These Custodes, or Keepers, I find were often changed. For in the 3d of Edward I. the Keeping of the Tower was granted by the King to Anthony Beke, durante Beneplacito; as Philip Basset before had it. And he was to receive 100l. per Annum for his said keeping.

Again; the Custody of the Tower of London was granted to John Crombwell, for Term of Five Years; and to take the Fees and Customs. And it is commanded to Thomas Walter, to deliver the same to him by Indenture, with the Appurtenances; together with the Arms, Victuals, and all other Things and Prisons being there; 1 Edward III.

Again; the Custody of the Tower was granted to William de Monte Acuto, or Mountague, for Life, after the Death of John de Crombwell, who now hath it for Term of Life, 9 Edw. III. And it was granted pro Michael de la Beche: Et Anno 20, pro Johan. Darcy.

And for the Repairing of the King's Key, near the Tower of London, it was commanded to the Keeper of the King's Forest of Windsor, That he cause John Crombwell, Keeper of the foresaid Tower, to have 300 Palos de Alneto, i.e. Pales, or Poles from the Alderwood, in the foresaid Forest. And it is commanded to the Sheriff of Berks, That he cause the said Poles to be felled, and to be carried unto the Tower of London, out of the Issues of the County. And this for the Custodes of the Tower. To return to the Lieutenants.

The first Lieutenant under Queen Elizabeth, was Sir Edward Warner; who had been also in that Place under K. Edward VI. In the Year 1562, he was deprived of this Trust, and committed to Custody, upon the coming together of the Earl of Hertford and the Lady Katharine Grey; who had privately concluded of Marriage together, without the Queen's Consent: And so were put into sundry close Prisons, not to come at one another. But they corrupted their Keepers. This the Lieutenant rued; otherwise an honest and worthy Man.

The next Lieutenant of the Tower, was Sir Owen Hopton, preferred to this Place by the Interest of the Lord Treasurer. He was an active, and brave-spirited Man. And yet I find him complained of for some Neglects in his Trust, in the Year 1572; being a Year of great Terror to the English Nation; fearing some Massacre, or Insurrection, or Violence to be offered the Queen's Person. For in this Year happened the bloody Massacre of the Protestants in France, which astonished this Kingdom. In this Year were Two great Peers cut off, the Duke of Norfolk, and the Earl of Northumberland, for Treason and Rebellion. The Queen also fell sick of the Small Pox. There were also great Apprehensions from the Queen of Scots, and her Party; she being now a Prisoner in England. These Uneasinesses and Fears made the People concerned for the Preservation of the Tower; and great Complaints were made to the Lords of the Council against Hopton, and of Matters in and about the Tower. As, That the said Lieutenant shewed the Wardens that they were perjured, if they did not first shew him of all Treasons, Conspiracies, or any other like Matters, that they should know or hear of, before they uttered the same to any of the Queen's Majesty's Council. Whereupon he took an Oath of all such Yeomen, as came of late to serve there under him.

That the Prisoners had much more Liberty to walk and meet upon the Leads of Cold Harbour, and to go one to another; and also to send their Minds and Letters to their Friends, as they should think good: Which had not heretofore been accustomed to be suffered. Which Liberty they had, by reason of such needy Persons as Mr. Lieutenant had appointed to be their Keepers: To whom he gave very little Wages to maintain them.

That there should be Sevenscore Gunners belonging to the Tower; whereof there wanted a great Number. And that the most Part of them that took Wages, were unskilful. So that if the Queen's Majesty should stand in need of Service, she should be disappointed. And besides, that many of them were Papists.

That the Clerk of the Ordnance was a very earnest Papist.

That there wanted the most Part of such Warders, as ought to watch and ward, and to lye within the Tower: And the Hamlets did neither watch nor ward, according to their bounden Duties. For if the Tower Ditch should be frozen, considering there were no better Order taken for the Defence of the same, and considering the State of the Time, and if Need should so require, it might be in great Danger. Wherefore all the Yeomen should be commanded, daily to wait, and to lye within the Tower every Night, for the Preservation of the same: Seeing the Watches of London and S. Katharines were not kept as of late, but now most needful, until this Time be past.

It was likewise informed, That December the 29th, the Earl of Southampton stood leaping upon the Tower; his Wife being right over against him, on the other side of the Ditch. And when one Philip a Gunner seeing this, demanded, if this might be allowed, the Servants very angrily asked him, If he were therewithal offended?

That Commandment had been given by their Honours, That no great Ordnance should be shot off at any time upon the Tower Wharf, or about the Tower; except it were only for the Queen; Notwithstanding they continued shooting from Time to Time of great Pieces. Which Pieces were to be sold, or else lent to divers Persons, with the Queen's own Powder; conveyed by them out of the Tower in Barrels. That this Shooting utterly marred the Wharf, being sore worn and shaken already; brake the Glass- Windows; loosed the Tiles of the Houses newly repaired.

Further, That they did receive and discharge upon the same Wharf, divers Mens Stuffs, as Timber, Logs, Billets, Faggots, Rubbish, Hay, Straw, and all other Things; and carry and re-carry the same with Cars and Carts. Which did greatly decay the Wharf, and wear the Queen's Cranes.

That they made a common Highway, with all manner of Carriages, from S. Katharines leading to the Minories: By reason whereof, the Way is greatly decayed; the Banks of the Tower Ditch sunken, and the Ditch filled with Earth and Filth; whereas it was wont to be chained betwixt Two great Posts. And likewise by the Tower Hill, there was another Chain with Two great Posts by the Bulwark Gate, for the restraining all Carriages, saving only for the Queen. By reason whereof, the Banks there are greatly decayed, and the Ditch overcome with Earth by the Sufference thereof.

And this was the Tenor of the Complaint made at this dangerous Juncture against the Lieutenant, and of the Information of Things amiss pertaining to the Tower: Which I have the rather set forth at length, to let in the more Light into the State of this strong Place in former Times.

But the Lieutenant was not negligent to vindicate himself, by a Letter to the Lord Burghleigh, his Friend and Advancer; Vowing to God, that he served her Majesty the more dutifully and