WELSH POOL TO OSWESTRY. IO5 



• About a fortnight after Its furrender, the king's 

 forces, confifling of about three thoufand foot, and 

 fifteen hundred horfe, under the command of colonel 

 Marrow, attempted to retake this place. Intimation 

 of their approach was immediately fent to fir Thomas 

 Middleton, who haftcning to the affiftance of the 

 garrifon, attacked the king's troops, and completely 

 routed them. After the death of the kii-\g the caftle 

 was demohfhed *. 



Ofwellry has at different times been favoured 

 with many privileges from its lords. Its moil ex- 

 tenfive charter was however granted in the year 

 1406, by Thomas, earl of Arundel, at that time 

 owner of the place. From this the inhabitants 

 derived feveral advantages which they had not be- 

 fore enjoyed. The chief of thefe were, that neither 

 the lord nor his heirs fliould feize on or confifcate 

 the effedls of any perfon in the corporation that died 

 without making a will ; and that none of the in- 

 habitants of the lord(hips of Ofv/eflry, Melverley, 

 Kinardlley, Egeriey, Ruyton, and eleven adjacent 

 villages, at that time called the eleven towns^ fliould 

 convey cattle or goods to any other fair or market 

 without having previoufly expofed them for fale in 

 the town of Ofweftry, under the penalty of fix fhil- 

 iings and eight-pence for each offence f. 



• Riiflnvorth, part iii. vol. 2. p. 744, 745. Whitelock, 94. 

 f Pennant, i. 268, 269. 



Till 



