and by their judicious arrangements the plan was quickly carried into execution. In A.D. 1784 an excellent road was completed from the Bull Inn, Godmanchester, to Huntingdon Bridge, being a distance of 572 yards, 60 feet wide, with a foot-path ten feet wide, neatly railed off for the accommodation of foot-passengers, preserving under them a free passage for the waters, during times of floods, by the erection of two substantial bridges, each containing eight capacious arches, whereby the dangers and inconveniences of former times are now effectually prevented. On a rail upon the bridge nearest Godmanchester is this inscription," Robertus Cooke, ex aquis emersus, hoc viatoribus sacrum, A. D. 1637." 374 CHAPTER XII. BIOGRAPHY. AVING fully investigated the antient and modern History of Godmanchester, and amply set forth and illustrated its peculiar customs, we shall conclude our labours with a short Biographical Memoir of William of Godmanchester, who was elected Abbot of Ramsey A.D. 1267; and Stephen Marshall, the celebrated Smectymnian, during the Commonwealth. GULIELMUS DE GURMECESTER succeeded Hugh de Sulgrave, as Abbot of Ramsey, in 1267. As but little is known of him, saving what may be collected Ex Registro de Ramsey, we shall confine our biographical notice to their short but comprehensive memoir of him. "Abbot William."-He was elected to the Abbacy, and received the confirmation of the Legate Ottobon in the year 1267. He purchased of Berengarius le Moygne the manors of Bernewell, Hemington, Crouthorpe, and Littleport, with the presentation to the church of St. Andrew's in Bernewell, in the year 1276; in the same year he finished the Refectory, and in the year following, at his own costs, formed an aqueduct from Ramsey to the Abbey, and presented many gifts to the church of Ramsey. He presided as Abbot eighteen years, and in the nineteenth was attacked with paralysis, in consequence of which infirmity he voluntarily resigned the crosier, and, relinquishing office, died after having lingered fourteen months." Out of the above grants to the Abbey, he founded many charitable donations to the poor, to be distributed in bread, cloathing, and money, of which the Valor Ecclesiasticus, as published by the Record Commissioners, gives the following list: a "Abbas Willielmus.-Iste electus est in abbatem et confirmatus per Ottobonum legatum anno MCClxvij. Iste perquisivit de Berengario le Moygne maneria de Bernewell, Hemington, Crouthorpe, et Littlethorp, cum advocatione ecclesiæ sancti Andreæ de Bernewell Anno Domini MCClxxvj et hoc anno intravit conventus primo in Refectorium, et anno sequenti fecit conductum aquæ in Ramesia sumptibus propriis, et multa alia perquisita fecit ecclesiæ Ramesiensi, Iste fuit Abbas octodecim annos, et in decimo nono anno percussus fuit paralysi, propter quod resignavit baculum et sponte cessit ab officio suo, et vixit post per unum annum et menses duo obiit."-Ex Regist. Dugdale. Monasteriu' de Ramsey in Com' Hunt' ex fundacione Comitis Ailwini ubi Johannes Warbois est modo Abbas et Incumbens. Elimos' annuatim distribut' Ex fundacione Wittmi Gormancestr' nuper Abbts iðm. £ Denar' petit' p tot' denar' p incum- These relations of him are honourable to his memory, and good testimonies that his piety was sincere, and his zeal in the cause of the church unquestionable. The Refectory finished by William of Godmanchester was begun by Hugo de Sulgrave, his predecessor, who was elected Abbot in 1254. THE LIFE OF STEPHEN MARSHALL. Stephen Marshall, the celebrated Parliamentarian Divine and head of the Smectymnians, was born at Godmanchester in the close of the 16th century. In the year 1615, he was entered a student of Emmanuel College, Cambridge," where he took the degree of B. A., and soon after became Minister of Finchingfield, in Essex. There he opened a Conventicle, the first known in that neighbourhood, and by the popularity of his sermons, acquired such reputation, that he was frequently selected to preach before the long Parliament, who consulted him in all affairs relating to religion. b Steph: Marshall, Col. Eman. conv. 2 admissus. in matriculam Acad. Cant. April 1, 1615."—Reg. Col. Em. Baker. e Neale. |