This year men said and reported as certain, that Cnut King of Denmark,

the son of King Swægn was bent hitherward, and that he designed to

conquer this land, with the assistance of Robert Earl of Flanders,

whose daughter he had married. When King William, who was then in

Normandy, heard this, for England and Normandy were both his, he

hastened hither with a larger army of horse and foot, from France and

Britanny, than had ever arrived in this land, so that men wondered how

the country might feed them all. But the King billetted the soldiers

upon his subjects throughout the nation, and they provided for them,

every man according to the land that he possessed. And the people

suffered much distress this year: and the King caused the country near

the sea to be laid waste, that if his enemies landed they might the

less readily find any plunder. Afterwards when he had received certain

information that they had been stopped, and that they would not be able

to proceed in this enterprise, he let part of his forces return to

their own homes, and he kept part in this land through the winter. At

Christmas the King was at Gloucester with his Witan; and he held his

court there five days; and afterwards the Archbishop and Clergy held a

synod during three days; and Maurice was there chosen to the bishoprick

of London, William to that of Norfolk, and Robert, to that of Cheshire;

they were all chaplains of the King. After this the King had a great

consultation, and spoke very deeply with his Witan concerning this

land, how it was held and what were its tenantry. He then sent his

men over all England, into every shire, and caused them to ascertain

how many hundred hides of land it contained, and what lands the King

possessed therein, what cattle there were in the several counties,

and how much revenue he ought to receive yearly from each. He also

caused them to write down how much land belonged to his Archbishops,

to his Bishops, his Abbots, and his Earls, and, that I may be brief,

what property every inhabitant of all England possessed in land or in

cattle, and how much money this was worth. So very narrowly did he

cause the survey to be made, that there was not a single hide nor a

rood of land, nor--it is shameful to relate that which he thought no

shame to do--was there an ox, or a cow, or a pig passed by, and that

was not set down in the accounts, and then all these writings were

brought to him.

1086.

This year the King wore his crown and held his court at Winchester at

Easter, and he so journeyed forward that he was at Westminster during

Pentecost, and there he dubbed his son Henry a knight. And afterwards

he travelled about, so that he came to Salisbury at Lammas; and his

Witan, and all the land-holders of substance in England, whose vassals

soever they were, repaired to him there, and they all submitted to him,

and became his men, and swore oaths of allegiance, that they would

be faithful to him against all others. Thence he proceeded to Wight

because he was to cross over to Normandy; and this he afterwards did,

but first, according to his custom, he extorted immense sums from his

subjects, upon every pretext he could find, whether just or otherwise.

Then he went over to Normandy, and King Edward’s kinsman Edgar Ætheling

left him, because he received no great honour from him: may Almighty

God give him glory hereafter. And the Ætheling’s sister Cristina went

into the monastery of Romsey, and took the holy veil. And the same was

a very heavy year, and very disastrous and sorrowful; for there was a

pestilence among the cattle, and the corn and fruits were checked; and

the weather was worse than may easily be conceived: so violent was the

thunder and lightning, that many persons were killed: and things ever

went worse and worse with the people: may Almighty God mend them, when

such is his will.

1087.

The year 1087 after the birth of Christ our Saviour, and the one

and twentieth of King William’s reign, during which he governed and

disposed of the realm of England even as God permitted him, was a very

grievous time of scarcity in this land. There was also so much illness,

that almost every other man was afflicted with the worst of evils, that

is, a fever; and this so severe, that many died of it. And afterwards,

from the badness of the weather which we have mentioned before, there

was so great a famine throughout England, that many hundreds died

of hunger. O how disastrous, how rueful were those times! when the

wretched people were brought to the point of death by the fever, then

the cruel famine came on and finished them.--Who would not deplore such

times, or who is so hard hearted that he will not weep for so much

misery? But such things are, on account of the sins of the people, and

because they will not love God and righteousness. Even so was it in

those days; there was little righteousness in this land amongst any,

excepting the monks alone who lived piously. The King and the chief men

loved much, and over much, to amass gold and silver, and cared not

how sinfully it was gotten, so that it came into their hands. The King

sold out his lands as dear as dearest he might, and then some other

man came and bid more than the first had given, and the King granted

them to him who offered the larger sum; then came a third and bid yet

more, and the King made over the lands to him who offered most of all;

and he cared not how iniquitously his Sheriffs extorted money from

the miserable people, nor how many unlawful things they did. And the

more men spake of rightful laws, the more lawlessly did they act. They

raised oppressive taxes, and so many were their unjust deeds, it were

hard to number them. And the same year, before harvest, St. Paul’s holy

minster, the residence of the Bishops of London, was burnt, together

with many other monasteries, and the greater and handsomer part of the

whole city. At the same time likewise almost all the principal towns of

England were burnt down. O how sad and deplorable was this year, which

brought forth so many calamities.

The same year also, before the Assumption of St. Mary, King William

marched with an army out of Normandy into France, and made war upon

his own Lord King Philip, and slew a great number of his people, and

burned the town of Mante, and all the holy monasteries in it, and two

holy men who served God as anchorites were burned there. This done King

William returned into Normandy. Rueful deeds he did, and ruefully he

suffered. Wherefore ruefully? He fell sick and became grievously ill.

What can I say? The sharpness of death, that spareth neither rich nor

poor, seized upon him. He died in Normandy the day after the Nativity

of St. Mary, and he was buried in Caen, at St. Stephen’s monastery,

which he had built and had richly endowed. O how false, how unstable is

the good of this world, He, who had been a powerful King and Lord of

many territories, He, then, of all his lands, possessed not more than

seven feet of ground; and He, who was erewhile adorned with gold and

with gems, lay then covered with mould. He left three sons: Robert the

eldest was Earl of Normandy after him; the second, named William wore

the crown of England after his father’s death; and his third son was

Henry, to whom he bequeathed immense treasures.

If any would know what manner of man King William was, the glory that

he obtained, and of how many lands he was Lord; then will we describe

him as we have known him, we, who have looked upon him, and who

once lived in his court. This King William, of whom we are speaking,

was a very wise and a great man, and more honoured and more powerful

than any of his predecessors. He was mild to those good men who loved

God, but severe beyond measure towards those who withstood his will.

He founded a noble monastery on the spot where God permitted him to

conquer England, and he established monks in it, and he made it very

rich. In his days the great monastery at Canterbury was built, and

many others also throughout England; moreover this land was filled

with monks who lived after the rule of St. Benedict; and such was the

state of religion in his days that all that would, might observe that

which was prescribed by their respective orders. King William was also

held in much reverence; he wore his crown three times every year when

he was in England: at Easter he wore it at Winchester, at Pentecost at

Westminster, and at Christmas at Gloucester. And at these times, all

the men of England were with him, Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, and

Earls, Thanes, and Knights. So also, was he a very stern and a wrathful

man, so that none durst do any thing against his will, and he kept in

prison those Earls who acted against his pleasure. He removed Bishops

from their sees, and Abbots from their offices, and he imprisoned

Thanes, and at length he spared not his own brother Odo. This Odo was

a very powerful Bishop in Normandy, his see was that of Baieux, and

he was foremost to serve the King. He had an Earldom in England, and

when William was in Normandy he was the first man in this country, and

him did he cast into prison. Amongst other things the good order that

William established is not to be forgotten; it was such that any man,

who was himself aught, might travel over the kingdom with a bosom-full

of gold unmolested; and no man durst kill another, however great the

injury he might have received from him. He reigned over England, and

being sharp-sighted to his own interest, he surveyed the kingdom so

thoroughly that there was not a single hide of land throughout the

whole, of which he knew not the possession, and how much it was worth,

and this he afterwards entered in his register. The land of the Britons

(Wales) was under his sway, and he built castles therein; moreover he

had full dominion over the Isle of Mann (Anglesey): Scotland also was

subject to him from his great strength; the land of Normandy was his

by inheritance, and he possessed the Earldom of Maine; and had he lived

two years longer he would have subdued Ireland by his prowess, and that

without a battle. Truly there was much trouble in these times, and very

great distress; he caused castles to be built, and oppressed the poor.

The King was also of great sternness, and he took from his subjects

many marks of gold, and many hundred pounds of silver, and this, either

with or without right, and with little need. He was given to avarice

and greedily loved gain. He made large forests for the deer, and

enacted laws therewith, so that whoever killed a hart or a hind should

be blinded. As he forbade killing the deer, so also the boars; and he

loved the tall stags as if he were their father. He also appointed

concerning the hares, that they should go free. The rich complained

and the poor murmured, but he was so sturdy that he recked nought of

them; they must will all that the King willed, if they would live; or

would keep their lands; or would hold their possessions; or would be

maintained in their rights. Alas! that any man should so exalt himself,

and carry himself in his pride over all! May Almighty God shew mercy

to his soul, and grant him the forgiveness of his sins! We have written

concerning him these things, both good and bad, that virtuous men might

follow after the good, and wholly avoid the evil, and might go in the

way that leadeth to the kingdom of heaven.

We may write of many events which happened during this year. In

Denmark, the Danes who were formerly accounted the most loyal of

people, turned to the greatest possible perfidy and treachery, for they

chose King Cnut, and submitted to him, and swore oaths of allegiance

and afterwards they shamefully murdered him in a church.[BI] It also

came to pass in Spain, that the heathen men went forth, and made

war upon the Christians, and brought great part of the country into

subjection to themselves. But the Christian King, whose name was Anphos

(Alfonso), sent to all countries and begged assistance. And allies

flocked to him from every Christian land, and they went forth, and

slew or drove away all the heathens, and they won their land again by

the help of God. The same year also many great men died in this land:

Stigand Bishop of Chichester, and the Abbot of Saint Augustine’s, and

the Abbots of Bath and of Pershore, and the Lord of them all William

King of England, concerning whom we have spoken above.

After his death, his son William, of the same name with his father,

took to himself the government, and was consecrated as King in

Westminster by Archbishop Lanfranc three days before Michaelmas: and

all the men of England acknowledged him, and swore oaths of allegiance

to him. This done, the King went to Winchester and examined the

treasury, and the hoards which his father had amassed; gold and silver,

vessels of plate, palls, gems, and many other valuables that are hard

to be numbered:--The King did as his father before he died commanded

him; he distributed treasures amongst all the monasteries of England,

for the sake of his father’s soul: to some he gave ten marks of gold,

and to others six, and sixty pennies to every country church, and a

hundred pounds of money was sent into every county to be divided among

the poor for his soul’s sake. And before he died he had also desired

that all who had been imprisoned during his reign should be released.

And the King was at London during Christmas.

1088.

This year the land was much disturbed, and filled with treason, for

the principal Frenchmen here would have betrayed their Lord the King,

and have had his brother Robert instead, who was Earl of Normandy.

Bishop Odo was the chief man in the conspiracy, together with Bishop

Gosfrith, and William Bishop of Durham.--The King esteemed the Bishop

so highly, that the affairs of all England were directed after his

counsel, and according to his pleasure, but the Bishop purposed to do

by him as Judas Iscariot did by our Lord. And Earl Roger was concerned

in this conspiracy, and many others with him, all Frenchmen. This plot

was concerted during Lent; and as soon as Easter came, they marched

forth, and plundered, and burned, and laid waste the lands of the

crown; and they ruined the estates of those who remained firm in their

allegiance. And each of the head conspirators went to his own castle,

and manned and victualled it, as best he might. Bishop Gosfrith and

Robert the Peace-breaker went to Bristol, and having plundered the

town, they brought the spoils into the castle; and afterwards they

sallied forth and plundered Bath, and all the surrounding country,

and they laid waste all the lordship of Berkeley. And the chief men of

Hereford and all that county, and the men of Shropshire, with many from

Wales, entered Worcestershire, and went on plundering and burning, till

they approached the county town, and they were resolved to burn this

also, and to plunder the cathedral, and to seize the King’s castle for

themselves. The worthy Bishop Wulfstan seeing this, was much distressed

in mind, because the castle was committed to his keeping. Nevertheless

his retainers, few as they were, marched out, and through the mercy of

God, and the good desert of the Bishop, they slew or took captive 500

men, and put all the rest to flight.--The Bishop of Durham did as much

harm as he could in all the northern parts: one of the conspirators

named Roger, threw himself into Norwich castle, and spread devastation

throughout that country: Hugo also was in no respect less formidable to

Leicestershire and Northampton. Bishop Odo, with whom these commotions

originated, departed to his Earldom of Kent, which he ravaged, and he

wholly laid waste the lands of the King and the Archbishop, and brought

all the plunder into his castle at Rochester. When the King had heard

all this, and with what treason they were acting towards him, he was

greatly disturbed in mind; and he sent for the English, and laid his

necessities before them, and entreated their assistance. He promised

them better laws than had ever been in this land, and forbade all

unjust taxes, and guaranteed to his subjects their woods and hunting.

But these concessions were soon done away. Howbeit the English came to

the aid of their Lord the King, and they then marched towards Rochester

desiring to seize Bishop Odo, for they thought that if they had him

who was the head of the conspiracy in their power, they might with

greater ease subdue the others.--Then they came to Tunbridge castle, in

which were the Knights of Bishop Odo and many others, resolved to hold

out against William. But the English came on, and stormed the castle,

and the garrison capitulated. They then proceeded towards Rochester

believing that the Bishop was there; but the King was told that he was

departed to his castle at Pevensey, and the King and his troops went

after him, and he besieged that castle full six weeks with a very large

army. In the mean time Robert Earl of Normandy, the King’s brother,

gathered together a great multitude, and thought that he should win

England with the aid of the disaffected of this country. And he sent

some of his troops to this land, intending to follow them himself.

But the English who guarded the sea attacked these men, and slew and

drowned more than any one can number. At length provisions became

scarce in the castle, on which the insurgents prayed for a truce and

surrendered the place to the King, and the Bishop took an oath that he

would depart from England, and never return unless the King sent for

him, and that he would also give up Rochester castle. After this the

Bishop proceeded thither that he might deliver up that fortress, and

the King sent his men with him, but then the soldiers who were in the

castle arose, and seized the Bishop, and the King’s men, whom they put

into confinement. There were very good knights in this castle: Eustace

the younger, the three sons of Earl Roger, and all the best born of

this land, and of Normandy. When the King knew this, he set forth

with all the troops then with him, and he sent over all England and

commanded that every man of mark, French or English, from town and from

country, should come and join him. Many were those who flocked to him

and he marched to Rochester and besieged the castle till the garrison

capitulated. Bishop Odo and those who were with him departed over sea,

and thus the Bishop lost the station he held in this land. The King

afterwards sent an army to Durham, and besieged the castle, and the

Bishop capitulated, and surrendered it, and he gave up his Bishoprick

and went to Normandy. Many Frenchmen also left their lands, and went

over sea, and the King gave their estates to those who had held fast to

him.

1089.

This year the venerable father and patron of monks Archbishop Lanfranc

departed this life, but we trust that he hath entered into the kingdom

of heaven. There was also a great earthquake throughout England on the

3d of the ides of August. And it was a very late year both as to the

corn, and fruits of all kind, so that many men reaped their corn about

Martinmas, and even later.

1090.

Things being in the state we have described, as regarding the King,

his brother, and his people, William considered how he might take the

surest vengeance on his wretched brother Robert, and win Normandy

from him. To this end, he gained the castle and port of St. Valeri

by stratagem or bribery, and also Albemarle Castle, and he placed

his knights in them, and they did much harm, ravaging and burning

the country. After this he got possession of more castles in that

land, and in these also he stationed his knights. When Robert Earl of

Normandy found that his sworn liege-men revolted and gave up their

castles to his great injury, he sent to his Lord Philip King of France,

who came into Normandy with a large army; and the King and the Earl

with an innumerable force besieged a castle defended by the King of

England’s soldiers: but King William of England sent to Philip King of

France, and he, for love of William or for his great bribes, deserted

his vassal Earl Robert and his land, and returned to France, leaving

things as they were. During all these transactions, England was greatly

oppressed by unlawful taxes, and many other grievances.

1091.

This year King William held his court at Westminster at Christmas, and

the following Candlemas he departed from England to Normandy, bent on

his brother’s ruin: but whilst he was in that country, peace was made

between them, on condition that the Earl should give up Fescamp, the

Earldom of Eu, and Cherbourg, to William, and withal that the King’s

men should be unmolested in those castles of which they had possessed

themselves in the Earl’s despite. And the King, on his side, promised

to reduce to their obedience the many castles conquered by their

father, which had since revolted from the Earl, and also to establish

him in the possession of all their father’s territories abroad,

excepting those places which the Earl had then given up to the King.

Moreover all who had lost their lands in England on account of the Earl

were to regain them by this treaty, and the Earl also was to receive

certain estates in England then specified. It was also agreed that if

the Earl died leaving no legitimate son, the King should be heir of all

Normandy, and in like manner if the King died, that the Earl should be

heir of all England. Twelve of the chief men on the part of the King

and twelve on that of the Earl guaranteed this treaty by oath; yet it

was observed but a short time. During this peace Edgar Ætheling was

dispossessed of those lands which the Earl had granted him, and he

departed and went from Normandy into Scotland, to the King his brother

in law, and his sister. Whilst King William was out of England, Malcolm

King of Scotland invaded this country, and ravaged great part of it,

till the good men to whom the keeping of the land was entrusted, sent

their troops against him and drove him back.--When King William heard

this in Normandy, he hastened to return, and he came to England and his

brother Earl Robert with him. And they called out a fleet and army, but

almost all the ships were lost, a few days before Michaelmas, ere they

reached Scotland. And the King and his brother proceeded with the army:

and when King Malcolm heard that they sought to attack him he marched

with his array out of Scotland into Lothian in England, and remained

there. And when King William approached, Earl Robert and Edgar Ætheling

mediated a peace between the Kings, on condition that King Malcolm

should repair to our King, and become his vassal, in all the like

subjection as to his father before him; and this he confirmed by oath.

And King William promised him all the lands and possessions that he

held under his father. By this peace Edgar Ætheling was reconciled to

the King. And the Kings separated in great friendship, but this lasted

during a short time only.--Earl Robert abode here with the King till

Christmas drew near, and in this time he found little good faith as

to the fulfilment of the treaty, and two days before the feast he took

ship from Wight and sailed to Normandy, and Edgar Ætheling with him.

1092.

This year King William went northward to Carlisle with a large army,

and he repaired the city, and built the castle. And he drove out Dolfin

who had before governed that country, and having placed a garrison in

the castle, he returned into the south, and sent a great number of

Englishmen thither with their wives and cattle, that they might settle

there and cultivate the land.

1093.

This year, in Lent, King William was very sick at Gloucester, insomuch

that he was universally reported to be dead: and he made many good

promises in his illness; that his future life he would lead in

righteousness--that the churches of God he would guard and free--and

never more sell them for money--and that he would have all just laws

in his kingdom. And he gave the Archbishoprick of Canterbury, which he

had hitherto kept in his own hands, to Anselm who was before this Abbot

of Bec, and the Bishoprick of Lincoln to his Chancellor Robert; and he

granted lands to many, monasteries, but afterwards, when recovered, he

took them back, and he neglected all the good laws that he had promised

us. After this the King of Scotland sent desiring that the stipulated

conditions might be performed; and King William summoned him to

Gloucester, and sent hostages to him in Scotland, and afterwards Edgar

Ætheling and others met him and brought him with much honour to the

Court. But when he came there he could neither obtain a conference with

our King, nor the performance of the conditions formerly promised him,

and therefore they departed in great enmity: and King Malcolm returned

home to Scotland, and as soon as he came thither, he assembled his

troops and invaded England, ravaging the country with more fury than

behoved him: and Robert Earl of Northumberland with his men lay in wait

for him, and slew him unawares. He was killed by Moræl of Bamborough,

the Earl’s steward, and King Malcolm’s own Godfather: his son Edward,

who had he lived would have been King after his father, was killed with

him. When the good Queen Margaret heard that her most beloved Lord, and

her son were thus cut off, she was grieved in spirit unto death, and

she went with her priest into the church, and having gone through all

befitting rites, she prayed of God that she might give up the ghost.

And then, the Scots chose Dufenal the brother of Malcolm for their

King, and drove out all the English who had been with King Malcolm.

When Duncan the son of King Malcolm heard all this, for he was in King

William’s Court, and had remained here from the time that his father

gave him as an hostage to our King’s father, he came to the King, and

did such homage as the King required; and thus with his consent he

departed for Scotland, with the aid that he could muster, both English

and French, and he deprived his kinsman Dufenal of the throne, and was

received as King. But then some of the Scotch again gathered themselves

together, and slew nearly all his men, and he himself escaped with few

others. They were afterwards reconciled on this condition, that Duncan

should never more bring English or Frenchmen into that country.

1094.

This year, at Christmas, King William held his Court at Gloucester: and

there came messengers to him out of Normandy from his brother Robert,

and they said that his brother renounced all peace and compact if the

King would not perform all that they had stipulated in the treaty;

moreover they called him perjured and faithless unless he would perform

the conditions, or would go to the place where the treaty had been

concluded and sworn to, and there clear himself. Then at Candlemas the

King went to Hastings, and whilst he waited there for a fair wind, he

caused the monastery on the field of battle to be consecrated; and he

took the staff from Herbert Losange, Bishop of Thetford.--After this,

in the middle of Lent, he went over sea to Normandy. When he came

thither he and his brother Earl Robert agreed that they would meet in

peace, and they did so, to the end that they might be reconciled. But

afterwards, when they met attended by the same men who had brought

about the treaty, and had sworn to see it executed, these charged all

the breach of faith upon the King; he would not allow this, neither

would he observe the treaty, on which they separated in great enmity.

And the King then seized the castle of Bures and took the Earl’s men

who were in it, and he sent some of them over to this country. And on

the other hand the Earl with the assistance of the King of France,

took the castle of Argentses (Argentan) in which he seized Roger the

Poitevin and 700 of the King’s soldiers; and he afterwards took the

castle of Hulme; and frequently did each burn the towns and take

captive the people of his rival. Then the King sent hither and ordered

out 20,000 Englishmen to aid him in Normandy, but when they reached the

sea, they were desired to return, and to give to the King’s Treasury

the money that they had received; this was half a pound for each man,

and they did so. And in Normandy, after this, the Earl with the King

of France and all the troops that they could collect, marched towards

Eu, where King William then was, purposing to besiege him therein, and

thus they proceeded until they came to Longueville, and there the King

of France turned off through treachery, and on this the whole army

dispersed. In the mean time King William sent for his brother Henry who

was in the castle of Domfront, and because he could not pass through

Normandy in security, he sent ships for him, with Hugo Earl of Chester.

And when they should have made for Eu, where the king was, they

directed their course instead to England, and landed at Southampton on

the eve of All Saints’ day; and they then remained in this country,

and were in London at Christmas. The same year also the Welsh gathered

themselves together, and made war upon the French in Wales, or in

the neighbouring parts, where they had been before deprived of their

lands, and they stormed many fortresses and castles, and slew the men,

and afterwards their numbers increased so much, that they divided

themselves into many bodies; Hugo, Earl of Shropshire fought with one

division, and put it to flight, but nevertheless the others abstained

not, during the whole year, from committing every outrage in their

power. This year also the Scots conspired against their King Duncan and

slew him, and they afterwards took his uncle Dufenal a second time for

their king; through whose instructions and instigation Duncan had been

betrayed to his death.

1095.

This year King William was at Hwitsand during the first four days of

Christmas, and after the fourth day he set sail and landed at Dover.

And the King’s brother Henry remained in this country till Lent, and

then he went over sea to Normandy, with much treasure to be employed

in the King’s service against their brother Earl Robert: and he gained

ground upon the Earl continually, and did much damage to his lands

and subjects. Then at Easter the King held his Court at Winchester,

and Robert Earl of Northumberland would not repair thither; therefore

the King’s anger was greatly stirred up against him, and he sent

to him, and sternly commanded that if he would remain in peace he

should come to his Court at Pentecost. This year Easter fell on the

8th of the calends of April, and after Easter, on the night of the

feast of St. Ambrose the 2d of the nones of April, there was seen

all over the country a great multitude of stars falling from heaven

during nearly the whole of the night, not one or two at a time, but

so thickly that no man might number them. After this at Pentecost the

King was at Windsor, and all his Witan with him, excepting the Earl of

Northumberland, for the King would neither give hostages nor pledge his

troth that he should come and go in security. On this the King called

out an army, and marched against the Earl into Northumberland, and

as soon as he came thither he seized almost all the chief men of the

Earl’s court in a certain fortress, and he put them in confinement.

And he besieged Tinmouth castle until he took it, and there he seized

the Earl’s brother, and all who were with him: thence he proceeded to

Bamborough, and there he besieged the Earl; and when the King found

that he could not reduce him, he caused a castle to be built over

against Bamborough, and called it in his speech Malveisin, which

is in English “the evil neighbour,” and he garrisoned it strongly,

and afterwards he departed southward. Then one night soon after the

King’s return into the south, the Earl went out of Bamborough towards

Tinmouth, but those in the new castle being aware of his design,

pursued and attacked him, and they wounded him, and afterwards took

him prisoner, and some of his followers were slain, and some taken

alive. In the mean time the King was told, that the Welch had stormed a

certain castle in Wales, called Montgomery, and had slain Earl Hugo’s

men who defended it; on this he commanded another army to be called

out in haste, and after Michaelmas he proceeded into Wales. He divided

his forces, and his troops made their way through all parts of the

country, and met at Snowdon, on All Saints’ day. But the Welch ever

fled before him to the mountains and moors, so that no man could get

near them, and the King at length returned homewards, because he found

that he could do no more there that winter. When the King came back, he

commanded his people to take Robert. Earl of Northumberland and lead

him to Bamborough, and to put out both his eyes, unless the besieged

would surrender the castle, which was defended by his wife, and his

steward Moreal, who was also his kinsman. On this, the castle was given

up, and Moreal was received at William’s Court; and through him many

were discovered, both clergy and laity, who had aided this rebellion

with their counsel. Then the King ordered some of them to be imprisoned

before Christmas, and he straightly commanded throughout the kingdom,

that all who held lands of him should be at his Court on that festival,

as they would retain his protection. And the King had Earl Robert

brought to Windsor, and confined there in the castle. This year also,

a little before Easter, the Pope’s Legate came to England; this was

Walter Bishop of Alba, a man of a very virtuous life, and at Pentecost

he presented Archbishop Anselm with his pall from Pope Urban, and he

received it at his metropolitan city of Canterbury. And Bishop Walter

remained here great part of this year, and on his return the Romescot,

which had not been paid for many years before, was sent with him. This

year also the weather was very unseasonable, so that the fruits of the

earth were much injured over all the country.

1096.

This year King William held his Christmas Court at Windsor; and William

Bishop of Durham died there on New Year’s day. And the King and all

his Witan were at Salisbury on the octaves of Epiphany. There Geoffrey

Bainard accused William of Eu the King’s relation, saying that he had

been concerned in the conspiracy against the King, and for this cause

he fought with him and overcame him in single combat, and after he was

vanquished the king commanded that his eyes should be put out; and

the king also caused his steward named William, who was his aunt’s

son, to be hanged on the gallows.--Then also Eoda Earl of Champaigne

the King’s uncle, and many others, were deprived of their lands, and

some were brought to London, and there executed. At Easter, this year,

there was a very great stir in this country and in many others also,

through Urban, who was called Pope, though he was not in possession

of the See of Rome: and an innumerable multitude of men, with their

wives and children, departed to go and conquer the heathen nations.

The King and his brother Earl Robert were reconciled in consequence

of this expedition, so that the King went over sea, and received from

the Earl all Normandy for a sum of money, according to contract. And

thereupon the Earl departed, and with him went the Earls of Flanders

and of Boulogne, and many other chieftains. And Earl Robert and those

who accompanied him abode in Apulia that winter. But of those who

went by Hungary, many thousands perished miserably there, or on the

road, and many, rueful and hunger-bitten, toiled homewards against

winter. These were very hard times to all the English, as well because

of the manifold taxes, as of the very grievous famine which sorely

afflicted the land. This year also the nobles who had charge of this

country frequently sent forth armies into Wales, and thus they greatly

oppressed many and for no purpose, but with much loss of men and of

money.

1097.

This year King William was in Normandy at Christmas, and before Easter

he sailed for this land, intending to hold his Court at Winchester, but

he was kept at sea by bad weather till Easter eve; and Arundel was the

first place to which he came, therefore he held his Court at Windsor.

After this, he marched into Wales with a large army, and his troops

penetrated far into the country by means of some Welchmen who had come

over to him, and were his guides. And William remained there from

Midsummer till near August, to his great loss of men and horses and

many other things.

When the Welch had revolted from the King they chose several leaders

from among themselves, one of these was named Cadugan, he was the

more powerful of them all, and was the son of King Griffin’s brother.

The King seeing that he could not effect his purpose returned into

England, and he forthwith caused castles to be built on the marches.

Then at Michaelmas, on the 4th of the nones of October, an uncommon

star appeared shining in the evening, and soon going down: it was

seen in the south-west, and the light which streamed from it seemed

very long, shining towards the south-east; and it appeared after this

manner nearly all the week.--Many allowed that it was a comet. Soon

after this, Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury obtained permission from

the King, though against his inclination, to leave this country and go

over sea, because it seemed to him that in this nation little was done

according to right, or after his desires. And at Martinmas the King

went over sea to Normandy; but whilst he waited for a fair wind, his

train did as much injury in the county in which they were detained,

as any Prince’s retinue, or even an army could have committed in a

peaceable land.

This year was in all respects a very heavy time, and the weather was

singularly bad at the seasons when men should till their lands and

gather in the harvest; and the people had nevertheless no respite

from unjust taxes. Many shires, moreover, which are bound to duty in

works at London, were greatly oppressed in making the wall around the

tower, in repairing the bridge which had been almost washed away, and

in building the King’s hall at Westminster; these hardships fell upon

many. This year also, at Michaelmas, Edgar Ætheling, with the King’s

aid, led an army into Scotland, and won that country by hard fighting,

and drove out the King Dufenal, and established his kinsman Edgar the

son of King Malcolm and Queen Margaret, as King holding of William, and

then he returned into England.

1098.

This year King William was in Normandy at Christmas; and Walcelin

Bishop of Winchester, and Baldwin Abbot of St. Edmund’s, both died

during this festival. This year also died Turold Abbot of Peterborough.

Moreover in the summer Of this year a spring of blood burst out at

Finchamsted, in Berkshire, according to the declaration of many men

of credit, who said that they had seen it. And Earl Hugo was slain in

Anglesey by foreign pirates; his brother Robert succeeded him, having

obtained this of the King. Before Michaelmas-day the heaven appeared

as it were on fire, almost all the night.--This was a year of much

distress, caused by the manifold oppressive taxes; nearly all the crops

in the marsh lands failed also from the great rains, which ceased not

the whole year.

1099.

This year King William was in Normandy at Christmas; and at Easter he

came hither; and at Pentecost he held his Court for the first time in

the new building at Westminster, and there he gave the Bishoprick of

Durham to his chaplain Rannulf, who had long been the chief manager

and director in all the king’s councils held in England. And soon

afterwards William went over sea, and drove Earl Elias from Maine, and

brought that province into subjection; and at Michaelmas he returned to

this land. This year also, on St. Martin’s day, there was so very high

a tide, and the damage was so great in consequence, that men remembered

not the like to have ever happened before, and the same day was the

first of the new moon. And Osmond Bishop of Salisbury died during

Advent.

1100.

This year, at Christmas, King William held his Court in Gloucester;

and at Easter in Winchester; and at Pentecost in Westminster. And at

Pentecost blood was observed gushing from the earth, at a certain town

of Berkshire, even as many asserted who declared that they had seen it.

And after this, on the morning after Lammas day, King William was shot

with an arrow by his own men, as he was hunting, and he was carried to

Winchester and buried there. This was in the thirteenth year from his

accession. He was very powerful, and stern over his lands and subjects,

and towards all his neighbours, and much to be dreaded, and through the

counsels of evil men which were always pleasing to him, and through

his own avarice, he was ever vexing the people with armies and with

cruel taxes; for in his days all justice sank, and all unrighteousness

arose, in the sight of God and the world. He trampled on the Church of

God, and as to the Bishopricks and Abbacies, the incumbents of which

died in his reign, he either sold them outright, or kept them in his

own hands and set them out to renters; for he desired to be the heir

of every one, churchman or layman, so that the day on which he was

killed he had in his own hands the Archbishoprick of Canterbury, the

Bishopricks of Winchester and Salisbury, and eleven Abbacies, all let

out to farm, and in fine, however long I may delay mention of it, all

that was abominable to God and oppressive to men was common in this

island in William’s time: and therefore he was hated by almost all his

people, and abhorred by God as his end sheweth, in that he died in the

midst of his unrighteousness, without repentance or any reparation made

for his evil deeds. He was slain on a Thursday, and buried the next

morning; and after he was buried, the Witan who were then near at hand,

chose his brother Henry as King, and he forthwith gave the Bishoprick

of Winchester to William Giffard, and then went to London; and on the

Sunday following he made a promise to God and all the people, before

the altar at Westminster, that he would abolish the injustice which

prevailed in his brother’s time, and that he would observe the most

equitable of the laws established in the days of any of the Kings

before him: and after this Maurice Bishop of London consecrated him

as King, and all the men of this land submitted to him, and swore

oaths and became his liege-men. And soon afterwards, the King, by the

advice of those about him, caused Rannulf Bishop of Durham to be taken

and brought into the Tower of London, and confined there. Then before

Michaelmas Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury came to this land; King

Henry having sent for him by the advice of his Witan, because he had

left the country on account of the injustice done him by King William.

And soon afterwards the King took for his wife Mahald the daughter of

Malcolm King of Scotland and of the good Queen Margaret King Edward’s

kinswoman, of the true Royal line of England; and on Martinmas day

she was given to him with great pomp at Westminster, and Archbishop

Anselm wedded her to Henry, and afterwards consecrated her as Queen.

And soon after this Thomas Archbishop of York died. This year also, in

the autumn, Earl Robert came home into Normandy, and Robert Earl of

Flanders and Eustace Earl of Boulogne also returned from Jerusalem, and

on Earl Robert’s arrival in Normandy he was joyfully received by all

the people, excepting those in the castles which were garrisoned with

King Henry’s men, and these he made many efforts to win.

1101.

This year, at Christmas, King Henry held his Court at Westminster, and

at Easter at Winchester. And soon afterwards the chief men of this

land entered into a league against the king, both from their own great

treachery, and through Robert Earl of Normandy who had hostile designs

upon this land. And then the King sent out ships to annoy and hinder

his brother, but some of them failed at time of need, and deserted

from the King and submitted to Earl Robert.--At Midsummer the King

posted himself with all his troops at Pevensey to oppose his brother,

and he waited for him there. And in the meantime Earl Robert landed at

Portsmouth twelve nights before Lammas, and the King marched against

him with all his forces; but the chief men interfered and made peace

between them, on condition that the King should give up all those

places in Normandy which he then detained from his brother by force of

arms; and that all who had lost their lands in England on the Earl’s

account should have them again, and that Earl Eustace should also

have his father’s estates in this country, and that Earl Robert should

receive yearly 3000 marks of silver from England; and it was stipulated

by this treaty that whichever of the brothers outlived the other, he

should inherit all England together with Normandy, unless the deceased

left legitimate issue. And twelve men of the highest rank on either

side confirmed this treaty by oath: and the Earl afterwards remained

here till after Michaelmas; and his men did much harm wherever they

went, whilst the Earl staid in this land. This year also, at Candlemas,

Bishop Rannulf escaped by night from the Tower of London, in which he

was confined, and went to Normandy. It was at his incitement chiefly,

that Earl Robert was spirited up to invade this land.

1102.

This year King Henry was at Westminster during the feast of the

Nativity, and at Easter he was at Winchester. And soon afterwards a

difference arose between the King and Robert of Belesme, who held the

Earldom of Shrewsbury in this country, which his father Earl Roger had

enjoyed before him, and who had other great possessions both here and

abroad; and the King went and besieged Arundel castle, and when he

found that he should not be able to take it speedily, he caused castles

to be built before it, and garrisoned with his men; and then he led all

his troops to Bridgenorth, and remained there till he had reduced the

castle, and deprived Earl Robert of his lands, and he took from him all

that he possessed in England, so the Earl departed over sea, and the

King’s soldiers were disbanded and returned home. On the Michaelmas

following the King was at Westminster, with all the head men of this

land, both clergy and laity; and Archbishop Anselm held a synod, at

which many decrees were made touching the Christian religion; and many

Abbots, both French and English, lost their staffs and their abbacies,

because they had obtained them unlawfully, or had lived unrighteously

therein. And the same year, in Pentecost week, there came robbers, some

from Auvergne, some from France, and some from Flanders, and they brake

into the monastery of Peterborough, and carried off much treasure of

gold and silver; crosses, chalices, and candlesticks.

1103.

This year King Henry was at Westminster at Christmas. And soon

afterwards the Bishop William Giffard departed from this land,

because he would not against right, receive consecration from

Gerard Archbishop of York. And at Easter the King held his Court at

Winchester; and afterwards, Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury journeyed

to Rome, as he and the King had agreed. This year also Earl Robert

of Normandy came to this land, to speak with the King, and before he

departed hence he gave up the 3000 marks which King Henry should have

paid him yearly according to the treaty. This year blood was seen

gushing out of the earth at Hampstead, in Berkshire. This was a year

of much distress from the manifold taxes, and also from a mortality

among the cattle, and from the failure of the crops, both of the corn

and all fruits of trees. In the morning also of St. Lawrence’s day,

the wind did so much damage to all the fruit of this land, that no man

remembered the like to have ever happened before. The same year died

Mathias Abbot of Peterborough, who had not lived more than one year

after he was made Abbot. After Michaelmas, on the 12th of the calends

of November, he was received in procession as Abbot, and the same day

the year following he died at Gloucester, and there he was buried.

1104.

This year, at Christmas, King Henry held his Court at Westminster, at

Easter at Winchester, and at Pentecost again at Westminster. This year

the first day of Pentecost was on the nones of June, and on the Tuesday

after, at mid-day, there appeared four circles of a white colour round

the sun, one under the other as if they had been painted. All who saw

it wondered, because they never remembered such before.--An alliance

was afterwards formed between Robert Earl of Normandy and Robert of

Belesme, whom King Henry had deprived of his estates, and driven

out of England, and from this, the King of England and the Earl of

Normandy became at variance. And the King sent his people over sea into

Normandy, and the head men of that country received them, and admitted

them into their castles in treachery to their Lord the Earl, and they

greatly annoyed the Earl by plundering and burning his territories.

This year also, William Earl of Moreton (Mortaigne) departed to

Normandy, and being there, he took arms against the King, on which the

King confiscated all his possessions and estates in this country. It is

not easy to describe the misery of this land, which it suffered at this

time through the various and manifold oppressions and taxes that never

ceased or slackened: moreover wherever the King went his train fell

to plundering his wretched people, and withal there was much burning

and manslaughter. By all this was the anger of God provoked, and this

unhappy nation harrassed.

1105.

This year, at Christmas, King Henry held his Court at Windsor, and

the following Lent he went over sea to Normandy against his brother

Earl Robert. And whilst he remained there he won Caen and Baieux from

his brother, and almost all the castles and chief men of that land

became subject to him; and in the autumn he came again to this country.

And all that he had conquered in Normandy remained to him afterwards

in peace and subjection, excepting those places which lay in the

neighbourhood of William Earl of Mortaigne, and which he harrassed

continually as much as harrass he might, in revenge for the loss of his

estates in England. Then before Christmas Robert de Belesme came hither

to the King. This was a year of great distress from the failure of the

fruits, and from the manifold taxes which never ceased, either before

the King went abroad, while he was there, or again after his return.

1106.

This year, at Christmas, King Henry was at Westminster, and there he

held his court, and during this festival Robert de Belesme departed

from the King in enmity, and left this country for Normandy. After

this, and before Lent, the King was at Northampton, and his brother

Earl Robert of Normandy came to him there; and because the King

would not give up that which he had won from the Earl in Normandy,

they separated in enmity, and the Earl soon went again over sea. In

the first week of Lent, on the evening of Friday, the 14th of the

calends of March, a strange star appeared, and it was seen a while

every evening for a long time afterwards. This star appeared in

the south-west, it seemed small and dim, but the light that stood

from it was very bright and like an exceedingly long beam shining

to the north-east; and one evening it seemed as if a beam from over

against the star darted directly into it. Some persons said that they

observed more unknown stars at this time, but we do not write this as

a certainty because we saw them not ourselves. One night, the morrow

being the day of our Lord’s Supper, that is, the Thursday before

Easter, two moons appeared before day in the heavens, the one in the

east and the other in the west, both full; and the same day was the

14th of the moon. At Easter the King was at Bath, and at Pentecost

at Salisbury, because he would not hold his Court over sea during

his absence from this country. After this, before August, the King

went into Normandy, and almost all the inhabitants bowed to his will,

excepting Robert de Belesme, and the Earl of Mortaigne, and a few other

chiefs who yet held with the Earl of Normandy: the King therefore came

with an army, and besieged a castle of the Earl of Mortaigne called

Tinchebray. Whilst the King was besieging this castle, Robert Earl

of Normandy and his army came upon him on Michaelmas eve, and with

him were Robert de Belesme and William Earl of Mortaigne, and all

who wished well to their cause, but strength and victory were with

the King. The Earl of Normandy was taken, together with the Earl of

Mortaigne and Robert de Stutteville; and they were afterwards sent to

England, and kept in confinement; Robert de Belesme was put to flight,

and William Crispin was taken, with many others; Edgar Ætheling who

had gone over from the King to the Earl a short time before, was also

taken; but the King afterwards let him depart unhurt. After this, the

King subdued the whole of Normandy, and brought it under his own will

and power. This year, also there was a very terrible and sinful war

between the Emperor of Saxony and his son, during which the father

died, and the son succeeded to the Empire.

1107.

This year King Henry was in Normandy at Christmas and reduced that

land, and having settled the government, he came to England the

following Lent; and he held his Court at Windsor at Easter, and at

Pentecost he held it at Westminster. And in the beginning of August

he was again at Westminster, and there he gave away Bishopricks and

Abbacies, disposing of such as were without elders and pastors, both

in England and Normandy; the number of these was so great that no man

remembered that so many were ever before given away at one time. And

amongst others who then received Abbacies, Ernulf Prior of Canterbury

obtained that Of Peterborough. This was about the seventh year of King

Henry’s reign, and the one and fortieth year that the French ruled in

this land. Many said that they saw various tokens in the moon this

year, and its light waxing and waning contrary to nature. This year

died Maurice Bishop of London, and Robert Abbot of St. Edmund’s Bury,

and Richard Abbot of Ely. This year also Edgar King of Scotland died

on the ides of January, and his brother Alexander succeeded to the

kingdom with King Henry’s consent.

1108.

This year, at Christmas, King Henry was at Westminster; and at Easter

at Winchester; and at Pentecost again at Westminster. After this,

before August, he went into Normandy. And Philip King of France dying

on the nones of August, his son Louis succeeded him, and there were

afterwards many battles between the Kings of France and of England,

whilst Henry remained in Normandy. This year also Gerard Archbishop of

York died before Pentecost, and Thomas was afterwards appointed as his

successor.

1109.

This year King Henry was in Normandy both at Christmas and at Easter;

and before Pentecost he came hither and held his Court at Westminster,

at which place the stipulations were ratified, and the oaths sworn,

relative to the marriage of his daughter with the Emperor. There was

much thunder this year and that very terrible. And Anselm Archbishop of

Canterbury died on the 11th of the calends of April, and the first day

of Easter was on the greater Litany.

1110.

This year, at Christmas, King Henry held his Court at Westminster; and

at Easter he was at Marlborough; and at Pentecost he held his Court for

the first time in the New Windsor. This year, before Lent, the King

sent his daughter with manifold treasures over sea, and gave her to

the Emperor. On the fifth night of the month of May the moon appeared

shining brightly in the evening, and afterwards its light waned by

little and little, and early in the night it was so wholly gone that

neither light, nor circle, nor any thing at all of it was to be seen,

and thus it continued till near day, and then it appeared shining full

and bright; it was a fortnight old the same day: the sky was very clear

all the night, and the stars shone very brightly all over the heavens,

and the fruit trees were greatly injured by that night’s frost. After

this, in the month of June, there appeared a star in the north-east,

and its light stood before it to the south-west, and it was seen thus

for many nights, and ever as the night advanced it mounted upwards and

was seen going off to the north-west. This year Philip de Brause, and

William Mallet, and William Baynard were deprived of their lands. This

year also died Earl Elias, who whilst living held Maine of King Henry,

but on his death the Earl of Anjou took possession of that province,

and kept it against the King’s will. This was a year of much distress

from the taxes which the King raised for his daughter’s dowry, and from

the bad weather by which the crops were greatly injured, and nearly all

the fruit on the trees destroyed throughout the country.--This year men

first began to work at the new monastery of Chertsey.

1111.

This year King Henry wore not his crown at Christmas, nor at Easter,

nor at Pentecost.--And in August he was called over sea to Normandy, by

the hostility of certain of his enemies on the marches of France, and

principally by that of the Earl of Anjou who held Maine against him:

and after his arrival many were the intrigues and great the burning and

plundering carried on by either party against the other.--This year

Robert Earl of Flanders died and his son Baldwin succeeded him. The

winter was very long this year, a heavy and a severe time, by which

the fruits of the earth were much injured; and there was the greatest

pestilence among the cattle ever remembered.

1112.

All this year King Henry remained in Normandy, on account of the war

in which he was engaged with France, and with the Earl of Anjou, who

held Maine against him. And whilst he was there he deprived the Earl

of Evreux and William Crispin of their lands, and drove them out of

Normandy: and he restored to Philip de Brause the estates which had

been taken from him, and he caused Robert de Belesme to be seized and

put into prison. This was a very good year as to the crops, the trees

and fields being very fruitful; but it was a very heavy and a sorrowful

time, by reason of a dreadful pestilence among men.

1113.

This year King Henry was in Normandy at Christmas, at Easter, and at

Pentecost. And in the summer he sent hither Robert de Belesme, to be

confined in Wareham castle, and he himself came to this land soon

afterwards.

1114.

This year, at Christmas, King Henry held his Court at Windsor, and he

held no Court again this year. And at Midsummer he entered Wales with

an army, and the Welch came and treated with the King, and he caused

castles to be built in that country. And in September he went over sea

to Normandy. In the end of May, this year, a strange star with a long

light was seen shining for many nights. This year also there was so

great an ebb of the tide every where in one day, as no man remembered

before, so that men went through the Thames both riding and walking,

east of London bridge. This year there were very high winds in the

month of October, and more especially on the night of the octaves of

St. Martin, as was apparent in all woods and towns. This year also

the King gave the Archbishoprick of Canterbury to Ralph Bishop of

Rochester; and Thomas Archbishop of York died, and the King’s Chaplain

Turstein succeeded him. At this time the King went towards the sea,

and he would have gone over but he was detained by the weather. In

the mean while he sent his writ to Ernulf Abbot of Peterborough,

desiring him to come to him with speed, for that he would speak with

him on something of importance. On Ernulf’s arrival, the King and the

Archbishops and Bishops, and the English Nobility who attended the

King, forced him to accept the Bishoprick of Rochester; he withstood

them long, but his resistance availed nothing. And the King commanded

the Archbishop to take him to Canterbury, and to consecrate him as

Bishop whether he would or not.--This was done in the town called Burne

(Sittingburn?) on the 17th of the calends of October. When the monks of

Peterborough heard this, they were so sorry as never before, because

Ernulf was a very good and a mild man, and did much good within the

monastery and out of it whilst he remained there. May Almighty God be

ever with him. Soon afterwards, at the request of the Archbishop of

Canterbury, the King gave that Abbacy to a monk of Sees named John. And

soon after this the King and the Archbishop sent him to Rome for the

Archbishop’s pall, and with him a monk named Warner, and the Archdeacon

John the Archbishop’s nephew, and they sped well on their journey. This

was done on the 11th of the calends of October, at the town called

Rugenor (Rowner, near Gosport), and the same day the King took ship at

Portsmouth.

1115.

This year, during Christmas, King Henry was in Normandy, and whilst

he was there he caused all the chief men of Normandy to do homage and

swear oaths of allegiance to his son William, whom he had by his Queen;

and afterwards in the month of July he returned hither. This year the

winter was so severe with snow and with frost, that no man then living

remembered a harder: and it occasioned much disease among the cattle.

This year Pope Paschal sent hither a pall to Archbishop Ralph, and he

received it with much pomp at his see of Canterbury. Anselm an Abbot of

Rome, the nephew of Archbishop Anselm, and John Abbot of Peterborough,

brought the pall from Rome.

1116.

This year, at Christmas, King Henry was at St. Alban’s, and there he

caused the monastery to be consecrated; and at Easter he was at Wudiham

(Odiham). And this year also, the winter being severe and long, it was

a very heavy time for the cattle and all things. And soon after Easter

the King went over sea, and much treachery was practised, and there was

plundering and taking of castles between France and Normandy. The chief

cause of enmity was that King Henry aided his nephew Earl Theobald de

Blois, who was then at war with his Lord Louis King of France. This was

a very calamitous year, the crops being spoiled by the heavy rains,

which came on just before August and lasted till Candlemas. Mast also

was so scarce this year that none was to be heard of in all this land,

or in Wales: moreover this land and nation were many times sorely

oppressed by the taxes which the King raised both within the towns and

out of them. This year also the whole of the monastery of Peterborough

was burnt, with all the houses, excepting the chapter-house and the

dormitory: and the greater part of the town was burnt also. All this

happened on a Friday, being the 2d of the nones of August.

1117.

All this year King Henry abode in Normandy, because of the war with the

King of France and his other neighbours: then in the summer the King

of France, and the Earl of Flanders with him, entered Normandy with an

army, and remained in the country one night, and went away again in the

morning without fighting. And Normandy was greatly oppressed by taxes

and by the levies of troops that King Henry raised to oppose them.

This nation also was sorely aggrieved in like manner, to wit, by the

manifold taxes. This year also there was a violent storm of thunder and

lightning, rain and hail, on the night of the calends of December; and

on the 3d night of the ides of December the moon appeared for a long

time as it were bloody, and then it was darkened. Also, on the night of

the 17th of the calends of January the heaven appeared very red, as

if it were burning. And on the octave of St. John the Evangelist’s day

there was a great earthquake in Lombardy, by which many monasteries,

towers, and houses were thrown down, and the inhabitants suffered

greatly. This was a very bad year for the corn, through the rains which

ceased scarcely at all. And Gilebert Abbot of Westminster died on the

8th of the ides of December, and Farits Abbot of Abingdon died on the

7th of the calends of March. And the same year ----

1118.

All this year King Henry was in Normandy, being at war with the King

of France, and with the Earl of Anjou, and with the Earl of Flanders.

And the Earl of Flanders was wounded in Normandy, on which he returned

to Flanders. The King was greatly impoverished by this war, and lost

much money and land, and he was most harrassed by his own men, who

continually revolted and betrayed him, and went over to his enemies,

and treacherously gave up their castles in the King’s despite. England

paid dearly for all this by the manifold taxes which ceased not all

this year. This year, one evening in Epiphany week, there was dreadful

lightning which caused many deaths. And Queen Mahald (Matilda) died

at Westminster on the calends of May, and was buried there. And Robert

Earl of Mellent also died this year. This year also, on St. Thomas’

day, there was so exceedingly high a wind that none who then lived

remembered a greater, and this might be seen every where from the state

of the houses and of the trees. Pope Paschal also died this year, and

John of Gaieta, whose other name was Gelasius, succeeded to the Popedom.

1119.

All this year King Henry remained in Normandy, and was greatly

harrassed by the war with the King of France, and by the treachery of

his own men, who were continually revolting from him, till at length

the two Kings with their forces met in Normandy. The King of France

was there put to flight and all his best men taken, and many of King

Henry’s vassals who had kept their castles against him, now submitted,

and were reconciled to him, and some of the castles he took by force.

This year, William the son of King Henry and of Queen Mahald went to

Normandy to his father, and the daughter of the Earl of Anjou was there

given and wedded to him. On Michaelmas eve there was a great earthquake

in some parts of this land; and it was felt most in Gloucestershire

and Worcestershire. The same year Pope Gelasius died on this side of

the mountains, and he was buried at Cluny; and the Archbishop of Vienne

was chosen Pope, his name was Calixtus. He afterwards came to Rheims,

in France, on the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist, and held a council

there. And Turstein Archbishop of York journeyed thither, and because

he received consecration from the Pope, against right, and to the

prejudice of the see of Canterbury, and against the King’s will, Henry

wholly forbade his return to England; and being thus deprived of his

Archbishoprick, he proceeded with the Pope towards Rome. This year also

Baldwin Earl of Flanders died of the wound which he had received in

Normandy, and was succeeded by Charles the son of his aunt and of St.

Cnut, King of Denmark.

1120.

This year peace was made between the Kings of England and of France,

and after this all King Henry’s own men in Normandy made their peace

with him; also the Earls of Flanders and of Ponthieu. Then the King

ordered and disposed of his castles and land in Normandy after his own

will; and so, before Advent, he returned to England. And the King’s two

sons William and Richard were drowned in the passage, together with

Richard Earl of Chester, and Ottuel his brother; and very many of the

King’s Court; stewards, and chamberlains, and butlers, and other men

in office, and an innumerable multitude of all ranks, were also lost.

The manner of their death was a twofold grief to their friends, first

because they lost their lives so suddenly, and next that few of their

bodies were ever found. And this year that remarkable light twice came

upon our Lord’s sepulchre at Jerusalem, once at Easter, and again on

the Assumption of St. Mary, according to the report of men of credit,

who came from thence. And Turstein Archbishop of York was reconciled

to the King through the Pope, and he came to this land, and was put in

possession of his Archbishoprick, though much against the will of the

Archbishop of Canterbury.

1121.

This year, at Christmas, King Henry was at Bramtun (Brampton ?),

and before Candlemas Athelis was given him to wife at Windsor, and

afterwards consecrated Queen; she was the daughter of the Duke of

Louvain. And the moon was eclipsed on the night of the nones of

April, being the 14th day of the moon. And the King was at Berkeley

at Easter, and the Pentecost following he held a great Court at

Westminster, and in the summer he entered Wales with an army, and the

Welch came to meet him, and made a treaty with him on his own terms.

This year the Earl of Anjou returned from Jerusalem to his own land,

and after this he sent hither to fetch away his daughter who had been

married to the King’s son William. And on the night of Christmas eve

there was a very high wind throughout this land, as might be seen

plainly in its effects.

1122.

This year King Henry was at Norwich at Christmas, and at Easter he

was at Northampton. And the town of Gloucester was burned the Lent

before, for while the monks were singing mass, the deacon having begun

the gospel “_Præteriens Jesus_,” the fire fell on the top of the

steeple, and it burned the whole monastery, and all the treasures in

it, excepting a few books and three vestments: this happened on the 8th

of the ides of March. And there was a very high wind on the Tuesday

after Palm Sunday, the 11th of the Calends of April: and after this

many strange tokens were noticed throughout England, and many ghosts

were seen and heard. And on the night of the 8th of the calends of

August, there was a great earthquake throughout Somersetshire and

Gloucestershire. Again on the 6th of the ides of September, St. Mary’s

day, there was a very high wind, which continued from nine in the

morning till dark night. The same year Ralph Archbishop of Canterbury

died on the 13th of the calends of November. After this many shipmen

were at sea, and on the water, and said that they saw a fire in the

north-east, large and broad, near the earth, and that it grew in height

unto the welkin, and the welkin divided into four parts and fought

against it, as it would have quenched it; nevertheless the fire flamed

up to heaven. They observed this fire at day-break, and it lasted until

it was light every where: this was on the 7th of the ides of December.

1123.

This year King Henry was at Dunstaple at Christmas, and the messengers

from the Earl of Anjou came to him there, and he proceeded thence to

Woodstock, and his Bishops and all his Court with him. Now it fell out

on a Wednesday, being the 4th of the ides of January, that the King

rode in his deer-park, and Roger Bishop of Salisbury was on one side of

him, and Robert Bloet Bishop of Lincoln on the other; and they rode

there talking. Then the Bishop of Lincoln sank down, and said to the

King, “Lord King! I am dying,”--and the King alighted from his horse,

and took him between his arms, and bade them bear him to his inn,

and he soon lay there dead; and they took his body with much pomp to

Lincoln, and Robert Bishop of Chester, who was called Pecceth, buried

him before St. Mary’s altar. Soon after this the King sent his writs

over all England, and desired his Bishops, his Abbots, and his Thanes,

that they should all come to the meeting of his Witan at Gloucester,

on Candlemas day, and they obeyed; and when they were there assembled

the King bade them choose to themselves whomsoever they would as

Archbishop of Canterbury, and that he would confirm their choice. Then

the Bishops spake among themselves, and said that they would never more

have a man of any monastic order as Archbishop over them. And they

all with one accord went to the King, and entreated that they might

choose one of the clergy for their Archbishop, and to this the King

consented.--All this had been set on foot by the Bishop of Salisbury,

and by the Bishop of Lincoln before he died, for they never loved the

monks’ rules, but were ever against the monks and their rules also.

And the Prior and monks of Canterbury and all others of the monastic

order who were there, resisted this proceeding two full days, but in

vain, for the Bishop of Salisbury was very powerful, and swayed all

England, and he was against them with all his might. Then they chose a

clerk named William of Corboyl, he was a canon of a monastery called

Cice (St. Osith); and they brought him before the King, who gave him

the Archbishoprick, and he was received by all the Bishops; but the

Monks and Earls, and almost all the Thanes who were there, would not

acknowledge him. At this same time the messengers of the Earl departed

from the King dissatisfied, nothing regarding his gifts. At this time

also a Legate arrived from Rome; his name was Henry, and he was Abbot

of the monastery of St. Jean d’Angely. He came for the Romescot; and he

told the King that a clerk had no right to be set over monks, and that

therefore they had formerly chosen the Archbishop in the chapter, as

was befitting; but, for love of the Bishop of Salisbury, the King would

not undo his act. Soon afterwards, the Archbishop went to Canterbury,

and was received, though unwillingly, and he was forthwith consecrated

there by the Bishop of London, and Ernulf Bishop of Rochester, and

William Giffard Bishop of Winchester, and Bernard Bishop of Wales

(St. David’s), and Roger Bishop of Salisbury. Then early in Lent the

Archbishop journeyed to Rome for his pall, and Bernard Bishop of Wales,

and Sefred Abbot of Glastonbury, and Anselm Abbot of St. Edmund’s, and

John Archdeacon of Canterbury, and Gifard who was the King’s chaplain,

went with him. Thurstan Archbishop of York went to Rome at the same

time by order of the Pope, and he arrived three days before the

Archbishop of Canterbury, and was received with much honour. Then came

the Archbishop of Canterbury, and it was a full week before he could

obtain an audience of the Pope, because the Pope had been given to

understand that he had received the Archbishoprick in opposition to the

monks of the monastery, and against right; but that which overcometh

all the world, namely gold and silver, overcame Rome also, and the Pope

relented and gave him his pall, and the Archbishop swore obedience in

all things that he should impose, on the heads of St. Peter and St.

Paul, and the Pope then sent him home with his blessing. Whilst the

Archbishop was abroad, the King gave the Bishoprick of Bath to the

Queen’s Chancellor, named Godfrey; he was of Louvain: this was done

at Woodstock on the day of St. Mary’s Annunciation. Soon afterwards

the King went to Winchester, where he remained during the festival of

Easter; and while there he gave the Bishoprick of Lincoln to a clerk

named Alexander, who was a nephew of the Bishop of Salisbury, and

he did this all for love of that Bishop. Then the King proceeded to

Portsmouth, and staid there over Pentecost week; and as soon as he

had a fair wind he sailed for Normandy, having committed all England

to the care and administration of Roger Bishop of Salisbury. The King

was in Normandy all this year, and a great war broke out between him

and his Thanes, for Earl Waleram of Mellent, and Hamalri, and Hugh of

Montfort, and William of Roumare, and many others revolted from him

and held their castles against him; and the King on his part opposed

them with vigour, and the same year he won from Waleram his castle of

Pont-au-de-mer, and from Hugh that of Montfort, and after this his

affairs continued to prosper more and more. The same year, before the

Bishop of Lincoln came to his see, nearly the whole town of Lincoln was

burnt, with a great number of persons, both men and women, and so much

harm was done that no man could tell another how great the damage was.

This happened on the 14th of the calends of June.

1124.

All this year King Henry was in Normandy, being detained there by

his great wars with Louis King of France, and the Earl of Anjou, and

with his own subjects most of all. Then it befel on the day of St.

Mary’s Annunciation that Waleram Earl of Mellent was going from one of

his castles called Beaumont, to another, Watteville, and Amalri the

steward of the King of France, and Hugh the son of Gervais, and Hugh of

Montfort, and many other good Knights went with him. Then the King’s

Knights from all the neighbouring castles came against them, and fought

with them, and put them to flight, and they took the Earl Waleram, and

Hugh the son of Gervais, and Hugh of Montfort, and five and twenty

other Knights, and brought them to the King; and the King caused Earl

Waleram and Hugh the son of Gervais to be confined in the castle of

Rouen, and he sent Hugh of Montfort to England, and caused him to be

put in evil bonds in that of Gloucester, and as many of the others as

he thought fit he sent north and south to his castles for confinement.

Then the King went on, and won all Earl Waleram’s castles in Normandy,

and all the others which his enemies held against him. All this was

on account of the son of Robert Earl of Normandy named William. The

same William had married the younger daughter of Fulk Earl of Anjou,

and for this cause the King of France, and all the Earls and great men

held with him, and said that the King did wrongfully keep his brother

Robert in confinement, and that he had unjustly driven his son William

out of Normandy. This year there was much unseasonable weather which

injured the corn and all fruits in England, so that, between Christmas

and Candlemas, one acre’s seed of wheat, that is two seedlips, sold

for six shillings, and one of barley, that is three seedlips, for six

shillings, and one acre’s seed of oats, being four seedlips, for four

shillings. It was thus, because corn was scarce, and the penny was so

bad, that the man who had a pound at the market, could hardly, for any

thing, pass twelve of these pennies. The same year, the holy Bishop of

Rochester Ernulf, who had been Abbot of Peterborough, died on the ides

of March. Thereafter died Alexander King of Scotland, on the 9th of the

calends of May, and his brother David, then Earl of Northamptonshire,

succeeded him, and held at the same time both the kingdom of Scotland

and the English earldom. And the Pope of Rome called Calixtus died

on the 19th of the calends of January, and Honorius succeeded to the

Popedom. The same year, after St. Andrew’s day, and before Christmas,

Ralph Basset, and the King’s Thanes held a Witenagemot at Hundhoge

(Huncot), in Leicestershire, and there they hanged more thieves than

had ever before been executed within so short a time, being in all four

and forty men: and they put out the eyes of six.--Many men of truth

said that several there suffered with great injustice, but our Lord

God Almighty who seeth and knoweth all hidden things, seeth that the

miserable people is oppressed with all unrighteousness; first men are

bereaved of their own, and then they are slain. Full heavy a year was

this; he who had any property was bereaved of it by heavy taxes and

assessments, and he who had none, starved with hunger.

1125.

Before Christmas, this year, King Henry sent from Normandy to England,

and commanded that all the moneyers of England should be deprived of

their limbs, namely of their right hands.--And this, because a man

might have a pound, and yet not be able to spend one penny at a market.

And Roger Bishop of Salisbury sent over all England, and desired all

of them to come to Winchester at Christmas; and when they came thither

his men took them one by one, and cut off their right hands. All

this was done within the twelve days, and with much justice, because

they had ruined this land with the great quantity of bad metal which

they all bought. This year the Pope of Rome sent John of Crema, a

Cardinal, to this land. He first came to the King in Normandy, and

the King received him with much honour, and commended him to William

Archbishop of Canterbury, who conducted him to Canterbury; and he was

there received with much pomp, and a great procession, and he sang

the high mass at Christ’s altar on Easter day; and then he journeyed

over all England, to all the Bishopricks and Abbacies, and he was

honourably received every where, and all gave him great and handsome

gifts; and in September he held his council in London full three days

(beginning) on the Nativity of St. Mary, with the Archbishops, Bishops,

and Abbots, and the clergy and laity, and he sanctioned the laws which

Archbishop Anselm had made, and he enacted many others, though they

remained in force but a little while.--Thence he went over sea soon

after Michaelmas, and so to Rome. William Archbishop of Canterbury,

and Thurstan Archbishop of York, and Alexander Bishop of Lincoln, and

John Bishop of Lothene (Glasgow), and Geoffrey Abbot of St. Alban’s,

accompanied him, and were received with great honour by the Pope

Honorius, and they remained there the whole winter. The same year

there was so great a flood on St. Lawrence’s day, that many towns were

deluged, and men drowned, the bridges were broken up, and, the corn

fields and meadows spoiled; and there was famine and disease upon men

and cattle; and it was so bad a season for all fruits as had not been

for many years before. The same year John Abbot of Peterborough died on

the 2d of the ides of October.

1126.

This year King Henry was in Normandy till after harvest; and he came to

this land between the Nativity of St. Mary, and Michaelmas, accompanied

by the Queen, and by his daughter whom he had before given in marriage

to the Emperor Henry of Lorrain. He brought with him the Earl Waleram,

and Hugh the son of Gervais, and he imprisoned the Earl at Bridgenorth,

and he afterwards sent him to Wallingford, and he sent Hugh to

Windsor, and caused him to be put into hard bonds. And after Michaelmas

David King of Scotland came hither, and King Henry received him with

much honour, and he abode through the year in this land.--The same year

the King caused his brother Robert to be taken from Roger Bishop of

Salisbury, and delivered to his son Robert Earl of Gloucester, and he

caused him to be removed to Bristol, and put into the castle. All this

was done through the advice of his daughter, and of her uncle David

King of Scotland.

1127.

This year, at Christmas, King Henry held his Court at Windsor, and

David King of Scotland was there, and all the head men of England, both

clergy and laity. And the King caused the Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots,

Earls, and all the Thanes who were present, to swear to place England

and Normandy after his death in the hands of his daughter the Princess,

who had been the wife of the Emperor of Saxony. And then he sent her

to Normandy, accompanied by her brother Robert Earl of Gloucester, and

by Brian the son of the Earl Alein Fergan; and he caused her to be

wedded to the son of the Earl of Anjou, named Geoffrey Martel. Howbeit

this displeased all the French and the English, but the King did it to

obtain peace from the Earl of Anjou and aid against his nephew William.

The same year Charles Earl of Flanders was slain in Lent, by his own

men, as he lay before the altar in a church, and prayed to God during

mass. And the King of France brought William the son of the Earl of

Normandy, and gave him the earldom, and the men of Flanders received

him.--The same William had before taken to wife the daughter of the

Earl of Anjou, but they were afterwards divorced because of their

nearness of kin, and this through the interference of Henry King of

England; he afterwards married the sister of the King of France, and

on this account the King gave him the earldom of Flanders.--The same

year Henry gave the Abbacy of Peterborough to an Abbot named Henry of

Poitou, who was in possession of the Abbacy of St. Jean d’Angely; and

all the Archbishops and Bishops said that this grant was against right,

and that he could not have in hand two Abbacies. But the same Henry

made the King believe that he had given up his Abbey on account of the

great disquietude of the land, and that he had done so by the order

and with the leave of the Pope of Rome, and of the Abbot of Cluny,

and because he was Legate for collecting the Romescot. Nevertheless it

was not so, but he wished to keep both Abbeys in his own hands, and he

did hold them as long as it was the will of God. In his clerkship he

was Bishop of Scesscuns (Soissons), afterwards he was a monk at Cluny,

then Prior of the same monastery, and next he was Prior of Savenay;

after this, being related to the King of England and to the Earl of

Poitou, the Earl gave him the Abbey of St Jean d’Angely. Afterwards

by his great craft he obtained the Archbisboprick of Besançon, and

kept possession of it three days; and then lost he it right worthily,

in that he had gotten it with all injustice. He then obtained the

Bishoprick of Saintes, which was five miles from his own Abbey, and

he kept this for nearly a week, but here again the Abbot of Cluny

displaced him, as he had before removed him from Besançon. Now he

bethought himself that if he could be sheltered in England, he might

have all his will, on which he besought the King, and said to him that

he was an old man, and a broken-down, and that he could not endure the

wrongs and oppressions of that land, and he asked the King, himself,

and through all his friends, by name for the Abbacy of Peterborough.

And the King granted it to him, forasmuch as he was his kinsman, and in

that he had been one of the first to swear oaths, and to bear witness,

when the son of the Earl of Normandy and the daughter of the Earl of

Anjou were divorced on the plea of kindred.--Thus vexatiously was the

Abbacy of Peterborough given away at London, between Christmas and

Candlemas; and so Henry went with the King to Winchester, and thence he

came to Peterborough, and there he lived even as a drone in a hive; as

the drone eateth and draggeth forward to himself all that is brought

near, even so did he; and thus he sent over sea all that he could

take from religious or from secular, both within and without; no good

there he did, nor any did he leave there. Let no man think lightly of

the marvel that we are about to relate as a truth, for it was full

well known over all the country. It is this; that as soon as he came

to Peterborough; it was on the Sunday when men sing “_Exsurge quare O

Domine_;” several persons saw and heard many hunters hunting.--These

hunters were black and large and loathly, and their hounds were all

black, with wide eyes and loathly, and they rode on black horses and

on black bucks. This was seen in the very deer-park of the town of

Peterborough, and in all the woods from the same town to Stamford; and

the monks heard the blasts of the horns which they blew in the night.

Men of truth kept in the night their watch on them, and said that there

might well be about 20 or 30 horn-blowers.--This was seen and heard

from the time that the Abbot came thither, all that Lent, until Easter.

Such was his entrance, of his exit we can say nothing yet: God knoweth

it.

1128.

All this year King Henry was in Normandy, on account of the war between

him and his nephew the Earl of Flanders; but the Earl was wounded in

battle by a servant, and being so wounded he went to the monastery

of St. Bertin, and forthwith he was made a monk, and lived five days

after, and then died, and was buried there: God rest his soul! He was

buried on the 6th of the calends of August. The same year died Randulf

Passeflambard Bishop of Durham, and he was buried there on the nones of

September. And this year the aforesaid Abbot Henry went home to his own

monastery in Poitou, with the King’s leave. He had given the King to

understand that he would wholly quit that monastery, and that country,

and abide with him in England, and at his monastery of Peterborough.

But so it was not, for he spake thus guilefully, wishing to remain

there a twelvemonth or more, and then to return again. May Almighty God

have mercy upon this wretched place. The same year Hugh of the Temple

came from Jerusalem to the King in Normandy, and the King received him

with much honour, and gave him much treasure in gold and silver, and

afterwards he sent him to England, and there he was well received by

all good men, and all gave him treasures; and in Scotland also: and

they sent in all a great sum of gold and silver by him to Jerusalem.

And he invited the people out to Jerusalem, and there went with him and

after him so great a number, as never before since the first expedition

in the days of Pope Urban. Yet this availed little: he said that there

was a furious war between the christians and the heathens, and when

they came there it was nothing but leasing.--Thus were all these people

miserably betrayed.

1129.

This year the King sent to England after Earl Waleram, and after Hugh

the son of Gervais; and there they gave him hostages, and Hugh went

home to France his own country, and Waleram remained with the King,

and the King gave him all his lands, excepting his castle alone. Then

the King came to England in harvest, and the Earl came with him, and

they were as great friends as they had been enemies before. Then soon,

by the King’s counsel and consent, William Archbishop of Canterbury

sent over all England, and commanded the Bishops, and Abbots, and

Archdeacons, and all the Priors, Monks, and Canons of all the cells

of England, and all who had the charge and oversight of the Christian

religion, that they should come to London at Michaelmas, to hold

conference upon all God’s rights. When they came thither, the meeting

began on the Monday and lasted till the Friday, and it came out that

it was all concerning the wives of Archdeacons and Priests, that they

should part with them by St. Andrew’s day; and that he who would not do

this, should forego his church, his house, and his home, and never be

permitted again to claim them. This was ordered by William Archbishop

of Canterbury, and all the Bishops of England; and the King gave them

leave to depart, and so they went home, and these decrees were in no

respect observed, for all kept their wives, by the King’s permission,

even as before. The same year William Giffard Bishop of Winchester

died, and was buried there on the 8th of the calends of February;

and after Michaelmas the King gave the Bishoprick to his Nephew Henry

Abbot of Glastonbury, and he was consecrated by William Archbishop of

Canterbury on the 15th of the calends of December. The same year died

Pope Honorius, and before he was well dead, two Popes were chosen. The

one was named Peter, he was a monk of Cluny, and descended from the

greatest men of Rome, and the Romans and the Duke of Sicily held with

him; the other was named Gregory, he was a clerk, and he was driven

from Rome by the other Pope and his kinsmen, and he was acknowledged

by the Emperor of Saxony, by the King of France, by Henry King of

England, and by all on this side the mountains. There was now so great

a division in Christendom, that the like had never been before: May

Christ appoint good counsel for his miserable people! The same year

there was a great earthquake on St. Nicholas’ night, a little before

day.

1130.

This year the monastery of Canterbury was consecrated by Archbishop

William, on the 4th of the nones of May. The following Bishops were

there: John of Rochester, Gilbert Universalis of London, Henry

of Winchester, Alexander of Lincoln, Roger of Salisbury, Simon of

Worcester, Roger of Coventry, Godfrey of Bath, Everard of Norwich,

Sigefrid of Chichester, Bernard of St. David’s, Audoenus of Evreux, in

Normandy, and John of Seez. On the 4th day after this, King Henry was

at Rochester, and nearly the whole town was burnt down; and Archbishop

William and the aforesaid Bishops consecrated St. Andrew’s monastery.

And King Henry went over sea to Normandy during harvest. The same year

Henry Abbot of Angely came to Peterborough after Easter, and said that

he had wholly given up that monastery. After him, the Abbot of Cluny

named Peter came to England with the King’s leave, and he was received

with much honour wherever he went; he came to Peterborough, and there

the Abbot Henry promised that he would obtain for him the monastery of

Peterborough, and that it should be annexed to Cluny; but as it is said

in the proverb, “The Hedge still stands--That parts the Lands.” May

Almighty God frustrate evil counsels! And soon afterwards the Abbot of

Cluny went home to his own country.

1131.

This year, on a moonlight night after Christmas, during the first

sleep, the northern half of the heaven was, as it were, a burning

fire; so that all who saw it were more affrighted than ever they were

before; this happened on the 3d of the ides of January. The same year

there was so great a pestilence amongst animals over all England, as

had not been in the memory of man; it chiefly fell on cattle and on

swine, so that in the town where ten or twelve ploughs had been going,

not one remained, and the man, who had possessed two or three hundred

swine, had not one left him. After this the hens died; and flesh-meat

became scarce, and cheese, and butter. God mend the state of things

when such is his will! And King Henry came home to England before

harvest, after the latter feast of St. Peter. The same year before

Easter the Abbot Henry went from Peterborough over sea to Normandy,

and there he spoke with the King, and told him that the Abbot of Cluny

had commanded him to come over, and resign to him the Abbey of Angely;

and that then, with his leave, he would return home: and so he went

to his own monastery and abode there till Midsummer day. And, on the

day after the feast of St. John, the monks chose an Abbot from among

themselves, and brought him into the church in procession; they sang

_Te Deum laudamus_, they rang the bells, and they set him on the

Abbot’s seat, and they did all obedience to him, even as they would to

their Abbot; and the Earl and all the chief men and the monks drove the

other Abbot Henry out of the monastery, and well they might, for in

five and twenty years they had never known a good day. All his great

craftiness failed him here, and now it behoved him to creep into any

corner, and to consider if perchance there yet remained some slippery

device, by which he might once more betray Christ and all christian

people. Then went he to Cluny, and there they kept him, so that he

could go neither east nor west; the Abbot of Cluny saying that they had

lost St. Jean through him, and his great sottishness; wherefore seeing

he could give no better compensation, he promised and swore on the

holy relics, that if he might proceed to England he would obtain for

them the monastery of Peterborough, and would establish there a Prior

of Cluny, a church-warden, a treasurer, and a keeper of the robes, and

that he would make over to them all things both within and without the

monastery. Thus he went into France and abode there all the year. May

Christ provide for the wretched monks of Peterborough, and for that

miserable place, for now do they stand in need of the help of Christ

and of all christian people.

1132.

This year King Henry returned to this land: then the Abbot Henry came,

and accused the monks of Peterborough to the King, because he desired

to subject that monastery to Cluny; so that the King was well nigh

beguiled, and sent for the monks; but by God’s mercy, and through the

Bishops of Salisbury and Lincoln, and the other great men who were

there, he found out that the Abbot dealt treacherously. When he could

do no more, he wished that his nephew might be Abbot of Peterborough,

but this was not the will of Christ. It was not very long after

this that the King sent for him, and made him give up the Abbey of

Peterborough, and depart out of the country, and the King granted

the Abbacy to a Prior of St. Neot’s named Martin, and he came to the

monastery, right worshipfully attended, on St. Peter’s day.

1135.

This year, at Lammas, King Henry went over sea: and on the second

day, as he lay asleep in the ship, the day was darkened universally,

and the sun became as if it were a moon three nights old, with the

stars shining round it at mid-day. Men greatly marvelled, and great

fear fell on them, and they said that some great event should follow

thereafter--and so it was, for the same year the King died in Normandy,

on the day after the feast of St. Andrew. Soon did this land fall into

trouble, for every man quickly began to rob his neighbour as he might.

Then King Henry’s sons and his friends took his body, and brought it

to England, and buried it at Reading. He was a good man, and great

was the awe of him; no man durst ill treat another in his time: he

made peace for men and deer. Whoso bare his burden of gold and silver,

no man durst say to him aught but good. In the mean time his nephew

Stephen de Blois had arrived in England, and he came to London, and the

inhabitants received him, and sent for the Archbishop William Corboyl,

who consecrated him King on midwinter-day. In this King’s time was all

discord, and evil-doing, and robbery; for the powerful men who had kept

aloof, soon rose up against him; the first was Baldwin de Redvers,

and he held Exeter against the King, and Stephen besieged him, and

afterwards Baldwin made terms with him. Then the others took their

castles, and held them against the King, and David King of Scotland

betook him to Wessien,[BJ] but, notwithstanding his array, messengers

passed between them, and they came together, and made an agreement,

though it availed little.

1137.

This year King Stephen went over sea to Normandy, and he was received

there because it was expected that he would be altogether like his

uncle, and because he had gotten possession of his treasure, but

this he distributed and scattered foolishly. King Henry had gathered

together much gold and silver, yet did he no good for his soul’s sake

with the same. When King Stephen came to England he held an assembly at

Oxford; and there he seized Roger Bishop of Salisbury, and Alexander

Bishop of Lincoln, and Roger the Chancellor, his nephew, and he kept

them all in prison till they gave up their castles. When the traitors

perceived that he was a mild man, and a soft, and a good, and that he

did not enforce justice, they did all wonder. They had done homage to

him, and sworn oaths, but no faith kept they; all became forsworn,

and broke their allegiance, for every rich man built his castles, and

defended them against him, and they filled the land full of castles.

They greatly oppressed the wretched people by making them work at

these castles, and when the castles were finished they filled them

with devils and evil men. Then they took those whom they suspected to

have any goods, by night and by day, seizing both men and women, and

they put them in prison for their gold and silver, and tortured them

with pains unspeakable, for never were any martyrs tormented as these

were. They hung some up by their feet, and smoked them with foul smoke;

some by their thumbs, or by the head, and they hung burning things on

their feet. They put a knotted string about their heads, and writhed

it till it went into the brain. They put them into dungeons wherein

were adders and snakes and toads, and thus wore them out. Some they put

into a crucet-house, that is, into a chest that was short and narrow,

and not deep, and they put sharp stones in it, and crushed the man

therein so that they broke all his limbs. There were hateful and grim

things called Sachenteges in many of the castles, and which two or

three men had enough to do to carry. The Sachentege was made thus: it

was fastened to a beam, having a sharp iron to go round a man’s throat

and neck, so that he might no ways sit, nor lie, nor sleep, but that

he must bear all the iron. Many thousands they exhausted with hunger. I

cannot and I may not tell of all the wounds, and all the tortures that

they inflicted upon the wretched men of this land; and this state of

things lasted the 19 years that Stephen was King, and ever grew worse

and worse. They were continually levying an exaction from the towns,

which they called Tensery,[BK] and when the miserable inhabitants had

no more to give, then plundered they, and burnt all the towns, so that

well mightest thou walk a whole day’s journey nor ever shouldest thou

find a man seated in a town, or its lands tilled.

Then was corn dear, and flesh, and cheese, and butter, for there was

none in the land--wretched men starved with hunger--some lived on alms

who had been erewhile rich: some fled the country--never was there

more misery, and never acted heathens worse than these. At length

they spared neither church nor churchyard, but they took all that was

valuable therein, and then burned the church and all together. Neither

did they spare the lands of Bishops, nor of Abbots, nor of Priests;

but they robbed the monks and the clergy, and every man plundered

his neighbour inasmuch as he might. If two or three men came riding

to a town, all the township fled before them, and thought that they

were robbers. The Bishops and clergy were ever cursing them, but this

to them was nothing, for they were all accursed, and forsworn, and

reprobate. The earth bare no corn, you might as well have tilled the

sea, for the land was all ruined by such deeds, and it was said openly

that Christ and his Saints slept. These things, and more than we can

say, did we suffer during 19 years because of our sins. Through all

this evil time the Abbot Martin held his Abbacy for 20 years, and a

half, and eight days, with many difficulties: and he provided the

monks and guests with all necessaries, and kept up much alms in the

house; and withal he wrought upon the church, and annexed thereto lands

and rents, and enriched it greatly, and furnished it with robes: and

he brought the monks into the new monastery on St. Peter’s day with

much pomp. This was in the year 1140 of our Lord’s incarnation, the

23d year after the fire. And he went to Rome and was well received

there by Pope Eugenius, and he obtained sundry privileges, to wit, one

for all the abbey lands, and another for the lands that adjoin the

monastery, and had he lived longer he meant to have done as much for

the treasurer’s house. And he regained certain lands that powerful

men possessed by force; he won Cottingham and Easton from William

Malduit, who held Rockingham castle, and from Hugh of Waltville he won

Hyrtlingberi (Artleborough), and Stanwick, and sixty shillings yearly

out of Aldewingle (Oldwincle). And he increased the number of monks,

and planted a vineyard, and made many works, and improved the town; and

he was a good monk and a good man, and therefore God and good men loved

him.--Now will we relate some part of what befel in King Stephen’s

time. In his reign the Jews of Norwich bought a Christian child before

Easter, and tortured him with all the torments wherewith our Lord was

tortured, and they crucified him on Good Friday for the love of our

Lord, and afterwards buried him. They believed that this would be kept

secret, but our Lord made manifest that he was a holy martyr, and the

monks took him and buried him honourably in the monastery, and he

performed manifold and wonderful miracles through the power of our

Lord, and is called St. William.

1138.

This year David King of Scotland entered this land with an immense

army resolving to conquer it, and William Earl of Albemarle, to whose

charge the King had committed York, and other trusty men, came against

him with few troops, and fought with him, and they put the King to

flight at the Standard, and slew a great part of his followers.

1140.

This year Stephen attempted to take Robert Earl of Gloucester the son

of King Henry, but failed, for Robert was aware of his purpose.--After

this, in Lent, the sun and the day were darkened about noon, when men

eat, so that they lighted candles to eat by. This was on the 13th of

the calends of April, and the people were greatly astonished. After

this William Archbishop of Canterbury died, and the King made Theobald

Abbot of Bec Archbishop. Then there arose a very great war between the

King and Randolf Earl of Chester, not because the King did not give

him all that he could ask, even as he did to all others, but that the

more he gave them, the worse they always carried themselves to him.

The Earl held Lincoln against the King, and seized all that belonged

to the King there, and the King went thither, and besieged him and his

brother William de Romare in the castle: and the Earl stole out and

went for Robert Earl of Gloucester, and brought him thither with a

large army; and they fought furiously against their Lord on Candlemas

day, and they took him captive, for his men betrayed him and fled, and

they led him to Bristol, and there they put him into prison and close

confinement. Now was all England more disturbed than before, and all

evil was in the land. After this, King Henry’s daughter, who had been

Empress of Germany, and was now Countess of of Anjou, arrived, and

she came to London, and the citizens would have seized her, but she

fled with much loss. Then Henry Bishop of Winchester, King Stephen’s

brother, spake with Earl Robert and with the Empress, and swore them

oaths that he never more would hold with the King his brother, and he

cursed all those that did hold with him, and he said that he would

give up Winchester to them, and he made them come thither. But when

they were in that place Stephen’s Queen brought up her strength and

besieged them, till there was so great a famine in the town, they could

endure it no longer. Then stole they out and fled, and the besiegers

were aware of them, and followed them, and they took Robert Earl of

Gloucester and led him to Rochester, and imprisoned him there: and the

Empress fled into a monastery. Then wise men, friends of the King and

of the Earl, interfered between them, and they settled that the King

should be let out of prison for the Earl, and the Earl for the King;

and this was done. After this the King and Earl Randolf were reconciled

at Stamford, and they took oaths and pledged their troth, that neither

would betray the other: but this promise was set at nought, for the

King afterwards seized the Earl in Northampton through wicked counsel,

and put him in prison, but he set him free soon after, through worse,

on condition that he should swear on the cross and find hostages that

he would give up all his castles. Some he did deliver up, and others

not; and he did worse than he should have done in this country. Now

was England much divided, some held with the King and some with the

Empress, for when the King was in prison the Earls and the great men

thought that he would never more come out, and they treated with the

Empress, and brought her to Oxford, and gave her the town. When the

King was out of prison he heard this, and he took his army and besieged

her in the tower, and they let her down from the tower by night with

ropes, and she stole away, and she fled: and she went on foot to

Wallingford. After this she went over sea, and all the Normans turned

from the King to the Earl of Anjou, some willingly, and some against

their will; for he besieged them till they gave up their castles, and

they had no help from the King. Then the King’s son Eustace went to

France, and took to wife the sister of the King of France: he thought

to obtain Normandy through this marriage, but little he sped, and that

of right, for he was an evil man, and did more harm than good wherever

he went: he spoiled the lands, and laid thereon heavy taxes: he brought

his wife to England, and put her into the castle of ----; she was a

good woman but she had little bliss with him, and it was not the will

of Christ that he should bear rule long, and he died, and his mother

also. And the Earl of Anjou died, and his son Henry succeeded him; and

the Queen of France was divorced from the the King, and she went to the

young Earl Henry and he took her to wife, and received all Poitou with

her. Then he came into England with a great army and won castles; and

the King marched against him with a much larger army, howbeit they did

not fight, but the Archbishop and wise men went between them and made

a treaty on these terms; that the King should be Lord and King while

he lived, and that Henry should be King after his death, and that he

should consider him as his father, and the King him as his son, and

that peace and concord should be between them, and in all England.

The King, and the Earl, and the Bishop, and the Earls, and all the

great men swore to observe these and the other conditions that were

then made. The Earl was received with much honour at Winchester and at

London, and all did homage to him, and swore to keep the peace, and it

soon became a very good peace, such as never was in this land. Then the

King was more powerful here than ever he was; and the Earl went over

sea, and all the people loved him, because he did good justice, and

made peace.

1154.

This year King Stephen died, and he was buried with his wife and his

son at Favres-field (Feversham); they had built that monastery.--When

the King died the Earl was beyond sea, and no man durst do other than

good for very dread of him. When he came to England he was received

with much honour, and was consecrated King at London on the Sunday

before Christmas, and he held a great Court there: and on the same day

that Martin Abbot of Peterborough should have gone thither he sickened,

and he died on the 4th of the nones of January. And that day the monks

chose another Abbot from among themselves. He is named William de

Waltville, a good clerk, and a good man, and well beloved of the King

and of all good people: and they buried the Abbot honourably in the

Church, and soon afterwards the Abbot Elect and the monks went to the

King at Oxford, and the King gave him the Abbacy, and thus he departed,

having received * * * * * * *

Finis.

_Index to the Saxon Chronicle._

A

A. D. PAGE

656 Abon Alderman (A. D. 664) 40

710 Acca Bishop of Hexham 56

733 expelled 60

737 dies 60

785 Adrian 1st, Pope, sends to England 71

794 dies 73

675 Adrian, Legate, in England (A. D. 680) 48

897 Æbba killed 114

1007 Ædric Alderman of Mercia 163

1009 favours the Danes 165

1015 murders Sigeferth and Morcær 175

1015 deserts to Cnut 176

1016 his treachery towards Edmund 179

1017 receives the government of Mercia from

Cnut 181

1017 killed 181

1017 Ædwig, Ætheling, banished by Cnut 182

933 Ædwine, Prince, drowned 131

1002 Æfic, High Sheriff, murdered 158

650 Ægelbyrht, or Æthelbryht, Bp. of Wessex 33

660 leaves England 42

1058 Ægelric Bishop of Chichester 205

1070 excommunicates Hereward 216

1069 Ægelric (abdicated) Bp. of Durham, arrested 211

1072 dies 226

1077 Ægelwig, Abbot of Evesham, dies 230

1069 Ægelwin, Bishop of Durham, outlawed 211

1071 joins Morker at Ely 225

1071 dies 226

603 Ægthan, King of Scots, defeated 24

1006 Ælfelm, Alderman, killed 161

961 Ælfgar, Edgar’s kinsman, dies 138

993 Ælfgar, son of Ælfric, blinded 152

1048 Ælfgar, son of Leofric, receives Harold’s

Earldom 199, 204

1055 outlawed and joins Griffin 204

1057 succeeds to Leofric’s Earldom 205

1002 Ælfgiva Emma, Ethelred’s Queen, the daughter

of Richard Earl of Normandy, comes to

England 158

1013 takes refuge in Normandy 172

1017 marries Cnut 182

1036 Regent of Wessex 186

1037 expelled 187

1042 her treasures seized by Edward 190

1052 dies 200

985 Ælfheah Bishop of Winchester 131

951 dies 136

984 Ælfeah St. Bishop of Winchester 149

993 his counsel to Æthelred 152

994 Ælfeah St. conducts Anlaf to Æthelred 153

1006 Archbishop of Canterbury 160

1012 martyred 170

1023 relics of, removed to Canterbury 184

963 Ælfhere, Alderman of Mercia (A. D. 972) 142

975 expels the monks 147

983 dies 149

1012 Ælfhun, Bishop of Durham, buries the body

of St. Ælfheah 170

1013 sent abroad with Æthelred’s sons 172

792 Ælfled wife of Æthelred 73

1088 Ælfred, Monk, confined 222

634 Ælfric, the father of Osric 30

983 Ælfric, Alderman of Mercia 149

985 banished 149

992 } { 151

1003 } his treachery { 159

994 Ælfric Archbishop of Canterbury 152

997 goes to Rome 154

1005 dies 160

1016 Ælfric, Alderman, killed 180

1023 Ælfric, Archbishop of York 184

1038 Ælfric, Bishop of East Anglia, dies 187

963 Ælfsige, or Ælfsi, Abbot of Peterborough

(A. D. 1006) 143

1013 in Normandy with Queen Emma 173

1041 dies 189

1032 Ælfsige, Bishop of Winchester, dies 186

963 Ælfstan, Bishop, of London, witness to

Edgar’s grant (A. D. 972) 142

992 commands Æthelred’s fleet 151

1044 Ælfstan, Abbot of St. Augustine’s, dies 191

925 Ælfweard, son of King Edward, dies 130

679 Ælfwine, the brother of Eeferth, killed 49

1032 Ælfwin Bishop of Winchester 186

1045 dies 191

1046 Ælwine, Abbot, sent to St. Remy 193

1011 Ælfword, Sheriff, taken 168

656 Ælhmund, Alderman (A. D. 664) 40

477 Ælla arrives in Britain 13

490 takes Andredes-ceaster 14

560 succeeds Ida in Northumberland 20

588 dies 22

827 his power noted 81

867 Ælla, usurper of Northumberland, killed 90

1011 Ælmær, Abbot, betrays Canterbury 168

1016 Ælmær the Darling 178

455 Æsc reigns with his father Hengest 12

457 }

466 } his battles 13

473 }

488 sole King of Kent 14

992 Æscwig Bishop of Dorchester 151

674 Æscwine King of Wessex 44

675 fights with Wulfere 45

676 dies 49

778 Æthebald 69

716 Æthelbald (or Æthelwold) King of Mercia 57

733 takes Somerton 60

737 lays waste Northumberland 60

743 fights with the Welsh 61

752 defeated by Cuthred 62

755 killed 65

851 Æthelbald, Prince, son of Æthelwulf, fights

with the Danes 85

854 succeeds to the kingdom of Wessex 16, 88

860 dies 88

656 Æthelbold (A. D. 664) 40

552 Æthelberht (Æthelbriht or Ægelberht) born 20

560 King of Kent 20

568 defeated by Ceawlin 21

616 dies 26

his dominion 81

766 Æthelberht Archbishop of York 67

780 dies 70

776 Æthelberht Bishop of Whitehorn 69

797 dies 76

854 Æthelbryht, King of Kent, Essex, & Sussex 88

860 King of Wessex 16, 88

1055 Æthelbryht’s St. monastery burnt 205

748 Æthelbyrht King of Kent 62

760 dies 66

792 Æthelbyrht King of East Anglia, beheaded 73

633 Æthelburg, Edwin’s widow, takes refuge in Kent 30

722 Æthelburh Queen demolishes Taunton 58

673 Ætheldryth St. founds Ely Monastery 44

679 dies 49

963 relics of at Ely 139

897 Æthelere, Frisian, killed 114

593 Æthelferth, or Æthelfrith, King of Northumberland 23

603 defeats Ægthan 24

607 defeats the Britons 25

617 killed 27

897 Æthelferth Alfred’s herdsman killed 114

913 Æthelfled, Lady of Mercia, builds fenced towns 120

916 takes Brecknock 121

918 Derby 123

920 Leicester 124

922 dies 129

964 Æthelgar, Abbot of the new monastery, Winchester 144

988 Archbishop of Canterbury 150

728 Æthelheard King of Wessex 16, 58

741 dies 61

790 Æthelheard (or Athelard) Archbishop of Canterbury 72

796 holds a synod 75

799 goes to Rome 76

803 dies 78

794 Æthelheard, Alderman, dies 74

852 Æthelheard, Alderman 86

837 Æthelhelm, Duke, killed 84

887 Æthelhelm, Alderman, carries alms to Rome 102

655 Æthelhere, brother of Anna, killed 34

750 Æthelhun, Alderman 62

894 Æthelm, Alderman of Wiltshire 109

898 dies 115

1013 Æthelmer, Alderman, submits to Swegn 172

800 Æthelmund, Alderman, killed 77

894 Æthelnoth, Alderman 109

1022 Æthelnoth (or Ægelnoth) Archbishop of Canterbury 183

1023 removes the relics of St. Ælfeah 184

1023 dies 187

664 Æthelred brother of Wulfhere at the consecration

of Medeshamstede 36

675 King of Mercia 45

676 lays waste Kent 49

680 confirms Wulfhere’s grant 47

695 loses his Queen 55

704 becomes a monk 55

716 buried at Bardney 57

774 Æthelred King of Northumberland 68

778 deposed 69

790 regains the throne 72

792 marries Ælflæd 73

794 killed 73

978 Æthelred King of England 148

986 lays waste the diocese of Rochester 149

992 Æthelred raises a fleet 151

993 makes peace with Anlaf 152

1000 lays waste Cumberland 156

1002 makes peace with the Danes 158

1002 massacres the Danes 158

1011 sues for peace 168

1013 besieged in London 171

1013 goes abroad 172

1014 recalled 174

1014 defeats the Danes in Lindsey 174

1016 dies 178

588 Æthelric King of Northumberland 22

1038 Æthelric, Bishop of Sussex, dies 187

1016 Æthelsige Alderman 180

1016 Æthelsige, Abbot of Abingdon 181

1018 dies 182

1061 Æthelsige, Abbot of St. Augustine’s 206

836 Æthelstan, King of Kent, Essex, and Sussex 83

851 defeats the Danes 85

883 Æthelstan, Alderman, sent to Rome 99

925 Æthelstan King 130

927 expels Guthfrith 130

934 invades Scotland 131

938 defeats Anlaf and Constantine 131

941 dies 134

1010 Æthelstan, Etheldred’s son in law, killed 166

1043 Æthelstan Abbot of Abingdon 190

1046 dies 191

888 Æthelswith, Queen, dies 103

661 Æthelwald, King of Sussex, receives Wight 42

828 Æthelwald, Bishop of Litchfield, dies 81

901 Æthelwald, Prince, revolts and defeated 115

904 invades England 116

905 killed 117

994 Æthelward, Alderman 153

1016 Æthelward, son of Æthelsig, killed 180

1001 Æthelweard, High Sheriff, killed 156

963 Æthelwin, Alderman (A. D. 972) 142

992 dies 151

1018 Æthelwin Abbot of Abingdon 182

737 Æthelwold, Bishop of Hexham, dies 60

888 Æthelwold, Alderman, dies 103

1017 Æthelword, son of Æthelmer, killed 181

1020 Æthelword, Alderman, outlawed 182

836 Æthelwulf King of Wessex 83

840 } battles of, with the Danes { 84

851 } { 85

853 conquers North Wales 86

854 grants the tithe of his lands to the

church 87

854 goes to Rome 87

854 marries Judith (A. D. 855) 87

854 dies (A. D. 857) 87

860 } Æthelwulf, Alderman, defeats the Danes { 88

871 } { 91

871 killed 92

866 Æthered King of Wessex 89

868 Æthered, King of Wessex, aids Burhred 90

871 battles of, with the Danes 91, 92

871 dies 93

870 Æthered Archbishop of Canterbury 91

888 dies 103

886 Æthered, Alderman of Mercia, Governor of London 101

894 godfather to a son of Hastings 108

894 besieges the Danes at Bultington 109

912 dies 120

901 Æthered, Alderman of Devon, dies 116

1034 Ætheric, Bishop of Dorchester, dies 186

680 Agatho, Pope, rescript of 45

911 Agmund, Hold, killed 120

651 Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne, dies 33

1070 Ailnod, Abbot of Glastonbury, deposed

(A. D. 1077) 219

283 Alban St. martyred 8

relics of, removed to Denmark (A. D. 1080) 242

1116 Alban’s St. monastery consecrated 284

780 Alchmund, Bishop of Hexham, dies 70

788 Aldberht, Abbot, dies 72

709 Aldhelm, Bishop of Westwood, dies 56

727 Aldulf Bishop of Rochester 58

731 consecrates Archbishop Tatwine 59

731 Aldwine Bishop of Litchfield 59

1127 Alein Fergan, Earl of Britanny and Richmond

(A. D. 1084-1119) 301

114 Alexander 1st, Pope, decree of 6

1070 Alexander 2d, Pope, decides for the supremacy

of Canterbury (A. D. 1071) 213, 217

1107 Alexander King of Scotland 278

1124 dies 297

1123 Alexander Bishop of Lincoln 295

1125 goes to Rome 300

1130 at the consecration of Christ Church 309

1137 imprisoned by Stephen 314

853 Alfred, or Ælfred, sent to Rome 86

854 consecrated as King, by Leo (A. D. 857) 88

871 defeated with Æthered 91

871 King of Wessex 93

875 defeats the Danes at sea 95

876 makes peace with the Danes 95

878 driven by the Danes to Athelney 97

878 defeats the Danes, and is godfather to

Godrun 98

883 sends alms to Rome and India 99

888 to Rome 103

885 delivers Rochester 100

886 repairs London 101

894 defeats the Danes at Farnham 106

894 in the west 109, 110

896 blocks up the Lea 112

897 long ships of, defeat the Danes 114

901 dies 115

907 Alfred, Sheriff of Bath, dies 118

799 Alfun, Bishop of Dunwich, dies 76

778 Alfwold, or Alwold, King of Northumberland 69

780 sends to Rome 70

789 killed 72

852 Alhhim Bishop (of Worcester?) 86

765 Alhred King of Northumberland 67

774 deposed 68

798 Alric killed 76

1123 Amalri, or Hamalri (Amaury 4th) Earl of

Evreux, at war with Henry 1st 295

1124 defeated 296

1130 Andrew St. monastery of, at Rochester,

consecrated 309

477 Andred, forest of 13

490 Andredes-cester besieged 14

449 Angles arrive in Britain 12

653 Angles, Mid, converted 33

636 Anglia, East, converted 31

823 submits to Egbryht 80

836 receives a Danish army 89

890 colonized by Godrun 103

905 laid waste by Edward 117

1000 Anglesey plundered 156

Anjou, Earls of--see Fulk 5th, Geoffrey, Henry

911 Anlaf, the Black, killed 119

938 Anlaf, King, defeated by Æthelstan 132

942 dies 135

944 Anlaf, King of Northumberland, expelled 135

949 returns 136

952 expelled 136

654 Anna, King of East Anglia, killed 33

1093 Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury 225, 252

1095 receives a pall 260

1097 leaves England 263

1100 recalled 268

1103 goes to Rome 272

1109 dies 278

1125 laws of, sanctioned 299

1115 Anselm, an Abbot of Rome, in England 284

1123 Anselm, Abbot of St. Edmund’s Bury, goes to Rome 294

1089 Anthony Prior of St. Augustine’s 225

875 Anwind, a Danish King 95

1070 Arnulf, Count of Flanders, and killed 217

1041 Arnwi Abbot of Peterborough 189

1052 resigns 203

1102 Arundel castle besieged by Henry 1st 270

1016 Assandun battle of 180

1020 church built at 183

910 Asser, Bishop of Sherborn, dies 119

1121 Athelis married to Henry 1st 289

961 Athelmod, Priest, dies 138

884 Athelwold, Bishop, dies 99

963 Athelwold Bishop of Winchester 139

repairs Ely and Medeshamstede 139

984 dies 149

903 Athulf, Alderman, dies 116

972 Athulf Bishop 142

1130 Audoenus Bishop of Evreux 309

597 Augustin St. arrives in Britain 24

601 receives a pall from Gregory 24

604 consecrates Bishops 24

607 prediction of, verified 25

1070 Augustine’s St. monks, rebellion of (A. D. 1087) 221

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