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   In the several reigns which intervened between the times of Edward the
 Third and Henry the Seventh, the progress of domestic architecture was
 greatly impeded by the civil wars which were waged between the two houses
 of York and Lancaster. Much, however, was done during this period, which
 even  in  the present day, deserves attention; although it may be safely
 asserted, that the residences of the noble and wealthy were more distin-
 guished by their magnificence, than by their comfort; and those who were
 inferior in station and property were destitute of what are now considered
 necessary in the meanest abodes of the English       agriculturist. In conse-
 quence of the civil wars whole towns were depopulated, castles were de-
 stroyed, and the progress of the art of building and decoration greatly
impeded,
 if not altogether stopped.   But although little can be collected concerning
 the state of domestic architecture in England during this period, that little
 is important and interesting, forming a connecting link in the history,
which,
 although confined to the brief sketch given in this work, cannot be with
 propriety omitted.
   The warlike and enterprising Edward the Third was too much engaged
with his claim to the crown of France to devote much of his time to the
improvement of the arts at home, although it is not improbable that they
were advanced by the travel of the nobles in the countries where they dis-
played their chivalric spirit. It was, as is commonly supposed, in the reign
of this monarch that coloured bricks were introduced for floors, which were
sometimes decorated with figures and armorial bearings. Painted walls were
at this time so common, that even the sleeping rooms were thus decorated.
Edward the Third had a suburban palace at Kensington; but the principal
work in his reign was the enlargement of Windsor Castle, which he also
made more habitable.
   Henry the Fourth gave great splendour to John of Gaunt's castle at
 Kenilworth.   The successful son of this monarch did but little to improve
the domestic architecture of his country, but the nobles who became suddenly
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