that all churches not consecrated with
holy oil, should be dedicated within two years.--_See Britton's
Hist. Cathedral Church, Peterborough, pp. 22-3._

[11] There was at one time an entrance from the Choir into the
Lady Chapel through a door, on the right side of which was a
small oratory, with a stone roof; the remains are yet to be seen.

[12] This hospital was afterwards called Spittle, and some of the
stones are still remaining in Spittle-field. It was left by Agnes
Pudding, with eight acres of arable land adjoining it.

[13] The Prince at first refused the robe offered to him, because
the abbot did not make a similar offer to his companion; Godfrey,
however, soon settled the affair, by presenting one to each.

[14] A gentleman in this city who is an excellent antiquarian,
and has seen the corrody alluded to above, says, "It was granted
by charter of the abbot, and presents many curiosities--mentioning
particularly the abbot's wine cellar at the over end of the
cloister, under the present passage into the square."--_Private
MS._

[15] The abbot was indicted at the sessions at _Peterburgh_
before Guy Woolston.--_Private MS._

[16] It is still commonly, but incorrectly, called The Lady
Chapel. A building of corresponding position at Lincoln is called
the Presbytry.

CHAPTER III.

_From the transformation of the monastery into a Cathedral during the
rule of abbot Chambers, in 1541, to the present time._

The dissolution of the religious houses of England is one of the most
important events recorded in our national history. It changed the whole
aspect of civil and ecclesiastical affairs, and produced an entire
revolution in the scheme of legislation.

John Chambers, who was the abbot of _Peterburgh_ before these changes
commenced, conformed to the new order of things, and was retained in
office by the king,--the monastery being converted into a cathedral,
and the abbot into a bishop. The new establishment consisted of a
Bishop, a Dean, and six canons; besides these the statutes directed
that there should be six Minor Canons chosen, among other good
qualifications, for their skill in singing, by whom the services in the
Cathedral, were to be conducted, according to the usage of the old
Cathedrals. Of these, one was to be chosen as Precentor, to whom the
other Minor Canon