(see _Mediaeval London_, p. 8) that the Folkmote
was held on a large green, east of the cathedral. There were three
such meetings yearly, to which the citizens were summoned by the
ringing of the great cathedral bell. When the first Cross was erected
on the ground there is no record to show. We may take for granted that
there was first a pulpit of wood. Not only were sermons preached, but
proclamations and State announcements were delivered from it, also
Papal bulls, excommunications, and the public penance of notorious
offenders. In the quaint language of Carlyle, Paul's Cross was "a kind
of _Times_ newspaper of the day." On important occasions, the Lord
Mayor and Aldermen came in state. Sometimes even the King came with
his retinue, and a covered seat was placed for them against the
cathedral wall, which may be noticed in our engraving. If there was an
important meeting, and the weather was unfavourable, the meeting was
adjourned to the "Shrowdes," that is, to the crypt, which, as we have
already seen, was now converted into the Church of St. Faith.

The Cross was damaged by lightning in 1382, and was rebuilt by Bishop
Kempe (1448-1489). It had stone steps, the pulpit was of strong oak,
and it was roofed in with lead. This was the building which was
standing as we closed our account of the cathedral at the beginning of
the Tudor dynasty. We shall see more of it hereafter in our historical
memorials.

On the north side of the Cathedral Nave was the Bishop's residence,
with a private door leading into the cathedral. Of the appearance of
the west front of the cathedral we cannot speak with certainty, as it
disappeared to make way for Inigo Jones's porch, to which we shall
come hereafter. But there were, as usual, three entries, of which the
middle had a fine brazen door-post, and there are two towers to be
noted. That on the north was part of the Bishop's Palace; that on the
south was commonly known as Lollards' Tower. It was the place for
imprisoning heretics, and there are ugly stories about it. For
example, a man named Hunne, who had been found in possession of some
Wycliffite tracts, was confined here by Bonner, and was presently
found hanged. It was said that he had committed suicide. But it was
declared that the appearances rendered this theory impossible, and
Bonner was generally believed to have incited murder; so much was this
believed, in fact, that he was hated by the citizens from that time.

On the south