London (England) -- Description and travel; London (England) -- History -- 16th century -- Sources; London (England) -- Surveys
Edward IV. fortified the Tower of London, and inclosed with brick, as
is aforesaid, a certain piece of ground, taken out of the Tower Hill,
west from the Lion Tower, now called the bulwark. His officers also, in
the 5th of his reign, set upon the said hill both scaffold and gallows,
for the execution of offenders; whereupon the mayor and his brethren
complained to the king, and were answered that the same was not done in
derogation of the city’s liberties, and thereof caused proclamation to
be made, etc., as shall be shown in Tower street.
Richard III., repaired and built in this tower somewhat. Henry VIII.,
in 1532, repaired the White Tower, and other parts thereof. In the year
1548, the 2nd of Edward VI., on the 22nd of November, in the night, a
Frenchman lodged in the round bulwark, betwixt the west gate and the
postern, or drawbridge, called the warders’ gate, by setting fire on a
barrel of gunpowder, blew up the said bulwark, burnt himself, and no
more persons. This bulwark, was forthwith again new built.
And here, because I have by occasion spoken of the west gate of this
tower the same, as the most principal, is used for the receipt and
delivery of all kinds of carriages, without the which gate divers
bulwarks and gates, towards the north, etc. Then near within this west
gate, opening to the south, is a strong postern for passengers by the
ward-house, over a drawbridge let down for that purpose. Next on the
same south side, toward the east, is a large water-gate, for receipt
of boats and small vessels, partly under a stone bridge from the river
of Thames. Beyond it is a small postern, with a drawbridge, seldom let
down but for the receipt of some great persons, prisoners. Then towards
the east is a great and strong gate, commonly called the Iron gate, but
not usually opened. And thus much for the foundation, building, and
repairing of this tower, with the gates and posterns, may suffice. And
now somewhat of accidents in the same shall be shown.
In the year 1196, William Fitzosbert, a citizen of London, seditiously
moving the common people to seek liberty, and not to be subject to
the rich and more mighty, at length was taken and brought before the
Archbishop of Canterbury in the Tower, where he was by the judges
condemned, and by the heels drawn thence to the Elms in Smithfield, and
there hanged.
In 1214, King John[69] wrote to Geffrey Magnaville to deliver the Tower
of London, with the prisoners, armour, and all other things found
therein belonging to the king, to William, archdeacon of Huntingdon. In
the year 1216, the 1st of Henry III., the said Tower was delivered to
Lewis of France and the barons of England.[70]
In the year 1206 pleas of the crown were pleaded in the Tower; likewise
in the year 1220, and likewise in the year 1224, and again in the year
1243, before William of Yorke, Richard Passelew, Henry Brahe, Jerome of
Saxton, justices.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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