III. On the dissolution of the Ancient Monastery in 1540, the Chapter House passed into the possession of the Crown; from that time the Dean and Chapter of Westminster have held their meetings in the Jerusalem Chamber. In 1547, the first year of Edward VI., the House of Commons was transferred to the Chapel of St. Stephen in the Palace of Westminster, in which they remained till it was burned down in 1834. From that time till 1863 the Chapter House was used as the depository of the public records. During this period it was fitted up with book-shelves, which disfigured and concealed its beauties; its roof was taken down; its windows were filled up; and it was divided into two stories. In 1865, after the removal of the records to the Rolls House, in the 800th anniversary of the foundation of the Chapter House, in the 600th anniversary of the House of Commons, which it had so long sheltered, its restoration was undertaken at the request of the Society of Antiquaries, by Mr. Gladstone, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, and by Mr. Cowper Temple, as First Commissioner of Works, and the requisite sum granted by Parliament for the repairs, which, under Mr. Gilbert Scott, have restored it as nearly as possible to its original state. The roof has been entirely rebuilt. The paintings, which were concealed by the book-shelves, are now disclosed; those at the east end, over the stalls of the Abbot and his four chief officers, are of the 14th century, and represent seraphs round the Throne of the Saviour. Those round the walls were painted in the 15th century, by one of the monks of the convent, named John of Northampton, and represent scenes from the Revelation of St. John, with pictures of fishes, birds, and beasts underneath. The figures on each side of the entrance, representing the Angel and the Virgin Mary, are ancient. The central figure is modern, but represents what was formerly there. The tiles on the floor, covered with curious heraldic emblems, are also now seen for the first time. The tracery of the windows has been restored after the model of the one which had been left uninjured on the northwest side. It still remains for them to be filled with stained glass, according to the original design. INDEX. Abbey founded, 3 ---- rebuilt and endowed, 4 ---- pulled down and enlarged, 4 ---- Admission, Hours, &c. of, 2 Aberdeen, Earl of, 54 Addison, Joseph, 28, 101 Agar, Doctor, 69 Aiton, Sir Robert, 20 Albemarle, Dukes of, 24, 30 ---- Duchess of, 24 Alfred, Prince, 25 Altar Decoration, 12 Amelia, Princess, 25 André, Major, 91 Anne, Queen, James II.'s Daughter, 24 ---- Princess, 25 ---- Queen of James I., 27 ---- Queen of Richard II., 36 ---- Queen of Richard III., 113 Anstey, Christopher, 107 Argyle, Duke of, 28, 104 Arnold, Dr. Samuel, 64 Athelgoda, Queen of King Sebert, 11 Atkyns, Edward, and Sons, 103 Bagenall, Nicholas, 19 Baillie, Dr. Matthew, 45 Baker, John, 71