Note 82 — NOTES ON PARISHES ROUND HORNCASTLE. (continued 2)

These are no longer to be found, but they were mentioned in a MS. belonging to Sir Joseph Banks, dated 1784. Another brief was for “ye first Fast day for ye Plague, 1665, the sum of 15s 6a” (August 2nd) “September ye 6th, ye 2nd Fast day for ye Plague 1665 . . . 13s 7d and 2s more was added afterwards.” Six Fast days were mentioned, when money was collected “for ye Plague.” Among items, in the Church accounts, were:—“A sheet borne over the sacrament,” a “Kyrchuffe that our Lady’s coat was lapped in,” “to Peter Babbe for gilding the Trinity, iiiili xvis 0d.” “It for painting the Dancing geere,” (i.e. at the May-pole). “It for viii. pound of waxe for Sepulchre lights iiiis iiiid.” “It for ii. antiphoonies bought at Stirbridge faire (&c.) iiili xis 7d”; “It for thacking the steeple xs”; “To William Edwards for finding our Lady’s light viiiis iiiid”; “iiili xs given to finde yearly an obitt for the soul of Lawrence Clerke, . . . to say Dirige and Masse, . . . and for the bede roule,” &c. There are charges, for “vi gallons yearly of aile” for the ringers. The “Church corne, given of the good will of the inhabitants to the value of xxs viiid.” “Wessell (Wassail) for the young men.” “The town bull sold for iis viiid a quarter.” &c., &c. (“Lincs. N & Q.” vol. i. pp. 5–13).