Commission to come over into England to gather up Peter pence which gave him opportunity to espy out some preferment or other here therefore coming to the King and much complaining of the troubles in his own Countrey whose Wars by reason of his age he could not endure he besought the King to conferr upon him the Abby of Peterburgh which was then vacant which he being allyed to the King obtained notwithstanding that both Archbishops and Bishops opposed it telling the King it was not lawful for him to hold two Abbeys But the King afterwards perceiving his fraud and covetousness commanded him to depart the Realm when he had held the Abbey of Peterburgh 5 years and so Anno 1133. he returned to his Abbey De Angeli In the first year that this John came to be Abbot here as Wittlesey writes there were heard and seen in the night time throughout Lent in the Woods betwixt Stamford and Peterburgh Hunters with their Horns and Dogs all of them of black and ugly complexion some riding upon black Horses and some upon Goats they had great staring eyes and were seen sometimes twenty and sometimes thirty in a company 20. MARTINVS de Vecti So called of the Isle of Wight from whence he came some call him Martin Cook He was first Prior of S. Neots and the King gave him the Monastery of Peterburgh into which he was honourably received by the Monks upon S. Peters day Anno 1133. being the 33 of King Henry 1. He was very industrious in repairing and perfecting the buildings of the Monastery and especially the Church to the dedication whereof anew there came thither Alexander Bishop of Lincoln the Abbots of Thorney Croyland Ramsey and others to whom Abbot Martin shewed the Holy Reliques and S. Oswalds arm Anno 1123. 23 years after its burning The tokens of which conflagration are yet to be seen or of some other in the inside of the West Porch above This Martin built a Gate of the Monastery but which I cannot say He likewise changed the situation of the Village to the Western side of the Monastery for before it was on the East he appointed the market place as now it is and built many houses about it He changed also the place of Wharfage for Boats coming to the Town to that place which is now commonly used He removed the Church of S. John Baptist which before stood in a Close still known by the name of S. John's Close to the place where now the said Church standeth And as he was a great builder so was he also in some sort a demolisher for he pulled down a Castle standing near the Church which perhaps was Mount Thorold formerly mentioned He planted the Vineyard and added many buildings to his own dwellings He entertained King Stephen who came hither to see the Arm of S. Oswald to whom he offered his Ring and forgave the Church 40 Marks which it ought him and confirmed many other Priviledges Abbot Martin in the time of his Government took a journey to Rome and along with him the Charter of King Ethelred that the then Pope Eugenius the Third might grant his Confirmation But in Wittlesey the Consistory there arose a debate about the form of the Charter which hitherto had gone currant for the space of almost 500 years for one of the Cardinals present besought the Pope that he would not give the honour of his name to another whereupon a new Charter was granted to Abbot Martin in the name of Eugenius and the name of King Ethelred Founder and Benefactor was put out Martin having sitten in his Abbattical See the Appendix Chair here about the term of 22 years died Anno 1155. which was the second year of King Henry 2. And there succeeded 21. WILLIHELMVS de Watervile Vid. Chartam in App. Who being Elected Abbot by the Monks the Election easily obtained the Kings ratification in regard this William was one of his Clerks or Chaplains The King also confirmed unto him and his Abbey the eight Hundreds of that part of the County which had formerly been granted by the Kings Predecessors This Abbot erected a Priory in Stamford and the Church of S. Michael there He setled a yearly maintenance upon the Church of S. John Baptist in Peterburgh enacting that the Chaplain should yearly upon Michaelmas day bring his Church-Key to the Sacrist of the Monastery as an acknowledgment of his dependance upon it He was very industrious in perfecting the buildings of his Monastery and adding new ones He built the Cloister and covered it with Lead He ordered Cloister and disposed the Quire of the Church in that manner as it lately stood and in some sort continues still He founded Quire the Chappel of Thomas Becket which was finished by his Successor and is now standing in the middle of the Arch of the Church-Porch as you enter into the Church He built a Chappel also in his own House and other necessary Offices At length he was accused by his Monks to the Archbishop so that he was deposed without conviction or his own confession as our Writers say of any crime deserving that censure when he had held his Abby twenty years Anno 1175. being the 21 or 22 year of King Henry the Second And although our Peterburgh Writers are silent in the cause of his deposition yet others have taken notice of it Johannes Brompton Jornallensis relates it thus that Richard Archbishop of Canterbury came to the Abby Pag. 1107 1108. of Peterburgh and deposed William of Watervile the Abbot there for that he against the will of the Monks entred with a band of armed men into the Church and took from thence some Reliques and the arm of S. Oswald pro denariis ad Judaeos invadendos the Monks standing in defence of their Reliques many of them were grievously wounded Roger Hoveden relates another reason as the most principal which he addeth to that of Jornallensis Pag. 313. that this Abbot William was fallen into the Kings disfavour for his brothers sake one Walter of Watervile in the Parish of Achrich in the County of Northampton where anciently was his Castle whom Abbot William received with others of that party being then in Arms against the King which shewed that Abbot William was not so Loyal to his Master the King as he should have been but abetting with his brother it might cause his own deposition 22. BENEDICTVS William being deposed the King held the Abby in his hand two years and then Benedict Prior of Canterbury was thought the fittest for it and made Abbot Anno 1177. in the Twenty fourth of King Henry the Second He was a very Learned man and as Pitseus who gives him very high commendations doth certifie wrote two Books Vitam S. Thomae Cantuariensis De ejusdem post mortem miraculis and certain others saith he yet because I find these Books mentioned in the Catalogue of this Abbots Library it may be
claudit tumulus Pro clausis ergo rogemus 24 ACHARIVS Fol. 456. Whom Hoveden calls Zacharias was Prior of S. Albanes and elected thence to be Abbot here Anno 1200. He by his care and providence much enriched his Church and built many buildings in several Mannors belonging to it He maintained suit with the Abbot of Croyland for the Marsh of Singlesholt and recovered it letting it again to the Abbot of Croyland for a yearly acknowledgement of four stone Petras of Wax He added to the number of Monks that then were two and twenty more And when he had happily governed this Abby the space of ten years he died Anno 1210. being the 11 year of King John And there succeeded 25. ROBERTVS de Lindesey Glass-windows Who was Monk and Sacristary of Burgh and now Abbot unto which he paved the way by his good deeds towards the Church for whereas the windows were before only stuffed with straw to keep out the weather he beautified above thirty of them with glasses and his example brought the rest by degrees to the like perfection He built also the Chancel at Oxney being chosen Abbot he was presented to the King at Winchester and had his election confirmed And at Northampton he received Episcopal benediction from Hugo the second then Bishop of Lincoln in the year 1214. for after the death of Acharius the King held the Abbey in his own hand three years He settled the Hundred of Nassaburgh in peace and quietness for in those days the Foresters with their Cattel over-ran all so that the inhabitants of the Towns therein were much endammaged by them and their domineering in these parts by vertue of Forest Lands therefore Abbot Robert made a composition with the King giving him Vid. Chartam in App. 1320 Marks for the dis-foresting that part of the Country He covered the Abbots Hall with Lead He made in the South Cloister a Lavatory of Marble for the Monks to wash their hands in when they went to Meals their Hall being near on the other The Lavatory side of the wall the door leading into it being yet standing though the Hall be long since demolished only some small remains on the wall side are yet to be seen but the Lavatory continued entire until the year 1651. and then with the whole Cloister it was also pulled down Abbot Robert at his entrance into his place found but seventy two Monks to which number he added eight more assigning the Mannor of Bellasise for their maintenance having built a fair Mannor-house there which Bellasise builded partly is now standing He built also the Hall at his Mannor of Collingham In the time of this Robert the fourth Laterane Council was held under Innocent the fourth Pope of that name Anno 1215. Abbot Robert was cited and went thither and received injunctions for his Convent concerning several times of fasting and other duties which at his coming home he put into execution Fol. 287. In his time there arose great discords betwixt the Civil and Ecclesiastical States that the Land stood interdicted by the space of six years Then followed bitter Wars betwixt King John and his Barons wherein how the Monastery of Peterburgh behaved themselves I find but little in any of our Writers Only by what Matthew Paris relates it may be conjectured they were none of the Kings friends though their Patron Ludovicus saith he besieging the Castle of Dover a long time in vain at length the King passed over into Suffolk and Norfolk and miserably wasted those Countries And coming to Peterburgh and Croyland he plundered the Churches there his Officer Savaricus de Mallo Leone with his accomplices committing many outrages in the Country thereabout At Croyland he fired all their stacks which the inhabitants had newly gathered in and so returned to the Town of Lynn with great spoils But afterwards the King taking his journey from Lynn Northward all his Carriages and Treasures were cast away and perished as he passed the River Wellestre Yet afterwards the Abbot of Peterburgh was summoned to assist King Henry the third in the siege of Rokingham Castle which was then the Abbots and the Abbot himself went in person in that expedition till at length that Castle was reduced to the Kings obedience but whether it was this Abbot Robert or some Hon. de Pightesly of his Successors mine Author tells me not Pag. 288. In the time of this Abbot Robert about the year 1217 according to Pitseus there was one Hugo Candidus or Hugh White a Monk of this Monastery of whom the said Author in his Book De Scriptoribus makes mention who wrote the whole History of his Monastery whose works were extant in later times for John Leland who lived in the days of King Henry 8 collected many things out of him but whether or where the said Author be now extant I know not Pitseus tells us also of another Hugh In Appendice Pag. 865. a Monk of this Church whom he calls an English Historian but professeth his ignorance of what he wrote or when he lived Perhaps both might be but one and the same Hugh But perhaps Wittlesey an antient Writer of this Church may make it clearer by telling us that there was one Hugo Albus so called from his white complexion as being subject to bleed a Monk here who was famous in the time of Abbot Ernulfus and of John Henry Martin and William his Successors who wrote the History of this Monastery and so was before Pitseus his account Robert having been Abbot here the space of seven years died October 25. 1222. being the seventh year of King Henry 3. He was not very rich in Books his Library consisting only of these few Numerale Magistri W. de Montibus cum aliis rebus Tropi Magistri Petri cum diversis summis Sententiae Petri Pretanensis Psalterium Glossatum Aurora Psalterium non glossatum Historiale 26. ALEXANDER de Holdernesse Who was first a Monk then Prior and lastly Abbot of this place after the death of Robert A great builder he was and built the Hall at his Mannor of Oundle that also at Castre Eyebury and other places Having been Abbot here only four years he died on the day of his entrance November 20. 1226. and of King Henry 3. the Eleventh These were his Books Psalterium Concordantiae utriusque Test Claustrum animae Opus alterum quod perfecit Rogerus de Helpston Aurora Poenitentiale Tria Breviaria Concilium Lateranense cum aliis rebus Corrogationes Promethei Missale The first day of May before the death of this Alexander there died at Peterburgh Richardus de Mansco Mr. Philipot Catal. Canc. Angl. pag. 10. Bishop of Durham and Chancellor of England 27. MARTINVS de Ramsey Being a Monk of Peterburgh was elected Abbot after the death of Alexander And on S. Andrew's Eve the King ratified his Election which was also confirmed by Hugo then Bishop of Lincoln in the Chappel
forty days of Penance that had been injoyned them And he also confirmed such Indulgences as had been granted by any of his Suffragans It bears date from Croyland the Thursday before the Feast of St. Michael There had been the like Indulgence granted a little before by Hugo Balsom Biship of Ely to those who out of devotion went piously to visit the Arm of St. Oswald and other Reliques in this Church c. To whom he grants 30. days relaxation of Penance Dated 11. Kalend. Sept. 1253. Another there is of Will Bishop of Ossory granting ten days Indulgence as I noted before to those that visited this Church on the Feast of the Dedication before mentioned All which show the true nature of Indulgences which were only relaxations of Penance and that other Bishops granted them as well as the Bishop of Rome as they also sometimes canonized a person for a Saint I have transcribed them all and set them down in the Appendix together with an Indulgence of Oliver Sutton some years after wherein he grants a merciful relaxation to all those that on certain times should devoutly come to the Altar of the blessed Virgin in her Chapel in the Monastery of Burgh which he had newly consecrated The same Boniface on the same day and year directed his Letters to the Bishop of Lincoln mentioning a Constitution of the Council held at Oxford which Excommunicated all those who either violated or disturbed the Ecclesiastical rights and liberties which he being desirous to maintain by these presents commands that all the disturbers or violaters of the rights and liberties of the Church of St. Peter de Burgo which had been granted by the Kings of England or any other persons should publickly and solemnly in general and by name be Excommunicated when it appeared they were guilty of such disturbance or violence About this time I suppose it was that Polebroke before mentioned out of which the ten pound for finding the five Hogsheads of Wine was paid was purchased by this Abbot The whole History of which is related in the Monasticon out of a Register of this Church in Sir Joh. Cotton's Library Which saith that Eustachius Vicecomes Founder of the Church of St. Mary de Huntingdon held two Fees de Honore Burgi in Clopton Polebroke Catworth c. Which Estate came afterward to one Will. de Lovetot and then to his Son Richard who held these two Fees in King Richard the first 's time as appears by his Charter in the first year of his Reign which confirms to the Abbot of Burgh among other Lands duo feoda in Clopton pertinentiis which were held by Richard de Lovetot Who had two Sons William and Nigell and three Daughters Amicitia Rosia and Margeria William dying without Issue the Estate came to Nigel who being a Beneficed Clergyman it came upon his death to the three Sisters The two Eldest of which though married had no share in these Fees but they fell to the youngest who was married to Richard Patrick and by him had a Son and a Daughter William and Margery She married to Will. de Vernon and her Brother William gave all his share in the Estate which was in the hand of Hugo Fleming and Tho. Smert and their Heirs who did homage to Will. Patrick for it to his Sister Margery Who after his death in her free Widowhood gave and granted all the Homages and Services of the aforesaid Fleming and Smert and their Heirs to John de Caleto Abbot of Burgh by her Deed. And afterward Rob. Fleming feofavit praedictum Johannem Abbatem de omnibus terris Tenementis quae habuit in Polebroke per Chartam Which Charter I find in our Records here remaining wherein Rob. de Flemenk gives to John de Caleto his Tenement in Polebroke and the Advouson of the Church In this year King Henry granted the very same Charter to this Church which Richard the first had done confirming all their Lands in the several Counties of the Realm by name It bears date at Windsor 12 Junii Anno Regni sui 37. The like for their Liberties in which is the Fair for eight days and the eight Hundreds c. and for their Woods In the next year 1254. three neighbouring Abbots dyed as I find in the Chron. of John Abbot viz. Thomas de Wells Abbot of Croyland David Abbot of Thorney and William Abbot of Ramsey Pope Innocent the IV. dyed also And in this year there was an aid granted to the King ad primogenit fil suum Militem faciend for the making Prince Edward a Knight An. Regis Hen. 38. sc de quolibet scuto de Honore Burgi XL. Sol. every Knights Fee of the Honour of Burgh paying forty Shillings which was received by one of the Friers Rich. de London So the Title of this account runs in our Book fol. CCCLXXI Recept fratris R. de Lond. de denariis Auxilii Domini Regis H. c. And then follow the names of all the Knights and their payments the first being Galfridus de Sancto Medardo who payd twelve Pound and therefore had six Knights Fees the second Radulph de Kameys who paid as much c. I have not room for the rest who are two and fifty in all some of which had but half Fees and others less In this year it was also that the King sent his Justices into many places in England to do right to every man and to free the Country from Thieves and Highwaymen Quorum unus fuit Abbas de Burgo saith Matth Paris one of which Justices was the Abbot of Burgh as Mr. G. hath observed In the year 1257. there was a power granted to this Abbot to distrain both of his Knights and of all other Freeholders who owed him service but had not done it that he might be able to perform the service wherein he stood bound to the King for his assistance in his War then in Wales For the Abbot stood bound to the King for Sixty Knights Fees which he had not performed and therefore a distress was granted against him upon all the Land he held of the King in that service without any prejudice to what the Church held in perpetuam eleemosynam In the next year I find a final agreement made between him and Ralph Crumbwell Son of Rob. Crumbwell about sixty Acres of Meadow in Collingham A confederation also between him and the Prior of Worcester whereby they engaged their Churches in such a mutual society and Friendship as I mentioned before between Alexander and the Abbot of St. Edmunds and several other things which I cannot find in what year they were done Particularly a Charter made by Steven de Horbiling wherein he gives to him and the Convent a Capital Messuage in Burgh in the Street called Tugate and another hard by it and three Acres of Arable Land c. Mr. G. saith p. 34. that he found no mention of the Rule of St. Benedict in this Monastery till
troubled for her After Supper she perused her Will and Inventory At her usual hour she went to Bed slept some part of the night and spent the rest in Prayer Her fatal day being come she arose to prepare her self for her last lying down when calling her servants together she read over her Will to them letting them know what Legacies she had bequeathed Then did she apparel her self after this manner In borrowed hair a Bourn having on her head a dressing of Lawn edged with bone-lace and above that a vail of the same bowed out with wire and her Cuffs suitable about her neck a Pomander chain and an Agnus Dei hanging at a black Ribband a Crucifix in her hand a pair of Beads at her girdle with a golden Cross at the end Her uppermost gown was of black Satin printed training upon the ground with long hanging sleeves trimmed with Akorn buttons of Jet and Pearl the sleeves over her arms being cut to give sight to a pair of purple Velvet underneath her Kirtle as her Gown was of black printed Satin her Boddies of Crimson Satin unlaced in the back the skirt being of Crimson Velvet her Stockins of Worsted watchet clocked and edged at the top with silver and under them a pair of white Her Shoes of Spanish Leather with the rough side outward Thus attired she came forth of her Chamber to the Commissioners who were ready in the passage to receive her and to accompany her to the Stage whereon she was to act the last scene of her life making as yet no show of sadness until Melvin her servant presenting himself on his knees bewailing not only hers but also his own misfortune that he was to be a sad reporter to Scotland of her death then with some flux of tears she comforted him that he should shortly see the troubles of Mary Stuart have an end sending by him her commands to her Son and bidding him tell him that she had done nothing prejudicial to his Kingdom of Scotland Then addressing her self to the Commissioners she told them that she had certain requests to make to them viz. that a certain summ of money might be paid to one Curle her servant which Sir Amyas Pawlet had knowledge of That her servants might enjoy such Legacies as by her Will she had bequeathed unto them That they might be fairly used and safely sent into their own Country To the first Sir Aymas Pawlet gave his testimony and promise The rest were also promised and performed Yet said the Queen of Scots I have one request more to make that you would suffer my servants to be about me at my death to which the Commissioners returned a refusal the Earl of Kent saying that their presence would be a disturbance to her and besides he feared there would be some superstition practised in pressing to dip their handkerchiefs in her bloud My Lord said the Queen I will pass my word they shall do no such things Alas poor souls it will do them good to bid their Mistress farwell Your Mistriss meaning Queen Elizabeth being a Maiden Queen for womanhoods sake would not deny me this courtesie and I know she hath not so straitned your Commission but that you might grant me more than this if I were of a far meaner condition Whereupon the Commissioners consulted and granted her the nomination of six persons to be with her so she nominated four men Melvin her Apothecary her Chirurgeon and another old man And two women which used to lie in her Chamber After this she proceeded towards the great Hall in the Castle Melvin bearing up her train two Gentlemen of Sir Amyas Pawlets on each hand one and Mr. Andrews the Sheriff going before The Scaffold at the upper end of the Hall was two foot high and twelve foot broad hanged with black and she seemed to monnt it with as much willingness as ease and took her seat the Earls of Shrewsbury and Kent standing on her right hand Mr. Andrews the Sheriff on her left and the two Executioners opposite before her Then was the Commission read by Beal Clerk of the Council which she seemed as little to regard as if it had not concerned her at all After the reading of the Commission Doctor Fletcher Dean of Peterburgh addressed an Exhortation to the Queen of Scots that she would consider her present condition and withal the vanity of her Religion which he besought her to renounce but she refused professing her readiness to die therein The Lords desiring her to joyn with them in prayers she also refused alledging the difference in their Religions and saying she would pray by her self But the Dean was by the Commissioners desired to pray which he did in these words Dr. Fletcher's Prayer O Most gracious God and merciful Father who according to the multitude of thy mercies dost so put away the sins of them that truly repent that thou remembrest them no more Open we beseech thee thine eyes of mercy and behold this Person appointed unto death whose eyes of understanding and spiritual light albeit thou hast hitherto shut up that the glorious beams of thy favour in Jesus Christ do not shine unto her but is possessed with blindness and ignorance of heavenly things a certain token of thy heavy displeasure if thy unspeakable mercy do not triumph against thy judgment yet O Lord our God impute not we beseech thee unto her those her offences which separate her from thy mercy and if it may stand with thine everlasting purpose and good pleasure O Lord grant unto us we beseech thee this mercy which is about thy throne that the eyes of her heart may be enlightned that she may understand and be converted unto thee and grant her also if it be thy blessed will the heavenly comfort of thy Holy Spirit that she may taste and see how gracious the Lord is Thou hast no pleasure good Lord in the death of a sinner and no man shall praise thy Name in the pit renew in her O Lord we most humbly beseech thy Majesty whatsoever is corrupt in her either by her own frailty or by the malice of the ghostly enemy visit her O Lord if it be thy good pleasure with thy saving health as thou didst the offender at the side of thy Cross with this consolation This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise say unto her soul as thou didst unto thy servant David I am thy salvation so shall thy mercy being more mighty be more magnified Grant these mercies O Lord to us thy servants to the increase of thy Kingdom and glory at this time And further O most merciful Father preserve we most humbly beseech thy Majesty in long and honourable peace and safety Elizabeth thy servant our most natural Soveraign Lady and Queen let them be ashamed and confounded O Lord that seek after her soul let them be turned backward and put to confusion that wish her evil And strengthen still Lord we pray thee
made Arch-Bishop of Cant. Anno 1070. This Book is extant Printed Lovanii 1551. Lanfrancus contra Berengarium de Corpore sanguine Domini Ernulfus was Abbot of Peterburgh and from thence translated to Rochester See B .... Quaedam solutiones Ernulfi Episcopi Roffensis ad quosdam quaestiones Lamberti Abbatis Sancti Bertani Sermo Eusebii de Corpore sanguine Domini See Q. Sermo Isidori Episcopi Hispalensis de eadem re Quid quibus temporibus sit legendum aut canendum Commentum Boëtii de Trinitate Expositio super idem Commentum Libellus contra Eutichen Nestorium Expositio super eundem Isidorus de ordine creaturae Bacharius Macceus a Briton disciple to S. Patrick Anno 460. Pits who mentioneth this Epistle under this Title Dereparatione lapsi ceu de fructu poenitentiae ad Januarium Epistola S. Bacharii ad Januarium Anselmus de concordia praescientiae praedestinationis gratiae Dei cum libero arbitrio Consuetudines Monachorum Cluniacensium Epistolae diversorum Pontificum Laurence was Deacon to Xystus Bish of Rome and under Decius about Anno 252. was roasted upon a Gridiron S. Ambrose Sâ—r. 71. and elsewhere makes glorious mention of him August 10. is his Memorial Passio S. Laurentii versificé Mauritius was Commander of 6666 Souldiers who being all Christians were put to the Sword at Agaunum a Town in Helvetia in the time of Dioclesian about the year 399. as the Roman Martyrologies record who celebrate his memory Sept. 22. Passio S. Mauritii sociorum ejus versifice Versus de S. Pafnutio De poenitentia Thaidis meretricis Versus de transgressione Jonae prophetae Versus de Jepte Versus de Susanna Exhortatio vitae honestae She was some of her Reliques were kept Vita Sanctae Anstrobertae Virginis versifice diversa ejusdem Miracula P Quaestiones Albini de Genesi solutiones Tractatus de mensuris ponderibus Interpretationes quorundam nominum veteris testamenti Q Sermo Augustini de Cantico novo Aug. in his 9 tome Sermo de quarta feria Aug. in his 9 tome De Cataclysmo De tempore Barbarico cum Sermone de Trinitate Aug. in his 9 tome Isidorus was Bishop of Sevil in Spain An 630. These Tractates are recorded by Trithemius and Bellarmine Liber prooemiorum Isidori cum libris veteris testamenti Aug. in his 9 tome novi Liber Isidori de ortu vita patrum veteris novi testamenti Isidorus de patribus veteris novi testamenti Quis cujus typum gesserit Catalogus Isidori de Catholicis Scriptoribus Catalogus Hieronymi de Catholicis Scriptoribus Gelasius was Bishop of Rome Anno 490. Bellarm. Epistola Gelasii Papae septuaginta Episcoporum de recipiendis non recipiendis libris Catalogus Gennadii de Catholicis Scriptoribus See B. Item Catalogus Isidori de Catholicis Scriptoribus Robertus Tumbeley Rob. Tumbeley was Monk of Croyland saith Pitseus but knows not when he lived super Cantica Canticorum Expositio S. Cypriani Martyris super Orationem Dominicam Duo libri Soliloquiorum S. Augustini Augustinus de Immortalitate animae liber unus In his 1 tom 1. Retract c. 5. Augustinus de Quantitate animae liber unus In his 1 tom 1 Retract c. 8. Augustinus de definitionibus Ecclesiasticorum dogmatum liber unus Quaedam excerpta de tribus libris Augustini contra Parmenianum R Augustinus de vera religione liber unus Augustinus ad Valentinum de gratia libero arbitrio liber unus Augustinus de 8 quaestionibus Dulcitii Augustinus contra Pelagianos de Praedestinatione Divina Responsiones Augustini ad quaedam sibi falso objecta contra fidem Sex Sermones Augustini de Nativitate Domini Sermo Eusebii de Nativitate Domini Sermo Origenis de Circumcisione Domini Tres Sermones Augustini de Epiphania Domini Augustinus de Doctrina Christiana S Hildefonsus was B. of Toledo An. 658. saith Bellarmine and both he and Trithemius makes mention of this book which say they the blessed Virgin took so well that she gave him thanks for it Liber Hildefonsis Episcopi de perpetua virginitate B. Mariae T Augustinus de Virginitate In his 7 Tome Augustinus de nuptiis concupiscentia Liber Soliloquiorum Isidori Hispalensis Episcopi U Quaedam excerpta de scriptis diversorum Doctorum Libellus de Tonis Proverbia Senecae Expositiones diversarum partium Augustinus de Verbis Domini Idem de tempore munitionis De duodecim lapidibus De proprietate cantus ann X Apotheosis v PN ad D PN SS PD Y Eusebius who lived Anno 326. wrote this Chronicle from the beginning of the World to 329. of Christ then S. Hierome continued it to 382. then Prosper of Aquitain continued it to 448. and after him others Chronica Prosperi Augustinus de diversis quaestionibus Gennadius Sermo Augustini de dedicatione Ecclesiae Isidorus super librum Regum sed imperfectus Z Epistola ad Augustinum Quod vult dei Diaconi Et Augustinus ad Quod vult deum Diaconum A Beda Beda one of the greatest Scholars of that Century flourished in England his native Country Anno 731. de Compoto de naturis rerum Chronica Bedae Liber Dionysius commonly called Exiguus was a Scythian by Nation and for his piety and learning became an Abbot in Rome Anno 525. saith Bell. 540. saith Trithem Dionysii Abb. urbis Romae ad Petronium Episcopum de Compoto Epistola ejusdem ad Bonifacium de eadem re Helpricus Helpericus was a Monk of the Monastery of S. Gallus An. 1069. saith Trithem who nominates this book with some others which he wrote de Compoto Tractatus de 12 signis signa depicta Sententiae diversorum de cursu stellarum Ratio regularum Abaci B. Beda super Tobiam Beda super triginta quaestiones de libris Regum Beda super Canticum Abacuc Beda de Templo Salomonis Augustinus contra quinque haereses Sermo Augustini de Muliere forti Hieronymus super Ecclesiasten See O Tractatus Ernulfi Episcopi Roffensis de Incestuosis conjugiis C.. Retractationes Bedae de quibusdam quaestionibus praecedentis tractatus Interpretationes Bedae de quibusdam nominibus Hebraicis D.. Beda super verbum Neemiae sacerdotis liber unus Liber unus magni Aurelius Cassiodorus was Abbot in Ravenna Anno 575. saith Trithemius who mentioneth this though Bellarmine doth not Aurelii Cassiodori Senatoris de Anima E. Homiliae Caesarii Episcopi ad Monachos per x. homilias Homiliae There were two Eusebii Emiseni One Anno 350. remembred by Trithemius the other An. 430. by Bellar. Eusebii Emiseni ad Monachos per vii homilias Admonitio Caesarius was Bishop of Arles Anno 670. saith Trithemius which Bellarmine is against and will have him An. 499. See C xiii B. Caesarii Episcopi ad sororem suam Regula S. Basilii Cappadociae Episcopi per octo decem capitula F ... Bernardus de Consideratione
of that Bishop's Memorandums I have thought good to communicate to the Reader but that I might not too much interrupt the course of this History have placed them in the end of this Supplement together with some few other Records I shall only note here that there had been long an inclination in the people to this superstition appears by the Constitutions made in the Council held at St. Pauls London MCII. by Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury Where among other things it was ordained that none should dare to give holy reverence to the bodies of dead Men to Fountains and other things which some had done without Episcopal authority The words are these both in Malmsbury L. 1. de Gestis Pont. Angl. and Eadmerus L. 3. Hist Ne quis temeraria novitate corporibus mortuorum aut fontibus aut aliis rebus quod contigisse cognovimus sine Episcopali autoritate reverentiam sanctitatis exhibeat But within a few days almost all the Constitutions of that Council were broken and the principal transgressors were the Law-makers as William of Malmsbury's words are in MS. Copy of that Book in Sir John Cotton's Library Which are wholly omitted in the Printed Book among the Anglicarum rerum Scriptores MDCI. Eadmerus saith the same without mentioning particularly the prevarication of the Law-makers in the conclusion of those Constitutions Et hic quidem Lundoniensis Concilii textus est qui non post multos institutionis suae dies multos sui transgressores in omni hominum genere fecit And therefore no wonder Oliver Sutton found the people still poisoned with this error almost 200 years after that Council Which he honestly indeavoured to remedy by his Episcopal Authority But it is time to return to our History And to give a short account of the Founder of this Monastery and the time of its founding The first Founder all agree was Peada Son of Penda King of the Mercians Whose story is thus distinctly told by Hedda Abbot in a MS. Relation still remaining in the Book called Swapham There was a great Friendship between Peada Son of Penda and Alhfrid Son of Oswin King of Northumberland Brother to the great King and Martyr Oswald in so much that they made an interchangeable Marriage Alhfrid taking Kynesburga Sister to Peada and Peada taking Alfeda as he calls her Sister to Alhfrid unto Wife Whereupon Peada by the perswasions of his faithful Brother-in-Law and of his own pious Sister was made a Christian and baptized in Northumberland by that famous Bishop Finanus From whom he received also four Religious Preachers of the Gospel to carry with him to his own Country whither he returned plus jam gaudens de aeterna salute quam de petita Virgine rejoycing more in the eternal Salvation than in the Virgin he had gotten in Northumberland Symeon Dunelmensis speaks of this conversion in the very beginning of his History Cap. 4. and John Brampton names the place where he was baptized viz. Admurium twelve miles from the Eastern Sea together with the four Presbyters which Finanus gave him Ceadda Abde Betta and Dunna who coming into Peada's Country converted a great many to the Christian Faith in two years time for Penda did neither hinder these men from Preaching nor his people from believing All which is taken out of Bede L. III. Eccles Hist C. 21. where he saith that not only Peada but all his Nobles and Knights and every one of his Servants and Attendants were Baptized in vico Regis illustri qui vocatur Admurum And that Penda when his Son returned was so far from prohibiting the entertainment of the Christian Religion in his Kingdom that he hated and despised those who having received the Christian Faith did not live accordingly Saying they were wretched creatures who did not take care to obey the God in whom they believed These things were done two years before Penda died and in his Epitome he saith Penda died An. 655 and the Mercians were made Christians And in this year the foundation of this Monastery is said to have been laid by Peada with the assistance of Oswin King of Northumberland and of devout people newly Baptized and especially of Saxulph as Hugo often sayes Though the Chron. Johannis Abbatis saith it was An. 654. They are the very first words of it Anno Domini DCLIIII fundatum est Monasterium de Burgo Sancti Petri à Peada Rege Merciorum Saxulfo Comite facto ejus Abbate primo But Hedda before mentioned carries it still higher for he saith this Monastery was begun five and fifty years after the coming of Austin the Monk into England ab incarnatione Salvatioris DCL exacti The great Stones which Mr. G. observes were laid in the foundation Hugo sayes he saw when the Monastery was burnt and demolished quales octo paria boum vix unum traherent But it was only begun for Peada died in the year 656. as the forenamed Chronicle of John Abbot tells us A. DCLVI Peada mortuo Wlferus regnabat super Mercios erat Bissexto c. and left the Building to be perfected by his Brother Wolferus Who as Hugo sayes was no less in love with this work than Peada had been but pursued it with great zeal till he had finished it by the help of Saxulfus and the assistance of his Brother Ethelred and his two holy Sisters Kyneburga and Kyneswitha And having indowed it with Lands and other Revenues dedicated it to St. Peter This is all that Hugo sayes save only what belongs to his Charter c. in whom I find not a word about his revolting from Christianity or his growing cold in it nor in Hedda's Relation neither quo modo incipiente Christianitate in regione Mediterraneorum Anglorum initiatum sit Medeshamstedense Monasterium subsequentibus privilegiis confirmatum as the title of it bears But quite contrary he sayes King Wolfere was so flagrant as his word is in the worship of Christ that he made it his business not only to kindle the like affection in his own people but to bring the Southern Kings and people that were subject to him ad veram Dei sectam to Gods true Religion by sending them Royal gifts and inlarging their Dominions Yet I cannot say that Walter of Wittlesea devised all that story which follows in Mr. G. about him his Steward his two Sons and St. Chad and the Hart but he had it no doubt out of antienter Writers For Leland begins his Second Vol. of Collections out of a Book of an Author without name but as he gathers of the Church of Peterburgh whose title is De Martyrio Wulfadi Rufini filiorum Wulferi Regis And there is an old MS. in Sir John Cotton's Library intituled Passio Sanctorum Wlfadi Rufini filiorum Wlferi Regis in which the whole story is told more amply with the Speeches made by all parties concerned in it as may be seen in the 2. Vol. of the Monasticon p. 119. Out
say Semen Ecclesiae the Seed or Corn of the Church Which I find word for word in very old French in a short Glossary upon unusual English words in the antient Charters or in the Laws of King Alred Alfrid Edward and Knute Chirchesed vel Chircheomer vel Chircheambre un certein de ble batu R checun hume devoyt au ceus de Bretuns e de Englis a le Eglise le jur seint Martin Mes pus le venue de Normans c. donewint sulum la velie ley Moysi ratione primitiarum sicun lein truve en le lettris Cnut Kilenveya a Rome c ' est dit Chirchesed quasi semen Ecclesiae The Letter it self is in Ingulphus but it was not sent adsummum Pontificem as Fleta says but to the Archbishops and Bishops and all the Nation of England as he was coming from Rome 1031. wherein he desires them that before he arrived in England all the dues which by ancient Laws were owing to the Church might be paid and after the rest he mentions the tenths of the fruits in August and in the feast of St. Martin the first-fruits of the seeds called Kyrkset So his Letter concludes Et in Festivitate Sancti Martini primitiae seminum ad Ecclesiam sub cujus parochia quisque degit quae Anglice Kyrkeset nominatur Ingulph p. 61. Edit Oxon. c. This description of their Lands and Goods concludes with a Customary of their Tenants Villani Cottarii and Sochemanni in every Mannor belonging to the Church Which while the King held in his hand he gave away as Mr. G. observes the Mannor of Pithtesle for the same summ of money which the late Abbot had given him to confirm it Deo Sancto Petro Monachis sigillo authoritate regia And the person to whom the King granted it it may be further observed was one imployed to take the forenamed account of the Estate of the Church viz. Richard Basset or Bassed This Abbot was commemorated upon the 10. of November on which it appears by the Kalander was Depositio Johannis de Says Abbatis Anniversarium Henrici Talbot c. HENRICVS de Angeli His story is told more perfectly by Hugo in this manner He was first of all Bishop of Soissons and afterward made a Monk and Prior of Cluni and then Prior of Savenni After which because he was Cosin to the King of England and the Count of Aquitain the same Count gave him Abbatiam Sancti Johannis Angeli from whence he took his denomination And he being crafty cunning and ingenious afterward got the Archbishoprick of Besenscun but staid there no more than three days For he had not yet enough but got the Bishoprick de Senites where he staid about seven days And out of this preferment as well as that of Besenscun the Abbot of Cluni got him expelled He got therefore being never quiet to be Collector of Peter-pence in England Where he obtained this Abbey of Burch by pretending he was very old past labour and toil unable to bear the Wars and Troubles of his own Country and would quit his Abbey there of St. John de Angeli and that by the advice of the Pope and the Abbot of Cluni and would here take up his rest There was another thing also that had a great stroke in his preferment for besides he was near of kin to the King and that the forenamed discourse seemed to have truth in it he was the principal Witness to make Oath in a difference between the Kings Nephew the Duke of Normandy and the Daughter of the Count of Anjoy Upon all these scores the Abby was bestowed upon him in the year mentioned by Mr. G. So John Abbot also in his Chron. MS. An. MCXXVIII Henricus Abbas Andagavensis precibus optinuit à Rege Henrico Abbatiam Burgensem What Walter of Witlesea saith of Spectres seen that year he came to the Abby he had out of Hugo who saith Hoc non est falsum quia plurimi veracissimi homines viderunt audierunt cornua He staid one year in the Monastery and received homage and money of the Milites and of the whole Abbey but did not the least good for he sent and carried all to his Abbey beyond Sea whither he went by the Kings licence And having staid there a whole year he returned hither and said he had absolutely quitted his other Abbey for good and all as we speak The same year came Petrus Abbot of Cluni into England and was honourably received by the Kings command in all the Monasteries Particularly here at Burch whither he came to see Henry who complemented him highly and promised he would procure the Abbey of Burch to be made subject to that of Cluni with which hopes Peter went home The next year Henry got together a great summ of money and went beyond Sea again where the King then was Whom he made believe that he was commanded by the Abbot of Cluni to come and resign his Abbey of St. John de Angeli to him and then he would return free from that care into England So he went thither and there staid till the Feast of St. John Baptist And the next day after the Monks chose another of their own body into his place and installed him singing Te Deum and doing all other things necessary for that end expelling Henry by the help of the Count of Anjoy with great disgrace and detaining all that he had there Where he had done no more good than in other places all the five and twenty years that he had governed them Being thus cast out he went to Cluni where they kept him prisoner the Abbot and Monks being very angry with him saying he had lost the Abby of St. John by his folly Nor would they let him stir out of Doors till by his craft he again deceived them with promises and Oaths that if they would permit him to return into England he would subject the Abbey of Burch to them and as Hugo's words are ibi construeret Priores Secretarios Cellerarios Camerarios omnia commendaret in manibus eorum intus foris By which agreement he got into England whither the King also returned out of Normandy Unto whom Henry came and accused the Monks of Burch to him very heavily though with out any truth in order to his end of subjecting them to Cluni The King in great anger sent for them to Bramtun where a Plea was managed against them with so much art that the King was almost deceived But God stept in to help them by the Counsels of the Bishops there present particularly Lincoln and the Barons who understood his fraud Yet he would not desist but being thus defeated indeavoured to make his Nephew Gerardus Abbot of Burch that what he could not do by himself might be effected by him All which made the lives of the Monks very uneasie till the King at last understood his knavery
Title Plena Taxatio Maneriorum Abbatis Conventus de bonis eorum temporalibus spiritualibus facta per venerabiles Patres Wynton ' Lincoln ' Episcopos Autoritate sedis Apostolicae per XXIV Juratos Quorum XII Clerici XII laici Anno Domini M. CC. Nonagesimo sexto Then follows the value of the several Mannors and the Tenths to be paid out of them after this manner Manerium de Burbury taxatur ad 20 l.  5 d. Reditus villae Burgi taxatur ad 22 l. 6 s. 8 d. Gunthorp taxatur ad 13 l. 6 s. 8 d. Eye taxatur ad 9 l. 6 s. 5 d. ob Baelasis cum Appendiciis taxat ad 4 l. 6 d. Manerium de Sutton taxatur ad 6 l. 2 s.  Cujus Decima est 40 s.  ob Decimae 44 s.   Decima 8 s. 4 d.  Decima 18 s. 7 d. ob q. Decima    Decima    And so it proceeds with the rest several of which as Botolbrigg Fletton Alwalton c. have no Tenths rated There had been one before this in the 53. of Henry 3. which is stiled Taxatio Magistri Constantini Domini Gydonis de Maneriis Burgi facta c. In which Burghberry the Town of Burgh the Market and Fair is taxed at one hundred and eight Pound eight Shillings cujus Decima est 10 l. 16 s. 9 d. ob And so the rest are higher rated than in the foregoing and the Tenths both of Fletton and Alwalton are put in Then was granted as I find in another place Fol. CCCLXIX a tenth of all Ecclesiastical Benefices Rents and Profits by the whole Clergy for two years by the licence of the Pope and the consent of the Archbishops to the use of Prince Edward for his expences apud Acon or Ptolomais which he went to relieve There was another four years after in the year 1273. When by the command of the Pope the Churches of England were taxed according to an equal value by the Bishop of Norwich Here particularly is an account of what he did in Nasso-Burgh under this title Estimationes Ecclesiarum Vicariarum in Nasso-Burgi facta per Domin Norwicens Episcopum An. M CC. LXXIII This is quoted out of the Chronica Domini Will. Paris Prioris An. D. 1273 and from thence we may gather that he who built the Chapel before named was a writer also and composed the Annals of this Church if not of England and perhaps other Countries as Abbot John did I can find little more of William de Wodeford besides that which Mr. G. hath collected only it is said in an old Record that An. 27. Edw. 1. and An. quarto Domini Will. de Wodeford Robert de Watervil and John Spournel did homage and fealty to him on the Feast of St. Stephen for Land held by them in Overton Wodeford and Kynesthorp Nor do I meet with more than the mention of the Hospital of St. Leonard's which it appears had Friers and Lands belonging to it by a Deed of Agnes Pudding Fol. CCXLI. who for the health of her Soul gave to God and St. Peter together with her body eight acres of arable Land two of which she held de fratribus Hospital Sancti Leonardi de Burgo to whom she reserved one penny to be paid out of that Land in die Apostolorum Petri Pauli annuatim pro omni servitio Which whether it was different or no from the Hospituarium Burgi which had the Chapel of All Saints belonging to it I do not know But I find that Will. de Saresbury Son of Symon de Saresbury or Salesbury granted and confirmed sixpence per an which his Father had given to that Hospital to maintain a Lamp in that Fol. 287. Chapel ad sustinendam ibi Lampadem in Capella omnium Sanctorum ad honorem Dei perpetuo duraturam I take this to be the same with Hospital Leprosorum extra Burgum mentioned in the foregoing Taxation which was taxed at six pound and paid no Tenths There is still a Well near the Spittle which is called St. Leonara's Well whose water hath been thought Medicinal He dyed this year as the MS. Chron. Joh. Abbatis tells us in which there is a magnificent Character given of his Successor Godfrey of Crowland An. MCCXCIX obiit Dominus Willielmus Abbas Burgi Cui successit Dominus Godfridus vir magnificus ingentis industriae in temporalibus tractandis His memory was celebrated on the second of September which is noted in the Kalendar to be the day of his death and the Anniversary of John of Gresham GODEFRIDVS de Croyland The most memorable thing that I meet with in the beginning of this Abbots Government is a Grant made by the Abbot and Convent of Burgh to the Abbot and Convent of Sulebi that the said Abbot and Convent of Sulebi might without any impediment enter into the Mannor of Adington parva and its appurtenances to have and to hold the said Mannor to themselves and Successors for ever Which Mannor Richard Son of Gervase de Bernack sometimes held of Humfrey de Bassingburn who held it of the Abbot of Burgh per servitium feodi unius militis For which Grant the Abbot and Convent of Sulebi granted on their part that they would pay to the Abbot and Convent of Burgh the yearly Rent of six Shillings and eight Pence of Silver at the Feast of Easter in their Mannor of Castre and that they would facere soctam ad curiam from three Weeks to three Weeks at Castre c. They also granted that every Abbot of Sulebi after this present however he succeeded should pay upon every vacancy to the Church of Burgh ten Marks of Silver in the name of a relief within eight days after he was made Abbot of Sulebi The Abbot of Burgh also notwithstanding this grant and agreement was to receive homage scutage and all Royal services from the aforesaid Tenement for ever c. Dat. apud Burg. S. Pet. die Sabbati in vigilia Paschae An. Domini Millesimo Trecentesimo Et anno Regni Regis Edwardi filii Regis Henrici vicesimo Octavo I find also many homages done to him An. 28. Edwardi I. An. ejus primo on the next Sunday after the Epiphany for Lands held of him in several places And the like in the following years one or two of which I think fit to set down On the Feast of Thomas the Martyr as he is called An. Edw. 33. Rob. Domer did him homage for an Estate he held of him in Eston near Rockingham and the Acquietance the Abbot gave him is Recorded at large in these terms Pateat per presentes quod nos Godfridus Abbas de Burg Sancti Petri pardonavimus ad instantiam Johannis de Hotot de gratia nostra speciali Roberto fil her Domini Joh. Domer milit quinquaginta solidos pro relevio suo de morte dicti Domini Johannis Vxoris suae pro dimid feodi