Part 10

This year King Cnut returned to England; and during Easter a great meeting was held at Cirencester, at which the Alderman Æthelword was outlawed. And this year the King went to Assandun, and caused a Minster[AZ] to be built of stone and lime, for the souls of those who were slain there, and he gave it to one of his priests whose name was Stigand. And Archbishop Living died, and Æthelnoth a monk and Deacon of Christ Church was consecrated Bishop of that diocese the same year by Archbishop Wulstan.

1021.

This year at Martinmas King Cnut outlawed Earl Thurkil.

1022.

This year King Cnut sailed with his ships to Wight. And Bishop Ælhelnoth journeyed to Rome, and was very honourably received by Pope Benedict, who put on his pall with his own hands, and consecrated him Archbishop with much pomp. And he performed mass clad in the same pall, even as the Pope desired; and after this he banqueted with the Pope: and at length he returned home with a full blessing.--And the Abbot Leofwin, who had been unjustly banished from Ely, was his companion, and he cleared himself of all that had been alledged against him, in the presence of the Archbishop and of all the company that was with him, as the Pope instructed him.

1023.

This year Archbishop Wulfstan died. Ælfric succeeded him, and Archbishop Ægelnoth consecrated him at Canterbury. And the same year Archbishop Ægelnoth brought the relics of the Archbishop St. Ælfeg from London to Canterbury.

1024.

“This year Richard 2d died: then his son Richard reigned nearly one year, and after him his brother Robert eight years.”

1025.

This year King Cnut sailed to Denmark, and thence to an island near the river Helga,[BA] and there Ulf and Eglaf came against him with a great fleet and army from Sweden. And very many fell on the side of King Cnut, both Danes and English, and the Swedes remained in possession of the field of battle.

1028.

This year King Cnut sailed from England to Norway with fifty ships of English Thanes, and he expelled King Olaf and took possession of that land.

1029.

This year King Cnut returned home to England.

1030.

This year King Olaf returned to Norway, and the people rose against him, and fought with him, and he was slain.

1031.

This year as soon as King Cnut came to England, he granted to Christ’s Church, in Canterbury, the harbour of Sandwich with all the profits therefrom arising, on either side of the haven, to this distance, namely, that when the tide runs highest and is fully in, and a ship can ride as near the shore as possible, a man should stand in the ship holding a small axe in his hand, “and as far as he could throw this axe on shore, so far should their rights extend.” This year King Cnut journeyed to Rome, and the same year after his return he went into Scotland, and the Scotch King Malcolm, with two other Kings, Mælbæthe and Iehmarc, submitted to him. And Robert Earl of Normandy went to Jerusalem and died there, and he was succeeded in Normandy by William then a child, who was afterwards King of England.

1032.

This year there were terrible lightnings, such as men remembered not before, and which caused much damage in various places throughout the country. And the same year Ælfsige Bishop of Winchester died, and the King’s priest Ælfwine received that bishoprick.

1033.

This year Merehwit Bishop of Somerset died, and he is buried at Glastonbury.

1034.

This year died Bishop Ætheric.

1036.

This year King Cnut died at Shaftesbury, and he is buried in the old monastery of Winchester. He was King over all England nearly 20 years; and soon after his death a meeting of all the Witan was held at Oxford, and Earl Leofric, and almost all the Thanes north of the Thames, and the seamen of London, chose Harold to govern all England, both in his own right, and for his brother Hardacnut, who was then in Denmark. And Earl Godwin and all the chief men of Wessex opposed them as long as they could; but they could not prevail against them. Then it was resolved that Ælfgiva the mother of Hardacnut should reside at Winchester, with the King her son’s household, and should hold the government of Wessex for him. Earl Godwin was the head man of that party. Some men say of Harold that he was the son of King Cnut and of Ælfgiva the daughter of the Alderman Ælfelm; but this is thought very unlikely by many. Be this as it may, he was sole King of all England.

1037.

This year Ælfgiva the widow of King Cnut and mother of Edward and King Hardacnut, was banished, and she sought an asylum with Baldwin oversea in the south, and he gave her a residence in Bruges, and he protected and maintained her as long as she was there.

1038.

This year Archbishop Æthelnoth died on the calends of November; and within a short time Æthelric Bishop of Sussex died also; and then before Christmas Brihteh Bishop of Worcestershire; and very soon after that Ælfric Bishop of East Anglia. Then Bishop[BB] Eadsige succeeded to the Archbishoprick; Grymcytel received the Bishoprick of Sussex; and Living that of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.

1039.

This year King Harold died at Oxford on the 16th of the calends of April, and he was buried at Westminster: he governed England four years and sixteen weeks, and in his reign a tax was raised for (keeping up a fleet of) 16 ships, at the rate of eight marks to every sailor, even as it had been in the days of King Cnut. And the same year King Hardacnut arrived at Sandwich seven days before Midsummer, and he was forthwith received as King by the English and by the Danes: but those who promoted his accession paid dearly for it afterwards. Then they determined upon raising a tax to keep up a fleet of 62 ships, at the rate of eight marks for every sailor. And the same year the sæster of wheat sold for 55 pennies and even more.

1040.

This year Archbishop Eadsige journeyed to Rome, and this year the army-tribute was paid; it was twenty-one thousand and ninety-nine pounds: and eleven thousand and forty-eight pounds were afterwards paid for 32 ships. And the same year Edward the son of King Æthelred came hither from abroad;[BC] he was a brother of King Hardacnut, for they both were sons of Ælfgiva Emma the daughter of Earl Richard.

1041.

This year King Hardacnut died at Lambeth on the 6th of the ides of June. He was King over all England two years all but ten days, and he was buried with his father King Cnut in the old monastery at Winchester; and his mother gave the head of the martyr Saint Valentine for his soul’s sake to the new monastery. And before he was buried all the people chose Edward King in London, and he held the kingdom as long as God permitted him. And all this year was a very heavy time in many different ways, from the inclemency of the weather, and from the destruction of the fruits of the earth. So many of the cattle also perished this year both from disease, and from the ill season, as had never before been remembered. At this time Ælfsige Abbot of Peterborough died, and the monk Arnwi was chosen in his place, because he was a good man, and one of a singular simplicity.

1042.

On Easter-day, this year, Edward was consecrated King with great worship at Winchester. Easter then fell on the 3d of the nones of April. The Archbishop Eadsige consecrated him, and instructed him well before all the people, and admonished him for his own good and that of the nation. And the Priest Stigand was consecrated Bishop of East Anglia. And soon afterwards the King gave command to over-ride the lands which his mother held of him, and he took from her all that she possessed in gold and silver, and treasures innumerable, because she had not been liberal towards him.

1043.

This year Eadsige gave up his Archbishoprick, because of his infirmities, and he consecrated thereto Siward Abbot of Abingdon, with the consent and advice of the King and of Earl Godwin. This transaction was disclosed to few before it was completed, because the Archbishop thought that if it became known to many, some other man in whom he trusted and confided less, would beg or buy the preferment. And this year there was a very great famine over all England, and corn was so dear as was never before remembered, so that a sæster of wheat sold for 60 pennies, and even more. And the same year the King went out to Sandwich with a fleet of 35 ships. And the Churchwarden Æthelstan was made Abbot of Abingdon. And Stigand entered upon his Bishoprick.

It was in this year (1043) that Edward took for his Queen the daughter of Earl Godwin.--The same year died Brihtwold; he had held his Bishoprick, that of Sherbourne, 38 years, and the King’s Priest Hereman succeeded him. And this year Wulfric was chosen Abbot of Saint Augustine’s (Canterbury) at Christmas time, on St. Stephen’s day, with the consent of the King and of the Abbot Ælfstan, because of the great infirmities of the latter.

1044.

This year Living Bishop of Devonshire died, and the King’s Priest Leofric succeeded him.--And this year Ælfstan Abbot of St. Augustine’s died on the 3d of the nones of July. And the same year Osgot Clapa was banished.

1045.

This year Grymkytel Bishop of Sussex died, and Heca the King’s Priest succeeded him.--And this year Ælfwine Bishop of Winchester died on the 4th of the calends of September, and Bishop Stigand was translated from the north to that see. And the same year Earl Swegn went out to Bruges in the land of Baldwin, and he abode there all the winter, and departed thence in the summer.

1046.

This year Æthelstan Abbot of Abingdon died, and Spearhafoc, a monk of St. Edmund’s Bury, succeeded him. And this year Bishop Siward died, and Archbishop Eadsige resumed the whole diocese. And the same year Lothen and Yrling came to Sandwich with 25 ships, and they plundered, and collected spoils innumerable, seizing men, gold and silver, so that no man knew what the whole amount was. And they sailed round about Thanet, and would have done the same there, but the inhabitants made a stout resistance, and kept them from landing and from entering the river, and wholly put them to flight; and then they came upon Essex, and there they plundered, and carried off men and whatever they could find; and thence they bent their course eastward to the land of Baldwin, and they sold their booty there, and then they returned to the east whence they came.

“Battle of Val des Dunes.”[BD]

In this year (1046) the great synod was held at St. Remy, at which the Pope Leo was present, with the Archbishop of Burgundy, the Archbishop of Besançon, the Archbishop of Treves, and the Archbishop of Rheims, and many other wise men besides, both clergy and laity: and King Edward sent Bishop Dudoc thither with Wulfric Abbot of St. Augustine’s, and the Abbot Ælfwine, to the end that they might report to him what was there determined upon with regard to the Christian religion.

The same year King Edward went out to Sandwich with a large fleet, and Earl Swegn came with seven ships to Boseham, and treated with the King, and it was promised him that he should be put in possession of all that he had before; then his brother Earl Harold and Earl Beorn interfered, and prevented his enjoying the King’s grant, and four days were allowed for his return to the ships. In the mean while word was brought to the King that an hostile fleet lay off the west, and was plundering. Then Earl Godwin sailed westward with two of the King’s ships, one of which was commanded by Earl Harold, and the other by his brother Tostig, and with 42 of the ships furnished by the people.--Then Earl Harold was removed from the king’s ship which he had commanded, and they sailed as far as Pevensey, and lay there weather-bound. And within two days Earl Swegn came thither and spake with his father and with Earl Beorn, who was then with Godwin; and he entreated Beorn that he would go with him to the King at Sandwich, and assist him in obtaining the King’s favour: and Beorn consented to this, and they departed as if they would go to the King. But, as they rode along, Swegn begged him to go with him to his ships, for he feared that his sailors would desert unless he returned speedily: and they both proceeded to the place where the ships lay at anchor, and when they came thither Earl Swegn desired Beorn to go on board with him; this he wholly refused, until the sailors seized him, and threw him into a boat, and bound him, and rowed to the ships, and put him in one of them. Then they hoisted sail, and proceeded westward to Exmouth; and they kept him with them until they slew him, and they took his body and buried it in a church. His friends and the seamen of London afterwards came and took it up again, and carried it to the old monastery at Winchester, and there he is buried beside his uncle King Cnut. And Swegn went away eastward to the land of Baldwin, with whose full leave he abode at Bruges during the whole winter. And the same year died Eadnoth Bishop in the north,[BE] and Ulf was appointed his successor.

1047.

This year a great council was held at London in the middle of Lent, and nine of the ships belonging to the seamen were sent out, and five were left there. And the same year Earl Swegn came to England. And a great synod was assembled at Rome this year, and King Edward sent thither the Bishops Hereman and Ealdred, and they arrived on Easter eve. And after this the Pope held a synod at Vercelli; and Bishop Ulf came there, and his staff would have been broken, if he had not given large sums of money; for he did not know his office so well as he ought. This year Archbishop Eadsige died on the 4th of the calends of November.

1048.

This year, during Lent, King Edward being in London, nominated Robert Archbishop of Canterbury. And the same Lent he went to Rome for his pall. And the King gave the Bishoprick of London to Sparhafoc Abbot of Abingdon, and the Abbacy of Abingdon to his kinsman Bishop Rothulf. The Archbishop returned from Rome one day before the eve of the feast of St. Peter, and he was installed in Christ Church on St. Peter’s day, and immediately afterwards he proceeded to the King. Then the Abbot Sparhafoc came to him with the King’s letters and seal, to the intent that he should consecrate him Bishop of London. But the Archbishop refused, and said that the Pope had forbidden it: the Abbot endeavoured to persuade the Archbishop, and he earnestly desired the promotion, but the other constantly denied him, still saying that the Pope had forbidden it. The Abbot notwithstanding returned to London, and resided there in the diocese which the King had granted him all the summer and autumn, and this with his full permission. And Eustace arrived from beyond sea soon after the Archbishop, and he proceeded to the King and spoke with him all that he would, and then he journeyed homeward. When they had gone as far east as Canterbury he and his men rested to eat, and thence they went on to Dover. And when he was a mile or more from Dover he put on his breast-plate, and so did all his followers; and they came to Dover. And when they were there, they would fix on their quarters according to their own pleasure, and one of his men came, and would have lodged in the house of a certain person against his will, and he wounded the master of the house, but the householder slew him. Then Eustace mounted his horse, and his followers theirs, and they fell upon and slew the householder on his own hearth. And thence they went towards the town, and they killed within and without more than twenty men. And on the other hand the townsmen slew nineteen of Eustace’s train, and wounded they knew not how many. And Eustace got off with a few others, and returned again to the King, and related partially what had occurred. And the King was very angry with the townsmen, and he sent Earl Godwin, commanding him to march into Kent, and to take vengeance upon Dover; for Eustace had told the King that the townsmen were more in fault than himself, but it was not so, neither was the Earl consenting to this expedition, for he was unwilling to ruin his own vassals.--Then the King sent for all his Witan, and desired that they should come to him at Gloucester, soon after St. Mary’s day. At this time the Welch had built a castle in Herefordshire, in the territory of Earl Swegn, and they did all manner of despite and injury to the King’s subjects in the neighbourhood. Then Earl Godwin, and the Earls Swegn and Harold, and many with them, met at Beverston, that they might proceed to their liege Lord and his Witan then assembled, and that they might obtain their advice and aid for avenging this insult offered to the King and all his people. But the Welch were with the King beforehand, and accused the Earls, so that they were not admitted into his presence, because the others had said, that they were coming with treasonous designs against the King. Earl Siward and Earl Leofric and a great number of men from the north had joined the King, and it was told Earl Godwin and his sons that the King and those who were with him, were about to attack them, on which they fortified themselves strongly, albeit they were loth to act against their natural Lord. Then the Witan on either side advised that they should abstain from hostilities, and the King gave the peace of God and his own full friendship to both parties.--Then the King and his Counsellors determined that another meeting of all the Witan should be held at London, at the autumnal equinox: and the King commanded that an army, as powerful as might be, should be raised both from the south and from the north of the Thames. Earl Swegn was declared an outlaw, and Earl Godwin and Earl Harold were summoned to be at the meeting with as much speed as they could make. When they were come thither, they were called before the Council, and they desired hostages and security that they might go in and out of the Council safe from treachery; and the King demanded all the Thanes whom the Earls had with them, and they delivered them all into his hands. Then the King sent to them again, and desired that they should come into the Council with twelve attendants, but the Earl again desired security and hostages, that so he might clear himself from every charge which had been brought against him; but these hostages were finally denied him, and five days were allowed him, in which he was to depart from the country. Then Earl Godwin and Earl Swegn went to Boseham, and they put to sea, and sought shelter with Baldwin, and they abode in his land the whole winter. And Earl Harold sailed westward to Ireland, and remained there through the winter, under the protection of the king of that country. And as soon as all this had happened, the King sent away the Lady, who had been consecrated as his Queen; and he caused all that she possessed of gold, and of silver, and of every other thing, to be taken from her; and he put her under the charge of his sister at Wherwell (in Hampshire). And the Abbot Sparhafoc was driven from the Bishoprick of London, and the King’s Priest William was consecrated thereto. And Odda was appointed Earl of Devon, Somerset, and Dorset, and of Wales; and the Earldom which Harold had enjoyed was given to Ælfgar the son of Leofric.

1052.