The antiquities of Canterbury. Or a survey of that ancient citie, with the suburbs, and cathedrall Containing principally matters of antiquity in them all. Collected chiefly from old manuscripts, lieger-bookes, and other like records, for the most part, never as yet printed. With an appendix here annexed: wherein (for better satisfaction to the learned) the manuscripts, and records of chiefest consequence, are faithfully exhibited. All (for the honour of that ancient metropolis, and his good affection to antiquities) sought out and published by the industry, and goodwill of William Somner.

Iohn Peckham. 48.

Iohn Peckham succeeding Kilwardby: and continued in the Chaire 13 yeares, and almost an half. In which time he * 1.1 founded the collegiate Churchat Wingham in Kent, or ra∣ther changed the Parish-Church there into a Collegiate. The head of which Colledge was called Praepositus, a Pro∣vost. The ordination of which Praepositure, together with this our Archbishops letters for the dividing of Wingham Church into foure Parishes, dated anno 1282. are extant in the Records of Christ-Church, where I have seen them. Now Wingham it self (the mother Cuurch) Ash, Good∣nestone, and Nonington (Chapells to it) were the 4 Pa∣rishes. Overland and Richborough were Chapells to Ash, and Wimingswold a Chapell to Nonington. This Col∣ledge of secular Canons (for such the founder placed in it)

was valued at the time of the suppression at 84 lib. of yeare∣ly revenues. Collegium in Cantia Wengamense (Harpsfields words of this foundation) ejus potissimum opera constitutum est, sed seminarium ejus beneficii à Roberto decessore ejus profe∣ctum est: Qui à Gregorio Pontifice impetrabat, ut liceret eccle∣siam parochialem Wengamensem in eum usum convertere. The City of Canterb. went to suit with this Archbishop about li∣mits and liberties, of which heretofore in my survey of Westgate street. Amongst other of his labours (as I have it from Gavantus his Thesaurus sacrorum rituum) he compo∣sed an office for Trinity-Sunday, called Officium Sanctae Trinitatis. It was received by the Church of Rome, and in use about the yeare 1290. but for the difficulty and obscuri∣tie of the style was sithence abrogated.

Leaving these things I come now to the place of this * 1.2 Archbishops buriall. He was buried (saith Bishop Godwin) in his own Church, but in what particular place I finde not. Archbishop Parker (it seems) found it not neither, for he mentions it not. By a Record in the Church of the time of the death and place of the buriall of this Archbishop which I have seen, it appeares he was laid in parte Aquilonari, juxta locum Martyrii beati Thomae Martyris. I feare the Author of the Tables hath done him some wrong in hanging Archbi∣shop Vfford's Table upon that which (I take it) is rather Peckhams tombe then his, that namely in the corner of the Martyrdome next unto Warham, which the Table-writer up∣on (it seems) Bishop Godwin's conjecture, takes for grant∣ed to be Vffords tombe. But (as I conceive) the cost be∣stowed on that monument (however the Archiepiscopall effigies which it hath is framed of wood) being built some∣what Pyramis-like, and richly overlaid with gold, which is not yet worn off, gainsayes it to be Vffords. For I reade p 1.3, that dying before he was fully Archbishop, having never received either his pall or consecration, and that in the time of that great plague which (as Walsingham reports) consumed nine parts of the men through England; his bo∣dy without any pomp or wonted solemnity was carried to

Canterb. and there secretly buried by the North-wall, be∣side the wall of Thomas Becket. But I passe to his Successor. * 1.4

Notes

• * 1.1

  1278. Wingham.
• * 1.2

  Peckhams tombe.
• p 1.3

  Antiq. Brit. in vita Vfford.
• * 1.4

  Anno Dom. 1294. Sub-Deacon-Cardinals at Christ-Church.