96 REPORTS. 



Melbourne died in the year 1214, and was succeeded by Roger Norman, who only 

 ruled for two years. Nicholas Wallingford, prior of Burton, was the next abbot, 

 and he died in 1222, after six years' rule. He was succeeded by Bicbard de Insula 

 or Ely, wbo built the chapel of St. Edmund and endowed it. He procured from 

 Henry III. a confirmation of the charter given by King John, and also a charter 

 for a market and fair for Abbot's Bromley. Having been translated to the 

 abbacy of St. Edmund's, Bicbard was succeeded in 1229 by Lawrence, a monk 

 and cook at B niton, who presided over the abbey for tbirty years, during which 

 time some notable events occurred. On tbe 2nd of October, 1251, the town was 

 destroyed by fire, and a little more than a month later the Trent overflowed its 

 banks, and there was a "terrific flood." In July, 1255, there was a "fearful 

 hailstorm," which was followed by a " marvellous tempest." Abbot Lawrence 

 gave liberally to the monastery, and began to build the Lady Cbapel of the grand 

 old church. In his time there were tbirty monks in the abbey. Lawrence died in 

 1260, and was succeeded, by tbe prior of Burton, John de Stafford, a native of 

 Stretton, and a great scholar. For the good of the souls of his father and mother 

 he built a bridge at Egginton, which is called Monk's Bridge to this day. In his 

 time the Lady Chapel was completed by Prior Michael. After being abbot twenty 

 years, John de Stafford retired on account of old age and died in 1280, a few weeks 

 after his retirement. He was succeeded by Prior Thomas Packington, who ruled 

 twenty-six years. During his time there was a terrible famine, and to relieve the 

 distress he employed the people to make Cat Street, now called Station Street. 

 The building of the chancel or the upper church, or choir, was also began and 

 completed. John Fisher, of Stapenhill, a monk of Burton, was next appointed, 

 and in turn he was succeeded by William Bromley, who had formerly been cellarer 

 of the monastery. During his time — in the year 1322— the battle of Burton Bridge 

 was fought between the forces of the Earl of Lancaster, owner of Tutbury Castle, 

 and Edward II. This event caused the monks so much suffering that the King, 

 to compensate them, gave them the advowsons of Haubury and Tatenhill, which 

 had previously belonged to the Earl of Lancaster. On the death of Bromley in 

 1329 a dispute arose as to his successor, one party favouring the appointment of 

 Eoger de Bybingten, a monk, of Burton, and another that of Robert Longdon, 

 formerly of Burton, and then prior of Tutbury. The dispute was Anally referred 

 to the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, who chose Robert Longdon. He was 

 twelve years abbot, and built the Cbapel of the Confessors with its spiral columns 

 and ornamental capitals. Longdon died in 13-10, and was succeeded by Bobert 

 Birkhull, monk and cellarer of Burton, who died in 1348. John Ibstoke, monk 

 and almoner of Burton, then ruled as abbot for eighteen years, and was 

 succeeded by Thomas Southam, monk and chaplain to the late abbot, who 

 retired on the 1st of November, 1400, after being in office thirty-three years. — 

 Mr. Thornewill was heartily thanked for his paper. A number of excellent 

 drawings of portions of the old abbey were exhibited. 



NORTHAMPTONSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. — February 

 17th. General Monthly Meeting. Mr. B. Thompson, F.C.S., read a paper on ' Polari- 

 sation of Light," illustrated by various kinds of Polariscopes. March 4th. — 

 Entomological Section. The President, Sir Herewald Wake, Bart., read a paper 

 on " Wasps," in which he detailed his observations on the way in which larvae 

 are fed ; and a plan for systematic work for the ensuing year was adopted. 



NOTTINGHAM LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.— The 

 following lectures have been delivered this season : — January 29th, G. H. Wallis, 

 Esq., on " The Potter's Wheel ;" February 5th, J. B. Hutchinson, Esq., on 

 " The Present Agricultural Depression, and Its Probable Consequences ;" 

 February 12th, G. B. Kidd, Esq., LL.D.. on "Philosophy in the Middle Ages — 

 Schools and Schoolmen ;" February 17th. Dean Stanley, on " The Relations 

 of Theology, Science, and Literature ;" February 26th, H. Y. Stanger, Esq., 

 B. A., on " Utilitarianism;" March 4th, Rev. J. F. McCallan, M.A., on "Inter- 

 mediate Education;" March 11th, H. C. Sorby, LL.D., F.R.S., on "The 

 Structure an 1 Origin of Limestones;" February 17th, J. J. Harris Teall, Esq., 

 M.A., F.G.S., on " The Structure of Molecules." 



