whose posterity enjoyed it till, by an heir general, it came, by marriage, to the noble family of Ros; in which, and in that of Manners, it has continued (except a few years in the contest between the houses of York and Lancaster) to the present day.

The church of Bottesford is a large handsome structure, consisting of a nave, a spacious chancel, two ailes, south porch, and north and south transept. At the west end is a tower, with a lofty ornamented spire. This church having been the burial, place of the Manners family since the dissolution, is ornamented with several memorials and monuments, raised at different periods, and to different persons. Some of the monuments are ancient, and from their mutilated condition are not, perhaps, now, to be identified. THOMAS MANNERS, the first Earl of Rutland, was buried at Bottesford in 1543. Previous to this period it appears that the family was buried at the priory church of Belvoir; and after the dissolution, the principal tombs, effigies, &c. were removed from that church to this of Bottesford. Here are now some fine and costly monuments; among which the following claim attention, either for their individual splendour, or on account of the persons whose names and deeds they serve to record.

Near the middle of the nave is an alabaster monument, with effigies of the first EARL OF RUTLAND and his COUNTESS. The former is represented in the appropriate robes of the garter, with his head resting on a helmet, and his feet against an unicorn. The lady is dressed in the uncouth, and formal costume of the age. On the north side of the tomb are figures of their six daughters, and on the south side those of their five sons and one daughter. The young men are represented in surcoats and mail. At the west end of the tomb is a statue of a sixth son in armour; and at the east end are the figures of two other daughters.

Near this monument is another of alabaster, with the following inscription.

"Heare lieth HENRY MANERS, EARLE OF RUTLAND,

and

and Margaret his wief, daughter to Radulphe, earle of Westmerland, which Earle of Rutland died, beig lord presidet of her Majestie's counsayle in the Northe, the sevententhe daye of September, 1563."

A figure of the Earl represents him in plated armour, with a collar and George hanging down almost to his waistband, a garter round his knee, coronet, rings on the fore and third fingers of both hands, dagger at his right side, sword in his left hand, a book in his right, his flowered helmet and crest under his head, an unicorn at his feet. By him lies his lady in robes, with her bead reclined on a scroll, her hair reticulated with jewels, a coronet and ruff, her hands joined with a book, and a lion at her feet. Their eldest son Edward in armour, their second son John, rector of Helmesly, in a gown, with long pendant sleeves; and their daughter Elizabeth, all kneel on the tomb: the eldest son and daughter at the head of their parents, and the other son at their feet. Over the figures is a canopy on heavy-wrought pillars.

On the south side of the chancel is a large monument, with the figures of EDWARD, the THIRD EARL OF Rutland, and his lady. He is in robes, ruff, and armour, bareheaded, garter on his knee, long cordon, a bull at his feet: she in ermine robes, high toupee, ruff, embroidered sleeves, puckered wristbands; with one daughter kneeling at her feet, in similar sleeves, ruff, and drest hair. The following inscription, specifying his titles, &c. is on two tablets. "The right honorable and noble Lord Edwarde Earle of Rutlande, Lord Rosse of Hamelac, Trusbote, and Belvoyre, lieth here buried. In the yeare 1569 he was sent into the north parts, in the tyme of those civill troubles; there made Lieutenante to Thomas Erle of Sussex (then Lord Generall of her Matics Armie) and also Colonell of the footmen, and one of the counsell in that service, he being then but 20 years of age, and warde to her Ma'tie. He travailed into Fraunce 1570. He was made lieutenant of the County of Lincolne 1582. He was made Knight of the Garter 1584. On the 5th day of July, 1586, as chief commissioner for her Majestie, he concluded with the

Scottishe

Scottishe King's Commissioners at Barwick upon Tweede, a legue of Amitye between the two Realmes. On the 14th of April following, being Good Friday, 1587, he departed this life near Puddle Wharfe, in London, fro whence his corps was hither brought, and buried the 15th day of May next followinge. He left yssue by his honourable wief, Isabel Holcroft, daughter to Sir Thomas Holcroft, knight, one daughter, named Elizabeth, then of the age of eleven yeares, and almost four monythes, which daughter was married in January 1588, to Willia Cicell, Esquier, eldest sonne to Sir Thomas Cicell, knight, eldest sonne to the Lord Burghley, then and now Lord High Treasoror of Englande; by whom she left yssue one sone, named William, and died at London in April 1591."

Against the north wall of the chancel is a monument to JOHN, FOURTH Earl of Rutland, whose effigy is in armour, with a coronet, and ruff, a mat under his head, and a bull at his feet. By his side is his lady, in an ermine mantle, ruff, drest hair, falling ruffles, with a leopard's head at her feet. At their head is a lady kneeling, in a ruff, drest hair, and pinked sleeves, a son and daughter at their feet; two more kneel in front, and three sons in armour with ruffs. The inscription states, that this Earl died on the 24th of February, 1587, being then Lieutenant of Nottingham; and that he had by "his most honorable and virtuous lady, Elizabeth Charleton, daughter of Fraunces Charleton, Esq. five sons and four daughters."

On the north side is a monument, for ROGER, FIFTH Earl of Rutland, with an inscription, recording that, in the year 1595, he travelled into France, Italy, Swisserland, and the Low Coun tries; that he was Colonel of Foot in the Irish wars, 1598; and Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, 1603: when he went Ambassador to Denmark, to carry the Order of the Garter to the King; and that he died, without issue, June 26, 1612. He is represented in ermine robes, with a coronet and armour on a cushion, and a peacock at his feet.

Against the south wall of the chancel is the monument of

FRANCIS,

FRANCIS, the SIXTH Earl of Rutland, whose effigy is habited in the robes and insignia of the garter, with a picked beard and whiskers, sword, satin trunk hose, with a peacock at his feet. Of this Earl we are informed, in a long inscription, that he was highly honoured by most of the Princes of Europe; was Knight of the Bath in 1604; married Lady Francis Bevill, daughter of Sir Henry Knyvett, by whom he had one daughter, Katherine Duchess of Buckingham; afterwards married Lady Cecilie Hungerford, daughter of Sir John Tufton, by whom he had two sons, "both which died in their infancy, by wicked practice and sorcerye." In 1612 he was made Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, and Chief Justice in Eyre; in 1616, made a Knight of the Garter; and in that year was one of the Lords appointed to attend King James into Scotland. At the foot, on a flat stone, it it stated this "Francis, Earl of Rutland, was buried Feb. 20, 1632."

Against the same wall is a white marble monument, for GEORGE, SEVENTH Earl of Rutland, who is represented in a Roman habit: the inscription specifies, that he married Frances, sister of Viscount Falkland, and died in the Savoy, London, 29th March, 1641.

A similar monument, on the opposite side, commemorates JOHN, EIGHTH Earl of Rutland, and Frances his wife, who are represented in effigies as large as life. He in a Roman habit; she with her right hand on her breast, bearing her robes with her left; her hair strung with jewels. She died May 1671-the Earl, September 1679.

These monuments, and the whole interior of Bottesford church, are now preserved in careful and clean condition: though formerly they were obscured by dust and filth, and greatly injured by mischievous boys, &c. The Rev. William Mounsey, during his curacy here, laudably appropriated his leisure time to clean. and repair these monuments; and to his exemplary care is to be ascribed their present respectable condition. "No monumental inscription," says Mr. Nichols, "is yet placed in memory of either of the four Dukes of Rutland, or the great Marquis of Granby, who are all buried at Bottesford with their ancestors."

BELVOIR CASTLE