GLOUCESTER CORPORATION SEAL. 421 



that ' there were on these carts many vessels and small 

 boats, made surprisingly well of boiled leather.' ' 



By a statute of 1350 (2, c. 4, 25 Edward III.), it 

 appears that the farrier was yet designated in the Norman 

 French, then fashionable in legal and court language, the 

 ' Ferrour des Chivaux ; ' and with a number of other 

 craftsmen, such as saddlers, spur-makers, armourers, &c., 

 was regularly sworn-in before the justices to do and use 

 his craft in a proper manner, and to confine himself 

 to it." 



Gloucester has been alluded to on several occasions 

 not only as a repository of antique horse-shoes, but also as 

 a town celebrated for its iron trade from time immemorial 

 — a circumstance due to its proximity to the mineral dis- 

 tricts of the Forest of Dean.^ The business of nail-making 



' Ibid. p. 29. ' Statutes of the Realm, vol. i. p. 312. 



3 The Rev. S. Lysons, Honorary Canon of Gloucester Cathedral, has 

 most kindly furnished me with the following particulars relative to Glou- 

 cester, its iron-trade, and its arms. ' Gloucester was celebrated for its 

 smiths, being so near the mines of the Forest of Dean, which were 

 worked both by the Romans and the Britons ; coins of the former 

 and tools of the latter having been found in them. The Via Falrorum 

 of Roman Gloucester still retains the name of Long Smith Street. 

 The chief employment of the town of Gloucester, before the reign of 

 William the Conqueror, was making and forging of iron ; and in the 

 times of King Richard II. and Henry IV. it was famous for its iron 

 manufacture. The ore was brought from Robin Wood's Hill, about 

 two miles from the city, where it is said to have been found in great 

 abundance. This town had anciently its proper signature. On an old 

 seal of the time of King Edward III., which is still used for recogniz- 

 ances, on each side of the effigy is a horse-shoe ; one horse-nail near 

 it, and three below it, two and one 5 with the like number above it 

 placed in the same order. It is said that King Richard III., when he 

 made this a Mayor town, gave it his sword and cap of maintenance. 

 The arms of the town was then " a sword erect, with a cap of mainten- 



