claudit tumulus Pro clausis ergo rogemus 24 ACHARIVS Fol. 456. Whom Hoveden calls Zacharias was Prior of S. Albanes and elected thence to be Abbot here Anno 1200. He by his care and providence much enriched his Church and built many buildings in several Mannors belonging to it He maintained suit with the Abbot of Croyland for the Marsh of Singlesholt and recovered it letting it again to the Abbot of Croyland for a yearly acknowledgement of four stone Petras of Wax He added to the number of Monks that then were two and twenty more And when he had happily governed this Abby the space of ten years he died Anno 1210. being the 11 year of King John And there succeeded 25. ROBERTVS de Lindesey Glass-windows Who was Monk and Sacristary of Burgh and now Abbot unto which he paved the way by his good deeds towards the Church for whereas the windows were before only stuffed with straw to keep out the weather he beautified above thirty of them with glasses and his example brought the rest by degrees to the like perfection He built also the Chancel at Oxney being chosen Abbot he was presented to the King at Winchester and had his election confirmed And at Northampton he received Episcopal benediction from Hugo the second then Bishop of Lincoln in the year 1214. for after the death of Acharius the King held the Abbey in his own hand three years He settled the Hundred of Nassaburgh in peace and quietness for in those days the Foresters with their Cattel over-ran all so that the inhabitants of the Towns therein were much endammaged by them and their domineering in these parts by vertue of Forest Lands therefore Abbot Robert made a composition with the King giving him Vid. Chartam in App. 1320 Marks for the dis-foresting that part of the Country He covered the Abbots Hall with Lead He made in the South Cloister a Lavatory of Marble for the Monks to wash their hands in when they went to Meals their Hall being near on the other The Lavatory side of the wall the door leading into it being yet standing though the Hall be long since demolished only some small remains on the wall side are yet to be seen but the Lavatory continued entire until the year 1651. and then with the whole Cloister it was also pulled down Abbot Robert at his entrance into his place found but seventy two Monks to which number he added eight more assigning the Mannor of Bellasise for their maintenance having built a fair Mannor-house there which Bellasise builded partly is now standing He built also the Hall at his Mannor of Collingham In the time of this Robert the fourth Laterane Council was held under Innocent the fourth Pope of that name Anno 1215. Abbot Robert was cited and went thither and received injunctions for his Convent concerning several times of fasting and other duties which at his coming home he put into execution Fol. 287. In his time there arose great discords betwixt the Civil and Ecclesiastical States that the Land stood interdicted by the space of six years Then followed bitter Wars betwixt King John and his Barons wherein how the Monastery of Peterburgh behaved themselves I find but little in any of our Writers Only by what Matthew Paris relates it may be conjectured they were none of the Kings friends though their Patron Ludovicus saith he besieging the Castle of Dover a long time in vain at length the King passed over into Suffolk and Norfolk and miserably wasted those Countries And coming to Peterburgh and Croyland he plundered the Churches there his Officer Savaricus de Mallo Leone with his accomplices committing many outrages in the Country thereabout At Croyland he fired all their stacks which the inhabitants had newly gathered in and so returned to the Town of Lynn with great spoils But afterwards the King taking his journey from Lynn Northward all his Carriages and Treasures were cast away and perished as he passed the River Wellestre Yet afterwards the Abbot of Peterburgh was summoned to assist King Henry the third in the siege of Rokingham Castle which was then the Abbots and the Abbot himself went in person in that expedition till at length that Castle was reduced to the Kings obedience but whether it was this Abbot Robert or some Hon. de Pightesly of his Successors mine Author tells me not Pag. 288. In the time of this Abbot Robert about the year 1217 according to Pitseus there was one Hugo Candidus or Hugh White a Monk of this Monastery of whom the said Author in his Book De Scriptoribus makes mention who wrote the whole History of his Monastery whose works were extant in later times for John Leland who lived in the days of King Henry 8 collected many things out of him but whether or where the said Author be now extant I know not Pitseus tells us also of another Hugh In Appendice Pag. 865. a Monk of this Church whom he calls an English Historian but professeth his ignorance of what he wrote or when he lived Perhaps both might be but one and the same Hugh But perhaps Wittlesey an antient Writer of this Church may make it clearer by telling us that there was one Hugo Albus so called from his white complexion as being subject to bleed a Monk here who was famous in the time of Abbot Ernulfus and of John Henry Martin and William his Successors who wrote the History of this Monastery and so was before Pitseus his account Robert having been Abbot here the space of seven years died October 25. 1222. being the seventh year of King Henry 3. He was not very rich in Books his Library consisting only of these few Numerale Magistri W. de Montibus cum aliis rebus Tropi Magistri Petri cum diversis summis Sententiae Petri Pretanensis Psalterium Glossatum Aurora Psalterium non glossatum Historiale 26. ALEXANDER de Holdernesse Who was first a Monk then Prior and lastly Abbot of this place after the death of Robert A great builder he was and built the Hall at his Mannor of Oundle that also at Castre Eyebury and other places Having been Abbot here only four years he died on the day of his entrance November 20. 1226. and of King Henry 3. the Eleventh These were his Books Psalterium Concordantiae utriusque Test Claustrum animae Opus alterum quod perfecit Rogerus de Helpston Aurora Poenitentiale Tria Breviaria Concilium Lateranense cum aliis rebus Corrogationes Promethei Missale The first day of May before the death of this Alexander there died at Peterburgh Richardus de Mansco Mr. Philipot Catal. Canc. Angl. pag. 10. Bishop of Durham and Chancellor of England 27. MARTINVS de Ramsey Being a Monk of Peterburgh was elected Abbot after the death of Alexander And on S. Andrew's Eve the King ratified his Election which was also confirmed by Hugo then Bishop of Lincoln in the Chappel
Imprimatur Jo. Battely RR mo P. D no. Wil. Archiep. Cantuar. Ã Sacris Domesticis Ex Aedibus Lamb. Aug. 20. 1685. THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF PETERBURGH WHEREIN The most remarkable Things concerning that Place from the First FOUNDATION thereof With other Passages of HISTORY not unworthy Publick View are represented BY SYMON GUNTON late Prebendary of that CHURCH Illustrated with Sculptures And set forth By Symon Patricl D. D. now Dean of the same LONDON Printed for Richard Chiswell at the Rose and Crown in S. Paul's Church-Yard MDCLXXXVI THE PREFACE THe Author of this History was the better fitted for the Work he undertook because he was born at Peterburgh and there lived all his days a few years excepted whereby he had the advantage of being perfectly acquainted with many things about which he writes Particularly the Monuments in the Church broken down in the late Sacrilegious times whose Inscriptions when he was but a Boy as he himself writes in a Letter to Dr. Henshaw late Bishop of Peterburgh he both often read and also transcribed These he hath preserved and transmitted to Posterity as that learned Antiquary Sir William Dugdale hath also done Who in the Year 1641. fearing what shortly followed was at the pains and charge to take the Draughts as well as the Inscriptions of the Monuments in sundry Cathedral Churches of this Realm which soon after were demolished and of this Church among the rest By whose kindness they would have been communicated to the World if the Undertaker had come to the knowledge of them before he had received Subscriptions to his Proposals which were not high enough to bear the charge of them But the best Monuments the Records of the Church out of which a more compleat History might have been gathered are never to be recovered being torn in pieces or burnt by the more than Gothish Barbarity of those ignorant people who took upon them the glorious name of Reformers An account of which is given by a faithful hand in the conclusion of the Supplement to this Work One Book indeed and but one still remains which was happily redeemed from the fire by the then Chaunter of the Church Mr. Humfry Austin Who knowing the great value of it first hid it in February 1642. under a Seat in the Quire and when it was found by a Souldier on the 22 April 1643. when all the seats there were pulled down rescued it again by the offer of ten Shillings for that old Latine Bible as he called it after which he pretended to enquire The name of the Bible by the help of the ten Shillings preserved this pretious Treasure from the Flames whither it was going as Mr. Austin hath left upon Record in the beginning of the Book with a Copy of the Souldiers acknowledgment that he had given him satisfaction for it in these words I pray let this Scripture Book alone for he hath paid me for it and therefore I would desire you to let it alone By me Henry Topclyffe Souldier under Captain Cromwell Colonel Cromwell 's Son therefore I pray let it alone Vnto which goodly Warrant for its security the Fellow subscribed his name The Book I speak of is commonly called by the Name of SWAPHAM it being vulgarly believed to have been composed by Robert Swapham a Monk of this Church of Peterburgh But in truth is for the greatest and most antient part of its History the work of HUGO surnamed CANDIDUS or White an eminent Monk also of the same Church who himself in the very body of the Book gives an account both when he lived and that he was the Author of the History which now all passes under the Name of Swapham For speaking of the Reliques of the Church the principal of which was St. Oswald's right Arm super omne aurum pretiosum as his words are he saith that he himself saw it and kissed and handled it with his own hands when it was shown intire both in the flesh and skin to Alexander Bishop of Lincoln and to the whole Convent with many others 487 Years after the death of St. Oswald Now he was slain in the year 643 and therefore this was in the year 1130. From whence it appears that Mr. Selden is out in his account when he saith in his Preface to the Decem Scriptores fol. XLVI that this History of our Church vulgarly thought to be Robert Swapham's was written in the Reign of Henry the Third or thereabouts He should have said that then Robert Swapham lived as I shall show by and by he did but he who wrote the greatest and best part of the History lived in the Reign of Henry the First King Stephen and his Successor And therefore it might more truly have been said to have been written in the Reign of Henry the Second or thereabout unless his words be restrained to that particular part of the History which he hath occasion to mention which followed immediately upon the death of HUGO This is declared more plainly and fully in another place of the History viz. in the life of Abbot ERNULPHUS Where mention is made of two famous Sacrists of this Church Victricus and Remaldus The latter of which is said to have made a Brother of his a Monk when as yet he was but a child whose name was Hugo who always attended upon Remaldus and served him qui etiam hunc libellum collegit collectumque scripsit who also collected this little Book and having collected it put it in writing And then follows a description of him that in his childhood he fell into a disease which made him very weak For every Year and that often he vomited abundance of blood and once was brought so low by vomiting fifteen Basons full in one week that they utterly despaired of his life gave him extream Vnction and were called out of the Chapterhouse by Nicolaus then Keeper of the Infirmary to come and commend his Soul to God he being upon the point of departure But Egelbrithus a most holy man perswading them to go into the Church and beg his life of God who would not deny them one man as his words were they did so and he was miraculously restored as there is at large related And he lived a long time beloved by all the succeeding Abbots John Henry Martin William under whom he served the Church having all the business of the Monastery both withindoors and without committed to him till he came at last to the degree of Supprior first under Martin then under William de Watervile in whose time he dyed Remaldus his brother being then Prior. I have given the larger account of this man because he is mentioned in many Authors as an excellent person being known as our History adds in the neighbouring Monasteries nay famed far and near and no less loved than praised by all that were acquainted with him And had the name of Candidus or Albus in all likelyhood from his pale Complexion caused
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
that Church who inriched it with many others also particularly of St. Oswald King and Martyr vid. 3. Vol. p. 332. It would be too long here to name all the other Churches with whom this of Burgh made the like Confederations which shall be put in the Appendix having this further to note that it appears by the forenamed Customary a piece of the Cross was presented to them all to kiss in Passion-week and that there being Sixty four Monks in this Richard Ashton's time there hapned so great a mortality among them that thirty two or more of the best Monks in the Monastery died So that Divine Service could not be performed according to the Statutes then made but they were forced to omit some things which in those Books were appointed WILLIELMVS RAMSET It appears by a Record at the end of those Lambeth Books that in the year 1483. John Russel Bishop of Lincoln summoned the Convent to come and attend him at Bugden in his Visitation adhuc pendente and there gave them Injunctions about their behaviour one towards another and towards the Abbot William Who was still subject to the Episcopal Jurisdiction notwithstanding his Mitre as all his Predecessors had been For there had been anciently a Decree in a Synod held near Cloveshom in the year 747. and that in obedience to the Letters of Pope Zachary which were publickly read in the Assembly for the reformation of Manners that the Bishops should visit their Dioceses every year and admonish both Abbots and Monks to live regularly as William of Malmsbury informs us In pursuance of which this Monastery had been often visited and Injunctions given to them as I could easily show had I room for such Discourses I shall content my self only with the account I find in our Books of the Visitation of that famous Bishop of Lincoln Robert Grosthead who visited tam domus Religiosas quam Ecclesias Parochiales And among others required the Abbot and Convent of Burgh to show what Right they had to the Monastery of St. Michael in Stamford and the Hospital of St. Thomas there upon the Bridge and the House of the Lepers to all which they pretended And they making it appear that they were Patrons of them and that their Consent was requisite to the choice of a Prioress of St. Michael and that they were in the quiet possession of appointing Custodes to hear the Confession of the Nuns in that place a Presentation being made of them to the Bishop and of placing Custodes also in the Hospital and in the House of Lepers and that the Nuns in the Monastery and the Friers in the Hospital and in the House of the Lepers were not received but by consent of the Abbot who had right to enter into the Monastery of St. Michael and to make Moniales professas which Possession he showed he had time out of mind by Witnesses and by Letters of Hugh Bishop of Lincoln who had also here visited and by Letters of the Nuns themselves thereupon the forenamed Robert Grostehead having sitting by him for his assistance his Official R. de Cadencia and many other persons pronounced that the Abbot who was there present was in the quiet possession of all the aforesaid salvo jure uniuscujusque The contention about the Fenn de Alderlond was renewed in the same year 1483. between Richard Abbot of Croyland and William Ramsey Abbot of Burgh which had hung long as the Continuation of Croyland's History observes Page 569. but was comprimised by Thomas Rotheram formerly Bishop of Lincoln and Ordinary of the Place now Archbishop of York Yet it was not finally determined and settled till two or three years after when both parties submitting themselves to the Archbishop he Decreed under the penalty of a thousand pound that the Abbot and Convent of Croyland should pay an annual Pension of ten pound a year to the Monastery of Burgh until they had at their own charge purchased Land of that yearly value to be delivered in perpetual possession to the Monastery of Burgh or had at their own like expence appropriated and united to the said Monastery of Burgh the Church of Brynkehurst or Eston in the County of Leicester which belonged to the Patronage of the said Monastery Whereupon Edmond Thorp then Abbot of Croyland chose to do the latter and accordingly the Church of Brynkehurst was appropriated for the perpetual uses of the Monastery of Burgh and Letters Patents from the King were obtained for Licence to do it Ib. 577. And by another Continuation of the same History it appears that John Russel Bishop of Lincoln before mentioned came to Croyland and staid there a whole Month with twenty other persons for whom as well as himself he gave them such satisfaction as contented both Parties in which time after conference with the Abbot of Burgh at Singlesholt the Union and Appropriation was made judicially by the Episcopal Sentence which is there at large set down Pag. 582. and 587. with all other proceedings in that Business The broad Seal also was procured for the confirmation of it which was to put an end to all Controversies whereby both Abbeys had received much damage as the Reader may find p. 588 589 593. to which I must referr him It was in this Abbot's days also that John Wysbeck Abbot of Croyland by his industry and gentle management procured an exchange of that 4. Stone of Wax which was yearly paid by them to the Church of Burgh on St. Peters day in the nature of a Service not to say Homage as the Continuator of that History speakes p. 560 into a yearly Pension of twenty shillings in money that more sincere Love might be preserved between the Brethren of each Monastery for the future This was in the year 1477. ROBERT KIRKTON The Contention which Mr. G. mentions between him and the Inhabitants of Peterburgh makes me think he was the Abbot who Petitioned the King against certain of the Towns-men who seditiously opposed his Jurisdiction and his appointment of Officers there Which Petition was among our Records concerning the Mannor of Peterburgh as I find in a Note of the Titles of them which is all that remains till in the late great Rebellion it with the rest was torn in pieces or burnt There is another Note whereby it appears the 14th of Henry 8. was the 26th year of his Abbotship and therefore he was made Abbot not in the year 1496. but 1497. JOHN CHAMBERS There is this traditional story goes concerning the preservation of this Church at the dissolution of Abbeys that a little after Queen Katherine's Interment here which Mr. G. mentions some Courtiers suggesting to the King how well it would become his Greatness to erect a fair Monument for her he answered Yes he would leave her one of the goodliest Monuments in Christendom meaning this Church for he had then in his thoughts the demolishing of Abbeys which shortly after followed John Chambers also preserved himself
by his frequent vomitings of blood as his Brother Remaldus was called Spiritualis our Book saith because he was a very little Man and ministred with much affection to the Elder Sacrist He is mentioned also by those Authors as a noble Writer and said to have left an accurate History of this Church of Peterburgh and praised by Leland as Vossius observes L. 2. de Histor Lat. C. 56. who calls him luculentus scriptor rerum gestarum and yet it is not agreed when he lived nor whether his History be any where remaining because few or none have read this Book called SWAPHAM with due care and observation Vossius saith HUGO flourished in the later end of the Reign of King John In which I have shown he was mistaken And Mr. Gunton himself the Writer of this present History makes a question in the end of Robert de Lyndsay's life whether Hugo's Book be not now lost though Leland he observes had seen and read it Which inclines me to think he principally relied upon what Walter of Witlesea hath written about this Church and did not think it necessary to read all the Book called Swapham for that would have informed him he was reading the very same HUGO whom Leland read Especially if he had compared Leland's Collections concerning this Monastery with the Book called Swapham as I have done whereby he would have found that they are word for word the same only abbreviated by Leland Who ends his Collectanea just where Hugo's life ended with the Deposition of William de Watervile and goes not one step further and therefore might well call them in the Title of them Collectanea ex libro Hugonis Monarchi Petroburgensis Our Book indeed now called Swapham proceeds further and carries on the History as far as to William de Hotot the Predecessor of John de Caleto In whose time or in Robert Sutton's not long after or in the Year 1271 which was the last of Henry 3. I suppose Robert Swapham dyed For in that year I find a Deed made by Henry Passenger de Quadering unto that Abbot and the Convent which is said to be done tempore Rob. de Swapham Who was then Celerarius of this Church and made a purchace of Robert the Father of that Henry for the benefit of the Celeraria of which he had the management Whom I take to have been only a Continuator of Hugo and but a little way neither having wrote no more than the History of Seven Abbots For it doth not appear that he was the Transcriber of all the Records which are in no good order put together at the end of the History unto which both Mr. Gunton and my self have had recourse for the perfecting of these Labours I have perused also a MS. Chronicle which that eminent lover of Learning Sir John Cotton did me the favour to lend me out of his renowned Library written as the Title bears per Johannem Abbatem Burgi Sancti Petri. What John this was is the doubt there being two of that name who may pretend unto it John de Says and John de Caleto The first of them it cannot be for ad An. 975. this Chronicle referrs the Reader to William of Malmsbury and to Henry Archdeacon of Huntingdon whom he mentions also both ad An. 1135. and 1153 where are these words Hic finit Chronica Henrici Huntingdon as ad An. 1153 there are these his finit Chron. Alredi Who all three lived about the same time the first of them in 1142 the second 1158 the third 1145 all of them after the death of John de Says And therefore I conclude it was written by John de Caleto who lived in the time of Henry 3. an hundred Year after them Vossius indeed makes this Johannes Burgensis to have lived in the time of Edward 3. about 1340 when there was no Abbot here of that name But he calls him Vir eruditus disertus and saith he is commended by Leland as one that had digested the Annals of England in good order Besides these two Johns there is no Abbot of that name but John of Deeping who died almost an hundred Year after that 1439 long after this Chronicon ends Which is the more likely to be John de Caleto's because there is no mention at all made when he died nor who was his Successor but only of the time when he was made Abbot After which the Annals were carried on in all probability by another hand who was better acquainted with the affairs of the Church of Spalding than with those of Peterburgh For he saith little of Peterburgh but gives a very large account from the forementioned period of all the Priors of Spalding who are spoken of in the preceding Part of the Annals very sparingly I might have been furnished with other Records out of the same Library which I sought after but could not find till it was too late that is till the Supplement to this History was grown so bigg that it could bear no further enlargement without great loss to the Undertaker June 20. 85. S. P. Beneuolo froute Ilumfridae Orme Petriburg ' Armig. Notitia frontis Lectiae Cath. ibid. posteritat conseruatur Ecclesiae Cathedralis Petroburgensis facies Occidentalis The West Prospect of the Cathedral Church of Peterborough The East-Prospect of the Cathedral Church of Peterborough The Old Altar-peice beaten down by the Souldiers in the great Rebellion THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF PETERBURGH WHEN this Realm of England was divided into an Heptarchy the Mercian Kingdom being one and the greatest of them all had the County of Northampton within its Dominion the Eastern part of which County being Moorish and Fenny was anciently inhabited by a People called the Gyrvii of the old Word Gyr which signified a Fen and for the conveniency and fertility of this place for its nearness both to the high and upland Countrey and the Fens it was thought meet for habitation The Village was at the first called by the name of Medeshamsted from a deep Pit or Gulf in the River of Nen called Medeswell which ancient Writers of the place affirm to have been of wonderful depth and so cold in the heat of Summer that no Swimmer was able to abide the cold thereof and yet in the Winter it was never known to be frozen Which Properties are now lost with the Well it self only Tradition hath preserved a dark memory thereof adventuring to say It is a little beneath the Bridge that is now standing But if this Well be lost there is another sunk with it into the Pit of Oblivion namely S. Laurence-Well of great fame in ancient days Dr. Hamm. Annot. in fol. 695. whither disposed people according to the Devotion of those times resorted haply for cure of Diseases which kind of Devotion was restrained by Oliver Sutton Bishop of Lincoln In what part Oliver Sutton was B. of Lincoln 1280. of the Monastery this Well was I find not it is probable
say January 16. being the year of our Lord 1560. What he was for Learning and integrity of Religion in the now reformed Church of England wherein he was a Bishop may appear by these Doctrinal Articles which in his first Episcopal Visitation he prescribed to the Dean and Prebendaries of his Church requiring their subscription thereunto For as yet the general Articles of the Church of England were not formed until about two years after Jan. 29. 1562. B. Scamblers Articles were these 1 Sacra Scriptura in se continet omnem doctrinam pietatis ex qua sufficienter error convinci possit veritas stabiliri 2 Symbolum Nicaenum Athanasii quod communiter Apostolorum dicitur continent brevissime articulos fidei nostrae sparsim in Scripturis ostensos qui istis non crediderint inter veros Catholicos non sunt recipiendi 3 Ecclesia Christi est in qua purum Dei verbum praedicatur sacramenta juxta Christi ordinationem administrantur in qua clavium autoritas retinetur 4 Quaevis Ecclesia particularis autoritatem habet instituendi mutandi abrogandi caeremonias ritus Ecclesiasticos modo ad decorem ordinem aedificationem fiat 5 Christus tantum duo sacramenta expresse nobis commendat Baptisma Eucharistiam quae conferunt gratiam rite sumentibus etiamsi malus sit Minister non prosunt indigne sumentibus quamvis bonus sit Minister 6 Laudandus est Ecclesiae mos baptizandi parvulos retinendus 7 Coena Dominica non est tantum Symbolum benevolentiae Christianorum interse sed magis Symbolum est nostrae redemptionis per Christi mortem nostrae conjunctionis cum Christo ubi fidelibus vere datur exhibetur Communio corporis sanguinis Domini 8 Sacramentum Eucharistiae ex usu Primitivae Ecclesiae neque servabatur vel elevabatur vel adorabatur 9 Missa quae consuevit a sacerdotibus dici non erat a Christo constituta sed a multis Romanis Pontificibus confirmata nec est Eucharistia ex se sacrificium propitiatorium sed recordatio sacrificii semel peracti 10 Scholastica transubstantiatio panis vini in corpus sanguinem Christi probari non potest ex sacris literis 11 Non omne peccatum mortale seu voluntariò perpetratum post baptismum est irremissibile peccatum in Spiritum Sanctum 12 Post acceptum Spiritum potest homo peccare ac denuo resipiscere neque sine peccato vivit quamvis regeneratio in Christo imputetur 13 Justificatio ex sola fide est certissima doctrina Christianorum 14 Elizabetha Regina Angliae est unicus supremus gubernator hujus regni omnium dominiorum regionum suarum quarumcunque in rebus causis Ecclesiasticis quam temporalibus 15 Verbum Dei non prohibet foeminarum regimen cui obediendum est juxta ordinationem Dei 16 Romanus Pontifex nullam habet jurisdictionem in hoc regno Angliae nec alia quaecunque potestas extranea 17 Leges civiles possunt Christianos propter flagitia morte punire 18 Christianis licet ex jussu Principis bella gerere ex justa causa propria possidere 19 Doctrina scholasticorum de Purgatorio invocatione Divinorum nullum habet fundamentum ex verbo Dei 20 Praeceptum Dei est ut quae leguntur in Ecclesia illa lingua proferantur quae ab Ecclesia intelligatur 21 Absque externa legitima vocatione non licet cuiquam sese ingerere in aliquod ministerium Ecclesiasticum vel seculare 22 Matrimonium inter Christianos legitime juxta verbum Dei initum contractum est indissolubile nec per traditiones hominum unquam vellendum 23 Coelibatus nulli hominum statui praecipitur neque injungitur ministris Ecclesiae ex verbo Dei Haec omnia vera esse publice docenda profiteor eaque juxta datam mihi facultatem eruditionem tuebor docebo Hancque meam confessionem manus meae subscriptione testificor contrariamque doctrinam abolendam esse judico detestor By these Articles it may appear that Bishop Scambler was no friend to the Church of Rome nor they to him and whether it was for these Articles or some other Book which he published I find him recorded in the Roman Index of Books prohibited and branded with the Title of Pseudoëpiscopus But his name and memory are the more honourable by that name of Infamy which the Papists might cast upon the Worthies of our English Church Scambler having been Bishop here the space of twenty three years was translated to Norwich whither he that would know the residue of his life end burial or Epitaph must follow him it being without the Climate of our story But whilst he was at Peterburgh he empaired the honour priviledges and revenues of his Bishoprick passing quite away the Hundred of Nassaburgh with the whole Liberties thereof The Goal The Mannor of Thirlby The Mannor of Southorpe c. to the Queen from whom the Earls of Exeter enjoy them to this day As if King Henry had not taken away enough the Bishop himself would pass away more Scambler being translated to Norwich there succeeded 48 RICHARD HOWLAND Who was Master of S. John's Colledge in Cambridge and made Bishop here March 16. 1584. being the 27 year of Queen Elizabeth We have not much to say of him his parts or actions but shall enlarge this Paragraph of his being Bishop here with the story of Mary Queen of Scotts her death at Fotheringhay Castle and burial in the Cathedral Church of Peterburgh The whole progress of her life and actions from her first arrival in England May 16. 1568. to her coming to Fotheringhay with her several places of removal and several keepers is so largely related by Mr. Vdal Mr. Saunderson and others who have wrote her story that I shall remit the Reader to them and content my self with her death and burial Upon the seventh day of February 1586. eighteen years from her first arrival The Commissioners for her execution came to Fotheringhay the Earls of Shrewsbury Kent c. and Thomas The Earl of Shrewsbury was George Talbot and E. Marshal of England The Earl of Kent was Henry Grey Andrews of Sheriff of Northamptonshire for that year By these the Queen of Scotts understanding that the Lease of her life was not long to last only one day longer she seemed not dismayed with the Message but told the Commissioners she did not think that Queen Elizabeth would have consented to her death but since it was so she would most gladly embrace it and in order thereunto desired of the Commissioners the benefit of her Clergy that her Confessor might come to her which the Commissioners denying propounded the Bishop or Dean of Peterburgh which the Queen of Scotts refused The Commissioners being departed she gave order for her Supper at the time whereof she drank to her servants and comforted them because she saw them much
ad Eugenium Papam G. Translatio Sancti Cuthberti Episcopi Duodecim libri Cassiani Johannes Cassianus was a Scythian by Nation and Deacon under Chrysostome Anno 435. Trithemius 440. Bellarm His works are extant Printed Basileae 1497. wherein he is also called Johannes Eremita Liber decem Collationum a Johanne Heremita conscriptus Item septem Collationes ab eodem conscriptae H. Ambrosius de Sacramentis libri sex Idem de Mysteriis liber unus Idem de Officiis libri tres Item Johannes Constantinopoleos civitatis Episcopus de compunctione cordis libri 4. I. Liber Ambrosii de Nabuthe K. Ambrosius de laude virginum libri tres Item de laude viduarum liber unus De Virginitate libri duo Epistola Ambrosii ad Vercellensem Ecclesiam Sermo ejusdem de lapsu virginis consecratae Sermo ejusdem ad violatorem Lamentatio ejusdem super eisdem L. Ambrosius de Patriarchis liber unus Duo libri ejusdem de excessu fratris sui Tres libri ejusdem de laude virginum Vnus liber de laude Viduarum Duo libri ejusdem de virginitate Sermo ejusdem de lapsu virginis consecratae Sermo ejusdem ad violatorem Lamentatio ejusdem super eisdem M.. Libellus de differentiis partium N. Expositio libri Jesu Nave de morte Moysi Expositio libri Judicium Expositio super Ruth Expositio Regum iv O. Liber Poenitentialis in fine P. See G. Alquinus ad Guidonem Comitem de vitiis virtutibus Glossae super epistolas Pauli Liber cucullarum Miracula de imagine Domini Tractatus cujusdam de Dedicatione Ecclesiae Item de Clericis ordinandis Item de convenientia veteris novi Testamenti Q. Vita S. Martini Episcopi Perhaps this might be that which was written by Sulpitius Severus Altercatio Apostolorum cum Simone Mago R. Vita S. Egidii Abbatis S. Aetates ab origine mundi Tractatus sic incipiens Evangelistis Expositio super Orationem Dominicam Quaedam Evangelia Glossata Tractatus de Sacramentis Liber poenitential sive Pastorale magistri Bartholomaeus Iscanus lived An. 1188. saith Pitseus and makes mention of a book which he wrote De Poenitentia Bish Godwyn dates him B. of Exeter 1161. Bartholomaei Exon. Episcopi Tractatus de diversis libris Bibliae T. Dares Dares Phrygius was a Souldier in the Trojan War and a writer of it His History was translated out of Greek into Latin by Cornelius Nepos which he dedicated to Crispus Sallustius and is extant Frigius de Excidio Trojae Libellus Pauli de itinere Aeneae de casibus ejus Gesta Romanorum Valenti Maximo Augusto conscripta Liber de Origine gestis Francorum sed imperfectus Gesta Tyrii Apollonii Philostratus in the time of Severus wrote the life of Apollonius a Pythagorean Philosopher by some accounted a great Magician Philostratus wrote his Miracles to parallel them with those of our Blessed Saviour to please Julia wife to the Emperor Severus U. Historia persecutionis Africanae provinciae tempore Genserici Henrici Regis Vandalorum a S. Victore Episcopo Patrievicensi conscripta X. Epistola Alexandri ad Magistrum suum Aristotelem Dares Frigius de Excidio Trojae Y. Fulgentius Fulgentius was Episcopus Rusâ—ensis a City in Africa An. 500. Johannes Ridevallus who lived Anno 1330. paraphrased upon this piece of Fulgentius and is now in the publick Library of the University of Cambridge saith Pitseus de expositionibus fabularum Dares Frigius de Excidio Troiae Prophetia Sibyllae Z. Liber graduum Libellus sic incipiens Aes ustum A ... Commentum Herbasii super Aphorismos Hippocratis Liber Galen a Physician of Pergamus in the time of M. Aurelius and Commodus about 170 years after Christ Galeni de febribus Antibolomenon Isagoge Johannicii Item Antibolomenon De Phlebotomia Prolivius de Physica B ... Decreta Willielmi Bastardi emendationes quas posuit in Anglia Tractatus magistri Johannes Biletheus or Bilet Pitseus is doubtful whether he was English or French yet makes mention of this book which is commonly printed and joyned with Durandus his Rationale He flourished about the year 1328. Johannis Beleth de officiis Ecclesiasticis consuetudinibus C ... Litera quae sic incipit Hugoni S. Victoris Priori D ... Tractatus de Computatione a sinistra in dextram Regula S. Basilii Liber Sermonum sic incipiens Humilitas mons est Duo libri Soliloquiorum Isidori Augustinus de conflictu vitiorum Epistola Hieronymi ad Paulinum Presbyterum de capitulis divinorum librorum non tota E ... Ambrosius de Nabuthe Vita S. Wadragisili Abbatis Passio S. Nicasii sociorumque ejus Passio This Dionysius seems to be the same mentioned Acts 17. 34. His companions were Rusticus and Eleutherius who as the story goes were beheaded at Paris under Domitian They say that Dionysius being beheaded his body rose upright and stooping down took up its own head and carried it two miles in its armes and laying it down again was there buried His Memorial is Octob. 9. S. Dionysii sociorumque ejus Liber de inventione miraculisque eorum Vita S. Wulfrani Episcopi F ... Decreta Gregorii de quiete Monachorum G ... Liber Sermonum sic incipiens Dicite pusillanimes This book is reckoned amongst those of Petrus Babion an English man who lived Anno. 1317. Pits H ... Tractatus Cypriani de 12 abusivis seculi Formula vitae honestae Septuaginta quinque epistolae Cypriani I ... Epistolae Ernulfus came into England 1164. and laboured a reconciliation betwixt King Hen. 2. and T. Becket Hoveden pag. 282. Ernulfi Lexoviensis Episcopi Excidium Troiae versifice Tractatus de Astronomia Vita S. Agnes was martyred at Rome being 13 years of age in the time of Dioclesian about the year 304. When the fire would not burn her she was thrust into the mouth with a sword S. Ambrose in his first book De Virginibus and in his 90 Serm. is copious in her praise and story The day of her memory is Jan. 21. S. Agnetis versifice Versus de ruina urbis Romae K ... Edilnulphus de Monachis L ... Visio Baronei Monachi Narratio Josephi de S. Maria Magdalena Tractatus de naturis bestiarum volucrum M ... Formula vitae honestae Versus de Jona propheta de Thaide See O. Passio S. Laurentii versifice Vita S. Mariae Aegyptiac secundum Hildebertus was first Bish of Cenoma a Town or Province in France afterwards Arch-Bish of Tours An. 1090. saith Trithemius as to the first An. 1125. saith Bellarmine as to the second They both mention Poetical and other works of his but neither of them this yet Vossius ascribeth it to Hildebert pag. 281. and 378. Hildebertum Cenomanensem Episcopum Passio S. Mauritii sociorumque ejus versifice Versus Hildeberti Cenomanensis Episcopi de Missa N ... Interrogationes responsiones optimae de Theologia quae sic incipiunt Deus summe verus vere
Girardus obtained of King William the second six Churches Five of which he gave to St. Peters Church of York i. e. de Dyrfeld de Kyllum de Pokelymon de Pykerynga de Burgh where perhaps Kynsinus dyed The same Thomas Stubbs Actus Pontif. Eborac saith the vulgar opinion of him was that he was not born but cut out of his Mothers Womb. He gave to this Church the Village of Linewelle as Hugo tells us with the textum Evangelii excellently wrought with Gold and so many Ornaments that they were apprised at three hundred pound which with his Body were all brought hither But Queen Edgit he adds took them all away The Character he gives of him is this that he always lived like a Monk most abstemiously and Holily So that when his Clergy and Family had a splendid Table he contented himself with coarse and Barly Bread and with the viler sort of meat and drink And walking on foot from Town to Town Preaching and giving Alms he often went bare-foot and commonly travelled in the nights that he might avoid vain-glory Which makes him call him Sanctus Kinsinus The last Wulstanus was also Archbishop of of York and Successor to Adulphus holding the Bishoprick of Worcester together with the See of York as he and St. Oswald before him had done Who if we may believe Hugo gave himself and all that he had to this place but going to visit the places where other Saints lay buried and coming to Eli there he fell sick and dyed and was buried in the year MXXIII V. Kal. Junii 3. feria as Thomas Stubbs relates after he had been Archbishop twenty year He and Radulphus de Diceto differ from Hugo in the place of his sickning and dying for they make him to have been brought to Eli to be buried according to his own prediction as the latter of them affirms upon a time when he came thither for devotion sake The mention of him puts me in mind of another of that name who was bred in this Monastery and therefore ought not to be here omitted For though he dyed a good while after this time yet he was advanced to the See of Worcester in the days of Leofricus viz. MLXII So John Abbot Venerabilis vir Wlstanus Burgi Monachus Wigorn. fit Episcopus Roger Hoveden also who saith that literis Ecclesiasticis Officiis imbutus in Nobili Monasterio quod Burch nominatur The very same hath Symeon Dunelmensis John Brompton But the largest account I find of him is in his Life written in Three Books MS. in Sir J. C's Library by Bravonius a Monk of Worcester 1170. who relates at large all that he did both before and after the Conquest He was born at Jceritune in Warwickshire his Father Athelstanus his Mother Wifgena who put him to School at Evesham where he received the first Elements of learning and then sent him hither to be perfected in it so his words are perfectiori mox apud Burch which I shewed before was famous for learning scientia teneras informavit medullas Here he gave great indications of his future Vertue when he had scarce taken the first step out of his Childhood He had a Master called Eruentus who could Write admirably and Draw any thing in Colours Who made Wlstan when he was but a Boy Write two Books Sacramentarium Psalterium and Flourish the Principal Letters in Pictures with Gold The former of which his Master presented to King Cnute the Psalter to Queen Emma After this he went from Burch to his Parents who putting themselves into Religious Houses at Worcester he also became Monk And in a short time was made Master of the Boyes then Chanter and then Sacrist and afterward Praepositus ut tunc Prior ut nunc dicitur Monachorum constitutus and at last made Bishop of Worcester though against his will upon the preferment of Alredus to York Who presuming upon the simplicity of Wlstan committed great rapine at Worcester and kept from him a considerable part of the Possessions of that Church which he could not recover as long as Alred lived but though William the Conqueror seised them at his Death yet Wlstan never left till the cause had a fair hearing and his Church had all restored to it which its first Founders had left unto it The story is told at large by John Bromton Chron. Williel primi p. 976. c. who sayes Lanfranc would have deposed him for insufficiency but by a Miracle was moved to restore him his Staff and his Ring which he had resigned And indeed he was not so ignorant as many imagined but knew all that was necessary for him to be acquainted withal only was not learned in the Fables of the Poets and in the perplexities of Syllogisms which perhaps he did not vouchsafe to know as not worthy his notice So Henry de Knyghton in these remarkable words L. 2. de Eventibus Angliae C. 6. Sed ille magis virtute quam literis fretus res Ecclesiae defensabat Quanquam non it a hebes in literis fuerit ut put abatur quippe qui caetera necessaria sciret praeter fabulas poetarum tortiles syllogismos quae forsan nec nosse dignabatur He pulled down the old Church of Worcester built by St. Oswald and made the new one we now see Weeping as Malmsbury saith when they began the Work For which he gave this reason when he was told he ought rather to rejoyce at the erection of a more magnificent Structure Alas said he we miserable sinners destroy the Works of the Saints that we may get glory to our selves That age of happy men did not understand how to build pompous Temples but under any kind of Roof offered up themselves to God and attracted their Subjects by their examples We on the contrary neglecting the Cure of Souls heap up Stones and raise goodly Piles c. He lived till he was almost 90 years old dying in the year MXCV where John Abbot writes Sanctus Wlstanus obiit BRANDO While he was only a Monk in this Church he was not only a Coadjutor to Leofricus in all the good things that he did as Hugo his words are but also a great Benefactor to the Monastery out of his own Patrimony and that of his Brethren For he and his two Brethren Askatillus and Syricus purchased Walcote de proprio patrimonio and gave it to the Church in perpetual inheritance together with Scotere Scotune and other places mentioned by Mr. G. This was in the time of Edward the Confessor who confirmed this Grant by his Charter rogatus ab Abbate Lefrico Monacho ipsius nomine Brand Hugo or Swap pag. 5. f. 2. Another writing mentions a third Brother named Siworthus in these words Brand Abbas Burgensis Askilus Sericus Sivortus fratres dederunt has terras Deo Sancto Petro fratribus in Burgh sc Muscham ex alia parte Trentae Scotere c. Which is related something more distinctly
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
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
in memory of his Wife buried here in the beginning of the Wars and one hundred Pound to the Dean and Chapter the Rent thereof to be by them yearly distributed to the Poor Dr. Duport late Dean of this Church besides many summs given elsewhere to pious and charitable uses setled twenty Pound a year on Magdalen Coll. in Cambridge to be paid to the Dean and Chapter of Peterburgh ten Pound for the Augmentation of the Schoolmasters Salaries there and ten Pound for two Scholarships in Magdalen College belonging to that School There being wanting in Mr. G. an account of the defaceing of this Church by the Souldiers in the late Rebellion Mr. Francis Standish the present worthy Chanter of it hath at my desire drawn it up in the following Narrative Which may be the more credited because he then lived in this place where he was born and bred and was a spectator of most things that he relates A Short and True NARRATIVE of the Rifling and Defacing the Cathedral Church of PETERBURGH in the Year 1643. THE Cathedral Church of Peterburgh was very famous formerly for three remarkable things a stately Front a curious Altar-Piece and a beautiful Cloister The first of the three doth still remain a very goodly Structure supported with three such tall Arches as England can scarce show the like The two last are since destroy'd by Sacrilegious hands and have nothing now remaining but only the bare memory of them In this place I think I may say began that strange kind of deformed Reformation which afterward passed over most places of the Land by robbing rifling and defacing Churches This being one of the first which suffered in that kind Of which you may take this following account from an eye witness and which I suppose is still fresh in the memory of many surviving Persons In the year 1643 about the midst of April there came several Forces to Peterburgh raised by the Parliament in the Associated Counties in order to besiege Croyland a small Town some seven miles distant which had a little before declared for the King and then was held a Garrison for Him The first that came was a Foot-Regiment under one Colonel Hubbart's command upon whose arrival some persons of the Town fearing what happen'd afterward desire the Chief Commander to take care the Souldiers did no injury to the Church This he promises to do and gave order to have the Church doors all lockt up Some two days after comes a Regiment of Horse under Colonel Cromwel a name as fatal to Ministers as it had been to Monasteries before The next day after their arrival early in the morning these break open the Church doors pull down the Organs of which there were two Pair The greater Pair that stood upon a high loft over the entrance into the Quire was thence thrown down upon the ground and there stamped and trampled on and broke in pieces with such a strange furious and frantick zeal as can't be well conceived but by those that saw it Then the Souldiers enter the Quire and there their first business was to tear in pieces all the Common-Prayer Books that could be found The great Bible indeed that lay upon a Brass Eagle for reading the Lessons had the good hap to escape with the loss only of the Apocrypha Next they break down all the Seats Stalls and Wainscot that was behind them being adorn'd with several Historical passages out of the Old and New Testament a Latin Distich being in each Seat to declare the Story Whilst they are thus employed they chance to find a Great Parchment Book behind the Cieling with some 20 pieces of Gold laid there by a person a little before as in a place of safety in those unsafe and dangerous times This encourages the Souldiers in their work and makes them the more eager in breaking down all the rest of the Wainscot in hopes of finding such another prize The Book that was deposited there was called Swapham the Lieger Book of the Church and was redeemed afterward of a Souldier that got it by a person belonging to the Minster for ten Shillings under the notion of an old Latin Bible There was also a great Brass Candlestick hanging in the middle of the Quire containing about a Dozen and half of Lights with another Bow Candlestick about the Brass Eagle These both were broke in pieces and most of the Brass carried away and sold A well disposed person standing by and seeing the Souldiers make such spoil and havock speaks to one that appeared like an Officer desiring him to restrain the Souldiers from such enormities But all the answer he obtained was only a scoffing reply to this purpose See how these poor People are concern'd to see their Idols pulled down So the Inhabitants of Peterburgh at that time were accounted by these Reformers both a malignant and superstitious kind of People When they had thus defaced and spoiled the Quire They march up next to the East end of the Church and there break and cut in pieces and afterward burn the Rails that were about the Communion Table The Table it self was thrown down the Table-Cloth taken away with two fair Books in Velvet Covers the one a Bible the other a Common-Prayer Book with a Silver Bason gilt and a Pair of Silver Candlesticks beside But upon request made to Colonel Hubbert the Books Bason and all else save the Candlesticks were restored again Not long after on the 13th day of July 1643 Captain Barton and Captain Hope two Martial Ministers of Nottingham or Darbyshire coming to Peterburgh break open the Vestery and take away a Fair Crimson Satten Table Cloth and several other things that had escaped the former Souldiers hands Now behind the Communion Table there stood a curious Piece of Stone-work admired much by Strangers and Travellers a stately Skreen it was well wrought painted and gilt which rose up as high almost as the Roof of the Church in a Row of three lofty Spires with other lesser Spires growing out of each of them as it is represented in the annexed draught This now had no Imagery-work upon it or any thing else that might justly give offence and yet because it bore the name of the High Altar was pulled all down with Ropes lay'd low and level with the ground Over this place in the Roof of the Church in a large Oval yet to be seen was the Picture of our Saviour seated on a Throne one hand erected and holding a Globe in the other attended with the four Evangelists and Saints on each side with Crowns in their hands intended I suppose for a Representation of our Saviours coming to judgment Some of the company espying this cry out and say Lo this is the God these People bow and cringe unto This is the Idol they worship and adore Hereupon several Souldiers charge their Muskets amongst whom one Daniel Wood of Captain Ropers Company was the chief and discharge them at it and
I think fit wholly to omit it and return to Sexulph When he was advanced to the Episcopal Authority the forenamed Author doth not tell us but we learn it from the Chronicon Litchfeldense which saith it was DCLXXIII Sexulfus post depositionem Winfridi per Theodorum Episcopus Litchfeldiae consecratus est An. Domini DCLXXIII which is exactly agreeable to the account given of these Matters by V. Bede who calls his Predecessor by the name of Winfridus whom other later Writers call Wilfridus and Wolfridus who was deposed they all say by Theodore ob meritum cujusdam inobedientiae but do not tell us what that disobedience was which deserved so great a punishment For he was esteemed a good man and had been Deacon to St. Chad as Bede tells us and thought worthy to be his Successor in the Episcopal See to which he was promoted An. DCLXX. and within three years time removed Radulphus de Diceto indeed saith it was not till the year DCLXXX Where he hath these words Offensus Wilfrido Merciorum Episcopo per meritum cujusdam inobedientiae Theodorus Dorobernensis Archiepiscopus Eum de Episcopatu deposuit in loco ejus Saxulfum Episcopum ordinavit Constructorem Abbatem Monasterii quod dicitur Burch in regione Girviorum Whensoever this was it is certain Sexulfus was his Successor and is reckoned the Seventh Bishop of the Mercians or of Litchfield For Duina a Scotch man was the first Bishop of the Mercians as well as of the Lindifararians as my Author speaks Chron. Litchf the paucity of Priests in those days compelling them to set one Bishop over divers people who having governed two years dyed DCLVIII and had another of the same Nation his Successor called Cellach who left it presently and returned to his Island Hii DCLIX. And then came Trumhere an Englishman but ordained by the Scots who dyed DCLXII And then Jarmannus who dyed DCLXVII to whom succeeded Cedda or Ceadda as Bede calls him who was the fifth Bishop not the first as Mr. G. hath it and dyed DCLXX. And then as I have said followed Winfrid and after him Saxulf who flentibus moerentibus as Hugo's words are ejus Monasterii fratribus eligitur ad Episcopatum Mediterraneorum Anglorum Merciorum simul Lindisfarorum By which it appears that the people of those different regions still continued under the same Bishop But in Saxulph's time a great and happy alteration was made by the increase I suppose of Priests and of such Priests as were fit to be advanced to the Episcopal charge For the Bishoprick of the Mercians to say nothing of Lindsfarn was in his days divided in quinque Parochias into five Diocesses as we now speak in Herefordensem Wigornensem Lichfeldensem Legecestrensem Lindifiensem Two of which it should seem by the forenamed Chronicle Sexulphus governed viz. Litchfield and Leogastre which were divided after his death between two Hedda and Wilfrid but upon the death of Wilfrid again united in Hedda who governed both Diocesses By which Hedda the Church of Lichfield was built secundo Kal. Januarii An. DCC and the body of St. Chad translated into it By all which it is evident that passage in Mr. G. p. 3. must be corrected that S. Chad was first Bishop of Litchfield where he founded the Cathedral Church Bede saith no such thing in the place quoted in the Margin but rather the contrary that he had his Episcopal See at Litchfield where he dyed and was buried nigh the Church of St. Mary and afterward viz. by Hedda as I have shown the Church of blessed St. Peter being built his bones were translated thither How long Saxulf governed this Church is not certain The forenamed Chronicon saith he dyed DCLXXIIII but it should be DCLXXXIIII I make no doubt For all agree he was alive when Edilred wasting the Country of Kent and prophaneing Churches and Monasteries made Putta Bishop of Rochester seek for safety else where and at last betake himself ad Sexulfum Merciorum Antistitem as Bede tells L. IV. C. 12. and this was in the year DCLXXVII He was witness also to the Priviledge granted by Pope Agatho as I showed before which was DCLXXX in which year the forementioned division of the Kingdom of the Mercians into five Diocesses was made as we learn from the MS. Chronicle of John Abbot Whose words are An. DCLXXX Regio Merciorum in V. Parochias est divisa per Theodorum Archiepiscopum Johannem Romanum Archicanc Legatum And Symeon Dunelmensis mentions him ad Ann. DCLXXXIII where speaking of the Towns given by the King of Northumberland to St. Cutbert and his Successors and of the Witnesses to this grant he makes Saxulf one of them who thus subscribes Ego Sexulfus Merciorum Episcopus subscripsi In the next year I suppose he dyed and left his See to Hedda whom other Authors call Etheldus and Bede L. IV. C. 12. Eadhedus for I find no ground for what Matth. of Westminster writes who makes him to have lived till the year DCCV CUTHBALDUS Sexulf being promoted to the See of Litchfield An. DCLXXIII Cuthbaldus was chosen by all the Monks to be their Abbot and that Saxulfi consensu voluntate by the consent and the desire of Saxulph as Hugo writes Who gives him this Character that he was a most religious and most wise person in so much that his reliques were preserved in the Church after his death he being reputed a Saint I observed before out of Hedda's relation how other Convents began to spring out of this as Daughters from a fruitfull Mother in the time of Sexulf Which grew so considerable in the time of Cuthbaldus that they could not any longer be well governed by him but desired as many other places did an Abbot to be appointed over them out of this Monastery of Medeshamstede So Hugo reports it not as Mr. G. says that they desired to have him for their Abbot he being so already but that they thought themselves happy and blessed who could receive either Abbot or Monk from their first Mother who might diligently instruct them and preside over them Whence it came to pass saith he that from this Monastery many others were built and both Monks and Abbots appointed out of the same Congregation viz. at Ancarig al. Thornei and at Bricclesworth and the rest of the places mentioned by Mr. G. p. 6. Which is not to be understood as if they became wholly independant upon this Mother Monastery for they still continued subject to it as the manner was in after times for small Abbeys which had been drawn as Colonies out of a greater to be under the command of that from whence they were derived being as so many Cells and members of it Such were these and several other mentioned by the same Hugo which in the time of Pope Agatho had their dependance upon this great Monastery viz. Bredun Reping Cedenac Swinneshead Hehanbyrig Lodeshale Schuffenhalch Costesford Streford Weteleburn
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