seventeen years, and died in 1194.

Andreas succeeded Benedict, and rose gradually from a monk to a prior,
and finally to an abbot. It is said that he was a good man, and secured
the esteem of the monks by giving them the lands of Fletton and
Alwalton to enrich their table. He ordered likewise six marks a year to
be given out of the monastery funds to the infirmary. This donation was
continued by his successors for a long time, but Abbot Walter, during
his rule, directed that it should be employed in purchasing wine for
the "pitanciary."

During the reign of Andreas there were several lands given to the
"Eleemossynary," and the monastery was very flourishing. He governed
seven years, and died in 1201. His body was entombed in the south
aisle, with two of his brethren, under a Norman arch, beneath which is
the following epitaph:--

Hos tres abbates quibus est prior abba Iohannes,
Alter Martinus, Andreas ultimus, unus
Hic claudit tumulus; pro clausis ergo rogemus.

Acharius succeeded Andreas in 1200. He was originally a prior of St.
Albans, but was presented by King John to the abbacy of this monastery,
on account of his many virtues and distinguished talents. He seems to
have had the interest of the monastery at heart as greatly as any of
his predecessors, and was engaged in several lawsuits with different
landowners, in order to recover the lost possessions of the abbey. He
gained the marsh of Singlesholt from the Abbot of Crowland "for a
yearly acknowledgement of four stones of wax," and increased the number
of his monks. He endowed the church with many valuable articles--such
as silver basins for the great altar, with a case of gold and silver,
set with precious stones, for the arm of St. Oswald! He gave likewise
two large silver cups to the refectory, with silver feet richly gilt,
according to Gunton, and four table knives with ivory hafts. He paid
money off the monastery debts, and purchased houses in London, which he
added to the abbey possessions.

During the festival of St. Peter, a large wax candle, of five pounds
weight,[9] was set before the altar, and burnt day and night, until the
festival was completed. This custom was observed in all other feasts of
the saints in the abbey; and during the rule of Acharius the festivals
were remarkable for their pomp and splendour.

This abbot ruled ten years, died in 1214, and was succeeded by Robert
of Lindsay, or Lyndesheye.

It was during the rule o