good condition till the period of the sieges above detailed, when they suffered very considerable damage, not only from the fire of the batteries and musquetry, but also from the rapacity of the republican army. The honour of renewing them was reserved for bishop Hacket,* who was appointed to this see immediately after the Restoration. The very morning following his arrival, he set his own servants and horses with teams to remove the rubbish, and lay the first hand to the work he meditated. By money contributed by himself and the dean and chapter, and obtained through his exertions, from the gentlemen of his diocese, he was enabled to restore this noble pile to its former splendour. In 1788 it again underwent a thorough repair by subscription, under the superintendence of Mr. James Wyatt of London.

To describe accurately the present and past condition of this cathedral and the various ornaments, whether monumental or otherwise, with which it is either now, or has been formerly, embellished would occupy a much larger space than the limits of this work will-permit. We must content ourselves, therefore, with a brief notice of the more prominent circumstances by which it is distinguished. The extent of the whole building from east to west † is 411 feet in length, and from north to

south

• A noble instance of magnanimity and heroic fortitude is recorded of this prelate, during the persecution of the established church by the Puritans. Notwithstanding the severe penalties enacted to prevent it, he continued to read the liturgy regularly in his church of St. Andrew's Holborn. In consequence of this a serjeant, with a file of men, entered the church and threatened him with instant death if he did not desist. "Soldier," said the intrepid Hacket, "I am doing my duty, do you yours," and with a more audible voice proceeded in the service. The soldier, astonished at his undaunted composure, left the church without doing him the slightest injury.

+ Dr. Plot observes a remarkable circumstance relative to this church. which is that it declines 27 degrees from the points of east and west. This error, however, was somewhat amended by bishop Langton, who pointed the walls of our Lady's chapel, which he built, much more to the east; hence it is that the walls of this chapel stand bevil to those of the church, as may be noticed even at a superficial glance. Plot's Staffordshire, p. 362.

south 67 feet in breadth. It is surmounted by three elegant steeples, one in the centre of the edifice and two at the west end. The height of the former is 258 feet, and of the latter 188 feet each. The western front formerly exhibited a most splendid display of finely wrought figures, the subjects of which were derived from scripture history. A great part of these were much defaced during the attacks made on the close at the time of the rebellion; but were either repaired or replaced by bishop Hacket. Time, however, has again considerably injured them; and in 1749 several were removed by order of the dean and chapter to the perpetual deformity of this beautiful structure. On the top of the roof, betwixt the two spires, stands the image of Charles II, who had contributed a liberal donation of timber towards the repair of the church. It is the work of Sir William Wilson, originally a stone mason at Sutton Colfield, who arrived at knighthood after his marriage with a rich widow; but, according to Mr. Pennant, does very little honour to his genius as a sculptor. This statue is supposed to occupy the situation of a more ancient one of Adam, or Christ, as both sides of the towers were adorned with figures of the old patriarchs. The lower rows of figures were probably intended to represent prophets, prophetesses, and judges, together with the kings of Israel and Judah in various postures. King David is distinguished by his playing upon the harp. The statue of a person in pontifical robes, supposed to be designed. for St. Chad, stands exactly over the porch, which is adorned with beautiful sculpture work. Within this porch are placed the four Evangelists, holding the gospels in their hands. Moses. and Aaron were situated on the two sides, and in the centre between the great doors is the virgin Mary with the infant Je sus in her arms. These were all formerly richly painted and gilded. A figure of Christ, with his arms extended, appears between two cherubims, on the top of the central pillar. On the outside, the vacant walls between the large and small doors were filled with statues of the twelve apostles.

The

The entrances to this church, both on the south and north sides, are very elegant, particularly the north door which is extremely rich in sculptured mouldings, three of foliage, and three of small figures in oval. In one of the lowest, is represented a bishop in his pontifical robes, baptizing a person kneeling before him with a crosier in his left hand. The former probably is intended to designate St. Chad, and the other Wulphere, the converted pagan king of Mercia, who is said to have murdered his sons because they refused to become apostates to Christianity.* Immediately over the door was the root of Jesse, or the descent of kings; from David to the captivity of the Jews, 14 generations, and from thence to Christ a similar number, and also the descent of priests. The middle pillar supported the image of Christ. Over the south door, also rich in sculpture, appeared the following inscription:

"Hospes, qui ingrederis hanc ecclesiam, cupio te noscere et celebrare munificentiam illustriss. et pient. heroinae dom. Catharinae Leweson de Trentham, hujus aedis cum miserae vastatae patronae lubentissimae et benignissimae."

On the east side of this door are two ancient monumental statues for deans of this church; but to whom they belong is now unknown. The roof of the cathedral was formerly covered with lead; but being much worn and injured, the metal was some years ago taken off, and slates substituted in its stead, the revenues for the purposes of repair being totally inadequate to the expense of renewing it with lead. Indeed, even after the strictest economy, the dean and chapter were obliged to advance considerable sums from their own pockets before they could complete the plan they had adopted.

The interior of this noble edifice fully answers to the splendour and magnificence of its external structure. The body is spacious and lofty, supported by pillars formed by a variety of slender

Vide ante, p. 60.