mitted of Bennet College, Cambridge, where he made medicine and botany his peculiar study. Taking a degree in physic, he removed to London in the year 1717, where, on the recommendation of his friend Dr. Mead, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, and was one among the distinguished number who, about that time, revived the Society of Antiquaries. To the latter he acted for many years as secretary. He was also made a member of the College of Physicians, and became one of the censors. After residing in London a few years, he retired to Grantham, in Lincolnshire, at which place he married and settled. Afflicted with the gout during the winter, it was his custom to travel for his health in the spring or summer; and in these journies he acquired a particular and zealous love of antiquities. This is manifested by the researches and observations which are contained in his valuable work, "The Itinerarium Curiosum." Finding his health inadequate to the fatigue of his profession, he turned his view to the church, and was ordained at Croyden, July 20th, 1730. In the October following he was presented to the living of All Saints, in the town of Stamford, and was afterwards Rector of St. Peter's, and Master of Brown's Hospital, in the same place. He appears to have had the offer of several better livings, which he declined. He was presented by the Duke of Ancaster with the living of Somerby, who also appointed him one of his chaplains. About the time of these promotions, he published an account of Stonehenge*.

At the instance

*This curious work displays much speculation and theory; but, exclusive of the descriptive facts which serve to perpetuate certain parts of that extraordinary monument, it is likely to deceive and bewilder the reader. The young antiquary, if I may be allowed the phrase, must scrutinize and doubt almost the greater part of the doctor's writings, if he wishes to avoid error and false opinions. It is much to be regretted that the Elements of English Antiquities have never been perspicuously and rationally elucidated: they are reducible to a few points: and I am persuaded, might be easily and usefully developed. Potter and Harwood have explained those of the Grecians; whilst Kennet, Adams, and others, have described such as appertained

to

instance of the Duke of Montague, he resigned his preferments in the country, and, in lieu of them, accepted the Rectory of St. George's, Queen Square, London. He was seized with a paralytic stroke, which terminated fatally the 3d of March, 1765; when, by temperance and regularity, he had attained his seventy-eighth year. Thus ended a valuable life, sedulously spent in endeavouring to illustrate the obscure remains of antiquity. His early writings presaged what might justly be expected in maturer years, and the lovers of antiquarian studies were not disappointed. He had a sagacity peculiar to great genius, joined with unwearied industry. But in his investigations he appears too partial to a favourite hypothesis, and too fanciful in his descriptions for the impartial enquirer after truth. His character has been given by his friend, Mr. Peter Collinson, and printed in the Gentleman's Magazine for the year 1765. His principal works are, 1. "Itinerarium Curiosum, or an Account of the Curiosities and Antiquities of Great Britain." Folio. 2. "An Account of Stonehenge and Avebury." 2 vols. Folio. 3. "Palægraphia Sacra, or Discourses of the Monuments of Antiquity, that relate to Sacred History." Quarto. 4. "Palægraphia Britannica." Quarto. 5." History of Carausius." 2 vols. Quarto. 6. " Dissertation on the Spleen." Folio.

About a mile and a half from Holbeach is the village of GEDNEY, worthy of notice for its church, which "is the lightest and most airy, and perhaps the loftiest of any in this part of the county*." It consists of a chancel, nave, north and south ailes, porch, and tower. The number of windows in the whole are fifty-three. In those of the north aile are considerable remains of fine painted glass. The south door has a curious

copper

to the Romans; but no author has yet favoured the public with an exclu sive work respecting those belonging to the British Islands. Having collected much matter for such a work, it is my intention, at some future period, to submit it to the world.

*Gough's Camden, Vol. II. p. 234.

copper lock, bearing an ancient inscription; and over the door is carved in oak, in Saxon letters, "Pax Christi sit huic domui & omnibus inhabitantibus in ea: hic requies nostra ;" and under four blank shields, in capitals—IN HOPE. Against a south window of the nave is a monument with an effigy, sacred to Adlard Welby, Esq. of Gedney, who died 1576, and Cassandra his wife.

At Gedney Hill, which is a chapelry in this parish, several Roman coins have been found; and about two miles north of South Sea bank, in a field called the high doles, is an encampment with a double foss, wherein numerous Roman coins have been discovered, also the foundations of buildings. Another similar moated area is in the parish of Sutton St. Edmund's, about an equal distance from the same bank; and at Aswic grange, near Whaplodedrove chapel, is another similar encampment, where also various coins and urns have been dug up. These encampments, which form a triangle, are within view of each other, and being in the south-eastern extremity of the county, near Catscove corner, Mr. Britain, as quoted by Stukeley, supposed were Roman Castella, raised to secure the possession of the country: he also conjectures that they were the works of a Roman general of the name of Catus.

In WHAPLODE were discovered various pipes inserted in each other, for the purpose of conveying water; and in the Sea Dyke Bank, between Fleet and Gedney, was dug up a brass sword, which Stukeley considered to have been of Roman fabric.

SPALDING

Is a considerable and ancient market-town, in the southern part of the division, about eight miles to the west of Holbeach. Seated in the midst of a fenny district, and encompassed by the river Welland, and an ancient drain called the Westlode, with numerous other drains in the vicinity, Spalding has, not inappropriately, been compared to a Dutch town. Though thus situated, and

though

though such a site does not appear to be congenial to human healthfulness, it certainly lays claim to great antiquity, as is testified by many ancient remains which have been discovered in the town and its vicinity.. It certainly existed before the foundation of Croyland Abbey, for in the Charter of King Ethelbald to that Monastery, the bounds of its lands are described as extending "usque ad ædeficia Spaldeling*" Anterior to the conquest, the manor was the property of Algar, Earl of Mercia; subsequent to that event, it was granted with the whole of Hollaud by William the Conqueror, to his nephew, Ivo Tailbois. After various changes, it at present is the property of Lord Eardley, who was some years since created Baron Spalding. Another manor, called Spalding cum Croyland, belongs to Thomas Buckworth, Esq. A castle was erected here by Ivo Tailbois, the moat of which was visible in 1746, in part of the castlefields, called Coney Garth, where that proud baron used to reside in great splendour. He also added to the endowments of the priory, which Thorold de Brokenhale founded, A. D. 1051, for six Benedictine monks, and made it a cell to Croyland. This religious house became in succeeding times a monastery of great consequence, and was one of the two mitred ones in this county. The accounts of the different altercations between its priors and the abbots of Croyland, tend to illustrate the spirit and manners of the times. Richard Palmer, the last prior, surrendered his convent into the king's bands, A. D. 1540, at which period its annual revenues were valued, according to Speed, at 12171. 5s. 11d. From this place Egelric, Abbot of Croyland, made a firm causeway, called Elrickroad, through the marsh, called Arundel Forest, to Deeping, being an extent of twelve miles. It was formed by driving in piles of wood, and covering them over with layers of gravel; but no traces of this road are visible. The churches of Holy Cross, and "St. Mary Stokys," being decayed, and the conventual church, though spacious, much crowded; the prior, pulled down the

latter,

* Ingulphus. Hist. p. 485.

latter, and built the present parish church, in the year 1284. It is a light structure, with a handsome spire, which has crockets at the angles; its beautiful porch appears to have been added about the end of the fifteenth century. A house, for a free grammar` school, was erected here in the reign of Elizabeth; it was bequeathed by the will of John Blanche, bearing date 27th of May, 1588, wherein he devised lands for the endowment.

Another school, called the Petty School, in contradistinction to the grammar school, was founded by Thomas Wellesby, gent. in ́ the year 1682. Here is also a blue-coat charity school, which was founded by a person of the name of Gamlyn. In Church-street is an almshouse, which was rebuilt in 1754, and contains eleven tenements, each having a plot of garden-ground. It was founded and endowed by Sir Mathew Gamlyn, A. D. 1590, for the benefit of twenty-two poor persons. Another almshouse, for eight poor widows, was erected August 19th, A. D. 1709, by Mrs. Elizabeth Sparke.

For many centuries Spalding has been the principal seat of jurisdiction, for the division of Holland. In the Saxon times, the courts of law were held here by the Earls; and subsequent to the Norman conquest, the priors, under their patrons the Dukes of Lancaster, and afterwards the Earls of Lincoln, till the suppression of the monastery, were vested with the judicial authority. During that period even capital offences were cognizable in the conventual court of this district. But at the dissolution of religious houses, statutes were enacted which removed the power of deciding on life and death from all such inferior courts *. Since that time a court of sessions has been held here; for which purpose a town-hall, or, as it is termed, a court-house, was built at the expence of Mr. John Holstan. It is a substantial brick building, situated

* From the register of Spalding manor, by Sir Lawrence Myntling, librarian and illuminator of the abbey, it appears, that under the power of this local court, eighty felons were hanged on the Prior's gallows, from the fortyfirst year of Henry the Third, to the sixteenth of Henry the Seventh.