PROCEEDINGS FOR 1897 CLXIX 



for proclaiming the king, the mayor standing in the High Cross and his 

 majesty's picture being placed over their heads upon the High Cross, in 

 the sight of all beholders," and how, all through our nation's struggles 

 with her enemies, now war and now peace, were alike proclaimed from 

 this spot. There is only one thing more about the cross that I will refer 

 to. It was towards the end of the fifteenth century (1499) that Henry 

 YII., soon after he had ascended the throne, came to pay a visit to the loyal 

 city of Bristol, the city which afterwards rendered distinguished service 

 to the king, as the port which sent forth Cabot on his memorable voyage. 

 The people determined to give him a hearty reception. The authorities 

 and the guilds met him in procession, they filled the air with music, they 

 sanded the streets, they spent £20 in money of the time in decking the 

 High Cross, the}^ put on their best apparel in honour of the king, and 

 what did it all come to ? That most generous and sj^mpathetic of kings, 

 before he left the city, levied a fine of 20s. upon every citizen who was 

 worth £20, — and why? — because (to quote the chronicles) ''their wives 

 went too sumptuously apparelled^ Poor wives, whose vanity was thus the 

 unintentional cause of their husbands being plundered ! — poor husbands, 

 who, upon such a plea, were made to minister to the needs of a rapacious 

 monarch ! 



I shall naturally be expected to give you, if possible, some idea of 

 what the domestic architecture of Bristol was at the period under review. 

 There is, I think, only one building remaining from which a definite idea 

 can be obtained, although there are still many quaint buildings of later 

 periods. The one in question is, however, typical in its character and 

 completeness. The range of buildings known as St. Peter's hospital 

 stands under the shadow of St. Peter's church, which formerly abutted 

 upon the castle wall. The structure has no doubt undergone many 

 changes in the course of centuries, but its principal features remain in 

 spite of •• change and decay," in the overhanging upper floors, the massive 

 carved wood-work, and the three picturesque gables. Historic references 

 to this typical residence of well-to-do people go back as far as the end of 

 the fourteenth centurj", for it is recorded that in the year 1400, Thomas 

 Norton, who was then " parliament-man " for Bristol, lived in St. Peter's 

 churchyard, and this house continued to be the residence of various 

 Nortons after that period. After some earlier changes which need not be 

 enumerated, there came a series of later chanares, the last of which brings 

 us to the present time. In 1666 it was converted into a sugar refinery; 

 in 1696 at the time when the whole coinage of the country was renewed, 

 it was used as a local mint ; in 1698 it was purchased for poor-law pur- 

 poses by the Bristol Incorporation of the Poor, and in their possession it 

 has remained ever since. 



There is a very interesting apartment still used as the board-room of 

 the guardians, which is always sought out by those who are curious in 



