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.

580 LEAKE.
In 1670, a collection was made in Leake Church of ll. Ils. 6.d. for the
redeeming of " the English taken by the Turks this year."
In 1673, the town of Leake was taxed 71, 4s. to a subsidy.' The Parish
Register states in " 1673. This year it was dangerous riding down the Hlungate
at Midsummer. Several boats were rowed over the highway out of the Quarles
into the Church Leedes, at the Easter tide." The following entry also occurs:" Postlhumous Base, son of a vagrant, baptized 7th of February, buried 20th
February, 1673."
There are few particulars recorded respecting any manorial rights in Leake.
Ralph Earl of Westmoreland is stated to have held the manor of Leake, and
land in that parish, in 1426.2 This manor was called the manor of Burteshall
in Leake. John Leeke of Leake, Esq., held the manor of Leake in 1475,
and states, in his will, dated in that year, that he held the same " of the gift
and feoffment of Sir John Mascham, knight;" he devised this manor to his wife,
Rose, for her life, and afterwards to his son, Alexander, and his heirs and
assigns; and, in case of want of heirs, it was devised to " Our Ladye's Gylde of
Boston."3 Sir William Hussey held the manor of Leake, as part of the soke of
Skirbeck, 3 and 4 Philip and Mary4 (1556-57). It was afterwards in the
hands of the Preston family, and, in 1821, was held by the Rev. Charles Gery,
in right of his wife as heiress of the Prestons. It is now in the possession of
Samuel Richard Fydell, Esq. Various parts of the parish are designated as
Nundale, Brigholm, Gosper, Pode Lane, Shipmarsh, Chan1try Pits, Hungate,
Sandholms, the Gride, Finkle Street, Hopper-dale, Sea Dykes, Stone Green,
and Hurn's End.5
THE CHURCH.
"The church consists of a nave with aisles, two porches, a chancel, and a low tower steeple.
The following extract from an old register relates to the latter:' Leake steeple was begun
_-I —_- I' _ _ _ _ _ _
Subsidy Rolls. 4 Pedigree of the Hussey family.-CREAsER'S
2 Inquis. post Morteon, vol iv. pp. 102 and 103. Sleaford, p. 109.
3 Close Roll, 15 Edward IV. in 21d.: Acre Books, 1isE12 and 1813.