SHREWSBURY. 221 



nomination of the mayor, and the head mafler of the 

 Free School. 



From the elevated fituation of the building, and the 

 great height of its fpire, the latter has frequently fuf- 

 fered from high winds. In 1739, the weather-cock 

 was blown on one fide, when a perfon of the name of 

 Cadman engaged to take it down, which he foon 

 afterwards did, and then put it in its place again. 

 This man was an adventurer on church fteeples of 

 a different defcription from the man I have jufl 

 mentioned. He fixed a rope from the top of the 

 fpire to a tree in a field on the oppofite fide of the 

 river, and to various other places ; and for a few 

 times fiided from thence without inj ury : but on 

 Candlemas day in the fame year, after beating a 

 drum, firing piftols, &c. he attempted to flide down 

 the rope acrofs the river, but it broke foon after he 

 had trufted his weight upon it, and he was confe- 

 quently dafhed to pieces. — He .was buried on the 

 fame day, the 2d of February 1739, at the foot of 

 the fleeple, and a plain flab was fixed to - the wall 

 over his grave, with this quaint infcription, now 

 fcarcely legible ; 



Let this fmall monument record the name 

 Of Cadman, and to future times proclaim 

 How by'n attempt to fly from this high fpire, 

 Acrofs the Sabrine ftreara, he did acquire 

 His fatal end. 'Twas not for want of ilvili, 

 Or courage to perform the taflc, he fell, 

 No, no, a faulty cord, being drawn too tight. 

 Hurried his foul on high to take her flight, 

 Which bid the body, here beneath, good night. 



St. 



