_Waltheof_ (Vol. ii, p. 167.).--I believe that Waltheof (or Wallef, as
he is always styled in Doomsday Book) never appeared at the court of
William the Conqueror in the character of an envoy; but in 1067, little
better than six months after the first landing of the Normans, we find
him, in conjunction with Edgar Atheling and others, accompanying the
Conqueror in his triumphal return to Normandy, as a hostage and
guarantee for the quiescence of his countrymen. At this period, it is
probable he might have first become acquainted with Judith; but this
must rest on conjecture. At all events, we have the authority of William
of Malmsbury for saying that Waltheof's marriage did not take place
until the year 1070, soon after his reconciliation with the king on the
banks of the Tees. Your correspondent errs in ascribing 1070 as the date
of Waltheof's execution; the _Saxon Chronicle_ distinctly states May
31st, 1076, as the date of his death; while the chronicle of Mailros,
and Florence of Worcester, assign it to the preceding year: in which
they are followed by Augustin Thierry. T.E.L.L. has also fallen into an
error as to the cause of Waltheof's execution, which he states arose
from his participation in a conspiracy at York. Now the crime for which
he was accused, and condemned (on the evidence of his wife), was his
inviting over the Danes to the invasion of England. This was the primary
cause; although his being present at the celebrated marriage-feast at
Norwich was doubtless a secondary one. According to Thierry, he left two
children by Judith.