Name Suffix:<NSFX> Sheriff Of Shropshire William FitzAlan, in the contest between King Stephen and the Empress Maud, being then governor of Shrewsbury and sheriff of the county of Salop, held the castle of Shrewsbury for the latter until it was taken by assault. He was also with the empress at the siege of Winchester Castle in the 6th Stephen [1141], when she and her whole army were put to flight; and afterwards, continuing to adhere stoutly to the same cause, he was reconstituted sheriff of Salop so soon as King Henry attained the crown.