III THE FORTRESS FROM WITHIN-(continued) The Beauchamp Tower-St. Thomas' Tower-The Wakefield O THE BEAUCHAMP TOWER N the west side of Tower Green and facing the site of the block is the Beauchamp Tower, which in human interest remains one of the most enthralling in the Tower. For though its history is not quite so tragic as that of the Bloody Tower, it has harboured as many, perhaps even more, prisoners of distinction. It was thus named after Thomas Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, who was here imprisoned as far back as 1397, and the walls are rich with ancient inscriptions. Many, probably the majority of these, rightly belong to this Tower, but others were removed from more exposed places within the fortress. and let into these walls for better protection and preservation. The Beauchamp Tower is built on the same pattern as most of the other minor towers; that is more or less semi-circular in design, with a basement and two storeys. Most of the ancient inscriptions have been collected on the walls of the first floor, which at one time served as an officers' mess for the battalion of the Guards stationed at the Tower. There are in all ninety-one inscriptions on the walls, some very beautifully engraved, and all of pathetic interest. Perhaps the two most celebrated of the prisoners in this Tower through many centuries were the great rivals, the Duke of Somerset1 and the Duke of Northumberland, who have left no inscriptions. Indeed this matter of inscriptions often doubtless depended on fellow-prisoners, or servants who had the art. A Princess or a Duke, who could perhaps only with difficulty write a letter, are not likely, even during the tediousness of imprisonment, to have become skilled engravers in stone. As bearing this out it may be noted that almost exactly the same words are engraved by T. Miagh in the Beauchamp Tower as are engraved in the Bell Tower where T. Miagh was not, as far as can be gathered, ever imprisoned. Thus in the Bell Tower we have "Bi tortyre straynge my troyth was tried, yet of my liberty denied," and in the Beauchamp Tower: By tortyre straynge mi troyth was tryed yet of my libertie denied 1581 Thomas Myagh," which leads to the suggestion that both inscriptions were made by one hand, or possibly the spelling being slightly different, the one copied by memory from the other. But done how they were the inscriptions are each and all without doubt contemporaneous, and record the presence of actual prisoners. There is a very full and interesting account of all the inscriptions in this Towers which can be obtained from the Warder on duty, but it may be well to give here a few of the best, or the most interesting. Above the fireplace in the upper chamber we see a Latin inscription which may be translated: "The more suffering for Christ in this world the more glory with Christ in the next. Thou hast crowned 1 See P. 143. 3 See p. 151. 3 Short Sketch of the Beauchamp Tower, by W. R. Dick. Him with honour and glory, O Lord! In memory everlasting He will be just. ARUNDELL June 22nd, 1587," In another part of the room is another inscription by the same hand which reads: "It is a reproach to be bound in the cause of sin; but to sustain the bonds of prison for the sake of Christ, is the greatest glory. ARUNDEL 26th May, 1587." It may be noticed that only one final "L" is used, instead of two, as in the other inscription. This was Philip Howard, Earl of Arundel, son of Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, who had himself been beheaded fourteen years before, for aspiring to the hand of Mary Queen of Scots. Philip Howard's trouble, however, was not matrimonial but religious; religion of the fanatical type, which led an otherwise harmless nobleman into dynastic intrigues whilst so autocratic a sovereign as Queen Elizabeth was on the throne. He escaped the block, but died a prisoner in the Tower.1 On the right of the same fireplace we find an elaborate design with the Dudley crest, a lion, and a bear and ragged staff, in the centre, and beneath it on a scroll " JOHN DUDLEY." This appertains to John Dudley, Earl of Warwick, eldest son of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. He and his four brothers, Ambrose, Robert," Guildford, and Henry, were all here incarcerated. The Earl of Warwick was sentenced to death for treason, but reprieved, and died in the Tower October 21st, 1554 Of Guildford Dudley there is no separate inscription, but the word "JANE JANE" is, according to tradition, his handiwork. His wife, Lady Jane Grey, it will be remembered, was at the same time a prisoner in the Gentleman Gaoler's quarters, within a few yards of the Beauchamp Tower. Those were days when little lightness of conduct was 1 See p. 252. * Afterwards released and later created Earl of Leicester by Queen Elizabeth. allowed, matrimonial or otherwise, where Her Majesty was concerned; thus amongst other prisoners may be found "Ro. Bainbridge," who above his name has depicted himself kneeling in an attitude of prayer. His offence was that he had made remarks in the House of Commons displeasing to Queen Elizabeth. The more cynical might to-day remark, "O for the days of Queen Elizabeth!" On the left-hand side of the second recess is an inscription thus translated: "Grief is overcome by patience G. GYFFORD Avgvst 8th 1586" This was probably a pensioner of Queen Elizabeth. His brother, who was involved in the Babington conspiracy, being a prisoner at the same time. G. Gyfford also left another well-carved memorial of more ambitious design on these walls. It depicts a closed hand holding what may be a bouquet. Beneath is a shield on which are ten torteaux placed in rows of four, three, two, and one. On each side of the shield is the letter "G"; and beneath the date 1586. The inscription translated reads: "An evil conscience makes men fear even security G. GYFFORD " There are several inscriptions by "Charles Bailly," who was evidently fond of the work and did it exceedingly well. He was Flemish by birth, but whilst engaged as a courier, in the interests, it was said, of Mary Queen of Scots, was intercepted with his despatches, and committed to the Tower. There, in the intervals of being racked, he engraved the walls of his prison with many words. His best and most ambitious effort is to be found on the left of one of the recesses. It is beautifully engraved in tablet form, and is partly in Latin and partly in English. Translated it reads: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." "I.H.S. X.P.S." "Be ennemye to none.' "Be frend to one. "Anno. D. 1571 10 Sept." "The most vnhapy man in the world is he that is not pacient in adversities; For men are not killed with the adversities they have bvt with ye impacience which they svffer." All who comes to attend." "The sighs are the true testimonies of my anguish "Act 29th Charles Bailly." "Hope to the end, and have pacience." The family of de la Pole, or Poole as they engrave their name, had at least three representatives amongst the prisoners of the Beauchamp Tower, Geffry, Edmund, and Arthur. They were descendants of George, Duke of Clarence, of malmesey butt remembrance, and were thus of the blood royal. Having been, one and the other, mixed up with dynastic intrigues, they were committed to the Tower, and all three died there. They did not indulge in long inscriptions, generally only their names and dates. Arthur, however, has two short inscriptions. The one is: "A. Poole 1564 I.H.S. To serve God-to endure penance-to obey fate-is to reign." And the other: "I.H.S. A passage perillus makethe a port pleasant. Ao. 1568 Arthur Poole At. sue 37 A.P." Outside one of the window-jambs is a mysterious inscription which reads "To whom you tell the secret, is at liberty. Richard Blovnt 9 July A. 1553." No prisoner of that name can be traced, but Sir Richard Blount was Lieutenant of the Tower at this date, and possibly these words contained either a warning, or an invitation, to the prisoners within. The Pilgrimage of Grace furnished many prisoners, for in the upper room of the Beauchamp Tower were herded together nine principal persons. The Abbots of Rievaulx, Fountains and Jervaulx; the Prior of Bridling Sir Ingram Percy and Sir Thomas Percy, sons of the 5th Earl of Northumberland; Sir William Bulmer, Sir John Bulmer, and Sir Ralph Bulmer. The Abbot of Jervaulx left just his name inscribed "Adam Sedbar, Abbas Jorevalle." He was executed at Tyburn June, 1537. Sir Ingram Percy also left a few words on the |