Abby was at this time in full tenure and possession of King Henry made a tripartite kind of division assuming a third to himself confirming another third upon the Bishop and the rest upon the Dean and Chapter Those which King Henry took to himself being surrendred unto him were then let out unto Tenants at a yearly rate these and thus Com. North. Â Â Â Â * Or L. Russel afterwards E. of Bedford Eyebury then in the hands of Sir John Russel 13 l. 6 s. 8 d. Â Oxeney then in the hands of Roger Horton Gent. 1 l. 10 s. 0 d. Â Dosthorp called Gillims le Lane-land then in the hands of John Stoddard 2 l. 0 s. 0 d. Â Pillisgate in the hands of David Vincent 19 l. 0 s. 0 d. Â Kettering cum Pightesly with the Advowsons of the Rectories there in the Queens hand 111 l. 3 s. 4 d. ob q. dimid * Given first to the Dean and Chapt. but taken away again with Polebrook also Stanwigge then in the Queens hand 27 l. 16 s. 0 d. ob Cottingham cum Desborough with the Advowsons of the Rectories in the Queens hand 67 l. 2 s. 1 d. Â Oundle with the Advowson of the Vicaridge in the hand of the Lord Russel 172 l. 0 s. 3 d. ob Ashton in the Queens hand 29 l. 3 s. 8 d. Â Wermington cum Egilthorp with the Advowson of the Vicaridge in the Queens hand 97 l. 4 s. 10 d. ob q. Polebroke with the Advowson of the Rectory then in the hands of Sir Edward Montague 12 l. 14 s. 0 d. ob q. Clopton with the Advowson of the Rectory in the hands of William Dudley Esq 3 l. 17 s. 4 d. Â Lullington with the Advowson of the Rectory in the hands of Sir Edward Mountague 8 l. 15 s. 7 d. ob Hundreds of Polebrook and Navesford in the Q. hand s. 19 l. 9 s. 3 d. q. Hundred of Howkeslow in the Queens hand 16 l. 13 s. 4 d. q. Com. Rutland Tinwel with the Advowson of the Rectory in the hands of Sir William Cecil 33 l. 13 s. 4 d. Â Com. Lincoln Gosberkirk in the Queens hand 74 l. 9 s. 2 d. ob q. 3 ob Com. Hunt Fletton in the hand of Roger Forest 27 l. 0 s. 6 d. Â Sum. total 733 l. 9 s. 9 d. 0. 3 pt q. dimid King Henry having taken these Lands from the Church of Peterburgh made provision for the Bishoprick to which he subjected the Counties of Northampton and Rutland for his Diocess and appointed the Abbots dwelling for the Bishops Palace and for his maintenance confirmed these Lands viz. Burghbury Eye Singlesholt Northam Witherington Walton Paston Gunthorp Southorp Thirlby The Hundred of Nassaburgh A Pasture in Park-lane of 8 Acres 40 Acres Sheepcotes S. Johns Yard The Vineyard and Toothill Snorshills Edgerly 50 Acres In Padholm 18 Acres Eastwood 180 Acres Westwood Burghbury 246 Acres The Spittle More at Eye and the Tything Barn there Pensions from Helpiston Etton Wittering Houses and Shops in the Parish of S. Gregory London and in the Parish of S. Bridget The Advowsons of Castre Bernack Paston Polebrook Scotter South Collingham The Vicaridge of S. John Baptist in Peterburgh The Deanery of the Colledge at Irtlingburgh and the Chantry there The Chappel of S. John upon or adjoyning to the Bridge in Stamford For all which the Bishop was to make to the King Annual acknowledgement by the payment of 33l 10s 8d In this Dotation of the Bishoprick bearing date September 4. and of King Henry 33. which was of our Lord 1541. John Chambers Hen. Isaacson in his Chronology pag. 375. B. Goodwin in J. Chambers the present Abbot was nominated for the Bishop whom some will have to be Doctor of Physick and Dean of S. Stephen's in Westminster and continued in his new transformed government about the space of 15 years to the year 1556. the 4 or 5. of Queen Mary Although an Inscription in Brass about the Verge of his Marble Monument beareth date otherwise for it was thus Credo quod redemptor meus vivit in novissimo die de terra surrecturus sum in carne mea videbo Deum salvatorem meum reposita est haec spes mea in sinu meo Moritur die ........... Anno Domini Millesimo Quingentesimo Tricesimo Which could not be for then he must die about his second year of government long before the dissolution of his Abby when he was nominated Bishop for Goodwin saith he was consecrated Bishop October 23. 1541. But it is probable that there was a mistake which if it hapned in his time a wonder he did not reform it the Monument indeed might be extant in his time for he might be careful in providing the house of his mortality before he came to inhabite therein At the foot of his figure upon the same Stone was laid a plate of Brass wherein these Verses were engraven En pius en validus pastor jacet hic Johannes Burgh Burgo natus ac domus hujus apex Cui caro mundus opes cesserunt idgenus omne Praelia divinus carnea vincit amor Ordinis infestos redigens sub vindice mores Dum comes ipse fuit norma locique decor Pauperimos ditans lapsis peccata remittens Mitibus ipse pius asperimus rigidis Sta lege funde preces Deus est cui singula cedunt Dic velit ipse dare celica regna sibi He had also another more stately Monument at the head of this made of white Chalk-stone with his Statue exquisitely carved lying on the top perhaps being Abbot and Bishop he might have a Monument for each but these Monuments habent sua fata sepulchra were demolished Anno 1643. There were lately some doors in the Church curiously carved with the device of this John thus An Eagle a Crosier and Mitre a Bur-dock with Burs thereon and a Ro-buck with the Letters R. O. on his side the summ whereof was John Abbot or Bishop of Bur-row At the same time that King Henry thus established the Bishop and his Revenues he established also the Dean and Chapiter with theirs of which hereafter Return we now to our Series of Succession John Chambers being dead the Succession continued in 46 DAVID POOL Who was first Fellow of All-Souls Colledge in Oxford afterwards Dean of the Arches and Chancellour of the Diocess of Lichfield and made Bishop of Peterburgh 1556. But I find not his nomination thereunto by Queen Mary only the Pope's in the donation and confirmation of him in this Bishoprick For it is sufciently known that this Church and Kingdom of England began again to submit to the Roman yoke from which they had been delivered in the time of King Edward 6. under which relapse I find the Popes power in reference to the Church of Peterburgh to have been more practised than ever it was before for throughout the whole Series of Abbots formerly recited
of it But seeing what a great business this restauration was like to prove he returned to Winchester to make preparation for so great a design And first he made his address to God by fervent prayers to encline the hearts of King Edgar and his Queen and Nobles that he might have them so propitious as to contribute their assistances to this work And being one time at his prayers the Queen had secretly gotten behind the door to listen what it was that Athelwold prayed and suddenly she came forth upon him telling him that God and her self had heard his prayers and from thenceforth she began to solicite the King for the reparation of this Monastery to which the King assenting applied himself thereunto until he had finished the same which was in the year 970. The Monastery thus re-edified King Edgar desirous to see it went thither with Dunstane then Archbishop of Canterbury and Oswald Archbishop of York attended also with most of the Nobility and Clergy of England who all approved and applauded both the place and work But when King Edgar heard that some Charters and Writings which some Monks had secured from the fury of the Danes were found he desired to see them and having read the priviledges of this place that he had a second Rome within his own Kingdom he wept for joy And in the presence of that Assembly he confirmed their former priviledges and possessions the King Nobles and Clergy offering large oblations some of lands some of gold and silver At this glorious assembly the name of the place was changed from Medeshamsted to Burgh and by reason of the fair building pleasant situation large priviledges rich possessions plenty of gold and silver which this Monastery was endowed withal there was an addition to the name as to be called Gildenburgh though in reference to the dedication it hath ever since been known by the name of Peterburgh Malmsbury would have the nomination of the place Burgh to be from Abbot De gestis Pont. lib. 4. Kenulphus his enclosing the Monastery with a Wall as shall be noted hereafter but our Peterburgh Writers are not of his mind but place it here Writers say that in those days this Monastery was of so high account that what person soever came thither to pray whether King Lord Bishop or Abbot he put off his shoes at the gate of the Monastery and entred barefoot And the Covent there was very much had in esteem that if any of them travelled into any of the neighbouring parts they were received with the greatest respect and reverence that could be The Monastery thus restored King Edgar was mindful of the government also by Abbots as it had anciently been and there was appointed 8. ADVLPHVS He being Chancellor to King Edgar changed his Court life for a Monastical in this place the reason of which change was this He had one only Son whom he and his Wife dearly loved and they used to have him lie in bed betwixt them but the Parents having over night drunk more wine than was convenient their Son betwixt them was smothered to death Adulphus the father being sadly affected with this horrid mischance was resolved to visit S. Peter at Rome after the manner of a penitentiary for absolution imparting his intent to Bishop Athelwoldus who disswaded him from it telling him it would be better if he would labour in the restauration of S. Peters Church in this place and here visit him Adulphus approving this advice came with King Edgar to Burgh where in the presence of the King and the rest of that Convention he offered all his wealth put off his Courtly Robes and put on the habit of a Monk and ascended to the degree of Abbot in the year 972. In those days the whole Nasee or Country adjoyning and which is now known by the name of Burgh-soke was all a woody and solitary place until this Abbot Adulphus cut down woods built Mannors and Granges and let the Lands to farm for certain Rents so that the people increasing and as yet no Churches built amongst them they came to Peterburgh to receive the Sacraments and to pay their Church-duties which continued for many years after And although in the days of Turoldus Abbot Churches and Chappels began to be built the said Turoldus distributing the Lands of the Monastery to those Knights who desired to serve God at home yet still the Church of Peterburgh received the whole revenue until the time of Abbot Ernulfus Anno 1112. when there were assigned to the respective Ministers of Churches and Chappels certain revenues for their maintenance as due to their service saving to the Church of Burgh two parts of the predial Tythes of those Knights and saving the burial of See in Ernulphus the said Knights their wives and children in the Church of Burgh and also a certain portion of the Knights estates for the maintenance of their wives and children Saving also to the Church of Burgh from the Churches so built certain pensions which being imposed upon them in their first endowments or collations by this Church many of them have continued unto and been paid in these our days to the Bishop or Dean and Chapter as they were assigned by King Henry the Eighth as shall be declared hereafter Adulphus was present at the dedication of the Church of Ramsey in the year 974. After that this Abbot Adulphus had happily governed this Monastery about the space of twenty years Henry of Pightly saith Codex Ramis in manu H. Cromwell Armig. fol. 58. thirty one he was translated to the Archbishoprick of York there to succeed Oswaldus then deceased Some say he was translated to the Bishop of Worcester And in the place of Adulphus there came 9. KENVLPHVS Who was made Abbot in the year of our Lord 992. and was highly honoured far and near for his wisdom and piety many coming to him from several parts Bishops Abbots Priests and Monks as to another Solomon to hear his wisdom And by reason of his great fame for his learning he is supposed to have been a Writer and is therefore by Pitseus inserted into his Catalogue of English Writers though what he wrote is not extant or evident by his or any other testimony that I have met with This Abbot Kenulphus enclosed the Monastery of Burgh with a Wall a great part whereof is yet standing Having continued B. Godwyn Abbot here about thirteen years he was translated to the Bishoprick of Winchester Anno 1006. for the procurement whereof he is charged with Simony His successor in this Monastery was 10. ELSINVS Or Elsius Of whom I find no glorious Character recorded by Writers save this if it may be so accounted that he was very inquisitive after Reliques with which he was very industrious to inrich his Monastery And because Swapham and Wittlesey the compleatest Historians of this place have punctually set down a bedrole of his Reliques the Reader I hope will
them but the shrine of their Saint and Patrone at length they sold him also all but his head which they still reserved to themselves Elsinus having bought the body sent it to Peterburgh whither the Monks of that Abbey in Normandy did often repair to do their devotions to their Saint But whilst Elsinus was careful abroad for profitable reliques his Abbey at home sustained loss in more real endowments for Hoveden in Yorkshire with many other lands were wrested from the Monastery of Peterburgh Yet Elsinus added something of his own purchasing a fourth part of Wittleseymere and giving it to his Monastery which had a part thereof before purchased by Adelwoldus Bishop of Winchester in the time of King Edgar Wittlesey In those days was the Monastery of Ramsey accused to the King who threatned the dissolution thereof but by the mediation of this Elsinus it was reprieved upon condition that Elsinus should undertake the charge of it which Elsinus afterwards remitted to the Ramisians About this time Leofricus who was Secretary of Burgh translated the bodies of S. Kyneburga and Kyneswitha from their Church of Castre and the body of S. Tibba from Rihale to Peterburgh Others place this translation in the Harpsfield from Capgra pag. 85. time of King Henry the first and that they had a yearly memorial celebrated here In the time of this Abbot Elsinus Anno 1051. Elfricus Archbishop of York died at Southwell and was buried at Peterburgh where he had been a Monk of whom more hereafter Elsinus having been Abbot here the space of fifty years died Anno 1055. and there succeeded 11. ARWINVS or ERNWINVS Ingulphus He was made Abbot by Election which deservedly passed upon him being a man of great holiness and simplicity but he liking better a private and solitary life freely surrendred his government after eight years continuance therein In his time Anno 1059. or as some say 1060. died Kinsius Archbishop of York who formerly had been Chaplain to King Edward the Confessor and was buried in the Church of Peterburgh where he had been a Monk Radulphus de Diceto calls him Kinsigius and commends him highly for his austere way of living his humility and other vertues Of whom again hereafter About this time S. Wulstan formerly Monk of Peterburgh was made Bishop of Worcester Bishop Godwyn Anno 1062. 12. LEOFRICVS or LEVRICVS Vid. appendiam Chartarum Having by his birth relation to the Royal bloud was first made a Monk of Burgh and afterwards Abbot upon the retirement of Arwinus He being dear to King Edward and Edgith his wife held by extraordinary benevolence five Abbeys in his hand at once viz. Burton Coventry Croyland Thorney and Peterburgh He redeemed of King Edward certain lands belonging to his Monastery as Fiskerton for twenty marks Fleton for eight marks and Burleigh for eight marks which being demised by lease to Elfgarus the Queens Chaplain for the term of his life he being dead the Queen would have taken it from the Church of Peterburgh had it not been for Abbot Leofricus In the third year of this Abbot Anno 1066. William Duke of Normandy entred England with an army and subdued it to his Norman power Of which I find these old Monkish Verses in some of our Writers Anno Milleno Sexageno quoque seno Agenito verbo Duce jam regnante superbo Anglorum metae crinem sensêre cometae Belli transacti sunt hic anni numerati Quod fuit hic factum quod est nunc usque vocatum Dilecti Christi fuerant tunc festa Calixti Abbot Leofricus was then in the English army where sickning he returned to his Monastery of Peterburgh and died the night after All-Saints day Deeping Bank In the time of this Abbot Leofricus one Egelricus a Monk of Burgh was made Archbishop of York but the Canons there envying that a Monk should be set over them though but lately it had been so refused to receive him wherefore he was made Bishop of Durham where he was received with general approbation Whilst he was Bishop there he gathered great store of wealth yet not to himself but that he might be rich in good works amongst which there is one that continues his memory to this very day the bank from Deeping to Spalding for in those days the passage being very difficult by reason of Woods and deep Marishes he raised that Causey for the benefit of Travellers which for many years after was called by his name Egelric Rode though now it be known only by the name of Deeping Bank But some affirm that Egelricus found his wealth for intending to build a Church at Coneester now Chester upon the street in laying the foundation thereof he chanced to light upon a great mass of treasure wherewith he finished that work and many others Such a new found treasure might be an additional to what he had before which surely was not small else he would scarce have undertaken to build Churches When Egelricus had held his Bishoprick of Durham long enough to weary himself with publick employments he returned to his Monastery of Peterburgh having resigned his Bishoprick to his brother Egelwinus But it hapned that these two brethren were accused to King William the Conqueror who laid up Egelricus in Chains at Westminster during his life and when he was near his end he refused to have his Fetters taken off and desired that he might be buried with them and so was he buried in S. Nicolas Porch in Westminster the other Brother Egelwinus was deposed from his Bishoprick by King William and sent to Abendone where he died The Writers of Peterburgh Swapham and Wittlesey say That in the time of Abbot Leofricus his sickness this Egelricus being at his accustomed Evening devotions the Devil appeared to him in the shape of a boy of terrible countenance and told him that ere long he should triumph over the chiefest of them which perhaps was in the death of Leofricus Abbot and that three several times he would revenge himself upon the Monks and Monastery telling him also the manner First that he would cause all the Monks to be expelled and the goods of the Monastery to be taken away Secondly he would cause the Monastery to be set on fire Thirdly he would set the Monks so at strife that they should cut one anothers throats But Egelricus replying The Lord rebuke thee Satan the Devil vanished and left a horrible stink behind him 13. BRANDO Having been Coadjutor to Leofricus was thought the fittest to succeed him and being elected he made his address to Edgar Atheling for his confirmation supposing him to be lawful heir to the Crown of England notwithstanding the late Conquest by K. William but William hearing thereof was much incensed against Abbot Brando that he was forced to give him forty marks for his favour to confirm him in his Monastery and the Lands to his Church Whilst he was a Monk
he gave to the Monastery many Lands as in Muscham Schotter Scalthorp Yolthorp Messingham Malmeton Cletham Hibaldstow Rachevildthorp Holme Riseby Walcot Normanby Alethorp there joyning with him Askylus Syricus and Sivortus who procured from King Edward a confirmation of these Lands to the Church Brando when he was Abbot created his Nephew Herewardus le Wake Lord of Brunne now Bourn Knight which Herewardus was a valiant man and stoutly opposed the Normans in those parts Brando enjoyed not long his Government but in November Anno 1069. which was the third of King William he died 14. TVROLDVS or THOROLDVS A Norman was placed by King William in the vacant Abby of Peterburgh He being a stranger neither loved his Monastery nor his Convent him He began to make a strange dispersion of the Lands belonging to his Church conferring sixty and two Hides of Land upon certain stipendiary Knights that they might defend him against Herewardus le Wake This Herewardus was son of Leofricus Lord of Brunne and having had a Military education beyond Seas repaired home to employ his valour in defence of his native Country against the Normans It hapned at that time that the Danes under Sweyn their King son of Canutus invaded this Land amongst whom Osbernus an Earl and Bishop entred into the Isle of Ely with whom Herewardus joyned and incited him to set upon the Monastery of Peterburgh for that the King had given it to a Norman Herewardus and the Danes coming hither the Monks and others with them defended themselves for a time with much valour in a hot dispute at Bolehith-gate now commonly called Bulldyke-gate being on the South of the Monastery and yet standing where when Herewardus and the Danes perceived their entrance doubtful and that they could not cut their way with their Swords and Weapons they assayed to do it by fire upon the adjoyning buildings and so entred through flame and smoke Being entred they seized upon all the good things they found carrying them away to Ely leaving much of the buildings the Monastery only excepted destroyed by fire and taking Adelwoldus the Prior with many of the more ancient Monks thither also But Adelwoldus watching for an opportunity to get away and return home the Danes being jovial and merry at a triumphal feast for this their booty Adelwoldus got privately to himself some gold and silver with some Reliques amongst which was S. Oswald's arm which he hid in his bedstraw till he could make his escape But an agreement being made between King William and Sweyn the Danish King that the Danes should depart with all their spoil most of the good things of this Monastery were carried away towards Denmark and a great part of them lost in the Sea by tempest those which arrived there were afterwards recovered by Iwarus the Secretary of the Monastery who took a journey thither for that purpose And now had Adelwoldus the Prior with the other Monks a time of returning without stealth to his Monastery of Peterburgh and taking the Abby of Ramsey in their way the Ramisians entertained them kindly for awhile but at their departure they detained their Reliques which afterwards upon the threats of Abbot Thorold they yielded up yet did not the Monks enjoy their newly recovered Treasures long for they being careless and drunken and their Abbot absent a fire seized upon the Church and other remaining buildings from which they rescued some few Reliques but little of other things All this while Turoldus Abbot absented himself from his Monastery and made his abode at Stamford but Herewardus being withdrawn he returned to his Monastery where he found all things in a desolate condition He brought along with him 140 Normans well armed to secure him against Herewardus and also built a Fort or Castle within his Monastery which for many years retained the name of Mount Thorold so that now the Monastery of Peterburgh seemed rather a warlike than religious place Yet for all that Turoldus could do for his own security he was at length taken by Herewardus and constrained to ransome himself with the payment of thirty marks in silver So profuse was this Turoldus of the goods of his Monastery that at his entrance an estimate of the goods thereof amounting to fifteen hundred pounds ere Turoldus had done there remained scarce five hundred But his disposing of the Lands as hath been said to certain Knights for their service in these Military times was remarkable and valid in after ages where I could give a large declaration of the persons thus invested with the Church-Lands and what Lands those were but it shall suffice to say that there were in all forty one men of note who received those Lands from Turoldus to hold upon that condition but they did not all receive in equal proportion but some more and some less some to find and afford the service of six Knights some of four some of one and some less as their portions of Land were yet in all the number of Knights for which they were to be answerable amounted to sixty eight and from whence there began a new addition to be annexed unto the name of the place as to be called The Honour of Peterburgh But there happened another Act of Turoldus which raised his discontents higher in himself and brought him lower in the good affection of his Convent for he received into his Monastery two Monks from beyond Sea who secretly stole away and carried many of the Church Goods with them At length Turoldus weary of his Government here procured for himself the Bishoprick of Beavois in France whither he transported many of the goods of the Monastery but he was not so welcome to his new Bishoprick as to make any long continuance there for on the fourth day he was expelled thence and returning again into England he gave the King a great summ of Money that he might be seated again in his Monastery of Peterburgh whither he returned and in all continued his Government there the space of 28 years and died Anno 1100 or as some say 1098. being the 10 or 11 year of William the Second 15. GODRIC VS The Monks now began to be provident for themselves for considering the inconveniences they suffered by Turoldus being imposed upon them they gave the King three hundred Marks in Silver that they might have the power of Electing their own Abbot which having procured from the King they chose Godricus who was Brother to Abbot Brando Whether or no Godricus might incurr the guilt of Simony by what the Church had done Bishop Godwin calleth him Geffrey page 34. I will not determine yet was he with Richard Abbot of Ely and Adelwinus Abbot of Ramsey deposed from their Governments by a Councel held under Anselmus then Archbishop of Canterbury for that as Peterburgh Writers say they had entred by Simony Yet Matth. Paris renders another reason that it In vita W. Rufi was because
The Abbot sends a messenger to the King intimating the danger of such a donation The King resenting the business and how it would redound to the damage of that and other Churches whereof he was Patron and Defender and detesting the secret snares and covetousness of the Roman Court strictly forbade such an horrid donation Thus far Matthew Paris Page 657. How this refusal of the Popes demand by the Abbot of Peterburgh was resented at Rome may appear by the same Author in another place where he writes thus But the Abbot of Peterburgh a man without exception who had more especially resisted the Pope's Mandate being arrived at the Roman Court was accused by Martin the Popes Agent then resident in England for that he would not conferr a Church upon a man fitting for the place to the use of the Popes kinsman So that the Abbot appearing in the Popes Court the Pope rebuked him in very opprobrious terms and commanded that he should be expelled the Court which was done so shamefully and irreverently that the poor Abbot taking it to heart fell into an incurable disease and the same year died to the great detriment of his Church which he had prudently governed And in another place the same Author recites it again telling us the name of the Abbot The same year on the eleventh of the Calends of Page 690. January after many vexations and tribulations which he suffered by the Court of Rome and an infirmity which himself had contracted to the great loss of his Church died Walter Abbot of Burgh This story makes good the Etymology that some of the Romanists themselves give of Rome Roma quasi Rodens Manus Johan Bononiensis in Decretab Bonif. 8. Fol. 32. Col. 4. One like it is given by another Radix Omnium Malorum Avaritia Waldens cit per Alexandrum Theologum in Destr vit part 6. cap. 33. Roma manus rodit quos rodere non valet odit Rome gnaweth hands as dainty Cates And whom it cannot gnaw it hates This by the way Walters Library was copious in comparison of his Predecessors consisting of these Books Decretale Aurora Claustrum animae Biblia Hexaëmeron S. Cantuariae versificé Rabanas de naturis rerum interpretationes Hebraicorum nominum in uno volumine Versus M. W. de Montibus Psalterium gloss Summa Magistri J. de Cantia de poenitentia Templum Domini cum arte confessionum Regula S. Benedicti Psalterium cum hympnario Item duo Psalteria Duo Missalia Duo Gradualia Liber Evangeliorum Liber orationum ad magnum altare 29. WILLIELMVS de Hotot William of Hotot or Hotoft why so called I know not for Wittlesey saith he was born at Carlton near Cottingham in the County of Northampton being a Monk of this place was chosen Abbot the sixth of February Anno 1246. the 31. of King Henry Fair at Oxeney 3. He procured from the King a Charter for a Fair to be kept at Oxeney to begin on the Eve of the Nativity of Mary and to continue for the space of eight days He made many orders in favour of his Monks as that he would not let any of his Abby Lands or do any thing of himself as Abbot without their consent When he had held his Abby about the space of three years he voluntarily gave it up on S. Nicolas day Anno 1249. And there was assigned unto him the Mannor of Collingham where he abode for a time until he was called thence by John his Successor who appointed him his abode at Oxeney allowing him the portion of four Monks Then William died and was brought to the Church of Peterburgh and buried before the Altar of S. Benedict Thus writes Wittlesey not naming the occasion of his reoess which Matthew Paris supplies In the year saith he 1249. there arose great dissension betwixt William Abbot of Page 769. Peterburgh and his Convent concerning dilapidations for that the Abbot had enriched his Kindred whereof he had great multitudes swarming about him to the great detriment of his Church but William being reproved would not reform this errour whereupon the Monks appealed to the Bishop of Lincoln and complained of the Abbots extravagancies who being convicted thereof and foreseeing the danger of his being deposed of his own accord resigned his place into the Bishops hand and there was assigned unto him a Mannor for his livelyhood So that having been Abbot only three years he surceased Perhaps he had not time enough to gather more Books than these into his Library Antissiodorensis abbreviatus Tractatus super Canonem Missae Templum Domini cum aliis rebus Libellus de diversis rebus Missale ad altare Michaelis As to the first book he wrote certain Collations which is in the Catalogue at the End T. XI but I find no mention of him any where else as a Writer See the Catalogue T. XI 30. JOHANNES de Caleto Page 895. So called from the place of his birth in Normandy He was of noble extraction and being made a Monk at the age of sevenyears was brought into England and placed in the Church of S. Swithune in Winchester for his education where growing in piety and wisdom as he did in years he was made Prior of Winchester and upon the recess of Abbot Will. elected Abbot of Peterburgh Anno 1249. which was the 33 of K. Henry 3. He was allied to Q. Elianor wife of K. Henry and such a ray of favour shined upon him through that relation that he was made one of the Kings Chief Justices and rode in the Circuit to execute Justice in the Kingdom At which though Matthew Paris seems to be much aggrieved as that which was not allowed by the rule of S. Benedict the first mention that I find of this Order in this Monastery whereof more hereafter in Richard Ashton and besides was prejudicial to his Church by reason of his absence yet Wittlesey saith that the Church suffered no damage thereby for he no ways neglected that but appointed Robert Sutton his Deputy by whom all things were as well managed as if Abbot John had himself been present And moreover Abbot John did often visit the Church himself to see how things were ordered how the Lands and Rents were bestowed how the Monks were governed and how the poor were relieved to whom he gave Alms with his own hand as oft as he came thither He was careful in adding to the buildings of the Monastery and built that goodly building called the Infirmary commonly the Farmary lately pulled down and at the The Farmary West end of the Chappel of S. Laurence This he appointed for sick and impotent Folk providing for them out of the Church demesns He was also liberal to his Convent giving for every day to the Monk that should sit President in the Refectory a gallon of Wine and half a gallon to the rest of the Society and to the Monk that celebrated high Mass a gallon of
gilt one Desk of Wood two Orfers one Front of painted Cloth In the Body of the CHURCH Item One Altar with Images Gilt one Front of green Silk with Ostrich Feathers one Coffer the Altar of our Ladies Lamentation Gilt one Front of painted Cloaths four Lamps in divers parts of the Church In the South I LE Item In S. Oswalds Chappel one Altar with a Front of painted Cloth one Table Gilt of S. Oswald Item In S. Bennets Chappel one Altar with a Front of painted Cloth one Table Gilt with the story of S. Bennet Item in S. Kyneburghs Chappel one Altar with a Front of painted cloth with one Table well Gilt. The Trinity CHAPPEL Item The Altar with a Front of old Silk one white Altar cloth of Diaper two Candlesticks of Latten one Table of Alabaster one Coffer and Seats of Wood one Lamp Item In S. Sprites Chappel a Table of Alabaster one Front of painted Cloth In the CLOYSTER Item One Conduit or Lavatory of Tynne with divers Coffers and Seats there In the Ostrie CHAPPEL Item One Altar Cloth two Fronts of painted Cloaths two Latten Candlesticks one Coffer one Super-altar of Marble one Vestment of Green Silk one Vestment of dove-coloured Silk two Albes In the Chappel of LOW Item one Altar two Fronts of old painted Cloaths two white Altar Cloaths two Vestments of Silk one Red the other Green and one Albe of Needlework Item One Chalice Gilt one Corporas one pair of Candlesticks of Latten three Bells to ring in the Chappel In the Infirmary CHAPPEL Item One Table of Alabaster one Front of Silk two Candlesticks of Latten three Coffers four Seats one Vestment one Albe of white Silk with Orfers of red Item One Vestment of white Bustian for Lent with an Albe three Corporasses with cases two Altar Cloths one old Vestment one old Albe Item One Vestment of blue Chamlet with Moons and Harts with one Albe to the same Item One Vestment of red course Satten of Cyprus with Harts and Knots Item One little Bell one Lamp hanging one broken Silver Crown Item Old Cloaths to cover Saints in Lent In the Abbots Gallerie CHAPPEL Item One Table of Alabaster In the other CHAPPEL Item One Table of Alabaster three old Chests an old Almery In the Abbots HALL These Tables were taken away 1644. to be used at the Siege of Croyland and never returned Item four fixed Tables four Forms one Table with two Tresles at the high Bench the hangings old Tapestry one Cupboard one Chair one Chaffer In the Abbots KITCHIN Item three great boyling Pots seven small Pots four Panns two Kettles one great brass Pan with two Handles a Ladle a Scummer five Spits one stone Mortar one Brandiron with four Barrs two Racks of Iron one Gridiron with four Barrs two Racks of Iron one Gridiron one flesh Hook two frying Panns one Porrenger one fire Fork In the Abbots Fish-HOUSE Item Old drie Ling of the last year 24 warp Item Great Ling of this year 100 warp Item In middle and small Ling 100 and a half warp Item In drie Haberdine 203 Fishes Item Stockfish 208 Fishes Item Salmon half a Barrel In Eyebury FARME Item In Sheep 29 score and ten sheep Item Oxen 19 Item Bulls and Bulchins 5 Item Kine 18 Item Heifers two years and upwards 13 Item Steeres 8 Item Yeerling Calves 12 Item Gueldings for the Saddle 4 In the Abbots BREWHOUSE Item Four Furnaces great and small two of Copper and two of Lead two great Mashing Fat 's an ark for ground Malt three Fatts five yieling Fatts six and thirty Keelers two cleansing Sives four Couls and a graining Tub. In the GARNET Item Six quarters of Malt ten quarters of Wheat two quarters of Oats two quarters of Barley six bushels of Pease In the BARNES Item Fifty loads of Hay by estimation The Abbots PLATE Imprimis A Basin and Ewer of Silver one Silver Pot of a quart two standing pieces covered all Gilt two flat Bowles of Silver two Salts with one cover Gilt one Nut without a cover two ale Pots with two covers four Masers great and small one dozen of silver Spoons two and twenty Masers great and small with bands of Silver and Gilt two pieces of Silver and ten Spoons of Silver a Horn with two feet of Silver and Tipped a Nut Tipped with Silver and Gilt. The length and breadth of the Church and other parts thereof Imprimis The Church containing in length 8 score yards in breadth 34 yards Item The Ladies Chappel containing in length 46 yards in breadth 14 yards Item The Cross Isle on the North side in length 18 yards and in breadth 12 yards Item Three Chappels with the entry into the Ladies Chappel in length 14 yards in breadth 7 yards Item The Isle on the South side with the Chappels in length 21 yards in breadth 20 yards Item The Cloyster about four square in length 168 yards in breadth 6 yards Item The Chapter House in length 28 yards in breadth 11 yards Item The great Dormitory in length 64 yards in breadth 13 yards Item The little Dorter in length 33 yards in breadth 12 yards Item The Fratry in length 54 yards in breadth 14 yards Item The Infirmary in length 65 yards in breadth 10 yards Item The Chappel at the gate of the Monastery 14 yards in length in breadth 8 yards Item The Vestry containing in length 18 yards in breadth 6 yards Item The Abbots Hall in length 32 yards in breadth 12 yards Item The Abbots great Chamber in length 33 yards in breadth 10 yards Item In the two Steeples of the Monastery at the Front Bells 10 and in other several places of the houses Bells 4. Item The Convents Kitchin in length 25 yards Item The Lavers in the Cloyster weighing 100 lib. All which goods were assigned to the said Abbot being Guardian for the same time by the Commissioners Philipp Pryce John Tregonnel and others Two years after this Inventory viz. 1541. and of King Henry 33. the King changed the person from an Abbot to a Bishop the Church from a Monastery to a Cathedral and the Town of Peterburgh from a Village to a City Here I must acknowledge my self at a stand as not able to give a perfect account of all Mannors Lands and Tenements belonging to the Monastery of Peterburgh at the time of the dissolution for it had Lands or Tenements in Catworth Thorp Watervile Achirch Tichmersh Winwick Hemington Kynethorp Armiston Grendone Thurning Pappelee Beningfield Addington Slipton Twywell Woodford Churchfield Stoke Pilketon Craneford Burlee Thornhaw Sibberton Walmisford Etton Lolhame Southorp Walcot Vfford Helpiston Woodcroft Vpton Cathwait Torpel Baddington Aston Nunton Deeping Bernack Marham Hargrave Allington Glapthorne Cotterstock Angotby Osgotby Swinstead Witham Careby Gretton Thrapston Denford Ringsstead many Lands in Holland c. Which how or when they were alienated from this Monastery whether by the King or by the Monastery it self before I cannot say But of such Lands as the
Richard Kay B. D. Thurstane Murry Nicolas Brown B. D. Henry Williamson B. D. Thomas Dove M. A. Archdeacon of Northampton Henry Smith D. D. Mr. of Magd. Coll. Cambr. William Halls M. A. In the sixth PREBEND Richard White A Monk of the place Isham M. A. William Binsley Robert Johnson B. D. Richard Smith B. D. John Aungier L. D. Robert Summer M. A. now Parson of Northburgh John Wyldbore M. A. Parson of Wittering Thomas Lany B. D. John Whitehall I have now no more to do to the body of our story but to present the Reader with a relation of some few Monuments with their Inscriptions not yet mentioned and then the story of this Church will arrive at its period But before I give the relation of the Monuments of this Church I shall let the Reader know when and by whom they were destroyed In the year 1643. the Town of Croyland was by the inhabitants thereof made a Garrison for the King which they had great reason to do not only to shew themselves good Subjects but good Tenants they holding their Lands of him In the month of April on the 18 day came the Parliament-Forces to Peterburgh in order to the besieging of Croyland and here having settled themselves in their Quarters they fell to execute their fury upon the Cathedral destroying all things as the malicious Eye of each Sectarian Varlet prompted him to do mischief beating down the Windows defacing the Monuments tearing the Brass from Grave-stones plundering of Vestments Records and whatsoever else came to hand which nothing could resist Their Commanders of whom Cromwel was one if not acting yet not restraining the Souldiers in this heat of their fury But some two or three days after a finger of divine vengeance touched Cromwel although his rabble and he would not see it For being at that time quartered in the house of Mr. Cervington commonly called the Vineyard at the East end of the Cathedral out of the Court of which dwelling there was a passage into the Churchyard which since is mured up ascending by 3 or 4 Stone-steps Cromwel as others did riding up those steps his Horse fell under him and rising suddenly under the lintels of the door dashed his head against the lintels so that he fell to the ground as dead was so carried into the house and it was about a fortnight ere he could be recovered those who were eye-witnesses affirmed that the blow raised splinters in his Scalp near a fingers length But yet the siege of Croyland went on and on the 28 of April the Town was taken on the 5 of May. Cromwel with his Forces marched to Stamford and other places leaving the abomination of desolation in this Church behind them And now I shall give an accompt of such Monuments as were in the Church before their coming and have been added since I shall begin at the Nave or body of the Church where I shall omit such as are broken and worn out as not to be compleatly rendered Many also as bear only names and dates of burial which will give but little content to any that should read them As you enter into the Church high above on the left hand stands the figure of R. Scarlet once a Sexton of this Church one that was famous in his generation as may be collected by what is under written You see old Scarlet 's picture stand on high But at your feet there doth his body lye His gravestone doth his age and death time show His Office by these tokens you may know Second to none for strength and sturdie Limme A scare-babe mighty voice with visage grimm He had interr'd two Queens within this place And this towns Housholders in his live space Twice over But at length his own turn came What he for others did for him the same Was done No doubt his Soul doth live for ay In Heaven though here his body clad in clay Joyning to a Pillar on the Northside stood a comely Font the water whereof though it purged many yet it could not purge this Vessel in the opinion of those that brake it down 1643. Against the Cloister door are some antient Inscriptions only this perfect besides that of Garton formerly mentioned in Abbot Richard Ashton Aswalton natus jacet hic Henricus humatus Presbiter ornatus cui solvas Christe reatus Something beyond towards the upper end lieth a fair marble of late adorned with the figure of the deceased in Brass and on a Edward 3. Anno 46. Plate round about Hic jacet tumulatus Robertus de Thorp Miles There was one Sir W. Thorpe L. Chief Justice of the Kings Bench who for Bribery was condemned to be hanged Anno Edw. 3. 24. 22. y. before this Robert quondam Cancellarius Domini Regis Angliae qui obiit vicesimo nono die Junii Anno Domini Millesimo trecentesimo septuagesimo secundo Cujus animae propitietur Deus Amen By his side is another fair Marble which carried this Inscription Hic jacet tumulatus miles filius Domini Willielmi de Thorpe qui moriebatur apud Tou'ton Wat'vyle die Jovis xo. die Augusti Anno Domini Millesimo trecentesimo LXXV Cujus animae propitietur Deus On the left hand is a Marble bearing the figure of a cross legg'd Knight after the manner of the Templers with a dog at his feet lately the Brass was divorced from the Marble and Senour Gascelin de Marham stripped of his Monumental bravery A little above Here lieth the Body of William Leafield sometimes Edwardi 3. Anno 49. Inhabitant of this City who departed this life January 22. Anno Domini 1625. Near unto lieth one that was taken away in his budding his name and quality may be seen in the Inscription Robertus Carrier Subter Supra Anno Dom. 1651. Aetat 19. Grad Bacc. 1. Novemb. 24. Not far from this is one later who may be mentioned as another Siphrah both in function and piety Here lieth the Body of Jane Parker the wife of Valentine Parker She departed this life Sept. 19. day 1653. Here lieth a Midwife brought to bed Deliveresse delivered Her body being churched heere Her Soul thanks gives in yonder Spheer A little higher lieth a fair Marble which acts the second part of Niobe weeping for many figures of Brass which it hath lately forgone if the Inscription may be thought worth the weeping for Siste gradum mortale meum speculare Sepulchrum Hic ego qui jaceo sum genus ecce tuum Frater Willimi Ramsey venerabilis olim Istius Abbatis hic in honore loci Petriburgh Bayly Killire vocor ipse Johannes Mecum sponsa jacet ecce Johanna mea Tot mihi sunt nati mihi sunt nataeque puellae Willimus Thomas Willimus ipse Johannes Walt'rus Richardus Thomas Agnes mihi Marga Grata fit proles ac Katherina mihi Orate precor nos omnes ut Deus ipse Salvet ab inferno Pactus fuit en lapis iste 1489. April 19. The
following Hugo saith no more than this ' Egbaldus succeeded Cuthbaldus in the government of this Monastery and Pusa succeeded him after whom came Celredus to whom succeeded Hedda But what they did and at what time doth not appear unto us in these Ages all being abolished either by the negligence of Writers or by the times of persecution saving only what is written in Priviledges in which their names are found ' And particularly in the Records of the Church at the end of Hugo's Book fol. CXI there is a Charter of Ceadwalla King of Kent granting to this Abbot XL. terrae illius Manentes ubi Hogh nuncupatur ad Hebureahg insulam In which Charter he is called EGBALTHVS as he is also in one that follows granted by Suehardus Honorabili Abbati Egbaltho wherein he confirms the Donation of Ceadwalla and adds more of his own It would have been grateful perhaps to some Readers if I could have represented them at large but it will not consist with the bounds to which I am confined in this Supplement and therefore I shall only note the same of the next Abbot PVSA Who by the intercession of a great man called Brorda obtained of Offa King of the Mercians a grant of Land viginti Manentium for his Church at Woccing before named I shall set down the beginning of the Charter as I find it fol. CXXX In Trino nomine Divinitatis individuae Juste à nobis pietatis opera persolvenda sunt idcirco ego Offa c. rogatus à venerabili Abbate meo nomine Pusa simul à praefato meo it should be praefecto as appears by the Subscription vocabulo Brorda ut aliquam liberalitatem ejus Ecclesiae quae sita est in loco ubi dicitur Woccingas concederem quod libenter facere juxta eorum petitionem providi pro expiatione piaculorum meorum Domino devote largitus sum c. BEONNA There is a Charter of this Abbot which begins thus In nomine Gubernantis Dei monarchiam totius mundi Ego Beonna Abbas gratia dei cum conscientia licentia fratrum Dominum colentium in Monasterio quod appellatur Medeshamstede Wherein he grants to Prince Cuthberth terram decem manentium quae nuncupatur Suinesheade or Swineheved with the Meadows Pastures Woods and all the Appurtenances acknowledging that the forenamed Cuthberth had purchased the same of him for a valuable price i. e. mille solidis and every year for himself and his Successors unius noctis pastum aut triginta Oravit it should be Orarum I believe siclos Which Territory the Prince purchased on this condition that after his death it should go to his Heirs who should hold it for their lives upon the aforesaid terms in pastu vel pecunia but after their decease it should return quietly and without any suit at Law to the Monastery Of which bargain their were many Witnesses who signed it in manner following Ego Offa gratia Dei Rex Merciorum signo crucis Christi propria manu roboravi Ego Egferth Rex Merciorum consensi subscripsi Ego Higeberth Archiepiscopus firmando subscripsi After two Bishops subscribe and then Ego Beonna Abbas hanc meam Munificentiam signo crucis Christi firmavi To which the Prior and two other Priests subscribe their consent It may be necessary here to note that Ora was a piece of money of a certain weight or rather a weight whereby they received money and is written alsio hora in the Inquisition made into the Lands of this Church in the time of Martin the Second An. 1231. Where speaking of the Fishery at Walcote it is said to have yielded yearly duas horas The best explication of which that I can find is in the Laws of King Ethelred recorded by John Brompton in his Chronicle N. XXX which is concerning his Monetarii in all the ports of the Kingdom who were to take care ut omne pondus ad mercatum sit pondus quo pecunia mea recipitur eorum singulum signetur ita quod XV. Orae libram faciant But in the Inquisition now mentioned which was made through all the Mannors of this Church it seems to signifie a piece of money For thus the account is given of the Mannor of Walcote juxta Humbram after other particulars ibidem est situs unius Piscariae qui vocatur Holflet solebat reddere duas horas fol. CLIIII CELREDVS Besides his name Recorded by Hugo I find no mention of him but in Ingulphus which Mr. G. hath observed by which it appears he was Abbot here in the year DCCCVI and was Brother to Siwardus the third Abbot of Croyland But I suppose he is the same CEOLRED who in the year DCCCXLVIIII subscribed to a Charter of King Berthwulfus or Beorthwulfus wherein he granted great liberties to the Monastery of Breodun depending upon this Church of Medeshamstede as was said before then governed by the Venerable Abbot Swaph fol. CXXXII Eanmundus or rather Eadmundus as I believe it should have been written This Charter being remarkable for many things I have represented at large in the Appendix by which it will appear if my conjecture be true that this Celredus was advanced to the Episcopal dignity as Sexuulf had been though his See be not named whereby way was made for Hedda to succeed him here HEDDA When he entred upon the government of this Monastery or whence he came is not known but by Ingulphus we understand as is observed by Mr. G. that he was Abbot here in the year 833. and continued so to be till the destruction of the place by the Danes Who began to infest this Kingdom in the year 837. as John Abbot writes Chron. MS. in Sir J. C's Library DCCCXXXVII Dani crebris irruptionibus Angliam infestant And again An. DCCCXXXIX Dani passim per Angliam multas caedes agant And though they were several times beaten yet An. DCCCLI a great Army of them in 350 Ships came up the River Thames and pillaged Canterbury and London An. DCCCLIII the English fought against them in the Isle of Thanet magno dispendio An. DCCCLV they wintered in the Isle of Schepie and in the year DCCCLXIV in the Isle of Thanet having made peace with the Cantuarians In the year DCCCLXVI they did great mischief in the North took York depopulated the Country of the Eastangles entred into Mercia and wintred at Nottingham Three year after An. DCCCLXIX they left Mercia and went back to York and wintered there But the next year which was famous for the desolation they made of this Church and many other places they came and landed on Lyndesay Coast destroyed the Monastery of Bardney killing all the Monks without any pity and then entring Kestiven trod down killed and burnt all that came in their way Which Mr. G. hath largely enough related out of Ingulphus and therefore I shall follow my Author no further who hath nothing which is not to be found there The
Charter from King Henry I. for the holding a great many Lands therein specified and in the same right and with the same Customs and Liberties wherein they were held die ipso quo Thuraldus Abbas vivus fuit mortuus habuerit from whose time little had been done by any Abbot till now This was seconded with many other Grants full of great Priviledges and at last in a distinct Charter he gives to the Abbot Manerium suum de Pichelee quod Galfridus Ridellus de eo tenuit cum tota instauratione quae in manerio erat die quo fuit vivus mortuus This was confirmed by King Stephen that I may put all belonging to this matter together in following times that they should have their Mannor de Pichelle quod Henricus Rex eis reddidit concessit charta sua confirmavit quod oculis meis vidi c. And afterwards Hen. 2. confirmed the same in these words Sciatis me concessisse Ecclesiae Abbati de Burgo Manerium suum Pihtislea quod Galfridus Riddel de eo tenuit sicut Charta Henrici Regis avi nostri testatur c. Two years before this there was an alteration made in the Churches and Chappell 's built by the Milites in the time of Turoldus For now in the year 1112. some of them whose profits had hitherto been received intirely by the Monastery were assigned to the use of those that ministred in those Churches and served in the Chappels Who were there appointed to administer the Ecclesiastical Sacraments to the people it being too far for them to come to Burg and the ways also dangerous But there were referred to the Church of Burg two parts of the predial Tythes of those Milites and saved to the same Church the Sepulture of the aforesaid Milites their Wives and their Children and a certain portion of their Goods thereupon saving also to the Church of Burg from some of the Churches so indowed certain Pensions which had been paid to it from the Foundation Then followed the Convention made before Robert Bishop of Lincoln between Ernulphus and the Monks and the Milites of the same Church that every Knight should give two parts of his Tythes to the Sacristry of Burgh and when he dyed tertia pars substantiae suae ad sepulturam cum militaribus indumentis tam in equis quam in armis which were to be brought to his Funeral with him And then a Solemn Procession was to be made by the whole Convent before him and a plenary Office celebrated for him by all and he was to partake both himself and his Wife and their Children of the benefits of the place for ever viz. in Eleemosynis in celebratione Missaram in jejuniis in vigiliis in Psalmodiis in caeteris bonis quae Deo annuente usquequaque in Ecclesia Sancti Petri fiant In like manner their Wives and their Children it was agreed should be brought with their substance belonging to them to the same Church in the end of their life And the Divine vengeance they desired might light upon them who made void this agreement In the same year the dedication of the Church of Turleby mentioned by Mr. Gunton was made by the same Bishop In whose presence and in the presence of the whole Parish Bencelina Mother of Ralph de la Mare granted to that Church for the health of her own Soul and of her Parents dimidiam bovatam terrae unam acram prati c. He lived after he went to Rochester some days above Nine years and dyed leaving many Monuments of his vertue in the 84. year of his age So Malmsbury writes Vixit in Episcopatu aliquot dies super Novennium decessitque quatuor octoginta annos natus multa probitatis suae monumenta relinquens Which doth not disagree with Abbot John if we remember he was elected the year before he was enstalled who says he was Bishop Ten years and dyed An. 1124. So John Bromton also JOHN of SALISBVRY This Abbot whom our Writers call John de Sais or Says was no sooner appointed by the King to succeed Ernulphus but he was immediately dispatched to Rome by the Archbishop of Canterbury Radulphus to fetch his Pall from Pope Paschal So Hugo or Sawpham as it 's commonly thought expresly tells us and names two persons who were sent with him Guarnerius and Johannes Archidiaconus Nephew to the Archbishop which makes it the more strange that Mr. G. should overlook this passage so as not to find to what end he was sent Eadmerus also relates the same from whom we learn also why he was called John de Says for he calls him Johannes Monachus Sagii who being elected and Consecrated Abbas Burchorum was sent to Rome with Warnerius a Monk of Canterbury and Johannes Clericus Nephew to the Archbishop upon the business before named Which they effected in little more than a years time for Radulphus was Consecrated as Radulph de Diceto informs us on the 6. of the Kal. of May and received the Pall on the 5. Kal. of July Agreeable unto which Hugo saith the Abbot returned to the Monastery the next year after he went to Rome upon the Feast of St. Peter One reason I believe why he was chose to be sent upon this errand was that he had been an old acquaintance of the Archbishops bred in the same Monastery wher 's Radulphus had been Abbot as John had been Monk For so I find him called by Gervasius Actus Pontif. Cantuar. Radulphus Abbas Sagiensis and by Symeon of Durham also ad An. 1104. Where he speaks of the body of St. Cutbert being found incorrupt after he had been buried above 400. years a Radulfo Sagiensi Abbate postmodum Hrofensi Episcopo deinde Cantuariensi Archiepiscopo De gestis Regum Angliae From this place I doubt not that is from Say or Says in Normandy he had the name of Says or Sais and is by mistake called John of Salisbury which they fancied was contracted into Sais This must be corrected therefore in Mr. G. for Sagiusn is not Salisbury but Say where he was bred and perhaps born And it is very likely was the Author of that contract of mutual Friendship which was between this Monastery and that of Sais For so I find in our Records fol. CCLXXIV among divers Conventions which were made between the Friers of St. Peter of Burch and a great many other Churches there is one cum fratribus nostris de Sais Wherein they ingaged when any Monk dyed in either Church three plenary Offices should be said for him by the other Church and every Priest should sing three Masses for him and they that did not sing Mass should say the whole Psalter The next year after his return An. 1116. I find he cleared the Abby of the yearly payment of forty shillings which Azeo Wardeden had long unjustly claimed from it For upon a full hearing of the difference between them before King
Council holden at London Anno 833. At another Council at Kingsbury Anno 851. as S. H. Spelman writeth The Writers of this Monastery of Peterburgh are silent concerning There was saith Vossius one Elias Trikingham a Monk of this Church who wrote Annals from An. 626. to 770. wherein he lived but what mention he makes of his own Monastery non conslat See in Robert Sutton the times lives and actions of these Abbots their Records having been either none or perished therefore we shall be beholding to Ingulphus the Abbot of Croyland for a memorable History concerning this Abbot Hedda In his time the glory of the Monastery of Medeshamsted suffered a great Eclipse through the invasion of the Danes destroying all before them with fire and sword In which bloudy tempest the Monastery of Croyland was first overwhelmed the Danes killing there all the Monks they met with and Osketulus the barbarous King slaying the Abbot Theodorus upon the Altar with his own hand and having plundered the Monastery they set it on fire Britanuus a Monk of this Abby having escaped the slaughter wrote lamentations upon the destruction of his Monastery in Verse An. 807. Pitfeus On the fourth day after the Danes departed with a great booty of goods and cattel towards Medeshamsted where they found many of the Country people retired within the Monastery who with the Monks stood upon their guard The Danes making several assaults Tulba brother of Earl Hulba was by the defendants mortally bruised on the head with a stone cast from that Tower which he assaulted whereat Hulba was so enraged that having entred the Monastery he slew all the Monks with his own hand Our Peterburgh writers call them Hubba and Lubba the rest of the people were slaughtered by the Soldiers The aged Abbot Hedda escaped not the hands of Hulba but was slain with his Monks Then were the Altars broken down Monuments demolished a goodly Library set on fire Charters Evidences and Writings to a great number all torne in pieces The Church it self with all the appendent buildings was set on fire which continued for fifteen days together The Danes as I find in a Continuator of Ingulphus with the riches of the Monastery and the cattle of the Country departing on the fourth day there were two Earls among them both called by one name Sidroc the one the elder the other the younger who marched in the reer of this devouring multitude to guard them in their passage over streams and rivers And when the multitude had passed over the River Nen these two Sidrocs being to pass over with their booty two Waines laden with their choicest riches were overthrown and together with their horses sunk into a deep pit a little beneath the Bridge which haply was the Medeswell before mentioned Now to Ingulphus again who proceeds in his own story That certain Monks of Croyland who had secured themselves by flight into the Fens the Danes being gone they returned to their Monastery cleansed it from ashes and other pollutions as they could and consulted to chuse another Abbot which they did Godricus a reverend and religious man being he upon whom the election passed to whom there came Toretus Prior of Ancarig with his sub-prior Tisa desiring Godricus that he would take some brethren with him and go over to Medeshamsted to give Christian burial to the bodies of those Monks which were there exposed to beasts and birds Godricus embracing the motion took some of his Monks with him amongst the rest one Turgarus of twelve years of age who being by the younger Sidroc saved was by him taken to Medeshamsted and seeing the Danes busie in getting their carriages out of the River Nen he stole away from them and returned to his Monastery of Croyland Abbot Godricus coming to Medeshamsted with much toil and pains gathered together the bodies of the slaughtered Monks to the number of 84. and laid them all in one large grave in the middle of the Church-yard by the East front of the Monastery upon the Feast of S. Cecilia November 22. setting up over the body of the Abbot resting in the midst of his sons a pyramidal stone three foot in heighth three in length and one in thickness engraven with the So Ingulphus calls it pictures of the Abbot and his Monks about him which stone in memory of the destroyed Monastery he named Medeshamsted and every year after so long as he lived he visited that place pitching his Tent over the said stone saying Mass two several days for the souls of Abbot Hedda and his Monks The high way then into Holland was through the same Church-yard having that monumental stone on the right hand and a cross of stone over against it erected also by Abbot Godricus on the left that passers by in memory of the ruined Monastery might remember to pray for the souls of those there buried and abstain from sacrilegious rapines and demolitions of that place for his sake who was crucified Thus far Ingulphus The Cross is long since demolished and the place where it stood not known but the stone is still remaining agreeable to Ingulphus his description which as it was at first called by the name of the place Medeshamsted so it is now amongst some known by the name of Peterburgh and there being certain little holes in the sides of the stone it was lately a merry custom for strangers to put their fingers into one of those holes that they might say they had been at Peterburgh There was within these few years a door in the Church having the Picture of Abbot Hedda and the King or Captain of the Danes as it were expostulating the business and underneath were these four Verses written in ancient Saxon Letters as if they had been spoken by the Abbot Fers mala pejora timeas cedasque rigori Nec teneare mora ne teneare mori Hoc ne dabo domitus quod Barbarus advena quaerit Da necer immeritus mors mihi munus erit The Monastery of Medeshamsted thus destroyed by the Danes Ingulphus fol. 494. lay buried in its own ruines the space of ninety and six years no Abbot Monk Government or Religion there professed in all that time that is to be found in story only King Beorredus seized the Lands of the Monastery giving them to his Souldiers until Adelwoldus or Athelwoldus Bishop of Winchester a man very zealous in the building and restoring of Churches laid his hand to the restauration of it for as Writers say he was warned of God in the night that he should go to the midland English and repair the Monastery of S. Peter so that taking his journey into these parts he came to Oundle supposing that to be the place but being warned the second time that he should follow the course of the River he came at length to Medeshamsted which he found desolate and forsaken but presently with such help as he could get he fell to cleansing
they had received investiture into their Abbeys from the King and not from Anselme So Godricus held his Abbey of Peterburgh but one year which was an unhappy year too for in that year Foreign Thieves from Almain France and Flanders broke in through a window into the Church and stole away a Cross of beaten Gold with many Jewels two Chalices and Patins two golden Candlesticks which Elfricus Archbishop of York had given to this Church Although the Thieves were pursued and taken yet the goods were not recovered but came into the Kings hand who held them so fast that the Abbey could not retrieve them Godricus being deposed the Abbey was destitute of an Abbot about the space of four years all which time it continued in the Kings hand at length King Henry 1. in the year 1103. and the 3 or 4. of his Reign sent an Abbot unto them Until these days of King Henry all the Charters and Grants of former Kings and other Benefactors to the Church were without Seals and signed only with their Names and Figures of a Cross but now they began to affix Seals to their Deeds 16. MATTHIAS Was the man whom King Henry sent to the Abbey of Burgh after that Godricus was deposed One may almost smell the wind that blew Matthias hither for he was Brother to Galfridus Ridel the Kings Chief Justice to whom Matthias gave the Mannor of Pightesly belonging then to his Church What conveyance Abbot Matthias made to his brother Galfridus I cannot determine but Galfridus resolved to hold the Mannor of Pightesly as his own and not of the Monastery of Peterburgh which caused a long suit betwixt them until at length an agree-ment was made betwixt the Abbot not this Matthias but one of his Successors and Galfridus that he should hold the said Mannor for his life paying to the Abbot the yearly rent of four Marks and that after his decease the Mannor should return again to the Church of Peterburgh which it did not long after for Galfridus was drowned at Sea with William Son of King Henry Not long after Abbot John de Sais gave the King 60 Marks in Silver to confirm again the Mannor of Pightesly to his Monastery Matthias held his Monastery of Peterburgh but one year for on the same day he entred thereon on the same day twelve month he died at Gloucester about the year 1105. and the King again kept the Monastery in his hand three years till the coming of 17. ERNVLFVS He was Prior of Canterbury and there being then a Council holden at London wherein many were promoted to Ecclesiastical Dignities Ernulfus was offered to the Monks of Peterburgh for their Abbot and they willingly accepted of him knowing him to be both a pious and prudent man Whilst he was Prior of Canterbury the business concerning the marriage of Priests was hastily agitated and Anselme the then Archbishop was strongly for the negative writing Letters to this Ernulfus which are to be seen in Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments Whilst Ernulfus was Abbot here all things went happily with the Monastery Ernulfus promoting the good thereof by the Kings favour which he had in a plentiful measure He built the new Dormitory the Necessary and finished the Chapter-house which was began before he made an agreement betwixt his Convent and those Knights who held Lands of his Abby that every Knight See in Adulphus should pay yearly to the Sacristary two parts of his Tythes and at his death the third part of his whole Estate for his burial in the Church all his Knightly endowments as well Horses as Armes being to be brought with his body and offer'd up to S. Peter the Convent were to receive the Corps with procession and to perform the office for the dead In the time of this Ernulfus Anno 1112. was the Church of Thirlby near Bourn in Lincolnshire dedicated by Robert Bloet then Bishop of Lincoln Thirlby Church dedicated Swapham fol. 115. pag. 1. which Church with the Mannor belonged then to this Monastery of Peterburgh Abbot Ernulfus was translated from this his government in his seventh year Anno 1114. For King Henry being to pass over the Sea and waiting for a wind at Bourn he sent to Peterburgh for Ernulfus to come unto him to consult about weighty Affairs he being the Kings Confessor but being come the King with Raulfus so our Peterburgh writers call him but Bishop Godwin Rodolphus the Archbishop of Canterbury importuned him to take upon him the Bishoprick of Rochester which Ernulfus did though much against his will the Monks also taking it very heavily wept for the loss of their Abbot Ernulfus being Bishop of Rochester wrote a Book in answer to certain questions propounded See the Catalogue at the end O. and B. by Lambertus Abbot of S. Bertine as also another book of incestuous Marriages although Pitseus makes no mention of him Ernulfus being thus removed the King gave his Monastery to Johannes de Sais or 18. JOHN of Salisbury He being appointed Abbot was honourably received of the Monks He took a journey to Rome but I find not to what end and returned the year following In his time the Monastery was burnt again only the Chapter-house Dormitory Necessary and the new Refectory escaped the flames which took hold of the Village and wholly consumed it Wittlesey writes that one in the Bakehouse being to kindle a fire with much pains could not make it burn which John the Abbot being present seeing in a cholerick mood cried The Devil kindle it and presently the fire flamed to the top of the house ran through all the Abbots Offices and thence to the Town The life burning in one of the Towers for nine days together a violent wind drove the Coals upon the Abbots house and fired that also Afterwards Abbot John began to build the Church anew Anno 1118. which he industriously prosecuted but lived not to finish it for he held his Abby but eleven years and died of a Dropsie Anno 1125. being the 25 or 26 of King Henry I. A year before this was the Church of Castri dedicated as may be seen by an Inscription yet continuing over the Chancel door XV KL MAII DEDICATIO HUJUS ECCLESIAE MCXXIIII Abbot John being dead the King again kept the Monastery in his hand two years And although as hath been said this John gave the King 60 Marks for the confirmation of the Mannor of Pightesly yet upon the death of John the Abbot of Peterburgh the King having all at his disposing for 60 Marks more sold Pightesly to Richard Basset and for Abbot of this Monastery appointed 19. HENRICVS de Angeli Or Henry of Anjou who was made Abbot Anno 1128. He being ambitious sought after many preferments but held them not long for besides he was unstable and voluntarily deserted his present Governments or else found opposition in new ones that he was compelled to withdraw Having an Abbey beyond Sea he got a
doubted whether he wrote them himself more than he did the rest I shall therefore set down his Books as also some of the succeeding Abbots that the Reader may conjecture what Scholars those Abbots might be and see what Books were most in request amongst them Abbot Benedicts Library was furnished with these Books Quinque libri Moysis glossati in uno Volumine Sexdecim Prophetae glossati in uno Volumine Duodecim Minores glossati in uno Volumine Liber Regum glossatus Paralipomenon glossatus Job Parabolae Salomonis Ecclesiastes Cantica Canticorum glossati in uno Volumine Liber Ecclesiasticus Liber Sapientiae glossati in uno Volumine Tobias Judith Esther Esdras glossati in uno Volumine Liber Judicumglossatus Scholastica Historia Psalterium glossatum Item non glossatum Item Psalterium Quatuor Evangelia glossata in uno Volumine Item Matthaeus Marcus in uno Volumine Johannes Lucas in uno Volumine Epistolae Pauli glossatae Apocalypsis Epistolae Canonicae glossatae in uno Volumine Sententiae Petri Lombardi Item Sententiae ejusdem Sermones Bernardi Abbatis Clarevallensis Decreta Gratiani Item Decreta Gratiani Summa Ruffini de Decretis Summa Johannis Faguntini de Decretis Decretales Epistolae Item Decretales Epistolae Item Decretales Epistolae cum Summa sic incipiente Olim. Institutiones Justiniani cum Autenticis Infortiato Digestum vetus Tres partes cum Digesto novo Summa Placentorum Totum corpus juris in duobus Voluminibus Arisimetica Epistolae Senecae cum aliis Senecis in uno Volumine Martialis Terentius in uno Volumine Morale dogma Philosophorum Gesta Alexandri Liber Claudii Claudiani Summae Petri Helyae de Grammatica cum multis aliis rebus in uno Volumine Gesta Regis Henrici Secundi genealogia ejus Interpretationes Hebraicorum nominum Libellus de Incarnatione Verbi Liber Bernardi Abbatis ad Eugenium Papam Missale Vita Sancti Thomae Martyris Miracula ejusdem in quinque Voluminibus Liber R. Plutonis qui dicitur Vnde malum Meditationes Anselmi Practica Bartholomaei cum pluribus aliis rebus in uno Volumine Ars Physicae Pantegm practica ipsius in uno Volumine Almasor Dioscorides de virtutibus herbarum Liber dinamidiorum aliorum multorum in uno Volumine Libellus de compoto This was the stock of his Literature as Wittlesey hath set it down though another ancient Copy in some few things differeth from it There is some clashing betwixt Vossius and Possevine about the time of this Benedict but it is not worth the trouble of reciting It seems Benedict was a man of good note that his preferment to this Abby should sound in foreign parts Sigebertus Gemblacensis making mention thereof Benedictus Prior Cantuariensis factus est Ad an 1177. Abbas de Burc The Abby was at his entrance 1500 marks deep in debt from which Benedict freed it He laboured much in recovering of his Abby Lands some by suits in Law and some by force for as if he were Tam Marti quam Mercurio as well for the Sword as the Book he went sometimes in person armed upon such adventures His actions at home towards his Monastery were great and many It seems the Nave or body of the Church did not please him therefore he built it after a better manner from the Lantern to the Porch as now it is so that the painted Ceiling at the top which is still remaining was probably of his doing He set up also the Pulpit in the body of the Church which was but lately taken away He finished the Chappel of Thomas Becket which his Predecessor had begun He built a large and goodly House of stone for several Offices which was standing in our age He built the great gate leading to the Monastery and over it the Chappel of S. Nicolas both which are yet standing He was much in the Kings favour that the King King Richard for his piety gravity and wisdom was wont to call him Father And when King Richard in his return from the Holy Land was taken prisoner by Arch-Duke Leopold who detained him this Abbot Benedict being in the Kings absence made Coadjutor and Councellor with William Bishop of Ely Chancellor of the Realm Councelled that the Chalices of the Church should be sold to pay the Kings ransome which was done and the King returned home Then did King Richard confirm to Abbot Benedict and his Monastery the Marsh of Pekirk now commonly called North-Fenne about which there fell out some difference betwixt Radulphus le Wake and the Monastery for Radulphus being Lord of Deeping claimed Common in the Marsh as being but on the other side of the River but Abbot Benedict impounded his Cattel alledging that the Marsh belonged only to his Tenants of Pekirk Glinton Makeshye and Northburgh and desired Radulphus to enquire into the truth thereof So Radulphus came to Peterburgh with some others where being fully informed of the Abbots right he forbare to trespass any more Benedict also recovered the Marsh of Eye and the Hermitage of Singlesholt King Richard also granted unto Benedict his confirmation of the eight Hundreds as his predecessors had done And withal his Charter for the holding of a Fair in Peterburgh upon the Feast of S. Peter S. Peters Fair. to continue for 8 days although now it be contracted into one He also granted a weekly Market every Thursday and a Fair for three days at the Feast of S. Peter to be holden at the Mannor of Scotter in Lincolnshire then belonging to this Monastery Vid. Chartam in App. Pag. 252. John the Kings brother who was Earl of Moriton and afterwards King of England was also kind to Abbot Benedict and his Monastery giving them by his Charter yearly three Staggs and six Bucks out of his Forest of Sheerwood without contradiction In his time there flourished one William of Peterburgh a Monk of Ramsey a very Learned man upon whom Pitseus bestows a large Character whither the Reader that would see his works may resort Benedict having been Abbot the space of seventeen years died Anno 1194. being the sixth Year of King Richard the first and had for his Successor 23. ANDREAS He was first a Monk here then Prior and afterwards for his many vertues was chosen Abbot The Villages of Alwalton and Fletton which then belonged to him he gave to the Monks Kitchin for the augmentation of their Commons Having been Abbot about five years he died the same year with King Richard which was Anno 1199. He was buried in the South Isle of the Church at the back of the Quire in the same Grave where two of his Predecessors had been buried before as the Epitaph on the Wall over his Monument will testifie which was lately in ancient Saxon Letters but now in the ordinary renewed Hos tres Abbates quibus est Prior Abba Johannes Alter Martinus Andreas ultimus unus Hic
of S. Katharine at Westminster On the Feast of S. John the Evangelist following he received the said Bishops blessing at Tinghurst and on the Eve of Epiphany following he was received at Peterburgh In his first year he paid to the Kings Exchequer 5 Marks for the disforesting of Nassaburgh and 28 more to the Chancellor In that year died one Brianus de la Marc the Kings Forester in the Marsh of Kesteven and Holland and the King passing by that way towards York seized upon all the goods of the said Brian But Abbot Martin procured the Kings Writ to Hugo de Nevile then Justice of the Forest to enquire if the said Brian was not enfeoffed in certain Lands belonging to the Monastery of Peterburgh which being examined at a Commission holden at Bernat and found to be so the Heir of the said Brian was awarded as Ward to the Abbot of Peterburgh But Abbot Martin gave the said ward to Radulfus de Nevile then Bishop of Chichester and the Kings Chancellor This Abbot Martin in the year 1228. received a grand priviledge from Gregory the Ninth Pope of that name wherein this particular that whensoever there should be a general interdiction of the Land the Monks of Peterburgh when they said their Service might shut the Church doors ring no bell nor say their Service aloud but with a low voice to themselves that the people might not participate thereof But I have not found that ever this was put in practice In the year 1231 Hugh Bishop of Lincoln visited this Monastery and gave Articles to be observed both by the Abbot as also by the Convent Martin having been Abbot the space of six years died His Library was but thin Missale Item Missale ad Altare S. Katharinae Capitula collecta Evangelica in 2 Voluminibus ad magnum Altare 28. WALTERVS de S. Edmundo Who was first Monk then Sacristary and at length Abbot of this Church being void by the death of Martin Anno 1233. the 17 of King Henry 3. Here Robert Swapham ends his story of the succession of Abbots whom hitherto we have been much guided by but now we must follow Wittlesey and a few other Records which like Absirtus his limbs being scattered about in the late dispersion have come to our hands This Abbot Walter was a man generally good pious honest Loyal free and liberal in the dispensation of the demesnes belonging to his Church In those days King Henry was straitly put to it for maintenance and was constrained to live upon Ecclesiastical benevolence going from one Monastery to another to be entertained And he found Abbot Walter very free towards K. Henry at Peterburgh him who at two several times gave him the best entertainment his Monastery could afford At one of which times the Queen and Prince Edward came with the King This Abbot gave the King the summ of 60 Marks towards the marriage of Margaret his Daughter with Alexander 3. King of Scotland He added 30 more Monks to the number erected many buildings to those which were before Having been Abbot the space of 13 years he died Anno 1245 being the 30 of King Henry 3. What that dedication of this Church was which Matth. Paris mentions Anno 1238. I could never yet fully understand Page 481. But we must not leave Abbot Walter thus for the time of his Government is remarkable Three times saith Wittlesey with great costs and charges he journeyed to Rome The first was to have redress concerning the Church of Castre against R. de Somercot who was a Cardinal this journey he took when he was but Sacristary The second journey was being Abbot not to but towards Rome when he was summoned to be at a Council there with the rest of the English Clergy which Council was held there Anno 1234. under Pope Gregory 9. saith Franciscus Longus though Gabriel Pratiolus will have Innocent 4. to be then Pope and Gregory 9. to be some time after But Walter being on the way thither as far as Burgundy and hearing that the Emperour Frederick had imprisoned Otto the English Legate with many others he durst not proceed on his journey but staid in the City of Anvers 6 months and then returned home to the Monastery of Peterburgh But his retreat was so ill taken that presently the Pope sends a Mandate to him for the finding of five men with Horses and Arms which at length he took off at the charge of 174 Marks by the dispensation of Martin the Popes Nuntio The third journey to Rome was after the Council of Lions for thither also was he summoned and appeared there but rather as an offender than an Assessor for he was called to answer his contempt in giving the Church of Castre according to the Kings order and against the Popes yet did he regain the Popes favour by obliging himself to give to a Nephew of the Popes ten pounds a year Our Writers of Peterburgh say no more but Matthew Paris is more copious in Page 554. the story or another like it In the year saith he 1241. Pope Gregory desirous to promote some of his Favourites sends his Letters into England to cast the burthen of that care upon some Churches There was then sent to the Abbot and Convent of Burgh an Apostolick Mandate fraught with intreaties and threatnings that they would conferr the Rent of any Church under their patronage which should yearly be worth one hundred Marks and if it were double the value it would please him the more and the Pope would again demise unto the Church the same Living for the yearly rent of one hundred Marks and the surplusage should redound to the proper use of the Church And that the Abbot and Convent might consent to this provision or rather pernicious compact Simony and secret Fraud demanded by the Pope the Pope wrote Letters to certain Foreign Monks then well Beneficed in England that they should effectually admonish the Abbot and Convent therein and to compel them if need were These Monks coming to Peterburgh called the Monks together and bespake them after this manner Behold Friends and Brethren a great Pontifical kindness is offered to your hand for the Pope requires that of you which with bended knees and joyned hands ye ought to request of him And when they had explained the business they promised to accomplish the business on the Popes part so that the business might be secretly carried without scandal But the Monks of Peterburgh answered that they could do nothing without the Kings permission who was their Patron and Founder The Popes Messengers insisted that the business might be done privately hoping also that other Churches would follow their example and do the like The Monks of Peterburgh would not be circumvented by their Speeches but desired respite of the business until their Abbot came home being then absent that they might have his assent In the mean time they sent to their Abbot acquainting him with the whole business
Wine for which he assigned ten pounds yearly to be paid from his own Chamber out of the Lands of his Mannor of Polebrook He gave also a great Bell to the Church whereon was written Jon de Caux Abbas Oswaldo consecrat hoc vas In his time Anno 1250. the Pope then Innocent the fourth Vid. Privileg in App. granted leave to the Monks that in consideration of the coldness of Winter in these parts the Monks should perform their service in the Church with their Hoods on their heads Abbot John having held the government of this Church the space of thirteen years died at London Anno 1262. the 46 of King Henry the third and was brought to his Church at Peterburgh and buried in the Isle on the South side of the Quire The King after his death challenged his Palfrey and his Cup but upon what grounds I know not unless it was because John had been his Officer the Cup he had after some urgent demands but the Palfrey he had not Some write that this Abbot John was also made Lord Treasurer Mr. Filpot by the Barons in the 44. year of King Henry the third and according to this account he held that Office to his death which was two years after His Secular employments might take off his mind from Books and plead for the poorness of his Library Flores Evangeliorum Tractatus de Theologia Concilium Lateranense Templum Domini Testamentum 12 Patriarcharum This was his stock of Books as I find in an ancient Manuscript 31. ROBERTVS de Sutton So called from the place of his birth being a little Village in the Parish of Castre He was a Monk of Peterburgh Deputy to his Predecessor and upon his death chosen Abbot in April 1262. He received benediction from Richard Bishop of Lincoln and gave him his Cope which some demanded as a fee the Archdeacon of Northampton demanding also his Palfrey as his vale Abbot Robert made him go without it The Earl Marshal received five Marks for his Palfrey when he took the Oath of Allegiance to the King But it was not long ere Abbot Robert falsified his Oath for in the Wars of those times the Town of Northampton being fortified against the King Robert Abbot of Peterburgh took part with them in defence of that Town The King coming thither to assault the Town espied amongst his enemies Ensigns on the wall the Ensign of the Abby of Peterburgh whereat he was so angry that he vowed to destroy the nest of such ill birds But the Town of Northampton being reduced Abbot Robert by mediation of friends to the King saved both himself and Church but was forced to pay for his delinquency To the King 300 Marks to the Queen 20 pounds to Prince Edward 60 pounds to the Lord Souch 6l 13s 4d After this hapned the Battel of Lewes wherein King Henry with Prince Edward was taken Prisoner then did the other side fleece the Abbot of Peterburgh for his contribution to the King the General and several Barons and Commanders forcing the Abbot to composition by several sums of mony Afterwards at the Battle of Evesham Prince Edward overthrew the Earl of Leicester with his whole Army and the King having recovered himself called a Parliament at Winchester wherein he required large benevolence from the Church Particularly the Abbot of Peterburgh because he had held with the Barons was again constrained to purchase his peace at these rates The King had of him 333l 6s 8d The Queen 33l 6s 8d The Prince Prince Edward 200l He paid also to the Earl of Gloucester 133l 6s 8d Earl Warren had of Abbot Robert for his Mannors of Castre Tinwell and Thirlby 100l Warin Lord of Bassingburn 42l The Commander of Fotheringay Castle 100l 6s 8d Lord Thomas Typtot for the Mannors of Fiskerton and Scotter 65l 13s 4d The Lord of Fanecourt for the Mannor of Collingham 12l Lord Robert Picot for several Mannors 14l 6s 8d Thomas of Bulton 6l 13s 4d All which summs of mony he carried to Winchester and there paid them These and other payments which he made at other times exhausted from him amounted to the summ of 4323l 18s 5d Having paid thus dear for his disloyalty he became more obedient to his right Master and when King Henry sent to him for aid against the Castle of Kenilworth Abbot Robert did what the King required for that siege Vid. Chartam in App. In these times Prince Edward having occasion for mony he borrowed a great summ of certain Merchants for which the Abbot of Peterburgh and his Convent became Sureties And the Prince granted unto them his Mannor of Graham until he should repay that mony unto them Edward was no sooner King but in the first year of his Reign he came to Peterburgh where he was entertained by this Abbot Robert And from hence he dated a Charter which he granted to the Church of Ely as the close Ms Eliens in manu Geo. Glapthorn Armig. pag. 135. thereof testifieth Teste meipso apud Burgum Sancti Petri 13 die Aprilis Anno regni nostri primo This was in the year of our Lord 1273. And perhaps this is that entertainment which Wittlesey makes mention of the Queen being then with the King and Abbot Robert expended in the entertainment the summ of six hundred pounds In the 11 Year of his Government he was called to the Council of Lions Gregory 10 being then Pope which Council being ended in his return homewards he sickned and died and was buried in a Monastery near Bononia the Abbot of Croyland celebrating his Funeral rites His heart was brought in a Cup to his Monastery of Peterburgh and there buried before the Altar of S. Oswald Anno 1274. being the second year of King Edward the first In his Library were these Books Psalterium glossatum Summa Raimundi cum apparatu Summa fratris R. de Fissacre super Sententias in 4 voluminibus Summa Qui bene praesunt Templum domini cum tractatu de professione in 1 volumine Summa M. J. de Cantia cum aliis rebus Secunda pars Hugucionis super Decreta Summa Gaufridi Liber naturalium Aristot Raimundus abbreviatus cum meditationibus Bernardi Manuale Liber de miseria humanae conditionis Psalterium B. Virginis Vita S. Thomae S. Oswaldi versifics. Psalterium parvum In his time Anno 1270. lived Elias Trickingham a Monk of Peterburgh who wrote certain Annals from the year of our Lord 626 to 1270. Pitseus 32. RICHARDVS de London Steeple Born there in the Parish of S. Pancratius He having run through many Offices in this Monastery at length arrived at the Abbot's when he was aged sixty years And so being of much experience he governed his Monastery carefully and happily He contended in Law with Gilbert Earl of Clare for the Mannor of Biggins near Oundle wherein he had good success through the wisdom and diligence of William Woodford one of his Monks who being a
Peterburgh where Abbot Godfrey entertained them very nobly the Abbot presented the Prince with a rich Robe and the Prince asked the Messenger if the Abbot had sent one to his friend Peter the Messenger answering No the Prince then would not accept his the Messenger returning to the Abbot certified him of the Princes refusal and the reason whereupon another rich Robe was sent to Peter whose mediation the Messenger solicited for the Prince's acceptance of his Robe also whereupon Peter sends to the Prince and bids the Messenger say Volo I will that thou receive the Abbots gift which was done accordingly and the Abbot had thanks returned to him In his fourth year the 32 of King Edward Galfridus de la A Market and Fair at Northburgh Mare then Lord of Northburgh had procured from King Edward a Charter to hold a Market and Fair at Northburgh but Abbot Godfrey considering how prejudicial the same would be to his Town of Peterburgh compounded with Galfridus who quitted his Charter to the Abbot of Peterburgh and his Successors for ever In his fifth year the Church of Wermington was made an Appropriation Wermington Church Gate-house Godfrey was also a great builder adding much to his Monastery but we cannot say which for they are long since demolished only the great Gate-house over which was the Chamber called The Knights Chamber is yet standing the Chamber only being lately translated into another fashion about it were the Pictures of Knights upon the walls who held Lands of the Abby and the very Rafters were adorned with Coats of Arms. Godfrey also purchased the Mannor of Lullington or Luddington for 113l 6s 8d of Luddington Mannor Gregory then Lord thereof allowing him above this summ a Corrody in his Monastery that is maintenance during his life for himself two servants and their horses He setled a yearly stipend of five pound upon the Chaplain of Northolme And upon a certain number of Monks then residing at Oxney he setled a weekly portion of Victuals thirteen stone of Cheefe which they were to receive out of the Mannor of Eye and every week from May 3. to September 13. three pounds and an half of Butter He procured a Fair to be held at Northolme yearly on S. Matthews day and a Weekly Market every Thursday He built the dwelling A Fair and Market at Northolme Vid. Chart. in App. Mill-dam House at Burghberry and made the Dam commonly called Mill-Dam with a Water-Mill at the end thereof which hath been in use in our memory He built also of his own free will the Bridge now standing over the River and leading into the City of The Bridge which more in the next King Edward preparing for War with Scotland sent to Abbot Godfrey for contribution towards it and the Abbot sent him an hundred Marks The King sent the second time to the Abbot for his Knights service in horse and arms and the Abbot sent the King sixty Marks more The King sent the third time and the Abbot sent him 220l The King sent the fourth time for a supply of Carriages and the Abbot satisfied that with 30l The King sent the fifth time to borrow four hundred Marks which the Abbot also satisfied with the free gift of an hundred pounds About that time the King seized upon all the Lands of Walter de Langton his Treasurer and amongst the rest upon Thorp Watervile belonging to the Abbey of Peterburgh which by advice and assistance of John of Milton the Abbots Seneschal or Steward was recovered by the Abbots paying to the Kings Exchequer for the same 50 l. But John of Milton having taken the said Mannor of the Abbot and shortly after dying the King gave that Mannor to Earl Warren so that the Abbot was brought to a new composition of 120 Marks The King at that time imposed 40 s. upon every Knights-fee throughout the Realm towards the marriage of Elianor his eldest daughter and then Abbot Godfrey sent the King 127 l. Howbeit Wittlesey Registrum Adae fol. 76. I find in another Register that the King sent his Breves to the Sheriffs of Northampton Lincoln Nottingham Leicester Warwick Huntingdon and Bedford that they should not levy any such moneys upon the Lands of the Abbot of Peterburgh whereby it may seem that this 127 l. was rather the Abbots free gift than a tribute of duty the Abbot standing upon his exemption from such demands by the Charters of the Kings predecessors from the first foundation of his Abby Abbot Godfrey entertained the King the second time when for duties to the King and free gifts to his followers the Abbot expended the summ of 1543 l. 13 s. 4 d. He entertained also two Cardinals which were travelling towards Scotland to mediate for a peace betwixt King Edward and the Scots And the Abbot presented one of them called Gaucelmus with a Psalter curiously written with golden Letters And those Cardinals in their return coming hither again the Abbot presented Gaucelmus with an embroidered Cope of the value of 100 Marks And the other Cardinal Lucius de Aysk with a silver Cup gilt and fifty Ells of Scarlet So that the moneys expended by Abbot Godfrey for Vestments and ornaments of the Church for Lands purchased to his Abby and for gifts to several persons amounted to the summ of 3646 l. 4 s. 3 d. Abbot Godfrey made him a Pastoral Staff of Silver gilt over and in the head of it was the image of the Trinity which is the first and last staff that I find amongst any of the Abbots When he had governed his Abby the space of twenty two years he died and lieth buried at the upper end of the Quire betwixt William Genge and John Deping The Brass of his Monument was divorced from his Marble in the year 1643. being his pourtraicture and a small inscription in the Verge Whilst he lived his Library consisted of these Books Duae Bibliae una Gallice scripta Avicenna Instituta apparitata Sextus liber Decretalium cum apparatu Legenda Sanctorum Summum bonum Regula Sanctorum Benedicti Basilii cum aliis rebus Processionarium Breviarum in duobus voluminibus Manuale cum exequiis mortuorum Godfrey being dead there came an extent from the King against the Lands of the Abby and Barony of the Abbot when a Jury upon Oath returned them at this rate The Abbot of Peterburgh received for Rent yearly at  l. s. d.   Castor 18 10 6   Thorpe 15 1 6 ob  Burghberry 64 9 4   Glinton 23 6 1   Witherington 20 9 4   Walton 12 16 11   Eyebury 24 5 0   Oundle 43 11 0   Aston 15 16 11   Wermington 52 13 4 ob  Kettering 57 3 6   Cottingham 19 4 11   Stanwigg 16 7 10 ob q. Irtlingburgh 18 12 0   Polebroke 14 6 8   Okeslow
  Navesford   Tinwell 16 6 9   Eston 35 10 1 ob q. Collingham 34 4 5 ob  Fiskerton 69 1 2   Scotter 37 6 0   Walcot 9 19 2   Thurlby 7 1 8   Stanford 2 0 0   In all 621 l. 16 s. 3 d. ob  Yet was not this the whole Demesnes of the Abbot in those times for there were many other Mannors and many Rents and Lands in and about Peterburgh and in several Counties but these are all which Wittlesey hath recorded and I have no leisure to examine why there were no more returned Godfrey being dead Anno 1321. 12. Cal. September being the 15 year of King Edw. 2. the person thought fittest to succeed him was 35. ADAM de Boothbie Born there and was made a Monk in Peterburgh where he also had the Office of Subcelerarius Being chosen Abbot he repaired to the King then in the Isle of Tanet for his confirmation which he obtained And having also Episcopal confirmation he repaired the second time to the King for his Temporalities which were likewise confirmed unto him paying the Fees and other demands at that time due His acts in the several years of his government are more punctually related by Wittlesey than I intend to transcribe In his first year Thomas Earl of Lancaster making War against the King to wit King Edw. 2. Adam aided the King with the summ of 133 l. 6 s. 8 d. and towards the Kings expedition into Scotland with 200 l. more In his fourth year the Mannor of Torpel and Vpton came to the possession of Edmund surnamed Woodstock half brother to King Edward the second now reigning and there arising great troubles betwixt the Earls Officers and the Abbots Tenants all was quieted by the Abbots becoming a Tenant to those Lands paying the yearly rent of 106 l. 13 s. 4 d. In his seventh year which was the first of King Edward the third there arose a great contention betwixt him and John Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex about the Son of Galfridus de la Marc which Galfridus Lord of Northburgh died Anno 1327. holding three Knights-fees of the Abby of Peterburgh and was buried at Peterburgh in S. Maries Chappel amongst his Predecessors And the said Galfridus held also of the said Earl of Essex Lands in the County of Essex by Knights-service He had three Wives and his last Wife by name Margaret he put away when she was great with Child at Peterburgh where the Child being born and baptized was called by the name of his Father Galfridus this young Galfridus had two Sisters by his Fathers side who charged him with being illegitimate saying that Margaret his Mother was not their Fathers Wife but his Concubine so that he had no hereditary right to his Fathers Lands Abbot Adam as guardian to the Child defended the Cause three years in the Consistory at Lincoln and in the Arches constraining the Sisters to desist But afterwards Queen Philipp Wife to King Edward the third Daughter of William Earl of Henault whom Roger of Northburgh Bishop of Chester so called by Wittlesey though I cannot find any such man elsewhere the Kings Proxie had beyond Sea espoused for the King coming to Peterburgh on New-years-day and the said Earl of Essex attending on her towards York where King Edward then was expecting her coming for the solemnization of Marriage which was performed the 24 day of the said Month of January 1327 the said Earl demanded young Galfridus of the Abbot and by threatnings and violence gat possession of him Whereupon the Abbot pursued the Earl at the Law the Earl on the other side accused the Abbot and his Covent of certain outrages upon his Mannor of Plaisic in Essex but this matter was composed by the Abbots giving the Earl 100l and yet the Earl was still possessed of Galfridus keeping him at Kimbauton in the County of Huntingdon Registrum Adae in manu D. H. The King sent his Breve to the Sheriff to seize upon him and to bring him to York there to appear before the Judge and to be awarded to his right Guardian But at length the Earl Wittlesey without more ado being conscious of his ill act freely restored the Child to the Abbot and moreover languishing upon his Bed of sickness and drawing towards his end he commanded his Executors to restore the 100l to the Monastery of Peterburgh And the Abbot married young Galfridus to the Daughter of Galfridus Scroope then one of the Kings Chief Justices Regist Adae About this time the Sheriff of Northampton required assistance and contribution from the Abbot of Peterburgh and his Tenants towards the Wall of Northampton Park which was quieted by the Kings writing to the Sheriff from York his Letters bearing date February 12. the second of his Reign wherein he certified the Sheriff that by ancient Charters of Kings his Predecessors the Abbot and Convent of Peterburgh with all their Lands and Dominions should be free from all works of Castles Parks Bridges and Inclosures Regist Adae The same day there was Inquisition made concerning the Bridge leading into Peterburgh which being gone to decay the question was Who should repair it for this there was a Jury empannelled six of Northampton-shire and six of Huntingdon-shire who upon examination returned an Ignoramus after this manner that there was none of right bound to repair or sustain the Bridge seeing none had done it in former time for there was no Bridge there until Godfrey Abbot of Burgh of his own good will in the fourth year of King Edward Father to King Edward that now is erected the said Bridge and himself kept it in repair so long as he lived But the King and Queen coming to Peterburgh the present Abbot Adam repaired the said Bridge for their passage although he was not bound thereunto to this the Jurors set their several Seals At this entertainment of the King Queen and John of Eltham the Kings Brother besides diet of meat and drink the King and Q. at Peterburgh Abbot in gifts Jewels Jocalibus and presents expended in ready mony the summ of 487 l. 6 s. 5 d. And for his Confirmation 50 l. 13 s. 4 d. more At other times also Abbot Adam was very free of his Purse giving the King towards an expendition into Scotland 100 l. and to the Queen 20 l. Attending upon the King at Oundle and Stanford he expended 34l 7s 4d with many other summs when the King or Queen came near his Monastery to Walmisford Bourn or Croyland And the second time giving entertainment King and Q. at Peterburgh to the King and Queen at his Monastery of Peterburgh besides other things he expended 327 l. 15 s. And after this Prince Edward the Kings eldest Son with his two Sisters and their Servants came and staied at Peterburgh eight weeks which cost not the Abbot nothing Wittlesey
In the time of this Abbot there was an Indictment at Northampton against a stoppage of the Water at Vpwell so that the River of Nen could not have its course towards Lynn whereby the Counties of Northampton Lincoln Bedford Huntingdon and Cambridge were much endamaged The Abbot of Peterburgh laboured hard to get the drain scowred and at length procured a Decree from Galfridus Scroop the Kings Chief Justice for clearing the passage the Abbots of Ramsey Thorney and Croyland joyning with him this cost the Abbot of Peterburgh 63 l. 11 s. 1 d. In Abbot Adams time there happened a fray in the Chappel at Registr Adae fol. 41. Oxney and blood being shed therein the Chappel was polluted and stood suspended from its priviledge of Divine Service The Bishop of Lincoln being then otherwise employed could not attend to reconcile it but gave his consent that any other Bishop might whereupon Abbot Adam wrote to the Bishop of Carlile intreating him that as he returned from the Parliament towards his Mannor of Horncastle he would come and reconcile the said Chappel And as Abbot Adam had been free towards the King so was the King to him confirming his Possessions and Priviledges particularly by Charter the tenth of his huntings Tenth of huntings throughout Northamptonshire that whosoever hunted any game throughout this County for the Kings use or by his authority was responsible to the Abbot of Peterburgh for the tenth thereof which were granted and confirmed long before by his Predecessors King Richard 1. and W. Rufus And King Henry 3. and King Edward 1. did both of them command by their express Warrant to the Forester that the Abbot of Peterburgh should have five Bucks in acknowledgment thereof What this Abbot was for Learning and Ability in his Function let the Reader conjecture by his Library which Wittlesey sets down Decretales Sermones Johannis de Abbevile Mediapars Missal Breviarium Manuale Liber Chartarum Actus Apostolorum Epistolae Canonicae Apocalypsis Gerardus super Psalterium Summa summarum Diurnale Dicta Senecae cum 36 tractatibus content is in eodem volumine These were his Books set down by Wittlesey which agrees with another ancient Catalogue that I have by me Adam in the beginning of his eighteenth year died being the year of our Lord 1338. and the 12 of King Edward 3. On the fourth day of December following he was honourably interred the Abbot of Ramsey performing his funeral service and making a Sermon He was buried betwixt the Quire and the great Altar a fair Marble Stone being laid over him with some Brass upon it which was taken away in the late demolition of Monuments The Epitaph written about it was this Claustri praelatus hujus cubat hic vocitatus Adam qui natus erat a Boothby nece stratus Vir castus justus omni virtute robustus M semel x trina ter sex i quoque bina Pars donetur ei celestis nunc requiei Presently after his death was the Seal of the Monastery broken and care was taken for the Kings consent to a new election But before we name the Successor we shall present the Reader with a bill of Adams funeral expences which I shall give in Latine as I find it in Wittlesey If the Reader be but a good Deipnosophist he may construe the meaning of some words better than I can In cera 250li De frumento pro distributionibus pauperum 45 quarters De allecibus pro eisdem 1000. culibet 6. In pane pro die sepulturae frumenti 20 quarters Brasii pro cervisia 40 quarters In vino 1 dolium 1 pipam In allecibus pro die sepulturae 8500 De Lupis aquaticis grossis 100 De Cod-lingis 12 Sem. De Haddok 1 Sem. De Spar-lingis 1 Sem. De Salmon 24 De Milvellis 120 De Dogdrout 100 De Plais 10 Sem. De Congris 1 De Wilkis 5 Sek De grossis anguillis 5 estik De minutis anguillis 70 estik De Sturgeon 1 Barrel De Lintea tela pro nappis mensarum pro naperouns 200 Vlnae De Platellis diversis garnitis 1400 De Trowes 12 Bollis 4 De ciphis de ligno pro vino cervisia  In ollis luteis pro vino cervisia 300 De Corbellis 5 Abbot Adam being interred and the turmoil of his funeral past the thoughts of the Monks returned to continue the succession in 36. HENRICVS de Morcot A wise and discreet man Being elected Abbot he was according to the custome though this be the first mention that I find thereof carried on shoulders with a Te Deum to the great Altar and from thence to the Pulpit where the Prior published his Election Then Henry took his journey towards London but the King being then at Antwerp Henry's Election was confirmed by those whom he left in Authority with whom Abbot Henry compounded for his Mannors and Lands for the summ of 200 l. the Queens mony excepted and the reservation to the King of the Knights-fees and the advowsons of the livings of the Monastery during the vacany And so Henry returned towards Peterburgh and although he might have returned to some of his own Mannors yet with the Abbot of Thorneys leave he stayed at Stanground the space of three weeks In the mean time Simon of Islepe Vicar general to the Bishop of Lincoln the Bishop being then out of the Kingdom published in the Church of Peterburgh that if any persons could object any thing against Henry or the form of his Election they should appear such a day in the Church of S. James in Thrapstone and signify the same where because none appeared the said Simon ratified the Election and granted his Letter to any Bishop to confer his benediction upon this new Elect at any place within or without the Diocess of Lincoln which was performed by the Bishop of Ely the Lord Chancellor in his Chappel at his house in Holbourn Then did the Chancellor direct his Letters to the Convent and Tenants of the Church of Peterburgh for their obedience to this their Abbot and also to William Trussell the Kings Eschaetor beyond Trent not to meddle with any Lands belonging to the Church of Peterburgh Abbot Henry being returned staid a while at his Mannor of Eye and shortly after came to Peterburgh and was installed the seventh of the Ides of Feb. Anno 1338. which was the twelfth year of K. Edward 3. Here Walter of Wittlesey leaves me who hitherto hath been a good guide to our story wherein further our progress must be assisted by such other Records and Rolls as we light of When Abbot Henry had governed this Church about 15. years he died Anno 1353 which was the 27 of King Edward 3. His Library consisted of these Books viz. Parva Biblia Decreta Decretale Apparatus sexti Libri Decretalium Liber qui vocatur Innocentius Hostiensis in summa Breviarium Antiphonarium cum Psalterio Processionarium Item Decretale Catholicon He had a sharp
and long contest with Sir Nicolas de Ry and the Abbot of Swinestead for Lands recovered from the Sea to his Mannor of Gosberchirch in Linconshire the story whereof Mr. Dugdale hath set down at large from a Peterburgh Manuscript Hist of Imb. and Draining page 235. Henry being dead was buried betwixt the Quire and the great Altar near unto his Predecessor Adam His grave being in the year 1648. Jan. 11. opened to receive the body of John Towers late Lord Bishop of this place there was found a Seal of Lead the instrument wholly consumed having on the one side these Letters thus inscribed SPA SPE over their several Effigies on the reverse Clemens P P vi 'T is probable that the instrument was some indulgence gotten at the Jubilee which was but three years before I must not here pass by a mistake of Pitseus who in his book of English Writers pag. 448. makes mention of one Johannes Petroburgensis who as he saith was first a Monk and afterwards Abbot of Peterburgh and lived about the year 1340. that he was a very learned man and wrote Annales Anglorum which he might do But for his being Abbot here at this time sure I am there was none such And Possevine in his Apparatus making mention of one Johannes Burgensis who wrote such a Book saith that he lived Anno 1200. but is not able to distinguish betwixt this and an other John mentioned in the life of Henry of Overton although Pitseus makes them two distinct Johns Vossius contradicts Possevine concerning the time of this supposed John but neither doth he agree with our account Henry being dead there succeeded 37. ROBERTVS Ramsey And all that we can say of him is that he succeeded Henry and was Abbot here the space of 8 years and that these books were the materials of his study Prima pars 2 Hostiensis in Decreta in 2. Vol. Hostiensis in Summa Speculum judiciale Decretale Derivationes Hugutionis Prima pars 2 Hostiensis in Decreta His next Successor was 38. HENRICVS de Overton Heu de Pightesly Who was made Abbot Anno 1361. or as some say a year after being the 36 of King Edward 3. No memorable act of his is extant upon any Record that I have seen Only that he instituted a yearly solemnity for the Soul of William Courtney Archbishop of Canterbury of Mary Courtney his Mother and of Hugh Courtney her Husband Earl of Devon and for the Souls of the Brethren and Sisters of the said Archbishop And likewise for the Souls of the Abbots of Peterburgh his Predecessors and Successors For which annual solemnity he appointed by his Charter bearing date 1390 the summ of 15l out of the Mannor of Thulby and some other Lands But why Abbot Henry should have the house of Courtney in so high esteem I find not In his time great Commotions were raised against the Church in several places which as Richardus Knighton Canon of Leicester relates in the year 1381. reached to the Church of Peterburgh where the Countreymen and Tenants arose against the Abby with intention to have destroyed it but by the hand of God they were prevented What the cause of these commotions was or the manner of their pacification as yet I do not find About this time flourished a very learned man one Johannes de Burgo who wrote certain Books Of the Sacraments and a Book known to this day by the name of Pupilla oculi He was Pastor of the Church of Collingham in the County of Nottingham then belonging to the Monastey of Peterburgh Afterwards he was chosen Chancellor of the University of Cambridg which at length he relinquished and returned to Collingham where he died Anno 1386. as Pitseus and others write Page 542. Henry was Abbot here 29 years compleat and died in his thirtieth year Anno 1391. which might be the 14 or 15 of King Richard 2. His Library was but small only these Books Decretale Johannes de Deo Breviarium novum Catholicon Breviarum in two Vol. Innocentius Liber de vita moribus Tartarorum Henry being dead there succeeded 39. NICOLAVS Whom H. of Pightesly sirnames Elmstow Being made Abbot 1391. he continued so the space of five years I have little to say of him only I find in the accompt of his Celerarius for his second year of his being Abbot wherein the daily expences of his Table are recorded that his provision for that year all entertainments of strangers being also considered amounted to no more then 79 l. 0 s. 11 d. His Library had in it these Books Digestum vetus Digestum novum Codex Justiniani Liber azonis Raymundus Liber Poenitentiale Parvum volumen Digestum infortiatum Instituta Quaterna de lege Vnus lib. de fisica Alius Liber de lege Psalterium pulchrum Psalterium Latine Gallice scriptum Now although the private Libraries of these Abbots were thus small yet was there a publick Library for the whole Monastery stored with above 1700 Books or Tractates as by an antient Matriculary of that Library may appear in an Appendix to this our story Nicolas dying in his 5. year 1396. the 19. or 20. of 2 King Rich. 2. there came in his place 40. WILLIHELMVS GENGE Who was the first mitred Abbot of Peterburgh and continued in his Government here the space of 12 years both which his Epitath will demonstrate He was buried betwixt the Quire and high Altar the brass of his Monument participating of the same fate with the rest in the late devasting or devesting of Monuments Anno 1643. His Epitaph must now live in paper and it was this Prudens praelatus Wilihelmus Genge vocitatus Primus mitratus Abbas jacet hic tumulatus Summe vivebat claustrum summeque regebat Mundum spernebat quae fecerat illa docebat Vixer at ornatus virtutibus immaculatus Tunsus quadratus tentatus igne probatus Annis bissenis Burgum rexit bene plenis Vt careat poenis precibus potiamur amoenis 41. JOHANNES DEEPING Was made Abbot in the year 1408. being the 10 of King Henry 4. When he had been Abbot the space of 30 years he resigned his place accepting of a Corrodie for his life which was but one year more He lieth buried at the upper end of the Quire at the left hand of his predecessors Godfrey of Croyland and William Genge The brass of his Monument fared as other Monuments did in the year 1643. the Inscription was this Orate pro anima Johannis Deeping quondam Abbatis hujus Monasterii qui obiit 5 die Decembris 1439. 42. RICHARDVS ASHTON Was upon the resignation of John made Abbot 1438. the 17 year of King Henry 6. and continued therein about 33 years Throughout the whole succession of the former Abbots I find but small or no discovery what order the Monks of Peterburgh were of or under what rule they lived saving the forementioned in Johannes de Caleto but in the time of this
00 4  Mannor of Glinton and Peikirk 63 15 00  Mannor of Maxey 19 04 00  Mannor of Northburgh 07 08 01  Mannor of Stamford S. Martins 18 11 03 ob Mannor of Irtlingburgh 33 05 11 ob Mannor of Stanwigge 25 08 00 ob Mannor of Polebrook 40 08 01 ob q. Leicestershire  l. s. d.  Mannor of Eston and Bringhurst 92 06 01 q. Lincolnshire  l. s. d.  Mannor of Fiskerton 68 15 03 ob Mannor of Repham Scothern Sudbrook 40 09 10  Mannor of Scotter 49 04 06  Mannor of Walcot 06 18 01  Mannor of Grantham 00 12 08  Stamford beyond the Bridge 00 07 00  Boston 00 10 00  Mannor of Careby 00 07 00  Liberty or Hundred of Scotter 03 08 04  Nottingham-shire  l. s. d.  Mannor of North-Collingham and South-Coll 85 19 5  Huntingtonshire   l. s. d.  Mannor of Botolphbridge and Overton 07 12 00  Mannor of Alwalton  39 10 05   Sum. total 811 16 01 q. Out-Rents in other places not comprehended in the former values Fishing in Wittlesmere 03 13 04 Fishing in Woland 01 13 04 Fishing in the Water of Vpwell Com. Norf. 00 02 04 Fishing in the River Nene 07 00 00 Advowsons and Presentations of Churches belonging to the Dean and Chapter Peikirk Northburgh Stanwigge Alwalton Fiskerton Irtlingburgh All-Saints Vicaridges of Maxey North-Collingham Bringhurst Stanwigge Parsonage was afterwards taken away with the Mannor Portions or Pensions from several Churches Castre 05 00 00 Peikirk 01 18 00 Northburgh 00 10 00 Bernack 05 10 00 Irtlingburgh 01 13 04 Stanwigge 01 16 08 South-Collingham 01 00 00 Polebrook 01 00 00 Fiskerton 00 15 00 Scotter 02 00 00 Careby 00 07 00 Thornhaw 00 03 00 Vfford 00 16 08 Woodford and Stoke Doile 02 08 08 Churches Appropriate Maxey Eston North-Collingham In these Lands the Dean and Chapter of Peterburgh injoyed such priviledges as commonly Lords of Mannors used to do Yet was there one special priviledge which the Abbots from ancient times injoyed and executed and by the Grant of King Henry and also by Queen Elizabeth January 29. and third of her Reign confirmed unto the Dean and Chapter a Priviledge known of late days by the name of Non molestandum that is a freedom from payment of Tolls and Customes in all Fairs Markets passages of Bridges Ways Ports in and without the Realm of England This the Dean and Chapter of Peterburgh had power to grant to their Tenants and there are some living who reap benefit by this Non molestandum at this very day this priviledge having been granted unto them when the Dean and Chapter were in power so to do And whosoever should act contrary to this Priviledge was to incur the penalty of ten pounds And by her general Inspeximus bearing date July 9. in the ninth year of her Reign Anno 1567. she confirmed all the Lands and Priviledges of this Church What Religious care the late King Charles had for the augmentation of the Dean and Prebendaries with other Stipendiaries belonging to this Church shall be seen in the close of our Appendix The Succession of this Ecclesiastical body from the first Constitution thereof by King Henry was thus the first in each being particularly nominated in King Henry's Charter DEANS 1 Francis Abree Prior of Northampton Bachelor in Divinity was made Dean 1541. 2 Gerard Carlton Bachelor in Divinity 1543. 3 James Curtop Master of Arts. 4 John Boxhall Doctor of Law 5 William Latimer Doctor in Divinity 1560. In his time the Cathedral was by a great Peer begged of Queen Elizabeth to build him an House upon Information to the Queen that it was ruinous and no Prayers said therein but Dean Latimer recovered it by the Queens favour upon better Information 6 Richard Fletcher Doctor in Divinity 1585. translated hence to the Bishoprick of Bristol thence to Worcester thence to London 7 Thomas Nevil Doctor in Divinity 1590. first Master of Magdalen-Colledge and after of Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge where he built that stately back Court commonly known by his Name 8 John Palmer Doctor in Divinity 1598. was Master of Magdalen-Colledge in Cambridge 9 Richard Cleyton Doctor in Divinity 1608. first Master of Magdalen-Colledge in Cambridge then of S. Johns 10 George Meriton Doctor in Divinity 1612. 11 Henry Beamount Doctor in Divinity 1616. 12 Guil. Pierse Dr. in Divinity Canon of Christ-Church in Oxford made Dean 1622. translated to the Bishoprick of Peterburgh afterwards to Bath and Wells 13 John Towers Doctor in Divinity 1630. translated to the Bishoprick of this Church 14 Thomas Jackson Doctor in Divinity 1638. President of Corpus-Christi Colledge in Oxford He liveth and will live in his learned Works to the Worlds end 15 John Cozin Doctor in Divinity 1640. Master of S. Peters Colledge in Cambridge preferred to the Bishoprick of Durham 16 Edward Rainbow Doctor in Divinity and Master of Magdalen-Colledge in Cambridge installed Dean of this Church Jan. 5. 1660. Advanced to the Bishoprick of Carlile to which he was consecrated July 10. 1664. 17 James Duport Doctor in Divinity of Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge Installed July 27. following The Succession of the Prebendaries was as followeth In the first PREBEND Matthew Whittall D. D. A secular Priest Howeton Peter Anthony Burton M. A. Robert Rodes B. D. William Bayly B. D. William Smith B. D. Tobias Bland B. D. Sub-Almoner to Q. Eliz. and Parson of Abbot Rippon Com. Hunt John Bridgeman D. D. removed to the Bishoprick of Chester John Williams D. D. removed to the Bishoprick of Lincoln October 11. 1621. He wrote himself John Lincoln elect C. Sigilli whilst he was Prebendary here Thomas Swift B. D. Parson of Waddington Com. Lincoln Simon Gunton M. A. Cambr. In the second PREBEND William Judd B. D. A Monk of the place Edwin Sands D. D. William Binsley L. D. Edwin Sands restored being ejected by Q. Mary or withdrawing himself as others did in her days Nicolas Shepheard D. D. William Hill M. A. Edward Lively Robert Williamson D. D. Parson of Tichmarsh Com. Northampton Robert Williamson D. D. Fellow of Magd. Coll. Oxon. John Howorth B. D. President of Magd. Coll. Cantabr afterwards D. D. and Mr. of the same Colledge William Henchman M. A. Parson of Barton Com. Northampton Cambr. In the third PREBEND Robert Pierson T. B. A Monk of the place Christopher Hodgson B. A. Edward Baker Cler. James Howland M. A. William Bayly B. D. Edward Marshal T. B. Parson of Wimple Com. Cantab. Warner Marshall M. A. Parson of Castor Sebastian Smith M. A. Oxon. Abraham Jackson M. A. William Louch M. A. Oxon. In the fourth PREBEND John Barlow M. A. Nicolas Murrey L. B. Miles Johnson James Ellis L. D. Richard Cleyton D. D. Richard Cleyburne D. D. John Pocklyngton D. D. William Towers B. D. Oxon. Thomas Greaves D. D. In the fifth PREBEND John Cheyney Prior Pollard B. D.
aliquis eos inde impediat nec Decimam praedictam eis detineat Et praecipimus Forestariis ut unusquisque in Balliva sua eis decimam suam habere faciat T. Waltero Archiepiscopo Rothom 24 die Martii Apud Rothom King Richard and King John granted also many Charters to this Monastery both for their Lands and Priviledges in general and many in particular which I shall not here-recite but only some few relating to our Story THE CHARTER OF JOHN Whilst he was Earl of Moriton GRANTED TO THIS MONASTERY FOR VENISON JOhannes Comes Moret Vic. Forestariis omnibus Ballivis suis de Northamptonscire Salutem Sciatis me concessisse Carissimo amico meo Benedicto Abbati de Burgo omnibus Successoribus fuis Monachis ejusdem loci cum vacaverit sedes Abbathiae de Burgo in perpetuum tres Cervos sex Damas singulis annis capiendos quandocunque voluerint à Nativitate Sancti Johannis Baptistae usque ad exaltationem Sanctae Crucis ubi magis voluerint sive in Foresta mea de Schirwode sive in Clay Ideo praecipio vobis quod permittatis eis vel hominibus suis capere praedictam venationem infra praedictos terminos in praememoratis Forestae meae locis absque impedimento vel contradictione quae eis fiat inde Hoc tamen fiat per visum Forestariorum meorum Testibus Stephano Ridell Cancellario meo Willielmo de Wenn Rogero de Plan. Apud Theokisbiri King John HIS CHARTER Concerning the Deforestation OF NASSABVRGH JOhannes Dei Gratia Rex Angl. Dux Hiberniae Dux Norman Aquitan Comes Andeg. Archiepiscopis Episcopis Abbatibus Com. Baron Justic Vic. Praepositis Forestariis Omnibus Ballivis fidelibus suis Salutem Sciatis nos intuitu Dei Beati Petri ob reverentiam Beati Oswaldi Regis Martyris pro salute nostra Antecessorum Successorum nostrorum concessisse praesenti Carta confirmasse Abbati de Burgo Monachis ibidem Deo servientibus militibus libere tenentibus qui habent terras vel tenementa in Nasso Burgi infra has metas scil inter aquam de Nene aquam de Weland sicut aquae in Charta H. 3. conveniunt in Croyland de Walmisford sicut magnum Chiminum extendit se usque ad Stupendiston extra villam de Stanford de Stupendiston extra domum Sanctimonialium Sancti Michaelis de Stanford per rectam lineam usque in Weland Ita quod praedicta domus sit infra praedictas metas Quod ipsi habeant in perpetuum totam terram infra praedictas metas deforestatam Ita quòd nec nos nec haeredes nostri ibidem ab eis vel successoribus haeredibus eorum aliquid exigere possimus quod ad Forestam vel Forestarium pertineat vel occasione Forestae Concessimus etiam eis quietantiam sectae quatuor hominum praepositi de qualibet villata infra metas praefatas ad placita Forestae coram Capitali Justiciario nostro de Foresta ubi placitum non est super eos Et quod omnia attachiamenta omnia placita emersa tam de viridi quam de venatione regardo in bladimentis vastis boscorum factis Ch. H. 3. facta infra metas praedictas post ultimum iter Justiciariorum nostrorum de Foresta itinerantium in Northamptonscyra amodo in perpetuum remaneant non summoneantur vel placitentur Quia volumus quod de omnibus supradictis in perpetuum sint quieti Concedimus etiam praedictis Abbati de Burgo Monachis ibidem Deo servientibus in puram perpetuam Eleemosynam Centum Acras quietas de regardo in Maneriis suis de Cotingham de Eston ut possint illas libere assartare excolere pro voluntate sua Quare volumus firmiter praecipimus quòd praedicti Abbas Monachi Milites libere tenentes praedictas libertates quietantias habeant in perpetuum sicut praedictum est Testibus Domino S. Cantuariensi Archiepiscopo Dominis W. London P. Winton W. Wigorn. W. Coventr Episcopis R. Com. Cestr W. Mariscallo Com. Penbr W. Com. Sar. R. Le Bigot Com. Northfolc W. Com. Waren W. Com. Arund W. Com. Ferar. R. Com. de Clare Dat. per manum Magistri Richardi de Marisc Cancellarii nostri Apud Oxoniam 1214. 12. Aprilis Anno regni nostri 16. This Charter was again Confirmed by K. Hen. 3. King Henry III. HIS CHARTER FOR A FAIR To be holden Eight Days in PETERBURGH And for a Weekly Market at KETTERING IN NORTH AMPTON-SHIRE HEnricus Dei Gratia Rex Angl. c. Sciatis quod concessimus hac praesenti Carta confirmavimus Abbati de Burgo Sancti Petri Monachis ibidem Deo servientibus quòd habeant unum mercatum apud Manerium suum de Kettering singulis septimanis per diem Veneris Et quòd habeant apud Burgum Sancti Petri unam feriam singulis annis per 8 dies duraturam à secunda Dominica infra Quadragesimam in 8 dies sequentes Ita tamen quod praedictum Mercatum praedicta feria non sint ad nocumentum vicinorum mercatorum vicinarum feriarum Quare volumus firmiter praecipimus quod praedicti Abbas Monachi habeant teneant praedictum mercatum praedictam feriam in praedictis locis in perpetuum bene in pace libere quietè cum omnibus libertatibus liberis consuetudinibus ad hujusmodi mercatum feriam pertinentibus sicut praedictum est King Henry III. HIS CHARTER FOR A FAIR AT OXENEY To be holden there for Eight Days HEnricus Dei Gratia Rex Angl. c. Sciatis quod concessimus hac nostra Carta confirmavimus Abbati Conventui de Burgo Sancti Petri quod ipsi Successores sui in perpetuum habeant unam feriam apud Oxeneye singulis annis per octo dies duraturam viz. à Vigilia nativitatis Beatae Mariae in octo dies sequentes nisi illa feria sit Septemb. 7. ad nocumentum vicinarum feriarum Quare volumus firmiter praecipimus pro nobis haeredibus nostris quod praedicti Abbas Conventus habeant praedictam feriam apud Oxeneye sicut praedictum est cum omnibus libertatibus liberis consuetudinibus ad hujusmodi feriam pertinentibus libere quietè pacifice in perpetuum His testibus c. THE PRIVILEDGE OF THE JUSTICES FOR THE ABBOT OF PETERBURGH TO HUNT 1253. PRaeceptum est apud Hokham per Justiciarios Domini H. Regis Angl. scil per Dominum Galfridum de Langley W. Britonem W. Trussel Petro de Nevile tunc Forestario quod permittat Abbatem de Burgo venari capere ubi voluerit in Balliva sua Leporem Vulpem Catum silvestrem secundum proportum Cartarum Dominorum Regum Angliae quas inde habet Et canes suos non expeditatos hominum suorum in dominciis suis in eadem Balliva Anno regni Regis Henrici filii Regis Johannis 34. Pope
Bernardi Latinè Oratio sine devotione est quasi corpus sine anima B xvi Amours ou estis venus Lumer de Lais Gallice Speculum Edmundi Gallice Pater noster Gallice Contemplationes pro diversis horis diei Gallice Contemplatio de Passione Christi Gallice Disputatio inter spiritum animam Gallice C xvi Proverbia Senecae Liber qui vocatur Housbondrie Gallice Historia Anglorum Gallice Rythmice Computatio annorum ab initio mundi usque ad tempus Edwardi filii Regis Edwardi A SUPPLEMENT To the Foregoing HISTORY THE ancient name of this place all agree was Medeshamstede or Medeshamstud as it is called by Symeon Dunelmensis and the Abbot Medeshamstudensis Abbas by Roger Hoveden ad An. 992. or Medeshamstide as it is in Radulphus de Diceto ad An. 1051. But whence it had this name is not so certain The derivation which Mr. Gunton gives of it is out of Swapham or rather Hugo as I have shown in the Preface who saith that as Eli had its name from the abundance of Eeles taken in the Waters there and Thorney from the Thorns and Bushes wherewith it was overgrown and Croyland from the Terra Cruda moist and morish Ground on which it stands so this place from that Vorago or Gurges as he terms it in the middle of the River called anciently Medeswell Whose wonderful properties he derives from Springs perpetually bubling up which kept it from being frozen when the rest of the River was and yet made it so cold that when the Sun was hotter than a Chimney fire as his words are no Swimmer could endure it And it must be confessed that Bede derives Eli ab anguillarum copia from the plenty of Eeles there consentiens communi notitiae saith Will. of Malmsbury L. ult de gestis Pontif. Angl. agreeing to the common notion For it is known to all there was such abundance of all other Fish and Fowl also in that place ut pro uno asse c. that for one farthing five men and more might not only drive away hunger but fill themselves to satiety And Thornei also other Writers will have so called propter dumorum condensitatem from the thickets of all sorts of Thorns and Briers c. which Athelwold caused to be cut up saith the same Malmsbury intending in the very beginning of his Episcopacy to go and lead an Hermite's life in that place Which he magnifies to the Skies That place also which we now call Crowland or Croyland is called Cruland both by Hugo and by Henry of Huntingdon John Prior of Hexham Gervase of Canterbury and many others And Crulant by Symeon of Durham or rather Turgotus ad An. 1075. and Cruiland by Roger Hoveden in Hen. 2. p. 547. and more ancient than all this King Edgar in his Charter to our Church of Peterburgh calls it Crulond Which may make that derivation probable from crude Land which Ingulphus himself who was Abbot of Croyland gives of it crudam terram coenosam significat But for all this I see no reason to think that Medeshamsted had its name from the Medeswell there being no such deep pit in the River and Hugo himself reporting it with an ut dicunt as they say and another plainer derivation offering it self from the fair Meades or Meadows that lie on both sides of the River Nen upon which this place stands Which in those days were the more considerable because all the rest of the Country thereabouts which was not Fenn was Woods So I find in the Book called Swapham fol. CCXCV. that all the Nashum or Nassa as it was termed afterward called the Liberty of Burgh was solitary and full of Woods without any Inhabitant And so continued till the time of Adulphus who did but begin neither to clear the Country by cutting down the Woods and to make Mannors and Granges Presently after which the place being new built its name was changed into Burch or Burg as shall be then more largely shown which during all the time of the first Monastery before it was burnt by the Danes had been called Medeshamstede and frequently Medhamsted As much as to say the Ham i. e. Village or House standing upon the Medes And was sometime simply called Hamstede as I find in Matthew of Westminster Who speaking of the inrode made by the Danes under the conduct of Hinguar and Hubba in the year 870. and showing how they destroyed the North Country and then passed over Humber and so went forward till they came to the Fenns where they burnt the Monasteries and killed their Inhabitants he adds Horum autem nomina Coenobiorum sunt Croulandia Thorneia Rameseia Hamstede quod nunc Burgum Sancti Petri dicitur Which is no mistake in the Printed Book for in a MS. now in the Library of the Church of Westminster I find the same words without the least difference but only the letter e in the end omitted it being written Hamsted Where I doubt not there was another Well as Mr. G. observes by the way called St. Laurence his Well and very probably was near the Chappel bearing his name which was dedicated to the use of the Infirmary As appears by a Charter of Willielmus de Midilton a servant in the Infirmary who gave to the Abbot and Convent of Burgh and to the Infirmary of that place a Noble of annual Rent ad sustentationem unius lampadis continue ardentis in capella Sancti Laurentii ejusdem Infirmariae for the maintaining of a Lamp perpetually burning in the Chappel of St. Laurence belonging to the same Infirmary Swaph fol. CLXXXIX The Superstitious resort to it was the cause I suppose of its being stopt up so that now there are no footsteps of it For that moved Oliver Sutton Bishop of Lincoln to send his Inhibition to restrain that kind of devotion which as Mr. Gunton observes out of Dr. Hammond was used both here and at St. Edmund's Well in Oxford and I may add in other places also as appears by the Records of the Church of Lincoln Where the Register of the Acts of this Worthy Prelate in the ten first years of his Government which was twenty years in all are lost and therewith this Act about the Church of Peterburgh But there still remain the Acts of the other ten In the first of which he condemned that superstitious devotion which many people paid at St. Edmund's Well in the Fields near St. Clment's Church without the Walls of Oxford as tending to introduce the error of the Gentiles among Christs-worshippers and in the last the like foolish devotion at another Well in the fields of Lincelad in the County of Buckingham Requiring the Archdeacons of Oxon and Bucks solemnly to excommunicate all such persons as should presume hereafter to frequent those places under the pretence of Miracles done there Both which my worthy Friend Dr. James Gardiner Sub-Dean of the Church of Lincoln having at my request transcribed for me out of the Book
Lusgerg Ethelhuniglond Barchanig Which were places not very far from Medeshamstede it appears by several Charters which still remain upon Record in the Book called Swapham Where I find fol. CXXX XXXI that in the time of this Cutbald the glorious King of the Mercians Ethelredus or Adilredus for he is called by both names came to visit the servants of God in this Monastery of Medeshamstede and to obtain their prayers for the relief of his Soul and out of a desire of Eternal life as the words of his Charter are gave to the Friers there all that land called Leugtricdun triginta manentes habentem Not long after which one of the Friers coming to this King upon a certain occasion he took a glebe from the forementioned Land and put it super codicem Evangeliorum upon the Book of the Gospels in confirmation and for a testimony of the aforesaid donation Unto which these witnesses were present Sexulfus Episcopus Merciorum Wecca and Berhthun Monachi Hostryga ipsius Regis Regina Henfric Eadfric principes Regis Adilredi that none might dare to attempt any thing against this donation of the King qui sibi divinam donationem adesse optaret in futura vita Amen Which Leugtricdun I have reason to think was an Appendix to one of the above named places The first of which Bredun was given to this Church of Medeshamstede by Friduricus one of King Adilred's Noble Men by a Charter bearing this Title Fridurici principis de Bredun ad Medeshamstede ' In which he saith that the number of Christians increasing and multiplying he had given to the family of St. Peter the Prince of the Apostles inhabiting the Monastery of Medeshamstede terram cui vocabulum est Bredun viginti manentium cum omnibus ad eam pertinentibus Which was done in the presence and with the consent of Saxulph ejusdem gentis Episc and of the above-named King Adilredus For this end and purpose that they should found Oratorium in eadem praefata terra and there constitute a Priest for the teaching and Baptizing of the people Which upon due deliberation they undertook and chose one of their own number whose name was Hedda a man endued with admirable Wisdom and all manner of Virtues whom they made Abbot of Bredun with this condition that he should acknowledge himself to be a member of the Fraternity of Medeshamstede So it runs in the Charter whose words are these Et unum ex semetipsis nomine Hedda Presbyterum mirabili sapientia in omni virtutum genere praeditum summo libramine eligerunt eumque in loco praefato Abbatem constituerunt ea tamen conditione interposita ut se unum de eorum Fraternitatis membris esse noverit ' And the same Religious Prince Friduricus finding that this Venerable Abbot Hedda most diligently fed the people committed to his charge with the food of divine Preaching added another benefaction in a distinct Charter whose title is de Repinges ad Medeshamstede Wherein he gives to the aforesaid Abbot Hedda XXXI manentium terram quae vulgo vocitatur Hrepingas which is another of those places above mentioned This he did in the presence of King Adilredus and of Saxulph the Bishop of that Country who joyning their hands with his cespitunculam communiter praedictae terrae Sacrosanctae evangeliorum codici simul omnis coram multitudine populi imposuerunt and so subscribed this Deed with their own hands And afterward this Honourable Abbot Hedda as the Book calls him fol. CXXXIII and the Prior of the Monastery of Bredun obtained from King Adilred other Land which had quindecim Manentes 15 Tenents or Housekeepers as we now speak called by the name of Cedenanhac another of the places depending on Medeshamstede for fifty Shillings that is for Bedding and other Goods of that value which are thus specified in the Deed. Id est duodecim lectorum stramenta utpote culcita plumacia ornata capitalia simul cum sindonibus lenis quemadmodum in Britannia habere mos est nec non servum cum ancilla fibulam auream cum quatuor ex auro massiunculis arte aurificis compositis duos caballos cum cannis duabus pro praefata terra pretium dedit I have not room to examine the meaning of every word in this Deed some of which I no where meet withal but here which concludes as the former did that this price being paid the King in his Bedchamber at his own Town called Tomtun took a little clod of earth from the aforesaid Land with his own hands and laid it upon the Sacred Volume of the Gospels his Queen and Saxalph joyning their hands with his that none might dare to violate this grant The same Hedda if I mistake not was Abbot also of other two places before mentioned called Wermundshey and Wokinges for I find a Bull of Pope Constantine's about the Episcopal Jurisdiction over these places fol. LXXXVI directed unto him which I have not room to set down at large but only note that they are both said there to be found in nomine beati Petri Apostoli in the name of St. Peter Which makes it probable they were those belonging to this Church under the Government of this great man Hedda Whom I take to have been the Author of the Relation above named concerning the first plantation of Christianity in these parts of England and the next Bishop that succeeded Sexulf in the See of Litchfield who built that Church as I have already said and dyed DCCXXI When Cutbaldus dyed I am not able to affirm certainly but it was between the year DCCIX and DCCXVI For he was alive in the former of those years I gather from hence that Hugo saith Wilfrid dyed in his time at his Mannor of Owndle c. his words are In hujus Abbatis id est Cuthbaldi tempore Sanctus Wilfridus Episcopus in possessione ipsius Monasterii ad Vndalum transivit ad Dominum Ministeriis fratrum deportatus est ad suum proprium Monasterium in Rypun Now Wilfrid the first of that name who was Archbishop of York dyed An. DCCIX as I find in the Chron. Johannis Abbatis With whom agrees Tho. Stubbs Chron. Eccles Eborac whose words are to be corrected out of our Hugo commonly called Swapham for he speaking of the death of Wilfrid sayes Defunctus est in Monasterio suo apud Vndalum quod est juxta Stamford inde Ministerio fratrum delegatus in Monasterio suo apud Riponum est sepultus An. Domini DCCIX Where he calls Owndle Wilfrid's Monastery which it appears by all our Records was as Hugo only calls it part of the possession of the Monastery of Medeshamstede But as Cuthbald was then alive so it is certain he was dead before the year DCCXVI when as Mr. G. observes out of Ingulphus the Charter of King Ethelbald for the founding of Croyland Abbey was signed by Egbaldus Abbot of Medeshamstede EGBALDVS Concerning whom and the three next Abbots
Monument erected for the slain Abbot and Monks is here represented in this draught which I have caused to be taken of it as it now appears The very next year after the desolation of the Monastery An. DCCCLXXI Goredus so Abbot John's Chronicle calls him whom Ingulph calls Beorredus King of the Mercians took all the Lands of the Church of Medeshamstede between Stamford Huntingdon and Wisbeck into his own hands giving those that lay more remote to his Souldiers and Stipendiaries The same he did with the Lands belonging to St. Pege at Pegekyrk some of which he kept himself and gave the rest to his Stipendiaries Which are the very words of Ingulphus from whom its likely they were transcribed into that Chronicle In which we find nothing concerning this place till almost an hundred years after Edredus he saith in the year DCCCCXLVII cleared and restored the Monastery of Croyland by the instigation of Surketulus who turning Monk the King made Abbot of this place Which Ingulphus saith was done the year after An. 948. and sets down the Charter of that King in which there is no mention as in former Charters of the Abbot of Medeshamstede consenting to it and confirming it though in the boundaries of the Lands of Croyland Ager de Medeshamsted is there named Ingulphus p 35. Oxon. Edit Nor in King Edgar's Charter to the same Monastery of Croyland An. 966. is there any mention of his Subscription though among other Royal Woods there is mention made of Medeshamsted-Wood p. 42. For though Adelwaldus who by the assistance of King Edgar restored many Monasteries destroyed by the Pagans as Burgh Eli and Abenddon they are the words of John Abbot was made Bishop of Winchester An. 961. yet he did not apply himself to the rebuilding of this of Medeshamstede till nine years after if we may credit that Writer who saith it began to be restored just an hundred years after its desolation His words are these An. 970. Sanctus Adelwoldus Episcopus Wint. transtulit de Coemiterio in Ecclesiam reliquias Sancti Surthuni praedecessoris sui ante altare Sancti Petri honorifice collocavit Monasterium etiam de Medeshamstede restaurare coepit Burgum Sancti Petri appellavit Anno desolationis suae aequaliter centesimo In another different hand there is this Animadversion given that in claustro dicti Monasterii notantur anni desolationis LXXXXVI the time of its desolation are noted in the Cloyster of the said Monastery to have been but 96. years Which account Mr. G. follows though in Swapham or Hugo rather they are reckoned to be 99 years For so the Note is in the Margin of the Book in a hand of the same age with the Book it self Restauratio hujus loci à prima fundatione ejus An. CCCXIII. A destructione vero ejusdem Anno XCIX This great man Adelwold was at first a Monk in the Abbey of Glastonberry where as William of Malmsbury relates L. 2. de gestis Pontificum Angl. the Abbot had a dream representing to him how excellent a person this Monk would prove For he thought he saw a Tree springing up within the Walls of the Abbey which spread its branches to all the four quarters of the World and had all its leaves covered over with Cowles a very great Cowle being placed at the top of all At which being amazed an old man he thought told him that the great Cowle was Athelwold and the rest were innumerable Monks whom he should attract by his example Consonant to which was a vision his Mother had when she was with Child of him with which I shall not trouble the Reader but only note that it signified the large extent of his mind in this sort of Charity which reached to no less than forty Monasteries as all our Writers report Particularly W. of Malmsbury who saith L. 2. de gestis Regum Angliae he built so many and such noble Monasteries that it scarce seemed credible in his dayes that a Bishop of one City should do such things as the King of all England could not easily effect But he himself in another place makes this wonder cease by telling us that he could make King Edgar do what he pleased So his words are in the Book before named of the Acts of the Bishops of England it might seem a wonder he should do such things nisi quod Rex Edgar omnino ejus voluntati deditus erat à quo super omnes infra Dunstanum diligeretur And therefore the Abbot of Rieval L. de genealog Regum Angliae saith expresly that Edgar himself caused forty Monasteries to be built among which he reckons this of Burch as it now began to be called Which Athelwold saith Malmsbury L. IV. de gestis Potif Ang. built so sumptuously and endowed with such ample possessions ut penè tota circa regio illi subjaceat that almost all the Country round about was subject to it And this account also John Bromton Abbot of Joreval gives of this matter who having said that King Edgar built and repaired above forty Monasteries adds Inter quae consilio monitione Sancti Ethelwoldi Wintoniensis Episc Abbatiam Glastoniae Abendoniae composuit Abbatiam de Burgh prope Stamfordiam stabilivit c. So that the very truth in short is this Athelwold was to Edgar as Saxulf had been to Wulferus a trusty and diligent Servant who managed his Royal bounty in these magnificent Works And therefore is called by King Edgar in his Charter as Saxulf was by Wolfere in his Constructor the builder of the Churches before mentioned particularly of this formerly called Medeshamstede but now sua ac nostra instantia restauratum Burch appellatur Which by Ingulphus is called Burgum and by Matthew of Westminster ad An. 664. is said to be Vrbs Regia a Royal City Which this famous Bishop lived to see flourishing under Adulphus about thirteen year for he dyed not till the year 985. At which I find these words in the Chron. of John Abbot Sanctus Athelwoldus Wint. Episcopus qui Monasterium Burgi restauravit Kal. Augusti migravit ad Dominum There were some reliques of him preserved in this Church particularly of his Heirs ADVLPHVS Mr. G. having given an account of the most material things that are in Hugo concerning this Abbot whom John Bromton calls Eadrilf I shall only add that it is certain he succeeded Oswald in the Archbishoprick of York An. 992. So John Abbot writes Sanctus Oswaldus Archiep. Ebor. 2. Kal. Martii migravit ad Dominum cui Adulphus Abbas Burgi successit But though he call him Abbot of Burg which was become the new stile yet other writers still retained the old one and call him Abbas Medeshamstudensis So the Chron. of Mailros lately printed pag. 152. And so Florentius Wigornensis Ad An. 992 Venerabilis Medeshamstudensis Abbas Adulphus successit pro quo Kenulphus Abbatis jure fungitur Roger Hoveden also speaks the same language and Symeon of Durham in
a few days or months Mr. G. hath related how he laboured to inrich this Church with Reliques and Hugo saith many other ways but is mistaken I think in his conjecture about his procuring the Arm of St. Oswald to be brought hither For Hugo mentions it among the benefits which the Church received in the time of Leofricus and thereabouts when Winegotus apportavit brachium Sancti Oswaldi de Bebeburch There it was preserved in Bede's time in urbe regia quae a regina quondam vocabulo Bebba cognominatur as his words are L. III. Cap. 6. and thence the ancient Seat of its rest it was furtim ablatum taken away by stealth if we may believe William of Malmsbury who relates what was pretended by the Church of Burgh which in his dayes said they had Oswald's Arm but doth not seem to give credit to it himself How they came to have his Arm at Bebbeburch a place in the North I cannot imagine if it be true which the MS. Chron. of John Abbot sayes ad An. MLXV that his body was not till then taken out of his Tomb. Agelwinus Dunelmensis Episcopus Ossa beati Oswaldi Regis Martyris apud Tynemutham de tumulo in scrinio cum honore levavit But perhaps Oswaldi is there false written for Oswini for Symeon of Durham saith it was Oswin's body that was taken up by that Bishop From the same Chronicle we learn also when it was that Elfinus went into Normandy and upon what occasion and bought there at Bonavalle the body of St. Florentine pro centum libris argenti Which was not till the year MXIII. when Suanus coming with innumerable Danes into England and exercising unheard of cruelties King Ethelred hardly escaped his hands and sent away his Wife per Abbatem Burgi and another person unto Richard Duke of Normandy he himself following her presently after In the same year Ingulphus P. 56. Oxon. Edit tells us this Monastery was again burnt by the same Suanus or Swanus and many Lands were taken away from the Church as Hugo relates while the Abbot was with the Queen in Normandy the English paying a vast Tribute to the Danish Army which wasted the Kingdom forty years together But he procured from Canutus the confirmation of their priviledges in as ample manner as they had been confirmed to Kenulphus by King Ethelred In these words Ego Cnut Rex Anglorum Deo favente Elfino abbate deprecante hoc Privilegium cum optimatibus corroboravi And in the dayes of Hardecanutus got a Judgment against Wolgatus Abbot of Pegekyrke both for the Seat of his Monastery and all the Mannors belonging thereunto which Elfinus claimed as Kenulphus had done to be part of the possessions of Burgh How just a sute this was I am not able to say Ingulph condemns it most heavily as a monstrous piece of oppression and it will not be amiss if I not only relate the whole story but give an account of this Monastery from its beginning there being very little said of it in the Monasticon Anglicanum St. Pege as Ingulphus informs us was Sister to St. Guthlac a person descended of a noble Stock both by the Father and Mother as Matthew of Westminster writes who being in love with a solitary life setled himself in the Island called Croyland where no body durst dwell because they were terrified as his words are with phantasies of Devils there inhabiting This was in the year DCXCIX as the often named Chronicon of John Abbot tells us Sanctus Guthlacus apud Croylandiam vitam Anchoreticam ducere coepit Anno aetatis suae XXVI About XV. year after he dyed as the same Writer informs us DCCXIIII obiit feria quarta in hebdom Pasch Upon whose death his Sister Pega setled her self in a Cell about four miles Westward distant from his Oratory of Croyland which afterward improved into a Monastery The place from her was called Pegekyrke now Peykirk and had Lands bestowed upon it by Edmund Athebing which of them doth not appear who gave for the redemption of his own Soul and of his Wives and of Siwerthus a little Country gift as he calls it of Land in a place called Pegecyrcan to the new Monastery of the Holy Trinity and our Lady and all the Saints viz. one Mansa and a half in that Village and three Perches in Waltun c Swapham fol. CXXXI It is a very remarkable Charter both for the Preface and for the Blessings and Curses annexed in the conclusion which therefore I have represented to the Reader intirely in the Appendix What other benefactions they had to that Monastery doth not appear but they were all seised as was said before by Beorredus in the year 871. after the first desolation made by the Danes And it was again destroyed by Swanus the Dane in the forenamed year 1013. And so lay waste till the time of Wlgatus when in the year MXLVIII after a long sute with the Abbots of Peterburgh he lost the very sight of his Monastery which was adjudged to belong to Burch Upon which Ingulph makes this severe reflection tantum tunc potuit super justitiam pecunia contra veritatem versutia c. So much could money then prevail over justice and craft against truth and so powerful was the Earl Godwin in the Court of King Hardecnute And he shows how several Mannors were recovered by particular persons from this Abbot Wlgatus so that he and eighteen Monks had nothing to live upon but wandered about till King Edward the Confessor took him into his Court and upon the death of Brickmerus made him Abbot of Croyland The same he repeats again when he comes to the Reign of the Conqueror telling us how in the times of Suanus Cnutus Harold and Hardecnutus many priviledges of Monasteries were lost the limits of their Lands changed c. according as the money of Rich men prevailed in the minds of the Barbarians who sought nothing but ruins Of which the erection of the Monastery of St. Pege was an evidence in the time of Hardecnute when the money of the Abbot of Burgh prevailed against the right of the Pegelandians and the power of Earl Godwin against the simplicity of the Poor So his words are praevalente contra justitiam Pegelandensium Abbatis Burgi pecunia super simplicitate pauperum Godwini comitis potentia But if we compare what he saith with the Chron. of John Abbot it will appear that this sute was commenced long before this in the time of Kenulphus and continued more or less till the time of Leofricus who dyed just before the Conquest I will set down both their words and so leave it Chron. Joh. Abbatis Burgi MS. MXLVIII Wolgatus Abbas de Peykirke amisit sedem Abbatiae suae cum omnibus Maneriis dicto Monasterio quondam pertinentibus per judicium Regis Hardecanuti contra Kenulphum Kinsinum Abbates Burgi ipsum Monasterium de P. suam possessionem esse calumpniantes Which Ingulphus
in a little Charter Ibid. pag. CXXII containing the Names of all the Lands and Possessions of the Church which was recorded for the honour of their Benefactors whose names are written in the Book of Life c. Among which it is said Askill filius Toke dedit Walcote super Humbram dum adhuc viveret post obitum illius fratrum ejus sc Scirici Siworthi dedit Brand Abbas frater eorum eidem Ecclesiae Sancti Petri Muskam c. And in the Charter of Edward the Confessor confirming this benefaction it is said that Askil or Askitill gave this Land upon occasion of a journey which he undertook to Rome Askitillus Romam pergens dedit Sancto Petro Ecclesiae suae de Burch septem carrucatas terrae in Walcote duabus bovatis minus in Alcheburn unam Carrucatam totam Ecclesiam in Normandy unam Carrucatam quae sunt super fluvium Humbre William the Conqueror in his confirmation Ibid. pag. CIX petente Abbate Brand saith the same concerning the number of Plough-Lands in that place held by the Monastery sub Rege Edwardo Most of which it should seem by a trial which John Deeping Abbot of this Church had about the Lands in those Towns in the 13th year of Hen. 4. were part of the possessions of the Abby from its foundation and being alienated perhaps were again restored or redeemed by Brand and his Brethren before mentioned For that Abbot then before the Kings Judges at Westminster Ibid. pag. CCCLII. declaring how he was destrained by the Servants of Thomas de Lancaster the Kings Son pretending that he held a Mannor of his in Holderness and ought to do him homage and suit at Court for six Carrucatae of Land in Walcote juxta Humbr and one in Normanby which they said he held of the aforesaid Thomas alledged against all this that Wolferus King of the Mercians long before the Conquest gave and granted by his Charter which he there produced and laid before them to God and the blessed Apostle St. Peter and the servants of God in Medhamstede which is now called by another name Peterburgh in puram perpetuam eleemosynam praedictas sex Carucatas terrae cum pertinentibus in Walcote juxta Humbr praedictam unam carucatam terrae cum pertin in Normanby in Lincoln c. Of which Land he and his Predecessor were seised and held as parcel of the first foundation of the Abby from the King and not from the aforesaid Thomas of whom he held no Land at all nor owed him any service c. And accordingly it was adjudged for the Abbot This Estate was in danger to be lost again after the Conquest being got into the hands of Yvo Talbois but restored by him to the Monks as I shall observe in my Remarks upon the next Abbot Turoldus The Character which Ingulphus Pag. 70. Edit Oxon. gives of Abbot Brand is that he was a very Religious person and as he had heard from his Predecessor and many others very much addicted unto Alms-deeds wherewith he relieved the poor and in short adorned with all Vertues They that have a mind may in the same Author find the form and manner after which this Abbot made Hereward a Knight which was a thing forbidden afterward in the Synod of London held under Anselm as Eadmerus informs us p. 68. Where Mr. Selden calls this Abbot Brand Coenobiarcha Edmundoburgensis Spicileg ad Eadmerum p. 207. N. 5. not attending I suppose to those words of Ingulphus where he mentions Abbatem Burgi the Uncle of Hereward which he construes as if he spake of the Abbot of St. Edmundburgh There is mention of Brand as witness to a Charter of William the Conqueror in the second year of his Reign 1068. wherein he setled the Collegiat Church of St. Martins le Grand in the City of London indowed by Ingelricus and Girardus his Brother out of their own Revenues as may be seen in the third Tome of the Monasticon Anglicanum De Eccles Collegiatis p. 26. But the next year after he dyed as not only Hugo but John Abbot of this Church tells us in his Chronicon Where An. MLXIX having spoken of the death of Aldredus Archbishop of York he adds Obiit etiam Brando Abbas Burgi Patruus dicti Herewardi de Wake ex Regis collatione successit Turoldus Brando dedit pro Fyskyrton XX. marcas auri alias XX. pro Quametis pro ibidem ..... VIII. marc auri Our Writings also mention his redeeming Burleigh as well as the forenamed places which shows how studious he was of the prosperity of this place Where he dyed 2. Kaland Decembris saith Hugo agreeable to the Kalander which saith 30. Novemb. Depositio Brandonis Will de Waterville Abbatum c. TVROLDVS Or THVROLDVS as he is called in a Chater of King Henry the First was no sooner setled in the Monastery but all manner of evils as Hugo's words are came to it For that very year 1069 the Danes returned to infest England under the conduct of Suenus Abbot John saith the Sons of Swane their King with a very great Army Part of which under Osbern came to Eli and was presently re-inforced by Hereward de Wake and his associates who came and joyned with them He was a very great man called by one of our best Historians vir Serenissimus Walsingham who at his return out of Flanders where he had been for a while hearing how much his Family and Kindred had suffered by the Normans and finding Ivo Talbois the Conqueror's Sisters Son possessed of his Estate the Conqueror having given Ivo large possessions in Holland was extreamly inraged thereat and resolved by force of Arms to recover his own though with the havock and spoil of other people I cannot say that this place felt the first effects of his fury but here he discharged it after a most terrible manner as Hugo relates the story For he it was that invited and incited also Osbern and his Danes to go and plunder this Abby where he heard the Abbot his Uncle was dead and the place filled with a Norman whom he accounted an intruder and he a very severe man who lay then with some Souldiers at Stamford They came therefore with great speed though not so hastily but the Monks of Burgh had some notice so that the Sacrist called Ywarus by the Counsel of the Monks carried away all that he could viz. the Texts of the Gospel with the Chesibles Copes and Albes c. and went with them to the Abbot Turoldus at Stamford The very same morning came Hereward and his company in Boats against whom the Monks maintained the Close so stoutly as is observed out of him by Mr. G. that he had no way but to set fire to the Houses near the Gate by which means his Forces entred and burnt all the Offices of the Monastery and the whole Town except the Church and one House The Monks therefore
besought them to be favourable to it but they not regarding their cries entred armed into it and indeavoured to carry away the great Cross but could not Yet they took the golden Crown from the head of the Crucifix with the pretious Stones and the Footstool under its feet made of pure Gold and Gemms together with duo aurea feretra two golden or gilded Bears whereon they carried the Saints Reliques and other such like things in Procession and nine Silver ones and twelve Crosses some of Gold some of Silver And besides all this went up into the Tower and took away the great Table which the Monks had hidden there which was all of Gold and Silver and pretious Stone and wont to be before the Altar with abundance of Books and other pretious things which were invaluable there being not the like in all England And they pretended to do all this out of faithfulness to the Church for the Danes they told them would preserve these things for the use of the Church better than the Franks would do Nay Hereward himself was Homo Monachorum a lover of Monks and therefore some believed what they said and he also afterwards swore that he did all this with a good intention because he thought William the Conqueror would get it all Away they went therefore with their Booty and made all the hast they could to their Ships fearing the Normans might fall upon them and coming to Eli they committed all their spoil into the hands of the Danes themselves What became of it Mr. Gunton hath largely enough related out of Hugo Which doth so little agree with what I find in the life of Hereward de Wake that we must suppose all this to have been done if he was not mistaken in his story in the year 1070. and that he came again and spoiled this Church after the Goods which remained were restored as I shall show presently when I have finished the foregoing History Which saith that Turoldus came to the Abby the very same day the Danes went away with an hundred and sixty Normans well armed hoping to meet with the Enemy before they carried off their prey but found no body there and the place laid desolate all being burnt both within and without except the Church Insomuch that the City not long ago called aurea was now made pauperrima But the Abbot being come the Monks who had been scattered returned and performed divine Offices which had been discontinued seven dayes He strengthened himself also by Stipendiary Souldiers upon whom he setled threescore and two Hides of Land that they might defend him from Hereward So John Abbot ad An. 1069. Turoldus vero lxii hidas terrae de terris Ecclesiae Burgi dedit Stipendiariis militibus qui eum contra Herewardum le Wake tuerentur He built a Castle also hard by the Monastery as I shall note anon out of the same Chronicle and had the pleasure to see Hereward the next year 1071. hardly escaping out of the Isle of Eli where most of his accomplices as I have said were taken And yet notwithstanding that great man rallied again and came into these parts with Forces against which a great Army was raised out of Northamptonshire Cambridgshire Linoclnshire Holland Leicestershire Huntendone and Warwickshire while Hereward lay with a few Souldiers in comparison skulking in the Woods nigh unto Burch This I learn out of a Treatise at the end of Swapham intituled de gestis Heruuardi inclyti militis gathered out of such fragments as could be found of a Book written in the English tongue by Alefricus Diaconus who was Hereward's Priest at Brun. Who says this great Army gathered out of those severai Counties was lead by Turoldus Abbot of Burch and Yvo Talbois who incompassed Hereward and his men so strictly that they greatly distressed them But he nothing terrified placed all his Sagittarii and balistarii among the Trees which they had there for their security and from thence issued out as he saw his opportunities and having made great slaughters retreated under their shelter again This he continued to do after several manners all the day long till he had tyred the opposite Army and made them raise their Siege And then Hereward with all his men rushing out upon their Rere all at once put them into such a confusion that he took many of them Prisoners and among the rest Abbot Turoldus Whom he kept in Custody till he redeemed himself and other considerable persons with the summ of three thousand Marks of Silver So that writer saith Fol. CCCXXXVI with whom John Abbot agrees but mentions a far greater summ Nihilominus tandem cum multis aliis magnatibus speaking of Turoldus ab Herewardo captus quousque pro sua redemptione XXX marcas argenti solveret cum aliis suis conductitiis in custodia detentus est But after this ransome of himself and his Nephew and others whom he received from the hand of a Cosin of Herewardus called Siwardus Albus who had honourably entertained him out of reverence to the Abbot he forgot both his Covenant and the benefits he had received renewing the War against Hereward For the carrying on of which he gave away more Goods of his Church and many Possessions to Souldiers ut haberet semper militare auxilium ad expugnandum Herewardum Which coming to the Ears of Hereward who saw he was like to suffer for his kindness he made no delay but the same night marched with all the force he could make to Burch and burning the whole Town which it seems by this story began to be built again carried away all the Treasure of the Church and pursued the Abbot himself licet latitando cum suis evaserit But the next night if we may believe this Writer Hereward thought he saw in his dream an old man of inestimable beauty and in brighter habit than he had ever beheld or imagined with a terrible countenance threatning him with a great Key he held in his hand and with a dreadful voice that he should immediately restore all he had taken out of the Church if he loved his life Whereupon he rose up the very same hour and carrying back all that he had pillaged immediately departed from Burgh But lost his way in the night and wandred up and down in the Woods not knowing whither he went till a vast Wolf appeared who marched before them like a houshold Dog and led them into their right way As they saw by lighted Candles which appeared upon every mans Shield which none of them could pull off or blow out But when morning appeared both Wolf and Candles vanished and they came whither they desired beyond Stamford He relates many other wonderful atchievements of this famous Warrior who was accounted the Hector of his time and at last shows how he was reconciled to the King and served him faithfully having all his Fathers Lands and Possessions restored to him and living comfortably and peace
ably with his Countrymen and Friends dyedin peace after he had lived many Years Other Writers say he having taken Ivo Talbois in Battle would not deliver him until the King to have his Nephew preserved promised by Oath unto Hereward Reconciliation Pardon his former dignity with full restitution of all that had been his Which was done in the year 1076. Until which time from the death of Brando not only this Monastery but others also suffered very much For in the year 1070. many Abbots as well as Bishops by the Kings procurement were deposed or ejected upon slight surmises that the English might be deprived of all dignities So John Abbot who after he had related how Stigandus was deposed to make way for Lanfranc adds Plures eo anno tam Episcopi quam Abbates vel nullis vel levibus suspitionibus deponuntur aut ejiciuntr procurante Rege ut Angli nullis dignitatibus potirentur In the year 1072 the Monks of Eli were Outlawed having afforded succour to some Great men who were in Rebellion against the King I suppose to those who in the year before were in that Isle and in that Church in open rebellion with Hereward So Abbot John MLXXI Hereward le Wake Ecclesia intra paludes Heliensi cum multis aliis Anglis exlegatis resistit And then it follows An. MLXXII Monachi Helienses quibusdam Angliae Magnatibus contra Regem rebellantibus succursum praebentes exlegati sunt Et multi Monachi Anglici per totam Angliam malè tractati plurimum vexati Multa Monasteria tam de propriis pecuniis quam de aliorum apud ipsos depositis ad quadrantem ultimum spoliata Walsingham Hypodigm Neustriae p. 418. writes much to the same purpose telling us the Conqueror made all the Abbeys in England to be searched and caused all the money which the Richer people had there deposited to be brought into his Coffers only he places this in the year 1070. In the year MLXXV. Comes Northampt. Sanctus Walterus apud Wynton decollatus as the same Abbot John writes Which was done he saith notwithstanding that Lansranc pronounced him innocent and that if he was put to death he would be a Martyr And accordingly he was honoured by Wlfketulus Abbot of Croyland who gave him an honourable Burial and thereupon was violently deposed As indeed all the Bishops and Abbots were if they were Angligenae as he again repeats it introductis in eorum sedes Normannis Which I the rather mention because this Wlfketulus had been bred up in this Church of Burgh as we learn from what follows For that Coronicle saith that Ingulphus succeeding Wlfketulus for though he was an Englishman born he had lived long among the Normans interceeded with the King for his predecessor that he might come from Glastonbury where he was shut up in the Cloyster ad Ecclesiam suam de Burgo Which was granted ubi post paucos dies morbo correpto in Domino requievit Ingulphus P. 78 79. Oxon. Edit himself saith he was taken with a Palsy and that having been kept ten Year at Glastonbury he dyed 1085 after he had been not a few days but four Months at Burgh While he was here Ingulphus had frequent conversation with him for he procured leave that Wlfketulus might come from Burgh to Croyland as often as he thought good to call him Who informed Ingulphus of the Estate of the Church of Croyland and brought back to it many rich things but some he saith still remained at Burgh He was the more acceptable because there were Lands concealed from that Monastery in the discovery of which he thought Wlfketulus might assist him For one Alsford Bailiff of the Church of Croyland had been notoriously guilty of it and was called to an account for it by Ingulphus presently after he entred upon his Government But as he was in the way to appear before the King's Justices at Stamford he broke his neck by a fall off from his Horse and was carried to be buried at Burgh according to the order he had taken about it in his life time They that delight to read wonderful things may look into Ingulphus Pag. 77. and find a story he tells of a miraculous cloud about the Sun as they were carrying his body thither But it is time to return to Turoldus who as Hugo writes was a mischief to this Church eight and twenty years Which is not to be understood so rigorously as if he did no good for first as he gave away much Land so he got some back again particularly the Mannors that had been granted to Ivo Talbois which he was perswaded to restore to the Monks in his life time so that after his decease they should return ad dominium Sancti Petri. This I find in a Charter of William Rufus which runs thus Gulielmus Rex Anglorum Roberto Lincolniensi Episcopo by this it appears this was William the second for he made Robert Bishop of Linc. in the 6th year of his Reign 1092 Oswino vicecomite omnibus Baronibus suis fidelibus salutem Sciatis me concessisse Sancto Petro de Burgo Thuroldo Abbati Monachis ejusdem Ecclesiae ad victum eorum terras illas quas Ivo Talbois de praedicto Abbate tenuit ipse idem Yvo eisdem Monachis in vita sua reddidit ita sc ut post decessum ejus ad dominium Sancti Petri redirent Testante Cyrographo ab eodem Yvone Thuroldo Abbate conscripto Haec autem sunt terrarum nomina scil Scotere Walcote cum omnibus appendiciis c. And secondly all these Soldiers who had feods given them out of the Estate of the Church for its defence were bound by the original grant to serve the King also when there was occasion in his Wars This I understand out of a description of all the feoda militum still remaining in the Book called Swapham Fol. CCLXX. where this account is given why they were granted Quia omnes milites praedicti pro defensione domus facienda in exercitu Domini Regis alibi cum necesse esset de dominico Abbatis conventus feodati fuerant There also it appears how they sewed in King John's time and before that in Henry the seconds nay from the time of their first Infeoffement So the words are Et ante tempus ejusdem Henrici postquam feodati fuerunt à tempore dicti regis usque ad praesens hac ratione quia c. And Thirdly He and his Souldiers not only built Towns in those wast places which Adulphus had cleared from Wood and let the Lands out to Farm at a certain Rent c. some of which Towns were called by their names and remain to this day as Gunthorp Melton Walton Barnak c. but also Churches and Chappels the profits of which the Monastery received intirely for many years till the time of Ernulphus So the words are Ibid. fol. CCXCV. eodem vero tempore construebatur
and sending for him commanded him to surrender his Abbey and be gone out of his Realm Which he did in the year MCXXXII So John Abbot Henricus Abbas de Burgo quem dimisit ad Andegavenses redit With which Hugo agrees who says he recovered his Abbey of St. John de Angeli and that notwithstanding all his faults bonus Eleemosynator omnibus diebus fuit he was good to the poor all his days And therefore he made a good end not living long after he returned thither There is no memory of this Abbot in the Kalander of the Church no more than of Kenulphus and Godricus MARTINVS de Vecti Henry being gone the King gave this Abbey by the consent of the Monks saith Hugo to a religious Monk Martinus de Bec the Prior of St. Neots who was here installed upon the Feast of St. Peter with great honour and with the joy of the whole Convent and all the people An. MCXXXIII Where Chron. M. S. Johannis Abbatis saith Martinus de vecto in Abbatem Burgi est electus in die Sancti Petri receptus The next year the day after the Feast of St. Peter ad Vincula the King crossed the Seas again when about six a clock the Heavens were on a sudden so darkned that the Sun saith Hugo lookt like the Moon I suppose by a great Ecclipse and for three or four hours the Stars appeared which many took to portend some great thing And so it did for that year the King dyed and all ancient and wise men of the Land fell with him and so the Land was darkned because peace and truth and righteousness were taken away from it The same year 1135. King Stephen Nephew to the former King a Prince of a mild and low Spirit got the Crown and with him as Hugo goes on Young men who were very wicked also got into power and troubled the Land The Church especially was in great tribulation all England over and among the rest this of Burgh whose Abbot suffered very much and kept his Abbey with great difficulty And yet for all that he provided all things necessary for his Monks and for Strangers there being great love among them and the Monks being assistant to him He went on also with the building of the Monastery and of the Church the Chancel of which he finished and brought in cum magno honore the holy Reliques and the Monks into the new Church upon the Feast of St. Peter in the year of our Lord One thousand one hundred and forty three and twenty years after the burning of the place It should be twenty seven years after if we may belive the MS. Chron. of John Abbot which saith MCXLIII Conventus Burgi hoc anno intravit in novam Ecclesiam that they did not go into the new Church till 1143. At this great solemnity of bringing the Reliques and Monks into the new Church the Arm of St. Oswald was produced before Alexander Bishop of Lincoln the Abbots of Ramsey Thorney Croyland many Barons and a vast number of people as it had been once before brought forth to satisfie Matthias Abbot and shown intire in its slesh skin Nerves and every thing else The story of this Arm is in short related by Mr. Gunton where he speaks of the Reliques of this Church To which Will. of Malmsbury gives no great credit for though he saith there was shown here at Burgh the hand of St. Oswald with the Arm and devoutly worshipped by the people being kept loculo argenteo deaurato in Ecclesia Beati Petri yet he adds that too much credit is not to be given to it for fides dictorum vacillat ubi nihil auditor visu explorat L. 4. de gest Pontif. Which he doth not say he pretends because he doubted of the thing but he would not too hastily affirm that his Arm was in this place But waving this doubt of his Hugo saith he saw it and kissed it and handled it with his own hands at this time and relates a great many wonderful cures which were performed merely by the water wherein it was washed with which I shall not trouble the Reader He saith it had been shown before this to satisfie Martin himself who desired to see it either out of curiosity or because he doubted of its being uncorrupted And a Third time he adds it was shown to King Stephen who came to Burgh and offered his Ring to him c. as Mr. G. hath observed In like manner it was again shown that I may put together what belongs to this matter to King John in the time of Abbot Akarius as I learn from the Chron. of John Abbot An. MCCVI. Brachium Sancti Oswaldi Regis Martyris ostensum est Johanni Regi apud Burgum It was ordered also by a Statute of Abbot Walter to be carried in solemn procession every year upon the Feast of the Dedication of the Church unless it had been carryed about on the Feast of St. Oswald Swaph fol. CCLXXIII But leaving this let us take some account of his benefactions to this Church which were very many Hugo says indeed that by the instinct of the Devil and by ill Counsel he was guilty of imbezzling the Treasure of the Church in the beginning of his Government but he made amends afterward giving a whole Town called Pilesgate to the Church with all the Tythes and Offerings and many possessions c. By his Charter also in the time of King Henry I suppose the first for he dyed just after the second came to the Crown he gave with the consent of the King a great deal of Land and Rents and Services in several Towns which are therein named for the use of the Sacrist and for the Building and Repairing of the Monastery Ibid. fol. 100. This was in the beginning of his Government when Richard Priest of Castre having a mind to change his life and take upon him the habit of a Monk prevailed with this Abbot by his own and others intreaties to receive him into the Monastery of Burch Accordingly he came on a day appointed 1133 which was the first year of Martin into the Chapter-house and there before the Abbot and all the Monks made it his humble Petition that they would receive all he had viz. the Church of Castre which he then held with all belonging to it both in Lands and in Tithes and in other things which he gave to God and to St. Peter for ever Whereupon the Abbot granted what he desired on condition that he should come into Court coram Baronibus suis and there confirm what he had now done in the Chapter-house which he performed accordingly For the aforesaid Richard Priest came into the Abbots Chamber and there before the Abbot of Thorney and Will. de Albeni and Richard Basset and many other Barons of the Abbey and divers other persons who came with William and Richard restored his Church of Castre to the Church of St. Peter de Burch de
who promoted him he saith in another place by the consent of the King Deposuit certis ex causis Willielmum Abbatem de Burgo eidem ex assensu Regis supposuit Cancel larium suum Benedictum Actus Pontif. Cantu That is Richard the Archbishop obtained the place for him as John Bromton explains it ad An. MCLXXVII eodem anno Rex concessit Benedicto Priori Sanctae Trinitatis Cantuariae Abbatiam de Burgo c. Our Historian whom from this time forward I take to be Robert Swapham for by the very writing it appears a new man begins to carry on the story where Hugo left saith he was Prior Ecclesiae Christi Cant. which is the same it will appear presently and was elected Abbot at Winchester All agree he was made Abbot in the year MCLXXVII in the beginning of which I find him still Prior of Christs-Church For William Thorn in his Chron. hath set down a composition made between the Monks of St. Austin in Canterbury and the Church of the Holy Trinity which begins thus Benedictus Prior Conventus Ecclesiae Christi Cant. universis Christi fidelibus salutem c. and then relating how he and Roger Elect of the Monastery of St. Austin had changed certain Lands one with another which are there particularly mentioned it concludes thus Facta est autem haec compositio vel conventio anno ab incarnatione Millesimo CLXXVII seven year after the Murder of Thomas a Becket in his Church Where by the way it may be observed that this Roger had himself been a Monk of the Church of the Holy Trinity where Benedict now was Prior and was keeper of the Altar where Thomas was slain As soon as Benedict was here setled he straightway indeavoured to destroy the ill Customs which had crept into the Monastery to restore regular discipline and then to free the Church from the debts left by his Predecessor of whom the Romans and many in England had exacted 1500. Marks The Ornaments of this Church also were dispersed and pawned in several places which was such a burden to this Abbot that out of the load of grief he had upon his mind he went to Canterbury with one Monk alone and there staid many days When he had a little eased and freed himself not without much labour from those demands and vexations he returned hither and gave his mind to Meditation in the holy Scripture They are the words of Swapham who saith he composed himself unum egregium volumen one most excellent volume as they then accounted it de passione miraculis Sancti Thomae and caused a great many others to be transcribed for the use of the Monastery which are those set down by Mr. G. out of Wittlesea who did in this but transcribe Swapham Who tells us of a great many benefactions besides those named by Mr. G. especially in precious Ornaments bestowed upon the Church which made his memory deserve as his words are to remain in benediction for ever The principal were three rich Palls and six Chesibles the last of which were black Embroidered with Golden Trees before and behind and full of pretious Stones from the top to the bottom He acquired also many Reliques of Thomas a Becket viz. his Shirt his Surplice and a great quantity of his Blood in two Crystal vessels with two Altars of the Stone upon which he fell when he was murdered Whose Chapel begun by William de Waterville he finished together with an Hospital adjoyning to it From whence I gather that Mr. G. is mistaken in his opinion about the place of it which was not in the middle Arch of the Church-Porch but at the gate of the Monastery and is now as I conceive the School-house For thereabout the Hospital was as I learn from a Charter of King Richard I Swaph fol. XLIX Wherein this benefaction of Benedict's is remembred It contains a grant of all the Lands sometimes belonging to Thuroldus de Sutona unto his beloved and faithful Clerk Magister Damianus to have and to hold them de Hospitali Sancti Thomae Martyris juxta portam Ecclesiae de Burg which Land was the purchace of Benedict Abbot of Burgh and assigned by him to the aforesaid Hospital in perpetuam Eleemosynam Upon this condition that the aforesaid Damianus should pay out of it yearly to the Almoner of the Church of Burgh one Mark of Silver and after his decease the whole Land to return to the aforesaid Hospital It is dated at Spire 20. of Novemb. in the fifth year of his Reign per manum Will. Eleyensis Episcopi Cancellarii But this is more fully cleared by the Chron. MS. of John Abbot who saith expresly that this Chapel of St. Thomas was at the Gate of the Monastery Ad An. MCLXXV Solomon Prior Eliensis factus est Abbas Thorneyensis Benedictus Prior Cantuariensis factus est Abbas Burgi Qui fecit construere totam Navem Ecclesiae Burgi ex lapide ligno a Turri usque ad frontem Et Capellam in honorem Sancti Thomae Martyris ad portam Monasterii He begun also that wonderful work as Swapham calls it juxta bracinum but did not live to finish it The Abbey in his days was full of all good things in the Convent there was joy and peace in his house nobleness and exaltation among the Servants in the several Offices jocundness and mirth the greatest plenty of meat and drink and at the Gate a gladsome reception without any murmuring of the Guests or Strangers He procured a large Charter from Rich. I. in the first year of his Reign dated at Canterbury confirming to them all their Lands and Possessions in the several Counties of the Realm which are particularly enumerated in perpetuam Eleemosynam And thereby it appears that Benedict recovered the aforesaid Lands in Sutton with the Mill and appurtenances from Thorald Son of Anketillus who restored them to the Church as part of its Demeans And afterward also purchased of the Nephews and Heirs of the same Thorald Pilesgate Badigtune and Bernack and other Lands which Gaufridus Son of Gaufridus gave to the Monastery with a great many other things worth the remembering if I had room to insert them I will name only the last Concedimus etiam pro amore Dei Sancti Petri ob reverentiam beati Oswaldi Regis Martyris quod praedicti Monasterii Milites qui Guuardam suam faciunt in Castello nostro de Rokingam sint quieti solvendo singulis annis tempore pacis de feodo militis 4. solidos sicut facere solebant tempore Henrici R. avi nostri c. There is a Charter of the same year bearing date 22. March from Roan confirming all their Liberties particularly the 8. Hundreds for which he afterwards granted a special Charter by it self Which Charter being lost when he was Prisoner in Germany he renewed it and in some things inlarged it in the Xth year of his Reign Many others there
Ministers the days then being very evil because there was great discord inter Regnum Sacerdotium between the Civil and the Ecclesiastical power For they that should have defended the Church took Arms against it and they who seemed to be friends of Religion endeavoured to destroy it There had been a Petition preferred by the Almoner of Burgh in his Predecessors time to Pope Clement showing that he having no Ecclesiastical benefice belonging to the Almonry whereby he might be able to keep good hospitality was willing to assign the Church of Makeseia to that use if the Abbot and Convent who had the right of presentation would consent Whereupon the Pope moved Hugo Bishop of Lincoln to use his Authority to perswade them to grant the said Parsonage to that use which Hugo did and Pope Celestine afterward confirmed the Grant of the Church of Makeseia and Normanby with all their appurtenances unto the use of the Almonry After which Acarius by the Petition and advice of the Convent setled all the Tythes of all their Lands for the maintenance of Hospitality except of those two Mannors de Stanewig de Irtlingburgh Which was afterward confirmed by William Bishop of Lincoln who recites the whole Charter of Akarius in his Fol. XCIII He granted also out of reverence and respect to this Church of Makeseia and at the Petition of Galfridus Son of Radulphus de Halone one of the Milites of Burgh and at the desire of the Parishioners that they would hereafter have no passage through the Church-yard of Makeseia for their Horses Oxen Cows Hoggs or other Animals nor by themselves nor Servants lay any thing in the Church-yard which might discolour or dishonour it saving to themselves only the herbage of the Church-yard and liberty to mow it c. Galfridus on his part giving the Eleemosynary of the Church of Burgh two Acres of Arable Land in the field of Makeseia so that the Church yard might be freed from all that filth which was caused by the Carriages of the Procurators of the Eleemosynary Both these Charters are remaining Swaph fol. CIII In another Charter this Abbot granted to the same Eleemosynary the offerings of the Chapel before mentioned of Tho. a Becket called there Capella Sancti Thomae ad Portam for the use of the Hospital which belonged to it Yet so as that on Festival days when the Parishioners of St. John Baptist were bound to make their Oblation at that Church none should be admitted to hear Mass in the Church of the Hospital to the prejudice of the said Church of St. John Baptist But if any man were so weak in Body that he could not go so far as the Parish-Church and therefore made his Oblation in the aforesaid Chapel two parts of three of such Oblation should be given to the Sacrist and the remaining third to the Chaplain of St. J. Baptist Upon other days if any body came out of devotion to this Chapel and made his offerings here they should be wholly applied to the use of the Hospital In like manner if Strangers came to pray there whether on Festival or other days and offered any thing or if any Legacy were given to the Hospital all should be intirely applied to the uses of the poor people there Fol. CIV and fol. CC. And accordingly an agreement was made and drawn in writing between the Sacrist the Chaplain of St. John Baptist and the Almoner In which the Festivals are expressed on which the Parishioners of St. J. Baptist were wont to offer and might not be admitted unless in case of weakness to hear Mass in the Chapel of the Hospital viz. All-Saints All-Souls Christmas Circumcision Epiphany Purification Good-Friday Easter Ascension Whitsunday St. John Baptist the Assumption and the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin and Saint Giles This Abbot did many other memorable things for the benefit of the Infirmary and of the Monks Chamber and many things were done by others in his time particularly Robert de Tot by the will and assent of Akarius whom he calls his Lord gave seven acres of Arable Land in Paston to the Chapel beatae Mariae de Parco which I cannot set down without inlarging this Supplement too much beyond the bounds to which I am confined One thing done in his time I must not forget which is a Bull sent from Gregory the IXth to the Bishop of Lincoln and him the Abbot of Burgh importing that the Abbot had represented to him how some Monks of his Church had incurred the sentence of Excommunication for laying violent hands one upon another and upon other both Secular and Religious persons and Secular Clergy and other Monks were under the same sentence for denying due obedience to the Abbot when they were corrected by him others because they had entred the Monastery by Simony and how some of these Excommunicated Persons had presumed to celebrate divine Offices not having obtained absolution For whose Salvation the Abbot being solicitous had petitioned the said Gregory that it might not be necessary for them to come to the Apostolical See for the benefit of absolution and dispensation he in confidence of his discretion granted him power to absolve them in all the forenamed cases except such enormous excesses in laying hands on any body as might seem fit to be referred to the See Apostolique after satisfaction made to those who had been injured And that he should proceed against the Simoniacal Monks according to the constitution in a General Council and suspend those who in contempt of Ecclesiastical discipline had officiated in the Church during their Excommunication for two years à suorum executione ordinum Which being finished he might mercifully dispense with them if they were of an honest Conversation and a better life Several compositions also made by him I must omit and conclude as R. Swapham doth that this good man governed the Monastery for about X. years and was such an example to all of order honesty kindness and bounty that from him posterity might learn how to behave themselves both in the cloyster and in the World And particularly he was extroardinary kind to the Convent unto whom he sent meat every day from his own Table for the consolation of the Brethren which the Prior divided among them The like he did to the domus infirmorum sending flesh-meat to those who were weak and would often say in the Convent Domini Domini nisi per quosdam vestrum stetisset c. My Masters my Masters had not some of you hindred I had done much good to you Which saying saith Swapham from which we may gather he lived in this time was not understood by us then but after his death we perceived why he said this and knew of whom it was meant But it is no matter saith he they are gone they lifted up themselves and the Lord hath cast them down As for this good man he never rendred evil for evil to any man but studied more
possible proof of their right Whereupon the Pope sent his Apostolical Letters to the Priors of Deeping and St. Leonard in Stamford and to the Dean of Stamford that they should hear and examine such Witnesses as the Abbot and Convent could produce and cause their testimony to be Recorded and to make a publick Instrument thereof Datum Laterani 7. Kaland. April Pontif. nostri Anno 7. And here it may be fit to mention the Council of Laterane unto which there was a general citation saith Swapham thoughout Christendom in so much that there were assembled 400. Bishops above 800. Abbots and Priors and Procurators without number So John Abbot MCCXV Romae Concili um Lateranense secundum celebratum est ubi Episcopi CCCC Abbates Priores DCCC ultra Procuratorum non erat numerus Here it was provided among other things that all Convents of Monks should fast that is eat no Suppers from the Feast of the exaltation of the Holy Cross till Easter Which order the Abbot when he returned from this Council prevail'd with his Convent to observe as they did at Rome But not without many intreaties for it had been the custom not only here at Burgh but in other places for the Monks to eat two meals a day at certain times for instance from the exaltation of Holy Cross till the first of October from the Nativity till the Octaves of the Epiphany and many other days within that compass of time forementioned on which the Convent was wont to have one dish at Supper with Cheese And therefore propter integrita tem Eleemosynae that their constant allowance might not be diminished the Abbot ordained that what was wont to be provided for their Supper they should have at Dinner While the Abbot was at Rome King John demanded the whole military service of the Abbot Whose Attorneys complaining that they could not justitiare milites libertatis Burgi make these men do their duty the King commanded their fees to be destrained Which when the Attorneys said they could not do the King gave away the Land of Nic. de Bassingburn to Baldwinus de Gynes and the Land of Roger de Torpel to Will. Blome and the Land that was Rad. de Dyve in Vpton to Rob. de Nevile of Scottone and the Land of Richard de Watervile to Will. de Palmes and the Land of Will. Andegavensis in Chirchefeild to Ade Furneis and the Land of Hugo Wac in Deeping with the appurtenances to Will. de Bruere and so he disposed of the rest of the Lands And commanded Will. de Aundres Constable of Rockingham that he should destrain all the military feods and that he should not meddle with the demesne of the Abbot but let it be undisturbed utpote liberam Eleemosynam Domini Regis These feods I suppose were restored upon their submission for I find in a Marginal Note Swaph fol. CCLXX. that Rog. de Torpel refused to serve unless the Abbot paid his expences upon which his Estate he held of the Abbot being ordered to be seised he scarcely obtained the favour to serve upon his own proper charges Before his time there had been great discord and murmuring contention and envy frequently happened among the Brethren propter minutionem about blood-letting which was very necessary some time to those sedentary people who were subject to repletion And no wonder because no body could accipere minutionem be let blood without an Order from the Prior who let some have it oftner others more rarely some after five weeks others after 6. and others not till after 8. or 10. or 15. or perhaps half a year To take away therefore all trouble out of their minds about this matter this Abbot ordered that the Convent should be divided into six parts and upon the day of letting blood he that was the Senior of that part whose turn it was to have the benefit of it should ask licentiam minuendi and that under his hand for his Brethren from the Prior. In the Margin of the Book there is this Note That in Abbot Walter 's time this mode of minution was thus far altered that they should be divided into five parts and then minuerentur modo supradicto For Robert Grosteste Bishop of Lincoln in his Visitation had forbidden the eating of flesh altogether unto the Monks every where except only in the Infirmary or in the Abbots Chamber which was accounted by them an unsupportable burden It is further also noted that the Convent in former times had liberty at three seasons in the year to eat as much flesh as they pleased in a house deputed for that purpose and in the domus Hospitum house where they entertained Strangers and in all places where they eat out of the Refectory they might eat flesh Which liberty was quite taken away by the above named Inhibition of the Bishop They who were minuti let blood were formerly refreshed in the Refectory three times a day with a regular diet as appears by the antient Customary of this Church Swapham observes that he found LXXII Monks here when he came to the Convent and so many I have noted before King Henr. I. found here when he took an account of all belonging to the Monastery upon the death of John de Sais And therefore what is said of Akarius his taking in XXII Monks must be understood I think of supernumeraries whom he maintained for his time at his own charges ex intuitu pietatis as the words there are For the maintenance of these the Lands in Alwalton and Flettun had been given by Andreas but were not sufficient to supply the Kitchin with provisions though it had other Rents besides which are all distinctly mentioned in a Charter of his Swaph fol. CV wherein he gives those Mannors intirely to the Celerary with all that had been reserved out of them to the Abbot at the Feast of St. Michael This Abbot Robert therefore gave other Revenues not only for the recreation as the word is of those 72 Monks but for the increment of eight Monks more whereby the whole Number was made LXXX And particularly Belasise as Mr. G. observes to find those 8. with Bread and Beer Which Corn and Malt was afterward changed into money in Abbot Walters time because the Celerarius of the Abbot and his Servants would receive none but the very best which was the occasion of great quarrels In the Charter wherein he settles those Lands he makes mention of the observation of his own Anniversary the expences of which were to be born out of them Andreas I noted before began this custome as far as I can find assigning an annual Pension for the celebrating of the Anniversary of Benedict his Predecessor After which I find no mention of it till this Abbots time who took care not only of his own but both of Andreas his and of his Successors Akarius For after the Constitution of Akarius directing how the sour Stone of Wax from Croyland should be imployed
deal of Riches besides Which is the more wonderful since he was so very charitable and frequently gave Presents and Jewels of Gold and Silver to King Henry and Eleanor his Queen and Prince Edward their Son and to the Nobles and great Men of England besides what Mr. G. mentions and all for the peace and tranquillity and defence of the Liberties of the Church He dyed in the latter end of the year as the MS. Chron. of Johan Abbatis P. 690. N. 30. saith Matth. Paris saith 1245. 29 Hen. 3. obiit Walterus Abbas de Burgo 2. Kaland. Januarii Which doth not perfectly agree with the Kalender of the Church where is placed on the 26. Decemb. Depositio Domini Walteri Abbatis Here Swapham's History ends WILLIAM de HOTOT The controversie that had been between this Church and Croyland in the time of Akarius was now revived between this Abbot and Richard Bardenay Abbot of Croyland contrary to the agreements made before between their Predecessors as the words are in the Continuator of the History of Croyland Lately Printed at Oxon. p. 478. Who lays the blame upon this Abbot because he hindred the Abbot of Croyland in their Fair time from taking Toll or making Attachments upon Crowland Bridge c. This he saith was in the year 1240. Which cannot be for then Walter was Abbot it should be therefore 1246. in the very beginning of William's time Who the next year made a composition about this matter 1247. as I find in our Records at the end of Swapham Fol. CLXX where there is an agreement between Richard Abbot of Croyland and Robert Abbot of Burgh about the Fen between Singleshould and Croyland and this agreement made in the Kings Court at Northampton before the King Justices between these two Abbots Richard and William de villa de Croyland ponte tempore Nundinarum which is too long to be inserted It is called finalis concordia but the quarrel was renewed in the time of William of Ramsey In the same year 1247. Robert de Taterhille Physician made his last Will and Testament and thereby gave to the Church of St. Peter his Body with his Palfrey to the Fabrick of St. John's Church V. Shillings and to the Church of St. Mary de Oxney two Shilling c. and four Acre of Arable Land apud Rumpele to find two Wax-Candles before the Altar of the blessed Virgin in Ecclesia majori de Burgo as long as the said Robert lived And if his Wife Ailice out-lived him she was to enojoy that Land and the house he also gave c. for her life if she remained a Widow and to find four Wax-Candles After both their deaths all to go to the Custos luminaris beatae Virginis to find so many lights before her Altar as that Land House and Meadow would furnish In the same year likewise An. 2. Will. 2di Abbatis as the words of the Record are there was a Subsidy given to Pope Innocent according to an Estimation that had been made of the Estate of the Abbey in the time of Stephen Nuncio to Pope Gregory of which subsidy the Obedientiaries as several officers in the Church were called paid the fourth part being taxed seven Pence for every pound of yearly Rent as followeth Estimatio Cellerariae 121 l.  Contributio 70 s. 7 d. Estimatio utriusque Sacristiae 106 l. 10 s. Contributio 72 s.  Estimatio Eleemosynariae 63 l. 6 s. Contributio 36 s. 2 d. Estimatio Pitanciariae  115 s. Contributio  40 d. Estimatio Infirmariae 7 l.  Contributio 3 s. 10 d. Estimatio Precentoriae  36 s. Contributio  12 d. Estimatio Refectoriae  20 s. Contributio  7 d. Estimatio Camerae praeter portionem Abbatis 4 l.  Contributio  28 d. Estimatio auxilii de Pylesgate 100 sol Contributio  35 d. Notandum quod Dominus Willielmus Abbas solus fecit hanc taxationem One half of which was paid at the Feast of St. Martins the other half at the Purification Here a fit occasion offers it self to mention the several donations bestowed upon the forenamed Offices of the Monastery which they called Obedientias and the Names of their benefactors which were very many especially to the Sacristy and to the Altars Sanctae Mariae and Sanctae Crucis in particular but it would prolong this work too much and swell it beyond the designed proportion Fol. CVII This William in the year 1248. obliged himself and Successors to several things very profitable for the Convent For instance that no composition should be made for the future about their possessions and liberties no Wards granted no Woods sold without the consent of the Convent no nor any thing of weight attempted without their advice And moreover that one or two Monks should without intermission be Custodes of the Mannors of the Abbot and two receivers of all the profits of them one of them a Monk residing in the house and one of the Chaplains of the Abbot And lest in process of time the condition of the Convent should be worsted he granted and promised that neither he nor his Successors would diminish their allowances nor procure them to be diminished And that the Parents and acquaintance of the Monks should be competently and sufficiently provided with better bread and beer than ordinary out of the Celerary of the Abbot c. To which he set his Seal and the Chapter theirs In the same year he granted out of his mere liberality to the Celerary of the Church his Mannor of Gosdkirk with all the appurtenances and all the Tenement called Belasise with the appurtenances for the eight pound Sterling in which he and his Predecessors stood bound at the four quarters of the year for the celebration of the principal Feasts and for the forty Shillings which Walter his Predecessor gave for celebrating the Feast of the Dedication of the Church Yet so that he and his Successors should pay the increment of Wheat and Malt for the augmentation of the VIII Monks throughout the whole year without substraction every week out of their own Granary Then follows the assignation of the Capital Messuage in Northbruch for the increase of the Chamber In this year as the Chron. of John Abbot tells us the King demanded a Subsidy of all the Prelates and this William gave him an hundred Pound of Silver presently after which he resigned his place but he doth not tell us any reason why he left it His words are ad An. MCCXLVIII Henricus Rex petiit subsidium à Prelatis Willielmus Abbas Burgi dedit ei C. marcas argenti Cui cedenti successit Johannes de Kaleto The cause which Matth. Paris who places this the year after 1249 assigns of his receding is something strange he having been so compliant as I have related with his Convent and so studious of their good And the damage they complained of was not so great but he had an honourable commemoration in
the Church after his death which was on the sixth of January Which was Depositio Willielmi de Hotot Abbatis Anniversarium Richardi de Watervill Johan filii ejus And such was the regard that his Successor John de Kaleto had to him that he ordained there should be a distribution to the Poor sine impedimento after Mass was said for them on this day and the like on all Anniversaries There was a family of his name Hotoft or Hotot which held half a fee at Flintham in Nottinghamshire as Dr. Thoroton in his History of that County tells us from which its likely this Abbot came JOHANNES de Caleto He is as oft called Joh. de Calceto as de Caleto and it appears by a Charter of his concerning his Anniversary wherein he relates what good deeds he had done for this Church that the Abbey was kept vacant for some time before he was promoted It begins thus Omnibus Christi fidelibus praesens scriptum visuris vel audituris Johannes de Kaleto Divina permissione c. And the sense of it follows thus in English Be it known to all that we though unworthy being intrusted by the providence of the Divine goodness with the Government of the said Church found it in Debt the moveable Goods of it in the hands of the Kings Bailiffs who had the custody of it in the time of the vacancy being in danger to be confiscated In so much that it lay upon us intirely to provide both for our selves and for our Brethren and for the Servants and for all Strangers all things necessary from the Feast of the Purification of the blessed Virgin till the time of the next Harvest For which reason and because we indeavoured with all our might to preserve the liberties of the Church for the renewing and acquiring of which liberties contained in a Charter of King Henry Son of King John we paid to the King and his Courtiers five hundred and seventy Marks besides Jewels given by the by to the Kings Ministers and because we discharged the Church of a Debt of 520 Mark wherein the Bishop of Hereford ingaged our Church to the Court of Rome and in a manner freed the Church from all Debts whatsoever as much as was possible in such a time Therefore our beloved Children the Prior and the Convent of the said Church devoutly and humbly desiring to give some reward according to their ability to our labour and diligence and not willing that these nor other our benefits though small should be hereafter forgotten but be called to mind perpetually by our Successors serving God in the same Church have unanimously granted that the day of our Deposition shall be made an Anniversary and be kept curialiter out of the goods of the Church We therefore have given and assigned to the Celerarius of the Convent for ever that Land which de Biffleto near Castre Wood we have caused to be turned into Pasture and Ploughed that he who is in that office for the time being may as far as that Revenue will extend feed and refresh the Poor who come hither on that day giving every one of them Bread and Beer and provide three good dishes of Meat more large than ordinary for the Convent that they may do their devotion more cheerfully and assist more vigorously in divine Service The Pitanciarius also shall find Wine as on other principal Feasts for the Convent that day out of those five Hogsheads of Wine which we have given to the use of the President in the Refectory and of the Priest that attends Weekly c. In what year this Charter was made it doth not appear but it was after the year 1256. when on Palmsunday he made that Grant of the five Hogsheads of Wine as I find in a particular Charter confirmed in Chapter which he made he saith out of his Pastoral care of the Poor and Strangers and for the honour of St. Peter and of the Saints whose Reliques lay in this Church c. Wherein he provides that the President of the Refectory whosoever he was should have of his gift one galon and a half of Wine every day in the year to be distributed among the Brethren and Guests who eat there that day and this both when the Abbot was absent and when he was present And in like manner the Priest who said high Mass should have one galon of the same Wine Which that it might be abundantly provided he gives the ten Pound out of the Mannor mentioned by Mr. G. which was purchased in his time Which Land he therefore requires should be kept in the hand of the Abbot that without any delay or difficulty the money might be paid on the Octaves of St. John Baptist to the Procurator who should be especially deputed by the Prior of the Convent So that out of the aforesaid ten Pound he should buy five Hogsheads of Wine to make the aforesaid pittance in the Refectory and no where else And he adds that out of this Wine provision should be made for the whole Congregation and for all Religious Strangers according to the custom on his Anniversary as on the Anniversary of Benedict it was to be more plentifully Unto which Deed his Seal and that of the Chapters was set How the Church of Polebroke out of which that ten Pound was paid came to be his shall be shown in its due place I have mentioned this about his Anniversary in the first place because it recites many of his benefactions from the beginning of his Abbotship which I do not know how to place in the particular years wherein they were done There is a Charter of his in the year 1251. in this Stile Joh. de Calceto Dei gratia Abbas de Burgo Sancti Petri c. which I do not meet with before for they are wont to say divina permissione But afterward I find some other Abbots imitated him He grants therein the annual Rent of sixteen Shillings a year out of his houses in the Suburbs of London in Parochia Sancti Sepulchri Eight Shillings of which were for the Refectory the other half for the Hospitalary Other houses this Church then had in London for William de Colonia granted him and the Convent I find not in what year all his Land in London in the Parish of St. Gregory over against the houses of the Dean of St. Paul they paying yearly five Florins to that Church c. There is a bond of Peter de Howm to him for the paiment of five Shillings Rent yearly unto Burgh for a house in Lincoln in the Parish of St. Peter in the Skin-market lying between his own house on the North and the house sometime belonging to Leo Judaeus on the South part c. In the year 1253 Boniface Archbishop of Canterbury granted an Indulgence to this Church relaxing to those who out of devotion to St. Oswald came to offer in this Church and were truly penitent and confessed
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
this Abbots time Which is something strange when in the life of Martin de Ramsey P. 30. he takes notice of the Grand Priviledge granted by Gregory the IXth to this Church For in that Bull there is an express command for the observation of it for ever Nay it is the very first thing in it after the Preface Imprimis siquidem statuentes ut Ordo Monasticus qui secundum Deum beati Benedicti regulam in eodem Monasterio esse dignoscitur institutus perpetuis ibidem temporibus inviolabiliter observetur Where he speaks of it as a Rule already instituted in this Monastery before that time which was in the year 1228. And the only thing I have yet met withal to make one think this Rule was here introduced sooner than I have before said viz. in King Edgar's time is the mention of it in the Charter of Ethelbaldus which I have since taken notice of Founder of the Church of Croyland An. 716. Where he calling it the Monastery of Black Monks serving God sub norma Sancti Benedicti Ingulphus p. 3. Edit Oxon. it may thence be probably conjectured that this Neighbouring Monastery then called Medeshamstede was under the same Rule at that time which was when Egbaldus was Abbot here who is one of those that signs that Charter of Croyland There is no account given in the MS. Chron. Johannis Abbatis Burgi of the time of this Abbot's death nor when Rob. de Sutton was chosen though the memorable things are set down which hapned in the following years which makes me think John de Kaleto was the Author of that Chronicon But W. of Wittlesea hath informed us when he dyed which Mr. G. hath noted And the Kalendar I have often mentioned tells us he departed this Life on the first of March which was Depositio Joh. de Calceto Abbatis Anniversarium Ivonis superioris On which day they were to pray for the Souls of the Father and Mother of this John Abbot There are two memorable Statutes of this Abbots which ought not to be omitted because they explain the customs of this Church One is that when a Monk had been four years compleat in the Monastery which in their Language is quatuor annos conversionis suae impleverit he should from that time receive out of the Chamber coopertorium tunicam similiter caputium stragulam which it seems he provided before at his own charges The other is that every Monk should have coradium suum plenarie for a whole year after his decease as if he had been alive except only the pitanciae Insuper Pelliciam Soculares Caligas Pedules together with his Pilch or Shirt his Boots Breeches Socks or Stockings which the Prior Camerarius and Eleemosynarius were to see done and faithfully distributed to the Poor Both these were enacted in Chapter with the full consent of the Convent ROBERTVS de Sutton The year before he dyed he made a Deed like that of John de Caleto's beginning after the same manner wherein he grants to the Convent one Mark a year out of certain Lands of John de Sermoney and forty Shillings of annual Rent for the making the day of his death an Anniversary But he doth not express how he would have it kept He set only his own seal to it datum apud Burgum An. 1273 upon the Munday before the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter the Apostle In which year on the 11. of the Kal. of March I find an agreement made between the Abbot of Burgh and the Abbot of Sawtry concerning Secta Curiae de Castre which the Abbot of Burgh challenged from him of Sawtry from three Weeks to three Weeks for certain Tenements which he held in Fee of the Abbot of Burgh in Catteworth and Wynewick Which the Abbot of Sawtrey acknowledged to be due from him and his Convent to the Abbot and Convent of Burgh who remitted the same sute for the future upon payment of five Shillings Rent yearly to the Abbot of Burgh c. which if it was not paid he had power to distrain upon the Tenements by his Bailiffs c. Alicia de Scotere Widow gave a great deal of Land to the Church in his time which she had in Burgh Dodestorp Paston c. Nicolaus de Cutyller renounced all his right and claim in a Messuage of twelve acres of Land c. And a great many more Grants I find made to the same Rob. Sutton but it is not said in what year nor have I place for them in this Supplement The Chron. of John Abbot as its title bears being carried on by some other hands and having related how a Council was held at Lyons by Gregory X. in the year 1274 wherein was determined what Order of Mendicants should continue and what should cease adds obierunt ibi multi Praelati in redeundo de Concilio Obiit Dominus Robertus Abbas de Burgo cui successit Dominus Richardus de London The Kalendar saith that on the 22. of March. was Depositio Roberti de Sutton Abbatis Anniversarium Henrici Aurifabri Johannis de Trikingham Prioris Which last I conceive may be the same man whom Mr. G's Authors call Elias Trickingham RICHARDVS de London There were two Agreements I find made by this Abbot at his very entrance one between him and the Abbot of Thornholm another with the Abbot of Swinshened neither of which are named dated at Burg 1275. on the Feast of the Purification After which follows in our Records Fol. CLXV a Deed of Galfridus de Suthorp Knight which he made Richardo de London Abbati de Burg Sancti Petri c. Of which Galfridus he bought the Mannor of Gunthorp and settled it upon the Eleemosynary an 1277. In the same Year upon the Feast of All-Saints died Rob. de Wremerest whereupon Will. de Wodeford then Sacrist of Burg. St. Reter came and claimed his Body to be buried in the Church of Burgh But the Friends of the deceased being very instant with him that with his leave it might be buried in the Church of Vengirst and the fore-named Sacrist considering the inundation of Waters which then was and many other dangers in the ways and moved by their Prayers buried the Corps himself in the aforesaid Church de gratia sua speciali of his special grace and favour as the words are in the Memorandum left of it in our Book Fol. CLXI Nor far from which I find another Memorandum of a thing of like nature which hapned two year before When there was a controversie arose between the Abbot and Convent of Burgh on the one part and Rober a'e Nevile of Scottun on the other part about the burial of the Body of Philip de Nevil Father to the said Rob. and the Mortuary which the Monastery challenged as due to the Church from one of their Knights Which was thus at last composed viz. the aforesaid Rob. humbly petitioned the Abbot and Convent that they would
the end of it The Hall was as fair a Room as most in England and another call'd the Green-Chamber not much inferior to it These all were then pull'd down and destroyed and the materials Lead Timber and Stone exposed to Sale for any that would buy them But some of the Bargains proved not very prosperous The Lead especially that came off the Palace was as fatal as the Gold of Tholouse for to my knowledge The Merchant that bought it lost it all and the Ship which carried it in her Voyage to Holland And thus the Church continued ruined and desolate and without all divine Offices for a time till at length by the favour of a great Person in the Neighbourhood it was repaired and restored to some degrees of decency again and out of the ashes of a late Cathedral grew up into a new Parochial Church in which way it was employ'd and used ever after untill the Kings happy Restauration For Mr. Oliver St. John Chief Justice then of the Common Pleas being sent on an Embassy into Holland by the Powers that govern'd then requested this Boon of them at his Return that they would give him the ruin'd Church or Minster at Peterburgh this they did accordingly and he gave it to the Town of Peterburgh for their use to be employ'd as a Parochial Church their own Parish-Church being then very ruinous and gone to decay Now the the Town considering the largeness of the Building and the greatness to the charge to repair it which of themselves they were not able to defray they all agree to pull down the Ladies Chapel as it was then called an additional Building to the North side of the Minster being then ruinous and ready to fall and to expose the materials thereof Lead Timber and Stone to Sale and to convert the mony that was made of them towards the Repairs of the great Fabrick All this they did and appointed certain persons to oversee the Work and expended several summs thus in Repairs mending the Leads securing the Roof Glazing several Windows and then fitting up the Quire and making it pretty decent for the Congregation to meet in And this they did by taking the Painted Boards that came off from the Roof of the Ladies Chapel and placing them all along at the back of the Quire in such manner as they continue to this day When the Place was thus fitted up and the Devastations which the Souldiers had made in some measure repaired one Mr. Samuel Wilson School Master of the Charter-house in London was sent down by the Committee of Plundred Ministers as they were then called to be Preacher with a Sallary of 160 l. per an in which employment he continued untill the Kings Return Then Dr. Cosin the antient Dean of the Church after almost 20 years Exile in France return'd and re-assumed his Right again in the year 1660 about the end of July He then after so long an Interval renew'd the antient usage and read divine Service first himself and caused it to be read every day afterward according to the old Laudable use and Custome and setled the Church and Quire in that order wherein it now continues But though the Church was thus delivered from publick Robbers and Spoilers yet it was not safe from the injuries of private hands For some ten or twelve years after certain Thieves in the dead of the Night broke into the Church and stole away all the Plate they could find viz. a fair Silver Bason gilt and the Virgers two Silver Rods and a Linnen Table-Cloth to wrap them in which were never heard of to this day This was the same Bason that had been plunder'd by the Souldiers and recovered again but irrecoverably lost now Yet both these losses were soon repaired one by Dr. Henshaw Bishop then of the Place who gave a fair new Silver Bason gilt the other made up by Dr. Duport then Dean who furnisht the Virgers again with the Ensigns of their Office by buying two new Silver Maces for the Churches use And thus is this History brought down at length within our own knowledge and remembrance where we have seen what various fortunes this Antient Church has had which now reckons at least 1000 years from its first Foundation It has been often ruinated and as often reedified Once it was destroyed by Danes twice consumed by Fire It escaped the general downfal of Abbies in Hen. the Eighth's time though not without the loss of some of her fairest Mannors And yet what that King took away in revenues he added to it in Dignity by converting it from an Abbey into a Cathedral Church But the worst mischief that ever befel it was that in the late Rebellious times when the Church it self was miserably defaced and spoiled and all the Lands for the maintenance thereof quite alienated and sold And yet through Gods especial goodness and favour we have lived to see the one repaired the others restored and the Church it self recovering her ancient beauty and lustre again And that it may long thus continue flourish and prosper and be a Nursery for vertue a Seminary for true Religion and Piety a constant Preserver of Gods publick worship and service and free from all Sacrilegious hands is the earnest and hearty Prayer wherewith I shall conclude this Discourse Ex Libro Memorandor Oliv. Sutton Episc Lincoln Anno Pontificatus sui XI A. D. 1290. OLiv c. Archidiacono Oxon. c. Ad Audientiam nostram nuper certa relatione pervenit Quod nonnulli juxta suarum mentium inconstantiam quasi vento agitati a cultu fidei temere deviantes locum quendam in campo juxta Ecclesiam Sancti Clementis extra Municipium Oxon. fontem beati Edmundi vulgariter nuncupatum veluti locum sacrum venerari illumque sub simulatione sacrorum Miraculorum quae perpetrata confingunt ibidem causa devotionis erroneae frequentare ac populum non modicum illuc attrahendo hujusmodi figmentis dampnatis decipere imo pervertere noviter presumpserint errorem Gentilium inter Christicolas introducere superstitiose conando Nos vero hujusmodi incredulitatis perfidiam veluti contra fidem Ecclesiae Doctrinam Apostolicam ne corda renatorum caligine haereticae pravitatis obducat temporis per processum si forte radicari germinare zizania permittatur tortuose serpente virus sui cautius ministrante fomentum eliminare prorsus amputare deo propitio volentes Vobis firmiter injungendo mandamus quatenus in singulis Ecclesiis intra Missarum folempnia locis aliis Archidiaconatus vestri in quibus videritis expedire per vos alios firmiter inhibeatis ne quis ad dictum locum causa venerationis ejusdem de cetero convenire illum superstitiose frequentare presumat sub pena Excommuncationis Maj. omnes singulos contra hujus inhibitionem scienter temere venientes dicta sententia comminata solempniter in genere innodantes donec de culpa contriti