HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 91 



country about it was covered with trees, and a rivulet ran near it. 

 The Cathedral stood on a narrow neck of land ; it was formerly 

 famous for the abstinence of its members, but our Bishops are 

 ashamed of the place, because the episcopal dignity is now to be 

 supported in a different manner."* 



In 1295, Walter de Langton was advanced to this See, and to his 

 munificence Lichfield owes much of its present splendour. At this 

 period, the city was intersected by three large pools of water, and 

 Bishop Langton built the bridge over the Minster pool, cleaned the 

 ditch which encompassed the Close, and fortified it with a strong 

 stone wall. He also laid out c2000. in a monument for St. Chadd, 

 the first Bishop of Mercia. The vicars' houses in the Close were a 

 donation by him, and he made an addition to their salaries. Among 

 other public-spirited efforts to improve the city, he obtained a grant 

 from Edward I. to lay an annual tax on the inhabitants for one-and- 

 twenty years, to pave the streets. A short time before his death, 

 he began to build St. Mary's Chapel at the Minster, where he pro- 

 posed to be buried ; but not living till it was finished, he left money 

 for that purpose. This great and good man died on the 16th of 

 November., 1321, and was interred in the Cathedral. Among other 

 benefactions, he gave the old house belonging to the Bishop to the 

 vicars' choral. In the eastern part of the Close he erected a new 

 palace for his successors, and along the north side of it he built 

 proper houses for the Dean and Chapter. He gave a large quantity 

 of plate for the use of the church, and more to the vicars, to whom 

 and the canons he was a great benefactor. 



In 1547, by a charter of Edward VI. Lichfield was elevated to 

 the dignity of a City and Corporation. This Prince also restored 

 the burgesses the privilege of sending representatives to Parlia- 

 ment, of which the city had been deprived from the year 1354, the 

 twenty-seventh of Edward III. This charter was confirmed, and 

 many additional immunities conferred on the citizens of Lichfield, 

 by Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, James the First, and Charles 

 the Second. When James II. in his arbitrary experiments on 

 the feelings of Englishmen, required the surrender of the ancient 

 charters of Lichfield, he granted them a new one, with some re- 

 servations. But in 1688 he published a proclamation, restoring to 

 Corporations their ancient privileges : consequently, the new charter 

 was rescinded, and the corporation reverted to the ample and 

 satisfactory charter of Charles II. This charter is dated No- 



* De Gestis Pontificura Lichfeld. 



