_From the Foundation of the New Church, in 1117, to its dissolution
as an Abbey by Henry the Eighth, in 1541;--embracing a period of 425
years._
In the first chapter of our history, we traced the rise and progress of
the monastery of _Peterburgh_ through a period of 462 years, at the
expiration of which time we saw it burned to the ground, with all the
treasures which it had accumulated. We have now to witness its
restoration, and to follow it until we come to the nineteenth century,
through all the ravages which it has survived.
At the time of the eventful destruction which we have mentioned [1116],
John de Sais was abbot of the monastery, and had regained for it
several of the lands which had been forfeited by his predecessors. He
was, according to Gunton, a very learned man, and possessed great
strength of mind and decision of character. He showed his energy by the
prompt measures which he took to rebuild the abbey after its
destruction, and to get all those lands, manors, and fees confirmed to
it which it had so long enjoyed, and which continued daily to increase.
It was a very long time, however, before the new monastery was built.
John de Sais superintended it during his abbacy, but he lived only nine
years after he had laid the foundation-stone (which ceremony he
performed in the month of March, 1117), and the building was not
completed at his death; nor did he succeed in securing to the monastery
all its former possessions, although he exerted himself very
assiduously to obtain them.
John de Sais was succeeded by Henri de Angeli, in 1128, of whom nothing
of moment is recorded. He was a man of no character, and tried to
injure the monastery in the estimation of the king, by speaking falsely
of the brotherhood. Some writers say that he was detected in his
villany by the king, who obliged him to resign his chair, and leave the
country; others assert that he quitted England on account of other
crimes. All historians agree, however, that he was a very bad man.
The appointment of the next abbot devolved upon the king, and Martin de
Vecti was chosen by him to govern the monastery, in 1133. The monks
received him with every expression of respect, as he was reported to be
a man of profound erudition and good moral character. He began his rule
by forwarding the erection of the new monastery, and it was during his
abbacy that it was completed and re-dedicated--which latter ceremony
was conducted with great pomp, and all the abbots of the neighbouring
monasteries, with numbers of the barons and gentry, were present
[1140]. It appears that De Vecti was very zealous in the work of
improvement, and that he not only built a new gate to the monastery,
but formed a new village on the western side of it; altered the place
of wharfage, erected a new bridge, planted the present vineyard, and
built many new houses near the abbey. He is also said to have re-built
the parish church, then situate in St. John's close, in the precincts.
The destruction of the castle, which stood near this church, is
likewise attributed to this abbot. It is probable that it was situate
upon Mount Thorold, or Tout Hill, as it is now called. This hill may
yet be seen in a close on the north-western side of the cathedral.
De Vecti ruled twenty-two years, and died in 1155.
After the death of De Vecti, the monks resolved to maintain the right
which they possessed of choosing their own abbot, and William de
Waterville was elected by them to the government of the monastery:
their choice was afterwards ratified by the king. Waterville was
formerly a chaplain to Henry II., and having some influence with him,
he regained for his abbey "the eight hundreds of that part of the
country which had formerly been granted by the king's predecessors;"
and, being firmly established in the monastery, he turned his attention
to the improvement of the town. He founded a hospital for the sick in
Spitalfield; built St. Martin's church and St. Michael's nunnery, at
Stamford--besides settling a yearly sum upon the church of St. John
Baptist,[7] _Peterburgh_--covering the monastery with lead, and
founding the chapel of Thomas à Becket.
It is stated by Gunton, that this chapel is in "the middle of the arch
of the church porch," but this is an error which it will be well to
correct. The present school-house near the minster gateway is found to
be the chancel of the chapel; and it is thus described by Kennel--"The
chapel of the blessed Thomas the Martyr, near the outer gate of the
abbey there."
After a government of 20 years, Waterville was deposed, at the
instigation of the monks, by the Archbishop of Canterbury. No positive
crime was alleged against him--at least the monks have not mentioned
any in their accounts of the monastery.
The next abbot of whom we read is Benedict, a man of great learning,
who was appointed to the rule of the monastery by the king in 1177,
after he had held it in his possession two years. The abbot brought
several relics to the monastery, and finished the chapel of Thomas à
Becket. He was very zealous likewise in his endeavours to re-obtain the
abbey lands which had been forfeited or seized during the rule of his
predecessors; nor was he scrupulous of the means which he took to
effect it: sometimes he took possession of them by force, and at others
he tried to conciliate the usurpers by large sums of money and fair
promises.
The monastery, during his government, underwent many important changes.
He rebuilt the whole body of the church, "from the lantern to the
porch;" and it is the opinion of Gunton, that the curiously painted
ceiling which covers the middle of the building was of his workmanship.
He likewise added several houses to those which were already within the
precincts of the abbey, and built the present gate which leads to the
west front of the cathedral, with a chapel over it, which was dedicated
to St. Nicholas.[8]
Benedict likewise obtained a charter for holding a fair upon the feast
of St. Peter, and a market to be held every Thursday. The fair was to
continue eight days.
This abbot ruled seventeen years, and died in 1194.
Andreas succeeded Benedict, and rose gradually from a monk to a prior,
and finally to an abbot. It is said that he was a good man, and secured
the esteem of the monks by giving them the lands of Fletton and
Alwalton to enrich their table. He ordered likewise six marks a year to
be given out of the monastery funds to the infirmary. This donation was
continued by his successors for a long time, but Abbot Walter, during
his rule, directed that it should be employed in purchasing wine for
the "pitanciary."
During the reign of Andreas there were several lands given to the
"Eleemossynary," and the monastery was very flourishing. He governed
seven years, and died in 1201. His body was entombed in the south
aisle, with two of his brethren, under a Norman arch, beneath which is
the following epitaph:--
Hos tres abbates quibus est prior abba Iohannes,
Alter Martinus, Andreas ultimus, unus
Hic claudit tumulus; pro clausis ergo rogemus.
Acharius succeeded Andreas in 1200. He was originally a prior of St.
Albans, but was presented by King John to the abbacy of this monastery,
on account of his many virtues and distinguished talents. He seems to
have had the interest of the monastery at heart as greatly as any of
his predecessors, and was engaged in several lawsuits with different
landowners, in order to recover the lost possessions of the abbey. He
gained the marsh of Singlesholt from the Abbot of Crowland "for a
yearly acknowledgement of four stones of wax," and increased the number
of his monks. He endowed the church with many valuable articles--such
as silver basins for the great altar, with a case of gold and silver,
set with precious stones, for the arm of St. Oswald! He gave likewise
two large silver cups to the refectory, with silver feet richly gilt,
according to Gunton, and four table knives with ivory hafts. He paid
money off the monastery debts, and purchased houses in London, which he
added to the abbey possessions.
During the festival of St. Peter, a large wax candle, of five pounds
weight,[9] was set before the altar, and burnt day and night, until the
festival was completed. This custom was observed in all other feasts of
the saints in the abbey; and during the rule of Acharius the festivals
were remarkable for their pomp and splendour.
This abbot ruled ten years, died in 1214, and was succeeded by Robert
of Lindsay, or Lyndesheye.
It was during the rule of this abbot that one of the most interesting
changes was effected in the monastery: the windows until this time had
been "stuffed with straw," to keep out the cold and the rain; and, at
an immense expense, he had thirty-nine of them adorned with glass,
which enterprise gained for him a considerable amount of fame and
esteem. Not content with this change in his own monastery, he extended
his generosity to other parts, and built a chancel to the church at
Oxney. He was confirmed by the king at Winchester, and received the
benediction of the Bishop of Lincoln.
Being thus installed in his new office with so much honour, he directed
his attention to the forest lands by which he was surrounded. By virtue
of the forest laws, foresters let their cattle run at liberty to graze,
and they frequently did much damage to the possessions of the
monastery, and to the property of the town inhabitants. Lindsay
therefore wrote to the king to try to "disafforest" the lands which
were contiguous to the monastery, and he effected his object by payment
of 1320 marks. Of his other improvements we read that "he made in the
south cloister a lavatory of marble, for the monks to wash their hands
in when they went to meals--their hall being near on the other side of
the wall, the door leading into it being yet standing; the lavatory
continued entire until the year 1651, and then, with the whole
cloister, it was also pulled down."
About this time, in the reign of King John, England was the scene of
those civil contentions which terminated in favour of the barons, and
the attainment of a charter of liberties. A large number of the
monasteries in England were, however, despoiled by the king before the
fate of the war was decided, and amongst them was Crowland Abbey. It is
likely that of _Peterburgh_ escaped the fury of the king's soldiers,
for we do not read of any outrage being committed upon it at that time
in the monkish records. Lindsay wrote a history of the monastery,
according to Pitseus, but he did not enrich the church library with any
valuable additions. He ruled seven years, and died in 1222.
Alexander de Holderness was the successor of Lindsay, and was elected
November 30, 1222. He was called Holderness from the place where he was
born. This abbot made a number of improvements in his monastery, and
enriched it with money and relics. He built, says Gunton, "_the
solarium magnum_ at the door of the abbot's chamber, and a _cellerarium_
under it, and furnished the church also with that precious crystal
vessel wherein the blood of Thomas à Becket was kept." He likewise
built halls at Oundle, Castor, Eyebury, and other places. He was much
beloved by the monks, and died, after a government of four years, in
1226.
An interesting incident in connexion with this abbot may here be
mentioned. On the 2nd of April, 1830, when the workmen were making a
foundation in the cathedral church for the erection of a new choir,
they discovered beneath one of the slabs a stone coffin, which their
curiosity led them to open. They were surprised to find that it
contained the body of a man, with a large coarse garment around it,
equipped with boots, and having a crosier by its side. There were
several very remarkable things connected with this discovery. The boots
were what are called "rights and lefts," and in a good state of
preservation. The crosier was perfect, and a part of the body was hard,
and of a copper-coloured hue, whilst the other part was decomposed. The
body was headless, and a piece of lead was found lying in _place of
the skull_, with this inscription upon it--
ABBAS: ALEXANDR:
These remains were gathered together, replaced in the shell, and buried
in the south aisle, nearly opposite the burial place of Mary Queen of
Scots.
Martin de Ramsey was chosen abbot after the death of Alexander. His
election was sanctioned by the king, and he was confirmed by the Bishop
of Lincoln, at Westminster. There is nothing remarkable recorded of
this abbot. He "disafforested" several lands about _Peterburgh_, and
added them to the possessions of the monastery.
During the rule of this abbot, Pope Gregory IX. ordered that when there
should be an interdiction of the monastery lands, the monks should
close their doors, and not allow the people to hear their prayers, or
participate in them; but the privilege was granted to the monks of
Peterborough to say the service in a low voice to themselves, the
ringing of the bell being dispensed with.
Martin ruled six years, died in 1232, and was succeeded by Walter de
St. Edmond, in 1233. It was during the government of this abbot that
the monastery of _Peterburgh_ was re-dedicated and consecrated with
holy oil, by the Bishops of Lincoln and Exeter [1238], according to the
decrees of the constitution of Otto.[10] The ceremony was attended with
the usual pomp of such proceedings, and the possessions of the
monastery were ratified anew. Walter de Whittlesea gives a very
favourable account of the disposition of this abbot, and speaks very
highly of his benevolence to King Henry, who was reduced to the
necessity of seeking support from this and other monasteries. St.
Edmond entertained the king twice at _Peterburgh_, in company with the
queen and the young prince. He also "gave 60 marks towards the marriage
of Margaret, his daughter, with Alexander III., King of Scotland," and
increased the number of his monks to one hundred and ten. He made
likewise three several journeys to Rome upon civil and ecclesiastical
business. The cause of one of these journeys was this:--The Pope
(Gregory, 1241) sent messages to _Burgh_, demanding that the abbot
should give unto one of his favourites a certain yearly sum, or a
number of lands equal to that sum, and the abbot refused to do so
without the consent of the king who was patron of the monastery; and
going to Rome to know the cause of such an arbitrary demand, he was
reproved by the Pope in person, and treated with great indignity by the
cardinals, and expelled the court. The abbot was so much grieved, by
this cruel and ungenerous treatment that he never recovered, but died
in the same year [1245], after having ruled twelve years with the
greatest mildness, prudence, and benevolence. This story of the Pope's
arbitrary conduct calls forth a very pithy couplet from Gunton--
"Rome gnaweth hands as dainty cates,
And when it cannot gnaw--it hates."
Walter was a learned man, and increased the books of the library.
Gunton says "he was pious and merciful to all, exacted nothing unduly
of his tenants, whether rich or poor; but if any poor man or woman made
their necessities known to him, he would burst into tears, and take
compassion upon them."
The next abbot of whom we read is William de Hotot, who was elected on
the 6th of February, 1246. His rule was not favourable to the
monastery. He lavished the possessions of the church upon his friends
and kinsmen. His conduct was reprehended by the monks, and finally
represented to the Bishop of Lincoln, when William, fearing he should
be deposed, resigned his office, and retired upon an allowance from the
monastery in 1249, after governing three years.
Mr. Owen Davys, in his Guide to the Cathedral, remarks that "it is a
matter of great surprise that we have no record handed down to us of
the exact date when that magnificent appendage to the Cathedral, the
western front, was erected, though it must have been about this time.
The name of the architect under whose directions this original and
strikingly beautiful design was carried out is also buried in
obscurity. This noble front is almost entirely built in the style
usually known by the name of early English Gothic, of which it is,
perhaps, the finest example we have now left us.
"It would seem that scarcely any time elapsed between the building of
the western transepts of this monastic church and the commencement of
the west front, as the style of the western transepts is Late
Transition Norman, and in some places almost Early English, and that of
the west front pure Early English. Now, as the Transition Norman gave
place to the Early English in this country, about the commencement of
the thirteenth century, it would seem probable that these western
transepts were built at that time, probably during the government of
Acharius [1200]; these works being carried on by Robert de Lindsay, his
successor, might have been completed by him: the mixture of Early
English work with that of the former style in them may thus be
satisfactorily accounted for. It would seem, therefore, that these
transepts were erected before the time of Walter St. Edmonds, and that
the building of the west front probably followed immediately after the
erection of them. Mr. Britton, in his 'History and Antiquities of
Peterborough Cathedral,' page 56, refers the building of this
interesting feature of the church to the times of Acharius and Robert
de Lindsay. It would seem, however, that though it was probably begun
in the time of the latter abbot, it was not finished till the time of
John de Caleto, who came to the government of this abbey A.D. 1249. The
reason for this opinion is the similarity of some of its details to
those of the infirmary church, which was erected by this abbot. Some
beautiful portions of this church are still to be seen. This abbot is
said to have been a great builder; and it is probable that the
refectory and south cloister were rebuilt by him; and that the door by
which the Bishop usually enters the Cathedral, was inserted at the same
time. The Chapel of St. Lawrance, which stood at the east end of the
infirmary church, seems to have been erected about this time. There was
an entrance into this chapel, from the infirmary church, through an
arch, which is still standing, the chapel having been converted into a
prebendal house."
Richard de London was elected abbot in 1274. He had held several
offices in the monastery before his instalment, and being well
acquainted with the discipline of the church, he governed well and
wisely. He recovered the manor of Biggins, near Oundle, of the Earl of
Clare, and his success was mainly owing to the eloquence of one of his
monks, who pleaded the cause of the monastery in person, before the
judge of assize at Northampton.
It was during the government of Richard de London that Prior Parys
built and endowed the Lady Chapel.[11] This abbot ("when he was
sacrist") also built one of the largest steeples of the church, and
gave two bells to the monastery. He died in 1295, having ruled twenty
years. In his reign the library and the monastery lands were increased
considerably.
William de Woodford was next elected abbot. During the latter part of
the rule of Richard, he had assisted him in performing the duties of
abbot, which the latter was unable to do of himself, on account of his
great age.
Swapham informs us that whilst William was abbot, the Pope taxed all
the manors of the abbey.
Woodford is described as a fair and impartial man, of much kindness and
benevolence, who added to the provisions of the monks,--obtained a
charter for the possession of all the deer that might be slain on the
monastery lands, and devoted his attention to the better regulation of
the hospital of St. Leonard.[12] He died after a rule of four years, in
1299, and was succeeded by Godfrey de Croyland in the same year. This
abbot, on his installation, was presented by Prince Edward with a
silver cup, and had the confirmation fees returned to him by the
Bishop's order.
The service in the chapel of Thomas à Becket was for a time suspended
during this abbot's rule, in consequence of a violation of the sanctity
of the place by certain officers, who, being in search of several men
that had transgressed against the laws, and hearing they had taken
shelter in the monastery, dragged them hence by force. The Bishop of
Lincoln therefore put his curse upon the place, nor was it without much
persuasion that he granted an absolution.
The same year, being 1300, says Gunton, "a marriage being intended
betwixt the heirs of Offord and Southorp, king Edward supposing himself
to be interested therein, appointed inquisition to be made whether the
disposal of that marriage belonged to him or the abbot of _Peterburgh_.
And it being upon the inquisition certified that those heirs and their
progenitors held their lands of the abbey of _Peterburgh_, the right of
disposal of those heirs did therefore belong to the abbot, which the
king, understanding, desisted." This right of disposal is well worthy
of notice, as it illustrates the spirit of the time better than a great
deal of writing.
Godfrey was remarkable for his generosity and sumptuous entertainments.
The king and queen, with all their retinues, were provided for at the
monastery, and once Prince Edward came with Peter Gaveston, and the
abbot presented them with two magnificent robes.[13]
Godfrey added many beautiful improvements to his monastery, and built
"the great gate-tower, over which was the chamber called the knights'
chamber," being the gateway leading to the Bishop's Palace. The walls
of this room were carved with knights and their coats of arms.
[Illustration: Peterborough Cathedral--Remains of Cloisters.]
Whilst Edward was preparing for war against Scotland, he sent five
successive times to this abbey for money to assist him in carrying on
his enterprise, and Godfrey gave him in all about £500. His other gifts
and entertainments were sumptuous and large, and the sum of money which
he expended during his abbacy was £3646 4s. 3d. This remarkable man
died in 1321, after a splendid rule of twenty-two years. The value of
the monastery possessions in his time, about _Peterborough_ alone,
was £621 16s. 3d; but this sum was but a small portion of the vast
property which then belonged to the church.
Adam de Boothby was the next abbot. He entertained the king, queen, and
royal household, in the year 1327, which cost him £327 15s. Prince
Edward, with his sisters and servants, were likewise hospitably treated
at this abbey during a stay of eight weeks. Like Godfrey, Boothby was a
generous man, but the expenses which the royal family cost him and his
predecessors must have been a heavy impost upon the monastery. He died
in 1338, in the eighteenth year of his rule.
Henry de Morcot was installed in February, 1338. There is nothing of
any moment recorded of him, except that he was engaged in successful
litigation with a baron for the recovery of some church lands. He died
in 1346, having ruled eight years.
"Henry being dead, was buried betwixt the quire and the great altar,
near unto his predecessor Adam. His grave being, in the year 1648,
opened to receive the body of John Towers, late head bishop of this
place, there was found a seal of lead (the instrument wholly consumed),
having on one side these letters thus inscribed:--'SPA SPE,' over their
several effigies; on the reverse--'CLEMENS P P VI.' (Gunton, p. 47-48).
It is probable that the instrument was some indulgence gotten at the
jubilee, which was but three years before."
Robert Ramsey succeeded to the abbacy in 1346, but of him nothing
particular is recorded.
Henry de Overton was Abbot in 1361, and was followed by Nicholas, who
was noted for his prudence and economy.
We now come to the rule of William Genge, who was elected in 1396, and
ruled twelve years. He was, according to Gunton the first abbot of this
monastery who was dignified with a mitre. In the supplement to Gunton's
history, it is stated "that they put on mitres in token they had
episcopal jurisdiction, and being advanced to the dignity of barons,
and to sit in parliament which no other abbots had done." During his
abbacy, the church which was then situate in St. John's close, in
Boongate, was taken down, and re-erected on its present site. The cause
of this removal was the fearful inundations to which, from its
proximity to the fens, it was exposed.
Between 1408 and 1438 the monastery was presided over by John Deeping.
During his abbacy great complaints were made of the conduct of the
Monks, and the heads of the Benedictine order were summoned before the
King at Westminster, to answer the charge of abuses, which they could
not deny, but promised to reform.
Richard Ashton was appointed abbot in 1438, and ruled 33 years. He made
many visits to the neighbouring monasteries, and likewise received many
from their abbots. He granted several corrodies to persons who endowed
his abbey. One to John Delaber, bishop of St. David's, is worthy of
notice.--This John had his choice, whether to remain at _Peterburgh_
for life, and receive a pension of £32 per annum, or retreat to the
abbot's manor at Eyebury[14] with the same advantages.
There was another corrody granted to Alice Garton, the widow of Thomas
Garton, who was a benefactor to the Cathedral, and whose name is
engraved on stone, in characters of an hieroglyphic kind, over the
large painted window at the west end of the building; it is well worth
examining. It was in the year 1439 that king Henry granted a charter
unto this abbot to hold a fair "for three days," commencing on St.
Matthew's day, (O.S.) in a field, (now named the Mending,) which joins
the counties of Huntingdon and Northampton together. This fair, on
account of its vicinity to the bridge, was called "Brigge Fair," by
which name it is still known. Ashton was called to parliament at
Westminster, but being too infirm to attend, he deputed William
Tresham, (probably one of his monks) to appear for him. He afterwards
took the oaths of allegiance to his sovereign, at Coventry. During his
rule it is stated that 33 monks died in the monastery, and many
festivals were suspended in consequence, there not being a sufficient
number left to perform the ceremonies. This abbot made several
additions to the church; and the building at the east end, according to
Britton, was commenced by him.
Mr. Davys is of opinion that, "though we read of no further additions
being made to the church between the time of Godfrey, (1299), and that
of abbot Ashton, much took place in this interval. Almost all the
windows of the church must have been transformed from their original
character into their present shapes, and those which escaped this
mutilation, as in the transepts and clerestory, were filled with their
present unsuitable tracery, about the conclusion of the fourteenth
century.
"The porch, or chapel, now used as the Chapter Library, standing within
the central arch of the West Front, was probably built soon after this
time. The reason why it was erected will be evident to any one who will
examine the front carefully; for it will be seen that the clustered
column, between the northern and middle arch, leans out to a very great
extent, and were it not for the support it receives from this chapel,
very serious consequences must ensue. The whole front also leans to the
westward, though not so much so as this column. This inclination is
evidently of very early date, and probably took place shortly after the
completion of the front. This chapel was therefore added as a support
to the front; its insertion is, nevertheless, much to be regretted, as
it materially diminishes the beauty of the finest part of the
Cathedral.
"Many alterations, and additions, seems to have taken place in this
abbey, during the time when the decorated style was prevalent in
England; and consequently between the time when the Infirmary Church
was built, and the last-mentioned structure was erected, at the west
end of the church. Of these may be mentioned, the two elegant spires on
the north and south towers of the West Front, and the great south-west
tower of the church, which has since been materially diminished in
height. The present Chapter School, which was originally the chancel of
Thomas à Becket's Chapel, was also built at this period; its nave was
taken down in the time of Abbot Genge, who presided here between the
years 1396 and 1408, and the materials were given to the inhabitants of
Peterborough to re-build their parish church with, in a more convenient
situation. The eastern and western arches of the lantern must also have
been altered into their present shape about this time, and the first
story of a tower, which, if it had been completed, would have been one
of the finest in England, built upon them: this is now remaining, and
forms all the pretence that this Cathedral can show to a central
tower."
Ashton resigned in 1471, to the Bishop of Lincoln, and was succeeded by
William Ramsey, in the same year, who, with the assistance of prior
Maldon, erected a "brazen eagle" in the church, to which the bible and
mass book were chained. This eagle is now in the choir of the
Cathedral, and used when reading the lessons. Ashton was indicted[15] in
1480, for releasing a felon from the gaol at _Peterburgh_, and
accepting a bribe for the same. He was tried and convicted, and was
obliged to find sureties for better conduct. The original judgment is
yet retained in the chapter-house; with the names of the abbot's
sureties. He died in 1496, after a rule of 25 years.
Robert Kirton was made abbot in 1496. During his rule the regulations
of the monastery were in a measure broken up; many of the monks had
become disorderly and even licentious, and one of them robbed the
shrine of St. Oswald of a number of jewels, and other valuable
articles, for the purpose of paying a woman in the town the wages of
her prostitution. Others gave themselves up to bacchanalian riots in a
neighbouring tavern, and, instead of devoting their nights to "prayer,"
gave themselves up to the vulgar "company of dancers and ballad
singers."
These irregularities took place in the 19th year of this abbot's rule.
They were, however, speedily terminated by the Bishop of Lincoln, who,
hearing of such notorious infringements of the monastic rules, came in
person to restore those licentious members of the fraternity to their
duty.
Abbot Kirton had many contests with his tenants, "but notwithstanding,"
says Gunton, "he forgat not to enlarge and beautify his monastery, for
he built that goodly building at the east end of the church, now
commonly known by the name of the new building,"[16] wherein he placed
three altars, opposite three pair of stairs, descending from the back
of the great altar. He likewise built a chamber in the abbey house,
which is still called "heaven-gate chamber." He made also a beautiful
window in the great hall "overlooking the cloyster." He added many
pictures to those which were already in the chapel of St. Mary, or the
Lady's Chapel, as it is now called, all which have since been
destroyed. The gate that leads to the deanery is likewise of his
workmanship, and bears his signature in hieroglyphics, viz:--a Kirk,
and a tun under it. This gate is a magnificent specimen of
architecture, and should be seen by every person who visits
Peterborough. Abbot Kirton ruled nearly 32 years, and died in 1528.
John Chambers was the last abbot, and was elected in 1528.
Cardinal Wolsey visited the abbey in the 17th year of the reign of
Henry the Eighth, and washed and kissed the feet of fifty-nine poor
people, which ceremony was called "keeping his maundy." He then gave
them twelve pence, three ells of canvas, a pair of shoes, and divided a
barrel of red herrings amongst them: he likewise sang mass himself on
Easter-day, and absolved from their sins all those who heard him.
It was during the rule of Chambers that Queen Catherine, the first wife
of Henry the 8th, died [July 1, 1535], and was buried in the monastery.
Her tomb may be seen in the north side of the choir. The scaff which
covered her pall was originally deposited at the back of the great
altar. It was inwoven with silver, and was very massive and heavy.
[7] This sum made the church dependent upon the monastery, and
the chaplain was required to bring his church key to the sacrist
of the monastery, yearly, as an acknowledgement of it.--_See
Gunton's Hist. Church, Peterborough, p. 24._
[8] Britton says "he founded a chapel to St. Nicholas _near_
it;" but Gunton is doubtless correct, when he says that the
chapel was over it.
[9] After Acharius had recovered the marsh of Singlesholt from
the Abbot of Crowland by the law of the land, he let it to him
with the understanding that, instead of his paying four stones of
wax to the Abbot of Crowland, the abbot should pay him a yearly
rental in kind, of the same amount.
[10] These decrees were, that all churches not consecrated with
holy oil, should be dedicated within two years.--_See Britton's
Hist. Cathedral Church, Peterborough, pp. 22-3._
[11] There was at one time an entrance from the Choir into the
Lady Chapel through a door, on the right side of which was a
small oratory, with a stone roof; the remains are yet to be seen.
[12] This hospital was afterwards called Spittle, and some of the
stones are still remaining in Spittle-field. It was left by Agnes
Pudding, with eight acres of arable land adjoining it.
[13] The Prince at first refused the robe offered to him, because
the abbot did not make a similar offer to his companion; Godfrey,
however, soon settled the affair, by presenting one to each.
[14] A gentleman in this city who is an excellent antiquarian,
and has seen the corrody alluded to above, says, "It was granted
by charter of the abbot, and presents many curiosities--mentioning
particularly the abbot's wine cellar at the over end of the
cloister, under the present passage into the square."--_Private
MS._
[15] The abbot was indicted at the sessions at _Peterburgh_
before Guy Woolston.--_Private MS._
[16] It is still commonly, but incorrectly, called The Lady
Chapel. A building of corresponding position at Lincoln is called
the Presbytry.