heraldryofyorkmi01custuoft

94 THE HERALDRY OF YORK MINSTER.
energy, set about his preparations at once, raising money in every way in
his power, sparing no expense in making his army as efficient as possible,
until he had raised and equipped 6,000 men-at-arms, 2,400 archers, with
cannons as effective as the manufacturing skill of that day could produce,
and other engines of war ; and, for the first time in history, a hospital
staff for the sick and wounded, under the charge of his physician, Nicholas
Colnet, and his surgeon, Thomas Morstede, each of whom was to receive
the daily pay of twelve pence, and twelve assistants of their own craft,
each of whom was to receive the daily pay of an archer, i.e.
eightpence.*
Up to this time the revived prosperity of the Scropes seems to have
been in its zenith ; and, if I mistake not, this is indicated in the Heraldry
of York Minster in the windows and on the walls of the new Choir, which
must then have been just ready for glazing and adorning. Much still
remains, but much has been defaced and much has passed away.
In the north aisle of the Choir is a large window of three lights, too
and Torre's account
mutilated to enable us to form any idea of the subject ;
of the window in his time is too vague to give us more than a general
idea. It seems to have had three large female figures, one in the centre
of each light, and each of those in the outside lights bearing a child in
her arms. The pedestals on which they stood are destroyed, but there are
traces of splendid canopies over them, enriched with figures, one or two of
which remain. And beneath the pedestals of the figures was a predella
with, Torre says, many figures. The lower tracery lights were, he also
says, filled with the arms of Scrope, and figures in the lights above.
The border is still fairly perfect, and that is
composed of " the bend or "
alternating with the letters R. and S., the initials of the Archbishop's
name. Doubtless in its integrity it was a splendid window. From its
position at the west end of the Lady Chapel, I should fancy that it was an
offering from the Archbishop himself to the work which he found almost
completed when he attained the see.
Other memorials are there of him, which indicate special honour.
the north transept of the Nave, third window, east, and in the south Choir
transept, east, there are shields containing the arms of Scrope of Masham,
with a red bordure set with mitres, f and the same carved in stone may be
noticed on the south side of the Choir, above the arch opening into the south
transept. This bordure is known in Heraldry as " an augmentation of
"honour," and was probably granted for this purpose, to efface any stain
on his reputation which might be caused by his execution, and to indicate
that the charge of high treason, for which he was beheaded, was annulled.
The shield in the Nave transept is probably out of its original place,
and doubtless, like the other, originally formed part of one of the new
In
*
Life i'f Henry V. Rev. A. J. Church. t See coloured illustration.