1537.—The plague raged frightfully during this year.
1542.—Rowland Lee, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, burned before the high altar of St. Chad’s church.
1563.—The bailiffs agree that no foreigner should be a freeman of the town without paying £10 and the usual fees.
1570.—Two men killed by the falling of the clapper out of St. Wenefrede’s bell, in the Abbey Church.
1571.—Humphrey Onslow built the chapel of our Lady in St. Chad’s church, and paved the causeway from the Lord’s place, (the Council House) to the cross, at his own cost.
1575.—That fearful malady, the plague, again visited Shrewsbury.
1581.—John Capper, clerk of the Abbey Church, was hanged at Kingsland for treason.
1582.—John Prestige was hanged upon a gibbet near the abbey mill, for the murder of his wife.
1588.—Richard Reynolds was put into the pillory and had both his ears cut off, for setting fire to a sheep-cote.
1591.—After the assizes in September, eight men were hanged at the Old Heath, one of whom was hung in chains there.