olent that the columns in the interior of the building
threatened for a moment to fall down. But a very favourable
circumstance happened in 1292, which was the surrender of the
_[OE]uvre-Notre-Dame_ to the magistrate of the city, who was
henceforth charged with the management of the revenues allotted
to the keeping in repair of the Church and consequently also to
the completion of it. A few years after, in 1298, a new
misfortune happened to the Cathedral. A fire, caused by the
imprudence of a cavalier of Albert I, during the sojourn of that
prince at Strasburg, consumed all the timberwork and threatened
even the pillars and walls. However the damage was promptly
repaired. In 1302 a bloody conflict between two citizens of the
town, which took place in the very chancel of the church,
required again a new consecration of it.

[1] They still preserve in the records of the convent of the
_[OE]uvre Notre-Dame_ several old drawings on parchment of the
facade and towers; these curious designs belong to different
epochs; according to the opinion of the _connaisseurs_, the
oldest would most likely be that of Erwin himself.

[2] _Anno Domini MCCLXXVII in die beati Urbani hoc gloriosum
opus inchoavit magister Erwinus de Steinbach._ This inscription
was formerly placed in the vault of the northern portal.

[3] In a letter of indulgence.

After the death of bishop Conrad of Lichtenberg, who in the year
1299 was killed in a battle near Friburg, his brother and
successor, Frederic, showed no less ardour for the continuation
of this building; in 1303 he invited the curates throughout
Alsacia to exhort those of their faithful parishioners who had
horses and carts, to convey stones for the edifice; in 1308 the
magistrate of Strasburg, no doubt at the request of bishop John,
promised freepasses to all those who would bring stones or wood,
and he secured wine and wheat for the workmen.

Erwin superintended the works until 1318, when he died on the
14th of January. All the children of this grand master were
artists worthy of him: Sabina, his daughter, carved several
statues for the Cathedral; one of his sons, who died in 1330,
built the fine church of Haslach; his other son, John, succeeded
him in directing the works of the Cathedral, and he died in 1339.
In 1331 bishop Berthold of Bucheck built the chapel of saint
Catherine, which also contains his tomb. The disturbances and
calamities that desolated Strasburg duri