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Staircase in the North-eastern Turret of the White Tower
George Cruikshank
December 1840
Wood-engraving
10.1 cm high by 7.5 cm wide, vignetted
Illustration for Book II, Ch. XXXVI, of William Harrison Ainsworth's The Tower of London, bottom of p. 380.
[Click on image to enlarge it and mouse over text for links.]
Scanned image and text by Philip V. Allingham.
Creeping quickly along, for the roof was so low that he was compelled to stoop, Wolfytt prepared for an encounter with Nightgall. The latter grasped his dagger, and appeared ready to spring upon his assailant. Knowing the strength and ferocity of the jailor, Wolfytt hesitated a moment, but goaded on by Renard, who was close behind, and eager for vengeance, he was about to commence the attack, when Nightgall, taking advantage of the delay, touched a spring in the wall behind him, and a stone dropping from its place, he dashed through the aperture. With a yell of rage and disappointment, Wolfytt sprang after him, and was instantly struck down by a blow from his opponent's dagger. Renard followed, and beheld the fugitive speeding across the nave of St. John's Chapel, and, without regarding Wolfytt, who was lying on the floor, bleeding profusely, he continued the pursuit.
Nightgall hurried up the steps behind the altar, and took his way along one of the arched stone galleries opening upon the council-chamber. But, swiftly as he fled, Renard, to whom fury had lent wings, rapidly gained upon him.
It was more than an hour after day-break, but no one was astir in this part of the citadel, and as the pursued and pursuer threaded the gallery, and crossed the council-chamber, they did not meet even a solitary attendant. Nightgall was now within the southern gallery of the White Tower, and Renard shouted to him to stop; but he heeded not the cry. In another moment, he reached a door, opening upon the north-east turret. It was bolted, and the time lost in unfastening it, brought Renard close upon him. Nightgall would have descended, but thinking he heard voices below, he ran up the winding stairs.[Chapter XXXVI. — How Cholmondeley learnt the history of Cicely; how Nightgall attempted to assassinate Renard; and of the terrible fate that befel him," p. 379-80]
The staircases in the White Tower become significant settings in two different action sequences in this chapter. First, Cholmondeley, having been racked by the vicious Nightgall, has the opportunity to escape when the sadistic jailer, disguised by his peculiar mask as in The Death-Warrant, attempts to murder Simon Renard. The young squire, choosing which of his tormentors to support, elects to assist Renard against Nightgall. "Renard, foaming with rage, rushed after him, utterly forgetful of Cholmondeley, who listened with breathless anxiety, to their retreating footsteps. Scarcely knowing what to do, but resolved not to throw away the chance of escape, the esquire hastily attired himself, and taking up a lamp which Renard had left upon the floor, quitted the cell" (376). In the ensuing fray, Renard gives chase, leaving the young squire the chance to search for Cicely. "At last, he opened a door which admitted them to a gloomy hall, terminated by a broad flight of steps, down which several armed figures wore descending. Cholmondeley would have retreated, but it was impossible. He had been perceived by the soldiers, who rushed towards him, questioned him and Cicely, and not being satisfied with their answers, conveyed them up the stairs to the lower guard-room in the White Tower, which it appeared the wanderers had approached" (378). The second sequence, however, seems more likely as the subject of Cruikshank's illustration in that Renard pursues Nightgall up just such as turret-staircase to Saint John's Chapel in the White Tower.
Left: The wood-engraving which shows Didley about to be beheaded under the shadow of the White Tower (frontispiece, December 1840), The Execution of Lord Guildford Dudley on Tower Hill (July 1840). Centre: The old Norman Keep in the March 1840 instalment, The White Tower. Right: The wood-engraving of the Norman chapel in the Keep, Interior of St. John's Chapel in the White Tower (May 1840). [Click on images to enlarge them.]
Above: Cruikshank's realistic steel-engraving of the ambitious Duke's beheading, Execution of The Duke of Northumberland upon Tower Hill [Click on image to enlarge it.]
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Last modified 1 November 2017