682 
WINDSOR. 
ably improved the edifice which his father had erected, en¬ 
larged it with additional buildings, and, for greater security, 
surrounded the whole with a strong wall. The alterations 
made by this prince were so important and numerous, that 
many writers have given him the honour of founding the 
castle. Henry II. held a council or parliament here in the 
year 1170; and when Richard Cceur de Lion departed, on 
his romantic expedition to the Holy Land, the Bishop of Ely 
' (to whom, in conjunction with the Bishop of Durham, the 
monarch had entrusted the government of his kingdom) 
made it his place of residence. King John also resided here 
during his contest with the barons, who, in the year 1216, 
besieged it without success. In the next reign it was deli¬ 
vered to them by treaty; but in the ensuing year, was sur¬ 
prised, and made the rendezvous of the king’s forces. Ed¬ 
ward III. was also born at Windsor; and to his affection for 
his birth-place the castle is indebted for its present magnitude 
and grandeur. The improvements made by this prince ex¬ 
tended to nearly the whole of the ancient fabric, which, with 
the exception of the three towers at the west end of the 
lower ward, was entirely taken down, and the chief part of 
the structure, as it now stands, erected on its site. In the year 
1357, the celebrated William de Wykeham was appointed 
to superintend the works, with the salary of a shilling daily, 
and three shillings per week for his clerk. The conduct of 
the supervisor obtained the approbation of the monarch, 
who, in 1360, gave him complete authority over every thing 
connected with the castle, as well as the unlimited jurisdic¬ 
tion of the manors of Old and New Windsor. Windsor 
castle is most delightfully situated on the summit of a hill, 
whose base towards the north is laved by the pellucid waters 
of the Thames. The prospects to the east, west, and north, 
are extensive and beautiful, being enlivened by the windings 
of the river, and variegated with elegant mansions, luxuriant 
meadows, and gentle eminences, covered with the rich 
foliage of innumerable woods. On the south, the view is 
bounded by the wild and picturesque scenery of the forest. 
On the declivity of the hill on which the castle is built, is 
a terrace, faced with a rampart of freestone, being 1870 teet 
long. Adjoining this walk is a gate leading into the parks, 
which are four miles in circumference, and surrounded by a 
brick wall. The castle is divided into two courts or wards, 
with a large round tower or keep between them, the whole 
occupying about 12 acres of land, and having many batteries 
and towers for its defence. The upper court is a spacious 
quadrangle, composed of the round tower on the west, the 
private apartments of their majesties, &e. on the south and 
east, and the royal apartments, usually shewn to strangers, 
St. George’s-hall, and the chapel royal, on the north. Beneath 
the statue is a curious hydraulic engine, to draw water for the 
castle. The keep or tower is the lodging of the constable or 
governor, built in the form of an amphitheatre, ascended 
by a flight of stone steps. Here is the guard-room or maga¬ 
zine for arms, curiously arranged. Over the chimney is 
carved in lime-wood, the star and garter, encompassed with 
daggers and pistols. These consist of whole, half, and 
quarter pikes, with bandoleers of various figures, and some 
of the first matchlocks that ever were constructed. The pil¬ 
lars of the door which leads to the dining-room, are com¬ 
posed of pikes, on the tops of which are two coats of mail, 
said to have been worn by John, king of France, and David, 
king of Scotland, when prisoners in the castle. They are 
inlaid with gold: that belonging to the former prince is 
ornamented with J/eurs des /is; that worn by the latter 
with thistles. The lower court is larger than the upper, and 
is divided into two parts by St. George’s chapel, which stands 
in the middle, and is reckoned one of the finest Gothic 
structures of the kind known. On the north side of this 
court are the houses and apartments of the dean and canons, 
and other officers; and on the west side are the houses of the 
poor knights of Windsor. These poor knights, 18 in num¬ 
ber, have a premium of 18/. per annum, and annually a gown 
of scarlet cloth, with a mantle of blue or purple cloth, on 
the sleeve of which is. embroidered the cross of St, George. 
The royal apartments are on the north side of the court, 
called the star building, from having the star and garter in 
gold on the outside. The entrance is from the upper ward, 
through a handsome vestibule, which has undergone a total 
alteration, from designs by Mr. James Wyatt. Almost every 
room in this division of the castle is ornamented with paint¬ 
ings. Many of these, however, are not original; and others 
are of inferior merit. The first room is called the queen’s 
guard chamber, the ceiling ornamented with the figure of 
Britannia, in the person of queen Catherine of Portugal, 
consort of Charles II. seated on a globe, bearing the arms of 
England and Portugal; with many beautiful accompanying 
paintings: here is curiously disposed a variety of warlike 
instruments. The queen’s presence chamber contains por¬ 
traits of James I. by Vandyck, and Edward 111. and his son 
the Black Prince, by Belcamp. The ceiling also represents 
queen Catherine, attended by the virtues, supported by Fame, 
sounding the happiness of Britain, &c. On the ceiling is 
also the queen’s person, as Britannia in a car, drawn by 
Swans, The tapestry of this room is of a rich gold ground, 
made at Coblentz, and presented to Henry VIII. The 
canopy is of velvet: here are also beautiful paintings by the 
most celebrated masters. On the ceiling of the ball-room, 
Charles II. is represented giving freedom to Europe; and the 
tapestry represents the 12 months of the year. In this room 
is a large silver table. The queen’s drawing room is beau¬ 
tifully decorated with paintings, and hung with tapestry, 
representing the seasons of the year. In the queen’s bed¬ 
chamber, the ceiling represents the story of Endymion and 
Diana, from Ovid. The state bed was set up by order of 
queen Charlotte; the inside is of white satin, and the curtains 
a pale green, beautifully embroidered: it is said to have cost 
14,000/. The room of beauties is so named, from being a 
collection of portraits of the most celebrated beauties in the 
reign of Charles II.; 14 in number. The queen’s dressing- 
room is neatly fitted up, and hung with a tapestry of British 
manufacture. Belonging to this room is a closet, in which 
is deposited the banner of France. This is annually presented 
on the 2d of August, by the heir of the great duke of Marl¬ 
borough. By the observance of this tenure, the possession of 
the magnificent palace of Blenheim, which was built at the 
expense of the nation, and given to the duke as a reward for 
his services, is continued in that family. In this apartment 
also are some beautiful cabinet pictures, particularly two 
heads, finely penciled, by Denner; a pair of landscapes, 
Teniers; an old woman watering flowers, Gerard Douw; 
and the inside of a cottage, with a girl playing on a spinnet, 
Mieris: the pictures of this artist are always finished with 
extraordinary care and minuteness of penciling. The tea 
equipage that belonged to queen Anne is likewise preserved 
in this closet. The king’s audience chamber is fitted up and 
furnished in the most elegant manner. The throne and its 
appendages are constructed with much taste; but the most 
valuable decorations of this apartment are the seven his¬ 
torical paintings, illustrative of the principal events which 
distinguished the reign of Edward III. These interesting 
pictures were executed by command of his late majesty. 
The whole of these paintings are by Mr. West, who executed 
them in the years 1787, 1788, and 1789. The king’s pre¬ 
sence chamber is ornamented with several portraits. In the 
king’s guard chamber is a great variety of warlike instru¬ 
ments, fancifully disposed in columns, pillars, circles, shields, 
and other devices. Among the coats of mail is one that was 
worn by Edward the Black Prince. In this room are also 
eight views of battles, sieges, &c. by Rugendas; and a por¬ 
trait of Charles XI. king of Sweden, by Van Wyck. The 
monarch is pourtrayed on a prancing steed. In the back 
ground is a representation of a battle, rendered admirable 
by its grouping, colouring, and spirited drawing. In this 
apartment is the flag annually sent on the 18th of June, by 
the duke of Wellington in commemoration of the battle of 
Waterloo. On the ceiling of the room formerly the king’s 
bed-chamber, is a painting of Charles II. in the robes of the 
garter, under a canopy, supported by Time, Jupiter, and 
Neptune: 
