In the seventeenth year of the reign of Henry the sixth, a licence was
obtained from that monarch, directed to Ralph Cromwell, Knight, Henry
Bishop of Winchester, Cardinal of England, William Alnewick, Bishop of
Lincoln, John Scroope, Knight, Walter Hungerford, Knight, Walter Talbois,
Esquire, and William Paston, patrons of the parish church of Tattershall,
in the county of Lincoln, empowering them to convert the said church,
into a collegiate church or college, in honour of the Holy Trinity, the
blessed Virgin Mary, St. Peter the Apostle, St. John the Baptist, and St.
John the Evangelist. The establishment was to consist of seven
chaplains, one of whom to be custos or master, six secular clerks, and
six choristers. The licence further authorized them to erect a perpetual
alms-house on their own ground, being parcel of the castle and manor of
Tattershall, next to the church-yard, containing ten acres, for thirteen
poor persons of both sexes; with mansion houses and buildings for the
said master, chaplains, clerks, choristers and their servants; with
cloisters, enclosures, gardens, orchards and all other conveniences; and
to assign the same to the said master and chaplains; who were to be a
body corporate, and have a common seal for the execution of all business,
with power to sue and be sued, and to purchase, receive and hold lands,
tenements, and other revenues, ecclesiastical or secular, to the value of
£200. per annum, over and above the advowson and yearly value of the said
church of Tattershall, and the houses and ten acres of land aforesaid,
without fine or fee to the king or his heirs.
The Lord Treasurer, in pursuance of this licence, began to convert the
parish church into a college; but it appears that he died before it was
finished, as, by his will, dated a short time previous to his decease, he
bequeathed his body to be buried in the collegiate church of Tattershall,
until the whole fabrick should be rebuilt, and then to be removed into
the midst of the choir.
The church was afterwards finished nearly as it remains at this time; and
mansion houses and other necessary buildings were erected for the use of
the foundation, as well as the alms houses mentioned in the licence.
Among the inscriptions in the MS. of Lincolnshire Church Notes, taken by
Mr. Gervase Holles, are the names of several persons who belonged to this
establishment.
This college received several benefactions, and its possessions
progressively increased to a considerable magnitude. In the thirty-sixth
year of Henry the eighth, the whole was granted to Charles, Duke of
Suffolk, who at that time was possessor of the castle and manor.
The church stands about eighty yards east of the castle, near the outer
fosse, and is a beautiful and spacious stone structure in the form of a
cross, consisting of a square tower, a nave with five arches on a side,
and eight clerestory windows placed in pairs, a transept, and a choir.
On the north side is a porch, on which are sculptured the arms of William
of Wainflete, Bishop of Winchester: formerly there were two porches on
the south side also bearing the arms of the same bishop; but these have
been some time since removed. Over the great eastern window is a richly
ornamented niche, in which a statue once stood: the wall above the
western door is likewise ornamented with thirteen blank shields. The
cloisters, which were on the south side of the chancel, are entirely
demolished.
In the south wall of the chancel are three stone stalls and a piscina,
with a cornice charged with various animals; on each side of the transept
is also a piscina. There is a handsome rood-loft between the nave and
choir, now used as a singing gallery.
The windows of the choir were once enriched with beautiful stained glass,
which was removed in the year 1754, by the Earl of Exeter, on condition
that it should be replaced with plain glass: but this being neglected to
be done, the choir remained about fifty years with unglazed windows; and
being thus exposed to the weather, the elegantly carved oak stalls, the
rich screens, and other ornamental work, fell entirely to decay. {90}
The choir has, within these few years, been repaired by the present Earl
Fortescue, and fitted up in a plain but neat manner.
The windows of the nave and transept were also enriched with stained
glass containing the legendary histories of St. Guthlake, St. Catherine,
and other saints, a few fine fragments of which are preserved in two of
the transept windows.
On the floor before the communion table is a stone which once contained a
rich brass figure of the Lord Treasurer Cromwell, habited in full plated
armour and a flowing mantle and cordon, the gauntlets reaching to the
middle joint of the fingers, a long sword across him from the middle of
the belt, and at his feet two wild men with clubs his supporters; by his
side the figure of Margaret his wife; and over them a canopy charged with
saints, and under them the following inscription:
“Hic jacet nobilis Baro Radulphus Cromwell Miles D’ns de Cromwell
quo’dm Thesaurarius Anglie et fundator hujus Collegii cum inclita
consorte sua Margareta una herede d’ni Dayncourt qui quid’m Radulphus
obiit quarto die mens. Januarij Anno d’ni Mill’o cccclv. Et p’dicta
Margareta obiit xv die Septe’br Anno d’ni mill’io ccccliij Quor’
Aiab’ pp’ietur Deus Amen.”
The whole of these figures, the canopy, and the arms are gone and only
half the inscription is now remaining.
On the north side of the Lord Treasurer, is the figure in brass of Joan
Lady Cromwell, {91a} under a canopy adorned with saints, and under her
this inscription:
“Orate p’ a’ia Johanne d’ne Cromwell que obijt decimo die martij Anno
d’ni mill’mo cccclxxix cuj’ a’ie p’piciet’ Deus Amen.”
On the other side of the Lord Treasurer is the figure in brass of Matilda
Lady Willoughby, {91b} under a canopy charged with saints, and at her
feet the following inscription:
“Hic jacet d’na Matilda nuper d’ni Willughby quondam uxor Roberti
d’ni de Willughby militis ac consanguinea et heres illustris d’ni
Radulphi nup’ dn’i Crumwell militis fundatoris hujus collegii ac
specialis benefactrix ejusdem collegij que obijt xxxo die aug’ Anno
Domini Mill’imo cccclxxxxvij cujus anime p’picietur om’p’ns deus
Amen.”
The corner shields from this stone, and also those from that of Joan Lady
Cromwell are gone. {92a} The canopies have sustained but little injury.
In the middle of the floor of the choir is the figure in brass of a
priest, under which is the following inscription to the memory of William
Moor, the second provost of this college:
“Vir virtute vivens Will’us vulgo vocatus
Hujus Collegii de Tateshale secundus
Hic Eboracensis fuit eccl’ie cathedralis
Sacre Scripture baccalaurius arte p’batus
Octobris dena mensis cu’ luce novena
Bil’ d’ni C quater I sexto continuat’
Boor micuit more mitis bene morigerat’
Prudens p’positus et egenis semp’ habundus
Canonicus Rector et de ledenham specialis
Jam sub tellure fit vermibus esca paratus
Mente pia morit’ cujus corpus sepelitur
Sp’us in celis ejus sine fine locatur.”
A brass figure of a priest, about five feet long, with the figure of the
deity on his breast, and several saints down his robe, is now loose in
the choir. Mr. Gough, in his “Sepulchral Monuments,” describes this as
the figure of William Moor, and attached to the above inscription. {92b}
On the floor between the nave and the choir is a brass figure much worn,
under which, though scarcely legible, is this inscription:
“Hic jacet Hugo . . . quondam . . . d’ni Rad’i de Cromwell Militis
d’ni de Tateshale qui obiit ultimo die Septe’bris A’o d’ni mill’mo
ccccxi cuj’ a’ie p’piciet deus Amen.” {92c}
In various parts of the floor of this church are traces of brass figures,
which are now gone, one, in particular, against the door in the north
aisle appears to have been exceedingly rich.
The south side of the transept is now partitioned off, and used as a
school, in which the children are instructed on the plan of Dr. Bell.
The living is a donative, extra judicial, in the presentation of the lord
of the manor. It was once held by the Reverend Obadiah How, D.D. a man
of considerable learning, and the author of several theological
treatises; he died in 1685, and was buried in the church of Boston, of
which he was vicar. It was afterwards held for more than forty years by
the Reverend Michael Taylor, who died in 1730, and was buried in the
midst of the nave of this church.
The college, which was situated on the north side of the church, is
entirely gone. The alms-houses still remain with a small endowment.
An old building in the town, supposed to have been the parish chapel, now
forms part of a malting office.