The market was held, during the Plague, at _Croes wylan_, that the people from the surrounding country-places should not visit the town, and thereby suffer from the infection. No doubt that with the dreadful scourge stalked, hand in hand, gaunt poverty. It may be easily imagined that the poor suffered severely from the sickness, and that many of them required relief. We have some testimony before us that the public authorities of the time sympathized with the sufferers. The following extracts from the “Accompt of Richard ap Lley, Muringer of the town of Oswestr, for and from the xvj day of September, in the 2nd yere of our sovraynge Lady Elizabeth,” show how pecuniary aid was rendered to certain parties:— The sayde accomtante doth asc alowaunce for rent bayted to the Towlers (toll-takers) for one qr. in considracion of the PLAGE: _s._ _d._ Fyrst to the executors of John Vyghan xx Allso, &c. rent bayted to Thomas ap Rc. for xx Wolyws-gate Allso, &c. to David Glover the elder, for xiij iiij Newe-gate Allso, &c. to Wyling Lloyd, for Betresce-gate x Allso, &c. to David ap David, for Blak gate iiij ij Allso, &c. rent of Crofft-pystil, in the hande ij of Rc. ap Mrdyth, dyssessed Allso, &c. money payde for wrytinge of a xij suplycacion to my lord of Arundell Allso, &c. for Lewys Tayler, and Guttyn Furbur, xiiij beinge unpayde for setting of stales, by reason of the Plage Allso, &c. for Rc. Lewther, for one qr. beinge xx absent from the towne _Tanners_. Allso, &c. for a qr. rent unto xiiij tanners beinge apsent in in tyme of the plage; and fyrste, Thomas Baker (2 other similar items) _Glovers_. Itm. The sayde accomptaunt xij dothe asc alowaunce for them that are deade or fled, and them that are in decaye; and fyrst, Thomas ap John Wyling, beinge a poore man (five others fled, &c.) _Buchers_. Imp. the sayde accomtant, &c. v Lewys, bucher, that is dead (one for the like and 7 fled) _Corvsers_. Edward Gorg, fled (2 others iij fled) _Backers_. David ap sr. Rc. saythe that vi he dothe not occupey his backhowes, and prayth alowance David Bobyth hathe ben longe iij secke, and asc alo _Hucksters_. Jonet vrch. David ap Morys asc x alowance for a qr. Rent (1 other) _Alle Selers_.