The Battel of Shrewsbury in 1403 yields the culmination of William Shakespeare’s play Henry IV, Part 1, in Acts IV (Scenes 1 and 3) and V (Scenes 1–5)
Less well known, and not included in the play, is the legend of Hotspur’s lost sword, which is attached to land at Berwick House.
The legend holds that on the way to Shropshire a wizard told Hotspur that is death would be caused at Berwick on the way to his rebellion, which he took to mean Berwick-upon-Tweed… which he was well beyond by the time he reached Shropshire
However, it is understood that Hotspur and his forces slept overnight near Berwick just north of Shrewsbury before the battle. When the forces were marshalled on the morning of battle, he suddenly discovered that he was without his favourite sword which was left behind at Berwick, upon hearing this he became agitated and exclaimed:
“I perceive that my plough is drawing to its last furrow, for a wizard in Northumberland told me that I should perish at Berwick, which I understood to refer to Berwick in the north.”
The Wizard’s prophecy, if it was ever spoken, appears to have been fulfilled, for the gallant soldier fell a victim to his enemies and died on the field of battle.
It is a bit like Birnam Wood coming to Dunsinane…
Berwick House, north of Shrewsbury
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References
- Leach (Ed.), Francis (1891). The County of Shropshire: a series of descriptive sketches, with Historical and Antiquarian Notes of the Principal Family Mansions. Shrewsbury: Shrewsbury Journal. p. 5.
