The New Guide to Peterborough Cathedral | Page 3

the eloquent Kenulfus succeeded him
in the reign of Ethelred. Kenulfus built a high wall round the monastery,
part of which is still in existence. He was translated to the see of
Winchester, in 1006, and was so celebrated for his virtue and learning,
that he gave a character to the monastery, and the monks were for a
long time afterwards considered the most enlightened and intelligent
men in the island.
Elsinus was the next abbot of whom we read in connection with the
monastery, and was remarkable for the number of relics which he had
collected. Gunton tells us that the arm of St. Oswald[4] was the most
famous, and Walter de Whittlesea informs us that King Stephen came
to Peterburgh to witness the miracles which it is said to have
performed. During the abbacy of Elsinus, England was invaded by the

Danes under King Sweyn, in revenge of a massacre of his subjects by
the order of King Ethelred. They landed in the north, and, having
gained some advantages, proceeded southward to the fen country,
which they plundered and laid waste with fire and sword. Heavy fines
were extorted from the rich abbeys; that on Crowland amounting to
£64,000 of the present value of money. Elsinus died in 1055.
Arwinus was then elected abbot, but he resigned in 1067 to Leofric. He
was nephew to Earl Leofric, of Mercia, whose Countess, according to
the chroniclers, redeemed Coventry from toll by riding naked through
the streets of that town.
During the third year of this abbot, William the Conqueror invaded
England, and we are told that Leofric fought for some time in the
English army, but in consequence of ill health, was obliged "to return to
his monastery, where he died on the third of the kalends of November,
A.D. 1066." Braddo (or Brand) was the next successive abbot, but died
after a rule of three years.
Thorold of Fescamp, who for some service rendered to the conqueror,
had been appointed to an abbacy near Salisbury, was considered by
William, on account of his soldier-like qualities, to be a fit person to
transfer to the rebellious and disorderly neighbourhood of the Camp of
Refuge, and he was accordingly appointed Abbot of Peterborough, in
1069.
Between the death of Braddo and the arrival of his successor, the
second destruction of the monastery took place. A band of Danish
soldiers, headed by Hereward de Wake, nephew of Braddo, attacked
the monastery, and all the valuable treasures which it possessed were
either taken away or destroyed. They then set fire to the building. The
following is Gunton's account of the treasures which they captured; and,
as it puts us in possession of much curious information concerning
those times, we will give the extract entire:--"They took the golden
crown from the head of the crucifix, the cross with the precious stones,
and the footstool under; duo aurea feretra (two golden or gilded biers
whereon they carried the saints' reliques, and other such like things, in
procession), and nine silver ones; and twelve crosses, some of gold and

some of silver. And, besides all this, they went up to the tower and took
away the great table which the monks had hidden there, which was all
of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and wont to be before the altar,
with abundance of books, and other precious things, which were
valuable, there being not the like in all England."
The monks were disconsolate at the loss of these valuable treasures,
and the abbot solicited William the King to interfere for them, in order
that they might be returned. It appears, however, that the conqueror did
not pay much attention to their request; and it is probable that, as he
had just after this depredation concluded a treaty of peace with the
Danish sovereign, he was unwilling to do anything that should cause a
breach of peace between them, especially as they were such
troublesome and dangerous enemies. The greater part of the treasure
was by some means once more restored to the monks,[5] and,
according to the Saxon chronicler, they commenced from this time to
build ramparts for their own protection, and for the security of the
monastery. Tout Hill[6] in the vineyard field was raised at this time,
and there is said to have been a subterraneous passage which ran thence
to Croyland and Thorney. This hill was originally called Mount
Thorold.
After the arrival of Thorold at Peterborough, being accompanied by
160 well-armed Frenchmen, he proceeded to turn his attention to the
Camp of Refuge, situated near Ely; and, joining Ives of Taillebois in an
assault upon it, was repulsed by Hereward de Wake, and taken prisoner,
with many of the monks; nor was he liberated, according to Dean
Patrick, until he had paid