114 Notes on the Heraldry of Salisbury Cathedral. 
builders of Salisbury Cathedral were content to build as well as 
they could with the money at their disposal, without calling in the 
aid of heraldic art as an additional luxury of adornment, a reason 
which’ possibly would not weigh with a wealthy community such 
as the Abbey of Westminster. But if the building itself is not 
heraldic, it possesses many great monuments which are. You will 
scarcely expect me to enumerate all the heraldic monuments in the 
cathedral. I have not the time to make, nor could I tax your 
patience so far as to expect you to listen to, a bare enumeration of 
all the coats of arms in the building. Let me then beg your 
attention while I speak of six great monuments, belonging respec- 
tively to the thirteenth and five following centuries. 
The first of these is the famous timber altar-tomb supporting the 
stone effigy of William Longespée, Earl of Salisbury, son of Henry 
II. and Rosamund Clifford. 'This monument stands on the “ stone 
bench” between the two easternmost pillars on the south side of 
the nave, where it was placed by the ingenious Mr. Wyatt after 
its impious removal by him from the north side of the Lady Chapel 
during his disastrous “ restoration”’ at the end of the last century. 
The earl, who died in 1226, is represented in a complete suit of 
chain mail, carved with extraordinary fidelity, the body being 
covered from neck to knee with a loose surcoat confined at the 
waist by a narrow belt, the latter supporting the long sword which 
gave the earl his surname. On his left arm is the great war shield 
reaching very nearly from the shoulder to below the knee, charged 
with the arms of Longespée—Azure, six lioncels rampant or, 3, — 
2, 1. On the shield the charges are carved in relief; on the 
surcoat they were simply painted flat. Traces of colour and gilding 
are still quite plainly visible on both. 
Let us cross now to the north side of the nave, where, on the 
plinth in the second bay to the east of the north porch, rests—only 
temporarily, it is to be hoped—the monument of Sir John Montacute, — 
younger son of William, first Earl of Salisbury of this family, who 
died in 1390. His tomb, desecrated and placed in its present — 
position by Wyatt, formerly stood on the north side of the Lady 
Chapel, apparently against the wall, though Gough places it on the 
