Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-04-22
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.

one spot III NOTtDanipOOhehiiC 10 o''NiN"
to the cavalier, and dear even to the
heart of the mundane American. This
is the Church of Great BringtOn. Like
Holdenburg or Holmby House, it crowns
one of the high green ridges OF tins
pleasant land. From beside its thir-
teenth century walls, the eye ranges over
many an acre of green chessboard coun-
try white with the early primrose OF Che
spring in its pear and blackhOru bios
sons. aud through its verdant meadows
steal the endless serpen'iue streams,
whose waters glide too gently to force
any straight channel for themselves,
their meanderings marked out by the
willow shoots and the fresh green OF the
grass, which has barely felt the frost
sting. No bit Of country seen from that
high land but has its historic run with
the Pytchley hunt, aud Whyie Melville
of today links Nor,hamptonshire with
the past. Up the road TO the church
came King Charles 10 take the com
munion before the battle of Naseby. The
high oaks rails at which he knelt were in
their place ill but the other day, when
a ritualist vicar, untrue to all the best ira
ditions of the school TO which he professed
to belong, removed them, for some
thought more convenient. The original
rails now lie in the Spencer chapel,
where are the tombs and eifgies of many
of the Spencers Of Althorp. Close to-
gether they lie in Elizabethan dress and
Puritan armour, and among the tombs
are the rusted barred helmets and swords
of those who lie below in the vault. At
the east end Of the chapel stands large
monument by Flaxman, the gentle
classic figures contrasting with head
and bust OF Roundhead Spencer, whose
ann rests on Bible, while below the
waist he becomes pillar of marble.
1t is to the chapel that the American
turns. There lies the sculptured stone
of the Washington family. At his feet
he sees the armorial bearings of a simple
Northamptonshire squire, the stars and
stripes, which have become the star
spangled blnner of his country. On
narrow shield are three stars in a row,
and below two bars. The stone lies
above the vault Of the Washingtons, and
it records how that Washington was tie
father of eight sons and nine daugh-
tiers, the grandsire of George Washing
ton.
The church is greatly in need of
iudicious restoration. The splendid
pillars are surrounded and concealed by
old oak pews, full of curiosity to the
antiquarian, but velitable stools of re-
pentance to those who in these weak
spined days endeavour 10 sit on them
during divine service. Each pew-head
is richly though roughly carved, crusad-
ing symbols, coats Of arms, and animals
all assist in the interest OF these seats,
which. unlike most churches, escaped
the period of pews with doors, and are
probably of fourteenth century origin.
They need to be made conformable with
modern ideas of moderate comfort, and
their redisposition, it is hoped, will
permit more of the base of the arches OF
the nave 10 DC Hldut NiSioiS'
Not far away in the village stands the
Washington House. "A simple building
in the beautiful yellow sandstone of the
country, thatched, stone-gabled, and
with latticed windows. Above the
Intel of the door, square white stone IS
let in, bearing the somewhat unusual text
"1he Lord giveth. the Lord taketh away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord. Con-
strdcta 1906" The records of the
church tell of the death of child OF
the Washingtons in the year of the date
on the stone slab, and the legend says it
was placed over the door in its memory.
Althorp pronounced locally Althrop)
lies lust beyond the village. Great
Brington is the church Of the Spencers,
and 10 this day the bells, after an old
tradition, ring a peal at three in the
morning of the birthday of the Lord
Spencer in possession.
There are few more beautiful eau
cestral homes" in England, perhaps
none which possess as many treasures OF
art. 1t contains more Sir Joshuas than
any other private house; Holbein, Rem
brandt, Vandyck, and score more ar
fists are on those walls. A loan collec-
lion is a good thing, but it is surely
better in pilgrimage to the home OF
those who sat for these immortal por-
traits and see them hung on those walls
where the men and women have lived
and made their own names and the
fame OF their country.
From Holmhy House to Althorp King
Charles used to ride during his imprison-
ment to play at bowls in the great bowl
ing-alley. Within the house his picture,
with that of Cromwell, hangs. William
of Orange slept in the house, and his
portrait as child, with large dark'eyes
and melancholy expression, hangs near
that of his father, who is painted with
his preceptor, gentleman in sPectacles,
and with an air of the most pronounce
discipline about him. Calvin, by Hol-
bein, hangs also in these rooms; 50 does
Ignatius Loyola, but by less famous
artist. Calvin is painted with reddish
beard, an immense width between the
eyes, and asallow completion. Murlllo,