12. The Tower of London
Is an ancient and irregular building, which arises from its having been erected and enlarged by different sovereigns, at distant periods of time. It was the palace of many of our monarchs, as well as a place of defence. William of Normandy, called the Conqueror, having no great reliance on the fidelity of his new subjects, built a fortress, (called the White Tower,) on part of the present scite of the Tower, to which the origin of this fabric may be attributed. In 1092, William Rufus laid the foundation of a castle to the south, towards the river, which was finished by his successor. Beneath this were two gates, one called Traitor’s Gate, through which state-prisoners were conveyed to their prisons; the other entitled Bloody, which, too many who entered it, found it deserved; imprisonment in those dark ages, being mostly the certain passport to death. [14] Charles the Second cleared the ditch, improved the wharfings, and introduced water by convenient sluices. The whole underwent considerable repairs in the reign of George the Third.
The principal entrance is by three gates on the west side. The whole are guarded by soldiers; and when these gates are opened of a morning, the formalities of a garrison are observed, though the interior now resembles a town at peace, having streets, and a variety of buildings. When the gates are shut at night, the Yeoman Porter, with a serjeant and six privates, goes to the governor’s house for the keys, and on the porter’s returning from the outer gate, he is challenged by the guard, drawn up under arms, with, “Who comes there?” to which he replies, “The Keys.” The guards answer, “Pass Keys,” and rest their firelocks. The yeoman porter says, “God save the King!” and the ceremony closes with a general “Amen.”
The Wardens, or Yeomen Porters of the Tower, wear a uniform, the same as the yeomen of the king’s guard at the palaces. Their coats are of fine scarlet cloth, laced with gold round the edges and seams, with several rows of gold lace, and bound round the waist with a girdle of the same material. Their form is uncommon, having full sleeves, and short, full skirts. On their breasts and backs they wear the king’s silver badge of the rose, thistle, and shamrock, with the letters G. R. Their heads are covered with round, flat-crowned caps, tied with bands of coloured ribbons. The whole appearance forms an elegant livery, well adapted to royalty.
13. The Armory.
The spoils of the Spanish Armada are still shown in the Tower. There are, amongst them, several kinds of arms and instruments of cruelty, designed for torturing their English prisoners; and the following list of them will prove the barbarity of Spain at that period.
THE SPOILS OF THE SPANISH ARMADA.
1. The pope’s banner, by him blessed and declared invincible.