thunder and lightening in the house of his master, about 5 o’clock the evening before.” In the two following, we do not see the object of the financial computation, unless the party making the entry was hypochondriac on the subject of £ s. d. “1698 Mary daughter of Tho. Jeffery, ffarmer (not worth six hundred pounds) and Anne, his wife, baptised, October 23rd.” “1699. A similiar entry of John Bowsley, ffarmer, being not worth £600.” The main interest of Winceby is as being the scene of the decisive battle, commonly called “Winceby fight,” between the forces of the Royalists and the Parliamentarians which took place on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 1643. We have only space here for a brief account of that engagement, which was important in its effect. We quote from a curious contemporary record, written by a Parliamentarian, and who apparently took part in the events described. {228} The Parliamentary army, then in the neighbourhood of Boston, after suffering a reverse near Grantham, and gaining a doubtful victory at Gainsborough, had been reinforced by Sir Thomas Fairfax; and Cromwell was also on his way to join it, with a valuable body of horse. To prevent this formidable combination, the Marquis of Newcastle from the north, hurried towards Boston, and despatched Sir John Henderson, to intercept Cromwell. Forces belonging to both sides had been encamped, on the previous night, in Horncastle, Thimbleby, Edlington, and neighbouring villages, where skirmishes had occurred. The main body under Manchester, had moved from near Boston to Bolingbroke, which was held by Royalists. On the Monday night, Major Knight, in the name of Manchester, had summoned the Castle of Bolingbroke (to surrender); but was answered that “his bug-bear words must not winne castles.” Whereupon Knight resolved the next evening, to break open the Church doors, “and there to mount a morter-piece, and fire the Castle.” But the events of the next day prevented this. “Those of the Castle (the Royalists), killed one or two of our men; and, as Major Knight, and the Quarter-master Generall Vermeyden were viewing of it, made some shots at them, and one of them hit the said Quarter-master Generall a little below the ancle, but pierced not the skin, only bruised his leg.” Seeing that they were determined to resist, Manchester then moved to East Kirkby; and his forces were encamped there, at Stickney, and at different points around. Cromwell was encamped at Winceby, in advance, with his “light horse and dragooners,” where he passed the night. The Royalists, under Sir John Henderson, pressed forward from Horncastle, in order, if possible, to attack Cromwell, before the main body had come up. But Cromwell did not object to hard blows, and though his “horse were extremly wearied with hard duty,” he calmly and sternly awaited the event. “About twelve of the clock . . . we began to descry the enemy coming toward us. So soon