City Scenes Part 2

[Picture: The Armory]

The spoils of the Spanish Armada are still shown in the Tower. There are, amongst them, several kinds of arms and instruments of cruelty, designed for torturing their English prisoners; and the following list of them will prove the barbarity of Spain at that period.

THE SPOILS OF THE SPANISH ARMADA.

1. The pope's banner, by him blessed and declared invincible.

2. A battle-axe for penetrating steel armour.

3. A spadole, used as a small sword, the point poisoned.

4. An anchove, for hooking men off their horses.

5. A lance.

6. A lance, with the current coin on the head.

7. A Spanish morning star: the points were poisoned, to keep people from boarding ships.

8. A lance, which the Spaniards vauntingly said was for bleeding the English.

9. A battle-axe with a pistol at the end.

10. A battle-axe.

11. A Spanish bilbo, to lock the English by the legs.

12. A thumb-screw, an instrument of torture.

13. A Spanish instrument of torture, called the cravat.

14. A Spanish shield with a pistol fixed in it.

15. A battle-axe, or scull-cracker, to make four holes at a blow.

16. The Spanish general's shield of honour.

17. Spike-shot.

18. Bar-shot.

The figure of Queen Elizabeth in armour, forms a proper addition to the collection. She stands in a spirited att.i.tude, by a cream-coloured horse, attended by her page. The axe that beheaded the unfortunate Ann Boleyn, wife of the cruel King Henry the Eighth, is also shown here. The small armoury contains stands of arms for one hundred thousand men, tastefully arranged in a variety of figures. The apartment is three hundred and forty-five feet in length, and is thought to exceed every thing of the kind in Europe.

14. The Horse Armory.

[Picture: The Horse Armory]

The Horse Armory is a large apartment, containing, amongst many curiosities, seventeen of the kings of England on horseback, in the suits of armour they had each worn. Most of this armour is very rich, and beautifully ornamented. The furniture of the horses is of velvet, laced with gold.

There is a suit of armour belonging to John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, which is seven feet high; and another made for Henry the Eighth, when sixteen years old, which is six feet in height.

15. The Wild Beasts in the Tower.

[Picture: The Wild Beasts in the Tower]

But no sight in the Tower is more interesting than the wild beasts: lions, tigers, leopards, bears, monkeys, &c. As they are confined in cages, with iron gates before them, there is no danger, if people keep their distance; but some dreadful accidents have happened, by children going within reach of the paws of the lion, she bear, or tiger.

Don't be frighten'd, young lady, to look at the lion, You see he can't spring through the grating of iron; But if you were wand'ring, like poor Mungo Park, In Africa's forests, bewilder'd and dark; And there, where no refuge or hut could be found, Should hear his fierce roar thro' the valleys around; Or there, by the moonlight, astonish'd to stand, And see his huge shadow glide by on the sand; Oh, then you might tremble with terror, and fly And hide 'mid the palm-tree till he had pa.s.sed by: An enemy fierce and all-powerful then, But now a poor captive confined in his den.

16. The Jewel Office.

This office is a strong stone room, in which are kept the crown, ball, and sceptre, used by the kings of England at their coronation, all richly set with jewels; besides other crowns and regal ornaments, and some pieces of curious old plate. The crown worn by the king when he goes in state to the House of Lords, is enriched with an emerald seven inches round, with other gems of great value. Great precautions are taken to secure the regalia, the whole being enclosed within a grate. This was found needful in the days of Charles the Second, after a daring, unprincipled man, named _Blood_, had attempted to steal the crown and other royal ornaments. Under the form of a clergyman, and pretended friendship to Mr. Edwards, who was keeper of the jewels, he introduced three of his companions, as wicked as himself, and having knocked down and gagged the unsuspecting old man, they concealed the crown and other valuables under their clothes, and were going off with their booty, leaving the keeper, as they supposed, dead, or stunned with their blows, on the floor; but he never lost his senses, and taking advantage of their security, forced out the gag, and calling for a.s.sistance, pursued the villains, and recovered the spoil!

In our picture is seen

Fig.

1. The imperial crown of Great Britain.

2. The golden sceptre with the cross.

3. The sceptre with the dove of peace.

4. St. Edward's staff, carried before the king at his coronation.

5. The golden orb, which is put into the king's right hand before he is crowned.

6. The king's coronation ring.

7. The culanna, or pointless sword, being the sword of mercy.

8 and 9. The swords of justice, spiritual and temporal.

17. Rag Fair and Old Clothes.