Altogether there are, between the western doors and the piers supporting
the tower, twelve arches on each side, one of each series being included
in the choir. Hooks and brackets may be seen in the face of the piers at
about three-quarters of their height; these were formerly used for the
suspension of arras on occasions of great festivity.

It has been practically established that the sculpture at least of the
nave and its vault was not finished for nearly half-a-century after
Wykeham's death. We find Cardinal Beaufort's arms and bust, and his
device, a white hart chained, as well as Waynflete's lily, intermingled
with the arms and bust of Wykeham. Under the triforium gallery is a
cornice, in each compartment of which are to be found seven large
sculptured bosses, representing a cardinal's hat, a lily, roses, etc. Of
the compartments of the clerestory in the nave we have said that they
have the appearance of a very fine Perpendicular window. All, however,
except the upper part of the centre of these seeming windows is really
panel-work. The old Norman main arch of the triforium may be seen behind
this panelling, under the present clerestory windows.

Until recently the mass above pressed very heavily on the nave-vaulting,
but during the last and preceding years (1896-7) the strain has been
relieved by the insertion of new supplementary timbers above the
original Hempage Forest beams, which can still be seen by those who
wish. The cost of this work of repairing the roof and vault has been
about L9000, and so far has not at all exceeded the original estimate.
In August 1897 a large amount still remained to be subscribed. As seen
from below each division of the vault is "bounded by two
vaulting-shafts, which rise to the level of the clerestory window-sill
and send out from above the capital nine diverging ribs to the
ridge-rib, by which the whole vault is divided into a series of bisected
and interlacing lozenges, as the basis for all the groining" (Woodward).

[Illustration: WEST WINDOW, FROM NAVE. _Photochrom Co. Ltd., Photo._]

The general effect of the nave can be gathered from the illustrations,
which bring out well the appearance of height which is bound to impress
the spectator standing near the central western door. In the nave aisles
also a fine view may be obtained, the comparative narrowness
counteracting the lessened height. As one looks down the church towards
the west, it will be noticed that the weste