Victories were also introduced on those occasions, but whatever merit they really possessed, they have left but little impression: it appeared to many that the introduction of new matter into different parts of the daily service, partook in some degree of the difficulty of rendering the parts altogether consistent with each other, and perhaps this would not have occurred if there had been one entire service written for the occasion, or the new subjects introduced in one part only; for where they were diversified, many persons in the congregation, not accustomed to references, did not readily find the right place till the reader had finished the place which they were seeking for. The Yearly Epistle of the Society of Friends, annually printed for circulation among themselves, if they could be collected for years past, and kept filed in a guard book and deposited in some public Library, would hand down. to posterity many sentiments of Christian humility and exhortations to piety, which have had their effect through out that exemplary community Selections from the Psalms for particular occasions, have also been sometimes made with good effect, as they showed their high and inestimable value. The 3d Index to Rev. G. Townsend's Chronological Arrangement of the Old Testament, states the date, the Author, and the historical occasion, with a reference to the Scripture of every psalm; but it does not offer any reason for the whole 150 being placed in our Bible and Common Prayer without any regard to their dates. Allow me to suggest the propriety of a new arrangement of them in the next edition, with the dates and historical reference in the margin, as this would render a great benefit to any pious enquirer, and it is very little known or considered-or if this alteration were deemed not so proper, the two marginal references and the sub ject, placed at the head of each Psalm, would be nearly as acceptable. * Let me not be deemed to intrude too many suggestions at once, if, before 1 conclude, I venture to remark that it is more than a century since the order giving sanction to the New Version, as it is still called, of the Psalms, by Dr. Brady, and N. Tate, Esq. Poet Laureate, in 1698, brought * The last of these, for the present year, is peculiarly excellent. it into general use, the phraseology of which, and the versification, although a great improvement upon Sternhold and Hopkins, yet does not always meet the advancement in knowledge of modern times for which reason a general revision, or only a selection from them under the eye of three or four of our most eminent Clergy, would render an essential benefit to the service. Psalmody constitutes a very important and impressive part of our devotion where it is well conducted; it fixes upon the memory many precepts of moral life, and nothing is better calculated to render it generally edifying than a chasteness of expression according to the feeling of the time-this sentiment must have operated in the minds of those who gave sanction to the New Version already mentioned; for in the recommendation prefixed to it, under the signature of the Bishop (Henry Compton) of London, bearing date May 23, 1698, his Lordship says, “I cannot do less than wish a good success to the Royal indulgence, for I find it a work done with so much judgment and ingenuity, that I am persuaded it may take off that unhappy objection which has hitherto been against the singing Psalms, and dispose that part of Divine service to much more devotion." It is obvious that although this New Version does not require so much revision as the former required, yet it does so in several parts, and allowing all the merit with which it may have been adopted at nearly 130 years distance, yet it is become at this time very capable of some improvement. Considerable benefit to the Christian cause might also be derived from such judicious selections being made for ge neral use, by the omission of those maledictory expressions against the enemies of David, which are now become very inconsistent with Christian worship. Probably it would be a less difficult task to merely revise or select from the present Version, than to compose another-and that alterations should be made of words and lines under the sanction of some one or two of the Church, and afterwards submitted as heretofore, to his Majesty's indulgence, and to the recommendation of the Bishop of London. A. H. * * *This has been advantageously done for some particular Churches and Chapels.EDIT. MR. URBAN, THE June 27. HE village of Elstow is situate at the distance of about one mile and a half from Bedford, and is noted for its having been the site of an Abbey of Benedictine nuns founded in the time of William the Conqueror, by his niece Judith, the wife of Waltheof fl of Huntingdon. The two fairs held here annually for cattle of all Seris, are of considerable note and anquity, the tolls accruing from them the dissolution of monasteries being rated at 7. 128.2 The name of this place is written nestov, in Domesday Book, where iis said to be taxed for three hides and a half, and to contain seven plough lands. It lies in the hundred of Redbournstoke, or Radborgestoc as it is called in this Survey, and was held, at the time alluded to, of Judith Counss of Huntingdon, by the monks St. Mary." The parish was enclosed by Act of Parliament passed in 1797, when the number of acres was estimated at 1060. According to the Census taken in 1821 the houses were 102; families enployed in agriculture, 87; trade, &c. 18 others 4, total 109; males 251; females 297, total 548. The family of Hervey early had possessions here; for it appears, by the Register of the monastery of St. Edmond's Bury, that Osbert de Hervey, Justice Itinerant temp. Richard I from whom the present and fifth Earl of Bristol is 19th in descent, held lands in Helnfestune3" The Church of St. Mary at Helenstowe (see Plate I.) was dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and St. Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, from whom the village appears to have taken name, for Dugdale calls it "HelenStow, i. e. Helene statio." By some mistake he places it "in agro Berroa circumstance alluded to and censi rectified by Kennet1. 1 Dagd. Mon. new edit. iii. 412. and five hides and a half in Meldon." Mr. Lysons quotes Kennet as his authority for supposing the manor of Maid-berry to be included in this grant. Medbury is a farm situate in the parishes above named, but at the distance of a mile from either of the villages" named in the deed of conveyance. It cannot be the other land spoken of, which is also mentioned in Domesday Book as five hides, one virgate, and a half" in Meldon or Maulden, which is the modern name. It must, notwithstanding, have belonged to Elstow Abbey, for in the account of its revenues at the Dissolation, which were valued at 2847. 12s. 11 d. mention is niade of two shillings and sixpence received of the Prioress of Sapwell (Qy? Sopewell) for lands in Made-bury. It came afterwards to Richard Fitzhugh, who died seised of it in 15577. There are but few remains of the conventual buildings except the Church, (see the Plate,) which is ranked by Mr. Lysons among the most ancient remains of ecclesiastical architecture in Bedfordshire." There is a good South-west view, from a drawing by T. Hearne, F.S.A. in Farington's Illustrations of Lysons. Another view in the same point, and a view of the South porch, were published in vol. ii. of the Ancient Reliques." The Chancel Mr. Lysons considers as unquestionably part of the original Church of the monastery, and instances the arches of the nave as specimens of the earliest style of Gothic architectures. Over the North door, which is beautifully ornamented with zigzag mouldings, is a rude piece of sculpture, which, I con. ceive from its peculiar appropriateness to such a situation, is intended to represent our Saviour's charge to Peter, who is certainly meant by the figure holding the keys to the spectator's left hand. In the South aile of the chancel, is the tomb of Elizabeth Hervey, an ab2 bess of Elstow, from whose brother 2 Valor Eccl... 3. Collins's Peerage... 5 Magna Brit. i. 150. 6 Valor Eccl. This does not appear in the new Monasticon. EDIT, 7 Escheats Ph. and Mary.s Magna Brit pp: 28, 29. 9 The Messrs. Lysons call Elizabeth Hervey the last Abbess; and, in accounting for the blank spaces in the epitaph, for the dates, say that, as she survived the Dissolution of the Abbey, it is probable that her body never reached its intended place of sepulture. But whatever may have been the date of her death, she certainly had three successors as Abbesses of Elstow previous to the Dissolution." The new Monasticon, vol. iii. p. 412. GENT. MAG. August, 1826. John the present Earl of Bristol is 12th in descent. It has a neat brass elligy, with her hands elevated, and a crosier across her right arm; and surrounding the stone is this inscription, with blank places for the dates: Orate pro anima domine Eliza beth Herwp. quondam Abbatisse monasterii de Elnestow, qui obiit die mensis Anno domini millesimo quingentesimo Cujus anime et omniu' fidelium defunctorum deus propicietur. AMER. Above her head has been some religions representation, probably of the Trinity, with a scroll beneath; but both gone. There have also been four shields at the corners of the stone, of which that near the left foot is alone remaining (and the tomb was in the same state when visited by Mr. Cole in 1759), viz. party per pale, on the male side, quarterly, 1 and 4, a lion rampant Argent, within a bordure gobonè Argent and Sable, for Nernuitt; 2 and 3, Gules, on a bend Argent three trefoils slipt Vert, for Hervey; and on the female side, a chief indented, which Mr. Gough with great probability supposed to be intended for Paston, Argent, six fleurs-de-lis and a chief indented Or. In explanation of the appearance of the coat of Nernuitt, it must be observed, that the Abbess was fourth in descent from John Hervey, who married Margaret daughter and heiress of Sir John de Nernuitt (and it was sometimes usual for families who had married an heiress with whom they arms of such heiress in the first place); acquired much property, to bear the and with regard to the coat of Paston, that the Abbess's mother was of that family. Sir George Hervey, nephew of the Abbess, whose will bears date April 7, 1520, ordered his body to be buried in the parish-church of Thurley, or in the monastery of Elstow, if he should decease there; and that a marble-stone, of the price of four marks, should be laid over the bodies of John Hervey and his wife, one of the daughters and heirs of Sir John Nernuytt, Knight, who lie there buried 10. Adjoining the former is a similar tomb, inlaid with the brass figure of another lady, in a mantle, hood, and wimple, and large mittens on her 10 Collins's Peerage. Both these brasses are engraved in Mr. Gough's Sepulchral Monuments, vol. II. plate cxxii; and the former in Fisher's Bedfordshire Views. Gough says of it: "This is the oldest figure I have met with of an Abbess on a sepulchral monument; one may apply to her habit that line in Chaucer's description of a Prioress: Ful semely her wimple ypinched was. The other figure Mr. Gough cousidered might represent another Abbess of the same house. He Over the altar-piece is a monument to the memory of Sir Humphrey Ratcliffe, representing his effigies and that of his wife, both kneeling, surmounted by a shield of many quarterings. was second son of Robert first Earl of Sussex of the name, and married whom he had issue two sons (the Isabel, daughter and sole heiress of Edmund Hervey, of Elstow, Esq. by youngest of whom, Edward, was sixth and last Earl,) and four daughters. He resided in the Abbey-house, of and died in 1566. which he obtained a grant in 1553, There are also several memorials of the families of Compton, Lovett, and Hillersdon. The Font is engraved in Lysons. Gothic tracery, foliage, &c. A stone It is octagonal, ornamented with coffin dug up in or about the Church, is placed in a small recess at its West end, and used as a coal-trough. An ld key found in a coffin at Elstow, is engraved by Mr. Fisher. The Tower is altogether detached from the Church, a circumstance by no means common. The Belfry is |