DATA
BASE REF: H 1051
GUNTON
ON CASTOR
History of the Church in Peterborough by 1686 Symon Gunton
Symon Gunton, a Canon of Peterborough Cathedral wrote, in 1686, a History of the Church in Peterborough. This was published again in facsimile in 1990 with an Introduction, and edited, by Canon Jack Higham of Peterborough Cathedral. His history contains a number of references to Castor etc, extracts of which are below. (Please note that I have kept to the original spellings and punctuations. Comments etc in italics are mine, not part of the original.WB)
Penda
Page 2. “Penda…King of the Mercians, at that time
reigned, who has five Children, Peada, Wulfere, and Ethelred, being his Sons,
Kyneburgh and Kyneswitha, his daughters.”
Kyneburgha and Kyneswitha
Page 4. “And now
the building of the Monastery of Medeshamsted begun by King Peada, went on
a-main through the zealous endeavours of King Wulfhere; his Brother Ethelred,
and his Sisters Kyneburgha and Kyneswitha assisting him therein,…”
Robin Hood and Little John -Stones
Page 5. “ Nor did
the Abbot of Peterborough from these Pitts (Barnack
stone pits) furnish only that, but other Abbies also, as that of S
Edminds-Bury: In memory whereof, there are two long stones yet standing upon a
balk in Castor-field, near unto Gunwade Ferry…2
During the Time of Abbot Elsinus - Translation of
Kyneburgha and Kyneswitha
Page 14. “About
this time Leofricus, who was Secretary of Burgh, translated the bodies of S.Kyneburgh and Kyneswitha from their Church
of Castre, and the body of S Tibba from Rihale, to Peterborough. Others place
this translation in the time of King Henry the first, and that they had a
yearly memorial celebrated there.”
Castor Church Dedication
Page 22. “John of
Salibury…began to build (P’boro) Church
anew Anno 1118, but lived not to finish it…and died Anno 1125, being 25, or 26
King Henry I. A year before this was the Church of Castr’ dedicated, as may be
seen by an Inscription continuing over the Chancel Door.
‘XV KL MAII DEDICATIO HU-
JUS ECCLESIAE MCXXIIII’”
(Comment – note this was in early 17 century – so the
letters XXIIII were certainly added before that.)
Castor Manor Hall
Page 29.
“Alexander de Holdernesse, Abbot… A great builder,…and built the Hall at his
Mannor of Oundle, that also at Castre…2
Sutton
Page 35 .
“Robertus de Sutton, so called from the place of his birth, being a little
Village in the Parish of Castre.”
Castor Manor
Page 36. “Earl
Warren, had of Abbot Robert for his Mannors of Castor, etc…42 l.”
Castor Manor Rents - . (in time of Abbot Godfrey)
Page 42 rents
“received for Rent yearly at.
£ s d
Castor 18 10 6”
Belsize (in time of Willhelmus Ramsey c1480s)
Page 55. “This
William found opposition from some of his Tenants, they of the Mannor of
Bellasise making insurrection to the number of one hundred, from thence and the
adjacent parts, throwing in Hedges, and Ditches, returning with Bagpipe, and
great jollity for what they had done. The Abbot complained hereof, but what was
the issue, the Informer tells not.”
Kyneburgha Chapel in Abbey (at
1541 Valuation)
Page 62. “In South
Ile” “in S Kyneburgha Chapel, one altar
with a front of painted cloth, with one Table well Gilt.”
Abbey Lands at Upton and Marholm
Page 66. “Here I
must acknowledge myself at a stand, as not able to give a perfect account of
all Mannors, Lands, and Tenements belonging to the Monastery of Peterborough at
the time of the Dissolution; for it had Lands, or Tenements
in…Upton…Marholm…etc. Which, how or when they were alienated from this
Monastery, whether by the King, or by the Monastery itself before, I cannot
say; But of such lands as the Abby was at this tiem in full tenure and
possession of, King Henry made a tripartite kind of division, assuming a third
to himself, confirming another third upon the Bishop, and the rest upon the
Dean and Chapter.”
Advowson of Castor
Page 67. “King
Henry having taken these Lands from the Church of Peterborough, made provision
for the Bishoprick…he advowsons of Castre ..etc.”
Bishop Howland and Castor
Page 81. “Richard
Howland, …Bishop 1584… supervised funeral arrangements of Mary Queen of Scots (and much more about the death and funeral
including the Fitzwilliam involvement)…Howland having been Bishop here the
space of 15 years, died at Castor, and was buried in his own Cathedral…”
Castor Parsonage c 1630s
Page 83 “Augustine
Lindsell… in his time the Parsonage of Castor was annexed to the Bishoprick to
be held in Commendam, which was effected by W Laud Archbishop of Canterbury, as
he recorded in his Dairy.”
Bishop Towers and Treason (at time of
Civil War)
Page 84. “…twelve
bishops were charged with High-Treason and committed to the Tower…Of those
twelve Bishops, John Towers Bishop of Peterburgh was one…he died January 10
1648.”
Dean & Chapter Rents at Castor & Sutton (30
July 1541)
Page 87.” lands
and rents assigned to this Foundation (Dean
& Chapter)…the revenues for the Dean & Chapter, with such offices
and places as were subordinate were these.
In Northampton-shire.
£ s d
Mannor of Castre 51 10 07 q.
Mannor of Sutton 17 00 4 q.”
Castor Pensions
Page 88. “Portions
and Pensions from several churches.
Caster 05 00 00”
Castor Rector as Prebend
Page 91.
“Succession of Prebendaries
In the third Prebend
Warner Marshall MA Parson of Castor”
Extracts from Old Charters
Page 118. “King
Wolfere’s Charter”
“….Ego, ita faventibus fratribus
meis Arthelredo acMeruvala cum beatissimus sororibus meis Kyneburgh, &
Kynesuida,quarum prior regina mutavit imperium in Christi anciallatum
praesidens Monasterio Kyneburgensi quod suo nominee decorator, …etc”
Page 121. “Ego
Kyneburga soror Regis amplector”
Marholm & Upton
Page 131 “King
Ethelred…privileges granted…”
“Feodum Affelini de Watervile,
Thorp, Marham, Upton cum eorum appendiciis…”
Castor and Ailsworth
Page 137 “Privileges
by King Edgar…”
“…eidem Monasterio adfectas quae hic
exparte titulantur…Castre, Eylisworth,…”
Nassaburgh ( & relevant to Belsize )
Page 154. “King John his Charter concerning the
Deforestation of Nassaburgh” (dated 12
April 1214)
(Comment: this is the year that a permission to assart
was granted for Belsize)
Manors of Castor and Sutton
page 172 “Charles
R to the Dean and Prebendaries of Cathedral Church of Peterborough”
“namely by the renewing of the Lease
of the Mannors of Castor and Sutton which are the inheritance of that Cathedral
and are reputed to be clearly worth five hundred and three score pounds per
annum, or thereabouts, over and above the Rents which are now reserved upon
them…”
“FROM A SUPPLEMENT
TO THE FOREGOING HISTORY PAGES” by Symon Patrick, Dean of Peterborough p225FF
Of Kyneburgha’s Marriage
Page 228. “There was a great Friendship between Peada Son of Penda, and Alhfrid Son
of Oswin king of Northumberland (Brother to the great King and Martyr Oswald)
in so much that they made an interchangeable Marriage: Alhfrid taking Kynesburg
a Sister to Peada, and Peada taking Alfeda (as he calls her) Sister to Alhfrid
unto Wife. Whereupon Peada by the perswasions of his faithful Brother-inLaw,
and of his own pious Sister, was made a Christian, and baptized in
Northumberland by that famous Bishop Finanus.”
(Note – this is all while Penda was still alive)
Building of Abbey
Page 229 “…his
Brother Wolferus…..but pursued it with great zeal till he had finished it, by
the help of saxulfus, and the assistance of his Brother Ethelred and his two
holy Sisters Kyneburga and Kyneswitha…”
Richard the Priest of Castor and Castor Church gifted
to the Abbey(in time of Abbot Martinus de Vecti)
(Comment: Simon Patrick’s source for this important
court case, describing how the advowson of Castor Church came into the hands of
the Abbots of Peterborough is : Swaph CCLXXII and fol 100 as noted in the
margin of his text. This text also gives us the names of some of the Parish
Priests at Castor before Virgilius, known as the first Rector in 1228, eg
Richard and his successor Robert in 1133)
Page 277-278. “This was in the beginning of his (Abbot Martinus) Government: when Richard
Priest of Castre, having a mind to change his life and take upon him the habit
of a Monk, prevailed with this abbot, by his own and others intreaties, to
receive him into the Monastery of Burch. Accordingly he came on a day appointed
1133 (which was the first year of Martin) into the chapterhouse and there
before the abbot and all the monks made it his humble Petition, that they would
receive all he had, viz. the Church of Castre, which he then held: with all
belonging to it, both in Lands and Tithes, and in other things, which he gave
to God and to St .Peter for ever. Whereupon the Abbot granted what he desired,
on condition, that he should come into Court, coram Baronibus suis, and there
confirm what he had done in the Chapter-house, which he performed accordingly.
For the aforesaid Richard Priest, came into the Abbots Chamber, and there,
before the Abbot of Thorney, and Will. De Alberic, and Richard Basset, and many
other Barons of the Abbey, and divers other persons, who came with Richard and
William, restored his Church of Castre to the Church of St. Peter de Burch, de
quo prius exierat.
Which his Brother
Galfridus hearing, contradicted it; affirming that Church (Castor) was de feodo suo, et servitum, scuti de alio feodo suo in
se habuisse. Whereupon the Abbot impleaded him about this and about other
forfeitures: and he fearing the penalties, if judgement went against him, came
and made the same surrender his Brother had done: and disclaimed all interest
in this Church (Castor) , which he
had pretended to be his Fee, and has Hugo’s words are, clamavit solutam et
quietam de se et haeredibus suis in perpetuum: ac in manum Abbatis per quondam
virgam redditit et dimisit. His heirs also, Turoldus and Robertus did the same
in open Court, which was very fukk: and the aforesaid Galfridus begged the
Abbots pardon, which he obtained. The Abbot also, before the above named
persons, fred him from the service dimidis Militis; and pardoned him seven
Marks of Silver de relevamine suo. All of which was done on the day that the
Abbot Martin received the Homages of his Tenents: which shows it was in the entrance
of his Government….”
Page 278-279. “The
Church of Castre after this was supplied by a Chaplain, whose name was Robert:
as I find in a Grant made of this Church (but it doth not appear in what year)
by the Abbot and the Convent to the Archdeacon of Northampton in Eleemosynam (Almonry), with all its appurtenances in
Tithes and Lands, either Wood or Pasture, Meadow or Arable; for which he was to
pay every year one Mark of Silver, for the service at the Altar: and he either
dyed, or took upon him a religious habit, it was to return to the right of the
Monastery freely and quietly, salva Episcoplai dignitate. They granted him also
plenarium societatum in capitulo: So that they would give him the habit of a
Monk, if he would live among them; or if he dyed in another place and in
another habit, obsequies should be made for him, as for one of their monks.
Whereupon Robert, Chaplain of Castre, proclaimed with a loud voice in the
Chapter-house, the Church of Castre to be free and quiet from all claim that he
had hitherto had unto it, and delivered the Charter which he had received, to
the Archdeacon.”
Gift of Castor Income – in the time of Abbot Andreas
Page 289. “…he
gave…forty shillings from Castre.”
Celebration and Candles for Festivals including that
of Kyneburgha – in the
time of Abbot Acharius
Page 290-291.
“…four Stone of Wax : which he appointed to be employed for Wax-Candles, on the
Feasts of the Saints of this Church.
…in the year 1202… how the four Stone of Wax should be yearly spent is as follows. That it should be delivered
to the Keeper of the Altar of St Mary: who was to take care that in each of
the 3. Festivals of st peter one Wax
Candle of five pound weight should burn continually before the great Altar,
from the beginning of the first Vespers, till after the completorium of the
Festival. In like manner in the four Festivals of St. Mary, and in those of St.
Oswald, St. Kyneberge, St. Kyneswithe, and St. Tibbe.”
Benefaction re Kyneburgha’s Shrine – in the time of Abbot Robertus de
Lyndesey
Page 294-295.
“…divers others, no less memorable…and gave two Marks of Gold, and his own
Silver Cup, ad feretrum (bier) Sancto
Kyneburga.”
Belsize – in the time of Abbot Robertus de Lyndesey
Page 297. “…the
Abbot Robert therefore gave other Revenues, not only for the recreation, as the
word is, of those 72 Monks; but for the increment of eight Monks more: whereby
the whole Number was made LXXX. And particularly Belasise, as Mr.G. (Symon Gunton) observes, to find those
8. with Bread and Beer. Which Corn and Malt was afterwards changed into money
in Abbot Walters time, because the Celerarius of the Abbot and his Servants,
would receive none but the very best; which was the occasion of great
quarrels.”
Ailsworth – in the time of Abbot Acharius
Page 298. “…Hugo de
Longo Campo, Son of Henry de Longo de Campo, out of respect to God and the
Salvation of his Soul, granted all his land in Eyliswurhe; viz. quadraginta sex
solidates terrae inliberam puram ac perpetuum Eleemosynam, (Almonry) cum debita ac solita solemnitate, with all due and usual
solemnity. Which Charter of his was afterwards confirmed by Hubert Archbishop
of Canterbury.”
Reginald of Castor – in the time of Abbot Alexander de Holderness 1226AD
Page 299. “…And so
it is in the Kalendar Nov. 17. (it should be 19.)..Depositio Alexandri Abbatis
et Anniversarium Reginaldi de Castre et Matilda Uxoris ejus.”
Belsize – in the time of Abbot Alexander de Holderness
Page 300.
“…Wherein, out of his paternal acre to provide well for those eight Monks,
which Roberto his predecessor had added to their wonted number, and at the
Petition of the Convent, he granted and confirmed to the Celerary, all the new
assarts belonging to the Monastery in Nassa Burgi fc Belasis with all its
appurtenances…”
Bovaria at Castor – in the time of Abbot Walter de St Edmundo
Page 302. “…he
renewed the Grange at Thorp, and made a new Bovaria at Castre…” (cattle-shed or maybe even a cattle market).
Advowson of Castor – in the time of Abbot Walter de St Edmundo
Page 304.
“…journey to Rome…The third time he was called by a special Mandate, to answer
the contempt with which he was charged, of granting the Church of Castre
according to the Kings commandment, contrary to the Provision of the Pope.” (c1244)
Belsize – in the time of Abbot William de Hotot c1248
Page 308. “…In the
same year he granted out of his mere liberality to the Celerary of the
Church….and all the Tenement called Belasise, with the appurtenances, for eight
pound Sterling, in which he and his Predecessor stood bound at the four quarter
of the year, for the elebration of the principal Feasts: and for the forty
Shillings which Walter his predecessor gave; for celebrating the Feast of the
Dedication of the Church. …”
Castor Wood – in the time of Abbot Johannes de Caleto c1250
Page 309. “…We
therefore have given and assigned to the Celerarius of the Convent for ever
that land which de Biffleto near Castor Wood, we have caused to be turned into
Pasture and Ploughed.”
Castor Court – in the time of Robertus de Sutton
Page 313. “…In which
year, on the 11. of kal. Of March I find an agreement made between the Abbot of
Burgh and the Abbot of Sawtry, concerning Secta Curie de Castre. …”
Belsize and Sutton Taxes – in the time of Abbot Willihelmus de Wodeford c1296
Page 316. “…Then
follows the value of several Mannors, and the Tenths to be paid out of them,
after this manner.
Belasis cum Appendiciis taxat. ad. 4 l. & 6 d. Decima
Mannerium de Sutton taxatur ad 6
l. 2 s. Decima”
Abbot of Suleby and Castor Court – in the time of Godefridus de Croyland
Page 317.
“…Convent of Sulebi, granted on their part, that they would pay to the Abbot…at
the Feast of Easter, in heir Mannor of Castre: and that they would facere
sectam ad curiam from three Weeks to Three Weeks at Castre &c….”
Feast of Translation of St Kyneburgha – in the time of Richardus Ashton c1448
Page 324. “ pains
he took in the regulation of Divine Service in this Monastery…before these
Books is prefixed the Ecclesiastical Kalendar (which I have had occasion
frequently to name) at the side of which, are set down those Festivals, or
Anniversaries which were peculiar to this Church and their neighbours; as
follows.
March
7. Translatio Sanctorum Kynesburgh et
Kyneswith.”