lt that goodly building at the east end of the church, now
commonly known by the name of the new building,"[16] wherein he placed
three altars, opposite three pair of stairs, descending from the back
of the great altar. He likewise built a chamber in the abbey house,
which is still called "heaven-gate chamber." He made also a beautiful
window in the great hall "overlooking the cloyster." He added many
pictures to those which were already in the chapel of St. Mary, or the
Lady's Chapel, as it is now called, all which have since been
destroyed. The gate that leads to the deanery is likewise of his
workmanship, and bears his signature in hieroglyphics, viz:--a Kirk,
and a tun under it. This gate is a magnificent specimen of
architecture, and should be seen by every person who visits
Peterborough. Abbot Kirton ruled nearly 32 years, and died in 1528.

John Chambers was the last abbot, and was elected in 1528.

Cardinal Wolsey visited the abbey in the 17th year of the reign of
Henry the Eighth, and washed and kissed the feet of fifty-nine poor
people, which ceremony was called "keeping his maundy." He then gave
them twelve pence, three ells of canvas, a pair of shoes, and divided a
barrel of red herrings amongst them: he likewise sang mass himself on
Easter-day, and absolved from their sins all those who heard him.

It was during the rule of Chambers that Queen Catherine, the first wife
of Henry the 8th, died [July 1, 1535], and was buried in the monastery.
Her tomb may be seen in the north side of the choir. The scaff which
covered her pall was originally deposited at the back of the great
altar. It was inwoven with silver, and was very massive and heavy.

[7] This sum made the church dependent upon the monastery, and
the chaplain was required to bring his church key to the sacrist
of the monastery, yearly, as an acknowledgement of it.--_See
Gunton's Hist. Church, Peterborough, p. 24._

[8] Britton says "he founded a chapel to St. Nicholas _near_
it;" but Gunton is doubtless correct, when he says that the
chapel was over it.

[9] After Acharius had recovered the marsh of Singlesholt from
the Abbot of Crowland by the law of the land, he let it to him
with the understanding that, instead of his paying four stones of
wax to the Abbot of Crowland, the abbot should pay him a yearly
rental in kind, of the same amount.

[10] These decrees were,