r, would
seem to be only a confirmation, or renewal, of what had been done long
before, since as far back as 1313, the Bishop of Carlisle petitioned the
Pope, to allow the church revenues of St. Mary, Horncastle, to be
appropriated to that See, which had been "wasted by war and other
calamities;" the Rector of the day only stipulating for a _pensio
congrua_ being reserved to him for his lifetime. (Carlisle Episcopal
Registers, xix, p. 181 b). This was repeated about 1334 (_Ibid._, p.
187, a. Quoted _Horncastle Register Book_, p. 2). The title Rector
accordingly disappears and from about 1400 only that of Vicar is used,
the Bishops of Carlisle themselves having become the "Rectors." Early in
the 19th century (21 March, 1803) the Bishop of Carlisle leased the
manor, with appurtenances, to Sir Joseph Banks, and his representatives
are now Lay Rectors.

The appointment of one of the early Rectors is a sample of the abuses
connected with Papal supremacy in those times. Peter de Galicia was
nominated Rector in May, 1313, he was a foreigner and probably drew his
income without ever residing at Horncastle. Having influence at the
Papal Curia, he negociated for the Bishop of Carlisle the transfer of the
Rectorial appurtenances of Horncastle to that See; only, as has been
stated, taking care that he had his own _pensio congrua_. Becoming
dissatisfied with the benefice he ultimately exchanged it for the Rectory
of Caldbeck in the diocese of Carlisle. These proceedings are given at
length in Bishop de Kirkby's Register; his Italian name was Piero de
Galiciano. He was succeeded in 1334 by Robert de Bramley, Rector of
Caldbeck. (Carlisle Episcopal Registers, quoted _Lincs. Notes &
Queries_, vol. v, pp. 244-5).

Horncastle was one of the centres of disturbance at the time of the
"Lincolnshire Rising" (already referred to) or "Pilgrimage of Grace," in
1536, and St. Mary's Church was the main cause of the local agitation.
William Leche, brother of the parson of Belchford, was a ringleader in
the town. The plundering of churches, by the King's "visitors," for the
"valor ecclesiasticus," on the plea of regulating ceremonial, but more
really with a view to replenishing the royal coffers, was the great
grievance with the people. Much evidence on the subject is found among
State Papers Domestic, vol. xi, 28 Henry VIII. One witness, Edward
Richardson of Thimbleby, states that William Leche, on Tuesday, 2nd Oct.,
"stirred the p