as Sexton2.10.0.
for dogs wipping0.7.6.
Dressing church round0.2.0.
For oyle0.2.4.
For ringing the bell at 8 and 41.0.0.
04.01.10.

The “Parish Clerk” in Lincolnshire was, as a rule, a rougher-looking individual than he appears in Gainsborough’s splendid picture in the National Gallery, but he was generally an original character, both in word and deed. I heard of one in Ireland who announced, “There will be no sarmon this afternoon as the Bishop has been providentially prevented from praching,” and many a quaint saying is recorded of those Lincolnshire clerks of the last century. Boys were their special aversion. In the old days at Spilsby the clerk kept a stick, and during the sermon would go down to the west end of the building, and the sound of his weapon on the boys’ heads quite waked up the slumberers in the seats nearer the pulpit. One hears of a clerk putting a stop to what he considered an unnecessary afternoon service and saying to the clergyman, “We ha’en’t no call to hev sarvice just for you and me, sir.” “Oh, but I thought I saw some people coming in.” “Just a parcel of boys, sir; but I soon started they.” But it is not the clerks only who show an intelligent interest in the parson and the services, though from generations of somewhat slovenly performance, the churchgoers had difficulty at first in appreciating the high-church ritual which here and there they saw for the first time. One kindly old woman on seeing in one of the Fen churches some unexpected genuflexions and bows, said afterwards, “I was sorry for poor Mr. C., he was that bad of his inside that he couldn’t howd hissen up.” And another I knew of who, when asked how they got on with the new ritualistic clergyman, and whether he hadn’t introduced some new methods, replied, “Oh, yis, he antics a bit; but we looves him soä we antics along wi’ him.”

BURGH-LE-MARSH

From Croft we turn north to Burgh-le-Marsh (SS. Peter and Paul) whose fine lofty tower, with its grand peal of eight bells, stands on the extreme edge of the Wold and overlooks the marsh, and, like “Boston Stump,” is visible far out to sea, The exterior is very fine, and the church, like Croft, has retained its chancel, so ruthlessly destroyed in the case of Addlethorpe and Ingoldmells. The nave is wide and lofty, but the pillars poor. It is all Perpendicular, and has much interesting screen work which has been a good deal pulled about, even as late as 1865, the year in which similar destruction was wrought at Ingoldmells. The rood screen now stands across the tower arch, and the chancel screen is a patchwork. There are two porches, north and south, the latter of brick, a good pulpit and a canopied font-cover which opens with double doors, dated 1623. On the north aisle wall is a plain brass plate with the following dialogue in Latin hexameters:—

Quis jacet hic? Leonardus Palmerus Generosus.
Quae conjux dilecta fuit? Catherina. Quis haeres?
Christopherus (cui nupta Anna est). Quis filius alter?
Robertus. Gnatae quot erant? Tres, Elizabetha
Ac Maria, ac Helena. An superant? Superant. Ubi mens est
Defuncti? Rogitas. Dubio procul astra petivit.
obiit Die Martis octavo
Anno Domi 1610.
ætatis suæ 70.

Who lies here? Leonard Palmer, Gentleman.
Who was his beloved wife? Catherine. Who his heir?
Christopher (whose wife was Anna). Who was his second son?
Robert. How many daughters were there? Three, Elizabeth
and Mary and Helen. Are they living? Yes. Where is the spirit
of the departed? You ask. Doubtless it has sought the stars.
He died Mar. 8, 1610, aged 70.

BRATOFT

At Burgh the straight road from Skegness to Gunby turns to the left to pass through Bratoft. This church with picturesque ivy-clad tower has a good font, a chancel and parclose screens, and the rood-loft doorway. It has been well restored in memory of C. Massingberd, Squire of Gunby, and contains a very curious painting on wood which now hangs in the tower; it was once over the chancel arch, and by its irregular shape it is clear that it was originally made to fit elsewhere. It is signed Robert Stephenson. The Armada is shown as a red dragon, between four points of land marked England, Scotland, Ireland and France with the following lines:—

Spaine’s proud Armado with great strength and power