Yorkshire Almanac Jonathan Martin’s attempt to burn down York Minster is frustrated by a frolicsome chorister

1 February 1829: Jonathan Martin’s attempt to burn down York Minster is frustrated by a frolicsome chorister

Sabine Baring-Gould. 1874. Jonathan Martin, the Incendiary of York Minster. Yorkshire Oddities, Incidents and Strange Events, Vol. 1. London: John Hodges. Get it:

Unedited excerpt

If an excerpt is used in the book, it will be shorter, edited and, where applicable, translated.

After the ringers left, Martin went into the belfry and struck a light. A gentleman who was passing the Minster about half-past eight o’clock, saw a light in the belfry at that time; but as the ringers had been there, he thought they were about ringing again, and took no notice of the circumstance. Two persons who were confined in Peter prison also saw a light in the belfry after nine o’clock. At this time the incendiary was busy preparing his means of escape. He cut about ninety feet off the rope attached to the prayer-bell, which passed through a hole in the floor of the belfry into the aisle below, and having pulled it up, he formed it into a ladder by doubling it and tying knots at regular distances. After he had worked some time, he put out his light, and finished his ladder in the dark. When this was completed he left the belfry, and having climbed over the iron gates which separate the nave from the northeast aisle, he used the rope-ladder to get over the gate leading from that aisle into the choir, which is usually kept fast. He then struck a light the second time, and with the razor cut three yards of gold fringe, two gold tassels, &c., from the pulpit, and the crimson velvet curtains from the dean’s and precentor’s seats at the bottom of the choir, and those from the archbishop’s throne. He also took a small Bible, and as he expected to be taken and imprisoned, he brought away the Bible that it might be a comfort to him in his confinement. He then piled the cushions and Prayer-books in two heaps, on each side near the carved work, and set them on fire by introducing matches among them.

Having done this, he set about making his escape. He had brought with him a pair of shoemaker’s pincers, which Mr. Lawn had left in the room where he slept on Saturday night, and having tied one end of his rope to the machine used for cleaning the Minster, he dragged it under the window in the west aisle of the north transept, which he broke with the pincers; and having seen that one of the piles (that by the archbishop’s throne) to which he had set fire was burning briskly, he descended, and left the Cathedral a little after three o’clock in the morning of the end of February, taking with him the articles before mentioned, and also some purple silk – a part of one of the robes of the clergy.

During the time he was in the Minster he says he felt no fear, but was, “on the contrary, quite happy; sometimes he prayed, and sometimes he praised God, because, as he said, He had strengthened him to do so good a work!”

The incendiary had left the Minster several hours before the fire was discovered. The patrol left the Minster-yard about half-past two o’clock, before he had made his escape, and they saw no indications of anything unusual when they left. About four o’clock a man going past saw a light in the Minster, but he thought the workmen were preparing a vault, and unfortunately passed on without endeavouring to ascertain what was really the cause of so unusual an occurrence as a light burning in the sacred edifice at that early hour.

About five o’clock a series of reports, resembling repeated explosions, were heard. The parties who heard them wondered what they meant, but never thought of tracing them to their source. The discovery at last took place in the following singular manner:- A lad named [Robert] Swinbank, one of the younger choristers, whose duty it was to go and practise at the Minster early every morning, went as usual a little before seven o’clock on the morning of the 2nd of February

He found the doors were not open, and began to slide on a piece of ice in the Minster-yard to amuse himself. Whilst so doing he fell on his back, and before he recovered himself from that position he saw smoke issuing from the roof of the Minster.

Order the book:

Subscribe to the free daily email:

To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

Comment

The fire was started on Sunday 1st and noticed on Monday 2nd.

Jonathan Martin’s defence, spoken “with considerable energy and vehemence of manner, … in a Northumbrian dialect, and with an impediment in his speech”:

The first impression I had, was by two particular dreams, after I had written five letters to warn the clergy. I think the last letter I wrote was a very severe one. I believe I wrote in it all the curses contained in the bible, to warn them. Likewise I signed my name to every letter, and also added the place I lodged at, which was No. 60, Aldwark. I was anxious to hear from those clergymen, and to speak to them by word of mouth; but none of them ever ventured to answer my letters. I petitioned and prayed to the Lord, as to what I was to do, after that last letter. I was anxious to know what I was to do. At length I dreamt that there was a wonderful thick cloud came from the heavens, and rested upon the cathedral; and then it rolled over, and rested upon the lodgings where I slept at. When I found it come, I awoke, and wondered what it was, and what it meant, for I expected the house to be destroyed. The house shook wonderfully, so that I was awakened out of my sleep. I was surprised, and I was astonished. I prayed to the Lord, and asked The Lord what it meant; and I was told by the Lord, that I was to destroy the cathedral, on account of the clergy going to plays, and balls, playing at cards, and drinking wine. I thought I heard a voice inwardly speak, informing me, that the Lord shewed me the vision of the dark and thick cloud, to point out the propriety of setting the cathedral on fire, and that I should make it shake and tremble; and that it was fulfilling the will of God, as in the latter days, according to the prophecy of Joel, that God would pour out his spirit upon all flesh; that the old men should see visions, and the young men dream dreams; and that there should be signs in the heavens, blood and fire, and vapours, and smoke, and so on. I found that this was to be a fulfilment of the word of God. I had that so impressed upon my mind, that I had no rest either day nor night. I found the Lord was determined to have me to shew this people a warning to flee from the wrath to come.

As I could not do that job without being all night away from my wife, I was at a loss to contrive how to do it without her knowledge, so as not to defeat the object in view. After I had considered awhile, and had got every thing in order, I began to think it was impossible for me to do that, a duty which God had imposed upon me, without her knowing that I was about setting fire to the cathedral, and which was about to take me out from her. I therefore thought of this plan; that of taking her ring off her finger, when asleep, and afterwards to tie her over to the concern, as was mentioned before, and the circumstance of my wife keeping the vow that I then imposed upon her, as the condition of her getting back the ring. After I told her the circumstance, she was much grieved; and she contrived and strove with me all she could, to get me away to Leeds, and to dissuade me from the purpose I had informed her of. We accordingly went to Leeds; and after I had got to Leeds, I stayed there a few days; but while I was there, I could get no rest in my mind, till I had fulfilled the object of my dream, and accomplished the deed which the will of God had imposed upon me. I was, therefore, obliged to take leave of her, úpon the Saturday morning. Upon that occasion I had a sair contest between flesh and blood, so as to part with her; it was a hardish action, I assure you, when she asked me what was to become of her, and what should become of my .child Richard, whom I had at school at Lincoln. I thought she would have nailed me to the spot, when she mentioned about the child; but at that moment a passage of scripture struck my ear, and it cried out like a whisper, “what thou doest, do with all thy might;” at the same time I heard another whisper in my ear, saying, “if you prefer your wife to the Lord, he that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me; leave them all and come with me.” And I heard a third whisper, thine own life.” Upon that I cried out “O’Lord God, let thy will be done.” I then got away from her, but it was like arrows passing through my heart.

I then left Leeds, and I thought I would take twenty books [his self-published autobiography] with me, as I had only sixpence at that time. I went to Tadcaster; and when there, I was told by the Spirit to go forward. I had no money to keep me over the Sunday. I got a gill of beer at Tadcaster, and then, after having the beer, that made fourpence half-penny remaining. I came to York, to my old lodgings. I did not pay for my lodgings, as I had only fourpence half-penny in the morning. I left the landlord of the house where I slept, on Sunday morning, about half-past ten o’clock. I went to a Methodist chapel, and I then, at noon, went into a cook’s shop, and got two penny-worth of soup and bread. After that I heard a buzzing noise, occasioned by the organ playing in the cathedral. When four o’clock came, I went into the cathedral, to be ready, for I intended to stay by myself after all the people in the cathedral had gone out.

I had previously said to my wife, “we are done among them; I am vexed to hear them sing their prayers, and preach their sermons.” While I was at prayers that afternoon, I thought it did not come from their hearts, their singing their amens and their prayers. I thought that it was merely deceiving the people, that the organ made such a noise of buzz! buzz! Says I to my sen, (meaning myself,) “I’ll have thee down to-night, thou shalt buzz no more.” The Lord shewed me all that in a dream (Fraser 1829).

An exact transcription of Martin’s last public message before the fire:

“A just Warning for all the Clargy in York.”
York, January the 16, 1829.
Hear the word of the Lord Oh You Blind Hipicrits you Saarpents and Vipears of Hell You wine Bibears and Beffe Yeatears whos Eyes Stand out with Fotness and still criing out mor, mor wine mor plum Puding and Rost Beffe and Saying to your Souls Yeet and Drink Soule and be meary For though Has much wine and rost Beff and Plum puding to sarve the money Years yet. Oh you Fools and Gready wolves your time is short and the Judgments of God is Hanging over your Giltiy Heades, to brust upon you to send you to the Depest pit of Hell to get your parshin with the rich man, what. daw I say the Rich man I bag leve to dra back my word your torment will be ten thousent Fauld mor you Desevres how Can you Escape the hotest plase of Hell ? will not the Greet the mitey the Rich men of the Earrth have to Call to the roks and the hills to cover them from a Just and a Angry Frawning God For your blind Docktren Belve me your time short and For your wicketness God is about to Cum out of his plase to take vangins on you and all thase that Obay your Blind Helish Docktren for it Cums from the black reagens of the Damd Oh the millionns of Souls that you have Desevd those many years with what Scarching vamun will they Fly to Sting yuur Departet Soals when your Frickil thrid of life is Cut on Repent you Blind Hippecrites you wolves Drest in Shieps Clothing you whitent Seapulkirs but Full of ded men’s Bons with in Oh Repent for the Souard of Justiis is at haad,
JM our Sincerest Frind.
(Fraser 1829)

Martin was sent to Bedlam. His fire severely damaged the choir of the minster, and the controversy as to how best to restore it inspired George Newton Brown to a mini-masterpiece in dialect:

Thoo sees when Martin wiv his crackbrained tricks,
Set fire t’ minsther like a he’ap o’ wicks,
Fooaks frev all pairts o’t coonthry vary se’an,
Clubbed bras te pay for reeting it age’an;
Se’a Ah, mang t’ rest o’t quality, put doon
(For iv’ry lahtle helps thoo knaws) a croon,
Noo se’an as t’ brass was getten, afore lang,
Frev iv’ry pairt a soort o’ chaps did thrang:
Ste’an me’asins, airchitecks, and sike like straight,
All clusthered roond like mennies at a bait,
Soom te leak on and give advice, and Bob
Ne’a doot soom on em com te late a job.
(Brown 1833)

Something to say? Get in touch

Comment

The fire was started on Sunday 1st and noticed on Monday 2nd.

Jonathan Martin’s defence, spoken “with considerable energy and vehemence of manner, … in a Northumbrian dialect, and with an impediment in his speech”:

The first impression I had, was by two particular dreams, after I had written five letters to warn the clergy. I think the last letter I wrote was a very severe one. I believe I wrote in it all the curses contained in the bible, to warn them. Likewise I signed my name to every letter, and also added the place I lodged at, which was No. 60, Aldwark. I was anxious to hear from those clergymen, and to speak to them by word of mouth; but none of them ever ventured to answer my letters. I petitioned and prayed to the Lord, as to what I was to do, after that last letter. I was anxious to know what I was to do. At length I dreamt that there was a wonderful thick cloud came from the heavens, and rested upon the cathedral; and then it rolled over, and rested upon the lodgings where I slept at. When I found it come, I awoke, and wondered what it was, and what it meant, for I expected the house to be destroyed. The house shook wonderfully, so that I was awakened out of my sleep. I was surprised, and I was astonished. I prayed to the Lord, and asked The Lord what it meant; and I was told by the Lord, that I was to destroy the cathedral, on account of the clergy going to plays, and balls, playing at cards, and drinking wine. I thought I heard a voice inwardly speak, informing me, that the Lord shewed me the vision of the dark and thick cloud, to point out the propriety of setting the cathedral on fire, and that I should make it shake and tremble; and that it was fulfilling the will of God, as in the latter days, according to the prophecy of Joel, that God would pour out his spirit upon all flesh; that the old men should see visions, and the young men dream dreams; and that there should be signs in the heavens, blood and fire, and vapours, and smoke, and so on. I found that this was to be a fulfilment of the word of God. I had that so impressed upon my mind, that I had no rest either day nor night. I found the Lord was determined to have me to shew this people a warning to flee from the wrath to come.

As I could not do that job without being all night away from my wife, I was at a loss to contrive how to do it without her knowledge, so as not to defeat the object in view. After I had considered awhile, and had got every thing in order, I began to think it was impossible for me to do that, a duty which God had imposed upon me, without her knowing that I was about setting fire to the cathedral, and which was about to take me out from her. I therefore thought of this plan; that of taking her ring off her finger, when asleep, and afterwards to tie her over to the concern, as was mentioned before, and the circumstance of my wife keeping the vow that I then imposed upon her, as the condition of her getting back the ring. After I told her the circumstance, she was much grieved; and she contrived and strove with me all she could, to get me away to Leeds, and to dissuade me from the purpose I had informed her of. We accordingly went to Leeds; and after I had got to Leeds, I stayed there a few days; but while I was there, I could get no rest in my mind, till I had fulfilled the object of my dream, and accomplished the deed which the will of God had imposed upon me. I was, therefore, obliged to take leave of her, úpon the Saturday morning. Upon that occasion I had a sair contest between flesh and blood, so as to part with her; it was a hardish action, I assure you, when she asked me what was to become of her, and what should become of my .child Richard, whom I had at school at Lincoln. I thought she would have nailed me to the spot, when she mentioned about the child; but at that moment a passage of scripture struck my ear, and it cried out like a whisper, “what thou doest, do with all thy might;” at the same time I heard another whisper in my ear, saying, “if you prefer your wife to the Lord, he that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me; leave them all and come with me.” And I heard a third whisper, thine own life.” Upon that I cried out “O’Lord God, let thy will be done.” I then got away from her, but it was like arrows passing through my heart.

I then left Leeds, and I thought I would take twenty books [his self-published autobiography] with me, as I had only sixpence at that time. I went to Tadcaster; and when there, I was told by the Spirit to go forward. I had no money to keep me over the Sunday. I got a gill of beer at Tadcaster, and then, after having the beer, that made fourpence half-penny remaining. I came to York, to my old lodgings. I did not pay for my lodgings, as I had only fourpence half-penny in the morning. I left the landlord of the house where I slept, on Sunday morning, about half-past ten o’clock. I went to a Methodist chapel, and I then, at noon, went into a cook’s shop, and got two penny-worth of soup and bread. After that I heard a buzzing noise, occasioned by the organ playing in the cathedral. When four o’clock came, I went into the cathedral, to be ready, for I intended to stay by myself after all the people in the cathedral had gone out.

I had previously said to my wife, “we are done among them; I am vexed to hear them sing their prayers, and preach their sermons.” While I was at prayers that afternoon, I thought it did not come from their hearts, their singing their amens and their prayers. I thought that it was merely deceiving the people, that the organ made such a noise of buzz! buzz! Says I to my sen, (meaning myself,) “I’ll have thee down to-night, thou shalt buzz no more.” The Lord shewed me all that in a dream (Fraser 1829).

An exact transcription of Martin’s last public message before the fire:

“A just Warning for all the Clargy in York.”
York, January the 16, 1829.
Hear the word of the Lord Oh You Blind Hipicrits you Saarpents and Vipears of Hell You wine Bibears and Beffe Yeatears whos Eyes Stand out with Fotness and still criing out mor, mor wine mor plum Puding and Rost Beffe and Saying to your Souls Yeet and Drink Soule and be meary For though Has much wine and rost Beff and Plum puding to sarve the money Years yet. Oh you Fools and Gready wolves your time is short and the Judgments of God is Hanging over your Giltiy Heades, to brust upon you to send you to the Depest pit of Hell to get your parshin with the rich man, what. daw I say the Rich man I bag leve to dra back my word your torment will be ten thousent Fauld mor you Desevres how Can you Escape the hotest plase of Hell ? will not the Greet the mitey the Rich men of the Earrth have to Call to the roks and the hills to cover them from a Just and a Angry Frawning God For your blind Docktren Belve me your time short and For your wicketness God is about to Cum out of his plase to take vangins on you and all thase that Obay your Blind Helish Docktren for it Cums from the black reagens of the Damd Oh the millionns of Souls that you have Desevd those many years with what Scarching vamun will they Fly to Sting yuur Departet Soals when your Frickil thrid of life is Cut on Repent you Blind Hippecrites you wolves Drest in Shieps Clothing you whitent Seapulkirs but Full of ded men’s Bons with in Oh Repent for the Souard of Justiis is at haad,
JM our Sincerest Frind.
(Fraser 1829)

Martin was sent to Bedlam. His fire severely damaged the choir of the minster, and the controversy as to how best to restore it inspired George Newton Brown to a mini-masterpiece in dialect:

Thoo sees when Martin wiv his crackbrained tricks,
Set fire t’ minsther like a he’ap o’ wicks,
Fooaks frev all pairts o’t coonthry vary se’an,
Clubbed bras te pay for reeting it age’an;
Se’a Ah, mang t’ rest o’t quality, put doon
(For iv’ry lahtle helps thoo knaws) a croon,
Noo se’an as t’ brass was getten, afore lang,
Frev iv’ry pairt a soort o’ chaps did thrang:
Ste’an me’asins, airchitecks, and sike like straight,
All clusthered roond like mennies at a bait,
Soom te leak on and give advice, and Bob
Ne’a doot soom on em com te late a job.
(Brown 1833)

Something to say? Get in touch

12 April 0627: In a triumph for his Kentish wife, Edwin of Northumbria is baptised on Easter Sunday by Paulinus, in the latter’s wooden oratory on the site of York Minster

20 June 1817: Lines spoken by the actor Alexander Cummins at the Leeds Theatre are enacted sooner than he might have wished

24 January 1680: Miners rob, murder and burn a pit-owning nonconformist minister and his mother and maid at Beeston (Leeds)

24 June 1809: Exiled from London to York, the Rev. Sydney Smith promises Lady Holland not to smite the partridge

5 August 1605: Debauched and ruined, Walter Calverley is crushed to death today at York for the murder of two sons at Calverley Hall (Bradford), but is revived by 1830s schoolboy ghost-raisers as the Rev. Samuel Redhead (age ca. 55)

2 October 1800: Part of an obituary to Harry Rowe, Punch and Judy man, trumpeter at the Battle of Culloden and the York assizes, who died today, old and ill, in the York poorhouse

15 December 1888: Frank Kidson longs for Leeds’s musical Christmasses past

3 November 1826: “Nimrod” of London gets to know a coachman during a journey from Leeds to York

30 May 1415: A native God creates, in the York Mystery Plays, the first Yorkshireman and -woman

Order the book:

Subscribe to the free daily email:

Comment

Of all the entries in this almanac, this is the most arbitrary. Peter Meredith, via Margaret Rogerson (Playing a Part in History: The York Mysteries 2009):

There are five key dates that establish our understanding of the functioning of the Play: 1377, 3 the first record of any kind; 1399, the first list of the stations* (the places in the city streets at which the Play was performed); 1415, the first clear statement of its scope and structure; 1433, the date of the Mercers’ indenture that illuminates the nature of the pageant wagon; and 1463-77, the writing of the Register that provides us with almost the complete text of the Play. Perhaps one should add to those 1569, the date of the last performance (Meredith 2000).

But I have no idea whether this text was created or reached this form before or after 1415, though my negligible knowledge of the historical linguistics suggests 15th century York dialect (hence “native God”), exhibiting features from both further south and north. However, if you are prepared to join me in self-deception, then we do know that Easter was 31 March in Julian 1415, and Corpus was thus 30 May.

“Course”/”courses” is ugly, but Canon Purvis’s translation of the first quatrain gets the job done:

In heaven and earth the course is seen
Of five days’ work even unto the end,
I have completed by courses clean;
Methinks the space of them well spent.
(Purvis 1957)

My mistranslation of “fere” is a tribute to Les Dawson:

Les Dawson might have disagreed with the great Canon Purvis' translation of "fere" in his popular version of the York Mystery Plays. ("I discovered the wife's got asthma. Thank God – I thought she was hissing at me.") pic.twitter.com/Zrac5r4Oua

— Leeds' Singing Organ-Grinder (@elorganillero) May 19, 2024

For all the lack of proper dating, I am glad this entry has ended my flirtation with Archbishop’s dating of the creation of Adam Eve to Friday 28 October 4004 B.C.:

And upon the sixth day (October 28, which is our Friday) the living creatures of the earth took their creation, as well going, as creeping creatures. And last of all, man was made and created after the image of God, which consisted principally in the divine knowledge of the mind, and in the natural and proper sanctity of his will. And he forthwith, when all living creatures, by the divine power, were brought before him, as a lord appointed over them, gave them their names, by which they should be called. Among all which, when he found none to help him like to himself, lest he should be destitute of a fit companion, God taking a rib out of his side, while he slept, fashioned it into a woman, and gave her to him for a wife, establishing, withal, a law of marriage between them; then blessing them, he bade them wax and multiply, and gave them dominion over all living creatures, and for them all he provided a large proportion of food and sustenance to live upon. To conclude, sin being not yet entered upon the world, God beheld all that he had made, and, behold, it was exceeding good. And so was the evening, and so was the morning of the sixth day (Ussher 1658).

Something to say? Get in touch