and the whole Tower was held in pledge for the completion of Magna
Charta in 1215 and 1216. In 1240 Henry III had the chapel of St. John
decorated with painting and stained glass, and the royal apartments in
the Keep were whitewashed, as well as the whole exterior. In the reign
of Edward III it begins to assume its modern name, as "La Blanche Tour."
During the wars with France many illustrious prisoners were lodged here,
as David, King of Scots; John, King of France; Charles of Blois, and
John de Vienne, governor of Calais, and his twelve brave burgesses. In
the Tower Richard II signed his abdication, 1399. The Duke of Orleans,
taken at Agincourt, was lodged by Henry V in the White Tower. From that
time the Beauchamp Tower was more used as a prison, but it is probable
that some of the Kentish rebels, taken with Wyatt in 1554, slept in the
recesses of the crypt of the Chapel, long known as Queen Elizabeth's
Armoury. In 1663, and later years down to 1709, structural repairs
were carried out under the superintendence of Sir Christopher Wren,
who replaced the Norman window openings with others of a classical
character. Remains of four old windows are visible on the river side.
A few years ago some disfiguring annexes and sheds were removed, as
well as an external staircase of wood, which led up from the old Horse
Armoury and entered the crypt by a window.

The White Tower is somewhat irregular in plan, for though it looks so
square from the river its four sides are all of different lengths, and
three of its corners are not right angles. The side towards which we
approach is 107 feet from north to south. The south side measures
118 feet. It has four turrets at the corners, three of them square,
the fourth, that on the north-east, being circular. From floor to
battlements it is 90 feet in height. The original entrance was probably
on the south side, and high above the ground, being reached as usual in
Norman castles by an external stair which could be easily removed in
time of danger. Another or the same entrance led from an upper storey
of the palace. The interior is of the plainest and sternest character.
Every consideration is postponed to that of obtaining the greatest
strength and security. The outer walls vary in thickness from 15 feet
in the lower to 11 in the upper storey. The whole building is crossed
by one wall, which rises from base to summit and divides it into a
large western and a smaller eastern portion. The e