of an inch; the shapes accommodated to the form of the ani'mals represented. They were laid in a bed of cement, apparently composed of sand, pulverized brick, and lime. The pavement seemed to extend much farther to the west, and is still concealed under the adjoining house, occupied by Mr. Hewlett, a cabinet maker, and in the wall of the house on the east was a window of Roman construction. It is to be lamented, that so valuable and perfect a specimen of Roman building should not have been preserved entire: the loss, however, is somewhat compensated by a correct drawing and engraving made by Mr. Thomas Tovey, and intended for the Antiquarian Society; and a considerable quantity of tessellæ collected by Mr. John Maclaren, and at his expense put together, and now forming a floor at his nursery near the Spa.

To these evidences it may be added, that within the last six years, in the Northgate and Southgate-streets, foot pavements, running parallel with the houses, have been found, at about the distance of seven or eight feet under ground (which is also the general depth of the tessellated floors). These were supported by timber piles, and about four or five feet wide.

It cannot then be doubted but that Glevum stood, in part at least, on the present site of Gloucester, but how far it extended can only be conjectured.

The opinion of some, that the Kingsholm was within its compass, is supported by the coins and other antiquities which have been found there, and the tradition, that this was the direction of the Irmin-street. It is satisfactorily traced from Cirencester to the place where the turnpike-gate stands, half a mile from the city; and here it is supposed to have deviated to the north west, and to have continued in the direction of a lane to the Kingsholm, then crossing the Tewkesbury-road, a little north of the turnpike-gate, to have proceeded to an old channel of the Severn (now filled up) but plainly to be traced.

After the Romans had forsaken this country for the defence of their own, and the Saxons had been invited as friends and

protectors against the inroads of the Picts and Scots, they soon, it is well known, threw off the disguise of friendship, and became the worst enemies the degenerate natives had to contend with. The Saxon King of Wessex, after the defeat of Commail, Condidon, and Farinmail, (three British Princes) in 577, seized upon Gloucester, Cirencester, and Rath. About the year 584, the Britons retired across the Severn into Cambria, and left the empire wholly to the conquerors. Glouces ter then became one of the 15 cities of the kingdom of Mercia, -The following chronological extracts respecting Gloucester are the most important upon record:

488. Hengist, the brave leader of the Saxons, is said by G. Monmouth, to have been beheaded at this place. In a battle fought at Masebell, beyond the Humber, in Yorkshire, he was taken prisoner, and brought to Gloucester, when a council was assembled of the nobility to determine his fate. Edel, the Earl, Eldad, the Bishop, and Eldo, the Mayor, or chief governor, were present, and when the majority shewed an inclination to spare the prisoner's life, they were persuaded to deliver him up to the Mayor, who led him out of the city and put him to death.

In 670, Wulfer, son of Penda, repaired the city, which had been considerably injured during the wars, and according to Bede, it was then esteemed, about the beginning of the eighth century, one of the noblest cities in the kingdom.

918. The inhabitants of this city were instrumental in routing and destroying the Danish army. King Athelstan died here in 940.

Soon after this Elgiva, the unfortunate wife of Edwy, the 11th King of England, was intercepted at Gloucester, and put to death, with circumstances of peculiar cruelty.

964. King Edgar resided a short time in the town, and one of his battles against the Danes is said to have been fought here,

In 997 Gloucester was, it is supposed, for the third time, ravaged and almost consumed by fire, by the Danes.

1016. Ed.nund Ironside, having been defeated at Ashdon, county of Essex, or Essedin, according to Atkyns, came to Gloucester for the purpose of recruiting his forces. Canute followed him, and in a short time the two armies, headed by their respective kings, stood in sight of each other at Derhurst, five miles up the Severn. Here Edmund challenged the Danish chief to single combat, which Canute declined, and they agreed to divide the kingdom.

In 1051, Edward the Confessor took up his residence at Gloucester, where Eustace, Earl of Bulloign, who had married the king's sister, visited him, and was magnificently entertained.

1053. The king held a great assemblage of his nobles at Gloucester, in the ancient building of the monastery, in the time of Atkyns, called the Long Workhouse, but since converted into a dwelling house, and now the property of Robert Smith, Esq.

1063. The king came again to Gloucester, and Harold was employed in reducing the Welch, who had long been accustomed to harrass the western borders, and then retire to the safe fastnesses of their mountains. Griffith, or Griffin, the reigning Prince, had greatly distinguished himself in these predatory incursions, but now in consequence of the vigorous measures pursued by the English army, he was sacrificed to the fears of his own followers, and his head being cut off, was sent to Harold, who immediately transmitted it, with the gilded stern of Griffith's ship, to the king at Gloucester.

After the Norman conquest, William I. often held his court at Gloucester, and generally spent the Christmas here, attended by the principal nobility and ecclesiastics of the kingdom. In 1084, and again in 1085, the king, with his Lords, held his court here for five days. The clergy also, with their Archbishop, held several synods here. From the distin

guished selection of Gloucester for these purposes, it seems at that time to have been a place of considerable importance, and magnitude also, to entertain so numerous a body of nobles and others, whom duty or business brought to the royal court. The population at that period is roughly calculated at

2500.

About 1087, the town was nearly cousumed by fire, in the disputes between William Rufus and his brother Robert. The city was much injured by the Welch in 1094. In 1101, it was nearly destroyed by fire, and 25 years after (being built mostly with timber) it experienced the same melancholy calamity. William II. and his successor, Henry I. frequently held their court at this favourite resort of royalty; and in the latter reign, a synod was held when Curboil was elected Archbishop of Canterbury. It was in this city the Empress Matilda was residing when the Duke of Gloucester brought in prisoner her rival Stephen, after his defeat near Lincoln. He was confined in the castle of Bristol, till he was exchanged for the Duke, who was captured two years afterwards by the king's troops. Matilda, it appears, always considered Gloucester as a place of great security, not only from the military strength which it possessed, but from the bravery and loyalty of its inhabitants. The city suffered again by fire in 1150, and 25 years after Jorworth, Lord of Caerleon-upon-Usk, destroyed all the country to the gates of Hereford and Gloucester with fire and sword. Henry III. at ten years of age, was crowned in this city. He summoned the vassals of the crown to meet him at Gloucester in 1233, and after his defeat by the rebel Earl of Pembroke, he retreated to Gloucester.

Dr. Fuller observes, that Gloucester was more beloved by Henry than London itself; and with good reason, for it was strong and loyal, and the place of his coronation. As on former occasions however, so now, its attachment to the sovereign was the occasion of great sufferings.

1278. Edward I. on the octaves of St. John the Baptist, in

the sixth year of his reign, held a parliament in the long workhouse belonging to the Abbey.

1321. During the quarrels between Edward II. and the Barons, the king was frequently here, but in the winter of this year, the city was seized by the Barons, who had previously outlawed the two Despencers, and demolished their castles. On this event he hastened to Gloucester, and having in his way sent a party to destroy the castle of the Giffards, at Brimpsfield, ordered John Giffard, usually called the Rich, and John Elmebridge, to be hanged here.

1327. This year Edward the second, after having suffered a long and cruel imprisonment, was murdered in Berkeley Castle, and buried in the Abbey Church of Gloucester.

1378. On the 20th October, Richard II. held a parliament here, in which the controversies ran high between the spiritual and temporal lords, each complaining of the other's encroachments. It lasted 28 days, and concluded with the grant of a liberal supply to the king.

1407. Henry IV. held a parliament here, on the 20th Octo ber, for the usual purpose of granting subsidies,

1420. Another Parliament was held here, which, after a fortnight's session, was removed to Westminster.

1450. After Michaelmas, Richard, Duke of York, coming out of Ireland, took Reginald, Abbot of St. Peter, Gloucester, and sent him, with others, to the Castle of Gloucester.

1

1483. Richard III. immediately after his coronation, came to Gloucester, and continued there some time. From this: place he sent an express order to Brackenbury, Governor of the Tower of London, to murder Edward V. and his brother, the Duke of York. The Tyrant had, no doubt, formed this plan before he left London, considering, Gloucester as a situ ation distant eno gh from the scene of action, to remove suspicion from himself, and yet net so distant, but that he might receive speedy information of the execution of his iniquitous project,