Authorised Guide to the Tower of London | Page 3

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 on and the inner ward was enclosed. A great storm in 1091 damaged the outworks. Ralf Flambard, Bishop of Durham, being imprisoned in the Tower by Henry I, contrived to escape, 1101. During the wars between Stephen and Matilda, the Earl of Essex was Constable of the Tower, and obtained a grant even of the City of London from the Empress. When he fell into Stephen's hands the Tower formed his ransom, and