t passion for
such objects." He says Benedict was probably the most distinguished monk
of Christ Church, and after his appointment to Peterborough, "finding
that great establishment almost entirely destitute of relics, he
returned to his own cathedral, and carried off with him the flagstones
immediately surrounding the sacred spot, with which he formed two altars
in the conventual church of his new appointment, besides two vases of
blood and part of Becket's clothing." Benedict, though a member of the
house and probably within the precincts, was not actually present at the
Archbishop's murder. Besides his building operations (he built nearly
all the nave of the church) he was very attentive to the landed property
of the house, successfully recovering some estates which had been
alienated.

=Andrew= (1193-1201) had been Prior. He was "very mild and peaceable,
and made it his endeavour to plant and establish peace and tranquillity
in his flock." Several fresh acquisitions of land were made in his time,
and the monastery was very flourishing.

=Acharius= (1201-1214) came here from S. Albans, where he was Prior. He
devoted himself entirely to the administration of his office, managing
the affairs of the monastery with the greatest care and judgement. He
left behind him a reputation for "order, honesty, kindness and bounty,
that from him posterity might learn how to behave themselves both in the
cloister and in the world."

[Illustration: Tomb of an Abbot, possibly Abbot Andrew, 1201.]

=Robert of Lindsey= (1214-1222) succeeded. This was four years after the
death of his predecessor, during which period King John had kept the
monastery in his own hands. This expression, which is of frequent
occurrence, must be understood to mean that the king took possession of
all the revenues belonging to the Abbot, and probably much more from the
property of the monastery, the expenses of which would be materially
lessened by the mere fact of there being no Abbot. Robert had been
Sacrist here, and when he was advanced to the highest office he effected
many improvements in the furniture and ornaments of the church, and in
the buildings, not only of the monastery itself, but also of the manors
and farms belonging to it. One alteration he effected is worth special
mention; many of the windows of the church previously stuffed with reeds
and straw, were glazed. The civil wars in this reign brought desolation
to many religious houses: but w