220 



Edingion Church. 



Augustinian canon, with his head resting 1 on a cushion and his feet 

 on a barrel, Over this rises a canopy with richly groined vaulting, 

 at the front of which is a traceried arch, and at each end a niche. 

 At the back is a blank space which was once apparently filled with 

 a panel of stone or marble about 2|in. thick. The central part 

 being raised suggests the probability that the subject of this panel 

 was the crucifixion. At the front angles of the tomb are niches 

 containing figures of SS. Peter and Paul, with their emblems, the 

 keys and the sword (which, by the way, are the arms of the See of 

 Winchester). The cornice is richly carved with the vine pattern; 

 in the centre above is an angel holding the supposed design or rebus, 

 a branch or sprig growing out of a barrel or tun. On each side of 

 this figure can be traced the section of a destroyed parapet, which 

 was probably pierced or carved. The moulded mensa is enriched by 

 carving — the subjects being the rebus referred to five times repeated, 

 the monogram IB twice repeated, a lamb with the same sprig crossed 

 above its head, and a Tudor rose. The front of the tomb below 

 this is divided into four panels of cusped quatrefoils, in two of 

 which the rebus runs, and in the other two the Tudor flower. Not- 

 withstanding all this symbolism the name of the departed ecclesi- 

 astic has never yet been satisfactorily identified, though many 

 guesses have been made; he was doubtless a benefactor of the 

 monastery. The original rich colouring of red, blue, black, and 

 gold remains on the upper part of the monument, though a good 

 deal of modern ruddle has been added. In re-laying the floor of 

 the south transept a stone-built grave was discovered in front of this 

 altar-tomb ; a piece of the original tile floor in situ under the lowest 

 step of the staircase, and the marks on the wall indicated that the 

 raised altar space against the east wall returned along over this 

 grave. The grave was not disturbed, but there can be little doubt 

 that it is that of the canon whom the monument commemo- 

 rates. 



Under the second arch from the east of the south nave arcade 

 (which, I may mention, is the exact position of Bishop Edington's 

 chantry in Winchester Cathedral) is another monument, perhaps a 

 little later in date, and supposed to be that of Sir Ralph Cheney, 



