92

Plate XXX.—jRttgtS!.—The diversity of forms into which door-furniture has been resolved, is almost endless. Many of the ancienthinges were not only wrought into scrolls and other florid devices, butoccasionally further enriched with inscriptions. On a hinge of thechurch-door at Mountnessing, Essex , was the following, “ Jesvs • Na-zarenvs • Rex • Noster,” &c.

In Solomon’s house the hinges were of gold, “ both for the doors ofthe inner house and the most holy place.”*

Although the foregoing Plates and observations illustrate nearly everyfeature of Tudor buildings applicable to modern purposes, there yetremain to be noticed two apartments of the palace and ancient manor-house in which the great lord’s wealth and magnificence were chiefly dis-played : these were the Hall and the Chapel , both now fallen almost whollyinto disuse.f Much, indeed, of old state ceremony was laid aside so earlyas Henry the Eighth’s reign, as appears from a new set of “ Ordenauncesfor the kinge’s household and chambres,” issued by Cardinal Wolsey about the year 1526. In the chapter “ For keeping the Hall andordering of the Chapel, ” it is set forth, that “ by the frequent intermissionand disuse of the solemnities of dining and supping in the great Hall of

* 1 Kings, vii. 50.

t The hall at Lambeth Palace is generally supposed to be the last erected in England.This was in fact a rebuilding by Archbishop Juxon, who, as well as being the last hall-builder,was the last prelate in England who kept a pack of hounds.