[Illustration: WHITE TOWER. Plan of Middle Floor.]

The Conqueror, before he entered London, formed a camp, eastward of
the city, and probably on part of the ground now occupied by the Tower.
Immediately after his coronation he commenced the works here. At first,
no doubt, they consisted of a ditch and palisade, and were formed partly
on the lower bastions of the old City Wall, first built by the Romans,
and rebuilt in 885 by King Alfred. The work of building the Keep was
entrusted to Gundulf, a monk of Bec, in Normandy, who was shortly
afterwards made Bishop of Rochester, and who probably commenced
operations in 1078. In 1097, under William Rufus, the works were still
going on and the inner ward was enclosed. A great storm in 1091 damaged
the outworks. Ralf Flambard, Bishop of Durham, being imprisoned in the
Tower by Henry I, contrived to escape, 1101. During the wars between
Stephen and Matilda, the Earl of Essex was Constable of the Tower, and
obtained a grant even of the City of London from the Empress. When he
fell into Stephen's hands the Tower formed his ransom, and the citizens
regained their ancient liberty. When Richard I was absent on the
Crusade, his regent, Longchamp, resided in the Tower, of which he
greatly enlarged the precincts by trespasses on the land of the city and
of St. Katharine's Hospital. He surrendered the Tower to the citizens,
led by John, in 1191. The church of St. Peter was in existence before
1210, 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