79 



seen, from a very remote period, when indeed it was regarded as a 

 symbol, emblematic of Him who hung thereon, and so placed in the 

 highest and most central part of their city, that they might ever have 

 before their eyes the lesson it inculcated, that to Him alone should 

 be directed all their highest aspirations, even in the conduct of their 

 worldly aifairs; while, at a later date, it became "a sort of historic 

 pillar, bearing record to the gradual advancement of the City of 

 Bristol in times when the interests of commerce and the progress of 

 civilization were dependent on the personal favour of princes." 



GLOUCESTER HIGH CROSS. 



Very little appears to be known concerning this fine old Cross. It 

 stood near the Tolsey, and, like Bristol High Cross, occupied the 

 centre of the space formed by the intersection of the four principal 

 streets. The date of its erection is conjectural. The plate is taken 

 from an engraving in the Vetusta Monumenta, and the writer, in 

 describing it, is of opinion, that it was as ancient, at least, as the 

 time of Richard III. Fosbrook, also, considers the towers and vanes 

 with which the top of the Cross was decorated as a certain mark of 

 the architecture of the 15th century. Its height was 34 i feet. It 

 was octagonal in form, and consisted of two tiers or stages, with an 

 embattled top decorated with towers and vanes, from which sprung a 

 diminishing eight-sided shaft, in three parts, the lower loopholed, the 

 two upper slightly ornamented, supporting a globe and cross. The 

 style of the whole of this part is bastard, and has no affinity with 

 that of the two lower tiers. It is not improbable that a crocketed 

 spire formerly surmounted the second tier, which would have been in 

 keeping with the rest of the architecture. An embattled moulding 

 ran round the base of the second stage. In the basement, the arches 

 ■were closed by masonry, but the stage above was divided into eight 

 niches, uncanopied, in which the following statues of Kings and 

 Queens were placed, and for the accompanying reasons :— 



King John, because he was Earl of Gloucester, and afterwards, 



when he was King, made it a borough-town. 

 King Henry III. because he was crowned here, and by the grant 



of a charter, made it a corporation. 

 Eleanor his Queen, because she founded St. Bartholomew's 



Hospital. 

 King Edward III. because of his great renown, and success 

 against France. 



