(lass 3lf\Q>°\Q Book-^0 % Ql2l THE HISTORY of OSWESTRY, COMPRISING THE BRITISH, SAXON, N0R1TAN, AND ENGLISH ERAS; THE TOPOGRAPHY OF THE BOROUGH; AND ITS ECCLESIASTICAL AND CIVIC HISTORY: WITH NOTICES OP BOTANY, GEOLOGY, STATISTICS, ANGLING, AND MOGKAPHY: TO WHICH ARE ADDED SKETCHES OF THE ENVIRONS. ILLUSTRATED with WOOD-ENGRAVINGS, By MR. PERCY CRUIKSHANK, after Sketches by MR. ROBERT CRUIKSHANK. WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY WILLIAM CATHRALL, AUTHOR OF "THE HISTORY OF NORTH WALES," "WANDERINGS IN NORTH WALES," &c. OSWESTRY: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GEORGE LEWIS. ENTERED AT STATIONERS' HALL. 54S"l 'ca tynhu. The issue of this volume has been "the accident of an accident." I was called by commercial business last autumn to Oswestry, where I found, temporarily located, a man with humour at his finger-ends, and of "infinite jest " on paper. I allude to Mr. Robert Cruikshank, an artist scarcely inferior to his celebrated brother, Mr. George Cruikshank. — par nobile fratrum, who have both successfully laboured in their vocation to " Shoot folly as it flies, And catch the living manners as they rise." Mr. Robert Cruikshank, pleased with the rich and diversified scenery of the neighbourhood of Oswestry, undertook to illustrate the present book. To be thus pictorially aided was a distinction, and I therefore cheerfully complied with the wish of the respectable publisher, to try my "'prentice hand" at a History of the Borough. Mr. Cruikshank has well executed his task. What may be my portion of merit will be deter- mined by the judgment, not critically severe, I hope, of my readers. The History of Oswestry and its neighbourhood is, how- ever, worthy of a more elaborate and carefully-wrought PREFACE. volume than that which I now send forth ; and I should have been glad had some pen, abler than my own, been employed in the completion of so desirable a work. Oswestry is not deficient in the talent or learning necessary to produce a voluminous history ; but until the historic mantle fall upon some kindred spirit, that can evoke with magic skill the dramatis personce and chequered incidents of bye-gone ages, and beguile his readers with beautiful delineations of his native hills and vallies, the good citizens of Oswestry must, I fear, content themselves with the present volume, whose chief excellence, if it possess any, may be found to consist in supplying a collection of interesting facts, connected with the town and district, hitherto dispersed through many publi- cations. In preparing this volume for the press much delay has occurred from the pressure of other and more anxious engage- ments. In wading, however, through musty tomes and modern books, I have been instructed and solaced by the way. The Past reveals little else than vandal darkness and the pride and pomp of feudal power. Lords and their vassals figure chiefly in the discordant scene, and ignorant dependence is too commonly seen prostrate at the feet of favourites, in court or field, of ambitious and despotic monarchs. The Present has a more genial and encouraging aspect. Religion, with her gentle handmaids, Literature, Science, and Art, is shedding its radiance even over this district, so long the theatre of Border-feuds, strife, and injustice. The Future, therefore, indicates still more agreeable promise ; and those of the present generation who are co-operating in the good work already begun, of endeavouring to make the world better than they found it, will have the consolation of leaving to posterity an inheritance more precious than silver or gold. PREFACE. I cannot close these remarks without thankfully acknow- ledging the assistance I have derived, from several gentlemen of the town and neighbourhood, in the prosecution of my labours. If I could have stirred up many others to the grateful task of elucidating the history of their native or adopted place of residence, I should have been still more satisfied. I take this opportunity of mentioning the names of The Rev. Thomas Salwey, Vicar of Oswestry, Richard Redmond Caton, Esq., F. S. A., Edward Williams, Esq., of Lloran House, R. J. Croxon, Esq., Charles Sabine, Esq., and one or two other gentlemen, who, with a becoming feeling of respect for the ancient borough, have kindly aided me by various contributions. I am sensible of many imperfections in the volume ; but I trust, by the generous support of the Public, I may be enabled, at some not far distant day, to revise my pages, and render them still more worthy, of acceptance. WILLIAM CATHRALL. Osiuestry, October, 1855. LIST OF SUBSCKIBEKS. Asterley Miss, Willow- street Attree R. W., Esq., Plasmadoc Bassett Joseph, Esq., solicitor Berry Joseph, Accountant Bennion Edward David, Esq., Summer Hill Baugh Robert, Llanymynech Bull William Isaac, Esq., solicitor Bickerton George Morrel, brazier Bartlett Charles Archibald, 32, Paternoster Row, London Buckley Miss Eliza Broughall John, Esq., Fernhill, Whittington Barlow Thomas, Esq., postmaster, Worksop Barnes William, Osberton Hall, Notts Bayley Joseph, Quadrant Cashel Rev. Frederick, In- cumbent of Trinity Church Corbett Vincent, Esq. Caton Richard Redmond, Esq., F.S.A. Croxon Richard Jones, Esq., Town Clerk Crutchloe Henry, Lloran Cottage Cooper George, Esq., Salop-road Cullis William, Lower Brook-st. Corney William, confectioner and spirit merchant Churchill Benjamin, Esq., Bellan House Cross Thomas, Ornithologist Cox J., porter merchant, Bir- mingham Clarke Mrs., 3, Devonshire- terrace, Paddington, London Cruikshank Percy, Pentonville, London Churchill Miss, Bellan House (2 copies) Crippin R., Church-street Cross William B., Cross-street Cartwright Samuel, Abbey Fore- gate, Shrewsbury Donne Rev. Stephen, the Schools (12 copies) Dovaston John, Esq., Nursery, West Felton Davies Henry, Esq., solicitor Davies John, draper Davies Edward, confectioner Davies Captain, Llanymynech Dicker Phillip Henry, Esq., surg. Davies Messrs. R. & W., Golden Eagle Downes Richard, Esq., Haughton Grange LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Davies Edward, Esq., surgeon, Llansilin Davies Henry, schoolmaster, Llandrinio Duckett Mrs. Tamar, the Lodge Davies Mrs. E., Chirk Duncan John, Esq., solicitor, 2, New Inn, Strand Davies W. M., Waterloo-house Davies Giles, Lower Brook-street Davies Thomas, Greenwich Davies John, Erwallo, Glyn Edwards James, Esq., Upper Brook-street (2 copies) Edmunds Rev, Edw., M.A., Vicar of St. Michael's, Southampton Eddy Walter, Mine Agent, Fron, Rhuabon Evans Edward, auctioneer Edwards Thomas, Esq., Cae Glas Edwards Ed., Commercial Hotel Eyeley Edward, organist Evans R. D., Esq., Meifod Edwards James Coster, Trefynant Edwards Thomas, chandler Evans John, ship builder, Mor- bum, Machynlleth Edwards Alfred, Hanwell, Mid- dlesex Edmunds Griffith, Albion Hill Edisbury James, Esq., Wrexham Edisbury J. F., Esq., Holywell Ellis Henry, English Walls Evans Edward, Liverpool Gas Co. Evans William, Glascoed Edwards Edward, currier Edwards William, Queen's Head Evans John, Church- street Ewing John, gardener, Osberton Hall Fitz-William, The Right Hon. The Earl (4 copies) Fitz-William, The Hon. Lady Charlotte Wentworth, Went- worth House Fitz-William, The Hon. M, S. C. Wentworth Fitz-William, The Hon. Lady Dorothy H. Wentworth Francis Captain, Aberystwith Fallon Rev. J, M., Bailee Rectory, Ireland Fuller William, Esq., Salop-road Furnin The Rev. J. P., Rode Par- sonage, near Lawton, Cheshire Faulder F. J., Esq., St. Ann's- square, Manchester Fox John, accountant Gore William Ormsby, Esq., M.P. for North Shropshire Grey William, Esq., New Burling- ton-street, London Gray Thos.,Esq. architect, Chester Greenwood J. W., Esq., London Goodwin John, Beatrice-street Galloway Charles, Halston George Roger, Willow-street Giles Henry, Cross-street Gornall Mrs. Jane, Swan Inn Griffiths William, Esq., solicitor, Dolgelley Hill The Right Hon. The Viscount, Lord Lieutenant of the County of Salop Hales John Miles, Esq., Lower Brook-street Hill T. Esq., Upper Brook-street Hill T. W., Esq., Upper Brook-st Har graves James, Esq., Whitting- ton (2 copies) Hayden Wm. Henry, 17, War- wick-square, London Higgins Samuel, draper Holland George, Whittington HusbandRev. J., Rectory, Selattyn Hopwood F. A., Station Master Gobowen Hardman Thomas, 14, Slater- street, Liverpool Hughes T., Esq., solr., Wrexham Hughes Miss Catherine, Church- street Hughes Alexander, Willow-street Hughes Miss Anne, Salop-road Humphreys Edmund, East Sheen, Richmond (2 copies) Hughes John, Savings' Bank Hilditch George, Esq., Salop-road Heaton Rev. H. E., M.A., per- petual curate of Llangedwin Hodgkinson R., Esq., estate agent, Osberton, Worksop Howell David, Willow-Street (2 copies) LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Hughes Thos., Esq., Plasnewydd, Llansilin Jones, Rev. Llewelyn Wynn, M.A., Curate of Oswestry (2 copies) Jacob Rev. L. R., Rhuabon Jones John, Esq., solicitor Jones Miss Harriette, Church-st. Jones Thomas, Esq., Boughton, Chester Jones Joseph, wine merchant Jones Edward, Plas Issa, Rhuabon Jones Mrs. Frances, London House Jones John, hair dresser Jones Edwin, Union-place Jones James Thomas, Esq., Bryn- hafod (2 copies) Jones Oswald Croxon, Esq., Enfield, Middlesex Jones Mrs. Mary Watkin, Cross- street Jacques Edwin William, Esq., Llangollen Jones Henry, tobacconist Jones Thomas, Esq., Brook-street Jones John, Esq., Domgay, Llandisilio Jervis Geo. Boot Inn, Whittington Jones Rev. D. L., Meifod Jones Rev. Walter, Llansilin Jones Richard, Cross-street Jones Richard, Saloprioad Jones Thomas, builder, Chester Jones Gwen, Cross-street Jones Henry, grocer, Cross-street Jones John Pryce, Willow-stree£ Jones John, Cross Jones Richard, Esq., Bellan Place, Rhuabon Jones Edward, Mine Agent, Llwynymapsis Kenyon John Robert, Esq., Recorder of Oswestry Kinchant Richard Henry, Esq., Park Hall King John Edward, Cross Keys Hotel Kilner Richard, Brittania Inn Lovett JosephVenables, Esq., Belmont LLoyd, Mrs., Aston Hall Longueville Mrs., Pen-y-lan Longueville Thomas Longueville, Esq. Lloyd Rev. Albany Rosendale, Hengoed Large Joseph, Esq., surgeon Lewis Richard, Osberton Hall, Notts (4 copies) Lloyd David Edward, Cross Lloyd David, Wynnstay Arms Hotel Lewis Charles Thomas, 38-9, Holloway Head, Birmingham (6 copies) Lewis Henry, painter, Beatrice-st. Lloyd Rev. David, Trefonen Lewis William, Elephant and Castle, Newtown Leah John, Esq., Willow-street Lewis Henry, building surveyor & contractor, Chester (2 copies,) Lever William H,, Esq., Chirk Lewis Miss Margaret, Cross Lees S. S., National Schools Lyons Aaron, Jeweller, Leg-street Lloyd Miss M. A., Willow-street Milton The Hon. Viscountess, Osberton, Notts Milton The Hon. Selina, Vis- countess, Osberton Hall, Notts Mickleburgh Chas. Esq., Mont- gomery (2 copies) Minshall Thomas, Esq., solicitor Morris Edward, Esq., Salop-road Morris William, builder M'Kie William Hay, Scybor Issa Morgan Captain, 54, Terrace, Aberystwith Minett William, Esq., Maesbury Meredith Edward, Rednal Morris Joseph, Esq., Shrewsbury Morgan John, Wynnstay Moreton and Son, Cross Morgan Thomas, Willow-street Mytton John, Church-street Manning Benjamin, Esq., War- wick-square, London Martin John, Esq., Gold Mine, Dinas Mowddy (3 copies) Monk Charles, Llangollen Morris George, Porkington Morgan R., Aberystwith LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. M'Kie William H., Melbourne, Australia Morris John, builder (2 copies) Morris Thomas, chemist, Worksop, Notts Norfolk The Most Noble His Grace the Duke of (Baron of Oswestry), Arundel Castle, Sussex (4 copies) Nicholson J. Esq., Upper Brook- street Oswell Edward, Esq., solicitor Owen M. Wynne, Esq., Plas Wilmot Owen George, Esq., Park Issa (2 copies) Oliver Irwin, Leg-street Owen Elizabeth, 5, Upper Parade, Leamington Oliver John, druggist, Liverpool Powis The Right Hon. the Earl of (Lord of the Manor of Oswestry), Powis Castle Portman The Right Hon. Lord, Bryanstone House, Dorset Portman The Hon. William Berkeley, M. P. Phillips John, Esq., Cross Porter Isaac, Esq., Salop-road Pryce Thomas, Cross-street Powell John Richard, Esq., Prees- gwene Price William, Esq., Fulford, York Phillips the Rev. John Croxon, Tynyrhos Pearson Mr. S., clothier, 2, Lamb's Conduit-street, London Penson Richard Kyrke, Esq., Willow-street Price Miss Mary, The Cross Phillip and Son Messrs., Liverpool PensonThomas Mainwaring,Esq., Chester Price Miss Elizabeth, Confectioner, Cross Peate Jane, Porkington Terrace Pierce Mrs. H., 87, Park Terrace, Green Heys, Manchester Perkins Samuel, Bailey Head Pearson W., J. Munn and Co., Manchester (4 copies) Powell William, Salop Road Parry Thomas Price, Willow-st. Provis William A., Esq., Cross- street PearceR.A., Esq., Worksop, Notts Rogers Thomas, Esq., Stone House Roberts Thomas Vaughan, Esq., solicitor Roberts Thomas, Esq., Glyndwr, St. Asaph Roberts John, Esq., Cross-street Roberts Maurice, draper Roberts David, Leg-street Rogers E., Church-street Roberts John Askew, Bailey Head Rodenhurst Charles, Whittington Roderick William, Esq., surgeon Redrobe James, Royal Oak Roberts Miss, Brook-st. Cottage Roberts R., gas proprietor Roberts E., Willow-street Roberts William Whitridge, Melbourne, Australia Reed Mrs., London Ruscoe John, Horse Shoe Inn Salwey Rev. Thomas, Vicar of Oswestry Sabine Charles, Esq., solicitor Smith Frederick William, Esq., Ruthin (3 copies) Smale William, chemist Sharwood Messrs. S. andT., 120, Aldersgate-street, London (2 copies) Saunders George James, chemist Sage Mrs. Catherine, Middleton- road Smith Captain, Dinas Mowddy Smith Henry, Supervisor, Inland Revenue Savin Thomas, draper Stokes Mrs., Rock Ferry Sides Miss Sarah, Fron, Rhuabon Sissons Henry, stationer, Worksop, Notts Shaw Henry, ironmonger, Work- sop, Notts Smith Benjamin, innkeeper, Norton, Notts LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Tipton Edward Blakeway, Esq., Distributor of Stamps for Shropshire and North Wales Thomas Edward Wynne, Esq., Cross Tomkies John, Esq., Manchester (2 copies) Thomas Rev John, Liverpool Thomas John, maltster Tucker St. Felix, Esq , H.M.C., West Derby-road, Liverpool Taylor John, shoemaker Tyley Thomas, Sun Inn Thomas Henry, Coney Green Thompson John, Leg- street Towers Mr., Angel Hotel, Dale- street, Liverpool Thompson Thomas, Chester V£NABLEsRoWLANDjONES,Esq., Oakhurst Vaughan Robert Chambre, Esq., Burlton, Shrewsbury Venables Mrs. Eliz., Whittington West FREDERicKRiciiARD,Esq. M.P., Ruthin Castle West Frederick Myddleton, Esq. Williams Edward, Esq., Lloran House (4 copies,) Wilding John Powell, Esq., Montgomery Whalley George Hammond, Esq., Plasmadoc Waite George, Esq., New Burling- ton-street, London Williams Rev. Rt., Rhydycroesau Webster Benjamin Esq., Adelphi Theatre, Strand, London Wood Richard, Leg^street Woods Richard, farmer, Osberton, Worksop Williams J. Vincent, Accountant Wright Edmund, Esq., Halston Wynn Edward, Black-gate Williams Edward, Belle Vue, Wrexham Williams Rt., draper (2 copies) Williams Samuel, The Llys Winter John, Chirk Webb Miss J. C„ Melbourne, Australia Windsor William, Babin's Wood Windsor Samuel, Powis Castle Wilson William, upholsterer Williams G. H., Esq., The Lymes Williams William, Esq., 295, Kent- St., Southwark, London Williams Michael, Railway Station Whitridge Mr,, bookseller, Carlisle %nfax. Page Agricultural Statistics .. . 205 Album Monasterium • . . . . 3 Aldermen and Common-Councilmen . . • . 166 Alfred the Great . . . , . , . . 17 Ancient Customs . , . . • . • . 191 Ancient Houses •• • • .. .. . 185 Ancient Relics .. .. . 186 Angling • • . . • . 209 Aston Hall . . , . . . 242 Attack on the town •• .. .. . 65 Baptist Chapel • • • . • • » . 155 Banks . . .. . . . 100 Battle of Oswestry .. 6 Belmont .. . 285 Benevolent Institutions . . • • • • • . . . 119 Bethesda Chapel . . . . 157 Blanc-Minster . . ■ . • • . 3 Bleddyn ab Cynvyn .. . . 14 Biography . . . 223 Botany of the Parish . . . . . . . 213 Bray, Dr. Thomas . , . . . 224 British Period . . . . . 4 British Schools . . . . . . • . 114 Broom Hall .. . 289 Brunswick Dynasty . . • . • . 88 Brynkinalt .. . 243 Cadwaladr's reign . . . . • • . . . 8 Cae Nef . . . , • • • 6 Carreg Hofa Castle . . . . . , . . 257 Castle of Oswestry .. • • .. 15 - 172 Overton . . . . . . . 15 Ceiriog, the •• .. .. .. . 312 Civil Wars • • . . . . 61 Charitable Donations , . • • • . 121 Church or Chapel-Fielc .. 6 INDEX. Church Grant .. 30 Charles I., Character of ..62 Charter, First Royal . .. 33 Charter of Charles II. .. 78 Charter the Third . .. 47 Chirk .. .. .. 291 Chirk Castle .. 244 Clawdd Coch . . ..259 Coed Euloe, Battle of .. 21 Cranage's Daring ..66 Crogen, Battle of . . .. 23 Croes-Oswallt (Oswald's Cross) . . .. 3 Croes Wylan .. .. 54 Death of Oswald . . . . .. .. 7 Derivation of Name, &c. . . .. 2 Derwen .. .. .. 285 Dispensary and Baths .. .. 117 Dissenting Places of Worship .. .. 152 Dovaston, John Freeman Milward .. 224 Drenewydd •• .. .. 289 Ecclesiastical History . .. 132 English Period . . .. 21 Extension Line (Oswestry and Newtown) Railway .. 198 Famine . . . . • • .. .. 57 Felton West . . .. 274 Fernhill .. .. 258 Fitz-Alan, William .. 15 Fletcher, Philip Lloyd ..16 Fitz-Gwarine .. 17 Free Grammar School . . ..107 Friendly Societies . . .. .. .. 131 Gas-works . . . . • . ..104 Gates * . .. 93 Genealogical Table .. .. .. 178 Geology, &c. .. 221 Glorious Age . . ..89 Glyndwr Insurrection . . .. 36 Reverses . . . . . . . . 49 Death of . . , . • . • .. 50 Great Western Railway Company . . ..195 Greenfield Lodge .. 274 Griddle Gate • • .. .. 137 Grufydd ab Cynan . . . . .. 15 Guto (y Glyn) .. ..226 Halston . . • • . .. 249 Hen Dinas . . . . 5 Hengoed .. 272 Hotels . . . . ..107 House of Industry . . . .. 119 Humphreys, Humphrey, D.D. .. ..227 INDEX. Huntington, Execution of . . Hywel Dda (the Welsh Justinian) Independent Methodist Chapel Ingratitude of (Common Wealth) Parliament Invasion of Wales Jones, Thomas King Oswald Knockin Kynaston, Humphrey Le Strange, Roger .. Lighting Lodge, the Llanforda . . Llangollen Vale Llanymynech < . Llanyblodwel Llansilin Lloyd, Colonel Lloyd, Bishop Llynclys (or Llynclis) Pool *. ** Lupus, Hugh .- . Llwyd, Edward « . Llywarch Hen Llywelyn ab Jorwerth Madog .. .. e . Maelor ... . . . . Marrow's Assault .. Marches Lordships . . Margery Bruce Markets and Fairs . . t . Markets Maserfield Mathrafal Maud Verdon Maurice, William Mayors, List of Mayor's Blunders Mediolanum *. Montgomery, Roger de .. Morda, the Morlas, the Morus, Hugh .. . . tt Monuments within the Church in the Church-yard. . in the New Church-yard . • Morva Rhuddlan . . ... Mortimers, the Mount Pleasant Municipal and Civil Government . . . . Officers .. 35 .. .. 13 .. 157 .. .. 73 .. 21 .. 227 5 .. 253 .. 228 . , .. 17 .. 96 .. 273 .. 260 .. 292 .. 254 .. 262 .. 261 .. 63 .. 83 .. 211 . .. 16 . . .. 230 8 .. 27 .. 15 .. 15 .. 69 .. 17 .. 180 .. .. 97 102-3 .. 7 ... 9 .. 15 .. 231 .. 164 ..85 .. 259 .. 16 .. 212 . .. 212 .. 231 .. 139 .. 14 . .. 147 .. 113 . .. 31 .. .. 290 .. 158 .. .. 163 INDEX. Murage, the . . . . . . . . . . 29 Myddelton, Sir Thomas .. .. .. ,. .< 77 Mytton, Major- General .. .. .. ..75 Mytton, the late John, Esq. .. .. ..- .. 251 National Schools .. .. .. .. .. 112 Natural History .. .. .. .. ...205 Newport, Mr. . . . . . . . . . . 68 Norfolk, Duke of .. .. .. .. .. 15 Norman Period .. .. .. .. ..14 Notabilia .. .. .. .. .... 235 Oakhurst .. •• •• •• ••• .. 290 Offa's Dyke .. .. .. .. ..10 Old Chapel .. .. .. .. .... 152 Oswald's Well •• .. .. .. .. 189 Oswestry Race-course .. .. .. .... 10 Castle, Burning of .. .. . . ..72 Government of . . . . . . .... 72 As it was . . . . . . . . 92 recent History of •• .. .. .. 181 Castle Hill .. .. .. .. 177 Owain Brogyntyn .. .. .. .... 15 Oswald and Penda . . . . . . 2 Parliament, the Great .. .. ... ..32 Parish Church .. .. .. .... 132 ., Sunday School .. .. .. .. 114 Park Hall •• •• .. .. .. .. 263 Penda, the Mercian King . . . . . . . . 8 Pengwern . . . . . . . . .... 9 Pentre Pant •• .. .. .. .. 290 Pentre Poeth .. .. .. .... 53 Penylan .. .. .. •« .* 290 Perry, the .. .. .. .. .. .. 212 Plague, records of .. .. .. .. ..55 Plot to remove the markets .. .. .. ..59 Poor Rate Return — Oswestry town and parish (1855) . . . . 240 Population .. .. .. .. .... 204 Porkington .. .. .. .. .. 266 Post Office .. .. .. .. .... 99 Powys Vadog .. .. .. .. ..14 Preesgwene House .. .. .. *« ..273 Primitive Methodist Chapel .. .. .. .. 157 Public Establishments and Institutions .. .. ..98 Quinta, the .. .. .. .. .. .. 274 Railway Communication .. .. .. .. 194 Restoration, the .. .. .. .... 76 'Review of Ancient History .. .. .. ..7 Revolution, the .. .. .. .... 86 Reynolds, John . . . . . . . . . . 232 Richard II., death of . . . . .... 34 Rivers.. .. .. .. .. ..209 INDEX. Rhyd-y-croesau .. 290 Rhyd-y-croesau Church .. 150 Roberts, the Rev. Peter .. 232 Rug ..15 Sacheverell, Dr .. 86 Salter, Mr. Robert ..234 Savings' Bank .. 101 Saxon Period 9 Selattyn .. 269 Shrewsbury, the Battle of . . . . ..37 Siarter Cwtta, the Short Charter .. 24 Site of the town .. 91 Sketches of the Environs of Oswestry .. 241 Social Improvement ..88 Society for Bettering the Condition of the Poor .. 129 Spot, Dick ..233 St. Martin's .. 272 Stamp Office .. 101 Statistics .. 201 Streets ..95 Sweeney Hall .. 291 Tenants' Service .. 48 Theatre ..104 Topographical History .. 90 Town Walls .. .; .. .. 184 Tre'r Cadeiriau 3 Tre'r Fesen .. 6 Trefaldwyn .. 13 Trefonen Church .. ..149 Tre Meredydd .. 14 Trevor, Sir John ..159 Trinity Church .. 144 Tyn-y-Rhos .. 278 Visit of Baldwin and Giraldus .. 25 Vicars, List of .. 151 "Walter the Stewart .. 179 Watt's Dyke 11-12-13 Welsh Cloth Market ..51 Wesleyan Methodist Chapel .. 156 Whittington .. 275 William the Conqueror .. 10 Wood Hill Hall .. 291 Wynnstay .. 286 Young Men's Institute .. 115 Zion Chapel . . ..152 Sllratrattmm THE TOWN. Beatrice Gate ... Church Gate and Avenue... Corn Market and Street Views Dispensary and Public Baths Free Grammar School Griddle Gate ... New Gate National Schools Page .. 94 (facing the Title-page) — ... 118 ... (facing) 107 ... 137 ... 93 ... 113 Oswestry Castle (from an ancient drawing belonging to an inhabitant of Dudleston) ... ... ... ... ... (facing) 172 The Old Chapel ... ... ... ... ... ... 155 Parish Church... ... ... ... ... ... (facing) 132 Powis Market, Guildhall, and Bailey Head ... ... ... (facing) 103 St. Oswald's Well ... ... ... ... ... ... 190 Trinity Church... ... ... ... ... ... ... 148 THE ENVIRONS. Brynkinalt Chirk Castle ... Halston Llanymynech Church Park Hall Porkington Selattyn Church Whittington Castle Wynnstay (facing) 243 (facing) 244 (facing) 249 ... 255 (facing) 263 (facing) 266 ... 271 (facing) 281 (facing) 287 litortj nf #>»Nwtaj. celebrated writer has said, that "History is philosophy ^teaching by example." Local History was doubtless included in the reflection of the distinguished essayist, when he penned the memorable sentence, which has for years past been adopted as a national maxim. In Local History we have handed down to' us facts and fiction, both grave and gay ; traditions and customs illustrative of popular habits and manners ; records of national edicts and social laws ; municipal mandates, and parochial practice ; doleful notes of superstition and ignorance, with gratifying statistics of the progress of truth and enlightenment ; pleasing reports of the advancement of science and art, mechanical ingenuity, and industrial pursuits ; and, speaking comprehensively, with a keen glance at the past, we descry enough, in the chequered examples of byegone times, to help us on in wisdom's ways. With these preliminaries, let us now lead our readers pleasantly onward through the devious paths and labyrinths of Oswestry's varied history, beguiling them, perchance, by the way, with all that is agreeable pertaining to the Ancient and Loyal Borough, which, from it" antiquity, its scenes of martial daring and prowess, the tranquil beauty of its sur- rounding landscapes, and its primitive, as well as modern 1 B HISTORY OF OSWESTRY. relation to some of the sweetest spots of Cambria, has commanded the admiration and homage of historians, painter and poets. ©ertbatton of &amz, Set* The derivation of the name of the Borough is still, and perhaps ever will be, involved in obscurity. As a place of retreat for the Cymry, or ear]y Britons, when chased from the south by the Roman invaders, it is not unlikely to have had a primitive name that has been lost in the flood of ages. Pennant, whose industry and historical research have earned for him lasting fame, dates the commencement of its history in the Saxon period, not anterior to the celebrated conflict at Oswestry between Oswald, the Christian King of the North- umbrians, and Penda, the Pagan King of the Mercians, which occurred in the year 642. Other Welsh biographical and historical writers trace the origin of its name to a much earlier period, and contend that Oswal, a son of Cunedda Wledig, sovereign of the Stratclyde Britons, and who lived in the early part of the fifth century, received from his father, as a tribute for special military services, an extensive grant of land, called from him Osweiling, in which the present town of Oswestry is situated. The coincidence is extra- ordinary that two distinguished chieftains should have flourished — although upwards of two centuries had rolled between their reigns — bearing names so similar to each other, that from either, it may be presumed, the town could, not inappropriately, have derived its present designation. The evidence in favour of Oswald's right to the sponsorship of Oswestry is, however, in our opinion, so strong, that we must accord the honour to the Northumbrian Monarch, until the Cambrian or British claim shall be more authoritatively established. In the battle between Oswald and Penda, history informs us that the former was defeated and fell ; that the barbarian victor ordered that the body of the slain monarch should be cut in pieces, and " stuck on stakes dispersed over 2 DERIVATION OF NAME. the field as so many trophies ; or, according to the ancient verses that relate the legend, his head and hands only were thus exposed : — ' Three crosses, raised at Penda's dire command, Bore Oswald's royal head and mangled hands.' " After this battle the Welsh, or Cymry, (who seemed to have possessed for some time the district including Oswestry,) had called it Croes-Oswallt (Oswald's Cross), in allusion to Penda's ignominious exposure of Oswald's slaughtered body. The spot where the battle was fought is said to have borne the name of Mae shir (the long field), as marking the length and obstinacy of the conflict. In the fulness of the Saxon period the town was known as Oswald's Tree, in evident reference to Oswald's death, and subsequently, to the present day, "without let or impediment," by the name of Oswestry. Industrious and talented antiquarian writers have given to the town other names and derivations. For instance, we are told that it was termed by the Saxons Blanc-Minster, White- Minster, Album-Monasterium, from its " fair and white Monastery," whilst the Cymry, or " Old Britons," as Williams denominates them, " called the town TreW Fesen, TreW Cadeiriau, the Town of the Oak Chairs," or, as another writer has it, " the Town of Great Oaks." These terms bear special allusion to Oswald's unfortunate arrival in this dis- trict ; for the ancient seal of the town, cut in fyrass, repre- sents King Oswald sitting in his robes on a chair, holding a sword in his right hand, and an oak branch in his left, with the words around, " De Oswaldestre sigillum commune." In repeating the long and tedious catalogue of names and deriva- tions, it will be proper to mention that one writer renders the designation TreW Cadeiriau as follows : — " Oswestry was called by the Britons TreW Cadeiriau, literally the Town of Chairs, or Seats, commanding an extensive view, (as Cadair Idris, the chair of Idris, and others,) as there are several eminences commanding such views in the neighbourhood." 3 REVIEW OF ANCIENT HISTORY. Here is a chapter on civic nomenclature and varied deriva- tion, very curious, perhaps, to many readers, but little edifying to those who ask with the poet, " What's in a name ?" And yet, ancient civic names, like many other ancient relics, have valuable and salutary uses. They are as finger-posts to the Past ; in some instances inviting us to the honest path of truth and honour ; in others deterring us from the rugged ways of ignorance and error. In almost all res- pects they enable us to institute comparisons and form con- trasts between men and manners in ancient and modern days. Whilst looking at such names, we are too frequently reminded of times when Might overcame Right, and are gently led with thankful spirits to the Present, when, in our own happy and highly-privileged age, every Briton can sit " under his vine and under his fig-tree," none daring to make him afraid. REVIEW OF ANCIENT HISTORY. Wqz Britigfj f motr* °4& . • • 1 kor ages the site of the town, with the surrounding district, was the theatre of brutal contention, rapine, and aggran- disement. Here, as in the Border-Lands of Scotland, it was " The good old rule, * * * the simple plan, That they should take who have the power, And they should keep who can." Education had not spread her benign wings over the people, to hush them into peace ; and too commonly they who possessed the strongest physical power and the wildest bar- barism became, in turns, " Lords of the Ascendant." There is no record extant that the Roman invaders of Britain pitched their tents within the Oswestrian district ; and yet it is more than probable that part of the legion, which traver- 4 HEN DINAS. •sed from the south of our island, actually touched at Llanymynech Hill (a Roman settlement beyond doubt), and most likely constituted a portion of the army which, under Suetonius, found its way along the mountain-passes of North Wales into Anglesey, may have halted there, if the ground was pre-occupied by the invaded Britons, or the ancient encampment, Hen Dinas, had then stood. We can produce nothing more than conjectural evidence of such a visit. There is no Roman architecture in the town, to mark the presence of the invaders, nor are there Roman relics rich as those discovered at Llanymynech. If the Britons occupied Hen Dinas during the Roman visit to the district, the des- truction of that encampment may have been accomplished by the Roman marauders ; and yet it is believed by some that the Britons possessed Oswestry, intact, from before the death of Oswald to the invasion of Offa. A Roman invasion of Oswes- try, and the real history of Hen Dinas (or Old Oswestry, as it is termed,) are therefore alike still involved in mystery. On this " vexed question " we may add the following : — " Remarking to a gentleman," says Mr. Hutton, " that I had gleaned some anecdotes relative to Oswald, he asked me if I had seen Old Oswestry, where, he assured me, the town had formerly stood. I smiled, and answered him in the negative. He then told me, ' that the town had travelled three quarters of a mile to the place where it had taken up its present abode.' This belief, I found had been adopted by others with whom I conversed." The earliest sovereign possession of Oswestry, noted in the Welsh historic page, was in the beginning of the fifth century, as already referred to. Oswal, son of Cunedda Wledig, is there represented to have been its first monarch. The Welsh Chroniclers, however, furnish no details of his reign ; and no event connected with the town is subsequently recorded, till the memorable one of King Oswald's attack upon the Mercian King Penda, August 5th, A. D. 642. Oswald and Oswy OSWALD AND PENDA. were sons of Adelfrid, the seventh King of Northumberland. These young Princes had been driven out of the kingdom of their father by Cadwallawn, who had before been expelled from Wales, his rightful possession, by Edwin. Oswald, after seventeen years' exile in Scotland, was restored to his kingdom by the overthrow and death of Cadwallawn. During his exile Oswald is said to have been baptized in a Christian church. He brought with him from Scotland a Christian bishop, Aidan, who preached Christianity to the people, and Oswald assisted him in his ministrations. The young Northumbrian King appears to have been zealous in the Christian cause, both in the pulpit and the field. Penda was a pagan prince, and had united with Cadwallawn in laying Northumbria waste. Oswald's Christianity was not strong enough, it would seem, to subdue his revenge against Penda. The two monarchs at length met, a bloody conflict ensued, and Oswald was slain. The site of the closing scene of this memorable battle is said to have been a field called Cae Nef (Heaven's Field), " situated on the left of the turnpike road leading to the Free School." The writer from whom we quote mentions, that *" Oswald approached with his army to what is called Maes-y-Uan, or Church Field, then open." "About four hundred yards west of the church," he adds, "is a rising ground, where the battle began. The assailant appears to have driven Penda' s forces to a field nearer the town, called Cae Nef. Here Oswald fell." These minute particulars give increased interest to the combat; but the writer does not state any authority for the details. We sup- pose it must have been merely traditionary. At the present time the sites of Cae Nef, and Church or Chapel Field, are well known to most of the inhabitants of the town. Oswald's remains were first interred in the monastery of Bradney, in Lincolnshire, arid afterwards, in 909, removed to St. Oswald's, in Gloucestershire. The memory of the deceased King seems to have been held in great veneration, for churches, in various parts of the kingdom, still bear his name, as patron saint. 6 DEATH OF OSWALD. Speed, in his " History of Great Britaine," with his accus- tomed quaintness and minute graphic description, sums up Oswald's closing scene in the following language : — " But as the sunne hath his shadow, and the highest tide her ebhe, so Oswald, how holy soeuer, or gouernment how good, had emulators that sought his life, and his Countries ruine : for wicked Penda the Pagan Mercian, enuying the greatnesse that King Oswald bare, raised warres against him, and at a place then called Maserfeild, in Shropshire, in a bloudie and sore fought battle slew him ; and not therewith satisfied, in bar- barous and brutish immanitie, did teare him in peeces, the first day of August, and yeere of Christ Iesus six hundred forty two, being the ninth of his raigne, and the thirty eighth of his age : whereupon the said place of his death is called to this day Oswaldstree, a faire Market Towne in the same Countie. The dismembred limmes of his body were first buried in the Monastery of Bradney, in Lincolnshire, shrined with his standard of Gold and Purple erected ouer his Tombe, at the industry and cost of his neece Offryd, Q,ueene of Mer- eia, wife vnto king Ethelred, and daughter to Oswyn that succeeded him. From hence his bones were afterwards remooued to Glocester, and there in the north side of the vpper end of the Quire in the Cathedrall Church, continueth a faire Monument of him, with a Chapell set betwixt two pillers in the same Church." From the death of Oswald to 777, Oswestry is reported, as already mentioned, to have been in undisputed possession of the Britons. What its faithful history was during that long period we are unable to state. If the Britons did really occupy it, no event worthy of record seems to have occurred. If the Britons were preserved in peace, no chronicle is handed down to us of their social or industrial habits within the halycon time. Whether they improved their land, instructed their minds in arts useful to their tribe, or were sunk in igno- rance, sloth, and selfishness, there is no voice or pen to THE BRITISH PERIOD. inform us. Three centuries later than this period the domes- tic architecture of the Cymry was in the lowest state of rudeness. One of the regal mansions of Hywel Dda, their great law-giver, was made of peeled rods; the people lived in wattled huts ; and a gentleman's hall was valued according to the number of posts it contained. These were filled up with wattled twigs and clay. The only notice we have of the period is in the Welsh Chronicles, and from them we learn that Cadwaladr (son of the Cadwallawn who was defeated and slain in a battle with King Oswald, near Denisbourne, in Northumberland,) the last of the Welsh Princes who assumed the title of Chief Sovereign of Britain, reigned over the Britons from A. D . 634 to 703, and was succeeded by Idwal Iwrch, or the Roe. In one of the Welsh Triads, Cadwaladr is called " one of the three canonized kings of Britain," for the protection which he gave to the primitive Christians when dispossessed by the pagan Saxons ; and his long reign is mentioned as having been peaceable, mainly in consequence, we are told, of his mother being sister to Penda, the Mercian king. Rhodri Molwynog, a brave and warlike prince, and grandson of Cadwaladr, succeeded to the western part of Britain about the year 720, and was engaged in constant hostilities with the Saxons until near the close of his life, in 755. These dottings from Welsh history show that the Britons had not peace within their borders during the long period already mentioned, and that " battles and murders " were still the constant theme and employment of the Britons and Saxons. It is hardly probable that the Britons posses- sed this district peaceably, and not unlikely that they still had to fight for their lives and property, inch by inch, and foot to foot. War, even in the present day, is the curse of nations ; it fosters animosities, engenders ignorance and vice, and brutalizes man. What, then, must have been the effect of constant wars and incursions upon the British people by their invaders ? The Britons had among them, about this period, their great bard, Llywarch Hen, a man ranked among THE SAXON PERIOD. the wise bards of the Court of Arthur, and whose poetical effusions display profound talent, if not genius, for so rude an age ; but we have no proofs that they profited much by his vigorous instructions, although his life was lengthened out to one hundred and fifty years. The art of printing was unknown in Llywarch's days, otherwise his humanizing pro- ductions might have wrought peace and harmony amongst both the oppressors and the oppressed. Wyz Saxon f eriotr. The period had now arrived when the sovereignty of the Britons was so powerfully disputed that they were compelled to yield to the cohort strength of the impetuous Offa, King of the Mercians. Mercia was the largest of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, and London was its capital. Offa passed the Severn with a mighty force, drove the Britons from their fertile and lovely plains, and limited the princedom of Powys to the western side of the celebrated ditch still known by the name of Offa's Dyke. Offa enjoyed a victorious reign, from the year 755 to 794. During that period the finest part of Powys became a confirmed part of the Mercian territory, and Shropshire was permanently annexed to England. Owen and Blakeway, in their invaluable " History of Shrewsbury " remark, " Though there can be no doubt that the cession of Shropshire was obtained from the British Prince (Eliseg, it is supposed,) only by the military preponderance of the Saxon, yet it seems equally certain that it must finally have been the subject of a pacific negociation. A work of so much labour as Offa's Dyke, evidently designed, according to his practice in other places, as the line of demarkation between two kingdoms, could never have been carried into execution without the concurrence of the sovereign on each side of that boundary. * * * * The prince, thus despoiled of the fairest portion of his dominions, retired to Mathrafal, on the Vyrnwy, five miles beyond Welshpool, while Pengwern, 9 OFFAS DYKE. degraded from the dignity of a metropolis, passed under the yoke of an English conqueror, and henceforth to be known by the name of Shrewsbury, a name of Saxon origin." Offa's Dyke, called by the Britons Clawdd Offa, ex- tended nearly a hundred miles along the mountain border of Wales, from the Clwydian hills to the mouth of the Wye. Part of the Dyke may be traced at Brachy Hill, and Leint- wardine, in Herefordshire, continuing northward from Knighton, in Radnorshire, over part of Shropshire, entering Montgomeryshire between Bishop's Castle and Newtown. It again appears in Shropshire, near Llanymynech, crosses Cern-y-bwch (the Oswestry race-course), descends to the Ceiriog, near Chirk, where it again enters Wales, and ter- minates in the parish of Mold, beyond which no traces of it are discovered. Offa may have imagined that the Clwydian hills, and the deep valley that lies at their base, would serve as a continuance of the prohibitory line. Pennant tells us, that in all parts the Dyke was constructed on the Welsh side, and that there are numbers of small artificial mounts, the sites of small forts along its course. In the MS. " Historia Wallica" we are informed, that the work of forming this Dyke, forty feet in height, occupied a numerous band of men, *' able and accustomed to work in the fields," more than seven years. This great line of demarcation answered but little purpose as a line of defence, or even of boundary. The Border Lands were still the scenes of sanguinary contests, and supe- rior force alone repelled the Britons. Severe laws were enacted against any that should transgress the limits prescribed by Offa; and one of these enactments declared, that "the Welshman who was found in arms on the Saxon side of the Dyke was to lose his right hand." These laws, however, were unheeded by the Britons. They deeply felt their injuries, and concerted means of revenge, and, as they hoped, emancipation. They formed an alliance with the kings of Sussex and Northumberland, broke through the boundary, 10 MORVA RHUDDLAN. attacked Offa's camp, slew great numbers, and the Mercian king himself narrowly escaped with a small remnant of his army. On this disaster Offa retired into his own dominions, meditating vengeance. Hostages having been given to him by the Britons, a short time before, during a brief period of peace, he now dealt out to them severe treatment, strictly confining them, and selling, or reserving for perpetual slavery, their wives and children. Still breathing destruction he marched into the confines of Wales with a powerful army, but for years was gallantly repelled by the Britons. At length the contending forces met on Rhuddlan Marsh (now the scene of peaceful arts, the Chester and Holyhead Railway passing over it), and the Britons, under the command of Caradog, were entirely defeated with terrific slaughter, their leader being slain in the conflict. The fury of the Saxon prince did not cease with victory. He savagely massacred the men, women, and children who fell into his hands ; and, according to tra- dition, the remaining Britons, who had escaped the enemy's sword, fleeing with haste over the marsh, perished in the waters by the flowing of the tide. This tragedy has been carried down to posterity by a plaintive Welsh melody, called Morva Rhuddlan, the notes of which are amongst the most touching and deeply-pathetic of Cambrian minstrelsy. Having traced Offa's Dyke, it is necessary to describe the course of Watt's Dyke, as the space between these two great lines of demarcation was deemed neutral ground both by the Britons and their invaders, and subsequently, during the Norman period, became part of what is denominated the Marches, although it is difficult to define correctly the precise extent of territory they occupied. Watt's Dyke is supposed by various writers to have been constructed anterior to the time of Offa. Its course is marked by Pennant as follows : — " It appears at Maesbury, in the parish of Oswestry, and ter- minates at the river Dee, below Basingwerk Abbey. The southern end of the line is lost in morassy grounds ; but was 11 watt's dyke. probably continued to the river Severn. It extends its course from Maesbury to the Mile Oak [on the old road from Oswestry to Shrewsbury] ; from thence through a field [now belonging to Edward Williams, Esq., Solicitor, of Oswestry], called Maes-y-garreg-llwyd, between two remarkable pillars of unhewn stone [strongly resembling Druidic altar stones] ; passes by the town [below the Shelf-bank Field], and from thence to Old Oswestry, and by Pentreclawdd to Gobowen, the site of a small fort called Bryn-y- Castell, in the parish of Whittington ; runs by Prys Henlle and Belmont ; crosses the Ceiriog, between Brynkinallt and Pont-y-blew Forge, and the Dee, below Nant-y-Bela; from whence it passes through Wynnstay Park, by another Pentreclawdd, to Erddig, where there was a strong fort on its course ; from Erddig it runs above Wrexham, near Melin Puleston, by Dolydd, Maesgwyn, Rhos-ddu, Croes-oneiras, &c. ; goes over the Alun, and through the township of Llai, to Rhydin, in the county of Flint, above which is Caer-estyn, a British post ; from hence it runs by Hope church along the side of Molesdale, which it quits towards the latter place, and turns to Mynydd Sychdyn, Monachlog, near Northop, by Northop Mills, Bryn-Moel, Coed-y-Llys, Nant-y-Flint, Cefn-y-Coed, through the Strand Fields, near Holywell, to its termination below the Abbey of Basingwerk." The Chester and Shrewsbury Railway inter- sects these two ancient dykes. At the junction of the branch line to Brymbo, Minera, &c, the railway crosses Watt's Dyke, and continues to run on the left side of it, travelling from Chester, for about fourteen miles, until Gobowen is reached, where the line again crosses the dyke ; the superin- tendants of modern improvements, especially railway engineers and contractors, paying little if any deference to mere anti- quities. By this route the railway traveller passes a considerable distance on the neutral ground, where alone, for many years, the trade and commerce of the Britons, the Saxons, and the Danes, were transacted. Offa's Dyke at Brymbo is about two miles to the right, from Chester, and 12 WATTS DYKE. runs parallel with the railway for about eighteen miles* Churchyard, in his " Worthies of Wales," thus chronicles, in his quaint verse, the use to which the "free ground" was applied in early days : — "Within two miles, there is a famous thing Called Offa's Dyke, that reacheth farre in lengthe; All kind of ware the Danes might thither bring; It was free ground, and called the Britaines' strength. Watt's Dyke, likewise, about the -same was set, Between which two, both Danes and Britaines met." For many years after Offa's memorable defeat of the Britons on Rhuddlan Marsh, the history of the district con- veys but little information interesting in the present day. " Wars, and rumours of wars," are the only topics on which past historians have filled their pages in reference to this period. Rhodri Mawr (Rhoderick the Great), one of the most celebrated warriors and princes of Wales, succeeded to the sovereignty of North Wales and Powys in 843. In the year of his succession his territories were invaded by Berthred, King of Mercia, whom he defeated with great loss. Rhodri left three sons, and, according to the law of gavel-kind, he divided his dominions among his children. His son Mervyn had the principality of Powys, with the palace of Mathraval. His three sons were called y tri thywsog taleithiog, or dia- demed princes, from their wearing diadems of gold set with precious stones ; and Anarawd, his eldest son, received a yearly tribute from the Prince of Powys. Contentions still continued, and intestine divisions kept the Britons in as violent commotion as if they were battling with their avowed enemies on the border. Mervyn did not long enjoy his do- minion, as he was slain in 892 by his own subjects, headed by his brother Cadell, who took possession of the throne. The reign of Cadell was also brief, and his son Hywel Dda (Howel the Good) succeeded him. The Welsh Justinian, as Hywel has been called, died in 984, deservedly honoured by his subjects, and leaving four sons, all of whom perished in the desolating wars to which his country soon after fell a prey. 13 POWYS VADOG. Efje Norman ^ertotr* Saxon dominance was now rapidly approaching to its close ; and the Britons were about to be exposed to the incursions of a new body of invaders, under the usurpation of William, surnamed the Conqueror. Bleddyn ab Cynvyn, with his brother, obtained in 1062 the sovereignty of North Wales and Powys, through the influence of the Saxon King Edward. Bitter hostilities subsequently occurred between Bleddyn and his kindred ; at length the succession to the whole prin- cipality passed from his children, but Powys-land devolved to his sons, and came at length entire to Meredydd, the eldest born, after the contentions and slaughter incident in those days to such partitions. Oswestry, we are told, was called Trefred (a contraction of Tre Meredydd, Meredydd's Town), in honour of this prince, but after his death the name was soon discontinued, and the town resumed its former appellation of Oswald's-tree, or Oswestry. His eldest son, Madog, inherited from his father the tract known by the name of Powys Vadog, which consisted, according to the division of the times, of five cantrevs, or hundred townships ; and these were subdivided into fifteen commots, or cwmwds : CANTREVS. CWMWDS. COUNTIES. /'Dinmael Denbighshire. Y Barwn, ■{ Edeyrnion Merionethshire. ^Glyndyfrdwy Ibid. ( Yale, or lal Denbighshire. Y Rhiw, <( Ystrad Alun, or Mold Flintshire. VHope Ibid. f Merffordd Ibid. Uwchnant, -( Maelor Gymraeg, or Bromfield Denbighshire. \^Maelor Saesnaeg Flintshire. ^Croes-Vaen Denbighshire. TREFRED, < Tref-y-Waun, or Chirk Ibid. ^Croes-oswallt, or Oswestry Shropshire. f Mochnant-is-Rhaiadr, Cynllaeth, &c. Denbighshire. RpAiADR, ■< Nanheudwy Ibid. ^ Whittington Shropshire. 14 FITZ-ALAN. To Madog is assigned the honour of erecting the Castle of Oswestry. Whether he is entitled to this distinction it would be difficult now to prove. Welsh historians assert, that he built also the Castles of Overton (Flintshire) and Caereinion, and that in the former, which received the additional name of Madog, he resided. Powell says of him, that he was "ever the King of England's friend, and was one that feared God, and relieved the poor." Madog married Susanna, daughter of Grufydd ab Cynan, Prince of North Wales, by whom he had two sons, Grufydd Maelor and Owain ab Madog. To the first he gave the two Maelors, Yale, Hopedale, Nan- heudwy, Mochnant-is-Rhaiadr, &c. : to Owain, the land of Mechain-is-Coed ; and to his natural son, Owain Brogyntyn, a nobleman of distinguished talents, he granted the lordships of Edeirnion and Dinmael. The last-named Owain resided at Brogyntyn, near Oswestry, now called Porkington, whence he assumed his surname. His dagger and cup are still pre- served at Rug: and many families in Merionethshire and Denbighshire are directly descended from him. Madog's second wife was Maud Yerdon, an Englishwoman of noble lineage. He died in 1159 at Winchester, whence his body was conveyed to Meivod, in Montgomeryshire, where it was deposited in the Church of St. Mary, which he himself had built some years before. His widow is stated to have been married to William Fitz-Alan, Lord of Clun, and he, in right of his wife, obtained the town and castle of Oswestry. Fitz- Alan was a descendant of Alan, one of the companions of the Conqueror, and was the first of his name who bore the title of " Baron of Oswaldestre." Alan was progenitor of the entire noble family which from him derived the name of Fitz-Alan, and for many succeeding centuries were the most distinguished personages in Shropshire. From this powerful race is descended the present Duke of Norfolk, who holds the title of "Baron of Oswaldestre," in addition to his other patrician honours. His Grace's ancestor, Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, married Lady Mary, daughter of Henry, 15 THE NORMAN PERIOD. the last Earl of Arundel named Fitz-Alan, 13th Elizabeth, when the barony of " Oswaldestre " was conveyed to the Duke. The Norman conquest was " a heavy blow and great dis- couragement" to the impetuous Britons. During that eventful period almost the whole of Shropshire was parcelled out, and bestowed by William the Conqueror on his kinsman, Roger de Montgomery, as a reward for his great military services in the conquest. The Earl of Shrewsbury, whilst thus taking possession of Powys, among his other newly- acquired lands, brought under his subjection the town and castle of Trefaldwyn, (from Baldwin, Montgomery's lieu- tenant,) which fortress he strongly fortified, and afterwards called it after his own family name. Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester, (the founder of the Grosvenor family,) likewise did homage for Engiefleld and Rhuvoniog, with the country ex- tending along the sea shore from Chester to the waters of Conway. Ralph Mortimer did the same for the territory of Elvel ; as did Hugh de Lacie for the lands of Eulas ; and Eustace Cruer for Mold and Hopedale. Brady relates out of Domesday, that William the Conqueror granted to Hugh Lupus North Wales in farm, at the rent of £40 per annum, besides Rhos and Rhuvoniog. These Norman Barons erected fortresses on their lands, and, so far as they were able, settled in them English and Norman defenders. In a MS., relating to the Welsh Marches, from the library of the late Philip Lloyd Fletcher, Esq., of Gwernhaylod, in Flintshire, it is stated " that about this time, Bristol, Gloucester, Worcester, Shrewsbury, and Chester were rebuilt and fortified, and formed a line of military posts upon the frontiers. Thus the last asylum of the Welsh was invested on almost every side, or broken into by their enemies. The kingdom of North Wales, reduced to the island of Anglesey, to Merioneth and Caernarvonshire, and to part of the present counties of Den- bigh and Cardigan, still preserved the national character and 16 THE MARCHES. importance. The natives of Wales, aided by the virtue and courage of their Princes, became more formidable than ever to the English ; and at times, as they acquired union with addi- tional vigour from despair, their invaders, instead of being able to make new conquests, held those which they had already obtained by a precarious tenure. William's policy, in giving to his barons the power to make such conquests in Wales as they were able, led to the erection of the Marches Lordships, of which Oswestry formed a part. These lordships consisted of more than a hundred petty sovereignties, and were the fruitful source of innumerable disorders, till their partial suppression in the reign of Henry VIII. Pennant says, that William's design was, in establishing these seignories and jurisdictions, to give to those whom he had brought over to England the power of providing for themselves, and to reduce, at the same time, the opposition of the Welsh people. The precise extent of the Marches Lordships it is difficult, as we have already said, to define. During the Saxon period the Severn was considered the ancient boundary between England and Wales. The lands conquered by Offa on the western side of that river were annexed to Mercia, and afterwards incorporated with the monarchy by Alfred the Great. The term Marches signifies generally the limits or space between England and Wales, of which the western part of Shropshire, Oswestry included, formed a principal portion. Of the Norman Barons, besides the first Earl of Shrewsbury, who did homage for royal grants of territory, were Fitzalan for Oswestry and Clun ; Fitz-Gwarine for Whittington ; and Roger le Strange for Ellesmere. The tenure by which the Baronies Marches were held was, that " in case of war the lords should send to the army a certain number of their vassals ; that they should garrison their respective castles, and keep the Welsh in subjection. In return for these services the lords had an arbitrary and despotic power in their own domains. They had the power of life and death, in their respective courts, in all cases except those of high treason. 17 C THE MARCHES. In every frontier manor a gallows was erected ; if any Welsh- man passed the boundary line fixed between the two coun- tries, he was immediately seized and hanged. Every town within the Marches had a horseman armed with a spear, who was maintained for the express purpose of taking these offen- ders. If any Englishman was caught on the Welsh side of the line, he suffered a similar fate. The Welsh considered everything that they could steal from their English neigh- bours as lawful prize." After the conquest of Wales by Edward I. the Baronies Marches were continued, but under regulations somewhat different from the former. In the reign of Edward IV. they were governed by a Lord President and Council, consisting of the Chief Justice of Chester, and three Justices of Wales. In cases of emergency other parties were called in. By a statute passed in the reign of Henry VIII. the principality and dominion of Wales became formally annexed to England ; and all the Welsh laws, and most of their peculiar customs and tenures, were by this statute entirely abolished. By this statute also four new counties were formed, Brecknockshire, Denbighshire, Montgomeryshire, and Radnorshire. The Marches became annexed partly to England, and partly to the new counties of Wales. The Presi- dent and Council of the Marches were however allowed to con- tinue as before, and their general court was held at Ludlow. A statute was passed in the reign of William III., by which the government of the entire principality was divided between two peers of the realm, on whom was conferred the title of Lords Lieutenant of North and South Wales. From that period the Lordship Marches were entirely abolished. There is another salient point in the history of Wales which it will not be inappropriate here to mention. Many of our readers have heard or read of the Royal Tribes of Wales. " The five regal Tribes, and the respective repre- sentative of each, were considered as of royal blood. The fifteen common Tribes, all of North Wales, and the respective 18 THE ROYAL TRIBES. representative of each, formed the nobility, were lords of distinct districts, and bore some hereditary office in the palace. Grufydd ab Cynan, Prince of North Wales, Rhys ab Tewdwr, of South Wales, and Bleddyn ab Cynvyn, of Powys, regula- lated both these classes, but did not create them ; as many of the persons, placed at their head, lived before their times, and some after. Their precedence, as it stands, is very uncertain, and not governed by dates ; the last of them were created by Davydd ab Owain Gwynedd, who began his reign in 1169. We are left ignorant of the form by which they were called to this rank. Mr. Vaughan, of Hengwrt, informs us that 1 Grufydd ab Cynan, Rhys ab Tewdwr, and Bleddyn ab Cynvyn made diligent search after the arms, ensigns, and pedigrees of their ancestors, the nobility and kings of the Britons. What they discovered by their pains in any paper or records, was afterwards by the Bards digested, and put into books, and they ordained five Royal Tribes, there being only three before, from whom their posterity to this day can derive themselves, and also fifteen special Tribes, of whom the gentry of North Wales are for the most part descended!' " It will be seen from the foregoing pages that we have abstained from all minute detail in our description of the continued struggles for mastery between the Welsh and their own kindred, as well as of the strife for power and dominion between the Cambrian princes and their foreign invaders. These scenes in the history of Wales are nothing more, to use the eloquent language of Warrington, than " a recital of re- ciprocal inroads and injuries — a series of objects unvaried and of little importance, which pass the eye in a succession of cold delineations, like the evanescent figures produced by the camera obscura. The characters and events are not brought distinctly into view, nor are they sufficiently explained, to enable the historian to judge of their proportions, their beauty, or defects ; whence he can neither develope the principles of action, nor trace the connection of causes with effects, by 19 WILLIAM FITZ-ALAN. leading incidents, or by the general springs which govern human affairs." " The story of our country under its native princes," observes another impartial writer on Welsh history, "is a wretched calendar of crimes, of usurpations, and family assassinations ; and in this dismal detail we should believe ourselves rather on the Bosphorus than the banks of the Dee." The British or Welsh rulers had doubtless much to complain of against their Roman, Saxon, and Norman invaders ; but their own conduct towards their own people — to those who by affinity claimed their protection and regard — was quite as guilty as that of their foreign foes. Throughout the entire reign of Henry I. we read in the Welsh annals of nothing but " a series of retaliated injuries arising in regular succession ; evils naturally springing from the passions, where they usurp the sword of justice." Henry died about the year 1135, and Stephen succeeded to the English throne, and was soon embarked in a sea of troubles. Engaged in continual hostilities, and in supporting a doubt- ful title, he prudently concluded a peace with the Welsh, and allowed them to retain the territories they had lately recov- ered, free of homage or tribute. The incidents of Stephen's reign were marked by no feature of national interest ; and the only reference made to it in connection with this district is William Fitz-Alan's espousal of the claim made by the Empress Maud to the English crown. His union with other noblemen, to dethrone Stephen, exposed him to danger, and he was compelled to leave the kingdom, abandoning his lands and other property to the incensed monarch. Whilst an exile from England he remained faithful to the interests of the Empress ; and on his return to this country on the death of Stephen, and the accession to the throne of Henry II., he reaped the reward of his spirit and fidelity, by receiving back all his forfeited honours and estates, including the Castles of Oswestry and Clun. Of Oswestry Castle we shall speak particularly in subsequent pages. Of Clun we may at 20 THE INVASION OF WALES. present say, that it remained in the direct line of William Fitz-Alan down to the reign of Queen Elizabeth, when the last Earl died. By the marriage of Mary Fitz-Alan with Philip Howard, the son of Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, it became vested in that noble family. From them it passed to the Walcotts, and afterwards, by purchase, to Lord Clive, in whose family it continues. The Duke of Norfolk still retains the title of " Baron of Clun," as well as that of " Baron of Oswaldestre." Efje <&tt£li$fy Period Henry was an inveterate and formidable enemy to the interests of Wales. He speedily employed his utmost force in attempting to subjugate the Cambrian people ; and it is recorded of Madog ab Meredydd, Prince of Powys, who had united with the enemies of his country, that he incited the English king to an invasion of North Wales. Henry listened to the solicitations of the Powysian prince, and eagerly exerted every means for the conquest of the country. He quickly raised a powerful army, and marched without delay into North Wales. Mathew Paris states that the levy of Henry, raised at this time, amounted to 30,000 men. Owain Gwy- nedd, in this campaign, gallantly led the Welsh, and in one of the actions, at Coed Euloe, near Hawarden, Flintshire, the monarch himself, who had encamped near the field of battle, escaped from the hands of the Welsh with the greatest difficulty. The English forces, having been strengthened, pursued the Welsh, and at length Prince Owain, fearful that his army would perish for want of provisions, concluded a peace with the King of England. He himself and his chief- tains submitted to do homage to Henry, and to yield up the castles and districts in North Wales which, in the last reign, had been obtained from the English. Lord Lyttleton tells us, that to complete this humiliating position, Owain was obliged to deliver up two of his sons as pledges of his future obedience. The year after this important event a general 21 THE INVASION OF WALES. peace took place between England and Wales ; the princes and all the chieftains of South Wales repaired to the court of England, where Henry granted peace, on the Welsh doing homage for their own territories, and formally ceding to him the districts recovered from the English in the last reign. This peaceful state of things was but of short duration. Rhys, the son of Grufydd ab Rhys, immediate heir to the sovereign power of South Wales, having been outraged by several English lords, threw off his allegiance, commenced a revolt, and rallied around him a numerous force, which perplexed and baffled the English monarch. Shortly afterwards, fired by the gallant example of Rhys, the Prince of North Wales (Owain Gwynedd), and all his sons, his brother Cadwaladr, and the chieftains of Powys, united with him, in the endea- vour to regain their independence and honour. After some slight skirmishes with the Welsh, Henry gathered together a formidable force, with which he marched into Powys, breathing slaughter and extermination against the inhabitants. All the historical writers, in describing this fearful onslaught, admit that few events of ancient times were more deeply stained with the blood of innocence. The English army, formed of the choicest troops, from Normandy, Anjou, Flanders, Brit- tany, and other territories which Henry possessed in France, entered the Welsh confines at Oswestry, where it was en- camped for some time. The forces of North Wales were collected under the command of Owain Gwynedd and his brother Cadwaladr ; the army of South Wales was headed by the chivalrous Rhys ab Grufydd ; and the men of Powys were led by Owain Cyveiliog, and the sons of Madog ab Meredydd. The combined forces of the Welsh assembled at Corwen, where they awaited the approach of the English. Henry, burning with ardour to attack the enemy, marched his army to the banks of the Ceiriog, near the present village of Chirk, and at once ordered that the woods on each side of the river be cut down, to prevent ambuscades and sudden approaches of the enemy. It is related by some writers, that 22 THE BATTLE OF CROGEN. on the passage of the Ceiriog Henry was in imminent danger of losing his life: attempting to force a bridge, an arrow aimed at him by the hand of a Welshman must inevitably have pierced his body, if Hubert de St. Clare, Constable of Colchester, perceiving the danger, had not in a moment sprung before his sovereign and received it into his own bosom, and thereby met with his death-wound. Whilst the English soldiers were employed in felling the woods, a detachment of the Welsh forces forded the river, and suddenly attacked the van of Henry's army, composed of pikemen, considered to be the most daring and gallant portion of his soldiers. A fierce battle ensued ; many were killed on both sides, but at length Henry gained the passage, and advanced onward to the Berwyn moun- tains, to recruit his troops. There he remained in camp for several days. The Welsh were posted on the mountain-heights opposite, watching with lynx-eyed care every movement of the enemy. They succeeded in cutting off his supplies, and his army was reduced to extreme distress and privation, for want of food for man and horse. To increase his difficulties, sudden and heavy rains fell, which rendered the country on the Berwyn side so slippery and dangerous, that neither men nor horses could stand on their feet. Torrents of water, from the inces- sant rains, poured down from the mountains into the vale where Henry was encamped ; and, unable to maintain his ground amidst all these unexpected disasters, he retired, with great loss of men, and, what was more annoying to his vaunting spirit, with defeat and disgrace. Fired with revenge, and urged by the barbarism which ever marks the tyrant, he commanded that the eyes of all the hostages which had been placed in his hands should be put out. The two sons of Rhys ab Grufydd, Prince of South Wales, and the two sons also of Owain Gwynedd, Prince of North Wales, became the unfortunate victims of Henry's cruelty. Holinshead, in his Chronicles, tells us, that besides these young chieftains, the atrocious monarch caused the sons and daughters of several Welsh lords to be treated with the same severity ; ordering 23 SIARTER CWTTA. the eyes of the young striplings to be pecked out of their heads, and the ears of the gentlewomen to be stuffed. In the annals of Wales this battle is ranked among the brightest achievements of the Welsh, in their long-continued struggles for liberty. The site is known by the mournful designation oiAdwyW Beddau, or the Pass of the Graves. The conflict is called in most of the ancient books, " The Battle of Crogen" Yorke observes, " it has been erroneously said that the term Crogen was used in contempt and derision of the Welsh ; but that was not the truth. : the English meant to express by it animosity, and the desire of revenge." " Many of the English," he adds, "were slain, and buried in Offa's Dyke, below Chirk Castle, and the part so filled up is to be seen, and forms a passage over it, called to this day AdwyW Beddau, or the Pass of the Graves." The late Mr. William Price, in an annotated edition of his " History of Oswestry," published in 1815, has the following note on the Battle of Crogen : — " Owain Gwynedd slept at Tyn-y-Rhos, the present residence of Richard Phillips, Esq., who has still in preser- vation the bedstead he at that time lay upon. Likewise a Deed or Lease of a piece of land, of five acres, for 2s. 8d. per year ; with a cock and hen at Christmas, and a man a day in the harvest ; which still preserves the name." Turning for a moment to the civil government of Oswes- try, it may be mentioned that in the reign of Henry II, the first Charter was granted to Oswestry, by William, Earl of Arundel. The Welsh called it " Siarter Cwtta," the Short Charter. It was a Charter of protection, of which there were many granted about this period. It states, " I have received in protection my Burgesses of Blanc-Minster. Richard de Chambre was Constable of White-Minster. Thomas de Rossall held Rossall, of John Fitz-Alan, in chief, of one knight's fee at White-Minster." Guto (y Glyn), an excel- lent poet who flourished from 1430 to 1460, a native of 84 VISIT OF BALDWIN AND GIRALDUS. Llangollen, and domestic bard to the Abbot of Llanegwestl, or Valle Crucis, near that romantic town, speaks of White- Minster in his days. He says, " I know not of any Convent of Monks superior to White-Minster." About the year 1188, William Fitz-Alan, Earl of Arundel, gave a sumptous banquet in the Castle of Oswestry, to Giraldus Cambrensis, and Baldwin, Archbishop of Canter- bury, on their return from Wales, the bleak and barren mountains of which they had just travelled over, in an attempt to incite the people to the intended Crusade to the Holy Land. Giraldus seems to have considered that the enter- tainment given by the Norman Earl was too luxurious for saintly personages. He speaks, however, with much com- placency of the comfortable accommodations provided for him and the Archbishop at Shrewsbury, whither they repaired from this town. " From Oswestry," says he, " that Prelate and his retinue came -after Easter (1188) to Slopesbury, where they remained some days to recruit and refresh themselves, and many assumed the cross in obedience to the precepts of the Archbishop, and the gracious sermon of the Archdeacon of St. David's. Here also they excommunicated Oen de Cevelioc (Owain Cyveiliog, Prince of Powys), because he alone of all the Welsh princes, had not advanced to meet the Archbishop. " The visit of Giraldus and Baldwin to Oswestry might have been induced by a two-fold motive, namely, to partake of the princely hospitality of Fitz-Alan, in his baronial castle, and to hold " ghostly communication " with Regner, Bishop of St. Asaph, who at this period resided in Oswaldestre. The succeeding portion of Henry II's long reign was largely occupied with plans and movements to subdue the Welsh princes and their people. After repeated struggles, the English monarch saw, with exulting spirit, that he had reduced Cambrian independence to a bye-word of contempt, by seducing them from patriotism and virtue, and rendering 25 BURNING OF THE CASTLE. them a disunited and improvident people. When he had accomplished this signal victory over them, and hoped to enjoy further years of sovereign power in comparative ease and tranquillity, the fate even of monarchs was dealt out to him. His mortal career was ended, and he was " gathered to his fathers :" — " The glories of our blood and state are shadows, not substantial things ; There is no armour against fate; Death lays his icy hand on kings." Henry was succeeded by Richard, his son, surnamed Cceur-de- Lion, whose reign continued for about ten years, when he was slain at the siege of Chalons, in France, and John, his brother, ascended the throne. During Richard's monarchy the town of Oswestry was not marked by any event worthy the record of the contemporary historian. The reign of John was distinguished by strong enmity to the Welsh. In 1211 he assembled a large army at Oswestry, and was there joined by many of the Welsh Chieftains, his vassals, with whom he marched to Chester ; resolving to ex- terminate the people of North Wales. It is revolting to trace the history of this feeble-minded and capricious king. His reckless attacks upon Wales, and his inveterate quarrel with his son-in-law, Prince Llywelyn ab Jorwerth, added to his troubles, and probably hastened his end. As a last effort against Wales, resenting Llywelyn's stern defence of Cambrian independence, John demolished the castles of Rad- nor and Hay ; and then, proceeding to the Marches, he set fire to Oswestry Castle, then under the governorship of John Fitz-Alan, (who had united with the barons of England in renouncing allegiance to the English Monarch, on his refusal to confirm their constitutional rights,) and burnt it to the ground. In the reign of Henry III. John Fitz-Alan, who was re- conciled to the king, procured for his Manor of Blanc- 26 LLYWELYN AB JORWERTH. Minster the grant of a Fair on the eve, the day, and the day after St. Andrew's feast. The Bailiffs were also made clerks of the market, with privilege to imprison any person detected in forestalling ; for which they were paid twenty marks as a consideration. These petty officers, " dressed in a little brief authority," abused their power, and gave occasion to frequent remonstrances from the inhabitants. Powel, who seems to have paid great deference to "the powers that be," concludes, not very logically, we think, that it was " no wonder that so many of the grievances which the Welsh so much complained of to Edward I. should originate from this place." The historic facts recorded subsequent to this period are brief and meagre. We are told that in 1233 Oswestry was again destroyed by fire. Llywelyn ab Jorwerth had just made an inroad into the county of Brecknock, destroying all the towns and fortresses belonging to that territory ; he then invested the castle, lay before it a month, raised the siege, finding his efforts to be fruitless, set fire to the town, and pursued his way to the Marches. Conflagration and ruin marked his progress: he burnt the town of Clun,. in Salop, demolished Redde Castle, in Powys, and laid Oswestry in ashes. A few months afterwards, Llywelyn and Lord Pem- broke, having joined their forces, made another inroad into the English Marches, and having rendered all that country a scene of devastation, they finished their fiery career by laying part of the town of Shrewsbury (Frankwell, it is supposed,) in ashes. Early in the reign of Edward I. that monarch was intent on bowing the stubborn neck of Llywelyn ab Grufydd (the last native sovereign Prince of Wales). Llywelyn was refractory, and ambitious to maintain his order. Edward summoned him to a parliament in London, but Llywelyn refused to comply with the royal command. In reply, he offered (Oct. 14, 1276-7,) to repair to Montgomery, or to " the 27 THE TOWN WALLS. White Monastery of John Fitz-Alan," as Oswestry was then called, but declined a journey to the metropolis of England. On the receipt of this answer, by which Edward, resolute to exact a personal obedience, was, or aifected to be, greatly enraged, the Parliament immediately condemned Llywelyn as a rebel, for his non-appearance. The melancholy end of the Welsh prince is well known. " If," says an elegant historian, " the valour of Llywelyn, his talents, and his patriotism, had been exhibited upon a more splendid theatre, — on the plains of Marathon, or in the straits of Thermopylce, — his name would have been recorded in the classic page, and his memory revered, as an illustrious hero, and as a gallant asser- tor of the rights of nature." Edward did not confine his attention to Wales only, but extended it to the Borders, and included in his eagle-eyed glance the town of Oswestry. " Provision was made," says Pennant, " against future insults ; for in the reign of Edward I. the town (Oswestry) was surrounded with walls. This happened when that politic monarch meditated the conquest of Wales ; he therefore thought proper to secure this town, one of the keys of the country, with proper defence." He com- menced the erection of the walls in 1277. They are said to have been about a mile in circumference, with an intrenchment on the outside, which could be filled with water from the numerous streams in the vicinity. Edward's order to put Oswestry into a state of defence issued from Shrewsbury — the seat of his government for several months — and his letters patent, directed to the Bailiffs and Burgesses of the ancient town, are worthy of record, as they show the mode in which taxation was levied in early days. This curious document is as follows : — " Of the Murage of Oswaldestre. The King to the Bai- liffs and Burgesses, and the other good men of Oswaldestre greeting. " Know ye that we have granted in aid of enclosing our 28 THE MURAGE. town of Oswaldestre, that from the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle in the twelvth year of our reign to the end of twenty years thence ensuing, ye may take in the same Town, to the reparation of the walls of the same Town, of every horse-load of corn to be sold, one halfpenny ; of every horse and mare, ox and cow sold, one halfpenny ; of every hide of horse and mare, ox and cow, fresh, salt, or tanned, one farthing ; of every cart bringing salted flesh to sell, twopence ; of five bacons sold, one halfpenny ; of a salmon fresh sold, one halfpenny ; of ten sheep, goats, or pigs sold, one penny ; of ten fleeces of wool, one penny ; of one hundred skins of sheep, goats, stags, hind bucks and does, one penny ; of every hundred skins of lambs, kids, hares, rabbits, foxes, cats, and squirrels, one halfpenny ; of every cart of salt to sell, one penny ; of every horse-load of salt to sell by the week, one farthing ; of every horse-load of cloth to sell, one penny ; of every entire cloth to sell in the town of Gloucester, one penny ; of every cloth of silk brocaded and diapered with gold, one penny ; of every cloth of silk without gold and chef de cendall, one halfpenny ; of every dole of wine to sell, two pence ; of every horse-load of honey to sell, one penny ; of every dole of honey to sell, four pence ; of every sack of wool to sell, four pence ; of every truss of cloth to sell brought by cart, four pence ; of every horse-load of cloth to sell, or other diverse and small things coming to be sold in the same town, one halfpenny ; of every cart of iron to sell, one penny ; of every horse-load of iron to sell, one halfpenny ; of every carriage of lead to sell, two pence ; of tallow and lard to sell, one farthing ; of every hundred of alum and copperas to sell, one halfpenny ; of two thousand onions, a farthing ; of every thousand of herrings to sell, one halfpenny ; of every hundred of boards to sell, one halfpenny ; of every mill sold, one pen- ny ; of every thousand of laths sold, one penny ; of every new cart sold, one halfpenny ; of every hundred of faggots to sell, one halfpenny ; of every quarter of salt, one farthing ; of every twelve horse-loads of coal sold, one halfpenny ; of 29 CHURCH GRANT. every thousand of all manner of nails to sell, except cart nails, one farthing ; of a thousand of cart nails to sell, one halfpenny ; of every hundred of horse shoes and clouts to carts to sell, one halfpenny ; for every truss of any sort of merchandise coming for sale to the aforesaid town, of the value of two shillings, one farthing ; of every cauldron sold to brew, one penny ; of every quarter of oatmeal to sell, one halfpenny : And we therefore command that ye take the said custom to the end of the term aforesaid, but the term of the said twenty years being compleat, the said custom ceases and is done away. In witness, &c." Pennant states that the walls were begun in the sixth of Edward I., and that " the murage or toll was granted on the inhabitants of the county, which lasted for six years, in which time it may be supposed the walls were completed." Archbishop Peckham visited Oswestry, June 12, 1284. He was received with great respect by Anian, Bishop of St. Asaph, the clergy, and others. Anian obtained from the king a confirmation of the rights and privileges of his church, and re- ceived from John Fitz-Alan, Earl of Arundel, and Baron of Oswestry and Clun, the grant to his church of one hundred acres of land at St. Martins, paying yearly at Midsummer, for ever, a pair of gilt spurs ; with the condition, that neither the bishop nor his successors should alienate the same. This grant is dated at Album Monasterium, 1271. Richard, son of the said John Fitz-Alan, afterwards confirmed it, and also gave forty-five acres more, with the manor-house belonging thereto. Anian had a long dispute at Rome respecting the placing of a vicar in Blanc-Monasterium, the tithes of which his predecessor had given to the Abbey of Shrewsbury. The issue was, that the abbot, for the peaceable enjoyment of his tithes, gave the whole of his lands at St. Martins, upon paying two Welsh knives yearly. These said knives, if now produced at Sheffield, would doubtless disturb the risible faculties of the keen knife -manufacturers there. 30 THE MORTIMERS. Edward IT. was much annoyed and harassed in the latter part of his reign, partly from his want of fidelity to many of his most distinguished nobles, the two Mortimers, uncle and nephew, among their number. A revolution broke out against the king, in 1325, concocted, it is said, by the queen and her favourite, Roger Mortimer, Lord of Wigmore, in which the French monarch also took part. A strong feeling for and against Edward was manifested in Shrewsbury, where the Mortimers were well known. Edmund, Earl of Arundel, was one of the few peers who had preserved their loyalty to the crown. He assembled a multitude of his Welsh tenantry at Oswestry, with a view of seizing Shrews- bury for the king. Arundel was, however, apprehended near Shrewsbury, with certain of his adherents, after an obstinate struggle. The Earl was taken from that town to Hereford, where he expiated his loyalty on the scaffold. For this " service " the " good men of Salop " had all the goods and chattels found upon him. After his execution, the queen, to show her attachment to her paramour, Lord Mortimer, obtained the Castle of Oswestry for that favourite. In 1324, Edmund, Earl of Arundel, granted two shops in Leg-street, to the burgesses of Oswestry for ever, on payment of 13s. 4d. yearly. This grant is witnessed by " Lord Richard, Abbot of Haggemon," and others, and "dated at Oswaldestre, on the feast of St. Michael, in the 18th year of the reign of King Edward, the son of King Edward." Edward III.'s reign was long and glorious. It was distin- guished by the ever-memorable battle of Cressy. Part of the inhabitants of this town doubtless contributed to the victory thus obtained; for in 1346 the king directed Richard Fitz- Alan to raise two hundred of his vassals from Oswestry and Clun, to attend him in the French wars. In 1397 Richard, Earl of Arundel and Surrey, was attainted and executed, when Richard II. seized all his lands and 31 THE GREAT PARLIAMENT. manors, and granted them to William le Scrope, Earl of Wiltshire. In the Historia Regum Anglice we find the following bit of superstition entertained at this period. On this occasion the Earl of Arundel must, of course, have deeply regretted his contempt of the marvellous stone of which John Ross, the Antiquary, of Warwick, writes. "The earl," says this grave author, " kept a raven in his court ; and one day, as he was playing at chess in the garden, the bird," or, as Ross suggests, " a spirit in that form, brought up (eructavit) a stone having the virtue of invisibility. The earl set no value upon it, contrary to the advice of his nobles ; and soon after, being arrested by strong hand, he was com- mitted to ward, and finally beheaded." The king, having put down all opposition to certain mea- sures which he was resolved to carry, by the execution of Arundel, and the murder of his uncle of Gloucester, adjourned his Parliament at Westminster to Shrewsbury, and from thence to Oswestry. An apprehension of tumult among the Earl of Arundel's tenantry in this county, from his violent death, and the seizure of his estates, was probably the reason for making both Shrewsbury and Oswestry the scene of that national assembly. The Parliament met at Shrewsbury Jan. 29, 1397-8, and was designated The Great Parliament. In this regal visit he displayed great magnificence, and entertained the members with a sumptuous banquet, he appear- ing among the people in his costly royal robes. Whilst in Shrewsbury Richard made Chester a Principality, and annexed to it the Castle of Holt, the lordship of Brom- field and Yale, Chirkland, and various other places in Wales and on the Borders. During the proceedings in Parliament it was ascertained that deadly hatred subsisted between the Dukes of Hereford and Norfolk. These noblemen had been jointly concerned in the impeachment of Arundel and his fellow-sufferers, at Westminster. Norfolk, touched by remorse for his share in the ruin of a patriotic peer, or desirous 32 THE FIRST ROYAL CHARTER. of ensnaring his late confederate, who had charged Norfolk with using words disrespectful to the king, fell into open quarrel with Hereford, who made the matter a subject of public accusation in the Parliament against his antagonist. The king, unwilling that any discourse about himself should be made the subject of open discussion, suddenly closed the proceedings of Parliament, and adjourned to Oswestry. In the assembly there the dispute between the two Dukes was recommenced, and the king resolved that it should be ended by a duel between the belligerent parties at Coventry. The combat did not take place, as the Duke of Norfolk refused to fight ; upon which Norfolk was banished from the kingdom for ever, and Hereford for ten years. As a mark of the royal favour, Richard granted, before the Parliament closed, the first Char- ter conferred upon Oswestry, by which the town was incor- porated by the name of " The Bailiffs and Burgesses of Osiuestry, infra Palatinatum Cestrice in Marchia inter Angliam et Walliam." The' Charter, which was founded upon the one granted just before at Shrewsbury, exempted the Bur- gesses from all contributions and exactions whatsoever, throughout the kingdom, the city of London excepted. It bears date, August 14, 1399. The close of Richard's kingly rule was near. His love of idle show and magnificence, his delight in popular applause, the buzzing about him of parasites and flatterers, and his in- dulgence in pleasures, were followed by a brief scene of bitter existence, which ended in degrading humiliation and painful death. The eyes of Henry of Lancaster, Duke of Hereford, had long been directed towards the throne, and he actively employed his agents to place him upon it. The classic his- torians of Shrewsbury assure us that, either from the disgust occasioned by outrages perpetrated upon the Burgesses, by Richard's body-guard, or disorderly multitudes brought into the town during the sittings of his Parliament, "it is certain that the revolution which placed Henry of Lancaster on the 33 D DEATH OF RICHARD II. throne had the entire concurrence of the inhabitants of these parts (Shropshire). When the Duke proceeded into Wales to circumvent the unhappy Richard, he passed through Lud- low and Shrewsbury, and was joined here (Shrewsbury) by the Lords Scales and Bardolph, Sir Robert and Sir John Legh, and other gentlemen of Cheshire." Richard, after suffering much indignity, was secured a prisoner in Flint Castle, by the great conspirator Lancaster, and from thence was led in the Duke's train to Chester. Here Bolingbroke delivered the subdued monarch to the Duke of Gloucester and Thomas, Earl of Arundel, saying, " Here is the murderer of your father, you must be answerable for him." He was subsequently conveyed to Pontefract Castle, where he was basely assassinated by a band of armed ruffians, four of whom he killed with a battle-axe before he fell. The untimely death of Richard caused an immediate change in the government of Oswestry. Its newly-created lord, the Earl of Wiltshire, fell a victim to popular fury, and Thomas, son of the attainted Earl of Arundel, was restored to the manorial rights and dignities of Oswestry. The Earl of Huntington, the king's brother, fled into the county of Essex ; but passing through a village belonging to the Countess of Hereford (sister of the deceased Richard, Earl of Arundel), he was discovered, and arrested. The countess apprized the new monarch, Henry, of the capture, and de- sired him to send to her the young Earl of Arundel, her nephew, that he might witness the mode in which she in- tended to avenge herself of her brother's death. The Earl of Arundel posted to the place where Huntington was prisoner, and loaded him with reproaches. The countess delivered the captive nobleman, bound with chains, into the hands of eight thousand of her vassals, whom she called together for the occasion. The wretched prisoner, struck with terror at the preparations made to take away his life, sued for mercy, and protested that he had not committed the foul act of which he 34 EXECUTION OF HUNTINGTON. was accused. Had the countess restrained her rage, and listened to reason and justice, she would have found that Huntington was not a guilty murderer, but that Richard, Earl of Arundel, was brought to the block mainly by the treachery of the Earl of Nottingham. Heedless of his pro- testations and cries for mercy, she commanded her vassals to cut him to pieces. His assembled executioners are said to have taken pity upon him ; whilst the countess and fyoung earl strenuously urged his death. Maddened by rage, she exclaimed, " Curse on ye all, villains ; you have not the courage to put a man to death." This violent exclamation roused an esquire, who offered himself as executioner. He seized the hatchet, and approached Huntington, but was so touched with his tender complaints, that he trembled with emotion, and returning to the countess, his eyes being filled with tears, he said, " I would not put the earl to death for all the gold in the world." The countess, full of indignation, looking at him " unutterable things," exclaimed, " Do what thou hast promised, or thy own head shall be cut off." When he heard this he was so afraid that he knew not what to do, and approaching the earl again said, " Sir, I entreat your pardon ; forgive me your death." He then struck him a violent blow on the shoulder, which felled him to the ground. Huntington sprang up again, and said, " Alas, man, why do you treat me thus ? For God's sake kill me more easily." The esquire then struck him eight times on the shoulder, being so terrified that he could not aim his blows at the neck. Another blow followed, which fell on the neck, when the wretched nobleman, suffering pain and agony from his cruel treatment, cried out, " Alas, dear friend, have pity upon me, and free me from my pain." The executioner then seized a knife, and cut the Earl's throat, separating his head from the body. The Glyndwr or Glendower insurrection arose about this period, and the town of Oswestry greatly suffered from it* 23 THE GLYNDWR INSURRECTION. Owain Glyndwr was descended on the mother's side from Llywelyn, the last sovereign Prince of Wales, his father, Grufydd Vychan, having married Helen, a grand-daughter of that puissant chieftain. He studied the law at one of the Inns of Court in London, and finally was admitted as a bar- rister. He may have quitted his profession, for we find he was appointed an esquire to Richard II., to whom he was de- votedly attached, and whose fortunes he followed even to Flint Castle, and till his royal master's household was dis- solved. He had been knighted by King Richard, and was married early in life to Margaret, daughter to Sir David Hanmer, of Hanmer, in Flintshire, one of the Justices of the Court of the King's Bench. His resentment against Henry IV. was strong and implacable. He had suffered deep private wrongs from the usurpation of the king, and burned with indignation to avenge himself. Owain Glyndwr's sudden appearance as a military leader of his countrymen roused their ancient martial spirit, and thousands flocked to his standard. In the year 1400 the town of Oswestry was burned, the Welsh having attacked it ; and in 1403 Owain Glyndwr assembled his forces in the town, that he might join Lord Percy (surnamed Henry Hot- spur) against the king. The Welsh leader dispatched to the " tented field" his first division only, amounting to 4000 men, whose prowess was distinguished on the day of battle. The great body of his troops, about 12,000 in number, did not approach nearer than Oswestry, they having been detained at the siege of Kidweli Castle. It is thought by some writers, that Owain did not remain inactively at Oswestry. Gough, the historian, mentions, that about two miles from Shrews- bury, where the Pool road diverges from that leading to Oswestry, "there stands an ancient decayed Oak Tree, of which there is a tradition, that Glyndwr ascended it to recon- noitre ; but finding that the king was in great force, and that the Earl of Northumberland had not joined his son, he fell THE BATTLE OF SHREWSBURY. back to Oswestry, and immediately afterwards retreated into Wales." In the " Beauties of England and Wales" the Shropshire history edited by Mr. Rylance, we find the following passage on Glyndwr's alledged abandonment of Hotspur "at his ut- most need : M — "The army of Glyndwr, amounting to twelve thousand men, had remained inactive at Oswestry during the battle. There is a tradition that he himself quitted that place in disguise, and hastening to Shrewsbury, hid himself in a gigantic oak, which commanded a full view of the field ; and that after witnessing the discomfiture of his friends, returning with speed to Oswestry, he withdrew his forces into Wales, whither he was pursued by Prince Henry." Hulbert, too, in his " History of the Town and County of Salop" referring to the famous battle, says, " Owain Glyndwr beheld the battle of Shrewsbury, instead of sustaining, by his arms, the cause of his ally, the gallant and intrepid Hotspur." Another writer on this memorable event declares, that had Glyndwr brought up his reserved troops when Hotspur by his impetuous onslaughts was within an ace of victory, or when the brave warrior was slain, the battle would have been won, and the royal forces entirely routed. Taking these allegements to be truths, Glyndwr perpetrated a baseness which all faithful men must condemn. Many writers have taken pains to solve the question, "Did Owain Glyndwr act merely as an idle spectator at the battle of Shrewsbury ; or did he actually lead his corps de reserve to Shelton, to aid the gallant Hotspur ?" No author that we have read has settled that doubtful inquiry. Owain's hatred of Henry, and his ardent efforts to give freedom to his countrymen, with his chivalrous bearing in the rebellion he had created, would suggest no evidence that Glyndwr was pusillanimous ; and yet history furnishes alleged facts strongly reflecting upon his heroic spirit, and almost charging him 37 THE BATTLE OF SHREWSBURY. with craven cowardice. To conclude that Glyndwr was ac- tuated by base and unmanly curiosity in perching himself upon a branch of the Shelton Oak would be to brand his name with infamy ; and yet, if he were espying the battle from that famous tree, his troops being close in reserve, but not in action, an accusation no less severe must ever rest upon his character as a chieftain and a man. On this interesting subject, which will always engage the attention of histori- cal readers, a poet of bright fancy and manly sentiment — Dovaston of Westfelton— has given sarcastic expression to an opinion, in a Miltonic sonnet on the Shelton Oak, that Owain Glyndwr, at the battle of Shrewsbury, was a traitor to gal- lantry and faith :-— " Tradition says, and why not trust Tradition, When many a haunt breathes, hallowed by her song, From this Great Oak, backed by twelve thousand men, Wrung at their country's wrongs and murdered king, Glyndwr, the wise, the bountiful, the brave, Beheld young Percy fall : and conquest crown The perjured Bolingbroke. — Bright youth, he cried, Thy spur is cold. One thoughtless act hath lost An Empire's tide. Mark what the great have said — ' The better part of valour is discretion,' For safe on prudence every good attends." " The Battle of Shrewsbury " is not only " clad," as the same poet fancifully describes, " in cold-hearted History's homely weeds," but " garlanded with Avon's dewy flowers." The conflict is part of the history of this district ; and the narrative we subjoin, from the able pens of the historians of Shrewsbury, will attract the attention of all who value " pure English, undenled :"— " Of the famous and severely-contested battle which ensued under the walls of our town, the awful prelude to so many more between the rival houses, through the remainder of the century, we have five contemporary and perhaps independent narratives ; but one of them is a mass of errors, and another 38 THE BATTLE OF SHREWSBURY. extremely succinct, and of the others only one is circumstan- tial: nor is any of them sufficient to satisfy the minute Curiosity of the local historian : but the best account that can be drawn from a comparison of the whole, supplied in some instances by a consideration of the ground, and in a few others by modest conjecture, shall be laid before the reader as the conclusion of the present chapter. "We are unable to trace the progress of Hotspur's long march from the North to Shrewsbury, a journey of not less than 250 miles. He probably set out in the beginning of July ; and skirting along the eastern side of Cheshire, where his army received a considerable augmentation, passed through Stafford, and was joined there by his uncle the earl of Wor- cester. The king, aware of his intention to gain possession of Shrewsbury, and desirous of cutting off his junction with Glendower, pursued him with hasty marches. We find his majesty on the 16th of July at Burton-upon-Trent, and on the 17th at Lichfield: whence, finding that he could not overtake his enemy, he hastened on to reach Shrewsbury before him. He would naturally take the Watling Street road, and enter this town over the Abbey Bridge. The route of Hotspur was more to the north, in order to keep up a communication with the Severn, so important for his junc- tion with Glendower. In all probability he marched through Newport, by High Ercall and Haghmond Hill ; and hoped to gain admittance through the North or Castle Gate. The king arrived just in time to save the town : he entered it only a few hours before Hotspur, who reached the Castle Foregate on the evening of Friday, July 19th, and the king's forces could not have advanced from Lichfield before the morning of that day. They were certainly here before Percy : for, aware of the intention of that young nobleman, and desirous to save the Castle from his attack, they set fire to that extensive suburb, and marched out of the Castle gates to offer him battle. Hotspur, unwilling to bring his army 39 >-> THE BATTLE OF SHREWSBURY. into action at the close of a toilsome march, and learnin from the royal banner which waved on the walls, that the king was in possession of the town, called off his followers from the attack, and retired to the Bull-field, an extensive com- mon which stretched from Upper Berwick to the East. He thus protected his rear by the woody and impervious precipi- ces extending to Leaton shelf, and had the river not only on his side, but also, if it had not entirely deserted its ancient channel under Cross-hill, (as there is reason to believe it had not,) in his front also. This position enabled him likewise to communicate readily over that stream by the ford of Shelton with the forces of Glendower, when they should arrive, as he hoped, on the opposite bank. Here he passed the night in council. His army consisted of 14,000 chosen men, of whom a considerable part were of the county of Chester, at that time eminent for its skill in archery ; but, if Hall is correct, the royal army was nearly double that number ; for he writes that above 40,000 men were assembled on both parts, and every circumstance of the battle proves that the king was at the head of a very superior force. His situation was, however, by no means devoid of anxiety. He must have been conscious how slender the title was which he possessed to the throne : and how ill-disposed his peerage of the realm were to main- tain him upon it. From the Castle he might view, as the dawn arose, the plain which stretched to the north glittering with hostile arms : while the dreadful Glendower was believed to be in full march from Oswestry, to join the rebels with his Welsh forces. But the difficulties of the crisis only sufficed to call forth his energies and display his talents. " Henry was himself a distinguished warrior. In earlier life he had, in company with his princely uncle the duke of Gloucester, travelled into the north of Europe in quest of martial glory ; and under the banners of the renowned Teu- tonic order had made a glorious campaign against the Pagans of Lithuania. He was still in the vigour of life, being much 40 THE BATTLE OF SHREWSBURY. under forty years of age, and an adversary every way worthy of the gallant Percy ; whom, relying upon the superiority of his numbers, he determined, if possible, to force to an engage- ment, before that nobleman should receive his reinforcements from Wales or the north. By break of day, therefore, he dispatched, it is probable, a strong force, under the. nominal command, for it could be no more, of the young prince, the future hero of Agincourt, but then a youth of fourteen years, to come up with Hotspur at Berwick, if possible. He himself, with the main body, appears to have marched out on the Hadnall road, ready to proceed as occasion might demand, either to the north of Cross Hill and Almond Pool, and close the rebels between his two divisions ; or else to advance fur- ther on upon that road, where it branches off to Shawbury, with the view of cutting off their retreat, if Hotspur, aware of his design, should attempt to march to the east. It happened as the king anticipated. Hotspur, on his advance, broke up in some disorder, arid marched by TIarlescot and Abright Hussey to Hately-field, which stretches from thence east- wards. Here, however, finding it impossible to avoid an engagement, on acccount, as we may suppose, of the obstruc- tion to his retreat presented by the king's movement above mentioned, he made his stand in the rear of a field of peas nearly ripe ; behind which he stationed his army, and hoped thereby to deter the king from advancing over a tract which must necessarily impede his operations. " He then addressed his little army in a short harangue, of which Walsingham has preserved the heads. 'We must desist,' said he, 'from any further attempt to retreat, and turn our arms on those that come against us. Ye see the royal banner, nor is there time to seek a passage even though we wished it. Stand, therefore, with steadfast hearts : for this day shall either promote us all, if we conquer ; or deliver us from an usurper, if we fall : and it is better to die in battle for the common wealth, than after battle by the sentence of 41 THE BATTLE OF SHREWSBURY. our foe :" and with this, to support the courage of his men by proving his design to fight to the outrance, he dispatched two of his esquires, Knayton and Salvayn, with that strange de- fiance, in which he loads the king with the most horrid crimes. * * * * " No one has informed us how the king received this furious manifesto. He had something else to engage his attention. He proceeded to marshal his forces, dividing them into two columns, or wedges. Of one of these he took the command himself, and entrusted the other to his son. The front rank of his own column was led on by his nephew the young earl of Stafford, a soldier of conspicuous valour, on whom he had that morning conferred the high office of constable of England, recently enjoyed by the earl of Northumberland. Previous to the final onset, the king, in compliance with the customs of chivalry, bestowed the honour of knighthood on certain of his most distinguished esquires. Hotspur, perceiving that an engagement was unavoidable, called for his favourite sword. His attendants informed him that it was left behind at Ber- wick, of which village it does not appear that he had till then learned the name. At these words he turned pale, and said, ' I perceive that my plough is drawing to its last furrow, for a wizard told me in Northumberland that I should perish at Berwick: which I vainly interpreted of that town in the North.' His courage did not, however, yield to the impres- sions of superstition ; he rallied his spirits, and arranged his troops with his usual ability : assigning their respective sta- tions to his uncle Worcester, the Scottish earl of Douglas, his recent captive at Halidown, sir Richard Venables, baron of Kinderton, Hugh Brow, Hugh Vernon, and others. His troops appear to have been chiefly stationed on the north side of the spot now occupied by the church in a field still called the Hateleys : on the east side of the church is a field denominated the King's croft, in which, it may be presumed, were ranged those which the king commanded in person. 42 THE BATTLE OF SHREWSBURY. These positions exactly agree with the objects which we have assigned above to the respective leaders ; and lend, it is hoped, some confirmation to the conjectural part of the preceding narration. "While the hostile armies, drawn up in battle array facing each other, waited, with mute expectation, the sound of the trumpet, the dreadful signal for combat, two venerable divines, Thomas Prestbury, lord abbot of Salop, and the clerk of the privy seal, advanced out of the royal army, and proceeded towards that of Percy. The king, desirous to spare the blood of his subjects* oiFered him and his adherents pardon and peace, and redress of all grievances of which they could justly complain. Hotspur was touched by these unexpected overtures, made under circumstances of such numerical inequality, and requested his uncle of Worcester to repair to the royal presence in company of these holy men, and state the grounds on which he had taken up arms. The king, we may suppose, was in his turn somewhat softened by the sight of the earl, who had been so recently engaged in the domes- tic office of governor to the prince of Wales ; and a recollec- tion of the obligations he had received from the Percy family might mix itself with his other reflections. It is certain that to the remonstrances of Worcester, delivered in a fierce and haughty tone, he listened with respect, and replied with a condescension which, in the opinion of the spectators, was somewhat unbefitting the royal dignity. A contemporary writer has preserved, though with a mistake of the person, the dialogue supposed to have passed between them. The king ' counselled him to put himself on his grace.' To which the other replied, 'I trust not in your grace.' — 'I pray God,' rejoined the king, 'that thou mayest have to answer for the blood here to be shed this day, and not I. March on standard- bearer!' and the battle was set.' — It is certain that the stern temper of Worcester rejected all attempts at conciliation: he was conscious how deeply he had been engaged in fomenting 43 THE BATTLE OF SHREWSBURY. the quarrel ; and, on his return to his friends, he misrepre- sented the demeanour of Henry in such a manner to his nephew, that the latter, with whatever reluctance, was com- pelled to relinquish all hopes of accommodation. At length, therefore, much of the day having heen consumed in these fruitless negociations, both parties flew to arms, and the air was rent with the war-cries of ' St. George ' on one side, and ' Esperance Percy ' on the other. In the meanwhile, Glen- dower had advanced as far as Shelton on the opposite bank of Severn, where he awaited the issue of the contest, deter- mined to proceed or retire according to its event. He is said, by the constant tradition of the country, to have ascended there the branches of a lofty oak, whose venerable trunk yet remains, for the purpose of viewing the battle ; at least of gaining, from personal inspection, the earliest intelligence of its event. " The fight began by furious and repeated volleys of arrows from Hotspur's archers, whose ground, as may be seen, greatly favoured that kind of warfare : and they did great execution on the royal army. The king's bowmen were not wanting in return, and the battle raged with violence. The military art had not yet attained that perfection which almost supersedes the effect of individual exertion ; and Hotspur, with his associate Douglas, bent on the king's destruction, rushing through the midst of the hostile arrows, pierced their way to the spot on which he stood. To adopt the vivid language of a contemporary, ' in the ardour of his spirit, he assembled a band of thirty warriors, broke into the royal army, and' made a great alley in the midst thereof,' (such was the terror which his presence inspired) * even to the stoutest of the king's guards.' Monstrelet says, Henry was thrice unhorsed by the Scottish earl, and would have been taken or slain had he not been defended and rescued by his own men. And the fortune of the day would have been forthwith deci- ded, if the Scottish earl of March had not withdrawn him 44 THE BATTLE OF SHREWSBURY. from the danger; for the royal standard-bearer was slain, his banner beaten down ; and many of the chosen band appointed to guard it (among whom were the earl of Stafford and sir Walter Blount,) were killed by these desperate assailants, — while the young prince of Wales was wounded in the face by an arrow. In short, notwithstanding all the exertions of the royalists, victory seemed inclined to favour the rebel army, who fought with renewed ardour, from an opinion naturally derived from the overthrow of his standard, that the king himself had fallen, and animated each other to the combat with cheering and redoubled shouts of * Henry Percy, king ! Henry Percy, king /' " In this critical moment the gallant Percy, raging through the adverse ranks in quest of his sovereign, fell by an un- known hand ; alone, and hemmed in by foes. The king lost no time to avail himself of this event. Straining his voice to the utmost, he exclaimed aloud, ' Henry Percy is dead V The sound was heard by either army : into those it struck dismay, while these it animated and encouraged. The rebels fled in every direction, nor could the king, anxious as he was to terminate the slaughter, restrain the impetuous pursuit of his own troops, till the flower of Cheshire, two hundred knights and esquires (besides pages and footmen) were slain. Douglas broke through, and endeavoured to escape in the direction of Haghmond-hill : being closely pursued, and leaping from a crag, he experienced a severe injury, and was captured : but the king, in admiration of his valour, set him at liberty. The loss in both armies was great. * * * An ancient manuscript rates the number of gentlemen at two thousand two hundred and ninety-one, besides com- mons. They were chiefly buried, says that authority, in a great pit, the dimensions of which are there specified, and over which the present church of Battlefield was afterwards erected : but many are stated to have lain dispersed in various directions for the space of three miles about the field of 45 THE BATTLE OF SHREWSBURY. battle : a fact which confirms what has been said above of the desultory nature of the conflict. Others, of the most distin- guished rank, were interred in the neighbouring town, chiefly in the cemetery of the Dominican or St. Mary's Friars. " The body of Hotspur was at first delivered to his kins- man lord Furnival for interment, and it was by him commit- ted to the ground with the suffrages of the church, and with all the honours which, in that haste, could be procured as due to his rank. It is painful to reflect, that the king after- wards repented him of this generous attention to the remains of deceased valour. He caused the corpse to be taken out of the tomb in which it had been laid, and to be placed be- tween two mill-stones in the public street, near the pillory ; where, as if he feared lest the general sympathy should rescue it from its ignominious situation, it was kept under military guard, till the head was severed from the body, which was divided into quarters, and transmitted to several cities in the realm." Thus closes this circumstantial and able description of the celebrated battle of Shrewsbury ; an event so interesting in the annals of the county, that we make no apology for having transferred so detailed an account of it to our pages. A nobler theme could not well be conceived for the lay of a minstrel. " The characters of the leaders, both of the royal and of the rebel party, the chivalrous spirit of the times in which they lived, and the magnitude of the cause that roused them to arms, are circumstances highly susceptible of poetical de- scription, while the train of incidents from the very origin to the termination of the feud, is of that romantic cast which requires little embellishment from fiction. There is indeed one objection which may have deterred our later Poets from the undertaking ; it is, that the ground which Shakspeaie has trod is sacred ; but without any violation of the reverence due to his memory, it may be wished that this magnificent subject had also been celebrated by the muse that sang the tale of Flodden Field." 46 THE THIRD CHARTER. We have already stated that on the deposition of Richard II. the Earl of Wiltshire, recently appointed lord of the Manor of Oswestry, fell a victim to popular fury, and Thomas, son of Richard, Earl of Arundel, was restored in blood. This last-named nobleman was a liberal supporter of the Corporation of Oswestry. In 1406 he gave it a release for £100 (a large sum in those days,) which that body was in- debted to him, in consideration of the distresses which the town had suffered during the Glyndwr insurrection. He also obtained pardon from the king for his vassals in Chirk, Bromneld, and the Manor of Oswestry, for the share they had taken in that rebellion. In the same year with the release he granted a most extensive Charter to the town, containing many matters showing the customs of the times. This Charter ordered, that "neither the lord nor his heirs should confiscate or seize the effects of persons with or without will in the corporation ; that no burgess should be compelled to be the lord's receiver-general, but only collec- tor of the issues arising within the borough ; that the bur- gesses should be discharged from all fees demanded by the Constable of the castle, or any of his menial servants, for any felonies or trespasses committed out of the same liberties, when brought to the prison of the castle ; saving that the Constable might receive one penny at his own election, from every mansion-house in the town, and a farthing from every cottage, on the feast of St. Stephen annually ; that the bur- gesses should be free for the future from all excise of ale, brewed and sold in the town, which had hitherto been payable at the rate of seven-pence for every Bracena cervisice expo- sed for sale ; that they were to be freed from the duty of Amobyr, or Lyre- Wyte ; that whoever lived in the house of a burgess, and happened to die there, the burgess was to have a heriot after his decease, in the same manner as the Uchel- wyr, or freeholders residing on the lands of the lord in the Hundred of Oswestry ; that no Shrewsbury ale should be sold in the town without license, while any ale brewed in the 47 TENANTS SERVICE. town was to be had, under the penalty of 6s. 8d. ; that none of the inhabitants of the lordships of Oswestry, Melverley, Kinardsley, Edgerley, Ruyton, and the eleven towns, should drive or carry any cattle, corn, or victuals, or other wares, to any foreign fair or market, before the same had first been expo- sed for sale in the town of Oswestry, under the penalty of 6s. 8d. ; that none of the lord's tenants should be compelled to pay the redditus advocarii for the security of the castle," &c. The Amobyr of the Welsh, and the Lyre-Wyte of the Saxons, were fines paid by the vassal to his lord, to buy off the power to violate domestic relations. Pennant gives a differ- ent interpretation to the term Amobyr, but does not succeed in giving us its literal and precise meaning. There is one curious fact mentioned in the aforesaid Charter, and which, even in these days must excite a smile. The respective six- and-eiyhtpences of the gentlemen who now study " Coke upon Littleton" was actually prescribed even so far back as the fif- teenth century. It would be a still more curious fact developed, were we acquainted with the lord of the Manor's law-adviser when this Charter was granted, because we might perhaps then be able, from the "knowledge of that fact, to ascribe the origin, if not honour, of lawyers' six-and-eiglitpences to the ancient Borough of Oswestry ! According to Pennant, " until the time of the above-men- tioned Charter, the lord's Welsh tenants of the Hundred of Oswestry were accustomed by their tenure to keep watch and ward, for three days and three nights, at the four gates of the town, during the fairs of St. Andrew and St. Oswald, with a certain number of men called Kaies ; but these treacherously, with others, ravaged and plundered the place. On this the tenants were compelled to pay a sum of money as wages to a sufficient number of Englishmen, as the bur- gesses should think convenient, for the custody of the four gates ; and the Welsh men were for ever to be discharged from that duty. The vassals of the Earl of Arundel in these 48 glyndwr's reverses. parts were of a mixed nature ; either descendants of the Nor- man followers of Alan, or of the native Welsh, who were most numerous, and bore an hereditary dislike to their co- tenants of foreign stock. The Welsh part was called JFalcheria, and lay in the upper part of the parish." Reverting to Owain Glyndwr's career, we see that his escape from the Shelton Oak, at the Battle of Shrewsbury, did not deter him from fresh enterprises. Evidently regardless of the ruin of his allies — they, as Leland tells us, " whom he promised to unite with" at that battle — he continued to infest the English borders, where he committed great havoc, the king being unable, from the want of funds, to resist his aggressions. Owain's marauding parties committed serious damage to Shrewsbury and several of the adjoining town- ships, and extended their ravages as far as Buildwas Abbey, which they wasted with fire, so that divine service was for a time discontinued, and the monks were reduced to the greatest poverty. At length Henry directed a writ to Edward Charlton, Lord Powys, to raise forces with which to sub- due the renewed rebellion ; and similar orders were sent to Lords Arundel and Grey, and Sir Richard L'Strange, Lord of Knockin, Ellesmere, and other bordering manors. Glyndwr had despatched to Shrewsbury two of his best officers, Rhys Ddu and Philipot Scudamore, to command the insur- rectionary party ; but Lord Powys, having promptly obeyed the orders of his sovereign, fortified several castles, and speedily took as prisoners the above-named two leaders, and they were both soon afterwards executed in London. Holinshed says, that " Glyndwr himself in the same year, dreading to show his face to any creature, and finally lacking meat to sustain nature, for mere hunger and lack of food miserably pined away and died." He was living, however, six years later, but in a state of concealment, chiefly at the house of one of his daughters, married to a gentleman of Herefordshire named Monnington. In July, 1415, the new king Henry V., 49 E DEATH OF GLYNDWR. anxious to leave his country in tranquillity before he engaged in the war with France, offered a pardon to Glyndwr ; and this would probably have been accepted by the Cambrian chief- tain, had not the negotiation been interrupted by his death, which occurred September 30th, 141,5, in the 61st year of his age. It is said that David Holbetch, Steward of the manors of Oswestry, Bromfleld, and Yale, and founder of the Oswestry Free Grammar School, took a distinguished part in this negotiation, and obtained the promised pardon for Glyndwr. Tradition states that he was buried in the churchyard of Monnington-on-Wye. With Glyndwr ceased most of the troubles and calamities which had too long afflicted the English and Welsh Borders. The superstitious charm with which Owain's name had been invested by his countrymen soon faded away, and his life, though startling in a rude and ignorant age, soon proved that he was " in the common roll of men ! " Shakspere was justified in creating him, poetically, as self-idolatrous, for his daring incursions and fiery movements indicate that he believed himself to be of the meteoric class, to curb oppression and give liberty to the enslaved. For years after Glyridwr's fall Oswestry, for aught that history tells us to the contrary, lay in comparative repose, entirely free from foreign aggression. Intestine feuds and disorders seem to have been the chief disturbers. The Welsh were arrayed against the English, and the latter appear to have had no less enmity against their Cambrian neighbours. To Pennant's industrious and accurate research we are indebted for the scanty notices collected of the history of this period. Among the records of the Drapers' Company of Shrewsbury, he tells us there is the following order: — "25 Eliz. 1513. Ordered, that no Draper set out for Oswestry on Mondays before six o'clock, on forfeiture of six shillings and eightpence ; and that they wear their weapons all the way, and go in company — not to go over the Welsh Bridge before the bell toll six." 50 WELSH CLOTH MARKET. However numerous and fierce marauders were in the days here referred to, it would seem that peaceful employments were nevertheless pursued by the inhabitants of Oswestry, and that their manufactured cloth was of so good a quality as to be held in high repute among the Shrewsbury Drapers. The " contests, robberies, and disturbances in the Marches of Wales" still continuing with unabated force, and both Welsh and English seeming to have considered everything as lawful plunder which they could seize in each other's territory, the Stewards, the Constable, and Lieutenant of Oswestry and Powys entered into covenants in the year 1534, to restrain these plundering excursions. It was agreed, that " if, aftei a certain day then fixed, any person of one lordship committed felony in the other, he should be taken and sent into the lordship where the offence was committed, to receive punish- ment ; and that if any goods or cattle were stolen from one lordship and conveyed into the other, the tenants and inhabi- tants of that lordship should either pay for the same within fifteen days, or otherwise four principal men should remain in bail, a main-prize, till they were either paid for or recovered." Notwithstanding these rigorous measures, the evil still con- tinued ; and so alarmed were certain of the inhabitants of Shrewsbury, and regardful of the safety of their fellow-bur- gesses who had to visit Oswestry market weekly, that prayers for their preservation were offered up in one of the churches, on Monday mornings, before they started on their perilous journey. A timid gentleman, William Jones, Esq., left to the Drapers' Company " one pound six-shillings and eight- pence, to be paid annually to the Vicar of St. Alkmond's Church, for reading prayers on Monday mornings, before the Drapers set out for Oswestry market!" Pennant informs us that at this period " Oswestry was the great emporium for Welsh cloth ; a privilege to which it was well entitled from its vicinity to those districts of Wales in which that im- portant branch of commerce was manufactured, at a period 51 STATE OF THE COUNTRY. when the English trader could not, with any degree of safety, trust himself in the Principality. To this town (Oswestry) the Drapers of Shrewsbury repaired every Monday. We learn the fact from a curious MS. Chronicle of the last-men- tioned town, which relates that 'on Monday, Dec. 5th, 1575, the Drapers of Shrewsbury had like to have been robbed, if they had not been privately warned ; but the bailiffs and a great company went, strongly armed, upon their usual trade toward Oswestry. The robbers proposed to rob them in the dale between Shelton and Shrewsbury, and lay over night in Master Sherar's barn, on the other side of the water.' The whole narrative, which is told much at length in the Chroni- cle, exhibits the unsettled police of a country slowly emerging from a state of barbarism, and strongly reminds the reader of the inimitable scene at Gadshill, so admirably pourtrayed by our great dramatic bard in the first part of Henry IV." The same writer adds, " notwithstanding, however, this and similar proofs of the general insecurity of the country, the Welsh manufacturer was unwilling to meet the purchaser even half way with his commodities. ' Not satisfied,' says our countryman Dr. Peter Heylyn, in his Cosmography, 'with having fixed the market at Oswestry, they sought to draw the staple more into their own country.' The MS. quoted above informs us, under the year 1582, that it would have been re- moved thence, ' to the great decay of that town and of Shrewsbury, yf Sir Thomas Bromley, being Lord Chancelor, had not by his great wisdom opened the same to the Queen's Majestie, for which godly deede theye of the said townes are contynewally bownde to praye daylye.' Lord Chancellor Bromley was a Shropshire man, and possessor, by purchase from the Earl of Arundel, of the Castle and Lordship of Shra- wardine ; he was therefore personally interested in the pros- perity of the county, and by his influence at Court enabled to promote it." It would further appear, that the market was continued at Oswestry, so that it is likely that Lord Brom- ley's interposition at Court prevailed. In 1585 the Welsh 52 PENTRE-POETH. cloth market was removed from Oswestry to Knockin, the plague having broken out in this borough, and destroyed "three-score and four persons, and no more;" according to the parish register. The plague continued from April to August, when it entirely disappeared, and the market was held, as before, in Oswestry. Oswestry was visited with other calamities some few years before this period. In 1542 a fire broke out in the town, which was so destructive, that " two long streets with great riches" were consumed; and in 1567 there was another fire, which destroyed " seven-score within the walls, and three-score with- out." The suburb still known by the name of Pentre-Poeth (the burnt end of the town) suffered severely, and may have derived its designation from this destructive fire ; or, as Price intimates, from the frequent fires that may have occurred there during the conflicts between the Welsh and English. These accidents were looked upon, at the time, through astrological telescopes, by Camden, the historian, and a Dr. Childrey. They both gravely ascribed these events to astrological phenomena, Camden seriously remarking, " that the eclipses of the sun in Aries have been very fatal to this place ; for in the years 1542 and 1567, when the sun was eclipsed in that sign, it (Oswestry) suffered much by fire ! " After reading such absurdity as this from men professing to be learned, we have reason to be thankful that we are living in a more enlightened and scientific age. A few years before the conflagration last referred to, the town was visited by a no less alarming evil. In 1559 pesti- lence consigned to the grave, within one year, more than five hundred of the inhabitants. The disease which thus afflicted the people is stated to have commenced with profuse perspi- ration, (from which it was called " the sweating sickness,") and to have continued until the death or recovery of the patient. Its operation was quick and powerful, and cure or death occurred within twenty-four hours* Those persons who were seized in 53 CROES WYLAN. the day were put to bed in their clothes to wait the issue ; and those seized in the night were desired to remain in bed, but not to sleep. The desolation of the town during the long continu- ance of the plague is described in affecting language *by the writer of the clever historical sketches, on the History of Oswestry, that appear in Mr. Roberts's publication, entitled " Oswald's Well :" — " It was then that Croeswylan received its name. Croes wylan, or the Cross of weeping, was there erected, the base of which still remains to be seen. To this, with superstitious reverence, all the people resorted. The diseased and dying sought in grief beneath its sacred shadow a prepa- ration for the doom to which they were appointed, and there they languished till that doom was fixed. Before it, the whole and healthy ones confessed and deplored their sins, and deprecated the vengeance of heaven. Throughout the succeeding century this foul contagion lurked on our shores, and at intervals visited our town, converting it into a vast charnel house. Its attacks were so insidious and sudden that the glow of health suffered no process of removal, but in- stantly fled, as scared and affrighted on the approach of the fell devourer. During its presence no sights were to be seen but the wan and sickly visage of those who were dying, or the panic-stricken gaze of the man yet uninfected, almost delirious with alarm, and starting from the touch of the dearest friend of his heart. The air was rent with shrieks and laden with lamentation. Death alone seemed contented and satis- fied, and sat like a monster unmoved as he banqueted on hundreds of his victims. All commerce was at a stand-still. Every house was locked, the inmates scarcely venturing upon a communication with each other, much less exposing them- selves to contact with those without. With foreboding reluctance they breathed the breath of heaven, pregnant as it was with the seeds of death. If one of their number was attacked, no consideration of friendship or kindred spared him the aggravation of being hurled into the street, there to await the regular arrival of the dead-cart. That sad accompani- 54 > RECORDS OF THE PLAGUE. ment of the contagion, the gibbet of the scene, rolled sullenly along the death-smitten streets upon its gloomy mission, and never returned without the sad evidences of the rapid pro- gress of the desolating scourge. In the ears of the expiring it must have sounded like the toll of the passing bell, the knell of their speedy departure. Upon it, whether dead or just gasping for life, the diseased victims were heaped, and hurried off to the brink of a huge pit, dug, probably, in a corner of the Old Churchyard, into which they were remorse- lessly thrown. Everything bespoke the presence and work- ing of a mighty power, in league with * the King of terrors.' All human ties were forcibly disrupted, every human sym- pathy was sacrilegiously immolated, until the people were reduced to that extremity of sadness, in which life is burden- some for its sorrows, and death terrible for the grim and ghastly shroud in which it lies hid." The market was held, during the Plague, at Croes wylan, that the people from the surrounding country-places should not visit the town, and thereby suffer from the infection. No doubt that with the dreadful scourge stalked, hand in hand, gaunt poverty. It may be easily imagined that the poor suffered severely from the sickness, and that many of them required relief. We have some testimony before us that the public authorities of the time sympathized with the sufferers. The following extracts from the "Accompt of Richard ap Lley, Muringer of the town of Oswestr, for and from the xvj day of September, in the 2nd yere of our sovraynge Lady Elizabeth," show how pecuniary aid was rendered to certain parties : — " The sayde accomtante doth asc alowaunce for rent bayted to the Towlers (toll-takers) for one qr. in considracion of the PLAGE : s. d. Fyrst to the executors of John Vyghan - - xx . . Allso, &c. rent bayted to Thomas ap Re. for Wolyws-gate - xx . . Allso, &c. to David Glover the elder, for Newe-gate - - xiij iiij Allso, &c. to Wyling Lloyd, for Betresce-gate - - x . . 55 ALLOWANCE TO THE SUFFERERS. Allso, &c. to David ap David, for Blak gate - Allso, &c. rent of Crofft-pystil, in the hande of Re. ap Mrdyth, dyssessed __-_-__ Allso, &c. money payde for wrytinge of a suplycacion to my lord of Arundell ______ Allso, &c. for Lewys Tayler, and Guttyn Furbur, beinge unpayde for setting of stales, by reason of the Plage Allso, &c. for Re. Lewther, for one qr. beinge absent from the towne - - Allso, &c. for a qr. rent unto tanners beinge apsentin in tyme of the plage ; and fyrste, Thomas Baker (2 other similar items) _ - - - Itm. The sayde accomptaunt dothe asc alowaunce for them that are deade or fled, and them that are in decaye; and fyrst, Thomas ap John Wyling, beinge a poore man (five others fled, &c.) Imp. the sayde accountant, &c. Lewys, bucher, that is dead (one for the like and 7 fled) - Edward Gorg, fled (2 others fled) - David ap sr. Re. saythe that he dothe not occupey his backhowes, and prayth alowance David Bobyth hathe ben longe secke, and asc alo - Jonet vrch. David ap Morys asc alowance for a qr. Rent (1 other) - Edward Lloyd praythe alowance for a qr. - David Glover the elder, in lycke manner Richard Salter was longe sycke, and praythe alowance Thomas Glover praythe alowaunce for half a yere ; aledginge, that he sold no alle for that space (3 others) ----- Tanners. Glovers. Buchers. Corvsers. Backers. Hucksters. Alle Selers. ij •• .. xij . . xiiij . . xx . . xiiij .. xij • X JJ xiiij x iijj Payments for the provision of the genrall Feast unto the Coo-burgesses according to the aunsient costom, holden the vth day of Desember, in the thrydeyere of the raynge of our sovraynge laydeEllizabeth, by the grace of God quene of England, &c. at the making of this accompt : ». d. Whete. Fyrste, the saide accomptaunt hathe payde for ii stryckes and a hoope of whette for brede and for peys - xj . . Maullt. Allso payde for iii strycke of maullt - - - xij . . Boochers. Allso payde for a qr. and ii rybes of byff - vj viij Allso payde for mytton for to make peys for this feast ij vj for iij/&. ressyns - . . xij s pep - - - . . v ij 56 FAMINE. Cloves, fyc. Allso payde for cloves, masses, aud saffrone - - . . vj Allso payde for synamon and sugr. - - - . . vij Itm. pd. for buttr. spent at this feast - - - .viij Chese. Allso payde for chesses - - - - ij ix Nyttes, Sfc. Allso pd. for appells and nyttes - - - . . xvj Saullt. Allso payde for a hoope of sallt for the byfF - - . . x This Accompt was made before us, the persoiis under-named, then Bailiff e of the said Towne, John Stanney, Thomas Evans. With these awful calamities the people endured severe privation, both as to food and clothing. Provisions had risen so enormously in price as to place even the coarsest food beyond the reach of the poor. We are told that so deficient were the working-classes of the commonest provision, that they were glad to resort, for subsistence, to horse-bread, composed of beans, oats, and bran. " The good old times " are too frequently quoted as periods of comfort, compared with the present days ; but such facts as have been now related must convince every Englishman of right feeling that, however humble his lot, he still possesses " a goodly heritage." For a considerable time no event occurred in Oswestry worthy of detailed notice. In the 42nd of Elizabeth, Coke, Attorney-General, acknowledges all the liberties and franchises of Oswestry, by an order that all further proceedings on the part of the Crown, on a writ of Quo Warranto against the Bailiffs and Burgesses of Oswestry, should wholly cease. In 1603 a dispute took place between the Bailiffs, Burgesses, &c. and the Earl of Suffolk, then lord and owner of the town and manor, the former body having, in numerous assembly, resolved to maintain the rights and privileges granted to them by Richard II., and confirmed by their "late sovereigne of famous memorye, queene Elizabeth." A petition setting forth their grievances, mainly caused by the Earl of Suffolk's steward, had been presented by them to the Lord President of the Marches ; to which Lord Suffolk replied as follows: — 57 Suffolk's letter. " To his good frelnds, the Burgesses and Townesmen of his Towne and Manor of Oswester : I have of late receaved a Letter from my hon ble good Lord and freind, the L. President of Wales, w ch declared unto mee, a great desire in his Lpp to give some satisfaction to you uppon a Peticon given him from yo r Towne, as exceptinge against the Course w ch Mr. Lloyd, my Officer, healde with you. Nowe you must knowe, that I doe, and will avowe him in such things as he, in his discreation, shall find to bee profitable for mee w ch , perchaunce, may bee displeasinge to you, but herin you may further wronge yo r selves then you are aware off; for yf you shall deny to yeald mee thoes Rights & Proffits that are due unto me, as Lord of the Manor, you must then knowe, that I doe look for at Mr. Lloyds hands such a resistance of yo r wills as I may not bee prejudized thereby : & I knowe his understandinge & discreation is such, as he would not drawe mee into frivolous and needles questions. — Therefore I must tell you, that yf you have refused the duties wh ch belonge unto mee, that I will execute my remedies as the lawes of the Land will allowe mee. But, becawse I wolde not be thought rigorous, and that yt may appeare that my L : President hath the powre of an honorable & kind ffreind in mee, I am contented that yf you doe sende upp to the Tearme at Winchester, such as shall have powre to followe the cawse in the behaulf of you all, that then the questions w ch are risen between the Steward & you shall, yf yt may be, have an end; by Councill chosen of each syde ; w ch Course shall please mee well : but yf yt happen otherwise, the fault shall not be myne, for I desire not contencons ; but then of necessety, Lawe must determyn them. In the meane tyme, I charge you all to carry yo r selves respectively and duetifully to my Officers ; for you must learn to obey, yf you will desire to be obeyed ; w ch you, being a Corporate Towne, should principally desire. And soe I leave you for this tyme, untill I heare further from you. From the Court at Wylton, this 25th of October, 1603. Yo r Lovinge freind & Lord, SUFFOLKE." James I. in 1616, granted a Charter to the town, thus removing " divers doubts and ambiguities " which had " arisen concerning the ancient liberties, francheses, &c, of the town and borough of Oswaldstre," and extending their liberties and privileges, as well as confirming them a body corporate, by the name of " the BaylifF and Burgesses of Oswestry, in the Countie of Salope." 58 PLOT TO REMOVE THE MARKET. About this period a heavy blow was struck at the commerce of the town, by the Drapers of Shrewsbury (a reference to whose complaints and apprehensions has already been made), "who weary," says Pennant, "of their weekly journeys to Oswestry, determined to transfer the market to their own town, from that in which Queen Elizabeth had established it. But this attempt proved in the first instance abortive. The Lordship of Oswestry was enjoyed at this time by Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk, to whom it had been granted by the late queen, in the 43rd year of her reign. He was in great favour with James, in whose Court he held the office of Lord Chamberlain, and to whom he had recently recommended himself by his vigilance and promptitude in the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot. Possessed of the highest notions of the privileges of the peerage, and jealous of the infringement of his rights by the traders of Salop, he issued his mandate to them by one of their own body, — Arthur Kynaston, merchant of the staple, a younger brother of the house of Ruyton, — to desist from such attempts in future. Their answer is recorded in their own books : it is entitled 1 The copy of a letter sent by the Company to the Earle of Suffolk, Lord Chamberlain of his Majestie's househoulde, ye 24th June, 1609.' ' Right Honerabell, — Your letter bearing date the second of this June, by the hands of Mr. Kiniston wee have received : wherein ytt appereth yor Lordship was informed that wee the Societie of Drapers wentt aboute by underarte and menenesse to withdraw your markett of Walsh clothe from your towne of Oswester ; ' and they proceed to exculpate themselves from the charge in those phrases of submission which were in that day the established usage of inferiors in their addresses to those above them. This was their tone during the plenitude of the Earl's power, which, five years after the date of this letter, received a great increase by his appointment to the exalted post of Lord High Treasurer of England. During this time we may be sure 59 ITS SUCCESS. * the market for frize and cottons continued, where, accord- ing to Heylin, it was originally fixed, at Oswestry.' But in 1618, the King's necessities caused an enquiry into the management of the treasury, and Suffolk, whose unbounded expenses in his magnificent palace at Audley-End, had brought him into pecuniary difficulties, was fined by the Court of Star Chamber in the vast sum of £30,000, and dismissed from all his employments. The clemency of James mitigated this enormous fine, but the influence of the Earl of Suffolk was gone; and in 1621 the Shrewsbury Drapers made an order upon the books of their Company, ' That they will not buy cloth at Oswestry, or elsewhere than in Salop." As we have shewn in a preceding page, the struggles of the Welsh, to recover the freedom they had lost, terminated with the death of their last great leader, Owain Glyndwr. " Their wild spirit of independence, and their enthusiasm for liberty," says the eloquent historian whom we have already quoted, " from this period gradually declined. The blood of their beloved Princes was nearly extinct ; and their native bravery was subdued, or rendered ineffectual, by their intestine divisions and by their repeated misfortunes. When fierce valour and unregulated freedom are opposed to discipline, to enlarged views, and to sound policy, the contest is very unequal : it is not therefore surprising that the genius of England at length obtained the ascendancy. It was, indeed, an interesting spectacle, and might justly have excited indignation and pity, to have seen an ancient and gallant nation, falling the victims of private ambition, or sinking under the weight of a superior power. But such emotions, which were then due to that injured people, have lost at this period their force and their poignancy. A new train of ideas arises ; when we see that the change is beneficial to the vanquished — when we see a wild and precarious liberty succeeded by a freedom which is secured by equal and fixed laws — when we see manners hostile and barbarous, and a spirit of rapine and cruelty, 60 THE CIVIL WARS. softened down into the arts of peace, and the milder arts of civilized life — when we see this Remnant of the Ancient Britons uniting in interests, and mingling in friendship with their conquerors, and enjoying with them the same constitu- tional liberties ; the purity of which, we trust, will continue uncorrupted as long as the British Empire shall be numbered among the nations of the earth." We now approach a period in our national history which has ever been viewed, by opposing political parties, in a conflicting spirit. The turbulent elements of THE CIVIL WARS were not allayed until Death had silenced the two great actors in the tragic and murderous drama. The present volume, devoted principally to local history, is not an appropriate organ in which to discuss the merits and demerits of Charles I. and his sturdy rival Cromwell. Charles was doubtless guilty of many gross violations of his prerogative, and plunged into a reckless course of misgovernment, accompanied with galling taxation, which the people, beginning to learn the lessons of liberty, and to understand the genius of the British constitution, would not tamely submit to. The ill-fated monarch, looking at him through the long vista of two centuries, was greatly to be pitied. The son of a king, who disregarded the instructions of his wise preceptor, George Buchanan, and who, in his rule over the English people, was prodigal, unprincipled, and tyrannical, he ascended the throne with a corrupt education, and urged to despotism and injustice by his infamous minister Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, he speedily exhibited in his regal capacity, a passion for power, which, as Macauley remarks, soon became " a predominant vice ; idolatry to his regal prerogative, his governing principle. The interests of the crown legitimated every measure, and sanctified in his eye the widest deviation 61 CHARACTER OF CHARLES I. from moral rule." Such was the son of a kingly father who was fond of cockfighting, and the brutal pleasures of inebriation, who utterly neglected the affairs of state on the plea that "he should not make a slave of himself; " who sold titles and privileges of all kinds, that his vices might be fed ; and who basely deprived people of their patents, after having paid for them to himself. These were only a small portion of the sire's iniquities. What surprise then can be entertained that Charles, his son, walked much in the father's footsteps ! Notwithstanding his despotic and infatuated measures, to which all the evils of the civil wars may be traced, yet he had many excellencies ; and the closing scene of his unhappy life proved that had he been blessed with a wiser tutelage, and taught to govern with a just and righteous hand, he might have descended into the tomb with virtue and honour, embalmed in the grateful recollections of his country. Of his powerful rival and successor much has, and still may be said, in his praise and condemnation. His character, however, singular and erratic as it was, was mixed, as that of other men; and whilst he displayed a religious enthusiasm and sanctity in most of his public acts, apparently impressed with the conviction that he "was doing God service" in the course in which he had embarked ; yet the troublous events of his life — the fears, anxieties, and weakness of his mortal nature — must have convinced him, if he sincerely believed in the religion of which he made so loud and trumpet-tongued a profession, that " he had done many things which he ought not to have done, and left undone many things he ought to have done." Now that we look calmly back upon Cromwell's life, we can see much in his administrative policy that elevated the nation during his transient rule, and that has shed its salutary influences even upon the present generation ; but the deep, dark spot in his escutcheon — the murder of Charles — a crime which harrows up the feelings, and rouses the indignation of all right-minded men — that foul murder, with 62 COLONEL LLOYD. all its cruel and inhuman associations, blots out any excellency that he ever did achieve, and stamps his character indelibly as that of a religious, enthusiastic professor only, and not of a Christian man. Charles may have been guilty, and deserving of punishment for his misrule ; but we have yet to learn that Cromwell had plenary power to execute the mandate of Jehovah, and to have adopted the inspired exclamation, "Vengeance is Mine!" "At the breaking out of the Civil Wars," says Pennant, " the whole of Shropshire, with few exceptions of persons and none of places, adhered to the cause of royalty. Oswestry, like the rest, was garrisoned for the king. The town was defended by a new gate and draw-bridge ; the castle was fortified very strongly ; and to prevent it from being com- manded by the church, in case of the capture of the town, the steeple was pulled down, and a part of the sacred edifice was also demolished." The same popular author, with his fervid nationality, and strong royalist principles, adds, with evident pride and delight, " The garrison consisted chiefly of Welsh (a people almost to a man staunch in the cause of their sovereign)." The governor of Oswestry Castle at this disturbed period was a Colonel Lloyd. Edward Lloyd, Esq., of Llanvorda, compounded for his estates, as a royalist, in the sum of £300; and at the period of which we write (1643) he was in the prime of life, and therefore physically able to assume the important command of Governor of the Castle. Colonel Thomas Mytton, of Halston, near Oswestry, a man well skilled in military art, and of great personal courage, had united as a commander with the Parliamentary forces and first signalized himself in an assault upon the town of Wem, which he seized and garrisoned ; that place soon became the centre from which attacks were directed against the royalist garrisons in the neighbouring towns. Mytton's success at Wem was achieved in the latter end of August, 1643 ; and although he actively assisted the Parliamentary 63 THE PLOT. army in its attacks upon other parts of the country, he frequently visited Wem to concert measures for fresh conquests. In January of the following year, a plan was there determined upon for a sudden and covert attack upon Oswestry. The story is on record that Mytton well knew the bon vivant qualities of the Governor of Oswestry. It was said of this royalist Commandant, that in the social circle he was the life and soul of the company, and that when he entered upon the convivialities of the table, he found it a difficult matter to interrupt the rosy hours by wending homewards. Colonel Mytton might know the frailties of his gallant opponent ; and, with a strategetic art unworthy of a modern general, he devised a scheme for capturing the Governor and seizing the town of Oswestry. The anecdote proceeds to state, that Colonel Lloyd was to be invited to dinner at the house of a neigh- bouring gentleman ; and Mytton calculated that no dinner invitation would be refused by good-humoured Col. Lloyd. The plot included the spread of further net-work, in which the unsuspecting Governor was to be surely caught. His gastronomic and vinous attachments were to be plentifully gratified ; and whilst indulging in bacchanalian revels, a military force, under Mytton's direction, was to enter the dining room in which the innocent Governor was carousing* to seize him, vi et armis, take him before his own garrison, in Oswestry, and there compel him to issue orders to his officers to surrender the town and castle. The plot, as we have described it, was partly successful, but eventually failed. Colonel Lloyd accepted the apparently-friendly invitation to dinner ; and all went merrily on with him for a brief period. The detachment of troops was sent from Wem to take him prisoner, so that the first act of the drama was nearly completed. Whilst, however, the Parliamentarians were on their way to surprise him, two of their scouts were seized by some royalist friends ; they confessed their share in the treacherous plot ; the Colonel was apprized of the danger he was in, fled from the habitation of his Judas-like host, 64 ATTACK ON THE TOWN. reached the "post of honour" which he had so improperly- abandoned for the pleasures of the table, and secured from the grasp of his enemies both the town and castle. Colonel Lloyd's misconduct was reported, it seems, to the royalist commander-in-chief, who removed him from his important position, and appointed as his successor Sir Absetts Shipman. The parliamentary leaders were numerous and powerful, and they were all fired with zeal and enthusiasm in the cause which they espoused. The town of Oswestry was a military post of distinction in their eyes ; and to possess it was an achievement " devoutly to be wished." Oswestry stood on a towering height, vigilantly watching the varied movements of the parliamentary hosts, and protecting the communication between the town and Wales. The opposite party were equally active and observant. Colonel Mytton was well acquainted, from his local connexion, with the strength and resources of the town,- and brought to his aid, in his meditated attack upon it, Sir Thomas Fairfax, the equal to Cromwell in military tactics. In the month of March, 1644, Fairfax and Mytton, with a strong force under their command, made a sudden attack upon the town, which was gallantly repulsed by Prince Rupert (the King's nephew), who commanded the royalist troops in garrison. This triumph was but of short duration, for the town was attacked in a few months afterwards, and in this renewed onslaught, the parliamentary forces were victors. The Battle of Oswestry, if such it may be called, was fought on the 22nd June. The Earl of Denbigh, a young parliamentary leader of some military talents, and son of a nobleman who had died in defence of the crown, suddenly left the main body of his army, and marched, with his " forlorn hope " upon Oswestry, determined upon taking the town by a coup de main. He reached the vicinity in company with Colonel Mytton, about two o'clock in the afternoon of June the 22nd, the former probably knowing, from the " false brethren," as spies were then called, that 65 F CRANAGES DARING. the garrison was partly defenceless, the Governor having imprudently gone to Shrewsbury with certain parliamentary prisoners. Denbigh's force consisted merely of two hundred infantry, and two troops of cavalry. The engagement was short and sharp. After a hot affair of about two hours, in which Lord Denbigh's artillery played fiercely upon the garrison with small and great shot, a breach was made in the walls of the town, and the infantry poured in, headed by Major Fraser, with the loss of only one man killed and three wounded. t* The New-gate," adds Pennant, " was next demolished by the cannon, when a young fellow, one George Cranage, went with a hatchet, and cutting down the chains of the draw -bridge, enabled the cavalry also to enter. The besieged made an attempt to maintain the Church, but soon finding it untenable, fled to the castle. Hither they were closely pursued, and the pioneers were quickly called in to undermine its walls ; in which, we are informed, the skill as well as valour of Colonel Mytton was very conspicuous. He was probably enabled, from his residence in the neighr- bourhood, to direct the miners to proceed with most effect. But the daring valour of Cranage again anticipated these slower operations. He was persuaded to hang a Buitar (a petard) at the castle-^gate ! Being well animated with sack, he undertook this desperate attempt, crept with the engine from house to house, till he got to that next to the castle, fastened it to the gate, set fire to it, and escaped unhurt ! The gate was then burst open, and the garrison, finding it impossible to make any further resistance, surrendered the castle upon promise of quarter for their lives. * * * It is greatly to the honour of the victorious commanders that they restrained their soldiers from pillage, at the expense of a gratuity of £500. One can scarcely err in ascribing this noble and uncommon act of mercy to Colonel Mytton's solicitude for the welfare of his neighbours. The Earl dispatched intelligence of his success to the Parliament. Pis letter was read to the House of Commons, on the 27tl? CALUMNIES AGAINST THE VICTORS. June, giving an account of his taking the town and castle of Oswaldstree, with 400 prisoners and 300 arms. Thanks were voted to him for this his good service, and former testimonies of affection to the house." The circumstantial narrative proceeds to state that "his Lordship returned, after this exploit, to his main army at Drayton," and left Colonel Mytton in defence of the town. The fall of Oswestry was a severe blow to the royal party. Besides opening a door for the reduction of North Wales to the power of the Parliament, it lowered them in the scale of public opinion, a loss, in the declining posture of their affairs, of incalculable importance. Active and energetic as were both Lord Denbigh and Colonel Mytton, in their attack upon Oswestry, still they did not escape the slanders even of their own party. The Earl of Denbigh seems to have felt their calumnies acutely, for a few months after the siege his Lordship wrote a letter to Mytton, vindicating the gallantry of both; which we subjoin: — "COLL. MITTON, I will not trouble you with the injuries that are offered to you and myselfe, by the Committe of Wem. I am sure you have deserved more of the Parliament then the rest of that Committe. Captaine dive, as I am informed, reports I was not at the takeing of Oswaldstre, and that my horse stood att too great a distance ; I am sure they entred with the foote ; but the false representations of passages heere shall not divert me from those occasions that may fully expresse me to be Your faithfull frend and servant, "Condor, 29th Oct. 1644." DENBIGH." At this period the King's position was critical and alarming. In the early part of the month he determined to take refuge within the walls of Shrewsbury, in his march through Worcester and Bewdley. Waller, the parliamentary leader, hearing of Charles's movements, broke up from Oxford, and hastened in the direction of Shropshire. On this intelligence the King left Shrewsbury, and retraced his steps. The battle of Copredy Bridge (June 29th) terminated in the defeat of the parliamentary forces ; and in July the Earl of Denbigh, encouraged by his success at Oswestry, drew his forces towards Shrewsbury, bujfc 67 MR. NEWPORT. was repulsed by the royalist army, with a loss of 120 of his men. The King's defeat at Marston Moor (July 3rd) added, however, to his disasters and dangers. The whole of Shrop- shire was in arms, and jeopardy and distress stared every man in the face. Among the prisoners taken in the late disaster at Oswestry was Francis Newport, Esq., who had served both in the short and long Parliaments. The historians of Shrewsbury have furnished us with an interesting account of this distinguished man : — " Mr. Newport was son and heir of Sir Richard Newport, of High Ercall, one of the knights of the shire. This young gentleman was but just eligible to serve in parliament, having arrived at full age only on the 23rd day of the preceding February. He manifested the same ardent loyalty which actuated his father : and ventured, with rare but honourable gallantry, to vote for the acquittal of Lord Strafford, at a time when such votes exposed those who gave them to no small personal hazard ; the populace, with their usual toleration of sentiments differing from their own, denouncing all such, fifty-six in number, as Straffordians ; and exposing their names to execration and danger by public placards. Mr. Newport was soon expelled from the house as a malignant • appeared in arms against the parliament ; and was among the prisoners taken at Oswestry, on the capture of that town by the Earl of Denbigh and Colonel Mytton. It is needless to say that he suffered very considerably in his estate : being obliged to compound in the large sum of £5284, in addition to £3287, and £170 a year extorted from his father for the same crime of loyalty. Yet though attached to the monarchy, he was friendly to the rights of the subject; and it is not a little remarkable, that he who had suffered so deeply for the first Charles, was so much disgusted by the base and arbitary measures of the two succeeding kings, by the last of whom he had the honour of being dismissed from the office of lord lieutenant of this county ; that he was a 68 COLONEL MARROWS ASSAULT. great promoter of the Revolution, and was excepted, by the abdicated monarch, from his general pardon. He was created earl of Bradford by king William ; and died Sept., 1708, in the eighty-ninth year of his age." The town of Oswestry was now in the hands of the parliament- arians, under the temporary Governorship of Colonel Mytton, but was not long permitted to remain quietly in the power of the victors. Only one short week elapsed before a formidable attempt was made by part of the royalist army, under Colonel Marrow, a skilful and intrepid commander, to retake the town, and drive the parliamentary forces from their position. Colonel Marrow invested the town with 3,500 infantry, and 1,500 cavalry, and maintained a close siege for the three following days. This sudden assault greatly embarrassed Colonel Mytton, whose only hope for relief was from Sir Thomas Myddleton, his kinsman by marriage, who was then stationed at Knutsford, in Cheshire, more than fifty miles distant. Colonel Mytton, however, succeeded in making Sir Thomas acquainted with his position in less than twelve hours from the commencement of the royalist attack ; and the gallant knight, who was heartily engaged in the parliamentary cause, immediately mustered three regiments, namely, Booth's, Mainwaring's, and Croxen's, with Major Lothian at the head of the reserve, and marching onwards with all speed, reached in two days within sight of Oswestry — it is supposed between Halston and Whittington. During this interval of time the royalists had not obtained full possession of the town, though consisting, as Sir Thomas Myddleton says, " of the most valiant commanders and soldiers, drawn out of the garrisons of Chester, Cheshire, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Ludlow, Denbighshire, Flintshire, and other places." They had possessed themselves of the Church, but had made no inroad upon the Castle. Myddleton's approach having been made known, Colonel Marrow marched out from the town, deter- mined to attack him before his troops could recruit themselves 69 THE DEFEAT AND PURSUIT. after their long march. " They had taken the passage of water neere to Whittington," says Sir Thomas, in his letter to Lenthall, the Speaker, " and very furiously assaulted and charged us, but were repulsed and forced to retire, through the courage of our horse, who most courageously entertained the enemy. Three several times the skirmish was doubtful ; either side being forced so often to retreat. But in the end, our foot forces, coming up, relieved the horse, beat back the enemy, and pursued them with such force, that our horse being thereby encouraged, which indeed was formerly weary, joining with the foot, they put the enemy to an absolute flight, in which we pursued them five miles towards Shrewsbury, to a place called ' Felton Heath,' and where we remained after their flight, again masters of the field. In the skirmish with the enemy, and in the pursuite, we lost several of our horse, some of our troopers, but never a footman, which I am yet informed of. As for the enemy they lost several stout men ; had many of them taken prisoners, some of them being of great quality, as the Lord Newport's eldest son ; and besides, in their flight, such was their haste, that we found in our pursuite the highway as it were strewed with bread, cheese, bacon, and other good provisions ; clothes, and such necessary appurtenances to an army, besides some whole veals and muttons, new killed/' Sir Thomas adds, that " his forces followed up their blow nearly to Shrewsbury, and that Majors Manley and Whitney were afterwards taken under the walls of that town, in pursuite of them." This aiFair closed the struggle between the royalist and parliamentary forces for the possession of Oswestry. On the very day on which Sir Thomas Myddleton raised the siege, Prince Rupert was signally defeated at Marston Moor, with the loss of ten thousand men killed and taken prisoners. Colonel Mytton must subsequently have delegated his command as temporary Governor of Oswestry, as we find him soon afterwards actively engaged in commanding the parlia- 70 AN OFFER OF AID. ihentary troops in the conquest of Shrewsbury. That event happened early in 1645, when the town was placed in the hands of the parliamentarians. At this period we find Mytton named^ in several public documents* as Major- General in the parliamentary army* and some time afterwards as Commander- in-chief of the forces in North Wales* All the historical records referring to this period give evidence of the arduous duties of General Mytton, and of the difficulties which he had suffered in maintaining his hold upori Oswestry. A letter which we here give indicates the straits he was in, and at the same time the friendly offers of support made to him in the county. The letter is from a Mr. Edward Mynshull, of Bearstone, near Drayton :— " Hono ble < S r > I came to Drayton, hearinge you were there^ butt unfortunately mist of you, yo r honor lyeinge in Stafforde the night before; I have since then waited yo r retorne from London, haveinge 30 able men in readiness, and 20 of them well armed, to doe yo r honor servise. I have kepte them together upon my owne charge, and should have bin glad they might have bin accepted in Ossestrie, to doe duty for theire free quarters till yo r honor had returned. I motioned this to Major Goldegay, butt itt could nott be granted without an order from the Comitte. S r > I am resolved to doe you servise, or no man ; and for my fidelity, I will engage £400, paid in Shropshire, and if you please, as much in Cheshire ; if yo r honor please, I could wish to have a comission sent me' by the first, because I only tooke itt in direction from yo 1 * honor, and whether thatt may suporte me in yo r honor's absence, (should I be questioned) I make a doubte of. S r > my request is, I may have order by the first, to martch to Osestree, where I and my men will doe duty for free quarters, (requireinge noe pay) till yo T honor retorneth ; and lett me receive order from Major Goldegay to thatt purpose, if you soe please, for were I settled in a garrison, I could have men sufficient. I beseech yo^" honor retorne me yo r pleasure by the first, and I shall willingly embrace yo r commands ; if yo r honor send to Hugh Bate, Shoemaker, in Wem, he will convey yo r letter to Mr. Jo 11 - Grosvenor, in Berson, from whence itt will come safe to me. S r > I pray for yo r honors prosperity and safe retorne, and whilst I live I shall remaine Att yo r servise, "Berson, April 25th, 1645/' EDWARDE MYNSHULL." 71 GOVERNORSHIP OF OSWESTRY. The fall of Shrewsbury into the power of the Parliament was marked by " a solemn thanksgiving throughout the City of London," on the 12th March ; Mytton was summoned to appear before the House of Commons on the 29th of that month, and " Master Speaker, in the name, and by the command of the whole House, gave him hearty thanks for his many and faithfull services done to the state ; giving him all encouragement to persist in the same : especially for that gallant service of Shrewsbury ; assuring him that he shall never want the encouragement of the House of Parliament in his undertakings." General Mytton had evidently embarked all his energies in the parliamentary cause ; yet notwithstanding the tribute paid to him by the Commons, it does not appear that he obtained from that source any more substantial honours. This neglect seems to have given him much pain. A letter to him from the Duke of Northumberland, about this period, shews that even the Governorship of Oswestry was not actually accorded to him till late in the year 1645. The letter we subjoin : — "S* By an indisposition in my health, I have not beene able for some dayes to attend the Committie of both kingdomes, so as I can not give you so good an account of your businesse as I desired, but I heare that a commission for your being governor of Oswallds-tree is alreadie signed ; to-morrow I shall make a further enquirie after this particular, and if it be in my power to contribute any thing towards your satisfaction, none shall more readily assist you then Your very affectionate freind and servant, "London, Nov. 21, 1645." NORTHUMBERLAND." "For my very loveing Freind, Col. Mytton." The conquest of Shrewsbury, by the parliamentary troops, is generally acknowledged to have been achieved by the gallantry and superior tactics of General Mytton ; and having 72 INGRATITUDE OF THE PARLIAMENT. accomplished so signal a service for his party, he naturally expected, now that the Governorship of that town was vacant, that the office would be conferred upon him. His ancient relation to the town, his ancestors having been inhabitants and burgesses for upwards of four centuries, added strength to his claim. All his important services to the Parliament were, however, of no weight, and the Governorship was bestowed upon another man. We are told that " Colonel Mytton's politics were getting very fast out of fashion. He had sided with the Parliament only for the limitation of prerogative, not for the subversion of the monarchy. The Presbyterians, to whom, it appears, he belonged, had no insurmountable objections to the office of a king, provided he was under their controul : or to a national establishment of religion, if its revenues were at their disposal. But those who commence important changes in a state have seldom the satisfaction of reaping the fruit of their labours. Spirits more ardent, with views more extensive, step in between them and. the consummation of their designs." With Sir William Waller, another of the ablest and most successful commanders of the Presbyterian party, he could say, " after the expence of so much blood and treasure, all the difference between our former and present estate is this, that before-time, under the complaint of a slavery we lived like freemen ; and now, under the notion of a freedom, we live like slaves, enforced by continual taxes and oppressions, to maintain and feed on our miseries." Although General Myttonhad been thus ungratefully treated by the Parliament, he still occupied his military position, for we find that in 1648 he was engaged with Sir Thomas Myddleton in the attack upon Caernarvonshire and Anglesey. In June of that year the Speaker of the House of Commons communicated to him a letter, highly approving his " good and faithfull service " against " Sir John Owen and his rebellious crewe." The letter referred to is a curiosity, as it 73 THANKS OF THE HOUSE. shows the blasphemous freedom which Cromwell's parlia^ merit took with the holy name of God : — "Sir, I received a letter subscribed by yourself and the 1 Governor of Conway, wherein you gave an account of the late successe wherewith God hath beene pleased to blesse the forces under both yo r commands and cortductes in yo r late expedition into Carnarvonshire,' against Sir John Owen and his rebellious crewe, w ch I have imparted to the house, and hath beene there read. Yo r good and faithfull service in that expedition is soe well represented, that I am cnmanded, as from the house' and in their name, to returne thanks for the same, w ch hereby I doe, and you are desired to do the like to those officers and souldiers under the charge and comand w ch God hath beene pleased to make instrumentall in the obteyning of such a seasonable mercy, and withal! to represent to the house what course (like to be effectual) may bee taken for remunerating ye officers and souldiers for their good service. This beeing all I have in comand af present, I shall only add that I am Yo T assured loveing freind, '* June the 13th, 1648." WM. LENTHALL, Speaker." Lenthall, the Speaker, was profuse, as we have shewn, in compliments, but still no substantial mark of favour upon General Mytton was bestowed. The Committee to whom the appointment of Governor of Shrewsbury Castle had been referred had long before found " reasons of weight to put another " in that office, after having held it in their own hands for some time. In 1647 the Governorship was filled by Humphrey Mackworth, Esq., of Betton, a Presbyterian, and Colonel in the army, who occupied the post till his death, in 1654, and having been one of Cromwell's Privy Council, was buried in Henry VII.'s Chapel in Westminster Abbey, on the 26th December, with great magnificence. He was succeeded in office at Shrewsbury by Thomas Hunt, Esq., representative of the town in Parliament, and a Colonel in the army. Mytton retired to London, from what immediate cause there is no record to show ; but some writers assert that he resigned his command. In 1651 we find that the Parliament again solicited Major- General Mytton's services, the following 74 DEATH OF GENERAL MYTTON. letter having been forwarded to him by the ' President Bradshawe. The kingdom was disturbed at this period by the Scottish Covenanters, under the nominal command of Charles II. :— "S r . The Scotts army being now entred into England, and bending their course towards those parts where wee know you have a good interest, wee conceive your presence there may bee of use for the service of the Commonwealth ; wee therefore desire you forthwith to repaire into the Countie of Salop, and there, with the rest of your fellow Commissioners, doe your best endeavour, and put out your interest there for the raiseing of what force of horse and foot you can, for the service of the Commonwealth in this present exigency of affaires. Signed in the name and by order of the Councell of State, appointed by authority of Parliament, "Whitehall, 14th August, 1651." JO: BRADSHAWE, Prsidt." "For Major General Thomas Mytton." Most probably by this time General Mytton had grown tired with the hard toils of intestine Warfare, and become disgusted with the faithlessness of the men whom he had so ardently and faithfully served; for we do not find that he complied with Bradshawe's letter, or took any further part in public affairs. He died in the metropolis in the year 1656, and his body was taken down to Shrewsbury, and interred in St. Chad's Church there. THE RESTORATION. It is unnecessary here to do more than merely advert to the unhappy close of Charles I.'s reign, the triumphs of Cromwell, and the bold and manly efforts made by Charles II. to obtain the Crown which had been so violently wrested from his father. Although Cromwell had made himself Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland, yet he reposed not on a bed of roses. " Every party in the kingdom soon became disgusted with Cromwell's dominion. The royalists were indignant to see the ancient monarchy usurped by an upstart who had no hereditary claim upon their allegiance ; 75 THE RESTORATION. the republicans were mortified to see all their blood and efforts, which had been spent for the setting-up of the Commonwealth, lavished only for the support of a government which, in everything but the name, was a most despotic monarchy ; the Presbyterians were chagrined at the favour of their rivals, the Independents, and at a general toleration of every religious denomination (except the Church of England)." Conspiracies and plots were hatched in many parts of the land ; and the Protector was kept on the alert by daily intelligence that the exiled king would challenge the usurper, and claim the British throne as soon as a favourable opportunity presented itself for so bold an enterprise. Cromwell, however, after various struggles with the royalist forces, was summoned to " the house appointed for all men living." He was succeeded, for a brief period, by his son Richard, who speedily retired from public life. General Monk, who had been an intrepid commander both of the royalist and the parliamentary forces, and who possessed powerful influence in the country, on the death of the Protector Cromwell wisely threw the weight of that influence into the royalist scale, and adopted measures at once to bring back Charles II. from France to England. Upon that joyful event all ranks hastened to return to their allegiance, and on the 29th of May, 1660, Charles II. set his foot again upon British soil, and immediately assumed the functions of sovereignty. During the events to which we have been adverting the town of Oswestry suffered much privation and distress by the feuds and divisions into which all classes of men were thrown. A letter from Mr. John Griffith to Major-General Mytton, dated January 7th, 1650, shows that Oswestry was enduring much hardship. The letter, which is copied from the Halston MSS., is as follows : — " Honor' d Sir, I receaved a note from * * * » to write unto yo r honor concerning our sufferings, I presume yo r honor 76 SIR THOMAS MYDDLETON. knowes the maner of our sufferings, and how we may be releeved is better known to you then to us. The Baylifes and the rest of the sufferinge people of Oswestree depende much upon your assistance, and hope yo r honor will have a fitt opportunity to doe this poor towne good. * * * I shall make bould to put yo r honor in mind of your promise to draw a petition to the Parliament wth yo r owne handes, w ch we all hope you will doe before yo r returne, and then yo r honor shall further ingadge the whole towne ever to pray for yo r honor, and especially Yo r servant, "Osw., the 7th of January, 1650." JOHN GRIFFITH." " To the Honrable Major Generall Mytton, at London." There are no records extant showing precisely the position of civil and military affairs, as regards the town of Oswestry, in the struggles of Charles II. for the Crown. The parlia- mentary party held firm possession of all towns which they had taken, and against Charles they fought as fiercely as against his murdered father. Whatsoever the position of Oswestry was at the period to which we are referring, that of a valiant neighbour, Sir Thomas Myddleton, of Chirk Castle, was dangerous and deeply painful. In 1659, upon the royalists of Cheshire, headed by Sir George Booth, declaring in favour of Charles, the venerable old man, then eighty years of age, decided in favour of the ancient constitution, believing monarchy to be indispensable to the settlement of the nation, and proclaimed Charles II. at Wrexham. For this act he suffered severely, but was named afterwards as Commander- in-chief of the Counties of North Wales, and as Governor of Shrewsbury, although this latter nomination seems to have embarrassed Sir Edward Hyde, Chief Minister of Charles II., as likely to clash with the views of his friend Lord Newport, who had ever been a staunch friend to the royalist cause. The events of public interest that occurred in connection with the town subsequent to the Restoration were "few and far between." The most important act in Charles II.'s reign was his grant in 1673 of a Charter, which, looking at 77 & CHARTER OF CHARLES II. the privileges it confers upon the town, is considered by some to be the Magna Charta of Oswestry. Its importance to the borough, as its provisions are still acted upon in the leading Law-Court of the town, justifies us in giving a correct abridgment of it : — €fy Carter was granted " to the ancient Borough and Corporation of Oswestry, alias Oswalds trey, in the County of Salop : That they be encorporated by the name of The Mayor, Aldermen, Common-council-men, and Burgesses of Oswestry ; and that they are empowered to purchase lands to them and their heirs for ever, and to give and bequeath or other- wise dispose of the same : That the said corporation may have one common seal for dispatching of all business concerning the said borough ; and to change and make new their same seal, as often as they shall think conve- nient: That there be Twelve Aldermen and Fifteen Common-council-men; whereof one of the said aldermen is to be Steward: and that whoever is chosen steward, must come in as an alderman. And that there shall be chosen a discreet person for Recorder, well learned in the law, who must be one of the Common-council-men : That the said borough may have one house of meeting, to be called the Guild-hall of the said town ; and that the mayor, aldermen, common-council-men, steward, and recorder may meet there, or in any other convenient place within the said borough, for making, establishing, &c. any laws, orders, &c. for the better government of the said corporation : and to declare in what manner the said mayor, &c. may manage themselves in the negociation of the said borough : and that the said mayor, aldermen, &c. or the greatest part of them, may imprison the bodies or impose fines or otherwise, upon all such as shall offend against the said laws, &c. and that the one moiety of the said fines to be levied for the use of the said mayor, aldermen, &c. ; and the other moiety to the use of the lord of the manor: provided, such laws, &c. be not repugnant to the laws of the land, or contrary thereto, or prejudicial to the lord of the manor: That Richard Pope, first mayor, continue in his mayoralty from the day of the date hereof, until the next Friday after the feast of St. Michael, the Archangel, 1674, and until another be sworn in his stead. Sir John Trevor, knt. ; Morgan Wynne, esquire ; Edward Owen, Richard Edwards, Richard Lloyd, the aforesaid Richard Pope, gentlemen; Gabriel Edwards, woollen- draper; Hugh Price, woollen-draper ; John Jones, mercer ; Richard Jones, John Blodwell, gentlemen ; and John Lloyd, mercer, to be the first aldermen ; and to continue in their office during life, unless for just cause any of them shall be removed by the mayor, aldermen, common-council-men, &c. or the 78 THE CHARTER. greatest part of them. — Richard Price, brewer; Richard Jones, mercer; John Glover, tanner; Richard Jones, glover ; Edwd. Evans, apothecary ; John Jones, glover; John Muckleston, shoemaker; Thomas Edwards, gentleman; Thomas Edwards, baker; Nathaniel Jones, brewer; Hugh Edwards, shoemaker; Timothy George, mercer; Thomas Vaughan, chan- dler ; William Price, butcher ; and Thomas Felton, brasier, to be the first common-council-men ; and to continue in office during life, unless removed as aforesaid. The mayor, &c. to meet on the next Friday after Michaelmas, yearly, and to choose at that time, out of the common-council-men, a new mayor; and to swear him in then, if present, or within twenty-one days next after such election, before the old mayor or (in his absence) before two or more of the aldermen of the said borough. If the mayor happen to die, or be removed out of his place for not well demeaning himself, or for any other just cause, before the expiration of the said year, that then and in such case, the aldermen, and common-council-men, &c. or the major part of them, shall elect and choose another mayor for the executing the said office of mayoralty during the remainder only of the said year. And upon the decease of any aldermen or common-council-men, to choose others to make up the number ; administering to them their oaths for the executing of their places : and that they shall be sworn in the presence of the mayor, or (in case of his absence) of the aldermen, common-council-men, or the major part of them. In case the mayor be sick or absent, that the mayor may constitute and appoint one of the aldermen to be his deputy ; and that being duly sworn, he may officiate the place of mayoralty during such sickness or absence, as fully and effectually in every respect as the said mayor might or could have done personally. When Morgan Wynne, the present Recorder, dies, or should happen to be dismissed, that the mayor, aldermen, &c, choose another, able and experienced in the law, within one month after such decease or dismission. The mayor, coroner, steward and recorder, during the time and term of holding their places, shall be Justices of the Peace, &c, and that each and every of them are Clerks of the Market, to settle weights and measures, and all other laws and ordinances incident thereto ; and to officiate the same as fully and effectually as any other of his Majesty's justices of the peace might or could do. Sir John Trevor, knight ; Robert Owen, and Edward Kinaston, esquires, or any of them, to swear the first mayor ; and that the mayor being sworn, he is to swear the coroner, steward, recorder, &c. That the mayor, steward, and recorder, or any two of them (whereof the mayor to be one) may keep a Quarter Sessions for all offences, as fully and effectually as the justices of the said county of Salop may do ; and that any one of them may commit to the common gaol of the said county any person accused of treason, murder, man-slaughter, or felony* whatsoever : and that the justices of the said county have no power to intermeddle with the said borough upon any cause whatsoever. That the 79 THE CHARTER. mayor (for the time being) shall choose any inhabitants of the borough, Constables ; and to swear them in accordingly. The mayor to choose two Sergeants, to attend upon him or his deputy, when required ; and to continue for one year (if they well demean themselves) : and that the said sergeant s shall carry two maces with his Majesty's and successors' arms, and the arms of the lord of the manor thereon, in their hands or upon their shoulders bare-headed, before the mayor, when required : and that the said sergeants shall be sworn by the mayor, for the due executing of all precepts, warrants, &c. The last mayor to be Coroner, who shall have as full power to officiate as any other coroner in any of his Majesty's counties hath, or may have; and not to execute his power before he be sworn before the mayor or his deputy: and upon the death of any coroner, the mayor, aldermen, &c, to choose another. A Court of Record to be kept every Friday, at the guild-hall, before the mayor or his deputy ; and to try all actions and causes whatso- ever, as fully as the bailiffs and burgesses formerly did, or as fully as any corporation in his Majesty's kingdom do, or did formerly : and that the mayor, &c. shall have to their use the one moiety of the issues, amerciaments, &c. ; and the other moiety thereof, to the use of the lord of the manor. John Morral to be Common Clerk of the Borough, and Clerk of the Court ; and may have a deputy, to be appointed by the steward : that the common clerk to be nominated by the lord of the manor, and to be sworn, as well as all other officers by the mayor: that if he shall not reside in the said borough, then he shall employ, in his absence, an honest and able attorney of the said court, to be approved of by the steward : and the said attorney shall officiate in the time of his absence. — Six Attornies to be of the court : whereof four to be chosen by the mayor, and two by the steward. One Marshal, or Crier to be chosen by the mayor. The mayor, aldermen, &c. to have within the borough a Gaol or Prison, for detaining of all prisoners, committed by the mayor, steward, or recorder, or any of them : and that the mayor, recorder, clerk of the market, common clerk, marshal, keepers of the prison, and sergeants (for the time being) shall receive such Fees, &c. as the bailiffs, &c. of Ludlow, and the said borough, have hitherto received. [Ludlow fees are half of the Common Pleas.] All burgesses and other inhabitants of the said borough to pay scot and lot, and to be assessed for the maintenance, good order, and further profit of the same ; and in default of payment, distresses to be laid upon their goods. — The mayor, &c. to have power to elect persons who have served seven years' apprenticeship, or that have been householders (paying scot and lot) seven years within the said borough, Burgesses : and with the approbation of the steward, to make any other person burgess of the said borough ; and so continue, unless for any just cause he be expelled by the mayor, &c. No Stranger or Foreigner shall exercise any Trade in the borough (except it be in time of fair) unless he be a burgess ; nor keep any shop, without special licence from the mayor, 80 THE CHARTER. aldermen, .&c. or the major part of them : the mayor, &c. to punish such foreigners and strangers by fines, and to distress upon their goods, in default of payment. The mayor and. corporation, and burgesses, Exempt from serving on Juries out of the borough, at assizes or quarter-sessions. The corporation to have return of writs ; and all which returns to be made by the mayor. No high-sheriff, or any of his officers, to enter the liberty, unless in defect of the mayor for the time being. The mayor or clerk to receive recognizances, according to form of Statute Merchant, or Acton Burnell; and to make execution, &c. as fully as any other town can do, by virtue of the said statute: and that there shall be a seal for the sealing of those recognizances. The mayor and corporation may purchase lands, &c. not exceeding ^50 a year, but such as are not held in capita or knight's service. The said borough is to enjoy two Markets weekly, for ever; that is, one on Wednesday and the other on Friday. To have a Fair on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th days of March, yearly; and the fairs on the 1st and 2nd of May, the 4th and 5th of August, and the 29th and 30th of November, to be con- tinued as heretofore. And if any of the said fairs shall fall upon the Lord's-day, then the same to be kept on the Monday following. The mayor, &c. may hold a Court of Pie-poudre at the time of the fairs; and to take the usual tolls of markets and fairs — all rights, &c. of the lord of the manor excepted. The privileges secured to the inhabitants of the borough by this Charter must, at the time of its being granted, have been very valuable, and no doubt contributed greatly to the good government and prosperity of the town, during sub- sequent times. Some of such privileges have been super- seded by the provisions of the Municipal Corporation Act, 5 & 6, William 4th, cap. 76, entituled " An Act to provide for the Regulation of Municipal Corporations in England and Wales," and other modern enactments ; but others still remain, although the value and convenience of them appear in some degree to be overlooked. The Charter secures some peculiar privileges with respect to trade which may not probably harmonize with modern views and notions; but the privileges of trying at Quarter Sessions all offences, except felonies, committed within the borough, and of suing for debts, unlimited in amount, in the Court of Record, ought not to be regarded otherwise than as precious relics of byegone times. It is true, that the Court of Quarter 81 ' G THE CHARTER. Sessions has been constantly and regularly held by the most able Recorder, J. R. Kenyon, Esq. ; but the Court of Record has of late years been so seldom resorted to, that on a late occasion, when a cause was tried before it, a local newspaper referred to it with special wonder, hinting its surprise that, in a place where the weapons of legal warfare were so easily obtained, the inhabitants should so long have ceased to use them, and to remain in peace amongst themselves, without any legal strife in a Court of Record. Although, however, debts without limit, as regards amount, may be sued for, the final process of the Court is confined to the borough, and cannot be put in force beyond its boundary ; and this circum- stance, connected also with the facilities for the recovery of debts afforded by the Small Debts Act, has rendered resort to the Court of Record less frequent than, under other cir- cumstances, it doubtless would have been; still, to have it is a privilege, as is also the exemption from serving on Juries at the Assizes, or County Quarter Sessions, secured by the Charter. The Restoration brought with it, of course, the ascen- dancy of loyal subjects and monarchical principles in all parts of the realm. Charles, however, did not make the wisest use of the power and influence he had newly acquired ; and the closing hours of his life proved that his religious principles, unfixed and vacillating, were ill adapted to the requirements of the age. Howsoever much other parts of the kingdom were disturbed during this reign, the town of Oswestry would seem to have resumed a tranquil position : the injury and damage sustained in it during the many years of disquietude and war were partially restored; the ancient Church was gradually repaired ; but the Castle, so dilapidated and broken down, was permitted to lie in ruins ; the crown made no effort to restore it ; and by degrees its shattered walls and fallen columns were carried away by nocturnal depredators, until at length the vestiges of the fortress consisted of little more than the mound still left in our sight. 82 BISHOP LLOYD. In 1681, only four years before Charles's death, a polemic scene was enacted in Oswestry, which, from the celebrity of the parties engaged in it, forms no uninteresting feature in the history of the town. Charles's reign was marked by odious political intolerance and injustice. He aimed at absolutism, and was as regardless of religious liberty as of religion itself. The controversy to which we have alluded occurred in the Guildhall of Oswestry, in September, 1681, and was con- ducted throughout in a spirit of candour and moderation not frequently to be witnessed in that turbulent period. The leading parties engaged were Dr. Lloyd, Bishop of St. Asaph (the prelate who preached the first sermon in the Chapel Royal to William III.), and the distinguished Philip Henry, of Broad Oak, Flintshire (father of the erudite and evangelical Matthew Henry, the Commentator on the Bible). Other nonconformist Ministers were present, and took part in the proceedings, especially Mr. James Owen, then of Oswestry — but afterwards of Shrewsbury Seminary for the education of Dissenting Ministers — a man of considerable acquirements and genuine piety. The Bishop, upon his elevation to the episcopal chair, was desirous of securing the conformity of those who dissented, and " that he might do it with the cords of a man, he resolved to reason the matter with them, and endeavour to eifect their conviction by discourse, in which he had a very great facility both by learning and temper." The account from which we derive these particulars goes on to state, that "one of the most eminent nonconformist ministers in his diocese was Mr. James Owen, of Oswestry. The Bishop had several interviews with Mr. Owen in private. At last he appointed a meeting to be held in the Town Hall, Oswestry, on Tuesday, the 27th of September, 1681, at which he requested Mr. Owen to give an account 'by what right he exercised the ministry, not having episcopal ordination.' He also directed him to procure any other ministers he could to assist him, for 'he would be glad to hear what any of them had to say for themselves.' Mr. Owen sought the co- 83 POLEMIC DISCUSSION. operation of Mr. Henry, which, after much hesitation, was granted; to whom also was joined Mr. Jonathan Roberts, ' a plain man of great integrity, and a very good scholar.' On the day appointed the Bishop made his appearance with the famous Henry Dodwell. In those days of intolerance, some parties had refrained from engaging in the controversy, ' lest it might be prejudicial to their liberty. The Bishop, however, was pleased to promise that no thing which should be said, by way of argument, should be any way turned to the prejudice of the disputants, nor advantage taken of it to give them trouble.' There was convened a large number of the gentry and clergy of the neighbourhood, the magistrates of the town, and a great concourse of people. The discussion lasted from two in the afternoon till between seven and eight at night. ' Much was said, pro and con, touching the identity of bishops and presbyters/ the bishoping and unbishoping of Timothy and Titus, &c. It was managed with a great deal of liberty, and not under the strict laws of disputation.' 'The Bishop won golden opinions from all parties on account of the gravity, calmness, and evenness of spirit' with which he con- ducted his part; while he seems to have been so much gratified with the temper of his opponents, as to have formed from that time a most intimate friendship with Mr. Henry." The report does not inform us whether the Bishop was con- vinced by the arguments of the nonconformists. That Philip Henry retained his opinions is undeniable; for he never ceased advocating, with Christian zeal and moderation, the principles of nonconformity. It is gratifying, however, to read of so tolerant and well-conducted a disputation in so persecuting an age ; it speaks much in favor of the just and beneficent spirit of Bishop Lloyd. The reign of James II. offers no particular incident in relation to Oswestry. As a sovereign he was worthless and dangerous. His darling objects were, the establishment, throughout the land, of the Roman Catholic religion, and the restriction of popular freedom. During his brief occupation A MAYORS BLUNDER. of the throne lie paid a visit to Shrewsbury and Whitchurch ; and on his way from the metropolis sojourned at Ludlow for a night, and passed through the Strettons. The people of Shrewsbury had not been favoured with a royal visit for nearly half a century, and were now disposed to give the monarch a cordial reception. All the public functionaries were trained and disciplined as to duty, for an incident had occurred in the royal progress, so ludicrous in character, that the Shrewsbury corporation resolved it should not be re- enacted amid their loyal congratulations. The story to which we refer may be true or fabulous ; but it is too good not to be connected with a notice of James's reign: and, after all, the mayor of the town where the scene is laid, in adopting literally the promptings of the learned recorder, was not, to use a common phrase, "so great a fool as he seemed to be." If King James had received those promptings in a wise spirit — mirth-exciting as they must have been — he might have been a good sovereign, and had around him loyal and devoted subjects. The mayor whose absurdities we are about to describe is said to have been both illiterate and dull, incapable of reading or remembering an address. It was settled therefore, says the tale, that the recorder should stand behind him, to set him right if he happened to be out. When they (the corporation) were ushered into the royal presence, and the chief magistrate was about to commence his harangue, as he appeared some- what sheepish and embarassed, his friendly monitor whispered in his ear, " Hold up your head, sir, and bok like a man ! " Mistaking this for the beginning of his speech, he boldly stared the king in the face, and roared out, "Hold, up your head, sir, and look like a man!" Alarmed at the frightful blunder just made, the recorder whispered to the chief magis- trate (who at this moment must have resembled the celebrated Mayor of Garrat, with two nosegays in his coat), "What the d—l do you mean, sir?" The mayor, as stolid as ever, and 85 THE REVOLUTION. nothing abashed, thundered out the recorder's exclamation as boldly as before. The recorder, indignant and irritated, muttered, " By heavens, sir, you'll ruin us all ! " His worship, taking this to be a continuance of the speech, and still staring his majesty full in the face, with a yet louder voice repeated, " By heavens, sir, you'll ruin us all!" Even kingly patience could bear this no longer, and rising, his majesty in an angry tone demanded what was the meaning of this jargon? when the recorder laid before him "the facts of the case," and the king passed the affair by with a gracious smile. THE REVOLUTION. The Revolution of 1688 brought over to England William III.; and his reign was followed by that of "good Queen Anne." Her reign has been termed the Augustan era of English literature, as it was graced with the polished writings of Sir Isaac Newton, Addison, Steele, Farquar (who laid the scene of his comedy, "The Recruiting Officer" in Shrewsbury, and who, in his epistle dedicatory, first used the lively senti- ment, "To all friends round the Wrekin," now one of the social laws of Salop), of Vanbrugh, Prior, Pope, Parnell, Garth, Gay, cum multis aliis. Instructed as the nation was by these and other eminent men, still bigotry and enthusiasm were evidenced by many in matters of religion and politics. In the year 1709 the nation was thrown into a gentle ferment by the indiscreet conduct of the government towards an obscure clergyman named Sacheverell (who had long been starving on a poor curacy in London), in consequence of his having preached and published two scurrilous and intemperate sermons, of which red-hot politics were the staple. He was summoned to the bar of the House of Lords, and impeached. The Whig ministry viewed his attacks with alarm, and he was sentenced no.t to preach lor three years. This persecution, as the proceedings of tljie government were ( called^ at ^once mar- tyrised Sacheverell, who suaTdenly found .himself famous. A entleman residing in the neighbourhood of Oswestry,. Robert 86 DR. SACHEVERELL. Lloyd, Esq., of Aston, sympathized with the suffering Sache- verell, and .became his friend. Mr. Lloyd had been the doctor's pupil at Magdalen College, Oxford; and as the rectory of Sylattyn, in his gift, became vacant at this juncture, he presented it to the high-church meteor. This was doubt- less a god-send to the doctor, who set off from London, to take possession of his new living, with all the state which a corrupt popularity could give to him. A Tory writer of Queen Anne's reign tells us that "he entered upon his triumphant progress to Shropshire. He was magnificently entertained at Oxford by the University, and received in the other great towns he passed through (Shrewsbury and Oswestry included) with the loud acclamations and joyful congratulations of the people, upon his deliverance from whig persecution." In Shrewsbury the crier was sent about to proclaim his arrival, and the bells were rung in honour of the event. As he passed through Oswestry, it is related, the crowd assembled to witness his arrival was so great, that an enthusiastic old woman, a great dabbler in politics and religion, no doubt, was so excited in her endeavours to obtain a sight of the distinguished bigot, that she succeeded only in catching a passing glance at his figure and periwig. " I could see only part of the holy man," she exclaimed, "but I console myself with having had a sight of his ever-blessed wig as he rode along." This sort of mummery was not confined to Oswestry. In many towns people were desirous to have their new-born infants christened with a name so revered; which, having been transmitted through succeeding generations, is not yet extinct in this county. On his return to London he met with nothing but laudations, except at Worcester, where, by the direction of Bishop Lloyd, a suitable rebuff was administered to him. Of Dr. Sacheverell nothing more was heard worthy of transcription. Like most other men whose popularity is created by intolerant doctrines in religion or politics, he speedily found that his sudden greatness was as mutable as it was undeserved. 87 THE BRUNSWICK DYNASTY. The death of Queen Anne, in 1714, secured to the kingdom the Brunswick Dynasty. The Act of Settlement, passed in the reign of William III., provided that the crown of Great Britain should henceforth be held only by Protestant Princes. James Stuart, Queen Anne's brother, known more popularly as the Pretender, could not reign in England because he was a Roman Catholic, and George, Duke of Brunswick, and Elector of Hanover, a Protestant Prince, whose mother was grand- daughter of James I., became King of Great Britain. The Brunswick succession has continued till the present time, the united kingdom deriving especial benefits from the reigns of the three Georges, of William IV., and of Queen Victoria. Under the sway of George III. enlarged freedom, civil and religious, was extended to his subjects ; arts, science, and commerce flourished, and the people made rapid advancement in religious and moral improvement. The memorable wish of the venerable monarch George III., " That every one of his subjects should read and possess the Bible" — a far more generous sentiment than that of the French King who desired to see the day when every one of his subjects should be able to put a fowl into the pot once a week — was largely realized through the instrumentality of Robert Raikes, Dr. Bell, and Joseph Lancaster, the great promoters of education in the land, and by, also, the foundation of the British and Foreign Bible Society, whose distribution of the Scriptures gave an impulse to religious and benevolent efforts which have been increasing in usefulness and efficiency to the present day. Under the auspices of George IV. the nation derived numerous blessings, deficient as he was of many of the bright qualities that ought to shine in the moral diadem of a British King. The reign of William IV. — the Sailor King, as he has been familiarly but appropriately called — was rendered illustrious by his intense regard for the interests of the people, and his sanction to the Second Great Charter of British rights. Under the mild and gracious rule of our beloved Sovereign Queen Victoria, the rights and privileges of Britons are held sacred ; literature, arts, and science have acquired " a S8 A GLORIOUS AGE. more than double sway ; " commerce and manufactures, in a multiplicity of forms, for the comfort and luxury of mankind 5 have careered onwards with giant steps, that have astonished and delighted the wisest and the best ; the social comforts of all classes of the British community are rendered almost boundless by the progress of invention, the ingenuity of mechanical skill, and the unceasing activity of all industrial pursuits ; the unrighteous laws that prohibited the importation of corn have been abolished ; free trade in bread has been established with all the nations of the earth ; ancient grinding monopolies have been destroyed ; national imposts reduced ; the just demands of the people speedily granted ; harsh feudal laws, carrying with them inhuman punishments, have been blotted out of the Statute-book ; "man's inhumanity to man," under the sanction of Acts of Parliament, has been softened if not wholly subdued ; the just principle of national brother- hood, inculcated by divine precept, has gained vital force ; religion has become less sectarian, and more thoroughly Christian in profession and practice ; the helping hand of man to his brother man, in the hour of necessity, is seen now more actively at work than ever ; the people at large are united as one man, in all great designs of philanthropy and benevolence, and in all puissant combinations against injustice and oppression : our Queen and her enlightened and virtuous Consort are ever watchful for the country's weal. The reign of Victoria is thus far the brightest page of regal history, because it has been pre-eminently the best. We may sum up in the eloquent language of Dr. Southwood Smith :— "We live in a glorious age. The rapidity of the progress of liberal opinion, and I will add, of liberal feeling, within these few years has been unexampled in the history of our race. Sometimes indeed the tide of improvement like the tide of the ocean may appear to have receded ; but soon, as if deriving strength from its momentary retreat, slow, majestic, irresistible, it has rolled beyond its former limit ; but, unlike its type, it has not returned, a* I it will not return, to the boundary it has passed." 89 CnpflgrapljirEl IKatarif. imswestry is one of the most interesting of the English J$/§] Border towns, as we have already endeavoured to show; its early history, in various conflicting ages, being crowded with incidents to give to it a lasting renown. In its present state it offers numerous claims to public attention ; and the time does not seem far distant when it will take its rank among the more flourishing towns of the empire. Having railway communication direct with the metropolis, the great seats of manufacturing industry in the northern counties, and by a new line of conveyance, both of passengers and goods, via the rapidly-rising town and port of Birkenhead, with the sister kingdom, its importance and improvement will quickly increase. Nor is the contemplated railway extension from Oswestry to Welshpool and Newtown to be overlooked, as that may soon lead to the still further construction of a railway forming a junction with the projected line from the latter place to the busy town of Llanidloes, and stretching onward till it reaches the great harbour in course of formation at Milford Haven. With such "means and appliances" the trade and commerce of Oswestry are not likely to retrograde ; and although we possess not the poetical and sanguine tem- perament of Griffith of Glyn Ceiriog, who, some centuries ago fancied that "in merchandise it resembled Cheapside," in London, yet we have no doubt that Oswestry, which is now prospering commercially, and diffusing much good, both morally and religiously, will advance steadily forward in the 90 SITE OF THE TOWN. march of general and social improvement. We are too gallant not heartily to concur on another point with the Welsh poet just quoted. In his days, he says, " The hand- somest women, and the most becomingly drest, are those of Oswestry." If we did not unhesitatingly applaud this opinion of a Welshman, we should consider ourselves unworthy the name of Englishmen ! The site of Oswestry is remarkable. It stands upon more elevated ground than any other town in Shropshire, being 450 feet above the level of the sea. Its commanding position freely exposes to the gaze of the delighted spectator a range of landscape scenery which, for variety, beauty, and grandeur, cannot be excelled in any part of the kingdom. On the heights above the town the prospect expands. To the south- east the fertile vale of Salop displays its diversified charms, the Nesscliff Rock, Hawkstone (Lord Hill's beautiful ances- tral residence), and the -huge and venerable Wrekin peering forth in the distance ; whilst the high ridges of the Longmynd and Stiperstones form an uninterrupted chain along the Welsh border, with the bold and abrupt acclivities of Cefn-y-Castell andMoel-y-Golfa; and the Breidden, crowned with Rodney's Pillar, completes the great natural panorama. Towards the east the Macclesfield hills, dividing Cheshire from Derbyshire, appear. The view on the Welsh side is equally impressive, and may well be called "the paradise of Cambria." The fullest topographical description of ancient Oswestry that we have discovered is that of Harrison, who wrote in 1564. He says, "Oswester is eighteen miles from Shrews- burie, and containeth a mile within the walls. It hath in like sort foure suburbs or great streets, of which one is called Stratlan, another Wuliho, the third Beterich, wherein are one hundred and forty barns, standing in a row, belonging to the citizens or burgesses, and the fourth named the Black Gate- street, in which are thirtie barns maintained for come and haie. There is also a brooke running thorough the town by 91 OSWESTRY AS IT WAS. the crosse, coming from Simon's well, a bowshot without the wall, and going under the same, between Thorow-gate and New-gate, running under the Black-gate. There is another, over whose course the Baderikes or Baderich-gate standeth, and therefore called Baderich brooke ; the third passeth by Willi-gate or New- gate, and these all fall, together with the Crosse brooke, a mile lower by south, into the Mordaunt." Leland, the historian, who briefly sojourned in the town in the reign of Henry VIII., informs us that the northern part, or Beatrice-street, at that period contained "many barns for corn and hay, to the number of vii score several barns;" the eastern, or Black -gate, " xxx barns for corn, with other houses 'longing to the townesmen." The same writer adds, "There be within the town iii most notable streates, the Cross-streate, the Bayly-streate, and New-gate-streate. The houses withyn the town be of timbre, and slated. There is a castell, sette on a mont be likelihood made by hand; and ditched by south-west, betwixt Beatrise-gate and Willow-gate, to the which the wall comith. There be no towers in the waulles besides the gates. The town is dicked about, and brokettes renynto it." Camden describes Oswestry in his day as "a place of good traffic, inclosed with a wall and ditch, and fortified with a castle." Pennant's brief description brings us nearer to the present time. " Oswestry," he says, " stands just in Shropshire, on the very border of the British frontier. It is 17 J miles from Shrewsbury, 11 from Llangollen, and 179| from London. The country for several miles round is delightfully varied with hills, vales, wood, and water, and abounds in rich scenery. The prospect on the Montgomery side is terminated abruptly by the august ridge of the promi- nent mountains of Breiddyn. It is upon higher ground than any other town in Shropshire." The Walls referred to by these writers were erected, as we have already stated, by Edward I. (probably under the super- intend ance of his celebrated architect Eire ton, who built both 92 THE GATES. Conway and Caernarvon castles), that lie might secure Oswestry as a key to his intended conquest of Wales, and render it less liable to the plundering incursions of the Welsh. These walls were about a mile in circumference, with a skilfully-made intrenchment on the outside, which could be filled with water from the springs in the vicinity. Some remains of this ancient fortification may still be traced, and part of its boundary-line is designated, up to the present time, as "the Walls." There were four Gates, the only inlets into the town, and they stood as strong fortresses in times of disquietude and danger. As the town advanced in trade and commerce the Gates became exceedingly inconvenient for the passage of carriages and merchandize, and in 1766, the Black-Gate was taken down by consent of Earl Powis, the lord of the manor. Rylance assures us that "Black-Gate was demolished in consequence of its having become so low in the arch, that loads could scarce go under, having been rendered so by several pavements being put one over the other to repair the street, and make a vent for the water, which made the passage through it bad." The convenience rendered to the town by the removal of the Black-Gate induced the Corporation to obtain the consent of the lord of the manor to the removal of the three other Gates. In 1782 an arrangement was accordingly made for their demolition, and the materials were used in the erection of the borough prison. The New-Gate was erected in the reign THE NEW GATE - of Edward II., and was used as a prison and guard-room 93 THE STREETS. for the soldiers. Over the New-Gate (as is seen in our engraving) was the figure of a horse in full speed, with an oaken bough in his mouth. Pennant remarks, " There is a conjecture, but I will not pretend to say how well warranted, that it alluded to the generous breed of horses which Powys- land (of which this was part) was famous for, derived from some fine Spanish stallions introduced by Robert de Belesme, Earl of Shrewsbury." Beatrice Gate is said to have been named in compliment to Beatrice, the Queen of Henry IV., and in all probability was built in that king's reign, as his sojourn in this district, during his long onslaughts upon the Welsh, con- nected him much with the neighbourhood. The gate was a hand- some building, with a guard-house on each side, and over it the arms of the Fitz-Alans (a lion rampant). It is said to have been built by Thomas, Earl of Arundel. Willow-Gate, or Wallia-Gate, derived its name from the road, in which the gate was situate, leading directly into Wales. The borough has now assumed, from a number of improve- ments made in it, a highly- respectable appearance. Church- Street may vie, in neatness and public accommodation, with the leading thoroughfare of any similarly-sized town in the kingdom. Willow-Street is an active business thoroughfare, the two Banks and the Post-Office being situated there; Beatrice Street is the only thoroughfare to the Railway Station, and is therefore, with Leg-Street, the chief street of traffic. Bailey- Street, principally confined to shops, is a leading 94 BEATRICE GATE. THE STREETS. approach to the Powys Market, Guildhall, and public offices ; whilst Upper Brook-Street is a pleasant location, and will doubtless soon become a favourite site for villa residences ; at least, its beautiful situation, and the fine healthy country to which it is proximate, entitle it to such a distinction, Salop Road is on the march of improvement, and some good modern houses are erected in it; but yet its dwellings are irregular in size and appearance, and some time may elapse before it exhibits much of harmony or attraction, as a leading thoroughfare, unless the projected railway extension through the town gives, as may reasonably be expected, a stimulus to house-building in this district. The innovating hand of modern improvement has not hitherto effected much change in the central and more dense portions of the town. Let us ' ' wait a little longer," and the unsightly dwellings deemed palaces by our forefathers, but which, compared with modern domestic houses, are little better than huts or hovels, will give place to habitations worthy of this age, so properly distinguished for its sanatory regulations and general progress. Such ancient and dilapidated buildings are mere figments of days gone past, and atone not, by their pictorial beauty, for their ruined and desolate condition. The nagging of the leading public streets, recently determined upon, and which has been partly carried into effect, will be one of the greatest improve- ments already adopted in the borough The principal thorough- fares in the entire town will speedily be flagged in the same style, so that in a short time the inhabitants, ladies especially, will be able to perambulate the streets, and amuse themselves " a-shopping," without paying for it the hard penalty of walking in their fashionable boots or slippers over a flinty pavement. This improvement is being effected from the funds of a voluntary subscription, to which a large number of the professional gentry and trading classes have liberally sub- scribed. The various roads leading from the town are wide and well-constructed, and are generally kept in a good travelling condition. 95 LIGHTING THE TOWN. The town is lighted with gas, and has been so for many- years past. The honour of introducing gas-light into Oswestry is due to Mr. Robert Roberts, civil engineer, a man of much talent in his profession, and of singular perseverance and industry. The origin of lighting the town with gas may be told in a few words. In the year 1819 Mr. Charles Stanton, at that time Manager of the Oswestry Theatre, which had been recently built, entered into an arrangement with Mr. Roberts to light the Theatre during the season. Mr. Roberts had been hitherto experimenting on a small scale, and was not fully prepared to enter upon so important a piece of work as illuminating the Theatre. His persevering habits prevailed, and he agreed with Mr. Stanton that the Theatre should be lighted on a certain evening. To introduce gas into a large public building was deemed an event of no common magnitude in those days. The appointed evening, in September 1819, at length arrived, and Mr. Roberts succeeded in lighting the Theatre with a brilliant gas, which astonished all beholders. The performances on that evening were for the benefit of Miss Stanton, the Manager's daughter. Some tradesmen in the town quickly availed themselves of this new light ; others followed in the wake ; and in the winter season of 1821, the leading streets of the town were for the first time illuminated with gas. Places of religious worship soon afterwards adopted gas. The Welsh Methodist Chapel, in Willow- Street, first used it; the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Salop-Road, followed; and the Old Parish Church, then and still under the vicarage of the Rev. Thomas Salwey, was afterwards lighted, forty burners being introduced, including lights at the entrance doors. The other places of religious worship quickly followed the example ; and in a very few years gas became the universal light in all public places, private houses, and commercial and trading establishments. In 1821 the public, or street-lamps, were only 10 in number; there were 123 private lights ; and one chapel lighted with five lights. In 1854 there were — private lights, 925 ; public 96 MARKETS AND FAIRS. lamps, 66; Church and Chapel lights, 112. The lighting of the borough has been much improved since gas was first introduced here. It is still under the superintendence of Mr. Roberts, who, now an octogenarian, is of hale health, and of as active and bustling habits as he was in the days of his youth. Oswestry is a market-town, and the chief market is held every Wednesday. It is abundantly supplied from the surrounding highly-cultivated agricultural country, and the articles brought for sale are generally of the very best quality. "Welsh mutton, poultry, and fruits of rare delicacy are among the choice morsels which the exquisite gourmand may ever find, in their due season, in the Oswestry market. Apples and pears, produced in the vicinity, and offered for sale here, might successfully vie with the best of those fruits grown in Guernsey, Jersey, or the sunny orchards of Kent. There is a small market held on the Saturday, principally for the accommodation of the numerous labouring classes em- ployed in the neighbourhood. Twelve Fairs are also held in the town, all of which are conducted with great spirit, and attended by a large class of' buyers and sellers. A Fair is held on the first Wednesday in every month. $ttWtc (JFgtaWtsfjmetttei antr Institutions Imagine a party of strangers visiting Oswestry, having heard much spoken in favour of its neatness and beauty, and the picturesque scenery by which it is surrounded ; and stretch forth your imagination, gentle reader, by supposing that this party have been comfortably supplied with viands, and perchance "the cup which cheers, but not inebriates," by mine host of the Cross Keys or the Wynnstay Arms. Having discussed these good things, they may perhaps hasten out in quest of "the lions" of the place. "Let us away to the 97 H PUBLIC ESTABLISHMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS. Museum! " probably exclaims one of the ladies of the party who is ever in search of the utile as well as the dulce. " This is a charming spot," she perhaps adds, " for mineralogical and geological curiosities. The country, we are told, abounds in productive lead, copper, and coal mines. We shall surely collect much useful information in this practical and explo- ratory district, and return home wiser than when we came." " Bravissimo ! " may be the cry and echo of most of the party, " Miss Aimwell is ever zealous in good works, and to-day she is bent upon providing for us no common store of rational pleasure and information. Let us hasten to the Museum, therefore, at once." The party, we suppose — for it is merely a fancy sketch — hie away towards the imaginary Museum, full of glee, anticipating the pleasure of exchanging compli- ments with the Curator, and one Director at least, and of inspecting a carefully- selected collection of natural curiosities, comprising, of course, attractive productions in the mineral world ; specimens in ornithology ; some of the many wonders and "gems of purest ray serene," snatched from the deep caverns of the ocean ; rare marbles and pebbles chiselled out of rocks and caves, mountains and dells ; botanical rarities, and floral, horticultural, native and exotic products; with gatherings from the realms of art, science, fancy, and literature. Do the imaginary party discover the Museum, or a Public Library, or any Institution whatever, in which Lord Bacon's axiom is illustrated, that "knowledge is power?" No such thing is in existence. The fancied party — or fanciful party, as some people would denominate them — have been in search of " the baseless fabric of a vision." Like Puff, in Sheridan's " Critic" they might say, with a slight interpolation, "The Museum we cannot see, Because it's not in sight! " Turning from the gay to the grave, we reiterate, there is no Museum in the town ; nor even a Public Library, on a scale worthy of so respectable a community. We wish it were 98 THE POST OFFICE. otherwise ; and the day is not far off, we trust, when the reproach will be wiped away, and Oswestry shall shew an example in this respect deserving of all praise. THE POST OFFICE Is situated in Willow-Street. Post-Mistress, Miss Sarah Babington, who has held her appointment since May, 1831. The Post Office was removed from Church-Street to Willow- Street, in October, 1839. DESPATCH OF LETTERS, &c. Letters can be Posted Letters &c. can be registered until Lines of Road, and chief Places of Destination. Without extra charge, until "With one additional Id. stamp, until Shrewsbury, Birmingham, and London, ^ taking Letters for all parts of England, \ North and South Wales, Ireland, Scot- f land, and Foreign parts J Llanymynech, Llanfyllin, Hanrhaiadr, & \ Rural Post j P. M. 6 15 A. M. 5 45 P. M. 6 55 A. M. 7 P. M. 5 45 P. M. 10 DELIVERY. Lines of Road, and chief Places from which Mails are received. Delivery by Letter Carriers begins at Delivery to callers begins at London, Birmingham, and Shrewsbury,^ bringing Letters from all parts of Eng- I land. North and South Wales, Ireland, f Scotland, and Foreign parts J London, Crewe, Liverpool, Chester, Wrex-\ ham, &c j Llanfyllin and Rural Post 7 15 On Sundays there is only one Delivery by Letter Carriers (commencing at 8 a. m.), and Letters are delivered at the Window, from 8 until 10 a. m. only. REGULATIONS. Ordinary Business: — From the beginning of March to the end of October, this Office is, on Week-days, opened to the Public, for ordinary Business, at 7 a. m., and during the remaining months at half-past 7. It is always closed at 10 p. m. On Sunday the Office is open only from 8 till 10 a. m. ; but the Letter Box remains open as on other days. 99 LofC. THE BANKS. The inhabitants of Oswestry have now the privilege of receiving letters from London, both by the evening and morning mails. The new postal regulation, by which letters may be posted in London in the evening, after seven o'clock, and up to eight in the morning, is of great importance to tradesmen and others in Oswestry, as it enables them to reply to such letters on the evening on which they are delivered. THE BANKS. There are two Banks in the town. The Old Bank, under the firm of " Croxon, Jones, Longueville, and Co.," is situated in Willow-Street, and has been established for upwards of seventy years. The original co-partners were Messrs. Gibbons, Croxon, and Sheppard. The present co-partners are Thomas Longueville Longueville, Esq., John Croxon, Esq., Richard Jones Croxon, Esq., and James Thomas Jones, Esq., who is also Acting Manager. Mr. Jones's father (Mr. Charles Thomas Jones) likewise discharged the duties of Manager of this Bank for the long period of thirty-five years. In such capacity, also in that of Chief Magistrate, and as a warm friend to every useful institution in the borough, he earned the grateful esteem of his fellow- townsmen. This Bank issues £5 notes, payable here or in London : issue limited by law to £18,470. Circulation, on an average of the last five years, £10,180. — Draw on Masterman and Co., Nicholas Lane, London. The North and South Wales Bank, also situated in Willow-Street, is a Branch to the Bank bearing that title, established April, 1836, in Liverpool. The Oswestry Branch was opened June, 1836. There are fifteen Branches of the North and South Wales Bank established in the Principality and the Borders. Manager : — Mr. F. Roberts, appointed Sep- tember, 1845. — Draw on the London and Westminster Bank. THE SAVINGS' BANK, On the Bailey Head, was established in 1818; and at the present time it is in a state of great prosperity, showing the 100 THE SAVINGS BANK. careful and economic habits of a large portion of the labouring classes in this thriving district. From the annual account of the Trustees of the Bank, ending 20th November, 1854, it appears, that the balance in favour of the Depositors amounted to £69,975 18s. lid. The number of Depositors whose respective balances, including interest, did not exceed £1 each, was 77; of those £1, and not exceeding £5, 303; ditto above £5, and not exceeding £10, 270; ditto above £10, and not exceeding £15, 217; ditto above £15, and not exceeding £20, 146; ditto above £20, and not exceeding £30, 253; ditto above £30, and not exceeding £40, 194; ditto above £40, and not exceeding £50, 113; ditto above £50, and not exceeding £75, 188 ; ditto above £75, and not exceeding £100, 89; ditto above £100, and not exceeding £125, 49; ditto above £125, and not exceeding £150, 23 ; ditto above £150, and not exceeding £200, 41 ; ditto exceeding £200, 2. The total number of Depositors was 1965 ; Charitable Societies, 30; and Friendly Societies, 31. The total number of accounts was 2026. The affairs of the Bank are conducted by ten Trustees and fourteen Managers. Treasurer : — Thomas Longueville Longueville, Esq. Secretary : — Mr, John Hughes. The Bank is open for business every Wednesday, from twelve till two o'clock. THE STAMP OFFICE Is situated in Leg-Street. Sub-Distributor, Mr. George Lewis. THE MARKETS. Until very recently the town of Oswestry had not provided any market-sites worthy of the name. As the town, however, advanced in population and trading pursuits, and agriculture and farming in general progressed in the neighbourhood, the want of new and convenient public markets began to 101 THE MARKETS. be seriously felt, and most of the inhabitants, and gentlemen connected with the neighbourhood, were disposed to con- tribute towards the completion of such desirable improvements. A very liberal spirit was manifested in favour of so excellent a design ; a public subscription was set on foot ; and at length the sum of £3202 was raised, which was laid out towards erecting the Cross Market, as that was considered to be the most desirable to commence upon. But this sum being found insufficient to cover the cost even of this Market, it was agreed by the Town Council to apply to Parliament for an Act, empowering them to effect further Market Improvements in the borough, and to raise £5000 for that purpose. Accordingly a Bill was presented to Parliament, in 1848, entitled "The Oswestry Markets and Fairs Bill," and in February of that year Mr. Fowler, Surveying Officer of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, attended at Oswestry, to hear evidence upon the proposed markets. R. J. Croxon, Esq., Town- Clerk, appeared for the promoters, and having pointed out, in a long address, the evils arising from holding the Fairs and Markets in the public streets, called several witnesses in sup- port of his statement. Mr. Fowler reported favourably of the objects of the promoters; and in the same Session of Parlia- ment the Act received the royal assent. The measure being so far successful, no time was lost in carrying out this credit- able project; and on June 6th, 1849, the Cross Market, for the sale of butter, eggs, poultry, fruit and vegetables, was opened. Part of the market is also used for the sale of butchers' meat. The Powis Market-Hall, forming one side of the Bailey Square, was opened on the same day. The chief part of the buildings of which the Powis Market is composed, as well as the site on which the new portion of the Market stands, was presented to the town by the late Earl of Powis, Lord of the Manor and Lordship of Oswestry, his Lordship merely stipulating that he and his successors should have the use of the new Guildhall when the same was wanted for holding the Manor Courts. The site on which 102 Q- O- THE MARKETS. the Cross Market was "built, being in the centre of the town, had been covered with shops and dwellings, all of which were purchased at a cost of upwards of £2,700. Mr. Thomas Penson was the architect employed on this Market, and Messrs. Griffith and William Morris contracted for its erection. The market is spacious and convenient, is covered in, and has three entrances, the main one being from the Cross. The Powis Market-Hall, in which accommodation is given to farmers and general dealers in cheese, butter, and grain, is a plain stone-fronted edifice, with a high clock turret. The front part of the building was formerly used as the Guild- Hall, at the back of which new buildings have been erected, in brick, and partly covered with glass. This market has been found to be exceedingly convenient, especially in the winter season ; and the accommodation thus rendered to buyers and sellers has contributed so much to increase their number, that a considerable extension to the market is contem- plated. The Cattle Market comprises an extensive piece of ground, situated between Church-Street and Croxon's Square, which was purchased from Mr. George Withers Edwards, at a cost of £1050. It is exceedingly well attended, and fully justifies the expectations of all parties engaged in its formation. The Horse Market is situated at the back of the Powis Market. The site on which it is held, comprising 4256 square yards, was purchased for £279. Both of these markets were opened on Wednesday, 4th July, 1849. — Mr. George Cooper is Treasurer of the Markets; and Mr. John Donald Superintendent. Most of the leading gentlemen of the town had taken an active interest in the formation of the. new markets, and no one was more zealously engaged in promoting them than Peploe Cartwright, Esq., to whom, after the completion of these public improvements, a service of plate, consisting of a silver salver, tureen, and four corner dishes, was presented on behalf of the Corporation and a numerous body of the inhabitants of 103 THE GAS-WORKS. the town and neighbourhood, as a testimony of their sense of his many "public services in forwarding the improvements of the town, and in particular for his able, zealous, and untiring exertions in promoting the establishment of the fairs and market accommodations," The presentation of the plate took place December 26th, 1850, in the Powis Market-Hall, in the presence of a numerous assembly. The Recorder of the borough, John Robert Kenyon, Esq., presented the plate, in an appropriate and eloquent speech ; and Mr. Cartwright responded with ability and feeling. On the same day, as a further testimonial to Mr. Cartwright, a public dinner was given to him, at the Wynnstay Arms Hotel, on which occasion the festive enthusiasm which distinguishes the Salopian gentry was more than ordinarily displayed. The entire pro- ceedings of the day passed off with the utmost satisfaction. THE GAS. WORKS Were erected in 1842, at the sole expense of Mr. Robert Roberts, the proprietor, on a piece of land situated near Gallows-tree Bank turnpike gate, the original works in Willow-Street having long before been found too small and inconvenient to meet the increasing requirements of the town. The new works were built on an extended scale, and comprise a retort-house, purifying house, with a large tank and gas- ometer. The apparatus is of the usual character, including condenser, purifier, scrub, with fire-clay retorts, hydraulic main, &c. The chimney is square, and spiral in form, tapering to the top, and forms an object of interest on the approach to the town from Shrewsbury, THE THEATRE Is a small neat building in Willow-Street, but is not often occupied. It is the property of William Ormsby Gore, Esq., who, when he built it, doubtless considered he was providing means of rational entertainment for the inhabitants. But Melpomene and Thalia haye lost their charms in this district ; 104 THE THEATRE. and the immortal works of Shakspeare, Jonson, Fletcher, Massinger, Colman, Sheridan, Knowles, Bulwer, and others, are doomed to shed their fragrance only in the library or study. Thirty years ago the acted drama was deemed a genial and instructive amusement, and the boxes, pit, and gallery of Oswestry Theatre were frequently crowded with fashionable and attentive audiences. About the period to which we refer the Theatre was under the careful and clever management of Mr. Charles Stanton, who, with his family, "gained golden opinions," and a more than decent competence, by his histrionic labours. During the time he presided over the Thespian realm, he succeeded in attaching to his corps theatrique many ladies and gentlemen of talent and high principle, who afterwards figured with advantage in more extended spheres of their profession ; and whilst he held the reins of government, he deserved and received the good opinion of his supporters. After having thus briefly adverted to theatricals in Oswestry, it will not be inappropriate to mention, that on no occasion, perhaps, in the history of provincial dramatic performances, were more brilliant and exhilarating scenes displayed than in 1822, when a number of ladies and gentlemen, most of them residents of the town or neighbourhood, kindly volunteered their services as dramatis persons in a series of dramatic productions. Three performances were determined upon, that a fund might be raised for establishing in the town a Public Library. The first took place February 15th, when the comedy of "\Speed the Plough" and the afterpiece of 11 The Review" were presented. An original Prologue, from the pen of William Ormsby Gore, Esq., was spoken by the characters. The receipts of the night were £76 12s. 6d. On the evening of May 23rd, in the same year, Colman's comedy of " The Heir at Law" and the afterpiece of " The Review" were performed. Mr. Alderman Salisbury, a hale octoge- narian, spoke a Prologue to the play, attributed to Garrick. Colman's Epilogue was spoken by the characters. The receipts on this occasion were £47. The third performance, 105 A PROLOGUE. May 25th, consisted of " Speed the Plough" and the after- piece of " High Life below Stairs." Receipts £24. The late J. F. M. Dovaston, Esq., who had taken much interest in these performances, wrote a Prologue to " The Heir at Law," and it was intended that he should enact the part of Lord Duberly, and deliver his own witty effusion. Some differences, however, arose, and he did not therefore take any part in the performances. Although the total receipts amounted to the handsome sum of £147 12s. 6d., yet the expense of scenery, &c, exhausted nearly all the fund, and the original design, of establishing a Public Library, failed. Mr. Dovaston's Prologue is given in his volume of Poems, published in 1825. It forms part of the literary history of Oswestry, and we therefore make no apology for transferring it to our pages : — "PROLOGUE, ■" To a Play for the Benefit of a Public Library; spoken in the character of Lord Duberly (formerly Old Daniel Dowlas, the Grocer). Oswestry Theatre, 1822. " Though here I struts, a lord so great and gay, I was but tallow-chandler t'other day; I've riches, dress, good dinners, rank, and station, But what are all these without headication ? If I dines out, and says but aye or no, Sir, As sure as figs is figs — out peeps the Grocer. I sees as clear as isinglass or varnish, Wealth without larnin is — but tawdry tarnish : Poor men, of Manners, Sense, and Wit all handy, Are to Society — bright Sugar-candy; While ev'n in Senate, Bar, Church, Tabernacle, Brass without Brains is — Brimstone without Treacle. " I to the Playhouse goes, to see their vainery, And (tho' enraptured with their fine new Scenery) I knows not what their wit or weeping takes there, Nor what they means by Sheridan or Shakspeare. " We've got no Books — and this our show's all brib'ry To ax good-natur'd folks to fill our Librey. We gives books to the poor — and all approves them ; Then why not by example shew we loves them? 106 ©- 0- HOTELS. " Knowledge, in this world's counting-house's mass, Is good store candle, mould, or brilliant gas, To keep our day-book faithful; which, when furl'd, Will post us fitter for a future world." It is worthy of notice also, that in the same year in which the performances were given in behalf of a Public Library, the celebrated actor, distinguished as "The Young Roscius," Mr. William Henry West Betty, appeared on the Oswestry Stage, and played several of his popular characters. Mr. Betty soon afterwards retired from public life ; and for many years past has been residing in London, having earned a handsome fortune, enjoying his otium cum dignitate. He was a native of Shrewsbury, and in right of his mother was heir to the extensive estate of Hopton Wafers, in Shropshire. THE HOTELS. The principal Hotels in the town are, the Cross Keys, the Wynnstay Arms, the .Queen's Head, and Osburn's Com- mercial. All these Hotels are well-conducted, and are much frequented by commercial travellers, private families, and tourists through the Principality and Border Lands. Educational Institutions* THE FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. This ancient and valuable institution was founded and endowed in the reign of Henry IV., between 1399 and 1413, by Mr. David Holbetche, "a lawyer, steward of the towne and lordship," and who in the same reign was "made a denizen or free citizen of England." The munificent founder granted, for the maintenance of a schoolmaster, and the reparation of the school-house, certain lands in Sweeney, Treflach, Maesbury, and Crickheath, in addition to a house on the south-west side of the Parish Church. By an inquisi- tion under a Commission of charitable uses, taken at Oswestry, 17th September, 1634, it was found that "how the said lands were granted, or to whom, or by whom, they were to be let, 107 THE FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. was not known, but that the bailiffs of the town of Oswestry had, for the most part, jointly let the same:" and it was further found, "that upon the granting of certain leases therein-mentioned, certain sums had been paid to the bailiffs, or to their use, as a gratuity for making such leases ; and that they had cut timber upon the said estates which they had disposed of for their own use." In April, 1635, the Commis- sioners made a decree, stating " that they had not found that the bailiffs of Oswestry were trusted by the founder in ordering and disposing of the said school and school-lands, but that they had done the same without any just authority ; and that if they had been trusted therein, they had manifestly abused the trust, in making leases at an under- value, and for secret rewards for themselves, and in committing great waste upon the timber-trees growing upon the said premises; the said Commissioners decreed, that the bailiffs of the said town should be for ever discharged and excluded from any trust, or inter- meddling with the said school and school-lands, or from any- thing which should concern the same, otherwise than was thereafter limited; that the nomination and placing of the schoolmaster should be left to the bishop of the diocese according to the law ; that the schoolmaster for the time being should let the premises in possession, and not in reversion, for the term of seven years, at the yearly rents mentioned in a particular of the lands referred to in the inquisition, or more, and so as the consent of the bishop and chancellor of the said diocese, and of the bailiffs of the said town, or any two of them, whereof the bishop should be one, should be first had in writing, for the making of such leases ; that neither the master nor any of the tenants should cut or lop any timber- trees growing upon the premises without the like consent; that the then schoolmaster should, within one year, make a true terrier of all the school-lands and tenements, whereof one part should be delivered to the bishop, to be kept in his registrar's office, and the other to be delivered to the bailiffs, to be entered in the town-book. And the said Commissioners 108 THE FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. further ordered* that the schoolmaster should always hare an usher, and allow him £10 a-year, and so much more out of the improved rents, as the said bishop for the time being should think fit ; so that the whole stipend of the usher should not exceed £15; and that the schoolmaster for the time .being should keep the school-house in repair." A terrier of the school-lands was accordingly taken, and the report was as follows :-^Cric7cheath, 24a. lr. 37p. ; Treflach, 20a. lr. 5p. ; Sweeney, 74a. Or. lOp. ; Maesbury, 12a. Or. 29p. The lands in Trenach mentioned in the terrier had been held for many years at the ancient rents, without any variation ; and the Rev. James Donne, D. D. (the former master), brought actions of ejectment against the late Lazarus Venables, Esq. r and Mrs. Hilditch, who held the lands, and insisted upon their right to hold them, paying the accustomed rents. Upon the trial of these actions verdicts were given in favour of Dr. Donne, and the lands being very much dispersed and intermixed with those belonging to the defendants, the judge recommended that lands equal in value, and lying together, should be given up to the plaintiff, instead of the identical lands which were the subject of the suits. This recommendation was cordially adopted by all parties concerned, and further litigation was therefore avoided. Dr. Donne, through whose exertions these valuable proper- ties were recovered for Oswestry School, may justly be looked upon as its second Founder. He raised the character of the School from comparative obscurity to being second to none of the Grammar Schools of England. His memory is held in affectionate remembrance by his pupils, who, to testify their feelings, raised a handsome Memorial in Oswestry Parish Church. The inscription on this Monument speaks deservedly of a revered Master, and does credit to the elegant scholar- ship and affectionate feelings of the distinguished Pupil who composed it. Further advantageous exchanges of land have taken place 109 THE FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. during the time of the present Master, which have resulted in attaching some of the most valuable land in the Liberties of Oswestry and Township of Weston to Oswestry School. The Rents of the property accruing to the benefit of the School, including a payment of £1 12s. Od. from the receiver of the Crown Rents, in respect of a sum of £2 charged on the land revenues, amount to £271 10s. 2d. Some land around the School-House is not included in this statement, so that the Endowment of the School may be considered to amount to £300 per annum. In 1776 the late Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart., gave a piece of land, called Cae Groes, comprising nearly eight acres, upon which the present School-House was erected, charged with a rent of £12 per annum, to the heirs of Sir W. W. Wynn ; and the sum of £779 4s. 8d. was subsequently subscribed towards completing the structure, the balance of expenses having been borne by Dr. Donne. The S chool is open to all boys born in the parish of Oswestry, for instruction in English, Latin, and Greek ; but it is expected that they should be able to read before they are admitted. For the before-mentioned studies no payment is demanded from the boys on the Foundation, except 12s. 6d. for entrance, and 2s. a-year for fire-money. The present Master is the Rev. Stephen Donne, A. M., who has rilled the office since his appointment in 1833 with singular merit and success, and who has had the good fortune, during his connexion with the School, to acquire the esteem and confidence of his pupils, and the warm approval and regard of their parents and guardians. The course of instruction in the School is Classical and Mathematical, embracing strict attention to Religious know- ledge, with History and Geography, both Ancient and Modern ; and whilst pupils are prepared for the Universities, and Addiscombe, Woolwich, and Sandhurst, boys who have in view the Profession of the Law or a Commercial life, in addition to their other studies, are carefully trained in Writing, 110 THE FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. Arithmetic, and Book-keeping. The Head Master receives Boarders into his House, who are treated in a liberal and gentlemanly spirit. Several Pupils from this School have, during the time of the late and present Master, highly distin- guished themselves at Cambridge, Oxford, Dublin, Addis- combe, and Woolwich. The late Rev. James Donne, D. D., retired from the School in 1833, and died at Llanyblodwel Vicarage (which he had re-built), January 23rd, 1844. The early Masters of the School we are unable to discover. Our list of appointments commences with the year 1537: — LIST OF HEAD MASTERS, Reynolds, .. .. .. .. .. appointed 1537 David Morris, 1561 Vicar of Llansilin 1561. John Berkley, D. D 1606 Rector of Llanddoget 1606. He became Vicar of Llansannan 1611, Rector of Newtown 1613, Rector of Llanfyllin 1614, Prebendary of Llanvair Second Comportion 1621, and Rector of Llandyssil 1622. John Kyffin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lloyd 1624 Edward Payne, A. M 1636 Rector of Cemmaes 1661, Vicar of Kinnerley 1668. This gentleman was ejected in the time of Oliver Cromwell's Usurpation. William Griffiths 1661 Thomas Clopton .. .. .. .. 1672 Rector of Cilken, 1673, Canon 1675, Rector of Llanrwst 1677, Pre- bendary of Myfod and Rector of Castle-Careinion 1678, and Rector of Christleton, Cheshire. John Evans .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1678 Rector of Newtown 1666, Canon 1681, and Rector of Berriew 1686, Edward Wicken .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Andrew Guild 1694 Thomas Jones .. .. .. .. .. ,. .. 1697 Daniel Poole , 1705 Lloyd . . . . . . . . . . . , . . Robert Patrick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rector of Cemmaes 1717, Canon 1718, and Rector of Mallwyd 1733. John Skye .. .. ... .. .. ,. .. 1733 Rector of Berriew 1730, Vicar of Llansilin 1755. Peter Morris .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1763 111 THE NATIONAL SCHOOLS. Owen Reynolds * about 1769 Charles Anson Tisdale .. .. .. * 1772 Eusebius Edwards, Pembroke College, Oxford 1781 James Donne, M. A. .. *. «• •• «• • « 1790 Second Master of the King's School, Chester, 1794, Minor Canon of Chester 1796, Vicar of Llanyblodwel 1798, and Rural Dean of Marchia 1803. Stephen Donne, M. A., Scholar of St. John's College, Cambridge, January .. •• •• •• •• •« *• 1833 NATIONAL SCHOOLS. In the work of benevolence the borough of Oswestry has never acted with a niggardly hand. When the necessity of national education first engaged the sympathies of the com- munity at large, Oswestry took a distinguished part in the good work, and liberally provided education for the children of the poor, who, until that period, had had none to help them. So early as the commencement of the last century a Charity School was established for the benefit of forty chil- dren, of whom twenty were clothed, and all taught by a mistress to read and spell. When the boys were made perfect in the reading of certain elementary books, they were trans- ferred to a master ; and the girls were fully instructed, besides reading and spelling, in spinning, knitting, and sewing. It is stated on one of the tables of benefactions in the Parish Church, that in 1713 Mr. Thomas Owen, Vicar of Oswestry, left the interest of £20 for the use of this Charity School ; and that in 1716 the Rev. Daniel Poole, chief Schoolmaster of the town, left the interest of £20 for the like use. In a minute of vestry, dated July 5th, 1737, it is stated that £32 was laid out on the Poor-house in Church-Street, which sum, it is added, was paid out of the legacies of the Rev. T. Owen and the Rev. D. Poole. In December, in the same year, it was ordered at a vestry, that in lieu of the money laid out as mentioned in the preceding minute, forty shillings should be paid yearly toward maintaining the Charity School in the town of Oswestry. It does not appear what school was intended, or how long the payment was continued. 112 THE NATIONAL SCHOOLS. The friends of education in Oswestry, still anxious for the well-being of the rising generation, united together in the year 1810 to carry out their benevolent intentions. In July of that year it was agreed, that the Guildhall should be appro- priated for the reception of boys, and the school-room situated in the church-yard for the reception of girls, until rooms at the Bailey-Head should be properly fitted up for their instruction. A public notice was afterwards issued, announcing "That the Public Charity School, belonging to the town arid parish of Oswestry, is now open for the instruction of boys of the age of five years and upwards." In November following, the boys' school was removed to the chapel of the House of Industry, the School Committee considering that such change would afford an opportunity to the children of parents residing in the country to attend the school. This plari partly failed, and soon afterwards convenient school-rooms, for boys and girls, were fitted up at the Bailey-Head, from plans by Mr. T. Jones, Architect. These schools were supported by general subscription and occasional aid from the National Society. NATIONAL SCHOOLS. At length it was deemed necessary to provide more spacious and convenient school-rooms, for the furtherance of the great 113 I THE BRITISH SCHOOLS. object of education, and arrangements were made for accomplishing so important a design. A public subscription was entered into, and this was aided by grants of £338 from the Committee of Council on Education; £200 from the National Society ; and a contribution of £700 from the funds of the Oswestry Church Sunday School. The present beautiful building was accordingly erected under the Welsh Walls, sufficient accommodation being rendered for an Infant School. The structure was designed by Mr. Penson, and raised by Mr. J. Vaughan, Builder. As a tribute of respect to the memory of the late Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart., the building was commenced on the 22nd of May, 1841, when his son, the present worthy possessor of Wynnstay, attained his majority. The sole control of the School is vested by the trust-deed in the Vicar of the parish for the time being. The number of children at present educated in the Schools is — Boys, 78 ; Girls, 64 ; Infants, 57. — Master, Mr. S. S. Lees ; Mistresses, Miss Whitfield and Miss Pierce. THE PARISH CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL Was established in 1831. A zealous interest is taken in its prosperity by the Clergy and many persons of wealth and influence in the town and neighbourhood. The average attendance at present is 280 Scholars ; Teachers from 30 to 35. THE BRITISH SCHOOLS Were erected in 1841, at a cost, including the site, of about £800 ; the builder being Mr. James Vaughan. They are held in trust for " the education of children and adults, or children only, of both sexes, of the labouring, manufacturing, and other classes, in the town and parish of Oswestry, and in the several parishes adjoining;" such edu- cation to be conducted on the principles of the British and Foreign School Society. The trust includes permission to use the premises on week days, prior to and after school hours 114 THE YOUNG MEN S INSTITUTE. (i. e. before 9 a. m. and after 6 p. m.), for "such moral, literary, scientific, or other purposes," as shall be allowed in manner therein mentioned. The funds for the erection of the Schools having been subscribed chiefly by members of the congregation assembling at the Old Chapel, there is a trust assigning the use of the building on the sabbath to the Sabbath Schools connected with that place of worship. The system of education on week days being conducted on the principles of the British and Foreign School Society, it need hardly be said that no denominational catechism or dogma is permitted to be taught; but the Holy Scriptures are in daily use. The utility of the institution having become much crippled by a debt remaining on the building and an accumulation of current expenses, a special effort was made in the year 1854 to throw off the incubus. The generous efforts and contributions of friends in the town and neighbourhood, and others in various parts of the kingdom, aided by a Bazaar, not only effected the "consummation" so "devoutly to be wished," but also realized a fund applicable to the substantial repair of the building, and a needed supply of school materials. The present Master and Mistress are — Mr. Farmer and Miss Jones. THE YOUNG MEN'S INSTITUTE Began its course about the year 1838. It was originated by the then minister of the Old Chapel (the Rev. W. Reeve), and a few members of his congregation, chiefly young men, who felt the importance of adopting some means calculated to promote the moral and intellectual advancement of the young men of the town, and which should offer to them a refuge and enticement, during the evening hours, from listlessness on the one hand, and from low and debasing pleasures on the other. 115 THE YOUNG MEN'S INSTITUTE. The meetings were for some time held in the vestry of the' Old Chapel. When the British School-rooms were erected in the year 1841 the opportunity was taken of endeavouring to extend the benefits of the Institute, by transferring its meetings to the lower school-room. Still it was felt by its friends, that it was not so used or supported as they desired ; but, necessity having no choice, no attempt was made for several years to change its location or enlarge its scope. At the School-roorr the Institute prospered for a consider- able time, and did much good; but afterwards, from one cause or another, it drooped, and well nigh sank. Deeming it, however, too good a thing to die, and thinking it possible that many influential parties might have withheld their sympathy and aid, from an idea (erroneous though it was) that the Institution, from its antecedents and place of meeting, was not entirely unsectarian and liberal, its friends made a successful effort in the year 1850 to resuscitate it. The clergy and dissenting ministers of the town, together with several influential lay gentlemen, formed a committee, obtained the use of the Guild-Hail for the meetings, and raised very extended subscriptions. Many excellent lectures, professional and amateur, were delivered, and new life seemed for a time to flow in the veins of the Institute. The Guild-Hail being found inconvenient for the Library and Reading-room, these were removed to rooms over the Shop of Mr. Richard Jones, Hatter, at the Cross. Subsequently, however, the falling-off of the subscriptions, and, it must be added, the backwardness of the young men generally to avail themselves of the privileges offered them, obliged the committee to relinquish these premises, and for more than a year past there seem to have been no meetings. It is said that "all that's fair must fade." May we hope that the Young Men's Institute is only slumbering, and will not die, or, that dying, it will rise again to a stronger, happier, better life. 116 Benevolent Institutions* DISPENSARY AND BATHS. The establishment of these two institutions is honourable to the founders, and, we are glad to observe, of great benefit to the poor and needy afflicted with disease. The origin of both is part of the annals of the town, and claims especial record in our volume. We find that in the year 1828 a meeting of the leading gentlemen of Oswestry was held, for the purpose of endeavouring to establish a Dispensary. That assembly was presided over by William Ormsby Gore, Esq., and the benevolent institution was at once founded under most liberal auspices. Donations amounting to one hundred and sixty guineas were subscribed at the meeting, and a Committee was appointed, to carry out the objects of the Charity. At the same time a liberal amount in annual sub- scriptions was determined upon, that the new institution should be rendered permanent. The following parties formed the first Committee, &c>- • President : Wm. Ormsby Gore, Esq. Committee of Management: The Hon. Thos. Kenyon, Robt. Morrall, Esq., T. Bulkeley Owen, Esq., T. L. Longueville, Esq., J. V. Lovett, Esq., T. N. Parker, Esq., H. P. T. Aubrey, Esq., Rev. Thos. Hunt, Rev. Thos. Salwey, Rev. C. A. A. Lloyd, Rev. G. N. K. Lloyd, Mr. Lucas. Honorary Treasurer: — C. T. Jones, Esq. Visiting Physician: — Dr. Evans. Surgeons : Mr. Morris, Mr. E. D. Bennion, Mr. Cockerell, Mr. Cartwright. Dispenser and Secretary : — Mr. J. M. Hales. The original Dispensary rented for the Charity was situated in Lower Brook-Street; but the premises being found 117 THE DISPENSARY AND BATHS. too limited and inconvenient for the benevolent objects contemplated, a new building was suggested, and accord- ingly, in March, 1852, the Committee adopted a resolution to the effect, that it was desirable to erect a Dispensary, with Baths attached to it, for the accommodation of the public, as well as for the use of the patients of the institution. To carry out this excellent design a handsome subscription was entered into, amounting to between seven and eight hundred pounds ; to which was added, from the accumulated fund of the Dispensary, the sum of five hundred pounds. The DISPENSARY AND BATHS. present Dispensary and Baths were immediately erected from a design by It. Kyrke Penson, Esq., on ground near the site of the former Dispensary. The building is roomy and conve- nient, containing handsome and suitable rooms for the Dispensary, with the addition of Warm and Cold Baths, Shower Baths, a Vapour Bath, and Plunge Baths. The number of patients who have partaken, within the last three years, of the benefits which the Dispensary affords, shows the necessity and value of the institution. From May, 1851, to May, 1852 — Patients, 455. In 1853 — Patients, 496. In 1854 — Patients, 555. 118 THE HOUSE OF INDUSTRY. . The Dispensary, with the Baths, was opened May 1st, 1854. Mr. Ormsby Gore still holds the office of President of the institution, and Mr. Hales continues to officiate as Secretary and Dispenser. The Committee and officers are : — Committee of Management: E. Wright, Esq., Rev. S. Donne, Rev. G. Carew, Rev. J. Luxmoore, R. K. Penson, Esq., J. V. Lovett, Esq., Thos. Minshall, Esq., Rowland J. Venables, Esq., Thos. Lovett, Esq., E. Williams, Esq., T. L. LONGUEVILLE, ESQ., JOHN CROXON, ESQ. Treasurer: — J. T. Jones, Esq. Surgeons : Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Blaikie, Dr. Fuller, Dr. Williams. The Trustees to whom the site for the new Dispensary and Baths was conveyed are, William Ormsby Gore, Esq., Thomas Lovett, Esq., Edmund Wright, Esq., and Thomas Longueville Longueville, Esq. The proposition for building the Dispensary with the addition of Baths originated with Edward Williams, Esq., of Lloran House; and his efficient and zealous efforts were used in promoting the benevolent design, which was most success- fully accomplished in the end. In the prosperity of so valuable an institution all classes in the town and populous neighbourhood, who are blessed with this world's goods, should consider it a Christian privilege to take a lively interest, by contributing to its funds, and thus extending its usefulness among the labouring poor who have few to help them. THE HOUSE OF INDUSTRY, Situated on elevated ground near the river Morda, on the road from Oswestry to Welshpool, was erected by virtue of an Act of Parliament obtained in the year 1790, and opened for the reception of inmates April 28th, 1791. The first steward and matron were Mr. Thos. Cooper and Mrs. Cooper, 119 THE HOUSE OF INDUSTRY. who held those responsible situations for the long period of nearly thirty years. Directors were appointed, under the Act, to manage the affairs of the institution, on behalf of Oswestry town and parish, and the other parishes also thereby incorpo* rated: namely, Saint Martins, Selattyn, Whittington, West Felton, Ruyton, Kinnerley, Knockin, and Llanyblodwel, in the hundred of Oswestry, and county of Salop 5 that part of the parish of Llanymynech which lies in the hundred of Oswestry ; the parish of Chirk, in the county of Denbigh; and the parish of Llansilin, in the counties of Salop and Denbigh, The Directors held their first meeting on Monday, August 11th, 1791 : Chairman, John Lovett, Esq, Mayor of Oswestry, The building, of red brick, which still looks fresh and fair, cost £12,000. It has ever excited the attention of strangers, on account of its imposing stateliness of architecture, the exterior presenting, at the first view, the appearance of a fine old English baronial residence, Nicholson, in describing it thirty years ago, says, "it is a ridiculously-splendid brick building, intended, not for a purpose which its exterior seems to prompt, but for the abode of the indigent and wretched." In 1851 a slight sensation was created in the united parishes of Oswestry by a proposal from Mr. Doyle, Poor-Law In- spector, to admit six additional parishes into union with the Oswestry Incorporation. The Poor-Law Board had some time before claimed a general authority over the Incorporation, to which the Directors, after a slight resistance, submitted. Public meetings of the rate-payers of the incorporated parishes were held, to consider Mr. Doyle's proposal, and one also was convened in the Old Church, Oswestry, on Saturday, July 21st: Peploe Cartwright, Esq, in the chair. Mr. Doyle stated that certain alterations in the House of Industry would have to be made ; and in order to effect these improvements at as small a cost as possible to the incorporated parishes, he suggested that six other parishes should be united to the present, the expense being thus spread over a larger rmmW 120 CHARITABLE DONATIONS. *>f rate-payers.. The proposal was not favourably entertained, as such a measure would have involved the immediate disso- lution of the Oswestry Incorporation. A resolution was adopted at the meeting, " That in the absence of proper information and details, we are at present of opinion that it is not desirable to dissolve the Oswestry Incorporation." From that time to the present the Poor-Law Board exercise only a general authority over the Incorporation, whose powers, as denned by the Act of Parliament, with the exception just named, remain intact. In 1853 various alterations, suggested by the Poor-Law Board, were made in the House, at an expense of £1500. The average number of inmates in the Institution is 174. The number which the House can receive is limited by the Poor-Law Board to 300. The election of Directors is inde- pendent of the Board; they are nominated by the vestries of the several parishes, and appointed by the Board of Directors. The present officers of the Institution are as follows ;< — The Rev. J. Maude, Chairman ; the Rev. E. W. O. Bridgman, Vice- Chairman ; Mr. John Hughes, Clerk to the Directors ; and Mr. R. Richards, Master. Relieving Officers:— For the Upper Division, comprising Oswestry Town and Parish, Llanyblodwel, townships of Llwyntidman and Treprenal, Llansilin, and Selattyn, Mr. Thomas Davies. For the Lower Division, consisting of Chirk, Saint Martins, Whittington, Ruyton, West Felton, Knockin, and Kinnerley, Mr. Joseph Rogers. CHARITABLE DONATIONS TO THE POOR. In the present age the good old-fashioned mode of be- queathing some portion of worldly substance for the education or relief of the poor is recognized by very few of our wealthier fellow-countrymen. The usual channels of relief to the poor and needy— the Poor-Law Union, the Night Asylum, the Good Samaritan Society, and other institutions of like class—are excellent in their way, and diffuse much 121 CHARITABLE DONATIONS. benefit and comfort among the aged and indigent; but still our ancient charities, especially our schools and alms- houses, whilst they secure to their recipients permanent, not precarious good, shed a brilliant lustre over the land, and denote the kind and benignant spirit of many of our ancestors. Would that the old benevolent English spirit were revived among us, and that all affluent men, who have possessed their money by inheritance, or obtained it by the force of their talents, or success in trade or commerce, would, among their testamentary bequests, never fail to " remember the poor." Then should we have comfortable asylums for many hoary-headed men and women, who, reduced by mis- fortune, or overwhelmed by the distressing calamities of life, have no place of quiet shelter — no resting-place in which to pass the residue of their days. The following list of Charitable Donations, left for the benefit of the poor of Oswestry, shows that in days gone by, the weak were not overlooked by the strong, and that many, imbued with practical Christian benevolence, deemed it their duty to aid, not only the poor of their own days, but those also of succeeding generations. The only Aims-Houses in the town are those situated near the turnpike-gate in Willow- Street. They are six in number, and were left by Dame Ellen, widow of Sir Francis Eure. Mrs. Jane Owen, in 1732, bequeathed to the twelve poor persons (six men and six women), inmates of the alms-houses, the sum of 18s. to be paid to them yearly, for ever, and also ordered her executor to charge her real and personal estate with the payment thereof. Mrs. M. Ormsby, by her will in 1805, requested her daughter (the present Mrs. Ormsby Gore), and those who should succeed her in the Porkington Estate, would pay "as she had done," the poor people in the alms-houses for ever. Mrs. Ormsby Gore regularly distributes £3 among the in- mates on Christmas-Day, that being the sum her mother had previously given. The alms-houses are kept in good repair by Mrs. Ormsby Gore, and she selects the inmates. 122 TABLE OF CHARITABLE DONATIONS. ^» >» •9 °+3 cu +; -° 2 ■fl ,fl (U P-c C > cu rt 'o p. p- C0 CU a) fl h o 5h fl -w C n3 ^ o c g § S !L> O > cu T3 o -fl c CS -fl CU u H fl ?S u s fl O 4> C cu p p <1 C cS (^•2 Ch « H pq o pq-d V sr - v y / v y ' ( — * CO fl • C s • 5-2 : S o ,fl Is >> M S3 •g CU ■S o T3 fl O 6 .2 cu H o 1 s . ,£ O 4-1 31 *-• - ~ « C m "I (U,Q ,fl O, urn Ph fl O 09 o CJ u C3 § 88 ;? I 02 § % P. CM 03 Oh i-s < W5 CM n ; /— ^^— ■ >N r- *^ /^-^-N o £5 a fl fl !3 15 v ~ » J J* So* &.g CO bC* C 51 C O C4 M.5 4) cu fl .a c S- CO Is £. CU CL fl«Hj CU fl cS < <8 fl .S s- J- ".3 - CO T3 'fl CO h C Oh • fl P< o o §3 o Oh6 i-h eiS fl 0) CM .g CU ^ te ^ 03 o .-Tea- ■T3 CO T? <° •^ r 1 rs rH P ^ i-H CO "^ P P 09 : • c2 0> : o * • » cu .*> - ^ _q ,fi fc Xi cu TO •-, 0) CU *-> CO cc to S-i *^ <2 ^ B o a § . t3 • S3 TO • co • C «3 »f CU HI TO ,£2 . w O is : III ^ifl to - 12 j2 ^3 Ji o H S3 o 1 3 o 3 CL, O CO C u CS fill!!! ^.Is ^ s > w>3 v«_ t v v —^ a* rs * . a o CO . TO Q ^ • ^3 3 ° cu £ i c3 • en > c OS ^ ^5 ^5 at o 0) Q • TO TO ft "1 • tf5 US H o "5 "5 * «^ bo a • >, O TO CU .-. PL,. 3 +j 2 » °> . II g 6C^ "3H J .2 00 a 1 J a «m GQ . S o ^> bo£ ^ * .Sh S 3 r< *S • CO " ^H ^j a) & ^ jg -MO . (0 -W O 3 *E "3 PL, 3 _* o "3JJ «> 5 Xi -2 Wi CO : 3 : Ill C4 £ • rS . *»« <© o • CM C4 ^+"d • ^O te S S ^ t> ra £3 - * S J> " s S" • : CO R C ^ o a o O 3 o cu 1 O O o S CO a I 2 CO 0) 3 CU eg fc Is u 124 TABLE OF CHARITABLE DONATIONS. ^j >> OS a C5 •g.3 sa CO « a 73 cc3 s CO (S a r2' 2 s l 73 co 13 O + J -3 '<£ ,3 J3 & O O CU "4 *> a s s i a « a o 3 1 5 ,3 s 10 1 cu cu 73 S-c > O C C3 GO £ s .s 2 ° 11 .1-1 w 6C , S *> cu 3 >. 3 a • ~ CD "* © w O 73 g -^ CU ^_ CO CO 1 8* B « 5,* CO 3 CU 13 eS •5 3 O cu ,3 cu > Eg S pq CU — '— < .S 98 C -S %* £ CU CCS -= ?o 12 _J5 cu a. 73 3 g H eu CU 73 O c CU CU X! O CU 73 cS -3 ■n *2 d rj O to © a 1 a 2 * f-h cu e EH «> >^ ° ,3 3 ** •C £ £ 3 ° -U r-3 r O 73 . p— CU CU ^Q 2 cS5 2 >.» £ H HEH H m-8 V, ) ^ I V V "V .' . 13 >» s O . o 3 -m A $ 0) . C * CU CU . >, CO CO • 3 n a s 3 CU M H s H tf ,c pg « IC5 si s O 1 CU — - p. _3 C .2 ,pH a' co CJ 1? • co . Pi *£ C 3 13 * g to a " 73 3 cu -3 s 3 CO • — ■>-" co i| 'bD O 3 !-s £-* cu .3 a a; CO CM CO 1 £ _o 5 13 CU d cu a S CU ^j *a 01 a ^ * S3 5 g" ^ "W «w "tf "« g^ J2 • 10 Ctf Sab ; 3 1|| CU s • 3 • 1-5 *- CN < CO ' -Sa'S . > Si "I la A. A. >. A field called Cae" Mark, in the Parish of Llanyblodwel, occupied by Margt. Oliver; consists now of ahouse and build- ings, and several small closes . . In 1833, £522 7s^ 10d., which, after certain deductions, left £186 8s. 8d. to be distributed be- tween the Parishes of St. Chad, Shrews- bury, Oswestry, El- lesmere, and Whit- church * . . . J Porkington Alms hou-" ses, and 18s. per annum to poor peo- ple occupying them, since incrsd. to £3., Hi H 4) c8 02 H Will . . Will, 24th Ap. 1661.. .. Will . . . . 1 O CO I Pierce James Phillips . . ■» 127 TABLE OF CHARITABLE DONATIONS. If 02-03 O 3 pq-a U Q I 128 *1 .2 SS 3 ■£ c> i i c cu s» w .2 „< - s « "£■** ' .2 en 3 <" -C -3 |^^ +j eo *1 o> >. §8 ^r g .2 '3 <" .^ 3 BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS. LIST OF CHARITIES FOR THE USE OF THE CHURCH- WARDENS, CONSISTING OF SUCH ONLY AS ARE PAID TO AND DISTRIBUTED BY THEM. Charities relating to the Town only. Yale's; Morris's; Witcherley's ; Sontley's; Donor unknown, (Owen?) Land in Beatrice Street; Muckleston Allen's; Lloyd and Peacock's; Muckleston's (Poor of Oswestry) ; Margaret Lloyd's ; Elizabeth Williams's (Mixon Hall) ; Rebecca Lloyd's (Freeman). Charities relating jointly to the Town and Parish. Morgan's; Gough's ; Winifred Matthews' s ; Turner's; Sir William Williams's. Charities relating to the Parish only. Elizabeth Williams's (Croft at Croes-Wylan) ; Jeffreys's. The SOCIETY for BETTERING the CONDITION of the POOR, Within the Hundred of Oswestry, was established in or about the year 1812, by the late Rev. C. A. A. Lloyd, Rector of Whittington, and the late Rev. G. N. K. Lloyd, Rector of Selattyn. The objects of the Society at its original insti- tution were — the encouragement of schools for the education of the lower classes ; the increase of the comforts of the poor in their dwellings, by the improvement of cottages ; the dis- tribution of moral and religious books and tracts; the encouragement and promotion of friendly societies ; the establishment of a bank for the poor, paying interest for small sums ; and, finally, the distribution of rewards among the poor for extraordinary acts of industry. During the progress of the Society very much has been done in the neighbourhood, through its instrumentality, with 129 K BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS* regard to the above objects. Several schools were estab- lished soon after its commencement, and a vast number of moral and religious publications have been given as prizes, from time to time, to the best-informed children, and also as rewards for proficiency in writing, drawing, sewing, &c. With respect to the improvement of cottages, the Society issued several small publications some years ago, directing the attention of owners of property to this very important social amelioration ; some plans were also engraved, and rules printed, relative to the building of habitations for the poor. Through the influence of this institution some Friendly Societies were established, and also (which is well worthy of notice) a Savings' Bank for the poor, about four years before the present excellent institution commenced operations in conformity with an Act of Parliament passed on the subject. As soon as the Government Savings' Bank was opened, the funds of the former were transferred to it. Subjoined are specimens of some of the prizes which were offered by the Society during the year 1854: — No. 2. — To the Labouring Cottager who shall be found to occupy the best-furnished, neatest, and cleanest Cottage, together with the best- culti- vated Garden, the same being not less than a quarter of an acre in extent : £. s. d. First Prize 1 10 Second ditto , ... 1 Third ditto 10 No. 5. — To the most deserving Widow, who under the greatest difficulties has supported herself by her own unassisted exertions : £. s. d. First Prize 10 Second ditto « 15 Third ditto 10 No. 8. — To the Cottager, or Farming Servant, who shall have accumu- lated most money in the Savings' Bank, the same to have arisen entirely from his or her own earnings : £. s. d. First Prize 2 Second ditto 1 130 FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. No recipients of parish relief are allowed to become candi- dates for any of the prizes. It is to be regretted that the Society, since the loss of its benevolent founders, has been in a declining state ; but it is to be hoped that an institution which has effected so much social and domestic comfort, and advanced the cause of morality and vital religion, will not, in this wealthy district, be allowed to expire for want of support. Franklin has well observed, that "more will be done for the happiness of the poor by inuring them to provide for themselves, than could be done by dividing all your estates among them." To establish principles of self-reliance among a people is to secure to them respectability and a manly independence of character. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. There are several Friendly Societies in Oswestry, all of which are conducted with prudence and judgment, and are at present in a state of prosperity. The following is a list of these institutions: — Sun Friendly Society, established 1765, consisting of 107 Members. The Feathers Friendly Society, established 1830, consisting of 150 Members. King Oswald Lodge of Odd Fellows, No. 603 Manchester Unity, established 1833, consisting of 153 Members. Held at Osburn's Hotel. Philanthropic Lodge of ditto, No. 1637, established 1838, having 50 Members. Held at the George Inn. Duke of Cornwall Court of Foresters, No. 86, established 1840, con- sisting of 86 Members. Held at the Unicorn Inn. Crrlmaatirul 35tBfnnj, THE PARISH CHURCH. his ancient fabric, though having no pretensions to jj§(^ beauty of architecture, externally or internally, yet, from its size and the massiveness of its ivy-mantled tower, has a venerable and somewhat imposing aspect. Girded on the west side by noble elm trees, and on the north by an avenue of limes, its tower presents on every side an object of much interest in the surrounding country. The eye even of the casual observer cannot fail to remark how much the fabric has suffered in former times, little probably of the original structure remaining. The different styles of architecture in the present building might enable the antiquary to decide with some probability when each particular part was restored. The only windows possessing any architectural beauty are those in St. Mary's chancel, and it is to be lamented that, when the south side of the chancel was restored some years ago, the new windows were not made uniform with these. At present nothing can be more incongruous than the different styles which present themselves on every side. There are perhaps few churches, in a parish so large and important as Oswestry, which contain so meagre a collection of records relating to it. Doubtless many of the books belonging to it were lost during the disturbed times which ended in the establishment of the Commonwealth. The old Vicarage House is supposed to Lave been burnt down, either at this time or in some former incursions of the Welsh. It stood on the north side of the church-yard, and when this site 132 THE PARISH CHURCH. was exchanged with the late Mr. Lloyd, of Swan Hill, by the then Vicar, for what is now the New Church- Yard, and which then became the Vicar's Croft, the row of trees forming the north side of the avenue, though separated by a wall from the church-yard, was expressly reserved as belonging to the church; and the present owner of that property has no right to cut down, or even to lop, the trees; whilst the Vicar has at all times power to enter upon the premises to plant new trees, if any of the present ones should be blown down or injured. The croft which became the Vicar's, by the above exchange with Mr. Lloyd, was again exchanged by the late Lord Powis for what is now the Vicar's land in Salop Road, and Lord Powis then gave the croft thus obtained as a free gift to the parish for a new Burial-ground. This, however, is already nearly filled, and as the Old Church-yard, ought unquestionably to be shut up and disused for burials, another and a larger Burial-ground is much needed. In the year 1748 Mrs. Margaret Godolphin endeavoured to remedy the loss of the old Vicarage House, by leaving to the Vicar and his successors for the time being a small tene- ment at the back of Cross-Street, as a residence, but coupled with this proviso, that if the Vicar should not occupy it himself, then it was to be let by the Churchwardens, and the rent appropriated in putting out apprentices from amongst the poor. It does not appear that the house so given by Mrs. Godolphin was ever occupied by any Vicar, and it consequently fell at once under the second provision of the will, and became a sort of Poor-house for the town. This continued till the year 1823, when the house was exchanged for more desirable premises in Brook-Street, which were for many years occupied by the present Vicar ; but in consequence of his non-residence, through ill health, the property has been given up by him, and has once more reverted to the second purpose of the charity. 133 THE PARISH CHURCH, The antiquity of the church, as we have already intimated, is not clearly defined in any of the books relating to the history of the county. In the records of the Augmentation Office the following minutes are made in reference to the Rectory and Vicarage of Oswestry : — " The Church of Oswestry is doubt- less,of great antiquity. There was certainly a vicarage here antecedent to the formation of the Valor by Pope Nicholas IV., A. D. 1291 ; for in the record, the original of which is preserved in the Exchequer, Oswestry is thus recorded:— 5APH r SPIRITUALITIES. DEANERY OF MARCHIA. Church of Oswalstrce : £. s. d. ectory 26 13 4 icarage . , . . . > 8 13 4 " From this it is evident that the vicarial endowment of Oswestry must be of a date prior to 1291 ; and in all proba- bility, therefore, so ancient as to preclude the expectation of ;ts being extant. " The Church of Oswestry was, in early times, given to the Monastery of Shrewsbury, and afterwards appropriated there- to, and the rectory and tithes converted to the uses of the said monastery. They continued to belong to the monastery until, as one of the great religious houses, Shrewsbury was, by force of the statute of 31 Henry VIII., dissolved, when its tithes and other possessions came into the hands of the crown." The tithes of Oswestry afterwards became the property of the Earl of Arundel, Lord of Oswestry, and then of the Earl of Powis, who sold them in 1819 (excepting the liberties of Oswestry town and Middleton township) to Mr. W. Lloyd, of Aston, Mr. T. N. Parker, of Sweeney, the Hon. T. Kenyon, of Pradoe, and others. Within the tower of the church are eight silver-toned bells, whose joyous peals on occasions of festivity give hilarity to 134 THE PARISH CHURCH. all who hear them. A new clock was substituted for an old one in 1836, the cost of which was paid by public subscription. The church is dedicated to St. Mary. A new organ was erected by subscription in 1812; and the organist, by the adoption of effective sacred music, and the choir, by its able execution of the beautiful psalmody selected, contribute much to the solemnity and effect of public worship in this venerable church. The present Organist is Mr. Edward Eyeley. It is stated that the old organ, a fine-toned instrument, is fixed in one of the metropolitan churches. The interior of the church, especially on a Sabbath morn- ing, when a numerous congregation generally assembles, presents a most delightful spectacle. The place wjiere, for ages past, divine worship has been held, and the footsteps of grandsires and great-grandsires have led them to bow before the " throne of the heavenly grace," cannot fail to exhibit an affecting scene to all who understand the frailty and brevity of human life. The church was enlarged and beautified in 1807: and in 1831 a new entrance door was completed at the east or chancel end. A great improvement in the interior, both as to comfort and effect, would still be added, were a new set of pews erected. Many of the present pews are most unsightly and inconvenient. A new set, formed on the most approved principle of church seat-accommodation, would be acceptable to all pew-holders, giving neatness and adding comfort within the fabric which every member of the congregation would heartily approve. The inhabitants of the parish have accomplished much, in the way of public improvement, within the last few years ; and the alterations we have now suggested would be a crowning point to their spirited exertions for the benefit and honour of the town.. The altar-piece might be removed, and a more suitable one introduced, at a trifling expense. The Communion Plate belonging to the church consists of the following articles :— A silver cup, bearing the inscription, 135 THE PARISH CHURCH. " Ex Dono Dauidi Edwards"; another cup, dated 1575, the gift of " Richard Stanni," "Elder Mercer"; a silver flagon, the letters "I, H. S." engraved thereon, with the inscription, " Given for the use of the Holy Communion, in the Parish Church of Oswestry, 1707"; and two silver salvers, the gift of Mrs. Elizabeth Roderick. The Church- Yard is no ordinary resting-spot for the dead. As we have already said, it would be well now to close it as a place of sepulture. Sanitary motives would urge this change ; and the feelings of those whose departed relatives or friends are about to be consigned to the grave should be religiously deferred to. The Church-yard may soon be sur- rounded by human dwellings, and then the newly-laid dead will lie amidst the busy living. Its beautiful avenue, rendered still more pleasant in spring, summer, and autumn, by the lofty row of lime-trees which separates it from the space appropriated to the tenements of the dead, might be made still more impressive in character, were a neat lattice-work constructed, extending from tree to tree, to mark the line of demarcation between the avenue and church-yard more distinctly. A sketch of the Avenue, with the Alcove at the west end, is here given, as well as the florid, chastely-designed Gate leading to it from Church - Street. This gate was put up in 1738, at the expence of the parish. Country church- yards are always deeply interesting to the con- templative and thought- ihb church gate akd ave»ui5. ful ; and Gray's truthful m THE PARISH CHURCH. and pathetic Elegy, which appeals so powerfully to the "best feelings of our nature, has invested them, however rude and humble, with an affecting character that touches the hearts even of the most indifferent. Oswestry Church- Yard, with its aged elms of more than a century's growth ; its sombre yews ; its stately tombs and humble graves for patrician and plebeian dust, " the rich and the poor meeting together," is a scene conveying monitory lessons to all who will seriously read them. Among the tombs are several, bearing appropriate inscriptions, containing the ashes of French prisoners of war, who died in Oswestry on their parole, between the years 1811 and 1814. The ancient entrance to the Church-yard from Upper Brook- Street, through the Griddle Gate, is a curious relic of bye- gone times. Formerly, on occasions of burial from the south THE GRIDDLE GATE. side of the town, the coffin of a deceased party was placed temporarily on a bier within the porch of the Griddle Gate, THE PARISH CHURCH. and thence conveyed to the church. It will be seen from the engraving we give of this Gate that it was erected in 1631. We may here state that the elm-trees in the church-yard were planted at the expense of the Rev. Thomas Owen, when Vicar of the Parish, between the years 1707 and 1713. Jttonumente antr ^ailets foitijin tfje Cjjttrrfj* How valuable are Monumental Inscriptions, when they are the records of truth, and affectionate tributes to departed worth ! The tablets on our church walls are silent, but often effective monitors, reviving drooping spirits, recalling scenes of sublunary enjoyments, transient as the stay of the dew-drop in the sun, and suggesting the brevity and uncertainty of human existence. Within Oswestry Church, as well as in its grave-yard, most of the Monuments and Inscriptions are simple, chaste, and impressive. They either plainly mark the spot where lies the departed body, or touchingly express the natural grief of surviving relatives or friends. Whilst wandering among the habitations of the dead, and viewing, with "slow and solemn steps," the houses, for rich and poor, "appointed for all men living," we can sympathize with Salopia's own sweet poet, in his beautiful apostrophe : " Thou, sainted Memory, art mine, And smiling Hope, of birth divine, Ev'n now I feel your mingled pow'r, Ev'n in this solitary hour." On the north wall, within the church, is an ancient monument exhibiting a male and female kneeling. " In memory of Mr. Hugh Yale, alderman of this town, and Dorothy his wife, daughter of Roger Roden, Esq., of Burton, in the county of Denbigh, whose bodies are interred within ye chancel of this church, com- monly called St. Mary's, before its demolition in the late wars, anno 1616. They gave to ye poor of this town the yearly interest and benefice of one hundred pounds, to continue for ever; besides other good acts of charity." 138 MONUMENTS WITHIN THE CHURCH. Beneath, this inscription : " Underneath are interred the remains of Margaret, the wife of David Yale, Esq., daughter and heiress of Edward Morris, of Cae-mor, Gent. She departed this life, the 20th day of December, 1754, aged 66. Also lye the remains of David Yale, Esq., who dy'd January the 29th, 1763, aged 81. This was erected by her son, John Yale, of Plas yn Yale, Clerk." In 1721 died Edward Yale. There is a monument to him in Wrexham Church, with the following inscription : — "Born in America, and in Europe bred, In Africa travell'd, and in Asia wed, — Where long he liv'd and thriv'd — in London died." On marble tablets on the same side : "Near this small monument lie the remains of Mrs. Mary Griffiths, the wife of William Griffiths, Gent, one of the aldermen of this corporation: she died on the 9th day of August, 1774, in the 70th year of her age. Likewise the remains of the said William Griffiths, who died the 14th day of November, 1791, in the 81st year of his age." "Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth, the beloved wife of John Jones, Esq., of Brook Street, who departed this life the 2nd of February, 1835, aged 68. Also to the memory of the above-named John Jones, who departed this life the 8th of June, 1846, aged 86." "Vaughan Barrett, Esq., died 17th October, 1772, aged years; Mary, relict of Vaughan Barrett; Esq., daughter of Thomas Kynaston, Esq., of Maesbury Hall, in the county of Salop, died 28th of May, 1779, aged years; Elizabeth, daughter-of Vaughan and Mary Barrett, died 6th March, 1792, aged 58 years; Letitia, daughter of Vaughan and Mary Barrett, died 25th of March, 1803, aged 71 years. This testimony of affection and regard is erected to their memory by Edward Disbrowe, Esq., of Walton-upon-Trent, in the county of Derby." "In memory of Elizabeth Venables, who died July, 1772, aged 39; Sarah Venables, who died June, 1807, aged 70 ; Margaret Venables, who died June, 1814, aged 80. Their remains are interred in an adjacent vault. They lived virtuously, and 'all died in faith,' in stedfast hope of a blessed resurrection." " Likewise in memory of Mary Ashburn, sister of the above-named, who died October 14th, 1817, aged 81, beloved and lamented." 139 MONUMENTS WITHIN THE CHURCH. On mural monuments on the north side of the chancel : "M. S. RICHARDUS MAURICE, Arm. Ad pedem Columnae huic Marm. oppositse Exuvias Mortales Uxoris Alicia, Filiae Thomas Carpenter, De Home, Com. Herefordiae, Arm., cum unica ex eadem Filia Anna, tum- ulavit, September 4, A. D. 1700, JEt&t. 22. Et Margarets itidem, Secundis illi Nuptiis conjunctse, Filise Johannis Price, A. M., ex qua Unum suscepit Filium, Johannem, cum Matre placide dormientem. Denat. September 4, A. D. 1716, iEtat. 32. In Uxorum et Liberorum Memo- riam, H. M. R. Maurice, P j C, in eodem Tumulo et suos aliquando Cineres depositurus, iEterna Requie fruiturus, si erga Deum Pietas, erga Pauperes Benignitas, erga Omnes summa Benevolentia illam Requiem afferre valeant. Obiit Primo die Junii, An. Salutis 1749, et suae iEtatis 84." "MDCCCXII. In memory of Lewis Jones, Esq., for fourteen years town- clerk of Oswestry: he died June 5th, in the 56th year of his age. This tablet was erected by the corporation of this town, in token of their affectionate remembrance of a man, who was remarkable for his knowledge of the laws of his country, and for his readiness in imparting that knowledge, with a view to prevent litigation among his neighbours." " To the memory of Elizabeth, the wife of Mr. Lewis Jones, who died 26th of September, 1801, in the 38th year of her age. This small tribute of affectionate regard, as a testimony of her worth, and an expression of his own deep regret, is placed by her surviving husband." "Sacred to the memory of Captain Robert Watkin Lloyd, of major- general Gwynne's regiment of cavalry, only son of Robert Lloyd, Esq., of Swan Hill, aged 17. He fell a victim to the yellow fever, on the 26th of June, 1794, at Port au Prince, in Saint Domingo, having survived the capture of that place. In him were united a mind firm and vigorous; a disposition kind and benevolent; manners engaging and mild, giving promise of a character which might one day have added lustre to his pro- fession ; have adorned the circle of polished society, and have sweetened the enjoyments of domestic life." "Sacred also to the memory of Robert Lloyd, Esq., of Swan Hill, father of the above-named Robert Watkin Lloyd, who departed this life on the 3rd day of October, 1803, aged 58. By that event, his family lost an affectionate husband and father ; the county an upright magistrate; and the public an amiable man." A monument at the north end of the chancel : "Robert Powell Lloyd, son of Robert Lloyd, of Swan Hill, Esq., 140 MONUMENTS WITHIN THE CHURCH. by Sarah, his second wife, died 11th March, Anno 1769, and was interred in the vault beneath, aged 5 years. Sarah, mother of the above R. P. Lloyd, died 19th of August, 1790, aged 59 years; also Robert Lloyd, Esq., the father, died 5th of April, 1793, aged 72 years." A neat tablet at the same end : "Sacred to the memory of Thomas Trevor, clerk, M, A., son of Roger Trevor, of Bodynfol, in the county of Montgomery, Esq., Vicar of this parish 50, and of Ruabon, 15 years; chaplain to Sir W. Williams Wynne, baronet; and one of his Majesty's justices of the peace for the counties of Salop and Denbigh, who died the 29th of February, 1784, aged 76. Of manners un- affected, he performed the service of the church with a peculiar grace ; and by a propriety of elocution, attracted the attention, and raised the devotion of his hearers. He was an active and upright magistrate, tender husband, kind relation, and steady friend. He married twice — first, Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Maurice, of Trefedrhyd, in the county of Montgomery, Esq., 11th June, 1762; afterwards, Anne, daughter of Gabriel Wynne, of Dolarddyn, Esq., and relict of George Robinson, of Brithdir, Esq., both in the county of Montgomery, who survived." On tablets near the communion table : " Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Turner Edwards, L. L. B., Vicar of this parish, and of Llansilin, in the county of Denbigh ; rural dean of Marchia, in the diocese of St. Asaph ; and one of his Majesty's justices of the peace for the county of Salop: he departed this life on the 10th of January, 1803, aged 44, leaving an afflicted widow, with five children, to deplore his untimely loss. Also underneath lie the remains of Sarah, relict of the above Rev. Turner Edwards, and second daughter of the late William Birch Basnett, Esq.; she departed this life on the 16th December, 1814, aged 52. This monument, a slender token of duty and affection, was erected by their surviving children, Turner, John, William, James, and Mary Anne." " Sacred to the memory of the Reverend Joseph Venables, L. L. B., who was born 31st August, 1726, and died 14th August 1810. As a minister of the Gospel, he illustrated his precepts by his example, by his piety, benevolence, and general character as a man. To his relations, his affection and kindness were unbounded ; for society, his friendship was ardent and sincere; and when his Creator called him to another and a better world, he closed a long and well-spent life, respected and lamented." 141 MONUMENTS WITHIN THE CHURCH A tablet near the communion table : "To the memory of Thomas Kynaston, of Maesbury, Esq., who died in 1710, aged 33; also of three of his children, and five grand-children." On a plain slab near the town door : " Sweeney Vault. — Underneath lie the^ remains of Edward Browne, Esq., who departed this life 22nd of February, 1794, aged 80." On a neat marble tablet near the above : "Edvardo Browne, de Oswestry, in comitatu Salopiensi, armigero, qui vixit ann. 80. Decessit 8 Calend. Mart., Anno sacro 1794. Sara, conjux Thomse Netherton Parker, haeres ejus, ex asse, pio gratoque animo in avunculum optime de se meritum, hoc monumentum faciendum curavit." Mural monuments near the above : "M. S. Jacobi Donne, S. T. P., Ecclesia? BlOdwell, in agro Salopiensi, Vicarii, qui, dum Scholae Oswestriensi per annos 36 prsefuit, quid sit verus ingenuarum artium finis, quid erga Deum patriamque pietas, quid strenua ilia honestas, nominis Britannici prisca propugnatrix, praeceptis, exemplo, tota vitae ratione, pro virili edocuit. Quanta denique Religionis Christiana? vis, ipse jam tandem placida senectute degens otium, et ad extremam vitse horam sacris Uteris officiisque deditus sanctioribus, sibi suisque feliciter demonstravit. Hoc monumentum poni curaverunt, qui, discipliha pueri tarn honesta instituti, provectioribus jam annis venerandi illius capitis testari volunt desiderium." "Sacred to the memory of Charles Penson, a friend and instructor of the poor, and a lover of all who loved the Lord Jesus Christ. He died November 26th, 1836, aged 40 years. Although nearly blind, he was an honoured instrument in God's hand in turning many from darkness to light. His life was spent in an active course of self-denying Christian benevolence, yet ever counting himself an unprofitable servant. In life and in death he had but one ground of hope, the mercy of God in Christ Jesus. Near this place he long sat as a Teacher in the Sunday School, labouring to make known to others that Saviour whom he had found so precious to his own soul. ' His faith follow, considering the end of his conversation ; Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.' Heb. xiii, 7, 8. This tablet is erected to his memory by many who esteemed him very highly in love, for his work's sake." 142 MONUMENTS IN THE CHURCH-YARD. Tablet on a pillar in the chancel : " Sacred to the memory of Richard Price, surgeon, one of the senior aldermen of this town, obt. 26th September, 1790, set. 68. Also to the memory of Susanna, wife of Nathaniel Price, Esq., who departed this life February 23rd, 1844, aged 67 years. Also of Nathaniel Price, Esq., who departed this life May 22nd, 1847, aged 67 years. This tablet was erected as a tribute of affection by Harriet, daughter of Susanna and Nathaniel Price." A brass plate near the organ gallery steps : "Mary, wife of Humphrey Mostyn, Esq., died September 3rd, 1781, aged 60. Also of Humphrey, youngest son of William Mostyn, Esq., of Brongwyn, Montgomeryshire, died 12th of January, 1786, aged 60." Scroll, surmounted by military insignia, on south-east wall : " Sacred to the memory of Captain Owen Arthur Ormsby Gore, of the 43rd Light Infantry, third son of William Ormsby Gore, Esq., M. P., of Porkington, who fell in action with the Caffres, at the head of his Company, on the 6th of April, 1852, at ' Antas Cave,' British Caffraria. This monu- ment was erected by Jus brother officers, as a mark of their affectionate regard." Arms — Motto, "In hoc signo vinces." Tablet, surmounted by an urn : "Sacred to the memory of Henry Pinson Tozer Aubrey, Esq., of Broom Hall, in this Parish, who died deeply and deservedly lamented, September 30th, 1848, aged 69." " The memory of the just is blessed." Jlonumatts in fyt Cljurrfj^artr* We select the following from various parts of the Church- yard : — "Sacred to the memory of Samuel Leach, Esq., Llanforda Issa, and an alderman of the corporation of this town, who departed this life November 4th, 1833, aged 67 years." "Sacred to the memory of Mary, relict of the late Samuel Leach, who departed this life February 25th, 1838, aged 60 years." 143 MONUMENTS IN THE CHURCH-YARD. "To the memory of the Rev. John Sheil, Incumbent of Cannock, Staffordshire, who died at Oswestry, September 24th, 1841, aged 61. This tribute of esteem and regard, is erected by his former pupils — Arthur Viscount Dungannon, of Brynkinalt, and the Rev. John Parker, Vicar of Blodwel." "Thomas Hunt, died February 17th, 1831, aged 69 years. Susanna, widow of the said Thomas Hunt, died August 21st, 1844, aged 82 years." "Sacred to the memory of Francis Campbell, Esq., an alderman of the corporation of this borough, who died September 26th, 1841, aged 73. Also, Mary Campbell, relict of the above, who died April 30th, 1845, aged 78." "Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth, daughter of the late Thomas Peate, Esq., of Preeshenlle, who died November 6th, 1841, aged 67 years." "Sacred to the memory of John Tomley, Gent., late of Middleton, in this parish, who died August 25th, 1808, aged 74 years." "Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth, the beloved wife of John Jones, Esq., who departed this life, the 2nd February, 1835, aged 68. Also to the memory of the above-named John Jones, who departed this life the 8th June, 1846, aged 86." "Sacred to the memory of Randle Jones, son of John and Elizabeth Jones, who departed this life April 10th, 1821, aged 23 years." "Sacred to the memory of Mary, youngest daughter of John and Elizabeth Jones, who departed this life January 27th, 1833, aged 31 years." "Sacred to the memory of Emma, the beloved wife of John Jones, jun. Esq., who died June 19th, 1834, aged 37." "Sacred to the memory of Eliza, eldest daughter of John and Elizabeth Jones, who departed this life the 24th May, 1854, aged 61 years." "Sacred to the memory of Skinner Hancox, Esq., late colonel of the 7th Dragoon Guards, who departed this life January 27th, 1843, aged 55." "If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that thou mayest be feared." Psalm- c xxx : 3, 4. "Sacred to the memory of General John Despard, late colonel of the 5th West India regiment, who died at Swanhill, September 3rd, 1829, in the 85th year of his age, after having honorably served his country for 70 years. Also of Harriet Anne, sister of the late Sir Thomas Dalrymple Hesketh, Bart., of Rufford Hall, Lancashire, and relict of the above General John Despard. She died at Brighton, May 14th, 1848, aged 76 years." 144 MONUMENTS IN THE CHURCH-YARD. "Conway Longueville, eldest daughter of Thomas Longueville Longueville and Anne, his wife, died 17th March, 1854, aged 14 years." "Charles Henry Longueville, their youngest son, died 30th June, 1854, aged 6 years." "In memory of John Croxon, alderman of this town, Who died March 21st, 1803, aged 66; and of Alice, his wife, daughter of Richard and Alice Jones. She died July the 19th, 1824, aged 87. Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Tudor, of Shrewsbury, and daughter of the above-named John and Alice Croxon, died January the 24th, 1811, aged 36." "Sacred also to the memory of Richard Croxon, of this town, eldest son of the said John and Alice Croxon, who died the 31st July, 1838, aged 70." "Here lie the remains of Alexander Kyffin, who died August 10th, 176G, aged 51. Also of Margaret, his wife, who died December 20th, 1815, aged 73," "In memory of Sarah, wife of Charles Osburn, who died February 11th, 1851, aged 66. Also of the above-named Charles Osburn, who died February 16th, 1851, aged 66." "Sacred to the memory of William Price, who died November 4th, 1847, aged 70 years. Also of Jane, widow of the said William Price, who died April 10th, 1848, aged 68 years." "Sacred to the memory of Charles Thomas Jones, late of this Town, Banker, who died 16th October, 1847, aged 70 years." "Sacred to the memory of Robert Edwards, late of the Queen's Head Inn, in this Town, who died February 2nd, 1843, aged 62. And of Sarah, his beloved wife, who died April 7th, 1843, aged 59. Also of Thomas, third son of the above Robert and Sarah Edwards, who died June 20th, 1843, aged 27 years. Life, how short, how uncertain! Look, O! look on this monument, ye gay and careless ; attend to these dates, and boast no more of to-morrow. 1 Father, thy chastening hand we own, And bow submission to Thy rod; That must be wise which Thou hast done* It must be kind, for Thou art God.' " 145 L MONUMENTS IN THE CHURCH-YARD. " In memory of Robert, second son of Robert and Sarah Edwards, who died December 1st, 1808, aged one year. Also of Robert, their fourth son, who died January 20th, 1818, aged 6 months. Also of Martha, their fourth daughter, who died March 8th, 1823, aged 11 months. Also of Sophia, their fifth daughter, who died May 15th, 1824, aged 4 months. Also of Robert Edwards, grandfather of the above infants, who died May 10th, 1837, aged 84." "Sacred to the memory of Joseph, fifth son of Robert and Sarah Edwards, who died May 2nd, 1851, aged 32." "In a vault beneath are deposited the remains of William Jones, late Ironmonger, of this town, who died December 28th, 1827, in the 71st year of his age. Also the remains of Elizabeth Jones, relict of the above, who died April 12th, 1843, aged 81." " Thomas, youngest son of William and Elizabeth Jones, died June 28th, 1828, In the 27th year of his age. Also of Alice, eldest daughter of William and Elizabeth Jones, who died March 7th, 1844, aged 50." "Sacred to the memory of John Jones, late of Plas-fynnon, who de- parted this life December 10th, 1853, aged 61 years." "In memory of Edward Bennion, Surgeon, Cyrn-y-Bwch, who died July 31st, 1844, aged 87. Also Alice Bennion, wife of the above Edward Bennion, who died July 16th, 1838, aged 70." "In memory of Edward Bennion (senior), Surgeon, who died February 27th, 1788, aged 69. Also Elizabeth Batten and Elizabeth Roberts, who died in their infancy." " Margaret Cartwright, wife of Robert Cartwright, Surgeon, died June 28th, 1807, aged 29 years. Robert Cartwright, died July 17th, 1822, aged 51 years." "Sacred to the memory of George Dorset Owen, late of this Town, who departed this life November the 3rd, 1839, aged 52." "Sacred to the memory of Edward Powell, late of Preesgwyn, in this County, and of the Excise Office in the City of London, second son of Edward Powell, by Sarah his wife, who departed this life January 6th, 1825, and was interred the 12th of the same month, at St. Dunstan's Church, Mile End, Old Town, Middlesex, aged 68 years. Underneath rest the mortal remains of John Powell, late of Preesgwyn, youngest son of the above Edward and Sarah Powell, who departed this life November 24th, 1825, aged 63 years." 146 MONUMENTS IN THE NEW CHURCH-YARD. " In a vault beneath this stone are deposited the mortal remains of Mary* the beloved and affectionate wife of Mr. William Faulder, late of this town, and mother of Margaret, wife of John Richard Powell, of Preesgwyn, who died February 17th, 1847, in the 73rd year of her age*" "Underneath lie the remains of Margaret Jennings, eldest daughter of Thomas and Margaret Jennings, of Penylan. She died May 12th, 1826, aged 59. Also the remains of Mary, youngest daughter of Thomas and Margaret Jennings, who died 31st of March, 1834, aged 61. Also there- mains of Edward, the youngest son of Thomas and Margaret Jennings, who died November 27th, 1835, aged 61. Also the remains of Thomas, eldest son of Thomas and Margaret Jennings, who died July 26th, 1844, aged 74. Underneath are deposited the remains of Thomas Jennings, of Penylan. He died 17th of December, 1805, aged 79. Also the remains of Margaret Jennings, relict of Thomas Jennings, of Penylan. She died the 31st of March, 1811, aged 79. Jane, the wife of John Wolfe, of Penylan, departed this life July 19th, 1695. Sinah, the second wife of John Wolfe, of Penylan, departed this life October 25th, 1736, aged 77. Mary Jennings, of Penylan, (widow), departed this life November 11th, 1756, aged 51. John Wolfe, of Penylan, departed this life July 3rd, 1739, aged 80." . "Edward Gough, departed this life March 14th, 1803." " Also to the memory of Catherine Williams, who departed this life April 28 th, 1840, aged 97." "Also to the memory of Maria, relict of the above-named Edward Gough, who departed this life February 25th, 1853, aged 82." "Sacred to the memory of Thomas Potter Macqueen, late of Ridge- mount, Bedfordshire, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Beds. Yeomanry Cavalry, and M.P. for that County, born May 28th, 1792, died March 31st, 1854." 3n tfje Nefo Cfjurc^garX "In memory of Charlotte Elizabeth Urwick, eldest daughter of Thomas and Frances Penson, and wife of William Urwick, of Ludlow. She died of consumption, at Torquay, on the 26th of November, 1846, aged 30 years. In this dispensation of the Divine will, her parents have to sorrow for a most dear and dutiful daughter, and her husband to bemoan the loss of an affectionate wife. Her remains, with those of her only child, Thomas Penson Urwick, who died on the 27th of May, 1847, aged 13 months, are deposited beneath." Near this place are deposited the remains of Hannah Penson, who 147 TRINITY CHURCH. died an infant, on the 28th of September, 1823. And underneath lie the remains of Sarah Maria Penson, who died on the 25th of April, 1829, aged 8 years. Also the remains of Henry Penson, who died on the 1st of May, 1832, aged 12 years; children of Thomas and Frances Penson. ' Happy children, early blest, Rest, in peaceful slumbers rest.'" "Sacred to the memory of Jane, daughter of Edmund Faunce, Esq., late Lieutenant-Colonel of the 4th or King's own regiment, and Bridget his wife, who died April the 12th, 1826, aged 16. Also sacred to the memory of the above-named Edward Faunce, Esq., of St. Mary's Hall, county of Kent, late Lieutenant- Colon el in the 4th or King's own regiment. He died September 29th, 1838, aged 72." "Sacred to the memory of John William Bourke, obiit August 21st, 1823, setat. suae 47. Sacred to the memory of Anne, relict of the Rev. John William Bourke, who died October 22nd, 1833, aged 73." TRINITY CHURCH. The great want of accommodation for the poor in the Parish Church led to the building of another church, in the outskirts of the town, in the year 1835. This church, dedi- cated to the Holy Trinity, was consecrated by the Bishop TRINITY CHURCH. of St. Asaph (Dr. Carey) in 1837, and a district, consisting of the wards of Leg-Street and Beatrice Street, in the town, 148 TREFONEN CHURCH. and of the townships of Middleton, Hisland, Wootton, Aston, and Maesbury, has since been formed for it by the Church Commissioners. The population of the district so assigned was estimated at the time at about 2,300. The church con- tains accommodation for 700 persons, for about 400 of whom there are free sittings. The ornamental parts of the interior were executed at the expense of the Rev. John Parker, of Sweeney Hall, Vicar of Llanyblodwel. The Viscount Dungannon presented a handsome bible and prayer book, and the communion services, for the use of the church. The communion plate w r as given by the late Earl of Powis. T. L. Longueville, Esq., has also been a most liberal contri- butor to the church, both in presenting an organ, and in subscribing largely to the original structure, and to the sub- sequent improvements. A school-room at Maesbury, with a house for the master, was built some years since in this district, and subsequently licensed for the performance of worship by the Bishop of St. Asaph, and which is served gratuitously by the Incumbent of Trinity Church. It is much to be desired that a chapel-of-ease were erected in this part of the parish. Trinity Church is now altogether separated from the living of Oswestry, the Vicar of Oswestry for the time being appointing the Incumbent. The present Incum- bent is the Rev. Frederick Cashel, M. A. TREFONEN CHURCH. To meet the wants of the Welsh population of the parish, a church was built in the township of Trefonen, and conse- crated in the year 1821 ; and in 1842 a district was assigned to it, by an Order in Council bearing date August 27th, con- sisting of the three townships of Trefonen, Treflach, and Treferclawdd. In 1851 this district contained 319 houses, and 1233 inhabitants — viz., 589 males and 644 females. Trefonen Church, which is capable of containing about 500 persons, was built on a piece of land given for that purpose 149 KHYDYCROESAU CHURCH. by the late Sir W. W. Wynn, father of the present Baronet, It was originally intended that the service of this church should be wholly in Welsh ; but, owing to the increase and prevalence of the English language, that intention was not persevered in, and the service has for some years past been performed in Welsh and English alternately. A substantial school-room, with a house for the Master, was erected in the year 1825, upon a portion of the glebe given for that purpose, with the sanction of the Bishop, by the late Incumbent, the Rev. Edward Jones, and which has been of great advantage to the district. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of the Earl of Powis. The present Incumbent is the Rev. D. Lloyd. Trefonen abounds in mineral wealth. Coal was raised in considerable abundance some years since in the adjoining township of Treferclawdd, but the pits there are now ex- hausted. It is still worked, however, in the township of Treflach, where there are also valuable and extensive quarries of lime. A mine was. opened some years since in the Moelydd, which produces lead and calamine. RHYDYCROESAU CHURCH. In addition to the above means of providing church accom- modation to the inhabitants of the parish, an additional advantage has been gained by annexing the two Welsh townships of Pentregaer and Cynynion to the new church at Rhydycroesau. This church is situated on the high road to Llansilin, about three and a half miles from the town of Oswestry. It owes its foundation to the Rev. G. N. K, Lloyd, late Rector of Selattyn, who contributed liberally himself, and, with the co-operation of the first and present Incumbent, the Rev. Robert Williams, M. A., raised a sufficient fund, by voluntary contributions, to complete the church and erect a glebe-house. The church was consecrated August 2nd, 1838, by the Bishop of St. Asaph, and the glebe-house was built 150 LIST OF VICARS. in 1S40. It is a Consolidated District Church, licensed for all parochial purposes ; and has a legally-assigned district, consisting of the townships of Cynynion and Pentregaer, in the parish of Oswestry ; a detached portion of the parish of Llanyblodwel, called Cefnymaes ; with portions of the parishes of Llansilin and Selattyn. A very neat Gothic building has also been erected by the present Incumbent, aided by voluntary contributions, and opened as a National School in January, 1850. The sites for the school and play- ground, as well as for the church and church-yard, are the munificent gifts of Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Bart. The portion of the population of the parish of Oswestry thus transferred to the district of Rhydycroesau is about 200. Nothing is now needed to make the ecclesiastical arrange- ments of the parish of Oswestry complete but the building of a chapel-of-ease at Maesbury, and the annexing a district to Morton Chapel; the latter of which objects will no doubt be effected whenever anew Incumbent shall be appointed to it. Oswestry is a discharged Vicarage, in the gift of the Earl of Powis. The present Incumbent is the Rev. Thomas Salwey, B. D. LIST OF VICARS. David Owain . . . . . . . . . . instituted 1534 Rector of Whittington 1532, and Prebendary of Myfod 1534. Peter Brereton , . .. .. .. .. .. .. 1537 John Price, L. L. B 1552 He became Prebendary of Myfod 1558, and Chancellor 1559. William Owen 1583 William Horton 1587 Thomas Somerfield •• 1588 John Bagshaw .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1591 Rector of Whittington 1588. William Morgan . . . . 1599 Vicar of Pool 1575. Richard Pigot 1602 Nathaniel Tattersall (deprived).. .. 1603 Richard Muckleston 1612 151 THE OLD CHAPEL. John Kyffin, B. D 1625 Humphrey Wynne .. .. .. .. .. .. 1639 Rowland Nevet, A. M Ejected by the Act of Uniformity. Richard Edwards, 1664 Richard Jones ' .. .. 1680 Samuel Wilson, A. M 1690 Archibald Guild .. .. 1694 Thomas Jones .. .. 1697 Thomas Owen 1707 Edward Parry 1713 Thomas Trevor, A. M., Bodynfol 1736 Turner Edwards, L. L. B., Talgarth 1784 Vicar of Llansilin. Daniel Griffiths 1803 J. W. Bourke, A. M 1807 Vicar of St. Martins 1803. Thomas Salwey, B. D. t . . . , . . . December, 1823 The present esteemed Vicar of Oswestry, suffering much from illness, has long been unable to attend personally to the duties of his office. When however occasion has offered to promote, by his counsel and aid, any measure of benevolence in the Parish, he has been active hi the good work. There are two Curates at present attached to the Parish Church — • the Rev. Llewelyn Wynne Jones, and the Rev. George Cuthbert, both of whom are zealous and faithful in their ministerial labours, and have acquired the regard and affection of the numerous congregations to whom they dispense the Bread of Life. ©feaenttng Paces of aEor^jtp. THE OLD CHAPEL. The Congregational. Church of Protestant Dissenters now assembling in the Old Chapel, Arthur-Street, was formed in the township of Sweeney, in the year 1662, and the Rev. Kowland Nevet, A, M„ ejected from the vicarage of Oswestry 152 THE OLD CHAPEL. by the Act of Uniformity, was its first pastor. Mr. Nevet laboured in the ministry for thirty years; seventeen as a clergyman of the established church, and thirteen as a dis- senting preacher. Calamy, in his "Nonconformists' Memorial" mentions to his honour, that when the Plague prevailed at Oswestry, he still continued with his people, extending to them both temporal and spiritual aid. He died December 8th, 1675, and was succeeded by the Rev. James Owen, a distinguished minister, who bore part, as we have already mentioned, in a theological controversy which took place in the Oswestry Guildhall, in the year 1681, in the presence of Bishop Lloyd. He was appointed pastor at Sweeney in November, 1676, the duties of which office he faithfully dis- charged, as well as those of chaplain to Mrs. Baker, a pious lady residing on her own estate at Sweeney Hall. Vestiges of the ancient burial-ground of the first Nonconformists are yet to be seen near the site of the old mansion at Sweeney, enclosed within iron railings by the late T. N. Parker, Esq. The following inscriptions are still legible : — "Here lieth Mrs. Abigail Chetwood, daughter to Sir Richard Chetwood, who died the 1st May, 1658." "Thomas Baker, Esq., deceased March 19, aged 68, A. D. 1675." The above Thomas Baker served the office of High Sheriff of the county, in 1649, the first year of Cromwell's Protec- torate; and in the parliament of 1653 he was summoned by Cromwell, with John Brown, of Little Ness, as a knight of the shire. In 1692 the place of worship was removed, for convenience, from Sweeney into the town of Oswestry. The room fitted up for religious worship was part of a house in Willow- Street, now known as the Butchers' Arms. Here Mr. Owen laboured for eight years, and then removed to Shrewsbury, where he was soon placed at the head of the dissenting theological seminary. He was succeeded by the Rev. Jenkyn Evans, who died in 1709, and his funeral sermon was preached by the celebrated Mathew Henry. The Rev. Joseph 153 THE OLD CHAPEL. Yenables was the next minister appointed; and after Mr. Venables came the Rev. Thomas Morgan. During his ministry the site on which the present chapel and chapel- house stand was purchased, with an old maltkiln upon it, for £38. The sum of £200 having been given for the purpose by Mrs. Sarah Lloyd, a chapel was erected, and opened for public worship in July, 1750. The immediate successors of Mr. Morgan were Mr. Davies and Mr. Dewhurst ; the latter became Socinian or Arian in his doctrines, and soon left. In September, 1777, the Rev. Dr. Edward Williams removed from Ross to Oswestry. In 1783 he enlarged the chapel ; and the Collegiate Institution at Abergavenny having been removed to Oswestry, Dr. Williams became its Tutor, and for the accommodation of the students he enlarged the chapel-house also. In 1791 he removed to Carr's-Lane, Birmingham; afterwards to Rotherham College, of which he was appointed Principal, and there he died. The Rev. John Whitridge, who had been minister of the Congregational Church at Newcastle- under-Lyme for nine years, succeeded Dr. Williams, and he remained the kind and benevolent pastor of his congregation, which greatly increased under his ministry, till the period of his death, October 11th, 1826. On the west side of the chapel, and over the spot where the pulpit then stood, in which for thirty-five years he had dealt out the bread of life to his congregation, a plain marble tablet was erected, bearing the following inscription : — "In Memory of the Rev. John Whitridge, this Tablet is affection- ately inscribed by the Church over whom for 35 years he was the devoted Pastor, An example — in word — in conversation — in charity — in spirit — in faith — in purity. ' Whose praise is in the Gospel throughout all the Churches.' He was born 23rd March, 1760. Died 11th October, 1826. His body reposes in a tomb beneath, waiting the spirit's union at the resurrection of the just." Dr. Jenkyn, of Wem, succeeded to the pastoral office, and afterwards the Rev. W. Reeve. The Rev. J. Davies was followed by the present able pastor, the Rev. James Matheson 154 THE BAPTIST CHAPEL. (son of the Rev. Dr. Matheson, the indefatigable Secretary of the Home Missionary Society), who entered upon his ministerial labours in September, 1851, and who, by his dis- tinguished talents, great urbanity, and ardent zeal for the spiritual prosperity of his people, has succeeded in greatly increasing the number of his hearers, and in commending himself to the good opinion of all classes of his fellow- townsmen. The present Chapel (of which we give a sketch) was built THE OLD CHAPEL. during the ministry of the Rev. Dr. Jenkyn. The old Chapel having become too small for the increased number of hearers, it was pulled down, with the exception of part of one wall, and the present one was erected. It is a substantial and commodious place of worship, and capable of containing, when closely seated, about eight hundred persons. THE BAPTIST CHAPEL, Situated on the English Walls (opposite the Cattle Market), was erected by voluntary contributions, in the year 1805, and enlarged in 1818. It contains two galleries, and will accommodate between 300 and 400 persons. The Baptist Church in Oswestry was formed September 6th, 1806, and then consisted of a few members dismissed from the Baptist 155 WESLEYAN-METHODIST AND ZION CHAPELS. Church, at Shrewsbury, at that time under the pastoral care of the late Rev. John Palmer, who, with other Baptist Ministers, preached the Gospel in Oswestry and its neigh- bourhood some time prior to the erection of the Chapel. The Rev. William Pain was the first Pastor, and was suc- ceeded by the Rev. Thomas Cooke, in the year 1817, who, for twenty years, honourably sustained the office to whicb he had been chosen. In 1838 the Rev. Robert Clarke (late of Bridgnorth) became the Pastor ; and his successor was the late Rev. H. G. Grainger, who settled in Oswestry, in the year 1846. The present Pastor, the Rev. David Crumpton, took the oversight of the Church in the year 1852. There is a Sabbath-School connected with this congregation. The Chapel is free from debt, as is also the Baptist Chapel at Sweeney, erected by this Church and congregation in the year 1831. THE WESLEYAN-METHODIST CHAPEL Is a plain brick building, situated in the Coney Green, and was erected in the year 1813. The interior is without galleries, but will accommodate on the ground floor about 500 persons. The Wesleyan body in Oswestry is included in the Wrexham Circuit, the present Superintendent being the Rev. Samuel Atkinson. ZION CHAPEL. Throughout the Principality the Calvinistic Methodists are the most numerous body of dissenters, and their annual meetings, or associations, are seasons of much interest and excitement. In 1814 a small chapel was erected on the Welsh Walls for the accommodation of persons of this persua- sion resident in Oswestry, and this was occupied as a place of religious worship until 1836, when the great increase of the congregation rendered the erection of a larger chapel necessary. Accordingly the present building was commenced in Gatacre Place, and opened for public worship on the 6th of July, 1836. 156 PRIMITIVE METHODIST AND OTHER CHAPELS. It is a substantial stone structure, of rather imposing appearance, and affords accommodation for upwards of 500 persons. THE PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHAPEL. The first chapel erected by this body was on the site of the Bath in Upper Willow Street, and was opened in 1825. So rapid has been the increase of the members of this denomination, that from the summer of 1825, when their first travelling preacher visited Oswestry, to the present time, they have built in this circuit no fewer than sixteen chapels ; and the number of preachers on their quarterly plan amounts to 120. Their place of worship in Willow Street having become in- capable of accommodating their increasing numbers, the present chapel and chapel-house were erected in 1840, in Castle Street. It is a neat and convenient building, and will seat about 450 persons. . The Superintendent is the Rev. Thomas Parr. BETHESDA CHAPEL Is a small neat building in Castle Street, erected in the year 1844, for the use of the Welsh Congregationalists, or Inde- pendents. The Rev. Robert Thomas is the present Minister. THE INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHAPEL Stands below the Horse-Market, and was built in 1848 by a body of seceders from the Primitive Methodists. It is a plain brick building, and capable of seating about 300 persons. Besides the above, there is a small but highly-respectable body of Christians who hold their meetings in the Assembly Room at Osburn's Hotel, under the ministry of the Rev. J. Stewart ; and also a congregation of Welsh Wesleyan-Method- ists, who assemble in a school-room at Black Gate. 157 IHtmictpl atttr dEibil ffiobemmmi The Corporation of Oswestry is of great antiquity. Its civic honours, primitively, flowed from its Barons or Lords, who, exercising themselves the power of petty sovereigns, appointed Bailiffs and other officers to superintend the civic affairs of the borough. Its first assumption of civic digni- ties appears to have been in the reign of Henry II., when William, Earl of Arundel, granted to the town a short charter (called by the Welsh " Siarter Cwtta"), denominated also a Charter of Protection. A clause in this ancient document sets forth that " I (the Earl of Arundel) have re- ceived in Protection my Burgesses of Blanc-Minster" (Oswestry). Richard de Chambre was Constable at this period. Here was subsidiary power given to the inhabitants of Oswestry, for the government of the town ; but in the reign of Richard II., August 14th, 1399, that monarch granted to Oswestry its first royal charter, incorporating the Bur- gesses by the name and title of " The Bailiffs and Burgesses of Oswestry, infra Palatinatum Cesirice, in marchia inter Angliam et Walliam." In 1407, as heretofore noticed, Thomas, Earl of Arundel, granted a comprehensive and valuable charter, showing that still the exercise of power, in his lordship or barony, for the good government of the burgesses, &c, was fully recognized by the crown. The rights and privileges granted by Richard II. seem to have been strictly guarded and maintained by the inhabitants down to the reign of Elizabeth, when they were confirmed by that sovereign. It would appear, however, that subse- quently " divers doubts and ambiguities" arose concerning the ancient liberties, franchises, &c, of the borough, and in the reign of James I., 1616, the king granted a charter to the town, extending its liberties and privileges, and confirm- ing the Bailiffs, Burgesses, &c, as a body corporate, by the 158 SIR JOHN TREVOR. name of " The Bailiff and Burgesses of Oswestry, in the countie of Salop." The charter of Charles II., granted January 13th, 1673, to " the ancient borough and corporation of Oswestry, alias Oswaldstrey, in the county of Salop,'* enacted " That they be incorporated by the name of the Mayor, Aldermen, Common-Councilmen and Burgesses of Oswestry." This charter, it will be seen, was the instrument which first called into existence the offices of Mayor, Alder- men, Common-Councilmen, and Recorder. That charter was immediately acted upon, and Mr. Richard Pope was elected the first Mayor of Oswestry. Sir John Trevor, Knight (afterwards speaker of the House of Commons, and Master of the Rolls), Morgan Wynne, Esq., Edward Owen, Richard Edwards, Richard Lloyd, the before-mentioned Richard Pope, gentleman ; Gabriel Edwards, woollen- draper ; Hugh Price, woollen-draper ; John Jones, mercer ;• Richard Jones, John Blodwell, gentlemen ; and John Lloyd, mercer, were chosen as the first Aldermen. Richard Price, brewer, Richard Jones, mercer, John Glover, tanner, Richard Jones, glover, Edward Evans, apothecary, John Jones, glover, John Muckleston, shoemaker, Thomas Edwards, gen- tleman, Thomas Edwards, baker, Nathaniel Jones, brewer, Hugh Edwards, shoemaker, Timothy George, mercer, Thomas Vaughan, chandler, William Price, butcher, and Thomas Felton, brazier, were the first Common-Councilmen. Morgan W r ynne, Esq., was the first Recorder of the town, and John Worral, Esq., first Common Clerk of the Borough, and Clerk of the Court. It may be mentioned as a fact worth knowing, that Sir John Trevor was the second Mayor of Oswestry, under the charter of Charles II. Sir John was an eminent man, and his history, connected as he was with the borough of Oswestry, is worthy of brief record in these pages. He was the second son of John Trevor, Esq., of Brynkinalt, in the county of Denbigh, by an aunt of Sir George Jeffreys. He was born about the year 1637, and it is supposed never received educational advantages beyond 159 SIR JOHN TREVOR. those furnished by a village school. He was sent to London to his uncle, Arthur Trevor, a leading barrister, who em- ployed him as his clerk in his chambers in the Inner Temple. The Rev. Robert Williams, in his careful and elaborate "Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Welshmen," says of him, that " on his first arrival he displayed very lively parts, although his manners were rather uncouth, and he could not speak a sentence of correct English. His diligence, how- ever, was so great, that being entered a student of the Inner Temple, he rendered himself well versed in all branches of his profession, and soon acquired extensive practice. Through the interest of his cousin, Sir George Jeffreys, he was made a king's counsel, in 1678, and he obtained a seat in the House of Commons. Here he acquired considerable influence among the members, and such was his reputation as a high prerogative lawyer, that at the meeting of James IPs. parliament in May, 1685, he was elected Speaker. In October of the same year he was appointed Master of the Rolls, and in July, 1688, he was sworn a Privy Councillor. On the accession of William and Mary, Sir John Trevor was dismissed from the office of Master of the Rolls. In the Convention Parliament he sat for Reraldstone, and opposed by every means in his power the measures of the Govern- ment. In the next Parliament, called in 1690, he made his peace with the Court, and was unanimously elected Speaker. In May, 1691, he was made first Lord Commissioner of the Great Seal, which office he held until May 2nd, 1693, and in January, 1693 he was restored to his office of Master of the Rolls. Such was his talent for managing party, and of re- commending himself to the Government by his bold and dexterous measures, that had it not been for his great indis- cretion, he would probably have reached the great object of his ambition, which was to become Lord Chancellor, and to be created a peer. In 1695 a violent outcry was raised against bribery, and a committee was appointed by the House of Commons, to inquire into the charges, which were 160 SIR JOHN TREVOR. made against members, and it reported that Sir John Trevor had received a bribe of a thousand guineas for furthering a bill called the " Orphan's Bill," promoted by the City of London. Accordingly, March 12th, 1695, he was subjected to the unparalleled humiliation of putting the resolution from the chair, and declaring himself guilty. He then resigned the chair, and was expelled from the House. Receiving money for voting in parliament was in those days so common, that his offence was not regarded in a very serious light, and he was permitted to retain his high judicial office of Master of the Rolls, for the long period of twenty-two years after his expulsion from the House of Commons. By the death of his elder brother he succeeded to the paternal estates of Brynkinalt, which, with large possessions of his own acqui- sition, have descended through his only daughter Anne to the present Viscount Dungannon. Sir John Trevor died May 20th, 1717, being nearly eighty years of age, at his house in Chancery Lane, and was buried in the Rolls Chapel." Yorke, in his " Royal Tribes of JFales," relates a droll anecdote of Sir' John, which is worthy of transplantation. " Among his other virtues," says Yorke, " Trevor was an economist. He had dined by himself one day at the Rolls, and was drinking his wine quietly, when his cousin Roderic Lloyd was unexpectedly introduced to him from a side door. 'You rascal,' said Trevor to his servant, 'and you have brought my cousin Roderic Lloyd, Esquire, Prothonotary of North Wales, Marshal to Baron Price, and so forth, and so forth, up my back stairs. Take my cousin Roderic Lloyd, Esquire, Prothonotary of North Wales, Marshal to Baron Price, and so forth, and so forth ; take him instantly back, down my back stairs, and bring him up my front stairs. 1 Roderic in vain remonstrated, and whilst he was conveyed down one, and up the other stairs, his Honor removed the bottle and glasses.' " Trevor had an obliquity of vision, or, in plainer words, he squinted abominably ! When he was expelled from the House of Commons for bribery, pasquin- 161 M CHARTER OF CHARLES II. ades were issued against him, in one of which it was wittily said, that " Justice was blind, but Bribery only squinted." The charter of the 25 Charles II. (which was the govern- ing charter previous to the passing of the Municipal Reform Act,) granted to the Borough of Oswestry a general Court of Quarter Sessions, to be held before the Mayor, the Steward, and the Recorder, or any two of them, of whom the Mayor was to be one. On the passing of that Act the Government refused to renew the grant of a separate Quarter Sessions, although strong and unanimous petitions from the town were presented in favour of this privilege. In 1842, however, when the Ministry of Sir Robert Peel was in office, Sir James Graham being Secretary of State for the Home Department, the application was renewed, and was ultimately complied with. The grant is dated the 27th May, 1842, and under it John Robert Kenyon, Esq., was appointed Recorder. The first Quarter Sessions, under this grant, were held on July 8th in the same year. Mr. Kenyon has ably and impartially discharged the duties of Recorder since that period; and to his legal aeumen and zealous interest for the borough the inhabitants are indebted for many advantages. The Corporation are chosen from the respectable and enterprising classes of the borough, so that all men who by perseverance and success in trade or commerce, in the learned profession of the law, or medical science, or who move in the quieter and more elevated ranks of life, where the otium cum dignitate is to be seen in perfection, — if to be seen any- where, — are in the legitimate path to Magisterial authority and Aldermanic greatness. The Municipal Act came into operation in Oswestry in January, 1836. James Edwards, Esq., was elected Mayor of the borough in 1834, and held office, pursuant to the new Act, until January 1st, 1836, on which day John Croxon, Esq., was elected the first Mayor under the Municipal Reform 162 MUNICIPAL OFFICERS. Act, and continued in office till November 9th, 1836, when Francis Campbell, Esq., was elected as the second Mayor of the borough under the same Act. The Hon. Thomas Kenyon (second son of the celebrated Lord Kenyon, and father of the present Recorder of Oswestry) was appointed High Steward of the Borough in the year 1823. Mr. Richard Jones Croxon (who had succeeded Mr. Lewis Jones to the Town-Clerkship in 1834) was appointed Town- Clerk under the Municipal Act, and has continued to perform the duties of that office to the present time, with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the town. Under the New Corporation Act the borough was divided into two Wards, viz., the East Ward, comprising 148 bur- gesses, and the West Ward, numbering 166 burgesses. The Corporation of Oswestry, for the year 1854-5, consists of the following gentlemen : — G. H. WILLIAMS, Mayor. Aldermen : Thomas Longueville LonguevIlle, Peploe Cartwright, Thomas Rogers, Thomas Hill, Edward Morris, Thomas Minshall. Councillors : William Hodges, Thomas Edwards, William Edwards, James Thomas Jones, Edward Wynne Thomas, William Isaac Bull, David Lloyd, William Morris, George Morrall Bickerton, Richard Kyrke Penson, William Hayward, John Lacon, Francis Roberts, John Minshall, George James Saunders, John Phillips, John Roberts. Town- Clerk : — R. J. Croxon. Clerk of the Peace: — Robert Simon. Coroner: — John Miles Hales. Treasurer: — George Cooper. 163 LIST OF MAYORS. 1679 1680 1681 We subjoin a full List of the Mayors of Oswestry, from the earliest period, with the names also of the entire body of other Corporate Officers, Aldermen, and Common- Councilmen, elected under the Municipal Reform Act : — 1703 Roger Green 1704 Thomas Powell, Park (se- cond time) 1705 Robert Lloyd, Aston 1706 John Davies 1707 Edward Lloyd, Trenewydd 1708 Thomas Tomkies 1709 Thos. Kynaston, Maesbury 1710 John Price (second time) 1711 Richard Jones 1712 John Skye (second time) 1713 Roger Green (second time) 1714 John Davies (second time) 1715 Thomas Warter 1716 George Edwards 1717 Robert Lloyd, Aston (se- cond time) 1718 Owen Hughes 1719 Thomas Edwards 1720 John Evans 1721 Richard Payne 1722 Richard Maurice 1723 Nathaniel Price 1724 Peter Povall Dying in his mayoralty, suc- ceeded by Owen Hughes 1725 JohnKyffin 1726 Richard Thomas 1727 Edward Lloyd, Llwyny- maen 1728 Watkin Williams Wynn 1729 Charles Lloyd, Trenewydd 1730 William Owen, Porkington 1731 John Huxley 1732 John Mytton, Halston 1733 Nathaniel Kynaston 1734 Richard Powell 1735 Robert Williams 1673 Richard Pope, first Mayor 1674 Sir John Trevor, Master of the Rolls 1675 Richard Edwards 1676 Richard Lloyd, Ford 1677 John Blodwell 1678 John Lloyd Dying in his mayoralty, suc- ceeded by Edward Owen Richard Price John Glover Peter Griffiths 1682 Humphrey Foulks 1683 William Price Appointed instead of Thomas Edwards, who died before he was sworn 1684 Hugh Jones 1685 Phillip Ellis 1686 Sir Robert Owen, Pork- ington Roger Edwards Morgan Powell Thomas Jones Thomas Powell, Park Thomas Pritchard 1692 John Muckleston 1693 John Price 1694 David Lloyd 1695 Richard Jones 1696 Sir Robert Owen (second time) John Skye Nathaniel Edwards Peter Jones, Llanfyllin Francis Tomkies William Jones Humphrey Davenport, Hayes- Gate 164 1687 1688 1689 1690 1691 1697 1698 1699 1700 1701 170.2 LIST OF MAYORS. 1736 Robert Barkley 1775 William Griffiths 1737 Thomas Jones 1776 Francis Chambre 1738 John Burgess 1777 Joseph Richardson 1739 Corbett Kynaston 1778 John Croxon Dying in his mayoralty, suc- 1779 Noel Hill, Shrewsbury ceeded by Thomas Tomkies 1780 Edward Brown 1740 William Price Dying in his mayoralty, suc- 1741 John Jones ceeded by Nathaniel Price 1742 John Hughes 1781 Thomas Vernon 1743 John Mort 1782 Edward Wynn Evans John Kynaston, Hardwick 1744 Peter Williams 1783 1745 David Morris 1784 Richard Bickerton 1746 Richard Lloyd 1785 Thomas Howell 1747 Richd. Williams, Penbedw 1786 Richard Salisbury 1748 Vincent Phipps 1787 Wm. Mostyn Owen, Wood- 1749 Nathaniel Jones house 1750 John Griffiths 1788- Lewis Jones 1751 John Williams 1789 John Gibbons 1752 John Griffiths 1790 John Lovett 1753 Edward Price 1791 John Probert 1754 Thomas Jones 1792 John Mytton, Halston 1755 John Jones 1793 Rev. Turner Edwards 1756 Thomas Rathbone 1794 Arthur Davies 1757 Edward Evans 1795 Rev. John Robert Lloyd 1758 John Basnett 1796 Owen Ormsby 1759 Nathaniel Price 1797 Thomas Lovett 1760 Edward Evans 1798 Robert Lloyd 1761 Robert Lloyd 1799 John Jones 1762 Richard Price 1800 Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart. 1763 John Edwards 1801 Richard Croxon 1764 Richard Jones 1802 Lawton Parry 1765 John Gregory 1803 Richard Jebb 1766 William Griffiths 1804 Thomas Skye 1767 Richard Morrice 1805 Rev. James Donne 1768 John Evans 1806 Robert Cartwright 1769 John Lloyd 1807 Thomas Longueville Jones 1770 Watkin Williams, Penbedw 1808 William Lloyd 1771 John Mytton, Halston 1809 Robert Roberts 1772 Robert Godolphin Owen, 1810 John Sheppard Porkington Dying in his mayoralty, suc- 1773 E. Thornes ceeded by Thomas Hilditch 1 774 Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, 1811 Edward Edmunds Bart., Wynnstay 1812 John Croxon 165 ALDERMEN AND COMMON-COUNCILMEN. 1813 Rev. Charles Arthur Albany Lloyd 1814 Hon. Thomas Kenyon 1815 Thomas Morris 1816 S. Leach (R. Salisbury, Deputy) 1817 Rev. George Lloyd, Selattyn (Mr. Cartwright, Deputy) 1818 Thomas Netherton Parker 1819 H. W. W. Wynn (Mr. Salisbury, Deputy) 1820 W. Lovett (J. V. Jones, Deputy) 1821 John Bonnor, Brynygwalia (Robert Roberts, Deputy) 1822 Henry Pinson Tozer Aubrey 1823 W. Ormsby Gore 1824 John Mytton (Thomas Hilditch, Deputy) 1825 John Jones (second time) 1826 Rev. Turner Edwards 1827 Roger Mercy Cockerill 1828 Robert Morrall 1829 Peploe Cartwright 1830 Thomas Lovett 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart. (second time) (Dr. Donne, Deputy) Thomas Longueville Longueville John Jones, jun. James Edwards John Croxon Francis Campbell Charles Thomas Jones G. Dorset Owen Griffith Evans Thomas Penson John Hay ward W. Williams W. Williams (re-elected) W. Price Thomas Rogers John Miles Hales Thomas Hill John Jones Edward Morris Edward Morris (re-elected) Thomas Minshall William Hodges Thomas Edwards George Harvey Williams ALDERMEN AND COMMON-COUNCILMEN. ALDERMEN— 1835 John Jones Richard Croxon Thomas Morris Peploe Cartwright T. L. Longueville John Jones, jun. COUNCILLORS— 1835: EAST WARD. John Croxon Francis Campbell George D. Owen WEST WARD. John Hayward Thomas Rogers Edward D. Bennion 166 ALDERMEN AND COMMON-COUNCILMEN. COUNCILLORS, 1835— (continued): EAST WARD. WEST WARD. Francis Lucas Griffith Evans James Howell Richard Bill William Price William Roberts COUNCILLORS- Thomas Penson John Miles Hales Robert Edwards John Croxon Francis Campbell George Dorset Owen Francis Lucas Griffith Evans James Howell 1837 Francis Lucas Griffith Evans James Howell Thomas Penson John Miles Hales Robert Edwards John Croxon Francis Campbell George Dorset Owen Charles Thomas Jones John Jones, jun. Charles Sabine William Williams James Williams Thomas Penson -1836: Edward Edwards (in the room of James Williams, deceased) William Williams John Tomkies John Hay ward Thomas Rogers Edward David Bennion Charles Thomas Jones John Jones, jun. Charles Sabine Charles Thomas Jones Thomas Jones Rogers John Davies Edward Edwards William Williams John Tomkies John Hayward Thomas Rogers Edward David Bennion ALDERMEN— Re-elected in 1838 : Peploe Cartwright, T. L. Longueville, and John Jones, jun. COUNCILLORS— 1838 : George Dorset Owen David Thomas William Smale Francis Lucas Griffith Evans James Howell Thomas Penson John Miles Hales Robert Edwards 167 John Hayward Thomas Rogers Nathaniel Minshall Charles Thomas Jones Thomas Jones Rogers John Davies Edward Edwards William Williams John Tomkies ALDERMEN AND COMMON-COUNCILMEN. COUNCILLORS— 1839: EAST WARD, Thomas Penson John Miles Hales Robert Edwards William Price (in the room ofG. D.Owen, deceased) David Thomas William Smale Francis Lucas Griffith Evans Richard Salter (in room of James Howell, deceased) 1840 Francis Lucas Griffith Evans Richard Salter Thomas Penson John Miles Hales Robert Edwards William Price David Thomas William Smale WEST WARD, ALDERMEN- Thomas Penson (in the room of John Croxon, who had left the borough) William Williams John Tomkies Edward Edwards John Hay ward Thomas Rogers Nathaniel Minshall Charles Thomas Jones Thomas Jones Rogers Richard Cross (in the room of John Davies, deceased) Richard Powell (in the room of Thomas Jones Rogers) Richard Cross Thomas Hughes (in the room of Charles Thomas Jones, appointed Alderman) John Tomkies William Williams Edward Edwards John Hay ward Thomas Rogers Nathaniel Minshall ■1841: Charles Thomas Jones John Jones COUNCILLORS— 1841: John Miles Hales William Price David Thomas William Smale Francis Lucas Griffith Evans Richard Salter Robert Edwards Charles Osburn (in the room of Thomas Penson) 168 John Hay ward Thomas Rogers Nathaniel Minshall Richard Cross Thomas Hughes Richard Powell William Williams John Tomkies Edward Edwards ALDERMEN AND COMMON-COUNCILMEN. COUNCILLORS— 1842: WEST WARD. William Williams EAST WARD. John Miles Hales Robert Edwards William Price David Thomas Griffith Evans William Smale Richard Salter Charles Osburn Pryce Morris (in the room of Francis Lucas) Henry Hughes appointed Coroner June 20th, 1842. 1843: Griffith Evans Richard Salter Charles Osburn John Miles Hales Thomas Hill (in the room ofR. Edwards, deceased) Pryce Morris William Price David Thomas William Smale John Tomkies Edward Edwards John Hayward Thomas Rogers Nathaniel Minshall Richard Cross Thomas Hughes Richard Powell Richard Cross Thomas Hughes Edward Williams William Williams John Tomkies Edward Edwards John Hayward Thomas Rogers Nathaniel Minshall ALDERMEN— Re-elected T. L. Longueville, Peploe Cartwrig COUNCILLORS John Broughall (in the room of David Thomas) William Smale Griffith Evans Richard Salter Charles Osburn John Miles Hales Thomas Hill Thomas Minshall (in the room of Pryce Morris) 1845 Thomas Hill John Miles Hales William Williams William Price 169 November, 1844 : ht, and John Jones, jun. —1844: Thomas Rogers John Hayward Nathaniel Minshall Thomas Savin (in the room of Richard Cross) John Jones (in the room of Thomas Hughes) Edward Williams William Williams John Tomkies Edward Edwards John Phillips Edward Edwards Charles Humphreys Thomas Rogers ALDERMEN AND COMMON-COUNCILMEN. COUNCILLORS, 1845— (continued): WEST WARD. John Hayward Nathaniel Minshall Thomas Savin Edward Williams John Jones EAST WARD. Edward Morris (in the room of John Broughall, who had left the borough) William Smale Griffith Evans Richard Salter Thomas Minshall 1846: Thomas Edwards John Jones Thomas Minshall Edward Williams William Isaac Bull Edward Edwards William Williams James Weaver (in the room John Miles Hales of Charles Humphreys, de- Thomas Hill ceased) William Price John Phillips Edward Morris John Hayward William Smale Nathaniel Minshall Thomas Rogers Edw. Wynne Thomas (in the room of Mr. Savin, deceased) ALDERMEN— Elected November, 1847 : John Hayward, Thomas Penson, and William Williams. COUNCILLORS— 1847: Edward Morris William Price Jeremiah Jones Thomas John Lacon (in the room of W. Williams, Alderman) David Lloyd Nathaniel Minshall Thomas Rogers 1848: Edward Roberts George Morrall Bickerton David Jameson John Lacon Thomas Hill William Hodges John Miles Hales appointed Coroner, and Robert Simon Clerk of the Peace, April 27th, 1848 (in the room of Henry Hughes, deceased). 1849: Thomas Minshall William Isaac Bull Walter Edwards John Jones Edward Williams Edw. Wynne Thomas ALDERMEN — Elected November, 1850: T. L. Longueville, Peploe Cartwright, and Thomas Roger*. 170 ALDERMEN AND COMMON-COUNCILMEN. COUNCILLORS- east WARD. Edward Morris Jeremiah Jones Thomas William Edwards John Lacon William Roberts William Hodges William Isaac Bull Thomas Minshall Walter Edwards 1851 1852 -1850: WEST WARD, Thomas Jones David Lloyd William Morris George Morrall Bickerton Thomas Edwards George Harvey Williams Jackson Salter Francis Roberts William Hay ward ALDERMEN — Elected November, 1853: Thomas Hill, John Jones, and Edward Morris, COUNCILLORS— 1853: Edw. Wynne Thomas William Edwards William Morris John Lacon William Roberts William Hodges Benjamin Churchill (in the room of Walter Edwards, resigned) 1854 James Thomas Jones David Lloyd William Morris Thomas Edwards George Morrall Bickerton George Harvey Williams [For the above List of Aldermen and Common-Councilmen, up to and including 1846, we are indebted to the Repre- sentative of a gentleman who filled the Civic Chair, and who for many years recorded the changes in the Municipal Body. The subsequent List is from the Corporation Poll Books.] Mptte OSWESTRY CASTLE. (ur readers will have already learnt that Oswestry, from Jggg an early period in the history of the nation, bore no un- distinguished part. Fixed in the midst of an arena of fierce and convulsive conflicts for many ages ; its early state of warlike defence, rendered so complete by the sagacious Edward I., and forming a powerful post on the Border Lands, the eyes of monarchs and their gallant nobles were frequently directed towards it for succour or defence. The Castle, in its primitive state, may have been a palace fit for regal splendour. The honour of erecting it is assigned, as we have previously mentioned, to Madog, descended from an illus- trious Welsh Prince, the strenuous ally of Henry II., in his Welsh wars, and whose sire was the constant confederate of Randel the Third, and of his son, Hugh Cyveiliog, the fourth Earl of Chester. Madog was a man of high distinction in his day, and, being Prince of Powys, of which division Oswestry formed a part, there is presumptive evidence that the Castle was built by him, as the Welsh historians main- tain, or very considerably enlarged or repaired. The English records fix its existence even before the Norman Conquest, and show that " Alan, a noble Norman," received it immediately from William the Conqueror, on his accession. " This Alan," adds Dugdale, the historian, " was the stock of the Fitz- Alans, Earls of Arundel ; a potent race that flour- ished (with fewer checks than are usual with greatness) for near five hundred t years." It may be necessary to mention here, to aid the reader as to dates, that Madog died a. d. 1159, and that the Norman Invasion occurred in 1066. If Dug- dale is to be relied upon, the Castle of Oswestry was built at a period anterior to the Conquest, but he makes no men- tion of Madog. He says, " There was a Castle at Oswaldster at the time of the Conquest ;" and Pennant, a good authority, adds to this note of Dugdale, " I think it very probable." The able Welsh tourist further remarks, " The artificial mount on which it was placed indicates it to have been earlier than 172 OSWESTRY CASTLE. the Norman era. The Britons and the Saxons gave their fortresses this species of elevation. The Normans built on the. firm and natural soil or rock, but often made use of these mounts, which they found to have been the site of a Saxon 1 castle. I believe this to have been the case with that in question. A Fitz-Alan repaired or re-built, and added to that which he met with here : a tower also (as is not unfre- quent) might receive the name of Madog, complimentary either to the son of Meredydd (Madog's father), or some other great man of the same title." We have collected all the authorities we could find on this vexed question ;- but the actual date of the building of the Castle, and the veritable party to whom the honour of founding it is due, are still among the undiscovered facts of ages past. There is still, however, a notable event connected with Oswestry Castle that gives to its history surpassing interest, and ranks it among the more remarkable military relics of the nation. If the pains-'taking researches of Chalmers, the his- torian of Scotland, are to be relied upon, one of the distin- guished occupants of Oswestry Castle was the founder of the Stewart royal family. The real origin of that race of sovereigns had long perplexed genealogists ; but the labours of Chalmers, who has minutely investigated all the written and printed records on the subject, have proved beyond fur- ther controversy that Walter, the son of Alan (the two first Norman possessors of Oswestry Castle), the son of Flaald, and the younger brother of William, the son of Alan, who was the progenitor of the famous house of Fitz-Alan, the Earl of Arundel, was the first of the Stewarts. Symon, and other Scotch historians, trace the Stewart family to a Thane of Lochabar. Lord Hailes disputed this and other opinions, treating them as fabulous, but it was reserved for Chalmers to establish and set at rest the long-contested ques- tion as to the origin of the Stewart race. Lord Hailes him- self acknowledges that Walter, who flourished under David the First of Scotland, and Malcolm the Fourth, was indeed the first Stewart of Scotland ; but he is unable to determine 173 i OSWESTRY CASTLE. where, and what was the commencement of this family. The subject is important to every native of our land ; but to the people of Oswestry it is of paramount interest, as it connects with the town, however remotely, the genealogy of our present beloved monarch, Queen Victoria. Chalmers' evidence on this subject is curious and inter- esting. He tells us that the great exploit of Walter, the son of Alan, was the founding of Paisley monastery, during the reign of Malcolm IV., by transplanting a colony of Cluniac monks from the monastery of Wenlock, in Shrop- shire. Such, then, he adds, was the connection of Walter the First Stewart with Wenlock, and with Isabel de Say, who married William, the brother of Walter. Alan, the son of Flaald, married the daughter of Gwarine, the famous Sheriff of Shropshire, soon after the Norman conquest ; and of this marriage William was the eldest son of Alan, and the un- doubted heir both of Alan and of Gwarine. Alan, the son of Flaald, a Norman, acquired the manor of Oswestry soon after the Conquest. Alan was undoubtedly a person of great consequence at the accession of Henry I. He was a frequent witness to the king's charters, with other eminent personages of that court. Mr. Chalmers, in his further inves- tigations, proves the fraternal connection of William, the son of Alan, by a transaction which had before been as new to history as it is singular in itself. It has already been shown that Oswestry was the original seat of Alan on the Welsh border. Clun was added to his family by the marriage of his son William, who built Clun Castle ; and John Fitz-Alan, Lord of Clun and Oswestry, by marrying Isabel, the second sister of William de Albany, the third Earl of Arundel, who died in 1196, became Earl of Arundel, and changed his resi- dence from Shropshire to Sussex. Now, Richard Fitz-Alan, Earl of Arundel, being with Edward III., during the year 1335, and claiming to be Stewart of Scotland by hereditary right, sold his title and claim to the king for 1000 marks, which purchase he cautiously had confirmed to him by 174 OSWESTRY CASTLE. Edward Baliol ; but Richard Fitz-Alan had not any right to . the Stewartship of Scotland. Walter, who was the first purchaser of this hereditary office, was the younger brother of William, the son of Alan, the progenitor of Richard Fitz- Alan, the claimant ; and till all the descendants of the first purchaser had failed, the claim could not ascend to the common father of the two families. But Robert the Stewart, who was born of Margery Bruce, on the 28th March, 1315-16, and became King of Scots the 2nd February, 1370-1, under the entail of the crown, was then in possession of the hereditary office of Stewart, by lineal descent. Walter, the son of Alan, undoubtedly obtained from David I., and from Malcolm IV., great possessions, a high office, and extensive patronage, and it may be reasonably asked, by what influence he could acquire from two kings so much opulence, and such an office 1 David I. was a strenuous supporter of the claims of his niece, the Empress Maud, in her severe contest with Stephen. William, the brother of Walter, influenced by the Earl of Gloucester, the bastard son of Henry I., and other powerful partizans of his sister the Empress, seized Shrewsbury in September, 1139, and held it for her interest. He attended her, with King David, at the siege of Winchester, in 1441, where they were overpowered by the Londoners, and obliged to flee. Such then were the bonds of connection between David I. and the sons of Alan, who were also patronized by the Earl of Gloucester. It was probably on that occasion that Walter accompanied David into Scotland. William, the son of Alan, adhered steadily to the Empress, and was rewarded by Henry II. for his attachment. Thus Walter, the son of Alan, could not have had more powerful protectors, than the Earl of Gloucester with David I., and Henry II. with Malcolm the II. When Walter, by those influences, obtained grants of Renfrew with other lands, and founded the Monastery of Paisley for Cluniac Monks from Wenlock, he was followed by several persons from Shropshire, whom he enriched, and by whom he was supported. He 175 OSWESTRY CASTLE. married Eschina, of Moll, in Roxburghshire, by whom he had a son Alan, who succeeded him in his estates and office when he died, in 1177. Six descents carried this family, by lineal transmissions, to Robert the Stewart, whose office, as already stated, was purchased by Edward III., and who became King of Scots 1371 : Walter, the son of Alan, was followed by his brother Simon. Thus does Mr. Chalmers treat the history of the Stewarts, whose blood, he says, runs in a thousand channels. This historical subject has attracted the attention of a talented resident of Oswestry, whose taste and research, united with genius and poetic imagination, have already conferred upon the town no trivial honour. That gentleman has favoured us with a notice of the Castle Hill, which be- speaks the enthusiasm of the writer, and adds to the interest which all lovers of history must feel on a topic so closely connected with the present amiable Sovereign of the kingdom. It is only due to Mr. Sabine to state (for to him we are indebted for aid in endeavouring to elucidate a dark and hitherto uncertain portion of Border History) that he has shed light even upon the pains-taking researches of Chalmers, and done much towards establishing a fact which, as we now consider it to be " proven," cannot fail to confer upon Oswestry an historical importance of no common degree. Mr. Sabine's paper we have pleasure in quoting entire : — "There is nothing," he remarks, "in the appearance of this Hill very imposing or very remarkable. It is a some- what abrupt mound, with some rude fragmentary remains of the castle, with which it was formerly surmounted. It has long been a moot question whether this mound is natural, or whether it has been raised by artificial means. Its appearance would seem to indicate that it is the work of man ; but an examination of its geological composition, and a comparison of it with similar surrounding elevations, lead to the conclusion that it is the accumulated deposit of ages during a period in. which the district has probably been the 176 OSWESTRY CASTLE* area of obstructed and pent-up waters, which, having been set at liberty, have left exposed the present undulated portions of the district, of which this mound forms one of the most pro- minent. Its present abrupt character — abrupt as compared with some of the more shelving banks — is easily and obviously accounted for by manifold encroachments, and by the military necessity for making the Castle as inaccessible as possible to hostile attacks. But if there is nothing in the appearance of the Castle Hill of Oswestry that is remarkable* this cannot be. said of its history ; for if there can be one fact topographically of greater interest than another in the history of a kingdom* it is that which is connected with the origin of its reigning monarch. To say nothing, then* of the numerous battle scenes of which Oswestry Castle has been the witness, and of which, it might say with iEneas, ' Quorum pars magna fui,' a note of Sir Walter Scott's to the "Monastery" will be a sufficient warrant for saying that Oswestry, in point of historic interest, is second to no town in the united kingdom. ' The acute pen of Lord Hailes (says the author of Waverley), which, like the spear of Ithuriel, conjured up so many shadows from Scottish history, had dismissed among the rest those of Banquo and Fleance, the rejection of which fables left the illustrious family of Stewart without an ancestor, beyond Walter, the Son of Alan* The re- searches of our late learned Antiquary detected in this Walter the descendant of Alan, the son of Flaald, who obtained from William the Conqueror The Castle of Oswestry, in Shropshire ; and who was the father of an illustrious line of English nobles, by his first son, William* and by his second son, Walter, the progenitor of the royal family of Stewart.' Few will be bold enough, even if so disposed, to question the authority of such an antiquarian as Sir Walter Scott, especially in matters relating to his own country. Assuming* then, that Alan Fitz-Flaald is the stirp of the Stewart House, a genealogical table may not be uninteresting to the readers of this work :«* 177 N GENEALOGICAL TABLE. ALAN. William Fitz-alan. Walter Fitz-alan. Progenitor of the Earls of Arundel, and Barons of Oswestry. Progenitor of the Royal House of Stewart. I Alan. I Alexander. I Walter. I Alexander. i John. I Walter — Margery Bruce. Robert 2nd, King of Scots. Robert 3rd. I James 1st. I James 2nd. James 3rd. James 4th. I James 5th. I Mary. James 6th of Scotland, 1st of England. Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia. Sophia, Electress of Hanover. I George 1st. I George 2nd. I George 3rd. Edward, Duke of Kent. Victoria. 178 OSWESTRY CASTLE* is That Sir Walter Scott is as indubitable an authority irf early English or Welsh History as in that of his own country may not be admitted by all. According to the Welsh records Oswestry belonged to Madog, Prince of Powys, who resided at Oswestry, and built the Castle there about the year 1140. His second wife, Maud Vernon, an English lady of noble birth, on the death of Madog, married William Fitz-Alan, Lord of Clun, who in right of his wife obtained the Town and Castle of Oswestry. This William was a descendant of Alan who (says the Welsh Historian) came over with William the Conqueror, and was the first of the Fitz-Alans that was Baron of Oswestry. Again, the English historians assign to Oswestry Castle a more ancient date than 1140. They inform us that it was in being before the Norman conquest ; and that Alan, a noble Norman, had the Town and Castle bestowed upon him by the Conqueror, soon after his accession. But whether Walter. the Steward was the grandson of Flaald, and of Welsh descent, or whether his father came over from Normandy with the Conqueror, it may be taken- as a fact that Walter, the son of Alan, the younger brother of William Fitz- Alan, went from Oswestry Castle, of which his father was Gov- ernor, into the service of David I., King of Scotland, as that monarch's Steward, and was the founder of the house of Stewart. The following extract from Chambers' Journal is concurrent in testimony with the main features of the above, and is fraught with additional interest, as it shows how greatly Scotland was indebted to the old Town of Oswestry for its progress in civilization :-— 'During the troublous conflicts of Maud and Stephen, in their competition for the crown of England, Walter, the son of Alan, the son of Flaald, fled from the family seat at Oswestry, and settled in Scotland. David I. made him his Steward, and gave him lands to support the dignity of his office. By the charter we learn that these lands were those of " Passaleth (Paisley), Polloc, Talahee, Ketkert, le Drop, le Mutrene 179 OSWESTRY CASTLE. Egglesham, Louchwinnock, and Inverwick." These estates in Renfrewshire (then a portion of Lanarkshire) were confirmed by Malcolm IV. in 1157, when he made the office of Steward hereditary, and granted, in addition, various other estates in the same quarter. Besides these possessions, Walter acquired the western half of Kyle, in Ayrshire, which hence was called Kyle Stewart. At this period the country was in a semi- barbarous state ; but Walter the Stewart introduced new and civilized usages. He settled many of his military followers on his lauds, and, founding the Abbey of Paisley, introduced a body of instructed men, who taught the ancient people domestic arts and foreign manners. By the marriage of one of these Stewarts with Margery Bruce, Robert the Stewart was born, and became, 1370*1, King of Scots.' "The Hill which claims this unique and unquestionable honour, in defiance of all the various contradictory and ex- ploded fables which would give it to Scotland (for no spot in England seeks to withhold it from Oswestry), has been rescued from the destruction with which it has long been threatened, both by the encroachments of time and thought- less spoliation, having been purchased by several of the Inhabitants of Oswestry, and vested in James Thomas Jones f Esq«, as their Trustee, and is now planted as an Arboretum. The panoramic view from this Hill is one of the most beautiful scenic gems in the neighbourhood ; and when the shrubs which have been planted shall have overcome the obstacles to their luxuriant growth, arising from exposure to bleak winds, and a comparatively uncongenial soil, it will constitute an ornament to the Town of Oswestry, such as few localities can boast; and which, in addition to its historic interest, will render it a spot, of which the Inhabitants of the County of Salop, and of Oswestry especially, may rank among their most remarkable objects of attraction. While the Hill was being planted a small silver coin was found, which, on examination, proved to be of the reign of David I. of Scot- 180 OSWESTRY CASTLE. land. This, though not a direct link in the chain of proof of the title of Oswestry Castle to the honour it claims, and defies Scotland to dispute, is a remarkable corroborative incident, most valuable, as circumstantial evidence, in support of the claim. A stone has been placed on the Hill, with the following inscription:— 'A. D. MCXXXVIII., Walter, son of Alan, the progenitor of the Royal House of Stuart, left this, his ancestral castle, in the reign of Stephen, King of England, and of David I., King of Scots.'" The more recent history of the Castle may be given in a few words. In the sixth of Henry II., Guy le Strange, Sheriff of Shropshire, accounted in the exchequer for salaries paid out of the king's revenues to the wardens in the Castle of Blancminster (Oswestry), the inheritance of William Fitz- Alan, then lately deceased. In the fifteenth of John, the nephew (John) of .the Earl of Pembroke, guardian of the Marches of Wales, was made Governor of Blancminster. In Henry III., John Fitz-Alan, as heir to Hugh de Albany, Earl of Arundel, had upon the death of that Earl, assigned for his purpatry, the Castle of Arundel, and upon paying £1000 fine was admitted to the possession of Oswestry Castle. In the twenty-fourth of Henry III., on the death of John Fitz-Alan, John le Strange had a grant of the custody of the lands of John, his son (then a minor), with an allowance of 300 marks per annum, for guarding Blancminster and other places. In the first of Edward I., John de Oxinden had the custody of the Castle of Blancminster, upon the death of John, Earl of Arundel. In the third of Edward I., Bogo de Knovil was Sheriff of the county, and Keeper of the Castle of Blancminster. In the eighth of Edward I., Isabel, mother of Richard, Earl of Arundel, had the custody of the Castle of Blancminster, and also of the hundred of Oswaldster during the minority of her son ; but two years afterwards her brother, Edmund de Mortimer, supplanted her, and got the grant to himself. In the eighteenth of Edward I. x Adam 181 OSWESTRY CASTLE. de Montgomery died Governor of the Castle. In the twenty* seventh of Edward I., Peter Meuvesine de Berwicke, juxta Ahinton, died in the same office. In the twenty-seventh of Edward II., after the attainder of Edmund, Earl of Arundel, Roger Mortimer, Lord of Wigmore, had a grant of the Castle. In the twenty-first of Richard II., Richard, Earl of Arundel, being attainted or executed, the king seized upon his lands and manors, and granted them to William Scrope, Earl of Wiltshire. In the seventh of Henry IV., Thomas, son of the attainted Earl, after he was restored in blood, freed the bur- gesses from many impositions of the Constable of the Castle. Amongst the names of subsequent Governors of the Castle we find those of John Trevor, Vaughan, Jeffrey KyfFyn; and in the twenty-fifth of James I., Thomas, Earl of Suffolk, his wife, Lord Walden, Sir Arnold Herbert, and William Herbert, " grant to the Lady Craven, Sir William Whitmore, George Whitmore, and their heirs, the lordship, manor, and Castle of Oswestry." The state of the Castle in the Civil Wars has already been described. In a record of the Inquisition, 21 Richard II., 1398, preserved in the Tower of London, there is a curious in- ventory of articles contained in Oswestry Castle on the attainder of Richard, Earl of Arundel, taken by order of the King, The Jurors consisted of inhabitants of the town and district. The record states, that " the Castle, Vill, and Lord- ship of Oswaldestre, in the Marches of Wales, is worth yearly, with its customs and appurtenances, besides the fees of all the officers there, and besides all reprizes made there, one year with another, £252, 16s. 2d." * * * * " That the said Earl was seized as of fee of one messuage in the Vill of Oswaldestre, by his deed enfeoffed one John ap Wyllym, to have to him and his heirs for ever, worth yearly beyond reprizes, 6s. 8d. Also, that the said Earl was seized as of fee of the advowson of the free Chapel of St. Nicholas, -within the Castle of Oswaldestre, worth 46s. 8d. Also, that 182 OSWESTRY CASTLE. the said Earl of Arundel had within the Castle of Oswaldestre, on the 18th day of July last past, and afterwards, the follow- ing goods and chattels, that is to say, — in the Wardrobe there, 5 yew bows, 4 elm bows, 20 sheaves of arrows, 6 cross-bows, 5 lances, with 6 heads, 1 gun, 1 barrel of gunpowder, 200 quirells, 3 pol-axes, 2 sparthes, 3 broken jacks, 3 pair of gauntlets, 3 pallets, 1 banderich for a cross-bow, 1 table, 1 pair of stakes, 3 pair of fetters, 6 pair of iron handcuffs, with iron bolts, 1 coler, with 2 iron shakylls, 1 file, 1 hammer. In the Great Chamber, 1 cupboard, 2 tables, 4 forms. In the Middle Chamber, 3 chests, 2 forms, 1 table. In the High Chamber, 1 hand-mill, panel of a certain trefreget. In the Constable's Hall, 3 tables, four tressels, 3 forms, 1 bason, with a laver, 1 small chest. In the Buttery, 1 chest, broken at the top, 1 bucket, with an iron chain, 1 barrel for weapons, 31 keys of different locks. In the Chapel, 1 vessel for the holy water, 1 missal, 1 gilt chalice, 2 linen towels, with a frontal, 2 surplices, 2 chessibles, with accompaniments, 1 hand-mill for grinding corn. In the Kitchen, 1 stone mortar, with a pile of wood. In the Larder, 2 broken oxheads, with 6 bushels of salt ; which said artillery, arms, goods and chat- tels, are put into the custody of Madog Lloid, the Deputy of Robert Legh, Chivaler Constable of the Castle aforesaid, for the defence of the same." After enumerating several other articles, the Inquisition record adds, " and in a certain house *n the Vill of Oswaldestre (the said Earl possessed) 601 fleeces of wool, weighing 2 sacks, and Jth of a sack, at per sack 100s. ; 50 gallons of honey, at 7s. a gallon. Also the said Earl had on the 18th day of July aforesaid, and afterwards, in the said Castle, 1 white stallion, price £10 ; 1 race-horse, called Young Sorrell, price £13 6s. 8d. And in the Park of Oswaldestre Superior, 16 horse colts, 13 of which are 3 years old, and 3 of them 2 years old: price in the whole, £66 13s. 4d. The record further adds, that the said " Earl had after the 18th of July, £720 in money, and that one Thomas Harlyng, late Receiver- General of the said Earl, took and 183 THE WALLS. carried away the same, whereof he is answerable to the King." A great number of articles, with monies, cattle, &c, are stated to have been taken away by various persons named, who are made answerable to the King for the same. — This document is curious, inasmuch as it throws some light upon the military weapons in use at the period, on the plain and scanty domestic articles in the Castle, and on the low value of farming stock, &c. The record presents no account of the Earl's apartments^ or those of his servants, or of the furniture there used. Probably all the valuable property which he possessed in the fortress was carried away and disposed of before the Earl was attainted. The entire record furnishes evidence of nothing polished or luxurious ; on the contrary, it is a catalogue of mere rudeness, discomfort, and barbarity ; giving no marks whatever of vice-regal grandeur or princely state. As an additional fact it is proper to mention, that the Bailey - Head was the original ballium, or quadrangle of the Castle ; that the mount in the Castle-field, known by the name of the Cripple-bank, or gathe, was also the site of the ancient Bar- bican, or outer gate, at which the poor and diseased received relief. Of the free chapel, dedicated to St. Nicholas, infra Cas- trum de Oswaldestre, the advowson of which belonged to the Arundel family, there is not a trace left to mark its situation. The sketch of Oswestry Castle which forms one of our illustrations shows that, in its pristine state, it was a formid_ able structure, of great strength and stateliness. The archi- tecture seems to be of the Saxon order. THE WALLS. The ancient Walls of the town were the work of Edward I. and no doubt were well and firmly built ; but scarcely a vestige of them remains. Their circumvallation is, however, correctly marked in most of the old books, and old inhabitants of the present day point out various sites on which portions of the 184 ANCIENT HOUSES. walls stood. Edward was generally successful in giving strength and endurance to his military buildings. Caernarvon, Conway, and Rhuddlan Castles, all designed and erected under his superintendence, are noble fortresses in the present age, notwithstanding the dilapidations they have suffered from military attack and "Time's effacing fingers." The Walls of Oswestry must have suffered much injury during the period of the Commonwealth; and perhaps private encroachments since that time have been the principal cause of their entire disappearance. ANCIENT HOUSES. There are still remaining several ancient timber houses, to mark the architecture of bye-gone times. Among these are, the Three Tuns public-house, in Bailey-Street, and an antique edifice forming the angle of Bailey-Street and Cross- Street, in front of which is the figure of a spread eagle, raised on the plaster, and supposed to have been the residence of the Lloyds, of Trenewydd, who bore the eagle in their coat of arms. The Three Tuns was a popular house in former days, and was the resort of most of the drapers who visited the fairs and markets of the borough. Among the other old timber buildings are Miss Holbrooke's, in Salop- Road, the most attractive of any in the town, from the neat- ness in which it is kept, the Coach and Dogs, and the Fighting Cocks public-houses. These relics of past days may not be allowed to remain much longer, now that improvement in the town is likely to become so rapid in its strides. The railway extension, from Oswestry to Welshpool and Newtown, will effect important changes in most parts of the borough ; and as the antique relics to which we have been alluding are comparatively useless in a social point of view, their sites may soon be covered with buildings better adapted, to the comforts and requirements of the present day. 185 ANCIENT RELICS. A ball found many years ago near the Cross in Oswestry, and now in the possession of W. Ormsby Gore, Esq., is con- sidered to be one of the weights used at the end of beams in what was called Auncel Weight, practised in the reign of Edward I. It is ornamented with a shield, bearing the arms of England simply, which dates it before the 15th of Edward, as in that year he claimed the crown of France, and immedi- ately, on obtaining it, placed the arms of that kingdom in the first quarter of his shield. On the second shield appears the bearing of the Fitz-Alans, a lion rampant. The third shield has an eagle displayed, most probably of the gentle- man who at that period filled the office of Steward. Some further antiquities require a brief notice. The field known by the name of Croft-y-Spytty, that is, the Croft of the Hospitallers, intimates that the Knight Hospitallers had once some establishment in the town. The field known as Erw-Spiridion, the Acre of Sprudion, or Spiridion, would lead to the conclusion that a church or chapel, or the ground itself, had been dedicated to the supposed Saint ycleped Spi- ridion. In a former part of this volume we have referred to Maes-y-garreg-llwyd, that is, the Plain or Field of the Sacred Stone. That plain is now divided into fields, situated on the Shrewsbury road, contiguous to Gallows-tree turnpike-gate. In the field nearest to the town there stands a Stone Pillar, about seven feet in height, and twelve in circumference ; and in the field farthest from the town, there is a similar Pillar. The late Rev. Peter Roberts, the learned antiquarian, was of opinion that all the fields at that end of the town formed a large plain when these pillars were erected, and bore the name already mentioned, of Maes-y-garreg-llwyd. Llwyd was an epithet of the Deity, as in the expression " Duw llwyd," the Sacred God. Between these two pillars there is still visible part of a ditch, called the Devil's Ditch ; and adjacent to the farthest field was another called " C aery chain Bannog," or the Field of 186 ANCIENT RELICS. the bossed Oxen. Mr. Roberts adds, " according to a tradition common in Wales, these oxen were twins, and employed by Hu Gadarn, a hero of antiquity, to draw a monster out of a lake, by which means he saved the country from being inun- dated. The popular tradition of the Devil's Ditch is, that an evil spirit formed it, in order to convey water to deluge the country, and that the ditch was in one night carried as far as Wynnstay, but that when the said evil spirit had carried it so far, the cock crew, he was obliged to desist, and it was left unfinished. Absurd, however, as these traditions may appear, -they lead to the true origin, namely, that this ground and the pillars had some reference to the Deluge, and it may reason- ably be presumed, that in the space included between these pillars some druidical rites were performed, in commemoration of the Deluge. The setting-up of a pillar, and consecrating it to the Deity, was a memorial of reverence to Him in the time of the Patriarchs, as we read in Genesis that Jacob set up a stone pillar, and consecrated it, in memory of his devoting himself to the worship of the true God. And hence it may be concluded, that these and such Pillars were in like manner the memorials — rude indeed, but durable — of Pagan tradition." In the Shrewsbury Chronicle of March 16th, 1832, there appeared the following paragraph: — "As some workmen were digging in a field near Oswestry, last week, they turned up the hilt and part of the blade of an elegant antique sword. The blade is in two pieces, completely encrusted with rust, and very much corroded, but upon cleaning and grinding a part of it, the steel was found to be of excellent temper. The handle is apparently of ebony, or some similar wood, but en- crusted with the oxyde which has passed from the steel in- serted in it, and worked its way through the pores of the wood, so as to make it resemble buck's horn. The part of the sword which is attached to the hilt (about four inches in length) remains in the scabbard, and, what is very remarkable, the canvass of which the scabbard is composed is still visible. 187 ANCIENT RELICS. The scabbard and hilt are mounted with highly-chased silver, as perfect as when it came out of the hands of the graver. On the end of the hilt is an eagle, pouncing on its prey, and a representation of Jupiter and Leda. On each side of the guard is a full-length figure, and on the sides of the sword end of the hilt are the figures of a spread eagle, and of a doe couchant regardant. The latter appears as a crest. On the silver plate which covers the opening of the scabbard is the representation of an Arcadian Shepherd scene. The sword is of the description of those which were worn by the Cavaliers, and there can be no reasonable doubt but that it was dropped by one of them in the route to which the Royalist army was put by Sir Thomas Myddelton, when they made an attempt to regain possession of Oswestry, on the 2nd of July, 1644, after its capture by the Parliament forces. ' They had taken the passage of water,' says Sir Thomas Myddelton, 'near to Whittington, and very furiously assaulted and charged us, but were repulsed and forced to retyre, through the courage of our horse, who most courageously entertained the enemy. Three several times the skirmish was doubtful, either side being forced so often to retreat ; but in the end, our foot forces coming up, relieved the horse, beat back the enemy, and pursued them with such force, that they put them to an absolute flight, in which we pursued them five miles towards Shrewsbury, to a place called Felton Heath, and where we like- wise remained after their flight again, masters of the field. In the skirmish with the enemy, and in the pursuite we lost several of our horse, some of our troopers, but never a footman which I am yet informed of. As for the enemy, they lost many stout men ; had many of them taken prisoners, some of them being of great quality, as the Lord Newport's eldest son, and besides in their flight, such was their haste, that we found in our pursuite, the highway as it were strewed with ammunition, &c.' As this relic was found in the line of this pursuit, the road having passed through the field, there can be scarcely a doubt of its having belonged to one of the officers of Charles's army." 188 Oswald's well. The sword is in the possession of Mr. Sabine, in whose field it was found. In March, 1811, two urns were dug out of part of the Coney Green, belonging to the late Mr. Thomas Hilditch, of Oswestry. They were both of the same composition, but the larger one of a finer and more symmetrical form. In the smaller urn were found the remains of bones, but whether of the human form could not be ascertained. A piece of marble, of an oblong form, and resembling an ancient club, Was dug out of the ground at Broom Hall, in Oct., 1836, about five feet below the surface, in a bed of clay. It was one inch in thickness, but tapered to an edge all round, the broad edge being very sharp. It is supposed to have been a weapon of defence in the early British period. OSWALD'S WELL Is one of the most interesting objects of the town. It is beautifully situated to the west of the Free Grammar School, and has easy and pleasant approaches to it from Upper Brook- Street and from Willow- Street. The Well is supplied by a spring flowing from the elevated ground beyond it. It is inclosed in a small square basin, in a recess made of stone, and arched over. At the back there is a sculptured head of King Oswald, once "banded by a royal fillet," and formerly the front of the Well was secured by an iron grate ° Tradition and superstition have invested the Well with much interest, but the purity of the water it sends forth should have secured to it a far higher celebrity. We are told that Oswald's remains were interred near the spring; that a tree was planted there to mark the spot ; that when Oswald was slain, in the battle with Penda, an eagle tore one of the arms from the body, and, flying off with it, fell down and perished on the spot from which the waters burst forth, and have continued to flow ever since, as miraculously as the waters of St. Winifred's Well, in Flintshire. A later writer on 189 Oswald's well. Border History has ventured to inform us, that so recently as the year 1780 King Oswald's "skull was found in digging the pool just below the Well." How the skull was identified the writer does not state,, probably from the great difficulty he must have had in establishing such an important identification. Setting aside all this mystification and nonsense, we are glad to put on record, that the water from this Well is justly entitled to the appellation of pure aqua fontana ; and from the analysis of Sir James Murray, which we subjoin, its medicinal pro- perties are of no mean order : — " Thermometer at 470 Fahrenheit, the water consisting of sulphate of lime (gypsum), carbonate of lime, muriate of soda (common salt), muriate of magnesia, and sulphate of magnesia. — June 6th, 1822." ST. OSWALD'S WELL. It is generally admitted, from the records of the ancient historical writers, that on the spot where Oswald was slain a Monastery was founded, dedicated to him in the character of a Saint. It was called Blanc- Minster, or the White Monastery, and was situated according to Leland, "on the south side of the town." The time of the foundation or dissolution is not known, but its situation is fixed near the 190 ANCIENT CUSTOMS. site of the parish church, as some remains of the building are said to have been discovered in digging graves in the church- yard. A spot of ground near the church, still called Erw-> Myneich, or Monk's Acre, would indicate that Blanc-Minster was contiguous to it. In the reign of Henry VIII., as we have already stated, Leland visited Oswestry, and noted that at that period " the cloister only was standing within the memory of persons then living." Before closing this notice we would recommend all visitors to Oswestry to make a pilgrimage to Oswald's Well. The scenery around it is replete with beauty ; and if the day be fine and warm, a draught of the water, which constantly bubbles up in freshness and pellucid clearness, will cheer and not inebriate. The inhabitants possess in this Well a valu- able natural treasure which it is their duty to preserve, for their common benefit, free from all impurities and contaminations. ANCIENT CUSTOMS. In a work partly descriptive of the Border Lands of England and Wales, it might be deemed a reproach were we silently to pass by the customs that once prevailed in the district. Many of those ancient customs were innocent and harmless in their character, whilst others were connected with super- stition which kept the people in mental darkness, and impeded the free course of education and knowledge. Our notice of these customs will be brief, for they are no longer observed in the town, and but slightly so, if at all, in the neighbourhood. The printing-press has exploded such folly, and most of the ancient customs will very soon, throughout our land, be referred to only as evidences of the ignorance of our fore- fathers, and their disregard of the educational improvement of their fellow-creatures. Shrove Tuesday and its observances were vestiges of a Roman Carnival, when, as Aubanus tells us, " men eat and drank and abandoned themselves to all kinds of foolery, as if 191 ANCIENT CUSTOMS. resolved to have their fill of pleasure before they were td die." " Pancake Bell " is now unheard, because no sexton or bell-ringer can be found to pull the rope. Men and women do eat pancakes which, when well made, even Soyer would not object to; and such gastronomy is* we believe, the sum-total of Shrove-tide observances in the present enlightened day. Cock-fighting, bull-baiting, and other brutal amusements* formerly practised on this day, are abandoned, we trust* for ever* Good Friday is still observed so far, in reference to mundane things, that fathers and mothers indulge their children with a plentiful supply of Hot Cross Buns. This observance is harmless enough. The day being the anni- versary of our Saviour's Crucifixion, it is now marked by the entire Christian community as one of solemn worship ; and as time rolls on, and religious education prevails, we may reasonably expect that a still more devotional regard will be paid to this day. Easter-Day is no longer observed by people walking into the fields early in the morning to see the " sun come dancing from the east." The Heaving or Lifting system, formerly much practised on Easter Monday and Tuesday, is now rapidly on the wane. By men and women not remarkable for their love of decency or modesty, it is still partially ob- served in Oswestry. The custom would, however, be " more honoured in the breach than the observance." All Fools' Day (April 1) is, we believe, acknowledged by many of that class who are fond of a joke. The wit formerly displayed on this day consisted in sending persons on what are called sleeveless errands, for the history of Eve's mother, for pigeon's milk, and in quest of other absurdities. In the present day rude tricks are tried even upon philo- sophers, and with much gusto when they succeed. The " Verdant Greens," at this season of the year* are especially full-blown. ANCIENT CUSTOMS. May-Day formerly brought with it flowery decorations in front of our house-doors ; but this pretty custom has long since faded away. Walking the Boundaries. — A general custom formerly, but observed now in very few places. The Mayor, Church- wardens, Overseers, &c, of Oswestry walked the boundaries in 1813, and that was the last occasion of this ancient observ- ance. Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Royal Oak Day, Corpus Christi Day, Oswestry Wake, All Saints' Eve, St. Swithin's Day, &c, have become, so far as rude observances are concerned, mere relics of past days. Our ancestors marked all these days with scrupulous attention ; but few if any men of the present time have boldness enough to set them apart for, rejoicing and merriment — for feast and carnival — -as in days of yore. Gunpowder Plot (Nov. 5) is occasionally noticed by boys, discharging pop-guns, and alarming the lieges with bonfires, effigies, squibs and crackers ; but that absurd and bigoted observance is in its downward course, no one being interested in its continuance at present but the pyrotechnists, who tempt boys to spend their money in rockets, blue-lights, and other combustibles. CHRiSTMAs.^-Some twenty years ago Christmas morn was ushered in with the singing of carols by " wakeful Waits," thus joyfully celebrating the opening of this truly-festive anniversary, and this custom is still partially observed. The singers of the Parish Church also greeted the in- habitants at their several dwellings with sounds of grateful melody. No longer is this latter custom maintained, but Christmas Day is marked as a sacred and solemn festival ; " the rich and the poor meet together ;" on that day the conven- tionalities of rank and dignity are thrown aside ; hospitality prevails in every house in the land, from the palace to the 193 O RAILWAY COMMUNICATION. cottage ; families are collected together to partake of that day f s joyful festivity ; and the nation at large presents the delightful picture of one happy family. The rich administer kindly to the poor, and all hearts are touched with benevolence or gra- titude. Long may our merry Christmas-tides thus be observed ; for such customs are based on true religion, whieh teaches men •* to love one another." Eaitoag Communication. We need not enter into detail, now-a-days, to show how railway communication was rendered necessary a quarter of a century ago by the great increase of travelling throughout the land, and the insufficiency as well as inefficiency of stage- coach conveyance to satisfy the public wants. When railway travelling was first suggested stage-coaches had been "whip- ped-up " by " coming events " into improvement ; the people were no longer compelled to " drag their slow length along," for full five wearisome days, from Chester to London. The " Gee-hos," and " Highflyers," at four miles an hour; " The Birmingham and Shrewsbury Long Coach, with six able horses, in four days;" even the ^ Flying Machine," from Shrewsbury to London in two days, had all passed the stage of their creeping existence ; and the liege subjects of the realm were now beginning to be whirled along, at ten and twelve miles an hour, in " Quicksilvers," " Tantivys," " Erin- go-braghs," "Tallyhos," "Wonders," and other well-horsed and well-appointed vehicles bearing equally excitable names. The Coach called "The Wonder" made the journey from Shrews- bury to London in a day. An intelligent contributor writes — " The late old Justice Smith," in a conversation I had with him some 25 years ago, said, * I remember going to London 70 years ago by a coach called The Fly; we were 7 nights and 8 days on the road, and now they go in a day — what a man lives to see!'" But even this increased "pace" did not meet the requirements of the community. James Watts' steam-engine had begun to revolutionize all classes 194 RAILWAY COMMUNICATION. and occupations. In manufactures, hand-looms, spinning- jennies, shuttles, treddles, and the rest of early in^ ventions were superseded by steam-power, moving machinery for spinning and weaving; in packet and marine con- veyance generally Watts' steam-power wrought as great a change ; and in the manufacture of metal and porcelain goods, the sawing of timber and stone, and even the making of pins and needles, steam was the great giant power. With this national revolution in trade, manufactures, and commerce, came a more active and enterprising spirit among the people ; soft and hard goods, as the manufactures of the north and midland counties are technically called, were multiplied until supply exceeded demand; the locomotive wants and desires of the public increased ; and all eyes and heads were turned towards Watts' steam-engine as the only mighty agent of acce- lerated travelling. The history of the country has supplied the results of this great experiment. The ever-honoured George Stephenson succeeded in carrying heavily-laden trains, of passengers and goods, on the Liverpool and Manchester Rail- way, at the rate of thirty miles an hour ; and in the present day such is the appetite for rapid railway locomotion, that express trains, as they are called, flying over the earth at a more than race-horse speed of forty miles an hour, will scarcely satisfy the urgent requirements of manufactures and commerce. Railway projects arose in various parts of the kingdom,, and the first step taken towards what has since proved a direct communication with this borough and the metropolis was the incorporation of the Great Western Railway Company, by an Act passed in 5 and 6 of William IV. Some years elapsed before any measures were adopted to establish railway communication in this district. At length, in 1845., when railway "bubbles and squeaks" "affrighted the isle from its propriety," a direct line was projected from Chester, through Whitchurch and Wem, to Shrewsbury. The scheme 195 RAILWAY COMMUNICATION. was promoted by the Chester and Holyhead Railway Com* pany, the London and Birmingham, and other important interests. Mr. Robert Stephenson was appointed engineer, and Mr. Mallaby, of Liverpool, solicitor. A Company, called the " North Wales Mineral Railway Company," had previously obtained an Act for making a line of Railway, from Chester to Rhuabon, and on the scheme for the line from the former place, via Whitchurch and Wem, being an- nounced, a Company, in friendly connection with the North Wales Mineral Railway Company, and called the Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and Chester Junction Railway Company, was formed for the purpose of extending the Railway from Rhuabon to Shrewsbury, in opposition to the other scheme mentioned above. The late Mr, Henry Kelsall, of Chester, was appointed solicitor, and Mr. Robertson engineer. A sharp struggle between the rival Companies ensued, but at length the line from Chester to Shrewsbury, via Whitchurch and Wem, was abandoned ; by the prudent interposition of Mr. Edward Williams, solicitor, of Oswestry, (of the firm of "Longueville and Williams/') the dissentient land- owners were appeased; and the "Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and Chester Junction Railway Company " obtained their Act, which passed through parliament as an unopposed Bill, the royal assent being given to it the 30th of June, 1845. W. Ormsby Gore, Esq., as Chairman of the successful line, rendered powerful assistance to its claims, having clearly seen the advantages which it must render to the important interests of North Shropshire. The next step was to unite the two lines between Chester and Shrewsbury, viz., the North Wales Mineral Railway, and the Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and Chester Junction, and an arrangement was accordingly entered into by the two Companies, by which, in 1846, they were united into one, under the title of " The Shrewsbury and Chester Railway Company." The subsequent history of this line is patent to the public j the battles of the Great Western Railway interest, with those of 196 RAILWAY COMMUNICATION. the North Western, each Company seeking to possess the line, almost rivalling in intensity the fierce struggles of the ancient Roses — -York and Lancaster. In the Parliamentary Session of 1854 a Bill was brought into the House of Commons by Viscount Barrington* Lord Norreys, and Sir Phillip Egerton* to authorize the consolidation, into one Company, of the Great Western the Shrewsbury and Birmingham, and the Shrewsbury and Chester Railways. The Bill was sanctioned by Parliament, and the Act is now cited for all purposes under the title of " The Great Western, Birmingham, and Chester Railway Section." By this con- solidation of these several Companies a direct communication with London, under one system of Railway management, has been secured to the town of Oswestry ; the journey by the Express Trains occupying no more than about five and a half hours. The country through which the Great Western line runs is remarkable for its beauty and interest. Windsor Castle, Oxford, Blenheim, Leamington, Warwick, and other attractive places, are in close proximity ; and to add to these advantages, the care, attention, and able management of the entire line, are further agreeable features in the route, which all travellers on the railway gratefully acknowledge. To the inhabitants of Oswestry and its vicinity it is un- necessary to say anything in praise of the attractive scenery that gives such lively interest to the railway between Shrewsbury and Chester. To the stranger, however, and the summer tourist in search of the sublime and picturesque, we may remark, that few lines in the kingdom present so many charms to the admiring gaze as this most delightful railway. Llangollen Vale has a world-wide celebrity ; whilst the Chirk Viaduct, spanning the Ceiriog Vale; the pretty village of Chirk ; Lord Dungannon's pleasant seat at Brynkinalt ; " Chirk Castle walls ;" Wynnstay Park ; the fine tower of Wrexham Church ; Gresford Vale, with its luxuriant and refreshing scenery ; and the graceful approach to Chester, across " Sweet 197 NEW EXTENSION LINE. Deva's wizard stream," and in sight of the animating race-* course (the Roodeye), the fine old Roman walls of the cityy the ancient Castle, a work of Roman art, the Armoury, county Gaol, St. Werburgh's Cathedral, the venerable Church and Priory of St. John the Baptist, — these, with many other relics of days now " Numbered with those beyond the flood," must give an intense interest to those who value objects stamped with natural beauty and hoary antiquity. All hostility between the Ghreat Western and North Western Railway Companies having, at least for the present, ceased, both of these gigantic undertakings can, without Ungenerous feelings one against the other, devote their energies and capital to the improvement of all departments of their respective undertakings, rendering to the public the attention, comfort, and assurance of safety in travelling Which railway management ought to secure. EXTENSION LINE FROM OSWESTRY TO WELSHPOOL AND NEWTOWN. Whilst this volume was passing through the press a suc- cessful effort was made in carrying through Parliament a Bill for extending a line of railway through part of Mont- gomeryshire, commencing by a junction with the Shrewsbury and Chester Section of the Great Western Railway. The Bill was introduced into the House of Commons in the early part of the present Session of Parliament (1855), and passed through the various stages of that branch of the Legislature without opposition. In the House of Lords a slight but un<- successful opposition was raised, arid the Bill received the Royal assent on the 25th of June. Thus has been secured to the county of Montgomery, which is rapidly growing in population and importance, the advantage of railway com- 198 NEW EXTENSION LINE. munication direct from the metropolis, and from the busy seats of manufacturing industry in the north. The manufacturing and agricultural wealth and enterprise of Montgomeryshire, its rich mineral resources, and the benefits which will accrue to it by throwing open to its use the affluent coal-fields of Shropshire and Denbighshire, were strong claims entitling Montgomeryshire to the boon she sought. The further objects contemplated by the promoters of this line, in connecting it, at no far distant period, with the magnificent national harbour at Milford Haven, and thus opening a grand route from that capacious landing-place from the north of Ireland to Man- chester, Yorkshire, and the Midland Counties, were doubt- less among the considerations of Parliament in granting then- sanction to this railway. The line will commence by a junction with the Shrewsbury and Chester section of the Great Western Railway, at its Oswestry terminus, and then proceed by Llanymynech, Llandrinio, Llandisilio, and Buttington, to Welshpool ; thence, crossing the river Severn, near Miltrewydd, will pass between Montgomery and Berriew, and on to Newtown, on the south side of the river, where it will unite with the Newtown and Llanidloes line. The capital authorized to be raised by the " Oswestry and Newtown Railway Company " is £250,000. Mr. Benjamin Piercy is appointed resident engineer of the line ; and Mr. Peter Barlow consulting engineer. The contractors for the making of the entire line are Messrs. M'Cormick and Thorn- ton, whose previous railway contracts give the best assurance that the present line will be constructed in an efficient manner. The first general meeting of the shareholders was held at the Town Hall, Welshpool, on Saturday, July 21st ; William Ormsby Gore, Esq., Chairman of the Board of Provisional Directors, in the chair* The attendance was very numerous. 199 FIRST RAILWAY MEETING. The report stated that it was the intention of the Directors to proceed with the construction of the railway with as little delay as possible, that the certificates of the proprietorship of the shares in the capital of the Company, under the seal of the Company, could be forthwith issued to the Shareholders ; that the Directors congratulated the Shareholders and the district upon the unanimity which had prevailed in the establishment and progress of the Company, and expressed their hope that this would lead to the speedy completion of the undertaking, and the further developement of the re- sources of the country. The speakers on this occasion were the Chairman, Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart. M.P., the Rev. C. T. C* Luxmoore, the Ven. Archdeacon Clive, G. H. Whalley, Esq., the Rev. Maurice Lloyd, Richard Humphreys, Esq., George Brace, Esq., and other gentlemen. The Directors named in the Act were, William Ormsby Gore, Esq., M.P., Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Bart. M.P., D. Pugh, Esq. M.P., John Nay lor, Esq., John Carnac Morris, Esq., Richard Herbert Mytton, Esq., John Davies Corrie, Esq., Rowland Jones Venables, Esq., Arthur James Johnes, Esq., Col. Herbert Watkin Williams Wynn, M.P., J. Powell Wilding, Esq., and Wm. Lloyd, Esq., and they were re-elected unanimously. An important resolution was also passed, " That it is the opinion of this meeting, that it is of the utmost importance to the interest of the Company that a communication by railway should be effected between Newtown and Milford Haven; and the Directors are hereby requested to afford such co-operation and assistance to any Companies now existing, or which may be projected, as would best tend to accomplish that object." The entire proceedings were marked by harmony and good spirit, and all present appeared suitably impressed with the importance and value of railway communication through Montgomeryshire, and with the benefits, in connection with the great national harbour at Milford Haven, which would ultimately accrue to the