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.

394 THE IRBY FAMILY.
OF CAMBRIDGE, KNIGHT AND BARONET, DISCENDED
FROM THE NOBLE RACE OF THE UFFORDS, SOMETIME
EARLS OF SUFFOLK, BY WHOM HE HAD ISSUE
SIR ANTHONIE IRBY, KNIGHT, EDWARD, THOMAS,
ALICE, ELIZABETH, WHO DIED AN INFANT.
SIR ANTHONIE, THE ELDEST, MARRIED TO HIS FIRST
WIFE, FRANCES, DAUGHTER OF SIR WILLIAM WRAY,
KNIGHT AND BARONET, AND FRANCES, HIS WIFE, DAUGHTER
OF SIR WILLIAM DRURY OF HALSTED, IN SUFFOLK, KNIGHT,
HIS SECOND, MARGARET, DAUGHTER OF
SIR RICHARD SMITH, OF THE COUNTY OF KENT, KNIGHT.
Sir Anthony Irby, Knight, eldest son anld heir, was appointed High-sheriff
for the county of Lincoln, 13th Charles I. He represented the borough of
Boston in Parliament, 15th and 1.6th Charles I., and the 8th, 11th, 15th, 30th,
and 31st Charles II. He was one of the forty-seven members imprisoned by
the army on the 6th of December, 1648, 24th Charles I., and appears to be
one of the sixteen sent for to Whitehall, on the 20th of the same month, when,
upon refusing to promise Commissary-General Ireton not to attempt anything
against the proceedings of the Parliament and army, he was dismissed without
an engagement, and left at liberty to sit in the House again, if he thought
proper.l He married four wives; first, in 1623, Frances, daughter of Sir
William Wray, Bart., of Glentworth, county of Lincoln, by whom he had issue
one daughter, Elizabeth, who married in 1645, the Hon. George Montague of
Sir Anthony Irby was also one of the committee (for maintenance whereof, as we of this town have
appointed to levy and collect the Parliamentary tax from the first all along to this day been engaged
for paying the forces. with them against the common enemy), so you in
The statement in the text (which was furnished particular have always countenanced and encouraged
by the second Lord Boston, for the Collections for us therein, as well in your personall as other assisthe IHistory of Boston, published in 1820), is very tance in the same common cause. As for your
much at variance with the tenor of the following carriage in this Parliament, though we could not be
letter: we cannot account for the discrepancy.-See spectators, eye and eare witnesses thereof, yet we
also much relating to Sir ANTHONY IRBY, in the have not been wanting to be inquisitive after the
third Division of this volume, in the History of the same. The result of which inquisition ever rendered
period. you to us a dilligent attendant, as of the House, so
A LETTER'Wri~t~ten to an Honourable Member ofthe of the particular committees, and one that ever
House of Commons. closed with that party in the House that most
endeavoured reformation of things amisse, both in
(From a Collection of Broadsides fol. of the period. the Church and Commonwealth.
By a MS. note it was issued December 20th, " And as to such particular occasion, as this Cor1648.) poration hath had in this Parliament, both for our
"Sir,-The jealousies that are against certain Church and our garrison, we thank you for it; your
Members of the Parliament, concerning their failing endeavours have been most readily extended to the
in their places and trust, gives us sensible occasion utmost of our behalfs. And for your carriage in the
(as to call to minde the severall happinesses which we country at such times as you have had liberty to
of this Corporation have received in your part of come amongst us, we thankfully acknowledge that
representation of us, so for your further encourage- in order to the weal publick, both as a Justice of the
ment in well-doing) to expresse our thankfulnesse Peace and as a Commissioner of the Parliament,
for the same as to God, so to yourself. Sir, we do you have been very active in discountenancing
thankfully acknowledge, that for more than eight persons ill-affected, or any ways obstructing or imyeers past, as you were freely chosen by us, so you peding the publick service of the Parliament, and
have freely and cheerfully all this time taken this encouraging and advancing the payment of taxes,
charge upon you of serving your countrey as one of and execution of the Ordinances of the Parliament.
the Burgesses of this Borough. To which place we We well remember your seizing and sending to the
had the more reason to make choice of you, most of Parliament the High Sheriffe that was of this
us having plentifull experience of your fitnesse, in county, and your proceedings against other potent
sundrie respects, and of your fidelitie manifested in enemies of this county. And to this day we have
former Parliaments, in which we found your readie observed your adhering to the first principals, as
willingnesse not only to be active for publick good, well by expressing the like activity for the Parbut to suffer also with cheerfulnesse in the publick liaments occasions here in the countrey, as by your
cause of the commonwealth. Sundrie of us well letters, which some of us have seen, as also by your
know, and thankfully remember your carriage rejoicing at the successes of the Parliament's army
against the Loan money, and other projects tending under his Excellency the Lord Fairfax, and your
to publick detriment, though much to your par- bewailings of the sad condition of the kingdom upon
ticular hazard in bearing witnesse against them. And the Scots' invasion this sommer, of which also some
as for this present Parliament, which hath passed of us are witnesses. And surely your own advanthe greatest hazards, trials, and oppositions, of any tage to your particular estate hath not been an in