A Guide to Peterborough Cathedral Part 4

_Fifth Window._

COL. 1.

"Werbode, steward to King Wulfere, "Told that his sons christned were."

COL. 2.

"Towards the chappel Wulfere 'gan goe, "By guiding of Werbode, Christy's foe."

COL. 3.

"Into the chappel entred the King, "And found his sons worshipping."

COL. 4.

"Wulfere in woodness his sword out drew, "And both his sons anon he slew."[22]

_Sixth Window._

COL. 1.

"King Wulfere, with Werbode yoo, "Burying gave his sons two."

COL. 2.

"Werbode for vengeance his own flesh tare, "The devil him strangled, and to h.e.l.l bare."

COL. 3.

"Wulfere, for sorrow, anon was sick, "In bed he lay, a dead man like."

COL. 4.

"Seynt Ermenyld, that blessed Queen, "Counselled Wulfere to shrive him clean."

_Seventh Window._

COL. 1.

"Wulfere contrite, hyed him to Chad, "As Ermenyld him counselled had"[23]

COL. 2.

"Chad bade Wulfere, for his sin, "Abbeys to build his realm within."

COL. 3.

"Wulfere in haste performed than, "Brough that Peada his brother began."

COL. 4.

"Wulfere endued with high devotion, "The abbey of Brough with great possession."

_Eighth Window._

COL. 1.

"The third brother, King Ethelred, "Confirmed both his brethren's deed."

COL. 2.

"Saxulf, that here first abbot was, "For Ankery's, at Thorney, made a place."

COL. 3.

"After came Danes, and Brough brent, "And slew the Monkys as they went."

COL. 4.

"Fourscore years and sixteen, "Stood Brough destroyed by Danes teen."

_Ninth Window._

COL. 1.

"Seynt Athelwold was bidden by G.o.d's lore, "The abbey of Brough again to restore."

COL. 2.

"Seynt Athelwold to King Edgar went, "And prayed him to help him in his intent."

COL. 3.

"Edgar bade Athelwold the work begin, "And him to help he would not lyn."

COL. 4.

"Thus Edgar and Athelwold restored this place, "G.o.d save it and keep it for his grace."[24]

"But to proceed, notwithstanding all the art and curiosity of workmanship these windows did afford, yet nothing of all this could oblige the reforming rabble, but they deface and break them all in pieces, in the church and in the cloyster, and left nothing undemolisht, where either any picture or painted gla.s.s did appear; excepting only part of the great west window in the body of the church, which 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 s.p.a.ce: 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.