The History of the Worthies of England

LORD MAYORS-GENTRY.

2. Rowland Hill, son of Thomas Hill, of Hodnet, Mercer, 1549. 3. Thomas Lee, son of Roger Lee, of Wellington, Mercer, 1558. 4. Thomas Lodge, son of William Lodge, of Cresset, Grocer,

1562.

5. Rowland Heyward, son of George Heyward, of Bridgenorth, Clothworker, 1570.

6. Robert Lee, son of Humphry Lee, of Bridge-north, Mer chant Tailor, 1602.

7. John Swinnerton, son of Tho. Swinnerton, of Oswestry, Merchant Tailor, 1612.

8. Francis Jones, son of John Jones, of Glaverly, Haberdasher, 1620.

9. Peter Probey, not recorded of White-church, Grocer, 1622. 10. Allen Cotton, son of Ralph Cotton, of White-church, Draper, 1625.

11. George Whitmore, son of Will. Whitmore, of Charley, Haberdasher, 1631.

12. Thomas Adams, son of Thomas Adams, of Wem, Draper, 1646.

See we here a jury of lord mayors born in this (which I believe will hardly be paralleled in a greater) county. All [no doubt] honest men, and true.

NAMES OF THE GENTRY OF THIS COUNTY,

RETURNED BY THE COMMISSIONERS IN THE TWELFTH YEAR OF KING HENRY THE SIXTH.

(a) William bishop of Coven. and Lichf. and (b) John de Talbot, knight; (c) Richard Laken, and William Boerley, (knights for the shire) ;-Commissioners to take the oaths.

Willielmi Malory, Militis.

Johannis Fitz-Piers.

Willielmi Lodelowe.

Willielmi Poynour.

Richardi Neuport.

Richardi Horde.

Thomæ Hopton, de Hopton.

Richardi Archer.
Johannis Wynnesbury.
Thomæ Corbet, de Ley.
Thomæ Corbet, de Morton.
Johannis Bruyn, senioris.
Thomæ Charleton.

Richardi Peshale.

Thomæ Newport. Georgii Hankeston. Johannis Brugge. Thomæ Banastre. Hugonis Harnage. Leonardi Stepulton. Hugonis Cresset.

Johannis Skryven.

Nicholai Sandford.
Griffin Kynaston.

Johannis Bruyn, junioris.
Hugonis Stepulton.
Simonis Hadington.
Alani Wetenhull.

Richardi Sonford.

Johannis Otley.

Edwardi Leighton de Mershe,

Edmundi Plowden.

Thomæ Mardford.

Rogeri Bromley.
Richardi Lee.
Humfridi Cotes.
Willielmi Leighton,
Richardi Horton,

(a) This William was William Hieworth, bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, of whom hereafter.*

(b) Sir John Talbot, (though here only additioned Knight) was the Lord Talbot, and eight years after created earl of Shrewsbury, of whom before.†

(c) Richard Laken, the same family with Lacon, whose seat was at Willily in this county, augmented both in blood and estate by the matches with the heirs of, 1. Harley; 2. Peshal; 3. Passilew; 4. Blunt of Kinlet.

My hopes are according to my desires, that this ancient family is still extant in this county, though I suspect shrewdly shattered in estate.

The commissioners of this shire were neither altogether idle, nor very industrious; having made but a short and slender return, only of 45 principal persons therein.