The Shasta courier., 1866-11-10
THE TOWER OFLONDON.

much of its Importance TO the Norman kings,
who made it one of their principal residences
in the metropolis, and created it a place of
much strength, for the twofold purpose of
securing themselves, and overawing the city
of London. William the Conqueror built the
White Tower, and his successor, of red hair
ed noteriety, considerably enlarged the whole
structure. Every successive monarch down
to the time of James |, sedulously kept it in
repair, so that it has been handed down to
this day as one of the interesting historical
relics which the country possesses.
And deeply interesting it must be to the
student of history. There can be no aues-
ton that the Romans were its founders,
because they had fort on its site, as was
proved during some repairs, when extensive
buildings were found at considerable depth
below the present foundation, and coins of
Honorins and other Roman empeI0rsi were
once more brought into the light of day
The Normans, however, were the first to
take the substantial advantage of the natural
and political value of the situation. and the
Tower must be regarded as one of the most
Imposing monuments of the ages in the ca
reer of England in which might was right,
and the great body of the people were unre.
cognized, save as vassals whose labors ere
ated the bulk Of the national wealth.
This celebrated building. which is emphat-
ically one of the most striking monuments of
old London, occupies an area of twelve or
thirteen acres, just beyond the old walls
of the city of London eastward. The out
line of the buildings, as of the area on which
they stand, is that of an irregular square.
gradually narrowing toward the city side
Looked at from without, the Tower plan first
I'm
lofty embattlemented wall, with strong
towers at intervals through its whole course ;
then a similar wall and tower at some little
distance within-among which is interspers-
ed IA considerable number of modern build
ings for the accommodation of the garrison
and other inhabitants cf the Tower-and
lastly, great central space, where stands
the White Tower, the lofty keep of the older
fortress, with the Horse Armory at its base :;
whilst around the sides of the area against
the inner walls are, in different parts, the
ancient chapel, the remains of the grand
store house, or armory, and the buildings of
the Board of Ordnance The chief intrance
is by the Spur, small enclosure at the
southwest corner, originally forming kind
of barbican.
Between this spot and the central space of
by drawbridge, and is defended by three
strong towers the first placed to secure the
passage of the moat; the second, the en-
trance into the ballium, or outer ward and
the third, the Bloody Tower, to secure the
entrance into the inner ward, or central space
before mentioned. Opposite the exterior of
the Bloody Tower-so called, it is Supposed,
from the suicide or murder within its walls
of the eighth Earl Of Northumberland, sent
there by Queen Elizabeth for his reasonable
correspondence with Mary Queen of Scots
is the Traitors Gateway, which, during,
the long period of the Tower as state prison
formed the general entrance for prisoners.
When Elizabeth was brought to the Tower
as prisoner, it is stated that she at first re
fused to land but seeing force would be used
if she did not, cried out, in the bitterness
of her indignation, g Here lambeth as true
subject, being prisoner, as ever landed at
these stairs; and before Thee, o God, |
speak it, having no other friend but Thee ~
To the antiquarian and student of history,
the White Tower possesses peculiar inter
est. as being the most ancient part of the
fortress Within is the rude chamber in
which the early kings held their council, and
here old Richard If resigned the crown to
Boingbroke. in 1399 The chapel is one of
the most important specimens of Norman
architecture now existing in Europe.
At the foot of the staircase leading into
the chapel were found some bones, which
were believed to have belonged to the young
princes who were supposed to have been mur.
dered by Richard III. That unblushing
profgate and hypocrite, Charles H. as a mat
ter of course, caused them to be inferred
without inquiry, in Westminster Abbey
L. ~.of.. Il c.l
occur in the Beauchamp Tower-so called
it is supposed, from the confinement in it of
Thomas Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, in
1897.
The chapel of St. Peters at the northwest
angle, is the only one now used for Divine
service. This was built in the reign of Ed
ward |, and like the other chief buildings Of
the fortress. is rich in its associations. Here
lie Anne Boleyn, with her brother, Lord
Rockford, Bishop Fisher, the great Chancel
lor Moore the venerable Countess of Sails,
bury, the Minister Cromwell. the two Sew
mours. the Lord Protector and the Admiral;
Lady Jane Grey, with her uncle and hus
Elizabeth for his pretentisons to thehand of
Mary Elzabeth's favorite, Leicester; the
Duke of Monmouth and the Scotch lords
beheaded for the rebellion of l745.
The spot on which the scaffold was erected
for many of these executions is Immediately
in front of the chapel; another, and the
chief place of execution, was outside the
walls, on the neighborng Tower Hill.
The innocent and guilty alike passed
through it to their doom-it was the entrance
to the English Inferno; and in former times
the Imagination could read over its front the
dread inscription, All We who enter here
leave hope behind" Invested as it is with
so many dismal "reminiscences, it may be re-
garded not only as a silent, but eloquent
and savage witness of some of the worst Pc
riods in English history.
Up those slippery steps the weak Henry
VI walked TREMENDOUSLY to his death murder
it was called by the Lancastrian party. In
later age Anne Boleyn, who once had en-
tered the Tower in grand procession. passed
tremblingly through Traitors Gateway,
foredoomed because prejudged woman.
Could ghosts hover about that old gate,
how that of Anne Boleyn must have smiled
when it beheld Catherine Howard totterng
through it, really infamous and guilty
woman Or what must it have felt-if spirits
can feel-when it saw Essex, once the dar.
ling and plaything of Annes only child,
Elizabeth, walk with undaunted mien to his