1 He also mentions a shield, bearing Ermine, on a bend sable, three boar's heads erased, argent; impaling. Or, a fess dancette, sable, which does not now appear. 6 The shields first named are the more remarkable as all the rest of the labels are supported by male or female heads, and may perhaps intimate that this end of the aisle was appropriated as a private chapel, as, from some fragments of screen work, would seem also to have been the case with the corresponding portion of the north aisle. The vestry, on the north side of the chancel is also of early date and has something of the chantry character. In it, and on the gable of the Porch are preserved some remains of a highly ornamented church-yard cross, ap This appears to be the shield of Christopher Driffield, of Ripon, barrister-at-law, who married Bridget, daughter of Lewis West. The lady was of a Cumberland family, which may explain the difference in the colours of her arms from those usually given for West, which are argent a fesse dancette, sable. In Dugdale's Visitation of York, 1666, her husband's bearings are assigned to a family of Easingwold whose pedigree is thus given: Thomas Driffield, of Easingwold Margaret, daughter of Francis Frances Mat--Ursula Chris--Bridget Marg. aret Tim- Stephen othy Ursula Wright, Peter Drif dau. of topher dau. of Driffield, | dau. and thias ingwold, Oct. 25, 1666. a mer chant in York. com. Ebor. Cumberland. a mer chant in London. parently coeval with the original structure, which have been found at various periods in digging graves for recent interments. The last account we have of the cross in this church yard is from Torr's MSS. of testamentary burials given in a following page. It was placed upon a base of stone in front of the building and near to the entrance." In the tower are five musical bells bearing the following inscriptions. 1-WITH CHEARFUL VOICE O LORD WILL I SING TO THEE. 1788. DALTON OF YORK, FECIT. 2.-SOCIAL LOVE, PEACE, AND GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD. 1788. DALTON OF YORK, FECIT. 3. THE PEOPLE WILL ADORN THE FESTIVALS WHEN WE CALL. 1788. DALTON OF YORK, FECIT. 4.-GLORIFY THE LORD THY GOD WITH THE VOICE OF PRAISE AND GLORIFICATION. WARDENS. JOHN RAPER & GEO. METCALFE, CHURCH JOHN ARMSTEAD, VICAR. 5.-HAVE FAITH IN CHRIST ETERNALLY, HALLELUJAH. 1788. DALTON OF YORK, FECIT. Here is also preserved a large coffin, made of oak, with iron rings, of which the tradition is, that it was once in general use as a kind of public bier for carrying the dead, with no 7 The cross, though abused as an object of idolatrous veneration, and therefore generally removed from our church-yards at the time of the Reformation, originally pointed out the spots where christianity was first preached to our forefathers, and near which the churches were usually erected. "It afterwards became," as is well observed by a correspondent of Mr. Britton, (v. Architect. Antiq.) "part of the decoration of every church. It was frequently fixed at the entrance of the church, to inspire recollection in those persons who approached, and reverence towards the mysteries at which they were about to be present. On the high road, the cross was placed for the purpose of calling the thoughts of the passengers to a sense of religion, and restraining the predatory incursions of robbers. In the market place it was a signal for upright intention and fair dealing, and was in every place designed as a check on a wordly spirit,”—an intimation that all the transactions of life were to be under the controlling influence of the doctrine and example of Christ. other covering than the shroud, to the grave. It has, however, no marks of very high antiquity or criteria by which its date can be ascertained. The only monuments of a period anterior to the Reformation, are a portion of a crossed tombstone, well nigh effaced, near the seat of the schoolmaster in the chancel, and a similar stone, with faint traces of letters running parallel with the shaft of a cross and a sword, now forming the inner step of the chancel door. A portion of a cross-headed tombstone has also been built into the outer wall at the east end of the vestry. The following is an account of some early testamentary burials, given by Torr in his MSS, but of which no traces are left in the church. A.D. 1346. Roger Wodeward, of Raskelf, made his will (proved 30, Jan. 1346,) giving his soul to God Almighty, St. Mary, and all Saints, and his body to be buried in the High Church of Esyngwald, at the great door. A.D. 1346. Emma, wife of William Paynot de Esyngwald, made her will, (proved 14, Nov., 1346,) giving her soul to God Almighty and St. Mary, and her body to be buried in the High Church of Esyngwald. A.D. 1446. William Pickering of Esyngwald made his will, (proved 13, August, 1444,) giving his soul (ut supra,) and his body to be buried in the church-yard of Esyngwald against the cross. 1st May, A.D. 1452. Thomas Rawson, chaplain of the fraternity of St. Mary, &c., in the High Church of Esyngwald, made his will, (proved 2 Jan. 1452,) giving his soul to God Almighty, St. Mary, and all Saints, and his body to be buried in the sanctuary of the High Church of Esyngwald. 8th May, A.D. 1463. Thomas Sawyer, late Vicar of Esyngwald, dying, had his will proved and administration of his goods granted to Agnes Sawyer, his sister. 5 Oct., A.D. 1475. John Thorneburgh, Vicar of Whenby, was interred in the High Church of Esyngwald. Penult May, A.D. 1506. William Catterik, Vicar of Esyngwald, made his will, (proved 4 July, 1506,) giving his soul to God Almighty, St. Mary, and all Saints, and his body to be buried in the midst of the Choir of the Church of All Saints, of Esyngwald. 9 April, A.D. 1533. Sir Thomas Pyngithman, Vicar of the High Church of All Hallows, in Esyngwald, made his will, (proved 26 July, 1533,) giving his soul to God Almighty, and his body to be buried in the Choir. 19 Oct, A.D. 1549, John Plomber, Vicar of Esyngwald, made his will, (proved 24th Oct., 1549), giving his soul (ut supra) and his body to be buried in the church-yard of Esyngwald, before the Cross. 11 Oct., A.D. 1571. Robert Ingram, Clerk, Vicar of Esyngwald, dying intestate, administration of his goods was then taken. 2 Dec., A.D. 1620. Rad. Stringer, of Esyngwald, Clerk, made his will, (proved 9 Dec., 1620,) giving his soul to God Almighty, his Creator and Redeemer, and his body to be buried where his executors pleased. The following monumental inscriptions at present appear in the church: At the north side of the communion table, on a mural monument, surrounded with the usual emblems of mortality, and bearing the arms of Rayns, viz-azure, a chevron engrailed between three griffins' heads erased, argent, each holding in its mouth a slip of roses, stalked and leaved, proper; impaling, azure, a Maunch or, surmounted by a bend gobony ermine and gules, for are the words, Memoriæ Sacrum. Here Lyeth interred the Body of THOMAS RAYNS OF EASINGWOLD, Esq., once Ld. Mayor of York, who after 10 years' affliction in a Paralysis, departed this Life ye 8th of Mar 1713, aged 73. These bearings, as well as the colours in general, have become indis. tinct, but are given as exactly as they can now be ascertained. F Hebr. 12 c: v. 6th. Whom y Lloveth, he chasteneth, & scourgeth ev'ry son whom he receiveth. He gave £10. to ye poor of Easeingwould, & left y Rent of Hardle-gate Close for Ever, to be paid quarterly to y Schoolmaster, for Teaching 5 poor children, to be named by His Niece Salvin or her Heirs, & for want of such, by y Minister. A stone on the floor beneath the monument marks the spot where the subject of its commemoration is interred, and is thus inscribed On the north wall of the chancel, near the above, is a handsome white marble monument, with much ornamental work, amidst which is a shield formerly bearing the arms of Yates a fesse crenelle, counter-crenelle between three gates .; to which, pleasing allusion is made in the inscription beneath, SIT QUARTA JANUA VITÆ. In this church, at the west end, lies interred the body of Mr. HENRY YATES, Surgeon and Apothecary of this place; son of Obadiah Yates, Surgeon and Apothecary, of Bridlington in this County, by Jane, daughter of Richard Thompson, Esq. of Kilham in the East Riding: he died the 21 June, 1781, aged 88 years. He married Margaret, daughter of William Kitchingham, Esq. of Carlton Husthwaite, 1721, who was interred in this church 3 |