Image: Bishop Walter Skirlaw, East Window, York Minster

Description: Bishop Walter Skirlaw was the benefactor of the window. Arms, as recorded in the Heralds' College: Argent, three pallets interlacing three barrulets sable. "This coat differs altogether from those said to be sculptured around his buildings". (Source: Stephen Hyde Cassan, Lives of the Bishops of Bath and Wells, p.191[1]). Alternative blazon Argent, a cross triple parted and fretted sable (SKIRLAW, or SCYRLOW, Yorkshire), source: A GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN HERALDRY by JAMES PARKER FIRST PUBLISHED in 1894[2] "Roger Dodsworth (1585–1654) (antiquary) preserved a story that he was the son of a sieve-maker ... but his father's alleged trade may be no more than inference from the riddle-like bearings of his coat-of-arms" (Source: Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 52 Skirlaw, Walter by James Tait [3]) Dodsworth, re Meaux Abbey: Remember Walter Skirlaw, borne att Skirlaw, a sivier’s son, and run away from his father, being very untoward, came to the university (of Oxford) and ther was a sizer, and came to have such learning as he was made bishop of Durrham, his father never knowing what was become of him, and when he came to Durrham he sent his steward to inquire for his father and mother, and after notice of their being alive he sent for them, and in memory of his being borne ther builded a faire chappell att Swine (w:Swine Priory, Yorkshire) wher he sett his armes in every window, videlicet, a crosse of ther (sic) spells of a sive or riddle", in memory and acknowledgment from whence he sprunge. (Source: John William Clay (ed), YAS Record Series Vol. 34: Yorkshire church notes, 1619-1631, by Roger Dodsworth, p.156[4]) Arms visible at Durham Cathedral & Cloisters; York Minster, East Window; University College Oxford; front of Hilton Castle ( Eliza Gutch, County Folk-Lore Volume VI[5]). Also sculpted on porch battlements of the Bishop's Manor House, Howden, Yorkshire[6] "And on all these buildings he placed his arms, viz. Six oziers interlaced after the manner of a sieve (Latin: 6 virgas vicissim flexatas in forma crebri) (Churches of Yorkshire, Volumes 1-2 edited by George Ayliffe Poole)
Title: Bishop Walter Skirlaw, East Window, York Minster
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Author: Andrewrabbott
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