SHREWSBURY. 24 1 



It is affirmed of this entry of the army of Kenry 

 VII., that a malady unknown before was introduced 

 into England, called thefweatingficknefs. It raged 

 for upwards of fixty years in the kingdom, carrying 

 off many tlioufand people, and at kiil ended in this 

 town, in the year 1551. A flicrt time before this 

 period it was fo violent here, as to_take off no fewer 

 than nine hundred and ninety perfons in tlie courfe 

 of a few days. The difcafe began with a violent 

 perfpiration, which conLinucd till cither the death 

 or recovery of the patient. It fcldom laded more 

 .than twenty-four hours, fo iHat thofe who happened 

 to be taken ill in the day time, were put to bed 

 , with their clothi:?s on to v; ait the event ; and thofe 

 who were feized in the nirht were ordered to 

 remain in bed, but on no account to llecp. This 

 fingular and dreadful malady feems to have origi- 

 nated among the levies that Heni-y ha4 raifed on the 

 continent, which had been raked out of hofpitals 

 and gaols, buried in filth, and, without any atlentioii 

 to their health or comfort, immediately crowded on 

 board the tranfports. 



In the civil wars, Shrewfoury was garrifoned for 

 the king, and fir Michael Earnly was made governor. 

 General My tton made two unfuccefsful attempts? upon 

 it, but -in February 1644 the place was furrendered to 

 him. Crowe, the lieutenant, was afterwards hanged 

 for his treachery, or cowardice. The governor, and 

 feveral perfons of rank, v/ere made prifoners ; and 

 the tov/n was plundered. Mytton, foon after the 

 VOL. 11. R. fiege. 



