A TOUR HOUND NORTH WALES. 183 



*' dained, becaufe not many years before 

 " Edric Streon, Duke of the Mercians, 

 " a man of great impiety, lay in wait 

 " near this place for Prince Af helm, and 

 " barbaroufly murdered him, as he rode 

 " a hunting/' 



In former reigns, this town has 

 been favoured with feveral royal char- 

 ters, the firfl that is extant, was granted 

 in 1189, by Richard I. in which all it's 

 ancient cuftoms and privileges were con- 

 firmed, granting to the burgeffes, the 

 town and all it's appurtenances, which 

 had been feized by Henry I. on the 

 forfeiture of Robert, Earl of Shrewf- 

 bury, but it was not till the reign of 

 Elizabeth, that it was made corporate. 

 This latter charter was confirmed and 

 enlarged by Charles!. The corpora- 

 tion now confifts of a Mayor, twenty 



* Blount's Tenures, p. : 1 1 , where are quoted 

 tit. Sciropefcire, and CamJen's Britannia. 



four 



