"Believe me, Lords, for flying at the brocke

Isaw not better sport these seven years day

KING HENRY V PART 2 ACT 2 SCENE

THE COUNCIL CHAMBER IN THE TOWER OF

LONDON.

In the room called the Council Chamber, which is the largest apartment, and reputed to be the place where councils were assembled when the reigning monarch held his court in the Tower, the roof is sustained by vast beams of timber, disposed in transverse and horizontal frame-work, and supported by two rows of transverse posts. This arrangement has every appearance of high antiquity, and harmonizes exceedingly well with the grand and substantial features of the other parts of the building. The eastern wall is pierced by fine lofty openings with semicircular arches, but without ornament or moulding of any kind, which communicate with the adjoining room one of these is partly closed with a thin partition, in which is a smaller opening, equally plain, and assimilating in character to the arch over it. It was at a council sitting in this chamber, that, as traditionally affirmed, the Protector Gloucester ordered Lord Hastings to be led to instant execution, and commanded the arrest of the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of Ely, and Lord Stanley.

BRITTON AND BRAYLEY'S MEMOIRS OF THE TOWER.