The New Guide to Peterborough Cathedral

to its dissolution as an Abbey by Henry the Ei

, at the expiration of which time we saw it burned to the ground, with all the treasures which it had accumulated. We have now to

his energy by the prompt measures which he took to rebuild the abbey after its destruction, and to get all those lands, manors, and fees confirmed to it which it had so long enjoyed, and which continued daily to increase. It was a very long time, however, before the new monastery was built. John de Sais superintended it dur

n the estimation of the king, by speaking falsely of the brotherhood. Some writers say that he was detected in his villany by the king, who obliged him to resig

ceremony was conducted with great pomp, and all the abbots of the neighbouring monasteries, with numbers of the barons and gentry, were present [1140]. It appears that De Vecti was very zealous in the work of improvement, and that he not only built a new gate to the monastery, but formed a new village on the western side of it; altered the place of wharfage, erected a new bridge, planted the present vineyard, a

wenty-two years,

ain to Henry II., and having some influence with him, he regained for his abbey "the eight hundreds of that part of the country which had formerly been granted by the king's predecessors;" and, being firmly established in the monastery, he turned his attention to the improvement of

it will be well to correct. The present school-house near the minster gateway is found to be the chancel of the chapel;

e monks, by the Archbishop of Canterbury. No positive crime was alleged against

al relics to the monastery, and finished the chapel of Thomas à Becket. He was very zealous likewise in his endeavours to re-obtain the abbey lands which had been forfeited or seized during the rule of his pred

Gunton, that the curiously painted ceiling which covers the middle of the building was of his workmanship. He likewise added several houses to those which were already w

ir upon the feast of St. Peter, and a market to be he

seventeen years,

giving them the lands of Fletton and Alwalton to enrich their table. He ordered likewise six marks a year to be given out of the monastery funds to the infirmary. This

ry was very flourishing. He governed seven years, and died in 1201. His body was entombed in the s

quibus est prio

us, Andreas

ulus; pro claus

th different landowners, in order to recover the lost possessions of the abbey. He gained the marsh of Singlesholt from the Abbot of Crowland "for a yearly acknowledgement of four stones of wax," and increased the number of his monks. He endowed the church with many valuable articles-such as silver basins for the great altar, with a c

burnt day and night, until the festival was completed. This custom was observed in all other feasts of the s

in 1214, and was succeeded by R

rain; and, at an immense expense, he had thirty-nine of them adorned with glass, which enterprise gained for him a considerable amount of fame and esteem. Not content with this change in his own

y, and to the property of the town inhabitants. Lindsay therefore wrote to the king to try to "disafforest" the lands which were contiguous to the monastery, and he effected his object by payment of 1320 marks. Of his other improvements we read that "he made in the south cloister a lav

ere, however, despoiled by the king before the fate of the war was decided, and amongst them was Crowland Abbey. It is likely that of Peterburgh escaped the fury of the king's soldiers, for we do not read of any outrage being c

and enriched it with money and relics. He built, says Gunton, "the solarium magnum at the door of the abbot's chamber, and a cellerarium under it, and furnished the church also with that precious crystal ves

them to open. They were surprised to find that it contained the body of a man, with a large coarse garment around it, equipped with boots, and having a crosier by its side. There were several very remarkable things connected with this discovery. The boots were what are called "rights

: ALE

the shell, and buried in the south aisle, nearly

d he was confirmed by the Bishop of Lincoln, at Westminster. There is nothing remarkable recorded of this a

onks should close their doors, and not allow the people to hear their prayers, or participate in them; but the privilege was gr

cessity of seeking support from this and other monasteries. St. Edmond entertained the king twice at Peterburgh, in company with the queen and the young prince. He also "gave 60 marks towards the marriage of Margaret, his daughter, with Alexander III., King of Scotland," and increased the number of his monks to one hundred and ten. He made likewise three several journeys to Rome upon civil and ecclesiastical business. The cause of one of these journeys was this:-The Pope (Gregory, 1241) sent messages to Burgh, demanding that the abbot should give unto one of his favourites a certain yearly sum, or a num

h hands as d

cannot gna

ciful to all, exacted nothing unduly of his tenants, whether rich or poor; but if any poor man or w

ed the possessions of the church upon his friends and kinsmen. His conduct was reprehended by the monks, and finally represented to the Bishop of Lincoln

hedral, the western front, was erected, though it must have been about this time. The name of the architect under whose directions this original and strikingly beautiful design was carried out is

h work with that of the former style in them may thus be satisfactorily accounted for. It would seem, therefore, that these transepts were erected before the time of Walter St. Edmonds, and that the building of the west front probably followed immediately after the erection of them. Mr. Britton, in his 'History and Antiquities of Peterborough Cathedral,' page 56, refers the building of this interesting feature of the church to the times of Acharius and Robert de Lindsay. It would seem, however, that though it was probably begun in the time of the latter abbot, it was not finished till the time of John de Caleto, who came to the government of this abbey a.d. 1249. The reason for this o

he discipline of the church, he governed well and wisely. He recovered the manor of Biggins, near Oundle, of the Earl of Clare, and his success w

("when he was sacrist") also built one of the largest steeples of the church, and gave two bells to the monastery. He

rule of Richard, he had assisted him in performing the duties of abbot,

William was abbot, the Pope tax

ht be slain on the monastery lands, and devoted his attention to the better regulation of the hospital of St. Leonard.[12] He died after a rule of four years, in 1299, and was succeeded by

e by certain officers, who, being in search of several men that had transgressed against the laws, and hearing they had taken shelter in the monastery, d

al of that marriage belonged to him or the abbot of Peterburgh. And it being upon the inquisition certified that those heirs and their progenitors held their lands of the abbey of Peterburgh, the right of disposal of

een, with all their retinues, were provided for at the monastery, and once Prince Edwar

r, over which was the chamber called the knights' chamber," being the gateway leading to t

athedral-Remai

ther gifts and entertainments were sumptuous and large, and the sum of money which he expended during his abbacy was ￡3646 4s. 3d. This remarkable man died in 1321, after a splendid rule of twenty-t

sisters and servants, were likewise hospitably treated at this abbey during a stay of eight weeks. Like Godfrey, Boothby was a generous man, but the expense

ecorded of him, except that he was engaged in successful litigation with a baron

s, late head bishop of this place, there was found a seal of lead (the instrument wholly consumed), having on one side these letters thus inscribed:-'Spa Spe,' over their sever

e abbacy in 1346, but of him

and was followed by Nicholas, who wa

ory, it is stated "that they put on mitres in token they had episcopal jurisdiction, and being advanced to the dignity of barons, and to sit in parliament which no other abbots had done." During his abbacy, the church w

s were made of the conduct of the Monks, and the heads of the Benedictine order were summoned before the

bots. He granted several corrodies to persons who endowed his abbey. One to John Delaber, bishop of St. David's, is worthy of notice.-This John had his choic

mencing on St. Matthew's day, (O.S.) in a field, (now named the Mending,) which joins the counties of Huntingdon and Northampton together. This fair, on account of its vicinity to the bridge, was called "Brigge Fair," by which name it is still known. Ashton was called to parliament at Westminster, but being too infirm to attend, he deputed William Tresham, (probably one of his monks) to appea

took place in this interval. Almost all the windows of the church must have been transformed from their original character into their present shapes, and those w

column, between the northern and middle arch, leans out to a very great extent, and were it not for the support it receives from this chapel, very serious consequences must ensue. The whole front also leans to the westward, though not so much so as this column. This inclination is e

great south-west tower of the church, which has since been materially diminished in height. The present Chapter School, which was originally the chancel of Thomas à Becket's Chapel, was also built at this period; its nave was taken down in the time of Abbot Genge, who presided here between the years 1396 and 1408, and the materials were given to the inhabitants of Peterborough to re-build the

were chained. This eagle is now in the choir of the Cathedral, and used when reading the lessons. Ashton was indicted[15] in 1480, for releasing a felon from the gaol at Peterburgh, and accepting a bribe for the same. H

of them robbed the shrine of St. Oswald of a number of jewels, and other valuable articles, for the purpose of paying a woman in the town the wages of her prostitution. Others gave th

ily terminated by the Bishop of Lincoln, who, hearing of such notorious infringements of the mon

from the back of the great altar. He likewise built a chamber in the abbey house, which is still called "heaven-gate chamber." He made also a beautiful window in the great hall "overlooking the cloyster." He added many pictures to those which were already in the chapel of St. Mary, or the Lady's Chapel, as it is now called, all which

he last abbot, and

ople, which ceremony was called "keeping his maundy." He then gave them twelve pence, three ells of canvas, a pair of shoes, and divided

was buried in the monastery. Her tomb may be seen in the north side of the choir. The scaff which covered her pall