In the sixteenth century the place was no longer regarded as a fortress
for the defence or the domination of the City. But the old forms were
kept up: nobody was admitted who carried arms: the guard kept the gate:
a garrison was maintained. Within, there was an armoury, the beginning
of the splendid collection which is now shown: there was a Mint for the
coining of money: there were collections of tapestry, saddles, bed
furniture and robes belonging to the Crown: here were kept the Crown and
sceptre and insignia: here was the Royal menagerie. Here were the rooms
reserved for state criminals. It was no longer the Royal Palace but the
sovereign sometimes occupied the Tower. James the First was here, for
instance, in 1604.
Near the outer gate where is now the Refreshment Room were kept the
King's lions. Henry I. began this menagerie which was continued until
the year 1834. At the entrance of the fortress is the Bell Tower where
Queen Elizabeth was once confined. The Water Gate called Traitors' Gate
is under St. Thomas's Tower. The Beauchamp Tower has been the prison of,
among others, Queen Anne Boleyn and Lady Jane Grey. In the Great White
Tower Richard II. abdicated in favour of Henry IV. In the vaults are
dungeons, once the prison of Guy Fawkes. In the Chapel the newly made
Knights of the Bath watched their armour all night long. The collection
of arms contains examples of weapons and armour of every age. In the
Church of St. Peter ad Vincula you will find the graves of the
unfortunate Princes, Queens, and nobles who have been executed for State
offences. Nothing, except the Royal tombs of Westminster, so much helps
to prove the reality of History, as this collection of graves and slabs
and tablets in this little church. And here were kept the Crown jewels
about which many a chapter might be written.
But to study the Tower of London one must visit it with the History of
England in hand. Hither were brought all the State prisoners: here they
were confined: here they were executed. Every tower, every stone reminds
one of sufferers and criminals and traitors and innocent victims. Do
not, however, forget that this Tower was built for the restriction of
the liberties of the people. That purpose has been defeated. The
liberties have grown beyond what could ever have been hoped while the
privileges of the Crown, which this Tower was built to protect and to
enlarge, have been restricted beyond the greatest fears of the mediaeval
kings.
18. THE TOWER OF LONDON.
PART II.
Of all the prisoners who suffered death at the termination of their
captivity in the Tower, there is none whose fate was so cruel as that of
Lady Jane Grey. Her story belongs to English history. Recall, when next
you visit the Tower, the short and tragic life of this young Queen of a
nine days' reign.
[Illustration]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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