tween King Charles the First and General Fairfax, in which the King's army was completely defeated. This was principally owing to his baggage being taken, containing letters to the Queen, which discovered his whole plan of operation; and through the precautions taken by the parliament forces, all that unhappy monarch's schemes were frustrated.This being one of the most severe battles during the civil wars, the following account of it will not be uninteresting:

The

The King, having taken Leicester, intended to have marched to London; but General Fairfax, who pursued him closely, having intercepted a packet of letters, was by them informed that the King expected a reinforcement of 2,000 men from Wales. General availed himself of this circumstance, and the King, finding that if he continued his march, he should be in danger of having his rear cut off, resolved to give Fairfax battle. Both armies were drawn up to advantage near the village. The main body of the royalists was commanded by the King himself, the right wing by Prince Rupert, the left by Sir Marmaduke Langdale. Fairfax, seconded by Skippon, placed himself in the main body of the opposite army; Cromwell in the right wing; Ireton, Cromwell's son-in-law, in the left. The charge

was begun, with his usual celerity and success, by Prince Rupert. Though Ireton made stout resistance, and even after he was run through the thigh with a pike, still maintained the combat till he was taken prisoner, yet was that part of the army broken and pursued with precipitate fury by Rupert, who inconsiderately marched hastily forward, and summoned the train of artillery to surrender, with the offer of quarter. The carriages, which he ordered to be plundered, were guarded only by the militia of the county, these, upon the sight of the Princes forces coming up to them, fled precipitately towards Northampton, giving out that the King had obtained the victory.

Fairfax and Skippon displayed much valour, and well supported that reputation which they had acquired. Skippon being dangerously wounded, was desired by Fairfax to leave the field, but declared that he would remain there as long as one man maintained his ground. The infantry of the Parliament was broken and pressed upon by the King, till Fairfax, with great presence of mind brought up the reserve and renewed the combat. Meanwhile Cromwell having led on his troops to the attack of Langdale, overbore the force of the royalists, and by his prudence improved that advantage which he had

gained by his valour. Having pursued the enemy about a quarter of a mile, and detached some troops to prevent their rallying, he turned back on the King's infantry and threw them into the utmost confusion. One regiment alone preserved its order unbroken, though twice desperately assailed by Fairfax; and that general, excited by so steady a resistance, ordered Doyley, the captain of his life-guard, to give them a third charge in front, while he himself attacked them in the rear. The regiment was broken, Fairfax, with his own hands, killed an ensign and having seized the colors, gave them to a soldier to keep for him. The soldier afterwards boasting that he had won this trophy, was reproved by Doyley, who had seen the action. "Let him retain that honour," said Fairfax, “I have to day acquired enough besides!" Prince Rupert, sensible too late of his error, left the fruitless attack on the enemy's artillery and joined the King, whose infantry was now totally discomfited. The King exhorted his body of cavalry not to despair, and cried aloud to them, "One charge more, and we recover the day." But the disadvantages under which they laboured were too evident and they could not be induced to renew the combat. Charles was obliged to quit the field, and leave the victory to the enemy.

His Majesty's forces in marching and counter marching were very much embarrassed by the bushes in Clipston and Naseby fields; and Prince Rupert, in retreating from the enemy's cannon, along the hedges of Sulby inclosure, on the west side of the field of battle, was severely galled by Okey's dragoons, who had lined those hedges, but he came too late to retrieve the confused state of the King's army. The left wing being thus broken and disordered, the army retreated towards Leicester; the conquerors fiercely pursuing them, taking in Clipston field one of the King's coaches, and killing, besides many men, several women of genteel figure, whose coaches were overturned in their hasty flight. The slain, on the side of the Parliament, exceeded those on the side of the King; they lost above 1000 men, he not more than 800. But Fairfax made above 500 officers prisoners, and 4000 private men; took all the King's artillery and ammunition, and totally dispersed his infantry, so that scarce any victory could be more complete than that which he obtained.

The field of Naseby retains no marks of the fight at present, except a few holes, where it is supposed the men and horses were promiscuously buried. In one of the rooms of an inn near the spot, used to be

a series of pictures, representing the manoeuvres of both armies on that perilous day. They served to impress the mind of the traveller with the particulars of this memorable battle.

The church is dedicated to All Saints, and consists of a body, two aisles, and a chancel, leaded. At the west end is an embattled tower, in which are five bells, with a pyramidal spire, of which the lower part is only now standing.

Mrs. Dorothy Ashby gave £10 to purchace a communion chalice and paten.

OVERSTONE

Is a small village, about five miles from Northampton; bounded by Mear's-Ashby, Moulton, and Great Billing. In this village is Overstone Hall, the seat of J. Kipling, Esq, its present possessor, who purchased it of the late Lord Brownlow. It is a very handsome building, bounded by a beautiful park, and ornamented with some fine pieces of water. A new and very neat church has been lately built here, at the sole expense of Mr. Kipling; it was finished in the year 1804; in the chancel is a handsome painted window, on which is inscribed:-Dua redit nescilil horam. MDCCCIV.