under it, and furnished the church also with that precious crystal
vessel wherein the blood of Thomas a Becket was kept." He likewise
built halls at Oundle, Castor, Eyebury, and other places. He was much
beloved by the monks, and died, after a government of four years, in
1226.

An interesting incident in connexion with this abbot may here be
mentioned. On the 2nd of April, 1830, when the workmen were making a
foundation in the cathedral church for the erection of a new choir,
they discovered beneath one of the slabs a stone coffin, which their
curiosity led them to open. They were surprised to find that it
contained the body of a man, with a large coarse garment around it,
equipped with boots, and having a crosier by its side. There were
several very remarkable things connected with this discovery. The boots
were what are called "rights and lefts," and in a good state of
preservation. The crosier was perfect, and a part of the body was hard,
and of a copper-coloured hue, whilst the other part was decomposed. The
body was headless, and a piece of lead was found lying in _place of
the skull_, with this inscription upon it--

ABBAS: ALEXANDR:

These remains were gathered together, replaced in the shell, and buried
in the south aisle, nearly opposite the burial place of Mary Queen of
Scots.

Martin de Ramsey was chosen abbot after the death of Alexander. His
election was sanctioned by the king, and he was confirmed by the Bishop
of Lincoln, at Westminster. There is nothing remarkable recorded of
this abbot. He "disafforested" several lands about _Peterburgh_, and
added them to the possessions of the monastery.

During the rule of this abbot, Pope Gregory IX. ordered that when there
should be an interdiction of the monastery lands, the monks should
close their doors, and not allow the people to hear their prayers, or
participate in them; but the privilege was granted to the monks of
Peterborough to say the service in a low voice to themselves, the
ringing of the bell being dispensed with.

Martin ruled six years, died in 1232, and was succeeded by Walter de
St. Edmond, in 1233. It was during the government of this abbot that
the monastery of _Peterburgh_ was re-dedicated and consecrated with
holy oil, by the Bishops of Lincoln and Exeter [1238], according to the
decrees of the constitution of Otto.[10] The ceremony was attended with
the usual pomp of such proceedings, and the possessions of the
monastery were r