From the stair case we pass into the guard chamber, which is very large and spacious, it being upwards of sixty feet long, and forty feet wide. This room contains arms for 5000 men, curiously placed in various forms. There are here pilasters of pikes and bayonet on each side sixteen panels that go round the room; with variety of other ornaments, as muskets in chequer work, stars made of bayonets, swords, &c.
The next is the King’s first presence chamber, which is hung with rich old tapestry. The ceiling is vaulted, and from the center hangs a fine lustre of nineteen branches. Fronting the door are the canopy and chair of state, which, as well as the stools, are of crimson damask; on the back part of the canopy are the King’s arms, and round the vallance, a crown and cypher embroidered in gold.
On the left hand of the entrance, behind the door is a fine picture about eighteen feet by fifteen, by Sir Godfrey Kneller. King William III. is in armour on a stately grey horse, trampling on trophies of war, by which lies a flaming torch. At the top in the clouds Mercury and Peace support his helmet, decorated with laurel, and a Cupid holds a scroll. On the bottom part of the picture appear Neptune and his attendants by the side of a rock, welcoming the hero on shore; and at a distance is seen a fleet of ships, their sails swelled with the east wind. In the front ground Plenty with her cornucopia offers him an olive branch, and Flora presents flowers.
Over the chimney is a whole length of the Marquis of Hamilton, Lord Steward of the houshold to King Charles I. by Van Somer; and over the doors are two pieces of architecture, finely executed by Rosso.
The next room, which is called the second presence chamber, is spacious, and has a vaulted ceiling, from the centre of which hangs a gilt chandelier of twelve branches. The tapestry is ancient but very rich, the lights being all gold, and the shadows silk; the subjects are, Hercules and the Hydra, and Midas with his ass’s ears. The chair of state and stools are of crimson damask fringed with the same colour. Over the chimney is a whole length of Christiern IV. King of Denmark, by Van Somer. This picture, as most of the large ones are, is decorated round the frame on the outside with festoons of fruit and flowers, finely carved in high-relief. Over the three doors are pieces of ruins and landscapes, by Rosso. In this room are also two fine marble tables, with two pier glasses, and two pair of gilt stands.
The fourth room is very lofty; in the middle hangs a beautiful chased silver chandelier of sixteen branches. Here is a fine canopy of state, with the window curtains, chair and stools, of rich crimson damask laced and fringed with gold. The tapestry, which represents part of the story of Abraham, is fine; over the chimney is a whole length picture of Elizabeth Queen of Bohemia, the daughter of King James I. and over each of the two doors is a Madona, by Domenico Fetti.
In the fifth room is also a chair of state, and stools; the window curtains are tissue with a silver ground; there are silver sconces fastened to the tapestry, which is richly woven with gold, but is very ancient; the subject is Abraham sending his servants to get a wife for Isaac. Over the chimney piece is an admirable whole length picture of King Charles I. by Van Dyck; and over the doors are two capital pictures, the first is David with Goliath’s head, by Fetti; the other the holy family, by Correggio.
In the King’s state bed chamber is a crimson velvet bed, laced with gold, having plumes of white feathers on the top. This room, which is very spacious, is hung round with tapestry representing the history of Joshua, about which are eight silver sconces chased with the Judgment of Solomon. The ceiling, which was painted by Verrio, represents Endymion lying with his head in the lap of Morpheus, and Diana admiring him as he sleeps. On another part of the ceiling is a fine figure of Somnus, or Sleep, with his attendants, and in the border are four landscapes, and four boys with baskets of flowers intermixed with poppies. Over the doors are two flower pieces, finely painted by Baptist; and over the chimney is a whole length of the Dutchess of York, by Van Somer.
In the King’s private bed chamber, the bed is of crimson damask, and the room hung with fine tapestry, the subject of which is Solbay fight.
The King’s dressing room, which is about twelve feet long, and six feet wide, has the ceiling painted by Verrio. Mars is sleeping in Venus’s lap, while several Cupids steal away his armour, sword and spear, and others are binding his legs and arms with fetters of roses. The borders are decorated with jessamin, orange trees in pots, and several sorts of birds. Over the doors are fine flower pieces, by Baptist. The room is hung with straw-coloured India damask, and the chair, stools and screen, are covered with the same.