A.D. RECTORS.

12367 Geoffrey de Leueknor by the Bishop of Carlisle (admitted on condition it be found the same church with the churches of [Wood] Enderby, and [High] Toynton and another, which Osbert the last rector held, be one benefice).

123940 (Delegates of the Pope in a dispute between G. parson of the church of Horncastre and Francis, parson of the church of [West] Askeby, concerning the church of Askeby, decide that G[eoffrey] and his successors, are to hold the church of Askeby, and pay to Francis annually for life 27 marks sterling, and the bishop confirms this ordinance)

1246 Adam de Kirkby.

12-- Ralph Tulgol.

1275 Hugh de Penna (otherwise Hugh de la Penne, a.s.size Roll, 4 Ed. I. _Lincs._ _Notes & Queries_, iv, p. 220).

1295 John de Langton.

1305 Gilbert de Haloughton.

1313 Peter de Galicia.

VICARS.

1334 Robert de Bramley.

13-- William de Hugate.

1349 Simon de Islep, _resigned_ in 1349, on becoming Archbishop of Canterbury.

1357 William de Hugate, presented by Gilbert, Bishop of Carlisle, on exchange.

1369 John de Rouceby.

1388 William Stryckland.

1401 Thomas Carleton, Chaplain.

1445 Robert Somercotes.

14-- John Eston.

1492 John Ffalconer.

1517 Richard Denham.

1524 Barnard Towneley.

1531 Robert Jamys, Chaplain.

1535 John Havringham.

15-- Arthur Layton.

1538 Peter Wallensis.

1557 Henry Henshoo, or Henshaw.

1560 Clement Monke. {50}

1584 Francis Purefey.

1587 Richard Foster.

1593 John Jackson.

1595 Robert Hollinhedge.

1634 Thomas Gibson.

1678 John Tomlinson.

16789 Thomas Loddington.

1724 James Fowler.

1779 Joseph Robertson.

1802 Clement Madely.

1845 Thos. James Clarke.

1853 Wm. Holme Milner.

1868 Robert Giles.

1872 Arthur Scrivenor.

1882 Edwin Fowler Quarrington.

1900 Alfred Edgar Moore.

For some of the earlier details I am indebted to the Rev. W. O.

Ma.s.singberd.

The Parish Registers of Horncastle are of some interest. They date from 1559, the year following the "Injunction" issued by Queen Elizabeth (the 3rd of its kind) ordering the regular keeping of such records; similar, earlier, though less stringent, orders having been made in 1538, 1547 and 1552. Besides the records of baptisms, marriages and burials, there are occasional notes on peculiar pa.s.sing events, which we may here notice.

One of these occurs in 1627, "Upon Monday, beinge the xxviijth day of January was a great Tempest of Winde, the like hath not often been in any age; like wise upon Friday the 4th of November 1636 in the night time there happened a more fearful (wind than) before.

Mr. Weir, in his _History of Horncastle_, quotes a note (folio 42 b of the Register): "On the vth daie of October one thousand six hundred and three, in the ffirst yere of oure Sov'aigne Lord King James was holden in Horncastell Church a solemnn fast from eight in the morning until fower a clock in the after noone by five preachers, vidz. Mr. Hollinghedge, Vicar of Horncastell, Mr. Turner of Edlington, Mr. Downes of Lusbye, Mr.

Philipe of Solmonbye, Mr. Tanzey of Hagworthingha', occasioned by a generall and most feareful plague yt yere in sundrie places of this land, but especially upon the Cytie of London. p'r me Clementem Whitelock."

(Parish Clerk.)

We may observe that at this time there perished in London more than 30,000 persons; but the great plague, or "black death," occurred 61 years later (16645), which carried off from 70,000 to 100,000 persons.