Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/464

 362 THE CASTLE, AND ' THE PROVISIONS OF OXFORD.' successive slieriflf; and, in short, everything excepting the great tower and the enceinte, needed such renovation as could not be done under a cost of sixty pounds. It will not be altogether irrelevant to show how some of the Liberate Rolls serve to illustrate the state of the arts in England during this reign, more especially as the extracts will be confined to the royal residence at Woodstock. The taste for painting was at this time fully recognised, and there are numerous entries showing how freely the regal palaces were adorned by the artistic talent of the time. The great chamber of Henry the Third at Woodstock was adorned with pictures, and there was a representation of the cross, and of the Blessed Mary and St. .John, in the great chapel. Over this were painted two angels like cherubim and seraphim. These could only have been executed in body colour, as there is an order to paint them again within seven- teen years. There were also two pictures representing two bishops, and another of the Blessed Mary, in the chapel of St. Edward, Besides these tabulae, we have an account of a design in stained glass for the new chapel, exhibiting the Blessed Mary: and some heavenly person was depicted on the window of the sacrarium. The old chapel showed the history of the woman taken in adultery, our Lord writing on the ground, the conversion of St. Paul, and the history of the Evangelists. We also find an order for representing a Majestas, or ]Liesta, of the enthroned Saviour, or Virgin Mary, of the four Evan- gelists, and St. Edmund and St. Edward, which were to be painted in good colours. Those who have examined the truly beautiful execution and purity of design exhibited in the early specimens of art in the Chapter House of West- minster, will readily form an idea of the merits of the paintings at Woodstock. A council was held at Woodstock for the general dispatcli of business in 123.5 (19, Hen. Ill), and in 1247 (31, Hen. III.) the terms of a convention were arranged there betwixt the King, and Owen and Llewellyn, Princes of Wales, a question of considerable moment, because Henry was at that time endeavourhig to annex the Principality to England. There was also transacted at Oxford, during the long reign of Henry the Third, several matters of the greatest interest, for, independently of the councils held here in the sixth (1221, a Curia), thirteenth (1228, a Curia), when iQ