been chofen by the burgeffes at large, and at others Befides the Corporation, here are fixteen chartered companies, the most confiderable of which are the Drapers and Mercers. The first was incorporated by Edward IV. who united with it an ancient gild or fraternity of the Holy Trinity, founded in the Church of St. Mary. They have now a confiderable eftate, which is chiefly expended in charitable donations. The mercers were incorporated by Edward IV. in 1480, on condition that they maintained a priest to fing at the altar of St. Michael, in the Collegiate Church of St. Chad; that they gave a penny every week to thirteen poor men to pray for the good estate of the King, his family, and themselves; and also found a wax taper to be carried before the holy facrament on the proceffion of Corpus Chrifti. It was from remote times cuftomary for all the companies to unite in celebration of the day of Corpus Chrifti, the feast of the holy Sacrament or body of our Lord, one of the most splendid feftivals of the Roman Church, as their grand anniver * Phillips. fary. Preceded by their Masters and Wardens, and graced with colours and devices, they attended the Bailiffs and members of the Corporation, who with the Canons of St. Chad and St. Mary, the Friars of the three Convents, and the Parochial Clergy, followed the holy Sacrament, which was borne by Priefts, under a rich canopy of velvet or filk, to a stone cross without the town, probably that called the Weeping Cross, here all joined in bewailing their fins, and in chaunting forth petitions for a plentiful harveft; they then proceeded in the fame order to the Church of St. Chad, where each company had a particular place in its choir, and a grand mass was celebrated. Several of the trades were obliged to provide neceffaries for this proceffion, particularly wax tapers, which were carried before the host, and afterwards placed on the altar of St. Michael, in St. Chad's Church. The festival was followed by three days of difport and recreation, as they were termed, either in the enfuing week, or at an early time agreed upon by the feveral wardens. These were held on the piece of ground called Kingsland, where each company had its "Arbour," and where all regaled the Bailiffs and Corporation. After the reformation the religious ceremony was of course abolished, but one day of entertainment is still observed, under the denomination of the Show, and is always on the second Monday after Trinity Sunday.. The companies affemble about noon before the castle, accompanied by their wardens, flags, devices, and mufic; moft of them having alfo a man on horfeback, gaudily dreffed, called the King, intended originally, perhaps, for a representation of the Monarchs who granted their charters. Thus the King of the Cloth-workers perfonates Edward IV; the King of the Mafons, Henry VIII; the Barbers march with a Queen, perhaps our celebrated Lady Elizabeth. The devices are emblematical of the trades. The Sadlers lead a caparisoned horfe; the Smiths and Armourers are preceded by a Knight in complete harness; the Hatters and Furriers by an American Indian; the Skinners by the figure of a ftag, large as life, attended by huntsmen founding bugle horns... The proceffion moves over the Welsh bridge to Kingfland, where each company has its enclosed arbour or pavillion, adorned with the arms of the company, in which a cold dinner is prepared. These are vifited by the Mayor and Corporation, who used formerly to wear their robes of office upon this occafion. They go on horseback, preceded by the beadles, crier, &c. bareheaded, and are all hofpitably entertained at the arbours of the respective trades. The day is fpent in feftivity, and towards the close of the evening the companies leave this delightful fpot, returning to the town over the Abbey bridge. Several of thefe have ceased to make part of the proceffion, and this ancient pageant, a lively picture of the taste of former days, is gradually approaching its diffolution for which reafon only a more particular defcription has been given of it. K : ANCIENT BUILDINGS. No ancient English town of its fize, has more abounded in great edifices, which the neceffity of felf-defence, or a fpirit of piety had raised, than Shrewsbury. Of the first kind were its ftrong Castle, its walls, gates, and fortified bridges. Of the latter, befides the rich mitred Benedictine Abbey, were three Convents, two Collegiate and three Parish Churches, and various fmaller religious buildings. Of all thefe, time and the modern fpirit of improvement, fometimes perhaps injudicioufly exerted, have made deplorable havock. Fragments however, remain throughout the town, which point out its former dignity, though the only ancient structure that has been entirely fpared, is the venerable Church of St. Mary. An account of thefe remnants of former magnificence will begin properly with THE CASTLE. The events which belong to the Castle, are so intimately connected with the history of the town, that little will be added to what has been already faid on that fubject. Its founder Roger de Montgomery, as has been related, made it his refidence foon after the conqueft, and it became the chief feat of his baronial power. Mr. Pennant indeed affigns to it a more remote origin, and from its exploratory mount, thinks it of British foundation. But it is very probable that the high raifed mound, was by our earliest Norman 3 Lords confidered as a part of military architecture, and very often adopted by them in their Caftles. As his new poffeffions had been acquired by the sword, Earl Roger confidered the inhabitants as his property of course. The spot on which he laid the foun dations of his Caftle, was then it feems, well peopled, and he fcrupled not to destroy fifty-one houses, a fifth part of the whole town at that time, without recompenfe to the owners, to make room for his in tended buildings. After the fall of the great houfe of Montgomery, in the reign of Henry I. on the forfeiture of Earl Robert de Belefme, the Castle became a royal fortrefs; its defence was entruffed to a Conftable, ufually the Sheriff, who maintained the prifon of the county within its walls, and a part of its vaft eftate was parcelled, out to various Knights, on the condition of their keeping castle-ward for a certain number of days during war. It was at this time confidered rather as a place of great consequence in protecting the country from the incurfions of the Welsh, than as a royal or baronial refidence. When, by the union with Wales, all apprehenfion from its former unquiet neighbours had vanished, the importance of the Caftle as a fortress ceased. In the reign of Henry VIII. it seems to have been rapidly haftening to decay. Leland, who then faw it, obferves, that it had been a " ftronge thynge, but "nowe much in ruine." The whole was leafed by Queen Elizabeth, for a mark yearly, to Richard Onflow, Efq. who appears to have conveyed his interest in it to the Corporation. |
