Windsor Castle.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 July 1910, Page 4

Windsor Castle.

PAGES FROM THE STORY OF ITS ROMANTIC PAST. In Edward ll.'a day the story was euriwt that Windsor stood on the site of King Arthur's Castle, whore kilo Order of the Jioutul Table was instituted. Fraissart says tliiaifc King Edward "resolved to rebuild and embellish the great castlo at Windsor which King Ailthur had first founded in timo past, and where he erected and established that noblo Hound Table, whence so many gallant knights had (issued forth and displayed the valiant prowess of their deed at arms to all tho world." The tradition had no doubt grown out of the wish to identify the home of the English kings with the name and fame of Arthur. Til truth, it was William tho Conqueror who realised the great strength for ofFemee and defence of tho chalk mound oi) .which Windsor stands. Edward the Confessor had owned an old wooden palace at Wyndleshora, but this was a huniting lodge in the forest two niiles lower down the river. Edward left the property to Westminster Ah bey in the .hope of securing favour in the next world. Williiain the Conqueror effected an exchange with the monks and buiilt a castle 011 tho hiU, added to by successive English kings. Toward IT., known as Edward of Windsor, who was iborn there, made the old castle a house of residence, for the deans and canons of the church, then dedicated to Edward the Confessor, and ordered William of Wykeham to build a. new palace up the hill for his own use. William of Wvkeham, it may ibe mentioned, earned tho princely salary of 0110 shilling a day and his hoard. ORIGIN OF THE GARTER. There are many hoary tales about the foundation of tho Order of the Garter, but Edward certainly had b mind King Arthur's Round Table. In 1344 lie invited knights from all over Europe to a Round Ta,ble and ['east of Chivalry ait Windsor. There n-ere tournaments and hastiludes, and the festival was repeated year by year. It is an,id that tho, table, set nn tho Round Tower, was 200 feet in diameter, and that giay ladies, whose doings caused somo'scandal, assisted at these festivities. _1 he Order itself was inaugurated 111 1349. and Iving Edward bore at ■the ceremony a white swan with the device,' Hay hay, the White Swan: uy God s soul, T am thy man." Mwaird IV. began tho rebuilding of Edwaixls TIL s church, which had fallen into ruin, hut tho major part tt ttt? executed under Henrv \IT. and Henry Villi. The chapel as it 'now stands is one of the modfc beautiful examples of En4ish perpendicular work in existence, lhe beauty of the structure itself is enhanced by the dark oak of the carv'ed stalls of the Kiuights of the Garter. Abovo these hang the swords, helmets and banners of the J"? ,„ T , I>rns ' sos on the back f ™e stalls bear names ranging from tho Bourchrers and Beauforts ), figured «on tho early rolls, from the great Princes of sixteenfth century Europe, Francis I. and Chark* V' tlio Sovereigns of to<s*. ~ the emblazoned arms of Christian and European chivalry thero is added to-day the red sun ot Japan over the s/tall belonging to tho Mikado. 0 WOLSLEY'S MAUSOLEUM. Edward I\ whoeo rose en soleil adorns the beautiful stone-vaulted root put up by Henry VII. and Henry vlil, was buried here. Down to the' timo of tho Civil War his surcoat of crimson velvet, stitched with

Mi'bioSj pearls find gold thrond, hung here ; but this finery was turned' by the Hound,he<ad soldiers into good money for powder and shot. The beautiful Gothic iron screen attributecl to Qu-entin Matsys which guarded the tomb is stall to be seen however to the. left of the altar' Other Royal personages buried' in. the chapol are Henry VI., Henry > IJI., and Jano Seymour. Adjoining St. George's Chapel is the Albert Memorial Chapel, which was begun by Henry VII., <ind continued by Cardinal Wolsley, who obtained it as ft gift from Henry VIII., and began to construct a splendid mausoleum for himself. Tho Wolslev Chapel was restored by George lIL, and was transformed by Queen Victoria into the present magniificenit jmki lavishly decorated structure. The Royal tomb-house in which the Georgian Royalties lie buried was built by George 111., and lies benotatn the floor of tho Albert Meniorifil Cliapel, although the entrance is in St. George's Chapel before the altar. A\ indsor Casltle \\\is a place of durance for many captives and soai'icaptives. David Bruce of Scotland and King John of Fra/noe were both entertained there until their inaiusom should be paid. It is said that they suggested Ito King Ediva.nl 111. the building of a 'new castle in the Upper Ward. "I will," said Edward, "<ind you gentlemen shall pay for it," the story goes, but it accords ill with King Edward's desire to live up to the oode of the perfect knight. CAPTIVE ICING'S LOVE STORY. James I. ot Scotland was confined with the utmost rigour, but ho beguiled his captivity by writing the "King's Quliiiir," in whi-h he tells how he fell in love, with bis future wife. Lady Jean fseuufort, las she walked in the gardens bellow the Round Tower— A garden fnire, and in the corners set

An arbour green. James paid his £40,000 ransom and took back Jean Reaufort to share his kingdom. At Windsor the poet, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, who tost His head for having quartered tho arms of Edward TIT. with his own, met iliiir G-era'ldane. He was not n prisoner, but was spending his childish days, as he tells us, with a king's son, Henry Duke of Richmond, m tennis and other sports in the gardens of Windsor. Windsor has been lucky in the poets who have praised it, Queen Elizabeth spent much time at Royal Windsor, and there is r story that her wrath, a black sha'.ow, in ruff and martingale, haiuvta the walks of the Cattle before any faster which threatens the Royal BW. To WhvVcT Rishop Juxon and tour devoted friends brought the body of Charles 1., whom they buried without tho prop-r ritual. " The Prover Brok beiivr forbidden them, •Mil the snow falling on the pall thus went Uv> white King to his grave," says the chr-ni-ler Windsor was a dull place under the Georges, if we may judge by lauuy Burner's experiences, although George 111. was much attached to the place, and carried out many important works. Queen Victoria "iflde it the eent.e of hw homo life, stud Winter had am add"l imiH>rtnnc:> when the Sovereign spent so little time in Lcndon. Tt was the centre of much splendid ceremonial. When Kin,g Edward VTI came to tffo fh-ne. one of his first •'otien.s „,.,,<■ +rt , nve t]]<k ]a<?e f J incisor overhauled ,„ P rl nVany of the tvwa refunded and re-arrang-ed. Its wonderful collections of arms, pictures, plate, furniture and treasures of mil kinds were rjfcjW uect and arranged uirVr expert advice. _so that it is easier now than ever it was to lea™ something of the artistic .possessions accumulated by & long procession «f klvm.