*LINCOLN, (Lincolnshire) 103 cm. 128 mm. from London, was formerly called Nicol. It stands on the side of a hill, with the Witham r. running at the bottom in three small channels, over which are several bridges. Vortimer, that valiant Briton who so often defeated the Saxons, died and was buried here. The Danes took this city twice by storm, and the Saxons as often retook it. In Edward the Confessor's time it is said to have had 1070 houses; and Malmsbury relates, that in the Normans time it was one of the most populous cities in England, and a mart for all goods coming by land or water. K. Will. I. built a castle here; and, about the same time, the Bp's See was translated hither from Dorchester in Oxfordshire. This is still reckoned the biggest diocese in all England, though Ely, Peterborough, and Oxford, have been taken out of it. K. Edw. III. made this city a staple for wool, leather, lead, &c. It was once burnt, once besieged by K. Stephen, who was here defeated and taken prisoner, and once taken by Hen. III. from his rebellious Barons. It is said to have had 52 Chs, which in the R. of Edw. VI. were by act of Pt. reduced to 18, and they are now but 13, and the meanest that are to be seen any where, except its cathedral, or minster, which is a stately Gothic pile, the glory of Lincoln, being brought by several Bps. to such a pitch of magnificence and elevation, that the monks used to say, the devil must needs frown at so noble a structure for divine worship; from whence it became a proverb to say of a man who has malice and envy, that he looks as the devil over Lincoln. It is so lofty, and the hill it stands on is so high, that it may be seen in five or six counties, 50 m. to the N. and 30 to the S. and is one of the largest in England. Here is also the famous great bell, called Tom of Lincoln, which is near 5 tons in weight, almost 23 feet in circumference, and will hold 424 gallons ale measure. Dr. Fuller, who aptly calls it the Stentor of England, says fifty bells might be cast out of it. This city abounded heretofore with mons. and other religious houses. There is a great pool here, formed by the r. on the W. side of it, called Swan-Pool, because of the multitude of swans on it. The Romans Northgate still remains entire, by the name of Newport-Gate; there are also divers fragments of the old Roman wall. Over against the castle is an intrenchment cast up by K. Stephen; and here are carved the arms of John of Gaunt D. of Lancaster, who lived here like a King, and had a mint. The city has a communication with the Trent, by a canal called the Foss-Dyke. In the centre of the ruined old castle there is a handsome modern structure for holding the assizes. This city is a Co. of itself, and has a viscountial jurisdiction for 30 m. round, which is a privilege that no other city in England can equal. It is governed by a mayor, 12 ald. 2 sheriffs, a recorder, 4 chamberlains, 2 sword-bearer, 4 coroners, above 40 C. C. And has given title of Earl to the Clinton family, ever since the R. of Q. Eliz. Here are 4 ch. scs. where 120 poor children are taught by the widows of clergymen. The neighbouring course is noted for frequent horse-races. On the down of Lincoln, towards Boston, that rare fowl the bustard is seen sometimes, as well as on Salisbury-Plain. Lincoln-heath extends above 50 m, viz. from Sleaford and Ancaster S. to the Humber N. though it is but 3 or 4 m. over, where broadest. The Mts. here are Tu. and F. the Fairs June 24, first F. in September, and Nov. 17. We read that David K. of Scots met K. John here, on the 22d of Nov. in the 3d of his R. and performed homage to him, on a hill without the city, in presence of the Abps. of Canterbury, York, and Ragusa, 13 Bps. and a vast number of temporal Lds. Kts. and Esqrs. English and Scots. K. Henry VII. kept his court here at Easter, in 1486. The Jews were once its chief inh. till they were forced to remove, after having impiously crucified the child of one Grantham, and thrown it into a well, to this day called Grantham's-Well. The Bps had a magnificent palace here, which was ruined in the civil wars.