Peterburgh where Abbot Godfrey entertained them very nobly the Abbot presented the Prince with a rich Robe and the Prince asked the Messenger if the Abbot had sent one to his friend Peter the Messenger answering No the Prince then would not accept his the Messenger returning to the Abbot certified him of the Princes refusal and the reason whereupon another rich Robe was sent to Peter whose mediation the Messenger solicited for the Prince's acceptance of his Robe also whereupon Peter sends to the Prince and bids the Messenger say Volo I will that thou receive the Abbots gift which was done accordingly and the Abbot had thanks returned to him In his fourth year the 32 of King Edward Galfridus de la A Market and Fair at Northburgh Mare then Lord of Northburgh had procured from King Edward a Charter to hold a Market and Fair at Northburgh but Abbot Godfrey considering how prejudicial the same would be to his Town of Peterburgh compounded with Galfridus who quitted his Charter to the Abbot of Peterburgh and his Successors for ever In his fifth year the Church of Wermington was made an Appropriation Wermington Church Gate-house Godfrey was also a great builder adding much to his Monastery but we cannot say which for they are long since demolished only the great Gate-house over which was the Chamber called The Knights Chamber is yet standing the Chamber only being lately translated into another fashion about it were the Pictures of Knights upon the walls who held Lands of the Abby and the very Rafters were adorned with Coats of Arms. Godfrey also purchased the Mannor of Lullington or Luddington for 113l 6s 8d of Luddington Mannor Gregory then Lord thereof allowing him above this summ a Corrody in his Monastery that is maintenance during his life for himself two servants and their horses He setled a yearly stipend of five pound upon the Chaplain of Northolme And upon a certain number of Monks then residing at Oxney he setled a weekly portion of Victuals thirteen stone of Cheefe which they were to receive out of the Mannor of Eye and every week from May 3. to September 13. three pounds and an half of Butter He procured a Fair to be held at Northolme yearly on S. Matthews day and a Weekly Market every Thursday He built the dwelling A Fair and Market at Northolme Vid. Chart. in App. Mill-dam House at Burghberry and made the Dam commonly called Mill-Dam with a Water-Mill at the end thereof which hath been in use in our memory He built also of his own free will the Bridge now standing over the River and leading into the City of The Bridge which more in the next King Edward preparing for War with Scotland sent to Abbot Godfrey for contribution towards it and the Abbot sent him an hundred Marks The King sent the second time to the Abbot for his Knights service in horse and arms and the Abbot sent the King sixty Marks more The King sent the third time and the Abbot sent him 220l The King sent the fourth time for a supply of Carriages and the Abbot satisfied that with 30l The King sent the fifth time to borrow four hundred Marks which the Abbot also satisfied with the free gift of an hundred pounds About that time the King seized upon all the Lands of Walter de Langton his Treasurer and amongst the rest upon Thorp Watervile belonging to the Abbey of Peterburgh which by advice and assistance of John of Milton the Abbots Seneschal or Steward was recovered by the Abbots paying to the Kings Exchequer for the same 50 l. But John of Milton having taken the said Mannor of the Abbot and shortly after dying the King gave that Mannor to Earl Warren so that the Abbot was brought to a new composition of 120 Marks The King at that time imposed 40 s. upon every Knights-fee throughout the Realm towards the marriage of Elianor his eldest daughter and then Abbot Godfrey sent the King 127 l. Howbeit Wittlesey Registrum Adae fol. 76. I find in another Register that the King sent his Breves to the Sheriffs of Northampton Lincoln Nottingham Leicester Warwick Huntingdon and Bedford that they should not levy any such moneys upon the Lands of the Abbot of Peterburgh whereby it may seem that this 127 l. was rather the Abbots free gift than a tribute of duty the Abbot standing upon his exemption from such demands by the Charters of the Kings predecessors from the first foundation of his Abby Abbot Godfrey entertained the King the second time when for duties to the King and free gifts to his followers the Abbot expended the summ of 1543 l. 13 s. 4 d. He entertained also two Cardinals which were travelling towards Scotland to mediate for a peace betwixt King Edward and the Scots And the Abbot presented one of them called Gaucelmus with a Psalter curiously written with golden Letters And those Cardinals in their return coming hither again the Abbot presented Gaucelmus with an embroidered Cope of the value of 100 Marks And the other Cardinal Lucius de Aysk with a silver Cup gilt and fifty Ells of Scarlet So that the moneys expended by Abbot Godfrey for Vestments and ornaments of the Church for Lands purchased to his Abby and for gifts to several persons amounted to the summ of 3646 l. 4 s. 3 d. Abbot Godfrey made him a Pastoral Staff of Silver gilt over and in the head of it was the image of the Trinity which is the first and last staff that I find amongst any of the Abbots When he had governed his Abby the space of twenty two years he died and lieth buried at the upper end of the Quire betwixt William Genge and John Deping The Brass of his Monument was divorced from his Marble in the year 1643. being his pourtraicture and a small inscription in the Verge Whilst he lived his Library consisted of these Books Duae Bibliae una Gallice scripta Avicenna Instituta apparitata Sextus liber Decretalium cum apparatu Legenda Sanctorum Summum bonum Regula Sanctorum Benedicti Basilii cum aliis rebus Processionarium Breviarum in duobus voluminibus Manuale cum exequiis mortuorum Godfrey being dead there came an extent from the King against the Lands of the Abby and Barony of the Abbot when a Jury upon Oath returned them at this rate The Abbot of Peterburgh received for Rent yearly at  l. s. d.   Castor 18 10 6   Thorpe 15 1 6 ob  Burghberry 64 9 4   Glinton 23 6 1   Witherington 20 9 4   Walton 12 16 11   Eyebury 24 5 0   Oundle 43 11 0   Aston 15 16 11   Wermington 52 13 4 ob  Kettering 57 3 6   Cottingham 19 4 11   Stanwigg 16 7 10 ob q. Irtlingburgh 18 12 0   Polebroke 14 6 8   Okeslow
jacet inter terram Thome Speciarii terram Agnetis quondam uxoris Henrici in cultura que jacet inter boscum de Westwoode Capellam Sancti Botulphi pro quadam placia pertinente ad ortum Eleemosynarie Burgi super q. cancellum capellae Sancti Johannis Bapt. constructum est c. Which Chapel also of St. John Baptist seems to be distinct from the Church of that name Swapham doth not tell us when he dyed But the often mentioned Chron. of John Abbot saith An. MCC obiit Andreas Abbas Burgi cui successit Acharius Sancti Albani So he governed not about 5. but about seven year His memory was celebrated on the twenty first of February when I find in the Kalander was Depositio Domini Andreae Abbatis ACHARIVS As King John gave the Abbey of Burgh to this Prior of St. Albans so in the same year he gave the Abbey of Ramsey to the Prior of Burgh They are the words of Rog. Hoveden Ad An. 1200. p. 802. in that place where he calls this Abbot Zacharias as Mr. G. observes But he did not put him in presently upon the death of Andreas for Swapham tells us he received the Abbey in Rogation week and found it so bare of all manner of Provisions that there was not food enough for one day The reason was the Archbishop of St. Andrews in Scotland to whom the King had given the custody of the Abbey while it was void had left nothing but carried all that he could away with him Notwithstanding which this good man in a short time was able to furnish the place not merely with necessaries but superfluities For besides a great many rich vestments he gave to the Church Silver Basins for the great Altar with a case of Gold and Silver set with pretious stones opere pulcherrimo subtilissimo for the Arm of St. Oswald A yearly Rent also to the Refectory and the Pittancia to the former of which he gave likewise two excellent Cups de Mazaro with great Silver feet richly gilt and Covers to them one of which had the three Kings offering their gifts to our Saviour in the bottom of it He gave moreover to the said Refectory Nine great drinking Cups de Mazaro and four Table Knives with Ivory hafts He assigned Thurleby also to the Chamberlain from whence saith Swapham we have XII Coverlids of St. Alban and as many Coats He assigned also to the Chamber the house which Richard Crookman offered to St. Peter when he was made a Monk which yielded the yearly Rent of a Noble And when the Celleraria upon a time wanted Provision he fed the whole Convent from the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul to the Feast of St. Andrew at his own charge And caused the Mill of Athelwalton to be repaired the Land to be ploughed and Sown and the Corn gathered which he caused to be brought into the Cellerary And out of his pitty to the infirm Monks who had no where to take the comfort of the air he gave them of his own accord without asking a part of his Vineyard where Rich. de Scoter afterwards planted a garden He also bought houses hard by St. Pauls London which cost him above two hundred and fifty Marks and in several of the Mannors belonging to the Church caused Halls Chambers and other edifices to be built as the Hall at Scottere the Hall at Fiskertune and divers other places which Swapham mentions He gave two hundred Marks to King John for his Charter of Liberties which is still remaining and discharged the house of above a thousand Marks in the Exchequer He recovered the Mannor of Walcote from Peter Son of Radulphus who had held it long and got many confirmations of it from the Kings of England as well as the Marsh between Singlesholt and Croyland mentioned by Mr. G. from which he received yearly by the consent and agreement of the Abbot of Croyland four Stone of Wax which he appointed to be imployed for Wax-Candles on the Feasts of the Saints of this Church They that have a mind may read the whole story of this recovery in the continuation of the History of Crowland lately put out at Oxford with Ingulphus c. P. 471 472. which tells us it was in the year 1202. not long after he came to the Abbotship But though the King himself then after many meetings and treaties and great expences made a final end as they speak yet the controversie was renewed again not long after as shall be shewed in its place His Constitution wherein with the consent of the Brethren he orders how the four Stone of Wax should be yearly spent is as follows That it should be delivered to the Keeper of the Altar of St. Mary who was to take care that in each of the 3. Festivals of St. Peter one Wax Candle of five pound weight should burn continually before the great Altar from the beginning of the first Vespers till after the completorium of the Festival In like manner in the four Festivals of St. Mary and in those of St. Oswald St. Kyneberge St. Kyneswithe and St. Tibbe What remained of the four Stone of Wax and was left after the completorium of those Festivals he was to take care should be spent every day ad missam Sanctae Mariae There is another agreement between him and the Abbot of Crowland which I find at the very end of the Book called Swapham whose title is this De bunda de Fynfet Be it knowen to all that be olyve and to all that shall come here after that the Bounde of Fynfete which is made mention of in the Fyne betwix Akary Abbot of Peterburgh and his Covent and Henry Abbot of Croyland and his Covent it is set in an Angyl besyde a Plot that is called now a days Nomansland betwix the waters of Weland and of Nene Wich water of Nene hath its course directly from thence until Croyland-Brig after the cours of water be the wich men rowe from Croyland unto Dowesdale on the South syde of a Crosse set there And the water of Weland hath his cours directly from Croyland Brig unto Nomansland Hyrum by a water called Twandam Dyke And there the water of Weland fallyth into Nene And the seid Hyrum is set at a barre and an Old Welow anens the Dyke by the wich men go to a place called Tutlakisland He bought Land at Stowe near Simpringham where Abbot Robert afterward built houses and the custom being that the Abbot should have the Auxilia Sancti Michaelis before mentioned from Alwallon and Flettune viz. twenty Mark he gave 15. to the Convent and left only 5. to his Successors which Abbot Robert also assigned to the Convent This goodness therefore of his saith Swapham deserves to be had in everlasting remembrance and yet it would be tedious to tell the persecutions he endured Which were exceeding great from a hard King and from untamed Tyrants from Forresters and other
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
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
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
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
man of great judgment and good elocution when he came to plead at Northampton before the Judge of Assize when his time was to speak he craved his Abbots blessing and spake so to the purpose that the Earl went as Wittleseys phrase is Sine die without the day and although the Earl brought the business to the Kings hearing yet there William Woodford worsted him also When this Richard was Sacrist he erected the great Steeple wherein the Bells hang but which I cannot say there being two such Steeples and gave two Bells which were called Les Londres Ladies Chappel In the time of Abbot Richard there was one William Parys Prior who built that goodly Chappel commonly called the Ladies Chappel which in the late times of violence was levelled with the ground William Parys himself laid the first stone and under it many sentences of Scripture written but whether in Brass or Lead Wittlesey tells not And he not only laid the foundation but perfected the whole work and adorned it with windows and paintings on the walls and settled five pound per annum upon it for service therein Afterwards dying he was buried in the North part of the Church near unto the said Chappel and the Inscription upon his Grave-stone is yet to be seen Hic jacet Willielmus Parys quondam Prior Burgi cujus animae misereatur Deus Amen Pater noster Ave Maria. The Books in Abbot Richards Library I find thus recorded Quatuor Evangelia Glos Psalterium Regula Sancti Augustini cum speculo caritatis edita à Beato Bernardo Nova Logica in 2. Vol. Priscianus de constructione cum aliis rebus Boëtius de Consolatione libellus diversarum rerum in uno Vol. Parabola Salomonis Ecclesiastes Processionarium cum hympnario Psalterium cum Gradale in choro Richard having been Abbot here the space of twenty two years and an half died Anno 1295. being the twenty third of King Edward the first and was buried in the South side of the Church near the Quire the Abbot of Croyland performing the Funeral service which being ended the company consisting of many Nobles and Abbots went to the Abbots house where they dined And dinner being ended there came one in the Kings name and seized on the whole Abby taking homage of the Tenants as had formerly been accustomed Afterwards two of the Monks went to the King to procure Licence for the election of an Abbot and the person elected was 33. WILLIHELMVS de Woodford Who for two years before had been Coadjutor with Abbot Richard in the time of his infirmity Writers commend him for a man of excellent parts and diligence in his government Being but Sacristary he purchased the Mannor of Southorp which when Southorp Mannor he came to be Abbot he assigned to the Monks He settled a daily proportion of bread upon some inferiour Officers added much to the buildings of his Monastery and was careful that dependant Eleemosynaries might receive their dues particularly he inquired into the Hospital of S. Leonard now commonly called by the name of The Spittle the original of which I must let alone till I can be informed and content my self with the allowance which The Spittle it received from the Abbot viz. Per annum quadraginta ulnas panni de panno Eleemosynae sicut Prebendarii Item ad festum Sancti Martini 1 petram uncti 1 petram sepi Item 3. bacon viz. 1 ad festum Natalis Domini 1 ad capiend quadrag 1 ad pasch de carnibus supersanatis Item totum ex .... porcorum fr. sanatorum Item 4 tuniatas servis viz. 1 tuniatam ad natal Domini aliam ad capiend quadrag tertiam ad pasch quartam ad festum Apostolorum Petri Pauli de Celario Abbatis Item quolibet mense 1 esk sol cujus summa per annum est 1 quar 5 esk Item servens dictorum infirmorum comedit cum familia Abbatis quater per annum viz. ad natal Domini ad Pasch ad festum S. Petri ad festum omnium Sanctorum The Monks having the Mannors of Alwalton and Fletton assigned them as hath been said they customarily paid out of them unto the Abbot 16s 6d yearly which Abbot William remitted unto them He died in the fourth year of his government and lieth buried in the South Isle of the Church near the Quire In his Library were these Books Instituta apparitata Decreta apparitata Apparatus Decret alium cum casibus Summa de vitiis Summa de virtutibus Summa Reynfridi Psalterium cum exequiis majorum Statuta Westmonasterii Statuta Capituli General Constitutiones extravagantes Regula Sanctor Basil Bened. Cartae Regum cum libertatibus Liber de arte praedicandi Processionarium Missale in duobus Voluminibus Duo Gradalia Breviarium 34. GODEFRIDVS de Croyland Was a Monk and the Celerarius of this Monastery and upon the death of William elected Abbot Anno 1299. which was the 27 of K. Edw. 1. It seems this Godfrey was much in King Edwards favour for at his entrance into his Abbatical government the King sent him a fair silver Cup gilt And when the Treasurer Walter de Langton demanded of Godfrey a thousand Marks for his Confirmation the King remitted it and would not suffer any more than his Exchequer fees to be taken In the first year it hapned that certain persons were fled for sanctuary into the Chappel of Thomas Becket whither they were pursued and against the priviledge of the place haled out from thence and some bloud was shed so that the Chappel for some time stood suspended and no service therein to be performed The Bishop of Lincoln passing that censure upon it until the persons so taken away should again be restored to the liberty of the place At length the Bishop sends his absolution appointing that the Abbot and some others with him should with the sprinkling of holy water and singing of the Penitential Psalms purge the said Chappel and so it should return to its former use The same year being 1300. A marriage being intended betwixt the heirs of Vfford and Southorp King Edward supposing himself to be concerned therein appointed Inquisition to be made whether the disposal of that marriage belonged to him or the Abbot of Peterburgh his Letters bearing date February 23. and the twenty ninth of his Reign And it being upon the Inquisition certified that those heirs and their progenitors held their Lands of the Abby of Peterburgh the right of disposal of those heirs did therefore belong to the Abbot which the King understanding desisted I find this Abbot Godfrey famous for worthy actions that there was scarce his like either before him or after In his third year saith Wittlesey who recounts the actions of every year but I shall name only the principal he entertained King Edward with his Queen and their several retinues Not long after came Prince Edward with his favourite Peter Gaveston to
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
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
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
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
who promoted him he saith in another place by the consent of the King Deposuit certis ex causis Willielmum Abbatem de Burgo eidem ex assensu Regis supposuit Cancel larium suum Benedictum Actus Pontif. Cantu That is Richard the Archbishop obtained the place for him as John Bromton explains it ad An. MCLXXVII eodem anno Rex concessit Benedicto Priori Sanctae Trinitatis Cantuariae Abbatiam de Burgo c. Our Historian whom from this time forward I take to be Robert Swapham for by the very writing it appears a new man begins to carry on the story where Hugo left saith he was Prior Ecclesiae Christi Cant. which is the same it will appear presently and was elected Abbot at Winchester All agree he was made Abbot in the year MCLXXVII in the beginning of which I find him still Prior of Christs-Church For William Thorn in his Chron. hath set down a composition made between the Monks of St. Austin in Canterbury and the Church of the Holy Trinity which begins thus Benedictus Prior Conventus Ecclesiae Christi Cant. universis Christi fidelibus salutem c. and then relating how he and Roger Elect of the Monastery of St. Austin had changed certain Lands one with another which are there particularly mentioned it concludes thus Facta est autem haec compositio vel conventio anno ab incarnatione Millesimo CLXXVII seven year after the Murder of Thomas a Becket in his Church Where by the way it may be observed that this Roger had himself been a Monk of the Church of the Holy Trinity where Benedict now was Prior and was keeper of the Altar where Thomas was slain As soon as Benedict was here setled he straightway indeavoured to destroy the ill Customs which had crept into the Monastery to restore regular discipline and then to free the Church from the debts left by his Predecessor of whom the Romans and many in England had exacted 1500. Marks The Ornaments of this Church also were dispersed and pawned in several places which was such a burden to this Abbot that out of the load of grief he had upon his mind he went to Canterbury with one Monk alone and there staid many days When he had a little eased and freed himself not without much labour from those demands and vexations he returned hither and gave his mind to Meditation in the holy Scripture They are the words of Swapham who saith he composed himself unum egregium volumen one most excellent volume as they then accounted it de passione miraculis Sancti Thomae and caused a great many others to be transcribed for the use of the Monastery which are those set down by Mr. G. out of Wittlesea who did in this but transcribe Swapham Who tells us of a great many benefactions besides those named by Mr. G. especially in precious Ornaments bestowed upon the Church which made his memory deserve as his words are to remain in benediction for ever The principal were three rich Palls and six Chesibles the last of which were black Embroidered with Golden Trees before and behind and full of pretious Stones from the top to the bottom He acquired also many Reliques of Thomas a Becket viz. his Shirt his Surplice and a great quantity of his Blood in two Crystal vessels with two Altars of the Stone upon which he fell when he was murdered Whose Chapel begun by William de Waterville he finished together with an Hospital adjoyning to it From whence I gather that Mr. G. is mistaken in his opinion about the place of it which was not in the middle Arch of the Church-Porch but at the gate of the Monastery and is now as I conceive the school-School-house For thereabout the Hospital was as I learn from a Charter of King Richard I Swaph fol. XLIX Wherein this benefaction of Benedict's is remembred It contains a grant of all the Lands sometimes belonging to Thuroldus de Sutona unto his beloved and faithful Clerk Magister Damianus to have and to hold them de Hospitali Sancti Thomae Martyris juxta portam Ecclesiae de Burg which Land was the purchace of Benedict Abbot of Burgh and assigned by him to the aforesaid Hospital in perpetuam Eleemosynam Upon this condition that the aforesaid Damianus should pay out of it yearly to the Almoner of the Church of Burgh one Mark of Silver and after his decease the whole Land to return to the aforesaid Hospital It is dated at Spire 20. of Novemb. in the fifth year of his Reign per manum Will. Eleyensis Episcopi Cancellarii But this is more fully cleared by the Chron. MS. of John Abbot who saith expresly that this Chapel of St. Thomas was at the Gate of the Monastery Ad An. MCLXXV Solomon Prior Eliensis factus est Abbas Thorneyensis Benedictus Prior Cantuariensis factus est Abbas Burgi Qui fecit construere totam Navem Ecclesiae Burgi ex lapide ligno a Turri usque ad frontem Et Capellam in honorem Sancti Thomae Martyris ad portam Monasterii He begun also that wonderful work as Swapham calls it juxta bracinum but did not live to finish it The Abbey in his days was full of all good things in the Convent there was joy and peace in his house nobleness and exaltation among the Servants in the several Offices jocundness and mirth the greatest plenty of meat and drink and at the Gate a gladsome reception without any murmuring of the Guests or Strangers He procured a large Charter from Rich. I. in the first year of his Reign dated at Canterbury confirming to them all their Lands and Possessions in the several Counties of the Realm which are particularly enumerated in perpetuam Eleemosynam And thereby it appears that Benedict recovered the aforesaid Lands in Sutton with the Mill and appurtenances from Thorald Son of Anketillus who restored them to the Church as part of its Demeans And afterward also purchased of the Nephews and Heirs of the same Thorald Pilesgate Badigtune and Bernack and other Lands which Gaufridus Son of Gaufridus gave to the Monastery with a great many other things worth the remembering if I had room to insert them I will name only the last Concedimus etiam pro amore Dei Sancti Petri ob reverentiam beati Oswaldi Regis Martyris quod praedicti Monasterii Milites qui Guuardam suam faciunt in Castello nostro de Rokingam sint quieti solvendo singulis annis tempore pacis de feodo militis 4. solidos sicut facere solebant tempore Henrici R. avi nostri c. There is a Charter of the same year bearing date 22. March from Roan confirming all their Liberties particularly the 8. Hundreds for which he afterwards granted a special Charter by it self Which Charter being lost when he was Prisoner in Germany he renewed it and in some things inlarged it in the Xth year of his Reign Many others there