can generally be assigned by internal evidence alone. The
+nave arcades had already been rebuilt before the chancel was touched,
+and a piece of work of the same period is to be seen in the five-light
+Decorated window, in the Consistory Court which now opens into the
+large chamber over the porch. We have no record of the building of the
+clearstory <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">62</a></span>and roof of the nave. The resemblances between this
+clearstory, and that of St. John's chancel, raise the question of
+priority. The fuller development at St. John's of the peculiar
+treatment of the angles points to its being a little later but
+probably both fall within the second and third quarters of the
+fifteenth century.</p>
+
+<p>For a church of this size the chapels, altars and chantries were very
+numerous, there being probably fifteen altars in all. In 1522 the
+establishment of clergy consisted of a vicar, eleven parochial priests
+and two chantry priests. Dugdale enumerates six chantries so that it
+is evident that here as often elsewhere some of the parochial priests
+derived the whole or a part of their support from their performance of
+the duties of chantry priests.</p>
+
+<p>Many chantry priests on the other hand had other duties and took part
+in other services than the daily mass for which the chantry was
+founded.</p>
+
+<p>So much that is of interest in the religious life of the period is
+connected with the chantries that it is worth while recording some of
+the scattered notices that have come down to us.</p>
+
+<p>To begin with the Chapel of Our Lady, the earliest mention we have of
+it is in 1364 while in 1392 the Corpus Christi Gild endowed a priest
+there to sing mass for the good estate of Richard II, Anne his queen,
+and the whole realm of England, to be called St. Mary's priest. The
+indenture sets forth that "he is to be at Divine service on Sundays
+and double Feasts in the chancel and at Matins, Hours, Masses,
+Evensong, Compline and other offices used in the said church and also
+daily at <i>Salve</i> in our Lady's Chapel unless hindered by reasonable
+cause." The records of the Dissolution of the Chantries show how much
+town property must have been held by them, while from these and other
+sources we learn the extent of their belongings in tenements,
+messuages, rent charges and the like. Thus in 1454 Emot Dowte gave
+several tenements to this altar and in 1492 Richard Clyff "late parson
+of St. George in London," left a house in Well St. to the church "to
+the intent that the mass of Our Lady may be observed the better." In
+1558 (the year of Elizabeth's accession) William Hyndeman, alderman
+and butcher, directs that his body be buried in the Lady Chapel "as
+aldermen are wont to be buried, towards the charges whereof I give
+twenty nobles to be levied of my quick cattle and if it be too little
+then I will that Sybil my wife shall lay <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">63</a></span>down 20<i>s.</i> more." He also
+orders an obit to be kept after the death of his wife "yearly for
+ever;" a form of words that must surely have sounded unreal after the
+changes of the last two reigns.</p>
+
+<p>Perceye's chantry again, which Dugdale considered the oldest (though
+he does not give the date) was endowed in 1350 with six messuages, one
+shop, six acres of land and 40s. rent, all lying in Coventry, to which
+in 1407 William Botoner and others, added a messuage and twenty-four
+acres of land in the city for another priest.</p>
+
+<p>Then the chantry of the Holy Cross (1357) founded for two priests to
+sing daily a mass for the good estate before death and for the souls
+after of the royal family, and for the founders and the members of the
+Fraternity of the Holy Cross, was endowed with seven messuages,
+fourteen shops and sixteen acres of land in the city.</p>
+
+<p>Dugdale enumerates also four others, Cellet's, Corpus Christi,
+Lodynton's and Allesley's, to which should probably be added Marler's,
+assigned by him to St. Michael's. The first two are doubtless the same
+foundation, for in 1329 land and tenements were granted to the priest
+of Corpus Christi Chapel for the health of the soul of William Celet
+and others.</p>
+
+<p>It was almost certainly situated in the south transept, on the upper
+level over the vaulted passage. The position of Lodynton's chantry
+(1393) is not known; Allesley's, founded in the reign of Edward I, was
+sung at St. Thomas's altar.</p>
+
+<p>Richard Marler stipulates in his will that his priest is to have the
+"stypend or wagis of nyne marks by yere so long as he shall be of good
+and prestly conversacyon and demeanor, wt' a p'vyso that yf the seyde
+prest be ffounde otherwyse, after monyc'on and reasonable warnyng to
+hym geven, he to be removed."</p>
+
+<p>Much of the later history of the church relates to the destruction of
+its fittings and furniture or to restorations almost as grievous. In
+1560 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> was paid for taking down the carving about the high
+altar, while the Mayor bought the panelling of the altar for <i>33s.
+4d.</i>, the vail for 5<i>s.</i>, the "thing that the sacrament was in over
+the altar 1<i>s.</i>," the "peyre [pair of candlesticks?] that was upon the
+altar 5<i>d.</i>" Perhaps he thought that all these things would be wanted
+again ere long. In 1547 a quantity of costly vestments and banners had
+been sold and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">64</a></span>we find in the accounts a number of such items as
+these: "Sold the 6 day of Jennery 5 copps of red teyssew to Mr.
+Roghers, now mayre (and 4 other persons) pryce of the sayd copps,
+<i>10l.</i> To Bawden Desseld one cope of red velvet, <i>5l.</i> Mr. Schewyll a
+grene velvet cope, 30<i>s.</i>"</p>
+
+<p>But before Mary's death we have a lengthy inventory of copes,
+vestments, albs, banners and the like, some of which may have come
+back to the church from the buyers at the sale eleven years before.</p>
+
+<p>The church must have looked like a builder's yard in 1643 when the
+Committee and Council of War pulled down divers houses outside
+Bishop's and Spon Gates and stacked the materials here, while the
+changes of government are indicated by the payment in 1647 of <i>3s.
+6d.</i> "to Hopes for defacing the King's Arms" and in 1660 of 6<i>s.</i> to
+"Hope for the King's Arms."</p>
+
+<p>Five years after this the spire, which had caused much anxiety and
+expense for many years, was blown down in a gale, falling across the
+chancel and causing much destruction. All was restored and the spire
+rebuilt in three years. Reference has been made to the existence of a
+vaulted passage through the south transept. This was made necessary by
+the position of an ancient building known as Jesus Hall which adjoined
+the transept and thus blocked the way from "the Butchery" in this
+direction. The Hall had probably been long used as the residence of
+the priests attached to the church but nothing is known of its origin.
+It was destroyed in 1742. Only in 1834, when the exterior of the
+church was recased was the passage blocked and the floor of the upper
+chapel removed.</p>
+
+<p>The Register records the marriage of Sarah Kemble with William Siddons
+on 25th November, 1773.</p>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<a name="CHAPTER_II_HT" id="CHAPTER_II_HT"></a><hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">65</a></span><br />
+
+<h3>CHAPTER II<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+
+<h4>THE EXTERIOR OF THE CHURCH</h4>
+<br />
+
+<p>The church of Holy Trinity loses much, in popular estimation at least,
+by its nearness to St. Michael's. It invites comparison of the most
+obvious sort. It is not nearly so large and its spire is not so high,
+these facts alone are sufficient to account for the popular view.
+Fuller, in his "Worthies" says of the two churches, "How clearly would
+they have shined if set at competent distance! Whereas now, such their
+Vicinity, that the Archangel eclipseth the Trinity."</p>
+
+<p>The plan is quite unlike that of its neighbour, being cruciform, with
+a central tower, a short nave, and a chancel distinctly longer than
+the nave. On the south both nave and chancel have a single aisle, the
+transept projecting beyond it and there is a vestry at the east end.
+On the north there is a similar aisle with a Lady Chapel at the east
+corresponding to the Vestry, but a large porch and several chapels
+fill up the spaces so that the transept does not in plan project.</p>
+
+<p>Looking at the exterior as a whole it may be said that the more
+moderate length (194 feet), the central spire, 230 feet high, and the
+transepts unite in forming a more satisfactory composition than the
+long body and immense western steeple of St. Michael's. There however,
+the superiority ceases for the frequent "recasings" and restorations
+have left hardly a stone of the exterior that has not been renewed
+again and again, and the dates of these operations, 1786, 1826, 1843,
+sufficiently suggest the degree of knowledge and feeling likely to be
+manifested in the work.</p>
+
+<p>Probably most of the structure was first built of the same friable red
+sandstone as its greater neighbour. Much of the recasing has been
+executed in a rather harder gray sandstone, but the tower and spire
+are still red.</p>
+
+<p>The tower above the roofs, is of two stages, the upper, or bell
+chamber, and the lower or lantern opening into the church. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">66</a></span>Below this
+are small windows with the lines of the old high-pitched roof visible
+above the present transept roofs, but in the nave and chancel the
+lines of the old roofs are now within the church, the clearstory
+having since been added. Each face of the tower is divided, apart from
+the narrow angle buttresses, into six vertical divisions separated by
+thin projections of buttress form. On the south and west the stair
+turret absorbs one of the outer divisions. Each division is curved in
+plan in a curious way, which may be the perpetuation of a feature of
+the original design, but was more probably introduced or modified by
+the person who recased the tower in 1826. That there was sculpture we
+know, for in 1709 ten shillings was paid for taking the images down
+from the steeple. The smallness of the sum indicates that they were
+few in number, and if they occupied similar positions to those on the
+belfry stage of St. Michael's, and the structure was as decayed as was
+the tower of that church it is probable that the cutting away of the
+niches may have suggested the curving of the surfaces especially as
+the tower would be thereby lightened. As it is we cannot be certain of
+much else than that there were vertical divisions serving to emphasize
+the impression of height and that the openings were in the same
+positions as now.</p>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep066" id="imagep066"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep066.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep066.jpg" width="85%" alt="PLAN OF TRINITY CHURCH." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">PLAN OF TRINITY CHURCH.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">67</a></span>The spire blown down in 1665 had been in the previous ninety years
+five times repaired and repointed. We cannot now say whether the
+original design was at all closely followed in the rebuilding, but its
+present likeness to St. Michael's suggests doubts. The lowest stage
+which takes the place of the octagon and may be an intentional
+imitation of it, has almost upright sides with two-light windows on
+the cardinal faces and panelled ones on the oblique sides, while the
+remaining stages correspond in number and partly in design with those
+of St. Michael's.</p>
+
+<p>In 1855 it was considered that the bells endangered the safety of the
+tower, and after recasting by Mears of London they were rehung in a
+timber campanile in the north churchyard. Even now they cannot be
+pealed.</p>
+
+<p>The deplorable refacings have left few features of interest on the
+outside. Were Gothic architecture still a living and not merely
+imitative and academic art, one would welcome a complete renewal of
+all outside work&mdash;not an imagined harking back to the work of the
+fifteenth century but showing the lapse of the centuries from the
+fifteenth to the twentieth as clearly as does the north porch the
+change from the thirteenth to the fifteenth.</p>
+
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">68</a></span>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep068" id="imagep068"></a><a name="CHAPTER_III_HT" id="CHAPTER_III_HT"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep068.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep068.jpg" width="45%" alt="INTERIOR OF HOLY TRINITY, FROM THE WEST." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">INTERIOR OF HOLY TRINITY, FROM THE WEST.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">69</a></span><br />
+
+<h3>CHAPTER III<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+
+<h4>THE INTERIOR</h4>
+<br />
+
+<p>It is with a feeling of expectation followed by one of relief that we
+pass within the church, for restoration has there rarely the same
+excuse for its devastations as the action of wind and weather on the
+exterior too generously gives it, and this church is no exception to
+the general rule.</p>
+
+<p>The clearing away of galleries, the provision of new seating and the
+renewal of much window tracery have been the principal changes, the
+greatest loss being the destruction of the Corpus Christi Chapel. The
+nave is of moderate width and consists of only four bays, the eastern
+arches being narrower and made to abut against the tower after the
+manner of flying buttresses. The columns are clusters of four large
+filleted shafts separated by small ones while the bases are high and
+evidently meant to be seen above the benches. The caps are shallow and
+very simple, while the shafts of each pier reappear as part of the
+arch moulding.</p>
+
+<p>The arcade as a whole is remarkably strong and dignified, it would
+perhaps have gained by the addition of a bay in length. In the absence
+of precise records it may be assigned to the second quarter of the
+fourteenth century or a little later. Above the tower arch can still
+be seen, beneath the painting and plaster, the marks of the older
+steep roof. The nave of Stratford-on-Avon Church has points of
+resemblance to this. There too we have a fourteenth-century arcade
+(but much simpler) with a fifteenth-century panelled wall and
+clearstory above, and the panelling comes down on to the backs of the
+arches in a similar though somewhat simpler manner.</p>
+
+<p>Owing to the inequality of the eastern arches there is, in the
+position of the windows and roof principals a curious disregard of the
+lines of the piers and the centres of arches. There are eight equal
+bays in the roof and each corresponds to two two-light windows. It is
+interesting to compare the design of this clearstory with that of St.
+Michael's. It has more solidity <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">70</a></span>to accord with the more vigorous
+arcade though the treatment of the panelling is similar. The height
+from the arch to the roof is much less in proportion, but the sills of
+the windows are kept lower and the heads are square. The form of the
+windows is perhaps determined in part by the desire for more space for
+stained glass, but it is also the logical outcome of the space
+afforded by the level lines of a wooden roof just as the use of the
+pointed window follows from the use of pointed vaulting. The treatment
+of the angles after the manner of the thirteenth century "shouldered"
+lintel in order to take off the harshness of the rectangular form and
+to give a better bearing for the lintels is noteworthy and should be
+compared with the more developed forms at St. John's Church.</p>
+
+<p>Above the tower arch is a painting of the Last Judgement, discovered
+in 1831. It is now so much darkened that very little can be made out.
+The following is a description of its appearance before 1860: In the
+centre is the Saviour clothed in crimson and seated on a rainbow.
+Below are the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist with the twelve
+Apostles arranged on each hand. Two angels sound the summons to
+Judgement, and on the right of our Saviour, steps lead to a portico
+over which three angels look down on the scene and others welcome a
+pope who has just passed St. Peter. On the Saviour's left are doomed
+spirits being conveyed by devils in various ways and in ludicrous
+attitudes to the place of torment, represented in the usual manner by
+the gaping mouth of a monster, vomiting flames of fire. A large
+painting of a crucifix, with a priest kneeling beside it and angels
+flying above, was discovered at the same time on the north side of the
+Chancel but was too much mutilated to be thought worthy of
+preservation.</p>
+
+<p>The <b>roofs</b> throughout are of low pitch, and almost all resemble one
+another in design. Those of the nave, chancel, archdeacon's chapel (on
+the west of the north porch) and transepts are divided by their
+principal timbers into large panels, which are again subdivided by
+mouldings upon the boarded ceiling. At all angles and intersections
+there are carved leaves, and stars in relief adorn each panel. All
+these roofs are painted in accordance, it is said, with existing
+indications of the original colouring. The ground is blue, the
+mouldings red and white, the stars and carving are gilt. The nave roof
+spandrels, above the tie-beams, have large painted figures of angels,
+supporting <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">71</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">72</a></span>between them shields emblazoned with the instruments of
+the Passion. These are also said to be reproductions, but it appears
+likely that time had left much to the imagination of their restorer.</p>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep071" id="imagep071"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep071.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep071.jpg" width="50%" alt="NORTH SIDE OF NAVE, EASTERN BAYS." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">NORTH SIDE OF NAVE, EASTERN BAYS.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Nevertheless, the whole effect of the roofs is harmonious, a result
+apparently obtained by the use of a blue far removed from the
+ultramarine tint too often employed.</p>
+
+<p>Since the removal of the ringing floor, in 1855, the lantern stage of
+the tower has been once more visible from the church. A wooden vaulted
+ceiling was at the same time inserted where a stone one had originally
+been built or intended.</p>
+
+<p>The <b>chancel</b> is dark owing to the small clearstory windows, the low
+outer north aisle, and the concealment of a south window by the organ.
+At the first pier east of the tower came the rood-screen, and on the
+south side (in the aisle) the door to it may be seen at a height above
+the floor. Access must have been by steep steps against the wall, or
+from the top of another screen across the aisle. The church accounts
+of the year 1560 tell us what it cost to remove:</p>
+
+<div class="centered">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="60%" summary="Church Accounts 1560">
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl" width="80%">Payd for taking down ye rode and Marie and John</td>
+  <td class="tdr" width="20%" style="padding-right: 1em; white-space: nowrap;">4<i>s.</i> 4<i>d.</i></td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl">Payd to ye carpenter for pullyng down ye rode lofft</td>
+  <td class="tdr" style="padding-right: 1em; white-space: nowrap;">4<i>s.</i> 8<i>d.</i></td>
+  </tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+
+<a name="imagep073" id="imagep073"></a>
+<div class="imgr" style="width: 30%;">
+<a href="images/imagep073.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep073.jpg" width="100%" alt="PULPIT." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">PULPIT.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>On the east side of the tower wall can be seen the line of the
+original roof, showing the height before the rebuilding in 1391.
+Although there is space for larger windows the aisle roof prevented
+their sills being brought lower. The west arch of the south arcade has
+been forced out of shape by the pressure of the tower piers and
+arches; certainly the piers, which are little more than 4 feet square,
+seem slender enough for the support of so lofty a steeple.</p>
+
+<p>Attached to this south-east tower pier is the stone pulpit, one of the
+two special glories of the church, the other being the brass eagle.
+The pulpit is either contemporary with the pier or nearly so. There is
+apparently some difference in the texture and colour of the stone, but
+as it is probable that a finer-grained stone would be chosen for work
+of this character, this need not imply a difference of date. It was,
+however, probably added at the same time as the nave clearstory. The
+authors of "English Church Furniture" assign it to 1470.<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> Before
+1833 (when <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">73</a></span>restored by Rickman) it had been hidden from sight by
+wood-work and a clerk's desk at a lower level. The lower part is
+boldly corbelled out and the junction of the octagon with the pier
+shafts is well managed, but the upper open-panelled part is rather too
+definitely cut off from the lower by the battlemented cornice. Very
+few examples of this class of pulpit exist in England, and none equal
+in importance.</p>
+
+<p>The eagle <b>lectern</b> is a magnificent example of brass casting. It is
+generally attributed to the late fifteenth century. This eagle
+narrowly escaped being sold by the Puritans for old brass, as happened
+to that of St. Michael's. It closely resembles one belonging to St.
+Nicholas' Chapel, Lynn, save that the latter is not equal in
+refinement of detail and proportion, and the bird is less vigorous in
+pose and modelling. In 1560 there was "paid for skowring ye Egle and
+candell styckes, 10<i>d.</i>," and "for mending of ye Egle's tayle, 16<i>d.</i>"</p>
+
+<p>At least nine chapels and fifteen altars are known to have existed in
+the church. The present choir vestry on the north side was the Lady
+Chapel. A simple piscina on the south side, about a foot above the
+present floor, shows that the old floor level was much lower.</p>
+
+<p>The <b>north aisle</b> is lofty and has a clearstory of three windows over
+the arcade. In the outer aisle was located Marler's, or the Mercers',
+Chapel, founded in 1537, and beneath it is a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">74</a></span>crypt or charnel house,
+now closed save for small ventilating openings.</p>
+
+<p style="clear: both;">The black oak roof of low pitch has the panels of the western bay only
+richly carved with vine leaves and grapes. Its date is, perhaps, as
+late as the foundation of the chantry. The piscina is in the north
+wall.</p>
+
+<a name="imagep074" id="imagep074"></a>
+<div class="imgl" style="width: 40%;">
+<a href="images/imagep074.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep074.jpg" width="100%" alt="ARCHWAY BETWEEN THE NORTH PORCH AND ST. THOMAS'S CHAPEL." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">ARCHWAY BETWEEN THE NORTH PORCH AND ST. THOMAS'S
+CHAPEL.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>West of the north transept is <b>St. Thomas's Chapel</b>. Dugdale says that
+Allesley's chantry was founded in the time of Edward I, at the altar
+of St. Thomas the Martyr, "in a chapel near adjoining to the church
+porch." The chapel is certainly older, for the beautiful double
+doorway from the porch is not later than mid-thirteenth century. The
+outer doorway of the porch was rebuilt in the fifteenth century. The
+inner one, with a finely moulded arch with angle shafts and the vault
+with simple diagonal ribs carried <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">75</a></span>on shafts, is of the early
+thirteenth century. It is to be regretted that this fine porch is not
+better seen. Signs of the puzzling reconstructions that have occurred
+in this part are visible in the aisle wall. Two lancet windows high up
+are of the same date as the porch, and are blocked by the chamber
+since constructed above St. Thomas's Chapel, and parts of other window
+jambs are seen at different levels.</p>
+
+<p>The Archdeacon's Chapel or consistory court, to the west of the porch,
+is now one of the most interesting parts of the church.</p>
+
+<p>It is divided from the north aisle by two lofty arches with an
+octagonal column. The original dedication is not known, but in 1588 it
+was already used as an Ecclesiastical Court, and the next year a
+bishop's seat was made for use in it. In the south-west angle is a
+tall, narrow recess, once closed by a door. Lockers of this
+description were constructed for the safe keeping of the shaft of the
+processional cross, and for the staves of banners. On the east side
+the roof now cuts across the head of a window of reticulated tracery
+of the early fourteenth century. Most of the monuments have been
+brought hither from various parts of the church; only two or three are
+of general interest. A late Perpendicular canopied tomb, rudely carved
+and badly fitted together, stands against the north wall, but there is
+nothing to show whom it commemorates. On the east wall is the monument
+of Dr. Philemon Holland, with a long Latin epitaph. Fuller says of
+him: "he was the translator general in his age, so that those books
+alone of his turning into English will make a country gentleman a
+competent library for historians." Born at Chelmsford in 1551 he
+settled at Coventry in 1595, was usher and then master of St. John's
+Free School for twenty-eight years, and died in 1636 in his
+eighty-fifth year. During his usher-ship Dugdale was a pupil of the
+school.</p>
+
+<p>An engraved brass to John Whithead, who died in 1597, is interesting
+for the sake of the costumes of himself and his two wives. Three stone
+coffins have also been deposited here, and two sheets of lead from the
+roof recording, in fine bold lettering, the repairs executed in 1660
+and 1728. In the middle window on the north side are the only
+remaining fragments of ancient glass. As late as 1779 there were
+"portraits" of Earl Leofric and the Countess, and also, it is said, a
+smaller figure of the lady in a yellow dress on a white horse. Part of
+a small figure <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">76</a></span>holding a spray of leaves and part of a galloping
+horse are pointed out as the remains of this. To the writer the figure
+appears to be clearly that of a man, and the horse and rider's leg not
+to have belonged to it.</p>
+
+<p>The modern stained glass is very unequal in character, and some is
+very poor indeed. The windows at the west, especially one in memory of
+Mr. Wm. Chater, a late organist, may be regarded as exceptions. There
+are still, fortunately, many which are not filled with pious
+memorials.</p>
+
+<p>The <b>font</b> is the original pre-Reformation one of the fifteenth
+century, which was removed by the Puritans in 1645 (though devoid of
+sculpture) and brought back after the Restoration. It stands on three
+steps, is panelled on bowl and stem, and rather brilliantly adorned
+with gold and colour.</p>
+
+<a name="imagep077" id="imagep077"></a>
+<div class="imgr" style="width: 20%;">
+<a href="images/imagep077.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep077.jpg" width="100%" alt="ALMS-BOX." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">ALMS-BOX.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The south aisle was no doubt divided into two chapels, that on the
+west belonging to the Barkers' or Tanners' Gild. A small piscina
+against the south wall indicates the position of its altar. The wall
+below the windows is recessed so as to form a seat the whole length of
+the aisle.</p>
+
+<p>The <b>south transept</b>, containing the Corpus Christi and Cellet's
+chantries, has lost its original character completely. The piscina,
+high up on the south wall, shows that the floor level was some 9 feet
+above that of the church. The reason for this has been already
+explained. The organ chamber is quite modern. The best authorities
+place the chapel of the Butchers' Gild in the south aisle of the
+chancel, but do not say to whom the eastern chapel in the nave aisle
+belonged. It is known that there was a Jesus Chapel, and, in view of
+the proximity of Jesus Hall, it is believed by some that this was its
+position.</p>
+
+<p>The present clergy vestry is a fine room, having an excellent dark oak
+roof with heavy beams and well carved bosses at the intersections of
+the timbers. The Royal Arms over the fireplace were painted there in
+1632. Although usual, the placing of the king's arms in churches was
+not compulsory until the Restoration; few earlier now remain, and this
+placing of them in the vestry rather than the body of the church is
+suggestive of a compromise between opposing factions. A portrait of
+Walter Farquhar Hook, Vicar from 1828-37 and afterwards Dean of
+Chichester is hung here.</p>
+
+<p>It seems probable that this was a chapel, perhaps that of the Holy
+Trinity, to whom an altar was dedicated.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">77</a></span>The history, as traced in the church accounts, of the various organs
+used in the church gives some idea of the fluctuations of opinion as
+to the propriety of their use. In 1526 John Howe and John Climmowe,
+citizens and organ makers of London, contracted to provide, for &pound;30,
+"a peir of Organs w<span style="vertical-align: super;">t</span> vij stopps, ov'r and besides the two Towers of
+cases, of the pitche of doble Eff, and w<span style="vertical-align: super;">t</span> xxvij pleyn keyes, xix
+musiks, xlvj cases of Tynn and xiiij cases of wood, w<span style="vertical-align: super;">t</span> two Starrs and
+the image of the Trinite on the topp of the sayed orgayns." In 1570
+the "payer of balowes" were sold, and in 1583 the pipes, "wayeng
+eleven score and thirteen pounds, went for fourpence half-farthing the
+pound." In 1632 a new one was obtained but its life was short, for in
+1641 the Puritan party caused it to be sold "for the best advantage."</p>
+
+<p>Once more, in 1684, another was purchased from Mr. Robert Hay wood of
+the City of Bath for &pound;100; then, in 1732, Thomas Swarbrick of Warwick
+built one for &pound;600, for which a gallery was erected across the nave.</p>
+
+<p>In 1855 this gave place to a new one by Foster and Andrews of Hull,
+costing &pound;800; and this was rebuilt by Messrs. Hill and Son in 1900.</p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">78</a></span>
+
+<br />
+<hr style="width: 15%; clear: both;" />
+<br />
+
+<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> "English Church Furniture." (Antiquary series.) J.C. Cox
+and A. Harvey.</p></div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">80</a></span><br />
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep080" id="imagep080"></a><a name="ST_JOHN_BAPTISTS_CHURCH" id="ST_JOHN_BAPTISTS_CHURCH"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep080.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep080.jpg" width="95%" alt="CHURCH OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST, FROM BOND'S HOSPITAL." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">CHURCH OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST, FROM BOND'S HOSPITAL.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">81</a></span><br />
+
+<h3>ST. JOHN BAPTIST'S CHURCH<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+<br />
+
+<p>The church of St. John Baptist has a history quite different from that
+of the other parish churches and is specially interesting as a
+building belonging to a very limited class, namely, Collegiate
+Churches owned by a Gild. Though Dugdale says that the "first and most
+antient of the Gilds here was founded in the 14th Ed. III (1340)" it
+is probable that, as in other places, religious gilds had for long
+existed here and that the royal license or Charter of this date was
+like that of Stratford-on-Avon in 1332, really a reconstitution or
+confirmation of the Gild's rights, privileges and possessions.</p>
+
+<p>This earliest one was known as the Merchant or St. Mary's Gild and its
+first ordinances provided that "the brethren and sisteren of the gild
+shall find as many chaplains as the means of the gild can well
+afford." Then in 1342 that of St. John Baptist and in 1343 that of St.
+Katharine was founded. The former at once founded a chantry of six
+priests to sing mass daily in the churches of St. Michael and the
+Trinity for "the souls of the King's progenitors and for the good
+estate of the King, Queen Isabella his mother, Queen Philippa his
+Consort and their children" and others, besides the members of the
+Gild. In 1344 this Gild, desiring to have a building for its exclusive
+use, received from Queen Isabella a small piece of land called
+Babbelak on which to build a chapel in honour of God and St. John, two
+priests being required to sing masses daily for the souls "of her dear
+lord Edward," John, Earl of Cornwall and others. Did she seek to
+satisfy her conscience thus for the woes she had brought upon her
+<i>dear lord</i>? The site thus given measured 117 feet from north to south
+and about 40 feet from east to west giving room for the chancel only
+of the present church, this being dedicated in 1350. But in 1357
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">82</a></span>William Walsheman, valet to the Queen and now her sub-bailiff in
+Coventry gave further land, added a new aisle and increased the number
+of priests while the Black Prince in 1359 gave a small plot on which,
+perhaps, the tower and transept now stand. Within the next ten years
+Walsheman and Christiana his wife gave to the Gild certain tenements,
+called the "Drapery," in the city to build a chapel in honour of the
+Holy Trinity, St. Mary, St. John, and St. Katharine "within the Chapel
+of Bablake." William Wolfe, mayor in 1375, is mentioned as a "great
+helper" in the work at the church, the original nave and aisles being
+probably built at this time, and some reconstruction of the choir.
+Records are wanting of the subsequent alterations which gave it its
+present form. The north clearstory of the nave shows the original
+design while that of the choir and the south side of the nave belong
+to the fifteenth century as do the tower and the cruciform arrangement
+of the building. Leland's "Itinerary" gives the following description:
+"There is also a Collegiate Church at Bablake, hard within the West
+Gate (Spon Gate) alias Bablake Gate, dedicated to St. John.... It is
+of the foundation of the Burgesses and there is a great Privilege,
+Gild or Fraternity. In this College is now a Master and eight
+ministers and lately twelve ministers." Stowe adds that there were
+twelve singing men and extant deeds mention "Babbelake Hall" in which
+the warden and priests lived.</p>
+
+<p>Many interesting entries of expenditure are to be found in the gild
+accounts showing how the Eve of St. John (Midsummer Eve) and other
+festivals were celebrated before the suppression of the gilds by
+Edward VI. In 1541 we have the following (the spelling is somewhat
+modernized):</p>
+
+<div class="block"><p>Expenses on Midsummer Even and on the day,&mdash;Item, 2 doz. &amp; a half
+cakes, 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>; spice cakes, 12<i>d.</i>; a cest' ale and 4 gals.
+4<i>s.</i>; 2 gals, claret wine 16<i>d.</i>; 2 gals. malmsey, 2<i>s.</i> 8<i>d.</i>; 2
+gals. muskedell 2<i>s.</i> 8<i>d.</i>; to Mr. Mayor 3<i>s.</i> 4<i>d.</i>; the Mayor to
+offer, 8<i>d.</i>; to priests, clerks and children, 2<i>s.</i> 4<i>d.</i>; the
+waits, 6<i>s.</i> 8<i>d.</i>; to poor people 6<i>s.</i> 8<i>d.</i>; to the cross-bearers
+and torch-bearers, 8<i>d.</i>; the bellman, 4<i>d.</i>; the hire of pots,
+4<i>d.</i>; boughs, rushes and sweeping, 8<i>d.</i>; a woman 2 days to
+cleanse the house, 4<i>d.</i>; half a hundred 3<i>d.</i> nails, 1&frac12;<i>d.</i>;
+half a pound of sugar, 4&frac12;<i>d.</i>; to the crossbearer and torchbearer
+for St. George Day, Holy Rood Day, Shire Thursday and Whit
+Sunday, 12<i>d.</i>; to 2 children for the same days, 6<i>d.</i> Summa
+(total) 38<i>s.</i> 2<i>d.</i></p></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">83</a></span>That these anniversaries and wakes led to much unseemly revelling we
+have evidence that cannot be gainsaid. The Trinity Gild decided in
+1542</p>
+
+<div class="block"><p>that no obite, drynkyng or com'en assemblie, from henceforth
+shall be had or used at Babalake, except onelie on Trinitie even
+and on the day, which shall be used as it hath been in tymes
+past. And that also the P'sts of Babelack shall say <i>dirige</i> on
+midsum' even and likewise masse of <i>requiem</i> on the morrowe, as
+they have used to doo. And that the Meire shall not come down
+thether to <i>dirige</i> ov(er) night for dyv's considerac'ons and
+other great busynes they used. And on the morowe thei to go
+thether to masse and brekefast, as thei have used to doo.</p></div>
+
+<p>Dugdale quotes from an old MS. an interesting passage bearing on this
+question:</p>
+
+<div class="block"><p>"And ye shall understond and know how the Evyns were furst found
+in old tyme. In the beginning of holi Chirche, it was so that the
+pepull cam to the Chirche with candellys brennyng and wold <i>Wake</i>
+and come with light toward nyght to the Chirch to their
+devocions; and afterwards they fell to lecherie and songs,
+daunces, harping, piping and also to glotony and sinne and so
+turned the holinesse to cursaydnesse; wherefore holi faders
+ordeined the pepull to leve that <i>waking</i> and to fast the Evyn.
+But it is called <i>Vigilia</i>, that is <i>Waking</i> in English and it is
+called the Evyn, for at Evyn they were wont to come to Chirche."</p></div>
+
+<p>In 1362 Queen Isabella helped to procure from the bishop a licence for
+one Robert de Worthin, priest, to become an anchorite and to inhabit a
+hermitage attached to the north aisle of the chancel. Traces of the
+foundations of this have been found on the site of the modern vestry.</p>
+
+<p>When the college was suppressed in 1548 the King granted to the mayor,
+bailiffs and corporation, on their petition, the church and its
+appurtenances in Free Burgage for ever on payment of 1<i>d.</i>, per annum
+and gave them "all the rents, revenues and profits of the said
+church."</p>
+
+<p>But these gifts were not sufficient to support the church and its
+services, so that the latter were irregular and repairs were
+neglected. In 1608 Mayor Hancox procured the delivery of a Saturday
+lecture "for the better fitting of the people for the Sabbath." In
+1641 Simon Norton, alderman, left property to his son Thomas, on
+trust, the condition being that if at any time St. John's should
+become a parish church, he or his heirs <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">84</a></span>should pay &pound;13 6<i>s.</i> 8<i>d.</i> to
+the minister out of rents of lands in Coundon, and also the tithes of
+lands in Clifton.</p>
+
+<p>Prisoners from the Scottish army being quartered on the city in 1647,
+many were confined in this church and wrought much damage and
+desecration. From this time services were only occasionally held,
+until 1734, when an Act of Parliament was obtained making it a Parish
+Church, appointing a district to it and enabling the Master and Usher
+of the Free Grammar School to be Rector and Lecturer of the church.
+The mayor, bailiffs, and commonalty were made patrons, but in 1835,
+these arrangements having failed to work satisfactorily, the patronage
+was transferred to trustees who acted as managers of the school and in
+1864 the lectureship was abolished, the rectory was severed from the
+office of Head Master and the Trustees of the school were charged with
+a payment of &pound;200 per annum towards the stipend of the Rector. In 1874
+the advowson was sold to a private person. A great deal of
+restoration, justifiable and otherwise, has taken place, the decay of
+the local sandstone having made large repairs necessary. In 1861 much
+renewal of the external stone work was carried out. Unfortunately
+shortsighted ideas of economy led to the use of the same poor stone
+and much has recently had to be done over again, this time with the
+harder Runcorn stone used also at St. Michael's. The interior was
+restored in 1875, galleries erected in 1735 and 1838, and high pews
+were removed, the floor, which had been raised three feet, lowered,
+the lantern stage of the tower opened up by removing a ringing floor
+and a light iron gallery above the tower arches provided for the
+ringers. The original groined ceiling has thus been made visible from
+below.</p>
+
+<br />
+
+<h4>THE EXTERIOR</h4>
+
+<p>Although small in area compared with the other churches, both exterior
+and interior give an impression of size and dignity which does not
+belong to many much larger buildings. In the exterior this is no doubt
+due to the pseudo-cruciform arrangement, the bold central tower and
+the height of the main roof, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">85</a></span>which would have appeared even greater
+had the roadways not been so much raised.</p>
+
+<p>The <b>tower</b> is in two stages, a lofty lantern story having two
+transomed two-light windows on each face and a shorter upper one
+having smaller windows without transoms and a battlemented parapet.
+Large skeleton clock-dials disfigure the windows of this story. Narrow
+buttress strips on either side and between the windows run through and
+serve to connect the stories. The north-east angle has an octagonal
+stair turret carried up above the parapet. The other angles have
+narrow buttresses running up to circular bartizans boldly corbelled
+out from the battlements. This is an extremely unusual feature in
+ecclesiastical architecture but is common on fortified structures. Of
+the City gates, Gosford Gate had machicolated ones but not Spon Gate
+adjacent to the church.</p>
+
+<a name="imagep085" id="imagep085"></a>
+<div class="imgr" style="width: 55%;">
+<a href="images/imagep085.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep085.jpg" width="100%" alt="ST. JOHN BAPTIST." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">ST. JOHN BAPTIST.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The spacing of the windows and buttresses of the south aisle and the
+position of the large transept window show how the later changes were
+effected. The three windows and the buttresses with niches and
+canopies almost certainly belong to the part built by Walsheman after
+1357. The two in the chancel aisle are recent insertions. The doorway
+at the south-west corner occupies the position where indications
+showed that an original door had existed. There is also a small
+priest's doorway of which the jambs are ancient. The clearstory was
+restored in 1861 "from sufficiently clear indications" in the remains
+of the original windows. The whole of this part is worthy of careful
+study and should be compared with the corresponding parts of Trinity
+Church. Everywhere we see signs of individual thought and design
+mainly directed to softening the rigidity of the horizontal lines of
+the square-headed and transomed "Perpendicular" windows. The method of
+cusping the drop-arch and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">86</a></span>the varied treatment of these in nave,
+choir and transepts are noteworthy while the little quatrefoil at the
+intersection of mullion and transom is a really happy innovation. The
+flying buttress over the south aisle restores a feature of the old
+building which had disappeared. Of the variously panelled and
+battlemented parapets, of nave, chancel and aisles a view of 1864
+gives no visible hint. As the report of Sir (then Mr.) G.G. Scott in
+1856 specifies as desirable the "renewing all the parapets according
+to the portions of the original which remain," we can only hope (but
+with no sense of certainty) that these parts are faithfully
+reproduced.</p>
+
+<p>The limited site on which the chancel was built (only 40 feet deep)
+caused the builders to omit any buttresses or other projections at the
+east end. The east window was renewed in 1861 but the proportions are
+not good and it is said that one light was suppressed although the old
+sill remained intact.</p>
+
+<p>The west end has a large six-light window with two transoms. It was
+restored in 1841 and is said to be a precise reproduction of the
+original design. On the gable above it is a large niched pinnacle
+which appears to be an "unauthorized" addition.</p>
+
+<p>While the north aisle is later than the south, the clearstory, as has
+been said is earlier, being of late Decorated date with large
+three-light windows of reticulated tracery. The north transept is more
+consistent in style than the south. The large four-light window is
+peculiar in design. It has one transom and the tracery is brought down
+much below the spring of the arch. The centre mullion is very solid,
+coming forward almost to the wall face both inside and out and running
+up to the apex of the arch. The clearstory windows in both transepts
+are similar in general design to those of the south clearstory of the
+nave but with variations suggesting a rather later date. A very
+effective view of the north side can be had from the quadrangle of
+Bond's Hospital, though here too it loses on account of the depressed
+site in which it lies.</p>
+
+<br />
+
+<h4>THE INTERIOR</h4>
+
+<p>The interior is not less impressive for its size than the exterior,
+Sir G.G. Scott even saying that he knew of no interior more beautiful
+than St. John's.</p>
+
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">87</a></span>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep087" id="imagep087"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep087.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep087.jpg" width="45%" alt="INTERIOR, ST. JOHN BAPTIST." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">INTERIOR, ST. JOHN BAPTIST.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">88</a></span>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep088" id="imagep088"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep088.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep088.jpg" width="75%" alt="CLEARSTORY WINDOWS." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">CLEARSTORY WINDOWS.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>All at least will agree that there is something about it striking and
+dignified which is obviously not concerned with mere size, is largely
+independent of elaboration of detail and may therefore be safely
+attributed to its satisfactory proportions and broad effects of light
+and shade. Its plan is quite simple consisting of a nave and choir
+with north and south aisles, a transept not projecting beyond the
+aisles at either end and a central tower. Yet, although it is more or
+less oblong as a whole, there is hardly a right angle or two parallel
+walls throughout the church. In most cases these discrepancies are not
+apparent, nor do they appear likely to have been intended to produce a
+studied effect. Thus a diminution in width towards the east (as at
+Manchester) may be expected to add to the apparent length, but here
+the south aisles of both nave and chancel expand instead of
+contracting. By standing within either transept and looking up at the
+roof the want of parallelism of the walls and other irregularities are
+plainly seen. The nave has only three bays, the arches being rather
+lofty and the arch mouldings of the characteristic shallowness of the
+period. The south-west pier had to be rebuilt on account of settlement
+and there are signs of it in the south-east arch next the tower. The
+name Bablake is said to have been <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">89</a></span>derived from a pond or conduit near
+by and the site may have been swampy, thus affecting the foundations.
+The district is even now liable to flooding from the Sherborne (or
+Shireburn) stream and as late as January 1900 the waters rose over
+five feet within the church as a brass plate at the west end
+testifies.</p>
+
+<p>The graceful treatment of the windows of the nave and choir
+clearstories is shown in the illustration. Comparing these with the
+clearstory of Trinity nave (p. 71) questions of priority arise. If not
+designed by the same mind the influence of one on the other is easily
+seen. On the whole the greater rigidity of treatment and the anxiety
+to increase the area of glass in the Trinity windows suggest that the
+date is rather later and that the designs did not spring from the same
+brain. The roof is very simple, the curved brackets springing from the
+shafts which run down to the arches below. The wall is deeply recessed
+beneath the windows. The north windows, however, are continued down in
+plain panels, but this only makes more apparent the fact that they are
+not placed centrally over the arches.</p>
+
+<p>The north aisle has a doorway and two north windows. The windows are
+of good Perpendicular design, and the mullions are continued down the
+wall below, forming panels. The lowered sill and recess probably
+formed a convenient retable to an altar against the wall. The west
+window preserves some fragments of glass dated 1532. There is an
+obliterated inscription and small etched figures&mdash;among them an
+acolyte carrying a cross, one of those whose services are mentioned in
+the accounts after this wise: "to the crosebeirer and torchebeirer,
+for Seynt George day, hollieroode day, shire thuresday and Whit
+Sunday, 12<i>d.</i>; to 2 childern for the same dayes 6<i>d.</i>"</p>
+
+<p>The south aisle of the nave, including the lower part of the transept,
+is doubtless the aisle erected for the Gild by William Walsheman in
+1357. The two windows are not central with the nave arches, and the
+third is not in the centre of the transept. Their tracery is somewhat
+peculiar in design and refined in detail, and has the transitional
+character one would expect from its date. There are signs on the face
+of each western tower pier of the altars which once stood there,
+probably those of the Trinity and St. Katharine, which are known to
+have existed.</p>
+
+<p>The eastern piers of the tower are later than the western, and very
+unlike them in plan. A bold and ingenious treatment of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">90</a></span>vaulting
+shaft of the tower groining is used on these piers; on the western
+ones the shafts stop upon the ends of the hood moulding.</p>
+
+<p>The choir is now closed by a screen carrying a large rood carved in
+oak. Like St. Michael's, but to a smaller extent, the axis of the
+choir inclines to the north. Whether symbolic, or only a part of what
+may be described as the studied irregularity of the whole building it
+is hard to say. The column on each side of the choir is later than the
+east respond and also later than the west tower pier, but corresponds
+with the east tower pier. The deep panelling beneath the windows must
+have been carried out when the clearstories were constructed in the
+fifteenth century.</p>
+
+<p>The south aisle of the choir, the original chapel of the patron saint,
+is now fitted up and used as a morning chapel. The piscina still
+remains in the south wall, and there is a trace of the old altar
+visible on the wall.</p>
+
+<p>The east end of the north aisle is now the organ chamber, and was
+originally the Lady Chapel. The base of the altar still exists, and so
+does the piscina in the south wall.</p>
+
+<p>In connection with these or other altars we hear of a payment of
+22<i>d.</i>, in 1474, for painting a cloth for the image of St. John
+Baptist, and in 1462 sums of 40<i>s.</i> and 7<i>s.</i> were paid to a sculptor
+of Burton-on-Trent for an alabaster statue of the Virgin and a base
+for it.</p>
+
+<p>At the foot of the south-west tower-pier are some decayed but
+interesting ancient tiles. The new ones have been copied from them.</p>
+
+<p>The vicissitudes in the church's fortunes have left little for us to
+see that is not part and parcel of the structure.</p>
+
+<p>That there were "orgaynes" as early as 1461 we know from entries in
+the city records giving the cost at different times of wire, glue,
+nails, thread, etc., for the reparation of them, while a payment of
+2<i>d.</i> for "a string" suggests that they were a combination of wind and
+string stops, similar to the 1733 organ of St. Michael's as built by
+Thomas Swarbrick. In 1519 the Prior bought the "metell of ye old
+orgayns in bablake" for 9<i>s.</i> 10<i>d.</i>, but doubtless the new one
+disappeared in the troublous times that followed. A new one has
+recently been set up.</p>
+
+<p>The pulpit is of stone and quite new, and the font, erected in 1843,
+is a copy of that of St. Edward's, Cambridge.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">91</a></span>There are five bells, the inscriptions on them being as follows:</p>
+
+
+<div class="block">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="70%" summary="Bells Inscriptions">
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl" width="10%" style="vertical-align: top;">1st.</td>
+  <td class="tdl" width="90%">Henrycus Bagley. M.C. Fecit 1676.</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl" style="vertical-align: top;">2nd.</td>
+  <td class="tdl">Pack &amp; Chapman. London 1778. Richard Eaton, Church-warden.</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl" style="vertical-align: top;">3rd.</td>
+  <td class="tdl">Henric Dodenhale, Fecit. M.C.E.I.C.R.I.</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl" style="vertical-align: top;">4th.</td>
+  <td class="tdl">(Illegible.) Probably of the end of fifteenth century.</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl" style="vertical-align: top;">5th.</td>
+  <td class="tdl" style="padding-left: 2em;">I ring at six to let men know<br />
+      When to and from their work to go.</td>
+  </tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+
+<p>Neglect and decay it has been seen had provided only too plausible
+excuses for restoration. In 1858 the church had a narrow escape from a
+worse fate, for it was proposed to extend it in some direction, and
+the architect suggested the lengthening of the north transept and the
+addition of a new north aisle. Probably lack of funds alone prevented
+the carrying out of a proposal which would have completely spoilt the
+proportions of this beautiful interior.</p>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<a name="THE_GREY_FRIARS" id="THE_GREY_FRIARS"></a><hr />
+<br />
+
+<h3>THE GREY FRIARS' CONVENT<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+
+<h4>CHRIST CHURCH</h4>
+<br />
+
+<p>The third of the "three tall spires," albeit nothing else remains of
+the church to which it belonged, deserves that some notice should be
+given of it and of the men who reared it.</p>
+
+<a name="imagep092" id="imagep092"></a>
+<div class="imgl" style="width: 30%;">
+<a href="images/imagep092.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep092.jpg" width="100%" alt="THE SPIRE OF CHRIST CHURCH." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">THE SPIRE OF CHRIST CHURCH.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>In 1234, eleven years after their first coming into England, the
+Franciscan Friars are heard of at Coventry, Ranulph, Earl of Chester,
+having granted them land for their oratory, and the Sheriff of
+Warwickshire, on behalf of the King, giving them shingles from the
+woods of Kenilworth wherewith to cover it. In 1359 the Black Prince,
+then owner of the Manor and Park of Cheylesmore, just outside the
+walls of the city and adjacent to their convent, granted them so much
+stone from his quarry there, "as they should have occasion to use
+about their buildings and walls," and probably at this time the
+church, of which Christ Church spire is a remnant, was built.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">92</a></span>At the same time he gave them "liberty to have a postern into the
+Park to carry out any of their convent that should be diseased."</p>
+
+<p>The house was surrendered to the King in 1539, the warden and ten
+brethren being compelled to sign a humiliating document, in which they
+professed to "profoundly consider that the perfection of Christian
+living doth not consist in dumb ceremonies, wearing of a grey coat,
+disguising ourself after strange fashions, ducking, nodding and
+becking, in girding our selves with a girdle full of knots and other
+like Papisticall ceremonies."</p>
+
+<a name="imagep093" id="imagep093"></a>
+<div class="imgr" style="width: 30%;">
+<a href="images/imagep093.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep093.jpg" width="100%" alt="GREY FRIARS' CHURCH (CROSSING)." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">GREY FRIARS' CHURCH (CROSSING).</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>It is certain at least that they had no accumulated wealth. Whatever
+they had received had been distributed for the advantage of the Church
+or the poor. At their suppression they had neither lands, tenements,
+nor other possessions, save their church and house and the land these
+stood on. The site was granted to the city and the buildings thrown
+down, only the spire with its supporting walls and arches being
+allowed to stand until 1829, when it was incorporated with the new
+nave of Christ Church from the designs of Rickman, to whom we are
+indebted for the first comprehensive and systematic account of English
+Medi&aelig;val architecture. The work shows how <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">93</a></span>imperfectly in those days
+even a genuine admirer of Medi&aelig;val Art understood its spirit.
+Unfortunately the tower and spire were recased with new stone, and the
+original character of the work largely disappeared. The total height
+is 204 feet, exclusive of the vane. The plan of the old church was
+interesting, especially in the arrangement of the crossing. The short
+transepts had little real relation to choir or nave, which were almost
+completely separated from one another, the nave being intended for the
+use of the public.</p>
+
+<p>The narrowing of the tower from east to west, and the insertion of
+secondary north and south arches to carry the slender octagonal tower
+is unusual and ingenious. The whole length was 250 feet, and the
+transepts were 96 feet from north to south. The nave and choir
+differed little in length.</p>
+
+<p>The connection of the Franciscans with the production of the
+Mysteries, or sacred plays, should not pass unnoticed. Dugdale, who
+had spoken with eye witnesses, thus alludes to the subject:</p>
+
+<div class="block" style="clear: both;"><p>Before the suppression of the Monasteries this City was very
+famous for the Pageants that were played therein upon Corpus
+Christi-day; which occasioning very great confluence of people
+thither from far and near, was of no small benefit thereto; which
+Pageants being acted with mighty State and Reverence by the
+Friars of this House, had Theatres for the several scenes, very
+large and high, placed upon wheels and drawn to all the eminent
+parts of the City for the better advantage of spectators; and
+contained the story of the Old and New Testament, composed in the
+old English Rithme, as appeareth by an ancient MS. intituled,
+<i>Ludus Corporis Christi</i>, or <i>Ludus Coventri&aelig;</i>.</p></div>
+
+<p>Along with a number that were performed by the city companies they are
+still to be seen in the British Museum. We know that the Friars
+presented them as late as 1492, when Henry VII was present with his
+Queen to see the plays "acted by the Grey Friars."</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">94</a></span>No remains exist of the domestic buildings of the Friary. The
+well-known Ford's Hospital hard by is often called Grey Friars'
+Hospital, but this arises merely from the situation. It was founded in
+1529 by Mr. William Ford of Coventry, Merchant of the Staple, for five
+men and one woman, but is now inhabited by women only. It is an
+exceptionally beautiful example of Tudor timber construction in
+perfect condition.</p>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<a name="THE_WHITE_FRIARS" id="THE_WHITE_FRIARS"></a><hr />
+<br />
+
+<h3>THE WHITE FRIARS<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+<br />
+
+<p>The Carmelite or White Friars were, says Dugdale, fixed in Coventry in
+1343 by Sir John Poultney who had been four times Lord Mayor of
+London. Although their buildings were ornate and extensive, their
+revenue apart from oblations amounted to only &pound;3 6<i>s.</i> 8<i>d.</i> per annum
+and the whole came to less than &pound;8. At the Dissolution the house and
+its revenues came eventually to John Hales, Clerk of the Hanaper to
+Henry VIII. Having amassed a great estate in monastery and chantry
+lands, Hales founded the Free School in Coventry, the Church of the
+White Friars being at first used for the purpose. Later, he made of
+the Friary a dwelling and removed the school to St. John's Hospital,
+granted to him by the king in 1545. Part of the church of the Hospital
+still exists at the foot of Bishop Street, but the school has been
+removed to new buildings in the Warwick Road.</p>
+
+<p>Of the buildings of the White Friars there are considerable remains
+incorporated with the Union Workhouse at the top of Much Park Street.
+The east walk of the cloister, 150 feet in length, has a fine groined
+roof of the fifteenth century. A range of vaulted apartments runs
+alongside the cloister on the east side, divided midway by the
+vestibule to the Chapter House now destroyed. The upper story above
+the cloister and the range of rooms was, we may assume, the friars'
+Dormitory. A huge fireplace and a bay window are part of John Hales'
+reconstruction. The gateway to the south-west corner of the cloister
+remains, and the outer gate of the precincts may still be seen in Much
+Park Street.</p>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">95</a></span><br />
+<hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">96</a></span><br />
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep096" id="imagep096"></a><a name="ST_MARY_HALL" id="ST_MARY_HALL"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep096.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep096.jpg" width="50%" alt="ST. MARY HALL." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">ST. MARY HALL.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">97</a></span><br />
+
+<h3>ST. MARY HALL<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+<br />
+
+<p>The Gilds were so important a part of the religious and social life of
+the city that it is imperative that some notice of their hall, which
+stands in suggestive proximity to the churches, should be given. St.
+Mary Hall, opposite the south side of St. Michael's is one of the most
+complete and beautiful examples of a fifteenth-century town dwelling
+now remaining in England. It originally belonged to the Gilds of Holy
+Trinity and Our Lady to which were united at a later time those of St.
+Katharine and St. John Baptist, the oldest to be founded. By the fine
+groined gateway we enter the courtyard, on the south side of which is
+the kitchen, probably the hall of an older structure of the first half
+of the fourteenth century, the present hall and its undercroft on the
+west side having been built between 1394 and 1414. On the east side is
+the entrance to the staircase leading to a gallery from which the hall
+is entered. At this end is the Minstrels' Gallery and beneath it are
+three doorways, the centre one leading to the kitchens below, that on
+the right to the old Council Chamber, that on the left to a smaller
+room known as the Princes' Chamber. From the Council Chamber is
+reached the stone-groined Treasury, now used for the safe keeping of
+muniments and records. It forms the first floor of a low tower.</p>
+
+<p>The hall, 70 feet by 30 feet, is of five bays, with the usual dais and
+oriel window at the far end from the entrance.</p>
+
+<a name="imagep098" id="imagep098"></a>
+
+<div class="imgl" style="width: 45%;">
+<a href="images/imagep098.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep098.jpg" width="100%" alt="ST. MARY HALL." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">ST. MARY HALL.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The nine-light window over the dais has its original glass, made, it
+is believed, by the John Thornton of Coventry who is known as the
+maker of the east window of York Minster. The upper part has numerous
+coats of arms of kings, cities, and princes, while the nine lights are
+filled with "portraitures of several kings in their surcotes," William
+I, Richard I, Henry III, IV, V, VI, King Arthur, the Emperor
+Constantine, and another unnamed. The windows on either side of the
+hall have <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">98</a></span>suffered grievously. Those on the west (left) were deprived
+of their heraldry and portraits in 1785. In those on the east new
+glass with poor imitations of the ancient series of figures and
+coats-of-arms was placed in 1824. At the same time the wainscotting
+painted in 1580 with inscriptions and heraldry was cleared away and
+replaced with cement. The inscriptions were copied with care, but "the
+ornamentation was followed without any very fastidious copying of the
+uncouth ancient style"!<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> The timber roof is of low pitch, with
+traceried spandrels above the tie-beams. Angels playing on a variety
+of instruments are placed at the centre of each tie-beam and there is
+much good carving of foliage and animals at the intersections of the
+timbers. The most famous adornment of the hall is the tapestry behind
+the dais. The following views as to its origin and subject are those
+of George Scharf the antiquary. It is of Flemish design but probably
+of English manufacture, is woven, not embroidered, and was made in the
+early sixteenth century for the place it occupies, its compartments
+corresponding with those of the window. It is in six compartments in
+two rows. The upper central has a figure of Justice, an insertion
+probably in the place of Christ, angels with the instruments of the
+Passion being on either side. The lower central represents the
+Assumption of the Virgin in presence of the apostles. The upper left
+in order from the centre has eleven saints, SS. John Baptist, Matthias
+(?), Paul, Adrian, Peter, George, Andrew, No. 8(?), Bartholomew,
+Simon, Thaddeus. The corresponding female saints on the right are SS.
+Katherine, Barbara, Dorothy, Mary Magdalen, No. 5 (?), Margaret,
+Agnes, Gertrude of Nivelle, Anne, Apollonia.</p>
+
+<p>The lower left has a king kneeling at a prie-dieu on which is his
+crown and an open book. A cardinal kneels behind him <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">99</a></span>but there is no
+other ecclesiastic among the seventeen courtiers standing behind. In
+the opposite compartment is a queen kneeling with a number of ladies,
+among whom are two in monastic dress. Although the work belongs to the
+reign of Henry VII, the king and queen are almost certainly Henry VI
+and Margaret of Anjou.</p>
+
+<p>On the walls are portraits of later sovereigns from William III to
+George IV, that of George III being by Lawrence. The Mayoress' Parlour
+opening from the dais has been drastically restored. It contains
+portraits of Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, James I, and Charles I, and
+four benefactors to the city, John Hales, founder of the Free School,
+Sir Thomas White, Thomas Jesson and Christopher Davenport.</p>
+
+<br />
+<hr style="width: 15%;" />
+<br />
+
+<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> "Coventry: its History and Antiquities," B. Poole, 1870.</p></div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<a name="THE_CARTHUSIAN_MONASTERY" id="THE_CARTHUSIAN_MONASTERY"></a><hr />
+<br />
+
+<h3>THE CARTHUSIAN MONASTERY<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+<br />
+
+<p>Little remains of this monastery which stood on the south side and not
+far from the city. The Order settled in Coventry in 1381 only ten
+years after the foundation of the London Charter-house. At the
+Dissolution the Prior and brethren, ten in all, did not emulate the
+heroism of the London monks and were fortunate enough to obtain
+pensions instead of martyrdom. Some trifling remains exist
+incorporated in a modern mansion, and a wall of the garden shows the
+position of doors which led to the isolated cells of the monks. The
+Botoners had given freely to the building of the church and cloisters
+of which Richard II laid the first stone in 1385 and afterwards
+largely endowed "on condition that they should find and maintain
+within the precinct of their house, twelve poor scholars from seven
+years old till they accomplished the age of seventeen years, there to
+pray for the good estate of him the said King and of his Consort,
+during this life, and for the health of their souls after death."</p>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">100</a></span><br />
+<hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">101</a></span><br />
+
+<h3>INDEX</h3>
+<br />
+
+<ul>
+<li>Abbots of Coventry, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Alms-boxes, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Apse, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Bells, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Benefactors of Coventry, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Botoner, William and Adam, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Carthusian Monastery, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Chantries, Foundation of, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Christ Church, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li>
+
+<li>City, History of, <a href="#Page_1">1-15</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Cross, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Dissolution of Monasteries, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Duel, Hereford and Norfolk, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Evens or Wakes, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Fonts, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Ford's Hospital, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Friars, Coming of, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Grey Friars Convent (Christ Church):
+  <ul class="nest">
+  <li>History, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.</li>
+  <li>Plan of Crossing, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>.</li>
+  <li>Suppression, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>.</li>
+  </ul>
+</li>
+
+<li>Gilds, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Glass, Ancient, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Godiva and Leofric, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Hales, John, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Hermitage. <a href="#Page_83">83</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Hospital, Ford's, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Hospital, St. John's, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Lollards, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Martyrs, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Midsummer Eve, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Misereres, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Monastery, History, <a href="#Page_1">1-15</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Monastery Ruins, <a href="#Page_16">16-18</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Orders of Angels, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Organ, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Pageants and Plays, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Parliamentum Indoctorum, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Parliamentum Diabolicum, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Persecution, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Pilgrims' Rest or Guest House, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Priory, Ruins, <a href="#Page_16">16-18</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Royal visits:
+  <ul class="nest">
+  <li>Henry VI, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li>
+  <li>Margaret, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>.</li>
+  <li>Edward IV, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li>
+  <li>Richard III, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>.</li>
+  <li>Henry VII, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>.</li>
+  <li>Henry VIII, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>.</li>
+  <li>Elizabeth, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li>
+  <li>Mary Queen of Scots, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li>
+  <li>Charles I, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li>
+  </ul>
+<br /></li>
+
+
+<li>St. John Baptist Church:
+  <ul class="nest">
+  <li>History, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>.</li>
+  <li>Exterior, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>.</li>
+  <li>Interior, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.</li>
+  <li>Bells, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li>
+  <li>Clearstory windows, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>.</li>
+  <li>Collegiate foundation, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>.</li>
+  <li>Glass, ancient, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>.</li>
+  <li>Organ, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>.</li>
+  </ul>
+</li>
+
+<li>St. Mary Hall:
+  <ul class="nest">
+  <li>Glass, ancient, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>.</li>
+  <li>Plan, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>.</li>
+  <li>Portraits, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.</li>
+  <li>Tapestry, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>.</li>
+  </ul>
+</li>
+
+<li>St. Michael's Church:
+  <ul class="nest">
+  <li>History, <a href="#Page_21">21-26</a>.</li>
+  <li>Exterior, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>.</li>
+  <li>Interior, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">102</a></span></li>
+  <li>Apse, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>.</li>
+  <li>Bells, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>.</li>
+  <li>Brasses, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>.</li>
+  <li>Chapels:
+    <ul style="margin-top: .15em; margin-bottom: .15em; text-indent: -3em;">
+    <li>Cappers', <a href="#Page_53">53</a>.</li>
+    <li>Drapers' or Lady, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>.</li>
+    <li>Dyers', <a href="#Page_52">52</a>.</li>
+    <li>Mercers, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>.</li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+  <li>Chapter, Constitution of, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>.</li>
+  <li>Chest, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>.</li>
+  <li>Crypt, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>.</li>
+  <li>Font, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>.</li>
+  <li>Glass, ancient, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>.</li>
+  <li>Old church, position of, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>.</li>
+  <li>Organ, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>.</li>
+  <li>Porch, south, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>.</li>
+  <li>Proportions of Steeple, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>.</li>
+  <li>Pulpit, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>.</li>
+  <li>Spire, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.</li>
+  <li>Tombs:
+    <ul style="margin-top: .15em; margin-bottom: .15em; text-indent: -3em;">
+    <li>Berkeley, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>.</li>
+    <li>Bond, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>.</li>
+    <li>Nethermyl, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>.</li>
+    <li>Skeffington, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>.</li>
+    <li>Swillington, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>.</li>
+    <li>Wade's, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>.</li>
+    </ul>
+  <br /></li>
+  </ul></li>
+
+<li>Trinity Church:
+  <ul class="nest">
+  <li>History, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>.</li>
+  <li>Exterior, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>.</li>
+  <li>Interior, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>.</li>
+
+  <li>Chapels:
+    <ul style="margin-top: .15em; margin-bottom: .15em; text-indent: -3em;">
+    <li>Archdeacon's, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.</li>
+    <li>Butchers', <a href="#Page_76">76</a>.</li>
+    <li>Corpus Christi, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>.</li>
+    <li>Marler's, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>.</li>
+    <li>St. Thomas's, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>.</li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>Clearstory, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>.</li>
+  <li>Font, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>.</li>
+  <li>Glass, ancient, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.</li>
+  <li>Lectern, Eagle, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>.</li>
+  <li>Organ, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>.</li>
+  <li>Plan, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>.</li>
+  <li>Pulpit, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>.</li>
+  <li>Spire, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>.</li>
+
+  <li>Tombs:
+    <ul style="margin-top: .15em; margin-bottom: .15em; text-indent: -3em;">
+    <li>Philemon Holland, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.</li>
+    <li>Whithead (Brass), <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.</li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+
+  </ul>
+<br /></li>
+
+
+<li>White Friars' Convent, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.</li>
+</ul>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<hr />
+<br />
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep103" id="imagep103"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep103.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep103.jpg" width="95%" alt="ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH" /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<hr />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<div class="img">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep104.png" width="15%" alt="CHISWICK PRESS Logo" />
+</div>
+
+<h5>CHISWICK PRESS: CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND CO.<br />
+TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON.</h5>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<hr />
+<br />
+
+
+<h2>Bell's Cathedral Series</h2>
+
+<h4>ILLUSTRATED MONOGRAPHS ON THE GREAT<br />
+ENGLISH CATHEDRALS AND CHURCHES</h4>
+
+<h5><i>Crown 8vo. Profusely Illustrated, in specially designed cloth
+binding, 1s. 6d. net each.</i></h5>
+<br />
+
+<div class="block">
+<p>This series of monographs upon our great English Cathedral Churches
+has been framed to give students of Architecture handy reference
+volumes, and the visitor trustworthy guide-books, at once cheaper and
+more fully illustrated than any previous works of similar character.</p>
+
+<p>Each volume contains not only a complete history of the see and of the
+Cathedral fabric, but a critical and descriptive survey of the
+building in all its detail; sufficiently accurate from the
+archaeological point of view to furnish a trustworthy record of the
+building in its past and present condition, and not too technical in
+its language for the occasional use of the casual visitor. Brief
+biographical accounts of the bishops and other notable men connected
+with the Diocese are also included.</p>
+
+<p>The volumes are fully illustrated from modern photographs and
+drawings, and contain also reproductions from old, and in some cases
+rare, prints, for the purpose of tracing the gradual growth and
+development of the existing buildings.</p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<h2>Bell's Cathedral Series</h2>
+
+<h5><i>Profusely Illustrated. Cloth, crown 8vo, 1s. 6d. net each.</i></h5>
+
+<h4>NOW READY</h4>
+<br />
+
+<div class="block2">
+<p class="hang">ENGLISH CATHEDRALS. An Itinerary and Description. Compiled by J.
+G. GILCHRIST, A.M., M.D. Revised and edited with an
+Introduction on Cathedral Architecture by Rev. <span class="sc">T.
+Perkins</span>, M.A., F.R.A.S.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">BANGOR. By <span class="sc">P.B. Ironside-Bax.</span></p>
+
+<p class="hang">BRISTOL. By <span class="sc">H.J.L.J. Mass&eacute;</span>, M.A.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">CANTERBURY. By <span class="sc">Hartley Withers</span>. 4th Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">CARLISLE. By <span class="sc">C.K. Eley.</span></p>
+
+<p class="hang">CHESTER. By <span class="sc">Charles Hiatt.</span> 2nd Edition, revised.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">CHICHESTER. By <span class="sc">H.C. Corlette</span>, A.R.I.B.A. 2nd Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">DURHAM. By <span class="sc">J.E. Bygate</span>, A.R.C.A. 2nd Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">ELY. By Rev. <span class="sc">W.D. Sweeting</span>, M.A. 2nd Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">EXETER. By <span class="sc">Percy Addleshaw</span>, B.A. 2nd Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">GLOUCESTER. By <span class="sc">H.J.L.J. Mass&eacute;</span>, M.A. 2nd Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">HEREFORD. By <span class="sc">A. Hugh Fisher</span>, A.R.E. 2nd Edition, revised.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">LICHFIELD. By <span class="sc">A.B. Clifton</span>. 2nd Edition, revised.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">LINCOLN. By <span class="sc">A.F. Kendrick</span>, B.A. 3rd Edition, revised.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">LLANDAFF. By <span class="sc">E.C. Morgan-Willmott.</span></p>
+
+<p class="hang">MANCHESTER. By the Rev. <span class="sc">T. Perkins</span>, M.A., F.R.A.S.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">NORWICH. By <span class="sc">C.H.B. Quennell.</span> 2nd Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">OXFORD. By Rev. <span class="sc">Percy Dearmer</span>, M.A. 2nd Edition, revised.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">PETERBOROUGH. By Rev.<span class="sc"> W.D. Sweeting</span>, M.A. 2nd Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">RIPON. By <span class="sc">Cecil Hallet</span>, B.A.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">ROCHESTER. By <span class="sc">G.H. Palmer</span>, B.A. 2nd Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">ST. ALBANS. By Rev. <span class="sc">T. Perkins</span>, M.A.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">ST. ASAPH. By <span class="sc">P.B. Ironside-Bax.</span></p>
+
+<p class="hang">ST. DAVID'S. By <span class="sc">Philip Robson</span>, A.R.I.B.A.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">ST. PATRICK'S, DUBLIN. By the Very Rev. Dean <span class="sc">Bernard</span>. 2nd
+Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">ST. PAUL'S. By Rev. <span class="sc">Arthur Dimock</span>, M.A. 2nd Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">SALISBURY. By <span class="sc">Gleeson White</span>, 2nd Edition, revised.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">SOUTHWARK, ST. SAVIOUR'S. By <span class="sc">George Worley</span>.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">SOUTHWELL. By Rev. <span class="sc">Arthur Dimock</span>, M.A. 2nd Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">WELLS. By Rev. <span class="sc">Percy Dearmer</span>, M.A. 2nd Edition, revised.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">WINCHESTER. By <span class="sc">P.W. Sergeant</span>. 3rd Edition, revised.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">WORCESTER. By <span class="sc">Edward F. Strange.</span></p>
+
+<p class="hang">YORK. By <span class="sc">A. Clutton Brock.</span> 3rd Edition.</p>
+</div>
+
+<h5><i>Others to follow</i>.</h5>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<h2>Bell's Cathedral Series</h2>
+
+<h4>UNIFORM VOLUMES</h4>
+
+<h5><i>Profusely Illustrated. Cloth, crown 8vo, 1s. 6d. net.</i></h5>
+<br />
+
+<div class="block2">
+<p class="hang">BATH ABBEY, MALMESBURY ABBEY, AND BRADFORD-ON-AVON CHURCH. By
+Rev. <span class="sc">T. Perkins</span>, M.A.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">BEVERLEY MINSTER. By <span class="sc">Charles Hiatt.</span> 47 Illustrations.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">ST. MARTIN'S CHURCH, CANTERBURY. By Rev. <span class="sc">Canon Routledge</span>,
+M.A., F.S.A. 24 Illustrations.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">THE CHURCHES OF COVENTRY. By <span class="sc">Frederic W. Woodhouse.</span></p>
+
+<p class="hang">ROMSEY ABBEY. By Rev. <span class="sc">T. Perkins</span>, M.A.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">STRATFORD-ON-AVON. By <span class="sc">Harold Baker.</span></p>
+
+<p class="hang">THE TEMPLE CHURCH. By <span class="sc">George Worley.</span></p>
+
+<p class="hang">ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, SMITHFIELD. By <span class="sc">George Worley.</span></p>
+
+<p class="hang">TEWKESBURY ABBEY AND DEERHURST PRIORY. By <span class="sc">H.J.L.J. Mass&eacute;</span>,
+M.A. 44 Illustrations.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">WESTMINSTER ABBEY. By <span class="sc">Charles Hiatt.</span></p>
+
+<p class="hang">WIMBORNE MINSTER AND CHRISTCHURCH PRIORY. By Rev. <span class="sc">T.
+Perkins</span>, M.A., F.R.A.S. 65 Illustrations.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">MALVERN PRIORY. By the REV. <span class="sc">Anthony C. Deane.</span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<h2>Bell's Handbooks to Continental Churches</h2>
+
+<h5><i>Profusely Illustrated. Crown 8vo, cloth, 2s. 6d. net each.</i></h5>
+<br />
+
+<div class="block2">
+<p class="hang">CHARTRES: The Cathedral and Other Churches. By <span class="sc">H.J.L.J.
+Mass&eacute;</span>, M.A.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">ROUEN: The Cathedral and Other Churches. By the Rev. <span class="sc">T.
+Perkins</span>, M.A.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">AMIENS. By the Rev. <span class="sc">T. Perkins</span>, M.A., F.R.A.S.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">PARIS (NOTRE-DAME). By <span class="sc">Charles Hiatt</span>.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">MONT ST. MICHEL. By <span class="sc">H.J.L.J. Mass&eacute;</span>, M.A.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">BAYEUX. By the Rev. <span class="sc">R.S. Mylne</span>, M.A.</p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<h3>Opinions of the Press.</h3>
+<br />
+
+<div class="block">
+<p>"For the purpose at which they aim they are admirably done, and there
+are few visitants to any of our noble shrines who will not enjoy their
+visit the better for being furnished with one of these delightful
+books, which can be slipped into the pocket and carried with ease, and
+is yet distinct and legible.... A volume such as that on Canterbury is
+exactly what we want, and on our next visit we hope to have it with
+us. It is thoroughly helpful, and the views of the fair city and its
+noble cathedral are beautiful. Both volumes, moreover, will serve more
+than a temporary purpose, and are trustworthy as well as
+delightful."&mdash;<i>Notes and Queries</i>.</p>
+
+<p>"We have so frequently in these columns urged the want of cheap,
+well-illustrated, and well-written handbooks to our cathedrals, to
+take the place of the out-of-date publications of local booksellers,
+that we are glad to hear that they have been taken in hand by Messrs.
+George Bell &amp; Sons."&mdash;<i>James's Gazette</i>.</p>
+
+<p>"The volumes are handy in size, moderate in price, well illustrated,
+and written in a scholarly spirit. The history of cathedral and city
+is intelligently set forth and accompanied by a descriptive survey of
+the building in all its detail. The illustrations are copious and well
+selected, and the series bids fair to become an indispensable
+companion to the cathedral tourist in England."&mdash;<i>Times</i>.</p>
+
+<p>"They are nicely produced in good type, on good paper, and contain
+numerous illustrations, are well written, and very cheap. We should
+imagine architects and students of architecture will be sure to buy
+the series as they appear, for they contain in brief much valuable
+information."&mdash;<i>British Architect</i>.</p>
+
+<p>"Each of them contains exactly that amount of information which the
+intelligent visitor, who is not a specialist, will wish to have. The
+disposition of the various parts is judiciously proportioned, and the
+style is very read-able. The illustrations supply a further important
+feature; they are both numerous and good. A series which cannot fail
+to be welcomed by all who are interested in the ecclesiastical
+buildings of England."&mdash;<i>Glasgow Herald</i>.</p>
+
+<p>"Those who, either for purposes of professional study or for a
+cultured recreation, find it expedient to 'do' the English cathedrals
+will welcome the beginning of Bell's 'Cathedral Series.' This set of
+books is an attempt to consult, more closely, and in greater detail
+than the usual guide-books do, the needs of visitors to the cathedral
+towns. The series cannot but prove markedly successful. In each book a
+business-like description is given of the fabric of the church to
+which the volume relates, and an interesting history of the relative
+diocese. The books are plentifully illustrated, and are thus made
+attractive as well as instructive. They cannot but prove welcome to
+all classes of readers interested either in English Church history or
+in ecclesiastical architecture."&mdash;<i>Scotsman</i>.</p>
+
+<p>"They have nothing in common with the almost invariably wretched local
+guides save portability, and their only competitors in the quality and
+quantity of their contents are very expensive and mostly rare works,
+each of a size that suggests a packing-case rather than a coat-pocket.
+The 'Cathedral Series' are important compilations concerning history,
+architecture, and biography, and quite popular enough for such as take
+any sincere interest in their subjects."&mdash;<i>Sketch</i>.</p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<h4>LONDON: GEORGE BELL AND SONS<br />
+<span class="sc">York House, Portugal Street, W.C.</span></h4>
+
+<br />
+<hr />
+<br />
+
+<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11403 ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
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+This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
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+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
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+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #11403 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11403)
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bell's Cathedrals: The Churches of Coventry, by 
+Frederic W.  Woodhouse
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Bell's Cathedrals: The Churches of Coventry
+       A Short History of the City and Its Medieval Remains
+
+Author: Frederic W.  Woodhouse
+
+Release Date: February 11, 2007 [EBook #11403]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BELL'S CATHEDRALS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Keith M. Eckrich, Jeannie
+Howse and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
+http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+    +--------------------------------------------------------------+
+    | Transcriber's Note:                                          |
+    |                                                              |
+    | Inconsistent hyphenation and archaic spelling in the         |
+    | original document has been preserved.                        |
+    |                                                              |
+    +--------------------------------------------------------------+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+[Illustration: COVENTRY, THE THREE SPIRES.]
+
+
+
+
+THE CHURCHES OF COVENTRY
+
+A SHORT HISTORY OF THE
+CITY & ITS MEDIEVAL
+REMAINS
+
+BY
+FREDERIC W. WOODHOUSE
+
+WITH XL ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+[Illustration: ARMS OF COVENTRY]
+
+
+LONDON GEORGE BELL & SONS 1909
+
+
+
+
+CHISWICK PRESS: CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND CO.
+TOOK COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON.
+
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+
+The principal authorities for the history of Coventry and its churches
+have been Dugdale's "Antiquities of Warwickshire" and the "Illustrated
+Papers and the History and Antiquities of the City of Coventry," by
+Thomas Sharp, edited by W.G. Fretton (1871). Besides these the many
+papers by Mr. Fretton in the Transactions of the Birmingham and
+Midland Institute and other Societies, and the "History and
+Antiquities of Coventry" by Benjamin Poole (1870) have been the main
+sources of historical information. The Author is, however, responsible
+for the architectural opinions and descriptions, which are mainly the
+outcome of a lifelong acquaintance with the city and its buildings,
+fortified by several weeks of study and investigation recently
+undertaken.
+
+He desires to acknowledge his deep obligations to the Vicars of the
+several churches for leave to examine, measure and photograph the
+buildings in their charge; to Mr. J. Oldrid Scott for the loan of
+drawings of St. Michael's; to Mr. A. Brown, Librarian of the Coventry
+Public Library for advice and help in making use of the store of
+topographical material under his care; to Mr. Owen, Verger of St.
+Michael's and Mr. Chapman, Verger of Holy Trinity, for help in various
+directions, and to Mr. Wilfred Sims for his energy and care in taking
+most of the photographs required for illustration.
+
+The other illustrations are reproduced from drawings made by the
+author.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+MONASTERY AND CITY                                              3
+
+THE RUINS OF THE PRIORY AND CATHEDRAL CHURCH                   16
+
+ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH:
+  CHAPTER I. HISTORY OF THE CHURCH                             21
+         II. THE EXTERIOR                                      29
+        III. THE INTERIOR                                      41
+
+HOLY TRINITY CHURCH:
+  CHAPTER I. HISTORY OF THE CHURCH                             61
+         II. THE EXTERIOR                                      65
+        III. THE INTERIOR                                      69
+
+ST. JOHN BAPTIST'S CHURCH                                      79
+
+THE GREY FRIARS' CONVENT (CHRIST CHURCH)                       91
+
+THE WHITE FRIARS                                               94
+
+ST. MARY HALL                                                  96
+
+THE CARTHUSIAN MONASTERY                                       99
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+COVENTRY, THE THREE SPIRES                         _Frontispiece_
+
+ARMS OF THE TOWN                                     _Title-page_
+
+VIEW FROM THE TOP OF BISHOP STREET                              2
+
+COOK STREET GATE                                                7
+
+SEAL OF THE PRIORY                                             15
+
+WEST END OF THE PRIORY CHURCH                                  16
+
+REMAINS OF THE NORTH-WEST TOWER IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY      17
+
+ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE NORTH                                   20
+
+ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE NORTH-WEST                              28
+
+INTERIOR OF THE TOWER FROM BELOW                               31
+
+THE WEST PORCH                                                 33
+
+SOUTH PORCH FROM ST. MARY HALL                                 34
+
+SOUTH-WEST DOORWAY                                             35
+
+INTERIOR OF ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE WEST                        40
+
+TOWER ARCH                                                     42
+
+BAY OF NAVE, NORTH SIDE                                        43
+
+INTERIOR FROM THE SOUTH DOOR                                   45
+
+THE CHOIR FROM ST. LAWRENCE'S CHAPEL                           46
+
+POPPY HEAD, LADY CHAPEL                                        48
+
+MISERERE, LADY CHAPEL                                          48
+
+CHEST IN NORTH AISLE                                           50
+
+THE NETHERMYL TOMB                                             51
+
+THE SWILLINGTON TOMB                                           54
+
+ALMS-BOX                                                       56
+
+HOLY TRINITY FROM THE NORTH (ABOUT 1850)                       60
+
+PLAN OF TRINITY CHURCH                                         66
+
+INTERIOR OF HOLY TRINITY, FROM THE WEST                        68
+
+NORTH SIDE OF NAVE--EASTERN BAYS                               71
+
+PULPIT                                                         73
+
+ARCHWAY BETWEEN THE NORTH PORCH AND ST. THOMAS'S CHAPEL        74
+
+ALMS-BOX                                                       77
+
+CHURCH OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST                                     80
+
+PLAN                                                           85
+
+INTERIOR                                                       87
+
+CLEARSTORY WINDOWS                                             88
+
+THE SPIRE OF CHRIST CHURCH                                     92
+
+GREY FRIARS' CHURCH (PLAN OF CROSSING)                         93
+
+ST. MARY HALL                                                  96
+
+PLAN                                                           98
+
+PLAN OF ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH                             _At End_
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: VIEW FROM THE TOP OF BISHOP STREET.]
+
+
+
+
+CHURCHES OF COVENTRY
+
+MONASTERY AND CITY
+
+
+The opening words of Sir William Dugdale's account of Coventry assert
+that it is a city "remarkable for antiquity, charters, rights and
+privileges, and favours shown by monarchs." Though this handbook is
+primarily concerned with a feature of the city he does not here
+mention--its magnificent buildings--the history of these is bound up
+with that of the city. The connection of its great parish churches
+with the everyday life of the people, though commonly on a narrower
+stage, is more intimate than is that of a cathedral or an abbey
+church, but it is to be remembered that without its Monastery Coventry
+might never have been more than a village or small market town.
+
+We cannot expect the records of a parish church to be as full and
+complete as those of a cathedral, always in touch through its bishops
+with the political life of the country and enjoying the services of
+numerous officials; or as those of a monastery, with its leisured
+chroniclers ever patiently recording the annals of their house, the
+doings of its abbots, the dealings of their house with mother church
+and the outside world, and all its internal life and affairs. In the
+case of Coventry, the unusual fulness of its city archives, the
+accounts and records of its guilds and companies, and the close
+connection of these with the church supplies us with a larger body of
+information than is often at the disposal of the historian of a parish
+church. As therefore, in narrating the story of a cathedral some
+account of the Diocese and its Bishops has been given, so, before
+describing the churches of Coventry, we shall give in outline the
+history of the city which for 700 years gave its name to a bishop and
+of the great monastery whose church was for 400 years his seat.
+
+Though Dugdale says that it is remarkable for antiquity, Coventry as
+a city has no early history comparable with that of such places as
+York, Canterbury, Exeter, or Colchester, while its modern history is
+mainly a record of fluctuating trade and the rise and decline of new
+industries. But through all its Mediæval period, from the eleventh
+century down to the Reformation, with an expiring flicker of energy in
+the seventeenth, there is no lack of life and colour, and its story
+touches every side of the national life, political, religious, and
+domestic. The only evidence of extreme antiquity produced by Dugdale
+is the suffix of its name, for "_tre_ is British, and signifieth the
+same that _villa_ in Latin doth;" while the first part may be derived
+from the convent or from a supposed ancient name, Cune, for the
+Sherborne brook.
+
+The first date we have is 1016, when Canute invaded Mercia, burning
+and laying waste its towns and settlements, including a house of nuns
+at Coventry founded by the Virgin St. Osburg in 670, and ruled over by
+her.[1]
+
+But there is no sure starting-point until the foundation of the
+monastery by Earl Leofric and the Countess Godiva, the church being
+dedicated by Edsi, Archbishop of Canterbury, in honour of God, the
+Virgin Mary, St. Peter, St. Osburg, and All Saints on 4th October,
+1043. Leofwin, who was first abbot with twenty-four monks under his
+rule, ten years after became Bishop of Lichfield. The original
+endowment by Leofric, consisted of a half of Coventry[2] with fifteen
+lordships in Warwickshire and nine in other counties, making it (says
+Roger de Hoveden) the wealthiest monastery of the period. Besides this
+the pious Godiva gave all the gold and silver which she had to make
+crosses, images, and other adornments for the church and its services.
+The well-known legend of her ride through Coventry first appears in
+the pages of Matthew of Westminster in the early fourteenth century.
+The Charter of Exemption from Tolls is not in existence, and the story
+of Peeping Tom is the embroidery of the prurient age (1678), in which
+the pageant was instituted. In a window of Trinity Church figures of
+Leofric and Godiva were set up about the time of Richard II, the Earl
+holding in his right hand a Charter with these words written thereon:
+
+    I Luriche for the Love of thee
+    Doe make Coventre Toll-free.
+
+Abbot Leofwin was succeeded in 1053 by Leofric, nephew of the great
+earl; and he by a second Leofwin, who died in 1095. The first Norman
+bishop of Lichfield had, in compliance with the decision of a Synod
+(1075) in London fixing bishops' seats in large towns, removed his to
+St. John's, Chester. But his successor, Robert de Lymesey--whose greed
+appears to have been notable in a greedy age--having the king's
+permission to farm the monastic revenues until the appointment of a
+new abbot, held it for seven years, and then, in 1102, removed his
+stool to Coventry. Five of his successors were bishops of Coventry
+only, then the style changed to Coventry and Lichfield, and so
+remained till 1661, when (in consequence of the disloyalty of Coventry
+and the sufferings of Lichfield in the royal cause) the order was
+reversed!
+
+In 1836 the archdeaconry of Coventry was annexed to Worcester and its
+name disappeared from the title, and now it is probable that Coventry
+will soon again give her name to a See without dividing the honour.
+For the joint episcopal history the reader must be referred to the
+handbook in this series on Lichfield Cathedral. In this place will
+only be given that of the Monastery as such, and specially in
+connection with its "appropriated" parish churches and the City in
+which it stood. That history is not essentially different from that of
+other monasteries. Though its connection with the See and the rival
+claims and antagonisms of the respective Chapters produced a plentiful
+crop of serious quarrels, its relations with the townsfolk were free
+from such violent episodes as occurred at Bury St. Edmunds or St.
+Albans. The Chapter of Lichfield consisted of secular priests (Lymesey
+and his next successor were married men), while the Monastery, though
+freed by pope and king from any episcopal or justiciary power and with
+the right of electing its own abbot, was, like all monastic bodies,
+always jealous of the encroachments of bishops, and regarded secular
+priests as inferior in every respect. The opinion of the laity who saw
+both sides may be gathered from Chaucer's picture of a "poore Persoun
+of a toun." He knew well enough how the revenue, which should have
+gone to the parish, its parson and its poor, went to fill the coffers
+of rich abbeys, to build enormous churches and furnish them
+sumptuously, to provide retinues of lazy knights for the train of
+abbot or bishop, and to prosecute lawsuits in the papal courts.
+
+But when bishop and abbot were one and the same, the monks still
+claimed the right of election, and so for generations the history of
+the diocese is a tale of strife and bickering, and how it was that
+pope, king or archbishop did not perceive that it was a case of
+hopeless incompatibility of temper, or, perceiving it, did not
+dissolve the union or get it dissolved is difficult to see. Probably
+the injury done to religion weighed but lightly against vested
+interests and the power of the purse. The Monastery was, however, as
+Dugdale says, "the chief occasion of all the succeeding wealth and
+honour that accrued to Coventry"; for though the original Nunnery may
+have been planted in an existing settlement, or have attracted one
+about it, the greater wealth of the Abbey, its right to hold markets,
+and all its own varied requirements would quickly increase and bring
+prosperity to such a township, as it did at Bury St. Edmunds,
+Burton-on-Trent and many another.
+
+In the thirteenth century the priory was in financial straits, through
+being fined by Henry III for disobedience. Later, however, he granted
+further privileges to the monks, among them that of embodying the
+merchants in a Gild. In 1340 Edward III granted this privilege to the
+City. From an early period the manufacture of cloth and caps and
+bonnets was the principal trade of Coventry, and though Leland says,
+"the town rose by making of cloth and caps, which now decaying, the
+glory of the City also decayeth," it was only destroyed by the French
+wars of the seventeenth century. But in 1377, when only eighteen towns
+in the kingdom had more than 3,000 inhabitants, and York, the second
+city, had only 11,000, Coventry was fourth with 7,000. Just one
+hundred years later 3,000 died here of the plague, one of many
+visitations of that terrible scourge. At the Suppression it had risen
+to 15,000, and soon after fell to 3,000, through loss of trade for
+"want of such concourse of people that numerously resorted thither
+before that fatal Dissolution."
+
+But if the town grew apace so did the Monastery. Thus, when in 1244
+Earl Hugh died childless his sisters divided his estates and Coventry
+fell to Cecily, wife of Roger de Montalt. Six years later the
+Monastery lent him a large sum to take him to the Holy Land, and
+received from him the lordship of Coventry (excepting the Manor House
+and Park of Cheylesmore) and the advowson of St. Michael's and its
+dependent chapels, thus becoming the landlords of nearly the whole of
+Coventry.
+
+[Illustration: COOK STREET GATE.]
+
+Civic powers grew with the growth of trade. Before 1218 a fair of
+eight days had been granted to the Priory, and later another of six
+days, to be held in the earl's half of the town about the Feast of
+Holy Trinity. In 1285 a patent from the king is addressed to the
+burgesses and true men to levy tolls for paving the town; one in 1328
+for tolls for inclosing the city with walls and gates, while in 1344
+the city was given a corporation, with mayor, bailiffs, a common seal,
+and a prison. As the municipal importance and the dignity of the city
+increased, the desire for their visible signs strengthened, and so, in
+1355, work was begun on the walls, Newgate (on the London Road) being
+the first gate to be built. Such undertakings proceeded slowly, and
+nine years later the royal permission was obtained to levy a tax for
+their construction, "the lands and goods of all ecclesiastical persons
+excepted."
+
+Twice afterwards we hear of licence being granted by Richard II to dig
+stone in Cheylesmore Park, first for Grey Friars Gate, and later for
+Spon Gate, "near his Chapel of Babelake." The walls so built were of
+imposing extent and dimensions, being three yards in breadth, two and
+a quarter miles in circumference, and having thirty-two towers and
+twelve gates.[3] Nehemiah Wharton, a Parliamentary officer in 1642,
+reports of the city that it is:
+
+   Environed with a wall co-equal, if not exceedinge, that of
+   London, for breadth and height; and with gates and battlements,
+   magnificent churches and stately streets and abundant fountains
+   of water; altogether a place very sweetly situate and where there
+   is no stint of venison.
+
+To return to the monastic history. We have seen how, in the
+mid-thirteenth century the Monastery had become the landlord of the
+city; shortly before this it had been so impoverished with ceaseless
+quarrels with the King and the Lichfield Chapter, involving costly
+appeals to Rome, that the Prior was reduced to asking the hospitality
+of the monks of Derley for some of the brethren. A period of
+prosperity followed and many benefactions flowed in, including the
+gift of various churches by the king. It was after twenty-six years of
+quarrelling that the Pope, in 1224, had appointed to the bishopric
+Walter de Stavenby, an able and learned man. During his episcopacy the
+friars made their appearance in England, and by him the Franciscans
+were introduced at Lichfield, while at Coventry Ranulph, Earl of
+Chester, gave them land in Cheylesmore on which to build their oratory
+and house.
+
+They were not generally welcomed by the monks. A Benedictine laments
+their first appearance thus "Oh shame! oh worse than shame! oh
+barbarous pestilence! the Minor Brethren are come into England!" and
+at Bury they were obliged to build outside a mile radius from the
+Abbey. The parish priests also soon found out that they were undersold
+in the exercise of their spiritual offices and although no doubt many
+badly needed awakening they were not, on that account, the more likely
+to welcome the intruders.
+
+Another innovation, affecting the fortunes of the parish priest, had
+its beginning under the rule of Bishop Stavenby though its greatest
+development occurred in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. This
+was the foundation of Chantries designed primarily for the maintenance
+of a priest or priests to say mass daily or otherwise for the soul's
+health of the founder, his family and forbears. The earliest we hear
+of are one at Lincoln, and one at Hatherton in Coventry Archdeaconry
+while the Bishop himself endowed one in Lichfield Cathedral. Many were
+perpetual endowments (£5 per annum being the average stipend), others
+were temporary, according to the means of those who paid for the
+masses--for a term of years or for a fixed number of masses. Although
+chantry priests were often required to give regular help in the church
+services or taught such scholars as came to them or served outlying
+chapelries, the system permitted a great number to live on occasional
+engagements and was doubtless productive of abuses. Chaucer tells us
+that his poor parson was not such an one as
+
+    ... left his sheep encumbered in the mire,
+    And ran unto London, unto Saint Poul's,
+    To seekë him a chantery for souls.
+
+The number of chantries in the different cathedrals varied very
+greatly, Lichfield had eighty-seven, St. Paul's thirty-seven, York
+only three. Monks' churches had few or none while in town churches
+they were numerous, London having one hundred and eighty, York
+forty-two, Coventry at least fifteen besides the twelve gild priests
+of the chapel of Babelake. Most were founded in connection with an
+existing altar, some had a special altar, at Winchester, Tewkesbury
+and elsewhere they were enclosed in screens between the pillars of the
+nave, or a special chapel was added to the church.
+
+It was in the thirteenth century also (1267) that the monastery
+obtained the grant of a Merchants' Gild; with all the privileges
+thereto belonging, the earliest of those which contributed so much to
+the renown of Coventry. These were Benefit Societies, insuring help to
+the "Brethren and sistren" in old age, sickness or poverty, securing
+to them the services of the church after death and in all cases
+established on a strictly religious basis and placed under the
+protection of a Saint, or of the Holy Trinity. The regulation and
+protection of trade interests, generally aiming at monopoly and the
+exclusion of outsiders, were later developments. But without doubt
+they were public-spirited bodies according to their lights,
+maintaining schools (as at Stratford-on-Avon) hospitals and
+almshouses, and giving freely on all occasions of public importance.
+By pageants too, they contributed to the happiness and amusement of
+the people as well as by the presentation of Mysteries and Moralities,
+to their instruction and edification. But in the eyes of the
+Reformers, or of grasping courtiers, all this went for nothing when
+weighed against the heinous offence of supporting chaplains to pray
+for deceased members and so (6 Edward VI) they were suppressed along
+with the chantries, and their property confiscated, "the very meanest
+and most inexcusable of the plunderings which threw discredit on the
+Reformation."
+
+Here, the city bought back everything which had belonged to the
+Trinity and Corpus Christi Gilds, with various almshouses and the
+possessions of the majority of the Chantries; while previously at the
+Dissolution it had bought the abbey-orchard, and mill, and the house
+and church of the Grey Friars.
+
+In 1340 Edward III granted Licence to the Coventry men to form a
+Merchants' Gild with leave "to make chantries, bestow alms, do other
+works of piety and constitute ordinances touching the same." This was
+St. Mary's Gild. Two years later that of St. John Baptist was formed
+and a year later that of St. Katherine, the three being united into
+the Trinity Gild before 1359. Of the chapel (now St. John's church)
+begun in 1344 by the St. John's Gild and the "fair and stately
+structure for their feasts and meetings called St Mary Hall" built in
+1394 by the united Gilds more will be said later (p. 81 and p. 97).
+The end of the fourteenth century and the fifteenth brought to
+Coventry a full share in the events and movements of the time. In 1396
+the duel between Hereford and Norfolk was to have taken place on
+Gosford Green (adjoining the city) and Richard II made the fatal
+mistake of banishing both combatants. At the Priory in 1404 Henry IV
+held his Parliament known, from the fact that no lawyers were summoned
+to it, as the "Parliamentum Indoctorum." Setting itself in opposition
+to ecclesiastics, it proposed to supply the King's needs by taxing
+church-property. As in the matter of the city walls, the church
+contrived to avoid bearing its share of the public burdens and the
+chronicler ends thus: "Much ado there was; but to conclude, the worthy
+Archbishop (viz. Tho. Arundell) standing stoutly for the good of the
+Church, preserved it at that time from the storm impending." One
+branch of his argument is noteworthy, that as the confiscation of the
+alien priories had not enriched the King by half a mark (courtiers
+having extorted or begged them out of his hands), so it would be were
+he to confiscate the temporalities of the monasteries. Henry VIII had
+reason to acknowledge the fulfilment of the prophecy.
+
+Soon after this, in 1423, Coventry showed its sympathy for Lollardry
+when John Grace an anchorite friar came out of his cell and preached
+for five days in the "lyttell parke." He was opposed by the prior of
+St. Mary's and by a Grey Friar who however were attacked and nearly
+killed by the mob.
+
+The royal visits which earned for Coventry the title which it still
+bears as its motto 'Camera principis' were frequent in this century.
+In 1436 we hear of Henry VI being there, and in 1450 he was the guest
+of the monastery and after hearing mass at St. Michael's Church
+presented to it for an altar-hanging the robe of gold tissue he was
+wearing. The record in the Corporation Leet book is interesting enough
+to quote:
+
+   The King, then abydeng stille in the seide Priory, upon Mich'as
+   even sent the clerke of his closet to the Churche of Sent Michel
+   to make redy ther hys clossette, seying that the Kynge on Mich'as
+   day wolde go on p'cession and also her ther hygh masse. The Meyre
+   and his counsell, remembreng him in this mater, specially avysed
+   hem to pray the Byshoppe of Wynchester to say hygh masse afore
+   the Kynge. The Byshoppe so to do agreed withe alle hys herte;
+   and, agayne the Kynges comeng to Sent Michel Churche, the Meyre
+   and his Peres, cladde in skarlet gowns, wenton unto the Kynges
+   Chambar durre, ther abydeng the Kynges comeng. The Meyre then and
+   his peres, doeng to the Kyng due obeysaunse ... toke his mase and
+   bere it afore the Kynge all his said bredurn goeng afore the
+   Meyre til he com to Sent Michels and brought the Kynge to his
+   closette. Then the seyde Byshoppe, in his pontificals arayde,
+   with all the prestes and clerkes of the seyde Churche and of
+   Bablake, withe copes apareld, wenton in p'cession abowte the
+   churchyarde; the Kynge devowtely, with many odur lordes, followed
+   the seyd p'cession bare-hedded, cladde in a gowne of gold tissu,
+   furred with a furre of marturn sabull; the Meyre bereng the mase
+   afore the Kynge as he didde afore, tille he com agayne to his
+   closette. Att the whyche masse when the Kyng had offered and his
+   lordes also, he sende the lorde Bemond, his chamburlen, to the
+   Meyre, seying to him, "hit is the Kynges wille that ye and your
+   bredurn com and offer;" and so they didde; and when masse was
+   don, the Meyre and his peres brought on the Kynge to his chambur
+   in lyke wyse as they fet hym, save only that the Meyre with his
+   mase went afore the Kynge till he com withe in his chambur, his
+   seyd bredurn abydeng atte the chambur durre till the Meyre cam
+   ageyne. And at evensong tyme the same day, the Kyng, ... sende
+   the seyde gowne and furre that he were when he went in p'cession,
+   and gaf hit frely to God and to Sent Michell, insomuch that non
+   of the that broughte the gowne wolde take no reward in no wyse.
+
+In 1451 he made the city with the villages and hamlets within its
+liberties into a county "distinct and altogether separate from the
+county of Warwick for ever," and in 1453 the King and Queen again
+visited the Priory. Perhaps out of gratitude for all this royal
+favour, Coventry adhered to the Lancastrian cause and in 1459 was
+chosen as the meeting place for the "Parliamentum Diabolicum," so
+called from the number of attainders passed against the Yorkists. The
+year 1467 however saw Edward IV and his Queen keeping their Christmas
+here, while less than two years later her father and brother were
+beheaded on Gosford Green (Aug. 1469).
+
+After the king's landing at Holderness in 1471 the king-maker,
+declining a contest, occupied the town for the Lancastrians, and
+Edward passing on to London soon after turned and defeated the earl at
+Barnet. After Tewkesbury Edward paid the city another visit, and in
+return for its disloyalty seized its liberties and franchises, and
+only restored them for a fine of 500 marks. Royal visits still
+continued. Richard III came in 1483 to see the plays at the Feast of
+Corpus Christi; in 1485 Henry VII stayed at the mayor's house after
+his victory at Bosworth Field; and in 1487 kept St. George's Day at
+the Monastery, when the Prior at the service cursed, by "bell, book,
+and candle," all who should question the king's right to the throne.
+The importance of the Gilds is shown by the king and queen being made
+a brother and sister of the Trinity Gild; and the part that pageantry
+played in the lives of all men is seen in the many occasions on which
+kings and princes came hither to be entertained, not only with the
+plays "acted by the Grey Friars" but those in which the "hard-handed
+men" of, for instance, the Gild of the Sheremen and Tailors, "toil'd
+their unbreathed memories" in setting forth such subjects as the Birth
+of Christ and the Murder of the Innocents. But although Henry VIII
+himself was received in 1511 with pageantry and stayed at the Priory,
+royal favours and monastic hospitality availed neither men nor
+buildings when the Dissolution came. On 15th January, 1539, Thomas
+Camswell, the last Prior of St. Mary's, surrendered. "The Prior,"
+reported Dr. London, the king's commissioner, "is a sad, honest priest
+as his neighbours do report him, and is a Bachelor of Divinity. He
+gave his house unto the king's grace willingly and so in like manner
+did all his brethren." The Doctor asks for good pensions for the
+dispossessed, not on the plea of justice but so that "others
+perceiving that these men be liberally handled will with better will
+not only surrender their houses, but also leave the same in the better
+state to the King's use."
+
+The yearly revenue had been certified in the valuation at _£731 19s.
+5d._ Deducting a Fee-Ferme rent to the Crown, reserved by Roger de
+Montalt, and other annual payments, the clear remainder was _£499 7s.
+4d._ Bishop Rowland Lee, writing to "my singular good Lord Cromwell,"
+implies that he had a promise from him to spare the church. "My good
+Lord," he says, "help me and the City both in this and that the church
+may stand, whereby I may keep my name, and the City have commodity and
+ease to their desire, which shall follow if by your goodness it might
+be brought to a collegiate church, as Lichfield, and so that fair City
+shall have a perpetual comfort of the same, as knoweth the Holy
+Trinity, who preserve your Lordship in honour to your heart's
+comfort."
+
+But his entreaties, and those of the mayor and corporation, were all
+in vain, the church and monastic buildings were dismantled and
+destroyed piecemeal, and like so many other magnificent structures
+became a mere quarry for mean buildings and the mending of roads.
+
+The site having been granted by Henry VIII to two gentlemen named
+Combes and Stansfield, passed soon into the hands of John Hales, the
+founder of the Free School, and in Elizabeth's reign was purchased by
+the Corporation.
+
+The changes in religious opinion of the successive sovereigns were
+felt here by many poor victims. Seven persons were burnt in 1519 for
+having in their possession the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments,
+and the Creed in English, and for refusing to obey the Pope or his
+agents, opinions and acts that would have been counted meritorious
+twenty years later. In 1555 Queen Mary burnt three Protestants in the
+old quarry in Little Park--Laurence Saunders, a well-known preacher,
+Robert Glover, M.A., and Cornelius Bongey.
+
+Ten years after this Queen Elizabeth's visit was the occasion of much
+pageantry and performing of plays by the Tanners', Drapers', Smiths',
+and Weavers' Companies, and in 1575 the men of Coventry gave their
+play of "Hock Tuesday" before her at Kenilworth Castle. In 1566 Queen
+Mary of Scots was in ward here, in the mayoress' parlour, and in 1569
+at the Bull Inn.
+
+Coming down to the opening of the Civil War we find that a few days
+before the raising of his standard at Nottingham Charles summoned the
+city to admit him with three hundred cavaliers, and received for
+answer that it was quite ready to receive his Majesty with no more
+than two hundred. Whereupon he retired in displeasure, and reappeared
+some days later with the threat to lay the city in ruins if it should
+persist in its disloyalty. The townsfolk being in no mind to receive a
+garrison, the King planted cannon against Newgate and broke down the
+gates but was met with a fierce musquetry fire from the walls,
+followed up by a vigorous sally, in which the citizens did much
+execution and took two cannon.
+
+To prevent the like happening again, the walls were in 1662 breached
+in many places and made incapable of defence. Just one hundred years
+later New-gate was taken down, and others followed from time to time,
+until now there are left only the remains of two of the lesser
+ones--Cook Street Gate, a crumbling shell (p. 7), and the adjacent
+Swanswell or Priory Gate, blocked up and used as a dwelling.
+
+In 1771 was finally destroyed the famous Cross which had been built,
+1541-3, by Sir William Hollis, once Lord Mayor of London, who came of
+a Coventry family. It was described by Dugdale as "one of the chief
+things wherein this City most glories, which for workmanship and
+beauty is inferior to none in England." A few relics of it exist in
+St. Mary Hall, a statue of Henry VI, and, in the oriel, two smaller
+figures. So too does the very interesting contract for its building,
+which shows how much was left to the craftsman's pride in his work and
+how little he was trammelled by conditions, save that the work was to
+be "finished in all points, as well in imagery work, pictures, and
+finials, according to the due form and proportion of the Cross at
+Abingdon."
+
+Another building, which was destroyed in 1820, was the Pilgrims' Rest,
+a fine timbered house of three storeys, "supposed," as the inscription
+upon it records, "to have been the hostel or inn for the maintenance
+and entertainment of the palmers and other visitors to the Priory."
+Some pieces of carved work were patched together in the windows of the
+inn built on its site and there remain.
+
+The modern history of Coventry, consisting of the ordinary events and
+vicissitudes of civic life and the changes and fluctuations in its
+trades, apart from that of its parish churches which is elsewhere
+given, does not come within the scope of this handbook.
+
+[Illustration: SEAL OF THE PRIORY.]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 1: St. Osburg's name is not found in the Calendar. As at the
+Dissolution the Cathedral possessed relics of St. Osborne, including
+his head in copper and gilt, these saints may be identical.]
+
+[Footnote 2: Earl Street and Bishop Street are still principal streets
+in either half of the town.]
+
+[Footnote 3: The walls of London were about three and a quarter miles
+long (including the river front), with ten or eleven gates; those of
+York three miles, of Chester hardly two.]
+
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR OF THE WEST END OF THE PRIORY CHURCH.]
+
+
+
+
+THE RUINS OF THE PRIORY AND CATHEDRAL CHURCH
+
+
+The Priory buildings and grounds covered a large area to the North of
+the two parish churches on the gentle slope descending to the little
+river Sherbourne, Priory Row forming its southern boundary.
+
+The church occupied the South-West portion of this site, extending
+about 400 feet from the excavated west end to a point a little beyond
+the narrow lane called Hill Top. The excavation shows that the church
+stood on a sloping site, the floor level being some ten feet lower
+than that of Trinity Church. It was cruciform, with two western towers
+and a central one, and is believed to have had three spires similar to
+those of Lichfield but probably earlier in point of date. On the
+substructure of the North-West Tower now stands the house of the
+_mistress_ of the Girls' Blue Coat School. The interior of the West
+end to a height of 5 to 8 feet, with the responds of the nave arcades
+and of the tower arches, is visible and in good condition. The
+beginning of the turret stair in the South-West tower is exposed, but
+the basement of the house unfortunately occupies the lower part of the
+northern one. The exterior of this is however easily accessible from
+an enclosure known as the Wood Yard, the much decayed spreading plinth
+and a few feet of walling above it not having been destroyed. Above
+this, grievous damage has been perpetrated by the casing and complete
+obliteration of the mouldings and arcading which remained. The towers
+were placed outside the line of the aisles as at Wells, the total
+width of the West front, 145 feet, being nearly the same in both
+cases. There are still indications of the position of the great west
+door, but the height of the inner plinth shows that there was always a
+descent of several steps into the church. At the south transept where
+was "the Minster durra that openeth to the Trinite Churchyarde," the
+descent must have been considerable. The remains show that the nave
+dated from the first half of the thirteenth century, while fragments
+of wall near the site of the transept with indications of lancet
+window openings are probably a little earlier than the west end.
+
+[Illustration: REMAINS OF THE N.W. TOWER (IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY).]
+
+Whether the church of Leofric and Godiva, dedicated in 1043, had
+survived wholly or in part until this time cannot be known, but,
+judging from the history of most other great monastic churches and
+from the known wealth of the monastery, it may almost be taken for
+granted that the Norman bishops and priors rebuilt much if not all.
+Some relics of Norman work have been found but the covering of the
+site with roads, graves and houses precludes the systematic
+exploration and survey which alone could solve this question and make
+clear the outlines of the plan of the whole establishment.
+
+The entrance to some wine-cellars in Priory Row gives access to the
+old pavement level of part of the choir and transept. From the fact
+that a brick vault forms the roof the cellars have often been looked
+upon as the crypt of the church but this is erroneous; the vault is a
+later insertion and if any crypt exists it lies below this level. To
+the east of the cathedral was the Bishop's Palace, the gardens of it
+extending over the detached burial ground of St. Michael's to the east
+of Priory Street. The grandeur of this assemblage of buildings
+grouping, with the spires of the churches behind and rising so
+magnificently above the houses of the city can best be realized by
+going to the top of Bishop Street whence may be obtained the finest
+view of the two spires that remain (see p. 2).
+
+
+
+
+ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH
+
+
+[Illustration: ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE NORTH.]
+
+
+
+
+ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
+
+
+The early history of St. Michael's Church is very obscure. The fact
+that Domesday mentions no parish churches proves nothing. There can be
+little doubt that one at least existed. Though we have an earlier
+record of St. Michael's it is commonly held that Trinity is the elder
+foundation.
+
+Of St. Michael's the first notice we have is when Ranulph, Earl of
+Chester, in the days of Stephen, about 1150, granted the "Chapel" of
+St. Michael to Laurence, Prior, and the Convent of St. Mary, "being
+satisfied by the testimony of divers persons, as well Clergy as Laity,
+that it was their right." Fourteen dependent chapels in the
+neighbourhood or within a few miles went with it and the number of
+these dependencies is held to show that it was "a primitive Saxon
+parish and of considerable importance." In 1192 Ranulph Blundeville,
+grandson of the former Ranulph, gave tithe of his lands and rents in
+Coventry and bound his officers under pain of a grievous curse to make
+due payment.
+
+In the early thirteenth century a dispute arose between Bishop
+Geoffrey de Muschamp and the Priory as to the right of presentation,
+the Bishop claiming on the ground of being Abbot as well as Bishop.
+This was settled in 1241 by the Priory renouncing its claim in
+consideration of receiving a share of the income but in 1248 an
+exchange was effected, the Priory giving the advowsons of Ryton and
+Bubbenhall[4] (not far from Coventry) for St. Michael and its chapels
+and engaging to provide proper secular priests with competent support.
+In 1260 the church was appropriated to the monastery together with
+Holy Trinity and its chapels and although in the arrangement of 1248
+twenty-four marks (£16) had been assigned to the vicarage, in 1291 we
+find the priory receiving fifty marks and paying the vicar eight and a
+half.
+
+Since 1537 the patronage has with that of Trinity, been exercised by
+the Crown.
+
+The internal evidence of the date of the building is given in the
+description of the fabric. Of external evidence in the shape of
+records or deeds we have very little. Tradition says that there was
+once a brass tablet in the church bearing the following lines:
+
+    William and Adam built the Tower,
+      Ann and Mary built the Spire;
+    William and Adam built the Church,
+      Ann and Mary built the Choir.
+
+Now we know that William and Adam Botoner, who were each Mayor thrice
+between 1358 and 1385, built the tower, spending upon it £100 a year
+for twenty-two years, but what foundation there is for the other
+statements cannot now be determined. The tower was in building from
+1373 to 1394, and the choir is contemporary with it, the nave was in
+building from 1432 to 1450, and the spire was begun in 1430. As
+William was Mayor in 1358 it can hardly have been less than one
+hundred years after his birth that both nave and spire were begun. It
+is however, likely that other members of the family (if not he, by
+bequest) contributed largely to the general building fund.
+
+Much of the history of a parish church is concerned with its internal
+economy but even the records of this are not quite trivial for they
+enlighten us on many points wherein we are rightly curious. We are,
+for instance, constantly reminded, as Dr. Gasquet points out in
+"Mediaeval Parish Life," that "religious life permeated society in the
+Middle Ages, particularly in the fifteenth century, through the minor
+confraternities" or gilds.
+
+Thus the Drapers' Gild made itself responsible not only for the upkeep
+of the Lady Chapel but also for the lights always burning on the
+Rood-loft, every Master paying four pence for each "prentys" and every
+"Jurneman" four pence. The cost of lights formed a serious item in
+church expenditure, needing the rent of houses and lands for their
+maintenance. Guy de Tyllbrooke, vicar in the late thirteenth century,
+gave all his lands and buildings on the south side of the church to
+maintain a light before the high altar, day and night, for ever, "and
+all persons who shall convert this gift to any other use directly or
+indirectly shall incur the malediction of Almighty God, the Blessed
+Virgin, St. Michael and All Saints."
+
+Royal visits to the church have been noticed in the history of the
+priory and city, especially that in 1450 which was apparently intended
+to mark the completion of the church. Reference has also been made to
+the plays and pageants with which such visitors were entertained. The
+site for the performance of the cycle of Corpus Christi plays was the
+churchyard on the north of St. Michael's. Queen Margaret, whose visits
+were so frequent that the city acquired the fanciful title of "the
+Queen's Bower" came over from Kenilworth on the Eve of the Feast in
+1456, "at which time she would not be met, but privily to see the play
+there on the morrow and she saw then all the pageants played save
+Doomsday, which might not be played for lack of day and she was lodged
+at Richard Wood's the Grocer."
+
+There is evident reference to the dedication of the church in the
+pageant of the "Nine Orders of Angels" shown before Henry VIII and
+Queen Catherine in 1510 (p. 47).
+
+The history of the church since the Reformation has been not unlike
+that of a vast number of others. Fanatic destruction, followed by
+tasteless and incongruous innovations, and these again by
+"restorations" sometimes as destructive, sometimes as tasteless, and
+nearly always feeble; such is their common history. In 1569 even the
+Register books were destroyed because they contained marks of popery,
+while from 1576 onward a want of repair is plainly suggested by
+frequent items of expenditure for catching the stares (starlings) in
+the church, at one time for a net, at another for "a bowe and bolts
+and lyme." In 1611 James I addressed a strongly worded letter to the
+Mayor and Corporation and the Vicar requiring them to reform the
+practice of receiving the Holy Sacrament standing or sitting instead
+of kneeling, "As we our Self in our person do carefully perform it."
+Whereupon the Bishop wrote that he "felt persuaded that there were not
+above seven of any note who did not conform themselves" to the church
+ordinances; while the Vicar said he "did not know of _half seven_ of
+any note but do the like."
+
+A Puritanical writer in 1635 thus mentions the changed position of
+the Communion Table, which had formerly stood away from the east wall:
+"The Communion Table was altered which cost a great deal of money; and
+that which is worst of all, three stepps made to go to the Comm'n
+Table altar fashion--God grant it continueth not long." Even the font,
+given by John Cross, mayor, in 1394, had to give place in 1645 to
+something less offensive to Puritan feeling, and in the same year the
+brass eagle, given in 1359 by William Botoner, was "sold by order of
+vestry for _5d._ the lb., _8l. 13s. 4d._" The rehanging of the bells
+in 1674 led to the destruction of the beautiful groined vault within
+the tower, and the year 1764 saw the completion of a series of
+galleries all round the church. Throughout all this destruction and
+desecration the citizens happily retained their pride in the great
+steeple, and by constant attention and rebuildings contrived to
+preserve it when negligence might have caused its ruin. The scrupulous
+care given to such work is well shown by items in an account for
+repairs, of date 1580:
+
+  Payed to George Aster for poyntynge ye steple      £ 7  2 8
+  Payed for 3 quarter and a halfe of lyme                13 4
+  Payed for egges                                         8 4
+  Payed for glovers pecis, woode & tallowe, abowte
+    the lyme                                              5 6
+  Payed for a load sand                                     7½
+  Payed for 4 stryke of mawlte and gryndyng               7 8½
+  Payd for 6 gallons of worte more                        2 0
+  Payd for gatherynge of slates & oyster shelles            3¼
+  Payd to Cookson for the cradle and 3 other pullesses    5 8
+
+The glovers' snippings were for making size, which, with the eggs,
+malt and wort were used in place of water for tempering the mortar.
+Lightning seriously damaged the spire in 1655 and 1694, in the former
+case causing much injury to the nave roof by falling stone. In 1793
+Wyatt, the architect responsible for so much destruction of Mediæval
+work in various cathedrals, advised that a timber framework to carry
+the bells should be built up within the tower from the ground and that
+the tower arch should be bricked up. All this has been changed since
+1885, the bells now hang (but are not pealed) in the octagon, the
+chimes and clock are in the chamber below, the arch is opened and the
+groining restored.
+
+All galleries had been taken down in 1849 and the present seats,
+giving room for near 2,500 persons, introduced, while the incongruous
+wall-arcading in the apse was soon after added. At the same period
+many important sepulchral monuments, probably stigmatized as
+"excrescences," were taken down and removed to other parts of the
+church.
+
+Five years after this the exterior of the aisle walls was recased with
+the same friable sandstone. In 1860 the reredos was erected, the
+subjects of the panels being the sacrifices of Abel, Noah,
+Melchisedec, and Abraham, and the Last Supper. To the latest
+restoration, which included entire recasing of tower and spire,
+clearstories and chancel, the new sacristy at the south east, and
+other work, Mr. George Woodcock, a Coventry citizen, gave £10,500, and
+the sum of £39,500 was raised and expended, the re-opening taking
+place on 22nd April, 1890.
+
+In 1850 a dispute of considerable public interest with regard to the
+levying of the church rate between the vicar and the wardens and
+overseers was decided in the Court of Queen's Bench. An Act of
+Parliament of 1780 had empowered the wardens to levy a rate in lieu of
+tithe for the stipend of the vicar, to produce not less than £280 nor
+more than £300. The wardens having ever since allowed their powers to
+remain in abeyance, the vicar claimed the right to make the rate as
+his predecessors had done. Lord Campbell and three other judges were
+however unanimous in giving judgement against him.
+
+The latest event in the history of the church is probably the most
+important. It has now been constituted a pro-cathedral for the
+proposed Diocese of Warwickshire, and a Capitular body has been
+formed. The statutes were promulgated by the Bishop of Worcester on
+the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, 1908. The Chapter now
+consists of twenty-four members:--the Bishop, the Vicar of St.
+Michael's (Rev. Prof. J.H.B. Masterman), the Archdeacon of Coventry,
+the Chancellor of the Diocese, ten priest canons and ten lay canons,
+with provision for the admission of a future second archdeacon. There
+are resemblances here to the constitution of the Southwark Chapter,
+consisting of four clerical and four lay canons, but at Coventry some
+of the lay canons are elective and for fixed periods. Doubtless the
+immense increase of population in the county, especially in this part
+(Birmingham is already a separate diocese), demands further oversight
+and much strenuous church work, and doubtless, too, the same religious
+enthusiasm which brought into existence the beautiful structures of
+Coventry's golden age will be able to meet the demand and cope with
+the new problems and aspirations of the present day. But the
+archaeologist trembles to think what may be done should the attempt be
+made to transform a building planned on the simplest parish-church
+lines into the semblance of a cathedral. It cannot be successful, and
+the original character of the church is but too likely to be
+sacrificed in the attempt.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 4: These have ever since remained prebends of Lichfield.]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE EXTERIOR OF THE CHURCH
+
+
+The church is built on a site descending towards the east, so that the
+chancel floor is more than twelve feet above the present street level.
+The narrow street on the south, Bayley Lane, gives us a succession of
+picturesque partial views but no general one, while on the north the
+rather formal avenue dividing the churchyard obscures much of the
+structure. On the whole, the most comprehensive prospect is to be had
+from the north-east, at the lower end of Priory Row. But no general
+point of view is needed, external or internal, to enable us to
+understand the plan or arrangement, which is almost as simple in form
+as a village church.
+
+The typical English church plan consists of a nave with aisles, a long
+unaisled chancel with square east end, porches or doors on north and
+south, and a western tower, and this, save for its apsidal east end,
+but amplified by accretions in the form of chapels belonging to the
+many Gilds of the city, is the plan of St. Michael's.
+
+In no part, however, do we find the chapels so set as to produce a
+pseudo-cruciform plan.
+
+Before the latest restoration the walls were entirely of the local red
+sandstone, very similar in quality and appearance to that of which
+Chester Cathedral was built, and the extent of its decay, especially
+on the tower, was as grievous. Hardly a piece of external moulding or
+carving preserved its original profile or form, and some of the tower
+buttresses had lost so large a proportion of their substance not far
+above ground that they appeared to hang to the walls rather than
+support them. All save the aisles, which were refaced in the sixties,
+have now been cased with Runcorn Stone nearly the same in colour and
+much harder in texture.
+
+The special glory of the church is its =steeple=. No doubt
+intentionally its height of 300 feet is practically equal to the
+length of the church. Only one other parish church, Louth in
+Lincolnshire, has a steeple as high as this, and those of only two
+English cathedrals, Salisbury and Norwich, exceed it.
+
+There is, however, an essential difference to be noted in the position
+of these spires, those of the cathedrals at the centre, the crowning
+point in the composition, those of the parish churches at the west
+end, springing sheer from the ground. While the former have a more
+intimate relation to the building the latter have an almost
+independent existence in keeping with the theory which regards them
+more as symbols of municipal pride and power than as expressions of
+spiritual aspiration.
+
+But however mixed the motives for their erection, religious forms and
+symbolism governed the design. Thus we have here three principal
+divisions--tower, octagon, spire, and nine stories or stages in all,
+six belonging to the tower and octagon, and three to the spire. Then
+in its dimensions we find that the total height is 300 feet,[5] the
+plan (exclusive of buttresses) is 30 feet square, while in its
+proportions the number 30 is interwoven, so to speak, with a simple
+arithmetical progression of heights in each story. Thus it is 30 feet
+from the ground to the spring of the lowest five-light windows, 30
+feet again to the spring of the single-light windows, 27 feet more to
+the spring of the grouped windows above, and another 30 to the spring
+of the belfry windows. Thence it is 15 feet to the cornice below the
+battlements. The remainder is divided into a series of 20 feet
+heights, two twenties from cornice to top of parapet of octagon, 20 in
+each of the two decorated stages of the spire, 20 to centre of the
+upper spire-lights, three twenties to the finial. If we look at the
+stories as marked by the string-courses below the windows we find 50
+feet given to the door and great window and then 20, 30, and 40 feet
+stages, reaching to the top of the parapet. The reader will have
+noticed the interposition of a 27 feet space among the thirties, and
+the reason for this is worth explaining.
+
+It is now known that the tower could not be built in line with the
+centre of the proposed new nave because of the existence of a
+filled-in pit or quarry at its north-west angle. But the builder was
+rash enough to build the north-west buttresses beyond the edge of the
+old excavation and resting on the looser material. The consequences
+might have been foreseen. By the time the building had reached the
+grouped windows the settlement or sinking was considerable and an
+effort was made to remedy it, first by reducing the height of this
+(the weakest story), by one yard and next by starting the courses
+level once more. Five hundred years later and we find that whereas the
+sinking is 7½ inches near the ground level it is only 4 inches at the
+windows, plainly showing that it had sunk 3½ inches before the remedy
+was applied and four inches since. The writer is informed by the
+architect (Mr. J. Oldrid Scott) that all this angle was so full of
+rents and cracks that (coupled with the decay of the stone, especially
+in the buttresses) it was surprising that the whole had not fallen. A
+curious disregard of what we look on as a natural sentiment is to be
+noted in this connection, for the builders used a quantity of fine
+sepulchral slabs from the churchyard as filling for the foundations.
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR OF THE TOWER FROM BELOW.]
+
+In magnificence of design the tower exceeds that of any other parish
+church in England, the uppermost story being the richest in detail.
+The variety of treatment and gradual increase in elaboration of the
+upper stories is admirable, the larger expanses of wall in the lower
+giving the necessary effect of stability to the whole. The =west door=
+is very insignificant, and might perhaps, with advantage to the
+composition, have been left out. It has the only four-centred arch in
+the whole. On each side of the great windows are niches with
+(restored) figures of saints and benefactors, twelve in all, including
+Earl Leofric and his famous wife, the Botoners and several kings.
+Sculpture appears again on the belfry stage. On the west and north
+sides the niches are in three tiers of three on either hand of the
+tall louvred windows, but on the south and east sides one tier is
+absorbed by the stair turret. All these have been renewed, but the
+remains of some of those which were taken down can now be seen in the
+crypt, and the one which is best preserved, by a happy coincidence the
+patron saint, is now placed within the church.
+
+The octagon, which connects so finely the tower and spire, has four
+two-light windows on the cardinal sides, the other sides having blank
+panelling of similar design. Its parapet has square pinnacles,
+intended to carry seated figures. From each of the great tower
+pinnacles two ogee-shaped flying buttresses spring to the near angles
+of the octagon. A recent writer criticizes these as too flimsy in
+effect, but the fact that they are in pairs obviates this defect from
+most points of view. The walls of the octagon are 2½ feet thick at the
+base, but, as the inner slope of the spire begins at the level of the
+window transoms, the thickness at its parapet is more than 3 feet. The
+greater weight in this part corrects any tendency in the spire to push
+outwards the upright walls of the octagon; so well has it done this
+that no artificial helps, such as iron stays or bands, have been
+found necessary to add to its stability. Though so slender in
+appearance, its stonework is thicker than that of many later spires,
+for whereas Kettering is 14 inches thick for the first 10 feet and
+only 6 inches above, while Louth decreases from 10 to 5, St. Michael's
+diminishes from 17 to 11. The inclination from the upright of its
+sides is very slight, less than that of most others; Chichester
+having an angle of 7½°, Kettering 6°, Louth 5°, St. Michael's 4½°.
+
+[Illustration: THE WEST PORCH.]
+
+The decoration of the spire is admirably designed in relation to the
+slenderness of the tower, and its own height above the eye. The first
+stage is panelled so as not to present too great a contrast to the
+octagon, and the next is also panelled and has narrow canopied slits
+on alternate sides, with four thin buttress-like projections on each
+face. These provide the slight entasis to the outline which is found
+in so many spires, as it is in classic columns, and is designed to
+correct the appearance of hollowness which would occur in so long a
+straight line. The upper two-thirds of the spire has triple angle
+rolls, and, just halfway in the total height, are eight canopied
+panels of which four are pierced. The beauty of the steeple and its
+pre-eminence among those belonging to parish churches (even if such a
+reservation be necessary) sufficiently justifies the length of this
+description.
+
+[Illustration: SOUTH PORCH, FROM ST. MARY HALL.]
+
+The oldest existing part of the church is the large =south porch=,
+almost facing the entrance to St. Mary Hall. The date of this is not
+later than 1300. Each jamb of the outside arch has four external and
+two internal attached shafts; the pointed arch is deeply moulded,
+while the arch rising from the fourth shaft is of round-headed trefoil
+form. The ceiling is vaulted with diagonal and intermediate ribs, and
+has the appearance of having been added rather later.
+
+A doorway on its east side led to the Cappers' Chapel and there is a
+chamber over the porch for centuries appropriated to the meetings of
+the Cappers' Company. The present chapel and chamber are contemporary
+with the nave.
+
+[Illustration: SOUTH-WEST DOORWAY.]
+
+The external wall of the Dyers' Chapel (now the Baptistery) is canted
+so as not to block the Lane, St. Mary Hall having been already built.
+Passing east, the road dips gradually and gives this end of the church
+a more imposing elevation. After the Cappers' Chapel, there is only a
+single aisle forming the Mercers' Chapel and extending as far as the
+Presbytery. A door here, made in 1750, is opposite to the Drapers'
+Hall. The apse is now encircled with a series of sacristies divided
+into five chambers and spanned by flying buttresses. The first two
+bays on the south were built at the last restoration the vestry then
+removed not being part of the original design. Beneath them on the
+ground level is the engine-room pertaining to the organ. Though
+sometimes spoken of as an Ambulatory its position on a lower level,
+its original want of connection with the south side and above all the
+need for sacristies in so large a church dispose of the idea.
+
+Some have thought that the apsidal Lady Chapel of Lichfield Cathedral
+built about fifty years earlier suggested an apsidal termination in
+the design of Coventry, but a certain difficulty in the way of the
+designer may have led him to adopt this solution. The normal
+Perpendicular east end had one large window, but owing to the great
+width of this chancel the proportions of such a one would have been
+nearly square, and the spring of the arch have been very low. A few
+years later and the depressed four-centred arch might have been
+adopted but, fortunately, its time was not yet.
+
+The plans of the apses of Lichfield and Coventry differ in the angle
+at which the sides are inclined to the chord of the apse, the former
+having the usual angle of 45°, the latter one of more than 60°.
+Externally this is not so pleasant as the more "commonplace" form, the
+great dissimilarity of the several angles being unsatisfactory and the
+third side too quickly lost to view, but within the church these
+points are not noticed.
+
+So little time elapsed between the building of the choir and nave that
+we find no marked difference of style as we proceed westward along
+either flank of the church. The =Lady Chapel=, known as the Drapers'
+Chapel, from its use and maintenance by that Gild, occupies the three
+bays of the North chancel aisle. From its elevation above the ground
+it was often spoken of as the "Chapel on the Mount," Capella Beatæ
+Mariæ de Monte. All the four windows are of seven lights, the three
+northern having a somewhat unusual transom band of fourteen
+quatrefoils, at the spring of the arch. The two windows of St.
+Lawrence's Chapel have a transom across the lights and a band of seven
+quatrefoils at the spring.
+
+The buttresses of the Lady Chapel are rather richer in design than
+those of St. Lawrence's Chapel. The lower level of its parapet
+indicates some difference of date. The plan of this part of the church
+presents problems which bear on those connected with the rest of the
+church (p. 44). Beneath St. Lawrence's Chapel and extending under the
+north aisle westward are two crypts, entrance to them being by two
+doors from the churchyard, their position is shown on the general
+plan. It will be seen that the western one is of two aisles, each of
+three bays, while the eastern is only one bay in length. The entrance
+to the western was at first in the middle bay but this was blocked
+when the Girdlers' Chapel was built. That the eastern crypt was added
+later, and the present Lady Chapel later still is shown by the
+presence of windows in the east wall of both parts and other
+indications. But while the history of the church shows that the
+original Lady Chapel and crypt or charnel-house, were built soon after
+1300, the present superstructures belong to a time about one hundred
+years later. Now as the western crypt may be safely assigned to the
+earlier date the Lady Chapel doubtless stood over it and flanked the
+old chancel of the church, in its normal position in fact as the
+existing one is now. But a point which remains to be explained is that
+the walls of the crypt are parallel to the line of the new chancel and
+not to the line of the old or new naves. It seems certain therefore
+that the inclination of the new chancel is a simple perpetuation of
+the old arrangement, and if not, the position of the crypt is hard to
+account for.
+
+It is generally supposed that these crypts were used as Mortuary
+Chapels and the eastern one has in fact a piscina and aumbry, showing
+that there was once an altar. But for some centuries they served as a
+charnel-house, and are so called in a papal grant of Indulgences. In
+1640 there is an entry in the church accounts of five shillings for
+"cleansinge the charnel-house and laying the bones and sculles in
+order."
+
+They now contain fragments that have been removed or discovered in the
+course of various restorations. A small Norman scalloped capital,
+another of Early English workmanship and a voussoir showing the Norman
+zig-zag or chevron are interesting relics of structures earlier than
+anything now existing, while a number of the decayed statues from the
+tower find here a dark and damp repose very different from the airy
+outlook enjoyed by them for five centuries. It will be seen that they
+are near life size and are executed in a gray sandstone which has
+stood the weather much better than the red. The outer north aisle
+containing the Girdlers' Chapel on the east and the Smiths' or St.
+Andrew's Chapel on the west of the porch, is plainly of later date.
+The windows have depressed, distinctly four-centred arches, and in
+1730 their five lights had simply cusped heads, the mullions running
+up to the architrave.
+
+The =north porch= has only a slight projection. Above the four-centred
+arch are two two-light canopied windows opening into the church. The
+soffit of the doorway is panelled. On the west side where is now a
+canopied niche was formerly an external pulpit reached from within by
+the staircase which leads to the roof. It is shown in the 1730 view.
+On the east side are two odd little flying buttresses, intended
+apparently to repeat the inclined surface of the other side. The two
+north aisles are fortunately not carried westward so far as the nave,
+which projects a half bay beyond them and so prevents the otherwise
+unrelieved flatness of this part. The most effective of the porches is
+that on the west front, just north of the tower. It appears to have
+been built after the nave was finished, and may have been added
+expressly to provide a more dignified entrance to the church when
+Henry VI came in state in 1451, for it faces directly up the nave. The
+groining with cusped panels and numerous bosses has escaped
+restoration. The five niches above the porch are statueless, and so
+are those on the porch front. May they long continue so! The doors are
+largely original and are finely panelled and carved.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 5: At the last restoration the height was reduced to 298
+feet.]
+
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR OF ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE WEST.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH
+
+
+From within the door by which the church is usually entered, that near
+the south-west angle, we obtain an overpowering impression of the
+special characteristic of the interior, its spaciousness, for it is
+here more than 100 feet wide and the east window is nearly 240 feet
+distant.
+
+The =nave=, which is 37 feet 6 inches wide in the clear, is wider than
+that of many cathedrals, and much exceeds that of most parish
+churches, the widest (Worstead) given in Brandon's "Parish Churches"
+being 29 feet. Boston alone exceeds it by about 3 feet. While the
+ordinary aisle width ranges from 10 to 14 feet, the north aisle here
+is 23 feet, the outer north and the south being each 17 feet. The
+total internal length is 265 feet, exclusive of the sacristy; Boston,
+the only larger one, being 284 feet, while very few exceed 200 feet,
+and most are far smaller. The greatest internal width is 120 feet;
+Manchester, a double-aisled collegiate church, is about the same, and
+York Minster is 106 feet. Finally, the area is about 22,800 square
+feet, probably greater than that of any other English parish church,
+indeed, St. Nicholas, Yarmouth, is the only one which pretends to
+rivalry in this respect. Size is, of course, only one element in the
+impressiveness of a building, and may even be neutralized by the
+treatment (as, for instance, in the Duomo of Florence and St. Peter's,
+Rome, by increasing the size of its parts rather than multiplying
+them), but these few comparisons will help the visitor to judge how
+far this element colours his appreciation of the whole. As an
+illustration of mediæval methods of church building, it is interesting
+to trace the growth of the structure with the help of the few
+historical notices already given and the evidence of the building
+itself. The subject is full of difficulties, and the writer does not
+hope to solve them conclusively, but to put before the reader the main
+points which have to be considered before forming a judgement.
+
+[Illustration: TOWER ARCH.]
+
+Both historic and structural evidence agree that there was an existing
+smaller church when the tower was built in the last quarter of the
+fourteenth century, that the choir and apse were either contemporary,
+or begun a few years earlier, and that the nave was built between 1434
+and 1450. The south porch and the west crypt (beneath the original
+Lady Chapel) are almost contemporary (p. 34), belonging to the
+beginning of the fourteenth century. Now the axis of the tower is
+parallel to the axis and walls of the nave, while the centre line of
+the choir is deflected towards the north about 7°. Notwithstanding
+this, however, owing to the tower not being central with the nave, the
+axis of the choir, if prolonged, runs directly to the centre of the
+tower arch, as may easily be seen by anyone who stands there and looks
+along the ridge of the choir roof. (_See_ dotted line on Plan.)
+
+[Illustration: BAY OF NAVE, NORTH SIDE.]
+
+Next we see above the =tower arch= the mark of the old nave roof and
+the old north wall of the nave. These show that the south wall stood
+where the present one does, and the low-pitched fourteenth century
+roof-line suggests incidentally this alternative: _either_ a
+clearstory had been added to the nave before the building of the new
+chancel or tower was in contemplation, _or_, when the huge tower was
+built it was felt necessary to raise the nave roof so as to lessen the
+disproportion. But, if we adopt the latter alternative we must accept
+too the improbability that this expense should have been incurred when
+the inadequacy of the old narrow nave of 15½ feet compared with a
+chancel of 33 feet must have been so obvious. This is one of the
+difficult questions.
+
+Then it is held by some that the axis of the old nave and chancel was
+in line with that of the present choir; but the south porch, built
+more than one hundred years before the new nave, is at right angles
+with it which would hardly have been the case had the two naves not
+been on the same lines.
+
+Needless to say the old east end could scarcely have extended beyond
+the present nave, so that the new chancel was probably built without
+disturbing the old church. The position of the older Lady Chapel
+supports this view, while its bearing towards the north, as already
+pointed out, indicates that the deflection of the new chancel is
+simply copied from the older one.
+
+The position of the south porch proves also that the south aisle was
+as wide as the present one, while the fact that it was wider than the
+nave shows that it was almost certainly not designed at the same time.
+
+The nave is of six bays and is 54 feet high at the centre, while each
+arch is 20 feet wide in the clear. The piers are slender, but, owing
+to the depth of the panelling above the arches and the large size of
+the windows, the weight upon them is reduced to a minimum. Shafts
+carried up from the ground support the roof brackets, and there are
+intermediate ones over the centre of each arch. The clearstory windows
+of four lights each are in pairs, and the mullions are carried down to
+form panelling and finish on the backs of the arches, which recede in
+two sloping faces and form a somewhat unusual feature in the treatment
+of the wall surface. The detail of the piers and arches is rather
+weak, even for Perpendicular work.
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR FROM THE SOUTH DOOR.]
+
+The =chancel= is about 93 feet long, and in height and width is 4 or 5
+feet less than the corresponding nave measurements. Its width further
+diminishes by about 3½ feet in the length of the three bays. The
+omission of a chancel arch is a step towards the ideal simplicity of
+the late Perpendicular churches (_e.g._, St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich),
+running from east to west without break, but the large rood piers and
+reduced width and height of chancel make the pause demanded in so
+long a church. The step at this point is of oak, and is probably the
+original sill of the rood screen. The large figures of SS. Peter and
+Paul were placed on the piers in 1861. Of the three arches which open
+on either hand the centre one is widest, having four-light windows,
+instead of three-light, over it. The panelling beneath the clearstory
+is richer than that in the nave. The five four-light windows of the
+apse are lofty and divided by two transoms, but the design is somewhat
+commonplace. The glass of the middle three is a memorial to Queen
+Adelaide, dated 1853. The other two are filled with fragments of the
+ancient stained glass of the church (p. 56).
+
+[Illustration: THE CHOIR FROM ST. LAWRENCE'S CHAPEL.]
+
+The roof is very similar to that of the nave. Both are of very low
+pitch, with tie-beams supported by curved brackets. There are two
+longitudinal beams (purlins) on each side, and each division of the
+roof made by these main timbers is sub-divided by mouldings into
+panels, all the intersections and angles being decorated by carved
+bosses or pateræ, with angels upon the tie-beams. Where the roofs of
+nave and chancel join there is a cove to connect the two levels; and
+on the tie-beam above this was found a Latin inscription, giving the
+attributes and powers of the nine choirs of angels forming the
+hierarchy of Heaven. Translated it is as follows:
+
+  SERAPHIMS burn in love of God.
+  CHERUBIMS possess all knowledge.
+  THRONES, of them is judgement.
+  DOMINIONS preside over angelic spirits.
+  VIRTUES effect miracles.
+  POWERS have rule over demons.
+  PRINCIPALITIES protect good men.
+  ARCHANGELS are set over states.
+  ANGELS are the messengers of the Lord.
+
+Bare and shorn as it is of its ancient magnificence, St. Michael's is
+in its structure a monument of the importance and wealth of the Gilds.
+Many of them built or maintained chapels and altars, adding largely to
+the already spacious proportions given to the main structure by the
+munificence of a few rich citizens. That in 1491 there were eleven
+altars we know from the will of Thomas Bradmedow, directing that
+eleven torches, price _2s. 4d._, be given every Good Friday, one to
+every altar. Besides the High Altar there were those of Our Lady,
+Jesus, Holy Trinity, St. John, St. Anne, St. Katherine, St. Thomas,
+St. Andrew, St. Lawrence, All Saints.
+
+The application to the =Lady Chapel= of the present name, the
+"Drapers' Chapel," is probably subsequent to 1518, when John Haddon, a
+draper, provided by will for the support of a priest, "to singe in the
+Chapell of our Ladye in the Church of Saint Mychell." But long ere
+this, by an instrument dated from St. John Lateran, A.D. 1300, eighth
+year of Pope Boniface, Indulgences for forty days were granted for all
+persons coming to confess before her altar in St. Michael's Church on
+the Nativity, Conception, Annunciation and Assumption of the glorious
+Virgin Mary. Also 700 Indulgences for 720 days were granted for
+building "the Chapple and Charnell house of St. Michaell, Coventry."
+The Drapers' Company was responsible for other things than the
+priest's stipend as this extract from their Rules shows: "1534. Ev'y
+mastur shall pay toward ye makyng clene of oure Lady Chapell in saynt
+Mychell's churche and strawyng ye setus [seats] wt rusches in somer
+and pease strawe in wyntur, everyone yerely _2d._"
+
+[Illustration: POPPY HEAD, LADY CHAPEL.]
+
+The piers at the chancel entrance contain the staircases leading to
+the roofs and formerly to the rood loft. The screen on the west side
+of the chapel was put together from fragments brought together from
+various parts of the church. Against it, and on the south side, are
+fifteen of the ancient stalls. Several admirable ends and elbows
+remain, and some of the twelve ancient Misereres are of special
+interest. Three represent scenes from the popular mediæval allegory of
+"the Dance of Death."
+
+The centre groups are: (1) a death bed, (2) a kneeling man being
+deprived of his shirt and a cripple waiting to receive it (?), and (3)
+a very well-expressed burial scene. The side groups in each show Death
+leading by the hand personages of various ranks, including a pope. Of
+the others, Satan in chains, the General Resurrection, and a
+delicately executed Tree of Jesse are the best.
+
+[Illustration: A MISERERE, LADY CHAPEL.]
+
+Several monuments formerly in this chapel are now elsewhere in the
+church. A memorial to the Hon. F.W. Hood, killed in battle in 1814, is
+by Chantrey. On the north wall is a brass plate bearing the following
+inscription:
+
+   Here lyeth Mr Thomas Bond, Draper, sometime Mayor of this Cittie
+   and founder of the Hospitall of Bablake, who gave divers lands
+   and tenements for the maintenance of ten poore men so long as the
+   world shall endure and a woman to looke to them with many other
+   good guifts; and died the XVIII day of March in the yeare of our
+   Lord God MDVI.
+
+The =Communion Table= is a fine example of early seventeenth century
+work, and outside the screen is a very beautiful oak chest, believed
+to date from the time of Henry VII. From the Lady Chapel we pass into
+that of St. Laurence. Its two windows are filled with glass to the
+memory of past mayors. The dates, 1860 and 1862, sufficiently suggest
+their artistic merit. Several old monuments are upon the north wall,
+one of 1648 with an extravagant inscription to Thomas Purefoy, a boy
+of nine; another to Mrs. Bathona Frodsham, a daughter of the John
+Hales who bought so much monastic property, and founded the Grammar
+School. The tomb of his first wife, Frideswede, near which he was
+buried, may be seen in the Dugdale view near the north porch.
+
+The outer north aisle contained the Girdlers' Chapel. The arcade which
+divides the aisles shows the consummation of the process which
+converted columns into piers by the omission of capitals and bases and
+the continuation of the mouldings from pier into arch.
+
+The altar was below the eastern window, the piscina (restored) stands
+on the south side.
+
+The Company has been long extinct and no documents exist. We know,
+however, that Haye's Chantry was founded by a Girdler in 1390, for a
+Mass to be sung daily at All Saints' altar, and may therefore conclude
+that it was in this chapel.
+
+In the two western bays of the same aisle was St. Andrew's Chapel,
+supported and probably founded by the Smiths' Company. The first
+notice of its existence occurs in 1449, but as this part was not built
+until 1500 it was perhaps originally in the adjoining aisle. The
+window tracery is modern. The panelling within the internal arches and
+between the windows should be noted. The floor near the wall is partly
+paved with much worn ancient tiles.
+
+Several large monuments have been brought hither from the Drapers'
+Chapel. An altar tomb of black marble is to the memory of Sir Thomas
+Berkeley, only son of Henry, Lord Berkeley, who died in 1611; another
+of 1640, to William Stanley, Master of the Merchant Taylors' Company
+of London and a benefactor of St. Bartholomew's Hospital and of his
+native city, Coventry. While these are ponderous and unlovely that of
+Julian Nethermyl, at the west end of the principal north aisle, is a
+work of interest and much beauty. It is an altar tomb with a
+sculptured panel on one end and one side, the other end and side
+having been next to walls. It is of interest as an early example of
+the Italian style then finding its way into England, and an example so
+free from Gothic influence that there can be little doubt that a
+foreign craftsman was employed upon it. On the centre of the long
+panel is a mutilated crucifix, and a brief inscription with a shield
+of arms beneath. On either hand kneel Julian Nethermyl and his wife,
+with five sons behind him and five daughters behind her. A cherub at
+each end pushes aside a curtain. The group of sons is well treated,
+the variations in pose and dress show the hand of one who was
+accustomed to study composition, and the result is very different from
+the formal repetition of equal or lessening figures usual on mediæval
+brasses and Elizabethan tombs. The Latin inscription is partly
+illegible, translated it runs:
+
+   Here lies Julian Nethermyl, Draper, formerly Mayor of this City,
+   who died the 11th day of the month of April in the year of our
+   Lord 1539 and also Joan his wife, to whose souls God be
+   propitious. Amen.
+
+[Illustration: CHEST IN NORTH AISLE.]
+
+A small brass on the wall to the memory of Mary Hinton, wife of a
+vicar, who died in 1594, represents her kneeling at a faldstool, and
+facing a row of four swaddled infants laid upon the floor.
+
+Near by is the old Purbeck marble font, said to have been given by
+John Cross, Mayor, in 1394.
+
+As, however, the form, material, and shallow decoration are all quite
+consistent with a thirteenth-century date there can be little doubt
+that this one is the predecessor of that given by John Cross, which
+was condemned and removed by the Puritans as superstitious. A small
+brass, bearing a shield with four crosses, the ancient merchant mark,
+is fixed upon it.
+
+[Illustration: THE NETHERMYL TOMB.]
+
+Beyond the west door is the north-east buttress of the tower,
+strengthened by a mass of masonry, part of which formed part of the
+old nave wall. The tower arch is high and very narrow, owing to the
+narrowness of the old nave. The interior of the tower is very
+effective, both from the height, which is almost 100 feet to the crown
+of the vault, and the beautiful lighting of the upper stages. Each of
+the large windows of the ground story is set in a recessed arch, and
+between the two lantern stages is a range of panelling. The vertical
+lines of the various stages are not continuous, a want of regularity,
+which would probably not have occurred had it been built a century
+later. Upon the floor of the tower are two small brasses, which mark
+respectively the centre of the tower and the point below the apex of
+the spire, showing that the spire has an inclination of 3 feet 6
+inches towards the north-west. On the walls of the tower two very
+large brasses record the names of the Vicars of the church since 1242,
+and of the Bishops in whose Dioceses Coventry has been included from
+the earliest times. Of the latter, four were Bishops of Mercia,
+twenty-seven of Lichfield, six of Coventry, thirty-three of Coventry
+and Lichfield, thirteen of Lichfield and Coventry, four of Worcester,
+and two Bishops-Suffragan of Coventry.
+
+The south aisle is 6 feet narrower than the north at the west end, but
+its want of parallelism adds 7 feet to its width at its far eastern
+end.
+
+The south-west doorway has its original doors, though these have been
+subjected to restoration. The first chapel on the south side belonged
+to the Dyers' Company. When the principal trade of Coventry was the
+manufacture of woollen and worsted stuffs and the production of a
+special blue thread, so excellent that it gave rise to a proverbial
+expression, "he is true Coventry Blue", the Dyers were an important
+Company.[6] A chantry known as Tale's was probably attached to this
+chapel, as the salary of the priest, _£5 6s. 8d._, was paid by the
+Dyers' Company of London. An upper chamber for the priest existed as
+late as 1607; the floor corbels still remain. A large marble monument
+(removed hither from the chancel) has medallion portraits of two
+ladies--Dame Mary Bridgeman and Mrs. Eliza Samwell. The former with
+her husband, Sir Orlando (Lord Keeper of the Great Seal under Charles
+II), both died in 1701. The latter, dying in 1724, "ordered this
+monument to be erected as a remembrance of their great and loving
+friendship."
+
+The Chapel is now the =Baptistery=. A large eighteenth-century marble
+font was removed to the Lady Chapel and a new Gothic one put in its
+place, so that there are now three in the church.
+
+The south porch (1300) is the earliest part of the existing church.
+The inner doors appear to be of the early sixteenth century, the
+outer, though old, are of much later date and are not part of the
+original scheme. On the wall on each side of the inner doors are
+brasses of some interest. That on the right hand has a curious epitaph
+which runs thus:
+
+   Here lies the body of Captn Gervase Scrope, of the family of
+   Scropes, of Bolton in the County of York, who departed this life
+   the 26 of August, Anno Dni 1705, aged 66.
+
+   An Epitaph, written by himself, in the agony and dolorous paines
+   of the gout and dyed soon after.
+
+    Here lyes an old toss'd Tennis Ball
+    Was racketted, from spring to fall,
+    With so much heat and so much hast,
+    Time's arm for shame grew tyred at last.
+    Four kings in camps he truly served.
+    And from his loyalty ne'er swerved,
+    Father ruin'd and son slighted,
+    And from the Crown ne'er requited.
+    Loss of estate, relations, blood,
+    Was too well known, but did no good;
+    With long Campaigns and paines oth' gout
+    He cou'd no longer hold it out.
+    Always a restless life he led,
+    Never at quiet till quite dead.
+    He marry'd in his later days,
+    One who exceeds the common praise
+    But wanting breath still to make known
+    Her true affection and his own,
+    Death kindly came, all wants supplied
+    By giving rest--which life deny'd.
+
+The other brass, of 1609, has a portrait of Ann Sewell in Jacobean
+costume, kneeling, with an epitaph in which she is described as "a
+worthy stirrer up of others to all holy virtues."
+
+A doorway leads to a priest's chamber over the porch, sometimes
+incorrectly spoken of as the Cappers' Chapel. It is still used for the
+annual meeting of the Company, but is inaccessible to the public.
+
+The next chapel eastwards is St. Thomas', belonging until 1629 to the
+Cappers' and Feltmakers' Company. In 1531 they were associated in its
+maintenance with the Woollen Cardmakers who had founded it in 1467 and
+had after declined in importance. Leland, as we have seen records
+also the decay of the Cappers' industry. A large eighteenth-century
+monument conceals the original doorway from the porch. The eastern
+part of the south aisle as far as the screen formed another chapel as
+the dilapidated piscina in the south wall shows. The organ is now
+placed in the first bay of the chancel aisle, the whole aisle having
+once formed the Mercers' Chapel.
+
+[Illustration: THE SWILLINGTON TOMB.]
+
+Where the altar once stood are now steps descending to the sacristies.
+On the right of the window is the statue of St. Michael brought hither
+from the tower (p. 32). The finely carved corbel on which it stands
+was discovered among rubbish in the recess below. Three altar tombs
+now stand against the south wall. The eastern has the recumbent
+effigies of Elizabeth Swillington and her two husbands. The
+inscription (translated) runs: "Pray for the soul of Elizabeth
+Swillington, widow, late the wife of Ralph Swillington, Attorney
+General of our Lord King Henry VIII, Recorder of the city of Coventry,
+formerly the wife of Thomas Essex Esq: which said Elizabeth died A.D.
+15..." She died after 1543. The side and ends have arcaded panelling
+containing shields of arms. At the west end is a realistic
+representation of the Five Wounds. The effigy of Thomas Essex is in
+armour, that of the Recorder in official robe and chain. The head of
+each rests on a helmet, and the lady wears the "pedimental" headdress
+of Tudor fashion. The arcading is purely Renaissance in detail though
+the general treatment is mediæval. The figures are in dignified
+repose, wholly free from the later affectations of the Elizabethan
+school yet evidently individual portraits. The second tomb dates from
+1640. The top is far too heavy for the little Ionic pilasters below.
+
+The third, traditionally called Wade's tomb, probably belongs to John
+Wayd, a Mercer, who lived in Coventry in 1557, but no inscription
+remains.
+
+There are seven shields of arms on the side, nearly all defaced, a
+motto "Ryen saunce travayle," and nine images in low relief which
+present quaint studies of early sixteenth-century costume.
+
+The matrices of brasses are still visible in several parts of the
+church. Sir James Harrington, writing in the reign of James I, tells a
+curious story of their loss:
+
+   The pavement of Coventry church is almost all tombstones, and
+   some very ancient, but there came in a zealous fellow with a
+   counterfeit commission, that for avoiding superstition, hath not
+   left one pennyworth nor penny breadth of brass upon all the
+   tombs, of all the inscriptions, which had been many and costly.
+
+The last monument that need be mentioned is upon the wall over "Wade's
+tomb." Twenty-six verses of eulogy follow these opening lines:
+
+   An Elegicall epitaph, made upon the death of that mirror of women
+   Ann Newdigate; Lady Skeffington, wife of that true moaneing
+   turtle Sir Richard Skeffington, Kt., and consecrated to her
+   eternal memorie by the unfeigned lover of her vertues, Willm.
+   Bulstrode, Knight. (She died in 1637, aged 29).
+
+The present organ was built by Henry Willis and erected in 1887. It is
+a four-manual and pedal instrument and has fifty-three stops.
+
+The old organ on which Handel played more than once, stood on a raised
+platform at the west end. It was the work of Thomas Swarbrick of
+Warwick, a German by birth, in 1733. He also built those of Trinity
+Church, St. Mary, Warwick, Lichfield, St. Saviour Southwark,
+Stratford-on-Avon, and Amsterdam.
+
+The best of the ancient glass now remaining has been collected into two
+windows, one on either side of the apse. Much was brought from the
+clearstory where six windows on the south and all save one on the north
+side still have panels made up of a mosaic of fragments with portions
+here and there of which the subject is intelligible. From what remains
+in the tracery we may gather that there was a row of eight angel
+figures filling the spaces immediately over the lights. Some of these
+or similar ones, are now in the apse. They are represented as covered
+with feathers and standing on wheels and each holds a scroll over the
+head with inscriptions in very contracted Latin. A few less fragmentary
+pieces may be found, _e.g._, in the north window, Judas giving the
+traitor's kiss, in the north clearstory the arms of Trenton and
+Stafford, mentioned and figured by Dugdale, in the south, the figure of
+a man in a red gown kneeling with a scroll inscribed "deo gracias" and
+over his head "groc(er) de london"--doubtless a donor. Of modern glass
+there is a great amount but little worth mentioning save on account of
+the persons commemorated. One window in the Lady Chapel is a memorial
+of the Prince Consort and one in the Mercers' Chapel is of interest as
+a deserved memorial to Thomas Sharp the Antiquary to whose labours all
+later historians of the city are so deeply indebted. He died in 1841.
+
+[Illustration: ALMS-BOX.]
+
+The pulpit is of brass and wrought iron, the work of Frank Skidmore a
+native of Coventry who made also the choir screen of Hereford
+Cathedral and the metal work of the Albert Memorial at Kensington. It
+was placed here in 1869. The bells, ten in number, now hang in the
+octagon. They were cast in 1774 and weigh nearly seven tons. The first
+peal was hung in 1429 and a clock existed in 1467. In 1496 an Order of
+Leet ordained that "all manner of persons that will have the bells to
+ring after the decease of any of their friends, shall pay for a peal
+ringing with all the bells, _2s._ and with four bells, _16d._, and
+three bells _4d._"
+
+The six bells were cast into eight in 1674 and the present tenth has
+the same inscription as the heaviest of the old peal:
+
+    I am and have been call'd the common bell
+    To ring, when fire breaks out, to tell.
+
+The chimes, which existed as early as 1465, were restored in 1895,
+after a silence of ten years, in memory of Lieut.-Col. Francis William
+Newdigate. Electric lighting has been introduced throughout the
+church.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 6: _See_ Fuller's "Worthies of England." In 1428 an Act of
+Leet ordered that no person should dye any wool or cloth with "a
+deceitful colour called Masters or Medleys brought into Coventry by a
+Frenchman."]
+
+
+[Illustration: HOLY TRINITY FROM THE NORTH.
+_From a lithograph--about 1850_.]
+
+
+
+
+HOLY TRINITY CHURCH
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
+
+
+Although the first mention of this church which the indefatigable
+Dugdale could find was its appropriation to the priory in 1259-1260,
+it is tolerably certain that its foundation was much earlier. As
+before said, it is reputed to be older than St. Michael's and its
+position close to the monastery suggests that it had been built, as
+often happened, for the parishioners by the monks who disliked their
+intrusion within the priory church. The appropriation at this time may
+have been rather of the nature of a confirmation of the rights of the
+priory than the institution of a new condition of things. As, in 1391,
+the chancel had to be rebuilt being "ruinated and decayed" we may
+conclude that it was probably older than the present north porch which
+is certainly not later than 1259. It was at the same time lengthened
+by twenty-four feet, the convent giving one hundred shillings per
+annum for eight years and six trees, the parishioners finding all
+other material and workmanship. The convent and parish also agreed to
+support and keep it in repair at their joint charges.
+
+From 1298, when Henry de Harenhale was appointed, the list of vicars
+is complete, but in a cartulary of the priory mention is made of Ralph
+de Sowe, vicar of Trinity, as giving a tenement in Well Street, for
+the celebration of his anniversary.
+
+There are but few landmarks in its history, and dates affecting the
+structure can generally be assigned by internal evidence alone. The
+nave arcades had already been rebuilt before the chancel was touched,
+and a piece of work of the same period is to be seen in the five-light
+Decorated window, in the Consistory Court which now opens into the
+large chamber over the porch. We have no record of the building of the
+clearstory and roof of the nave. The resemblances between this
+clearstory, and that of St. John's chancel, raise the question of
+priority. The fuller development at St. John's of the peculiar
+treatment of the angles points to its being a little later but
+probably both fall within the second and third quarters of the
+fifteenth century.
+
+For a church of this size the chapels, altars and chantries were very
+numerous, there being probably fifteen altars in all. In 1522 the
+establishment of clergy consisted of a vicar, eleven parochial priests
+and two chantry priests. Dugdale enumerates six chantries so that it
+is evident that here as often elsewhere some of the parochial priests
+derived the whole or a part of their support from their performance of
+the duties of chantry priests.
+
+Many chantry priests on the other hand had other duties and took part
+in other services than the daily mass for which the chantry was
+founded.
+
+So much that is of interest in the religious life of the period is
+connected with the chantries that it is worth while recording some of
+the scattered notices that have come down to us.
+
+To begin with the Chapel of Our Lady, the earliest mention we have of
+it is in 1364 while in 1392 the Corpus Christi Gild endowed a priest
+there to sing mass for the good estate of Richard II, Anne his queen,
+and the whole realm of England, to be called St. Mary's priest. The
+indenture sets forth that "he is to be at Divine service on Sundays
+and double Feasts in the chancel and at Matins, Hours, Masses,
+Evensong, Compline and other offices used in the said church and also
+daily at _Salve_ in our Lady's Chapel unless hindered by reasonable
+cause." The records of the Dissolution of the Chantries show how much
+town property must have been held by them, while from these and other
+sources we learn the extent of their belongings in tenements,
+messuages, rent charges and the like. Thus in 1454 Emot Dowte gave
+several tenements to this altar and in 1492 Richard Clyff "late parson
+of St. George in London," left a house in Well St. to the church "to
+the intent that the mass of Our Lady may be observed the better." In
+1558 (the year of Elizabeth's accession) William Hyndeman, alderman
+and butcher, directs that his body be buried in the Lady Chapel "as
+aldermen are wont to be buried, towards the charges whereof I give
+twenty nobles to be levied of my quick cattle and if it be too little
+then I will that Sybil my wife shall lay down _20s._ more." He also
+orders an obit to be kept after the death of his wife "yearly for
+ever;" a form of words that must surely have sounded unreal after the
+changes of the last two reigns.
+
+Perceye's chantry again, which Dugdale considered the oldest (though
+he does not give the date) was endowed in 1350 with six messuages, one
+shop, six acres of land and 40s. rent, all lying in Coventry, to which
+in 1407 William Botoner and others, added a messuage and twenty-four
+acres of land in the city for another priest.
+
+Then the chantry of the Holy Cross (1357) founded for two priests to
+sing daily a mass for the good estate before death and for the souls
+after of the royal family, and for the founders and the members of the
+Fraternity of the Holy Cross, was endowed with seven messuages,
+fourteen shops and sixteen acres of land in the city.
+
+Dugdale enumerates also four others, Cellet's, Corpus Christi,
+Lodynton's and Allesley's, to which should probably be added Marler's,
+assigned by him to St. Michael's. The first two are doubtless the same
+foundation, for in 1329 land and tenements were granted to the priest
+of Corpus Christi Chapel for the health of the soul of William Celet
+and others.
+
+It was almost certainly situated in the south transept, on the upper
+level over the vaulted passage. The position of Lodynton's chantry
+(1393) is not known; Allesley's, founded in the reign of Edward I, was
+sung at St. Thomas's altar.
+
+Richard Marler stipulates in his will that his priest is to have the
+"stypend or wagis of nyne marks by yere so long as he shall be of good
+and prestly conversacyon and demeanor, wt' a p'vyso that yf the seyde
+prest be ffounde otherwyse, after monyc'on and reasonable warnyng to
+hym geven, he to be removed."
+
+Much of the later history of the church relates to the destruction of
+its fittings and furniture or to restorations almost as grievous. In
+1560 _2s. 6d._ was paid for taking down the carving about the high
+altar, while the Mayor bought the panelling of the altar for _33s.
+4d._, the vail for _5s._, the "thing that the sacrament was in over
+the altar _1s._," the "peyre [pair of candlesticks?] that was upon the
+altar _5d._" Perhaps he thought that all these things would be wanted
+again ere long. In 1547 a quantity of costly vestments and banners had
+been sold and we find in the accounts a number of such items as
+these: "Sold the 6 day of Jennery 5 copps of red teyssew to Mr.
+Roghers, now mayre (and 4 other persons) pryce of the sayd copps,
+_10l._ To Bawden Desseld one cope of red velvet, _5l._ Mr. Schewyll a
+grene velvet cope, _30s._"
+
+But before Mary's death we have a lengthy inventory of copes,
+vestments, albs, banners and the like, some of which may have come
+back to the church from the buyers at the sale eleven years before.
+
+The church must have looked like a builder's yard in 1643 when the
+Committee and Council of War pulled down divers houses outside
+Bishop's and Spon Gates and stacked the materials here, while the
+changes of government are indicated by the payment in 1647 of _3s.
+6d._ "to Hopes for defacing the King's Arms" and in 1660 of _6s._ to
+"Hope for the King's Arms."
+
+Five years after this the spire, which had caused much anxiety and
+expense for many years, was blown down in a gale, falling across the
+chancel and causing much destruction. All was restored and the spire
+rebuilt in three years. Reference has been made to the existence of a
+vaulted passage through the south transept. This was made necessary by
+the position of an ancient building known as Jesus Hall which adjoined
+the transept and thus blocked the way from "the Butchery" in this
+direction. The Hall had probably been long used as the residence of
+the priests attached to the church but nothing is known of its origin.
+It was destroyed in 1742. Only in 1834, when the exterior of the
+church was recased was the passage blocked and the floor of the upper
+chapel removed.
+
+The Register records the marriage of Sarah Kemble with William Siddons
+on 25th November, 1773.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE EXTERIOR OF THE CHURCH
+
+
+The church of Holy Trinity loses much, in popular estimation at least,
+by its nearness to St. Michael's. It invites comparison of the most
+obvious sort. It is not nearly so large and its spire is not so high,
+these facts alone are sufficient to account for the popular view.
+Fuller, in his "Worthies" says of the two churches, "How clearly would
+they have shined if set at competent distance! Whereas now, such their
+Vicinity, that the Archangel eclipseth the Trinity."
+
+The plan is quite unlike that of its neighbour, being cruciform, with
+a central tower, a short nave, and a chancel distinctly longer than
+the nave. On the south both nave and chancel have a single aisle, the
+transept projecting beyond it and there is a vestry at the east end.
+On the north there is a similar aisle with a Lady Chapel at the east
+corresponding to the Vestry, but a large porch and several chapels
+fill up the spaces so that the transept does not in plan project.
+
+Looking at the exterior as a whole it may be said that the more
+moderate length (194 feet), the central spire, 230 feet high, and the
+transepts unite in forming a more satisfactory composition than the
+long body and immense western steeple of St. Michael's. There however,
+the superiority ceases for the frequent "recasings" and restorations
+have left hardly a stone of the exterior that has not been renewed
+again and again, and the dates of these operations, 1786, 1826, 1843,
+sufficiently suggest the degree of knowledge and feeling likely to be
+manifested in the work.
+
+Probably most of the structure was first built of the same friable red
+sandstone as its greater neighbour. Much of the recasing has been
+executed in a rather harder gray sandstone, but the tower and spire
+are still red.
+
+The tower above the roofs, is of two stages, the upper, or bell
+chamber, and the lower or lantern opening into the church. Below this
+are small windows with the lines of the old high-pitched roof visible
+above the present transept roofs, but in the nave and chancel the
+lines of the old roofs are now within the church, the clearstory
+having since been added. Each face of the tower is divided, apart from
+the narrow angle buttresses, into six vertical divisions separated by
+thin projections of buttress form. On the south and west the stair
+turret absorbs one of the outer divisions. Each division is curved in
+plan in a curious way, which may be the perpetuation of a feature of
+the original design, but was more probably introduced or modified by
+the person who recased the tower in 1826. That there was sculpture we
+know, for in 1709 ten shillings was paid for taking the images down
+from the steeple. The smallness of the sum indicates that they were
+few in number, and if they occupied similar positions to those on the
+belfry stage of St. Michael's, and the structure was as decayed as was
+the tower of that church it is probable that the cutting away of the
+niches may have suggested the curving of the surfaces especially as
+the tower would be thereby lightened. As it is we cannot be certain of
+much else than that there were vertical divisions serving to emphasize
+the impression of height and that the openings were in the same
+positions as now.
+
+[Illustration: PLAN OF TRINITY CHURCH]
+
+The spire blown down in 1665 had been in the previous ninety years
+five times repaired and repointed. We cannot now say whether the
+original design was at all closely followed in the rebuilding, but its
+present likeness to St. Michael's suggests doubts. The lowest stage
+which takes the place of the octagon and may be an intentional
+imitation of it, has almost upright sides with two-light windows on
+the cardinal faces and panelled ones on the oblique sides, while the
+remaining stages correspond in number and partly in design with those
+of St. Michael's.
+
+In 1855 it was considered that the bells endangered the safety of the
+tower, and after recasting by Mears of London they were rehung in a
+timber campanile in the north churchyard. Even now they cannot be
+pealed.
+
+The deplorable refacings have left few features of interest on the
+outside. Were Gothic architecture still a living and not merely
+imitative and academic art, one would welcome a complete renewal of
+all outside work--not an imagined harking back to the work of the
+fifteenth century but showing the lapse of the centuries from the
+fifteenth to the twentieth as clearly as does the north porch the
+change from the thirteenth to the fifteenth.
+
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR OF HOLY TRINITY, FROM THE WEST.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE INTERIOR
+
+
+It is with a feeling of expectation followed by one of relief that we
+pass within the church, for restoration has there rarely the same
+excuse for its devastations as the action of wind and weather on the
+exterior too generously gives it, and this church is no exception to
+the general rule.
+
+The clearing away of galleries, the provision of new seating and the
+renewal of much window tracery have been the principal changes, the
+greatest loss being the destruction of the Corpus Christi Chapel. The
+nave is of moderate width and consists of only four bays, the eastern
+arches being narrower and made to abut against the tower after the
+manner of flying buttresses. The columns are clusters of four large
+filleted shafts separated by small ones while the bases are high and
+evidently meant to be seen above the benches. The caps are shallow and
+very simple, while the shafts of each pier reappear as part of the
+arch moulding.
+
+The arcade as a whole is remarkably strong and dignified, it would
+perhaps have gained by the addition of a bay in length. In the absence
+of precise records it may be assigned to the second quarter of the
+fourteenth century or a little later. Above the tower arch can still
+be seen, beneath the painting and plaster, the marks of the older
+steep roof. The nave of Stratford-on-Avon Church has points of
+resemblance to this. There too we have a fourteenth-century arcade
+(but much simpler) with a fifteenth-century panelled wall and
+clearstory above, and the panelling comes down on to the backs of the
+arches in a similar though somewhat simpler manner.
+
+Owing to the inequality of the eastern arches there is, in the
+position of the windows and roof principals a curious disregard of the
+lines of the piers and the centres of arches. There are eight equal
+bays in the roof and each corresponds to two two-light windows. It is
+interesting to compare the design of this clearstory with that of St.
+Michael's. It has more solidity to accord with the more vigorous
+arcade though the treatment of the panelling is similar. The height
+from the arch to the roof is much less in proportion, but the sills of
+the windows are kept lower and the heads are square. The form of the
+windows is perhaps determined in part by the desire for more space for
+stained glass, but it is also the logical outcome of the space
+afforded by the level lines of a wooden roof just as the use of the
+pointed window follows from the use of pointed vaulting. The treatment
+of the angles after the manner of the thirteenth century "shouldered"
+lintel in order to take off the harshness of the rectangular form and
+to give a better bearing for the lintels is noteworthy and should be
+compared with the more developed forms at St. John's Church.
+
+Above the tower arch is a painting of the Last Judgement, discovered
+in 1831. It is now so much darkened that very little can be made out.
+The following is a description of its appearance before 1860: In the
+centre is the Saviour clothed in crimson and seated on a rainbow.
+Below are the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist with the twelve
+Apostles arranged on each hand. Two angels sound the summons to
+Judgement, and on the right of our Saviour, steps lead to a portico
+over which three angels look down on the scene and others welcome a
+pope who has just passed St. Peter. On the Saviour's left are doomed
+spirits being conveyed by devils in various ways and in ludicrous
+attitudes to the place of torment, represented in the usual manner by
+the gaping mouth of a monster, vomiting flames of fire. A large
+painting of a crucifix, with a priest kneeling beside it and angels
+flying above, was discovered at the same time on the north side of the
+Chancel but was too much mutilated to be thought worthy of
+preservation.
+
+The =roofs= throughout are of low pitch, and almost all resemble one
+another in design. Those of the nave, chancel, archdeacon's chapel (on
+the west of the north porch) and transepts are divided by their
+principal timbers into large panels, which are again subdivided by
+mouldings upon the boarded ceiling. At all angles and intersections
+there are carved leaves, and stars in relief adorn each panel. All
+these roofs are painted in accordance, it is said, with existing
+indications of the original colouring. The ground is blue, the
+mouldings red and white, the stars and carving are gilt. The nave roof
+spandrels, above the tie-beams, have large painted figures of angels,
+supporting between them shields emblazoned with the instruments of
+the Passion. These are also said to be reproductions, but it appears
+likely that time had left much to the imagination of their restorer.
+
+[Illustration: NORTH SIDE OF NAVE, EASTERN BAYS.]
+
+Nevertheless, the whole effect of the roofs is harmonious, a result
+apparently obtained by the use of a blue far removed from the
+ultramarine tint too often employed.
+
+Since the removal of the ringing floor, in 1855, the lantern stage of
+the tower has been once more visible from the church. A wooden vaulted
+ceiling was at the same time inserted where a stone one had originally
+been built or intended.
+
+The =chancel= is dark owing to the small clearstory windows, the low
+outer north aisle, and the concealment of a south window by the organ.
+At the first pier east of the tower came the rood-screen, and on the
+south side (in the aisle) the door to it may be seen at a height above
+the floor. Access must have been by steep steps against the wall, or
+from the top of another screen across the aisle. The church accounts
+of the year 1560 tell us what it cost to remove:
+
+  Payd for taking down ye rode and Marie and John        _4s. 4d._
+  Payd to ye carpenter for pullyng down ye rode lofft    _4s. 8d._
+
+On the east side of the tower wall can be seen the line of the
+original roof, showing the height before the rebuilding in 1391.
+Although there is space for larger windows the aisle roof prevented
+their sills being brought lower. The west arch of the south arcade has
+been forced out of shape by the pressure of the tower piers and
+arches; certainly the piers, which are little more than 4 feet square,
+seem slender enough for the support of so lofty a steeple.
+
+Attached to this south-east tower pier is the stone pulpit, one of the
+two special glories of the church, the other being the brass eagle.
+The pulpit is either contemporary with the pier or nearly so. There is
+apparently some difference in the texture and colour of the stone, but
+as it is probable that a finer-grained stone would be chosen for work
+of this character, this need not imply a difference of date. It was,
+however, probably added at the same time as the nave clearstory. The
+authors of "English Church Furniture" assign it to 1470.[7] Before
+1833 (when restored by Rickman) it had been hidden from sight by
+wood-work and a clerk's desk at a lower level. The lower part is
+boldly corbelled out and the junction of the octagon with the pier
+shafts is well managed, but the upper open-panelled part is rather too
+definitely cut off from the lower by the battlemented cornice. Very
+few examples of this class of pulpit exist in England, and none equal
+in importance.
+
+The eagle =lectern= is a magnificent example of brass casting. It is
+generally attributed to the late fifteenth century. This eagle
+narrowly escaped being sold by the Puritans for old brass, as happened
+to that of St. Michael's. It closely resembles one belonging to St.
+Nicholas' Chapel, Lynn, save that the latter is not equal in
+refinement of detail and proportion, and the bird is less vigorous in
+pose and modelling. In 1560 there was "paid for skowring ye Egle and
+candell styckes, _10d._," and "for mending of ye Egle's tayle, _16d._"
+
+[Illustration: PULPIT.]
+
+At least nine chapels and fifteen altars are known to have existed in
+the church. The present choir vestry on the north side was the Lady
+Chapel. A simple piscina on the south side, about a foot above the
+present floor, shows that the old floor level was much lower.
+
+The =north aisle= is lofty and has a clearstory of three windows over
+the arcade. In the outer aisle was located Marler's, or the Mercers',
+Chapel, founded in 1537, and beneath it is a crypt or charnel house,
+now closed save for small ventilating openings.
+
+[Illustration: ARCHWAY BETWEEN THE NORTH PORCH AND ST. THOMAS'S
+CHAPEL.]
+
+The black oak roof of low pitch has the panels of the western bay only
+richly carved with vine leaves and grapes. Its date is, perhaps, as
+late as the foundation of the chantry. The piscina is in the north
+wall.
+
+West of the north transept is =St. Thomas's Chapel=. Dugdale says that
+Allesley's chantry was founded in the time of Edward I, at the altar
+of St. Thomas the Martyr, "in a chapel near adjoining to the church
+porch." The chapel is certainly older, for the beautiful double
+doorway from the porch is not later than mid-thirteenth century. The
+outer doorway of the porch was rebuilt in the fifteenth century. The
+inner one, with a finely moulded arch with angle shafts and the vault
+with simple diagonal ribs carried on shafts, is of the early
+thirteenth century. It is to be regretted that this fine porch is not
+better seen. Signs of the puzzling reconstructions that have occurred
+in this part are visible in the aisle wall. Two lancet windows high up
+are of the same date as the porch, and are blocked by the chamber
+since constructed above St. Thomas's Chapel, and parts of other window
+jambs are seen at different levels.
+
+The Archdeacon's Chapel or consistory court, to the west of the porch,
+is now one of the most interesting parts of the church.
+
+It is divided from the north aisle by two lofty arches with an
+octagonal column. The original dedication is not known, but in 1588 it
+was already used as an Ecclesiastical Court, and the next year a
+bishop's seat was made for use in it. In the south-west angle is a
+tall, narrow recess, once closed by a door. Lockers of this
+description were constructed for the safe keeping of the shaft of the
+processional cross, and for the staves of banners. On the east side
+the roof now cuts across the head of a window of reticulated tracery
+of the early fourteenth century. Most of the monuments have been
+brought hither from various parts of the church; only two or three are
+of general interest. A late Perpendicular canopied tomb, rudely carved
+and badly fitted together, stands against the north wall, but there is
+nothing to show whom it commemorates. On the east wall is the monument
+of Dr. Philemon Holland, with a long Latin epitaph. Fuller says of
+him: "he was the translator general in his age, so that those books
+alone of his turning into English will make a country gentleman a
+competent library for historians." Born at Chelmsford in 1551 he
+settled at Coventry in 1595, was usher and then master of St. John's
+Free School for twenty-eight years, and died in 1636 in his
+eighty-fifth year. During his usher-ship Dugdale was a pupil of the
+school.
+
+An engraved brass to John Whithead, who died in 1597, is interesting
+for the sake of the costumes of himself and his two wives. Three stone
+coffins have also been deposited here, and two sheets of lead from the
+roof recording, in fine bold lettering, the repairs executed in 1660
+and 1728. In the middle window on the north side are the only
+remaining fragments of ancient glass. As late as 1779 there were
+"portraits" of Earl Leofric and the Countess, and also, it is said, a
+smaller figure of the lady in a yellow dress on a white horse. Part of
+a small figure holding a spray of leaves and part of a galloping
+horse are pointed out as the remains of this. To the writer the figure
+appears to be clearly that of a man, and the horse and rider's leg not
+to have belonged to it.
+
+The modern stained glass is very unequal in character, and some is
+very poor indeed. The windows at the west, especially one in memory of
+Mr. Wm. Chater, a late organist, may be regarded as exceptions. There
+are still, fortunately, many which are not filled with pious
+memorials.
+
+The =font= is the original pre-Reformation one of the fifteenth
+century, which was removed by the Puritans in 1645 (though devoid of
+sculpture) and brought back after the Restoration. It stands on three
+steps, is panelled on bowl and stem, and rather brilliantly adorned
+with gold and colour.
+
+The south aisle was no doubt divided into two chapels, that on the
+west belonging to the Barkers' or Tanners' Gild. A small piscina
+against the south wall indicates the position of its altar. The wall
+below the windows is recessed so as to form a seat the whole length of
+the aisle.
+
+The =south transept=, containing the Corpus Christi and Cellet's
+chantries, has lost its original character completely. The piscina,
+high up on the south wall, shows that the floor level was some 9 feet
+above that of the church. The reason for this has been already
+explained. The organ chamber is quite modern. The best authorities
+place the chapel of the Butchers' Gild in the south aisle of the
+chancel, but do not say to whom the eastern chapel in the nave aisle
+belonged. It is known that there was a Jesus Chapel, and, in view of
+the proximity of Jesus Hall, it is believed by some that this was its
+position.
+
+The present clergy vestry is a fine room, having an excellent dark oak
+roof with heavy beams and well carved bosses at the intersections of
+the timbers. The Royal Arms over the fireplace were painted there in
+1632. Although usual, the placing of the king's arms in churches was
+not compulsory until the Restoration; few earlier now remain, and this
+placing of them in the vestry rather than the body of the church is
+suggestive of a compromise between opposing factions. A portrait of
+Walter Farquhar Hook, Vicar from 1828-37 and afterwards Dean of
+Chichester is hung here.
+
+It seems probable that this was a chapel, perhaps that of the Holy
+Trinity, to whom an altar was dedicated.
+
+The history, as traced in the church accounts, of the various organs
+used in the church gives some idea of the fluctuations of opinion as
+to the propriety of their use. In 1526 John Howe and John Climmowe,
+citizens and organ makers of London, contracted to provide, for £30,
+"a peir of Organs wt vij stopps, ov'r and besides the two Towers of
+cases, of the pitche of doble Eff, and wt xxvij pleyn keyes, xix
+musiks, xlvj cases of Tynn and xiiij cases of wood, wt two Starrs and
+the image of the Trinite on the topp of the sayed orgayns." In 1570
+the "payer of balowes" were sold, and in 1583 the pipes, "wayeng
+eleven score and thirteen pounds, went for fourpence half-farthing the
+pound." In 1632 a new one was obtained but its life was short, for in
+1641 the Puritan party caused it to be sold "for the best advantage."
+
+[Illustration: ALMS-BOX.]
+
+Once more, in 1684, another was purchased from Mr. Robert Hay wood of
+the City of Bath for £100; then, in 1732, Thomas Swarbrick of Warwick
+built one for £600, for which a gallery was erected across the nave.
+
+In 1855 this gave place to a new one by Foster and Andrews of Hull,
+costing £800; and this was rebuilt by Messrs. Hill and Son in 1900.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 7: "English Church Furniture." (Antiquary series.) J.C. Cox
+and A. Harvey.]
+
+
+[Illustration: CHURCH OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST, FROM BOND'S HOSPITAL.]
+
+
+
+
+ST. JOHN BAPTIST'S CHURCH
+
+The church of St. John Baptist has a history quite different from that
+of the other parish churches and is specially interesting as a
+building belonging to a very limited class, namely, Collegiate
+Churches owned by a Gild. Though Dugdale says that the "first and most
+antient of the Gilds here was founded in the 14th Ed. III (1340)" it
+is probable that, as in other places, religious gilds had for long
+existed here and that the royal license or Charter of this date was
+like that of Stratford-on-Avon in 1332, really a reconstitution or
+confirmation of the Gild's rights, privileges and possessions.
+
+This earliest one was known as the Merchant or St. Mary's Gild and its
+first ordinances provided that "the brethren and sisteren of the gild
+shall find as many chaplains as the means of the gild can well
+afford." Then in 1342 that of St. John Baptist and in 1343 that of St.
+Katharine was founded. The former at once founded a chantry of six
+priests to sing mass daily in the churches of St. Michael and the
+Trinity for "the souls of the King's progenitors and for the good
+estate of the King, Queen Isabella his mother, Queen Philippa his
+Consort and their children" and others, besides the members of the
+Gild. In 1344 this Gild, desiring to have a building for its exclusive
+use, received from Queen Isabella a small piece of land called
+Babbelak on which to build a chapel in honour of God and St. John, two
+priests being required to sing masses daily for the souls "of her dear
+lord Edward," John, Earl of Cornwall and others. Did she seek to
+satisfy her conscience thus for the woes she had brought upon her
+_dear lord_? The site thus given measured 117 feet from north to south
+and about 40 feet from east to west giving room for the chancel only
+of the present church, this being dedicated in 1350. But in 1357
+William Walsheman, valet to the Queen and now her sub-bailiff in
+Coventry gave further land, added a new aisle and increased the number
+of priests while the Black Prince in 1359 gave a small plot on which,
+perhaps, the tower and transept now stand. Within the next ten years
+Walsheman and Christiana his wife gave to the Gild certain tenements,
+called the "Drapery," in the city to build a chapel in honour of the
+Holy Trinity, St. Mary, St. John, and St. Katharine "within the Chapel
+of Bablake." William Wolfe, mayor in 1375, is mentioned as a "great
+helper" in the work at the church, the original nave and aisles being
+probably built at this time, and some reconstruction of the choir.
+Records are wanting of the subsequent alterations which gave it its
+present form. The north clearstory of the nave shows the original
+design while that of the choir and the south side of the nave belong
+to the fifteenth century as do the tower and the cruciform arrangement
+of the building. Leland's "Itinerary" gives the following description:
+"There is also a Collegiate Church at Bablake, hard within the West
+Gate (Spon Gate) alias Bablake Gate, dedicated to St. John.... It is
+of the foundation of the Burgesses and there is a great Privilege,
+Gild or Fraternity. In this College is now a Master and eight
+ministers and lately twelve ministers." Stowe adds that there were
+twelve singing men and extant deeds mention "Babbelake Hall" in which
+the warden and priests lived.
+
+Many interesting entries of expenditure are to be found in the gild
+accounts showing how the Eve of St. John (Midsummer Eve) and other
+festivals were celebrated before the suppression of the gilds by
+Edward VI. In 1541 we have the following (the spelling is somewhat
+modernized):
+
+   Expenses on Midsummer Even and on the day,--Item, 2 doz. & a half
+   cakes, _2s. 6d._; spice cakes, _12d._; a cest' ale and 4 gals.
+   _4s._; 2 gals, claret wine _16d._; 2 gals. malmsey, _2s. 8d._; 2
+   gals. muskedell _2s. 8d._; to Mr. Mayor _3s. 4d._; the Mayor to
+   offer, _8d._; to priests, clerks and children, _2s. 4d._; the
+   waits, _6s. 8d._; to poor people _6s. 8d._; to the cross-bearers
+   and torch-bearers, _8d._; the bellman, _4d._; the hire of pots,
+   _4d._; boughs, rushes and sweeping, _8d._; a woman 2 days to
+   cleanse the house, _4d._; half a hundred _3d._ nails, _1½d._;
+   half a pound of sugar, _4½d._; to the crossbearer and torchbearer
+   for St. George Day, Holy Rood Day, Shire Thursday and Whit
+   Sunday, _12d._; to 2 children for the same days, _6d._ Summa
+   (total) _38s. 2d._
+
+That these anniversaries and wakes led to much unseemly revelling we
+have evidence that cannot be gainsaid. The Trinity Gild decided in
+1542
+
+   that no obite, drynkyng or com'en assemblie, from henceforth
+   shall be had or used at Babalake, except onelie on Trinitie even
+   and on the day, which shall be used as it hath been in tymes
+   past. And that also the P'sts of Babelack shall say _dirige_ on
+   midsum' even and likewise masse of _requiem_ on the morrowe, as
+   they have used to doo. And that the Meire shall not come down
+   thether to _dirige_ ov(er) night for dyv's considerac'ons and
+   other great busynes they used. And on the morowe thei to go
+   thether to masse and brekefast, as thei have used to doo.
+
+Dugdale quotes from an old MS. an interesting passage bearing on this
+question:
+
+   "And ye shall understond and know how the Evyns were furst found
+   in old tyme. In the beginning of holi Chirche, it was so that the
+   pepull cam to the Chirche with candellys brennyng and wold _Wake_
+   and come with light toward nyght to the Chirch to their
+   devocions; and afterwards they fell to lecherie and songs,
+   daunces, harping, piping and also to glotony and sinne and so
+   turned the holinesse to cursaydnesse; wherefore holi faders
+   ordeined the pepull to leve that _waking_ and to fast the Evyn.
+   But it is called _Vigilia_, that is _Waking_ in English and it is
+   called the Evyn, for at Evyn they were wont to come to Chirche."
+
+In 1362 Queen Isabella helped to procure from the bishop a licence for
+one Robert de Worthin, priest, to become an anchorite and to inhabit a
+hermitage attached to the north aisle of the chancel. Traces of the
+foundations of this have been found on the site of the modern vestry.
+
+When the college was suppressed in 1548 the King granted to the mayor,
+bailiffs and corporation, on their petition, the church and its
+appurtenances in Free Burgage for ever on payment of _1d._, per annum
+and gave them "all the rents, revenues and profits of the said
+church."
+
+But these gifts were not sufficient to support the church and its
+services, so that the latter were irregular and repairs were
+neglected. In 1608 Mayor Hancox procured the delivery of a Saturday
+lecture "for the better fitting of the people for the Sabbath." In
+1641 Simon Norton, alderman, left property to his son Thomas, on
+trust, the condition being that if at any time St. John's should
+become a parish church, he or his heirs should pay _£13 6s. 8d._ to
+the minister out of rents of lands in Coundon, and also the tithes of
+lands in Clifton.
+
+Prisoners from the Scottish army being quartered on the city in 1647,
+many were confined in this church and wrought much damage and
+desecration. From this time services were only occasionally held,
+until 1734, when an Act of Parliament was obtained making it a Parish
+Church, appointing a district to it and enabling the Master and Usher
+of the Free Grammar School to be Rector and Lecturer of the church.
+The mayor, bailiffs, and commonalty were made patrons, but in 1835,
+these arrangements having failed to work satisfactorily, the patronage
+was transferred to trustees who acted as managers of the school and in
+1864 the lectureship was abolished, the rectory was severed from the
+office of Head Master and the Trustees of the school were charged with
+a payment of £200 per annum towards the stipend of the Rector. In 1874
+the advowson was sold to a private person. A great deal of
+restoration, justifiable and otherwise, has taken place, the decay of
+the local sandstone having made large repairs necessary. In 1861 much
+renewal of the external stone work was carried out. Unfortunately
+shortsighted ideas of economy led to the use of the same poor stone
+and much has recently had to be done over again, this time with the
+harder Runcorn stone used also at St. Michael's. The interior was
+restored in 1875, galleries erected in 1735 and 1838, and high pews
+were removed, the floor, which had been raised three feet, lowered,
+the lantern stage of the tower opened up by removing a ringing floor
+and a light iron gallery above the tower arches provided for the
+ringers. The original groined ceiling has thus been made visible from
+below.
+
+
+THE EXTERIOR
+
+Although small in area compared with the other churches, both exterior
+and interior give an impression of size and dignity which does not
+belong to many much larger buildings. In the exterior this is no doubt
+due to the pseudo-cruciform arrangement, the bold central tower and
+the height of the main roof, which would have appeared even greater
+had the roadways not been so much raised.
+
+The =tower= is in two stages, a lofty lantern story having two
+transomed two-light windows on each face and a shorter upper one
+having smaller windows without transoms and a battlemented parapet.
+Large skeleton clock-dials disfigure the windows of this story. Narrow
+buttress strips on either side and between the windows run through and
+serve to connect the stories. The north-east angle has an octagonal
+stair turret carried up above the parapet. The other angles have
+narrow buttresses running up to circular bartizans boldly corbelled
+out from the battlements. This is an extremely unusual feature in
+ecclesiastical architecture but is common on fortified structures. Of
+the City gates, Gosford Gate had machicolated ones but not Spon Gate
+adjacent to the church.
+
+[Illustration: ST. JOHN BAPTIST.]
+
+The spacing of the windows and buttresses of the south aisle and the
+position of the large transept window show how the later changes were
+effected. The three windows and the buttresses with niches and
+canopies almost certainly belong to the part built by Walsheman after
+1357. The two in the chancel aisle are recent insertions. The doorway
+at the south-west corner occupies the position where indications
+showed that an original door had existed. There is also a small
+priest's doorway of which the jambs are ancient. The clearstory was
+restored in 1861 "from sufficiently clear indications" in the remains
+of the original windows. The whole of this part is worthy of careful
+study and should be compared with the corresponding parts of Trinity
+Church. Everywhere we see signs of individual thought and design
+mainly directed to softening the rigidity of the horizontal lines of
+the square-headed and transomed "Perpendicular" windows. The method of
+cusping the drop-arch and the varied treatment of these in nave,
+choir and transepts are noteworthy while the little quatrefoil at the
+intersection of mullion and transom is a really happy innovation. The
+flying buttress over the south aisle restores a feature of the old
+building which had disappeared. Of the variously panelled and
+battlemented parapets, of nave, chancel and aisles a view of 1864
+gives no visible hint. As the report of Sir (then Mr.) G.G. Scott in
+1856 specifies as desirable the "renewing all the parapets according
+to the portions of the original which remain," we can only hope (but
+with no sense of certainty) that these parts are faithfully
+reproduced.
+
+The limited site on which the chancel was built (only 40 feet deep)
+caused the builders to omit any buttresses or other projections at the
+east end. The east window was renewed in 1861 but the proportions are
+not good and it is said that one light was suppressed although the old
+sill remained intact.
+
+The west end has a large six-light window with two transoms. It was
+restored in 1841 and is said to be a precise reproduction of the
+original design. On the gable above it is a large niched pinnacle
+which appears to be an "unauthorized" addition.
+
+While the north aisle is later than the south, the clearstory, as has
+been said is earlier, being of late Decorated date with large
+three-light windows of reticulated tracery. The north transept is more
+consistent in style than the south. The large four-light window is
+peculiar in design. It has one transom and the tracery is brought down
+much below the spring of the arch. The centre mullion is very solid,
+coming forward almost to the wall face both inside and out and running
+up to the apex of the arch. The clearstory windows in both transepts
+are similar in general design to those of the south clearstory of the
+nave but with variations suggesting a rather later date. A very
+effective view of the north side can be had from the quadrangle of
+Bond's Hospital, though here too it loses on account of the depressed
+site in which it lies.
+
+
+THE INTERIOR
+
+The interior is not less impressive for its size than the exterior,
+Sir G.G. Scott even saying that he knew of no interior more beautiful
+than St. John's.
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR, ST. JOHN BAPTIST.]
+
+[Illustration: CLEARSTORY WINDOWS.]
+
+All at least will agree that there is something about it striking and
+dignified which is obviously not concerned with mere size, is largely
+independent of elaboration of detail and may therefore be safely
+attributed to its satisfactory proportions and broad effects of light
+and shade. Its plan is quite simple consisting of a nave and choir
+with north and south aisles, a transept not projecting beyond the
+aisles at either end and a central tower. Yet, although it is more or
+less oblong as a whole, there is hardly a right angle or two parallel
+walls throughout the church. In most cases these discrepancies are not
+apparent, nor do they appear likely to have been intended to produce a
+studied effect. Thus a diminution in width towards the east (as at
+Manchester) may be expected to add to the apparent length, but here
+the south aisles of both nave and chancel expand instead of
+contracting. By standing within either transept and looking up at the
+roof the want of parallelism of the walls and other irregularities are
+plainly seen. The nave has only three bays, the arches being rather
+lofty and the arch mouldings of the characteristic shallowness of the
+period. The south-west pier had to be rebuilt on account of settlement
+and there are signs of it in the south-east arch next the tower. The
+name Bablake is said to have been derived from a pond or conduit near
+by and the site may have been swampy, thus affecting the foundations.
+The district is even now liable to flooding from the Sherborne (or
+Shireburn) stream and as late as January 1900 the waters rose over
+five feet within the church as a brass plate at the west end
+testifies.
+
+The graceful treatment of the windows of the nave and choir
+clearstories is shown in the illustration. Comparing these with the
+clearstory of Trinity nave (p. 71) questions of priority arise. If not
+designed by the same mind the influence of one on the other is easily
+seen. On the whole the greater rigidity of treatment and the anxiety
+to increase the area of glass in the Trinity windows suggest that the
+date is rather later and that the designs did not spring from the same
+brain. The roof is very simple, the curved brackets springing from the
+shafts which run down to the arches below. The wall is deeply recessed
+beneath the windows. The north windows, however, are continued down in
+plain panels, but this only makes more apparent the fact that they are
+not placed centrally over the arches.
+
+The north aisle has a doorway and two north windows. The windows are
+of good Perpendicular design, and the mullions are continued down the
+wall below, forming panels. The lowered sill and recess probably
+formed a convenient retable to an altar against the wall. The west
+window preserves some fragments of glass dated 1532. There is an
+obliterated inscription and small etched figures--among them an
+acolyte carrying a cross, one of those whose services are mentioned in
+the accounts after this wise: "to the crosebeirer and torchebeirer,
+for Seynt George day, hollieroode day, shire thuresday and Whit
+Sunday, _12d._; to 2 childern for the same dayes _6d._"
+
+The south aisle of the nave, including the lower part of the transept,
+is doubtless the aisle erected for the Gild by William Walsheman in
+1357. The two windows are not central with the nave arches, and the
+third is not in the centre of the transept. Their tracery is somewhat
+peculiar in design and refined in detail, and has the transitional
+character one would expect from its date. There are signs on the face
+of each western tower pier of the altars which once stood there,
+probably those of the Trinity and St. Katharine, which are known to
+have existed.
+
+The eastern piers of the tower are later than the western, and very
+unlike them in plan. A bold and ingenious treatment of the vaulting
+shaft of the tower groining is used on these piers; on the western
+ones the shafts stop upon the ends of the hood moulding.
+
+The choir is now closed by a screen carrying a large rood carved in
+oak. Like St. Michael's, but to a smaller extent, the axis of the
+choir inclines to the north. Whether symbolic, or only a part of what
+may be described as the studied irregularity of the whole building it
+is hard to say. The column on each side of the choir is later than the
+east respond and also later than the west tower pier, but corresponds
+with the east tower pier. The deep panelling beneath the windows must
+have been carried out when the clearstories were constructed in the
+fifteenth century.
+
+The south aisle of the choir, the original chapel of the patron saint,
+is now fitted up and used as a morning chapel. The piscina still
+remains in the south wall, and there is a trace of the old altar
+visible on the wall.
+
+The east end of the north aisle is now the organ chamber, and was
+originally the Lady Chapel. The base of the altar still exists, and so
+does the piscina in the south wall.
+
+In connection with these or other altars we hear of a payment of
+_22d._, in 1474, for painting a cloth for the image of St. John
+Baptist, and in 1462 sums of _40s._ and _7s._ were paid to a sculptor
+of Burton-on-Trent for an alabaster statue of the Virgin and a base
+for it.
+
+At the foot of the south-west tower-pier are some decayed but
+interesting ancient tiles. The new ones have been copied from them.
+
+The vicissitudes in the church's fortunes have left little for us to
+see that is not part and parcel of the structure.
+
+That there were "orgaynes" as early as 1461 we know from entries in
+the city records giving the cost at different times of wire, glue,
+nails, thread, etc., for the reparation of them, while a payment of
+_2d._ for "a string" suggests that they were a combination of wind and
+string stops, similar to the 1733 organ of St. Michael's as built by
+Thomas Swarbrick. In 1519 the Prior bought the "metell of ye old
+orgayns in bablake" for _9s. 10d._, but doubtless the new one
+disappeared in the troublous times that followed. A new one has
+recently been set up.
+
+The pulpit is of stone and quite new, and the font, erected in 1843,
+is a copy of that of St. Edward's, Cambridge.
+
+There are five bells, the inscriptions on them being as follows:
+
+  1st. Henrycus Bagley. M.C. Fecit 1676.
+  2nd. Pack & Chapman. London 1778. Richard Eaton, Church-warden.
+  3rd. Henric Dodenhale, Fecit. M.C.E.I.C.R.I.
+  4th. (Illegible.) Probably of the end of fifteenth century.
+  5th. I ring at six to let men know
+       When to and from their work to go.
+
+Neglect and decay it has been seen had provided only too plausible
+excuses for restoration. In 1858 the church had a narrow escape from a
+worse fate, for it was proposed to extend it in some direction, and
+the architect suggested the lengthening of the north transept and the
+addition of a new north aisle. Probably lack of funds alone prevented
+the carrying out of a proposal which would have completely spoilt the
+proportions of this beautiful interior.
+
+
+
+
+THE GREY FRIARS' CONVENT
+
+CHRIST CHURCH
+
+
+The third of the "three tall spires," albeit nothing else remains of
+the church to which it belonged, deserves that some notice should be
+given of it and of the men who reared it.
+
+In 1234, eleven years after their first coming into England, the
+Franciscan Friars are heard of at Coventry, Ranulph, Earl of Chester,
+having granted them land for their oratory, and the Sheriff of
+Warwickshire, on behalf of the King, giving them shingles from the
+woods of Kenilworth wherewith to cover it. In 1359 the Black Prince,
+then owner of the Manor and Park of Cheylesmore, just outside the
+walls of the city and adjacent to their convent, granted them so much
+stone from his quarry there, "as they should have occasion to use
+about their buildings and walls," and probably at this time the
+church, of which Christ Church spire is a remnant, was built.
+
+At the same time he gave them "liberty to have a postern into the
+Park to carry out any of their convent that should be diseased."
+
+The house was surrendered to the King in 1539, the warden and ten
+brethren being compelled to sign a humiliating document, in which they
+professed to "profoundly consider that the perfection of Christian
+living doth not consist in dumb ceremonies, wearing of a grey coat,
+disguising ourself after strange fashions, ducking, nodding and
+becking, in girding our selves with a girdle full of knots and other
+like Papisticall ceremonies."
+
+[Illustration: THE SPIRE OF CHRIST CHURCH.]
+
+It is certain at least that they had no accumulated wealth. Whatever
+they had received had been distributed for the advantage of the Church
+or the poor. At their suppression they had neither lands, tenements,
+nor other possessions, save their church and house and the land these
+stood on. The site was granted to the city and the buildings thrown
+down, only the spire with its supporting walls and arches being
+allowed to stand until 1829, when it was incorporated with the new
+nave of Christ Church from the designs of Rickman, to whom we are
+indebted for the first comprehensive and systematic account of English
+Mediæval architecture. The work shows how imperfectly in those days
+even a genuine admirer of Mediæval Art understood its spirit.
+Unfortunately the tower and spire were recased with new stone, and the
+original character of the work largely disappeared. The total height
+is 204 feet, exclusive of the vane. The plan of the old church was
+interesting, especially in the arrangement of the crossing. The short
+transepts had little real relation to choir or nave, which were almost
+completely separated from one another, the nave being intended for the
+use of the public.
+
+The narrowing of the tower from east to west, and the insertion of
+secondary north and south arches to carry the slender octagonal tower
+is unusual and ingenious. The whole length was 250 feet, and the
+transepts were 96 feet from north to south. The nave and choir
+differed little in length.
+
+[Illustration: GREY FRIARS' CHURCH (CROSSING).]
+
+The connection of the Franciscans with the production of the
+Mysteries, or sacred plays, should not pass unnoticed. Dugdale, who
+had spoken with eye witnesses, thus alludes to the subject:
+
+   Before the suppression of the Monasteries this City was very
+   famous for the Pageants that were played therein upon Corpus
+   Christi-day; which occasioning very great confluence of people
+   thither from far and near, was of no small benefit thereto; which
+   Pageants being acted with mighty State and Reverence by the
+   Friars of this House, had Theatres for the several scenes, very
+   large and high, placed upon wheels and drawn to all the eminent
+   parts of the City for the better advantage of spectators; and
+   contained the story of the Old and New Testament, composed in the
+   old English Rithme, as appeareth by an ancient MS. intituled,
+   _Ludus Corporis Christi_, or _Ludus Coventriæ_.
+
+Along with a number that were performed by the city companies they are
+still to be seen in the British Museum. We know that the Friars
+presented them as late as 1492, when Henry VII was present with his
+Queen to see the plays "acted by the Grey Friars."
+
+No remains exist of the domestic buildings of the Friary. The
+well-known Ford's Hospital hard by is often called Grey Friars'
+Hospital, but this arises merely from the situation. It was founded in
+1529 by Mr. William Ford of Coventry, Merchant of the Staple, for five
+men and one woman, but is now inhabited by women only. It is an
+exceptionally beautiful example of Tudor timber construction in
+perfect condition.
+
+
+
+
+THE WHITE FRIARS
+
+
+The Carmelite or White Friars were, says Dugdale, fixed in Coventry in
+1343 by Sir John Poultney who had been four times Lord Mayor of
+London. Although their buildings were ornate and extensive, their
+revenue apart from oblations amounted to only _£3 6s. 8d._ per annum
+and the whole came to less than £8. At the Dissolution the house and
+its revenues came eventually to John Hales, Clerk of the Hanaper to
+Henry VIII. Having amassed a great estate in monastery and chantry
+lands, Hales founded the Free School in Coventry, the Church of the
+White Friars being at first used for the purpose. Later, he made of
+the Friary a dwelling and removed the school to St. John's Hospital,
+granted to him by the king in 1545. Part of the church of the Hospital
+still exists at the foot of Bishop Street, but the school has been
+removed to new buildings in the Warwick Road.
+
+Of the buildings of the White Friars there are considerable remains
+incorporated with the Union Workhouse at the top of Much Park Street.
+The east walk of the cloister, 150 feet in length, has a fine groined
+roof of the fifteenth century. A range of vaulted apartments runs
+alongside the cloister on the east side, divided midway by the
+vestibule to the Chapter House now destroyed. The upper story above
+the cloister and the range of rooms was, we may assume, the friars'
+Dormitory. A huge fireplace and a bay window are part of John Hales'
+reconstruction. The gateway to the south-west corner of the cloister
+remains, and the outer gate of the precincts may still be seen in Much
+Park Street.
+
+
+[Illustration: ST. MARY HALL.]
+
+
+
+
+ST. MARY HALL
+
+
+The Gilds were so important a part of the religious and social life of
+the city that it is imperative that some notice of their hall, which
+stands in suggestive proximity to the churches, should be given. St.
+Mary Hall, opposite the south side of St. Michael's is one of the most
+complete and beautiful examples of a fifteenth-century town dwelling
+now remaining in England. It originally belonged to the Gilds of Holy
+Trinity and Our Lady to which were united at a later time those of St.
+Katharine and St. John Baptist, the oldest to be founded. By the fine
+groined gateway we enter the courtyard, on the south side of which is
+the kitchen, probably the hall of an older structure of the first half
+of the fourteenth century, the present hall and its undercroft on the
+west side having been built between 1394 and 1414. On the east side is
+the entrance to the staircase leading to a gallery from which the hall
+is entered. At this end is the Minstrels' Gallery and beneath it are
+three doorways, the centre one leading to the kitchens below, that on
+the right to the old Council Chamber, that on the left to a smaller
+room known as the Princes' Chamber. From the Council Chamber is
+reached the stone-groined Treasury, now used for the safe keeping of
+muniments and records. It forms the first floor of a low tower.
+
+The hall, 70 feet by 30 feet, is of five bays, with the usual dais and
+oriel window at the far end from the entrance.
+
+[Illustration: ST. MARY HALL.]
+
+The nine-light window over the dais has its original glass, made, it
+is believed, by the John Thornton of Coventry who is known as the
+maker of the east window of York Minster. The upper part has numerous
+coats of arms of kings, cities, and princes, while the nine lights are
+filled with "portraitures of several kings in their surcotes," William
+I, Richard I, Henry III, IV, V, VI, King Arthur, the Emperor
+Constantine, and another unnamed. The windows on either side of the
+hall have suffered grievously. Those on the west (left) were deprived
+of their heraldry and portraits in 1785. In those on the east new
+glass with poor imitations of the ancient series of figures and
+coats-of-arms was placed in 1824. At the same time the wainscotting
+painted in 1580 with inscriptions and heraldry was cleared away and
+replaced with cement. The inscriptions were copied with care, but "the
+ornamentation was followed without any very fastidious copying of the
+uncouth ancient style"![8] The timber roof is of low pitch, with
+traceried spandrels above the tie-beams. Angels playing on a variety
+of instruments are placed at the centre of each tie-beam and there is
+much good carving of foliage and animals at the intersections of the
+timbers. The most famous adornment of the hall is the tapestry behind
+the dais. The following views as to its origin and subject are those
+of George Scharf the antiquary. It is of Flemish design but probably
+of English manufacture, is woven, not embroidered, and was made in the
+early sixteenth century for the place it occupies, its compartments
+corresponding with those of the window. It is in six compartments in
+two rows. The upper central has a figure of Justice, an insertion
+probably in the place of Christ, angels with the instruments of the
+Passion being on either side. The lower central represents the
+Assumption of the Virgin in presence of the apostles. The upper left
+in order from the centre has eleven saints, SS. John Baptist, Matthias
+(?), Paul, Adrian, Peter, George, Andrew, No. 8(?), Bartholomew,
+Simon, Thaddeus. The corresponding female saints on the right are SS.
+Katherine, Barbara, Dorothy, Mary Magdalen, No. 5 (?), Margaret,
+Agnes, Gertrude of Nivelle, Anne, Apollonia.
+
+The lower left has a king kneeling at a prie-dieu on which is his
+crown and an open book. A cardinal kneels behind him but there is no
+other ecclesiastic among the seventeen courtiers standing behind. In
+the opposite compartment is a queen kneeling with a number of ladies,
+among whom are two in monastic dress. Although the work belongs to the
+reign of Henry VII, the king and queen are almost certainly Henry VI
+and Margaret of Anjou.
+
+On the walls are portraits of later sovereigns from William III to
+George IV, that of George III being by Lawrence. The Mayoress' Parlour
+opening from the dais has been drastically restored. It contains
+portraits of Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, James I, and Charles I, and
+four benefactors to the city, John Hales, founder of the Free School,
+Sir Thomas White, Thomas Jesson and Christopher Davenport.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 8: "Coventry: its History and Antiquities," B. Poole, 1870.]
+
+
+
+
+THE CARTHUSIAN MONASTERY
+
+
+Little remains of this monastery which stood on the south side and not
+far from the city. The Order settled in Coventry in 1381 only ten
+years after the foundation of the London Charter-house. At the
+Dissolution the Prior and brethren, ten in all, did not emulate the
+heroism of the London monks and were fortunate enough to obtain
+pensions instead of martyrdom. Some trifling remains exist
+incorporated in a modern mansion, and a wall of the garden shows the
+position of doors which led to the isolated cells of the monks. The
+Botoners had given freely to the building of the church and cloisters
+of which Richard II laid the first stone in 1385 and afterwards
+largely endowed "on condition that they should find and maintain
+within the precinct of their house, twelve poor scholars from seven
+years old till they accomplished the age of seventeen years, there to
+pray for the good estate of him the said King and of his Consort,
+during this life, and for the health of their souls after death."
+
+
+
+
+INDEX
+
+
+Abbots of Coventry, 4.
+
+Alms-boxes, 56, 77.
+
+Apse, 36.
+
+
+Bells, 56, 91.
+
+Benefactors of Coventry, 99.
+
+Botoner, William and Adam, 22.
+
+
+Carthusian Monastery, 99.
+
+Chantries, Foundation of, 9.
+
+Christ Church, 91.
+
+City, History of, 1-15.
+
+Cross, 15.
+
+
+Dissolution of Monasteries, 13.
+
+Duel, Hereford and Norfolk, 11.
+
+
+Evens or Wakes, 83.
+
+
+Fonts, 51, 76.
+
+Ford's Hospital, 94.
+
+Friars, Coming of, 8.
+
+
+Grey Friars Convent (Christ Church):
+  History, 94.
+  Plan of Crossing, 93.
+  Suppression, 92.
+
+Gilds, 6, 10.
+
+Glass, Ancient, 56, 75, 89.
+
+Godiva and Leofric, 4, 75.
+
+
+Hales, John, 14, 94.
+
+Hermitage. 83.
+
+Hospital, Ford's, 94.
+
+Hospital, St. John's, 94.
+
+
+Lollards, 11.
+
+
+Martyrs, 14.
+
+Midsummer Eve, 82.
+
+Misereres, 48.
+
+Monastery, History, 1-15.
+
+Monastery Ruins, 16-18.
+
+
+Orders of Angels, 47.
+
+Organ, 55, 77, 90.
+
+
+Pageants and Plays, 13, 14, 93.
+
+Parliamentum Indoctorum, 11.
+
+Parliamentum Diabolicum, 12.
+
+Persecution, 14.
+
+Pilgrims' Rest or Guest House, 15.
+
+Priory, Ruins, 16-18.
+
+
+Royal visits:
+  Henry VI, 11, 12.
+  Margaret, 23.
+  Edward IV, 12.
+  Richard III, 13.
+  Henry VII, 13.
+  Henry VIII, 13.
+  Elizabeth, 14.
+  Mary Queen of Scots, 14.
+  Charles I, 14.
+
+
+St. John Baptist Church:
+  History, 81.
+  Exterior, 84.
+  Interior, 86.
+  Bells, 91.
+  Clearstory windows, 85.
+  Collegiate foundation, 81.
+  Glass, ancient, 89.
+  Organ, 90.
+
+St. Mary Hall:
+  Glass, ancient, 97.
+  Plan, 98.
+  Portraits, 99.
+  Tapestry, 98.
+
+St. Michael's Church:
+  History, 21-26.
+  Exterior, 29.
+  Interior, 41.
+  Apse, 36.
+  Bells, 56.
+  Brasses, 51, 55.
+  Chapels:
+    Cappers', 53.
+    Drapers' or Lady, 36, 47.
+    Dyers', 52.
+    Mercers, 54.
+  Chapter, Constitution of, 25.
+  Chest, 50.
+  Crypt, 36.
+  Font, 51.
+  Glass, ancient, 56.
+  Old church, position of, 42.
+  Organ, 55.
+  Porch, south, 34.
+  Proportions of Steeple, 30.
+  Pulpit, 56.
+  Spire, 32.
+  Tombs:
+    Berkeley, 49.
+    Bond, 49.
+    Nethermyl, 50.
+    Skeffington, 55.
+    Swillington, 54.
+    Wade's, 55.
+
+
+Trinity Church:
+  History, 61.
+  Exterior, 65.
+  Interior, 69.
+  Chapels:
+    Archdeacon's, 75.
+    Butchers', 76.
+    Corpus Christi, 76.
+    Marler's, 73.
+    St. Thomas's, 74.
+  Clearstory, 69.
+  Font, 76.
+  Glass, ancient, 75.
+  Lectern, Eagle, 73.
+  Organ, 77.
+  Plan, 66.
+  Pulpit, 72.
+  Spire, 66.
+  Tombs:
+    Philemon Holland, 75.
+    Whithead (Brass), 75.
+
+
+White Friars' Convent, 94.
+
+
+[Illustration: ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH]
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+  CHISWICK PRESS: CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND CO.
+  TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON.
+
+
+
+
+Bell's Cathedral Series
+
+  ILLUSTRATED MONOGRAPHS ON THE GREAT
+  ENGLISH CATHEDRALS AND
+  CHURCHES
+
+_Crown 8vo. Profusely Illustrated, in specially designed cloth
+binding, 1s. 6d. net each._
+
+
+This series of monographs upon our great English Cathedral Churches
+has been framed to give students of Architecture handy reference
+volumes, and the visitor trustworthy guide-books, at once cheaper and
+more fully illustrated than any previous works of similar character.
+
+Each volume contains not only a complete history of the see and of the
+Cathedral fabric, but a critical and descriptive survey of the
+building in all its detail; sufficiently accurate from the
+archaeological point of view to furnish a trustworthy record of the
+building in its past and present condition, and not too technical in
+its language for the occasional use of the casual visitor. Brief
+biographical accounts of the bishops and other notable men connected
+with the Diocese are also included.
+
+The volumes are fully illustrated from modern photographs and
+drawings, and contain also reproductions from old, and in some cases
+rare, prints, for the purpose of tracing the gradual growth and
+development of the existing buildings.
+
+
+
+
+Bell's Cathedral Series
+
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+
+
+NOW READY
+
+  ENGLISH CATHEDRALS. An Itinerary and Description. Compiled by J.
+    G. GILCHRIST, A.M., M.D. Revised and edited with an
+    Introduction on Cathedral Architecture by Rev. T. PERKINS,
+    M.A., F.R.A.S.
+
+  BANGOR. By P.B. IRONSIDE-BAX.
+
+  BRISTOL. By H.J.L.J. MASSÉ, M.A.
+
+  CANTERBURY. By HARTLEY WITHERS. 4th Edition.
+
+  CARLISLE. By C.K. ELEY.
+
+  CHESTER. By CHARLES HIATT. 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  CHICHESTER. By H.C. CORLETTE, A.R.I.B.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  DURHAM. By J.E. BYGATE, A.R.C.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  ELY. By Rev. W.D. SWEETING, M.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  EXETER. By PERCY ADDLESHAW, B.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  GLOUCESTER. By H.J.L.J. MASSÉ, M.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  HEREFORD. By A. HUGH FISHER, A.R.E. 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  LICHFIELD. By A.B. CLIFTON. 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  LINCOLN. By A.F. KENDRICK, B.A. 3rd Edition, revised.
+
+  LLANDAFF. By E.C. MORGAN-WILLMOTT.
+
+  MANCHESTER. By the Rev. T. PERKINS, M.A., F.R.A.S.
+
+  NORWICH. By C.H.B. QUENNELL. 2nd Edition.
+
+  OXFORD. By Rev. PERCY DEARMER, M.A. 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  PETERBOROUGH. By Rev. W.D. SWEETING, M.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  RIPON. By CECIL HALLET, B.A.
+
+  ROCHESTER. By G.H. PALMER, B.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  ST. ALBANS. By Rev. T. PERKINS, M.A.
+
+  ST. ASAPH. By P.B. IRONSIDE-BAX.
+
+  ST. DAVID'S. By PHILIP ROBSON, A.R.I.B.A.
+
+  ST. PATRICK'S, DUBLIN. By the Very Rev. Dean BERNARD. 2nd Edition.
+
+  ST. PAUL'S. By Rev. ARTHUR DIMOCK, M.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  SALISBURY. By GLEESON WHITE, 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  SOUTHWARK, ST. SAVIOUR'S. By GEORGE WORLEY.
+
+  SOUTHWELL. By Rev. ARTHUR DIMOCK, M.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  WELLS. By Rev. PERCY DEARMER, M.A. 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  WINCHESTER. By P.W. SERGEANT. 3rd Edition, revised.
+
+  WORCESTER. By EDWARD F. STRANGE.
+
+  YORK. By A. CLUTTON BROCK. 3rd Edition.
+
+_Others to follow_.
+
+
+
+
+Bell's Cathedral Series
+
+UNIFORM VOLUMES
+
+_Profusely Illustrated. Cloth, crown 8vo, 1s. 6d. net._
+
+  BATH ABBEY, MALMESBURY ABBEY, AND BRADFORD-ON-AVON CHURCH. By
+    Rev. T. PERKINS, M.A.
+
+  BEVERLEY MINSTER. By CHARLES HIATT. 47 Illustrations.
+
+  ST. MARTIN'S CHURCH, CANTERBURY. By Rev. CANON ROUTLEDGE, M.A.,
+    F.S.A. 24 Illustrations.
+
+  THE CHURCHES OF COVENTRY. By FREDERIC W. WOODHOUSE.
+
+  ROMSEY ABBEY. By Rev. T. PERKINS, M.A.
+
+  STRATFORD-ON-AVON. By HAROLD BAKER.
+
+  THE TEMPLE CHURCH. By GEORGE WORLEY.
+
+  ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, SMITHFIELD. By GEORGE WORLEY.
+
+  TEWKESBURY ABBEY AND DEERHURST PRIORY. By H.J.L.J. MASSÉ, M.A. 44
+    Illustrations.
+
+  WESTMINSTER ABBEY. By CHARLES HIATT.
+
+  WIMBORNE MINSTER AND CHRISTCHURCH PRIORY. By Rev. T. PERKINS,
+    M.A., F.R.A.S. 65 Illustrations.
+
+  MALVERN PRIORY. By the REV. ANTHONY C. DEANE.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+Bell's Handbooks to Continental Churches
+
+_Profusely Illustrated. Crown 8vo, cloth, 2s. 6d. net each._
+
+  CHARTRES: The Cathedral and Other Churches. By H.J.L.J. MASSÉ,
+    M.A.
+
+  ROUEN: The Cathedral and Other Churches. By the Rev. T. PERKINS,
+    M.A.
+
+  AMIENS. By the Rev. T. PERKINS, M.A., F.R.A.S.
+
+  PARIS (NOTRE-DAME). By CHARLES HIATT.
+
+  MONT ST. MICHEL. By H.J.L.J. MASSÉ, M.A.
+
+  BAYEUX. By the Rev. R.S. MYLNE, M.A.
+
+
+
+
+Opinions of the Press.
+
+"For the purpose at which they aim they are admirably done, and there
+are few visitants to any of our noble shrines who will not enjoy their
+visit the better for being furnished with one of these delightful
+books, which can be slipped into the pocket and carried with ease, and
+is yet distinct and legible.... A volume such as that on Canterbury is
+exactly what we want, and on our next visit we hope to have it with
+us. It is thoroughly helpful, and the views of the fair city and its
+noble cathedral are beautiful. Both volumes, moreover, will serve more
+than a temporary purpose, and are trustworthy as well as
+delightful."--_Notes and Queries_.
+
+"We have so frequently in these columns urged the want of cheap,
+well-illustrated, and well-written handbooks to our cathedrals, to
+take the place of the out-of-date publications of local booksellers,
+that we are glad to hear that they have been taken in hand by Messrs.
+George Bell & Sons."--_James's Gazette_.
+
+"The volumes are handy in size, moderate in price, well illustrated,
+and written in a scholarly spirit. The history of cathedral and city
+is intelligently set forth and accompanied by a descriptive survey of
+the building in all its detail. The illustrations are copious and well
+selected, and the series bids fair to become an indispensable
+companion to the cathedral tourist in England."--_Times_.
+
+"They are nicely produced in good type, on good paper, and contain
+numerous illustrations, are well written, and very cheap. We should
+imagine architects and students of architecture will be sure to buy
+the series as they appear, for they contain in brief much valuable
+information."--_British Architect_.
+
+"Each of them contains exactly that amount of information which the
+intelligent visitor, who is not a specialist, will wish to have. The
+disposition of the various parts is judiciously proportioned, and the
+style is very read-able. The illustrations supply a further important
+feature; they are both numerous and good. A series which cannot fail
+to be welcomed by all who are interested in the ecclesiastical
+buildings of England."--_Glasgow Herald_.
+
+"Those who, either for purposes of professional study or for a
+cultured recreation, find it expedient to 'do' the English cathedrals
+will welcome the beginning of Bell's 'Cathedral Series.' This set of
+books is an attempt to consult, more closely, and in greater detail
+than the usual guide-books do, the needs of visitors to the cathedral
+towns. The series cannot but prove markedly successful. In each book a
+business-like description is given of the fabric of the church to
+which the volume relates, and an interesting history of the relative
+diocese. The books are plentifully illustrated, and are thus made
+attractive as well as instructive. They cannot but prove welcome to
+all classes of readers interested either in English Church history or
+in ecclesiastical architecture."--_Scotsman_.
+
+"They have nothing in common with the almost invariably wretched local
+guides save portability, and their only competitors in the quality and
+quantity of their contents are very expensive and mostly rare works,
+each of a size that suggests a packing-case rather than a coat-pocket.
+The 'Cathedral Series' are important compilations concerning history,
+architecture, and biography, and quite popular enough for such as take
+any sincere interest in their subjects."--_Sketch_.
+
+
+LONDON: GEORGE BELL AND SONS YORK HOUSE, PORTUGAL STREET, W.C.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bell's Cathedrals: The Churches of
+Coventry, by Frederic W.  Woodhouse
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BELL'S CATHEDRALS ***
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+
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+
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+
+    .poem             {margin-left: 25%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: left;}
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+   </head>
+<body>
+
+
+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bell's Cathedrals: The Churches of Coventry, by 
+Frederic W.  Woodhouse
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Bell's Cathedrals: The Churches of Coventry
+       A Short History of the City and Its Medieval Remains
+
+Author: Frederic W.  Woodhouse
+
+Release Date: February 11, 2007 [EBook #11403]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BELL'S CATHEDRALS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Keith M. Eckrich, Jeannie
+Howse and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
+http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<br />
+<hr />
+<br />
+
+<div class="tr">
+<p class="cen" style="font-weight: bold;">Transcriber's Note:</p>
+<br />
+<p class="noin">Inconsistent hyphenation in the original document has been preserved.</p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<hr />
+<br />
+
+<div class="img"><a name="frontis" id="frontis"></a>
+<a href="images/frontis.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/frontis.jpg" width="85%" alt="COVENTRY, THE THREE SPIRES." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">COVENTRY, THE THREE SPIRES.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<hr />
+<br />
+
+<h1>THE CHURCHES OF<br />
+<big>COVENTRY</big></h1>
+
+<h3>A SHORT HISTORY OF THE<br />
+CITY &amp; ITS MEDIEVAL<br />
+REMAINS</h3>
+
+<h4 style="margin-bottom: -1px;">BY</h4>
+<h3 style="margin-top: -1px;">FREDERIC W. WOODHOUSE</h3>
+
+<h5>WITH XL ILLUSTRATIONS</h5>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="arms" id="arms"></a>
+<a href="images/arms.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/arms.jpg" width="12%" alt="ARMS OF COVENTRY." /></a><br />
+<h5 style="margin-top: .2em;">ARMS OF COVENTRY</h5>
+</div>
+
+<h5>LONDON GEORGE BELL &amp; SONS 1909</h5>
+
+<br />
+<hr />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<h5>CHISWICK PRESS: CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND CO.<br />
+TOOK COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON.</h5>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">vii</a></span><br />
+
+<h3>PREFACE</h3>
+<br />
+
+<p>The principal authorities for the history of Coventry and its churches
+have been Dugdale's "Antiquities of Warwickshire" and the "Illustrated
+Papers and the History and Antiquities of the City of Coventry," by
+Thomas Sharp, edited by W.G. Fretton (1871). Besides these the many
+papers by Mr. Fretton in the Transactions of the Birmingham and
+Midland Institute and other Societies, and the "History and
+Antiquities of Coventry" by Benjamin Poole (1870) have been the main
+sources of historical information. The Author is, however, responsible
+for the architectural opinions and descriptions, which are mainly the
+outcome of a lifelong acquaintance with the city and its buildings,
+fortified by several weeks of study and investigation recently
+undertaken.</p>
+
+<p>He desires to acknowledge his deep obligations to the Vicars of the
+several churches for leave to examine, measure and photograph the
+buildings in their charge; to Mr. J. Oldrid Scott for the loan of
+drawings of St. Michael's; to Mr. A. Brown, Librarian of the Coventry
+Public Library for advice and help in making use of the store of
+topographical material under his care; to Mr. Owen, Verger of St.
+Michael's and Mr. Chapman, Verger of Holy Trinity, for help in various
+directions, and to Mr. Wilfred Sims for his energy and care in taking
+most of the photographs required for illustration.</p>
+
+<p>The other illustrations are reproduced from drawings made by the
+author.</p>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">viii</a></span><br />
+<a name="toc" id="toc"></a><hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">ix</a></span><br />
+
+<h3>CONTENTS</h3>
+<br />
+
+<div class="centered">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="65%" summary="Table of Contents">
+  <tr>
+  <td width="20%">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td width="65%">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="tdr" width="15%"><span style="font-size: 80%;">PAGE</span></td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#MONASTERY_AND_CITY">Monastery and City</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">3</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_RUINS_OF_THE_PRIORY">The Ruins of the Priory and Cathedral Church</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">16</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#ST_MICHAELS_CHURCH">St. Michael's Church:</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">&nbsp;</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdrsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">Chapter I.</a></td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">History of the Church</td>
+  <td class="tdr">21</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdrsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">Chapter II.</a></td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">The Exterior</td>
+  <td class="tdr">29</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdrsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">Chapter III.</a></td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">The Interior</td>
+  <td class="tdr">41</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#HOLY_TRINITY_CHURCH">Holy Trinity Church:</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">&nbsp;</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdrsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_HT">Chapter I.</a></td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">History of the Church</td>
+  <td class="tdr">61</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdrsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_HT">Chapter II.</a></td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">The Exterior</td>
+  <td class="tdr">65</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdrsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_III_HT">Chapter III.</a></td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">The Interior</td>
+  <td class="tdr">69</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#ST_JOHN_BAPTISTS_CHURCH">St. John Baptist's Church</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">79</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_GREY_FRIARS">The Grey Friars' Convent (Christ Church)</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">91</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_WHITE_FRIARS">The White Friars</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">94</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#ST_MARY_HALL">St. Mary Hall</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">96</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_CARTHUSIAN_MONASTERY">The Carthusian Monastery</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">99</td>
+  </tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">x</a></span><br />
+<a name="toi" id="toi"></a><hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">xi</a></span><br />
+
+<h3>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h3>
+<br />
+
+<div class="centered">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="65%" summary="List of Illustrations">
+  <tr>
+  <td width="80%">&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="tdr" width="20%"><span style="font-size: 80%;">PAGE</span></td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#frontis">Coventry, the Three Spires</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr"><i>Frontispiece</i></td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#arms">Arms of the Town</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr"><i>Title-page</i></td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep002">View from the Top of Bishop Street</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">2</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep007">Cook Street Gate</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">7</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep015">Seal of the Priory</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">15</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep016">West End of the Priory Church</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">16</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep017">Remains of the North-West Tower in the Eighteenth Century</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">17</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep020">St. Michael's from the North</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">20</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep028">St. Michael's from the North-West</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">28</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep031">Interior of the Tower from Below</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">31</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep033">The West Porch</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">33</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep034">South Porch from St. Mary Hall</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">34</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep035">South-West Doorway</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">35</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep040">Interior of St. Michael's from the West</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">40</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep042">Tower Arch</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">42</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep043">Bay of Nave, North Side</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">43</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep045">Interior from the South Door</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">45</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep046">The Choir from St. Lawrence's Chapel</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">46</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep048a">Poppy Head, Lady Chapel</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">48</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep048b">Miserere, Lady Chapel</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">48</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep050">Chest in North Aisle</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">50</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep051">The Nethermyl Tomb</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">51</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep054">The Swillington Tomb</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">54</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep056">Alms-Box</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">56</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep060">Holy Trinity from the North (about 1850)</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">60</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep066">Plan of Trinity Church</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">66<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">xii</a></span></td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep068">Interior of Holy Trinity, from the West</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">68</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep071">North Side of Nave&mdash;Eastern Bays</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">71</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep073">Pulpit</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">73</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep074">Archway between the North Porch and St. Thomas's Chapel</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">74</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep077">Alms-Box</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">77</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep080">Church of St. John Baptist</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">80</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep085">Plan</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">85</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep087">Interior</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">87</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep088">Clearstory Windows</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">88</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep092">The Spire of Christ Church</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">92</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep093">Grey Friars' Church (Plan of Crossing)</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">93</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep096">St. Mary Hall</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">96</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep098">Plan</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr">98</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#imagep103">Plan of St. Michael's Church</a></td>
+  <td class="tdr"><i>At End</i></td>
+  </tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a></span><br />
+<hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"></a></span><br />
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep002" id="imagep002"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep002.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep002.jpg" width="50%" alt="VIEW FROM THE TOP OF BISHOP STREET." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">VIEW FROM THE TOP OF BISHOP STREET.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<a name="MONASTERY_AND_CITY" id="MONASTERY_AND_CITY"></a><hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">3</a></span><br />
+
+<h1>CHURCHES OF COVENTRY</h1>
+
+<br />
+
+<h3>MONASTERY AND CITY<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+<br />
+
+<p>The opening words of Sir William Dugdale's account of Coventry assert
+that it is a city "remarkable for antiquity, charters, rights and
+privileges, and favours shown by monarchs." Though this handbook is
+primarily concerned with a feature of the city he does not here
+mention&mdash;its magnificent buildings&mdash;the history of these is bound up
+with that of the city. The connection of its great parish churches
+with the everyday life of the people, though commonly on a narrower
+stage, is more intimate than is that of a cathedral or an abbey
+church, but it is to be remembered that without its Monastery Coventry
+might never have been more than a village or small market town.</p>
+
+<p>We cannot expect the records of a parish church to be as full and
+complete as those of a cathedral, always in touch through its bishops
+with the political life of the country and enjoying the services of
+numerous officials; or as those of a monastery, with its leisured
+chroniclers ever patiently recording the annals of their house, the
+doings of its abbots, the dealings of their house with mother church
+and the outside world, and all its internal life and affairs. In the
+case of Coventry, the unusual fulness of its city archives, the
+accounts and records of its guilds and companies, and the close
+connection of these with the church supplies us with a larger body of
+information than is often at the disposal of the historian of a parish
+church. As therefore, in narrating the story of a cathedral some
+account of the Diocese and its Bishops has been given, so, before
+describing the churches of Coventry, we shall give in outline the
+history of the city which for 700 years gave its name to a bishop and
+of the great monastery whose church was for 400 years his seat.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">4</a></span>Though Dugdale says that it is remarkable for antiquity, Coventry as
+a city has no early history comparable with that of such places as
+York, Canterbury, Exeter, or Colchester, while its modern history is
+mainly a record of fluctuating trade and the rise and decline of new
+industries. But through all its Medi&aelig;val period, from the eleventh
+century down to the Reformation, with an expiring flicker of energy in
+the seventeenth, there is no lack of life and colour, and its story
+touches every side of the national life, political, religious, and
+domestic. The only evidence of extreme antiquity produced by Dugdale
+is the suffix of its name, for "<i>tre</i> is British, and signifieth the
+same that <i>villa</i> in Latin doth;" while the first part may be derived
+from the convent or from a supposed ancient name, Cune, for the
+Sherborne brook.</p>
+
+<p>The first date we have is 1016, when Canute invaded Mercia, burning
+and laying waste its towns and settlements, including a house of nuns
+at Coventry founded by the Virgin St. Osburg in 670, and ruled over by
+her.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p>
+
+<p>But there is no sure starting-point until the foundation of the
+monastery by Earl Leofric and the Countess Godiva, the church being
+dedicated by Edsi, Archbishop of Canterbury, in honour of God, the
+Virgin Mary, St. Peter, St. Osburg, and All Saints on 4th October,
+1043. Leofwin, who was first abbot with twenty-four monks under his
+rule, ten years after became Bishop of Lichfield. The original
+endowment by Leofric, consisted of a half of Coventry<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> with fifteen
+lordships in Warwickshire and nine in other counties, making it (says
+Roger de Hoveden) the wealthiest monastery of the period. Besides this
+the pious Godiva gave all the gold and silver which she had to make
+crosses, images, and other adornments for the church and its services.
+The well-known legend of her ride through Coventry first appears in
+the pages of Matthew of Westminster in the early fourteenth century.
+The Charter of Exemption from Tolls is not in existence, and the story
+of Peeping Tom is the embroidery of the prurient age (1678), in which
+the pageant was instituted. In a window of Trinity Church figures of
+Leofric <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">5</a></span>and Godiva were set up about the time of Richard II, the Earl
+holding in his right hand a Charter with these words written thereon:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">I Luriche for the Love of thee<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Doe make Coventre Toll-free.<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Abbot Leofwin was succeeded in 1053 by Leofric, nephew of the great
+earl; and he by a second Leofwin, who died in 1095. The first Norman
+bishop of Lichfield had, in compliance with the decision of a Synod
+(1075) in London fixing bishops' seats in large towns, removed his to
+St. John's, Chester. But his successor, Robert de Lymesey&mdash;whose greed
+appears to have been notable in a greedy age&mdash;having the king's
+permission to farm the monastic revenues until the appointment of a
+new abbot, held it for seven years, and then, in 1102, removed his
+stool to Coventry. Five of his successors were bishops of Coventry
+only, then the style changed to Coventry and Lichfield, and so
+remained till 1661, when (in consequence of the disloyalty of Coventry
+and the sufferings of Lichfield in the royal cause) the order was
+reversed!</p>
+
+<p>In 1836 the archdeaconry of Coventry was annexed to Worcester and its
+name disappeared from the title, and now it is probable that Coventry
+will soon again give her name to a See without dividing the honour.
+For the joint episcopal history the reader must be referred to the
+handbook in this series on Lichfield Cathedral. In this place will
+only be given that of the Monastery as such, and specially in
+connection with its "appropriated" parish churches and the City in
+which it stood. That history is not essentially different from that of
+other monasteries. Though its connection with the See and the rival
+claims and antagonisms of the respective Chapters produced a plentiful
+crop of serious quarrels, its relations with the townsfolk were free
+from such violent episodes as occurred at Bury St. Edmunds or St.
+Albans. The Chapter of Lichfield consisted of secular priests (Lymesey
+and his next successor were married men), while the Monastery, though
+freed by pope and king from any episcopal or justiciary power and with
+the right of electing its own abbot, was, like all monastic bodies,
+always jealous of the encroachments of bishops, and regarded secular
+priests as inferior in every respect. The opinion of the laity who saw
+both sides may be gathered from Chaucer's picture of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">6</a></span>a "poore Persoun
+of a toun." He knew well enough how the revenue, which should have
+gone to the parish, its parson and its poor, went to fill the coffers
+of rich abbeys, to build enormous churches and furnish them
+sumptuously, to provide retinues of lazy knights for the train of
+abbot or bishop, and to prosecute lawsuits in the papal courts.</p>
+
+<p>But when bishop and abbot were one and the same, the monks still
+claimed the right of election, and so for generations the history of
+the diocese is a tale of strife and bickering, and how it was that
+pope, king or archbishop did not perceive that it was a case of
+hopeless incompatibility of temper, or, perceiving it, did not
+dissolve the union or get it dissolved is difficult to see. Probably
+the injury done to religion weighed but lightly against vested
+interests and the power of the purse. The Monastery was, however, as
+Dugdale says, "the chief occasion of all the succeeding wealth and
+honour that accrued to Coventry"; for though the original Nunnery may
+have been planted in an existing settlement, or have attracted one
+about it, the greater wealth of the Abbey, its right to hold markets,
+and all its own varied requirements would quickly increase and bring
+prosperity to such a township, as it did at Bury St. Edmunds,
+Burton-on-Trent and many another.</p>
+
+<p>In the thirteenth century the priory was in financial straits, through
+being fined by Henry III for disobedience. Later, however, he granted
+further privileges to the monks, among them that of embodying the
+merchants in a Gild. In 1340 Edward III granted this privilege to the
+City. From an early period the manufacture of cloth and caps and
+bonnets was the principal trade of Coventry, and though Leland says,
+"the town rose by making of cloth and caps, which now decaying, the
+glory of the City also decayeth," it was only destroyed by the French
+wars of the seventeenth century. But in 1377, when only eighteen towns
+in the kingdom had more than 3,000 inhabitants, and York, the second
+city, had only 11,000, Coventry was fourth with 7,000. Just one
+hundred years later 3,000 died here of the plague, one of many
+visitations of that terrible scourge. At the Suppression it had risen
+to 15,000, and soon after fell to 3,000, through loss of trade for
+"want of such concourse of people that numerously resorted thither
+before that fatal Dissolution."</p>
+
+<p>But if the town grew apace so did the Monastery. Thus, when in 1244
+Earl Hugh died childless his sisters divided his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">7</a></span>estates and Coventry
+fell to Cecily, wife of Roger de Montalt. Six years later the
+Monastery lent him a large sum to take him to the Holy Land, and
+received from him the lordship of Coventry (excepting the Manor House
+and Park of Cheylesmore) and the advowson of St. Michael's and its
+dependent chapels, thus becoming the landlords of nearly the whole of
+Coventry.</p>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep007" id="imagep007"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep007.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep007.jpg" width="53%" alt="COOK STREET GATE." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">COOK STREET GATE.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Civic powers grew with the growth of trade. Before 1218 <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">8</a></span>a fair of
+eight days had been granted to the Priory, and later another of six
+days, to be held in the earl's half of the town about the Feast of
+Holy Trinity. In 1285 a patent from the king is addressed to the
+burgesses and true men to levy tolls for paving the town; one in 1328
+for tolls for inclosing the city with walls and gates, while in 1344
+the city was given a corporation, with mayor, bailiffs, a common seal,
+and a prison. As the municipal importance and the dignity of the city
+increased, the desire for their visible signs strengthened, and so, in
+1355, work was begun on the walls, Newgate (on the London Road) being
+the first gate to be built. Such undertakings proceeded slowly, and
+nine years later the royal permission was obtained to levy a tax for
+their construction, "the lands and goods of all ecclesiastical persons
+excepted."</p>
+
+<p>Twice afterwards we hear of licence being granted by Richard II to dig
+stone in Cheylesmore Park, first for Grey Friars Gate, and later for
+Spon Gate, "near his Chapel of Babelake." The walls so built were of
+imposing extent and dimensions, being three yards in breadth, two and
+a quarter miles in circumference, and having thirty-two towers and
+twelve gates.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> Nehemiah Wharton, a Parliamentary officer in 1642,
+reports of the city that it is:</p>
+
+<div class="block"><p class="noin">Environed with a wall co-equal, if not exceedinge, that of
+London, for breadth and height; and with gates and battlements,
+magnificent churches and stately streets and abundant fountains
+of water; altogether a place very sweetly situate and where there
+is no stint of venison.</p></div>
+
+<p>To return to the monastic history. We have seen how, in the
+mid-thirteenth century the Monastery had become the landlord of the
+city; shortly before this it had been so impoverished with ceaseless
+quarrels with the King and the Lichfield Chapter, involving costly
+appeals to Rome, that the Prior was reduced to asking the hospitality
+of the monks of Derley for some of the brethren. A period of
+prosperity followed and many benefactions flowed in, including the
+gift of various churches by the king. It was after twenty-six years of
+quarrelling that the Pope, in 1224, had appointed to the bishopric
+Walter de Stavenby, an able and learned man. During his episcopacy the
+friars <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">9</a></span>made their appearance in England, and by him the Franciscans
+were introduced at Lichfield, while at Coventry Ranulph, Earl of
+Chester, gave them land in Cheylesmore on which to build their oratory
+and house.</p>
+
+<p>They were not generally welcomed by the monks. A Benedictine laments
+their first appearance thus "Oh shame! oh worse than shame! oh
+barbarous pestilence! the Minor Brethren are come into England!" and
+at Bury they were obliged to build outside a mile radius from the
+Abbey. The parish priests also soon found out that they were undersold
+in the exercise of their spiritual offices and although no doubt many
+badly needed awakening they were not, on that account, the more likely
+to welcome the intruders.</p>
+
+<p>Another innovation, affecting the fortunes of the parish priest, had
+its beginning under the rule of Bishop Stavenby though its greatest
+development occurred in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. This
+was the foundation of Chantries designed primarily for the maintenance
+of a priest or priests to say mass daily or otherwise for the soul's
+health of the founder, his family and forbears. The earliest we hear
+of are one at Lincoln, and one at Hatherton in Coventry Archdeaconry
+while the Bishop himself endowed one in Lichfield Cathedral. Many were
+perpetual endowments (&pound;5 per annum being the average stipend), others
+were temporary, according to the means of those who paid for the
+masses&mdash;for a term of years or for a fixed number of masses. Although
+chantry priests were often required to give regular help in the church
+services or taught such scholars as came to them or served outlying
+chapelries, the system permitted a great number to live on occasional
+engagements and was doubtless productive of abuses. Chaucer tells us
+that his poor parson was not such an one as</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">... left his sheep encumbered in the mire,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And ran unto London, unto Saint Poul's,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">To seek&euml; him a chantery for souls.<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>The number of chantries in the different cathedrals varied very
+greatly, Lichfield had eighty-seven, St. Paul's thirty-seven, York
+only three. Monks' churches had few or none while in town churches
+they were numerous, London having one hundred and eighty, York
+forty-two, Coventry at least fifteen besides the twelve gild priests
+of the chapel of Babelake. Most were <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">10</a></span>founded in connection with an
+existing altar, some had a special altar, at Winchester, Tewkesbury
+and elsewhere they were enclosed in screens between the pillars of the
+nave, or a special chapel was added to the church.</p>
+
+<p>It was in the thirteenth century also (1267) that the monastery
+obtained the grant of a Merchants' Gild; with all the privileges
+thereto belonging, the earliest of those which contributed so much to
+the renown of Coventry. These were Benefit Societies, insuring help to
+the "Brethren and sistren" in old age, sickness or poverty, securing
+to them the services of the church after death and in all cases
+established on a strictly religious basis and placed under the
+protection of a Saint, or of the Holy Trinity. The regulation and
+protection of trade interests, generally aiming at monopoly and the
+exclusion of outsiders, were later developments. But without doubt
+they were public-spirited bodies according to their lights,
+maintaining schools (as at Stratford-on-Avon) hospitals and
+almshouses, and giving freely on all occasions of public importance.
+By pageants too, they contributed to the happiness and amusement of
+the people as well as by the presentation of Mysteries and Moralities,
+to their instruction and edification. But in the eyes of the
+Reformers, or of grasping courtiers, all this went for nothing when
+weighed against the heinous offence of supporting chaplains to pray
+for deceased members and so (6 Edward VI) they were suppressed along
+with the chantries, and their property confiscated, "the very meanest
+and most inexcusable of the plunderings which threw discredit on the
+Reformation."</p>
+
+<p>Here, the city bought back everything which had belonged to the
+Trinity and Corpus Christi Gilds, with various almshouses and the
+possessions of the majority of the Chantries; while previously at the
+Dissolution it had bought the abbey-orchard, and mill, and the house
+and church of the Grey Friars.</p>
+
+<p>In 1340 Edward III granted Licence to the Coventry men to form a
+Merchants' Gild with leave "to make chantries, bestow alms, do other
+works of piety and constitute ordinances touching the same." This was
+St. Mary's Gild. Two years later that of St. John Baptist was formed
+and a year later that of St. Katherine, the three being united into
+the Trinity Gild before 1359. Of the chapel (now St. John's church)
+begun in 1344 by the St. John's Gild and the "fair and stately
+structure for their feasts and meetings called St Mary Hall" built in
+1394 <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">11</a></span>by the united Gilds more will be said later (p. 81 and p. 97).
+The end of the fourteenth century and the fifteenth brought to
+Coventry a full share in the events and movements of the time. In 1396
+the duel between Hereford and Norfolk was to have taken place on
+Gosford Green (adjoining the city) and Richard II made the fatal
+mistake of banishing both combatants. At the Priory in 1404 Henry IV
+held his Parliament known, from the fact that no lawyers were summoned
+to it, as the "Parliamentum Indoctorum." Setting itself in opposition
+to ecclesiastics, it proposed to supply the King's needs by taxing
+church-property. As in the matter of the city walls, the church
+contrived to avoid bearing its share of the public burdens and the
+chronicler ends thus: "Much ado there was; but to conclude, the worthy
+Archbishop (viz. Tho. Arundell) standing stoutly for the good of the
+Church, preserved it at that time from the storm impending." One
+branch of his argument is noteworthy, that as the confiscation of the
+alien priories had not enriched the King by half a mark (courtiers
+having extorted or begged them out of his hands), so it would be were
+he to confiscate the temporalities of the monasteries. Henry VIII had
+reason to acknowledge the fulfilment of the prophecy.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after this, in 1423, Coventry showed its sympathy for Lollardry
+when John Grace an anchorite friar came out of his cell and preached
+for five days in the "lyttell parke." He was opposed by the prior of
+St. Mary's and by a Grey Friar who however were attacked and nearly
+killed by the mob.</p>
+
+<p>The royal visits which earned for Coventry the title which it still
+bears as its motto 'Camera principis' were frequent in this century.
+In 1436 we hear of Henry VI being there, and in 1450 he was the guest
+of the monastery and after hearing mass at St. Michael's Church
+presented to it for an altar-hanging the robe of gold tissue he was
+wearing. The record in the Corporation Leet book is interesting enough
+to quote:</p>
+
+<div class="block"><p>The King, then abydeng stille in the seide Priory, upon Mich'as
+even sent the clerke of his closet to the Churche of Sent Michel
+to make redy ther hys clossette, seying that the Kynge on Mich'as
+day wolde go on p'cession and also her ther hygh masse. The Meyre
+and his counsell, remembreng him in this mater, specially avysed
+hem to pray the Byshoppe of Wynchester to say hygh masse afore
+the Kynge. The Byshoppe so to do agreed withe alle hys herte;
+and, agayne the Kynges comeng to Sent Michel Churche, the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">12</a></span>Meyre
+and his Peres, cladde in skarlet gowns, wenton unto the Kynges
+Chambar durre, ther abydeng the Kynges comeng. The Meyre then and
+his peres, doeng to the Kyng due obeysaunse ... toke his mase and
+bere it afore the Kynge all his said bredurn goeng afore the
+Meyre til he com to Sent Michels and brought the Kynge to his
+closette. Then the seyde Byshoppe, in his pontificals arayde,
+with all the prestes and clerkes of the seyde Churche and of
+Bablake, withe copes apareld, wenton in p'cession abowte the
+churchyarde; the Kynge devowtely, with many odur lordes, followed
+the seyd p'cession bare-hedded, cladde in a gowne of gold tissu,
+furred with a furre of marturn sabull; the Meyre bereng the mase
+afore the Kynge as he didde afore, tille he com agayne to his
+closette. Att the whyche masse when the Kyng had offered and his
+lordes also, he sende the lorde Bemond, his chamburlen, to the
+Meyre, seying to him, "hit is the Kynges wille that ye and your
+bredurn com and offer;" and so they didde; and when masse was
+don, the Meyre and his peres brought on the Kynge to his chambur
+in lyke wyse as they fet hym, save only that the Meyre with his
+mase went afore the Kynge till he com withe in his chambur, his
+seyd bredurn abydeng atte the chambur durre till the Meyre cam
+ageyne. And at evensong tyme the same day, the Kyng, ... sende
+the seyde gowne and furre that he were when he went in p'cession,
+and gaf hit frely to God and to Sent Michell, insomuch that non
+of the that broughte the gowne wolde take no reward in no wyse.</p></div>
+
+<p>In 1451 he made the city with the villages and hamlets within its
+liberties into a county "distinct and altogether separate from the
+county of Warwick for ever," and in 1453 the King and Queen again
+visited the Priory. Perhaps out of gratitude for all this royal
+favour, Coventry adhered to the Lancastrian cause and in 1459 was
+chosen as the meeting place for the "Parliamentum Diabolicum," so
+called from the number of attainders passed against the Yorkists. The
+year 1467 however saw Edward IV and his Queen keeping their Christmas
+here, while less than two years later her father and brother were
+beheaded on Gosford Green (Aug. 1469).</p>
+
+<p>After the king's landing at Holderness in 1471 the king-maker,
+declining a contest, occupied the town for the Lancastrians, and
+Edward passing on to London soon after turned and defeated the earl at
+Barnet. After Tewkesbury Edward paid the city another visit, and in
+return for its disloyalty seized its liberties and franchises, and
+only restored them for a fine of 500 marks. Royal visits still
+continued. Richard III came in 1483 to see the plays at the Feast of
+Corpus Christi; in 1485 <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">13</a></span>Henry VII stayed at the mayor's house after
+his victory at Bosworth Field; and in 1487 kept St. George's Day at
+the Monastery, when the Prior at the service cursed, by "bell, book,
+and candle," all who should question the king's right to the throne.
+The importance of the Gilds is shown by the king and queen being made
+a brother and sister of the Trinity Gild; and the part that pageantry
+played in the lives of all men is seen in the many occasions on which
+kings and princes came hither to be entertained, not only with the
+plays "acted by the Grey Friars" but those in which the "hard-handed
+men" of, for instance, the Gild of the Sheremen and Tailors, "toil'd
+their unbreathed memories" in setting forth such subjects as the Birth
+of Christ and the Murder of the Innocents. But although Henry VIII
+himself was received in 1511 with pageantry and stayed at the Priory,
+royal favours and monastic hospitality availed neither men nor
+buildings when the Dissolution came. On 15th January, 1539, Thomas
+Camswell, the last Prior of St. Mary's, surrendered. "The Prior,"
+reported Dr. London, the king's commissioner, "is a sad, honest priest
+as his neighbours do report him, and is a Bachelor of Divinity. He
+gave his house unto the king's grace willingly and so in like manner
+did all his brethren." The Doctor asks for good pensions for the
+dispossessed, not on the plea of justice but so that "others
+perceiving that these men be liberally handled will with better will
+not only surrender their houses, but also leave the same in the better
+state to the King's use."</p>
+
+<p>The yearly revenue had been certified in the valuation at &pound;731 19<i>s.</i>
+5<i>d.</i> Deducting a Fee-Ferme rent to the Crown, reserved by Roger de
+Montalt, and other annual payments, the clear remainder was &pound;499 7<i>s.</i>
+4<i>d.</i> Bishop Rowland Lee, writing to "my singular good Lord Cromwell,"
+implies that he had a promise from him to spare the church. "My good
+Lord," he says, "help me and the City both in this and that the church
+may stand, whereby I may keep my name, and the City have commodity and
+ease to their desire, which shall follow if by your goodness it might
+be brought to a collegiate church, as Lichfield, and so that fair City
+shall have a perpetual comfort of the same, as knoweth the Holy
+Trinity, who preserve your Lordship in honour to your heart's
+comfort."</p>
+
+<p>But his entreaties, and those of the mayor and corporation, were all
+in vain, the church and monastic buildings were <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">14</a></span>dismantled and
+destroyed piecemeal, and like so many other magnificent structures
+became a mere quarry for mean buildings and the mending of roads.</p>
+
+<p>The site having been granted by Henry VIII to two gentlemen named
+Combes and Stansfield, passed soon into the hands of John Hales, the
+founder of the Free School, and in Elizabeth's reign was purchased by
+the Corporation.</p>
+
+<p>The changes in religious opinion of the successive sovereigns were
+felt here by many poor victims. Seven persons were burnt in 1519 for
+having in their possession the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments,
+and the Creed in English, and for refusing to obey the Pope or his
+agents, opinions and acts that would have been counted meritorious
+twenty years later. In 1555 Queen Mary burnt three Protestants in the
+old quarry in Little Park&mdash;Laurence Saunders, a well-known preacher,
+Robert Glover, M.A., and Cornelius Bongey.</p>
+
+<p>Ten years after this Queen Elizabeth's visit was the occasion of much
+pageantry and performing of plays by the Tanners', Drapers', Smiths',
+and Weavers' Companies, and in 1575 the men of Coventry gave their
+play of "Hock Tuesday" before her at Kenilworth Castle. In 1566 Queen
+Mary of Scots was in ward here, in the mayoress' parlour, and in 1569
+at the Bull Inn.</p>
+
+<p>Coming down to the opening of the Civil War we find that a few days
+before the raising of his standard at Nottingham Charles summoned the
+city to admit him with three hundred cavaliers, and received for
+answer that it was quite ready to receive his Majesty with no more
+than two hundred. Whereupon he retired in displeasure, and reappeared
+some days later with the threat to lay the city in ruins if it should
+persist in its disloyalty. The townsfolk being in no mind to receive a
+garrison, the King planted cannon against Newgate and broke down the
+gates but was met with a fierce musquetry fire from the walls,
+followed up by a vigorous sally, in which the citizens did much
+execution and took two cannon.</p>
+
+<p>To prevent the like happening again, the walls were in 1662 breached
+in many places and made incapable of defence. Just one hundred years
+later New-gate was taken down, and others followed from time to time,
+until now there are left only the remains of two of the lesser
+ones&mdash;Cook Street Gate, a crumbling shell (p. 7), and the adjacent
+Swanswell or Priory Gate, blocked up and used as a dwelling.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">15</a></span>In 1771 was finally destroyed the famous Cross which had been built,
+1541-3, by Sir William Hollis, once Lord Mayor of London, who came of
+a Coventry family. It was described by Dugdale as "one of the chief
+things wherein this City most glories, which for workmanship and
+beauty is inferior to none in England." A few relics of it exist in
+St. Mary Hall, a statue of Henry VI, and, in the oriel, two smaller
+figures. So too does the very interesting contract for its building,
+which shows how much was left to the craftsman's pride in his work and
+how little he was trammelled by conditions, save that the work was to
+be "finished in all points, as well in imagery work, pictures, and
+finials, according to the due form and proportion of the Cross at
+Abingdon."</p>
+
+<p>Another building, which was destroyed in 1820, was the Pilgrims' Rest,
+a fine timbered house of three storeys, "supposed," as the inscription
+upon it records, "to have been the hostel or inn for the maintenance
+and entertainment of the palmers and other visitors to the Priory."
+Some pieces of carved work were patched together in the windows of the
+inn built on its site and there remain.</p>
+
+<p>The modern history of Coventry, consisting of the ordinary events and
+vicissitudes of civic life and the changes and fluctuations in its
+trades, apart from that of its parish churches which is elsewhere
+given, does not come within the scope of this handbook.</p>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep015" id="imagep015"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep015.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep015.jpg" width="25%" alt="SEAL OF THE PRIORY." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">SEAL OF THE PRIORY.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<hr style="width: 15%;" />
+<br />
+
+<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> St. Osburg's name is not found in the Calendar. As at the
+Dissolution the Cathedral possessed relics of St. Osborne, including
+his head in copper and gilt, these saints may be identical.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Earl Street and Bishop Street are still principal streets
+in either half of the town.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> The walls of London were about three and a quarter miles
+long (including the river front), with ten or eleven gates; those of
+York three miles, of Chester hardly two.</p></div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<a name="THE_RUINS_OF_THE_PRIORY" id="THE_RUINS_OF_THE_PRIORY"></a><hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">16</a></span><br />
+
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep016" id="imagep016"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep016.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep016.jpg" width="85%" alt="INTERIOR OF THE WEST END OF THE PRIORY CHURCH." /></a>
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">INTERIOR OF THE WEST END OF THE PRIORY CHURCH.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+
+<h3>THE RUINS OF THE PRIORY AND CATHEDRAL CHURCH<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+<br />
+
+<p>The Priory buildings and grounds covered a large area to the North of
+the two parish churches on the gentle slope descending to the little
+river Sherbourne, Priory Row forming its southern boundary.</p>
+
+<p>The church occupied the South-West portion of this site, extending
+about 400 feet from the excavated west end to a point a little beyond
+the narrow lane called Hill Top. The excavation shows that the church
+stood on a sloping site, the floor level being some ten feet lower
+than that of Trinity Church. It was cruciform, with two western towers
+and a central one, and is believed to have had three spires similar to
+those of Lichfield but probably earlier in point of date. On the
+substructure of the North-West Tower now stands the house of the
+<i>mistress</i> of the Girls' Blue Coat School. The interior of the West
+end to a height of 5 to 8 feet, with the responds of the nave arcades
+and of the tower arches, is visible and in good condition. The
+beginning of the turret stair in the South-West tower is exposed, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">17</a></span>but
+the basement of the house unfortunately occupies the lower part of the
+northern one. The exterior of this is however easily accessible from
+an enclosure known as the Wood Yard, the much decayed spreading plinth
+and a few feet of walling above <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">18</a></span>it not having been destroyed. Above
+this, grievous damage has been perpetrated by the casing and complete
+obliteration of the mouldings and arcading which remained. The towers
+were placed outside the line of the aisles as at Wells, the total
+width of the West front, 145 feet, being nearly the same in both
+cases. There are still indications of the position of the great west
+door, but the height of the inner plinth shows that there was always a
+descent of several steps into the church. At the south transept where
+was "the Minster durra that openeth to the Trinite Churchyarde," the
+descent must have been considerable. The remains show that the nave
+dated from the first half of the thirteenth century, while fragments
+of wall near the site of the transept with indications of lancet
+window openings are probably a little earlier than the west end.</p>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep017" id="imagep017"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep017.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep017.jpg" width="48%" alt="REMAINS OF THE N.W. TOWER (IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY)." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">REMAINS OF THE N.W. TOWER (IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY).<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Whether the church of Leofric and Godiva, dedicated in 1043, had
+survived wholly or in part until this time cannot be known, but,
+judging from the history of most other great monastic churches and
+from the known wealth of the monastery, it may almost be taken for
+granted that the Norman bishops and priors rebuilt much if not all.
+Some relics of Norman work have been found but the covering of the
+site with roads, graves and houses precludes the systematic
+exploration and survey which alone could solve this question and make
+clear the outlines of the plan of the whole establishment.</p>
+
+<p>The entrance to some wine-cellars in Priory Row gives access to the
+old pavement level of part of the choir and transept. From the fact
+that a brick vault forms the roof the cellars have often been looked
+upon as the crypt of the church but this is erroneous; the vault is a
+later insertion and if any crypt exists it lies below this level. To
+the east of the cathedral was the Bishop's Palace, the gardens of it
+extending over the detached burial ground of St. Michael's to the east
+of Priory Street. The grandeur of this assemblage of buildings
+grouping, with the spires of the churches behind and rising so
+magnificently above the houses of the city can best be realized by
+going to the top of Bishop Street whence may be obtained the finest
+view of the two spires that remain (<a href="#imagep002">see p. 2</a>).</p>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">19</a></span><br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<h2>ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH</h2>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<a name="ST_MICHAELS_CHURCH" id="ST_MICHAELS_CHURCH"></a><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a><hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">20</a></span><br />
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep020" id="imagep020"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep020.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep020.jpg" width="85%" alt="ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE NORTH." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE NORTH.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">21</a></span><br />
+
+<h2>ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH</h2>
+
+<h3>CHAPTER I<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+
+<h4>HISTORY OF THE CHURCH</h4>
+<br />
+
+<p>The early history of St. Michael's Church is very obscure. The fact
+that Domesday mentions no parish churches proves nothing. There can be
+little doubt that one at least existed. Though we have an earlier
+record of St. Michael's it is commonly held that Trinity is the elder
+foundation.</p>
+
+<p>Of St. Michael's the first notice we have is when Ranulph, Earl of
+Chester, in the days of Stephen, about 1150, granted the "Chapel" of
+St. Michael to Laurence, Prior, and the Convent of St. Mary, "being
+satisfied by the testimony of divers persons, as well Clergy as Laity,
+that it was their right." Fourteen dependent chapels in the
+neighbourhood or within a few miles went with it and the number of
+these dependencies is held to show that it was "a primitive Saxon
+parish and of considerable importance." In 1192 Ranulph Blundeville,
+grandson of the former Ranulph, gave tithe of his lands and rents in
+Coventry and bound his officers under pain of a grievous curse to make
+due payment.</p>
+
+<p>In the early thirteenth century a dispute arose between Bishop
+Geoffrey de Muschamp and the Priory as to the right of presentation,
+the Bishop claiming on the ground of being Abbot as well as Bishop.
+This was settled in 1241 by the Priory renouncing its claim in
+consideration of receiving a share of the income but in 1248 an
+exchange was effected, the Priory giving the advowsons of Ryton and
+Bubbenhall<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> (not far from Coventry) for St. Michael and its chapels
+and engaging to provide proper secular priests with competent support.
+In 1260 the church was appropriated to the monastery together with
+Holy Trinity <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">22</a></span>and its chapels and although in the arrangement of 1248
+twenty-four marks (&pound;16) had been assigned to the vicarage, in 1291 we
+find the priory receiving fifty marks and paying the vicar eight and a
+half.</p>
+
+<p>Since 1537 the patronage has with that of Trinity, been exercised by
+the Crown.</p>
+
+<p>The internal evidence of the date of the building is given in the
+description of the fabric. Of external evidence in the shape of
+records or deeds we have very little. Tradition says that there was
+once a brass tablet in the church bearing the following lines:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">William and Adam built the Tower,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Ann and Mary built the Spire;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">William and Adam built the Church,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Ann and Mary built the Choir.<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Now we know that William and Adam Botoner, who were each Mayor thrice
+between 1358 and 1385, built the tower, spending upon it &pound;100 a year
+for twenty-two years, but what foundation there is for the other
+statements cannot now be determined. The tower was in building from
+1373 to 1394, and the choir is contemporary with it, the nave was in
+building from 1432 to 1450, and the spire was begun in 1430. As
+William was Mayor in 1358 it can hardly have been less than one
+hundred years after his birth that both nave and spire were begun. It
+is however, likely that other members of the family (if not he, by
+bequest) contributed largely to the general building fund.</p>
+
+<p>Much of the history of a parish church is concerned with its internal
+economy but even the records of this are not quite trivial for they
+enlighten us on many points wherein we are rightly curious. We are,
+for instance, constantly reminded, as Dr. Gasquet points out in
+"Mediaeval Parish Life," that "religious life permeated society in the
+Middle Ages, particularly in the fifteenth century, through the minor
+confraternities" or gilds.</p>
+
+<p>Thus the Drapers' Gild made itself responsible not only for the upkeep
+of the Lady Chapel but also for the lights always burning on the
+Rood-loft, every Master paying four pence for each "prentys" and every
+"Jurneman" four pence. The cost of lights formed a serious item in
+church expenditure, needing <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">23</a></span>the rent of houses and lands for their
+maintenance. Guy de Tyllbrooke, vicar in the late thirteenth century,
+gave all his lands and buildings on the south side of the church to
+maintain a light before the high altar, day and night, for ever, "and
+all persons who shall convert this gift to any other use directly or
+indirectly shall incur the malediction of Almighty God, the Blessed
+Virgin, St. Michael and All Saints."</p>
+
+<p>Royal visits to the church have been noticed in the history of the
+priory and city, especially that in 1450 which was apparently intended
+to mark the completion of the church. Reference has also been made to
+the plays and pageants with which such visitors were entertained. The
+site for the performance of the cycle of Corpus Christi plays was the
+churchyard on the north of St. Michael's. Queen Margaret, whose visits
+were so frequent that the city acquired the fanciful title of "the
+Queen's Bower" came over from Kenilworth on the Eve of the Feast in
+1456, "at which time she would not be met, but privily to see the play
+there on the morrow and she saw then all the pageants played save
+Doomsday, which might not be played for lack of day and she was lodged
+at Richard Wood's the Grocer."</p>
+
+<p>There is evident reference to the dedication of the church in the
+pageant of the "Nine Orders of Angels" shown before Henry VIII and
+Queen Catherine in 1510 (p. 47).</p>
+
+<p>The history of the church since the Reformation has been not unlike
+that of a vast number of others. Fanatic destruction, followed by
+tasteless and incongruous innovations, and these again by
+"restorations" sometimes as destructive, sometimes as tasteless, and
+nearly always feeble; such is their common history. In 1569 even the
+Register books were destroyed because they contained marks of popery,
+while from 1576 onward a want of repair is plainly suggested by
+frequent items of expenditure for catching the stares (starlings) in
+the church, at one time for a net, at another for "a bowe and bolts
+and lyme." In 1611 James I addressed a strongly worded letter to the
+Mayor and Corporation and the Vicar requiring them to reform the
+practice of receiving the Holy Sacrament standing or sitting instead
+of kneeling, "As we our Self in our person do carefully perform it."
+Whereupon the Bishop wrote that he "felt persuaded that there were not
+above seven of any note who did not conform themselves" to the church
+ordinances; while the Vicar said he "did not know of <i>half seven</i> of
+any note but do the like."</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">24</a></span>A Puritanical writer in 1635 thus mentions the changed position of
+the Communion Table, which had formerly stood away from the east wall:
+"The Communion Table was altered which cost a great deal of money; and
+that which is worst of all, three stepps made to go to the Comm'n
+Table altar fashion&mdash;God grant it continueth not long." Even the font,
+given by John Cross, mayor, in 1394, had to give place in 1645 to
+something less offensive to Puritan feeling, and in the same year the
+brass eagle, given in 1359 by William Botoner, was "sold by order of
+vestry for 5<i>d.</i> the lb., 8<i>l.</i> 13<i>s.</i> 4<i>d.</i>" The rehanging of the bells
+in 1674 led to the destruction of the beautiful groined vault within
+the tower, and the year 1764 saw the completion of a series of
+galleries all round the church. Throughout all this destruction and
+desecration the citizens happily retained their pride in the great
+steeple, and by constant attention and rebuildings contrived to
+preserve it when negligence might have caused its ruin. The scrupulous
+care given to such work is well shown by items in an account for
+repairs, of date 1580:</p>
+
+<div class="centered">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="60%" summary="Account of Repairs">
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl" width="80%">Payed to George Aster for poyntynge ye steple</td>
+  <td class="tdr" width="20%" style="padding-right: 1em; white-space: nowrap;">&pound; 7 &nbsp; 2 &nbsp; 8</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl">Payed for 3 quarter and a halfe of lyme</td>
+  <td class="tdr" style="padding-right: 1em; white-space: nowrap;">13 &nbsp; 4</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl">Payed for egges</td>
+  <td class="tdr" style="padding-right: 1em; white-space: nowrap;">8 &nbsp; 4</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl">Payed for glovers pecis, woode &amp; tallowe, abowte
+    the lyme</td>
+  <td class="tdr" style="padding-right: 1em; white-space: nowrap;">5 &nbsp; 6</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl">Payed for a load sand</td>
+  <td class="tdr" style="white-space: nowrap;">7&frac12;</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl">Payed for 4 stryke of mawlte and gryndyng</td>
+  <td class="tdr" style="white-space: nowrap;">7 &nbsp; 8&frac12;</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl">Payd for 6 gallons of worte more</td>
+  <td class="tdr" style="padding-right: 1em; white-space: nowrap;">2 &nbsp; 0</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl">Payd for gatherynge of slates &amp; oyster shelles</td>
+  <td class="tdr" style="white-space: nowrap;">3&frac14;</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl">Payd to Cookson for the cradle and 3 other pullesses</td>
+  <td class="tdr" style="padding-right: 1em; white-space: nowrap;">5 &nbsp; 8</td>
+  </tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>The glovers' snippings were for making size, which, with the eggs,
+malt and wort were used in place of water for tempering the mortar.
+Lightning seriously damaged the spire in 1655 and 1694, in the former
+case causing much injury to the nave roof by falling stone. In 1793
+Wyatt, the architect responsible for so much destruction of Medi&aelig;val
+work in various cathedrals, advised that a timber framework to carry
+the bells should be built up within the tower from the ground and that
+the tower arch should be bricked up. All this has been changed since
+1885, the bells now hang (but are not pealed) in the octagon, the
+chimes and clock are in the chamber below, the arch is opened and the
+groining restored.</p>
+
+<p>All galleries had been taken down in 1849 and the present <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">25</a></span>seats,
+giving room for near 2,500 persons, introduced, while the incongruous
+wall-arcading in the apse was soon after added. At the same period
+many important sepulchral monuments, probably stigmatized as
+"excrescences," were taken down and removed to other parts of the
+church.</p>
+
+<p>Five years after this the exterior of the aisle walls was recased with
+the same friable sandstone. In 1860 the reredos was erected, the
+subjects of the panels being the sacrifices of Abel, Noah,
+Melchisedec, and Abraham, and the Last Supper. To the latest
+restoration, which included entire recasing of tower and spire,
+clearstories and chancel, the new sacristy at the south east, and
+other work, Mr. George Woodcock, a Coventry citizen, gave &pound;10,500, and
+the sum of &pound;39,500 was raised and expended, the re-opening taking
+place on 22nd April, 1890.</p>
+
+<p>In 1850 a dispute of considerable public interest with regard to the
+levying of the church rate between the vicar and the wardens and
+overseers was decided in the Court of Queen's Bench. An Act of
+Parliament of 1780 had empowered the wardens to levy a rate in lieu of
+tithe for the stipend of the vicar, to produce not less than &pound;280 nor
+more than &pound;300. The wardens having ever since allowed their powers to
+remain in abeyance, the vicar claimed the right to make the rate as
+his predecessors had done. Lord Campbell and three other judges were
+however unanimous in giving judgement against him.</p>
+
+<p>The latest event in the history of the church is probably the most
+important. It has now been constituted a pro-cathedral for the
+proposed Diocese of Warwickshire, and a Capitular body has been
+formed. The statutes were promulgated by the Bishop of Worcester on
+the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, 1908. The Chapter now
+consists of twenty-four members:&mdash;the Bishop, the Vicar of St.
+Michael's (Rev. Prof. J.H.B. Masterman), the Archdeacon of Coventry,
+the Chancellor of the Diocese, ten priest canons and ten lay canons,
+with provision for the admission of a future second archdeacon. There
+are resemblances here to the constitution of the Southwark Chapter,
+consisting of four clerical and four lay canons, but at Coventry some
+of the lay canons are elective and for fixed periods. Doubtless the
+immense increase of population in the county, especially in this part
+(Birmingham is already a separate diocese), demands further oversight
+and much strenuous church work, and doubtless, too, the same religious
+enthusiasm which brought <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">26</a></span>into existence the beautiful structures of
+Coventry's golden age will be able to meet the demand and cope with
+the new problems and aspirations of the present day. But the
+archaeologist trembles to think what may be done should the attempt be
+made to transform a building planned on the simplest parish-church
+lines into the semblance of a cathedral. It cannot be successful, and
+the original character of the church is but too likely to be
+sacrificed in the attempt.</p>
+
+<br />
+<hr style="width: 15%;" />
+<br />
+
+<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> These have ever since remained prebends of Lichfield.</p></div>
+
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">27</a></span><br />
+<hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">28</a></span><br />
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep028" id="imagep028"></a><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep028.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep028.jpg" width="52%" alt="ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">29</a></span><br />
+
+<h3>CHAPTER II<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+
+<h4>THE EXTERIOR OF THE CHURCH</h4>
+<br />
+
+<p>The church is built on a site descending towards the east, so that the
+chancel floor is more than twelve feet above the present street level.
+The narrow street on the south, Bayley Lane, gives us a succession of
+picturesque partial views but no general one, while on the north the
+rather formal avenue dividing the churchyard obscures much of the
+structure. On the whole, the most comprehensive prospect is to be had
+from the north-east, at the lower end of Priory Row. But no general
+point of view is needed, external or internal, to enable us to
+understand the plan or arrangement, which is almost as simple in form
+as a village church.</p>
+
+<p>The typical English church plan consists of a nave with aisles, a long
+unaisled chancel with square east end, porches or doors on north and
+south, and a western tower, and this, save for its apsidal east end,
+but amplified by accretions in the form of chapels belonging to the
+many Gilds of the city, is the plan of St. Michael's.</p>
+
+<p>In no part, however, do we find the chapels so set as to produce a
+pseudo-cruciform plan.</p>
+
+<p>Before the latest restoration the walls were entirely of the local red
+sandstone, very similar in quality and appearance to that of which
+Chester Cathedral was built, and the extent of its decay, especially
+on the tower, was as grievous. Hardly a piece of external moulding or
+carving preserved its original profile or form, and some of the tower
+buttresses had lost so large a proportion of their substance not far
+above ground that they appeared to hang to the walls rather than
+support them. All save the aisles, which were refaced in the sixties,
+have now been cased with Runcorn Stone nearly the same in colour and
+much harder in texture.</p>
+
+<p>The special glory of the church is its <b>steeple</b>. No doubt
+intentionally its height of 300 feet is practically equal to the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">30</a></span>length of the church. Only one other parish church, Louth in
+Lincolnshire, has a steeple as high as this, and those of only two
+English cathedrals, Salisbury and Norwich, exceed it.</p>
+
+<p>There is, however, an essential difference to be noted in the position
+of these spires, those of the cathedrals at the centre, the crowning
+point in the composition, those of the parish churches at the west
+end, springing sheer from the ground. While the former have a more
+intimate relation to the building the latter have an almost
+independent existence in keeping with the theory which regards them
+more as symbols of municipal pride and power than as expressions of
+spiritual aspiration.</p>
+
+<p>But however mixed the motives for their erection, religious forms and
+symbolism governed the design. Thus we have here three principal
+divisions&mdash;tower, octagon, spire, and nine stories or stages in all,
+six belonging to the tower and octagon, and three to the spire. Then
+in its dimensions we find that the total height is 300 feet,<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> the
+plan (exclusive of buttresses) is 30 feet square, while in its
+proportions the number 30 is interwoven, so to speak, with a simple
+arithmetical progression of heights in each story. Thus it is 30 feet
+from the ground to the spring of the lowest five-light windows, 30
+feet again to the spring of the single-light windows, 27 feet more to
+the spring of the grouped windows above, and another 30 to the spring
+of the belfry windows. Thence it is 15 feet to the cornice below the
+battlements. The remainder is divided into a series of 20 feet
+heights, two twenties from cornice to top of parapet of octagon, 20 in
+each of the two decorated stages of the spire, 20 to centre of the
+upper spire-lights, three twenties to the finial. If we look at the
+stories as marked by the string-courses below the windows we find 50
+feet given to the door and great window and then 20, 30, and 40 feet
+stages, reaching to the top of the parapet. The reader will have
+noticed the interposition of a 27 feet space among the thirties, and
+the reason for this is worth explaining.</p>
+
+<p>It is now known that the tower could not be built in line with the
+centre of the proposed new nave because of the existence of a
+filled-in pit or quarry at its north-west angle. But the builder was
+rash enough to build the north-west buttresses beyond the edge of the
+old excavation and resting on the looser material. The consequences
+might have been foreseen. By the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">31</a></span>time the building had reached the
+grouped windows the settlement or sinking was considerable and an
+effort was made to remedy it, first by reducing the height of this
+(the weakest story), by one yard and next by starting the courses
+level once more. Five hundred years later and we find that whereas the
+sinking is 7&frac12; inches near the ground level it is only 4 inches at <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">32</a></span>the
+windows, plainly showing that it had sunk 3&frac12; inches before the remedy
+was applied and four inches since. The writer is informed by the
+architect (Mr. J. Oldrid Scott) that all this angle was so full of
+rents and cracks that (coupled with the decay of the stone, especially
+in the buttresses) it was surprising that the whole had not fallen. A
+curious disregard of what we look on as a natural sentiment is to be
+noted in this connection, for the builders used a quantity of fine
+sepulchral slabs from the churchyard as filling for the foundations.</p>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep031" id="imagep031"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep031.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep031.jpg" width="57%" alt="INTERIOR OF THE TOWER FROM BELOW." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">INTERIOR OF THE TOWER FROM BELOW.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>In magnificence of design the tower exceeds that of any other parish
+church in England, the uppermost story being the richest in detail.
+The variety of treatment and gradual increase in elaboration of the
+upper stories is admirable, the larger expanses of wall in the lower
+giving the necessary effect of stability to the whole. The <b>west door</b>
+is very insignificant, and might perhaps, with advantage to the
+composition, have been left out. It has the only four-centred arch in
+the whole. On each side of the great windows are niches with
+(restored) figures of saints and benefactors, twelve in all, including
+Earl Leofric and his famous wife, the Botoners and several kings.
+Sculpture appears again on the belfry stage. On the west and north
+sides the niches are in three tiers of three on either hand of the
+tall louvred windows, but on the south and east sides one tier is
+absorbed by the stair turret. All these have been renewed, but the
+remains of some of those which were taken down can now be seen in the
+crypt, and the one which is best preserved, by a happy coincidence the
+patron saint, is now placed within the church.</p>
+
+<p>The octagon, which connects so finely the tower and spire, has four
+two-light windows on the cardinal sides, the other sides having blank
+panelling of similar design. Its parapet has square pinnacles,
+intended to carry seated figures. From each of the great tower
+pinnacles two ogee-shaped flying buttresses spring to the near angles
+of the octagon. A recent writer criticizes these as too flimsy in
+effect, but the fact that they are in pairs obviates this defect from
+most points of view. The walls of the octagon are 2&frac12; feet thick at the
+base, but, as the inner slope of the spire begins at the level of the
+window transoms, the thickness at its parapet is more than 3 feet. The
+greater weight in this part corrects any tendency in the spire to push
+outwards the upright walls of the octagon; so well has it done this
+that no artificial helps, such as iron stays or bands, have <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">33</a></span>been
+found necessary to add to its stability. Though so slender in
+appearance, its stonework is thicker than that of many later spires,
+for whereas Kettering is 14 inches thick for the first 10 feet and
+only 6 inches above, while Louth decreases from 10 to 5, St. Michael's
+diminishes from 17 to 11. The inclination from the upright of its
+sides is very slight, less than that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">34</a></span>of most others; Chichester
+having an angle of 7&frac12;&deg;, Kettering 6&deg;, Louth 5&deg;, St. Michael's 4&frac12;&deg;.</p>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep033" id="imagep033"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep033.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep033.jpg" width="57%" alt="THE WEST PORCH." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">THE WEST PORCH.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The decoration of the spire is admirably designed in relation to the
+slenderness of the tower, and its own height above the eye. The first
+stage is panelled so as not to present too great a contrast to the
+octagon, and the next is also panelled and has narrow canopied slits
+on alternate sides, with four thin buttress-like projections on each
+face. These provide the slight entasis to the outline which is found
+in so many spires, as it is in classic columns, and is designed to
+correct the appearance of hollowness which would occur in so long a
+straight line. The upper two-thirds of the spire has triple angle
+rolls, and, just halfway in the total height, are eight canopied
+panels of which four are pierced. The beauty of the steeple and its
+pre-eminence among those belonging to parish churches (even if such a
+reservation be necessary) sufficiently justifies the length of this
+description.</p>
+
+<a name="imagep034" id="imagep034"></a>
+<div class="imgl" style="width: 40%;">
+<a href="images/imagep034.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep034.jpg" width="100%" alt="SOUTH PORCH, FROM ST. MARY HALL." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">SOUTH PORCH, FROM ST. MARY HALL.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The oldest existing part of the church is the large <b>south porch</b>,
+almost facing the entrance to St. Mary Hall. The date of this is not
+later than 1300. Each jamb of the outside arch has four external and
+two internal attached shafts; the pointed arch is deeply moulded,
+while the arch rising from the fourth shaft is of round-headed trefoil
+form. The ceiling is vaulted with diagonal and intermediate ribs, and
+has the appearance of having been added rather later.</p>
+
+<p>A doorway on its east side led to the Cappers' Chapel and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">35</a></span>there is a
+chamber over the porch for centuries appropriated to the meetings of
+the Cappers' Company. The present chapel and chamber are contemporary
+with the nave.</p>
+
+<p>The external wall of the Dyers' Chapel (now the Baptistery) is canted
+so as not to block the Lane, St. Mary Hall having been already built.
+Passing east, the road dips gradually and gives this end of the church
+a more imposing elevation. After the Cappers' Chapel, there is only a
+single aisle forming the Mercers' Chapel and extending as far as the
+Presbytery. A door here, made in 1750, is opposite to the Drapers'
+Hall. The apse is now encircled with a series of sacristies divided
+into five chambers and spanned by flying buttresses. The first two
+bays on the south were built at the last restoration the vestry then
+removed not being part of the original design. Beneath them on the
+ground level is the engine-room pertaining to the organ. Though
+sometimes spoken of as an Ambulatory its position on a lower level,
+its original <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">36</a></span>want of connection with the south side and above all the
+need for sacristies in so large a church dispose of the idea.</p>
+
+<p>Some have thought that the apsidal Lady Chapel of Lichfield Cathedral
+built about fifty years earlier suggested an apsidal termination in
+the design of Coventry, but a certain difficulty in the way of the
+designer may have led him to adopt this solution. The normal
+Perpendicular east end had one large window, but owing to the great
+width of this chancel the proportions of such a one would have been
+nearly square, and the spring of the arch have been very low. A few
+years later and the depressed four-centred arch might have been
+adopted but, fortunately, its time was not yet.</p>
+
+<p>The plans of the apses of Lichfield and Coventry differ in the angle
+at which the sides are inclined to the chord of the apse, the former
+having the usual angle of 45&deg;, the latter one of more than 60&deg;.
+Externally this is not so pleasant as the more "commonplace" form, the
+great dissimilarity of the several angles being unsatisfactory and the
+third side too quickly lost to view, but within the church these
+points are not noticed.</p>
+
+<a name="imagep035" id="imagep035"></a>
+<div class="imgr" style="clear: both; width: 40%;">
+<a href="images/imagep035.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep035.jpg" width="100%" alt="SOUTH-WEST DOORWAY." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">SOUTH-WEST DOORWAY.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>So little time elapsed between the building of the choir and nave that
+we find no marked difference of style as we proceed westward along
+either flank of the church. The <b>Lady Chapel</b>, known as the Drapers'
+Chapel, from its use and maintenance by that Gild, occupies the three
+bays of the North chancel aisle. From its elevation above the ground
+it was often spoken of as the "Chapel on the Mount," Capella Beat&aelig;
+Mari&aelig; de Monte. All the four windows are of seven lights, the three
+northern having a somewhat unusual transom band of fourteen
+quatrefoils, at the spring of the arch. The two windows of St.
+Lawrence's Chapel have a transom across the lights and a band of seven
+quatrefoils at the spring.</p>
+
+<p>The buttresses of the Lady Chapel are rather richer in design than
+those of St. Lawrence's Chapel. The lower level of its parapet
+indicates some difference of date. The plan of this part of the church
+presents problems which bear on those connected with the rest of the
+church (p. 44). Beneath St. Lawrence's Chapel and extending under the
+north aisle westward are two crypts, entrance to them being by two
+doors from the churchyard, their position is shown on the general
+plan. It will be seen that the western one is of two aisles, each of
+three bays, while the eastern is only one bay in length. The entrance
+to the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">37</a></span>western was at first in the middle bay but this was blocked
+when the Girdlers' Chapel was built. That the eastern crypt was added
+later, and the present Lady Chapel later still is shown by the
+presence of windows in the east wall of both parts and other
+indications. But while the history of the church shows that the
+original Lady Chapel and crypt or charnel-house, were built soon after
+1300, the present superstructures belong to a time about one hundred
+years later. Now as the western crypt may be safely assigned to the
+earlier date the Lady Chapel doubtless stood over it and flanked the
+old chancel of the church, in its normal position in fact as the
+existing one is now. But a point which remains to be explained is that
+the walls of the crypt are parallel to the line of the new chancel and
+not to the line of the old or new naves. It seems certain therefore
+that the inclination of the new chancel is a simple perpetuation of
+the old arrangement, and if not, the position of the crypt is hard to
+account for.</p>
+
+<p>It is generally supposed that these crypts were used as Mortuary
+Chapels and the eastern one has in fact a piscina and aumbry, showing
+that there was once an altar. But for some centuries they served as a
+charnel-house, and are so called in a papal grant of Indulgences. In
+1640 there is an entry in the church accounts of five shillings for
+"cleansinge the charnel-house and laying the bones and sculles in
+order."</p>
+
+<p>They now contain fragments that have been removed or discovered in the
+course of various restorations. A small Norman scalloped capital,
+another of Early English workmanship and a voussoir showing the Norman
+zig-zag or chevron are interesting relics of structures earlier than
+anything now existing, while a number of the decayed statues from the
+tower find here a dark and damp repose very different from the airy
+outlook enjoyed by them for five centuries. It will be seen that they
+are near life size and are executed in a gray sandstone which has
+stood the weather much better than the red. The outer north aisle
+containing the Girdlers' Chapel on the east and the Smiths' or St.
+Andrew's Chapel on the west of the porch, is plainly of later date.
+The windows have depressed, distinctly four-centred arches, and in
+1730 their five lights had simply cusped heads, the mullions running
+up to the architrave.</p>
+
+<p>The <b>north porch</b> has only a slight projection. Above the four-centred
+arch are two two-light canopied windows <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">38</a></span>opening into the church. The
+soffit of the doorway is panelled. On the west side where is now a
+canopied niche was formerly an external pulpit reached from within by
+the staircase which leads to the roof. It is shown in the 1730 view.
+On the east side are two odd little flying buttresses, intended
+apparently to repeat the inclined surface of the other side. The two
+north aisles are fortunately not carried westward so far as the nave,
+which projects a half bay beyond them and so prevents the otherwise
+unrelieved flatness of this part. The most effective of the porches is
+that on the west front, just north of the tower. It appears to have
+been built after the nave was finished, and may have been added
+expressly to provide a more dignified entrance to the church when
+Henry VI came in state in 1451, for it faces directly up the nave. The
+groining with cusped panels and numerous bosses has escaped
+restoration. The five niches above the porch are statueless, and so
+are those on the porch front. May they long continue so! The doors are
+largely original and are finely panelled and carved.</p>
+
+<br />
+<hr style="width: 15%;" />
+<br />
+
+<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> At the last restoration the height was reduced to 298
+feet.</p></div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">40</a></span><br />
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep040" id="imagep040"></a><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep040.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep040.jpg" width="52%" alt="INTERIOR OF ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE WEST." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">INTERIOR OF ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE WEST.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">41</a></span><br />
+
+<h3>CHAPTER III<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+
+<h4>THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH</h4>
+<br />
+
+<p>From within the door by which the church is usually entered, that near
+the south-west angle, we obtain an overpowering impression of the
+special characteristic of the interior, its spaciousness, for it is
+here more than 100 feet wide and the east window is nearly 240 feet
+distant.</p>
+
+<a name="imagep042" id="imagep042"></a>
+<div class="imgl" style="width: 30%;">
+<a href="images/imagep042.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep042.jpg" width="100%" alt="TOWER ARCH." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">TOWER ARCH.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The <b>nave</b>, which is 37 feet 6 inches wide in the clear, is wider than
+that of many cathedrals, and much exceeds that of most parish
+churches, the widest (Worstead) given in Brandon's "Parish Churches"
+being 29 feet. Boston alone exceeds it by about 3 feet. While the
+ordinary aisle width ranges from 10 to 14 feet, the north aisle here
+is 23 feet, the outer north and the south being each 17 feet. The
+total internal length is 265 feet, exclusive of the sacristy; Boston,
+the only larger one, being 284 feet, while very few exceed 200 feet,
+and most are far smaller. The greatest internal width is 120 feet;
+Manchester, a double-aisled collegiate church, is about the same, and
+York Minster is 106 feet. Finally, the area is about 22,800 square
+feet, probably greater than that of any other English parish church,
+indeed, St. Nicholas, Yarmouth, is the only one which pretends to
+rivalry in this respect. Size is, of course, only one element in the
+impressiveness of a building, and may even be neutralized by the
+treatment (as, for instance, in the Duomo of Florence and St. Peter's,
+Rome, by increasing the size of its parts rather than multiplying
+them), but these few comparisons will help the visitor to judge how
+far this element colours his appreciation of the whole. As an
+illustration of medi&aelig;val methods of church building, it is interesting
+to trace the growth of the structure with the help of the few
+historical notices already given and the evidence of the building
+itself. The subject is full of difficulties, and the writer does not
+hope to solve them conclusively, but to put before the reader the main
+points which have to be considered before forming a judgement.</p>
+
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">42</a></span>
+
+<p>Both historic and structural evidence agree that there was an existing
+smaller church when the tower was built in the last quarter of the
+fourteenth century, that the choir and apse were either contemporary,
+or begun a few years earlier, and that the nave was built between 1434
+and 1450. The south porch and the west crypt (beneath the original
+Lady Chapel) are almost contemporary (p. 34), belonging to the
+beginning of the fourteenth century. Now the axis of the tower is
+parallel to the axis and walls of the nave, while the centre line of
+the choir is deflected towards the north about 7&deg;. Notwithstanding
+this, however, owing to the tower not being central with the nave, the
+axis of the choir, if <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">43</a></span>prolonged, runs directly to the centre of the
+tower arch, as may easily be seen by anyone who stands there and looks
+along the ridge of the choir roof. (<i>See</i> dotted line on Plan.)</p>
+
+<p>Next we see above the <b>tower arch</b> the mark of the old nave roof and
+the old north wall of the nave. These show that the south wall stood
+where the present one does, and the low-pitched fourteenth century
+roof-line suggests incidentally this alternative: <i>either</i> a
+clearstory had been added to the nave before the building of the new
+chancel or <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">44</a></span>tower was in contemplation, <i>or</i>, when the huge tower was
+built it was felt necessary to raise the nave roof so as to lessen the
+disproportion. But, if we adopt the latter alternative we must accept
+too the improbability that this expense should have been incurred when
+the inadequacy of the old narrow nave of 15&frac12; feet compared with a
+chancel of 33 feet must have been so obvious. This is one of the
+difficult questions.</p>
+
+<a name="imagep043" id="imagep043"></a>
+<div class="imgr" style="width: 32%;">
+<a href="images/imagep043.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep043.jpg" width="100%" alt="BAY OF NAVE, NORTH SIDE." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">BAY OF NAVE, NORTH SIDE.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Then it is held by some that the axis of the old nave and chancel was
+in line with that of the present choir; but the south porch, built
+more than one hundred years before the new nave, is at right angles
+with it which would hardly have been the case had the two naves not
+been on the same lines.</p>
+
+<p>Needless to say the old east end could scarcely have extended beyond
+the present nave, so that the new chancel was probably built without
+disturbing the old church. The position of the older Lady Chapel
+supports this view, while its bearing towards the north, as already
+pointed out, indicates that the deflection of the new chancel is
+simply copied from the older one.</p>
+
+<p>The position of the south porch proves also that the south aisle was
+as wide as the present one, while the fact that it was wider than the
+nave shows that it was almost certainly not designed at the same time.</p>
+
+<p>The nave is of six bays and is 54 feet high at the centre, while each
+arch is 20 feet wide in the clear. The piers are slender, but, owing
+to the depth of the panelling above the arches and the large size of
+the windows, the weight upon them is reduced to a minimum. Shafts
+carried up from the ground support the roof brackets, and there are
+intermediate ones over the centre of each arch. The clearstory windows
+of four lights each are in pairs, and the mullions are carried down to
+form panelling and finish on the backs of the arches, which recede in
+two sloping faces and form a somewhat unusual feature in the treatment
+of the wall surface. The detail of the piers and arches is rather
+weak, even for Perpendicular work.</p>
+
+<p>The <b>chancel</b> is about 93 feet long, and in height and width is 4 or 5
+feet less than the corresponding nave measurements. Its width further
+diminishes by about 3&frac12; feet in the length of the three bays. The
+omission of a chancel arch is a step towards the ideal simplicity of
+the late Perpendicular churches (<i>e.g.</i>, St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich),
+running from east to west without break, but the large rood piers and
+reduced width and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">45</a></span>height of chancel make the pause demanded in so
+long a church. The step at this point is of oak, and is probably the
+original sill of the rood screen. The large figures of SS. Peter and
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">46</a></span>Paul were placed on the piers in 1861. Of the three arches which open
+on either hand the centre one is widest, having four-light windows,
+instead of three-light, over it. The panelling beneath the clearstory
+is richer than that in the nave. The five four-light windows of the
+apse are lofty and divided by two transoms, but the design is somewhat
+commonplace. The glass of the middle three is a memorial to Queen
+Adelaide, dated <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">47</a></span>1853. The other two are filled with fragments of the
+ancient stained glass of the church (p. 56).</p>
+
+<div class="img" style="clear: both;"><a name="imagep045" id="imagep045"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep045.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep045.jpg" width="50%" alt="INTERIOR FROM THE SOUTH DOOR." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">INTERIOR FROM THE SOUTH DOOR.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep046" id="imagep046"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep046.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep046.jpg" width="60%" alt="THE CHOIR FROM ST. LAWRENCE'S CHAPEL." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">THE CHOIR FROM ST. LAWRENCE'S CHAPEL.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The roof is very similar to that of the nave. Both are of very low
+pitch, with tie-beams supported by curved brackets. There are two
+longitudinal beams (purlins) on each side, and each division of the
+roof made by these main timbers is sub-divided by mouldings into
+panels, all the intersections and angles being decorated by carved
+bosses or pater&aelig;, with angels upon the tie-beams. Where the roofs of
+nave and chancel join there is a cove to connect the two levels; and
+on the tie-beam above this was found a Latin inscription, giving the
+attributes and powers of the nine choirs of angels forming the
+hierarchy of Heaven. Translated it is as follows:</p>
+
+<p class="noin" style="margin-left: 10em;"><span class="sc">SERAPHIMS</span> burn in love of God.<br />
+<span class="sc">CHERUBIMS</span> possess all knowledge.<br />
+<span class="sc">THRONES</span>, of them is judgement.<br />
+<span class="sc">DOMINIONS</span> preside over angelic spirits.<br />
+<span class="sc">VIRTUES</span> effect miracles.<br />
+<span class="sc">POWERS</span> have rule over demons.<br />
+<span class="sc">PRINCIPALITIES</span> protect good men.<br />
+<span class="sc">ARCHANGELS</span> are set over states.<br />
+<span class="sc">ANGELS</span> are the messengers of the Lord.
+</p>
+
+<p>Bare and shorn as it is of its ancient magnificence, St. Michael's is
+in its structure a monument of the importance and wealth of the Gilds.
+Many of them built or maintained chapels and altars, adding largely to
+the already spacious proportions given to the main structure by the
+munificence of a few rich citizens. That in 1491 there were eleven
+altars we know from the will of Thomas Bradmedow, directing that
+eleven torches, price 2<i>s.</i> 4<i>d.</i>, be given every Good Friday, one to
+every altar. Besides the High Altar there were those of Our Lady,
+Jesus, Holy Trinity, St. John, St. Anne, St. Katherine, St. Thomas,
+St. Andrew, St. Lawrence, All Saints.</p>
+
+<a name="imagep048a" id="imagep048a"></a>
+<div class="imgl" style="width: 25%;">
+<a href="images/imagep048a.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep048a.jpg" width="100%" alt="POPPY HEAD, LADY CHAPEL." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">POPPY HEAD, LADY CHAPEL.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<a name="imagep048b" id="imagep048b"></a>
+<div class="imgr" style="width: 35%;">
+<a href="images/imagep048b.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep048b.jpg" width="100%" alt="A MISERERE, LADY CHAPEL." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">A MISERERE, LADY CHAPEL.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The application to the <b>Lady Chapel</b> of the present name, the
+"Drapers' Chapel," is probably subsequent to 1518, when John Haddon, a
+draper, provided by will for the support of a priest, "to singe in the
+Chapell of our Ladye in the Church of Saint Mychell." But long ere
+this, by an instrument dated from St. John Lateran, <span class="fakesc">A.D.</span>
+1300, eighth year of Pope Boniface, Indulgences for forty days were
+granted for all persons coming to confess before her altar in St.
+Michael's Church on the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">48</a></span>Nativity, Conception, Annunciation and
+Assumption of the glorious Virgin Mary. Also 700 Indulgences for 720
+days were granted for building "the Chapple and Charnell house of St.
+Michaell, Coventry." The Drapers' Company was responsible for other
+things than the priest's stipend as this extract from their Rules
+shows: "1534. Ev'y mastur shall pay toward ye makyng clene of oure
+Lady Chapell in saynt Mychell's churche and strawyng ye setus [seats]
+wt rusches in somer and pease strawe in wyntur, everyone yerely 2<i>d.</i>"</p>
+
+<p>The piers at the chancel entrance contain the staircases leading to
+the roofs and formerly to the rood loft. The screen on the west side
+of the chapel was put together from fragments brought together from
+various parts of the church. Against it, and on the south side, are
+fifteen of the ancient stalls. Several admirable ends and elbows
+remain, and some of the twelve ancient Misereres are of special
+interest. Three represent scenes from the popular medi&aelig;val allegory of
+"the Dance of Death."</p>
+
+<p>The centre groups are: (1) a death bed, (2) a kneeling man being
+deprived of his shirt and a cripple waiting to receive it (?), and (3)
+a very well-expressed burial scene. The side groups in each show Death
+leading by the hand personages of various ranks, including a pope. Of
+the others, Satan in chains, the General Resurrection, and a
+delicately executed Tree of Jesse are the best.</p>
+
+<p>Several monuments formerly in this chapel are now elsewhere in the
+church. A memorial to the Hon. F.W. Hood, killed in battle in 1814, is
+by Chantrey. On the north wall is a brass plate bearing the following
+inscription:</p>
+
+<div class="block"><p>Here lyeth M<span style="vertical-align: super;">r</span> Thomas Bond, Draper, sometime Mayor of this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">49</a></span>
+Cittie and founder of the Hospitall of Bablake, who gave divers
+lands and tenements for the maintenance of ten poore men so long
+as the world shall endure and a woman to looke to them with many
+other good guifts; and died the <span class="sc">XVIII</span> day of March in
+the yeare of our Lord God <span class="sc">MDVI</span>.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The <b>Communion Table</b> is a fine example of early seventeenth century
+work, and outside the screen is a very beautiful oak chest, believed
+to date from the time of Henry VII. From the Lady Chapel we pass into
+that of St. Laurence. Its two windows are filled with glass to the
+memory of past mayors. The dates, 1860 and 1862, sufficiently suggest
+their artistic merit. Several old monuments are upon the north wall,
+one of 1648 with an extravagant inscription to Thomas Purefoy, a boy
+of nine; another to Mrs. Bathona Frodsham, a daughter of the John
+Hales who bought so much monastic property, and founded the Grammar
+School. The tomb of his first wife, Frideswede, near which he was
+buried, may be seen in the Dugdale view near the north porch.</p>
+
+<p>The outer north aisle contained the Girdlers' Chapel. The arcade which
+divides the aisles shows the consummation of the process which
+converted columns into piers by the omission of capitals and bases and
+the continuation of the mouldings from pier into arch.</p>
+
+<p>The altar was below the eastern window, the piscina (restored) stands
+on the south side.</p>
+
+<p>The Company has been long extinct and no documents exist. We know,
+however, that Haye's Chantry was founded by a Girdler in 1390, for a
+Mass to be sung daily at All Saints' altar, and may therefore conclude
+that it was in this chapel.</p>
+
+<p>In the two western bays of the same aisle was St. Andrew's Chapel,
+supported and probably founded by the Smiths' Company. The first
+notice of its existence occurs in 1449, but as this part was not built
+until 1500 it was perhaps originally in the adjoining aisle. The
+window tracery is modern. The panelling within the internal arches and
+between the windows should be noted. The floor near the wall is partly
+paved with much worn ancient tiles.</p>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep050" id="imagep050"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep050.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep050.jpg" width="85%" alt="CHEST IN NORTH AISLE." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">CHEST IN NORTH AISLE.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Several large monuments have been brought hither from the Drapers'
+Chapel. An altar tomb of black marble is to the memory of Sir Thomas
+Berkeley, only son of Henry, Lord <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">50</a></span>Berkeley, who died in 1611; another
+of 1640, to William Stanley, Master of the Merchant Taylors' Company
+of London and a benefactor of St. Bartholomew's Hospital and of his
+native city, Coventry. While these are ponderous and unlovely that of
+Julian Nethermyl, at the west end of the principal north aisle, is a
+work of interest and much beauty. It is an altar tomb with a
+sculptured panel on one end and one side, the other end and side
+having been next to walls. It is of interest as an early example of
+the Italian style then finding its way into England, and an example so
+free from Gothic influence that there can be little doubt that a
+foreign craftsman was employed upon it. On the centre of the long
+panel is a mutilated crucifix, and a brief inscription with a shield
+of arms beneath. On either hand kneel Julian Nethermyl and his wife,
+with five sons behind him and five daughters behind her. A cherub at
+each end pushes aside a curtain. The group of sons is well treated,
+the variations in pose and dress show the hand of one who was
+accustomed to study composition, and the result is very different from
+the formal repetition of equal or lessening figures usual on medi&aelig;val
+brasses and Elizabethan tombs. The Latin inscription is partly
+illegible, translated it runs:</p>
+
+<div class="block"><p>Here lies Julian Nethermyl, Draper, formerly Mayor of this City,
+who died the 11th day of the month of April in the year of our
+Lord 1539 and also Joan his wife, to whose souls God be
+propitious. Amen.</p></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">51</a></span>A small brass on the wall to the memory of Mary Hinton, wife of a
+vicar, who died in 1594, represents her kneeling at a faldstool, and
+facing a row of four swaddled infants laid upon the floor.</p>
+
+<p>Near by is the old Purbeck marble font, said to have been given by
+John Cross, Mayor, in 1394.</p>
+
+<p>As, however, the form, material, and shallow decoration are all quite
+consistent with a thirteenth-century date there can be little doubt
+that this one is the predecessor of that given by John Cross, which
+was condemned and removed by the Puritans as superstitious. A small
+brass, bearing a shield with four crosses, the ancient merchant mark,
+is fixed upon it.</p>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep051" id="imagep051"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep051.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep051.jpg" width="85%" alt="THE NETHERMYL TOMB." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">THE NETHERMYL TOMB.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Beyond the west door is the north-east buttress of the tower,
+strengthened by a mass of masonry, part of which formed part of the
+old nave wall. The tower arch is high and very narrow, owing to the
+narrowness of the old nave. The interior of the tower is very
+effective, both from the height, which is almost 100 feet to the crown
+of the vault, and the beautiful lighting of the upper stages. Each of
+the large windows of the ground story is set <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">52</a></span>in a recessed arch, and
+between the two lantern stages is a range of panelling. The vertical
+lines of the various stages are not continuous, a want of regularity,
+which would probably not have occurred had it been built a century
+later. Upon the floor of the tower are two small brasses, which mark
+respectively the centre of the tower and the point below the apex of
+the spire, showing that the spire has an inclination of 3 feet 6
+inches towards the north-west. On the walls of the tower two very
+large brasses record the names of the Vicars of the church since 1242,
+and of the Bishops in whose Dioceses Coventry has been included from
+the earliest times. Of the latter, four were Bishops of Mercia,
+twenty-seven of Lichfield, six of Coventry, thirty-three of Coventry
+and Lichfield, thirteen of Lichfield and Coventry, four of Worcester,
+and two Bishops-Suffragan of Coventry.</p>
+
+<p>The south aisle is 6 feet narrower than the north at the west end, but
+its want of parallelism adds 7 feet to its width at its far eastern
+end.</p>
+
+<p>The south-west doorway has its original doors, though these have been
+subjected to restoration. The first chapel on the south side belonged
+to the Dyers' Company. When the principal trade of Coventry was the
+manufacture of woollen and worsted stuffs and the production of a
+special blue thread, so excellent that it gave rise to a proverbial
+expression, "he is true Coventry Blue", the Dyers were an important
+Company.<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> A chantry known as Tale's was probably attached to this
+chapel, as the salary of the priest, &pound;5 6<i>s.</i> 8<i>d.</i>, was paid by the
+Dyers' Company of London. An upper chamber for the priest existed as
+late as 1607; the floor corbels still remain. A large marble monument
+(removed hither from the chancel) has medallion portraits of two
+ladies&mdash;Dame Mary Bridgeman and Mrs. Eliza Samwell. The former with
+her husband, Sir Orlando (Lord Keeper of the Great Seal under Charles
+II), both died in 1701. The latter, dying in 1724, "ordered this
+monument to be erected as a remembrance of their great and loving
+friendship."</p>
+
+<p>The Chapel is now the <b>Baptistery</b>. A large eighteenth-century marble
+font was removed to the Lady Chapel and a new Gothic one put in its
+place, so that there are now three in the church.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">53</a></span>The south porch (1300) is the earliest part of the existing church.
+The inner doors appear to be of the early sixteenth century, the
+outer, though old, are of much later date and are not part of the
+original scheme. On the wall on each side of the inner doors are
+brasses of some interest. That on the right hand has a curious epitaph
+which runs thus:</p>
+
+<div class="block"><p>Here lies the body of Capt<span style="vertical-align: super;">n</span> Gervase Scrope, of the family of
+Scropes, of Bolton in the County of York, who departed this life
+the 26 of August, Anno Dni 1705, aged 66.</p>
+
+<p>An Epitaph, written by himself, in the agony and dolorous paines
+of the gout and dyed soon after.</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">Here lyes an old toss'd Tennis Ball<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Was racketted, from spring to fall,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">With so much heat and so much hast,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Time's arm for shame grew tyred at last.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Four kings in camps he truly served.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And from his loyalty ne'er swerved,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Father ruin'd and son slighted,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And from the Crown ne'er requited.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Loss of estate, relations, blood,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Was too well known, but did no good;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">With long Campaigns and paines oth' gout<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">He cou'd no longer hold it out.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Always a restless life he led,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Never at quiet till quite dead.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">He marry'd in his later days,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">One who exceeds the common praise<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">But wanting breath still to make known<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Her true affection and his own,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Death kindly came, all wants supplied<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">By giving rest&mdash;which life deny'd.<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+</div>
+
+<p>The other brass, of 1609, has a portrait of Ann Sewell in Jacobean
+costume, kneeling, with an epitaph in which she is described as "a
+worthy stirrer up of others to all holy virtues."</p>
+
+<p>A doorway leads to a priest's chamber over the porch, sometimes
+incorrectly spoken of as the Cappers' Chapel. It is still used for the
+annual meeting of the Company, but is inaccessible to the public.</p>
+
+<p>The next chapel eastwards is St. Thomas', belonging until 1629 to the
+Cappers' and Feltmakers' Company. In 1531 they were associated in its
+maintenance with the Woollen Cardmakers who had founded it in 1467 and
+had after declined in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">54</a></span>importance. Leland, as we have seen records
+also the decay of the Cappers' industry. A large eighteenth-century
+monument conceals the original doorway from the porch. The eastern
+part of the south aisle as far as the screen formed another chapel as
+the dilapidated piscina in the south wall shows. The organ is now
+placed in the first bay of the chancel aisle, the whole aisle having
+once formed the Mercers' Chapel.</p>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep054" id="imagep054"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep054.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep054.jpg" width="85%" alt="THE SWILLINGTON TOMB." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">THE SWILLINGTON TOMB.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Where the altar once stood are now steps descending to the sacristies.
+On the right of the window is the statue of St. Michael brought hither
+from the tower (p. 32). The finely carved corbel on which it stands
+was discovered among rubbish in the recess below. Three altar tombs
+now stand against the south wall. The eastern has the recumbent
+effigies of Elizabeth Swillington and her two husbands. The
+inscription (translated) runs: "Pray for the soul of Elizabeth
+Swillington, widow, late the wife of Ralph Swillington, Attorney
+General of our Lord King Henry VIII, Recorder of the city of Coventry,
+formerly the wife of Thomas Essex Esq: which said Elizabeth died
+<span class="fakesc">A.D.</span> 15..." She died after 1543. The side and ends have
+arcaded <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">55</a></span>panelling containing shields of arms. At the west end is a
+realistic representation of the Five Wounds. The effigy of Thomas
+Essex is in armour, that of the Recorder in official robe and chain.
+The head of each rests on a helmet, and the lady wears the
+"pedimental" headdress of Tudor fashion. The arcading is purely
+Renaissance in detail though the general treatment is medi&aelig;val. The
+figures are in dignified repose, wholly free from the later
+affectations of the Elizabethan school yet evidently individual
+portraits. The second tomb dates from 1640. The top is far too heavy
+for the little Ionic pilasters below.</p>
+
+<p>The third, traditionally called Wade's tomb, probably belongs to John
+Wayd, a Mercer, who lived in Coventry in 1557, but no inscription
+remains.</p>
+
+<p>There are seven shields of arms on the side, nearly all defaced, a
+motto "Ryen saunce travayle," and nine images in low relief which
+present quaint studies of early sixteenth-century costume.</p>
+
+<p>The matrices of brasses are still visible in several parts of the
+church. Sir James Harrington, writing in the reign of James I, tells a
+curious story of their loss:</p>
+
+<div class="block"><p>The pavement of Coventry church is almost all tombstones, and
+some very ancient, but there came in a zealous fellow with a
+counterfeit commission, that for avoiding superstition, hath not
+left one pennyworth nor penny breadth of brass upon all the
+tombs, of all the inscriptions, which had been many and costly.</p></div>
+
+<p>The last monument that need be mentioned is upon the wall over "Wade's
+tomb." Twenty-six verses of eulogy follow these opening lines:</p>
+
+<div class="block"><p>An Elegicall epitaph, made upon the death of that mirror of women
+Ann Newdigate; Lady Skeffington, wife of that true moaneing
+turtle Sir Richard Skeffington, Kt., and consecrated to her
+eternal memorie by the unfeigned lover of her vertues, Willm.
+Bulstrode, Knight. (She died in 1637, aged 29).</p></div>
+
+<a name="imagep056" id="imagep056"></a>
+<div class="imgr" style="width: 18%;">
+<a href="images/imagep056.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep056.jpg" width="100%" alt="ALMS-BOX." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">ALMS-BOX.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The present organ was built by Henry Willis and erected in 1887. It is
+a four-manual and pedal instrument and has fifty-three stops.</p>
+
+<p>The old organ on which Handel played more than once, stood on a raised
+platform at the west end. It was the work of Thomas Swarbrick of
+Warwick, a German by birth, in 1733. He also built those of Trinity
+Church, St. Mary, Warwick, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">56</a></span>Lichfield, St. Saviour Southwark,
+Stratford-on-Avon, and Amsterdam.</p>
+
+<p>The best of the ancient glass now remaining has been collected into
+two windows, one on either side of the apse. Much was brought from the
+clearstory where six windows on the south and all save one on the
+north side still have panels made up of a mosaic of fragments with
+portions here and there of which the subject is intelligible. From
+what remains in the tracery we may gather that there was a row of
+eight angel figures filling the spaces immediately over the lights.
+Some of these or similar ones, are now in the apse. They are
+represented as covered with feathers and standing on wheels and each
+holds a scroll over the head with inscriptions in very contracted
+Latin. A few less fragmentary pieces may be found, <i>e.g.</i>, in the
+north window, Judas giving the traitor's kiss, in the north clearstory
+the arms of Trenton and Stafford, mentioned and figured by Dugdale, in
+the south, the figure of a man in a red gown kneeling with a scroll
+inscribed "deo gracias" and over his head "groc(er) de
+london"&mdash;doubtless a donor. Of modern glass there is a great amount
+but little worth mentioning save on account of the persons
+commemorated. One window in the Lady Chapel is a memorial of the
+Prince Consort and one in the Mercers' Chapel is of interest as a
+deserved memorial to Thomas Sharp the Antiquary to whose labours all
+later historians of the city are so deeply indebted. He died in 1841.</p>
+
+<p>The pulpit is of brass and wrought iron, the work of Frank Skidmore a
+native of Coventry who made also the choir screen of Hereford
+Cathedral and the metal work of the Albert Memorial at Kensington. It
+was placed here in 1869. The bells, ten in number, now hang in the
+octagon. They were cast in 1774 and weigh nearly seven tons. The first
+peal was hung in 1429 and a clock existed in 1467. In 1496 an Order of
+Leet ordained that "all manner of persons that will have the bells to
+ring after the decease of any of their friends, shall pay for a peal
+ringing with all the bells, 2<i>s.</i> and with four bells, 16<i>d.</i>, and
+three bells 4<i>d.</i>"</p>
+
+<p style="clear: both;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">57</a></span>The six bells were cast into eight in 1674 and the present tenth has
+the same inscription as the heaviest of the old peal:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">I am and have been call'd the common bell<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">To ring, when fire breaks out, to tell.<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>The chimes, which existed as early as 1465, were restored in 1895,
+after a silence of ten years, in memory of Lieut.-Col. Francis William
+Newdigate. Electric lighting has been introduced throughout the
+church.</p>
+
+<br />
+<hr style="width: 15%;" />
+<br />
+
+<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> <i>See</i> Fuller's "Worthies of England." In 1428 an Act of
+Leet ordered that no person should dye any wool or cloth with "a
+deceitful colour called Masters or Medleys brought into Coventry by a
+Frenchman."</p></div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">58</a></span><br />
+<hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">59</a></span><br />
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep060" id="imagep060"></a><a name="HOLY_TRINITY_CHURCH" id="HOLY_TRINITY_CHURCH"></a><a name="CHAPTER_I_HT" id="CHAPTER_I_HT"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep060.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep060.jpg" width="52%" alt="HOLY TRINITY FROM THE NORTH." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">HOLY TRINITY FROM THE NORTH.<br /><i>From a lithograph&mdash;about 1850</i>.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">61</a></span><br />
+
+<h2>HOLY TRINITY CHURCH</h2>
+
+<h3>CHAPTER I<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+
+<h4>HISTORY OF THE CHURCH</h4>
+<br />
+
+<p>Although the first mention of this church which the indefatigable
+Dugdale could find was its appropriation to the priory in 1259-1260,
+it is tolerably certain that its foundation was much earlier. As
+before said, it is reputed to be older than St. Michael's and its
+position close to the monastery suggests that it had been built, as
+often happened, for the parishioners by the monks who disliked their
+intrusion within the priory church. The appropriation at this time may
+have been rather of the nature of a confirmation of the rights of the
+priory than the institution of a new condition of things. As, in 1391,
+the chancel had to be rebuilt being "ruinated and decayed" we may
+conclude that it was probably older than the present north porch which
+is certainly not later than 1259. It was at the same time lengthened
+by twenty-four feet, the convent giving one hundred shillings per
+annum for eight years and six trees, the parishioners finding all
+other material and workmanship. The convent and parish also agreed to
+support and keep it in repair at their joint charges.</p>
+
+<p>From 1298, when Henry de Harenhale was appointed, the list of vicars
+is complete, but in a cartulary of the priory mention is made of Ralph
+de Sowe, vicar of Trinity, as giving a tenement in Well Street, for
+the celebration of his anniversary.</p>
+
+<p>There are but few landmarks in its history, and dates affecting the
+structure can generally be assigned by internal evidence alone. The
+nave arcades had already been rebuilt before the chancel was touched,
+and a piece of work of the same period is to be seen in the five-light
+Decorated window, in the Consistory Court which now opens into the
+large chamber over the porch. We have no record of the building of the
+clearstory <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">62</a></span>and roof of the nave. The resemblances between this
+clearstory, and that of St. John's chancel, raise the question of
+priority. The fuller development at St. John's of the peculiar
+treatment of the angles points to its being a little later but
+probably both fall within the second and third quarters of the
+fifteenth century.</p>
+
+<p>For a church of this size the chapels, altars and chantries were very
+numerous, there being probably fifteen altars in all. In 1522 the
+establishment of clergy consisted of a vicar, eleven parochial priests
+and two chantry priests. Dugdale enumerates six chantries so that it
+is evident that here as often elsewhere some of the parochial priests
+derived the whole or a part of their support from their performance of
+the duties of chantry priests.</p>
+
+<p>Many chantry priests on the other hand had other duties and took part
+in other services than the daily mass for which the chantry was
+founded.</p>
+
+<p>So much that is of interest in the religious life of the period is
+connected with the chantries that it is worth while recording some of
+the scattered notices that have come down to us.</p>
+
+<p>To begin with the Chapel of Our Lady, the earliest mention we have of
+it is in 1364 while in 1392 the Corpus Christi Gild endowed a priest
+there to sing mass for the good estate of Richard II, Anne his queen,
+and the whole realm of England, to be called St. Mary's priest. The
+indenture sets forth that "he is to be at Divine service on Sundays
+and double Feasts in the chancel and at Matins, Hours, Masses,
+Evensong, Compline and other offices used in the said church and also
+daily at <i>Salve</i> in our Lady's Chapel unless hindered by reasonable
+cause." The records of the Dissolution of the Chantries show how much
+town property must have been held by them, while from these and other
+sources we learn the extent of their belongings in tenements,
+messuages, rent charges and the like. Thus in 1454 Emot Dowte gave
+several tenements to this altar and in 1492 Richard Clyff "late parson
+of St. George in London," left a house in Well St. to the church "to
+the intent that the mass of Our Lady may be observed the better." In
+1558 (the year of Elizabeth's accession) William Hyndeman, alderman
+and butcher, directs that his body be buried in the Lady Chapel "as
+aldermen are wont to be buried, towards the charges whereof I give
+twenty nobles to be levied of my quick cattle and if it be too little
+then I will that Sybil my wife shall lay <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">63</a></span>down 20<i>s.</i> more." He also
+orders an obit to be kept after the death of his wife "yearly for
+ever;" a form of words that must surely have sounded unreal after the
+changes of the last two reigns.</p>
+
+<p>Perceye's chantry again, which Dugdale considered the oldest (though
+he does not give the date) was endowed in 1350 with six messuages, one
+shop, six acres of land and 40s. rent, all lying in Coventry, to which
+in 1407 William Botoner and others, added a messuage and twenty-four
+acres of land in the city for another priest.</p>
+
+<p>Then the chantry of the Holy Cross (1357) founded for two priests to
+sing daily a mass for the good estate before death and for the souls
+after of the royal family, and for the founders and the members of the
+Fraternity of the Holy Cross, was endowed with seven messuages,
+fourteen shops and sixteen acres of land in the city.</p>
+
+<p>Dugdale enumerates also four others, Cellet's, Corpus Christi,
+Lodynton's and Allesley's, to which should probably be added Marler's,
+assigned by him to St. Michael's. The first two are doubtless the same
+foundation, for in 1329 land and tenements were granted to the priest
+of Corpus Christi Chapel for the health of the soul of William Celet
+and others.</p>
+
+<p>It was almost certainly situated in the south transept, on the upper
+level over the vaulted passage. The position of Lodynton's chantry
+(1393) is not known; Allesley's, founded in the reign of Edward I, was
+sung at St. Thomas's altar.</p>
+
+<p>Richard Marler stipulates in his will that his priest is to have the
+"stypend or wagis of nyne marks by yere so long as he shall be of good
+and prestly conversacyon and demeanor, wt' a p'vyso that yf the seyde
+prest be ffounde otherwyse, after monyc'on and reasonable warnyng to
+hym geven, he to be removed."</p>
+
+<p>Much of the later history of the church relates to the destruction of
+its fittings and furniture or to restorations almost as grievous. In
+1560 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> was paid for taking down the carving about the high
+altar, while the Mayor bought the panelling of the altar for <i>33s.
+4d.</i>, the vail for 5<i>s.</i>, the "thing that the sacrament was in over
+the altar 1<i>s.</i>," the "peyre [pair of candlesticks?] that was upon the
+altar 5<i>d.</i>" Perhaps he thought that all these things would be wanted
+again ere long. In 1547 a quantity of costly vestments and banners had
+been sold and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">64</a></span>we find in the accounts a number of such items as
+these: "Sold the 6 day of Jennery 5 copps of red teyssew to Mr.
+Roghers, now mayre (and 4 other persons) pryce of the sayd copps,
+<i>10l.</i> To Bawden Desseld one cope of red velvet, <i>5l.</i> Mr. Schewyll a
+grene velvet cope, 30<i>s.</i>"</p>
+
+<p>But before Mary's death we have a lengthy inventory of copes,
+vestments, albs, banners and the like, some of which may have come
+back to the church from the buyers at the sale eleven years before.</p>
+
+<p>The church must have looked like a builder's yard in 1643 when the
+Committee and Council of War pulled down divers houses outside
+Bishop's and Spon Gates and stacked the materials here, while the
+changes of government are indicated by the payment in 1647 of <i>3s.
+6d.</i> "to Hopes for defacing the King's Arms" and in 1660 of 6<i>s.</i> to
+"Hope for the King's Arms."</p>
+
+<p>Five years after this the spire, which had caused much anxiety and
+expense for many years, was blown down in a gale, falling across the
+chancel and causing much destruction. All was restored and the spire
+rebuilt in three years. Reference has been made to the existence of a
+vaulted passage through the south transept. This was made necessary by
+the position of an ancient building known as Jesus Hall which adjoined
+the transept and thus blocked the way from "the Butchery" in this
+direction. The Hall had probably been long used as the residence of
+the priests attached to the church but nothing is known of its origin.
+It was destroyed in 1742. Only in 1834, when the exterior of the
+church was recased was the passage blocked and the floor of the upper
+chapel removed.</p>
+
+<p>The Register records the marriage of Sarah Kemble with William Siddons
+on 25th November, 1773.</p>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<a name="CHAPTER_II_HT" id="CHAPTER_II_HT"></a><hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">65</a></span><br />
+
+<h3>CHAPTER II<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+
+<h4>THE EXTERIOR OF THE CHURCH</h4>
+<br />
+
+<p>The church of Holy Trinity loses much, in popular estimation at least,
+by its nearness to St. Michael's. It invites comparison of the most
+obvious sort. It is not nearly so large and its spire is not so high,
+these facts alone are sufficient to account for the popular view.
+Fuller, in his "Worthies" says of the two churches, "How clearly would
+they have shined if set at competent distance! Whereas now, such their
+Vicinity, that the Archangel eclipseth the Trinity."</p>
+
+<p>The plan is quite unlike that of its neighbour, being cruciform, with
+a central tower, a short nave, and a chancel distinctly longer than
+the nave. On the south both nave and chancel have a single aisle, the
+transept projecting beyond it and there is a vestry at the east end.
+On the north there is a similar aisle with a Lady Chapel at the east
+corresponding to the Vestry, but a large porch and several chapels
+fill up the spaces so that the transept does not in plan project.</p>
+
+<p>Looking at the exterior as a whole it may be said that the more
+moderate length (194 feet), the central spire, 230 feet high, and the
+transepts unite in forming a more satisfactory composition than the
+long body and immense western steeple of St. Michael's. There however,
+the superiority ceases for the frequent "recasings" and restorations
+have left hardly a stone of the exterior that has not been renewed
+again and again, and the dates of these operations, 1786, 1826, 1843,
+sufficiently suggest the degree of knowledge and feeling likely to be
+manifested in the work.</p>
+
+<p>Probably most of the structure was first built of the same friable red
+sandstone as its greater neighbour. Much of the recasing has been
+executed in a rather harder gray sandstone, but the tower and spire
+are still red.</p>
+
+<p>The tower above the roofs, is of two stages, the upper, or bell
+chamber, and the lower or lantern opening into the church. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">66</a></span>Below this
+are small windows with the lines of the old high-pitched roof visible
+above the present transept roofs, but in the nave and chancel the
+lines of the old roofs are now within the church, the clearstory
+having since been added. Each face of the tower is divided, apart from
+the narrow angle buttresses, into six vertical divisions separated by
+thin projections of buttress form. On the south and west the stair
+turret absorbs one of the outer divisions. Each division is curved in
+plan in a curious way, which may be the perpetuation of a feature of
+the original design, but was more probably introduced or modified by
+the person who recased the tower in 1826. That there was sculpture we
+know, for in 1709 ten shillings was paid for taking the images down
+from the steeple. The smallness of the sum indicates that they were
+few in number, and if they occupied similar positions to those on the
+belfry stage of St. Michael's, and the structure was as decayed as was
+the tower of that church it is probable that the cutting away of the
+niches may have suggested the curving of the surfaces especially as
+the tower would be thereby lightened. As it is we cannot be certain of
+much else than that there were vertical divisions serving to emphasize
+the impression of height and that the openings were in the same
+positions as now.</p>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep066" id="imagep066"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep066.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep066.jpg" width="85%" alt="PLAN OF TRINITY CHURCH." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">PLAN OF TRINITY CHURCH.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">67</a></span>The spire blown down in 1665 had been in the previous ninety years
+five times repaired and repointed. We cannot now say whether the
+original design was at all closely followed in the rebuilding, but its
+present likeness to St. Michael's suggests doubts. The lowest stage
+which takes the place of the octagon and may be an intentional
+imitation of it, has almost upright sides with two-light windows on
+the cardinal faces and panelled ones on the oblique sides, while the
+remaining stages correspond in number and partly in design with those
+of St. Michael's.</p>
+
+<p>In 1855 it was considered that the bells endangered the safety of the
+tower, and after recasting by Mears of London they were rehung in a
+timber campanile in the north churchyard. Even now they cannot be
+pealed.</p>
+
+<p>The deplorable refacings have left few features of interest on the
+outside. Were Gothic architecture still a living and not merely
+imitative and academic art, one would welcome a complete renewal of
+all outside work&mdash;not an imagined harking back to the work of the
+fifteenth century but showing the lapse of the centuries from the
+fifteenth to the twentieth as clearly as does the north porch the
+change from the thirteenth to the fifteenth.</p>
+
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">68</a></span>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep068" id="imagep068"></a><a name="CHAPTER_III_HT" id="CHAPTER_III_HT"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep068.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep068.jpg" width="45%" alt="INTERIOR OF HOLY TRINITY, FROM THE WEST." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">INTERIOR OF HOLY TRINITY, FROM THE WEST.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">69</a></span><br />
+
+<h3>CHAPTER III<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+
+<h4>THE INTERIOR</h4>
+<br />
+
+<p>It is with a feeling of expectation followed by one of relief that we
+pass within the church, for restoration has there rarely the same
+excuse for its devastations as the action of wind and weather on the
+exterior too generously gives it, and this church is no exception to
+the general rule.</p>
+
+<p>The clearing away of galleries, the provision of new seating and the
+renewal of much window tracery have been the principal changes, the
+greatest loss being the destruction of the Corpus Christi Chapel. The
+nave is of moderate width and consists of only four bays, the eastern
+arches being narrower and made to abut against the tower after the
+manner of flying buttresses. The columns are clusters of four large
+filleted shafts separated by small ones while the bases are high and
+evidently meant to be seen above the benches. The caps are shallow and
+very simple, while the shafts of each pier reappear as part of the
+arch moulding.</p>
+
+<p>The arcade as a whole is remarkably strong and dignified, it would
+perhaps have gained by the addition of a bay in length. In the absence
+of precise records it may be assigned to the second quarter of the
+fourteenth century or a little later. Above the tower arch can still
+be seen, beneath the painting and plaster, the marks of the older
+steep roof. The nave of Stratford-on-Avon Church has points of
+resemblance to this. There too we have a fourteenth-century arcade
+(but much simpler) with a fifteenth-century panelled wall and
+clearstory above, and the panelling comes down on to the backs of the
+arches in a similar though somewhat simpler manner.</p>
+
+<p>Owing to the inequality of the eastern arches there is, in the
+position of the windows and roof principals a curious disregard of the
+lines of the piers and the centres of arches. There are eight equal
+bays in the roof and each corresponds to two two-light windows. It is
+interesting to compare the design of this clearstory with that of St.
+Michael's. It has more solidity <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">70</a></span>to accord with the more vigorous
+arcade though the treatment of the panelling is similar. The height
+from the arch to the roof is much less in proportion, but the sills of
+the windows are kept lower and the heads are square. The form of the
+windows is perhaps determined in part by the desire for more space for
+stained glass, but it is also the logical outcome of the space
+afforded by the level lines of a wooden roof just as the use of the
+pointed window follows from the use of pointed vaulting. The treatment
+of the angles after the manner of the thirteenth century "shouldered"
+lintel in order to take off the harshness of the rectangular form and
+to give a better bearing for the lintels is noteworthy and should be
+compared with the more developed forms at St. John's Church.</p>
+
+<p>Above the tower arch is a painting of the Last Judgement, discovered
+in 1831. It is now so much darkened that very little can be made out.
+The following is a description of its appearance before 1860: In the
+centre is the Saviour clothed in crimson and seated on a rainbow.
+Below are the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist with the twelve
+Apostles arranged on each hand. Two angels sound the summons to
+Judgement, and on the right of our Saviour, steps lead to a portico
+over which three angels look down on the scene and others welcome a
+pope who has just passed St. Peter. On the Saviour's left are doomed
+spirits being conveyed by devils in various ways and in ludicrous
+attitudes to the place of torment, represented in the usual manner by
+the gaping mouth of a monster, vomiting flames of fire. A large
+painting of a crucifix, with a priest kneeling beside it and angels
+flying above, was discovered at the same time on the north side of the
+Chancel but was too much mutilated to be thought worthy of
+preservation.</p>
+
+<p>The <b>roofs</b> throughout are of low pitch, and almost all resemble one
+another in design. Those of the nave, chancel, archdeacon's chapel (on
+the west of the north porch) and transepts are divided by their
+principal timbers into large panels, which are again subdivided by
+mouldings upon the boarded ceiling. At all angles and intersections
+there are carved leaves, and stars in relief adorn each panel. All
+these roofs are painted in accordance, it is said, with existing
+indications of the original colouring. The ground is blue, the
+mouldings red and white, the stars and carving are gilt. The nave roof
+spandrels, above the tie-beams, have large painted figures of angels,
+supporting <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">71</a></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">72</a></span>between them shields emblazoned with the instruments of
+the Passion. These are also said to be reproductions, but it appears
+likely that time had left much to the imagination of their restorer.</p>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep071" id="imagep071"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep071.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep071.jpg" width="50%" alt="NORTH SIDE OF NAVE, EASTERN BAYS." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">NORTH SIDE OF NAVE, EASTERN BAYS.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Nevertheless, the whole effect of the roofs is harmonious, a result
+apparently obtained by the use of a blue far removed from the
+ultramarine tint too often employed.</p>
+
+<p>Since the removal of the ringing floor, in 1855, the lantern stage of
+the tower has been once more visible from the church. A wooden vaulted
+ceiling was at the same time inserted where a stone one had originally
+been built or intended.</p>
+
+<p>The <b>chancel</b> is dark owing to the small clearstory windows, the low
+outer north aisle, and the concealment of a south window by the organ.
+At the first pier east of the tower came the rood-screen, and on the
+south side (in the aisle) the door to it may be seen at a height above
+the floor. Access must have been by steep steps against the wall, or
+from the top of another screen across the aisle. The church accounts
+of the year 1560 tell us what it cost to remove:</p>
+
+<div class="centered">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="60%" summary="Church Accounts 1560">
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl" width="80%">Payd for taking down ye rode and Marie and John</td>
+  <td class="tdr" width="20%" style="padding-right: 1em; white-space: nowrap;">4<i>s.</i> 4<i>d.</i></td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl">Payd to ye carpenter for pullyng down ye rode lofft</td>
+  <td class="tdr" style="padding-right: 1em; white-space: nowrap;">4<i>s.</i> 8<i>d.</i></td>
+  </tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+
+<a name="imagep073" id="imagep073"></a>
+<div class="imgr" style="width: 30%;">
+<a href="images/imagep073.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep073.jpg" width="100%" alt="PULPIT." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">PULPIT.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>On the east side of the tower wall can be seen the line of the
+original roof, showing the height before the rebuilding in 1391.
+Although there is space for larger windows the aisle roof prevented
+their sills being brought lower. The west arch of the south arcade has
+been forced out of shape by the pressure of the tower piers and
+arches; certainly the piers, which are little more than 4 feet square,
+seem slender enough for the support of so lofty a steeple.</p>
+
+<p>Attached to this south-east tower pier is the stone pulpit, one of the
+two special glories of the church, the other being the brass eagle.
+The pulpit is either contemporary with the pier or nearly so. There is
+apparently some difference in the texture and colour of the stone, but
+as it is probable that a finer-grained stone would be chosen for work
+of this character, this need not imply a difference of date. It was,
+however, probably added at the same time as the nave clearstory. The
+authors of "English Church Furniture" assign it to 1470.<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> Before
+1833 (when <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">73</a></span>restored by Rickman) it had been hidden from sight by
+wood-work and a clerk's desk at a lower level. The lower part is
+boldly corbelled out and the junction of the octagon with the pier
+shafts is well managed, but the upper open-panelled part is rather too
+definitely cut off from the lower by the battlemented cornice. Very
+few examples of this class of pulpit exist in England, and none equal
+in importance.</p>
+
+<p>The eagle <b>lectern</b> is a magnificent example of brass casting. It is
+generally attributed to the late fifteenth century. This eagle
+narrowly escaped being sold by the Puritans for old brass, as happened
+to that of St. Michael's. It closely resembles one belonging to St.
+Nicholas' Chapel, Lynn, save that the latter is not equal in
+refinement of detail and proportion, and the bird is less vigorous in
+pose and modelling. In 1560 there was "paid for skowring ye Egle and
+candell styckes, 10<i>d.</i>," and "for mending of ye Egle's tayle, 16<i>d.</i>"</p>
+
+<p>At least nine chapels and fifteen altars are known to have existed in
+the church. The present choir vestry on the north side was the Lady
+Chapel. A simple piscina on the south side, about a foot above the
+present floor, shows that the old floor level was much lower.</p>
+
+<p>The <b>north aisle</b> is lofty and has a clearstory of three windows over
+the arcade. In the outer aisle was located Marler's, or the Mercers',
+Chapel, founded in 1537, and beneath it is a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">74</a></span>crypt or charnel house,
+now closed save for small ventilating openings.</p>
+
+<p style="clear: both;">The black oak roof of low pitch has the panels of the western bay only
+richly carved with vine leaves and grapes. Its date is, perhaps, as
+late as the foundation of the chantry. The piscina is in the north
+wall.</p>
+
+<a name="imagep074" id="imagep074"></a>
+<div class="imgl" style="width: 40%;">
+<a href="images/imagep074.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep074.jpg" width="100%" alt="ARCHWAY BETWEEN THE NORTH PORCH AND ST. THOMAS'S CHAPEL." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">ARCHWAY BETWEEN THE NORTH PORCH AND ST. THOMAS'S
+CHAPEL.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>West of the north transept is <b>St. Thomas's Chapel</b>. Dugdale says that
+Allesley's chantry was founded in the time of Edward I, at the altar
+of St. Thomas the Martyr, "in a chapel near adjoining to the church
+porch." The chapel is certainly older, for the beautiful double
+doorway from the porch is not later than mid-thirteenth century. The
+outer doorway of the porch was rebuilt in the fifteenth century. The
+inner one, with a finely moulded arch with angle shafts and the vault
+with simple diagonal ribs carried <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">75</a></span>on shafts, is of the early
+thirteenth century. It is to be regretted that this fine porch is not
+better seen. Signs of the puzzling reconstructions that have occurred
+in this part are visible in the aisle wall. Two lancet windows high up
+are of the same date as the porch, and are blocked by the chamber
+since constructed above St. Thomas's Chapel, and parts of other window
+jambs are seen at different levels.</p>
+
+<p>The Archdeacon's Chapel or consistory court, to the west of the porch,
+is now one of the most interesting parts of the church.</p>
+
+<p>It is divided from the north aisle by two lofty arches with an
+octagonal column. The original dedication is not known, but in 1588 it
+was already used as an Ecclesiastical Court, and the next year a
+bishop's seat was made for use in it. In the south-west angle is a
+tall, narrow recess, once closed by a door. Lockers of this
+description were constructed for the safe keeping of the shaft of the
+processional cross, and for the staves of banners. On the east side
+the roof now cuts across the head of a window of reticulated tracery
+of the early fourteenth century. Most of the monuments have been
+brought hither from various parts of the church; only two or three are
+of general interest. A late Perpendicular canopied tomb, rudely carved
+and badly fitted together, stands against the north wall, but there is
+nothing to show whom it commemorates. On the east wall is the monument
+of Dr. Philemon Holland, with a long Latin epitaph. Fuller says of
+him: "he was the translator general in his age, so that those books
+alone of his turning into English will make a country gentleman a
+competent library for historians." Born at Chelmsford in 1551 he
+settled at Coventry in 1595, was usher and then master of St. John's
+Free School for twenty-eight years, and died in 1636 in his
+eighty-fifth year. During his usher-ship Dugdale was a pupil of the
+school.</p>
+
+<p>An engraved brass to John Whithead, who died in 1597, is interesting
+for the sake of the costumes of himself and his two wives. Three stone
+coffins have also been deposited here, and two sheets of lead from the
+roof recording, in fine bold lettering, the repairs executed in 1660
+and 1728. In the middle window on the north side are the only
+remaining fragments of ancient glass. As late as 1779 there were
+"portraits" of Earl Leofric and the Countess, and also, it is said, a
+smaller figure of the lady in a yellow dress on a white horse. Part of
+a small figure <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">76</a></span>holding a spray of leaves and part of a galloping
+horse are pointed out as the remains of this. To the writer the figure
+appears to be clearly that of a man, and the horse and rider's leg not
+to have belonged to it.</p>
+
+<p>The modern stained glass is very unequal in character, and some is
+very poor indeed. The windows at the west, especially one in memory of
+Mr. Wm. Chater, a late organist, may be regarded as exceptions. There
+are still, fortunately, many which are not filled with pious
+memorials.</p>
+
+<p>The <b>font</b> is the original pre-Reformation one of the fifteenth
+century, which was removed by the Puritans in 1645 (though devoid of
+sculpture) and brought back after the Restoration. It stands on three
+steps, is panelled on bowl and stem, and rather brilliantly adorned
+with gold and colour.</p>
+
+<a name="imagep077" id="imagep077"></a>
+<div class="imgr" style="width: 20%;">
+<a href="images/imagep077.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep077.jpg" width="100%" alt="ALMS-BOX." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">ALMS-BOX.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The south aisle was no doubt divided into two chapels, that on the
+west belonging to the Barkers' or Tanners' Gild. A small piscina
+against the south wall indicates the position of its altar. The wall
+below the windows is recessed so as to form a seat the whole length of
+the aisle.</p>
+
+<p>The <b>south transept</b>, containing the Corpus Christi and Cellet's
+chantries, has lost its original character completely. The piscina,
+high up on the south wall, shows that the floor level was some 9 feet
+above that of the church. The reason for this has been already
+explained. The organ chamber is quite modern. The best authorities
+place the chapel of the Butchers' Gild in the south aisle of the
+chancel, but do not say to whom the eastern chapel in the nave aisle
+belonged. It is known that there was a Jesus Chapel, and, in view of
+the proximity of Jesus Hall, it is believed by some that this was its
+position.</p>
+
+<p>The present clergy vestry is a fine room, having an excellent dark oak
+roof with heavy beams and well carved bosses at the intersections of
+the timbers. The Royal Arms over the fireplace were painted there in
+1632. Although usual, the placing of the king's arms in churches was
+not compulsory until the Restoration; few earlier now remain, and this
+placing of them in the vestry rather than the body of the church is
+suggestive of a compromise between opposing factions. A portrait of
+Walter Farquhar Hook, Vicar from 1828-37 and afterwards Dean of
+Chichester is hung here.</p>
+
+<p>It seems probable that this was a chapel, perhaps that of the Holy
+Trinity, to whom an altar was dedicated.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">77</a></span>The history, as traced in the church accounts, of the various organs
+used in the church gives some idea of the fluctuations of opinion as
+to the propriety of their use. In 1526 John Howe and John Climmowe,
+citizens and organ makers of London, contracted to provide, for &pound;30,
+"a peir of Organs w<span style="vertical-align: super;">t</span> vij stopps, ov'r and besides the two Towers of
+cases, of the pitche of doble Eff, and w<span style="vertical-align: super;">t</span> xxvij pleyn keyes, xix
+musiks, xlvj cases of Tynn and xiiij cases of wood, w<span style="vertical-align: super;">t</span> two Starrs and
+the image of the Trinite on the topp of the sayed orgayns." In 1570
+the "payer of balowes" were sold, and in 1583 the pipes, "wayeng
+eleven score and thirteen pounds, went for fourpence half-farthing the
+pound." In 1632 a new one was obtained but its life was short, for in
+1641 the Puritan party caused it to be sold "for the best advantage."</p>
+
+<p>Once more, in 1684, another was purchased from Mr. Robert Hay wood of
+the City of Bath for &pound;100; then, in 1732, Thomas Swarbrick of Warwick
+built one for &pound;600, for which a gallery was erected across the nave.</p>
+
+<p>In 1855 this gave place to a new one by Foster and Andrews of Hull,
+costing &pound;800; and this was rebuilt by Messrs. Hill and Son in 1900.</p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">78</a></span>
+
+<br />
+<hr style="width: 15%; clear: both;" />
+<br />
+
+<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> "English Church Furniture." (Antiquary series.) J.C. Cox
+and A. Harvey.</p></div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">80</a></span><br />
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep080" id="imagep080"></a><a name="ST_JOHN_BAPTISTS_CHURCH" id="ST_JOHN_BAPTISTS_CHURCH"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep080.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep080.jpg" width="95%" alt="CHURCH OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST, FROM BOND'S HOSPITAL." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">CHURCH OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST, FROM BOND'S HOSPITAL.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">81</a></span><br />
+
+<h3>ST. JOHN BAPTIST'S CHURCH<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+<br />
+
+<p>The church of St. John Baptist has a history quite different from that
+of the other parish churches and is specially interesting as a
+building belonging to a very limited class, namely, Collegiate
+Churches owned by a Gild. Though Dugdale says that the "first and most
+antient of the Gilds here was founded in the 14th Ed. III (1340)" it
+is probable that, as in other places, religious gilds had for long
+existed here and that the royal license or Charter of this date was
+like that of Stratford-on-Avon in 1332, really a reconstitution or
+confirmation of the Gild's rights, privileges and possessions.</p>
+
+<p>This earliest one was known as the Merchant or St. Mary's Gild and its
+first ordinances provided that "the brethren and sisteren of the gild
+shall find as many chaplains as the means of the gild can well
+afford." Then in 1342 that of St. John Baptist and in 1343 that of St.
+Katharine was founded. The former at once founded a chantry of six
+priests to sing mass daily in the churches of St. Michael and the
+Trinity for "the souls of the King's progenitors and for the good
+estate of the King, Queen Isabella his mother, Queen Philippa his
+Consort and their children" and others, besides the members of the
+Gild. In 1344 this Gild, desiring to have a building for its exclusive
+use, received from Queen Isabella a small piece of land called
+Babbelak on which to build a chapel in honour of God and St. John, two
+priests being required to sing masses daily for the souls "of her dear
+lord Edward," John, Earl of Cornwall and others. Did she seek to
+satisfy her conscience thus for the woes she had brought upon her
+<i>dear lord</i>? The site thus given measured 117 feet from north to south
+and about 40 feet from east to west giving room for the chancel only
+of the present church, this being dedicated in 1350. But in 1357
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">82</a></span>William Walsheman, valet to the Queen and now her sub-bailiff in
+Coventry gave further land, added a new aisle and increased the number
+of priests while the Black Prince in 1359 gave a small plot on which,
+perhaps, the tower and transept now stand. Within the next ten years
+Walsheman and Christiana his wife gave to the Gild certain tenements,
+called the "Drapery," in the city to build a chapel in honour of the
+Holy Trinity, St. Mary, St. John, and St. Katharine "within the Chapel
+of Bablake." William Wolfe, mayor in 1375, is mentioned as a "great
+helper" in the work at the church, the original nave and aisles being
+probably built at this time, and some reconstruction of the choir.
+Records are wanting of the subsequent alterations which gave it its
+present form. The north clearstory of the nave shows the original
+design while that of the choir and the south side of the nave belong
+to the fifteenth century as do the tower and the cruciform arrangement
+of the building. Leland's "Itinerary" gives the following description:
+"There is also a Collegiate Church at Bablake, hard within the West
+Gate (Spon Gate) alias Bablake Gate, dedicated to St. John.... It is
+of the foundation of the Burgesses and there is a great Privilege,
+Gild or Fraternity. In this College is now a Master and eight
+ministers and lately twelve ministers." Stowe adds that there were
+twelve singing men and extant deeds mention "Babbelake Hall" in which
+the warden and priests lived.</p>
+
+<p>Many interesting entries of expenditure are to be found in the gild
+accounts showing how the Eve of St. John (Midsummer Eve) and other
+festivals were celebrated before the suppression of the gilds by
+Edward VI. In 1541 we have the following (the spelling is somewhat
+modernized):</p>
+
+<div class="block"><p>Expenses on Midsummer Even and on the day,&mdash;Item, 2 doz. &amp; a half
+cakes, 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>; spice cakes, 12<i>d.</i>; a cest' ale and 4 gals.
+4<i>s.</i>; 2 gals, claret wine 16<i>d.</i>; 2 gals. malmsey, 2<i>s.</i> 8<i>d.</i>; 2
+gals. muskedell 2<i>s.</i> 8<i>d.</i>; to Mr. Mayor 3<i>s.</i> 4<i>d.</i>; the Mayor to
+offer, 8<i>d.</i>; to priests, clerks and children, 2<i>s.</i> 4<i>d.</i>; the
+waits, 6<i>s.</i> 8<i>d.</i>; to poor people 6<i>s.</i> 8<i>d.</i>; to the cross-bearers
+and torch-bearers, 8<i>d.</i>; the bellman, 4<i>d.</i>; the hire of pots,
+4<i>d.</i>; boughs, rushes and sweeping, 8<i>d.</i>; a woman 2 days to
+cleanse the house, 4<i>d.</i>; half a hundred 3<i>d.</i> nails, 1&frac12;<i>d.</i>;
+half a pound of sugar, 4&frac12;<i>d.</i>; to the crossbearer and torchbearer
+for St. George Day, Holy Rood Day, Shire Thursday and Whit
+Sunday, 12<i>d.</i>; to 2 children for the same days, 6<i>d.</i> Summa
+(total) 38<i>s.</i> 2<i>d.</i></p></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">83</a></span>That these anniversaries and wakes led to much unseemly revelling we
+have evidence that cannot be gainsaid. The Trinity Gild decided in
+1542</p>
+
+<div class="block"><p>that no obite, drynkyng or com'en assemblie, from henceforth
+shall be had or used at Babalake, except onelie on Trinitie even
+and on the day, which shall be used as it hath been in tymes
+past. And that also the P'sts of Babelack shall say <i>dirige</i> on
+midsum' even and likewise masse of <i>requiem</i> on the morrowe, as
+they have used to doo. And that the Meire shall not come down
+thether to <i>dirige</i> ov(er) night for dyv's considerac'ons and
+other great busynes they used. And on the morowe thei to go
+thether to masse and brekefast, as thei have used to doo.</p></div>
+
+<p>Dugdale quotes from an old MS. an interesting passage bearing on this
+question:</p>
+
+<div class="block"><p>"And ye shall understond and know how the Evyns were furst found
+in old tyme. In the beginning of holi Chirche, it was so that the
+pepull cam to the Chirche with candellys brennyng and wold <i>Wake</i>
+and come with light toward nyght to the Chirch to their
+devocions; and afterwards they fell to lecherie and songs,
+daunces, harping, piping and also to glotony and sinne and so
+turned the holinesse to cursaydnesse; wherefore holi faders
+ordeined the pepull to leve that <i>waking</i> and to fast the Evyn.
+But it is called <i>Vigilia</i>, that is <i>Waking</i> in English and it is
+called the Evyn, for at Evyn they were wont to come to Chirche."</p></div>
+
+<p>In 1362 Queen Isabella helped to procure from the bishop a licence for
+one Robert de Worthin, priest, to become an anchorite and to inhabit a
+hermitage attached to the north aisle of the chancel. Traces of the
+foundations of this have been found on the site of the modern vestry.</p>
+
+<p>When the college was suppressed in 1548 the King granted to the mayor,
+bailiffs and corporation, on their petition, the church and its
+appurtenances in Free Burgage for ever on payment of 1<i>d.</i>, per annum
+and gave them "all the rents, revenues and profits of the said
+church."</p>
+
+<p>But these gifts were not sufficient to support the church and its
+services, so that the latter were irregular and repairs were
+neglected. In 1608 Mayor Hancox procured the delivery of a Saturday
+lecture "for the better fitting of the people for the Sabbath." In
+1641 Simon Norton, alderman, left property to his son Thomas, on
+trust, the condition being that if at any time St. John's should
+become a parish church, he or his heirs <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">84</a></span>should pay &pound;13 6<i>s.</i> 8<i>d.</i> to
+the minister out of rents of lands in Coundon, and also the tithes of
+lands in Clifton.</p>
+
+<p>Prisoners from the Scottish army being quartered on the city in 1647,
+many were confined in this church and wrought much damage and
+desecration. From this time services were only occasionally held,
+until 1734, when an Act of Parliament was obtained making it a Parish
+Church, appointing a district to it and enabling the Master and Usher
+of the Free Grammar School to be Rector and Lecturer of the church.
+The mayor, bailiffs, and commonalty were made patrons, but in 1835,
+these arrangements having failed to work satisfactorily, the patronage
+was transferred to trustees who acted as managers of the school and in
+1864 the lectureship was abolished, the rectory was severed from the
+office of Head Master and the Trustees of the school were charged with
+a payment of &pound;200 per annum towards the stipend of the Rector. In 1874
+the advowson was sold to a private person. A great deal of
+restoration, justifiable and otherwise, has taken place, the decay of
+the local sandstone having made large repairs necessary. In 1861 much
+renewal of the external stone work was carried out. Unfortunately
+shortsighted ideas of economy led to the use of the same poor stone
+and much has recently had to be done over again, this time with the
+harder Runcorn stone used also at St. Michael's. The interior was
+restored in 1875, galleries erected in 1735 and 1838, and high pews
+were removed, the floor, which had been raised three feet, lowered,
+the lantern stage of the tower opened up by removing a ringing floor
+and a light iron gallery above the tower arches provided for the
+ringers. The original groined ceiling has thus been made visible from
+below.</p>
+
+<br />
+
+<h4>THE EXTERIOR</h4>
+
+<p>Although small in area compared with the other churches, both exterior
+and interior give an impression of size and dignity which does not
+belong to many much larger buildings. In the exterior this is no doubt
+due to the pseudo-cruciform arrangement, the bold central tower and
+the height of the main roof, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">85</a></span>which would have appeared even greater
+had the roadways not been so much raised.</p>
+
+<p>The <b>tower</b> is in two stages, a lofty lantern story having two
+transomed two-light windows on each face and a shorter upper one
+having smaller windows without transoms and a battlemented parapet.
+Large skeleton clock-dials disfigure the windows of this story. Narrow
+buttress strips on either side and between the windows run through and
+serve to connect the stories. The north-east angle has an octagonal
+stair turret carried up above the parapet. The other angles have
+narrow buttresses running up to circular bartizans boldly corbelled
+out from the battlements. This is an extremely unusual feature in
+ecclesiastical architecture but is common on fortified structures. Of
+the City gates, Gosford Gate had machicolated ones but not Spon Gate
+adjacent to the church.</p>
+
+<a name="imagep085" id="imagep085"></a>
+<div class="imgr" style="width: 55%;">
+<a href="images/imagep085.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep085.jpg" width="100%" alt="ST. JOHN BAPTIST." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">ST. JOHN BAPTIST.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The spacing of the windows and buttresses of the south aisle and the
+position of the large transept window show how the later changes were
+effected. The three windows and the buttresses with niches and
+canopies almost certainly belong to the part built by Walsheman after
+1357. The two in the chancel aisle are recent insertions. The doorway
+at the south-west corner occupies the position where indications
+showed that an original door had existed. There is also a small
+priest's doorway of which the jambs are ancient. The clearstory was
+restored in 1861 "from sufficiently clear indications" in the remains
+of the original windows. The whole of this part is worthy of careful
+study and should be compared with the corresponding parts of Trinity
+Church. Everywhere we see signs of individual thought and design
+mainly directed to softening the rigidity of the horizontal lines of
+the square-headed and transomed "Perpendicular" windows. The method of
+cusping the drop-arch and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">86</a></span>the varied treatment of these in nave,
+choir and transepts are noteworthy while the little quatrefoil at the
+intersection of mullion and transom is a really happy innovation. The
+flying buttress over the south aisle restores a feature of the old
+building which had disappeared. Of the variously panelled and
+battlemented parapets, of nave, chancel and aisles a view of 1864
+gives no visible hint. As the report of Sir (then Mr.) G.G. Scott in
+1856 specifies as desirable the "renewing all the parapets according
+to the portions of the original which remain," we can only hope (but
+with no sense of certainty) that these parts are faithfully
+reproduced.</p>
+
+<p>The limited site on which the chancel was built (only 40 feet deep)
+caused the builders to omit any buttresses or other projections at the
+east end. The east window was renewed in 1861 but the proportions are
+not good and it is said that one light was suppressed although the old
+sill remained intact.</p>
+
+<p>The west end has a large six-light window with two transoms. It was
+restored in 1841 and is said to be a precise reproduction of the
+original design. On the gable above it is a large niched pinnacle
+which appears to be an "unauthorized" addition.</p>
+
+<p>While the north aisle is later than the south, the clearstory, as has
+been said is earlier, being of late Decorated date with large
+three-light windows of reticulated tracery. The north transept is more
+consistent in style than the south. The large four-light window is
+peculiar in design. It has one transom and the tracery is brought down
+much below the spring of the arch. The centre mullion is very solid,
+coming forward almost to the wall face both inside and out and running
+up to the apex of the arch. The clearstory windows in both transepts
+are similar in general design to those of the south clearstory of the
+nave but with variations suggesting a rather later date. A very
+effective view of the north side can be had from the quadrangle of
+Bond's Hospital, though here too it loses on account of the depressed
+site in which it lies.</p>
+
+<br />
+
+<h4>THE INTERIOR</h4>
+
+<p>The interior is not less impressive for its size than the exterior,
+Sir G.G. Scott even saying that he knew of no interior more beautiful
+than St. John's.</p>
+
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">87</a></span>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep087" id="imagep087"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep087.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep087.jpg" width="45%" alt="INTERIOR, ST. JOHN BAPTIST." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">INTERIOR, ST. JOHN BAPTIST.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">88</a></span>
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep088" id="imagep088"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep088.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep088.jpg" width="75%" alt="CLEARSTORY WINDOWS." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">CLEARSTORY WINDOWS.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>All at least will agree that there is something about it striking and
+dignified which is obviously not concerned with mere size, is largely
+independent of elaboration of detail and may therefore be safely
+attributed to its satisfactory proportions and broad effects of light
+and shade. Its plan is quite simple consisting of a nave and choir
+with north and south aisles, a transept not projecting beyond the
+aisles at either end and a central tower. Yet, although it is more or
+less oblong as a whole, there is hardly a right angle or two parallel
+walls throughout the church. In most cases these discrepancies are not
+apparent, nor do they appear likely to have been intended to produce a
+studied effect. Thus a diminution in width towards the east (as at
+Manchester) may be expected to add to the apparent length, but here
+the south aisles of both nave and chancel expand instead of
+contracting. By standing within either transept and looking up at the
+roof the want of parallelism of the walls and other irregularities are
+plainly seen. The nave has only three bays, the arches being rather
+lofty and the arch mouldings of the characteristic shallowness of the
+period. The south-west pier had to be rebuilt on account of settlement
+and there are signs of it in the south-east arch next the tower. The
+name Bablake is said to have been <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">89</a></span>derived from a pond or conduit near
+by and the site may have been swampy, thus affecting the foundations.
+The district is even now liable to flooding from the Sherborne (or
+Shireburn) stream and as late as January 1900 the waters rose over
+five feet within the church as a brass plate at the west end
+testifies.</p>
+
+<p>The graceful treatment of the windows of the nave and choir
+clearstories is shown in the illustration. Comparing these with the
+clearstory of Trinity nave (p. 71) questions of priority arise. If not
+designed by the same mind the influence of one on the other is easily
+seen. On the whole the greater rigidity of treatment and the anxiety
+to increase the area of glass in the Trinity windows suggest that the
+date is rather later and that the designs did not spring from the same
+brain. The roof is very simple, the curved brackets springing from the
+shafts which run down to the arches below. The wall is deeply recessed
+beneath the windows. The north windows, however, are continued down in
+plain panels, but this only makes more apparent the fact that they are
+not placed centrally over the arches.</p>
+
+<p>The north aisle has a doorway and two north windows. The windows are
+of good Perpendicular design, and the mullions are continued down the
+wall below, forming panels. The lowered sill and recess probably
+formed a convenient retable to an altar against the wall. The west
+window preserves some fragments of glass dated 1532. There is an
+obliterated inscription and small etched figures&mdash;among them an
+acolyte carrying a cross, one of those whose services are mentioned in
+the accounts after this wise: "to the crosebeirer and torchebeirer,
+for Seynt George day, hollieroode day, shire thuresday and Whit
+Sunday, 12<i>d.</i>; to 2 childern for the same dayes 6<i>d.</i>"</p>
+
+<p>The south aisle of the nave, including the lower part of the transept,
+is doubtless the aisle erected for the Gild by William Walsheman in
+1357. The two windows are not central with the nave arches, and the
+third is not in the centre of the transept. Their tracery is somewhat
+peculiar in design and refined in detail, and has the transitional
+character one would expect from its date. There are signs on the face
+of each western tower pier of the altars which once stood there,
+probably those of the Trinity and St. Katharine, which are known to
+have existed.</p>
+
+<p>The eastern piers of the tower are later than the western, and very
+unlike them in plan. A bold and ingenious treatment of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">90</a></span>vaulting
+shaft of the tower groining is used on these piers; on the western
+ones the shafts stop upon the ends of the hood moulding.</p>
+
+<p>The choir is now closed by a screen carrying a large rood carved in
+oak. Like St. Michael's, but to a smaller extent, the axis of the
+choir inclines to the north. Whether symbolic, or only a part of what
+may be described as the studied irregularity of the whole building it
+is hard to say. The column on each side of the choir is later than the
+east respond and also later than the west tower pier, but corresponds
+with the east tower pier. The deep panelling beneath the windows must
+have been carried out when the clearstories were constructed in the
+fifteenth century.</p>
+
+<p>The south aisle of the choir, the original chapel of the patron saint,
+is now fitted up and used as a morning chapel. The piscina still
+remains in the south wall, and there is a trace of the old altar
+visible on the wall.</p>
+
+<p>The east end of the north aisle is now the organ chamber, and was
+originally the Lady Chapel. The base of the altar still exists, and so
+does the piscina in the south wall.</p>
+
+<p>In connection with these or other altars we hear of a payment of
+22<i>d.</i>, in 1474, for painting a cloth for the image of St. John
+Baptist, and in 1462 sums of 40<i>s.</i> and 7<i>s.</i> were paid to a sculptor
+of Burton-on-Trent for an alabaster statue of the Virgin and a base
+for it.</p>
+
+<p>At the foot of the south-west tower-pier are some decayed but
+interesting ancient tiles. The new ones have been copied from them.</p>
+
+<p>The vicissitudes in the church's fortunes have left little for us to
+see that is not part and parcel of the structure.</p>
+
+<p>That there were "orgaynes" as early as 1461 we know from entries in
+the city records giving the cost at different times of wire, glue,
+nails, thread, etc., for the reparation of them, while a payment of
+2<i>d.</i> for "a string" suggests that they were a combination of wind and
+string stops, similar to the 1733 organ of St. Michael's as built by
+Thomas Swarbrick. In 1519 the Prior bought the "metell of ye old
+orgayns in bablake" for 9<i>s.</i> 10<i>d.</i>, but doubtless the new one
+disappeared in the troublous times that followed. A new one has
+recently been set up.</p>
+
+<p>The pulpit is of stone and quite new, and the font, erected in 1843,
+is a copy of that of St. Edward's, Cambridge.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">91</a></span>There are five bells, the inscriptions on them being as follows:</p>
+
+
+<div class="block">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="70%" summary="Bells Inscriptions">
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl" width="10%" style="vertical-align: top;">1st.</td>
+  <td class="tdl" width="90%">Henrycus Bagley. M.C. Fecit 1676.</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl" style="vertical-align: top;">2nd.</td>
+  <td class="tdl">Pack &amp; Chapman. London 1778. Richard Eaton, Church-warden.</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl" style="vertical-align: top;">3rd.</td>
+  <td class="tdl">Henric Dodenhale, Fecit. M.C.E.I.C.R.I.</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl" style="vertical-align: top;">4th.</td>
+  <td class="tdl">(Illegible.) Probably of the end of fifteenth century.</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+  <td class="tdl" style="vertical-align: top;">5th.</td>
+  <td class="tdl" style="padding-left: 2em;">I ring at six to let men know<br />
+      When to and from their work to go.</td>
+  </tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+
+<p>Neglect and decay it has been seen had provided only too plausible
+excuses for restoration. In 1858 the church had a narrow escape from a
+worse fate, for it was proposed to extend it in some direction, and
+the architect suggested the lengthening of the north transept and the
+addition of a new north aisle. Probably lack of funds alone prevented
+the carrying out of a proposal which would have completely spoilt the
+proportions of this beautiful interior.</p>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<a name="THE_GREY_FRIARS" id="THE_GREY_FRIARS"></a><hr />
+<br />
+
+<h3>THE GREY FRIARS' CONVENT<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+
+<h4>CHRIST CHURCH</h4>
+<br />
+
+<p>The third of the "three tall spires," albeit nothing else remains of
+the church to which it belonged, deserves that some notice should be
+given of it and of the men who reared it.</p>
+
+<a name="imagep092" id="imagep092"></a>
+<div class="imgl" style="width: 30%;">
+<a href="images/imagep092.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep092.jpg" width="100%" alt="THE SPIRE OF CHRIST CHURCH." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">THE SPIRE OF CHRIST CHURCH.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>In 1234, eleven years after their first coming into England, the
+Franciscan Friars are heard of at Coventry, Ranulph, Earl of Chester,
+having granted them land for their oratory, and the Sheriff of
+Warwickshire, on behalf of the King, giving them shingles from the
+woods of Kenilworth wherewith to cover it. In 1359 the Black Prince,
+then owner of the Manor and Park of Cheylesmore, just outside the
+walls of the city and adjacent to their convent, granted them so much
+stone from his quarry there, "as they should have occasion to use
+about their buildings and walls," and probably at this time the
+church, of which Christ Church spire is a remnant, was built.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">92</a></span>At the same time he gave them "liberty to have a postern into the
+Park to carry out any of their convent that should be diseased."</p>
+
+<p>The house was surrendered to the King in 1539, the warden and ten
+brethren being compelled to sign a humiliating document, in which they
+professed to "profoundly consider that the perfection of Christian
+living doth not consist in dumb ceremonies, wearing of a grey coat,
+disguising ourself after strange fashions, ducking, nodding and
+becking, in girding our selves with a girdle full of knots and other
+like Papisticall ceremonies."</p>
+
+<a name="imagep093" id="imagep093"></a>
+<div class="imgr" style="width: 30%;">
+<a href="images/imagep093.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep093.jpg" width="100%" alt="GREY FRIARS' CHURCH (CROSSING)." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">GREY FRIARS' CHURCH (CROSSING).</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>It is certain at least that they had no accumulated wealth. Whatever
+they had received had been distributed for the advantage of the Church
+or the poor. At their suppression they had neither lands, tenements,
+nor other possessions, save their church and house and the land these
+stood on. The site was granted to the city and the buildings thrown
+down, only the spire with its supporting walls and arches being
+allowed to stand until 1829, when it was incorporated with the new
+nave of Christ Church from the designs of Rickman, to whom we are
+indebted for the first comprehensive and systematic account of English
+Medi&aelig;val architecture. The work shows how <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">93</a></span>imperfectly in those days
+even a genuine admirer of Medi&aelig;val Art understood its spirit.
+Unfortunately the tower and spire were recased with new stone, and the
+original character of the work largely disappeared. The total height
+is 204 feet, exclusive of the vane. The plan of the old church was
+interesting, especially in the arrangement of the crossing. The short
+transepts had little real relation to choir or nave, which were almost
+completely separated from one another, the nave being intended for the
+use of the public.</p>
+
+<p>The narrowing of the tower from east to west, and the insertion of
+secondary north and south arches to carry the slender octagonal tower
+is unusual and ingenious. The whole length was 250 feet, and the
+transepts were 96 feet from north to south. The nave and choir
+differed little in length.</p>
+
+<p>The connection of the Franciscans with the production of the
+Mysteries, or sacred plays, should not pass unnoticed. Dugdale, who
+had spoken with eye witnesses, thus alludes to the subject:</p>
+
+<div class="block" style="clear: both;"><p>Before the suppression of the Monasteries this City was very
+famous for the Pageants that were played therein upon Corpus
+Christi-day; which occasioning very great confluence of people
+thither from far and near, was of no small benefit thereto; which
+Pageants being acted with mighty State and Reverence by the
+Friars of this House, had Theatres for the several scenes, very
+large and high, placed upon wheels and drawn to all the eminent
+parts of the City for the better advantage of spectators; and
+contained the story of the Old and New Testament, composed in the
+old English Rithme, as appeareth by an ancient MS. intituled,
+<i>Ludus Corporis Christi</i>, or <i>Ludus Coventri&aelig;</i>.</p></div>
+
+<p>Along with a number that were performed by the city companies they are
+still to be seen in the British Museum. We know that the Friars
+presented them as late as 1492, when Henry VII was present with his
+Queen to see the plays "acted by the Grey Friars."</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">94</a></span>No remains exist of the domestic buildings of the Friary. The
+well-known Ford's Hospital hard by is often called Grey Friars'
+Hospital, but this arises merely from the situation. It was founded in
+1529 by Mr. William Ford of Coventry, Merchant of the Staple, for five
+men and one woman, but is now inhabited by women only. It is an
+exceptionally beautiful example of Tudor timber construction in
+perfect condition.</p>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<a name="THE_WHITE_FRIARS" id="THE_WHITE_FRIARS"></a><hr />
+<br />
+
+<h3>THE WHITE FRIARS<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+<br />
+
+<p>The Carmelite or White Friars were, says Dugdale, fixed in Coventry in
+1343 by Sir John Poultney who had been four times Lord Mayor of
+London. Although their buildings were ornate and extensive, their
+revenue apart from oblations amounted to only &pound;3 6<i>s.</i> 8<i>d.</i> per annum
+and the whole came to less than &pound;8. At the Dissolution the house and
+its revenues came eventually to John Hales, Clerk of the Hanaper to
+Henry VIII. Having amassed a great estate in monastery and chantry
+lands, Hales founded the Free School in Coventry, the Church of the
+White Friars being at first used for the purpose. Later, he made of
+the Friary a dwelling and removed the school to St. John's Hospital,
+granted to him by the king in 1545. Part of the church of the Hospital
+still exists at the foot of Bishop Street, but the school has been
+removed to new buildings in the Warwick Road.</p>
+
+<p>Of the buildings of the White Friars there are considerable remains
+incorporated with the Union Workhouse at the top of Much Park Street.
+The east walk of the cloister, 150 feet in length, has a fine groined
+roof of the fifteenth century. A range of vaulted apartments runs
+alongside the cloister on the east side, divided midway by the
+vestibule to the Chapter House now destroyed. The upper story above
+the cloister and the range of rooms was, we may assume, the friars'
+Dormitory. A huge fireplace and a bay window are part of John Hales'
+reconstruction. The gateway to the south-west corner of the cloister
+remains, and the outer gate of the precincts may still be seen in Much
+Park Street.</p>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">95</a></span><br />
+<hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">96</a></span><br />
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep096" id="imagep096"></a><a name="ST_MARY_HALL" id="ST_MARY_HALL"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep096.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep096.jpg" width="50%" alt="ST. MARY HALL." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">ST. MARY HALL.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">97</a></span><br />
+
+<h3>ST. MARY HALL<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+<br />
+
+<p>The Gilds were so important a part of the religious and social life of
+the city that it is imperative that some notice of their hall, which
+stands in suggestive proximity to the churches, should be given. St.
+Mary Hall, opposite the south side of St. Michael's is one of the most
+complete and beautiful examples of a fifteenth-century town dwelling
+now remaining in England. It originally belonged to the Gilds of Holy
+Trinity and Our Lady to which were united at a later time those of St.
+Katharine and St. John Baptist, the oldest to be founded. By the fine
+groined gateway we enter the courtyard, on the south side of which is
+the kitchen, probably the hall of an older structure of the first half
+of the fourteenth century, the present hall and its undercroft on the
+west side having been built between 1394 and 1414. On the east side is
+the entrance to the staircase leading to a gallery from which the hall
+is entered. At this end is the Minstrels' Gallery and beneath it are
+three doorways, the centre one leading to the kitchens below, that on
+the right to the old Council Chamber, that on the left to a smaller
+room known as the Princes' Chamber. From the Council Chamber is
+reached the stone-groined Treasury, now used for the safe keeping of
+muniments and records. It forms the first floor of a low tower.</p>
+
+<p>The hall, 70 feet by 30 feet, is of five bays, with the usual dais and
+oriel window at the far end from the entrance.</p>
+
+<a name="imagep098" id="imagep098"></a>
+
+<div class="imgl" style="width: 45%;">
+<a href="images/imagep098.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep098.jpg" width="100%" alt="ST. MARY HALL." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">ST. MARY HALL.<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The nine-light window over the dais has its original glass, made, it
+is believed, by the John Thornton of Coventry who is known as the
+maker of the east window of York Minster. The upper part has numerous
+coats of arms of kings, cities, and princes, while the nine lights are
+filled with "portraitures of several kings in their surcotes," William
+I, Richard I, Henry III, IV, V, VI, King Arthur, the Emperor
+Constantine, and another unnamed. The windows on either side of the
+hall have <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">98</a></span>suffered grievously. Those on the west (left) were deprived
+of their heraldry and portraits in 1785. In those on the east new
+glass with poor imitations of the ancient series of figures and
+coats-of-arms was placed in 1824. At the same time the wainscotting
+painted in 1580 with inscriptions and heraldry was cleared away and
+replaced with cement. The inscriptions were copied with care, but "the
+ornamentation was followed without any very fastidious copying of the
+uncouth ancient style"!<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> The timber roof is of low pitch, with
+traceried spandrels above the tie-beams. Angels playing on a variety
+of instruments are placed at the centre of each tie-beam and there is
+much good carving of foliage and animals at the intersections of the
+timbers. The most famous adornment of the hall is the tapestry behind
+the dais. The following views as to its origin and subject are those
+of George Scharf the antiquary. It is of Flemish design but probably
+of English manufacture, is woven, not embroidered, and was made in the
+early sixteenth century for the place it occupies, its compartments
+corresponding with those of the window. It is in six compartments in
+two rows. The upper central has a figure of Justice, an insertion
+probably in the place of Christ, angels with the instruments of the
+Passion being on either side. The lower central represents the
+Assumption of the Virgin in presence of the apostles. The upper left
+in order from the centre has eleven saints, SS. John Baptist, Matthias
+(?), Paul, Adrian, Peter, George, Andrew, No. 8(?), Bartholomew,
+Simon, Thaddeus. The corresponding female saints on the right are SS.
+Katherine, Barbara, Dorothy, Mary Magdalen, No. 5 (?), Margaret,
+Agnes, Gertrude of Nivelle, Anne, Apollonia.</p>
+
+<p>The lower left has a king kneeling at a prie-dieu on which is his
+crown and an open book. A cardinal kneels behind him <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">99</a></span>but there is no
+other ecclesiastic among the seventeen courtiers standing behind. In
+the opposite compartment is a queen kneeling with a number of ladies,
+among whom are two in monastic dress. Although the work belongs to the
+reign of Henry VII, the king and queen are almost certainly Henry VI
+and Margaret of Anjou.</p>
+
+<p>On the walls are portraits of later sovereigns from William III to
+George IV, that of George III being by Lawrence. The Mayoress' Parlour
+opening from the dais has been drastically restored. It contains
+portraits of Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, James I, and Charles I, and
+four benefactors to the city, John Hales, founder of the Free School,
+Sir Thomas White, Thomas Jesson and Christopher Davenport.</p>
+
+<br />
+<hr style="width: 15%;" />
+<br />
+
+<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> "Coventry: its History and Antiquities," B. Poole, 1870.</p></div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<a name="THE_CARTHUSIAN_MONASTERY" id="THE_CARTHUSIAN_MONASTERY"></a><hr />
+<br />
+
+<h3>THE CARTHUSIAN MONASTERY<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3>
+<br />
+
+<p>Little remains of this monastery which stood on the south side and not
+far from the city. The Order settled in Coventry in 1381 only ten
+years after the foundation of the London Charter-house. At the
+Dissolution the Prior and brethren, ten in all, did not emulate the
+heroism of the London monks and were fortunate enough to obtain
+pensions instead of martyrdom. Some trifling remains exist
+incorporated in a modern mansion, and a wall of the garden shows the
+position of doors which led to the isolated cells of the monks. The
+Botoners had given freely to the building of the church and cloisters
+of which Richard II laid the first stone in 1385 and afterwards
+largely endowed "on condition that they should find and maintain
+within the precinct of their house, twelve poor scholars from seven
+years old till they accomplished the age of seventeen years, there to
+pray for the good estate of him the said King and of his Consort,
+during this life, and for the health of their souls after death."</p>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">100</a></span><br />
+<hr />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">101</a></span><br />
+
+<h3>INDEX</h3>
+<br />
+
+<ul>
+<li>Abbots of Coventry, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Alms-boxes, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Apse, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Bells, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Benefactors of Coventry, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Botoner, William and Adam, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Carthusian Monastery, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Chantries, Foundation of, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Christ Church, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li>
+
+<li>City, History of, <a href="#Page_1">1-15</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Cross, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Dissolution of Monasteries, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Duel, Hereford and Norfolk, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Evens or Wakes, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Fonts, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Ford's Hospital, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Friars, Coming of, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Grey Friars Convent (Christ Church):
+  <ul class="nest">
+  <li>History, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.</li>
+  <li>Plan of Crossing, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>.</li>
+  <li>Suppression, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>.</li>
+  </ul>
+</li>
+
+<li>Gilds, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Glass, Ancient, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Godiva and Leofric, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Hales, John, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Hermitage. <a href="#Page_83">83</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Hospital, Ford's, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Hospital, St. John's, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Lollards, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Martyrs, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Midsummer Eve, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Misereres, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Monastery, History, <a href="#Page_1">1-15</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Monastery Ruins, <a href="#Page_16">16-18</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Orders of Angels, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Organ, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Pageants and Plays, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Parliamentum Indoctorum, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Parliamentum Diabolicum, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Persecution, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Pilgrims' Rest or Guest House, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>.</li>
+
+<li>Priory, Ruins, <a href="#Page_16">16-18</a>.<br /><br /></li>
+
+
+<li>Royal visits:
+  <ul class="nest">
+  <li>Henry VI, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li>
+  <li>Margaret, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>.</li>
+  <li>Edward IV, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li>
+  <li>Richard III, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>.</li>
+  <li>Henry VII, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>.</li>
+  <li>Henry VIII, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>.</li>
+  <li>Elizabeth, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li>
+  <li>Mary Queen of Scots, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li>
+  <li>Charles I, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li>
+  </ul>
+<br /></li>
+
+
+<li>St. John Baptist Church:
+  <ul class="nest">
+  <li>History, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>.</li>
+  <li>Exterior, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>.</li>
+  <li>Interior, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.</li>
+  <li>Bells, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li>
+  <li>Clearstory windows, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>.</li>
+  <li>Collegiate foundation, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>.</li>
+  <li>Glass, ancient, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>.</li>
+  <li>Organ, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>.</li>
+  </ul>
+</li>
+
+<li>St. Mary Hall:
+  <ul class="nest">
+  <li>Glass, ancient, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>.</li>
+  <li>Plan, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>.</li>
+  <li>Portraits, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.</li>
+  <li>Tapestry, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>.</li>
+  </ul>
+</li>
+
+<li>St. Michael's Church:
+  <ul class="nest">
+  <li>History, <a href="#Page_21">21-26</a>.</li>
+  <li>Exterior, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>.</li>
+  <li>Interior, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">102</a></span></li>
+  <li>Apse, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>.</li>
+  <li>Bells, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>.</li>
+  <li>Brasses, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>.</li>
+  <li>Chapels:
+    <ul style="margin-top: .15em; margin-bottom: .15em; text-indent: -3em;">
+    <li>Cappers', <a href="#Page_53">53</a>.</li>
+    <li>Drapers' or Lady, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>.</li>
+    <li>Dyers', <a href="#Page_52">52</a>.</li>
+    <li>Mercers, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>.</li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+  <li>Chapter, Constitution of, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>.</li>
+  <li>Chest, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>.</li>
+  <li>Crypt, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>.</li>
+  <li>Font, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>.</li>
+  <li>Glass, ancient, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>.</li>
+  <li>Old church, position of, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>.</li>
+  <li>Organ, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>.</li>
+  <li>Porch, south, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>.</li>
+  <li>Proportions of Steeple, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>.</li>
+  <li>Pulpit, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>.</li>
+  <li>Spire, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.</li>
+  <li>Tombs:
+    <ul style="margin-top: .15em; margin-bottom: .15em; text-indent: -3em;">
+    <li>Berkeley, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>.</li>
+    <li>Bond, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>.</li>
+    <li>Nethermyl, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>.</li>
+    <li>Skeffington, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>.</li>
+    <li>Swillington, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>.</li>
+    <li>Wade's, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>.</li>
+    </ul>
+  <br /></li>
+  </ul></li>
+
+<li>Trinity Church:
+  <ul class="nest">
+  <li>History, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>.</li>
+  <li>Exterior, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>.</li>
+  <li>Interior, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>.</li>
+
+  <li>Chapels:
+    <ul style="margin-top: .15em; margin-bottom: .15em; text-indent: -3em;">
+    <li>Archdeacon's, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.</li>
+    <li>Butchers', <a href="#Page_76">76</a>.</li>
+    <li>Corpus Christi, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>.</li>
+    <li>Marler's, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>.</li>
+    <li>St. Thomas's, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>.</li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+
+  <li>Clearstory, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>.</li>
+  <li>Font, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>.</li>
+  <li>Glass, ancient, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.</li>
+  <li>Lectern, Eagle, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>.</li>
+  <li>Organ, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>.</li>
+  <li>Plan, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>.</li>
+  <li>Pulpit, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>.</li>
+  <li>Spire, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>.</li>
+
+  <li>Tombs:
+    <ul style="margin-top: .15em; margin-bottom: .15em; text-indent: -3em;">
+    <li>Philemon Holland, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.</li>
+    <li>Whithead (Brass), <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.</li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+
+  </ul>
+<br /></li>
+
+
+<li>White Friars' Convent, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.</li>
+</ul>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<hr />
+<br />
+
+<div class="img"><a name="imagep103" id="imagep103"></a>
+<a href="images/imagep103.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep103.jpg" width="95%" alt="ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH" /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH<span class="totoi"><a href="#toi">ToList</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<hr />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<div class="img">
+<img border="0" src="images/imagep104.png" width="15%" alt="CHISWICK PRESS Logo" />
+</div>
+
+<h5>CHISWICK PRESS: CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND CO.<br />
+TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON.</h5>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<hr />
+<br />
+
+
+<h2>Bell's Cathedral Series</h2>
+
+<h4>ILLUSTRATED MONOGRAPHS ON THE GREAT<br />
+ENGLISH CATHEDRALS AND CHURCHES</h4>
+
+<h5><i>Crown 8vo. Profusely Illustrated, in specially designed cloth
+binding, 1s. 6d. net each.</i></h5>
+<br />
+
+<div class="block">
+<p>This series of monographs upon our great English Cathedral Churches
+has been framed to give students of Architecture handy reference
+volumes, and the visitor trustworthy guide-books, at once cheaper and
+more fully illustrated than any previous works of similar character.</p>
+
+<p>Each volume contains not only a complete history of the see and of the
+Cathedral fabric, but a critical and descriptive survey of the
+building in all its detail; sufficiently accurate from the
+archaeological point of view to furnish a trustworthy record of the
+building in its past and present condition, and not too technical in
+its language for the occasional use of the casual visitor. Brief
+biographical accounts of the bishops and other notable men connected
+with the Diocese are also included.</p>
+
+<p>The volumes are fully illustrated from modern photographs and
+drawings, and contain also reproductions from old, and in some cases
+rare, prints, for the purpose of tracing the gradual growth and
+development of the existing buildings.</p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<h2>Bell's Cathedral Series</h2>
+
+<h5><i>Profusely Illustrated. Cloth, crown 8vo, 1s. 6d. net each.</i></h5>
+
+<h4>NOW READY</h4>
+<br />
+
+<div class="block2">
+<p class="hang">ENGLISH CATHEDRALS. An Itinerary and Description. Compiled by J.
+G. GILCHRIST, A.M., M.D. Revised and edited with an
+Introduction on Cathedral Architecture by Rev. <span class="sc">T.
+Perkins</span>, M.A., F.R.A.S.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">BANGOR. By <span class="sc">P.B. Ironside-Bax.</span></p>
+
+<p class="hang">BRISTOL. By <span class="sc">H.J.L.J. Mass&eacute;</span>, M.A.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">CANTERBURY. By <span class="sc">Hartley Withers</span>. 4th Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">CARLISLE. By <span class="sc">C.K. Eley.</span></p>
+
+<p class="hang">CHESTER. By <span class="sc">Charles Hiatt.</span> 2nd Edition, revised.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">CHICHESTER. By <span class="sc">H.C. Corlette</span>, A.R.I.B.A. 2nd Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">DURHAM. By <span class="sc">J.E. Bygate</span>, A.R.C.A. 2nd Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">ELY. By Rev. <span class="sc">W.D. Sweeting</span>, M.A. 2nd Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">EXETER. By <span class="sc">Percy Addleshaw</span>, B.A. 2nd Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">GLOUCESTER. By <span class="sc">H.J.L.J. Mass&eacute;</span>, M.A. 2nd Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">HEREFORD. By <span class="sc">A. Hugh Fisher</span>, A.R.E. 2nd Edition, revised.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">LICHFIELD. By <span class="sc">A.B. Clifton</span>. 2nd Edition, revised.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">LINCOLN. By <span class="sc">A.F. Kendrick</span>, B.A. 3rd Edition, revised.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">LLANDAFF. By <span class="sc">E.C. Morgan-Willmott.</span></p>
+
+<p class="hang">MANCHESTER. By the Rev. <span class="sc">T. Perkins</span>, M.A., F.R.A.S.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">NORWICH. By <span class="sc">C.H.B. Quennell.</span> 2nd Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">OXFORD. By Rev. <span class="sc">Percy Dearmer</span>, M.A. 2nd Edition, revised.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">PETERBOROUGH. By Rev.<span class="sc"> W.D. Sweeting</span>, M.A. 2nd Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">RIPON. By <span class="sc">Cecil Hallet</span>, B.A.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">ROCHESTER. By <span class="sc">G.H. Palmer</span>, B.A. 2nd Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">ST. ALBANS. By Rev. <span class="sc">T. Perkins</span>, M.A.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">ST. ASAPH. By <span class="sc">P.B. Ironside-Bax.</span></p>
+
+<p class="hang">ST. DAVID'S. By <span class="sc">Philip Robson</span>, A.R.I.B.A.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">ST. PATRICK'S, DUBLIN. By the Very Rev. Dean <span class="sc">Bernard</span>. 2nd
+Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">ST. PAUL'S. By Rev. <span class="sc">Arthur Dimock</span>, M.A. 2nd Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">SALISBURY. By <span class="sc">Gleeson White</span>, 2nd Edition, revised.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">SOUTHWARK, ST. SAVIOUR'S. By <span class="sc">George Worley</span>.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">SOUTHWELL. By Rev. <span class="sc">Arthur Dimock</span>, M.A. 2nd Edition.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">WELLS. By Rev. <span class="sc">Percy Dearmer</span>, M.A. 2nd Edition, revised.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">WINCHESTER. By <span class="sc">P.W. Sergeant</span>. 3rd Edition, revised.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">WORCESTER. By <span class="sc">Edward F. Strange.</span></p>
+
+<p class="hang">YORK. By <span class="sc">A. Clutton Brock.</span> 3rd Edition.</p>
+</div>
+
+<h5><i>Others to follow</i>.</h5>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<h2>Bell's Cathedral Series</h2>
+
+<h4>UNIFORM VOLUMES</h4>
+
+<h5><i>Profusely Illustrated. Cloth, crown 8vo, 1s. 6d. net.</i></h5>
+<br />
+
+<div class="block2">
+<p class="hang">BATH ABBEY, MALMESBURY ABBEY, AND BRADFORD-ON-AVON CHURCH. By
+Rev. <span class="sc">T. Perkins</span>, M.A.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">BEVERLEY MINSTER. By <span class="sc">Charles Hiatt.</span> 47 Illustrations.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">ST. MARTIN'S CHURCH, CANTERBURY. By Rev. <span class="sc">Canon Routledge</span>,
+M.A., F.S.A. 24 Illustrations.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">THE CHURCHES OF COVENTRY. By <span class="sc">Frederic W. Woodhouse.</span></p>
+
+<p class="hang">ROMSEY ABBEY. By Rev. <span class="sc">T. Perkins</span>, M.A.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">STRATFORD-ON-AVON. By <span class="sc">Harold Baker.</span></p>
+
+<p class="hang">THE TEMPLE CHURCH. By <span class="sc">George Worley.</span></p>
+
+<p class="hang">ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, SMITHFIELD. By <span class="sc">George Worley.</span></p>
+
+<p class="hang">TEWKESBURY ABBEY AND DEERHURST PRIORY. By <span class="sc">H.J.L.J. Mass&eacute;</span>,
+M.A. 44 Illustrations.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">WESTMINSTER ABBEY. By <span class="sc">Charles Hiatt.</span></p>
+
+<p class="hang">WIMBORNE MINSTER AND CHRISTCHURCH PRIORY. By Rev. <span class="sc">T.
+Perkins</span>, M.A., F.R.A.S. 65 Illustrations.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">MALVERN PRIORY. By the REV. <span class="sc">Anthony C. Deane.</span></p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<h2>Bell's Handbooks to Continental Churches</h2>
+
+<h5><i>Profusely Illustrated. Crown 8vo, cloth, 2s. 6d. net each.</i></h5>
+<br />
+
+<div class="block2">
+<p class="hang">CHARTRES: The Cathedral and Other Churches. By <span class="sc">H.J.L.J.
+Mass&eacute;</span>, M.A.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">ROUEN: The Cathedral and Other Churches. By the Rev. <span class="sc">T.
+Perkins</span>, M.A.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">AMIENS. By the Rev. <span class="sc">T. Perkins</span>, M.A., F.R.A.S.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">PARIS (NOTRE-DAME). By <span class="sc">Charles Hiatt</span>.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">MONT ST. MICHEL. By <span class="sc">H.J.L.J. Mass&eacute;</span>, M.A.</p>
+
+<p class="hang">BAYEUX. By the Rev. <span class="sc">R.S. Mylne</span>, M.A.</p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<h3>Opinions of the Press.</h3>
+<br />
+
+<div class="block">
+<p>"For the purpose at which they aim they are admirably done, and there
+are few visitants to any of our noble shrines who will not enjoy their
+visit the better for being furnished with one of these delightful
+books, which can be slipped into the pocket and carried with ease, and
+is yet distinct and legible.... A volume such as that on Canterbury is
+exactly what we want, and on our next visit we hope to have it with
+us. It is thoroughly helpful, and the views of the fair city and its
+noble cathedral are beautiful. Both volumes, moreover, will serve more
+than a temporary purpose, and are trustworthy as well as
+delightful."&mdash;<i>Notes and Queries</i>.</p>
+
+<p>"We have so frequently in these columns urged the want of cheap,
+well-illustrated, and well-written handbooks to our cathedrals, to
+take the place of the out-of-date publications of local booksellers,
+that we are glad to hear that they have been taken in hand by Messrs.
+George Bell &amp; Sons."&mdash;<i>James's Gazette</i>.</p>
+
+<p>"The volumes are handy in size, moderate in price, well illustrated,
+and written in a scholarly spirit. The history of cathedral and city
+is intelligently set forth and accompanied by a descriptive survey of
+the building in all its detail. The illustrations are copious and well
+selected, and the series bids fair to become an indispensable
+companion to the cathedral tourist in England."&mdash;<i>Times</i>.</p>
+
+<p>"They are nicely produced in good type, on good paper, and contain
+numerous illustrations, are well written, and very cheap. We should
+imagine architects and students of architecture will be sure to buy
+the series as they appear, for they contain in brief much valuable
+information."&mdash;<i>British Architect</i>.</p>
+
+<p>"Each of them contains exactly that amount of information which the
+intelligent visitor, who is not a specialist, will wish to have. The
+disposition of the various parts is judiciously proportioned, and the
+style is very read-able. The illustrations supply a further important
+feature; they are both numerous and good. A series which cannot fail
+to be welcomed by all who are interested in the ecclesiastical
+buildings of England."&mdash;<i>Glasgow Herald</i>.</p>
+
+<p>"Those who, either for purposes of professional study or for a
+cultured recreation, find it expedient to 'do' the English cathedrals
+will welcome the beginning of Bell's 'Cathedral Series.' This set of
+books is an attempt to consult, more closely, and in greater detail
+than the usual guide-books do, the needs of visitors to the cathedral
+towns. The series cannot but prove markedly successful. In each book a
+business-like description is given of the fabric of the church to
+which the volume relates, and an interesting history of the relative
+diocese. The books are plentifully illustrated, and are thus made
+attractive as well as instructive. They cannot but prove welcome to
+all classes of readers interested either in English Church history or
+in ecclesiastical architecture."&mdash;<i>Scotsman</i>.</p>
+
+<p>"They have nothing in common with the almost invariably wretched local
+guides save portability, and their only competitors in the quality and
+quantity of their contents are very expensive and mostly rare works,
+each of a size that suggests a packing-case rather than a coat-pocket.
+The 'Cathedral Series' are important compilations concerning history,
+architecture, and biography, and quite popular enough for such as take
+any sincere interest in their subjects."&mdash;<i>Sketch</i>.</p>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<h4>LONDON: GEORGE BELL AND SONS<br />
+<span class="sc">York House, Portugal Street, W.C.</span></h4>
+
+<br />
+<hr />
+<br />
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bell's Cathedrals: The Churches of
+Coventry, by Frederic W.  Woodhouse
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BELL'S CATHEDRALS ***
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+</body>
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@@ -0,0 +1,3740 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bell's Cathedrals: The Churches of Coventry, by
+Frederic W.  Woodhouse
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Bell's Cathedrals: The Churches of Coventry
+       A Short History of the City and Its Medieval Remains
+
+Author: Frederic W.  Woodhouse
+
+Release Date: February 11, 2007 [EBook #11403]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BELL'S CATHEDRALS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Keith M. Eckrich, Jeannie
+Howse and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
+http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+    +--------------------------------------------------------------+
+    | Transcriber's Note:                                          |
+    |                                                              |
+    | Inconsistent hyphenation and archaic spelling in the         |
+    | original document has been preserved.                        |
+    |                                                              |
+    +--------------------------------------------------------------+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+[Illustration: COVENTRY, THE THREE SPIRES.]
+
+
+
+
+THE CHURCHES OF COVENTRY
+
+A SHORT HISTORY OF THE
+CITY & ITS MEDIEVAL
+REMAINS
+
+BY
+FREDERIC W. WOODHOUSE
+
+WITH XL ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+[Illustration: ARMS OF COVENTRY]
+
+
+LONDON GEORGE BELL & SONS 1909
+
+
+
+
+CHISWICK PRESS: CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND CO.
+TOOK COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON.
+
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+
+The principal authorities for the history of Coventry and its churches
+have been Dugdale's "Antiquities of Warwickshire" and the "Illustrated
+Papers and the History and Antiquities of the City of Coventry," by
+Thomas Sharp, edited by W.G. Fretton (1871). Besides these the many
+papers by Mr. Fretton in the Transactions of the Birmingham and
+Midland Institute and other Societies, and the "History and
+Antiquities of Coventry" by Benjamin Poole (1870) have been the main
+sources of historical information. The Author is, however, responsible
+for the architectural opinions and descriptions, which are mainly the
+outcome of a lifelong acquaintance with the city and its buildings,
+fortified by several weeks of study and investigation recently
+undertaken.
+
+He desires to acknowledge his deep obligations to the Vicars of the
+several churches for leave to examine, measure and photograph the
+buildings in their charge; to Mr. J. Oldrid Scott for the loan of
+drawings of St. Michael's; to Mr. A. Brown, Librarian of the Coventry
+Public Library for advice and help in making use of the store of
+topographical material under his care; to Mr. Owen, Verger of St.
+Michael's and Mr. Chapman, Verger of Holy Trinity, for help in various
+directions, and to Mr. Wilfred Sims for his energy and care in taking
+most of the photographs required for illustration.
+
+The other illustrations are reproduced from drawings made by the
+author.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+MONASTERY AND CITY                                              3
+
+THE RUINS OF THE PRIORY AND CATHEDRAL CHURCH                   16
+
+ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH:
+  CHAPTER I. HISTORY OF THE CHURCH                             21
+         II. THE EXTERIOR                                      29
+        III. THE INTERIOR                                      41
+
+HOLY TRINITY CHURCH:
+  CHAPTER I. HISTORY OF THE CHURCH                             61
+         II. THE EXTERIOR                                      65
+        III. THE INTERIOR                                      69
+
+ST. JOHN BAPTIST'S CHURCH                                      79
+
+THE GREY FRIARS' CONVENT (CHRIST CHURCH)                       91
+
+THE WHITE FRIARS                                               94
+
+ST. MARY HALL                                                  96
+
+THE CARTHUSIAN MONASTERY                                       99
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+COVENTRY, THE THREE SPIRES                         _Frontispiece_
+
+ARMS OF THE TOWN                                     _Title-page_
+
+VIEW FROM THE TOP OF BISHOP STREET                              2
+
+COOK STREET GATE                                                7
+
+SEAL OF THE PRIORY                                             15
+
+WEST END OF THE PRIORY CHURCH                                  16
+
+REMAINS OF THE NORTH-WEST TOWER IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY      17
+
+ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE NORTH                                   20
+
+ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE NORTH-WEST                              28
+
+INTERIOR OF THE TOWER FROM BELOW                               31
+
+THE WEST PORCH                                                 33
+
+SOUTH PORCH FROM ST. MARY HALL                                 34
+
+SOUTH-WEST DOORWAY                                             35
+
+INTERIOR OF ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE WEST                        40
+
+TOWER ARCH                                                     42
+
+BAY OF NAVE, NORTH SIDE                                        43
+
+INTERIOR FROM THE SOUTH DOOR                                   45
+
+THE CHOIR FROM ST. LAWRENCE'S CHAPEL                           46
+
+POPPY HEAD, LADY CHAPEL                                        48
+
+MISERERE, LADY CHAPEL                                          48
+
+CHEST IN NORTH AISLE                                           50
+
+THE NETHERMYL TOMB                                             51
+
+THE SWILLINGTON TOMB                                           54
+
+ALMS-BOX                                                       56
+
+HOLY TRINITY FROM THE NORTH (ABOUT 1850)                       60
+
+PLAN OF TRINITY CHURCH                                         66
+
+INTERIOR OF HOLY TRINITY, FROM THE WEST                        68
+
+NORTH SIDE OF NAVE--EASTERN BAYS                               71
+
+PULPIT                                                         73
+
+ARCHWAY BETWEEN THE NORTH PORCH AND ST. THOMAS'S CHAPEL        74
+
+ALMS-BOX                                                       77
+
+CHURCH OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST                                     80
+
+PLAN                                                           85
+
+INTERIOR                                                       87
+
+CLEARSTORY WINDOWS                                             88
+
+THE SPIRE OF CHRIST CHURCH                                     92
+
+GREY FRIARS' CHURCH (PLAN OF CROSSING)                         93
+
+ST. MARY HALL                                                  96
+
+PLAN                                                           98
+
+PLAN OF ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH                             _At End_
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: VIEW FROM THE TOP OF BISHOP STREET.]
+
+
+
+
+CHURCHES OF COVENTRY
+
+MONASTERY AND CITY
+
+
+The opening words of Sir William Dugdale's account of Coventry assert
+that it is a city "remarkable for antiquity, charters, rights and
+privileges, and favours shown by monarchs." Though this handbook is
+primarily concerned with a feature of the city he does not here
+mention--its magnificent buildings--the history of these is bound up
+with that of the city. The connection of its great parish churches
+with the everyday life of the people, though commonly on a narrower
+stage, is more intimate than is that of a cathedral or an abbey
+church, but it is to be remembered that without its Monastery Coventry
+might never have been more than a village or small market town.
+
+We cannot expect the records of a parish church to be as full and
+complete as those of a cathedral, always in touch through its bishops
+with the political life of the country and enjoying the services of
+numerous officials; or as those of a monastery, with its leisured
+chroniclers ever patiently recording the annals of their house, the
+doings of its abbots, the dealings of their house with mother church
+and the outside world, and all its internal life and affairs. In the
+case of Coventry, the unusual fulness of its city archives, the
+accounts and records of its guilds and companies, and the close
+connection of these with the church supplies us with a larger body of
+information than is often at the disposal of the historian of a parish
+church. As therefore, in narrating the story of a cathedral some
+account of the Diocese and its Bishops has been given, so, before
+describing the churches of Coventry, we shall give in outline the
+history of the city which for 700 years gave its name to a bishop and
+of the great monastery whose church was for 400 years his seat.
+
+Though Dugdale says that it is remarkable for antiquity, Coventry as
+a city has no early history comparable with that of such places as
+York, Canterbury, Exeter, or Colchester, while its modern history is
+mainly a record of fluctuating trade and the rise and decline of new
+industries. But through all its Mediaeval period, from the eleventh
+century down to the Reformation, with an expiring flicker of energy in
+the seventeenth, there is no lack of life and colour, and its story
+touches every side of the national life, political, religious, and
+domestic. The only evidence of extreme antiquity produced by Dugdale
+is the suffix of its name, for "_tre_ is British, and signifieth the
+same that _villa_ in Latin doth;" while the first part may be derived
+from the convent or from a supposed ancient name, Cune, for the
+Sherborne brook.
+
+The first date we have is 1016, when Canute invaded Mercia, burning
+and laying waste its towns and settlements, including a house of nuns
+at Coventry founded by the Virgin St. Osburg in 670, and ruled over by
+her.[1]
+
+But there is no sure starting-point until the foundation of the
+monastery by Earl Leofric and the Countess Godiva, the church being
+dedicated by Edsi, Archbishop of Canterbury, in honour of God, the
+Virgin Mary, St. Peter, St. Osburg, and All Saints on 4th October,
+1043. Leofwin, who was first abbot with twenty-four monks under his
+rule, ten years after became Bishop of Lichfield. The original
+endowment by Leofric, consisted of a half of Coventry[2] with fifteen
+lordships in Warwickshire and nine in other counties, making it (says
+Roger de Hoveden) the wealthiest monastery of the period. Besides this
+the pious Godiva gave all the gold and silver which she had to make
+crosses, images, and other adornments for the church and its services.
+The well-known legend of her ride through Coventry first appears in
+the pages of Matthew of Westminster in the early fourteenth century.
+The Charter of Exemption from Tolls is not in existence, and the story
+of Peeping Tom is the embroidery of the prurient age (1678), in which
+the pageant was instituted. In a window of Trinity Church figures of
+Leofric and Godiva were set up about the time of Richard II, the Earl
+holding in his right hand a Charter with these words written thereon:
+
+    I Luriche for the Love of thee
+    Doe make Coventre Toll-free.
+
+Abbot Leofwin was succeeded in 1053 by Leofric, nephew of the great
+earl; and he by a second Leofwin, who died in 1095. The first Norman
+bishop of Lichfield had, in compliance with the decision of a Synod
+(1075) in London fixing bishops' seats in large towns, removed his to
+St. John's, Chester. But his successor, Robert de Lymesey--whose greed
+appears to have been notable in a greedy age--having the king's
+permission to farm the monastic revenues until the appointment of a
+new abbot, held it for seven years, and then, in 1102, removed his
+stool to Coventry. Five of his successors were bishops of Coventry
+only, then the style changed to Coventry and Lichfield, and so
+remained till 1661, when (in consequence of the disloyalty of Coventry
+and the sufferings of Lichfield in the royal cause) the order was
+reversed!
+
+In 1836 the archdeaconry of Coventry was annexed to Worcester and its
+name disappeared from the title, and now it is probable that Coventry
+will soon again give her name to a See without dividing the honour.
+For the joint episcopal history the reader must be referred to the
+handbook in this series on Lichfield Cathedral. In this place will
+only be given that of the Monastery as such, and specially in
+connection with its "appropriated" parish churches and the City in
+which it stood. That history is not essentially different from that of
+other monasteries. Though its connection with the See and the rival
+claims and antagonisms of the respective Chapters produced a plentiful
+crop of serious quarrels, its relations with the townsfolk were free
+from such violent episodes as occurred at Bury St. Edmunds or St.
+Albans. The Chapter of Lichfield consisted of secular priests (Lymesey
+and his next successor were married men), while the Monastery, though
+freed by pope and king from any episcopal or justiciary power and with
+the right of electing its own abbot, was, like all monastic bodies,
+always jealous of the encroachments of bishops, and regarded secular
+priests as inferior in every respect. The opinion of the laity who saw
+both sides may be gathered from Chaucer's picture of a "poore Persoun
+of a toun." He knew well enough how the revenue, which should have
+gone to the parish, its parson and its poor, went to fill the coffers
+of rich abbeys, to build enormous churches and furnish them
+sumptuously, to provide retinues of lazy knights for the train of
+abbot or bishop, and to prosecute lawsuits in the papal courts.
+
+But when bishop and abbot were one and the same, the monks still
+claimed the right of election, and so for generations the history of
+the diocese is a tale of strife and bickering, and how it was that
+pope, king or archbishop did not perceive that it was a case of
+hopeless incompatibility of temper, or, perceiving it, did not
+dissolve the union or get it dissolved is difficult to see. Probably
+the injury done to religion weighed but lightly against vested
+interests and the power of the purse. The Monastery was, however, as
+Dugdale says, "the chief occasion of all the succeeding wealth and
+honour that accrued to Coventry"; for though the original Nunnery may
+have been planted in an existing settlement, or have attracted one
+about it, the greater wealth of the Abbey, its right to hold markets,
+and all its own varied requirements would quickly increase and bring
+prosperity to such a township, as it did at Bury St. Edmunds,
+Burton-on-Trent and many another.
+
+In the thirteenth century the priory was in financial straits, through
+being fined by Henry III for disobedience. Later, however, he granted
+further privileges to the monks, among them that of embodying the
+merchants in a Gild. In 1340 Edward III granted this privilege to the
+City. From an early period the manufacture of cloth and caps and
+bonnets was the principal trade of Coventry, and though Leland says,
+"the town rose by making of cloth and caps, which now decaying, the
+glory of the City also decayeth," it was only destroyed by the French
+wars of the seventeenth century. But in 1377, when only eighteen towns
+in the kingdom had more than 3,000 inhabitants, and York, the second
+city, had only 11,000, Coventry was fourth with 7,000. Just one
+hundred years later 3,000 died here of the plague, one of many
+visitations of that terrible scourge. At the Suppression it had risen
+to 15,000, and soon after fell to 3,000, through loss of trade for
+"want of such concourse of people that numerously resorted thither
+before that fatal Dissolution."
+
+But if the town grew apace so did the Monastery. Thus, when in 1244
+Earl Hugh died childless his sisters divided his estates and Coventry
+fell to Cecily, wife of Roger de Montalt. Six years later the
+Monastery lent him a large sum to take him to the Holy Land, and
+received from him the lordship of Coventry (excepting the Manor House
+and Park of Cheylesmore) and the advowson of St. Michael's and its
+dependent chapels, thus becoming the landlords of nearly the whole of
+Coventry.
+
+[Illustration: COOK STREET GATE.]
+
+Civic powers grew with the growth of trade. Before 1218 a fair of
+eight days had been granted to the Priory, and later another of six
+days, to be held in the earl's half of the town about the Feast of
+Holy Trinity. In 1285 a patent from the king is addressed to the
+burgesses and true men to levy tolls for paving the town; one in 1328
+for tolls for inclosing the city with walls and gates, while in 1344
+the city was given a corporation, with mayor, bailiffs, a common seal,
+and a prison. As the municipal importance and the dignity of the city
+increased, the desire for their visible signs strengthened, and so, in
+1355, work was begun on the walls, Newgate (on the London Road) being
+the first gate to be built. Such undertakings proceeded slowly, and
+nine years later the royal permission was obtained to levy a tax for
+their construction, "the lands and goods of all ecclesiastical persons
+excepted."
+
+Twice afterwards we hear of licence being granted by Richard II to dig
+stone in Cheylesmore Park, first for Grey Friars Gate, and later for
+Spon Gate, "near his Chapel of Babelake." The walls so built were of
+imposing extent and dimensions, being three yards in breadth, two and
+a quarter miles in circumference, and having thirty-two towers and
+twelve gates.[3] Nehemiah Wharton, a Parliamentary officer in 1642,
+reports of the city that it is:
+
+   Environed with a wall co-equal, if not exceedinge, that of
+   London, for breadth and height; and with gates and battlements,
+   magnificent churches and stately streets and abundant fountains
+   of water; altogether a place very sweetly situate and where there
+   is no stint of venison.
+
+To return to the monastic history. We have seen how, in the
+mid-thirteenth century the Monastery had become the landlord of the
+city; shortly before this it had been so impoverished with ceaseless
+quarrels with the King and the Lichfield Chapter, involving costly
+appeals to Rome, that the Prior was reduced to asking the hospitality
+of the monks of Derley for some of the brethren. A period of
+prosperity followed and many benefactions flowed in, including the
+gift of various churches by the king. It was after twenty-six years of
+quarrelling that the Pope, in 1224, had appointed to the bishopric
+Walter de Stavenby, an able and learned man. During his episcopacy the
+friars made their appearance in England, and by him the Franciscans
+were introduced at Lichfield, while at Coventry Ranulph, Earl of
+Chester, gave them land in Cheylesmore on which to build their oratory
+and house.
+
+They were not generally welcomed by the monks. A Benedictine laments
+their first appearance thus "Oh shame! oh worse than shame! oh
+barbarous pestilence! the Minor Brethren are come into England!" and
+at Bury they were obliged to build outside a mile radius from the
+Abbey. The parish priests also soon found out that they were undersold
+in the exercise of their spiritual offices and although no doubt many
+badly needed awakening they were not, on that account, the more likely
+to welcome the intruders.
+
+Another innovation, affecting the fortunes of the parish priest, had
+its beginning under the rule of Bishop Stavenby though its greatest
+development occurred in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. This
+was the foundation of Chantries designed primarily for the maintenance
+of a priest or priests to say mass daily or otherwise for the soul's
+health of the founder, his family and forbears. The earliest we hear
+of are one at Lincoln, and one at Hatherton in Coventry Archdeaconry
+while the Bishop himself endowed one in Lichfield Cathedral. Many were
+perpetual endowments (L5 per annum being the average stipend), others
+were temporary, according to the means of those who paid for the
+masses--for a term of years or for a fixed number of masses. Although
+chantry priests were often required to give regular help in the church
+services or taught such scholars as came to them or served outlying
+chapelries, the system permitted a great number to live on occasional
+engagements and was doubtless productive of abuses. Chaucer tells us
+that his poor parson was not such an one as
+
+    ... left his sheep encumbered in the mire,
+    And ran unto London, unto Saint Poul's,
+    To seeke him a chantery for souls.
+
+The number of chantries in the different cathedrals varied very
+greatly, Lichfield had eighty-seven, St. Paul's thirty-seven, York
+only three. Monks' churches had few or none while in town churches
+they were numerous, London having one hundred and eighty, York
+forty-two, Coventry at least fifteen besides the twelve gild priests
+of the chapel of Babelake. Most were founded in connection with an
+existing altar, some had a special altar, at Winchester, Tewkesbury
+and elsewhere they were enclosed in screens between the pillars of the
+nave, or a special chapel was added to the church.
+
+It was in the thirteenth century also (1267) that the monastery
+obtained the grant of a Merchants' Gild; with all the privileges
+thereto belonging, the earliest of those which contributed so much to
+the renown of Coventry. These were Benefit Societies, insuring help to
+the "Brethren and sistren" in old age, sickness or poverty, securing
+to them the services of the church after death and in all cases
+established on a strictly religious basis and placed under the
+protection of a Saint, or of the Holy Trinity. The regulation and
+protection of trade interests, generally aiming at monopoly and the
+exclusion of outsiders, were later developments. But without doubt
+they were public-spirited bodies according to their lights,
+maintaining schools (as at Stratford-on-Avon) hospitals and
+almshouses, and giving freely on all occasions of public importance.
+By pageants too, they contributed to the happiness and amusement of
+the people as well as by the presentation of Mysteries and Moralities,
+to their instruction and edification. But in the eyes of the
+Reformers, or of grasping courtiers, all this went for nothing when
+weighed against the heinous offence of supporting chaplains to pray
+for deceased members and so (6 Edward VI) they were suppressed along
+with the chantries, and their property confiscated, "the very meanest
+and most inexcusable of the plunderings which threw discredit on the
+Reformation."
+
+Here, the city bought back everything which had belonged to the
+Trinity and Corpus Christi Gilds, with various almshouses and the
+possessions of the majority of the Chantries; while previously at the
+Dissolution it had bought the abbey-orchard, and mill, and the house
+and church of the Grey Friars.
+
+In 1340 Edward III granted Licence to the Coventry men to form a
+Merchants' Gild with leave "to make chantries, bestow alms, do other
+works of piety and constitute ordinances touching the same." This was
+St. Mary's Gild. Two years later that of St. John Baptist was formed
+and a year later that of St. Katherine, the three being united into
+the Trinity Gild before 1359. Of the chapel (now St. John's church)
+begun in 1344 by the St. John's Gild and the "fair and stately
+structure for their feasts and meetings called St Mary Hall" built in
+1394 by the united Gilds more will be said later (p. 81 and p. 97).
+The end of the fourteenth century and the fifteenth brought to
+Coventry a full share in the events and movements of the time. In 1396
+the duel between Hereford and Norfolk was to have taken place on
+Gosford Green (adjoining the city) and Richard II made the fatal
+mistake of banishing both combatants. At the Priory in 1404 Henry IV
+held his Parliament known, from the fact that no lawyers were summoned
+to it, as the "Parliamentum Indoctorum." Setting itself in opposition
+to ecclesiastics, it proposed to supply the King's needs by taxing
+church-property. As in the matter of the city walls, the church
+contrived to avoid bearing its share of the public burdens and the
+chronicler ends thus: "Much ado there was; but to conclude, the worthy
+Archbishop (viz. Tho. Arundell) standing stoutly for the good of the
+Church, preserved it at that time from the storm impending." One
+branch of his argument is noteworthy, that as the confiscation of the
+alien priories had not enriched the King by half a mark (courtiers
+having extorted or begged them out of his hands), so it would be were
+he to confiscate the temporalities of the monasteries. Henry VIII had
+reason to acknowledge the fulfilment of the prophecy.
+
+Soon after this, in 1423, Coventry showed its sympathy for Lollardry
+when John Grace an anchorite friar came out of his cell and preached
+for five days in the "lyttell parke." He was opposed by the prior of
+St. Mary's and by a Grey Friar who however were attacked and nearly
+killed by the mob.
+
+The royal visits which earned for Coventry the title which it still
+bears as its motto 'Camera principis' were frequent in this century.
+In 1436 we hear of Henry VI being there, and in 1450 he was the guest
+of the monastery and after hearing mass at St. Michael's Church
+presented to it for an altar-hanging the robe of gold tissue he was
+wearing. The record in the Corporation Leet book is interesting enough
+to quote:
+
+   The King, then abydeng stille in the seide Priory, upon Mich'as
+   even sent the clerke of his closet to the Churche of Sent Michel
+   to make redy ther hys clossette, seying that the Kynge on Mich'as
+   day wolde go on p'cession and also her ther hygh masse. The Meyre
+   and his counsell, remembreng him in this mater, specially avysed
+   hem to pray the Byshoppe of Wynchester to say hygh masse afore
+   the Kynge. The Byshoppe so to do agreed withe alle hys herte;
+   and, agayne the Kynges comeng to Sent Michel Churche, the Meyre
+   and his Peres, cladde in skarlet gowns, wenton unto the Kynges
+   Chambar durre, ther abydeng the Kynges comeng. The Meyre then and
+   his peres, doeng to the Kyng due obeysaunse ... toke his mase and
+   bere it afore the Kynge all his said bredurn goeng afore the
+   Meyre til he com to Sent Michels and brought the Kynge to his
+   closette. Then the seyde Byshoppe, in his pontificals arayde,
+   with all the prestes and clerkes of the seyde Churche and of
+   Bablake, withe copes apareld, wenton in p'cession abowte the
+   churchyarde; the Kynge devowtely, with many odur lordes, followed
+   the seyd p'cession bare-hedded, cladde in a gowne of gold tissu,
+   furred with a furre of marturn sabull; the Meyre bereng the mase
+   afore the Kynge as he didde afore, tille he com agayne to his
+   closette. Att the whyche masse when the Kyng had offered and his
+   lordes also, he sende the lorde Bemond, his chamburlen, to the
+   Meyre, seying to him, "hit is the Kynges wille that ye and your
+   bredurn com and offer;" and so they didde; and when masse was
+   don, the Meyre and his peres brought on the Kynge to his chambur
+   in lyke wyse as they fet hym, save only that the Meyre with his
+   mase went afore the Kynge till he com withe in his chambur, his
+   seyd bredurn abydeng atte the chambur durre till the Meyre cam
+   ageyne. And at evensong tyme the same day, the Kyng, ... sende
+   the seyde gowne and furre that he were when he went in p'cession,
+   and gaf hit frely to God and to Sent Michell, insomuch that non
+   of the that broughte the gowne wolde take no reward in no wyse.
+
+In 1451 he made the city with the villages and hamlets within its
+liberties into a county "distinct and altogether separate from the
+county of Warwick for ever," and in 1453 the King and Queen again
+visited the Priory. Perhaps out of gratitude for all this royal
+favour, Coventry adhered to the Lancastrian cause and in 1459 was
+chosen as the meeting place for the "Parliamentum Diabolicum," so
+called from the number of attainders passed against the Yorkists. The
+year 1467 however saw Edward IV and his Queen keeping their Christmas
+here, while less than two years later her father and brother were
+beheaded on Gosford Green (Aug. 1469).
+
+After the king's landing at Holderness in 1471 the king-maker,
+declining a contest, occupied the town for the Lancastrians, and
+Edward passing on to London soon after turned and defeated the earl at
+Barnet. After Tewkesbury Edward paid the city another visit, and in
+return for its disloyalty seized its liberties and franchises, and
+only restored them for a fine of 500 marks. Royal visits still
+continued. Richard III came in 1483 to see the plays at the Feast of
+Corpus Christi; in 1485 Henry VII stayed at the mayor's house after
+his victory at Bosworth Field; and in 1487 kept St. George's Day at
+the Monastery, when the Prior at the service cursed, by "bell, book,
+and candle," all who should question the king's right to the throne.
+The importance of the Gilds is shown by the king and queen being made
+a brother and sister of the Trinity Gild; and the part that pageantry
+played in the lives of all men is seen in the many occasions on which
+kings and princes came hither to be entertained, not only with the
+plays "acted by the Grey Friars" but those in which the "hard-handed
+men" of, for instance, the Gild of the Sheremen and Tailors, "toil'd
+their unbreathed memories" in setting forth such subjects as the Birth
+of Christ and the Murder of the Innocents. But although Henry VIII
+himself was received in 1511 with pageantry and stayed at the Priory,
+royal favours and monastic hospitality availed neither men nor
+buildings when the Dissolution came. On 15th January, 1539, Thomas
+Camswell, the last Prior of St. Mary's, surrendered. "The Prior,"
+reported Dr. London, the king's commissioner, "is a sad, honest priest
+as his neighbours do report him, and is a Bachelor of Divinity. He
+gave his house unto the king's grace willingly and so in like manner
+did all his brethren." The Doctor asks for good pensions for the
+dispossessed, not on the plea of justice but so that "others
+perceiving that these men be liberally handled will with better will
+not only surrender their houses, but also leave the same in the better
+state to the King's use."
+
+The yearly revenue had been certified in the valuation at _L731 19s.
+5d._ Deducting a Fee-Ferme rent to the Crown, reserved by Roger de
+Montalt, and other annual payments, the clear remainder was _L499 7s.
+4d._ Bishop Rowland Lee, writing to "my singular good Lord Cromwell,"
+implies that he had a promise from him to spare the church. "My good
+Lord," he says, "help me and the City both in this and that the church
+may stand, whereby I may keep my name, and the City have commodity and
+ease to their desire, which shall follow if by your goodness it might
+be brought to a collegiate church, as Lichfield, and so that fair City
+shall have a perpetual comfort of the same, as knoweth the Holy
+Trinity, who preserve your Lordship in honour to your heart's
+comfort."
+
+But his entreaties, and those of the mayor and corporation, were all
+in vain, the church and monastic buildings were dismantled and
+destroyed piecemeal, and like so many other magnificent structures
+became a mere quarry for mean buildings and the mending of roads.
+
+The site having been granted by Henry VIII to two gentlemen named
+Combes and Stansfield, passed soon into the hands of John Hales, the
+founder of the Free School, and in Elizabeth's reign was purchased by
+the Corporation.
+
+The changes in religious opinion of the successive sovereigns were
+felt here by many poor victims. Seven persons were burnt in 1519 for
+having in their possession the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments,
+and the Creed in English, and for refusing to obey the Pope or his
+agents, opinions and acts that would have been counted meritorious
+twenty years later. In 1555 Queen Mary burnt three Protestants in the
+old quarry in Little Park--Laurence Saunders, a well-known preacher,
+Robert Glover, M.A., and Cornelius Bongey.
+
+Ten years after this Queen Elizabeth's visit was the occasion of much
+pageantry and performing of plays by the Tanners', Drapers', Smiths',
+and Weavers' Companies, and in 1575 the men of Coventry gave their
+play of "Hock Tuesday" before her at Kenilworth Castle. In 1566 Queen
+Mary of Scots was in ward here, in the mayoress' parlour, and in 1569
+at the Bull Inn.
+
+Coming down to the opening of the Civil War we find that a few days
+before the raising of his standard at Nottingham Charles summoned the
+city to admit him with three hundred cavaliers, and received for
+answer that it was quite ready to receive his Majesty with no more
+than two hundred. Whereupon he retired in displeasure, and reappeared
+some days later with the threat to lay the city in ruins if it should
+persist in its disloyalty. The townsfolk being in no mind to receive a
+garrison, the King planted cannon against Newgate and broke down the
+gates but was met with a fierce musquetry fire from the walls,
+followed up by a vigorous sally, in which the citizens did much
+execution and took two cannon.
+
+To prevent the like happening again, the walls were in 1662 breached
+in many places and made incapable of defence. Just one hundred years
+later New-gate was taken down, and others followed from time to time,
+until now there are left only the remains of two of the lesser
+ones--Cook Street Gate, a crumbling shell (p. 7), and the adjacent
+Swanswell or Priory Gate, blocked up and used as a dwelling.
+
+In 1771 was finally destroyed the famous Cross which had been built,
+1541-3, by Sir William Hollis, once Lord Mayor of London, who came of
+a Coventry family. It was described by Dugdale as "one of the chief
+things wherein this City most glories, which for workmanship and
+beauty is inferior to none in England." A few relics of it exist in
+St. Mary Hall, a statue of Henry VI, and, in the oriel, two smaller
+figures. So too does the very interesting contract for its building,
+which shows how much was left to the craftsman's pride in his work and
+how little he was trammelled by conditions, save that the work was to
+be "finished in all points, as well in imagery work, pictures, and
+finials, according to the due form and proportion of the Cross at
+Abingdon."
+
+Another building, which was destroyed in 1820, was the Pilgrims' Rest,
+a fine timbered house of three storeys, "supposed," as the inscription
+upon it records, "to have been the hostel or inn for the maintenance
+and entertainment of the palmers and other visitors to the Priory."
+Some pieces of carved work were patched together in the windows of the
+inn built on its site and there remain.
+
+The modern history of Coventry, consisting of the ordinary events and
+vicissitudes of civic life and the changes and fluctuations in its
+trades, apart from that of its parish churches which is elsewhere
+given, does not come within the scope of this handbook.
+
+[Illustration: SEAL OF THE PRIORY.]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 1: St. Osburg's name is not found in the Calendar. As at the
+Dissolution the Cathedral possessed relics of St. Osborne, including
+his head in copper and gilt, these saints may be identical.]
+
+[Footnote 2: Earl Street and Bishop Street are still principal streets
+in either half of the town.]
+
+[Footnote 3: The walls of London were about three and a quarter miles
+long (including the river front), with ten or eleven gates; those of
+York three miles, of Chester hardly two.]
+
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR OF THE WEST END OF THE PRIORY CHURCH.]
+
+
+
+
+THE RUINS OF THE PRIORY AND CATHEDRAL CHURCH
+
+
+The Priory buildings and grounds covered a large area to the North of
+the two parish churches on the gentle slope descending to the little
+river Sherbourne, Priory Row forming its southern boundary.
+
+The church occupied the South-West portion of this site, extending
+about 400 feet from the excavated west end to a point a little beyond
+the narrow lane called Hill Top. The excavation shows that the church
+stood on a sloping site, the floor level being some ten feet lower
+than that of Trinity Church. It was cruciform, with two western towers
+and a central one, and is believed to have had three spires similar to
+those of Lichfield but probably earlier in point of date. On the
+substructure of the North-West Tower now stands the house of the
+_mistress_ of the Girls' Blue Coat School. The interior of the West
+end to a height of 5 to 8 feet, with the responds of the nave arcades
+and of the tower arches, is visible and in good condition. The
+beginning of the turret stair in the South-West tower is exposed, but
+the basement of the house unfortunately occupies the lower part of the
+northern one. The exterior of this is however easily accessible from
+an enclosure known as the Wood Yard, the much decayed spreading plinth
+and a few feet of walling above it not having been destroyed. Above
+this, grievous damage has been perpetrated by the casing and complete
+obliteration of the mouldings and arcading which remained. The towers
+were placed outside the line of the aisles as at Wells, the total
+width of the West front, 145 feet, being nearly the same in both
+cases. There are still indications of the position of the great west
+door, but the height of the inner plinth shows that there was always a
+descent of several steps into the church. At the south transept where
+was "the Minster durra that openeth to the Trinite Churchyarde," the
+descent must have been considerable. The remains show that the nave
+dated from the first half of the thirteenth century, while fragments
+of wall near the site of the transept with indications of lancet
+window openings are probably a little earlier than the west end.
+
+[Illustration: REMAINS OF THE N.W. TOWER (IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY).]
+
+Whether the church of Leofric and Godiva, dedicated in 1043, had
+survived wholly or in part until this time cannot be known, but,
+judging from the history of most other great monastic churches and
+from the known wealth of the monastery, it may almost be taken for
+granted that the Norman bishops and priors rebuilt much if not all.
+Some relics of Norman work have been found but the covering of the
+site with roads, graves and houses precludes the systematic
+exploration and survey which alone could solve this question and make
+clear the outlines of the plan of the whole establishment.
+
+The entrance to some wine-cellars in Priory Row gives access to the
+old pavement level of part of the choir and transept. From the fact
+that a brick vault forms the roof the cellars have often been looked
+upon as the crypt of the church but this is erroneous; the vault is a
+later insertion and if any crypt exists it lies below this level. To
+the east of the cathedral was the Bishop's Palace, the gardens of it
+extending over the detached burial ground of St. Michael's to the east
+of Priory Street. The grandeur of this assemblage of buildings
+grouping, with the spires of the churches behind and rising so
+magnificently above the houses of the city can best be realized by
+going to the top of Bishop Street whence may be obtained the finest
+view of the two spires that remain (see p. 2).
+
+
+
+
+ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH
+
+
+[Illustration: ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE NORTH.]
+
+
+
+
+ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
+
+
+The early history of St. Michael's Church is very obscure. The fact
+that Domesday mentions no parish churches proves nothing. There can be
+little doubt that one at least existed. Though we have an earlier
+record of St. Michael's it is commonly held that Trinity is the elder
+foundation.
+
+Of St. Michael's the first notice we have is when Ranulph, Earl of
+Chester, in the days of Stephen, about 1150, granted the "Chapel" of
+St. Michael to Laurence, Prior, and the Convent of St. Mary, "being
+satisfied by the testimony of divers persons, as well Clergy as Laity,
+that it was their right." Fourteen dependent chapels in the
+neighbourhood or within a few miles went with it and the number of
+these dependencies is held to show that it was "a primitive Saxon
+parish and of considerable importance." In 1192 Ranulph Blundeville,
+grandson of the former Ranulph, gave tithe of his lands and rents in
+Coventry and bound his officers under pain of a grievous curse to make
+due payment.
+
+In the early thirteenth century a dispute arose between Bishop
+Geoffrey de Muschamp and the Priory as to the right of presentation,
+the Bishop claiming on the ground of being Abbot as well as Bishop.
+This was settled in 1241 by the Priory renouncing its claim in
+consideration of receiving a share of the income but in 1248 an
+exchange was effected, the Priory giving the advowsons of Ryton and
+Bubbenhall[4] (not far from Coventry) for St. Michael and its chapels
+and engaging to provide proper secular priests with competent support.
+In 1260 the church was appropriated to the monastery together with
+Holy Trinity and its chapels and although in the arrangement of 1248
+twenty-four marks (L16) had been assigned to the vicarage, in 1291 we
+find the priory receiving fifty marks and paying the vicar eight and a
+half.
+
+Since 1537 the patronage has with that of Trinity, been exercised by
+the Crown.
+
+The internal evidence of the date of the building is given in the
+description of the fabric. Of external evidence in the shape of
+records or deeds we have very little. Tradition says that there was
+once a brass tablet in the church bearing the following lines:
+
+    William and Adam built the Tower,
+      Ann and Mary built the Spire;
+    William and Adam built the Church,
+      Ann and Mary built the Choir.
+
+Now we know that William and Adam Botoner, who were each Mayor thrice
+between 1358 and 1385, built the tower, spending upon it L100 a year
+for twenty-two years, but what foundation there is for the other
+statements cannot now be determined. The tower was in building from
+1373 to 1394, and the choir is contemporary with it, the nave was in
+building from 1432 to 1450, and the spire was begun in 1430. As
+William was Mayor in 1358 it can hardly have been less than one
+hundred years after his birth that both nave and spire were begun. It
+is however, likely that other members of the family (if not he, by
+bequest) contributed largely to the general building fund.
+
+Much of the history of a parish church is concerned with its internal
+economy but even the records of this are not quite trivial for they
+enlighten us on many points wherein we are rightly curious. We are,
+for instance, constantly reminded, as Dr. Gasquet points out in
+"Mediaeval Parish Life," that "religious life permeated society in the
+Middle Ages, particularly in the fifteenth century, through the minor
+confraternities" or gilds.
+
+Thus the Drapers' Gild made itself responsible not only for the upkeep
+of the Lady Chapel but also for the lights always burning on the
+Rood-loft, every Master paying four pence for each "prentys" and every
+"Jurneman" four pence. The cost of lights formed a serious item in
+church expenditure, needing the rent of houses and lands for their
+maintenance. Guy de Tyllbrooke, vicar in the late thirteenth century,
+gave all his lands and buildings on the south side of the church to
+maintain a light before the high altar, day and night, for ever, "and
+all persons who shall convert this gift to any other use directly or
+indirectly shall incur the malediction of Almighty God, the Blessed
+Virgin, St. Michael and All Saints."
+
+Royal visits to the church have been noticed in the history of the
+priory and city, especially that in 1450 which was apparently intended
+to mark the completion of the church. Reference has also been made to
+the plays and pageants with which such visitors were entertained. The
+site for the performance of the cycle of Corpus Christi plays was the
+churchyard on the north of St. Michael's. Queen Margaret, whose visits
+were so frequent that the city acquired the fanciful title of "the
+Queen's Bower" came over from Kenilworth on the Eve of the Feast in
+1456, "at which time she would not be met, but privily to see the play
+there on the morrow and she saw then all the pageants played save
+Doomsday, which might not be played for lack of day and she was lodged
+at Richard Wood's the Grocer."
+
+There is evident reference to the dedication of the church in the
+pageant of the "Nine Orders of Angels" shown before Henry VIII and
+Queen Catherine in 1510 (p. 47).
+
+The history of the church since the Reformation has been not unlike
+that of a vast number of others. Fanatic destruction, followed by
+tasteless and incongruous innovations, and these again by
+"restorations" sometimes as destructive, sometimes as tasteless, and
+nearly always feeble; such is their common history. In 1569 even the
+Register books were destroyed because they contained marks of popery,
+while from 1576 onward a want of repair is plainly suggested by
+frequent items of expenditure for catching the stares (starlings) in
+the church, at one time for a net, at another for "a bowe and bolts
+and lyme." In 1611 James I addressed a strongly worded letter to the
+Mayor and Corporation and the Vicar requiring them to reform the
+practice of receiving the Holy Sacrament standing or sitting instead
+of kneeling, "As we our Self in our person do carefully perform it."
+Whereupon the Bishop wrote that he "felt persuaded that there were not
+above seven of any note who did not conform themselves" to the church
+ordinances; while the Vicar said he "did not know of _half seven_ of
+any note but do the like."
+
+A Puritanical writer in 1635 thus mentions the changed position of
+the Communion Table, which had formerly stood away from the east wall:
+"The Communion Table was altered which cost a great deal of money; and
+that which is worst of all, three stepps made to go to the Comm'n
+Table altar fashion--God grant it continueth not long." Even the font,
+given by John Cross, mayor, in 1394, had to give place in 1645 to
+something less offensive to Puritan feeling, and in the same year the
+brass eagle, given in 1359 by William Botoner, was "sold by order of
+vestry for _5d._ the lb., _8l. 13s. 4d._" The rehanging of the bells
+in 1674 led to the destruction of the beautiful groined vault within
+the tower, and the year 1764 saw the completion of a series of
+galleries all round the church. Throughout all this destruction and
+desecration the citizens happily retained their pride in the great
+steeple, and by constant attention and rebuildings contrived to
+preserve it when negligence might have caused its ruin. The scrupulous
+care given to such work is well shown by items in an account for
+repairs, of date 1580:
+
+  Payed to George Aster for poyntynge ye steple      L 7  2 8
+  Payed for 3 quarter and a halfe of lyme                13 4
+  Payed for egges                                         8 4
+  Payed for glovers pecis, woode & tallowe, abowte
+    the lyme                                              5 6
+  Payed for a load sand                                     71/2
+  Payed for 4 stryke of mawlte and gryndyng               7 81/2
+  Payd for 6 gallons of worte more                        2 0
+  Payd for gatherynge of slates & oyster shelles            31/4
+  Payd to Cookson for the cradle and 3 other pullesses    5 8
+
+The glovers' snippings were for making size, which, with the eggs,
+malt and wort were used in place of water for tempering the mortar.
+Lightning seriously damaged the spire in 1655 and 1694, in the former
+case causing much injury to the nave roof by falling stone. In 1793
+Wyatt, the architect responsible for so much destruction of Mediaeval
+work in various cathedrals, advised that a timber framework to carry
+the bells should be built up within the tower from the ground and that
+the tower arch should be bricked up. All this has been changed since
+1885, the bells now hang (but are not pealed) in the octagon, the
+chimes and clock are in the chamber below, the arch is opened and the
+groining restored.
+
+All galleries had been taken down in 1849 and the present seats,
+giving room for near 2,500 persons, introduced, while the incongruous
+wall-arcading in the apse was soon after added. At the same period
+many important sepulchral monuments, probably stigmatized as
+"excrescences," were taken down and removed to other parts of the
+church.
+
+Five years after this the exterior of the aisle walls was recased with
+the same friable sandstone. In 1860 the reredos was erected, the
+subjects of the panels being the sacrifices of Abel, Noah,
+Melchisedec, and Abraham, and the Last Supper. To the latest
+restoration, which included entire recasing of tower and spire,
+clearstories and chancel, the new sacristy at the south east, and
+other work, Mr. George Woodcock, a Coventry citizen, gave L10,500, and
+the sum of L39,500 was raised and expended, the re-opening taking
+place on 22nd April, 1890.
+
+In 1850 a dispute of considerable public interest with regard to the
+levying of the church rate between the vicar and the wardens and
+overseers was decided in the Court of Queen's Bench. An Act of
+Parliament of 1780 had empowered the wardens to levy a rate in lieu of
+tithe for the stipend of the vicar, to produce not less than L280 nor
+more than L300. The wardens having ever since allowed their powers to
+remain in abeyance, the vicar claimed the right to make the rate as
+his predecessors had done. Lord Campbell and three other judges were
+however unanimous in giving judgement against him.
+
+The latest event in the history of the church is probably the most
+important. It has now been constituted a pro-cathedral for the
+proposed Diocese of Warwickshire, and a Capitular body has been
+formed. The statutes were promulgated by the Bishop of Worcester on
+the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, 1908. The Chapter now
+consists of twenty-four members:--the Bishop, the Vicar of St.
+Michael's (Rev. Prof. J.H.B. Masterman), the Archdeacon of Coventry,
+the Chancellor of the Diocese, ten priest canons and ten lay canons,
+with provision for the admission of a future second archdeacon. There
+are resemblances here to the constitution of the Southwark Chapter,
+consisting of four clerical and four lay canons, but at Coventry some
+of the lay canons are elective and for fixed periods. Doubtless the
+immense increase of population in the county, especially in this part
+(Birmingham is already a separate diocese), demands further oversight
+and much strenuous church work, and doubtless, too, the same religious
+enthusiasm which brought into existence the beautiful structures of
+Coventry's golden age will be able to meet the demand and cope with
+the new problems and aspirations of the present day. But the
+archaeologist trembles to think what may be done should the attempt be
+made to transform a building planned on the simplest parish-church
+lines into the semblance of a cathedral. It cannot be successful, and
+the original character of the church is but too likely to be
+sacrificed in the attempt.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 4: These have ever since remained prebends of Lichfield.]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE EXTERIOR OF THE CHURCH
+
+
+The church is built on a site descending towards the east, so that the
+chancel floor is more than twelve feet above the present street level.
+The narrow street on the south, Bayley Lane, gives us a succession of
+picturesque partial views but no general one, while on the north the
+rather formal avenue dividing the churchyard obscures much of the
+structure. On the whole, the most comprehensive prospect is to be had
+from the north-east, at the lower end of Priory Row. But no general
+point of view is needed, external or internal, to enable us to
+understand the plan or arrangement, which is almost as simple in form
+as a village church.
+
+The typical English church plan consists of a nave with aisles, a long
+unaisled chancel with square east end, porches or doors on north and
+south, and a western tower, and this, save for its apsidal east end,
+but amplified by accretions in the form of chapels belonging to the
+many Gilds of the city, is the plan of St. Michael's.
+
+In no part, however, do we find the chapels so set as to produce a
+pseudo-cruciform plan.
+
+Before the latest restoration the walls were entirely of the local red
+sandstone, very similar in quality and appearance to that of which
+Chester Cathedral was built, and the extent of its decay, especially
+on the tower, was as grievous. Hardly a piece of external moulding or
+carving preserved its original profile or form, and some of the tower
+buttresses had lost so large a proportion of their substance not far
+above ground that they appeared to hang to the walls rather than
+support them. All save the aisles, which were refaced in the sixties,
+have now been cased with Runcorn Stone nearly the same in colour and
+much harder in texture.
+
+The special glory of the church is its =steeple=. No doubt
+intentionally its height of 300 feet is practically equal to the
+length of the church. Only one other parish church, Louth in
+Lincolnshire, has a steeple as high as this, and those of only two
+English cathedrals, Salisbury and Norwich, exceed it.
+
+There is, however, an essential difference to be noted in the position
+of these spires, those of the cathedrals at the centre, the crowning
+point in the composition, those of the parish churches at the west
+end, springing sheer from the ground. While the former have a more
+intimate relation to the building the latter have an almost
+independent existence in keeping with the theory which regards them
+more as symbols of municipal pride and power than as expressions of
+spiritual aspiration.
+
+But however mixed the motives for their erection, religious forms and
+symbolism governed the design. Thus we have here three principal
+divisions--tower, octagon, spire, and nine stories or stages in all,
+six belonging to the tower and octagon, and three to the spire. Then
+in its dimensions we find that the total height is 300 feet,[5] the
+plan (exclusive of buttresses) is 30 feet square, while in its
+proportions the number 30 is interwoven, so to speak, with a simple
+arithmetical progression of heights in each story. Thus it is 30 feet
+from the ground to the spring of the lowest five-light windows, 30
+feet again to the spring of the single-light windows, 27 feet more to
+the spring of the grouped windows above, and another 30 to the spring
+of the belfry windows. Thence it is 15 feet to the cornice below the
+battlements. The remainder is divided into a series of 20 feet
+heights, two twenties from cornice to top of parapet of octagon, 20 in
+each of the two decorated stages of the spire, 20 to centre of the
+upper spire-lights, three twenties to the finial. If we look at the
+stories as marked by the string-courses below the windows we find 50
+feet given to the door and great window and then 20, 30, and 40 feet
+stages, reaching to the top of the parapet. The reader will have
+noticed the interposition of a 27 feet space among the thirties, and
+the reason for this is worth explaining.
+
+It is now known that the tower could not be built in line with the
+centre of the proposed new nave because of the existence of a
+filled-in pit or quarry at its north-west angle. But the builder was
+rash enough to build the north-west buttresses beyond the edge of the
+old excavation and resting on the looser material. The consequences
+might have been foreseen. By the time the building had reached the
+grouped windows the settlement or sinking was considerable and an
+effort was made to remedy it, first by reducing the height of this
+(the weakest story), by one yard and next by starting the courses
+level once more. Five hundred years later and we find that whereas the
+sinking is 71/2 inches near the ground level it is only 4 inches at the
+windows, plainly showing that it had sunk 31/2 inches before the remedy
+was applied and four inches since. The writer is informed by the
+architect (Mr. J. Oldrid Scott) that all this angle was so full of
+rents and cracks that (coupled with the decay of the stone, especially
+in the buttresses) it was surprising that the whole had not fallen. A
+curious disregard of what we look on as a natural sentiment is to be
+noted in this connection, for the builders used a quantity of fine
+sepulchral slabs from the churchyard as filling for the foundations.
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR OF THE TOWER FROM BELOW.]
+
+In magnificence of design the tower exceeds that of any other parish
+church in England, the uppermost story being the richest in detail.
+The variety of treatment and gradual increase in elaboration of the
+upper stories is admirable, the larger expanses of wall in the lower
+giving the necessary effect of stability to the whole. The =west door=
+is very insignificant, and might perhaps, with advantage to the
+composition, have been left out. It has the only four-centred arch in
+the whole. On each side of the great windows are niches with
+(restored) figures of saints and benefactors, twelve in all, including
+Earl Leofric and his famous wife, the Botoners and several kings.
+Sculpture appears again on the belfry stage. On the west and north
+sides the niches are in three tiers of three on either hand of the
+tall louvred windows, but on the south and east sides one tier is
+absorbed by the stair turret. All these have been renewed, but the
+remains of some of those which were taken down can now be seen in the
+crypt, and the one which is best preserved, by a happy coincidence the
+patron saint, is now placed within the church.
+
+The octagon, which connects so finely the tower and spire, has four
+two-light windows on the cardinal sides, the other sides having blank
+panelling of similar design. Its parapet has square pinnacles,
+intended to carry seated figures. From each of the great tower
+pinnacles two ogee-shaped flying buttresses spring to the near angles
+of the octagon. A recent writer criticizes these as too flimsy in
+effect, but the fact that they are in pairs obviates this defect from
+most points of view. The walls of the octagon are 21/2 feet thick at the
+base, but, as the inner slope of the spire begins at the level of the
+window transoms, the thickness at its parapet is more than 3 feet. The
+greater weight in this part corrects any tendency in the spire to push
+outwards the upright walls of the octagon; so well has it done this
+that no artificial helps, such as iron stays or bands, have been
+found necessary to add to its stability. Though so slender in
+appearance, its stonework is thicker than that of many later spires,
+for whereas Kettering is 14 inches thick for the first 10 feet and
+only 6 inches above, while Louth decreases from 10 to 5, St. Michael's
+diminishes from 17 to 11. The inclination from the upright of its
+sides is very slight, less than that of most others; Chichester
+having an angle of 71/2 deg., Kettering 6 deg., Louth 5 deg., St. Michael's 41/2 deg..
+
+[Illustration: THE WEST PORCH.]
+
+The decoration of the spire is admirably designed in relation to the
+slenderness of the tower, and its own height above the eye. The first
+stage is panelled so as not to present too great a contrast to the
+octagon, and the next is also panelled and has narrow canopied slits
+on alternate sides, with four thin buttress-like projections on each
+face. These provide the slight entasis to the outline which is found
+in so many spires, as it is in classic columns, and is designed to
+correct the appearance of hollowness which would occur in so long a
+straight line. The upper two-thirds of the spire has triple angle
+rolls, and, just halfway in the total height, are eight canopied
+panels of which four are pierced. The beauty of the steeple and its
+pre-eminence among those belonging to parish churches (even if such a
+reservation be necessary) sufficiently justifies the length of this
+description.
+
+[Illustration: SOUTH PORCH, FROM ST. MARY HALL.]
+
+The oldest existing part of the church is the large =south porch=,
+almost facing the entrance to St. Mary Hall. The date of this is not
+later than 1300. Each jamb of the outside arch has four external and
+two internal attached shafts; the pointed arch is deeply moulded,
+while the arch rising from the fourth shaft is of round-headed trefoil
+form. The ceiling is vaulted with diagonal and intermediate ribs, and
+has the appearance of having been added rather later.
+
+A doorway on its east side led to the Cappers' Chapel and there is a
+chamber over the porch for centuries appropriated to the meetings of
+the Cappers' Company. The present chapel and chamber are contemporary
+with the nave.
+
+[Illustration: SOUTH-WEST DOORWAY.]
+
+The external wall of the Dyers' Chapel (now the Baptistery) is canted
+so as not to block the Lane, St. Mary Hall having been already built.
+Passing east, the road dips gradually and gives this end of the church
+a more imposing elevation. After the Cappers' Chapel, there is only a
+single aisle forming the Mercers' Chapel and extending as far as the
+Presbytery. A door here, made in 1750, is opposite to the Drapers'
+Hall. The apse is now encircled with a series of sacristies divided
+into five chambers and spanned by flying buttresses. The first two
+bays on the south were built at the last restoration the vestry then
+removed not being part of the original design. Beneath them on the
+ground level is the engine-room pertaining to the organ. Though
+sometimes spoken of as an Ambulatory its position on a lower level,
+its original want of connection with the south side and above all the
+need for sacristies in so large a church dispose of the idea.
+
+Some have thought that the apsidal Lady Chapel of Lichfield Cathedral
+built about fifty years earlier suggested an apsidal termination in
+the design of Coventry, but a certain difficulty in the way of the
+designer may have led him to adopt this solution. The normal
+Perpendicular east end had one large window, but owing to the great
+width of this chancel the proportions of such a one would have been
+nearly square, and the spring of the arch have been very low. A few
+years later and the depressed four-centred arch might have been
+adopted but, fortunately, its time was not yet.
+
+The plans of the apses of Lichfield and Coventry differ in the angle
+at which the sides are inclined to the chord of the apse, the former
+having the usual angle of 45 deg., the latter one of more than 60 deg..
+Externally this is not so pleasant as the more "commonplace" form, the
+great dissimilarity of the several angles being unsatisfactory and the
+third side too quickly lost to view, but within the church these
+points are not noticed.
+
+So little time elapsed between the building of the choir and nave that
+we find no marked difference of style as we proceed westward along
+either flank of the church. The =Lady Chapel=, known as the Drapers'
+Chapel, from its use and maintenance by that Gild, occupies the three
+bays of the North chancel aisle. From its elevation above the ground
+it was often spoken of as the "Chapel on the Mount," Capella Beatae
+Mariae de Monte. All the four windows are of seven lights, the three
+northern having a somewhat unusual transom band of fourteen
+quatrefoils, at the spring of the arch. The two windows of St.
+Lawrence's Chapel have a transom across the lights and a band of seven
+quatrefoils at the spring.
+
+The buttresses of the Lady Chapel are rather richer in design than
+those of St. Lawrence's Chapel. The lower level of its parapet
+indicates some difference of date. The plan of this part of the church
+presents problems which bear on those connected with the rest of the
+church (p. 44). Beneath St. Lawrence's Chapel and extending under the
+north aisle westward are two crypts, entrance to them being by two
+doors from the churchyard, their position is shown on the general
+plan. It will be seen that the western one is of two aisles, each of
+three bays, while the eastern is only one bay in length. The entrance
+to the western was at first in the middle bay but this was blocked
+when the Girdlers' Chapel was built. That the eastern crypt was added
+later, and the present Lady Chapel later still is shown by the
+presence of windows in the east wall of both parts and other
+indications. But while the history of the church shows that the
+original Lady Chapel and crypt or charnel-house, were built soon after
+1300, the present superstructures belong to a time about one hundred
+years later. Now as the western crypt may be safely assigned to the
+earlier date the Lady Chapel doubtless stood over it and flanked the
+old chancel of the church, in its normal position in fact as the
+existing one is now. But a point which remains to be explained is that
+the walls of the crypt are parallel to the line of the new chancel and
+not to the line of the old or new naves. It seems certain therefore
+that the inclination of the new chancel is a simple perpetuation of
+the old arrangement, and if not, the position of the crypt is hard to
+account for.
+
+It is generally supposed that these crypts were used as Mortuary
+Chapels and the eastern one has in fact a piscina and aumbry, showing
+that there was once an altar. But for some centuries they served as a
+charnel-house, and are so called in a papal grant of Indulgences. In
+1640 there is an entry in the church accounts of five shillings for
+"cleansinge the charnel-house and laying the bones and sculles in
+order."
+
+They now contain fragments that have been removed or discovered in the
+course of various restorations. A small Norman scalloped capital,
+another of Early English workmanship and a voussoir showing the Norman
+zig-zag or chevron are interesting relics of structures earlier than
+anything now existing, while a number of the decayed statues from the
+tower find here a dark and damp repose very different from the airy
+outlook enjoyed by them for five centuries. It will be seen that they
+are near life size and are executed in a gray sandstone which has
+stood the weather much better than the red. The outer north aisle
+containing the Girdlers' Chapel on the east and the Smiths' or St.
+Andrew's Chapel on the west of the porch, is plainly of later date.
+The windows have depressed, distinctly four-centred arches, and in
+1730 their five lights had simply cusped heads, the mullions running
+up to the architrave.
+
+The =north porch= has only a slight projection. Above the four-centred
+arch are two two-light canopied windows opening into the church. The
+soffit of the doorway is panelled. On the west side where is now a
+canopied niche was formerly an external pulpit reached from within by
+the staircase which leads to the roof. It is shown in the 1730 view.
+On the east side are two odd little flying buttresses, intended
+apparently to repeat the inclined surface of the other side. The two
+north aisles are fortunately not carried westward so far as the nave,
+which projects a half bay beyond them and so prevents the otherwise
+unrelieved flatness of this part. The most effective of the porches is
+that on the west front, just north of the tower. It appears to have
+been built after the nave was finished, and may have been added
+expressly to provide a more dignified entrance to the church when
+Henry VI came in state in 1451, for it faces directly up the nave. The
+groining with cusped panels and numerous bosses has escaped
+restoration. The five niches above the porch are statueless, and so
+are those on the porch front. May they long continue so! The doors are
+largely original and are finely panelled and carved.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 5: At the last restoration the height was reduced to 298
+feet.]
+
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR OF ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE WEST.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH
+
+
+From within the door by which the church is usually entered, that near
+the south-west angle, we obtain an overpowering impression of the
+special characteristic of the interior, its spaciousness, for it is
+here more than 100 feet wide and the east window is nearly 240 feet
+distant.
+
+The =nave=, which is 37 feet 6 inches wide in the clear, is wider than
+that of many cathedrals, and much exceeds that of most parish
+churches, the widest (Worstead) given in Brandon's "Parish Churches"
+being 29 feet. Boston alone exceeds it by about 3 feet. While the
+ordinary aisle width ranges from 10 to 14 feet, the north aisle here
+is 23 feet, the outer north and the south being each 17 feet. The
+total internal length is 265 feet, exclusive of the sacristy; Boston,
+the only larger one, being 284 feet, while very few exceed 200 feet,
+and most are far smaller. The greatest internal width is 120 feet;
+Manchester, a double-aisled collegiate church, is about the same, and
+York Minster is 106 feet. Finally, the area is about 22,800 square
+feet, probably greater than that of any other English parish church,
+indeed, St. Nicholas, Yarmouth, is the only one which pretends to
+rivalry in this respect. Size is, of course, only one element in the
+impressiveness of a building, and may even be neutralized by the
+treatment (as, for instance, in the Duomo of Florence and St. Peter's,
+Rome, by increasing the size of its parts rather than multiplying
+them), but these few comparisons will help the visitor to judge how
+far this element colours his appreciation of the whole. As an
+illustration of mediaeval methods of church building, it is interesting
+to trace the growth of the structure with the help of the few
+historical notices already given and the evidence of the building
+itself. The subject is full of difficulties, and the writer does not
+hope to solve them conclusively, but to put before the reader the main
+points which have to be considered before forming a judgement.
+
+[Illustration: TOWER ARCH.]
+
+Both historic and structural evidence agree that there was an existing
+smaller church when the tower was built in the last quarter of the
+fourteenth century, that the choir and apse were either contemporary,
+or begun a few years earlier, and that the nave was built between 1434
+and 1450. The south porch and the west crypt (beneath the original
+Lady Chapel) are almost contemporary (p. 34), belonging to the
+beginning of the fourteenth century. Now the axis of the tower is
+parallel to the axis and walls of the nave, while the centre line of
+the choir is deflected towards the north about 7 deg.. Notwithstanding
+this, however, owing to the tower not being central with the nave, the
+axis of the choir, if prolonged, runs directly to the centre of the
+tower arch, as may easily be seen by anyone who stands there and looks
+along the ridge of the choir roof. (_See_ dotted line on Plan.)
+
+[Illustration: BAY OF NAVE, NORTH SIDE.]
+
+Next we see above the =tower arch= the mark of the old nave roof and
+the old north wall of the nave. These show that the south wall stood
+where the present one does, and the low-pitched fourteenth century
+roof-line suggests incidentally this alternative: _either_ a
+clearstory had been added to the nave before the building of the new
+chancel or tower was in contemplation, _or_, when the huge tower was
+built it was felt necessary to raise the nave roof so as to lessen the
+disproportion. But, if we adopt the latter alternative we must accept
+too the improbability that this expense should have been incurred when
+the inadequacy of the old narrow nave of 151/2 feet compared with a
+chancel of 33 feet must have been so obvious. This is one of the
+difficult questions.
+
+Then it is held by some that the axis of the old nave and chancel was
+in line with that of the present choir; but the south porch, built
+more than one hundred years before the new nave, is at right angles
+with it which would hardly have been the case had the two naves not
+been on the same lines.
+
+Needless to say the old east end could scarcely have extended beyond
+the present nave, so that the new chancel was probably built without
+disturbing the old church. The position of the older Lady Chapel
+supports this view, while its bearing towards the north, as already
+pointed out, indicates that the deflection of the new chancel is
+simply copied from the older one.
+
+The position of the south porch proves also that the south aisle was
+as wide as the present one, while the fact that it was wider than the
+nave shows that it was almost certainly not designed at the same time.
+
+The nave is of six bays and is 54 feet high at the centre, while each
+arch is 20 feet wide in the clear. The piers are slender, but, owing
+to the depth of the panelling above the arches and the large size of
+the windows, the weight upon them is reduced to a minimum. Shafts
+carried up from the ground support the roof brackets, and there are
+intermediate ones over the centre of each arch. The clearstory windows
+of four lights each are in pairs, and the mullions are carried down to
+form panelling and finish on the backs of the arches, which recede in
+two sloping faces and form a somewhat unusual feature in the treatment
+of the wall surface. The detail of the piers and arches is rather
+weak, even for Perpendicular work.
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR FROM THE SOUTH DOOR.]
+
+The =chancel= is about 93 feet long, and in height and width is 4 or 5
+feet less than the corresponding nave measurements. Its width further
+diminishes by about 31/2 feet in the length of the three bays. The
+omission of a chancel arch is a step towards the ideal simplicity of
+the late Perpendicular churches (_e.g._, St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich),
+running from east to west without break, but the large rood piers and
+reduced width and height of chancel make the pause demanded in so
+long a church. The step at this point is of oak, and is probably the
+original sill of the rood screen. The large figures of SS. Peter and
+Paul were placed on the piers in 1861. Of the three arches which open
+on either hand the centre one is widest, having four-light windows,
+instead of three-light, over it. The panelling beneath the clearstory
+is richer than that in the nave. The five four-light windows of the
+apse are lofty and divided by two transoms, but the design is somewhat
+commonplace. The glass of the middle three is a memorial to Queen
+Adelaide, dated 1853. The other two are filled with fragments of the
+ancient stained glass of the church (p. 56).
+
+[Illustration: THE CHOIR FROM ST. LAWRENCE'S CHAPEL.]
+
+The roof is very similar to that of the nave. Both are of very low
+pitch, with tie-beams supported by curved brackets. There are two
+longitudinal beams (purlins) on each side, and each division of the
+roof made by these main timbers is sub-divided by mouldings into
+panels, all the intersections and angles being decorated by carved
+bosses or paterae, with angels upon the tie-beams. Where the roofs of
+nave and chancel join there is a cove to connect the two levels; and
+on the tie-beam above this was found a Latin inscription, giving the
+attributes and powers of the nine choirs of angels forming the
+hierarchy of Heaven. Translated it is as follows:
+
+  SERAPHIMS burn in love of God.
+  CHERUBIMS possess all knowledge.
+  THRONES, of them is judgement.
+  DOMINIONS preside over angelic spirits.
+  VIRTUES effect miracles.
+  POWERS have rule over demons.
+  PRINCIPALITIES protect good men.
+  ARCHANGELS are set over states.
+  ANGELS are the messengers of the Lord.
+
+Bare and shorn as it is of its ancient magnificence, St. Michael's is
+in its structure a monument of the importance and wealth of the Gilds.
+Many of them built or maintained chapels and altars, adding largely to
+the already spacious proportions given to the main structure by the
+munificence of a few rich citizens. That in 1491 there were eleven
+altars we know from the will of Thomas Bradmedow, directing that
+eleven torches, price _2s. 4d._, be given every Good Friday, one to
+every altar. Besides the High Altar there were those of Our Lady,
+Jesus, Holy Trinity, St. John, St. Anne, St. Katherine, St. Thomas,
+St. Andrew, St. Lawrence, All Saints.
+
+The application to the =Lady Chapel= of the present name, the
+"Drapers' Chapel," is probably subsequent to 1518, when John Haddon, a
+draper, provided by will for the support of a priest, "to singe in the
+Chapell of our Ladye in the Church of Saint Mychell." But long ere
+this, by an instrument dated from St. John Lateran, A.D. 1300, eighth
+year of Pope Boniface, Indulgences for forty days were granted for all
+persons coming to confess before her altar in St. Michael's Church on
+the Nativity, Conception, Annunciation and Assumption of the glorious
+Virgin Mary. Also 700 Indulgences for 720 days were granted for
+building "the Chapple and Charnell house of St. Michaell, Coventry."
+The Drapers' Company was responsible for other things than the
+priest's stipend as this extract from their Rules shows: "1534. Ev'y
+mastur shall pay toward ye makyng clene of oure Lady Chapell in saynt
+Mychell's churche and strawyng ye setus [seats] wt rusches in somer
+and pease strawe in wyntur, everyone yerely _2d._"
+
+[Illustration: POPPY HEAD, LADY CHAPEL.]
+
+The piers at the chancel entrance contain the staircases leading to
+the roofs and formerly to the rood loft. The screen on the west side
+of the chapel was put together from fragments brought together from
+various parts of the church. Against it, and on the south side, are
+fifteen of the ancient stalls. Several admirable ends and elbows
+remain, and some of the twelve ancient Misereres are of special
+interest. Three represent scenes from the popular mediaeval allegory of
+"the Dance of Death."
+
+The centre groups are: (1) a death bed, (2) a kneeling man being
+deprived of his shirt and a cripple waiting to receive it (?), and (3)
+a very well-expressed burial scene. The side groups in each show Death
+leading by the hand personages of various ranks, including a pope. Of
+the others, Satan in chains, the General Resurrection, and a
+delicately executed Tree of Jesse are the best.
+
+[Illustration: A MISERERE, LADY CHAPEL.]
+
+Several monuments formerly in this chapel are now elsewhere in the
+church. A memorial to the Hon. F.W. Hood, killed in battle in 1814, is
+by Chantrey. On the north wall is a brass plate bearing the following
+inscription:
+
+   Here lyeth Mr Thomas Bond, Draper, sometime Mayor of this Cittie
+   and founder of the Hospitall of Bablake, who gave divers lands
+   and tenements for the maintenance of ten poore men so long as the
+   world shall endure and a woman to looke to them with many other
+   good guifts; and died the XVIII day of March in the yeare of our
+   Lord God MDVI.
+
+The =Communion Table= is a fine example of early seventeenth century
+work, and outside the screen is a very beautiful oak chest, believed
+to date from the time of Henry VII. From the Lady Chapel we pass into
+that of St. Laurence. Its two windows are filled with glass to the
+memory of past mayors. The dates, 1860 and 1862, sufficiently suggest
+their artistic merit. Several old monuments are upon the north wall,
+one of 1648 with an extravagant inscription to Thomas Purefoy, a boy
+of nine; another to Mrs. Bathona Frodsham, a daughter of the John
+Hales who bought so much monastic property, and founded the Grammar
+School. The tomb of his first wife, Frideswede, near which he was
+buried, may be seen in the Dugdale view near the north porch.
+
+The outer north aisle contained the Girdlers' Chapel. The arcade which
+divides the aisles shows the consummation of the process which
+converted columns into piers by the omission of capitals and bases and
+the continuation of the mouldings from pier into arch.
+
+The altar was below the eastern window, the piscina (restored) stands
+on the south side.
+
+The Company has been long extinct and no documents exist. We know,
+however, that Haye's Chantry was founded by a Girdler in 1390, for a
+Mass to be sung daily at All Saints' altar, and may therefore conclude
+that it was in this chapel.
+
+In the two western bays of the same aisle was St. Andrew's Chapel,
+supported and probably founded by the Smiths' Company. The first
+notice of its existence occurs in 1449, but as this part was not built
+until 1500 it was perhaps originally in the adjoining aisle. The
+window tracery is modern. The panelling within the internal arches and
+between the windows should be noted. The floor near the wall is partly
+paved with much worn ancient tiles.
+
+Several large monuments have been brought hither from the Drapers'
+Chapel. An altar tomb of black marble is to the memory of Sir Thomas
+Berkeley, only son of Henry, Lord Berkeley, who died in 1611; another
+of 1640, to William Stanley, Master of the Merchant Taylors' Company
+of London and a benefactor of St. Bartholomew's Hospital and of his
+native city, Coventry. While these are ponderous and unlovely that of
+Julian Nethermyl, at the west end of the principal north aisle, is a
+work of interest and much beauty. It is an altar tomb with a
+sculptured panel on one end and one side, the other end and side
+having been next to walls. It is of interest as an early example of
+the Italian style then finding its way into England, and an example so
+free from Gothic influence that there can be little doubt that a
+foreign craftsman was employed upon it. On the centre of the long
+panel is a mutilated crucifix, and a brief inscription with a shield
+of arms beneath. On either hand kneel Julian Nethermyl and his wife,
+with five sons behind him and five daughters behind her. A cherub at
+each end pushes aside a curtain. The group of sons is well treated,
+the variations in pose and dress show the hand of one who was
+accustomed to study composition, and the result is very different from
+the formal repetition of equal or lessening figures usual on mediaeval
+brasses and Elizabethan tombs. The Latin inscription is partly
+illegible, translated it runs:
+
+   Here lies Julian Nethermyl, Draper, formerly Mayor of this City,
+   who died the 11th day of the month of April in the year of our
+   Lord 1539 and also Joan his wife, to whose souls God be
+   propitious. Amen.
+
+[Illustration: CHEST IN NORTH AISLE.]
+
+A small brass on the wall to the memory of Mary Hinton, wife of a
+vicar, who died in 1594, represents her kneeling at a faldstool, and
+facing a row of four swaddled infants laid upon the floor.
+
+Near by is the old Purbeck marble font, said to have been given by
+John Cross, Mayor, in 1394.
+
+As, however, the form, material, and shallow decoration are all quite
+consistent with a thirteenth-century date there can be little doubt
+that this one is the predecessor of that given by John Cross, which
+was condemned and removed by the Puritans as superstitious. A small
+brass, bearing a shield with four crosses, the ancient merchant mark,
+is fixed upon it.
+
+[Illustration: THE NETHERMYL TOMB.]
+
+Beyond the west door is the north-east buttress of the tower,
+strengthened by a mass of masonry, part of which formed part of the
+old nave wall. The tower arch is high and very narrow, owing to the
+narrowness of the old nave. The interior of the tower is very
+effective, both from the height, which is almost 100 feet to the crown
+of the vault, and the beautiful lighting of the upper stages. Each of
+the large windows of the ground story is set in a recessed arch, and
+between the two lantern stages is a range of panelling. The vertical
+lines of the various stages are not continuous, a want of regularity,
+which would probably not have occurred had it been built a century
+later. Upon the floor of the tower are two small brasses, which mark
+respectively the centre of the tower and the point below the apex of
+the spire, showing that the spire has an inclination of 3 feet 6
+inches towards the north-west. On the walls of the tower two very
+large brasses record the names of the Vicars of the church since 1242,
+and of the Bishops in whose Dioceses Coventry has been included from
+the earliest times. Of the latter, four were Bishops of Mercia,
+twenty-seven of Lichfield, six of Coventry, thirty-three of Coventry
+and Lichfield, thirteen of Lichfield and Coventry, four of Worcester,
+and two Bishops-Suffragan of Coventry.
+
+The south aisle is 6 feet narrower than the north at the west end, but
+its want of parallelism adds 7 feet to its width at its far eastern
+end.
+
+The south-west doorway has its original doors, though these have been
+subjected to restoration. The first chapel on the south side belonged
+to the Dyers' Company. When the principal trade of Coventry was the
+manufacture of woollen and worsted stuffs and the production of a
+special blue thread, so excellent that it gave rise to a proverbial
+expression, "he is true Coventry Blue", the Dyers were an important
+Company.[6] A chantry known as Tale's was probably attached to this
+chapel, as the salary of the priest, _L5 6s. 8d._, was paid by the
+Dyers' Company of London. An upper chamber for the priest existed as
+late as 1607; the floor corbels still remain. A large marble monument
+(removed hither from the chancel) has medallion portraits of two
+ladies--Dame Mary Bridgeman and Mrs. Eliza Samwell. The former with
+her husband, Sir Orlando (Lord Keeper of the Great Seal under Charles
+II), both died in 1701. The latter, dying in 1724, "ordered this
+monument to be erected as a remembrance of their great and loving
+friendship."
+
+The Chapel is now the =Baptistery=. A large eighteenth-century marble
+font was removed to the Lady Chapel and a new Gothic one put in its
+place, so that there are now three in the church.
+
+The south porch (1300) is the earliest part of the existing church.
+The inner doors appear to be of the early sixteenth century, the
+outer, though old, are of much later date and are not part of the
+original scheme. On the wall on each side of the inner doors are
+brasses of some interest. That on the right hand has a curious epitaph
+which runs thus:
+
+   Here lies the body of Captn Gervase Scrope, of the family of
+   Scropes, of Bolton in the County of York, who departed this life
+   the 26 of August, Anno Dni 1705, aged 66.
+
+   An Epitaph, written by himself, in the agony and dolorous paines
+   of the gout and dyed soon after.
+
+    Here lyes an old toss'd Tennis Ball
+    Was racketted, from spring to fall,
+    With so much heat and so much hast,
+    Time's arm for shame grew tyred at last.
+    Four kings in camps he truly served.
+    And from his loyalty ne'er swerved,
+    Father ruin'd and son slighted,
+    And from the Crown ne'er requited.
+    Loss of estate, relations, blood,
+    Was too well known, but did no good;
+    With long Campaigns and paines oth' gout
+    He cou'd no longer hold it out.
+    Always a restless life he led,
+    Never at quiet till quite dead.
+    He marry'd in his later days,
+    One who exceeds the common praise
+    But wanting breath still to make known
+    Her true affection and his own,
+    Death kindly came, all wants supplied
+    By giving rest--which life deny'd.
+
+The other brass, of 1609, has a portrait of Ann Sewell in Jacobean
+costume, kneeling, with an epitaph in which she is described as "a
+worthy stirrer up of others to all holy virtues."
+
+A doorway leads to a priest's chamber over the porch, sometimes
+incorrectly spoken of as the Cappers' Chapel. It is still used for the
+annual meeting of the Company, but is inaccessible to the public.
+
+The next chapel eastwards is St. Thomas', belonging until 1629 to the
+Cappers' and Feltmakers' Company. In 1531 they were associated in its
+maintenance with the Woollen Cardmakers who had founded it in 1467 and
+had after declined in importance. Leland, as we have seen records
+also the decay of the Cappers' industry. A large eighteenth-century
+monument conceals the original doorway from the porch. The eastern
+part of the south aisle as far as the screen formed another chapel as
+the dilapidated piscina in the south wall shows. The organ is now
+placed in the first bay of the chancel aisle, the whole aisle having
+once formed the Mercers' Chapel.
+
+[Illustration: THE SWILLINGTON TOMB.]
+
+Where the altar once stood are now steps descending to the sacristies.
+On the right of the window is the statue of St. Michael brought hither
+from the tower (p. 32). The finely carved corbel on which it stands
+was discovered among rubbish in the recess below. Three altar tombs
+now stand against the south wall. The eastern has the recumbent
+effigies of Elizabeth Swillington and her two husbands. The
+inscription (translated) runs: "Pray for the soul of Elizabeth
+Swillington, widow, late the wife of Ralph Swillington, Attorney
+General of our Lord King Henry VIII, Recorder of the city of Coventry,
+formerly the wife of Thomas Essex Esq: which said Elizabeth died A.D.
+15..." She died after 1543. The side and ends have arcaded panelling
+containing shields of arms. At the west end is a realistic
+representation of the Five Wounds. The effigy of Thomas Essex is in
+armour, that of the Recorder in official robe and chain. The head of
+each rests on a helmet, and the lady wears the "pedimental" headdress
+of Tudor fashion. The arcading is purely Renaissance in detail though
+the general treatment is mediaeval. The figures are in dignified
+repose, wholly free from the later affectations of the Elizabethan
+school yet evidently individual portraits. The second tomb dates from
+1640. The top is far too heavy for the little Ionic pilasters below.
+
+The third, traditionally called Wade's tomb, probably belongs to John
+Wayd, a Mercer, who lived in Coventry in 1557, but no inscription
+remains.
+
+There are seven shields of arms on the side, nearly all defaced, a
+motto "Ryen saunce travayle," and nine images in low relief which
+present quaint studies of early sixteenth-century costume.
+
+The matrices of brasses are still visible in several parts of the
+church. Sir James Harrington, writing in the reign of James I, tells a
+curious story of their loss:
+
+   The pavement of Coventry church is almost all tombstones, and
+   some very ancient, but there came in a zealous fellow with a
+   counterfeit commission, that for avoiding superstition, hath not
+   left one pennyworth nor penny breadth of brass upon all the
+   tombs, of all the inscriptions, which had been many and costly.
+
+The last monument that need be mentioned is upon the wall over "Wade's
+tomb." Twenty-six verses of eulogy follow these opening lines:
+
+   An Elegicall epitaph, made upon the death of that mirror of women
+   Ann Newdigate; Lady Skeffington, wife of that true moaneing
+   turtle Sir Richard Skeffington, Kt., and consecrated to her
+   eternal memorie by the unfeigned lover of her vertues, Willm.
+   Bulstrode, Knight. (She died in 1637, aged 29).
+
+The present organ was built by Henry Willis and erected in 1887. It is
+a four-manual and pedal instrument and has fifty-three stops.
+
+The old organ on which Handel played more than once, stood on a raised
+platform at the west end. It was the work of Thomas Swarbrick of
+Warwick, a German by birth, in 1733. He also built those of Trinity
+Church, St. Mary, Warwick, Lichfield, St. Saviour Southwark,
+Stratford-on-Avon, and Amsterdam.
+
+The best of the ancient glass now remaining has been collected into two
+windows, one on either side of the apse. Much was brought from the
+clearstory where six windows on the south and all save one on the north
+side still have panels made up of a mosaic of fragments with portions
+here and there of which the subject is intelligible. From what remains
+in the tracery we may gather that there was a row of eight angel
+figures filling the spaces immediately over the lights. Some of these
+or similar ones, are now in the apse. They are represented as covered
+with feathers and standing on wheels and each holds a scroll over the
+head with inscriptions in very contracted Latin. A few less fragmentary
+pieces may be found, _e.g._, in the north window, Judas giving the
+traitor's kiss, in the north clearstory the arms of Trenton and
+Stafford, mentioned and figured by Dugdale, in the south, the figure of
+a man in a red gown kneeling with a scroll inscribed "deo gracias" and
+over his head "groc(er) de london"--doubtless a donor. Of modern glass
+there is a great amount but little worth mentioning save on account of
+the persons commemorated. One window in the Lady Chapel is a memorial
+of the Prince Consort and one in the Mercers' Chapel is of interest as
+a deserved memorial to Thomas Sharp the Antiquary to whose labours all
+later historians of the city are so deeply indebted. He died in 1841.
+
+[Illustration: ALMS-BOX.]
+
+The pulpit is of brass and wrought iron, the work of Frank Skidmore a
+native of Coventry who made also the choir screen of Hereford
+Cathedral and the metal work of the Albert Memorial at Kensington. It
+was placed here in 1869. The bells, ten in number, now hang in the
+octagon. They were cast in 1774 and weigh nearly seven tons. The first
+peal was hung in 1429 and a clock existed in 1467. In 1496 an Order of
+Leet ordained that "all manner of persons that will have the bells to
+ring after the decease of any of their friends, shall pay for a peal
+ringing with all the bells, _2s._ and with four bells, _16d._, and
+three bells _4d._"
+
+The six bells were cast into eight in 1674 and the present tenth has
+the same inscription as the heaviest of the old peal:
+
+    I am and have been call'd the common bell
+    To ring, when fire breaks out, to tell.
+
+The chimes, which existed as early as 1465, were restored in 1895,
+after a silence of ten years, in memory of Lieut.-Col. Francis William
+Newdigate. Electric lighting has been introduced throughout the
+church.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 6: _See_ Fuller's "Worthies of England." In 1428 an Act of
+Leet ordered that no person should dye any wool or cloth with "a
+deceitful colour called Masters or Medleys brought into Coventry by a
+Frenchman."]
+
+
+[Illustration: HOLY TRINITY FROM THE NORTH.
+_From a lithograph--about 1850_.]
+
+
+
+
+HOLY TRINITY CHURCH
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
+
+
+Although the first mention of this church which the indefatigable
+Dugdale could find was its appropriation to the priory in 1259-1260,
+it is tolerably certain that its foundation was much earlier. As
+before said, it is reputed to be older than St. Michael's and its
+position close to the monastery suggests that it had been built, as
+often happened, for the parishioners by the monks who disliked their
+intrusion within the priory church. The appropriation at this time may
+have been rather of the nature of a confirmation of the rights of the
+priory than the institution of a new condition of things. As, in 1391,
+the chancel had to be rebuilt being "ruinated and decayed" we may
+conclude that it was probably older than the present north porch which
+is certainly not later than 1259. It was at the same time lengthened
+by twenty-four feet, the convent giving one hundred shillings per
+annum for eight years and six trees, the parishioners finding all
+other material and workmanship. The convent and parish also agreed to
+support and keep it in repair at their joint charges.
+
+From 1298, when Henry de Harenhale was appointed, the list of vicars
+is complete, but in a cartulary of the priory mention is made of Ralph
+de Sowe, vicar of Trinity, as giving a tenement in Well Street, for
+the celebration of his anniversary.
+
+There are but few landmarks in its history, and dates affecting the
+structure can generally be assigned by internal evidence alone. The
+nave arcades had already been rebuilt before the chancel was touched,
+and a piece of work of the same period is to be seen in the five-light
+Decorated window, in the Consistory Court which now opens into the
+large chamber over the porch. We have no record of the building of the
+clearstory and roof of the nave. The resemblances between this
+clearstory, and that of St. John's chancel, raise the question of
+priority. The fuller development at St. John's of the peculiar
+treatment of the angles points to its being a little later but
+probably both fall within the second and third quarters of the
+fifteenth century.
+
+For a church of this size the chapels, altars and chantries were very
+numerous, there being probably fifteen altars in all. In 1522 the
+establishment of clergy consisted of a vicar, eleven parochial priests
+and two chantry priests. Dugdale enumerates six chantries so that it
+is evident that here as often elsewhere some of the parochial priests
+derived the whole or a part of their support from their performance of
+the duties of chantry priests.
+
+Many chantry priests on the other hand had other duties and took part
+in other services than the daily mass for which the chantry was
+founded.
+
+So much that is of interest in the religious life of the period is
+connected with the chantries that it is worth while recording some of
+the scattered notices that have come down to us.
+
+To begin with the Chapel of Our Lady, the earliest mention we have of
+it is in 1364 while in 1392 the Corpus Christi Gild endowed a priest
+there to sing mass for the good estate of Richard II, Anne his queen,
+and the whole realm of England, to be called St. Mary's priest. The
+indenture sets forth that "he is to be at Divine service on Sundays
+and double Feasts in the chancel and at Matins, Hours, Masses,
+Evensong, Compline and other offices used in the said church and also
+daily at _Salve_ in our Lady's Chapel unless hindered by reasonable
+cause." The records of the Dissolution of the Chantries show how much
+town property must have been held by them, while from these and other
+sources we learn the extent of their belongings in tenements,
+messuages, rent charges and the like. Thus in 1454 Emot Dowte gave
+several tenements to this altar and in 1492 Richard Clyff "late parson
+of St. George in London," left a house in Well St. to the church "to
+the intent that the mass of Our Lady may be observed the better." In
+1558 (the year of Elizabeth's accession) William Hyndeman, alderman
+and butcher, directs that his body be buried in the Lady Chapel "as
+aldermen are wont to be buried, towards the charges whereof I give
+twenty nobles to be levied of my quick cattle and if it be too little
+then I will that Sybil my wife shall lay down _20s._ more." He also
+orders an obit to be kept after the death of his wife "yearly for
+ever;" a form of words that must surely have sounded unreal after the
+changes of the last two reigns.
+
+Perceye's chantry again, which Dugdale considered the oldest (though
+he does not give the date) was endowed in 1350 with six messuages, one
+shop, six acres of land and 40s. rent, all lying in Coventry, to which
+in 1407 William Botoner and others, added a messuage and twenty-four
+acres of land in the city for another priest.
+
+Then the chantry of the Holy Cross (1357) founded for two priests to
+sing daily a mass for the good estate before death and for the souls
+after of the royal family, and for the founders and the members of the
+Fraternity of the Holy Cross, was endowed with seven messuages,
+fourteen shops and sixteen acres of land in the city.
+
+Dugdale enumerates also four others, Cellet's, Corpus Christi,
+Lodynton's and Allesley's, to which should probably be added Marler's,
+assigned by him to St. Michael's. The first two are doubtless the same
+foundation, for in 1329 land and tenements were granted to the priest
+of Corpus Christi Chapel for the health of the soul of William Celet
+and others.
+
+It was almost certainly situated in the south transept, on the upper
+level over the vaulted passage. The position of Lodynton's chantry
+(1393) is not known; Allesley's, founded in the reign of Edward I, was
+sung at St. Thomas's altar.
+
+Richard Marler stipulates in his will that his priest is to have the
+"stypend or wagis of nyne marks by yere so long as he shall be of good
+and prestly conversacyon and demeanor, wt' a p'vyso that yf the seyde
+prest be ffounde otherwyse, after monyc'on and reasonable warnyng to
+hym geven, he to be removed."
+
+Much of the later history of the church relates to the destruction of
+its fittings and furniture or to restorations almost as grievous. In
+1560 _2s. 6d._ was paid for taking down the carving about the high
+altar, while the Mayor bought the panelling of the altar for _33s.
+4d._, the vail for _5s._, the "thing that the sacrament was in over
+the altar _1s._," the "peyre [pair of candlesticks?] that was upon the
+altar _5d._" Perhaps he thought that all these things would be wanted
+again ere long. In 1547 a quantity of costly vestments and banners had
+been sold and we find in the accounts a number of such items as
+these: "Sold the 6 day of Jennery 5 copps of red teyssew to Mr.
+Roghers, now mayre (and 4 other persons) pryce of the sayd copps,
+_10l._ To Bawden Desseld one cope of red velvet, _5l._ Mr. Schewyll a
+grene velvet cope, _30s._"
+
+But before Mary's death we have a lengthy inventory of copes,
+vestments, albs, banners and the like, some of which may have come
+back to the church from the buyers at the sale eleven years before.
+
+The church must have looked like a builder's yard in 1643 when the
+Committee and Council of War pulled down divers houses outside
+Bishop's and Spon Gates and stacked the materials here, while the
+changes of government are indicated by the payment in 1647 of _3s.
+6d._ "to Hopes for defacing the King's Arms" and in 1660 of _6s._ to
+"Hope for the King's Arms."
+
+Five years after this the spire, which had caused much anxiety and
+expense for many years, was blown down in a gale, falling across the
+chancel and causing much destruction. All was restored and the spire
+rebuilt in three years. Reference has been made to the existence of a
+vaulted passage through the south transept. This was made necessary by
+the position of an ancient building known as Jesus Hall which adjoined
+the transept and thus blocked the way from "the Butchery" in this
+direction. The Hall had probably been long used as the residence of
+the priests attached to the church but nothing is known of its origin.
+It was destroyed in 1742. Only in 1834, when the exterior of the
+church was recased was the passage blocked and the floor of the upper
+chapel removed.
+
+The Register records the marriage of Sarah Kemble with William Siddons
+on 25th November, 1773.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE EXTERIOR OF THE CHURCH
+
+
+The church of Holy Trinity loses much, in popular estimation at least,
+by its nearness to St. Michael's. It invites comparison of the most
+obvious sort. It is not nearly so large and its spire is not so high,
+these facts alone are sufficient to account for the popular view.
+Fuller, in his "Worthies" says of the two churches, "How clearly would
+they have shined if set at competent distance! Whereas now, such their
+Vicinity, that the Archangel eclipseth the Trinity."
+
+The plan is quite unlike that of its neighbour, being cruciform, with
+a central tower, a short nave, and a chancel distinctly longer than
+the nave. On the south both nave and chancel have a single aisle, the
+transept projecting beyond it and there is a vestry at the east end.
+On the north there is a similar aisle with a Lady Chapel at the east
+corresponding to the Vestry, but a large porch and several chapels
+fill up the spaces so that the transept does not in plan project.
+
+Looking at the exterior as a whole it may be said that the more
+moderate length (194 feet), the central spire, 230 feet high, and the
+transepts unite in forming a more satisfactory composition than the
+long body and immense western steeple of St. Michael's. There however,
+the superiority ceases for the frequent "recasings" and restorations
+have left hardly a stone of the exterior that has not been renewed
+again and again, and the dates of these operations, 1786, 1826, 1843,
+sufficiently suggest the degree of knowledge and feeling likely to be
+manifested in the work.
+
+Probably most of the structure was first built of the same friable red
+sandstone as its greater neighbour. Much of the recasing has been
+executed in a rather harder gray sandstone, but the tower and spire
+are still red.
+
+The tower above the roofs, is of two stages, the upper, or bell
+chamber, and the lower or lantern opening into the church. Below this
+are small windows with the lines of the old high-pitched roof visible
+above the present transept roofs, but in the nave and chancel the
+lines of the old roofs are now within the church, the clearstory
+having since been added. Each face of the tower is divided, apart from
+the narrow angle buttresses, into six vertical divisions separated by
+thin projections of buttress form. On the south and west the stair
+turret absorbs one of the outer divisions. Each division is curved in
+plan in a curious way, which may be the perpetuation of a feature of
+the original design, but was more probably introduced or modified by
+the person who recased the tower in 1826. That there was sculpture we
+know, for in 1709 ten shillings was paid for taking the images down
+from the steeple. The smallness of the sum indicates that they were
+few in number, and if they occupied similar positions to those on the
+belfry stage of St. Michael's, and the structure was as decayed as was
+the tower of that church it is probable that the cutting away of the
+niches may have suggested the curving of the surfaces especially as
+the tower would be thereby lightened. As it is we cannot be certain of
+much else than that there were vertical divisions serving to emphasize
+the impression of height and that the openings were in the same
+positions as now.
+
+[Illustration: PLAN OF TRINITY CHURCH]
+
+The spire blown down in 1665 had been in the previous ninety years
+five times repaired and repointed. We cannot now say whether the
+original design was at all closely followed in the rebuilding, but its
+present likeness to St. Michael's suggests doubts. The lowest stage
+which takes the place of the octagon and may be an intentional
+imitation of it, has almost upright sides with two-light windows on
+the cardinal faces and panelled ones on the oblique sides, while the
+remaining stages correspond in number and partly in design with those
+of St. Michael's.
+
+In 1855 it was considered that the bells endangered the safety of the
+tower, and after recasting by Mears of London they were rehung in a
+timber campanile in the north churchyard. Even now they cannot be
+pealed.
+
+The deplorable refacings have left few features of interest on the
+outside. Were Gothic architecture still a living and not merely
+imitative and academic art, one would welcome a complete renewal of
+all outside work--not an imagined harking back to the work of the
+fifteenth century but showing the lapse of the centuries from the
+fifteenth to the twentieth as clearly as does the north porch the
+change from the thirteenth to the fifteenth.
+
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR OF HOLY TRINITY, FROM THE WEST.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE INTERIOR
+
+
+It is with a feeling of expectation followed by one of relief that we
+pass within the church, for restoration has there rarely the same
+excuse for its devastations as the action of wind and weather on the
+exterior too generously gives it, and this church is no exception to
+the general rule.
+
+The clearing away of galleries, the provision of new seating and the
+renewal of much window tracery have been the principal changes, the
+greatest loss being the destruction of the Corpus Christi Chapel. The
+nave is of moderate width and consists of only four bays, the eastern
+arches being narrower and made to abut against the tower after the
+manner of flying buttresses. The columns are clusters of four large
+filleted shafts separated by small ones while the bases are high and
+evidently meant to be seen above the benches. The caps are shallow and
+very simple, while the shafts of each pier reappear as part of the
+arch moulding.
+
+The arcade as a whole is remarkably strong and dignified, it would
+perhaps have gained by the addition of a bay in length. In the absence
+of precise records it may be assigned to the second quarter of the
+fourteenth century or a little later. Above the tower arch can still
+be seen, beneath the painting and plaster, the marks of the older
+steep roof. The nave of Stratford-on-Avon Church has points of
+resemblance to this. There too we have a fourteenth-century arcade
+(but much simpler) with a fifteenth-century panelled wall and
+clearstory above, and the panelling comes down on to the backs of the
+arches in a similar though somewhat simpler manner.
+
+Owing to the inequality of the eastern arches there is, in the
+position of the windows and roof principals a curious disregard of the
+lines of the piers and the centres of arches. There are eight equal
+bays in the roof and each corresponds to two two-light windows. It is
+interesting to compare the design of this clearstory with that of St.
+Michael's. It has more solidity to accord with the more vigorous
+arcade though the treatment of the panelling is similar. The height
+from the arch to the roof is much less in proportion, but the sills of
+the windows are kept lower and the heads are square. The form of the
+windows is perhaps determined in part by the desire for more space for
+stained glass, but it is also the logical outcome of the space
+afforded by the level lines of a wooden roof just as the use of the
+pointed window follows from the use of pointed vaulting. The treatment
+of the angles after the manner of the thirteenth century "shouldered"
+lintel in order to take off the harshness of the rectangular form and
+to give a better bearing for the lintels is noteworthy and should be
+compared with the more developed forms at St. John's Church.
+
+Above the tower arch is a painting of the Last Judgement, discovered
+in 1831. It is now so much darkened that very little can be made out.
+The following is a description of its appearance before 1860: In the
+centre is the Saviour clothed in crimson and seated on a rainbow.
+Below are the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist with the twelve
+Apostles arranged on each hand. Two angels sound the summons to
+Judgement, and on the right of our Saviour, steps lead to a portico
+over which three angels look down on the scene and others welcome a
+pope who has just passed St. Peter. On the Saviour's left are doomed
+spirits being conveyed by devils in various ways and in ludicrous
+attitudes to the place of torment, represented in the usual manner by
+the gaping mouth of a monster, vomiting flames of fire. A large
+painting of a crucifix, with a priest kneeling beside it and angels
+flying above, was discovered at the same time on the north side of the
+Chancel but was too much mutilated to be thought worthy of
+preservation.
+
+The =roofs= throughout are of low pitch, and almost all resemble one
+another in design. Those of the nave, chancel, archdeacon's chapel (on
+the west of the north porch) and transepts are divided by their
+principal timbers into large panels, which are again subdivided by
+mouldings upon the boarded ceiling. At all angles and intersections
+there are carved leaves, and stars in relief adorn each panel. All
+these roofs are painted in accordance, it is said, with existing
+indications of the original colouring. The ground is blue, the
+mouldings red and white, the stars and carving are gilt. The nave roof
+spandrels, above the tie-beams, have large painted figures of angels,
+supporting between them shields emblazoned with the instruments of
+the Passion. These are also said to be reproductions, but it appears
+likely that time had left much to the imagination of their restorer.
+
+[Illustration: NORTH SIDE OF NAVE, EASTERN BAYS.]
+
+Nevertheless, the whole effect of the roofs is harmonious, a result
+apparently obtained by the use of a blue far removed from the
+ultramarine tint too often employed.
+
+Since the removal of the ringing floor, in 1855, the lantern stage of
+the tower has been once more visible from the church. A wooden vaulted
+ceiling was at the same time inserted where a stone one had originally
+been built or intended.
+
+The =chancel= is dark owing to the small clearstory windows, the low
+outer north aisle, and the concealment of a south window by the organ.
+At the first pier east of the tower came the rood-screen, and on the
+south side (in the aisle) the door to it may be seen at a height above
+the floor. Access must have been by steep steps against the wall, or
+from the top of another screen across the aisle. The church accounts
+of the year 1560 tell us what it cost to remove:
+
+  Payd for taking down ye rode and Marie and John        _4s. 4d._
+  Payd to ye carpenter for pullyng down ye rode lofft    _4s. 8d._
+
+On the east side of the tower wall can be seen the line of the
+original roof, showing the height before the rebuilding in 1391.
+Although there is space for larger windows the aisle roof prevented
+their sills being brought lower. The west arch of the south arcade has
+been forced out of shape by the pressure of the tower piers and
+arches; certainly the piers, which are little more than 4 feet square,
+seem slender enough for the support of so lofty a steeple.
+
+Attached to this south-east tower pier is the stone pulpit, one of the
+two special glories of the church, the other being the brass eagle.
+The pulpit is either contemporary with the pier or nearly so. There is
+apparently some difference in the texture and colour of the stone, but
+as it is probable that a finer-grained stone would be chosen for work
+of this character, this need not imply a difference of date. It was,
+however, probably added at the same time as the nave clearstory. The
+authors of "English Church Furniture" assign it to 1470.[7] Before
+1833 (when restored by Rickman) it had been hidden from sight by
+wood-work and a clerk's desk at a lower level. The lower part is
+boldly corbelled out and the junction of the octagon with the pier
+shafts is well managed, but the upper open-panelled part is rather too
+definitely cut off from the lower by the battlemented cornice. Very
+few examples of this class of pulpit exist in England, and none equal
+in importance.
+
+The eagle =lectern= is a magnificent example of brass casting. It is
+generally attributed to the late fifteenth century. This eagle
+narrowly escaped being sold by the Puritans for old brass, as happened
+to that of St. Michael's. It closely resembles one belonging to St.
+Nicholas' Chapel, Lynn, save that the latter is not equal in
+refinement of detail and proportion, and the bird is less vigorous in
+pose and modelling. In 1560 there was "paid for skowring ye Egle and
+candell styckes, _10d._," and "for mending of ye Egle's tayle, _16d._"
+
+[Illustration: PULPIT.]
+
+At least nine chapels and fifteen altars are known to have existed in
+the church. The present choir vestry on the north side was the Lady
+Chapel. A simple piscina on the south side, about a foot above the
+present floor, shows that the old floor level was much lower.
+
+The =north aisle= is lofty and has a clearstory of three windows over
+the arcade. In the outer aisle was located Marler's, or the Mercers',
+Chapel, founded in 1537, and beneath it is a crypt or charnel house,
+now closed save for small ventilating openings.
+
+[Illustration: ARCHWAY BETWEEN THE NORTH PORCH AND ST. THOMAS'S
+CHAPEL.]
+
+The black oak roof of low pitch has the panels of the western bay only
+richly carved with vine leaves and grapes. Its date is, perhaps, as
+late as the foundation of the chantry. The piscina is in the north
+wall.
+
+West of the north transept is =St. Thomas's Chapel=. Dugdale says that
+Allesley's chantry was founded in the time of Edward I, at the altar
+of St. Thomas the Martyr, "in a chapel near adjoining to the church
+porch." The chapel is certainly older, for the beautiful double
+doorway from the porch is not later than mid-thirteenth century. The
+outer doorway of the porch was rebuilt in the fifteenth century. The
+inner one, with a finely moulded arch with angle shafts and the vault
+with simple diagonal ribs carried on shafts, is of the early
+thirteenth century. It is to be regretted that this fine porch is not
+better seen. Signs of the puzzling reconstructions that have occurred
+in this part are visible in the aisle wall. Two lancet windows high up
+are of the same date as the porch, and are blocked by the chamber
+since constructed above St. Thomas's Chapel, and parts of other window
+jambs are seen at different levels.
+
+The Archdeacon's Chapel or consistory court, to the west of the porch,
+is now one of the most interesting parts of the church.
+
+It is divided from the north aisle by two lofty arches with an
+octagonal column. The original dedication is not known, but in 1588 it
+was already used as an Ecclesiastical Court, and the next year a
+bishop's seat was made for use in it. In the south-west angle is a
+tall, narrow recess, once closed by a door. Lockers of this
+description were constructed for the safe keeping of the shaft of the
+processional cross, and for the staves of banners. On the east side
+the roof now cuts across the head of a window of reticulated tracery
+of the early fourteenth century. Most of the monuments have been
+brought hither from various parts of the church; only two or three are
+of general interest. A late Perpendicular canopied tomb, rudely carved
+and badly fitted together, stands against the north wall, but there is
+nothing to show whom it commemorates. On the east wall is the monument
+of Dr. Philemon Holland, with a long Latin epitaph. Fuller says of
+him: "he was the translator general in his age, so that those books
+alone of his turning into English will make a country gentleman a
+competent library for historians." Born at Chelmsford in 1551 he
+settled at Coventry in 1595, was usher and then master of St. John's
+Free School for twenty-eight years, and died in 1636 in his
+eighty-fifth year. During his usher-ship Dugdale was a pupil of the
+school.
+
+An engraved brass to John Whithead, who died in 1597, is interesting
+for the sake of the costumes of himself and his two wives. Three stone
+coffins have also been deposited here, and two sheets of lead from the
+roof recording, in fine bold lettering, the repairs executed in 1660
+and 1728. In the middle window on the north side are the only
+remaining fragments of ancient glass. As late as 1779 there were
+"portraits" of Earl Leofric and the Countess, and also, it is said, a
+smaller figure of the lady in a yellow dress on a white horse. Part of
+a small figure holding a spray of leaves and part of a galloping
+horse are pointed out as the remains of this. To the writer the figure
+appears to be clearly that of a man, and the horse and rider's leg not
+to have belonged to it.
+
+The modern stained glass is very unequal in character, and some is
+very poor indeed. The windows at the west, especially one in memory of
+Mr. Wm. Chater, a late organist, may be regarded as exceptions. There
+are still, fortunately, many which are not filled with pious
+memorials.
+
+The =font= is the original pre-Reformation one of the fifteenth
+century, which was removed by the Puritans in 1645 (though devoid of
+sculpture) and brought back after the Restoration. It stands on three
+steps, is panelled on bowl and stem, and rather brilliantly adorned
+with gold and colour.
+
+The south aisle was no doubt divided into two chapels, that on the
+west belonging to the Barkers' or Tanners' Gild. A small piscina
+against the south wall indicates the position of its altar. The wall
+below the windows is recessed so as to form a seat the whole length of
+the aisle.
+
+The =south transept=, containing the Corpus Christi and Cellet's
+chantries, has lost its original character completely. The piscina,
+high up on the south wall, shows that the floor level was some 9 feet
+above that of the church. The reason for this has been already
+explained. The organ chamber is quite modern. The best authorities
+place the chapel of the Butchers' Gild in the south aisle of the
+chancel, but do not say to whom the eastern chapel in the nave aisle
+belonged. It is known that there was a Jesus Chapel, and, in view of
+the proximity of Jesus Hall, it is believed by some that this was its
+position.
+
+The present clergy vestry is a fine room, having an excellent dark oak
+roof with heavy beams and well carved bosses at the intersections of
+the timbers. The Royal Arms over the fireplace were painted there in
+1632. Although usual, the placing of the king's arms in churches was
+not compulsory until the Restoration; few earlier now remain, and this
+placing of them in the vestry rather than the body of the church is
+suggestive of a compromise between opposing factions. A portrait of
+Walter Farquhar Hook, Vicar from 1828-37 and afterwards Dean of
+Chichester is hung here.
+
+It seems probable that this was a chapel, perhaps that of the Holy
+Trinity, to whom an altar was dedicated.
+
+The history, as traced in the church accounts, of the various organs
+used in the church gives some idea of the fluctuations of opinion as
+to the propriety of their use. In 1526 John Howe and John Climmowe,
+citizens and organ makers of London, contracted to provide, for L30,
+"a peir of Organs wt vij stopps, ov'r and besides the two Towers of
+cases, of the pitche of doble Eff, and wt xxvij pleyn keyes, xix
+musiks, xlvj cases of Tynn and xiiij cases of wood, wt two Starrs and
+the image of the Trinite on the topp of the sayed orgayns." In 1570
+the "payer of balowes" were sold, and in 1583 the pipes, "wayeng
+eleven score and thirteen pounds, went for fourpence half-farthing the
+pound." In 1632 a new one was obtained but its life was short, for in
+1641 the Puritan party caused it to be sold "for the best advantage."
+
+[Illustration: ALMS-BOX.]
+
+Once more, in 1684, another was purchased from Mr. Robert Hay wood of
+the City of Bath for L100; then, in 1732, Thomas Swarbrick of Warwick
+built one for L600, for which a gallery was erected across the nave.
+
+In 1855 this gave place to a new one by Foster and Andrews of Hull,
+costing L800; and this was rebuilt by Messrs. Hill and Son in 1900.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 7: "English Church Furniture." (Antiquary series.) J.C. Cox
+and A. Harvey.]
+
+
+[Illustration: CHURCH OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST, FROM BOND'S HOSPITAL.]
+
+
+
+
+ST. JOHN BAPTIST'S CHURCH
+
+The church of St. John Baptist has a history quite different from that
+of the other parish churches and is specially interesting as a
+building belonging to a very limited class, namely, Collegiate
+Churches owned by a Gild. Though Dugdale says that the "first and most
+antient of the Gilds here was founded in the 14th Ed. III (1340)" it
+is probable that, as in other places, religious gilds had for long
+existed here and that the royal license or Charter of this date was
+like that of Stratford-on-Avon in 1332, really a reconstitution or
+confirmation of the Gild's rights, privileges and possessions.
+
+This earliest one was known as the Merchant or St. Mary's Gild and its
+first ordinances provided that "the brethren and sisteren of the gild
+shall find as many chaplains as the means of the gild can well
+afford." Then in 1342 that of St. John Baptist and in 1343 that of St.
+Katharine was founded. The former at once founded a chantry of six
+priests to sing mass daily in the churches of St. Michael and the
+Trinity for "the souls of the King's progenitors and for the good
+estate of the King, Queen Isabella his mother, Queen Philippa his
+Consort and their children" and others, besides the members of the
+Gild. In 1344 this Gild, desiring to have a building for its exclusive
+use, received from Queen Isabella a small piece of land called
+Babbelak on which to build a chapel in honour of God and St. John, two
+priests being required to sing masses daily for the souls "of her dear
+lord Edward," John, Earl of Cornwall and others. Did she seek to
+satisfy her conscience thus for the woes she had brought upon her
+_dear lord_? The site thus given measured 117 feet from north to south
+and about 40 feet from east to west giving room for the chancel only
+of the present church, this being dedicated in 1350. But in 1357
+William Walsheman, valet to the Queen and now her sub-bailiff in
+Coventry gave further land, added a new aisle and increased the number
+of priests while the Black Prince in 1359 gave a small plot on which,
+perhaps, the tower and transept now stand. Within the next ten years
+Walsheman and Christiana his wife gave to the Gild certain tenements,
+called the "Drapery," in the city to build a chapel in honour of the
+Holy Trinity, St. Mary, St. John, and St. Katharine "within the Chapel
+of Bablake." William Wolfe, mayor in 1375, is mentioned as a "great
+helper" in the work at the church, the original nave and aisles being
+probably built at this time, and some reconstruction of the choir.
+Records are wanting of the subsequent alterations which gave it its
+present form. The north clearstory of the nave shows the original
+design while that of the choir and the south side of the nave belong
+to the fifteenth century as do the tower and the cruciform arrangement
+of the building. Leland's "Itinerary" gives the following description:
+"There is also a Collegiate Church at Bablake, hard within the West
+Gate (Spon Gate) alias Bablake Gate, dedicated to St. John.... It is
+of the foundation of the Burgesses and there is a great Privilege,
+Gild or Fraternity. In this College is now a Master and eight
+ministers and lately twelve ministers." Stowe adds that there were
+twelve singing men and extant deeds mention "Babbelake Hall" in which
+the warden and priests lived.
+
+Many interesting entries of expenditure are to be found in the gild
+accounts showing how the Eve of St. John (Midsummer Eve) and other
+festivals were celebrated before the suppression of the gilds by
+Edward VI. In 1541 we have the following (the spelling is somewhat
+modernized):
+
+   Expenses on Midsummer Even and on the day,--Item, 2 doz. & a half
+   cakes, _2s. 6d._; spice cakes, _12d._; a cest' ale and 4 gals.
+   _4s._; 2 gals, claret wine _16d._; 2 gals. malmsey, _2s. 8d._; 2
+   gals. muskedell _2s. 8d._; to Mr. Mayor _3s. 4d._; the Mayor to
+   offer, _8d._; to priests, clerks and children, _2s. 4d._; the
+   waits, _6s. 8d._; to poor people _6s. 8d._; to the cross-bearers
+   and torch-bearers, _8d._; the bellman, _4d._; the hire of pots,
+   _4d._; boughs, rushes and sweeping, _8d._; a woman 2 days to
+   cleanse the house, _4d._; half a hundred _3d._ nails, _11/2d._;
+   half a pound of sugar, _41/2d._; to the crossbearer and torchbearer
+   for St. George Day, Holy Rood Day, Shire Thursday and Whit
+   Sunday, _12d._; to 2 children for the same days, _6d._ Summa
+   (total) _38s. 2d._
+
+That these anniversaries and wakes led to much unseemly revelling we
+have evidence that cannot be gainsaid. The Trinity Gild decided in
+1542
+
+   that no obite, drynkyng or com'en assemblie, from henceforth
+   shall be had or used at Babalake, except onelie on Trinitie even
+   and on the day, which shall be used as it hath been in tymes
+   past. And that also the P'sts of Babelack shall say _dirige_ on
+   midsum' even and likewise masse of _requiem_ on the morrowe, as
+   they have used to doo. And that the Meire shall not come down
+   thether to _dirige_ ov(er) night for dyv's considerac'ons and
+   other great busynes they used. And on the morowe thei to go
+   thether to masse and brekefast, as thei have used to doo.
+
+Dugdale quotes from an old MS. an interesting passage bearing on this
+question:
+
+   "And ye shall understond and know how the Evyns were furst found
+   in old tyme. In the beginning of holi Chirche, it was so that the
+   pepull cam to the Chirche with candellys brennyng and wold _Wake_
+   and come with light toward nyght to the Chirch to their
+   devocions; and afterwards they fell to lecherie and songs,
+   daunces, harping, piping and also to glotony and sinne and so
+   turned the holinesse to cursaydnesse; wherefore holi faders
+   ordeined the pepull to leve that _waking_ and to fast the Evyn.
+   But it is called _Vigilia_, that is _Waking_ in English and it is
+   called the Evyn, for at Evyn they were wont to come to Chirche."
+
+In 1362 Queen Isabella helped to procure from the bishop a licence for
+one Robert de Worthin, priest, to become an anchorite and to inhabit a
+hermitage attached to the north aisle of the chancel. Traces of the
+foundations of this have been found on the site of the modern vestry.
+
+When the college was suppressed in 1548 the King granted to the mayor,
+bailiffs and corporation, on their petition, the church and its
+appurtenances in Free Burgage for ever on payment of _1d._, per annum
+and gave them "all the rents, revenues and profits of the said
+church."
+
+But these gifts were not sufficient to support the church and its
+services, so that the latter were irregular and repairs were
+neglected. In 1608 Mayor Hancox procured the delivery of a Saturday
+lecture "for the better fitting of the people for the Sabbath." In
+1641 Simon Norton, alderman, left property to his son Thomas, on
+trust, the condition being that if at any time St. John's should
+become a parish church, he or his heirs should pay _L13 6s. 8d._ to
+the minister out of rents of lands in Coundon, and also the tithes of
+lands in Clifton.
+
+Prisoners from the Scottish army being quartered on the city in 1647,
+many were confined in this church and wrought much damage and
+desecration. From this time services were only occasionally held,
+until 1734, when an Act of Parliament was obtained making it a Parish
+Church, appointing a district to it and enabling the Master and Usher
+of the Free Grammar School to be Rector and Lecturer of the church.
+The mayor, bailiffs, and commonalty were made patrons, but in 1835,
+these arrangements having failed to work satisfactorily, the patronage
+was transferred to trustees who acted as managers of the school and in
+1864 the lectureship was abolished, the rectory was severed from the
+office of Head Master and the Trustees of the school were charged with
+a payment of L200 per annum towards the stipend of the Rector. In 1874
+the advowson was sold to a private person. A great deal of
+restoration, justifiable and otherwise, has taken place, the decay of
+the local sandstone having made large repairs necessary. In 1861 much
+renewal of the external stone work was carried out. Unfortunately
+shortsighted ideas of economy led to the use of the same poor stone
+and much has recently had to be done over again, this time with the
+harder Runcorn stone used also at St. Michael's. The interior was
+restored in 1875, galleries erected in 1735 and 1838, and high pews
+were removed, the floor, which had been raised three feet, lowered,
+the lantern stage of the tower opened up by removing a ringing floor
+and a light iron gallery above the tower arches provided for the
+ringers. The original groined ceiling has thus been made visible from
+below.
+
+
+THE EXTERIOR
+
+Although small in area compared with the other churches, both exterior
+and interior give an impression of size and dignity which does not
+belong to many much larger buildings. In the exterior this is no doubt
+due to the pseudo-cruciform arrangement, the bold central tower and
+the height of the main roof, which would have appeared even greater
+had the roadways not been so much raised.
+
+The =tower= is in two stages, a lofty lantern story having two
+transomed two-light windows on each face and a shorter upper one
+having smaller windows without transoms and a battlemented parapet.
+Large skeleton clock-dials disfigure the windows of this story. Narrow
+buttress strips on either side and between the windows run through and
+serve to connect the stories. The north-east angle has an octagonal
+stair turret carried up above the parapet. The other angles have
+narrow buttresses running up to circular bartizans boldly corbelled
+out from the battlements. This is an extremely unusual feature in
+ecclesiastical architecture but is common on fortified structures. Of
+the City gates, Gosford Gate had machicolated ones but not Spon Gate
+adjacent to the church.
+
+[Illustration: ST. JOHN BAPTIST.]
+
+The spacing of the windows and buttresses of the south aisle and the
+position of the large transept window show how the later changes were
+effected. The three windows and the buttresses with niches and
+canopies almost certainly belong to the part built by Walsheman after
+1357. The two in the chancel aisle are recent insertions. The doorway
+at the south-west corner occupies the position where indications
+showed that an original door had existed. There is also a small
+priest's doorway of which the jambs are ancient. The clearstory was
+restored in 1861 "from sufficiently clear indications" in the remains
+of the original windows. The whole of this part is worthy of careful
+study and should be compared with the corresponding parts of Trinity
+Church. Everywhere we see signs of individual thought and design
+mainly directed to softening the rigidity of the horizontal lines of
+the square-headed and transomed "Perpendicular" windows. The method of
+cusping the drop-arch and the varied treatment of these in nave,
+choir and transepts are noteworthy while the little quatrefoil at the
+intersection of mullion and transom is a really happy innovation. The
+flying buttress over the south aisle restores a feature of the old
+building which had disappeared. Of the variously panelled and
+battlemented parapets, of nave, chancel and aisles a view of 1864
+gives no visible hint. As the report of Sir (then Mr.) G.G. Scott in
+1856 specifies as desirable the "renewing all the parapets according
+to the portions of the original which remain," we can only hope (but
+with no sense of certainty) that these parts are faithfully
+reproduced.
+
+The limited site on which the chancel was built (only 40 feet deep)
+caused the builders to omit any buttresses or other projections at the
+east end. The east window was renewed in 1861 but the proportions are
+not good and it is said that one light was suppressed although the old
+sill remained intact.
+
+The west end has a large six-light window with two transoms. It was
+restored in 1841 and is said to be a precise reproduction of the
+original design. On the gable above it is a large niched pinnacle
+which appears to be an "unauthorized" addition.
+
+While the north aisle is later than the south, the clearstory, as has
+been said is earlier, being of late Decorated date with large
+three-light windows of reticulated tracery. The north transept is more
+consistent in style than the south. The large four-light window is
+peculiar in design. It has one transom and the tracery is brought down
+much below the spring of the arch. The centre mullion is very solid,
+coming forward almost to the wall face both inside and out and running
+up to the apex of the arch. The clearstory windows in both transepts
+are similar in general design to those of the south clearstory of the
+nave but with variations suggesting a rather later date. A very
+effective view of the north side can be had from the quadrangle of
+Bond's Hospital, though here too it loses on account of the depressed
+site in which it lies.
+
+
+THE INTERIOR
+
+The interior is not less impressive for its size than the exterior,
+Sir G.G. Scott even saying that he knew of no interior more beautiful
+than St. John's.
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR, ST. JOHN BAPTIST.]
+
+[Illustration: CLEARSTORY WINDOWS.]
+
+All at least will agree that there is something about it striking and
+dignified which is obviously not concerned with mere size, is largely
+independent of elaboration of detail and may therefore be safely
+attributed to its satisfactory proportions and broad effects of light
+and shade. Its plan is quite simple consisting of a nave and choir
+with north and south aisles, a transept not projecting beyond the
+aisles at either end and a central tower. Yet, although it is more or
+less oblong as a whole, there is hardly a right angle or two parallel
+walls throughout the church. In most cases these discrepancies are not
+apparent, nor do they appear likely to have been intended to produce a
+studied effect. Thus a diminution in width towards the east (as at
+Manchester) may be expected to add to the apparent length, but here
+the south aisles of both nave and chancel expand instead of
+contracting. By standing within either transept and looking up at the
+roof the want of parallelism of the walls and other irregularities are
+plainly seen. The nave has only three bays, the arches being rather
+lofty and the arch mouldings of the characteristic shallowness of the
+period. The south-west pier had to be rebuilt on account of settlement
+and there are signs of it in the south-east arch next the tower. The
+name Bablake is said to have been derived from a pond or conduit near
+by and the site may have been swampy, thus affecting the foundations.
+The district is even now liable to flooding from the Sherborne (or
+Shireburn) stream and as late as January 1900 the waters rose over
+five feet within the church as a brass plate at the west end
+testifies.
+
+The graceful treatment of the windows of the nave and choir
+clearstories is shown in the illustration. Comparing these with the
+clearstory of Trinity nave (p. 71) questions of priority arise. If not
+designed by the same mind the influence of one on the other is easily
+seen. On the whole the greater rigidity of treatment and the anxiety
+to increase the area of glass in the Trinity windows suggest that the
+date is rather later and that the designs did not spring from the same
+brain. The roof is very simple, the curved brackets springing from the
+shafts which run down to the arches below. The wall is deeply recessed
+beneath the windows. The north windows, however, are continued down in
+plain panels, but this only makes more apparent the fact that they are
+not placed centrally over the arches.
+
+The north aisle has a doorway and two north windows. The windows are
+of good Perpendicular design, and the mullions are continued down the
+wall below, forming panels. The lowered sill and recess probably
+formed a convenient retable to an altar against the wall. The west
+window preserves some fragments of glass dated 1532. There is an
+obliterated inscription and small etched figures--among them an
+acolyte carrying a cross, one of those whose services are mentioned in
+the accounts after this wise: "to the crosebeirer and torchebeirer,
+for Seynt George day, hollieroode day, shire thuresday and Whit
+Sunday, _12d._; to 2 childern for the same dayes _6d._"
+
+The south aisle of the nave, including the lower part of the transept,
+is doubtless the aisle erected for the Gild by William Walsheman in
+1357. The two windows are not central with the nave arches, and the
+third is not in the centre of the transept. Their tracery is somewhat
+peculiar in design and refined in detail, and has the transitional
+character one would expect from its date. There are signs on the face
+of each western tower pier of the altars which once stood there,
+probably those of the Trinity and St. Katharine, which are known to
+have existed.
+
+The eastern piers of the tower are later than the western, and very
+unlike them in plan. A bold and ingenious treatment of the vaulting
+shaft of the tower groining is used on these piers; on the western
+ones the shafts stop upon the ends of the hood moulding.
+
+The choir is now closed by a screen carrying a large rood carved in
+oak. Like St. Michael's, but to a smaller extent, the axis of the
+choir inclines to the north. Whether symbolic, or only a part of what
+may be described as the studied irregularity of the whole building it
+is hard to say. The column on each side of the choir is later than the
+east respond and also later than the west tower pier, but corresponds
+with the east tower pier. The deep panelling beneath the windows must
+have been carried out when the clearstories were constructed in the
+fifteenth century.
+
+The south aisle of the choir, the original chapel of the patron saint,
+is now fitted up and used as a morning chapel. The piscina still
+remains in the south wall, and there is a trace of the old altar
+visible on the wall.
+
+The east end of the north aisle is now the organ chamber, and was
+originally the Lady Chapel. The base of the altar still exists, and so
+does the piscina in the south wall.
+
+In connection with these or other altars we hear of a payment of
+_22d._, in 1474, for painting a cloth for the image of St. John
+Baptist, and in 1462 sums of _40s._ and _7s._ were paid to a sculptor
+of Burton-on-Trent for an alabaster statue of the Virgin and a base
+for it.
+
+At the foot of the south-west tower-pier are some decayed but
+interesting ancient tiles. The new ones have been copied from them.
+
+The vicissitudes in the church's fortunes have left little for us to
+see that is not part and parcel of the structure.
+
+That there were "orgaynes" as early as 1461 we know from entries in
+the city records giving the cost at different times of wire, glue,
+nails, thread, etc., for the reparation of them, while a payment of
+_2d._ for "a string" suggests that they were a combination of wind and
+string stops, similar to the 1733 organ of St. Michael's as built by
+Thomas Swarbrick. In 1519 the Prior bought the "metell of ye old
+orgayns in bablake" for _9s. 10d._, but doubtless the new one
+disappeared in the troublous times that followed. A new one has
+recently been set up.
+
+The pulpit is of stone and quite new, and the font, erected in 1843,
+is a copy of that of St. Edward's, Cambridge.
+
+There are five bells, the inscriptions on them being as follows:
+
+  1st. Henrycus Bagley. M.C. Fecit 1676.
+  2nd. Pack & Chapman. London 1778. Richard Eaton, Church-warden.
+  3rd. Henric Dodenhale, Fecit. M.C.E.I.C.R.I.
+  4th. (Illegible.) Probably of the end of fifteenth century.
+  5th. I ring at six to let men know
+       When to and from their work to go.
+
+Neglect and decay it has been seen had provided only too plausible
+excuses for restoration. In 1858 the church had a narrow escape from a
+worse fate, for it was proposed to extend it in some direction, and
+the architect suggested the lengthening of the north transept and the
+addition of a new north aisle. Probably lack of funds alone prevented
+the carrying out of a proposal which would have completely spoilt the
+proportions of this beautiful interior.
+
+
+
+
+THE GREY FRIARS' CONVENT
+
+CHRIST CHURCH
+
+
+The third of the "three tall spires," albeit nothing else remains of
+the church to which it belonged, deserves that some notice should be
+given of it and of the men who reared it.
+
+In 1234, eleven years after their first coming into England, the
+Franciscan Friars are heard of at Coventry, Ranulph, Earl of Chester,
+having granted them land for their oratory, and the Sheriff of
+Warwickshire, on behalf of the King, giving them shingles from the
+woods of Kenilworth wherewith to cover it. In 1359 the Black Prince,
+then owner of the Manor and Park of Cheylesmore, just outside the
+walls of the city and adjacent to their convent, granted them so much
+stone from his quarry there, "as they should have occasion to use
+about their buildings and walls," and probably at this time the
+church, of which Christ Church spire is a remnant, was built.
+
+At the same time he gave them "liberty to have a postern into the
+Park to carry out any of their convent that should be diseased."
+
+The house was surrendered to the King in 1539, the warden and ten
+brethren being compelled to sign a humiliating document, in which they
+professed to "profoundly consider that the perfection of Christian
+living doth not consist in dumb ceremonies, wearing of a grey coat,
+disguising ourself after strange fashions, ducking, nodding and
+becking, in girding our selves with a girdle full of knots and other
+like Papisticall ceremonies."
+
+[Illustration: THE SPIRE OF CHRIST CHURCH.]
+
+It is certain at least that they had no accumulated wealth. Whatever
+they had received had been distributed for the advantage of the Church
+or the poor. At their suppression they had neither lands, tenements,
+nor other possessions, save their church and house and the land these
+stood on. The site was granted to the city and the buildings thrown
+down, only the spire with its supporting walls and arches being
+allowed to stand until 1829, when it was incorporated with the new
+nave of Christ Church from the designs of Rickman, to whom we are
+indebted for the first comprehensive and systematic account of English
+Mediaeval architecture. The work shows how imperfectly in those days
+even a genuine admirer of Mediaeval Art understood its spirit.
+Unfortunately the tower and spire were recased with new stone, and the
+original character of the work largely disappeared. The total height
+is 204 feet, exclusive of the vane. The plan of the old church was
+interesting, especially in the arrangement of the crossing. The short
+transepts had little real relation to choir or nave, which were almost
+completely separated from one another, the nave being intended for the
+use of the public.
+
+The narrowing of the tower from east to west, and the insertion of
+secondary north and south arches to carry the slender octagonal tower
+is unusual and ingenious. The whole length was 250 feet, and the
+transepts were 96 feet from north to south. The nave and choir
+differed little in length.
+
+[Illustration: GREY FRIARS' CHURCH (CROSSING).]
+
+The connection of the Franciscans with the production of the
+Mysteries, or sacred plays, should not pass unnoticed. Dugdale, who
+had spoken with eye witnesses, thus alludes to the subject:
+
+   Before the suppression of the Monasteries this City was very
+   famous for the Pageants that were played therein upon Corpus
+   Christi-day; which occasioning very great confluence of people
+   thither from far and near, was of no small benefit thereto; which
+   Pageants being acted with mighty State and Reverence by the
+   Friars of this House, had Theatres for the several scenes, very
+   large and high, placed upon wheels and drawn to all the eminent
+   parts of the City for the better advantage of spectators; and
+   contained the story of the Old and New Testament, composed in the
+   old English Rithme, as appeareth by an ancient MS. intituled,
+   _Ludus Corporis Christi_, or _Ludus Coventriae_.
+
+Along with a number that were performed by the city companies they are
+still to be seen in the British Museum. We know that the Friars
+presented them as late as 1492, when Henry VII was present with his
+Queen to see the plays "acted by the Grey Friars."
+
+No remains exist of the domestic buildings of the Friary. The
+well-known Ford's Hospital hard by is often called Grey Friars'
+Hospital, but this arises merely from the situation. It was founded in
+1529 by Mr. William Ford of Coventry, Merchant of the Staple, for five
+men and one woman, but is now inhabited by women only. It is an
+exceptionally beautiful example of Tudor timber construction in
+perfect condition.
+
+
+
+
+THE WHITE FRIARS
+
+
+The Carmelite or White Friars were, says Dugdale, fixed in Coventry in
+1343 by Sir John Poultney who had been four times Lord Mayor of
+London. Although their buildings were ornate and extensive, their
+revenue apart from oblations amounted to only _L3 6s. 8d._ per annum
+and the whole came to less than L8. At the Dissolution the house and
+its revenues came eventually to John Hales, Clerk of the Hanaper to
+Henry VIII. Having amassed a great estate in monastery and chantry
+lands, Hales founded the Free School in Coventry, the Church of the
+White Friars being at first used for the purpose. Later, he made of
+the Friary a dwelling and removed the school to St. John's Hospital,
+granted to him by the king in 1545. Part of the church of the Hospital
+still exists at the foot of Bishop Street, but the school has been
+removed to new buildings in the Warwick Road.
+
+Of the buildings of the White Friars there are considerable remains
+incorporated with the Union Workhouse at the top of Much Park Street.
+The east walk of the cloister, 150 feet in length, has a fine groined
+roof of the fifteenth century. A range of vaulted apartments runs
+alongside the cloister on the east side, divided midway by the
+vestibule to the Chapter House now destroyed. The upper story above
+the cloister and the range of rooms was, we may assume, the friars'
+Dormitory. A huge fireplace and a bay window are part of John Hales'
+reconstruction. The gateway to the south-west corner of the cloister
+remains, and the outer gate of the precincts may still be seen in Much
+Park Street.
+
+
+[Illustration: ST. MARY HALL.]
+
+
+
+
+ST. MARY HALL
+
+
+The Gilds were so important a part of the religious and social life of
+the city that it is imperative that some notice of their hall, which
+stands in suggestive proximity to the churches, should be given. St.
+Mary Hall, opposite the south side of St. Michael's is one of the most
+complete and beautiful examples of a fifteenth-century town dwelling
+now remaining in England. It originally belonged to the Gilds of Holy
+Trinity and Our Lady to which were united at a later time those of St.
+Katharine and St. John Baptist, the oldest to be founded. By the fine
+groined gateway we enter the courtyard, on the south side of which is
+the kitchen, probably the hall of an older structure of the first half
+of the fourteenth century, the present hall and its undercroft on the
+west side having been built between 1394 and 1414. On the east side is
+the entrance to the staircase leading to a gallery from which the hall
+is entered. At this end is the Minstrels' Gallery and beneath it are
+three doorways, the centre one leading to the kitchens below, that on
+the right to the old Council Chamber, that on the left to a smaller
+room known as the Princes' Chamber. From the Council Chamber is
+reached the stone-groined Treasury, now used for the safe keeping of
+muniments and records. It forms the first floor of a low tower.
+
+The hall, 70 feet by 30 feet, is of five bays, with the usual dais and
+oriel window at the far end from the entrance.
+
+[Illustration: ST. MARY HALL.]
+
+The nine-light window over the dais has its original glass, made, it
+is believed, by the John Thornton of Coventry who is known as the
+maker of the east window of York Minster. The upper part has numerous
+coats of arms of kings, cities, and princes, while the nine lights are
+filled with "portraitures of several kings in their surcotes," William
+I, Richard I, Henry III, IV, V, VI, King Arthur, the Emperor
+Constantine, and another unnamed. The windows on either side of the
+hall have suffered grievously. Those on the west (left) were deprived
+of their heraldry and portraits in 1785. In those on the east new
+glass with poor imitations of the ancient series of figures and
+coats-of-arms was placed in 1824. At the same time the wainscotting
+painted in 1580 with inscriptions and heraldry was cleared away and
+replaced with cement. The inscriptions were copied with care, but "the
+ornamentation was followed without any very fastidious copying of the
+uncouth ancient style"![8] The timber roof is of low pitch, with
+traceried spandrels above the tie-beams. Angels playing on a variety
+of instruments are placed at the centre of each tie-beam and there is
+much good carving of foliage and animals at the intersections of the
+timbers. The most famous adornment of the hall is the tapestry behind
+the dais. The following views as to its origin and subject are those
+of George Scharf the antiquary. It is of Flemish design but probably
+of English manufacture, is woven, not embroidered, and was made in the
+early sixteenth century for the place it occupies, its compartments
+corresponding with those of the window. It is in six compartments in
+two rows. The upper central has a figure of Justice, an insertion
+probably in the place of Christ, angels with the instruments of the
+Passion being on either side. The lower central represents the
+Assumption of the Virgin in presence of the apostles. The upper left
+in order from the centre has eleven saints, SS. John Baptist, Matthias
+(?), Paul, Adrian, Peter, George, Andrew, No. 8(?), Bartholomew,
+Simon, Thaddeus. The corresponding female saints on the right are SS.
+Katherine, Barbara, Dorothy, Mary Magdalen, No. 5 (?), Margaret,
+Agnes, Gertrude of Nivelle, Anne, Apollonia.
+
+The lower left has a king kneeling at a prie-dieu on which is his
+crown and an open book. A cardinal kneels behind him but there is no
+other ecclesiastic among the seventeen courtiers standing behind. In
+the opposite compartment is a queen kneeling with a number of ladies,
+among whom are two in monastic dress. Although the work belongs to the
+reign of Henry VII, the king and queen are almost certainly Henry VI
+and Margaret of Anjou.
+
+On the walls are portraits of later sovereigns from William III to
+George IV, that of George III being by Lawrence. The Mayoress' Parlour
+opening from the dais has been drastically restored. It contains
+portraits of Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, James I, and Charles I, and
+four benefactors to the city, John Hales, founder of the Free School,
+Sir Thomas White, Thomas Jesson and Christopher Davenport.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 8: "Coventry: its History and Antiquities," B. Poole, 1870.]
+
+
+
+
+THE CARTHUSIAN MONASTERY
+
+
+Little remains of this monastery which stood on the south side and not
+far from the city. The Order settled in Coventry in 1381 only ten
+years after the foundation of the London Charter-house. At the
+Dissolution the Prior and brethren, ten in all, did not emulate the
+heroism of the London monks and were fortunate enough to obtain
+pensions instead of martyrdom. Some trifling remains exist
+incorporated in a modern mansion, and a wall of the garden shows the
+position of doors which led to the isolated cells of the monks. The
+Botoners had given freely to the building of the church and cloisters
+of which Richard II laid the first stone in 1385 and afterwards
+largely endowed "on condition that they should find and maintain
+within the precinct of their house, twelve poor scholars from seven
+years old till they accomplished the age of seventeen years, there to
+pray for the good estate of him the said King and of his Consort,
+during this life, and for the health of their souls after death."
+
+
+
+
+INDEX
+
+
+Abbots of Coventry, 4.
+
+Alms-boxes, 56, 77.
+
+Apse, 36.
+
+
+Bells, 56, 91.
+
+Benefactors of Coventry, 99.
+
+Botoner, William and Adam, 22.
+
+
+Carthusian Monastery, 99.
+
+Chantries, Foundation of, 9.
+
+Christ Church, 91.
+
+City, History of, 1-15.
+
+Cross, 15.
+
+
+Dissolution of Monasteries, 13.
+
+Duel, Hereford and Norfolk, 11.
+
+
+Evens or Wakes, 83.
+
+
+Fonts, 51, 76.
+
+Ford's Hospital, 94.
+
+Friars, Coming of, 8.
+
+
+Grey Friars Convent (Christ Church):
+  History, 94.
+  Plan of Crossing, 93.
+  Suppression, 92.
+
+Gilds, 6, 10.
+
+Glass, Ancient, 56, 75, 89.
+
+Godiva and Leofric, 4, 75.
+
+
+Hales, John, 14, 94.
+
+Hermitage. 83.
+
+Hospital, Ford's, 94.
+
+Hospital, St. John's, 94.
+
+
+Lollards, 11.
+
+
+Martyrs, 14.
+
+Midsummer Eve, 82.
+
+Misereres, 48.
+
+Monastery, History, 1-15.
+
+Monastery Ruins, 16-18.
+
+
+Orders of Angels, 47.
+
+Organ, 55, 77, 90.
+
+
+Pageants and Plays, 13, 14, 93.
+
+Parliamentum Indoctorum, 11.
+
+Parliamentum Diabolicum, 12.
+
+Persecution, 14.
+
+Pilgrims' Rest or Guest House, 15.
+
+Priory, Ruins, 16-18.
+
+
+Royal visits:
+  Henry VI, 11, 12.
+  Margaret, 23.
+  Edward IV, 12.
+  Richard III, 13.
+  Henry VII, 13.
+  Henry VIII, 13.
+  Elizabeth, 14.
+  Mary Queen of Scots, 14.
+  Charles I, 14.
+
+
+St. John Baptist Church:
+  History, 81.
+  Exterior, 84.
+  Interior, 86.
+  Bells, 91.
+  Clearstory windows, 85.
+  Collegiate foundation, 81.
+  Glass, ancient, 89.
+  Organ, 90.
+
+St. Mary Hall:
+  Glass, ancient, 97.
+  Plan, 98.
+  Portraits, 99.
+  Tapestry, 98.
+
+St. Michael's Church:
+  History, 21-26.
+  Exterior, 29.
+  Interior, 41.
+  Apse, 36.
+  Bells, 56.
+  Brasses, 51, 55.
+  Chapels:
+    Cappers', 53.
+    Drapers' or Lady, 36, 47.
+    Dyers', 52.
+    Mercers, 54.
+  Chapter, Constitution of, 25.
+  Chest, 50.
+  Crypt, 36.
+  Font, 51.
+  Glass, ancient, 56.
+  Old church, position of, 42.
+  Organ, 55.
+  Porch, south, 34.
+  Proportions of Steeple, 30.
+  Pulpit, 56.
+  Spire, 32.
+  Tombs:
+    Berkeley, 49.
+    Bond, 49.
+    Nethermyl, 50.
+    Skeffington, 55.
+    Swillington, 54.
+    Wade's, 55.
+
+
+Trinity Church:
+  History, 61.
+  Exterior, 65.
+  Interior, 69.
+  Chapels:
+    Archdeacon's, 75.
+    Butchers', 76.
+    Corpus Christi, 76.
+    Marler's, 73.
+    St. Thomas's, 74.
+  Clearstory, 69.
+  Font, 76.
+  Glass, ancient, 75.
+  Lectern, Eagle, 73.
+  Organ, 77.
+  Plan, 66.
+  Pulpit, 72.
+  Spire, 66.
+  Tombs:
+    Philemon Holland, 75.
+    Whithead (Brass), 75.
+
+
+White Friars' Convent, 94.
+
+
+[Illustration: ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH]
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+  CHISWICK PRESS: CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND CO.
+  TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON.
+
+
+
+
+Bell's Cathedral Series
+
+  ILLUSTRATED MONOGRAPHS ON THE GREAT
+  ENGLISH CATHEDRALS AND
+  CHURCHES
+
+_Crown 8vo. Profusely Illustrated, in specially designed cloth
+binding, 1s. 6d. net each._
+
+
+This series of monographs upon our great English Cathedral Churches
+has been framed to give students of Architecture handy reference
+volumes, and the visitor trustworthy guide-books, at once cheaper and
+more fully illustrated than any previous works of similar character.
+
+Each volume contains not only a complete history of the see and of the
+Cathedral fabric, but a critical and descriptive survey of the
+building in all its detail; sufficiently accurate from the
+archaeological point of view to furnish a trustworthy record of the
+building in its past and present condition, and not too technical in
+its language for the occasional use of the casual visitor. Brief
+biographical accounts of the bishops and other notable men connected
+with the Diocese are also included.
+
+The volumes are fully illustrated from modern photographs and
+drawings, and contain also reproductions from old, and in some cases
+rare, prints, for the purpose of tracing the gradual growth and
+development of the existing buildings.
+
+
+
+
+Bell's Cathedral Series
+
+_Profusely Illustrated. Cloth, crown 8vo, 1s. 6d. net each._
+
+
+NOW READY
+
+  ENGLISH CATHEDRALS. An Itinerary and Description. Compiled by J.
+    G. GILCHRIST, A.M., M.D. Revised and edited with an
+    Introduction on Cathedral Architecture by Rev. T. PERKINS,
+    M.A., F.R.A.S.
+
+  BANGOR. By P.B. IRONSIDE-BAX.
+
+  BRISTOL. By H.J.L.J. MASSE, M.A.
+
+  CANTERBURY. By HARTLEY WITHERS. 4th Edition.
+
+  CARLISLE. By C.K. ELEY.
+
+  CHESTER. By CHARLES HIATT. 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  CHICHESTER. By H.C. CORLETTE, A.R.I.B.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  DURHAM. By J.E. BYGATE, A.R.C.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  ELY. By Rev. W.D. SWEETING, M.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  EXETER. By PERCY ADDLESHAW, B.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  GLOUCESTER. By H.J.L.J. MASSE, M.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  HEREFORD. By A. HUGH FISHER, A.R.E. 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  LICHFIELD. By A.B. CLIFTON. 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  LINCOLN. By A.F. KENDRICK, B.A. 3rd Edition, revised.
+
+  LLANDAFF. By E.C. MORGAN-WILLMOTT.
+
+  MANCHESTER. By the Rev. T. PERKINS, M.A., F.R.A.S.
+
+  NORWICH. By C.H.B. QUENNELL. 2nd Edition.
+
+  OXFORD. By Rev. PERCY DEARMER, M.A. 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  PETERBOROUGH. By Rev. W.D. SWEETING, M.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  RIPON. By CECIL HALLET, B.A.
+
+  ROCHESTER. By G.H. PALMER, B.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  ST. ALBANS. By Rev. T. PERKINS, M.A.
+
+  ST. ASAPH. By P.B. IRONSIDE-BAX.
+
+  ST. DAVID'S. By PHILIP ROBSON, A.R.I.B.A.
+
+  ST. PATRICK'S, DUBLIN. By the Very Rev. Dean BERNARD. 2nd Edition.
+
+  ST. PAUL'S. By Rev. ARTHUR DIMOCK, M.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  SALISBURY. By GLEESON WHITE, 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  SOUTHWARK, ST. SAVIOUR'S. By GEORGE WORLEY.
+
+  SOUTHWELL. By Rev. ARTHUR DIMOCK, M.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  WELLS. By Rev. PERCY DEARMER, M.A. 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  WINCHESTER. By P.W. SERGEANT. 3rd Edition, revised.
+
+  WORCESTER. By EDWARD F. STRANGE.
+
+  YORK. By A. CLUTTON BROCK. 3rd Edition.
+
+_Others to follow_.
+
+
+
+
+Bell's Cathedral Series
+
+UNIFORM VOLUMES
+
+_Profusely Illustrated. Cloth, crown 8vo, 1s. 6d. net._
+
+  BATH ABBEY, MALMESBURY ABBEY, AND BRADFORD-ON-AVON CHURCH. By
+    Rev. T. PERKINS, M.A.
+
+  BEVERLEY MINSTER. By CHARLES HIATT. 47 Illustrations.
+
+  ST. MARTIN'S CHURCH, CANTERBURY. By Rev. CANON ROUTLEDGE, M.A.,
+    F.S.A. 24 Illustrations.
+
+  THE CHURCHES OF COVENTRY. By FREDERIC W. WOODHOUSE.
+
+  ROMSEY ABBEY. By Rev. T. PERKINS, M.A.
+
+  STRATFORD-ON-AVON. By HAROLD BAKER.
+
+  THE TEMPLE CHURCH. By GEORGE WORLEY.
+
+  ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, SMITHFIELD. By GEORGE WORLEY.
+
+  TEWKESBURY ABBEY AND DEERHURST PRIORY. By H.J.L.J. MASSE, M.A. 44
+    Illustrations.
+
+  WESTMINSTER ABBEY. By CHARLES HIATT.
+
+  WIMBORNE MINSTER AND CHRISTCHURCH PRIORY. By Rev. T. PERKINS,
+    M.A., F.R.A.S. 65 Illustrations.
+
+  MALVERN PRIORY. By the REV. ANTHONY C. DEANE.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+Bell's Handbooks to Continental Churches
+
+_Profusely Illustrated. Crown 8vo, cloth, 2s. 6d. net each._
+
+  CHARTRES: The Cathedral and Other Churches. By H.J.L.J. MASSE,
+    M.A.
+
+  ROUEN: The Cathedral and Other Churches. By the Rev. T. PERKINS,
+    M.A.
+
+  AMIENS. By the Rev. T. PERKINS, M.A., F.R.A.S.
+
+  PARIS (NOTRE-DAME). By CHARLES HIATT.
+
+  MONT ST. MICHEL. By H.J.L.J. MASSE, M.A.
+
+  BAYEUX. By the Rev. R.S. MYLNE, M.A.
+
+
+
+
+Opinions of the Press.
+
+"For the purpose at which they aim they are admirably done, and there
+are few visitants to any of our noble shrines who will not enjoy their
+visit the better for being furnished with one of these delightful
+books, which can be slipped into the pocket and carried with ease, and
+is yet distinct and legible.... A volume such as that on Canterbury is
+exactly what we want, and on our next visit we hope to have it with
+us. It is thoroughly helpful, and the views of the fair city and its
+noble cathedral are beautiful. Both volumes, moreover, will serve more
+than a temporary purpose, and are trustworthy as well as
+delightful."--_Notes and Queries_.
+
+"We have so frequently in these columns urged the want of cheap,
+well-illustrated, and well-written handbooks to our cathedrals, to
+take the place of the out-of-date publications of local booksellers,
+that we are glad to hear that they have been taken in hand by Messrs.
+George Bell & Sons."--_James's Gazette_.
+
+"The volumes are handy in size, moderate in price, well illustrated,
+and written in a scholarly spirit. The history of cathedral and city
+is intelligently set forth and accompanied by a descriptive survey of
+the building in all its detail. The illustrations are copious and well
+selected, and the series bids fair to become an indispensable
+companion to the cathedral tourist in England."--_Times_.
+
+"They are nicely produced in good type, on good paper, and contain
+numerous illustrations, are well written, and very cheap. We should
+imagine architects and students of architecture will be sure to buy
+the series as they appear, for they contain in brief much valuable
+information."--_British Architect_.
+
+"Each of them contains exactly that amount of information which the
+intelligent visitor, who is not a specialist, will wish to have. The
+disposition of the various parts is judiciously proportioned, and the
+style is very read-able. The illustrations supply a further important
+feature; they are both numerous and good. A series which cannot fail
+to be welcomed by all who are interested in the ecclesiastical
+buildings of England."--_Glasgow Herald_.
+
+"Those who, either for purposes of professional study or for a
+cultured recreation, find it expedient to 'do' the English cathedrals
+will welcome the beginning of Bell's 'Cathedral Series.' This set of
+books is an attempt to consult, more closely, and in greater detail
+than the usual guide-books do, the needs of visitors to the cathedral
+towns. The series cannot but prove markedly successful. In each book a
+business-like description is given of the fabric of the church to
+which the volume relates, and an interesting history of the relative
+diocese. The books are plentifully illustrated, and are thus made
+attractive as well as instructive. They cannot but prove welcome to
+all classes of readers interested either in English Church history or
+in ecclesiastical architecture."--_Scotsman_.
+
+"They have nothing in common with the almost invariably wretched local
+guides save portability, and their only competitors in the quality and
+quantity of their contents are very expensive and mostly rare works,
+each of a size that suggests a packing-case rather than a coat-pocket.
+The 'Cathedral Series' are important compilations concerning history,
+architecture, and biography, and quite popular enough for such as take
+any sincere interest in their subjects."--_Sketch_.
+
+
+LONDON: GEORGE BELL AND SONS YORK HOUSE, PORTUGAL STREET, W.C.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bell's Cathedrals: The Churches of
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+Project Gutenberg's The Churches of Coventry, by Frederick W. Woodhouse
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
+
+
+Title: The Churches of Coventry
+       A Short History of the City & Its Medieval Remains
+
+Author: Frederick W. Woodhouse
+
+Release Date: March 2, 2004 [EBook #11403]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHURCHES OF COVENTRY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Jon Ingram, Program Manager; Keith M. Eckrich, Post-Proofer,
+Distributed Proofreaders
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: COVENTRY, THE THREE SPIRES.]
+
+
+THE CHURCHES OF COVENTRY
+
+A SHORT HISTORY OF THE CITY & ITS MEDIEVAL REMAINS
+
+BY
+
+FREDERIC W. WOODHOUSE
+
+WITH XL ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+[Illustration: ARMS OF COVENTRY]
+
+
+1909
+
+
+
+BELL'S CATHEDRAL SERIES
+
+COVENTRY
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+The principal authorities for the history of Coventry and its churches
+have been Dugdale's "Antiquities of Warwickshire" and the "Illustrated
+Papers and the History and Antiquities of the City of Coventry," by
+Thomas Sharp, edited by W.G. Fretton (1871). Besides these the many
+papers by Mr. Fretton in the Transactions of the Birmingham and
+Midland Institute and other Societies, and the "History and
+Antiquities of Coventry" by Benjamin Poole (1870) have been the main
+sources of historical information. The Author is, however, responsible
+for the architectural opinions and descriptions, which are mainly the
+outcome of a lifelong acquaintance with the city and its buildings,
+fortified by several weeks of study and investigation recently
+undertaken.
+
+He desires to acknowledge his deep obligations to the Vicars of the
+several churches for leave to examine, measure and photograph the
+buildings in their charge; to Mr. J. Oldrid Scott for the loan of
+drawings of St. Michael's; to Mr. A. Brown, Librarian of the Coventry
+Public Library for advice and help in making use of the store of
+topographical material under his care; to Mr. Owen, Verger of St.
+Michael's and Mr. Chapman, Verger of Holy Trinity, for help in various
+directions, and to Mr. Wilfred Sims for his energy and care in taking
+most of the photographs required for illustration.
+
+The other illustrations are reproduced from drawings made by the
+author.
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+  MONASTERY AND CITY
+
+  THE RUINS OF THE PRIORY AND CATHEDRAL CHURCH
+
+  ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH:
+    CHAPTER I. HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
+           II. THE EXTERIOR
+          III. THE INTERIOR
+
+  HOLY TRINITY CHURCH:
+    CHAPTER I. HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
+           II. THE EXTERIOR
+          III. THE INTERIOR
+
+  ST. JOHN BAPTIST'S CHURCH
+
+  THE GREY FRIARS' CONVENT (CHRIST CHURCH)
+
+  THE WHITE FRIARS
+
+  ST. MARY HALL
+
+  THE CARTHUSIAN MONASTERY
+
+
+
+LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS:
+
+  COVENTRY, THE THREE SPIRES
+
+  ARMS OF THE TOWN
+
+  VIEW FROM THE TOP OF BISHOP STREET
+
+  COOK STREET GATE
+
+  SEAL OF THE PRIORY
+
+  WEST END OF THE PRIORY CHURCH
+
+  REMAINS OF THE NORTH-WEST TOWER IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY
+
+  ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE NORTH
+
+  ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE NORTH-WEST
+
+  INTERIOR OF THE TOWER FROM BELOW
+
+  THE WEST PORCH
+
+  SOUTH PORCH FROM ST. MARY HALL
+
+  SOUTH-WEST DOORWAY
+
+  INTERIOR OF ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE WEST
+
+  TOWER ARCH
+
+  BAY OF NAVE, NORTH SIDE
+
+  INTERIOR FROM THE SOUTH DOOR
+
+  THE CHOIR FROM ST. LAWRENCE'S CHAPEL
+
+  POPPY HEAD, LADY CHAPEL
+
+  MISERERE, LADY CHAPEL
+
+  CHEST IN NORTH AISLE
+
+  THE NETHERMYL TOMB
+
+  THE SWILLINGTON TOMB
+
+  ALMS-BOX
+
+  HOLY TRINITY FROM THE NORTH (ABOUT 1850)
+
+  PLAN OF TRINITY CHURCH
+
+  INTERIOR OF HOLY TRINITY, FROM THE WEST
+
+  NORTH SIDE OF NAVE-EASTERN BAYS
+
+  PULPIT
+
+  ARCHWAY BETWEEN THE NORTH PORCH AND ST. THOMAS'S CHAPEL
+
+  ALMS-BOX
+
+  CHURCH OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST
+
+  PLAN
+
+  INTERIOR
+
+  CLEARSTORY WINDOWS
+
+  THE SPIRE OF CHRIST CHURCH
+
+  GREY FRIARS' CHURCH (PLAN OF CROSSING)
+
+  ST. MARY HALL
+
+  PLAN
+
+  PLAN OF ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH
+
+
+[Illustration: VIEW FROM THE TOP OF BISHOP STREET.]
+
+
+CHURCHES OF COVENTRY
+
+MONASTERY AND CITY
+
+The opening words of Sir William Dugdale's account of Coventry assert
+that it is a city "remarkable for antiquity, charters, rights and
+privileges, and favours shown by monarchs." Though this handbook is
+primarily concerned with a feature of the city he does not here
+mention--its magnificent buildings--the history of these is bound up
+with that of the city. The connection of its great parish churches
+with the everyday life of the people, though commonly on a narrower
+stage, is more intimate than is that of a cathedral or an abbey
+church, but it is to be remembered that without its Monastery Coventry
+might never have been more than a village or small market town.
+
+We cannot expect the records of a parish church to be as full and
+complete as those of a cathedral, always in touch through its bishops
+with the political life of the country and enjoying the services of
+numerous officials; or as those of a monastery, with its leisured
+chroniclers ever patiently recording the annals of their house, the
+doings of its abbots, the dealings of their house with mother church
+and the outside world, and all its internal life and affairs. In the
+case of Coventry, the unusual fulness of its city archives, the
+accounts and records of its guilds and companies, and the close
+connection of these with the church supplies us with a larger body of
+information than is often at the disposal of the historian of a parish
+church. As therefore, in narrating the story of a cathedral some
+account of the Diocese and its Bishops has been given, so, before
+describing the churches of Coventry, we shall give in outline the
+history of the city which for 700 years gave its name to a bishop and
+of the great monastery whose church was for 400 years his seat.
+
+Though Dugdale says that it is remarkable for antiquity, Coventry as a
+city has no early history comparable with that of such places as York,
+Canterbury, Exeter, or Colchester, while its modern history is mainly
+a record of fluctuating trade and the rise and decline of new
+industries. But through all its Mediaeval period, from the eleventh
+century down to the Reformation, with an expiring flicker of energy in
+the seventeenth, there is no lack of life and colour, and its story
+touches every side of the national life, political, religious, and
+domestic. The only evidence of extreme antiquity produced by Dugdale
+is the suffix of its name, for "_tre_ is British, and signifieth the
+same that _villa_ in Latin doth;" while the first part may be derived
+from the convent or from a supposed ancient name, Cune, for the
+Sherborne brook.
+
+The first date we have is 1016, when Canute invaded Mercia, burning
+and laying waste its towns and settlements, including a house of nuns
+at Coventry founded by the Virgin St. Osburg in 670, and ruled over by
+her.[1]
+
+But there is no sure starting-point until the foundation of the
+monastery by Earl Leofric and the Countess Godiva, the church being
+dedicated by Edsi, Archbishop of Canterbury, in honour of God, the
+Virgin Mary, St. Peter, St. Osburg, and All Saints on 4th October,
+1043. Leofwin, who was first abbot with twenty-four monks under his
+rule, ten years after became Bishop of Lichfield. The original
+endowment by Leofric, consisted of a half of Coventry[2] with fifteen
+lordships in Warwickshire and nine in other counties, making it (says
+Roger de Hoveden) the wealthiest monastery of the period. Besides this
+the pious Godiva gave all the gold and silver which she had to make
+crosses, images, and other adornments for the church and its services.
+The well-known legend of her ride through Coventry first appears in
+the pages of Matthew of Westminster in the early fourteenth century.
+The Charter of Exemption from Tolls is not in existence, and the story
+of Peeping Tom is the embroidery of the prurient age (1678), in which
+the pageant was instituted. In a window of Trinity Church figures of
+Leofric and Godiva were set up about the time of Richard II, the Earl
+holding in his right hand a Charter with these words written thereon:
+
+  I Luriche for the Love of thee
+  Doe make Coventre Toll-free.
+
+Abbot Leofwin was succeeded in 1053 by Leofric, nephew of the great
+earl; and he by a second Leofwin, who died in 1095. The first Norman
+bishop of Lichfield had, in compliance with the decision of a Synod
+(1075) in London fixing bishops' seats in large towns, removed his to
+St. John's, Chester. But his successor, Robert de Lymesey--whose greed
+appears to have been notable in a greedy age--having the king's
+permission to farm the monastic revenues until the appointment of a
+new abbot, held it for seven years, and then, in 1102, removed his
+stool to Coventry. Five of his successors were bishops of Coventry
+only, then the style changed to Coventry and Lichfield, and so
+remained till 1661, when (in consequence of the disloyalty of Coventry
+and the sufferings of Lichfield in the royal cause) the order was
+reversed!
+
+In 1836 the archdeaconry of Coventry was annexed to Worcester and its
+name disappeared from the title, and now it is probable that Coventry
+will soon again give her name to a See without dividing the honour.
+For the joint episcopal history the reader must be referred to the
+handbook in this series on Lichfield Cathedral. In this place will
+only be given that of the Monastery as such, and specially in
+connection with its "appropriated" parish churches and the City in
+which it stood. That history is not essentially different from that of
+other monasteries. Though its connection with the See and the rival
+claims and antagonisms of the respective Chapters produced a plentiful
+crop of serious quarrels, its relations with the townsfolk were free
+from such violent episodes as occurred at Bury St. Edmunds or St.
+Albans. The Chapter of Lichfield consisted of secular priests (Lymesey
+and his next successor were married men), while the Monastery, though
+freed by pope and king from any episcopal or justiciary power and with
+the right of electing its own abbot, was, like all monastic bodies,
+always jealous of the encroachments of bishops, and regarded secular
+priests as inferior in every respect. The opinion of the laity who saw
+both sides may be gathered from Chaucer's picture of a "poore Persoun
+of a toun." He knew well enough how the revenue, which should have
+gone to the parish, its parson and its poor, went to fill the coffers
+of rich abbeys, to build enormous churches and furnish them
+sumptuously, to provide retinues of lazy knights for the train of
+abbot or bishop, and to prosecute lawsuits in the papal courts.
+
+But when bishop and abbot were one and the same, the monks still
+claimed the right of election, and so for generations the history of
+the diocese is a tale of strife and bickering, and how it was that
+pope, king or archbishop did not perceive that it was a case of
+hopeless incompatibility of temper, or, perceiving it, did not
+dissolve the union or get it dissolved is difficult to see. Probably
+the injury done to religion weighed but lightly against vested
+interests and the power of the purse. The Monastery was, however, as
+Dugdale says, "the chief occasion of all the succeeding wealth and
+honour that accrued to Coventry"; for though the original Nunnery may
+have been planted in an existing settlement, or have attracted one
+about it, the greater wealth of the Abbey, its right to hold markets,
+and all its own varied requirements would quickly increase and bring
+prosperity to such a township, as it did at Bury St. Edmunds,
+Burton-on-Trent and many another.
+
+In the thirteenth century the priory was in financial straits, through
+being fined by Henry III for disobedience. Later, however, he granted
+further privileges to the monks, among them that of embodying the
+merchants in a Gild. In 1340 Edward III granted this privilege to the
+City. From an early period the manufacture of cloth and caps and
+bonnets was the principal trade of Coventry, and though Leland says,
+"the town rose by making of cloth and caps, which now decaying, the
+glory of the City also decayeth," it was only destroyed by the French
+wars of the seventeenth century. But in 1377, when only eighteen towns
+in the kingdom had more than 3,000 inhabitants, and York, the second
+city, had only 11,000, Coventry was fourth with 7,000. Just one
+hundred years later 3,000 died here of the plague, one of many
+visitations of that terrible scourge. At the Suppression it had risen
+to 15,000, and soon after fell to 3,000, through loss of trade for
+"want of such concourse of people that numerously resorted thither
+before that fatal Dissolution."
+
+But if the town grew apace so did the Monastery. Thus, when in 1244
+Earl Hugh died childless his sisters divided his estates and Coventry
+fell to Cecily, wife of Roger de Montalt. Six years later the
+Monastery lent him a large sum to take him to the Holy Land, and
+received from him the lordship of Coventry (excepting the Manor House
+and Park of Cheylesmore) and the advowson of St. Michael's and its
+dependent chapels, thus becoming the landlords of nearly the whole of
+Coventry.
+
+[Illustration: COOK STREET GATE.]
+
+Civic powers grew with the growth of trade. Before 1218 a fair of
+eight days had been granted to the Priory, and later another of six
+days, to be held in the earl's half of the town about the Feast of
+Holy Trinity. In 1285 a patent from the king is addressed to the
+burgesses and true men to levy tolls for paving the town; one in 1328
+for tolls for inclosing the city with walls and gates, while in 1344
+the city was given a corporation, with mayor, bailiffs, a common seal,
+and a prison. As the municipal importance and the dignity of the city
+increased, the desire for their visible signs strengthened, and so, in
+1355, work was begun on the walls, Newgate (on the London Road) being
+the first gate to be built. Such undertakings proceeded slowly, and
+nine years later the royal permission was obtained to levy a tax for
+their construction, "the lands and goods of all ecclesiastical persons
+excepted."
+
+Twice afterwards we hear of licence being granted by Richard II to dig
+stone in Cheylesmore Park, first for Grey Friars Gate, and later for
+Spon Gate, "near his Chapel of Babelake." The walls so built were of
+imposing extent and dimensions, being three yards in breadth, two and
+a quarter miles in circumference, and having thirty-two towers and
+twelve gates.[3] Nehemiah Wharton, a Parliamentary officer in 1642,
+reports of the city that it is:
+
+  Environed with a wall co-equal, if not exceedinge, that of London,
+  for breadth and height; and with gates and battlements, magnificent
+  churches and stately streets and abundant fountains of water;
+  altogether a place very sweetly situate and where there is no stint
+  of venison.
+
+To return to the monastic history. We have seen how, in the
+mid-thirteenth century the Monastery had become the landlord of the
+city; shortly before this it had been so impoverished with ceaseless
+quarrels with the King and the Lichfield Chapter, involving costly
+appeals to Rome, that the Prior was reduced to asking the hospitality
+of the monks of Derley for some of the brethren. A period of
+prosperity followed and many benefactions flowed in, including the
+gift of various churches by the king. It was after twenty-six years of
+quarrelling that the Pope, in 1224, had appointed to the bishopric
+Walter de Stavenby, an able and learned man. During his episcopacy the
+friars made their appearance in England, and by him the Franciscans
+were introduced at Lichfield, while at Coventry Ranulph, Earl of
+Chester, gave them land in Cheylesmore on which to build their oratory
+and house.
+
+They were not generally welcomed by the monks. A Benedictine laments
+their first appearance thus "Oh shame! oh worse than shame! oh
+barbarous pestilence! the Minor Brethren are come into England!" and
+at Bury they were obliged to build outside a mile radius from the
+Abbey. The parish priests also soon found out that they were undersold
+in the exercise of their spiritual offices and although no doubt many
+badly needed awakening they were not, on that account, the more likely
+to welcome the intruders.
+
+Another innovation, affecting the fortunes of the parish priest, had
+its beginning under the rule of Bishop Stavenby though its greatest
+development occurred in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. This
+was the foundation of Chantries designed primarily for the maintenance
+of a priest or priests to say mass daily or otherwise for the soul's
+health of the founder, his family and forbears. The earliest we hear
+of are one at Lincoln, and one at Hatherton in Coventry Archdeaconry
+while the Bishop himself endowed one in Lichfield Cathedral. Many were
+perpetual endowments (_£_5 per annum being the average stipend),
+others were temporary, according to the means of those who paid for
+the masses--for a term of years or for a fixed number of masses,
+Although chantry priests were often required to give regular help in
+the church services or taught such scholars as came to them or served
+outlying chapelries, the system permitted a great number to live on
+occasional engagements and was doubtless productive of abuses. Chaucer
+tells us that his poor parson was not such an one as
+
+  ...left his sheep encumbered in the mire,
+  And ran unto London, unto Saint Foul's,
+  To seekë him a chantery for souls.
+
+The number of chantries in the different cathedrals varied very
+greatly, Lichfield had eighty-seven, St. Paul's thirty-seven, York
+only three. Monks' churches had few or none while in town churches
+they were numerous, London having one hundred and eighty, York
+forty-two, Coventry at least fifteen besides the twelve gild priests
+of the chapel of Babelake. Most were founded in connection with an
+existing altar, some had a special altar, at Winchester, Tewkesbury
+and elsewhere they were enclosed in screens between the pillars of the
+nave, or a special chapel was added to the church.
+
+It was in the thirteenth century also (1267) that the monastery
+obtained the grant of a Merchants' Gild; with all the privileges
+thereto belonging, the earliest of those which contributed so much to
+the renown of Coventry. These were Benefit Societies, insuring help to
+the "Brethren and sistren" in old age, sickness or poverty, securing
+to them the services of the church after death and in all cases
+established on a strictly religious basis and placed under the
+protection of a Saint, or of the Holy Trinity. The regulation and
+protection of trade interests, generally aiming at monopoly and the
+exclusion of outsiders, were later developments. But without doubt
+they were public-spirited bodies according to their lights,
+maintaining schools (as at Stratford-on-Avon) hospitals and
+almshouses, and giving freely on all occasions of public importance.
+By pageants too, they contributed to the happiness and amusement of
+the people as well as by the presentation of Mysteries and Moralities,
+to their instruction and edification. But in the eyes of the
+Reformers, or of grasping courtiers, all this went for nothing when
+weighed against the heinous offence of supporting chaplains to pray
+for deceased members and so (6 Edward VI) they were suppressed along
+with the chantries, and their property confiscated, "the very meanest
+and most inexcusable of the plunderings which threw discredit on the
+Reformation."
+
+Here, the city bought back everything which had belonged to the
+Trinity and Corpus Christi Gilds, with various almshouses and the
+possessions of the majority of the Chantries; while previously at the
+Dissolution it had bought the abbey-orchard, and mill, and the house
+and church of the Grey Friars.
+
+In 1340 Edward III granted Licence to the Coventry men to form a
+Merchants' Gild with leave "to make chantries, bestow alms, do other
+works of piety and constitute ordinances touching the same." This was
+St. Mary's Gild. Two years later that of St. John Baptist was formed
+and a year later that of St. Katherine, the three being united into
+the Trinity Gild before 1359. Of the chapel (now St. John's church)
+begun in 1344 by the St. John's Gild and the "fair and stately
+structure for their feasts and meetings called St Mary Hall" built in
+1394 by the united Gilds more will be said later. The end of the
+fourteenth century and the fifteenth brought to Coventry a full share
+in the events and movements of the time. In 1396 the duel between
+Hereford and Norfolk was to have taken place on Gosford Green
+(adjoining the city) and Richard II made the fatal mistake of
+banishing both combatants. At the Priory in 1404 Henry IV held his
+Parliament known, from the fact that no lawyers were summoned to it,
+as the "Parliamentum Indoctorum." Setting itself in opposition to
+ecclesiastics, it proposed to supply the King's needs by taxing
+church-property. As in the matter of the city walls, the church
+contrived to avoid bearing its share of the public burdens and the
+chronicler ends thus: "Much ado there was; but to conclude, the worthy
+Archbishop (viz. Tho. Arundell) standing stoutly for the good of the
+Church, preserved it at that time from the storm impending." One
+branch of his argument is noteworthy, that as the confiscation of the
+alien priories had not enriched the King by half a mark (courtiers
+having extorted or begged them out of his hands), so it would be were
+he to confiscate the temporalities of the monasteries. Henry VIII had
+reason to acknowledge the fulfilment of the prophecy.
+
+Soon after this, in 1423, Coventry showed its sympathy for Lollardry
+when John Grace an anchorite friar came out of his cell and preached
+for five days in the "lyttell parke." He was opposed by the prior of
+St. Mary's and by a Grey Friar who however were attacked and nearly
+killed by the mob.
+
+The royal visits which earned for Coventry the title which it still
+bears as its motto 'Camera principis' were frequent in this century.
+In 1436 we hear of Henry VI being there, and in 1450 he was the guest
+of the monastery and after hearing mass at St. Michael's Church
+presented to it for an altar-hanging the robe of gold tissue he was
+wearing. The record in the Corporation Leet book is interesting enough
+to quote:
+
+  The King, then abydeng stille in the seide Priory, upon Mich'as even
+  sent the clerke of his closet to the Churche of Sent Michel to make
+  redy ther hys clossette, seying that the Kynge on Mich'as day wolde
+  go on p'cession and also her ther hygh masse. The Meyre and his
+  counsell, remembering him in this mater, specially avast hem to pray
+  the Bishop of Winchester to say hygh masse afore the Kynge. The
+  Bishop so to do agreed withe alle hys here; and, Aegean the Kynge
+  coming to Sent Michel Churche, the Meyre and his Peres, cladode in
+  scarlet gowns, wanton unto the Kynge Chamber durra, ther abydeng the
+  Kynge coming. The Meyre then and his Peres, doing to the Kynge due
+  obeisance ... toke his maze and here it afore the Kynge all his said
+  bredurn goeng afore the Meyre til he com to Sent Michels and brought
+  the Kynge to his closette. Then the seyde Bishop, in his pontificals
+  arayde, with all the prestes and clerkes of the seyde Churche and of
+  Bablake, withe copes apareld, wanton in p'cession abowte the
+  churchyarde; the Kynge devowtely, with many odur lordes, followed
+  the seyd p'cession bare-hedded, cladode in a gowne of gold tissu,
+  furred with a furre of marturn sabull; the Meyre bereng the maze
+  afore the Kynge as he didde afore, tille he com Aegean to his
+  closette. Att the whyche masse when the Kynge had offered and his
+  lordes also, he sende the lorde Bemond, his chamburlen, to the
+  Meyre, seying to him, "hit is the Kynge wille that ye and your
+  bredurn com and offer;" and so they didde; and when masse was don,
+  the Meyre and his Peres brought on the Kynge to his chambur in lyke
+  wyse as they fet hym, save only that the Meyre with his maze went
+  afore the Kynge till he com withe in his chambur, his seyd bredurn
+  abydeng atte the chambur durra till the Meyre cam ageyne. And at
+  evensong tyme the same day, the Kynge, ... sende the seyde gowne and
+  furre that he were when he went in p'cession, and gaf hit frely to
+  God and to Sent Michell, insomuch that non of the that broughte the
+  gowne wolde take no reward in no wyse.
+
+In 1451 he made the city with the villages and hamlets within its
+liberties into a county "distinct and altogether separate from the
+county of Warwick for ever," and in 1453 the King and Queen again
+visited the Priory. Perhaps out of gratitude for all this royal
+favour, Coventry adhered to the Lancastrian cause and in 1459 was
+chosen as the meeting place for the "Parliamentum Diabolicum," so
+called from the number of attainders passed against the Yorkists. The
+year 1467 however saw Edward IV and his Queen keeping their Christmas
+here, while less than two years later her father and brother were
+beheaded on Gosford Green (Aug. 1469).
+
+After the king's landing at Holderness in 1471 the king-maker,
+declining a contest, occupied the town for the Lancastrians, and
+Edward passing on to London soon after turned and defeated the earl at
+Barnet. After Tewkesbury Edward paid the city another visit, and in
+return for its disloyalty seized its liberties and franchises, and
+only restored them for a fine of 500 marks. Royal visits still
+continued. Richard III came in 1483 to see the plays at the Feast of
+Corpus Christi; in 1485 Henry VII stayed at the mayor's house after
+his victory at Bosworth Field; and in 1487 kept St. George's Day at
+the Monastery, when the Prior at the service cursed, by "bell, book,
+and candle," all who should question the king's right to the throne.
+The importance of the Gilds is shown by the king and queen being made
+a brother and sister of the Trinity Gild; and the part that pageantry
+played in the lives of all men is seen in the many occasions on which
+kings and princes came hither to be entertained, not only with the
+plays "acted by the Grey Friars" but those in which the "hard-handed
+men" of, for instance, the Gild of the Sheremen and Tailors, "toil'd
+their unbreathed memories" in setting forth such subjects as the Birth
+of Christ and the Murder of the Innocents. But although Henry VIII
+himself was received in 1511 with pageantry and stayed at the Priory,
+royal favours and monastic hospitality availed neither men nor
+buildings when the Dissolution came. On 15th January, 1539, Thomas
+Camswell, the last Prior of St. Mary's, surrendered. "The Prior,"
+reported Dr. London, the king's commissioner, "is a sad, honest priest
+as his neighbours do report him, and is a Bachelor of Divinity. He
+gave his house unto the king's grace willingly and so in like manner
+did all his brethren." The Doctor asks for good pensions for the
+dispossessed, not on the plea of justice but so that "others
+perceiving that these men be liberally handled will with better will
+not only surrender their houses, but also leave the same in the better
+state to the King's use."
+
+The yearly revenue had been certified in the valuation at _£_731 19
+_s_. 5_d_. Deducting a Fee-Ferme rent to the Crown, reserved by Roger
+de Montalt, and other annual payments, the clear remainder was _£_499
+7_s_. 4_d_. Bishop Rowland Lee, writing to "my singular good Lord
+Cromwell," implies that he had a promise from him to spare the church.
+"My good Lord," he says, "help me and the City both in this and that
+the church may stand, whereby I may keep my name, and the City have
+commodity and ease to their desire, which shall follow if by your
+goodness it might be brought to a collegiate church, as Lichfield, and
+so that fair City shall have a perpetual comfort of the same, as
+knoweth the Holy Trinity, who preserve your Lordship in honour to your
+heart's comfort."
+
+But his entreaties, and those of the mayor and corporation, were all
+in vain, the church and monastic buildings were dismantled and
+destroyed piecemeal, and like so many other magnificent structures
+became a mere quarry for mean buildings and the mending of roads.
+
+The site having been granted by Henry VIII to two gentlemen named
+Combes and Stansfield, passed soon into the hands of John Hales, the
+founder of the Free School, and in Elizabeth's reign was purchased by
+the Corporation.
+
+The changes in religious opinion of the successive sovereigns were
+felt here by many poor victims. Seven persons were burnt in 1519 for
+having in their possession the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments,
+and the Creed in English, and for refusing to obey the Pope or his
+agents, opinions and acts that would have been counted meritorious
+twenty years later. In 1555 Queen Mary burnt three Protestants in the
+old quarry in Little Park--Laurence Saunders, a well-known preacher,
+Robert Glover, M.A., and Cornelius Bongey.
+
+Ten years after this Queen Elizabeth's visit was the occasion of much
+pageantry and performing of plays by the Tanners', Drapers', Smiths',
+and Weavers' Companies, and in 1575 the men of Coventry gave their
+play of "Hock Tuesday" before her at Kenilworth Castle. In 1566 Queen
+Mary of Scots was in ward here, in the mayoress' parlour, and in 1569
+at the Bull Inn.
+
+Coming down to the opening of the Civil War we find that a few days
+before the raising of his standard at Nottingham Charles summoned the
+city to admit him with three hundred cavaliers, and received for
+answer that it was quite ready to receive his Majesty with no more
+than two hundred. Whereupon he retired in displeasure, and reappeared
+some days later with the threat to lay the city in ruins if it should
+persist in its disloyalty. The townsfolk being in no mind to receive a
+garrison, the King planted cannon against Newgate and broke down the
+gates but was met with a fierce musquetry fire from the walls,
+followed up by a vigorous sally, in which the citizens did much
+execution and took two cannon.
+
+To prevent the like happening again, the walls were in 1662 breached
+in many places and made incapable of defence. Just one hundred years
+later New-gate was taken down, and others followed from time to time,
+until now there are left only the remains of two of the lesser
+ones--Cook Street Gate, a crumbling shell, and the adjacent Swanswell
+or Priory Gate, blocked up and used as a dwelling.
+
+In 1771 was finally destroyed the famous Cross which had been built,
+1541-3, by Sir William Hollis, once Lord Mayor of London, who came of
+a Coventry family. It was described by Dugdale as "one of the chief
+things wherein this City most glories, which for workmanship and
+beauty is inferior to none in England." A few relics of it exist in
+St. Mary Hall, a statue of Henry VI, and, in the oriel, two smaller
+figures. So too does the very interesting contract for its building,
+which shows how much was left to the craftsman's pride in his work and
+how little he was trammelled by conditions, save that the work was to
+be "finished in all points, as well in imagery work, pictures, and
+finials, according to the due form and proportion of the Cross at
+Abingdon."
+
+Another building, which was destroyed in 1820, was the Pilgrims' Rest,
+a fine timbered house of three storeys, "supposed," as the inscription
+upon it records, "to have been the hostel or inn for the maintenance
+and entertainment of the palmers and other visitors to the Priory."
+Some pieces of carved work were patched together in the windows of the
+inn built on its site and there remain.
+
+The modern history of Coventry, consisting of the ordinary events and
+vicissitudes of civic life and the changes and fluctuations in its
+trades, apart from that of its parish churches which is elsewhere
+given, does not come within the scope of this handbook.
+
+[Illustration: SEAL OF THE PRIORY.]
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR OF THE WEST END OF THE PRIORY CHURCH.]
+
+
+THE RUINS OF THE PRIORY AND CATHEDRAL CHURCH
+
+
+The Priory buildings and grounds covered a large area to the North of
+the two parish churches on the gentle slope descending to the little
+river Sherbourne, Priory Row forming its southern boundary.
+
+The church occupied the South-West portion of this site, extending
+about 400 feet from the excavated west end to a point a little beyond
+the narrow lane called Hill Top. The excavation shows that the church
+stood on a sloping site, the floor level being some ten feet lower
+than that of Trinity Church. It was cruciform, with two western towers
+and a central one, and is believed to have had three spires similar to
+those of Lichfield but probably earlier in point of date. On the
+substructure of the North-West Tower now stands the house of the
+_mistress_ of the Girls' Blue Coat School. The interior of the West
+end to a height of 5 to 8 feet, with the responds of the nave arcades
+and of the tower arches, is visible and in good condition. The
+beginning of the turret stair in the South-West tower is exposed, but
+the basement of the house unfortunately occupies the lower part of the
+northern one. The exterior of this is however easily accessible from
+an enclosure known as the Wood Yard, the much decayed spreading plinth
+and a few feet of walling above it not having been destroyed. Above
+this, grievous damage has been perpetrated by the casing and complete
+obliteration of the mouldings and arcading which remained. The towers
+were placed outside the line of the aisles as at Wells, the total
+width of the West front, 145 feet, being nearly the same in both
+cases. There are still indications of the position of the great west
+door, but the height of the inner plinth shows that there was always a
+descent of several steps into the church. At the south transept where
+was "the Minster durra that openeth to the Trinite Churchyarde," the
+descent must have been considerable. The remains show that the nave
+dated from the first half of the thirteenth century, while fragments
+of wall near the site of the transept with indications of lancet
+window openings are probably a little earlier than the west end.
+
+[Illustration: REMAINS OF THE N.W. TOWER (IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY).]
+
+Whether the church of Leofric and Godiva, dedicated in 1043, had
+survived wholly or in part until this time cannot be known, but,
+judging from the history of most other great monastic churches and
+from the known wealth of the monastery, it may almost be taken for
+granted that the Norman bishops and priors rebuilt much if not all.
+Some relics of Norman work have been found but the covering of the
+site with roads, graves and houses precludes the systematic
+exploration and survey which alone could solve this question and make
+clear the outlines of the plan of the whole establishment.
+
+The entrance to some wine-cellars in Priory Row gives access to the
+old pavement level of part of the choir and transept. From the fact
+that a brick vault forms the roof the cellars have often been looked
+upon as the crypt of the church but this is erroneous; the vault is a
+later insertion and if any crypt exists it lies below this level. To
+the east of the cathedral was the Bishop's Palace, the gardens of it
+extending over the detached burial ground of St. Michael's to the east
+of Priory Street. The grandeur of this assemblage of buildings
+grouping, with the spires of the churches behind and rising so
+magnificently above the houses of the city can best be realized by
+going to the top of Bishop Street whence may be obtained the finest
+view of the two spires that remain.
+
+
+ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH
+
+
+[Illustration: ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE NORTH.]
+
+
+ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
+
+The early history of St. Michael's Church is very obscure. The fact
+that Domesday mentions no parish churches proves nothing. There can be
+little doubt that one at least existed. Though we have an earlier
+record of St. Michael's it is commonly held that Trinity is the elder
+foundation.
+
+Of St. Michael's the first notice we have is when Ranulph, Earl of
+Chester, in the days of Stephen, about 1150, granted the "Chapel" of
+St. Michael to Laurence, Prior, and the Convent of St. Mary, "being
+satisfied by the testimony of divers persons, as well Clergy as Laity,
+that it was their right." Fourteen dependent chapels in the
+neighbourhood or within a few miles went with it and the number of
+these dependencies is held to show that it was "a primitive Saxon
+parish and of considerable importance." In 1192 Ranulph Blundeville,
+grandson of the former Ranulph, gave tithe of his lands and rents in
+Coventry and bound his officers under pain of a grievous curse to make
+due payment.
+
+In the early thirteenth century a dispute arose between Bishop
+Geoffrey de Muschamp and the Priory as to the right of presentation,
+the Bishop claiming on the ground of being Abbot as well as Bishop.
+This was settled in 1241 by the Priory renouncing its claim in
+consideration of receiving a share of the income but in 1248 an
+exchange was effected, the Priory giving the advowsons of Ryton and
+Bubbenhall[4] (not far from Coventry) for St. Michael and its chapels
+and engaging to provide proper secular priests with competent support.
+In 1260 the church was appropriated to the monastery together with
+Holy Trinity and its chapels and although in the arrangement of 1248
+twenty-four marks (_£_16) had been assigned to the vicarage, in 1291
+we find the priory receiving fifty marks and paying the vicar eight
+and a half.
+
+Since 1537 the patronage has with that of Trinity, been exercised by
+the Crown.
+
+The internal evidence of the date of the building is given in the
+description of the fabric. Of external evidence in the shape of
+records or deeds we have very little. Tradition says that there was
+once a brass tablet in the church bearing the following lines:
+
+  William and Adam built the Tower,
+    Ann and Mary built the Spire;
+  William and Adam built the Church,
+    Ann and Mary built the Choir.
+
+Now we know that William and Adam Botoner, who were each Mayor thrice
+between 1358 and 1385, built the tower, spending upon it _£_100 a year
+for twenty-two years, but what foundation there is for the other
+statements cannot now be determined. The tower was in building from
+1373 to 1394, and the choir is contemporary with it, the nave was in
+building from 1432 to 1450, and the spire was begun in 1430. As
+William was Mayor in 1358 it can hardly have been less than one
+hundred years after his birth that both nave and spire were begun. It
+is however, likely that other members of the family (if not he, by
+bequest) contributed largely to the general building fund.
+
+Much of the history of a parish church is concerned with its internal
+economy but even the records of this are not quite trivial for they
+enlighten us on many points wherein we are rightly curious. We are,
+for instance, constantly reminded, as Dr. Gasquet points out in
+"Mediaeval Parish Life," that "religious life permeated society in the
+Middle Ages, particularly in the fifteenth century, through the minor
+confraternities" or gilds.
+
+Thus the Drapers' Gild made itself responsible not only for the upkeep
+of the Lady Chapel but also for the lights always burning on the
+Rood-loft, every Master paying four pence for each "prentys" and every
+"Jurneman" four pence. The cost of lights formed a serious item in
+church expenditure, needing the rent of houses and lands for their
+maintenance. Guy de Tyllbrooke, vicar in the late thirteenth century,
+gave all his lands and buildings on the south side of the church to
+maintain a light before the high altar, day and night, for ever, "and
+all persons who shall convert this gift to any other use directly or
+indirectly shall incur the malediction of Almighty God, the Blessed
+Virgin, St. Michael and All Saints."
+
+Royal visits to the church have been noticed in the history of the
+priory and city, especially that in 1450 which was apparently intended
+to mark the completion of the church. Reference has also been made to
+the plays and pageants with which such visitors were entertained. The
+site for the performance of the cycle of Corpus Christi plays was the
+churchyard on the north of St. Michael's. Queen Margaret, whose visits
+were so frequent that the city acquired the fanciful title of "the
+Queen's Bower" came over from Kenilworth on the Eve of the Feast in
+1456, "at which time she would not be met, but privily to see the play
+there on the morrow and she saw then all the pageants played save
+Doomsday, which might not be played for lack of day and she was lodged
+at Richard Wood's the Grocer."
+
+There is evident reference to the dedication of the church in the
+pageant of the "Nine Orders of Angels" shown before Henry VIII and
+Queen Catherine in 1510.
+
+The history of the church since the Reformation has been not unlike
+that of a vast number of others. Fanatic destruction, followed by
+tasteless and incongruous innovations, and these again by
+"restorations" sometimes as destructive, sometimes as tasteless, and
+nearly always feeble; such is their common history. In 1569 even the
+Register books were destroyed because they contained marks of popery,
+while from 1576 onward a want of repair is plainly suggested by
+frequent items of expenditure for catching the stares (starlings) in
+the church, at one time for a net, at another for "a bowe and bolts
+and lyme." In 1611 James I addressed a strongly worded letter to the
+Mayor and Corporation and the Vicar requiring them to reform the
+practice of receiving the Holy Sacrament standing or sitting instead
+of kneeling, "As we our Self in our person do carefully perform it."
+Whereupon the Bishop wrote that he "felt persuaded that there were not
+above seven of any note who did not conform themselves" to the church
+ordinances; while the Vicar said he "did not know of _half seven_ of
+any note but do the like."
+
+A Puritanical writer in 1635 thus mentions the changed position of the
+Communion Table, which had formerly stood away from the east wall:
+"The Communion Table was altered which cost a great deal of money; and
+that which is worst of all, three stepps made to go to the Comm'n
+Table altar fashion--God grant it continueth not long." Even the font,
+given by John Cross, mayor, in 1394, had to give place in 1645 to
+something less offensive to Puritan feeling, and in the same year the
+brass eagle, given in 1359 by William Botoner, was "sold by order of
+vestry for 5_d_. the lb., 8_l_. 13_s_. 4_d_." The rehanging of the
+bells in 1674 led to the destruction of the beautiful groined vault
+within the tower, and the year 1764 saw the completion of a series of
+galleries all round the church. Throughout all this destruction and
+desecration the citizens happily retained their pride in the great
+steeple, and by constant attention and rebuildings contrived to
+preserve it when negligence might have caused its ruin. The scrupulous
+care given to such work is well shown by items in an account for
+repairs, of date 1580:
+
+  Payed to George Aster for poyntynge ye steple     _£_7  2 8
+  Payed for 3 quarter and a halfe of lyme                13 4
+  Payed for egges                                         8 4
+  Payed for glovers pecis, woode & tallowe, abowte
+    the lyme                                              5 6
+  Payed for a load sand                                     7-1/2
+  Payed for 4 stryke of mawlte and gryndyng               7 8-1/2
+  Payd for 6 gallons of worte more                        2 0
+  Payd for gatherynge of slates & oyster shelles            3-1/4
+  Payd to Cookson for the cradle and 3 other pullesses    5 8
+
+The glovers' snippings were for making size, which, with the eggs,
+malt and wort were used in place of water for tempering the mortar.
+Lightning seriously damaged the spire in 1655 and 1694, in the former
+case causing much injury to the nave roof by falling stone. In 1793
+Wyatt, the architect responsible for so much destruction of Mediaeval
+work in various cathedrals, advised that a timber framework to carry
+the bells should be built up within the tower from the ground and that
+the tower arch should be bricked up. All this has been changed since
+1885, the bells now hang (but are not pealed) in the octagon, the
+chimes and clock are in the chamber below, the arch is opened and the
+groining restored.
+
+All galleries had been taken down in 1849 and the present seats,
+giving room for near 2,500 persons, introduced, while the incongruous
+wall-arcading in the apse was soon after added. At the same period
+many important sepulchral monuments, probably stigmatized as
+"excrescences," were taken down and removed to other parts of the
+church.
+
+Five years after this the exterior of the aisle walls was recased with
+the same friable sandstone. In 1860 the reredos was erected, the
+subjects of the panels being the sacrifices of Abel, Noah,
+Melchisedec, and Abraham, and the Last Supper. To the latest
+restoration, which included entire recasing of tower and spire,
+clearstories and chancel, the new sacristy at the south east, and
+other work, Mr. George Woodcock, a Coventry citizen, gave _£_10,500,
+and the sum of _£_39,500 was raised and expended, the re-opening
+taking place on 22nd April, 1890.
+
+In 1850 a dispute of considerable public interest with regard to the
+levying of the church rate between the vicar and the wardens and
+overseers was decided in the Court of Queen's Bench. An Act of
+Parliament of 1780 had empowered the wardens to levy a rate in lieu of
+tithe for the stipend of the vicar, to produce not less than _£_280
+nor more than _£_300. The wardens having ever since allowed their
+powers to remain in abeyance, the vicar claimed the right to make the
+rate as his predecessors had done. Lord Campbell and three other
+judges were however unanimous in giving judgement against him.
+
+The latest event in the history of the church is probably the most
+important. It has now been constituted a pro-cathedral for the
+proposed Diocese of Warwickshire, and a Capitular body has been
+formed. The statutes were promulgated by the Bishop of Worcester on
+the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, 1908. The Chapter now
+consists of twenty-four members:--the Bishop, the Vicar of St.
+Michael's (Rev. Prof. J.H.B. Masterman), the Archdeacon of Coventry,
+the Chancellor of the Diocese, ten priest canons and ten lay canons,
+with provision for the admission of a future second archdeacon. There
+are resemblances here to the constitution of the Southwark Chapter,
+consisting of four clerical and four lay canons, but at Coventry some
+of the lay canons are elective and for fixed periods. Doubtless the
+immense increase of population in the county, especially in this part
+(Birmingham is already a separate diocese), demands further oversight
+and much strenuous church work, and doubtless, too, the same religious
+enthusiasm which brought into existence the beautiful structures of
+Coventry's golden age will be able to meet the demand and cope with
+the new problems and aspirations of the present day. But the
+archaeologist trembles to think what may be done should the attempt be
+made to transform a building planned on the simplest parish-church
+lines into the semblance of a cathedral. It cannot be successful, and
+the original character of the church is but too likely to be
+sacrificed in the attempt.
+
+
+[Illustration ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH.]
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE EXTERIOR OF THE CHURCH
+
+The church is built on a site descending towards the east, so that the
+chancel floor is more than twelve feet above the present street level.
+The narrow street on the south, Bayley Lane, gives us a succession of
+picturesque partial views but no general one, while on the north the
+rather formal avenue dividing the churchyard obscures much of the
+structure. On the whole, the most comprehensive prospect is to be had
+from the north-east, at the lower end of Priory Row. But no general
+point of view is needed, external or internal, to enable us to
+understand the plan or arrangement, which is almost as simple in form
+as a village church.
+
+The typical English church plan consists of a nave with aisles, a long
+unaisled chancel with square east end, porches or doors on north and
+south, and a western tower, and this, save for its apsidal east end,
+but amplified by accretions in the form of chapels belonging to the
+many Gilds of the city, is the plan of St. Michael's.
+
+In no part, however, do we find the chapels so set as to produce a
+pseudo-cruciform plan.
+
+Before the latest restoration the walls were entirely of the local red
+sandstone, very similar in quality and appearance to that of which
+Chester Cathedral was built, and the extent of its decay, especially
+on the tower, was as grievous. Hardly a piece of external moulding or
+carving preserved its original profile or form, and some of the tower
+buttresses had lost so large a proportion of their substance not far
+above ground that they appeared to hang to the walls rather than
+support them. All save the aisles, which were refaced in the sixties,
+have now been cased with Runcorn Stone nearly the same in colour and
+much harder in texture.
+
+The special glory of the church is its steeple. No doubt intentionally
+its height of 300 feet is practically equal to the length of the
+church. Only one other parish church, Louth in Lincolnshire, has a
+steeple as high as this, and those of only two English cathedrals,
+Salisbury and Norwich, exceed it.
+
+There is, however, an essential difference to be noted in the position
+of these spires, those of the cathedrals at the centre, the crowning
+point in the composition, those of the parish churches at the west
+end, springing sheer from the ground. While the former have a more
+intimate relation to the building the latter have an almost
+independent existence in keeping with the theory which regards them
+more as symbols of municipal pride and power than as expressions of
+spiritual aspiration.
+
+But however mixed the motives for their erection, religious forms and
+symbolism governed the design. Thus we have here three principal
+divisions--tower, octagon, spire, and nine stories or stages in all,
+six belonging to the tower and octagon, and three to the spire. Then
+in its dimensions we find that the total height is 300 feet,[5] the
+plan (exclusive of buttresses) is 30 feet square, while in its
+proportions the number 30 is interwoven, so to speak, with a simple
+arithmetical progression of heights in each story. Thus it is 30 feet
+from the ground to the spring of the lowest five-light windows, 30
+feet again to the spring of the single-light windows, 27 feet more to
+the spring of the grouped windows above, and another 30 to the spring
+of the belfry windows. Thence it is 15 feet to the cornice below the
+battlements. The remainder is divided into a series of 20 feet
+heights, two twenties from cornice to top of parapet of octagon, 20 in
+each of the two decorated stages of the spire, 20 to centre of the
+upper spire-lights, three twenties to the finial. If we look at the
+stories as marked by the string-courses below the windows we find 50
+feet given to the door and great window and then 20, 30, and 40 feet
+stages, reaching to the top of the parapet. The reader will have
+noticed the interposition of a 27 feet space among the thirties, and
+the reason for this is worth explaining.
+
+It is now known that the tower could not be built in line with the
+centre of the proposed new nave because of the existence of a
+filled-in pit or quarry at its north-west angle. But the builder was
+rash enough to build the north-west buttresses beyond the edge of the
+old excavation and resting on the looser material. The consequences
+might have been foreseen. By the time the building had reached the
+grouped windows the settlement or sinking was considerable and an
+effort was made to remedy it, first by reducing the height of this
+(the weakest story), by one yard and next by starting the courses
+level once more. Five hundred years later and we find that whereas the
+sinking is 7-1/2 inches near the ground level it is only 4 inches at
+the windows, plainly showing that it had sunk 3-1/2 inches before the
+remedy was applied and four inches since. The writer is informed by
+the architect (Mr. J. Oldrid Scott) that all this angle was so full of
+rents and cracks that (coupled with the decay of the stone, especially
+in the buttresses) it was surprising that the whole had not fallen. A
+curious disregard of what we look on as a natural sentiment is to be
+noted in this connection, for the builders used a quantity of fine
+sepulchral slabs from the churchyard as filling for the foundations.
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR OF THE TOWER FROM BELOW.]
+
+In magnificence of design the tower exceeds that of any other parish
+church in England, the uppermost story being the richest in detail.
+The variety of treatment and gradual increase in elaboration of the
+upper stories is admirable, the larger expanses of wall in the lower
+giving the necessary effect of stability to the whole. The west door
+is very insignificant, and might perhaps, with advantage to the
+composition, have been left out. It has the only four-centred arch in
+the whole. On each side of the great windows are niches with
+(restored) figures of saints and benefactors, twelve in all, including
+Earl Leofric and his famous wife, the Botoners and several kings.
+Sculpture appears again on the belfry stage. On the west and north
+sides the niches are in three tiers of three on either hand of the
+tall louvred windows, but on the south and east sides one tier is
+absorbed by the stair turret. All these have been renewed, but the
+remains of some of those which were taken down can now be seen in the
+crypt, and the one which is best preserved, by a happy coincidence the
+patron saint, is now placed within the church.
+
+The octagon, which connects so finely the tower and spire, has four
+two-light windows on the cardinal sides, the other sides having blank
+panelling of similar design. Its parapet has square pinnacles,
+intended to carry seated figures. From each of the great tower
+pinnacles two ogee-shaped flying buttresses spring to the near angles
+of the octagon. A recent writer criticizes these as too flimsy in
+effect, but the fact that they are in pairs obviates this defect from
+most points of view. The walls of the octagon are 2-1/2 feet thick at
+the base, but, as the inner slope of the spire begins at the level of
+the window transoms, the thickness at its parapet is more than 3 feet.
+The greater weight in this part corrects any tendency in the spire to
+push outwards the upright walls of the octagon; so well has it done
+this that no artificial helps, such as iron stays or bands, have been
+found necessary to add to its stability. Though so slender in
+appearance, its stonework is thicker than that of many later spires,
+for whereas Kettering is 14 inches thick for the first 10 feet and
+only 6 inches above, while Louth decreases from 10 to 5, St. Michael's
+diminishes from 17 to 11. The inclination from the upright of its
+sides is very slight, less than that of most others; Chichester having
+an angle of 7-1/2°, Kettering 6°, Louth 5°, St. Michael's 4-1/2°.
+
+[Illustration: THE WEST PORCH.]
+
+The decoration of the spire is admirably designed in relation to the
+slenderness of the tower, and its own height above the eye. The first
+stage is panelled so as not to present too great a contrast to the
+octagon, and the next is also panelled and has narrow canopied slits
+on alternate sides, with four thin buttress-like projections on each
+face. These provide the slight entasis to the outline which is found
+in so many spires, as it is in classic columns, and is designed to
+correct the appearance of hollowness which would occur in so long a
+straight line. The upper two-thirds of the spire has triple angle
+rolls, and, just halfway in the total height, are eight canopied
+panels of which four are pierced. The beauty of the steeple and its
+pre-eminence among those belonging to parish churches (even if such a
+reservation be necessary) sufficiently justifies the length of this
+description.
+
+[Illustration: SOUTH PORCH, FROM ST. MARY HALL.]
+
+The oldest existing part of the church is the large south porch,
+almost facing the entrance to St. Mary Hall. The date of this is not
+later than 1300. Each jamb of the outside arch has four external and
+two internal attached shafts; the pointed arch is deeply moulded,
+while the arch rising from the fourth shaft is of round-headed trefoil
+form. The ceiling is vaulted with diagonal and intermediate ribs, and
+has the appearance of having been added rather later.
+
+A doorway on its east side led to the Cappers' Chapel and there is a
+chamber over the porch for centuries appropriated to the meetings of
+the Cappers' Company. The present chapel and chamber are contemporary
+with the nave.
+
+[Illustration: SOUTH-WEST DOORWAY.]
+
+The external wall of the Dyers' Chapel (now the Baptistery) is canted
+so as not to block the Lane, St. Mary Hall having been already built.
+Passing east, the road dips gradually and gives this end of the church
+a more imposing elevation. After the Cappers'Chapel, there is only a
+single aisle forming the Mercers' Chapel and extending as far as the
+Presbytery. A door here, made in 1750, is opposite to the Drapers'
+Hall. The apse is now encircled with a series of sacristies divided
+into five chambers and spanned by flying buttresses. The first two
+bays on the south were built at the last restoration the vestry then
+removed not being part of the original design. Beneath them on the
+ground level is the engine-room pertaining to the organ. Though
+sometimes spoken of as an Ambulatory its position on a lower level,
+its original want of connection with the south side and above all the
+need for sacristies in so large a church dispose of the idea.
+
+Some have thought that the apsidal Lady Chapel of Lichfield Cathedral
+built about fifty years earlier suggested an apsidal termination in
+the design of Coventry, but a certain difficulty in the way of the
+designer may have led him to adopt this solution. The normal
+Perpendicular east end had one large window, but owing to the great
+width of this chancel the proportions of such a one would have been
+nearly square, and the spring of the arch have been very low. A few
+years later and the depressed four-centred arch might have been
+adopted but, fortunately, its time was not yet.
+
+The plans of the apses of Lichfield and Coventry differ in the angle
+at which the sides are inclined to the chord of the apse, the former
+having the usual angle of 45°, the latter one of more than 60°.
+Externally this is not so pleasant as the more "commonplace" form, the
+great dissimilarity of the several angles being unsatisfactory and the
+third side too quickly lost to view, but within the church these
+points are not noticed.
+
+So little time elapsed between the building of the choir and nave that
+we find no marked difference of style as we proceed westward along
+either flank of the church. The Lady Chapel, known as the Drapers'
+Chapel, from its use and maintenance by that Gild, occupies the three
+bays of the North chancel aisle. From its elevation above the ground
+it was often spoken of as the "Chapel on the Mount," Capella Beatae
+Mariae de Monte. All the four windows are of seven lights, the three
+northern having a somewhat unusual transom band of fourteen
+quatrefoils, at the spring of the arch. The two windows of St.
+Lawrence's Chapel have a transom across the lights and a band of seven
+quatrefoils at the spring.
+
+The buttresses of the Lady Chapel are rather richer in design than
+those of St. Lawrence's Chapel. The lower level of its parapet
+indicates some difference of date. The plan of this part of the church
+presents problems which bear on those connected with the rest of the
+church. Beneath St. Lawrence's Chapel and extending under the north
+aisle westward are two crypts, entrance to them being by two doors
+from the churchyard, their position is shown on the general plan. It
+will be seen that the western one is of two aisles, each of three
+bays, while the eastern is only one bay in length. The entrance to the
+western was at first in the middle bay but this was blocked when the
+Girdlers' Chapel was built. That the eastern crypt was added later,
+and the present Lady Chapel later still is shown by the presence of
+windows in the east wall of both parts and other indications. But
+while the history of the church shows that the original Lady Chapel
+and crypt or charnel-house, were built soon after 1300, the present
+superstructures belong to a time about one hundred years later. Now as
+the western crypt may be safely assigned to the earlier date the Lady
+Chapel doubtless stood over it and flanked the old chancel of the
+church, in its normal position in fact as the existing one is now. But
+a point which remains to be explained is that the walls of the crypt
+are parallel to the line of the new chancel and not to the line of the
+old or new naves. It seems certain therefore that the inclination of
+the new chancel is a simple perpetuation of the old arrangement, and
+if not, the position of the crypt is hard to account for.
+
+It is generally supposed that these crypts were used as Mortuary
+Chapels and the eastern one has in fact a piscina and aumbry, showing
+that there was once an altar. But for some centuries they served as a
+charnel-house, and are so called in a papal grant of Indulgences. In
+1640 there is an entry in the church accounts of five shillings for
+"cleansinge the charnel-house and laying the bones and sculles in
+order."
+
+They now contain fragments that have been removed or discovered in the
+course of various restorations. A small Norman scalloped capital,
+another of Early English workmanship and a voussoir showing the Norman
+zig-zag or chevron are interesting relics of structures earlier than
+anything now existing, while a number of the decayed statues from the
+tower find here a dark and damp repose very different from the airy
+outlook enjoyed by them for five centuries. It will be seen that they
+are near life size and are executed in a gray sandstone which has
+stood the weather much better than the red. The outer north aisle
+containing the Girdlers' Chapel on the east and the Smiths' or St.
+Andrew's Chapel on the west of the porch, is plainly of later date.
+The windows have depressed, distinctly four-centred arches, and in
+1730 their five lights had simply cusped heads, the mullions running
+up to the architrave.
+
+The north porch has only a slight projection. Above the four-centred
+arch are two two-light canopied windows opening into the church. The
+soffit of the doorway is panelled. On the west side where is now a
+canopied niche was formerly an external pulpit reached from within by
+the staircase which leads to the roof. It is shown in the 1730 view.
+On the east side are two odd little flying buttresses, intended
+apparently to repeat the inclined surface of the other side. The two
+north aisles are fortunately not carried westward so far as the nave,
+which projects a half bay beyond them and so prevents the otherwise
+unrelieved flatness of this part. The most effective of the porches is
+that on the west front, just north of the tower. It appears to have
+been built after the nave was finished, and may have been added
+expressly to provide a more dignified entrance to the church when
+Henry VI came in state in 1451, for it faces directly up the nave. The
+groining with cusped panels and numerous bosses has escaped
+restoration. The five niches above the porch are statueless, and so
+are those on the porch front. May they long continue so! The doors are
+largely original and are finely panelled and carved.
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR OF ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE WEST.]
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH
+
+From within the door by which the church is usually entered, that near
+the south-west angle, we obtain an overpowering impression of the
+special characteristic of the interior, its spaciousness, for it is
+here more than 100 feet wide and the east window is nearly 240 feet
+distant.
+
+The nave, which is 37 feet 6 inches wide in the clear, is wider than
+that of many cathedrals, and much exceeds that of most parish
+churches, the widest (Worstead) given in Brandon's "Parish Churches"
+being 29 feet. Boston alone exceeds it by about 3 feet. While the
+ordinary aisle width ranges from 10 to 14 feet, the north aisle here
+is 23 feet, the outer north and the south being each 17 feet. The
+total internal length is 265 feet, exclusive of the sacristy; Boston,
+the only larger one, being 284 feet, while very few exceed 200 feet,
+and most are far smaller. The greatest internal width is 120 feet;
+Manchester, a double-aisled collegiate church, is about the same, and
+York Minster is 106 feet. Finally, the area is about 22,800 square
+feet, probably greater than that of any other English parish church,
+indeed, St. Nicholas, Yarmouth, is the only one which pretends to
+rivalry in this respect. Size is, of course, only one element in the
+impressiveness of a building, and may even be neutralized by the
+treatment (as, for instance, in the Duomo of Florence and St. Peter's,
+Rome, by increasing the size of its parts rather than multiplying
+them), but these few comparisons will help the visitor to judge how
+far this element colours his appreciation of the whole. As an
+illustration of mediaeval methods of church building, it is
+interesting to trace the growth of the structure with the help of the
+few historical notices already given and the evidence of the building
+itself. The subject is full of difficulties, and the writer does not
+hope to solve them conclusively, but to put before the reader the main
+points which have to be considered before forming a judgement.
+
+[Illustration: TOWER ARCH.]
+
+Both historic and structural evidence agree that there was an existing
+smaller church when the tower was built in the last quarter of the
+fourteenth century, that the choir and apse were either contemporary,
+or begun a few years earlier, and that the nave was built between 1434
+and 1450. The south porch and the west crypt (beneath the original
+Lady Chapel) are almost contemporary, belonging to the beginning of
+the fourteenth century. Now the axis of the tower is parallel to the
+axis and walls of the nave, while the centre line of the choir is
+deflected towards the north about 7°. Notwithstanding this, however,
+owing to the tower not being central with the nave, the axis of the
+choir, if prolonged, runs directly to the centre of the tower arch, as
+may easily be seen by anyone who stands there and looks along the
+ridge of the choir roof. (_See_ dotted line on Plan.) Next we see
+above the tower arch the mark of the old nave roof and the old north
+wall of the nave. These show that the south wall stood where the
+present one does, and the low-pitched fourteenth century roof-line
+suggests incidentally this alternative: _either_ a clearstory had been
+added to the nave before the building of the new chancel or tower was
+in contemplation, _or_, when the huge tower was built it was felt
+necessary to raise the nave roof so as to lessen the disproportion.
+But, if we adopt the latter alternative we must accept too the
+improbability that this expense should have been incurred when the
+inadequacy of the old narrow nave of 15-1/2 feet compared with a
+chancel of 33 feet must have been so obvious. This is one of the
+difficult questions.
+
+[Illustration: BAY OF NAVE, NORTH SIDE.]
+
+Then it is held by some that the axis of the old nave and chancel was
+in line with that of the present choir; but the south porch, built
+more than one hundred years before the new nave, is at right angles
+with it which would hardly have been the case had the two naves not
+been on the same lines.
+
+Needless to say the old east end could scarcely have extended beyond
+the present nave, so that the new chancel was probably built without
+disturbing the old church. The position of the older Lady Chapel
+supports this view, while its bearing towards the north, as already
+pointed out, indicates that the deflection of the new chancel is
+simply copied from the older one.
+
+The position of the south porch proves also that the south aisle was
+as wide as the present one, while the fact that it was wider than the
+nave shows that it was almost certainly not designed at the same time.
+
+The nave is of six bays and is 54 feet high at the centre, while each
+arch is 20 feet wide in the clear. The piers are slender, but, owing
+to the depth of the panelling above the arches and the large size of
+the windows, the weight upon them is reduced to a minimum. Shafts
+carried up from the ground support the roof brackets, and there are
+intermediate ones over the centre of each arch. The clearstory windows
+of four lights each are in pairs, and the mullions are carried down to
+form panelling and finish on the backs of the arches, which recede in
+two sloping faces and form a somewhat unusual feature in the treatment
+of the wall surface. The detail of the piers and arches is rather
+weak, even for Perpendicular work.
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR FROM THE SOUTH DOOR.]
+
+The chancel is about 93 feet long, and in height and width is 4 or 5
+feet less than the corresponding nave measurements. Its width further
+diminishes by about 3-1/2 feet in the length of the three bays. The
+omission of a chancel arch is a step towards the ideal simplicity of
+the late Perpendicular churches (_e.g._, St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich),
+running from east to west without break, but the large rood piers and
+reduced width and height of chancel make the pause demanded in so long
+a church. The step at this point is of oak, and is probably the
+original sill of the rood screen. The large figures of SS. Peter and
+Paul were placed on the piers in 1861. Of the three arches which open
+on either hand the centre one is widest, having four-light windows,
+instead of three-light, over it. The panelling beneath the clearstory
+is richer than that in the nave. The five four-light windows of the
+apse are lofty and divided by two transoms, but the design is somewhat
+commonplace. The glass of the middle three is a memorial to Queen
+Adelaide, dated 1853. The other two are filled with fragments of the
+ancient stained glass of the church.
+
+[Illustration: THE CHOIR FROM ST. LAWRENCE'S CHAPEL.]
+
+The roof is very similar to that of the nave. Both are of very low
+pitch, with tie-beams supported by curved brackets. There are two
+longitudinal beams (purlins) on each side, and each division of the
+roof made by these main timbers is sub-divided by mouldings into
+panels, all the intersections and angles being decorated by carved
+bosses or pateræ, with angels upon the tie-beams. Where the roofs of
+nave and chancel join there is a cove to connect the two levels; and
+on the tie-beam above this was found a Latin inscription, giving the
+attributes and powers of the nine choirs of angels forming the
+hierarchy of Heaven. Translated it is as follows:
+
+  SERAPHIMS burn in love of God.
+  CHERUBIMS possess all knowledge.
+  THRONES, of them is judgement.
+  DOMINIONS preside over angelic spirits.
+  VIRTUES effect miracles.
+  POWERS have rule over demons.
+  PRINCIPALITIES protect good men.
+  ARCHANGELS are set over states.
+  ANGELS are the messengers of the Lord.
+
+Bare and shorn as it is of its ancient magnificence, St. Michael's is
+in its structure a monument of the importance and wealth of the Gilds.
+Many of them built or maintained chapels and altars, adding largely to
+the already spacious proportions given to the main structure by the
+munificence of a few rich citizens. That in 1491 there were eleven
+altars we know from the will of Thomas Bradmedow, directing that
+eleven torches, price 2 _s_. 4 _d_., be given every Good Friday, one
+to every altar. Besides the High Altar there were those of Our Lady,
+Jesus, Holy Trinity, St. John, St. Anne, St. Katherine, St. Thomas,
+St. Andrew, St. Lawrence, All Saints.
+
+The application to the Lady Chapel of the present name, the "Drapers'
+Chapel," is probably subsequent to 1518, when John Haddon, a draper,
+provided by will for the support of a priest, "to singe in the Chapell
+of our Ladye in the Church of Saint Mychell." But long ere this, by an
+instrument dated from St. John Lateran, A.D. 1300, eighth year of Pope
+Boniface, Indulgences for forty days were granted for all persons
+coming to confess before her altar in St. Michael's Church on the
+Nativity, Conception, Annunciation and Assumption of the glorious
+Virgin Mary. Also 700 Indulgences for 720 days were granted for
+building "the Chapple and Charnell house of St. Michaell, Coventry."
+The Drapers' Company was responsible for other things than the
+priest's stipend as this extract from their Rules shows: "1534. Ev'y
+mastur shall pay toward ye makyng clene of oure Lady Chapell in saynt
+Mychell's churche and strawyng ye setus [seats] wt rusches in somer
+and pease strawe in wyntur, everyone yerely 2_d_."
+
+[Illustration: POPPY HEAD, LADY CHAPEL.]
+
+The piers at the chancel entrance contain the staircases leading to
+the roofs and formerly to the rood loft. The screen on the west side
+of the chapel was put together from fragments brought together from
+various parts of the church. Against it, and on the south side, are
+fifteen of the ancient stalls. Several admirable ends and elbows
+remain, and some of the twelve ancient Misereres are of special
+interest. Three represent scenes from the popular mediaeval allegory
+of "the Dance of Death."
+
+The centre groups are: (1) a death bed, (2) a kneeling man being
+deprived of his shirt and a cripple waiting to receive it (?), and (3)
+a very well-expressed burial scene. The side groups in each show Death
+leading by the hand personages of various ranks, including a pope. Of
+the others, Satan in chains, the General Resurrection, and a
+delicately executed Tree of Jesse are the best.
+
+[Illustration: A MISERERE, LADY CHAPEL.]
+
+Several monuments formerly in this chapel are now elsewhere in the
+church. A memorial to the Hon. F.W. Hood, killed in battle in 1814, is
+by Chantrey. On the north wall is a brass plate bearing the following
+inscription:
+
+  Here lyeth M'r Thomas Bond, Draper, sometime Mayor of this Cittie
+  and founder of the Hospitall of Bablake, who gave divers lands and
+  tenements for the maintenance of ten poore men so long as the world
+  shall endure and a woman to looke to them with many other good
+  guifts; and died the XVIII day of March in the yeare of our Lord God
+  MDVI.
+
+The Communion Table is a fine example of early seventeenth century
+work, and outside the screen is a very beautiful oak chest, believed
+to date from the time of Henry VII. From the Lady Chapel we pass into
+that of St. Laurence. Its two windows are filled with glass to the
+memory of past mayors. The dates, 1860 and 1862, sufficiently suggest
+their artistic merit. Several old monuments are upon the north wall,
+one of 1648 with an extravagant inscription to Thomas Purefoy, a boy
+of nine; another to Mrs. Bathona Frodsham, a daughter of the John
+Hales who bought so much monastic property, and founded the Grammar
+School. The tomb of his first wife, Frideswede, near which he was
+buried, may be seen in the Dugdale view near the north porch.
+
+The outer north aisle contained the Girdlers' Chapel. The arcade which
+divides the aisles shows the consummation of the process which
+converted columns into piers by the omission of capitals and bases and
+the continuation of the mouldings from pier into arch.
+
+The altar was below the eastern window, the piscina (restored) stands
+on the south side.
+
+The Company has been long extinct and no documents exist. We know,
+however, that Haye's Chantry was founded by a Girdler in 1390, for a
+Mass to be sung daily at All Saints' altar, and may therefore conclude
+that it was in this chapel.
+
+In the two western bays of the same aisle was St. Andrew's Chapel,
+supported and probably founded by the Smiths' Company. The first
+notice of its existence occurs in 1449, but as this part was not built
+until 1500 it was perhaps originally in the adjoining aisle. The
+window tracery is modern. The panelling within the internal arches and
+between the windows should be noted. The floor near the wall is partly
+paved with much worn ancient tiles.
+
+Several large monuments have been brought hither from the Drapers'
+Chapel. An altar tomb of black marble is to the memory of Sir Thomas
+Berkeley, only son of Henry, Lord Berkeley, who died in 1611; another
+of 1640, to William Stanley, Master of the Merchant Taylors' Company
+of London and a benefactor of St. Bartholomew's Hospital and of his
+native city, Coventry. While these are ponderous and unlovely that of
+Julian Nethermyl, at the west end of the principal north aisle, is a
+work of interest and much beauty. It is an altar tomb with a
+sculptured panel on one end and one side, the other end and side
+having been next to walls. It is of interest as an early example of
+the Italian style then finding its way into England, and an example so
+free from Gothic influence that there can be little doubt that a
+foreign craftsman was employed upon it. On the centre of the long
+panel is a mutilated crucifix, and a brief inscription with a shield
+of arms beneath. On either hand kneel Julian Nethermyl and his wife,
+with five sons behind him and five daughters behind her. A cherub at
+each end pushes aside a curtain. The group of sons is well treated,
+the variations in pose and dress show the hand of one who was
+accustomed to study composition, and the result is very different from
+the formal repetition of equal or lessening figures usual on mediaeval
+brasses and Elizabethan tombs. The Latin inscription is partly
+illegible, translated it runs:
+
+  Here lies Julian Nethermyl, Draper, formerly Mayor of this City, who
+  died the 11th day of the month of April in the year of our Lord 1539
+  and also Joan his wife, to whose souls God be propitious. Amen.
+
+[Illustration: CHEST IN NORTH AISLE.]
+
+A small brass on the wall to the memory of Mary Hinton, wife of a
+vicar, who died in 1594, represents her kneeling at a faldstool, and
+facing a row of four swaddled infants laid upon the floor.
+
+Near by is the old Purbeck marble font, said to have been given by
+John Cross, Mayor, in 1394.
+
+As, however, the form, material, and shallow decoration are all quite
+consistent with a thirteenth-century date there can be little doubt
+that this one is the predecessor of that given by John Cross, which
+was condemned and removed by the Puritans as superstitious. A small
+brass, bearing a shield with four crosses, the ancient merchant mark,
+is fixed upon it.
+
+[Illustration: THE NETHERMYL TOMB.]
+
+Beyond the west door is the north-east buttress of the tower,
+strengthened by a mass of masonry, part of which formed part of the
+old nave wall. The tower arch is high and very narrow, owing to the
+narrowness of the old nave. The interior of the tower is very
+effective, both from the height, which is almost 100 feet to the crown
+of the vault, and the beautiful lighting of the upper stages. Each of
+the large windows of the ground story is set in a recessed arch, and
+between the two lantern stages is a range of panelling. The vertical
+lines of the various stages are not continuous, a want of regularity,
+which would probably not have occurred had it been built a century
+later. Upon the floor of the tower are two small brasses, which mark
+respectively the centre of the tower and the point below the apex of
+the spire, showing that the spire has an inclination of 3 feet 6
+inches towards the north-west. On the walls of the tower two very
+large brasses record the names of the Vicars of the church since 1242,
+and of the Bishops in whose Dioceses Coventry has been included from
+the earliest times. Of the latter, four were Bishops of Mercia,
+twenty-seven of Lichfield, six of Coventry, thirty-three of Coventry
+and Lichfield, thirteen of Lichfield and Coventry, four of Worcester,
+and two Bishops-Suffragan of Coventry.
+
+The south aisle is 6 feet narrower than the north at the west end, but
+its want of parallelism adds 7 feet to its width at its far eastern
+end.
+
+The south-west doorway has its original doors, though these have been
+subjected to restoration. The first chapel on the south side belonged
+to the Dyers' Company. When the principal trade of Coventry was the
+manufacture of woollen and worsted stuffs and the production of a
+special blue thread, so excellent that it gave rise to a proverbial
+expression, "he is true Coventry Blue", the Dyers were an important
+Company.[6] A chantry known as Tale's was probably attached to this
+chapel, as the salary of the priest, _£_5 6 _s_. 8 _d_., was paid by
+the Dyers' Company of London. An upper chamber for the priest existed
+as late as 1607; the floor corbels still remain. A large marble
+monument (removed hither from the chancel) has medallion portraits of
+two ladies--Dame Mary Bridgeman and Mrs. Eliza Samwell. The former
+with her husband, Sir Orlando (Lord Keeper of the Great Seal under
+Charles II), both died in 1701. The latter, dying in 1724, "ordered
+this monument to be erected as a remembrance of their great and loving
+friendship."
+
+The Chapel is now the Baptistery. A large eighteenth-century marble
+font was removed to the Lady Chapel and a new Gothic one put in its
+place, so that there are now three in the church.
+
+The south porch (1300) is the earliest part of the existing church.
+The inner doors appear to be of the early sixteenth century, the
+outer, though old, are of much later date and are not part of the
+original scheme. On the wall on each side of the inner doors are
+brasses of some interest. That on the right hand has a curious epitaph
+which runs thus:
+
+  Here lies the body of Capt'n Gervase Scrope, of the family of
+  Scropes, of Bolton in the County of York, who departed this life the
+  26 of August, Anno Dni 1705, aged 66.
+
+An Epitaph, written by himself, in the agony and dolorous paines of
+the gout and dyed soon after.
+
+  Here lyes an old toss'd Tennis Ball
+  Was racketted, from spring to fall,
+  With so much heat and so much hast,
+  Time's arm for shame grew tyred at last.
+  Four kings in camps he truly served.
+  And from his loyalty ne'er swerved,
+  Father ruin'd and son slighted,
+  And from the Crown ne'er requited.
+  Loss of estate, relations, blood,
+  Was too well known, but did no good;
+  With long Campaigns and paines oth' gout
+  He you'd no longer hold it out.
+  Always a restless life he led,
+  Never at quiet till quite dead.
+  He marry'd in his later days,
+  One who exceeds the common praise
+  But wanting breath still to make known
+  Her true affection and his own,
+  Death kindly came, all wants supplied
+  By giving rest--which life deny'd.
+
+The other brass, of 1609, has a portrait of Ann Sewell in Jacobean
+costume, kneeling, with an epitaph in which she is described as "a
+worthy stirrer up of others to all holy virtues."
+
+A doorway leads to a priest's chamber over the porch, sometimes
+incorrectly spoken of as the Cappers' Chapel. It is still used for the
+annual meeting of the Company, but is inaccessible to the public.
+
+The next chapel eastwards is St. Thomas', belonging until 1629 to the
+Cappers' and Feltmakers' Company. In 1531 they were associated in its
+maintenance with the Woollen Cardmakers who had founded it in 1467 and
+had after declined in importance. Leland, as we have seen records also
+the decay of the Cappers' industry. A large eighteenth-century
+monument conceals the original doorway from the porch. The eastern
+part of the south aisle as far as the screen formed another chapel as
+the dilapidated piscina in the south wall shows. The organ is now
+placed in the first bay of the chancel aisle, the whole aisle having
+once formed the Mercers' Chapel.
+
+[Illustration: THE SWILLINGTON TOMB.]
+
+Where the altar once stood are now steps descending to the sacristies.
+On the right of the window is the statue of St. Michael brought hither
+from the tower. The finely carved corbel on which it stands was
+discovered among rubbish in the recess below. Three altar tombs now
+stand against the south wall. The eastern has the recumbent effigies
+of Elizabeth Swillington and her two husbands. The inscription
+(translated) runs: "Pray for the soul of Elizabeth Swillington, widow,
+late the wife of Ralph Swillington, Attorney General of our Lord King
+Henry VIII, Recorder of the city of Coventry, formerly the wife of
+Thomas Essex Esq: which said Elizabeth died A.D. 15..." She died after
+1543. The side and ends have arcaded panelling containing shields of
+arms. At the west end is a realistic representation of the Five
+Wounds. The effigy of Thomas Essex is in armour, that of the Recorder
+in official robe and chain. The head of each rests on a helmet, and
+the lady wears the "pedimental" headdress of Tudor fashion. The
+arcading is purely Renaissance in detail though the general treatment
+is mediaeval. The figures are in dignified repose, wholly free from
+the later affectations of the Elizabethan school yet evidently
+individual portraits. The second tomb dates from 1640. The top is far
+too heavy for the little Ionic pilasters below.
+
+The third, traditionally called Wade's tomb, probably belongs to John
+Wayd, a Mercer, who lived in Coventry in 1557, but no inscription
+remains.
+
+There are seven shields of arms on the side, nearly all defaced, a
+motto "Ryen saunce travayle," and nine images in low relief which
+present quaint studies of early sixteenth-century costume.
+
+The matrices of brasses are still visible in several parts of the
+church. Sir James Harrington, writing in the reign of James I, tells a
+curious story of their loss:
+
+  The pavement of Coventry church is almost all tombstones, and some
+  very ancient, but there came in a zealous fellow with a counterfeit
+  commission, that for avoiding superstition, hath not left one
+  pennyworth nor penny breadth of brass upon all the tombs, of all the
+  inscriptions, which had been many and costly.
+
+The last monument that need be mentioned is upon the wall over "Wade's
+tomb." Twenty-six verses of eulogy follow these opening lines:
+
+  An Elegicall epitaph, made upon the death of that mirror of women
+  Ann Newdigate; Lady Skeffington, wife of that true moaneing turtle
+  Sir Richard Skeffington, Kt., and consecrated lo her eternal memorie
+  by the unfeigned lover of her vertues, Willm. Buistrode, Knight.
+  (She died in 1637, aged 29).
+
+The present organ was built by Henry Willis and erected in 1887. It is
+a four-manual and pedal instrument and has fifty-three stops.
+
+The old organ on which Handel played more than once, stood on a raised
+platform at the west end. It was the work of Thomas Swarbrick of
+Warwick, a German by birth, in 1733. He also built those of Trinity
+Church, St. Mary, Warwick, Lichfield, St. Saviour Southwark,
+Stratford-on-Avon, and Amsterdam.
+
+The best of the ancient glass now remaining has been collected into
+two windows, one on either side of the apse. Much was brought from the
+clearstory where six windows on the south and all save one on the
+north side still have panels made up of a mosaic of fragments with
+portions here and there of which the subject is intelligible. From
+what remains in the tracery we may gather that there was a row of
+eight angel figures filling the spaces immediately over the lights.
+Some of these or similar ones, are now in the apse. They are
+represented as covered with feathers and standing on wheels and each
+holds a scroll over the head with inscriptions in very contracted
+Latin. A few less fragmentary pieces may be found, _e.g._, in the
+north window, Judas giving the traitor's kiss, in the north clearstory
+the arms of Trenton and Stafford, mentioned and figured by Dugdale, in
+the south, the figure of a man in a red gown kneeling with a scroll
+inscribed "deo gracias" and over his head "groc(er) de
+london"--doubtless a donor. Of modern glass there is a great amount
+but little worth mentioning savs on account of the persons
+commemorated. One window in the Lady Chapel is a memorial of the
+Prince Consort and one in the Mercers' Chapel is of interest as a
+deserved memorial to Thomas Sharp the Antiquary to whose labours all
+later historians of the city are so deeply indebted. He died in 1841.
+
+[Illustration: ALMS-BOX.]
+
+The pulpit is of brass and wrought iron, the work of Frank Skidmore a
+native of Coventry who made also the choir screen of Hereford
+Cathedral and the metal work of the Albert Memorial at Kensington. It
+was placed here in 1869. The bells, ten in number, now hang in the
+octagon. They were cast in 1774 and weigh nearly seven tons. The first
+peal was hung in 1429 and a clock existed in 1467. In 1496 an Order of
+Leet ordained that "all manner of persons that will have the bells to
+ring after the decease of any of their friends, shall pay for a peal
+ringing with all the bells, 2_s_. and with four bells, 16_d_., and
+three bells 4_d_."
+
+
+The six bells were cast into eight in 1674 and the present tenth has
+the same inscription as the heaviest of the old peal:
+
+  I am and have been call'd the common bell
+  To ring, when fire breaks out, to tell.
+
+The chimes, which existed as early as 1465, were restored in 1895,
+after a silence of ten years, in memory of Lieut.-Col. Francis William
+Newdigate. Electric lighting has been introduced throughout the
+church.
+
+
+HOLY TRINITY CHURCH
+
+[Illustration: HOLY TRINITY FROM THE NORTH.
+                           _From a lithograph--about 1850_.]
+
+
+HOLY TRINITY CHURCH
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
+
+Although the first mention of this church which the indefatigable
+Dugdale could find was its appropriation to the priory in 1259-1260,
+it is tolerably certain that its foundation was much earlier. As
+before said, it is reputed to be older than St. Michael's and its
+position close to the monastery suggests that it had been built, as
+often happened, for the parishioners by the monks who disliked their
+intrusion within the priory church. The appropriation at this time may
+have been rather of the nature of a confirmation of the rights of the
+priory than the institution of a new condition of things. As, in 1391,
+the chancel had to be rebuilt being "ruinated and decayed" we may
+conclude that it was probably older than the present north porch which
+is certainly not later than 1259. It was at the same time lengthened
+by twenty-four feet, the convent giving one hundred shillings per
+annum for eight years and six trees, the parishioners finding all
+other material and workmanship. The convent and parish also agreed to
+support and keep it in repair at their joint charges.
+
+From 1298, when Henry de Harenhale was appointed, the list of vicars
+is complete, but in a cartulary of the priory mention is made of Ralph
+de Sowe, vicar of Trinity, as giving a tenement in Well Street, for
+the celebration of his anniversary.
+
+There are but few landmarks in its history, and dates affecting the
+structure can generally be assigned by internal evidence alone. The
+nave arcades had already been rebuilt before the chancel was touched,
+and a piece of work of the same period is to be seen in the five-light
+Decorated window, in the Consistory Court which now opens into the
+large chamber over the porch. We have no record of the building of the
+clearstory and roof of the nave. The resemblances between this
+clear-story, and that of St. John's chancel, raise the question of
+priority. The fuller development at St. John's of the peculiar
+treatment of the angles points to its being a little later but
+probably both fall within the second and third quarters of the
+fifteenth century.
+
+For a church of this size the chapels, altars and chantries were very
+numerous, there being probably fifteen altars in all. In 1522 the
+establishment of clergy consisted of a vicar, eleven parochial priests
+and two chantry priests. Dugdale enumerates six chantries so that it
+is evident that here as often elsewhere some of the parochial priests
+derived the whole or a part of their support from their performance of
+the duties of chantry priests.
+
+Many chantry priests on the other hand had other duties and took part
+in other services than the daily mass for which the chantry was
+founded.
+
+So much that is of interest in the religious life of the period is
+connected with the chantries that it is worth while recording some of
+the scattered notices that have come down to us.
+
+To begin with the Chapel of Our Lady, the earliest mention we have of
+it is in 1364 while in 1392 the Corpus Christi Gild endowed a priest
+there to sing mass for the good estate of Richard II, Anne his queen,
+and the whole realm of England, to be called St. Mary's priest. The
+indenture sets forth that "he is to be at Divine service on Sundays
+and double Feasts in the chancel and at Matins, Hours, Masses,
+Evensong, Compline and other offices used in the said church and also
+daily at _Salve_ in our Lady's Chapel unless hindered by reasonable
+cause." The records of the Dissolution of the Chantries show how much
+town property must have been held by them, while from these and other
+sources we learn the extent of their belongings in tenements,
+messuages, rent charges and the like. Thus in 1454 Emot Dowte gave
+several tenements to this altar and in 1492 Richard Clyff "late parson
+of St. George in London," left a house in Well St. to the church "to
+the intent that the mass of Our Lady may be observed the better." In
+1558 (the year of Elizabeth's accession) William Hyndeman, alderman
+and butcher, directs that his body be buried in the Lady Chapel "as
+aldermen are wont to be buried, towards the charges whereof I give
+twenty nobles to be levied of my quick cattle and if it be too little
+then I will that Sybil my wife shall lay down 20_s_. more." He also
+orders an obit to be kept after the death of his wife "yearly for
+ever;" a form of words that must surely have sounded unreal after the
+changes of the last two reigns.
+
+Perceye's chantry again, which Dugdale considered the oldest (though
+he does not give the date) was endowed in 1350 with six messuages, one
+shop, six acres of land and 40s. rent, all lying in Coventry, to which
+in 1407 William Botoner and others, added a messuage and twenty-four
+acres of land in the city for another priest.
+
+Then the chantry of the Holy Cross (1357) founded for two priests to
+sing daily a mass for the good estate before death and for the souls
+after of the royal family, and for the founders and the members of the
+Fraternity of the Holy Cross, was endowed with seven messuages,
+fourteen shops and sixteen acres of land in the city.
+
+Dugdale enumerates also four others, Cellet's, Corpus Christi,
+Lodynton's and Allesley's, to which should probably be added Marler's,
+assigned by him to St. Michael's. The first two are doubtless the same
+foundation, for in 1329 land and tenements were granted to the priest
+of Corpus Christi Chapel for the health of the soul of William Celet
+and others.
+
+It was almost certainly situated in the south transept, on the upper
+level over the vaulted passage. The position of Lodynton's chantry
+(1393) is not known; Allesley's, founded in the reign of Edward I, was
+sung at St. Thomas's altar.
+
+Richard Marler stipulates in his will that his priest is to have the
+"stypend or wagis of nyne marks by yere so long as he shall be of good
+and prestly conversacyon and demeanor, wt' a p'vyso that yf the seyde
+prest be ffounde otherwyse, after monyc'on and reasonable warnyng to
+hym geven, he to be removed."
+
+Much of the later history of the church relates to the destruction of
+its fittings and furniture or to restorations almost as grievous. In
+1560 2_s_. 6_d_. was paid for taking down the carving about the high
+altar, while the Mayor bought the panelling of the altar for 33_s_.
+4_d_., the vail for 5_s_., the "thing that the sacrament was in over
+the altar 1_s_.," the "peyre [pair of candlesticks?] that was upon the
+altar 5_d_." Perhaps he thought that all these things would be wanted
+again ere long. In 1547 a quantity of costly vestments and banners had
+been sold and we find in the accounts a number of such items as these:
+"Sold the 6 day of Jennery 5 copps of red teyssew to Mr. Roghers, now
+mayre (and 4 other persons) pryce of the sayd copps, 10_l_. To Bawden
+Desseld one cope of red velvet, 5_l_. Mr. Schewyll a grene velvet
+cope, 30_s_."
+
+But before Mary's death we have a lengthy inventory of copes,
+vestments, albs, banners and the like, some of which may have come
+back to the church from the buyers at the sale eleven years before.
+
+The church must have looked like a builder's yard in 1643 when the
+Committee and Council of War pulled down divers houses outside
+Bishop's and Spon Gates and stacked the materials here, while the
+changes of government are indicated by the payment in 1647 of 3_s_. 6
+_d_. "to Hopes for defacing the King's Arms" and in 1660 of 6_s_. to
+"Hope for the King's Arms."
+
+Five years after this the spire, which had caused much anxiety and
+expense for many years, was blown down in a gale, falling across the
+chancel and causing much destruction. All was restored and the spire
+rebuilt in three years. Reference has been made to the existence of a
+vaulted passage through the south transept. This was made necessary by
+the position of an ancient building known as Jesus Hall which adjoined
+the transept and thus blocked the way from "the Butchery" in this
+direction. The Hall had probably been long used as the residence of
+the priests attached to the church but nothing is known of its origin.
+It was destroyed in 1742. Only in 1834, when the exterior of the
+church was recased was the passage blocked and the floor of the upper
+chapel removed.
+
+The Register records the marriage of Sarah Kemble with William Siddons
+on 25th November, 1773.
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE EXTERIOR OF THE CHURCH
+
+The church of Holy Trinity loses much, in popular estimation at least,
+by its nearness to St. Michael's. It invites comparison of the most
+obvious sort. It is not nearly so large and its spire is not so high,
+these facts alone are sufficient to account for the popular view.
+Fuller, in his "Worthies" says of the two churches, "How clearly would
+they have shined if set at competent distance! Whereas now, such their
+Vicinity, that the Archangel eclipseth the Trinity."
+
+The plan is quite unlike that of its neighbour, being cruciform, with
+a central tower, a short nave, and a chancel distinctly longer than
+the nave. On the south both nave and chancel have a single aisle, the
+transept projecting beyond it and there is a vestry at the east end.
+On the north there is a similar aisle with a Lady Chapel at the east
+corresponding to the Vestry, but a large porch and several chapels
+fill up the spaces so that the transept does not in plan project.
+
+Looking at the exterior as a whole it may be said that the more
+moderate length (194 feet), the central spire, 230 feet high, and the
+transepts unite in forming a more satisfactory composition than the
+long body and immense western steeple of St. Michael's. There however,
+the superiority ceases for the frequent "recasings" and restorations
+have left hardly a stone of the exterior that has not been renewed
+again and again, and the dates of these operations, 1786, 1826, 1843,
+sufficiently suggest the degree of knowledge and feeling likely to be
+manifested in the work.
+
+Probably most of the structure was first built of the same friable red
+sandstone as its greater neighbour. Much of the recasing has been
+executed in a rather harder gray sandstone, but the tower and spire
+are still red.
+
+The tower above the roofs, is of two stages, the upper, or bell
+chamber, and the lower or lantern opening into the church. Below this
+are small windows with the lines of the old high-pitched roof visible
+above the present transept roofs, but in the nave and chancel the
+lines of the old roofs are now within the church, the clearstory
+having since been added. Each face of the tower is divided, apart from
+the narrow angle buttresses, into six vertical divisions separated by
+thin projections of buttress form. On the south and west the stair
+turret absorbs one of the outer divisions. Each division is curved in
+plan in a curious way, which may be the perpetuation of a feature of
+the original design, but was more probably introduced or modified by
+the person who recased the tower in 1826. That there was sculpture we
+know, for in 1709 ten shillings was paid for taking the images down
+from the steeple. The smallness of the sum indicates that they were
+few in number, and if they occupied similar positions to those on the
+belfry stage of St. Michael's, and the structure was as decayed as was
+the tower of that church it is probable that the cutting away of the
+niches may have suggested the curving of the surfaces especially as
+the tower would be thereby lightened. As it is we cannot be certain of
+much else than that there were vertical divisions serving to emphasize
+the impression of height and that the openings were in the same
+positions as now.
+
+[Illustration: PLAN OF TRINITY CHURCH]
+
+The spire blown down in 1665 had been in the previous ninety years
+five times repaired and repointed. We cannot now say whether the
+original design was at all closely followed in the rebuilding, but its
+present likeness to St. Michael's suggests doubts. The lowest stage
+which takes the place of the octagon and may be an intentional
+imitation of it, has almost upright sides with two-light windows on
+the cardinal faces and panelled ones on the oblique sides, while the
+remaining stages correspond in number and partly in design with those
+of St. Michael's.
+
+In 1855 it was considered that the bells endangered the safety of the
+tower, and after recasting by Mears of London they were rehung in a
+timber campanile in the north churchyard. Even now they cannot be
+pealed.
+
+The deplorable refacings have left few features of interest on the
+outside. Were Gothic architecture still a living and not merely
+imitative and academic art, one would welcome a complete renewal of
+all outside work--not an imagined harking back to the work of the
+fifteenth century but showing the lapse of the centuries from the
+fifteenth to the twentieth as clearly as does the north porch the
+change from the thirteenth to the fifteenth.
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR OF HOLY TRINITY, FROM THE WEST.]
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE INTERIOR
+
+It is with a feeling of expectation followed by one of relief that we
+pass within the church, for restoration has there rarely the same
+excuse for its devastations as the action of wind and weather on the
+exterior too generously gives it, and this church is no exception to
+the general rule.
+
+The clearing away of galleries, the provision of new seating and the
+renewal of much window tracery have been the principal changes, the
+greatest loss being the destruction of the Corpus Christi Chapel. The
+nave is of moderate width and consists of only four bays, the eastern
+arches being narrower and made to abut against the tower after the
+manner of flying buttresses. The columns are clusters of four large
+filleted shafts separated by small ones while the bases are high and
+evidently meant to be seen above the benches. The caps are shallow and
+very simple, while the shafts of each pier reappear as part of the
+arch moulding.
+
+The arcade as a whole is remarkably strong and dignified, it would
+perhaps have gained by the addition of a bay in length. In the absence
+of precise records it may be assigned to the second quarter of the
+fourteenth century or a little later. Above the tower arch can still
+be seen, beneath the painting and plaster, the marks of the older
+steep roof. The nave of Stratford-on-Avon Church has points of
+resemblance to this. There too we have a fourteenth-century arcade
+(but much simpler) with a fifteenth-century panelled wall and
+clearstory above, and the panelling comes down on to the backs of the
+arches in a similar though somewhat simpler manner.
+
+Owing to the inequality of the eastern arches there is, in the
+position of the windows and roof principals a curious disregard of the
+lines of the piers and the centres of arches. There are eight equal
+bays in the roof and each corresponds to two two-light windows. It is
+interesting to compare the design of this clearstory with that of St.
+Michael's. It has more solidity to accord with the more vigorous
+arcade though the treatment of the panelling is similar. The height
+from the arch to the roof is much less in proportion, but the sills of
+the windows are kept lower and the heads are square. The form of the
+windows is perhaps determined in part by the desire for more space for
+stained glass, but it is also the logical outcome of the space
+afforded by the level lines of a wooden roof just as the use of the
+pointed window follows from the use of pointed vaulting. The treatment
+of the angles after the manner of the thirteenth century "shouldered"
+lintel in order to take off the harshness of the rectangular form and
+to give a better bearing for the lintels is noteworthy and should be
+compared with the more developed forms at St. John's Church.
+
+Above the tower arch is a painting of the Last Judgement, discovered
+in 1831. It is now so much darkened that very little can be made out.
+The following is a description of its appearance before 1860: In the
+centre is the Saviour clothed in crimson and seated on a rainbow.
+Below are the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist with the twelve
+Apostles arranged on each hand. Two angels sound the summons to
+Judgement, and on the right of our Saviour, steps lead to a portico
+over which three angels look down on the scene and others welcome a
+pope who has just passed St. Peter. On the Saviour's left are doomed
+spirits being conveyed by devils in various ways and in ludicrous
+attitudes to the place of torment, represented in the usual manner by
+the gaping mouth of a monster, vomiting flames of fire. A large
+painting of a crucifix, with a priest kneeling beside it and angels
+flying above, was discovered at the same time on the north side of the
+Chancel but was too much mutilated to be thought worthy of
+preservation.
+
+The roofs throughout are of low pitch, and almost all resemble one
+another in design. Those of the nave, chancel, archdeacon's chapel (on
+the west of the north porch) and transepts are divided by their
+principal timbers into large panels, which are again subdivided by
+mouldings upon the boarded ceiling. At all angles and intersections
+there are carved leaves, and stars in relief adorn each panel. All
+these roofs are painted in accordance, it is said, with existing
+indications of the original colouring. The ground is blue, the
+mouldings red and white, the stars and carving are gilt. The nave roof
+spandrels, above the tie-beams, have large painted figures of angels,
+supporting between them shields emblazoned with the instruments of the
+Passion. These are also said to be reproductions, but it appears
+likely that time had left much to the imagination of their restorer.
+
+[Illustration: NORTH SIDE OF NAVE, EASTERN BAYS.]
+
+Nevertheless, the whole effect of the roofs is harmonious, a result
+apparently obtained by the use of a blue far removed from the
+ultramarine tint too often employed.
+
+Since the removal of the ringing floor, in 1855, the lantern stage of
+the tower has been once more visible from the church. A wooden vaulted
+ceiling was at the same time inserted where a stone one had originally
+been built or intended.
+
+The chancel is dark owing to the small clearstory windows, the low
+outer north aisle, and the concealment of a south window by the organ.
+At the first pier east of the tower came the rood-screen, and on the
+south side (in the aisle) the door to it may be seen at a height above
+the floor. Access must have been by steep steps against the wall, or
+from the top of another screen across the aisle. The church accounts
+of the year 1560 tell us what it cost to remove:
+
+  Payd for taking down ye rode and Marie and John . . 4_s_. 4_d_.
+  Payd to ye carpenter for pullyng down ye rode lofft . . 4_s_. 8_d_.
+
+On the east side of the tower wall can be seen the line of the
+original roof, showing the height before the rebuilding in 1391.
+Although there is space for larger windows the aisle roof prevented
+their sills being brought lower. The west arch of the south arcade has
+been forced out of shape by the pressure of the tower piers and
+arches; certainly the piers, which are little more than 4 feet square,
+seem slender enough for the support of so lofty a steeple.
+
+Attached to this south-east tower pier is the stone pulpit, one of the
+two special glories of the church, the other being the brass eagle.
+The pulpit is either contemporary with the pier or nearly so. There is
+apparently some difference in the texture and colour of the stone, but
+as it is probable that a finer-grained stone would be chosen for work
+of this character, this need not imply a difference of date. It was,
+however, probably added at the same time as the nave clearstory. The
+authors of "English Church Furniture" assign it to 1470.[7] Before
+1833 (when restored by Rickman) it had been hidden from sight by
+wood-work and a clerk's desk at a lower level. The lower part is
+boldly corbelled out and the junction of the octagon with the pier
+shafts is well managed, but the upper open-panelled part is rather too
+definitely cut off from the lower by the battlemented cornice. Very
+few examples of this class of pulpit exist in England, and none equal
+in importance.
+
+The eagle lectern is a magnificent example of brass casting. It is
+generally attributed to the late fifteenth century. This eagle
+narrowly escaped being sold by the Puritans for old brass, as happened
+to that of St. Michael's. It closely resembles one belonging to St.
+Nicholas' Chapel, Lynn, save that the latter is not equal in
+refinement of detail and proportion, and the bird is less vigorous in
+pose and modelling. In 1560 there was "paid for skowring ye Egle and
+candell styckes, 10_d_.," and "for mending of ye Egle's tayle, 16_d_."
+
+[Illustration: PULPIT.]
+
+At least nine chapels and fifteen altars are known to have existed in
+the church. The present choir vestry on the north side was the Lady
+Chapel. A simple piscina on the south side, about a foot above the
+present floor, shows that the old floor level was much lower.
+
+The north aisle is lofty and has a clearstory of three windows over
+the arcade. In the outer aisle was located Marler's, or the Mercers',
+Chapel, founded in 1537, and beneath it is a crypt or charnel house,
+now closed save for small ventilating openings.
+
+[Illustration: ARCHWAY BETWEEN THE NORTH PORCH AND ST. THOMAS'S
+CHAPEL.]
+
+The black oak roof of low pitch has the panels of the western bay only
+richly carved with vine leaves and grapes. Its date is, perhaps, as
+late as the foundation of the chantry. The piscina is in the north
+wall.
+
+West of the north transept is St. Thomas's Chapel. Dugdale says that
+Allesley's chantry was founded in the time of Edward I, at the altar
+of St. Thomas the Martyr, "in a chapel near adjoining to the church
+porch." The chapel is certainly older, for the beautiful double
+doorway from the porch is not later than mid-thirteenth century. The
+outer doorway of the porch was rebuilt in the fifteenth century. The
+inner one, with a finely moulded arch with angle shafts and the vault
+with simple diagonal ribs carried on shafts, is of the early
+thirteenth century. It is to be regretted that this fine porch is not
+better seen. Signs of the puzzling reconstructions that have occurred
+in this part are visible in the aisle wall. Two lancet windows high up
+are of the same date as the porch, and are blocked by the chamber
+since constructed above St. Thomas's Chapel, and parts of other window
+jambs are seen at different levels.
+
+The Archdeacon's Chapel or consistory court, to the west of the porch,
+is now one of the most interesting parts of the church.
+
+It is divided from the north aisle by two lofty arches with an
+octagonal column. The original dedication is not known, but in 1588 it
+was already used as an Ecclesiastical Court, and the next year a
+bishop's seat was made for use in it. In the south-west angle is a
+tall, narrow recess, once closed by a door. Lockers of this
+description were constructed for the safe keeping of the shaft of the
+processional cross, and for the staves of banners. On the east side
+the roof now cuts across the head of a window of reticulated tracery
+of the early fourteenth century. Most of the monuments have been
+brought hither from various parts of the church; only two or three are
+of general interest. A late Perpendicular canopied tomb, rudely carved
+and badly fitted together, stands against the north wall, but there is
+nothing to show whom it commemorates. On the east wall is the monument
+of Dr. Philemon Holland, with a long Latin epitaph. Fuller says of
+him: "he was the translator general in his age, so that those books
+alone of his turning into English will make a country gentleman a
+competent library for historians." Born at Chelmsford in 1551 he
+settled at Coventry in 1595, was usher and then master of St. John's
+Free School for twenty-eight years, and died in 1636 in his
+eighty-fifth year. During his usher-ship Dugdale was a pupil of the
+school.
+
+An engraved brass to John Whithead, who died in 1597, is interesting
+for the sake of the costumes of himself and his two wives. Three stone
+coffins have also been deposited here, and two sheets of lead from the
+roof recording, in fine bold lettering, the repairs executed in 1660
+and 1728. In the middle window on the north side are the only
+remaining fragments of ancient glass. As late as 1779 there were
+"portraits" of Earl Leofric and the Countess, and also, it is said, a
+smaller figure of the lady in a yellow dress on a white horse. Part of
+a small figure holding a spray of leaves and part of a galloping horse
+are pointed out as the remains of this. To the writer the figure
+appears to be clearly that of a man, and the horse and rider's leg not
+to have belonged to it.
+
+The modern stained glass is very unequal in character, and some is
+very poor indeed. The windows at the west, especially one in memory of
+Mr. Wm. Chater, a late organist, may be regarded as exceptions. There
+are still, fortunately, many which are not filled with pious
+memorials.
+
+The font is the original pre-Reformation one of the fifteenth century,
+which was removed by the Puritans in 1645 (though devoid of sculpture)
+and brought back after the Restoration. It stands on three steps, is
+panelled on bowl and stem, and rather brilliantly adorned with gold
+and colour.
+
+The south aisle was no doubt divided into two chapels, that on the
+west belonging to the Barkers' or Tanners' Gild. A small piscina
+against the south wall indicates the position of its altar. The wall
+below the windows is recessed so as to form a seat the whole length of
+the aisle.
+
+The south transept, containing the Corpus Christi and Cellet's
+chantries, has lost its original character completely. The piscina,
+high up on the south wall, shows that the floor level was some 9 feet
+above that of the church. The reason for this has been already
+explained. The organ chamber is quite modern. The best authorities
+place the chapel of the Butchers' Gild in the south aisle of the
+chancel, but do not say to whom the eastern chapel in the nave aisle
+belonged. It is known that there was a Jesus Chapel, and, in view of
+the proximity of Jesus Hall, it is believed by some that this was its
+position.
+
+The present clergy vestry is a fine room, having an excellent dark oak
+roof with heavy beams and well carved bosses at the intersections of
+the timbers. The Royal Arms over the fireplace were painted there in
+1632. Although usual, the placing of the king's arms in churches was
+not compulsory until the Restoration; few earlier now remain, and this
+placing of them in the vestry rather than the body of the church is
+suggestive of a compromise between opposing factions. A portrait of
+Walter Farquhar Hook, Vicar from 1828-37 and afterwards Dean of
+Chichester is hung here.
+
+It seems probable that this was a chapel, perhaps that of the Holy
+Trinity, to whom an altar was dedicated.
+
+The history, as traced in the church accounts, of the various organs
+used in the church gives some idea of the fluctuations of opinion as
+to the propriety of their use. In 1526 John Howe and John Climmowe,
+citizens and organ makers of London, contracted to provide, for _£_30,
+"a peir of Organs wt vij stopps, ov'r and besides the two Towers of
+cases, of the pitche of doble Eff, and wt xxvij pleyn keyes, xix
+musiks, xlvj cases of Tynn and xiiij cases of wood, wt two Starrs and
+the image of the Trinite on the topp of the sayed orgayns." In
+1570-the "payer of balowes" were sold, and in 1583 the pipes, "wayeng
+eleven score and thirteen pounds, went for fourpence half-farthing the
+pound." In 1632 a new one was obtained but its life was short, for in
+1641 the Puritan party caused it to be sold "for the best advantage."
+
+[Illustration: ALMS-BOX.]
+
+Once more, in 1684, another was purchased from Mr. Robert Hay wood of
+the City of Bath for _£_100; then, in 1732, Thomas Swarbrick of
+Warwick built one for _£_600, for which a gallery was erected across
+the nave.
+
+In 1855 this gave place to a new one by Foster and Andrews of Hull,
+costing _£_800; and this was rebuilt by Messrs. Hill and Son in 1900.
+
+
+
+ST. JOHN BAPTIST'S CHURCH
+
+[Illustration: CHURCH OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST, FROM BOND'S HOSPITAL.]
+
+
+ST. JOHN BAPTIST'S CHURCH
+
+The church of St. John Baptist has a history quite different from that
+of the other parish churches and is specially interesting as a
+building belonging to a very limited class, namely, Collegiate
+Churches owned by a Gild. Though Dugdale says that the "first and most
+antient of the Gilds here was founded in the 14th Ed. III (1340)" it
+is probable that, as in other places, religious gilds had for long
+existed here and that the royal license or Charter of this date was
+like that of Stratford-on-Avon in 1332, really a reconstitution or
+confirmation of the Gild's rights, privileges and possessions.
+
+This earliest one was known as the Merchant or St. Mary's Gild and its
+first ordinances provided that "the brethren and sisteren of the gild
+shall find as many chaplains as the means of the gild can well
+afford." Then in 1342 that of St. John Baptist and in 1343 that of St.
+Katharine was founded. The former at once founded a chantry of six
+priests to sing mass daily in the churches of St. Michael and the
+Trinity for "the souls of the King's progenitors and for the good
+estate of the King, Queen Isabella his mother, Queen Philippa his
+Consort and their children" and others, besides the members of the
+Gild. In 1344 this Gild, desiring to have a building for its exclusive
+use, received from Queen Isabella a small piece of land called
+Babbelak on which to build a chapel in honour of God and St. John, two
+priests being required to sing masses daily for the souls "of her dear
+lord Edward," John, Earl of Cornwall and others. Did she seek to
+satisfy her conscience thus for the woes she had brought upon her
+_dear lord?_ The site thus given measured 117 feet from north to south
+and about 40 feet from east to west giving room for the chancel only
+of the present church, this being dedicated in 1350. But in 1357
+William Walsheman, valet to the Queen and now her sub-bailiff in
+Coventry gave further land, added a new aisle and increased the number
+of priests while the Black Prince in 1359 gave a small plot on which,
+perhaps, the tower and transept now stand. Within the next ten years
+Walsheman and Christiana his wife gave to the Gild certain tenements,
+called the "Drapery," in the city to build a chapel in honour of the
+Holy Trinity, St. Mary, St. John, and St. Katharine "within the Chapel
+of Bablake." William Wolfe, mayor in 1375, is mentioned as a "great
+helper" in the work at the church, the original nave and aisles being
+probably built at this time, and some reconstruction of the choir.
+Records are wanting of the subsequent alterations which gave it its
+present form. The north clearstory of the nave shows the original
+design while that of the choir and the south side of the nave belong
+to the fifteenth century as do the tower and the cruciform arrangement
+of the building. Leland's "Itinerary" gives the following
+description: "There is also a Collegiate Church at Bablake, hard
+within the West Gate (Spon Gate) alias Bablake Gate, dedicated to St.
+John.... It is of the foundation of the Burgesses and there is a great
+Privilege, Gild or Fraternity. In this College is now a Master and
+eight ministers and lately twelve ministers." Stowe adds that there
+were twelve singing men and extant deeds mention "Babbelake Hall" in
+which the warden and priests lived.
+
+Many interesting entries of expenditure are to be found in the gild
+accounts showing how the Eve of St. John (Midsummer Eve) and other
+festivals were celebrated before the suppression of the gilds by
+Edward VI. In 1541 we have the following (the spelling is somewhat
+modernized):
+
+  Expenses on Midsummer Even and on the day,--Item, 2 doz. & a half
+  cakes, 2_s_. 6_d_.; spice cakes, 12_d_.; a cest' ale and 4 gals.
+  4_s_.; 2 gals, claret wine 16_d_.; 2 gals, malmsey, 2_s_. 8_d_.; 2
+  gals, muskedell 2_s_. 8_d_.; to Mr. Mayor 3_s_. 4_d_.; the Mayor to
+  offer, 8_d_.; to priests, clerks and children, 2_s_. 4_d_.; the
+  waits, 6_s_. 8_d_.; to poor people 6_s_. 8_d_.; to the cross-bearers
+  and torch-bearers, 8_d_.; the bellman, 4_d_.; the hire of pots,
+  4_d_.; boughs, rushes and sweeping, 8_d_.; a woman 2 days to cleanse
+  the house, 4_d_.; half a hundred 3_d_, nails, 1-1/2_d_.; half a
+  pound of sugar, 4-1/2_d_.; to the crossbearer and torchbearer for
+  St. George Day, Holy Rood Day, Shire Thursday and Whit Sunday,
+  12_d_.; to 2 children for the same days, 6_d_. Summa (total) 38_s_.
+  2_d_.
+
+That these anniversaries and wakes led to much unseemly revelling we
+have evidence that cannot be gainsaid. The Trinity Gild decided in
+1542 "that no obite, drynkyng or com'en assemblie, from henceforth
+shall be had or used at Babalake, except onelie on Trinitie even and
+on the day, which shall be used as it hath been in tymes past. And
+that also the P'sts of Babelack shall say _dirige_ on midsum' even and
+likewise masse of _requiem_ on the morrowe, as they have used to doo.
+And that the Meire shall not come down thether to _dirige_ ov(er)
+night for dyv's considerac'ons and other great busynes they used. And
+on the morowe thei to go thether to masse and brekefast, as thei have
+used to doo."
+
+Dugdale quotes from an old MS. an interesting passage bearing on this
+question:
+
+  "And ye shall understond and know how the Evyns were furst found in
+  old tyme. In the beginning of holi Chirche, it was so that the
+  pepull cam to the Chirche with candellys brennyng and wold _Wake_
+  and come with light toward nyght to the Chirch to their devocions;
+  and afterwards they fell to lecherie and songs, daunces, harping,
+  piping and also to glotony and sinne and so turned the holinesse to
+  cursaydnesse; wherefore holi faders ordeined the pepull to leve that
+  _waking_ and to fast the Evyn. But it is called _Vigilia_, that is
+  _Waking_ in English and it is called the Evyn, for at Evyn they were
+  wont to come to Chirche."
+
+In 1362 Queen Isabella helped to procure from the bishop a licence for
+one Robert de Worthin, priest, to become an anchorite and to inhabit a
+hermitage attached to the north aisle of the chancel. Traces of the
+foundations of this have been found on the site of the modern vestry.
+
+When the college was suppressed in 1548 the King granted to the mayor,
+bailiffs and corporation, on their petition, the church and its
+appurtenances in Free Burgage for ever on payment of 1_d_., per annum
+and gave them "all the rents, revenues and profits of the said
+church."
+
+But these gifts were not sufficient to support the church and its
+services, so that the latter were irregular and repairs were
+neglected. In 1608 Mayor Hancox procured the delivery of a Saturday
+lecture "for the better fitting of the people for the Sabbath." In
+1641 Simon Norton, alderman, left property to his son Thomas, on
+trust, the condition being that if at any time St. John's should
+become a parish church, he or his heirs should pay _£_13 6_s_. 8_d_.
+to the minister out of rents of lands in Coundon, and also the tithes
+of lands in Clifton.
+
+Prisoners from the Scottish army being quartered on the city in 1647,
+many were confined in this church and wrought much damage and
+desecration. From this time services were only occasionally held,
+until 1734, when an Act of Parliament was obtained making it a Parish
+Church, appointing a district to it and enabling the Master and Usher
+of the Free Grammar School to be Rector and Lecturer of the church.
+The mayor, bailiffs, and commonalty were made patrons, but in 1835,
+these arrangements having failed to work satisfactorily, the patronage
+was transferred to trustees who acted as managers of the school and in
+1864 the lectureship was abolished, the rectory was severed from the
+office of Head Master and the Trustees of the school were charged with
+a payment of _£_200 per annum towards the stipend of the Rector. In
+1874 the advowson was sold to a private person. A great deal of
+restoration, justifiable and otherwise, has taken place, the decay of
+the local sandstone having made large repairs necessary. In 1861 much
+renewal of the external stone work was carried out. Unfortunately
+shortsighted ideas of economy led to the use of the same poor stone
+and much has recently had to be done over again, this time with the
+harder Runcorn stone used also at St. Michael's. The interior was
+restored in 1875, galleries erected in 1735 and 1838, and high pews
+were removed, the floor, which had been raised three feet, lowered,
+the lantern stage of the tower opened up by removing a ringing floor
+and a light iron gallery above the tower arches provided for the
+ringers. The original groined ceiling has thus been made visible from
+below.
+
+
+THE EXTERIOR
+
+Although small in area compared with the other churches, both exterior
+and interior give an impression of size and dignity which does not
+belong to many much larger buildings. In the exterior this is no doubt
+due to the pseudo-cruciform arrangement, the bold central tower and
+the height of the main roof, which would have appeared even greater
+had the roadways not been so much raised.
+
+The tower is in two stages, a lofty lantern story having two transomed
+two-light windows on each face and a shorter upper one having smaller
+windows without transoms and a battlemented parapet. Large skeleton
+clock-dials disfigure the windows of this story. Narrow buttress
+strips on either side and between the windows run through and serve to
+connect the stories. The north-east angle has an octagonal stair
+turret carried up above the parapet. The other angles have narrow
+buttresses running up to circular bartizans boldly corbelled out from
+the battlements. This is an extremely unusual feature in
+ecclesiastical architecture but is common on fortified structures. Of
+the City gates, Gosford Gate had machicolated ones but not Spon Gate
+adjacent to the church.
+
+[Illustration: ST. JOHN BAPTIST.]
+
+The spacing of the windows and buttresses of the south aisle and the
+position of the large transept window show how the later changes were
+effected. The three windows and the buttresses with niches and
+canopies almost certainly belong to the part built by Walsheman after
+1357. The two in the chancel aisle are recent insertions. The doorway
+at the south-west corner occupies the position where indications
+showed that an original door had existed. There is also a small
+priest's doorway of which the jambs are ancient. The clearstory was
+restored in 1861 "from sufficiently clear indications" in the remains
+of the original windows. The whole of this part is worthy of careful
+study and should be compared with the corresponding parts of Trinity
+Church. Everywhere we see signs of individual thought and design
+mainly directed to softening the rigidity of the horizontal lines of
+the square-headed and transomed "Perpendicular" windows. The method of
+cusping the drop-arch and the varied treatment of these in nave, choir
+and transepts are noteworthy while the little quatrefoil at the
+intersection of mullion and transom is a really happy innovation. The
+flying buttress over the south aisle restores a feature of the old
+building which had disappeared. Of the variously panelled and
+battle-raented parapets, of nave, chancel and aisles a view of 1864
+gives no visible hint. As the report of Sir (then Mr.) G.G. Scott in
+1856 specifies as desirable the "renewing all the parapets according
+to the portions of the original which remain," we can only hope (but
+with no sense of certainty) that these parts are faithfully
+reproduced.
+
+The limited site on which the chancel was built (only 40 feet deep)
+caused the builders to omit any buttresses or other projections at the
+east end. The east window was renewed in 1861 but the proportions are
+not good and it is said that one light was suppressed although the old
+sill remained intact.
+
+The west end has a large six-light window with two transoms. It was
+restored in 1841 and is said to be a precise reproduction of the
+original design. On the gable above it is a large niched pinnacle
+which appears to be an "unauthorized" addition.
+
+While the north aisle is later than the south, the clearstory, as has
+been said is earlier, being of late Decorated date with large
+three-light windows of reticulated tracery. The north transept is more
+consistent in style than the south. The large four-light window is
+peculiar in design. It has one transom and the tracery is brought down
+much below the spring of the arch. The centre mullion is very solid,
+coming forward almost to the wall face both inside and out and running
+up to the apex of the arch. The clearstory windows in both transepts
+are similar in general design to those of the south clearstory of the
+nave but with variations suggesting a rather later date. A very
+effective view of the north side can be had from the quadrangle of
+Bond's Hospital, though here too it loses on account of the depressed
+site in which it lies.
+
+
+THE INTERIOR
+
+The interior is not less impressive for its size than the exterior,
+Sir G.G. Scott even saying that he knew of no interior more beautiful
+than St. John's.
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR, ST. JOHN BAPTIST.]
+
+[Illustration: CLEARSTORY WINDOWS.]
+
+All at least will agree that there is something about it striking and
+dignified which is obviously not concerned with mere size, is largely
+independent of elaboration of detail and may therefore be safely
+attributed to its satisfactory proportions and broad effects of light
+and shade. Its plan is quite simple consisting of a nave and choir
+with north and south aisles, a transept not projecting beyond the
+aisles at either end and a central tower. Yet, although it is more or
+less oblong as a whole, there is hardly a right angle or two parallel
+walls throughout the church. In most cases these discrepancies are not
+apparent, nor do they appear likely to have been intended to produce a
+studied effect. Thus a diminution in width towards the east (as at
+Manchester) may be expected to add to the apparent length, but here
+the south aisles of both nave and chancel expand instead of
+contracting. By standing within either transept and looking up at the
+roof the want of parallelism of the walls and other irregularities are
+plainly seen. The nave has only three bays, the arches being rather
+lofty and the arch mouldings of the characteristic shallowness of the
+period. The south-west pier had to be rebuilt on account of settlement
+and there are signs of it in the south-east arch next the tower. The
+name Bablake is said to have been derived from a pond or conduit near
+by and the site may have been swampy, thus affecting the foundations.
+The district is even now liable to flooding from the Sherborne (or
+Shireburn) stream and as late as January 1900 the waters rose over
+five feet within the church as a brass plate at the west end
+testifies.
+
+The graceful treatment of the windows of the nave and choir
+clearstories is shown in the illustration. Comparing these with the
+clearstory of Trinity nave questions of priority arise. If not
+designed by the same mind the influence of one on the other is easily
+seen. On the whole the greater rigidity of treatment and the anxiety
+to increase the area of glass in the Trinity windows suggest that the
+date is rather later and that the designs did not spring from the same
+brain. The roof is very simple, the curved brackets springing from the
+shafts which run down to the arches below. The wall is deeply recessed
+beneath the windows. The north windows, however, are continued down in
+plain panels, but this only makes more apparent the fact that they are
+not placed centrally over the arches.
+
+The north aisle has a doorway and two north windows. The windows are
+of good Perpendicular design, and the mullions are continued down the
+wall below, forming panels. The lowered sill and recess probably
+formed a convenient retable to an altar against the wall. The west
+window preserves some fragments of glass dated 1532. There is an
+obliterated inscription and small etched figures--among them an
+acolyte carrying a cross, one of those whose services are mentioned in
+the accounts after this wise: "to the crosebeirer and torchebeirer,
+for Seynt George day, hollieroode day, shire thuresday and Whit
+Sunday, 12_d_.; to 2 childern for the same dayes 6_d_."
+
+The south aisle of the nave, including the lower part of the transept,
+is doubtless the aisle erected for the Gild by William Walsheman in
+1357. The two windows are not central with the nave arches, and the
+third is not in the centre of the transept. Their tracery is somewhat
+peculiar in design and refined in detail, and has the transitional
+character one would expect from its date. There are signs on the face
+of each western tower pier of the altars which once stood there,
+probably those of the Trinity and St. Katharine, which are known to
+have existed.
+
+The eastern piers of the tower are later than the western, and very
+unlike them in plan. A bold and ingenious treatment of the vaulting
+shaft of the tower groining is used on these piers; on the western
+ones the shafts stop upon the ends of the hood moulding.
+
+The choir is now closed by a screen carrying a large rood carved in
+oak. Like St. Michael's, but to a smaller extent, the axis of the
+choir inclines to the north. Whether symbolic, or only a part of what
+may be described as the studied irregularity of the whole building it
+is hard to say. The column on each side of the choir is later than the
+east respond and also later than the west tower pier, but corresponds
+with the east tower pier. The deep panelling beneath the windows must
+have been carried out when the clearstories were constructed in the
+fifteenth century.
+
+The south aisle of the choir, the original chapel of the patron saint,
+is now fitted up and used as a morning chapel. The piscina still
+remains in the south wall, and there is a trace of the old altar
+visible on the wall.
+
+The east end of the north aisle is now the organ chamber, and was
+originally the Lady Chapel. The base of the altar still exists, and so
+does the piscina in the south wall.
+
+In connection with these or other altars we hear of a payment of
+22_d_., in 1474, for painting a cloth for the image of St. John
+Baptist, and in 1462 sums of 40_s_. and 7_s_. were paid to a sculptor
+of Burton-on-Trent for an alabaster statue of the Virgin and a base
+for it.
+
+At the foot of the south-west tower-pier are some decayed but
+interesting ancient tiles. The new ones have been copied from them.
+
+The vicissitudes in the church's fortunes have left little for us to
+see that is not part and parcel of the structure.
+
+That there were "orgaynes" as early as 1461 we know from entries in
+the city records giving the cost at different times of wire, glue,
+nails, thread, etc., for the reparation of them, while a payment of
+2_d_. for "a string" suggests that they were a combination of wind and
+string stops, similar to the 1733 organ of St. Michael's as built by
+Thomas Swarbrick. In 1519 the Prior bought the "metell of ye old
+orgayns in bablake" for 9_s_. 10_d_., but doubtless the new one
+disappeared in the troublous times that followed. A new one has
+recently been set up.
+
+The pulpit is of stone and quite new, and the font, erected in 1843,
+is a copy of that of St. Edward's, Cambridge.
+
+There are five bells, the inscriptions on them being as follows:
+
+  1st. Henrycus Bagley. M.C. Fecit 1676.
+  2nd. Pack & Chapman. London 1778. Richard Eaton, Church-warden.
+  3rd. Henric Dodenhale, Fecit. M.C.E.I.C.R.I.
+  4th. (Illegible.) Probably of the end of fifteenth century.
+  5th. I ring at six to let men know
+       When to and from their work to go.
+
+Neglect and decay it has been seen had provided only too plausible
+excuses for restoration. In 1858 the church had a narrow escape from a
+worse fate, for it was proposed to extend it in some direction, and
+the architect suggested the lengthening of the north transept and the
+addition of a new north aisle. Probably lack of funds alone prevented
+the carrying out of a proposal which would have completely spoilt the
+proportions of this beautiful interior.
+
+
+THE GREY FRIARS' CONVENT
+
+CHRIST CHURCH
+
+The third of the "three tall spires," albeit nothing else remains of
+the church to which it belonged, deserves that some notice should be
+given of it and of the men who reared it.
+
+In 1234, eleven years after their first coming into England, the
+Franciscan Friars are heard of at Coventry, Ranulph, Earl of Chester,
+having granted them land for their oratory, and the Sheriff of
+Warwickshire, on behalf of the King, giving them shingles from the
+woods of Kenilworth wherewith to cover it. In 1359 the Black Prince,
+then owner of the Manor and Park of Cheylesmore, just outside the
+walls of the city and adjacent to their convent, granted them so much
+stone from his quarry there, "as they should have occasion to use
+about their buildings and walls," and probably at this time the
+church, of which Christ Church spire is a remnant, was built.
+
+At the same time he gave them "liberty to have a postern into the Park
+to carry out any of their convent that should be diseased."
+
+The house was surrendered to the King in 1539, the warden and ten
+brethren being compelled to sign a humiliating document, in which they
+professed to "profoundly consider that the perfection of Christian
+living doth not consist in dumb ceremonies, wearing of a grey coat,
+disguising ourself after strange fashions, ducking, nodding and
+becking, in girding our selves with a girdle full of knots and other
+like Papisticall ceremonies."
+
+[Illustration: THE SPIRE OF CHRIST CHURCH.]
+
+It is certain at least that they had no accumulated wealth. Whatever
+they had received had been distributed for the advantage of the Church
+or the poor. At their suppression they had neither lands, tenements,
+nor other possessions, save their church and house and the land these
+stood on. The site was granted to the city and the buildings thrown
+down, only the spire with its supporting walls and arches being
+allowed to stand until 1829, when it was incorporated with the new
+nave of Christ Church from the designs of Rickman, to whom we are
+indebted for the first comprehensive and systematic account of English
+Mediaeval architecture. The work shows how imperfectly in those days
+even a genuine admirer of Mediaeval Art understood its spirit.
+Unfortunately the tower and spire were recased with new stone, and the
+original character of the work largely disappeared. The total height
+is 204 feet, exclusive of the vane. The plan of the old church was
+interesting, especially in the arrangement of the crossing. The short
+transepts had little real relation to choir or nave, which were almost
+completely separated from one another, the nave being intended for the
+use of the public.
+
+The narrowing of the tower from east to west, and the insertion of
+secondary north and south arches to carry the slender octagonal tower
+is unusual and ingenious. The whole length was 250 feet, and the
+transepts were 96 feet from north to south. The nave and choir
+differed little in length.
+
+[Illustration: GREY FRIARS' CHURCH (CROSSING).]
+
+The connection of the Franciscans with the production of the
+Mysteries, or sacred plays, should not pass unnoticed. Dugdale, who
+had spoken with eye witnesses, thus alludes to the subject:
+
+  Before the suppression of the Monasteries this City was very famous
+  for the Pageants that were played therein upon Corpus Christi-day;
+  which occasioning very great confluence of people thither from far
+  and near, was of no small benefit thereto; which Pageants being
+  acted with mighty State and Reverence by the Friars of this House,
+  had Theatres for the several scenes, very large and high, placed
+  upon wheels and drawn to all the eminent parts of the City for the
+  better advantage of spectators; and contained the story of the Old
+  and New Testament, composed in the old English Rithme, as appeareth
+  by an ancient MS. intituled, _Ludus Corporis Christi_, or _Ludus
+  Coventriae_.
+
+Along with a number that were performed by the city companies they are
+still to be seen in the British Museum. We know that the Friars
+presented them as late as 1492, when Henry VII was present with his
+Queen to see the plays "acted by the Grey Friars."
+
+No remains exist of the domestic buildings of the Friary.
+
+The well-known Ford's Hospital hard by is often called Grey Friars'
+Hospital, but this arises merely from the situation. It was founded in
+1529 by Mr. William Ford of Coventry, Merchant of the Staple, for five
+men and one woman, but is now inhabited by women only. It is an
+exceptionally beautiful example of Tudor timber construction in
+perfect condition.
+
+
+THE WHITE FRIARS
+
+The Carmelite or White Friars were, says Dugdale, fixed in Coventry in
+1343 by Sir John Poultney who had been four times Lord Mayor of
+London. Although their buildings were ornate and extensive, their
+revenue apart from oblations amounted to only _£_3 6_s_. 8_d_. per
+annum and the whole came to less than _£_8. At the Dissolution the
+house and its revenues came eventually to John Hales, Clerk of the
+Hanaper to Henry VIII. Having amassed a great estate in monastery and
+chantry lands, Hales founded the Free School in Coventry, the Church
+of the White Friars being at first used for the purpose. Later, he
+made of the Friary a dwelling and removed the school to St. John's
+Hospital, granted to him by the king in 1545. Part of the church of
+the Hospital still exists at the foot of Bishop Street, but the school
+has been removed to new buildings in the Warwick Road.
+
+Of the buildings of the White Friars there are considerable remains
+incorporated with the Union Workhouse at the top of Much Park Street.
+The east walk of the cloister, 150 feet in length, has a fine groined
+roof of the fifteenth century. A range of vaulted apartments runs
+alongside the cloister on the east side, divided midway by the
+vestibule to the Chapter House now destroyed. The upper story above
+the cloister and the range of rooms was, we may assume, the friars'
+Dormitory. A huge fireplace and a bay window are part of John Hales'
+reconstruction. The gateway to the south-west corner of the cloister
+remains, and the outer gate of the precincts may still be seen in Much
+Park Street.
+
+[Illustration: ST. MARY HALL.]
+
+
+ST. MARY HALL
+
+The Gilds were so important a part of the religious and social life of
+the city that it is imperative that some notice of their hall, which
+stands in suggestive proximity to the churches, should be given. St.
+Mary Hall, opposite the south side of St. Michael's is one of the most
+complete and beautiful examples of a fifteenth-century town dwelling
+now remaining in England. It originally belonged to the Gilds of Holy
+Trinity and Our Lady to which were united at a later time those of St.
+Katharine and St. John Baptist, the oldest to be founded. By the fine
+groined gateway we enter the courtyard, on the south side of which is
+the kitchen, probably the hall of an older structure of the first half
+of the fourteenth century, the present hall and its undercroft on the
+west side having been built between 1394 and 1414. On the east side is
+the entrance to the staircase leading to a gallery from which the hall
+is entered. At this end is the Minstrels' Gallery and beneath it are
+three doorways, the centre one leading to the kitchens below, that on
+the right to the old Council Chamber, that on the left to a smaller
+room known as the Princes' Chamber. From the Council Chamber is
+reached the stone-groined Treasury, now used for the safe keeping of
+muniments and records. It forms the first floor of a low tower.
+
+The hall, 70 feet by 30 feet, is of five bays, with the usual dais and
+oriel window at the far end from the entrance.
+
+[Illustration: ST. MARY HALL.]
+
+The nine-light window over the dais has its original glass, made, it
+is believed, by the John Thornton of Coventry who is known as the
+maker of the east window of York Minster. The upper part has numerous
+coats of arms of kings, cities, and princes, while the nine lights are
+filled with "portraitures of several kings in their surcotes," William
+I, Richard I, Henry III, IV, V, VI, King Arthur, the Emperor
+Constantine, and another unnamed. The windows on either side of the
+hall have suffered grievously. Those on the west (left) were deprived
+of their heraldry and portraits in 1785. In those on the east new
+glass with poor imitations of the ancient series of figures and
+coats-of-arms was placed in 1824. At the same time the wainscotting
+painted in 1580 with inscriptions and heraldry was cleared away and
+replaced with cement. The inscriptions were copied with care, but "the
+ornamentation was followed without any very fastidious copying of the
+uncouth ancient style"![8] The timber roof is of low pitch, with
+traceried spandrels above the tie-beams. Angels playing on a variety
+of instruments are placed at the centre of each tie-beam and there is
+much good carving of foliage and animals at the intersections of the
+timbers. The most famous adornment of the hall is the tapestry behind
+the dais. The following views as to its origin and subject are those
+of George Scharf the antiquary. It is of Flemish design but probably
+of English manufacture, is woven, not embroidered, and was made in the
+early sixteenth century for the place it occupies, its compartments
+corresponding with those of the window. It is in six compartments in
+two rows. The upper central has a figure of Justice, an insertion
+probably in the place of Christ, angels with the instruments of the
+Passion being on either side. The lower central represents the
+Assumption of the Virgin in presence of the apostles. The upper left
+in order from the centre has eleven saints, SS. John Baptist, Matthias
+(?), Paul, Adrian, Peter, George, Andrew, No. 8(?), Bartholomew,
+Simon, Thaddeus. The corresponding female saints on the right are SS.
+Katherine, Barbara, Dorothy, Mary Magdalen, No. 5 (?), Margaret,
+Agnes, Gertrude of Nivelle, Anne, Apollonia.
+
+The lower left has a king kneeling at a prie-dieu on which is his
+crown and an open book. A cardinal kneels behind him but there is no
+other ecclesiastic among the seventeen courtiers standing behind. In
+the opposite compartment is a queen kneeling with a number of ladies,
+among whom are two in monastic dress. Although the work belongs to the
+reign of Henry VII, the king and queen are almost certainly Henry VI
+and Margaret of Anjou.
+
+On the walls are portraits of later sovereigns from William III to
+George IV, that of George III being by Lawrence. The Mayoress' Parlour
+opening from the dais has been drastically restored. It contains
+portraits of Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, James I, and Charles I, and
+four benefactors to the city, John Hales, founder of the Free School,
+Sir Thomas White, Thomas Jesson and Christopher Davenport.
+
+
+THE CARTHUSIAN MONASTERY
+
+Little remains of this monastery which stood on the south side and not
+far from the city. The Order settled in Coventry in 1381 only ten
+years after the foundation of the London Charter-house. At the
+Dissolution the Prior and brethren, ten in all, did not emulate the
+heroism of the London monks and were fortunate enough to obtain
+pensions instead of martyrdom. Some trifling remains exist
+incorporated in a modern mansion, and a wall of the garden shows the
+position of doors which led to the isolated cells of the monks. The
+Botoners had given freely to the building of the church and cloisters
+of which Richard II laid the first stone in 1385 and afterwards
+largely endowed "on condition that they should find and maintain
+within the precinct of their house, twelve poor scholars from seven
+years old till they accomplished the age of seventeen years, there to
+pray for the good estate of him the said King and of his Consort,
+during this life, and for the health of their souls after death."
+
+FOOTNOTES
+
+[Footnote 1: St. Osburg's name is not found in the Calendar. As at the
+Dissolution the Cathedral possessed relics of St. Osborne, including
+his head in copper and gilt, these saints may be identical.]
+
+[Footnote 2: Earl Street and Bishop Street are still principal streets
+in either half of the town.]
+
+[Footnote 3: The walls of London were about three and a quarter miles
+long (including the river front), with ten or eleven gates; those of
+York three miles, of Chester hardly two.]
+
+[Footnote 4: These have ever since remained prebends of Lichfield.]
+
+[Footnote 5: At the last restoration the height was reduced to 298
+feet.]
+
+[Footnote 6: _See_ Fuller's "Worthies of England." In 1428 an Act of
+Leet ordered that no person should dye any wool or cloth with "a
+deceitful colour called Masters or Medleys brought into Coventry by a
+Frenchman."]
+
+[Footnote 7: "English Church Furniture." (Antiquary series.) J.C. Cox
+and A. Harvey.]
+
+[Footnote 8: "Coventry: its History and Antiquities," B. Poole, 1870.]
+
+
+INDEX
+
+Abbots of Coventry.
+Alms-boxes.
+Apse.
+
+Bells.
+Benefactors of Coventry.
+Botoner, William and Adam.
+
+Carthusian Monastery.
+Chantries, Foundation of.
+Christ Church.
+City, History of.
+Cross.
+
+Dissolution of Monasteries.
+Duel, Hereford and Norfolk.
+
+Evens or Wakes.
+
+Fonts.
+Ford's Hospital.
+Friars, Coming of.
+
+Grey Friars Convent (Christ Church):
+  History.
+  Plan of Crossing.
+  Suppression.
+Gilds.
+Glass, Ancient.
+Godiva and Leofric.
+
+Hales, John.
+Hermitage.
+Hospital, Ford's.
+Hospital, St. John's.
+
+Lollards.
+
+Martyrs.
+Midsummer Eve.
+Misereres.
+
+Monastery, History.
+Monastery Ruins.
+
+Orders of Angels.
+Organ.
+
+Pageants and Plays.
+Parliamentum Indoctorum.
+Parliamentum Diabolicum.
+Persecution.
+Pilgrims' Rest or Guest House.
+Priory, Ruins.
+
+Royal visits:
+  Henry VI.
+  Margaret.
+  Edward IV.
+  Richard III.
+  Henry VII.
+  Henry VIII.
+  Elizabeth.
+  Mary Queen of Scots.
+  Charles I.
+
+St. John Baptist Church:
+  History.
+  Exterior.
+  Interior.
+  Bells.
+  Clearstory windows.
+  Collegiate foundation.
+  Glass, ancient.
+  Organ.
+St. Mary Hall:
+  Glass, ancient.
+  Plan.
+  Portraits.
+  Tapestry.
+St. Michael's Church:
+  History.
+  Exterior.
+St. Michael's Church:
+  Interior.
+  Apse.
+  Bells.
+  Brasses.
+  Chapels:
+    Cappers'.
+    Drapers' or Lady.
+    Dyers'.
+    Mercers.
+  Chapter, Constitution of.
+  Chest.
+  Crypt.
+  Font.
+  Glass, ancient.
+  Old church, position of.
+  Organ.
+  Porch, south.
+  Proportions of Steeple.
+  Pulpit.
+  Spire.
+  Tombs:
+    Berkeley.
+    Bond.
+    Nethermyl.
+    Skeffington.
+    Swillington.
+    Wade's.
+
+Trinity Church:
+  History.
+  Exterior.
+  Interior.
+  Chapels:
+    Archdeacon's.
+    Butchers'.
+    Corpus Christi.
+    Marler's.
+    St. Thomas's.
+  Clearstory.
+  Font.
+  Glass, ancient.
+  Lectern, Eagle.
+  Organ.
+  Plan.
+  Pulpit.
+  Spire.
+  Tombs:
+    Philemon Holland.
+    Whithead (Brass).
+
+White Friars' Convent.
+
+
+[Illustration: ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH]
+
+[Illustration: CHISWICK PRESS: CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND CO.
+TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON.]
+
+Bell's Cathedral Series
+
+ILLUSTRATED MONOGRAPHS ON THE GREAT
+
+ENGLISH CATHEDRALS AND CHURCHES
+
+_Crown 8_vo_. Profusely Illustrated, in specially designed cloth
+binding, 1_s_. 6_d_. net each _.
+
+This series of monographs upon our great English Cathedral Churches
+has been framed to give students of Architecture handy reference
+volumes, and the visitor trustworthy guide-books, at once cheaper and
+more fully illustrated than any previous works of similar character.
+
+Each volume contains not only a complete history of the see and of the
+Cathedral fabric, but a critical and descriptive survey of the
+building in all its detail; sufficiently accurate from the
+archaeological point of view to furnish a trustworthy record of the
+building in its past and present condition, and not too technical in
+its language for the occasional use of the casual visitor. Brief
+biographical accounts of the bishops and other notable men connected
+with the Diocese are also included.
+
+The volumes are fully illustrated from modern photographs and
+drawings, and contain also reproductions from old, and in some cases
+rare, prints, for the purpose of tracing the gradual growth and
+development of the existing buildings.
+
+Bell's Cathedral Series
+
+_Profusely Illustrated. Cloth, crown 8_vo_, 1_s_. 6_d_. net each_.
+
+NOW READY
+
+  ENGLISH CATHEDRALS. An Itinerary and Description. Compiled by J. G.
+  GILCHRIST, A.M., M.D. Revised and edited with an Introduction on
+  Cathedral Architecture by Rev. T. PERKINS, M.A., F.R.A.S.
+
+  BANGOR. By P.B. IRONSIDE-BAX.
+
+  BRISTOL. By H.J.L.J. MASSÉ, M.A.
+
+  CANTERBURY. By HARTLEY WITHERS. 4th Edition.
+
+  CARLISLE. By C.K. ELEY.
+
+  CHESTER. By CHARLES HIATT. 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  CHICHESTER. By H.C. CORLETTE, A.R.I.B.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  DURHAM. By J.E. BYGATE, A.R.C.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  ELY. By Rev. W.D. SWEETING, M.A. and Edition.
+
+  EXETER. By PERCY ADDLESHAW, B.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  GLOUCESTER. By H.J.L.J. MASSÉ, M.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  HEREFORD. By A. HUGH FISHER, A.R.E. 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  LICHFIELD. By A.B. CLIFTON. 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  LINCOLN. By A.F. KENDRICK, B.A. 3rd Edition, revised.
+
+  LLANDAFF. By E.C. MORGAN-WILLMOTT.
+
+  MANCHESTER. By the Rev. T. PERKINS, M.A., F.R.A.S.
+
+  NORWICH. By C.H.B. QUENNELL. and Edition.
+
+  OXFORD. By Rev. PERCY DEARMER, M.A. and Edition, revised.
+
+  PETERBOROUGH. By Rev. W.D. SWEETING, M.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  RIPON. By CECIL HALLET, B.A.
+
+  ROCHESTER. By G.H. PALMER, B.A. and Edition.
+
+  ST. ALBANS. By Rev. T. PERKINS, M.A.
+
+  ST. ASAPH. By P.B. IRONSIDE-BAX.
+
+  ST. DAVID'S. By PHILIP ROBSON, A.R.I.B.A.
+
+  ST. PATRICK'S, DUBLIN. By the Very Rev. Dean BERNARD. 2nd Edition.
+
+  ST. PAUL'S. By Rev. ARTHUR DIMOCK, M.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  SALISBURY. By GLEESON WHITE, 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  SOUTHWARK, ST. SAVIOUR'S. By GEORGE WORLEY.
+
+  SOUTHWELL. By Rev. ARTHUR DIMOCK, M.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  WELLS. By Rev. PERCY DEARMER, M.A. 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  WINCHESTER. By P.W. SERGEANT. 3rd Edition, revised.
+
+  WORCESTER. By EDWARD F. STRANGE.
+
+  YORK. By A. CLUTTON BROCK. 3rd Edition.
+
+  _Others to follow_.
+
+
+Bell's Cathedral Series
+
+UNIFORM VOLUMES
+
+ _Profusely Illustrated. Cloth, crown 8_vo_, 1_s_. 6_d_. net _.
+
+  BATH ABBEY, MALMESBURY ABBEY, AND BRADFORD-ON-AVON CHURCH. By Rev.
+  T. PERKINS, M.A.
+
+  BEVERLEY MINSTER. By CHARLES HIATT. 47 Illustrations.
+
+  ST. MARTIN'S CHURCH, CANTERBURY. By Rev. CANON ROUTLEDGE, M.A.,
+  F.S.A. 24 Illustrations.
+
+  THE CHURCHES OF COVENTRY. By FREDERIC W. WOODHOUSE.
+
+  ROMSEY ABBEY. By Rev. T. PERKINS, M.A.
+
+  STRATFORD-ON-AVON. By HAROLD BAKER.
+
+  THE TEMPLE CHURCH. By GEORGE WORLEY.
+
+  ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, SMITHFIELD. By GEORGE WORLEY.
+
+  TEWKESBURY ABBEY AND DEERHURST PRIORY. By H.J.L.J. MASSÉ, M.A. 44
+  Illustrations.
+
+  WESTMINSTER ABBEY. By CHARLES HIATT.
+
+  WIMBORNE MINSTER AND CHRISTCHURCH PRIORY. By Rev. T. PERKINS, M.A.,
+  F.R.A.S. 65 Illustrations.
+
+  MALVERN PRIORY. By the REV. ANTHONY C. DEANE.
+
+       *        *        *        *        *
+
+Bell's Handbooks to Continental Churches
+
+  _Profusely Illustrated. Crown 8_vo_, cloth, 2_s_. 6_d_. net each_.
+
+  CHARTRES: The Cathedral and Other Churches. By H.J.L.J. MASSÉ, M.A.
+
+  ROUEN: The Cathedral and Other Churches. By the Rev. T. PERKINS,
+  M.A.
+
+  AMIENS. By the Rev: T. PERKINS, M.A., F.R.A.S.
+
+  PARIS (NOTRE-DAME). By CHARLES HIATT.
+
+  MONT ST. MICHEL. By H. J. L. J. MASSÉ, M.A.
+
+  BAYEUX. By the Rev. R. S. MYLNE, M.A.
+
+Opinions of the Press.
+
+"For the purpose at which they aim they are admirably done, and there
+are few visitants to any of our noble shrines who will not enjoy their
+visit the better for being furnished with one of these delightful
+books, which can be slipped into the pocket and carried with ease, and
+is yet distinct and legible.... A volume such as that on Canterbury is
+exactly what we want, and on our next visit we hope to have it with
+us. It is thoroughly helpful, and the views of the fair city and its
+noble cathedral are beautiful. Both volumes, moreover, will serve more
+than a temporary purpose, and are trustworthy as well as
+delightful."--_Notes and Queries_.
+
+"We have so frequently in these columns urged the want of cheap,
+well-illustrated, and well-written handbooks to our cathedrals, to
+take the place of the out-of-date publications of local booksellers,
+that we are glad to hear that they have been taken in hand by Messrs.
+George Bell & Sons."--_James's Gazette_.
+
+"The volumes are handy in size, moderate in price, well illustrated,
+and written in a scholarly spirit. The history of cathedral and city
+is intelligently set forth and accompanied by a descriptive survey of
+the building in all its detail. The illustrations are copious and well
+selected, and the series bids fair to become an indispensable
+companion to the cathedral tourist in England."--_Times_.
+
+"They are nicely produced in good type, on good paper, and contain
+numerous illustrations, are well written, and very cheap. We should
+imagine architects and students of architecture will be sure to buy
+the series as they appear, for they contain in brief much valuable
+information."--_British Architect_.
+
+"Each of them contains exactly that amount of information which the
+intelligent visitor, who is not a specialist, will wish to have. The
+disposition of the various parts is judiciously proportioned, and the
+style is very read-able. The illustrations supply a further important
+feature; they are both numerous and good. A series which cannot fail
+to be welcomed by all who are interested in the ecclesiastical
+buildings of England."--_Glasgow Herald_.
+
+"Those who, either for purposes of professional study or for a
+cultured recreation, find it expedient to 'do' the English cathedrals
+will welcome the beginning of Bell's 'Cathedral Series.' This set of
+books is an attempt to consult, more closely, and in greater detail
+than the usual guidebooks do, the needs of visitors to the cathedral
+towns. The series cannot but prove markedly successful. In each book a
+business-like description is given of the fabric of the church to
+which the volume relates, and an interesting history of the relative
+diocese. The books are plentifully illustrated, and are thus made
+attractive as well as instructive. They cannot but prove welcome to
+all classes of readers interested either in English Church history or
+in ecclesiastical architecture."--_Scotsman_.
+
+"They have nothing in common with the almost invariably wretched local
+guides save portability, and their only competitors in the quality and
+quantity of their contents are very expensive and mostly rare works,
+each of a size that suggests a packing-case rather than a coat-pocket.
+The 'Cathedral Series' are important compilations concerning history,
+architecture, and biography, and quite popular enough for such as take
+any sincere interest in their subjects."--_Sketch_.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Churches of Coventry, by Frederick W. Woodhouse
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHURCHES OF COVENTRY ***
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+Project Gutenberg's The Churches of Coventry, by Frederick W. Woodhouse
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
+
+
+Title: The Churches of Coventry
+       A Short History of the City & Its Medieval Remains
+
+Author: Frederick W. Woodhouse
+
+Release Date: March 2, 2004 [EBook #11403]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHURCHES OF COVENTRY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Jon Ingram, Program Manager; Keith M. Eckrich, Post-Proofer,
+Distributed Proofreaders
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: COVENTRY, THE THREE SPIRES.]
+
+
+THE CHURCHES OF COVENTRY
+
+A SHORT HISTORY OF THE CITY & ITS MEDIEVAL REMAINS
+
+BY
+
+FREDERIC W. WOODHOUSE
+
+WITH XL ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+[Illustration: ARMS OF COVENTRY]
+
+
+1909
+
+
+
+BELL'S CATHEDRAL SERIES
+
+COVENTRY
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+The principal authorities for the history of Coventry and its churches
+have been Dugdale's "Antiquities of Warwickshire" and the "Illustrated
+Papers and the History and Antiquities of the City of Coventry," by
+Thomas Sharp, edited by W.G. Fretton (1871). Besides these the many
+papers by Mr. Fretton in the Transactions of the Birmingham and
+Midland Institute and other Societies, and the "History and
+Antiquities of Coventry" by Benjamin Poole (1870) have been the main
+sources of historical information. The Author is, however, responsible
+for the architectural opinions and descriptions, which are mainly the
+outcome of a lifelong acquaintance with the city and its buildings,
+fortified by several weeks of study and investigation recently
+undertaken.
+
+He desires to acknowledge his deep obligations to the Vicars of the
+several churches for leave to examine, measure and photograph the
+buildings in their charge; to Mr. J. Oldrid Scott for the loan of
+drawings of St. Michael's; to Mr. A. Brown, Librarian of the Coventry
+Public Library for advice and help in making use of the store of
+topographical material under his care; to Mr. Owen, Verger of St.
+Michael's and Mr. Chapman, Verger of Holy Trinity, for help in various
+directions, and to Mr. Wilfred Sims for his energy and care in taking
+most of the photographs required for illustration.
+
+The other illustrations are reproduced from drawings made by the
+author.
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+  MONASTERY AND CITY
+
+  THE RUINS OF THE PRIORY AND CATHEDRAL CHURCH
+
+  ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH:
+    CHAPTER I. HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
+           II. THE EXTERIOR
+          III. THE INTERIOR
+
+  HOLY TRINITY CHURCH:
+    CHAPTER I. HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
+           II. THE EXTERIOR
+          III. THE INTERIOR
+
+  ST. JOHN BAPTIST'S CHURCH
+
+  THE GREY FRIARS' CONVENT (CHRIST CHURCH)
+
+  THE WHITE FRIARS
+
+  ST. MARY HALL
+
+  THE CARTHUSIAN MONASTERY
+
+
+
+LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS:
+
+  COVENTRY, THE THREE SPIRES
+
+  ARMS OF THE TOWN
+
+  VIEW FROM THE TOP OF BISHOP STREET
+
+  COOK STREET GATE
+
+  SEAL OF THE PRIORY
+
+  WEST END OF THE PRIORY CHURCH
+
+  REMAINS OF THE NORTH-WEST TOWER IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY
+
+  ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE NORTH
+
+  ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE NORTH-WEST
+
+  INTERIOR OF THE TOWER FROM BELOW
+
+  THE WEST PORCH
+
+  SOUTH PORCH FROM ST. MARY HALL
+
+  SOUTH-WEST DOORWAY
+
+  INTERIOR OF ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE WEST
+
+  TOWER ARCH
+
+  BAY OF NAVE, NORTH SIDE
+
+  INTERIOR FROM THE SOUTH DOOR
+
+  THE CHOIR FROM ST. LAWRENCE'S CHAPEL
+
+  POPPY HEAD, LADY CHAPEL
+
+  MISERERE, LADY CHAPEL
+
+  CHEST IN NORTH AISLE
+
+  THE NETHERMYL TOMB
+
+  THE SWILLINGTON TOMB
+
+  ALMS-BOX
+
+  HOLY TRINITY FROM THE NORTH (ABOUT 1850)
+
+  PLAN OF TRINITY CHURCH
+
+  INTERIOR OF HOLY TRINITY, FROM THE WEST
+
+  NORTH SIDE OF NAVE-EASTERN BAYS
+
+  PULPIT
+
+  ARCHWAY BETWEEN THE NORTH PORCH AND ST. THOMAS'S CHAPEL
+
+  ALMS-BOX
+
+  CHURCH OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST
+
+  PLAN
+
+  INTERIOR
+
+  CLEARSTORY WINDOWS
+
+  THE SPIRE OF CHRIST CHURCH
+
+  GREY FRIARS' CHURCH (PLAN OF CROSSING)
+
+  ST. MARY HALL
+
+  PLAN
+
+  PLAN OF ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH
+
+
+[Illustration: VIEW FROM THE TOP OF BISHOP STREET.]
+
+
+CHURCHES OF COVENTRY
+
+MONASTERY AND CITY
+
+The opening words of Sir William Dugdale's account of Coventry assert
+that it is a city "remarkable for antiquity, charters, rights and
+privileges, and favours shown by monarchs." Though this handbook is
+primarily concerned with a feature of the city he does not here
+mention--its magnificent buildings--the history of these is bound up
+with that of the city. The connection of its great parish churches
+with the everyday life of the people, though commonly on a narrower
+stage, is more intimate than is that of a cathedral or an abbey
+church, but it is to be remembered that without its Monastery Coventry
+might never have been more than a village or small market town.
+
+We cannot expect the records of a parish church to be as full and
+complete as those of a cathedral, always in touch through its bishops
+with the political life of the country and enjoying the services of
+numerous officials; or as those of a monastery, with its leisured
+chroniclers ever patiently recording the annals of their house, the
+doings of its abbots, the dealings of their house with mother church
+and the outside world, and all its internal life and affairs. In the
+case of Coventry, the unusual fulness of its city archives, the
+accounts and records of its guilds and companies, and the close
+connection of these with the church supplies us with a larger body of
+information than is often at the disposal of the historian of a parish
+church. As therefore, in narrating the story of a cathedral some
+account of the Diocese and its Bishops has been given, so, before
+describing the churches of Coventry, we shall give in outline the
+history of the city which for 700 years gave its name to a bishop and
+of the great monastery whose church was for 400 years his seat.
+
+Though Dugdale says that it is remarkable for antiquity, Coventry as a
+city has no early history comparable with that of such places as York,
+Canterbury, Exeter, or Colchester, while its modern history is mainly
+a record of fluctuating trade and the rise and decline of new
+industries. But through all its Mediaeval period, from the eleventh
+century down to the Reformation, with an expiring flicker of energy in
+the seventeenth, there is no lack of life and colour, and its story
+touches every side of the national life, political, religious, and
+domestic. The only evidence of extreme antiquity produced by Dugdale
+is the suffix of its name, for "_tre_ is British, and signifieth the
+same that _villa_ in Latin doth;" while the first part may be derived
+from the convent or from a supposed ancient name, Cune, for the
+Sherborne brook.
+
+The first date we have is 1016, when Canute invaded Mercia, burning
+and laying waste its towns and settlements, including a house of nuns
+at Coventry founded by the Virgin St. Osburg in 670, and ruled over by
+her.[1]
+
+But there is no sure starting-point until the foundation of the
+monastery by Earl Leofric and the Countess Godiva, the church being
+dedicated by Edsi, Archbishop of Canterbury, in honour of God, the
+Virgin Mary, St. Peter, St. Osburg, and All Saints on 4th October,
+1043. Leofwin, who was first abbot with twenty-four monks under his
+rule, ten years after became Bishop of Lichfield. The original
+endowment by Leofric, consisted of a half of Coventry[2] with fifteen
+lordships in Warwickshire and nine in other counties, making it (says
+Roger de Hoveden) the wealthiest monastery of the period. Besides this
+the pious Godiva gave all the gold and silver which she had to make
+crosses, images, and other adornments for the church and its services.
+The well-known legend of her ride through Coventry first appears in
+the pages of Matthew of Westminster in the early fourteenth century.
+The Charter of Exemption from Tolls is not in existence, and the story
+of Peeping Tom is the embroidery of the prurient age (1678), in which
+the pageant was instituted. In a window of Trinity Church figures of
+Leofric and Godiva were set up about the time of Richard II, the Earl
+holding in his right hand a Charter with these words written thereon:
+
+  I Luriche for the Love of thee
+  Doe make Coventre Toll-free.
+
+Abbot Leofwin was succeeded in 1053 by Leofric, nephew of the great
+earl; and he by a second Leofwin, who died in 1095. The first Norman
+bishop of Lichfield had, in compliance with the decision of a Synod
+(1075) in London fixing bishops' seats in large towns, removed his to
+St. John's, Chester. But his successor, Robert de Lymesey--whose greed
+appears to have been notable in a greedy age--having the king's
+permission to farm the monastic revenues until the appointment of a
+new abbot, held it for seven years, and then, in 1102, removed his
+stool to Coventry. Five of his successors were bishops of Coventry
+only, then the style changed to Coventry and Lichfield, and so
+remained till 1661, when (in consequence of the disloyalty of Coventry
+and the sufferings of Lichfield in the royal cause) the order was
+reversed!
+
+In 1836 the archdeaconry of Coventry was annexed to Worcester and its
+name disappeared from the title, and now it is probable that Coventry
+will soon again give her name to a See without dividing the honour.
+For the joint episcopal history the reader must be referred to the
+handbook in this series on Lichfield Cathedral. In this place will
+only be given that of the Monastery as such, and specially in
+connection with its "appropriated" parish churches and the City in
+which it stood. That history is not essentially different from that of
+other monasteries. Though its connection with the See and the rival
+claims and antagonisms of the respective Chapters produced a plentiful
+crop of serious quarrels, its relations with the townsfolk were free
+from such violent episodes as occurred at Bury St. Edmunds or St.
+Albans. The Chapter of Lichfield consisted of secular priests (Lymesey
+and his next successor were married men), while the Monastery, though
+freed by pope and king from any episcopal or justiciary power and with
+the right of electing its own abbot, was, like all monastic bodies,
+always jealous of the encroachments of bishops, and regarded secular
+priests as inferior in every respect. The opinion of the laity who saw
+both sides may be gathered from Chaucer's picture of a "poore Persoun
+of a toun." He knew well enough how the revenue, which should have
+gone to the parish, its parson and its poor, went to fill the coffers
+of rich abbeys, to build enormous churches and furnish them
+sumptuously, to provide retinues of lazy knights for the train of
+abbot or bishop, and to prosecute lawsuits in the papal courts.
+
+But when bishop and abbot were one and the same, the monks still
+claimed the right of election, and so for generations the history of
+the diocese is a tale of strife and bickering, and how it was that
+pope, king or archbishop did not perceive that it was a case of
+hopeless incompatibility of temper, or, perceiving it, did not
+dissolve the union or get it dissolved is difficult to see. Probably
+the injury done to religion weighed but lightly against vested
+interests and the power of the purse. The Monastery was, however, as
+Dugdale says, "the chief occasion of all the succeeding wealth and
+honour that accrued to Coventry"; for though the original Nunnery may
+have been planted in an existing settlement, or have attracted one
+about it, the greater wealth of the Abbey, its right to hold markets,
+and all its own varied requirements would quickly increase and bring
+prosperity to such a township, as it did at Bury St. Edmunds,
+Burton-on-Trent and many another.
+
+In the thirteenth century the priory was in financial straits, through
+being fined by Henry III for disobedience. Later, however, he granted
+further privileges to the monks, among them that of embodying the
+merchants in a Gild. In 1340 Edward III granted this privilege to the
+City. From an early period the manufacture of cloth and caps and
+bonnets was the principal trade of Coventry, and though Leland says,
+"the town rose by making of cloth and caps, which now decaying, the
+glory of the City also decayeth," it was only destroyed by the French
+wars of the seventeenth century. But in 1377, when only eighteen towns
+in the kingdom had more than 3,000 inhabitants, and York, the second
+city, had only 11,000, Coventry was fourth with 7,000. Just one
+hundred years later 3,000 died here of the plague, one of many
+visitations of that terrible scourge. At the Suppression it had risen
+to 15,000, and soon after fell to 3,000, through loss of trade for
+"want of such concourse of people that numerously resorted thither
+before that fatal Dissolution."
+
+But if the town grew apace so did the Monastery. Thus, when in 1244
+Earl Hugh died childless his sisters divided his estates and Coventry
+fell to Cecily, wife of Roger de Montalt. Six years later the
+Monastery lent him a large sum to take him to the Holy Land, and
+received from him the lordship of Coventry (excepting the Manor House
+and Park of Cheylesmore) and the advowson of St. Michael's and its
+dependent chapels, thus becoming the landlords of nearly the whole of
+Coventry.
+
+[Illustration: COOK STREET GATE.]
+
+Civic powers grew with the growth of trade. Before 1218 a fair of
+eight days had been granted to the Priory, and later another of six
+days, to be held in the earl's half of the town about the Feast of
+Holy Trinity. In 1285 a patent from the king is addressed to the
+burgesses and true men to levy tolls for paving the town; one in 1328
+for tolls for inclosing the city with walls and gates, while in 1344
+the city was given a corporation, with mayor, bailiffs, a common seal,
+and a prison. As the municipal importance and the dignity of the city
+increased, the desire for their visible signs strengthened, and so, in
+1355, work was begun on the walls, Newgate (on the London Road) being
+the first gate to be built. Such undertakings proceeded slowly, and
+nine years later the royal permission was obtained to levy a tax for
+their construction, "the lands and goods of all ecclesiastical persons
+excepted."
+
+Twice afterwards we hear of licence being granted by Richard II to dig
+stone in Cheylesmore Park, first for Grey Friars Gate, and later for
+Spon Gate, "near his Chapel of Babelake." The walls so built were of
+imposing extent and dimensions, being three yards in breadth, two and
+a quarter miles in circumference, and having thirty-two towers and
+twelve gates.[3] Nehemiah Wharton, a Parliamentary officer in 1642,
+reports of the city that it is:
+
+  Environed with a wall co-equal, if not exceedinge, that of London,
+  for breadth and height; and with gates and battlements, magnificent
+  churches and stately streets and abundant fountains of water;
+  altogether a place very sweetly situate and where there is no stint
+  of venison.
+
+To return to the monastic history. We have seen how, in the
+mid-thirteenth century the Monastery had become the landlord of the
+city; shortly before this it had been so impoverished with ceaseless
+quarrels with the King and the Lichfield Chapter, involving costly
+appeals to Rome, that the Prior was reduced to asking the hospitality
+of the monks of Derley for some of the brethren. A period of
+prosperity followed and many benefactions flowed in, including the
+gift of various churches by the king. It was after twenty-six years of
+quarrelling that the Pope, in 1224, had appointed to the bishopric
+Walter de Stavenby, an able and learned man. During his episcopacy the
+friars made their appearance in England, and by him the Franciscans
+were introduced at Lichfield, while at Coventry Ranulph, Earl of
+Chester, gave them land in Cheylesmore on which to build their oratory
+and house.
+
+They were not generally welcomed by the monks. A Benedictine laments
+their first appearance thus "Oh shame! oh worse than shame! oh
+barbarous pestilence! the Minor Brethren are come into England!" and
+at Bury they were obliged to build outside a mile radius from the
+Abbey. The parish priests also soon found out that they were undersold
+in the exercise of their spiritual offices and although no doubt many
+badly needed awakening they were not, on that account, the more likely
+to welcome the intruders.
+
+Another innovation, affecting the fortunes of the parish priest, had
+its beginning under the rule of Bishop Stavenby though its greatest
+development occurred in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. This
+was the foundation of Chantries designed primarily for the maintenance
+of a priest or priests to say mass daily or otherwise for the soul's
+health of the founder, his family and forbears. The earliest we hear
+of are one at Lincoln, and one at Hatherton in Coventry Archdeaconry
+while the Bishop himself endowed one in Lichfield Cathedral. Many were
+perpetual endowments (_L_5 per annum being the average stipend),
+others were temporary, according to the means of those who paid for
+the masses--for a term of years or for a fixed number of masses,
+Although chantry priests were often required to give regular help in
+the church services or taught such scholars as came to them or served
+outlying chapelries, the system permitted a great number to live on
+occasional engagements and was doubtless productive of abuses. Chaucer
+tells us that his poor parson was not such an one as
+
+  ...left his sheep encumbered in the mire,
+  And ran unto London, unto Saint Foul's,
+  To seeke him a chantery for souls.
+
+The number of chantries in the different cathedrals varied very
+greatly, Lichfield had eighty-seven, St. Paul's thirty-seven, York
+only three. Monks' churches had few or none while in town churches
+they were numerous, London having one hundred and eighty, York
+forty-two, Coventry at least fifteen besides the twelve gild priests
+of the chapel of Babelake. Most were founded in connection with an
+existing altar, some had a special altar, at Winchester, Tewkesbury
+and elsewhere they were enclosed in screens between the pillars of the
+nave, or a special chapel was added to the church.
+
+It was in the thirteenth century also (1267) that the monastery
+obtained the grant of a Merchants' Gild; with all the privileges
+thereto belonging, the earliest of those which contributed so much to
+the renown of Coventry. These were Benefit Societies, insuring help to
+the "Brethren and sistren" in old age, sickness or poverty, securing
+to them the services of the church after death and in all cases
+established on a strictly religious basis and placed under the
+protection of a Saint, or of the Holy Trinity. The regulation and
+protection of trade interests, generally aiming at monopoly and the
+exclusion of outsiders, were later developments. But without doubt
+they were public-spirited bodies according to their lights,
+maintaining schools (as at Stratford-on-Avon) hospitals and
+almshouses, and giving freely on all occasions of public importance.
+By pageants too, they contributed to the happiness and amusement of
+the people as well as by the presentation of Mysteries and Moralities,
+to their instruction and edification. But in the eyes of the
+Reformers, or of grasping courtiers, all this went for nothing when
+weighed against the heinous offence of supporting chaplains to pray
+for deceased members and so (6 Edward VI) they were suppressed along
+with the chantries, and their property confiscated, "the very meanest
+and most inexcusable of the plunderings which threw discredit on the
+Reformation."
+
+Here, the city bought back everything which had belonged to the
+Trinity and Corpus Christi Gilds, with various almshouses and the
+possessions of the majority of the Chantries; while previously at the
+Dissolution it had bought the abbey-orchard, and mill, and the house
+and church of the Grey Friars.
+
+In 1340 Edward III granted Licence to the Coventry men to form a
+Merchants' Gild with leave "to make chantries, bestow alms, do other
+works of piety and constitute ordinances touching the same." This was
+St. Mary's Gild. Two years later that of St. John Baptist was formed
+and a year later that of St. Katherine, the three being united into
+the Trinity Gild before 1359. Of the chapel (now St. John's church)
+begun in 1344 by the St. John's Gild and the "fair and stately
+structure for their feasts and meetings called St Mary Hall" built in
+1394 by the united Gilds more will be said later. The end of the
+fourteenth century and the fifteenth brought to Coventry a full share
+in the events and movements of the time. In 1396 the duel between
+Hereford and Norfolk was to have taken place on Gosford Green
+(adjoining the city) and Richard II made the fatal mistake of
+banishing both combatants. At the Priory in 1404 Henry IV held his
+Parliament known, from the fact that no lawyers were summoned to it,
+as the "Parliamentum Indoctorum." Setting itself in opposition to
+ecclesiastics, it proposed to supply the King's needs by taxing
+church-property. As in the matter of the city walls, the church
+contrived to avoid bearing its share of the public burdens and the
+chronicler ends thus: "Much ado there was; but to conclude, the worthy
+Archbishop (viz. Tho. Arundell) standing stoutly for the good of the
+Church, preserved it at that time from the storm impending." One
+branch of his argument is noteworthy, that as the confiscation of the
+alien priories had not enriched the King by half a mark (courtiers
+having extorted or begged them out of his hands), so it would be were
+he to confiscate the temporalities of the monasteries. Henry VIII had
+reason to acknowledge the fulfilment of the prophecy.
+
+Soon after this, in 1423, Coventry showed its sympathy for Lollardry
+when John Grace an anchorite friar came out of his cell and preached
+for five days in the "lyttell parke." He was opposed by the prior of
+St. Mary's and by a Grey Friar who however were attacked and nearly
+killed by the mob.
+
+The royal visits which earned for Coventry the title which it still
+bears as its motto 'Camera principis' were frequent in this century.
+In 1436 we hear of Henry VI being there, and in 1450 he was the guest
+of the monastery and after hearing mass at St. Michael's Church
+presented to it for an altar-hanging the robe of gold tissue he was
+wearing. The record in the Corporation Leet book is interesting enough
+to quote:
+
+  The King, then abydeng stille in the seide Priory, upon Mich'as even
+  sent the clerke of his closet to the Churche of Sent Michel to make
+  redy ther hys clossette, seying that the Kynge on Mich'as day wolde
+  go on p'cession and also her ther hygh masse. The Meyre and his
+  counsell, remembering him in this mater, specially avast hem to pray
+  the Bishop of Winchester to say hygh masse afore the Kynge. The
+  Bishop so to do agreed withe alle hys here; and, Aegean the Kynge
+  coming to Sent Michel Churche, the Meyre and his Peres, cladode in
+  scarlet gowns, wanton unto the Kynge Chamber durra, ther abydeng the
+  Kynge coming. The Meyre then and his Peres, doing to the Kynge due
+  obeisance ... toke his maze and here it afore the Kynge all his said
+  bredurn goeng afore the Meyre til he com to Sent Michels and brought
+  the Kynge to his closette. Then the seyde Bishop, in his pontificals
+  arayde, with all the prestes and clerkes of the seyde Churche and of
+  Bablake, withe copes apareld, wanton in p'cession abowte the
+  churchyarde; the Kynge devowtely, with many odur lordes, followed
+  the seyd p'cession bare-hedded, cladode in a gowne of gold tissu,
+  furred with a furre of marturn sabull; the Meyre bereng the maze
+  afore the Kynge as he didde afore, tille he com Aegean to his
+  closette. Att the whyche masse when the Kynge had offered and his
+  lordes also, he sende the lorde Bemond, his chamburlen, to the
+  Meyre, seying to him, "hit is the Kynge wille that ye and your
+  bredurn com and offer;" and so they didde; and when masse was don,
+  the Meyre and his Peres brought on the Kynge to his chambur in lyke
+  wyse as they fet hym, save only that the Meyre with his maze went
+  afore the Kynge till he com withe in his chambur, his seyd bredurn
+  abydeng atte the chambur durra till the Meyre cam ageyne. And at
+  evensong tyme the same day, the Kynge, ... sende the seyde gowne and
+  furre that he were when he went in p'cession, and gaf hit frely to
+  God and to Sent Michell, insomuch that non of the that broughte the
+  gowne wolde take no reward in no wyse.
+
+In 1451 he made the city with the villages and hamlets within its
+liberties into a county "distinct and altogether separate from the
+county of Warwick for ever," and in 1453 the King and Queen again
+visited the Priory. Perhaps out of gratitude for all this royal
+favour, Coventry adhered to the Lancastrian cause and in 1459 was
+chosen as the meeting place for the "Parliamentum Diabolicum," so
+called from the number of attainders passed against the Yorkists. The
+year 1467 however saw Edward IV and his Queen keeping their Christmas
+here, while less than two years later her father and brother were
+beheaded on Gosford Green (Aug. 1469).
+
+After the king's landing at Holderness in 1471 the king-maker,
+declining a contest, occupied the town for the Lancastrians, and
+Edward passing on to London soon after turned and defeated the earl at
+Barnet. After Tewkesbury Edward paid the city another visit, and in
+return for its disloyalty seized its liberties and franchises, and
+only restored them for a fine of 500 marks. Royal visits still
+continued. Richard III came in 1483 to see the plays at the Feast of
+Corpus Christi; in 1485 Henry VII stayed at the mayor's house after
+his victory at Bosworth Field; and in 1487 kept St. George's Day at
+the Monastery, when the Prior at the service cursed, by "bell, book,
+and candle," all who should question the king's right to the throne.
+The importance of the Gilds is shown by the king and queen being made
+a brother and sister of the Trinity Gild; and the part that pageantry
+played in the lives of all men is seen in the many occasions on which
+kings and princes came hither to be entertained, not only with the
+plays "acted by the Grey Friars" but those in which the "hard-handed
+men" of, for instance, the Gild of the Sheremen and Tailors, "toil'd
+their unbreathed memories" in setting forth such subjects as the Birth
+of Christ and the Murder of the Innocents. But although Henry VIII
+himself was received in 1511 with pageantry and stayed at the Priory,
+royal favours and monastic hospitality availed neither men nor
+buildings when the Dissolution came. On 15th January, 1539, Thomas
+Camswell, the last Prior of St. Mary's, surrendered. "The Prior,"
+reported Dr. London, the king's commissioner, "is a sad, honest priest
+as his neighbours do report him, and is a Bachelor of Divinity. He
+gave his house unto the king's grace willingly and so in like manner
+did all his brethren." The Doctor asks for good pensions for the
+dispossessed, not on the plea of justice but so that "others
+perceiving that these men be liberally handled will with better will
+not only surrender their houses, but also leave the same in the better
+state to the King's use."
+
+The yearly revenue had been certified in the valuation at _L_731 19
+_s_. 5_d_. Deducting a Fee-Ferme rent to the Crown, reserved by Roger
+de Montalt, and other annual payments, the clear remainder was _L_499
+7_s_. 4_d_. Bishop Rowland Lee, writing to "my singular good Lord
+Cromwell," implies that he had a promise from him to spare the church.
+"My good Lord," he says, "help me and the City both in this and that
+the church may stand, whereby I may keep my name, and the City have
+commodity and ease to their desire, which shall follow if by your
+goodness it might be brought to a collegiate church, as Lichfield, and
+so that fair City shall have a perpetual comfort of the same, as
+knoweth the Holy Trinity, who preserve your Lordship in honour to your
+heart's comfort."
+
+But his entreaties, and those of the mayor and corporation, were all
+in vain, the church and monastic buildings were dismantled and
+destroyed piecemeal, and like so many other magnificent structures
+became a mere quarry for mean buildings and the mending of roads.
+
+The site having been granted by Henry VIII to two gentlemen named
+Combes and Stansfield, passed soon into the hands of John Hales, the
+founder of the Free School, and in Elizabeth's reign was purchased by
+the Corporation.
+
+The changes in religious opinion of the successive sovereigns were
+felt here by many poor victims. Seven persons were burnt in 1519 for
+having in their possession the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments,
+and the Creed in English, and for refusing to obey the Pope or his
+agents, opinions and acts that would have been counted meritorious
+twenty years later. In 1555 Queen Mary burnt three Protestants in the
+old quarry in Little Park--Laurence Saunders, a well-known preacher,
+Robert Glover, M.A., and Cornelius Bongey.
+
+Ten years after this Queen Elizabeth's visit was the occasion of much
+pageantry and performing of plays by the Tanners', Drapers', Smiths',
+and Weavers' Companies, and in 1575 the men of Coventry gave their
+play of "Hock Tuesday" before her at Kenilworth Castle. In 1566 Queen
+Mary of Scots was in ward here, in the mayoress' parlour, and in 1569
+at the Bull Inn.
+
+Coming down to the opening of the Civil War we find that a few days
+before the raising of his standard at Nottingham Charles summoned the
+city to admit him with three hundred cavaliers, and received for
+answer that it was quite ready to receive his Majesty with no more
+than two hundred. Whereupon he retired in displeasure, and reappeared
+some days later with the threat to lay the city in ruins if it should
+persist in its disloyalty. The townsfolk being in no mind to receive a
+garrison, the King planted cannon against Newgate and broke down the
+gates but was met with a fierce musquetry fire from the walls,
+followed up by a vigorous sally, in which the citizens did much
+execution and took two cannon.
+
+To prevent the like happening again, the walls were in 1662 breached
+in many places and made incapable of defence. Just one hundred years
+later New-gate was taken down, and others followed from time to time,
+until now there are left only the remains of two of the lesser
+ones--Cook Street Gate, a crumbling shell, and the adjacent Swanswell
+or Priory Gate, blocked up and used as a dwelling.
+
+In 1771 was finally destroyed the famous Cross which had been built,
+1541-3, by Sir William Hollis, once Lord Mayor of London, who came of
+a Coventry family. It was described by Dugdale as "one of the chief
+things wherein this City most glories, which for workmanship and
+beauty is inferior to none in England." A few relics of it exist in
+St. Mary Hall, a statue of Henry VI, and, in the oriel, two smaller
+figures. So too does the very interesting contract for its building,
+which shows how much was left to the craftsman's pride in his work and
+how little he was trammelled by conditions, save that the work was to
+be "finished in all points, as well in imagery work, pictures, and
+finials, according to the due form and proportion of the Cross at
+Abingdon."
+
+Another building, which was destroyed in 1820, was the Pilgrims' Rest,
+a fine timbered house of three storeys, "supposed," as the inscription
+upon it records, "to have been the hostel or inn for the maintenance
+and entertainment of the palmers and other visitors to the Priory."
+Some pieces of carved work were patched together in the windows of the
+inn built on its site and there remain.
+
+The modern history of Coventry, consisting of the ordinary events and
+vicissitudes of civic life and the changes and fluctuations in its
+trades, apart from that of its parish churches which is elsewhere
+given, does not come within the scope of this handbook.
+
+[Illustration: SEAL OF THE PRIORY.]
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR OF THE WEST END OF THE PRIORY CHURCH.]
+
+
+THE RUINS OF THE PRIORY AND CATHEDRAL CHURCH
+
+
+The Priory buildings and grounds covered a large area to the North of
+the two parish churches on the gentle slope descending to the little
+river Sherbourne, Priory Row forming its southern boundary.
+
+The church occupied the South-West portion of this site, extending
+about 400 feet from the excavated west end to a point a little beyond
+the narrow lane called Hill Top. The excavation shows that the church
+stood on a sloping site, the floor level being some ten feet lower
+than that of Trinity Church. It was cruciform, with two western towers
+and a central one, and is believed to have had three spires similar to
+those of Lichfield but probably earlier in point of date. On the
+substructure of the North-West Tower now stands the house of the
+_mistress_ of the Girls' Blue Coat School. The interior of the West
+end to a height of 5 to 8 feet, with the responds of the nave arcades
+and of the tower arches, is visible and in good condition. The
+beginning of the turret stair in the South-West tower is exposed, but
+the basement of the house unfortunately occupies the lower part of the
+northern one. The exterior of this is however easily accessible from
+an enclosure known as the Wood Yard, the much decayed spreading plinth
+and a few feet of walling above it not having been destroyed. Above
+this, grievous damage has been perpetrated by the casing and complete
+obliteration of the mouldings and arcading which remained. The towers
+were placed outside the line of the aisles as at Wells, the total
+width of the West front, 145 feet, being nearly the same in both
+cases. There are still indications of the position of the great west
+door, but the height of the inner plinth shows that there was always a
+descent of several steps into the church. At the south transept where
+was "the Minster durra that openeth to the Trinite Churchyarde," the
+descent must have been considerable. The remains show that the nave
+dated from the first half of the thirteenth century, while fragments
+of wall near the site of the transept with indications of lancet
+window openings are probably a little earlier than the west end.
+
+[Illustration: REMAINS OF THE N.W. TOWER (IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY).]
+
+Whether the church of Leofric and Godiva, dedicated in 1043, had
+survived wholly or in part until this time cannot be known, but,
+judging from the history of most other great monastic churches and
+from the known wealth of the monastery, it may almost be taken for
+granted that the Norman bishops and priors rebuilt much if not all.
+Some relics of Norman work have been found but the covering of the
+site with roads, graves and houses precludes the systematic
+exploration and survey which alone could solve this question and make
+clear the outlines of the plan of the whole establishment.
+
+The entrance to some wine-cellars in Priory Row gives access to the
+old pavement level of part of the choir and transept. From the fact
+that a brick vault forms the roof the cellars have often been looked
+upon as the crypt of the church but this is erroneous; the vault is a
+later insertion and if any crypt exists it lies below this level. To
+the east of the cathedral was the Bishop's Palace, the gardens of it
+extending over the detached burial ground of St. Michael's to the east
+of Priory Street. The grandeur of this assemblage of buildings
+grouping, with the spires of the churches behind and rising so
+magnificently above the houses of the city can best be realized by
+going to the top of Bishop Street whence may be obtained the finest
+view of the two spires that remain.
+
+
+ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH
+
+
+[Illustration: ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE NORTH.]
+
+
+ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
+
+The early history of St. Michael's Church is very obscure. The fact
+that Domesday mentions no parish churches proves nothing. There can be
+little doubt that one at least existed. Though we have an earlier
+record of St. Michael's it is commonly held that Trinity is the elder
+foundation.
+
+Of St. Michael's the first notice we have is when Ranulph, Earl of
+Chester, in the days of Stephen, about 1150, granted the "Chapel" of
+St. Michael to Laurence, Prior, and the Convent of St. Mary, "being
+satisfied by the testimony of divers persons, as well Clergy as Laity,
+that it was their right." Fourteen dependent chapels in the
+neighbourhood or within a few miles went with it and the number of
+these dependencies is held to show that it was "a primitive Saxon
+parish and of considerable importance." In 1192 Ranulph Blundeville,
+grandson of the former Ranulph, gave tithe of his lands and rents in
+Coventry and bound his officers under pain of a grievous curse to make
+due payment.
+
+In the early thirteenth century a dispute arose between Bishop
+Geoffrey de Muschamp and the Priory as to the right of presentation,
+the Bishop claiming on the ground of being Abbot as well as Bishop.
+This was settled in 1241 by the Priory renouncing its claim in
+consideration of receiving a share of the income but in 1248 an
+exchange was effected, the Priory giving the advowsons of Ryton and
+Bubbenhall[4] (not far from Coventry) for St. Michael and its chapels
+and engaging to provide proper secular priests with competent support.
+In 1260 the church was appropriated to the monastery together with
+Holy Trinity and its chapels and although in the arrangement of 1248
+twenty-four marks (_L_16) had been assigned to the vicarage, in 1291
+we find the priory receiving fifty marks and paying the vicar eight
+and a half.
+
+Since 1537 the patronage has with that of Trinity, been exercised by
+the Crown.
+
+The internal evidence of the date of the building is given in the
+description of the fabric. Of external evidence in the shape of
+records or deeds we have very little. Tradition says that there was
+once a brass tablet in the church bearing the following lines:
+
+  William and Adam built the Tower,
+    Ann and Mary built the Spire;
+  William and Adam built the Church,
+    Ann and Mary built the Choir.
+
+Now we know that William and Adam Botoner, who were each Mayor thrice
+between 1358 and 1385, built the tower, spending upon it _L_100 a year
+for twenty-two years, but what foundation there is for the other
+statements cannot now be determined. The tower was in building from
+1373 to 1394, and the choir is contemporary with it, the nave was in
+building from 1432 to 1450, and the spire was begun in 1430. As
+William was Mayor in 1358 it can hardly have been less than one
+hundred years after his birth that both nave and spire were begun. It
+is however, likely that other members of the family (if not he, by
+bequest) contributed largely to the general building fund.
+
+Much of the history of a parish church is concerned with its internal
+economy but even the records of this are not quite trivial for they
+enlighten us on many points wherein we are rightly curious. We are,
+for instance, constantly reminded, as Dr. Gasquet points out in
+"Mediaeval Parish Life," that "religious life permeated society in the
+Middle Ages, particularly in the fifteenth century, through the minor
+confraternities" or gilds.
+
+Thus the Drapers' Gild made itself responsible not only for the upkeep
+of the Lady Chapel but also for the lights always burning on the
+Rood-loft, every Master paying four pence for each "prentys" and every
+"Jurneman" four pence. The cost of lights formed a serious item in
+church expenditure, needing the rent of houses and lands for their
+maintenance. Guy de Tyllbrooke, vicar in the late thirteenth century,
+gave all his lands and buildings on the south side of the church to
+maintain a light before the high altar, day and night, for ever, "and
+all persons who shall convert this gift to any other use directly or
+indirectly shall incur the malediction of Almighty God, the Blessed
+Virgin, St. Michael and All Saints."
+
+Royal visits to the church have been noticed in the history of the
+priory and city, especially that in 1450 which was apparently intended
+to mark the completion of the church. Reference has also been made to
+the plays and pageants with which such visitors were entertained. The
+site for the performance of the cycle of Corpus Christi plays was the
+churchyard on the north of St. Michael's. Queen Margaret, whose visits
+were so frequent that the city acquired the fanciful title of "the
+Queen's Bower" came over from Kenilworth on the Eve of the Feast in
+1456, "at which time she would not be met, but privily to see the play
+there on the morrow and she saw then all the pageants played save
+Doomsday, which might not be played for lack of day and she was lodged
+at Richard Wood's the Grocer."
+
+There is evident reference to the dedication of the church in the
+pageant of the "Nine Orders of Angels" shown before Henry VIII and
+Queen Catherine in 1510.
+
+The history of the church since the Reformation has been not unlike
+that of a vast number of others. Fanatic destruction, followed by
+tasteless and incongruous innovations, and these again by
+"restorations" sometimes as destructive, sometimes as tasteless, and
+nearly always feeble; such is their common history. In 1569 even the
+Register books were destroyed because they contained marks of popery,
+while from 1576 onward a want of repair is plainly suggested by
+frequent items of expenditure for catching the stares (starlings) in
+the church, at one time for a net, at another for "a bowe and bolts
+and lyme." In 1611 James I addressed a strongly worded letter to the
+Mayor and Corporation and the Vicar requiring them to reform the
+practice of receiving the Holy Sacrament standing or sitting instead
+of kneeling, "As we our Self in our person do carefully perform it."
+Whereupon the Bishop wrote that he "felt persuaded that there were not
+above seven of any note who did not conform themselves" to the church
+ordinances; while the Vicar said he "did not know of _half seven_ of
+any note but do the like."
+
+A Puritanical writer in 1635 thus mentions the changed position of the
+Communion Table, which had formerly stood away from the east wall:
+"The Communion Table was altered which cost a great deal of money; and
+that which is worst of all, three stepps made to go to the Comm'n
+Table altar fashion--God grant it continueth not long." Even the font,
+given by John Cross, mayor, in 1394, had to give place in 1645 to
+something less offensive to Puritan feeling, and in the same year the
+brass eagle, given in 1359 by William Botoner, was "sold by order of
+vestry for 5_d_. the lb., 8_l_. 13_s_. 4_d_." The rehanging of the
+bells in 1674 led to the destruction of the beautiful groined vault
+within the tower, and the year 1764 saw the completion of a series of
+galleries all round the church. Throughout all this destruction and
+desecration the citizens happily retained their pride in the great
+steeple, and by constant attention and rebuildings contrived to
+preserve it when negligence might have caused its ruin. The scrupulous
+care given to such work is well shown by items in an account for
+repairs, of date 1580:
+
+  Payed to George Aster for poyntynge ye steple     _L_7  2 8
+  Payed for 3 quarter and a halfe of lyme                13 4
+  Payed for egges                                         8 4
+  Payed for glovers pecis, woode & tallowe, abowte
+    the lyme                                              5 6
+  Payed for a load sand                                     7-1/2
+  Payed for 4 stryke of mawlte and gryndyng               7 8-1/2
+  Payd for 6 gallons of worte more                        2 0
+  Payd for gatherynge of slates & oyster shelles            3-1/4
+  Payd to Cookson for the cradle and 3 other pullesses    5 8
+
+The glovers' snippings were for making size, which, with the eggs,
+malt and wort were used in place of water for tempering the mortar.
+Lightning seriously damaged the spire in 1655 and 1694, in the former
+case causing much injury to the nave roof by falling stone. In 1793
+Wyatt, the architect responsible for so much destruction of Mediaeval
+work in various cathedrals, advised that a timber framework to carry
+the bells should be built up within the tower from the ground and that
+the tower arch should be bricked up. All this has been changed since
+1885, the bells now hang (but are not pealed) in the octagon, the
+chimes and clock are in the chamber below, the arch is opened and the
+groining restored.
+
+All galleries had been taken down in 1849 and the present seats,
+giving room for near 2,500 persons, introduced, while the incongruous
+wall-arcading in the apse was soon after added. At the same period
+many important sepulchral monuments, probably stigmatized as
+"excrescences," were taken down and removed to other parts of the
+church.
+
+Five years after this the exterior of the aisle walls was recased with
+the same friable sandstone. In 1860 the reredos was erected, the
+subjects of the panels being the sacrifices of Abel, Noah,
+Melchisedec, and Abraham, and the Last Supper. To the latest
+restoration, which included entire recasing of tower and spire,
+clearstories and chancel, the new sacristy at the south east, and
+other work, Mr. George Woodcock, a Coventry citizen, gave _L_10,500,
+and the sum of _L_39,500 was raised and expended, the re-opening
+taking place on 22nd April, 1890.
+
+In 1850 a dispute of considerable public interest with regard to the
+levying of the church rate between the vicar and the wardens and
+overseers was decided in the Court of Queen's Bench. An Act of
+Parliament of 1780 had empowered the wardens to levy a rate in lieu of
+tithe for the stipend of the vicar, to produce not less than _L_280
+nor more than _L_300. The wardens having ever since allowed their
+powers to remain in abeyance, the vicar claimed the right to make the
+rate as his predecessors had done. Lord Campbell and three other
+judges were however unanimous in giving judgement against him.
+
+The latest event in the history of the church is probably the most
+important. It has now been constituted a pro-cathedral for the
+proposed Diocese of Warwickshire, and a Capitular body has been
+formed. The statutes were promulgated by the Bishop of Worcester on
+the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, 1908. The Chapter now
+consists of twenty-four members:--the Bishop, the Vicar of St.
+Michael's (Rev. Prof. J.H.B. Masterman), the Archdeacon of Coventry,
+the Chancellor of the Diocese, ten priest canons and ten lay canons,
+with provision for the admission of a future second archdeacon. There
+are resemblances here to the constitution of the Southwark Chapter,
+consisting of four clerical and four lay canons, but at Coventry some
+of the lay canons are elective and for fixed periods. Doubtless the
+immense increase of population in the county, especially in this part
+(Birmingham is already a separate diocese), demands further oversight
+and much strenuous church work, and doubtless, too, the same religious
+enthusiasm which brought into existence the beautiful structures of
+Coventry's golden age will be able to meet the demand and cope with
+the new problems and aspirations of the present day. But the
+archaeologist trembles to think what may be done should the attempt be
+made to transform a building planned on the simplest parish-church
+lines into the semblance of a cathedral. It cannot be successful, and
+the original character of the church is but too likely to be
+sacrificed in the attempt.
+
+
+[Illustration ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH.]
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE EXTERIOR OF THE CHURCH
+
+The church is built on a site descending towards the east, so that the
+chancel floor is more than twelve feet above the present street level.
+The narrow street on the south, Bayley Lane, gives us a succession of
+picturesque partial views but no general one, while on the north the
+rather formal avenue dividing the churchyard obscures much of the
+structure. On the whole, the most comprehensive prospect is to be had
+from the north-east, at the lower end of Priory Row. But no general
+point of view is needed, external or internal, to enable us to
+understand the plan or arrangement, which is almost as simple in form
+as a village church.
+
+The typical English church plan consists of a nave with aisles, a long
+unaisled chancel with square east end, porches or doors on north and
+south, and a western tower, and this, save for its apsidal east end,
+but amplified by accretions in the form of chapels belonging to the
+many Gilds of the city, is the plan of St. Michael's.
+
+In no part, however, do we find the chapels so set as to produce a
+pseudo-cruciform plan.
+
+Before the latest restoration the walls were entirely of the local red
+sandstone, very similar in quality and appearance to that of which
+Chester Cathedral was built, and the extent of its decay, especially
+on the tower, was as grievous. Hardly a piece of external moulding or
+carving preserved its original profile or form, and some of the tower
+buttresses had lost so large a proportion of their substance not far
+above ground that they appeared to hang to the walls rather than
+support them. All save the aisles, which were refaced in the sixties,
+have now been cased with Runcorn Stone nearly the same in colour and
+much harder in texture.
+
+The special glory of the church is its steeple. No doubt intentionally
+its height of 300 feet is practically equal to the length of the
+church. Only one other parish church, Louth in Lincolnshire, has a
+steeple as high as this, and those of only two English cathedrals,
+Salisbury and Norwich, exceed it.
+
+There is, however, an essential difference to be noted in the position
+of these spires, those of the cathedrals at the centre, the crowning
+point in the composition, those of the parish churches at the west
+end, springing sheer from the ground. While the former have a more
+intimate relation to the building the latter have an almost
+independent existence in keeping with the theory which regards them
+more as symbols of municipal pride and power than as expressions of
+spiritual aspiration.
+
+But however mixed the motives for their erection, religious forms and
+symbolism governed the design. Thus we have here three principal
+divisions--tower, octagon, spire, and nine stories or stages in all,
+six belonging to the tower and octagon, and three to the spire. Then
+in its dimensions we find that the total height is 300 feet,[5] the
+plan (exclusive of buttresses) is 30 feet square, while in its
+proportions the number 30 is interwoven, so to speak, with a simple
+arithmetical progression of heights in each story. Thus it is 30 feet
+from the ground to the spring of the lowest five-light windows, 30
+feet again to the spring of the single-light windows, 27 feet more to
+the spring of the grouped windows above, and another 30 to the spring
+of the belfry windows. Thence it is 15 feet to the cornice below the
+battlements. The remainder is divided into a series of 20 feet
+heights, two twenties from cornice to top of parapet of octagon, 20 in
+each of the two decorated stages of the spire, 20 to centre of the
+upper spire-lights, three twenties to the finial. If we look at the
+stories as marked by the string-courses below the windows we find 50
+feet given to the door and great window and then 20, 30, and 40 feet
+stages, reaching to the top of the parapet. The reader will have
+noticed the interposition of a 27 feet space among the thirties, and
+the reason for this is worth explaining.
+
+It is now known that the tower could not be built in line with the
+centre of the proposed new nave because of the existence of a
+filled-in pit or quarry at its north-west angle. But the builder was
+rash enough to build the north-west buttresses beyond the edge of the
+old excavation and resting on the looser material. The consequences
+might have been foreseen. By the time the building had reached the
+grouped windows the settlement or sinking was considerable and an
+effort was made to remedy it, first by reducing the height of this
+(the weakest story), by one yard and next by starting the courses
+level once more. Five hundred years later and we find that whereas the
+sinking is 7-1/2 inches near the ground level it is only 4 inches at
+the windows, plainly showing that it had sunk 3-1/2 inches before the
+remedy was applied and four inches since. The writer is informed by
+the architect (Mr. J. Oldrid Scott) that all this angle was so full of
+rents and cracks that (coupled with the decay of the stone, especially
+in the buttresses) it was surprising that the whole had not fallen. A
+curious disregard of what we look on as a natural sentiment is to be
+noted in this connection, for the builders used a quantity of fine
+sepulchral slabs from the churchyard as filling for the foundations.
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR OF THE TOWER FROM BELOW.]
+
+In magnificence of design the tower exceeds that of any other parish
+church in England, the uppermost story being the richest in detail.
+The variety of treatment and gradual increase in elaboration of the
+upper stories is admirable, the larger expanses of wall in the lower
+giving the necessary effect of stability to the whole. The west door
+is very insignificant, and might perhaps, with advantage to the
+composition, have been left out. It has the only four-centred arch in
+the whole. On each side of the great windows are niches with
+(restored) figures of saints and benefactors, twelve in all, including
+Earl Leofric and his famous wife, the Botoners and several kings.
+Sculpture appears again on the belfry stage. On the west and north
+sides the niches are in three tiers of three on either hand of the
+tall louvred windows, but on the south and east sides one tier is
+absorbed by the stair turret. All these have been renewed, but the
+remains of some of those which were taken down can now be seen in the
+crypt, and the one which is best preserved, by a happy coincidence the
+patron saint, is now placed within the church.
+
+The octagon, which connects so finely the tower and spire, has four
+two-light windows on the cardinal sides, the other sides having blank
+panelling of similar design. Its parapet has square pinnacles,
+intended to carry seated figures. From each of the great tower
+pinnacles two ogee-shaped flying buttresses spring to the near angles
+of the octagon. A recent writer criticizes these as too flimsy in
+effect, but the fact that they are in pairs obviates this defect from
+most points of view. The walls of the octagon are 2-1/2 feet thick at
+the base, but, as the inner slope of the spire begins at the level of
+the window transoms, the thickness at its parapet is more than 3 feet.
+The greater weight in this part corrects any tendency in the spire to
+push outwards the upright walls of the octagon; so well has it done
+this that no artificial helps, such as iron stays or bands, have been
+found necessary to add to its stability. Though so slender in
+appearance, its stonework is thicker than that of many later spires,
+for whereas Kettering is 14 inches thick for the first 10 feet and
+only 6 inches above, while Louth decreases from 10 to 5, St. Michael's
+diminishes from 17 to 11. The inclination from the upright of its
+sides is very slight, less than that of most others; Chichester having
+an angle of 7-1/2 deg., Kettering 6 deg., Louth 5 deg., St. Michael's 4-1/2 deg..
+
+[Illustration: THE WEST PORCH.]
+
+The decoration of the spire is admirably designed in relation to the
+slenderness of the tower, and its own height above the eye. The first
+stage is panelled so as not to present too great a contrast to the
+octagon, and the next is also panelled and has narrow canopied slits
+on alternate sides, with four thin buttress-like projections on each
+face. These provide the slight entasis to the outline which is found
+in so many spires, as it is in classic columns, and is designed to
+correct the appearance of hollowness which would occur in so long a
+straight line. The upper two-thirds of the spire has triple angle
+rolls, and, just halfway in the total height, are eight canopied
+panels of which four are pierced. The beauty of the steeple and its
+pre-eminence among those belonging to parish churches (even if such a
+reservation be necessary) sufficiently justifies the length of this
+description.
+
+[Illustration: SOUTH PORCH, FROM ST. MARY HALL.]
+
+The oldest existing part of the church is the large south porch,
+almost facing the entrance to St. Mary Hall. The date of this is not
+later than 1300. Each jamb of the outside arch has four external and
+two internal attached shafts; the pointed arch is deeply moulded,
+while the arch rising from the fourth shaft is of round-headed trefoil
+form. The ceiling is vaulted with diagonal and intermediate ribs, and
+has the appearance of having been added rather later.
+
+A doorway on its east side led to the Cappers' Chapel and there is a
+chamber over the porch for centuries appropriated to the meetings of
+the Cappers' Company. The present chapel and chamber are contemporary
+with the nave.
+
+[Illustration: SOUTH-WEST DOORWAY.]
+
+The external wall of the Dyers' Chapel (now the Baptistery) is canted
+so as not to block the Lane, St. Mary Hall having been already built.
+Passing east, the road dips gradually and gives this end of the church
+a more imposing elevation. After the Cappers'Chapel, there is only a
+single aisle forming the Mercers' Chapel and extending as far as the
+Presbytery. A door here, made in 1750, is opposite to the Drapers'
+Hall. The apse is now encircled with a series of sacristies divided
+into five chambers and spanned by flying buttresses. The first two
+bays on the south were built at the last restoration the vestry then
+removed not being part of the original design. Beneath them on the
+ground level is the engine-room pertaining to the organ. Though
+sometimes spoken of as an Ambulatory its position on a lower level,
+its original want of connection with the south side and above all the
+need for sacristies in so large a church dispose of the idea.
+
+Some have thought that the apsidal Lady Chapel of Lichfield Cathedral
+built about fifty years earlier suggested an apsidal termination in
+the design of Coventry, but a certain difficulty in the way of the
+designer may have led him to adopt this solution. The normal
+Perpendicular east end had one large window, but owing to the great
+width of this chancel the proportions of such a one would have been
+nearly square, and the spring of the arch have been very low. A few
+years later and the depressed four-centred arch might have been
+adopted but, fortunately, its time was not yet.
+
+The plans of the apses of Lichfield and Coventry differ in the angle
+at which the sides are inclined to the chord of the apse, the former
+having the usual angle of 45 deg., the latter one of more than 60 deg..
+Externally this is not so pleasant as the more "commonplace" form, the
+great dissimilarity of the several angles being unsatisfactory and the
+third side too quickly lost to view, but within the church these
+points are not noticed.
+
+So little time elapsed between the building of the choir and nave that
+we find no marked difference of style as we proceed westward along
+either flank of the church. The Lady Chapel, known as the Drapers'
+Chapel, from its use and maintenance by that Gild, occupies the three
+bays of the North chancel aisle. From its elevation above the ground
+it was often spoken of as the "Chapel on the Mount," Capella Beatae
+Mariae de Monte. All the four windows are of seven lights, the three
+northern having a somewhat unusual transom band of fourteen
+quatrefoils, at the spring of the arch. The two windows of St.
+Lawrence's Chapel have a transom across the lights and a band of seven
+quatrefoils at the spring.
+
+The buttresses of the Lady Chapel are rather richer in design than
+those of St. Lawrence's Chapel. The lower level of its parapet
+indicates some difference of date. The plan of this part of the church
+presents problems which bear on those connected with the rest of the
+church. Beneath St. Lawrence's Chapel and extending under the north
+aisle westward are two crypts, entrance to them being by two doors
+from the churchyard, their position is shown on the general plan. It
+will be seen that the western one is of two aisles, each of three
+bays, while the eastern is only one bay in length. The entrance to the
+western was at first in the middle bay but this was blocked when the
+Girdlers' Chapel was built. That the eastern crypt was added later,
+and the present Lady Chapel later still is shown by the presence of
+windows in the east wall of both parts and other indications. But
+while the history of the church shows that the original Lady Chapel
+and crypt or charnel-house, were built soon after 1300, the present
+superstructures belong to a time about one hundred years later. Now as
+the western crypt may be safely assigned to the earlier date the Lady
+Chapel doubtless stood over it and flanked the old chancel of the
+church, in its normal position in fact as the existing one is now. But
+a point which remains to be explained is that the walls of the crypt
+are parallel to the line of the new chancel and not to the line of the
+old or new naves. It seems certain therefore that the inclination of
+the new chancel is a simple perpetuation of the old arrangement, and
+if not, the position of the crypt is hard to account for.
+
+It is generally supposed that these crypts were used as Mortuary
+Chapels and the eastern one has in fact a piscina and aumbry, showing
+that there was once an altar. But for some centuries they served as a
+charnel-house, and are so called in a papal grant of Indulgences. In
+1640 there is an entry in the church accounts of five shillings for
+"cleansinge the charnel-house and laying the bones and sculles in
+order."
+
+They now contain fragments that have been removed or discovered in the
+course of various restorations. A small Norman scalloped capital,
+another of Early English workmanship and a voussoir showing the Norman
+zig-zag or chevron are interesting relics of structures earlier than
+anything now existing, while a number of the decayed statues from the
+tower find here a dark and damp repose very different from the airy
+outlook enjoyed by them for five centuries. It will be seen that they
+are near life size and are executed in a gray sandstone which has
+stood the weather much better than the red. The outer north aisle
+containing the Girdlers' Chapel on the east and the Smiths' or St.
+Andrew's Chapel on the west of the porch, is plainly of later date.
+The windows have depressed, distinctly four-centred arches, and in
+1730 their five lights had simply cusped heads, the mullions running
+up to the architrave.
+
+The north porch has only a slight projection. Above the four-centred
+arch are two two-light canopied windows opening into the church. The
+soffit of the doorway is panelled. On the west side where is now a
+canopied niche was formerly an external pulpit reached from within by
+the staircase which leads to the roof. It is shown in the 1730 view.
+On the east side are two odd little flying buttresses, intended
+apparently to repeat the inclined surface of the other side. The two
+north aisles are fortunately not carried westward so far as the nave,
+which projects a half bay beyond them and so prevents the otherwise
+unrelieved flatness of this part. The most effective of the porches is
+that on the west front, just north of the tower. It appears to have
+been built after the nave was finished, and may have been added
+expressly to provide a more dignified entrance to the church when
+Henry VI came in state in 1451, for it faces directly up the nave. The
+groining with cusped panels and numerous bosses has escaped
+restoration. The five niches above the porch are statueless, and so
+are those on the porch front. May they long continue so! The doors are
+largely original and are finely panelled and carved.
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR OF ST. MICHAEL'S FROM THE WEST.]
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH
+
+From within the door by which the church is usually entered, that near
+the south-west angle, we obtain an overpowering impression of the
+special characteristic of the interior, its spaciousness, for it is
+here more than 100 feet wide and the east window is nearly 240 feet
+distant.
+
+The nave, which is 37 feet 6 inches wide in the clear, is wider than
+that of many cathedrals, and much exceeds that of most parish
+churches, the widest (Worstead) given in Brandon's "Parish Churches"
+being 29 feet. Boston alone exceeds it by about 3 feet. While the
+ordinary aisle width ranges from 10 to 14 feet, the north aisle here
+is 23 feet, the outer north and the south being each 17 feet. The
+total internal length is 265 feet, exclusive of the sacristy; Boston,
+the only larger one, being 284 feet, while very few exceed 200 feet,
+and most are far smaller. The greatest internal width is 120 feet;
+Manchester, a double-aisled collegiate church, is about the same, and
+York Minster is 106 feet. Finally, the area is about 22,800 square
+feet, probably greater than that of any other English parish church,
+indeed, St. Nicholas, Yarmouth, is the only one which pretends to
+rivalry in this respect. Size is, of course, only one element in the
+impressiveness of a building, and may even be neutralized by the
+treatment (as, for instance, in the Duomo of Florence and St. Peter's,
+Rome, by increasing the size of its parts rather than multiplying
+them), but these few comparisons will help the visitor to judge how
+far this element colours his appreciation of the whole. As an
+illustration of mediaeval methods of church building, it is
+interesting to trace the growth of the structure with the help of the
+few historical notices already given and the evidence of the building
+itself. The subject is full of difficulties, and the writer does not
+hope to solve them conclusively, but to put before the reader the main
+points which have to be considered before forming a judgement.
+
+[Illustration: TOWER ARCH.]
+
+Both historic and structural evidence agree that there was an existing
+smaller church when the tower was built in the last quarter of the
+fourteenth century, that the choir and apse were either contemporary,
+or begun a few years earlier, and that the nave was built between 1434
+and 1450. The south porch and the west crypt (beneath the original
+Lady Chapel) are almost contemporary, belonging to the beginning of
+the fourteenth century. Now the axis of the tower is parallel to the
+axis and walls of the nave, while the centre line of the choir is
+deflected towards the north about 7 deg.. Notwithstanding this, however,
+owing to the tower not being central with the nave, the axis of the
+choir, if prolonged, runs directly to the centre of the tower arch, as
+may easily be seen by anyone who stands there and looks along the
+ridge of the choir roof. (_See_ dotted line on Plan.) Next we see
+above the tower arch the mark of the old nave roof and the old north
+wall of the nave. These show that the south wall stood where the
+present one does, and the low-pitched fourteenth century roof-line
+suggests incidentally this alternative: _either_ a clearstory had been
+added to the nave before the building of the new chancel or tower was
+in contemplation, _or_, when the huge tower was built it was felt
+necessary to raise the nave roof so as to lessen the disproportion.
+But, if we adopt the latter alternative we must accept too the
+improbability that this expense should have been incurred when the
+inadequacy of the old narrow nave of 15-1/2 feet compared with a
+chancel of 33 feet must have been so obvious. This is one of the
+difficult questions.
+
+[Illustration: BAY OF NAVE, NORTH SIDE.]
+
+Then it is held by some that the axis of the old nave and chancel was
+in line with that of the present choir; but the south porch, built
+more than one hundred years before the new nave, is at right angles
+with it which would hardly have been the case had the two naves not
+been on the same lines.
+
+Needless to say the old east end could scarcely have extended beyond
+the present nave, so that the new chancel was probably built without
+disturbing the old church. The position of the older Lady Chapel
+supports this view, while its bearing towards the north, as already
+pointed out, indicates that the deflection of the new chancel is
+simply copied from the older one.
+
+The position of the south porch proves also that the south aisle was
+as wide as the present one, while the fact that it was wider than the
+nave shows that it was almost certainly not designed at the same time.
+
+The nave is of six bays and is 54 feet high at the centre, while each
+arch is 20 feet wide in the clear. The piers are slender, but, owing
+to the depth of the panelling above the arches and the large size of
+the windows, the weight upon them is reduced to a minimum. Shafts
+carried up from the ground support the roof brackets, and there are
+intermediate ones over the centre of each arch. The clearstory windows
+of four lights each are in pairs, and the mullions are carried down to
+form panelling and finish on the backs of the arches, which recede in
+two sloping faces and form a somewhat unusual feature in the treatment
+of the wall surface. The detail of the piers and arches is rather
+weak, even for Perpendicular work.
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR FROM THE SOUTH DOOR.]
+
+The chancel is about 93 feet long, and in height and width is 4 or 5
+feet less than the corresponding nave measurements. Its width further
+diminishes by about 3-1/2 feet in the length of the three bays. The
+omission of a chancel arch is a step towards the ideal simplicity of
+the late Perpendicular churches (_e.g._, St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich),
+running from east to west without break, but the large rood piers and
+reduced width and height of chancel make the pause demanded in so long
+a church. The step at this point is of oak, and is probably the
+original sill of the rood screen. The large figures of SS. Peter and
+Paul were placed on the piers in 1861. Of the three arches which open
+on either hand the centre one is widest, having four-light windows,
+instead of three-light, over it. The panelling beneath the clearstory
+is richer than that in the nave. The five four-light windows of the
+apse are lofty and divided by two transoms, but the design is somewhat
+commonplace. The glass of the middle three is a memorial to Queen
+Adelaide, dated 1853. The other two are filled with fragments of the
+ancient stained glass of the church.
+
+[Illustration: THE CHOIR FROM ST. LAWRENCE'S CHAPEL.]
+
+The roof is very similar to that of the nave. Both are of very low
+pitch, with tie-beams supported by curved brackets. There are two
+longitudinal beams (purlins) on each side, and each division of the
+roof made by these main timbers is sub-divided by mouldings into
+panels, all the intersections and angles being decorated by carved
+bosses or paterae, with angels upon the tie-beams. Where the roofs of
+nave and chancel join there is a cove to connect the two levels; and
+on the tie-beam above this was found a Latin inscription, giving the
+attributes and powers of the nine choirs of angels forming the
+hierarchy of Heaven. Translated it is as follows:
+
+  SERAPHIMS burn in love of God.
+  CHERUBIMS possess all knowledge.
+  THRONES, of them is judgement.
+  DOMINIONS preside over angelic spirits.
+  VIRTUES effect miracles.
+  POWERS have rule over demons.
+  PRINCIPALITIES protect good men.
+  ARCHANGELS are set over states.
+  ANGELS are the messengers of the Lord.
+
+Bare and shorn as it is of its ancient magnificence, St. Michael's is
+in its structure a monument of the importance and wealth of the Gilds.
+Many of them built or maintained chapels and altars, adding largely to
+the already spacious proportions given to the main structure by the
+munificence of a few rich citizens. That in 1491 there were eleven
+altars we know from the will of Thomas Bradmedow, directing that
+eleven torches, price 2 _s_. 4 _d_., be given every Good Friday, one
+to every altar. Besides the High Altar there were those of Our Lady,
+Jesus, Holy Trinity, St. John, St. Anne, St. Katherine, St. Thomas,
+St. Andrew, St. Lawrence, All Saints.
+
+The application to the Lady Chapel of the present name, the "Drapers'
+Chapel," is probably subsequent to 1518, when John Haddon, a draper,
+provided by will for the support of a priest, "to singe in the Chapell
+of our Ladye in the Church of Saint Mychell." But long ere this, by an
+instrument dated from St. John Lateran, A.D. 1300, eighth year of Pope
+Boniface, Indulgences for forty days were granted for all persons
+coming to confess before her altar in St. Michael's Church on the
+Nativity, Conception, Annunciation and Assumption of the glorious
+Virgin Mary. Also 700 Indulgences for 720 days were granted for
+building "the Chapple and Charnell house of St. Michaell, Coventry."
+The Drapers' Company was responsible for other things than the
+priest's stipend as this extract from their Rules shows: "1534. Ev'y
+mastur shall pay toward ye makyng clene of oure Lady Chapell in saynt
+Mychell's churche and strawyng ye setus [seats] wt rusches in somer
+and pease strawe in wyntur, everyone yerely 2_d_."
+
+[Illustration: POPPY HEAD, LADY CHAPEL.]
+
+The piers at the chancel entrance contain the staircases leading to
+the roofs and formerly to the rood loft. The screen on the west side
+of the chapel was put together from fragments brought together from
+various parts of the church. Against it, and on the south side, are
+fifteen of the ancient stalls. Several admirable ends and elbows
+remain, and some of the twelve ancient Misereres are of special
+interest. Three represent scenes from the popular mediaeval allegory
+of "the Dance of Death."
+
+The centre groups are: (1) a death bed, (2) a kneeling man being
+deprived of his shirt and a cripple waiting to receive it (?), and (3)
+a very well-expressed burial scene. The side groups in each show Death
+leading by the hand personages of various ranks, including a pope. Of
+the others, Satan in chains, the General Resurrection, and a
+delicately executed Tree of Jesse are the best.
+
+[Illustration: A MISERERE, LADY CHAPEL.]
+
+Several monuments formerly in this chapel are now elsewhere in the
+church. A memorial to the Hon. F.W. Hood, killed in battle in 1814, is
+by Chantrey. On the north wall is a brass plate bearing the following
+inscription:
+
+  Here lyeth M'r Thomas Bond, Draper, sometime Mayor of this Cittie
+  and founder of the Hospitall of Bablake, who gave divers lands and
+  tenements for the maintenance of ten poore men so long as the world
+  shall endure and a woman to looke to them with many other good
+  guifts; and died the XVIII day of March in the yeare of our Lord God
+  MDVI.
+
+The Communion Table is a fine example of early seventeenth century
+work, and outside the screen is a very beautiful oak chest, believed
+to date from the time of Henry VII. From the Lady Chapel we pass into
+that of St. Laurence. Its two windows are filled with glass to the
+memory of past mayors. The dates, 1860 and 1862, sufficiently suggest
+their artistic merit. Several old monuments are upon the north wall,
+one of 1648 with an extravagant inscription to Thomas Purefoy, a boy
+of nine; another to Mrs. Bathona Frodsham, a daughter of the John
+Hales who bought so much monastic property, and founded the Grammar
+School. The tomb of his first wife, Frideswede, near which he was
+buried, may be seen in the Dugdale view near the north porch.
+
+The outer north aisle contained the Girdlers' Chapel. The arcade which
+divides the aisles shows the consummation of the process which
+converted columns into piers by the omission of capitals and bases and
+the continuation of the mouldings from pier into arch.
+
+The altar was below the eastern window, the piscina (restored) stands
+on the south side.
+
+The Company has been long extinct and no documents exist. We know,
+however, that Haye's Chantry was founded by a Girdler in 1390, for a
+Mass to be sung daily at All Saints' altar, and may therefore conclude
+that it was in this chapel.
+
+In the two western bays of the same aisle was St. Andrew's Chapel,
+supported and probably founded by the Smiths' Company. The first
+notice of its existence occurs in 1449, but as this part was not built
+until 1500 it was perhaps originally in the adjoining aisle. The
+window tracery is modern. The panelling within the internal arches and
+between the windows should be noted. The floor near the wall is partly
+paved with much worn ancient tiles.
+
+Several large monuments have been brought hither from the Drapers'
+Chapel. An altar tomb of black marble is to the memory of Sir Thomas
+Berkeley, only son of Henry, Lord Berkeley, who died in 1611; another
+of 1640, to William Stanley, Master of the Merchant Taylors' Company
+of London and a benefactor of St. Bartholomew's Hospital and of his
+native city, Coventry. While these are ponderous and unlovely that of
+Julian Nethermyl, at the west end of the principal north aisle, is a
+work of interest and much beauty. It is an altar tomb with a
+sculptured panel on one end and one side, the other end and side
+having been next to walls. It is of interest as an early example of
+the Italian style then finding its way into England, and an example so
+free from Gothic influence that there can be little doubt that a
+foreign craftsman was employed upon it. On the centre of the long
+panel is a mutilated crucifix, and a brief inscription with a shield
+of arms beneath. On either hand kneel Julian Nethermyl and his wife,
+with five sons behind him and five daughters behind her. A cherub at
+each end pushes aside a curtain. The group of sons is well treated,
+the variations in pose and dress show the hand of one who was
+accustomed to study composition, and the result is very different from
+the formal repetition of equal or lessening figures usual on mediaeval
+brasses and Elizabethan tombs. The Latin inscription is partly
+illegible, translated it runs:
+
+  Here lies Julian Nethermyl, Draper, formerly Mayor of this City, who
+  died the 11th day of the month of April in the year of our Lord 1539
+  and also Joan his wife, to whose souls God be propitious. Amen.
+
+[Illustration: CHEST IN NORTH AISLE.]
+
+A small brass on the wall to the memory of Mary Hinton, wife of a
+vicar, who died in 1594, represents her kneeling at a faldstool, and
+facing a row of four swaddled infants laid upon the floor.
+
+Near by is the old Purbeck marble font, said to have been given by
+John Cross, Mayor, in 1394.
+
+As, however, the form, material, and shallow decoration are all quite
+consistent with a thirteenth-century date there can be little doubt
+that this one is the predecessor of that given by John Cross, which
+was condemned and removed by the Puritans as superstitious. A small
+brass, bearing a shield with four crosses, the ancient merchant mark,
+is fixed upon it.
+
+[Illustration: THE NETHERMYL TOMB.]
+
+Beyond the west door is the north-east buttress of the tower,
+strengthened by a mass of masonry, part of which formed part of the
+old nave wall. The tower arch is high and very narrow, owing to the
+narrowness of the old nave. The interior of the tower is very
+effective, both from the height, which is almost 100 feet to the crown
+of the vault, and the beautiful lighting of the upper stages. Each of
+the large windows of the ground story is set in a recessed arch, and
+between the two lantern stages is a range of panelling. The vertical
+lines of the various stages are not continuous, a want of regularity,
+which would probably not have occurred had it been built a century
+later. Upon the floor of the tower are two small brasses, which mark
+respectively the centre of the tower and the point below the apex of
+the spire, showing that the spire has an inclination of 3 feet 6
+inches towards the north-west. On the walls of the tower two very
+large brasses record the names of the Vicars of the church since 1242,
+and of the Bishops in whose Dioceses Coventry has been included from
+the earliest times. Of the latter, four were Bishops of Mercia,
+twenty-seven of Lichfield, six of Coventry, thirty-three of Coventry
+and Lichfield, thirteen of Lichfield and Coventry, four of Worcester,
+and two Bishops-Suffragan of Coventry.
+
+The south aisle is 6 feet narrower than the north at the west end, but
+its want of parallelism adds 7 feet to its width at its far eastern
+end.
+
+The south-west doorway has its original doors, though these have been
+subjected to restoration. The first chapel on the south side belonged
+to the Dyers' Company. When the principal trade of Coventry was the
+manufacture of woollen and worsted stuffs and the production of a
+special blue thread, so excellent that it gave rise to a proverbial
+expression, "he is true Coventry Blue", the Dyers were an important
+Company.[6] A chantry known as Tale's was probably attached to this
+chapel, as the salary of the priest, _L_5 6 _s_. 8 _d_., was paid by
+the Dyers' Company of London. An upper chamber for the priest existed
+as late as 1607; the floor corbels still remain. A large marble
+monument (removed hither from the chancel) has medallion portraits of
+two ladies--Dame Mary Bridgeman and Mrs. Eliza Samwell. The former
+with her husband, Sir Orlando (Lord Keeper of the Great Seal under
+Charles II), both died in 1701. The latter, dying in 1724, "ordered
+this monument to be erected as a remembrance of their great and loving
+friendship."
+
+The Chapel is now the Baptistery. A large eighteenth-century marble
+font was removed to the Lady Chapel and a new Gothic one put in its
+place, so that there are now three in the church.
+
+The south porch (1300) is the earliest part of the existing church.
+The inner doors appear to be of the early sixteenth century, the
+outer, though old, are of much later date and are not part of the
+original scheme. On the wall on each side of the inner doors are
+brasses of some interest. That on the right hand has a curious epitaph
+which runs thus:
+
+  Here lies the body of Capt'n Gervase Scrope, of the family of
+  Scropes, of Bolton in the County of York, who departed this life the
+  26 of August, Anno Dni 1705, aged 66.
+
+An Epitaph, written by himself, in the agony and dolorous paines of
+the gout and dyed soon after.
+
+  Here lyes an old toss'd Tennis Ball
+  Was racketted, from spring to fall,
+  With so much heat and so much hast,
+  Time's arm for shame grew tyred at last.
+  Four kings in camps he truly served.
+  And from his loyalty ne'er swerved,
+  Father ruin'd and son slighted,
+  And from the Crown ne'er requited.
+  Loss of estate, relations, blood,
+  Was too well known, but did no good;
+  With long Campaigns and paines oth' gout
+  He you'd no longer hold it out.
+  Always a restless life he led,
+  Never at quiet till quite dead.
+  He marry'd in his later days,
+  One who exceeds the common praise
+  But wanting breath still to make known
+  Her true affection and his own,
+  Death kindly came, all wants supplied
+  By giving rest--which life deny'd.
+
+The other brass, of 1609, has a portrait of Ann Sewell in Jacobean
+costume, kneeling, with an epitaph in which she is described as "a
+worthy stirrer up of others to all holy virtues."
+
+A doorway leads to a priest's chamber over the porch, sometimes
+incorrectly spoken of as the Cappers' Chapel. It is still used for the
+annual meeting of the Company, but is inaccessible to the public.
+
+The next chapel eastwards is St. Thomas', belonging until 1629 to the
+Cappers' and Feltmakers' Company. In 1531 they were associated in its
+maintenance with the Woollen Cardmakers who had founded it in 1467 and
+had after declined in importance. Leland, as we have seen records also
+the decay of the Cappers' industry. A large eighteenth-century
+monument conceals the original doorway from the porch. The eastern
+part of the south aisle as far as the screen formed another chapel as
+the dilapidated piscina in the south wall shows. The organ is now
+placed in the first bay of the chancel aisle, the whole aisle having
+once formed the Mercers' Chapel.
+
+[Illustration: THE SWILLINGTON TOMB.]
+
+Where the altar once stood are now steps descending to the sacristies.
+On the right of the window is the statue of St. Michael brought hither
+from the tower. The finely carved corbel on which it stands was
+discovered among rubbish in the recess below. Three altar tombs now
+stand against the south wall. The eastern has the recumbent effigies
+of Elizabeth Swillington and her two husbands. The inscription
+(translated) runs: "Pray for the soul of Elizabeth Swillington, widow,
+late the wife of Ralph Swillington, Attorney General of our Lord King
+Henry VIII, Recorder of the city of Coventry, formerly the wife of
+Thomas Essex Esq: which said Elizabeth died A.D. 15..." She died after
+1543. The side and ends have arcaded panelling containing shields of
+arms. At the west end is a realistic representation of the Five
+Wounds. The effigy of Thomas Essex is in armour, that of the Recorder
+in official robe and chain. The head of each rests on a helmet, and
+the lady wears the "pedimental" headdress of Tudor fashion. The
+arcading is purely Renaissance in detail though the general treatment
+is mediaeval. The figures are in dignified repose, wholly free from
+the later affectations of the Elizabethan school yet evidently
+individual portraits. The second tomb dates from 1640. The top is far
+too heavy for the little Ionic pilasters below.
+
+The third, traditionally called Wade's tomb, probably belongs to John
+Wayd, a Mercer, who lived in Coventry in 1557, but no inscription
+remains.
+
+There are seven shields of arms on the side, nearly all defaced, a
+motto "Ryen saunce travayle," and nine images in low relief which
+present quaint studies of early sixteenth-century costume.
+
+The matrices of brasses are still visible in several parts of the
+church. Sir James Harrington, writing in the reign of James I, tells a
+curious story of their loss:
+
+  The pavement of Coventry church is almost all tombstones, and some
+  very ancient, but there came in a zealous fellow with a counterfeit
+  commission, that for avoiding superstition, hath not left one
+  pennyworth nor penny breadth of brass upon all the tombs, of all the
+  inscriptions, which had been many and costly.
+
+The last monument that need be mentioned is upon the wall over "Wade's
+tomb." Twenty-six verses of eulogy follow these opening lines:
+
+  An Elegicall epitaph, made upon the death of that mirror of women
+  Ann Newdigate; Lady Skeffington, wife of that true moaneing turtle
+  Sir Richard Skeffington, Kt., and consecrated lo her eternal memorie
+  by the unfeigned lover of her vertues, Willm. Buistrode, Knight.
+  (She died in 1637, aged 29).
+
+The present organ was built by Henry Willis and erected in 1887. It is
+a four-manual and pedal instrument and has fifty-three stops.
+
+The old organ on which Handel played more than once, stood on a raised
+platform at the west end. It was the work of Thomas Swarbrick of
+Warwick, a German by birth, in 1733. He also built those of Trinity
+Church, St. Mary, Warwick, Lichfield, St. Saviour Southwark,
+Stratford-on-Avon, and Amsterdam.
+
+The best of the ancient glass now remaining has been collected into
+two windows, one on either side of the apse. Much was brought from the
+clearstory where six windows on the south and all save one on the
+north side still have panels made up of a mosaic of fragments with
+portions here and there of which the subject is intelligible. From
+what remains in the tracery we may gather that there was a row of
+eight angel figures filling the spaces immediately over the lights.
+Some of these or similar ones, are now in the apse. They are
+represented as covered with feathers and standing on wheels and each
+holds a scroll over the head with inscriptions in very contracted
+Latin. A few less fragmentary pieces may be found, _e.g._, in the
+north window, Judas giving the traitor's kiss, in the north clearstory
+the arms of Trenton and Stafford, mentioned and figured by Dugdale, in
+the south, the figure of a man in a red gown kneeling with a scroll
+inscribed "deo gracias" and over his head "groc(er) de
+london"--doubtless a donor. Of modern glass there is a great amount
+but little worth mentioning savs on account of the persons
+commemorated. One window in the Lady Chapel is a memorial of the
+Prince Consort and one in the Mercers' Chapel is of interest as a
+deserved memorial to Thomas Sharp the Antiquary to whose labours all
+later historians of the city are so deeply indebted. He died in 1841.
+
+[Illustration: ALMS-BOX.]
+
+The pulpit is of brass and wrought iron, the work of Frank Skidmore a
+native of Coventry who made also the choir screen of Hereford
+Cathedral and the metal work of the Albert Memorial at Kensington. It
+was placed here in 1869. The bells, ten in number, now hang in the
+octagon. They were cast in 1774 and weigh nearly seven tons. The first
+peal was hung in 1429 and a clock existed in 1467. In 1496 an Order of
+Leet ordained that "all manner of persons that will have the bells to
+ring after the decease of any of their friends, shall pay for a peal
+ringing with all the bells, 2_s_. and with four bells, 16_d_., and
+three bells 4_d_."
+
+
+The six bells were cast into eight in 1674 and the present tenth has
+the same inscription as the heaviest of the old peal:
+
+  I am and have been call'd the common bell
+  To ring, when fire breaks out, to tell.
+
+The chimes, which existed as early as 1465, were restored in 1895,
+after a silence of ten years, in memory of Lieut.-Col. Francis William
+Newdigate. Electric lighting has been introduced throughout the
+church.
+
+
+HOLY TRINITY CHURCH
+
+[Illustration: HOLY TRINITY FROM THE NORTH.
+                           _From a lithograph--about 1850_.]
+
+
+HOLY TRINITY CHURCH
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
+
+Although the first mention of this church which the indefatigable
+Dugdale could find was its appropriation to the priory in 1259-1260,
+it is tolerably certain that its foundation was much earlier. As
+before said, it is reputed to be older than St. Michael's and its
+position close to the monastery suggests that it had been built, as
+often happened, for the parishioners by the monks who disliked their
+intrusion within the priory church. The appropriation at this time may
+have been rather of the nature of a confirmation of the rights of the
+priory than the institution of a new condition of things. As, in 1391,
+the chancel had to be rebuilt being "ruinated and decayed" we may
+conclude that it was probably older than the present north porch which
+is certainly not later than 1259. It was at the same time lengthened
+by twenty-four feet, the convent giving one hundred shillings per
+annum for eight years and six trees, the parishioners finding all
+other material and workmanship. The convent and parish also agreed to
+support and keep it in repair at their joint charges.
+
+From 1298, when Henry de Harenhale was appointed, the list of vicars
+is complete, but in a cartulary of the priory mention is made of Ralph
+de Sowe, vicar of Trinity, as giving a tenement in Well Street, for
+the celebration of his anniversary.
+
+There are but few landmarks in its history, and dates affecting the
+structure can generally be assigned by internal evidence alone. The
+nave arcades had already been rebuilt before the chancel was touched,
+and a piece of work of the same period is to be seen in the five-light
+Decorated window, in the Consistory Court which now opens into the
+large chamber over the porch. We have no record of the building of the
+clearstory and roof of the nave. The resemblances between this
+clear-story, and that of St. John's chancel, raise the question of
+priority. The fuller development at St. John's of the peculiar
+treatment of the angles points to its being a little later but
+probably both fall within the second and third quarters of the
+fifteenth century.
+
+For a church of this size the chapels, altars and chantries were very
+numerous, there being probably fifteen altars in all. In 1522 the
+establishment of clergy consisted of a vicar, eleven parochial priests
+and two chantry priests. Dugdale enumerates six chantries so that it
+is evident that here as often elsewhere some of the parochial priests
+derived the whole or a part of their support from their performance of
+the duties of chantry priests.
+
+Many chantry priests on the other hand had other duties and took part
+in other services than the daily mass for which the chantry was
+founded.
+
+So much that is of interest in the religious life of the period is
+connected with the chantries that it is worth while recording some of
+the scattered notices that have come down to us.
+
+To begin with the Chapel of Our Lady, the earliest mention we have of
+it is in 1364 while in 1392 the Corpus Christi Gild endowed a priest
+there to sing mass for the good estate of Richard II, Anne his queen,
+and the whole realm of England, to be called St. Mary's priest. The
+indenture sets forth that "he is to be at Divine service on Sundays
+and double Feasts in the chancel and at Matins, Hours, Masses,
+Evensong, Compline and other offices used in the said church and also
+daily at _Salve_ in our Lady's Chapel unless hindered by reasonable
+cause." The records of the Dissolution of the Chantries show how much
+town property must have been held by them, while from these and other
+sources we learn the extent of their belongings in tenements,
+messuages, rent charges and the like. Thus in 1454 Emot Dowte gave
+several tenements to this altar and in 1492 Richard Clyff "late parson
+of St. George in London," left a house in Well St. to the church "to
+the intent that the mass of Our Lady may be observed the better." In
+1558 (the year of Elizabeth's accession) William Hyndeman, alderman
+and butcher, directs that his body be buried in the Lady Chapel "as
+aldermen are wont to be buried, towards the charges whereof I give
+twenty nobles to be levied of my quick cattle and if it be too little
+then I will that Sybil my wife shall lay down 20_s_. more." He also
+orders an obit to be kept after the death of his wife "yearly for
+ever;" a form of words that must surely have sounded unreal after the
+changes of the last two reigns.
+
+Perceye's chantry again, which Dugdale considered the oldest (though
+he does not give the date) was endowed in 1350 with six messuages, one
+shop, six acres of land and 40s. rent, all lying in Coventry, to which
+in 1407 William Botoner and others, added a messuage and twenty-four
+acres of land in the city for another priest.
+
+Then the chantry of the Holy Cross (1357) founded for two priests to
+sing daily a mass for the good estate before death and for the souls
+after of the royal family, and for the founders and the members of the
+Fraternity of the Holy Cross, was endowed with seven messuages,
+fourteen shops and sixteen acres of land in the city.
+
+Dugdale enumerates also four others, Cellet's, Corpus Christi,
+Lodynton's and Allesley's, to which should probably be added Marler's,
+assigned by him to St. Michael's. The first two are doubtless the same
+foundation, for in 1329 land and tenements were granted to the priest
+of Corpus Christi Chapel for the health of the soul of William Celet
+and others.
+
+It was almost certainly situated in the south transept, on the upper
+level over the vaulted passage. The position of Lodynton's chantry
+(1393) is not known; Allesley's, founded in the reign of Edward I, was
+sung at St. Thomas's altar.
+
+Richard Marler stipulates in his will that his priest is to have the
+"stypend or wagis of nyne marks by yere so long as he shall be of good
+and prestly conversacyon and demeanor, wt' a p'vyso that yf the seyde
+prest be ffounde otherwyse, after monyc'on and reasonable warnyng to
+hym geven, he to be removed."
+
+Much of the later history of the church relates to the destruction of
+its fittings and furniture or to restorations almost as grievous. In
+1560 2_s_. 6_d_. was paid for taking down the carving about the high
+altar, while the Mayor bought the panelling of the altar for 33_s_.
+4_d_., the vail for 5_s_., the "thing that the sacrament was in over
+the altar 1_s_.," the "peyre [pair of candlesticks?] that was upon the
+altar 5_d_." Perhaps he thought that all these things would be wanted
+again ere long. In 1547 a quantity of costly vestments and banners had
+been sold and we find in the accounts a number of such items as these:
+"Sold the 6 day of Jennery 5 copps of red teyssew to Mr. Roghers, now
+mayre (and 4 other persons) pryce of the sayd copps, 10_l_. To Bawden
+Desseld one cope of red velvet, 5_l_. Mr. Schewyll a grene velvet
+cope, 30_s_."
+
+But before Mary's death we have a lengthy inventory of copes,
+vestments, albs, banners and the like, some of which may have come
+back to the church from the buyers at the sale eleven years before.
+
+The church must have looked like a builder's yard in 1643 when the
+Committee and Council of War pulled down divers houses outside
+Bishop's and Spon Gates and stacked the materials here, while the
+changes of government are indicated by the payment in 1647 of 3_s_. 6
+_d_. "to Hopes for defacing the King's Arms" and in 1660 of 6_s_. to
+"Hope for the King's Arms."
+
+Five years after this the spire, which had caused much anxiety and
+expense for many years, was blown down in a gale, falling across the
+chancel and causing much destruction. All was restored and the spire
+rebuilt in three years. Reference has been made to the existence of a
+vaulted passage through the south transept. This was made necessary by
+the position of an ancient building known as Jesus Hall which adjoined
+the transept and thus blocked the way from "the Butchery" in this
+direction. The Hall had probably been long used as the residence of
+the priests attached to the church but nothing is known of its origin.
+It was destroyed in 1742. Only in 1834, when the exterior of the
+church was recased was the passage blocked and the floor of the upper
+chapel removed.
+
+The Register records the marriage of Sarah Kemble with William Siddons
+on 25th November, 1773.
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE EXTERIOR OF THE CHURCH
+
+The church of Holy Trinity loses much, in popular estimation at least,
+by its nearness to St. Michael's. It invites comparison of the most
+obvious sort. It is not nearly so large and its spire is not so high,
+these facts alone are sufficient to account for the popular view.
+Fuller, in his "Worthies" says of the two churches, "How clearly would
+they have shined if set at competent distance! Whereas now, such their
+Vicinity, that the Archangel eclipseth the Trinity."
+
+The plan is quite unlike that of its neighbour, being cruciform, with
+a central tower, a short nave, and a chancel distinctly longer than
+the nave. On the south both nave and chancel have a single aisle, the
+transept projecting beyond it and there is a vestry at the east end.
+On the north there is a similar aisle with a Lady Chapel at the east
+corresponding to the Vestry, but a large porch and several chapels
+fill up the spaces so that the transept does not in plan project.
+
+Looking at the exterior as a whole it may be said that the more
+moderate length (194 feet), the central spire, 230 feet high, and the
+transepts unite in forming a more satisfactory composition than the
+long body and immense western steeple of St. Michael's. There however,
+the superiority ceases for the frequent "recasings" and restorations
+have left hardly a stone of the exterior that has not been renewed
+again and again, and the dates of these operations, 1786, 1826, 1843,
+sufficiently suggest the degree of knowledge and feeling likely to be
+manifested in the work.
+
+Probably most of the structure was first built of the same friable red
+sandstone as its greater neighbour. Much of the recasing has been
+executed in a rather harder gray sandstone, but the tower and spire
+are still red.
+
+The tower above the roofs, is of two stages, the upper, or bell
+chamber, and the lower or lantern opening into the church. Below this
+are small windows with the lines of the old high-pitched roof visible
+above the present transept roofs, but in the nave and chancel the
+lines of the old roofs are now within the church, the clearstory
+having since been added. Each face of the tower is divided, apart from
+the narrow angle buttresses, into six vertical divisions separated by
+thin projections of buttress form. On the south and west the stair
+turret absorbs one of the outer divisions. Each division is curved in
+plan in a curious way, which may be the perpetuation of a feature of
+the original design, but was more probably introduced or modified by
+the person who recased the tower in 1826. That there was sculpture we
+know, for in 1709 ten shillings was paid for taking the images down
+from the steeple. The smallness of the sum indicates that they were
+few in number, and if they occupied similar positions to those on the
+belfry stage of St. Michael's, and the structure was as decayed as was
+the tower of that church it is probable that the cutting away of the
+niches may have suggested the curving of the surfaces especially as
+the tower would be thereby lightened. As it is we cannot be certain of
+much else than that there were vertical divisions serving to emphasize
+the impression of height and that the openings were in the same
+positions as now.
+
+[Illustration: PLAN OF TRINITY CHURCH]
+
+The spire blown down in 1665 had been in the previous ninety years
+five times repaired and repointed. We cannot now say whether the
+original design was at all closely followed in the rebuilding, but its
+present likeness to St. Michael's suggests doubts. The lowest stage
+which takes the place of the octagon and may be an intentional
+imitation of it, has almost upright sides with two-light windows on
+the cardinal faces and panelled ones on the oblique sides, while the
+remaining stages correspond in number and partly in design with those
+of St. Michael's.
+
+In 1855 it was considered that the bells endangered the safety of the
+tower, and after recasting by Mears of London they were rehung in a
+timber campanile in the north churchyard. Even now they cannot be
+pealed.
+
+The deplorable refacings have left few features of interest on the
+outside. Were Gothic architecture still a living and not merely
+imitative and academic art, one would welcome a complete renewal of
+all outside work--not an imagined harking back to the work of the
+fifteenth century but showing the lapse of the centuries from the
+fifteenth to the twentieth as clearly as does the north porch the
+change from the thirteenth to the fifteenth.
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR OF HOLY TRINITY, FROM THE WEST.]
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE INTERIOR
+
+It is with a feeling of expectation followed by one of relief that we
+pass within the church, for restoration has there rarely the same
+excuse for its devastations as the action of wind and weather on the
+exterior too generously gives it, and this church is no exception to
+the general rule.
+
+The clearing away of galleries, the provision of new seating and the
+renewal of much window tracery have been the principal changes, the
+greatest loss being the destruction of the Corpus Christi Chapel. The
+nave is of moderate width and consists of only four bays, the eastern
+arches being narrower and made to abut against the tower after the
+manner of flying buttresses. The columns are clusters of four large
+filleted shafts separated by small ones while the bases are high and
+evidently meant to be seen above the benches. The caps are shallow and
+very simple, while the shafts of each pier reappear as part of the
+arch moulding.
+
+The arcade as a whole is remarkably strong and dignified, it would
+perhaps have gained by the addition of a bay in length. In the absence
+of precise records it may be assigned to the second quarter of the
+fourteenth century or a little later. Above the tower arch can still
+be seen, beneath the painting and plaster, the marks of the older
+steep roof. The nave of Stratford-on-Avon Church has points of
+resemblance to this. There too we have a fourteenth-century arcade
+(but much simpler) with a fifteenth-century panelled wall and
+clearstory above, and the panelling comes down on to the backs of the
+arches in a similar though somewhat simpler manner.
+
+Owing to the inequality of the eastern arches there is, in the
+position of the windows and roof principals a curious disregard of the
+lines of the piers and the centres of arches. There are eight equal
+bays in the roof and each corresponds to two two-light windows. It is
+interesting to compare the design of this clearstory with that of St.
+Michael's. It has more solidity to accord with the more vigorous
+arcade though the treatment of the panelling is similar. The height
+from the arch to the roof is much less in proportion, but the sills of
+the windows are kept lower and the heads are square. The form of the
+windows is perhaps determined in part by the desire for more space for
+stained glass, but it is also the logical outcome of the space
+afforded by the level lines of a wooden roof just as the use of the
+pointed window follows from the use of pointed vaulting. The treatment
+of the angles after the manner of the thirteenth century "shouldered"
+lintel in order to take off the harshness of the rectangular form and
+to give a better bearing for the lintels is noteworthy and should be
+compared with the more developed forms at St. John's Church.
+
+Above the tower arch is a painting of the Last Judgement, discovered
+in 1831. It is now so much darkened that very little can be made out.
+The following is a description of its appearance before 1860: In the
+centre is the Saviour clothed in crimson and seated on a rainbow.
+Below are the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist with the twelve
+Apostles arranged on each hand. Two angels sound the summons to
+Judgement, and on the right of our Saviour, steps lead to a portico
+over which three angels look down on the scene and others welcome a
+pope who has just passed St. Peter. On the Saviour's left are doomed
+spirits being conveyed by devils in various ways and in ludicrous
+attitudes to the place of torment, represented in the usual manner by
+the gaping mouth of a monster, vomiting flames of fire. A large
+painting of a crucifix, with a priest kneeling beside it and angels
+flying above, was discovered at the same time on the north side of the
+Chancel but was too much mutilated to be thought worthy of
+preservation.
+
+The roofs throughout are of low pitch, and almost all resemble one
+another in design. Those of the nave, chancel, archdeacon's chapel (on
+the west of the north porch) and transepts are divided by their
+principal timbers into large panels, which are again subdivided by
+mouldings upon the boarded ceiling. At all angles and intersections
+there are carved leaves, and stars in relief adorn each panel. All
+these roofs are painted in accordance, it is said, with existing
+indications of the original colouring. The ground is blue, the
+mouldings red and white, the stars and carving are gilt. The nave roof
+spandrels, above the tie-beams, have large painted figures of angels,
+supporting between them shields emblazoned with the instruments of the
+Passion. These are also said to be reproductions, but it appears
+likely that time had left much to the imagination of their restorer.
+
+[Illustration: NORTH SIDE OF NAVE, EASTERN BAYS.]
+
+Nevertheless, the whole effect of the roofs is harmonious, a result
+apparently obtained by the use of a blue far removed from the
+ultramarine tint too often employed.
+
+Since the removal of the ringing floor, in 1855, the lantern stage of
+the tower has been once more visible from the church. A wooden vaulted
+ceiling was at the same time inserted where a stone one had originally
+been built or intended.
+
+The chancel is dark owing to the small clearstory windows, the low
+outer north aisle, and the concealment of a south window by the organ.
+At the first pier east of the tower came the rood-screen, and on the
+south side (in the aisle) the door to it may be seen at a height above
+the floor. Access must have been by steep steps against the wall, or
+from the top of another screen across the aisle. The church accounts
+of the year 1560 tell us what it cost to remove:
+
+  Payd for taking down ye rode and Marie and John . . 4_s_. 4_d_.
+  Payd to ye carpenter for pullyng down ye rode lofft . . 4_s_. 8_d_.
+
+On the east side of the tower wall can be seen the line of the
+original roof, showing the height before the rebuilding in 1391.
+Although there is space for larger windows the aisle roof prevented
+their sills being brought lower. The west arch of the south arcade has
+been forced out of shape by the pressure of the tower piers and
+arches; certainly the piers, which are little more than 4 feet square,
+seem slender enough for the support of so lofty a steeple.
+
+Attached to this south-east tower pier is the stone pulpit, one of the
+two special glories of the church, the other being the brass eagle.
+The pulpit is either contemporary with the pier or nearly so. There is
+apparently some difference in the texture and colour of the stone, but
+as it is probable that a finer-grained stone would be chosen for work
+of this character, this need not imply a difference of date. It was,
+however, probably added at the same time as the nave clearstory. The
+authors of "English Church Furniture" assign it to 1470.[7] Before
+1833 (when restored by Rickman) it had been hidden from sight by
+wood-work and a clerk's desk at a lower level. The lower part is
+boldly corbelled out and the junction of the octagon with the pier
+shafts is well managed, but the upper open-panelled part is rather too
+definitely cut off from the lower by the battlemented cornice. Very
+few examples of this class of pulpit exist in England, and none equal
+in importance.
+
+The eagle lectern is a magnificent example of brass casting. It is
+generally attributed to the late fifteenth century. This eagle
+narrowly escaped being sold by the Puritans for old brass, as happened
+to that of St. Michael's. It closely resembles one belonging to St.
+Nicholas' Chapel, Lynn, save that the latter is not equal in
+refinement of detail and proportion, and the bird is less vigorous in
+pose and modelling. In 1560 there was "paid for skowring ye Egle and
+candell styckes, 10_d_.," and "for mending of ye Egle's tayle, 16_d_."
+
+[Illustration: PULPIT.]
+
+At least nine chapels and fifteen altars are known to have existed in
+the church. The present choir vestry on the north side was the Lady
+Chapel. A simple piscina on the south side, about a foot above the
+present floor, shows that the old floor level was much lower.
+
+The north aisle is lofty and has a clearstory of three windows over
+the arcade. In the outer aisle was located Marler's, or the Mercers',
+Chapel, founded in 1537, and beneath it is a crypt or charnel house,
+now closed save for small ventilating openings.
+
+[Illustration: ARCHWAY BETWEEN THE NORTH PORCH AND ST. THOMAS'S
+CHAPEL.]
+
+The black oak roof of low pitch has the panels of the western bay only
+richly carved with vine leaves and grapes. Its date is, perhaps, as
+late as the foundation of the chantry. The piscina is in the north
+wall.
+
+West of the north transept is St. Thomas's Chapel. Dugdale says that
+Allesley's chantry was founded in the time of Edward I, at the altar
+of St. Thomas the Martyr, "in a chapel near adjoining to the church
+porch." The chapel is certainly older, for the beautiful double
+doorway from the porch is not later than mid-thirteenth century. The
+outer doorway of the porch was rebuilt in the fifteenth century. The
+inner one, with a finely moulded arch with angle shafts and the vault
+with simple diagonal ribs carried on shafts, is of the early
+thirteenth century. It is to be regretted that this fine porch is not
+better seen. Signs of the puzzling reconstructions that have occurred
+in this part are visible in the aisle wall. Two lancet windows high up
+are of the same date as the porch, and are blocked by the chamber
+since constructed above St. Thomas's Chapel, and parts of other window
+jambs are seen at different levels.
+
+The Archdeacon's Chapel or consistory court, to the west of the porch,
+is now one of the most interesting parts of the church.
+
+It is divided from the north aisle by two lofty arches with an
+octagonal column. The original dedication is not known, but in 1588 it
+was already used as an Ecclesiastical Court, and the next year a
+bishop's seat was made for use in it. In the south-west angle is a
+tall, narrow recess, once closed by a door. Lockers of this
+description were constructed for the safe keeping of the shaft of the
+processional cross, and for the staves of banners. On the east side
+the roof now cuts across the head of a window of reticulated tracery
+of the early fourteenth century. Most of the monuments have been
+brought hither from various parts of the church; only two or three are
+of general interest. A late Perpendicular canopied tomb, rudely carved
+and badly fitted together, stands against the north wall, but there is
+nothing to show whom it commemorates. On the east wall is the monument
+of Dr. Philemon Holland, with a long Latin epitaph. Fuller says of
+him: "he was the translator general in his age, so that those books
+alone of his turning into English will make a country gentleman a
+competent library for historians." Born at Chelmsford in 1551 he
+settled at Coventry in 1595, was usher and then master of St. John's
+Free School for twenty-eight years, and died in 1636 in his
+eighty-fifth year. During his usher-ship Dugdale was a pupil of the
+school.
+
+An engraved brass to John Whithead, who died in 1597, is interesting
+for the sake of the costumes of himself and his two wives. Three stone
+coffins have also been deposited here, and two sheets of lead from the
+roof recording, in fine bold lettering, the repairs executed in 1660
+and 1728. In the middle window on the north side are the only
+remaining fragments of ancient glass. As late as 1779 there were
+"portraits" of Earl Leofric and the Countess, and also, it is said, a
+smaller figure of the lady in a yellow dress on a white horse. Part of
+a small figure holding a spray of leaves and part of a galloping horse
+are pointed out as the remains of this. To the writer the figure
+appears to be clearly that of a man, and the horse and rider's leg not
+to have belonged to it.
+
+The modern stained glass is very unequal in character, and some is
+very poor indeed. The windows at the west, especially one in memory of
+Mr. Wm. Chater, a late organist, may be regarded as exceptions. There
+are still, fortunately, many which are not filled with pious
+memorials.
+
+The font is the original pre-Reformation one of the fifteenth century,
+which was removed by the Puritans in 1645 (though devoid of sculpture)
+and brought back after the Restoration. It stands on three steps, is
+panelled on bowl and stem, and rather brilliantly adorned with gold
+and colour.
+
+The south aisle was no doubt divided into two chapels, that on the
+west belonging to the Barkers' or Tanners' Gild. A small piscina
+against the south wall indicates the position of its altar. The wall
+below the windows is recessed so as to form a seat the whole length of
+the aisle.
+
+The south transept, containing the Corpus Christi and Cellet's
+chantries, has lost its original character completely. The piscina,
+high up on the south wall, shows that the floor level was some 9 feet
+above that of the church. The reason for this has been already
+explained. The organ chamber is quite modern. The best authorities
+place the chapel of the Butchers' Gild in the south aisle of the
+chancel, but do not say to whom the eastern chapel in the nave aisle
+belonged. It is known that there was a Jesus Chapel, and, in view of
+the proximity of Jesus Hall, it is believed by some that this was its
+position.
+
+The present clergy vestry is a fine room, having an excellent dark oak
+roof with heavy beams and well carved bosses at the intersections of
+the timbers. The Royal Arms over the fireplace were painted there in
+1632. Although usual, the placing of the king's arms in churches was
+not compulsory until the Restoration; few earlier now remain, and this
+placing of them in the vestry rather than the body of the church is
+suggestive of a compromise between opposing factions. A portrait of
+Walter Farquhar Hook, Vicar from 1828-37 and afterwards Dean of
+Chichester is hung here.
+
+It seems probable that this was a chapel, perhaps that of the Holy
+Trinity, to whom an altar was dedicated.
+
+The history, as traced in the church accounts, of the various organs
+used in the church gives some idea of the fluctuations of opinion as
+to the propriety of their use. In 1526 John Howe and John Climmowe,
+citizens and organ makers of London, contracted to provide, for _L_30,
+"a peir of Organs wt vij stopps, ov'r and besides the two Towers of
+cases, of the pitche of doble Eff, and wt xxvij pleyn keyes, xix
+musiks, xlvj cases of Tynn and xiiij cases of wood, wt two Starrs and
+the image of the Trinite on the topp of the sayed orgayns." In
+1570-the "payer of balowes" were sold, and in 1583 the pipes, "wayeng
+eleven score and thirteen pounds, went for fourpence half-farthing the
+pound." In 1632 a new one was obtained but its life was short, for in
+1641 the Puritan party caused it to be sold "for the best advantage."
+
+[Illustration: ALMS-BOX.]
+
+Once more, in 1684, another was purchased from Mr. Robert Hay wood of
+the City of Bath for _L_100; then, in 1732, Thomas Swarbrick of
+Warwick built one for _L_600, for which a gallery was erected across
+the nave.
+
+In 1855 this gave place to a new one by Foster and Andrews of Hull,
+costing _L_800; and this was rebuilt by Messrs. Hill and Son in 1900.
+
+
+
+ST. JOHN BAPTIST'S CHURCH
+
+[Illustration: CHURCH OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST, FROM BOND'S HOSPITAL.]
+
+
+ST. JOHN BAPTIST'S CHURCH
+
+The church of St. John Baptist has a history quite different from that
+of the other parish churches and is specially interesting as a
+building belonging to a very limited class, namely, Collegiate
+Churches owned by a Gild. Though Dugdale says that the "first and most
+antient of the Gilds here was founded in the 14th Ed. III (1340)" it
+is probable that, as in other places, religious gilds had for long
+existed here and that the royal license or Charter of this date was
+like that of Stratford-on-Avon in 1332, really a reconstitution or
+confirmation of the Gild's rights, privileges and possessions.
+
+This earliest one was known as the Merchant or St. Mary's Gild and its
+first ordinances provided that "the brethren and sisteren of the gild
+shall find as many chaplains as the means of the gild can well
+afford." Then in 1342 that of St. John Baptist and in 1343 that of St.
+Katharine was founded. The former at once founded a chantry of six
+priests to sing mass daily in the churches of St. Michael and the
+Trinity for "the souls of the King's progenitors and for the good
+estate of the King, Queen Isabella his mother, Queen Philippa his
+Consort and their children" and others, besides the members of the
+Gild. In 1344 this Gild, desiring to have a building for its exclusive
+use, received from Queen Isabella a small piece of land called
+Babbelak on which to build a chapel in honour of God and St. John, two
+priests being required to sing masses daily for the souls "of her dear
+lord Edward," John, Earl of Cornwall and others. Did she seek to
+satisfy her conscience thus for the woes she had brought upon her
+_dear lord?_ The site thus given measured 117 feet from north to south
+and about 40 feet from east to west giving room for the chancel only
+of the present church, this being dedicated in 1350. But in 1357
+William Walsheman, valet to the Queen and now her sub-bailiff in
+Coventry gave further land, added a new aisle and increased the number
+of priests while the Black Prince in 1359 gave a small plot on which,
+perhaps, the tower and transept now stand. Within the next ten years
+Walsheman and Christiana his wife gave to the Gild certain tenements,
+called the "Drapery," in the city to build a chapel in honour of the
+Holy Trinity, St. Mary, St. John, and St. Katharine "within the Chapel
+of Bablake." William Wolfe, mayor in 1375, is mentioned as a "great
+helper" in the work at the church, the original nave and aisles being
+probably built at this time, and some reconstruction of the choir.
+Records are wanting of the subsequent alterations which gave it its
+present form. The north clearstory of the nave shows the original
+design while that of the choir and the south side of the nave belong
+to the fifteenth century as do the tower and the cruciform arrangement
+of the building. Leland's "Itinerary" gives the following
+description: "There is also a Collegiate Church at Bablake, hard
+within the West Gate (Spon Gate) alias Bablake Gate, dedicated to St.
+John.... It is of the foundation of the Burgesses and there is a great
+Privilege, Gild or Fraternity. In this College is now a Master and
+eight ministers and lately twelve ministers." Stowe adds that there
+were twelve singing men and extant deeds mention "Babbelake Hall" in
+which the warden and priests lived.
+
+Many interesting entries of expenditure are to be found in the gild
+accounts showing how the Eve of St. John (Midsummer Eve) and other
+festivals were celebrated before the suppression of the gilds by
+Edward VI. In 1541 we have the following (the spelling is somewhat
+modernized):
+
+  Expenses on Midsummer Even and on the day,--Item, 2 doz. & a half
+  cakes, 2_s_. 6_d_.; spice cakes, 12_d_.; a cest' ale and 4 gals.
+  4_s_.; 2 gals, claret wine 16_d_.; 2 gals, malmsey, 2_s_. 8_d_.; 2
+  gals, muskedell 2_s_. 8_d_.; to Mr. Mayor 3_s_. 4_d_.; the Mayor to
+  offer, 8_d_.; to priests, clerks and children, 2_s_. 4_d_.; the
+  waits, 6_s_. 8_d_.; to poor people 6_s_. 8_d_.; to the cross-bearers
+  and torch-bearers, 8_d_.; the bellman, 4_d_.; the hire of pots,
+  4_d_.; boughs, rushes and sweeping, 8_d_.; a woman 2 days to cleanse
+  the house, 4_d_.; half a hundred 3_d_, nails, 1-1/2_d_.; half a
+  pound of sugar, 4-1/2_d_.; to the crossbearer and torchbearer for
+  St. George Day, Holy Rood Day, Shire Thursday and Whit Sunday,
+  12_d_.; to 2 children for the same days, 6_d_. Summa (total) 38_s_.
+  2_d_.
+
+That these anniversaries and wakes led to much unseemly revelling we
+have evidence that cannot be gainsaid. The Trinity Gild decided in
+1542 "that no obite, drynkyng or com'en assemblie, from henceforth
+shall be had or used at Babalake, except onelie on Trinitie even and
+on the day, which shall be used as it hath been in tymes past. And
+that also the P'sts of Babelack shall say _dirige_ on midsum' even and
+likewise masse of _requiem_ on the morrowe, as they have used to doo.
+And that the Meire shall not come down thether to _dirige_ ov(er)
+night for dyv's considerac'ons and other great busynes they used. And
+on the morowe thei to go thether to masse and brekefast, as thei have
+used to doo."
+
+Dugdale quotes from an old MS. an interesting passage bearing on this
+question:
+
+  "And ye shall understond and know how the Evyns were furst found in
+  old tyme. In the beginning of holi Chirche, it was so that the
+  pepull cam to the Chirche with candellys brennyng and wold _Wake_
+  and come with light toward nyght to the Chirch to their devocions;
+  and afterwards they fell to lecherie and songs, daunces, harping,
+  piping and also to glotony and sinne and so turned the holinesse to
+  cursaydnesse; wherefore holi faders ordeined the pepull to leve that
+  _waking_ and to fast the Evyn. But it is called _Vigilia_, that is
+  _Waking_ in English and it is called the Evyn, for at Evyn they were
+  wont to come to Chirche."
+
+In 1362 Queen Isabella helped to procure from the bishop a licence for
+one Robert de Worthin, priest, to become an anchorite and to inhabit a
+hermitage attached to the north aisle of the chancel. Traces of the
+foundations of this have been found on the site of the modern vestry.
+
+When the college was suppressed in 1548 the King granted to the mayor,
+bailiffs and corporation, on their petition, the church and its
+appurtenances in Free Burgage for ever on payment of 1_d_., per annum
+and gave them "all the rents, revenues and profits of the said
+church."
+
+But these gifts were not sufficient to support the church and its
+services, so that the latter were irregular and repairs were
+neglected. In 1608 Mayor Hancox procured the delivery of a Saturday
+lecture "for the better fitting of the people for the Sabbath." In
+1641 Simon Norton, alderman, left property to his son Thomas, on
+trust, the condition being that if at any time St. John's should
+become a parish church, he or his heirs should pay _L_13 6_s_. 8_d_.
+to the minister out of rents of lands in Coundon, and also the tithes
+of lands in Clifton.
+
+Prisoners from the Scottish army being quartered on the city in 1647,
+many were confined in this church and wrought much damage and
+desecration. From this time services were only occasionally held,
+until 1734, when an Act of Parliament was obtained making it a Parish
+Church, appointing a district to it and enabling the Master and Usher
+of the Free Grammar School to be Rector and Lecturer of the church.
+The mayor, bailiffs, and commonalty were made patrons, but in 1835,
+these arrangements having failed to work satisfactorily, the patronage
+was transferred to trustees who acted as managers of the school and in
+1864 the lectureship was abolished, the rectory was severed from the
+office of Head Master and the Trustees of the school were charged with
+a payment of _L_200 per annum towards the stipend of the Rector. In
+1874 the advowson was sold to a private person. A great deal of
+restoration, justifiable and otherwise, has taken place, the decay of
+the local sandstone having made large repairs necessary. In 1861 much
+renewal of the external stone work was carried out. Unfortunately
+shortsighted ideas of economy led to the use of the same poor stone
+and much has recently had to be done over again, this time with the
+harder Runcorn stone used also at St. Michael's. The interior was
+restored in 1875, galleries erected in 1735 and 1838, and high pews
+were removed, the floor, which had been raised three feet, lowered,
+the lantern stage of the tower opened up by removing a ringing floor
+and a light iron gallery above the tower arches provided for the
+ringers. The original groined ceiling has thus been made visible from
+below.
+
+
+THE EXTERIOR
+
+Although small in area compared with the other churches, both exterior
+and interior give an impression of size and dignity which does not
+belong to many much larger buildings. In the exterior this is no doubt
+due to the pseudo-cruciform arrangement, the bold central tower and
+the height of the main roof, which would have appeared even greater
+had the roadways not been so much raised.
+
+The tower is in two stages, a lofty lantern story having two transomed
+two-light windows on each face and a shorter upper one having smaller
+windows without transoms and a battlemented parapet. Large skeleton
+clock-dials disfigure the windows of this story. Narrow buttress
+strips on either side and between the windows run through and serve to
+connect the stories. The north-east angle has an octagonal stair
+turret carried up above the parapet. The other angles have narrow
+buttresses running up to circular bartizans boldly corbelled out from
+the battlements. This is an extremely unusual feature in
+ecclesiastical architecture but is common on fortified structures. Of
+the City gates, Gosford Gate had machicolated ones but not Spon Gate
+adjacent to the church.
+
+[Illustration: ST. JOHN BAPTIST.]
+
+The spacing of the windows and buttresses of the south aisle and the
+position of the large transept window show how the later changes were
+effected. The three windows and the buttresses with niches and
+canopies almost certainly belong to the part built by Walsheman after
+1357. The two in the chancel aisle are recent insertions. The doorway
+at the south-west corner occupies the position where indications
+showed that an original door had existed. There is also a small
+priest's doorway of which the jambs are ancient. The clearstory was
+restored in 1861 "from sufficiently clear indications" in the remains
+of the original windows. The whole of this part is worthy of careful
+study and should be compared with the corresponding parts of Trinity
+Church. Everywhere we see signs of individual thought and design
+mainly directed to softening the rigidity of the horizontal lines of
+the square-headed and transomed "Perpendicular" windows. The method of
+cusping the drop-arch and the varied treatment of these in nave, choir
+and transepts are noteworthy while the little quatrefoil at the
+intersection of mullion and transom is a really happy innovation. The
+flying buttress over the south aisle restores a feature of the old
+building which had disappeared. Of the variously panelled and
+battle-raented parapets, of nave, chancel and aisles a view of 1864
+gives no visible hint. As the report of Sir (then Mr.) G.G. Scott in
+1856 specifies as desirable the "renewing all the parapets according
+to the portions of the original which remain," we can only hope (but
+with no sense of certainty) that these parts are faithfully
+reproduced.
+
+The limited site on which the chancel was built (only 40 feet deep)
+caused the builders to omit any buttresses or other projections at the
+east end. The east window was renewed in 1861 but the proportions are
+not good and it is said that one light was suppressed although the old
+sill remained intact.
+
+The west end has a large six-light window with two transoms. It was
+restored in 1841 and is said to be a precise reproduction of the
+original design. On the gable above it is a large niched pinnacle
+which appears to be an "unauthorized" addition.
+
+While the north aisle is later than the south, the clearstory, as has
+been said is earlier, being of late Decorated date with large
+three-light windows of reticulated tracery. The north transept is more
+consistent in style than the south. The large four-light window is
+peculiar in design. It has one transom and the tracery is brought down
+much below the spring of the arch. The centre mullion is very solid,
+coming forward almost to the wall face both inside and out and running
+up to the apex of the arch. The clearstory windows in both transepts
+are similar in general design to those of the south clearstory of the
+nave but with variations suggesting a rather later date. A very
+effective view of the north side can be had from the quadrangle of
+Bond's Hospital, though here too it loses on account of the depressed
+site in which it lies.
+
+
+THE INTERIOR
+
+The interior is not less impressive for its size than the exterior,
+Sir G.G. Scott even saying that he knew of no interior more beautiful
+than St. John's.
+
+[Illustration: INTERIOR, ST. JOHN BAPTIST.]
+
+[Illustration: CLEARSTORY WINDOWS.]
+
+All at least will agree that there is something about it striking and
+dignified which is obviously not concerned with mere size, is largely
+independent of elaboration of detail and may therefore be safely
+attributed to its satisfactory proportions and broad effects of light
+and shade. Its plan is quite simple consisting of a nave and choir
+with north and south aisles, a transept not projecting beyond the
+aisles at either end and a central tower. Yet, although it is more or
+less oblong as a whole, there is hardly a right angle or two parallel
+walls throughout the church. In most cases these discrepancies are not
+apparent, nor do they appear likely to have been intended to produce a
+studied effect. Thus a diminution in width towards the east (as at
+Manchester) may be expected to add to the apparent length, but here
+the south aisles of both nave and chancel expand instead of
+contracting. By standing within either transept and looking up at the
+roof the want of parallelism of the walls and other irregularities are
+plainly seen. The nave has only three bays, the arches being rather
+lofty and the arch mouldings of the characteristic shallowness of the
+period. The south-west pier had to be rebuilt on account of settlement
+and there are signs of it in the south-east arch next the tower. The
+name Bablake is said to have been derived from a pond or conduit near
+by and the site may have been swampy, thus affecting the foundations.
+The district is even now liable to flooding from the Sherborne (or
+Shireburn) stream and as late as January 1900 the waters rose over
+five feet within the church as a brass plate at the west end
+testifies.
+
+The graceful treatment of the windows of the nave and choir
+clearstories is shown in the illustration. Comparing these with the
+clearstory of Trinity nave questions of priority arise. If not
+designed by the same mind the influence of one on the other is easily
+seen. On the whole the greater rigidity of treatment and the anxiety
+to increase the area of glass in the Trinity windows suggest that the
+date is rather later and that the designs did not spring from the same
+brain. The roof is very simple, the curved brackets springing from the
+shafts which run down to the arches below. The wall is deeply recessed
+beneath the windows. The north windows, however, are continued down in
+plain panels, but this only makes more apparent the fact that they are
+not placed centrally over the arches.
+
+The north aisle has a doorway and two north windows. The windows are
+of good Perpendicular design, and the mullions are continued down the
+wall below, forming panels. The lowered sill and recess probably
+formed a convenient retable to an altar against the wall. The west
+window preserves some fragments of glass dated 1532. There is an
+obliterated inscription and small etched figures--among them an
+acolyte carrying a cross, one of those whose services are mentioned in
+the accounts after this wise: "to the crosebeirer and torchebeirer,
+for Seynt George day, hollieroode day, shire thuresday and Whit
+Sunday, 12_d_.; to 2 childern for the same dayes 6_d_."
+
+The south aisle of the nave, including the lower part of the transept,
+is doubtless the aisle erected for the Gild by William Walsheman in
+1357. The two windows are not central with the nave arches, and the
+third is not in the centre of the transept. Their tracery is somewhat
+peculiar in design and refined in detail, and has the transitional
+character one would expect from its date. There are signs on the face
+of each western tower pier of the altars which once stood there,
+probably those of the Trinity and St. Katharine, which are known to
+have existed.
+
+The eastern piers of the tower are later than the western, and very
+unlike them in plan. A bold and ingenious treatment of the vaulting
+shaft of the tower groining is used on these piers; on the western
+ones the shafts stop upon the ends of the hood moulding.
+
+The choir is now closed by a screen carrying a large rood carved in
+oak. Like St. Michael's, but to a smaller extent, the axis of the
+choir inclines to the north. Whether symbolic, or only a part of what
+may be described as the studied irregularity of the whole building it
+is hard to say. The column on each side of the choir is later than the
+east respond and also later than the west tower pier, but corresponds
+with the east tower pier. The deep panelling beneath the windows must
+have been carried out when the clearstories were constructed in the
+fifteenth century.
+
+The south aisle of the choir, the original chapel of the patron saint,
+is now fitted up and used as a morning chapel. The piscina still
+remains in the south wall, and there is a trace of the old altar
+visible on the wall.
+
+The east end of the north aisle is now the organ chamber, and was
+originally the Lady Chapel. The base of the altar still exists, and so
+does the piscina in the south wall.
+
+In connection with these or other altars we hear of a payment of
+22_d_., in 1474, for painting a cloth for the image of St. John
+Baptist, and in 1462 sums of 40_s_. and 7_s_. were paid to a sculptor
+of Burton-on-Trent for an alabaster statue of the Virgin and a base
+for it.
+
+At the foot of the south-west tower-pier are some decayed but
+interesting ancient tiles. The new ones have been copied from them.
+
+The vicissitudes in the church's fortunes have left little for us to
+see that is not part and parcel of the structure.
+
+That there were "orgaynes" as early as 1461 we know from entries in
+the city records giving the cost at different times of wire, glue,
+nails, thread, etc., for the reparation of them, while a payment of
+2_d_. for "a string" suggests that they were a combination of wind and
+string stops, similar to the 1733 organ of St. Michael's as built by
+Thomas Swarbrick. In 1519 the Prior bought the "metell of ye old
+orgayns in bablake" for 9_s_. 10_d_., but doubtless the new one
+disappeared in the troublous times that followed. A new one has
+recently been set up.
+
+The pulpit is of stone and quite new, and the font, erected in 1843,
+is a copy of that of St. Edward's, Cambridge.
+
+There are five bells, the inscriptions on them being as follows:
+
+  1st. Henrycus Bagley. M.C. Fecit 1676.
+  2nd. Pack & Chapman. London 1778. Richard Eaton, Church-warden.
+  3rd. Henric Dodenhale, Fecit. M.C.E.I.C.R.I.
+  4th. (Illegible.) Probably of the end of fifteenth century.
+  5th. I ring at six to let men know
+       When to and from their work to go.
+
+Neglect and decay it has been seen had provided only too plausible
+excuses for restoration. In 1858 the church had a narrow escape from a
+worse fate, for it was proposed to extend it in some direction, and
+the architect suggested the lengthening of the north transept and the
+addition of a new north aisle. Probably lack of funds alone prevented
+the carrying out of a proposal which would have completely spoilt the
+proportions of this beautiful interior.
+
+
+THE GREY FRIARS' CONVENT
+
+CHRIST CHURCH
+
+The third of the "three tall spires," albeit nothing else remains of
+the church to which it belonged, deserves that some notice should be
+given of it and of the men who reared it.
+
+In 1234, eleven years after their first coming into England, the
+Franciscan Friars are heard of at Coventry, Ranulph, Earl of Chester,
+having granted them land for their oratory, and the Sheriff of
+Warwickshire, on behalf of the King, giving them shingles from the
+woods of Kenilworth wherewith to cover it. In 1359 the Black Prince,
+then owner of the Manor and Park of Cheylesmore, just outside the
+walls of the city and adjacent to their convent, granted them so much
+stone from his quarry there, "as they should have occasion to use
+about their buildings and walls," and probably at this time the
+church, of which Christ Church spire is a remnant, was built.
+
+At the same time he gave them "liberty to have a postern into the Park
+to carry out any of their convent that should be diseased."
+
+The house was surrendered to the King in 1539, the warden and ten
+brethren being compelled to sign a humiliating document, in which they
+professed to "profoundly consider that the perfection of Christian
+living doth not consist in dumb ceremonies, wearing of a grey coat,
+disguising ourself after strange fashions, ducking, nodding and
+becking, in girding our selves with a girdle full of knots and other
+like Papisticall ceremonies."
+
+[Illustration: THE SPIRE OF CHRIST CHURCH.]
+
+It is certain at least that they had no accumulated wealth. Whatever
+they had received had been distributed for the advantage of the Church
+or the poor. At their suppression they had neither lands, tenements,
+nor other possessions, save their church and house and the land these
+stood on. The site was granted to the city and the buildings thrown
+down, only the spire with its supporting walls and arches being
+allowed to stand until 1829, when it was incorporated with the new
+nave of Christ Church from the designs of Rickman, to whom we are
+indebted for the first comprehensive and systematic account of English
+Mediaeval architecture. The work shows how imperfectly in those days
+even a genuine admirer of Mediaeval Art understood its spirit.
+Unfortunately the tower and spire were recased with new stone, and the
+original character of the work largely disappeared. The total height
+is 204 feet, exclusive of the vane. The plan of the old church was
+interesting, especially in the arrangement of the crossing. The short
+transepts had little real relation to choir or nave, which were almost
+completely separated from one another, the nave being intended for the
+use of the public.
+
+The narrowing of the tower from east to west, and the insertion of
+secondary north and south arches to carry the slender octagonal tower
+is unusual and ingenious. The whole length was 250 feet, and the
+transepts were 96 feet from north to south. The nave and choir
+differed little in length.
+
+[Illustration: GREY FRIARS' CHURCH (CROSSING).]
+
+The connection of the Franciscans with the production of the
+Mysteries, or sacred plays, should not pass unnoticed. Dugdale, who
+had spoken with eye witnesses, thus alludes to the subject:
+
+  Before the suppression of the Monasteries this City was very famous
+  for the Pageants that were played therein upon Corpus Christi-day;
+  which occasioning very great confluence of people thither from far
+  and near, was of no small benefit thereto; which Pageants being
+  acted with mighty State and Reverence by the Friars of this House,
+  had Theatres for the several scenes, very large and high, placed
+  upon wheels and drawn to all the eminent parts of the City for the
+  better advantage of spectators; and contained the story of the Old
+  and New Testament, composed in the old English Rithme, as appeareth
+  by an ancient MS. intituled, _Ludus Corporis Christi_, or _Ludus
+  Coventriae_.
+
+Along with a number that were performed by the city companies they are
+still to be seen in the British Museum. We know that the Friars
+presented them as late as 1492, when Henry VII was present with his
+Queen to see the plays "acted by the Grey Friars."
+
+No remains exist of the domestic buildings of the Friary.
+
+The well-known Ford's Hospital hard by is often called Grey Friars'
+Hospital, but this arises merely from the situation. It was founded in
+1529 by Mr. William Ford of Coventry, Merchant of the Staple, for five
+men and one woman, but is now inhabited by women only. It is an
+exceptionally beautiful example of Tudor timber construction in
+perfect condition.
+
+
+THE WHITE FRIARS
+
+The Carmelite or White Friars were, says Dugdale, fixed in Coventry in
+1343 by Sir John Poultney who had been four times Lord Mayor of
+London. Although their buildings were ornate and extensive, their
+revenue apart from oblations amounted to only _L_3 6_s_. 8_d_. per
+annum and the whole came to less than _L_8. At the Dissolution the
+house and its revenues came eventually to John Hales, Clerk of the
+Hanaper to Henry VIII. Having amassed a great estate in monastery and
+chantry lands, Hales founded the Free School in Coventry, the Church
+of the White Friars being at first used for the purpose. Later, he
+made of the Friary a dwelling and removed the school to St. John's
+Hospital, granted to him by the king in 1545. Part of the church of
+the Hospital still exists at the foot of Bishop Street, but the school
+has been removed to new buildings in the Warwick Road.
+
+Of the buildings of the White Friars there are considerable remains
+incorporated with the Union Workhouse at the top of Much Park Street.
+The east walk of the cloister, 150 feet in length, has a fine groined
+roof of the fifteenth century. A range of vaulted apartments runs
+alongside the cloister on the east side, divided midway by the
+vestibule to the Chapter House now destroyed. The upper story above
+the cloister and the range of rooms was, we may assume, the friars'
+Dormitory. A huge fireplace and a bay window are part of John Hales'
+reconstruction. The gateway to the south-west corner of the cloister
+remains, and the outer gate of the precincts may still be seen in Much
+Park Street.
+
+[Illustration: ST. MARY HALL.]
+
+
+ST. MARY HALL
+
+The Gilds were so important a part of the religious and social life of
+the city that it is imperative that some notice of their hall, which
+stands in suggestive proximity to the churches, should be given. St.
+Mary Hall, opposite the south side of St. Michael's is one of the most
+complete and beautiful examples of a fifteenth-century town dwelling
+now remaining in England. It originally belonged to the Gilds of Holy
+Trinity and Our Lady to which were united at a later time those of St.
+Katharine and St. John Baptist, the oldest to be founded. By the fine
+groined gateway we enter the courtyard, on the south side of which is
+the kitchen, probably the hall of an older structure of the first half
+of the fourteenth century, the present hall and its undercroft on the
+west side having been built between 1394 and 1414. On the east side is
+the entrance to the staircase leading to a gallery from which the hall
+is entered. At this end is the Minstrels' Gallery and beneath it are
+three doorways, the centre one leading to the kitchens below, that on
+the right to the old Council Chamber, that on the left to a smaller
+room known as the Princes' Chamber. From the Council Chamber is
+reached the stone-groined Treasury, now used for the safe keeping of
+muniments and records. It forms the first floor of a low tower.
+
+The hall, 70 feet by 30 feet, is of five bays, with the usual dais and
+oriel window at the far end from the entrance.
+
+[Illustration: ST. MARY HALL.]
+
+The nine-light window over the dais has its original glass, made, it
+is believed, by the John Thornton of Coventry who is known as the
+maker of the east window of York Minster. The upper part has numerous
+coats of arms of kings, cities, and princes, while the nine lights are
+filled with "portraitures of several kings in their surcotes," William
+I, Richard I, Henry III, IV, V, VI, King Arthur, the Emperor
+Constantine, and another unnamed. The windows on either side of the
+hall have suffered grievously. Those on the west (left) were deprived
+of their heraldry and portraits in 1785. In those on the east new
+glass with poor imitations of the ancient series of figures and
+coats-of-arms was placed in 1824. At the same time the wainscotting
+painted in 1580 with inscriptions and heraldry was cleared away and
+replaced with cement. The inscriptions were copied with care, but "the
+ornamentation was followed without any very fastidious copying of the
+uncouth ancient style"![8] The timber roof is of low pitch, with
+traceried spandrels above the tie-beams. Angels playing on a variety
+of instruments are placed at the centre of each tie-beam and there is
+much good carving of foliage and animals at the intersections of the
+timbers. The most famous adornment of the hall is the tapestry behind
+the dais. The following views as to its origin and subject are those
+of George Scharf the antiquary. It is of Flemish design but probably
+of English manufacture, is woven, not embroidered, and was made in the
+early sixteenth century for the place it occupies, its compartments
+corresponding with those of the window. It is in six compartments in
+two rows. The upper central has a figure of Justice, an insertion
+probably in the place of Christ, angels with the instruments of the
+Passion being on either side. The lower central represents the
+Assumption of the Virgin in presence of the apostles. The upper left
+in order from the centre has eleven saints, SS. John Baptist, Matthias
+(?), Paul, Adrian, Peter, George, Andrew, No. 8(?), Bartholomew,
+Simon, Thaddeus. The corresponding female saints on the right are SS.
+Katherine, Barbara, Dorothy, Mary Magdalen, No. 5 (?), Margaret,
+Agnes, Gertrude of Nivelle, Anne, Apollonia.
+
+The lower left has a king kneeling at a prie-dieu on which is his
+crown and an open book. A cardinal kneels behind him but there is no
+other ecclesiastic among the seventeen courtiers standing behind. In
+the opposite compartment is a queen kneeling with a number of ladies,
+among whom are two in monastic dress. Although the work belongs to the
+reign of Henry VII, the king and queen are almost certainly Henry VI
+and Margaret of Anjou.
+
+On the walls are portraits of later sovereigns from William III to
+George IV, that of George III being by Lawrence. The Mayoress' Parlour
+opening from the dais has been drastically restored. It contains
+portraits of Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, James I, and Charles I, and
+four benefactors to the city, John Hales, founder of the Free School,
+Sir Thomas White, Thomas Jesson and Christopher Davenport.
+
+
+THE CARTHUSIAN MONASTERY
+
+Little remains of this monastery which stood on the south side and not
+far from the city. The Order settled in Coventry in 1381 only ten
+years after the foundation of the London Charter-house. At the
+Dissolution the Prior and brethren, ten in all, did not emulate the
+heroism of the London monks and were fortunate enough to obtain
+pensions instead of martyrdom. Some trifling remains exist
+incorporated in a modern mansion, and a wall of the garden shows the
+position of doors which led to the isolated cells of the monks. The
+Botoners had given freely to the building of the church and cloisters
+of which Richard II laid the first stone in 1385 and afterwards
+largely endowed "on condition that they should find and maintain
+within the precinct of their house, twelve poor scholars from seven
+years old till they accomplished the age of seventeen years, there to
+pray for the good estate of him the said King and of his Consort,
+during this life, and for the health of their souls after death."
+
+FOOTNOTES
+
+[Footnote 1: St. Osburg's name is not found in the Calendar. As at the
+Dissolution the Cathedral possessed relics of St. Osborne, including
+his head in copper and gilt, these saints may be identical.]
+
+[Footnote 2: Earl Street and Bishop Street are still principal streets
+in either half of the town.]
+
+[Footnote 3: The walls of London were about three and a quarter miles
+long (including the river front), with ten or eleven gates; those of
+York three miles, of Chester hardly two.]
+
+[Footnote 4: These have ever since remained prebends of Lichfield.]
+
+[Footnote 5: At the last restoration the height was reduced to 298
+feet.]
+
+[Footnote 6: _See_ Fuller's "Worthies of England." In 1428 an Act of
+Leet ordered that no person should dye any wool or cloth with "a
+deceitful colour called Masters or Medleys brought into Coventry by a
+Frenchman."]
+
+[Footnote 7: "English Church Furniture." (Antiquary series.) J.C. Cox
+and A. Harvey.]
+
+[Footnote 8: "Coventry: its History and Antiquities," B. Poole, 1870.]
+
+
+INDEX
+
+Abbots of Coventry.
+Alms-boxes.
+Apse.
+
+Bells.
+Benefactors of Coventry.
+Botoner, William and Adam.
+
+Carthusian Monastery.
+Chantries, Foundation of.
+Christ Church.
+City, History of.
+Cross.
+
+Dissolution of Monasteries.
+Duel, Hereford and Norfolk.
+
+Evens or Wakes.
+
+Fonts.
+Ford's Hospital.
+Friars, Coming of.
+
+Grey Friars Convent (Christ Church):
+  History.
+  Plan of Crossing.
+  Suppression.
+Gilds.
+Glass, Ancient.
+Godiva and Leofric.
+
+Hales, John.
+Hermitage.
+Hospital, Ford's.
+Hospital, St. John's.
+
+Lollards.
+
+Martyrs.
+Midsummer Eve.
+Misereres.
+
+Monastery, History.
+Monastery Ruins.
+
+Orders of Angels.
+Organ.
+
+Pageants and Plays.
+Parliamentum Indoctorum.
+Parliamentum Diabolicum.
+Persecution.
+Pilgrims' Rest or Guest House.
+Priory, Ruins.
+
+Royal visits:
+  Henry VI.
+  Margaret.
+  Edward IV.
+  Richard III.
+  Henry VII.
+  Henry VIII.
+  Elizabeth.
+  Mary Queen of Scots.
+  Charles I.
+
+St. John Baptist Church:
+  History.
+  Exterior.
+  Interior.
+  Bells.
+  Clearstory windows.
+  Collegiate foundation.
+  Glass, ancient.
+  Organ.
+St. Mary Hall:
+  Glass, ancient.
+  Plan.
+  Portraits.
+  Tapestry.
+St. Michael's Church:
+  History.
+  Exterior.
+St. Michael's Church:
+  Interior.
+  Apse.
+  Bells.
+  Brasses.
+  Chapels:
+    Cappers'.
+    Drapers' or Lady.
+    Dyers'.
+    Mercers.
+  Chapter, Constitution of.
+  Chest.
+  Crypt.
+  Font.
+  Glass, ancient.
+  Old church, position of.
+  Organ.
+  Porch, south.
+  Proportions of Steeple.
+  Pulpit.
+  Spire.
+  Tombs:
+    Berkeley.
+    Bond.
+    Nethermyl.
+    Skeffington.
+    Swillington.
+    Wade's.
+
+Trinity Church:
+  History.
+  Exterior.
+  Interior.
+  Chapels:
+    Archdeacon's.
+    Butchers'.
+    Corpus Christi.
+    Marler's.
+    St. Thomas's.
+  Clearstory.
+  Font.
+  Glass, ancient.
+  Lectern, Eagle.
+  Organ.
+  Plan.
+  Pulpit.
+  Spire.
+  Tombs:
+    Philemon Holland.
+    Whithead (Brass).
+
+White Friars' Convent.
+
+
+[Illustration: ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH]
+
+[Illustration: CHISWICK PRESS: CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND CO.
+TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON.]
+
+Bell's Cathedral Series
+
+ILLUSTRATED MONOGRAPHS ON THE GREAT
+
+ENGLISH CATHEDRALS AND CHURCHES
+
+_Crown 8_vo_. Profusely Illustrated, in specially designed cloth
+binding, 1_s_. 6_d_. net each _.
+
+This series of monographs upon our great English Cathedral Churches
+has been framed to give students of Architecture handy reference
+volumes, and the visitor trustworthy guide-books, at once cheaper and
+more fully illustrated than any previous works of similar character.
+
+Each volume contains not only a complete history of the see and of the
+Cathedral fabric, but a critical and descriptive survey of the
+building in all its detail; sufficiently accurate from the
+archaeological point of view to furnish a trustworthy record of the
+building in its past and present condition, and not too technical in
+its language for the occasional use of the casual visitor. Brief
+biographical accounts of the bishops and other notable men connected
+with the Diocese are also included.
+
+The volumes are fully illustrated from modern photographs and
+drawings, and contain also reproductions from old, and in some cases
+rare, prints, for the purpose of tracing the gradual growth and
+development of the existing buildings.
+
+Bell's Cathedral Series
+
+_Profusely Illustrated. Cloth, crown 8_vo_, 1_s_. 6_d_. net each_.
+
+NOW READY
+
+  ENGLISH CATHEDRALS. An Itinerary and Description. Compiled by J. G.
+  GILCHRIST, A.M., M.D. Revised and edited with an Introduction on
+  Cathedral Architecture by Rev. T. PERKINS, M.A., F.R.A.S.
+
+  BANGOR. By P.B. IRONSIDE-BAX.
+
+  BRISTOL. By H.J.L.J. MASSE, M.A.
+
+  CANTERBURY. By HARTLEY WITHERS. 4th Edition.
+
+  CARLISLE. By C.K. ELEY.
+
+  CHESTER. By CHARLES HIATT. 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  CHICHESTER. By H.C. CORLETTE, A.R.I.B.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  DURHAM. By J.E. BYGATE, A.R.C.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  ELY. By Rev. W.D. SWEETING, M.A. and Edition.
+
+  EXETER. By PERCY ADDLESHAW, B.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  GLOUCESTER. By H.J.L.J. MASSE, M.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  HEREFORD. By A. HUGH FISHER, A.R.E. 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  LICHFIELD. By A.B. CLIFTON. 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  LINCOLN. By A.F. KENDRICK, B.A. 3rd Edition, revised.
+
+  LLANDAFF. By E.C. MORGAN-WILLMOTT.
+
+  MANCHESTER. By the Rev. T. PERKINS, M.A., F.R.A.S.
+
+  NORWICH. By C.H.B. QUENNELL. and Edition.
+
+  OXFORD. By Rev. PERCY DEARMER, M.A. and Edition, revised.
+
+  PETERBOROUGH. By Rev. W.D. SWEETING, M.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  RIPON. By CECIL HALLET, B.A.
+
+  ROCHESTER. By G.H. PALMER, B.A. and Edition.
+
+  ST. ALBANS. By Rev. T. PERKINS, M.A.
+
+  ST. ASAPH. By P.B. IRONSIDE-BAX.
+
+  ST. DAVID'S. By PHILIP ROBSON, A.R.I.B.A.
+
+  ST. PATRICK'S, DUBLIN. By the Very Rev. Dean BERNARD. 2nd Edition.
+
+  ST. PAUL'S. By Rev. ARTHUR DIMOCK, M.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  SALISBURY. By GLEESON WHITE, 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  SOUTHWARK, ST. SAVIOUR'S. By GEORGE WORLEY.
+
+  SOUTHWELL. By Rev. ARTHUR DIMOCK, M.A. 2nd Edition.
+
+  WELLS. By Rev. PERCY DEARMER, M.A. 2nd Edition, revised.
+
+  WINCHESTER. By P.W. SERGEANT. 3rd Edition, revised.
+
+  WORCESTER. By EDWARD F. STRANGE.
+
+  YORK. By A. CLUTTON BROCK. 3rd Edition.
+
+  _Others to follow_.
+
+
+Bell's Cathedral Series
+
+UNIFORM VOLUMES
+
+ _Profusely Illustrated. Cloth, crown 8_vo_, 1_s_. 6_d_. net _.
+
+  BATH ABBEY, MALMESBURY ABBEY, AND BRADFORD-ON-AVON CHURCH. By Rev.
+  T. PERKINS, M.A.
+
+  BEVERLEY MINSTER. By CHARLES HIATT. 47 Illustrations.
+
+  ST. MARTIN'S CHURCH, CANTERBURY. By Rev. CANON ROUTLEDGE, M.A.,
+  F.S.A. 24 Illustrations.
+
+  THE CHURCHES OF COVENTRY. By FREDERIC W. WOODHOUSE.
+
+  ROMSEY ABBEY. By Rev. T. PERKINS, M.A.
+
+  STRATFORD-ON-AVON. By HAROLD BAKER.
+
+  THE TEMPLE CHURCH. By GEORGE WORLEY.
+
+  ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, SMITHFIELD. By GEORGE WORLEY.
+
+  TEWKESBURY ABBEY AND DEERHURST PRIORY. By H.J.L.J. MASSE, M.A. 44
+  Illustrations.
+
+  WESTMINSTER ABBEY. By CHARLES HIATT.
+
+  WIMBORNE MINSTER AND CHRISTCHURCH PRIORY. By Rev. T. PERKINS, M.A.,
+  F.R.A.S. 65 Illustrations.
+
+  MALVERN PRIORY. By the REV. ANTHONY C. DEANE.
+
+       *        *        *        *        *
+
+Bell's Handbooks to Continental Churches
+
+  _Profusely Illustrated. Crown 8_vo_, cloth, 2_s_. 6_d_. net each_.
+
+  CHARTRES: The Cathedral and Other Churches. By H.J.L.J. MASSE, M.A.
+
+  ROUEN: The Cathedral and Other Churches. By the Rev. T. PERKINS,
+  M.A.
+
+  AMIENS. By the Rev: T. PERKINS, M.A., F.R.A.S.
+
+  PARIS (NOTRE-DAME). By CHARLES HIATT.
+
+  MONT ST. MICHEL. By H. J. L. J. MASSE, M.A.
+
+  BAYEUX. By the Rev. R. S. MYLNE, M.A.
+
+Opinions of the Press.
+
+"For the purpose at which they aim they are admirably done, and there
+are few visitants to any of our noble shrines who will not enjoy their
+visit the better for being furnished with one of these delightful
+books, which can be slipped into the pocket and carried with ease, and
+is yet distinct and legible.... A volume such as that on Canterbury is
+exactly what we want, and on our next visit we hope to have it with
+us. It is thoroughly helpful, and the views of the fair city and its
+noble cathedral are beautiful. Both volumes, moreover, will serve more
+than a temporary purpose, and are trustworthy as well as
+delightful."--_Notes and Queries_.
+
+"We have so frequently in these columns urged the want of cheap,
+well-illustrated, and well-written handbooks to our cathedrals, to
+take the place of the out-of-date publications of local booksellers,
+that we are glad to hear that they have been taken in hand by Messrs.
+George Bell & Sons."--_James's Gazette_.
+
+"The volumes are handy in size, moderate in price, well illustrated,
+and written in a scholarly spirit. The history of cathedral and city
+is intelligently set forth and accompanied by a descriptive survey of
+the building in all its detail. The illustrations are copious and well
+selected, and the series bids fair to become an indispensable
+companion to the cathedral tourist in England."--_Times_.
+
+"They are nicely produced in good type, on good paper, and contain
+numerous illustrations, are well written, and very cheap. We should
+imagine architects and students of architecture will be sure to buy
+the series as they appear, for they contain in brief much valuable
+information."--_British Architect_.
+
+"Each of them contains exactly that amount of information which the
+intelligent visitor, who is not a specialist, will wish to have. The
+disposition of the various parts is judiciously proportioned, and the
+style is very read-able. The illustrations supply a further important
+feature; they are both numerous and good. A series which cannot fail
+to be welcomed by all who are interested in the ecclesiastical
+buildings of England."--_Glasgow Herald_.
+
+"Those who, either for purposes of professional study or for a
+cultured recreation, find it expedient to 'do' the English cathedrals
+will welcome the beginning of Bell's 'Cathedral Series.' This set of
+books is an attempt to consult, more closely, and in greater detail
+than the usual guidebooks do, the needs of visitors to the cathedral
+towns. The series cannot but prove markedly successful. In each book a
+business-like description is given of the fabric of the church to
+which the volume relates, and an interesting history of the relative
+diocese. The books are plentifully illustrated, and are thus made
+attractive as well as instructive. They cannot but prove welcome to
+all classes of readers interested either in English Church history or
+in ecclesiastical architecture."--_Scotsman_.
+
+"They have nothing in common with the almost invariably wretched local
+guides save portability, and their only competitors in the quality and
+quantity of their contents are very expensive and mostly rare works,
+each of a size that suggests a packing-case rather than a coat-pocket.
+The 'Cathedral Series' are important compilations concerning history,
+architecture, and biography, and quite popular enough for such as take
+any sincere interest in their subjects."--_Sketch_.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Churches of Coventry, by Frederick W. Woodhouse
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