the 4d. to 2d. and the 2d. to a penny, and the penny to a halfpenny, to the great loss of the king and his subjects. Also this year alters were pulled down, and tables made for to receive the Communion. Also Bullin yielded. Also sweet, wine was sold for 12d. and Gascoine wine for 8d. ye gallon. Also the sweating sickness reigned in the whole realm; and wheat sold at 4s. 8d. per bushel, and the poor could scarce get bread for money; but the Mayor prepared wisely for them: for he caused every Baker to bake bread for the Commons at a price which the Mayor and the Bakers agreed upon.

1551. This year the pestilence reigned in the city of Bristol, very sore for the time it lasted; for it swept away many hundreds every week; the which endured from Easter until Michaels. Also this year Bridewell was erected.

1556. This year two men, the one a weaver and the other a cobler, burnt at St Michael's hill for Religion called heresie; and a shereman was burnt for denying the sacrament of the alter to be the very body and blood of Christ really and substantially. And also this year St. Quintin's and Calis was lost.

1561. This year was Temple Conduit built.

1564. This year in Bristol was seen in the firmament, beams as red as fire, comming out as it were of a furnace, of length like ye pole; and there followed a very hard winter of ice and snow; and Hungroad was frozen, that mariners and other people went over dry-shod. And also this year was a great plague` in Bristol, whereof there dyed in Bristol 2500 at the least.

1565. This year there came 700 soldiers to Bristol with their furniture, to go from Ireland against the archtraitor, one Ald; and whilst they abode there looking for.

a wind, three or four ruffains of them began a comotion at the high Cross against the citizens, about nine of the clock at night; and though many blows were given on both sides, yet no man was wounded, by reason the Magistrates and Captains came quickly thither, and appeased the matter. But the next day, Captaine Randall, their commanding officer, being advised thereof, sent the offenders into prison who begun the fray. And two days after, he would have executed martial law upon them, and commanded a gibbet to be set up in the midst of the high street, and also commanded that all the soldiers should come thither without their weapons, to see them executed; but when the time of execution was come, after long intreaty and much suite made by the Worshipfull Mayor and others of this city, with the Captains and other gentlemen, the Generall, against his purpose, was constrained to pardon them; but presently he discharged them and put them from the band. They departed from Bristoll the eighth day of October with a merry wind for Ireland.

1568. A great store of corn was sent out of this city into Wales, by reason of the great dearth that was there. Notwithstanding all this, many people perished for want of food.

1569. This year dyed John Willis, Chamberlaine of this city, who caused to be made all the causways seven miles every way about this city, and built the Bell Taverne in Broad-street, and obtained the Back Hall for a gift to the city; wherein he himself dyed.

[To be continued.]

BOOKS PRINTED IN BRISTOL.

WE are desirous that this work should contain such information as will enable, our readers to form an estimate of the Literary History of Bristol. With this view we will insert a descriptive catalogue, from the earliest date, of Books printed in Bristol, including characteristic extracts, and such notices of the authors as we can procure. In another article we propose giving a list of Authors who were natives of or resided in Bristol. We have separated these articles, because that which we are now commencing presents a peculiar source of professional and local information, and will also enable the reader to form a more accurate idea of the state of literature in this city. It is, moreover, an interesting object to trace the progress of the stream which eventually diffuses its improving and fertilizing influence.

From a MS. chronicle of this city it appears that printing was performed in the Castle of Bristol, in the year 1546, which, says the writer, is followed dayly to the honour of God.' We are fearful that none of our readers are more fortunate than ourselves, in possessing any of the productions of this press; but if they will favour us with the communication of any other books printed in Bristol, our list will probably be less imperfect. The earliest piece of this description which we possess, is entitled

"Clero-laicum Condimentum. Or, A Sermon preached at a Visitation in Saint Nicholas Church in Bristoll, Aprill 16. An. D. 1644. By Richard Standfast Master of Arts, Rector of Christ-Church, and one of His Majes

ties Chaplains. Bristoll, printed for Thomas Thomas, and are to be sold at his Shop in Broad-street, 1644." Qto.

Then follows an Imprimatur, dated June 1, 1644, and signed "Eduardus Tubbes Rdo. in Christo P. D. Episcopo Bristol. A Sacris." And a Dedication to Bishop Howell; in which the author says, "This sermon is of right your due, for it was your order that first prepared it for the Pulpit; and it is your request (as you were pleas'd to make it,) that hath now commanded it to the Presse."

This sermon was published by its author at a perilous time. It was preached before an assembly of the clergy and laity, and is probably alluded to in the charge of "his disaffection to the Parliament of England and their proceedings, which in his printing, praying, and preaching, he had expressed;" for which he was soon afterward confined in the Castle of Bristol.

The text is the 50th verse of the 9th chapter of Mark. "Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another." These are the words in which Christ enforces the application of a metaphor he had been using, to point out to his disciples the nature of the qualifications they should possess, as the teachers and followers of his doctrines. The preacher expatiates on the effects arising from the want of these qualifications, and thereby enforces the necessity for their possession both by the ministers and the people. The discourse is founded on the religious dissentions of the times; but the subject is treated with moderation. The following are the most pointed applications which it contains.

"We must love Peace well, but fundamentall truths better, and though we must love all truths well, yet for every petty truth, we may not disturb the Publique Peace.

And if this course had been followed amongst us, in these latter times, neither had the Church been so rent, nor the Kingdom so divided, as now they are; neither had there been so much schisme in the one, nor sedition in the other, as now there is. For what essentiall fundamentall truth hath 'our Church wanted? and if none, there's no reason we should keepe so much adoe about truths of an inferiour nature, as to sin against Charity and Peace.

"And at whose door (thinke you) will all these breaches be laid? too many of them, I fear, will be brought home to some of the Clergy, but surely they have chosen but an ill Master, that have been active in sowing unnecessary divisions among brethren, and it is to be doubted, that it will be bitternesse in the latter end.

"It is storyed of one Milo, a mighty man for strength of body; that on a time finding a forked Tree he would needs in a vain glorious way attempt to rend the Tree asunder, but his strength failed him, and the Tree closing again, caught him fast, and there held him, till the Wolves devoured him.

"And what dreadfull vengeance befell Korah and his complices, we may read at large, Numb. 16. The earth opened her mouth and swallowed up some of them, v. 32. And Fire came out from the Lord, and devoured others, I will not wish the Incendiaries of our times, that have made use of their strength, to the rending asuntler both of Church and State; I will not (I say) wish them either Milo's lot, or Korah's confusion, but their own conversion rather (and yet Saint Paul wisheth that they that troubled the Galatians, were even cut off, Gal. 5. 12.) But I must needs say, that they, whom God hates with more than a common hatred, have but little reason to expect Peace at the last without repen