*PETERBOROUGH, (Northamptonshire) 62 cm. 76 mm. from London, is the least city and the poorest Bpk. though one of the
oldest Ts. in England. It had a mon. dedicated to St. Peter, and founded anno 655; to which the abbot of Croyland and his
monks flying for protection in the year 870, they were overtaken and murdered in a court of this mon. called the Monks
Ch.-yard, because they were all there buried; and to this day is to be seen the tombstone with their effigies, which was
erected over their common grave. Soon after this the Danes destroyed both this mon. and the friars, so that it lay
destitute for above 100 years. The monks being afterwards restored, lived very sumptuously, with a mitred abbot at their
head, till the Diss. when Henry VIII. converted it into a Bp's see. The cathedral, which is said to be above 1000 years
old, though it seems to be more modern, is a most noble Gothic fabrick; and was much more so, before it was defaced in the
civil wars. The W. front, which is 156 feet in breadth, is the most stately of any in England; and besides columns
curiously adorned, is supported by three of the tallest arches in England. The windows of the cloisters are finely stained
with scripture-history, and the succession of its abbots. Here are the monuments of Q. Catherine, wife of Hen. VIII. and
of Mary Q. of Scots; and the figure of the sexton, who buried them and lived to 95, after he had buried all the
housekeepers of the T. twice over. Here is but one p.-Ch. This city is governed by a mayor, recorder, and ald. by a
charter of Hen. VIII. All its officers are elected by the D. and C. consisting of 6 prebendaries, who are Lds. of the
manor. Besides the D. and C. who are an ecclesiastical corp. distinct from the Bp. here are 8 petty canons, 4 students in
divinity, 1 epistler, 1 gospeller, a sub-dean, subtreasurer and chanter, 8 choristors, 8 singing-men, 2 chancellors,
besides a steward, organist, &c. a grammar sc. and 2 ch. scs. The r. Nen, over which it has a wooden-bridge, is navigable
to it by barges, which bring coal corn, &c. and by which they export in some years 6000 quarters of malt, besides other
goods, especiaily the woollen mf. either of cloth or stockings, in which the poor are employed. The air here is said not
to be very wholesome, by reason of the neighbouring fens; but the water of the r. is fresh and good, the highest spring
tide never coming up within 5 m. of the T. and there is plenty of excellent water in their wells. The streets are well-
built; and there is a handsome Mt.-house, over which are kept the assizes and sessions. The Mt. is S. Fairs June 29, Aug.
6, and Sept. 25; the last, called the Bridge-Fair, granted by Hen. VI. for 3 days. Hen. III. granted it a Fair for 8 days
in Lent, long since disused. This city has given title of E. as well as Monmouth, to the family of Mordaunts. Its
jurisdiction extends over 32 Ts. and hamlets, wherein the civil magistrates, appointed by the royal commission, are vested
with the same power as judges of assize, and hold their quarterly sessions in this city.