diocese of Lincoln, which at this period included that of Ely, was not merely disproportionately large, but in possession of two of the most important strongholds (the almost impregnable castle of Lincoln, and that natural stronghold, the isle of Ely); and judging how formidable an opponent, even to the crown, a hostile bishop of Lincoln might become, he obtained the papal assent for a division of the see, and erected the bishopric of Ely. To the crown tenants, at this period a very numerous body, he afforded relief from the vexations of arbitrary payments, by appointing a commission, which, having viewed the lands, devised in lieu a fixed and equitable rent. The patronage which Beauclerc extended to literature has already been noticed; it may, however, also be stated, that to the man of science, no less than to the man of letters, patronage was given, and that many foreign scientific men were attracted to England by the fame of Beauclerc's munificence.* The arts also received encouragement; for in those days the patron of the illuminator and the goldsmith, was the patron of the arts; while to architecture he afforded munificent patronage, by erecting the two noble abbeys of Cirencester and Reading, and the royal palaces of Dunstable, Windsor, and Woodstock. At this last mentioned place he enclosed a park, and also formed what was most probably the first Zoological garden ever seen in England. This garden, according to Malmsbury,

* Beauclerc was a liberal patron of the schools of Oxford. One of his especial favourites, too, was Adelard of Bath, who was a great nomer, and understood Arabic."

astro

was seven miles in circumference; it was surrounded by a wall, and contained lions, tigers, and other foreign animals which had been presented to Beauclerc by his continental allies.* Nor must it be forgotten, that in 1121 he superintended the formation of a canal to unite the rivers Trent and Witham, and thereby render Lincoln a port; a plan which succeeded so well, that in the following century the import and export trade of that ancient city was considerable, and continued so, until the canal having warped, the shipping trade was transferred to Gainsborough.

Under the protection of so enlightened a monarch, no wonder was it that the cities rapidly rose into importance, and that Lincoln herself could well afford to pay "200 silver marks and 4 of gold," that the city "might be held in capite of the of the king."t

Many of the cities mentioned as most flourishing at this period have, however, dwindled into mere second-rate towns. Such are Winchester, Northampton, Reading, Lincoln, Stamford, Grimsby, Boston, and Huntingdon; while others that were even then rising into notice, have maintained their station through seven long and change-bringing centuries. Norwich, even then, was distinguished for its trade; and it is recorded that this was the inducement to Herbert Losinga, the first bishop of

*In the Pipe Roll, 31st Henry, is an entry, "paid for the park at Woodstock, 30s. 5d. ;" also, "for feeding of the birds in the park, 5s." From another entry in the same roll we find that Henry had a vineyard at Rockingham; for 30s. 5d. is paid to the vine-dresser at Rockingham, and 20s. for procuring vines.

↑ Vide Pipe Roll 31st Henry.

Norwich, and the founder of its cathedral, to transfer his episcopal chair to it from Thetford. Dover was at this period a flourishing city; so was Exeter; while Bristol (then, and for some centuries after, called "Bristowe,") is celebrated by contemporary historians for the importance of its port and the extent of its foreign trade.*

Of London we find scarcely any notice in the contemporary historians; but in the curious Pipe Roll, before referred to, we find many entries which indicate its rising importance. Four persons who have been chosen sheriffs fine two gold marks † each, for leave to vacate the office. One Lawrence, of Rouen, is mentioned as owing to the king 30 ounces of gold; and Godwin Quacheland pays four gold marks "for peace in the plea of coinage." The Jews (many of whom appear, from this curious document, to have resided in London, a sure proof of her commercial prosperity) pay very large sums; one of them gives six marks for the king's aid in the recovery of his debts, and the whole body on one occasion fine £2000.‡

In regard to the general state of the population of these towns, their condition seems to have been that of rapid improvement. Guilds, which in

* It may be amusing to the reader to learn for what each of the principal cities was most celebrated during this reign. From some Latin verses of Henry of Huntingdon, we find that London was celebrated for ships, Winchester for wine, Hertford for cattle, Worcester for wheat, Salisbury for game, Canterbury for fish, York for wood, and Exeter for

metals.

†The gold mark was eight ounces of pure gold, either coined or uncoined, and was estimated at the value of six pounds' weight of silver. ‡ Vide Note 6, Appendix.

G

Saxon times appear to have partaken greatly of a religious character, seem now to have been generally formed for the purposes of trade. In the beforementioned roll, Robert, the son of Levestan, pays £16 on account of the weavers' guild in London ; the weavers' guild at Lincoln pay one gold mark; and that of the farriers at Oxford pay five ounces of gold," to have back their guild. Of the London guilds we find none mentioned at this early period, except the before-mentioned weavers and the saddlers' company, which boasts an unbroken existence of more than seven centuries. Then, as now, their hall seems to have been near the top of West-Cheap, and among their rules one is found which directs them "to be present with wax tapers, and to offer alms in the church of St. Martin's-le-Grand, on the day of his feast; and also to pay, for tolling the knell of each brother, eight pennies." Although the twelve great companies were not at this period recognized by charter, it is very probable that confraternities similar in character existed; since it is most unlikely that members of so inferior a class as the weavers should be possessed of a guild, and the princely wine and spice merchants, the wealthy drapers, and goldsmiths, be destitute of the same privilege. In regard to trade, as far as we are able to judge from the names of the fathers of the city, the enterprising Normans seem to have taken the lead in commerce; while the Saxons devoted themselves to home manufactures, to the fisheries, and, above all, to their ancient craft, "the art of the goldsmith." In the long list of mint-masters in this reign, which

the indefatigable industry of Mr. Ruding has collected, nine-tenths of the names are Saxon, while, whenever the monkish chronicler records the name of the artist honoured to construct the shrine, or to chase the delicate chalice, it is also almost invariably found to be Saxon.

Of the middle classes, not inhabiting towns, (those "small freeholders of Saxon birth, and those Normans who were not noble, but had settled on small estates, ") we have few, indeed scarcely any, notices. They seem to have enjoyed considerable security, and a competent portion of wealth, judging from their frequent grants of fire-wood, cattle, or small portions of land, which we find recorded in the lists of donations to the various newly-founded monasteries. Of the lower classes very little information can be obtained. That slavery, a state in which so many remained at the period of the conqueror's accession, was rapidly decreasing, seems evident, from the very circumstances in which the bondsman was placed. The walled town willingly opened her gates to receive him; and the wild tracts of forest land proffered him the enjoyment of "all manner of freedom and joyous liberty" within their leafy coverts; while the facilities afforded for escape, and the almost insuperable difficulties of pursuit, placed freedom almost within the reach of all. It is very probable, therefore, that the regular bondsmen, the theows of Saxon times, had ceased to exist as such, and had become blended with the territorial villenage during this reign, or before the conclusion of SteG 2