Part 12

“In his 7th year, he gave the bishoprick of Rochester to Gundulf, whom he consecrated at Canterbury. This year Thomas Archbishop of York sent letters to Lanfranc, requesting that he would send two Bishops to consecrate a certain priest, who had come to him with letters from the Orkneys, to the intent that he might be made Bishop of those islands. Lanfranc consenting to this, commanded Wolstan Bishop of Worcester, and Peter Bishop of Chester, to go to York, and to assist Thomas in completing the ceremony.

“In his 8th year, a council was held at London, in which Lanfranc deposed Ailnod Abbot of Glastonbury.

“In his 11th year, a council was held at Gloucester, wherein, by the King’s order, and with the consent of Lanfranc, Thomas Archbishop of York consecrated William to the Bishoprick of Durham; and because he could not be attended by the Scotch Bishops his suffragans, the Bishops Wolstan, Osbern, Giso, and Robert assisted at this ceremony by the command of Lanfranc.--At this time Lanfranc sent letters rich in sacred lore to Bishop Donald in Ireland.

“In his 16th year Lanfranc consecrated Donatus, his monk at Canterbury, to the bishoprick of Dublin, by the desire of the King, clergy, and people of Ireland. This year a council was held at Gloucester, wherein Lanfranc deposed Wulstcetel Abbot of Croyland. He consecrated Robert to the bishoprick of Chester, and William to that of Elmham, in one day, at Canterbury. At Winchester also he consecrated Maurice as Bishop of London, who brought noble gifts to his mother church of Canterbury a few days afterwards.

“In the 18th year of Lanfranc’s prelacy, on the death of King William beyond sea, he acknowledged his son William, as he had done his father, and consecrated and crowned him in St. Peter’s Church, which is in the western part of London. The same year, and at his metropolitan city of Canterbury, he examined and consecrated Godfrey as Bishop of Chichester, Wido also as Abbot of St. Augustine’s and John as Bishop of Wells. The next day Lanfranc, on his own authority, and taking with him Odo Bishop of Baieux the King’s brother, who was then at Canterbury, conducted the Abbot Wido to St. Augustine’s and commanded the Brothers of the Order to receive him as their own Abbot and Pastor; but they, with one accord, answered that they would neither submit to him nor receive him. Thus Lanfranc came leading the Abbot, and when he found that the Monks were obstinate in resistance, and that they would not obey him, he commanded that all the refractory should come out one by one. When therefore nearly all had left the monastery, Lanfranc and his suite led in the Abbot with much pomp, placed him in the chair, and delivered the church up to him. He also seized the Prior, Elfrin by name, and as many others as he thought fit, and he put them forthwith into claustral imprisonment at Canterbury; but he sent those who had the greatest influence, and were the authors of this scandal, to the castle to be confined there. After he had returned home having finished all, he was informed that the monks who had left the monastery were assembled, near St. Mildred’s church. Hereupon he sent to them, saying, that if they would, they might return to the church before the 9th hour, but that if they delayed longer, they would not be allowed free entrance, but be treated as renegadoes. Having heard this message they doubted whether to return or to remain, but at the hour of refection, when they became anhungered, many repenting of their obstinacy sent to Lanfranc and promised submission. These he treated with lenity, and desired that they should return directly and confirm by oath their profession of obedience to the aforesaid Abbot. Thus they returned and swore faithfulness and obedience to the Abbot Wido, upon the relics of St. Augustine. Lanfranc seized those who remained behind and placed them in various monasteries of England, confining them till he brought them to profess their submission. About the same time he seized one of them named Ælfred, who had attempted to flee, and confined him loaded with irons at Canterbury, together with some of his fellows: and he exercised upon them the utmost severity of their order. But when these monks were thought to be sufficiently humbled and had promised amendment, Lanfranc taking pity on them, had them brought from the several places whither he had banished them, and reconciled them to their Abbot.

“The same year the dissentions were renewed, and the monks plotted the death of their Abbot, but one of them, named Columban, being taken, Lanfranc caused him to be brought to him. And as he stood there before him, Lanfranc asked if he desired to murder his Abbot. And the monk forthwith replied “Yes! if I could I would certainly kill him.” Then Lanfranc commanded that he should be tied up naked by the gates of St. Augustine’s and suffer flagellation before all the people, that his cowl should then be torn off, and that he should be driven out of the city. This order was executed, and thenceforth during Lanfranc’s life, sedition was repressed by the dread of his severity.

“In the 19th year of his prelacy, died the venerable Archbishop Lanfranc, and he was buried at his metropolitan see of Canterbury, of which he had been possessed eighteen years, nine months, and two days. His deeds, his buildings, alms, and labours, are only in part recounted in the writing which is read on his anniversary, for they were very numerous. After his death the monks of St. Augustine’s, openly rebelling against their aforesaid Abbot Wido, stirred up the citizens of Canterbury, who, with an armed force, attempted to slay him in his house. But his family made resistance, and when many had been wounded, and some killed on both sides, the Abbot with much difficulty escaped unhurt from amongst them, and fled for refuge to the mother church of Canterbury (Christ Church). On the report of this disturbance Walkelm Bishop of Winchester, and Gundulf Bishop of Rochester, suffragans to the see of Canterbury, with some noblemen sent by the King, hastened to Canterbury, that they might take vengeance on the delinquents; and when they had enquired into the causes of the sedition and had found the monks unable to clear themselves, they condemned them to suffer public punishment because they had transgressed openly. But the prior and monks of Christ Church, moved with piety, pleaded against this sentence, lest, if they were to receive their discipline before all the people, they should henceforth be accounted infamous, and so their profession and office come to be despised. Wherefore it was granted on their intercession, that the punishment should take place in the church, into which the populace should not be admitted, but those only who were appointed to see it executed. And two monks of Christ Church, Wido and Norman, were called in, and they inflicted the punishment at the command of the Bishops. Then the rebellious monks were dispersed into various monasteries of England; and 24 monks of Christ Church were substituted in their place, together with the prior, named Anthony, who had been sub-prior at Christ Church. The townsmen who entered the Abbot’s hall in arms were seized, and those who were convicted of having struck him lost their eyes.

“After the death of Lanfranc the see remained vacant four years, nine months, and nine days, during which time it suffered much adversity. At length, in the year of our Lord’s incarnation 1093 and on the 2d of the nones of March, the Archbishoprick of Canterbury was given to Anselm Abbot of Bec, a good and an upright man, of great learning, and amongst the most noted of his time. He came to Canterbury on the 7th of the calends of October, his earlier arrival having been prevented by many sufficient causes, and he was consecrated on the 2d of the nones of December.”

1071.

This year Earl Ædwin and Earl Morker withdrew themselves and wandered through the woods and fields. Then Earl Morker took ship and went to Ely; and Earl Ædwin was slain treacherously by his own men: and Bishop Egelwin, and Siward Bearn, and many hundreds with them, came into Ely. And when King William heard this, he called out a fleet and army; and he surrounded that land, and he made a bridge and entered in, his fleet lying off the coast. Then all the outlaws surrendered; these were, Bishop Egelwin and Earl Morker, and all who were with them, excepting only Hereward, and his followers whom he led off with great valour. And the King seized their ships, and arms, and much treasure; and he disposed of the men as he would; and he sent Bishop Egelwin to Abingdon, where he died early in the winter.

1072.

This year King William led an army and a fleet against Scotland, and he stationed the ships along the coast and crossed the Tweed with his army; but he found nothing to reward his pains. And King Malcolm came and treated with King William, and delivered hostages, and became his liege-man; and King William returned home with his forces. And Bishop Egelric died; he had been consecrated to the Archbishoprick of York, of which he was unjustly deprived, and the see of Durham was given to him; this he held as long as he would, and then resigned it and went to the monastery of Peterborough, and there he spent 12 years. Then after King William had conquered England, he removed Egelric from Peterborough, and sent him to Westminster, and he died on the ides of October, and he is buried in the Abbey, in the aisle of St. Nicholas.

1073.

This year King William carried an army of English and French over sea, and conquered the province of Maine: and the English did great damage, for they destroyed the vineyards and burned the towns, and they laid waste that province, the whole of which submitted to William; and they afterwards returned home again.

1074.

This year King William went over sea to Normandy; and Childe Edgar came thither from Scotland, and the King received him and all his men into the protection of the law, and he remained at Court, enjoying such privileges as the King granted him.

1075.

This year King William gave the daughter of William Osbearn’s son in marriage to Earl Ralph: the said Ralph was a Welchman on his mother’s side, and his father was an Englishman named Ralph, who was born in Norfolk. Then the King gave the Earldom of Norfolk and Suffolk to his son, who brought his wife to Norwich, but there the bridal feast was the bane of all: for Earl Roger and Earl Waltheof were there, and Bishops and Abbots, and they took counsel to depose the King of England. And this was soon reported to the King then in Normandy, and it was told him withal that Earl Roger and Earl Ralph were the heads of the conspiracy, and that they had brought over the Welch to their side, and had sent eastward to Denmark for a fleet to assist them. And Earl Roger departed to his earldom in the west, and gathered his people together in rebellion against the King, but he was checked in his attempt. And Earl Ralph also being in his earldom would have marched forth with his people; but the garrisons of the castles of England, and the inhabitants of the country came against him, and prevented his effecting any thing, on which he took ship at Norwich: and his wife remained in the castle, and held it till she had obtained terms, and then she departed from England with all her adherents. And after this the King came to England, and he took his kinsman Earl Roger and put him in prison; he also seized Earl Waltheof. And soon afterwards 200 ships arrived from Denmark, commanded by two chieftains, Cnut the son of Swegn, and Earl Hacon, but they durst not risk a battle with King William, and they bore away for Flanders. And the lady Eadgith died at Winchester seven nights before Christmas, and the King caused her to be brought to Westminster with great pomp, and to be laid by her Lord King Edward. And the King was at Westminster during Christmas, and there all the Welchmen who had been at the bridal feast at Norwich were brought to justice; some were blinded, and others banished. Thus were put down the traitors to William.

1076.

This year Swægn King of Denmark died, and Harold his son succeeded to the kingdom. And the King gave Westminster to Vithele, who had before been Abbot of Bernay. Earl Waltheof was beheaded at Winchester, and his body was carried to Croyland. And the King went over sea and led his army into Britanny, and besieged the castle of Dol, and the Bretons defended it till the King of France came up, and then William departed, having lost both men and horses and much treasure.

1077.

This year a peace was made between the King of France and William King of England, and it lasted but a little while. And this year, one night before the Assumption of St. Mary, there was a more dreadful fire in London than had ever happened since the town was built. And this year Ægelwig Abbot of Evesham died on the 14th of the calends of March. Bishop Hereman died also on the 10th of the calends of March.

1079.

This year, between the two feasts of St. Mary, King Malcolm invaded England with a large army, and laid waste Northumberland as far as the Tyne; and he slew many hundred men, and carried home much money and treasure and many prisoners. And the same year King William fought against his son Robert without the borders of Normandy near a castle called Gerborneth (Gerberoy), and there King William was wounded, and the horse on which he sat was killed, and his son William was also wounded, and many men were slain.

1080.

This year Walcher Bishop of Durham was slain at a gemot, and a hundred French and Flemings with him: Walcher himself was born in Lorrain. The Northumbrians perpetrated this in the month of May.

1081.

This year the King led an army into Wales, and there he set free many hundred persons.

1082.

This year the King arrested Bishop Odo. And there was a great famine this year.

1083.

This year a quarrel arose in Glastonbury between the Abbot Thurstan and his monks. It was first caused by the Abbot’s unwise conduct, in that he treated his monks ill in many respects, but the monks were lovingly-minded towards him, and begged him to govern them in right and in kindness, and they would be faithful and obedient to him. But the Abbot would none of this, and wrought them evil, and threatened worse. One day the Abbot went into the Chapter-house, and harangued the monks, and would have taught them amiss;[BH] and he sent for laymen, and they came in all armed upon the monks in the Chapter-house. Then the monks were greatly terrified and knew not what to do, and some ran for refuge into the church and locked the doors from within; but the others followed them, and would have dragged them forth when they durst not come out. Rueful things happened there on that day, for the French broke into the choir and threw darts towards the altar where the monks were collected, and some of their servants went upon the upper floor and shot down arrows towards the chancel, so that many arrows stuck in the crucifix which stood above the altar, and the wretched monks lay around the altar, and some crept under it, and they called earnestly upon God and besought his mercy, since they could obtain no mercy at the hands of men. What can we say, but that they shot without ceasing, and others broke down the doors, and rushed in, and they slew some of the monks and wounded many, so that the blood ran down from the altar on the steps, and from the steps to the floor. Three were smitten to death and eighteen wounded. And the same year Matilda the wife of King William died on the day after the feast of All Saints. And the same year after Christmas the King caused a great and heavy tax to be raised throughout England, even 72 pence upon every hide of land.

1084.

This year Wulfwold Abbot of Chertsey died on the 13th of the calends of May.

1085.

This year men said and reported as certain, that Cnut King of Denmark, the son of King Swægn was bent hitherward, and that he designed to conquer this land, with the assistance of Robert Earl of Flanders, whose daughter he had married. When King William, who was then in Normandy, heard this, for England and Normandy were both his, he hastened hither with a larger army of horse and foot, from France and Britanny, than had ever arrived in this land, so that men wondered how the country might feed them all. But the King billetted the soldiers upon his subjects throughout the nation, and they provided for them, every man according to the land that he possessed. And the people suffered much distress this year: and the King caused the country near the sea to be laid waste, that if his enemies landed they might the less readily find any plunder. Afterwards when he had received certain information that they had been stopped, and that they would not be able to proceed in this enterprise, he let part of his forces return to their own homes, and he kept part in this land through the winter. At Christmas the King was at Gloucester with his Witan; and he held his court there five days; and afterwards the Archbishop and Clergy held a synod during three days; and Maurice was there chosen to the bishoprick of London, William to that of Norfolk, and Robert, to that of Cheshire; they were all chaplains of the King. After this the King had a great consultation, and spoke very deeply with his Witan concerning this land, how it was held and what were its tenantry. He then sent his men over all England, into every shire, and caused them to ascertain how many hundred hides of land it contained, and what lands the King possessed therein, what cattle there were in the several counties, and how much revenue he ought to receive yearly from each. He also caused them to write down how much land belonged to his Archbishops, to his Bishops, his Abbots, and his Earls, and, that I may be brief, what property every inhabitant of all England possessed in land or in cattle, and how much money this was worth. So very narrowly did he cause the survey to be made, that there was not a single hide nor a rood of land, nor--it is shameful to relate that which he thought no shame to do--was there an ox, or a cow, or a pig passed by, and that was not set down in the accounts, and then all these writings were brought to him.

1086.

This year the King wore his crown and held his court at Winchester at Easter, and he so journeyed forward that he was at Westminster during Pentecost, and there he dubbed his son Henry a knight. And afterwards he travelled about, so that he came to Salisbury at Lammas; and his Witan, and all the land-holders of substance in England, whose vassals soever they were, repaired to him there, and they all submitted to him, and became his men, and swore oaths of allegiance, that they would be faithful to him against all others. Thence he proceeded to Wight because he was to cross over to Normandy; and this he afterwards did, but first, according to his custom, he extorted immense sums from his subjects, upon every pretext he could find, whether just or otherwise. Then he went over to Normandy, and King Edward’s kinsman Edgar Ætheling left him, because he received no great honour from him: may Almighty God give him glory hereafter. And the Ætheling’s sister Cristina went into the monastery of Romsey, and took the holy veil. And the same was a very heavy year, and very disastrous and sorrowful; for there was a pestilence among the cattle, and the corn and fruits were checked; and the weather was worse than may easily be conceived: so violent was the thunder and lightning, that many persons were killed: and things ever went worse and worse with the people: may Almighty God mend them, when such is his will.

1087.

The year 1087 after the birth of Christ our Saviour, and the one and twentieth of King William’s reign, during which he governed and disposed of the realm of England even as God permitted him, was a very grievous time of scarcity in this land. There was also so much illness, that almost every other man was afflicted with the worst of evils, that is, a fever; and this so severe, that many died of it. And afterwards, from the badness of the weather which we have mentioned before, there was so great a famine throughout England, that many hundreds died of hunger. O how disastrous, how rueful were those times! when the wretched people were brought to the point of death by the fever, then the cruel famine came on and finished them.--Who would not deplore such times, or who is so hard hearted that he will not weep for so much misery? But such things are, on account of the sins of the people, and because they will not love God and righteousness. Even so was it in those days; there was little righteousness in this land amongst any, excepting the monks alone who lived piously. The King and the chief men loved much, and over much, to amass gold and silver, and cared not how sinfully it was gotten, so that it came into their hands. The King sold out his lands as dear as dearest he might, and then some other man came and bid more than the first had given, and the King granted them to him who offered the larger sum; then came a third and bid yet more, and the King made over the lands to him who offered most of all; and he cared not how iniquitously his Sheriffs extorted money from the miserable people, nor how many unlawful things they did. And the more men spake of rightful laws, the more lawlessly did they act. They raised oppressive taxes, and so many were their unjust deeds, it were hard to number them. And the same year, before harvest, St. Paul’s holy minster, the residence of the Bishops of London, was burnt, together with many other monasteries, and the greater and handsomer part of the whole city. At the same time likewise almost all the principal towns of England were burnt down. O how sad and deplorable was this year, which brought forth so many calamities.