THE

THREE KINGS OF COLOGNE, IN BRISTOL.

In 1492, JOHN FOSTER, a Merchant, and some time Mayor of Bristol, built a Chapel, in the honour of God and The Three Kings of Coleyn, with an Almshouse thereto annexed, containing fourteen chambers, with fourteen gardens, for a Priest, and eight poor men and five poor women, to dwell in the same, and which he afterwards endowed.

This institution is still in existence, and the almspeople are appointed by The Mayor and Aldermen.15

The Tomb of " The Three Kings" at Cologne appears to have been attended with unusual Superstition, and to have been enriched by the credulous to a vast amount,—and, although it was wantonly stripped of it's ornaments of value by the French, it seems even now to be again acquiring great splendour.

15 Rep. VI. p. 520.

In 1479, THEOBALDE EVIAS devised "her ring of gold with the rubye to the Sepulchre of The Three Kings of Coleyne."

16

Mr. COATES in his History of Reading, p. 214., gives us under the head of Churchwardens' Accounts in 1499, the following extract,

“Item, payed for horsemete to the horsys for the Kyngs of Colen on May-day, 6o.

And a note adds,

"This was a part of the pageant called ' The KingPlay, or King-Game,' which was a representation of the Wise men's offering, who are supposed by the Romish Church to have been Kings, and to have been interred at Cologne."

The following " Charm, or Protection," was found in a linen purse belonging to JACKSON, the murderer and smuggler, who died (a Roman Catholic) in Chichester Gaol, in February, 1749. He was struck with such horror on being measured for his irons, that he soon after expired.—

16 Hasted's Hist. of Kent. vol. ii. p. 703, note.

66

"Ye three holy Kings,

Gaspar, Melchior, Balthasar,

"Pray for us now, and in the hour of death." "These papers have touched the three heads of the

holy Kings at Cologne. They are to preserve tra"vellers from accidents on the road, head-achs, falling "sickness, fevers, witchcraft, all kinds of mischief, and "sudden death."17

Mr. SMITH in his Notes during his Tour on the Continent, in 1826, furnishes the following account of this superstitious belief,

18

"The guide pointed out the Chapel of The Three Kings or Magi on the other side of the Altar, where the credulous believe the bones of the Wise Men of the East are deposited. The Tomb remains, but the sacrilegious French, as my guide observed, made free with all the magnificent and costly articles which adorned it. The riches of this Tomb, before the

17 Gentleman's Magazine, for February, 1749. vol. xix. pp. 42, 88.

18 It is a square stone, on which is engraven a Star, and under it "Sepulchrum trium Magorum."-STEVENSON'S Tour in France, &c. vol. i. p. 126.

Revolution, were astonishing, it being covered with pearls and gems. It is still richly embossed with gilt carving, and otherwise ornamented. Devotees are replacing the gold crowns with crowns of metal gilt, set with pearls, bearing the names of the Magi, viz. Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. Their remains are said to have been removed to Cologne by CHARLEMAGNE. This little Chapel is quite dark. Near the tomb hangs the Litany of The Three Kings, to repeat which entitles the person to an Indulgence of nine days. There is also a curious painting of the Adoration of the Magi, four hundred years old." 19

A Picture representing the Adoration of The Three Kings by VELASQUEZ is said to be one of his best pieces.

20

It is, doubtless, to the superstitious veneration in which the fame of these Wise Men was holden, that the Signs at

&c.

19 SMITH'S Notes made during a Tour in Denmark, p. 412.

20 Twiss's Travels through Spain. p. 308.

our Inns of "The Three Kings" took their origin.

These, therefore, appear to have been originally Religious establishments, connected with benevolent purposes,—and by the grace of Royal favour, their foundations were renewed for similar benefits, notwithstanding the Statutes of Dissolu

tion.

And, although no trust deeds are found relating to various Town lands, the rents and profits of which had been time out of mind employed to the benefit and relief of the Poor,-yet, it may be collected from the decree of the The Commissioners of Charitable uses, that part of them at least had been applied for the benefit and relief of the Poor, before the general provision for the Poor was made by the Statute of the 43d of ELIZABETH, 1601.

Thus it will be seen that, on the Dissolution of Monasteries, eleemosynary establishments were either newly constituted or old ones were permitted to remain,