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TOWER of London.
CHAP. XV.
Of the TOWER of London .
Its Situation and Magnitude .
The Liberties of it .
S. Peter's Church in the Tower .
Its Governor and Principal Officers.
Constable .
His Privileges .
Lieutenant of the Tower .
Custos's of the Tower .
Gentleman Porter ;
Gentleman Jaylor :
The Lieutenancy of the Tower .
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THUS having dispatched these Antiquated
Towers of London, we go on to the Royal Tower, yet extant and
flourishing. Of which many Things were spoken by Stow, and
many more will be added, for the further Knowledge of it, and
Continuance of its History down to the present Times.
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J. S.
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To have a satisfactory Account of the Situation, Form, and the
various Places, Apartments, and Parts of the Tower, it would be
desirable, that there were certain particular Maps and Prospects
of it, both as it was formerly, and at present: The doing of which
must be left to some ingenious and skilful Person. And such an
one there is, now a worthy Officer there, that hath had such an
useful Design, and 'tis hoped will bring it to Perfection in due
Time.]
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Pospects for the Tower.
Serjeant Porter.
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The City of London (saith Fitzstephen) hath in the East a very
great and most strong Palatine Tower; whose Turrets and Walls do
rise from a deep Foundation; the Mortar thereof being tempered
with the Blood of Beasts. In the West Parts are Two most strong
Castles, &c.
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The Tower of London.
Fitzstephen.
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To begin therefore with this most famous Tower of London, situate
in the East, near unto the River of Thames.
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And here, for the better Description of this important Part of the
City, divers Things are to be particularly shewed. As, I. Its
Situation and Magnitude. II. The Liberties and Bounds of it. III.
The Church of S. Peter within the Tower. IV. The Governors and
principal Officers. V. Its Antiquity and first Buildings. VI. Of the
Enlarging, Repairing, and Fortifying of it. VII. Of such Actions,
Accidents, and remarkable Occurrences (of several kinds) as have
at divers Times been transacted, or fallen out within the Confines
of it. VIII. Of the Mint. IX. Of the Office of the Ordnance. X. Of
the several Offices; Viz. Of keeping the Records, the Regalia, and
the Lions; with other Offices of Moment kept there.]
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J. S.
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Of the Situation and Magnitude of this Great Fortress, the TOWER.
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It is situate upon a large Plot of Ground, called the Tower Liberty,
which contains both the Tower Hills, viz. the greater and the
lesser, and Part of East Smithfield, Rosemary Lane, Well-Close, &c.
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How situate.
R. B.
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It is encompassed with a broad and deep Ditch, supplied with
Water out of the Thames, which is its Southern Bounds; and over
this Ditch it hath Two Bridges, one for Carts and Coaches, by the
Lions Tower; and the other for Foot-Passengers, over a Draw-
Bridge on the South side.
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Besides, it hath a Passage, or Cut out of the Thames, which is called
Traitors Bridge; so called, for that formerly all Persons committed
to the Tower for Treason, were brought through thither by Boat.
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The Piece of Ground on which the Tower stands, contains Twenty
six Acres, a Rod, and something more.
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Its Extent.
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The Compass about the Tower, on the Outside of the Ditch, is 3156
Foot. And the Quantity of Ground comprehended within the Walls
and Ditch, is Twelve Acres, and odd Rods. The whole, with its
Liberty as aforesaid, contains something above Twenty six Acres
of Ground.
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Its Compass.
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A Sight of this Tower is here represented, taken from the River of
Thames, and an Ichnographical Ground Plot; in which you may see
the Position and Situation of the several Places mentioned in this
Discouse of the Tower; all of them being either express'd by
Letters, or Figures, according to this following Table; which is a
better Satisfaction to the Reader, than a Multitude of Words.
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A Plan of the Tower.
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Places noted in the Ground-Plot; are,
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1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 | The Lyons
The Middle
The
Bell
Beauchamp
Dwelling
Flint
Bowyer
Martin
Castle
Broad
Arrows
Salt
Well
Cradle
Lantern
St.
Thomas
Hall
Bloody
The Lieutenant's Lodgings.
The Mint.
The Magazine.
The Office of Ordnance. | }
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The other Places, which have no Names nor Figures set to them,
are Dwelling Houses belonging to the Warders, and other Officers,
of the Tower.]
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Whereas the Tower is said to be within the City of London, it is
(saith Lord Coke) thus to be understood: That the Ancient Wall of
London (the Mention whereof yet appeareth) extendeth through
the Tower: And all that which is environed with the said Wall, viz.
on the West Part thereof, is within the City of London; that is to
say, in the Parish of All Saints Barking, within the Ward of the
Tower. And the Residue of the Tower on the East Part of the
Ancient Wall, is within the County of Middlesex. And this, upon
View and Examination, was found out, Mic. 13. Jacob. Regis, in the
Case of
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Tower, how within the City.
Coke Instit. P. 4.
J. S.
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