[23] Algar the Count, called the Younger, with his two stewards, Wibert and Leofric, who gave names to these three towns, Algarkirk, Wiberton, Leverton, with other warriors, obtained a great victory over the Danes, anno 870. (Chron. Joan. Abb. S. Petri de Burgo, ed. a Spark, p 15. from Ingulf) but were slain the next day. 9 Ed. I. Ranulf de Rye obtained of the king a licence for a market every week, on the Monday, at his manor of Gosberchurch, and free warren there, as at his lands at Swinflete, Quadavering, Donington, Iwardby, and Housthorp.
[24] Thoroton’s Hist. of Nott. gives part of this Pedigree, p. 174.
[25] That monument in the church-yard was probably that of St. Botulphus, who was buried in this town, and famous for miracles before and after death.
[26] The old church, built after the Danish devastation in 870, was of Turketil’s raising, who died 975. The new part of Crowland abbey was built in 1114.
[27] The names of Croyland bells are mentioned by Ingulf, p. 505. b. The first was made by Turketil, Guthlac the greatest: the five others were made by his successor, abbot Egelric; Bartholomew, Bettelin, Turketyl, Tatwin, Pega and Bega.
[28] The abbot of Croyland’s chair is at Mr. Dove’s seat at Upton by Peterborough, a descendant of bishop Dove’s: upon it, BENEDICITE FONTES DN̄O. I suppose the abbot’s name was Fountain.
[29] St. Guthlake’s hermitage ruins pulled down about 1720.
[30] The triangular bridge of Croyland is mentioned in the time of king Edred, anno 948. St. Guthlake’s cross, Plate XI. was set up by abbot Thurketil a little before that time.—Ingulf, p. 497. b.
[31] Of these crosses thus Walsingham, Hist. Angl. anno 1291. Dura (rex) finibus Scotiæ, &c.
[32] Grantham and Stamford were two stages. Mr. Howgrave says there was a queen’s cross at Stanford; and the like is affirmed of Grantham, and that it stood in the open place in the London road: and I saw a stone, carved with foliage work, said to be part of it; and I believe it, seeming of that sort of work: if so, then Newark and Leicester must be left out, and they travelled with the queen’s corpse by way of Oundle to Geddington from Stanford, I suppose the present London road from Stanford being unpassable, or not having at that time royal seats, manors, or abbeys, by the way, sufficient to entertain the cavalcade. Mr. Peck, in his Stanford Antiquities, asserts Grantham and Stanford two of the stages, and where crosses were erected, no doubt, that at Grantham flood in the open London road before my neighbour Hacket’s house, called Peter-church hill; and the people have some memory of it. Mr. Peck puts in Woburn between Dunstable and St. Alban’s; upon what authority I know not.—Geddington was a manor of the king’s, V. Regist. Hon. Richmond, p. 280.—Camden in his Remains, p. 208, who doubtless had seen them, inserts Grantham and Stanford, V. p. 116.