Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Carlisle Part 6

SOUTH SIDE

Two angels.

Dragon.

Bird and beast fighting.

Human head on two animal bodies.

Winged dragon.

Winged serpent.

Two beasts with one head.

Two men fighting.

Griffin with human head.

Dragon and foliage.

Two eagles holding the head of a beast.

Fox and goose.

Human figure with four wings.

Man and dragon fighting.

Angel bearing a shield.

Angel and dragons.

Pelican in its act of piety.

Boar killing a man.

Man holding two dragons.

Dragon killing a beast.

Mermaid.

Dragon and lion in combat.

The #Salkeld Screen.#--On the north side of the choir, the westernmost bay of the presbytery is filled by a fine wooden screen of Renaissance work, erected about 1542 by Lancelot Salkeld, last prior and first dean of Carlisle. It is divided into three compartments; through the central one entrance could be gained to the choir formerly by an ascent of three steps from the north choir aisle.

It is very elaborate, and some portions are very beautiful. The lower part is panelled, each panel having two heads carved in bas-relief. The upper part is of well-executed tracery work.

Over each compartment is a pediment decorated in the centre with shields. The western one has been restored. The initials L.S. and D.K.

(Lancelot Salkeld, Deca.n.u.s Karliolensis) occur on the screen. The other bays were originally filled with screen-work similar to that in St.

Catherine's Chapel. In 1764 these screens were removed and stored in the Fratry crypt as lumber. In the end they were used as firewood; only a few pieces preserved by the neighbouring gentry escaping destruction. A stone screen now surrounds the sacrarium on three sides. The reredos is higher than this screen. It is arcaded, and its compartments have triangular-headed canopies and some well-executed figures. The late Mr.

Street designed it, and its cost was 1790.

The #Bishop's Throne#, of English and foreign oak, was also designed by the late Mr. Street. The canopy of the throne is nearly thirty feet high.

The #Pulpit# is a memorial of Archdeacon Paley, who is buried close at hand in the north choir aisle. It is of richly-carved Caen stone, on a plinth of black Manx marble, and ornamented with carvings in white alabaster, of scenes from the New Testament. In shape it is hexagonal, with shafts at the angles rising into an enriched cornice. The lectern--a bra.s.s eagle--was given in memory of the late G.C. Mounsey, sometime diocesan registrar.

In the middle of the choir is a monument to Bishop Bell. On a blue slab under a triple canopy, the centre pediment of which has I.H.S., and its point the Deity and Christ, is a bra.s.s figure of a bishop _in pontificalibus_, mitre and gloves; his right hand holds on his breast an open book inscribed--

_Hec mea_ _Spes in sinu meo_

His left hand, over which hangs the maniple, has a rich crosier. On a semi-circular scroll over his head--

_Credo q^d redemptor meus vivit et noviss[~i]o die de terra surrect[~u]r s[~u] et in Carne mea videbo de[~u] salvatore me[~u]._

Under his feet--

_Hac marmor fossa Bell presulis en tenet ossa Duresme dud[~u] prior his post pontificat[~u]

Gessit atq' renuit primum super o[~m]ia querit Dispiciens mud[~u] poscendo pramia fratr[~u]_

On the ledge round the slab--

_Hic jacet Reverendus Pater Ricardus Bell quondam Episcopus Karleolensis qui ab hac luce migravit videlicet vicesimo Quarto die ... Anno Domini.... Et omnium fidelium defunctorum.

per misericordiam dei requiescant in perpetua pace_. Amen.

The ancient high altar probably stood one bay nearer to the west than the present altar. There, in the presence of Bishop Halton, Robert Bruce took an oath of fidelity to Edward I. Ten years later he proved false to this oath, and the Papal Legate solemnly excommunicated him with bell, book, and candle.

Very shortly after this, Edward I. dedicated the litter in which he had journeyed thus far, and mounting his horse at the cathedral door rode through the priory gateway bent on the conquest of Scotland. He never lived to reach that country, for he died in sight of the Scottish coast at Burgh-on-Sands.

#North Choir Aisle.#--This aisle is entered by a handsome Decorated arch, a very good example of thirteenth-century work.

The north wall, with the exquisite two-light lancet windows, is Early English, and dates from the period immediately after the demolition of the Norman choir about 1260.

Each compartment of the cinquefoil #wall-arcade# is separated by triple columns, and the s.p.a.ce divided into four parts by shafts, barely detached from the wall, supporting foliated arches. This is the general description for both north and south choir aisles.

The eastern bay belongs to the retro-choir, and is of later date.

Above the wall-arcade are the graceful two-light lancet windows, with their slender columns, deep mouldings, and rich dog-tooth decoration.

In each bay there are four divisions; the two outer ones blank, and the two others forming the window. The shafts are detached from the wall; the central one is higher than the rest, and its capital is foliated.

From the outer columns in the blank divisions, the shoulder, or hipped rib, after rising a short distance, sinks to the level of the capitals of the vaulting columns. At the side of the window columns two small circular mouldings, decorated with small dog-tooth ornament, continue without a break round the head of each window. A large blank quatrefoil is inserted in the s.p.a.ce between the lights and the outer arch moulding.

[Ill.u.s.tration: NORTH AISLE OF THE CHOIR. From Billings.]

The corner column (north side of entrance) has been inserted by cutting away part of the east wall of the north transept. Like the aisle it dates from about the last half of the thirteenth century. On its capital there is the spring of a pointed arch, enriched with dog-tooth ornament similar to the entrance arch.

Probably it was intended to pull the north transept down, and rebuild it with the addition of an eastern aisle. This column would then have been part of it. The existence of an offset on the north face of the aisle wall, with the return of the base-course and string-course upon it, seems to add weight to this theory.

The nearest cl.u.s.tered column to it has also been altered, and consists of five shafts instead of three. A rib springs from the additional shafts to the centre of the corner column. There are also remains of groining like that of the aisle.

The bay near the entrance has a window (Perpendicular) dating from after the Civil Wars. Beneath this there was formerly an entrance to the cathedral. This has now been walled up.

The groined stone roof dates from after 1292, although, perhaps, it is composed of materials of an earlier date.

On the south side of the entrance is a very beautiful foliated bracket; the foliated boss at its base was at one time ornamented with a very fine knot.

#Monuments in North Choir Aisles.#--In the third bay from the east are two low-arched recesses. Being of the same date as the aisle, they may have been intended to receive the statues of the bishops who did their best to repair the ravages of the fire in 1292. The arches are almost flat, and decorated with a kind of chevron moulding very rarely met with. In Burpham Church, Suss.e.x, there is another example of this moulding applied to the decoration of the south side of the south transept arch.

A bishop's effigy is in the eastern recess. It is of Early English date; and before 1292 was situated within the choir. Afterwards a niche was cut in the fourth bay from the east for its reception. It was eventually placed in its present position at the time of the restoration of the cathedral, and the other niche filled up. It may possibly represent Bishop Silvester of Everdon. It has suffered damage during its migrations in the cathedral; and the feet are broken. This was probably done when it was removed from the choir to the aisle (1856). Jewels which originally enriched the mitre and the cross on the breast have disappeared.

In the next bay to the east is a small mural bra.s.s plate finely engraved in memory of Bishop Robinson (1598-1616.) He was a native of Carlisle, and, entering Queen's College, Oxford, as a "poor serving child,"

eventually became provost, and proved a great benefactor to that foundation.

"The bishop is represented _in pontificalibus_, kneeling, with one hand supporting a crosier; the other is sustaining a lighted candle, and holding a cord to which three dogs are attached, who appear guarding an equal number of sheepfolds from the attack of wolves. Below the candle is a group of figures bearing implements of agriculture and peaceful industry; near their feet is a wolf playing with a lamb; and various warlike instruments scattered and broken. Each part is ill.u.s.trated with appropriate Greek and Latin sentences chiefly selected from the Scriptures. Behind the bishop is a quadrangular building, enclosing an open court, and apparently intended to represent the college which he had so much benefited.

"Over the gateway is a shield charged with three spread eagles, being the arms of Robert Eglesfield, the founder of that college; on the college are the words, _Invenit destructum; reliquit extructum et instructum_ (he found it destroyed; he left it built and furnished).

Above this building is the delineation of a cathedral; over the entrance is inscribed--_Intravit per ostium_ (he entered by the door); on a label across the entrance is _Permansit fidelis_ (he endured faithful to the end), and below, on the steps, under a group of figures, one of whom is kneeling and receiving a benediction, are the words, _Recessit beatus_ (he departed blessed). Near the top of the plate is the angel of the Lord bearing a label inscribed in Greek characters, _Tois Episcopois_ (Unto the Bishops).

"Above are the words, _Erant pastores in eadem regione excubantes et agentes vigilias noctis super gregem suum_ (there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field and keeping watch over their flocks by night). At the bottom of the plate in the cathedral is a Latin inscription to this effect: 'To Henry Robinson of Carlisle, D.D., a most careful provost of Queen's College, Oxon, and afterwards a most watchful bishop of this church for eighteen years, who on the 13th Calend of July in the year from the delivery of the Virgin, 1616, and of his age 64, devoutly resigned his spirit unto the Lord. Bernard Robinson, his brother and heir, set up this memorial as a testimony of his love.'"[5]