The history and antiquities of Boston, and the villages of Skirbeck, Fishtoft, Freiston, Butterwick, Benington, Leverton, Leake, and Wrangle; comprising the hundred of Skirbeck, in the county of Lincoln. Including also a history of the East, West, and Wildmore fens, and copious notices of the Holland or Haut-Huntre fen ... sketches of the geology, natural history, botany, and agriculture of the district; a very extensive collection of archaisms and provincial words, local dialect, phrases, proverbs, omens, superstitions, etc. By Pishey Thompson. Illustrated with one hundred engravings.

OLD GAOL IN THE MARKET-PLACE. 217
Permanent Library. This lane is mentioned in the Corporation Records in
1562, and again in 1586, and the gardens near Fountain Lane in 1593. The
inhabitants of Boston were indicted, in 1661, for not repairing this lane. Much
of the property in Boston which belonged to Fountains Abbey is supposed to
have stood in this lane towards its western end, next Wormgate, and it probably
derived its name from that circumstance. This locality is mentioned again in
1640 and 1680. The accompanying engraving represents the Market-place
The Old Gaol and Market-Place.
adjoining the churchyard as it appeared in 1774, before the Ostrich publichouse, the Gaol, &c., were taken down, and their site thrown to the burialground.
The Gaol represented in this engraving was first used as such between 1552
and 1572; for, in the former year, it was ordered that the " kitchens under the
Town Hall, and the chamber over them, shall be prepared for a prison, and for
a dwelling-house for one of the serjeants," and, in the latter year, "Robert
Ward was appointed gaoler and keeper of the Queen's prison in the borough of
Boston." The prison, or counter, in the Market-place, and four shops, are
mentioned in 1600, and again in 1640, as having belonged to Alvingham priory,
and to have rented, in 1564, fobr 61. 14s. 8d. No part of it was, therefore, used
as a prison at that time.
In 1573,'" the gaoler was appointed to order, dress, and make clean, all such
arms, harness, and other artilerye of arms, belonging to the borough, as shall be
delivered to him by direction of the Mayor, for which he was to be remitted 41.
of rent, and to have a chaldron of lime for repairs of his house, and to receive
40s. yearly and a linsey gown, such as the serjeants-at-arms wore," in which he
was to attend upon the Mayor at Lady day and May day, and the fairs, marts,
and sessions. This gaol was "made strong" in 1584. This prison was not,
however, a very secure place of confinement in 1603, since in that year the
Corporation Records state that,"Stephen Murryell, who was in the gaol of the borough, in executionfor a great sum~ of
Poney, was ordered to have irons pla~ced uport himfor his more safe keeping; and for the
better security and indemnity of the Corporation, to have a man to watch and look to hinl,
if the mayor and justices think fit."
FF