At the east end of the south aisle is Bishop West's chantry (1534), a beautiful chapel in the Late Perpendicular and Renaissance style. The carving is very elaborate, with delicate tracery. This Bishop was the champion and chaplain of Catherine of Arragon, Henry VIII.'s queen. Above his tomb, in seven small niches, are deposited the bones of six Saxon bishops and of Earl Bryhtnoth, killed by the Danes in 991, who exclaimed when he died, "God of Nations, I thank Thee for all the joy I have had in life." Here are the tombs of Bishops Woodford (1885), Sparke (1836), Keene (1781). In the south aisle are--an ancient gravestone of Norman date, representing Michael carrying to heaven the soul of a bishop, with the inscription, "_St. Michael oret pro me_"; Bishop Hotham (1337), Canon Selwyn (1875), Dean Steward (1557), last prior and first dean of Ely; Bishop Gunning (1684), author of _The Prayer for All Conditions of Men_; Bishop Goodrich (1554), a zealous reformer, destroyer of images and shrines, compiler of "Duties to God and Neighbour," in the _Catechism_; Bishop Heton (1609), Dean Tyndall (1614), and other monuments. The _Lady Chapel_ is a superb structure, with its beautiful sculptured work, one of the finest specimens of Decorated architecture in the kingdom in spite of the cruel mutilation to which it was subjected at the Reformation. It was completed in 1349, but the east window is a little later and shows evidence of the approach of the Perpendicular period. An arcade of sculptured canopies runs round the walls, of extremely delicate carving. The mythical history of the Virgin and of Julian the Apostate appear in the spandrels, and the bosses of the roof have some sculptured figures representing the Crucifixion, Ascension, Annunciation, the Virgin crowned, the Virgin and Elizabeth, and some which cannot be distinguished. * * * * * [My thanks are due to the Dean of Ely for his kind assistance in interpreting the history of the Cathedral which he knows and loves so well.] DIMENSIONS Total length 517 ft. Length of nave 230 ft. Breadth of nave 78 ft. Height of vault 70 ft. Length of transept 190 ft. Diameter of octagon 65 ft. Height of west tower 215 ft. Area 46,000 sq. ft. PRINCIPAL BUILDING DATES 1083-1189--Transepts, nave, lower stages of tower, monks' and prior's doorways. 1189-1254--Galilee porch, presbytery, upper stages of tower. 1316-1349--Lady chapel, octagon, choir, windows of triforium of presbytery, buttresses, Prior Crauden's Chapel, stalls. 1388-1534--Highest stage of tower, chapel and some windows. 1699--North-west corner of north transept and doorway. [Illustration PLAN OF ELY CATHEDRAL] NORWICH CATHEDRAL