Which lies into the east, in the deep journey when
Clear Bane, a pretty brook, from Lindsey, coming down
Delicious Wytham leads to lively Botulph’s town,
Where proudly she puts in, among the great resort
That there appearance make, in Neptune’s Wat’ry Court.
Polyolbion. Song 25.
SKIRBECK
We have no definite information of what Boston was in Roman times, but as the Witham was the river on which their colony at Lincoln stood, it is more than probable that they had a station at Boston to defend the river-mouth, and whatever they may have called it, it is certain that it has got its name of Boston or Botolph’s town from an English saint who is said to have founded a monastery here in 654, which was destroyed by the Danes in 870. St. Botolph was buried in his monastery in 680, and his remains moved in 870, part to Ely and part to Thorney Abbey. The name as a town does not appear in Domesday Book, though “Skirbec” does, and Skirbeck covered all the ground that Boston does, and almost surrounded it. As the old distich declares—
Though Boston be a proud town
Skirbeck compasseth it around.