MANY ACTS OF KINDNESS

A TERRA IL BEN,

IL MAL DIMORA IN SELLA.

(*See this device in Blount’s Jocular Tenures, and Camden’ Remains. In Harl. MS. 374,24. is a letter from Thomas Cecil, Earl of Essex, to Hugh Allington, Esq. dated London, Nov. 13, 1365, acquainting him that some had called his brother, the Earl of Salisbury, the grandson of a sieve-maker, which he thought a reflection on himself, and desiring him to search among his evidences.) 

 THE ALMS-HOUSES. 

In the 3d of Charles I. A.D. 1627, William Fisher, gent. founded an Hospital in Water-street, for six poor aged women belonging to this parish, and endowed the same, with an annuity of £30, issuing out of an estate at Tumby Woodside, near Coningsby, in this county. And in the 12^th of Charles I. (1636) William Trollope, esq. of  this parish, founded the hospital, situate on the south side of the church-yard, for six poor aged men in this parish, and endowed the same with an annuity of £30. Also, in the 8^th of Charles II (1665) the workhouse was erected.

 THE FREE SCHOOL 

Was founded in the 2d of Charles I by William Trollope, esq. and endowed with a salary of £30 per annum to the master. It is a spacious handsome building, situated on the East side of the church-yard.

 BOURN ABBEY

 To specify the exact time of the foundation of Bourn abbey, cannot be done, though is certainly was built by the Saxons about the end of the eighth, or beginning of the ninth century. Baldwin, son of Fitzgislebert, placed here an abbot and eleven canons of the Augustine order, in the fourth year of the reign of king Stephen, (1138) and endowed it with the churches of Helperingham, Morton, East-Deeping, West-Deeping, Barholme, Stow, Thrapston, Bitchfield, &c. with all their rights and appurtenances, besides divers other lands and gifts, which were confirmed by king Stephen, A.D. 1139. 

By a mandate from Edward II. directed to Mathew Burn, or Brunne, (This mandate bears date February 12, A.D. 1324. Matthew was escheator to the king for the counties of Lincoln, Northampton, and Rutland. From him the family of the Wakes are descended, who also were great benefactors to this abbey. Magna Britannia, II. 1485.) it was provided, that he should have the custody or guardianship of this abbey, and in case of vacation, should elect and confirm new abbots. 

At the dissolution of religious houses by Henry VIII. A.D. 1540, the yearly revenues belonging to this abbey, were valued, according to Dugdale, at £167:14:6: Leland makes it £200. The scite was granted to sir Richard Cotton. 

In this abbey lie the remains of that great and renowned Saxon chieftain, Hereward, once lord of this place, and earl of Mercia. 

Near the brown arch, redoubling yonder gloom,

The bones of an illustrious chieftain lie;

And, trac’d among the fragments of his tomb,

The trophies of a broken fame imply.

Ah! what avails that o’er the vassal plain

His rights and rich demesnes extended wide;

That honour and her knights compos’d his train,

And chivalry stood marshall’d by his side!

Tho’ to the clouds his castle seem’d to climb,

And frown defiance on the desp’rate foe;

Tho’ deem’d invincible, the conqu’ror time

Levell’d the fabric, as the founder, low.

Tho’ his rich hours in revelry were spent,

With Comus and the laughter-loving crew;

And the sweet brow of beauty, still unbent,

Brighten’d his fleecy moments, as they flew.

Fleet are the fleecy moments! fly they must;

Not to be stay’d by mask or midnight roar;

Nor shall a pulse, among the mould’ring dust,

Beat wanton at the smiles of beauty more.

Can the deep statesman, skill’d in great design,

Protract, but for a day, precarious breath?

Or he, who fondly woos the sacred nine,

Soothe with his melody insatiate death?

No.- Tho’ the palace bar her golden gate,

Or monarchs plant ten thousand guards around,

Unerring and unseen the shaft of fate

Strikes the devoted victim to the ground. 

The ruins of the Abbey, though but small, proclaim its former magnificence. They remind us of the pomp and grandeur of its ancient possessors, now gone down to the dust; they shew us the decay to which sublunary objects are destined, in spite of every effort to rescue them from the all-devouring gulph of oblivion. 

The abbey, or more properly the scite of it, (as but a small fragment of the ancient building is now remaining) was lately in the possession of Sir Thomas Trollope, Bart. who left it to his nephew George Pochin, esq. by whom the present handsome edifice was erected, A.D. 1764. In the cellar of the present building, is a subterraneous passage under the bed of the river, which is supposed to have communicated with the castle. At this time, (1809) the abbey is the property of Mrs. Pochin, widow of the above George Pochin, esq.

 THE CASTLE. 

The mighty pile

That seem’d the terrors of the storm to brave,

The fair Corinthian porch that barbarous hands

Would venerate and spare, they knew not why,

To all devouring years must bow their heads;

And other wanderers o’er scenes like these,

Will come, as now, like me to mourn their fall.

For see, the domes once teuanted by greatness,

The spot that virtue chose for her retreat,

The cell where science, from the world shut out,

Withdrew – that world to charm, or reform –

The huge high castle, whose wide portals op’d

On many a warrior brave, or gallant fair –

All, all in one promiscuous ruin lie! 

“The castelle of Brunne (says Peak) ys a verrye ancyent portlie castelle scytewate neare Peterspoole, it contaynes the principal wardes. On the north side ys ye porter’s lodge, wch ys now reuinoose and in decaye by reasone ye floors of ye upper house ys decayed, and very necessarie to be repayred. 

The dungeon ys sett of a little moate with men’s handes, and for the moste parte as yt were square. 

It ys a fare and prattie buildings wth IV square toures. Rounde about ye same dungeon upon ye roofe of ye said toures, ys tryme walkes and a fare prospect of the Fenes. And in ye said dungeon is ye halle, chamberes and all other manner of houses of offices for ye lorde and his traine. 

The southe syde therof servethe for ye lordes and ladies lodginges; and underneighe them ys ye prisone, and wyne celler, wth ye shollorie.

Over the moate yt surrounds ye castelle ys a fare drawe bridge, ye moate ys verie fresh and deipe. Ther ys also a fare parke belonging ye castelle.” 

This castle is said to have been built by one of the Wake family. But in this both Camden, Stukeley, Salmon, and the author of Magna Britannia were mistaken; for a castle appears to have existed here as early as the year 1062, before the Wakes possessed the manor. (See Ingulphus’s History of Crowland, folio 898, who, after mentioning several benefactors to the abbey of Crowland, says, Leofric, lord of the castle of Brunne, a famous and valiant soldier, kinsman to the great count of Hereford, Ranulf or Radon, gave many possessions to this abbey, and assisted the monks with his counsel.) Leland observed, that in his time “there appeared great ditches, and the dungeon hill at the west end of the priory, also much service of the Wakes’ fee was done to it; and that every foedary knew his station and place of service.” (Itinerary, vol. I. folio 28.) 

In the records belonging to this parish is the following memorandum, -“October 11^th, 1645, Charles I. ye garrison at Burn castle began.” 

It appears from the above, that the castle was not demolished, until the time of the commonwealth. 

The inhabitants have a tradition, that it was destroyed by the parliamentary forces under Cromwell, for adhering to Charles I. It is however certain, that, from this period, no mention is made of it; neither are there any records of the time of its demolition. 

The building, however, is entirely destroyed; but the foundation walls on the west side are left nearly entire. 

The area within the outer ditch contains about eight acres, the inner about one, not like a keep, but flat and covered by a rampart within the ditch. Very large irregular works are still remaining on the north and west sides between the two ditches; the earth is raised about twenty yards in length and ten in breadth, and a ditch between every one of those points to the grand moat. (Whether this was a device for the defence of the place, or owing to the approaches of besiegers, I cannot say, having never seen similar elsewhere. Salmon’s New Survey, vol. I, page 250.) 

Altogether they look like a piece of ground drained, and are said to have supported Oliver Cromwell’s batteries against the town. 

In the inner ditch was the gate-house. It consisted of a round tower thirty feet in height, embattled on the top, and ascended by a flight of stone steps.  

In the walls, (which were upwards of six feet thick), were several niches; and the door of entrance was through a circular arch, apparently Saxon, in height about eight feet, closed with a massy door. 

It was taken down by order of lord Exeter, to build a barn and repair the roofs.  

Time conquers all! in vain the castle proud,

Rear’d its high turrets to the vaulted sky;

In vain it tower’d to touch each fleecy cloud,

That glides majestic, as it rolls on high. 

The situation of this lodge was at the north end of what is now called the castle barns. At the south end of which, on a mount of earth “caste up wth mene’s hands,” stood the castle.

 THE CHURCH 

The church, dedicated to Saint Simon and Jude, is a handsome building, and formerly had two large square towers at the west end, the northernmost of which is now almost demolished. 

The mouldr’ing walls,

Black with the rust of age, and all within

Silence and waste, while not a sound was heard

But the wind moaning; not a form beheld,

Save one that fancy imag’d to their mind,

The spirit of DESTRUCTION! she who haunts

The moss-grown temples, and the wild resort

Of bats and scorpions – where no mortal steps

Make the walls murmur with obstrusive sounds:

But cries and screeches, from all hated beings

Sound even more, whilst the whole progeny

Of doleful things, that court rank solitude,

Thrive and make merriment. Upon a pile

Of broken monuments she loves to sit,

And o’er the scene casts an exultant eye,

Smiling to view the massy pillars fall’n.

And where the invulnerable shaft withstands

Her hate and her derision, round she strews

The creeping ivy, with its living shade,

To hide all forms of man!

                                                            COTTLE 

In its present state, the church consists of a lofty chancel, a nave, with side aisles, and a short transept on each side.  

The nave is separated from the aisles by circular plain arches, springing from large columns, exhibiting a specimen of early Norman style. 

The west end is a piscina and pointed arcades, over which are two lancet windows, and a large window having four mullions, with tracery. (See annexed view of this front.) 

At the east end is another large window similar to the above; and on the outside of the south porch is another piscina. 

Entering the church at this door, on the right hand is a slab with an inscription to the 

MEMORY

 of the

 Rev. William Dodd,

 Vicar of Bourn.

 He died August 6^th, 1756, Aged 54.

 Also

 Elizabeth his Wife,

 She died May 23d, 1755, Aged 55.

 Near the west entrance, on a blue slab,

 Edmund Son of T. and D.

Rawnsley, died Novr. 22,

1788; in the fourth Year of

His Age.

Also Jane

Ruth and Jane their

Daughters died,

Infants.

Also Mary Anne,

Died an Infant, 1799. 

On the floor of the north side aisle is a black slab with the inscription: 

In memory of

John Caldacot, Gent.

Who died the 7^th of April, 1755,

Aged 67 years. 

On a slab in the middle isle,

In memory of

Alice Hyde, the wife

of John Hyde.

She died July ye 26, 1737,

Aged 32.

 COLLECTIONS

 FOR

 THE HISTORY OF AVELAND.

 PREFACE. 

As the following pages are the first published attempt at the History of the Hundred of Aveland, the writer looks up to a generous public for their patronage of his labor. 

Should any one expect to trace in the subsequent pages the rich and noble blood which may flow in his veins from the Romans, Saxons, or Danes, (who, we are told, came hither in succession to plunder and ravish the worthy matrons and virtuous maidens of this favoured Isle) that person will be miserably disappointed. Neither will they be gratified who are fond of marvellous relations, or descriptions of preternatural events long buried in the ruins of time. 

It may, perhaps, be expected (as is generally customary with authors) for me to assign my reasons for publishing the subsequent account. My first is the desire of seeing history of the place of my nativity laid before the public, on which account I have made it my chief study to render the account of BOURN, correct and satisfactory. My second reason is to correct the errors from page 780 to 787 in the ninth volume of the Beauties of England and Wales, a work universally esteemed.* Some things, in continuation of the narrative, may be found not to coincide exactly with the penetration of the sage observer; let such a person remember, that the writer had no beaten track, no smooth passage to travel over: his road was, for the greatest part, through a field beset as it were with the bramble and the wild thorn. 

The writer flatters himself the whole will be found as entertaining as the subject will admit; for, as mere antiquarian researches may to some prove dry and tedious, he has taken the liberty of introducing a few poetical extracts and allusions  from several celebrated authors. If, at the conclusion, this attempt should be found imperfect, it may still rank with some efforts of a similar nature, in other districts, above which the author’s ambition has not taught him to aspire. 

(*The following is an extract from a letter which I received from Mr. Britton, the learned editor of the Beauties of England and Wales, soon after completing the ninth volume. "As stated in my preface, I found it necessary to employ a literary gentleman, who, I expected, from his own tours in Wales, would execute the writing, or rather arranging of Lincolnshire, with satisfaction to all, and credit to himself; but I have been painfully deceived; for what you have pointed out are not the only instances of carelessness. At present, however, I cannot remedy the evil, but if health allows me, I shall certainly embrace some further opportunity to correct some errors, &c. and acknowledge your favors. Yours truly, J BRITTON, AUGUST 5, 1808.“)                            

 INTRODUCTION. 

Most nations when first discovered were in a barbarous state: the only means they employed to transmit their actions to posterity was oral tradition, which must very soon be disfigured by carelessness of succeeding ages. 

Without dwelling, therefore, on those rude periods of uncultivated nature, or an uninteresting display of conjectural amusement; we shall pass rather rapidly to events less obscured by time and fable, and much more consistent with our views.

 THE BRITONS. 

“Britain, admirably secured by nature from incursion, was so tempting to the Gauls or Celtae, inhabitants of the neighbouring continent; that a tribe of them embarked and took possession of the sea coasts of this favoured isle.” (Thorsby’s Memoirs, Vol.I, page 14.) 

Lincolnshire, forming part of the sea coast, was undoubtedly the residence of these first emigrators, who according to Goldsmith, “settled upon the sea side, and introduced the practice of agriculture.” 

These Celtae, were distinguished from the inhabitants of the more inland parts, by the name of Gyrvii. They were brave, hospitable, and sincere. Of matrimonial refinement they knew but little: one woman was common to a select number of men. Amongst these combinations were brothers, fathers and sons. (”This turns” says Mr Salmon “a family almost into a herd of cattle; no child knows its own father, nor father his own child; there can be no superiority or order among them. The sons become rivals to their fathers, and the mother a prostitute to her children; all the endearments of natural affection are destroyed, and the uncertain unhappy progeny is so far from being a pleasure, that it can only be a burden to those who are tied to the duties of education.”) 

The religion of the Britons was one of the most considerable parts of their government; and the Druids, who were the guardians of it, possessed great authority among them. 

No species of superstition was ever more terrible than their’s: besides the severe penalties which they were permitted to inflict in this world, they inculcated the eternal transmigration of souls, and thus secured their authority by the fears of their votaries. 

They sacrificed human victims, which they burned in large wicker idols, made so capacious as to contain a number of persons at one, who were thus consumed together. To these rites, tending to impress the ignorant with awe, they added the austerity of their manners, and the simplicity of their lives: they lived in woods, caves, and hollow trees; their food was acorns and berries, and their drink water: by these arts, they were not only respected, but almost adored by the people. 

Their religious meetings were held under the most ancient and venerable oak trees, as being the immediate residence of God; and their rude temples were built in groves and shady places, in the form of an orb, which was consecrated to the service of the Almighty. 

“Here on the throne the parent chief (Chief Druid) appear’d,

“A prince, a sovereign judge, by all rever’d.

“Supreme in office as in power he rul’d,

“Tam’d their rude passions; check’d, o’eraw’d, controul’d.

“What time for council or for aid they came,

“He heard indulgent each successive claim;

“As with a father’s care their wants supply’d,

“Nor view’d the suppliant’s meek approach with pride;

“But, just to each, with pleas’d and cheerful mind,

“Sent some rejoicing back, and all resign’d.

“He shew’d the climes where Virtue finds her home,

“And to their view unveil’d a life to come.

“O happy race, untaught to feel annoy,

“Their days in freedom spent, their nights in joy;

“On earth’s wide common left at large to roam,

“Their parent nature; and the word their home.”

(Fane of the Druids.) 

Britain, during the earliest government she knew, always retained a relish for liberty: her people were divided into small nations or tribes, each governed by a chieftain or king, who was vindictive in repelling the least encroachment on the claims of his own particular tribe. 

The province of Coritani contained, besides the county of Lincoln, those of Rutland, Northampton, Leicester, Derby, and Nottingham. (It is not to be understood, that they were then devided into counties, as at present; they are mentioned here to express the magnitude of this province.) Their manner of fighting was an horrible display of terror: the most active of the men rode about all parts of the battle casting darts, which they threw with great dexterity; the women at the same time running up and down like furies, carrying fire-brands in their hands, in dreadful attire; and the Druids, amidst the rattling of chariot wheels, and the din of spears and shields, pouring out prayers and horrid imprecations.

 THE ROMANS. 

In this rude but independent state did the Britons long remain, till the Romans aspired to the highest pinnacle of glory, and their victorious arms seemed to disdain the boundaries of human power. 

When nations, armies, and almost the known world had sunk under the weight of the conquering Caesar’s potent arm, not content with the submission of powerful kingdoms, nor glutted with the millions of sacrifices, that fell beneath his sanguine ambition, he cast his eye upon this island, then but little known to the world, either for its extent or prowess. 

Its riches and renown, could not allure him, but the mighty project of carrying his conquering legions into a new world was the grand temptation. Informed of his intention, and sensible of their own inability to contend with so powerful a foe, the Britons endeavoured to appease him by submission, which proved ineffectual; for he landed near Dover Anno ante Christ. 54, gained several advantages over them, and made them deliver hostages for their obedience to his future will. 

But he had no sooner left the shore, than they neglected to obey his injunctions, which so irritated him, that he determined to punish them for breach of treaty. Accordingly in the succeeding summer, he landed with a more considerable force, but was opposed by the Britons in a manner he little expected. 

They had firmly united their force under Cassivelaunus, one of their princes, who was brave but unfortunate: for his army was driven by the Roman veterans from place to place, and defeated in every action. But those victories were not obtained without a noble struggle by the natives, fighting for what is ever dear to a good citizen – his country. 

During the dominion of the Romans in Britain, the county of Lincoln was included within the province of Britannia Prima; and from evident remains, and the best published accounts, there is no doubt but it was intersected by different roads, occupied by military stations, and some of its natural inconveniences removed by means of Roman science and industry. 

The British Ermin Street, afterwards adopted by the Romans, enters Lincolnshire to the west of Stamford, and, joining the north road, runs by Durnomagnus, (Great Casterton,) and Causennis, (Ancaster,) through Lindum, (Lincoln,) and in medio about fifteen miles north of it, to Ad-Abum, near the banks of the Humber. 

A branch of this road, separated from the above, crossed the Nen river in Northamptonshire, and ran in a straight line to Lolham bridge; from thence to the Glen, which it passes at Catesbridge, and proceeds to Bourn. 

From Bourn it proceeds through the Hamlets of Cowthorpe and Hanthorpe, to Stenfield, from thence it passes on the left to Folkingham to Sleaford; “From thence this military way is not traced farther. Roads from Briggend causeway and Holland, here fall into it; but I do not find any body advancing on it more northward.” (Salmon’s New Survey of England, Vol. I, Page 244.) 

“Upon this road, both at Bourn and Sleaford, have been Norman, and perhaps Saxon castles. And it is highly probable there were some defences in the Roman times for their road and their dyke, as well as for the residence of some of their people against the inroads of the Britons. At least their coins and pavements shew that these places of strength were possessed by the Britons when the legions were drawn home.” (New Survey, Vol. I, Page 249.) 

The Car-dyke, a canal or drain of great antiquity, passes through Aveland, on its way to the river Witham. 

At West Deeping it enters this county, and runs in a direct line to the rive Glen, which it passes Catesbridge: from thence it is with difficulty traced to Bourn, where, after crossing the river Eau, it proceeds through the fens of Marton, Hackonby, Dunsby, Dowsby, Pointon, and Newstan, to the Little Ouse between Billinboro’ and Horbling: thence through Great and Little Hale to Kyme Eau, which it passes, leaving the town of South Kyme about a mile to the right. 

The Car-Dyke next runs to Billinghay, and from thence in a direct line to the Witham, into which it falls near Bardney.

The extent of this drain in the county of Lincoln, from the river Welland to the Witham, is about 40 miles. Its channel, for nearly the whole of its course, is 60 feet in width, and it has on each side a broad flat bank. 

The origin of this great work Doctor Stukeley at first ascribed to Catus Decianus, the procurator in Nero’s time; and supposed that his name was preserved in the appellation of places, &c. in the vicinity of this dyke. “Those of Catesbridge, Catwick, Catsgrove, Catley, and Catthorpe, he adduced in support of his hypothesis: but having afterwards devoted some time and attention to the life of Carausius, the Doctor fancied he recognized part of the name of this hero in that of the present work. (Itinerarium Curiosum; Vol. I, Page 7 and 8.) 

Salmon says “Cardyke signifies no more than Fendyke. The Fens of Ankholm Level are called Cars. (New Survey, Vol. I, Page 241.) 

Stukeley also admits, that car and fen are nearly synonimous words, and are “used in this country to signify watery, boggy places. In the British language, car is applied to a raft, sledge, or such other vehicle or carriage. 

“This great canal preserves a level, but rather meandering course, along the eastern side of the high grounds, which extend in an irregular chain up the centre of the county. It thus receives from the hills, all the draining and flowing waters, which take an easterly course, and which, but for this catchwater-drain, as it now appropriately called, would serve to inundate the fens. (Briton’s Beauties of England and Wales, Vol. IX. Page 526).

 THE HEPTARCHY. 

The Saxons were first called into Britain, to assist in driving the northern invaders, the Scots and Picts, within their own boundaries. But the leaders of those warlike people, Hengist* and Horsa, perceiving the weakness of their allies, soon formed a design of subjecting the Britons to the Saxon yoke; for this purpose they sent intelligence to Saxony of the ease with which they might obtain the conquest of a fertile and rich country.  

(*This Saxon general, after defeating the Scots and Picts, obtained from Vortigern very extensive possessions in other parts of the Island, and had a grant of as much land at Castor in Lincolnshire, as he could encompass with the hide or skin of an Ox. This being cut into small strips or thongs, extended round a large plot of ground, on which he built a fortified mansion, since called Thong Castle. Of Byrsa, a famous citadel of Catharge, a similar story is related; and other parallel traditions are told of Thong Castle, near Sittingbourn, in Kent; whence the author of the History of England in Latin heroic verse, had thus parodied the allusion in Virgil:- 

“Accepitque solum facti de nomine Thongum,

Taurino quantum poterat circumdare tergo.”

“He had the spot call’d from the story Thong,

What a bull’s hide inclos’d when laid along.”) 

Tempted by this prospect, numbers of those people arrived in Britain, and at length became so numerous, that the Britons began to be alarmed, and resolved to oppose their farther progress by resistance; but the vices of their leaders, and disunited councils, instead of producing the event they wished, only furnished the Saxons with an excuse for letting loose upon the inhabitants all the horrors of war, aggravated by the sanguinary zeal of those barbarous invaders. Being determined to subdue the people to the Saxon yoke, they spread the terror of their arms by a general destruction wherever the least opposition was made to their power. (”The private and public edifices of the Britons were reduced to ashes; the priests were slaughtered on the altars by those idolatrous ravagers; the bishops and nobility shared the fate of the vulgar; the people flying to the mountains and deserts, were intercepted and butchered on heaps, and some were glad to accept of life and slavery.” – HUME.) 

Thus by violence and fraud, the Saxons succeeded in obtaining full possession of England; and having extirpated all whom they had any reason to fear, and driven the most warlike into the mountainous fastnesses of Wales, they divided the country into seven small states or sovereignities, which conjointly obtained the name of the heptarchy. 

Lincolnshire was incorporated with the kingdom of Mercia, which according to an old chronicle was “departed into three parts; into West Mercia, Middle Mercia, and East Mercia; “but according to that quoted by Leland, it was divided into two provinces, north and south; and as the Trent was the separating line, the county of Lincoln constituted a great part of South Mercia. Crida was the first Mercian sovereign, and began his reign in 586. 

At this time Mr. Turner supposes, that the whole Island was governed by eight Anglo Saxon monarchs; whence it should rather be denominated an octarchy than an heptarchy. 

During the establishment of these petty kingdoms, the Saxons were in constant warfare with the romanized Britons; and after these were subdued, they were repeatedly embroiled in conflicts with each other. In the midst of these civil commotions, christianity was introduced, and gradually made its progress through the Island. Peada, the son off Penda, was the reigning monarch there, when this religion was offered to, and accepted by the South Mercians. Its benign precepts gave a new turn to human pursuits, and soon diverted and engrossed the attention of the barbarous heathens. 

Paeda founded a monastery at Mederhamsted, now Peterborough; and, according to Speed, governed all the middle part of Mercia, and after the death of Oswy, king of Northumberland, received by gift, all the southern part of that kingdom. (Briton’s Beauties of England and Wales, Vol. IX. Page 527.) This was only given on condition of his adopting the christian faith, when he was also to marry Alfleda, daughter of Oswy. Peada was soon afterwards murdered, as is supposed, by his wife. (Bede, Lib. III, chap. 24, - Speed 252.) 

Edwin the great, by force of arms, obtained all the province of Lindsey. Paulinus, who converted him to christianity, preached it wherever that king’s power extended. He baptized many thousands in the river Trent, near to Tiovulfingacester, and converted Blecca, the governor of Lincoln, A.D. 630. The learned and pious Alkfrid kept his court at Stamford in 658. 

In 677 the episcopal see of Sidnacester, was erected by Egfrid son of Oswy, king of Northumberland, in favour of Eadhell, who had been chaplain to his brother, king Alkfrid. 

The South Mercian kingdom and bishop’s see, being thus established, we hear of few other public events, till the incursions and pillages of the Danes. These free-booters were particularly active in this county. 

According to Ingulphus they landed at Humberstan, A.D. 870,and spoiled all that country; and about Michaelmas they came into Kesteven, were they committed like murders and desolations. 

At length, in September, 870, count Algar and two knights, his seneschals, called Wilbert and Leofne, drew together all the youth of Holland, and being joined by Morchar lord of Brunne with his brave and numerous family, gave them battle on Saint Maurice’s day, at a place then called Laundon, but now Threckingham; a circumstantial account of which will be given in the description of that place. 

“The sovereignty of Mercia, on the defeat of the Danes, fell into the power of Alfred; he did not, however, avowedly incorporate it with Wessex: he discontinued its regal honours, and constituted Ethelred its military commander, to whom he afterward married his daughter Ethelfleda, when her age permitted.” 

Ethelred was the first earl of Mercia, his residence was at Brunne; his title was Subregulus Merciorum. After the death of Ethelred, Ethelfleda continued in the command of Mercia; and during the reign of Edward the Elder, it was found necessary to construct and fortify several places on the borders of Mercia joining Northumbria, particularly on the banks of the Humber.  

On Ethelfleda’s death, Mercia was incorporated with Wessex; but some places were held by the Danes. 

At the period Aveland was included in the forest of Ceoftefne, and formed part of the possessions of the earls of Mercia, who were lords of Bourn and the adjoining marshes. 

In the time of king Henry I. it was enlarged and afforested by royal mandate. The extent, as described by Dugdale, “was from the bridge of East Deeping, now Market Deeping, to the church of Swaiston, on the one side; and from the bridge of Bicher of Wragmere Stake, on the other side; which Metes divided the north parts, and the river of Welland the south; excepting the fen of Goggisland, in regard it was a sanctuary of the holy church, as belonging to the abbey of Croyland; and being thus made forest, it continued so until king Henry III. time, who, in the sixteenth year of his reign, (1231), granted unto all inhabitants within the same, that it should thenceforth be disafforested.” (Dugdale’s Imbanking and Draining, Pages 194, 195.) 

King Edward III. confirmed his patent in the twentieth year of his reign, (1345). “The men of Kesteven gave 250 mares to have the king’s charter for deforesting this of Kesteven according to the boundaries contained in that charter.” (Mag. Rot. 14, Henry III. M. .2,6. Madox’s History of the Exchequer, Page 288, as quoted in Gough's Camden, Vol. II, page 350. When the division drain that separates the lordships of Bourn and Thurlby was repaired some years back, several trunks of trees were dug up at the depth of four feet from the surface. They were chiefly oak.)

 EARLS OF MERCIA. 

According to Dugdale, Hume, and Creesy, the following earls of Mercia resided at Bourn. 

Ethelbert, first earl of Mercia, created by Alfred A.D. 884.

Alfere succeeded him A.D. 959. And in 933 he was succeeded by son Alfric. 

Edward, grandson of Leofric lord of Leicester, was created earl of Mercia, lord of Brunne, and the adjoining marshes, by Edward the Confessor, A.D. 1054. 

Leofric was earl in 1062; but soon after the conquest we find Hereward his son enjoyed the title. He is the last of those mentioned as resident at this place. 

When Alfred divided England into shires, hundreds, and tithings, Lincolnshire was “parted into thirtie one parts,” or hundreds, viz. Lindsey division into sixteen; Holland into three; and Kesteven into twelve. In this last division the hundred of Aveland is situated. It is thirteen miles in length, six and a half in breadth, and thirty-eight in circumference. On the east it is bounded by the south forty-feet bank, on the west by the hundred of Bettisloe, on the north by the hundred of Aswardhun, and on the south by the hundred of Nesse.

 Aveland contains the following townships and hamlets, viz.

                 Aslackby                             Kirkby-under-wood

                 Bourn                                  Loughton

                 Billinboro’                          Morton

                 Birthorpe                             Newton

                 Cowthorpe                          Osbournby

                 Dyke                                   Pickworth

                 Dembleby                           Pointon

                 Dowsby                              Rippingale

                 Dunsby                               Spanby

                 Folkingham                        Swaton

                 Hanthorpe                          Stow

                 Haceby                              Threckingham

                 Hackonby                          Walcot, and

                 Horbling                            Willoughby

 MONASTERIES. 

The county of Lincoln formerly contained a great number of religious houses, some of which had an extensive influence. This hundred contained the four following, of which a further account will be given.

*Aslackby            Knt. Templars    Temp.Richd.I.   Ed.Lord Clinton

*Bourn                 Austin Canons    Ante Conquest   Richard Cotton

Brigend               Cithertine priory    ………..            ……………..

*Sempringham    Cithertine priory              1139     Ed.Lord Clinton

*Where the asterisk is affixed, it implies that some of the buildings remain.

  ECCLESIASTICAL  ARCHITECTURE. 

Few churches in this district, are remarkable for their beauty; the principal are those at Bourn, Folkingham, Billingboro’, Horbling, and Threckingham. 

The sharply pointed arch which succeeded the circular or Saxon about the year 1200, is to be observed in several, expanding by degrees, and growing more and more obtuse till the reign of Henry VII. when it again approached the segment of a circle. 

The churches of Bourn, Threckingham, and Horbling, may be particularly mentioned as excellent specimens of ancient English architecture; and from their height, form prominent objects from different stations in the county. That of Sempringham is a specimen of Saxon architecture, and may justly be placed amongst the oldest in this county.

 EARTHQUAKES. 

On the 30^th of September, 1750, a severe shock of an earthquake was felt in Bourn, and its vicinity which created a general alarm. It happened about half an hour after twelve at noon, and was perceived generally in this county, in most parts of Leicestershire, and part of Northamptonshire. The houses tottered, plates and glasses fell from the shelves; and slates, tiles, and some chimnies fell from the houses; but happily no great mischief was done. In some churches where service was not over (it being on a Sunday), the people ran from their devotions in the utmost consternation. The shock was attended with a rumbling noise. 

Again, on the 24^th of February, 1792, Bourn and the neighbouring towns experienced another shock of an earthquake.

 STORMS. 

On the 25^th of July, 1760, a terrible storm of thunder, lightning, and hail, came on from the west, beating the fruit from the trees, and breaking the windows facing that quarter. It lasted about fifteen minutes. 

On Sunday the 4^th of May, 1800, at half past two o’clock P.M. a dreadful storm of thunder, and lightning, accompanied with hail, commenced, and continued raging with unceasing fury for the space of thirty minutes. It came in a south west direction; lacerating trees, and destroying the windows facing the above-mentioned point. Several elms were torn up by the roots; birds killed in their nests; and the corn was destroyed in the fields. The hail stones measured five inches in circumference, and weighed upwards of three ounces.

The following lines were written by an inhabitant on this occasion, which, as they have never been laid before the public, I shall take the liberty of inserting here. 

In May’s gay month, when Flora decks with pride

The meads and lawns with flowers on every side;

The clouds grew black – tempestuous was the sky-

Loud peals of thunder echo’d from on high-

The feather’d tribe forsook each tuneful spray,

And herds for shelter fled in rude dismay.

The clouds o’ercharged, pour’d forth thick hail and rain,

And vivid lightnings flash’d across the plain;

The trees, at once, their beautious foilage lost,

Stript by the blast, as by a biting frost.

When heav’n, for men’s great crimes, with flaming hand

Thus deals its judgments o’er a guilty land,

The sinner stands aghast, and chill’d with fear,

Checks the mad progress of his wild career;

And while he views the storm with dread affray

High trees laid low, and houses swept away,

Recognises in the elemental strife

The sad effects of his own wretched life,

And aw’d with deep contrition to implore

Divine forgiv’ness, goes and sins no more.

Such are the warnings sent us for our crimes,

And bless’d are we, if we repent betimes.  

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