Returning from the Castle to the Westgate we found that the keys of the Tower were kept at St. John’s Hospital at the other end of the High Street, and that it was necessary to obtain the permission of the civic authorities. This caused some delay, but when I returned we entered, and, ascending the rugged stairs, came to a cell where prisoners were until lately confined. Proceeding higher we reached the chamber over the arch--a handsome room with an ancient carved mantel-piece. The cause of the precautions taken with regard to visitors now become intelligible; for here are the archives of the city--volumes of records beginning with Philip and Mary, and piles of ancient vellum rolls. I observed a fine charter of Elizabeth’s reign, commencing with an etched portrait of the Queen, as a young girl, and a grandiloquent reference to Mary and Philip, as sovereigns of England, Scotland, France, Naples, Jerusalem, and Ireland. The rarest of these old documents were for a long time thought to be lost, but when, some ten years ago, inquiry was being made in a solicitor’s office in Peter’s Street, for a charter of Richard II., one of the clerks said: “Oh, we have a box full of these old things,” showing some parchments. And here, upon examination, were found twenty of these ancient records! [Sidenote: The City Coffer.] In this room is the huge old city chest, nearly ten feet long by four wide. It has three locks and different keys, and long chains and rings by which it could be carried about like the Ark of the Israelites. “From what we read of the propensities of the Jews,” said Mr. Hertford, “I should say they would have preferred such an ark as this to their own.” “Well, some of them would, perhaps,” I replied. “Their ark carried the law and holy things, but this contained the coin, and also the gold and silver plate of the city.” It was heavily drawn upon in Charles I.’s reign for the King’s benefit. On December 30, 1643, there were taken out for the maintenance of the army:-- One silver ewer, weighing 33 oz. Three silver bowls, 31 oz. Two silver wine bowls, 15 oz. One gilt bowl with cover, 31 oz. One great silver salt, 28 oz. One silver tankard, 19 oz. One silver basin, 74 oz. Previously they had sent him £300 raised by sale of plate. “Why, the good aldermen could scarcely have left themselves a cup for drinking the King’s health,” observed Mr. Hertford. “Nor had they much wine for that purpose,” I added. “They had sent the King already a sum of £1,000, and the Roundheads tapped them pretty freely.” This large chest reminds me of another there is at Upham, in which, when at Marwell Hall near this, a girl playing hide-and-seek concealed herself. She could not raise the lid, and nothing was known about her mysterious disappearance until years afterwards when her skeleton was found--a melancholy treasure.