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WILLIAM LA ZOC'CHE. 165
always be remembered. lie lived to witness the
completion of the nave, the western end of which,
with the flowing tracery of its great window, and the
beautiful glass with which it is filled, is his woik.
"The nave of York," says Rickman, "from the uncommon
grandeur and simplicity of the design, is
certainly the finest example'' of the decorated style ;
" ornament is nowhere spared, yet there is a
simplicity which is peculiarly pleasing." Melton did
much also for the Minster of Beverley.
William la Zouche succeeded Melton in 1340.
He was another of thtisc i;rcat ecclesiastics who were
also distinguished statchuicn. He was in tlie service of
the king in early life and had many preferments. He
was elected as tk.uir dean by the canons of York in
1336, and was con^tantly employed in various
capacities by Edward III. In 1346 he was one of
the wardens of the marches, and commanded one of
the divisions of tlie English army at the great battle
of Neville's Cross.
But he was soon called upon to act in a different
capacity, and to do battle, as he best might, willi a
more terrible foe. That fearful plague called the
Black Death reached England in 1349. It began in
the East, it ad\'anced into Europe, and after devastating
the countries of the continent it came at last
to our own shores. More than half the population
of England were swept away by that fearful scourge,
and the country was filled with consternation.
Whilst the dark cloud was )ct gatlicring in the
distance, and before the fury of the storm broke
upon the subjects of his spiritual rule, Zouche wrote