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 assisted 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 beautiful edition of this work was published at Oxford, in two volumes, by Mr Hearne, A. D. 1735.