which, at the depth of 32 yards, a coat of fine pipe clay was found on the walls. The oven is on the ground floor of a tower next to the outer wall, near which place the bakehouse has been situated, it is of large dimensions, measuring 16 feet in length, 13 in breadth, and 4 in depth. The enlarged scale on which these household offices appear to have been constructed, calculated to supply abundance, bordering on profusion, joined to the gloomy horrors of the dungeon, are strictly correspondent with gothic imagery, as equally necessary to unbounded hospitality, as to barbarous punishment. The hall faces the gate, and was approached originally by a flight of steps, now destroyed; under it is a low room, with five deep recesses in the south wall; the same is continued under the apartment on the left. The hall door is a beautiful pointed arch, of the style of Edward the first's reign, ornamented with delicate mouldings, and before it seems to have been a porch or lobby. The hall measures 60 feet by 30, the height about 35 feet. On the north side, looking to the country, are three lofty pointed windows, diminishing outwardly to narrow lunets with trefoil heads. On the opposite side, next the court, are two windows in the same style, but larger, and each divided by a single mullion. Between these is a chimney with an obtuse arch of the æra of Elizabeth, inserted within a more lofty sharp pointed one, which from its similitude to those adjoining, was, it is conceived, originally a third window, answering to the same number opposite; for there certainly were no fire places in halls when this building was erected.* There remains now neither roof nor floor; so totally dilapidated is the once elegant saloon, where the splendid scene of Comus was first exhibited, where chivalry exhausted her choicest stores, both of invention and wealth, and where hospitality and magnificence blazed for many ages in succession without diminution or decay. Two pointed arches lead to a spacious tower attached to the west end of the hall, in which are several apartments, one of which is still called Prince Arthur's room. The room on the first floor measures 37 feet by 33. At the north west angle is a deeply recessed closet: all the floors are much decayed, or entirely gone. On the opposite end of the hall, with a pointed arched door of communication, is another large square tower of three stories, the principal apartment of which is pointed out as the banquetting room. A spacious chamber above appears to have been more adorned than the rest; the chimneypiece has an unusual degree of rudé magnificence; and the corbels of the ceiling are finely wrought into busts of men and women crowned. A door on the south side of the room "There is in the Hall (says Churchyard) a great grate of iron of a huge height." on the ground floor opens to a winding passage which ends in some small gloomy rooms, and on the left to two deep angular recesses terminated by narrow loops looking outward. Each of these towers has a newel staircase in an elegant octangular turret. On the left hand is a circular building with window and doorway of the early Norman period; this is part of the Chapel, of which the nave only is standing. There is a beautiful arch still remaining, but the choir with which it communicated is entirely destroyed; this, as well as that of the western door, is a rich Saxon arch, covered with chevron, lozenge, and reticulated ornaments. The outside of the building is encircled by a band with a billeted ornament, and there are three windows, circularly arched, ornamented with chevron mouldings. In the interior, rising from the floor, are fourteen recesses in the wall, formed by small pillars with indented capitals, supporting round arches which have alternately plain and zigzag mouldings. About three feet above this arcade are projecting corbels, carved as heads, capitals of pillars, &c. The whole length of the Chapel, extending to the eastern wall of the Castle, was, when entire, 70 feet, of which the choir was 42, and the nave 28. Churchyard the poet, who died in 1570, had the pleasure of beholding the Castle and its Chapel in the perfection of their beauty, the latter of which he describes as, "So bravely wrought, so fayre and finely fram'd, As few can shewe, in any soyle or place: Which truely shewes the armes, the blood and race That here in prose I will set out with pen. All that follow are the names of Princes and Noblemen. Sir Walter Lacie was the first owner of Ludloe Castle whose armes are there, and so followes the rest by order as you may reade, Jeffrey Geuyuile did match with Lacie. Roger Mortymer, the first Earle of Marchy, an Earle of a great house, matcht with Genyuile. Leonell, Duke of Clarence, joined with Ulster in armes. Edmond, Earle of Marchy, matcht with Clarence. Richard, Earle of Cambridge, matcht with the Earle of Marchy. Edward the fourth matcht with Wodvile of Rivers. Henry the seventh matcht with Elizabeth right heire of England. Henry the eight matcht with the Marquese of Penbroke, These are the greatest first to be named that are set out worthely as they were of dignity and birth. Now followes the rest of those that were Lord Presidents, and others whose armes are in the same Chappell. William Smith, Bishop of Lincolne, was the first Lord President of Wales, in Prince Arthur's daies. Jeffrey Blythe, Bishop of Coventrie and Litchfield, Lord President. Richard Sampson, Bishop of Litchfield and Coventrie, Lord President. John Dudley, Earle of Warwick, (after Duke of Northumberland) Lord President. Sir William Harbert, (after Earle of Penbroke) Lord President. Sir William Harbert, once againe Lord President. Gilbert Bourne, Bishop of Bathe and Welles, Lord President. Sir Harry Sidney, Lord President. Sir Andrew Corbret, knight Vicepresident. There are two blanks left without armes. Sir Thomas Dinham, knight, is mentioned there to doe some great good act. John Scory, Bishop of Hartford. Nicholas Bullingham, Bishop of Worcester. Sir John Throgmorton, knight, Justice of Chester and the three shieres of Eastwales. Sir Hugh Cholmley, knight. Sir Nicholas Arnold, knight. Sir George Bromley, knight and Justice of the three shieres in Wales. William Gerrard, Lord Chauncellor of Ireland, and Justice of the three shieres in South wales. Charles Fox, esquier and secretorie. Ellice Price, Doctor of the Lawe. Edward Leighton, esquier. Richard Seborne, esquier. Richard Pates, esquier. Rafe Barton, esquier. William Leightou, esquier. Myles Sands, esquier. The armes of all these afore spoken of are gallantly and cunningly set out in the chappell." From an inventory of the goods found in Ludlow Castle, bearing date 1708, the eleventh year of the reign of Queen Anne, we learn that about forty rooms were found entire at that period. Among these were the hall, council chamber, |