Page:Hutton, William Holden - Hampton Court (1897).djvu/121

This page has been validated.
THE PALACE IN 1598
65

"Hampton Court, a royal palace, magnificently built with brick by Cardinal Wolsey in ostentation of his wealth, where he enclosed five very ample courts, consisting of noble edifices in very beautiful work. Over the gate in the second area is the Queen's device, a golden rose, with this motto, 'Dieu et mon Droit:' on the inward side of this gate are the effigies of the twelve Roman emperors in plaster. The chief area is paved with square stone; in its centre is a fountain that throws up water, covered with a gilt crown, on the top of which is a statue of Justice, supported by columns of black and white marble. The chapel of this palace is most splendid, in which the Queen's closet is quite transparent, having its windows of crystal. We were led into two chambers, called the presence or chambers of audience, which shone with tapestry of gold and silver and silk of different colours. Under the canopy of state are these words embroidered in pearl, 'Vivat Henricus Octavus' Here is besides a small chapel richly hung with tapestry, where the Queen performs her devotions. In her bed-chamber the bed was covered with very costly coverlids of silk: at no great distance from this room we were shown a bed, the tester of which was worked by Anne Boleyn, and presented by her to her husband, Henry VIII. All the other rooms, being very numerous, are adorned with tapestry of gold, silver, and velvet, in some of which were woven history pieces; in others, Turkish and American dresses, all extremely natural.

"In the hall are these curiosities: