Next to this room is the bed–chamber occupied by Henry VIII. when visiting the house, and containing a window in which is some old painted glass. In one of the lights is a Tudor rose intact, and in others there are portions of the arms of Catherine of Aragon. The ceiling, which is interesting and curious, was probably made in the reign of Charles I., and contains the arms of the various royal guests who had honoured the house with their presence, including Henry VIII., Queen Elizabeth, James I., and Charles I. The Council Chamber in the great tower is reached by a circular staircase, and is notable for its beautiful split oak panelling, exhibiting the grain of the wood in a manner impossible where sawn timber is used. In a small chamber adjoining is a well–hole, probably once forming the entrance to a secret passage communicating with a trap–door in the north wing. There were in ancient times a large number of secret hiding–places at Compton Wynyates. Next but one to the room of Henry VIII. is a chamber from which there was communication with a secret hiding–place of quite considerable dimensions, reached from it by a stairway of eleven steps only 19 inches wide. In this stairway is an “observation hole,” some 10 inches high and about 2–1/2 inches wide, formerly concealed by the panelling, by means of which the approach of the enemy or of a search party could be watched by the fugitive in hiding. The secret chamber is about seven feet square, and has two windows and a small fireplace. One of the distinguishing features of the house is the number of its windows and chimneys; a circumstance that made it extremely difficult for searchers to locate any secret hiding–place, even though furnished with both. Few manor–houses have, or at least had, more numerous places of concealment great and small than Compton Wynyates. In the south–western turret is another hiding–place, stated to have been discovered by Lady Frances Compton about 1770, whilst she was playing there as a child. The story goes that she fell against the plaster–work which concealed the door, and the hollow sound emitted caused investigation to be made. Upon opening the chamber it was found (so tradition states) to contain the skeletons of a woman (a nurse?) and two children, concealed, it is supposed, at some period of trouble and forgotten.