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other landes thereaboute cam onto two doughters of one of the Mortevilles, whereof one was maried onto Hughe Hastinges; the other was a nunne, and alienid much of her parte. After this, Nosely, by an heire generele, cam in mariage to Hesilrig, in which name it dothe yet remayne. The name of Hesilrig came out of Scotlende*." The church is large, and consists of a nave and chancel of the same height and width. In the eastern window of the latter is some painted glass, consisting of figures of some of the Apostles, with scrolls and coats of arms. In the chancel is three stone-seats and a piscina, and in the body of the church are two piscina and a locker. Here is also a very elegant font, ornamented with pannelled compartments, tracery, foliated pinnacles, pediments, &c. In the chancel is a large Tombstone of black and white marble, with the effigies of three persons; a man, in amour, and two women. On the pedestal are the figures of twelve persons kneeling, the children of Sir Arthur Hesilrige by his two wives, as described in the following inscription:

"Here lyes SIR Arthur HesilRIGE, Baronet, who injoyed his portion of this life in y time of greatest civill troubles y ever this nation had. He was a lover of liberty, and faithfull to his country. He delighted in sober company; and departed this life, 7th of January, in England's peaceable year, Anno Dom. 1660. Here lyes DAME FRANCES HESILRIGE, daughter of Thomas Elmes, of Lilford, in y county of Northampton, Esq She was charitable, prudent, virtuous, and a loving wife. Sir Arthur Hesilrige had by her two sons and two daughters. She dyed in y year 1632.-Here lies DAME DOROTHEA HESILRIGE, sister to Robert Greevill, Lord Brooke, and Baron of -Beauchamps Court. God gave to her true and great wisdeme, and a large and just heart: she did much good in her generation, Sir Arthur Hesilrige had by her three sons and five daughters. She deft this life ye 28 of January, 1650."

In the chancel is another monument, with recumbent effigies of Sir THOMAS HESILRIGE, Knt. and "dame Frances" his wife; and on the pediment are the kneeling statues of eight sons and

* Itinerary, Vol. I. p. 15.

six daughters. Here are monuments and inscriptions to other persons of the same family. But the church and monuments will all soon totally perish from neglect. ?> }^

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OUSTON, or OSULVESTON, formerly written Oselweston, Oulveston, and by Leland Wofolveston, is a village situated in a portion of Gartre hundred, that is environed with that of East Goscote. The whole lordship contains about 3000 acres of land, 400 of which are occupied by woods. At this place Robert Grimbald, one of the justices of England in the time of Henry the Second, founded a small ABBEY, for canons regular of the order of St. Augustin. This was endowed with the whole "township of Osulveston and the advowson of the church there, with its chapels of Mardefeld and Nybothie; and the advowson also of the churches of Burrow and Slauston, and a moiety of that of Withcote, all in this county." Other lands and churches were afterwards given to it. Mr. Nichols has printed a curious inventory of the goods, &c. remaining in this abbey in 1539, when most of them were sold. The site of this monastery, with the demesne lands, together of the yearly value of 431. were leased at the dissolution to Roger Ratcliffe, Esq. by indenture under the Seal of the court of Augmentation. When Buck visited Leicestershire, there was a large gateway, ments of the abbey house remaining; but these have since been taken down.

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At PICK WELL, a village on the eastern side of the county, was born, Dec. 30, 1637, WILLIAM CAVE, son of the Rev. John Cave. This gentleman obtained several eminent promotions; being first appointed vicar of the church at Islington, Middlesex, where he was buried in August, 1713. He was appointed chaplain to King Charles the Second, and was made a canon of Windsor. Dr. Cave was author of several publications; among which his Lives of the Apostles', folio, 1676.-Lives of the Primitive Fathers,' folio, 1677-and Primitive Christianity," first printed in 1672; and since several times republished, have ob

tained most celebrity. "He was," says Mr. Nichols, “an excellent and universal scholar, an elegant and polite writer, and a florid and very eloquent preacher. He was thoroughly acquainted with the history and constitution of the Christian church."

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SADINGTON, a village on a gravelly eminence, about six miles N. W. of Harborough, was a royal demesne in the time of Edward the Confessor, and was then valued at four pounds a year. After the conquest it was estimated at nine pounds a year, and is recorded in the Domesday-Survey as belonging to the new mo. narch. Part of the Union Canal passes through this lordship; and in cutting a Tunnel, about half a mile north of the village, several curious fossils were discovered. Among these were some Ammonites, or Cornu-Ammonis, which appeared as if formed of brass; others were of a dark-blue colour, and some were black, and bore a "beautiful polish." Besides these, petrified cockles, muscles, and oysters, were obtained in abundance, and the earth appeared to contain much mineral substance.

In the village of SCRAPTOFT, four miles east of Leicester, is SCRAPTOFT HALL,a seat belonging to Edward Hartoppe Wigley, Esq. and surrounded by a mass of fine woods, which cover nearly 100 acres of land. In the church-yard is a small stone cross, consisting of a single fluted shaft, raised on three circular steps.

STAUNTON, called Staunton-Wyvile, and Staunton-Brudenell, from the lords who possessed it at different periods, is a village about three miles north of Harborough. Of the former family was ROBERT DE WYVILE, who was born here, and made Bishop of Salisbury, at the instance of Philippa, Queen of King Edward the Third, in 1329. After officiating in this see for forty-six years, he died in Sherborne Castle, Dorsetshire, Sept. 4, 1375, and was buried in his cathedral at Salisbury, where is a large marble slab, inlaid with a brass plate, to his memory. Fuller observes of this Bishop, that" it is hard to say, whether he were

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more dunce, or dwarf; more unlearned, or unhandsome; insomuch that T. Walsingham tells us, that had the Pope ever seen him (as no doubt he felt him in his large fees) he would never have conferred the place upon him." Mr. Gough, in his splendid work on "Sepulchral Monuments," has given an engraved view of the brass plate*, which represents a castle, with a warrior standing as centinel at the entrance door, and the Bishop looking out of a large window above. In the church at Staunton are several monuments, with inscriptions to different persons of the Brudenell family, of whom was Robert Brudenell, Knight, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and the first of the family who inherited Staunton.

STOCKERSTON is a small village, of old inclosure, in the south eastern angle of the county, part of which is in Rutlandshire. John de Boyville founded an hospital here, for a chaplain and three poor people, by licence from King Edward IV. in 1466, and obtained permission to settle lands upon them in mortmain, to the value of 10l. a year. This John de Boyville died in 1467, possessed of the lordships of Stockerston and Cranhoe, and other considerable property, which devolved to his three daughters and coheirs, who made partition of their father's lands, by deed dated May 17th, 8th Edward IV. Some of the windows in Stockerston church are ornamented with painted glass; among which are figures of saints, and other scripture illustrations.

WISTOW, or, as written in old records, Wistanesto, Wystanstow, and Winstanton, from Wistan, "a reputed saint, or holy person, to whom the church is dedicated," is a village about seven miles from Leicester, and nearly the same distance from Harborough. In this parish is WISTOW HALL, formerly the seat of the Halford family, wherein Sir Richard Halford furnished King Charles

Another plate of it, with some particulars respecting the Bishop, are given in Nichols's History of Leicestershire, Vol. II. p. 914, &c.

Charles the First with a place of refuge and retirement. He also supplied the monarch with large sums of money, and sent his eldest son, Andrew, with a number of men, whom he had raised and maintained at his own charge, to protect and attend his Majesty in Leicestershire, and the adjoining counties. In their excursions they took a party of the rebels prisoners, among whom was a person of the name of Flude, who was then High Constable of Guthlaxton hundred. These were all conveyed to the King's camp, where they were tried and hanged; and for which Sir Richard Halford was doomed to suffer severely. Oliver condemned him to die for the murder of these men; but his life was purchased, according to the statement of Sir William Halford," for no less a sum than 30,000l." In the Journals of the House of Commons, Vol. III. p. 572, is the following entry respecting this gentleman: "Resolved, upon the question, that Sir Richard Halford shall pay 5000l.; it appearing that he put the commission of array in execution in Leicestershire; hath been a main incendiary of the divisions between the king and parliament, and a continual prosecutor of good men; and hath not to this day shewed himself in any considerable matter that hath conduced to advance the proceedings of parliament. Hath 18001. lands per annum, under his own stock; besides, he rents much, and stocks it himself; and therefore we hold him fit to pay the said 50001.; his son's estate not being considered in this valuation.”—Again, in another entry," August 16, 1645, Sir Richard Halford's fine of 20001. was accepted for his delinquency." "

WISTOW-HALL is a marked feature in this part of the country, from the formal plantations which encompass the mansion. This consists of brick encased with stucco, and has in the principal front five gable pediments. The principal room is a large lofty hall, which extends nearly the whole length of the house. Here are PORTRAITS of King Charles the First and his son, King CHARLES the SECOND, and a few other pictures. This demesne now belongs to the Countess Dowager of Denbigh, who enjoys it for life, under the will of her first husband, Sir Charles Halford. In the church, which is contiguous to the mansion, are VOL. IX.

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