IV THE CONSTABLE OF THE TOWER First appointed by the Conqueror-One hundred and thirty-four Constables-And the Lieutenant-Pay and perquisites of the Constable Through pride and contempt "-Free oysters and free fishing-Cattle off London Bridge-Swans that swam below-Rushes for his carpet-Carts that fell in the ditchSometimes Archbishop as well as Constable-The ceremony of inducting the Constable-The Constable beats the bounds of the Tower Liberties-A procession of one thousand—A cold collation at his Grace's expense-Some distinguished Constables-Geoffrey de Mandeville-The Earl of Essex prefers highway robbery-The Duke of Exeter and his daughterSir Robert Brackenbury-The murder of the Princes-The Lieutenant's Lodgings built by Henry VIII-The Constable leaves the Tower-The Earl of Essex and the Knights Templar-His coffin hangs between two trees for twenty years-Thomas à Becket, Archbishop and Constable-His military career- -His murder by the four knights-A saint dethroned-Other prelates who were Constables-William Longchamp-Hugh de Bigod, Earl of Norfolk-The Iron Duke-Sir John Fox Burgoyne-His sepulture-FieldMarshal Lord Napier of Magdala-Field-Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood. HE office of Constable of the Tower is one of the oldest in England, dating back to within a few years of the Conquest, and has always been one of great honour and dignity. There have been in all no less than one hundred and thirty-four Constables, from Geoffrey de Mandeville1 to Field-Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood." Nor has the holder of this proud and ancient title always been a soldier, indeed in earlier days the Church militant appears to have furnished many a prelate to fill the post. Then came a period 1 Originally spelt Magnaville. 2 See Appendix A for full list. when sometimes in days of storm and stress it was held by a military chief, but more often by a man of political prominence in the prevailing turmoil. Later still, when the Tower became more of a State prison, the Constable appears to have delegated the unpleasant duty of head gaoler to his Lieutenant, who acted for him and with his authority. He then removed himself from the Constable's quarters in the Tower, and has never since occupied them. For many years now the Constable has been a soldier of high rank and distinguished service, the most celebrated of these being the first Duke of Wellington. The pay of the Constable in old days was £100 a year, but in accordance with the custom of the age he was allowed to add to this income in various curious ways Thus every prisoner who came into the Tower, and only those of high rank were admitted, had to pay the Constable certain fees. A Duke had to pay £20, an Earl twenty marks,1 a Baron £10, and a Knight £5, all high sums in those days. The Treasury also made a certain allowance per week for the sustenance of prisoners and their retinue, according to rank; and should any prisoner; "through pride and contempt," refuse to take the Government grant, it became the perquisite of the Constable. Again he was allowed to take toll in various ways; to wit, two flagons of wine from every ship arriving from Bordeaux, the merchants bringing the same ashore and depositing them as toll on the Tower Wharf. In the same way all fishing boats bringing oysters, mussels, and cockles to the London market had to present the Constable with one maund3 of the same. Other fishing boats that passed the Tower paid him a 1 A mark was worth presumedly fifteen shillings in those days. * In the time of Richard II, for a Duke five marks a week, for an Earl forty shillings, for a Baron twenty shillings, and for a Knight ten shillings. A Duke's chaplain six shillings and eight pence, his gentleman the same, his yeoman three shillings and four pence. All other servants three shillings and four pence, and all other yeomen one shilling and sixpence. These fees were raised as gold declined in value.-HEPWORTH DIXON. • This word is still used in India, and now represents 80 lb. E fee. He had the valuable fishing rights between London Bridge and the Tower, for in those days salmon amongst other fish abounded in these waters. All All cattle that fell off London Bridge were also the Constable's perquisite, and doubtless when short of provender he would send up a few varlets to encourage this form of suicide; all swans too that floated below the same bridge were his. He would not make much profit out of derelict cattle nowadays, but the swans would keep his table well supplied in summer. flotsam and jetsam on the river was his, which often included valuable timber. From all boats bringing rushes to the city the Constable could take as toll" such a quantity as a person could hold between his arms and as rushes were used instead of carpets and had often to be renewed, this was a useful economy. He also received a fee on all skins dried at East Smithfield, which then was within the Tower Liberties. All carts that fell into the Tower ditch, which was quite unguarded and, needless to say, unlighted at night, and dropped steeply, became the absolute property of the Constable. With these and other little economies in addition to his £100 a year the Constable was passing rich; but in addition he usually held some other lucrative appointment, sometimes so high as Archbishop of Canterbury, at others so modest as keeper of the lions "with extra salary of one shilling a day and sixpence for each beast." The Constable was, and is, inducted with much ceremony. The garrison, usually consisting of a battalion of His Majesty's Foot Guards, parades before the White Tower. A procession, headed by the Yeoman Gaoler with the axe on his shoulder, and consisting of all the officers of the Tower and the Yeomen Warders, then issues from the "King's House" and conducts the Constable to the spot where the troops are drawn up. Here they are met by the Lord Chamberlain, who on behalf and in the name of the Sovereign presents the Tower keys to the new Constable. The Constable suitably acknowledges the honour, whilst the Chief |