and churches.  An infamous bishop of York, at this period, stripped his fine palace that stood on the north of York Minster, “for the sake of the lead that covered it,” and shipped it off to London, where it was sold for L1000; but of this sum he was cheated by a noble duke, and therefore gained nothing by his infamy.  During the Civil War it escaped fairly well, but some damage was done, the palace was despoiled; and at the Restoration of the Monarchy much repair was needed.  Monmouth’s rebels wrought havoc.  They came to Wells in no amiable mood, defaced the statues on the west front, did much wanton mischief, and would have caroused about the altar had not Lord Grey stood before it with his sword drawn, and thus preserved it from the insults of the ruffians.  Then came the evils of “restoration.”  A terrible renewing was begun in 1848, when the old stalls were destroyed and much damage done.  Twenty years later better things were accomplished, save that the grandeur of the west front was belittled by a pipey restoration, when Irish limestone, with its harsh hue, was used to embellish it.

A curiosity at Wells are the quarter jacks over the clock on the exterior north wall of the cathedral.  Local tradition has it that the clock with its accompanying figures was part of the spoil removed from Glastonbury Abbey.  The ecclesiastical authorities at Wells assert in contradiction to this that the clock was the work of one Peter Lightfoot, and was placed in the cathedral in the latter part of the fourteenth century.  A minute is said to exist in the archives of repairs to the clock and figures in 1418.  It is Mr. Roe’s opinion that the defensive armour on the quarter jacks dates from the first half of the fifteenth century, the plain oviform breastplates and basinets, as well as the continuation of the tassets round the hips, being very characteristic features of this period.  The halberds in the hands of the figures are evidently restorations of a later time.  It may be mentioned that in 1907, when the quarter jacks were painted, it was discovered that though the figures themselves were carved out of solid blocks of oak hard as iron, the arms were of elm bolted and braced thereon.  Though such instances of combined materials are common enough among antiquities of medieval times, it may yet be surmised that the jar caused by incessant striking may in time have necessitated repairs to the upper limbs.  The arms are immovable, as the figures turn on pivots to strike.

[Illustration:  Quarter Jacks over the Clock on exterior of North Wall of Wells Cathedral.]

An illustration is given of the palace at Wells, which is one of the finest examples of thirteenth-century houses existing in England.  It was begun by Jocelyn.  The great hall, now in ruins, was built by Bishop Burnell at the end of the thirteenth century, and was destroyed by Bishop Barlow in 1552.  The chapel is Decorated.  The gatehouse, with its drawbridge, moat, and fortifications, was constructed by Bishop