The history of the Church of Peterburgh wherein the most remarkable things concerning that place, from the first foundation thereof, with other passages of history not unworthy publick view, are represented / by Symon Gunton ... ; illustrated with sculptures ; and set forth by Symon Patrick ...

HENRICƲS de Angeli.

His story is told more perfectly by Hugo in this manner. He was first of all Bishop of Soissons and afterward made a Monk and Prior of Cluni; and then Prior of Savenni. After which, because he was Cosin to the King of England and the Count of Aquitain, the same Count gave him Abbatiam Sancti Johannis Angeli, from whence he took his denomina∣tion. And he being crafty, cunning and ingenious, afterward got the Archbishoprick of Besenscun: but staid there no more than three days. For he had not yet enough, but got the Bishoprick de Senites: where he staid about seven days. And out of this preferment as well as that of Besenscun, the Abbot of Cluni got him expelled. He got therefore, being ne∣ver quiet, to be Collector of Peter-pence in England. Where he obtained this Abbey of Burch; by pretending he was very old, past labour and toil, unable to bear the Wars and Troubles of his own Country, and would quit his Abbey there of St. John de Angeli (and that by the ad∣vice of the Pope and the Abbot of Cluni) and would here take up his rest. There was another thing also that had a great stroke in his pre∣ferment, for besides he was near of kin to the King, and that the fore∣named discourse seemed to have truth in it, he was the principal Wit∣ness to make Oath, in a difference between the Kings Nephew, the Duke of Normandy, and the Daughter of the Count of Anjoy. Upon all these scores the Abby was bestowed upon him in the year mentioned by Mr. G. So John Abbot also in his Chron. MS. An. MCXXVIII. Henricus Abbas Andagavensis, precibus optinuit à Rege Henrico Abbatiam Burgensem.

What Walter of Witlesea saith of Spectres seen that year he came to the Abby, he had out of Hugo, who saith: Hoc non est falsum: quia plu∣rimi veracissimi homines viderunt; & audierunt cornua. He staid one year in the Monastery, and received homage and money of the Milites, and of the whole Abbey, but did not the least good: for he sent and carried all to his Abbey beyond Sea, whither he went by the Kings licence. And having staid there a whole year he returned hither; and said he had ab∣solutely quitted his other Abbey, for good and all, as we speak. The same year came Petrus Abbot of Cluni into England, and was honoura∣bly received by the Kings command in all the Monasteries. Particularly here at Burch, whither he came to see Henry: who complemented him highly, and promised he would procure the Abbey of Burch to be made subject to that of Cluni; with which hopes Peter went home. The next year Henry got together a great summ of money, and went beyond Sea again; where the King then was. Whom he made believe that he was commanded by the Abbot of Cluni to come and resign his Abbey of St. John de Angeli to him: and then he would return free from that care into England. So he went thither, and there staid till the Feast of St. John Baptist. And the next day after the Monks chose another of their own body into his place, and installed him; singing Te Deum, and doing all other things ne∣cessary

for that end: expelling Henry, by the help of the Count of Anjoy▪ with great disgrace, and detaining all that he had there. Where he had done no more good, than in other places, all the five and twenty years that he had governed them.

Being thus cast out he went to Cluni, where they kept him prisoner; the Abbot and Monks being very angry with him; saying he had lost the Abby of St. John by his folly. Nor would they let him stir out of Doors, till by his craft he again deceived them, with promises and Oaths; that if they would permit him to return into England, he would subject the Abbey of Burch to them, and, as Hugo's words are, ibi construeret Priores, & Secretarios, & Cellerarios, & Camerarios, & omnia commendaret in manibus eorum, intus & foris. By which agreement he got into England, whither the King also returned out of Normandy. Unto whom Henry came, and accused the Monks of Burch to him very heavily (though with out any truth) in order to his end of subjecting them to Cluni. The King in great anger sent for them to Bramtun; where a Plea was managed against them with so much art, that the King was almost deceived. But God stept in to help them, by the Counsels of the Bishops there present (par∣ticularly Lincoln) and the Barons; who understood his fraud. Yet he would not desist; but being thus defeated, indeavoured to make his Nephew Gerardus Abbot of Burch: that what he could not do by him∣self, might be effected by him. All which made the lives of the Monks very uneasie, till the King at last understood his knavery; and, sending for him commanded him to surrender his Abbey and be gone out of his Realm. Which he did in the year MCXXXII. So John Abbot, Henricus Abbas de Burgo quem dimisit, ad Andegavenses redit. With which Hugo agrees; who says he recovered his Abbey of St. John de Angeli: and that notwithstanding all his faults, bonus Eleemosynator omnibus diebus fuit, he was good to the poor all his days. And therefore he made a good end; not living long after he returned thither.

There is no memory of this Abbot in the Kalander of the Church; no more than of Kenulphus, and Godricus.