=The Screens=, enclosing the four eastern bays of the choir, were given

as a public memorial to Dean Argles. They are of very admirable

wrought-iron. The same may be said of the choir gates. The former are

the work of White & Son, of London; the latter of Singer & Son, of

Frome. The short pillars that support the choir gates, and the

unrelieved backs of the returned stalls, have at present the

unsatisfactory appearance of all unfinished work. A drawing of the

complete design is exhibited in a frame on an adjacent pillar.

The single ancient object among the fittings in the choir is the brass

eagle Lectern. This was given to the monastery by William Ramsey, Abbot,

and John Malden, Prior; it is consequently of late fifteenth century

date. An inscription recording the names of the donors, in two Latin

lines, was engraved round a projection in the middle of the stem.

Centuries of hard scouring have obliterated this; but the upper and

lower ends of most of the letters can just be traced. An expert can

satisfy himself that the inscription as preserved by Gunton is

practically correct. It seems to have been this, though it is not

possible to vouch for every letter.

_Hæc tibi lectrina dant Petre metallica bina

Iohes Malden prior et Wills de Ramiseya_.

Besides the donors already named, the following became contributors for

special objects, many of them having in addition given substantial

assistance in money to the restoration fund. The choir pulpit, Bishop's

throne, and the cost of cleaning the whitewash from the nave were given

by Dean Argles. Enlargement of foot-pace, and extension of mosaic

pavement, by Mrs Argles. Decoration of ceiling of lantern tower, and new

frames for the bells, by Mr H.P. Gates, Chapter Clerk. Litany desk, by

Mrs Rigg. Altar ornaments, by Canon Alderson. The 44 stalls were given

by Archbishop Magee, Lady Elizabeth Villiers (7), Lady Louisa Wells, Mr

H.P. Gates, Friends of Canon Clayton, Family of Canon Pratt, Hon. Canon

Willes, Hon. Canon Twells, an ex-chorister of the cathedral, Mr James

Bristow, Mr. W.U. Heygate, Mr S.G. Stopford-Sackville, Mrs Yard, Mr J.D.

Goodman, Miss Pears, Mrs Perry Herrick, Mrs W.L. Collins and Mrs H.L.

Hansel, Mr Albert Pell, Mrs Dawson Rowley, The Mayor and Corporation, Mr

F. James, the Freemasons of England (3), Friends of Lady Isham and Miss

Perowne (2), Rev. W.R.P. Waudby, Mr G.L. Watson, Major-General Sotheby,

Mrs Hunt, Rev. A. Redifer, Mr J.G. Dearden, Mrs Percival, the Misses

Broughton, Rev. S.A.T. Yates (in memory of Mr Charles Davys Argles),

Rev. W.H. Cooper, Mr T.A. Argles, Mrs Argles.

The choir aisles are vaulted; the section of the vaulting ribs is much

heavier than in the aisles of the nave, and shews an earlier date. It

has recently been discovered that these aisles, contrary to what was

usually believed, were terminated with apses and were not square-ended.

In the south aisle is traced on the floor the position of the old

semicircular ending. The windows here were altered at the same time as

those in the nave aisles: but in the north choir aisle the windows were

taken out and arches formed leading to the passage between this aisle

and the Lady Chapel, the most western arch being Perpendicular: in the

seventeenth century, when the Lady Chapel was pulled down, these arches

were again filled up with masonry and windows. The third window in this

aisle has escaped alteration in form; but Perpendicular tracery has been

inserted.

The eastern ends of both aisles were altered in Early English times.

They have now a groined roof of one bay of that period, and very

handsome double piscinas. The aumbry on the north side in the south

choir aisle has been glazed, and is utilised as a cupboard to hold some

curiosities. In the north choir aisle there is an approach to the

morning chapel through a screen; but in the south choir aisle the

corresponding space is filled by a Norman monumental arch.

=The New Building= built beyond the apse is a very noble specimen of

late Perpendicular work. It was begun by Abbot Richard Ashton

(1438-1471), and completed by Abbot Robert Kirton (1496-1528): the works

seem to have been suspended between these periods. The roof has the

beautiful fan tracery, very similar on a smaller scale to that at King's

College Chapel at Cambridge. The building is of the width of the choir

and aisles together. It contained three altars at the date of the

suppression of monasteries, "upon each altar a Table of the Passion of

Christ, Gilt."

The central bay has been recently fitted up for early celebrations of

the Holy Communion. The junction of this addition with the original

Norman apse is admirable, and should be specially noticed. Parts of the

original external stringcourse of the apse can be seen. The

ornamentation on the bosses of the roof, and in the cavetto below the

windows, and round the great arches from the choir aisles, is very

varied. It must be sufficient here to indicate some of the designs. Most

need little explanation, but a few are hard to understand. On the roof

may be seen the three lions of England, a cross between four martlets,

three crowns each pierced by an arrow, and another design. The smaller

designs include four-leaved flowers, Tudor roses, fleurs-de-lys, the

portcullis, some undescribable creatures, crossed keys, crossed swords,

crossed crosiers, crosses, crowns, crowns pierced with arrows, crowned

female heads, an eagle, the head of the Baptist in a charger, an angel,

mitres, three feathers rising from a crown, S. Andrew's cross, and

perhaps others. There are also some rebuses, and some lettering. On the

north wall, in six several squares, are the letters of the name Ashton

interwoven with scrolls; the letters AR before a church, and a bird on a

tun occur more than once. This certainly refers to Abbot Robert Kirton;

but what the bird means is not clear. In the moulding over the large

arch to the south choir aisle are four sets of letters. They form the

last verse of the psalter. The words are contracted: they stand for

_Omnis spiritus laudet Dominum_.

=The Transepts=, including the arch to the aisles, are of four bays,

and, as has before been pointed out, are of precisely the same character

as the work in the choir. The central piers here are octagonal. All

round the Norman portion of the church, below the windows, is an arcade

of round arches with simple round mouldings and plain cushion capitals:

in the transepts these have not intersecting heads, as in the choir and

nave. The western sides of the transepts have no proper triforium, but a

passage runs along in front of the windows in the triforium range. The

chapels to the east have Perpendicular screens. In the north transept

those three chapels were made into one which was used for early service,

and called the morning chapel. We read in the chapter records of a minor

canon being appointed to read the prayers at 6 o'clock, and once at

least the hour is named as 5 o'clock, in the morning. This chapel was

fitted up with some of the desks from the choir; and, judging from a

number of names and initials that had been cut upon the desks, it has

been conjectured that it was at one time used for the chapel of the

King's School. At the north end is a desk for the reader or readers made

out of two Early English stalls; there are three double shafts with

admirably carved wooden foliage in the capitals. A very fine little

Norman door leads to the staircase to the triforium. It should be

mentioned that in the triforium is arranged an excellent series of

stones, fragments, mouldings, and various ornaments, found in different

places during the recent restoration.

[Illustration: The New Building--Interior.]

The series of basins of Alwalton marble was found, during the recent

underpinning of the west front, in use as foundation stones; they appear

to be of late Norman date. One window in the north transept aisle and

all three in the south have fine geometrical tracery. The three chapels

in the south transept were used as vestries until a few years ago, when

the space beneath the bell-tower and part of the north aisle of the nave

was converted into a large vestry for both clergy and choir. In the

chapel here nearest the choir there remains the lower part of the newel

staircase which led to an upper chapel. On the west side of the south

transept has been erected a building which has in its time served many

different purposes. It can hardly be called an aisle, as there is only

access to the transept by a single ogee-headed doorway, which is a

Decorated insertion. This building is of late, almost transition, Norman

date; and is not very many years later than the transept itself. It can

be seen from the cloister court that it had originally three gables. The

roof is vaulted. In an inventory of goods made in 1539, printed in

Gunton, there is one chapel described as the "Ostrie Chapel," which is

believed to refer to this building. In a plan drawn in Bishop Kennett's

time and dedicated to him, the south part is called "The Hostry Chapel,

now the Chapter-House," and the north part is called the "Chapel of St.

Sprite or the Holy Ghost." In some plans it is called the vestry. It has

also been employed as a muniment room, as a Chapter-house, and (as now)

as a practising room for the choir.

[Illustration: The Transepts, looking North.]

Near the south-western pier of the central tower access can be obtained

to what remains of the =Saxon Church=. It was when the foundations of

this pier were reached, in 1883, that the first indications of an

earlier building were brought to light. First a solid piece of wall was

discovered, and soon after a substantial piece of plaster attached to

the wall, running north and south, which has since proved to be the

eastern wall of the north transept of the Saxon Church. The workmen also

came upon a plaster floor, on which were remains of burnt wood, reddened

stone, and other evidences of a conflagration. As the work of excavation

proceeded at intervals, fresh discoveries were made. The walls of the

north transept, choir, and part of the south transept, can be traced.

Just outside the eastern wall can be seen portions of two Saxon tombs

which were originally in the grave-yard.

The width of both choir and transepts is about 23 feet. The choir was

not apsidal. The south wall of the south transept was just beyond the

wall of the existing building; the extreme east end was almost exactly

underneath the pillars in the present transept; the west wall of the

south transept of the Saxon church was under the practising room; the

nave extended into the cloister court. Near the south end of the

excavations was discovered a portion of a Saxon altar _in situ_. No

remains have been found of the nave (see plan, p. 9).

[Illustration: Evangelistic Symbols, from Lantern Tower Roof.]

The roofs of both transepts are flat, and, except where rotten boards

have been replaced, original. They are now uncoloured, but formerly were

painted in black and white diamond patterns. All the windows at the

north and south ends are Norman, with Perpendicular tracery.

[Illustration: Evangelistic Symbols, from Lantern Tower Roof.]

The lantern tower has a fine groined roof, carefully restored and well

painted. In the centre is a representation of the Saviour; eight

coloured shields have the emblems of the Passion; four have the

evangelistic symbols.

[Illustration: Boss from Lantern Tower Roof.]

=The Nave=, notwithstanding the years it took to build, the change of

architecture that was coming into use as it was being finished, and the

alteration in plan that was decided upon towards the end, is a very

complete and almost uniform structure. There are ten bays, all having

round arches; in the triforium each large arch has two smaller ones

beneath it; and in each bay of the clerestory is one high arch and two

smaller ones. The triforium arches in the two easternmost bays, on both

sides, have the hatchet ornamentation in the tympanum; this may either

mark the limits of the old Benedictine choir, or may simply suggest

earlier work. Almost the only indication of distinct later work, as we

proceed towards the west, is in the different forms of the bases of the

piers. The arcading of the aisles curiously changes towards the west in

both aisles, but not at corresponding points; the change consists in

the reversing the interlacing of the arches. The third pillars from the

west end on either side are not really, strictly speaking, pillars at

all. They were built as supports to two western towers which it was

intended certainly to erect at this point, even if they were not at

least in part built. There are many other little details in the

neighbourhood of these piers, all confirming Mr Paley's discovery with

respect to these contemplated towers, one at any rate of which he thinks

was actually erected. The pillars are cylindrical with numerous attached

shafts. In addition to the changed form of the bases, careful observers

can detect proofs of later work in the capitals of the shafts in the

triforium. In front of each pier a shaft rises to the roof; and on these

the original ceiling rested. On some of the piers in the south aisle,

near the west end, may be seen several very curious masons' marks. In

the nave is a very massive pulpit given in 1873 by the family of Dr

James, for forty years Canon, bearing an inscription to his memory. It

is from the design of Mr Edward Barry, and was meant to be in keeping

with the Norman architecture of the nave. The central shaft is of

Devonshire marble, the main body of the pulpit of red Dumfries stone,

and some of the smaller pillars are of green Greek marble. At the angles

are four large figures of the Evangelists. There is a wooden eagle

lectern, carved by the late Rev. R.S. Baker, behind the choir-stalls on

the south side.

[Illustration: The Nave, looking East.]

=The Nave Ceiling= is very curious and remarkable. If originally flat,

and supported on the tall shafts last mentioned, it would be just above

the great arch of the central tower before that was altered from the

round form. It is supposed that this was the case; and that when the

pointed arch was substituted the central compartment of the ceiling was

raised, and the two outer ones made to slope as we see it now. But if

the Norman roof was flat, its outer compartments would manifestly not be

broad enough to fill the space now occupied by the sloping sides. And

yet there is no alteration in the style of ornamentation: nor are the

diamonds, which are divided by the line where the slope joins the

horizontal portion, unduly elongated, as would seem to be necessary in

the part nearest the wall. Some change was clearly made when the

Decorated arches were built; for above the Norman cornice on which the

roof was originally laid, there is now a length of painted wood

containing coats of arms obviously of later date than the ceiling. It is

not possible to pronounce with certainty on the question. But

considering (1), that the whole ceiling was certainly raised in

consequence of the superior height of the tower arch (2), that no

difference can be detected between the centre compartments and those at

the side in the patterns, and (3), that additional height has been

secured by the Decorated boarding above mentioned, the most probable

solution seems to be that the whole is the original Norman work,

practically unaltered, and that it was never flat, but had always

sloping sides as at present. All agree that the style of the painting is

perfectly characteristic of the period. The divisions are of the lozenge

shape; in each lozenge of the central line is a figure, and in each

alternate one of the sides. The middle set has more elongated lozenges

than the others. The borders are black and white, with some coloured

lines, in odd zigzag patterns. The figures, which are mostly seated, are

very quaint and strange. Some are sacred, some grotesque. We can see

S. Peter with the keys, kings, queens, and minstrels; we find also a

head with two faces, a monkey riding backwards on a goat, a human figure

with head and hoofs of an ass, a donkey playing a harp, a winged dragon,

a dancing lion, an eagle, and other curious devices.

[Illustration: The Choir and Nave, looking West.]

=The Font= stands between the first and second piers on the north side

of the nave; the basin is of a local marble of thirteenth century date,

but the lower part is modern. For many years it was used as a flower pot

in one of the prebendal gardens, whence it was rescued by Dean Monk and

ultimately restored to its original use in the south end of the western

transept. It was placed where it is in 1920. Another font had been

erected in 1615, as appears by an entry in the cathedral register of

that date, when the son of one of the prebendaries was baptized "in the

new font in the bodye of the Cathedral Church here."

=The West Transept= extends beyond the aisles. The huge pointed arches

covered with Norman mouldings are very remarkable. The arcading which

goes round the lower part of the aisle walls was continued round the

east sides and the ends of this transept, but it has all been hacked

away, and the walls now are flat. The position of the arcade is very

plainly to be seen. The south end in 1921 was again restored to its

former use as a chapel by the Dean of Winchester, Dr. Hutton. The north

end of this transept is used as a vestry. It is screened off, with the

adjacent bays of the north aisle, by some of the woodwork that has been

removed from Dean Monk's choir. From these specimens the general

character of the whole can be easily gathered.

The west wall has no trace of Norman work. The arcade by the ground

consists of pointed arches, though the great doorway has a round arch;

all have Early English mouldings. The great doors themselves are of the

same date, as shown by the carved capital at the top. The west window,

with its Perpendicular tracery, is set inside an Early English arch,

which has two lofty lancets by the side; and in looking at it from the

east it can hardly be detected that this arch is not the very framework

of the window. The very lofty lancets on the east of the projecting

parts of this transept, as well as the decoration of the arches in the

triforium above the aisles, should be noticed.

The number of =Altars= in the church was considerable. They were of

course all served by members of the foundation. but they had not

separate endowments like chantries in a parish church. Nor does any one

appear to have been associated with any company or guild. There were,

besides the High Altar and that in the Lady Chapel, three in the new

building, one in the little chapel between the choir and Lady Chapel,

one in each choir aisle, two (SS. John and James) in the north transept,

four (SS. Oswald, Benedict, and Kyneburga, and the Holy Trinity) in the

south transept, two (the Ostrie Chapel and that of the Holy Spirit) in

the building west of the south transept, one in the rood-loft, most

likely four against pillars in the nave (a bracket on a pillar on the

north side marks the position of one), and apparently one in the south

part of the west transept. If this enumeration is correct there were not

less than twenty-two. There seems also to have been an altar in the

hearse over Queen Katherine's tomb; and, though no mention of them

occurs, we should suppose there must have been one on each side of the

entrance beneath the rood-loft.

Two altar-stones only have been found. One is marked on a plan made

about 180 years ago as being laid down in the choir a little to the east

of where the eagle lectern now stands. It was subsequently taken up,

sawn into three pieces, and placed beneath the arch leading from the

western transept to the south aisle. Some twenty-five years ago it was

again removed from the pavement and is preserved elsewhere. The five

crosses are large and deeply cut, and are in the form of

cross-crosslets. The other has been taken up from the pavement in the

eastern chapel. It is a very curious example, and one that might well

escape notice. The stone is of the usual size, and uninscribed. It is

much worn by constant treadings, and the five crosses are nearly

obliterated, though quite distinctly to be seen. But instead of there

being, as usual, one in each corner of the stone, or nearly so, all the

five are towards the centre of the stone, within a space of about two

square feet. There is also an extra cross on the front edge. This stone

is now used for the altar in S. Oswald's Chapel, in the south transept,

refitted in 1900.

Of =Stained Glass= the only ancient examples are some fragments that

have been collected from different parts of the church, mostly as it

seems from the cloister, and put together in two central windows in the

apse. These are well worth observing with care. No scenes of course can

be made out, but the faces, when examined closely, are found to be

singularly good. Most of the pieces formed portions of a window or

series of windows representing incidents in the life of S. Peter. This

is apparent from the few words that can still be made out on the labels,

which are all fragments of texts referring to that Saint. The large

west window is in memory of soldiers of Northamptonshire who fell during

the South African War, 1899-1902; the window has five lights in two

tiers; in the upper are representations of King Peada, S. Paul, S.

Peter, S. Andrew, and Bishop Ethelwold; in the lower, S. George, Joshua,

S. Michael, Gideon, and S. Alban. Brass plates below give the roll of

honour.

[Illustration: Head of S. Peter in Ancient Stained Glass.]

Five windows of the eastern chapel have now been refilled with-stained

glass, one facing north to the late Dean Barlow, 1908; another behind

the altar was given by Canon Argles (afterwards Dean) in memory of his

father-in-law, Bishop Davys. In the south-east corner the east window is

to the memory of Dean Butler, 1861, and the south one to Canon Alderson;

the churches pictured are S. Mary's, Lutterworth, All Saints', Holdenby,

and a view of the south-east of this cathedral. The next window is in

memory of Canon Twells, author of several hymns, including "At even ere

the sun was set." In S. Oswald's Chapel is a very beautiful window given

in 1900. In the north choir aisle is a memorial window to Thomas Mills,

Hon. Canon, 1856. In the south transept some in memory of Payne Edwards,

LL.B., 1861; Sir Chapman Marshall, Kt., Alderman of London, whose son

was Precentor here; and James Cattel, cathedral librarian, 1877. In the

north transept are several given by Mr G.W. Johnson, two in memory of

his father and mother, one to the Prince Consort, and some unconnected

with any names; there are also two in memory of George John Gates, 1860,

and John Hewitt Paley "juvenis desideratissimi," 1857.

The architecture of =The Parvise=, over the western porch, has been

already described. It now contains the library, removed to this place

from the new building by Dean Tarrant. The collection was begun by Dean

Duport, who presented books himself, and obtained more from the

Prebendaries and other persons; it was afterwards enriched with the

whole of the valuable library of Bishop Kennett, and part of Dean

Lockier's, and has since had many considerable additions. The

manuscripts are not numerous, the chief being the very important book

known as Swapham. The greater part of this has been printed by Sparkes.

His publication includes Abbot John's Chronicle, The History of Burgh by

Hugo Candidus with its continuation by Swapham, the Chronicle of Walter

of Whittlesey, and two other works. There are also kept here some of

the fabric rolls of the monastery. Bishop Kennett's library contained a

most valuable collection of tracts and pamphlets published in the latter

part of the seventeenth century. There are also some books of much

earlier date, a few of great rarity. A memorandum written in the Book of

Swapham above mentioned tells us that the Precentor, Humphrey Austin,

had hidden it in 1642 in anticipation of coming troubles. But Cromwell's

soldiers found it, and would probably have destroyed it; the Precentor,

however, under pretence of enquiring after an old Latin bible, found out

where it was, and redeemed it for the sum of ten shillings.

=Monuments and Inscriptions=.--We proceed to speak of these, treated as

a single subject, instead of describing them at the various parts of the

building where they are to be found.

At first sight it is thought that this cathedral is singularly deficient

in monuments of interest. To a certain extent this is the case. There

are no memorial chantries, such as add to the beauty of many of our

noblest churches; no effigies of warriors or statesmen; no series of

ancient tablets or inscriptions that illustrate the history of the

neighbourhood; not a single brass. With few exceptions all the monuments

and inscriptions that remain commemorate abbots or other members of the

monastery, or, after the Reformation, bishops, and members of the

cathedral foundation and their families. While of famous persons known

to have been buried within the walls, such as Katherine of Arragon, Mary

Queen of Scots, the Archbishops Elfricus and Kinsius of York, Sir

Geoffrey de la Mare, Sir Robert de Thorpe, and others, no memorials

worthy of their fame and importance are in existence. The wanton

destruction during the civil war in great part explains this; but it is

sad to remember that numbers of mediaeval inscriptions in the floor were

hidden or destroyed during some well-meaning but ill-judged alterations

in the eighteenth century.

First in interest and importance is that known as the Monks' Stone, now

preserved in the new building. It is generally thought that this was

constructed in commemoration of the massacre of Abbot Hedda and his

monks in 870, by the Danes. It was not till nearly a century later that

any attempt was made to rebuild the monastery. But Mr Bloxam read a

paper at Peterborough in 1861 in which he disputed the authenticity of

this monument, which had been previously regarded as one of the most

ancient monumental stones extant. He pronounced it to be Norman, and not

Saxon work, and some centuries later in date than the massacre of the

monks. He considered the figures did not represent the slain monks and

their abbot, but Christ and eleven disciples. It has been further

conjectured by Bishop Westcott that it may have been part of the shrine

erected over the relics of S. Kyneburga, when they were removed from

Castor to Peterborough in the former half of the eleventh century. A

fragment of sculpture in the same style is built into the west wall of

the south transept. Even if the latter years of the ninth century are

deemed too early a date for the stone, at any rate the style of the

sculpture and ornamentation seems much earlier than anything we can now

see in position in the building itself. May it not have been erected

when the minster was reconstructed at the end of the tenth century? It

was formerly in the churchyard; sometimes testators (like Dr

Pocklington) desired in their wills that they might be interred near it.

It has been usually stated that the stone was erected by Abbot Godric of

Crowland, who died in 941. Unvarying tradition has associated it with

the Danish massacre; its dimensions almost exactly agree with the

earliest records of the stone said to have been so erected. The

cruciform nimbus round the head of one figure leaves no doubt that it

was designed for the Saviour; but this had been recognised many years

before Mr Bloxam wrote.

[Illustration: Part of the Monks' Stone.]

In the north transept, below the level of the floor, and protected by

wooden doors, are several richly ornamented slabs or coffin lids, of

undoubted Saxon date; and they form a series which may be considered one

of the very best in England. They are in their original position, the

spot on which they lie being outside the Saxon church and they were then

in the grave-yard. They were discovered in 1888. The interlacing work,

and other carvings, are deeply cut and in excellent preservation.

[Illustration: Saxon Coffin Lids in North Transept.]

The six recumbent effigies of abbots are the very best series of

Benedictine memorials in the country. Attempts have been made to

identify them from the character of the carvings. But as four are

certainly of thirteenth century date, and one late in the twelfth

century, and as thirteen abbots ruled during that period, it may be

pronounced impossible to name each one. One only, manifestly the latest

in date, and also in poorest preservation (being carved in clunch), has

the mitre; this is now temporarily placed in the New Building; there is

little doubt that it represents John Chambers, the last Abbot and first

Bishop. All the other five abbots are represented in alb and chasuble,

holding a book (signifying, it is said, the statutes of the Benedictine

order), in the left hand; while in the right hand is a crosier. In one

instance this is not very clear. Four have their feet resting on

fanciful creatures, which, in three cases, hold the lower ends of the

crosiers in their mouths. Two of these crosiers, at least, are turned

outwards: this is contrary to the commonly received opinion that the

turning inward symbolised the domestic rule over a monastic house. The

head of one abbot rests on a square cushion. Four of these effigies are

in the south choir aisle; one of them being beneath the Norman

sepulchral arch raised to commemorate three abbots, John de Sais, who

died in 1125, Martin of Bee, in 1155, and Andrew, in 1199. It seems

unlikely that the one placed beneath the arch should represent one of

those three, although usually assigned to the latest, Andrew. The next

two in the aisle were found in the ruins of the old chapter-house, and

brought into the church.[28] The date of the easternmost is known. It is

more richly ornamented than the rest, and the entire coffin is above

ground, with handsome quatrefoils and other carving. This commemorates

Alexander of Holderness, 1226. It was found under the woodwork of the

old choir which was removed in 1830, beneath the second arch, on the

north of the choir. The coffin contained the body, in a large coarse

garment, with boots on, and a crosier in the left hand. The boots were

what are called "rights and lefts," and in fair preservation. The head

was gone. A piece of lead was found inscribed "Abbas: Alexandr:" The

remains were gathered together and re-interred beneath the present

position of the coffin. At the same time in all likelihood the effigy

that was already on the spot (one of those that had been found in the

ruins of the chapter-house) was removed to one of the chapels in the

south transept; from which place it was afterwards moved to the New

Building immediately behind the apse, where now is the monument to

Bishop Chambers; and now it has been put on a stone plinth on the spot

where the coffin of Abbot Alexander was found, under the mistaken

impression that it was the figure found there in 1830.

[Illustration: Portion of Abbot's Tomb.]

The other prae-Reformation memorials are very few. Two have lately been

found concealed by the paving, Abbot Godfrey, 1321, moved from the choir

to the north aisle, and sub-prior Fraunceys, at the east end of the

south nave aisle. In the morning chapel is an early stone with

inscription in capitals, and three stone coffin lids; other fragmentary

inscriptions remain in S. Oswald's chapel, in the north choir aisle, and

under the bell-tower.

In the floor on the north side of the choir, near the altar rails, is a

stone with modern inscription recording the burial places of Elfrieus

and Kinsius, both Archbishops of York: the former died in 1051, the

latter in 1060. An old guide-book says that "on the north side, in two

hollow places of wall, were found two chests about three feet long, in

each of which were the bones of a man: and of whom appeared by a plate

of lead in each chest, whereon the name of the person was engraved,"

these names being those given above. The chronicle expressly records of

Kinsius, "_jacet tumulatus in scrinio juxta magnum altare in parte

boreali_."

[Illustration: Portion of Abbot's Tomb.]

Queen Katherine of Arragon was buried in the north choir aisle, just

outside the most eastern arch, in 1535. A hearse was placed near,

probably between the two piers. Four years later this is described as

"the inclosed place where the Lady Katherine lieth," and there seems to

have been a small altar within it. Some banners that adorned it remained

in the cathedral till 1586. About the same time some persons were

imprisoned for defacing the "monument," and required to "reform the

same." The only monument, strictly so called, of which there is any

record, was a low table monument, raised on two shallow steps, with

simple quatrefoils, carved in squares set diamond-wise. Engravings of

this shew it to have been an insignificant and mean erection. A few

slabs of it were lately found buried beneath the floor, and they are now

placed against the wall of the aisle. One of the prebendaries repaired

this monument at his own cost, about 1725, and supplied a tiny brass

plate with name and date, part of which remains in the floor. This

monument was removed in 1792. A handsome marble stone has quite recently

been laid down to the Queen's memory above her grave, with incised

inscription and coats of arms.

A tablet has been erected in the south choir aisle to record the fact

that Mary Queen of Scots had been buried near the spot. Recent

explorations have proved that the exact spot was just within the choir.

The funeral took place on the first of August, 1587. Remains of the

hearse between the pillars were to be seen so lately as 1800. On Oct.

11, 1612, the body was removed to Westminster Abbey, by order of King

James I., the Queen's son. A photograph of the letter ordering the

removal, the original of which is still in possession of the Dean and

Chapter, is framed and hung on an adjacent pillar.

[Illustration: Portion of Abbot's Tomb.]

In the south choir aisle is a fine monument with a life-size effigy of

Archbishop Magee in his robes. It is carved in pure white marble. On the

side are impaled coats of arms and an inscription. The likeness is

excellent.

[Illustration: Portion of Abbot's Tomb.]

The other tablets and inscriptions hardly require detailed descriptions.

In the New Building is the mutilated monument to Sir Humfrey Orme: no

names or dates remain; at the top are the words _Sanguis Iesu Christi

purgat nos ab omnibus Peccatis nostris_. Near this is an elaborate

erection to Thomas Deacon, 1721, a great benefactor to the town. On a

stone to John Brimble, organist of S. John's College, Cambridge, 1670,

we read that he was _Musis et musicæ devotissimus, ad coelestem evectus

Academiam_. Among many inscriptions some interesting items will be

found. John Benson, 1827, was the "oldest Committee Clerk at the House

of Commons." Humfrey Orme, 1670, was _A supremo Ang'iæ senatu ad

superiorem sanctorum conventum evocatus._ On the memorial to Bishop

Madan, 1813, are the lines:--

In sacred sleep the pious Bishop lies,

Say not in death--A good Man never dies.

[Illustration: South Aisles of Choir and Nave.]

On the tablet to Bishop Cumberland, 1718, are four Latin lines from

Dean Duport's epigram upon the Bishop's confutation of Hobbes. In the

south choir aisle, on the tablet to Dean Lockier, 1740, is the only

instance of the arms of the Deanery impaling another shield, on a

monument. Near this is a wooden tablet executed in good taste, recording

the fact that the iron screens are a memorial to Dean Argles, whose

munificent gifts to the cathedral are well known. The Norman arch at

the west end of this aisle has a modern painted inscription, believed to

be an exact copy of the original:--

_Hos tres Abbates, Quibus est Prior Abba Johannes

Alter Martinus, Andreas Ultimus, unus

Hic claudit Tumulus; pro Clausis ergo rogemus_.

Near this is a tablet to Roger Pemberton, 1695, with a line from Homer

in Greek, "The race of men is as the race of leaves." In the north choir

aisle John Workman, Prebendary, 1685, is described as _Proto-Canonicus_,

probably meaning that he held the first stall. The tablet to Frances

Cosin (d. 1642), wife of the Dean, afterwards Bishop of Durham, was not

erected till after the Bishop's death in 1672. He prescribed in his will

the words of the inscription. On the large tablet above the piscina is a

punning motto, _Temperantia te Temperatrice_, the person commemorated

being Richard Tryce, 1767.

Two tablets of interest in connexion with the Great War are to be seen

in the south aisle of the nave, one in marble to Nurse Cavell, and the

other in bronze to the "lonely Anzac," Thomas Hunter, an Australian who

died in Peterborough from wounds received in France.

Last of all we must speak of the one memorial which is usually looked at

first, the famous picture of Old Scarlett, on the wall of the western

transept. He is represented with a spade, pickaxe, keys, and a whip in

his leathern girdle; at his feet is a skull. At the top of the picture

are the arms of the cathedral. Beneath the portrait are these lines:--

YOV SEE OLD SCARLEITS PICTVRE STAND ON HIE

BVT AT YOVR FEETE THERE DOTH HIS BODY LYE

HIS GRAVESTONE DOTH HIS AGE AND DEATH TIME SHOW

HIS OFFICE BY THEIS TOKENS YOV MAY KNOW

SECOND TO NONE FOR STRENGTH AND STVRDYE LIMM

A SCARBABE MIGHTY VOICE WITH VISAGE GRIM

HEE HAD INTER'D TWO QVEENES WITHIN THIS PLACE

AND THIS TOWNES HOVSEHOLDERS IN HIS LIVES SPACE

TWICE OVER: BVT AT LENGTH HIS ONE TVRNE CAME

WHAT HEE FOR OTHERS DID FOR HIM THE SAME

WAS DONE: NO DOVBT HIS SOVL DOTH LIVE FOR AYE

IN HEAVEN: THOVGH HERE HIS BODY CLAD IN CLAY.

On the floor is a stone inscribed: "Ivly 2 1594 R S aetatis 98." This

painting is not a contemporary portrait, but a copy made in 1747. In

1866 it was sent on loan to the South Kensington Museum.

[Illustration: South Side of the Close, 1801.]

CHAPTER IV.

THE MINSTER PRECINCTS AND CITY.

There are many objects of great interest to be seen in the Minster Yard.

This name is not unfrequently given to the whole of the territory

belonging to the Dean and Chapter surrounding the church. The correct

title is, however, as given above, the Minster Precincts; and it is by

this name that the parish is described, for the Abbey Church, like a few

others, is a parish church, as well as the Cathedral of the diocese.

Although without churchwardens, this parish still appoints its own

overseers of the poor. Old residents distinguish the Close from the

Precincts, limiting the use of the former expression to the area west of

the Cathedral. Contrary to what all would expect, the great gateway to

the west is not the boundary of the Precincts, for they extend a little

further west, and include one or two houses beyond the gateway.

This ancient entrance to the monastic grounds naturally first arrests

the attention. It was built by Abbot Benedict in the last quarter of the

twelfth century. Though it has been much altered, a considerable part of

the original structure remains. As we see it from the Marketplace we

observe a fifteenth century look about it: on closer inspection we see

that a late Decorated arch has been built in front of the Norman arch,

and that a facing of the same date has been carried above. Here is an

arcade, with the alternate panels pierced for windows. On each side of

the gateway are also good Norman arcades; the doorway in the arcade to

the north opens into a residence, that on the south gives access to the

room above. This was originally the Chapel of S. Nicolas. On the

eastern side of the room is a three-light window, manifestly a late

insertion, and adapted from some other building. It is said to be part

of a shrine which formerly was in the Cathedral, a portion of which

still remains in the new building. This statement has been repeated over

and over again; but it is difficult to see any resemblance between the

two.

The chapel over the gateway has been put to various uses since the

dissolution of monasteries. In 1617 it was assigned to the porter as

part of his residence. At a later period it was let. It has served the

purposes of a muniment room, a Masonic lodge room, a tailor's workshop,

a practising room for the choristers, a class-room for the Grammar

School. In the flourishing days of the Gentlemen's Society, when members

met and read papers, and kept up a considerable literary correspondence

with learned men in various parts of the kingdom, its meetings were held

here; and it is now used as a Record Room for the Diocese of

Peterborough.

On the left hand, as we pass through the gate, is all that remains of

the =Chapel of S. Thomas of Canterbury=. It is the chancel of a much

larger building. Originally the chapel was begun by Waterville and

finished by Benedict: it was therefore of Norman date. The present

chancel was built in the latter part of the fourteenth century. While

the east window, with its graceful net tracery and very elegant cross

above, might suggest an earlier date, yet a glance at the side windows,

which are distinctly of transitional character, tells us that 1360 or

1370 may be assigned as the period of erection. About 1404 the abbey

gave the materials of the nave of this chapel to the town, to assist in

rebuilding the parish church on the present site; but the chancel had

been too recently built to be removed. Since the establishment of the

Cathedral the chancel seems always to have been used as the Cathedral

Grammar School, until the year 1885, when the School was removed to new

buildings in the Park Road. It was next used as a museum by the Natural

History and Archaeological Society, until their collection outgrew the

room and they removed to larger premises in Queen Street (see p. 111).

For a time it was a Needlework School of Art, and now it is a Rovers Den

in connexion with the Scout movement.

All the other ancient buildings on the west, the Plumber's Office, the

Sister House, the Treasurer's Office, have long disappeared. The Minster

Almshouses, adjoining the wall of the Deanery garden, are the only

buildings on the north side. They have no ancient features.

[Illustration: Cathedral Gateway, 1791.]

The door immediately to the right of the great gateway as we enter the

close leads to a vaulted chamber which was once the gaol. A few steps

bring us to a very magnificent gateway, leading to the Palace grounds,

over which is a chamber, called the =Knights' Chamber=. This is of Early

English date, with a fine groined roof. The gates and postern are placed

at some distance from the outer archway, adding greatly to the dignity

and effect of the whole composition. The delicate arcading of the sides,

and the excellent clustered shafts, are good examples of the period:

unfortunately the bases of the shafts are now hidden by accumulation of

earth. On the north and south faces are long niches with figures: three

on the north are said to be King Edward II., and the Abbot and Prior of

the period; those on the south are Apostles. The chamber above is used

for meetings, etc.

Much of the line of buildings to the east of this gateway is modern, but

it harmonizes excellently with the ancient work. Near the Cathedral is

some mediaeval work, and the office at the end, on the ground floor,

has a good stone groined roof. This is believed to have been the

Penitentiary.

The _Deanery Gateway_, at the north-eastern corner of the close is a

fine specimen of architecture. In the spandrels above the great

four-centred arch are two coats of arms, one with the keys and

crosslets, the other with swords and crosses. These are now the arms of

the See and the Cathedral respectively: but it is difficult to say what

was their special significance when this gate was erected. Are we to

suppose that the Abbot and Prior used different armorial bearings before

the Reformation? Above the smaller door is a boldly carved rebus of the

Abbot in whose time the gate was erected, a church on a tun, Robert

Kirton (Kirkton). His initials in stone are also carved beneath the

parapet. Several of the details are well worthy of attention. We find

the Tudor rose and portcullis: the arms of S. Edward and of S. Edmund,

the Martyr King; an early instance in stone of the Prince of Wales'

feathers; and the triangular symbol of the Holy Trinity. The date is

about 1520.

Through an open archway to the east we enter the burial ground. Until

1804 this was the only place of burial for the whole city. On the left

is the Deanery, but nothing of antiquity is to be seen from the

exterior. In the hall are some good fragments of old glass, some of it

probably part of the original embellishments of the house, though some

may have been brought from the Cathedral, and some is again quite

modern. Some panels of early date, brought from another room, have also

lately been put up in the hall. The churchyard has been planted with

trees and shrubs, and is well kept. It has, however, become much more

publicly used than was the case in the last century, owing to a

thoroughfare for foot-passengers which has been opened at the

north-western end of the close; and the usual results of such publicity

have followed in the treading down of the turf and in the damage

inflicted on the shrubs. One of the most striking views of the Cathedral

is seen from the north-eastern corner of the precincts, near the house

known as "The Vineyard." This was the house occupied by the officers who

came down to superintend the spoliation of the building in 1643. This

view takes in the whole of the great length of the Cathedral, the

bell-tower and the north-western spire forming a very effective group.

Passing round the east end and proceeding to the south we come to the

ruins of the =Infirmary=. Here we may see some very excellent Early

English work, most elegant and graceful. It was erected about 1260. The

plan was similar to a large church with aisles. The nave was used as the

hall, the aisles were the quarters of the inmates, and the chancel was

the chapel of the institution. Many of the main arches remain, and the

details of the ornamentation and mouldings will repay careful study. At

the west end is a very perfect piece of arcading. The large arch, seen

above a low wall to the east, was the arch leading to the chapel; in

exactly the same position as the chancel arch in a church. At each side

of this arch is a lancet never pierced. The main arch is now blocked up,

forming a wall to one of the prebendal houses. The dining room of this

same house was the Infirmarer's house, and has much very interesting

Early English work. To the south of the Infirmary is another ancient

house, though much modernised.

Before entering the Cloister court we pass through the old slype, once a

simple vaulted passage, but now open to the sky. It was the means of

communication between the Refectory, which was situated to the west, and

the Chapter House, which was on the east side of the Cloister. Quite

recently some of the arches on the west side have been opened to view,

and interesting tracery brought to light.

The =Cloister Court= is always called the Laurel Court. The origin of

this name is not known. The northern part of the area covers the site of

the nave of the Saxon church; but though search was made, during the

recent works, for remains of the old foundations, nothing was

discovered. On the south and west sides are to be seen remains of the

arches and groining, but the appearance of the south wall of the

cathedral suggests that there could not have been any covered alley to

the north, so completely have all evidences of such an erection been

removed. But it is known that there did exist an alley there, when the

Cloisters were complete; for Gunton, describing it, says "The Cloyster

about four square, in length 168 yards, in breadth 6 yards." The

windows, contrary to the usual practice, were all glazed, and they

contained a very fine series of painted glass, all destroyed in 1643.

Gunton gives the subjects:--"The windows were all compleat and fair,

adorned with glass of excellent painting: In the South Cloyster was the

History of the Old Testament: In the East Cloyster of the New: In the

North Cloyster, the Figures of the successive Kings from King Peada: In

the West Cloyster, was the History from the foundation of the Monastery

of King Peada, to the restoring of it by King Edgar." Each light had two

lines of verse at the foot, explaining the subject matter of the glass

above. All the verses in the windows of the west alley are given; and

from this we gather that there were nine windows there of four lights

each. Although Gunton only gives the verses belonging to the west

cloister, yet as he said previously that "every window had at the bottom

the explanation of the history thus in verse," it is supposed that

similar legends appeared in all the other alleys of the cloister. The

verses are very quaint.

[Illustration: Door to Palace Grounds from the Cloisters, 1797.]

[Illustration: Door way to Cathedral from the Cloisters.]

The archway at the south-eastern corner is very elegant, the open

quatrefoil above the round arch and below the pointed arch being

especially good. The south wall indicates that there were two sets of

cloisters here, as the remains of early English arcading are to be

clearly seen. Towards the west was the lavatory, the remains indicating

work of late fourteenth century date. It is on record that Robert of

Lindsey (1214-1222) erected a lavatory in the south cloister: this would

be contemporary with the Early English work remaining in this wall, and

with the archway to the slype; but it must have been removed when the

cloisters were enlarged, and another lavatory, of which we see the

remains under three arches, built in its stead. The Refectory was

immediately to the south of this wall: some beautiful carving is to be

seen in the Bishop's garden. The south-western doorway gives access to

the Bishop's grounds. The depth of the hollows behind the carved foliage

above the door is remarkable.

In the west wall are remains of a Norman cloister; there are three

arches and a door. From the architectural character it seems almost

certain that these are older than any part of the present Cathedral.

William of Waterville (1155-1175) "built the Cloister and covered it

with lead." Canon Davys conjectures that this Abbot in reality repaired

and made sound the old cloisters that had been built by Ernulf

(1107-1115), "whose recent additions to the buildings of the monastery,

we learn, alone escaped the fire, which consumed the other parts of the

Abbey in the time of John de Sais." One of these arches has the cheese

moulding; and on each jamb is a small incised cross, a very few inches

long. If these are consecration crosses they are the only ones that have

been noticed in any part of the Abbey.

On the wall of the building west of the south transept are some stone

brackets. These shew that after the destruction of the ancient cloister

a covered way of some kind was erected here. Marks can also be seen, in

the masonry, which indicate that the building once had three gables. Two

of the Norman buttresses of the south nave aisle have very curious

terminations, which might well puzzle any observer. They are fireplaces

for the use of plumbers. Passing through the Norman doorway at the

north-western corner of the Laurel Court, we come into a narrow passage

leading to the Minster Close.

[Illustration: Archway from Cloisters, North-West.]

In the =Bishop's Palace=, besides the remains of the Refectory, which,

though so scanty, shew what a beautiful building it once was, there is

very little worthy of note. The hall is a vaulted chamber, of no great

height, with piers to support the roof; most of it is part of the

Abbot's dwelling, and of thirteenth century date. The Heaven's Gate

Chamber, previously noticed, built by Abbot Kirton (1496-1528), lies to

the south-east of the hall. The chapel was erected by Bishop Magee soon

after he came to the diocese.

=The City.=--The mother church of S. John the Baptist is the only parish

church in the city of mediaeval date. Until 1856 it was the only parish

church in the place. Originally the church stood east of the Minster.

But, following what seems to be almost a universal law, the main

population spread westward as the number of inhabitants increased, and

the earlier buildings were left to the occupation of the poorer class.

An insignificant little house in the old town is traditionally said to

have been the Vicar's residence. It has some evidence of antiquity about

it. The present church was built early in the fifteenth century. It was

opened in 1407 with much solemnity by Abbot Genge. It is a spacious and

dignified building, having a nave of seven bays; and there are two bays

to the chancel, besides the sanctuary. The west tower is good, but

hardly of sufficient dignity for such a church. The interior was

reseated, and new roofs were added in 1883; they were designed by the

late Mr. Pearson.

In 1891 the south porch was restored in memory of Dr. James, a former

vicar. The arches under the tower which had been bricked up for many

years were underpinned and repaired; and in 1909 were again opened to

the church. By 1919 the fittings were almost complete, several rich

stained glass windows and beautiful oak screens had been given as

memorials. A carved reredos, oak panelling and seats, and a marble

pavement have been fitted in the Sanctuary. The organ was rebuilt and

enlarged by Messrs. Harrison of Durham.

Towards the west end of the church in the north aisle is a tablet to

William Squire by Flaxman; close by is a large picture of King Charles I

and two curious specimens of early embroidery are also to be seen; they

were once portions of altar-cloths, or of copes. In each case the work

is in the form of a cross, about two feet long. Each has the figure of

the Saviour on the Cross; but the details are not identical.

[Illustration: Church of S. John the Baptist and Guildhall.]

=The Guild Hall=, in the Market Place, is an effective little building,

dated 1671. The lower part is open, and is used for the butter market.

While sufficient for the transaction of borough business 100 years ago,

it is altogether inadequate now to the requirements of a corporation.

Until a very few years ago there was a mediaeval building at

Peterborough of the greatest interest. This was the old =Tithe Barn= of

the Abbey, situated in the Manor of Boroughbury, on the Lincoln Road. It

was much the finest in the kingdom. Unhappily the "enterprising builder"

has obtained possession of it, and it has been pulled down, the

materials, all Barnack stone, having been employed in building houses.

It was of good thirteenth century work, and in perfect condition. On the

east side were two large porches, by which a waggon fully laden could

enter the barn. The roof was supported by very massive timbers rising

from the ground, the whole arrangement resembling a wooden church with

aisles.

=The Museum= in Queen Street is noted for its collection of Roman and

Saxon antiquities from the city and district; amongst the former are the

noted coffin tile stamped LEG IX. HISP.; the vase showing a coursing

match with the hare and hounds in relief, coins, pottery, brooches, and

other jewellery. The Saxon specimens consist of pottery, jewellery, and

weapons chiefly exhumed at Woodston, about one mile south-west of the

river bridge.

The interesting collection of bone, wood, horn, and straw marquetry work

made at Norman Cross (5 miles) by the French prisoners during the years

1797 to 1814, is unique. MSS. of the Northamptonshire poet, John Clare,

are preserved in this institution, together with a large number of other

local works.

CHAPTER V.

HISTORY OF THE MONASTERY.

The inhabitants of the Fen country, when first distinguished by a

special name, were known as the Gyrvii. Their district included the

south part of Lincolnshire, the north part of Northamptonshire, and the

greater part of Cambridgeshire. The southern Gyrvii were a province of

East Anglia; the Gyrvii of the north appear to have been allied to the

East Anglians, and perhaps inclined to become united with them; but they

were ultimately absorbed in the great Midland Kingdom of Mercia. Bishop

Stubbs,[29] speaking of the early Fasti of Peterborough, says: "Mercia,

late in its formation as a kingdom, sprang at once into a great state

under Penda; late in its adoption of Christianity, it seems from the

period of its conversion to have taken a prominent place at once among

the Christian powers. The Chronicle places the conversion in 655, and a

very few years saw it the best governed and best organised province of

the Church. In less than thirty years it was divided into five dioceses,

amongst which the place of the Fen country is more clearly definable.

The bishopric of Lindsey occupied the north of Lincolnshire, reaching to

the Witham: a line drawn from the south point of Nottinghamshire to the

Cam would probably represent the western border of the Gyrvii; the

border of Cambridgeshire was the boundary of the dioceses of Elmham and

Dunwich. The Fen country thus falls into the eastern portion of the

great Lichfield diocese, which for a few years after 680 had its own

bishop at Leicester, but was not finally separated from the mother see

until 737."

The date given above for the conversion of Mercia, 655, is the date of

the laying of the foundation of the monastery of Medeshamstede. Penda

had been succeeded on the throne of Mercia by his eldest son, Peada; and

he, in conjunction with Oswy, brother of King Oswald, determined to

"rear a minster to the glory of Christ and honour of Saint Peter."

=Saxulf= (656-675), was the first Abbot. In Bede no mention is made of

royal patronage, and the whole credit of founding the abbey is given to

Saxulf. Another account represents him as having been a thane of great

wealth and renown, and that this abbey was dedicated by him "as the

first fruits of the Mercian church." He was made Bishop of Lichfield in

675, but continued to take an active part in the affairs of the abbey.

He died in 691.

=Cuthbald= (675), is named in the Chronicle as having been second Abbot.

One of this name, possibly the same, was ruling the monastery at Oundle

in 709, when S. Wilfrid died there. Nothing further is known of him; and

nothing at all of =Egbald=, who appears in the usual lists as his

successor.

The chroniclers give for the fourth Abbot one Pusa. But Bishop Stubbs

has proved that =Bothwin= was Abbot from 758 to 789; and concludes that

the introduction of Pusa into the list is a mistake, if not a mere

invention.

Abbot =Beonna= came next, probably in 789 or very soon afterwards.

"Possibly this Beonna is the same who was made Bishop of Hereford in

823, and died in 830."

=Ceolred= succeeded, and in the year 852 signs a grant of land as Abbot.

Patrick conjectures that he became a bishop, but does not name his

diocese. There is no certainty about the dates at which these early

abbots entered upon their office; and possibly some names have been

altogether lost. But all accounts agree that the last Abbot of

Medeshamstede was =Hedda=; and that he perished when the monastery was

destroyed and its inmates killed by the Danes in 870. A graphic account

of the circumstances attending this attack is given by Ingulf; but as

authentic historians like Orderic and Malmesbury have no reference

whatever to the occurrences described by Ingulf, Bishop Stubbs

unwillingly is obliged to consider his version to be a pure romance. But

of the fact itself, the utter destruction of the monastery, there is no

question; nor of the fact that all the inmates, or nearly all, perished.

We read that at Crowland some monks escaped the general slaughter, and

met again, after the departure of the Danes, and elected a fresh abbot.

They then came to Medeshamstede, and buried the bodies of those that had

been murdered, in one vast tomb. It has been commonly supposed that the

Monks' Stone, before described, was the stone erected at the time in

commemoration of the disaster. The arguments against this supposition

have been already given.

The Fen monasteries remained desolate for 100 years. During that period

the lands were constantly being seized by different intruders. It was

not till the time of Alfred the Great, who came to the throne in 871,

that the invasions of the Danes were finally checked, and tranquillity

restored to the kingdom. Security being assured, the people began again

to improve their public buildings and the religious houses. Crowland was

the first in the neighbourhood to be restored. This restoration was

effected by Thurketyl. Instigated probably by his example, Ethelwold,

Bishop of Winchester, encouraged and supported by King Edgar, rebuilt

the monastery of Medeshamstede after the old model. The rebuilding was

completed in 972; and the name of Burgh was given to the place, and the

old name went altogether out of use.

The first Abbot, after the re-establishment of the monastery, was

=Aldulf= (971-992), formerly Chancellor to the King. He is said to have

accidentally caused the death of his only son, and feeling that he could

no longer live happily in the midst of earthly vanities, he endowed this

monastery with all his possessions, and was appointed to govern it.

Gunton declares that the prosperous and wealthy condition of the abbey

under the rule of Aldulf caused its name to be improved into

Gildenburgh, the Golden Borough. At this time most of the neighbouring

woods were cut down and the land brought into cultivation. Aldulf became

Bishop of Worcester after remaining twenty years at Burgh; and in 995

was made Archbishop of York. He died in May 1002, and is buried at

Worcester. He held indeed the See of Worcester with that of York till

his death.

He was succeeded at Burgh by =Kenulf= (992-1005). He is described as

famous for his wisdom and learning, and as having governed his abbey

"most admirably and sweetly." In 1005 he was made Bishop of Winchester,

not without suspicion of a corrupt purchase (_episcopatum nummis

nundinatus fuerat_), and died the following year.

The next Abbot, =Elsinus= (1006-1055), was remarkable chiefly for the

number of relics he collected, designing thereby to increase the fame

and wealth of the monastery. Dean Patrick thinks that before Elsinus

there was an abbot named KINSINUS, whose name he found in one record;

but he adds that if he were really abbot it could at most have been for

a few days or months. The list of relics gathered together by Elsinus is

extensive. At least eighty are enumerated. It speaks volumes for the

credulity of the age when we find in this list such things as the

following:--A portion of Aaron's rod that budded; a portion of one of

the five loaves that fed the five thousand; a shoulder-blade of one of

the Holy Innocents; two pieces of the Virgin Mary's veil; part of the

stone paten of the Evangelist S. John. The great relic of the house was

the arm of S. Oswald. The date when this was acquired is not certainly

known, some thinking that this period is too early a date to assign to

its acquisition. Bede relates[30] "that this Oswald, King of

Northumberland, was very free and liberal in giving of alms to the poor;

and one day whilst he sate at meat, one of his servants told him of a

great number of poor people come to his gate for relief; whereupon King

Oswald sent them meat from his own table, and there not being enough to

serve them all, he caused one of his silver dishes to be cut in pieces,

and to be distributed amongst the rest; which Aydanus, a Bishop (who

came out of Scotland to convert, and instruct those Northern parts of

England), beholding, took the King by the right hand, saying, _nunquam

inveterascat haec manus_, let this hand never wax old, or be corrupted;

which came to pass. This arm was first deposited at Bamburgh, a

religious place in Yorkshire.[31] Walter of Whittlesey writing the story

thereof, tells that it was brought to the monastery of Burgh by

Winegotus of Bebeberch, but saith not when, therefore I cannot

conjecture better than that it was by the procurement of this Abbot

Elsinus. It is said that this arm wrought many cures upon several

diseased folk; and that it was of such fame in the days of King

Stephen, as that he himself came to Peterburgh purposely to see it; and

offered his ring to S. Oswald, and also remitted to the monastery the

sum of forty marks wherein it was indebted unto him." It is specially

recorded in the Chronicle that this abbot took advantage of the poverty

of an abbey in Normandy, the district having been afflicted with a

grievous famine, and purchased from it the body of S. Florentinus, with

the exception of the head, for one hundred pounds of silver.

He was succeeded by =Arwinus= (1055-1057), a monk of the house, but he

resigned the government in two years. Next came =Leofric= (1057-1066), a

very eminent man, said to have been of royal descent. He was nephew to

Leofric, Earl of Coventry. In the time of this abbot, William of

Normandy invaded England, and Leofric was for some time with the English

army. But in consequence of ill health he was obliged to leave it and

return to his monastery, where he died the same year. He is highly

praised in the Chronicle as "_pulcherrimus Monachorum, flos et decus

Abbatum_."

=Brando= (1066-1069), succeeded, and greatly offended King William by

applying to Edgar Atheling for confirmation of his appointment. He was

uncle to Hereward, the Saxon patriot, and created him knight. At his

death a Norman was appointed, =Turold=, of Fescamp (1069-1098); but "he

neither loved his monastery, nor his convent him." During the interval

between Brando's death and Turold's arrival, a partial destruction of

the monastery took place. This has been already described. Some account

for Hereward's share in the attack and in the carrying off of the

treasures by supposing that he meant to restore them when the rule of

the Norman Abbot came to an end. When Turold arrived at Peterborough he

brought with him a force of 160 well-armed Normans. Joining the forces

of Ivo Taillebois he attacked the Camp of Refuge near Ely. The attacking

party was repulsed by Hereward, and Turold taken prisoner, and only

liberated upon paying a heavy ransom. Soon afterwards the Abbot is said

to have received into the monastery two monks from beyond sea, "who

secretly stole away, and carried many of the Church Goods with them." At

length he was made Bishop in France, and the monastery trusted they had

seen the last of him. But he was ignominiously expelled in four days,

and was permitted, upon paying a large sum of money to the king, to

resume his abbacy.

[Illustration: Rose Windows and Details of West Front.]

Another uncle of Hereward's, =Godric= (1099-1103), brother of Brando,

became the next abbot. The monks had purchased from the king the right

to elect their own abbot; and Godric, being considered by this

transaction to have committed simony, was (with the neighbouring abbots

of Ely and Ramsey) deposed by a council held under the presidency of

Archbishop Anselm.

=Matthias= (1103-1105), was brother of Geoffrey, the Chief Justice, who

was drowned at the foundering of The White Ship, when Prince William,

the King's son, was lost. After the death of Matthias there was a

vacancy of three years, until =Ernulf= (1107-1114), Prior of Canterbury

came. He became Bishop of Rochester, and died in 1124.

=John de Sais= (1114-1125), probably came from Seès, in Normandy; though

he is sometimes called John of Salisbury. In 1116 nearly the whole town

was consumed by a fire that lasted nine days. It began in the bakehouse

of the monastery and completely destroyed the church and most of the

abbey buildings, the Chapter House, Refectory and Dormitory alone

escaping. In March 1118 (or, as then written, 1117), the commencement

was made of the building that now exists. Abbot John died in 1125; and

again the King kept the abbey in his own hands for more than two years.

=Henry of Anjou= (1128-1133), where he was Abbot, was a kinsman of the

King. He had numerous preferments abroad; and after five years here was

forced to resign and to betake himself to Anjou.

=Martin de Vecti= (1133-1155), had been Prior of S. Neots. Gunton

considers he came originally from the Isle of Wight, Vectis; Dean

Patrick thinks he derived his name from Bec, in Normandy. He was a great

builder, and was very industrious in repairing the abbey, and especially

the church.

=William of Waterville= (1155-1175), was chaplain to King Henry II. He

devoted himself to the building of the church, and the portion

attributed to him has been indicated in a previous chapter. He was also

very attentive to the management of the estates of the monastery, and to

acquiring new ones; but his business capacity seems to have brought him

into some disrepute and to have raised some enemies, who accused him to

the King; and by the King's order he was deposed in the Chapter-house,

as Dean Patrick relates[32] "before a multitude of abbots and monks;

being neither convicted of any crime, nor confessing any, but privily

accused to the Archbishop by some monks." It is recorded that he

appealed to the Pope against the sentence of deprivation, but without

success.

=Benedict= (1177-1193), was Prior of Canterbury; and, towards the end of

his life, Keeper of the Great Seal. He had a heavy task at the beginning

of his rule in restoring discipline, which had become lax, and in

reforming many evil customs that had crept into the house. He was an

author, and produced a work on the career of S. Thomas of Canterbury,

whose murder had taken place only seven years before Benedict came to

Peterborough. He gave many ornaments and vestments to the church, and

brought several relics; and in particular some of Thomas à Becket (and

those we can certainly believe were more authentic than most relics),

among which are mentioned his shirt and surplice, a great quantity of

his blood in two crystal vessels, and two altars of the stone on which

he fell when he was murdered. He was, as might be expected, very zealous

in completing the chapel at the monastery gate which his predecessor had

begun to raise in honour of the martyred Archbishop. Dean Stanley[33]

speaks of Benedict's acquisition of the relics as "one of two memorable

acts of plunder ... curiously illustrative of the prevalent passion for

such objects." He says Benedict was probably the most distinguished monk

of Christ Church, and after his appointment to Peterborough, "finding

that great establishment almost entirely destitute of relics, he

returned to his own cathedral, and carried off with him the flagstones

immediately surrounding the sacred spot, with which he formed two altars

in the conventual church of his new appointment, besides two vases of

blood and part of Becket's clothing." Benedict, though a member of the

house and probably within the precincts, was not actually present at the

Archbishop's murder. Besides his building operations (he built nearly

all the nave of the church) he was very attentive to the landed property

of the house, successfully recovering some estates which had been

alienated.

=Andrew= (1193-1201) had been Prior. He was "very mild and peaceable,

and made it his endeavour to plant and establish peace and tranquillity

in his flock." Several fresh acquisitions of land were made in his time,

and the monastery was very flourishing.

=Acharius= (1201-1214) came here from S. Albans, where he was Prior. He

devoted himself entirely to the administration of his office, managing

the affairs of the monastery with the greatest care and judgement. He

left behind him a reputation for "order, honesty, kindness and bounty,

that from him posterity might learn how to behave themselves both in the

cloister and in the world."

[Illustration: Tomb of an Abbot, possibly Abbot Andrew, 1201.]

=Robert of Lindsey= (1214-1222) succeeded. This was four years after the

death of his predecessor, during which period King John had kept the

monastery in his own hands. This expression, which is of frequent

occurrence, must be understood to mean that the king took possession of

all the revenues belonging to the Abbot, and probably much more from the

property of the monastery, the expenses of which would be materially

lessened by the mere fact of there being no Abbot. Robert had been

Sacrist here, and when he was advanced to the highest office he effected

many improvements in the furniture and ornaments of the church, and in

the buildings, not only of the monastery itself, but also of the manors

and farms belonging to it. One alteration he effected is worth special

mention; many of the windows of the church previously stuffed with reeds

and straw, were glazed. The civil wars in this reign brought desolation

to many religious houses: but we do not read that Peterborough suffered.

Robert is said to have written a history of the monastery. He died in

1222. He had attended the fourth Lateran Council at Rome, in 1215; and

had fought in person for King Henry III. at Rockingham.

=Alexander of Holderness= (1222-1226), the Prior, was next appointed.

Dean Patrick gives, from Swapham, an account of a noteworthy agreement

that was made for mutual benefit between this Abbot and the Abbot of S.

Edmunds Bury. The convents "by this league were tied in a bond of

special affection, for mutual counsel and assistance for ever. They were

so linkt together, as to account themselves one and the same convent: so

that if one of the abbots died, the survivor being desired was

immediately to go to his convent; and there before him they were to make

a canonical election; or if already made, they were to declare it in his

presence. If the friars of either place were by any necessity driven

from their monastery, the other was to receive them, and afford them a

familiar refuge and aid: with a place in their Quire Chapterhouse and

Refectory, _secundum conversionis suae tempus_." This abbot is said to

have been much beloved by the monks. He died in 1226.

=Martin of Ramsey= (1226-1233), one of the monks, was chosen to succeed

Alexander. He remained only six years. After his death another monk,

=Walter of S. Edmunds= (1233-1245), was elected. He was a great builder.

It was during his time that the minster was solemnly re-dedicated. This

abbot made no less than three visits to Rome. On the third occasion he

was summoned in consequence of some irregularity in an appointment to

the living of Castor; but he seems to have managed his case very

adroitly, and to have escaped all censure by assigning an annuity of £10

a year to the Pope's nephew. Another account, however, represents the

abbot as being so distressed at the indignities he suffered at the Papal

Court, that, being unwell before he went there and his infirmities being

increased by his journey, he died very soon after his return to England.

"He left the abbey abounding in all good things; stored with horses,

oxen, sheep and all cattle in great multitudes, and corn in some places

for three years." He died in 1245.

=William de Hotot= (1246-1249), another monk of the house, succeeded

Walter. He held the office only three years, when he resigned and was

assigned a residence at the manor of Cottingham, afterwards exchanged

for one at Oxney, a few miles only from Peterborough. It is said that

his resignation was caused by complaints being made of his enriching his

own kinsfolk, "whereof he had great multitudes swarming about him," at

the expense of the monastery. But the injury he did could not have been

very considerable, for his body was brought to Peterborough to be

buried, and he had an honourable commemoration in the Church's calendar.

=John de Caleto= (1249-1262), that is, of Calais, came here from

Winchester, where he was prior. He was related to the queen. As one of

the Chief Justices he went on circuit. But he seems to have taken the

side of the Barons in the civil war, and is said to have held the office

of treasurer to them for the last two years of his life. He was seldom

in residence at Peterborough, but appointed a very efficient deputy, who

afterwards succeeded him as abbot.

=Robert of Button= (1262-1274) fought in the battle of Northampton

against the king. The king, coming to assault the town, "espied amongst

his enemies' ensigns on the wall the ensign of the Abbey 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, to Prince Edward £60, to the Lord Souch £6, 13s. 4d." When the

fortune of war changed and the Barons were victorious at Lewes, "then

did the other side fleece the Abbot of Peterburgh for his contribution

to the king." After Evesham again the king repeated his exactions, and

the unfortunate abbot had to pay enormously. The total amount that he

paid on these several occasions is put down at a sum which seems almost

impossible, being upwards of £4320. This abbot attended the Council of

Lyons in 1273, and died abroad as he was returning to England. He was

buried abroad; his heart, being brought to Peterborough, was interred

before the altar in one of the chapels in the south transept.

=Richard of London= (1274-1295) is said to have been born in the parish

of S. Pancras. He was a monk of the house, and while sacrist had erected

the Bell-tower and given two bells. A great deal of litigation was

carried on in his time, and he and the abbey were fortunate in having in

one of the monks, William of Woodford, a man of great skill and

judgement, to conduct the different cases before the courts. So

uniformly successful was he and so wisely did he act as coadjutor of

Richard when he became very old and infirm, that he was elected to the

abbacy on the death of Richard of London in 1295.

=William of Woodford= (1295-1299) only lived four years after he became

abbot. After him came =Godfrey of Crowland= (1299-1321), the celerarius

of the monastery. He is very highly praised in the chronicles for the

various services he rendered to the abbey. More than once he was at the

heavy charge of entertaining the king and his court, and he contributed

largely to the expenses of the war with Scotland.

[Illustration: Iron Railings, 1721.]

=Adam of Boothby= (1321-1338), one of the monks, was a man of great

"innocence and simplicity" His revenues were much employed in

contributions to the king's expenses and in royal entertainments; and

his energies devoted to divers legal difficulties connected with manors,

wardships, repairs of bridges, rights of hunting, and the like. Of the

last eleven abbots, whose rule extended over a period of 124 years, all

but one had been monks of the place.

=Henry of Morcot= (1338-1353) in all probability was also one of the

monks, but this is not so recorded. And the same may be said of all the

remaining abbots, but the historians do not say so until the time of

William in 1471. At the same time it is never said that any of them came

from elsewhere.

=Robert of Ramsey= (1353-1361) ruled for eight years, and nothing else

is known about him.

=Henry of Overton= (1361-1391) was abbot during the commotions in King

Richard II.'s reign. The tenants with others rose up against the abbey,

intending to destroy it. The Bishop of Norwich "coming to the assistance

of the monastery with a strong power, forced the villains to desist from

their enterprise: nay, dispersed them, and took some of them, and killed

others; the rest, taking the church for sanctuary, which they intended

to have destroyed, were there run through with lances and swords; some

of them hard by the altar, others by the walls of the church, both

within and without."

=Nicholas= (1391-1396), =William Genge= (1396-1408) the first mitred

abbot, =John Deeping= (1408-1438) in turn succeeded. Nothing remarkable

is told of them. The name of the last and the names of the next two are

really the names of places; but the prefix "de" seems now to have been

discontinued, and the place-name to have become a surname. Abbot John

resigned his office the year before he died.

=Richard Ashton= (1438-1471) took great pains about the regulation of

the services in the church, and drew up a customary out of the ancient

usages of the place.

=William Ramsey= (1471-1496) appears to have devoted his time to the

management of the estates and to upholding the territorial privileges of

the house. If the epitaph formerly to be seen on a brass on his tomb is

to be believed, he was a man prudent, just, pious, esteemed by all,

chaste, kind, and adorned with every virtue.

=Robert Kirton= (1496-1528) has left several proofs of his energy in

building, signing, as it were, the stones with his autograph. His

rebus, a kirk on a ton, sometimes accompanied by the initial of his

Christian name, is to be seen in the New Building, which he completed,

on the Deanery gateway, and on the graceful oriel window in the Bishop's

Palace. The chamber to which this window gives light still retains the

name originally given of "Heaven's Gate Chamber." Much other work done

by him towards the beautifying of the church and buildings has perished.

The last abbot was =John Chambers= (1528-1540). One incident of

considerable interest is related as having taken place 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 canvas 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 cardinal's vestments, and

sang the High-Mass himself after a solemn manner, which he concluded

with his benediction and remission upon all the hearers." This abbot was

a native of Peterborough, and was sometimes known as John Burgh; and on

the brass placed on his tomb he was called "Johannes Burgh, Burgo

natus." A monumental effigy was also erected to him, "made of white

chalkstone"; and this is almost certainly the figure now placed

(temporarily) at the back of the apse. This abbot was B.D. of Cambridge

and one of the king's chaplains. It was during his time that Queen

Katherine of Arragon was interred in the minster. The well-known story

that the building was spared by the king out of regard to the memory of

his first wife is told by Dean Patrick in these words:--[34]"There is

this traditional story goes concerning the preservation of this church

at the dissolution of abbeys: that a little after Queen Katherine's

interment here (which Mr G. mentions), some courtiers suggesting to the

king how well it would become his greatness to erect a fair monument for

her, he answered, 'Yes, he would leave her one of the goodliest

monuments in Christendom,' meaning this church, for he had then in his

thoughts the demolishing of abbeys, which shortly after followed." Abbot

Chambers surrendered the monastery to the king in 1540, and was

appointed guardian of the temporalities, with a pension of £266, 13s.

4d. and 100 loads of wood. The king divided the whole property of the

abbey into three parts, retaining one-third for himself, and assigning

the other parts upon the foundation of the see to the Bishop and Chapter

respectively. If the annual value of the portion he reserved for his own

use may be taken to be exactly one-third of the possessions of the

abbey, the entire property must have been worth as nearly as possible

£2200 per annum. The last abbot became the first bishop.

It is remarkable that of the two queens buried at Peterborough, the body

of one has been removed to Westminster by the orders of her son, and

that a similar removal had been previously designed for the body of the

other. Queen Katherine's daughter, Queen Mary, left directions in her

will that "the body of the virtuous Lady and my most dere and

well-beloved mother of happy memory, Queen Kateryn, which lyeth now

buried at Peterborowh," should be removed and laid near the place of her

own sepulture, and that honourable monuments should be made for both. It

would have been a singular coincidence if this intention had been

carried out.

CHAPTER VI.

HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE.

The Abbey Church was converted into the Cathedral of the newly-founded

diocese of Peterborough by deed bearing date September 4, 1541. The

counties of Northampton and Rutland were the limits of the new see. The

king's original plan for the establishment of bishoprics out of the

confiscated estates of monastic establishments was too generous to be

put into practice. He designed the foundation of no less than twenty-one

new sees. In this scheme Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire were

assigned to the diocese of Peterborough; and, considering the situation

of the new cathedral, this would have been a more satisfactory

arrangement than the one which was ultimately carried out. The only

change that has been made in the limits of the diocese is that, in the

year 1839, the county of Leicester was detached from the see of Lincoln

and joined to Peterborough.

As has been said above, the first bishop was =John Chambers=

(1541-1556). He was consecrated[35] in the minster on the 23rd of

October 1541, by Thomas (Thirlby), Bishop of Ely, Robert (Blyth), Bishop

of Down, last Abbot of Thorney, Suffragan of Ely, and Thomas (Hallam or

Swillington), Bishop of Philadelphia, Suffragan of Lincoln. Strype has

an account of his costly funeral. The two memorials to him in the church

had been erected by himself in his lifetime.

=David Pole= (1556-1559) is generally held to have been a relative (some

say a nephew) of Cardinal Reginald Pole. He was Dean of the Arches. He

was not consecrated till August 1557, and so held the bishopric less

than two years, being deprived by Queen Elizabeth in June 1559. He lived

quietly in London till his death in 1568.

=Edmund Scambler= (1560-1584) in the Roman index of books prohibited is

called Pseudo-Episcopus, no doubt because there was another Bishop of

Peterborough, Pole, still living. He alienated many of the lands and

manors of his bishopric to the queen and to her courtiers; and as a

reward he was translated to Norwich, where he died ten years later.

=Richard Howland= (1584-1600) was Master of Magdalene, and afterwards of

S. John's, Cambridge. He was present at the funeral of Mary Queen of

Scots. He was buried at the upper end of the choir, but no stone or

monument exists to his memory.

=Thomas Dove= (1600-1630) was Dean of Norwich. He was[36] "a lover of

hospitality, keeping a very free house, and having always a numerous

family, yet was so careful of posterity that he left a fair estate to

his heirs." He was buried in the north transept. "Over his body was

erected a very comely monument of 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." This was

destroyed in 1643. There was a long Latin inscription in prose and

verse, and among the verses these occur:--

"Hoc addam: Hie illa est senio argentata Columba

Davidis, coelos hinc petit ille suos."

This monument was erected by the bishop's eldest son, Sir William Dove,

Kt., of Upton.

=William Peirse= (1630-1632) was promoted from the Deanery. He only

remained here as bishop two years, when he was translated to Bath and

Wells. "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." He was silenced during the civil war,

but restored in 1660. On his tombstone, at Walthamstow, it is said

"_Templum Cathedrale Wellense reparavit, Episcopale Palatium

exædificavit, coelis maturus terris valedixit an. æt._ 94 _salut_.

1670."

=Augustine Lindsell= (1632-1634) was Dean of Lichfield. He was

translated to Hereford after being bishop here two years, but died

within a few months.

=Francis Dee= (1634-1638) was Dean of Chichester. "He was a man of very

pious life and affable behaviour." He founded scholarships and

fellowships at S. John's College, Cambridge, of which he had been

Fellow, for boys from the King's School, Peterborough, of his name or

kindred. In 1637 Archbishop Laud reported to the King that "My Lord of

Peterborough hath taken a great deal of pains and brought his diocese

into very good order." He left by will £100 to the repairs of the

Cathedral, and the same amount to the repairs of S. Paul's. He was

buried in the choir, near the throne.

=John Towers= (1638-1649) was one of the King's chaplains. He was

promoted from the Deanery. He protested, with eleven other bishops,

against the opposition that was made by the Parliamentary party to their

taking their seats in the House of Lords, in which protest it was

declared that all laws, orders, votes, or resolutions, were in

themselves null and of none effect, which in their absence from Dec.

27th 1641, had been passed, or should afterwards be passed, during the

time of their enforced absence. For this they were committed to the

Tower, and kept there four or five months. Being set free he was allowed

to return to Peterborough, but his revenues were taken away. Living here

in a state of continual alarm, he betook himself to the king's forces at

Oxford, where he remained until the surrender of the place. Coming back

here in 1646 his health failed, and he died about three weeks before the

king was beheaded. He was buried in the choir.

[Illustration: Details of Chasuble on Abbot's Tomb.]

No successor was appointed until the Restoration. =Benjamin Laney=

(1660-1663) was then made Bishop. He was Dean of Rochester, and had been

Master of Pembroke, Cambridge. He was translated to Lincoln in 1663, and

to Ely in 1667. He died in 1675, and is buried at Lambeth.

=Joseph Henshaw= (1663-1679) was Dean of Chichester. He died suddenly on

March 9, 1679, on his return from attending service at Westminster

Abbey. He was buried at East Lavant in Sussex, where he had been rector.

=William Lloyd= (1679-1685) was translated from Llandaff, and was

further translated to Norwich in 1685. He was deprived of his see as a

Nonjuror in 1691. He lived at Hammersmith till his death in 1710. He was

the last survivor of the seven deprived bishops. It is singular that his

namesake, William Lloyd, bishop of S. Asaph, should have been one of the

seven bishops committed to the Tower by King James II. in 1688; but he

had no scruples about taking the oaths to the new sovereigns, and became

afterwards Bishop of Lichfield, and ultimately of Worcester.

=Thomas White= (1685-1691) was one of the seven committed to the Tower,

and also one of the seven deprived in 1691 as Nonjurors. He attended Sir

John Fenwick on the scaffold. This bishop, with his predecessor, Bishop

Lloyd, the deprived Bishop of Norwich, were two of the consecrators of

the Nonjuring Bishops, Hickes and Wagstaffe. There were really ten

bishops (including Archbishop Sancroft) who refused the oaths to William

and Mary; but the Bishops of Worcester, Chichester, and Chester died

before the time fixed for the deprivation. Bishop White lived in

retirement after he left his diocese. He died in 1698, and his funeral

is mentioned in Evelyn's _Diary_, under date June 5th: "Dr White, late

Bishop of Peterborough, who had been deprived for not complying with

Government, was buried in St Gregory's churchyard or vault, at St

Paul's. His hearse was accompanied by two Nonjuror bishops, Dr. Turner

of Ely, and Dr. Lloyd, with forty Nonjuror clergymen, who could not stay

the office of the burial, because the Dean of St Paul's had appointed a

conforming minister to read the office, at which all much wondered,

there being nothing in that office which mentioned the present king."

Lathbury remarks on this retirement from the grave, that it was a

singular circumstance, and contrary to the practice of the Nonjurors in

many other cases.

=Richard Cumberland= (1691-1718) had a reputation as a philosophical

writer. The only memoir of him is to be found in the preface to

_Sanchoniathon's History_,[37] a posthumous work, in which his chaplain

(and son-in-law) thus describes his appointment:--"The king was told

that Dr Cumberland was the fittest man he could nominate to the

bishopric of Peterborough. Thus a private country clergyman, without

posting to Court--a place he had rarely seen--without suing to great

men, without taking the least step towards soliciting for it, was

pitched upon to fill a great trust, only because he was fittest for it.

He walked after his usual manner on a post-day to the coffee-house, and

read in the newspaper that one Dr Cumberland of Stamford was named to

the bishopric of Peterborough, a greater surprise to himself than to

anybody else." His chaplain speaks of the bishop's character, zeal, and

learning in terms of unqualified praise. One of the bishop's sons,

Richard, was Archdeacon of Northampton, and father of Denison

Cumberland, Bishop of Clonfert and of Kilmore. This last named married a

daughter of Dr Bentley, the famous Master of Trinity College, Cambridge,

and one of their sons was Richard Cumberland, the dramatist. Bishop

Richard Cumberland is buried in the Cathedral, and a tablet to his

memory remains in the New Building.

=White Kennett= (1718-1728) had been Dean. He was a most industrious

writer, many of his works, which are upwards of fifty in number, being

most laborious. His manuscript collections in the British Museum are

also of great value. He is best known from his antiquarian tastes and

studies, and for having directed the attention of his clergy to the

value of parish registers. It would seem that before his time no

transcripts of parish registers were ever sent to the Bishop's Registry

at Peterborough. The earliest transcripts now to be found date only from

the beginning of his episcopate, except that, in a few instances, some

incumbents appear to have sent the entries for six or eight years

previously. Notwithstanding the efficiency of his predecessor he "found

the irregularities of the diocese great and many." The Cathedral service

was negligently conducted, many clergy were non-resident, some small

benefices had been left unfilled. Many other abuses were discovered from

time to time. Bishop Kennett was most active and conscientious in

administering his office, and thoroughly re-organised the diocese; but

his strong political partisanship made for him a great number of

enemies. The enmity he raised came to a culminating point while he was

still dean. An altar-piece representing the Last Supper had been

painted for Whitechapel Church.[38] In this Judas was painted turning

round to the spectator, and was intended to represent Kennett. We do not

know whether the likeness in itself was sufficiently good to be

recognised, but the intention was sufficiently indicated by a black

patch in the centre of the forehead, just under the wig. Kennett always

wore such a patch, to hide a scar which had remained after being

trepanned in early manhood. Judas is, moreover, represented as

clean-shaven, being the only figure so drawn except the Evangelist S.

John. Great scandal and excitement were caused by this picture, and it

was removed. It ultimately found a home at S. Albans Abbey, where it may

still be seen (patch and all), but no longer in the position it once

occupied over the high altar. Bishop Kennett died in 1728, and is buried

in the New Building.

=Robert Clavering= (1728-1747) was consecrated Bishop of Llandaff in

1725, and translated to Peterborough in 1728. He is buried here, but no

memorial exists.

=John Thomas= (1747-1757) was Canon of S. Paul's. He was translated to

Sarum in 1757, and to Winchester in 1761. He was preceptor to Prince

George, afterwards King George III., who used to visit him at Farnham

Castle. In the early part of his episcopate he had a namesake on the

bench, John Thomas, formerly Dean of Peterborough, who was made Bishop

of Lincoln in 1744, and of Sarum in 1761; and during the latter part

another namesake, John Thomas, Bishop of Rochester from 1775 to 1793.

Bishop Thomas of Winchester died in 1781, in his 85th year, and is

buried in his cathedral.

=Richard Terrick= (1757-1764) was Canon of S. Paul's. He was translated

to London in 1764, and died in 1777.

=Robert Lamb= (1764-1769) had been Dean. He is buried at Hatfield, where

he had been rector.

=John Hinchcliffe= (1769-1794) is an instance of a man, rising from an

inferior station to positions of the greatest eminence. His father was a

stable-master in London. Proceeding from Westminster School to Trinity

College, Cambridge, he obtained a Fellowship there. He afterwards,

through a gentleman of wealth to whom he was tutor, secured some very

influential friends, and became Head Master of Westminster School,

Chaplain to the King, and Master of Trinity. This last appointment he

continued to hold with his bishopric until 1789, when he was made Dean

of Durham. A memoir published at the time of his death describes him as

learned, assiduous in his duties, obliging in his manners, and honest

and sincere in his religious and political principles. He died in 1794,

and is buried in the cathedral.

=Spencer Madan= (1794-1813) was a prebendary and king's chaplain, and

first cousin to the poet Cowper. He came back to Peterborough from

Bristol, to which see he was consecrated in 1792. He is buried in the

New Building.

[Illustration: Details of Albs on Abbots' Tombs.]

=John Parsons= (1813-1819) was Master of Balliol and Dean of Bristol. He

was a man of great mark and influence at Oxford, where he died and was

buried. There is a monument to him in the chapel of Balliol.

=Herbert Marsh= (1819-1839) was the author of many controversial works.

He was translated to this see from Llandaff, where he had been bishop

since 1816. He was buried in the New Building--the last bishop interred

in the cathedral.

=George Davys= (1839-1864) was Dean of Chester, and had been preceptor

to Queen Victoria. He was buried in the Cathedral Yard; the Queen sent

one of her carriages with servants in state liveries to attend the

funeral as a mark of her affection and esteem.

=Francis Jeune= (1864-1868) had been Dean of Jersey, Master of Pembroke,

Oxford, and Dean of Lincoln. His eldest son was the well-known judge.

Bishop Jeune is buried in the Cathedral Yard.

=William Connor Magee= (1868-1891) was Dean of Cork. He was translated

to the Archbishopric of York, but died within a very few months, May

5th, 1891. He is buried in the Cathedral Yard, where a massive cross of

Irish marble has been erected over his grave. In the south choir aisle

of the cathedral there is also a recumbent effigy, the likeness to the

deceased prelate being most remarkably good. His career is so recent and

his eminence so well known that it is unnecessary to speak of them.

=Mandell Creighton= (1891-1897) had been Canon of Windsor, and

previously of Worcester. He was translated to London when Bishop Temple

became Archbishop of Canterbury. He died in 1901, and is buried in the

crypt of S. Paul's; an inlaid marble slab copied from the one over his

grave is in the south choir aisle of the cathedral.

=Hon. Edward Carr Glyn= (1897-1916), Vicar of Kensington, Chaplain to

the Queen; resigned 1916.

=Frank Theodore Woods= (1916), Vicar of Bradford, Yorks, 1912-1916, is

the present bishop.

[Illustration: PLAN OF THE CATHEDRAL.]

PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS.

Interior length, 426 feet.

Interior height, 78 "

Nave length, 228 "

Nave width, 35 "

Nave and Aisles, 79 "

Transept length, 185 "

Transept width, 58 "

Area, 41,090 sq feet

DEANS OF PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL.

1541 Francis Abree, B.D.

1543 Gerard Carleton, B.D., Canon of Westminster.

1549 James Curthop, M.A., Canon of Christ Church.

1557 James Boxall, LL.D., Archdeacon of Ely, Warden of Winchester, Dean of Norwich, Dean of Windsor.

1560 William Latimer, D.D., Archdeacon of Westminster.

1585 Richard Fletcher, D.D., Bishop of Bristol, of Worcester, and finally of London.

1590 Thomas Nevill, D.D., Master of Magdalene, and afterwards of Trinity, Cambridge, Canon of Ely, Dean of Canterbury.

1597 John Palmer, D.D., Prebendary of Lichfield, Master of Magdalene, Cambridge.

1607 Richard Clayton, D.D., Archdeacon of Ely, Master of Magdalene, and afterwards of S. John's, Cambridge.

1612 George Meriton, D.D., Dean of Bucking, Dean of York.

1616 Henry Beaumont, D.D., Dean of Windsor.

1622 William Peirse, D.D., Prebendary of S. Paul's, Canon of Christ Church, Bishop of Peterborough, and afterwards of Bath and Wells.

1630 John Towers, D.D., Bishop of Peterborough.

1638 Thomas Jackson, D.D., Prebendary of Winchester, President of Corpus, Oxford.

1640 John Cosin, D.D., Prebendary of Durham, Archdeacon of Cleveland, Master of Peterhouse, Dean of Durham.

1660 Edward Rainbow, D.D., Master of Magdalene, Cambridge, Bishop of Carlisle.

1664 James Duport, D.D., Master of Magdalene, Cambridge, Professor of Greek, Prebendary of Lincoln.

1679 Simon Patrick, D.D., Canon of Westminster, Bishop of Chichester, and afterwards of Ely.

1689 Richard Kidder, D.D., Prebendary of Norwich, Bishop of Bath and Wells.

1601 Samuel Freeman D.D.

1707 White Kermett, D.D., Archdeacon of Huntingdon, Prebendary of Lincoln and of Sarum, Bishop of Peterborough.

1718 Richard Reynolds, LL.D., Prebendary and Chancellor of Peterborough, Bishop of Bangor, and afterwards of Lincoln.

1721 William Gee, D.D., Canon of Westminster, Prebendary and Dean of Lincoln.

1722 John Mandeville, D.D., Archdeacon and Chancellor of Lincoln, Canon of Windsor.

1725 Francis Lockier, D.D.

1740 John Thomas, D.D., Canon of Westminster and of S. Paul's, Bishop of Lincoln, and afterwards of Salisbury.

1744 Robert Lamb, D.D., Bishop of Peterborough.

1764 Charles Tarrant, D.D., Canon of Bristol, Dean of Carlisle, Prebendary of Rochester, Prebendary of Sarum.

1791 Charles Manners Sutton, D.D., Bishop of Norwich, Dean of Windsor, Archbishop of Canterbury.

1792 Peter Peckard, D.D., Prebendary of Southwell, Master of Magdalene, Cambridge.

1798 Thomas Kipling, D.D.

1822 James Henry Monk, D.D., Professor of Greek, Cambridge, Canon of Westminster, Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol.

1830 Thomas Turton, D.D., Professor of Mathematics, Regius Professor of Divinity, Cambridge, Prebendary of Lincoln, Dean of Westminster, Bishop of Ely.

1842 George Butler, D.D., Headmaster of Harrow.

1853 Augustus Page Saunders, D.D., Headmaster of Charterhouse.

1878 John James Stewart Perowne, D.D., Prebendary of S. David's, Canon of Llandaff, Margaret Professor of Divinity, Cambridge, Bishop of Worcester.

1891 Marsham Argles, D.D., Canon of Peterborough.

1893 William Clavell Ingram, D.D., Hon. Canon of Peterborough.

1901 William Hagger Barlow, D.D., Prebendary of S. Paul's Cathedral.

1908 Arnold Henry Page, M.A.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 1: "English Towns and Districts," 1883, pp. 103, 130.]

[Footnote 2: A few other cathedrals which were originally churches of

monasteries are still called Minsters, as York (nearly always),

Canterbury (occasionally), Ripon, Southwell, and perhaps more. Lincoln

Cathedral though often called a Minster was a Cathedral from the first,

and was never attached to a monastery.]

[Footnote 3: Gunton, p. 4.]

[Footnote 4: "Ingulf and the Historia Croylandensis." By W.G. Searle,

M.A., Camb. Antiq. Soc., 8vo. xxvii. p. 65.]

[Footnote 5: Searle: Ingulf, p. 63.]

[Footnote 6: "On the Abbey Church of Peterborough." By G.A. Poole, M.A.

Arch. Soc. Archdeac. Northampton, 1855, p. 190.]

[Footnote 7: Poole, p. 193.]

[Footnote 8: Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, anno 1128.]

[Footnote 9: "Remarks on the Architecture of Peterborough Cathedral." By

F.A. Paley, M.A. 2nd Ed., 1859, p. 21.]

[Footnote 10: The two eastern pillars of the nave are circular; and the

third pillar from the tower, on both sides, is "composed of nook-shafts

set in rectangular recesses against the body of the pier."]

[Footnote 11: Some of Mr Poole's reasoning, as to the different parts of

the nave to be attributed to different abbots, depends upon an

assumption that the Saxon church was on the site of the present one, and

that some part of the nave was still existing in a ruinous condition

while the present choir and tower were being built. Recent discoveries

have proved that this assumption is groundless, for the nave of the

Saxon church was beyond the south aisle of the existing nave.]

[Footnote 12: Poole, p. 204.]

[Footnote 13: Paley, p. 54.]

[Footnote 14: Poole, p. 216.]

[Footnote 15: The engraving that accompanies this description represents

a dignified altar-piece, but seems taken from a rough drawing, or

possibly from memory. On the altar were two tapers burning, an alms

dish, and two books. The Abbot's chair, of stone, is to the south,

facing west.]

[Footnote 16: "Memoirs of the Protectoral-House of Cromwell," ii, 18.]

[Footnote 17: These shields, which were of metal, are now arranged on

the walls of the library.]

[Footnote 18: Where the author has often seen it. It was at last

destroyed in a fire.]

[Footnote 19: Museum Criticum, viii, 672.]

[Footnote 20: "Handbook of Architecture," 2nd ed., 1859, p. 869.]

[Footnote 21: "English Towns and Districts," 1883, p. 29.]

[Footnote 22: Guide, p. 48.]

[Footnote 23: Sir William Feeld, Peticanon, in his will dated 1558,

desires that his body may be buried in the Gallery before the church

door, where all his fellows are buried. "Gallery" here is probably a

corruption of "Galilee."]

[Footnote 24: Paley, p. 30.]

[Footnote 25: Gunton, p. 91.]

[Footnote 26: Patrick's Supplement to Gunton, p. 334.]

[Footnote 27: King Ethelred resigned his crown and became Abbot of Bardney.

He is here figured with a mitre.]

[Footnote 28: As well as one other, probably the one now under one of

the arches on the north of the choir.]

[Footnote 29: Archaeological Journal, 1861, p. 196.]

[Footnote 30: Gunton, p. 12.]

[Footnote 31: Properly Northumberland. See Bede's Eccl. Hist. iii. 6.]

[Footnote 32: Patrick, p. 284.]

[Footnote 33: Historical Memorials of Canterbury, p. 184.]

[Footnote 35: Patrick, p. 330.]

[Footnote 35: Stubbs' _Episcopal Succession_, p. 79.]

[Footnote 36: Gunton, p. 82.]

[Footnote 37: P. 12; quoted in the account of Bishop Cumberland in the

_Penny Cyclopeia_, viii. 229.]

[Footnote 38: A full account of this famous picture with an engraving is

given in _Northamptonshire Notes and Queries_, iv. 209.]

INDEX

Abbots, account of, 112-126.

Altars, 87.

Apse, 22.

Bell-tower, 48.

Benedict, Abbot, 16.

Bishops, account of, 127-134.

Canons' door, 56.

Ceiling of nave, 84; of choir, 64.

Chapel of St. Thomas, 100.

Choir, 60-76.

Church of S. John Baptist, 108.

City, 108.

Cloister Court, 103.

Danes, ravages of, 6, 8, 11.

Deanery, 102.

Deans, 136.

Dean's door, 50.

Diocese, history of, 127.

Edgar, King, 8-10.

Ernulf, Abbot, 12.

Ethelwold, Bishop of Winchester, 8.

Fire of 1116, 12.

Gateway of Monastery, 99. of Deanery, 102.

Glass, stained, 88.

Guildhall, 108.

Gunton, Prebendary, historian, 6, 14.

Hereward, 11.

Infirmary, 103.

John of Sais, Abbot, 12-13.

Katharine of Aragon, Queen, 24, 26, 95.

Knights' Chamber, 101.

Lady Chapel (destroyed), 20, 52.

Laurel Court, 103.

Lectern, 74.

Magee, Archbishop, monument, 96.

Martin, Abbot, 15.

Mary Queen of Scots, burial, 95.

Monastery, foundation of, 5.

Monastery, history of, 112.

Monastery, plan of, 51, 52.

Monuments, 91.

Museum, 111.

Nave, 81.

New building, 24, 55, 76.

Norman church built, 13, 15

Organ, 72.

Palace, Bishop's, 106.

Patrick, Dean, 14.

Parvise, 45, 90.

Pavement of choir, 72-74

Porch, western, 22, 45, 90.

Pulpit, 70.

Puritanical destruction, 26.

Reredos, 72.

Reredos, destroyed, 26.

Restoration, first, 28; recent, 31-35.

Saxon church, 8-10, 18, 80.

Saxulf, Abbot, 5.

Scarlett's monument, 98.

Screens of choir, 74.

Spire of south-west tower, 22.

Stalls, 67-69.

Throne, 70.

Transept, north, 52; south, 55; interior, 77.

Transept, western, 87.

Tower, central, 21, 29-32, 51.

Towers, western, 17, 44.

West front, 19, 33, 39-44.

William of Waterville, Abbot, 15.