{18} The town had originally three principal gates, besides several postern or smaller gates, and was from an early period encompassed with a wall, strengthened by towers in those parts most liable to be attacked. Within the last sixty years many parts of the walls have been built upon, and the gates and towers, with one exception, fallen a prey, not so much to the ruthless power of time, as to the less sparing enemy—modern improvement. {23} Mr. Heylin appears to have been connected with this town, having previously founded a lectureship in St. Alkmond’s church, to which he afterwards added the tithe of Coton. In 1630 he was at the expence of printing the Welsh Bible in octavo, a form more suitable for domestic reading than the two former folio editions. {24} The site of St. Michael’s church cannot be satisfactorily stated. Messrs. Owen and Blakeway consider that Speed’s map represents it as standing near the river towards the area of the present county gaol; but this must be a mistake, for Speed intended to shew the bastion tower of the castle. The church being probably only a very small structure, and designed by its founder (Roger de Montgomery) as a place of worship for those who inhabited the keep, it doubtless stood, as its name implies, WITHIN the walls (similar to the one at Ludlow Castle), and was taken down about 1605, before Speed’s map was published. The present detached part of St. Julian’s parish in the direction of Castle Foregate formed its parochial boundary. {26} Earl Hugh was slain by an arrow in Anglesea, in the month of July, 1098, and received sepulture seventeen days after in the cloisters of this abbey. Twenty years ago, a plain stone coffin was discovered near the south-west door of the present church, which probably enclosed his remains. {36} He was a gentleman of warm piety and extensive benevolence; as a scholar and linguist he was scarcely surpassed by any of his contemporaries. He meditated a History of Shropshire, which, had it been completed, it is probable the world would have seen, from his diffusive acquirements and general antiquarian knowledge, a very superior topographical work. {39} Page 25. {44} About the close of the 12th century, companies of masons, designers, or architects, as well as workmen, were incorporated under the especial patronage of the Pope, and associated together as a fraternity of free and accepted masons, under certain regulations and peculiar privileges. {48} This is now a principal entrance to the church; the jambs of the door-way are in the debased style prevalent during the last century, and the obtuse arch seems originally to have formed the head of a window.