"You'll remember that the great and powerful Cardinal Wolsey built Hampton Court," suggested Mrs. Pitt. "He lived in regal state, and had almost as large a retinue of servants and followers as the King himself. To gratify his great love for splendor and luxury, he built this magnificent residence for himself. He was in need of a home a little removed from the city, where he could rest and enjoy the fresh air. Yet it was also accessible to London, for he could be rowed up the river in his barge. Wolsey's two great ambitions--wealth and power--were both gratified, and for a while all went well; but time brought the King's displeasure, and it was he who took possession at Hampton Court after the complete disgrace which led to the death of the Cardinal. Henry VIII tore down some of Wolsey's buildings, and put up new ones in their stead; and other monarchs added portions also; for instance, the huge State Apartments were erected under the supervision of Sir Christopher Wren, and by order of King William III. We shall see all these later on. Have you noticed those little oriel windows of the gatehouse? They are the originals of Wolsey's palace, and I think this court here is also much the same as he built it. In his day there were pretty latticed windows in these surrounding buildings, a grass plot in the center, and around these narrow passages Wolsey probably rode on his ass." "Ass!" cried John. "What for? With all his money, couldn't he even have a horse?" "Oh, rather!" Mrs. Pitt laughed. "No doubt Wolsey would have liked one, but he was wise enough to always follow custom in such matters as had to do with his outward appearance and attitude. All religious men rode on asses; it was the habit of the day. Now, come this way, and see the Great Hall. Oh, Philip! Please fetch me my umbrella; I left it on the step in the court, there!" Leading into the second or Clock Court, is Anne Boleyn's gateway. Under this is a broad flight of stairs which takes one to the Great Hall, erected by Henry VIII, probably on the site of Wolsey's earlier hall. It is a grand old room with a fine timber roof, and complete with its dais or raised platform at the end, its minstrels' gallery over the entrance doors, its old tapestries, stags' heads, and suits of armor, and its windows mostly filled with modern stained-glass. Out of the hall are two smaller apartments, which also contain good tapestries. From here, the visitor again descends to Anne Boleyn's gateway. "What a funny old clock!" exclaimed Betty, spying it, up above on the tower under which they had just passed. "It seems to be so mixed up, somehow, that I can't tell the time by it." "It is curious! It's Henry VIII's Astronomical Clock; it has all sorts of appliances and strange attachments. That's why you can't read it. It was recently repaired and set going again."