In the 20th of Richard II. the parliament was adjourned from Westminster to Shrewsbury. On the king’s arrival, he gave a sumptuous feast to the peers and commons in the abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul. The parliament was held in the Chapter House, and so numerous were the members and their retinues that Speed calls this “THE GREAT PARLIAMENT.” It was certainly an important one. Chester was on this occasion made a principality, and among the articles of accusation afterwards brought against the king by Henry Bolingbroke were the oppressive laws which it enacted. The next account on record relative to this place is the memorable BATTLE of SHREWSBURY; the skirmishing of which began under the walls of the castle gates, but the principal scene of action was at Battlefield. This engagement between Henry IV. and the Earl of Northumberland, fought on the plains and heaths of Battlefield and Albright Hussey, was one of the most important recorded in English history. The origin of the quarrel was a mandate from the monarch to the earl not to ransom his Scottish prisoners taken at Homedon, which that nobleman deemed an infringement of his rights. The jealous policy of Henry in this proceeding, and his ingratitude for the services which raised him to the throne, roused the indignation of Northumberland, and inflamed the high soul of his son, Lord Henry Percy, whose warlike disposition had gained him the characteristic appellation of Hotspur. Thomas, Earl of Worcester, younger brother to Northumberland, participated in their discontents, entered into their views of revenge, and offered his assistance to overthrow the usurper whom they had united to establish. Hotspur, who was the life of the conspiracy, released and made a friend of his valiant rival, Douglas, entered into a correspondence with Glyndwr, and reared the standard of rebellion, around which all his vassals and adherents rallied. He was joined by a powerful army from Scotland, under Earl Douglas and other chiefs, who, impelled by a rooted animosity to the King of England, warmly espoused the cause of the conspirators. Henry, who was apprised of their movements, placed himself at the head of a body of troops, and hurried into Shropshire, having previously ordered his sons, the Prince of Wales and Lord John of Lancaster, and his steady adherent, the Earl of Westmorland, to meet him with reinforcements at Bridgnorth. Aware that every thing depended on celerity of movement, he took possession of Shrewsbury, just as the forces of Lord Percy were preparing to assail it. Owen Glyndwr having mustered a numerous levy of Welshmen at Oswestry, sent off a detachment of 4,000, but, on being apprised of the king’s success, thought proper to suspend the march of his main body. Had the valour of Hotspur been tempered by discretion, he would have paused until the junction of his ally had given him better assurance of success. His army consisted of 14,000 chosen men; but the king’s army is