equalled. Nafeby church is a structure of an ancient date; but at what period it was built, or who was its founder, history affords no record. The form of the tower is very fingular, and ftrikes the ftranger, at first view, as having been left unfinished, being only the half of a pyramid; but, on a close investigation, it does not appear that the architect intended it to have been carried higher; and indeed he hardly could have fo done, as there does not appear a sufficient degree of maffiveness or strength in the lower parts to fupport a complete spire of stone.

SOME years ago, Mr. Ashby, lord of the manor, caused fome additions, at a confider◄ able expence, to be made to this tower; at the top of which is placed a large copper ball, which was brought from Boulogne, by Sir Gyles Allington, in the reign of king Henry the eighth, an. Dom. 1544. Its origi

nal

nal station in this island, was the cupola of Sir Gyles's house, which he built at Horseheath, in Cambridgeshire. At the demolition of this manfion, it was fold with the rest of the materials, and purchased by Mr. Afhby, as old copper. In a house in the village of Nafeby, built by Mr. Ashby, I was shewn a large oak table, at which, tradition fays, a party of the king's life guards were fitting down to fupper, the night before the battle of Naseby, where they were surprised, and taken prifoners by Ireton, the parliament general. This tradition is corroborated by the Anglia Rediviva, published in 1647, by Joshua Sprigge, chaplain to general Fairfax, in which we find the following paffage : "Tidings

were brought to the general, of the good "fervices done by colonel Ireton, in falling "into the enemy's quarters, which they had "newly taken up in Nafeby town, where he "took many prisoners, life guards, &c. &c.

PRO

PROBABLY these life guards were those of the Prince Rupert, not the King's, as it does not appear that he ever was in the town of Nafeby. From Nafeby the river Avon winds its mazy course in a wefterly direction through Nafeby field towards Sulby Abbey, a distance of about three miles. This extenfive plain, rendered famous for its many productions of rivers and falubrious springs, is not less fo from the importance of the battle there fought on the 14th of July 1645, between the Parliament Army and that of Charles the First; whofe fate was decided by that memorable event. Nafeby field is near twenty miles in circumference, and in point of fituation is most excellently difpofed for a field of battle. The spot occupied by the armies was north-west of the town, and is easily distinguished by the many hollows in which the dead were buried. The word of the day, on the fide of the parliament, was, "God our strength;" on that of the king,

" God