yards. The ailes are narrow, being not quite three yards in breadth. The breadth of the nave is about six yards. There is a small west gallery; and at the east end of the north aile and nave is a large seat, enclosed by a wooden screen, about eight or nine feet in height from the floor.

The nave is separated from the chancel by a wooden partition, on the south side of which is the desk and pulpit, which are adorned with crimson velvet, as is also the altar. The upper part of the partition is neatly ornamented on the side fronting the nave, with three painted tables of the Lord's prayer, Ten Commandments, and the Belief. Above the Lord's Prayer and Belief is painted a dove in glory; and above the Ten Commandments are the King's arms; on each side of which is painted a group of three angels. The doves and angels are on a blue ground.

The chancel is built of stone, in a good style, and seems to have been erected by one of the Egertons, as appears from the following imperfect inscription on some panes of the east window, extending across it in one line:

This Chancel build....ano: do 1610
....by Raulph... Esquire......................

....to Sir Raulph...... Wrinehill kni...
....had Issue....

Upon entering the chancel from the nave, there hangs an hatchment, in memory of Mr. Tollett against the north wall. Arms: checky, argent and azure, on a chevron engrailed or, three anchors azure; on a chief gules, a lion passant argent (Tollet). It has an escutcheon of pretence argent, bearing on a chevron azure, three garbs or (Cradocke). Crest. A tower proper, surrounded by a pyramid azure, round which ap pears, coiled and descending, a serpent proper langued gules, Motto:

Prudentia in Adversis.

At

At the east end of the chancel are mural monuments. That ou the north wall is the most ancient: it contains two small Ionian columns, the bases and capitals of which have been gilt.

These columns support an entablature, the middle part of which is heightened by a circular arch or round pediment. At the top, above each column, is a shield, each bearing the same arms, viz.

Gules, a fess ermine between three arrow heads argent, and between the two in chief is a crescent of the same, for differ

ence.

The entablature, small columns, and the member or part upon which the columns are supported, form a kind of niche, by projecting about nine inches from the wall, within which are a small male and female image in a devotional attitude, with a desk between them, on each side of which is a book open. Behind the female is a third figure, a female, and smaller than the other two. Above these figures,, on the back ground, are three coats of arms. same as those above described.

The two outer coats are the

The middle coat, which is the largest, is quarterly; the first and second, and the third and fourth, are respectively alike.

The first and second quarters are tierce in pale; 1st, the same as above described; 2d, ermine, a fess, gules, and fretty or; 3d, argent, on a chevrou gules, within a border engrailed of the last; 3. the same as the above.

Above this last coat, within the circular and highest part

the entablature is the following inscription:

" HERE LIE YE BODIES OF RALPH EGERTON OF BETLEY,
ESQUIER AND FRAUNCES HIS WIFE, DAUGHT: TO SR RALPH
FGERTON OF WRINE HILL, KNIT. WHO HAD ISSUE SR
RALPH EGERTO', KNIT, WILLIAM, MARY, AND FRANCES,
WCH RALPH DIED YE 17TH OF APRIL, 1610."

of

Directly,

Directly opposite, on the south wall is a modern marble monument, having the arms of Tollett on a shield at the top; below which, on a white tablet, is inscribed

" IN THE YEAR 1768,

GEORGE TOLLET, ESQ.

ERECTED THIS TO THE MEMORY OF

RIS MOTHER MRS. ELIZABETH TOLLET, AND

HIS GRANDFATHER GEORGE TOLLET, ESQ.

COMMISSIONER OF THE NAVY IN

THE REIGNS OF KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN ANNE.
THEY BOTH DIED IN A VERY ADVANCED AGE,

The following account of the benefactions to the poor is collected and abridged from the tables hung up in different parts of the church.

1st, A School-house.

Mr. Richard Steele of Barthomley, gave ten pounds to build a school-house for the use of the school-master; elected by the parish for ever.

2d. The Instruction of Poor Children.

Marmaduke Jolley bequeathed ten pounds; the interest to be annually applied to the teaching of poor children at Betley school. This is paid by the churchwardens.

Mrs. Mary Lea, widow, late of Wrine-hill, gave a yearly rent-charge of forty shillings, to be issuing from certain lands

in the parish, for the keeping of ten poor children to school yearly for ever.

3. Apprenticeships."

William Palmer, a native of Betley, left unto trustees the sum of 731. to be disposed of, at their discretion, for the best use of the poor. After having improved the donation by employing it at interest for a while, they bought a piece of land with it, situate in Audley and Halmore end, called the Rushey Keys; and, by deed, they appointed the yearly rent for ever, to be employed every year for setting to apprenticeships the poor children of the inhabitants of Betley. The particulars respecting the appointment, rejecting, and number of trustees, &c. are to be seen on a board in the west gallery.

Mrs. Mary Lea (see article 2,) left by will to trustees, the sum of 301.; appointing the interest thereof to be annually disposed of by them, for the clothing of poor people in Ransall and Wrine-hill, at their discretion.

5th. Relief in Bread and Money.

Mr. Joseph Coape, of this parish, gave 101.; the interest thereof to be paid for ever by the trustees, and to be given in bread to 20 poor people, on the first Sunday in the year, and on Whitsunday.

Mr. Richard Gorton, of the parish of Muccleston, bequeathed 101. to the churchwardens; and appointed the interest thereof to be distributed at their discretion to the poor every Candlemas Day.

Marmaduke Jolley, (see article 2,) bequeathed 101.; and appointed the interest thereof to be given to the poor for ever every Christmas.

Mr. John Dale, of Radwood, gave 101.; the interest to be paid yearly to the poor.

Mrs. Ann Shaw, a native of Betley, gave to trustees 101.; the interest to be paid yearly to the poor.

VOL. XIII.

Eeee

Mrs.

Mrs. Mary Lea, (see articles 2 and 4,) gave a rent-charge of forty shillings, (charged on the same land as that in article 2,) to be dealt in bread yearly to poor widows in Betley and Wrine-bill.

The following benefaction is, of course, extinct:

Miss Hannah Jones, of London, gave 241.; to be given weekly in bread to 12 poor widows, for 10 years from LadyDay 1706.

She also gave 201. towards rebuilding the steeple and hanging the bells.

The tower is built of stone, has a parapet wall at the top, and on each of the four angles has been placed a plain urn. The vane is perforated with 1715, which was the time, we may presume, when it was built; a conjecture which is strengthened by the last recorded benefaction of Miss H. Jones.

The living is a curacy in the deanery of Newcastle and Stone, archdeaconry of Stafford, and diocese of Lichfield and Coventry.

Queen Anne's bounty was obtained for it, in 1717; when the right hon. Lord William Powlet and others gave 20 acres of common ground, to the value of 2007. towards the augmentation.

Patron, George Totlett, Esq. of Betley Hall.

Though Betley Hall in appearance is inferior to many in the neighbourhood, yet it deserves notice as affording a specimen of the manner in which the ancients made their first attempts, in their progress towards forming the pointed arch and groins, now so much admired for contributing to the grandeur and ornament, of what, by an absurd anomaly, is called the Gothic style.*

We hasten now to complete our survey of this county; and return northward, to a house called Ashcomb, in the Totmanslow Hundred, near Leek. This is a comfortable well-built house, belonging

Gent. Mag. 1809, p. 521.