ch still remains entire, being too high for them, and out of their
reach. Yea, to encourage them the more in this trade of breaking and
battering windows down, Cromwell himself, (as 'twas reported,) espying
a little crucifix in a window aloft, which none, perhaps, before had
scarce observed, gets a ladder, and breaks it down zealously with his
own hand.

"But before I conclude the narrative, I must not forget to tell, how
they likwise broke open the chapterhouse, ransack'd the records, broke
the seals, tore the writings in pieces, specially such as had great
seals annexed unto them, which they took or mistook rather for the
popes bulls. So that a grave and sober person coming into the room at
the time, finds the floor all strewed and covered over with torn
papers, parchments and broken seals; and being astonisht at this sight,
does thus expostulate with them. Gentlemen, (says he,) what are ye
doing? they answered, we are pulling and tearing the popes bulls in
pieces. He replies, ye are much mistaken: for these writings are
neither the popes bulls, nor any thing relating to him. But they are
the evidences of several mens estates, and in destroying these, you
will destroy and undo many. With these they were something perswaded,
and prevailed upon by the same person, to permit him to carry away all
that were left undefaced, by which means, the writings the church hath
now came to be preserved.

"Such was the souldiers carriage and behaviour all the time during
their stay at Peterburgh, which was a fortnights space: They went to
church duly, but it was only to do mischief, to break and batter the
windows and any carved work that was yet remaining, or to pull down
crosses wheresoever they could find them; which the first founders did
not set up with so much zeal, as these last confounders pulled them
down.

"Thus, in a short time, a fair and goodly structure was quite stript of
all its ornamental beauty, and made a ruthful spectacle, a very chaos
of desolation and confusion, nothing scarce remaining but only bare
walls, broken seats, and shatter'd windows on every side.

"And in the time of this publick confusion, two other things hapned not
unworthy of relating: the one for the strangeness, the other for the
sadness of the accident. The first was this, when now the church lay
open to all comers, without locks and bars, and none to look after
them, those specially that lead up to the leads above; two young
children not