00 4  Mannor of Glinton and Peikirk 63 15 00  Mannor of Maxey 19 04 00  Mannor of Northburgh 07 08 01  Mannor of Stamford S. Martins 18 11 03 ob Mannor of Irtlingburgh 33 05 11 ob Mannor of Stanwigge 25 08 00 ob Mannor of Polebrook 40 08 01 ob q. Leicestershire  l. s. d.  Mannor of Eston and Bringhurst 92 06 01 q. Lincolnshire  l. s. d.  Mannor of Fiskerton 68 15 03 ob Mannor of Repham Scothern Sudbrook 40 09 10  Mannor of Scotter 49 04 06  Mannor of Walcot 06 18 01  Mannor of Grantham 00 12 08  Stamford beyond the Bridge 00 07 00  Boston 00 10 00  Mannor of Careby 00 07 00  Liberty or Hundred of Scotter 03 08 04  Nottingham-shire  l. s. d.  Mannor of North-Collingham and South-Coll 85 19 5  Huntingtonshire   l. s. d.  Mannor of Botolphbridge and Overton 07 12 00  Mannor of Alwalton  39 10 05   Sum. total 811 16 01 q. Out-Rents in other places not comprehended in the former values Fishing in Wittlesmere 03 13 04 Fishing in Woland 01 13 04 Fishing in the Water of Vpwell Com. Norf. 00 02 04 Fishing in the River Nene 07 00 00 Advowsons and Presentations of Churches belonging to the Dean and Chapter Peikirk Northburgh Stanwigge Alwalton Fiskerton Irtlingburgh All-Saints Vicaridges of Maxey North-Collingham Bringhurst Stanwigge Parsonage was afterwards taken away with the Mannor Portions or Pensions from several Churches Castre 05 00 00 Peikirk 01 18 00 Northburgh 00 10 00 Bernack 05 10 00 Irtlingburgh 01 13 04 Stanwigge 01 16 08 South-Collingham 01 00 00 Polebrook 01 00 00 Fiskerton 00 15 00 Scotter 02 00 00 Careby 00 07 00 Thornhaw 00 03 00 Vfford 00 16 08 Woodford and Stoke Doile 02 08 08 Churches Appropriate Maxey Eston North-Collingham In these Lands the Dean and Chapter of Peterburgh injoyed such priviledges as commonly Lords of Mannors used to do Yet was there one special priviledge which the Abbots from ancient times injoyed and executed and by the Grant of King Henry and also by Queen Elizabeth January 29. and third of her Reign confirmed unto the Dean and Chapter a Priviledge known of late days by the name of Non molestandum that is a freedom from payment of Tolls and Customes in all Fairs Markets passages of Bridges Ways Ports in and without the Realm of England This the Dean and Chapter of Peterburgh had power to grant to their Tenants and there are some living who reap benefit by this Non molestandum at this very day this priviledge having been granted unto them when the Dean and Chapter were in power so to do And whosoever should act contrary to this Priviledge was to incur the penalty of ten pounds And by her general Inspeximus bearing date July 9. in the ninth year of her Reign Anno 1567. she confirmed all the Lands and Priviledges of this Church What Religious care the late King Charles had for the augmentation of the Dean and Prebendaries with other Stipendiaries belonging to this Church shall be seen in the close of our Appendix The Succession of this Ecclesiastical body from the first Constitution thereof by King Henry was thus the first in each being particularly nominated in King Henry's Charter DEANS 1 Francis Abree Prior of Northampton Bachelor in Divinity was made Dean 1541. 2 Gerard Carlton Bachelor in Divinity 1543. 3 James Curtop Master of Arts. 4 John Boxhall Doctor of Law 5 William Latimer Doctor in Divinity 1560. In his time the Cathedral was by a great Peer begged of Queen Elizabeth to build him an House upon Information to the Queen that it was ruinous and no Prayers said therein but Dean Latimer recovered it by the Queens favour upon better Information 6 Richard Fletcher Doctor in Divinity 1585. translated hence to the Bishoprick of Bristol thence to Worcester thence to London 7 Thomas Nevil Doctor in Divinity 1590. first Master of Magdalen-Colledge and after of Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge where he built that stately back Court commonly known by his Name 8 John Palmer Doctor in Divinity 1598. was Master of Magdalen-Colledge in Cambridge 9 Richard Cleyton Doctor in Divinity 1608. first Master of Magdalen-Colledge in Cambridge then of S. Johns 10 George Meriton Doctor in Divinity 1612. 11 Henry Beamount Doctor in Divinity 1616. 12 Guil. Pierse Dr. in Divinity Canon of Christ-Church in Oxford made Dean 1622. translated to the Bishoprick of Peterburgh afterwards to Bath and Wells 13 John Towers Doctor in Divinity 1630. translated to the Bishoprick of this Church 14 Thomas Jackson Doctor in Divinity 1638. President of Corpus-Christi Colledge in Oxford He liveth and will live in his learned Works to the Worlds end 15 John Cozin Doctor in Divinity 1640. Master of S. Peters Colledge in Cambridge preferred to the Bishoprick of Durham 16 Edward Rainbow Doctor in Divinity and Master of Magdalen-Colledge in Cambridge installed Dean of this Church Jan. 5. 1660. Advanced to the Bishoprick of Carlile to which he was consecrated July 10. 1664. 17 James Duport Doctor in Divinity of Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge Installed July 27. following The Succession of the Prebendaries was as followeth In the first PREBEND Matthew Whittall D. D. A secular Priest Howeton Peter Anthony Burton M. A. Robert Rodes B. D. William Bayly B. D. William Smith B. D. Tobias Bland B. D. Sub-Almoner to Q. Eliz. and Parson of Abbot Rippon Com. Hunt John Bridgeman D. D. removed to the Bishoprick of Chester John Williams D. D. removed to the Bishoprick of Lincoln October 11. 1621. He wrote himself John Lincoln elect C. Sigilli whilst he was Prebendary here Thomas Swift B. D. Parson of Waddington Com. Lincoln Simon Gunton M. A. Cambr. In the second PREBEND William Judd B. D. A Monk of the place Edwin Sands D. D. William Binsley L. D. Edwin Sands restored being ejected by Q. Mary or withdrawing himself as others did in her days Nicolas Shepheard D. D. William Hill M. A. Edward Lively Robert Williamson D. D. Parson of Tichmarsh Com. Northampton Robert Williamson D. D. Fellow of Magd. Coll. Oxon. John Howorth B. D. President of Magd. Coll. Cantabr afterwards D. D. and Mr. of the same Colledge William Henchman M. A. Parson of Barton Com. Northampton Cambr. In the third PREBEND Robert Pierson T. B. A Monk of the place Christopher Hodgson B. A. Edward Baker Cler. James Howland M. A. William Bayly B. D. Edward Marshal T. B. Parson of Wimple Com. Cantab. Warner Marshall M. A. Parson of Castor Sebastian Smith M. A. Oxon. Abraham Jackson M. A. William Louch M. A. Oxon. In the fourth PREBEND John Barlow M. A. Nicolas Murrey L. B. Miles Johnson James Ellis L. D. Richard Cleyton D. D. Richard Cleyburne D. D. John Pocklyngton D. D. William Towers B. D. Oxon. Thomas Greaves D. D. In the fifth PREBEND John Cheyney Prior Pollard B. D.
Wine for which he assigned ten pounds yearly to be paid from his own Chamber out of the Lands of his Mannor of Polebrook He gave also a great Bell to the Church whereon was written Jon de Caux Abbas Oswaldo consecrat hoc vas In his time Anno 1250. the Pope then Innocent the fourth Vid. Privileg in App. granted leave to the Monks that in consideration of the coldness of Winter in these parts the Monks should perform their service in the Church with their Hoods on their heads Abbot John having held the government of this Church the space of thirteen years died at London Anno 1262. the 46 of King Henry the third and was brought to his Church at Peterburgh and buried in the Isle on the South side of the Quire The King after his death challenged his Palfrey and his Cup but upon what grounds I know not unless it was because John had been his Officer the Cup he had after some urgent demands but the Palfrey he had not Some write that this Abbot John was also made Lord Treasurer Mr. Filpot by the Barons in the 44. year of King Henry the third and according to this account he held that Office to his death which was two years after His Secular employments might take off his mind from Books and plead for the poorness of his Library Flores Evangeliorum Tractatus de Theologia Concilium Lateranense Templum Domini Testamentum 12 Patriarcharum This was his stock of Books as I find in an ancient Manuscript 31. ROBERTVS de Sutton So called from the place of his birth being a little Village in the Parish of Castre He was a Monk of Peterburgh Deputy to his Predecessor and upon his death chosen Abbot in April 1262. He received benediction from Richard Bishop of Lincoln and gave him his Cope which some demanded as a fee the Archdeacon of Northampton demanding also his Palfrey as his vale Abbot Robert made him go without it The Earl Marshal received five Marks for his Palfrey when he took the Oath of Allegiance to the King But it was not long ere Abbot Robert falsified his Oath for in the Wars of those times the Town of Northampton being fortified against the King Robert Abbot of Peterburgh took part with them in defence of that Town The King coming thither to assault the Town espied amongst his enemies Ensigns on the wall the Ensign of the Abby of Peterburgh whereat he was so angry that he vowed to destroy the nest of such ill birds But the Town of Northampton being reduced Abbot Robert by mediation of friends to the King saved both himself and Church but was forced to pay for his delinquency To the King 300 Marks to the Queen 20 pounds to Prince Edward 60 pounds to the Lord Souch 6l 13s 4d After this hapned the Battel of Lewes wherein King Henry with Prince Edward was taken Prisoner then did the other side fleece the Abbot of Peterburgh for his contribution to the King the General and several Barons and Commanders forcing the Abbot to composition by several sums of mony Afterwards at the Battle of Evesham Prince Edward overthrew the Earl of Leicester with his whole Army and the King having recovered himself called a Parliament at Winchester wherein he required large benevolence from the Church Particularly the Abbot of Peterburgh because he had held with the Barons was again constrained to purchase his peace at these rates The King had of him 333l 6s 8d The Queen 33l 6s 8d The Prince Prince Edward 200l He paid also to the Earl of Gloucester 133l 6s 8d Earl Warren had of Abbot Robert for his Mannors of Castre Tinwell and Thirlby 100l Warin Lord of Bassingburn 42l The Commander of Fotheringay Castle 100l 6s 8d Lord Thomas Typtot for the Mannors of Fiskerton and Scotter 65l 13s 4d The Lord of Fanecourt for the Mannor of Collingham 12l Lord Robert Picot for several Mannors 14l 6s 8d Thomas of Bulton 6l 13s 4d All which summs of mony he carried to Winchester and there paid them These and other payments which he made at other times exhausted from him amounted to the summ of 4323l 18s 5d Having paid thus dear for his disloyalty he became more obedient to his right Master and when King Henry sent to him for aid against the Castle of Kenilworth Abbot Robert did what the King required for that siege Vid. Chartam in App. In these times Prince Edward having occasion for mony he borrowed a great summ of certain Merchants for which the Abbot of Peterburgh and his Convent became Sureties And the Prince granted unto them his Mannor of Graham until he should repay that mony unto them Edward was no sooner King but in the first year of his Reign he came to Peterburgh where he was entertained by this Abbot Robert And from hence he dated a Charter which he granted to the Church of Ely as the close Ms Eliens in manu Geo. Glapthorn Armig. pag. 135. thereof testifieth Teste meipso apud Burgum Sancti Petri 13 die Aprilis Anno regni nostri primo This was in the year of our Lord 1273. And perhaps this is that entertainment which Wittlesey makes mention of the Queen being then with the King and Abbot Robert expended in the entertainment the summ of six hundred pounds In the 11 Year of his Government he was called to the Council of Lions Gregory 10 being then Pope which Council being ended in his return homewards he sickned and died and was buried in a Monastery near Bononia the Abbot of Croyland celebrating his Funeral rites His heart was brought in a Cup to his Monastery of Peterburgh and there buried before the Altar of S. Oswald Anno 1274. being the second year of King Edward the first In his Library were these Books Psalterium glossatum Summa Raimundi cum apparatu Summa fratris R. de Fissacre super Sententias in 4 voluminibus Summa Qui bene praesunt Templum domini cum tractatu de professione in 1 volumine Summa M. J. de Cantia cum aliis rebus Secunda pars Hugucionis super Decreta Summa Gaufridi Liber naturalium Aristot Raimundus abbreviatus cum meditationibus Bernardi Manuale Liber de miseria humanae conditionis Psalterium B. Virginis Vita S. Thomae S. Oswaldi versifics. Psalterium parvum In his time Anno 1270. lived Elias Trickingham a Monk of Peterburgh who wrote certain Annals from the year of our Lord 626 to 1270. Pitseus 32. RICHARDVS de London Steeple Born there in the Parish of S. Pancratius He having run through many Offices in this Monastery at length arrived at the Abbot's when he was aged sixty years And so being of much experience he governed his Monastery carefully and happily He contended in Law with Gilbert Earl of Clare for the Mannor of Biggins near Oundle wherein he had good success through the wisdom and diligence of William Woodford one of his Monks who being a
it was near the Chappel of S. Laurence which was at the East end of the Infirmary now demolished only the Chancel of that Chappel is yet remaining and made the Hall of a dwelling House belonging to one of the Prebendaries But to return to our Story Penda King of the Mercians at that time reigned who had five Children Peada Wulfere and Ethelred being his Sons Kyneburga and Kyneswitha his Daughters Penda being dead Peada his eldest Son succeeded who in the year 656 or as some say 655 founded the Monastery of Medeshamsted in the Foundation whereof he laid such Stones as that eight Yoke of Oxen could scarce draw one of them But King Peada lived not to finish his Work for his Wife Alfleda forgetting the glorious Memory of her Ancestors Oswald the martyred King of Northumberland her Grandfather King Oswine her Father and King Alfred her Brother betrayed him to Death at the Paschal Feast when he had reigned four Years Then did his Crown and Kingdom descend upon Wolfere his next Brother This Wolfere was made a Christian by Finanus a Bishop who came out of Scotland for that Kingdom had Bishops then and long before and being baptized by Finanus Wolfere vowed to purge his Kingdom from Idolatry to demolish all idolatrous places and to the utmost of his power to promote Christian Religion which Vow he likewise made the second time when he was married to S. Ermenilda daughter of Egbert King of Kent Malmsbury calleth him Erconbert but within a while giving too much ear to Werbode his Steward he neglected his Vow taking no care of Christian Religion The life of Ermenild is related in an ancient M S. of Ely now in the hand of Geo. Glapthorn Esq p. nor of erecting Temples but committed many Impieties so that the Chaos of Heathenism began to overspread all again He had by his Wife S. Ermenilda two Sons the elder Wulfade the other Rufine Wulfade was much addicted to Hunting and one day pursuing a goodly Hart which being hotly pursued took Soil in a Fountain near unto the Cell of S. Chad who espying the Hart weary and almost spent was so compassionate towards him that he covered him with Boughs and Leaves conjecturing as if Heaven had some design in the access and deportment of that Beast Presently comes Prince Wulfade and enquired of S. Chad concerning the Hart who answered That he was not a Keeper of Beasts but of the Souls of Men and that Wulfade was then as an Hart to the Water Brooks sent by God to the Fountain of Living Water which Wulfade hearing with astonishment entred into further conference with S. Chad in his Cell and was by him baptized And returning with joy to his Father's Court he secretly told his Brother Rufine of all that had passed perswading him to be baptized also to which Rufine consenting Wulfade brought him to S. Chad who likewise baptized this other Brother This Christian pair of Brothers did often resort to a private Oratory where they performed their Devotions but at length being discovered to their Father by the Steward Werbode who instigated and inflamed the fire of paternal fury against the Sons King Wolfere the Father watching the time when his Sons were gone to pray followed them and entering the Oratory slew both his Sons with his own hand and he and Werbode demolishing the place left the bodies of his Sons buried in the rubbish Shortly after this unnatural and bloudy act Werbode the Steward was strangled by the Devil before the Kings house and King Wolfere being deeply wounded in conscience the distraction whereof deprived him of all rest and quietness what through the worm tormenting him within and S. Ermenild his Wife without counselling him thereto repaired to S. Chad to whom he confessed his great offence and professed an hearty contrition for the same which he was resolved to expiate with what ever Pennance S. Chad should impose upon him which was no more but to restore the Christian Religion and the ruinated Temples thereof and likewise to found new ones Walter of Wittlesey an ancient Monk of Peterburgh writing this Story relates what I will not press upon the Readers faith That S. Chad having prayed with King Wolfere in his Oratory prayers being ended S. Chad put off his Vestment and hanged it upon a Sun-beam which supported it that it fell not to the ground which King Wolfere seeing put off his Gloves and Belt and assayed to hang them there also but they presently fell to the ground whereat King Wolfere was the more confirmed in the Christian Faith In the Western Cloyster of the Church of Peterburgh as shall hereafter be more largely related was the story of this King Wolfere curiously painted in the Windows and in the midst of the quadrangle of the whole Cloyster commonly called The Laurel Yard was there a Well which common Tradition would have to be that wherein S. Chad concealed Prince Wulfades heart And if it shall be considered that King Wolfere the Father did sometime Speed in his description of Northamptonshire keep his Court at Wedon in the Street in the Western parts of this County of Northampton it may make way for a probable conjecture that these things hapned at Peterburgh But the scene must not be laid in a wrong place for S. Chad had his Cell in the County of Stafford was the first Bishop of Litchfield where Beda Hist Angl. lib. 4. cap. 3. he founded the Cathedral Church and there lieth buried And Queen Ermenild having searched for the bodies of her Sons found them out and giving them burial built in the same place where they were slain a Church of Stone and called the place Stanes or Stones which is known by this name in Stafford-shire unto this day There also King Wolfere founded a Colledge of Regular Canons And now the building of the Monastery of Medeshamsted begun by King Peada went on a-main through the zealous endeavours of King Wolfere his Brother Etheldred and his Sisters Kyneburga and Kyneswitha assisting him therein until the same was perfected which he dedicated to the memory of the Apostle S. Peter bestowed many large priviledges and immunities upon it gave many fair possessions and established the bounds of its jurisdiction Vid. Char. in App. from Croyland on the East to Walmisford Bridge on the West and so Northward to Eston and Stamford and all along by the River of Wiland to Croyland again as is more at large set down in his Charter which he Sealed and Confirmed in the presence of Kings Nobles and Bishops in the Year of our Lord 664. and the seventh of his Reign The Quarry from whence King Wolfere fetched Stone for this Royal Structure was undoubtedly that of Bernack near unto Stamford where the Pitts from their hollow vacuities speak Antiquity and contribution to some such great design and I find in the Charter of K. Edward the Confessor Anno which he granted to the
of it But seeing what a great business this restauration was like to prove he returned to Winchester to make preparation for so great a design And first he made his address to God by fervent prayers to encline the hearts of King Edgar and his Queen and Nobles that he might have them so propitious as to contribute their assistances to this work And being one time at his prayers the Queen had secretly gotten behind the door to listen what it was that Athelwold prayed and suddenly she came forth upon him telling him that God and her self had heard his prayers and from thenceforth she began to solicite the King for the reparation of this Monastery to which the King assenting applied himself thereunto until he had finished the same which was in the year 970. The Monastery thus re-edified King Edgar desirous to see it went thither with Dunstane then Archbishop of Canterbury and Oswald Archbishop of York attended also with most of the Nobility and Clergy of England who all approved and applauded both the place and work But when King Edgar heard that some Charters and Writings which some Monks had secured from the fury of the Danes were found he desired to see them and having read the priviledges of this place that he had a second Rome within his own Kingdom he wept for joy And in the presence of that Assembly he confirmed their former priviledges and possessions the King Nobles and Clergy offering large oblations some of lands some of gold and silver At this glorious assembly the name of the place was changed from Medeshamsted to Burgh and by reason of the fair building pleasant situation large priviledges rich possessions plenty of gold and silver which this Monastery was endowed withal there was an addition to the name as to be called Gildenburgh though in reference to the dedication it hath ever since been known by the name of Peterburgh Malmsbury would have the nomination of the place Burgh to be from Abbot De gestis Pont. lib. 4. Kenulphus his enclosing the Monastery with a Wall as shall be noted hereafter but our Peterburgh Writers are not of his mind but place it here Writers say that in those days this Monastery was of so high account that what person soever came thither to pray whether King Lord Bishop or Abbot he put off his shoes at the gate of the Monastery and entred barefoot And the Covent there was very much had in esteem that if any of them travelled into any of the neighbouring parts they were received with the greatest respect and reverence that could be The Monastery thus restored King Edgar was mindful of the government also by Abbots as it had anciently been and there was appointed 8. ADVLPHVS He being Chancellor to King Edgar changed his Court life for a Monastical in this place the reason of which change was this He had one only Son whom he and his Wife dearly loved and they used to have him lie in bed betwixt them but the Parents having over night drunk more wine than was convenient their Son betwixt them was smothered to death Adulphus the father being sadly affected with this horrid mischance was resolved to visit S. Peter at Rome after the manner of a penitentiary for absolution imparting his intent to Bishop Athelwoldus who disswaded him from it telling him it would be better if he would labour in the restauration of S. Peters Church in this place and here visit him Adulphus approving this advice came with King Edgar to Burgh where in the presence of the King and the rest of that Convention he offered all his wealth put off his Courtly Robes and put on the habit of a Monk and ascended to the degree of Abbot in the year 972. In those days the whole Nasee or Country adjoyning and which is now known by the name of Burgh-soke was all a woody and solitary place until this Abbot Adulphus cut down woods built Mannors and Granges and let the Lands to farm for certain Rents so that the people increasing and as yet no Churches built amongst them they came to Peterburgh to receive the Sacraments and to pay their Church-duties which continued for many years after And although in the days of Turoldus Abbot Churches and Chappels began to be built the said Turoldus distributing the Lands of the Monastery to those Knights who desired to serve God at home yet still the Church of Peterburgh received the whole revenue until the time of Abbot Ernulfus Anno 1112. when there were assigned to the respective Ministers of Churches and Chappels certain revenues for their maintenance as due to their service saving to the Church of Burgh two parts of the predial Tythes of those Knights and saving the burial of See in Ernulphus the said Knights their wives and children in the Church of Burgh and also a certain portion of the Knights estates for the maintenance of their wives and children Saving also to the Church of Burgh from the Churches so built certain pensions which being imposed upon them in their first endowments or collations by this Church many of them have continued unto and been paid in these our days to the Bishop or Dean and Chapter as they were assigned by King Henry the Eighth as shall be declared hereafter Adulphus was present at the dedication of the Church of Ramsey in the year 974. After that this Abbot Adulphus had happily governed this Monastery about the space of twenty years Henry of Pightly saith Codex Ramis in manu H. Cromwell Armig. fol. 58. thirty one he was translated to the Archbishoprick of York there to succeed Oswaldus then deceased Some say he was translated to the Bishop of Worcester And in the place of Adulphus there came 9. KENVLPHVS Who was made Abbot in the year of our Lord 992. and was highly honoured far and near for his wisdom and piety many coming to him from several parts Bishops Abbots Priests and Monks as to another Solomon to hear his wisdom And by reason of his great fame for his learning he is supposed to have been a Writer and is therefore by Pitseus inserted into his Catalogue of English Writers though what he wrote is not extant or evident by his or any other testimony that I have met with This Abbot Kenulphus enclosed the Monastery of Burgh with a Wall a great part whereof is yet standing Having continued B. Godwyn Abbot here about thirteen years he was translated to the Bishoprick of Winchester Anno 1006. for the procurement whereof he is charged with Simony His successor in this Monastery was 10. ELSINVS Or Elsius Of whom I find no glorious Character recorded by Writers save this if it may be so accounted that he was very inquisitive after Reliques with which he was very industrious to inrich his Monastery And because Swapham and Wittlesey the compleatest Historians of this place have punctually set down a bedrole of his Reliques the Reader I hope will
he gave to the Monastery many Lands as in Muscham Schotter Scalthorp Yolthorp Messingham Malmeton Cletham Hibaldstow Rachevildthorp Holme Riseby Walcot Normanby Alethorp there joyning with him Askylus Syricus and Sivortus who procured from King Edward a confirmation of these Lands to the Church Brando when he was Abbot created his Nephew Herewardus le Wake Lord of Brunne now Bourn Knight which Herewardus was a valiant man and stoutly opposed the Normans in those parts Brando enjoyed not long his Government but in November Anno 1069. which was the third of King William he died 14. TVROLDVS or THOROLDVS A Norman was placed by King William in the vacant Abby of Peterburgh He being a stranger neither loved his Monastery nor his Convent him He began to make a strange dispersion of the Lands belonging to his Church conferring sixty and two Hides of Land upon certain stipendiary Knights that they might defend him against Herewardus le Wake This Herewardus was son of Leofricus Lord of Brunne and having had a Military education beyond Seas repaired home to employ his valour in defence of his native Country against the Normans It hapned at that time that the Danes under Sweyn their King son of Canutus invaded this Land amongst whom Osbernus an Earl and Bishop entred into the Isle of Ely with whom Herewardus joyned and incited him to set upon the Monastery of Peterburgh for that the King had given it to a Norman Herewardus and the Danes coming hither the Monks and others with them defended themselves for a time with much valour in a hot dispute at Bolehith-gate now commonly called Bulldyke-gate being on the South of the Monastery and yet standing where when Herewardus and the Danes perceived their entrance doubtful and that they could not cut their way with their Swords and Weapons they assayed to do it by fire upon the adjoyning buildings and so entred through flame and smoke Being entred they seized upon all the good things they found carrying them away to Ely leaving much of the buildings the Monastery only excepted destroyed by fire and taking Adelwoldus the Prior with many of the more ancient Monks thither also But Adelwoldus watching for an opportunity to get away and return home the Danes being jovial and merry at a triumphal feast for this their booty Adelwoldus got privately to himself some gold and silver with some Reliques amongst which was S. Oswald's arm which he hid in his bedstraw till he could make his escape But an agreement being made between King William and Sweyn the Danish King that the Danes should depart with all their spoil most of the good things of this Monastery were carried away towards Denmark and a great part of them lost in the Sea by tempest those which arrived there were afterwards recovered by Iwarus the Secretary of the Monastery who took a journey thither for that purpose And now had Adelwoldus the Prior with the other Monks a time of returning without stealth to his Monastery of Peterburgh and taking the Abby of Ramsey in their way the Ramisians entertained them kindly for awhile but at their departure they detained their Reliques which afterwards upon the threats of Abbot Thorold they yielded up yet did not the Monks enjoy their newly recovered Treasures long for they being careless and drunken and their Abbot absent a fire seized upon the Church and other remaining buildings from which they rescued some few Reliques but little of other things All this while Turoldus Abbot absented himself from his Monastery and made his abode at Stamford but Herewardus being withdrawn he returned to his Monastery where he found all things in a desolate condition He brought along with him 140 Normans well armed to secure him against Herewardus and also built a Fort or Castle within his Monastery which for many years retained the name of Mount Thorold so that now the Monastery of Peterburgh seemed rather a warlike than religious place Yet for all that Turoldus could do for his own security he was at length taken by Herewardus and constrained to ransome himself with the payment of thirty marks in silver So profuse was this Turoldus of the goods of his Monastery that at his entrance an estimate of the goods thereof amounting to fifteen hundred pounds ere Turoldus had done there remained scarce five hundred But his disposing of the Lands as hath been said to certain Knights for their service in these Military times was remarkable and valid in after ages where I could give a large declaration of the persons thus invested with the Church-Lands and what Lands those were but it shall suffice to say that there were in all forty one men of note who received those Lands from Turoldus to hold upon that condition but they did not all receive in equal proportion but some more and some less some to find and afford the service of six Knights some of four some of one and some less as their portions of Land were yet in all the number of Knights for which they were to be answerable amounted to sixty eight and from whence there began a new addition to be annexed unto the name of the place as to be called The Honour of Peterburgh But there happened another Act of Turoldus which raised his discontents higher in himself and brought him lower in the good affection of his Convent for he received into his Monastery two Monks from beyond Sea who secretly stole away and carried many of the Church Goods with them At length Turoldus weary of his Government here procured for himself the Bishoprick of Beavois in France whither he transported many of the goods of the Monastery but he was not so welcome to his new Bishoprick as to make any long continuance there for on the fourth day he was expelled thence and returning again into England he gave the King a great summ of Money that he might be seated again in his Monastery of Peterburgh whither he returned and in all continued his Government there the space of 28 years and died Anno 1100 or as some say 1098. being the 10 or 11 year of William the Second 15. GODRIC VS The Monks now began to be provident for themselves for considering the inconveniences they suffered by Turoldus being imposed upon them they gave the King three hundred Marks in Silver that they might have the power of Electing their own Abbot which having procured from the King they chose Godricus who was Brother to Abbot Brando Whether or no Godricus might incurr the guilt of Simony by what the Church had done Bishop Godwin calleth him Geffrey page 34. I will not determine yet was he with Richard Abbot of Ely and Adelwinus Abbot of Ramsey deposed from their Governments by a Councel held under Anselmus then Archbishop of Canterbury for that as Peterburgh Writers say they had entred by Simony Yet Matth. Paris renders another reason that it In vita W. Rufi was because
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
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
that he had stollen out of S. Oswalds shrine certain Jewels and what he could elsewhere lay his hands on and given them to Women in the Town That one Reginald Bray what he was I know not but he is called Dominus should have a due proportion of Diet for number of Dishes That the Monks haunted a Tavern near the Monastery and gave themselves to singing and dancing in the Dormitory till 10 or 11 a Clock at Night to the trouble of the rest That at the Celebration of the Funeral of the late William Abbot of the Monastery there was withholden from every Priest 6 s. 8 d. and from every Monk 3 s. 4 d. which was used to be given at such times This Robert Kirton had great contention with his Tenants in Peterburgh about Pasturage in the Fenn called Burgh a little Fenn adjoyning to the Monastery which as the Inhabitants alledged the Abbot had overcharged with 1500 Sheep in two flocks complaining also to the King then Hen. 8. that he had suffered thirty Tenements in the street called Boongate-street to fall to utter decay and then emparked the same ground and made it a place The Park for his own Deer But notwithstanding these contests Abbot Robert forgat not to enlarge and beautifie the buildings of his Monastery for he built that goodly building at the East end of the Church now commonly known by the name of The New Building New buildings wherein he placed three Altars opposite to three pair of Stairs descending from the back of the great Altar The places of those Altars are yet discernable though their use be not known He built a Chamber in his dwelling House calling it Heaven-gate-Chamber which is extant and retaineth its name to this day Heaven-gate Chamber He made in his great Hall that goodly Bow window overlooking the Cloyster the memory whereof is fresh to this present age He set up in the Church the Crucifixerium or Rood-loft now standing at the entrance into the Quire though placed something lower than it was at its first erection He set up the Gate leading to the Deanry which is yet standing and retaineth the memory of the Builder in his Hieroglyphick of a Crosier with the letter R and a Church or Kirk placed upon a Tun which must be construed with the allusion thus Abbot Robert Kirk-Tun and so Kirton He beautified the Chappel of S. Mary or The Ladies Chappel with pictures and gilded work much of which was lately extant He maintained a long suit in Law against Margaret Countess of Richmond and Darby about Knights-service for Lands in Torpell Thorpe Watervile and Achirch wherein at last he prevailed I know not whether I have done well or ill in declaring the acts of this Robert but this must be according to the capacity of the Reader for I find Abbot Robert thus pleading for himself Legitur in historia scholastica quod Antipater Idumaeus M. Herodis pater in quodam praelio in servitio Imperatoris multis vulneribus confossus est qui tandem accusatus rejectis vestibus dixit Ego nolo me Domine Imperator excusare apud te sed ista vulnera quae suscepi pro te loquantur pro me si ego diligo te Sic ista parva praedicta loquantur pro me si aliqua feci digna Deo laude Si interrogaretur utrum haec manifestari vel celari debent nec carnalibus incredulis sunt revelanda nec devotis prudentibus vere fidelibus sunt abscondenda And when he had been Abbot about thirty two years he was buried in the said Chappel His Monument was in the year 1651. levelled with the ground above which it was erected some four foot and placed upon an hollow Arch where his body lay and at the head thereof was a fair Stone lying even with the pavement which covered a pair of stairs going down into the Sepulchre There let him rest if I may say he rested till we pass to his Successor the last of all the Abbots 45. JOHN CHAMBERS Was born in Peterburgh but what he was or upon what score made Abbot Records are wanting to inform us His advancement to the Abbatical Chair was Anno 1528. which might be the 19 or 20. of King Henry 8. In his first year Cardinal Wolsey came to Peterburgh where he kept his Easter upon Palm-Sunday he carried his Palm going with the Monks in procession and the Thursday following he kept his Maundy washing and kissing the feet of fifty nine poor people and having dried them he gave to every one of them 12d and three Ells of Canvass for a shirt he gave also to each of them a pair of shoes and a portion of red herrings On Easter-day he went in procession in his Cardinals Vestments and sang the High-Mass himself after a solemn manner which he concluded with his benediction and remission upon all the hearers In the seventh year of this John Katherine the first wife of King Hen. 8. and Mother of Queen Mary died at Kimbolton Castle in the County of Huntingdon Jan. 8. 1535. and was buried in this Church betwixt two pillars on the Northside of the Quire near to the great Altar her Hearse being covered with a black Velvet Pall crossed with white Cloth of silver which how it came to degenerate into one of meaner value is unknown to us yet this changeling was also taken away Anno 1643. with her Spanish Scutcheons affixed thereunto Some write that for her sake the Church of Peterburgh fared Lord Herbert in King Hen. 2 Kings 23. 18. the better at the dissolution of Abbys and was turned into a Cathedral as if King Hen. like King Josiah who favoured the grave of the Prophet should favour his Wifes grave in this place Be it so or no the goodly structure of the place convenient situation for a new erection with accommodations thereunto might make a fair plea for a reprieve from the stroke of that Ax which cut others down I have not as yet seen any Record showing how John Chambers demeaned himself towards King Henry or complied with him in that great dissolution of Abbys that the King should continue him in his place and not put him to death as he did some or depose him as he did others But probable it is that Abbot John loved to sleep in a whole skin and desired to die in his nest wherein he had lived so long and perhaps might use such means as might preserve if not his means to his Church yet his Church to posterity And now that we are come to those times wherein that great alteration in the Church and alienation of her Revenues hapned for our more orderly proceeding in the declaration thereof we shall first present the Reader with an Inventory of the Church-Utensils and of the Abbots domestick goods and then take him abroad to view the Mannors and Lands that he may understand what was taken from and what continued to the Church
troubled for her After Supper she perused her Will and Inventory At her usual hour she went to Bed slept some part of the night and spent the rest in Prayer Her fatal day being come she arose to prepare her self for her last lying down when calling her servants together she read over her Will to them letting them know what Legacies she had bequeathed Then did she apparel her self after this manner In borrowed hair a Bourn having on her head a dressing of Lawn edged with bone-lace and above that a vail of the same bowed out with wire and her Cuffs suitable about her neck a Pomander chain and an Agnus Dei hanging at a black Ribband a Crucifix in her hand a pair of Beads at her girdle with a golden Cross at the end Her uppermost gown was of black Satin printed training upon the ground with long hanging sleeves trimmed with Akorn buttons of Jet and Pearl the sleeves over her arms being cut to give sight to a pair of purple Velvet underneath her Kirtle as her Gown was of black printed Satin her Boddies of Crimson Satin unlaced in the back the skirt being of Crimson Velvet her Stockins of Worsted watchet clocked and edged at the top with silver and under them a pair of white Her Shoes of Spanish Leather with the rough side outward Thus attired she came forth of her Chamber to the Commissioners who were ready in the passage to receive her and to accompany her to the Stage whereon she was to act the last scene of her life making as yet no show of sadness until Melvin her servant presenting himself on his knees bewailing not only hers but also his own misfortune that he was to be a sad reporter to Scotland of her death then with some flux of tears she comforted him that he should shortly see the troubles of Mary Stuart have an end sending by him her commands to her Son and bidding him tell him that she had done nothing prejudicial to his Kingdom of Scotland Then addressing her self to the Commissioners she told them that she had certain requests to make to them viz. that a certain summ of money might be paid to one Curle her servant which Sir Amyas Pawlet had knowledge of That her servants might enjoy such Legacies as by her Will she had bequeathed unto them That they might be fairly used and safely sent into their own Country To the first Sir Aymas Pawlet gave his testimony and promise The rest were also promised and performed Yet said the Queen of Scots I have one request more to make that you would suffer my servants to be about me at my death to which the Commissioners returned a refusal the Earl of Kent saying that their presence would be a disturbance to her and besides he feared there would be some superstition practised in pressing to dip their handkerchiefs in her bloud My Lord said the Queen I will pass my word they shall do no such things Alas poor souls it will do them good to bid their Mistress farwell Your Mistriss meaning Queen Elizabeth being a Maiden Queen for womanhoods sake would not deny me this courtesie and I know she hath not so straitned your Commission but that you might grant me more than this if I were of a far meaner condition Whereupon the Commissioners consulted and granted her the nomination of six persons to be with her so she nominated four men Melvin her Apothecary her Chirurgeon and another old man And two women which used to lie in her Chamber After this she proceeded towards the great Hall in the Castle Melvin bearing up her train two Gentlemen of Sir Amyas Pawlets on each hand one and Mr. Andrews the Sheriff going before The Scaffold at the upper end of the Hall was two foot high and twelve foot broad hanged with black and she seemed to monnt it with as much willingness as ease and took her seat the Earls of Shrewsbury and Kent standing on her right hand Mr. Andrews the Sheriff on her left and the two Executioners opposite before her Then was the Commission read by Beal Clerk of the Council which she seemed as little to regard as if it had not concerned her at all After the reading of the Commission Doctor Fletcher Dean of Peterburgh addressed an Exhortation to the Queen of Scots that she would consider her present condition and withal the vanity of her Religion which he besought her to renounce but she refused professing her readiness to die therein The Lords desiring her to joyn with them in prayers she also refused alledging the difference in their Religions and saying she would pray by her self But the Dean was by the Commissioners desired to pray which he did in these words Dr. Fletcher's Prayer O Most gracious God and merciful Father who according to the multitude of thy mercies dost so put away the sins of them that truly repent that thou remembrest them no more Open we beseech thee thine eyes of mercy and behold this Person appointed unto death whose eyes of understanding and spiritual light albeit thou hast hitherto shut up that the glorious beams of thy favour in Jesus Christ do not shine unto her but is possessed with blindness and ignorance of heavenly things a certain token of thy heavy displeasure if thy unspeakable mercy do not triumph against thy judgment yet O Lord our God impute not we beseech thee unto her those her offences which separate her from thy mercy and if it may stand with thine everlasting purpose and good pleasure O Lord grant unto us we beseech thee this mercy which is about thy throne that the eyes of her heart may be enlightned that she may understand and be converted unto thee and grant her also if it be thy blessed will the heavenly comfort of thy Holy Spirit that she may taste and see how gracious the Lord is Thou hast no pleasure good Lord in the death of a sinner and no man shall praise thy Name in the pit renew in her O Lord we most humbly beseech thy Majesty whatsoever is corrupt in her either by her own frailty or by the malice of the ghostly enemy visit her O Lord if it be thy good pleasure with thy saving health as thou didst the offender at the side of thy Cross with this consolation This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise say unto her soul as thou didst unto thy servant David I am thy salvation so shall thy mercy being more mighty be more magnified Grant these mercies O Lord to us thy servants to the increase of thy Kingdom and glory at this time And further O most merciful Father preserve we most humbly beseech thy Majesty in long and honourable peace and safety Elizabeth thy servant our most natural Soveraign Lady and Queen let them be ashamed and confounded O Lord that seek after her soul let them be turned backward and put to confusion that wish her evil And strengthen still Lord we pray thee
the hand and balance of justice amongst us by her gracious government So shall we both now and ever rest under thy faithfulness and truth as under our shield and buckler and bless thy Name and magnifie thy mercy which livest and reignest one Most Gracious God for ever and ever Amen The Queens assent and attention to this prayer were withdrawn to her own private Devotions which she performed after the custom of her Religion out of her own Portuary with her Beads and Crucifix sometimes in the Latin and sometimes in the English tongue which being ended the two Executioners with her women began to disrobe her whereat she said with a smiling countenance that she was never served by such grooms before nor was she wont to put off her cloathes before such a company Her women with a Corpus Christi cloth wrapped up three corner-wise covered her head and face which done they departed and the Queen was left alone to close up the Tragedy of her life by her own self which she did with her wonted courage and devotion kneeling down upon the Cushion and saying in Latin In te Domine speravi ne confundar in aeternum Then she groaped for the block whereon she laid down her head crying out In manus tuas Domine c. and then the Executioner at two stroaks separated her head from her body saving a sinew which a third stroke parted also the Executioner took up the head and shewed it to the assembly and Dean Fletcher cried So perish all the Queens enemies which was seconded by the Earl of Kent Her head coming clear out of her dressing appeared very gray as if she had been much elder than she was it was polled very short which made her as hath been said to wear borrowed hair The Executioner that went about to pluck off her Stockins found her little Dog crept under her Coat which being put from thence went and laid himself down betwixt her head and body and being besmeared with her bloud was caused to be washed as were other things whereon any bloud was The Executioners were dismissed with Fees not having any thing that was hers Her body with the head was conveyed into the great Chamber by the Sheriff where it was by Chirurgeons Embalmed until its Interment The Castle of Fotheringhay was at that time by Lease from Queen Elizabeth in the hands of Sir William Fitz-Williams of Milton in the same County who was one of the Queens Pensioners who by reason of his relation to the place was sent to by the Commissioners that he should come and guard them in his Castle this was required of him the first time that the Commissioners came in October before for the Queens Examination and Trial but Sir William Fitz-Williams refusing because he was not summoned by order from the Queen the Commissioners procured such order and by vertue thereof summoned him again which he obeyed This gave him opportunities of visiting sometimes the Queen of Scots and conversing with her wherein he deported himself with such respective civility and courtesie that the Queen a little before her death gave him many thanks and told him she had nothing to requite his kind usage withal but if he pleased to accept of her Sons picture hanging at her Beds-head he should take it which he did and his Successors do still enjoy it Thus died Mary the unfortunate Queen of Scots a woman for her parts fit to be a Queen in the six and fortieth year of her age and the eighteenth of her continuance in England in a fair possibility of spinning the thread of her life to a greater length had fate been as propitious to her as nature We shall follow the remainder of this great Personage her body to the Earth and so leave her The Manner of the Solemnity of the Scotish Queens Funeral being the first of August 1587. when she was buried in the Cathedral Church of Peterburgh Upon Tuesday being the first of August were the Funerals appointed to be celebrated for the Scotish Queen in the Cathedral Church of Peterburgh and accordingly there were sent thither from the Court the Queens houshold Officers to make preparation for the Diet Mr. Dorrel and Mr. Cox for the Funeral Offices Mr. Fortescue Master of the great Wardrobe The Heralds came down three or four days before and appointed together with the Bishop and the Dean the place for the body to be Interred which was devised over against the lying of Queen Katherine near to the Tomb of John last Abbot and first Bishop of that Church There was a rich Hearse erected above the first step of the Quire near to the place of the burial and the whole Quire and Church were hanged with black Upon Sunday at night the thirtieth of July the body was brought by Torch-light from the Castle of Fotheringhay where it had lain since the time of Execution being the eighth of February before by Garter King at Arms and other Heralds with some number of Horse in a Chariot made of purpose covered with black Velvet and adorned with her Ensigns accordingly between one and two of the Clock in the night where attended for it before the Church the Bishop of Peterburgh and the Dean of the Cathredral Church the Master of the Ward-robe Clarentius King at Arms and divers as well of her Majesties Servants as other persons There came with the body six of the Scotish Train as Melvin the Master of her Houshold and Physician and others the body with the closures weighed nine hundred weight which being carried and attended orderly by the said persons was committed to the ground in the Vault appointed and immediately the Vault was covered saving a small hâ—â—e left open for the Staves to be broken into There was at that time 〈…〉 Offices of the Church-service done the Bishop 〈…〉 have executed therein but it was by all that were 〈…〉 Scotish as others thought good and agreed 〈…〉 be done at the day and time of solemnity Upon 〈…〉 in the afternoon came to Peterburgh all the Lords and Ladâ—â—â— and other Assistants appointed and at the Bishops Palace was prepared a great Supper for them where all at one Table supped in the great Chamber being hanged with Black where was a State set on the right side thereof of purple Velvet Upon Tuesday morning the chief Mourners Lords and Ladies and other Assistants being ready about ten of the clock they marched from the Hall of the Bishops Palace as followeth The Countess of Bedford Chief Mourner The Earl of Rutland The Earl of Lincoln The Countess of Rutland The Countess of Lincoln The Bishop of Peterburgh The Bishop of Lincoln L. Dudley L. Chamberlain L. S. John of Basing L. Stew. L. Willoughby of Parham L. Compton L. Mordaunt The Dean of Peterburgh Lady Mordaunt Lady Talbot Lady Dudley Lady S. John of Basing Lady S. John of Bletshoe Lady Mary Savel Lady Cecil Lady Mountague Lady Nowel Lady Mannors Mrs. Allington as a
for the same which being done by him we require you that he may have the Pall to be used for the purpose aforesaid Given under our Signet at our Honour of Hampton Court the eight and twentieth day of Septemb. in the tenth year of our Reign of England France and Ireland and of Scotland the six and fortieth In obedience to this Letter the Body of the Queen of Scots was taken up the eleventh of October following in the year of our Lord 1612. and translated to Westminster where we shall leave Her and return to our succession of the Bishops of Peterburgh Howland having been Bishop here the space of 15 years died at Castor and was buried in his own Cathedral at the upper end of the Quire And there succeeded 49. THOMAS DOVE Who was Dean of Norwich and Chaplain to Queen Elizabeth who had so good esteem of him for his excellency in preaching reverend aspect and deportment that she was wont to call him The Dove with silver wings He entred upon his Bishoprick in the year 1600. and continued therein the space of 30 years During which time he was like S. Paul's Bishop a lover of Hospitality keeping a very free house and having always a numerous Family yet was he so careful of posterity that he left a fair estate to his Heirs He died upon the 30 of August 1630. in the 75 year of his age and lieth buried in the North cross Isle of the Church Over his body was erected a very comely Monument of a long quadrangular form having four corner pilasters supporting a fair Table of black Marble and within the pourtraiture of the Bishop lying in his Episcopal habit At the feet on the outside were these Inscriptions Si quaeras viator quo hospite glorietur elegans haec mortis domus ipsa prose loquetur ipsa pro illo quae ideo loqui didicit ut sciant illi qui eò ingratitudinis inhumaniter obriguerunt ut in manes in urnas saevire studeant non defuturam saxis linguam quae doceat de mortuis bene loqui Vindex hoc pium marmor sacros cineres tegit sanctiorem memoriam protegit Charissimum utrumque pignus redituri Domini Reverendissimi in Christo Patris Thomae Dove quem novit Waldenum Ecclesiasten doctissimum Nordovicum Decanum vigilantissimum haec ipsa Ecclesia Episcopum piissimum cui postquam trigint a annis magno cum honore praefuisset ad magnum illum animarum Episcopum transmigravit Bonus pastor translatus ab ovibus in terris ad Agnum in coelis quocum regnabit in secula Hoc me loqui voluit Gulielmus Dove Equ Aur. Optimi hujus patris filius natu-maximus honoris pietatis ergo Carmine non pous est sat sat praestabit abunde Si sat flere potest officiosus amor Vixt Epitaphium sibi Te sprevisse Poeta Quam facile poterit qui bene vixit Abi. Atque abeo durum est numeris aptare dolorem Atque aequo lachrymas currere posse pede Me muto tibi non poterunt monumenta deesse Vivum quem soboles tam numerosa refert Hoc addam Hic illa est senio argentata Columba Davidis coelos hinc petit ille suos Dixi Musa loquax tanto non apta dolori Si non flere satis nostra silere potest But this Monument was in the year 1643. levelled with the ground so that Bishop Dove's Epitaph in stead of Marble must now live in paper 50. WILLIAM PEIRSE Being Canon of Christs Church in Oxford and Dean of Peterburgh was made Bishop after the death of Dove and installed Nov. 14. A man of excellent parts both in Divinity and knowledge of the Laws very vigilant and active he was for the good both of the Ecclesiastical and Civil State and had he continued longer in this See he would have rectified many things then amiss But he was translated to the Bishoprick of Bath and Wells after two years presidency at Peterburgh 51. AVGVSTINE LINDSELL Was Dean of Lichfield and upon the translation of Peirse made Bishop of this Diocess being elected December 22. 1632. and installed by Proxy Febr. 25. following He was a man of very great learning and gave sufficient evidence thereof to the Church by setting forth that excellent edition of Theophylact upon S. Paul's Epistles which work will make his name worth live be honoured among all learned Divines Foreign and Domestick In his time the Parsonage of Castor was annexed to the Bishoprick to be held in Commendam which was effected by W. Laud Archbishop of Canterbury as he left recorded in his Diary When he had been Bishop here the space of two years he was translated to Hereford and shortly after ended his life to the greatloss of the Church of England 52. FRANCIS d ee Was taken from his Deanry of Chichester and made Bishop here being elected April 9. 1634. and in May 28. following installed by Proxy He was a man of very pious life and affable behaviour After he had with much diligence and honesty meekness and hospitality gloriously shined in his Ecclesiastical Orb here the space of four years and six months he died much lamented October 8. 1638. bequeathing by his will towards the reparation of his Cathedral Church the summ of an hundred pounds and lieth buried in the upper part of the Quire near to his Episcopal Seat 53. JOHN TOWERS Being Dean of this Church ascended the other step and was made Bishop after the death of Dee being installed March. 8. 1638. He enjoyed his Bishoprick in peace a very little while for presently great dissensions arose betwixt the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland which occasioned the Bishops attendance upon the King both in the North at York and at London in time of Parliaments that which was convened April 13. 1640. and dissolved May 5. following the Convocation sitting by the Kings express Commission until May 29 wherein the new Canons were made and that also which began the same year November 3. and was of a far longer continuance On August 5. this year the great Commission for draining the Fenns began to be holden at Peterburgh the Commissioners sitting in the Bishops great Hall until the 11. of the same month the determinations therein being since known by the name of Peterburgh Law On the third of November following a new Parliament began to sit Bishop Towers according to his place giving attendance there In the year following arose great opposition against Bishops as to their Office and power in having Votes in Parliament insomuch that many of them apprehending their insecurity in attending upon the House much opposition meeting them in the way some of them to the number of twelve drew up a Protestation against all such Laws Orders Votes Resolutions and determinations as in themselves null and of none effect which in their absence from December 27. 1641. had passed or should afterwards pass during the time of their forced absence from
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
and Testament petitioning King Richard the II. that it might be fulfilled and representing how she had obtained a new Bull from Pope Vrban directed to the Archdeacon of London for that purpose the King thereupon granted his Licence quod ipse Archidiaconus ad erectionem hujusmodi Collegii faciendam procedere valeat juxta vim formam effectum dictarum literarum Apostolicarum For which licence she gave the King 20 Marks as is expressed in the Letters Patents V. Monast Anglicanum 3. Tom. De Ecclesiis Collegiatis p. 108. There are some Acts of this Abbot mentioned in a MS. Register formerly belonging to this Church now in Sir John Cotton's Library and others in our Records at the end of Swapham in the 18 19 and 21. of Edward III. to which I cannot be allowed to give a place in this History without wrong to the Undertaker I can find no memory of him in the Kalendar of the Church though there is of his Successor because it is likely he left nothing for the celebrating of his Anniversary as several foregoing Abbots did ROBERTVS RAMSEY There is a memorial of him as I said in the Kalendar which tells us he dyed upon the sixth of October which was Depositio Roberti de Ramsey Abbatis fratris Thomae de Burgo And a Memorandum of a gift bestowed upon the Church in the first year of his Government by the Heir of William Everard de Dodestorp but so defaced by time that it cannot all be read I suppose it was written in his time sor it follows after an account of the years that every Abbot from John de Caleto till his time lived in the government of this place but saith nothing how long he continued Abbas Johan de Caleto vixit annis 13. Abbas Robert de Sutton an 12. Abbas Ric. de London an 22. Abbas Willielmus de Wodeford an 4. Abbas Godefrid de Croyland an 22. Abbas Adam de Boyeby an 17. Abbas Henricus de Morkote an 14. HENRY de Overton Born I suppose at Overton now called Orton on the other side of the River Neen and made Abbot here in the year 1360. As appears by an old record of a Fine paid by William Cole Nativus Domini Abbatis de Burgo for a licence in his Court at Thurleby in the forty seventh year of Edward the Third that is 1373 which is said to be in the Thirteenth year of this Abbot In his second year the 37. of Edw. III. 1369. all the Monks of the black Order held a General Chapter at Northampton where Thomas Abbot of St. Alban presided in which it was decreed among other things that they should make a perpetual and continual memory throughout their whole Order for the Quick and the Dead every hour of the day and night as Walsingham P. 180. informs us in his History of these times Who also tells us that in the year 1379 which was the 2. of Rich. II. there was a great Tax laid upon the whole Clergy wherein every Mitred Abbot paid as much as an Earl viz. six Marks and a Noble moreover pro singlis capitibus Monachorum Pole money for every Monk in his Monastery Of which he complains heavily as an unreasonable thing that the poorest of them should pay as much as the richest Earl or Bishop and over and above for his Friers Ib. p. 221. I have give an account already in the life of Martine de vecti of the Insurrection in the fourth year of King Rich. 1381. Which the said Walsingham ascribes to the sins of men of all sorts not excepting the Mendicant Friers who contrary to their profession he faith were grown such flaterers and deceivers that it was thought as good an argument both for matter and form to say This is a Frier therefore he is a Lyar as to say This is White therefore it hath a Colour P. 302. Two years after 1383. The King and his Queen spent their time in visiting the Abbeys of the Kingdom which the same Historian saith was no small burden to them because they came with an excessive number of attendants non offerre sed auferre not to offer but to carry away I do not find whether they were here or no but he mentions the Abbey of St. Edmunds-Bury with which this was in a confederacy where they were entertained ten days which cost the Monastery eight hundred Marks There is no memory of this Abbot nor of any that follow in the Kalendar I have often mentioned they living not long before it was written and in those tumultuous times that insued having no power its likely to do more than preserve what their ancestors had acquired and scarcely that neither for in Rich. Ashton's time when the Kalendar was written I find but 64. Monks NICOLAVS It is not known where this Abbot was born or bred and there is very little to be found either of what he did or what was done in his time The only thing I meet with besides that which Mr. G. mentions is an ordinance of his about the observation of the Feast of St. Kyneburgh in the last year of his Abbotship 1396. Which Feast it appears by the Kalendar was on the 7. of March whereon was Translatio Sanctorum Kyneburgh and Kyneswith Whom Malmsbury L. IV. de gestis Pontif. Angl. calls Kinedreda and Kines wida the Daughters of King Penda the Reliques of whose Ashes he saith were here kept and worshipped who both of them having dedicated themselves to God in their Infancy preserved their noble purpose till old age The younger of them also not being content with her own resolution prevailed with Offa King of the East Aagles who courted her in marriage to consecrate himself to Virginity They were first buried in Ecclesia Kyneburgensis Castri called now Castre as I suppose which being very ruinous in the time of Elfinus Abbot the Monks of Ramsey as Hugo tells us indeavoured with all their might night and day to carry their bodies away to that Monastery But it was neither the will of the Lord nor their pleasure as his words are to rest any where but under the power of St. Peter sub Clavigeri potestate who brought them to Christianity And therefore they heard the prayers as he goes on of Leof winus Sacrist of Burch who was a devout Servant of theirs and earnestly beseeched them to have their bodies lye in this Church promising to do them the greatest honour as is more fully declared in Translatione earum in the Narative of their Translation which was too long he saith to set down in every particular After the like manner also the same Abbot with Leofwinus his assistance translated the most pious Virgin Tibba de riale Burgi She herself commanding it and by great miracles showing that she desired to rest there among her holy Friends Upon which occasion Hugo relates not only all the Reliques in this Church as hath been before shown but tells also where the bodies of
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