f this abbot that one of the most interesting
changes was effected in the monastery: the windows until this time had
been "stuffed with straw," to keep out the cold and the rain; and, at
an immense expense, he had thirty-nine of them adorned with glass,
which enterprise gained for him a considerable amount of fame and
esteem. Not content with this change in his own monastery, he extended
his generosity to other parts, and built a chancel to the church at
Oxney. He was confirmed by the king at Winchester, and received the
benediction of the Bishop of Lincoln.

Being thus installed in his new office with so much honour, he directed
his attention to the forest lands by which he was surrounded. By virtue
of the forest laws, foresters let their cattle run at liberty to graze,
and they frequently did much damage to the possessions of the
monastery, and to the property of the town inhabitants. Lindsay
therefore wrote to the king to try to "disafforest" the lands which
were contiguous to the monastery, and he effected his object by payment
of 1320 marks. Of his other improvements we read that "he made in the
south cloister a lavatory of marble, for the monks to wash their hands
in when they went to meals--their hall being near on the other side of
the wall, the door leading into it being yet standing; the lavatory
continued entire until the year 1651, and then, with the whole
cloister, it was also pulled down."

About this time, in the reign of King John, England was the scene of
those civil contentions which terminated in favour of the barons, and
the attainment of a charter of liberties. A large number of the
monasteries in England were, however, despoiled by the king before the
fate of the war was decided, and amongst them was Crowland Abbey. It is
likely that of _Peterburgh_ escaped the fury of the king's soldiers,
for we do not read of any outrage being committed upon it at that time
in the monkish records. Lindsay wrote a history of the monastery,
according to Pitseus, but he did not enrich the church library with any
valuable additions. He ruled seven years, and died in 1222.

Alexander de Holderness was the successor of Lindsay, and was elected
November 30, 1222. He was called Holderness from the place where he was
born. This abbot made a number of improvements in his monastery, and
enriched it with money and relics. He built, says Gunton, "_the
solarium magnum_ at the door of the abbot's chamber, and a _cellerarium_