lls above-mentioned will be found
to reach on either side from the eastern piers of the central tower to
the first piers of the nave. They are of carved oak and are possibly the
best existing examples of their date in England. The style is Early
Decorated, and Willis points out the similarity between their canopies
and gables and those of Edward Crouchback's chapel in Westminster Abbey.
The details are varied and graceful, with the design of each pair
coupled under a pointed arch with a cinquefoil in its head, which is
again surmounted by a high crocketted gable. The oak has turned a superb
hue with age, very different from the colour of the modern screen which
is banked by the reveals of the old bishop's throne. The _misereres_
below are much earlier in date than the canopies, but do not go quite so
far back as those at Exeter, which may be assigned to about 1230. The
desks and stools of the upper tier show the date 1540 and bear also the
initials of Henry VIII., Bishop Gardiner, and Dean Kingsmill. The pulpit
on the north side of the choir was given by Prior Silkstede, whose name
it bears, and is also of finely carved work. Above the choir stalls on
the northern side is the organ, which was repaired this year.

[Illustration: THE CHOIR, LOOKING EAST. _H.W. Salmon, Photo._]

Toward the east end of the choir stalls, in the centre of the pavement,
lies the much-disputed #Tomb of William Rufus#. It is a plain coped
tomb, constructed of Purbeck marble. Since it was known that William was
buried originally beneath the tower, this tomb was assumed to be his,
and in Cromwell's time it was violated, when, as Milner relates, there
was found therein, "besides the dust, some pieces of cloth embroidered
with gold, a large gold ring, and a small silver chalice." The very fact
of these discoveries, however, tend to prove that the grave was not that
of Rufus. It is now frequently held that it is that of Henry of Blois,
who is known to have been buried "with much honour before the high
altar"; Rudborne records that he was _sepultus in ecclesia sua coram
summo altari_. Yet others suppose that he still lies in the space
_before_ the altar. The ring found in Cromwell's time, set with a
sapphire which denotes a bishop, may be seen in the cathedral library.
When the contents of the tomb were last examined, on August 27, 1868,
the remains, though much disturbed by the previous violation, indicated
a man of about 5 feet 8 inches, and fragmen