were demanded by the Bishop, and 34 pounds exacted on that account "from
the township of Horncastre."

It is remarkable that the two cases, above quoted, should have occurred
at the same date, August 22. An explanation of this has been suggested
in the fact that an old calendar shows that August 22 was a day sacred to
St. Zaccheus; and as that saint set the example of restoring four-fold
what he had unlawfully taken, that day may have been selected for the
robber to surrender his chattels in reparation of his offence. A not
improbable explanation, however, may be found in the fact that the great
August fair, established by Royal Charter, closed on August 21st, and
unruly characters were often left, as dregs of such gatherings in the
place, murders even being not uncommon. By charter of the same king the
Bishop of Carlisle had power to try felons at Horncastle, and a spot on
the eastern boundary of the parish is still known as "Hangman's Corner,"
where those who were capitally convicted in his court were executed.

We give elsewhere a list of the Incumbents of St. Mary's, but we may here
refer to probably the most distinguished of them all. A Patent Roll, of
date 11 June, 1344 (18 Edward III.), states that Thomas, Bishop of
Lincoln (N.B. This was Thomas Bec, consecrated July 7, 1342, died Feb.
1, 1346, buried in the north transept of the Cathedral), "by command of
the Most Holy Father, Pope Clement VI., reduces the taxation of the
church at Horncastle, with the chapels of Askeby (West Ashby), Upper
Tynton (High Toynton), Maring (Mareham-on-the-Hill), and Wod Enderby, to
the same church annexed, to the sum of 50 marks (33 pounds 6s. 8d.),
which were previously taxed at the immoderate sum of 77 pounds sterling."
This is stated to be done "of the sincere love with which we value our
very dear clerk, Master Simon de Islep, parson of the church aforesaid."
This is also confirmed to "his successors, parsons or rectors, of the
said church. Witness the King, at Westminster." The merits of this
worthy, so valued by the Holy Father, not long afterwards received
further recognition, since in 1350, only 6 years later, he was promoted
to the highest dignity in the land, next to the sovereign himself, as
Archbishop of Canterbury. {46} An earlier Rector, John de Langton, had
been made Bishop of Chichester, A.D. 1305. These are the only incumbents
of Horncastle who have attained the Episcopal Bench, (_Horncastle
Register Book_,