ack, along the line of Saxon villages, visit the
series of curious churches at Wellingborough, Higham Ferrers, with its
collegiate church and almshouse, Thrapston and Oundle, and other stations.
Within two miles of Thrapston is Drayton House, Lowick, the seat of the
Sackville family, which retains many of the features of an ancient castle,
and has a gallery of paintings by the old masters. The church of Lowick
contains several monuments, brasses, and windows of stained glass. Near
Oundle is to be found the earthwork of Fotheringay Castle, where Mary Queen
of Scots was confined, tried, and executed. The castle itself was levelled
to the ground by order of her son, James I. On leaving Oundle we pass a
station appurtenant to Wansford in England, of which we shall say a word
presently.

Here we may take coach across to Stamford in Lincolnshire (see Stamford),
unless we prefer the rail from Peterborough. There is a point somewhere
hereabouts where the three counties of Northampton, Lincoln, and Huntingdon
all meet.

* * * * *

WANSFORD IN ENGLAND.--If about to investigate the antiquities of Stamford or
Peterborough, the traveller will do well to stop at Wansford for the sake of
one of the best inns in Europe, well known under the sign of "The Haycock at
Wansford in England." This sign represents a man stretched floating on a
haycock, apparently in conversation with parties on a bridge. It is intended
to illustrate the legend of Drunken Barnaby, who, travelling during the time
of the plague from London northward, tasting and criticising the ale on the
road, drank so much of the Northamptonshire brewst that he fell asleep on a
haycock, in one of the flat meadows. In the night time, as is often the case
in this part of the country, a sudden flood arose, and our toper awaked to
find himself floating on a great tide of water, which at length brought him
to a bridge, upon which, hailing the passengers, he asked, "Where am I?" in
full expectation of having floated to France or Spain; whereupon they
answered, "at Wansford." "What!" he exclaimed in ecstacy, "Wansford in
England!" and landing, drank the ale and gave a new name to the inn of this
village between three counties. The inn (which belongs to the Duke of
Bedford) affords a sort of accommodation which the rapid travelling and short
halts of railways have almost abolished. But an easy rent, a large farm, and
a trade in selling and hiring hunters, enables the landlo