or hospital out of the same, large enough for the poor who were to be employed therein, and for the accommodation of those who were unable to work. By this Act the whole of the existing city became as one parish for the purpose of the poor, and one law officer did the business where nineteen were formerly employed, and the saving in expense was considerable, besides the inconvenience occasioned the poor in being removed from one parish to another, on account of their various settlements. The churchwardens and overseers still continued to collect the rates when apportioned by the justices to each parish, and these sums were paid into a common fund which was under the control of the incorporation of the poor. In the year 1798 the building adjoining St. Peter's church, which had been used as a mint for coining for a short time, was purchased for a poorhouse by the incorporation for £800-part of the sum being given by some citizens; and subsequently an additional building was purchased.

The constitution of this corporation in 1696 was by the election of four ratepayers from each of the twelve aldermanic wards, and these forty-eight elected persons were called guardians of the poor, who were chosen for four years, half of their number to go out of office every second year. The mayor for the time being, and the twelve aldermen were also members of the court, together with any honorary guardians, who might be elected by the court from those who had given contributions of £100 or upwards to the poor fund. A subsequent Act (1714) increased the number by constituting the two churchwardens of each parish members of the court; but in 1718 this was repealed so far as related to junior churchwardens, and only the seniors were retained. Honorary guardianship was also discontinued in the beginning of the present century. The present constitution of the court consists of the mayor for the time being, twelve members of the town council elected annually, fortyInduction of the Mayor. eight elected guardians, the seventeen senior churchwardens, and the senior overseer of the Castle Precincts-the incorporation being thus composed of seventy-nine members, except when some of the members are chosen in more than one capacity, which is frequently done. This body is the board of guardians of the poor for the eighteen parishes, and by Vic. I., cap. 86, exercise the power of overseers within those limits, and levy and collect all the local rates of the district, except the board of health or sanitary rates. The rates are assessed half-yearly, and consist of the poor rate, the harbour rate, and the borough rate (if required), and once in each year the borough dock rate; and before the year 1851 the pitching, paving and lighting rate.

The amount of the rate levied for the poor by the church

wardens in 1696 (the year before the Incorporation Act) was £2,154, and in the following year (1697) it was £2,316. It gradually increased, and in 1822 was about £25,000, and at the present time is about £33,500, in addition to the other rates collected and paid over to other authorities.

For the purposes of poor law management, the city of Bristol is under three distinct authorities-the incorporation of the poor for the ancient city, mentioned above; the Barton Regis union, for the parishes of Clifton, St. Philip and Jacob (out), the district of St. James and St. Paul, and the parish of Westbury; and the Bedminster union, for the parish of Bedminster. The total amount of the local rates for the five outlying parishes or parts of parishes within the municipal area for the year 1874, not in

cluding the sanitary and sewers' rates, was about £52,818, or an average of 28. 41d. in the pound upon the ratable value of £446,940; this ratable value in 1882 is £480,160.1

2. The most valuable records in the possession of the corporation are the Charters, of which there are many in a good state of preservation, the most interesting being that given by John, when Earl of Moreton (circa 1185), which is thought to be a unique specimen; another, which has an illuminated initial date 1347 (see Vol. I., pp. 172-5); that of 1373, which made Bristol a county (Vol. I., pp. 17880), and those of Charles I. and Queen Anne. The Mayor's Calendar begun to be compiled by Robert Ricart, town clerk, in 1479; a thick, square folio of paper, 333 leaves, each quire enclosed in a parchment cover and so bound From Ricart's Calendar. up, many of these parchment leaves being used for illuminated drawings. The initial letters and principal words are for the most part rubricated. On folio 5 is a curious plan of Bristol; on folio 152 is a picture of the induction of the mayor. The outgoing mayor hands to him a Bible; the town clerk, below them, is reading to him the oath, the sheriff and the aldermen in scarlet standing near, the sword-bearer, with his cap of maintenance in hand, holding the great sword, and the chamberlain, with his mace, stand on the

1 Alderman Naish in Bristol and its Environs (revised).

lower level with the town clerk. To the right are more aldermen in scarlet; the sergeants and town officers, in parti-coloured robes of murrey and dark blue rayed, with maces, stand on the left hand and on the near side of the table, on which is displayed a white bag of money, tied with red, an inkstand, penner, roll of parchment, and the leather case for the Bible; outside the bar are the commonalty, in whole coloured robes of green, blue, scarlet, murrey, &c. The perspective is singular, the distant figures of the mayors, sheriffs, &c., being the largest, whilst the others decrease in size as they near the spectator. The book is divided into six parts. Parts I. and II. are abridgments of English history; Part III., the first date in which is 1289-90, contains a list of the mayors from the first of Henry III., which is continued to the present time, the coat of arms of each being blazoned at the head of the entry; Part IV. contains rules for the guidance of the officers in their duties; Part V. is a transcript of sundry charters; Part VI. is a copy of some of the constitutions of London to serve as precedents, with notes, &c. There are also The Great Orphan Book and Book of Wills, which dates from 1382 to 1554; two register books of wills, 1594 to 1633, and 1633 to 1674; The Great Red Book, the contents being chiefly ordinances, &c., of the dates of the reigns of Henry VI. and Edward IV.; The Little Red Book, which is of still earlier date, 1344 to 1574 (see Vol. I., p. 171); The Mayor's Audit Book, 1532; The Great White Book of Records, 1496 to 1590; many minute books of the meetings of the corporation, admissions of freemen, expenditure, &c.

One of the earliest articles of silver plate presented to the city (if, indeed, it be not the very first) that is still preserved, is a rose water ewer and salver, silver gilt, weighing 7 lbs. 6 oz. 10 dwts. It was the gift of Robert Kitchen, alderman of the city, and, though bequeathed as early as 1573, it only came into the possession of the corporation in 1595, from the hands of Kitchen's executors. The ewer is urn-shaped and of graceful design, having a plain curved handle, which is surmounted by a demi-monster. Deeply engraved arabesques cover its surface; in front is a repoussée cherub head; sea monsters are on either side within oval medallions, separated by festoons of fruit. boldly wrought Medusa head-mask supports the insertion of the handle, and within the lip is a projecting lion's head. The salver, which is ornamented in the same style as the ewer with engraved and repoussée work, contains on a raised medallion an escutcheon, with the arms of the donor and the inscription

THE GIFT OF ROBERT KITCHEN LATE ALDERMAN OF THIS CIT.

A

269

The plate mark is that of 1595. There are also within the escutcheon the initials I. B. above a rose (for John Barker, Kitchen's old servant and executor). During the Bristol riots of 1831, this salver was stolen by one Ives, who cut it up with shears into 169 pieces. Some of these he offered for sale to Mr. Williams, goldsmith, telling him that it was a portion of some old family plate. That gentleman, suspecting his story, requested him to bring the remaining pieces the next day. Ives was then secured; the pieces, all but two tiny fragments, were recovered, and were by Mr. Williams ingeniously riveted to a silver plate, which now forms the back of the salver. Its beauty is unimpaired and its value enhanced by the process. The late Sir Robert Peel offered its weight in gold for it in vain. Ives was transported in 1832 for fourteen years, and on his return he had the consummate impudence to call at the Council-house, introduce himself, and ask for a sight of the salver. The height of the ewer is 12 in.; the diameter of the salver is 19 in.

In 1590 Alderman Bird presented an elegant double gilt silver grace cup, weighing 30 oz.

In 1628 Captain Samuel Pitts, being on a voyage to Jamaica, in the ship Kirtlington Galley, was attacked by a Spanish rover of superior force. Pitts bravely defended himself, and after an arduous struggle beat off the enemy. For this gallant conduct, and for saving the ship with its valuable cargo, the Society of Merchant Venturers of Bristol gave to Captain Pitts a richly chased Monteith and collar of silver, with an appropriate inscription; its weight is 266 oz. 11 dwts. In 1821 this handsome ornament, being offered for sale at public auction by the descendants of the gallant Pitts, was purchased by the corporation for £148 168.

In 1658 Mr. Recorder Dodridge made the city a present of a pair of massive silver gilt tankards, "richly decorated with repoussée and chased ornament in three bands, consisting of foliated arabesques, festoons of fruit and flowers, enclosing strapwork, cartouches, with which are sea monsters. The lids are similarly ornamented." The height of the tankards is 14 in.; the breadth in the base is 7 in.; the weight 152 oz. 8 dwts. Each bears around its drum the following inscription:

EX DONO JOHANNIS DODRIDGE, RECORDATORIS CIVITATIS BRISTOLL 1658." The shield of arms and crest of the worthy recorder are engraven on the front, being argent, two pales wavy gules between nine crosses crosslett gules three, three, and three; crest, a lion's head erased gules, murally gorged or. The plate mark is 1634.

In 1683 four silver badges and chains were purchased by the corporation to be worn by the city waits; these weigh 28 oz. 13 dwts.

In 1745 the water bailiff had an oar enriched with silver ornament bought for his badge of office; it is so loaded with metal that its weight cannot be correctly ascertained; probably the weight in silver is about 36 oz. At the same time a silver badge and chain were purchased for the deputy water bailiff.

The year 1709 was prolific in gifts. Mr. G. Smyther, an alderman of London, presented to the city a silver punch bowl, weighing 105 oz. 17 dwts. Mrs. Mary Boucher presented a silver tankard of the weight of 52 oz. 10 dwts. Mrs. Searchfield gave four handsome silver candlesticks, a snuffers and stand, of the weight of 100 oz. 10 dwts.; and Mrs. James gave a silver salver of 35 oz. 9 dwts.

In 1722 eight maces of silver were purchased by the corporation for the use of the officers in civic processions; these are in the usual 17th century style of art, and weigh 208 oz. Alderman Peloquin, of London, gave, in 1770, a silver candlestick with branches, that weighs 99 oz. 7 dwts.

The insignia of the City Exchange keeper and the city bellman are of wood, silver mounted, the weight of the metal being about 48 oz.; date 1715. There are also two silver trumpets of the same date, weighing 54 oz. 12 dwts. The following curious entry relating to these is found in the council book for 1715:

Several gentlemen of this city in the time of our late danger having, by the consent of the Earle of Barkeley, our lord lievetenant, formed themselves into two troops of horse, a thing both for the honour and security of the city; itt is ordered for their encouragement that two banners, two trumpets, and two standards, and two new coats for the two trumpeters belonging to the troops, be provided att the city charges, and that the said trumpeters be added to the city musick with salarys, all which is referred to the care and management of the mayor, the aldermen, and sherrivs. Henry Walter, mayor. xi January 1715.

The gold chain of office worn by the mayor is elaborate in ornament and peculiarly handsome; it weighs 26 oz. 4 dwts., and was purchased by the corporation, in 1828, at a cost of £285.

The small mace borne by the city treasurer as the insignia of his office, is of the 17th century work, and is copper gilt; it is about 18 inches in length, finishing in an imperial crown of four arches, surmounted by an orb and cross pattée; the head has in four-shield raised the city purse and the city arms, both repeated; between these, four angels, with extended wings, bear up a collar and the crown.

The sacramental service in use at the Mayor's chapel is of modern date (1830); it consists of a paten, two chalices and two dishes of silver, weighing 129 oz. 1 dwt., and was the gift of Thomas Champion, mayor and alderman of the city.

In June, 1851, a magnificent silver dessert service was presented to Sir John Kerle Haberfield, knt., on the completion of the sixth year of his mayoralty. In 1871 his widow, Lady Haberfield, presented the service to the corporation. It consists of nine pieces-a centre ornament, with emblematic figures of Justice, Generosity and Commerce; two high fruit stands for corner dishes; two fruit baskets, with sportive boy figures; four corner dishes, with figures emblematic of the seasons. On the tripod are the civic arms, the arms of Sir John, and the following inscription :

TO SIR JOHN KERLE HABERFIELD, KNT.

SIX TIMES

MAYOR OF BRISTOL. FROM HIS FELLOW CITIZENS. 1851.

The total cost of this beautiful service was £580.

A silver salver, the gift of Mr. J. M. Kempster, for many years councillor for the ward of Clifton, completes the list of the plate.

By charter the mayor of Bristol is made the king's escheator; he has thus the dignity of an earl, and a sword of state is borne before him in his official capacity.

The cap of maintenance worn by the sword-bearer, together with the sword borne by him, are symbolic of ancient privileges. This official is the only man who is allowed to remain covered before royalty. [Maintenance, in law, is an officious assistance of a party (with money or otherwise) who is at law; a man may, however, maintain the suit of his near kinsman, servant, or poor neighbour, out of charity or compassion.] The cap and sword borne before the mayor symbolise inflexible justice, and the mayor's right and readiness to maintain the cause of the poor burgesses whenever necessary.

The swords are four in number, the oldest being one given to this city in 1506 by the then Lord Mayor of London; it was originally in a scabbard richly embroidered with pearls-these by the lapse of time have all disappeared, but the inscription engraven on the hilt yet remains :

John Willis of London, grocer, Maior,

To Bristol gave this sworde faire."

The next in date is the "Lent Sword," so named because borne before the judges when the assize falls in that sacred season. It is a two-edged blade, 3 ft. 3 in. in length, 2 in. in width, tapering to a point; it has a cross hilt engraven on each side with a honeysuckle, silver gilt; the handle is 9 in. long, ending in a large round pommel of 9 in. circumference, carrying the St. George's Cross, with a date, 1583 (1 Rich. III.), and the shield of arms of the same monarch. The letter M

slightly tapering-it is of blued steel with gilt pattern; the hilt is 17 in. long; the handle, including the pommel, is 15 in. long, silver gilt, of Louis Quatorze style, elegant and massive in its scroll-work and its cabled spiral foldings, which merge into and form the pommel. The scabbard is of rich crimson velvet; it is edged with gimp lace, surmounted by an ermine cap, and over this an imperial crown. The silver gilt mountings are the royal arms as described on No. 3 sword; also those of George II., with the inscription in Roman caps, "ANNO

REGNI GEORGII SECUNDI VICESIMO QUINTO, ANNOQUE SALUTIS 1752." It bears also the figures of Religion, Faith, Peace and Commerce. This sword was purchased by the corporation in 1753. The silver weighs 201 oz. 13 dwts.; its cost was £188 168. 3d.

that he produces in support of this theory the result of the present inquiry entirely turns.

The device on this earliest seal is a castle with four towers, the two largest of unequal height having between them a great gate, the portals of which are closed. The loftiest tower is presumed by Mr. Dallaway to represent the keep of the castle. That on the other side of the gate is surmounted by the figure of a man blowing a trumpet, and may therefore fairly be designated the warder's tower. Mr. Dallaway observes that there is reason to believe that a representation of the castle of Bristol, as it existed at that period, was purposely intended, as in the case of the seal of the city of Norwich. Be this as it may, it is the design on the obverse that awakens our interest in this seal, as it is supposed by Mr. Dallaway to have reference to a remarkable incident connected with the city of Bristol, unmentioned by Mr. Barrett, but respecting which Mr. Dallaway has collected many passages from the chronicles of the 13th and 14th centuries. The subject of the design is as follows:-At the end or angle of a wall is a round

3. "The first mention," says Mr. Dallaway, "that I have seen of a common seal is in the charter of 47th Edward III., A.D. 1372, for the choice of a sheriff, sub sigillo communi dicte Ville Bristol;" but he observes "that circumstance does not prove that the common seal was then first made, but rather that it had been extant previously."

The late J. R. Planché, Somerset Herald, in a most able paper published in the British Archæological Proceedings for 1875, pp. 180-9, refutes Mr. Dallaway's and the generally received opinion as to the origin of this seal, as is shown in the following extract:

No doubt but there were several seals extant previously, and it is with the origin of the earliest of all that the story I have alluded to is connected by Mr. Dallaway, and upon the evidence 1 Archæologia, XXI.

headed archway surmounted by a crenelated battlement, above which are seen the head and arm of a man who is apparently beckoning to the steersman of a single-masted vessel in full sail, either about to pass or making for the building. The circumscription in Lombardic characters reads:

"Secreti clavis sum portus navita navis

Portam custodit portum vigil indice prodit," which Mr. Dallaway interprets thus-"I am the key of the secret port, The pilot steers the helm of the ship. The warder points out the port with his forefinger;" and adds, "the arch and tower are intended to represent the secret port, by means of which vessels of considerable size were admitted into the walls of the castle, the river Avon being thus made to communicate with the ditch." Without stopping to question the accuracy of the translation of this monkish Latin, which Mr. Dallaway admits he made sui periculo, I at once endorse his opinion, that whatever circumstance suggested the design it has been the prototype of all the city seals, however varying in their details, and likewise of the city arms, but that it is "evidently historical" must not be so hastily