heraldryofyorkmi01custuoft

THE SCROPES. 89
rector of Ainderby Steeple, then chancellor of Cambridge, then, 1383, dean
of Chichester ;
six years afterwards he was consecrated Bishop
of Lichfield
and Coventry, Richard II. being present at his installation, and in 1398,
the Archbishopric of
on the death of Robert Waldby, he was translated to
York. The entries in the fabric rolls of the Minster at this time shew that
much large timber had been procured, also "3,000 stones of lead, with 100
" pounds of sodder and 5,000 lead nails ;" so that the good work of rebuilding
the Choir, commenced by Archbishop Thoresby, was going on. On
the roth of August, 1603, the Archbishop
is recorded to have "celebrated
" high mass at the great altar in the Cathedral Church, in the presence of
" the illustrious Prince Henry, by the grace of God King of England and
" France, who at the said mass, and at the accustomed time, offered in
" gold $s. 8d." Probably this was the occasion of the opening of the middle
Choir, after the completion of the roof. Most of the windows in the side
aisles in the eastern portion of the new Choir were probably by this time
glazed, and the altars on the south of the Holy
north of St. Stephen, had been duly restored for use.
directed in
Innocents and the
Stephen, second Lord Scrope, of Masham, the Archbishop's brother,
his will, January, 1405, that his body might be interred in a part
of the new work, viz., in
the middle of the chantry chapel of St. Stephen,
just below the steps, which was the commencement of the family sepulchre
at that part. Large stores of glass also had been accumulated for the
great east window, and in the same year a contract was made between
the dean and chapter and Master John Thornton, of Coventry, glazier, to
"pourtray the said window with his own hands, and the historic images
"and other things to be painted on the same." "And the said John shall
" receive of the dean and chapter for every week he shall work in his art
" during the said three years, four shillings
;
and each year of the same
" three years, five pounds sterling ; and after the work is completed, ten
" pounds for his reward." So that Archbishop Scrope's tenure of office is
associated with much work going on in the Minster just at the part where
we find heraldic memorials of his family and himself, viz., the high altar
and the chapels north and south. So far had the work, commenced at
the east end, advanced towards the west.
But his rule came to a sudden and violent end. Richard II., in spite
of all his frivolities and excesses, must have been a fascinating person, for
he had some grand traits of character, and was graceful and cultured.
The Archbishop must have been intimately associated with him, and,
benefits from
together with other members of his family, had derived great
him. As a statesman he could not but feel that his continuance upon the
throne was detrimental to the tranquillity and prosperity of the country.
His purpose, according to the proclamation afterwards made, evidently was