----_unto his study went,_ _Forecasting with all his might_ _To bring to pass all his intent;_ _He took no rest till it was night,_ _And when the stars shone fair and bright,_ _He him disguised in strange mannere; _He went unknown of any wight,_ _No more with him but his esquire._ _And when he came her chamber near,_ _Full privily there can he stand;_ _To cause the lady to appeare_ _He made a sign with his right hand._ _And when the lady there him wist,_ _She was as glad as she might be;_ _Charcoals in chimneys there were cast,_ _Candles on sticks standing full high._ _She opened the wickett, and let him in,_ _And said, “Welcome, lord and knight soe free!”_ _A rich chair was set for him,_ _And another for that fair lady;_ _They ate the spice, and drank the wine,_ _He had all things at his intent._ [Illustration: _No. 256. Interior of the Chamber._] [Illustration: _No. 257. The Nursing Chamber._] The description given in these lines agrees perfectly with the representations of chambers in the illuminated manuscripts of the latter part of the fifteenth century, when the superior artistic skill of the illuminators enabled them to draw interiors with more of detail than in former periods. We have almost invariably the chimney, and one “rich chair,” if not more. In our cut No. 256, we have a settle in the chamber, which is turned to the fire. This picture is taken from a manuscript of the early French translation of Josephus, in the National Library in Paris (No. 7015), and represents the death of the emperor Nero, as described by that writer. All the furniture of this chamber is of a superior description. The large chair by the bed-side is of very elegant design; and the settle, which is open at the back, is ornamented with carved panels. Our next cut (No. 257), taken from a manuscript of Lydgate’s metrical Life of St. Edmund (MS. Harl. No. 2278), represents the birth of that saint. This room is more elaborately furnished than the former. The fittings of the bed are richer; the chimney is more ornamental in its character, and is curious as having three little recesses for holding candlesticks, cups, and other articles; and we have a well-supplied cupboard, though of simple form. From the colours in the manuscript, all the vessels appear to be of gold, or of silver-gilt. The seat before the fire in this cut (No. 257) seems to be the hutch, or chest, which in Nos. 261 and 262 we shall see placed at the foot of the bed, from which it is here moved to serve the occasion.