the Royal Menagerie was lodged in a number of small buildings near the
Lion Tower, whence its name was derived and the saying arose, "seeing
the lions," for a visit to the Tower. Where the wooden gate now stands,
there was a small work called the Conning Gate. It marked the boundaries
of Middlesex and the Tower Precinct. Here prisoners were handed over to
the Sheriff.


_The Middle Tower_ (Pl. I)

was originally built by Henry III, but has been entirely refaced.
Through its archway we reach the stone bridge, which had formerly in the
centre a drawbridge of wood. We next reach


_The Byward Tower_ (Pl. II),

the great Gatehouse of the Outer Ward. It is in part the work of Henry
III, and in part that of Richard II. Observe the vaulting and the dark
recesses on the southern side. We pass on the left


_The Bell Tower_ (Pl. IX),

which may safely be attributed to the reign of King John. Here Fisher,
Bishop of Rochester, was imprisoned by Henry VIII, and the Princess
Elizabeth by her sister, Queen Mary. The "Curtain Wall," of great
antiquity, is pierced by the windows of the Lieutenant's Lodgings, now
called "The King's House," and one of these windows lights the Council
Chamber, where Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators were tried and