when
Lord Ralph Neville obtained that distinction for himself and his wife,
the Lady Alice de Neville, who was buried in 1374. This monument
occupies the third sub-bay from the east, on the south side of the nave.
It is an altar tomb, and though it has suffered severely from mutilation
during the unsettled times of the Reformation, sufficient remains to
enable us to see that it was once a well-designed and noble monument.
Its mouldings are bold, and there are indications of the places where
figures were once attached to the sides. The recumbent effigies of the
noble lord and his wife, on the top of the tomb, are, however,
hopelessly smashed. It is probable that Lord Ralph Neville obtained this
honour for himself through his services and victory at the Battle of
Neville's Cross, near Durham, in 1346. In the next bay westward is the
tomb of Lord John Neville, who died in 1386. This is also an altar tomb,
and has suffered severely, though it remains in a better state of
preservation than the one just described. Its sides each have six
niches, with elaborately ornamented canopies, and containing figures,
while the ends have three similar niches with figures. The carving of
the canopies is exceedingly beautiful. Between each of the niches are
two square panels with trefoiled heads, each panel bearing a shield with
the arms of Neville and Percy. Both above and below the niches much
delicate carving may be noticed. Surmounting all are the broken effigies
of Lord John and his wife, who was the daughter of Lord Henry Percy, the
well-known Hotspur. All the figures on this tomb, including the
recumbent figures, are headless, but sufficient remains to show that
they were of great excellence. Remains of colouring and gilding can also
be distinguished in places on the monument.

Close to this is the slab and matrix of a brass to Robert Neville, who
was bishop of the diocese from 1438 to 1457. The brass has all been
removed, but the matrix shows a dignified figure of the bishop holding a
crozier and a scroll, while an inscription formerly existed on a plate
at his feet. Bishop Neville was known for his generous qualities, as
well as for his high descent.

In the western wall, on its south side, near to the entrance to the
Galilee, is a mural tablet to a former Prebendary in the cathedral, and
a well-known antiquary, Sir George Wheler, who died in the latter part
of the seventeenth century. On the northern side is a slab to the
memo