goodly windows, and sundry monuments." A handsome marble monument records the ancestors of the Turnor family, proprietors of this place; and a very elegant throne, with four kneeling figures in the habit of the times, was erected here by Montague Cholmeley, Esq. A. D. 1641: a descendant of whom, of the same name, has a mansion in the hamlet of Easton.

On a brass plate, fixed on a marble slab, in the floor of the chancel, is this inscription:

"Pray for the soll of mastyr Olyr. Sentsehn, squier, sonne unto ye right excellent hye, and mightty pryncess of Som sete gindame unto ou soveyn Lord Kynge Herre the VII. and for the soll of dame Elizabeth Bygod his wiff, whoo dep'ted from this t'nsitore liffe ye xii. day of June, i y year of ou Lord M,CCCCC and III." The family of St. John, ancestors of the present Lord Bolingbroke, was connected by marriage with that of Rochford, and formerly resided here.

STOKE HOUSE, the residence of Edmund Turnor, Esq. was built in the year 1794, out of materials belonging to an old mansion house, erected by Sir Edward Turnor, about the middle of the seventeenth century. The park is small, but abounds with picturesque features, and in it is a pleasing small cascade, formed by the water of a single spring*.

An handsome stone building in this village, containing six sets of apartments for six poor persons, who have a weekly allowance in money, and an annual allowance for coals, was erected and endowed in the year 1777, by Sir Edmund Turnor; no less eminent for his loyalty, than he was exemplary by his charities. He took part with Charles the First, and in the year 1651 he was captain 3 D 2

of

The great spring at Holywell, in Flintshire, is supposed to throw out twenty-one tons of water in a minute. This, in Stoke park, discharges nineteen tons in a minute. They both come out of Limestone, and never freeze. Pennant's Hist. of Holywell, p. 225 as quoted by Mr. Turnor, in his collection.

of horse, and taken prisoner at the battle of Worcester. As a reward for his services, he was appointed to several lucrative offices, and knighted in 1663.

AVELAND WAPENTAKE contains the parishes of Aslackby,› Billingborough, Birthorpe, Bourne, Dembleby, Dowsby, Dunsby Dyke and Canthorpe hamlet, Folkingham, Haceby, Hacconby, Horbling, Kirkby-Under-wood, Laughton, Morton, Newton, Os bournby, Pickworth, Pointon, Rappingale, Spanby, Swaton, Threckingham cum Stow, Walcot, and Willoughby Scott.

In the village of ASLACKBY was a Commandry of Knights Templars, founded by John le Marechal, about the time of Richard the First. It was subsequently occupied by the hospitallers; and at the suppression the site was granted to Edward Lord Clinton. A farm-house, where formerly stood the circular church, still retains the appellation of the temple. A square embattled tower, consisting of two stories, yet remains. The lower story is vaulted, and the vault. is composed of eight groins. In the centre, where these meet, are eight shields, with various coats of arms, and the middle one is charged with a cross. Round the outside of the tower, near the top, are several large brackets. The parish church, at a small distance on the opposite side of the road, is a large handsome building, having a square embattled tower at the west end.

Here formerly stood a Castle, which is said to have been built by one of the Wakes. But in this, both Camden and the Author of the Magna Britannia were mistaken. For a castle appears to have existed here as early as the year 1062, before the Wakes possessed the manor. Leland observed, that in his time "there appeared great ditches, and the dungeon-hill at the west end of the priory, also much service of the Wakes' fee was done to it; and that every fadary knew his station and place of service." The ́building is entirely destroyed, but the earth works on the west side

are

are nearly entire. The area within the outer moat is about eight acres; between the moat and ditch are very large irregular works, on the north and west sides. They consist of raised banks about twenty yards in length, and ten in breadth, with a ditch between each.

BOURNE, OR BURN,

Is a market town, situated in a flat country adjoining the fens Contiguous to the town is a large spring, which discharges a sufficient quantity of water to supply three mills near its source. The earliest notice on record respecting this place is in the time of the Saxons, when Camden states, on the authority of Leland, that it was notable for the inauguration of Edmund, King of the East Angles, A. D. 838. This, however, is proved to be an error, by Mr. Gough, who says, that the Saxon monarch was crowned at a place called Buers in Suffolk. Ingulphus, after noticing several benefactions to the Abbey of Croyland, says, "Leofric, lord of the castle of Brunn, a famous and valiant soldier, kinsman to the great Count Radin, who married King Edward's sister Godo, gave many possessions to this abbey; and on many occasions assisted the monks with his counsel and favour. This Leofric had a son Werward possessed of the castle and estates of Burn or Brunn, who dying without issue, they were presented by William Rufus to Walter Eitzgilbert, or Fitzgislebert +." Baldwin, Lord Wake, in the eighth year of King Edward the First, A. D. 1279, obtained a licence for a market weekly on Saturdays, and one annual fair. This was a life grant, as the same privilege was conferred on the place at the request of Thomas Lord Wake, his grandson, in the second year of Edward the Second.

An abbey was founded here by Baldwin, son of Baldwin Fitz3 D 3

History of Croyland, folio 899.

+ Bishop Gibson's Edition of Camden, p. 462,

gislebert,

gislebert, to whom the castle was granted about the year 1138, who placed in it an abbot and canons of the Augustine order. According to Dugdale, its annual revenues amounted, at the dissolution, to the sum of 1671. 14s. 6d. per annum.

The Church, dedicated to St. Peter, is a handsome building, and formerly had two large square towers at the west end, one of which is nearly down. The church consists of a lofty chancel, a nave, with side ailes, and a short transept on the south side. The nave is separated from the ailes by circular plain arches, springing from large columns, exhibiting a specimen of the early Norman style. At the west door is a piscina and pointed arcades, over which are two lancet windows, and a large window, having four mullions, with tracery. On the outside of the south porch

is another piscina.

Bourne contains a meeting-house for protestant dissenters; also two almshouses, each endowed with 301, per annum, one for six poor men, and the other for six poor women.

"

Here is also a

free school, with a salary for the master of 301. per annum.

This town has twice suffered severely by fire. The first occurring on the 25th of August, 1605, by which was destroyed that part of the town called Manor-Street, not leaving a single house standing. Again, on the 25th of March, 1637, another fire destroyed the greater part of Eastgate, or as it is written in records, Eaugate.

In the centre of the market place is an ancient town-hall, said to have been erected by one of the Wake family; but from the arms of Cecil, carved in baso relievo over the centre of the east front, it is more probable that it was built by the treasurer, Lord Burleigh. The petty sessions for the parts of Kesteven are regularly held here at Michaelmas and Christmas.

In this town a few Roman coins have been dug up, and, about fifty years ago, a tessellated pavement was discovered in the park grounds.

In a farm yard, within the town, is a medicinal spring, much frequented, the waters of which have a brackish taste, and a

purgative

purgative quality; very similar in their effects, but of greater strength than those of Astrop, in the county of Northampton.

A Canal has been made hence to Boston, for boats of ten tons burden. By means of this navigation some mercantile business is carried on; but the chief trade of the place is wool-stapling and tanning leather. The market, which is but little frequented, is held on Saturdays, and the town has four fairs annually. The number of houses, by the returns under the population act, were 282, of inhabitants 1,474.

That eminent statesman, and exalted character, WILLIAM CECIL, Baron Burleigh, whose loyalty to his sovereign, and unbiassed patriotism, preserved the religious establishment and civil polity of this kingdom from falling a prey to despotic tyranny and papal superstition, was a native of this place. He was born at the house of his grandfather, David Cecil, Esq. in the year 1520. In 1535 he was admitted of St. John's College, in the university of Cambridge, where, at the early age of fifteen, he read a lecture on sophistry; and at the age of nineteen he gave a Greek lecture. After leaving college he applied himself to the study of the law; and in the year 1547, having been made master of requests, he, in the following year, partook of the disgrace which fell on the Lord Protector Somerset, with whom he was sent to the Tower. After suffering three months imprisonment, he was released, reinstated in his office, received the honour of knighthood, and was chosen a member of the privy council. In 1553 he was appointed chancellor to the order of the garter, with an annual fee of 100 marks. On the death of Edward the Sixth, Sir William Cecil prudently declined taking any part in the business, which terminated fatally for Lord Dudley, and his unfortunate consort, the Lady Jane Grey. On the accession of Queen Mary he was graciously received at court; but refusing to change his religion, he was dismissed from his employments. On Queen Elizabeth's succeeding to the throne in 1558, the cloud was quickly dispelled which had lately obscured both his fortune and fame. A few days after her 3 D 4 accession