A HISTORY OF LINCOLNSHIRE COLLEGES
107. THE COLLEGE OF SPILSBY
The college of Spilsby was founded in 1347 by
John Willoughby Lord de Eresby, in connexion
with a church which he had built close by the
original chapel of Spilsby. It was his purpose to
endow it for the purpose of supporting a master
and twelve chaplains, to sing for ever for the
souls of the founder, his ancestors, and successors.
The master was to have full powers of correction, and statutes were to be drawn up for the
use of the chaplains; and the churches of
Eresby, Over Toynton, and Kirkby were to be
appropriated to the college, that it might have an
income of 80 marks. (fn. 1)
The scheme was approved by the pope in
1347, and by the king in 1349, (fn. 2) but the founder
died before it was fully carried out. His son,
John, in 1351 obtained a fresh licence from the
king to complete his father's work, (fn. 3) but it seems
doubtful whether the college was ever served by
twelve chaplains. (fn. 4) The master in 1378 was
presented by eight chaplains, (fn. 5) the one in 1422 by
five, (fn. 6) and the one in 1443 by two only. (fn. 7) Sir
William Willoughby, who died in 1503, left
£200 to the fabric of the church, and £6 a year
for a chaplain to sing for his soul there; (fn. 8) it seems
probable that before his time the revenues of the
college were much diminished, and the original
foundation no longer observed as at first, for in
1547 he was reckoned as the founder. From
his death till the suppression of chantries and
colleges there was a master at Spilsby, assisted by
three chaplains. (fn. 9)
At the outbreak of the Lincoln rebellion one
of the insurgent leaders came to Spilsby and rang
the bells, and sware the master and all whom he
found there 'to be true to God, the king, and
the commons.' (fn. 10) They were not, however,
brought to trial.
The clear value of the lands belonging to the
college in 1547 (when the advowson had been
granted to Katharine, duchess of Suffolk) was
£40 19s. 11d. (fn. 11)
Masters of Spilsby College
William of Scrafield, (fn. 12) resigned 1378
John Atte Howse of Hagworthingham, (fn. 13) presented 1378
William Hardegray, (fn. 14) resigned 1414
John of Scotton, (fn. 15) presented 1414, died 1422
William Styrope, (fn. 16) presented 1422
John Garard, (fn. 17) resigned 1443
John Forman, (fn. 18) presented 1443
Richard Shaw, (fn. 19) died 1532
Thomas Maltby, (fn. 20) presented 1532, occurs 1547