s, for murdering his steward; all these were condemned. One
or two have been acquitted, Lord Byron--cousin of the poet--for killing
Mr. Chaworth: and Warren Hastings, the great Indian statesman. In
Westminster Hall used to be held the Coronation Banquets at which the
hereditary champion rode into the Hall in full armour and threw down a
glove.

After the removal of the Court the Hall became the Law Courts. It is
almost incredible that three Courts sat in this Hall, cases being heard
before three Judges at the same time. In addition to the Courts, shops
or stalls were ranged along the walls where dealers in toys, milliners,
sempstresses, stationers and booksellers sold their wares. A picture
exists showing this extraordinary use of the Hall.

It is more difficult to restore ancient Westminster than any part of the
City. We must remember that the great Hall formed part of a square or
quadrangle on which were the private rooms of the Sovereign, the State
rooms of audience and banquet, the official rooms of the King's
ministers and servants; this court led into others--one knows not how
many--but certainly as many as belong to the older part of Hampton
Court, which may be taken as resembling Westminster Palace in its
leading features. The courts were filled with men-at-arms, serving men,
pages, and minstrels. They went backwards and forwards on their business
or they lay about in the sun and gambled. Sometimes there crossed the
court some great noble followed by two or three of his servants on his
way to a Council: or a bishop with his chaplain, to have speech with the
King: or a group of townsmen after a brawl, who had been brought here
with ropes about their necks, uncertain whether all would be pardoned or
half a dozen hanged, the uncertainty lending a very repentant and
anxious look to their faces. Or it would be the Queen's most Excellent
Highness herself with her ladies riding forth to see the hunt. This was
the daily life of the Court: we read the dry history of what happened
but we forget the scenery in which it happened--the crowds of nobles,
bishops, abbots, knights, men-at-arms, serving men, among whom all these
things took place. We are apt to forget, as well, the extraordinary
brightness, the colour, the glitter and gleam that belonged to those
times when every man went dressed in some gay livery wearing the colours
and the crest of his lord. Who rides there, the hart couchant--the deer
at rest--upon his helm?