op of this
place, there was found a seal of lead (the instrument wholly consumed),
having on one side these letters thus inscribed:--'SPA SPE,' over their
several effigies; on the reverse--'CLEMENS P P VI.' (Gunton, p. 47-48).
It is probable that the instrument was some indulgence gotten at the
jubilee, which was but three years before."

Robert Ramsey succeeded to the abbacy in 1346, but of him nothing
particular is recorded.

Henry de Overton was Abbot in 1361, and was followed by Nicholas, who
was noted for his prudence and economy.

We now come to the rule of William Genge, who was elected in 1396, and
ruled twelve years. He was, according to Gunton the first abbot of this
monastery who was dignified with a mitre. In the supplement to Gunton's
history, it is stated "that they put on mitres in token they had
episcopal jurisdiction, and being advanced to the dignity of barons,
and to sit in parliament which no other abbots had done." During his
abbacy, the church which was then situate in St. John's close, in
Boongate, was taken down, and re-erected on its present site. The cause
of this removal was the fearful inundations to which, from its
proximity to the fens, it was exposed.

Between 1408 and 1438 the monastery was presided over by John Deeping.
During his abbacy great complaints were made of the conduct of the
Monks, and the heads of the Benedictine order were summoned before the
King at Westminster, to answer the charge of abuses, which they could
not deny, but promised to reform.

Richard Ashton was appointed abbot in 1438, and ruled 33 years. He made
many visits to the neighbouring monasteries, and likewise received many
from their abbots. He granted several corrodies to persons who endowed
his abbey. One to John Delaber, bishop of St. David's, is worthy of
notice.--This John had his choice, whether to remain at _Peterburgh_
for life, and receive a pension of L32 per annum, or retreat to the
abbot's manor at Eyebury[14] with the same advantages.

There was another corrody granted to Alice Garton, the widow of Thomas
Garton, who was a benefactor to the Cathedral, and whose name is
engraved on stone, in characters of an hieroglyphic kind, over the
large painted window at the west end of the building; it is well worth
examining. It was in the year 1439 that king Henry granted a charter
unto this abbot to hold a fair "for three days," commencing on St.
Matthew's day, (O.S.) in a field, (now named the Mendi