ous lizards, snails, &c. It is rather a gruesome subject for
contemplation, reminding one of some of the drawings in the Dance of
Death at Basle. Immediately over the body, in the centre of the tomb,
is a massive ogee arch, richly foliated, from which descends a rather
cumbrous pendant--itself ogee in form--which divides the main arch
into equal parts, or arches, with rounded heads. These arches are
again subdivided into two smaller round-headed arches, full of very
fine carved work.

The front of the tomb, as seen from the ambulatory, is composed of a
very fine arch which springs from the piers at the side. Its lower
edge is foliated, and the spandrils are enriched with quatrefoils.

At the top of all is a projecting canopy in three main sections--a
portion of the rest is gone--all of very delicate and intricate carved
work.

In the south ambulatory in the middle one of the three chapels there
is a tomb to _Richard Cheltenham_ [I], who was abbot from 1481-1509.
It is a table tomb in the Perpendicular style, with very rich tracery
enriched with quatrefoils and shields. A depressed arch forms a
canopy, in the spandrils of which are the abbot's initials R.C. and
his pastoral staff.

Almost opposite to this is a depressed arch which supports a mass of
delicate work decorated with vine-leaves and grapes. Over this are
many canopied niches (much mutilated). The images they once contained
have been destroyed. Under the arch is now a coffin of Purbeck
marble, with a cross on the lid, and the inscription "_Johannes Abbas
hujus loci_."

[Illustration: _Photo. A.H. Hughes._
THE SOUTH CHOIR AISLE, LOOKING WEST.]

It is generally assumed that this is the coffin of John Cotes, who
died in 1347. The tomb [H] is supposed to be that referred to by
Leland as that in which some of the remains of Hugh Despenser the
younger, the Earl of Gloucester who was hanged and quartered in
Hereford in 1326--just three months before the murder of Edward II. in
Berkeley Castle--were interred. Close to this tomb, but more to the
east, is a fifteenth century tomb, presumably that of an abbot, but
his name is unknown.

To the east of the door of the chapel which is now used as a vestry,
is another tomb of an unknown abbot. The coffin lid bears a rich
floriated cross, with a representation of an abbot at the one end, and
that of a lamb at the other. The arch over the tomb is crocketed, and
is enriched with a profusion of ball-flower ornamen