Hampton Court ... Illustrated with forty-three drawings by Herbert ...

HORN-ROOM 15
window at the south-east was evidently intended to
light the dais. It was here, tradition says, that Surrey
the poet wrote with a diamond some lines on the fair
Geraldine.
From the hall we pass into the Withdrawing-room,
more properly named the Great Guard or Watchingchamber.
By this, access to the great hall was obtained
from the royal apartments, which in Henry's
day extended to the east of the Clock-court. Here
the guards waited, and through this passed the
applicants for an audience. It forms really an antechamber
to many different parts of the Palace — to the
Queen's lodgings, the " haunted gallery " and chapel, to
the Horn-room, which leads to stairs down to the
kitchen, as well as to the King's rooms. The room
is over sixty feet long and nearly thirty wide, and
its height is twenty-nine and ahalf feet. It is thus in
striking contrast to the great hall. Its low flat ceiling,
with oak pendants with the arms of Henry VIII.
and Jane Seymour, is full of character and richness.
The old tapestry still hangs on the walls, and
the room is chiefly lighted by the great bay window,
which extends to the v/hole height.
From the Watching-chamber the Horn-room is
entered. Through this the dishes were brought up
to the high table on the dais of the hall. The three
rooms together give the happiest example left in
England of a great dwelling-place of Henry VIII.'s
day.