Oxney, a few miles only from Peterborough. It is said that
his resignation was caused by complaints being made of his enriching his
own kinsfolk, "whereof he had great multitudes swarming about him," at
the expense of the monastery. But the injury he did could not have been
very considerable, for his body was brought to Peterborough to be
buried, and he had an honourable commemoration in the Church's calendar.

=John de Caleto= (1249-1262), that is, of Calais, came here from
Winchester, where he was prior. He was related to the queen. As one of
the Chief Justices he went on circuit. But he seems to have taken the
side of the Barons in the civil war, and is said to have held the office
of treasurer to them for the last two years of his life. He was seldom
in residence at Peterborough, but appointed a very efficient deputy, who
afterwards succeeded him as abbot.

=Robert of Button= (1262-1274) fought in the battle of Northampton
against the king. The king, coming to assault the town, "espied amongst
his enemies' ensigns on the wall the ensign of the Abbey of Peterburgh,
whereat he was so angry that he vowed to destroy the nest of such ill
birds. But the town of Northampton being reduced, Abbot Robert, by
mediation of friends to the king, saved both himself and church, but was
forced to pay for his delinquency, to the king 300 marks, to the queen
L20, to Prince Edward L60, to the Lord Souch L6, 13s. 4d." When the
fortune of war changed and the Barons were victorious at Lewes, "then
did the other side fleece the Abbot of Peterburgh for his contribution
to the king." After Evesham again the king repeated his exactions, and
the unfortunate abbot had to pay enormously. The total amount that he
paid on these several occasions is put down at a sum which seems almost
impossible, being upwards of L4320. This abbot attended the Council of
Lyons in 1273, and died abroad as he was returning to England. He was
buried abroad; his heart, being brought to Peterborough, was interred
before the altar in one of the chapels in the south transept.

=Richard of London= (1274-1295) is said to have been born in the parish
of S. Pancras. He was a monk of the house, and while sacrist had erected
the Bell-tower and given two bells. A great deal of litigation was
carried on in his time, and he and the abbey were fortunate in having in
one of the monks, William of Woodford, a man of great skill and
judgement, to conduct the different cases before th