592 
that he thought the achievements of his splendid 
reign were well calculated for pictures, and 
would prove very suitable ornaments to the halls 
and chambers of that venerable edifice. T0 
this 
incident, 
the 
arts 
are 
in debted 
for 
the 
series of 
pictures 
which 
bring 
the 
victories 
of 
Cressy and Poictiers-, with the 
incidents of that time, again, 
other triumphal 
as it were, into 
form 
fact 
and 
and 
being, with a 
circumstance 
veracity 
which 
of historical 
render the 
masquerades by Vario even a greater disgrace 
to St. George's Hal], than they are to the taste 
of the age in which they were painted. 
of 
execution 
In the 
these 
different 
historical 
subjects, the King took a great personal interest, 
and one piece became the cause of another, 
until he actually acquired a feeling like enthu- 
siasm fbr the arts. When he had resolved to 
adorn 
Windsor-Castle 
with 
the 
achievements 
and great events of the reign of Edward the 
Third, he began to think that the tolerant 
temper of the age was 
favourable 
t0 
the 
intro- 
duction 
"of pictures 
into 
the 
churches, : 
at 
the 
same time, 
his sqrupulous 
respect 
for What was