STANDING OUTSIDE THE YEOMAN GAOLER'S QUARTERS WHERE LADY JANE GREY WAS IMPRISONED, AND WHENCE SHE SAW HER HUSBAND'S BODY CARRIED FROM EXECUTION TO BURIAL VII THE YEOMEN WARDERS Their ancient origin-The Keepers of the Gate-Incorporated with the Yeomen of the Guard-Kept the door at King George's Coronation-On the spot where the Conqueror was crowned-Henry Earl of Richmond-The warder's petition to the Duke of Somerset-All pensioned sergeants of the Army-The Chief Warder-The Ceremony of the KeysExtracts from the Warder's Order Book-John of London— A varlet at ijd a day-The origin of the ceremony-A prisoner's uppermost garment as perquisite-The Yeoman Gaoler-Carries the axe-The sign of the axe-The Warder's toast-Ancient fees to become a Warder-The days of purchase-The Duke of Wellington's reform-Extracts from orders-An American officer-His joyful imprisonment—A previous American prisoner in 1683-The historic rôle of the Yeomen Warders A LMOST as famous as the Tower itself, and perhaps as ancient, are the Yeomen Warders; and their renown and old-world uniform are well in keeping with their majestic surroundings. Centuries before the Yeomen of the Guard, of which they now form part, came into being, there was in the Tower a permanent body of royal retainers, who performed the duties of warders over prisoners,_gate keepers, and armed defenders of the fortress. From these keepers of the gate, or warders, the Yeomen Warders of to-day claim direct and unbroken descent; their "fellowship" being the oldest of any known association of men carrying on the same duties from century to century up to the present day. It was the misfortune of an illiterate age that none of the earliest records, or pipe rolls, of the warders have survived, so that the earliest warder who can be traced by name is "John of London " in the fourteenth century. It was not till nearly four centuries after the Tower Warders had come into existence that they were formally incorporated with the then newly raised Yeomen of the Guard, their previous existence being emphasized by according to them the seniority in the new corps. The continuity of this office of warders and keepers of the gate was symbolized as recently as at the coronation of George V. There, no soldiers, but Yeomen Warders of the Tower, held the entrance to Westminster Abbey during the ceremony. In their picturesque and ancient uniform they stood guard on the actual spot where took place at the coronation of William the Conqueror a curious conflict that might have ended in much bloodshed. As is recorded in history when those assembled within the minster were asked whether they would have the Norman Duke as King, they shouted with a loud voice "Yea," "Yea." The Norman soldiers on guard at the door, and the crowd outside, both heard the shout. The soldiers thought some harm was being done to their Duke, the populace pressed closer in curiosity. The soldiers took this to be a combined attack from within and from without, and promptly charged the crowd. A free fight ensued, nobody quite knowing what it was all about, and in the course of it some neighbouring houses were set on fire, and a few heads broken. The order incorporating the Tower Warders with the Yeomen of the Guard reads thus: "On the 22nd day of August, 1485, Henry Earl of Richmond was by public acclamation saluted on the battlefield of Bosworth, King over England,1 and was crowned on the 30th October following. In the first year of his reign the Yeomen of the Guard was first ordered of which the Yeomen waiters or warders of the Tower hath the seniority." When the Tower was a royal palace and the king frequently lived there the Yeomen Warders were in constant evidence as his bodyguard, but as these visits and 1 Henry VII. 2 Extract from the Tower Warders' Order Book. residences became less frequent there was some danger of the Yeomen Warders losing their ancient privileges and rights. When therefore the Duke of Somerset, the Lord Protector, was first a prisoner in the Tower in the reign of Edward VI, the Warders made a petition to him asking that their ancient dress and privileges might be restored to them. This was in 1551. The Duke of Somerset promised to see to the matter on his liberation, and was as good as his word. "And caused the warders of the Tower to be sworn extraordinary of the guarde, and to wear the same livery they do, which had the beginning by this meanes." The Yeomen Warders are erroneously sometimes called "Beefeaters "; this is a name they do not acknowledge, having no connection, except as regards uniform, with the Yeomen who in times past served the "buffet" at St. James' Palace, from whence the word was possibly derived. The Yeomen Warders of the Tower are selected from sergeants of the Army of long and distinguished service, and rank as Sergeants-Major. They are taken impartially from every branch of the service and appointed by the Constable of the Tower. A certain number live in the numerous smaller Towers within the fortress, and some for whom accommodation is wanting, outside. The chief dignitary amongst the Warders is the Chief Warder, also called at one period the Gentleman Porter, but more generally the Yeoman Porter, who is in the relative position of a Regimental Sergeant-Major to a Squadron or Company Sergeant-Major. It is one of the picturesque duties of the Chief Warder nightly to lock the gates of the fortress, and to deliver the keys to the Constable, or his representative. Few who do not live in the Tower have seen this ancient and interesting ceremony. At the hour fixed for the locking of the gates the Chief 1 Communicated (to the Constable ?) by Tho. Astle, Esq., British Museum MS. It is not clear why the ancient title was in recent years changed from Yeoman Porter, which had been in use for five hundred years. Warder with the keys approaches the main guard of the regiment in garrison and demands an escort. The Officer of the Guard places his guard under arms, and details an escort of one N.C.O. and four men, who then march off with fixed bayonets, and carrying a lantern, closely guarding the Chief Warder and the keys. Here comes in a curious point in military etiquette. In ordinary times the Chief Warder would salute an officer, but when he carries the king's keys an officer salutes him, or rather the king's keys, and a civilian takes off his hat. The Spur guard turns out and presents arms to the keys as they pass out. The Chief Warder and his escort march thus to the outer barrier, near which once stood the Bulwark Gate, being joined en route by a second Warder who assists in shutting the gates. During the process of closing and locking the gates the escort turns inwards and is ordered to present arms." The procession then reforms, and marches back to the Middle Tower, where the Spur guard again presents arms. The escort, turned inwards as before, comes to the 66 present," "whilst the gate is locked. Then the keys and escort march back across the bridge over the moat, which in ancient days was a drawbridge, to the Byward Tower, where the same ceremony is repeated. Here the Warder who was assisting leaves the procession, and remains on guard all night at the Gate. The procession then passes along between the “ King's House" and St. Thomas' Tower, and when opposite the Traitor's Gate turns in under the deep and frowning arch beneath the Bloody Tower. Directly the party is observed the sentry on the main guard lowers his bayonet to the charge, and challenges: "Halt, who comes there? The Chief Warder replies stentorially, "The keys." The sentry then calls, "Whose keys?" King George's keys," replies the Chief Warder. "Pass, King George's keys. All's well"; and the sentry lifts his bayonet point. Thus permitted the Chief Warder, with the keys, and |