regulations to preserve the peace are made by two of the neighbouring magistrates, who hold their meetings on the first Friday in every month. The inhabitants are divided into several religious denominations; but the greater number are Baptists, who have a meetinghouse in the town. The Independents have a place of worship at Potter's Perry, a village at a small distance. The principal employment of the women is lace-making; but the chief support of the town is derived from the passage of travellers. In June, 1786, two very large Sunday schools were opened. These were began and supported by contributions of the inhabitants, and governed by the minister, churchwardens, and a committee of subscribers. In these schools upwards of 300 children receive the rudiments of education. The income of the minister is derived from Queen Anne's bounty, a small donation for reading prayers on Wednesdays and Fridays, and the voluntary gifts of his parishioners. HANSLOPE Is built on the summit of a hill, whence there is a gradual descent on all sides, a situation that corresponds with the reputed etymology of its name from the Saxon word haën, and slope, a declivity. This village is only remarkable for its church, which is one of the most ancient edifices in the county, and may be considered as a rude specimen of the early Gothic architecture. The tower is ornamented with embrasures and pinnacles. It sustains a neat hexagonal steeple, the top of which is nearly 190 feet from the ground. The body of the church consists of a nave and side ailes; the latter are each supported by three pillars. This village is generally regarded as unhealthy. One cause of disease arises from the unwholesome waters of the springs and ponds: another has been attributed to the sedentary employment of the females, who are mostly engaged in lace-making, and, from the dearness of firing in the winter season, associate for * The view of this structure has been engraved for the Gentleman's Magazine, (June 1799,) whence the above account was selected. for warmth in close rooms, and consequently breathe a very impure air. The annual amount of benefactions to the parish is about 6201. The interest of 2001. bequeathed by the Lady Dowager Pierrepoint, is vested in the minister and churchwardens for the education of a certain number of boys. The living is in the gift of the corporation of Lincoln, which, when the parish was inclosed about twenty years ago, received an allotment of land in lieu of tythes. The extent of the parish is nearly four miles both in length and breadth; its population has been estimated at 1200. The soil is mostly a strong clay. STOKE GOLDINGTON is a very pleasant village, and was formerly the place of residence of that great lawyer Sir Edward Coke, who was sheriff of the county in the reign of Charles the First, and died here in the year 1634. In this village is a small charity-school. The church has an embattled tower, a nave, two aisles, and a chancel the windows are gothic. GOTHURST,* ANCIENTLY written Gaythurst, the seat of George Wright, Esq. stands on a rising ground nearly three miles from NewportPagnell, and about half a mile from the banks of the Ouse. This mansion was erected in the latter part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The principal front may be considered as a complete and venerable specimen of the style of building which then prevailed; but some of the other parts have been modernized. The grounds are extensive, and pleasingly disposed into spacious lawns, one of which occupies about 130 acres. Several walks, enlivened with prospects of the distant country, have been cut through the woods, which are very large. The manor of Gothurst, at the time of the Conqueror's survey, was held under Odo, Bishop of Baieux, by Robert de Nouers, whose family became possessed of it in their own right in the reign of Henry the Second, or possibly somewhat earlier. In * This account of Gothurst is chiefly derived from Mr. Pennant's Journey from Northampton. the year 1408 it passed to Robert Nevyll, who married Joanna, the sister and sole heiress of Almaric de Nouers, his two other sisters, Agnes and Gracia, having preferred a monastic life. In the reign of Henry the Eighth, Maria, the only daughter of Michael Nevyll, who had obtained the possession of Gothurst on the death of her two brothers, bestowed it, together with her person, on Thomas Mulsho, of Thingdon, in Northamptonshire. It continued in his family till the beginning of the reign of James the First, when Maria, daughter and heiress of William Mulsho, resigned herself and fortune to Sir Everard Digby, of an ancient family in Rutlandshire, one of the most handsome and accomplished gentlemen of the age, but whose religious bigotry induced him to engage in the infernal machinations which intended the destruction of the King and both houses of legislature by means of gunpowder. His concern in the plot led to an ignominious but merited death; yet, with a foresight worthy of having been exerted in a better cause, he prepared against the consequences of illsuccess, and, previous to the commission of any acts of treason, secured his property to his infant son and heirs so effectually, that the Crown was unable to profit by the confiscation of his estates. The disgrace brought on the family by the atrocious conduct of Sir Everard, was removed by the uncommon abilities of Sir Kenelm Digby, his successor, whose eldest son being slain at St. Neot's, Huntingdonshire, in the civil wars, Gothurst descended to John, his second son, who left two daughters, one of whom married Sir John Conway, of Bodruddan, in Flintshire: the other married Richard Mostyn, of Penbedwr, in the same county. These gentlemen, in the year 1704, sold this manor, together with Stoke Goldington, and the advowson of both the churches, to George Wright, Esq. son of Sir Nathan Wright, the Lord Keeper, in whose posterity it still remains. Some portraits belonging to the former possessors still keep a place in the house; but the principal part of Sir Kenelm's collection was carried by the above gentlemen into Wales. In the parlour is a full length of OLD MR. DIGBY, father to the mis * Wright's Antiquities of Rutlandshire. guided |