Legend says that the first guards of the Tower were guaranteed a ration of meat as a reward. According to tradition, most of them preferred beef over other types of meat. Cosimo III de Medici, prince of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, who visited the Tower in 1669, reportedly stated that the guards were given exceptionally large rations of beef and that they could easily be called "ox-eaters" or "beef eaters". Over time, the legend became widespread that the guards had the privilege of receiving rations of beef from the king's table.
