[Illustration: PLATE LXXXI.--Spinning Room, Royall House.]
During the life history of the house, nineteen marriages have taken place in these rooms, one of them being that of the oldest daughter, Elizabeth Royall, to Sir William (Sparhawk) Pepperrell. Here also Penelope Royall married Henry Vassall of Cambridge, uncle of the builder of the Longfellow House and of Christ Church. Vassall and his wife are the only ones buried under the church. It was during their life here that Agnes Surriage, according to Abigail Adams' diary, came to the house frequently with Henry Frankland.
The dining-room which is opposite the double parlors is at the present time being restored to the Royall period and will include much of the rare old panelling and fine hand-carving that are shown all through the house, as well as quaint closets.
[Illustration: PLATE LXXXII.--Kitchen Fireplace, Royall House.]
The kitchen contains many old relics. Among them is the Porter sign which was used in Medford Square in 1769, on the Royall Oak Tavern. The New Hampshire soldiers had such an intense feeling against the English sign that before the battle of Bunker Hill they fired against it in anger, the bullet marks being still plainly seen. In this kitchen, also, is kept the first fork in the colony, brought over by Governor Winthrop, also candle-dips made over one hundred and twenty-five years ago by the old process of taking wicks of twine and dipping them in fat in a cold room.
[Illustration: PLATE LXXXIII.--Chambers in the Royall House.]
The chambers are, many of them, most interesting. Several of them show quaint tiles. One of them, the northeast chamber, has a wonderful old fireplace with sixty ancient Bible tiles, many of them original. These depict different scenes in Bible stories, such as Cain slaying his brother with his left hand, the whale and Jonah, Mary and Joseph fleeing into Egypt.
The southeast chamber shows a great deal of the old Winthrop panelling. This was transferred when Royall reconstructed the building. Here, as in the northeast chamber, are wonderful old tiles, the Royall house boasting more of the best specimens of that early period than any other.
Everywhere through the house we find indications of the luxury introduced by the wealthy Royalists. All of the rooms are large, with high ceilings and wide windows showing inside shutters. The hand-carving is especially noticeable, being beautifully done and most original in design.