[109a] The last Baron D’Eyncourt died in the reign of Henry VI. His sister married Ralph Lord Cromwell. Probably from this connection the warden of Tattershall College had lands in Kirton (“Peerage,” vol. ii., p. 62, and Tanner’s “Notitiæ,” p. 286.) The D’Eyncourts still survive at Bayons Manor, near Market Rasen. Their ancestors came over with the Conqueror, and held many manors in Lincolnshire. Walter D’Eyncourt was a great benefactor to Kirkstead Abbey in the reign of Ed. I. (Madox, “Baronia Anglica,” p. 217.) The first Walter was a near relative of Bishop Remigius, who also accompanied the Conqueror. A tomb was opened in Lincoln Cathedral in 1741 supposed to be that of this Walter, and the body was found carefully sewn up in leather.
[109b] Of another of the Cromwells, a few years later, it is found by a Chancery Inquisition post mortem (15 Hen. VI., No. 71) that, to prove his birth, John Hackthorne, of Walmsgare, testifies that he saw him baptized; and being asked how he knows this, he says that, on the said day, he saw Thomas Hauley, knight, lift the said infant, Robert Cromwell, at the font. This Sir Robert was succeeded by Ralph Lord Cromwell in 1442. This Sir T. Hauley also presented to the benefice of Candlesby, next after Matilda, wife of Ralph Lord Cromwell (“Linc. N. and Q,” vi., p. 76.) Thus there was a Hawley connected with the place at that early period, but, as will be shown further on, the family of the present Sir H. M. Hawley did not obtain their property here till more than 300 years later (“Architect S. Journal,” xxiii., p. 125).
[111] In former times parsons had the title “Sir,” not as being Knights, or Baronets, but as the translation of “Dominus,” now rendered by “Reverend.”
[115a] In those days the wild boar, as well as deer, were plentiful in our forests, and were protected by royal statute. The punishment for anyone killing a boar, without the King’s licence, was the loss of his eyes. They became extinct about A.D., 1620; as to the deer, an old Patent Roll (13, Richard II., pt. 1, m. 3), mentions that a toll of one half penny was leviable on every “100 skins of roebuck, foxes, hares, &c.,” brought for sale to the Horncastle market. This would look as though roe-deer at least, were then fairly plentiful.
[115b] For further particulars of this family see “History of the Ayscoughs,” by J. Conway Walter, published by W. K. Morton, Horncastle. Henry Ascoughe, by his will, dated 16 Nov. 1601, desires to be buried in the parish church of Moorbye (“Maddison’s Wills.”)
[117a] Two different things were formerly meant by the term “graduale,” or “grayle.” (1) It was the name given to the Communion Chalice, or Paten, probably from the “Sangraal,” or holy vessel, said to have been found in the chamber of “the last supper,” of our Lord, by Joseph of Arimathæa, and in which he afterwards collected the blood (sang-reale, or King’s blood), from the wounds of the crucified Saviour. This vessel, in Arthurian romance, was said to have been preserved in Britain, and to have possessed miraculous properties. The legend has been finely adopted by our late Poet Laureate in the “Quest of the Holy Grayle,” among his “Idylls of the King.” (2). The name was given to a part of the service of the Mass in pre-Reformation times, which was called the “Gradual,” or grail, because it was used at the steps (“gradus”) of the chancel. As the inscription on the first-named of these Kirkby tombs mentioned the gift of a “Missal,” or mass book, it is probable that the “gradual” here mentioned was this portion of the mass book, and not the Communion Chalice, or Paten. The Communion plate of Kirkby does not appear to be very old.
[117b] The writer of these Records has also a copy of this engraving, it is dated 1800, and has the initials, E. C. The church is represented with the roof fallen in, the porch closed by rails, south wall of nave, with two 3-light windows, in a dilapidated## condition, a priest’s door in chancel, with two 2-light windows above it, a shabby low tower, with pinnacles, scarcely rising above the roof, the whole overgrown with weeds; and churchyard and grave-stones in a neglected state.
[119] In the reign of Ed. I. it was complained that the too powerful Abbot of Kirkstead erected a gallows at Thimbleby (being patron of that benefice), where he executed various offenders (“Hundred Rolls,” p. 299), and Simon de Tumby had gallows at Ashby Puerorum, of which there is probably still a trace, in “Galley Lane” in that parish. (“Hundred Rolls,” 1275).
[121] The Kings held property in this neighbourhood late in the 16th century. By will, dated Jan. 23, 1614, Edwd. King, of Ashby, bequeathed to his son John the manor house of Salmonby, and it was not till 1595 that the Hall of Ashby de la Laund was built.
[122] This conduit still exists. “Linc. & Q.” vol. iv. p. 131.