by his frequent vomitings of blood as his Brother Remaldus was called Spiritualis our Book saith because he was a very little Man and ministred with much affection to the Elder Sacrist He is mentioned also by those Authors as a noble Writer and said to have left an accurate History of this Church of Peterburgh and praised by Leland as Vossius observes L. 2. de Histor Lat. C. 56. who calls him luculentus scriptor rerum gestarum and yet it is not agreed when he lived nor whether his History be any where remaining because few or none have read this Book called SWAPHAM with due care and observation Vossius saith HUGO flourished in the later end of the Reign of King John In which I have shown he was mistaken And Mr. Gunton himself the Writer of this present History makes a question in the end of Robert de Lyndsay's life whether Hugo's Book be not now lost though Leland he observes had seen and read it Which inclines me to think he principally relied upon what Walter of Witlesea hath written about this Church and did not think it necessary to read all the Book called Swapham for that would have informed him he was reading the very same HUGO whom Leland read Especially if he had compared Leland's Collections concerning this Monastery with the Book called Swapham as I have done whereby he would have found that they are word for word the same only abbreviated by Leland Who ends his Collectanea just where Hugo's life ended with the Deposition of William de Watervile and goes not one step further and therefore might well call them in the Title of them Collectanea ex libro Hugonis Monarchi Petroburgensis Our Book indeed now called Swapham proceeds further and carries on the History as far as to William de Hotot the Predecessor of John de Caleto In whose time or in Robert Sutton's not long after or in the Year 1271 which was the last of Henry 3. I suppose Robert Swapham dyed For in that year I find a Deed made by Henry Passenger de Quadering unto that Abbot and the Convent which is said to be done tempore Rob. de Swapham Who was then Celerarius of this Church and made a purchace of Robert the Father of that Henry for the benefit of the Celeraria of which he had the management Whom I take to have been only a Continuator of Hugo and but a little way neither having wrote no more than the History of Seven Abbots For it doth not appear that he was the Transcriber of all the Records which are in no good order put together at the end of the History unto which both Mr. Gunton and my self have had recourse for the perfecting of these Labours I have perused also a MS. Chronicle which that eminent lover of Learning Sir John Cotton did me the favour to lend me out of his renowned Library written as the Title bears per Johannem Abbatem Burgi Sancti Petri. What John this was is the doubt there being two of that name who may pretend unto it John de Says and John de Caleto The first of them it cannot be for ad An. 975. this Chronicle referrs the Reader to William of Malmsbury and to Henry Archdeacon of Huntingdon whom he mentions also both ad An. 1135. and 1153 where are these words Hic finit Chronica Henrici Huntingdon as ad An. 1153 there are these his finit Chron. Alredi Who all three lived about the same time the first of them in 1142 the second 1158 the third 1145 all of them after the death of John de Says And therefore I conclude it was written by John de Caleto who lived in the time of Henry 3. an hundred Year after them Vossius indeed makes this Johannes Burgensis to have lived in the time of Edward 3. about 1340 when there was no Abbot here of that name But he calls him Vir eruditus disertus and saith he is commended by Leland as one that had digested the Annals of England in good order Besides these two Johns there is no Abbot of that name but John of Deeping who died almost an hundred Year after that 1439 long after this Chronicon ends Which is the more likely to be John de Caleto's because there is no mention at all made when he died nor who was his Successor but only of the time when he was made Abbot After which the Annals were carried on in all probability by another hand who was better acquainted with the affairs of the Church of Spalding than with those of Peterburgh For he saith little of Peterburgh but gives a very large account from the forementioned period of all the Priors of Spalding who are spoken of in the preceding Part of the Annals very sparingly I might have been furnished with other Records out of the same Library which I sought after but could not find till it was too late that is till the Supplement to this History was grown so bigg that it could bear no further enlargement without great loss to the Undertaker June 20. 85. S. P. Beneuolo froute Ilumfridae Orme Petriburg ' Armig. Notitia frontis Lectiae Cath. ibid. posteritat conseruatur Ecclesiae Cathedralis Petroburgensis facies Occidentalis The West Prospect of the Cathedral Church of Peterborough The East-Prospect of the Cathedral Church of Peterborough The Old Altar-peice beaten down by the Souldiers in the great Rebellion THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF PETERBURGH WHEN this Realm of England was divided into an Heptarchy the Mercian Kingdom being one and the greatest of them all had the County of Northampton within its Dominion the Eastern part of which County being Moorish and Fenny was anciently inhabited by a People called the Gyrvii of the old Word Gyr which signified a Fen and for the conveniency and fertility of this place for its nearness both to the high and upland Countrey and the Fens it was thought meet for habitation The Village was at the first called by the name of Medeshamsted from a deep Pit or Gulf in the River of Nen called Medeswell which ancient Writers of the place affirm to have been of wonderful depth and so cold in the heat of Summer that no Swimmer was able to abide the cold thereof and yet in the Winter it was never known to be frozen Which Properties are now lost with the Well it self only Tradition hath preserved a dark memory thereof adventuring to say It is a little beneath the Bridge that is now standing But if this Well be lost there is another sunk with it into the Pit of Oblivion namely S. Laurence-Well of great fame in ancient days Dr. Hamm. Annot. in fol. 695. whither disposed people according to the Devotion of those times resorted haply for cure of Diseases which kind of Devotion was restrained by Oliver Sutton Bishop of Lincoln In what part Oliver Sutton was B. of Lincoln 1280. of the Monastery this Well was I find not it is probable
relates in this manner Wlgatus diutissimam calumniam passus ab Abbatibus Burgi Elfino Arwino Leofrico Abbatiae suae sedem amittens tandem succubuit proh dolor totum situm Monasterii sui judicio Regalis Curiae perdidit In the time of Edw. 4. 1477. John Wysbech Abbot of Croyland rebuilt the Chappel of St. Pege de Paylond as it was vulgarly called quae per multas ante annos solo aequata jacebat as I find in the Continuation of the History of Croyland lately printed p. 560. For though the Church of Peterburgh had the greatest interest in that place and still hath the Mannor and Advowson of Peykyrke yet the Abbot of Croyland also had some Land there by an antient right Which appears from an agreement made between John de Says Abbot of Burgh and Godfrey Abbot of Croyland in the year MCXVI. in coemiterio de Peichirche in the Church-yard of Peykyrke where there were complaints on both sides de Sochemannis For the Abbot of Croylande had antiently as the agreement acknowledges a certain Court in that Village in which were his Houses de qua nulla soca Ecclesiae Sancti Petri de Burgo reddi debebat But all the rest of the Land in the Village de soca Sancti Petri de Burgo erat consuetudines socae Abbati Monachis reddebat Now the Monks of Croylande complained that some did unjustly intra septa suae curiae hospitari whereas they ought to have in that Court octo hospitum domos quietas sine soca And therefore they came at last to this conclusion that it was acknowledged upon Oath that all the Land was in soca Sancti Petri except that antient Court and the eight houses therein the House of the Abbot of Croyland himself not excepted So the words are Swaph fol. CXVIII Fuit ergo in praedicto coemiterio de Peichirche disraimatum per Sacramentum firmatum omnes esse in soca Sancti Petri excepta illa antiqua Curia octo hospitum domibus Domus quoque Abbatis de Croylande quam Monachi in soca Sancti Petri fecerant sicut justum erat in soca Sancti Petri fuit jurata The names of the Jurates on both parts are set down and the Witnesses also The last of which on the part of Croyland is Robertus Nepos Abbatis Ingulphi There have been more Records belonging to this matter but a whole Leaf concerning it is torn out of the Book and other differences between this Church and that if I have room shall be noted hereafter Towards the latter end of the government of Elfinus all our Historians agree Elfricus or Alfricus for his name is diversly written as the other is was buried in this Church He had been bred up here but came to be first Bishop of Winchester as Tho. Stubbs tells us Actus Pontif. Eborac and afterward Archbishop of York who had a Palace at Suthwell where he died An. MLI and commemorated here in this Church of Burgh upon the 23. Jan. over against which I find in the Kalender these words Depositio Elfrici Archiepiscopi He was succeeded in his See by Kinsinus or Kinsius as some call him Radulph de Diceto calls him Kinsigius then Chaplain to King Edward the Confessor Four years after which Elfinus dyed as among many others John Abbot tells us Whose words are these ad An. MLV. Elfinus Abbas Burgi obiit successit Ariwinus It hapned in January also for in the forenamed Kalender are these words over against the 13. day Depositio Elfini Abbatis Anniversarium Matthaei Capellani I have nothing further to add but that Elfricus the Archbishop gave to this Church together with his body as Hugo writes two rich Albes wrought with Gold two of their best Copes an Altar with Reliques two Palls and two great Silver Candlesticks which were afterward stoln and his own Staff with many other things AREWINVS Eruinus as some call him or Arnewinus was chosen by the whole company being vir mirae Sanctitatis simplicitatis as Hugo Characterizes him Who out of too much simplicity changed the Royal Village of Holneie which was in the Demean of St. Peter as the writings of the Church witness for that of Stokes for no other reason but because it was a nearer way unto his own Farm to go by Stokes In this private Farm it was I suppose that he chose to live rather than in this great dignity wherein he continued a far less time than Mr. G. mentions For if W. the Conqueror came into England the XIth year it should be the IXth of Leofricus as Hugo saith then Arewynus could not possibly be Abbot here eight year For Elfinus dying as hath been shown 1055 there passed from thence till the coming in of the Conqueror which was 1066. no more than Eleven year He resigned therefore his place after he had been two year Abbot An. MLVII as it is in the Margin of Hugo and after that lived eight year So the words of Hugo run very plainly Hic in prosperitate vitae suae voluntarie dimisit Abbatiam suam VIII postea feliciter vivens annos And so I find it in the MS. Chron. of Abbot John ad An. 1057. Arewynus Abbas Bur i demisit se de Abbatia cui successit egregius Pater Leofricus He dyed it appears by the Kalender on the 30. of May where are these words Depositio Arewyni Abbatis LEO FRICVS Called in the Kalander of this Church Lefricus and by Hugo Leuricus and by the Annals of Burton Levericus was chosen by the whole society with the consent of the King and of Arewinus being pulcherrimus Monachorum as Hugo describes him flos decus Abbatum descended of the noble Stock of the Angles and more Noble for his behaviour most nobly governed and inriched this Church and as it is written ornavit tempora sua usque ad consummationem vitae For he purchased much Land and bestowed divers Ornaments upon it particularly the great Crucifix upon the Altar of marvellous work of Silver and Gold Gold and Silver Candlesticks a great Table before the Altar all of Gold and Silver and precious Stone and besides other things mentioned in Hugo Casulam ex purpura optime de auro pretiosis gemmis ornatam alias multas casulas cappas pallia alia ornamenta plus quam ullus ante cum fecit aut post eum facturus est In short this place he saith was inriched so incredibly in his time that now it was called not simply Burch but Gildinburch i. e. aurea civitas the Golden City At his petition Edward the Confessor confirmed all the Grants of his Ancestors to this Church and made him the more able to inrich it by letting him hold four other Abbeys with it Which though mentioned by Mr. G. I take notice of again because he hath omitted the reason why the second of them viz. Coventry was granted to him which was because it
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
he gave to the Monastery many Lands as in Muscham Schotter Scalthorp Yolthorp Messingham Malmeton Cletham Hibaldstow Rachevildthorp Holme Riseby Walcot Normanby Alethorp there joyning with him Askylus Syricus and Sivortus who procured from King Edward a confirmation of these Lands to the Church Brando when he was Abbot created his Nephew Herewardus le Wake Lord of Brunne now Bourn Knight which Herewardus was a valiant man and stoutly opposed the Normans in those parts Brando enjoyed not long his Government but in November Anno 1069. which was the third of King William he died 14. TVROLDVS or THOROLDVS A Norman was placed by King William in the vacant Abby of Peterburgh He being a stranger neither loved his Monastery nor his Convent him He began to make a strange dispersion of the Lands belonging to his Church conferring sixty and two Hides of Land upon certain stipendiary Knights that they might defend him against Herewardus le Wake This Herewardus was son of Leofricus Lord of Brunne and having had a Military education beyond Seas repaired home to employ his valour in defence of his native Country against the Normans It hapned at that time that the Danes under Sweyn their King son of Canutus invaded this Land amongst whom Osbernus an Earl and Bishop entred into the Isle of Ely with whom Herewardus joyned and incited him to set upon the Monastery of Peterburgh for that the King had given it to a Norman Herewardus and the Danes coming hither the Monks and others with them defended themselves for a time with much valour in a hot dispute at Bolehith-gate now commonly called Bulldyke-gate being on the South of the Monastery and yet standing where when Herewardus and the Danes perceived their entrance doubtful and that they could not cut their way with their Swords and Weapons they assayed to do it by fire upon the adjoyning buildings and so entred through flame and smoke Being entred they seized upon all the good things they found carrying them away to Ely leaving much of the buildings the Monastery only excepted destroyed by fire and taking Adelwoldus the Prior with many of the more ancient Monks thither also But Adelwoldus watching for an opportunity to get away and return home the Danes being jovial and merry at a triumphal feast for this their booty Adelwoldus got privately to himself some gold and silver with some Reliques amongst which was S. Oswald's arm which he hid in his bedstraw till he could make his escape But an agreement being made between King William and Sweyn the Danish King that the Danes should depart with all their spoil most of the good things of this Monastery were carried away towards Denmark and a great part of them lost in the Sea by tempest those which arrived there were afterwards recovered by Iwarus the Secretary of the Monastery who took a journey thither for that purpose And now had Adelwoldus the Prior with the other Monks a time of returning without stealth to his Monastery of Peterburgh and taking the Abby of Ramsey in their way the Ramisians entertained them kindly for awhile but at their departure they detained their Reliques which afterwards upon the threats of Abbot Thorold they yielded up yet did not the Monks enjoy their newly recovered Treasures long for they being careless and drunken and their Abbot absent a fire seized upon the Church and other remaining buildings from which they rescued some few Reliques but little of other things All this while Turoldus Abbot absented himself from his Monastery and made his abode at Stamford but Herewardus being withdrawn he returned to his Monastery where he found all things in a desolate condition He brought along with him 140 Normans well armed to secure him against Herewardus and also built a Fort or Castle within his Monastery which for many years retained the name of Mount Thorold so that now the Monastery of Peterburgh seemed rather a warlike than religious place Yet for all that Turoldus could do for his own security he was at length taken by Herewardus and constrained to ransome himself with the payment of thirty marks in silver So profuse was this Turoldus of the goods of his Monastery that at his entrance an estimate of the goods thereof amounting to fifteen hundred pounds ere Turoldus had done there remained scarce five hundred But his disposing of the Lands as hath been said to certain Knights for their service in these Military times was remarkable and valid in after ages where I could give a large declaration of the persons thus invested with the Church-Lands and what Lands those were but it shall suffice to say that there were in all forty one men of note who received those Lands from Turoldus to hold upon that condition but they did not all receive in equal proportion but some more and some less some to find and afford the service of six Knights some of four some of one and some less as their portions of Land were yet in all the number of Knights for which they were to be answerable amounted to sixty eight and from whence there began a new addition to be annexed unto the name of the place as to be called The Honour of Peterburgh But there happened another Act of Turoldus which raised his discontents higher in himself and brought him lower in the good affection of his Convent for he received into his Monastery two Monks from beyond Sea who secretly stole away and carried many of the Church Goods with them At length Turoldus weary of his Government here procured for himself the Bishoprick of Beavois in France whither he transported many of the goods of the Monastery but he was not so welcome to his new Bishoprick as to make any long continuance there for on the fourth day he was expelled thence and returning again into England he gave the King a great summ of Money that he might be seated again in his Monastery of Peterburgh whither he returned and in all continued his Government there the space of 28 years and died Anno 1100 or as some say 1098. being the 10 or 11 year of William the Second 15. GODRIC VS The Monks now began to be provident for themselves for considering the inconveniences they suffered by Turoldus being imposed upon them they gave the King three hundred Marks in Silver that they might have the power of Electing their own Abbot which having procured from the King they chose Godricus who was Brother to Abbot Brando Whether or no Godricus might incurr the guilt of Simony by what the Church had done Bishop Godwin calleth him Geffrey page 34. I will not determine yet was he with Richard Abbot of Ely and Adelwinus Abbot of Ramsey deposed from their Governments by a Councel held under Anselmus then Archbishop of Canterbury for that as Peterburgh Writers say they had entred by Simony Yet Matth. Paris renders another reason that it In vita W. Rufi was because
Lusgerg Ethelhuniglond Barchanig Which were places not very far from Medeshamstede it appears by several Charters which still remain upon Record in the Book called Swapham Where I find fol. CXXX XXXI that in the time of this Cutbald the glorious King of the Mercians Ethelredus or Adilredus for he is called by both names came to visit the servants of God in this Monastery of Medeshamstede and to obtain their prayers for the relief of his Soul and out of a desire of Eternal life as the words of his Charter are gave to the Friers there all that land called Leugtricdun triginta manentes habentem Not long after which one of the Friers coming to this King upon a certain occasion he took a glebe from the forementioned Land and put it super codicem Evangeliorum upon the Book of the Gospels in confirmation and for a testimony of the aforesaid donation Unto which these witnesses were present Sexulfus Episcopus Merciorum Wecca and Berhthun Monachi Hostryga ipsius Regis Regina Henfric Eadfric principes Regis Adilredi that none might dare to attempt any thing against this donation of the King qui sibi divinam donationem adesse optaret in futura vita Amen Which Leugtricdun I have reason to think was an Appendix to one of the above named places The first of which Bredun was given to this Church of Medeshamstede by Friduricus one of King Adilred's Noble Men by a Charter bearing this Title Fridurici principis de Bredun ad Medeshamstede ' In which he saith that the number of Christians increasing and multiplying he had given to the family of St. Peter the Prince of the Apostles inhabiting the Monastery of Medeshamstede terram cui vocabulum est Bredun viginti manentium cum omnibus ad eam pertinentibus Which was done in the presence and with the consent of Saxulph ejusdem gentis Episc and of the above-named King Adilredus For this end and purpose that they should found Oratorium in eadem praefata terra and there constitute a Priest for the teaching and Baptizing of the people Which upon due deliberation they undertook and chose one of their own number whose name was Hedda a man endued with admirable Wisdom and all manner of Virtues whom they made Abbot of Bredun with this condition that he should acknowledge himself to be a member of the Fraternity of Medeshamstede So it runs in the Charter whose words are these Et unum ex semetipsis nomine Hedda Presbyterum mirabili sapientia in omni virtutum genere praeditum summo libramine eligerunt eumque in loco praefato Abbatem constituerunt ea tamen conditione interposita ut se unum de eorum Fraternitatis membris esse noverit ' And the same Religious Prince Friduricus finding that this Venerable Abbot Hedda most diligently fed the people committed to his charge with the food of divine Preaching added another benefaction in a distinct Charter whose title is de Repinges ad Medeshamstede Wherein he gives to the aforesaid Abbot Hedda XXXI manentium terram quae vulgo vocitatur Hrepingas which is another of those places above mentioned This he did in the presence of King Adilredus and of Saxulph the Bishop of that Country who joyning their hands with his cespitunculam communiter praedictae terrae Sacrosanctae evangeliorum codici simul omnis coram multitudine populi imposuerunt and so subscribed this Deed with their own hands And afterward this Honourable Abbot Hedda as the Book calls him fol. CXXXIII and the Prior of the Monastery of Bredun obtained from King Adilred other Land which had quindecim Manentes 15 Tenents or Housekeepers as we now speak called by the name of Cedenanhac another of the places depending on Medeshamstede for fifty Shillings that is for Bedding and other Goods of that value which are thus specified in the Deed. Id est duodecim lectorum stramenta utpote culcita plumacia ornata capitalia simul cum sindonibus lenis quemadmodum in Britannia habere mos est nec non servum cum ancilla fibulam auream cum quatuor ex auro massiunculis arte aurificis compositis duos caballos cum cannis duabus pro praefata terra pretium dedit I have not room to examine the meaning of every word in this Deed some of which I no where meet withal but here which concludes as the former did that this price being paid the King in his Bedchamber at his own Town called Tomtun took a little clod of earth from the aforesaid Land with his own hands and laid it upon the Sacred Volume of the Gospels his Queen and Saxalph joyning their hands with his that none might dare to violate this grant The same Hedda if I mistake not was Abbot also of other two places before mentioned called Wermundshey and Wokinges for I find a Bull of Pope Constantine's about the Episcopal Jurisdiction over these places fol. LXXXVI directed unto him which I have not room to set down at large but only note that they are both said there to be found in nomine beati Petri Apostoli in the name of St. Peter Which makes it probable they were those belonging to this Church under the Government of this great man Hedda Whom I take to have been the Author of the Relation above named concerning the first plantation of Christianity in these parts of England and the next Bishop that succeeded Sexulf in the See of Litchfield who built that Church as I have already said and dyed DCCXXI When Cutbaldus dyed I am not able to affirm certainly but it was between the year DCCIX and DCCXVI For he was alive in the former of those years I gather from hence that Hugo saith Wilfrid dyed in his time at his Mannor of Owndle c. his words are In hujus Abbatis id est Cuthbaldi tempore Sanctus Wilfridus Episcopus in possessione ipsius Monasterii ad Vndalum transivit ad Dominum Ministeriis fratrum deportatus est ad suum proprium Monasterium in Rypun Now Wilfrid the first of that name who was Archbishop of York dyed An. DCCIX as I find in the Chron. Johannis Abbatis With whom agrees Tho. Stubbs Chron. Eccles Eborac whose words are to be corrected out of our Hugo commonly called Swapham for he speaking of the death of Wilfrid sayes Defunctus est in Monasterio suo apud Vndalum quod est juxta Stamford inde Ministerio fratrum delegatus in Monasterio suo apud Riponum est sepultus An. Domini DCCIX Where he calls Owndle Wilfrid's Monastery which it appears by all our Records was as Hugo only calls it part of the possession of the Monastery of Medeshamstede But as Cuthbald was then alive so it is certain he was dead before the year DCCXVI when as Mr. G. observes out of Ingulphus the Charter of King Ethelbald for the founding of Croyland Abbey was signed by Egbaldus Abbot of Medeshamstede EGBALDVS Concerning whom and the three next Abbots
his History de gestis Regum Angl. where he calls him Adulphus and speaking of Oswald saith cui Venerabilis Medeshamstudensis Abbas Adulphus successit And in that See he sat till the year 1003. Which John Abbot concludes thus Adulphus Archiep Eborac quondam Abbas Burgi obiit In the year before which 1002 as I find in the Chron. of Mailros he took up the Bones of St. Oswald out of his Tomb and honourably placed them in a Shrine Of which there is a larger account given by Thomas Stubbs in his Act. Pontif. Eboracens which explains also what Mr. G. saith about his being translated to Worcester and therefore I shall transcribe some of it Vicesimus Eboracensis Ecclesiae Archiepiscopus fuit Venerabilis Abbas Medeshamstedensis i. e. Burg Adulphus c. Who by the favour of King Adelredus held the Bishoprick of Worcester in his hand as his Predecessor St. Oswald had done Whom he honoured so much that in the 12th year of his Episcopacy his Brethren the Bishops with the Abbots and many other Religious men being gathered together he took up the Bones of St. Oswald out of his Tomb Anno Regis Agelredi XXV VII Kalend. Maii feria quarta and placed them in a Shrine which he had prepared honourably for them And not long after dyed himself 2 Nonarum Maii and was buried in the Church of St. Mary at Worcester Symeon Dunelmensis saith the same ad An. 1002. only he makes this to have been done not the VII but the XVII Kal. Maii. And there is a mistake also in the year for it should not be the 12th but the 10th year of his Episcopacy And here now it may be fit to note that in all probability the Monks of this Church were brought under the rule of St. Benedict when it was restored as hath been said by King Edgar and put under the government of Adulphus and not till then For though there was a famous regulation of Monastical Orders made before this time under Cutbert Archbishop of Canterbury An. 747. in concilio Clovishoviae in which some things were mended in the Manners and Habits of Monks yet there is not the least mention made of the Rule of St. Bennet though there was a very fair occasion for it nor is there one word of it in Venerable Bede It is true Wilfrid who was ordained 10 or 14 years after the foundation of this Monastery An. 664. as the Chron. of John Abbot affirms was imployed by Wulfere King of the Mercians to settle Monasteries as the Author of his life tells which is in MS. in Sir J. Cotton's library whom Malmsbury calls Stephanus Presbyter viz. Stephanus Heddius as he is named by Bede And after the death of Deusdedit was sent for by Ecbert King of Kent where he went up and down through his Country saith the same Author C. 14. Et cum regula Benedicti instituta Ecclesiarum benè melioravit and very much improved the Orders of the Churches by the Rule of Benedict which he had learnt beyond Sea being so much addicted to foreign customs that he refused to be consecrated by our Bishops and desired to be consecrated in France when he was to succeed Colman This passage is much to be observed for it appears thereby the Churches he visited were already under Rules and Institutions before he came to them who only bettered them by this Rule of St. Bennet but did not bring those Churches under it And as this was all he did so what he did was in the Kingdom of Kent alone not all England over And so as the Chronologia Augustinensis is to be understood in these words Inter Decem Scriptores p. 2232. Wilfridus Episcopus regulam Sancti Benedicti fecit in Anglia observari ad An. 666. that is in these parts of England for in the midland parts it was little known for several years after As appears by the Bull of Pope Constantine An. DCCIX the very year wherein Wilfrid died to Kenred King of the Mercians Offa his Son and Egwin Bishop of Worcester for the Monastery of Evesham which saith the Monks were to live under the rule Patris Benedicti quae minus in illis partibus adhuc habetur And so it continued to be little known for above two hundred years For Oswald whom Adulphus succeeded in the See of York who had been Bishop of Worcester before he went to York was the man who brought it hither from the Abby of Fleury in France where he had been a Monk So W. of Malmsbury expresly testifies in his Third Book de gestis Pontif. Angl. where not far from the beginning he saith that Oswald being Nephew to Odo the Archbishop was bred up in his Youth apud Floriacum in Gallia taking upon him the habit of a Monk as the custom of that time was for all that were piously disposed in the Benedictine Convent A quo viz. Oswald Religionis hujus manavit exordium as his words are in the MS. Copy in Sir J. Cotton's Library Which are the more remarkable because the very same W. of Malmsbury had a little before mentioned Wilfrid bragging that he was the first who commanded the rule of St. Bennet to be observed by the Monks But after all this there was no general Constitution for our Monasteries till the Second Reformation of the ancient English Monkery which was in the Council of Winchester An. 965. under King Edgar the great restorer as hath been said of Monasteries When there was framed a general Constitution partly out of the Rule of St. Bennet and partly out of the antient customs before mentioned which was called Regularis Concordia Anglicae Nationis and may be found in Mr. Selden's Spicilegium to Eadmerus both in Saxon and in Latin This Rule thus composed was called Oswald's Law as Sir H. Spelman observes he being then Bishop of Worcester to which he was promoted at the instance of St. Dunstan An. 960 Chron. Mailros p. 149. and translated to York not till 971. and had not long before as I have said brought the Rule of St. Bennet from Fleury From which Monastery of Fleury several Monks also were called and advised withal in the drawing up of the Constitutions of this Regularis Concordia So King Edgar himself tells in his Preface to it where he relates how that upon his Exhortation to all under his care to come under the same Rule which many Abbots and Abbatisses with the Colledges of Brethren and Sisters subject unto them had taken upon them to observe that so there might not be divers usages in one and the same Country thereupon the Bishops the Abbots and Abbatisses being wonderfully thankful that God had bestowed upon them such a Doctor who is there called Pastor Pastorum such was the language of those times concerning Kings lift up their hands to Heaven and consented to what he proposed And immediatly sent for some Monks of Fleury and from Gent to advise withal about this matter who as Bees suck
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
deal of Riches besides Which is the more wonderful since he was so very charitable and frequently gave Presents and Jewels of Gold and Silver to King Henry and Eleanor his Queen and Prince Edward their Son and to the Nobles and great Men of England besides what Mr. G. mentions and all for the peace and tranquillity and defence of the Liberties of the Church He dyed in the latter end of the year as the MS. Chron. of Johan Abbatis P. 690. N. 30. saith Matth. Paris saith 1245. 29 Hen. 3. obiit Walterus Abbas de Burgo 2. Kaland. Januarii Which doth not perfectly agree with the Kalender of the Church where is placed on the 26. Decemb. Depositio Domini Walteri Abbatis Here Swapham's History ends WILLIAM de HOTOT The controversie that had been between this Church and Croyland in the time of Akarius was now revived between this Abbot and Richard Bardenay Abbot of Croyland contrary to the agreements made before between their Predecessors as the words are in the Continuator of the History of Croyland Lately Printed at Oxon. p. 478. Who lays the blame upon this Abbot because he hindred the Abbot of Croyland in their Fair time from taking Toll or making Attachments upon Crowland Bridge c. This he saith was in the year 1240. Which cannot be for then Walter was Abbot it should be therefore 1246. in the very beginning of William's time Who the next year made a composition about this matter 1247. as I find in our Records at the end of Swapham Fol. CLXX where there is an agreement between Richard Abbot of Croyland and Robert Abbot of Burgh about the Fen between Singleshould and Croyland and this agreement made in the Kings Court at Northampton before the King Justices between these two Abbots Richard and William de villa de Croyland ponte tempore Nundinarum which is too long to be inserted It is called finalis concordia but the quarrel was renewed in the time of William of Ramsey In the same year 1247. Robert de Taterhille Physician made his last Will and Testament and thereby gave to the Church of St. Peter his Body with his Palfrey to the Fabrick of St. John's Church V. Shillings and to the Church of St. Mary de Oxney two Shilling c. and four Acre of Arable Land apud Rumpele to find two Wax-Candles before the Altar of the blessed Virgin in Ecclesia majori de Burgo as long as the said Robert lived And if his Wife Ailice out-lived him she was to enojoy that Land and the house he also gave c. for her life if she remained a Widow and to find four Wax-Candles After both their deaths all to go to the Custos luminaris beatae Virginis to find so many lights before her Altar as that Land House and Meadow would furnish In the same year likewise An. 2. Will. 2di Abbatis as the words of the Record are there was a Subsidy given to Pope Innocent according to an Estimation that had been made of the Estate of the Abbey in the time of Stephen Nuncio to Pope Gregory of which subsidy the Obedientiaries as several officers in the Church were called paid the fourth part being taxed seven Pence for every pound of yearly Rent as followeth Estimatio Cellerariae 121 l.  Contributio 70 s. 7 d. Estimatio utriusque Sacristiae 106 l. 10 s. Contributio 72 s.  Estimatio Eleemosynariae 63 l. 6 s. Contributio 36 s. 2 d. Estimatio Pitanciariae  115 s. Contributio  40 d. Estimatio Infirmariae 7 l.  Contributio 3 s. 10 d. Estimatio Precentoriae  36 s. Contributio  12 d. Estimatio Refectoriae  20 s. Contributio  7 d. Estimatio Camerae praeter portionem Abbatis 4 l.  Contributio  28 d. Estimatio auxilii de Pylesgate 100 sol Contributio  35 d. Notandum quod Dominus Willielmus Abbas solus fecit hanc taxationem One half of which was paid at the Feast of St. Martins the other half at the Purification Here a fit occasion offers it self to mention the several donations bestowed upon the forenamed Offices of the Monastery which they called Obedientias and the Names of their benefactors which were very many especially to the Sacristy and to the Altars Sanctae Mariae and Sanctae Crucis in particular but it would prolong this work too much and swell it beyond the designed proportion Fol. CVII This William in the year 1248. obliged himself and Successors to several things very profitable for the Convent For instance that no composition should be made for the future about their possessions and liberties no Wards granted no Woods sold without the consent of the Convent no nor any thing of weight attempted without their advice And moreover that one or two Monks should without intermission be Custodes of the Mannors of the Abbot and two receivers of all the profits of them one of them a Monk residing in the house and one of the Chaplains of the Abbot And lest in process of time the condition of the Convent should be worsted he granted and promised that neither he nor his Successors would diminish their allowances nor procure them to be diminished And that the Parents and acquaintance of the Monks should be competently and sufficiently provided with better bread and beer than ordinary out of the Celerary of the Abbot c. To which he set his Seal and the Chapter theirs In the same year he granted out of his mere liberality to the Celerary of the Church his Mannor of Gosdkirk with all the appurtenances and all the Tenement called Belasise with the appurtenances for the eight pound Sterling in which he and his Predecessors stood bound at the four quarters of the year for the celebration of the principal Feasts and for the forty Shillings which Walter his Predecessor gave for celebrating the Feast of the Dedication of the Church Yet so that he and his Successors should pay the increment of Wheat and Malt for the augmentation of the VIII Monks throughout the whole year without substraction every week out of their own Granary Then follows the assignation of the Capital Messuage in Northbruch for the increase of the Chamber In this year as the Chron. of John Abbot tells us the King demanded a Subsidy of all the Prelates and this William gave him an hundred Pound of Silver presently after which he resigned his place but he doth not tell us any reason why he left it His words are ad An. MCCXLVIII Henricus Rex petiit subsidium à Prelatis Willielmus Abbas Burgi dedit ei C. marcas argenti Cui cedenti successit Johannes de Kaleto The cause which Matth. Paris who places this the year after 1249 assigns of his receding is something strange he having been so compliant as I have related with his Convent and so studious of their good And the damage they complained of was not so great but he had an honourable commemoration in
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
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