The royal blood of this noble Welshman was in no respect chilled by the defeat of his confederates, for in the next year he carried his ravages even to the gates of the Welsh Bridge, destroying much of the suburb of Frankwell and several townships in the vicinity.

In 1460, Edward IV. marched with an army of 23,000 men from this town to the battle of Mortimer's Cross, and he chose this place for the residence of his queen, where she was delivered of her second and third sons, Richard and George Plantagenet.

On the landing of the Earl of Richmond, afterwards King Henry the Seventh, at Milford Haven, in August, 1485, he determined to march for Shrewsbury. On his arriving at the Welsh Bridge he found the place in a posture of defence, the gates closed against him, and the bailiffs within ready to give their answer. On his demanding admittance as their rightful king, a curious MS. records that the chief bailiff, Thomas Mytton, replied-" He knew no king but Richard, whose bailiffs he and his fellow were, upon which he swore that the earl should not enter there but over his belly." On this, Richmond returned and passed the night at Forton Heath, where his army was encamped. He, however, succeeded the next morning; and Mr. Mytton, in order to conform with the letter of his oath, laid himself down on the ground, and permitted the earl to step over him, whereupon the portcullis of the bridge was drawn up, and the earl with his retinue were admitted, to the general joy of the inhabitants, notwithstanding it went against the stomach of the " stoute wyse gentilman, Maister Myttoon."

In Shrewsbury Richmond was first proclaimed king, and raised soldiers, but left the bailiffs to pay them. He lodged in a house on the Wyle Cop (three doors below the Lion Inn), from whence he marched to Bosworth Field,

where the engagement took place which deprived Richard III. of his throne and his life.

Henry VII. visited the town in 1490, with his queen, and son (Prince Arthur), and kept the feast of St. George in the collegiate church of St. Chad; they made another visit in 1495, and were sumptuously entertained by the corporation.

At the general dissolution of monasteries, in 1539, it appears to have been the intention of Henry VIII. to form thirteen new bishopricks,* one of which was to have been at Shrewsbury. Browne Willis states that John Boucher, Abbot of Leicester, was actually nominated "BISHOP OF SHREWSBURY ;"—hence the tradition, as our historians remark, so gratifying to the pride of every true Salopian, that their forefathers had the offer of having their borough converted into a city, but that they preferred inhabiting the

FIRST OF TOWNS.

1551. The spring of this year was fatally distinguished by the commencement of a dreadful epidemic in this town, called the "sweating sickness."

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth, Sir Henry Sidney, President of Wales and Lord Deputy of Ireland, visited this town almost annually, and was always received with the highest respect; his celebrated son, Sir Philip, was educated at our Free Schools. Sir Henry, as Knight of the Garter, kept the feast of St. George here, in 1581, with great splendour. He marched in state from his residence, the Council House, to St. Chad's Church, the stalls of which were decorated with the arms of the knights, divine service being "sung by note." On the 1st of May, the four masters of the schools entertained his lordship with a costly

⚫ Our ancestors petitioned the king for permission to convert the monastery of Salop into "a college, or free school."

banquet, and on the following day three hundred and sixty of the scholars assembled in the "Gay," several of whom addressed him in speeches. He departed on the 8th, by water, "taking his bardge under the Castle," when another pageant took place on the island near the Horse Ferry.

Shrewsbury was a favourite retreat for Charles I. during the troublous period of his reign, and he was frequently received by the inhabitants with every feeling of loyalty and attachment. He established a mint here, and kept his court at the Council House. In the year 1642, he drew up his army on a spot afterwards called the "SOLDIER'S PIECE," and which is now used as a race ground, where he delivered an harangue to them and the chief gentlemen of the county, who had in his time of need rendered him pecuniary assistance and service.

The town was taken by storm in 1644-5, under the command of Colonels Mytton and Bowyer, of the parliamentary army, the inhabitants experiencing all the vicissitudes of a siege, in the plunder of their goods and destruction of property. An attempt was made, in 1654, to surprise it, in favour of the restoration of monarchy, by Sir Thomas Harries, but the scheme, although deeply planned, was frustrated.

James II. in the month of August, 1687, kept his Court at the Council House, and was attended by many of the nobility and gentry of the county, on which occasion, it is said, "the conduits ran with wine," and other most liberal entertainments and rejoicings welcomed the royal guest. At the same time he graciously received a purse of one hundred guineas, which was presented to him by the munificence of the corporation.

The inhabitants on many occasions have been thus foremost to testify loyalty to their sovereign.

where the engagement took place which deprived Richard III. of his throne and his life.

Henry VII. visited the town in 1490, with his queen, and son (Prince Arthur), and kept the feast of St. George in the collegiate church of St. Chad; they made another visit in 1495, and were sumptuously entertained by the corporation.

At the general dissolution of monasteries, in 1539, it appears to have been the intention of Henry VIII. to form thirteen new bishopricks,* one of which was to have been at Shrewsbury. Browne Willis states that John Boucher, Abbot of Leicester, was actually nominated "BISHOP OF SHREWSBURY ;"—hence the tradition, as our historians remark, so gratifying to the pride of every true Salopian, that their forefathers had the offer of having their borough converted into a city, but that they preferred inhabiting the

FIRST OF TOWNS.

1551. The spring of this year was fatally distinguished by the commencement of a dreadful epidemic in this town, called the "sweating sickness."

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth, Sir Henry Sidney, President of Wales and Lord Deputy of Ireland, visited this town almost annually, and was always received with the highest respect; his celebrated son, Sir Philip, was educated at our Free Schools. Sir Henry, as Knight of the Garter, kept the feast of St. George here, in 1581, with great splendour. He marched in state from his residence, the Council House, to St. Chad's Church, the stalls of which were decorated with the arms of the knights, divine service being "sung by note." On the 1st of May, the four masters of the schools entertained his lordship with a costly

⚫ Our ancestors petitioned the king for permission to convert the monastery of Salop into a college, or free school."

ities is explained in a scientific and masterly manner, and with the greatest discrimination.

THE CASTLE.

"But time

Has seen this ruin'd pile complete,

Big with the vanity of state."

SCOTT.

The civil history of the town being somewhat connected with the Castle, a notice of that edifice will properly occupy this place.

After the Earldom of Shrewsbury had been given by William the Conquerer to Roger de Montgomery, one of his first works was the building of a stately Castle, or, rather, the enlargement of a previous one, which it is certain existed here anterior to the Norman Conquest, on that narrow isthmus where the town is undefended by the river.

This is supposed to have taken place about the year 1070, on a site previously occupied by fifty-one houses, and was a measure of necessity, in order to restrain the hostile incursions of the Welsh, to which the town, from its situation near the borders, was frequently exposed; and having probably received injury from the siege two

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