, 1861-02-07
The Tower Of London.

The Tower Of London.
The time the Towerwas erected and the name
Of the builder have not been preserved. Some
assign II very remote antiquity, and J1lin1
Cesar and Constantine the Great have both
heen considered the builders E6ghehte annals
inform US that the White Tower was built 10 The
time Of William the CoBqueToF. WalIs End bas-
tons and dungeons were added 4 nandly dmes
till, in the reign Of Edward lII:, L attained Is
present form and extent During Z period o.
three hundred years the Kings Of England went
in procession from il on their coronation days
During the period that Richard IL dilod the
throne, this building was gay and noisy With
dance and banquet. Here, too, that monarch lay
prisoner, and was forced toresign bis diadem.
It was afterwards the scene of injustice and "
ranny. Il was here were imprisoned The Princes
of France, whom Henry ", whose chlvdlry has
been 50 loudly ext0led, conquered In honorable
warfare. James l.; Of Scotland, whom Henry
Nv. had seized by treachefy, was confined II ono
Of the dungeons Of this grim and gloomy pile.
From tho window Of his room tke captive king
saw a beautiful damsel, and, smitten With her
charms, sent her q letter which 80 pleased the
lovely miss that she gave Der heart and hand 70
theFoyal lover; ,i
Hundreds have suffered cruel torlurcs IN the
Tower on account Of their religious opini0nR--
NAAAtAtNI
many weary months betduse ho Worshipped
uod after the manner IN which the dominantsect
pr Inounced heFcsy. Because be denounced the
worship Of images and was opposed 70 making
ri grilnagcs and entertained and openly prolessed
10 her notions obnoxious 70 those who believed
IN those things, the titled victim was condemned
to suffer the most ignoIninious and painful sen
tence. 4 He was drawn from the Tower % 81
Giles Field, where he was suspended BY the
middle from chain; fire was kIndled under
him, and lie was thus burnt 10 death.
Twice the amiable and harmless Henry VI.
was confined within these dark walls. and here
the unfortunate monarch was found cold and sun
in d, ath Its doors were kept Continually swing
ing on their hinges BY the vile ard bloody h|en-
ard ILL., For framing an answer then questioned,
touching the mode IN which two innocent 10
men should DO punished, with an Il IN Il
Lord Hastings was dragged By . body OF eerY|le
soldiers from the Council to the Green near the
chapel within tho Tower, and bis head severed
from bis bodyon log Of wood.
The fascinating and corrupt Jane Shore VS.
immured IN one of The eloomics, cells Of lhe
Tower for crime that was not wrilton against
her IL the book of the Recording Angel. md
liberated after her prosecutors bad stolen her
worldly subslancN The wre,ehed ouicqs' "aa
" Tns ai doors Il IL dark vaults never opened and
shut 20 oltrri in tho same period u8 d1fIn. ne
reign q that intitnrn, mgicious. bloody ly1nt
Henry VIII. Rmpaon and Dudley suffered lho
same Lunishment they bad inflicted On 20 many
innocent persons Bainhnfn and Firth were tor
tured BY Sir Thomas More who IN bis turn iell
under lie axe &c The executioner. ~. mood
in which that noble man met bis death vas
shockingly out Of keeping with hat solemn
hour whilh comes to'all. On hi1 way @ ihe
scaffud he amused tho byslandgT1 uIl1 lively
observations, and Wtliclsnis fsll from hia lIps ne
moment before the axe drsccnded. Alerhe had
Committed bis soul 70 God, and laid Bis bead upi
on the block, the hcadsman prayed Biz Iol1|ls
ness. g 4 forgive thee.n said be, but rrIN11
lei me put my beard aside, for that has never
committed tfeason;" adding plnst up ny
Spirit, man, and Be not afraid 70 do thine qucpi
my neck Is very shorti take heed ,nl,.'..,,l
that thou strike not wrong for Che nrins Of A'no
honesty"
The clever and captivating Anne Holeln ufs
the next victim Of suspicion and cruelty nsl
headless booy lay fbf some time on The dlce1 q
the Tower, and was placed 81 rough heud1 IN 3
common chest and buried IN the chapel cunncct'
cd with the grim building The Lady calherino
Howard was the next queen vhoss blood stained
The horFid axe. Tho scholarly and engaging Al.tl
Of Surrey, one Of the inslest friends ne .Iearn'
erous and bloodthirsiy Widower eve. bad Wa
aiitF the lapse q fsw months. marked 'or ,ls
Hill. aThe gallant noblemnn and gentle poet
deighiing only in classical pursuits 9Th 20 iQ1s
for power, was tried for treason IN lhe pIe.-nco
Of that illusriohs soldier, bis laiAer' he Duke ot
Norfolk, and given 70 the hga'lsman.
The shaft or q greater trant than himself
prevented the king from dinllng Che grass Of 10
green with the blood of the duke.
There are many more namca on The gloomy
catalogue. and some that shine most brightly
were stained With blood By tie nnIighleou4
Judgment of Mary and Elizabeth. This ancient
Die has somewhat soiteded ilsharsh visqge' rs
walls are covered with vines, and flowers bloom
on lis moat. It's connection With The glorious
name Of Wellington has helped greatly q a1an
the horror Ia history inspires. The duke vas
for some time constable Of the Tower