village in Oxfordshire, and Sidnacester*, a place bordering on the river Trent. This diocess is the largest in the whole kingdom, notwithstanding those of Oxford, Peterborough, and Ely, have been detached and taken from it. It comprehends the counties of Lincoln, Leicester, Huntingdom, Bedford, and Buckingham, except the Parishes of Monks Risborough and Halton, which are peculiars of Canterbury; and Abbots Aston and Winslow, (which, with fifteen other parishes that are in Hertfordshire, and were taken bence, being made of exempt jurisdiction, and appropriated to the Abbey of St. Albans, became, on the dissolution of that monastery in the year 1541, part of the Diocess of London). The See of Lincoln also still retains the better half of Hertfordshire, and the Parishes of Banbury, Tame, Milton, Croperdy, Horley, and Hornton, in the county of Oxford; Langford, in Berks and Oxfordshire; Empingham, Lidlington, and Ketton, in Rutlandshire; King's Sutton, Gretton, and Nassington, in Northamptonshire; and the chapelries of Wigtoft and Hyde, in the county of Warwick, though the last chapel, Hyde, is desecrated. All which are subdivided, and under the immediate jurisdiction of these six ARCHDEACONRIES: I. Lincoln, which is divided into the DEANERIES III. Totta, who was the first Bishop of Leicester, 737; IV. Elbertus, 764; V. Unwona, 786; VI. Werinburtus, 801, VII. Rethunus, 814; VIII. Aldredus, 861; IX. Ceobredus, 873; X. Hurlardus, XI. Ceolusus, or Kenulphus, 905. .... *This See was established in 678, and, according to Bede, was in, and paramount over the province of Lindsey. Its first bishop was Eadhedus, who was consecrated by Paulinus in 678. His successors were the following. II. Ethelwinus, 678; III. Edgarus, 701; IV. Kinelbertus, or Embertus, 720; V. Alwigh, 733; VI. Eadulphus I, 751; VII. Ceolufus, 767; VIII. Unwona 783; IX. Eadulphus II. 789. After his death the See remained long vacant, and was occupied by the Xth Bishop Leofwinus in 949, when the See of Dorchester was transferred to, and united with this. XI. Aailnother, 960; XII. Assewinus, or Oesewynus, 967; XIII. Alshelmus, 994; XIV. Eudnothus I. 1004: XV. Eadherieus, 1016; XVI. Eudnothus II. 1034'; 'XVII. Ulfus Normanus, 1052; XVIII. Wulfinus, 1052. After the death of this Bishop, his successor St. Remigius, removed the See to Lincoln. DEANERIES of Lincoln, Aswardburn cum Lafford, Aviland, Beltislaw, Bollingbrook, Candleshoe, Calcewaith, Gartree, Grantham, Graffoe, Grimsby Hill, Horncastle, Longobovey, Loveden, Lowth cum Ludbrook, Nesse, Stamford, Walscroft, Wraghoe, Yarburgh, all in the county of Lincoln.II. Stow, which has the Deaneries of Aslacko, Coringham, Lawres, and Manlake, all likewise in the same county. III. Leicester, the Deaneries of which are Leicester, Ackley, Framland, Gartree, Goscote, Guthlaxton, and Sparkenhoe, all in the county of Leicester. IV. Bedford, which has Bedford, Clopham, Dunstable, Eaton, Fleet, and Shefford, all in Bedfordshire. V. Huntingdon, which has Huntingdon, St. Ives, Leightonstone, St. Neots, and Yaxley, all in the county of Huntingdon. With Baldock, Berkhampstead, Hertford, and Hitchin, in Hertfordshire. VI. Buckingham, the Deaneries of which are Buckingham, Burnham, Mursley, Newport, Waddesden, Wendover, and Wycombe, all in the county of Buckingham. In all which, and the out-lying parishes in Oxon, Northampton, Rutland, &c. The number of parishes contained in this diocess (which yet continues by far the largest in England) is stated by Browne Willis to be, including donatives and chapels, 1517; and the clergy's yearly tenths in this very extensive jurisdiction 17511. 14s. 6d. "The revenues of this bishopric were valued at the dissolution of the monasteries at 20651. 12s. 6d. and the common revenues of the chapter at 5781. 8s. 2d. But many of its manors being seized, it is now only rated in the king's books at 8941. 10s. 1d. and con puted to be worth 32001. The clergy's tenth is valued ́ at 17511. 14s. 6d. *” This see has given to the Romish church three saints, and one cardinal. From its prelates have been selected six lord chancellors, one lord treasurer, one lord keeper, four chancellors to the University of Oxford, and two to Cambridge. Willis computes the number of parishes in this diocess at 1517, of which 577 are impropriated. Camden says there are 630 parishes in the county. Connected Beatson's Political Index. In the Red Book, the revenue of the Bishopric is set down at 8281. 4s. 9d. but in this the Bishop's tenths, of 661. 13s. 4d: are not included. Connected with the cathedral, and its ecclesiastical establishment, were the MONASTERIES, HOSPITALS, &c. which were very numerous, and some of great influence, in this extensive district. In the following list I have endeavoured to furnish the reader with the names and denominations of the whole at one view. A further account of some of these will be given when describing the places where they are situated. Names of Places. Alvingham *Aslackby * Bardney Orders. Founded. Granted to. Near. Gilbertine Nun. temp.Stephen Ed. L. Clinton Benedictine A. temp.W.Con. Sir Ro. Tirwhit Barlings Premonstra. A. -1154 LongBenningtonCist. P. Ch. D. of Suffolk Folkingham Lincoln Dean & Ch. West. Boston -1175 * Where the Asterisk is affixed, implies that some of the buildings remain. Sir W. Tirwhit Barton |