SPANISH ARMOURY.

The Relics preserved to commemorate the memorable Victory over the Spanish Armada, so glorious for our Country, together with other curious Antiques, are,

The common soldiers pikes, eighteen feet long, pointed with long sharp spikes, and shod with iron, which were designed to keep off the horse, to facilitate the landing of their foot.

The Spanish officers lances, finely engraven: these were formerly gilt, but the gilding is now almost worn out with cleaning*.

The Spanish ranceur, made in different forms, which was intended either to kill the men on horseback, or pull them off their horses. On one of them is a piece of silver coin, which was intended to be made current.

A singular piece of arms; a pistol and shield, so contrived as to fire the pistol, and cover the body at the same time with the shield; and is to be fired by a match lock; the sight of the enemy being taken through a little grate in the shield, which is pistol proof.

A small train of ten pieces of neat small cannon, mounted on proper carriages; a present from the foundery of London to king Charles I. when a child, to practise the art of gunnery. These, though no part of the Spanish spoils, are yet a curiosity.

The banner, emblazoned with a crucifix, intended to have been carried before the Spanish general. On it is the Pope's benediction before the Spanish fleet sailed: the Pope, on seeing the fleet, blessed it, and is said to have styled it, Invincible.

* There is a story current concerning these, that when Don Pedro de Valdez, passed examination before Lord Burleigh, he told his lordship, that those fine polished lances were put on board to bleed the English with; to which that nobleman replied jokingly, that, “if he was not mistaken, the English had performed that operation better on their good friends the Spaniards, with humbler instruments.

Danish and Saxon clubs, having lain about eight hundred and fifty years, are supposed to be the greatest mark of antiquity exhibited in the Tower.

Engines of torture, called Spanish cravats, made of iron, and put on board to lock the feet, arms, and heads of English heretics together.

Spanish bilboes, made of iron, to yoke the English prisoners two and two.

Spanish shot, of four sorts; spike-shot, star-shot, chainshot, and link-shot, all admirably contrived, as well for the destruction of the masts and rigging of ships, as for sweeping the decks of their men. These, however, have been attributed to the invention of Sir Francis Drake, to be used against the Spaniards.

Spanish spadas poisoned at the points, so that the slightest wound proved certain death.

Spanish halberts, or spears, some whereof are curiously engraven and inlaid with gold.

The axe with which Queen Ann Bullen (mother to Queen Elizabeth) was beheaded *. At the time of her death she was not quite thirty years of age, and fell a sacrifice to the jealousy and caprice of Henry VIII. The Earl of Essex, (Queen Elizabeth's favourite) was likewise beheaded with the

same axe.

A Spanish pole-axe, used in boarding of ships.

Thumb-screws, of which there were several chests full on board the Spanish fleet. The use they were intended for is said to have been to extort confession from the English where their money was hid, had that cruel people prevailed. Certain it is, that after the defeat, the whole conversation of the court and country turned upon the discoveries made by the Spanish prisoners, of the racks, the wheels, and the whips of wire, with which they were to Scourge the English. The most noted heretics were to be put to death; those that survived were to be branded on the

*Stow, in his Chronicle, says, that her head was smote off at one blow with a sword, p. 572.

forehead

forehead with a hot iron: and the whole form of government, both in church and state, was to be overturned.

The Spanish morning-star; a destructive engine resembling the figure of a star, of which many thousands were on board, all with poisoned points; and designed to strike at the enemy, in case of a close attack.

The Spanish general's halbert, covered with velvet. The nails of this weapon are double-gilt; on its top is the Pope's head, curiously engraved.

A Spanish battle-axe, so contrived, as to strike four holes in a man's skull at once; it has besides a pistol in the handle with a match-lock.

King Henry the VIIIth's walking-staff, which has three match-lock pistols in it, with coverings to keep the charges dry. With this staff, it is said, the king walked round the City, to see that the constables did their duty; and one night, as he was walking near the Bridge-foot, the constable stopt him to know what he did with such a mis chievous weapon at that time of the night; upon which the king struck him; but the constable calling the watchmen to his assistance, his majesty was apprehended, and carried to the Poultry Compter, where he lay confined till morning, without fire or candle. The keeper, however, being informed of the rank of his prisoner, dispatched a messenger to the constable, who came trembling with fear, expecting nothing less than to be hanged, drawn and quartered; but, on the contrary, the king applauded his resolution, in doing his duty, and made him a handsome present. This, however, is a warder's story.

A large wooden cannon, called Policy.

The last thing shewn of these memorable spoils is, the Spanish general's shield, not worn by, but carried before him as an ensign of honour. On it are depicted, in most curious workmanship, the labours of Hercules, and other expressive allegories, which seem to throw a shade upon the boafted skill of modern artists. The date is 1379.

The inscription upon it is as follows, in Roman characters, tolerably engraven:

ADVLTERIO DEIANIRA CONSPVRCANS OCCIDITVR CACVS AB

HERCVL.

HERCVL. OPPRIMITVR 1379-alluding to the killing of Cacus by Hercules, for the attempt on his wife Dejanira.

Weapons made with scythe blades fixed on a pole, taken from the duke of Monmouth's army at the battle of Sedgmoor, in the reign of James II.

The partizans carried at the funeral of king William III.

At the upper end of the room is a great canopy, inclosed with Gothic arches and pillars, which, when drawn up, presents to view three very striking figures; queen Elizabeth alighting from her horse to review her fleet at Tilbury. She is superbly dressed in the armour she had on at the time above mentioned, with a rich white silk petticoat, ornamented with pearls, spangles, &c. Her robe, or upper dress, is crimson sattin, laced with gold, and fringed.

By her side stands a fine cream coloured horse, his bridle ornamented with gilt metal; the saddle covered with crimson velvet, laced with gold, and fringed.

At the head of the horse stands a page holding the bridle with his left hand, and the queen's helmet with a plume of white feathers in his right. He is dressed in a silk snuffcoloured garment lined with blue, and a blue silk sash fringed with gold, according to the fashion of the time. This group has a very striking effect.

In this Armory are also two standards, taken at St. Eustatia by Adm. Rodney and Gen. Vaughan, in the American war; one, the Negroes colours with a Moor's head in the center; the other, the colours flying on the top of the fort when taken.

SHELL and GROTTO WORK, performed by a lady and her daughter, are to be seen near the Bloody Tower: beautifully representing various structures in his Majesty's gardens, and other particular buildings; such as the Turkish Mosque and Pagoda, in Kew gardens; a view of Lord Holland's, Kew; Woodstock Bower, fair Rosamond's retreat: a church in Northamptonshire; Dunmow Church, where they claim the flitch of bacon; a scene in the Maid of the Mill; with various others, and pots of flowers of all descriptions.

WE have already mentioned the chapel in the White Tower for the use of the royal family and attendants. It being ne cessary, however, that the garrison should have a place of devotion, in which they and the inhabitants of the surrounding precincts might more generally assemble; in consequence, Edward III. by letters patent constituted three chaplains, with a rector to be their chief, to celebrate divine service here daily. It was exempt from episcopal cognizance, till Edward VI. in 1551, subjected it to the jurisdiction of the bishop of London; which was confirmed by letters patent of Mary I. This chapel, devoid of ornament, is in length sixty-six feet, breadth fifty-four feet, and altitude twenty-four feet.

The monuments of any note are, one erected to the memory of Sir Jonas More, knight and baronet, who on account of his fidelity and scientific acquirements, was appointed surveyor-general of the Ordnance, and died Aug. 27, 1679, aged sixty-two.

On the N. side of the altar, a very spacious marble monument with columns and entablement of the Corinthian order, in memory of Sir Richard and Sir Michael Blount, with their wives and children all kneeling.

On the fouth fide of the chancel, a marble monument in memory of Sir Allan Apfley, Knight, fourteen years lieutenant of the Tower, and twenty-one victualler of the Royal Navy, who died May 24, 1630.

On the north side of the church a neat black and white marble monument, ornamented with two chambers of cannon

instead