GLOCESTER, the capital of Gloucestershire in England. It is an ancient city, and by Antoninus is called Glevum, or Glevum, which Camden thinks was formed from the British Caer-Glowe, signifying a fair city. It was built by the Romans to curb the Silures; and a colony was placed there, called Colonia Glevum. It stands upon the bank of the Severn; and, except on the side next the river, is surrounded by a wall. Towards the south there was anciently a castle built in the time of William the Conqueror, the remains of which is now the common gaol for debtors and felons. Ceaulin, king of the West Saxons, first took it from the Britons in 570; but it afterwards became subject to the Mercians. The present cathedral was erected by Aldred, archbishop of York, and bishop of Worcester, after the conquest, but hath been greatly improved and adorned since. In the south aisle Edward II. lies interred in an alabaster tomb; and not far from him, in the middle of the choir, Robert Curt-hose, eldest son of William the Conqueror. This city suffered much in the barons wars, was plundered by Edward the son of Henry III. and not long after almost entirely destroyed by an accidental fire. King John made it a borough; and Henry III. who was crowned here, a corporation. Richard III. made it a county of itself, adding two hundreds to it, and gave it his sword and cap of maintenance. It had once eleven parish-churches; but five of them were demolished when it was besieged by Charles I. against whom it had shut its gates. In the reign of Charles II. its walls were pulled down, and two hundreds taken from its county by act of parliament. It was erected into an episcopal see by Henry VIII. on the suppression of the abbey of St Peter, with a dean and six prebends. A-
bout the time of the conquest, its chief business seems to have been forging of iron; for in Doomsday book it is said, that the only tribute required of it was so many icres, or bars of iron. At present it has ten incorporated companies, a stone-bridge over the river, with a key and wharf; but though it is well situated for trade, yet its traffic is not considerable, having been much impaired by the neighbourhood of Bristol. One of its chief manufactures now is pin-making. Several parliaments were anciently held here, particularly by Richard II. and III.; and in the town are many crosses and statues of the kings of England. By a charter from Charles II. it is governed by a steward, mayor, recorder, twelve aldermen, a town-clerk, two sheriffs chosen yearly out of twenty-six common-council men, a sword-bearer, and four sergeants at mace. Camden says, the Roman-way, that extends from St David's in Wales to Southampton, passes through this city. It gives title of duke to the second brother of his present majesty George III.