The grouping of the subjects and arrangement of the canopies are admirable.

The west window in the same aisle contains a handsome memorial, by Preedy, of the late Vicar, Prebendary Robert Giles. It is of three lights, the subjects being from St. Peter's life: (1) the south light shewing "The net cast into the sea," "Depart from me, &c."; (2) the central light, Peter's commendation by the Saviour, "Thou art Peter, &c."; and (3) the north light, Peter's release from prison, "Arise up quickly, &c." The tabernacle and canopy work are good. The cost of this was about 140. Mr. Giles succeeded Prebendary Milner, as Vicar, and died 12 July, 1872.

The two lancet windows in the lower part of the west wall of the tower, which were enlarged at the restoration, are filled with good coloured gla.s.s. They bear no inscriptions but are memorials of deceased younger members of the families of the late Dr. B. J. Boulton, and of the late Mr. Richard Nicholson. The southern one represents "The Good Shepherd,"

carrying a lamb in his arms; the northern, "Suffer the little children to come unto me," shewing the Saviour receiving little children into his arms. Within the tower is also placed a List of Benefactors of the town; also a frame containing the Decalogue, supported by two painted figures, life-size, representing Aaron with his censer, and Moses with his rod; on one side of this is the Lord's Prayer, on the other the Apostles' Creed.

{39a}

The roof of the nave, for some years hidden by a flat whitewashed ceiling, is of Spanish chestnut, with finely carved figures of angels, which support the intermediate princ.i.p.als. In front of the tower arch stands the Font, of caen stone, on octagonal base; the bowl has 8 elaborately carved panels, in three of which are engraved, on scrolls, the words "One Lord," "One Faith," "One Baptism." {39b} The Pulpit, at the north-east corner of the nave, is also of Caen stone, in similar style, with four decorated panels, having, beneath the cornice, the inscription "He that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully;" the book-rest is supported by the figure of an angel, with outspread wings.

The Reading Desk, on the opposite side, consists of open tracery work, carved in modern oak. The Lectern, an eagle of bra.s.s, was presented, in 1901, by the Misses Walter, in memory of their father, Mr. Joseph Walter, for many years church warden. {39c} The seats in the chancel have handsomely carved poppy heads, and are placed east and west, instead of, as formerly, north and south, facing west.

On the south side of the chancel arch, in the west face of the wall, is a small stone, bearing the names of "Thomas Gibson, Vicar. John Hamerton and John Goake, Churchwardens, 1675." On the south wall of the chancel south chapel is also an illuminated sheet of iron bearing the following inscription to the same Vicar:-"Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Mr.

Thos. Gibson, A.M., 44 years Vicar of this parish. He lived in such times when Truth to the Church, and Loyalty to the King met with punishment due to the worst of crimes. He was by the rebellious powers carried away prisoner four times from the garrison of Newark for a dissenting teacher, afterwards sequestrated, and his family driven out, by the Earl of Manchester. He survived the Restoration, and was brought back at the head of several hundreds of his friends, and made a Prebendary in the Cathedral Church of Lincoln. As his enemies never forgave his zeal to the Church and Crown, so nothing but the height of Christian charity could forgive the insults he met with from them. He died April 22, 1678." {40a} Above this is a shield, containing three storks, proper, on an argent field; and with a stork, as crest.

On the north clerestory wall of the nave are tablets in memory of Jane, wife of Thomas Taylor, to the east; in the centre to Thomas Taylor, Surgeon, and Margaret his wife, to Mary Anne, wife of Thomas Hardy Taylor; and to the west of these, to Anne, wife of Erasmus Middleton, to Erasmus Middleton, and to their daughter, Grace, wife of James Weir, and to James Weir, who died Dec. 15, 1822. On the south clerestory wall, westward, is a tablet to the memory of Thomas Bryan, Hannah his wife, and their son Edward, all interred at Scrivelsby; another, to the east, is in memory of Edward Harrison, M.D., his wife, and his brother, erected by his nephew.

In the north aisle of the chancel is a modern, canvas, lozenge-shaped, framed copy of an older memorial, formerly painted on the south wall, on which are depicted the arms of Sir Ingram Hopton, with this inscription:-"Here lieth the worthy and memorable Knight, Sir Ingram Hopton, who paid his debt to nature, and duty to his King and country, in the attempt of seizing the arch rebel (Cromwell) in the b.l.o.o.d.y skirmish near Winceby, Oct. 6, 1643." {40b} The motto is Horatian (the first lines from Odes iii., xiv., 1416; the other two from Odes iv., ix., 2930).

Nec tumultum, Nec mori per vim, metuit, tenente Caesare terras.

Paulum sepultae distat inertiae, Celata virtus.

Close to this, and above the arch leading into the nave, are a number of scythes, some with straight wooden handles, attached to the wall, which are said to have been used at the Winceby fight. {41a}

On the wall of the north aisle, nearest the archway into the chancel, on a small slab of Purbeck marble, is a bra.s.s of Sir Lionel Dymoke, kneeling on a cushion; on either side were formerly small shields displaying the arms of Dymoke, Waterton, Marmyon, Hebden and Haydon; {41b} and on small bra.s.ses were the figures of two sons and three daughters. Parts of these are now lost. The figure of Sir Lionel is in the att.i.tude of prayer, from his left elbow issues a scroll with the inscription "S'cta Trinitas, unus Deus, miserere n.o.b." Beneath is another inscription, "In Honore s'cte et individue trinitatis. Orate pro a'i'a Leonis Dymoke, milit' q'

obijt xvij die me'se Augusti, A D'ni M cccccxix. Cuj' a'i'e p' piciet, de.' Amen." Below this monument, in the pavement, is a bra.s.s, now mutilated, of the same Sir Lionel Dymoke, wrapped in a shroud, with two scrolls issuing from the head, the lettering of which is now effaced.

Beneath is an inscription also now obliterated, but which Mr. Weir gives as follows:-

Leonis fossa nunc haec Dymoke capit ossa.

Miles erat Regis, cui parce Deus prece Matris, Es testis Christe, quod non jacet hic lapis iste, Corpus ut ornetur, sed spiritus ut memoretur.

Hinc tu qui transis, senex, medius, puer, an sis, Pro me funde preces, quia sic mihi sit venie spes.

The actual suit of armour worn by this Sir Lionel Dymoke was formerly in the church, since in the evidence taken after the "Lincolnshire Rising,"

in 1536, it was shewn that "one Philip Trotter, of Horncastle," took it from the church, and himself wore it, while carrying the standard at the head of the insurgents (State Papers Domestic, Henry VIII., vol. xi, No.

967) {42a}

[Picture: Bra.s.s of Sir Lionel Dymoke, in St. Mary's Church]

In the Harleian MS. in the British Museum, among his "Lincolnshire Church Notes," Gervase Holles (circa 1640) mentions several other arms and inscriptions, as then existing, which are now lost. {42b}

In the pavement of the former vestry, in the south chancel aisle, is a slab with the inscription running round it, "Here lyethe the boyddes of Thomas Raithbeck & Arne his wyf, ye founders of the Beid hous. Departed thys world, in ye fayth of Christ, ye last day of October, in ye yere of our Lord, MDLXXV." In the pavement at the east end of the south aisle of nave is a slab bearing the names of William Hamerton and his wife Elizabeth, and westward of this another slab, in memory of "Sarah Sellwood, wife of Henry Sellwood, Esq., {42c} who died Sep 30, 1816, aged 28 years." The late Poet Laureate, Alfred, afterwards Lord Tennyson, married Mr. Sellwood's daughter Emily Sarah, the marriage being solemnised at Shiplake after the family had left Horncastle. The Laureate's elder brother, Charles Tennyson, married another daughter, Louisa, afterwards taking the additional name of Turner. He held the vicarage of Grasby near Caistor.

Other monuments are, on the wall of the south aisle, a tablet inscribed "To the memory of Elizabeth Kelham, only surviving child of Richard Kelham, Rector of Coningsby. She was pious, virtuous, and charitable, and died 26 Feb., 1780, aged 58. Reader, imitate her example. Erected by Robert Kelham, her nephew, as a grateful acknowledgment of her regard towards him." On the north wall of the chancel is a marble tablet in memory of "George Heald, Armiger, e Consultis Domini Regis, in Curia Cancellaria. Obiit 18 May, 1834." Inscriptions below are to his wife and daughter. Another tablet, of black marble, records the death of Elizabeth, first wife of the Rev. John Fretwell, Curate, Dec. 4, 1784, and of his son, Matthew Harold, Sept. 11, 1786. {44a} Another tablet is in memory of "Clement Madeley, DD., 42 years Vicar, who died Good-Friday, 1845, aged 73;" also of his wife Martha, who died 1807, and of his son Houghton, who died 1838, erected by his daughter, M. A. Dymoke, {44b} wife of Rev. John Dymoke, Champion.

In a gla.s.s covered case in the north aisle of the chancel are three volumes of Foxe's _Book of Martyrs_, 1632 edition, these were formerly chained to a desk, and parts of the chains remain. They were given by Nicolas Shipley, gentleman, in 1696, who also presented a bra.s.s chandelier of 24 sockets; he was among the benefactors to the poor of the town. The present gla.s.s case and desk on which the case rests, were given by the late Vicar, the Rev. A. Scrivenor. Along with these vols.

are "The History of the Old and New Testaments, gathered out of sacred scripture and writings of the fathers, a translation from the work of the Sieur de Royaumont, by several hands. London, printed for R. Blome, I.

Sprint, John Nicholson and John Pero, 1701." There are some good old engravings of "The Work of Creation," "The Temptation and Fall of Man,"

"The Expulsion from Paradise," "The Murder of Abel," "Ishmael Banished,"

&c. The first of these is dedicated to "Her sacred Majesty, Mary, by the grace of G.o.d, Queen of England, Scotland, France, Ireland, &c., by Her Majesty's most obedient servant Richard Blome." The next is dedicated to "Her sacred Majesty Katherine, Queen Dowager of England," by the same; another is dedicated to "Her Royal Highness Ann, Princess of Denmark;"

and other plates are dedicated to various Lincolnshire worthies, some of these are rather damaged, and the fine old bible is imperfect.

Various old doc.u.ments may here be quoted, which give items of interest connected with this church. In _Lincolnshire Wills_, 1st series, edited by Canon A. R. Maddison, F.S.A., 1888, is that of James Burton of Horncastle, of date 9 June, 1536, which mentions the lights burnt in the church at that time before different shrines; these were in all 23, of which 7 were in honour of the blessed virgin, one was called "The light of our Lady of Grace," another "Our Lady's light at the font." Mention is also made of a "St. Trunyan's light;" this last saint is connected with a well at Barton-on-Humber, but nothing further is known of him under that name. It has been suggested that it is a corruption of St.

Ninian (_Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. i, 149), and in connection with this it is interesting to refer to the fact that Gervase Holles, whose description of Horncastle windows we have already quoted, states that there was a window to St. Ninian placed in the chancel south aisle, by the Guild of Shoemakers. Here, then, it is possible, the "St. Trunion's"

or St. Ninian's "light" may have been burned, as the emblem of some whilom Horncastrian's faith.

A Chancery Inquisition post mortem, 19 Richard II., No. 83 (11 Dec., 1395), shows that Albinus de Enderby and others a.s.signed a messuage, with appurtenances, in Horncastle, to pay a chaplain to say daily ma.s.ses in the church of the blessed Mary, for the soul of Simon de Dowode, and other faithful deceased. Wood Enderby was at that time a chapelry attached to Horncastle Church.

The right of sanctuary, enjoyed by felons, who sought refuge in a church, was a very ancient inst.i.tution, dating from Saxon times, and only abolished by James I., in 1621, because the great number of churches in the country rendered it so easy a matter for highwaymen, then very numerous, to avail themselves of the privilege, that justice was too often defeated and crime encouraged. According to custom, if the offender made confession before a coroner, within 40 days, and took the prescribed oath at the church door, that he would quit the realm, his life was spared. A Close Roll, 13 Henry III., Aug. 22, 1229, states that the King, at Windsor, commands the Sheriff of Lincolnshire (Radulphus filius Reginaldi) to send two coroners to see that a robber who keeps himself in the church at Horncastle abjures the kingdom, (_Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. i, p. 49). It is a somewhat curious coincidence, that a similar doc.u.ment, of date 16 Henry III., Aug. 22, 1232, only three years later, records a similar incident; and the malefactor is ordered to "make the a.s.size, and abjuration of the kingdom, according to the custom of the land and according to the liberties granted to Walter, Bishop of Carlisle," (_Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. iv, p. 58). We have the explanation of this later instruction in a Memoranda Roll of 4 Ed. III., 1330, which states that Henry III. granted, by charter dated 16th July, in the 15th year of his reign, to Walter, Bishop of Carlisle, and his successors, that they should claim "all chattels of felons and fugitives within their manors," the crown giving up all claim to the same in their favour; and the case is added of Robert Mawe, a fugitive, whose chattels were demanded by the Bishop, and 34 exacted on that account "from the township of Horncastre."

It is remarkable that the two cases, above quoted, should have occurred at the same date, August 22. An explanation of this has been suggested in the fact that an old calendar shows that August 22 was a day sacred to St. Zaccheus; and as that saint set the example of restoring four-fold what he had unlawfully taken, that day may have been selected for the robber to surrender his chattels in reparation of his offence. A not improbable explanation, however, may be found in the fact that the great August fair, established by Royal Charter, closed on August 21st, and unruly characters were often left, as dregs of such gatherings in the place, murders even being not uncommon. By charter of the same king the Bishop of Carlisle had power to try felons at Horncastle, and a spot on the eastern boundary of the parish is still known as "Hangman's Corner,"

where those who were capitally convicted in his court were executed.

We give elsewhere a list of the Inc.u.mbents of St. Mary's, but we may here refer to probably the most distinguished of them all. A Patent Roll, of date 11 June, 1344 (18 Edward III.), states that Thomas, Bishop of Lincoln (N.B. This was Thomas Bec, consecrated July 7, 1342, died Feb.

1, 1346, buried in the north transept of the Cathedral), "by command of the Most Holy Father, Pope Clement VI., reduces the taxation of the church at Horncastle, with the chapels of Askeby (West Ashby), Upper Tynton (High Toynton), Maring (Mareham-on-the-Hill), and Wod Enderby, to the same church annexed, to the sum of 50 marks (33 6s. 8d.), which were previously taxed at the immoderate sum of 77 sterling." This is stated to be done "of the sincere love with which we value our very dear clerk, Master Simon de Islep, parson of the church aforesaid." This is also confirmed to "his successors, parsons or rectors, of the said church.

Witness the King, at Westminster." The merits of this worthy, so valued by the Holy Father, not long afterwards received further recognition, since in 1350, only 6 years later, he was promoted to the highest dignity in the land, next to the sovereign himself, as Archbishop of Canterbury.

{46} An earlier Rector, John de Langton, had been made Bishop of Chichester, A.D. 1305. These are the only inc.u.mbents of Horncastle who have attained the Episcopal Bench, (_Horncastle Register Book_, edited by Canon J. Clare Hudson, 1892).

The promotion of the Rector, Simon de Islep, led to more than one lawsuit. The Bishop of Carlisle, being at that time heavily in debt, as Lord of the manor, to which, as has already been stated, the advowson of the church of St. Mary was attached, had in January, 13478 granted the manor to Hugh de Bole, and others, on their annual payment of 129 19s.

2d, for three years. On the vacancy thus occurring the Bishop was summoned to appear at Westminster, before Justice John de Stonor, and others, to answer to William Widuking, of Saundeby, executor of the will of the said Hugh de Bole, who claimed, as tenant of the manor, the right to nominate to the vacant benefice. The Bishop resisted this claim, and the case was argued before the King's Bench, in Hilary term, 1350, when the Bishop was defeated, the claim of William Widuking being allowed.

(County Placita, Lincoln, No. 46. Pleas at Westminster, 24 Ed. III., roll 104.)

Seventeen years later, on the death of John de Kirkby, Bishop of Carlisle, who had presented Simon de Islep to Horncastle, the temporalities of the bishopric for the time lapsed to the King; and Thomas de Appleby, the succeeding Bishop, with John de Rouceby, clerk (who afterwards became Rector of Horncastle), were summoned to answer to the King, that the King be allowed, through the said lapse, to appoint to the vacant Benefice of St. Mary. The Bishop and John de Rouceby brought the case before the court, but they admitted the justice of the King's plea, and judgment was given for the King. (De Banco Roll, 41 Ed. III., in. 621.) Apparently, as a compromise, the King appointed John de Rouceby. This John de Rouceby, while Rector of Horncastle, was murdered on the high road to Lincoln in 1388, (_Horncastle Register Book_, p. 2).

We may here observe, that in the above doc.u.ments, the Inc.u.mbent of St.

Mary's Church is styled "Parson" or "Rector," not, as he is at the present day, "Vicar." On this change of status we are able to give the following particulars. Among the Bishop "Nicholson MSS.," which are in the custody of the Dean and Chapter of Carlisle, and consist of extracts from the old "Bishops' Registers," it is stated (vol. iv, p. 349) that Bishop Stern of Carlisle, under agreement with the Bishop of Lincoln (Dr.

Robert Sanderson) in 1660, appropriated the Rectorial appurtenances of the Benefice of St. Mary to the See of Carlisle. This, however, would seem to be only a confirmation, or renewal, of what had been done long before, since as far back as 1313, the Bishop of Carlisle pet.i.tioned the Pope, to allow the church revenues of St. Mary, Horncastle, to be appropriated to that See, which had been "wasted by war and other calamities;" the Rector of the day only stipulating for a _pensio congrua_ being reserved to him for his lifetime. (Carlisle Episcopal Registers, xix, p. 181 b). This was repeated about 1334 (_Ibid._, p.

187, a. Quoted _Horncastle Register Book_, p. 2). The t.i.tle Rector accordingly disappears and from about 1400 only that of Vicar is used, the Bishops of Carlisle themselves having become the "Rectors." Early in the 19th century (21 March, 1803) the Bishop of Carlisle leased the manor, with appurtenances, to Sir Joseph Banks, and his representatives are now Lay Rectors.

The appointment of one of the early Rectors is a sample of the abuses connected with Papal supremacy in those times. Peter de Galicia was nominated Rector in May, 1313, he was a foreigner and probably drew his income without ever residing at Horncastle. Having influence at the Papal Curia, he negociated for the Bishop of Carlisle the transfer of the Rectorial appurtenances of Horncastle to that See; only, as has been stated, taking care that he had his own _pensio congrua_. Becoming dissatisfied with the benefice he ultimately exchanged it for the Rectory of Caldbeck in the diocese of Carlisle. These proceedings are given at length in Bishop de Kirkby's Register; his Italian name was Piero de Galiciano. He was succeeded in 1334 by Robert de Bramley, Rector of Caldbeck. (Carlisle Episcopal Registers, quoted _Lincs. Notes & Queries_, vol. v, pp. 2445).

Horncastle was one of the centres of disturbance at the time of the "Lincolnshire Rising" (already referred to) or "Pilgrimage of Grace," in 1536, and St. Mary's Church was the main cause of the local agitation.

William Leche, brother of the parson of Belchford, was a ringleader in the town. The plundering of churches, by the King's "visitors," for the "valor ecclesiasticus," on the plea of regulating ceremonial, but more really with a view to replenishing the royal coffers, was the great grievance with the people. Much evidence on the subject is found among State Papers Domestic, vol. xi, 28 Henry VIII. One witness, Edward Richardson of Thimbleby, states that William Leche, on Tuesday, 2nd Oct., "stirred the people to rise to save the church jewels from the Bishop's officers," who were acting by the King's orders, the Bishop being the King's confessor. Robert Sotheby of Horncastle, being sworn before Sir Anthony Wyngffeld and Sir Arthur Hopton, says that "David Benet, a wever, rang the comon bell," to rouse the people. The said Robert stated that he and William Bywater, being churchwardens, were going to see the work of the plumbers, and in the meantime the said Davy rang the common bell; and that "William Leche was the first begynner and sterer of the whole rysinge there." The mob marched about with a standard, carried by Philip Trotter, clad in the armour of Lionel Dymoke, which he had taken from the church of St. Mary. The devices on the standard were "a plough," to encourage the husbandmen; the "challice and Host," because the church plate and jewellery were to have been taken away; the "wands" were to encourage the people "to fight in Cristis cause;" the "horn" betokening Horncastle.

About 100 persons marched to Scrivelsby, and threatened to drag out Edward Dymoke, the sheriff, and other gentlemen. The sheriff, Thomas Dymoke, Robert Dighton, and one Saundon, afterwards went into the field, and conversed with Leche, who said the Rising was because the Visitors would take the church goods. The mob took the old gentleman, Sir William Saundon, and "harried him forth by the arms towards Horncastell, till from hete and weryness he was almost overc.u.m." A horse was brought for him by one Salman of Baumbrough, but one of the rebels strake the horse on the head, so that both horse and rider fell to the ground, and they then said he must "go afote as they did." He was afterwards confined in the "Moot Hall," at Horncastle, and "they sware him, whether he woll, or no." Many witnesses testified to the activity of Leche, in going to private houses and inducing the men to join, and that the gentlemen only joined from fear of violence. Richard Mekylwhite of Horncastle was accused by Thomas Lytellbury, that he was "a great procurer" (of men), and was "one of the causers of George Wolsey's death," (a servant of the late Cardinal Wolsey).

William Leche, with a great company, went to Bolingbroke, to take the Bishop's Chancellor, Dr. John Rayne, who was lying there, sick; he was brought on horseback to Horncastle amid cries of "kill him! kill him!"

He begged Philip Trotter to save him, who said he would do what he could; the Chancellor gave him xxs., but he in effect did the reverse of helping him. On reaching the outskirts of the town, "many parsons and vicars among" the rebels cried "kill him!" whereat William Hutchinson and William Balderstone, of Horncastle, "pulled him viantly of his horse, kneling upon him, and with their staves slew him." The Vicar of Thornton gave xvs. to the rebels. The Vicar of Horncastle, at that time John Haveringham, seems to have avoided being mixed up with this movement, as many of his brethren were. The whole affair barely lasted a week, and it does not appear that the church plate suffered. The King issued a proclamation from Richmond, 2 December following, that he pardoned all except the wretches in ward at Lincoln, T. Kendal the Vicar of Louth, and William Leche of Horncastle.

For a final notice of old records connected with the church, we may mention a matter of less importance, but one which we can hardly realise, in these days of religious liberty, when everyone is "a law unto himself"

in matters of faith, and even largely in practice. The parish book of the adjoining Thimbleby, which is in the soke of Horncastle, shews that, as late as the year 1820, the parish officials ordered all paupers, in receipt of parish relief, to attend the church services, on pain of forfeiting the aid granted; and cases are named where the payment was stopped until the offender had given satisfaction. The State Papers Domestic of 1634 show that, at Horncastle, there was a like strictness.

Luke Burton of this town was fined 1s. for being "absent from divine service," and again a like sum as "absent from prayers." Even "a stranger, a tobacco man," was fined 1s. for the same offence; and 3s. 4d.

for "tippling in time of divine service." John Berry, butcher, was fined 1s. "for swearing." Simon Lawrence, for selling ale contrary to law, was fined 20s.; the same "for permitting tippling, 20s.;" while for "selling ale without a licence," William Grantham and Margaret Wells were "punished upon their bodies." (State Papers Domestic, vol. 272, No. 23, Chas. I.)

[Picture: Ancient Scythes in St. Mary's Church]

RECTORS AND VICARS.

We here give a list of these as compiled by Canon J. Clare Hudson, in his 1st volume of the _Horncastle Parish Register Book_, 1892.