51 



Under the window is a beautiful Oak Chest of antique 

 form and workmanship. It formerly stood in the Jerusalem 

 chamber, within the Palace of Westminster, and contained 

 the vestments used by the Priests in the service of West- 

 minster Abbey before the Reformation. 



Over the door leading- to the Manuscript Room, is a 

 most curious Alto-relievo, in stone, brought from Castle 

 Hedingham in Essex, the seat of the Veres Earls of Ox- 

 ford, representing the battle of Bosworth Field; Richard 

 III. lies prostrate on the ground with his crown, under 

 the horse's feet of the conquering Richmond : the achieve- 

 ments of the Knights are emblazoned upon their respective 

 shields, and at the ends of the Alto-relievo stand two figures 

 of Henry VII. and his Queen, by whose marriage the red 

 and white roses were united, and civil war was made to 

 cease in England. 



From the vaulted roof of this Hall hangs a lamp of 

 Bronze and Or Molu; and the whole forms a singular 

 contrast with the Grecian splendour of the suite of apart- 

 ments up stairs. 



THE MANUSCRIPT ROOM, 



is decorated entirely in the Gothic style, the book-cases 

 glazed and ornamented with bronze ornaments, the whole 

 correctly modelled from King Henry Vllth's chapel in 

 Westminster Abbey ; the ceiling is vaulted throughout, and 

 in the centre is a circular shield filled with the armorial 

 bearings of the Grenville, Temple, Nugent, and Chandos 

 families. -The window frames are richly carved in oak, and 



H 2 



