_Simon de Albo Monasterio_, or _Whitchurch_, who had previously been a monk of this abbey, succeeded as 13th abbot, and if we may judge from the frequent occurrence of his name in the abbey chartulary, was one of the most active heads this monastery ever enjoyed. He was regularly elected by the entire convent xv. cal. May, 1265, in the 45th year of his age, and the 22nd after assuming the cowl, Simon de Montford being then usurper of the Earldom of Chester. His admission was opposed by Lucas de Taney, Justiciary of Chester, who kept the abbey open for three weeks, and taking the revenues into his hands, wasted them by the most scandalous profligacy. Simon de Montfort, however, much to his honour, on hearing the circumstances, admitted the abbot, and directed Lucas de Taney to make ample compensation to the abbey, after which Roger de Menland, then bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, confirmed his election at Tachebrook, on Whit-Monday, and Simon de Montford having invested him with the temporalities at Hereford the Monday following, the new abbot received the benediction from his before-mentioned diocesan at Tachebrooke, on Trinity Sunday. On this same day the partizans of Prince Edward laid siege to Chester Castle, and a reverse of fortune speedily taking place, the election of the abbot was declared void by the lawful earl, as having been unratified by himself. The abbot, however, made his peace with Prince Edward at Beeston, and compensation was made him at the instance of James de Audley, Justiciary, even to the replacing from the stores in the Castle, two casks of wine, which had been consumed by the Prince’s attendants, during his deposition. The struggles between the laity and the clergy, which are particularly observable in the documents of Vale Royal and this monastery, about this period, and had so peculiarly disquieted the abbacy of Thomas de Capenhurst, were continued in that of his successor. Philip Burnel, and his wife Isabella, baroness of Malpas, attempted to recover the manors of Saighton, Huntington, Cheveley, and Boughton, a domain as desirable to the abbey, from its richness as its contiguity to Chester. After a protracted contest, the claimants released their right to abbot Simon in the king’s court at Westminster, in 1281, in the royal presence, but the monks purchased the compliance by a bond for the payment of £200 sterling. The chartulary states that the influence of Robert Burnel, bishop of Bath and Wells, and uncle to the claimant, was corruptly used in obtaining this bond: payment was, however, never made, for the abbot had shortly afterwards the address to procure a release, on stipulating for the maintenance of two chaplains to pray for the soul of the said Philip Burnel for ever. Among the following donations by the family of Burnel, was the grant of a fountain at Christleton, which was doubtless of high importance. A cistern twenty feet square was made at Christleton, and another formed within the cloisters, and a communication established by pipes, which a patent from Edward I. enabled the monks to carry through all intervening lands, permitting even the city walls to be taken down for the purpose. It is observable that a forester of Delamere, Randle de Mereton, whose estate was trespassed on in consequence of this order, ventured on cutting off the pipes which the abbots had laid, for which he was ordered to make reparation by a royal mandate, 13 Edward I. This abbot departed this life April 24, 1289, aged 69, and was interred in the chapter house, on the south side, under a marble stone, within an arch supported by six marble pillars. During this abbacy, the monastery, or a considerable portion thereof, was re-built, as appears by precepts directed to Reginald de Grey, 12 Edward I. to allow venison from the forests of Delamere and Wirral for the support of the monks then occupied “on the great work of the building of the church.” Abbot Simon also appropriated a large share of the revenues of the abbey to the several uses of the infirmary, the kitchen, the refectory, and the distribution of alms, as specified in the chartulary. After the death of Simon de Whitchurch, the king retained the abbey in his hands for two years.