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 ...

WILLIHELMƲS de Waterville.

The same day that Martin dyed, all the Monks met together, that they might chuse one of their own body, to be their Pater, Pastor and Custos: fearing lest, by delay, some stranger might get in by money, and domineer over them. The manner of it was this; they chose twelve of the

Seniors and Wisemen out of their whole number, to make an Election for them; it being very hard for a multitude to agree in one man. But they first made them swear upon the holy Gospels and the holy Reliques, that they would act sincerely; and be moved in their choice neither by love nor hatred, &c. Which they all did; Hugo the Eldest (whom I take to have been the Author of this History) beginning to take the Oath; and all the rest following: after which the whole Convent swore that they would chuse him in whom those 12 should agree. This being done the 12 went into the Abbot's Chamber; and the Prior, with the rest that remained in the Chapterhouse, sung the Seven Psalms, and prayed God to direct them by the grace of his holy Spirit: which the 12 also begged by singing Veni Creator Spiritus: and then conferred among themselves. And it was agreed that Hugo the Eldest of them, should hear every one of them confess, and tell what God had put in their heart: Which be∣ing done he asked them if they would know what every mans opinion was singly. They said no, but he should declare in whom the Major part of them agreed: to which he replied, that they were all in a manner agreed in one man, William de Waterville; and if any one were against it, he had liberty still to contradict it. But they were so far from opposing it, that they all consented: and entering into the Chapterhouse, and there declaring what they had done, the whole company praised God. And the day after, having performed the Obsequies of the deceased Abbot, Re∣maldus the Prior, and Hugo, with the Abbot Elect went to the King (Henry II.) then at Oxford. Who upon inquiry finding the Convent really desired it, confirmed the Election by his Charter.

After which Te Deum being sung, and prayers made, the Abbot did his homage to the King; and then repaired to Robert Bishop of Lincoln: who prefixing him a day and place, gave him his benediction; and there∣upon he was installed at Burch on the Sunday called Sexagesima, with a solemn procession of Abbots, Monks, Clergy and Laymen.

In the beginning of the insuing Lent he found there was a great want of Provisions in the Monastery: which he presently began to buy, and con∣tinued so to do, both Wheat and Malt, Oats and Beans, Flesh, Cheese and Wine, with all other things necessary till the Feast of St. Bartholomew. This was a very great expence: and yet he moreover discharged all the Debts of his Predecessor; which were 300 Marks of Silver; besides 60 more owing the King for interest, which he got him to pardon. He re∣covered also the fee and the service of Galfridus de la Mare, for a hundred Mark, which he gave the King, To whom he also gave an hundred Marks more, for the confirmation of Nine Knights Fees, which had been held by Earl Simon. At the same time he built a Nunnery at Stanford in honour of God and St. Michael; and both founded and built the Church there: in which he placed no less than forty holy Virgins. Who were to pay yearly to the Chantery of Burgh, a Noble of Silver as an ac∣knowledgement: with ten Shillings to the Sacristry out of the Church of St. Martins, which this Abbot purchased.

It would be too long to mention particularly all the Land, Rents, or Pensions, which this Abbot bought, at London, Irtlingborough, Hargrave, Easton, Warmington, Paston, Walton, Cambridg and several other places. I will name only one; he purchased all the Village on this side the Bridge of Stanford: and redeemed for a summ of money, fourteen houses, with the ground belonging to them, beyond the Bridge: which a certain Knight claimed as his Inheritance. He increased the Rents of the Mar∣ket and Town of Burgh, and built useful Offices in all the Mannors be∣longing

to the Church; and did a great many other good things (be∣sides those mentioned in Mr. G.) and had done more and greater; if he had not been hindred, by great misfortunes and disturbances which were given him; both by false domesticks, and by some other rich men. Who accused him to the King, and to the Archbishops, Theobald, Thomas a Becket, and Richard (who succeeded them) so that at last he was, by the anger of the King, deposed in the Chapterhouse of Burgh by Robert Archdeacon; 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.

This is all that Hugo (if he lived to write the end of this great man) saith concerning his deposition. Gervasius in his Chronicon saith more, that the Archbishop himself came to the Abbey of Burgh and deposed Will. manifestis culpis accusatum & convictum; but saith not what they were. Nor doth Radulphus de Diceto give any account of them, but only saith multis impetitus notoriis, being charged with many notorious crimes and convicted of them, in the presence of the Archbishop, he received the sentence of deposition 3. Kaland. Novembris. Nay Gervase in another place (in the life of Richard Archbishop of Canterbury) saith not so much, but only that he deposed the Abbot of Burgh certis ex causis, for certain reasons. John Bromton indeed (who saith the Archbishop came hither a little before Christmas) and Roger Hoveden, (as Mr. G. hath observed) assign the reasons; which I cannot contradict: though it seems something strange that a man, who was brought in with such an Univer∣sal kindness of the society, and did such abundance of good, should be guilty of the violence which the first of them mentions; and of such Sa∣criledge also as is scarce credible. And it is less credible that he who inrich∣ed the Monastery so vastly as it hath been already said, should impove∣rish and oppress it, as he is accused to have done, in the account they gave to the Pope of this business.

For I must let the Reader know that William thinking himself wronged by this sentence, appealed to Pope Alexander: Who, upon mature hearing of the Cause, confirmed the deposition and commanded him silence for ever. So we are told in a Bull of his Successor Pope Ʋrban, still ex∣stant ; directed to Benedict (who succeeded this William) confirming the aforesaid deposition of W. de Watervilla; by whose malignity the Mona∣stery, saith the Bull, was much attritum & gravatum, and he himself also de prava conversatione graviter infamatus. Which damage done to the Monastery, if he was truly accused, arose it's likely from borrowing money, to carry on all those great works which he did and attempted. For in the same Bull it is said, that William Norman Procurator for the Abbot, having taken up great summs of money in the Abbots name, for which he stood bound, desired satisfaction. But the money appearing to have been borrowed, non pro utilitate, sed pro gravamine Monasterii, Pope Lucius absolved the Monastery, ab impetitione tam creditorum, quam fidejussorum, freeing them from all obligation to pay the money so borrowed; as appears, the Bull saith, by the writing of Pope Lucius. Whereupon Ʋr∣ban, being induced by these reasons, and moved by the desire of King Henry, again confirmed the deposition, as Alexander had done: and again absolved them from that debt, of which they had been ac∣quitted in the judgment of his Predecessor Lucius. Thinking it but reasonable that a debt which was remitted them communis juris aequitate, should be relaxed also, speciali Apostolicae sedis indulgentia.

But whatever his crimes were, for which the King was incensed against him, he had been once very much in his favour; and procured from him a confirmation of all the priviledges granted by the Kings Grandfather. Two of his Charters are very remarkable, which run in the form of precepts. One is, omnibus militibus Abbatis de Burgo; whom he commands without delay, quod faciatis Abbati de Burgo servitium suum quod ei facere debetis: and that not only in the present summons to serve in the Army in Wales but in all other intirely and fully. Which if they did not do, he tells them his Sheriffs should proceed against them accor∣ding to Law, Vicecomites mei, in quorum balivis terras habetis, justificent vos, &c.

The other is to all his Justitiaries, Sheriffs, and Ministers, Praecipio quod Willelmus Abbas de Burgo teneat bene & in pace, & libere & quiete & juste & honorifice. Octo Hundreda sua, cum omnibus libertatibus, & liberis consuetudinibus suis; & justitiam suam de octo Hundredis suis, sicut aliquis antecessorum suorum, melius & liberius & quietius & honorificentius te∣nuit, &c.

I find an agreement made in his time between the Sacrist of Burgh, and Reginaldus Capellanus his Vicar, that the same Reginald should serve honourably two Chapels, viz. de Eea and de Thorp, and pay all duties to the Bishop, Archdeacon and Dean: for which he should have the diet of a Knight in the Abbots Hall, and the third part of all the profits, which belonged to the Altar; together with the panis cum companagio altari oblatus, which was to be his intirely. And upon every Michael∣mas-day, inter tertiam, the whole Convent being present, he was to bring the Key of the Chapels, and lay it upon the Altar, from whence he re∣ceived it: there to receive it again from the Sacrist, if he had well be∣haved himself. Besides all which, William the Abbot and the Convent of Burch, granted and gave to the same Reginald another Chapel; which was that I shall hereafter mention, belonging to the Hospital of St. Leonard Capellam infirmorum, quae sita est prope villam de Burch, cum omnibus quae ad eam pertinere noscuntur: & custodiam infirmorum, ananutim reddendo in∣firmis 2. Sol.

This Domus infirmorum Hugo saith was built by William Waterville, who did so many other worthy things that I have not room to insert them. All agree he was deposed in the year MCLXXV. where Chron. MS. Johan. Abbatis hath these words, Ricardus Cantuar. deposuit Will. de Waterville Abbatem Burgi. He was commemorated in this Church (notwithstand∣ing his deposition) on the last of November where I find these words in the Kalander; Depositio Brandonis & Will. de Walterville Abbatum, & An∣niversarium Adae de Walkote.

Notes

• Swaph. fol. LXXVI.
• Swaph. fol. CCXXIX.