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 ...

GODEFRIDƲS de Croyland.

The most memorable thing that I meet with in the beginning of this Abbots Government; is a Grant made by the Abbot and Convent of Burgh to the Abbot and Convent of Sulebi; that the said Abbot and Convent of Sulebi, might without any impediment enter into the Man∣nor of Adington parva and its appurtenances; to have and to hold the said Mannor to themselves and Successors for ever. Which Mannor Ri∣chard Son of Gervase de Bernack sometimes held of Humfrey de Bassingburn, who held it of the Abbot of Burgh per servitium feodi unius militis. For which Grant, the Abbot and Convent of Sulebi, granted on their part, that they would pay to the Abbot and Convent of Burgh the year∣ly Rent of six Shillings and eight Pence of Silver, at the Feast of Easter, in their Mannor of Castre: and that they would facere soctam ad curiam

from three Weeks to three Weeks at Castre, &c. They also granted that every Abbot of Sulebi after this present, however he succeeded, should pay upon every vacancy to the Church of Burgh ten Marks of Silver, in the name of a relief; within eight days after he was made Abbot of Sulebi. The Abbot of Burgh also notwithstanding this grant and agree∣ment, was to receive homage, scutage, and all Royal services from the aforesaid Tenement for ever, &c. Dat. apud Burg. S. Pet. die Sabbati in vigilia Paschae An. Domini Millesimo Trecentesimo. Et anno Regni Regis Ed∣wardi filii Regis Henrici vicesimo Octavo.

I find also many homages done to him An. 28. Edwardi I. & An. ejus primo, on the next Sunday after the Epiphany, for Lands held of him in several places. And the like in the following years: one or two of which I think fit to set down. On the Feast of Thomas the Martyr (as he is called) An. Edw. 33. Rob. Domer did him homage for an Estate he held of him in Eston near Rockingham: and the Acquietance the Abbot gave him is Recorded at large, in these terms. Pateat per presentes, quod nos Godfridus, Abbas de Burg Sancti Petri pardonavimus, ad instantiam Johannis de Hotot, de gratia nostra speciali, Roberto fil. & her. Domini Joh. Domer milit▪ quinquaginta solidos pro relevio suo de morte dicti Domini Johannis Ʋx∣oris suae, pro dimid. feodi mil. quod idem Dominus Joh. de nobis tenet in capite, in villa de Eston juxta Rockingam, & viginti sol. nostro auxilio ad primo∣genitam fil. Domini R. maritandam, & 20. sol. de scutagio nobis à Domino Rege concessa de an trigesimo primo. In cujus rei testimonium has literas nostras eid. Rob. fieri fecimus Patentes. Dat. apud Burg. S. Pet. die lunae in Septima Paschae, &c.

In the 4th year of Edw. II. which was the 12th of Godfrey, on the Sun∣day before the Feast of the Ascension, Joh. fil. Domini Rogeri de Hegham, did homage and Fealty to the said Abbot in his Hall at Burgh, for Land he held of him in Helpston; in the presence of Robert de Thorp, then Stew∣ard of the Liberties of Burgh. In which year (4. Edw. 2.) it was that of his own Charity, he built the Bridge over the River Nen.

In the same Register I find this Record, that in the very first year of his Abbotship he bound himself in the summ of five hundred Marks for the redemption of John St. John taken Prisoner, and kept so by the King of France: Dominus Johannes de Sancto Johanne Capitivus, in Carcere Philippi Re∣gis▪ Franc. remanens, Abbas de Burgo Sancti Petri obligatus pro 500 Marcis de redemptione sua. An. 1299. Which agrees with what Tho. Walsingham saith of this Gentleman, whom he calls Johannes de Sancto Johanne de Baio∣na: who was taken Prisoner in the year 1298, going to the relief of Bellagarda, together with the Earl of Lincoln, who commanded one half of the Army, but would not fight. By which means it came to pass, that this J. St. John, and Will. de Mortuomari and Will. de Bermanglen and eight other Knights were made Prisoners; and carried to Paris in Triumph.

How this Abbot came to be engaged for him, or what relation he had to him I do not find; nor have I room for any further account of him: but only this. That in his sixth year there hapned a difference between him and the Abbot of Thorney, about a certain Highway (de quodam chimi∣no) from a place in the River Neen called Herlotefforth; unto the Town of Eye. And at last this agreement was made, at the instance of Walter Bi∣shop of Coventry and Litchf. then Lord High Treasurer, and other friends to them both, viz. that the aforesaid Abbot and Convent of Burgh, of their own mere will, and special benevolence, for the cherishing of mutual love and charity between them, granted for them and their Successors, that the Abbot of Thorney and the Convent and their Servants, Friends, or

Strangers coming thither, might hereafter use that Highway, ad lati∣tudinem quindecim pedum, with their Carts, Waggons, Carriages, Horses, drift of Cattle, to Fairs or Markets, without any disturbance, &c. Dat▪ apud Stamfordiam die Martis proxima post festum Sanctorum Tiburtii & Va∣leriani. Anno Reg. Edw. Tricesimo quarto. He dyed after he had been Abbot one and twenty years. So MS. Chron. Johan. Abbatis ad An. MCCCXX. obiit Dominus Godefridus Abbas Burgi; cui successit Adam de Botheby, &c. And the day was on the 9th of August, as we learn from the Kalendar; which tells us then was Depositio Godfridi de Croyland Abbatis.