This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884 edition. Excerpt: ... THOMAS CHURCHYARD. Br HENRY W. ADNITT, Hon. Sec. Many general readers may be surprised that the life of so unknown a man as Thomas Churchyard should be thought worthy of a place in the Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological Society. The names of Sidney, Benbow, Clive, or Hill, amongst others, would naturally occur to the memory of Salopians as more worthy, being not only household names in our county, but familiar to every Englishman who loves to chronicle the hero and his deeds in byegone days. It is, however, because so little is known of the old Shropshire Poet that a sketch of his life and list of his numerous works (imperfect though they may be) have been undertaken, in the hope that they may be of interest to the general reader, as it is certain they will be to those who, having known Churchyard by name, chiefly as the writer of the Worthines of Wales, yet are unacquainted with his long and varied life, or his many and voluminous writings. Were he even more unknown than he is, it would still be of interest to find out some particulars of an old Salopian, who spent his long life in busy matters during the reigns of Henry VIII., Edward VI., Mary, Elizabeth, and James I. The family of Churchyard is one of some antiquity in Shrewsbury. "The first of the name (say Owen and Blakeway1), who has occurred to our search among the records of the town is Thomas Churcheyord, a corvisor or shoemaker, who was dead in 1475, when his son William, a draper, was admitted burgess, having issue History of Shrewsbury, v. 1, p. 385. Thomas, Agnes, Elizabeth, and John. This last named Thomas is probably the same with Thomas Churchyard alias Thomas Wardrop (so denominated, it may be conceived, from his occupation) who was admitted burgess in 1500, ...