The palace consists of three grand quadrangles:  the western quadrangle, or entrance court is 167 feet 2 inches, north to south, and 141 feet 7 inches, east to west.  This leads to the second, or middle quadrangle, 133 feet 6 inches, north to south, and 91 feet 10 inches, east to west; this is usually called the Clock Court, from a curious astronomical clock by Tompion, over the gateway of the eastern side; on the southern side is a colonnade of Ionic pillars by Wren.  On the north is the great hall:  as this is not mentioned by Cavendish, probably it was part of Henry’s building.  It certainly was not finished till 1536 or 1537, as appears from initials of the King and Jane Seymour, joined in a true lover’s knot, amongst the decorations; this hall is 106 feet long, and 40 broad.  Queen Caroline had a theatre erected here, in which it was intended that two plays should be acted weekly during the stay of the Court; but only seven plays were performed in it by the Drury Lane company,[6] and one afterwards before the

    [1] An obsolete French term of salutation, abridged from Bon prou
    vous, i.e. much good may it do you.

    [2] Stow’s Annals.

    [3] Fuller’s Church History.

    [4] Rymer’s Foedera.

    [5] Clarendon’s History of the Rebellion.

[6] Cibber tells us that the expenses of each play were L50. and the players were allowed the same sum.  The King likewise gave the managers L200. more, for all the performances.  For the last play, the actors received L100.  One of the plays acted here was Shakspeare’s Henry VIII—­thus making the palace the scene of Wolseys downfall, as it had been of his splendour.

Duke of Lorraine, afterwards Emperor of Germany.  The theatrical appurtenances were not, however, removed till the year 1798.  Adjoining the hall is the Board of Green Cloth Room, of nearly the same date, and hung with fine tapestry.

The eastern quadrangle, or Fountain Court, erected by Sir Christopher Wren for King William, in 1690, is 100 feet by 177 feet 3 inches.  Here is the King’s Gallery, 117 feet by 23 feet 6 inches, which was fitted up for the Cartoons of Raphael.  On the eastern side of the court is a room in which George I. and George II. frequently dined in public.  North-west of the Fountain Court stands the chapel, which forms the southern side of the quadrangle; this was partly built by Wolsey, and was finished by Henry VIII. in 1536, or 1537.  The windows were of beautifully stained glass, and the walls decorated with paintings, but these embellishments were demolished in the troublous times of 1745.  The chapel was, however, restored by Queen Anne; the floor is of black and white marble, the pews are of Norway oak, and there is some fine carving by Gibbons; the roof is plain Gothic with pendent ornaments.