KING JOHNS HOUSE AT TOLLARD ROYAL. 1 5 



glass in them, and the wide splay inside gave command to the 

 crossbow men and archers within of a wide stretch without in 

 the event of a sudden attack being made on the house. '^' 



In the solar above, in the King's chamber (if I may be allowed 

 to speak of it as such throughout these notes), it was safe to have 

 larger windows, and the windows are here of two lights (L.M.). 

 They had some protection from their height above ground, and 

 if the light zvas sometimes dim and the King was inclined to read 

 he could occupy one of those stone seats, which no doubt was 

 well cushioned, in the window there.f 



In the south-west end of the lower room is an aumbrey, or 

 locker (F.), where the King's relics and valuables could be kept 

 under guard during his stay. When discovered the original 

 hinges were upon the hooks. 



The openings (A.J.) in the north-east end wall were evidently 

 made in Tudor times to give access to the Tudor additions 

 (R.W.) to the original house, and the doorway (H.) probably 

 dates from the same time, the porch (X.) outside it being later. 

 The large window (B.) is also Tudor, and the windows (D.E.) are 

 the original slits enlarged at some time. 



The thirteenth century entrance to the lower room was by the 

 archway (G.) ; there was almost certainly a porch outside it, and 

 above the porch a small chamber, an ante-chamber to the King's 

 chamber, to which there was access by means of outside steps. 

 The additions (S.V.) which have been made on this side seem to 

 have been made on the foundations of these steps. There are 

 certainly some ancient foundations here. 



The door at the south-west end of the King's chamber (N.) 

 was not an entrance to the chamber, but the door of a camera 



* In the course of my search in the Close Rolls I came across an order to the 

 bailiff for the payment of the King's crossbowmen (probably the chief of them) 

 at Cranborne. The order is dated Dec. 15th, 1213. The King was at Crauborne 

 six days in that year, and it was the last time he visited it. 



t In the note on the thirteenth century house at Barnestone in the last volume 

 (Vol. XXII., page Ixv.), there is a drawing of a window with the characteristic 

 stone seats in it ; the window there has not been restored as these have been. 



