The present dilapidated state of the nave of Battlefield Church is generally ascribed to the Puritans of the time of the Commonwealth; and a note in the church register, above one hundred years ago (1749), states, that it was then in its present ruinous condition. {19c} The conduct of those who committed the injury in this instance, brings to recollection the passage from the Holy Scriptures:—“But now they break down the carved work thereof, at once, with axes and hammers. They have cast fire into thy sanctuary; they have defiled by casting down the dwelling-place of thy name to the ground.” {19d} On viewing this ancient church, I could not, either as a Christian or as an antiquary, see this handsome edifice, which had been erected by a King of England, in commemoration of an important historical event, and dedicated to the worship of the Most High, so injured by violence or neglect, without experiencing feelings of regret. Still its walls and remains, in their present state, are truthful records of the past, and furnish an authentic and valuable example of church architecture, of the time of Henry IV. The mere preservation of them from further injury, by time or negligence, would be laudable; but if the tasteless and ignorant scheme, which has been suggested, of renovating the church, should ever unfortunately be carried into effect, great mischief will be done; the original will be falsified; in its renovated state it will be a mere imitation; and it will no longer be an interesting and authentic example of the architectural science of the period to which it belonged. CHAPTER II. THE FIELD OF THE BATTLE OF BLORE HEATH. {21} “There Dutton Dutton kills, a Done doth kill a Done, A Booth a Booth, and Leigh by Leigh is overthrown, A Venables against a Venables doth stand, A Troutbeck fighteth with a Troutbeck hand to hand, There Molineux doth make a Molineux to die, And Egerton the strength of Egerton doth try. O! Cheshire wer’t thou mad, of thine own native gore So much until this day thou never shed’st before! Above two thousand men upon the earth were thrown, Of which the greatest part were naturally thine own. The stout Lord Audley slain, with many a captain there, To Salisbury it sorts the Palm away to bear.” MICHAEL DRAYTON’S _Polyolbion_, Song 22nd. ENGLAND exhibited, during a great part of the fifteenth century, the mournful spectacle of a country harassed by rival parties, and exposed to all the horrors of civil war. Hostile competitors contended for a prize of no common value; for the crown and dominions of England were to be the reward of the conqueror.