In
which are enrolments of grants, and confirmations of liberties and
privileges to cities and towns corporate, and to private persons, as
markets, fairs, free warren, common of pasture, waifs, strays,
felons' goods, &c.
The foundations of abbeys and priories, of colleges and schools,
together with lands and privileges granted to them.
The patents of creation of noblemen.
Close rolls, from the 6th of King John, to the end of Edward IV., in
which are writs of various kinds, but more especially on the back of
the roll are entered the writs of summons to parliament, both to the
lords and commons, and of the bishops and inferior clergy to
convocations. There are also proclamations, and enrolments of deeds
between party and party.
French rolls, beginning anno 1 of Edward II. and ending with Edward
IV., in which are leagues and treaties with the kings of France, and
other matters relating to that kingdom.
Scotch rolls, containing transactions with that kingdom.
Rome, touching the affairs of that see.
Vascon rolls, relating to Gascoign.
There are also other rolls and records of different natures.
In this tower are also kept the inquisitions post mortem, from the
first year of King Henry III., to the third year of Richard III.
The inquisitions ad quod damnum, from the first of Edward II. to the
end of Henry V.
Writs of summons, and returns to Parliament, from the reign of
Edward I. to the 17th of Edward IV.
Popes' bulls, and original letters from foreign princes.
All which were put into order, and secured in excellent wainscot
presses, by order of the house of peers, in the year 1719 and 1720.
Attendance is given at this office, and searches may be made from
seven o'clock in the morning to eleven, and from one to five in the
afternoon, unless in December, January, and February, when the
office is open only from eight to eleven in the morning, and from
one to four, except holidays.
The next office I shall mention is the Mint, where, at present, all
the money in the kingdom is coined. This makes a considerable
street in the Tower, wherein are apartments for the officers
belonging to it. The principal officers are:- l. The warden, who
receives the gold and silver bullion, and pays the full value for
it, the charge being defrayed by a small duty on wines. 2. The
master and worker, who takes the bullion from the warden, causes it
to be melted, delivers it to the moneyers, and when it is minted
receives it from them again. 3. The comptroller, who sees that the
money be made according to the just assize, overlooks the officers
and controls them. 4. The assay-master, who sees that the money be
according to the standard of fineness. 5. The auditor, who takes
the accounts, and makes them up. 6. The surveyor-general, who
takes care that the fineness be not altered in the melting. And, 7,
the weigher and teller.
The Jewel-office, where the regalia are reposited, stands near the
east end of the Armoury. A list is usually given to those who come
daily to see these curiosities in the Jewel-house, a copy whereof
follows, viz.:
A list of his Majesty's regalia, besides plate, and other rich
things, at the Jewel-house in the Tower of London.
1. The imperial crown, which all the kings of England have been
crowned with, ever since Edward the Confessor's time.
2. The orb, or globe, held in the king's left hand at the
coronation; on the top of which is a jewel near an inch and half in
height.
3. The royal sceptre with the cross, which has another jewel of
great value under it.
4. The sceptre with the dove, being the emblem of peace.
5. St. Edward's staff, all beaten gold, carried before the king at
the coronation.
6. A rich salt-cellar of state, the figure of the Tower, used on
the king's table at the coronation.
7. Curtana, or the sword of mercy, borne between the two swords of
justice, the spiritual and temporal, at the coronation.
8. A noble silver font, double gilt, that the kings and royal
family were christened in.
9. A large silver fountain, presented to King Charles II. by the
town of Plymouth.
10. Queen Anne's diadem, or circlet which her majesty wore in
proceeding to her coronation.
11. The coronation crown made for the late Queen Mary.
12. The rich crown of state that his majesty wears on his throne in
parliament, in which is a large emerald seven inches round, a pearl
the finest in the world, and a ruby of inestimable value.
13. A globe and sceptre made for the late Queen Mary.
14. An ivory sceptre with a dove, made for the late King James's
queen.
15. The golden spurs and the armillas that are worn at the
coronation.
There is also an apartment in the Tower where noble prisoners used
to be confined, but of late years some of less quality have been
sent thither.
The Tower where the lions and other savage animals are kept is on
the right hand, on the outside the ditch, as we enter the fortress.
These consist of lions, leopards, tigers, eagles, vultures, and such
other wild creatures as foreign princes or sea-officers have
presented to the British kings and queens.
Not far from the Tower stands London Bridge. This bridge has
nineteen arches besides the drawbridge, and is built with hewn
stone, being one thousand two hundred feet in length, and seventy-
four in breadth, whereof the houses built on each side take up
twenty-seven feet, and the street between the houses twenty feet;
there being only three vacancies about the middle of the bridge
where there are no houses, but a low stone wall, with an iron
palisade, through which is a fine view of the shipping and vessels
in the river.
