Heraldry in the Chapter House of York Minster

Thursday, June 15, at 6:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium

In April 1298 King Edward I of England ordered his nobles, barons, senior clerics, and chief officials to assemble in the chapter house of York Minster. Edward was organizing an army to invade Scotland and had summoned his advisors to plan the campaign. The chapter house had recently been built and the stained glass in its magnificent windows contains the coats of arms of some of the key players at this historic event. In an illustrated talk, Adrian Smythies of Medieval Yorkshire Tours imagines the lively scenes of this assembly: Edward arguing with the stormy Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk; the eager minor barons competing for promotion; the nervous Chancellor wondering how on earth to finance the crippling cost of war.