The affection and loyalty inspired by the Stuarts brought many prisoners to the Tower, refusal to take the oath of allegiance to the joint sovereigns being answered by the authorities with confinement in the fortress, on the charge of “abetting and adhering to their Majesties’ enemies.” Of these, Francis Cholmondeley, Lord Yarmouth, and some others, were there in 1690, the names of Lords Newburgh, Clancarty, Tyrone, Morley, Monteagle, Dartmouth, Cahir, the Earl of Clarendon, Major-General Dorrington, and General Maxwell, also figure on the list, but against these no specific charge is now apparent. Two years afterwards a Mr Henry Grey, a member of the House of Commons, was there, accused of taking bribes, as well as Lord Falkland; and the Earl of Torrington’s defeat by the French fleet off Beachy Head was punished by an enforced residence in the State prison. That the fortress was crowded with prisoners towards the close of William’s reign is apparent by two papers which, by the kindness of Mr Birch, the Curator of the Soane Museum, I have been allowed to copy here, but it must be added that out of all the State prisoners in the Tower under William’s rule only one suffered the extreme penalty of the law. The papers are as follows:— At the Committee for ye Affaires of Ireland in ye Councill Chamber att Whitehall, Aprill the 15 1695. It is ordered by their Lᵈᵖˢ that Sir Christopher Wren Surveyr Genl. of his Majities Works doe repaire to the Tower of London to view Beauchamp Tower and Bloody Tower and report what it will cost to Repaire and putt them in a condition to hold Prisoners of State. Sir Christopher Wren is also to surveigh the ground behind the Chapell in the Tower where it is proposed to Erect some buildings for keeping prisoners, and to report in like manner what it will cost and how many prisoners it can be made to hold, and he is further to consider of the annexed Draught proposed for the Erecting the Said Buildings, and give his opinion upon it, or else make such other Draught as he shall think fitt, and Lay the same together with his report upon the whole matter before the Committee as soon as conveniently may be. WM. BRIDGEMAN. To Ye Rt Honble ye Committee of Councill for the Affaires of Ireland. May it please yr Lʳˢ.