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
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
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
I find not any Papal election ratification confirmation or any other writing whereby the Pope contributed any thing to the establishment of any Abbot either to the Convent or any other persons but all was from the King alone who either himself nominated the person or accepted of such a one as the Monks elected whom he ratified and confirmed in the Abbey But now and I suppose through the succumbency of Q. Mary and K. Philip to the Roman Chair this David was presented unto and confirmed in this Bishoprick by Paul the fourth Pope of that name whose Letters in the behalf of Bishop David were as followeth First for his nomination or presentation Paulus Episcopus servus servorum Dei Dilecto filio Davidi Pool Petriburgen salutem Apostolicam benedictionem Apostolatus officium nobis meritis licet imparibus ex alto commissum quo Ecclesiarum omnium divina dispositione praesidemus utiliter exequi coadjuvante Domino cupientes solliciti corde reddimur solertes ut cum de Ecclesiarum ipsarum regiminibus agitur committendis tales eis in pastores praeficere studeamus qui populum suae curae creditum sciant non solum doctrina verbi sed exemplo boni operis informare commissasque sibi Ecclesias velint valeant auctore Domino salubriter regere foeliciter gubernare dudum siquidem provisiones Ecclesiarum omnium tunc vacantium in antea vacaturarum ordinationi dispositioni nostrae reservavimus decernentes extunc irritum inane si secus super hiis per quoscunque quavis auctoritate scienter vel ignoranter contingeret attemptari Postmodum vero Ecclesia Petriburgensis cui bonae memoriae Johannes Episcopus Petriburgensis dum viveret praesidebat per obitum ejusdem Johannis Episcopi qui extra Romanam curiam debitum naturae persolvit pastoris solatio destituta nos vacatione hujusmodi fide dignis relationibus intellecta ad provisionem ejusdem Ecclesiae celerem foelicem de qua nullus praeter nos hac vice se intromittere potuit sive potest reservatis decreto obsistentibus supradictis ne Ecclesia ipsa longae vacationis exponatur incommodis paternis sollicitis studiis intendentes post deliberationem quam de praesiciendo eidem Ecclesiae personam utilem fructuosam cum fratribus nostris habuimus diligentem Petriburgensem seu alterius civitatis vel dioeceseos legum Doctorem de legitimo matrimonio procreatum in aetate legitima constitutum quem charissima in Christo filia nostra Maria Angliae Franciae Regina illustris nobis per suas literas commendavit cui apud nos de munditia honestate morum spiritualium providentia temporalium circumspectione aliisque multiplicum virtutum donis fide digna testimonia perhibentur direximus oculos nostrae mentis Quibus omnibus debita meditatione pensatis de persona tua nobis eisdem fratribus ob tuorum exigentiam meritorum accepta eidem Ecclesiae de ipsorum fratrum consilio auctoritate Apostolica providemus teque illum Episcopum praeficimus pastorem curam administrationem ipsius Ecclesiae tibi in spiritualibus temporalibus plenè committendo in illo qui dat gratias largitur praemia confidens quod dirigente Domino actus tuos praefata Ecclesia per tuae diligentiae laudabile studium regetur utiliter prospere dirigetur ac grata in eisdem spiritualibus temporalibus suscipiet incrementa Jugum igitur Domini tuis impositum humeris prompta devotione suscipe curam administrationem praedictas sic exercere studeas sollicitè fideliter prudenter quòd Ecclesia ipsa gubernatori provido fructuoso administratorigaudeat se commissam tuque praeter aeternum retributionis praemium nostram Apostolicae benedictionem gratiam exinde uberius consequi merearis Dat. Romae apud Sanctum Petrum Anno Incarnationis Dominicae Millesimo Quingentesimo Quinquagesimo sexto nono Kal. Aprilis Pontificatus nostri Anno secundo The other Letters were to the Church of Peterburgh for the reception of David for their Bishop and were as followeth Paulus Episcopus servus servorum Dei dilectis filiis Vniversis Cathedralis Ecclesiae Petriburgens salutem Apostolicam ben Hodie Ecclesiae Petriburgen tunc per obitum bonae memoriae Johannis olim Episcopi Petriburgen extra Roman curiam defuncti pastoris solatio destitut de persona dilecti filii electi Petriburgen nobis fratribus nostris obsuorum exigentia meritorum accepta de fratrum eorundem consilio Apostolica autoritate providimus ipsumque illi in Episcopum praefecimus pastorem curam administrationem ipsius Ecclesiae sibi in spiritualibus temporalibus plenarie committendo prout in nostris inde confectis literis plenius continetur Quocirca universitati vestrae per Apostolica scripta mandamus quatenus eundem Davidem electum devote suscipientes debita honorificentia prosequentes ei fidelitatem debitam nec non consueta servitia jura sibi à vobis debita exhibere integre studeatis alioquin sententiam sive poenam quam idem David electus rite tulerit in rebelles ratam habebimus faciemus auctore Domino usque ad satisfactionem condignam inviolabiliter observari Dat. Romae apud Sanctum Petrum Anno Incarnationis Dominicae Millesimo quingentesimo quinquagesimo sexto nono Kal. Aprilis Pontificatus nostri Anno secundo Jo. Mathe B. Jens Jo. Csyrinus p. m. Jo. Gunnos Larengus Jo. Bapt. Capata Ant. Gibert Tortura Torti pag. 146. To these Letters was affixed the Common Seal of Lead But as peremptory as they were they could not secure David in his Bishoprick from the just Authority of the Q. Eliz. who in the second year of her Reign ejected him and placed another in his room What became of him after his ejectment let the late Learned and Reverend Bishop Andrews be the Informer for the Author of a Romish Pamphlet I mean Bellarmine having charged those times with cruelty that such Bishops as were deposed by Queen Elizabeth were yet more hardly used and died in misery The Bishop gives us account of them and particularly of this our David in these words Polus Petriburgensis summa comitate habitus liber semper Principis beneficio in agro suo matura aetate decessit His Successor in the Bishoprick was 47. EDMVND SCAMBLER Whom some will have to have been first a Secular Priest which we will not stand upon He was when he was nominated to this Bishoprick but Batchelor in Divinity as appeareth by the Queens Letter to the Church for his Election bearing date November 11. and second of her Reign 1560. He was Authorized to hold in Commendam with his Bishoprick of Peterburgh a Prebendary in York and another in Westminster for the space of three years by Commission from the Queen bearing date May 13. Anno Eliz. 3. And from Matthew Archbishop of Canterbury bearing the same date But he was made Bishop something before February some
say January 16. being the year of our Lord 1560. What he was for Learning and integrity of Religion in the now reformed Church of England wherein he was a Bishop may appear by these Doctrinal Articles which in his first Episcopal Visitation he prescribed to the Dean and Prebendaries of his Church requiring their subscription thereunto For as yet the general Articles of the Church of England were not formed until about two years after Jan. 29. 1562. B. Scamblers Articles were these 1 Sacra Scriptura in se continet omnem doctrinam pietatis ex qua sufficienter error convinci possit veritas stabiliri 2 Symbolum Nicaenum Athanasii quod communiter Apostolorum dicitur continent brevissime articulos fidei nostrae sparsim in Scripturis ostensos qui istis non crediderint inter veros Catholicos non sunt recipiendi 3 Ecclesia Christi est in qua purum Dei verbum praedicatur sacramenta juxta Christi ordinationem administrantur in qua clavium autoritas retinetur 4 Quaevis Ecclesia particularis autoritatem habet instituendi mutandi abrogandi caeremonias ritus Ecclesiasticos modo ad decorem ordinem aedificationem fiat 5 Christus tantum duo sacramenta expresse nobis commendat Baptisma Eucharistiam quae conferunt gratiam rite sumentibus etiamsi malus sit Minister non prosunt indigne sumentibus quamvis bonus sit Minister 6 Laudandus est Ecclesiae mos baptizandi parvulos retinendus 7 Coena Dominica non est tantum Symbolum benevolentiae Christianorum interse sed magis Symbolum est nostrae redemptionis per Christi mortem nostrae conjunctionis cum Christo ubi fidelibus vere datur exhibetur Communio corporis sanguinis Domini 8 Sacramentum Eucharistiae ex usu Primitivae Ecclesiae neque servabatur vel elevabatur vel adorabatur 9 Missa quae consuevit a sacerdotibus dici non erat a Christo constituta sed a multis Romanis Pontificibus confirmata nec est Eucharistia ex se sacrificium propitiatorium sed recordatio sacrificii semel peracti 10 Scholastica transubstantiatio panis vini in corpus sanguinem Christi probari non potest ex sacris literis 11 Non omne peccatum mortale seu voluntariò perpetratum post baptismum est irremissibile peccatum in Spiritum Sanctum 12 Post acceptum Spiritum potest homo peccare ac denuo resipiscere neque sine peccato vivit quamvis regeneratio in Christo imputetur 13 Justificatio ex sola fide est certissima doctrina Christianorum 14 Elizabetha Regina Angliae est unicus supremus gubernator hujus regni omnium dominiorum regionum suarum quarumcunque in rebus causis Ecclesiasticis quam temporalibus 15 Verbum Dei non prohibet foeminarum regimen cui obediendum est juxta ordinationem Dei 16 Romanus Pontifex nullam habet jurisdictionem in hoc regno Angliae nec alia quaecunque potestas extranea 17 Leges civiles possunt Christianos propter flagitia morte punire 18 Christianis licet ex jussu Principis bella gerere ex justa causa propria possidere 19 Doctrina scholasticorum de Purgatorio invocatione Divinorum nullum habet fundamentum ex verbo Dei 20 Praeceptum Dei est ut quae leguntur in Ecclesia illa lingua proferantur quae ab Ecclesia intelligatur 21 Absque externa legitima vocatione non licet cuiquam sese ingerere in aliquod ministerium Ecclesiasticum vel seculare 22 Matrimonium inter Christianos legitime juxta verbum Dei initum contractum est indissolubile nec per traditiones hominum unquam vellendum 23 Coelibatus nulli hominum statui praecipitur neque injungitur ministris Ecclesiae ex verbo Dei Haec omnia vera esse publice docenda profiteor eaque juxta datam mihi facultatem eruditionem tuebor docebo Hancque meam confessionem manus meae subscriptione testificor contrariamque doctrinam abolendam esse judico detestor By these Articles it may appear that Bishop Scambler was no friend to the Church of Rome nor they to him and whether it was for these Articles or some other Book which he published I find him recorded in the Roman Index of Books prohibited and branded with the Title of Pseudoëpiscopus But his name and memory are the more honourable by that name of Infamy which the Papists might cast upon the Worthies of our English Church Scambler having been Bishop here the space of twenty three years was translated to Norwich whither he that would know the residue of his life end burial or Epitaph must follow him it being without the Climate of our story But whilst he was at Peterburgh he empaired the honour priviledges and revenues of his Bishoprick passing quite away the Hundred of Nassaburgh with the whole Liberties thereof The Goal The Mannor of Thirlby The Mannor of Southorpe c. to the Queen from whom the Earls of Exeter enjoy them to this day As if King Henry had not taken away enough the Bishop himself would pass away more Scambler being translated to Norwich there succeeded 48 RICHARD HOWLAND Who was Master of S. John's Colledge in Cambridge and made Bishop here March 16. 1584. being the 27 year of Queen Elizabeth We have not much to say of him his parts or actions but shall enlarge this Paragraph of his being Bishop here with the story of Mary Queen of Scotts her death at Fotheringhay Castle and burial in the Cathedral Church of Peterburgh The whole progress of her life and actions from her first arrival in England May 16. 1568. to her coming to Fotheringhay with her several places of removal and several keepers is so largely related by Mr. Vdal Mr. Saunderson and others who have wrote her story that I shall remit the Reader to them and content my self with her death and burial Upon the seventh day of February 1586. eighteen years from her first arrival The Commissioners for her execution came to Fotheringhay the Earls of Shrewsbury Kent c. and Thomas The Earl of Shrewsbury was George Talbot and E. Marshal of England The Earl of Kent was Henry Grey Andrews of Sheriff of Northamptonshire for that year By these the Queen of Scotts understanding that the Lease of her life was not long to last only one day longer she seemed not dismayed with the Message but told the Commissioners she did not think that Queen Elizabeth would have consented to her death but since it was so she would most gladly embrace it and in order thereunto desired of the Commissioners the benefit of her Clergy that her Confessor might come to her which the Commissioners denying propounded the Bishop or Dean of Peterburgh which the Queen of Scotts refused The Commissioners being departed she gave order for her Supper at the time whereof she drank to her servants and comforted them because she saw them much
and sending for him commanded him to surrender his Abbey and be gone out of his Realm Which he did in the year MCXXXII So John Abbot Henricus Abbas de Burgo quem dimisit ad Andegavenses redit With which Hugo agrees who says he recovered his Abbey of St. John de Angeli and that notwithstanding all his faults bonus Eleemosynator omnibus diebus fuit he was good to the poor all his days And therefore he made a good end not living long after he returned thither There is no memory of this Abbot in the Kalander of the Church no more than of Kenulphus and Godricus MARTINVS de Vecti Henry being gone the King gave this Abbey by the consent of the Monks saith Hugo to a religious Monk Martinus de Bec the Prior of St. Neots who was here installed upon the Feast of St. Peter with great honour and with the joy of the whole Convent and all the people An. MCXXXIII Where Chron. M. S. Johannis Abbatis saith Martinus de vecto in Abbatem Burgi est electus in die Sancti Petri receptus The next year the day after the Feast of St. Peter ad Vincula the King crossed the Seas again when about six a clock the Heavens were on a sudden so darkned that the Sun saith Hugo lookt like the Moon I suppose by a great Ecclipse and for three or four hours the Stars appeared which many took to portend some great thing And so it did for that year the King dyed and all ancient and wise men of the Land fell with him and so the Land was darkned because peace and truth and righteousness were taken away from it The same year 1135. King Stephen Nephew to the former King a Prince of a mild and low Spirit got the Crown and with him as Hugo goes on Young men who were very wicked also got into power and troubled the Land The Church especially was in great tribulation all England over and among the rest this of Burgh whose Abbot suffered very much and kept his Abbey with great difficulty And yet for all that he provided all things necessary for his Monks and for Strangers there being great love among them and the Monks being assistant to him He went on also with the building of the Monastery and of the Church the Chancel of which he finished and brought in cum magno honore the holy Reliques and the Monks into the new Church upon the Feast of St. Peter in the year of our Lord One thousand one hundred and forty three and twenty years after the burning of the place It should be twenty seven years after if we may belive the MS. Chron. of John Abbot which saith MCXLIII Conventus Burgi hoc anno intravit in novam Ecclesiam that they did not go into the new Church till 1143. At this great solemnity of bringing the Reliques and Monks into the new Church the Arm of St. Oswald was produced before Alexander Bishop of Lincoln the Abbots of Ramsey Thorney Croyland many Barons and a vast number of people as it had been once before brought forth to satisfie Matthias Abbot and shown intire in its slesh skin Nerves and every thing else The story of this Arm is in short related by Mr. Gunton where he speaks of the Reliques of this Church To which Will. of Malmsbury gives no great credit for though he saith there was shown here at Burgh the hand of St. Oswald with the Arm and devoutly worshipped by the people being kept loculo argenteo deaurato in Ecclesia Beati Petri yet he adds that too much credit is not to be given to it for fides dictorum vacillat ubi nihil auditor visu explorat L. 4. de gest Pontif. Which he doth not say he pretends because he doubted of the thing but he would not too hastily affirm that his Arm was in this place But waving this doubt of his Hugo saith he saw it and kissed it and handled it with his own hands at this time and relates a great many wonderful cures which were performed merely by the water wherein it was washed with which I shall not trouble the Reader He saith it had been shown before this to satisfie Martin himself who desired to see it either out of curiosity or because he doubted of its being uncorrupted And a Third time he adds it was shown to King Stephen who came to Burgh and offered his Ring to him c. as Mr. G. hath observed In like manner it was again shown that I may put together what belongs to this matter to King John in the time of Abbot Akarius as I learn from the Chron. of John Abbot An. MCCVI. Brachium Sancti Oswaldi Regis Martyris ostensum est Johanni Regi apud Burgum It was ordered also by a Statute of Abbot Walter to be carried in solemn procession every year upon the Feast of the Dedication of the Church unless it had been carryed about on the Feast of St. Oswald Swaph fol. CCLXXIII But leaving this let us take some account of his benefactions to this Church which were very many Hugo says indeed that by the instinct of the Devil and by ill Counsel he was guilty of imbezzling the Treasure of the Church in the beginning of his Government but he made amends afterward giving a whole Town called Pilesgate to the Church with all the Tythes and Offerings and many possessions c. By his Charter also in the time of King Henry I suppose the first for he dyed just after the second came to the Crown he gave with the consent of the King a great deal of Land and Rents and Services in several Towns which are therein named for the use of the Sacrist and for the Building and Repairing of the Monastery Ibid. fol. 100. This was in the beginning of his Government when Richard Priest of Castre having a mind to change his life and take upon him the habit of a Monk prevailed with this Abbot by his own and others intreaties to receive him into the Monastery of Burch Accordingly he came on a day appointed 1133 which was the first year of Martin into the Chapter-house and there before the Abbot and all the Monks made it his humble Petition that they would receive all he had viz. the Church of Castre which he then held with all belonging to it both in Lands and in Tithes and in other things which he gave to God and to St. Peter for ever Whereupon the Abbot granted what he desired on condition that he should come into Court coram Baronibus suis and there confirm what he had now done in the Chapter-house which he performed accordingly For the aforesaid Richard Priest came into the Abbots Chamber and there before the Abbot of Thorney and Will. de Albeni and Richard Basset and many other Barons of the Abbey and divers other persons who came with William and Richard restored his Church of Castre to the Church of St. Peter de Burch de
to the same Church one Oxegang of Land Walter Ponhar another Ralph de Pippewell half an Oxegang and the people of the Village XV. Acres a dwelling house for the Priest Which conditions if they were not fulfilled the Chapel was to return to its former subjection unto Cottingham Osbert was to have the right of Patronage and to find a fit Clerk to serve God and the Parishioners there The same Robert Bishop of Lincoln made a composition between the Church of Burch and of Spalding about the Church of Haltbarge viz that the Monastery of Spalding should pay yearly to the Abbot of Burch sixteen shillings and four pence out of the Church of Haltbarge and out of the Lands they had in that Parish and out of one Oxegang of Land in Walcote And the same Monastery consented that the Abbot of Burch might erect a Chapel in Walcote and consecrate a burying place belonging to it yet so that the Monks of Spalding should present the Priest that served in that place and none should be buried there without the consent of the Prior and Monks of Spalding The Abbot of Burch also stood bound to assign and give in a commodious place unam mansuram terrae for the dwelling house of the Priest which there officiated It would be too long to mention all the Lands which he recovered that had been held by rich and potent men from the Church some of which are taken notice of in Hugo and all the Ordinances he made among which this was one that in the principal Festival of the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul seven Wax Candles should be lighted before the Altar and four upon it à principio matutinorum ad finem Swaph fol. CCLXXIV I shall only note that Hugo concluding his story gives this Character of him that all loved and feared him too for his honesty and his holiness and that in all the time he governed which was twenty it should be one and twenty years six months and eight days neither Monk nor stranger wanted any thing but rather were provided for in abundance He fell sick and took his Bed upon the Sunday before the Nativity of our Lord and died not long after on the fourth of the Nones of January as he reckons in the Kalander it is Jan. 3. when he was commemorated in the year 1155. So the Chron. of John Abbot MCLV. obiit Martinus Abbas Burgi successit Willielmus de Waterville WILLIHELMVS de Waterville The same day that Martin dyed all the Monks met together that they might chuse one of their own body to be their Pater Pastor and Custos fearing lest by delay some stranger might get in by money and domineer over them The manner of it was this they chose twelve of the Seniors and Wisemen out of their whole number to make an Election for them it being very hard for a multitude to agree in one man But they first made them swear upon the holy Gospels and the holy Reliques that they would act sincerely and be moved in their choice neither by love nor hatred c. Which they all did Hugo the Eldest whom I take to have been the Author of this History beginning to take the Oath and all the rest following after which the whole Convent swore that they would chuse him in whom those 12 should agree This being done the 12 went into the Abbot's Chamber and the Prior with the rest that remained in the Chapterhouse sung the Seven Psalms and prayed God to direct them by the grace of his holy Spirit which the 12 also begged by singing Veni Creator Spiritus and then conferred among themselves And it was agreed that Hugo the Eldest of them should hear every one of them confess and tell what God had put in their heart Which being done he asked them if they would know what every mans opinion was singly They said no but he should declare in whom the Major part of them agreed to which he replied that they were all in a manner agreed in one man William de Waterville and if any one were against it he had liberty still to contradict it But they were so far from opposing it that they all consented and entering into the Chapterhouse and there declaring what they had done the whole company praised God And the day after having performed the Obsequies of the deceased Abbot Remaldus the Prior and Hugo with the Abbot Elect went to the King Henry II. then at Oxford Who upon inquiry finding the Convent really desired it confirmed the Election by his Charter After which Te Deum being sung and prayers made the Abbot did his homage to the King and then repaired to Robert Bishop of Lincoln who prefixing him a day and place gave him his benediction and thereupon he was installed at Burch on the Sunday called Sexagesima with a solemn procession of Abbots Monks Clergy and Laymen In the beginning of the insuing Lent he found there was a great want of Provisions in the Monastery which he presently began to buy and continued so to do both Wheat and Malt Oats and Beans Flesh Cheese and Wine with all other things necessary till the Feast of St. Bartholomew This was a very great expence and yet he moreover discharged all the Debts of his Predecessor which were 300 Marks of Silver besides 60 more owing the King for interest which he got him to pardon He recovered also the fee and the service of Galfridus de la Mare for a hundred Mark which he gave the King To whom he also gave an hundred Marks more for the confirmation of Nine Knights Fees which had been held by Earl Simon At the same time he built a Nunnery at Stanford in honour of God and St. Michael and both founded and built the Church there in which he placed no less than forty holy Virgins Who were to pay yearly to the Chantery of Burgh a Noble of Silver as an acknowledgement with ten Shillings to the Sacristry out of the Church of St. Martins which this Abbot purchased It would be too long to mention particularly all the Land Rents or Pensions which this Abbot bought at London Irtlingborough Hargrave Easton Warmington Paston Walton Cambridg and several other places I will name only one he purchased all the Village on this side the Bridge of Stanford and redeemed for a summ of money fourteen houses with the ground belonging to them beyond the Bridge which a certain Knight claimed as his Inheritance He increased the Rents of the Market and Town of Burgh and built useful Offices in all the Mannors belonging to the Church and did a great many other good things besides those mentioned in Mr. G. and had done more and greater if he had not been hindred by great misfortunes and disturbances which were given him both by false domesticks and by some other rich men Who accused him to the King and to the Archbishops Theobald Thomas a Becket and Richard who succeeded them so that
there follows immediately a Statute of this Abbot Robert ordaining that upon the Anniversaries of Andreas and Akarius the Celerarius should provide four good dishes of meat for the Convent together with Wine if it could be had or else good Beer and that the Eleemosynary should distribute to the Poor that came on those dayes a convenient portion of Bread and Ale What the Religious part of the observation of these days was in this Church I have not yet found but in other Churches it appears to have been very solemn and great Particularly in that of Westminster where they were of the same Order with the Monks of this Church Anniversaries were about this time kept in all regards very magnificently For example Abbot Walter who dyed not long before Rob. Lyndsey's days An. 1191. gave the Mannor of Padington to that Church and totally deputed it to this use for the celebration of his Anniversary on the Feast of St. Cosmas and Damianus On which day he requires the Almoner to provide for the whole Convent Simnella Gastella Canastella Brachinella and Wafras and to every one of the Brethren one Galon of Wine cum tribus bonis pitanciis with three good dishes of Meat called pitancias from the word Piety and thence also called Misericordias now called in the Colledges exceedings and also good Ale in abundance before the Brethren at all the Tables as upon other Feasts and Anniversaries it was wont to be found by the Celerarius in the great Tankard of five and twenty Galons For the ordinary guests who should that day dine in the Refectory he requires him to provide two dishes of Meat with Bread and Wine and Ale honourably and abundantly and for the more honourable persons make the same provision as for the Convent And besides find for all comers whatsoever from the hour that the Table concerning the Anniversary was read in the Chapterhouse untill the Completorium of the next day both in Meat and Drink Hay and Oats all things necessary nor was entrance to be denyed to any person whether Footman or Horseman He was to make provision also for the Nuns of Holborn for the Servants of the Monastery and for three hundred poor every one of which was to have a loaf of Bread of the same weight with the Bread of the Convent and a pott of Ale and they who had no Vessels might drink pro voluntate as much as they pleased And to omit the rest there was after all Mede to be provided for the Convent ad potum charitatis As for the Religious part of the Ceremony it was after this manner On the vigils of the forenamed day the Prior and the Convent sang Placebo and Dirige with three lessons as on other principal Anniversaries they were wont with ringing of Bells two Wax-Candles burning continually at his Tomb which was on the South side of the Cloyster from the said Vigils to the end of the Mass da Requem which was sung the next day On the Anniversary of Richard de Crokesley who dyed as long after this time as the other did before it 1258. there was a far greater solemnity for which he gave the Mannors of Hampestede and of Stoke with other Rents It began with ringing of Bells the evening before for which they received xiii s. iiii d. and the next day after Mass there were Alms given to a thousand poor people and for six days following to five hundred every day to every body a peny c. And he ordained that four Monks should every of those days say Mass for his Soul at four several Altars four Wax Candles burning at his Tomb during the Mass if he was buried in the Monastery if without it then two of the Candles were to burn at the Altar of the Holy Trinity the other two at the Altar of Edward the Confessor Provided that upon his Anniversary four Wax-Candles should burn all day about his Tomb or before the Altars now named for which he assigned three pound c. This was agreed in the Chapterhouse on the Friday after the Feast of St. Barnaby 1256. and he got a confirmation of it from Alexander 4. But ten year after his death they obtained a Modification of this Anniversary from Pope Clement IV. according as the Abbot of Waltham and other Delegates appointed for this business should think fit to moderate it I omit many others which are in a MS. History of that Church written by John Fleete a Monk of that Church which he collected out of better writers than himself After some such manner no doubt Anniversaries were observed in this Church of Burgh for I find that in Akarius his time Hugo de Longo Campo Son of Henry de Longo Campo out of respect to God and the Salvation of his Soul granted all his Land in Eyliswurthe viz. quadraginta sex solidatas terrae in liberam puram ac perpetuam Eleemosynam for the making of his Anniversary cum debita ac solita solemnitate with due and with usual solemnity Which Charter of his was afterward confirmed by Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury Swaph fol. XC Immediately after that Statute about the forenamed Anniversaries there follows a Constitution which I suppose therefore was made by this same Abbot Robert directing what was to be done when any part of the Body or Blood of our Lord in the Sacrament by negligence fell upon the Ibid. Fol. CCLXIII Ground or upon a Matt Carpet or the like Concerning which two other Constitutions follow with verses comprehending the sense of them which I have transcribed and put in the Appendix This Abbot lived in evil days which makes the many good things he did besides these the more commendable there having been great discord as Swapham observes between the King and the Church insomuch that the Kingdom was interdicted for above six years after which followed cruel and most shameful Wars between the King and his Nobles in which Charches were broken down and destroyed and what was in them was pillaged and carried away After he had governed Nine year and ten months he dyed in the Feast of Crispinus and Crispinianus It should be eight year for he began to govern in the year 1214. and all agree he dyed in the year 1222. So the MS. Chron. Johan Abbatis An. MCCXXII obiit Rob. de Lyndesey Abbas Burgi cui successit Alexander Abbas And so Swapham himself In which year I find in the same Chronicon there was a Council held at Oxford in the Church of Osney by Stephen Archbishop of Canterbury where the Bishops and other Prelates being generally present some of the Institution made in the forenamed Council of Lateran with some additions for the reformation of the Clergy and people were recited Two of the most Noble of which as he calls them he sets down The first concerning the Prelates that all of them both Bishops and Abbots should be bound to change every year those that waited on them in their
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