23S SHREWSBURY. 



Several parliaments have been holden in Shrewf- 

 bury. The linl: that was fummoned formally by 

 writ, met in September 1283. By this, David, the 

 brother of Llewci.yn, prince of Wales, was tried 

 for high treafon, and condemned : he was the firft 

 perfon who fuffered the death of a traitor, in the 

 form of the fcntence now in ufe. — Anotlier parlia- 

 ment was holden here in 1397, which, on account 

 of the great number of people that were aflfembled 

 in it, was called the Great Parliament. By a flrange 

 concefTion of this parliament, Richard II. obtained 

 an unexampled ftrctch - of power, that the whole 

 government of a nation fliould devolve on the king, 

 twelve peers, and fix comm.oners. A bull from the 

 pope was thought neceiTary to confirm fo irregular a 

 proceeding. 



Of the military tranfadions relative to this place, 

 the mod important was the battle fought here in. 

 July 1403, bed known by the name of The Battle 

 of Shrewfbury, between king Henry IV., and the 

 foldiers commanded by Heni-y Percy, furnam.ed Hot- 

 fpur. It had been the defign of the infurgents from 

 the north, to make themfelves mailers of this town 

 and caftle, and then to (trengthen their forces by a 

 jundion with Ovv-en Glyndwr and his countrymen. 

 The activity of Kenry prevented this jundion, and 

 faved liis crov/n. Coming up vvith Percy's army 

 at this town, the high fpirit of that hero would not 

 fuffer him to wait the arrival of Glyndwr, who was 

 encamped near Ofweftry, but he hazarded a conteft 



even 



