CHAPTER V. EXTRACTS FROM RECORDS ILLUSTRATIVE OF DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE IN THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY. THE contents of this chapter are principally derived from an invaluable series of records, called the "Liberate Rolls," preserved in the Tower of London; but a few of the documents have been taken from the Close Rolls. These authorities had, hitherto, escaped the notice of all previous writers on architectural history, although a few extracts from them, relating to painting in England, were printed by Horace Walpole; and, more recently, the whole of the passages illustrating that department of art were published, in the original Latin, by Sir Charles L. Eastlake". The following pages comprise all the really important documents, referring to the architectural works executed by order of Henry the Third, which are to be found in the records alluded to. It was considered advisable to present them to the reader in an English form; but whenever a word of doubtful import occurred in the original, it has been preserved in a foot-note. It should be observed that, in all probability, these documents were drawn up from the verbal orders of the king, who frequently refers in them to the oral instructions he had given to his various officers. Henry did more to advance the progress of art than any English sovereign anterior to Edward the Third. In addition to his works at the abbey and palace of Westminster, he repaired, or entirely rebuilt, most of the numerous manor-houses belonging to the crown, besides contributing largely to the improvement of parish churches in all parts In his "Anecdotes of Painting." Oil Painting." The translation is almost literal. of the kingdom. His architectural taste was not inherited by his successor; after the accession of Edward the First the Liberate Rolls cease to afford any important information relative to the fine arts. LIBERATE ROLL, 17 HENRY III. G. de Craucumbe is ordered, out of the issues of the manor of Woodstock, to cause the wainscoting of the king's great chamber there to be painted of a green colour, and the picture in the same chamber, which is darkened in parts, to be re-touched, and windows (shutters) of fire to be made for the same chamber, well bound with iron. Woodstock, January 7. The keeper of the king's houses at Woodstock is ordered to cause to be painted in the king's round chapel at Woodstock, with good colours, the Majesty of the Lord, and the four Evangelists, and the figure of St. Edmund on one side, and the figure of St. Edward on the other, and to cause two new glass casements to be made there. Windsor, January 27. f The sheriff of Kent is commanded to cause the king's two cellars in the castle of Rochester to be ceiled, viz., the cellar beneath the king's great chamber, and the cellar under the king's wardrobe. Westminster, February 23. The king to the keeper of the manor of Kennington. We command you to cause the chimney of our chamber at Kennington to be rebuilt, and those things which need repair in our other houses there to be repaired; and the chapel of our chamber to be painted with "histories," so that the field shall be of a green colour stencilled with gold stars; and cause the windows and stairs to be repaired. Kennington, March 17. d retentari. e sap. f verrinas novas. * gradus. The men of Feckenham are commanded, out of the farm of their township, to cause Walter of Swaffham, the serjeant of Feckenham, to have monies to make four upright windows in the hall at Feckenham, to wainscote the king's chapel there behind the chancel-altar, and to repair the aforesaid hall, chamber, and chapel, and the king's other houses. Kidderminster, June 3. The sheriff of Southampton is ordered to cause the king's wainscoted chamber, in the castle of Winchester, to be painted with the same "histories" and pictures with which it was before painted. Same date. The sheriff of Shropshire is commanded to cause the stable of the castle of Bridgenorth, and the kitchen within the barbican of the tower of the same castle, to be repaired. Worcester, June 14. The sheriff of Southampton is commanded to cause windows to be made in the king's painted chamber within the castle of Winchester, which is too dark, according to the plan of master Elias of Dereham, and to cause the wainscote of the same chamber to be painted with green colour. Woodstock, June 21. i The sheriff of Oxford is ordered to cause the pictures which remain to be done in the king's great bed-chamber* at Woodstock to be finished, and the Crucifixion, and the figures of St. Mary and St. John to be painted in the great chapel; and he is to cause the aisles' of the great hall at Woodstock to be unroofed, and re-covered with shingles, and to repair the houses at the well, and roof them, and to buy fir-boards to put about the well there. Woodstock, June 24. It is ordered of the sheriff of Hereford that at the head of the "oriel" of the king's chamber in the castle of Here h estantinas: a term of doubtful import. i alas. k talamo. 1 secundum dispositionem. ad capud oriolli. |