[33a] Quoted Weir’s History of Horncastle, note p. 29, ed. 1820.
[33b] On Saturday, next the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, 21 Jan., 1384–5, held by John de Feriby, Escheator of the King, in the County of Lincoln.
[34] Most of these fragments were removed by Mr. Stanhope to Revesby Abbey. Two of them are preserved in the garden of Langton Rectory, near Horncastle.
[36] The origin of this Chantry is shewn by the following documents:—In the archives of Carlisle Cathedral is a copy, in Latin, of a Privy Seal State Paper, Domestic, vol. i, 5039, of date 5 May, 6 Henry VIII. (A.D. 1514), slightly imperfect, but running thus: “The King to all . . . greeting. Know that we, of our special grace . . . by these presents do grant . . . for us, our heirs and successors . . . to the devout woman, the Lady Margaret Copuldyke, widow, and Richard Clarke, tanner, of Horncastle, that they found a fraternity, or guild, to the honour of St. Katharine, and for the extending of divine teaching, in the Parish Church of the blessed Virgin of Horncastell, and mortain licence to acquire land of the annual value of 25 marks” (£16 15s. 4d.). Another document, a Chantry Certificate, Lincoln, No. 33 (55), Ed. VI. (1552), states that “the Guild of St. Katharine, in Horncastell, was founded by Joan Copuldyke, widow, and others, with the intention that one Chaplain for ever, should celebrate divine services in the church, for the souls of the founder, and others; the profits of the land and possessions are received by the Alderman of the Guild.” They are described as “worth yearly £13 8s. 8d., with fees, wages, rents and other reprises, £7 15s. 3d. The clear value, reprises deducted, yearly, £5 13s. 10d.,” with “goods, chattels and ornaments worth £1 10s.” It is to be observed that Gervase Holles says, that at the time of his visit, she was named “Margaret,” in a window then existing in the church. A Patent Roll, 3 Ed. VI., pt. 5, m. 4, gives various lands and tenements, with which this chantry was endowed, in Horncastle, Spilsby, Thornton and Roughton, occupied by about 100 tenants; and states that all these were granted “by the King to Robert Carr, gent., of Sleaford, and John Almond, their heirs and assigns.” Witness, the King, at Westminster, 15 July, 1549. This is further confirmed by an Inquisition post mortem, 5 Eliz., pt. 1, No. 67. [This was ‘in return for a payment by them of £1,238 11s. 10d.’] Among the signatories to a declaration of the Royal supremacy (Lincoln Chapter Housebook, B. 3, 14, p. 39) are the names of Robt. James, Vicar of Horncastle Michel Whithed, Curate of Horncastle Hugh Doddington, “Cantuarista” of Horncastle (probably Chaplain of this Chantry). It was also served by Robert Geffrey in 1552. Chantry Certificates, Lincoln 33 (55).
[37a] Harleian MS. No. 6829, p. 241. In a window in the north aisle was the inscription “Orate pro ái’â Thomæ Coppuldike armig., et D’næ Margaretæ, Consortis suæ, fundatoria gildæ cantar . . . fenestram fieri fecit. Ano D’ni 1526.” In the eastern window of the south aisle was the inscription “Orate pro benefactoribus artis sutorum, qui istim fenestram fieri fecerunt. sc’æ Nemanæ cum sera et catena. Item S’ci Crispinus et Crispinianus cum instrumentis calceariis.” Here it is distinctly stated that a Guild of Shoemakers gave the window, and that Crispinus and Crispinianus the patron saints of shoemakers, were there represented. A note in the same MS. states that Frances, wife of Gervase Holles, died at Horncastle and was buried there. (These passages are quoted in Weir’s History of Horncastle, pp. 30, 31, note, edition of 1820).
[38] Mr. Dee had formerly been a Clerk in Mr. Clitherow’s office, as Solicitor.
[39a] This was formerly the altar-piece below the east window of the chancel, before the present reredos was placed there, and dedicated at the Harvest Festival, 22 Sept., 1870.
[39b] It may here be stated, that the former font was quite as good as the present one, octagonal in form, and of perpendicular design, in harmony with older portions of the church. It was, however, discarded at the restoration, and, for some time, hidden away among rubbish, but eventually presented to the restored church of the neighbouring parish of Belchford. The bowl of the present font is too small to answer the requirements of the Rubric, and is not in keeping with the architecture of the church.
[39c] A Lectern, consisting of a large eagle, of cast iron, bronzed, on the model of one in St. Margaret’s Church, Lynn, was presented by the late Prebendary Samuel Lodge, Rector of Scrivelsby. This is still preserved in the south chancel chapel.
[40a] Walker in his Sufferings of the Clergy (1714) gives an account of Thomas Gibson, which we here abridge. Born at Keswick (in the diocese of Carlisle), he went to Queen’s College, Oxford, was appointed Master of the Free School at Carlisle, there promoted to the similar post at Newcastle, and finally preferred by the Bishop of Carlisle to the Vicarage of Horncastle in 1634. In consequence of a sermon preached by him, at the Election for Convocation, he was seized, in 1643, and carried as a prisoner to Hull. Being released after four month’s detention, and returning to Horncastle, he was charged with teaching “ormanism” (arminianism), and committed to the “County Jail” at Lincoln, a Presbyterian minister being appointed in his stead at Horncastle. In 1644 Colonel King, the Governor of Boston under the Parliament, ordered a party of horse to seize him (apparently having been released from Lincoln) and to plunder his house, but an old pupil, Lieut. Col. John Lillburn, interceded for him with his superior officer, Col. King, and the order was revoked. In the subsequent absence, however, of Lillburn in London, the order was repeated, and Mr. Gibson was made prisoner, his house plundered, and his saddle horse, draught horses, and oxen carried off. He was imprisoned at Boston, Lincoln and “Tattors-Hall Castle,” where he had “very ill-usage for 17 weeks.” He was sequestrated from his benefice and an “intruder,” named Obadiah How, put in charge. He was now accused of defending episcopacy, “refusing the covenant,” &c. He retired to a “mean house,” about a mile from Horncastle, supposed to be at “Nether (Low) Toynton,” where he and his family “lived but poorly for two years, teaching a few pupils.” He was then appointed Master of the Free School at Newark, two years later removed to the school at Sleaford, being presented by Lady Carr. There he lived until the Restoration, and then resumed his Vicarage at Horncastle, until he died in 1678, aged 84. “He was a grave and venerable person (says Walker), of a sober and regular conversation, and so studious of peace, that when any differences arose in his parish, he never rested till he had composed them. He had likewise so well principled his parish that, of 250 families in it, he left but one of them Dissenters at his death.” (Walker’s Sufferings of the Clergy, pt. ii, p. 252, Ed. 1714).