BENEDICT, abbot of Peterborough, was educated
at Oxford, became a monk in the monastery of Christ's
church in Canterbury, and some time after was chosen
prior by the members of that society. Though he had
been a great admirer of Archbishop Becket, and wrote
a life of that prelate, he was so much esteemed by
Henry II. that by the influence of that prince he was
elected abbot of Peterborough, A. D. 1177. He as-
sisted at the coronation of Richard I. A. D. 1189; and
was advanced to be keeper of the great seal, A. D. 1191.
But he did not long enjoy this high dignity, as he died
on Michaelmas day, A. D. 1193. Besides his Life of
Archbishop Becket, he composed a History of Henry II.
and Richard I. from A. D. 1170 to A. D. 1192;
which hath been much and justly esteemed by many of
our greatest antiquaries, as containing one of the best
accounts of the transactions of those times. A beauti-
ful edition of this work was published at Oxford, in two
volumes, by Mr Hearne, A. D. 1735.