been of use to them in battering down the walls with their greater engines, and much less so for their slighter instruments; and lies on the wrong side the river either for undermining or an assault : this opinion therefore appears improbable,

There are likewise two hamlets in this parish, called Cotton-End and Far-Cotton, lying on the south side of the river, at the end of the bridge adjoining to Northampton.

In the hamlet of Far-Cotton was formerly the hospital of St. Leonard, for the maintenance of a master, and leprous brethren and sisters. It was founded by William the Conqueror; and under the kings, his successors, the mayor and burgesses of Northampton were patrons. Within the district of the hospital was a chapel, in which were administered all the rites of a parochial church to the inhabitants residing in the said district. Upon the site of it stood a farm house, called St. Leonard's farm, which is now down.

The church of Hardingstone is dedicated to St. Edmund, and consists of a body, north and south aisles, gallery, and chancel, leaded. At the west end is an embattled tower, in which are five bells.

In this church are several handsome monuments, commemorative of the Herveys, who formerly resided in the parish, having a mansion-house in Far

Cotton, now destroyed. In this village, on the 26th of February, 1713, was born the amiable and pious James Hervey, author of the Meditations, &c. &c. whose baptismal register appears in the parish book, in the following words: "James, son of William Hervey, rector of Collingtree, was baptised March 7th, 1713. There are several other monuments to the memory of the family of Tates, formerly of Delapre; and some very neat modern ones, lately erected in different parts of the church, and on the south side of the chancel is a small neat white marble, recently put up, on which is inscribed as follows:

Sacred to the memory of

The Hon. EDWARD BOUVERIE,

Who departed this life

On the 3d of September, 1810,

In the 728 year of his age.

In the year 1281, the vicar of Hardingstone claimed offerings and tythes of the inhabitants, residing in the liberty of St. Leonard, and referred his cause to the decision of the Bishop of Lincoln. But it appearing upon examination, that the said inhabitants, from time immemorial attended divine worship in the chapel of St. Leonard, and had the offices of baptism and sepulture performed by the chaplain officiating therein; the Bishop gave judgment that

the tythes and offerings, from the inhabitants within the limits of the hospital, were due to the vicar of the church of Hardingstone.

According to the account given in Bridges's Northamptonshire, a number of benefactions have been, at different times, left to this parish, viz. :

Mr. Wadham, of Delapre, gave annually £1 6s. out of a farm at Collingtree, to the poor.-John Latimer gave the increase of £6 13s. 4d.—Mr. Stephen Hervey citizen and merchant of London, gave £40, the interest to apprentice poor children.

Mr. Robert Green, of Cotton-End, gave £10, the interest thereof to the poor annually.-Zouch Tate, of Delapre, Esq. gave £30, ordering with the interest thereof to apprentice poor children.Stephen Miles of Milton, gave £3, the interest to the poor annually.-Richard Hervey, of MortonMorrel, Esq. son and heir of Sir Stephen Hervey, gave £10, the interest annually to apprentice poor children. Mr. John Green, of this parish, gave £5, the increase annually to be given to twelve poor people, especially widows, on St. John's and Christmas day. Mr. Nicholas Rothwell and Frances his wife, gave £100, the interest thereof to apprentice poor children.

HARLESTONE

Is a very pleasant village, about four miles west of Northampton. It has Dallington and Brampton on the east, Holdenby north, Brington on the west, and on the south Harpole and Duston. In Doomsdaybook it is named Herolvestone, in common pronunciation Halson. Here is the seat of Robert Andrew, Esq. the proprietor of the estate; it is an elegant building, lately erected, situate in a fine park, ornamented with plantations, pieces of water, and other improvements, which evince both the spirit and taste of its present possessor. Here is also a beautiful pheasantry, well stocked with birds of various descriptions.

The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, consists of a body, north and south aisles, chancel, and south porch, all leaded. At the west end is a tower-built steeple, in which are six bells.

At a small distance is Newbottle wood, near which are the marks of an ancient building, with several ruinous walks leading to it. According to the tradition of the village, it was formerly a religious cell; but more probably some old manor-house. On a place called Dive's-heath, is the remains of a fortification, where human skulls and bones have often been dug up. Harlestone lordship is well sup

plied with springs, of which, one in a close adjoining to the church, and another called Holm spring are mineral. A brook, which has its rise in Stanwell and Blackwell, two springs in the common field, passes through the town, and joining another brook, on the east side the field, falls into Kingsthorpe

water.

Harlestone is famous for its stone quarries of great antiquity and note in this part of the county. The hollows of the old delves are large; and the town's name, is supposed to imply the antiquity of the quarry. Halston or Harlestone, for thus it is anciently written, derives itself from the Saxon word harle, to draw, and stane a stone, a name alluding to the business of the quarries, then, perhaps, the principal employ of the place. Besides the common stone for building, here is a fine blue ragg; the larger pieces of which are used for tomb stones, the smaller for pavement of rooms.

On the heath, near to the town, races were formerly held. The corporation of Northampton, by deed, bearing date 16th Jan. 1632, in consideration of the sum of two hundred pounds, paid by William Lord Spencer, and other gentlemen of the county, obliged themselves to provide yearly a gilt silver cup and cover, of the value of £14 13s. 4d. to