Prices of feeing the CURIOSITIES.

Lions, each Perfon,

Foot-Armory,

Train of Artillery,

Horse-Armory,

Spanish Armory,

Single,

Six-pence,

Three-pence.

Two-pence.

Three-pence.

Two-pence.

Regalia, in Company, each Perfon, One Shilling,

One Shilling and Six-pence.

N. B. But if a fingle Perfon is fhewn the FootArmory, Train of Artillery, Horse- Armory, and Spanish Armory, he pays for each double the Price above-mentioned.

THE

PREF A CE.

TH

HE Defire of feeing the Antiquities and Rarities of our Country is allowed by all to be a laudable Curiofity; to point them out therefore to the Inquifitive, and to direct their Attention to thofe Things that beft deferve Notice, cannot be denied its Degree of Merit.

The Tower of London, for the antique Remains that are there treafured up, has been, for many Ages past, the common Refort of Foreigners, as well as Natives; but it is a general Complaint, that the Mind, being crouded with too many Objects at once, cannot diftinguifh, amidst fo great a Variety, what is worthy to be dwelt upon, and what is not; and the Hurry with which Strangers are conducted by their Guides from one Thing to another, occafioned by the Numbers that are hourly flocking thither to be entertained, has afforded Matter of Difguft to many. To remove this Complaint therefore, and to enable every Perfon to direct himself in the Choice of his Objects, this little Book is now offered to the Public; which, in other Refpects likewife, will not wholly be without its Ufe; for by comparing, as the Reader here has an Opportunity of doing, the traditional Stories of the Guides, with the hiftorical Facts to which they relate, he will be naturally led to imprint this useful Obfervation ftrongly in his Mind, how little he ought to truft to Memory in things that are of Importance enough to be believed, and how careful to commit to Writing all his Concerns that on any future Occafion he would wish to remember.

A 2

It would be impertinent to trouble the Reader with a long Preface on a Subject, that, to fome, may appear immaterial; I fhall conclude therefore with obferving, · that Pains have been taken to examine every Fact, to which the Traditions at the Tower have any Allufion; to illuftrate them where they are obfcure; to supply them where they are defective; and to correct them where they are erroneous. And befides, we have introduced Anecdotes pertinent to the Subject, wherever Opportunity offered, in order to render the whole entertaining as well as useful.

AN

AN

HISTORICAL ACCOUNT

OF THE

TOWER OF LONDON.

T

*

HE Foundation of the Tower of London, according to the most authentic records, was marked out, and that part of the building called the White Tower erected by William the Conqueror, in the year 1076,

with a view, no doubt, to secure to himself and his followers a fafe retreat, in cafe of any furprize from the English, while he was employed in fettling the Government of his new conquefts.

That this was his defign in building the Tower, appears from its fituation, its extent, and its communication with the river Thames, from whence it might be fupplied with all kinds of fuccours of men, provifions, and military stores. But how it could command the city, the bridge, and the river, fo early as William the Conqueror's time, before the use of guns, as Mr. Guthrie has afferted, I muft own I cannot comprehend. And I believe, whoever views it attentively, even in its prefent circumftances, will agree with me, that it was rather planned for a place of defence than offence. But to return. The death of the Conqueror in 1088, about eight years after this fortress was begun, put a ftop to the progrefs of the work for a while, and left the completion of it to that great genius in geometrical knowledge William Rufus, fon to William the

A 3

Con

Conqueror, who in 1098 furrounded it with walls, and fortified it with a broad and deep ditch: Since his time indeed, the number of buildings within the walls has been gradually and greatly increased, fo that it seems now rather a town than a fortrefs. It fhould be remarked, that this laft mentioned Monarch built Westminster-Hall also, at that time the admiration of all Europe.

The Tower, as it is now fortified with cannon, is perhaps the best chosen situation for such a fortress of any in the world. It lies to the eastward of London, near enough to cover that opulent city from invafion by water, being 800 yards only from the bridge; and to the north of the river Thames, from which it is parted by a narrow ditch, and a convenient wharf, to which it has a communication by a draw-bridge, for the readier iffuing and receiving ammunition, and naval or military ftores. On this wharf, there is lately made a long and beautiful platform, on which are planted 61 pieces of cannon, mounted on new and very elegant iron carriages. The pieces of ordnance are chiefly used to fire on days of ftate, or to promulgate any joyful news to the public. Parallel to the wharf, within the walls, is a platform 70 yards in length, called the Ladies Line, because much frequented by the Ladies in the fummer, as within it is fhaded with a lofty row of trees, and without it has a delightful profpect of the shipping, with boats paffing aad repaffing on the river Thames. You afcend this line by ftone fteps, and being once upon it you may walk almoft round the walls of the Tower without interruption, and in your courfe will pafs three batteries; the firft called the Devil's Battery, where is alfo a platform on which are mounted seven pieces of cannon, tho' on the battery itself are only five; the next is called the Stone Battery, and is defended by eight pieces of cannon;

and