Authorised Guide to the Tower of London | Page 3

and finds
himself in a well-lighted circular apartment in the Wakefield Tower.
The deep window recess opposite the door was fitted up as a small
chapel, with Aumbry, Piscina, and Sedilia. Tradition says that Henry
VI used it for his devotions when a prisoner in the Tower, and was here
murdered. In the centre, in a large double case, are arranged the
splendid objects which form the English Regalia. The following are the
most remarkable:--
The King's Crown. It occupies the highest place in the case. It was
constructed in 1838 for her late Majesty's coronation, the principal
jewels being taken from older crowns and the royal collection. Among
them, observe the large ruby given to the Black Prince in Spain in 1367.
Henry V wore it in his helmet at Agincourt. With seventy-five large
brilliants it forms a Maltese cross on the front of the diadem.
Immediately below it is a splendid sapphire, purchased by George IV.
Seven other sapphires and eight emeralds, all of large size, with many
hundred diamonds, decorate the band and arches, and the cross on the
summit is formed of a rose cut sapphire and four very fine brilliants.
The whole contains 2818 diamonds, 297 pearls, and many other jewels,
and weighs thirty-nine ounces and five pennyweights. The Crown was
enlarged for His Majesty Edward VII.
The Crown made for the coronation of Mary of Modena, the second
wife of James II. This is probably one of the oldest of the crowns, and
contains some fine jewels.

The Crown made for Queen Mary II, for her coronation with William
III.
St. Edward's Crown, which appears to be the model by which all the
later crowns have been fashioned. It was made for the coronation of
Charles II.
The Prince of Wales's coronet, with a single arch.
The Orb, of gold, with a cross and bands of jewels.
St. Edward's Staff, a sceptre of gold, 4 feet 7 inches in length,
surmounted by an orb which is supposed to contain a fragment of the
true cross.
The Royal Sceptre.
The Sceptre of Equity, surmounted by a dove.
Small sceptres, one of ivory.
Besides these magnificent regal emblems, which chiefly date from the
Restoration, when the places of the ancient objects, destroyed during
the Commonwealth, were supplied as nearly as possible, observe, also--
The Anointing Spoon, the sole relic of the ancient regalia, of silver gilt.
The Eagle, for the anointing oil.
The Golden Salt-cellar, a model of the White Tower.
The Baptismal Font, used at the christening of the Sovereign's children,
of silver, double gilt.
The Sacramental Plate used at the coronation.
A large silver-gilt wine-fountain, of good workmanship, presented to
Charles II by the Corporation of Plymouth.

In a case in the large recess, Curtana, the Sword of Mercy, pointless,
the blade 40 inches long.
Two Swords of Justice, Ecclesiastical and Civil.
Also the State Sword offered at the coronation of His Majesty Edward
VII, with richly jewelled hilt and scabbard.
In the central case is a model of the Koh-i-noor in its original setting.
In the cases in the recesses are also exhibited the insignia of the British
and Indian orders of Knighthood, their collars, stars, and badges, and
the Victoria Cross.
Leaving the Wakefield Tower, we descend the slope and turn to the left
near the site of what was the Cold Harbour Tower, a name the exact
meaning of which is unknown. The original Jewel House was behind it
to the east, forming with the south side of the White Tower, and
portions of the palace, a small courtyard, in which some remains of the
ancient buildings may still be traced. On a raised platform is the
gun-carriage and limber on which the body of Her Majesty the late
Queen Victoria was conveyed on the occasion of her funeral, 2nd
February, 1901, from Windsor Railway Station to St. George's Chapel.
This was placed here by order of the Houses of Parliament. We now
reach a doorway made in the south wall of the
White Tower (Pl. VII),
or Keep, the oldest part of the whole fortress.
[Illustration: WHITE TOWER. Plan of Middle Floor.]
The Conqueror, before he entered London, formed a camp, eastward of
the city, and probably on part of the ground now occupied by the
Tower. Immediately after his coronation he commenced the works here.
At first, no doubt, they consisted of a ditch and palisade, and were
formed partly on the lower bastions of the old City Wall, first built by
the Romans, and rebuilt in 885 by King Alfred. The work of building

the Keep was entrusted to Gundulf, a monk of Bec, in Normandy, who
was shortly afterwards made Bishop of Rochester, and who probably
commenced operations in 1078. In 1097, under William Rufus, the
works were still going