claudit tumulus Pro clausis ergo rogemus 24 ACHARIVS Fol. 456. Whom Hoveden calls Zacharias was Prior of S. Albanes and elected thence to be Abbot here Anno 1200. He by his care and providence much enriched his Church and built many buildings in several Mannors belonging to it He maintained suit with the Abbot of Croyland for the Marsh of Singlesholt and recovered it letting it again to the Abbot of Croyland for a yearly acknowledgement of four stone Petras of Wax He added to the number of Monks that then were two and twenty more And when he had happily governed this Abby the space of ten years he died Anno 1210. being the 11 year of King John And there succeeded 25. ROBERTVS de Lindesey Glass-windows Who was Monk and Sacristary of Burgh and now Abbot unto which he paved the way by his good deeds towards the Church for whereas the windows were before only stuffed with straw to keep out the weather he beautified above thirty of them with glasses and his example brought the rest by degrees to the like perfection He built also the Chancel at Oxney being chosen Abbot he was presented to the King at Winchester and had his election confirmed And at Northampton he received Episcopal benediction from Hugo the second then Bishop of Lincoln in the year 1214. for after the death of Acharius the King held the Abbey in his own hand three years He settled the Hundred of Nassaburgh in peace and quietness for in those days the Foresters with their Cattel over-ran all so that the inhabitants of the Towns therein were much endammaged by them and their domineering in these parts by vertue of Forest Lands therefore Abbot Robert made a composition with the King giving him Vid. Chartam in App. 1320 Marks for the dis-foresting that part of the Country He covered the Abbots Hall with Lead He made in the South Cloister a Lavatory of Marble for the Monks to wash their hands in when they went to Meals their Hall being near on the other The Lavatory side of the wall the door leading into it being yet standing though the Hall be long since demolished only some small remains on the wall side are yet to be seen but the Lavatory continued entire until the year 1651. and then with the whole Cloister it was also pulled down Abbot Robert at his entrance into his place found but seventy two Monks to which number he added eight more assigning the Mannor of Bellasise for their maintenance having built a fair Mannor-house there which Bellasise builded partly is now standing He built also the Hall at his Mannor of Collingham In the time of this Robert the fourth Laterane Council was held under Innocent the fourth Pope of that name Anno 1215. Abbot Robert was cited and went thither and received injunctions for his Convent concerning several times of fasting and other duties which at his coming home he put into execution Fol. 287. In his time there arose great discords betwixt the Civil and Ecclesiastical States that the Land stood interdicted by the space of six years Then followed bitter Wars betwixt King John and his Barons wherein how the Monastery of Peterburgh behaved themselves I find but little in any of our Writers Only by what Matthew Paris relates it may be conjectured they were none of the Kings friends though their Patron Ludovicus saith he besieging the Castle of Dover a long time in vain at length the King passed over into Suffolk and Norfolk and miserably wasted those Countries And coming to Peterburgh and Croyland he plundered the Churches there his Officer Savaricus de Mallo Leone with his accomplices committing many outrages in the Country thereabout At Croyland he fired all their stacks which the inhabitants had newly gathered in and so returned to the Town of Lynn with great spoils But afterwards the King taking his journey from Lynn Northward all his Carriages and Treasures were cast away and perished as he passed the River Wellestre Yet afterwards the Abbot of Peterburgh was summoned to assist King Henry the third in the siege of Rokingham Castle which was then the Abbots and the Abbot himself went in person in that expedition till at length that Castle was reduced to the Kings obedience but whether it was this Abbot Robert or some Hon. de Pightesly of his Successors mine Author tells me not Pag. 288. In the time of this Abbot Robert about the year 1217 according to Pitseus there was one Hugo Candidus or Hugh White a Monk of this Monastery of whom the said Author in his Book De Scriptoribus makes mention who wrote the whole History of his Monastery whose works were extant in later times for John Leland who lived in the days of King Henry 8 collected many things out of him but whether or where the said Author be now extant I know not Pitseus tells us also of another Hugh In Appendice Pag. 865. a Monk of this Church whom he calls an English Historian but professeth his ignorance of what he wrote or when he lived Perhaps both might be but one and the same Hugh But perhaps Wittlesey an antient Writer of this Church may make it clearer by telling us that there was one Hugo Albus so called from his white complexion as being subject to bleed a Monk here who was famous in the time of Abbot Ernulfus and of John Henry Martin and William his Successors who wrote the History of this Monastery and so was before Pitseus his account Robert having been Abbot here the space of seven years died October 25. 1222. being the seventh year of King Henry 3. He was not very rich in Books his Library consisting only of these few Numerale Magistri W. de Montibus cum aliis rebus Tropi Magistri Petri cum diversis summis Sententiae Petri Pretanensis Psalterium Glossatum Aurora Psalterium non glossatum Historiale 26. ALEXANDER de Holdernesse Who was first a Monk then Prior and lastly Abbot of this place after the death of Robert A great builder he was and built the Hall at his Mannor of Oundle that also at Castre Eyebury and other places Having been Abbot here only four years he died on the day of his entrance November 20. 1226. and of King Henry 3. the Eleventh These were his Books Psalterium Concordantiae utriusque Test Claustrum animae Opus alterum quod perfecit Rogerus de Helpston Aurora Poenitentiale Tria Breviaria Concilium Lateranense cum aliis rebus Corrogationes Promethei Missale The first day of May before the death of this Alexander there died at Peterburgh Richardus de Mansco Mr. Philipot Catal. Canc. Angl. pag. 10. Bishop of Durham and Chancellor of England 27. MARTINVS de Ramsey Being a Monk of Peterburgh was elected Abbot after the death of Alexander And on S. Andrew's Eve the King ratified his Election which was also confirmed by Hugo then Bishop of Lincoln in the Chappel
  Navesford   Tinwell 16 6 9   Eston 35 10 1 ob q. Collingham 34 4 5 ob  Fiskerton 69 1 2   Scotter 37 6 0   Walcot 9 19 2   Thurlby 7 1 8   Stanford 2 0 0   In all 621 l. 16 s. 3 d. ob  Yet was not this the whole Demesnes of the Abbot in those times for there were many other Mannors and many Rents and Lands in and about Peterburgh and in several Counties but these are all which Wittlesey hath recorded and I have no leisure to examine why there were no more returned Godfrey being dead Anno 1321. 12. Cal. September being the 15 year of King Edw. 2. the person thought fittest to succeed him was 35. ADAM de Boothbie Born there and was made a Monk in Peterburgh where he also had the Office of Subcelerarius Being chosen Abbot he repaired to the King then in the Isle of Tanet for his confirmation which he obtained And having also Episcopal confirmation he repaired the second time to the King for his Temporalities which were likewise confirmed unto him paying the Fees and other demands at that time due His acts in the several years of his government are more punctually related by Wittlesey than I intend to transcribe In his first year Thomas Earl of Lancaster making War against the King to wit King Edw. 2. Adam aided the King with the summ of 133 l. 6 s. 8 d. and towards the Kings expedition into Scotland with 200 l. more In his fourth year the Mannor of Torpel and Vpton came to the possession of Edmund surnamed Woodstock half brother to King Edward the second now reigning and there arising great troubles betwixt the Earls Officers and the Abbots Tenants all was quieted by the Abbots becoming a Tenant to those Lands paying the yearly rent of 106 l. 13 s. 4 d. In his seventh year which was the first of King Edward the third there arose a great contention betwixt him and John Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex about the Son of Galfridus de la Marc which Galfridus Lord of Northburgh died Anno 1327. holding three Knights-fees of the Abby of Peterburgh and was buried at Peterburgh in S. Maries Chappel amongst his Predecessors And the said Galfridus held also of the said Earl of Essex Lands in the County of Essex by Knights-service He had three Wives and his last Wife by name Margaret he put away when she was great with Child at Peterburgh where the Child being born and baptized was called by the name of his Father Galfridus this young Galfridus had two Sisters by his Fathers side who charged him with being illegitimate saying that Margaret his Mother was not their Fathers Wife but his Concubine so that he had no hereditary right to his Fathers Lands Abbot Adam as guardian to the Child defended the Cause three years in the Consistory at Lincoln and in the Arches constraining the Sisters to desist But afterwards Queen Philipp Wife to King Edward the third Daughter of William Earl of Henault whom Roger of Northburgh Bishop of Chester so called by Wittlesey though I cannot find any such man elsewhere the Kings Proxie had beyond Sea espoused for the King coming to Peterburgh on New-years-day and the said Earl of Essex attending on her towards York where King Edward then was expecting her coming for the solemnization of Marriage which was performed the 24 day of the said Month of January 1327 the said Earl demanded young Galfridus of the Abbot and by threatnings and violence gat possession of him Whereupon the Abbot pursued the Earl at the Law the Earl on the other side accused the Abbot and his Covent of certain outrages upon his Mannor of Plaisic in Essex but this matter was composed by the Abbots giving the Earl 100l and yet the Earl was still possessed of Galfridus keeping him at Kimbauton in the County of Huntingdon Registrum Adae in manu D. H. The King sent his Breve to the Sheriff to seize upon him and to bring him to York there to appear before the Judge and to be awarded to his right Guardian But at length the Earl Wittlesey without more ado being conscious of his ill act freely restored the Child to the Abbot and moreover languishing upon his Bed of sickness and drawing towards his end he commanded his Executors to restore the 100l to the Monastery of Peterburgh And the Abbot married young Galfridus to the Daughter of Galfridus Scroope then one of the Kings Chief Justices Regist Adae About this time the Sheriff of Northampton required assistance and contribution from the Abbot of Peterburgh and his Tenants towards the Wall of Northampton Park which was quieted by the Kings writing to the Sheriff from York his Letters bearing date February 12. the second of his Reign wherein he certified the Sheriff that by ancient Charters of Kings his Predecessors the Abbot and Convent of Peterburgh with all their Lands and Dominions should be free from all works of Castles Parks Bridges and Inclosures Regist Adae The same day there was Inquisition made concerning the Bridge leading into Peterburgh which being gone to decay the question was Who should repair it for this there was a Jury empannelled six of Northampton-shire and six of Huntingdon-shire who upon examination returned an Ignoramus after this manner that there was none of right bound to repair or sustain the Bridge seeing none had done it in former time for there was no Bridge there until Godfrey Abbot of Burgh of his own good will in the fourth year of King Edward Father to King Edward that now is erected the said Bridge and himself kept it in repair so long as he lived But the King and Queen coming to Peterburgh the present Abbot Adam repaired the said Bridge for their passage although he was not bound thereunto to this the Jurors set their several Seals At this entertainment of the King Queen and John of Eltham the Kings Brother besides diet of meat and drink the King and Q. at Peterburgh Abbot in gifts Jewels Jocalibus and presents expended in ready mony the summ of 487 l. 6 s. 5 d. And for his Confirmation 50 l. 13 s. 4 d. more At other times also Abbot Adam was very free of his Purse giving the King towards an expendition into Scotland 100 l. and to the Queen 20 l. Attending upon the King at Oundle and Stanford he expended 34l 7s 4d with many other summs when the King or Queen came near his Monastery to Walmisford Bourn or Croyland And the second time giving entertainment King and Q. at Peterburgh to the King and Queen at his Monastery of Peterburgh besides other things he expended 327 l. 15 s. And after this Prince Edward the Kings eldest Son with his two Sisters and their Servants came and staied at Peterburgh eight weeks which cost not the Abbot nothing Wittlesey
in favour by making a Resignation of his Abbey as many did under the common Seal into the Kings hands Which though I cannot find in the Augmentation Office yet there is a Grant there made by King Henry to Abbot Chambers which confirms me in this opinion It bears date 1 March An. 31 Hen. 8. which was 1540. before the Bishoprick was erected by which it is expressed that the Monastery of Peterburgh being dissolved the King out of his Grace and Favour did grant to the said late Abbot Chambers Two hundred and sixty pound thirteen shillings and four pence per annum during his life with an hundred Load of Wood out of the Woods called Eastwood and Westwood There were Letters which are now lost sent from the Duke of Somerset and others of the Council 1548. to examine the matter in Controversie between the Bishop of Peterburgh and one Acton concerning words pretended to be spoken against the Sacrament and concerning Images in the Church undefaced with Plate sold out of the Town-Church How it ended I cannot find nor have I any thing to add about David Pool who was made Bishop in Queen Mary's time Of Bishop SCAMBLER I might say much more than is in Mr. G. but have not room for it For before those Articles mentioned by Mr. G. there were Injunctions or Ordinations given to the Dean and Chapter by Thomas Yale Dr. of Law and Edward Leeds Licentiate and John Porey Dr. in Divinity being Visitors and Commissaries authorized by the Archbishop of Canterbury to exercise his Metropolitical Visitation c. They were in number Nine publicatae traditae octavo die Januarii 1560. in domo Capitulari Ecclesiae Cathedralis Petriburg The Injunctions also and Articles of Inquiry in several Triennial Visitations of Bishop Scambler are still remaining in the years 1561 1564 1567. in which year I find 21 Injunctions of his to the Dean and Chapter and other Ministers and 1570. In the next Visitation 1573. he delivered no Articles to be enquired of nor more Injunctions but only commanded them to keep their Statutes which were not against the Queens Majesty's Proceedings nor her Visitors c. In the last of these Visitations but one it was that the Tabernacles were taken down in the Ladies Chappel which was not done till the 12. of Elizabeth How this Bishop passed away the Lands of the Bishoprick wherewith King Henry had indowed it Mr. G. hath related in part Others have told us more and that he obtained his Translation to Norwich as a Reward of one of these Grants to a great man at Court RICHARD HOWLAND Bishop They that would read more of the History of Mary Queen of Scots may find a great many memorable things in the Memoires of Sir James Melvil a faithful Servant of hers and of his Country not long ago brought to light Bishop Morton in his Protestant Appeal L. IV. Cap. I. hath given the best account I meet with of that passage which the Apology of the Roman Church took out of Martin Prelate in the Bishop of Lincoln's Sermon at her Funeral which made a great noise among factious people who reported that he prayed his Soul and the Souls of all there present might be with the Soul of the Queen deceased But the truth of the Story he saith was this that the Reverend Bishop now mentioned understanding how that great and honorable personage in the last act of her life renounced all presumption of her own inherent righteousness and wholly affianced her Soul unto Christ in belief to be justified only by his satisfactory Justice did therefore conceive hope of her Salvation by vertue of that Cordial prescribed by the holy Apostle viz. that where sin aboundeth the grace of God doth super-abound Which the Apostle hath ministred for the comfort of every Christian who erring by Ignorance shall by sincere repentance especially for all known sins depart this mortal life having the heel or end of it shod with this preparation of the Gospel of peace not of the new Romish but of the old Catholick Faith which is the faith of all Protestants And this consideration of that our Preacher cannot but worthily condemn the Apologists of partial prejudice who chose rather to be informed concerning that Sermon by as they confess a reproachful traducer and libeller than which they might easily have done by testimony of a thousand temperate and indifferent hearers then present I referr the Reader to Sir John Harrington's brief view of the State of the Church c. for an account of Dr. Fletchers advancement from the Deanry of Peterburgh to the Bishoprick of Bristol and so to London which he himself could not justifie but was forced to cry Herein the Lord be merciful to me THOMAS DOVE The same Sir John Harrington saith he had known this Bishop to have been greatly respected and favoured by Queen Elizabeth and no less liked and approved in the more learned judgment of King James When the Queen first heard him she said she thought the holy Ghost was descended again in this Dove for he was a very eloquent Preacher In his time there was a Font erected in the Body of the Church where none had been before whereof there is this Memorial in the Register Book Baptisterium in Nave Ecclesiae Cathedralis de Burgo Sancti Petri Anno Salutis MDCXV gravissimorum virorum Georgii Dean Meriton meritò istius Ecclesiae Decani reliquorumque tunc temporis Paerbendariorum consilio extructum nam antea nullum in Ecclesia extiterat Reverendissimus in Christo Pater Dominus Thomas de Burgo Sancti Petri Episcopus in magna hominum Corona solenni processione illuc adductus consecravit scilicet Psalmo LXXXIV prius a Choro coetu decantato tum demum piâ eleganti fervidâ precatione Deo suppliciter invocato ut servis suis Baptizantibus Baptizandis omnibusque aliis infantes ad hoc sacrum Christi lavacrum adducentibus spiritu suo in perpetuum adesse velit Hac finita solennitate mox ad Baptismum allatus est venerabilis viri Mri. Jo. annis Bridgeman sacrae Theologiae Doctoris ac serenissimo Jacobo Regi à sacris in ista Ecclesia primam tunc Prebendam occupantis filiolus Qui imposito Henrici nomine sponsoribus praedicto Domino Episcopo Humfrido Orme milite Elizabetha Vxore D. D. Walter Waley in Christi familiam ascriptus est Cui omnibus in posterum baptizandis benedicat Deus Amen I must omit all the rest and only take notice of two or three things of later date which ought not to be forgotten Bishop Laney his benevolence mentioned by Mr. G. was this He gave an hundred Pound toward the repairing one of the great Arches of the Church Porch which was faln down in the late times Dr. Cosins Dean of this Church and after the Kings Restauration made Bishop of Durham by his last Will and Testament gave forty Pound for a Monument to be erected
it was near the Chappel of S. Laurence which was at the East end of the Infirmary now demolished only the Chancel of that Chappel is yet remaining and made the Hall of a dwelling House belonging to one of the Prebendaries But to return to our Story Penda King of the Mercians at that time reigned who had five Children Peada Wulfere and Ethelred being his Sons Kyneburga and Kyneswitha his Daughters Penda being dead Peada his eldest Son succeeded who in the year 656 or as some say 655 founded the Monastery of Medeshamsted in the Foundation whereof he laid such Stones as that eight Yoke of Oxen could scarce draw one of them But King Peada lived not to finish his Work for his Wife Alfleda forgetting the glorious Memory of her Ancestors Oswald the martyred King of Northumberland her Grandfather King Oswine her Father and King Alfred her Brother betrayed him to Death at the Paschal Feast when he had reigned four Years Then did his Crown and Kingdom descend upon Wolfere his next Brother This Wolfere was made a Christian by Finanus a Bishop who came out of Scotland for that Kingdom had Bishops then and long before and being baptized by Finanus Wolfere vowed to purge his Kingdom from Idolatry to demolish all idolatrous places and to the utmost of his power to promote Christian Religion which Vow he likewise made the second time when he was married to S. Ermenilda daughter of Egbert King of Kent Malmsbury calleth him Erconbert but within a while giving too much ear to Werbode his Steward he neglected his Vow taking no care of Christian Religion The life of Ermenild is related in an ancient M S. of Ely now in the hand of Geo. Glapthorn Esq p. nor of erecting Temples but committed many Impieties so that the Chaos of Heathenism began to overspread all again He had by his Wife S. Ermenilda two Sons the elder Wulfade the other Rufine Wulfade was much addicted to Hunting and one day pursuing a goodly Hart which being hotly pursued took Soil in a Fountain near unto the Cell of S. Chad who espying the Hart weary and almost spent was so compassionate towards him that he covered him with Boughs and Leaves conjecturing as if Heaven had some design in the access and deportment of that Beast Presently comes Prince Wulfade and enquired of S. Chad concerning the Hart who answered That he was not a Keeper of Beasts but of the Souls of Men and that Wulfade was then as an Hart to the Water Brooks sent by God to the Fountain of Living Water which Wulfade hearing with astonishment entred into further conference with S. Chad in his Cell and was by him baptized And returning with joy to his Father's Court he secretly told his Brother Rufine of all that had passed perswading him to be baptized also to which Rufine consenting Wulfade brought him to S. Chad who likewise baptized this other Brother This Christian pair of Brothers did often resort to a private Oratory where they performed their Devotions but at length being discovered to their Father by the Steward Werbode who instigated and inflamed the fire of paternal fury against the Sons King Wolfere the Father watching the time when his Sons were gone to pray followed them and entering the Oratory slew both his Sons with his own hand and he and Werbode demolishing the place left the bodies of his Sons buried in the rubbish Shortly after this unnatural and bloudy act Werbode the Steward was strangled by the Devil before the Kings house and King Wolfere being deeply wounded in conscience the distraction whereof deprived him of all rest and quietness what through the worm tormenting him within and S. Ermenild his Wife without counselling him thereto repaired to S. Chad to whom he confessed his great offence and professed an hearty contrition for the same which he was resolved to expiate with what ever Pennance S. Chad should impose upon him which was no more but to restore the Christian Religion and the ruinated Temples thereof and likewise to found new ones Walter of Wittlesey an ancient Monk of Peterburgh writing this Story relates what I will not press upon the Readers faith That S. Chad having prayed with King Wolfere in his Oratory prayers being ended S. Chad put off his Vestment and hanged it upon a Sun-beam which supported it that it fell not to the ground which King Wolfere seeing put off his Gloves and Belt and assayed to hang them there also but they presently fell to the ground whereat King Wolfere was the more confirmed in the Christian Faith In the Western Cloyster of the Church of Peterburgh as shall hereafter be more largely related was the story of this King Wolfere curiously painted in the Windows and in the midst of the quadrangle of the whole Cloyster commonly called The Laurel Yard was there a Well which common Tradition would have to be that wherein S. Chad concealed Prince Wulfades heart And if it shall be considered that King Wolfere the Father did sometime Speed in his description of Northamptonshire keep his Court at Wedon in the Street in the Western parts of this County of Northampton it may make way for a probable conjecture that these things hapned at Peterburgh But the scene must not be laid in a wrong place for S. Chad had his Cell in the County of Stafford was the first Bishop of Litchfield where Beda Hist Angl. lib. 4. cap. 3. he founded the Cathedral Church and there lieth buried And Queen Ermenild having searched for the bodies of her Sons found them out and giving them burial built in the same place where they were slain a Church of Stone and called the place Stanes or Stones which is known by this name in Stafford-shire unto this day There also King Wolfere founded a Colledge of Regular Canons And now the building of the Monastery of Medeshamsted begun by King Peada went on a-main through the zealous endeavours of King Wolfere his Brother Etheldred and his Sisters Kyneburga and Kyneswitha assisting him therein until the same was perfected which he dedicated to the memory of the Apostle S. Peter bestowed many large priviledges and immunities upon it gave many fair possessions and established the bounds of its jurisdiction Vid. Char. in App. from Croyland on the East to Walmisford Bridge on the West and so Northward to Eston and Stamford and all along by the River of Wiland to Croyland again as is more at large set down in his Charter which he Sealed and Confirmed in the presence of Kings Nobles and Bishops in the Year of our Lord 664. and the seventh of his Reign The Quarry from whence King Wolfere fetched Stone for this Royal Structure was undoubtedly that of Bernack near unto Stamford where the Pitts from their hollow vacuities speak Antiquity and contribution to some such great design and I find in the Charter of K. Edward the Confessor Anno which he granted to the
of it But seeing what a great business this restauration was like to prove he returned to Winchester to make preparation for so great a design And first he made his address to God by fervent prayers to encline the hearts of King Edgar and his Queen and Nobles that he might have them so propitious as to contribute their assistances to this work And being one time at his prayers the Queen had secretly gotten behind the door to listen what it was that Athelwold prayed and suddenly she came forth upon him telling him that God and her self had heard his prayers and from thenceforth she began to solicite the King for the reparation of this Monastery to which the King assenting applied himself thereunto until he had finished the same which was in the year 970. The Monastery thus re-edified King Edgar desirous to see it went thither with Dunstane then Archbishop of Canterbury and Oswald Archbishop of York attended also with most of the Nobility and Clergy of England who all approved and applauded both the place and work But when King Edgar heard that some Charters and Writings which some Monks had secured from the fury of the Danes were found he desired to see them and having read the priviledges of this place that he had a second Rome within his own Kingdom he wept for joy And in the presence of that Assembly he confirmed their former priviledges and possessions the King Nobles and Clergy offering large oblations some of lands some of gold and silver At this glorious assembly the name of the place was changed from Medeshamsted to Burgh and by reason of the fair building pleasant situation large priviledges rich possessions plenty of gold and silver which this Monastery was endowed withal there was an addition to the name as to be called Gildenburgh though in reference to the dedication it hath ever since been known by the name of Peterburgh Malmsbury would have the nomination of the place Burgh to be from Abbot De gestis Pont. lib. 4. Kenulphus his enclosing the Monastery with a Wall as shall be noted hereafter but our Peterburgh Writers are not of his mind but place it here Writers say that in those days this Monastery was of so high account that what person soever came thither to pray whether King Lord Bishop or Abbot he put off his shoes at the gate of the Monastery and entred barefoot And the Covent there was very much had in esteem that if any of them travelled into any of the neighbouring parts they were received with the greatest respect and reverence that could be The Monastery thus restored King Edgar was mindful of the government also by Abbots as it had anciently been and there was appointed 8. ADVLPHVS He being Chancellor to King Edgar changed his Court life for a Monastical in this place the reason of which change was this He had one only Son whom he and his Wife dearly loved and they used to have him lie in bed betwixt them but the Parents having over night drunk more wine than was convenient their Son betwixt them was smothered to death Adulphus the father being sadly affected with this horrid mischance was resolved to visit S. Peter at Rome after the manner of a penitentiary for absolution imparting his intent to Bishop Athelwoldus who disswaded him from it telling him it would be better if he would labour in the restauration of S. Peters Church in this place and here visit him Adulphus approving this advice came with King Edgar to Burgh where in the presence of the King and the rest of that Convention he offered all his wealth put off his Courtly Robes and put on the habit of a Monk and ascended to the degree of Abbot in the year 972. In those days the whole Nasee or Country adjoyning and which is now known by the name of Burgh-soke was all a woody and solitary place until this Abbot Adulphus cut down woods built Mannors and Granges and let the Lands to farm for certain Rents so that the people increasing and as yet no Churches built amongst them they came to Peterburgh to receive the Sacraments and to pay their Church-duties which continued for many years after And although in the days of Turoldus Abbot Churches and Chappels began to be built the said Turoldus distributing the Lands of the Monastery to those Knights who desired to serve God at home yet still the Church of Peterburgh received the whole revenue until the time of Abbot Ernulfus Anno 1112. when there were assigned to the respective Ministers of Churches and Chappels certain revenues for their maintenance as due to their service saving to the Church of Burgh two parts of the predial Tythes of those Knights and saving the burial of See in Ernulphus the said Knights their wives and children in the Church of Burgh and also a certain portion of the Knights estates for the maintenance of their wives and children Saving also to the Church of Burgh from the Churches so built certain pensions which being imposed upon them in their first endowments or collations by this Church many of them have continued unto and been paid in these our days to the Bishop or Dean and Chapter as they were assigned by King Henry the Eighth as shall be declared hereafter Adulphus was present at the dedication of the Church of Ramsey in the year 974. After that this Abbot Adulphus had happily governed this Monastery about the space of twenty years Henry of Pightly saith Codex Ramis in manu H. Cromwell Armig. fol. 58. thirty one he was translated to the Archbishoprick of York there to succeed Oswaldus then deceased Some say he was translated to the Bishop of Worcester And in the place of Adulphus there came 9. KENVLPHVS Who was made Abbot in the year of our Lord 992. and was highly honoured far and near for his wisdom and piety many coming to him from several parts Bishops Abbots Priests and Monks as to another Solomon to hear his wisdom And by reason of his great fame for his learning he is supposed to have been a Writer and is therefore by Pitseus inserted into his Catalogue of English Writers though what he wrote is not extant or evident by his or any other testimony that I have met with This Abbot Kenulphus enclosed the Monastery of Burgh with a Wall a great part whereof is yet standing Having continued B. Godwyn Abbot here about thirteen years he was translated to the Bishoprick of Winchester Anno 1006. for the procurement whereof he is charged with Simony His successor in this Monastery was 10. ELSINVS Or Elsius Of whom I find no glorious Character recorded by Writers save this if it may be so accounted that he was very inquisitive after Reliques with which he was very industrious to inrich his Monastery And because Swapham and Wittlesey the compleatest Historians of this place have punctually set down a bedrole of his Reliques the Reader I hope will
not take it ill if I give a relation of them Amongst the Reliques of this place that which was most famous and bare the bell away from all the rest was S. Oswalds arm which continued uncorrupted for many years and that in the time of Abbot Martin it was shown to Alexander Bishop of Lincoln 487 years after its cutting off And of it some of the Monks in those times wrote these Verses Cum digitis dextram cute sanguine carneque tectam Oswaldi Regis Burgensis continet aedis Vngues sunt tales fuerant vivo sibi quales Intus in hac dextra paret cernentibus extra Nervus hinc vena dextra junctura serena In cubiti veluti nova paret fossa veruti Quo fuit appensum pretiosum martyris armum The story of this arm I suppose to be taken out of Beda his History of England lib. 3. cap. 6. who relates that this Oswald King of Northumberland was very free and liberal in giving of alms to the poor and one day whilst he sate at meat one of his servants told him of a great number of poor people come to his gate for relief whereupon King Oswald sent them meat from his own table and there not being enough to serve them all he caused one of his silver dishes to be cut in pieces and to be distributed amongst the rest which Aydanus a Bishop who came out of Scotland to convert and instruct those Northern parts of England beholding took the King by the right hand saying nunquam inveterascat haec manus let this hand never wax old or be corrupted which came to pass This arm was first deposited at Bamburgh a religious place in Yorkshire Walter of Wettlesey writing the story thereof tells that it was brought to the Monastary of Burgh by Winegotus of Bebeberch but saith not when therefore I cannot conjecture better than that it was by the procurement of this Abbot Elsinus It is said that this arm wrought many cures upon several diseased folk and that it was of such fame in the days of King Stephen as that he himself came to Peterburgh purposely to see it and offered his Ring to S. Oswald and also remitted King Stephen at Peterburgh to the Monastery the summ of forty marks wherein it was indebted unto him But that the Reader may know more fully the story of S. Oswald and his arm it is to be remembred that Penda King of the Camden Mercians being of a fierce nature and withal ambitious made war upon his neighbour Kings and particularly upon Oswald King of Northumberland who was a Christian him Penda encountred at Oswaldstreet now Oswestre in Shropshire though Wittlesey saith this battle was fought at a place called Burne and there overthrew him and caused him to be torn in pieces whom some in remembrance of Bishop Aydan's blessing might preserve his arm which at length was here at Peterburgh treasured up If the Reader be still at a stand when he shall read in Authors that King Oswald was buried at several places I cannot help him And now that we are upon this subject of Reliques we may I hope without offence to the Reader extend the Legend to the full Besides S. Oswalds arm there were some of his ribs and some of the earth where he was slain There were two pieces of our Saviours swadling cloaths Of the Manger wherein he was laid in two places Two pieces of the Cross which would not be burnt More of the Cross in four places Of the Sepulchre of our Lord in four places Of the five loaves with which he fed the five thousand men Of the garment of S. Mary in two places Of her vail in two places Of Aarons rod. Reliques of S. John the Baptist Of old Symeon Of the Sepulchre of Lazarus in two places Of the stone-patin of S. John the Evangelist Reliques of S. Peter the Apostle Of S. Paul Of S. Andrew Of S. Bartholomew Of S. Philip and Jacob. A shoulder blade of one of the Innocents whom Herod slew Reliques of S. Stephen S. Dionysius Rusticus and Elutherius Of the sackcloath and shirt of S. Wenceslaus Of the hand of S. Magnus Martyr Of S. Laurence The jaw and tooth and arm of S. George Martyr Reliques of S. Hippolytus and of S. Gervase The jaw and tooth of S. Christopher Reliques of S. Cyriacus of S. Potitus of S. Quirinus Two teeth of S. Edward King and Martyr Reliques of S. Trudon of S. Maximus of S. Salinus of S. Theodorus of S. Innocentius of S. Mauritius of S. Apollinaris of S. Gorgon of S. S. Cosmus and Damianus of S. S. Sergius and Bachius The finger of S. Leofridus Abbot Reliques of S. Hugo S. Wulgarus S. Adelwold S. Cuthbald S. Vindemianus S. Lotharius Three sinews of the hand of S. Athelard Abbot of Corbey Reliques of S. Acca Bishop of S. Machutus of S. Egwinus Abbot of S. Kenulphus The arm of S. Swithune Bishop A relique of S. Medard The shoulder-blade of S. Ambrose The tooth of S. Aydanus of S. Grimbaldus of S. Adelmus Two pieces of S. Cecilia of S. Lucia of S. Christina Of the bones and bloud and garment of S. Eutopia Of S. Mary the Egyptian Of S. Mary Magdalen Of the head and arms of S. Rogelida Of * See the Matriculatory at the end O. S. Anstroberta Of S. Edburga Of S. Emerentiana Of S. Juliana Virgin Of the hairs of S. Athelwold Bishop The tooth of S. Sexburga Virgin Reliques deposited under the great Altar Of the wood and Sepulchre of our Lord. Of the head of S. George Of the arm of S. Sebastian Of S. Pancratius Of S. Procopius S. Wilfridus S. Botwinus S. Albertus S. Suffredus S. Tadbertus S. Wildegelus Abbots Pag. 91. Reliques in the silver Tower Of the Sepulchre of our Lord. Of the garment and Sepulchre of S. Mary Of S. Andrew and S. Philip and S. James Of S. Dionysius S. Rusticus and Eleutherius Of S. Oswaldus S. Laurentius S. Vincentius S. Potitus S. S. Cosmus and Damianus S. Adelwoldus S. Adelinus S. Cecilia S. Edburga What became of these or some of these reliques in after times some small mention will be made hereafter but whether any of them were extant in the Monastery at the dissolution by King Henry the Eighth I find nothing amongst Writers no not of great S. Oswalds arm though Nicolas Harpsfield a late Historical Romanist would make us believe that the prayer of Aydanus was still in force as if that arm was somewhere extant But to return to Abbot Elsinus He was three years in Normandy with Queen Emma where he also collected many other reliques and like a laborious Bee stored his Abbey with them It hapned at that time that there was a great dearth in that Country of Normandy insomuch that many of the inhabitants forsook the Country and planted themselves in other places The Abbey of S. Florentinus having spent their treasures in buying of food and nothing left
them but the shrine of their Saint and Patrone at length they sold him also all but his head which they still reserved to themselves Elsinus having bought the body sent it to Peterburgh whither the Monks of that Abbey in Normandy did often repair to do their devotions to their Saint But whilst Elsinus was careful abroad for profitable reliques his Abbey at home sustained loss in more real endowments for Hoveden in Yorkshire with many other lands were wrested from the Monastery of Peterburgh Yet Elsinus added something of his own purchasing a fourth part of Wittleseymere and giving it to his Monastery which had a part thereof before purchased by Adelwoldus Bishop of Winchester in the time of King Edgar Wittlesey In those days was the Monastery of Ramsey accused to the King who threatned the dissolution thereof but by the mediation of this Elsinus it was reprieved upon condition that Elsinus should undertake the charge of it which Elsinus afterwards remitted to the Ramisians About this time Leofricus who was Secretary of Burgh translated the bodies of S. Kyneburga and Kyneswitha from their Church of Castre and the body of S. Tibba from Rihale to Peterburgh Others place this translation in the Harpsfield from Capgra pag. 85. time of King Henry the first and that they had a yearly memorial celebrated here In the time of this Abbot Elsinus Anno 1051. Elfricus Archbishop of York died at Southwell and was buried at Peterburgh where he had been a Monk of whom more hereafter Elsinus having been Abbot here the space of fifty years died Anno 1055. and there succeeded 11. ARWINVS or ERNWINVS Ingulphus He was made Abbot by Election which deservedly passed upon him being a man of great holiness and simplicity but he liking better a private and solitary life freely surrendred his government after eight years continuance therein In his time Anno 1059. or as some say 1060. died Kinsius Archbishop of York who formerly had been Chaplain to King Edward the Confessor and was buried in the Church of Peterburgh where he had been a Monk Radulphus de Diceto calls him Kinsigius and commends him highly for his austere way of living his humility and other vertues Of whom again hereafter About this time S. Wulstan formerly Monk of Peterburgh was made Bishop of Worcester Bishop Godwyn Anno 1062. 12. LEOFRICVS or LEVRICVS Vid. appendiam Chartarum Having by his birth relation to the Royal bloud was first made a Monk of Burgh and afterwards Abbot upon the retirement of Arwinus He being dear to King Edward and Edgith his wife held by extraordinary benevolence five Abbeys in his hand at once viz. Burton Coventry Croyland Thorney and Peterburgh He redeemed of King Edward certain lands belonging to his Monastery as Fiskerton for twenty marks Fleton for eight marks and Burleigh for eight marks which being demised by lease to Elfgarus the Queens Chaplain for the term of his life he being dead the Queen would have taken it from the Church of Peterburgh had it not been for Abbot Leofricus In the third year of this Abbot Anno 1066. William Duke of Normandy entred England with an army and subdued it to his Norman power Of which I find these old Monkish Verses in some of our Writers Anno Milleno Sexageno quoque seno Agenito verbo Duce jam regnante superbo Anglorum metae crinem sensêre cometae Belli transacti sunt hic anni numerati Quod fuit hic factum quod est nunc usque vocatum Dilecti Christi fuerant tunc festa Calixti Abbot Leofricus was then in the English army where sickning he returned to his Monastery of Peterburgh and died the night after All-Saints day Deeping Bank In the time of this Abbot Leofricus one Egelricus a Monk of Burgh was made Archbishop of York but the Canons there envying that a Monk should be set over them though but lately it had been so refused to receive him wherefore he was made Bishop of Durham where he was received with general approbation Whilst he was Bishop there he gathered great store of wealth yet not to himself but that he might be rich in good works amongst which there is one that continues his memory to this very day the bank from Deeping to Spalding for in those days the passage being very difficult by reason of Woods and deep Marishes he raised that Causey for the benefit of Travellers which for many years after was called by his name Egelric Rode though now it be known only by the name of Deeping Bank But some affirm that Egelricus found his wealth for intending to build a Church at Coneester now Chester upon the street in laying the foundation thereof he chanced to light upon a great mass of treasure wherewith he finished that work and many others Such a new found treasure might be an additional to what he had before which surely was not small else he would scarce have undertaken to build Churches When Egelricus had held his Bishoprick of Durham long enough to weary himself with publick employments he returned to his Monastery of Peterburgh having resigned his Bishoprick to his brother Egelwinus But it hapned that these two brethren were accused to King William the Conqueror who laid up Egelricus in Chains at Westminster during his life and when he was near his end he refused to have his Fetters taken off and desired that he might be buried with them and so was he buried in S. Nicolas Porch in Westminster the other Brother Egelwinus was deposed from his Bishoprick by King William and sent to Abendone where he died The Writers of Peterburgh Swapham and Wittlesey say That in the time of Abbot Leofricus his sickness this Egelricus being at his accustomed Evening devotions the Devil appeared to him in the shape of a boy of terrible countenance and told him that ere long he should triumph over the chiefest of them which perhaps was in the death of Leofricus Abbot and that three several times he would revenge himself upon the Monks and Monastery telling him also the manner First that he would cause all the Monks to be expelled and the goods of the Monastery to be taken away Secondly he would cause the Monastery to be set on fire Thirdly he would set the Monks so at strife that they should cut one anothers throats But Egelricus replying The Lord rebuke thee Satan the Devil vanished and left a horrible stink behind him 13. BRANDO Having been Coadjutor to Leofricus was thought the fittest to succeed him and being elected he made his address to Edgar Atheling for his confirmation supposing him to be lawful heir to the Crown of England notwithstanding the late Conquest by K. William but William hearing thereof was much incensed against Abbot Brando that he was forced to give him forty marks for his favour to confirm him in his Monastery and the Lands to his Church Whilst he was a Monk
he gave to the Monastery many Lands as in Muscham Schotter Scalthorp Yolthorp Messingham Malmeton Cletham Hibaldstow Rachevildthorp Holme Riseby Walcot Normanby Alethorp there joyning with him Askylus Syricus and Sivortus who procured from King Edward a confirmation of these Lands to the Church Brando when he was Abbot created his Nephew Herewardus le Wake Lord of Brunne now Bourn Knight which Herewardus was a valiant man and stoutly opposed the Normans in those parts Brando enjoyed not long his Government but in November Anno 1069. which was the third of King William he died 14. TVROLDVS or THOROLDVS A Norman was placed by King William in the vacant Abby of Peterburgh He being a stranger neither loved his Monastery nor his Convent him He began to make a strange dispersion of the Lands belonging to his Church conferring sixty and two Hides of Land upon certain stipendiary Knights that they might defend him against Herewardus le Wake This Herewardus was son of Leofricus Lord of Brunne and having had a Military education beyond Seas repaired home to employ his valour in defence of his native Country against the Normans It hapned at that time that the Danes under Sweyn their King son of Canutus invaded this Land amongst whom Osbernus an Earl and Bishop entred into the Isle of Ely with whom Herewardus joyned and incited him to set upon the Monastery of Peterburgh for that the King had given it to a Norman Herewardus and the Danes coming hither the Monks and others with them defended themselves for a time with much valour in a hot dispute at Bolehith-gate now commonly called Bulldyke-gate being on the South of the Monastery and yet standing where when Herewardus and the Danes perceived their entrance doubtful and that they could not cut their way with their Swords and Weapons they assayed to do it by fire upon the adjoyning buildings and so entred through flame and smoke Being entred they seized upon all the good things they found carrying them away to Ely leaving much of the buildings the Monastery only excepted destroyed by fire and taking Adelwoldus the Prior with many of the more ancient Monks thither also But Adelwoldus watching for an opportunity to get away and return home the Danes being jovial and merry at a triumphal feast for this their booty Adelwoldus got privately to himself some gold and silver with some Reliques amongst which was S. Oswald's arm which he hid in his bedstraw till he could make his escape But an agreement being made between King William and Sweyn the Danish King that the Danes should depart with all their spoil most of the good things of this Monastery were carried away towards Denmark and a great part of them lost in the Sea by tempest those which arrived there were afterwards recovered by Iwarus the Secretary of the Monastery who took a journey thither for that purpose And now had Adelwoldus the Prior with the other Monks a time of returning without stealth to his Monastery of Peterburgh and taking the Abby of Ramsey in their way the Ramisians entertained them kindly for awhile but at their departure they detained their Reliques which afterwards upon the threats of Abbot Thorold they yielded up yet did not the Monks enjoy their newly recovered Treasures long for they being careless and drunken and their Abbot absent a fire seized upon the Church and other remaining buildings from which they rescued some few Reliques but little of other things All this while Turoldus Abbot absented himself from his Monastery and made his abode at Stamford but Herewardus being withdrawn he returned to his Monastery where he found all things in a desolate condition He brought along with him 140 Normans well armed to secure him against Herewardus and also built a Fort or Castle within his Monastery which for many years retained the name of Mount Thorold so that now the Monastery of Peterburgh seemed rather a warlike than religious place Yet for all that Turoldus could do for his own security he was at length taken by Herewardus and constrained to ransome himself with the payment of thirty marks in silver So profuse was this Turoldus of the goods of his Monastery that at his entrance an estimate of the goods thereof amounting to fifteen hundred pounds ere Turoldus had done there remained scarce five hundred But his disposing of the Lands as hath been said to certain Knights for their service in these Military times was remarkable and valid in after ages where I could give a large declaration of the persons thus invested with the Church-Lands and what Lands those were but it shall suffice to say that there were in all forty one men of note who received those Lands from Turoldus to hold upon that condition but they did not all receive in equal proportion but some more and some less some to find and afford the service of six Knights some of four some of one and some less as their portions of Land were yet in all the number of Knights for which they were to be answerable amounted to sixty eight and from whence there began a new addition to be annexed unto the name of the place as to be called The Honour of Peterburgh But there happened another Act of Turoldus which raised his discontents higher in himself and brought him lower in the good affection of his Convent for he received into his Monastery two Monks from beyond Sea who secretly stole away and carried many of the Church Goods with them At length Turoldus weary of his Government here procured for himself the Bishoprick of Beavois in France whither he transported many of the goods of the Monastery but he was not so welcome to his new Bishoprick as to make any long continuance there for on the fourth day he was expelled thence and returning again into England he gave the King a great summ of Money that he might be seated again in his Monastery of Peterburgh whither he returned and in all continued his Government there the space of 28 years and died Anno 1100 or as some say 1098. being the 10 or 11 year of William the Second 15. GODRIC VS The Monks now began to be provident for themselves for considering the inconveniences they suffered by Turoldus being imposed upon them they gave the King three hundred Marks in Silver that they might have the power of Electing their own Abbot which having procured from the King they chose Godricus who was Brother to Abbot Brando Whether or no Godricus might incurr the guilt of Simony by what the Church had done Bishop Godwin calleth him Geffrey page 34. I will not determine yet was he with Richard Abbot of Ely and Adelwinus Abbot of Ramsey deposed from their Governments by a Councel held under Anselmus then Archbishop of Canterbury for that as Peterburgh Writers say they had entred by Simony Yet Matth. Paris renders another reason that it In vita W. Rufi was because
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
doubted whether he wrote them himself more than he did the rest I shall therefore set down his Books as also some of the succeeding Abbots that the Reader may conjecture what Scholars those Abbots might be and see what Books were most in request amongst them Abbot Benedicts Library was furnished with these Books Quinque libri Moysis glossati in uno Volumine Sexdecim Prophetae glossati in uno Volumine Duodecim Minores glossati in uno Volumine Liber Regum glossatus Paralipomenon glossatus Job Parabolae Salomonis Ecclesiastes Cantica Canticorum glossati in uno Volumine Liber Ecclesiasticus Liber Sapientiae glossati in uno Volumine Tobias Judith Esther Esdras glossati in uno Volumine Liber Judicumglossatus Scholastica Historia Psalterium glossatum Item non glossatum Item Psalterium Quatuor Evangelia glossata in uno Volumine Item Matthaeus Marcus in uno Volumine Johannes Lucas in uno Volumine Epistolae Pauli glossatae Apocalypsis Epistolae Canonicae glossatae in uno Volumine Sententiae Petri Lombardi Item Sententiae ejusdem Sermones Bernardi Abbatis Clarevallensis Decreta Gratiani Item Decreta Gratiani Summa Ruffini de Decretis Summa Johannis Faguntini de Decretis Decretales Epistolae Item Decretales Epistolae Item Decretales Epistolae cum Summa sic incipiente Olim. Institutiones Justiniani cum Autenticis Infortiato Digestum vetus Tres partes cum Digesto novo Summa Placentorum Totum corpus juris in duobus Voluminibus Arisimetica Epistolae Senecae cum aliis Senecis in uno Volumine Martialis Terentius in uno Volumine Morale dogma Philosophorum Gesta Alexandri Liber Claudii Claudiani Summae Petri Helyae de Grammatica cum multis aliis rebus in uno Volumine Gesta Regis Henrici Secundi genealogia ejus Interpretationes Hebraicorum nominum Libellus de Incarnatione Verbi Liber Bernardi Abbatis ad Eugenium Papam Missale Vita Sancti Thomae Martyris Miracula ejusdem in quinque Voluminibus Liber R. Plutonis qui dicitur Vnde malum Meditationes Anselmi Practica Bartholomaei cum pluribus aliis rebus in uno Volumine Ars Physicae Pantegm practica ipsius in uno Volumine Almasor Dioscorides de virtutibus herbarum Liber dinamidiorum aliorum multorum in uno Volumine Libellus de compoto This was the stock of his Literature as Wittlesey hath set it down though another ancient Copy in some few things differeth from it There is some clashing betwixt Vossius and Possevine about the time of this Benedict but it is not worth the trouble of reciting It seems Benedict was a man of good note that his preferment to this Abby should sound in foreign parts Sigebertus Gemblacensis making mention thereof Benedictus Prior Cantuariensis factus est Ad an 1177. Abbas de Burc The Abby was at his entrance 1500 marks deep in debt from which Benedict freed it He laboured much in recovering of his Abby Lands some by suits in Law and some by force for as if he were Tam Marti quam Mercurio as well for the Sword as the Book he went sometimes in person armed upon such adventures His actions at home towards his Monastery were great and many It seems the Nave or body of the Church did not please him therefore he built it after a better manner from the Lantern to the Porch as now it is so that the painted Ceiling at the top which is still remaining was probably of his doing He set up also the Pulpit in the body of the Church which was but lately taken away He finished the Chappel of Thomas Becket which his Predecessor had begun He built a large and goodly House of stone for several Offices which was standing in our age He built the great gate leading to the Monastery and over it the Chappel of S. Nicolas both which are yet standing He was much in the Kings favour that the King King Richard for his piety gravity and wisdom was wont to call him Father And when King Richard in his return from the Holy Land was taken prisoner by Arch-Duke Leopold who detained him this Abbot Benedict being in the Kings absence made Coadjutor and Councellor with William Bishop of Ely Chancellor of the Realm Councelled that the Chalices of the Church should be sold to pay the Kings ransome which was done and the King returned home Then did King Richard confirm to Abbot Benedict and his Monastery the Marsh of Pekirk now commonly called North-Fenne about which there fell out some difference betwixt Radulphus le Wake and the Monastery for Radulphus being Lord of Deeping claimed Common in the Marsh as being but on the other side of the River but Abbot Benedict impounded his Cattel alledging that the Marsh belonged only to his Tenants of Pekirk Glinton Makeshye and Northburgh and desired Radulphus to enquire into the truth thereof So Radulphus came to Peterburgh with some others where being fully informed of the Abbots right he forbare to trespass any more Benedict also recovered the Marsh of Eye and the Hermitage of Singlesholt King Richard also granted unto Benedict his confirmation of the eight Hundreds as his predecessors had done And withal his Charter for the holding of a Fair in Peterburgh upon the Feast of S. Peter S. Peters Fair. to continue for 8 days although now it be contracted into one He also granted a weekly Market every Thursday and a Fair for three days at the Feast of S. Peter to be holden at the Mannor of Scotter in Lincolnshire then belonging to this Monastery Vid. Chartam in App. Pag. 252. John the Kings brother who was Earl of Moriton and afterwards King of England was also kind to Abbot Benedict and his Monastery giving them by his Charter yearly three Staggs and six Bucks out of his Forest of Sheerwood without contradiction In his time there flourished one William of Peterburgh a Monk of Ramsey a very Learned man upon whom Pitseus bestows a large Character whither the Reader that would see his works may resort Benedict having been Abbot the space of seventeen years died Anno 1194. being the sixth Year of King Richard the first and had for his Successor 23. ANDREAS He was first a Monk here then Prior and afterwards for his many vertues was chosen Abbot The Villages of Alwalton and Fletton which then belonged to him he gave to the Monks Kitchin for the augmentation of their Commons Having been Abbot about five years he died the same year with King Richard which was Anno 1199. He was buried in the South Isle of the Church at the back of the Quire in the same Grave where two of his Predecessors had been buried before as the Epitaph on the Wall over his Monument will testifie which was lately in ancient Saxon Letters but now in the ordinary renewed Hos tres Abbates quibus est Prior Abba Johannes Alter Martinus Andreas ultimus unus Hic
of S. Katharine at Westminster On the Feast of S. John the Evangelist following he received the said Bishops blessing at Tinghurst and on the Eve of Epiphany following he was received at Peterburgh In his first year he paid to the Kings Exchequer 5 Marks for the disforesting of Nassaburgh and 28 more to the Chancellor In that year died one Brianus de la Marc the Kings Forester in the Marsh of Kesteven and Holland and the King passing by that way towards York seized upon all the goods of the said Brian But Abbot Martin procured the Kings Writ to Hugo de Nevile then Justice of the Forest to enquire if the said Brian was not enfeoffed in certain Lands belonging to the Monastery of Peterburgh which being examined at a Commission holden at Bernat and found to be so the Heir of the said Brian was awarded as Ward to the Abbot of Peterburgh But Abbot Martin gave the said ward to Radulfus de Nevile then Bishop of Chichester and the Kings Chancellor This Abbot Martin in the year 1228. received a grand priviledge from Gregory the Ninth Pope of that name wherein this particular that whensoever there should be a general interdiction of the Land the Monks of Peterburgh when they said their Service might shut the Church doors ring no bell nor say their Service aloud but with a low voice to themselves that the people might not participate thereof But I have not found that ever this was put in practice In the year 1231 Hugh Bishop of Lincoln visited this Monastery and gave Articles to be observed both by the Abbot as also by the Convent Martin having been Abbot the space of six years died His Library was but thin Missale Item Missale ad Altare S. Katharinae Capitula collecta Evangelica in 2 Voluminibus ad magnum Altare 28. WALTERVS de S. Edmundo Who was first Monk then Sacristary and at length Abbot of this Church being void by the death of Martin Anno 1233. the 17 of King Henry 3. Here Robert Swapham ends his story of the succession of Abbots whom hitherto we have been much guided by but now we must follow Wittlesey and a few other Records which like Absirtus his limbs being scattered about in the late dispersion have come to our hands This Abbot Walter was a man generally good pious honest Loyal free and liberal in the dispensation of the demesnes belonging to his Church In those days King Henry was straitly put to it for maintenance and was constrained to live upon Ecclesiastical benevolence going from one Monastery to another to be entertained And he found Abbot Walter very free towards K. Henry at Peterburgh him who at two several times gave him the best entertainment his Monastery could afford At one of which times the Queen and Prince Edward came with the King This Abbot gave the King the summ of 60 Marks towards the marriage of Margaret his Daughter with Alexander 3. King of Scotland He added 30 more Monks to the number erected many buildings to those which were before Having been Abbot the space of 13 years he died Anno 1245 being the 30 of King Henry 3. What that dedication of this Church was which Matth. Paris mentions Anno 1238. I could never yet fully understand Page 481. But we must not leave Abbot Walter thus for the time of his Government is remarkable Three times saith Wittlesey with great costs and charges he journeyed to Rome The first was to have redress concerning the Church of Castre against R. de Somercot who was a Cardinal this journey he took when he was but Sacristary The second journey was being Abbot not to but towards Rome when he was summoned to be at a Council there with the rest of the English Clergy which Council was held there Anno 1234. under Pope Gregory 9. saith Franciscus Longus though Gabriel Pratiolus will have Innocent 4. to be then Pope and Gregory 9. to be some time after But Walter being on the way thither as far as Burgundy and hearing that the Emperour Frederick had imprisoned Otto the English Legate with many others he durst not proceed on his journey but staid in the City of Anvers 6 months and then returned home to the Monastery of Peterburgh But his retreat was so ill taken that presently the Pope sends a Mandate to him for the finding of five men with Horses and Arms which at length he took off at the charge of 174 Marks by the dispensation of Martin the Popes Nuntio The third journey to Rome was after the Council of Lions for thither also was he summoned and appeared there but rather as an offender than an Assessor for he was called to answer his contempt in giving the Church of Castre according to the Kings order and against the Popes yet did he regain the Popes favour by obliging himself to give to a Nephew of the Popes ten pounds a year Our Writers of Peterburgh say no more but Matthew Paris is more copious in Page 554. the story or another like it In the year saith he 1241. Pope Gregory desirous to promote some of his Favourites sends his Letters into England to cast the burthen of that care upon some Churches There was then sent to the Abbot and Convent of Burgh an Apostolick Mandate fraught with intreaties and threatnings that they would conferr the Rent of any Church under their patronage which should yearly be worth one hundred Marks and if it were double the value it would please him the more and the Pope would again demise unto the Church the same Living for the yearly rent of one hundred Marks and the surplusage should redound to the proper use of the Church And that the Abbot and Convent might consent to this provision or rather pernicious compact Simony and secret Fraud demanded by the Pope the Pope wrote Letters to certain Foreign Monks then well Beneficed in England that they should effectually admonish the Abbot and Convent therein and to compel them if need were These Monks coming to Peterburgh called the Monks together and bespake them after this manner Behold Friends and Brethren a great Pontifical kindness is offered to your hand for the Pope requires that of you which with bended knees and joyned hands ye ought to request of him And when they had explained the business they promised to accomplish the business on the Popes part so that the business might be secretly carried without scandal But the Monks of Peterburgh answered that they could do nothing without the Kings permission who was their Patron and Founder The Popes Messengers insisted that the business might be done privately hoping also that other Churches would follow their example and do the like The Monks of Peterburgh would not be circumvented by their Speeches but desired respite of the business until their Abbot came home being then absent that they might have his assent In the mean time they sent to their Abbot acquainting him with the whole business
Wine for which he assigned ten pounds yearly to be paid from his own Chamber out of the Lands of his Mannor of Polebrook He gave also a great Bell to the Church whereon was written Jon de Caux Abbas Oswaldo consecrat hoc vas In his time Anno 1250. the Pope then Innocent the fourth Vid. Privileg in App. granted leave to the Monks that in consideration of the coldness of Winter in these parts the Monks should perform their service in the Church with their Hoods on their heads Abbot John having held the government of this Church the space of thirteen years died at London Anno 1262. the 46 of King Henry the third and was brought to his Church at Peterburgh and buried in the Isle on the South side of the Quire The King after his death challenged his Palfrey and his Cup but upon what grounds I know not unless it was because John had been his Officer the Cup he had after some urgent demands but the Palfrey he had not Some write that this Abbot John was also made Lord Treasurer Mr. Filpot by the Barons in the 44. year of King Henry the third and according to this account he held that Office to his death which was two years after His Secular employments might take off his mind from Books and plead for the poorness of his Library Flores Evangeliorum Tractatus de Theologia Concilium Lateranense Templum Domini Testamentum 12 Patriarcharum This was his stock of Books as I find in an ancient Manuscript 31. ROBERTVS de Sutton So called from the place of his birth being a little Village in the Parish of Castre He was a Monk of Peterburgh Deputy to his Predecessor and upon his death chosen Abbot in April 1262. He received benediction from Richard Bishop of Lincoln and gave him his Cope which some demanded as a fee the Archdeacon of Northampton demanding also his Palfrey as his vale Abbot Robert made him go without it The Earl Marshal received five Marks for his Palfrey when he took the Oath of Allegiance to the King But it was not long ere Abbot Robert falsified his Oath for in the Wars of those times the Town of Northampton being fortified against the King Robert Abbot of Peterburgh took part with them in defence of that Town The King coming thither to assault the Town espied amongst his enemies Ensigns on the wall the Ensign of the Abby of Peterburgh whereat he was so angry that he vowed to destroy the nest of such ill birds But the Town of Northampton being reduced Abbot Robert by mediation of friends to the King saved both himself and Church but was forced to pay for his delinquency To the King 300 Marks to the Queen 20 pounds to Prince Edward 60 pounds to the Lord Souch 6l 13s 4d After this hapned the Battel of Lewes wherein King Henry with Prince Edward was taken Prisoner then did the other side fleece the Abbot of Peterburgh for his contribution to the King the General and several Barons and Commanders forcing the Abbot to composition by several sums of mony Afterwards at the Battle of Evesham Prince Edward overthrew the Earl of Leicester with his whole Army and the King having recovered himself called a Parliament at Winchester wherein he required large benevolence from the Church Particularly the Abbot of Peterburgh because he had held with the Barons was again constrained to purchase his peace at these rates The King had of him 333l 6s 8d The Queen 33l 6s 8d The Prince Prince Edward 200l He paid also to the Earl of Gloucester 133l 6s 8d Earl Warren had of Abbot Robert for his Mannors of Castre Tinwell and Thirlby 100l Warin Lord of Bassingburn 42l The Commander of Fotheringay Castle 100l 6s 8d Lord Thomas Typtot for the Mannors of Fiskerton and Scotter 65l 13s 4d The Lord of Fanecourt for the Mannor of Collingham 12l Lord Robert Picot for several Mannors 14l 6s 8d Thomas of Bulton 6l 13s 4d All which summs of mony he carried to Winchester and there paid them These and other payments which he made at other times exhausted from him amounted to the summ of 4323l 18s 5d Having paid thus dear for his disloyalty he became more obedient to his right Master and when King Henry sent to him for aid against the Castle of Kenilworth Abbot Robert did what the King required for that siege Vid. Chartam in App. In these times Prince Edward having occasion for mony he borrowed a great summ of certain Merchants for which the Abbot of Peterburgh and his Convent became Sureties And the Prince granted unto them his Mannor of Graham until he should repay that mony unto them Edward was no sooner King but in the first year of his Reign he came to Peterburgh where he was entertained by this Abbot Robert And from hence he dated a Charter which he granted to the Church of Ely as the close Ms Eliens in manu Geo. Glapthorn Armig. pag. 135. thereof testifieth Teste meipso apud Burgum Sancti Petri 13 die Aprilis Anno regni nostri primo This was in the year of our Lord 1273. And perhaps this is that entertainment which Wittlesey makes mention of the Queen being then with the King and Abbot Robert expended in the entertainment the summ of six hundred pounds In the 11 Year of his Government he was called to the Council of Lions Gregory 10 being then Pope which Council being ended in his return homewards he sickned and died and was buried in a Monastery near Bononia the Abbot of Croyland celebrating his Funeral rites His heart was brought in a Cup to his Monastery of Peterburgh and there buried before the Altar of S. Oswald Anno 1274. being the second year of King Edward the first In his Library were these Books Psalterium glossatum Summa Raimundi cum apparatu Summa fratris R. de Fissacre super Sententias in 4 voluminibus Summa Qui bene praesunt Templum domini cum tractatu de professione in 1 volumine Summa M. J. de Cantia cum aliis rebus Secunda pars Hugucionis super Decreta Summa Gaufridi Liber naturalium Aristot Raimundus abbreviatus cum meditationibus Bernardi Manuale Liber de miseria humanae conditionis Psalterium B. Virginis Vita S. Thomae S. Oswaldi versifics. Psalterium parvum In his time Anno 1270. lived Elias Trickingham a Monk of Peterburgh who wrote certain Annals from the year of our Lord 626 to 1270. Pitseus 32. RICHARDVS de London Steeple Born there in the Parish of S. Pancratius He having run through many Offices in this Monastery at length arrived at the Abbot's when he was aged sixty years And so being of much experience he governed his Monastery carefully and happily He contended in Law with Gilbert Earl of Clare for the Mannor of Biggins near Oundle wherein he had good success through the wisdom and diligence of William Woodford one of his Monks who being a
In the time of this Abbot there was an Indictment at Northampton against a stoppage of the Water at Vpwell so that the River of Nen could not have its course towards Lynn whereby the Counties of Northampton Lincoln Bedford Huntingdon and Cambridge were much endamaged The Abbot of Peterburgh laboured hard to get the drain scowred and at length procured a Decree from Galfridus Scroop the Kings Chief Justice for clearing the passage the Abbots of Ramsey Thorney and Croyland joyning with him this cost the Abbot of Peterburgh 63 l. 11 s. 1 d. In Abbot Adams time there happened a fray in the Chappel at Registr Adae fol. 41. Oxney and blood being shed therein the Chappel was polluted and stood suspended from its priviledge of Divine Service The Bishop of Lincoln being then otherwise employed could not attend to reconcile it but gave his consent that any other Bishop might whereupon Abbot Adam wrote to the Bishop of Carlile intreating him that as he returned from the Parliament towards his Mannor of Horncastle he would come and reconcile the said Chappel And as Abbot Adam had been free towards the King so was the King to him confirming his Possessions and Priviledges particularly by Charter the tenth of his huntings Tenth of huntings throughout Northamptonshire that whosoever hunted any game throughout this County for the Kings use or by his authority was responsible to the Abbot of Peterburgh for the tenth thereof which were granted and confirmed long before by his Predecessors King Richard 1. and W. Rufus And King Henry 3. and King Edward 1. did both of them command by their express Warrant to the Forester that the Abbot of Peterburgh should have five Bucks in acknowledgment thereof What this Abbot was for Learning and Ability in his Function let the Reader conjecture by his Library which Wittlesey sets down Decretales Sermones Johannis de Abbevile Mediapars Missal Breviarium Manuale Liber Chartarum Actus Apostolorum Epistolae Canonicae Apocalypsis Gerardus super Psalterium Summa summarum Diurnale Dicta Senecae cum 36 tractatibus content is in eodem volumine These were his Books set down by Wittlesey which agrees with another ancient Catalogue that I have by me Adam in the beginning of his eighteenth year died being the year of our Lord 1338. and the 12 of King Edward 3. On the fourth day of December following he was honourably interred the Abbot of Ramsey performing his funeral service and making a Sermon He was buried betwixt the Quire and the great Altar a fair Marble Stone being laid over him with some Brass upon it which was taken away in the late demolition of Monuments The Epitaph written about it was this Claustri praelatus hujus cubat hic vocitatus Adam qui natus erat a Boothby nece stratus Vir castus justus omni virtute robustus M semel x trina ter sex i quoque bina Pars donetur ei celestis nunc requiei Presently after his death was the Seal of the Monastery broken and care was taken for the Kings consent to a new election But before we name the Successor we shall present the Reader with a bill of Adams funeral expences which I shall give in Latine as I find it in Wittlesey If the Reader be but a good Deipnosophist he may construe the meaning of some words better than I can In cera 250li De frumento pro distributionibus pauperum 45 quarters De allecibus pro eisdem 1000. culibet 6. In pane pro die sepulturae frumenti 20 quarters Brasii pro cervisia 40 quarters In vino 1 dolium 1 pipam In allecibus pro die sepulturae 8500 De Lupis aquaticis grossis 100 De Cod-lingis 12 Sem. De Haddok 1 Sem. De Spar-lingis 1 Sem. De Salmon 24 De Milvellis 120 De Dogdrout 100 De Plais 10 Sem. De Congris 1 De Wilkis 5 Sek De grossis anguillis 5 estik De minutis anguillis 70 estik De Sturgeon 1 Barrel De Lintea tela pro nappis mensarum pro naperouns 200 Vlnae De Platellis diversis garnitis 1400 De Trowes 12 Bollis 4 De ciphis de ligno pro vino cervisia  In ollis luteis pro vino cervisia 300 De Corbellis 5 Abbot Adam being interred and the turmoil of his funeral past the thoughts of the Monks returned to continue the succession in 36. HENRICVS de Morcot A wise and discreet man Being elected Abbot he was according to the custome though this be the first mention that I find thereof carried on shoulders with a Te Deum to the great Altar and from thence to the Pulpit where the Prior published his Election Then Henry took his journey towards London but the King being then at Antwerp Henry's Election was confirmed by those whom he left in Authority with whom Abbot Henry compounded for his Mannors and Lands for the summ of 200 l. the Queens mony excepted and the reservation to the King of the Knights-fees and the advowsons of the livings of the Monastery during the vacany And so Henry returned towards Peterburgh and although he might have returned to some of his own Mannors yet with the Abbot of Thorneys leave he stayed at Stanground the space of three weeks In the mean time Simon of Islepe Vicar general to the Bishop of Lincoln the Bishop being then out of the Kingdom published in the Church of Peterburgh that if any persons could object any thing against Henry or the form of his Election they should appear such a day in the Church of S. James in Thrapstone and signify the same where because none appeared the said Simon ratified the Election and granted his Letter to any Bishop to confer his benediction upon this new Elect at any place within or without the Diocess of Lincoln which was performed by the Bishop of Ely the Lord Chancellor in his Chappel at his house in Holbourn Then did the Chancellor direct his Letters to the Convent and Tenants of the Church of Peterburgh for their obedience to this their Abbot and also to William Trussell the Kings Eschaetor beyond Trent not to meddle with any Lands belonging to the Church of Peterburgh Abbot Henry being returned staid a while at his Mannor of Eye and shortly after came to Peterburgh and was installed the seventh of the Ides of Feb. Anno 1338. which was the twelfth year of K. Edward 3. Here Walter of Wittlesey leaves me who hitherto hath been a good guide to our story wherein further our progress must be assisted by such other Records and Rolls as we light of When Abbot Henry had governed this Church about 15. years he died Anno 1353 which was the 27 of King Edward 3. His Library consisted of these Books viz. Parva Biblia Decreta Decretale Apparatus sexti Libri Decretalium Liber qui vocatur Innocentius Hostiensis in summa Breviarium Antiphonarium cum Psalterio Processionarium Item Decretale Catholicon He had a sharp
into the hands of the Bishop of Lincoln June 27. 1471. which being certified to the King then Edward 4. and in the 11 year of his Reign upon the Convents Petition for a new Election the person thought fittest to succeed was 43. WILLIHELMVS RAMSEY Being a Monk of this Monastery out of that good repute which the whole Convent had of him was chosen to succeed Richard Ashton He contributed with John Maldon towards the brazen Standard with a displayed Eagle on the top which is still extant in this Church and serveth for the Bible to lie upon for the Reading of the Lessons On one of the knops is this Distich John Maldon Prior Willelmus de Ramiseya Haec tibi lectrina dant Petre metallica bina Fol. 70. The Election of this William is so punctually set down by Roger Bird who calleth himself the Abbots Chaplain that because it will make for the understanding of the Officers of the Monastery in those times I shall give it in the Authors own words In quo quidem termino videlicet xxvii die Julii supra scripta hora Capitulari celebrata primitus solempniter prout decuit ad magnum altare in Ecclesia Conventuali Monasterii nostri antedicti Missa de Sancto Spiritu pulsataque campana more solito consueto convenerunt de facto capitulariter pariter communiter ob hoc ad hoc congregati fuerunt in dicta domo nostra capitulari omnes qui voluerunt potuerunt debuerunt hujusmodi electioni futuri Abbatis nostri commode interesse videlicet Ego dompnus Johannes Maldon Prior praesidens praedictus Johannes York magnus Senn. in firmaria Willielmus Walmesford Senn. in firmaria Willielmus Burgh Robertus Lydington Robertus Notyngham Sub-Prior Johannes Pycheley gardianus de Oxney Richardus Oxford Subeleemosinarius Johannes Burgh Praecentor Willielmus Spalding Infirmarius Henricus Lynne sufficienter licentiatus ad peregrinandum comperuit per Willielmum Burgh confratrem suum nomine procuratoris qui quidem Willielmus Burgh onus procuratorii hujusmodi in se ad omnem juris effectum acceptavit admisit cujus tenor inferius describitur Johannes Nall Celerarius Johannes Hill tertius Prior claustralis Johannes Baston Camerarius Nicolaus Overton Magister operis Pitenciarius Johannes Glynton Sacrista Willielmus Bury quartus Prior claustralis Willielmus Ramsey Receptor Senescallus Robert Burghscolaris Johannes Croyland senior Refectarius Johannes Rypon magnus Eleemosinarius Thomas Burgh hostilarius Johannes Morys Johannes Gent scolaris Edmundus Lynne Georgius Burgh Subsacrista Johannes Tylly Thomas London custos crucis Gilbertus Holbech Johannes Lincoln Thomas Pynchebek Willielmus Newark Johannes Croyland scolaris Richardus Multon Capellanus Prioris Willielmus Holbech Galfridus Lynne Willielmus Shelford Monachi dicti Monasterii ordinem regulam sancti Benedicti in eodem expresse professi in sacris ordinibus constituti conventum dicti Monasterii sic facientes ac jus voces in hujusmodi electione solum habentes prout in de facto tunc convenimus capitulariter tunc congregati fuimus cum non essent aliqui absentes neque fuit esset neque sit plures monachi neque fratres aut alii vel alius jus aut vocem in hujusmodi electione habentes vel habens propositoque verbo Dei per confratrem nostrum Willielmum Burgh sequentem hoc thema Vnde quaeram consolatorem tibi Et deinde invocata statim spiritus sancti gratia per solempnem decantationem ympni Veni Creator spritus cum versiculo Emitte spiritum tuum oratione Deus qui corda c. Factis etiam vice nomine mandato nostris per Willielm Rest Mandatarium nostrum sufficienter in ea parte constitutum publicis Proclamationibus in valvis hostio domus capitularis nostri quod omnes praetendentes c. By this Chapter and after this manner was William Ramsey chosen to succeed Richard Ashton and was installed Abbot August 1. 1471. being the eleventh year of K. Edw. the fourth And although the precedent vacancy was but short yet the Treasurer of the Exchequer demanded 40 l. for composition for his Temporalties but the Kings Letter to the Treasurer took off that demand And the Archdeacon claiming his Palfrey for his Installation Fee the Popes Letter took off that also Abbot William in his ninth year Anno 1480. having committed an oversight in releasing a Felon who having stollen a piece of Bird fol. 117. Rotulo privato Cloth at Ketering and some other things was for that Felony committed to the Goal at Peterburgh where the Felon secretly bribed Abbot William with forty shillings and he quietly dismissed him for which dismission Abbot William himself was indicted at the Sessions before John Catesby and Guido Walston Justices of the Peace and being found guilty was forced to put in security of six sufficient men for his good Behaviour In his tenth year 1481. The Church of Oundle was made an Oundle Church appropriated Appropriation And Anno 1486. The Church of Bringhurst in the County of Leicester This William found opposition from some of his Tenants they Bringhurst appropriated of the Mannor of Bellasise making insurrection to the number of one hundred from thence and the adjacent parts throwing in Hedges and Ditches returning with Bagpipe and great jollity for what they had done The Abbot complained hereof but what was the issue the Informer tells not William having been Abbot here about twenty five years died and lieth interred at the upper end of the body of the Church under a fair Marble which of late was plentifully adorned with Brass but disrobed thereof with the rest About the Stone went a verge of Brass containing this Epitaph Abbas Burgensis Will'elmus ut hic tumulatus Ramisey natus praelatus jam nece stratus En qui protrusis rodendus vermibus instat Vir prudens justus pius omnibus honorandus Castus benignus omni virtute decorus Corde suo statuit nunquam offendere Christum Castigans rigidos tractans pietate modestos Debita persolvi diruta multa novari Praestet plena suis stipendia jam cenobitis Et propter missas celebrandas cotidianas Ipse Monasterio semper servabat honorem Pax donetur ei .................... 44. ROBERTVS KIRTON Formerly a Monk of this Monastery had his Commendatory Letters from William Ramsey to Thomas Bishop of Lincoln to be Bird fol. 78. made Priest those Letters bearing date March 3. 1473. This Robert succeeded William Ramsey and was made Abbot Anno 1496. In his fourth year viz. 1499. the Church of North-Collingham North-Collingham appropriated Registrum Lincoln was made an Appropriation In his nineteenth year which was Anno 1515. on July 8. William then Bishop of Lincoln Visited this Monastery In which Visitation many things out of order were complained of and rectified amongst which these are the most remarkable That one John Walpool a Monk was Seditious amongst his Brethren
of Peterburgh On the 30 of November 1539. being the 31 of King Henry 8. an Inventory was taken as followeth Imprimis One Cross set with Crystal silver and gilt Item One Cross of silver gilt with a staff of silver Item One Cross of Byrral with a staff of silver Item One old Cross plated upon wood Item Five staves of the Rectores Chori with heads of silver Item Two Candlesticks gilt Item Two Candlesticks parcel gilt Item Two Censors gilt parcel of them Item One Censor gilt Item One Ship gilt with a foot Item One little Bason and Ewre gilt Item Ten Chalices gilt with the Patens Item One little Chalice parcel gilt Item One broken Crewet gilt Item One holy water-stock parcel gilt Item A Ghospeller and a Superaltare garnished with silver and gilt Item Two Verge rods of silver ALTAR-Cloths Item One Altar-Cloth of two Kings and Bishops Item Two Altar-Cloths of Purple Velvet embroidered with Eagles and Flower de Luces Item Two Altar-Cloths of Bawdkyn Item Two Altar-Cloths of Cloth of silver Item Two Altar-Cloths of Bawdkyn with Leopards and Stars Item Two Altar-Cloths of white Bawdkyn Item One Altar-Cloth of white Diaper with a border embroidered with Bucks ALBES Red Albes for Passion-week 27. Item Eight Albes with Crowns and Moons Item Fourteen red Albes Item Forty blue Albes of divers sorts Item Seven and twenty other Albes to be worn on single Feasts Item Six Albes with Peter-Keys Item Six Albes called The Kydds Item Seven Albes called Meltons Item Six Albes called Doggs Item One old Albe richly embroidered Item Eight Albes with Apples of Cloth of gold Item Eight Albes with Apples of blue Tissew Item Five old Albes with red Tissew Item Eight Albes embroidered with Vines Item Five old Albes embroidered Item Fourteen Albes embroidered with divers sorts Item Thirty Albes of old Cloth of Bawdkyn Item Nine Albes embroidered with green Item Thirteen Albes of divers sorts Item Fourteen green Albes with counterfeit Cloth of gold Item Four Albes called Ferial White Item Seven Albes called Ferial Black VESTMENTS Item One suit of Crimson Velvet upon Velvet with a Cope and Albe suitable to the same Item One Chesible with an Albe called The Burgon Item One suit of blue Damask with a Cope and thirteen Albes to the same Item One suit of Purple Velvet embroidered with Flowers and Angels with a Cope and five Albes Item One suit of black Velvet with a Cope and four Albes with Flowers Item One suit of rich white Cloth of Bawdkyn with seven Albes Item One suit of blue Velvet with five Albes Item One suit of red Velvet with ragged staves with three Albes of green Bawdkyn Item One suit of Crimson Velvet with Flowers and one Cope and three Albes Item One suit of red Satin with three Albes Item One suit of red Tissew with three Tunicles Item One suit of blue Tissew with two Tunicles Item One suit of Cloth of gold with orphers of Tissew Item One suit called The Crowns with two Copes Item One suit called The Londus with four Copes Item One suit of Peter Keys with two Copes Item One suit of the Doggs with two Copes Item One suit of the Meltons so called with eight Copes Item One suit called Overtons with three Copes Item One white suit called Godfreys without a Cope Item One suit of white silk called The Georges with eight Copes Item One suit called the Kydds with four Copes Item One suit called Red Needle-work with two Copes Item One suit of green silk called Martyrs with four Copes Item One suit called The Squirrels with two Copes Item One suit of green silk called The Cocks with one Cope Item One suit of green Velvet with one Cope Item One suit of yellow silk with two Copes Item One suit of changeable silk with one Cope Item One suit called The Daysies with one Cope Item One suit called The Popinjays without a Cope Item One suit of Purple Velvet without a Cope Item One Vestment of black Velvet with one Albe Item Three Tunicles of black Woorsted Item One suit of course red without a Cope Item Three Tunicles with Peter Keys Item One Vestment called The Vines COPES Imprimis Eighteen of red Tissew Item Two Copes called The Burgons Item Three Copes called The Golds. Item Six Copes of red Velvet Item Three Copes of red Bawdkin Item One Cope of red Damask Item Six Copes of blue Tissue Item Two Copes of dun Tissue Item Nine blue Copes called The Roots Item Five Copes of blue Velvet Item Thirteen Copes of blue silk called The Georges Item Seven Copes of blue Bawdkin called The Hindes Item Four Copes of old black Bawdkin Item Seven Copes of Sattin of Cyprus Item Three Copes of red silk Item Three Copes of green silk Item Four Copes of red Needlework Item Four Copes of green Velvet Item Thirteen Copes of white Silk Item Two other Copes In the QUIRE Imprimis The high Altar plated with Silver well gilt with one image of Christs passion and a little shrine of Copper enameled for the Sacrament Item two pair of Organs and two desks of Latten seven Basins hanging with four Candlesticks and Banners of Silk above the Quire joyning to the Tomb where Q. Katharine lieth buried Item in the inclosed place where the Lady Katharine lieth buried one Altar Cloth of black Cloth one Pall of black Velvet with white cloth of Silver Crossed and one white Altar Cloth Item belonging to the same remaining in the Sacristy two Candlesticks of Silver parcel Gilt one Chalice and two Crewets gilt Item One pair of Vestments of black Velvet with an Albe to the same Item Ten Cloaths called Pedecloaths to lye before the high Altar Item Sixteen Cloaths to hang in the Quire Item At the upper end of the Church three Altars and upon every Altar a Table of the Passion of Christ Gilt with three stained Fronts In the Ladies CHAPPEL Imprimis An Image of our Lady with reddis Rissey set in a Tabernacle well gilt upon Wood with twelve great Images and four and thirty small Images of the same work about the Chappel Item a pair of Organs one Desk and four Seats one Tabernacle of the Trinity and one other of our Lady one Desk and one old Candlestick of Latten four Pedecoaths called Tapets Item Two Vestments of white Damask with Flowers one red vestment of Satten with Flowers and also Albes for the same Item One suit of Crimson Velvet with Orphers of Imagery of Gold and one Cope and four Albes Item Three white Altar Cloaths one of them Diaper with three old painted Fronts two Orfers eight Surplisses In S. Johns CHAPPEL Item A Table of Alabaster one front of painted Cloaths with two Images of Alabaster In S. James CHAPPEL Item One Table of Alabaster two Images of the same and one Front of painted Cloaths In the Rood LOFT Item One Table upon the Altar eighteen Images well
Abby was at this time in full tenure and possession of King Henry made a tripartite kind of division assuming a third to himself confirming another third upon the Bishop and the rest upon the Dean and Chapter Those which King Henry took to himself being surrendred unto him were then let out unto Tenants at a yearly rate these and thus Com. North. Â Â Â Â * Or L. Russel afterwards E. of Bedford Eyebury then in the hands of Sir John Russel 13 l. 6 s. 8 d. Â Oxeney then in the hands of Roger Horton Gent. 1 l. 10 s. 0 d. Â Dosthorp called Gillims le Lane-land then in the hands of John Stoddard 2 l. 0 s. 0 d. Â Pillisgate in the hands of David Vincent 19 l. 0 s. 0 d. Â Kettering cum Pightesly with the Advowsons of the Rectories there in the Queens hand 111 l. 3 s. 4 d. ob q. dimid * Given first to the Dean and Chapt. but taken away again with Polebrook also Stanwigge then in the Queens hand 27 l. 16 s. 0 d. ob Cottingham cum Desborough with the Advowsons of the Rectories in the Queens hand 67 l. 2 s. 1 d. Â Oundle with the Advowson of the Vicaridge in the hand of the Lord Russel 172 l. 0 s. 3 d. ob Ashton in the Queens hand 29 l. 3 s. 8 d. Â Wermington cum Egilthorp with the Advowson of the Vicaridge in the Queens hand 97 l. 4 s. 10 d. ob q. Polebroke with the Advowson of the Rectory then in the hands of Sir Edward Montague 12 l. 14 s. 0 d. ob q. Clopton with the Advowson of the Rectory in the hands of William Dudley Esq 3 l. 17 s. 4 d. Â Lullington with the Advowson of the Rectory in the hands of Sir Edward Mountague 8 l. 15 s. 7 d. ob Hundreds of Polebrook and Navesford in the Q. hand s. 19 l. 9 s. 3 d. q. Hundred of Howkeslow in the Queens hand 16 l. 13 s. 4 d. q. Com. Rutland Tinwel with the Advowson of the Rectory in the hands of Sir William Cecil 33 l. 13 s. 4 d. Â Com. Lincoln Gosberkirk in the Queens hand 74 l. 9 s. 2 d. ob q. 3 ob Com. Hunt Fletton in the hand of Roger Forest 27 l. 0 s. 6 d. Â Sum. total 733 l. 9 s. 9 d. 0. 3 pt q. dimid King Henry having taken these Lands from the Church of Peterburgh made provision for the Bishoprick to which he subjected the Counties of Northampton and Rutland for his Diocess and appointed the Abbots dwelling for the Bishops Palace and for his maintenance confirmed these Lands viz. Burghbury Eye Singlesholt Northam Witherington Walton Paston Gunthorp Southorp Thirlby The Hundred of Nassaburgh A Pasture in Park-lane of 8 Acres 40 Acres Sheepcotes S. Johns Yard The Vineyard and Toothill Snorshills Edgerly 50 Acres In Padholm 18 Acres Eastwood 180 Acres Westwood Burghbury 246 Acres The Spittle More at Eye and the Tything Barn there Pensions from Helpiston Etton Wittering Houses and Shops in the Parish of S. Gregory London and in the Parish of S. Bridget The Advowsons of Castre Bernack Paston Polebrook Scotter South Collingham The Vicaridge of S. John Baptist in Peterburgh The Deanery of the Colledge at Irtlingburgh and the Chantry there The Chappel of S. John upon or adjoyning to the Bridge in Stamford For all which the Bishop was to make to the King Annual acknowledgement by the payment of 33l 10s 8d In this Dotation of the Bishoprick bearing date September 4. and of King Henry 33. which was of our Lord 1541. John Chambers Hen. Isaacson in his Chronology pag. 375. B. Goodwin in J. Chambers the present Abbot was nominated for the Bishop whom some will have to be Doctor of Physick and Dean of S. Stephen's in Westminster and continued in his new transformed government about the space of 15 years to the year 1556. the 4 or 5. of Queen Mary Although an Inscription in Brass about the Verge of his Marble Monument beareth date otherwise for it was thus Credo quod redemptor meus vivit in novissimo die de terra surrecturus sum in carne mea videbo Deum salvatorem meum reposita est haec spes mea in sinu meo Moritur die ........... Anno Domini Millesimo Quingentesimo Tricesimo Which could not be for then he must die about his second year of government long before the dissolution of his Abby when he was nominated Bishop for Goodwin saith he was consecrated Bishop October 23. 1541. But it is probable that there was a mistake which if it hapned in his time a wonder he did not reform it the Monument indeed might be extant in his time for he might be careful in providing the house of his mortality before he came to inhabite therein At the foot of his figure upon the same Stone was laid a plate of Brass wherein these Verses were engraven En pius en validus pastor jacet hic Johannes Burgh Burgo natus ac domus hujus apex Cui caro mundus opes cesserunt idgenus omne Praelia divinus carnea vincit amor Ordinis infestos redigens sub vindice mores Dum comes ipse fuit norma locique decor Pauperimos ditans lapsis peccata remittens Mitibus ipse pius asperimus rigidis Sta lege funde preces Deus est cui singula cedunt Dic velit ipse dare celica regna sibi He had also another more stately Monument at the head of this made of white Chalk-stone with his Statue exquisitely carved lying on the top perhaps being Abbot and Bishop he might have a Monument for each but these Monuments habent sua fata sepulchra were demolished Anno 1643. There were lately some doors in the Church curiously carved with the device of this John thus An Eagle a Crosier and Mitre a Bur-dock with Burs thereon and a Ro-buck with the Letters R. O. on his side the summ whereof was John Abbot or Bishop of Bur-row At the same time that King Henry thus established the Bishop and his Revenues he established also the Dean and Chapiter with theirs of which hereafter Return we now to our Series of Succession John Chambers being dead the Succession continued in 46 DAVID POOL Who was first Fellow of All-Souls Colledge in Oxford afterwards Dean of the Arches and Chancellour of the Diocess of Lichfield and made Bishop of Peterburgh 1556. But I find not his nomination thereunto by Queen Mary only the Pope's in the donation and confirmation of him in this Bishoprick For it is sufciently known that this Church and Kingdom of England began again to submit to the Roman yoke from which they had been delivered in the time of King Edward 6. under which relapse I find the Popes power in reference to the Church of Peterburgh to have been more practised than ever it was before for throughout the whole Series of Abbots formerly recited
the hand and balance of justice amongst us by her gracious government So shall we both now and ever rest under thy faithfulness and truth as under our shield and buckler and bless thy Name and magnifie thy mercy which livest and reignest one Most Gracious God for ever and ever Amen The Queens assent and attention to this prayer were withdrawn to her own private Devotions which she performed after the custom of her Religion out of her own Portuary with her Beads and Crucifix sometimes in the Latin and sometimes in the English tongue which being ended the two Executioners with her women began to disrobe her whereat she said with a smiling countenance that she was never served by such grooms before nor was she wont to put off her cloathes before such a company Her women with a Corpus Christi cloth wrapped up three corner-wise covered her head and face which done they departed and the Queen was left alone to close up the Tragedy of her life by her own self which she did with her wonted courage and devotion kneeling down upon the Cushion and saying in Latin In te Domine speravi ne confundar in aeternum Then she groaped for the block whereon she laid down her head crying out In manus tuas Domine c. and then the Executioner at two stroaks separated her head from her body saving a sinew which a third stroke parted also the Executioner took up the head and shewed it to the assembly and Dean Fletcher cried So perish all the Queens enemies which was seconded by the Earl of Kent Her head coming clear out of her dressing appeared very gray as if she had been much elder than she was it was polled very short which made her as hath been said to wear borrowed hair The Executioner that went about to pluck off her Stockins found her little Dog crept under her Coat which being put from thence went and laid himself down betwixt her head and body and being besmeared with her bloud was caused to be washed as were other things whereon any bloud was The Executioners were dismissed with Fees not having any thing that was hers Her body with the head was conveyed into the great Chamber by the Sheriff where it was by Chirurgeons Embalmed until its Interment The Castle of Fotheringhay was at that time by Lease from Queen Elizabeth in the hands of Sir William Fitz-Williams of Milton in the same County who was one of the Queens Pensioners who by reason of his relation to the place was sent to by the Commissioners that he should come and guard them in his Castle this was required of him the first time that the Commissioners came in October before for the Queens Examination and Trial but Sir William Fitz-Williams refusing because he was not summoned by order from the Queen the Commissioners procured such order and by vertue thereof summoned him again which he obeyed This gave him opportunities of visiting sometimes the Queen of Scots and conversing with her wherein he deported himself with such respective civility and courtesie that the Queen a little before her death gave him many thanks and told him she had nothing to requite his kind usage withal but if he pleased to accept of her Sons picture hanging at her Beds-head he should take it which he did and his Successors do still enjoy it Thus died Mary the unfortunate Queen of Scots a woman for her parts fit to be a Queen in the six and fortieth year of her age and the eighteenth of her continuance in England in a fair possibility of spinning the thread of her life to a greater length had fate been as propitious to her as nature We shall follow the remainder of this great Personage her body to the Earth and so leave her The Manner of the Solemnity of the Scotish Queens Funeral being the first of August 1587. when she was buried in the Cathedral Church of Peterburgh Upon Tuesday being the first of August were the Funerals appointed to be celebrated for the Scotish Queen in the Cathedral Church of Peterburgh and accordingly there were sent thither from the Court the Queens houshold Officers to make preparation for the Diet Mr. Dorrel and Mr. Cox for the Funeral Offices Mr. Fortescue Master of the great Wardrobe The Heralds came down three or four days before and appointed together with the Bishop and the Dean the place for the body to be Interred which was devised over against the lying of Queen Katherine near to the Tomb of John last Abbot and first Bishop of that Church There was a rich Hearse erected above the first step of the Quire near to the place of the burial and the whole Quire and Church were hanged with black Upon Sunday at night the thirtieth of July the body was brought by Torch-light from the Castle of Fotheringhay where it had lain since the time of Execution being the eighth of February before by Garter King at Arms and other Heralds with some number of Horse in a Chariot made of purpose covered with black Velvet and adorned with her Ensigns accordingly between one and two of the Clock in the night where attended for it before the Church the Bishop of Peterburgh and the Dean of the Cathredral Church the Master of the Ward-robe Clarentius King at Arms and divers as well of her Majesties Servants as other persons There came with the body six of the Scotish Train as Melvin the Master of her Houshold and Physician and others the body with the closures weighed nine hundred weight which being carried and attended orderly by the said persons was committed to the ground in the Vault appointed and immediately the Vault was covered saving a small hâ—â—e left open for the Staves to be broken into There was at that time 〈…〉 Offices of the Church-service done the Bishop 〈…〉 have executed therein but it was by all that were 〈…〉 Scotish as others thought good and agreed 〈…〉 be done at the day and time of solemnity Upon 〈…〉 in the afternoon came to Peterburgh all the Lords and Ladâ—â—â— and other Assistants appointed and at the Bishops Palace was prepared a great Supper for them where all at one Table supped in the great Chamber being hanged with Black where was a State set on the right side thereof of purple Velvet Upon Tuesday morning the chief Mourners Lords and Ladies and other Assistants being ready about ten of the clock they marched from the Hall of the Bishops Palace as followeth The Countess of Bedford Chief Mourner The Earl of Rutland The Earl of Lincoln The Countess of Rutland The Countess of Lincoln The Bishop of Peterburgh The Bishop of Lincoln L. Dudley L. Chamberlain L. S. John of Basing L. Stew. L. Willoughby of Parham L. Compton L. Mordaunt The Dean of Peterburgh Lady Mordaunt Lady Talbot Lady Dudley Lady S. John of Basing Lady S. John of Bletshoe Lady Mary Savel Lady Cecil Lady Mountague Lady Nowel Lady Mannors Mrs. Allington as a
for the same which being done by him we require you that he may have the Pall to be used for the purpose aforesaid Given under our Signet at our Honour of Hampton Court the eight and twentieth day of Septemb. in the tenth year of our Reign of England France and Ireland and of Scotland the six and fortieth In obedience to this Letter the Body of the Queen of Scots was taken up the eleventh of October following in the year of our Lord 1612. and translated to Westminster where we shall leave Her and return to our succession of the Bishops of Peterburgh Howland having been Bishop here the space of 15 years died at Castor and was buried in his own Cathedral at the upper end of the Quire And there succeeded 49. THOMAS DOVE Who was Dean of Norwich and Chaplain to Queen Elizabeth who had so good esteem of him for his excellency in preaching reverend aspect and deportment that she was wont to call him The Dove with silver wings He entred upon his Bishoprick in the year 1600. and continued therein the space of 30 years During which time he was like S. Paul's Bishop a lover of Hospitality keeping a very free house and having always a numerous Family yet was he so careful of posterity that he left a fair estate to his Heirs He died upon the 30 of August 1630. in the 75 year of his age and lieth buried in the North cross Isle of the Church Over his body was erected a very comely Monument of a long quadrangular form having four corner pilasters supporting a fair Table of black Marble and within the pourtraiture of the Bishop lying in his Episcopal habit At the feet on the outside were these Inscriptions Si quaeras viator quo hospite glorietur elegans haec mortis domus ipsa prose loquetur ipsa pro illo quae ideo loqui didicit ut sciant illi qui eò ingratitudinis inhumaniter obriguerunt ut in manes in urnas saevire studeant non defuturam saxis linguam quae doceat de mortuis bene loqui Vindex hoc pium marmor sacros cineres tegit sanctiorem memoriam protegit Charissimum utrumque pignus redituri Domini Reverendissimi in Christo Patris Thomae Dove quem novit Waldenum Ecclesiasten doctissimum Nordovicum Decanum vigilantissimum haec ipsa Ecclesia Episcopum piissimum cui postquam trigint a annis magno cum honore praefuisset ad magnum illum animarum Episcopum transmigravit Bonus pastor translatus ab ovibus in terris ad Agnum in coelis quocum regnabit in secula Hoc me loqui voluit Gulielmus Dove Equ Aur. Optimi hujus patris filius natu-maximus honoris pietatis ergo Carmine non pous est sat sat praestabit abunde Si sat flere potest officiosus amor Vixt Epitaphium sibi Te sprevisse Poeta Quam facile poterit qui bene vixit Abi. Atque abeo durum est numeris aptare dolorem Atque aequo lachrymas currere posse pede Me muto tibi non poterunt monumenta deesse Vivum quem soboles tam numerosa refert Hoc addam Hic illa est senio argentata Columba Davidis coelos hinc petit ille suos Dixi Musa loquax tanto non apta dolori Si non flere satis nostra silere potest But this Monument was in the year 1643. levelled with the ground so that Bishop Dove's Epitaph in stead of Marble must now live in paper 50. WILLIAM PEIRSE Being Canon of Christs Church in Oxford and Dean of Peterburgh was made Bishop after the death of Dove and installed Nov. 14. A man of excellent parts both in Divinity and knowledge of the Laws very vigilant and active he was for the good both of the Ecclesiastical and Civil State and had he continued longer in this See he would have rectified many things then amiss But he was translated to the Bishoprick of Bath and Wells after two years presidency at Peterburgh 51. AVGVSTINE LINDSELL Was Dean of Lichfield and upon the translation of Peirse made Bishop of this Diocess being elected December 22. 1632. and installed by Proxy Febr. 25. following He was a man of very great learning and gave sufficient evidence thereof to the Church by setting forth that excellent edition of Theophylact upon S. Paul's Epistles which work will make his name worth live be honoured among all learned Divines Foreign and Domestick In his time the Parsonage of Castor was annexed to the Bishoprick to be held in Commendam which was effected by W. Laud Archbishop of Canterbury as he left recorded in his Diary When he had been Bishop here the space of two years he was translated to Hereford and shortly after ended his life to the greatloss of the Church of England 52. FRANCIS d ee Was taken from his Deanry of Chichester and made Bishop here being elected April 9. 1634. and in May 28. following installed by Proxy He was a man of very pious life and affable behaviour After he had with much diligence and honesty meekness and hospitality gloriously shined in his Ecclesiastical Orb here the space of four years and six months he died much lamented October 8. 1638. bequeathing by his will towards the reparation of his Cathedral Church the summ of an hundred pounds and lieth buried in the upper part of the Quire near to his Episcopal Seat 53. JOHN TOWERS Being Dean of this Church ascended the other step and was made Bishop after the death of Dee being installed March. 8. 1638. He enjoyed his Bishoprick in peace a very little while for presently great dissensions arose betwixt the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland which occasioned the Bishops attendance upon the King both in the North at York and at London in time of Parliaments that which was convened April 13. 1640. and dissolved May 5. following the Convocation sitting by the Kings express Commission until May 29 wherein the new Canons were made and that also which began the same year November 3. and was of a far longer continuance On August 5. this year the great Commission for draining the Fenns began to be holden at Peterburgh the Commissioners sitting in the Bishops great Hall until the 11. of the same month the determinations therein being since known by the name of Peterburgh Law On the third of November following a new Parliament began to sit Bishop Towers according to his place giving attendance there In the year following arose great opposition against Bishops as to their Office and power in having Votes in Parliament insomuch that many of them apprehending their insecurity in attending upon the House much opposition meeting them in the way some of them to the number of twelve drew up a Protestation against all such Laws Orders Votes Resolutions and determinations as in themselves null and of none effect which in their absence from December 27. 1641. had passed or should afterwards pass during the time of their forced absence from
the House of Lords which Protestation so heightned the displeasure against them that those twelve Bishops were charged with High-Treason and committed to the Tower Only Bishop Morton and B. Hall to the Black Rod. Of those twelve Bishops The other 11 were Williams Archbishop of York Morton B. of Duresme-Wright B. of Coventry and Lichfield Owen B. of Asaph Peirse B. of Bath and Wells Cooke B. of Hereford Skinner B. of Oxf. Wren B. of Ely Owen B. of Landaffe Goodman B. of Glocester Hall B. of Norwich John Towers Bishop of Peterburgh was one continuing under restraint some 4 or 5 months and being enlarged returned to his bare Palace of Peterburgh where although his revenues were taken away yet he enjoyed but little quiet or security being continually alarm'd by threatnings and molestations which caused him to flie to Oxford then the Kings Garrison under which shelter he continued until it was surrendred to Sir Thomas Fairfax and then on June 29. 1646. Bishop Towers came again to his own dwelling at Peterburgh But then did other troubles draw nearer to him sicknesses and diseases which prevailed upon him until they had brought him to his dissolution which happened January 10. 1648. twenty dayes before his great Master King Charles and he was buried the day following in the Grave of Abbot Henricus de Morcot as hath been said before His eminency in his Bishoprick was more illustrious by his being passive than active in the dispensation of his Office the times not digesting such zeal in the way of conformity to the Church of England as he was endowed withal yet did he Preach as oft as occasion required wherein he was so excellently qualified as that he had but few equals and fewer superiours in his time He was earnest in his zeal to the house of God a testimony whereof he gave long before he had relation to the Church of Peterburgh which I have heard from his own mouth and it was this King James using to visit Castle-Ashby the Seat and Mansion of the Earls of Northampton where Dr. Towers was Parson It was the custom of those houshold Officers which belonged to the Wardrobe to use the Chancel of the Parish-Church for a Wardrobe King James not knowing any thing thereof Dr. Towers being to Preach before the King in his Sermon spake something in signification thereof which King James apprehending and laying up he questioned Dr. Towers presently after Sermon about it D. Towers acquainting him with the abuse and that he thought himself bound in conscience to say what he had said The King was so far from being displeased that he thanked him for his honest boldness and gave order for the remedying of that abuse Presently after the death of Bishop Towers the purchasers of his Episcopal Palace began to demolish it and the first place they laid their hands on was the Chappel Jan. 29. John Towers being dead the Church of Peterburgh continued under an Inter-Episcopate for the space of a dozen years although the Bishop was made but a Cypher some years before until it pleased the Sun of Divine mercy to dispel that black cloud which had so long Eclipsed the glory both of Church and State by the happy and never to be forgotten restauration of His Sacred Majesty King Charles the Second to his just Rights who out of His pious care for this Church appointed 54 BENJAMIN LANY Dr. in Divinity Dean of Rochester and Master of Pembroke-Hall in Cambridge whose election was November 20. 1660. and Installation Decemb. 21. His Presidency here was not long nor his Hand short in expressing its benevolence towards the repairing of the Cathedral Church His removal was to the Bishoprick of Lincoln 1662. And his Successor 55. JOSEPH HENSHAW Dr. in Divinity and Dean of Chichester was elected April 15. 1663. and Installed May 28. being Ascension day Thus having set down the Succession of the Abbots and Bishops of this Cathedral Church we shall now apply our selves to the other Ecclesiastick Government viz. The Dean and Chapter which K. Henry founded at the dissolution of Abbyes This he constituted of a Dean and six Prebendaries to be exempt from the Bishop of Lincoln and his Jurisdiction and also distinct from the Bishop of Peterburgh and to be an entire Ecclesiastical Corporation of themselves Their temporal jurisdiction in such Mannors Lands and Rents as were assigned to them was like that of the Abbots formerly as their Successors therein To the Dean and Prebends all other Officers and Members were subordinate and this was the Original Constitution and foundation of the whole The Dean l. s. d. Six Prebendaries Priests l. s. d. Eight Petty Canons l. s. d. These were afterwards taken away the King releasing them for Stanwigge and Polebrook Four Students in Divinity l. s. d. Eight Clerks or singing-men l. s. d. An Epistoler l. s. d. A Ghospeller l. s. d. Two Sextons l. s. d. Eight Choristers l. s. d. A Master of Choristers l. s. d. Twenty Scholars at the Grammar School l. s. d. Six Alms-men or Beads-men l. s. d. The Head-Master of the Grammar-School l. s. d. The Usher l. s. d. A Yearly distribution in Almes l. s. d. For the Yearly reparation of the Cathedral l. s. d. This was taken off in time of K Edw. 6. For making and mending of High-ways l. s. d. A Steward of the Lands l. s. d. Auditor of the Accompts l. s. d. Two Porters l. s. d. Principal Cook l. s. d. Under-Cook l. s. d. Butler l. s. d. Purveyor l. s. d. Receiver of the Rents l. s. d. For extraordinary expences Yearly l. s. d. Organist l. s. d. Sub-Dean l. s. d. Sub-Treasurer l. s. d. Chantor l. s. d. Two Councellors in Law l. s. d. Solicitor l. s. d. Register l. s. d. Principal Steward l. s. d. Keeper of the Cloak l. s. d. These were the Officers and dependents of this Church amongst which the Revenues were to be distributed But I have not yet met with any Authentick Copy for all these save only the Dean and six Prebendaries The rest I find in several Transcripts which varie one from another that whether they were all fixed by authority or some left to the discretion of the Governors of the Church to be changed as occasion served I cannot justly say The Lands and Rents assigned to this foundation were first the whole site or bounds of the Monastery excepting such as were allotted to the Bishop wherein were many dwelling houses assigned to several places as to the Dean Prebendaries and Church-men such as performed daily service in the Church which were set forth by the Kings Commission bearing date July 20. 1541. The Revenues for the Dean and Chapter with such offices and places as were subordinate were these In Northampton-shire  l. s. d.  Mannor of Peterburgh rated Yearly at 127 07 00 ob Mannor of Longthorp 41 16 11 q. Mannor of Castre 51 10 07 q. Mannor of Sutton 17
appendiciis eorum Feodum Radulphi de Nevile Scotton Malmton cum appendiciis eorum Feodum Rogeri Malfe Wodeford cum appendiciis suis Feodum Roberti Frehille Dalmiton cum appendiciis suis Feodum Wilihelmi de Lunetot Clopton cum appendiciis suis Feodum Roberti Marmioun Langeton Pokebroc cum appendiciis suis Feodum Gaufridi de Winchestria Armeston Burghlay cum appendiciis eorum Feodum Gilberti Faunel Walcote cum appendiciis suis Feodum Roberti de Fisi Sutton cum appendiciis suis Feodum Rogeri de Melton cum appendiciis suis Feodum Radulphi Tot in Paston Feodum Wallon ' in eadem villa cum appendiciis Feodum Ysenbardi Pappele cum appendiciis suis Feodum Wimundi Stoke cum appendiciis suis Feodum Engelrami in eadem villa Feodum Roberti de Oyli Craneford Feodum Richardi Engaine Benifield Feodum Wilihelmi Engain Hargrave cum appendiciis suis Feodum Theobaldi Bringhurst cum appendiciis suis Feodum Godefridi de Cambrey Plumbtre Berham cum appendiciis suis Feodum Roberti de Guinges Carleby cum appendiciis suis Feodum Gaufridi de Nevile Walcote cum appendiciis suis Feodum Eylsi Helpiston cum appendiciis suis In Wenewyk tenementum Brutnaldi Feodum Pancenolt in Eston Feodum Ansredii in Overton in Thorp in Ermiston Tenementum Turici in Churchfield Wermington Undel Tenementum Viviani in Wodecroft Tenementum Osberni in Muscham Tenementum Geroldi Libertates à Regibus Angliae eidem Monasterio concessas pia devotione scripto eorum confirmatas atque antiquas rationabiles ipsius Monasterii consuetudines vobis nihilominus confirmamus Obeunte vero M. nunc ejusdem loci Abbate vel tuorum quolibet successorum nullus ibi qualibet surreptionis astutia vel violentia praeponatur nisi quem fratres communi assensu vel fratrum pars sanioris consilii secundum Dei timorem Beati Benedicti regulam providerint eligend Praeterea praedecessoris nostri Sanctissimi Papae Gregorii vestigiis inhaerentes missas publicas ab Episcopo in vestro Coenobio fieri prohibemus omnino ne in servorum Dei recessibus eorum receptaculis ullis popularibus occasio praebeatur conventibus vel mulierum fiat novus introitus quod omnino non expedit animabus eorum Nec audeat Episcopus aliquis ibi Cathedram collocare vel quamlibet potestatem imperandi habere nec aliquam ordinationem quamvis levissimam faciendi nisi ab Abbate loci fuerit rogatus quatenus Monachi semper maneant in Abbatum suorum potestate nullusque Monachum sine testimonio vel concessione Abbatis sui in aliqua teneat vel ad aliquem promoveat honorem Decernimus ergo ut nulli omnino hominum liceat praefatum Coenobium temere perturbare aut ejus possessiones auferre vel ablatas retinere minuere seu alibet vexationibus fatigare sed omnia integra observentur eorum pro quorum gubernatione sustentatione concessa sunt usibus omnimodis profutura Salva sedis Apostolicae autoritate Diocesanorum Episcoporum Canonum Canones justitia Si qua igitur in futurum Ecclesiastica secularisve persona hanc nostrae constitutionis paginam sciens contra eam temere venire temptaverit secundò tertióve commonita si non satisfactione congrua emendaverit potestatis honorisque sui dignitate careat reamque se Divino judicio existere de perpetrata iniquitate cognoscat a sacratissimo corpore sanguineque Dei Domini Redemptoris nostri Jesu Christi aliena fiat atque in extremo examine districtae ultioni subjaceat Cunctis autem eidem loco justa servantibus sit pax Domini in Christo quatenus hic fructum bonae actionis percipiant apud districtum Judicem praemia aeternae pacis inveniant Amen Dat. Sextodecimo Cal. Januarii Anno Domini M. C. XL. sexto Such another Priviledge was granted by Pope Gregory the Ninth 1228. but I shall not trouble the Reader with it but make a retrograde motion to King Edgars Charter THE CHARTER AND PRIVILEDGES OF King Edgar After that the Monastery of Medeshamstede had been destroyed by the Danes and continued in its desolation ninety six years and then restored through the pious industry of Athelwold Bishop of Winchester when the name thereof was changed into Burgh Together with the Confirmations of several Kings his Successors GRatia Domini nostri Jesu Christi Regis omnium saeculorum omnia suo nutu distribuentis regna terrarum moderantis habenas rerum Ego Edgar sub ipso sydereo Rege praesidens magnae Britanniae saepe petitionem Venerabilis Deo dilecti Pontificis Adelwoldi super stabilitate Ecclesiarum quarum ipse infatigabilis constructor accepi maxime autem super antiqui Monasterii restitutione ac libertate quod primitus Medeshamstede modo Dei adjutorio ac sua ac nostra instantia restauratum Burch appellatur Quod scil quadam praerogativa gratiae Sancti Petri ac pristinae nobilitatis eminentius diligit Recolens enim illud a pristinis Regibus Wolfero necnon Ethelredo aliisque successoribus magnifici ditatum Regalibus privilegiis fortissimè stabilitum sed ab externo Paganorum exercitu destitutum Hic Dei sapiens archietectus magno zelo domus Dei studuit reparare Et acquisitis ac redemptis possessionibus rerum cum nostra Regali donatione prout potuit amplificare Ego itaque pro gratia Sancti Petri tantique patris charitate atque animae meae redemptione concedo gratantissimè illud sanctum Apostolicum Coenobium in perpetuum esse liberum ab omni seculari causa servitute ut nullus Ecclesiasticorum vel Laicorum super ipsum vel super ipsius Abbatem ullum unquam habeat dominium sed ipso Abbate cum subjecta Christi familia in pace Dei superni Janitoris Petri patrocinio illud regente ac Rege in omnibus necessitatibus adjuvante ab omni mundiali jugo tam securum aeternaliter persistat quam liberum sed etiam ab Episcopali exactione iniquietudine ex Apostolica libertate Reverendissimi Archiepiscopi nostri Dunstani autoritate cum suis appendiciis id est Dodisthorpe Eye Paston perpetuo maneat absolutum Villam quoque Undale cum toto jure adjacentium quod Ethenhundred Anglice nominatur cum Mercato ac Theloneo ea prorsus libertate donamus quatenus nec Rex nec Comes nec Episcopus praeter Christianitatem attinentium parochiarum nec Vicecomes nec ulla unquam major minorve persona ulla dominatione occupare nec de ipsa villa Undale ubi legitime considere debet in alium locum transferre ullatenus praesumat Sed tantum Abbas praedicti Coenobii illud cum suis causis legibus totum in sua potestate liberrime teneat quando vel in quo loco sibi placuerit sine ulla contradictione sedere faciat Item terras nostro adjutorio vel dono vel optimatum meorum per praefatum Episcopum eidem Monasterio adsectas quae hic ex parte
till the last year of his Reign DCLXXV Where his words are Wlferus Rex Merciorum omnium Ydolorum cultum ex regione fugavit Leaving these things therefore in uncertainty let us pass to what follows that Wulferus dying Anno 675. as Bede saith in his Epitome after he had reigned 17 years left his Kingdom to his Brother Etheldred or as he calls him Edilredus who Reigning longer had more time to add what was wanting to the perfecting of this Monastery To which he was the more inclined because he loved this kind of life so much as to exchange his Crown for a Cowl So Mr. G. hath observed out of Malmsbury and I find the same in the Chron. Joh. Abbatis An. DCCIIII Ethelredus Rex Merciorum factus Monachus apud Bardeney When he was made Abbot of that place it doth not appear but he tells us that he dyed Abbot the same year that Ethebald came to the Crown Anno DCCXVI Ethelredus quondam Rex Abbas de Bardeney obiit But he that contributed the most towards the beginning and perfection of this Monastery and indeed towards the introduction of Christianity into these parts was that Noble person who became the first Abbot of it SAXVLFVS Venerable Bede calls him Sexuulfus but most other Writers Saxulfus or Saxulphus who was so far assisting to Peada in the foundation of this Monastery which Hugo saith he began to build per Saxulphum virum potentissimum that he is commonly called by all ancient Writers constructor the Builder or at least Co-founder of it In this stile the Chronicon Litchfeldense speaks of him Hic erat constructor Abbas Monasterii de Medamstede quod nunc Petrusburgh And Radulphus de Diceto ad An. 680. speaking of the deposition of Wilfrid Bishop of the Mercians saith that Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury ordained in his place Saxulphum constructorem Abbatem Monasterii quod dicitur Burch in regione Girviorum A great many others speak the same Language and they all have it out of Bede L. IV. Histor Eccles c. 6. where treating of the same matter viz. Sexuulfus his ordination to be Bishop he gives this character of him Qui erat Constructor Abbas quod dicitur Medeshamstedi c. And this memory of him continued after the Monastery was burnt by the Danes till the time of King Edgar who restored it For when Hugo speaks of Athelwold's repairing of Thornei he saith he was moved to it because it had been founded and built by Saxulf who was primus Abbas constructor Medeshamstede The meaning of all which is explained in King Wulphere's Charter where he saith this House Studio venerabilis Saxulphi gloriose est condita was built gloriously by the Care and Study of Saxulf Who excited these Kings to this Work and lookt after it with such diligence and perhaps procured the charitable Contributions of well disposed People towards it that he might in some sort be accounted the Founder of it And in those terms Leland speaks of him in his Collections de Fundadatoribus Monasteriorum where he saith Ecclesia S. Petri de Burgo à Saxulfo fundata est But Saxulf himself shews this is not to be understood as if it was built at his Charge but by his care in managing the Royal Bounty For when he subscribes his Name to the Priviledges granted to this Church by Pope Agatho approved by Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury and confirmed by King Ethelred he doth it in these terms ✚ Ego humilis Saxulfus regali beneficio ejusdem Monasterii fundator ita coroborare gaudeo But that which is most for the Honour of this Noble person is that he was a great Instrument in bringing the Christian Religion it self into the Kingdom of Mercia As appears from the relation of Hedda who lived in or immediately after those times which show also what hand he had in the erection of this Monastery ' For having told us how Peada was converted and Baptized in the Northern parts and brought with him hither the four Preachers I before mentioned he adds His accessit Comes Cooperator illustris Saxulphus vir praepotens seculo religione Regiq Ecclesiae acceptissimus c. To these joyned himself as a Companion and Co-worker Saxulf a very powerfull man every way both in Secular and Religious affairs being no less gracious with the King than acceptable to the Church Who desiring to inlarge the new Plantation of Christianity by the favour of God and the benevolence of the King molitus est Monasterium nobile quod Medeshamstede dicitur c. built that noble Monastery which is called Medeshamstede in the Country of the Girvii which he consecrated to St. Peter by whom the Lord built his Church tanquam Ecclesiae primitias as the first-fruits of the Church In this place having got together a numerous society of Brethren he sat Abbot and Doctor of the Middle-Angles and Mercians till he was advanced to be a Bishop instructing Unbelievers baptizing those that believed having religious Monks his Disciples within doors and without Masters for the propagating of the Faith Insomuch that he built suffragan Covents and other Churches as Daughters of this fruitful Mother ' Of what Order these Monks were and under what rule this Monastery was founded I believe no body now can determine For it doth not follow that because they were Benedictines in after ages they were so at the beginning Nay it is certain as I shall show in its due place the Rule of St. Bennet was not heard of in England till after the foundation of this Monastery The Benedictine Monks indeed pretend for the honour of their Order that Austin the Monk and his Brethren who came into England between fifty and sixty years before this An. 597 were Benedictines But no such thing appears from any Records but rather the contrary for all agree Austin was of the same Order with him that sent him viz. Gregory the great and no less man than Cardinal Baronius denies that he was a Benedictine It is not certain indeed what Order he was of for there had been so many rules in the World for a long time before him that Cassianus saith about the year 450 we see almost as many types and rules used as there are Monasteries and Cells In Italy it might be easily shown there were several Orders at that very time when Austin came hither and had been so a good while before that Out of which great variety they afterward formed the Regulares Consuetudines which were in such high esteem that they always had regard to them in the reformations which in process of time were made in Monastical Orders as shall appear hereafter All that is proper for this place is to inquire what Rule was observed by the Monks in the North from whence he came who converted Peada and sent Preachers to convert the Mercians Which would prove so long a business and yet leave us in such uncertainty that
Monument erected for the slain Abbot and Monks is here represented in this draught which I have caused to be taken of it as it now appears The very next year after the desolation of the Monastery An. DCCCLXXI Goredus so Abbot John's Chronicle calls him whom Ingulph calls Beorredus King of the Mercians took all the Lands of the Church of Medeshamstede between Stamford Huntingdon and Wisbeck into his own hands giving those that lay more remote to his Souldiers and Stipendiaries The same he did with the Lands belonging to St. Pege at Pegekyrk some of which he kept himself and gave the rest to his Stipendiaries Which are the very words of Ingulphus from whom its likely they were transcribed into that Chronicle In which we find nothing concerning this place till almost an hundred years after Edredus he saith in the year DCCCCXLVII cleared and restored the Monastery of Croyland by the instigation of Surketulus who turning Monk the King made Abbot of this place Which Ingulphus saith was done the year after An. 948. and sets down the Charter of that King in which there is no mention as in former Charters of the Abbot of Medeshamstede consenting to it and confirming it though in the boundaries of the Lands of Croyland Ager de Medeshamsted is there named Ingulphus p 35. Oxon. Edit Nor in King Edgar's Charter to the same Monastery of Croyland An. 966. is there any mention of his Subscription though among other Royal Woods there is mention made of Medeshamsted-Wood p. 42. For though Adelwaldus who by the assistance of King Edgar restored many Monasteries destroyed by the Pagans as Burgh Eli and Abenddon they are the words of John Abbot was made Bishop of Winchester An. 961. yet he did not apply himself to the rebuilding of this of Medeshamstede till nine years after if we may credit that Writer who saith it began to be restored just an hundred years after its desolation His words are these An. 970. Sanctus Adelwoldus Episcopus Wint. transtulit de Coemiterio in Ecclesiam reliquias Sancti Surthuni praedecessoris sui ante altare Sancti Petri honorifice collocavit Monasterium etiam de Medeshamstede restaurare coepit Burgum Sancti Petri appellavit Anno desolationis suae aequaliter centesimo In another different hand there is this Animadversion given that in claustro dicti Monasterii notantur anni desolationis LXXXXVI the time of its desolation are noted in the Cloyster of the said Monastery to have been but 96. years Which account Mr. G. follows though in Swapham or Hugo rather they are reckoned to be 99 years For so the Note is in the Margin of the Book in a hand of the same age with the Book it self Restauratio hujus loci à prima fundatione ejus An. CCCXIII. A destructione vero ejusdem Anno XCIX This great man Adelwold was at first a Monk in the Abbey of Glastonberry where as William of Malmsbury relates L. 2. de gestis Pontificum Angl. the Abbot had a dream representing to him how excellent a person this Monk would prove For he thought he saw a Tree springing up within the Walls of the Abbey which spread its branches to all the four quarters of the World and had all its leaves covered over with Cowles a very great Cowle being placed at the top of all At which being amazed an old man he thought told him that the great Cowle was Athelwold and the rest were innumerable Monks whom he should attract by his example Consonant to which was a vision his Mother had when she was with Child of him with which I shall not trouble the Reader but only note that it signified the large extent of his mind in this sort of Charity which reached to no less than forty Monasteries as all our Writers report Particularly W. of Malmsbury who saith L. 2. de gestis Regum Angliae he built so many and such noble Monasteries that it scarce seemed credible in his dayes that a Bishop of one City should do such things as the King of all England could not easily effect But he himself in another place makes this wonder cease by telling us that he could make King Edgar do what he pleased So his words are in the Book before named of the Acts of the Bishops of England it might seem a wonder he should do such things nisi quod Rex Edgar omnino ejus voluntati deditus erat à quo super omnes infra Dunstanum diligeretur And therefore the Abbot of Rieval L. de genealog Regum Angliae saith expresly that Edgar himself caused forty Monasteries to be built among which he reckons this of Burch as it now began to be called Which Athelwold saith Malmsbury L. IV. de gestis Potif Ang. built so sumptuously and endowed with such ample possessions ut penè tota circa regio illi subjaceat that almost all the Country round about was subject to it And this account also John Bromton Abbot of Joreval gives of this matter who having said that King Edgar built and repaired above forty Monasteries adds Inter quae consilio monitione Sancti Ethelwoldi Wintoniensis Episc Abbatiam Glastoniae Abendoniae composuit Abbatiam de Burgh prope Stamfordiam stabilivit c. So that the very truth in short is this Athelwold was to Edgar as Saxulf had been to Wulferus a trusty and diligent Servant who managed his Royal bounty in these magnificent Works And therefore is called by King Edgar in his Charter as Saxulf was by Wolfere in his Constructor the builder of the Churches before mentioned particularly of this formerly called Medeshamstede but now sua ac nostra instantia restauratum Burch appellatur Which by Ingulphus is called Burgum and by Matthew of Westminster ad An. 664. is said to be Vrbs Regia a Royal City Which this famous Bishop lived to see flourishing under Adulphus about thirteen year for he dyed not till the year 985. At which I find these words in the Chron. of John Abbot Sanctus Athelwoldus Wint. Episcopus qui Monasterium Burgi restauravit Kal. Augusti migravit ad Dominum There were some reliques of him preserved in this Church particularly of his Heirs ADVLPHVS Mr. G. having given an account of the most material things that are in Hugo concerning this Abbot whom John Bromton calls Eadrilf I shall only add that it is certain he succeeded Oswald in the Archbishoprick of York An. 992. So John Abbot writes Sanctus Oswaldus Archiep. Ebor. 2. Kal. Martii migravit ad Dominum cui Adulphus Abbas Burgi successit But though he call him Abbot of Burg which was become the new stile yet other writers still retained the old one and call him Abbas Medeshamstudensis So the Chron. of Mailros lately printed pag. 152. And so Florentius Wigornensis Ad An. 992 Venerabilis Medeshamstudensis Abbas Adulphus successit pro quo Kenulphus Abbatis jure fungitur Roger Hoveden also speaks the same language and Symeon of Durham in
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
their honey out of several Flowers composed these Constitutions out of several former Rules And more particularly took care about the singing used in Monasteries V. Seld. ad Eadmerum p. 145. that it should not be hudled nor too swift but be so distinct that the mind might accompany the voice and they might fulfill that of the Apostle Sing with the Spirit and sing with the Vnderstanding also All which considered I look upon it as highly probable that this Monastery of Peterburgh now became subject to this Rule being one of those restored by King Edgar And yet it was not the very Rule of St. Bennet which was established in this Council but many ancient Orders and Customs improved by that Rule and accommodated to his Precepts For long after this when there was a Third Regulation of Monasteries under Lanfranc An. 1075 in the Council of London when several things were restored as the words are which had been defined by ancient Canons the Council after consideration of Episcopal affairs decrees concerning Monks ex Regula Benedicti Dialogo Gregorii antiqua Regularium locorum consuetudine as Baronius observes From which Sir John Marsham judiciously concludes in his large Preface before the Monasticon that even in the Norman times the Monastical Laws were mixed and that the Benedictine Rule was not so admitted as that the antient customs of the Monks were thereby abrogated I have noted already the day and year when Adulphus dyed but there is a mistake I since find in the day which if the Records of our Church be true was June 5. when he was solemnly commemorated in this Monastery and is the very first Abbot of whom there is any mention made in the Kalender of this Church which is still preserved in the Library of his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth of which I shall give an account in its proper place Where over against the fifth of June are these Words Depositio Adulphi Anniversarium Ricardi de Lincolnia Agnetis uxoris ejus Of all the foregoing Abbots there is not the least memory little being certainly known of what passed in the time of the first Monastery before its desolation by the Danes But it 's like they were all comprehended in that general commemoration which was made in Whitson-Week Specialium Defunctorum and was repeated in the two Ember-Weeks following in September and December Where I find the same Order with this addition that there should be a Missa ferialis cum de Profundis and the names of those speciales defuncti were then read KENVLPHVS The Character which Hugo gives of this Abbot who was chosen by the unanimous consent of the Friers and the favour of King Edgar is that he was Flos literalis disciplinae torrens eloquentiae decus norma rerum divinarum secularium which was the cause of that general concourse from all parts ad ejus Magisterium which Mr. G. hath observed And it 's likely that he brought this Monastery into the credit wherein it continued for several years For Ingulphus P. 83. Oxon. Edit tells us that in the Reign of the Conqueror the Monks of Burgh were so famous and the World had such an high opinion of them ut totus mundus abiret post eos and many of the great men of the Land both the highest Bishops and other Noble Men and Lieutenants of the Countries chose to be Interred among them He procured a confirmation of the Priviledges of this Church and of all that had been given to it from King Ethelred the Son of Edgar in these words Swapham fol. XL. Ego Athelredus Anglorum imperio sublimatus has donationes praedecessorum meorum regnante Abbate Cenulfo solidavi cum hiis testibus Dunstano Oswaldo Archiepiscopis That he surrounded the Monastery with a Wall is certain but that it was thence called Burch or Burgh as W. of Malmsbury writes Mr. G. justly doubts For King Edgar in his Charter calls it upon its restauration by this name of Burch Yet notwithstanding this name Burh and Burgh and Byrigh signifying any place which was walled about and particularly a City or Castle from the Saxon word Deorgan which signifies to defend or take into safety W. of Malmsbury might mean that the place did not deserve the name of Burch till this time His words I confess imply more for he saith the place formerly called Medeshamstede being now incompassed with a Wall by Kenulphus à similitudine Vrbis Burch vocatus est was called Burch from its likeness to a City Upon the translation of St. Elphege to the See of Canterbury Kenulphus succeeded him in the Bishoprick of Winchester as Abbot John among others remembers ad An. 1006. Who saith not a word of his Simony with which William of Malmsbury boldly charges him L. 2. de gestis Pontificum Angl. Wentanum enim Episcopatum Kenulphus Abbas Burgensis nummis nundinatus fuerat Sed non diu sacrilego ausu laetatus ante duos annos hominem exuit For which cause it is likely there was no commemoration made of him in this Church his name not being in the Kalender before named as his predecessors and all his Successors are except one guilty of the same crime and another guilty of the like though he was so great a benefactor and famed also for his Wisdom and Learning Hugo saith he governed most admirably and sweetly till he was promoted to Winchester ELSINVS Called also Elfinus and Alfinus between whom and Kenulfus there was another Abbot viz. KINSINVS if we may believe the MS. Chron. of John Abbot of this Church which I have so often cited For though he say ad An. 1006. that upon Kenulphus his removal Elsinus succeeded him and was the third Abbot after the restauration yet ad An. 1048. speaking concerning the sute which the Abbot of Peykyrke had for the Lands of his Monastery which by the judgement of the Court of Hardecnute as I shall show hereafter were given away from him he saith it was contra Kenulfum Kinsinum Abbates Burgi And that this was no mistake we may learn from his remark upon the year 1051. where he saith expresly Elfinus succeeded him in this Monastery Alfricus Eboracens Archiepis obiit apud Burgum sepelitur cui successit Kinsinus Abbas Burgi cui successit Elfinus in Abbatem promotus Monachus ejusdem loci And again ad An. 1060. obiit Kinsinus Eborac Archiep. quondam Abbas Burgi c. What truth there is in this I am not able to say from any other record but that he was a great man and Archbishop of York and here buried it will appear more hereafter when I come to that time and we have gained this piece of knowledge from John Abbot that Alfinus was a Monk of Burch and chosen to be Abbot saith Hugo by the unanimous consent of the whole Congregation whom he governed fiftyyear By which account Kinsinus must either never have been Abbot here or but for
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
Charter from King Henry I. for the holding a great many Lands therein specified and in the same right and with the same Customs and Liberties wherein they were held die ipso quo Thuraldus Abbas vivus fuit mortuus habuerit from whose time little had been done by any Abbot till now This was seconded with many other Grants full of great Priviledges and at last in a distinct Charter he gives to the Abbot Manerium suum de Pichelee quod Galfridus Ridellus de eo tenuit cum tota instauratione quae in manerio erat die quo fuit vivus mortuus This was confirmed by King Stephen that I may put all belonging to this matter together in following times that they should have their Mannor de Pichelle quod Henricus Rex eis reddidit concessit charta sua confirmavit quod oculis meis vidi c. And afterwards Hen. 2. confirmed the same in these words Sciatis me concessisse Ecclesiae Abbati de Burgo Manerium suum Pihtislea quod Galfridus Riddel de eo tenuit sicut Charta Henrici Regis avi nostri testatur c. Two years before this there was an alteration made in the Churches and Chappell 's built by the Milites in the time of Turoldus For now in the year 1112. some of them whose profits had hitherto been received intirely by the Monastery were assigned to the use of those that ministred in those Churches and served in the Chappels Who were there appointed to administer the Ecclesiastical Sacraments to the people it being too far for them to come to Burg and the ways also dangerous But there were referred to the Church of Burg two parts of the predial Tythes of those Milites and saved to the same Church the Sepulture of the aforesaid Milites their Wives and their Children and a certain portion of their Goods thereupon saving also to the Church of Burg from some of the Churches so indowed certain Pensions which had been paid to it from the Foundation Then followed the Convention made before Robert Bishop of Lincoln between Ernulphus and the Monks and the Milites of the same Church that every Knight should give two parts of his Tythes to the Sacristry of Burgh and when he dyed tertia pars substantiae suae ad sepulturam cum militaribus indumentis tam in equis quam in armis which were to be brought to his Funeral with him And then a Solemn Procession was to be made by the whole Convent before him and a plenary Office celebrated for him by all and he was to partake both himself and his Wife and their Children of the benefits of the place for ever viz. in Eleemosynis in celebratione Missaram in jejuniis in vigiliis in Psalmodiis in caeteris bonis quae Deo annuente usquequaque in Ecclesia Sancti Petri fiant In like manner their Wives and their Children it was agreed should be brought with their substance belonging to them to the same Church in the end of their life And the Divine vengeance they desired might light upon them who made void this agreement In the same year the dedication of the Church of Turleby mentioned by Mr. Gunton was made by the same Bishop In whose presence and in the presence of the whole Parish Bencelina Mother of Ralph de la Mare granted to that Church for the health of her own Soul and of her Parents dimidiam bovatam terrae unam acram prati c. He lived after he went to Rochester some days above Nine years and dyed leaving many Monuments of his vertue in the 84. year of his age So Malmsbury writes Vixit in Episcopatu aliquot dies super Novennium decessitque quatuor octoginta annos natus multa probitatis suae monumenta relinquens Which doth not disagree with Abbot John if we remember he was elected the year before he was enstalled who says he was Bishop Ten years and dyed An. 1124. So John Bromton also JOHN of SALISBVRY This Abbot whom our Writers call John de Sais or Says was no sooner appointed by the King to succeed Ernulphus but he was immediately dispatched to Rome by the Archbishop of Canterbury Radulphus to fetch his Pall from Pope Paschal So Hugo or Sawpham as it 's commonly thought expresly tells us and names two persons who were sent with him Guarnerius and Johannes Archidiaconus Nephew to the Archbishop which makes it the more strange that Mr. G. should overlook this passage so as not to find to what end he was sent Eadmerus also relates the same from whom we learn also why he was called John de Says for he calls him Johannes Monachus Sagii who being elected and Consecrated Abbas Burchorum was sent to Rome with Warnerius a Monk of Canterbury and Johannes Clericus Nephew to the Archbishop upon the business before named Which they effected in little more than a years time for Radulphus was Consecrated as Radulph de Diceto informs us on the 6. of the Kal. of May and received the Pall on the 5. Kal. of July Agreeable unto which Hugo saith the Abbot returned to the Monastery the next year after he went to Rome upon the Feast of St. Peter One reason I believe why he was chose to be sent upon this errand was that he had been an old acquaintance of the Archbishops bred in the same Monastery wher 's Radulphus had been Abbot as John had been Monk For so I find him called by Gervasius Actus Pontif. Cantuar. Radulphus Abbas Sagiensis and by Symeon of Durham also ad An. 1104. Where he speaks of the body of St. Cutbert being found incorrupt after he had been buried above 400. years a Radulfo Sagiensi Abbate postmodum Hrofensi Episcopo deinde Cantuariensi Archiepiscopo De gestis Regum Angliae From this place I doubt not that is from Say or Says in Normandy he had the name of Says or Sais and is by mistake called John of Salisbury which they fancied was contracted into Sais This must be corrected therefore in Mr. G. for Sagiusn is not Salisbury but Say where he was bred and perhaps born And it is very likely was the Author of that contract of mutual Friendship which was between this Monastery and that of Sais For so I find in our Records fol. CCLXXIV among divers Conventions which were made between the Friers of St. Peter of Burch and a great many other Churches there is one cum fratribus nostris de Sais Wherein they ingaged when any Monk dyed in either Church three plenary Offices should be said for him by the other Church and every Priest should sing three Masses for him and they that did not sing Mass should say the whole Psalter The next year after his return An. 1116. I find he cleared the Abby of the yearly payment of forty shillings which Azeo Wardeden had long unjustly claimed from it For upon a full hearing of the difference between them before King
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
quo prius exierat Which his Brother Galfridus hearing contradicted it affirming that Church was de feodo suo servitium sicuti de alio feodo suo in se habuisse Whereupon the Abbot impleaded him about this and about other forfeitures and he fearing the penalties if judgment went against him came and made the same surrender his Brother had done and disclaimed all interest in this Church which he had pretended to be his Fee and as Hugo's words are clamavit solutam quietam de se haeredibus suis in perpetuum ac in manum Abbatis per quandam virgam reddidit dimisit His heirs also Turoldus and Robertus did the same in open Court which was very full and the aforesaid Galfridus begged the Abbots pardon which he obtained The Abbot also before the above named persons freed him from the service dimidii Militis and pardoned him seven Marks of Silver de relevamine suo All which was done on the day that the Abbot Martin received the Homages of his Tenents which shows it was in the entrance of his Government The same year Pampelina Wife of Osbern holding certain Lands unjustly in Burch Withrington and Glinton for which she could show no right came into the Abbots Court at Castre and surrendred them all into his hands declaring them to be free from her and her Heirs and begging with many prayers the Abbots pardon Who took compassion upon her when he understood her poverty and restord her the Land of Wither de Witherintona which she said her Husband Osbern had bought to hold it of him for sixpence a year Rent instead of all services owing to the Abbot And because she was Niece to his Predecessor John he pardoned her ten shillings she owed him for the service of her Land There are several other such Acts of his of the same year which show he was not unmindful of the good of the Church in the very entrance of his Government The Church of Castre after this was supplied by a Chaplain whose name was Robert as I find in a Grant made of this Church but it doth not appear in what year by the Abbot and the Convent to the Archdeacon of Northampton in Eleemosynam with all its appurtenances in Tithes and Lands either Wood or Pasture Meadow or Arable For which he was to pay every year one Mark of Silver for the service of the Altar and if he either dyed or took upon him a Religious habit it was to return to the right of the Monastery freely and quietly salva Episcopali dignitate They granted him also plenariam societatem in capitulo So that they would give him the habit of a Monk if he would live among them or if he dyed in another place and in another habit obsequies should be made for him as for one of their Monks Whereupon Robert Chaplain of Castre proclaimed with a loud voice in the Chapter-house the Church of Castre to be free and quiet from all claim that he had hitherto had unto it and delivered the Charter which he had received to the Archdeacon I do not find what was done in the following years till 1140. when Radulphus filius Arconbi de Glinton being mindful of the salvation of his Soul and repenting of his sins came to Burgh and standing before the great Altar many standing about him offered to God and St. Peter for the salvation of his Soul and forgiveness of his sins unam culturam terrae de suo dominio in Peychirche quae jacet pro sex acris In testimony of which Donation he demised his Knife in the very Church laying it upon the Altar and Martin the Abbot on the other side gave from the Charity of St. Peter one Mark of Silver to the aforesaid Radulphus desiring to make him the more cheerful in this Donation That form of confirming a grant by the donors laying his Knife up on the Altar was usual in those times For in the year wherein King Stephen was taken Prisoner the next I think after that now mentioned upon the Feast of the invention of the holy Cross Guido Malfet with Adelize his Wife came into the Chapter-house of Burg and there restored to God and to St. Peter and the Monks of the Church ad luminare Altaris two parts of all the Tythes of the Land he held of St. Peter for the Souls of his Father and Mother and for his own Soul his Wives and Childrens which Tythes he had in part formerly kept wrongfully from the Church And after he had done this in the Chapter-house he went to the Altar of St. Peter and there finally granted and confirmed what he had done in the Chapter-house per cultellum super altare ab eodem positum In the year 1150. also I find that Ingelramus Wardeden came to Burgh with his three Sons and there made a solemn acknowledgment that the thirty shillings which he yearly claimed from the Abbey had been unjustly and to the peril of his Soul received by him And therefore before the High-Altar in the presence of the Convent he both promised amendment of his fault which he acknowledged by laying his Knife on the Altar and also disclaimed all right in the premise by the same Knife c. so the words are Et de culpa sua quam timuit recognovit cultellum super illud pro emendatione posuit omne rectum quod in eisdem triginta solidos hactenus clamaverat de se haeredibus suis natis innatis de omni progenie sua per eundem cultellum reddidit quietum clamavit After which they all took their Oaths also upon the Altar that they would never pretend to these thirty Shillings in time to come There were more memorable things than these done in the year before mentioned 1140. When King Stephen granted a great many Charters to this Church The first of which directed to the Archbishops Bishops Abbots Chancellor Justices Barons and all his Subjects declares that he had granted in perpetuum Eleemosynam to God and St. Oswald and the Church of St. Peter de Burgh c. for the Soul of King Henry his Uncle and other Kings his Ancestors and for the health of his own Soul of Matildis his Wife and Eustachius his Son and his other Children omnia assarta quae Abbas Monachi de Burgo homines sui fecerunt c. i. e. all the Woods grubbed up which was a great offence by the Abbot Monks and their Tenants in the Lands of the Abbey of Burgh untill the day that he came to Burgh in his return from Lincolnshire when he had newly finished his Castle at Castre in Lindsey viz. Septimo idus Junii An. MCXL Ã passione Oswaldi Regis Martyris quingentesimo primo Another Charter he granted about the Liberties of the Village of Pilesgate a second concerning Land in Northorp a third about Essarts in Nasso de Burgo with three more which I shall not mention
possible proof of their right Whereupon the Pope sent his Apostolical Letters to the Priors of Deeping and St. Leonard in Stamford and to the Dean of Stamford that they should hear and examine such Witnesses as the Abbot and Convent could produce and cause their testimony to be Recorded and to make a publick Instrument thereof Datum Laterani 7. Kaland. April Pontif. nostri Anno 7. And here it may be fit to mention the Council of Laterane unto which there was a general citation saith Swapham thoughout Christendom in so much that there were assembled 400. Bishops above 800. Abbots and Priors and Procurators without number So John Abbot MCCXV Romae Concili um Lateranense secundum celebratum est ubi Episcopi CCCC Abbates Priores DCCC ultra Procuratorum non erat numerus Here it was provided among other things that all Convents of Monks should fast that is eat no Suppers from the Feast of the exaltation of the Holy Cross till Easter Which order the Abbot when he returned from this Council prevail'd with his Convent to observe as they did at Rome But not without many intreaties for it had been the custom not only here at Burgh but in other places for the Monks to eat two meals a day at certain times for instance from the exaltation of Holy Cross till the first of October from the Nativity till the Octaves of the Epiphany and many other days within that compass of time forementioned on which the Convent was wont to have one dish at Supper with Cheese And therefore propter integrita tem Eleemosynae that their constant allowance might not be diminished the Abbot ordained that what was wont to be provided for their Supper they should have at Dinner While the Abbot was at Rome King John demanded the whole military service of the Abbot Whose Attorneys complaining that they could not justitiare milites libertatis Burgi make these men do their duty the King commanded their fees to be destrained Which when the Attorneys said they could not do the King gave away the Land of Nic. de Bassingburn to Baldwinus de Gynes and the Land of Roger de Torpel to Will. Blome and the Land that was Rad. de Dyve in Vpton to Rob. de Nevile of Scottone and the Land of Richard de Watervile to Will. de Palmes and the Land of Will. Andegavensis in Chirchefeild to Ade Furneis and the Land of Hugo Wac in Deeping with the appurtenances to Will. de Bruere and so he disposed of the rest of the Lands And commanded Will. de Aundres Constable of Rockingham that he should destrain all the military feods and that he should not meddle with the demesne of the Abbot but let it be undisturbed utpote liberam Eleemosynam Domini Regis These feods I suppose were restored upon their submission for I find in a Marginal Note Swaph fol. CCLXX. that Rog. de Torpel refused to serve unless the Abbot paid his expences upon which his Estate he held of the Abbot being ordered to be seised he scarcely obtained the favour to serve upon his own proper charges Before his time there had been great discord and murmuring contention and envy frequently happened among the Brethren propter minutionem about blood-letting which was very necessary some time to those sedentary people who were subject to repletion And no wonder because no body could accipere minutionem be let blood without an Order from the Prior who let some have it oftner others more rarely some after five weeks others after 6. and others not till after 8. or 10. or 15. or perhaps half a year To take away therefore all trouble out of their minds about this matter this Abbot ordered that the Convent should be divided into six parts and upon the day of letting blood he that was the Senior of that part whose turn it was to have the benefit of it should ask licentiam minuendi and that under his hand for his Brethren from the Prior. In the Margin of the Book there is this Note That in Abbot Walter 's time this mode of minution was thus far altered that they should be divided into five parts and then minuerentur modo supradicto For Robert Grosteste Bishop of Lincoln in his Visitation had forbidden the eating of flesh altogether unto the Monks every where except only in the Infirmary or in the Abbots Chamber which was accounted by them an unsupportable burden It is further also noted that the Convent in former times had liberty at three seasons in the year to eat as much flesh as they pleased in a house deputed for that purpose and in the domus Hospitum house where they entertained Strangers and in all places where they eat out of the Refectory they might eat flesh Which liberty was quite taken away by the above named Inhibition of the Bishop They who were minuti let blood were formerly refreshed in the Refectory three times a day with a regular diet as appears by the antient Customary of this Church Swapham observes that he found LXXII Monks here when he came to the Convent and so many I have noted before King Henr. I. found here when he took an account of all belonging to the Monastery upon the death of John de Sais And therefore what is said of Akarius his taking in XXII Monks must be understood I think of supernumeraries whom he maintained for his time at his own charges ex intuitu pietatis as the words there are For the maintenance of these the Lands in Alwalton and Flettun had been given by Andreas but were not sufficient to supply the Kitchin with provisions though it had other Rents besides which are all distinctly mentioned in a Charter of his Swaph fol. CV wherein he gives those Mannors intirely to the Celerary with all that had been reserved out of them to the Abbot at the Feast of St. Michael This Abbot Robert therefore gave other Revenues not only for the recreation as the word is of those 72 Monks but for the increment of eight Monks more whereby the whole Number was made LXXX And particularly Belasise as Mr. G. observes to find those 8. with Bread and Beer Which Corn and Malt was afterward changed into money in Abbot Walters time because the Celerarius of the Abbot and his Servants would receive none but the very best which was the occasion of great quarrels In the Charter wherein he settles those Lands he makes mention of the observation of his own Anniversary the expences of which were to be born out of them Andreas I noted before began this custome as far as I can find assigning an annual Pension for the celebrating of the Anniversary of Benedict his Predecessor After which I find no mention of it till this Abbots time who took care not only of his own but both of Andreas his and of his Successors Akarius For after the Constitution of Akarius directing how the sour Stone of Wax from Croyland should be imployed
1245. as the Chron. of John Abbot informs us Therefore all that Mr. G. hath out of Matthew Paris belongs not to this time In that very year which he mentions the eighth year of his Abbotship which was 1241. the milites of the Abby were summoned to Saropesbury to go to Wales Fol. CCLXX. whither the Abbot himself went and some Knights with him Who earnestly insisting to have their expences Horses and Arms from the Abbot he would by no means grant it but commanded them by the Fealty they owned to the King and to him to follow the King to Chester which they did The Abbot also came thither where they again made the same demands pretending that Stephen de Segrave had given judgment for them apud Lehayetayle Of whom when the Abbot had diligently inquired he declared before him and his family that it was false and said the Knights ought to defend the Abbot at their own charge with Horses and Arms. Then they complained to Hugh Earl of Hereford Marshal of the Army who determined the matter against them and the Abbot commanded them that at the summons of the Marshal they should be inrolled which they refused But the Abbot ad cautelam caused Radulph de Ayston and Hugo de Bernack to be inrolled and two Servants of his family pro uno milite And so the Abbot returned with good grace from the King and his Knights neither going nor coming could recover one farthing of him The Steward of the Bishop of Lincoln and other Prelates did the same And by the diligence of the Abbot he received from the Kings Exchequer plenarie scutagium suum sc de quolibet scuto X L. Sol. In like manner in the time of John de Calceto he had scutagium suum plenarie de dictis militibus And when they complained to the King and the Magnates that the Abbot ought to pay that scutagium out of his own Chamber the Abbot made it appear that he ought not In that grand Priviledge of Innocent's there is the same grant which is mentioned in Greg. the IXths that they might say divine Service with a low voice in the time of a general Interdict the gates being shut no Bells rung and all Excommunicated and interdicted persons excluded Many other Bulls there were of his as I noted out of Swapham some of which remain One of them imports that by his Mandate they stood bound to pay to Opizomus Archdeacon of Parma a Pension of fifteen Mark yearly untill they had provided him with some Ecclesiastical Benefice worth forty Mark of Silver yearly o◠more But he now granted them this indulgence for the future that they should not be bound to provide any person with a benefice for the future against their wills nor receive any Letters Apostolical to that purpose unless they made express mention of this Indulgence and said that notwithstanding any Apostolical Indulgence they must do it Afterward Letters Apostolical were directed from another Pope to several Priors therein named to see his Absolution executed which he had granted to the Abbot and Convent of Burgh from the payment of such Pensions when the person who received them would not accept of the Ecclesiastical Benefices to which they offered to present them when they fell Which some refused because they had benefices already but no dispensation to hold another and so would have kept their Pensions when a Benefice was provided for them to the great grievance of the Monastery Another of Innocent's is dated from Lyons on the Kal. of Sept. the seventh year of his Pontificate which was a little before his death Wherein they having represented their Monastery to be built in a cold place so that they could not without danger in Winter time especially perform divine Offices with heads uncovered he grants them a licence utendi pileis ipsorum ordini congruentibus to use Capps suitable to their Order according as the Abbot in his discretion should think fit Another is that they having represented to him how great a disturbance it was to their devotion to have causes frequently referred to them by the See Apostolical he grants them this Indulgence that they should not be bound against their wills to take Cognizance of any cause committed to them by the same See for the future unless in the Letters of Reference express mention were made of this Indulgence There is a Statute made by this Abbot but I do not find in what year with the consent of the Chapter that on the Feast of the Dedication of their Church as upon the principal Feasts of St. Peter and St. Paul seven Candles should burn before the Altar super baccas and four upon the Altar à principio Matutinorum usque ad finem totius servitii and that the Arm of St. Oswald as I noted before should be carried in procession on this festival unless it had been carried on his own day Out of a Meadow in Peykirk which he bought of Roger Son of Paganus de Helpstona he gave forty Shillings to the celebration of his own Anniversary viz. twenty Shillings for the recreation of the Brethren and the other for the refection of the Poor upon the day of his death This Meadow William his Successor made over to the Convent intirely and warrants it to them that he and his Successors might be freed from the payment of that forty Shillings At the last time of his crossing the Seas he gave several pretious things feretris trium Virginum viz. Kiniburge Kiniswith and Tibbe and a great number of Vessels and Jewels when he dyed which were all brought into the Chapterhouse and there disposed according to the pleasure of the Convent He was not well before he went and the infirmity of his body was increased by his journey so that he dyed not long after his return An. 1245. For whom Swapham makes this prayer The Lord grant he may enjoy eternal life and joy in the Land of the living by the merits of the Mother of God and of St. Peter and St. Benedict and all the Saints He was pious and merciful to all did nothing without the advice of his Brethen of the better sort exacted nothing unduly of his Tenants whether rich or poor But if any poor Man or Woman made their necessities known to him he would burst out into tears and take compassion upon them In some things he acted tepide which he bewailed all his days but he left the Abbey abounding in all good things stored with Horses Oxen Sheep and all Cattle in great multitudes and Corn in some places for three years But after his decease Magister R. de Gosebek to whom the King committed the custody of the Abbey wasted and sold and in a manner carried all away There were found in his Chamber when he dyed a great many Cupps of Gold and Silver whose weight and worth are set down in Swapham with six silver Plates twenty nine Spoons thirty gold Rings and a great
permit the burial of his Father which had been already made at Scottun hâc vice for this time and that in like manner they would be pleased hâc vice to remit the Mortuary due to them And accordingly the Abbot and Convent with respect to the love which the aforesaid Robert bare to them did for that time allow the Burial and release the Mortuary de gratia liberalitate sua Dat. apud Burgh in Crastino Sancti Barthol An. Dom. MCCLXX Quinto In the Year MCCLXX Octavo there was the like case with the first only with this difference that Emma the Wife of Galfridus de Sancto Medardo died about Michaelmas at the Mannor of Osgoteby and the same W. de Wodeford Sacrist of Burg presented himself being ready to defend the right of the Church to have the Body of the said Woman to be buried at Burgh according to an agreement made long before between the Monks and the Knights of the said Church before the Bishop of Lincoln but she having desired to be buried at Stanford at their devout request the fore-named Sacrist out of special grace and favour condescended for that time saving the rights of Burgh to let her desire be fulfilled This Abbot recovered many Rents belonging to the Church and many grants were made to it in his time but I do not find in what years nor have I room to mention them particularly But one must not be forgotten which was the Gift of a whole Street in Burgh by Will. de Wauton or Walton Son of William Son of John de Wauton who says dedi concessi hac presenti carta mea confirmavi Dominis meis Richardo Abhati de Burgo Sancti Petri ejusdem loci convent totam illam plateam cum domibus super aedificatis in villa Burgi sitam in Market stede c. There is a grant which John Gowke of Stowe also made of a Meadow to him which runs in this Style Dedi concessi hac presenti Charta mea confirmavi Domino Ricard Dei gratia Abbati de Burg. Sancti Petri ejusdem loci conventui totum pratum meum c. But Richard himself I find writes himself Abbot only permissione Divina There was an agreement made between him and Oliver Bishop of Lincoln about some things in difference but they are not mentioned in the MS. Chron. Johan Abbatis ad an 1282. where there are these words Dominus Rex Edwardus Walliam adiit David novum principem cepit Facta est etiam concordia inter Dominum Oliverum Episcopum Lincoln Ricardum Abbatem Burgi But four years after they were at difference again perhaps about the same thing for in the fourteenth of Edward the First Dr. Thoreton's Hist of Nottingham p. 190. the Bishop of Lincoln complained of the Abbot of Peterburgh for setting up a Gallows at his Mannor of Collingham and there hanging a Thief to the derogation of the liberty of the Wapentack of Newark which the Bishop held of the grant of the Kings predecessors To which the Abbot answered That the Kings Father in the 37th year of his Reign granted him and his successors Infangthef and Vtfangthef in all his Hundreds and Demeasnes and so he avowed his Gallows and complained against the Bishop for taking two Horses and six Cows at Newark and driving them to his Parc or Pound and there detaining them To which the Bishop replied That he held his Wapentak of the gift of the King within which were the two Towns of Collingham which the said Abbot held and for which he ought to make suit at the said Wapentac by three Men of each Town which he not doing therefore he took the Horses and Kine The Cause went against the Abbot and he was constrained to submit and pull down his Gallows It was this Abbot I suppose who bound himself and whole Convent and all their Goods to certain Merchants for a summ of Mony for the Kings use who made over to them his Mannor de Graham and all the Appurtenances until the Debt was satisfied with all damages and expences For I find Letters Patents of this King Edward the First unto the Abbot and Convent of Burgh making mention of this and of the Writings on each part under their Hands and Seals and how the Debt being paid the Abbot and Convent had restored to the King his part with his Seal but he could not find their Counter-part Which therefore he declared by these Letters to be cassa vacua penitus nullius valoris in perpetuum and should be restored to the Abbot when it could be found There is a Petition also to this King from the Abbot that they might enjoy the right they had per cartas omnium Regum Angliae à tempore Williemi Bastardi usque ad nunc to the Tithe of all the Venison decimam totius venationis taken in the County of Northampton by whomsoever taken in possession of which they had always peaceably remained Which the King confirmed by two Charters and the Queen also sent her Letters about it In this Year 14 of Edw. 1. William Parys died who built as Mr. G. observes the Chappel of the Blessed Virgin adjoyning to the Church on the North-side of the Quire So the MS. Chron. ascribed to John Abbot MCCLXXXVI obiit Dominus Willielmus Parys Prior Burgi Successit Dominus Ricardus de Bernewell This Chapel was finished six year before being consecrated as I observed before by Oliver Sutton in the year 1290. There was a Chapel of the blessed Virgin belonging to this Church before called Capella beatae Virginis de Parco as I noted in the life of Akarius because it stood I suppose in the Park belonging to this Monastery But I find no other memory of it The same Chronicon of John Abbot notes ad An. MCCXCV obiit Dominus Ricardus Abbas Burgi Cui successit Willielmus de Wodeford He departed this Life on the first of August after he had been Abbot one and twenty year For on that day the Kalendar saith was Depositio Ricardi de London Abbatis WILLIHELMVS de Wodeford He was born I suppose at Wodeford in this County where this Church had a great deal of Land as appears from many Records but more particularly from a Transcript of all the Mannors and Tenements of the Abby of Burgh in the several Counties of the Realm as they are contained en le domes dai in Tesauraria Domini Regis apud Westemon tempore Regis Edwardi primi which was made about this time and remains in our Book Fol. CCXCII c. The most memorable thing that I can find done in his time was the Taxation of all the Mannors of the Abbey for their Goods Temporal and Spiritual by Apostolical i. e. the Papal authority which was done I find by 24 Jurates 12 Clergymen and 12 Laymen in the first year of this Abbot 1296. It remains still at the end of the Book called Swapham Fol. CCCXLV. bearing this
and Testament petitioning King Richard the II. that it might be fulfilled and representing how she had obtained a new Bull from Pope Vrban directed to the Archdeacon of London for that purpose the King thereupon granted his Licence quod ipse Archidiaconus ad erectionem hujusmodi Collegii faciendam procedere valeat juxta vim formam effectum dictarum literarum Apostolicarum For which licence she gave the King 20 Marks as is expressed in the Letters Patents V. Monast Anglicanum 3. Tom. De Ecclesiis Collegiatis p. 108. There are some Acts of this Abbot mentioned in a MS. Register formerly belonging to this Church now in Sir John Cotton's Library and others in our Records at the end of Swapham in the 18 19 and 21. of Edward III. to which I cannot be allowed to give a place in this History without wrong to the Undertaker I can find no memory of him in the Kalendar of the Church though there is of his Successor because it is likely he left nothing for the celebrating of his Anniversary as several foregoing Abbots did ROBERTVS RAMSEY There is a memorial of him as I said in the Kalendar which tells us he dyed upon the sixth of October which was Depositio Roberti de Ramsey Abbatis fratris Thomae de Burgo And a Memorandum of a gift bestowed upon the Church in the first year of his Government by the Heir of William Everard de Dodestorp but so defaced by time that it cannot all be read I suppose it was written in his time sor it follows after an account of the years that every Abbot from John de Caleto till his time lived in the government of this place but saith nothing how long he continued Abbas Johan de Caleto vixit annis 13. Abbas Robert de Sutton an 12. Abbas Ric. de London an 22. Abbas Willielmus de Wodeford an 4. Abbas Godefrid de Croyland an 22. Abbas Adam de Boyeby an 17. Abbas Henricus de Morkote an 14. HENRY de Overton Born I suppose at Overton now called Orton on the other side of the River Neen and made Abbot here in the year 1360. As appears by an old record of a Fine paid by William Cole Nativus Domini Abbatis de Burgo for a licence in his Court at Thurleby in the forty seventh year of Edward the Third that is 1373 which is said to be in the Thirteenth year of this Abbot In his second year the 37. of Edw. III. 1369. all the Monks of the black Order held a General Chapter at Northampton where Thomas Abbot of St. Alban presided in which it was decreed among other things that they should make a perpetual and continual memory throughout their whole Order for the Quick and the Dead every hour of the day and night as Walsingham P. 180. informs us in his History of these times Who also tells us that in the year 1379 which was the 2. of Rich. II. there was a great Tax laid upon the whole Clergy wherein every Mitred Abbot paid as much as an Earl viz. six Marks and a Noble moreover pro singlis capitibus Monachorum Pole money for every Monk in his Monastery Of which he complains heavily as an unreasonable thing that the poorest of them should pay as much as the richest Earl or Bishop and over and above for his Friers Ib. p. 221. I have give an account already in the life of Martine de vecti of the Insurrection in the fourth year of King Rich. 1381. Which the said Walsingham ascribes to the sins of men of all sorts not excepting the Mendicant Friers who contrary to their profession he faith were grown such flaterers and deceivers that it was thought as good an argument both for matter and form to say This is a Frier therefore he is a Lyar as to say This is White therefore it hath a Colour P. 302. Two years after 1383. The King and his Queen spent their time in visiting the Abbeys of the Kingdom which the same Historian saith was no small burden to them because they came with an excessive number of attendants non offerre sed auferre not to offer but to carry away I do not find whether they were here or no but he mentions the Abbey of St. Edmunds-Bury with which this was in a confederacy where they were entertained ten days which cost the Monastery eight hundred Marks There is no memory of this Abbot nor of any that follow in the Kalendar I have often mentioned they living not long before it was written and in those tumultuous times that insued having no power its likely to do more than preserve what their ancestors had acquired and scarcely that neither for in Rich. Ashton's time when the Kalendar was written I find but 64. Monks NICOLAVS It is not known where this Abbot was born or bred and there is very little to be found either of what he did or what was done in his time The only thing I meet with besides that which Mr. G. mentions is an ordinance of his about the observation of the Feast of St. Kyneburgh in the last year of his Abbotship 1396. Which Feast it appears by the Kalendar was on the 7. of March whereon was Translatio Sanctorum Kyneburgh and Kyneswith Whom Malmsbury L. IV. de gestis Pontif. Angl. calls Kinedreda and Kines wida the Daughters of King Penda the Reliques of whose Ashes he saith were here kept and worshipped who both of them having dedicated themselves to God in their Infancy preserved their noble purpose till old age The younger of them also not being content with her own resolution prevailed with Offa King of the East Aagles who courted her in marriage to consecrate himself to Virginity They were first buried in Ecclesia Kyneburgensis Castri called now Castre as I suppose which being very ruinous in the time of Elfinus Abbot the Monks of Ramsey as Hugo tells us indeavoured with all their might night and day to carry their bodies away to that Monastery But it was neither the will of the Lord nor their pleasure as his words are to rest any where but under the power of St. Peter sub Clavigeri potestate who brought them to Christianity And therefore they heard the prayers as he goes on of Leof winus Sacrist of Burch who was a devout Servant of theirs and earnestly beseeched them to have their bodies lye in this Church promising to do them the greatest honour as is more fully declared in Translatione earum in the Narative of their Translation which was too long he saith to set down in every particular After the like manner also the same Abbot with Leofwinus his assistance translated the most pious Virgin Tibba de riale Burgi She herself commanding it and by great miracles showing that she desired to rest there among her holy Friends Upon which occasion Hugo relates not only all the Reliques in this Church as hath been before shown but tells also where the bodies of
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
mil. quod idem Dominus Joh. de nobis tenet in capite in villa de Eston juxta Rockingam viginti sol nostro auxilio ad primogenitam fil Domini R. maritandam 20. sol de scutagio nobis à Domino Rege concessa de an trigesimo primo In cujus rei testimonium has literas nostras eid Rob. fieri fecimus Patentes Dat. apud Burg. S. Pet. die lunae in Septima Paschae c. In the 4th year of Edw. II. which was the 12th of Godfrey on the Sunday before the Feast of the Ascension Joh. fil Domini Rogeri de Hegham did homage and Fealty to the said Abbot in his Hall at Burgh for Land he held of him in Helpston in the presence of Robert de Thorp then Steward of the Liberties of Burgh In which year 4. Edw. 2. it was that of his own Charity he built the Bridge over the River Nen. In the same Register I find this Record that in the very first year of his Abbotship he bound himself in the summ of five hundred Marks for the redemption of John St. John taken Prisoner and kept so by the King of France Dominus Johannes de Sancto Johanne Capitivus in Carcere Philippi Regis Franc. remanens Abbas de Burgo Sancti Petri obligatus pro 500 Marcis de redemptione sua An. 1299. Which agrees with what Tho. Walsingham saith of this Gentleman whom he calls Johannes de Sancto Johanne de Baiona who was taken Prisoner in the year 1298 going to the relief of Bellagarda together with the Earl of Lincoln who commanded one half of the Army but would not fight By which means it came to pass that this J. St. John and Will. de Mortuomari and Will. de Bermanglen and eight other Knights were made Prisoners and carried to Paris in Triumph How this Abbot came to be engaged for him or what relation he had to him I do not find nor have I room for any further account of him but only this That in his sixth year there hapned a difference between him and the Abbot of Thorney about a certain Highway de quodam chimino from a place in the River Neen called Herlotefforth unto the Town of Eye And at last this agreement was made at the instance of Walter Bishop of Coventry and Litchf then Lord High Treasurer and other friends to them both viz. that the aforesaid Abbot and Convent of Burgh of their own mere will and special benevolence for the cherishing of mutual love and charity between them granted for them and their Successors that the Abbot of Thorney and the Convent and their Servants Friends or Strangers coming thither might hereafter use that Highway ad latitudinem quindecim pedum with their Carts Waggons Carriages Horses drift of Cattle to Fairs or Markets without any disturbance c. Dat apud Stamfordiam die Martis proxima post festum Sanctorum Tiburtii Valeriani Anno Reg. Edw. Tricesimo quarto He dyed after he had been Abbot one and twenty years So MS. Chron. Johan Abbatis ad An. MCCCXX obiit Dominus Godefridus Abbas Burgi cui successit Adam de Botheby c. And the day was on the 9th of August as we learn from the Kalendar which tells us then was Depositio Godfridi de Croyland Abbatis ADAM de Botheby The Character which the forenamed Chronicon gives of him is this that he was vir magnae innocentiae simplicitatis a man of great innocence and simplicity In whose time the Controversie between this Church and the Bishop of Lincoln in the 10th of Edw. the Third was revived When the Bishop impleaded divers men of North and South Collingham for breaking his Pound and taking away some Cattle which his Bailiff had seised being the Goods of several condemned and Outlawed persons of the same Towns some whereof were hanged Which he said belonged to him in the right of his Wapentac of Newark but they said belonged to the Abbot of Peterburgh as Lord of the Mannor of Collingham But the judgement before mentioned in the 14 Edw. I. ended the strife and the Bishop prevailed In his first year An. 1321. there were seen in many places of England nocturnae acies armatae invicem militari more dimicantes in aere maxime super Castellum Comitis Lancastriae as the MS. Chron. of Joh. Abbatis writes Who makes no doubt they predicted what followed in this year wherein he and many other Barons were put to Death Sanguinem illustris Comitis ac aliorum nobilium qui postea nequiter effusus est effundendum indubitanter praemonstrantes The same Chron. ad an 1338. saith Hoc anno 7. Kal. Decemb. in festo Sanctae Katherinae obiit piae memoriae Dominus Adam de Botheby nuper Abbas de Burgo Sancti Petri. Cui successit Here a line is scraped out and this is the last Abbot mentioned in that Chronicon though it doth not end till the year 1368. Which shews it was carried on by some other hand that was not much acquainted with this Church or did not regard it And it speaking here of Adam de Botheby as lately dead was the thing that deceived Pitseus who as Mr. G. observes took John Abbot to have lived now because he found he that wrote this latter part of the History which bore the name of John in the Title was alive about the year 1340. who saith the same year that Adam Abbot dyed per multa Angliae loca salices Rosas germinaverunt The day of his death the Kalendar also places upon the 23. of November which was Depositio Adae Abbatis de Botheby Anniversarium Domini Joh. de Aysby c. HENRICVS de Morcot In this Abbots time as I take it Edward the Third granted his Licence for the turning the Parochial Church of St. Peter de Irtlingburgh into a Collegiat Church of six Secular Canons one of which to be the Dean and of four beneficed Clarks to be nominated by the Abbot and Convent of Peterburgh who and John Pyel had the Advowson of the Church alternis vicibus The said John Pyel on his part ingaging to assign such a portion of his own Estate as might be a sufficient maintenance for the said Dean Canons and Clerks together with the other profits belonging to the said Church and having obtained a Bull also from Pope Gregory the XI to the Bishop of Lincoln to permit this Colledge to be erected if it were so indowed by John Pyel as to pay all Episcopal duties and other burdens And the said Abbot and Convent also having after sufficient deliberation consented to this unanimously provided their right of presenting alternately to those Canonries or Prebends and other benefices were preserved and the aforesaid Dean Canons and Clerks said divine Service in that Church every day for ever John Pyel indeed dyed before this could be effected for the Bishop of Lincoln had deferred to execute his intention But his Wife Johanna Executress of his last Will