uts 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 three thousand marks. After his liberation,
he returned to the monastery, and made himself more odious to the monks
than before. He was depraved and dissolute, and, to satisfy his
licentious desires, he is said to have made free with the treasury. He
introduced two monks likewise into the monastery, who were foreigners,
and quite as unscrupulous as himself, in purloining