Commission to come over into England to gather up Peter pence which gave him opportunity to espy out some preferment or other here therefore coming to the King and much complaining of the troubles in his own Countrey whose Wars by reason of his age he could not endure he besought the King to conferr upon him the Abby of Peterburgh which was then vacant which he being allyed to the King obtained notwithstanding that both Archbishops and Bishops opposed it telling the King it was not lawful for him to hold two Abbeys But the King afterwards perceiving his fraud and covetousness commanded him to depart the Realm when he had held the Abbey of Peterburgh 5 years and so Anno 1133. he returned to his Abbey De Angeli In the first year that this John came to be Abbot here as Wittlesey writes there were heard and seen in the night time throughout Lent in the Woods betwixt Stamford and Peterburgh Hunters with their Horns and Dogs all of them of black and ugly complexion some riding upon black Horses and some upon Goats they had great staring eyes and were seen sometimes twenty and sometimes thirty in a company 20. MARTINVS de Vecti So called of the Isle of Wight from whence he came some call him Martin Cook He was first Prior of S. Neots and the King gave him the Monastery of Peterburgh into which he was honourably received by the Monks upon S. Peters day Anno 1133. being the 33 of King Henry 1. He was very industrious in repairing and perfecting the buildings of the Monastery and especially the Church to the dedication whereof anew there came thither Alexander Bishop of Lincoln the Abbots of Thorney Croyland Ramsey and others to whom Abbot Martin shewed the Holy Reliques and S. Oswalds arm Anno 1123. 23 years after its burning The tokens of which conflagration are yet to be seen or of some other in the inside of the West Porch above This Martin built a Gate of the Monastery but which I cannot say He likewise changed the situation of the Village to the Western side of the Monastery for before it was on the East he appointed the market place as now it is and built many houses about it He changed also the place of Wharfage for Boats coming to the Town to that place which is now commonly used He removed the Church of S. John Baptist which before stood in a Close still known by the name of S. John's Close to the place where now the said Church standeth And as he was a great builder so was he also in some sort a demolisher for he pulled down a Castle standing near the Church which perhaps was Mount Thorold formerly mentioned He planted the Vineyard and added many buildings to his own dwellings He entertained King Stephen who came hither to see the Arm of S. Oswald to whom he offered his Ring and forgave the Church 40 Marks which it ought him and confirmed many other Priviledges Abbot Martin in the time of his Government took a journey to Rome and along with him the Charter of King Ethelred that the then Pope Eugenius the Third might grant his Confirmation But in Wittlesey the Consistory there arose a debate about the form of the Charter which hitherto had gone currant for the space of almost 500 years for one of the Cardinals present besought the Pope that he would not give the honour of his name to another whereupon a new Charter was granted to Abbot Martin in the name of Eugenius and the name of King Ethelred Founder and Benefactor was put out Martin having sitten in his Abbattical See the Appendix Chair here about the term of 22 years died Anno 1155. which was the second year of King Henry 2. And there succeeded 21. WILLIHELMVS de Watervile Vid. Chartam in App. Who being Elected Abbot by the Monks the Election easily obtained the Kings ratification in regard this William was one of his Clerks or Chaplains The King also confirmed unto him and his Abbey the eight Hundreds of that part of the County which had formerly been granted by the Kings Predecessors This Abbot erected a Priory in Stamford and the Church of S. Michael there He setled a yearly maintenance upon the Church of S. John Baptist in Peterburgh enacting that the Chaplain should yearly upon Michaelmas day bring his Church-Key to the Sacrist of the Monastery as an acknowledgment of his dependance upon it He was very industrious in perfecting the buildings of his Monastery and adding new ones He built the Cloister and covered it with Lead He ordered Cloister and disposed the Quire of the Church in that manner as it lately stood and in some sort continues still He founded Quire the Chappel of Thomas Becket which was finished by his Successor and is now standing in the middle of the Arch of the Church-Porch as you enter into the Church He built a Chappel also in his own House and other necessary Offices At length he was accused by his Monks to the Archbishop so that he was deposed without conviction or his own confession as our Writers say of any crime deserving that censure when he had held his Abby twenty years Anno 1175. being the 21 or 22 year of King Henry the Second And although our Peterburgh Writers are silent in the cause of his deposition yet others have taken notice of it Johannes Brompton Jornallensis relates it thus that Richard Archbishop of Canterbury came to the Abby Pag. 1107 1108. of Peterburgh and deposed William of Watervile the Abbot there for that he against the will of the Monks entred with a band of armed men into the Church and took from thence some Reliques and the arm of S. Oswald pro denariis ad Judaeos invadendos the Monks standing in defence of their Reliques many of them were grievously wounded Roger Hoveden relates another reason as the most principal which he addeth to that of Jornallensis Pag. 313. that this Abbot William was fallen into the Kings disfavour for his brothers sake one Walter of Watervile in the Parish of Achrich in the County of Northampton where anciently was his Castle whom Abbot William received with others of that party being then in Arms against the King which shewed that Abbot William was not so Loyal to his Master the King as he should have been but abetting with his brother it might cause his own deposition 22. BENEDICTVS William being deposed the King held the Abby in his hand two years and then Benedict Prior of Canterbury was thought the fittest for it and made Abbot Anno 1177. in the Twenty fourth of King Henry the Second He was a very Learned man and as Pitseus who gives him very high commendations doth certifie wrote two Books Vitam S. Thomae Cantuariensis De ejusdem post mortem miraculis and certain others saith he yet because I find these Books mentioned in the Catalogue of this Abbots Library it may be
forty days of Penance that had been injoyned them And he also confirmed such Indulgences as had been granted by any of his Suffragans It bears date from Croyland the Thursday before the Feast of St. Michael There had been the like Indulgence granted a little before by Hugo Balsom Biship of Ely to those who out of devotion went piously to visit the Arm of St. Oswald and other Reliques in this Church c. To whom he grants 30. days relaxation of Penance Dated 11. Kalend. Sept. 1253. Another there is of Will Bishop of Ossory granting ten days Indulgence as I noted before to those that visited this Church on the Feast of the Dedication before mentioned All which show the true nature of Indulgences which were only relaxations of Penance and that other Bishops granted them as well as the Bishop of Rome as they also sometimes canonized a person for a Saint I have transcribed them all and set them down in the Appendix together with an Indulgence of Oliver Sutton some years after wherein he grants a merciful relaxation to all those that on certain times should devoutly come to the Altar of the blessed Virgin in her Chapel in the Monastery of Burgh which he had newly consecrated The same Boniface on the same day and year directed his Letters to the Bishop of Lincoln mentioning a Constitution of the Council held at Oxford which Excommunicated all those who either violated or disturbed the Ecclesiastical rights and liberties which he being desirous to maintain by these presents commands that all the disturbers or violaters of the rights and liberties of the Church of St. Peter de Burgo which had been granted by the Kings of England or any other persons should publickly and solemnly in general and by name be Excommunicated when it appeared they were guilty of such disturbance or violence About this time I suppose it was that Polebroke before mentioned out of which the ten pound for finding the five Hogsheads of Wine was paid was purchased by this Abbot The whole History of which is related in the Monasticon out of a Register of this Church in Sir Joh. Cotton's Library Which saith that Eustachius Vicecomes Founder of the Church of St. Mary de Huntingdon held two Fees de Honore Burgi in Clopton Polebroke Catworth c. Which Estate came afterward to one Will. de Lovetot and then to his Son Richard who held these two Fees in King Richard the first 's time as appears by his Charter in the first year of his Reign which confirms to the Abbot of Burgh among other Lands duo feoda in Clopton pertinentiis which were held by Richard de Lovetot Who had two Sons William and Nigell and three Daughters Amicitia Rosia and Margeria William dying without Issue the Estate came to Nigel who being a Beneficed Clergyman it came upon his death to the three Sisters The two Eldest of which though married had no share in these Fees but they fell to the youngest who was married to Richard Patrick and by him had a Son and a Daughter William and Margery She married to Will. de Vernon and her Brother William gave all his share in the Estate which was in the hand of Hugo Fleming and Tho. Smert and their Heirs who did homage to Will. Patrick for it to his Sister Margery Who after his death in her free Widowhood gave and granted all the Homages and Services of the aforesaid Fleming and Smert and their Heirs to John de Caleto Abbot of Burgh by her Deed. And afterward Rob. Fleming feofavit praedictum Johannem Abbatem de omnibus terris Tenementis quae habuit in Polebroke per Chartam Which Charter I find in our Records here remaining wherein Rob. de Flemenk gives to John de Caleto his Tenement in Polebroke and the Advouson of the Church In this year King Henry granted the very same Charter to this Church which Richard the first had done confirming all their Lands in the several Counties of the Realm by name It bears date at Windsor 12 Junii Anno Regni sui 37. The like for their Liberties in which is the Fair for eight days and the eight Hundreds c. and for their Woods In the next year 1254. three neighbouring Abbots dyed as I find in the Chron. of John Abbot viz. Thomas de Wells Abbot of Croyland David Abbot of Thorney and William Abbot of Ramsey Pope Innocent the IV. dyed also And in this year there was an aid granted to the King ad primogenit fil suum Militem faciend for the making Prince Edward a Knight An. Regis Hen. 38. sc de quolibet scuto de Honore Burgi XL. Sol. every Knights Fee of the Honour of Burgh paying forty Shillings which was received by one of the Friers Rich. de London So the Title of this account runs in our Book fol. CCCLXXI Recept fratris R. de Lond. de denariis Auxilii Domini Regis H. c. And then follow the names of all the Knights and their payments the first being Galfridus de Sancto Medardo who payd twelve Pound and therefore had six Knights Fees the second Radulph de Kameys who paid as much c. I have not room for the rest who are two and fifty in all some of which had but half Fees and others less In this year it was also that the King sent his Justices into many places in England to do right to every man and to free the Country from Thieves and Highwaymen Quorum unus fuit Abbas de Burgo saith Matth Paris one of which Justices was the Abbot of Burgh as Mr. G. hath observed In the year 1257. there was a power granted to this Abbot to distrain both of his Knights and of all other Freeholders who owed him service but had not done it that he might be able to perform the service wherein he stood bound to the King for his assistance in his War then in Wales For the Abbot stood bound to the King for Sixty Knights Fees which he had not performed and therefore a distress was granted against him upon all the Land he held of the King in that service without any prejudice to what the Church held in perpetuam eleemosynam In the next year I find a final agreement made between him and Ralph Crumbwell Son of Rob. Crumbwell about sixty Acres of Meadow in Collingham A confederation also between him and the Prior of Worcester whereby they engaged their Churches in such a mutual society and Friendship as I mentioned before between Alexander and the Abbot of St. Edmunds and several other things which I cannot find in what year they were done Particularly a Charter made by Steven de Horbiling wherein he gives to him and the Convent a Capital Messuage in Burgh in the Street called Tugate and another hard by it and three Acres of Arable Land c. Mr. G. saith p. 34. that he found no mention of the Rule of St. Benedict in this Monastery till
not take it ill if I give a relation of them Amongst the Reliques of this place that which was most famous and bare the bell away from all the rest was S. Oswalds arm which continued uncorrupted for many years and that in the time of Abbot Martin it was shown to Alexander Bishop of Lincoln 487 years after its cutting off And of it some of the Monks in those times wrote these Verses Cum digitis dextram cute sanguine carneque tectam Oswaldi Regis Burgensis continet aedis Vngues sunt tales fuerant vivo sibi quales Intus in hac dextra paret cernentibus extra Nervus hinc vena dextra junctura serena In cubiti veluti nova paret fossa veruti Quo fuit appensum pretiosum martyris armum The story of this arm I suppose to be taken out of Beda his History of England lib. 3. cap. 6. who relates that this Oswald King of Northumberland was very free and liberal in giving of alms to the poor and one day whilst he sate at meat one of his servants told him of a great number of poor people come to his gate for relief whereupon King Oswald sent them meat from his own table and there not being enough to serve them all he caused one of his silver dishes to be cut in pieces and to be distributed amongst the rest which Aydanus a Bishop who came out of Scotland to convert and instruct those Northern parts of England beholding took the King by the right hand saying nunquam inveterascat haec manus let this hand never wax old or be corrupted which came to pass This arm was first deposited at Bamburgh a religious place in Yorkshire Walter of Wettlesey writing the story thereof tells that it was brought to the Monastary of Burgh by Winegotus of Bebeberch but saith not when therefore I cannot conjecture better than that it was by the procurement of this Abbot Elsinus It is said that this arm wrought many cures upon several diseased folk and that it was of such fame in the days of King Stephen as that he himself came to Peterburgh purposely to see it and offered his Ring to S. Oswald and also remitted King Stephen at Peterburgh to the Monastery the summ of forty marks wherein it was indebted unto him But that the Reader may know more fully the story of S. Oswald and his arm it is to be remembred that Penda King of the Camden Mercians being of a fierce nature and withal ambitious made war upon his neighbour Kings and particularly upon Oswald King of Northumberland who was a Christian him Penda encountred at Oswaldstreet now Oswestre in Shropshire though Wittlesey saith this battle was fought at a place called Burne and there overthrew him and caused him to be torn in pieces whom some in remembrance of Bishop Aydan's blessing might preserve his arm which at length was here at Peterburgh treasured up If the Reader be still at a stand when he shall read in Authors that King Oswald was buried at several places I cannot help him And now that we are upon this subject of Reliques we may I hope without offence to the Reader extend the Legend to the full Besides S. Oswalds arm there were some of his ribs and some of the earth where he was slain There were two pieces of our Saviours swadling cloaths Of the Manger wherein he was laid in two places Two pieces of the Cross which would not be burnt More of the Cross in four places Of the Sepulchre of our Lord in four places Of the five loaves with which he fed the five thousand men Of the garment of S. Mary in two places Of her vail in two places Of Aarons rod. Reliques of S. John the Baptist Of old Symeon Of the Sepulchre of Lazarus in two places Of the stone-patin of S. John the Evangelist Reliques of S. Peter the Apostle Of S. Paul Of S. Andrew Of S. Bartholomew Of S. Philip and Jacob. A shoulder blade of one of the Innocents whom Herod slew Reliques of S. Stephen S. Dionysius Rusticus and Elutherius Of the sackcloath and shirt of S. Wenceslaus Of the hand of S. Magnus Martyr Of S. Laurence The jaw and tooth and arm of S. George Martyr Reliques of S. Hippolytus and of S. Gervase The jaw and tooth of S. Christopher Reliques of S. Cyriacus of S. Potitus of S. Quirinus Two teeth of S. Edward King and Martyr Reliques of S. Trudon of S. Maximus of S. Salinus of S. Theodorus of S. Innocentius of S. Mauritius of S. Apollinaris of S. Gorgon of S. S. Cosmus and Damianus of S. S. Sergius and Bachius The finger of S. Leofridus Abbot Reliques of S. Hugo S. Wulgarus S. Adelwold S. Cuthbald S. Vindemianus S. Lotharius Three sinews of the hand of S. Athelard Abbot of Corbey Reliques of S. Acca Bishop of S. Machutus of S. Egwinus Abbot of S. Kenulphus The arm of S. Swithune Bishop A relique of S. Medard The shoulder-blade of S. Ambrose The tooth of S. Aydanus of S. Grimbaldus of S. Adelmus Two pieces of S. Cecilia of S. Lucia of S. Christina Of the bones and bloud and garment of S. Eutopia Of S. Mary the Egyptian Of S. Mary Magdalen Of the head and arms of S. Rogelida Of * See the Matriculatory at the end O. S. Anstroberta Of S. Edburga Of S. Emerentiana Of S. Juliana Virgin Of the hairs of S. Athelwold Bishop The tooth of S. Sexburga Virgin Reliques deposited under the great Altar Of the wood and Sepulchre of our Lord. Of the head of S. George Of the arm of S. Sebastian Of S. Pancratius Of S. Procopius S. Wilfridus S. Botwinus S. Albertus S. Suffredus S. Tadbertus S. Wildegelus Abbots Pag. 91. Reliques in the silver Tower Of the Sepulchre of our Lord. Of the garment and Sepulchre of S. Mary Of S. Andrew and S. Philip and S. James Of S. Dionysius S. Rusticus and Eleutherius Of S. Oswaldus S. Laurentius S. Vincentius S. Potitus S. S. Cosmus and Damianus S. Adelwoldus S. Adelinus S. Cecilia S. Edburga What became of these or some of these reliques in after times some small mention will be made hereafter but whether any of them were extant in the Monastery at the dissolution by King Henry the Eighth I find nothing amongst Writers no not of great S. Oswalds arm though Nicolas Harpsfield a late Historical Romanist would make us believe that the prayer of Aydanus was still in force as if that arm was somewhere extant But to return to Abbot Elsinus He was three years in Normandy with Queen Emma where he also collected many other reliques and like a laborious Bee stored his Abbey with them It hapned at that time that there was a great dearth in that Country of Normandy insomuch that many of the inhabitants forsook the Country and planted themselves in other places The Abbey of S. Florentinus having spent their treasures in buying of food and nothing left
made Arch-Bishop of Cant. Anno 1070. This Book is extant Printed Lovanii 1551. Lanfrancus contra Berengarium de Corpore sanguine Domini Ernulfus was Abbot of Peterburgh and from thence translated to Rochester See B .... Quaedam solutiones Ernulfi Episcopi Roffensis ad quosdam quaestiones Lamberti Abbatis Sancti Bertani Sermo Eusebii de Corpore sanguine Domini See Q. Sermo Isidori Episcopi Hispalensis de eadem re Quid quibus temporibus sit legendum aut canendum Commentum Boëtii de Trinitate Expositio super idem Commentum Libellus contra Eutichen Nestorium Expositio super eundem Isidorus de ordine creaturae Bacharius Macceus a Briton disciple to S. Patrick Anno 460. Pits who mentioneth this Epistle under this Title Dereparatione lapsi ceu de fructu poenitentiae ad Januarium Epistola S. Bacharii ad Januarium Anselmus de concordia praescientiae praedestinationis gratiae Dei cum libero arbitrio Consuetudines Monachorum Cluniacensium Epistolae diversorum Pontificum Laurence was Deacon to Xystus Bish of Rome and under Decius about Anno 252. was roasted upon a Gridiron S. Ambrose Sâ—r. 71. and elsewhere makes glorious mention of him August 10. is his Memorial Passio S. Laurentii versificé Mauritius was Commander of 6666 Souldiers who being all Christians were put to the Sword at Agaunum a Town in Helvetia in the time of Dioclesian about the year 399. as the Roman Martyrologies record who celebrate his memory Sept. 22. Passio S. Mauritii sociorum ejus versifice Versus de S. Pafnutio De poenitentia Thaidis meretricis Versus de transgressione Jonae prophetae Versus de Jepte Versus de Susanna Exhortatio vitae honestae She was some of her Reliques were kept Vita Sanctae Anstrobertae Virginis versifice diversa ejusdem Miracula P Quaestiones Albini de Genesi solutiones Tractatus de mensuris ponderibus Interpretationes quorundam nominum veteris testamenti Q Sermo Augustini de Cantico novo Aug. in his 9 tome Sermo de quarta feria Aug. in his 9 tome De Cataclysmo De tempore Barbarico cum Sermone de Trinitate Aug. in his 9 tome Isidorus was Bishop of Sevil in Spain An 630. These Tractates are recorded by Trithemius and Bellarmine Liber prooemiorum Isidori cum libris veteris testamenti Aug. in his 9 tome novi Liber Isidori de ortu vita patrum veteris novi testamenti Isidorus de patribus veteris novi testamenti Quis cujus typum gesserit Catalogus Isidori de Catholicis Scriptoribus Catalogus Hieronymi de Catholicis Scriptoribus Gelasius was Bishop of Rome Anno 490. Bellarm. Epistola Gelasii Papae septuaginta Episcoporum de recipiendis non recipiendis libris Catalogus Gennadii de Catholicis Scriptoribus See B. Item Catalogus Isidori de Catholicis Scriptoribus Robertus Tumbeley Rob. Tumbeley was Monk of Croyland saith Pitseus but knows not when he lived super Cantica Canticorum Expositio S. Cypriani Martyris super Orationem Dominicam Duo libri Soliloquiorum S. Augustini Augustinus de Immortalitate animae liber unus In his 1 tom 1. Retract c. 5. Augustinus de Quantitate animae liber unus In his 1 tom 1 Retract c. 8. Augustinus de definitionibus Ecclesiasticorum dogmatum liber unus Quaedam excerpta de tribus libris Augustini contra Parmenianum R Augustinus de vera religione liber unus Augustinus ad Valentinum de gratia libero arbitrio liber unus Augustinus de 8 quaestionibus Dulcitii Augustinus contra Pelagianos de Praedestinatione Divina Responsiones Augustini ad quaedam sibi falso objecta contra fidem Sex Sermones Augustini de Nativitate Domini Sermo Eusebii de Nativitate Domini Sermo Origenis de Circumcisione Domini Tres Sermones Augustini de Epiphania Domini Augustinus de Doctrina Christiana S Hildefonsus was B. of Toledo An. 658. saith Bellarmine and both he and Trithemius makes mention of this book which say they the blessed Virgin took so well that she gave him thanks for it Liber Hildefonsis Episcopi de perpetua virginitate B. Mariae T Augustinus de Virginitate In his 7 Tome Augustinus de nuptiis concupiscentia Liber Soliloquiorum Isidori Hispalensis Episcopi U Quaedam excerpta de scriptis diversorum Doctorum Libellus de Tonis Proverbia Senecae Expositiones diversarum partium Augustinus de Verbis Domini Idem de tempore munitionis De duodecim lapidibus De proprietate cantus ann X Apotheosis v PN ad D PN SS PD Y Eusebius who lived Anno 326. wrote this Chronicle from the beginning of the World to 329. of Christ then S. Hierome continued it to 382. then Prosper of Aquitain continued it to 448. and after him others Chronica Prosperi Augustinus de diversis quaestionibus Gennadius Sermo Augustini de dedicatione Ecclesiae Isidorus super librum Regum sed imperfectus Z Epistola ad Augustinum Quod vult dei Diaconi Et Augustinus ad Quod vult deum Diaconum A Beda Beda one of the greatest Scholars of that Century flourished in England his native Country Anno 731. de Compoto de naturis rerum Chronica Bedae Liber Dionysius commonly called Exiguus was a Scythian by Nation and for his piety and learning became an Abbot in Rome Anno 525. saith Bell. 540. saith Trithem Dionysii Abb. urbis Romae ad Petronium Episcopum de Compoto Epistola ejusdem ad Bonifacium de eadem re Helpricus Helpericus was a Monk of the Monastery of S. Gallus An. 1069. saith Trithem who nominates this book with some others which he wrote de Compoto Tractatus de 12 signis signa depicta Sententiae diversorum de cursu stellarum Ratio regularum Abaci B. Beda super Tobiam Beda super triginta quaestiones de libris Regum Beda super Canticum Abacuc Beda de Templo Salomonis Augustinus contra quinque haereses Sermo Augustini de Muliere forti Hieronymus super Ecclesiasten See O Tractatus Ernulfi Episcopi Roffensis de Incestuosis conjugiis C.. Retractationes Bedae de quibusdam quaestionibus praecedentis tractatus Interpretationes Bedae de quibusdam nominibus Hebraicis D.. Beda super verbum Neemiae sacerdotis liber unus Liber unus magni Aurelius Cassiodorus was Abbot in Ravenna Anno 575. saith Trithemius who mentioneth this though Bellarmine doth not Aurelii Cassiodori Senatoris de Anima E. Homiliae Caesarii Episcopi ad Monachos per x. homilias Homiliae There were two Eusebii Emiseni One Anno 350. remembred by Trithemius the other An. 430. by Bellar. Eusebii Emiseni ad Monachos per vii homilias Admonitio Caesarius was Bishop of Arles Anno 670. saith Trithemius which Bellarmine is against and will have him An. 499. See C xiii B. Caesarii Episcopi ad sororem suam Regula S. Basilii Cappadociae Episcopi per octo decem capitula F ... Bernardus de Consideratione
say Semen Ecclesiae the Seed or Corn of the Church Which I find word for word in very old French in a short Glossary upon unusual English words in the antient Charters or in the Laws of King Alred Alfrid Edward and Knute Chirchesed vel Chircheomer vel Chircheambre un certein de ble batu R checun hume devoyt au ceus de Bretuns e de Englis a le Eglise le jur seint Martin Mes pus le venue de Normans c. donewint sulum la velie ley Moysi ratione primitiarum sicun lein truve en le lettris Cnut Kilenveya a Rome c ' est dit Chirchesed quasi semen Ecclesiae The Letter it self is in Ingulphus but it was not sent adsummum Pontificem as Fleta says but to the Archbishops and Bishops and all the Nation of England as he was coming from Rome 1031. wherein he desires them that before he arrived in England all the dues which by ancient Laws were owing to the Church might be paid and after the rest he mentions the tenths of the fruits in August and in the feast of St. Martin the first-fruits of the seeds called Kyrkset So his Letter concludes Et in Festivitate Sancti Martini primitiae seminum ad Ecclesiam sub cujus parochia quisque degit quae Anglice Kyrkeset nominatur Ingulph p. 61. Edit Oxon. c. This description of their Lands and Goods concludes with a Customary of their Tenants Villani Cottarii and Sochemanni in every Mannor belonging to the Church Which while the King held in his hand he gave away as Mr. G. observes the Mannor of Pithtesle for the same summ of money which the late Abbot had given him to confirm it Deo Sancto Petro Monachis sigillo authoritate regia And the person to whom the King granted it it may be further observed was one imployed to take the forenamed account of the Estate of the Church viz. Richard Basset or Bassed This Abbot was commemorated upon the 10. of November on which it appears by the Kalander was Depositio Johannis de Says Abbatis Anniversarium Henrici Talbot c. HENRICVS de Angeli His story is told more perfectly by Hugo in this manner He was first of all Bishop of Soissons and afterward made a Monk and Prior of Cluni and then Prior of Savenni After which because he was Cosin to the King of England and the Count of Aquitain the same Count gave him Abbatiam Sancti Johannis Angeli from whence he took his denomination And he being crafty cunning and ingenious afterward got the Archbishoprick of Besenscun but staid there no more than three days For he had not yet enough but got the Bishoprick de Senites where he staid about seven days And out of this preferment as well as that of Besenscun the Abbot of Cluni got him expelled He got therefore being never quiet to be Collector of Peter-pence in England Where he obtained this Abbey of Burch by pretending he was very old past labour and toil unable to bear the Wars and Troubles of his own Country and would quit his Abbey there of St. John de Angeli and that by the advice of the Pope and the Abbot of Cluni and would here take up his rest There was another thing also that had a great stroke in his preferment for besides he was near of kin to the King and that the forenamed discourse seemed to have truth in it he was the principal Witness to make Oath in a difference between the Kings Nephew the Duke of Normandy and the Daughter of the Count of Anjoy Upon all these scores the Abby was bestowed upon him in the year mentioned by Mr. G. So John Abbot also in his Chron. MS. An. MCXXVIII Henricus Abbas Andagavensis precibus optinuit à Rege Henrico Abbatiam Burgensem What Walter of Witlesea saith of Spectres seen that year he came to the Abby he had out of Hugo who saith Hoc non est falsum quia plurimi veracissimi homines viderunt audierunt cornua He staid one year in the Monastery and received homage and money of the Milites and of the whole Abbey but did not the least good for he sent and carried all to his Abbey beyond Sea whither he went by the Kings licence And having staid there a whole year he returned hither and said he had absolutely quitted his other Abbey for good and all as we speak The same year came Petrus Abbot of Cluni into England and was honourably received by the Kings command in all the Monasteries Particularly here at Burch whither he came to see Henry who complemented him highly and promised he would procure the Abbey of Burch to be made subject to that of Cluni with which hopes Peter went home The next year Henry got together a great summ of money and went beyond Sea again where the King then was Whom he made believe that he was commanded by the Abbot of Cluni to come and resign his Abbey of St. John de Angeli to him and then he would return free from that care into England So he went thither and there staid till the Feast of St. John Baptist And the next day after the Monks chose another of their own body into his place and installed him singing Te Deum and doing all other things necessary for that end expelling Henry by the help of the Count of Anjoy with great disgrace and detaining all that he had there Where he had done no more good than in other places all the five and twenty years that he had governed them Being thus cast out he went to Cluni where they kept him prisoner the Abbot and Monks being very angry with him saying he had lost the Abby of St. John by his folly Nor would they let him stir out of Doors till by his craft he again deceived them with promises and Oaths that if they would permit him to return into England he would subject the Abbey of Burch to them and as Hugo's words are ibi construeret Priores Secretarios Cellerarios Camerarios omnia commendaret in manibus eorum intus foris By which agreement he got into England whither the King also returned out of Normandy Unto whom Henry came and accused the Monks of Burch to him very heavily though with out any truth in order to his end of subjecting them to Cluni The King in great anger sent for them to Bramtun where a Plea was managed against them with so much art that the King was almost deceived But God stept in to help them by the Counsels of the Bishops there present particularly Lincoln and the Barons who understood his fraud Yet he would not desist but being thus defeated indeavoured to make his Nephew Gerardus Abbot of Burch that what he could not do by himself might be effected by him All which made the lives of the Monks very uneasie till the King at last understood his knavery
Title Plena Taxatio Maneriorum Abbatis Conventus de bonis eorum temporalibus spiritualibus facta per venerabiles Patres Wynton ' Lincoln ' Episcopos Autoritate sedis Apostolicae per XXIV Juratos Quorum XII Clerici XII laici Anno Domini M. CC. Nonagesimo sexto Then follows the value of the several Mannors and the Tenths to be paid out of them after this manner Manerium de Burbury taxatur ad 20 l.  5 d. Reditus villae Burgi taxatur ad 22 l. 6 s. 8 d. Gunthorp taxatur ad 13 l. 6 s. 8 d. Eye taxatur ad 9 l. 6 s. 5 d. ob Baelasis cum Appendiciis taxat ad 4 l. 6 d. Manerium de Sutton taxatur ad 6 l. 2 s.  Cujus Decima est 40 s.  ob Decimae 44 s.   Decima 8 s. 4 d.  Decima 18 s. 7 d. ob q. Decima    Decima    And so it proceeds with the rest several of which as Botolbrigg Fletton Alwalton c. have no Tenths rated There had been one before this in the 53. of Henry 3. which is stiled Taxatio Magistri Constantini Domini Gydonis de Maneriis Burgi facta c. In which Burghberry the Town of Burgh the Market and Fair is taxed at one hundred and eight Pound eight Shillings cujus Decima est 10 l. 16 s. 9 d. ob And so the rest are higher rated than in the foregoing and the Tenths both of Fletton and Alwalton are put in Then was granted as I find in another place Fol. CCCLXIX a tenth of all Ecclesiastical Benefices Rents and Profits by the whole Clergy for two years by the licence of the Pope and the consent of the Archbishops to the use of Prince Edward for his expences apud Acon or Ptolomais which he went to relieve There was another four years after in the year 1273. When by the command of the Pope the Churches of England were taxed according to an equal value by the Bishop of Norwich Here particularly is an account of what he did in Nasso-Burgh under this title Estimationes Ecclesiarum Vicariarum in Nasso-Burgi facta per Domin Norwicens Episcopum An. M CC. LXXIII This is quoted out of the Chronica Domini Will. Paris Prioris An. D. 1273 and from thence we may gather that he who built the Chapel before named was a writer also and composed the Annals of this Church if not of England and perhaps other Countries as Abbot John did I can find little more of William de Wodeford besides that which Mr. G. hath collected only it is said in an old Record that An. 27. Edw. 1. and An. quarto Domini Will. de Wodeford Robert de Watervil and John Spournel did homage and fealty to him on the Feast of St. Stephen for Land held by them in Overton Wodeford and Kynesthorp Nor do I meet with more than the mention of the Hospital of St. Leonard's which it appears had Friers and Lands belonging to it by a Deed of Agnes Pudding Fol. CCXLI. who for the health of her Soul gave to God and St. Peter together with her body eight acres of arable Land two of which she held de fratribus Hospital Sancti Leonardi de Burgo to whom she reserved one penny to be paid out of that Land in die Apostolorum Petri Pauli annuatim pro omni servitio Which whether it was different or no from the Hospituarium Burgi which had the Chapel of All Saints belonging to it I do not know But I find that Will. de Saresbury Son of Symon de Saresbury or Salesbury granted and confirmed sixpence per an which his Father had given to that Hospital to maintain a Lamp in that Fol. 287. Chapel ad sustinendam ibi Lampadem in Capella omnium Sanctorum ad honorem Dei perpetuo duraturam I take this to be the same with Hospital Leprosorum extra Burgum mentioned in the foregoing Taxation which was taxed at six pound and paid no Tenths There is still a Well near the Spittle which is called St. Leonara's Well whose water hath been thought Medicinal He dyed this year as the MS. Chron. Joh. Abbatis tells us in which there is a magnificent Character given of his Successor Godfrey of Crowland An. MCCXCIX obiit Dominus Willielmus Abbas Burgi Cui successit Dominus Godfridus vir magnificus ingentis industriae in temporalibus tractandis His memory was celebrated on the second of September which is noted in the Kalendar to be the day of his death and the Anniversary of John of Gresham GODEFRIDVS de Croyland The most memorable thing that I meet with in the beginning of this Abbots Government is a Grant made by the Abbot and Convent of Burgh to the Abbot and Convent of Sulebi that the said Abbot and Convent of Sulebi might without any impediment enter into the Mannor of Adington parva and its appurtenances to have and to hold the said Mannor to themselves and Successors for ever Which Mannor Richard Son of Gervase de Bernack sometimes held of Humfrey de Bassingburn who held it of the Abbot of Burgh per servitium feodi unius militis For which Grant the Abbot and Convent of Sulebi granted on their part that they would pay to the Abbot and Convent of Burgh the yearly Rent of six Shillings and eight Pence of Silver at the Feast of Easter in their Mannor of Castre and that they would facere soctam ad curiam from three Weeks to three Weeks at Castre c. They also granted that every Abbot of Sulebi after this present however he succeeded should pay upon every vacancy to the Church of Burgh ten Marks of Silver in the name of a relief within eight days after he was made Abbot of Sulebi The Abbot of Burgh also notwithstanding this grant and agreement was to receive homage scutage and all Royal services from the aforesaid Tenement for ever c. Dat. apud Burg. S. Pet. die Sabbati in vigilia Paschae An. Domini Millesimo Trecentesimo Et anno Regni Regis Edwardi filii Regis Henrici vicesimo Octavo I find also many homages done to him An. 28. Edwardi I. An. ejus primo on the next Sunday after the Epiphany for Lands held of him in several places And the like in the following years one or two of which I think fit to set down On the Feast of Thomas the Martyr as he is called An. Edw. 33. Rob. Domer did him homage for an Estate he held of him in Eston near Rockingham and the Acquietance the Abbot gave him is Recorded at large in these terms Pateat per presentes quod nos Godfridus Abbas de Burg Sancti Petri pardonavimus ad instantiam Johannis de Hotot de gratia nostra speciali Roberto fil her Domini Joh. Domer milit quinquaginta solidos pro relevio suo de morte dicti Domini Johannis Vxoris suae pro dimid feodi