The following papers on Bristol history during the reigns
of Henry VIII. and his three successors are chiefly founded
on extracts from the account books of the Corporation,
ancient deeds and other documents, and the minutes of
the Privy Council. They began to appear in the Bristol
Mercury of December 27th, 1902, and were continued at
weekly intervals during the following four months.
J. LATIMER.
April, 1903.
The foregoing Preface and some alterations and
additions to the original articles, included in a
copy presented by Mr. Latimer to the city, have
been incorporated in this book by the kindness of
the City Librarian, Mr. E. R. Norris Mathews.
| | Page |
| Chapter I. | 1 |
| | Bristol in the early sixteenth century - Description of
the town - Surrounded by religious houses - Numerous
public holidays - Endowments, chantries and obits -
Religious and secular pageants - St. Catherine's Eve -
Shooting and wrestling competitions in the Marsh
{Queen Square) - Play-actors and bear-keepers - Bear-
baiting and bull-baiting - Feast of St. Nicholas;
ceremony of the boy-bishop - Public executions -
Christmas festivities. | |
| |
| Chapter II. | 11 |
| | Corporate revenue in sixteenth century - Position and
duties of Sheriffs; an expensive post; reduction of
their liabilities - Surrender by Corporation of right to
levy toll; enters into possession of considerable estates
formerly belonging to religious houses - Friary buildings
converted into quarries - Difficulties between Corporation
and Temple Fee - Absorption of the latter by Bristol -
Rapacity of Thomas Cromwell; appointed Recorder
of Bristol - Newly invented office of High Steward
conferred upon Duke of Somerset - Suppression of
Bristol chantries; spoliation of the churches. | |
| |
| Chapter III. | 24 |
| | Population of Bristol in the sixteenth century - Police
and sanitary arrangements of the city - Prevalence of
menidicants - Use of hops in ale prohibited; thatch-roofing
forbidden - Erection of houses by the Corporation
on Bristol Bridge. | |
| |
| Chapter IV. | 30 |
| | Bristol and feudalism - Interference of Anne Boleyn
in Bristol affairs - Visit of Anne and Henry VIII. to
Thornbury - Suppression of St. John's Hospital;
unsuccessful attempt by Corporation to obtain possession
- Trouble with Lord President of Welsh Marches;
attempts to levy tribute from Bristol; his pretensions
finally put an end to - Seizure of Bristol corn by Mayor
of Gloucester - Persecution of Protestants in Bristol -
Accession of Elizabeth - Bristol trained bands reorganised
and given an independent commission - “Crying down”
of the currency - Erection of turnstiles in Bristol -
“Certificate for eating of flesh in Lent” granted to
Corporation. | |
| |
| Chapter V. | 41 |
| | Thorne family and Bristol Grammar School; St.
Bartholomew's Hospital acquired; scandalous behaviour
of the Corporation - Establishment of separate custom
house at Gloucester, to the dismay of Bristolians -
Payment to Members of Parliament - Visit to the city
of Duke of Norfolk - Reformation of Bristol measures -
Dispute between Corporation and Admiralty - Crest
bestowed upon city by Clarencieux, King-of-Arms;
copy of charter granting this crest - Earl of Leicester
appointed Lord High Steward; his indifference to
Bristol interests; his visits to the city. | |
| |
| Chapter VI. | 55 |
| | Purchase of stone coal by the Corporation - Case of
Councillor John Lacie - Struggle between Corporation
and Merchant Venturers' Society; ends in the monopoly
of the latter being abolished - Establishment of Meal
Market - Purchase of Brandon Hill summit - Visit of
Queen Elizabeth to Bristol; lavish preparations for her
reception and entertainment; Newgate prisoners receive
royal pardon - Outbreak of plague in the city - Piracy
in the Avon; fate of the malefactors - Visits of travelling
players to Bristol - Arrival in the port of three vessels
under command of Martin Frobisher - Celebration of
twentieth year of Elizabeth's reign - Renovation of
quay walls by means of tombstones. | |
| |
| Chapter VII | 67 |
| | Bristol Farthing. | |
| |
| Chapter VIII. | 73 |
| | The Avon obstructed by a wreck - Soldiers quartered
in Bristol en route to Ireland; expense incurred by
the Corporation - “Street pitcher” appointed -
Difficulties in postal communication - New charter granted
to Bristol; heavy expenses involved in obtaining the
title “city” - Bristol Parliamentary representative
appointed Speaker of the House of Commons. | |
| |
| Chapter IX. | 79 |
| | Perambulation of city boundaries - Great dearth of
1585; relief measures of the Corporation - Military
enthusiasm; inspection of Bristol trained bands by
Earl of Pembroke; his disregard of mayoral
precedence - Death of John Carr, founder of Queen
Elizabeth's Hospital - News received in Bristol of
death of Queen of Scots - Richard Fletcher appointed
Bishop of Bristol - Extraordinary feudal claim made
by Lord Stafford against Richard Cole; indifference of
the Corporation - Alice Cole - Increase in stipend of
Town Clerk - Fines for relief from office of Mayor -
Present to Lord Leicester - Fatal conflict in Kingroad,
due to attempted infringement of Bristol's monopoly
of hides and skins trade. | |
| |
| Chapter X. | 91 |
| | Dispute between rector of St. Mary-le-port and his
parishioners - Spanish Armada; Bristol's contingent
to national fleet; jubilation at rout of Spaniards -
Trouble with the Dutch; William Colston - Lord
Burghley created Lord High Steward - Thrifty expenditure
of the Corporation - Purchase of coal for school
over Froom Gate - Relation of Corporation to orphans
of city the subject of a Parliamentary Bill (1597) -
Arrival in Bristol of Bishop Fletcher - Renovations
and alterations of St. Mark's Church - Depression of
trade in Bristol - Piratical exploits round British
coast. | |
| |
| Chapter XI. | 102 |
| | Philip Langley fined in lien of serving as Mayor -
Further attempt to deprive Bristol of its Admiralty
jurisdiction - Poverty of Bristol clergy - “Forlorn
Hope” estate of St. Nicholas - Court of the manor of
Temple Fee revived - Merchant Seamen's Almshouse
founded - Dealings of Corporation with John Whitson
concerning purchase of corn - Ship-money revived;
ineffectual protest of the Corporation - Repeal of
“Redemptioner” ordinances - Piratical outrage of Captain
Thomas Webb - Claim of Corporation on Privy Council
for financial assistance - Bristol Fair - Visit to city
of Lord Essex, who becomes Lord High Steward;
succeeded by Lord Treasurer Buckhurst. | |
| |
| Chapter XII. | 116 |
| | Temporary policy of consideration by Government
towards Bristol - Meat market established; friction
between the Corporation and Bristol butchers - Cost of
travelling in Elizabethan days - The “Great House”
and Red Lodge - Assessment of the citizens - City
roads repaired by compulsory co-operation of
householders - Same method applied to maintenance of
trained bands. | |
BRISTOL
J.W. Arrowsmith, 11 Quay Street
LONDON
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