less," rejoined a third gentleman; "for it was but six months ago, that, in an attempt to escape I broke my leg." Another said he had broken his arm, and that many had been killed by falls, in their endeavours to escape; others had suddenly disappeared and never been heard of. Sir H. was about to reply, when a servant entered the room, and said his master wished to see him: "Do not go," said one. "Take my advice," said another: "for God's sake do not go." The servant told Sir H. he had nothing to fear, and begged he would follow him to his master: he did, and found the old man seated at a table covered with a desert and wine; he arose when Sir H. entered the room, and asked pardon for the apparent rudeness he was under the necessity of committing at dinner; "for," said he, "I am Dr. Willis; you must have heard of me; I confine my practice entirely to cases of insanity; and as I board and lodge insane patients, mine is vulgirly called a madhouse. The persons you dined with are madmen; I was unwilling to tell you of this before dinner, fearing it would make you uneasy; fór although I know them to be perfectly harmless, you very naturally might have had apprehensions." The surprise of Sir H. on hear

ing this was great; but his fears subsiding, the Doctor and he passed the evening rationally and agreeably together.

WILSTHORP.

Is a hamlet to Gretford about two miles from this latter place, and three from Bourn, nearly south.

Domesday Account.

Land of Ivo Talbois.-In Wieulestorp (Wils thorp) Bernac and Bole had four carucates of land to be taxed. Land to four ploughs. Two. carucates of this land are in the soke. Odo, a vessal of Ivo's, has there one plough, and ten sokemen and ten villanes having two ploughs and a half, and two mills of twenty shillings, and for ty acres of meadow and twelve acres of coppice wood. Value in King Edward's time forty shilfings, now eighty shillings. Tallaged at thirty shillings.

"Thomas de Wylesthorp and John held a Knight's fee of Hugh de Wake, and he of the earl of Chester, in the time of Hen. III" (Testa de Nevill)

Many Roman coins have been found at Wils

thorpe (says Stukeley) on the old Ermin Street. It was a Roman Station, being the same distance from Darobrivis on the old street, that Brigcasterton is on the new.

John Ullett Esq. has a good mansion in this neat little hamlet. The family of Ullett is very ancient, in this neighbourhood, for Oluet had the manor of Tallington, and several others in the time of William the Conqueror.

The principal proprietor of land here is John Ullett Esq. The fences are quick thorn hedges.

The Chapel.

Which is a very neat little place of worship, was built in 1771, and is a chapel of ease to Gretford. In the Chapel is a marble tablet to the memory of some of the Curtis's family, and among the rest, of Edward Curtis, who built this Chapel.

It consists of a nave, neat chancel, and low tower, in which are 2 bells. The pulpit is neat and the chapel is well pewed. arms engraved on it.

Curious font with

44

BARHOLM.

Barholm is a small village, in the wapentake of Ness, in the parts of Kesteven, about 5 miles Hearly N. by E. from Stamford.

Domesday Account.

Land

Land of St. Peter de Burge. Berewick of this manor in Bercaham (Barholm) and Estou (Stow) one carucate of land to be taxed. to one plough, Asferd has there two villanes and two bordars with one plough.

In the same is one carucate of land to be taxed. Land to one plough. It is in the soke of Burge (Burgh.) Godfrey, a vassal of the Abbot's, has now nine sokemen and one villáne and two bor dars with two ploughs. Robert holds half. Value in King Edward's time twenty shillings, now twenty shillings likewise.

Land of Gilbert de Gaunt. Soke. In Bercham (Barholm) half a carucate of land to be taxed.

Land to four oxen. Soke in Edcham (Edenham.) Four sokemen plough there with oxen, and it is worth eight shillings.

In Bercham (Barholm) balf a carucate of land to be taxed. Land to four oxen.

suic (Caswick.)

Soke in Ca

Land of Geoffry of Cambrai.-In Bercheham (Barholm) Aschil had one carucate of land to be taxed. Land to one plough. Two vassals of Geoffry's have there half a plough, and five sokemen with the third part of this land, free soke, having two oxen in a plough, and one acre of meadow. Value in King Edward's time twenty shillings, now twelve. Tallaged likewise at twelve shillings.

Half a carucate of the land of Azor in Berch:ham (Barholm,) the jury of the wapental e say ought to belong to Gunfrid de Cioches.

The land of Asford in Bercheham (Barholm) hundred, the jury of the wapentake say was not Hereward's the day he made his escape.

All the towns adjoining to Spalding, Pinchbeck, and Deeping fens, had formerly right of common in those fens; as well as the towns contained in the following old distich.

Uffington, Tallington, Barham and Stow,

One house in Gretford, and ne'er an ene inoe. VOL- III.