[Illustration:  Remains of Saxon Church]

The King came to visit the monastery thus rebuilt under his direction.  The Archbishops, Dunstan and Oswald, with a large company of the nobility and clergy attended at the same time.  The King is said to have inspected some old deeds which had been saved from the general destruction a century before, and to have wept for joy at reading the privileges belonging to the place.  He therefore granted a new charter, confirming all the old privileges and possessions.  Since in this charter no allusion is made to the triple dedication of the church, but S. Peter alone seems named as the Patron Saint, it is not unreasonable to conclude that the first church of Burgh monastery was dedicated to S. Peter only, and that the dedication of the original minster to SS.  Peter, Paul, and Andrew, was not repeated.  Edgar says that he renews the ancient privileges “pro gratia Sancti Petri”; and that certain immunities shall continue as long as the Abbot and the inmates of the house remain in the peace of God, and the Patron Saint continues his protection, “ipso Abbate cum subjecta Christi familia in pace Dei, et superni Janitoris Petro patrocinio illud (sc. coenobium) regente.” This charter is noteworthy for the title the King gives himself, “Ego Edgar totius Albionis Basileus.”

For some time this establishment continued to flourish.  But the troublous times that followed the Norman conquest did not leave Burgh undamaged.  It plays a considerable part in the story of Hereward, the Saxon patriot.  Situated on the direct line between Bourne, his paternal inheritance, and the Camp of Refuge near Ely, it was exposed to the attacks of both the contending parties.  Brando (1066-1069) had made Hereward, who was his nephew, a knight; and the patriot might be credited with a regard for the holy place where he had been girt at a solemn service with the sword and belt of knighthood; but upon Brando’s death the abbacy had been granted to a Norman, doubtless with the intention of making the place available as a military centre.  Hereward joined the Danes, who had again begun to infest the district, in an attack upon the abbey.  The accounts vary as to the time at which this attack was made.  One says that it was before Turold, the Norman Abbot, had entered upon possession:  another says that Turold had in person joined Ivo Taillebois in an attempt to surprise Hereward and his men in the woods near Bourne, but had been taken prisoner and only released after paying a large ransom.  When dismissed there seems to have been something in the nature of an undertaking that the Abbot would not again fight against Hereward; but as soon as he was free he organised fresh attacks, obliging all the tenants of the abbey to supply assistance.  In revenge for this Hereward went with his men to Burgh, and laid waste the whole town with fire, plundered all the treasure of the church, and destroyed all the buildings of the abbey except the church itself.