intolerant Catholics, that both were apprehended, and sentenced to be burnt as heretics; Bilney at Norwich, and Latimer with Dr. Ridley at Oxford. SHEPESHED is a large village, four miles west of Loughborough. By an Act passed in 1777, for dividing and inclosing certain lands within this parish, to the extent of about 2000 acres, Sir William Gordon, in right of dame Mary Gordon his wife, is described as Lord of the manor and patron of the vicarage and parish. A very large stocking manufactory is established here, which, exclusive of combers, spinners, &c. is supposed to employ 400 persons in frame work knitting only. In the middle of the village is a stone cross of a single shaft, standing on steps. Here are three meeting houses: one for Mr. Wesley's followers, one for Anabaptists, and one for Quakers. In 1801 Shepeshed contained 485 houses and 2627 inhabitants. In the church are some monuments, with long inscriptions to Sir Ambrose Phillips, Knt. and other persons of the same family. At ULVESCROFT, in Charnwood forest, was a priory, or, as commonly but improperly called, an Abbey. The church, or chapel, is in ruins; and the priory house, which has been altered, is now occupied by a farmer. The situation of the house is sequestered in a deep valley, by the side of a brook; and the combination of ruins, trees, &c. presents various scenes of picturesque beauty. At WANLIP, five miles north of Leicester, was found a Roman tesselated Pavement, with coins of Constantine, broken Urns, &c. Here is an handsome modern house, called WANLIP HALL, belonging to Sir Charles Grave Hudson, Bart. F. R. S. who inherits it in right of his first lady. The house, built of brick and stuccoed, is situated near the river Soar, and is fitted up, and the pleasure grounds laid out, with much taste. Near the mansion is the neat village church. AST EAST GOSCOTE HUNDRED is separated from the former hundred by the river Soar on its western side, and has Nottinghamshire for a northern boundary, whilst the hundreds of Franmland and Gartre, with a small part of Rutlandshire, bound it to the east and south. Part of this district is occupied by the Wolds, or Woulds; and it is divided into two, nearly equal, parts by the river Wreke which crosses it from east to west. There is not one market-town in this hundred, and but few places that present any curious or important facts for the historian or antiquary. At Segs-hill, at a place near Radcliff, and again a little to the north of Thurmaston, are some tumuli, all contiguous to the Foss road, which crosses this district. The cross roads are generally in very bad condition. Towards the north part of the hundred are some high grounds, and at the south-eastern end, joining Rutlandshire, are some considerable woods, the remains of Leifield forest. A turnpike road from Leicester to Newark, and another from the former place to Melton Mowbray, passes through the whole of this hundred from south to north. Mr. Nichols gives the following list of townships in this hundred, and specifies the peculiarity of each clerical living. Some of these have already been described in the former hundred. Allexton, a rectory. Asfordby, a rectory. Ashby Folvile, a vicarage; including the hamlets of Baresby and Newbold Folvile.. Barkby, a vicarage; including the hamlets of Barkbythorpe, Hamilton, and the north end of Thurmaston. Barrow, a vicarage; including the chapelries of Mountsorell (the north end), Quorndon, and Woodhouse, and the mansion and park of Beaumanor, VOL. IX. D' d Charley, Alderman's-Haw, and Maplewell. Beby, a rectory. Belgrave, a vicarage; including the chapelries of Burstall, and the south end of Thurmaston. Brooksby, a rectory. Cossington, a rectory. Croxton, South, a rectory. Dalby Magna, a vicarage. Dalby on the Woulds, a donative. Frisby on the Wreke, a vicarage. Gaddesby, Gaddesby, with Caldwell, Grim- Quenyborow, a vicarage. Radcliffe on the Wreke, a rectory. of Rakedale, a perpetual curacy; Saxulby, a rectory; including rough. Tugby, a vicarage; including Walton on the Woulds, a rectory. BROOKSBY, in ancient writings called Brochesbi and Brokesbi, though formerly a village, is now reduced to a gentleman's house and farm. This demesne belonged to the Villiers family for many generations. Of this family was George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, who was born here August 28th, 1592, and who was memorable in English history for having been the favourite of two kings, &c. He was the youngest son of Sir George Villiers, by a second wife, Mary, daughter of Anthony Beaumont, Esq. of Cole-Orton, in this county. Young Villiers attracted the attention and excited the admiration of King James at an early period, and proved himself one of those supple and insinuating courtiers who can condescend to flatter the vices, or follies, of a monarch, monarch, or any person of superior fortune, to promote his own Interests. This, Villiers did to an amazing extent, and was progressively advanced in dignity from a commoner to a dukedom. Sir Henry Wotton quaintly remarks, that favours poured upon him "liker main showers, than sprinkling drops or dews." Hume gives the following character of him, by stating, that he "governed, with an uncontrouled sway, both the court and nation; and, could James's eyes have been opened, he had now full opportunity of observing how unfit his favourite was for the high station to which he was raised. Some accomplishments of a courtier he possessed: of every talent of a minister he was utterly devoid. Headlong in his passions, and incapable equally of prudence or of dissimulation; sincere from violence rather than candour; expensive from profusion more than generosity; a warm friend, a furious enemy; but without any choice or discernment in either; with these qualities he had early and quickly mounted to the highest rank; and partook at once of the insolence which attends a fortune newly acquired, and the impetuosity which belongs to persons born in high stations, and unacquainted with opposition. Among those who had experienced the arrogance of this overgrown favourite, the Prince of Wales himself had not been entirely spared: and a great coldness, if not an enmity, had, for that reason, taken place between them." Such is the character of an eminent statesman, who exercised those passions and powers for many years. The House of Commons at length had courage to impeach him, and charged him of having united many offices in his own person (a crime that still seems very prevalent); of having bought two of them; of neglecting to guard the seas, in consequence of which several merchant ships had been taken by the enemy; of delivering ships to the French king, in order to serve against the Hugenots; of being employed in the sale of honours and offices; of accepting extensive grants from the crown ; of procuring many titles of honour for his kindred; and of administering physic to the late king, without acquainting his physicians. Another charge was, that of extorting 10,000l. from the East In dia company, &c. The impeachment never came to a determi nation; and the validity of the charges are left for the investiga tion and decision of the historian, who being enabled to review past events untrammelled by partiality, bribery, or fear, may, with tolerable safety, pronounce sentence of condemnation, or acquittal, on this public plunderer, as well as on many others. Villiers was at length assassinated by Felton in 1628, and interred in Henry the Seventh's chapel at Westminster*. His son, George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, was a distinguished profligate in the licentious court of King Charles the second; and, as a consummation and just reward of his vicious career, died a beggar +. He was author of "The Rehearsal," and distinguished himself by his wit and talents as well as by his vices. COSSINGTON, in some old writings called Cossentone, Cosington, Kestyngton, &c. is a large and pleasant village, seated at the confluence of the rivers Wreke and Soar. Here are about forty houses, of which that of the rectory is the principal, and this has some marks of antiquity. Near this is the church, in the chancel of which is a piscina, and three stone seats. SOUTH CROXTON, a village about seven miles north-east of Leicester, had formerly a very considerable abbey, which was connected with the priory of Old Malton, in Yorkshire; to both of these houses Aldulphus de Braci was a liberal benefactor. DALBY ON THE WOULDS, so named to distinguish its situation on the high open grounds, near the northern edge of the county, is a village, wherein is a considerable spring of chalybeate water. This, it is said, will rust through a bar of iron an inch in diameter, in the course of a year. Old Dalby is extra parochial, and A very copious account, both of this nobleman and his son, is given in Nichols's History of Leicestershire, Vol. III. p. 199, &c. † See Beauties, Vol. I. p. 387. |