Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
London And Middlesex Archeological Society.
;~ I' ¦ " ¦ LONDON AND MIDDLESEX ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY .
REMINISCENCES OP A VISIT TO THE TOWEB OE LONDON , BY A BEOTHEE . ( Continued from page 966 . ) On leaving the little chapel of St . Peter ad Vincula , the members of the Archaeological Society , under the careful pilotage of one of the Yeomen of the
Guard , passed through the narrow passage between thle ^ ehapel and the new barracks and ascended the outer wall , where a good bird ' s-eye view is obtained of the northern side , also of the moat , now turned into a garden . Proceeding onward they passed to the outer bastion at the north-east corner , called the Mound , and came by the back of the Jewel or Brick Tower , the Constable Tower , the Broad Arrow Tower , to the Salt Tower , formerly called " Julyus Seaser Tower , " in the
reign of Henry Till . All these towers are in perfect ruin and undergoing repair , with the exception of the Salt Tower , which , from its very decayed state * was pulled down some few years ago and has been entirely rebuilt . The next object of interest was St . Thomas ' s Tower , better known as Traitors \ Gate . This was formerly the Water Gate entrance to the Tower from the Thames , passing under the low arch of the wharf and secured by strong double flood-gates ,
access to the fortress being gained by a flight of stairs . On these stairs sat the Princess Elizabeth ( afterwards Queen ) , when she was arrested and conveyed to the Tower , by order of her half-sister Mary , on suspicion of being connected with Wyatt ' s rebellion , and refused to land there ; but seeing that force would be used unless she complied , she indignantly exclaimed , " Here landeth as true a subject , being a prisoner , as ever landed at these stairs , and before Thee , 0 God , I speak
it , having none other friend than Thee . " Proceeding up the steps she suddenly seated herself , and being pressed by the Lieutenant to rise , answered " Better sit here than in a worse place , for God knoweth and not I whither you will bring me . " * It is traditionally reported that she was confined in the Bell Tower . At the present time the basin between the flood-gates and the stairs is dry , although considerably below high-water mark , the water being excluded for sanitary
purposes , and this dry dock is now the depository of the State Barge of the Master General of the Ordnance . This barge is a remnant of former greatness , having been the private pleasure-boat of King William III . and Queen Mary , and under the red paint and gilded thunderbolt may be clearly detected the carved entwined cyphers of W . M . ; and the writer of this article has a rare etching in his
possession of "their Majesties , " in this barge " taking pleasure upon the Thames . " St . Thomas ' s Tower now contains a steam-engine , used for pumping up water to supply the garrison . Facing this tower is the Wakefield Tower , sometimes called the Eecord Office , Avhich is supposed to have been built by William Bufns . Of this building only the basement story remains : it is a low Eoman crypt , and although lighted by
* Vide Knight ' s " London , " vol . ii . p . 246
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
London And Middlesex Archeological Society.
;~ I' ¦ " ¦ LONDON AND MIDDLESEX ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY .
REMINISCENCES OP A VISIT TO THE TOWEB OE LONDON , BY A BEOTHEE . ( Continued from page 966 . ) On leaving the little chapel of St . Peter ad Vincula , the members of the Archaeological Society , under the careful pilotage of one of the Yeomen of the
Guard , passed through the narrow passage between thle ^ ehapel and the new barracks and ascended the outer wall , where a good bird ' s-eye view is obtained of the northern side , also of the moat , now turned into a garden . Proceeding onward they passed to the outer bastion at the north-east corner , called the Mound , and came by the back of the Jewel or Brick Tower , the Constable Tower , the Broad Arrow Tower , to the Salt Tower , formerly called " Julyus Seaser Tower , " in the
reign of Henry Till . All these towers are in perfect ruin and undergoing repair , with the exception of the Salt Tower , which , from its very decayed state * was pulled down some few years ago and has been entirely rebuilt . The next object of interest was St . Thomas ' s Tower , better known as Traitors \ Gate . This was formerly the Water Gate entrance to the Tower from the Thames , passing under the low arch of the wharf and secured by strong double flood-gates ,
access to the fortress being gained by a flight of stairs . On these stairs sat the Princess Elizabeth ( afterwards Queen ) , when she was arrested and conveyed to the Tower , by order of her half-sister Mary , on suspicion of being connected with Wyatt ' s rebellion , and refused to land there ; but seeing that force would be used unless she complied , she indignantly exclaimed , " Here landeth as true a subject , being a prisoner , as ever landed at these stairs , and before Thee , 0 God , I speak
it , having none other friend than Thee . " Proceeding up the steps she suddenly seated herself , and being pressed by the Lieutenant to rise , answered " Better sit here than in a worse place , for God knoweth and not I whither you will bring me . " * It is traditionally reported that she was confined in the Bell Tower . At the present time the basin between the flood-gates and the stairs is dry , although considerably below high-water mark , the water being excluded for sanitary
purposes , and this dry dock is now the depository of the State Barge of the Master General of the Ordnance . This barge is a remnant of former greatness , having been the private pleasure-boat of King William III . and Queen Mary , and under the red paint and gilded thunderbolt may be clearly detected the carved entwined cyphers of W . M . ; and the writer of this article has a rare etching in his
possession of "their Majesties , " in this barge " taking pleasure upon the Thames . " St . Thomas ' s Tower now contains a steam-engine , used for pumping up water to supply the garrison . Facing this tower is the Wakefield Tower , sometimes called the Eecord Office , Avhich is supposed to have been built by William Bufns . Of this building only the basement story remains : it is a low Eoman crypt , and although lighted by
* Vide Knight ' s " London , " vol . ii . p . 246