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
all the English Saints lye that he who desired to address himself to any particular Saint might know where to find him or her And speaking of Tibba he saith she was cosin to the two forenamed Sisters Kyneburgh and Kyneswith whose Reliques here were in such high esteem that Ingalphus reckons the treading of their pretious pledges under Feet as one of the principal profanations when this Monastery was demolished by the Danes in the year 870. when Altaria omnia suffossa c. Sanctarum Virginum Kyneburgae Kyneswitae Tibbae pretiosa pignora pedibus conculcata P. 23. Edit Oxon. Henry of Bolingbroke then Earl of Derby afterward Duke of Hereford and at last King of England lay for some time in this Monastery with a great train in the beginning of this Abbots Government Particularly in the year 1392 when his Courtiers as my Author calls them Hist Croyland Continuatio p. 489. threatned to destroy Depynge and its inhabitants as enemies to him and his Father as well as injurious to Croyland which had suffered much by them and the neighbouring people of Holland Which put them into such a fright that the Steward of the Courts of the Earl of Kent Lord of Depynge and four and twenty of the best of the Town came with all speed to Burgh St. Peter and submitted themselves to the mercy of the Earl of Derby Whose Treasurer interceded for them and procured their Pardon upon promised confirmed by their Oath that they would keep the Peace hereafter with all Hollanders and most strictly punish all disturbers of it that could be found among them WILLIELMUS GENGE If he were the first Mitred Abbot of this Church as Mr. G. sayes Sir H. Spelman's notion is not true that they put on Miters in token they had Episcopal Jurisdiction and being advanced to the dignity of Barons sate in Parliaments which no other Abbots did For the Abbot of Burgh St. Peter sate in Parliament in the 4th year of Edw. 3. as appears by the summons to the Parliament at Winton And there is little truth also in what is commonly said that Mitred Abbots were not subject to any Bishop for after this Abbots time I shall show presently the Bishop of Lincoln kept both the Abbot and Convent for some time under his Visitation There are certain Constitutions I find made by him 1398. and others in the years 1401. and 1406. which I can but mention JOHANNES DEEPING The first of Henry 5th was the fifth year of his Abbotship as a memorandum still remaining tells us and thence we learn he was made Abbot 1407. All that I find of him are some Statutes which he made 1409. about the right observations of certain Festivals and others made by him in the year 1420. Which he calling the eleventh year of his Abbotship from thence it appears he was not made Abbot till the year 1409 He defended also the right the Church had to the Mannor of Walcote in Lincolnshire as I have observed already in the 13 year of Henry the 4th an 1314. against Thomas of Lancaster the Kings Son making it appear that it had been part of the Demeasnes of the Abbey from the first Foundation and had never held of the aforesaid Thomas his Mannor in Holderness In the year 1421. which was the eighth of Hen. 5. a complaint being made to the King of grievous excesses and abuses among the black Monks of the Order of St. Benet all the Abbots and Priors of that Order were Hist Croyl Contin p. 513. summoned to appear before the King at Westminster Where in the Chapterhouse on the 7th of May the King being personally present the charge against them was read by the Bishop of Exeter and he with several persons on both sides were appointed to consider it and to make a reformation which they all promised the King hereafter faithfully to observe RICHARDVS ASHTON In his time about the year 1448. the controversie between this Abbey and that of Croyland revived again the Metes and Bounds of the several Fens belonging to each which had been limited in divers places which the History mentions by crosses and other marks being so worn Hist Croyl Continuatio P. 525. c. out by carelesness in length of time that a very obscure and confused knowledge was the most that was left of them But by the consent of parties and the supervising of the Bishop of Lincoln the business was referred to four indifferent Arbitrators the Abbots and their Convents binding themselves under their Seals in an Obligation of a thousand Marks to acquiesce in what they should Decree Who met several times and inspected the Evidences on both sides but after much time and expences could not agree to determine any thing but resolved to throw the matter upon the Abbots themselves to make an end of it Who met at Ibury a Mannor of the Abbot of Burgh with the Priors of each Monastery and heard from one of the Arbitrators what it was which they would not determin without the express consent of both parties but after much discourse between them they could come to no agreement nor was the controversie setled till many years after But the most remarkable thing in this Abbots time is the pains he took in the regulation of Divine Service in this Monastery about which he made many Ordinances with the consent of all the Convent and drew up a Gustomary out of the ancient usages of the Church for all the Sundays from the Octaves of Whitsunday to the first Sunday in Advent All which are yet extant in his Grace's the Lord Archbishop of Canterburie's Library at Lambeth in two Volumes One written by Simon of Yarwell as he tells us in six verses at the beginning of the Book the other by John Trentam who concludes it with the like verses By this Customary they were directed how to sing their Offices longer or shorter every day as is expressed in the last Rubrick of it Before these Books is prefixed the Ecclesiastical Kalendar which I have had occasion frequently to name at the side of which are set down those Festivals or Anniversaries which were peculiar to this Church and their neighbour as follows January 3. Depositio Domini Martini Abbatis viz. the first of that name 6. Will. de Hotot Abbatis Anniversarium Richardi de Waterville Johannis filii ejus 13. Depositio Elfini Abbatis Anniversarium Matthai Capellani 23. Depositio Domini Elfrici Archiepiscopi February 21. Depositio Domini Andreae Abbatis Abbas missam celebravit 26. Commemoratio fundatorum omnium benefactorum March 1. Depositio Joh. de Caleto Abbatis pro anima Patris Matris ejus Anniversarium Ivonis Supprioris The Abbot was to say Mass himself and the Prior read Divine Service usque ad dirige Quia ista Depositio est in Albis One Ivo de Gunthorp gave all his Lands in Witherington to this Church as appears by the Charter of Rich. 1. who perhaps
ably with his Countrymen and Friends dyedin peace after he had lived many Years Other Writers say he having taken Ivo Talbois in Battle would not deliver him until the King to have his Nephew preserved promised by Oath unto Hereward Reconciliation Pardon his former dignity with full restitution of all that had been his Which was done in the year 1076. Until which time from the death of Brando not only this Monastery but others also suffered very much For in the year 1070. many Abbots as well as Bishops by the Kings procurement were deposed or ejected upon slight surmises that the English might be deprived of all dignities So John Abbot who after he had related how Stigandus was deposed to make way for Lanfranc adds Plures eo anno tam Episcopi quam Abbates vel nullis vel levibus suspitionibus deponuntur aut ejiciuntr procurante Rege ut Angli nullis dignitatibus potirentur In the year 1072 the Monks of Eli were Outlawed having afforded succour to some Great men who were in Rebellion against the King I suppose to those who in the year before were in that Isle and in that Church in open rebellion with Hereward So Abbot John MLXXI Hereward le Wake Ecclesia intra paludes Heliensi cum multis aliis Anglis exlegatis resistit And then it follows An. MLXXII Monachi Helienses quibusdam Angliae Magnatibus contra Regem rebellantibus succursum praebentes exlegati sunt Et multi Monachi Anglici per totam Angliam malè tractati plurimum vexati Multa Monasteria tam de propriis pecuniis quam de aliorum apud ipsos depositis ad quadrantem ultimum spoliata Walsingham Hypodigm Neustriae p. 418. writes much to the same purpose telling us the Conqueror made all the Abbeys in England to be searched and caused all the money which the Richer people had there deposited to be brought into his Coffers only he places this in the year 1070. In the year MLXXV. Comes Northampt. Sanctus Walterus apud Wynton decollatus as the same Abbot John writes Which was done he saith notwithstanding that Lansranc pronounced him innocent and that if he was put to death he would be a Martyr And accordingly he was honoured by Wlfketulus Abbot of Croyland who gave him an honourable Burial and thereupon was violently deposed As indeed all the Bishops and Abbots were if they were Angligenae as he again repeats it introductis in eorum sedes Normannis Which I the rather mention because this Wlfketulus had been bred up in this Church of Burgh as we learn from what follows For that Coronicle saith that Ingulphus succeeding Wlfketulus for though he was an Englishman born he had lived long among the Normans interceeded with the King for his predecessor that he might come from Glastonbury where he was shut up in the Cloyster ad Ecclesiam suam de Burgo Which was granted ubi post paucos dies morbo correpto in Domino requievit Ingulphus P. 78 79. Oxon. Edit himself saith he was taken with a Palsy and that having been kept ten Year at Glastonbury he dyed 1085 after he had been not a few days but four Months at Burgh While he was here Ingulphus had frequent conversation with him for he procured leave that Wlfketulus might come from Burgh to Croyland as often as he thought good to call him Who informed Ingulphus of the Estate of the Church of Croyland and brought back to it many rich things but some he saith still remained at Burgh He was the more acceptable because there were Lands concealed from that Monastery in the discovery of which he thought Wlfketulus might assist him For one Alsford Bailiff of the Church of Croyland had been notoriously guilty of it and was called to an account for it by Ingulphus presently after he entred upon his Government But as he was in the way to appear before the King's Justices at Stamford he broke his neck by a fall off from his Horse and was carried to be buried at Burgh according to the order he had taken about it in his life time They that delight to read wonderful things may look into Ingulphus Pag. 77. and find a story he tells of a miraculous cloud about the Sun as they were carrying his body thither But it is time to return to Turoldus who as Hugo writes was a mischief to this Church eight and twenty years Which is not to be understood so rigorously as if he did no good for first as he gave away much Land so he got some back again particularly the Mannors that had been granted to Ivo Talbois which he was perswaded to restore to the Monks in his life time so that after his decease they should return ad dominium Sancti Petri. This I find in a Charter of William Rufus which runs thus Gulielmus Rex Anglorum Roberto Lincolniensi Episcopo by this it appears this was William the second for he made Robert Bishop of Linc. in the 6th year of his Reign 1092 Oswino vicecomite omnibus Baronibus suis fidelibus salutem Sciatis me concessisse Sancto Petro de Burgo Thuroldo Abbati Monachis ejusdem Ecclesiae ad victum eorum terras illas quas Ivo Talbois de praedicto Abbate tenuit ipse idem Yvo eisdem Monachis in vita sua reddidit ita sc ut post decessum ejus ad dominium Sancti Petri redirent Testante Cyrographo ab eodem Yvone Thuroldo Abbate conscripto Haec autem sunt terrarum nomina scil Scotere Walcote cum omnibus appendiciis c. And secondly all these Soldiers who had feods given them out of the Estate of the Church for its defence were bound by the original grant to serve the King also when there was occasion in his Wars This I understand out of a description of all the feoda militum still remaining in the Book called Swapham Fol. CCLXX. where this account is given why they were granted Quia omnes milites praedicti pro defensione domus facienda in exercitu Domini Regis alibi cum necesse esset de dominico Abbatis conventus feodati fuerant There also it appears how they sewed in King John's time and before that in Henry the seconds nay from the time of their first Infeoffement So the words are Et ante tempus ejusdem Henrici postquam feodati fuerunt à tempore dicti regis usque ad praesens hac ratione quia c. And Thirdly He and his Souldiers not only built Towns in those wast places which Adulphus had cleared from Wood and let the Lands out to Farm at a certain Rent c. some of which Towns were called by their names and remain to this day as Gunthorp Melton Walton Barnak c. but also Churches and Chappels the profits of which the Monastery received intirely for many years till the time of Ernulphus So the words are Ibid. fol. CCXCV. eodem vero tempore construebatur
is the person here named 7. Translatio Sanctorum Kynesburgh Kyneswyth 13. Depositio Domini Akarii Abbatis The Abbot said Mass himself 22. Depositio Roberti de Sutton Abbatis Anniversarium Henrici Aurifabri Joh. de Trikingham Prioris The Abbot said Mass In this month there was Missa matutinalis cum cappa for the Souls of the Fathers and Mothers c. of all the Monks of this Monastery Of the celebration cum cappis I shall give an account at the end of the Kalendar April 11. Sancti Guthlaci Who was Confessor to King Ethelbald who founded the Abbey of Croyland in memory of him 12. Depositio Thoroldi Guidonis Abbatis Et Anniversarium Rob. de Hale Agnetis Matris ejus May. In the first Week of May Legenda facienda est Conventio inter Ecclesias Burgi de Sancto Victore habebunt missam ferialem In which they sung de Profundis cibus ea die ponatur ad mensam I shall explain this at the end In Whitsun-Week was Commemoratio specialium Defunctorum That is in some of the Ember-days For so I find in our Records fol. CCLXXIV Statutum est in capitulo per Dominum Robertum Abbatem communi conventus consensu quod quater in anno fiat commemoratio omnium Defunctorum quorum debitores sumus per specialem conventionem sive societatem sc aliquo die quae vacaverit in Ebdomada quatuor temporum 30. Depositio Domini Arewyni Abbatis June 5. Depositio Adulphi Episcopi Anniversarium Richardi de Lincolnia Agnetis Vxoris suae 26. Depositio Martini Abbatis July 13. Depositio Episcoporum Gamalielis Huberti August 1. Depositio Domini Richardi de London Abbatis The Abbot said Mass And they were in Albis the Prior reading the Service as before upon John de Caleto's day and praying for the Souls of his Father and Mother without naming them 9. Depositio Godfrid de Croyland Abbatis In Albis the Abbot saying Mass and the Prior reading as before After Mass the whole Convent made a Chorus with the Praecentor Succensor and the Senior Masters 28. Depositio Will. Landavensis Episcopi Anniversarium Domini Reginaldi Presbyters September 2. Depos Domini Will. de Wodeford Abbatis Annivers Johannis de Gresham The Abbot said Mass In Ember Week Commemoratio specialium Defunctorum as before in Whitsun-Week 25. Depositio Domini Benedicti Abbatis The Abbot said Mass the Prior read as before In Albis October 6. Depositio Domini Roberti de Ramsey Abbatis fratris Thomae de Burgo The Abbot said Mass 15. Depositio Domini Eylrici Episcopi Memoria Benefactorum 22. Depositio Domini Matthiae Abbatis memoriae Wynegoti Monachi This Wynegot I observed before bought St. Oswald's Arm hither from Bebeburch 29. Depos Domini Roberti de Lyndsey Abbatis The Abbot said Mass the Prior read ad tertiam and they were in Albis Novemb. 1. Depositio Lefrici Abbatis 4. The Abbot said Mass for the souls of all the faithful departed this Life 10. Depositio Johannis de Says Abbatis Annivers Henrici Talbot Richardi de Spaldynge 19. Depositio Alexandri Abbatis Et Anniversarium Reginaldi de Castro Matildis Vxoris suae 23. Depositio Adae Abbatis Botheby Anniversarium Domini Joh. de Aysby Magistri Joh. de Hacwedone 30. Depositio Brandonis Will de Waterville Abbatum Anniversarium Adae de Walkote Decemb. 1. A Commemoration of the Fathers Mothers and Parents of their Benefactors of Burgh In Ember week as before at Whitsuntide a Commemoration Specialium Defunctorum 20. Depositio Kynsini Archiepiscopi Anniversarium Radulphi Comitis 26. Depositio Walteri Abbatis The Abbot said Mass There is once mention made the Reader may observe in this Kalendar of celebrating cum Cappis or Capis that is in Copes which added very much to the solemnity As appears by what I find in a MS. History of the Church of Westminster written by John Fleet a Monk thereof Who tells us that Radulphus Papilyon who was made Abbot 1201. obtained the consent of the Chapter for the celebrating the Feasts of four Saints whom he much loved in Capis viz. St. Laurence Vincent Nicolaus and Translatio Sancti Benedicti And he sets down the Charter wherein this was granted at his instance for the keeping these Feasts in Capis processionibus cum vinis pitanciis honorabilibus That is formerly they were observed only with Ale and a simple pitance but after this with Wine and more honourable allowances as the Charter it self explains it Richard of Berking afterward ordained that on three days following the translation of King Edward Mass should be said still in Capis for the greater honour of that Saint And Richard de Crokesly ordained out of reverence to the blessed Virgin that the Annunciation should be celebrated at her nativity in quinque Capis And thus I observed before it was in this Church of Burgh where Rob. Lyndesay ordained the Feasts of our Lords Transfiguration the Translation of St. Thomas and the birth of St. Hugh to be celebrated in Copes Much more if it were proper in this place I could add to this purpose But I hasten to explain the meaning of the Convention or agreement between this Church and that of St. Victor which was to be read the first week in May. I have already observed that Friendship was wont to be contracted between some Churches with others as John de Kaleto I showed made confederationem inter Ecclesiam Burgi Wigorn. the particulars of which are set down in the Charter yet remaining Fol. CLXXV Such was this with the Church of St. Victor which I find expresly mentioned afterward Fol. CCLXXIV where an account is given of the Churches with whom this Church had made Confederations and what they were At the bottom of which Page there are these words Eadem Conventio facta est item inter nos Canonicos de Sancto Victore c. that is the same that was between this Church and the Canons of Gisburn which was this That in the first Week of Lent there should be an Office performed in the Church of Burgh for all the Brethren of Gisburn who were dead And on the morrow a Mass in the Convent every Priest celebrating one Mass and the rest who were in inferior Order singing 50. Psalms The like to be done at Gisburn for those of Burgh Et Cibus ea die ponatur ad mensam though it was the beginning of Lent The same was done for those of St. Victor on the first vacant day in the first week of May. The Abbey of St. Victor de Caleto in Normandy had several Mannors in England with great Liberties confirmed by the Charter of King Henry II. as I find in the Monasticon Vol. 2. P. 1002. A Relique of this St. Victor I find also given to the Church of St. Paul by Radulphus de Diceto Dean of
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
by the many shots they made at length do quite deface and spoil Picture The odiousness of this Act gave occasion I suppose to a common Fame very rife at that time and whence Mercurius Rusticus might have his relation viz. That divine Vengeance had signally seised on some of the principal Actors That one was struck blind upon the place by a Re-bound of his Bullet That another dyed mad a little after neither of which I can certainly attest For though I have made it my business to enquire of this I could never find any other judgment befal them then but that of a mad blind Zeal wherewith these persons were certainly possest And now I am engaged in telling the story of their impiety and profaneness at Peterburgh 't will be no great excursion to step out to Yaxley a neighbouring Town and mention one thing done there Which was This on the 10th of June 1643. some of Captain Beaumont's Souldiers coming thither They break open the Church doors piss in the Font and then baptize a Horse and a Mare using the solemn words of Baptism and signing them with the sign of the Cross But to return to our reforming Rabble at Peterburgh when there was no more painted or carved work to demolish Then they rob and rifle the Tombs and violate the Monuments of the dead And where should they first begin but with those of the two Queens who had been there interr'd The one on the North side the other on the South side of the Church both near unto the Altar First then they demolish Queen Katherin's Tomb Hen. the Eighth his repudiated Wife They break down the Rails that enclosed the place and take away the black Velvet Pall which covered the Herse overthrow the Herse it self displace the Gravestone that lay over her Body and have left nothing now remaining of that Tomb but only a Monument of their own shame and villany The like they had certainly done to the Queen of Scots but that her Herse and Pall were removed with her Body to Westminster by King James the first when He came to the Crown But what did remain they served in like manner that is her Royal Arms and Escutcheons which hung upon a Pillar near the place where she had been interr'd were most rudely pulled down defaced and torn In the North Isle of the Church there was a stately Tomb in memory of Bishop Dove who had been 30 years Bishop of the place He lay there in Portraicture in his Episcopal Robes on a large Bed under a fair Table of black Marble with a Library of Books about him These men that were such Enemies to the name and Office of a Bishop and much more to his Person hack and hew the poor Innocent Statue in pieces and soon destroy'd all the Tomb. So that in a short space all that fair and curious Monument was buried in its own rubbish and Ruines The like they do to two other Monuments standing in that Isle the one the Tomb of Mr. Worm the other of Dr. Angier who had been Prebendary of that Church In a Place then called the new Building and since converted to a Library there was a fair Monument which Sir Humphrey Orm to save his Heir that charge and trouble thought fit to erect in his own life time where he and his Lady his Son and Wife and all their children were lively represented in Statues under which were certain English verses written mention'd before in this Book Mistake not Reader I thee crave This is an Altar not a Grave Where fire raked up in Ashes lyes And hearts are made the Sacrifice c. Which two words Altar and Sacrifice 't is said did so provoke and kindle the Zealots indignation that they resolve to make the Tomb it self a Sacrifice and with Axes Poleaxes and Hammers destroy and break down all that curious Monument save only two Pilasters still remaining which shew and testifie the elegancy of the rest of the Work Thus it hapned that the good old Knight who was a constant frequenter of Gods publick Service three times a day outlived his own Monument and lived to see himself carried in Effigie on a Souldiers back to the publick Market-place there to be sported withall a Crew of Souldiers going before in Procession some with Surplices some with Organ Pipes to make up the solemnity When they had thus demolished the chief Monuments at length the very Gravestones and Marbles on the Floor did not escape their Sacrilegious hands For where there was any thing on them of Sculptures or Inscriptions in Brass These they force and tear off So that whereas there were many fair pieces of this kind before as that of Abbot William of Ramsey whose large Marble Gravestone was plated over with Brass and several others the like there is not any such now in all the Church to be seen though most of the Inscriptions that were upon them are preserved in this Book One thing indeed I must needs clear the Souldiers of which Mercurius Rusticus upon misinformation charges them with viz. That they took away the Bell-Clappers and sold them with the Brass they plucked off from the Tombs The mistake was this The neighbourhood being continually disturbed with the Souldiers jangling and ringing the Bells auker as though there had been a scare-fire though there was no other but what they themselves had made some of the Inhabitants by night took away the Clappers and hid them in the Roof of the Church on purpose only to free their ears from that confused noise which gave occasion to such as did not know it to think the Souldiers had stolen them away Having thus done their work on the Floor below they are now at leisure to look up to the Windows above which would have entertained any persons else with great delight and satisfaction but only such Zealots as these whose eyes were so dazled that they thought they saw Popery in every Picture and piece of painted Glass Now the Windows of this Church were very fair and had much curiosity of workmanship in them being adorned and beautified with several Historical passages out of Scripture and Ecclesiastical story such were those in the Body of the Church in the Isles in the new Building and elsewhere But the Cloister Windows were most famed of all for their great Art and pleasing variety One side of the Quadrangle containing the History of the Old Testament another that of the New a Third the Founding and Founders of the Church a Fourth all the Kings of England downward from the first Saxon King All which notwithstanding were most shamefully broken and destroyed And amongst other things thus demolisht in the Windows there was one thing Fame had made very remarkable and that was the story of the Paschal Pickeril The thing was this Our Saviour was represented in two places in the Cloyster and in the great Western Window sitting at his last Supper with his twelve Apostles In
the end of it The Hall was as fair a Room as most in England and another call'd the Green-Chamber not much inferior to it These all were then pull'd down and destroyed and the materials Lead Timber and Stone exposed to Sale for any that would buy them But some of the Bargains proved not very prosperous The Lead especially that came off the Palace was as fatal as the Gold of Tholouse for to my knowledge The Merchant that bought it lost it all and the Ship which carried it in her Voyage to Holland And thus the Church continued ruined and desolate and without all divine Offices for a time till at length by the favour of a great Person in the Neighbourhood it was repaired and restored to some degrees of decency again and out of the ashes of a late Cathedral grew up into a new Parochial Church in which way it was employ'd and used ever after untill the Kings happy Restauration For Mr. Oliver St. John Chief Justice then of the Common Pleas being sent on an Embassy into Holland by the Powers that govern'd then requested this Boon of them at his Return that they would give him the ruin'd Church or Minster at Peterburgh this they did accordingly and he gave it to the Town of Peterburgh for their use to be employ'd as a Parochial Church their own Parish-Church being then very ruinous and gone to decay Now the the Town considering the largeness of the Building and the greatness to the charge to repair it which of themselves they were not able to defray they all agree to pull down the Ladies Chapel as it was then called an additional Building to the North side of the Minster being then ruinous and ready to fall and to expose the materials thereof Lead Timber and Stone to Sale and to convert the mony that was made of them towards the Repairs of the great Fabrick All this they did and appointed certain persons to oversee the Work and expended several summs thus in Repairs mending the Leads securing the Roof Glazing several Windows and then fitting up the Quire and making it pretty decent for the Congregation to meet in And this they did by taking the Painted Boards that came off from the Roof of the Ladies Chapel and placing them all along at the back of the Quire in such manner as they continue to this day When the Place was thus fitted up and the Devastations which the Souldiers had made in some measure repaired one Mr. Samuel Wilson School Master of the Charter-house in London was sent down by the Committee of Plundred Ministers as they were then called to be Preacher with a Sallary of 160 l. per an in which employment he continued untill the Kings Return Then Dr. Cosin the antient Dean of the Church after almost 20 years Exile in France return'd and re-assumed his Right again in the year 1660 about the end of July He then after so long an Interval renew'd the antient usage and read divine Service first himself and caused it to be read every day afterward according to the old Laudable use and Custome and setled the Church and Quire in that order wherein it now continues But though the Church was thus delivered from publick Robbers and Spoilers yet it was not safe from the injuries of private hands For some ten or twelve years after certain Thieves in the dead of the Night broke into the Church and stole away all the Plate they could find viz. a fair Silver Bason gilt and the Virgers two Silver Rods and a Linnen Table-Cloth to wrap them in which were never heard of to this day This was the same Bason that had been plunder'd by the Souldiers and recovered again but irrecoverably lost now Yet both these losses were soon repaired one by Dr. Henshaw Bishop then of the Place who gave a fair new Silver Bason gilt the other made up by Dr. Duport then Dean who furnisht the Virgers again with the Ensigns of their Office by buying two new Silver Maces for the Churches use And thus is this History brought down at length within our own knowledge and remembrance where we have seen what various fortunes this Antient Church has had which now reckons at least 1000 years from its first Foundation It has been often ruinated and as often reedified Once it was destroyed by Danes twice consumed by Fire It escaped the general downfal of Abbies in Hen. the Eighth's time though not without the loss of some of her fairest Mannors And yet what that King took away in revenues he added to it in Dignity by converting it from an Abbey into a Cathedral Church But the worst mischief that ever befel it was that in the late Rebellious times when the Church it self was miserably defaced and spoiled and all the Lands for the maintenance thereof quite alienated and sold And yet through Gods especial goodness and favour we have lived to see the one repaired the others restored and the Church it self recovering her ancient beauty and lustre again And that it may long thus continue flourish and prosper and be a Nursery for vertue a Seminary for true Religion and Piety a constant Preserver of Gods publick worship and service and free from all Sacrilegious hands is the earnest and hearty Prayer wherewith I shall conclude this Discourse Ex Libro Memorandor Oliv. Sutton Episc Lincoln Anno Pontificatus sui XI A. D. 1290. OLiv c. Archidiacono Oxon. c. Ad Audientiam nostram nuper certa relatione pervenit Quod nonnulli juxta suarum mentium inconstantiam quasi vento agitati a cultu fidei temere deviantes locum quendam in campo juxta Ecclesiam Sancti Clementis extra Municipium Oxon. fontem beati Edmundi vulgariter nuncupatum veluti locum sacrum venerari illumque sub simulatione sacrorum Miraculorum quae perpetrata confingunt ibidem causa devotionis erroneae frequentare ac populum non modicum illuc attrahendo hujusmodi figmentis dampnatis decipere imo pervertere noviter presumpserint errorem Gentilium inter Christicolas introducere superstitiose conando Nos vero hujusmodi incredulitatis perfidiam veluti contra fidem Ecclesiae Doctrinam Apostolicam ne corda renatorum caligine haereticae pravitatis obducat temporis per processum si forte radicari germinare zizania permittatur tortuose serpente virus sui cautius ministrante fomentum eliminare prorsus amputare deo propitio volentes Vobis firmiter injungendo mandamus quatenus in singulis Ecclesiis intra Missarum folempnia locis aliis Archidiaconatus vestri in quibus videritis expedire per vos alios firmiter inhibeatis ne quis ad dictum locum causa venerationis ejusdem de cetero convenire illum superstitiose frequentare presumat sub pena Excommuncationis Maj. omnes singulos contra hujus inhibitionem scienter temere venientes dicta sententia comminata solempniter in genere innodantes donec de culpa contriti
they had received investiture into their Abbeys from the King and not from Anselme So Godricus held his Abbey of Peterburgh but one year which was an unhappy year too for in that year Foreign Thieves from Almain France and Flanders broke in through a window into the Church and stole away a Cross of beaten Gold with many Jewels two Chalices and Patins two golden Candlesticks which Elfricus Archbishop of York had given to this Church Although the Thieves were pursued and taken yet the goods were not recovered but came into the Kings hand who held them so fast that the Abbey could not retrieve them Godricus being deposed the Abbey was destitute of an Abbot about the space of four years all which time it continued in the Kings hand at length King Henry 1. in the year 1103. and the 3 or 4. of his Reign sent an Abbot unto them Until these days of King Henry all the Charters and Grants of former Kings and other Benefactors to the Church were without Seals and signed only with their Names and Figures of a Cross but now they began to affix Seals to their Deeds 16. MATTHIAS Was the man whom King Henry sent to the Abbey of Burgh after that Godricus was deposed One may almost smell the wind that blew Matthias hither for he was Brother to Galfridus Ridel the Kings Chief Justice to whom Matthias gave the Mannor of Pightesly belonging then to his Church What conveyance Abbot Matthias made to his brother Galfridus I cannot determine but Galfridus resolved to hold the Mannor of Pightesly as his own and not of the Monastery of Peterburgh which caused a long suit betwixt them until at length an agree-ment was made betwixt the Abbot not this Matthias but one of his Successors and Galfridus that he should hold the said Mannor for his life paying to the Abbot the yearly rent of four Marks and that after his decease the Mannor should return again to the Church of Peterburgh which it did not long after for Galfridus was drowned at Sea with William Son of King Henry Not long after Abbot John de Sais gave the King 60 Marks in Silver to confirm again the Mannor of Pightesly to his Monastery Matthias held his Monastery of Peterburgh but one year for on the same day he entred thereon on the same day twelve month he died at Gloucester about the year 1105. and the King again kept the Monastery in his hand three years till the coming of 17. ERNVLFVS He was Prior of Canterbury and there being then a Council holden at London wherein many were promoted to Ecclesiastical Dignities Ernulfus was offered to the Monks of Peterburgh for their Abbot and they willingly accepted of him knowing him to be both a pious and prudent man Whilst he was Prior of Canterbury the business concerning the marriage of Priests was hastily agitated and Anselme the then Archbishop was strongly for the negative writing Letters to this Ernulfus which are to be seen in Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments Whilst Ernulfus was Abbot here all things went happily with the Monastery Ernulfus promoting the good thereof by the Kings favour which he had in a plentiful measure He built the new Dormitory the Necessary and finished the Chapter-house which was began before he made an agreement betwixt his Convent and those Knights who held Lands of his Abby that every Knight See in Adulphus should pay yearly to the Sacristary two parts of his Tythes and at his death the third part of his whole Estate for his burial in the Church all his Knightly endowments as well Horses as Armes being to be brought with his body and offer'd up to S. Peter the Convent were to receive the Corps with procession and to perform the office for the dead In the time of this Ernulfus Anno 1112. was the Church of Thirlby near Bourn in Lincolnshire dedicated by Robert Bloet then Bishop of Lincoln Thirlby Church dedicated Swapham fol. 115. pag. 1. which Church with the Mannor belonged then to this Monastery of Peterburgh Abbot Ernulfus was translated from this his government in his seventh year Anno 1114. For King Henry being to pass over the Sea and waiting for a wind at Bourn he sent to Peterburgh for Ernulfus to come unto him to consult about weighty Affairs he being the Kings Confessor but being come the King with Raulfus so our Peterburgh writers call him but Bishop Godwin Rodolphus the Archbishop of Canterbury importuned him to take upon him the Bishoprick of Rochester which Ernulfus did though much against his will the Monks also taking it very heavily wept for the loss of their Abbot Ernulfus being Bishop of Rochester wrote a Book in answer to certain questions propounded See the Catalogue at the end O. and B. by Lambertus Abbot of S. Bertine as also another book of incestuous Marriages although Pitseus makes no mention of him Ernulfus being thus removed the King gave his Monastery to Johannes de Sais or 18. JOHN of Salisbury He being appointed Abbot was honourably received of the Monks He took a journey to Rome but I find not to what end and returned the year following In his time the Monastery was burnt again only the Chapter-house Dormitory Necessary and the new Refectory escaped the flames which took hold of the Village and wholly consumed it Wittlesey writes that one in the Bakehouse being to kindle a fire with much pains could not make it burn which John the Abbot being present seeing in a cholerick mood cried The Devil kindle it and presently the fire flamed to the top of the house ran through all the Abbots Offices and thence to the Town The life burning in one of the Towers for nine days together a violent wind drove the Coals upon the Abbots house and fired that also Afterwards Abbot John began to build the Church anew Anno 1118. which he industriously prosecuted but lived not to finish it for he held his Abby but eleven years and died of a Dropsie Anno 1125. being the 25 or 26 of King Henry I. A year before this was the Church of Castri dedicated as may be seen by an Inscription yet continuing over the Chancel door XV KL MAII DEDICATIO HUJUS ECCLESIAE MCXXIIII Abbot John being dead the King again kept the Monastery in his hand two years And although as hath been said this John gave the King 60 Marks for the confirmation of the Mannor of Pightesly yet upon the death of John the Abbot of Peterburgh the King having all at his disposing for 60 Marks more sold Pightesly to Richard Basset and for Abbot of this Monastery appointed 19. HENRICVS de Angeli Or Henry of Anjou who was made Abbot Anno 1128. He being ambitious sought after many preferments but held them not long for besides he was unstable and voluntarily deserted his present Governments or else found opposition in new ones that he was compelled to withdraw Having an Abbey beyond Sea he got a
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