The churches of this city having been completely sacked during the
usurpation of the infamous John of Leyden, present few traces of the
ancient furniture, and they are for the most part fitted up in the
vilest possible taste. But the cathedral has by some good fortune
retained its ancient screen and choir, which, with the exception of the
high altar, remains in its original state. The screen is of stone, most
richly carved, and composed of five bays, the centre one elevated over
the others; under this is an altar, according to German custom, with two
doors leading into the choir on each side. In the two external
compartments there are two other altars, but these I conceive to be
modern additions.
The eastern elevation of this screen, towards the choir, is most
beautiful; there are three richly-canopied stalls at the back of the
altar, and the loft, which is very spacious, is ascended by two openwork
spiral staircases, of most elaborate design. The present rood is modern,
and by no means commensurate in beauty with the screen; but there are
evident marks of the former existence of a very large rood, partly
supported by iron ties from the vaulting.
The lateral screens of the choir are solid, as is universally the case
in cathedral churches; but those which enclose the side chapels are
composed of brass and marble, and were erected in the _seventeenth
century_, at the cost of the then bishop. Altogether, this choir is one
of the most perfect in Germany, and, happily, restored for Catholic
worship, without suffering any modernization.