The history of England giving a true and impartial account of the most considerable transactions in church and state, in peace and war, during the reigns of all the kings and queens, from the coming of Julius Cæsar into Britain : with an account of all plots, conspiracies, insurrections, and rebellions ... : likewise, a relation of the wonderful prodigies ... to the year 1696 ... : together with a particular description of the rarities in the several counties of England and Wales, with exact maps of each county / by John Seller ...

Remarks on Lincolnshire, &c.

LIncolnshire, by reason of its Fens, and other Advanta∣gious Pastures, produces great numbers of small and large Cattle, a good sprinkling of Corn, abundance of Fish and Wild-Fowl, much Wooll and Leather. It is commodi∣ously on the East Bounded with the German Ocean and part of Norfolk, so that by reason of its Havens it has a great Trade, and very much helped on the North by being Bounded with the River Humber, and part of Yorkshire; on the West with Yorkshire, Notinghamshire, and Lei∣cestershire; on the South, with Northamptonshire and Cambridgshire. It is divided into 30 Hundreds contain∣ing one City, a Bishops See, 630 Parishes, 33 Market Towns, and 9 Rivers: It sends Members to Parliament 12, viz. Boston 2, Grantham 2, Grimesby 2, Lin∣coln City 2, Stamford 2, and 2 Knights of the Shire.

Lincoln was Antiently held to be one of the finest Cities of England, being of great Antiquity, and made by King Edward the Third the chief Mart for Lead, Wooll, and Leather; here was also a great Battel Fought between Ran∣dolph Earl of Chester, Robert Earl of Gloucester, and King Stephen; the latter being Overthrown and taken Prisoner. It was Besieged by King Henry the Third, and taken from the Barrons.

Wainfleet was the Birth Place of William Sirnamed thence Wainfleet, who Flourished in the Reign of Henry the Sixth, being Bishop of Winchester; He Founded here a Free-School, and Magdalen Colledge in Oxford.

Grimsby, an Antient Market Town, is famed as the Birth Place of Doctor Whitgift Arch Bishop of Canterbury, in the Reign of King James the First; Bullingbrook is enobled by the Birth of two Kings, viz. Edward the First and Henry the Fourth. Swinstead, at an Abby there King

[illustration]

[illustration] map of Lincolnshire

LINCOLNE SHIRE.

John was Poisoned by a Villanous Monk: At Harlestil Dyed that Miracle of Conjugal Love, Elenor Queen to Edward the First; Bourn is a famous Market Town; Grantham is noted for its vast high Steeple, which seems to stand awry as if it were falling, the tradition going, That the Devil as he flew over it struck it into that warped posture with one of his Wings; tho' many believe the height deceiv∣ing the Eye, makes it only appear so. Stamford is a very fine Town, on its Bridge a single Dane stopped King Harrold and his Army, slaying 40 Men; nor could be removed till such time as a Souldier, rowing under the Bridge, thrust up a Spear and Cowardly slew him. Crowland was once famous for its Rich and Stately Abby; all its Sea Coast is sprinkled with commodious Towns, as Grimsby, Saltfleet, Boston, &c.

In the Fens are found the Ategen or Godwitt, also a foolish Bird called a Dottrell, which Cambden says being Hunted thrusts its Head into a Bush, and then thinks all is secure, tho' the whole Body is seen, and so in Moulting time he is easily taken.