d in alb and chasuble,
holding a book (signifying, it is said, the statutes of the Benedictine
order), in the left hand; while in the right hand is a crosier. In one
instance this is not very clear. Four have their feet resting on
fanciful creatures, which, in three cases, hold the lower ends of the
crosiers in their mouths. Two of these crosiers, at least, are turned
outwards: this is contrary to the commonly received opinion that the
turning inward symbolised the domestic rule over a monastic house. The
head of one abbot rests on a square cushion. Four of these effigies are
in the south choir aisle; one of them being beneath the Norman
sepulchral arch raised to commemorate three abbots, John de Sais, who
died in 1125, Martin of Bee, in 1155, and Andrew, in 1199. It seems
unlikely that the one placed beneath the arch should represent one of
those three, although usually assigned to the latest, Andrew. The next
two in the aisle were found in the ruins of the old chapter-house, and
brought into the church.[28] The date of the easternmost is known. It is
more richly ornamented than the rest, and the entire coffin is above
ground, with handsome quatrefoils and other carving. This commemorates
Alexander of Holderness, 1226. It was found under the woodwork of the
old choir which was removed in 1830, beneath the second arch, on the
north of the choir. The coffin contained the body, in a large coarse
garment, with boots on, and a crosier in the left hand. The boots were
what are called "rights and lefts," and in fair preservation. The head
was gone. A piece of lead was found inscribed "Abbas: Alexandr:" The
remains were gathered together and re-interred beneath the present
position of the coffin. At the same time in all likelihood the effigy
that was already on the spot (one of those that had been found in the
ruins of the chapter-house) was removed to one of the chapels in the
south transept; from which place it was afterwards moved to the New
Building immediately behind the apse, where now is the monument to
Bishop Chambers; and now it has been put on a stone plinth on the spot
where the coffin of Abbot Alexander was found, under the mistaken
impression that it was the figure found there in 1830.

[Illustration: Portion of Abbot's Tomb.]

The other prae-Reformation memorials are very few. Two have lately been
found concealed by the paving, Abbot Godfrey, 1321, moved from the choir
to the north aisle, and sub-prior Fraunceys