Part 11

This year died Ælfgiva Ymma the mother of King Edward and of King Hardacnut. And the same year the King and his Witan resolved that a fleet should be assembled at Sandwich, and they appointed the Earls Raulf and Odda to command it. Then Earl Godwin went with his ships from Bruges to Ysera (the Ysere?), and thence after one day’s voyage he arrived at the Ness south of Romney on Midsummer’s eve.--The Earls who were stationed at Sandwich were informed of his arrival, and they sailed in pursuit of him, and a land army was also called out to oppose him. But in the mean time Earl Godwin was warned of their intentions, and he put into Pevensey, and the weather was very stormy, so that the Earls could not find out whither he was gone; and Earl Godwin sailed out again and went back to Bruges, and the other ships returned to Sandwich. Then it was advised that the fleet should be brought back to London, and that other Earls and officers should be appointed, but they delayed so long that all the ships separated and returned home. When Earl Godwin heard this, he set sail and hastened westward to Wight, and there they landed and plundered until the inhabitants gave them as much money as they chose to exact. And thence they proceeded westward, till they came to Portland, and there they landed, and did all the mischief that they could. At this time Harold had left Ireland with nine ships, and he arrived at Porlock, and a large body of the inhabitants were collected to oppose him; nevertheless he feared not to go in quest of provisions, and he landed and slew a great number of these people, and seized whatever fell in his way, cattle, men, and money.--And thence he proceeded eastward to join his father, and they sailed together to Wight, and there they seized whatever had been left before. Thence they sailed to Pevensey, and they took away with them as many ships as were in the harbour: thus they proceeded to the Ness, and they took with them all the ships that were at Romney, Hythe, and Folkestone; and thence they turned eastward to Dover, and there they landed, and obtained as many ships and hostages as they would; and so they proceeded to Sandwich, and they did the same there, and the people every where gave them the hostages and provisions that they demanded. And from this place they made for the North Mouth (Buoy of the Nore); and so they proceeded towards London; but some of the ships stopped at Sheppey, and did much damage there, and at King’s Milton also, and they burned that town, and then they followed the Earls to London. When they were come to London, the King and all his Earls had stationed themselves with fifty ships to oppose them. Then the Earls sent to the King, and desired that all their possessions of which they had been unjustly deprived should be restored to them: this demand the King resisted for some time, even so long, that all the people who were with the Earls became furiously enraged against him and his party; so that the Earls themselves scarcely quieted them. At length, by God’s help, and the intervention of Bishop Stigand, and wise men from the city and the country, an exchange of hostages was brought about. When Archbishop Robert and the French heard this, they took their horses and rode away, some westward to Pentecost’s Castle, and others northward to Robert’s. And Archbishop Robert and Bishop Ulf and their train rode out at the east gate, and slew or wounded many young men, and they proceeded to Ealdulf’s-ness (the Nase, Essex), and the Archbishop embarked in a mean little vessel and went away beyond sea, and he left his pall and his Archbishoprick in this land, even as God willed, since he had at first obtained the same in a manner that pleased not Him. Then a great Council was convened out of London, and all the Earls and the chief men of England were at this meeting: Earl Godwin there took up the word, and he protested before his Lord King Edward and the people of this land that he was guiltless of all that was charged against him, and against his son Harold, and all his children. And the King restored to the Earl and his children his full friendship, and his whole Earldom, and all that had belonged to him: and he granted the same pardon to the men who were with him: and the King gave the Lady all that she possessed before. And Archbishop Robert and all the Frenchmen were fully outlawed, because they had been the chief promoters of the difference between Earl Godwin and the King. And Bishop Stigand was translated to the Archbishoprick of Canterbury. And at this time Arnwi Abbot of Peterborough, being in sound health, gave up the Abbacy to the monk Leofric, with the consent of the King and of the monks, and he lived eight years afterwards. And the Abbot Leofric gilded the monastery, so that men called it Golden Borough; and it became very rich in lands, in gold, and in silver.

1053.

This year Earl Godwin died on the 17th of the calends of May, and he is buried in the old monastery of Winchester. And his son Earl Harold succeeded to the Earldom, and to all that his father possessed, and Earl Ælfgar received Harold’s Earldom.

1054.

This year Leo the Holy Pope of Rome died. And this year there was a great murrain amongst the cattle, such as men remembered not for many winters before. And Victor was chosen Pope.

“Battle of Mortemer.”[BF]

1055.

This year Earl Siward died. And a meeting of all the Witan was appointed seven days before Mid-Lent. And there Earl Ælfgar was outlawed, for he was accused as a traitor to his King and all the nation, and he was convicted before the King and all who were there assembled, though the sentence grieved him sorely.--And the King gave the Earldom which Siward had held to Tostig the son of Earl Godwin.--And Earl Ælfgar went to the castle of Griffin in North Wales; and the same year Griffin and Ælfgar burned St. Æthelbryht’s monastery and the whole town of Hereford.

1056.

“This year Henry Emperor of the Romans died, and was succeeded by his son Henry.”

1057.

This year Prince Edward the son of King Edmund came to this land, and he died soon afterwards, and his body is buried in St. Paul’s monastery at London. And Pope Victor died, and Stephen Abbot of Monte-Cassino was chosen as his successor. And Earl Leofric died, and his son Ælfgar succeeded to his father’s Earldom.

1058.

This year Stephen died, and Benedict was consecrated Pope: the same sent hither a pall to Archbishop Stigand. And this year Heaca Bishop of the South Saxons died; and Archbishop Stigand consecrated Ægelric a monk of Christ Church to that Bishoprick, and the Abbot Siward to that of Rochester.

1059.

This year Nicholas Bishop of Florence was chosen Pope, and Benedict the former Pope was driven out.

1060.

This year Kynsige Archbishop of York died on the 11th of the calends of January, and Bishop Ealdred succeeded him: and Walter received the Bishoprick of Hereford.

“This year Henry King of France died, and was succeeded by his son Philip.”

1061.

This year Duduc Bishop of Somerset died, and was succeeded by Gisa. And this year Bishop Godwin died at St. Martin’s (Canterbury), on the 7th of the ides of March. And the same year Wulfric Abbot of St. Augustine’s died in Easter week, on the 14th of the calends of May. When word was brought to the King that the Abbot had departed this life, he chose Æthelsig a monk of the old monastery (of Winchester) to succeed him, and he repaired to Archbishop Stigand, and was consecrated Abbot at Windsor on St. Augustine’s day.

1062.

“This year the province of Maine was brought into subjection to William Earl of Normandy.”

1063.

This year Earl Harold and his brother Earl Tostig invaded Britain[BG] with an army, and fleet, and they conquered the country; and the inhabitants gave hostages and submitted to them, and afterwards they went and slew their King Griffin, and brought his head to Harold, and he set another King over them.

1064.

This year the Northumbrians assembled together, and outlawed Tostig their Earl, and they slew all his retainers whom they could meet with, both English and Danes: and they seized all his arms at York, and his gold, and his silver, and all his treasures that they could find. And they sent for Morker the son of Earl Ælfgar, and chose him for their Earl; and he marched southward with the troops of that country, and of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Lincolnshire, till he arrived at Northampton; and his brother Edwin joined him with the men of his Earldom, and many Britons also came with him. Then they were met by Earl Harold, and they charged him with a message to King Edward, and they also sent deputies with him, and they desired that they might have Morker for their Earl.--And the King granted this, and sent Harold again to them at Northampton on the eve of St. Simon and St. Jude’s day, and he reported the same to them, and put into their hands the King’s assent, and there he renewed the laws of Canute. And the northern men did much damage about Northampton whilst he was gone on their errand, for they slew men, and burned houses and corn, and took all the cattle they could find, being many thousand head, and many hundred men did they seize and carry off into the north; so that this county, and the others adjoining, were the worse for them during many years. And Earl Tostig and his wife, and all who were of his party, went over sea southward to Earl Baldwin, and he received them all, and they remained there the whole winter.

1066.

This year the Abbey Church of Westminster was consecrated on Childermas-day. And this year King Edward died on the eve of Twelfth-day, and he was buried on Twelfth-day, in the Church of Westminster, newly consecrated.--And Earl Harold succeeded to the kingdom, even as the King had granted it to him; men, also chose him thereto, and he was consecrated King on Twelfth-day, and reigned forty weeks and one day. And the same year that he was made King, he went out with a fleet against William; and in the mean time Earl Tostig entered the Humber with 60 ships, but Earl Edwin came up with his troops and drove him away, and the crews of his vessels also deserted him. Then he went to Scotland with twelve smacks; and Harold King of Norway joined him with 300 ships, to whom Tostig gave up the command, and they entered the Humber together, and proceeded to York: and the Earls Morker and Edwin fought with them, and the Norwegian King gained the victory. King Harold, being informed of what had passed, came with a great army of Englishmen, and he met the King of Norway at Stæng-fordes-brycge (Stanford bridge), and he slew him and the Earl Tostig, and routed their whole army.

And in the mean time Earl William landed at Hastings on Michaelmas-day, and Harold marched from the North, and fought with him before all his own army had come up, and he fell there with his two brothers, Gyrth and Leofwin. And William conquered this land, and he came to Westminster, and the Archbishop Ealdred consecrated him King, and men paid him tribute, and gave him hostages, and afterwards bought their lands again.

Leofric Abbot of Peterborough was in this campaign, and whilst he was with the army he became ill, and he returned home, and died soon after on All Saints’ night. May God glorify his soul! In his days was all bliss and all prosperity at Peterborough, and he was beloved of all men, so that the King granted to St. Peter and to him the Abbey of Burton, and that of Coventry which his uncle Earl Leofric had founded, and also those of Croyland and Thorney. And he enriched the monastery of Burh with gold, with silver, with vestments, and with lands, more than any other before or after him. And the Golden Borough now became the borough of wretchedness. Then the monks chose the Provost Brand for their Abbot because he was a very good man, and very wise; and they sent him to Edgar Ætheling, for the people of those parts supposed that he should be the King; and the Ætheling willingly confirmed him in his office. When King William heard this he was very wroth, and said that the Abbot had treated him with contempt; but good men interfered and reconciled them, because of the excellence of the Abbot. He gave the King forty marks of gold for his favour, and he lived but a short time after, only three years. After this all tribulation and evil came upon the monastery. May God have pity on it. And this year Christ Church was burned, and a comet appeared on the 14th of the calends of May.

1067.

This year the King went over sea, and took with him hostages and treasures. And he came back the next year on St. Nicholas’ day; and on his return he restored to every man his land.--And this summer Childe Edgar and Mærleswegn, and many others with them, departed and went to Scotland, and King Malcolm received them all, and took the Childe’s sister Margaret for his wife.

1068.

This year King William gave the Earldom of Northumberland to Earl Robert, and the men of that country came against him, and slew him and 900 others with him. And then Edgar Ætheling marched with all the Northumbrians to York, and the townsmen treated with him; on which King William came from the south with all his troops, and sacked the town, and slew many hundred persons: and the Ætheling went again to Scotland.

1069.

This year Bishop Ægelric, being at Peterborough, was accused and sent to Westminster; and his brother Bishop Ægelwin was outlawed. Then between the two feasts of St. Mary, the sons of King Swegn and his brother Earl Osbearn came from Denmark with three hundred ships; on which Earl Waltheof marched forth, and he and Edgar Ætheling, and many hundreds with them, came and joined this fleet in the Humber, and they proceeded to York, and they landed and stormed the castle, and slew many hundred men, and carried much treasure to their ships: and they kept the chief men in bonds; and they wintered between the Ouse and the Trent. And King William went into those parts, and laid them all waste. And the same year Brand Abbot of Peterborough died on the 5th of the calends of December.

1070.

This year Landfranc Abbot of Caen came to England, and in a few days he was made Archbishop of Canterbury. He was consecrated at his metropolis on the 4th of the calends of September, by eight Bishops his suffragans; the rest who were absent signifying through messengers, and by writing, why they could not be there.--This year Thomas, who had been chosen as Bishop of York, came to Canterbury, that he might be consecrated there after the old form, but when Landfranc craved the confirmation of his subjection by oath, he refused, and said that he was not obliged to give it. Then was the Archbishop Landfranc wroth, and he commanded the Bishops, who were there at his behest to assist at the ceremony, and all the monks, to unrobe him; and they did as he desired: so this time Thomas returned home without a blessing. It happened soon after this, that the Archbishop Landfranc went to Rome, and Thomas with him: and when they were come thither, and had said all that they would on other subjects, Thomas began his speech, saying how he had come to Canterbury, and how the Archbishop had desired of him an oath of obedience, and that he had refused it. Then the Archbishop Landfranc began to make manifest with clear reasoning, that he had a right to demand that which he required; and he proved the same with strong arguments before the Pope Alexander, and before all the council then assembled: and thus they departed home. After this, Thomas came to Canterbury, and humbly performed all that the Archbishop required, and thereupon he received the blessing. This year Earl Waltheof made peace with the King. And during this Lent the King caused all the monasteries in England to be despoiled of their treasures. The same year King Swegn came from Denmark into the Humber, and the people of those parts came to meet him and made an alliance with him, for they believed that he would conquer this land. Then the Danish Bishop Christien, and Earl Osbearn, and their Danish retainers, came into Ely, and all the people of the fens joined them, for they believed that they would conquer the whole country.--Now the monks of Peterborough were told that some of their own men, these were Hereward and his train, would pillage the monastery, and this, because they had heard that the King had given the Abbacy to a French Abbot named Turold, and that he was a very stern man, and that he was come into Stamford with all his French followers. There was, at that time, a church-warden named Ywar; and he took all that he could by night, gospels, mass-robes, cassocks, and other garments, even all and each of such small things as he could carry away, and he came before day to the Abbot Turold, and told him that he sought his protection, and told how the outlaws were coming to Peterborough, and he said that he had done this at the desire of the monks. Then early in the morning all the outlaws came with many ships, and they endeavoured to enter the monastery, but the monks withstood them, so that they were not able to get in. Then they set fire to it, and burned all the monks’ houses, and all those in the town, save one: and they broke in through the fire at Bolhithe-geate (the Bulldyke gate), and the monks came before them and desired peace. But they gave no heed to them, and they went into the monastery, and climbed up to the holy crucifix, and took the crown from our Lord’s head, which was all of the purest gold, and they took the footstool of red gold from under his feet. And they climbed up to the steeple, and brought down the cope which was hidden there; it was all of gold and silver. They also seized two gilt shrines, and nine of silver, and they carried off fifteen great crosses of gold and silver. And they took so much gold and silver, and so much treasure in money, robes, and books, that no man can compute the amount; saying they did this because of their allegiance to the monastery: and afterwards they betook themselves to their ships and went to Ely, and there they secured their treasures. The Danes believed that they should overcome the Frenchmen, and they drove away all the monks, leaving only one named Leofwin the Long, and he lay sick in the hospital. Then came the Abbot Turold, and eight score Frenchmen with him, all well armed; and when he arrived he found all burnt both within and without, excepting the church itself; and all the outlaws were then embarked, knowing that he would come thither. This happened on the 4th of the nones of June. Then the two Kings, William and Swegn, made peace with each other, on which the Danes departed from Ely, carrying with them all the aforesaid treasure. When they were come into the midst of the sea, there arose a great storm, which dispersed all the ships in which the treasures were: some were driven to Norway, some to Ireland, and others to Denmark, and all the spoil that reached the latter country, being the cope and some of the shrines and crosses, and many of the other treasures, they brought to one of the King’s towns called ----, and laid it all up in the church.--But one night, through their carelessness and drunkenness the church was burned, with all that was in it. Thus was the monastery of Peterborough burned and pillaged. May Almighty God have pity on it in his great mercy: and thus the Abbot Turold came to Peterborough, and the monks returned thither and performed christian worship in the church, which had stood a full week without service of any kind. When Bishop Ægelric heard this, he excommunicated all the men who had done this evil. There was a great famine this year; and this summer the fleet from the Humber sailed into the Thames, and lay there two nights, and it afterwards held on its course to Denmark. And Earl Baldwin died, and his son Arnulf succeeded him; and Earl William (Fitz Osbern) and the French King should have been his support: but Earl Robert came and slew his kinsman Arnulf, and the Earl; and put the King to flight, and slew many thousands of his men.

* * * * *

“In the second year after Lanfranc’s consecration he went to Rome. Pope Alexander so greatly honoured him, that contrary to his custom he rose to meet him, and gave him two palls in token of especial favour: Lanfranc received one of them from the altar after the Roman manner, and the Pope, with his own hands, gave him the other, in which he himself had been accustomed to perform mass. In the presence of the Pope, Thomas brought forwards a calumny touching the primacy of the see of Canterbury, and the subjection of certain Bishops. Lanfranc briefly and clearly states the conclusion to which this affair was afterwards brought in England, in an epistle to the aforesaid Pope Alexander. This year a general council was held at Winchester, in which he deposed Wulfric Abbot of the new monastery, and made many regulations touching Christian discipline. A few days afterwards, he consecrated Osbern at London as Bishop of Exeter, and Scotland at Canterbury as Abbot of St. Augustine’s.

“In his 3d year he consecrated Peter at Gloucester as Bishop of Litchfield or Chester. This year also a great council was held at a place called Pinenden (Pinnenden or Pinchenden Heath, near Maidstone), in which Lanfranc proved that he and his church held their lands and their rights by sea and by land, as freely as the King held his: excepting in three cases: to wit, if the highway be dug up; if a tree be cut so as to fall upon it; and if murder be committed and blood spilt: when a man is taken in these misdeeds, the fine paid shall belong to the King; otherwise their vassals shall be free from regal exactions.

“In his 4th year he consecrated Patrick at London as Bishop of Dublin, in Ireland, from whom he received a profession of obedience, and he moreover gave him very memorable letters to the Kings of Ireland.

“In his 5th year a general council was held at London, the proceedings of which Lanfranc committed to writing, at the request of many.

“In his 6th year he gave the bishoprick of Rochester to Hernost, a monk of Christ Church, whom he also consecrated at London. A council was held at Winchester: and the same year Hernost departed this life.