By C. E. Pouting, RS.A. 



231 



that village was begun in 1352, and there is very little doubt it was 

 built by him, as the style of architecture is the same which the bishop 

 was at that very time beginning to introduce as a novelty into 

 Winchester Cathedral. On the walls are to be seen the crosses 

 which were sprinkled by the bishop at the dedication. 



Edington was a noble benefactor to the Cathedral,, and began the 

 great work of re-building the nave, but, not living to finish it, he 

 left by his will a considerable sum of money with which William of 

 Wykeham was enabled to carry it on. 



The " Somerset Herald " states that there were three coats of arms 

 assigned to William de Edington, but as to these he should un- 

 questionably take the evidence of his seal, especially when confirmed, 

 as it is, in two instances within his Cathedral. These arms are : — 

 on a cross engrailed, five cinque/ oils, but whether the field is lozengy 

 or merely diapered, he cannot say. According to Burke the arms of 

 Edington Priory, Wiltshire, 1 are: — on a cross engrailed gules, five 

 cinquefoils of the field. The examples of the bishop's shield of arms 

 in the Cathedral are on the course above the arch facing his chantry, 

 and also on a boss of the second bay from the west in the north 

 aisle. The second coat of arms assigned him was : — azure, two lions 

 passant or, in a bordure argent, which is emblazoned on one of the 

 windows in the County Hall. The other is: — azure, two lions 

 passant guardant, argent, within a bordure gules. The seal is a small 

 circular one ; its device is the bishop kneeling to S. Catherine under 

 an elegant canopy, and his arms on a shield in base, five cinquefoUs 

 on a cross engrailed ; round it, Sigillum Willelm Wyntoniensis epi. 



Round the marble slab of the tomb, on an inlay of brass, is a 

 Latin inscription, which can be thus translated :— 



William, born at Edington, is here interred, 

 He was a well beloved prelate, and Winchester was his see, 

 You, who pass by his tomb, remember him in your prayers ; 

 He was discreet and mild, yet a match for thousands in knowledge and sagacity. 

 He was a watchful guardian of the English nation ; 

 A tender father of the poor, and a defender of theiv rights. 

 To one thousand, add three hundred, with fifty, ten, five and one, 

 Then the eighth* of October will mark the time when he became a saint. 



1 There was recently a piece of glass in North Bradley Church with these arms. 

 • Canon Jackson gives the date as the seventh of October, 1366. 



VOL. XXV. NO. LXXIV. R 



