ouched for sixty-nine years, his very bones were consumed with
rottenness, and nearly all reduced to powder. The length of time, the damp
vestments, the natural frigidity of lead, and above all the frailty of the
human structure, had conspired to produce this corruption. But the larger
bones, with the remaining dust, were collected in a leaden coffer, and
deposited at the altar of St. Martin." Queen Ediva, as we learn from the
same authority, "who before the fire reposed under a gilted _feretrum_ in
nearly the middle of the south cross, was now deposited at the altar of
St. Martin, under the _feretrum_ of Living," an archbishop who died in
1020. Ediva, the wife of Edward the Elder, and a generous benefactress
to the cathedral, died about 960.

From an early list of the subjects represented in the windows of the
cathedral, it appears that the north windows of the north-east transept
depicted the Parable of the Sower. The ancient glass, however, has been
displaced, and a good deal of it has been moved to the windows of the
north choir aisle, between the transept and the Chapel of the Martyrdom,
which are of great beauty, and should be examined carefully. In the
transept itself are windows in memory of Dean Stanley, Dr. Spry, and
Canon Cheshyre.

On the wall of the choir aisle, close to the transept, we can trace the
remains of a fresco representing the conversion of St. Hubert. Further on,
there hangs a picture, by Cross, which is intended to represent the murder
of Becket. As a work of art it is not without merit, but its details are
entirely inaccurate.

#The North-West Transept, or Chapel of the Martyrdom.#--The actual site
of the tragedy which rendered Becket and his cathedral famous throughout
Christendom was the North-West Transept, or as it was more commonly called
the Chapel of the Martyrdom. Hardly any portion, however, of this
structure as it stands actually witnessed the murder. In the time of
Becket the transept was of two storeys, divided by a vault, which was
upheld by a single pillar. The upper partition was dedicated to St.
Blaise, and the lower to St. Benedict. In the west wall, as now, was
a door which opened into the cloister.

[Illustration: THE MARTYRDOM, NORTH-WEST TRANSEPT.]

The story of Becket and his quarrel with Henry II. will be dealt with
in the next chapter. But before examining the spot on which he was
assassinated it is perhaps fitting to recall the events which immediately
preceded hi