Excerpt from The History and Antiquities of the City of Bristol: Compiled From Original Records and Authentic Manuscripts, in Public Offices or Private Hands Before I conclude I mufi add, that by a manufcript in Corpus Chrilli college library, Cambridge, CCCCV.. P. 26. Entituled Conflitutiones Villze Brifiollia, (which I did not receive till the laft fheet of this work was printed off)it appears, among other curious particulars, how they were enabled to build the old bridge, which I have faid no where appears, fee p. 79. Petunt burgenfes fibi reflitui pontem i. E. The burgeffes alfo defire that the bridge of Avon be ref'tored to them and the rents upon the bridge, which bridge they and their anceftors built new from the brink or ilream (filo) of the water at their own charges together with the alms of the faithful, and have fupported until this day, and are ready perpetually to fupport it and in aid Of fupporting it they have ereéled certain rents upon the fame bridge; and for the Indulgence of thofe who help, and prohibition of thofe who would dedufl from it, they have a bull of Pope Innocent 3d. The predeceffor of Honorius and Gregory. They alfo defire to be refiored to them the rents ofa certain houfe and ground, which they bought at the head of the bridge on the fouth fide, for which they have the charter of the abbot and convent of Keyniham, of whom they hold the faid ground; and alfo have the confirmation of King john con cerning the faid ground, upon which great part of the faid bridge is founded and fupported. - They fay alfo, that out of the profits Ofthe guild merchants and of the town they fupport eight bridges, the pavement or pitching, five con duits of water, the Key (kayam) before the fhips, and the public Officers; and that the murage is expended only in inclofing and fortifying the town and fuburb, for which it was granted; and that no waggon, no packhorfe, no man, fhall unload his burden, without firft paying the euflom to the prepofitor, (nifi cuflumetur ad prepofitum, ) &c. Though there is no date to this curious manufcript, it mufi be about the year 1314, for they defire therein to choofeamayor and bailiffs whom they know will be more ufeful and faithful to their Lord the King, who were chofen in that year. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.