Ancient_and_modern_York_a_guide

MODEEN TOKK. 11
the baptism was finished, adds Bede,* he resolved to
build, on the same spot, a larger and more august
structure of stone. The words of the historian are too
pregnant with meaning to be passed by unnoticed:—
" Majorem ipso in loco, et Augustiorem de Lapidefabricare
Basilicam." Now Basilica (BamX(jc>)) means, properly
speaking, a large hall, having two ranges of pillars and
two isles or wings. Dr. Johnson says, " Basilisk is
generally taken for a magnificent church, as the basilisk
of St. Peter at Rome." Bede repeats the word ; from
the whole of which, we have a right to infer, that the
original minster was designed on a scale of great splendour,
if we cannot infer the actualf form of the cathedral. "We
are told that it was planned by Paulinus, who was cer
tainly educated at Rome, if he were not an Italian. The
edition of the Saxon Chronicle, published at Cambridge,
by Professor Wheloc, in 1644, simply records the fact of
Edwin's baptism ; but makes no mention of the oratory,
or York at all. In Ingram's edition, however, printed in
1823, which has .been faithfully collated with the nine
manuscripts of the Saxon Chronicle extant, we find a
description of the wooden church, and a full confirmation
of venerable Bede's narrative. Thomas Ghent, in his
quaint history, says that the minster was erected " where
formerly stood the temple of Bellona." There appears,
however, to be no other authority for this supposition
than tradition. King Edwin did not live to see the min
ster roofed; but his successor, Oswald, had the honour
of completing that wonderful pile, which afterwards, to
use the words of JEneas Sylvius, became " famous for
• Cap. xiv. Lib. 2.
+ Drake supposed that the original miuster was square ; because Bede used
the words per quadrum : but it appears probable, that Bede merely meant to
indicate that the original wooden oratory was enclosed by a square; perhaps a
square tower ; for, that to it he is referring, the reader will at once see :—
Praparatii ergo fundamentit, in gyro jpriobis oratobii, per quadrum capii
adificare Basilicam.