138 RUABON TO WREXHAM. 



Born in America, in Europe bred. 

 In Afric travelled, and in Afia wed ; 

 Where long lie liv'd and thriv'd — in London dead. 

 Much good, fome ill he did, fo hope all's even. 

 And that his foul through mercy's gone to Heaven ! 

 You that furvive and read this tale, take care 

 For this mod certain exit to prepare. 

 Where blefl; in peace, the adlions of the juft 

 Smell fweet, and bloffom in the filent duft. 



The prefent church at Wrexham was finifhed, 

 except the tower, before the year 1472 : the latter, 

 from a date that there is upon it, does not feem to 

 have been completed till about thirty-four years 

 afterwards. In 1647, during the civil wars, this 

 venerable building was ufed for fome time as a 

 prifon, and feveral of the committee-men were con- 

 fined in it by the parliament's foldiers, who had 

 mutined for want of pay *. 



At this town there is a noted annual fair, held 

 in the month of March, which lafts nine days. 

 This is frequented by traders from various, and 

 even very diftant parts of the kingdom. The com* 

 modities brought by the Welfii people are chiefly 

 flannels, linen, linfey-woolfey, andhorfes and cattle 

 in abundance. Traders from other parts bring Irifli 

 linen, Yorkihire and woollen cloths, and Manchefter 

 and Birmingham goods of all kinds. For the accom- 

 modation of thofe who have goods to fell, there are 

 two fquares, or areas, furniflied with little Ihops ojr 

 booths f. 



« Whitelock, 243. t Aikin's Manchefter. 



The 



