General History of Bath. 55 



and spent the income in donations to players, bear baiting, 

 and other diversions. The other charities they in a similar 

 manner mismanaged and plundered. Elizabeth, about 1573, 

 granted a " brief" for collecting money for the completion of 

 the church and the restoration of the fabric of St. John's 

 Hospital, but a contemporary, Sir John Harington, records 

 the fact that but a fraction of the money obtained was 

 honestly applied. 



But the character pf the city was changing. 

 Queen Trade had almost died out, and Elizabeth 



Elizabeth. ' 



had brought the city into fashion, not as a 

 health resort — that was to be a creation of later time — but 

 as a Hydropathic establishment. Visitors flocked hither 

 from all parts of the kingdom, and the attention which they 

 bestowed upon the half-ruinous Abbey Church, and the 

 example of liberality which they set, shamed the citizens 

 into a better sense of their duty ; and, before the death of 

 Elizabeth, much progress had been made in the work of 

 restoration. 



The Queen herself visited Bath in 1574, and as she re- 

 mained here over a Sunday, great efforts were made to make 

 the churches look less neglected than was their wont. The 

 " Quiresters " were brought over from Wells; the windows of 

 Stalls Church were mended; and the ruined state of the 

 Abbey Church disguised by garlands of green. The bell- 

 man was given a new coat of " black frise at xv. pence the 

 yard," and men were employed to clear away the soil and 

 ashes which it was the custom to throw over the town walls.. 

 Elizabeth granted a charter to the city in 1590, which codi- 

 fied the existing municipal customs, but she was not pleased 

 with the condition of the town. The common sewer running 

 open in the middle of the streets, and the state of the pitch- 



