tecture, and a large octagonal turret at the junction, with a spiral crocketted roof. Handsome pinnacles have also been added to the ends of the aisles, and a cross patée to that of the nave. In the chancel the sides have had two new windows, similar to the one with handsome tracery, in the centre of each, formerly erected by Sir William Chambers; and the east front has been ornamented in a solid and handsome style, with a large Gothic window (which will be described hereafter), two lofty and very elegant pinnacles at the corners, and an open arch and canopy on the centre of the pediment. The exterior of the church is beautifully mantled with ivy, which was planted by the taste of her Grace the Duchess of Bedford, about twenty years ago. The front of the church-yard is also now enclosed by a lofty and strong iron railing, with handsome stone piers; some of which are panelled; and in front of the east end of the school is a new engine-house, with a lofty arch and folding doors. We must leave the reader, or spectator, to form his own judgment of the general effect of this scene, which is highly pleasing, and to which the sober dignity of the fine old school-house adds the quiet relief of contrast.

In the interior the body of the Church is about 60 ft. long, and the chancel upwards of 30 ft. the arches are four in number on each side, very prettily moulded, and of graceful sweep, resting on neat octagonal pillars. The chancel arch is loftier, and has had clustered columns, which are partly cut away: the general architecture is that of the fifteenth century, or a little later. John, Duke of Bedford, about the year 1750, decorated the chancel with an elliptical arched roof, richly ornamented with various bold carvings of flowers and cross ribs, supported by Roman corbels, in plaister of Paris; a grand, but incongruous east window, with a circular periphery, and three fine arches, with clustered columns, and a plain circle above; two handsome windows on the sides; and a pavement of free stone and black marble. Francis, the late Duke of

L

Bedford, thoroughly repaired the church, with new pews, and two new galleries at the west ends of the aisles, in addition to the handsome centre one; the old pulpit, also, of the florid Gothic, was then replaced by a modern one. The present Duke, prior to the late improvements, had also presented it with the painting in the altar piece; a barrel-organ, by Flight and Robson; and a handsome service of communion plate, silver gilt: the new window is a perpendicular Gothic one, of five lights, with enriched and cinquefoil arched mullions; the two centres of which are stronger than the others, and branch off laterally, piercing the upper tracery, the whole of which is very handsome, with mullions trefoiled at the top and bottom, and the spandrils filled with elegant trefoils, quatrefoils, and lozenges. The upper part of this window is filled with stained glass of rich colours, in which the purple predominates, and contains eight small figures of the four Evangelists, and the Patriarchs, Abraham, Moses, Aaron, and David; the latter, in particular, are of pleasing and appropriate appearance. The old altar piece was in the Roman style, and lofty, with a pediment; the present one is lower, and has Gothic panelling. In the centre is the painting of the Nativity, by Carlo Maratti. The figure of the Virgin is very pleasing, and has elegant drapery, --this painter excelling in his representations of female saints: the fine and pleasing countenance of the Infant, is well calculated to express the earthly youth of that divine and reconciling Being, who is "FAIRER THAN THE CHILDREN OF MEN, WHOSE LIPS ARE FULL OF GRACE, AND WHOM GOD HATH BLESSED FOR EVER!"

On the north side of the chancel is the alabaster monument of Sir Francis Staunton, with figures in two compartments, and an inscription. The north aisle contains a tablet of white marble, erected by the present Duke to the late Mr. Salmon. On the floor of the nave are some memorials of the Kay's, once a considerable family in this parish; and on that of the south

aisle, a long blue slab, deprived of the effigy of a priest, in brass; above his head still remains a canopy, and an inscription, now partly concealed, but thus recorded in Pennant:

Hic iacet Lohs Morton filivs quonda kohes Morton de Pottesgrave dni de Lovelesbury, qvi obiit in die comemoreois sci Pauli,_anno Dni millimo c,c,c, nonagesimo qbarto: quor aie ppicietur Devs.

"Here lieth John Morton, late son of John Morton, of Pottesgrave, Lord of Lovelesbury, who died on the day of the commemoration of St. Paul, in the year of our Lord one thousand three hundred and ninety-four. To whose souls may God be merciful!"

Here is also a tablet to the memory of the wife of Henry Seymour, Esq., Sergeant-at-Arms to the House of Commons, and another to a late clergyman of this parish, and his wife,— two upright, generous, and esteemed characters, and the latter described as of a once noble family; for whose future and final happiness an ardent wish is expressed.

*

The family of Docwra was a considerable one in Cumberland and Westmoreland in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries: two houses, each styled Docwra Hall, still remain at Kendal and Penrith. In the fifteenth century they removed into Hertfordshire, where they flourished for about 200 years, and were connected with the principal families in this neighbourhood and elsewhere, including the Chicheleys, and St. Georges, of Cambridgeshire; the Warburtons, of Cheshire; the Hales, of Kent; the Brockets, of Hertfordshire; the Rotherhams, of Luton; the Cheneys; the Sadliers, of Aspley; and the St. Johns, of Bletsoe; one of this family having married the daughter of Oliver, first Lord St. John, of Bletsoe: the scutcheons of some of these, and others, are quartered and painted on brass, in Lilley Church, Herts. Of their own name were several knights, and one Irish peer created in the reign of Queen Elizabeth; also, two knights of Malta,- Sir Launcelot and Sir Thomas Docwra; the latter of whom was the last Grand Prior of that order in England, sitting as an Earl in the House of Peers. He rebuilt the city gate of St. John's, Clerkenwell, on which his arms were lately to be seen, "sable, a chevron engrailed between three plates, each charged with a pale, gules;" motto, "Rectu et fortiter." The Hertfordshire family of Clerke, described as "ancient and illustrious," was nearly connected with the present.

In the tower is a new ring of six bells, in the key of G flat, the tenor weighing thirteen cwt., which were purchased by subscription, assisted by a donation from the Duke of Bedford, who also presented the clock.

SCHOOL.

This school was originally endowed by Francis, Earl of Bedford, with 10l. per annum, afterwards increased to 357., for which the master was to instruct thirty-five boys. The school-house is a handsome and lofty edifice, of the Elizabethan æra, of three stories: on the ancient door-way was a motto from Isocrates : « ΕΑΝ ΗΣ ΦΙΛΟΜΑΘΗΣ ΕΣΗ ΠΟΛΥMAOHE." In the year 1808, the system was altered to that of Mr. Lancaster; the Duke of Bedford increasing the endowment to 50l. per annum, and the remaining sum being raised by subscription. In 1830 the number of boys from the town and neighbouring villages was 137; the receipts 134l. 16s. 24 d., and the expenditure 1077. 3s. 34d. And in the year 1825, a school for girls was established, under the patronage of the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, in which the scholars are also instructed in needle-work, and in the manufacture of Tuscan plait their number in 1830 was 63; the receipts 817. 78. 64d., and the expenditure 817. 2s. 54d. Of this, upwards of 117. was expended in rewards and premiums,-a most useful as well as kind mode of incitement and encouragement. There are also two Sunday schools.

CHARITIES.

Sir Francis Staunton left, in 1635, 40l. to purchase estates for the benefit of the poor of Woburn. In 1665 other estates, valued at 247. per annum, were bequeathed for the same purpose. In the year 1762 these combined charities were con