Bij 0. E. Pouting, F.8.A. 



173 



being apparently gleaned chiefly from Barrett's History of Bristol, 

 referred to above), describes these effigies and their positions as 

 follows : — 



" In the niches which occupied the different stages were placed 

 well-sculptured statues of those kings who had been benefactors to 

 the city. 



" That of King John was placed northward, fronting Broad 

 Street. He gave the city the first and very extensive charter of 

 privileges, especially all the void ground on the banks of the rivers, 

 thereby to amend the town by building. 



" That of King Henry III. was fixed fronting Wine Street, 

 eastward. He confirmed Henry IT.'s charter that established it a 

 mayor-town, and also that of King John, and joined Redcliffe to 

 Bristol, making it one corporate town. 



" That of King Edward III. was fixed facing Corn Street, west- 

 ward ; and 



" That of King Edward IY. was added afterwards to the other 

 three figures, and placed to front High Street, southward." 1 



It seems, however, improbable that the Cross would have been 

 left with only three figures, and it is more reasonable to suppose 

 that the fourth represents some other king, possibly Edward II. 



These effigies had their backs against a central shaft, and were 

 divided by angle shafts supporting the canopies (D), diagonally 

 with which were detached pinnacles with crocketted terminals, 

 connected to the shafts by flying buttresses. Each of the canopies 

 (as also of the bases of the figures) was a semi-octagon on plan, 

 projecting from the side of a square, of which the shafts formed 

 the angles ; they were richly traceried and crocketted, and groined 

 underneath. 



We have no material evidence of the work which was erected 

 above this in 1373, but by drawing a parallel from the entries in 



1 In the ancient manuscript preserved in Bristol, known as " The Major's 

 Kalendar," written by Robert Ricart, who was elected Town Clerk of Bristol 

 18th Edward IV. (A.D. 1479), it is recorded, under the date 1491 : — 



"The High Crosse was peynted & gilt, which cost xx 1 '. This yer the King 

 was in Bristow," &c. 



