Page:Highways and Byways in Lincolnshire.djvu/479

 *

one of the early explorers, who, in the beginning of last century, was sent to map the coast of Australia, and having been captured by the French, was kept for some years in prison in Mauritius.

The Blacksmith's epitaph, mentioned in the account of Bourne Abbey, is also found in the churchyard here, with bellows, forge, and anvil engraved on the stone.

Swineshead is but four miles further on, with Bicker half way. The latter has a far older church than any in the neighbourhood. It is dedicated to St. Swithun. It is a twelfth-century cruciform building with massive piers and cushion capitals and fine moulding to its Norman arches over the two western bays of the nave. The clerestory has Norman arcading in triplets with glass in the centre light. The east window consists of three tall Early English lancets. A turret stair-*case in the south aisle gives access to another in the tower. The north aisle oak seats have been made out of portions of the rood screen. The Early English font, being supported on four short feet, is interesting, as is a holy water stoup in the porch. This church has been well restored by the Rev. H. T. Fletcher, now ninety-three years of age, who has been rector for half a century. In the last half of the thirteenth century a Christopher Massingberd was the incumbent. It is kept locked on account of recent thefts in the neighbourhood. As you go to Swineshead you pass a roadside pond with a notice, "Beware of the Swans." The village, like Donington, was once a market town, and has still the remains of its market cross and stocks. The low spire of the church rises from a beautiful battlemented octagon which crowns the tower and *[Footnote: returned from the battle of Copenhagen where he distinguished himself as a midshipman on the Polyphemus,—Captain John Lawford. Under Flinders he showed great aptitude for Nautical and Astronomical observations and was made assistant at the Sydney observatory, the Governor, Mr. King, usually addressing him as "Mr. Tycho Brahe." These two natives of Lincolnshire, Flinders and Franklin, are of course responsible for such names on the Australian Coast as Franklin Isles, Spilsby Island in the Sir Joseph Banks group, Port Lincoln, Boston Island, Cape Donington, Spalding Cove, Grantham Island, Flinders Bay, &c.

The Investigator proving unseaworthy, Flinders, with part of his crew, sailed homewards on the Cumberland; and touching at St. Mauritius was detained by the French Governor because his passport was made out for the Investigator. He was set free after seven tedious years on the island, 1803-1810, and died at Donington 1814.]