THE ROLL OF BATTELL ABBEIE.

A

Avmarle

Aincourt

Audeley

Adgillam

Argentoune

Arundell

Auenant

Abell

Auuerne

Aunwers

Angers

Angenoun

Archere

Anuay

Asperu

Albeuile

Andeuile

Amouerduile

Arcy and Akeny

Albeny

Aybeuare

Amay

Aspermound

Amerenges

B

Bertram

Buttecourt

Brebus and Byseg

Bardolfe

Basset and Bigot

Bohun

Bailif

Bondeuile

Brabason

Baskeruile

Bures

Bounilaine

Bois

Botelere

Bourcher

Brabaion

Berners

Braibuf

Brande and Bronce

Burgh

Bushy

Banet

Blondell

Breton

Bluat and Baious

Browne

Beke

Bickard

Banastre

Baloun

Beauchampe

Bray and Bandy

Bracy

Boundes

Bascoun

Broilem

Broleuy

Burnell

Bellet

Baudewin

Beaumont

Burdon

Berteuilay

Barre

Busseuile

Blunt

Beaupere

Beuill

Barduedor

Brette

Barrett

Bonret

Bainard

Barniuale

Bonett

Barry

Bryan

Bodin

Beteruile

Bertin

Bereneuile

Bellewe

Beuery

Busshell

Boranuile

Browe

Beleuers

Buffard

Botelere

Bonueier

Boteuile

Bellire

Bastard

Bainard

Brasard

Beelhelme

Braine

Brent

Braunch

Belesuz

Blundell

Burdet

Bagot

Beauuise

Belemis

Beisin

Bernon

Boels

Belefroun

Brutz

Barchampe

C

Camois

Camuile

Chawent

Chauncy

Conderay

Coluile

Chamberlaine

Chamburnoun

Comin

Columber

Cribett

Creuquere

Corbine

Corbett

Chaundos

Chaworth

Cleremaus

Clarell

Chopis

Chaunduit

Chantelow

Chamberay

Cressy

Curtenay

Conestable

Cholmeley

Champney

Chawnos

Comiuile

Champaine

Careuile

Carbonelle

Charles

Chereberge

Chawnes

Chaumont

Caperoun

Cheine

Curson

Couille

Chaiters

Cheines

Cateray

Cherecourt

Cammile

Clerenay

Curly

Cuily

Clinels

Chaundos

Courteney

Clifford

D

Denauille

Dercy

Diue

Dispencere

Daubeny

Daniell

Denise and Druell

Deuans

Dauers

Dodingsels

Darell

Delaber

Delapole

Delalinde

Delahill

Delaware

Delauache

Dakeny

Dauntre

Desny

Dabernoune

Damry

Daueros

Dauonge

Duilby

Dalauere

Delahoid

Durange

Delee

Delaund

Delaward

Delaplanch

Damnot

Danway

Dehense

Deuile

Disard

Doiuille

Durant

Drury

Dabitot

Dunsteruile

Dunchampe

Dambelton

E

Estrange

Estuteuile

Engaine

Estriels

Esturney

F

Ferrerers

Foluille

Fitz Water

Fitz Marmaduke

Fleuez

Filberd

Fitz Roger

Fauecourt

Ferrers

Fitz Philip

Filiot

Furniueus

Furniuaus

Fitz Otes

Fitz William

Fitz Roand

Fitz Pain

Fitz Auger

Fitz Aleyn

Fitz Rauff

Fitz Browne

Fouke

Freuil

Front de Boef

Facunberge

Fort

Frisell

Fitz Simon

Fitz Fouk

Filioll

Fitz Thomas

Fitz Morice

Fitz Hugh

Fitz Henrie

Fitz Waren

Fitz Rainold

Flamuile

Formay

Fitz Eustach

Fitz Laurence

Formibaud

Frisound

Finere and Fitz Robert

Furniuale

Fitz Geffrey

Fitz Herbert

Fitz Peres

Fichet

Fitz Rewes

Fitz Fitz

Fitz John

Fleschampe

G

Gvrnay

Gressy

Graunson

Gracy

Georges

Gower

Gaugy

Goband

Gray

Gaunson

Golofre

Gobion

Grensy

Graunt

Greile

Greuet

Gurry

Gurley

Grammori

Gernoun

Grendon

Gurdon

Gines

Griuil

Greneuile

Glateuile

Gurney

Giffard

Gouerges

Gamages

H

Haunteney

Haunsard

Hastings

Hanlay

Haurell

Husee

Hercy

Herioun

Herne

Harecourt

Henoure

Houell

Hamelin

Harewell

Hardell

Haket

Hamound

Harcord

I

Iarden

Iay

Ieniels

Ierconuise

Ianuile

Iasperuile

K

Kaunt

Karre

Karrowe

Koine

Kimaronne

Kiriell

Kancey

Kenelre

L

Loueny

Lacy

Linneby

Latomer

Loueday

Louell

Lemare

Leuetot

Lucy

Luny

Logeuile

Longespes

Louerace

Longechampe

Lascales

Lacy

Louan

Leded

Luse

Loterell

Lornge

Longevule

Loy

Lorancourt

Loions

Limers

Longepay

Laumale

Lane

Louetot

M

Mohant

Mowne

Maundeuile

Marmilon

Moribray

Moruile

Miriell

Manlay

Malebraunch

Malemame

Mortimere

Mortimaine

Muse

Marteine

Mountbother

Mountsoler

Maleuile

Malet

Mounteney

Monfichet

Maleherbe

Mare

Musegros

Musard

Moine

Montrauers

Merke

Murres

Mortiuale

Monchenesy

Mallory

Marny

Mountagu

Mountford

Maule

Monhermon

Musett

Meneuile

Manteuenant and Manfe

Meapincoy

Maine

Mainard

Morell

Mainell

Maleluse

Memorous

Morreis

Morleian Maine

Maleuere

Mandut

Mountmarten

Mamelet

Miners

Mauclerke

Maunchenell

Mouet

Meintenore

Meletak

Manuile

Mangisere

Maumasin

Mountlouel

Mawreward

Monhaut

Meller

Mountgomerie

Manlay

Maulard

Mainard

Menere

Martinast

Mare

Mainwaring

Matelay

Malemis

Maleheire

Moren

Melun

Marceans

Maiell

Morton

N

Noers

Neuile

Newmarch

Norbet

Norice

Newborough

Neiremet

Neile

Normauile

Neofmarch

Nermitz

Nembrutz

O

Oteuell

Olibef

Olifant

Osenel

Oisell

Olifard

Orinall

Orioll

P

Pigot

Pery

Perepount

Pershale

Power

Painell

Perche and Pauey

Peurell

Perot

Picard

Pinkenie

Pomeray

Pounce

Pauely

Paifrere

Plukenet

Phuars

Punchardoun

Pinchard

Placy

Pugoy

Patefine

Place

Pampilioun

Percelay

Perere and Pekeny

Poterell

Peukeny

Peccell

Pinell

Putrill

Petiuoll

Preaus

Pantolf

Peito

Penecord

Preudirlegast

Perciuale

Q

Qvinci

Quintiny

R

Ros

Ridell

Riuers

Riuell

Rous

Rushell

Raband

Ronde

Rie

Rokell

Risers

Randuile

Roselin

Rastoke

Rinuill

Rougere

Rait

Ripere

Rigny

Richemound

Rochford

Raimond

S

Souch

Sheuile

Seucheus

Senclere

Sent Quintin

Sent Omere

Sent Amond

Sent Legere

Someruile

Siward

Saunsovere

Sanford

Sanctes

Sauay

Saulay

Sules

Sorell

Somerey

Sent Iohn

Sent George

Sent Les

Sesse

Saluin

Say

Solers

Saulay

Sent Albin

Sent Martin

Sourdemale

Seguin

Sent Barbe

Sent Vile

Souremount

Soreglise

Sanduile

Sauncey

Sirewast

Sent Cheueroll

Sent More

Sent Scudemore

T

Toget

Tercy

Tuchet

Tracy

Trousbut

Trainell

Taket

Trussel and Trison

Talbot

Touny

Traies

Tollemach

Tolous

Tanny

Touke

Tibtote

Turbeuile

Turuile

Tomy and Taverner

Trencheuile

Trenchelion

Tankeruile

Tirell

Triuet

Tolet

Trauers

Tardeuile

Turburuile

Tineuile

Torell

Tortechappell

Trusbote

Treuerell

Tenwis

Totelles

V

Vere

Vernoun

Vescy

Verdoune

Valence

Verdeire

Vauasour

Vendore

Verlay

Valenger

Venables

Venoure

Vilan

Verland

Valers

Veirny

Vauurvile

Veniels

Verrere

Vschere

Veffay

Vanay

Vian

Verneys

Vrnall

Vnket

Vrnafull

Vasderoll

Vaberon

Valingford

Venicorde

Valiue

Viuille

Vancorde and Valenges

W

Wardebois

Ward

Wafre

Wake

Wareine

Wate

Watelin

Wateuil

Wely

Werdonell

Wespaile

Wiuell

[Sidenote: _Sim. Dunel._] When king William had set all things in

order through the most part of the realme, he deliuered the guiding

thereof vnto his brother Odo, the bishop of Bayeux, and his coosine

William Fits Osborne, whom he had made erle of Hereford. [Sidenote:

King William goeth ouer into Normandy. _Hen. Hunt._ _Polychron._ _Sim.

Dun._] In Lent following he sailed into Normandie, leading with him

the pledges, and other of the chéefest lords of the English nation:

among whom, the two earles Edwine and Marchar, Stigand the archbishop,

Edgar Etheling, Walteoff sonne to Siward sometime duke of

Northumberland, and Agelnothus the abbat of Glastenburie were the most

famous. [Sidenote: Edricke Syluaticus.] Soone after his departing,

Edricke surnamed Syluaticus, sonne to Alfricke that was brother to

Edricke de Streona, refusing to submit himselfe vnto the king,

rebelled and rose against such as he had left in his absence to

gouerne the land. [Sidenote: Richard Fits Scroope.] Wherevpon those

that laie in the castell of Hereford, as Richard Fitz Scroope and

others, did oftentimes inuade his lands, and wasted the goods of his

farmers and tenants: but yet so often as they attempted to inuade him,

they lost manie of their owne souldiers and men of war. Moreouer, the

said Edricke calling to his aid the kings of the Welshmen, Bleothgent

and Rithwall, about the feast of the assumption of our Ladie, wasted

the countrie of Hereford, [Sidenote: The riuer of Wye.] euen to

the bridge of the riuer of Wye, and obteined out of those quarters a

maruellous great spoile. [Sidenote: King William returneth into

England.] In the winter also following, and after king William had

disposed his busines in Normandie, he returned into England, and euen

then began to handle the Englishmen somewhat sharpelie, supposing

thereby to kéepe them the more easilie vnder his obedience. He also

took awaie from diuerse of the Nobilitie, and others of the better

sort, all their liuings, and gaue the same to his Normans. [Sidenote:

_H. Hunt._] Moreouer, he raised great taxes and subsidies through the

realme: nor any thing regarded th' English Nobilitie, so that they who

before thought themselues to be made for euer by bringing a stranger

into the realme, doo now see themselues troden vnder foot, to be

despised, and to be mocked on all sides, [Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

insomuch that many of them were constreined (as it were for a further

testimonie of seruitude and bondage) to shaue their beards, to round

their heare, and to frame themselues as well in apparell as in seruice

and diet at their tables after the Norman manner, verie strange and

farre differing from the ancient customes and old vsages of their

countrie. [Sidenote: Englishmen withdraw them to the woods as out

lawes.] Others vtterlie refusing to susteine such an intolerable yoke

of thraldome as was dailie laid vpon them by the Normans, chose rather

to leaue all both goods & lands, & after the maner of outlawes got

them to the woods, with their wiues, children, and seruants, meaning

from thencefoorth wholie to liue vpon the spoile of the countries

adioining, and to take whatsoeuer came next to hand: wherevpon it came

to passe within a while that noe man might trauell in safetie from his

owne house or towne to his next neighbors, and euery quiet and honest

mans house became as it were an hold and fortresse furnished for

defense with bowes and arrowes, bills, polaxes, swords, clubs, and

staues, and other weapons, the doores kept locked and stronglie

boulted in the night season, for feare to be surprised as it had beene

in time of open warr and amongst publike enimies. Praiers were said

also by the maister of the house, as though they had beene in the

middest of the seas in some stormie tempest, and when the windowes or

doores should be shut in and closed, they vsed to saie _Benedicite_,

and others to answer, _Dominus_, in like sort as the preest and his

penitent were woont to doo at confession in the church.

Notwithstanding all this, K. William sought to tame & vanquish those

of the English Nobilitie, who would not be at his becke. They againe

on the other side made themselues strong, the better to resist him,

choosing for their chéefe capteines and leaders, the earles Edwine &

Edgar Etheling, who valiantlie resisted the Normans, and slue many of

them with great rage and crueltie. And as they thus procéeded in their

matters, king William being a politike prince, forward and painefull

in his businesse, suffered them not altogither to escape cléere awaie,

but did sore annoy and put them oft to remediles losses, though he

abode in the meane time many laborious iournies, slaughters of his

people, and damages of his person. [Sidenote: _Polydor._ _Anno Reg.

2._ _Matth. Paris._ _Matth. West._ Diuers of the English Nobilitie

forsake their natiue countrie.] Herevpon the English Nobilitie euer

after, yea in time of peace, were hated of the king and his Normans,

and at length were kept so short, that being mooued partlie with

disdaine, and partlie with dread, they got them out of the realme,

some into Scotland, some into Denmarke, others into Norway; and among

these, the two earles Edwine and Marchar, with certeine bishops &

others of the cleargie, besides manie also of the temporaltie, escaped

into Scotland. Marleswine & Gospatricke, with a great number of other

the Nobles of Northumberland, Edgar Ethling with his mother Agatha,

and his sisters Christine and Margaret, chanced also to be driuen into

Scotland by tempest, as they sailed towards the coasts of Germanie,

purposing to haue returned into Hungarie, where the said Edgar was

borne: howbeit being arriued in Scotland, he found so friendlie

entertainment there, that finallie Malcolme the third then king of

that realme, tooke his sister Margaret to wife, and Christine became a

nunne, as in the Scotish chronicles more plainelie dooth appéere.

[Sidenote: _Polydor._] King William héereby perceiuing daily how

vnwilling the Englishmen were to be vnder his obeisance, was in feare

of rebellious commotions; [Sidenote: Two at York, wherein he left fiue

hundred men in garrison.] and therefore to subdue them the better, he

builded foure castels, one at Notingham, another at Lincolne, the

third at Yorke, and the fourth néere vnto Hastings, where he landed at

his first comming into England.

[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ The Conquerour taketh frō the Englishmen their

armour.] Moreouer, to reduce the English people the sooner vnto

obedience and awe, he tooke from them all their armour and weapons. He

ordeined also that the maister of euerie houshold about eight of the

clocke in the euening, should cause his fire to be raked vp ashes, his

lights to be put out, and then go to bed. [Sidenote: Couer few first

instituted.] Besides this, to the end that euerie man might haue

knowledge of the houre to go to rest, he gaue order, that in all

cities, townes, and villages, where anie church was, there should a

bell be roong at the said houre, which custome is still vsed euen vnto

this daie, and commonly called by the French word, _Couer few_, that

is, _Rake vp the fier_.

[Sidenote: 1068.] [Sidenote: _Matth. West._] This yeare, on

Whitsunday, Maud the wife of king William was crowned Queene by

Aeldred archbishop of Yorke. The same yeare also was Henrie his sonn

borne here in England: for his other two sonns, Robert and William,

were borne in Normandie before he had conquered this land. [Sidenote:

Edmond the Great.] About the same time alsoe Goodwine and Edmund

surnamed the great, the sonns of K. Harold, came from Ireland and

landing in Somersetshire, fought with Adnothus that had beene maister

of their fathers horsses whom they slue with a great number of others,

and soe haueing got this victorie, returned into Ireland, from whence

they came with a great bootie which they tooke in their returne out of

Cornewall, Deuonshire, and other places thereabouts. [Sidenote: _Wil.

Malm._ _Simon Dunelm._] In like manner, Excester did as then rebell,

and likewise the countrie of Northumberland, wherevpon the king

appointed one of his capteines named Robert Cumin, a right noble

personage (but more valiant than circumspect) to go against the

northerne people with a part of his armie, whilest he himselfe and the

other part went to subdue them of Excester: where, at his comming before

the citie, the citizens prepared themselues to defend their gates and

wals: but after he began to make his approch to assaile them, part of

the citizens repenting their foolish attempts, opened the gates, and

suffered him to enter. Thus having subdued them of Excester, he

greeuouslie punished the chéefe offendors. But the countesse Gita, the

sister of Sweine K. of Denmarke, and sometime wife to earle Goodwine,

and mother to the last K. Harold, with diuers other that were got into

that citie, found meanes to flie, and so escaped ouer into Flanders.

King William hauing passed his businesse in such wise in Deuonshire,

hasted backe towards Yorke, being aduertised in the waie, that the

Northumbers hauing knowledge by their spials, that Robert generall of

the Normans being come to Durham, did not so diligentlie cause watch

and ward to be kept about the towne in the night season as was

requisite, [Sidenote: This chaunced the 28. of Januarie on a

Wednesday. _Polydor._] did set vpon him about midnight, & slue the

same Robert with all his companie, so that of seauen hundred which he

brought with him, there was but one that escaped to bring tidings to

the king their souereigne.

He heard also, how Edgar Etheling at the same time, being in the

countrie, riding abroad with a troope of horsemen, and hearing of the

discomfiture of those Normans, pursued them egerlie, [Sidenote:

_Polydor._] and slue great numbers of them, as they were about to saue

themselues by flight, with which newes being in no small furie, he

made speed forward, and comming at the last into Northumberland, he

easilie vanquished the foresaid rebels, and putting the cheefe authors

of this mutinie to death, he reserued some of the rest as captiues,

and of other some he caused the hands to be chopped off in token of

their inconstancie and rebellious dealing. After this he came to

Yorke, and there in like sort punished those that had aided Edgar,

which doone, he returned to London.

[Sidenote: 1069.] [Sidenote: Sweine and Osborne hath. _Matth. Paris._]

In the meane time, those Englishmen that were fled (as you haue heard)

into Denmarke, by continuall sute made to Sueine then king of that

realme, to procure him to make a iournie into England for recouerie of

the right descended to him from his ancestors, at length obteined

their purpose, in so much that king Sueine sent his sonnes Harold and

Canutus toward England, [Sidenote: Thrée hundred sailes saith _M. W._

but _Sim. Dun._ hath 240.] who with a nauie of two hundred saile, in

the companie of Osborne their vncle, arriued in the mouth of Humber

betwéene the two later ladie daies, and there landing their people

with the English outlawes, whom they had brought with them, they

straightwaies marched towards Yorke, wasting and spoiling the countrie

with great crueltie as they passed. Soone after also came Edgar, and

such other English exiles as had before fled into Scotland, and ioined

their forces with them. When the newes of these things were brought to

Yorke, the people there were striken with a maruellous feare, insomuch

that Aeldred the archbishop (through verie greefe and anguish of mind)

departed this life. The Normans also which laie there in garrison,

after they vnderstood by their spies that the enimies were come within

two daies iournie of them, began not a little to mistrust the faith of

the citizens, and bicause the suburbes should not be any aid vnto

them, they set fire on the same, which by the hugenesse of the wind

that suddenlie arose, the flame became so big, and mounted such a

height, [Sidenote: Yorke burnt.] that it caught the citie also, and

consumed a great part therof to ashes, togither with the minster of S.

Peter, and a famous librarie belonging to the same. Herevpon the

Normans and citizens in like maner were constreined to issue foorth at

the same time, and being vpon the enimies before they had any

knowledge of their approch, were forced to trie the matter by

disordered battell: whose number though it was far inferiour vnto

theirs, yet they valiantlie defended themselues for a time, till being

oppressed with multitudes, they were ouercome and slaine, [Sidenote:

Normans slaine.] so that there perished in this conflict, to the

number of three thousand of them. Manie of the Englishmen also that

came with them to the field, were saued by the enimies, to the end

they might gaine somewhat by their ransomes, [Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]

as William Mallet shirife of the shire, with his wife, and two of

their children, Gilbert de Gaunt, and diuers other. This slaughter

chanced on a saturdaie, being the nineteenth day of September; a

dismall daie to the Normans.

The two brethren hauing thus obteined this victorie, went on further

into the countrie of Northumberland, and brought the same wholie to

their subiection, insomuch that all the north parts were at their

cōmandement. Upon this they meant to haue gone towards London with the

like attempt in the south parts, [Sidenote: A sharpe winter, an enimie

to warlike enterprises.] if the extreame and hard winter which chanced

that yeare, had not staied their enterprise, as it did king William

from assailing them; who hearing of all their dooings in the north

countrie, would else full gladlie haue set vpon them. [Sidenote: The

Danes where they wintered. _Hen. Hunt._ _Polydor._] In the meane time,

the Danes wintered in Yorkeshire, betwixt the two riuers Ouse and

Trent; but so soone as the snow began to melt, and the yce to thaw and

waste away, king William sped him with great hast toward his enimies

into Yorkeshire, and comming to the riuer of Trent, where it falleth

into Humber, he pitched his tents there, to refresh his people, for

his enimies were at hand. The daie following he brought his armie into

the field to fight with the Danish princes, who likewise in battell

araie met them. Then began a right sore and terrible battell,

continuing a long space in equall balance, till at length in one of

the Danish wings the Norman horsemen had put their enimies to flight.

Which when the residue of the Danes perceiued, and therewith put in a

sudden feare, they likewise fled. Harold and Canutus with a band of

hardie souldiers that tarried about them, retired backe (though with

much a doo and great danger) vnto their ships. Edgar also, by helpe of

good horses, escaped into Scotland with a few in his companie.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._] Earle Walteof, who had fought most

manfullie in that battell, [Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Wil. Malm._] &

slaine manie Normans with his owne hands, was reconciled into the

kings fauour: but the residue were for the most part taken prisoners,

and killed. William of Malmesburie writeth, that king William comming

at that time into the north parts, besieged the citie of Yorke, and

putting to flight a great armie of his enimies that came to the

succour of them within, not without great losse of his owne souldiers,

at length the citie was deliuered into his hands; the citizens and

other that kept it, as Scots, Danes, and Englishmen, being constreined

thereto through lacke of vittels. [Sidenote: _Sim. Dunel._] Other

write, how the Danes, being loden with riches and spoiles gotten in

the countrie, departed to their ships before the comming of king

William. Here is not to be forgotten, that (as Iohn Leland hath noted)

whilest the Conquerour held siege before Yorke, at the earnest request

of his wife Quéene Maud, he aduanced his nephew Alane earle of

Britaine, with the gift of all those lands that sometime belonged vnto

earle Edwine, the tenor of which gift insueth:

[Sidenote: Earle Edwines lands giuen vnto Alane earle of

Britaine.]

"Ego Gulihelmus cognomine Bastardus, do & concedo tibi nepoti

meo Alano Britanniæ comiti, & hæredibus tuis in perpetuum, omnes

illas villas & terras, quæ nuper fuerunt comitis Eadwini in

Eborashira, cum feodis militum & alijs libertatibus &

consuetudinibus, ita liberè & honorificè sicut idem Eadwinus ea

tenuit. Dat. in obsidione coram ciuitate Eboraci:" that is, "I

William surnamed Bastard, doo giue and grant to thee my nephue

Alane earle of Britaine, and to thine heires for euer, all those

townes and lands that latelie were earle Eadwines in Yorkeshire,

with the knights fees and other liberties and customes, so

freelie and honourablie as the said Eadwine held the same. Giuen

in our seege before the citie of Yorke."

The earle of Britaine, being a man of a stout stomach, and meaning to

defend that which was thus giuen to him, [Sidenote: Castell of

Richmont.] built a strong castell neere to his manor of Gillingham,

and named it Richmont. The first originall line of the earles of

Richmont [2]that bare their title of honor of this castell and towne

of Richmont (as Leland hath set downe the same) is this: Eudo earle of

Britaine, the sonne of Geffrey, begat three sonnes, Alane le Rous,

otherwise Fregaunte, Alane the blacke, and Stephan. [Sidenote: Earle

of Britaine.] These three brethren after their fathers decease,

succéeded one another in the earledome of Britaine; the two elder,

Alane the red and Alane the blacke died without issue. Stephan begat a

sonne named Alane, who left a sonne, which was his heire named Conan,

which Conan married Margaret the daughter of William king of Scotland,

who bare him a daughter named Constantia, which Constantia was coupled

in marriage with Geffrey sonne to king Henrie the second, who had by

hir Arthur, whom his vncle King John, for fear to be depriued by him

of the crowne, caused to be made awaie; as some have written. But now

to returne where we left touching the Danes. [Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]

Simon Dunel. affirmeth, that Harold and Canute or Cnute the sonnes of

Sweine king of Denmarke, [Sidenote: _Matth. Paris_ maketh mention but

of Sweine and Osborne whom he calleth brethren.] with their vncle

earle Osborne, and one Christianus a bishop of the Danes, and earle

Turketillus were guiders of this Danish armie, & that afterwards, when

king William came into Northumberland, he sent vnto earle Osborne,

promising him that he would permit him to take vp vittels for his

armie about the sea coastes; and further, to giue him a portion of

monie, so that he should depart and returne home as soone as the

winter was passed. But howsoeuer the matter went with the Danes,

certain it is by the whole consent of writers, that king William

hauing thus subdued his enimies in the north, he tooke so great

displeasure with the inhabitants of the countrie of Yorkeshire and

Northumberland, that he wasted all the land betwixt Yorke and Durham,

[Sidenote: _Wil. Malms._] so that for the space of threescore miles,

there was left in maner no habitation for the people, by reason

whereof it laie wast and desert for the space of nine or ten yeares. ¶

The goodlie cities with their towers and steeples set vp on a statelie

height, and reaching as it were into the aire: the beautifull fields

and pastures, watered with the course of sweet and pleasant riuers, if

a stranger should then haue beheld, and also knowne before they were

thus defaced, he would surely haue lamented: or if any old inhabitant

had béene long absent, & newly returned thither, had séene this

pitifull face of the countrie, he would not haue knowne it, such

destruction was made through out all those quarters, whereof Yorke it

selfe felt not the smallest portion. [Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] The

bishop of Durham Egelwinus with his cleargie fled into holy Iland with

S. Cuthberts bodie, and other iewels of the church of Durham, where

they tarried three moneths and od daies, before they returned to

Durham againe. The kings armie comming into the countrie that lieth

betwixt the riuers Theise and Tine, found nothing but void feelds and

bare walles; the people with their goods and cattell being fled and

withdrawne into the woods and mountaines, if any thing were forgotten

behind, these new gests were diligent inough to find it out.

[Sidenote: _Anno Reg._ 4. 1070.] [Sidenote: _Polydor._] In the

beginning of the spring, king William returned to London, and now

after all these troubles, began to conceiue greater hatred against the

Englishmen than euer before; so as doubting that hee should neuer by

gentlenesse win their good willes, he now determined by a harder

measure to meete with them; insomuch that he banished a great number,

other some also (not a few) he spoiled of their goods, those

especiallie of whom he was in hope to gaine any great portion of

substance.

Thus were the Englishmen generallie in danger to lose life, lands and

goods, without knowledge, or orderlie proceeding in iudgement, so that

no greater miserie in the earth could be imagined, than that whereinto

our nation was now fallen. [Sidenote: Priuileges and fréedoms

revoked.] He tooke from the townes and cities, from the bishops sées

and abbeies all their ancient priuileges and freedoms, to the end they

should not onely be cut short and made weaker, but also that they (for

the obteinment of their quietnesse) might redeeme the same of him for

such summes of monie as pleased him to exact. [Sidenote: _Matth.

Paris._] Among other things, he ordeined that in time of warre they

should aide him with armor, horsse and monie, according to that order

which he should then prescribe: all which he caused to be registred,

inrolled, and laid vp in his treasurie. But diuerse of the spirituall

persons would not obey this ordinance, whom he banished without

remorse.

[Sidenote: Stigand. Alexander bishop of Lincolne. _Polydor._ The hard

deling of K. William against the Englishmen.] About this time the

archbishop Stigand, and Alexander bishop of Lincolne fled to Scotland,

where they kept themselues close for a season. But the king still

continued in his hard procéeding against the Englishmen, insomuch that

now protesting how he came to the gouernance of the realme only by

plaine conquest, he seized into his hands most part of euery mans

possessions, causing them to redeeme the same at his hands againe, and

yet reteined a propertie in the most part of them; so that those that

should afterwards enioy them, should acknowledge themselues to hold

them of him, in yéelding a yéerlie rent to him and his successors for

euer, with certeine other prouisions, whereby in cases of forfeiture

the same lands should returne to him, and his said successors againe.

The like order he appointed to be vsed by other possessors of lands,

in letting them forth to their tenants. [Sidenote: The institution of

the foure Termes.] He ordeined also, that the Termes should be kept

foure times in the yéere, in such places as he should nominate, and

that the iudges shuld sit in their seuerall places to iudge and decide

causes and matters in controuersie betwixt partie and partie, in

manner as is vsed vnto this day. He decréed moreouer, that there

should be shiriffes in euerie shire, and iustices of the peace to

keepe the countries in quiet, and to sée offendors punished.

[Sidenote: The Excheker.] Furthermore, he instituted the court of the

Excheker, and the officers belonging to the same, as the barons, the

clearks, and such other, [Sidenote: The Chancerie.] and also the high

court of Chancerie.

After he had in this sort ordeined his magistrates and ministers of

the lawes, he lastlie tooke order what ordinances he would haue

obserued: wherevpon abrogating in maner all the ancient lawes vsed in

times past, and instituted by the former kings for the good order and

quietnes of the people, [Sidenote: New lawes.] he made new, nothing so

equall or easie to be kept; which neuerthelesse those that came after

(not without their great harme) were constreined to obserue: as though

it had beene an high offense against GOD to abolish those euill lawes,

which king William (a prince nothing friendly to the English nation)

had first ordeined, and to bring in other more easie and tollerable.

[Sidenote: The lawes were written in the Norman toong.] ¶ Here by the

waie I giue you to note a great absurditie; namelie, that those lawes

which touched all, and ought to be knowne of all, were notwithstanding

written in the Norman toong, which the Englishmen vnderstood not; so

that euen at the beginning you should haue great numbers, partlie by

the iniquitie of the lawes, and partlie by ignorance in misconstruing

the same, to be wrongfullie condemned: some to death, and some in the

forfeitures of their goods; others were so intangled in sutes and

causes, that by no means they knew how to get out, but continuallie

were tossed from post to piller; in such wise that in their minds they

curssed the time that euer these vnequall lawes were made.

[Sidenote: Matters to be tried by a Iurie of 12. men.] The maner for

the triall of causes in controuersie, was deuised in such sort as is

yet vsed. Twelue ancient men (but most commonlie vnlearned in the

lawes) being of the same countie where the sute laie, were appointed

by the iudges to go togither into some close chamber, where they

should be shut vp, till vpon diligent examination of the matter they

should agrée vpon the condemnation or acquiting of the prisoner, if it

were in criminall causes; or vpon deciding in whom the right remained,

if it were vpon triall of things in controuersie. Now when they were

all agréed, they came in before the iudges, declaring to what

agréement they were growne: which doone, the iudges opened it to the

offendors or sutors, and withall gaue sentence as the qualitie of the

case did inforce and require. There may happilie be (as Polydor Virgil

saith) that will mainteine this maner of procéeding in the

administration of iustice by the voices of a iurie, to haue béene in

vse before the conquerors daies, but they are not able to prooue it by

any ancient records of writers, as he thinketh: albeit by some of our

histories they should séeme to be first ordeined by Ethelred or

Egelred. Howbeit this is most true, that the Norman kings themselues

would confesse, that the lawes deuised and made by the Conqueror were

not verie equall; insomuch that William Rufus and Henrie the sonnes of

the Conqueror would at all times, when they sought to purchase the

peoples fauor, promise to abolish the lawes ordeined by their father,

establish other more equall, and restore those which were vsed in S.

Edwards daies. The like kind of purchasing fauour was vsed by king

Stéephen, and other kings that followed him. [Sidenote: _Matth.

Paris._ _Matth. West._ _Wil. Mal._ _Wil. Thorne._ Abbeis searched.]

But now to the matter, king William hauing made these ordinances to

keepe the people in order, set his mind to inrich his cofers, and

therevpon caused first a tribvte to be leuied of the commons; then the

abbeies to be searched, and all such monie as any of the Englishmen

had laid vp in the same, to be kept. Besides all this, he seized into

his hands their charters of priuileges made to them by the Saxon kings

of the land, and spared not so much as the iewels and plate dedicated

to sacred vses. All this did he (as some write) by the counsell of the

earle of Hertford.

[Sidenote: _Polydor._ _Simon Dun._ _Wil. Thorne._ _Polydor._ _Sim.

Dunel._ Stigand archbishop of Canturburie depriued.] Shortlie after

betwixt Easter and Whitsuntide, a great synod was holden at Winchester

by the bishops and cleargie, where Ermenfred the bishop of Sion or

Sitten, with two cardinals Iohn and Peter sent thither from pope

Alexander the second, did sit as chéefe commissioners. In this synod

was Stigand the archbishop of Canturburie depriued of his bishoprike,

for three speciall causes.

1 First, for that he had wrongfullie holden that bishoprike,

whilest the archbishop Robert was liuing.

2 Secondlie, for that he kept the see of Winchester in his hands,

after his inuestiture vnto Canturburie, which he ought not to

haue doone.

3 Thirdlie, for that he had receiued the pall at the hands of

pope Benedict the tenth, whom the cardinals, as one not lawfullie

elected, had deposed.

Howbeit, manie writers burthen king William (who was present at this

synod) for the procuring of Stigand his depriuation, to the end he

might place a stranger in his roome. For as he had rooted out the

English Nobilitie, and giuen awaie their land and liuings to his

Normans; so meant he to turne out the English cleargie from bearing

any office of honor within the realme, which meaning of his did well

appeare at his councell, [Sidenote: Agelmarus bishop of Thetford was

one that was deposed. _Simon Dun._ _Matt. Paris._] wherin diuers

bishops, abbats, and priors were deposed, and Normans preferred to

their places. Stigand after his depriuation was kept in perpetuall

prison at Winchester, till he died, and yet (as some write) the same

Stigand was an helper vnder hand for king William to atteine the

crowne.

[Sidenote: Thomas a canon of Bayeux made archbishop of Yorke.] In the

feast of Pentecost next insuing, the king being at Windsor, gaue the

archbishoprike of Yorke vnto one Thomas, a canon of Bayeux, and to

Walkelme one of his chaplins he gave the Bishoprike of Winchester.

[Sidenote: Lanfranke consecrated archbishop of Canturburie. _Matth.

Westm._ hath the eight Kal. of Maie, but _Wil. Mal._ and _Eadmerus_

the fourth Kal. of September.] After this, calling one Lanfranke an

Italian from Caen where he was abbat, he made him archbishop of

Canturburie, who was consecrated there in the feast of S. John

Baptist, [Sidenote: 1071. An. Reg. 5.] [Sidenote: _Wil. Mal._

_Eadmerus._] in the yeare folowing, which was after the birth of our

Sauiour 1071. The foresaid Thomas was the fiue and twentith bishop

that had gouerned in that see of Yorke, & Lanfranke the thrée &

thirtith in the see of Canturburie. But yer long, betwixt these two

archbishops there rose great contention for the primasie of their

churches, in so much that the archbishop of Yorke appealed to Rome,

where they both appeared personallie before pope Alexander, in whose

presence Lanfranks cause was so much fauoured, that not onelie the

foresaid Thomas, but also Remigius the bishop of Dorchester were for

reasonable causes depriued of their crosiers and rings: and Lanfranke

at their humble request was a meane to the pope for them in the end,

that they might be restored to their staues, which was accordinglie

obteined. For when the pope heard Lanfranke declare in their fauour,

how necessarie their seruice might be to the king, in the

establishment of his new gotten kingdome, he said to Lanfranke; "Well,

looke you then to the matter, you are the father of that countrie, and

therefore consider what is expedient to be done therein: their staues

which they haue surrendered, there they be, take them, and dispose

them as you shall thinke most profitable for the aduancement of the

christian religion in that countrie." Wherevpon, Lanfranke tooke the

staues, and deliuered them to the former possessours, and so were they

in the popes presence restored to their former dignities. One cause

why Thomas was depriued (as some writers saie) was, for that he had

holpen duke William towards his iournie into England when he came to

conquer it, for the which pleasure to him then shewed, the duke

promised him a bishoprike, if euer he obteined victorie ouer the

English: an other cause, for that he was a priests sonne. [Sidenote:

_Wil. Malm._] Now, when the pope vnderstood the full ground of their

contention to be for the primasie of the two sees, Canturburie and

Yorke, and had heard what could be alledged on both sides, he remitted

the determination thereof to the king and bishops of England, that by

the histories and records of the land, the matter might be tried,

iudged, and ordered.

Wherefore, at their comming home, and after long debating and

discussing of the cause (as in William Marleburgh it appeareth more at

large) at a synod holden at Windsor, [Sidenote: Anno Reg. 6. 1072.] in

the yeare 1072, sentence was giuen on Lanfranks side, [Sidenote:

_Matth. West._ The subiection of the archbishoprike of Yorke, to the

archbishoprike of Canturburie.] so that in all things concerning

religion and the faith of holie church, the archbishop of Yorke should

be euer subiect to the archbishop of Canturburie, and come with all

the bishops of his prouince to what place soeuer the archbishop of

Canturburie should summon any councell within the realme of England.

Moreouer, when anie elected bishop of Canturburie was to be

consecrated, the archbishop of Yorke (for the time being) should come

to Canturburie, and consecrate him there. And if the archbishop of

Yorke was to be installed and consecrated, then should he come to

Canturburie, or to what place it should please the archbishop of

Canturburie to assigne, and there to be confirmed of him, taking an

oth with profession of due obedience vnto the higher see. [Sidenote:

_Polydor._ The archbishop of Yorke, acknowledged primate of all

Scotland.] Now, as the said Thomas of Yorke did yéeld obedience to

Lanfranke of Canturburie, so likewise the elect bishop of Glascow in

Scotland named Michaell, was soone after consecrated of the foresaid

Thomas archbishop of Yorke, and made an oth of obedience vnto the said

archbishop, as to the primate of all Scotland: and after him Tothade the

bishop of S. Andrewes did the like, by commandement of Malcolme the

third of that name king of Scotland, and Margaret his wife, who thought

good by this recognisance of obedience and dutie, so to prouide against

further inconuenience to come, that hereafter, one of the bishops of

their realme should not take vpon them to consecrate an other: or doo

any thing contrarie to the ancient decrées of the old fathers, that

might be preiudiciall to the authoritie of the archbishop of Yorke, at

whose appointment those and the like things were accustomed to be doone.

[Sidenote: _Ranulph Cestren._ lib. 1. cap. 57. & lib. 7. cap. 2.]

In this controuersie (or the like) it is left written, that in a court

held at Rome (the time is not mentioned) the pope perceiuing the strife

betwéene these two prelats to be but for the highest place or primasie

in the church; he solemnlie gaue sentence, that the sée of Yorke should

haue in title Primas Angliæ, & Canturburie Primas totius Angliæ, which

titles doo yet remain to them both.

But to leaue this, and to speake of other things which chanced in the

meane time that this controuersie depended betwixt the two

archbishops, I find that Edwin and Marchar earles of Mertia and

Northumberland, hauing of late obteined pardon for their former

misdemeanor, & reconciled to the king, began now so much to mislike

the state of the world againe, as euer they did before. For perceiuing

how the Englishmen were still oppressed with thraldome & miserie on

ech hand, they conspired, & began a new rebellion, but with verie ill

successe, as shall herafter appeare. [Sidenote: _Matt. Paris._] The

king vnderstanding of their dealings, and being not onelie armed

throughlie with temporall force, but also endued with the spirituall

power of his archbishop Lanfranke (who aided him in all that he might,

for the suppressing of those rebels) wasted the countries

excéedinglie, where he vnderstood that they had gotten any releefe,

minding vtterlie to vanquish them with sword, fire and hunger, or by

extreame penurie to bring them vnder. They on the other part make as

stout resistance; and perceiuing that it stood them vpon, either to

vanquish or to fall into vtter ruine, they raise a mightie strong

host, and make Edgar Etheling their capteine, a comelie gentleman and

a valiant, in whome also the whole hope of the English nation was

reposed, as appeareth by this his accustomed by-word, Edgar Etheling

Englands dearling. Amongst other noble men that were chiefe dooers in

the assembling of this armie, Frederike abbat of S. Albons, a prelate

of great wealth and no lesse puissance, was a principall.

The king perceiuing his estate to be now in no small danger, is in a

great perplexitie what to doo, in the end, he counselleth with the said

Lanfranke archbishop of Canturburie, how he might remedie the matter;

who told him that in such a desperate case, the best waie for him should

be to séeke by faire words and friendly offers to pacifie the English

Nobilitie, which by all meanes possible would neuer ceasse to molest him

in the recouerie of their liberties. Wherevpon he made meanes to come to

some agréement with them, and so well the matter procéeded on his side,

that the Englishmen being deceiued through his faire promises, were

contented to common of peace, for which purpose they came also vnder the

conduct of the abbat Frederike vnto Berkamsted, where (after much

reasoning and debating of the matter for the conclusion of amitie

betwixt them) king William in the presence of the archbishop Lanfranke

and other of his lords, tooke a personall oth vpon all the relikes of

the church of S. Albons, and the holie euangelists (the abbat Frederike

ministring the same vnto him) that he would from thencefoorth obserue

and keepe the good and ancient approoued lawes of the realme, which the

noble kings of England his predecessors had made and ordeined

heretofore; but namelie those of S. Edward, which were supposed to be

most equall and indifferent.

The peace being thus concluded, and the Englishmen growne thereby to

some hope of further quietnesse, they began to forsake their alies, and

returned each one, either to his owne possessions, or to giue attendance

vpon the king. But he warilie cloking his inward purpose,

notwithstanding the vnitie latelie made, determineth particularlie to

assaile his enimies (whose power without doubt so long as it was vnited,

could not possiblie be ouercome, as he thought) and being now by reason

of this peace disseuered and dispersed, he thought it high time to put

his secret purposes in execution: wherevpon taking them at vnwares and

thinking of nothing lesse than warres and sudden inuasion, he

imprisoneth manie, killeth diuers, and pursueth the residue with fire

and sword, taking awaie their goods, possessions, lands, and

inheritances, and banishing them out of the realme. In the meane time,

those of the English Nobilitie, which could escape this his outragious

tyrannie, got awaie, and amongst other, Edgar Etheling fled againe

into Scotland: but Edwin was slaine of his owne souldiers, as he rode

toward Scotland. [Sidenote: _Ran. Higa._ _H. Hunt._ _Matth. Paris._]

Earle Marchar, and one Hereward, with the bishop of Durham named

Egelwinus, got into the Ile of Elie, in purpose there to defend

themselues from the iniurie of the Normans, for they tooke the place

(by reason of the situation) to be of no small strength. Howbeit king

William endeuouring to cut them short, raised a power, and stopped all

the passages on the east side, and on the west part he made a causie

through the fennes, of two miles in length, whereby he got vnto them,

and constreined them to yeeld. [Sidenote: _Polydor._ _Hen. Hunt._

_Matth. Paris._] But Marchar, or (as others haue) Hereward, foreséeing

the imminent danger likelie to take effect, made shift to get owt of

the Ile by bote, and so by spéedie flight escaped into Scotland.

[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] The bishop of Durham being taken, was sent to

the abbey of Abingdon, to be kept as prisoner, where he was so

sparinglie fed, that within a short space he died for hunger.

[Sidenote: Some write that he was so stubborne-harted, that after he

knew he should remaine in perpetuall prison, he refused his meate, and

so pined himselfe to death.]

In this meane time, and whilest king William was thus occupied in

rooting out the English, Malcolme king of Scotland had wasted the

countries of Theisedale, Cleueland, and the lands of S. Cuthbert, with

sundrie other places in the north parts. Wherevpon Gospatrike being

latelie reconciled to the king & made earle of Northumberland, was

sent against him, who sacked and destroied that part of Cumberland

which the said Malcolme by violence had brought vnder his subiection.

At the same time Malcolme was at Weremouth, beholding the fire which

his people had kindled in the church of Saint Peter to burne vp the

same, and there hearing what Gospatrike had doone, he tooke such

displeasure thereat, that he commanded his men they should leaue none

of the English nation aliue, [Sidenote: A bloudie cōmandment executed

vpon the English by the Scots.] but put them all to the sword without

pity or compassion, so oft as they came to hand. The bloudie slaughter

which was made at this time by the Scots, through that cruell

commandement of Malcolme, was pitifull to consider, for women,

children, old and yong, went all one way: howbeit, manie of those that

were strong and able to serue for drudges and slaues, were reserued,

and carried into Scotland as prisoners, where they remained manie

yeares after; in so much that there were few houses in that realme,

but had one or mo English slaues and captiues, whom they gat at this

vnhappie voiage. Miserable was the state of the English at that time,

one being consumed of another so vnnaturallie, manie of them destroied

by the Scots so cruellie, and the residue kept vnder by the king so

tyrannicallie.

But to returne to the purpose in hand, king William hearing of all

these things, was not a little mooued at the same, but chéefelie with

Malcolme king of Scots, for that his countrie was the onelie place

wherein all the mal-contents of his realme had their refuge. Wherfore,

thinking to reuenge the losse of his subiects, and to bring that

realme also vnto his subiection, he went thither with an huge armie,

about the middle of August, where he first inuaded the bounds of

Galloway, bicause he heard how the English were latelie fled thither.

[Sidenote: _Polydor_] But after he had wearied his souldiers in vaine

pursuit of them (who kept themselues in the mountaines and marres

grounds) he gaue ouer the enterprise, and drew towards Lothiam, where

king Malcolme laie with all his power, & sundrie English fugitiues,

with whome he determined by battell either to end his trouble, or else

to loose his life. [Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._] Now as both the kings

with their armies were readie to encounter, Malcolme began to doubt

somewhat of the fiersenesse of the battell, bicause he saw the great

puissance and readie willes of the English and Normans to fight,

[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._] wherevpon he sent an harrold to king William to

treat of peace, wherewith he was content at the last (though with much

adoo) and so a vnitie insued betwixt them, vpon these conditions;

[Sidenote: The king of Scots did homage to king William for Scotland.]

namelie, that king Malcolme should doo homage to king William for the

realme of Scotland, and therevpon deliuer sufficient hostages: and

that on the other side, king William should pardon all the English

outlawes in Scotland which then rebelled against him. The place where

this peace was concluded, was called Abirnethi. [Sidenote: _Simon

Dun._] After this, king William returned into England, where he yer

long tooke the earledome of Northumberland from Gospatrike, [Sidenote:

The kings iustice.] and gave it to Waltheof the sonne of Siward;

bicause of right it séemed to descend vnto him from his father, but

cheefelie from his mother Alfreda, who was the daughter of Aldred

sometime earle of that countrie.

At the same time also the king caused a castell to be built at Durham,

and returned to London, where he receiued aduertisement that his

subiects in Normandie toward the the parties[3] of Angiew had begun a

rebellion against him. Heerevpon with all spéed he leuied an armie,

whereof the most part consisted of English (whose seruice he liked

rather in a forren countrie than in their owne) and sailed ouer into

Normandie, where he easilie subdued his enemies by the valiancie of the

English, whom from thenceforth he began somewhat to fauour and better

thinke of than before. Yoong Edgár also grew in verie good credit with

him, for though he had twise broken his oth of allegiance, and run to

the Scots as a rebell, yet now of his owne motion, returning to the king

and crauing pardon, he was not onelie receiued, but also highlie

honoured and preferred in his court.

The yeare 1074. thrée moonks of the prouince of Mercia, purposing to

restore religion after their maner within the prouince of

Northumberland, came into Yorke, and required of Hugh Fitz Baldricke

(then shirife of the shire) to haue safe conduct vnto Monkaster,

[Sidenote: Mountcaster now Newcastell.] which afterwards hight

Newcastell, and so is called to this day. These moonks, whose names

were Aldwin, Alswin, and Remfred, comming unto the foresaid place,

found no token or remanent of any religious persons, which sometime

had habitation there (for all was defaced and gone:) wherevpon, after

they had remained there a while, they remooued to Jarrowe, where

finding the ruines of old decaied buildings and churches, perteining

in times past to the moonks that there inhabited, they had such

assistance at the hands of Walkher bishop of Durham, that at length,

by the diligent trauell and sute of these moonks, three monasteries

were newlie founded and erected in the north parts, one at Durham, an

other at Yorke, and the third at Whitby. For you must consider, that

by the inuasion of the Danes, the churches and monasteries throughout

Northumberland were so wasted and ruinated, that a man could

scarselie find a church standing in all that countrie, as for those

that remained, they were couered with broome or thatch: but as for any

abbey or monasterie, not one was left in all the countrie, neither did

any man (for the space of two hundred yeares) take care for the

repairing or building vp of any thing in decaie, so that the people of

that countrie wist not what a moonke ment, and if they saw any, they

woondered at the strangenesse of the sight.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 9. 1075.] [Sidenote: Rafe Earle of Cambridge.

_Matth. West._ _Matth. Paris._ _Hen. Hunt._ _Simon Dun._ A rebellion

raised against K. William.] Whilest the king remained thus in

Normandie, Roger earle of Hereford (contrarie to the kings mind and

pleasure) married his sister vnto Rafe earle of Cambridge, or (as

other haue) Northfolke, and withall began a new conspiracie against

him. Amongst other also of the associats, earle Walteof the sonne of

earle Siward was one, who afterward mistrusting the successe of this

deuise, first vttered it to archbishop Lanfranke, and by his aduice

sailed ouer into Normandie, and there disclosed the whole matter to

king William: but in the meane time, the other two earles; namelie,

Hereford and Cambridge had so farre procéeded in the matter, that they

were vp in armour. Howbeit, Wolstan bishop of Worcester, and Egelwine

abbat of Euesham, with the shirife of Worcester & Walter Lacie, so

resisted the earle of Hereford, that he could not passe the Seuerne to

ioine with the earle of Cambridge. [Sidenote: _Iohn Pike._] On the

other side, Odo the bishop of Bayeux, and Geffrey the bishop of

Constances pursued the earle of Cambridge so narrowlie with an other

armie, which they had gathered of the English and Normans, that they

constreined him to flée into Britaine, whereby the rebellion was verie

much appeased.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 10. 1076.] In the meane time, the king

vnderstanding by earle Walteof how the matter went in England, came

ouer with all speed out of Normandie, & within a short space brought

the residue of the conspirators into such a feare, that they were

scattered and put to flight, without attempting anie further exploit

or conspiracie against him. Manie of them also were apprehended and

put to death, among whom Roger and Walteof were most famous.

[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._ Earle Walteof beheaded.] And though Walteof (as

yée haue heard before) disclosed the treason, yet to the end he should

offend no more hereafter, he was beheaded at Winchester by the kings

commandement, and his bodie hauing béene first buried in the same

place where he suffered, was afterward conueied vnto Crowland, and

there more honorablie interred.

This earle Walteof or Waldeue was sonne (as ye haue heard) to Siward

the noble earle of Northumberland, of whose valure in the time of K.

Edward the confessor ye haue heard. His son the foresaid Walteof in

strength of bodie and hardinesse did, not degenerate from his father,

for he was tall of personage, in sinews and musculs verie strong and

mighty. In the slaughter of the Normans at Yorke, he shewed proofe of

his prowesse, in striking off the heads of manie of them with his owne

hands, as they came foorth of the gates singlie one by one: yet

afterwards, when the king had pardoned him of all former offenses, and

receiued him into fauour hée gaue to him in mariage his néece Judith

the daughter of Lambert earle of Lens, sister to Stephen erle of

Albermare, and with hir he had of the kings gift, [Sidenote: Earledome

of Huntingdon.] all the lands and liberties belonging to the honor of

Huntingdon; in consideration whereof, he assigned to hir in name of

hir dower, all the lands that he held from Trent southward. Shée bare

by him two daughters, Maud and Alice: [Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._] We

find, that he was not onlie earle of Northumberland, but also of

Northampton and Huntingdon.

The countesse of Cambridge or Northfolke (as other haue) wife of earle

Rafe, being, fled into the citie of Norwich, was besieged in the same

by the kings power, which pressed the citie so sore, as it was forced

for verie famine to yéeld; but yet by composition; namelie, that such

as were besieged within, should depart the realme, as persons abiured

and banished the land for euer. [Sidenote: _Polydor._ _Hen. Hunt._

_Simon Dun._ _Matth. Paris._] This was the end of the foresaid

conspiracie. At this verie time the Danes being confederate with these

rebels, and by them solicited, set forth towards England vnder the

leading of Cnuto, sonne to Sueno, and earle Haco, and (vnlooked for)

arriue here in England with two hundred sailes. But hearing that the

ciuill tumult was ended, and seeing no man readie either to

countenance or encourage them in their enterprise, they sailed first

into Flanders, which they spoiled, and after into their owne

countrie, with little desire or will to come againe into England. King

William also vnderstanding that they were thus departed, passed ouer

into Britaine, and there besieged the castell of Doll that belonged to

Rafe earle of Cambridge or Northfolke: but by the comming of Philip

the French king, king William being vnprouided of sufficient vittels

for his armie, was constreined to raise his siege, although with great

losse both of men and horsses.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 11. 1077.] [Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ An

earthquake, a long frost, a comet.] On the 27. daie of March was a

generall earthquake in England, and in the winter following a frost

that continued from the first of Nouember vntill the middle of Aprill.

A blasing starre appeered on palme sundaie, beeing the sixteenth daie

of Aprill, about six of the clocke, when the aire was faire and

cleere.

[Sidenote: Married préests.] About the same season, pope Gregorie

perceiuing that married préests did choose rather to run into the

danger of his cursse, than to forsake their wiues, meaning to bridle

them by an other prouiso, gaue commandment by his bull published

abroad, that none should heare the masse of a married préest.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 12. 1078.] [Sidenote: _Polydor._ A synod holden at

London. Bishops sées remoued.] King William after his comming from the

siege of Doll, remained a certeine time in quiet, during which season,

Lanfranke the archbishop called a synod or counsell of the cleargie at

London, wherein amongst other things it was ordeined, that certeine

bishops sées should be remoued from small townes to cities of more

fame, whereby it came to passe that Chichester, Exceter, Bath,

Salisburie, Lincolne & Chester were honored with sees and palaces of

bishops, whereas before they kept their residence at Sellewey, Kirton,

Welles, Shireborne, Dorchester, and Lichfield.

[Sidenote: _Woolstan._] At this synod also Woolstan bishop of

Worcester was present, whom Lanfranke would haue deposed for his

insufficiencie of learning; as he colourablie pretended, but indeed to

pleasure the king, who faine would have placed a Norman in his roome:

but (as they saie) by a miracle which he presentlie wrought, in causing

his crosier staffe to sticke fast in the toome of saint Edward (to

whom he protested and said he would resigne it, for that he obteined

the same by his gift) he did put the king and the archbishop into such

feare, that they suffered him still to enioy his bishoprike without

any further vexation. These things with other (touching a reformation

in the church and cleargie) being handled in this councell, it was

soone after dissolued.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 13. 1079.] In the yeare following, king William

led a mightie armie into Wales, and subdued it; receiuing of the

rulers and princes there their homages and hostages. [Sidenote:

_Matth. Paris._ _Matth. West._] About the same time, Robert the kings

eldest sonne, a right worthie personage, but yet as one of nature

somewhat vnstable, entered into Normandie as a rebell to his father,

and by force tooke diuers places into his hands. Which he did by the

practise of Philip the French king, who now began to doubt of the

great puissance of king William, as foreseeing how much it might

preiudice him, and the whole realme of France in time to come.

[Sidenote: The French king setteth the sonne against the father.]

Wherefore to stop the course of his prosperous successe, he deuised a

meane to set the sonne against the father. True it is that king

William had promised long afore to resigne the gouernment of Normandie

vnto the said Robert his sonne. Wherevpon the yoong man, being of an

ambitious nature, and now pricked forward by the sinister counsell of

his adherents, seeketh to obteine that by violence, which he thought

would be verie long yer he should atteine by curtesie. [Sidenote:

_Simon Dun._ _Matth. Paris._] King William hereof aduertised, was not

a little mooued against his disobedient sonne, and curssed both him

and the time that euer he begat him. Finallie, raising an armie, he

marched towards him, so that they met in the field. Assoone as the one

came in sight of the other, they encountred at a place called

Archenbraie, and whilest the battell was at the hottest, and the

footmen most busied in fight, Robert appointed a power of horssemen to

breake in upon the réereward of his enemies; & he himselfe following

after with all his might, chanced among other to haue a conflict with

his owne father, so that thrusting him through the arme with his

lance, he bare him beside his horsse, [Sidenote: The sonne

ouerthroweth the father.] and ouerthrew him to the ground. The king

being falne, called to his men to remount him. Robert perceiuing by

his voice that it was his father, whom he had vnhorssed, spéedilie

alighted, and tooke him vp, asking him forgiuenesse for that fact, and

setting him vp on his owne horsse, brought him out of the prease, and

suffered him to depart in safetie. King William being thus escaped out

of that present danger, and séeing himselfe not able to resist the

puissance of his enimies, [Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] left the field to

his son, hauing lost many of his men which were slaine in battell and

chace, besides a great number that were hurt and wounded, among whom

his second sonne William surnamed Rufus or Red, was one; [Sidenote:

_Matth. Paris._] and therefore (as some write) he bitterlie curssed

his son Robert, by whom he had susteined such iniurie, losse, and

dishonor. [Sidenote: The father and the sonne made friends.] Howbeit,

other write, that for the courtesie which his sonne shewed, in

releeuing and helping him out of danger, when he was cast off his

horsse, he was mooued with such a fatherlie affection, that presentlie

after they were made friends, the father pardoned his sonne all his

former offenses, and therevpon found him euer after more tractable and

obedient than before.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 14. 1080.] After this battell, king William being

thus accorded with his sonne, [Sidenote: _Simon Dunel._] returned with

him into England, and immediatlie sent him against Malcolme king of

Scotland, who hauing broken the truce in time of the trouble betwixt

king William and his sonne, had doone much hurt by forraies vpon the

English borders, wasting all Northumberland euen to the riuer of Tine.

Howbeit, when he heard that Robert approched with his armie towards

him, he retired into Scotland. [Sidenote: The foundation of New

castell upon Tine, which before that season was called Moncaster.]

Robert Curthuze then lodged with his armie vpon the banks of the riuer

of Tine, where he began the foundation of a castell, whereof the towne

Newcastell did after take both beginning and name, for before this

season it was called Moncaster.

About the same time, Odo the bishop of Bayeux was sent to

Northumberland, to reuenge the death of Walkher bishop of Durham, whom

not long before the people of Northumberland had slaine in a tumult.

[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] The occasion of his death grew by the death

of one Liulfus, a noble man of those quarters, and déerelie beloued of

the people, bicause he was descended of honorable parentage, and had

married the ladie Algitha daughter vnto earle Alered, and sister to

Alfleda the mother of earle Walteof.

This Liulfus, a man of great possessions through England, now that the

Normans ruled in all places, quietlie withdrew himselfe vnto Durham, and

grew into such familiaritie and credit with the bishop, that touching

the order of temporall matters, he would doo nothing without his aduice.

Whereat Leofwin the bishops chapline conceiued such enuie (for that he

was not so often called to counsell as before) that in the end he

procured by his malicious meanes one Gilbert (to whom the bishop had

committed the rule of the earledome) to murther the said Liulfus by

night in his manor place not farre from Durham. Whereof the bishop

hauing vnderstanding, and knowing that the matter would be gréeuouslie

taken of the people, sent out letters and messengers into the countrie,

offering to purge himselfe of the slaughter of this man, according to

the order of the canon lawes: howbeit he did nothing lesse. Among other

things concerning his purgation, he said that he had banished Gilbert

and others, (who had committed the murther) out of Northumberland.

Hervpon the malice of the people was kindled against him. For when it

was knowne that he had receiued the murtherers into his house, and

fauoured them as before, they stomached the matter highlie: insomuch

that when by the trauell of those that went to and fro betwixt the

bishop and the kinsfolks of Liulfus, a daie was appointed, on the which

the bishop should come to farther communication with them at Gateshead,

he repaired thither according to his promise, but refusing to talke with

them abroad, he kept himselfe still within the church, and sent foorth

such of his counsell as should commune with them. But when the people

that were there gathered in great numbers, had signified in plaine words

that he should either come foorth and shew himselfe amongst them, or

else that they should fire the place where he sat: he caused Gilbert to

go foorth vnto them first, whom they slue, and his partakers also that

issued out of the church with him for his defense. But when the peoples

furie was not so quenched, the bishop himselfe casting the skirts of his

gowne ouer his face, came likewise foorth, and was immediatlie slaine of

the people. After this, they set the church on fire, bicause Leofwine

the bishops chapline and others were yet within, and refused to come

foorth: howbeit in the end, being compelled by the rage of the fire to

come out, the said Leofwine was also slaine and hackt in péeces (as he

had well deserued) being the ringleader of all the mischéefe.

[Sidenote: Note the sequele of the neglect of iustice in the former

storie.] ¶ Thus maie we sée what followed of the neglecting of iustice

in the bishop: for if he either banished Gilbert and other his

complices (accordinglie as he pretended to doo) or otherwise had séene

due punishment executed against them, the peoples rage had neuer

proceeded so far as it did: for they could not persuade themselues,

but that the bishop was guiltie and priuie to Liulfus death, sith he

had receiued the murtherers into his house, the verie same night in

which the fact was done, and kept them still about him, which his

bearing with them cost him his owne life. But now to the historie.

When bishop Odo was come into those parties to reuenge the bishops

death with an armie (as we haue said) he sore afflicted the countrie,

by spoiling it on euerie side with great crueltie. [Sidenote: _Sim.

Dunel._] Here king William placed and displaced diuerse rulers ouer

the Northumbers: [Sidenote: Copsi.] for first he appointed one Copsi

to haue the rule of that countrie, in place of Marchar who before had

held the same. This Copsi expelled Osulfe the sonne of earle Edulfe

brother to earle Aldred, which Osulfe was substitute vnto the earles

Edwine and Marchar, who although he was driuen out of his gouernement

by Copsi, yet recouering his forces againe, he slue the same Copsi as

he entred into the church of Newburne. But within a few moneths after,

the same Osulfe (as he ran with his horsse against a theefe) was

thrust through the bodie with a speare, which the theefe held in his

hand, and so died. [Sidenote: Gospatrike.] Then Gospatrike was

assigned by king William to haue the gouernement there: whose mother

Aldgitha was daughter to Vthred sometime earle of Northumberland

begotten vpon Elfgiua the daughter of king Egelred.

Some write, that Gospatrike purchased the earledome of king William,

and so held it, till the king tooke it from him againe, and then gaue

it vnto earle Walteof or Waldeue. Next after him Walkher the foresaid

bishop of Durham had the whole administration committed to him, but

(after he was slaine as yée haue heard) one Alberike ruled that

countrie, and lastlie, [Sidenote: Robert Mulbray earle of

Northumberland.] Robert Mulbray a right noble personage (for his

wisedome and valiancie highlie renowmed with all men) was created

earle of Northumberland, and gouerned the people of those parties in

such politike and wise order, that during his time, it is hard to

saie, whether his quietnesse or the obedience of the people was

greater.

[Sidenote: The foundation of vniuersitie colledge in Oxford.]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 15. 1081.] In like manner, after the foresaid

Walkher; one William was created bishop of Durham, who was the

originall founder of vniuersitie colledge in Oxford, and by whose

assistance, the moonkes gaping both for riches, ease, and possessions,

found the means to displace the secular priests of the colledge of

Durham, that they might get into their roomes, as they did indeed

soone after, to their great gaine and aduantage. But to returne againe

to the course of the historie. [Sidenote: An. Reg. 16. 1082]

[Sidenote: Odo suspected and banished.] Shortlie after the reuenge of

the death of Walkher bishop of Durham, the fornamed bishop Odo, the

kings brother was suspected of some vntruth and sinister dealing,

wherevpon he was sent as a banished man into Normandie, or rather (as

other write) committed to prison, where he remained, not as a clerke,

but as a baron of the realme; for he was both bishop and earle of

Kent.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 17. 1083.] The king hauing at length obteined some

rest from wars, practised by sundrie meanes to inrich his cofers, and

therefore raised a tribute through out the whole kingdome; for the

better leuieng whereof, he appointed all the subiects of his realme to

be numbred, all the cities, townes, villages, and hamlets to be

registred, all the abbies, monasteries, and priories to be recorded.

Moreouer, he caused a certificat to be taken of euerie mans substance,

and what he might dispend by the yeare; he also caused their names to

be written which held knights fees, and were bound thereby to serue

him in the wars. [Sidenote: Plow land.] Likewise he tooke a note of

euerie yoke of oxen, & what number of plow lands, and how manie

bondmen were within the realme. This certificat being made & brought

vnto him, gaue him full vnderstanding what wealth remained among the

English people. Herevpon he raised his tribute, taking six shillings

for euerie hide of land through out this realme, which amounted to a

great masse of monie when it was all brought togither into his

Excheker. [Sidenote: _Geruasius Tilberiensis_. The true definition of

a hide of land.] ¶ Here note by the waie, that an hide of land

conteineth an hundred acres, and an acre conteineth fortie perches in

length, and foure in bredth, the length of a perch is sixtéene foot

and an halfe: so that the common acre should make 240. perches; &

eight hides or 800. acres is a knights fée, after the best approued

writers and plaine demonstration. Those therefore are deceiued, that

take an hide of land to conteine twentie acres (as William Lambert

hath well noted in his De priscis Anglorum legibus) where he

expoundeth the meaning of the old Saxon termes perteining to the

lawes.

But to procéed & come, a little after the temporals dealing, to some

of the spirituall affaires. [Sidenote: An. Reg. 18. 1084.] [Sidenote:

_Wil. Malm._ _Simon Dun._ Thurston abbat of Glastenburie.] It hapned

about the same time, that when king William had finished the rating of

his subiects, that there rose a strife betwixt Thurstane abbat of

Glastenburie a Norman, and the moonkes of that house. [Sidenote:

William of Fescampe.] One cause thereof was, for that the abbat would

haue compelled them to haue left the plaine song or note for the

seruice which pope Gregorie had set foorth, and to haue vsed an other

kind of tune deuised by one William of Fescampe: beside this, the said

abbat spent and wasted the goods that belonged to the house, in riot,

leacherie, and by such other insolent meanes (withdrawing also from

the moonkes their old accustomed allowance of diet) for the which they

first fell at altercation in words, and afterwards to fighting.

[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Wil. Malm._ have two slaine and xiiij hurt.]

The abbat got armed men about him, and falling vpon the moonkes, slue

thrée of them at the high altar, and wounded xviij. Howbeit the

moonkes for their parts plaied the pretie men with formes and

candelsticks, [Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._] defending themselues as well

as they might, so that they hurt diuers of the abbats adherents, and

droue them out of the quier.

In the end, complaint hereof was brought to the king, by whose iudgement

the matter was so ordered, that Thurstane lost his roome, and returned

vnto Caen in Normandie from whence he came, and the moonkes were spred

abroad into diuerse houses of religion through the realme, Glastenburie

being replenished with more quiet persons, and such as were supposed

readier to praie than to quarell, as the other did: yet is it said, that

in the time of William Rufus this Thurstane obteined the rule of that

abbeie againe for fiue hundred pounds.

[Sidenote: _Sim. Dunel._ _Hen. Marle._ _Matth. Paris._] There be which

write, that the numbring of men and of places, the valuation of goods

and substance, [Sidenote: _Hen. Marle._] as well in cattell as readie

monie, was not taken till about the xix. yéere of this kings reigne

(although the subsidie afore mentioned was gathered about two yeares

before of euerie hide of land as yée haue heard) and that the

certificat hereof being inrolled, was put into the kings treasurie at

Winchester, [Sidenote: An. Reg. 19.] in the xix. yeare of his reigne,

and not in the xvj. [Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] But in what yeare soeuer

it was, and howsoeuer the writers agrée or disagree herein; certaine

it is, that the same was exacted, to the great gréefe and

impouerishment of the people, who sore lamented the miserable estate

whereinto they were brought, [Sidenote: _Polydor._ _Matth. Paris._]

and hated the Normans in their harts to the verie death. Howbeit, the

more they grudged at such tolles, tallages, customes, and other

impositions wherewith they were pressed; the more they were charged

and ouerpressed. [Sidenote: The Conquerour séeketh to kéepe the

English men low.] The Normans on the other side with their king

perceiuing the hatred which the English bare them, were sore offended,

and therefore sought by all meanes to kéepe them vnder. [Sidenote:

_Polydor._] Such as were called to be iustices, were enimies to all

iustice; wherevpon greater burdens were laid upon the English,

insomuch that after they had béene robbed and spoiled of their goods,

they were also debarred of their accustomed games and pastimes.

[Sidenote: The forrests seized into the kings hands. _Matth. Paris._]

For where naturallie (as they doo vnto this daie) they tooke great

pleasure in hunting of déere, both red and fallow, in the woods and

forrests about without restraint, king William seizing the most part

of the same forests into his owne hands, appointed a punishment to be

executed vpon all such offendors; namelie, to haue their eies put out.

And to bring the greater number of men in danger of those his penall

lawes (a pestilent policie of a spitefull mind, and sauoring

altogither of his French slauerie) he deuised meanes how to bréed,

nourish, and increase the multitude of déere, and also to make roome

for them in that part of the realme which lieth betwixt Salisburie and

the sea southward: [Sidenote: New forrest.] he pulled downe townes,

villages, churches, and other buildings for the space of 30. miles, to

make thereof a forrest, which at this daie is called New forrest. The

people as then sore bewailed their distres, & greatlie lamented that

they must thus leaue house & home to the vse of sauage beasts.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ An earthquake. _Polydor._] Which crueltie,

not onelie mortall men liuing here on earth, but also the earth it

selfe might seeme to detest, as by a woonderfull signification it

séemed to declare, by the shaking and roaring of the same, which

chanced about the 14. yeare of his reigne (as writers haue recorded.)

There be that suppose how the king made that part of the realme waste

and barren vpon a policie, to the intent that if his chance were to be

expelled by ciuill wars, and he compelled to leaue the land, there

should be no inhabitants in that part of the Ile to resist his

arriuall vpon his new returne.

[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] [Sidenote: 1085.] [Sidenote: A rumor spred of

the coming of the Danes.] But to go foorth with our purpose. About the

same time, a rumor was spred in England that Sueine king of Denmarke

meant to inuade England with a puissant armie, hauing the assistance

of the earle of Flanders whose daughter he had maried. Whervpon king

William being then in Normandie, reteined a great power of French

soldiers, both archers and footmen which togither with his Normans he

brought ouer into England in haruest season, and meaning to disburthen

himselfe of the charge of their keeping, he caused their finding and

wages to be borne by the lords and peeres of the realme, by the

shirifs of shires, and other officers. [Sidenote: Anno 20.] Howbeit,

when he vnderstood that the Danes changed their purpose, and would not

hold on their iourneie, he dismissed part of his power, and sent them

home againe, keeping the residue all the winter with him in England,

readie for his defense, if anie rebellion or other necessitie should

befall.

[Sidenote: 1086.] The same yeare, he kept his Christmasse at

Glocester, and made his sonne Henrie knight at Westminster in

Whitsunwéeke insuing. [Sidenote: _Matth. West._] [Sidenote: 1087.]

[Sidenote: An oth taken to be true to the king.] Shortlie after,

calling togither aswell lords spirituall as temporall he caused them,

all to sweare fealtie to him and his heires after him in the

possession of this kingdome.

[Sidenote: Great sickenes reigning. Murren of cattell. _Matth. West._

Paules church burned. _Simon Dun._ _Ran. Higd._ _Simon Dun._] About

this season, the people in all places were pitifullie plaged with

burning feuers, which brought manie to their end: a murren also came

to their cattell, whereof a woonderfull number died. At the same time

(which is more maruellous) tame foules, as hens, géese, & peacocks,

forsaking their owners houses, fled to the woods and became wild.

Great hurt was doone in manie places of the realme by fire, and

speciallie in London, where vpon the 7. daie of Julie a sudden flame

began, which burnt Paules church, and a great part or the citie downe

to the verie ground.

Now when K. William had taken the oth of fealtie and loialtie of all

his lords, Edgar Etheling, who was reconciled vnto his fauour (as you

haue heard) obteining licence of him to depart the realme for a

season, sailed into Puglia with two hundred souldiers: of whose acts

there and returne into England I spare to speake, bicause I find

little or nothing of moment recorded. [Sidenote: An. Reg. 21.] And now

king William, who hauing brought the Englishmen so lowe and bare, that

little more was to be got out of their hands, went once againe ouer

into Normandie with an huge masse of mony, where soone after he fell

sicke, so that he was constrained to keepe his bed longer than he had

beene accustomed to doo, whereat Philip the French king in iesting

manner said, that king William his cousine laie now in childbed

(alluding belike to his big bellie, for he was verie corpulent) and

withall added; [Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Matth. Paris._] "Oh what a

number of candels must I prouide to offer vp at his going to church!

certeinelie I thinke that 100000. will not suffice," &c. [Sidenote:

_Wil. Malm._ _Ran. Higd._] This frumping spéech so moued the king,

that he made this answere: "Well, I trust when I shall be churched,

that our cousine shall be at no such cost, but I will helpe to find

him a thousand candels myselfe, and light them too, to some of their

paines, if God grant me life." Which promise he bound with an oth, and

in déed performed. [Sidenote: He inuadeth France. _Gemeticensis_. The

citie of Maunt burnt by K. William. _Matth. West._ _Matth. Paris._]

For in Julie next insuing, when their corne, fruit, and grapes were

most florishing, and readie for the sickle, he entered France with a

great armie, set fire on manie of their cities and townes in the west

side of that countrie, and came at last to the citie of Maunt, which

he burnt with the church of our ladie, and an ankresse inclosed in the

wall thereof as an holie closet, for the force of the fire was such as

all went to wrecke. In this heat king William tooke such a sicknesse

(which was likewise aggrauated by the fall of an horsse as he rode to

and fro, bicause he was not able to trauell on foot about his palace

by reason of his disease) that cost him his life; [Sidenote: King

William departed this life. _Simon Dun._ _Matth. West._ The lix. of

his age hath _Wil. Malm._] so that when he had ordeined his last will,

and taken order for the staie of things after his decease, he departed

this life on the 9. day of September, in the yeare after the birth of

our Saviour 1087. and 74. (as Polydor saith) of his age, hauing

gouerned Normandie about 51. yeres, and reigned ouer England 20.

yeares, ten moneths, and 28. daies (as all writers doo report.)

[Sidenote: He set all prisoners at libertie saith _Wil. Malm._

_Polydor._] Not long before his death, he released his brother Odo

bishop of Bayeux out of prison, Marchar earle of Northumberland, and

Wilnotus the sonne of king Harold, or (as some say) his brother.

Moreouer he repented him (as some say) when he lay on his death bed,

of his cruell dealing with the English, considering that by them he

had atteined to such honour and dignitie, as to weare the crown and

scepter of a kingdome: but whether he did so or not, or that some

moonke deuised the excuse in fauour of the prince: surely he was a

puissant prince, and though his time was troublesome, yet he was right

fortunate in all his attempts. Againe, if a man shall consider that in

a strange realme he could make such a conquest, and so exactlie and

readilie assure the same to his heires, with new lawes, orders and

constitutions (which are like for euer to endure) he would thinke it a

thing altogither void of credit. Yet so it was, and so honourable were

his dooings in the sight of the world, that those kings, which

succeeded sithens his death, begin their account at him, as from one

that had by his prudence renewed the state of the realme, and

instituted an other forme of regiment, in atchiuing whereof he did not

so much pretend a rightfull challenge by the grant of his coosine king

Edward the Confessor, as by the law of armes and plaine conquest, than

the which (as he supposed) there could be no better title.

Herevpon also those that haue sithens succeeded him, vse the same

armes as peculiar to the crowne of England, which he vsed in his time;

[Sidenote: He bare but two lions or rather leopards as some thinke.]

namelie, three lions passant gold in a field gewels (as Polydor

writeth) the three floure delices were since that time annexed thereto

by Edward the third, by reason of his claime to the crowne of France,

whereof hereafter ye shall heare. Among other greeuances which the

English susteined by the hard deling of the Conquerour, this is to be

remembered, that he brought Jewes into this land from Rouen, and

appointed them a place to inhabit and occupie.

[Sidenote: _Polydor._] There be that write, how the inconstancie of

the English people by their oft rebellions occasioned the king to be

so rough and rigorous against them; wheras (of his naturall

disposition and proper inclination) he was rather gentle and courteous

than sharpe and cruell. But sith he continued his extremitie euen to

his last daies, we may rather beléeue, that although from his

childhood he shewed some tokens of clemencie, bountie, and

liberalitie; yet by following the wars, and practising to reigne with

sternenesse, he became so inured therewith, that those peaceable

vertues were quite altered in him, and in maner clearelie quenched. He

was indued with a certeine stoutnesse of courage and skill in feats of

warre, which good hap euer followed: he was frée from lecherous lusts,

without suspicion of bodilie vices, quicke of wit, desirous of honor,

painefull, watchfull, and able to tolerate heat and cold, though he

were tall of stature, and verie grosse of bodie.

Toward the end of his daies he waxed verie deuout, and became desirous

to aduance the state of the church, insomuch that he builded thrée

abbeies in three seuerall places, endowing them with faire lands and

large possessions, one at the place where he vanquished king Harold,

fiue miles from Hastings, which he named Battell, of the field there

fought: the other at Celby in Yorkeshire: and the third in Normandie at

Caen, where his wife Quéene Maud had builded a nunnerie, which Maud died

in the yéere 1084, before the decease of the king hir husband.

[Sidenote: They gaue him an hundred pound, saith _Hen. Marle._]

After his death, his bodie was buried in Caen, in S. Stephans church;

but before it could be committed to the ground, the executors were

constreined to agree with the lord of the soile where the church stood,

which (as he said) the king in his life time had iniuriouslie taken from

him, and gaue him a great summe of monie to release his title.

¶ By this we may consider the great miserie of mans estate, in that so

mightie a prince could not haue so much ground after his death as to

couer his dead corps, without dooing iniurie to another. This also may

be a speciall lesson for all men, and namelie for princes, noblemen, and

gentlemen, who oftentimes to enlarge their owne commodities, doo not

regard what wrong they offer to the inferiour sort.

The said king William had by Maud his wife the daughter of Baldwine

earle of Flanders, foure sonnes, Robert surnamed Curthose (vnto whome

he bequeathed the duchie of Normandie) Richard who died in his youth,

William surnamed Rufus, to whom he gaue by testament the realme of

England, and Henrie surnamed Beauclerke for his cunning, knowledge and

learning, vnto whom he bequethed all his treasure and mooueable goods,

with the possessions that belonged to his mother. [Sidenote: _Hen.

Marle._] Besides these foure sonnes, he had also by his said wife fiue

daughters, Cecilie, who became a nunne; Constance, who was married to

Alane duke of Britaine; Adela, who was giuen in mariage to Stephan

earle of Blois (of whom that Stephan was borne which reigned after

Henrie the first) Adeliza, who was promised in mariage to Harold king

of England (as before you haue heard) but she died yer she was maried

either to him, or to any other, and so likewise did the fift, whose

name I cannot reherse.

[Sidenote: _Iohn Rous._] But to conclude, though king William held the

English so vnder foot, that in his daies almost no Englishman bare any

office of honor or rule in his time, yet he somewhat fauoured the

citie of London, and at the earnest sute of William a Norman then

bishop of that see, he granted vnto the citizens the first charter,

which is written in the Saxon toong, sealed with greene wax, and

expressed in viij. or ix. lines at the most, exemplified according to

the copie, and so printed, as followeth.

"Williem King grets Williem Bisceop & Godfred Porterefan, & ealle

ya Burghwarn binnen London Frencisce, & Englise frendlice, &

Ickiden eoy, yeet ic wille yeet git ben ealra weera lagayweord,

ye get weeran on Eadwerds daege kings. And ic will yeet aelc

child by his fader yrfnume, aefter his faders daege. And ic nelle

ge wolian, yeet aenig man eoy aenis wrang beode. God eoy heald."

"Wilhelmus rex salutat Wilhelmum Episcopum, & Goffridum

Portegrefium, & omnem Burghware infra London Frans. & Angl.

amicabiliter. Et vobis notum facio, quòd ego vole quòd vos sitis

omni lege illa digni qua fuistis Edwardi diebus regis. Et volo

quòd omnis puer sit patris sui hæres post diem patris sui. Et ego

nolo pati quòd aliquis homo aliquam iniuriam vobis inferat. Deus

vos saluet."

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ _Hen. Hunt._] But howsoeuer he vsed the

rest of the English, this is recorded of some writers, that by his

rigorous proceedings against them, he brought to passe that the

countrie was so rid of theeues and robbers, as that at length a maid

might haue passed through the land with a bag full of gold, and not

haue met with any misdooer to haue bereft hir of the same: a thing

right strange to consider, sith in the beginning of his reigne there

were such routs of outlawes and robbers, that the peaceabler people

could not be safelie possessed of their owne houses, were the same

neuer so well fortified and defended.

[Sidenote: _Iohn Rous._ _Hen. Marle._] Among manie lawes made by the

said William, this one is to be remembred, that such as forced any

woman, should lose their genitals.

[Sidenote: Salisburie vse.] In this kings daies also liued Osmond the

second bishop of Salisburie, who compiled the church seruice, which in

times past they commonlie called after Salisburie vse.

[Sidenote: Shooting.] The vse of the long bowe (as Iohn Rous

testifieth) came first into England with this king William the

Conquerour: for the English (before that time) vsed to fight with axes

and such hand weapons: and therefore in the oration made by the

Conquerour before he gaue battel to king Harold, the better to

encourage his men, he told them they should encounter with enimies

that wanted shot.

In the yeare of our Lord 1542. Monsieur de Castres bishop of Baieulx and

abbat of Saint Estienne in Caen, caused the Sepulchre of this William to

be opened, wherein his bodie was found whole, faire and perfect; of

lims, large and big; of stature and personage, longer than the ordinarie

sort of men: with a copper plate fairlie gilt, and this epitaph

therevpon ingrauen:

"Qui rexit rigidos Normannos, atque Britannos

Audacter vicit, fortiter obtinuit,

Et Cœnomenses virtute contudit enses,

Imperijq. sui legibus[4] applicuit,

Rex magnus parua iacet hæc Guilhelmus in urna:

Sufficit & magno parua domus domino,

Ter septem gradibus se voluerat atq. duobus

Virginis in gremio Phœbus, & hic obijt:" that is;

"Who ouer Normans rough did rule, and ouer Britons bold

Did conquest stoutlie win, and conquest woone did stronglie hold:

Who by his valure great the fatal vprores calmed, in maine,

And to obeie his powers and lawes, the Manceaux did constraine:

This mightie king within this little vault entoomed lies,

So great a lord sometime, so small a roome dooth now suffice.

When three times seuen and two by iust degrees the sunne had tooke

His woonted course in Virgos lap, then he the world forsooke."

[Sidenote: _W. Patten_ collecteth this to be the 23. after the sun was

in _Virgo_: which is the 6. of Septēber.]

Thus far William Conquerour.