Chester and Its Cathedral Author(s): Dotted Crotchet Source: The Musical Times, Vol. 45, No. 731 (Jan. 1, 1904), pp. 10-19 Published by: Musical Times Publications Ltd. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/903291 Accessed: 02-11-2015 13:01 UTC Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/ info/about/policies/terms.jsp JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Musical Times Publications Ltd. is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Musical Times. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 142.103.160.110 on Mon, 02 Nov 2015 13:01:11 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions IO THE MUSICAL TIMES.-JANUARY I, 1904. Scotland, and Wales; and of him was called CHESTER Samothes, and this Samothes was son to Japhet,the AND ITS CATHEDRAL. third son of Noah; and of this Magus, who first builded a city even in this place or neer unto it, as it is supposed, the same was called Neomagus. This I find observed out the learned And Dee, Britonslong ygone conjecture Knight, following wzhicd Sir Thomas Elliott, who saith directly, that Did ' lend. call divine,'talt dolh by Chester Neomagus stood where Chester now standeth. SPENSER. Picturesqueantiquity is a strongcharacteristic of With all due respect to this gentleman, any Chester. Its picturesquenessnever fails to charm suggestionof Ark-liketimes cannot conscientiously those who visit and re-visitthe old city,while in be dovetailed into the ancient historyof Chester. regard to its antiquity,one historian carries us The Roman Period finds us on surer ground. One has only to visit the Grosvenor Museum at Chesterfor proof thereof. Fortunateindeed be he who is favouredwith so well-informeda cicerone as Mr. Robert Newstead, the able Curator of this interestingInstitution. Therein he will see a fine collection of Roman altars and tombstones -'::..- of the second century.These relics of a bygoneage were taken fromthe Roman cemeteryof Deva, and used in building the city walls; they were discoveredin recentyears when repairswere found to be necessary. By the courtesyof Mr. Newstead we are enabled to give a photographof one of these ancient tombstones, still in a wonderful state k:y of preservation. The inscription(translated) is as follows: To the memoryof Caecilius Avilus of Ementa Augusta,optio of the TwentiethLegion, who served AIMC 15 years and died at 34. His heir had this erected. This tombstone-50 inches high by 25 inches wide-bears a full-lengthfigure of the optio(a rank a little below thatof a centurion),with a long staff in his hand and a bundle of tickets(?) in his left hand. Anotherinteresting relic in this fascinating ......... Roman collection is some leaden water-piping, 4 inches in diameter, bearing this inscription, countersunkon a raised panel 48 inches long:- (This lead pipe was made) when Vespasian and Titus were consuls for the ninth and seventh times respectively and when Cn. Iulius Agricola was Governorof Britain. This ancient pipe - which would astonish any modern plumber-takes us back to the year 79, when the famous Agricola was Governor of Britain.: Many other treasuresand objects of interest- especially the beautiful ornithologicalspecimens prepared by Mr. Newstead-might be described if space permitted; mention must, however, be made of the fine set of Chester Recorders-not A ROMAN TOMBSTONE. bewigged gentlemen,but a quartet of instruments back to the instruments (Photo by Mr. Robert Newstead, A.L.' ., Curator of the dating iT7th century, GrosvenorMuseum, Chestcr.) immortalized by Shakespeare. This Chester set, comprising soprano, alto, tenor, bass- as back to a great-grandsonof Noah! Writingin the shown in the photograph-has been fullydescribed year 1611 this chroniclerof Chestersays :- by Dr. J. C. Bridge, who is hardlyless zealous as The firstname thatI findthis city to have been to have borne was and this * See the 'Catalogue of the Roman inscribed and sculptured stones supposed Neomagus; in the Grosvenor Museum, with one hundred illustrations.' By derivefrom the sonof who F. Haverfield, M.A., F.S.A. Chester: Printed for the Chester and they Magus, Samothes, most North Wales Archaeological and Historic Society. 1900oo. A was thefirst planter of inhabitantsin thisisle, after valuable contribution to the literature of this interesting old-world Noah's floud,which now containethEngland, subject. This content downloaded from 142.103.160.110 on Mon, 02 Nov 2015 13:01:11 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions THE MUSICAL TIMES.---JANUARY I, 1904. II A Alf F7 it .......... RKAWA .. (Photoby Mr. Frank Simpson,Chester.) Cbeter atberal. This content downloaded from 142.103.160.110 on Mon, 02 Nov 2015 13:01:11 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 12 THE MUSICAL TIMES.-JANUARY I, 1904. an antiquarythan he is in his duties of Cathedral whichintersect at equal distances fromthe ancient organist. gates of the city. And what shall be said of its To returnfor a momentto the Roman period, famouswalls ? No moreinteresting 'constitutional' it should be noted that the ancient city on the could be taken beforebreakfast-or at any time- Dee has the proud distinction of being called than the two-mile tramp which this old-world Chester(from Castra, or the Anglo-SaxonCeastra), city-girdleaffords. Here, in defianceof old Father Time, the ravages of war and tumult,these city walls, with their ancient towers,have stood fora thousandyears. As one paces thatpaved promenade ?-?'~'r.???-::-::::::::::::::::::.............:.: ??- one compares Chester with the Zion of the ????-??-?-................??-?~ Psalmist,and recalls the familiar words: 'Walk :.-. :::::::::::?:?::::::::::::::?:::::::::-:-:?::::::::::?::?'::I~:i~~i~i:::............... :::: about Zion, and go round about her; tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, ............ consider her palaces: that ye may tell it to the generationfollowing.' With the bare mentionthat Chesterwas ravaged ......... by the Danes in 980, thatit was the last place to hold out to the Conqueror (in 1070), we may now pass on to the Siege of Chester in the year .... 1645. Standing on the walls is a mouldering old tower, part of the mediaeval fortifications .......... of the city,now known as the Phoenix Tower, of sti?xxI ::;~::: which we give a photograph(p. 14). Here King FO-i~::~':.:r::: Charles I. stood and saw his soldiers defeated on Rowton Moor in a smart cavalry action in which William Lawes, the brother of Henry Lawes- Milton's 'Tuneful Harry'--was slain. Fuller says .......... IR~ that he 'was respected and beloved by all such .....):.....:? towards virtue and 44?::- persons as cast any looks --- .. .... honour,' and further,that 'the King (tho' he was xmmxs in forhis Lord Bernard .......................... .. already mourning kinsman, ..........n:::~.::~ Stuart,killed at the same siege) put on particular mourning for his dear servant, William Lawes, whom he commonlycalled the Father of Music.' fg ::::~::~:~~:The body of the soldier-musicianis said to have been buried in the Cathedral, but there is no record of the interment,nor any trace of a monument. The following quaint epitaph, probablyinscribed on a monument,has, however, fortunatelybeen preserved: Concordis conquered--inthe Urn there lyes The masterof great Music's mysterys: Andin it is a Riddle,like their Cause, Will Laws was slainby those whose Wills were Laws. Bishop Creighton has well and truly said that 'Chester itself contains almost an epitome of English History,' and proofs are not lacking in supportof that statement. In addition to what has been alreadysaid in the course of this article, some further historical referencesmay be made beforewe proceed to speak THE CHESTER RECORDERS IN THE of the Cathedral. King Henry III. not only made GROSVENOR MUSEUM. Chestera CountyPalatine, but settledthe Earldom (Photo by Mr. Robert Newstead, Curator.) of Chester on the heirs apparent of the Crown, wherebythe Princeof Wales is also Earl of Chester. without towns like Like unto Coventry,Chester is celebrated for its any prefix-e.g., Colchester, been the Winchester,&c. Moreover,it retains MysteryPlays, said to have composed by JManchester, a monk of to this day the characteristicsof a Roman townin celebrated Ranulph Higden, Chester, and authorof the famous These the regularityand precisionof its fourmain streets 'Polychronicon.' dramas,all foundedon sacred subjects,were acted at Whitsuntideby the various trade companies of * See 'Proceedings of the Musical Association,' 1900-190o, p. 1o9. Chester. We give a list of those performedon A paper on 'The Chester Recorders' read on February 12, 19o0, by Dr. Joseph C. Bridge, M.A. Whit-Monday. This content downloaded from 142.103.160.110 on Mon, 02 Nov 2015 13:01:11 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions THE MUSICAL TIMES.-JANUARY I, 1904. 13 PERFORMINGCOMPANIES. TITLES OF MYSTERYPLAYS. The Rows formone of the most attractiveand interestingfeatures of Chester. They should be The Barkersand Tanners .. Fallinge of Lucifer. seen and walked along rather than described. Drapersand Hosiers .. Creation of ye World. Drawers of Dee and As quaint old Thomas Fuller (1608-i66i) in 'The of Water-leaders . Noe and his Shippe. History the Worthiesof England' says, Barbers, Wax- 'Here is a propertyof buildingpeculiar to Chester, Chaundlers, and called The Rows, beinggalleries wherein passengers Leeches .... .. Abraham and Isaacke without into the streets the Cappers, Wire- go dry coming [i.e., drawers and roadways],having shops on both sides and under- Pinners .. .... Kinge Balack and Balaam neath, the fashion whereofis somewhat hard to with Moyses. conceive. It is worththeir pains, who have money Wrights, Slaters, and leasure to make theirown the Tylers, Daubers eyes expounders and Thatchers .