Page:Over fen and wold; (IA overfenwold00hissiala).pdf/87

 *

handed our horses over to the good keeping of the ostler; and whilst our lunch was being prepared we wandered out to have a look round the town, but found nothing to specially interest us, so all else failing, we sought the church. Even here we did not discover much to reward us, though the open and carved timber roof of the south aisle was good, with its ornamental bosses and corbels formed of sculptured figures of angels, the whole being more or less decayed and the worse for age. On the wood-*work are some slight remains of decorative painting.

Placed against the wall of the church we observed a board with the following heading—"The Vicars of Biggleswade," followed by a list of names of the said vicars, "from 1276 to the present time, with the dates of their Institution." Glancing down the long list of names, after each we noticed the word "instituted," followed by the date thereof; but when we came to that of William Raulius, we noted instead of the usual "instituted," the suggestive word and date "intruded 1658" was inserted!

Of this church my Paterson's Roads, that does duty as a sufficient guide-book for us, remarks: "This substantial ancient edifice was built in the year 1230; it was formerly collegiate, and still contains several of the stalls. The parishioners have all an equal right to any of the seats, for which privilege, however, they are constrained to repair or rebuild the fabric when requisite." Under the heading of "Biggleswade," the same excellent road-companion also remarks of Sutton Park, near by, on the road to Potton, "It is traditionally stated that this seat