The jubé was supported by eight pillars; on either side of the choir
entrance an altar; it was ascended by a staircase on the Gospel side.
The following notice respecting the jubé occurs in the records of the
cathedral:—
"En 1382, le chapitre fit marché pour la construction du jubé avec Henri
Nardau et Henri de Bruxelles, moyennant cinq sous par jour, ou un mouton
d'or par semaine. La première pierre fut posée et bénie par l'Evêque
Pierre d'Arcys, le 22 Avril, 1383; il donna la somme de cinq livres pour
présent; l'ouvrage ne fut cependant commencé qu'en 1385, et achevé
entièrement qu'en 1400. L'image de S. Pierre, qui était au côté de la
porte, fut faite par Maître Drouin de Mantes, moyennant cinq livres, et
celle de S. Paul, par Maître Gérard, qui eut six livres; quatre
chanoines firent les frais de ces statues.
"On lit dans les comptes de l'œuvre de 1383, l'article suivant, qui
prouverait qu'un concours avait été ouvert pour le projet du jubé:—
"'Primo pour ung pourtrait fait en parchemin pour ledit jubé, par Henry
de Bruisselles, maçon, don commend. de Messigneurs pour monstrer aux
bourgois, et aux ouvriers de la ville encontre ung aultre pourtrait,
fait par Michelin le maçon, auquel pourtrait, fait par ledit Henry,
lesdiz bourgois et ouvriers se sont tenus pour être le meilleur pour ce
paie audit Henry don commend. de Messigneurs, xx s.'"
This screen remained perfect till 1793, when it was destroyed by the
revolutionists.
It is worthy of remark that the ancient altar, erected by Bishop Odard
Henequin, surrounded with curtains, supported by rods attached to brass
pillars surmounted by angels, was demolished by the chapter in 1780, to
substitute one of modern design; and within twelve years from that time
the clergy were dispersed, and the church in the hands of the infidels.
Behind this high altar was a raised loft of carved wood-work, richly
painted and gilt, in which the shrines of S. Helene and S. Savinien were
placed. The access to this loft was by a circular staircase on the
Gospel side, and a corresponding one to descend on the Epistle, to
prevent confusion when great numbers of the faithful visited the relics
or the feasts.
The great relics of the Sainte Chapelle, at Paris, were reserved in a
similar loft behind the high altar, and the circular staircases, of
beautiful design, have been recovered, and restored to their original
destination.
_Account of the Jubés formerly standing in the Churches of Troyes._
That of the cathedral already described.
The jubé of the collegiate church of S. Stephen was constructed in 1549,
by Dominic Rocour, a Florentine, and Gabriel Fabro, masons of Troyes. It
was composed of three arches, or porticos, of the Corinthian order,
surmounted by an attic, decorated with bas-relievi and images.
Demolished in 1792.
The jubé of the Cordeliers' church was of stone, supported by Doric
pillars, and enriched with gilt ornaments. Demolished with the church in
1793.
The jubé of the Jacobins' church was constructed in wood; the front was
decorated with bas-relievi and other ornaments, painted and gilt. It was
pulled down, by order of the prior, J. B. Pitras, to open the choir.
The jubé of the abbatial church of S. Martin was also of wood, richly
painted and gilt. It was pulled down by order of the prior, François
Robin, in the year 1760, as he thought it looked too ancient (il le
trouvait trop ancien). Thus, of these rood lofts, three were destroyed
by the revolutionists, and two by the bad taste of two unworthy priors
of the _eighteenth_ century.
The jubé of the parochial church of S. Mary Magdalene yet remains
perfect; it is of late date and florid design, but exceedingly beautiful
in execution.
The subjoined account, as well as the foregoing details, is taken from
Monsʳ. Arnaud's Voyage dans le Département de l'Aube.[15]