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 L64,000 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 p