^4'^ SltREWSEURY. 



In the year 1485, Henry earl of Richmond, after- 

 wards king Henry VIL, arrived at Milford Haven, 

 from Bretagne, and he had fo far paved the way foi* 

 his reception in this country, as to meet with little 

 oppofition till he came to Shrcwfbury. Here, how- 

 ever, the gates were fliut again ft him* He fent 

 mcffengerc to demand that the gates be opened to 

 admit the rightful fovereign of England. The head 

 bailiff, v»?hofe name was Mytton, appeared at the 

 gate, and anfwered, '" I acknowledge no fovereign 

 but king Richard III., whofe fervants I and my 

 tovvnfmen are. / folemnly fwcar^ that before any 

 other enter this town^ he Jloall jirji make his way 

 over my body. By this expreflion he meant that 

 he would fuffer himfelf to be flain, rather than admit 

 any but his acknowledged monarch. The mefien- 

 gers returned to Henry, and they were again fent 

 on the following morning, to requeft that the earl 

 of Richmond might be fuffersd to pafs. They 

 pledged themfelves, for the earl, that no injury 

 whatever fliould be done to the town, or its inha- 

 bitants, and that Mytton himfelf fhould alfo be faved 

 from the guilt of perjury. The bailiff having in 

 fome meafure changed his m.ind fmce his laft inter- 

 view with the meffengers, did not objeft to thefe 

 lenient terms. Henry entered the town by Jiepping 

 over the body of Mytton, who laid down for the 

 purpofe in the gateway. — From hence he paffed on 

 to Bofworth-Field, w!i?re the decifive battle was 

 fought in which Richard III, was ilain. 



4. It 



