ched by
him, at the Election for Convocation, he was seized, in 1643, and carried
as a prisoner to Hull. Being released after four month's detention, and
returning to Horncastle, he was charged with teaching "ormanism"
(arminianism), and committed to the "County Jail" at Lincoln, a
Presbyterian minister being appointed in his stead at Horncastle. In
1644 Colonel King, the Governor of Boston under the Parliament, ordered a
party of horse to seize him (apparently having been released from
Lincoln) and to plunder his house, but an old pupil, Lieut. Col. John
Lillburn, interceded for him with his superior officer, Col. King, and
the order was revoked. In the subsequent absence, however, of Lillburn
in London, the order was repeated, and Mr. Gibson was made prisoner, his
house plundered, and his saddle horse, draught horses, and oxen carried
off. He was imprisoned at Boston, Lincoln and "Tattors-Hall Castle,"
where he had "very ill-usage for 17 weeks." He was sequestrated from his
benefice and an "intruder," named Obadiah How, put in charge. He was now
accused of defending episcopacy, "refusing the covenant," &c. He retired
to a "mean house," about a mile from Horncastle, supposed to be at
"Nether (Low) Toynton," where he and his family "lived but poorly for two
years, teaching a few pupils." He was then appointed Master of the Free
School at Newark, two years later removed to the school at Sleaford,
being presented by Lady Carr. There he lived until the Restoration, and
then resumed his Vicarage at Horncastle, until he died in 1678, aged 84.
"He was a grave and venerable person (says Walker), of a sober and
regular conversation, and so studious of peace, that when any differences
arose in his parish, he never rested till he had composed them. He had
likewise so well principled his parish that, of 250 families in it, he
left but one of them Dissenters at his death." (Walker's _Sufferings of
the Clergy_, pt. ii, p. 252, Ed. 1714).

{40b} There is an error in the date, which should be Oct. 11. Further,
the term "arch rebel" is inappropriate, as Cromwell was, at that time,
only a Colonel, far from having attained his later distinction; the term
"skirmish" is also inadequate, as the Winceby battle was a decisive
engagement, with important consequences.

{41a} The origin of these scythes has of late years been a _vexata
questio_. It has been suggested that they are not, as generally
supposed, relics of the Parliam