[Illustration:  Steps from north transept, Winchester.]

The magnificent reredos was erected by Cardinal Beaufort; it is, of course, restored.  “The wretches who worked their evil will with this beautiful relic of piety had actually chiselled the ornament down to a plane surface and filled the concavities with plaster.”  It bore at one time the golden diadem of Canute; behind it stood the splendid silver shrine of St. Swithun, decorated with “the cross of emeralds, the cross called Hierusalem” and who shall say what other gifts of piety and devotion, all to become the spoils of that arch-iconoclast—­Thomas Cromwell.

Bishop Fox’s chantry was built during his lifetime.  It is on the south side of the reredos, Gardiner’s being on the north.  Behind the reredos are the chantries of Bishop Waynflete and of the great Cardinal Beaufort.  The latter claims attention for its graceful beauty and the peculiarities of character shown in the face of the effigy within.  He is termed by Dean Kitchin, who draws attention to the “money-loving” nose, the “Rothschild of his day.”  Beaufort was the representative of England among the judges that condemned St. Joan of Arc to the flames and, at the time of writing, a memorial to the Maid is in course of preparation, to be set up near the Cardinal’s tomb; an appropriate act of contrition and reparation.  Beyond the space at the back of the reredos is the Early English Lady Chapel with an interesting series of wall paintings depicting the story of our Lady.  Here is the chair used by Mary I at her wedding.  Although it is unusual to praise anything modern, the beautiful stained glass in this part of the cathedral, forming a complete design, must be admired by the most confirmed “antiquary.”

It is in the transepts that the earlier architecture can be seen at its best.  This is nearly all pure Norman work, as is that of the crypt.  It has been suggested that the latter antedates the Conquest so far as the base of the walls is concerned.  Here is an ancient well which may have served the defenders during the Danish siege.

On the wall of the north transept is a large painted figure of St Christopher.  The chapel of the Holy Sepulchre (about 1350) stands between the transept and the choir.  In the south transept Izaak Walton rests beneath a black marble slab in Prior Silkstede’s chantry.

The epitaph, written by Bishop Ken, may be quoted: 

  Alas!  HEE’S gone before
  gone, to RETURNE Noe more;
  our panting hearts aspire
  after their aged sire,
  whose well-spent life did last
  full Ninety years and past.
  But now he hath begun
  that which will NERE be done: 
  CROWN’D with eternal BLISSE,
  we wish our souls with his.