Some of the Lords of Kirkby and Tumby seem to have treated the Abbots of Kirkstead with considerable liberality; for which, doubtless, they would receive an equivalent in prayers, if not “indulgences,” granted in their favour. In a cartulary of the Abbey (Vespasian, E., xviii.), now in the British Museum, is a charter running as follows:—“I, Robert, son of Simon de Tumby, have granted to the Church of St. Mary of Kirkstead half the fishery of Troholm, and 5 acres of land in the field of Tumby, and common pasture through all the fields and territory within the bounds of Tumby.” This was early in the 12th century. The witnesses to this deed, it is to be noticed, are his nephew Richard, and Gilbert, “clerk,” _i.e._, parson, “of Driebe”; hence we should infer that the “de Tumby” and “de Driby” families were one and the same; and this is proved to have been the case by a Final Concord of 12 John (A.D. 1211), which mentions the above grant of “5 acres in Tumby” to Simon de Driby and his heirs. {108} The grant to the Abbots of Kirkstead was confirmed, some years later, by Robert, son of Hugh de Tateshale, who “put his hand to the altar” in testimony of the same (charter of same cartulary, quoted “Architect. Journ.,” xxiii., p. 107). By a Chancery Inquisition p.m., 8 Ed. III. (1335), and by a similar document, 41 Ed. III., it is shown that John de Kirketon (Kirton) held for life the manor of Tumby, with that of Tateshale. The Kirktons of Kirton, near Boston, were probably kinsmen of the Dribys, as this transfer was made by John de Driby, and the Driby armorial bearings were formerly in the windows of Kirton Church, along with those of the Earls of Lincoln (connected, as we have seen, with Kirkby) and others (“Lincolnshire Churches,” by Stephen Lewin). This local connection may, in aftertimes, have led to the marriage alliance of the D’Eyncourts, who held the manor of Kirton, with the next family whom we shall mention, the Cromwells. {109a} The above Robert, son of Simon de Driby (or de Tumby), had to wife Joan, co-heiress of the Barons of Tattershall; and somehow that connection seems to have brought the Cromwells into possession of the manor of Kirkby. In an Inquisition p.m., 22 Rich. II. (1399), Ralph de Cromwell is described as owning the manor of Kirkby, with that of Tattershall, through his wife Matilda, or Maud de Bernak, sister and sole heir of William de Bernak, Lord of Tattershall. He had lands in 14 parishes in this county, 1 in Derbyshire, and 6 in Notts. {109b} His grandson, Ralph, married Margaret, sister and co-heir of the 5th and last Baron D’Eyncourt. His granddaughter, Maud, married Sir Richard Stanhope, of Rampton, knight. Their daughter, Maud, married Sir Gervase Clifton, of Clifton, knight, “The gentle Sir Gervase,” who was killed at the battle of Tewkesbury, May 4, 1471; and afterwards married Sir Thomas Neville, and then the 6th Baron Willoughby d’ Eresby. Thus we have a