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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text @@ -0,0 +1,10570 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, by Unknown + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle + +Author: Unknown + +Translator: James Henry Ingram + +Posting Date: August 3, 2008 [EBook #657] +Release Date: September, 1996 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE *** + + + + +Produced by Douglas B. Killings + + + + + + + + + +The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle + + + + + +Originally compiled on the orders of King Alfred the Great, +approximately A.D. 890, and subsequently maintained and added to +by generations of anonymous scribes until the middle of the 12th +Century. The original language is Anglo-Saxon (Old English), but +later entries are essentially Middle English in tone. + +Translation by Rev. James Ingram (London, 1823), with additional +readings from the translation of Dr. J.A. Giles (London, 1847). + + +***************************************************************** + +PREPARER'S NOTE: + +At present there are nine known versions or fragments of the +"Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" in existence, all of which vary +(sometimes greatly) in content and quality. The translation that +follows is not a translation of any one Chronicle; rather, it is +a collation of readings from many different versions. + +The nine known "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" MS. are the following: + +A-Prime The Parker Chronicle (Corpus Christi College, + Cambridge, MS. 173) +A Cottonian Fragment (British Museum, Cotton MS. Otho B + xi, 2) +B The Abingdon Chronicle I (British Museum, Cotton MS. + Tiberius A vi.) +C The Abingdon Chronicle II (British Museum, Cotton MS. + Tiberius B i.) +D The Worcester Chronicle (British Museum, Cotton MS. + Tiberius B iv.) +E The Laud (or "Peterborough") Chronicle (Bodleian, MS. + Laud 636) +F The Bilingual Canterbury Epitome (British Museum, + Cotton MS. Domitian A viii.) NOTE: Entries in English + and Latin. +H Cottonian Fragment (British Museum, Cotton MS. Domitian + A ix.) +I An Easter Table Chronicle (British Museum, Cotton MS. + Caligula A xv.) + + +This electronic edition contains primarily the translation of +Rev. James Ingram, as published in the Everyman edition of this +text. Excerpts from the translation of Dr. J.A. Giles were +included as an appendix in the Everyman edition; the preparer of +this edition has elected to collate these entries into the main +text of the translation. Where these collations have occurred I +have marked the entry with a double parenthesis (()). + +WARNING: +While I have elected to include the footnotes of Rev. Ingram in +this edition, please note that they should be used with extreme +care. In many cases the views expressed by Rev. Ingram are +severally out of date, having been superseded by almost 175 years +of active scholarship. At best, these notes will provide a +starting point for inquiry. They should not, however, be treated +as absolute. + + +SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY: + +ORIGINAL TEXT-- + +Classen, E. and Harmer, F.E. (eds.): "An Anglo-Saxon Chronicle +from British Museum, Cotton MS. Tiberius B iv." (Manchester, +1926) + +Flower, Robin and Smith, Hugh (eds.): "The Peterborough Chronicle +and Laws" (Early English Text Society, Original Series 208, +Oxford, 1941). + +Taylor, S. (ed.): "The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: MS B" <aka "The +Abingdon Chronicle I"> (Cambridge, 1983) + +OTHER TRANSLATIONS-- + +Garmonsway, G.N.: "The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" (Everyman Press, +London, 1953, 1972). HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Contains side-by-side +translations of all nine known texts. + +RECOMMENDED READING-- + +Bede: "A History of the English Church and People" <aka "The +Ecclesiastical History">, translated by Leo Sherley-Price +(Penguin Classics, London, 1955, 1968). + +Poole, A.L.: "Domesday Book to Magna Carta" (Oxford University +Press, Oxford, 1951, 1953) + +Stenton, Sir Frank W.: "Anglo-Saxon England" (Oxford University +Press, Oxford, 1943, 1947, 1971) + +***************************************************************** + +ORIGINAL INTRODUCTION TO INGRAM'S EDITION [1823] + +England may boast of two substantial monuments of its early +history; to either of which it would not be easy to find a +parallel in any nation, ancient or modern. These are, the Record +of Doomsday (1) and the "Saxon Chronicle" (2). The former, which +is little more than a statistical survey, but contains the most +authentic information relative to the descent of property and the +comparative importance of the different parts of the kingdom at a +very interesting period, the wisdom and liberality of the British +Parliament long since deemed worthy of being printed (3) among +the Public Records, by Commissioners appointed for that purpose. +The other work, though not treated with absolute neglect, has not +received that degree of attention which every person who feels an +interest in the events and transactions of former times would +naturally expect. In the first place, it has never been printed +entire, from a collation of all the MSS. But of the extent of +the two former editions, compared with the present, the reader +may form some idea, when he is told that Professor Wheloc's +"Chronologia Anglo-Saxonica", which was the first attempt (4) of +the kind, published at Cambridge in 1644, is comprised in less +than 62 folio pages, exclusive of the Latin appendix. The +improved edition by Edmund Gibson, afterwards Bishop of London, +printed at Oxford in 1692, exhibits nearly four times the +quantity of the former; but is very far from being the entire (5) +chronicle, as the editor considered it. The text of the present +edition, it was found, could not be compressed within a shorter +compass than 374 pages, though the editor has suppressed many +notes and illustrations, which may be thought necessary to the +general reader. Some variations in the MSS. may also still +remain unnoticed; partly because they were considered of little +importance, and partly from an apprehension, lest the commentary, +as it sometimes happens, should seem an unwieldy burthen, rather +than a necessary appendage, to the text. Indeed, till the editor +had made some progress in the work, he could not have imagined +that so many original and authentic materials of our history +still remained unpublished. + +To those who are unacquainted with this monument of our national +antiquities, two questions appear requisite to be answered:-- +"What does it contain?" and, "By whom was it written?" The +indulgence of the critical antiquary is solicited, whilst we +endeavour to answer, in some degree, each of these questions. + +To the first question we answer, that the "Saxon Chronicle" +contains the original and authentic testimony of contemporary +writers to the most important transactions of our forefathers, +both by sea and land, from their first arrival in this country to +the year 1154. Were we to descend to particulars, it would +require a volume to discuss the great variety of subjects which +it embraces. Suffice it to say, that every reader will here find +many interesting facts relative to our architecture, our +agriculture, our coinage, our commerce, our naval and military +glory, our laws, our liberty, and our religion. In this edition, +also, will be found numerous specimens of Saxon poetry, never +before printed, which might form the ground-work of an +introductory volume to Warton's elaborate annals of English +Poetry. Philosophically considered, this ancient record is the +second great phenomenon in the history of mankind. For, if we +except the sacred annals of the Jews, contained in the several +books of the Old Testament, there is no other work extant, +ancient or modern, which exhibits at one view a regular and +chronological panorama of a PEOPLE, described in rapid succession +by different writers, through so many ages, in their own +vernacular LANGUAGE. Hence it may safely be considered, nor only +as the primaeval source from which all subsequent historians of +English affairs have principally derived their materials, and +consequently the criterion by which they are to be judged, but +also as the faithful depository of our national idiom; affording, +at the same time, to the scientific investigator of the human +mind a very interesting and extraordinary example of the changes +incident to a language, as well as to a nation, in its progress +from rudeness to refinement. + +But that the reader may more clearly see how much we are indebted +to the "Saxon Chronicle", it will be necessary to examine what is +contained in other sources of our history, prior to the accession +of Henry II., the period wherein this invaluable record +terminates. + +The most ancient historian of our own island, whose work has been +preserved, is Gildas, who flourished in the latter part of the +sixth century. British antiquaries of the present day will +doubtless forgive me, if I leave in their original obscurity the +prophecies of Merlin, and the exploits of King Arthur, with all +the Knights of the Round Table, as scarcely coming within the +verge of history. Notwithstanding, also, the authority of Bale, +and of the writers whom he follows, I cannot persuade myself to +rank Joseph of Arimathea, Arviragus, and Bonduca, or even the +Emperor Constantine himself, among the illustrious writers of +Great Britain. I begin, therefore, with Gildas; because, though +he did not compile a regular history of the island, he has left +us, amidst a cumbrous mass of pompous rhapsody and querulous +declamation some curious descriptions of the character and +manners of the inhabitants; not only the Britons and Saxons, but +the Picts and Scots (6). There are also some parts of his work, +almost literally transcribed by Bede, which confirm the brief +statements of the "Saxon Chronicle" (7). But there is, +throughout, such a want of precision and simplicity, such a +barrenness of facts amidst a multiplicity of words, such a +scantiness of names of places and persons, of dates, and other +circumstances, that we are obliged to have recourse to the Saxon +Annals, or to Venerable Bede, to supply the absence of those two +great lights of history--Chronology and Topography. + +The next historian worth notice here is Nennius, who is supposed +to have flourished in the seventh century: but the work ascribed +to him is so full of interpolations and corruptions, introduced +by his transcribers, and particularly by a simpleton who is +called Samuel, or his master Beulanus, or both, who appear to +have lived in the ninth century, that it is difficult to say how +much of this motley production is original and authentic. Be +that as it may, the writer of the copy printed by Gale bears +ample testimony to the "Saxon Chronicle", and says expressly, +that he compiled his history partly from the records of the Scots +and Saxons (8). At the end is a confused but very curious +appendix, containing that very genealogy, with some brief notices +of Saxon affairs, which the fastidiousness of Beulanus, or of his +amanuensis, the aforesaid Samuel, would not allow him to +transcribe. This writer, although he professes to be the first +historiographer (9) of the Britons, has sometimes repeated the +very words of Gildas (10); whose name is even prefixed to some +copies of the work. It is a puerile composition, without +judgment, selection, or method (11); filled with legendary tales +of Trojan antiquity, of magical delusion, and of the miraculous +exploits of St. Germain and St. Patrick: not to mention those of +the valiant Arthur, who is said to have felled to the ground in +one day, single-handed, eight hundred and forty Saxons! It is +remarkable, that this taste for the marvelous, which does not +seem to be adapted to the sober sense of Englishmen, was +afterwards revived in all its glory by Geoffrey of Monmouth in +the Norman age of credulity and romance. + +We come now to a more cheering prospect; and behold a steady +light reflected on the "Saxon Chronicle" by the "Ecclesiastical +History" of Bede; a writer who, without the intervention of any +legendary tale, truly deserves the title of Venerable (12). With +a store of classical learning not very common in that age, and +with a simplicity of language seldom found in monastic Latinity, +he has moulded into something like a regular form the scattered +fragments of Roman, British, Scottish, and Saxon history. His +work, indeed, is professedly ecclesiastical; but, when we +consider the prominent station which the Church had at this time +assumed in England, we need not be surprised if we find therein +the same intermixture of civil, military, and ecclesiastical +affairs, which forms so remarkable a feature in the "Saxon +Chronicle". Hence Gibson concludes, that many passages of the +latter description were derived from the work of Bede (13). He +thinks the same of the description of Britain, the notices of the +Roman emperors, and the detail of the first arrival of the +Saxons. But, it may be observed, those passages to which he +alludes are not to be found in the earlier MSS. The description +of Britain, which forms the introduction, and refers us to a +period antecedent to the invasion of Julius Caesar; appears only +in three copies of the "Chronicle"; two of which are of so late a +date as the Norman Conquest, and both derived from the same +source. Whatever relates to the succession of the Roman emperors +was so universally known, that it must be considered as common +property: and so short was the interval between the departure of +the Romans and the arrival of the Saxons, that the latter must +have preserved amongst them sufficient memorials and traditions +to connect their own history with that of their predecessors. +Like all rude nations, they were particularly attentive to +genealogies; and these, together with the succession of their +kings, their battles, and their conquests, must be derived +originally from the Saxons themselves, and not from Gildas, or +Nennius, or Bede (14). Gibson himself was so convinced of this, +that he afterwards attributes to the "Saxon Chronicle" all the +knowledge we have of those early times (15). Moreover, we might +ask, if our whole dependence had been centered in Bede, what +would have become of us after his death? (16) Malmsbury indeed +asserts, with some degree of vanity, that you will not easily +find a Latin historian of English affairs between Bede and +himself (17); and in the fulness of self-complacency professes +his determination, "to season with Roman salt the barbarisms of +his native tongue!" He affects great contempt for Ethelwerd, +whose work will be considered hereafter; and he well knew how +unacceptable any praise of the "Saxon Annals" would be to the +Normans, with whom he was connected (18). He thinks it necessary +to give his reasons, on one occasion, for inserting from these +very "Annals" what he did not find in Bede; though it is obvious, +that the best part of his materials, almost to his own times, is +derived from the same source. + +The object of Bishop Asser, the biographer of Alfred, who comes +next in order, was to deliver to posterity a complete memorial of +that sovereign, and of the transactions of his reign. To him +alone are we indebted for the detail of many interesting +circumstances in the life and character of his royal patron (19); +but most of the public transactions will be found in the pages of +the "Saxon Chronicle": some passages of which he appears to have +translated so literally, that the modern version of Gibson does +not more closely represent the original. In the editions of +Parker, Camden, and Wise, the last notice of any public event +refers to the year 887. The interpolated copy of Gale, called by +some Pseudo-Asserius, and by others the Chronicle of St. Neot's, +is extended to the year 914 (20). Much difference of opinion +exists respecting this work; into the discussion of which it is +not our present purpose to enter. One thing is remarkable: it +contains the vision of Drihtelm, copied from Bede, and that of +Charles King of the Franks, which Malmsbury thought it worth +while to repeat in his "History of the Kings of England". What +Gale observes concerning the "fidelity" with which these annals +of Asser are copied by Marianus, is easily explained. They both +translated from the "Saxon Chronicle", as did also Florence of +Worcester, who interpolated Marianus; of whom we shall speak +hereafter. + +But the most faithful and extraordinary follower of the "Saxon +Annals" is Ethelwerd; who seems to have disregarded almost all +other sources of information. One great error, however, he +committed; for which Malmsbury does nor spare him. Despairing of +the reputation of classical learning, if he had followed the +simplicity of the Saxon original, he fell into a sort of measured +and inverted prose, peculiar to himself; which, being at first +sufficiently obscure, is sometimes rendered almost unintelligible +by the incorrect manner in which it has been printed. His +authority, nevertheless, in an historical point of view, is very +respectable. Being one of the few writers untainted by monastic +prejudice (21), he does not travel out of his way to indulge in +legendary tales and romantic visions. Critically considered, his +work is the best commentary on the "Saxon Chronicle" to the year +977; at which period one of the MSS. which he seems to have +followed, terminates. Brevity and compression seem to have been +his aim, because the compilation was intended to be sent abroad +for the instruction of a female relative of high rank in Germany +(22), at her request. But there are, nevertheless, some +circumstances recorded which are not to be found elsewhere; so +that a reference to this epitome of Saxon history will be +sometimes useful in illustrating the early part of the +"Chronicle"; though Gibson, I know not on what account, has +scarcely once quoted it. + +During the sanguinary conflicts of the eleventh century, which +ended first in the temporary triumph of the Danes, and afterwards +in the total subjugation of the country by the Normans, literary +pursuits, as might be expected, were so much neglected, that +scarcely a Latin writer is to be found: but the "Saxon Chronicle" +has preserved a regular and minute detail of occurrences, as they +passed along, of which subsequent historians were glad to avail +themselves. For nearly a century after the Conquest, the Saxon +annalists appear to have been chiefly eye-witnesses of the +transactions which they relate (23). The policy of the Conqueror +led him by degrees to employ Saxons as well as Normans: and +William II. found them the most faithful of his subjects: but +such an influx of foreigners naturally corrupted the ancient +language; till at length, after many foreign and domestic wars, +tranquillity being restored on the accession of Henry II., +literature revived; a taste for composition increased; and the +compilation of Latin histories of English and foreign affairs, +blended and diversified with the fabled romance and legendary +tale, became the ordinary path to distinction. It is remarkable, +that when the "Saxon Chronicle" ends, Geoffrey of Monmouth +begins. Almost every great monastery about this time had its +historian: but some still adhered to the ancient method. +Florence of Worcester, an interpolator of Marianus, as we before +observed, closely follows Bede, Asser, and the "Saxon Chronicle" +(24). The same may be observed of the annals of Gisburne, of +Margan, of Meiros, of Waverley, etc.; some of which are anonymous +compilations, whilst others have the name of an author, or rather +transcriber; for very few aspired to the character of authors or +original historians. Thomas Wikes, a canon of Oseney, who +compiled a Latin chronicle of English affairs from the Conquest +to the year 1304, tells us expressly, that he did this, not +because he could add much to the histories of Bede, William of +Newburgh, and Matthew Paris, but "propter minores, quibus non +suppetit copia librorum." (25) Before the invention of printing, +it was necessary that numerous copies of historical works should +be transcribed, for the instruction of those who had not access +to libraries. The transcribers frequently added something of +their own, and abridged or omitted what they thought less +interesting. Hence the endless variety of interpolators and +deflorators of English history. William of Malmsbury, indeed, +deserves to be selected from all his competitors for the +superiority of his genius; but he is occasionally inaccurate, and +negligent of dates and other minor circumstances; insomuch that +his modern translator has corrected some mistakes, and supplied +the deficiencies in his chronology, by a reference to the "Saxon +Chronicle". Henry of Huntingdon, when he is not transcribing +Bede, or translating the "Saxon Annals", may be placed on the +same shelf with Geoffrey of Monmouth. + +As I have now brought the reader to the period when our +"Chronicle" terminates, I shall dismiss without much ceremony the +succeeding writers, who have partly borrowed from this source; +Simon of Durham, who transcribes Florence of Worcester, the two +priors of Hexham, Gervase, Hoveden, Bromton, Stubbes, the two +Matthews, of Paris and Westminster, and many others, considering +that sufficient has been said to convince those who may not have +leisure or opportunity to examine the matter themselves, that +however numerous are the Latin historians of English affairs, +almost everything original and authentic, and essentially +conducive to a correct knowledge of our general history, to the +period above mentioned, may be traced to the "Saxon Annals". + +It is now time to examine, who were probably the writers of these +"Annals". I say probably, because we have very little more than +rational conjecture to guide us. + +The period antecedent to the times of Bede, except where passages +were afterwards inserted, was perhaps little else, originally, +than a kind of chronological table of events, with a few +genealogies, and notices of the death and succession of kings and +other distinguished personages. But it is evident from the +preface of Bede and from many passages in his work, that he +received considerable assistance from Saxon bishops, abbots, and +others; who not only communicated certain traditionary facts +"viva voce", but also transmitted to him many written documents. +These, therefore, must have been the early chronicles of Wessex, +of Kent, and of the other provinces of the Heptarchy; which +formed together the ground-work of his history. With greater +honesty than most of his followers, he has given us the names of +those learned persons who assisted him with this local +information. The first is Alcuinus or Albinus, an abbot of +Canterbury, at whose instigation he undertook the work; who sent +by Nothelm, afterwards archbishop of that province, a full +account of all ecclesiastical transactions in Kent, and in the +contiguous districts, from the first conversion of the Saxons. +From the same source he partly derived his information respecting +the provinces of Essex, Wessex, East Anglia, and Northumbria. +Bishop Daniel communicated to him by letter many particulars +concerning Wessex, Sussex, and the Isle of Wight. He +acknowledges assistance more than once "ex scriptis priorum"; and +there is every reason to believe that some of these preceding +records were the "Anglo-Saxon Annals"; for we have already seen +that such records were in existence before the age of Nennius. +In proof of this we may observe, that even the phraseology +sometimes partakes more of the Saxon idiom than the Latin. If, +therefore, it be admitted, as there is every reason to conclude +from the foregoing remarks, that certain succinct and +chronological arrangements of historical facts had taken place in +several provinces of the Heptarchy before the time of Bede, let +us inquire by whom they were likely to have been made. + +In the province of Kent, the first person on record, who is +celebrated for his learning, is Tobias, the ninth bishop of +Rochester, who succeeded to that see in 693. He is noticed by +Bede as not only furnished with an ample store of Greek and Latin +literature, but skilled also in the Saxon language and erudition +(26). It is probable, therefore, that he left some proofs of +this attention to his native language and as he died within a few +years of Bede, the latter would naturally avail himself of his +labours. It is worthy also of remark, that Bertwald, who +succeeded to the illustrious Theodore of Tarsus in 690, was the +first English or Saxon archbishop of Canterbury. From this +period, consequently, we may date that cultivation of the +vernacular tongue which would lead to the composition of brief +chronicles (27), and other vehicles of instruction, necessary for +the improvement of a rude and illiterate people. The first +chronicles were, perhaps, those of Kent or Wessex; which seem to +have been regularly continued, at intervals, by the archbishops +of Canterbury, or by their direction (28), at least as far as the +year 1001, or by even 1070; for the Benet MS., which some call +the Plegmund MS., ends in the latter year; the rest being in +Latin. From internal evidence indeed, of an indirect nature, +there is great reason to presume, that Archbishop Plegmund +transcribed or superintended this very copy of the "Saxon Annals" +to the year 891 (29); the year in which he came to the see; +inserting, both before and after this date, to the time of his +death in 923, such additional materials as he was well qualified +to furnish from his high station and learning, and the +confidential intercourse which he enjoyed in the court of King +Alfred. The total omission of his own name, except by another +hand, affords indirect evidence of some importance in support of +this conjecture. Whether King Alfred himself was the author of a +distinct and separate chronicle of Wessex, cannot now be +determined. That he furnished additional supplies of historical +matter to the older chronicles is, I conceive, sufficiently +obvious to every reader who will take the trouble of examining +the subject. The argument of Dr. Beeke, the present Dean of +Bristol, in an obliging letter to the editor on this subject, is +not without its force;--that it is extremely improbable, when +we consider the number and variety of King Alfred's works, that +he should have neglected the history, of his own country. +Besides a genealogy of the kings of Wessex from Cerdic to his own +time, which seems never to have been incorporated with any MS. of +the "Saxon Chronicle", though prefixed or annexed to several, he +undoubtedly preserved many traditionary facts; with a full and +circumstantial detail of his own operations, as well as those of +his father, brother, and other members of his family; which +scarcely any other person than himself could have supplied. To +doubt this would be as incredulous a thing as to deny that +Xenophon wrote his "Anabasis", or Caesar his "Commentaries". +From the time of Alfred and Plegmund to a few years after the +Norman Conquest, these chronicles seem to have been continued by +different hands, under the auspices of such men as Archbishops +Dunstan, Aelfric, and others, whose characters have been much +misrepresented by ignorance and scepticism on the one hand; as +well as by mistaken zeal and devotion on the other. The indirect +evidence respecting Dunstan and Aelfric is as curious as that +concerning Plegmund; but the discussion of it would lead us into +a wide and barren field of investigation; nor is this the place +to refute the errors of Hickes, Cave, and Wharton, already +noticed by Wanley in his preface. The chronicles of Abingdon, of +Worcester, of Peterborough, and others, are continued in the same +manner by different hands; partly, though not exclusively, by +monks of those monasteries, who very naturally inserted many +particulars relating to their own local interests and concerns; +which, so far from invalidating the general history, render it +more interesting and valuable. It would be a vain and frivolous +attempt ascribe these latter compilations to particular persons +(31), where there were evidently so many contributors; but that +they were successively furnished by contemporary writers, many of +whom were eye-witnesses of the events and transactions which they +relate, there is abundance of internal evidence to convince us. +Many instances of this the editor had taken some pains to +collect, in order to lay them before the reader in the preface; +but they are so numerous that the subject would necessarily +become tedious; and therefore every reader must be left to find +them for himself. They will amply repay him for his trouble, if +he takes any interest in the early history of England, or in the +general construction of authentic history of any kind. He will +see plagarisms without end in the Latin histories, and will be in +no danger of falling into the errors of Gale and others; not to +mention those of our historians who were not professed +antiquaries, who mistook that for original and authentic +testimony which was only translated. It is remarkable that the +"Saxon Chronicle" gradually expires with the Saxon language, +almost melted into modern English, in the year 1154. From this +period almost to the Reformation, whatever knowledge we have of +the affairs of England has been originally derived either from +the semi-barbarous Latin of our own countrymen, or from the +French chronicles of Froissart and others. + +The revival of good taste and of good sense, and of the good old +custom adopted by most nations of the civilised world--that of +writing their own history in their own language--was happily +exemplified at length in the laborious works of our English +chroniclers and historians. + +Many have since followed in the same track; and the importance +of the whole body of English History has attracted and employed +the imagination of Milton, the philosophy of Hume, the simplicity +of Goldsmith, the industry of Henry, the research of Turner, and +the patience of Lingard. The pages of these writers, however, +accurate and luminous as they generally are, as well as those of +Brady, Tyrrell, Carte, Rapin, and others, not to mention those in +black letter, still require correction from the "Saxon +Chronicle"; without which no person, however learned, can possess +anything beyond a superficial acquaintance with the elements of +English History, and of the British Constitution. + +Some remarks may here be requisite on the CHRONOLOGY of the +"Saxon Chronicle". In the early part of it (32) the reader will +observe a reference to the grand epoch of the creation of the +world. So also in Ethelwerd, who closely follows the "Saxon +Annals". It is allowed by all, that considerable difficulty has +occurred in fixing the true epoch of Christ's nativity (33), +because the Christian aera was not used at all till about the +year 532 (34), when it was introduced by Dionysius Exiguus; whose +code of canon law, joined afterwards with the decretals of the +popes, became as much the standard of authority in ecclesiastical +matters as the pandects of Justinian among civilians. But it +does not appear that in the Saxon mode of computation this system +of chronology was implicitly followed. We mention this +circumstance, however, not with a view of settling the point of +difference, which would not be easy, but merely to account for +those variations observable m different MSS.; which arose, not +only from the common mistakes or inadvertencies of transcribers, +but from the liberty which the original writers themselves +sometimes assumed in this country, of computing the current year +according to their own ephemeral or local custom. Some began +with the Incarnation or Nativity of Christ; some with the +Circumcision, which accords with the solar year of the Romans as +now restored; whilst others commenced with the Annunciation; a +custom which became very prevalent in honour of the Virgin Mary, +and was not formally abolished here till the year 1752; when the +Gregorian calendar, commonly called the New Style, was +substituted by Act of Parliament for the Dionysian. This +diversity of computation would alone occasion some confusion; but +in addition to this, the INDICTION, or cycle of fifteen years, +which is mentioned in the latter part of the "Saxon Chronicle", +was carried back three years before the vulgar aera, and +commenced in different places at four different periods of the +year! But it is very remarkable that, whatever was the +commencement of the year in the early part of the "Saxon +Chronicle", in the latter part the year invariably opens with +Midwinter-day or the Nativity. Gervase of Canterbury, whose +Latin chronicle ends in 1199, the aera of "legal" memory, had +formed a design, as he tells us, of regulating his chronology by +the Annunciation; but from an honest fear of falsifying dates he +abandoned his first intention, and acquiesced in the practice of +his predecessors; who for the most part, he says, began the new +year with the Nativity (35). + +Having said thus much in illustration of the work itself, we must +necessarily be brief in our account of the present edition. It +was contemplated many years since, amidst a constant succession +of other occupations; but nothing was then projected beyond a +reprint of Gibson, substituting an English translation for the +Latin. The indulgence of the Saxon scholar is therefore +requested, if we have in the early part of the chronicle too +faithfully followed the received text. By some readers no +apology of this kind will be deemed necessary; but something may +be expected in extenuation of the delay which has retarded the +publication. The causes of that delay must be chiefly sought in +the nature of the work itself. New types were to be cast; +compositors to be instructed in a department entirely new to +them; manuscripts to be compared, collated, transcribed; the text +to be revised throughout; various readings of great intricacy to +be carefully presented, with considerable additions from +unpublished sources; for, however unimportant some may at first +sight appear, the most trivial may be of use. With such and +other difficulties before him, the editor has, nevertheless, been +blessed with health and leisure sufficient to overcome them; and +he may now say with Gervase the monk at the end of his first +chronicle, + + "Finito libro reddatur gratia Christo." (36) + +Of the translation it is enough to observe, that it is made as +literal as possible, with a view of rendering the original easy +to those who are at present unacquainted with the Saxon language. +By this method also the connection between the ancient and modern +language will be more obvious. The same method has been adopted +in an unpublished translation of Gibson's "Chronicle" by the late +Mr. Cough, now in the Bodleian Library. But the honour of having +printed the first literal version of the "Saxon Annals" was +reserved for a learned LADY, the Elstob of her age (37); whose +Work was finished in the year 1819. These translations, however, +do not interfere with that in the present edition; because they +contain nothing but what is found in the printed texts, and are +neither accompanied with the original, nor with any collation of +MSS. + + +ENDNOTES: +(1) Whatever was the origin of this title, by which it is now + distinguished, in an appendix to the work itself it is + called "Liber de Wintonia," or "The Winchester-Book," from + its first place of custody. +(2) This title is retained, in compliance with custom, though it + is a collection of chronicles, rather than one uniform work, + as the received appellation seems to imply. +(3) In two volumes folio, with the following title: "Domesday-Book, + seu Liber Censualis Willelmi Primi Regis Angliae, + inter Archlyos Regni in Domo Capitulari Westmonasterii + asservatus: jubente rege augustissimo Georgio Tertio praelo + mandatus typis MDCCLXXXIII" +(4) Gerard Langbaine had projected such a work, and had made + considerable progress in the collation of MSS., when he + found himself anticipated by Wheloc. +(5) "Nunc primum integrum edidit" is Gibson's expression in the + title-page. He considers Wheloc's MSS. as fragments, rather + than entire chronicles: "quod integrum nacti jam discimus." + These MSS., however, were of the first authority, and not + less entire, as far as they went, than his own favourite + "Laud". But the candid critic will make allowance for the + zeal of a young Bachelor of Queen's, who, it must be + remembered, had scarcely attained the age of twenty-three + when this extraordinary work was produced. +(6) The reader is forcibly reminded of the national dress of the + Highlanders in the following singular passage: "furciferos + magis vultus pilis, quam corporum pudenda, pudendisque + proxima, vestibus tegentes." +(7) See particularly capp. xxiii. and xxvi. The work which + follows, called the "Epistle of Gildas", is little more than + a cento of quotations from the Old and New Testament. +(8) "De historiis Scotorum Saxonumque, licet inimicorum," etc. + "Hist. Brit. ap." Gale, XV. Script. p. 93. See also p. 94 + of the same work; where the writer notices the absence of + all written memorials among the Britons, and attributes it + to the frequent recurrence of war and pestilence. A new + edition has been prepared from a Vatican MS. with a + translation and notes by the Rev. W. Gunn, and published by + J. and A. Arch. +(9) "Malo me historiographum quam neminem," etc. +(10) He considered his work, perhaps, as a lamentation of + declamation, rather than a history. But Bede dignifies him + with the title of "historicus," though he writes "fiebili + sermone." +(11) But it is probable that the work is come down to us in a + garbled and imperfect state. +(12) There is an absurd story of a monk, who in vain attempting + to write his epitaph, fell asleep, leaving it thus: "Hac + sunt in fossa Bedae. ossa:" but, when he awoke, to his great + surprise and satisfaction he found the long-sought epithet + supplied by an angelic hand, the whole line standing thus: + "Hac sunt in fossa Bedae venerabilis ossa." +(13) See the preface to his edition of the "Saxon Chronicle". +(14) This will be proved more fully when we come to speak of the + writers of the "Saxon Chronicle". +(15) Preface, "ubi supra". +(16) He died A.D. 734, according to our chronicle; but some place + his death to the following year. +(17) This circumstance alone proves the value of the "Saxon + Chronicle". In the "Edinburgh Chronicle" of St. Cross, + printed by H. Wharton, there is a chasm from the death of + Bede to the year 1065; a period of 330 years. +(18) The cold and reluctant manner in which he mentions the + "Saxon Annals", to which he was so much indebted, can only + be ascribed to this cause in him, as well as in the other + Latin historians. See his prologue to the first book, "De + Gestis Regum," etc. +(19) If there are additional anecdotes in the Chronicle of St. + Neot's, which is supposed to have been so called by Leland + because he found the MS. there, it must be remembered that + this work is considered an interpolated Asser. +(20) The death of Asser himself is recorded in the year 909; but + this is no more a proof that the whole work is spurious, + than the character and burial of Moses, described in the + latter part of the book of "Deuteronomy", would go to prove + that the Pentateuch was not written by him. See Bishop + Watson's "Apology for the Bible". +(21) Malmsbury calls him "noble and magnificent," with reference + to his rank; for he was descended from King Alfred: but he + forgets his peculiar praise--that of being the only Latin + historian for two centuries; though, like Xenophon, Caesar, + and Alfred, he wielded the sword as much as the pen. +(22) This was no less a personage than Matilda, the daughter of + Otho the Great, Emperor of Germany, by his first Empress + Eadgitha or Editha; who is mentioned in the "Saxon + Chronicle", A.D. 925, though not by name, as given to Otho + by her brother, King Athelstan. Ethelwerd adds, in his + epistle to Matilda, that Athelstan sent two sisters, in + order that the emperor might take his choice; and that he + preferred the mother of Matilda. +(23) See particularly the character of William I. p. 294, written + by one who was in his court. The compiler of the "Waverley + Annals" we find literally translating it more than a century + afterwards:--"nos dicemus, qui eum vidimus, et in curia + ejus aliquando fuimus," etc.--Gale, ii. 134. +(24) His work, which is very faithfully and diligently compiled, + ends in the year 1117; but it is continued by another hand + to the imprisonment of King Stephen. +(25) "Chron. ap." Gale, ii. 21. +(26) "Virum Latina, Graec, et Saxonica lingua atque eruditione + multipliciter instructum."--Bede, "Ecclesiastical + History", v. 8. "Chron. S. Crucis Edinb. ap.", Wharton, i. + 157. +(27) The materials, however, though not regularly arranged, must + be traced to a much higher source. +(28) Josselyn collated two Kentish MSS. of the first authority; + one of which he calls the History or Chronicle of St. + Augustine's, the other that of Christ Church, Canterbury. + The former was perhaps the one marked in our series "C.T." A + VI.; the latter the Benet or Plegmund MS. +(29) Wanley observes, that the Benet MS. is written in one and + the same hand to this year, and in hands equally ancient to + the year 924; after which it is continued in different hands + to the end. Vid. "Cat." p. 130. +(30) Florence of Worcester, in ascertaining the succession of the + kings of Wessex, refers expressly to the "Dicta Aelfredi". + Ethelwerd had before acknowledged that he reported many + things--"sicut docuere parentes;" and then he immediately + adds, "Scilicet Aelfred rex Athulfi regis filius; ex quo nos + originem trahimus." Vid. Prol. +(31) Hickes supposed the Laud or Peterborough Chronicle to have + been compiled by Hugo Candidus (Albus, or White), or some + other monk of that house. +(32) See A.D. xxxiii., the aera of Christ's crucifixion, p. 23, + and the notes below. +(33) See Playfair's "System of Chronology", p. 49. +(34) Playfair says 527: but I follow Bede, Florence of Worcester, + and others, who affirm that the great paschal cycle of + Dionysius commenced from the year of our Lord's incarnation + 532--the year in which the code of Justinian was + promulgated. "Vid. Flor. an." 532, 1064, and 1073. See + also M. West. "an." 532. +(35) "Vid. Prol. in Chron." Bervas. "ap. X." Script. p. 1338. +(36) Often did the editor, during the progress of the work, + sympathise with the printer; who, in answer to his urgent + importunities to hasten the work, replied once in the + classical language of Manutius: "Precor, ut occupationibus + meis ignoscas; premor enim oneribus, et typographiae cura, + ut vix sustineam." Who could be angry after this? +(37) Miss Gurney, of Keswick, Norfolk. The work, however, was + not published. + + + +THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE + + +The island Britain (1) is 800 miles long, and 200 miles broad. +And there are in the island five nations; English, Welsh (or +British) (2), Scottish, Pictish, and Latin. The first +inhabitants were the Britons, who came from Armenia (3), and +first peopled Britain southward. Then happened it, that the +Picts came south from Scythia, with long ships, not many; and, +landing first in the northern part of Ireland, they told the +Scots that they must dwell there. But they would not give them +leave; for the Scots told them that they could not all dwell +there together; "But," said the Scots, "we can nevertheless give +you advice. We know another island here to the east. There you +may dwell, if you will; and whosoever withstandeth you, we will +assist you, that you may gain it." Then went the Picts and +entered this land northward. Southward the Britons possessed it, +as we before said. And the Picts obtained wives of the Scots, on +condition that they chose their kings always on the female side +(4); which they have continued to do, so long since. And it +happened, in the run of years, that some party of Scots went from +Ireland into Britain, and acquired some portion of this land. +Their leader was called Reoda (5), from whom they are named +Dalreodi (or Dalreathians). + + +Sixty winters ere that Christ was born, Caius Julius, emperor of +the Romans, with eighty ships sought Britain. There he was first +beaten in a dreadful fight, and lost a great part of his army. +Then he let his army abide with the Scots (6), and went south +into Gaul. There he gathered six hundred ships, with which he +went back into Britain. When they first rushed together, +Caesar's tribune, whose name was Labienus (7), was slain. Then +took the Welsh sharp piles, and drove them with great clubs into +the water, at a certain ford of the river called Thames. When +the Romans found that, they would not go over the ford. Then +fled the Britons to the fastnesses of the woods; and Caesar, +having after much fighting gained many of the chief towns, went +back into Gaul (8). + +((B.C. 60. Before the incarnation of Christ sixty years, Gaius +Julius the emperor, first of the Romans, sought the land of +Britain; and he crushed the Britons in battle, and overcame them; +and nevertheless he was unable to gain any empire there.)) + +A.D. 1. Octavianus reigned fifty-six winters; and in the forty-second +year of his reign Christ was born. Then three astrologers +from the east came to worship Christ; and the children in +Bethlehem were slain by Herod in persecution of Christ. + +A.D. 3. This year died Herod, stabbed by his own hand; and +Archelaus his son succeeded him. The child Christ was also this +year brought back again from Egypt. + +A.D. 6. From the beginning of the world to this year were agone +five thousand and two hundred winters. + +A.D. 11. This year Herod the son of Antipater undertook the +government in Judea. + +A.D. 12. This year Philip and Herod divided Judea into four +kingdoms. + +((A.D. 12. This year Judea was divided into four tetrarchies.)) + +A.D. 16. This year Tiberius succeeded to the empire. + +A.D. 26. This year Pilate began to reign over the Jews. + +A.D. 30. This year was Christ baptized; and Peter and Andrew +were converted, together with James, and John, and Philip, and +all the twelve apostles. + +A.D. 33. This year was Christ crucified; (9) about five thousand +two hundred and twenty six winters from the beginning of the +world. (10) + +A.D. 34. This year was St. Paul converted, and St. Stephen +stoned. + +A.D. 35. This year the blessed Peter the apostle settled an +episcopal see in the city of Antioch. + +A.D. 37. This year (11) Pilate slew himself with his own hand. + +A.D. 39. This year Caius undertook the empire. + +A.D. 44. This year the blessed Peter the apostle settled an +episcopal see at Rome; and James, the brother of John, was slain +by Herod. + +A.D. 45. This year died Herod, who slew James one year ere his +own death. + +A.D. 46. This year Claudius, the second of the Roman emperors +who invaded Britain, took the greater part of the island into his +power, and added the Orkneys to rite dominion of the Romans. +This was in the fourth year of his reign. And in the same year +(12) happened the great famine in Syria which Luke mentions in +the book called "The Acts of the Apostles". After Claudius Nero +succeeded to the empire, who almost lost the island Britain +through his incapacity. + +((A.D. 46. This year the Emperor Claudius came to Britain, and +subdued a large part of the island; and he also added the island +of Orkney to the dominion of the Romans.)) + +A.D. 47. This year Mark, the evangelist in Egypt beginneth to +write the gospel. + +((A.D. 47. This was in the fourth year of his reign, and in this +same year was the great famine in Syria which Luke speaks of in +the book called "Actus Apostolorum".)) + +((A.D. 47. This year Claudius, king of the Romans, went with an +army into Britain, and subdued the island, and subjected all the +Picts and Welsh to the rule of the Romans.)) + +A.D. 50. This year Paul was sent bound to Rome. + +A.D. 62. This year James, the brother of Christ, suffered. + +A.D. 63. This year Mark the evangelist departed this life. + +A.D. 69. This year Peter and Paul suffered. + +A.D. 70. This year Vespasian undertook the empire. + +A.D. 71. This year Titus, son of Vespasian, slew in Jerusalem +eleven hundred thousand Jews. + +A.D. 81. This year Titus came to the empire, after Vespasian, +who said that he considered the day lost in which he did no good. + +A.D. 83. This year Domitian, the brother of Titus, assumed the +government. + +A.D. 84. This year John the evangelist in the island Patmos +wrote the book called "The Apocalypse". + +A.D. 90. This year Simon, the apostle, a relation of Christ, was +crucified: and John the evangelist rested at Ephesus. + +A.D. 92. This year died Pope Clement. + +A.D. 110. This year Bishop Ignatius suffered. + +A.D. 116. This year Hadrian the Caesar began to reign. + +A.D. 145. This year Marcus Antoninus and Aurelius his brother +succeeded to the empire. + +((A.D. 167. This year Eleutherius succeeded to the popedom, and +held it fifteen years; and in the same year Lucius, king of the +Britons, sent and begged baptism of him. And he soon sent it +him, and they continued in the true faith until the time of +Diocletian.)) + +A.D. 189. This year Severus came to the empire; and went with +his army into Britain, and subdued in battle a great part of the +island. Then wrought he a mound of turf, with a broad wall +thereupon, from sea to sea, for the defence of the Britons. He +reigned seventeen years; and then ended his days at York. His +son Bassianus succeeded him in the empire. His other son, who +perished, was called Geta. This year Eleutherius undertook the +bishopric of Rome, and held it honourably for fifteen winters. +To him Lucius, king of the Britons, sent letters, and prayed that +he might be made a Christian. He obtained his request; and they +continued afterwards in the right belief until the reign of +Diocletian. + +A.D. 199. In this year was found the holy rood. (13) + +A.D. 283. This year suffered Saint Alban the Martyr. + +A.D. 343. This year died St. Nicolaus. + +A.D. 379. This year Gratian succeeded to the empire. + +A.D. 381. This year Maximus the Caesar came to the empire. He +was born in the land of Britain, whence he passed over into Gaul. +He there slew the Emperor Gratian; and drove his brother, whose +name was Valentinian, from his country (Italy). The same +Valentinian afterwards collected an army, and slew Maximus; +whereby he gained the empire. About this time arose the error of +Pelagius over the world. + +A.D. 418. This year the Romans collected all the hoards of gold +(14) that were in Britain; and some they hid in the earth, so +that no man afterwards might find them, and some they carried +away with them into Gaul. + +A.D. 423. This year Theodosius the younger succeeded to the +empire. + +A.D. 429. This year Bishop Palladius was sent from Pope +Celesrinus to the Scots, that he might establish their faith. + +A.D. 430. This year Patricius was sent from Pope Celestinus to +preach baptism to the Scots. + +((A.D. 430. This year Patrick was sent by Pope Celestine to +preach baptism to the Scots.)) + +A.D. 435. This year the Goths sacked the city of Rome; and never +since have the Romans reigned in Britain. This was about eleven +hundred and ten winters after it was built. They reigned +altogether in Britain four hundred and seventy winters since +Gaius Julius first sought that land. + +A.D. 443. This year sent the Britons over sea to Rome, and +begged assistance against the Picts; but they had none, for the +Romans were at war with Atila, king of the Huns. Then sent they +to the Angles, and requested the same from the nobles of that +nation. + +A.D. 444. This year died St. Martin. + +A.D. 448. This year John the Baptist showed his head to two +monks, who came from the eastern country to Jerusalem for the +sake of prayer, in the place that whilom was the palace of Herod. +(15) + +A.D. 449. This year Marcian and Valentinian assumed the empire, +and reigned seven winters. In their days Hengest and Horsa, +invited by Wurtgern, king of the Britons to his assistance, +landed in Britain in a place that is called Ipwinesfleet; first +of all to support the Britons, but they afterwards fought against +them. The king directed them to fight against the Picts; and +they did so; and obtained the victory wheresoever they came. +They then sent to the Angles, and desired them to send more +assistance. They described the worthlessness of the Britons, and +the richness of the land. They then sent them greater support. +Then came the men from three powers of Germany; the Old Saxons, +the Angles, and the Jutes. From the Jutes are descended the men +of Kent, the Wightwarians (that is, the tribe that now dwelleth +in the Isle of Wight), and that kindred in Wessex that men yet +call the kindred of the Jutes. From the Old Saxons came the +people of Essex and Sussex and Wessex. From Anglia, which has +ever since remained waste between the Jutes and the Saxons, came +the East Angles, the Middle Angles, the Mercians, and all of +those north of the Humber. Their leaders were two brothers, +Hengest and Horsa; who were the sons of Wihtgils; Wihtgils was +the son of Witta, Witta of Wecta, Wecta of Woden. From this +Woden arose all our royal kindred, and that of the Southumbrians +also. + +((A.D. 449. And in their days Vortigern invited the Angles +thither, and they came to Britain in three ceols, at the place +called Wippidsfleet.)) + +A.D. 455. This year Hengest and Horsa fought with Wurtgern the +king on the spot that is called Aylesford. His brother Horsa +being there slain, Hengest afterwards took to the kingdom with +his son Esc. + +A.D. 457. This year Hengest and Esc fought with the Britons on +the spot that is called Crayford, and there slew four thousand +men. The Britons then forsook the land of Kent, and in great +consternation fled to London. + +A.D. 465. This year Hengest and Esc fought with the Welsh, nigh +Wippedfleet; and there slew twelve leaders, all Welsh. On their +side a thane was there slain, whose name was Wipped. + +A.D. 473. This year Hengest and Esc fought with the Welsh, and +took immense Booty. And the Welsh fled from the English like +fire. + +A.D. 477. This year came Ella to Britain, with his three sons, +Cymen, and Wlenking, and Cissa, in three ships; landing at a +place that is called Cymenshore. There they slew many of the +Welsh; and some in flight they drove into the wood that is called +Andred'sley. + +A.D. 482. This year the blessed Abbot Benedict shone in this +world, by the splendour of those virtues which the blessed +Gregory records in the book of Dialogues. + +A.D. 485. This year Ella fought with the Welsh nigh Mecred's-Burnsted. + +A.D. 488. This year Esc succeeded to the kingdom; and was king +of the men of Kent twenty-four winters. + +A.D. 490. This year Ella and Cissa besieged the city of Andred, +and slew all that were therein; nor was one Briten left there +afterwards. + +A.D. 495. This year came two leaders into Britain, Cerdic and +Cynric his son, with five ships, at a place that is called +Cerdic's-ore. And they fought with the Welsh the same day. Then +he died, and his son Cynric succeeded to the government, and held +it six and twenty winters. Then he died; and Ceawlin, his son, +succeeded, who reigned seventeen years. Then he died; and Ceol +succeeded to the government, and reigned five years. When he +died, Ceolwulf, his brother, succeeded, and reigned seventeen +years. Their kin goeth to Cerdic. Then succeeded Cynebils, +Ceolwulf's brother's son, to the kingdom; and reigned one and +thirty winters. And he first of West-Saxon kings received +baptism. Then succeeded Cenwall, who was the son of Cynegils, +and reigned one and thirty winters. Then held Sexburga, his +queen, the government one year after him. Then succeeded Escwine +to the kingdom, whose kin goeth to Cerdic, and held it two years. +Then succeeded Centwine, the son of Cynegils, to the kingdom of +the West-Saxons, and reigned nine years. Then succeeded Ceadwall +to the government, whose kin goeth to Cerdic, and held it three +years. Then succeeded Ina to the kingdom of the West-Saxons, +whose kin goeth to Cerdic, and reigned thirty-seven winters. +Then succeeded Ethelheard, whose kin goeth to Cerdic, and reigned +sixteen years. Then succeeded Cuthred, whose kin goeth to +Cerdic, and reigned sixteen winters. Then succeeded Sigebriht, +whose kin goeth to Cerdic, and reigned one year. Then succeeded +Cynwulf, whose kin goeth to Cerdic, and reigned one and thirty +winters. Then succeeded Brihtric, whose kin goeth to Cerdic, and +reigned sixteen years. Then succeeded Egbert to the kingdom, and +held it seven and thirty winters, and seven months. Then +succeeded Ethelwulf, his son, and reigned eighteen years and a +half. Ethelwulf was the son of Egbert, Egbert of Ealmund, +Ealmund of Eafa, Eafa of Eoppa, Eoppa of Ingild, Ingild of Cenred +(Ina of Cenred, Cuthburga of Cenred, and Cwenburga of Cenred), +Cenred of Ceolwald, Ceolwald of Cuthwulf, Cuthwulf of Cuthwine, +Cuthwine of Celm, Celm of Cynric, Cynric of Creoda, Creoda of +Cerdic. Then succeeded Ethelbald, the son of Ethelwulf, to the +kingdom, and held it five years. Then succeeded Ethelbert, his +brother, and reigned five years. Then succeeded Ethelred, his +brother, to the kingdom, and held it five years. Then succeeded +Alfred, their brother, to the government. And then had elapsed +of his age three and twenty winters, and three hundred and +ninety-six winters from the time when his kindred first gained +the land of Wessex from the Welsh. And he held the kingdom a +year and a half less than thirty winters. Then succeeded Edward, +the son of Alfred, and reigned twenty-four winters. When he +died, then succeeded Athelstan, his son, and reigned fourteen +years and seven weeks and three days. Then succeeded Edmund, his +brother, and reigned six years and a half, wanting two nights. +Then succeeded Edred, his brother, and reigned nine years and six +weeks. Then succeeded Edwy, the son of Edmund, and reigned three +years and thirty-six weeks, wanting two days. When he died, then +succeeded Edgar, his brother, and reigned sixteen years and eight +weeks and two nights. When he died, then succeeded Edward, the +son of Edgar, and reigned-- + +A.D. 501. This year Porta and his two sons, Beda and Mela, came +into Britain, with two ships, at a place called Portsmouth. They +soon landed, and slew on the spot a young Briton of very high +rank. + +A.D. 508. This year Cerdic and Cynric slew a British king, whose +name was Natanleod, and five thousand men with him. After this +was the land named Netley, from him, as far as Charford. + +A.D. 509. This year St. Benedict, the abbot, father of all the +monks, (16) ascended to heaven. + +A.D. 514. This year came the West-Saxons into Britain, with +three ships, at the place that is called Cerdic's-ore. And Stuff +and Wihtgar fought with the Britons, and put them to flight. + +A.D. 519. This year Cerdic and Cynric undertook the government +of the West-Saxons; the same year they fought with the Britons at +a place now called Charford. From that day have reigned the +children of the West-Saxon kings. + +A.D. 527. This year Cerdic and Cynric fought with the Britons in +the place that is called Cerdic's-ley. + +A.D. 530. This year Cerdic and Cynric took the isle of Wight, +and slew many men in Carisbrook. + +A.D. 534. This year died Cerdic, the first king of the West-Saxons. +Cynric his son succeeded to the government, and reigned +afterwards twenty-six winters. And they gave to their two +nephews, Stuff and Wihtgar, the whole of the Isle of Wight. + +A.D. 538. This year the sun was eclipsed, fourteen days before +the calends of March, from before morning until nine. + +A.D. 540. This year the sun was eclipsed on the twelfth day +before the calends of July; and the stars showed themselves full +nigh half an hour over nine. + +A.D. 544. This year died Wihtgar; and men buried him at +Carisbrook. + +A.D. 547. This year Ida began his reign; from whom first arose +the royal kindred of the Northumbrians. Ida was the son of +Eoppa, Eoppa of Esa, Esa of Ingwy, Ingwy of Angenwit, Angenwit of +Alloc, Alloc of Bennoc, Bennoc of Brand, Brand of Balday, Balday +of Woden. Woden of Fritholaf, Fritholaf of Frithowulf, +Frithowulf of Finn, Finn of Godolph, Godolph of Geata. Ida +reigned twelve years. He built Bamburgh-Castle, which was first +surrounded with a hedge, and afterwards with a wall. + +A.D. 552. This year Cynric fought with the Britons on the spot +that is called Sarum, and put them to flight. Cerdic was the +father of Cynric, Cerdic was the son of Elesa, Elesa of Esla, +Esla of Gewis, Gewis of Wye, Wye of Frewin, Frewin of Frithgar, +Frithgar of Brand, Brand of Balday, Balday of Woden. In this +year Ethelbert, the son of Ermenric, was born, who on the two and +thirtieth year of his reign received the rite of baptism, the +first of all the kings in Britain. + +A.D. 556. This year Cynric and Ceawlin fought with the Britons +at Beranbury. + +A.D. 560. This year Ceawlin undertook the government of the +West-Saxons; and Ella, on the death of Ida, that of the +Northumbrians; each of whom reigned thirty winters. Ella was the +son of Iff, Iff of Usfrey, Usfrey of Wilgis, Wilgis of +Westerfalcon, Westerfalcon of Seafowl, Seafowl of Sebbald, +Sebbald of Sigeat, Sigeat of Swaddy, Swaddy of Seagirt, Seagar of +Waddy, Waddy of Woden, Woden of Frithowulf. This year Ethelbert +came to the kingdom of the Cantuarians, and held it fifty-three +winters. In his days the holy Pope Gregory sent us baptism. +That was in the two and thirtieth year of his reign. And +Columba, the mass-priest, came to the Picts, and converted them +to the belief of Christ. They are the dwellers by the northern +moors. And their king gave him the island of Hii, consisting of +five hides, as they say, where Columba built a monastary. There +he was abbot two and thirty winters; and there he died, when he +was seventy-seven years old. The place his successors yet have. +The Southern Picts were long before baptized by Bishop Ninnia, +who was taught at Rome. His church or monastery is at Hwiterne, +hallowed in the name of St. Martin, where he resteth with many +holy men. Now, therefore, shall there be ever in Hii an abbot, +and no bishop; and to him shall be subject all the bishops of the +Scots; because Columba was an abbot--no bishop. + +((A.D. 565. This year Columba the presbyter came from the Scots +among the Britons, to instruct the Picts, and he built a +monastery in the island of Hii.)) + +A.D. 568. This year Ceawlin, and Cutha the brother of Ceawlin, +fought with Ethelbert, and pursued him into Kent. And they slew +two aldermen at Wimbledon, Oslake and Cnebba. + +A.D. 571. This year Cuthulf fought with the Britons at Bedford, +and took four towns, Lenbury, Aylesbury, Benson, and Ensham. And +this same year he died. + +A.D. 577. This year Cuthwin and Ceawlin fought with the Britons, +and slew three kings, Commail, and Condida, and Farinmail, on the +spot that is called Derham, and took from them three cities, +Gloucester, Cirencester, and Bath. + +A.D. 583. This year Mauricius succeeded to the empire of the +Romans. + +A.D. 584. This year Ceawlin and Cutha fought with the Britons on +the spot that is called Fretherne. There Cutha was slain. And +Ceawlin took many towns, as well as immense booty and wealth. He +then retreated to his own people. + +A.D. 588. This year died King Ella; and Ethelric reigned after +him five years. + +A.D. 591. This year there was a great slaughter of Britons at +Wanborough; Ceawlin was driven from his kingdom, and Ceolric +reigned six years. + +A.D. 592. This year Gregory succeeded to the papacy at Rome. + +A.D. 593. This year died Ceawlin, and Cwichelm, and Cryda; and +Ethelfrith succeeded to the kingdom of the Northumbrians. He was +the son of Ethelric; Ethelric of Ida. + +A.D. 596. This year Pope Gregory sent Augustine to Britain with +very many monks, to preach the word of God to the English people. + +A.D. 597. This year began Ceolwulf to reign over the West-Saxons; +and he constantly fought and conquered, either with the +Angles, or the Welsh, or the Picts, or the Scots. He was the son +of Cutha, Cutha of Cynric, Cynric of Cerdic, Cerdic of Elesa, +Elesa of Gewis, Gewis of Wye, Wye of Frewin, Frewin of Frithgar, +Frithgar of Brand, Brand of Balday, and Balday of Woden. This +year came Augustine and his companions to England. (17) + +A.D. 601. This year Pope Gregory sent the pall to Archbishop +Augustine in Britain, with very many learned doctors to assist +him; and Bishop Paulinus converted Edwin, king of the +Northumbrians, to baptism. + +A.D. 603. This year Aeden, king of the Scots, fought with the +Dalreathians, and with Ethelfrith, king of the Northumbrians, at +Theakstone; where he lost almost all his army. Theobald also, +brother of Ethelfrith, with his whole armament, was slain. None +of the Scottish kings durst afterwards bring an army against this +nation. Hering, the son of Hussa, led the army thither. + +((A.D. 603. This year Aethan, King of the Scots, fought against +the Dalreods and against Ethelfrith, king of the North-humbrians, +at Daegsanstane [Dawston?], and they slew almost all his army. +There Theodbald, Ethelfrith's brother, was slain with all his +band. Since then no king of the Scots has dared to lead an army +against this nation. Hering, the son of Hussa, led the enemy +thither.)) + +A.D. 604. This year Augustine consecrated two bishops, Mellitus +and Justus. Mellitus he sent to preach baptism to the +East-Saxons. Their king was called Seabert, the son of Ricola, +Ethelbert's sister, whom Ethelbert placed there as king. +Ethelbert also gave Mellitus the bishopric of London; and to +Justus he gave the bishopric of Rochester, which is twenty-four +miles from Canterbury. + +((A.D. 604. This year Augustine consecrated two bishops, +Mellitus and Justus. He sent Mellitus to preach baptism to the +East-Saxons, whose king was called Sebert, son of Ricole, the +sister of Ethelbert, and whom Ethelbert had there appointed king. +And Ethelbert gave Mellitus a bishop's see in London, and to +Justus he gave Rochester, which is twenty-four miles from +Canterbury.)) + +A.D. 606. This year died Gregory; about ten years since he sent +us baptism. His father was called Gordianus, and his mother +Silvia. + +A.D. 607. This year Ceolwulf fought with the South-Saxons. And +Ethelfrith led his army to Chester; where he slew an innumerable +host of the Welsh; and so was fulfilled the prophecy of +Augustine, wherein he saith "If the Welsh will not have peace +with us, they shall perish at the hands of the Saxons." There +were also slain two hundred priests, (18) who came thither to +pray for the army of the Welsh. Their leader was called +Brocmail, who with some fifty men escaped thence. + +A.D. 611. This year Cynegils succeeded to the government in +Wessex, and held it one and thirty winters. Cynegils was the son +of Ceol, Ceol of Cutha, Cutha of Cynric. + +A.D. 614. This year Cynegils and Cwichelm fought at Bampton, and +slew two thousand and forty-six of the Welsh. + +A.D. 616. This year died Ethelbert, king of Kent, the first of +English kings that received baptism: he was the son of Ermenric. +He reigned fifty-six winters, and was succeeded by his son +Eadbald. And in this same year had elapsed from the beginning of +the world five thousand six hundred and eighteen winters. This +Eadbald renounced his baptism, and lived in a heathen manner; so +that he took to wife the relict of his father. Then Laurentius, +who was archbishop in Kent, meant to depart southward over sea, +and abandon everything. But there came to him in the night the +apostle Peter, and severely chastised him, (19) because he would +so desert the flock of God. And he charged him to go to the +king, and teach him the right belief. And he did so; and the +king returned to the right belief. In this king's days the same +Laurentius, who was archbishop in Kent after Augustine, departed +this life on the second of February, and was buried near +Augustine. The holy Augustine in his lifetime invested him +bishop, to the end that the church of Christ, which yet was new +in England, should at no time after his decease be without an +archbishop. After him Mellitus, who was first Bishop of London, +succeeded to the archbishopric. The people of London, where +Mellitus was before, were then heathens: and within five winters +of this time, during the reign of Eadbald, Mellitus died. To him +succeeded Justus, who was Bishop of Rochester, whereto he +consecrated Romanus bishop. + +((A.D. 616. In that time Laurentius was archbishop, and for the +sorrowfulness which he had on account of the king's unbelief he +was minded to forsake this country entirely, and go over sea; but +St. Peter the apostle scourged him sorely one night, because he +wished thus to forsake the flock of God, and commanded him to +teach boldly the true faith to the king; and he did so, and the +king turned to the right (faith). In the days of this same king, +Eadbald, this Laurentius died. The holy Augustine, while yet in +sound health, ordained him bishop, in order that the community of +Christ, which was yet new in England, should not after his +decease be at any time without an archbishop. After him +Mellitus, who had been previously Bishop of London, succeeded to +the archbishopric. And within five years of the decease of +Laurentius, while Eadbald still reigned, Mellitus departed to +Christ.)) + +A.D. 617. This year was Ethelfrith, king of the Northumbrians, +slain by Redwald, king of the East-Angles; and Edwin, the son of +Ella, having succeeded to the kingdom, subdued all Britain, +except the men of Kent alone, and drove out the Ethelings, the +sons of Ethelfrith, namely, Enfrid. Oswald, Oswy, Oslac, Oswood. +Oslaf, and Offa. + +A.D. 624. This year died Archbishop Mellitus. + +A.D. 625. This year Paulinus was invested bishop of the +Northumbrians, by Archbishop Justus, on the twelfth day before +the calends of August. + +((A.D. 625. This year Archbishop Justus consecrated Paulinus +bishop of the North-humbrians.)) + +A.D. 626. This year came Eamer from Cwichelm, king of the +West-Saxons, with a design to assassinate King Edwin; but he killed +Lilla his thane, and Forthere, and wounded the king. The same +night a daughter was born to Edwin, whose name was Eanfleda. +Then promised the king to Paulinus, that he would devote his +daughter to God, if he would procure at the hand of God, that he +might destroy his enemy, who had sent the assassin to him. He +then advanced against the West-Saxons with an army, felled on the +spot five kings, and slew many of their men. This year Eanfleda, +the daughter of King Edwin, was baptized, on the holy eve of +Pentecost. And the king within twelve months was baptized, at +Easter, with all his people. Easter was then on the twelfth of +April. This was done at York, where he had ordered a church to +be built of timber, which was hallowed in the name of St. Peter. +There the king gave the bishopric to Paulinus; and there he +afterwards ordered a larger church to be built of stone. This +year Penda began to reign; and reigned thirty winters. He had +seen fifty winters when he began to reign. Penda was the son of +Wybba, Wybba of Creoda, Creoda of Cynewald, Cynewald of Cnebba, +Cnebba of Icel, Icel of Eomer, Eomer of Angelthew, Angelthew of +Offa, Offa of Wearmund, Wearmund of Whitley, Whitley of Woden. + +A.D. 627. This year was King Edwin baptized at Easter, with all +his people, by Paulinus, who also preached baptism in Lindsey, +where the first person who believed was a certain rich man, of +the name of Bleek, with all his people. At this time Honorius +succeeded Boniface in the papacy, and sent hither to Paulinus the +pall; and Archbishop Justus having departed this life on the +tenth of November, Honorius was consecrated at Lincoln Archbishop +of Canterbury by Paulinus; and Pope Honorius sent him the pall. +And he sent an injunction to the Scots, that they should return +to the right celebration of Easter. + +((A.D. 627. This year, at Easter, Paulinus baptized Edwin king +of the North-humbrians, with his people; and earlier within the +same year, at Pentecost, he had baptized Eanfled, daughter of the +same king.)) + +A.D. 628. This year Cynegils and Cwichelm fought with Penda at +Cirencester, and afterwards entered into a treaty there. + +A.D. 632. This year was Orpwald baptized. + +A.D. 633. This year King Edwin was slain by Cadwalla and Penda, +on Hatfield moor, on the fourteenth of October. He reigned +seventeen years. His son Osfrid was also slain with him. After +this Cadwalla and Penda went and ravaged all the land of the +Northumbrians; which when Paulinus saw, he took Ethelburga, the +relict of Edwin, and went by ship to Kent. Eadbald and Honorius +received him very honourably, and gave him the bishopric of +Rochester, where he continued to his death. + +A.D. 634. This year Osric, whom Paulinus baptized, succeeded to +the government of Deira. He was the son of Elfric, the uncle of +Edwin. And to Bernicia succeeded Eanfrith, son of Ethelfrith. +This year also Bishop Birinus first preached baptism to the +West-Saxons, under King Cynegils. The said Birinus went thither by +the command of Pope Honorius; and he was bishop there to the end +of his life. Oswald also this year succeeded to the government +of the Northumbrians, and reigned nine winters. The ninth year +was assigned to him on account of the heathenism in which those +lived who reigned that one year betwixt him and Edwin. + +A.D. 635. This year King Cynegils was baptized by Bishop Birinus +at Dorchester; and Oswald, king of the Northumbrians, was his +sponsor. + +A.D. 636. This year King Cwichelm was baptized at Dorchester, +and died the same year. Bishop Felix also preached to the +East-Angles the belief of Christ. + +A.D. 639. This year Birinus baptized King Cuthred at Dorchester, +and received him as his son. + +A.D. 640. This year died Eadbald, King of Kent, after a reign of +twenty-five winters. He had two sons, Ermenred and Erkenbert; +and Erkenbert reigned there after his father. He overturned all +the idols in the kingdom, and first of English kings appointed a +fast before Easter. His daughter was called Ercongota--holy +damsel of an illustrious sire! whose mother was Sexburga, the +daughter of Anna, king of the East-Angles. Ermenred also begat +two sons, who were afterwards martyred by Thunnor. + +A.D. 642. This year Oswald, king of the Northumbrians, was slain +by Penda, king of the Southumbrians, at Mirfield, on the fifth +day of August; and his body was buried at Bardney. His holiness +and miracles were afterwards displayed on manifold occasions +throughout this island; and his hands remain still uncorrupted at +Barnburgh. The same year in which Oswald was slain, Oswy his +brother succeeded to the government of the Northumbrians, and +reigned two less than thirty years. + +A.D. 643. This year Kenwal succeeded to the kingdom of the +West-Saxons, and held it one and thirty winters. This Kenwal ordered +the old (20) church at Winchester to be built in the name of St. +Peter. He was the son of Cynegils. + +A.D. 644. This year died at Rochester, on the tenth of October, +Paulinus, who was first Archbishop at York, and afterwards at +Rochester. He was bishop nineteen winters, two months, and one +and twenty days. This year the son of Oswy's uncle (Oswin), the +son of Osric, assumed the government of Deira, and reigned seven +winters. + +A.D. 645. This year King Kenwal was driven from his dominion by +King Penda. + +A.D. 646. This year King Kenwal was baptized. + +A.D. 648. This year Kenwal gave his relation Cuthred three +thousand hides of land by Ashdown. Cuthred was the son of +Cwichelm, Cwichelm of Cynegils. + +A.D. 650. This year Egelbert, from Gaul, after Birinus the +Romish bishop, obtained the bishopric of the West-Saxons. + +((A.D. 650. This year Birinus the bishop died, and Agilbert the +Frenchman was ordained.)) + +A.D. 651. This year King Oswin was slain, on the twentieth day +of August; and within twelve nights afterwards died Bishop Aidan, +on the thirty-first of August. + +A.D. 652. This year Kenwal fought at Bradford by the Avon. + +A.D. 653. This year, the Middle-Angles under alderman Peada +received the right belief. + +A.D. 654. This year King Anna was slain, and Botolph began to +build that minster at Icanhoe. This year also died Archbishop +Honorius, on the thirtieth of September. + +A.D. 655. This year Penda was slain at Wingfield, and thirty +royal personages with him, some of whom were kings. One of them +was Ethelhere, brother of Anna, king of the East-Angles. The +Mercians after this became Christians. From the beginning of the +world had now elapsed five thousand eight hundred and fifty +winters, when Peada, the son of Penda, assumed the government of +the Mercians. In his time came together himself and Oswy, +brother of King Oswald, and said, that they would rear a minster +to the glory of Christ, and the honour of St. Peter. And they +did so, and gave it the name of Medhamsted; because there is a +well there, called Meadswell. And they began the groundwall, and +wrought thereon; after which they committed the work to a monk, +whose name was Saxulf. He was very much the friend of God, and +him also loved all people. He was nobly born in the world, and +rich: he is now much richer with Christ. But King Peada reigned +no while; for he was betrayed by his own queen, in Easter-tide. +This year Ithamar, Bishop of Rochester, consecrated Deus-dedit to +Canterbury, on the twenty-sixth day of March. + +A.D. 656. This year was Peada slain; and Wulfhere, son of Penda, +succeeded to the kingdom of the Mercians. In his time waxed the +abbey of Medhamsted very rich, which his brother had begun. The +king loved it much, for the love of his brother Peada, and for +the love of his wed-brother Oswy, and for the love of Saxulf the +abbot. He said, therefore, that he would dignify and honour it +by the counsel of his brothers, Ethelred and Merwal; and by the +counsel of his sisters, Kyneburga and Kyneswitha; and by the +counsel of the archbishop, who was called Deus-dedit; and by the +counsel of all his peers, learned and lewd, that in his kingdom +were. And he so did. Then sent the king after the abbot, that +he should immediately come to him. And he so did. Then said the +king to the abbot: "Beloved Saxulf, I have sent after thee for +the good of my soul; and I will plainly tell thee for why. My +brother Peada and my beloved friend Oswy began a minster, for the +love of Christ and St. Peter: but my brother, as Christ willed, +is departed from this life; I will therefore intreat thee, +beloved friend, that they earnestly proceed on their work; and I +will find thee thereto gold and silver, land and possessions, and +all that thereto behoveth." Then went the abbot home, and began +to work. So he sped, as Christ permitted him; so that in a few +years was that minster ready. Then, when the king heard say +that, he was very glad; and bade men send through all the nation, +after all his thanes; after the archbishop, and after bishops: +and after his earls; and after all those that loved God; that +they should come to him. And he fixed the day when men should +hallow the minster. And when they were hallowing the minster, +there was the king, Wulfere, and his brother Ethelred, and his +sisters, Kyneburga and Kyneswitha. And the minster was hallowed +by Archbishop Deusdedit of Canterbury; and the Bishop of +Rochester, Ithamar; and the Bishop of London, who was called +Wina; and the Bishop of the Mercians, whose name was Jeruman; and +Bishop Tuda. And there was Wilfrid, priest, that after was +bishop; and there were all his thanes that were in his kingdom. +When the minster was hallowed, in the name of St. Peter, and St. +Paul, and St. Andrew, then stood up the king before all his +thanes, and said with a loud voice: "Thanks be to the high +almighty God for this worship that here is done; and I will this +day glorify Christ and St. Peter, and I will that you all confirm +my words.--I Wulfere give to-day to St. Peter, and the Abbot +Saxulf, and the monks of the minster, these lands, and these +waters, and meres, and fens, and weirs, and all the lands that +thereabout lye, that are of my kingdom, freely, so that no man +have there any ingress, but the abbot and the monks. This is the +gift. From Medhamsted to Northborough; and so to the place that +is called Foleys; and so all the fen, right to Ashdike; and from +Ashdike to the place called Fethermouth; and so in a right line +ten miles long to Ugdike; and so to Ragwell; and from Ragwell +five miles to the main river that goeth to Elm and to Wisbeach; +and so about three miles to Trokenholt; and from Trokenholt right +through all the fen to Derworth; that is twenty miles long; and +so to Great Cross; and from Great Cross through a clear water +called Bradney; and thence six miles to Paxlade; and so forth +through all the meres and fens that lye toward Huntingdon-port; +and the meres and lakes Shelfermere and Wittlesey mere, and all +the others that thereabout lye; with land and with houses that +are on the east side of Shelfermere; thence all the fens to +Medhamsted; from Medhamsted all to Welmsford; from Welmsford to +Clive; thence to Easton; from Easton to Stamford; from Stamford +as the water runneth to the aforesaid Northborough."--These are +the lands and the fens that the king gave unto St. Peter's +minster.--Then quoth the king: "It is little--this gift-- +but I will that they hold it so royally and so freely, that there +be taken there from neither gild nor gable, but for the monks +alone. Thus I will free this minster; that it be not subject +except to Rome alone; and hither I will that we seek St. Peter, +all that to Rome cannot go." During these words the abbot +desired that he would gant him his request. And the king granted +it. "I have here (said he) some good monks that would lead their +life in retirement, if they wist where. Now here is an island, +that is called Ankerig; and I will request, that we may there +build a minster to the honour of St. Mary; that they may dwell +there who will lead their lives in peace and tranquillity." Then +answered the king, and quoth thus: "Beloved Saxulf, not that only +which thou desirest, but all things that I know thou desirest in +our Lord's behalf, so I approve, and grant. And I bid thee, +brother Ethelred, and my sisters, Kyneburga and Kyneswitha, for +the release of your souls, that you be witnesses, and that you +subscribe it with your fingers. And I pray all that come after +me, be they my sons, be they my brethren, or kings that come +after me, that our gift may stand; as they would be partakers of +the life everlasting, and as they would avoid everlasting +punishment. Whoso lesseneth our gift, or the gift of other good +men, may the heavenly porter lessen him in the kingdom of heaven; +and whoso advanceth it, may the heavenly porter advance him in +the kingdom of heaven." These are the witnesses that were there, +and that subscribed it with their fingers on the cross of Christ, +and confirmed it with their tongues. That was, first the king, +Wulfere, who confirmed it first with his word, and afterwards +wrote with his finger on the cross of Christ, saying thus: "I +Wulfere, king, in the presence of kings, and of earls, and of +captains, and of thanes, the witnesses of my gift, before the +Archbishop Deus-dedit, I confirm it with the cross of Christ." +(+)--"And I Oswy, king of the Northumbrians, the friend of this +minster, and o[oe] the Abbot Saxulf, commend it with the cross of +Christ." (+)--"And I Sighere, king, ratify it with the cross of +Christ." (+)--"And I Sibbi, king, subscribe it with the cross +of Christ." (+)--"And I Ethelred, the king's brother, granted +the same with the cross of Christ." (+)--"And we, the king's +sisters, Kyneburga and Kyneswitha, approve it."--"And I +Archbishop of Canterbury, Deus-dedit, ratify it."--Then +confirmed it all the others that were there with the cross of +Christ (+): namely, Ithamar, Bishop of Rochester; Wina, Bishop of +London; Jeruman, Bishop of the Mercians; and Tuda, bishop; and +Wilfrid, priest, who was afterwards bishop; and Eoppa, priest, +whom the king, Wulfere, sent to preach christianity in the Isle +of Wight; and Saxulf, abbot; and Immine, alderman, and Edbert, +alderman, and Herefrith, alderman, and Wilbert, alderman, and +Abo, alderman; Ethelbald, Brord, Wilbert, Elmund, Frethegis. +These, and many others that were there, the king's most loyal +subjects, confirmed it all. This charter was written after our +Lord's Nativity 664--the seventh year of King Wulfere--the +ninth year of Archbishop Deus-dedir. Then they laid God's curse, +and the curse of all saints, and all christian folks, on +whosoever undid anything that there was done. "So be it," saith +all. "Amen."--When this thing was done, then sent the king to +Rome to the Pope Vitalianus that then was, and desired, that he +would ratify with his writ and with his blessing, all this +aforesaid thing. And the pope then sent his writ, thus saying: +"I Vitalianus, pope, grant thee, King Wulfere, and Deus-dedit, +archbishop, and Abbot Saxulf, all the things that you desire. +And I forbid, that any king, or any man, have any ingress, but +the abbot alone; nor shall he be Subject to any man, except the +Pope of Rome and the Archbishop of Canterbury. If any one +breaketh anything of this, St. Peter with his sword destroy him. +Whosoever holdeth it, St. Peter with heaven's key undo him the +kingdom of heaven."--Thus was the minster of Medhamsted begun, +that was afterwards called Peter-borough. Afterwards came +another archbishop to Canterbury, who was called Theodorus; a +very good man and wise; and held his synod with his bishops and +with his clerk. There was Wilfrid, bishop of the Mercians, +deprived of his bishopric; and Saxulf, abbot, was there chosen +bishop; and Cuthbald, monk of the same minster, was chosen abbot. +This synod was holden after our Lord's Nativity six hundred and +seventy-three winters. + +A.D. 658. This year Kenwal fought with the Welsh at Pen, and +pursued them to the Parret. This battle was fought after his +return from East-Anglia, where he was three years in exile. +Penda had driven him thither and deprived him of his kingdom, +because he had discarded his sister. + +A.D. 660. This year Bishop Egelbert departed from Kenwal; and +Wina held the bishopric three years. And Egbert accepted the +bishopric of Paris, in Gaul, by the Seine. + +A.D. 661. This year, at Easter, Kenwal fought at Pontesbury; and +Wulfere, the son of Penda, pursued him as far as Ashdown. +Cuthred, the son of Cwichelm, and King Kenbert, died in one year. +Into the Isle of Wight also Wulfere, the son of Penda, +penetrated, and transferred the inhabitants to Ethelwald, king of +the South-Saxons, because Wulfere adopted him in baptism. And +Eoppa, a mass-priest, by command of Wilfrid and King Wulfere, was +the first of men who brought baptism to the people of the Isle of +Wight. + +A.D. 664. This year the sun was eclipsed, on the eleventh of +May; and Erkenbert, King of Kent, having died, Egbert his son +succeeded to the kingdom. Colman with his companions this year +returned to his own country. This same year there was a great +plague in the island Britain, in which died Bishop Tuda, who was +buried at Wayleigh--Chad and Wilferth were consecrated--And +Archbishop Deus-dedit died. + +A.D. 667. This year Oswy and Egbert sent Wighard, a priest, to +Rome, that he might be consecrated there Archbishop of +Canterbury; but he died as soon as he came thither. + +((A.D. 667. This year Wighard went to Rome, even as King Oswy, +and Egbert had sent him.)) + +A.D. 668. This year Theodore was consecrated archbishop, and +sent into Britain. + +A.D. 669. This year King Egbert gave to Bass, a mass-priest, +Reculver--to build a minster upon. + +A.D. 670. This year died Oswy, King of Northumberland, on the +fifteenth day before the calends of March; and Egferth his son +reigned after him. Lothere, the nephew of Bishop Egelbert, +succeeded to the bishopric over the land of the West-Saxons, and +held it seven years. He was consecrated by Archbishop Theodore. +Oswy was the son of Ethelfrith, Ethelfrith of Ethelric, Ethelric +of Ida, Ida of Eoppa. + +A.D. 671. This year happened that great destruction among the +fowls. + +A.D. 672. This year died King Cenwal; and Sexburga his queen +held the government one year after him. + +A.D. 673. This year died Egbert, King of Kent; and the same year +there was a synod at Hertford; and St. Etheldritha began that +monastery at Ely. + +A.D. 674. This year Escwin succeeded to the kingdom of Wessex. +He was the son of Cenfus, Cenfus of Cenferth, Cenferth of +Cuthgils, Cuthgils of Ceolwulf, Ceolwulf of Cynric, Cynric of +Cerdic. + +A.D. 675. This year Wulfere, the son of Penda, and Escwin, the +son of Cenfus, fought at Bedwin. The same year died Wulfere, and +Ethelred succeeded to the government. In his time sent he to +Rome Bishop Wilfrid to the pope that then was, called Agatho, and +told him by word and by letter, how his brothers Peada and +Wulfere, and the Abbot Saxulf, had wrought a minster, called +Medhamsted; and that they had freed it, against king and against +bishop, from every service; and he besought him that he would +confirm it with his writ and with his blessing. And the pope +sent then his writ to England, thus saying: "I Agatho, Pope of +Rome, greet well the worthy Ethelred, king of the Mercians, and +the Archbishop Theodorus of Canterbury, and Saxulf, the bishop of +the Mercians, who before was abbot, and all the abbots that are +in England; God's greeting and my blessing. I have heard the +petition of King Ethelred, and of the Archbishop Theodorus, and +of the Bishop Saxulf, and of the Abbot Cuthbald; and I will it, +that it in all wise be as you have spoken it. And I ordain, in +behalf of God, and of St. Peter, and of all saints, and of every +hooded head, that neither king, nor bishop, nor earl, nor any man +whatever, have any claim, or gable, or gild, or levy, or take any +service of any kind, from the abbey of Medhamsted. I command +also, that no shire-bishop be so bold as to hold an ordination or +consecration within this abbacy, except the abbot intreat him, +nor have there any claim to proxies, or synodals, or anything +whatever of any kind. And I will, that the abbot be holden for +legate of Rome over all that island; and whatever abbot is there +chosen by the monks that he be consecrated by the Archbishop of +Canterbury. I will and decree, that, whatever man may have made +a vow to go to Rome, and cannot perform it, either from +infirmity, or for his lord's need, or from poverty, or from any +other necessity of any kind whatever, whereby he cannot come +thither, be he of England, or of whatever other island he be, he +may come to that minster of Medhamsted, and have the same +forgiveness of Christ and St. Peter, and of the abbot, and of the +monks, that he should have if he went to Rome. Now bid I thee, +brother Theodorus, that thou let it be proclaimed through all +England, that a synod be gathered, and this writ be read and +observed. Also I tell thee, Bishop Saxulf, that, as thou +desirest it, that the minster be free, so I forbid thee, and all +the bishops that after thee come, from Christ and from all his +saints, that ye have no demand from that minster, except so much +as the abbot will. Now will I say in a word, that, whoso holdeth +this writ and this decree, then be he ever dwelling with God +Almighty in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso breaketh it, then +be he excommunicated, and thrust down with Judas, and with all +the devils in hell, except he come to repentance. Amen!" This +writ sent the Pope Agatho, and a hundred and twenty-five bishops, +by Wilfrid, Archbishop of York, to England. This was done after +our Lord's Nativity 680, the sixth year of King Ethelred. Then +the king commanded the Archbishop Theodorus, that he should +appoint a general Wittenmoot at the place called Hatfield. When +they were there collected, then he allowed the letter to be read +that the pope sent thither; and all ratified and confirmed it. +Then said the king: "All things that my brother Peada, and my +brother Wulfere, and my sisters, Kyneburga and Kyneswitha, gave +and granted to St. Peter and the abbot, these I will may stand; +and I will in my day increase it, for their souls and for my +soul. Now give I St. Peter to-day into his minster, Medhamsted, +these lands, and all that thereto lyeth; that is, Bredon, +Repings, Cadney, Swineshead, Hanbury, Lodeshall, Scuffanhall, +Cosford, Stratford, Wattleburn, Lushgard, Ethelhun-island, +Bardney. These lands I give St. Peter just as freely as I +possessed them myself; and so, that none of my successors take +anything therefrom. Whoso doeth it, have he the curse of the +Pope of Rome, and the curse of all bishops, and of all those that +are witnesses here. And this I confirm with the token of +Christ." (+) "I Theodorus, Archbishop of Canterbury, am witness +to this charter of Medhamsted; and I ratify it with my hand, and +I excommunicate all that break anything thereof; and I bless all +that hold it." (+) "I Wilfrid, Archbishop of York, am witness to +this charter; and I ratify this same curse." (+) "I Saxulf, who +was first abbot, and now am bishop, I give my curse, and that of +all my successors, to those who break this."--"I Ostritha, +Ethelred's queen, confirm it."--"I Adrian, legate, ratify it."--"I +Putta, Bishop of Rochester, subscribe it."--"I Waldhere, +Bishop of London, confirm it."--"I Cuthbald, abbot, ratify it; +so that, whoso breaketh it, have he the cursing of all bishops +and of all christian folk. Amen." + +A.D. 676. This year, in which Hedda succeeded to his bishopric, +Escwin died; and Centwin obtained the government of the +West-Saxons. Centwin was the son of Cynegils, Cynegils of Ceolwulf. +Ethelred, king of the Mercians, in the meantime, overran the land +of Kent. + +A.D. 678. This year appeared the comet-star in August, and shone +every morning, during three months, like a sunbeam. Bishop +Wilfrid being driven from his bishopric by King Everth, two +bishops were consecrated in his stead, Bosa over the Deirians, +and Eata over the Bernicians. About the same time also Eadhed +was consecrated bishop over the people of Lindsey, being the +first in that division. + +A.D. 679. This year Elwin was slain, by the river Trent, on the +spot where Everth and Ethelred fought. This year also died St. +Etheldritha; and the monastery of Coldingiham was destroyed by +fire from heaven. + +A.D. 680. This year Archbishop Theodore appointed a synod at +Hatfield; because he was desirous of rectifying the belief of +Christ; and the same year died Hilda, Abbess of Whitby. + +A.D. 681. This year Trumbert was consecrated Bishop of Hexham, +and Trumwin bishop of the Picts; for they were at that time +subject to this country. This year also Centwin pursued the +Britons to the sea. + +A.D. 684. This year Everth sent an army against the Scots, under +the command of his alderman, Bright, who lamentably plundered and +burned the churches of God. + +A.D. 685. This year King Everth commanded Cuthbert to be +consecrated a bishop; and Archbishop Theodore, on the first day +of Easter, consecrated him at York Bishop of Hexham; for Trumbert +had been deprived of that see. The same year Everth was slain by +the north sea, and a large army with him, on the thirteenth day +before the calends of June. He continued king fifteen winters; +and his brother Elfrith succeeded him in the government. Everth +was the son of Oswy. Oswy of Ethelferth, Ethelferth of Ethelric, +Ethelric of Ida, Ida of Eoppa. About this time Ceadwall began to +struggle for a kingdom. Ceadwall was the son of Kenbert, Kenbert +of Chad, Chad of Cutha, Cutha of Ceawlin, Ceawlin of Cynric, +Cynric of Cerdic. Mull, who was afterwards consigned to the +flames in Kent, was the brother of Ceadwall. The same year died +Lothhere, King of Kent; and John was consecrated Bishop of +Hexham, where he remained till Wilferth was restored, when John +was translated to York on the death of Bishop Bosa. Wilferth his +priest was afterwards consecrated Bishop of York, and John +retired to his monastery (21) in the woods of Delta. This year +there was in Britain a bloody rain, and milk and butter were +turned to blood. + +((A.D. 685. And in this same year Cuthbert was consecrated +Bishop of Hexham by Archbishop Theodore at York, because Bishop +Tumbert had been driven from the bishopric.)) + +A.D. 686. This year Ceadwall and his brother Mull spread +devastation in Kent and the Isle of Wight. This same Ceadwall +gave to St. Peter's minster, at Medhamsted, Hook; which is +situated in an island called Egborough. Egbald at this time was +abbot, who was the third after Saxulf; and Theodore was +archbishop in Kent. + +A.D. 687. This year was Mull consigned to the flames in Kent, +and twelve other men with him; after which, in the same year, +Ceadwall overran the kingdom of Kent. + +A.D. 688. This year Ceadwall went to Rome, and received baptism +at the hands of Sergius the pope, who gave him the name of Peter; +but in the course of seven nights afterwards, on the twelfth day +before the calends of May, he died in his crisom-cloths, and was +buried in the church of St. Peter. To him succeeded Ina in the +kingdom of Wessex, and reigned thirty-seven winters. He founded +the monastery of Glastonbury; after which he went to Rome, and +continued there to the end of his life. Ina was the son of +Cenred, Cenred of Ceolwald; Ceolwald was the brother of Cynegils; +and both were the sons of Cuthwin, who was the son of Ceawlin; +Ceawlin was the son of Cynric, and Cynric of Cerdic. + +((A.D. 688. This year King Caedwalla went to Rome, and received +baptism of Pope Sergius, and he gave him the name of Peter, and +in about seven days afterwards, on the twelfth before the kalends +of May, while he was yet in his baptismal garments, he died: and +he was buried in St. Peter's church. And Ina succeeded to the +kingdom of the West-Saxons after him, and he reigned twenty-seven +years.)) + +A.D. 690. This year Archbishop Theodore, who had been bishop +twenty-two winters, departed this life, (22) and was buried +within the city of Canterbury. Bertwald, who before this was +abbot of Reculver, on the calends of July succeeded him in the +see; which was ere this filled by Romish bishops, but henceforth +with English. Then were there two kings in Kent, Wihtred and +Webherd. + +A.D. 693. This year was Bertwald consecrated archbishop by +Godwin, bishop of the Gauls, on the fifth day before the nones of +July; about which time died Gifmund, who was Bishop of Rochester; +and Archbishop Bertwald consecrated Tobias in his stead. This +year also Dryhtelm (23) retired from the world. + +A.D. 694. This year the people of Kent covenanted with Ina, and +gave him 30,000 pounds in friendship, because they had burned his +brother Mull. Wihtred, who succeeded to the kingdom of Kent, and +held it thirty-three winters, was the son of Egbert, Egbert of +Erkenbert, Erkenbert of Eadbald, Eadbald of Ethelbert. And as +soon as he was king, he ordained a great council to meet in the +place that is called Bapchild; in which presided Wihtred, King of +Kent, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Brihtwald, and Bishop Tobias +of Rochester; and with him were collected abbots and abbesses, +and many wise men, all to consult about the advantage of God's +churches that are in Kent. Now began the king to speak, and +said, "I will that all the minsters and the churches, that were +given and bequeathed to the worship of God in the days of +believing kings, my predecessors, and in the days of my relations +of King Ethelbert and of those that followed him--shall so +remain to the worship of God, and stand fast for evermore. For I +Wihtred, earthly king, urged on by the heavenly king, and with +the spirit of righteousness annealed, have of our progenitors +learned this, that no layman should have any right to possess +himself of any church or of any of the things that belong to the +church. And, therefore, strongly and truly, we set and decree, +and in the name of Almighty God, and of all saints, we forbid all +our succeeding kings, and aldermen, and all lawmen, ever, any +lordship over churches, and over all their appurtenances, which I +or my elders in old days have given for a perpetual inheritance +to the glory of Christ and our Lady St. Mary, and the holy +apostles. And look! when it happeneth, that bishop, or abbot, +or abbess, depart from this life, be it told the archbishop, and +with his counsel and injunction be chosen such as be worthy. And +the life of him, that shall be chosen to so holy a thing, let the +archbishop examine, and his cleanness; and in no wise be chosen +any one, or to so holy a thing consecrated, without the +archbishop's counsel. Kings shall appoint earls, and aldermen, +sheriffs, and judges; but the archbishop shall consult and +provide for God's flock: bishops, and abbots, and abbesses, and +priests, and deacons, he shall choose and appoint; and also +sanctify and confirm with good precepts and example, lest that +any of God's flock go astray and perish--" + +A.D. 697. This year the Southumbrians slew Ostritha, the queen +of Ethelred, the sister of Everth. + +A.D. 699. This year the Picts slew Alderman Burt. + +A.D. 702. This year Kenred assumed the government of the +Southumbrians. + +A.D. 703. This year died Bishop Hedda, having held the see of +Winchester twenty-seven winters. + +A.D. 704. This year Ethelred, the son of Penda, King of Mercia, +entered into a monastic life, having reigned twenty-nine winters; +and Cenred succeeded to the government. + +A.D. 705. This year died Ealdferth, king of the Northumbrians, +on the nineteenth day before the calends of January, at +Driffield; and was succeeded by his son Osred. Bishop Saxulf +also died the same year. + +A.D. 709. This year died Aldhelm, who was bishop by Westwood. +The land of the West-Saxons was divided into two bishoprics in +the first days of Bishop Daniel; who held one whilst Aldhelm held +the other. Before this it was only one. Forthere succeeded to +Aldhelm; and Ceolred succeeded to the kingdom of Mercia. And +Cenred went to Rome; and Offa with him. And Cenred was there to +the end of his life. The same year died Bishop Wilferth, at +Oundle, but his body was carried to Ripon. He was the bishop +whom King Everth compelled to go to Rome. + +A.D. 710. This year Acca, priest of Wilferth, succeeded to the +bishopric that Wilferth ere held; and Alderman Bertfrith fought +with the Picts between Heugh and Carau. Ina also, and Nun his +relative, fought with Grant, king of the Welsh; and the same year +Hibbald was slain. + +A.D. 714. This year died Guthlac the holy, and King Pepin. + +A.D. 715. This year Ina and Ceolred fought at Wanborough; (24) +and King Dagobert departed this life. + +A.D. 716. This year Osred, king of the Northumbrians, was slain +near the southern borders. He reigned eleven winters after +Ealdferth. Cenred then succeeded to the government, and held it +two years; then Osric, who held it eleven years. This same year +died Ceolred, king of the Mercians. His body lies at Lichfield; +but that of Ethelred, the son of Penda, at Bardney. Ethelbald +then succeeded to the kingdom of Mercia, and held it one and +forty winters. Ethelbald was the son of Alwy, Alwy of Eawa, Eawa +of Webba, whose genealogy is already written. The venerable +Egbert about this time converted the monks of Iona to the right +faith, in the regulation of Easter, and the ecclesiastical +tonsure. + +A.D. 718. This year died Ingild, the brother of Ina. Cwenburga +and Cuthburga were their sisters. Cuthburga reared the monastery +of Wimburn; and, though given in marriage to Ealdferth, King of +Northumberland, they parted during their lives. + +A.D. 721. This year Bishop Daniel went to Rome; and the same +year Ina slew Cynewulf, the etheling. This year also died the +holy Bishop John; who was bishop thirty-three years, and eight +months, and thirteen days. His body now resteth at Beverley. + +A.D. 722. This year Queen Ethelburga destroyed Taunton, which +Ina had formerly built; Ealdbert wandered a wretched exile in +Surrey and Sussex; and Ina fought with the South-Saxons. + +A.D. 725. This year died Wihtred, King of Kent, on the ninth day +before the calends of May, after a reign of thirty-two winters. +His pedigree is above; and he was succeeded by Eadbert. Ina this +year also fought with the South-Saxons, and slew Ealdbert, the +etheling, whom he had before driven into exile. + +A.D. 727. This year died Tobias, Bishop of Rochester: and +Archbishop Bertwald consecrated Aldulf bishop in his stead. + +A.D. 728. This year (25) Ina went to Rome, and there gave up the +ghost. He was succeeded in the kingdom of Wessex by Ethelhard +his relative, who held it fourteen years; but he fought this same +year with Oswald the etheling. Oswald was the son of Ethelbald, +Ethelbald of Cynebald, Cynebald of Cuthwin, Cuthwin of Ceawlin. + +A.D. 729. This year appeared the comet-star, and St. Egbert died +in Iona. This year also died the etheling Oswald; and Osric was +slain, who was eleven winters king of Northumberland; to which +kingdom Ceolwulf succeeded, and held it eight years. The said +Ceolwulf was the son of Cutha, Cutha of Cuthwin, Cuthwin of +Leodwald, Leodwald of Egwald, Egwald of Ealdhelm, Ealdhelm of +Occa, Occa of Ida, Ida of Eoppa. Archbishop Bertwald died this +year on the ides of January. He was bishop thirty-seven winters, +and six months, and fourteen days. The same year Tatwine, who +was before a priest at Bredon in Mercia, was consecrated +archbishop by Daniel Bishop of Winchester, Ingwald Bishop of +London, Aldwin Bishop of Lichfield, and Aldulf Bishop of +Rochester, on the tenth day of June. He enjoyed the +archbishopric about three years. + +((A.D. 729. And the same year Osric died; he was king eleven +years; then Ceolwulf succeeded to the kingdom, and held it eight +years.)) + +A.D. 733. This year Ethelbald took Somerton; the sun was +eclipsed; and Acca was driven from his bishopric. + +A.D. 734. This year was the moon as if covered with blood; and +Archbishop Tatwine and Bede departed this life; and Egbert was +consecrated bishop. + +A.D. 735. This year Bishop Egbert received the pall at Rome. + +A.D. 736. This year Archbishop Nothelm received the pall from +the bishop of the Romans. + +A.D. 737. This year Bishop Forthere and Queen Frithogitha went +to Rome; and King Ceolwulf received the clerical tonsure, giving +his kingdom to Edbert, his uncle's son: who reigned one and +twenty winters. Bishop Ethelwold and Acca died this year, and +Cynewulf was consecrated bishop. The same year also Ethelbald +ravaged the land of the Northumbrians. + +A.D. 738. This year Eadbery, the son of Eata the son of +Leodwald, succeeded to the Northumbrian kingdom, and held it one +and twenty winters. Archbishop Egbert, the son of Eata, was his +brother. They both rest under one porch in the city of York. + +A.D. 740. This year died King Ethelhard; and Cuthred, his +relative, succeeded to the West-Saxon kingdom, which he held +fourteen winters, during which time he fought many hard battles +with Ethelbald, king of the Mercians. On the death of Archbishop +Nothelm, Cuthbert was consecrated archbishop, and Dunn, Bishop of +Rochester. This year York was on fire. + +A.D. 742. This year there was a large synod assembled at +Cliff's-Hoo; and there was Ethelbald, king of Mercia, with +Archbishop Cuthbert, and many other wise men. + +A.D. 743. This year Ethelbald, king of Mercia, and Cuthred, king +of the West-Saxons, fought with the Welsh. + +A.D. 744. This year Daniel resigned the see of Winchester; to +which Hunferth was promoted. The stars went swiftly shooting; +and Wilferth the younger, who had been thirty winters Bishop of +York, died on the third day before the calends of May. + +A.D. 745. This year died Daniel. Forty-three winters had then +elapsed since he received the episcopal function. + +A.D. 746. This year was King Selred slain. + +A.D. 748. This year was slain Cynric, etheling of the West-Saxons; +Edbert, King of Kent, died; and Ethelbert, son of King Wihtred, +succeeded to the kingdom. + +A.D. 750. This year Cuthred, king of the West-Saxons, fought +with the proud chief Ethelhun. + +A.D. 752. This year, the twelfth of his reign, Cuthred, king of +the West-Saxons, fought at Burford (27) with Ethelbald, king of +the Mercians, and put him to flight. + +A.D. 753. This year Cuthred, king of the West-Saxons, fought +against the Welsh. + +A.D. 754. This year died Cuthred, king of the West-Saxons; and +Sebright, his relative, succeeded to the kingdom, which he held +one year; Cyneard succeeded Humferth in the see of Winchester; +and Canterbury was this year on fire. + +A.D. 755. This year Cynewulf, with the consent of the West-Saxon +council, deprived Sebright, his relative, for unrighteous deeds, +of his kingdom, except Hampshire; which he retained, until he +slew the alderman who remained the longest with him. Then +Cynewulf drove him to the forest of Andred, where he remained, +until a swain stabbed him at Privett, and revenged the alderman, +Cumbra. The same Cynewulf fought many hard battles with the +Welsh; and, about one and thirty winters after he had the +kingdom, he was desirous of expelling a prince called Cyneard, +who was the brother of Sebright. But he having understood that +the king was gone, thinly attended, on a visit to a lady at +Merton, (28) rode after him, and beset him therein; surrounding +the town without, ere the attendants of the king were aware of +him. When the king found this, he went out of doors, and +defended himself with courage; till, having looked on the +etheling, he rushed out upon him, and wounded him severely. Then +were they all fighting against the king, until they had slain +him. As soon as the king's thanes in the lady's bower heard the +tumult, they ran to the spot, whoever was then ready. The +etheling immediately offered them life and rewards; which none of +them would accept, but continued fighting together against him, +till they all lay dead, except one British hostage, and he was +severely wounded. When the king's thanes that were behind heard +in the morning that the king was slain, they rode to the spot, +Osric his alderman, and Wiverth his thane, and the men that he +had left behind; and they met the etheling at the town, where the +king lay slain. The gates, however, were locked against them, +which they attempted to force; but he promised them their own +choice of money and land, if they would grant him the kingdom; +reminding them, that their relatives were already with him, who +would never desert him. To which they answered, that no relative +could be dearer to them than their lord, and that they would +never follow his murderer. Then they besought their relatives to +depart from him, safe and sound. They replied, that the same +request was made to their comrades that were formerly with the +king; "And we are as regardless of the result," they rejoined, +"as our comrades who with the king were slain." Then they +continued fighting at the gates, till they rushed in, and slew +the etheling and all the men that were with him; except one, who +was the godson of the alderman, and whose life he spared, though +he was often wounded. This same Cynewulf reigned one and thirty +winters. His body lies at Winchester, and that of the etheling +at Axminster. Their paternal pedigree goeth in a direct line to +Cerdic. The same year Ethelbald, king of the Mercians, was slain +at Seckington; and his body lies at Repton. He reigned one and +forty years; and Bernred then succeeded to the kingdom, which he +held but a little while, and unprosperously; for King Offa the +same year put him to flight, and assumed the government; which he +held nine and thirty winters. His son Everth held it a hundred +and forty days. Offa was the son of Thingferth, Thingferth of +Enwulf, Enwulf of Osmod, Osmod of Eawa, Eawa of Webba, Webba of +Creoda, Creoda of Cenwald, Cenwald of Cnebba, Cnebba of Icel, +Icel of Eomer, Eomer of Angelthew, Angelthew of Offa, Offa of +Wermund, Wermund of Witley, Witley of Woden. + +((A.D. 755. This year Cynewulf deprived King Sigebert of his +kingdom; and Sigebert's brother, Cynehard by name, slew Cynewulf +at Merton; and he reigned thirty-one years. And in the same year +Ethelbald, king of the Mercians, was slain at Repton. And Offa +succeeded to the kingdom of the Mercians, Bernred being driven +out.)) + +A.D. 757. This year Eadbert, king of the Northumbrians, received +the tonsure, and his son Osulf the kingdom; which he held one +year. Him his own domestics slew on the ninth day before the +kalends of August. + +A.D. 758. This year died Archbishop Cuthbert. He held the +archbishopric eighteen years. + +A.D. 759. This year Bregowin was invested archbishop at +Michaelmas, and continued four years. Mull Ethelwold this year +succeeded to the Northumbrian kingdom, held it six winters, and +then resigned it. + +A.D. 760. This year died Ethelbert, King of Kent, who was the +son of King Wihtred, and also of Ceolwulf. + +A.D. 761. This year was the severe winter; and Mull, king of the +Northumbrians, slew Oswin at Edwin's-Cliff, on the eighth day +before the ides of August. + +A.D. 762. This year died Archbishop Bregowin. + +A.D. 763. This year Eanbert was invested archbishop, on the +fortieth day over mid-winter; and Frithwald, Bishop of Whitern, +died on the nones of May. He was consecrated at York, on the +eighteenth day before the calends of September, in the sixth year +of the reign of Ceolwulf, and was bishop nine and twenty winters. +Then was Petwin consecrated Bishop of Whitern at Adlingfleet, on +the sixteenth day before the calends of August. + +A.D. 764. This year Archbishop Eanbert received the pall. + +A.D. 765. This year Alred succeeded to the kingdom of the +Northumbrians, and reigned eight winters. + +A.D. 766. This year died Archbishop Egbert at York, on the +thirteenth day before the calends of December, who was bishop +thirty-six winters; and Frithbert at Hexham, who was bishop there +thirty-four winters. Ethelbert was consecrated to York, and +Elmund to Hexham. + +A.D. 768. This year died King Eadbert, the son of Eata, on the +fourteenth day before the calends of September. + +A.D. 772. This year died Bishop Mildred. + +A.D. 774. This year the Northumbrians banished their king, +Alred, from York at Easter-tide; and chose Ethelred, the son of +Mull, for their lord, who reigned four winters. This year also +appeared in the heavens a red crucifix, after sunset; the +Mercians and the men of Kent fought at Otford; and wonderful +serpents were seen in the land of the South-Saxons. + +A.D. 775. This year Cynewulf and Offa fought near Bensington, +and Offa took possession of the town. In the days of this king, +Offa, there was an abbot at Medhamsted, called Beonna; who, with +the consent of all the monks of the minster, let to farm, to +Alderman Cuthbert, ten copyhold lands at Swineshead, with leasow +and with meadow, and with all the appurtenances; provided that +the said Cuthbert gave the said abbot fifty pounds therefore, and +each year entertainment for one night, or thirty shillings in +money; (29) provided also, that after his decease the said lands +should revert to the monastery. The king, Offa, and King Everth, +and Archbishop Hibbert, and Bishop Ceolwulf, and Bishop Inwona, +and Abbot Beonna, and many other bishops, and abbots, and rich +men, were witnesses to this. In the days of this same Offa was +an alderman, of the name of Brorda, who requested the king for +his sake to free his own monastery, called Woking, because he +would give it to Medhamsted and St. Peter, and the abbot that +then was, whose name was Pusa. Pusa succeeded Beonna; and the +king loved him much. And the king freed the monastery of Woking, +against king, against bishop, against earl, and against all men' +so that no man should have any claim there, except St. Peter and +the abbot. This was done at the king's town called +Free-Richburn. + +A.D. 776. This year died Bishop Petwin, on the thirteenth day +before the calends of October, having been bishop fourteen +winters. The same year Ethelbert was consecrated Bishop of +Whitern, at York, on the seventeenth day before the calends of +July. + +A.D. 778. This year Ethelbald and Herbert slew three +high-sheriffs--Eldulf, the son of Bosa, at Coniscliff; Cynewulf and +Eggo at Helathyrn--on the eleventh day before the calends of +April. Then Elwald, having banished Ethelred from his territory, +seized on his kingdom, and reigned ten winters. + +A.D. 780. This year a battle was fought between the Old-Saxons +and the Franks; and the high-sheriffs of Northumbria committed to +the flames Alderman Bern at Silton, on the ninth day before the +calends of January. The same year Archbishop Ethelbert died at +York, and Eanbald was consecrated in his stead; Bishop Cynewulf +retired to Holy-island; Elmund, Bishop of Hexham, died on the +seventh day before the ides of September, and Tilbert was +consecrated in his stead, on the sixth day before the nones of +October; Hibbald was consecrated Bishop of Holy-island at +Sockbury; and King Elwald sent to Rome for a pall in behoof of +Archbishop Eanbald. + +A.D. 782. This year died Werburga, Queen of Ceolred, and Bishop +Cynewulf, in Holy-island; and the same year there was a synod at +Acley. + +A.D. 784. This year Cyneard slew King Cynewulf, and was slain +himself, and eighty-four men with him. Then Bertric undertook +the government of the West-Saxons, and reigned sixteen years. +His body is deposited at Wareham; and his pedigree goeth in a +direct line to Cerdic. At this time reigned Elmund king in Kent, +the father of Egbert; and Egbert was the father of Athulf. + +A.D. 785. This year died Bothwin, Abbot of Ripon, and a +litigious synod was holden at Chalk-hythe; Archbishop Eanbert +resigned some part of his bishopric, Hibbert was appointed bishop +by King Offa, and Everth was consecrated king. In the meantime +legates were sent from Rome to England by Pope Adrian, to renew +the blessings of faith and peace which St. Gregory sent us by the +mission of Bishop Augustine, and they were received with every +mark of honour and respect. + +A.D. 787. This year King Bertric took Edburga the daughter of +Offa to wife. And in his days came first three ships of the +Northmen from the land of robbers. The reve (30) then rode +thereto, and would drive them to the king's town; for he knew not +what they were; and there was he slain. These were the first +ships of the Danish men that sought the land of the English +nation. + +A.D. 788. This year there was a synod assembled at Fingall in +Northumberland, on the fourth day before the nones of September; +and Abbot Albert departed this life. + +A.D. 789. This year Elwald, king of the Northumbrians, was slain +by Siga, on the eleventh day before the calends of October; and a +heavenly light was often seen on the spot where he was slain. He +was buried in the church of Hexham; and Osred, the son of Alred, +who was his nephew, succeeded him in the government. This year +there was a synod assembled at Acley. + +A.D. 790. This year Archbishop Eanbert died, and Abbot Ethelherd +was chosen archbishop the same year. Osred, king of the +Northumbrians, was betrayed and banished from his kingdom, and +Ethelred, the son of Ethelwald, succeeded him. + +A.D. 791. This year Baldulf was consecrated Bishop of Whitern, +on the sixteenth day before the calends of August, by Archbishop +Eanbald and Bishop Ethelbert. + +A.D. 792. This year Offa, King of Mercia, commanded that King +Ethelbert should be beheaded; and Osred, who had been king of the +Northumbrians, returning home after his exile, was apprehended +and slain, on the eighteenth day before the calends of October. +His body is deposited at Tinemouth. Ethelred this year, on the +third day before the calends of October, took unto himself a new +wife, whose name was Elfleda. + +A.D. 793. This year came dreadful fore-warnings over the land of +the Northumbrians, terrifying the people most woefully: these +were immense sheets of light rushing through the air, and +whirlwinds, and fiery, dragons flying across the firmament. +These tremendous tokens were soon followed by a great famine: and +not long after, on the sixth day before the ides of January in +the same year, the harrowing inroads of heathen men made +lamentable havoc in the church of God in Holy-island, by rapine +and slaughter. Siga died on the eighth day before the calends of +March. + +A.D. 794. This year died Pope Adrian; and also Offa, King of +Mercia, on the fourth day before the ides of August, after he had +reigned forty winters. Ethelred, king of the Northumbrians, was +slain by his own people, on the thirteenth day before the calends +of May; in consequence of which, Bishops Ceolwulf and Eadbald +retired from the land. Everth took to the government of Mercia, +and died the same year. Eadbert, whose other name was Pryn, +obtained the kingdom of Kent; and Alderman Ethelherd died on the +calends of August. In the meantime, the heathen armies spread +devastation among the Northumbrians, and plundered the monastery +of King Everth at the mouth of the Wear. There, however, some of +their leaders were slain; and some of their ships also were +shattered to pieces by the violence of the weather; many of the +crew were drowned; and some, who escaped alive to the shore, were +soon dispatched at the mouth of the river. + +A.D. 795. This year was the moon eclipsed, between cock-crowing +and dawn, (31) on the fifth day before the calends of April; and +Erdulf succeeded to the Northumbrian kingdom on the second before +the ides of May. He was afterwards consecrated and raised to his +throne, at York, on the seventh day before the calends of June, +by Archbishop Eanbald, and Bishops Ethelbert, Hibbald, and +Baldulf. + +A.D. 796. This year died Archbishop Eanbald, on the fourth day +before the ides of August; and his body is deposited at York. +The same year also died Bishop Ceolwulf; and another Eanbald was +consecrated to the see of the former, on the nineteenth day +before the calends of September. About the same time Cynewulf, +King of Mercia, made inroads upon the inhabitants of Kent as far +as the marsh; and the Mercians seized Edbert Pryn, their king, +led him bound into Mercia, and suffered men to pick out his eyes, +and cut off his hands. (32) And Ethelard, Archbishop of +Canterbury, held a synod, wherein he ratified and confirmed, by +command of Pope Leo, all things concerning God's monasteries that +were fixed in Witgar's days, and in other king's days, saying +thus: "I Ethelard, the humble Archbishop of Canterbury, with the +unanimous concurrence of the whole synod, and of all the +congregations of all the minsters, to which in former days +freedom was given by faithful men, in God's name and by his +terrible judgment do decree, as I have command from Pope Leo, +that henceforth none dare to choose them lords from lewd men over +God's inheritance; but, as it is in the writ that the pope has +given, or holy men have settled, our fathers and our teachers, +concerning holy minsters, so they continue untainted without any +resistance. If there is any man that will not observe this +decree of God, of our pope, and of us, but overlooketh it, and +holdeth it for nought, let them know, that they shall give an +account before the judgment-seat of God. And I Ethelard, +archbishop, with twelve bishops, and with three and twenty +abbots, this same with the rood-token of Christ confirm and +fasten." + +((A.D. 796. This year Offa, king of the Mercians, died on the +fourth before the kalends of August; he reigned forty years.)) + +A.D. 797. This year the Romans cut out the tongue of Pope Leo, +put out his eyes, and drove him from his see; but soon after, by +the assistance of God, he could see and speak, and became pope as +he was before. Eanbald also received the pall on the sixth day +before the ides of September, and Bishop Ethelherd died on the +third before the calends of November. + +A.D. 798. This year a severe battle was fought in the +Northumbrian territory, during Lent, on the fourth day before the +nones of April, at Whalley; wherein Alric, the son of Herbert, +was slain, and many others with him. + +A.D. 799. This year Archbishop Ethelbert, and Cynbert, Bishop of +Wessex, went to Rome. In the meantime Bishop Alfun died at +Sudbury, and was buried at Dunwich. After him Tidfrith was +elected to the see; and Siric, king of the East Saxons, went to +Rome. In this year the body of Witburga was found entire, and +free from decay, at Dercham, after a lapse of five and fifty +years from the period of her decease. + +A.D. 800. This year was the moon eclipsed, at eight in the +evening, on the seventeenth day before the calends of February; +and soon after died King Bertric and Alderman Worr. Egbert +succeeded to the West-Saxon kingdom; and the same day Ethelmund, +alderman of the Wiccians, rode over the Thames at Kempsford; +where he was met by Alderman Woxtan, with the men of Wiltshire, +and a terrible conflict ensued, in which both the commanders were +slain, but the men of Wiltshire obtained the victory. + +((A.D. 801. This year Beornmod was ordained Bishop of +Rochester.)) + +A.D. 802. This year was the moon eclipsed, at dawn, on the +thirteenth day before the calends of January; and Bernmod was +consecrated Bishop of Rochester. + +A.D. 803. This year died Hibbald, Bishop of Holy-island, on the +twenty-fourth of June, and Egbert was consecrated in his stead, +on the thirteenth of June following. Archbishop Ethelherd also +died in Kent, and Wulfred was chosen archbishop in his stead. +Abbot Forthred, in the course of the same year, departed this +life. + +A.D. 804. This year Archbishop Wulfred received his pall. + +A.D. 805. This year died King Cuthred in Kent, and Abbess +Colburga, and Alderman Herbert. + +A.D. 806. This year was the moon eclipsed, on the first of +September; Erdwulf, king of the Northumbrians, was banished from +his dominions; and Eanbert, Bishop of Hexham, departed this life. +This year also, on the next day before the nones of June, a cross +was seen in the moon, on a Wednesday, at the dawn; and +afterwards, during the same year, on the third day before the +calends of September, a wonderful circle was displayed about the +sun. + +A.D. 807. This year was the sun eclipsed, precisely at eleven in +the morning, on the seventeenth day before the calends of August. + +A.D. 812. This year died the Emperor Charlemagne, after a reign +of five and forty winters; and Archbishop Wulfred, accompanied by +Wigbert, Bishop of Wessex, undertook a journey to Rome. + +A.D. 813. This year Archbishop Wulfred returned to his own see, +with the blessing of Pope Leo; and King Egbert spread devastation +in Cornwall from east to west. + +A.D. 814. This year died Leo, the noble and holy pope; and +Stephen succeeded him in the papal government. + +A.D. 816. This year died Pope Stephen; and Paschalis was +consecrated pope after him. This same year the school of the +English nation at Rome was destroyed by fire. + +A.D. 819. This year died Cenwulf, King of Mercia; and Ceolwulf +(33) succeeded him. Alderman Eadbert also departed this life. + +A.D. 821. This year Ceolwulf was deprived of his kingdom. + +A.D. 822. This year two aldermen were slain, whose names were +Burhelm and Mucca; and a synod was holden at Cliff's-Hoo. + +A.D. 823. This year a battle was fought between the Welsh in +Cornwall and the people of Devonshire, at Camelford; and in the +course of the same year Egbert, king of the West-Saxons, and +Bernwulf, King of Mercia, fought a battle at Wilton, in which +Egbert gained the victory, but there was great slaughter on both +sides. Then sent he his son Ethelwulf into Kent, with a large +detachment from the main body of the army, accompanied by his +bishop, Elstan, and his alderman, Wulfherd; who drove Baldred, +the king, northward over the Thames. Whereupon the men of Kent +immediately submitted to him; as did also the inhabitants of +Surrey, and Sussex, and Essex; who had been unlawfully kept from +their allegiance by his relatives. The same year also, the king +of the East-Angles, and his subjects besought King Egbert to give +them peace and protection against the terror of the Mercians; +whose king, Bernwulf, they slew in the course of the same year. + +A.D. 825. This year Ludecan, King of Mercia, was slain, and his +five aldermen with him; after which Wiglaf succeeded to the +kingdom. + +A.D. 827. This year was the moon eclipsed, on mid-winter's +mass-night; and King Egbert, in the course of the same year, conquered +the Mercian kingdom, and all that is south of the Humber, being +the eighth king who was sovereign of all the British dominions. +Ella, king of the South-Saxons, was the first who possessed so +large a territory; the second was Ceawlin, king of the +West-Saxons: the third was Ethelbert, King of Kent; the fourth was +Redwald, king of the East-Angles; the fifth was Edwin, king of +the Northumbrians; the sixth was Oswald, who succeeded him; the +seventh was Oswy, the brother of Oswald; the eighth was Egbert, +king of the West-Saxons. This same Egbert led an army against +the Northumbrians as far as Dore, where they met him, and offered +terms of obedience and subjection, on the acceptance of which +they returned home. + +A.D. 828. This year Wiglaf recovered his Mercian kingdom, and +Bishop Ethelwald departed this life. The same year King Egbert +led an army against the people of North-Wales, and compelled them +all to peaceful submission. + +A.D. 829. This year died Archbishop Wulfred; and Abbot Feologild +was after him chosen to the see, on the twenty-fifth of April, +and consecrated on a Sunday, the eleventh of June. On the +thirteenth of August he was dead! + +A.D. 830. This year Ceolnoth was chosen and consecrated +archbishop on the death of Abbot Feologild. + +A.D. 831. This year Archbishop Ceolnoth received the pall. + +A.D. 832. This year heathen men overran the Isle of Shepey. + +A.D. 833. This year fought King Egbert with thirty-five pirates +at Charmouth, where a great slaughter was made, and the Danes +remained masters of the field. Two bishops, Hereferth and Wigen, +and two aldermen, Dudda and Osmod, died the same year. + +A.D. 835. This year came a great naval armament into West-Wales, +where they were joined by the people, who commenced war against +Egbert, the West-Saxon king. When he heard this, he proceeded +with his army against them and fought with them at Hengeston, +where he put to flight both the Welsh and the Danes. + +A.D. 836. This year died King Egbert. Him Offa, King of Mercia, +and Bertric, the West-Saxon king, drove out of England into +France three years before he was king. Bertric assisted Offa +because he had married his daughter. Egbert having afterwards +returned, reigned thirty-seven winters and seven months. Then +Ethelwulf, the son of Egbert, succeeded to the West-Saxon +kingdom; and he gave his son Athelstan the kingdom of Kent, and +of Essex, and of Surrey, and of Sussex. + +A.D. 837. This year Alderman Wulfherd fought at Hamton with +thirty-three pirates, and after great slaughter obtained the +victory, but he died the same year. Alderman Ethelhelm also, +with the men of Dorsetshire, fought with the Danish army in +Portland-isle, and for a good while put them to flight; but in +the end the Danes became masters of the field, and slew the +alderman. + +A.D. 838. This year Alderman Herbert was slain by the heathens, +and many men with him, among the Marshlanders. The same year, +afterwards, in Lindsey, East-Anglia, and Kent, were many men +slain by the army. + +A.D. 839. This year there was great slaughter in London, +Canterbury, and Rochester. + +A.D. 840. This year King Ethelwulf fought at Charmouth with +thirty-five ship's-crews, and the Danes remained masters of the +place. The Emperor Louis died this year. + +A.D. 845. This year Alderman Eanwulf, with the men of +Somersetshire, and Bishop Ealstan, and Alderman Osric, with the +men of Dorsetshire, fought at the mouth of the Parret with the +Danish army; and there, after making a great slaughter, obtained +the victory. + +A.D. 851. This year Alderman Ceorl, with the men of Devonshire, +fought the heathen army at Wemburg, and after making great +slaughter obtained the victory. The same year King Athelstan and +Alderman Elchere fought in their ships, and slew a large army at +Sandwich in Kent, taking nine ships and dispersing the rest. The +heathens now for the first time remained over winter in the Isle +of Thanet. The same year came three hundred and fifty ships into +the mouth of the Thames; the crew of which went upon land, and +stormed Canterbury and London; putting to flight Bertulf, king of +the Mercians, with his army; and then marched southward over the +Thames into Surrey. Here Ethelwulf and his son Ethelbald, at the +head of the West-Saxon army, fought with them at Ockley, and made +the greatest slaughter of the heathen army that we have ever +heard reported to this present day. There also they obtained the +victory. + +A.D. 852. About this time Abbot Ceolred of Medhamsted, with the +concurrence of the monks, let to hand the land of Sempringham to +Wulfred, with the provision, that after his demise the said land +should revert to the monastery; that Wulfred should give the land +of Sleaford to Meohamsted, and should send each year into the +monastery sixty loads of wood, twelve loads of coal, six loads of +peat, two tuns full of fine ale, two neats' carcases, six hundred +loaves, and ten kilderkins of Welsh ale; one horse also each +year, and thirty shillings, and one night's entertainment. This +agreement was made in the presence of King Burhred. Archbishop +Ceolnoth, Bishops Tunbert, Kenred, Aldhun, and Bertred; Abbots +Witred and Weftherd, Aldermen Ethelherd and Hunbert, and many +others. + +A.D. 853. This year Burhred, King of Mercia, with his council, +besought King Ethelwulf to assist him to subdue North-Wales. He +did so; and with an army marched over Mercia into North-Wales, +and made all the inhabitants subject to him. The same year King +Ethelwulf sent his son Alfred to Rome; and Leo, who was then +pope, consecrated him king, and adopted him as his spiritual son. +The same year also Elchere with the men of Kent, and Huda with +the men of Surrey, fought in the Isle of Thanet with the heathen +army, and soon obtained the victory; but there were many men +slain and drowned on either hand, and both the aldermen killed. +Burhred, the Mercian king, about this time received in marriage +the daughter of Ethelwulf, king of the West-Saxons. + +A.D. 854. This year the heathen men (34) for the first time +remained over winter in the Isle of Shepey. The same year King +Ethelwulf registered a TENTH of his land over all his kingdom for +the honour of God and for his own everlasting salvation. The +same year also he went to Rome with great pomp, and was resident +there a twelvemonth. Then he returned homeward; and Charles, +king of the Franks, gave him his daughter, whose name was Judith, +to be his queen. After this he came to his people, and they were +fain to receive him; but about two years after his residence +among the Franks he died; and his body lies at Winchester. He +reigned eighteen years and a half. And Ethelwulf was the son of +Egbert, Egbert of Ealhmund, Ealhmund of Eafa, Eafa of Eoppa, +Eoppa of Ingild; Ingild was the brother of Ina, king of the +West-Saxons, who held that kingdom thirty-seven winters, and +afterwards went to St. Peter, where he died. And they were the +sons of Cenred, Cenred of Ceolwald, Ceolwald of Cutha, Cutha of +Cuthwin, Cuthwin of Ceawlin, Ceawlin of Cynric, Cynric of Creoda, +Creoda of Cerdic, Cerdic of Elesa, Elesa of Esla, Esla of Gewis, +Gewis of Wig, Wig of Freawine, Freawine of Frithugar, Frithugar +of Brond, Brond of Balday, Balday of Woden, Woden of Frithuwald, +Frithuwald of Freawine, Freawine of Frithuwualf, Frithuwulf of +Finn, Finn of Godwulf, Godwulf of Great, Great of Taetwa, Taetwa +of Beaw, Beaw of Sceldwa, Sceldwa of Heremod, Heremod of Itermon, +Itermon of Hathra, Hathra of Hwala, Hwala of Bedwig, Bedwig of +Sceaf; that is, the son of Noah, who was born in Noah's ark: +Laznech, Methusalem, Enoh, Jared, Malalahel, Cainion, Enos, Seth, +Adam the first man, and our Father, that is, Christ. Amen. Then +two sons of Ethelwulf succeeded to the kingdom; Ethelbald to +Wessex, and Ethelbert to Kent, Essex, Surrey, and Sussex. +Ethelbald reigned five years. Alfred, his third son, Ethelwulf +had sent to Rome; and when the pope heard say that he was dead, +he consecrated Alfred king, and held him under spiritual hands, +as his father Ethelwulf had desired, and for which purpose he had +sent him thither. + +((A.D. 855. And on his return homewards he took to (wife) the +daughter of Charles, king of the French, whose name was Judith, +and he came home safe. And then in about two years he died, and +his body lies at Winchester: and he reigned eighteen years and a +half, and he was the son of Egbert. And then his two sons +succeeded to the kingdom; Ethelbald to the kingdom of the +West-Saxons, and Ethelbert to the kingdom of the Kentish-men, and +of the East-Saxons, and of Surrey, and of the South-Saxons. And +he reigned five years.)) + +A.D. 860. This year died King Ethelbald, and his body lies at +Sherborn. Ethelbert his brother then succeeded to the whole +kingdom, and held it in good order and great tranquillity. In +his days came a large naval force up into the country, and +stormed Winchester. But Alderman Osric, with the command of +Hampshire, and Alderman Ethelwulf, with the command of Berkshire, +fought against the enemy, and putting them to flight, made +themselves masters of the field of battle. The said Ethelbert +reigned five years, and his body lies at Sherborn. + +A.D. 861. This year died St. Swithun, bishop. + +A.D. 865. This year sat the heathen army in the isle of Thanet, +and made peace with the men of Kent, who promised money +therewith; but under the security of peace, and the promise of +money, the army in the night stole up the country, and overran +all Kent eastward. + +A.D. 866. This year Ethered, (35) brother of Ethelbert, took to +the West-Saxon government; and the same year came a large heathen +army into England, and fixed their winter-quarters in East-Anglia, +where they were soon horsed; and the inhabitants made peace with +them. + +A.D. 867. This year the army went from the East-Angles over the +mouth of the Humber to the Northumbrians, as far as York. And +there was much dissension in that nation among themselves; they +had deposed their king Osbert, and had admitted Aella, who had no +natural claim. Late in the year, however, they returned to their +allegiance, and they were now fighting against the common enemy; +having collected a vast force, with which they fought the army at +York; and breaking open the town, some of them entered in. Then +was there an immense slaughter of the Northumbrians, some within +and some without; and both the kings were slain on the spot. The +survivors made peace with the army. The same year died Bishop +Ealstan, who had the bishopric of Sherborn fifty winters, and his +body lies in the town. + +A.D. 868. This year the same army went into Mercia to +Nottingham, and there fixed their winter-quarters; and Burhred, +king of the Mercians, with his council, besought Ethered, king of +the West-Saxons, and Alfred, his brother; that they would assist +them in fighting against the army. And they went with the +West-Saxon army into Mercia as far as Nottingham, and there meeting +the army on the works, they beset them within. But there was no +heavy fight; for the Mercians made peace with the army. + +A.D. 869. This year the army went back to York, and sat there a +year. + +A.D. 870. This year the army rode over Mercia into East-Anglia, +and there fixed their winter-quarters at Thetford. And in the +winter King Edmund fought with them; but the Danes gained the +victory, and slew the king; whereupon they overran all that land, +and destroyed all the monasteries to which they came. The names +of the leaders who slew the king were Hingwar and Hubba. At the +same time came they to Medhamsted, burning and breaking, and +slaying abbot and monks, and all that they there found. They +made such havoc there, that a monastery, which was before full +rich, was now reduced to nothing. The same year died Archbishop +Ceolnoth; and Ethered, Bishop of Witshire, was chosen Archbishop +of Canterbury. + +A.D. 871. This year came the army to Reading in Wessex; and in +the course of three nights after rode two earls up, who were met +by Alderman Ethelwulf at Englefield; where he fought with them, +and obtained the victory. There one of them was slain, whose +name was Sidrac. About four nights after this, King Ethered and +Alfred his brother led their main army to Reading, where they +fought with the enemy; and there was much slaughter on either +hand, Alderman Ethelwulf being among the skain; but the Danes +kept possession of the field. And about four nights after this, +King Ethered and Alfred his brother fought with all the army on +Ashdown, and the Danes were overcome. They had two heathen +kings, Bagsac and Healfden, and many earls; and they were in two +divisions; in one of which were Bagsac and Healfden, the heathen +kings, and in the other were the earls. King Ethered therefore +fought with the troops of the kings, and there was King Bagsac +slain; and Alfred his brother fought with the troops of the +earls, and there were slain Earl Sidrac the elder, Earl Sidrac +the younger, Earl Osbern, Earl Frene, and Earl Harold. They +put both the troops to flight; there were many thousands of the +slain, and they continued fighting till night. Within a +fortnight of this, King Ethered and Alfred his brother fought +with the army at Basing; and there the Danes had the victory. +About two months after this, King Ethered and Alfred his brother +fought with the army at Marden. They were in two divisions; and +they put them both to flight, enjoying the victory for some time +during the day; and there was much slaughter on either hand; but +the Danes became masters of the field; and there was slain Bishop +Heahmund, with many other good men. After this fight came a vast +army in the summer to Reading. And after the Easter of this year +died King Ethered. He reigned five years, and his body lies at +Winburn-minster. Then Alfred, his brother, the son of Ethelwulf, +took to the kingdom of Wessex. And within a month of this, King +Alfred fought against all the Army with a small force at Wilton, +and long pursued them during the day; but the Danes got +possession of the field. This year were nine general battles +fought with the army in the kingdom south of the Thames; besides +those skirmishes, in which Alfred the king's brother, and every +single alderman, and the thanes of the king, oft rode against +them; which were accounted nothing. This year also were slain +nine earls, and one king; and the same year the West-Saxons made +peace with the army. + +((A.D. 871. And the Danish-men were overcome; and they had two +heathen kings, Bagsac and Halfdene, and many earls; and there was +King Bagsac slain, and these earls; Sidrac the elder, and also +Sidrac the younger, Osbern, Frene, and Harold; and the army was +put to flight.)) + +A.D. 872. This year went the army to London from Reading, and +there chose their winter-quarters. Then the Mercians made peace +with the army. + +A.D. 873. This year went the army against the Northumbrians, and +fixed their winter-quarters at Torksey in Lindsey. And the +Mercians again made peace with the army. + +A.D. 874. This year went the army from Lindsey to Repton, and +there took up their winter-quarters, drove the king, Burhred, +over sea, when he had reigned about two and twenty winters, and +subdued all that land. He then went to Rome, and there remained +to the end of his life. And his body lies in the church of +Sancta Maria, in the school of the English nation. And the same +year they gave Ceolwulf, an unwise king's thane, the Mercian +kingdom to hold; and he swore oaths to them, and gave hostages, +that it should be ready for them on whatever day they would have +it; and he would be ready with himself, and with all those that +would remain with him, at the service of the army. + +A.D. 875. This year went the army from Repton; and Healfden +advanced with some of the army against the Northumbrians, and +fixed his winter-quarters by the river Tine. The army then +subdued that land, and oft invaded the Picts and the +Strathclydwallians. Meanwhile the three kings, Guthrum, Oskytel, +and Anwind, went from Repton to Cambridge with a vast army, and +sat there one year. This summer King Alfred went out to sea with +an armed fleet, and fought with seven ship-rovers, one of whom he +took, and dispersed the others. + +A.D. 876. This year Rolla penetrated Normandy with his army; and +he reigned fifty winters. And this year the army stole into +Wareham, a fort of the West-Saxons. The king afterwards made +peace with them; and they gave him as hostages those who were +worthiest in the army; and swore with oaths on the holy bracelet, +which they would not before to any nation, that they would +readily go out of his kingdom. Then, under colour of this, their +cavalry stole by night into Exeter. The same year Healfden +divided the land of the Northumbrians; so that they became +afterwards their harrowers and plowers. + +((A.D. 876. And in this same year the army of the Danes in +England swore oaths to King Alfred upon the holy ring, which +before they would not do to any nation; and they delivered to the +king hostages from among the most distinguished men of the army, +that they would speedily depart from his kingdom; and that by +night they broke.)) + +A.D. 877. This year came the Danish army into Exeter from +Wareham; whilst the navy sailed west about, until they met with a +great mist at sea, and there perished one hundred and twenty +ships at Swanwich. (36) Meanwhile King Alfred with his army rode +after the cavalry as far as Exeter; but he could not overtake +them before their arrival in the fortress, where they could not +be come at. There they gave him as many hostages as he required, +swearing with solemn oaths to observe the strictest amity. In +the harvest the army entered Mercia; some of which they divided +among them, and some they gave to Ceolwulf. + +A.D. 878. This year about mid-winter, after twelfth-night, the +Danish army stole out to Chippenham, and rode over the land of +the West-Saxons; where they settled, and drove many of the people +over sea; and of the rest the greatest part they rode down, and +subdued to their will;--ALL BUT ALFRED THE KING. He, with a +little band, uneasily sought the woods and fastnesses of the +moors. And in the winter of this same year the brother of +Ingwar and Healfden landed in Wessex, in Devonshire, with three +and twenty ships, and there was he slain, and eight hundred men +with him, and forty of his army. There also was taken the +war-flag, which they called the RAVEN. In the Easter of this year +King Alfred with his little force raised a work at Athelney; from +which he assailed the army, assisted by that part of +Somersetshire which was nighest to it. Then, in the seventh week +after Easter, he rode to Brixton by the eastern side of Selwood; +and there came out to meet him all the people of +Somersersetshire, and Wiltshire, and that part of Hampshire which +is on this side of the sea; and they rejoiced to see him. Then +within one night he went from this retreat to Hey; and within one +night after he proceeded to Heddington; and there fought with all +the army, and put them to flight, riding after them as far as the +fortress, where he remained a fortnight. Then the army gave him +hostages with many oaths, that they would go out of his kingdom. +They told him also, that their king would receive baptism. And +they acted accordingly; for in the course of three weeks after, +King Guthrum, attended by some thirty of the worthiest men that +were in the army, came to him at Aller, which is near Athelney, +and there the king became his sponsor in baptism; and his +crisom-leasing was at Wedmor. He was there twelve nights with +the king, who honoured him and his attendants with many presents. + +A.D. 879. This year went the army from Chippenham to +Cirencester, and sat there a year. The same year assembled a +band of pirates, and sat at Fulham by the Thames. The same year +also the sun was eclipsed one hour of the day. + +A.D. 880. This year went the army from Cirencester into +East-Anglia, where they settled, and divided the land. The same year +went the army over sea, that before sat at Fulham, to Ghent in +Frankland, and sat there a year. + +A.D. 881. This year went the army higher up into Frankland, and +the Franks fought with them; and there was the army horsed after +the battle. + +A.D. 882. This year went the army up along the Maese far into +Frankland, and there sat a year; and the same year went King +Alfred out to sea with a fleet; and fought with four ship-rovers +of the Danes, and took two of their ships; wherein all the men +were slain; and the other two surrendered; but the men were +severely cut and wounded ere they surrendered. + +A.D. 883. This year went the army up the Scheldt to Conde, and +there sat a year. And Pope Marinus sent King Alfred the "lignum +Domini". The same year led Sighelm and Athelstan to Rome the +alms which King Alfred ordered thither, and also in India to St. +Thomas and to St. Bartholomew. Then they sat against the army at +London; and there, with the favour of God, they were very +successful after the performance of their vows. + +A.D. 884. This year went the army up the Somne to Amiens, and +there remained a year. This year died the benevolent Bishop +Athelwold. + +A.D. 885. This year separated the before-mentioned army in two; +one part east, another to Rochester. This city they surrounded, +and wrought another fortress around themselves. The people, +however, defended the city, until King Alfred came out with his +army. Then went the enemy to their ships, and forsook their +work. There were they provided with horses; and soon after, in +the same summer, they went over sea again. The same year sent +King Alfred a fleet from Kent into East-Anglia. As soon as they +came to Stourmouth, there met them sixteen ships of the pirates. +And they fought with them, took all the ships, and slew the men. +As they returned homeward with their booty, they met a large +fleet of the pirates, and fought with them the same day; but the +Danes had the victory. The same year, ere midwinter, died +Charles, king of the Franks. He was slain by a boar; and one +year before his brother died, who had also the Western kingdom. +They were both the sons of Louis, who also had the Western +kingdom, and died the same year that the sun was eclipsed. He +was the son of that Charles whose daughter Ethelwulf, king of the +West-Saxons, had to wife. And the same year collected a great +fleet against Old-Saxony; and there was a great fight twice in +the year, and the Saxons had the victory. There were the +Frieslanders with them. And the same year succeeded Charles to +the Western kingdom, and to all the territory this side of the +Mediterranean and beyond, as his great-grandfather held it, +except the Lidwiccians. The said Charles was the son of Louis, +who was the brother of that Charles who was the father of Judith, +whom Ethelwulf, king of the West-Saxons, married. They were the +sons of Louis, who was the son of the elder Charles, who was the +son of Pepin. The same year died the good Pope Martin, who freed +the English school at the request of Alfred, king of the +West-Saxons. And he sent him great gifts in relics, and a part +of the rood on which Christ suffered. And the same year the army +in East-Anglia brake the truce with King Alfred. + +A.D. 886. This year went the army back again to the west, that +before were bent eastward; and proceeding upwards along the +Seine, fixed their winter-quarters in the city of Paris. (37) +The same year also King Alfred fortified the city of London; and +the whole English nation turned to him, except that part of it +which was held captive by the Danes. He then committed the city +to the care of Alderman Ethered, to hold it under him. + +A.D. 887. This year the army advanced beyond the bridge at +Paris; (38) and then upwards, along the Seine, to the Marne. +Then upwards on the Marne as far as Chezy; and in their two +stations, there and on the Yonne, they abode two winters. This +same year died Charles, king of the Franks. Arnulf, his +brother's son, had six weeks before his death bereft him of his +kingdom; which was now divided into five portions, and five kings +were consecrated thereto. This, however, was done with the +consent of Arnulf; and they agreed that they should hold in +subjection to him; because none of them had by birth any claim on +the father's side, except him alone. Arnulf, therefore, dwelt in +the country eastward of the Rhine; Rodulf took to the middle +district; Oda to the western; whilst Berenger and Witha became +masters of Lombardy and the Cisalpine territory. But they held +their dominion in great discord; fought two general battles, and +frequently overran the country in partial encounters, displacing +each other several times. The same year also, in which the +Danish army advanced beyond the bridge at Paris, Alderman +Ethelhelm led the alms of the West-Saxons and of King Alfred to +Rome. + +A.D. 888. This year Alderman Beeke conducted the alms of the +West-Saxons and of King Alfred to Rome; but Queen Ethelswith, who +was the sister of King Alfred, died on the way to Rome; and her +body lies at Pavia. The same year also Ethered, Archbishop of +Canterbury and Alderman Ethelwold, died in one month. + +A.D. 889. This year there was no journey to Rome; except that +King Alfred sent two messengers with letters. + +A.D. 890. This year Abbot Bernhelm conducted the alms of the +West-Saxons and of King Alfred to Rome; and Guthrum, king of the +Northern men, departed this life, whose baptismal name was +Athelstan. He was the godson of King Alfred; and he abode among +the East-Angles, where he first established a settlement. The +same year also went the army from the Seine to Saint Lo, which is +between the Bretons and the Franks; where the Bretons fought with +them, obtained the victory, and drove them out into a river, in +which many of them were drowned. This year also was Plegmund +chosen by God and all his saints to the archbishopric in +Canterbury. + +A.D. 891. This year went the army eastward; and King Arnulf +fought with the land-force, ere the ships arrived, in conjunction +with the eastern Franks, and Saxons, and Bavarians, and put them +to flight. And three Scots came to King Alfred in a boat without +any oars from Ireland; whence they stole away, because they would +live in a state of pilgrimage, for the love of God, they recked +not where. The boat in which they came was made of two hides and +a half; and they took with them provisions for seven nights; and +within seven nights they came to land in Cornwall, and soon after +went to King Alfred. They were thus named: Dubslane, and +Macbeth, and Maelinmun. And Swinney, the best teacher that was +among the Scots, departed this life. And the same year after +Easter, about the gang-days or before, appeared the star that men +in book-Latin call "cometa": some men say that in English it may +be termed "hairy star"; for that there standeth off from it a +long gleam of light, whilom on one side, whilom on each. + +A.D. 893. This year went the large army, that we before spoke +about, back from the eastern district westward to Bologne; and +there were shipped; so that they transported themselves over at +one time with their horses withal. And they came up with two +hundred and fifty ships into the mouth of the Limne, which is in +East-Kent, at the east end of the vast wood that we call Andred. +This wood is in length, east and west, one hundred and twenty +miles, or longer, and thirty miles broad. The river that we +before spoke about lieth out of the weald. On this river they +towed up their ships as far as the weald, four miles from the +mouth outwards; and there destroyed a fort within the fen, +whereon sat a few churls, and which was hastily wrought. Soon +after this came Hasten up with eighty ships into the mouth of the +Thames, and wrought him there a work at Milton, and the other +army at Appledore. + +A.D. 894. This year, that was about twelve months after they had +wrought a work in the eastern district, the Northumbrians and +East-Angles had given oaths to King Alfred, and the East-Angles +six hostages; nevertheless, contrary to the truce, as oft as the +other plunderers went out with all their army, then went they +also, either with them, or in a separate division. Upon this +King Alfred gathered his army, and advanced, so that he encamped +between the two armies at the highest point he could find +defended by wood and by water, that he might reach either, if +they would seek any field. Then went they forth in quest of the +wealds, in troops and companies, wheresoever the country was +defenceless. But they were also sought after most days by other +companies, either by day or by night, both from the army and also +from the towns. The king had divided his army into two parts; so +that they were always half at home, half out; besides the men +that should maintain the towns. The army came not all out of +their stations more than twice; once, when they first came to +land, ere the forces were collected, and again, when they wished +to depart from their stations. They had now seized much booty, +and would ferry it northward over Thames into Essex, to meet +their ships. But the army rode before them, fought with them at +Farnham, routed their forces, and there arrested the booty. And +they flew over Thames without any ford, then up by the Colne on +an island. Then the king's forces beset them without as long as +they had food; but they had their time set, and their meat noted. +And the king was advancing thitherwards on his march with the +division that accompanied him. But while he was advancing +thitherwards, the other force was returning homewards. The +Danes, however, still remained behind; for their king was wounded +in the fight, so that they could not carry him. Then collected +together those that dwell in Northumbria and East-Anglia about a +hundred ships, and went south about; and with some forty more +went north about, and besieged a fort in Devonshire by the north +sea; and those who went south about beset Exeter. When the king +heard that, then went he west towards Exeter with all his force, +except a very considerable part of the eastern army, who advanced +till they came to London; and there being joined by the citizens +and the reinforcements that came from the west, they went east to +Barnfleet. Hasten was there with his gang, who before were +stationed at Milton, and also the main army had come thither, +that sat before in the mouth of the Limne at Appledore. Hasten +had formerly constructed that work at Barnfleet, and was then +gone out on plunder, the main army being at home. Then came the +king's troops, and routed the enemy, broke down the work, took +all that was therein money, women, and children and brought all +to London. And all the ships they either broke to pieces, or +burned, or brought to London or to Rochester. And Hasten's wife +and her two sons they brought to the king, who returned them to +him, because one of them was his godson, and the other Alderman +Ethered's. They had adopted them ere Hasten came to Bamfleet; +when he had given them hostages and oaths, and the king had also +given him many presents; as he did also then, when he returned +the child and the wife. And as soon as they came to Bamfleet, +and the work was built, then plundered he in the same quarter of +his kingdom that Ethered his compeer should have held; and at +another time he was plundering in the same district when his work +was destroyed. The king then went westward with the army toward +Exeter, as I before said, and the army had beset the city; but +whilst he was gone they went to their ships. Whilst he was thus +busied there with the army, in the west, the marauding parties +were both gathered together at Shobury in Essex, and there built +a fortress. Then they both went together up by the Thames, and a +great concourse joined them, both from the East-Angles and from +the Northumbrians. They then advanced upward by the Thames, till +they arrived near the Severn. Then they proceeded upward by the +Severn. Meanwhile assembled Alderman Ethered, Alderman Ethelm, +Alderman Ethelnoth, and the king's thanes, who were employed at +home at the works, from every town east of the Parret, as well as +west of Selwood, and from the parts east and also north of the +Thames and west of the Severn, and also some part of North-Wales. +When they were all collected together, they overtook the rear of +the enemy at Buttington on the banks of the Severn, and there +beset them without on each side in a fortress. When they had sat +there many weeks on both sides of the water, and the king +meanwhile was in Devonshire westward with the naval force, then +were the enemy weighed down with famine. They had devoured the +greater part of their horses; and the rest had perished with +hunger. Then went they out to the men that sat on the eastern +side of the river, and fought with them; but the Christians had +the victory. And there Ordhelm, the king's thane, was slain; and +also many other king's thanes; and of the Danes there were many +slain, and that part of them that came away escaped only by +flight. As soon as they came into Essex to their fortress, and +to their ships, then gathered the remnant again in East-Anglia +and from the Northumbrians a great force before winter, and +having committed their wives and their ships and their booty to +the East-Angles, they marched on the stretch by day and night, +till they arrived at a western city in Wirheal that is called +Chester. There the army could not overtake them ere they arrived +within the work: they beset the work though, without, some two +days, took all the cattle that was thereabout, slew the men whom +they could overtake without the work, and all the corn they +either burned or consumed with their horses every evening. That +was about a twelvemonth since they first came hither over sea. + +A.D. 895. Soon after that, in this year, went the army from +Wirheal into North-Wales; for they could not remain there, +because they were stripped both of the cattle and the corn that +they had acquired by plunder. When they went again out of +North-Wales with the booty they had acquired there, they marched over +Northumberland and East-Anglia, so that the king's army could not +reach them till they came into Essex eastward, on an island that +is out at sea, called Mersey. And as the army returned homeward +that had beset Exeter, they went up plundering in Sussex nigh +Chichester; but the townsmen put them to flight, and slew many +hundreds of them, and took some of their ships. Then, in the +same year, before winter, the Danes, who abode in Mersey, towed +their ships up on the Thames, and thence up the Lea. That was +about two years after that they came hither over sea. + +A.D. 896. This same year wrought the aforesaid army a work by +the Lea, twenty miles above the city of London. Then, in the +summer of this year, went a large party of the citizens, and also +of other folk, and made an attack on the work of the Danes; but +they were there routed, and some four of the king's thanes were +slain. In the harvest afterward the king encamped close to the +city, whilst they reaped their corn, that the Danes might not +deprive them of the crop. Then, some day, rode the king up by +the river; and observed a place where the river might be +obstructed, so that they could not bring out their ships. And +they did so. They wrought two works on the two sides of the +river. And when they had begun the work, and encamped before it, +then understood the army that they could not bring out their +ships. Whereupon they left them, and went over land, till they +came to Quatbridge by Severn; and there wrought a work. Then +rode the king's army westward after the enemy. And the men of +London fetched the ships; and all that they could not lead away +they broke up; but all that were worthy of capture they brought +into the port of London. And the Danes procured an asylum for +their wives among the East-Angles, ere they went out of the fort. +During the winter they abode at Quatbridge. That was about three +years since they came hither over sea into the mouth of the +Limne. + +A.D. 897. In the summer of this year went the army, some into +East-Anglia, and some into Northumbria; and those that were +penniless got themselves ships, and went south over sea to the +Seine. The enemy had not, thank God, entirely destroyed the +English nation; but they were much more weakened in these three +years by the disease of cattle, and most of all of men; so that +many of the mightiest of the king's thanes, that were in the +land, died within the three years. Of these, one was Swithulf +Bishop of Rochester, Ceolmund alderman in Kent, Bertulf alderman +in Essex, Wulfred alderman in Hampshire, Elhard Bishop of +Dorchester, Eadulf a king's thane in Sussex, Bernuff governor of +Winchester, and Egulf the king's horse-thane; and many also with +them; though I have named only the men of the highest rank. This +same year the plunderers in East-Anglia and Northumbria greatly +harassed the land of the West-Saxons by piracies on the southern +coast, but most of all by the esks which they built many years +before. Then King Alfred gave orders for building long ships +against the esks, which were full-nigh twice as long as the +others. Some had sixty oars, some more; and they were both +swifter and steadier, and also higher than the others. They were +not shaped either after the Frisian or the Danish model, but so +as he himself thought that they might be most serviceable. Then, +at a certain turn of this same year, came six of their ships to +the Isle of Wight; and going into Devonshire, they did much +mischief both there and everywhere on the seacoast. Then +commanded the king his men to go out against them with nine of +the new ships, and prevent their escape by the mouth of the river +to the outer sea. Then came they out against them with three +ships, and three others were standing upwards above the mouth on +dry land: for the men were gone off upon shore. Of the first +three ships they took two at the mouth outwards, and slew the +men; the third veered off, but all the men were slain except +five; and they too were severely wounded. Then came onward those +who manned the other ships, which were also very uneasily +situated. Three were stationed on that side of the deep where +the Danish ships were aground, whilst the others were all on the +opposite side; so that none of them could join the rest; for the +water had ebbed many furlongs from them. Then went the Danes +from their three ships to those other three that were on their +side, be-ebbed; and there they then fought. There were slain +Lucomon, the king's reve, and Wulfheard, a Frieslander; Ebb, a +Frieslander, and Ethelere, a Frieslander; and Ethelferth, the +king's neat-herd; and of all the men, Frieslanders and English, +sixty-two; of the Danes a hundred and twenty. The tide, however, +reached the Danish ships ere the Christians could shove theirs +out; whereupon they rowed them out; but they were so crippled, +that they could not row them beyond the coast of Sussex: there +two of them the sea drove ashore; and the crew were led to +Winchester to the king, who ordered them to be hanged. The men +who escaped in the single ship came to East-Anglia, severely +wounded. This same year were lost no less than twenty ships, and +the men withal, on the southern coast. Wulfric, the king's +horse-thane, who was also viceroy of Wales, died the same year. + +A.D. 898. This year died Ethelm, alderman of Wiltshire, nine +nights before midsummer; and Heahstan, who was Bishop of London. + +A.D. 901. This year died ALFRED, the son of Ethelwulf, six +nights before the mass of All Saints. He was king over all the +English nation, except that part that was under the power of the +Danes. He held the government one year and a half less than +thirty winters; and then Edward his son took to the government. +Then Prince Ethelwald, the son of his paternal uncle, rode +against the towns of Winburn and of Twineham, without leave of +the king and his council. Then rode the king with his army; so +that he encamped the same night at Badbury near Winburn; and +Ethelwald remained within the town with the men that were under +him, and had all the gates shut upon him, saying, that he would +either there live or there die. But in the meantime he stole +away in the night, and sought the army in Northumberland. The +king gave orders to ride after him; but they were not able to +overtake him. The Danes, however, received him as their king. +They then rode after the wife that Ethelwald had taken without +the king's leave, and against the command of the bishops; for she +was formerly consecrated a nun. In this year also died Ethered, +who was alderman of Devonshire, four weeks before King Alfred. + +A.D. 902. This year was the great fight at the Holme (39) +between the men of Kent and the Danes. + +((A.D. 902. This year Elswitha died.)) + +A.D. 903. This year died Alderman Ethelwulf, the brother of +Elhswitha, mother of King Edward; and Virgilius abbot of the +Scots; and Grimbald the mass-priest; on the eighth day of July. +This same year was consecrated the new minster at Winchester, on +St. Judoc's advent. + +A.D. 904. This year came Ethelwald hither over sea with all the +fleet that he could get, and he was submitted to in Essex. This +year the moon was eclipsed. + +A.D. 905. This year Ethelwald enticed the army in East-Anglia to +rebellion; so that they overran all the land of Mercia, until +they came to Cricklade, where they forded the Thames; and having +seized, either in Bradon or thereabout, all that they could lay +their hands upon, they went homeward again. King Edward went +after, as soon as he could gather his army, and overran all their +land between the foss and the Ouse quite to the fens northward. +Then being desirous of returning thence, he issued an order +through the whole army, that they should all go out at once. But +the Kentish men remained behind, contrary to his order, though he +had sent seven messengers to them. Whereupon the army surrounded +them, and there they fought. There fell Aldermen Siwulf and +Sigelm; Eadwold, the king's thane; Abbot Kenwulf; Sigebriht, the +son of Siwulf; Eadwald, the son of Acca; and many also with them; +though I have named the most considerable. On the Danish side +were slain Eohric their king, and Prince Ethelwald, who had +enticed them to the war. Byrtsige, the son of Prince Brihtnoth; +Governor Ysop; Governor Oskytel; and very many also with them +that we now cannot name. And there was on either hand much +slaughter made; but of the Danes there were more slain, though +they remained masters of the field. Ealswitha died this same +year; and a comet appeared on the thirteenth day before the +calends of November. + +((A.D. 906. This year King Edward, from necessity, concluded a +peace both with the army of East-Anglia and of North-humbria.)) + +A.D. 907. This year died Alfred, who was governor of Bath. The +same year was concluded the peace at Hitchingford, as King Edward +decreed, both with the Danes of East-Anglia, and those of +Northumberland; and Chester was rebuilt. + +A.D. 909. This year died Denulf, who was Bishop of Winchester; +and the body of St. Oswald was translated from Bardney into +Mercia. + +A.D. 910. This year Frithestan took to the bishopric of +Winchester; and Asser died soon after, who was Bishop of +Sherborne. The same year King Edward sent an army both from +Wessex and Mercia, which very much harassed the northern army by +their attacks on men and property of every kind. They slew many +of the Danes, and remained in the country five weeks. This year +the Angles and the Danes fought at Tootenhall; and the Angles had +the victory. The same year Ethelfleda built the fortress at +Bramsbury. + +((A.D. 910. This year the army of the Angles and of the Danes +fought at Tootenhall. And Ethelred, ealdor of the Mercians, +died; and King Edward took possession of London, and of Oxford, +and of all the lands which owed obedience thereto. And a great +fleet came hither from the south, from the Lidwiccas (Brittany), +and greatly ravaged by the Severn; but they were, afterwards, +almost all perished.)) + +A.D. 911. This year the army in Northumberland broke the truce, +and despised every right that Edward and his son demanded of +them; and plundered the land of the Mercians. The king had +gathered together about a hundred ships, and was then in Kent +while the ships were sailing along sea by the south-east to meet +him. The army therefore supposed that the greatest part of his +force was in the ships, and that they might go, without being +attacked, where that ever they would. When the king learned on +enquiry that they were gone out on plunder, he sent his army both +from Wessex and Mercia; and they came up with the rear of the +enemy as he was on his way homeward, and there fought with him +and put him to flight, and slew many thousands of his men. There +fell King Eowils, and King Healfden; Earls Ohter and Scurf; +Governors Agmund, Othulf, and Benesing; Anlaf the Swarthy, and +Governor Thunferth; Osferth the collector, and Governor +Guthferth. + +((A.D. 911. Then the next year after this died Ethelred, lord of +the Mercians.)) + +A.D. 912. This year died Ethered, alderman of Mercia; and King +Edward took to London, and to Oxford, and to all the lands that +thereunto belonged. This year also came Ethelfleda, lady of the +Mercians, on the holy eve called the invention of the holy cross, +to Shergate, and built the fortress there, and the same year that +at Bridgenorth. + +A.D. 913. This year, about Martinmas, King Edward had the +northern fortress built at Hertford, betwixt the Memer, and the +Benwic, and the Lea. After this, in the summer, betwixt gang-days +and midsummer, went King Edward with some of his force into +Essex, to Maldon; and encamped there the while that men built and +fortified the town of Witham. And many of the people submitted +to him, who were before under the power of the Danes. And some +of his force, meanwhile, built the fortress at Hertford on the +south side of the Lea. This year by the permission of God went +Ethelfleda, lady of Mercia, with all the Mercians to Tamworth; +and built the fort there in the fore-part of the summer; and +before Lammas that at Stafford: in the next year that at +Eddesbury, in the beginning of the summer; and the same year, +late in the autumn, that at Warwick. Then in the following year +was built, after mid-winter, that at Chirbury and that at +Warburton; and the same year before mid-winter that at Runkorn. + +((A.D. 915. This year was Warwick built.)) + +A.D. 916. This year was the innocent Abbot Egbert slain, before +midsummer, on the sixteenth day before the calends of July. The +same day was the feast of St. Ciricius the martyr, with his +companions. And within three nights sent Ethelfleda an army into +Wales, and stormed Brecknock; and there took the king's wife, +with some four and thirty others. + +A.D. 917. This year rode the army, after Easter, out of +Northampton and Leicester; and having broken the truce they slew +many men at Hookerton and thereabout. Then, very soon after +this, as the others came home, they found other troops that were +riding out against Leighton. But the inhabitants were aware of +it; and having fought with them they put them into full flight; +and arrested all that they had taken, and also of their horses +and of their weapons a good deal. + +A.D. 918. This year came a great naval armament over hither +south from the Lidwiccians; (40) and two earls with it, Ohter and +Rhoald. They went then west about, till they entered the mouth +of the Severn; and plundered in North-Wales everywhere by the +sea, where it then suited them; and took Camlac the bishop in +Archenfield, and led him with them to their ships; whom King +Edward afterwards released for forty pounds. After this went the +army all up; and would proceed yet on plunder against +Archenfield; but the men of Hertford met them, and of Glocester, +and of the nighest towns; and fought with them, and put them to +flight; and they slew the Earl Rhoald, and the brother of Ohter +the other earl, and many of the army. And they drove them into a +park; and beset them there without, until they gave them +hostages, that they would depart from the realm of King Edward. +And the king had contrived that a guard should be set against +them on the south side of Severnmouth; west from Wales, eastward +to the mouth of the Avon; so that they durst nowhere seek that +land on that side. Nevertheless, they eluded them at night, by +stealing up twice; at one time to the east of Watchet, and at +another time at Porlock. There was a great slaughter each time; +so that few of them came away, except those only who swam out to +the ships. Then sat they outward on an island, called the +Flat-holms; till they were very short of meat, and many men died of +hunger, because they could not reach any meat. Thence went they +to Dimmet, and then out to Ireland. This was in harvest. After +this, in the same year, before Martinmas, went King Edward to +Buckingham with his army, and sat there four weeks, during which +he built the two forts on either side of the water, ere he +departed thence. And Earl Thurkytel sought him for his lord; and +all the captains, and almost all the first men that belonged to +Bedford; and also many of those that belonged to Northampton. +This year Ethelfleda, lady of the Mercians, with the help of God, +before Laminas, conquered the town called Derby, with all that +thereto belonged; and there were also slain four of her thanes, +that were most dear to her, within the gates. + +((A.D. 918. But very shortly after they had become so, she died +at Tamworth, twelve days before midsummer, the eighth year of her +having rule and right lordship over the Mercians; and her body +lies at Gloucester, within the east porch of St. Peter's +church.)) + +A.D. 919. This year King Edward went with his army to Bedford, +before Martinmas, and conquered the town; and almost all the +burgesses, who obeyed him before, returned to him; and he sat +there four weeks, and ordered the town to be repaired on the +south side of the water, ere he departed thence. + +((A.D. 919. This year also the daughter of Ethelred, lord of the +Mercians, was deprived of all dominion over the Mercians, and +carried into Wessex, three weeks before mid-winter; she was +called Elfwina.)) + +A.D. 920. This year, before midsummer, went King Edward to +Maldon; and repaired and fortified the town, ere he departed +thence. And the same year went Earl Thurkytel over sea to +Frankland with the men who would adhere to him, under the +protection and assistance of King Edward. This year Ethelfleda +got into her power, with God's assistance, in the early part of +the year, without loss, the town of Leicester; and the greater +part of the army that belonged thereto submitted to her. And the +Yorkists had also promised and confirmed, some by agreement and +some with oaths, that they would be in her interest. But very +soon after they had done this, she departed, twelve nights before +midsummer, at Tamworth, the eighth year that she was holding the +government of the Mercians with right dominion; and her body +lieth at Glocester, in the east porch of St. Peter's church. +This year also was the daughter of Ethered, lord of the Mercians, +deprived of all authority over the Mercians, and led into Wessex, +three weeks before midwinter. Her name was Healfwina. + +A.D. 921. This year, before Easter, King Edward ordered his men +to go to the town of Towcester, and to rebuild it. Then again, +after that, in the same year, during the gang-days, he ordered +the town of Wigmore to be repaired. The same summer, betwixt +Lammas and midsummer, the army broke their parole from +Northampton and from Leicester; and went thence northward to +Towcester, and fought against the town all day, and thought that +they should break into it; but the people that were therein +defended it, till more aid came to them; and the enemy then +abandoned the town, and went away. Then again, very soon after +this, they went out at night for plunder, and came upon men +unaware, and seized not a little, both in men and cattle, betwixt +Burnham-wood and Aylesbury. At the same time went the army from +Huntington and East-Anglia, and constructed that work at +Ternsford; which they inhabited and fortified; and abandoned the +other at Huntingdon; and thought that they should thence oft with +war and contention recover a good deal of this land. Thence they +advanced till they came to Bedford; where the men who were within +came out against them, and fought with them, and put them to +flight, and slew a good number of them. Then again, after this, +a great army yet collected itself from East-Anglia and from +Mercia, and went to the town of Wigmore; which they besieged +without, and fought against long in the day; and took the cattle +about it; but the men defended the town, who were within; and the +enemy left the town, and went away. After this, the same summer, +a large force collected itself in King Edward's dominions, from +the nighest towns that could go thither, and went to Temsford; +and they beset the town, and fought thereon; until they broke +into it, and slew the king, and Earl Toglos, and Earl Mann his +son, and his brother, and all them that were therein, and who +were resolved to defend it; and they took the others, and all +that was therein. After this, a great force collected soon in +harvest, from Kent, from Surrey, from Essex, and everywhere from +the nighest towns; and went to Colchester, and beset the town, +and fought thereon till they took it, and slew all the people, +and seized all that was therein; except those men who escaped +therefrom over the wall. After this again, this same harvest, a +great army collected itself from East-Anglia, both of the +land-forces and of the pirates, which they had enticed to their +assistance, and thought that they should wreak their vengeance. +They went to Maldon, and beset the town, and fought thereon, +until more aid came to the townsmen from without to help. The +enemy then abandoned the town, and went from it. And the men +went after, out of the town, and also those that came from +without to their aid; and put the army to flight, and slew many +hundreds of them, both of the pirates and of the others. Soon +after this, the same harvest, went King Edward with the +West-Saxon army to Passham; and sat there the while that men +fortified the town of Towcester with a stone wall. And there +returned to him Earl Thurferth, and the captains, and all the +army that belonged to Northampton northward to the Welland, and +sought him for their lord and protector. When this division of +the army went home, then went another out, and marched to the +town of Huntingdon; and repaired and renewed it, where it was +broken down before, by command of King Edward. And all the +people of the country that were left submitted to King Edward, +and sought his peace and protection. After this, the same year, +before Martinmas, went King Edward with the West-Saxon army to +Colchester; and repaired and renewed the town, where it was +broken down before. And much people turned to him, both in +East-Anglia and in Essex, that were before under the power of the +Danes. And all the army in East-Anglia swore union with him; +that they would all that he would, and would protect all that he +protected, either by sea or land. And the army that belonged to +Cambridge chose him separately for their lord and protector, and +confirmed the same with oaths, as he had advised. This year King +Edward repaired the town of Gladmouth; and the same year King +Sihtric slew Neil his brother. + +A.D. 922. This year, betwixt gang-days and midsummer, went King +Edward with his army to Stamford, and ordered the town to be +fortified on the south side of the river. And all the people +that belonged to the northern town submitted to him, and sought +him for their lord. It was whilst he was tarrying there, that +Ethelfleda his sister died at Tamworth, twelve nights before +midsummer. Then rode he to the borough of Tamworth; and all the +population in Mercia turned to him, who before were subject to +Ethelfleda. And the kings in North-Wales, Howel, and Cledauc, +and Jothwel, and all the people of North-Wales, sought him for +their lord. Then went he thence to Nottingham, and secured that +borough, and ordered it to be repaired, and manned both with +English and with Danes. And all the population turned to him, +that was settled in Mercia, both Danish and English. + +A.D. 923. This year went King Edward with an army, late in the +harvest, to Thelwall; and ordered the borough to be repaired, and +inhabited, and manned. And he ordered another army also from the +population of Mercia, the while he sat there to go to Manchester +in Northumbria, to repair and to man it. This year died +Archbishop Plegmund; and King Reynold won York. + +A.D. 924. This year, before midsummer, went King Edward with an +army to Nottingham; and ordered the town to be repaired on the +south side of the river, opposite the other, and the bridge over +the Trent betwixt the two towns. Thence he went to Bakewell in +Peakland; and ordered a fort to be built as near as possible to +it, and manned. And the King of Scotland, with all his people, +chose him as father and lord; as did Reynold, and the son of +Eadulf, and all that dwell in Northumbria, both English and +Danish, both Northmen and others; also the king of the +Strathclydwallians, and all his people. + +((A.D. 924. This year Edward was chosen for father and for lord +by the king of the Scots, and by the Scots, and King Reginald, +and by all the North-humbrians, and also the king of the +Strath-clyde Britons, and by all the Strath-clyde Britons.)) + +((A.D. 924. This year King Edward died among the Mercians at +Farndon; and very shortly, about sixteen days after this, Elward +his son died at Oxford; and their bodies lie at Winchester. And +Athelstan was chosen king by the Mercians, and consecrated at +Kingston. And he gave his sister to Ofsae (Otho), son of the +king of the Old-Saxons.)) + +A.D. 925. This year died King Edward at Farndon in Mercia; and +Elward his son died very soon after this, in Oxford. Their +bodies lie at Winchester. And Athelstan was chosen king in +Mercia, and consecrated at Kingston. He gave his sister to Otho, +son of the king of the Old-Saxons. St. Dunstan was now born; and +Wulfhelm took to the archbishopric in Canterbury. This year King +Athelstan and Sihtric king of the Northumbrians came together at +Tamworth, the sixth day before the calends of February, and +Athelstan gave away his sister to him. + +((A.D. 925. This year Bishop Wulfhelm was consecrated. And that +same year King Edward died.)) + +A.D. 926. This year appeared fiery lights in the northern part +of the firmament; and Sihtric departed; and King Athelstan took +to the kingdom of Northumbria, and governed all the kings that +were in this island:--First, Howel, King of West-Wales; and +Constantine, King of the Scots; and Owen, King of Monmouth; and +Aldred, the son of Eadulf, of Bamburgh. And with covenants and +oaths they ratified their agreement in the place called Emmet, on +the fourth day before the ides of July; and renounced all +idolatry, and afterwards returned in peace. + +A.D. 927. This year King Athelstan expelled King Guthfrith; and +Archbishop Wulfhelm went to Rome. + +A.D. 928. William took to Normandy, and held it fifteen years. + +((A.D. 931. This year died Frithstan, Bishop of Winchester, and +Brinstan was blessed in his place.)) + +A.D. 932. This year Burnstan was invested Bishop of Winchester +on the fourth day before the calends of June; and he held the +bishopric two years and a half. + +A.D. 933. This year died Bishop Frithestan; and Edwin the +atheling was drowned in the sea. + +A.D. 934. This year went King Athelstan into Scotland, both with +a land-force and a naval armament, and laid waste a great part of +it; and Bishop Burnstan died at Winchester at the feast of All +Saints. + +A.D. 935. This year Bishop Elfheah took to the bishopric of +Winchester. + +((A.D. 937. This year King Athelstan and Edmund his brother led +a force to Brumby, and there fought against Anlaf; and, Christ +helping, had the victory: and they there slew five kings and +seven earls.)) + +A.D. 938. Here + Athelstan king, + of earls the lord, + rewarder of heroes, + and his brother eke, + Edmund atheling, + elder of ancient race, + slew in the fight, + with the edge of their swords, + the foe at Brumby! + The sons of Edward + their board-walls clove, + and hewed their banners, + with the wrecks of their hammers. + So were they taught + by kindred zeal, + that they at camp oft + 'gainst any robber + their land should defend, + their hoards and homes. + Pursuing fell + the Scottish clans; + the men of the fleet + in numbers fell; + 'midst the din of the field + the warrior swate. + Since the sun was up + in morning-tide, + gigantic light! + glad over grounds, + God's candle bright, + eternal Lord!-- + 'till the noble creature + sat in the western main: + there lay many + of the Northern heroes + under a shower of arrows, + shot over shields; + and Scotland's boast, + a Scythian race, + the mighty seed of Mars! + With chosen troops, + throughout the day, + the West-Saxons fierce + press'd on the loathed bands; + hew'd down the fugitives, + and scatter'd the rear, + with strong mill-sharpen'd blades, + The Mercians too + the hard hand-play + spared not to any + of those that with Anlaf + over the briny deep + in the ship's bosom + sought this land + for the hardy fight. + Five kings lay + on the field of battle, + in bloom of youth, + pierced with swords. + So seven eke + of the earls of Anlaf; + and of the ship's-crew + unnumber'd crowds. + There was dispersed + the little band + of hardy Scots, + the dread of northern hordes; + urged to the noisy deep + by unrelenting fate! + The king of the fleet + with his slender craft + escaped with his life + on the felon flood;-- + and so too Constantine, + the valiant chief, + returned to the north + in hasty flight. + The hoary Hildrinc + cared not to boast + among his kindred. + Here was his remnant + of relations and friends + slain with the sword + in the crowded fight. + His son too he left + on the field of battle, + mangled with wounds, + young at the fight. + The fair-hair'd youth + had no reason to boast + of the slaughtering strife. + Nor old Inwood + and Anlaf the more + with the wrecks of their army + could laugh and say, + that they on the field + of stern command + better workmen were, + in the conflict of banners, + the clash of spears, + the meeting of heroes, + and the rustling of weapons, + which they on the field + of slaughter played + with the sons of Edward. + The northmen sail'd + in their nailed ships, + a dreary remnant, + on the roaring sea; + over deep water + Dublin they sought, + and Ireland's shores, + in great disgrace. + Such then the brothers + both together + king and atheling, + sought their country, + West-Saxon land, + in right triumphant. + They left behind them + raw to devour, + the sallow kite, + the swarthy raven + with horny nib, + and the hoarse vultur, + with the eagle swift + to consume his prey; + the greedy gos-hawk, + and that grey beast + the wolf of the weald. + No slaughter yet + was greater made + e'er in this island, + of people slain, + before this same, + with the edge of the sword; + as the books inform us + of the old historians; + since hither came + from the eastern shores + the Angles and Saxons, + over the broad sea, + and Britain sought,-- + fierce battle-smiths, + o'ercame the Welsh, + most valiant earls, + and gained the land. + +A.D. 941. This year King Athelstan died in Glocester, on the +sixth day before the calends of November, about forty-one +winters, bating one night, from the time when King Alfred died. +And Edmund Atheling took to the kingdom. He was then eighteen +years old. King Athelstan reigned fourteen years and ten weeks. +This year the Northumbrians abandoned their allegiance, and chose +Anlaf of Ireland for their king. + +((A.D. 941. This year King Edmund received King Anlaf at +baptism; and that same year, a good long space after, he received +King Reginald at the bishop's hands.)) + +A.D. 942. Here + Edmund king, + of Angles lord, + protector of friends, + author and framer + of direful deeds. + o'erran with speed + the Mercian land. + whete'er the course + of Whitwell-spring, + or Humber deep, + The broad brim-stream, + divides five towns. + Leicester and Lincoln. + Nottingham and Stamford, + and Derby eke. + In thraldom long + to Norman Danes + they bowed through need, + and dragged the chains + of heathen men; + till, to his glory, + great Edward's heir, + Edmund the king, + refuge of warriors, + their fetters broke. + +A.D. 943. This year Anlaf stormed Tamworth; and much slaughter +was made on either hand; but the Danes had the victory, and led +away with them much plunder. There was Wulfrun taken, in the +spoiling of the town. This year King Edmund beset King Anlaf and +Archbishop Wulfstan in Leicester; and he might have conquered +them, were it not that they burst out of the town in the night. +After this Anlaf obtained the friendship of King Edmund, and King +Edmund then received King Anlaf in baptism; and he made him royal +presents. And the same year, after some interval, he received +King Reynold at episcopal hands. This year also died King Anlaf. + +A.D. 944. This year King Edmund reduced all the land of the +Northumbrians to his dominion, and expelled two kings, Anlaf the +son of Sihtric, and Reynold the son of Guthferth. + +A.D. 945. This year King Edmund overran all Cumberland; and let +it all to Malcolm king of the Scots, on the condition that he +became his ally, both by sea and land. + +A.D. 946. This year King Edmund died, on St. Augustine's mass +day. That was widely known, how he ended his days:--that Leof +stabbed him at Pucklechurch. And Ethelfleda of Damerham, +daughter of Alderman Elgar, was then his queen. And he reigned +six years and a half: and then succeeded to the kingdom Edred +Atheling his brother, who soon after reduced all the land of the +Northumbrians to his dominion; and the Scots gave him oaths, that +they would do all that he desired. + +A.D. 947. This year came King Edred to Tadden's-cliff; and there +Archbishop Wulfstan and all the council of the Northumbrians +bound themselves to an allegiance with the king. And within a +little space they abandoned all, both allegiance and oaths. + +A.D. 948. This year King Edred overran all Northumberland; +because they had taken Eric for their king; and in the pursuit of +plunder was that large minster at Rippon set on fire, which St. +Wilferth built. As the king returned homeward, he overtook the +enemy at York; but his main army was behind at Chesterford. +There was great slaughter made; and the king was so wroth, that +he would fain return with his force, and lay waste the land +withal; but when the council of the Northumbrians understood +that, they then abandoned Eric, and compromised the deed with +King Edred. + +A.D. 949. This year came Anlaf Curran to the land of the +Northumbrians. + +A.D. 951. This year died Elfeah, Bishop of Winchester, on St. +Gregory's mass day. + +A.D. 952. This year the Northumbrians expelled King Anlaf, and +received Eric the son of Harold. This year also King Edred +ordered Archbishop Wulfstan to be brought into prison at +Jedburgh; because he was oft bewrayed before the king: and the +same year the king ordered a great slaughter to be made in the +town of Thetford, in revenge of the abbot, whom they had formerly +slain. + +A.D. 954. This year the Northumbrians expelled Eric; and King +Edred took to the government of the Northumbrians. This year +also Archbishop Wulfstan received a bishopric again at +Dorchester. + +A.D. 955. This year died King Edred, on St. Clement's mass day, +at Frome.(41) He reigned nine years and a half; and he rests in +the old minster. Then succeeded Edwy, the son of King Edmund, to +the government of the West-Saxons; and Edgar Atheling, his +brother, succeeded to the government of the Mercians. They were +the sons of King Edmund and of St. Elfgiva. + +((A.D. 955. And Edwy succeeded to the kingdom of the +West-Saxons, and Edgar his brother succeeded to the kingdom of the +Mercians: and they were the sons of King Edmund and of S. +Elfgiva.)) + +A.D. 956. This year died Wulfstan, Archbishop of York, on the +seventeenth day before the calends of January; and he was buried +at Oundle; and in the same year was Abbot Dunstan driven out of +this land over sea. + +A.D. 958. This year Archbishop Oda separated King Edwy and +Elfgiva; because they were too nearly related. + +A.D. 959. This year died King Edwy, on the calends of October; +and Edgar his brother took to the government of the West-Saxons, +Mercians, and Northumbrians. He was then sixteen years old. It +was in this year he sent after St. Dunstan, and gave him the +bishopric of Worcester; and afterwards the bishopric of London. + In his days + it prosper'd well; + and God him gave, + that he dwelt in peace + the while that he lived. + Whate'er he did, + whate'er he plan'd, + he earn'd his thrift. + He also rear'd + God's glory wide, + and God's law lov'd, + with peace to man, + above the kings + that went before + in man's remembrance. + God so him sped, + that kings and earls + to all his claims + submissive bow'd; + and to his will + without a blow + he wielded all + as pleased himself. + Esteem'd he was + both far and wide + in distant lands; + because he prized + the name of God, + and God's law traced, + God's glory rear'd, + both far and wide, + on every side. + Wisely he sought + in council oft + his people's good, + before his God, + before the world. + One misdeed he did, + too much however, + that foreign tastes + he loved too much; + and heathen modes + into this land + he brought too fast; + outlandish men + hither enticed; + and to this earth + attracted crowds + of vicious men. + But God him grant, + that his good deeds + be weightier far + than his misdeeds, + to his soul's redemption + on the judgment-day. + +A.D. 961. This year departed Odo, the good archbishop, and St. +Dunstan took to the archbishopric. This year also died Elfgar, a +relative of the king, in Devonshire; and his body lies at Wilton: +and King Sifferth killed himself; and his body lies at Wimborn. +This year there was a very great pestilence; when the great fever +was in London; and St. Paul's minster was consumed with fire, and +in the same year was afterwards restored. In this year Athelmod. +the masspriest, went to Rome, and there died on the eighteenth +before the calends of September. + +A.D. 963. This year died Wulfstan, the deacon, on Childermass-day; +(42) and afterwards died Gyric, the mass-priest. In the +same year took Abbot Athelwold to the bishopric of Winchester; +and he was consecrated on the vigil of St. Andrew, which happened +on a Sunday. On the second year after he was consecrated, he +made many minsters; and drove out the clerks (43) from the +bishopric, because they would hold no rule, and set monks +therein. He made there two abbacies; one of monks, another of +nuns. That was all within Winchester. Then came he afterwards +to King Edgar, and requested that he would give him all the +minsters that heathen men had before destroyed; for that he would +renew them. This the king cheerfully granted; and the bishop +came then first to Ely, where St. Etheldritha lies, and ordered +the minster to be repaired; which he gave to a monk of his, whose +name was Britnoth, whom he consecrated abbot: and there he set +monks to serve God, where formerly were nuns. He then bought +many villages of the king, and made it very rich. Afterwards +came Bishop Athelwold to the minster called Medhamsted, which was +formerly ruined by heathen folk; but he found there nothing but +old walls, and wild woods. In the old walls at length he found +hid writings which Abbot Hedda had formerly written;--how King +Wulfhere and Ethelred his brother had wrought it, and how they +freed it against king and against bishop, and against all worldly +service; and how Pope Agatho confirmed it with his writ, as also +Archbishop Deusdedit. He then ordered the minster to be rebuilt; +and set there an abbot, who was called Aldulf; and made monks, +where before was nothing. He then came to the king, and let him +look at the writings which before were found; and the king then +answered and said: "I Edgar grant and give to-day, before God and +before Archbishop Dunstan, freedom to St. Peter's minster at +Medhamsted, from king and from bishop; and all the thorps that +thereto lie; that is, Eastfield, and Dodthorp, and Eye, and +Paston. And so I free it, that no bishop have any jurisdiction +there, but the abbot of the minster alone. And I give the town +called Oundle, with all that thereto lieth, called Eyot-hundred, +with market and toll; so freely, that neither king, nor bishop, +nor earl, nor sheriff, have there any jurisdiction; nor any man +but the abbot alone, and whom he may set thereto. And I give to +Christ and St. Peter, and that too with the advice of Bishop +Athelwold, these lands;--that is, Barrow, Warmington, Ashton, +Kettering, Castor, Eylesworth, Walton, Witherington, Eye, Thorp, +and a minster at Stamford. These lands and al the others that +belong to the minster I bequeath clear; that is, with sack and +sock, toll and team, and infangthief; these privileges and all +others bequeath I clear to Christ and St. Peter. And I give the +two parts of Whittlesey-mere, with waters and with wears and +fens; and so through Meerlade along to the water that is called +Nen; and so eastward to Kingsdelf. And I will that there be a +market in the town itself, and that no other be betwixt Stamford +and Huntingdon. And I will that thus be given the toll;--first, +from Whittlesey-mere to the king's toll of Norman-cross +hundred; then backward again from Whittlesey-mere through +Meerlade along to the Nen, and as that river runs to Crowland; +and from Crowland to Must, and from Must to Kingsdelf and to +Whittlesey-mere. And I will that all the freedom, and all the +privileges, that my predecessors gave, should remain; and I write +and confirm this with the rood-token of Christ." (+)--Then +answered Dunstan, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and said: "I +grant, that all the things that here are given and spoken, and +all the things that thy predecessors and mine have given, shall +remain firm; and whosoever breaketh it, then give I him God's +curse, and that of all saints, and of all hooded heads, and mine, +unless he come to repentance. And I give expressly to St. Peter +my mass-hackle, and my stole, and my reef, to serve Christ." "I +Oswald, Archbishop of York, confirm all these words through the +holy rood on which Christ was crucified." (+) "I Bishop +Athelwold bless all that maintain this, and I excommunicate all +that break it, unless they come to repentance."--Here was +Bishop Ellstan, Bishop Athulf, and Abbot Eskwy, and Abbot Osgar, +and Abbot Ethelgar, and Alderman Elfere; Alderman Ethelwin, +Britnoth and Oslac aldermen, and many other rich men; and all +confirmed it and subscribed it with the cross of Christ. (+) +This was done in the year after our Lord's Nativity 972, the +sixteenth year of this king. Then bought the Abbot Aldulf lands +rich and many, and much endowed the minster withal; and was there +until Oswald, Archbishop of York, was dead; and then he was +chosen to be archbishop. Soon after another abbot was chosen of +the same monastery, whose name was Kenulf, who was afterwards +Bishop of Winchester. He first made the wall about the minster, +and gave it then the name of Peterborough, which before was +Medhamsted. He was there till he was appointed Bishop of +Winchester, when another abbot was chosen of the same monastery, +whose name was Elfsy, who continued abbot fifty winters +afterwards. It was he who took up St. Kyneburga and St. +Kyneswitha, that lay at Castor, and St. Tibba, that lay at +Ryhall; and brought them to Peterborough, and offered them all to +St. Peter in one day, and preserved them all the while he was +there. + +((A.D. 963. This year, by King Edgar, St. Ethelwold was chosen +to the bishoprick at Winchester. And the Archbishop of +Canterbury, St. Dunstan, consecrated him bishop on the first +Sunday of Advent; that was on the third before the kalends of +December.)) + +A.D. 964. This year drove King Edgar the priests of Winchester +out of the old minster, and also out of the new minster; and from +Chertsey; and from Milton; and replaced them with monks. And he +appointed Ethelgar abbot to the new minster, and Ordbert to +Chertsey, and Cyneward to Milton. + +((A.D. 964. This year were the canons driven out of the +Old-minster by King Edgar, and also from the New-minster, and from +Chertsey and from Milton; and he appointed thereto monks and +abbots: to the New-minster Ethelgar, to Chertsey Ordbert, to +Milton Cyneward.)) + +A.D. 965. This year King Edgar took Elfrida for his queen, who +was daughter of Alderman Ordgar. + +A.D. 966. This year Thored, the son of Gunner, plundered +Westmorland; and the same year Oslac took to the aldermanship. + +A.D. 969. This year King Edgar ordered all Thanet-land to be +plundered. + +A.D. 970. This year died Archbishop Oskytel; who was first +consecrated diocesan bishop at Dorchester, and afterwards it was +by the consent of King Edred and all his council that he was +consecrated Archbishop of York. He was bishop two and twenty +winters; and he died on Alhallow-mas night, ten nights before +Martinmas, at Thame. Abbot Thurkytel, his relative, carried the +bishop's body to Bedford, because he was the abbot there at that +time. + +A.D. 971. This year died Edmund Atheling, and his body lies at +Rumsey. + +((A.D. 972. This year Edgar the etheling was consecrated king at +Bath, on Pentecost's mass-day, on the fifth before the ides of +May, the thirteenth year since he had obtained the kingdom; and +he was then one less than thirty years of age. And soon after +that, the king led all his ship-forces to Chester; and there came +to meet him six kings, and they all plighted their troth to him, +that they would be his fellow-workers by sea and by land.)) + +A.D. 973. Here was Edgar, + of Angles lord, + with courtly pomp + hallow'd to king + at Akemancester, + the ancient city; + whose modern sons, + dwelling therein, + have named her BATH. + Much bliss was there + by all enjoyed + on that happy day, + named Pentecost + by men below. + A crowd of priests, + a throng of monks, + I understand, + in counsel sage, + were gather'd there. + Then were agone + ten hundred winters + of number'd years + from the birth of Christ, + the lofty king, + guardian of light, + save that thereto + there yet was left + of winter-tale, + as writings say, + seven and twenty. + So near had run + of the lord of triumphs + a thousand years, + when this was done. + Nine and twenty + hard winters there + of irksome deeds + had Edmund's son + seen in the world, + when this took place, + and on the thirtieth + was hallow'd king. (43) +Soon after this the king led all his marine force to Chester; and +there came to meet him six kings; and they all covenanted with +him, that they would be his allies by sea and by land. + +A.D. 975. Here ended + his earthly dreams + Edgar, of Angles king; + chose him other light, + serene and lovely, + spurning this frail abode, + a life that mortals + here call lean + he quitted with disdain. + July the month, + by all agreed + in this our land, + whoever were + in chronic lore + correctly taught; + the day the eighth, + when Edgar young, + rewarder of heroes, + his life--his throne--resigned. + Edward his son, + unwaxen child, + of earls the prince, + succeeded then + to England's throne. + Of royal race + ten nights before + departed hence + Cyneward the good-- + prelate of manners mild. + Well known to me + in Mercia then, + how low on earth + God's glory fell + on every side: + chaced from the land, + his servants fled,-- + their wisdom scorned; + much grief to him + whose bosom glow'd + with fervent love + of great Creation's Lord! + Neglected then + the God of wonders, + victor of victors, + monarch of heaven,-- + his laws by man transgressed! + Then too was driv'n + Oslac beloved + an exile far + from his native land + over the rolling waves,-- + over the ganet-bath, + over the water-throng, + the abode of the whale,-- + fair-hair'd hero, + wise and eloquent, + of home bereft! + Then too was seen, + high in the heavens, + the star on his station, + that far and wide + wise men call-- + lovers of truth + and heav'nly lore-- + "cometa" by name. + Widely was spread + God's vengeance then + throughout the land, + and famine scour'd the hills. + May heaven's guardian, + the glory of angels, + avert these ills, + and give us bliss again; + that bliss to all + abundance yields + from earth's choice fruits, + throughout this happy isle. (45) + +((A.D. 975. The eighth before the ides of July. + Here Edgar died, + ruler of Angles, + West-Saxons' joy, + and Mercians' protector. + Known was it widely + throughout many nations. + "Thaet" offspring of Edmund, + o'er the ganet's-bath, + honoured far, + Kings him widely + bowed to the king, + as was his due by kind. + No fleet was so daring, + nor army so strong, + that 'mid the English nation + took from him aught, + the while that the noble king + ruled on his throne. +And this year Edward, Edgar's son, succeeded to the kingdom; and +then soon, in the same year, during harvest, appeared "cometa" +the star; and then came in the following year a very great +famine, and very manifold commotions among the English people. + In his days, + for his youth, + God's gainsayers + God's law broke; + Eldfere, ealdorman, + and others many; + and rule monastic quashed, + and minsters dissolved, + and monks drove out, + and God's servants put down, + whom Edgar, king, ordered erewhile + the holy bishop + Ethelwold to stablish; + and widows they plundered, + many times and oft: + and many unrighteousnesses, + and evil unjust-deeds + arose up afterwards: + and ever after that + it greatly grew in evil. +And at that rime, also, was Oslac the great earl banished from +England.)) + +A.D. 976. This year was the great famine in England. + +A.D. 977. This year was that great council at Kirtlington, (46) +after Easter; and there died Bishop Sideman a sudden death, on +the eleventh day before the calends of May. He was Bishop of +Devonshire; and he wished that his resting-place should be at +Crediton, his episcopal residence; but King Edward and Archbishop +Dunstan ordered men to carry him to St. Mary's minster that is at +Abingdon. And they did so; and he is moreover honourably buried +on the north side in St. Paul's porch. + +A.D. 978. This year all the oldest counsellors of England fell at +Calne from an upper floor; but the holy Archbishop Dunstan stood +alone upon a beam. Some were dreadfully bruised: and some did +not escape with life. This year was King Edward slain, at +eventide, at Corfe-gate, on the fifteenth day before the calends +of April. And he was buried at Wareham without any royal honour. +No worse deed than this was ever done by the English nation since +they first sought the land of Britain. Men murdered him but God +has magnified him. He was in life an earthly king--he is now +after death a heavenly saint. Him would not his earthly +relatives avenge--but his heavenly father has avenged him +amply. The earthly homicides would wipe out his memory from the +earth--but the avenger above has spread his memory abroad in +heaven and in earth. Those, Who would not before bow to his +living body, now bow on their knees to His dead bones. Now we +may conclude, that the wisdom of men, and their meditations, and +their counsels, are as nought against the appointment of God. In +this same year succeeded Ethelred Etheling, his brother, to the +government; and he was afterwards very readily, and with great +joy to the counsellors of England, consecrated king at Kingston. +In the same year also died Alfwold, who was Bishop of +Dorsetshire, and whose body lieth in the minster at Sherborn. + +A.D. 979. In this year was Ethelred consecrated king, on the +Sunday fortnight after Easter, at Kingston. And there were at +his consecration two archbishops, and ten diocesan bishops. This +same year was seen a bloody welkin oft-times in the likeness of +fire; and that was most apparent at midnight, and so in misty +beams was shown; but when it began to dawn, then it glided away. + +((A.D. 979. This year was King Edward slain at even-tide, at +Corfe-gate, on the fifteenth before the kalends of April, and +then was he buried at Wareham, without any kind of kingly +honours. + There has not been 'mid Angles + a worse deed done + than this was, + since they first + Britain-land sought. + Men him murdered, + but God him glorified. + He was in life + an earthly king; + he is now after death + a heavenly saint. + Him would not his earthly + kinsmen avenge, + but him hath his heavenly Father + greatly avenged. + The earthly murderers + would his memory + on earth blot out, + but the lofty Avenger + hath his memory + in the heavens + and on earth wide-spread. + They who would not erewhile + to his living + body bow down, + they now humbly + on knees bend + to his dead bones. + Now we may understand + that men's wisdom + and their devices, + and their councils, + are like nought + 'gainst God's resolves. +This year Ethelred succeeded to the kingdom; and he was very +quickly after that, with much joy of the English witan, +consecrated king at Kingston.)) + +A.D. 980. In this year was Ethelgar consecrated bishop, on the +sixth day before the nones of May, to the bishopric of Selsey; +and in the same year was Southampton plundered by a pirate-army, +and most of the population slain or imprisoned. And the same +year was the Isle of Thanet overrun, and the county of Chester +was plundered by the pirate-army of the North. In this year +Alderman Alfere fetched the body of the holy King Edward at +Wareham, and carried him with great solemnity to Shaftsbury. + +A.D. 981. In this year was St. Petroc's-stow plundered; and in +the same year was much harm done everywhere by the sea-coast, +both upon Devonshire and Wales. And in the same year died +Elfstan, Bishop of Wiltshire; and his body lieth in the minster +at Abingdon; and Wulfgar then succeeded to the bishopric. The +same year died Womare, Abbot of Ghent. + +((A.D. 981. This year came first the seven ships, and ravaged +Southampton.)) + +A.D. 982. In this year came up in Dorsetshire three ships of the +pirates, and plundered in Portland. The same year London was +burned. In the same year also died two aldermen, Ethelmer in +Hampshire, and Edwin in Sussex. Ethelmer's body lieth in +Winchester, at New-minster, and Edwin's in the minster at +Abingdon. The same year died two abbesses in Dorsetshire; +Herelufa at Shaftsbury, and Wulfwina at Wareham. The same year +went Otho, emperor of the Romans, into Greece; and there met he a +great army of the Saracens, who came up from the sea, and would +have proceeded forthwith to plunder the Christian folk; but the +emperor fought with them. And there was much slaughter made on +either side, but the emperor gained the field of battle. He was +there, however, much harassed, ere he returned thence; and as he +went homeward, his brother's son died, who was also called Otho; +and he was the son of Leodulf Atheling. This Leodulf was the son +of Otho the Elder and of the daughter of King Edward. + +A.D. 983. This year died Alderman Alfere, and Alfric succeeded +to the same eldership; and Pope Benedict also died. + +A.D. 984. This year died the benevolent Bishop of Winchester, +Athelwold, father of monks; and the consecration of the following +bishop, Elfheah, who by another name was called Godwin, was on +the fourteenth day before the calends of November; and he took +his seat on the episcopal bench on the mass-day of the two +apostles Simon and Jude, at Winchester. + +A.D. 985. This year was Alderman Alfric driven out of the land; +and in the same year was Edwin consecrated abbot of the minster +at Abingdon. + +A.D. 986. This year the king invaded the bishopric of Rochester; +and this year came first the great murrain of cattle in England. + +A.D. 987. This year was the port of Watchet plundered. + +A.D. 988. This year was Goda, the thane of Devonshire, slain; +and a great number with him: and Dunstan, the holy archbishop, +departed this life, and sought a heavenly one. Bishop Ethelgar +succeeded him in the archbishopric; but he lived only a little +while after, namely, one year and three months. + +A.D. 989. This year died Abbot Edwin, and Abbot Wulfgar +succeeded to the abbacy. Siric was this year invested +archbishop, and went afterwards to Rome after his pall. + +A.D. 991. This year was Ipswich plundered; and very soon +afterwards was Alderman Britnoth (47) slain at Maidon. In this +same year it was resolved that tribute should be given, for the +first time, to the Danes, for the great terror they occasioned by +the sea-coast. That was first 10,000 pounds. The first who +advised this measure was Archbishop Siric. + +A.D. 992. This year the blessed Archbishop Oswald departed this +life, and sought a heavenly one; and in the same year died +Alderman Ethelwin. Then the king and all his council resolved, +that all the ships that were of any account should be gathered +together at London; and the king committed the lead of the +land-force to Alderman Elfric, and Earl Thorod, and Bishop Elfstan, +and Bishop Escwy; that they should try if they could anywhere +without entrap the enemy. Then sent Alderman Elfric, and gave +warning to the enemy; and on the night preceding the day of +battle he sculked away from the army, to his great disgrace. The +enemy then escaped; except the crew of one ship, who were slain +on the spot. Then met the enemy the ships from East-Anglia, and +from London; and there a great slaughter was made, and they took +the ship in which was the alderman, all armed and rigged. Then, +after the death of Archbishop Oswald, succeeded Aldulf, Abbot of +Peterborough, to the sees of York and of Worcester; and Kenulf to +the abbacy of Peterborough. + +((A.D. 992. This year Oswald the blessed archbishop died, and +Abbot Eadulf succeeded to York and to Worcester. And this year +the king and all his witan decreed that all the ships which were +worth anything should be gathered together at London, in order +that they might try if they could anywhere betrap the army from +without. But Aelfric the ealdorman, one of those in whom the +king had most confidence, directed the army to be warned; and in +the night, as they should on the morrow have joined battle, the +selfsame Aelfric fled from the forces; and then the army +escaped.)) + +A.D. 993. This year came Anlaf with three and ninety ships to +Staines, which he plundered without, and went thence to Sandwich. +Thence to Ipswich, which he laid waste; and so to Maidon, where +Alderman Britnoth came against him with his force, and fought +with him; and there they slew the alderman, and gained the field +of battle; whereupon peace was made with him, and the king +received him afterwards at episcopal hands by the advice of +Siric, Bishop of Canterbury, and Elfeah of Winchester. This year +was Bamborough destroyed, and much spoil was there taken. +Afterwards came the army to the mouth of the Humber; and there +did much evil both in Lindsey and in Northumbria. Then was +collected a great force; but when the armies were to engage, then +the generals first commenced a flight; namely, Frene and Godwin +and Frithgist. In this same year the king ordered Elfgar, son of +Alderman Elfric, to be punished with blindness. + +((A.D. 993. In this year came Olave with ninety-three ships to +Staines, and ravaged there about, and then went thence to +Sandwich, and so thence to Ipswich, and that all overran; and so +to Maldon. And there Britnoth the ealdorman came against them +with his forces, and fought against them: and they there slew the +ealdorman, and had possession of the place of carnage. And after +that peace was made with them; and him (Anlaf) the king +afterwards received at the bishop's hands, through the +instruction of Siric, bishop of the Kentish-men, and of Aelphege +of Winchester.)) + +A.D. 994. This year died Archbishop Siric: and Elfric, Bishop of +Wiltshire, was chosen on Easter-day, at Amesbury, by King +Ethelred and all his council. This year came Anlaf and Sweyne to +London, on the Nativity of St. Mary, with four and ninety-ships. +And they closely besieged the city, and would fain have set it on +fire; but they sustained more harm and evil than they ever +supposed that any citizens could inflict on them. The holy +mother of God on that day in her mercy considered the citizens, +and ridded them of their enemies. Thence they advanced, and +wrought the greatest evil that ever any army could do, in burning +and plundering and manslaughter, not only on the sea-coast in +Essex, but in Kent and in Sussex and in Hampshire. Next they +took horse, and rode as wide as they would, and committed +unspeakable evil. Then resolved the king and his council to send +to them, and offer them tribute and provision, on condition that +they desisted from plunder. The terms they accepted; and the +whole army came to Southampton, and there fixed their winter-quarters; +where they were fed by all the subjects of the West-Saxon +kingdom. And they gave them 16,000 pounds in money. Then +sent the king; after King Anlaf Bishop Elfeah and Alderman +Ethelwerd; (48) and, hostages being left with the ships, they led +Anlaf with great pomp to the king at Andover. And King Ethelred +received him at episcopal hands, and honoured him with royal +presents. In return Anlaf promised, as he also performed, that +he never again would come in a hostile manner to England. + +A.D. 995. This year appeared the comet-star. + +A.D. 996. This year was Elfric consecrated archbishop at Christ +church. (49) + +A.D. 997. This year went the army about Devonshire into Severn-mouth, +and equally plundered the people of Cornwall, North-Wales, +(50) and Devon. Then went they up at Watchet, and there much +evil wrought in burning and manslaughter. Afterwards they +coasted back about Penwithstert on the south side, and, turning +into the mouth of the Tamer, went up till they came to Liddyford, +burning and slaying everything that they met. Moreover, Ordulf's +minster at Tavistock they burned to the ground, and brought to +their ships incalculable plunder. This year Archbishop Elfric +went to Rome after his staff. + +A.D. 998. This year coasted the army back eastward into the +mouth of the Frome, and went up everywhere, as widely as they +would, into Dorsetshire. Often was an army collected against +them; but, as soon as they were about to come together, then were +they ever through something or other put to flight, and their +enemies always in the end had the victory. Another time they lay +in the Isle of Wight, and fed themselves meanwhile from Hampshire +and Sussex. + +A.D. 999. This year came the army about again into the Thames, +and went up thence along the Medway to Rochester; where the +Kentish army came against them, and encountered them in a close +engagement; but, alas! they too soon yielded and fled; because +they had not the aid that they should have had. The Danes +therefore occupied the field of battle, and, taking horse, they +rode as wide as they would, spoiling and overrunning nearly all +West-Kent. Then the king with his council determined to proceed +against them with sea and land forces; but as soon as the ships +were ready, then arose delay from day to day, which harassed the +miserable crew that lay on board; so that, always, the forwarder +it should have been, the later it was, from one time to another;--they +still suffered the army of their enemies to increase;--the +Danes continually retreated from the sea-coast;--and they +continually pursued them in vain. Thus in the end these +expeditions both by sea and land served no other purpose but to +vex the people, to waste their treasure, and to strengthen their +enemies." + +A.D. 1000. This year the king went into Cumberland, and nearly +laid waste the whole of it with his army, whilst his navy sailed +about Chester with the design of co-operating with his land-forces; +but, finding it impracticable, they ravaged Anglesey. +The hostile fleet was this summer turned towards the kingdom of +Richard. + +A.D. 1001. This year there was great commotion in England in +consequence of an invasion by the Danes, who spread terror and +devastation wheresoever they went, plundering and burning and +desolating the country with such rapidity, that they advanced in +one march as far as the town of Alton; where the people of +Hampshire came against them, and fought with them. There was +slain Ethelwerd, high-steward of the king, and Leofric of +Whitchurch, and Leofwin, high-steward of the king, and Wulfhere, +a bishop's thane, and Godwin of Worthy, son of Bishop Elfsy; and +of all the men who were engaged with them eighty-one. Of the +Danes there was slain a much greater number, though they remained +in possession of the field of battle. Thence they proceeded +westward, until they came into Devonshire; where Paley came to +meet them with the ships which he was able to collect; for he had +shaken off his allegiance to King Ethelred, against all the vows +of truth and fidelity which he had given him, as well as the +presents which the king had bestowed on him in houses and gold +and silver. And they burned Teignton, and also many other goodly +towns that we cannot name; and then peace was there concluded +with them. And they proceeded thence towards Exmouth, so that +they marched at once till they came to Pin-hoo; where Cole, +high-steward of the king, and Edsy, reve of the king, came against +them with the army that they could collect. But they were there +put to flight, and there were many slain, and the Danes had +possession of the field of battle. And the next morning they +burned the village of Pin-hoo, and of Clist, and also many goodly +towns that we cannot name. Then they returned eastward again, +till they came to the Isle of Wight. The next morning they +burned the town of Waltham, and many other small towns; soon +after which the people treated with them, and they made peace. + +((A.D. 1001. This year the army came to Exmouth, and then went +up to the town, and there continued fighting stoutly; but they +were very strenuously resisted. Then went they through the land, +and did all as was their wont; destroyed and burnt. Then was +collected a vast force of the people of Devon and of the people +of Somerset, and they then came together at Pen. And so soon as +they joined battle, then the people gave way: and there they made +great slaughter, and then they rode over the land, and their last +incursion was ever worse than the one before: and then they +brought much booty with them to their ships. And thence they +went into the Isle of Wight, and there they roved about, even as +they themselves would, and nothing withstood them: nor any fleet +by sea durst meet them; nor land force either, went they ever so +far up. Then was it in every wise a heavy time, because they +never ceased from their evil doings.)) + +A.D. 1002. This year the king and his council agreed that +tribute should be given to the fleet, and peace made with them, +with the provision that they should desist from their mischief. +Then sent the king to the fleet Alderman Leofsy, who at the +king's word and his council made peace with them, on condition +that they received food and tribute; which they accepted, and a +tribute was paid of 24,000 pounds. In the meantime Alderman +Leofsy slew Eafy, high-steward of the king; and the king banished +him from the land. Then, in the same Lent, came the Lady Elfgive +Emma, Richard's daughter, to this land. And in the same summer +died Archbishop Eadulf; and also, in the same year the king gave +an order to slay all the Danes that were in England. This was +accordingly done on the mass-day of St. Brice; because it was +told the king, that they would beshrew him of his life, and +afterwards all his council, and then have his kingdom without any +resistance. + +A.D. 1003. This year was Exeter demolished, through the French +churl Hugh, whom the lady had appointed her steward there. And +the army destroyed the town withal, and took there much spoil. +In the same year came the army up into Wiltshire. Then was +collected a very great force, from Wiltshire and from Hampshire; +which was soon ready on their march against the enemy: and +Alderman Elfric should have led them on; but he brought forth his +old tricks, and as soon as they were so near, that either army +looked on the other, then he pretended sickness, and began to +retch, saying he was sick; and so betrayed the people that he +should have led: as it is said, "When the leader is sick the +whole army is hindered." When Sweyne saw that they were not +ready, and that they all retreated, then led he his army into +Wilton; and they plundered and burned the town. Then went he to +Sarum; and thence back to the sea, where he knew his ships were. + +A.D. 1004. This year came Sweyne with his fleet to Norwich, +plundering and burning the whole town. Then Ulfkytel agreed with +the council in East-Anglia, that it were better to purchase peace +with the enemy, ere they did too much harm on the land; for that +they had come unawares, and he had not had time to gather his +force. Then, under the truce that should have been between them, +stole the army up from their ships, and bent their course to +Thetford. When Ulfkytel understood that, then sent he an order +to hew the ships in pieces; but they frustrated his design. Then +he gathered his forces, as secretly as he could. The enemy came +to Thetford within three weeks after they had plundered Norwich; +and, remaining there one night, they spoiled and burned the town; +but, in the morning, as they were proceeding to their ships, came +Ulfkytel with his army, and said that they must there come to +close quarters. And, accordingly, the two armies met together; +and much slaughter was made on both sides. There were many of +the veterans of the East-Angles slain; but, if the main army had +been there, the enemy had never returned to their ships. As they +said themselves, that they never met with worse hand-play in +England than Ulfkytel brought them. + +A.D. 1005. This year died Archbishop Elfric; and Bishop Elfeah +succeeded him in the archbishopric. This year was the great +famine in England so severe that no man ere remembered such. The +fleet this year went from this land to Denmark, and took but a +short respite, before they came again. + +A.D. 1006. This year Elfeah was consecrated Archbishop; Bishop +Britwald succeeded to the see of Wiltshire; Wulfgeat was deprived +of all his property; (51) Wulfeah and Ufgeat were deprived of +sight; Alderman Elfelm was slain; and Bishop Kenulf (52) departed +this life. Then, over midsummer, came the Danish fleet to +Sandwich, and did as they were wont; they barrowed and burned and +slew as they went. Then the king ordered out all the population +from Wessex and from Mercia; and they lay out all the harvest +under arms against the enemy; but it availed nothing more than it +had often done before. For all this the enemy went wheresoever +they would; and the expedition did the people more harm than +either any internal or external force could do. When winter +approached, then went the army home; and the enemy retired after +Martinmas to their quarters in the Isle of Wight, and provided +themselves everywhere there with what they wanted. Then, about +midwinter, they went to their ready farm, throughout Hampshire +into Berkshire, to Reading. And they did according to their +custom,--they lighted their camp-beacons as they advanced. +Thence they marched to Wallingford, which they entirely +destroyed, and passed one night at Cholsey. They then turned +along Ashdown to Cuckamsley-hill, and there awaited better cheer; +for it was often said, that if they sought Cuckamsley, they would +never get to the sea. But they went another way homeward. Then +was their army collected at Kennet; and they came to battle +there, and soon put the English force to flight; and afterwards +carried their spoil to the sea. There might the people of +Winchester see the rank and iniquitous foe, as they passed by +their gates to the sea, fetching their meat and plunder over an +extent of fifty miles from sea. Then was the king gone over the +Thames into Shropshire; and there he fixed his abode during +midwinter. Meanwhile, so great was the fear of the enemy, that +no man could think or devise how to drive them from the land, or +hold this territory against them; for they had terribly marked +each shire in Wessex with fire and devastation. Then the king +began to consult seriously with his council, what they all +thought most advisable for defending this land, ere it was +utterly undone. Then advised the king and his council for the +advantage of all the nation, though they were all loth to do it, +that they needs must bribe the enemy with a tribute. The king +then sent to the army, and ordered it to be made known to them, +that his desire was, that there should be peace between them, and +that tribute and provision should be given them. And they +accepted the terms; and they were provisioned throughout England. + +((A.D. 1006. This year Elphege was consecrated archbishop [of +Canterbury].)) + +A.D. 1007. In this year was the tribute paid to the hostile +army; that was, 30,000 pounds. In this year also was Edric +appointed alderman over all the kingdom of the Mercians. This +year went Bishop Elfeah to Rome after his pall. + +A.D. 1008. This year bade the king that men should speedily +build ships over all England; that is, a man possessed of three +hundred and ten hides to provide on galley or skiff; and a man +possessed of eight hides only, to find a helmet and breastplate +(53). + +A.D. 1009. This year were the ships ready, that we before spoke +about; and there were so many of them as never were in England +before, in any king's days, as books tell us. And they were all +transported together to Sandwich; that they should lie there, and +defend this land against any out-force. But we have not yet had +the prosperity and the honour, that the naval armament should be +useful to this land, any more than it often before was. It was +at this same time, or a little earlier, that Brihtric, brother of +Alderman Edric, bewrayed Wulnoth, the South-Saxon knight, father +of Earl Godwin, to the king; and he went into exile, and enticed +the navy, till he had with him twenty ships; with which he +plundered everywhere by the south coast, and wrought every kind +of mischief. When it was told the navy that they might easily +seize him, if they would look about them, then took Brihtric with +him eighty ships; and thought that he should acquire for himself +much reputation, by getting Wulnoth into his hands alive or dead. +But, whilst they were proceeding thitherward, there came such a +wind against them, as no man remembered before; which beat and +tossed the ships, and drove them aground; whereupon Wulnoth soon +came, and burned them. When this was known to the remaining +ships, where the king was, how the others fared, it was then as +if all were lost. The king went home, with the aldermen and the +nobility; and thus lightly did they forsake the ships; whilst the +men that were in them rowed them back to London. Thus lightly +did they suffer the labour of all the people to be in vain; nor +was the terror lessened, as all England hoped. When this naval +expedition was thus ended, then came, soon after Lammas, the +formidable army of the enemy, called Thurkill's army, to +Sandwich; and soon they bent their march to Canterbury; which +city they would quickly have stormed, had they not rather desired +peace; and all the men of East-Kent made peace with the army, and +gave them 3,000 pounds for security. The army soon after that +went about till they came to the Isle of Wight; and everywhere in +Sussex, and in Hampshire, and also in Berkshire, they plundered +and burned, as THEIR CUSTOM IS. (54) Then ordered the king to +summon out all the population, that men might hold firm against +them on every side; but nevertheless they marched as they +pleased. On one occasion the king had begun his march before +them, as they proceeded to their ships, and all the people were +ready to fall upon them; but the plan was then frustrated through +Alderman Edric, AS IT EVER IS STILL. Then after Martinmas they +went back again to Kent, and chose their winter-quarters on the +Thames; obtaining their provisions from Essex, and from the +shires that were next, on both sides of the Thames. And oft they +fought against the city of London; but glory be to God, that it +yet standeth firm: and they ever there met with ill fare. Then +after midwinter took they an excursion up through Chiltern, (55) +and so to Oxford; which city they burned, and plundered on both +sides of the Thames to their ships. Being fore-warned that there +was an army gathered against them at London, they went over at +Staines; and thus were they in motion all the winter, and in +spring, appeared again in Kent, and repaired their ships. + +A.D. 1010. This year came the aforesaid army, after Easter, into +East Anglia; and went up at Ipswich, marching continually till +they came where they understood Ulfcytel was with his army. This +was on the day called the first of the Ascension of our Lord. +The East-Angles soon fled. Cambridgeshire stood firm against +them. There was slain Athelstan, the king's relative, and Oswy, +and his son, and Wulfric, son of Leofwin, and Edwy, brother of +Efy, and many other good thanes, and a multitude of the people. +Thurkytel Myrehead first began the flight; and the Danes remained +masters of the field of slaughter. There were they horsed; and +afterwards took possession of East-Anglia, where they plundered +and burned three months; and then proceeded further into the wild +fens, slaying both men and cattle, and burning throughout the +fens. Thetford also they burned, and Cambridge; and afterwards +went back southward into the Thames; and the horsemen rode +towards the ships. Then went they west-ward into Oxfordshire, +and thence to Buckinghamshire, and so along the Ouse till they +came to Bedford, and so forth to Temsford, always burning as they +went. Then returned they to their ships with their spoil, which +they apportioned to the ships. When the king's army should have +gone out to meet them as they went up, then went they home; and +when they were in the east, then was the army detained in the +west; and when they were in the south, then was the army in the +north. Then all the privy council were summoned before the king, +to consult how they might defend this country. But, whatever was +advised, it stood not a month; and at length there was not a +chief that would collect an army, but each fled as he could: no +shire, moreover, would stand by another. Before the feast-day of +St. Andrew came the enemy to Northampton, and soon burned the +town, and took as much spoil thereabout as they would; and then +returned over the Thames into Wessex, and so by Cannings-marsh, +burning all the way. When they had gone as far as they would, +then came they by midwinter to their ships. + +A.D. 1011. This year sent the king and his council to the army, +and desired peace; promising them both tribute and provisions, on +condition that they ceased from plunder. They had now overrun +East-Anglia [1], and Essex [2], and Middlesex [3], and +Oxfordshire [4], and Cambridgeshire [5], and Hertfordshire [6], +and Buckinghamshire [7], and Bedfordshire [8], and half of +Huntingdonshire [9], and much of Northamptonshire [10]; and, to +the south of the Thames, all Kent, and Sussex, and Hastings, and +Surrey, and Berkshire, and Hampshire, and much of Wiltshire. All +these disasters befel us through bad counsels; that they would +not offer tribute in time, or fight with them; but, when they had +done most mischief, then entered they into peace and amity with +them. And not the less for all this peace, and amity, and +tribute, they went everywhere in troops; plundering, and +spoiling, and slaying our miserable people. In this year, +between the Nativity of St. Mary and Michaelmas, they beset +Canterbury, and entered therein through treachery; for Elfmar +delivered the city to them, whose life Archbishop Elfeah formerly +saved. And there they seized Archbishop Elfeah, and Elfward the +king's steward, and Abbess Leofruna, (56) and Bishop Godwin; and +Abbot Elfmar they suffered to go away. And they took therein all +the men, and husbands, and wives; and it was impossible for any +man to say how many they were; and in the city they continued +afterwards as long as they would. And, when they had surveyed +all the city, they then returned to their ships, and led the +archbishop with them. + Then was a captive + he who before was + of England head + and Christendom;-- + there might be seen + + great wretchedness, + where oft before + great bliss was seen, + in the fated city, + whence first to us + came Christendom, + and bliss 'fore God + and 'fore the world. +And the archbishop they kept with them until the time when they +martyred him. + +A.D. 1012. This year came Alderman Edric, and all the oldest +counsellors of England, clerk and laity, to London before Easter, +which was then on the ides of April; and there they abode, over +Easter, until all the tribute was paid, which was 48,000 pounds. +Then on the Saturday was the army much stirred against the +bishop; because he would not promise them any fee, and forbade +that any man should give anything for him. They were also much +drunken; for there was wine brought them from the south. Then +took they the bishop, and led him to their hustings, on the eve +of the Sunday after Easter, which was the thirteenth before the +calends of May; and there they then shamefully killed him. They +overwhelmed him with bones and horns of oxen; and one of them +smote him with an axe-iron on the head; so that he sunk downwards +with the blow; and his holy blood fell on the earth, whilst his +sacred soul was sent to the realm of God. The corpse in the +morning was carried to London; and the bishops, Ednoth and +Elfhun, and the citizens, received him with all honour, and +buried him in St. Paul's minster; where God now showeth this holy +martyr's miracles. When the tribute was paid, and the peace-oaths +were sworn, then dispersed the army as widely as it was +before collected. Then submitted to the king five and forty of +the ships of the enemy; and promised him, that they would defend +this land, and he should feed and clothe them. + +A.D. 1013. The year after that Archbishop Elfeah was martyred, +the king appointed Lifing to the archiepiscopal see of +Canterbury. And in the same year, before the month August, came +King Sweyne with his fleet to Sandwich; and very soon went about +East-Anglia into the Humber-mouth, and so upward along the Trent, +until he came to Gainsborough. Then soon submitted to him Earl +Utred, and all the Northumbrians, and all the people of Lindsey, +and afterwards the people of the Five Boroughs, and soon after +all the army to the north of Watling-street; and hostages were +given him from each shire. When he understood that all the +people were subject to him, then ordered he that his army should +have provision and horses; and he then went southward with his +main army, committing his ships and the hostages to his son +Knute. And after he came over Watling-street, they wrought the +greatest mischief that any army could do. Then he went to +Oxford; and the population soon submitted, and gave hostages; +thence to Winchester, where they did the same. Thence went they +eastward to London; and many of the party sunk in the Thames, +because they kept not to any bridge. When he came to the city, +the population would not submit; but held their ground in full +fight against him, because therein was King Ethelred, and +Thurkill with him. Then went King Sweyne thence to Wallingford; +and so over Thames westward to Bath, where he abode with his +army. Thither came Alderman Ethelmar, and all the western thanes +with him, and all submitted to Sweyne, and gave hostages. When +he had thus settled all, then went he northward to his ships; and +all the population fully received him, and considered him full +king. The population of London also after this submitted to him, +and gave hostages; because they dreaded that he would undo them. +Then bade Sweyne full tribute and forage for his army during the +winter; and Thurkill bade the same for the army that lay at +Greenwich: besides this, they plundered as oft as they would. +And when this nation could neither resist in the south nor in the +north, King Ethelred abode some while with the fleet that lay in +the Thames; and the lady (57) went afterwards over sea to her +brother Richard, accompanied by Elfsy, Abbot of Peterborough. +The king sent Bishop Elfun with the ethelings, Edward and Alfred, +over sea; that he might instruct them. Then went the king from +the fleet, about midwinter, to the Isle of Wight; and there abode +for the season; after which he went over sea to Richard, with +whom he abode till the time when Sweyne died. Whilst the lady +was with her brother beyond sea, Elfsy, Abbot of Peterborough, +who was there with her, went to the abbey called Boneval, where +St. Florentine's body lay; and there found a miserable place, a +miserable abbot, and miserable monks: because they had been +plundered. There he bought of the abbot, and of the monks, the +body of St. Florentine, all but the head, for 500 pounds; which, +on his return home, he offered to Christ and St. Peter. + +A.D. 1014. This year King Sweyne ended his days at Candlemas, +the third day before the nones of February; and the same year +Elfwy, Bishop of York, was consecrated in London, on the festival +of St. Juliana. The fleet all chose Knute for king; whereupon +advised all the counsellors of England, clergy and laity, that +they should send after King Ethelred; saying, that no sovereign +was dearer to them than their natural lord, if he would govern +them better than he did before. Then sent the king hither his +son Edward, with his messengers; who had orders to greet all his +people, saying that he would be their faithful lord--would +better each of those things that they disliked--and that each +of the things should be forgiven which had been either done or +said against him; provided they all unanimously, without +treachery, turned to him. Then was full friendship established, +in word and in deed and in compact, on either side. And every +Danish king they proclaimed an outlaw for ever from England. +Then came King Ethelred home, in Lent, to his own people; and he +was gladly received by them all. Meanwhile, after the death of +Sweyne, sat Knute with his army in Gainsborough until Easter; and +it was agreed between him and the people of Lindsey, that they +should supply him with horses, and afterwards go out all together +and plunder. But King Ethelred with his full force came to +Lindsey before they were ready; and they plundered and burned, +and slew all the men that they could reach. Knute, the son of +Sweyne, went out with his fleet (so were the wretched people +deluded by him), and proceeded southward until he came to +Sandwich. There he landed the hostages that were given to his +father, and cut off their hands and ears and their noses. +Besides all these evils, the king ordered a tribute to the army +that lay at Greenwich, of 21,000 pounds. This year, on the eve +of St. Michael's day, came the great sea-flood, which spread wide +over this land, and ran so far up as it never did before, +overwhelming many towns, and an innumerable multitude of people. + +A.D. 1015. This year was the great council at Oxford; where +Alderman Edric betrayed Sigferth and Morcar, the eldest thanes +belonging to the Seven Towns. He allured them into his bower, +where they were shamefully slain. Then the king took all their +possessions, and ordered the widow of Sigferth to be secured, and +brought within Malmsbury. After a little interval, Edmund +Etheling went and seized her, against the king's will, and had +her to wife. Then, before the Nativity of St. Mary, went the +etheling west-north into the Five Towns, (58) and soon plundered +all the property of Sigferth and Morcar; and all the people +submitted to him. At the same time came King Knute to Sandwich, +and went soon all about Kent into Wessex, until he came to the +mouth of the Frome; and then plundered in Dorset, and in +Wiltshire, and in Somerset. King Ethelred, meanwhile, lay sick +at Corsham; and Alderman Edric collected an army there, and +Edmund the etheling in the north. When they came together, the +alderman designed to betray Edmund the etheling, but he could +not; whereupon they separated without an engagement, and sheered +off from their enemies. Alderman Edric then seduced forty ships +from the king, and submitted to Knute. The West-Saxons also +submitted, and gave hostages, and horsed the army. And he +continued there until midwinter. + +A.D. 1016. This year came King Knute with a marine force of one +hundred and sixty ships, and Alderman Edric with him, over the +Thames into Mercia at Cricklade; whence they proceeded to +Warwickshire, during the middle of the winter, and plundered +therein, and burned, and slew all they met. Then began Edmund +the etheling to gather an army, which, when it was collected, +could avail him nothing, unless the king were there and they had +the assistance of the citizens of London. The expedition +therefore was frustrated, and each man betook himself home. +After this, an army was again ordered, under full penalties, that +every person, however distant, should go forth; and they sent to +the king in London, and besought him to come to meet the army +with the aid that he could collect. When they were all +assembled, it succeeded nothing better than it often did before; +and, when it was told the king, that those persons would betray +him who ought to assist him, then forsook he the army, and +returned again to London. Then rode Edmund the etheling to Earl +Utred in Northumbria; and every man supposed that they would +collect an army King Knute; but they went into Stafforddhire, and +to Shrewsbury, and to Chester; and they plundered on their parts, +and Knute on his. He went out through Buckinghamshire to +Bedfordshire; thence to Huntingdonshire, and so into +Northamptonshire along the fens to Stamford. Thence into +Lincolnshire. Thence to Nottinghamshire; and so into Northumbria +toward York. When Utred understood this, he ceased from +plundering, and hastened northward, and submitted for need, and +all the Northumbrians with him; but, though he gave hostages, he +was nevertheless slain by the advice of Alderman Edric, and +Thurkytel, the son of Nafan, with him. After this, King Knute +appointed Eric earl over Northumbria, as Utred was; and then went +southward another way, all by west, till the whole army came, +before Easter, to the ships. Meantime Edmund Etheling went to +London to his father: and after Easter went King Knute with all +his ships toward London; but it happened that King Ethelred died +ere the ships came. He ended his days on St. George's day; +having held his kingdom in much tribulation and difficulty as +long as his life continued. After his decease, all the peers +that were in London, and the citizens, chose Edmund king; who +bravely defended his kingdom while his time was. Then came the +ships to Greenwich, about the gang-days, and within a short +interval went to London; where they sunk a deep ditch on the +south side, and dragged their ships to the west side of the +bridge. Afterwards they trenched the city without, so that no +man could go in or out, and often fought against it: but the +citizens bravely withstood them. King Edmund had ere this gone +out, and invaded the West-Saxons, who all submitted to him; and +soon afterward he fought with the enemy at Pen near Gillingham. +A second battle he fought, after midsummer, at Sherston; where +much slaughter was made on either side, and the leaders +themselves came together in the fight. Alderman Edric and Aylmer +the darling were assisting the army against King Edmund. Then +collected he his force the third time, and went to London, all by +north of the Thames, and so out through Clayhanger, and relieved +the citizens, driving the enemy to their ships. It was within +two nights after that the king went over at Brentford; where he +fought with the enemy, and put them to flight: but there many of +the English were drowned, from their own carelessness; who went +before the main army with a design to plunder. After this the +king went into Wessex, and collected his army; but the enemy soon +returned to London, and beset the city without, and fought +strongly against it both by water and land. But the almighty God +delivered them. The enemy went afterward from London with their +ships into the Orwell; where they went up and proceeded into +Mercia, slaying and burning whatsoever they overtook, as their +custom is; and, having provided themselves with meat, they drove +their ships and their herds into the Medway. Then assembled King +Edmund the fourth time all the English nation, and forded over +the Thames at Brentford; whence he proceeded into Kent. The +enemy fled before him with their horses into the Isle of Shepey; +and the king slew as many of them as he could overtake. Alderman +Edric then went to meet the king at Aylesford; than which no +measure could be more ill-advised. The enemy, meanwhile, +returned into Essex, and advanced into Mercia, destroying all +that he overtook. When the king understood that the army was up, +then collected he the fifth time all the English nation, and went +behind them, and overtook them in Essex, on the down called +Assingdon; where they fiercely came together. Then did Alderman +Edric as he often did before--he first began the flight with +the Maisevethians, and so betrayed his natural lord and all the +people of England. There had Knute the victory, though all +England fought against him! There was then slain Bishop Ednoth, +and Abbot Wulsy, and Alderman Elfric, and Alderman Godwin of +Lindsey, and Ulfkytel of East-Anglia, and Ethelward, the son of +Alderman Ethelsy (59). And all the nobility of the English +nation was there undone! After this fight went King Knute up +with his army into Glocestershire, where he heard say that King +Edmund was. Then advised Alderman Edric, and the counsellors +that were there assembled, that the kings should make peace with +each other, and produce hostages. Then both the kings met +together at Olney, south of Deerhurst, and became allies and +sworn brothers. There they confirmed their friendship both with +pledges and with oaths, and settled the pay of the army. With +this covenant they parted: King Edmund took to Wessex, and Knute +to Mercia and the northern district. The army then went to their +ships with the things they had taken; and the people of London +made peace with them, and purchased their security, whereupon +they brought their ships to London, and provided themselves +winter-quarters therein. On the feast of St. Andrew died King +Edmund; and he is buried with his grandfather Edgar at +Gastonbury. In the same year died Wulfgar, Abbot of Abingdon; +and Ethelsy took to the abbacy. + +A.D. 1017. This year King Knute took to the whole government of +England, and divided it into four parts: Wessex for himself, +East-Anglia for Thurkyll, Mercia for Edric, Northumbria for Eric. +This year also was Alderman Edric slain at London, and Norman, +son of Alderman Leofwin, and Ethelward, son of Ethelmar the +Great, and Britric, son of Elfege of Devonshire. King Knute also +banished Edwy etheling, whom he afterwards ordered to be slain, +and Edwy, king of the churls; and before the calends of August +the king gave an order to fetch him the widow of the other king, +Ethelred, the daughter of Richard, to wife. + +((A.D. 1017. This year Canute was chosen king.)) + +A.D. 1018. This year was the payment of the tribute over all +England; that was, altogether, two and seventy thousand pounds, +besides that which the citizens of London paid; and that was ten +thousand five hundred pounds. The army then went partly to +Denmark; and forty ships were left with King Knute. The Danes +and Angles were united at Oxford under Edgar's law; and this year +died Abbot Ethelsy at Abingdon, to whom Ethelwine succeeded. + +A.D. 1019. This year went King Knute with nine ships to Denmark, +where he abode all the winter; and Archbishop Elfstan died this +year, who was also named Lifing. He was a very upright man both +before God and before the world. + +((A.D. 1019. And this winter died Archbishop Elfstan [of +Canterbury]: he was named Living; and he was a very provident +man, both as to God and as to the world.)) + +A.D. 1020. This year came King Knute back to England; and there +was at Easter a great council at Cirencester, where Alderman +Ethelward was outlawed, and Edwy, king of the churls. This year +went the king to Assingdon; with Earl Thurkyll, and Archbishop +Wulfstan, and other bishops, and also abbots, and many monks with +them; and he ordered to be built there a minster of stone and +lime, for the souls of the men who were there slain, and gave it +to his own priest, whose name was Stigand; and they consecrated +the minster at Assingdon. And Ethelnoth the monk, who had been +dean at Christ's church, was the same year on the ides of +November consecrated Bishop of Christ's church by Archbishop +Wulfstan. + +((A.D. 1020. And caused to be built there [Canterbury] a minster +of stone and lime, for the souls of the men who there were slain, +and gave it to one of his priests, whose name was Stigand.)) + +A.D. 1021. This year King Knute, at Martinmas, outlawed Earl +Thurkyll; and Bishop Elfgar, the abundant giver of alms, died in +the morning of Christmas day. + +A.D. 1022. This year went King Knute out with his ships to the +Isle of Wight. And Bishop Ethelnoth went to Rome; where he was +received with much honour by Benedict the magnificent pope, who +with his own hand placed the pall upon him, and with great pomp +consecrated him archbishop, and blessed him, on the nones of +October. The archbishop on the self-same day with the same pall +performed mass, as the pope directed him, after which he was +magnificently entertained by the pope himself; and afterwards +with a full blessing proceeded homewards. Abbot Leofwine, who +had been unjustly expelled from Ely, was his companion; and he +cleared himself of everything, which, as the pope informed him, +had been laid to his charge, on the testimony of the archbishop +and of all the company that were with him. + +((A.D. 1022. And afterwards with the pall he there [at Rome] +performed mass as the pope instructed him: and he feasted after +that with the pope; and afterwards went home with a full +blessing.)) + +A.D. 1023. This year returned King Knute to England; and +Thurkyll and he were reconciled. He committed Denmark and his +son to the care of Thurkyll, whilst he took Thurkyll's son with +him to England. This year died Archbishop Wulfstan; and Elfric +succeeded him; and Archbishop Egelnoth blessed him in Canterbury. +This year King Knute in London, in St. Paul's minster, gave full +leave (60) to Archbishop Ethelnoth, Bishop Britwine, and all +God's servants that were with them, that they might take up from +the grave the archbishop, Saint Elphege. And they did so, on the +sixth day before the ides of June; and the illustrious king, and +the archbishop, and the diocesan bishops, and the earls, and very +many others, both clergy and laity, carried by ship his holy +corpse over the Thames to Southwark. And there they committed +the holy martyr to the archbishop and his companions; and they +with worthy pomp and sprightly joy carried him to Rochester. +There on the third day came the Lady Emma with her royal son +Hardacnute; and they all with much majesty, and bliss, and songs +of praise, carried the holy archbishop into Canterbury, and so +brought him gloriously into the church, on the third day before +the ides of June. Afterwards, on the eighth day, the seventeenth +before the calends of July, Archbishop Ethelnoth, and Bishop +Elfsy, and Bishop Britwine, and all they that were with them, +lodged the holy corpse of Saint Elphege on the north side of the +altar of Christ; to the praise of God, and to the glory of the +holy archbishop, and to the everlasting salvation of all those +who there his holy body daily seek with earnest heart and all +humility. May God Almighty have mercy on all Christian men +through the holy intercession of Elphege! + +((A.D. 1023. And he caused St. Elphege's remains to be borne +from London to Canterbury.)) + +A.D. 1025. This year went King Knute to Denmark with a fleet to +the holm by the holy river; where against him came Ulf and Eglaf, +with a very large force both by land and sea, from Sweden. There +were very many men lost on the side of King Knute, both of Danish +and English; and the Swedes had possession of the field of +battle. + +A.D. 1026. This year went Bishop Elfric to Rome, and received +the pall of Pope John on the second day before the ides of +November. + +A.D. 1028. This year went King Knute from England to Norway with +fifty ships manned with English thanes, and drove King Olave from +the land, which he entirely secured to himself. + +A.D. 1029. This year King Knute returned home to England. + +A.D. 1030. This year returned King Olave into Norway; but the +people gathered together against him, and fought against him; and +he was there slain, in Norway, by his own people, and was +afterwards canonised. Before this, in the same year, died Hacon +the doughty earl, at sea. + +((A.D. 1030. This year came King Olave again into Norway, and +the people gathered against him, and fought against him; and he +was there slain.)) + +A.D. 1031. This year returned King Knute; and as soon as he came +to England he gave to Christ's church in Canterbury the haven of +Sandwich, and all the rights that arise therefrom, on either side +of the haven; so that when the tide is highest and fullest, and +there be a ship floating as near the land as possible, and there +be a man standing upon the ship with a taper-axe in his hand, +whithersoever the large taper-axe might be thrown out of the +ship, throughout all that land the ministers of Christ's church +should enjoy their rights. This year went King Knute to Rome; +and the same year, as soon as he returned home, he went to +Scotland; and Malcolm, king of the Scots, submitted to him, and +became his man, with two other kings, Macbeth and Jehmar; but he +held his allegiance a little while only. Robert, Earl of +Normandy, went this year to Jerusalem, where he died; and +William, who was afterwards King of England, succeeded to the +earldom, though he was a child. + +A.D. 1032. This year appeared that wild fire, such as no man +ever remembered before, which did great damage in many places. +The same year died Elfsy, Bishop of Winchester; and Elfwin, the +king's priest, succeeded him. + +A.D. 1033. This year died Bishop Merewhite in Somersetshire, who +is buried at Glastonbury; and Bishop Leofsy, whose body resteth +at Worcester, and to whose see Brihteh was promoted. + +A.D. 1034. This year died Bishop Etheric, who lies at Ramsey. + +A.D. 1035. This year died King Knute at Shaftesbury, on the +second day before the ides of November; and he is buried at +Winchester in the old minster. He was king over all England very +near twenty winters. Soon after his decease, there was a council +of all the nobles at Oxford; wherein Earl Leofric, and almost all +the thanes north of the Thames, and the naval men in London, +chose Harold to be governor of all England, for himself and his +brother Hardacnute, who was in Denmark. Earl Godwin, and all the +eldest men in Wessex, withstood it as long as they could; but +they could do nothing against it. It was then resolved that +Elfgiva, the mother of Hardacnute, should remain at Winchester +with the household of the king her son. They held all Wessex in +hand, and Earl Godwin was their chief man. Some men said of +Harold, that he was the son of King Knute and of Elfgive the +daughter of Alderman Elfelm; but it was thought very incredible +by many men. He was, nevertheless, full king over all England. +Harold himself said that he was the son of Knute and of Elfgive +the Hampshire lady; though it was not true; but he sent and +ordered to be taken from her all the best treasure that she could +not hold, which King Knute possessed; and she nevertheless abode +there continually within the city as long as she could. + +A.D. 1036. This year came hither Alfred the innocent etheling, +son of King Ethelred, and wished to visit his mother, who abode +at Winchester: but Earl Godwin, and other men who had much power +in this land, did not suffer it; because such conduct was very +agreeable to Harold, though it was unjust. + Him did Godwin let, + and in prison set. + His friends, who did not fly, + they slew promiscuously. + And those they did not sell, + like slaughter'd cattle fell! + Whilst some they spared to bind, + only to wander blind! + Some ham-strung, helpless stood, + whilst others they pursued. + A deed more dreary none + in this our land was done, + since Englishmen gave place + to hordes of Danish race. + But repose we must + in God our trust, + that blithe as day + with Christ live they, + who guiltless died-- + their country's pride! + The prince with courage met + each cruel evil yet; + till 'twas decreed, + they should him lead, + all bound, as he was then, + to Ely-bury fen. + But soon their royal prize + bereft they of his eyes! + Then to the monks they brought + their captive; where he sought + a refuge from his foes + till life's sad evening close. + His body ordered then + these good and holy men, + according to his worth, + low in the sacred earth, + to the steeple full-nigh, + in the south aile to lie + of the transept west-- + his soul with Christ doth rest. + +((A.D. 1036. This year died King Canute at Shaftesbury, and he +is buried at Winchester in the Old-minster: and he was king over +all England very nigh twenty years. And soon after his decease +there was a meeting of all the witan at Oxford; and Leofric, the +earl, and almost all the thanes north of the Thames, and the +"lithsmen" at London, chose Harold for chief of all England, him +and his brother Hardecanute who was in Denmark. And Godwin the +earl and all the chief men of Wessex withstood it as long as they +could; but they were unable to effect anything in opposition to +it. And then it was decreed that Elfgive, Hardecanute's mother, +should dwell at Winchester with the king's, her son's, household, +and hold all Wessex in his power; and Godwin the earl was +their man. Some men said of Harold that he was son of King +Canute and of Elfgive, daughter of Elfelm the ealdorman, but it +seemed quite incredible to many men; and he was nevertheless full +king over all England.)) + +A.D. 1037. This year men chose Harold king over all; and forsook +Hardacnute, because he was too long in Denmark; and then drove +out his mother Elgiva, the relict of King Knute, without any +pity, against the raging winter! She, who was the mother of +Edward as well as of King Hardacnute, sought then the peace of +Baldwin by the south sea. Then came she to Bruges, beyond sea; +and Earl Baldwin well received her there; and he gave her a +habitation at Bruges, and protected her, and entertained her +there as long as she had need. Ere this in the same year died +Eafy, the excellent Dean of Evesham. + +((A.D. 1037. This year was driven out Elfgive, King Canute's +relict; she was King Hardecanute's mother; and she then sought +the protection of Baldwin south of the sea, and he gave her a +dwelling in Bruges, and protected and kept her, the while that +she there was.)) + +A.D. 1038. This year died Ethelnoth, the good archbishop, on the +calends of November; and, within a little of this time, Bishop +Ethelric in Sussex, who prayed to God that he would not let him +live any time after his dear father Ethelnoth; and within seven +nights of this he also departed. Then, before Christmas, died +Bishop Brihteh in Worcestershire; and soon after this, Bishop +Elfric in East Anglia. Then succeeded Bishop Edsy to the +archbishopric, Grimkytel to the see of Sussex, and Bishop Lifing +to that of Worcester shire and Gloucestershire. + +((A.D. 1038. This year died Ethelnoth, the good archbishop, on +the kalends of November, and a little after, Ethelric, bishop in +Sussex, and then before Christmas, Briteagus, Bishop in +Worcestershire, and soon after, Elfric, bishop in East-Anglia.)) + +A.D. 1039. This year happened the terrible wind; and Bishop +Britmar died at Lichfield. The Welsh slew Edwin, brother of Earl +Leofric, and Thurkil, and Elfget, and many good men with them. +This year also came Hardacnute to Bruges, where his mother was. + +((A.D. 1039. This year King Harold died at Oxford, on the +sixteenth before the kalends of April, and he was buried at +Westminster. And he ruled England four years and sixteen weeks; +and in his days sixteen ships were retained in pay, at the rate +of eight marks for each rower, in like manner as had been before +done in the days of King Canute. And in this same year came King +Hardecanute to Sandwich, seven days before midsummer. And he was +soon acknowledged as well by English as by Danes; though his +advisers afterwards grievously requited it, when they decreed +that seventy-two ships should be retained in pay, at the rate of +eight marks for each rower. And in this same year the sester of +wheat went up to fifty-five pence, and even further.)) + +A.D. 1040. This year died King Harold at Oxford, on the +sixteenth before the calends of April; and he was buried at +Westminster. He governed England four years and sixteen weeks; +and in his days tribute was paid to sixteen ships, at the rate of +eight marks for each steersman, as was done before in King +Knute's days. The same year they sent after Hardacnute to +Bruges, supposing they did well; and he came hither to Sandwich +with sixty ships, seven nights before midsummer. He was soon +received both by the Angles and Danes, though his advisers +afterwards severely paid for it. They ordered a tribute for +sixty-two ships, at the rate of eight marks for each steersman. +Then were alienated from him all that before desired him; for he +framed nothing royal during his whole reign. He ordered the dead +Harold to be dragged up and thrown into a ditch. This year rose +the sester of wheat to fifty-five pence, and even further. This +year Archbishop Edsy went to Rome. + +((A.D. 1040. This year was the tribute paid; that twenty-one +thousand pounds and ninety-nine pounds. And after that they paid +to thirty-two ships, eleven thousand and forty-eight pounds. +And, in this same year, came Edward, son of King Ethelred, hither +to land, from Weal-land; he was brother of King Hardecanute: they +were both sons of Elfgive; Emma, who was daughter of Earl +Richard.)) + +A.D. 1041. This year was the tribute paid to the army; that was, +21,099 pounds; and afterwards to thirty-two ships, 11,048 pounds. +This year also ordered Hardacnute to lay waste all +Worcestershire, on account of the two servants of his household, +who exacted the heavy tribute. That people slew them in the town +within the minster. Early in this same year came Edward, the son +of King Ethelred, hither to land, from Weal-land to Madron. He +was the brother of King Hardacnute, and had been driven from this +land for many years: but he was nevertheless sworn as king, and +abode in his brother's court while he lived. They were both sons +of Elfgive Emma, who was the daughter o[oe] Earl Richard. In this +year also Hardacnute betrayed Eadulf, under the mask of +friendship. He was also allied to him by marriage. This year +was Egelric consecrated Bishop of York, on the third day before +the ides of January. + +((A.D. 1041. This year died King Hardecanute at Lambeth, on the +sixth before the ides of June: and he was king over all England +two years wanting ten days; and he is buried in the Old-minster +at Winchester with King Canute his father. And his mother, for +his soul, gave to the New-minster the head of St. Valentine the +martyr. And before he was buried, all people chose Edward for +king at London: may he hold it the while that God shall grant it +to him! And all that year was a very heavy time, in many things +and divers, as well in respect to ill seasons as to the fruits of +the earth. And so much cattle perished in the year as no man +before remembered, as well through various diseases as through +tempests. And in this same time died Elsinus, Abbot of +Peterborough; and then Arnwius the monk was chosen abbot, because +he was a very good man, and of great simplicity.)) + +A.D. 1042. This year died King Hardacnute at Lambeth, as he +stood drinking: he fell suddenly to the earth with a tremendous +struggle; but those who were nigh at hand took him up; and he +spoke not a word afterwards, but expired on the sixth day before +the ides of June. He was king over all England two years wanting +ten nights; and he is buried in the old minster at Winchester +with King Knute his father. And his mother for his soul gave to +the new minster the head of St. Valentine the Martyr: and ere he +was buried all people chose Edward for king in London. And they +received him as their king, as was natural; and he reigned as +long as God granted him. All that year was the season very +severe in many and various respects: both from the inclemency of +the weather, and the loss of the fruits of the earth. More +cattle died this year than any man ever remembered, either from +various diseases, or from the severity of the weather. At this +same time died Elfsinus, Abbot of Peterborough; and they chose +Arnwy, a monk, for their abbot; because he was a very good and +benevolent man. + +A.D. 1043. This year was Edward consecrated king at Winchester, +early on Easter-day, with much pomp. Then was Easter on the +third day before the nones of April. Archbishop Edsy +consecrated him, and before all people well admonished him. And +Stigand the priest was consecrated bishop over the East Angles. +And this year, fourteen nights before the mass of St. Andrew, it +was advised the king, that he and Earl Leofric and Earl Godwin +and Earl Siward with their retinue, should ride from Gloucester +to Winchester unawares upon the lady; and they deprived her of +all the treasures that she had; which were immense; because she +was formerly very hard upon the king her son, and did less for +him than he wished before he was king, and also since: but they +suffered her to remain there afterwards. And soon after this the +king determined to invest all the land that his mother had in her +hands, and took from her all that she had in gold and in silver +and in numberless things; because she formerly held it too fast +against him. Soon after this Stigand was deprived of his +bishopric; and they took all that he had into their hands for the +king, because he was nighest the counsel of his mother; and she +acted as he advised, as men supposed. + +((A.D. 1043. This year was Edward consecrated king at Winchester +on the first day of Easter. And this year, fourteen days before +Andrew's-mass, the king was advised to ride from Gloucester, and +Leofric the earl, and Godwin the earl, and Sigwarth [Siward] the +earl, with their followers, to Winchester, unawares upon the lady +[Emma]; and they bereaved her of all the treasures which she +possessed, they were not to be told, because before that she had +been very hard with the king her son; inasmuch as she had done +less for him than he would, before he was king, and also since: +and they suffered her after that to remain therein. This year +King Edward took the daughter [Edgitha] of Godwin the earl for +his wife. And in this same year died Bishop Brithwin, and he +held the bishopric thirty-eight years, that was the bishopric of +Sherborne, and Herman the king's priest succeeded to the +bishopric. And in this year Wulfric was hallowed Abbot of St. +Augustine's at Christmas, on Stephen's mass-day, by leave of the +king, and, on account of his great infirmity, of Abbot Elfstun.)) + +A.D. 1044. This year Archbishop Edsy resigned his see from +infirmity, and consecrated Siward, Abbot of Abingdon, bishop +thereto, with the permission and advice of the king and Earl +Godwin. It was known to few men else before it was done; because +the archbishop feared that some other man would either beg or buy +it, whom he might worse trust and oblige than him, if it were +known to many men. This year there was very great hunger over +all England, and corn so dear as no man remembered before; so +that the sester of wheat rose to sixty pence, and even further. +And this same year the king went out to Sandwich with thirty-five +ships; and Athelstan, the churchwarden, succeeded to the abbacy +of Abingdon, and Stigand returned to his bishopric. In the same +year also King Edward took to wife Edgitha, the daughter of Earl +Godwin, ten nights before Candlemas. And in the same year died +Britwold, Bishop of Wiltshire, on the tenth day before the +calends of May; which bishopric he held thirty-eight winters; +that was, the bishopric of Sherborn. And Herman, the king's +priest, succeeded to the bishopric. This year Wulfric was +consecrated Abbot of St. Augustine's, at Christmas, on the +mass-day of St. Stephen, by the king's leave and that of Abbot +Elfstan, by reason of his great infirmity. + +((A.D. 1044. This year died Living, Bishop in Devonshire, and +Leoftic succeeded thereto; he was the king's priest. And in this +same year died Elfstan, Abbot of St. Augustine's, on the third +before the nones of July. And in this same year was outlawed +Osgod Clapa.)) + +A.D. 1045. This year died Elfward, Bishop of London, on the +eighth day before the calends of August. He was formerly Abbot +of Evesham, and well furthered that monastery the while that he +was there. He went then to Ramsey, and there resigned his life: +and Mannie was chosen abbot, being consecrated on the fourth day +before the ides of August. This year Gunnilda, a woman of rank, +a relative of King Knute, was driven out, and resided afterwards +at Bruges a long while, and then went to Denmark. King Edward +during the year collected a large fleet at Sandwich, through the +threatening of Magnus of Norway; but his contests with Sweyne in +Denmark prevented him from coming hither. + +((A.D. 1045. This year died Grimkytel, Bishop in Sussex, and +Heca, the king's priest, succeeded thereto. And in this year +died Alwyn, Bishop of Winchester, on the fourth before the +kalends of September; and Stigand, bishop to the north +[Flanders], succeeded thereto. And in the same year Sweyn the +earl went out to Baldwin's land [Of Elmham] to Bruges and abode +there all the winter; and then in summer he went out.)) + +A.D. 1046. This year died Lifting, the eloquent bishop, on the +tenth day before the calends of April. He had three bishoprics; +one in Devonshire, one in Cornwall, and another in +Worcestershire. Then succeeded Leofric, who was the king's +priest, to Devonshire and to Cornwall, and Bishop Aldred to +Worcestershire. This year died Elfwine, Bishop of Winchester, on +the fourth day before the calends of September; and Stigand, +Bishop of Norfolk, was raised to his see. Ere this, in the same +year, died Grimkytel, Bishop of Sussex; and he lies at +Christ-church, in Canterbury. And Heca, the' king's priest, +succeeded to the bishopric. Sweyne also sent hither, and +requested the aid of fifty ships against Magnus, king of the +Norwegians; but it was thought unwise by all the people, and it +was prevented, because that Magnus had a large navy: and he drove +Sweyne out, and with much slaughter won the land. The Danes then +gave him much money, and received him as king. The same year +Magnus died. The same year also Earl Sweyne went out to +Baldwin's land, to Bruges; and remained there all the winter. In +the summer he departed. + +A.D. 1046. This year went Earl Sweyne into Wales; and Griffin, +king of the northern men with him; and hostages were delivered to +him. As he returned homeward, he ordered the Abbess of +Leominster to be fetched him; and he had her as long as he list, +after which he let her go home. In this same year was outlawed +Osgod Clapa, the master of horse, before midwinter. And in the +same year, after Candlemas, came the strong winter, with frost +and with snow, and with all kinds of bad weather; so that there +was no man then alive who could remember so severe a winter as +this was, both through loss of men and through loss of cattle; +yea, fowls and fishes through much cold and hunger perished. + +((A.D. 1046. This year died Brithwin, bishop in Wiltshire, and +Herman was appointed to his see. In that year King Edward +gathered a large ship-force at Sandwich, on account of the +threatening of Magnus in Norway: but his and Sweyn's contention +in Denmark hindered his coming here. This year died Athelstan, +Abbot of Abingdon, and Sparhawk, monk of St. Edmund's-bury, +succeeded him. And in this same year died bishop Siward, and +Archbishop Eadsine again obtained the whole bishopric. And in +this same year Lothen and Irling came with twenty-five ships to +Sandwich, and there took unspeakable booty, in men, and in gold, +and in silver, so that no man knew how much it all was. And they +then went about Thanet, and would there do the like; but the +land's-folk strenuously withstood them, and denied them as well +landing as water; and thence utterly put them to flight. And +they betook themselves then into Essex, and there they ravaged, +and took men, and property, and whatsoever they might find. And +they betook themselves then east to Baldwine's land, and there +they sold what they had plundered; and after that went their way +east, whence they before had come. In this year was the great +synod at St. Remi's [Rheins]. Thereat was Leo the pope, and the +Archbishop of Burgundy [Lyons], and the Archbishop of Besancon, +and the Archbishop of Treves, and the Archbishop of Rheims; and +many men besides, both clergy and laity. And King Edward sent +thither Bishop Dudoc [Of Wells], and Wulfric, Abbot of St. +Augustine's, and Abbot Elfwin [Of Ramsey], that they might make +known to the king what should be there resolved on for +Christendom. And in this same year King Edward went out to +Sandwich with a great fleet. And Sweyn the earl, son of Godwin +the earl, came in to Bosham with seven ships; and he obtained the +king's protection, and he was promised that he should be held +worthy of everything which he before possessed. Then Harold the +earl, his brother, and Beorn the earl contended that he should +not be held worthy of any of the things which the king had +granted to them: but a protection of four days was appointed him +to go to his ships. Then befell it during this, that word came +to the king that hostile ships lay westward, and were ravaging. +Then went Godwin the earl west about with two of the king's +ships; the one commanded Harold the earl, and the other Tosty his +brother; and forty-two of the people's ships. Then Harold the +earl was removed from the king's ship which Harold the earl +before had commanded. Then went they west to Pevensey, and lay +there weather-bound. Upon this, after two days, then came Sweyn +the earl thither, and spoke with his father, and with Beorn the +earl, and begged of Beorn that he would go with him to the king +at Sandwich, and help him to the king's friendship: and he +granted it. Then went they as if they would go to the king. +Then whilst they were riding, then begged Sweyn of him that he +would go with him to his ships: saying that his seamen would +depart from him unless he should at the soonest come thither. +Then went they both where his ships lay. When they came thither, +then begged Sweyn the earl of him that he would go with him on +ship-board. He strenuously refused, so long as until his seamen +seized him, and threw him into the boat, and bound him, and rowed +to the ship, and put him there aboard. Then they hoisted up +their sails and ran west to Exmouth, and had him with them until +they slew him: and they took the body and buried it in a church. +And then his friends and litsmen came from London, and took him +up, and bore him to Winchester to the Old-minster, and he is +there buried with King Canute his uncle. And Sweyn went then +east to Baldwin's land, and sat down there all the winter at +Bruges, with his full protection. And in the same year died +Eadnoth [II.] bishop [Of Dorchester] of the north and Ulf was +made bishop.)) + +A.D. 1047. This year died Athelstan, Abbot of Abingdon, on the +fourth day before the calends of April; and Sparhawk, monk of St. +Edmundsbury, succeeded him. Easter day was then on the third day +before the nones of April; and there was over all England very +great loss of men this year also. The same year came to Sandwich +Lothen and Irling, with twenty-five ships, and plundered and took +incalculable spoil, in men, and in gold, and in silver, so that +no man wist what it all was; and went then about Thanet, and +would there have done the same; but the land-folk firmly +withstood, and resisted them both by land and sea, and thence put +them to flight withal. They betook themselves thence into Essex, +where they plundered and took men, and whatsoever they could +find, whence they departed eastward to Baldwin's land, and having +deposited the booty they had gained, they returned east to the +place whence they had come before. + +((A.D. 1047. This year died Living the eloquent bishop, on the +tenth before the kalends of April, and he had three bishoprics; +one in Devonshire, and in Cornwall, and in Worcester. Then +Leofric (61) succeeded to Devonshire and to Cornwall, and Bishop +Aldred to Worcester. And in this year Osgod, the master of the +horse, was outlawed: and Magnus [King of Norway] won Denmark. In +this year there was a great council in London at mid-Lent, and +nine ships of lightermen were discharged, and five remained +behind. In this same year came Sweyn the earl into England. And +in this same year was the great synod at Rome, and King Edward +sent thither Bishop Heroman and Bishop Aldred; and they came +thither on Easter eve. And afterwards the pope held a synod at +Vercelli, and Bishop Ulf came thereto; and well nigh would they +have broken his staff, if he had not given very great gifts; +because he knew not how to do his duty so well as he should. And +in this year died Archbishop Eadsine, on the fourth before the +kalends of November.)) + +A.D. 1048. This year came Sweyne back to Denmark; and Harold, +the uncle of Magnus, went to Norway on the death of Magnus, and +the Northmen submitted to him. He sent an embassy of peace to +this land, as did also Sweyne from Denmark, requesting of King +Edward naval assistance to the amount at least of fifty ships; +but all the people resisted it. This year also there was an +earthquake, on the calends of May, in many places; at Worcester, +at Wick, and at Derby, and elsewhere wide throughout England; +with very great loss by disease of men and of cattle over all +England; and the wild fire in Derbyshire and elsewhere did much +harm. In the same year the enemy plundered Sandwich, and the +Isle of Wight, and slew the best men that were there; and King +Edward and the earls went out after them with their ships. The +same year Bishop Siward resigned his bishopric from infirmity, +and retired to Abingdon; upon which Archbishop Edsy resumed the +bishopric; and he died within eight weeks of this, on the tenth +day before the calends of November. + +((A.D. 1048. This year was the severe winter: and this year died +Alwyn, Bishop of Winchester, and Bishop Stigand was raised to his +see. And before that, in the same year, died Grinketel, Bishop +in Sussex, and Heca the priest succeeded to the bishopric. And +Sweyn also sent hither, begging assistance against Magnus, King +of Norway; that fifty ships should be sent to his aid. But it +seemed unadvisable to all people: and it was then hindered by +reason that Magnus had a great ship-force. And he then drove out +Sweyn, and with much man-slaying won the land: and the Danes paid +him much money and acknowledged him as king. And that same year +Magnus died. In this year King Edward appointed Robert, of +London, Archbishop of Canterbury, during Lent. And in the same +Lent he went to Rome after his pall: and the king gave the +bishopric of London to Sparhafoc, Abbot of Abingdon; and the king +gave the abbacy of Abingdon to Bishop Rodulf, his kinsman. Then +came the archbishop from Rome one day before St. Peter's mass-eve, +and entered on his archiepiscopal see at Christ's Church on +St. Peter's mass-day; and soon after went to the king. Then came +Abbot Sparhafoc to him with the king's writ and seal, in order +that he should consecrate him Bishop of London. Then the +archbishop refused, and said that the pope had forbidden it him. +Then went the abbot to the archbishop again for that purpose, and +there desired episcopal ordination; and the archbishop constantly +refused him, and said that the pope had forbidden it him. Then +went the abbot to London, and occupied the bishopric which the +king before had granted him, with his full leave, all the summer +and the harvest. And then came Eustace [Earl of Boulogne] from +beyond sea soon after the bishop, and went to the king, and spoke +with him that which he then would, and went then homeward. When +he came to Canterbury, east, then took he refreshment there, and +his men, and went to Dover. When he was some mile or more, on +this side of Dover, then he put on his breast-plate, and so did +all his companions, and went to Dover. When they came thither, +then would they lodge themselves where they chose. Then came one +of his men, and would abide in the house of a householder against +his will, and wounded the householder; and the householder slew +the other. Then Eustace got upon his horse, and his companions +upon theirs; and they went to the householder, and slew him +within his own dwelling; and they went up towards the town, and +slew, as well within as without, more than twenty men. And the +townsmen slew nineteen men on the other side, and wounded they +knew not how many. And Eustace escaped with a few men, and went +again to the king, and made known to him, in part, how they had +fared. And the king became very wroth with the townsmen. And +the king sent off Godwin the earl, and bade him go into Kent in a +hostile manner to Dover: for Eustace had made it appear to the +king, that it had been more the fault of the townsmen than his: +but it was not so. And the earl would not consent to the inroad, +because he was loth to injure his own people. Then the king sent +after all his council, and bade them come to Gloucester, nigh the +aftermass of St. Mary. Then had the Welshmen erected a castle in +Herefordshire among the people of Sweyn the earl, and wrought +every kind of harm and disgrace to the king's men there about +which they could. Then came Godwin the earl, and Sweyn the earl, +and Harold the earl, together at Beverstone, and many men with +them, in order that they might go to their royal lord, and to all +the peers who were assembled with him, in order that they might +have the advice of the king and his aid, and of all this council, +how they might avenge the king's disgrace, and the whole +nation's. Then were the Welshmen with the king beforehand, and +accused the earls, so that they might not come within his eyes' +sight; because they said that they were coming thither in order +to betray the king. Thither had come Siward the earl [Of +Northumbria] and Leofric the earl [Of Mercia], and much people +with them, from the north, to the king; and it was made known to +the Earl Godwin and his sons, that the king and the men who were +with him, were taking counsel concerning them: and they arrayed +themselves on the other hand resolutely, though it were loathful +to them that they should stand against their royal lord. Then +the peers on either side decreed that every kind of evil should +cease: and the king gave the peace of God and his full friendship +to either side. Then the king and his peers decreed that a +council of all the nobles should be held for the second time in +London at the harvest equinox; and the king directed the army to +be called out, as well south of the Thames as north, all that was +in any way most eminent. Then declared they Sweyn the earl an +outlaw, and summoned Godwin the earl and Harold the earl, to the +council, as quickly as they could effect it. When they had come +thither, then were they summoned into the council. Then required +he safe conduct and hostages, so that he might come, unbetrayed, +into the council and out of the council. Then the king demanded +all the thanes whom the earls before had: and they granted them +all into his hands. Then the king sent again to them, and +commanded them that they should come with twelve men to the +king's council. Then the earl again required safe conduct and +hostages, that he might defend himself against each of those +things which were laid to him. Then were the hostages refused +him; and he was allowed a safe conduct for five nights to go out +of the land. And then Godwin the earl and Sweyn the earl went to +Bosham, and shoved out their ships, and betook themselves beyond +sea, and sought Baldwin's protection, and abode there all the +winter. And Harold the earl went west to Ireland, and was there +all the winter within the king's protection. And soon after this +happened, then put away the king the lady who had been +consecrated his queen [Editha], and caused to be taken from her +all which she possessed, in land, and in gold, and in silver, and +in all things, and delivered her to his sister at Wherwell. And +Abbot Sparhafoc was then driven out of the bishopric of London, +and William the king's priest was ordained thereto. And then +Odda was appointed earl over Devonshire, and over Somerset, and +over Dorset, and over the Welsh. And Algar, the son of Leofric +the earl, was appointed to the earldom which Harold before +held.)) + +A.D. 1049. (62) This year the emperor gathered an innumerable +army against Baldwin of Bruges, because he had destroyed the +palace of Nimeguen, and because of many other ungracious acts +that he did against him. The army was immense that he had +collected together. There was Leo, the Pope of Rome, and the +patriarch, and many other great men of several provinces. He +sent also to King Edward, and requested of him naval aid, that he +might not permit him to escape from him by water. Whereupon he +went to Sandwich, and lay there with a large naval armament, +until the emperor had all that he wished of Baldwin. Thither +also came back again Earl Sweyne, who had gone from this land to +Denmark, and there ruined his cause with the Danes. He came +hither with a pretence, saying that he would again submit to the +king, and be his man; and he requested Earl Beorn to be of +assistance to him, and give him land to feed him on. But Harold, +his brother, and Earl Beorn resisted, and would give him nothing +of that which the king had given them. The king also refused him +everything. Whereupon Swevne retired to his ships at Bosham. +Then, after the settlement between the emperor and Baldwin, many +ships went home, and the king remained behind Sandwich with a few +ships. Earl Godwin also sailed forty-two ships from Sandwich to +Pevensey, and Earl Beorn went with him. Then the king gave leave +to all the Mercians to return home, and they did so. Then it was +told the king that Osgod lay at Ulps with thirty-nine ships; +whereupon the king sent after the ships that he might dispatch, +which before had gone homewards, but still lay at the Nore. Then +Osgod fetched his wife from Bruges; and they went back again with +six ships; but the rest went towards Essex, to Eadulf's-ness, and +there plundered, and then returned to their ships. But there +came upon them a strong wind, so that they were all lost but four +persons, who were afterwards slain beyond sea. Whilst Earl +Godwin and Earl Beorn lay at Pevensey with their ships, came Earl +Sweyne, and with a pretence requested of Earl Beorn, who was his +uncle's son, that he would be his companion to the king at +Sandwich, and better his condition with him; adding, that he +would swear oaths to him, and be faithful to him. Whereupon +Beorn concluded, that he would not for their relationship betray +him. He therefore took three companions with him, and they rode +to Bosham, where his (63) ships lay, as though they should +proceed to Sandwich; but they suddenly bound him, and led him to +the ships, and went thence with him to Dartmouth, where they +ordered him to be slain and buried deep. He was afterwards +found, and Harold his cousin fetched him thence, and led him to +Winchester, to the old minster, where he buried him with King +Knute, his uncle. Then the king and all the army proclaimed +Sweyne an outlaw. A little before this the men of Hastings and +thereabout fought his two ships with their ships, and slew all +the men, and brought the ships to Sandwich to the king. Eight +ships had he, ere he betrayed Beorn; afterwards they all forsook +him except two; whereupon he went eastward to the land of +Baldwin, and sat there all the winter at Bruges, in full +security. In the same year came up from Ireland thirty-six ships +on the Welsh coast, and thereabout committed outrages, with the +aid of Griffin, the Welsh king. The people were soon gathered +against them, and there was also with them Bishop Eldred, but +they had too little assistance, and the enemy came unawares on +them very early in the morning, and slew on the spot many good +men; but the others burst forth with the bishop. This was done +on the fourth day before the calends of August. This year died +the good Bishop Ednoth in Oxfordshire; and Oswy, Abbot of Thomey; +and Wulfnoth, Abbot of Westminster; and King Edward gave the +bishopric which Ednoth had to Ulf his priest, but it ill betided +him; and he was driven from it, because he did nought like a +bishop therein, so that it shameth us now to say more. Bishop +Siward also died who lies at Abingdon. In this same year King +Edward put nine ships out of pay; and the crews departed, and +went away with the ships withal, leaving five ships only behind, +for whom the king ordered twelve months pay. The same year went +Bishops Hereman and Aldred to the pope at Rome on the king's +errand. This year was also consecrated the great minster at +Rheims, in the presence of Pope Leo and the emperor. There was +also a great synod at St. Remy; (64) at which was present Pope +Leo, with the Archbishops of Burgundy, of Besancon, of Treves, +and of Rheims; and many wise men besides, both clergy and laity. +A great synod there held they respecting the service of God, at +the instance of St. Leo the pope. It is difficult to recognise +all the bishops that came thither, and also abbots. King Edward +sent thither Bishop Dudoc, and Abbot Wulfric, of St. Augustine's, +and Elfwin, Abbot of Ramsey, with the intent that they should +report to the king what was determined there concerning +Christendom. This same year came Earl Sweyne into England. + +((A.D. 1049. This year Sweyn came again to Denmark, and Harold. +uncle of Magnus, went to Norway after Magnus was dead; and the +Normans acknowledged him: and he sent hither to land concerning +peace. And Sweyn also sent from Denmark, and begged of King +Edward the aid of his ships. They were to be at least fifty +ships: but all people opposed it. And this year also there was +an earthquake, on the kalends of May, in many places in +Worcester, and in Wick, and in Derby, and elsewhere; and also +there was a great mortality among men, and murrain among cattle: +and moreover, the wild-fire did much evil in Derbyshire and +elsewhere.)) + +A.D. 1050. This year returned the bishops home from Rome; (65) +and Earl Sweyne had his sentence of outlawry reversed. The same +year died Edsy, Archbishop of Canterbury, on the fourth day +before the calends of November; and also in the same year Elfric, +Archbishop of York, on the eleventh before the calends of +February, a very venerable man and wise, and his body lies at +Peterborough. Then had King Edward a meeting of the great +council in London, in mid-lent, at which he appointed Robert the +Frank, who was before Bishop of London, Archbishop of Canterbury; +and he, during the same Lent, went to Rome after his pall. The +king meanwhile gave the see of London to Sparhawk, Abbot of +Abingdon, but it was taken from him again before he was +consecrated. The king also gave the abbacy of Abingdon to Bishop +Rodulph his cousin. The same year he put all the lightermen out +of pay. (66) The pope held a council again, at Vercelli; and +Bishop Ulf came thither, where he nearly had his staff broken, +had he not paid more money, because he could not perform his +duties so well as he should do. The same year King Edward +abolished the Danegeld which King Ethelred imposed. That was in +the thirty-ninth year after it had begun. That tribute harassed +all the people of England so long as is above written; and it was +always paid before other imposts, which were levied +indiscriminately, and vexed men variously. + +((A.D. 1050. Thither also came Sweyn the earl, who before had +gone from this land to Denmark, and who there had ruined himself +with the Danes. He came thither with false pretences; saying +that he would again be obedient to the king. And Beorn the earl +promised him that he would be of assistance to him. Then, after +the reconciliation of the emperor and of Baldwin, many of the +ships went home, and the king remained behind at Sandwich with a +few ships; and Godwin the earl also went with forty-two ships +from Sandwich to Pevensey, and Beorn the earl went with him. +Then was it made known to the king that Osgood lay at Ulps with +thirty-nine ships; and the king then sent after the ships which +before had gone home, that he might send after him. And Osgod +fetched his wife from Bruges, and they went back again with six +ships. And the others landed in Sussex [Essex] at Eadulf-ness, +and there did harm, and went again to their ships: and then a +strong wind came against them, so that they were all destroyed, +except four, whose crews were slain beyond sea. While Godwin the +earl and Beorn the earl lay at Pevensey, then came Sweyn the +earl, and begged Beorn the earl, with fraud, who was his uncle's +son, that he would be his companion to the king at Sandwich, and +better his affairs with him. He went then, on account of the +relationship, with three companions, with him; and he led him +then towards Bosham, where his ships lay: and then they bound +him, and led him on ship-board. Then went he thence with him to +Dartmouth, and there ordered him to be slain, and deeply buried. +Afterwards he was found, and borne to Winchester, and buried with +king Canute his uncle. A little before that, the men of Hastings +and thereabout, fought two of his ships with their ships; and +slew all the men, and brought the ships to Sandwich to the king. +Eight ships he had before he betrayed Beorn; after that all +forsook him except two. In the same year arrived in the Welsh +Axa, from Ireland, thirty-six ships, and thereabout did harm, +with the help of Griffin the Welsh king. The people were +gathered together against them; Bishop Aldred [Of Worchester] was +also there with them; but they had too little power. And they +came unawares upon them at very early morn; and there they slew +many good men, and the others escaped with the bishop: this was +done on the fourth before the kalends of August. This year died, +in Oxfordshire, Oswy, Abbot of Thorney, and Wulfnoth, Abbot of +Westminster; and Ulf the priest was appointed as pastor to the +bishopric which Eadnoth had held; but he was after that driven +away; because he did nothing bishop-like therein: so that it +shameth us now to tell more about it. And Bishop Siward died: he +lieth at Abingdon. And this year was consecrated the great +minster at Rheims: there was Pope Leo [IX.] and the emperor +[Henry III]; and there they held a great synod concerning God's +service. St. Leo the pope presided at the synod: it is difficult +to have a knowledge of the bishops who came there, and how many +abbots: and hence, from this land were sent two--from St. +Augustine's and from Ramsey.)) + +A.D. 1051. This year came Archbishop Robert hither over sea with +his pall from Rome, one day before St. Peter's eve: and he took +his archiepiscopal seat at Christ-church on St. Peter's day, and +soon after this went to the king. Then came Abbot Sparhawk to +him with the king's writ and seal, to the intent that he should +consecrate him Bishop o[oe] London; but the archbishop refused, +saying that the pope had forbidden him. Then went the abbot to +the archbishop again for the same purpose, and there demanded +episcopal consecration; but the archbishop obstinately refused, +repeating that the pope had forbidden him. Then went the abbot +to London, and sat at the bishopric which the king had before +given him, with his full leave, all the summer and the autumn. +Then during the same year came Eustace, who had the sister of +King Edward to wife, from beyond sea, soon after the bishop, and +went to the king; and having spoken with him whatever he chose, +he then went homeward. When he came to Canterbury eastward, +there took he a repast, and his men; whence he proceeded to +Dover. When he was about a mile or more on this side Dover, he +put on his breast-plate; and so did all his companions: and they +proceeded to Dover. When they came thither, they resolved to +quarter themselves wherever they lived. Then came one of his +men, and would lodge at the house of a master of a family against +his will; but having wounded the master of the house, he was +slain by the other. Then was Eustace quickly upon his horse, and +his companions upon theirs; and having gone to the master of the +family, they slew him on his own hearth; then going up to the +boroughward, they slew both within and without more than twenty +men. The townsmen slew nineteen men on the other side, and +wounded more, but they knew not how many. Eustace escaped with a +few men, and went again to the king, telling him partially how +they had fared. The king was very wroth with the townsmen, and +sent off Earl Godwin, bidding him go into Kent with hostility to +Dover. For Eustace had told the king that the guilt of the +townsmen was greater than his. But it was not so: and the earl +would not consent to the expedition, because he was loth to +destroy his own people. Then sent the king after all his +council, and bade them come to Gloucester nigh the after-mass of +St. Mary. Meanwhile Godwin took it much to heart, that in his +earldom such a thing should happen. Whereupon be began to gather +forces over all his earldom, and Earl Sweyne, his son, over his; +and Harold, his other son, over his earldom: and they assembled +all in Gloucestershire, at Langtree, a large and innumerable +army, all ready for battle against the king; unless Eustace and +his men were delivered to them handcuffed, and also the Frenchmen +that were in the castle. This was done seven nights before the +latter mass of St. Mary, when King Edward was sitting at +Gloucester. Whereupon he sent after Earl Leofric, and north +after Earl Siward, and summoned their retinues. At first they +came to him with moderate aid; but when they found how it was in +the south, then sent they north over all their earldom, and +ordered a large force to the help of their lord. So did Ralph +also over his earldom. Then came they all to Gloucester to +the aid of the king, though it was late. So unanimous were they +all in defence of the king, that they would seek Godwin's army if +the king desired it. But some prevented that; because it was +very unwise that they should come together; for in the two armies +was there almost all that was noblest in England. They therefore +prevented this, that they might not leave the land at the mercy +of our foes, whilst engaged in a destructive conflict betwixt +ourselves. Then it was advised that they should exchange +hostages between them. And they issued proclamations throughout +to London, whither all the people were summoned over all this +north end in Siward's earldom, and in Leofric's, and also +elsewhere; and Earl Godwin was to come thither with his sons to a +conference; They came as far as Southwark, and very many with +them from Wessex; but his army continually diminished more and +more; for they bound over to the king all the thanes that +belonged to Earl Harold his son, and outlawed Earl Sweyne his +other son. When therefore it could not serve his purpose to come +to a conference against the king and against the army that was +with him, he went in the night away. In the morning the king +held a council, and proclaimed him an outlaw, with his whole +army; himself and his wife, and all his three sons--Sweyne and +Tosty and Grith. And he went south to Thorney, (67) with his +wife, and Sweyne his son, and Tosty and his wife, a cousin of +Baldwin of Bruges, and his son Grith. Earl Harold with Leofwine +went to Bristol in the ship that Earl Sweyne had before prepared +and provisioned for himself; and the king sent Bishop Aldred from +London with his retinue, with orders to overtake him ere he came +to ship. But they either could not or would not: and he then +went out from the mouth of the Avon; but he encountered such +adverse weather, that he got off with difficulty, and suffered +great loss. He then went forth to Ireland, as soon as the +weather permitted. In the meantime the Welshmen had wrought a +castle in Herefordshire, in the territory of Earl Sweyne, and +brought as much injury and disgrace on the king's men thereabout +as they could. Then came Earl Godwin, and Earl Sweyne, and Earl +Harold, together at Beverstone, and many men with them; to the +intent that they might go to their natural lord, and to all the +peers that were assembled with him; to have the king's counsel +and assistance, and that of all the peers, how they might avenge +the insult offered to the king, and to all the nation. But the +Welshmen were before with the king, and bewrayed the earls, so +that they were not permitted to come within the sight of his +eyes; for they declared that they intended to come thither to +betray the king. There was now assembled before the king (68) +Earl Siward, and Earl Leofric, and much people with them from the +north: and it was told Earl Godwin and his sons, that the king +and the men who were with him would take counsel against them; +but they prepared themselves firmly to resist, though they were +loth to proceed against their natural lord. Then advised the +peers on either side, that they should abstain from all +hostility: and the king gave God's peace and his full friendship +to each party. Then advised the king and his council, that there +should be a second time a general assembly of all the nobles in +London, at the autumnal equinox: and the king ordered out an army +both south and north of the Thames, the best that ever was. Then +was Earl Sweyne proclaimed an outlaw; and Earl Godwin and Earl +Harold were summoned to the council as early as they could come. +When they came thither and were cited to the council, then +required they security and hostages, that they might come into +the council and go out without treachery. The king then demanded +all the thanes that the earls had; and they put them all into his +hands. Then sent the king again to them, and commanded them to +come with twelve men to the king's council. Then desired the +earl again security and hostages, that he might answer singly to +each of the things that were laid to his charge. But the +hostages were refused; and a truce of five nights was allowed him +to depart from the land. Then went Earl Godwin and Earl Sweyne +to Bosham, and drew out their ships, and went beyond sea, seeking +the protection of Baldwin; and there they abode all the winter. +Earl Harold went westward to Ireland, and was there all the +winter on the king's security. It was from Thorney (69) that +Godwin and those that were with him went to Bruges, to Baldwin's +land, in one ship, with as much treasure as they could lodge +therein for each man. Wonderful would it have been thought by +every man that was then in England, if any person had said before +this that it would end thus! For he was before raised to such a +height, that he ruled the king and all England; his sons were +earls, and the king's darlings; and his daughter wedded and +united to the king. Soon after this took place, the king +dismissed the lady who had been consecrated his queen, and +ordered to be taken from her all that she had in land, and in +gold, and in silver, and in all things; and committed her to the +care of his sister at Wherwell. Soon after came Earl William +from beyond sea with a large retinue of Frenchmen; and the king +entertained him and as many of his companions as were convenient +to him, and let him depart again. Then was Abbot Sparhawk driven +from his bishopric at London; and William the king's priest was +invested therewith. Then was Oddy appointed earl over +Devonshire, and over Somerset, and over Dorset, and over Wales; +and Algar, the son of Earl Leofric, was promoted to the earldom +which Harold before possessed. + +((A.D. 1051. In this year died Eadsine, Archbishop of +Canterbury; and the king gave to Robert the Frenchman, who before +had been Bishop of London, the archbishopric. And Sparhafoc, +Abbot of Abingdon, succeeded to the bishopric of London; and it +was afterwards taken from him before he was consecrated. And +Bishop Heroman and Bishop Aldred went to Rome.)) + +A.D. 1052. This year, on the second day before the nones of +March, died the aged Lady Elfgiva Emma, the mother of King Edward +and of King Hardacnute, the relict of King Ethelred and of King +Knute; and her body lies in the old minster with King Knute. At +this time Griffin, the Welsh king, plundered in Herefordshire +till he came very nigh to Leominster; and they gathered against +him both the landsmen and the Frenchmen from the castle; and +there were slain very many good men of the English, and also of +the French. This was on the same day thirteen years after that +Edwin was slain with his companions. In the same year advised +the king and his council, that ships should be sent out to +Sandwich, and that Earl Ralph and Earl Odda should be appointed +headmen thereto. Then went Earl Godwin out from Bruges with his +ships to Ysendyck; and sailed forth one day before midsummer-eve, +till he came to the Ness that is to the south of Romney. When it +came to the knowledge of the earls out at Sandwich, they went out +after the other ships; and a land-force was also ordered out +against the ships. Meanwhile Earl Godwin had warning, and betook +himself into Pevensey: and the weather was so boisterous, that +the earls could not learn what had become of Earl Godwin. But +Earl Godwin then went out again until he came back to Bruges; and +the other ships returned back again to Sandwich. Then it was +advised that the ships should go back again to London, and that +other earls and other pilots should be appointed over them. But +it was delayed so long that the marine army all deserted; and +they all betook themselves home. When Earl Godwin understood +that, he drew up his sail and his ship: and they (70) went west +at once to the Isle of Wight; and landing there, they plundered +so long that the people gave them as much as they required of +them. Then proceeded they westward until they came to Portland, +where they landed and did as much harm as they could possibly do. +Meanwhile Harold had gone out from Ireland with nine ships, and +came up at Potlock with his ships to the mouth of the Severn, +near the boundaries of Somerset and Devonshire, and there +plundered much. The land-folk collected against him, both from +Somerset and from Devonshire: but he put them to flight, and slew +there more than thirty good thanes, besides others; and went soon +after about Penwithstert, where was much people gathered against +him; but he spared not to provide himself with meat, and went up +and slew on the spot a great number of the people--seizing in +cattle, in men, and in money, whatever he could. Then went he +eastward to his father; and they went both together eastward (71) +until they came to the Isle of Wight, where they seized whatever +had been left them before. Thence they went to Pevensey, and got +out with them as many ships as had gone in there, and so +proceeded forth till they came to the Ness; (72) getting all the +ships that were at Romney, and at Hithe, and at Folkstone. Then +ordered King Edward to fit out forty smacks that lay at Sandwich +many weeks, to watch Earl Godwin, who was at Bruges during the +winter; but he nevertheless came hither first to land, so as to +escape their notice. And whilst he abode in this land, he +enticed to him all the Kentish men, and all the boatmen from +Hastings, and everywhere thereabout by the sea-coast, and all the +men of Essex and Sussex and Surrey, and many others besides. +Then said they all that they would with him live or die. When +the fleet that lay at Sandwich had intelligence about Godwin's +expedition, they set sail after him; but he escaped them, and +betook himself wherever he might: and the fleet returned to +Sandwich, and so homeward to London. When Godwin understood that +the fleet that lay at Sandwich was gone home, then went he back +again to the Isle of Wight, and lay thereabout by the sea-coast +so long that they came together--he and his son Earl Harold. +But they did no great harm after they came together; save that +they took meat, and enticed to them all the land-folk by the +sea-coast and also upward in the land. And they proceeded toward +Sandwich, ever alluring forth with them all the boatmen that they +met; and to Sandwich they came with an increasing army. They +then steered eastward round to Dover, and landing there, took as +many ships and hostages as they chose, and so returned to +Sandwich, where they did the same; and men everywhere gave them +hostages and provisions, wherever they required them. Then +proceeded they to the Nore, and so toward London; but some of the +ships landed on the Isle of Shepey, and did much harm there; +whence they steered to Milton Regis, and burned it all, and then +proceeded toward London after the earls. When they came to +London, there lay the king and all his earls to meet them, with +fifty ships. The earls (73) then sent to the king, praying that +they might be each possessed of those things which had been +unjustly taken from them. But the king resisted some while; so +long that the people who were with the earl were very much +stirred against the king and against his people, so that the earl +himself with difficulty appeased them. When King Edward +understood that, then sent he upward after more aid; but they +came very late. And Godwin stationed himself continually before +London with his fleet, till he came to Southwark; where he abode +some time, until the flood (74) came up. On this occasion he +also contrived with the burgesses that they should do almost all +that he would. When he had arranged his whole expedition, then +came the flood; and they soon weighed anchor, and steered through +the bridge by the south side. The land-force meanwhile came +above, and arranged themselves by the Strand; and they formed +an angle with the ships against the north side, as if they wished +to surround the king's ships. The king had also a great +land-force on his side, to add to his shipmen: but they were most of +them loth to fight with their own kinsmen--for there was little +else of any great importance but Englishmen on either side; and +they were also unwilling that this land should be the more +exposed to outlandish people, because they destroyed each other. +Then it was determined that wise men should be sent between them, +who should settle peace on either side. Godwin went up, and +Harold his son, and their navy, as many as they then thought +proper. Then advanced Bishop Stigand with God's assistance, and +the wise men both within the town and without; who determined +that hostages should be given on either side. And so they did. +When Archbishop Robert and the Frenchmen knew that, they took +horse; and went some west to Pentecost Castle, some north to +Robert's castle. Archbishop Robert and Bishop Ulf, with their +companions, went out at Eastgate, slaying or else maiming many +young men, and betook themselves at once to Eadulf's-ness; where +he put himself on board a crazy ship, and went at once over sea, +leaving his pall and all Christendom here on land, as God +ordained, because he had obtained an honour which God disclaimed. +Then was proclaimed a general council without London; and all the +earls and the best men in the land were at the council. There +took up Earl Godwin his burthen, and cleared himself there before +his lord King Edward, and before all the nation; proving that he +was innocent of the crime laid to his charge, and to his son +Harold and all his children. And the king gave the earl and his +children, and all the men that were with him, his full +friendship, and the full earldom, and all that he possessed +before; and he gave the lady all that she had before. Archbishop +Robert was fully proclaimed an outlaw, with all the Frenchmen; +because they chiefly made the discord between Earl Godwin and the +king: and Bishop Stigand succeeded to the archbishopric at +Canterbury. At the council therefore they gave Godwin fairly his +earldom, so full and so free as he at first possessed it; and his +sons also all that they formerly had; and his wife and his +daughter so full and so free as they formerly had. And they +fastened full friendship between them, and ordained good laws to +all people. Then they outlawed all Frenchmen--who before +instituted bad laws, and judged unrighteous judgment, and brought +bad counsels into this land--except so many as they concluded +it was agreeable to the king to have with him, who were true to +him and to all his people. It was with difficulty that Bishop +Robert, and Bishop William, and Bishop Ulf, escaped with the +Frenchmen that were with them, and so went over sea. Earl +Godwin, and Harold, and the queen, sat in their stations. Sweyne +had before gone to Jerusalem from Bruges, and died on his way +home at Constantinople, at Michaelmas. It was on the Monday +after the festival of St. Mary, that Godwin came with his ships +to Southwark: and on the morning afterwards, on the Tuesday, they +were reconciled as it stands here before recorded. Godwin then +sickened soon after he came up, and returned back. But he made +altogether too little restitution of God's property, which he +acquired from many places. At the same time Arnwy, Abbot of +Peterborough, resigned his abbacy in full health; and gave it to +the monk Leofric, with the king's leave and that of the monks; +and the Abbot Arnwy lived afterwards eight winters. The Abbot +Leofric gilded the minster, so that it was called Gildenborough; +and it then waxed very much in land, and in gold, and in silver. + +((A.D. 1052. This year died Alfric, Archbishop of York, a very +pious man, and wise. And in the same year King Edward abolished +the tribute, which King Ethelred had before imposed: that was in +the nine-and-thirtieth year after he had begun it. That tax +distressed all the English nation during so long a time, as it +has been written; that was ever before other taxes which were +variously paid, and wherewith the people were manifestly +distressed. In the same year Eustace [Earl of Boulougne] landed +at Dover: he had King Edward's sister to wife. Then went his men +inconsiderately after quarters, and a certain man of the town +they slew; and another man of the town their companion; so that +there lay seven of his companions. And much harm was there done +on either side, by horse and also by weapons, until the people +gathered together: and then they fled away until they came to the +king at Gloucester; and he gave them protection. When Godwin, +the earl, understood that such things should have happened in his +earldom, then began he to gather together people over all his +earldom, (75) and Sweyn, the earl, his son, over his, and Harold, +his other son, over his earldom; and they all drew together in +Gloucestershire, at Langtree, a great force and countless, all +ready for battle against the king, unless Eustace were given up, +and his men placed in their hands, and also the Frenchmen who +were in the castle. This was done seven days before the latter +mass of St. Mary. Then was King Edward sitting at Gloucester. +Then sent he after Leofric the earl [Of Mercia] and north after +Siward the earl [Of Northumbria] and begged their forces. And +then they came to him; first with a moderate aid, but after they +knew how it was there, in the south, then sent they north over +all their earldoms, and caused to be ordered out a large force +for the help of their lord; and Ralph, also, over his earldom: +and then came they all to Gloucester to help the king, though it +might be late. Then were they all so united in opinion with the +king that they would have sought out Godwin's forces if the king +had so willed. Then thought some of them that it would be a +great folly that they should join battle; because there was +nearly all that was most noble in England in the two armies, and +they thought that they should expose the land to our foes, and +cause great destruction among ourselves. Then counselled they +that hostages should be given mutually; and they appointed a term +at London, and thither the people were ordered out over all this +north end, in Siward's earldom, and in Leofric's, and also +elsewhere; and Godwin, the earl, and his sons were to come there +with their defence. Then came they to Southwark, and a great +multitude with them, from Wessex; but his band continually +diminished the longer he stayed. And they exacted pledges for +the king from all the thanes who were under Harold, the earl, his +son; and then they outlawed Sweyn, the earl, his other son. Then +did it not suit him to come with a defence to meet the king, and +to meet the army which was with him. Then went he by night away; +and the king on the morrow held a council, and, together with all +the army, declared him an outlaw, him and all his sons. And he +went south to Thorney, and his wife, and Sweyn his son, and Tosty +and his wife, Baldwin's relation of Bruges, and Grith his son. +And Harold, the earl, and Leofwine, went to Bristol in the ship +which Sweyn, the earl, had before got ready for himself, and +provisioned. And the king sent Bishop Aldred [Of Worcester] to +London with a force; and they were to overtake him ere he came on +ship-board: but they could not or they would not. And he went +out from Avonmouth, and met with such heavy weather that he with +difficulty got away; and there he sustained much damage. Then +went he forth to Ireland when fit weather came. And Godwin, and +those who were with him, went from Thorney to Bruges, to +Baldwin's land, in one ship, with as much treasure as they might +therein best stow for each man. It would have seemed wondrous to +every man who was in England if any one before that had said that +it should end thus; for he had been erewhile to that degree +exalted, as if he ruled the king and all England; and his sons +were earls and the king's darlings, and his daughter wedded and +united to the king: she was brought to Wherwell, and they +delivered her to the abbess. Then, soon, came William, the earl +[Of Normandy], from beyond seas with a great band of Frenchmen; +and the king received him, and as many of his companions as it +pleased him; and let him away again. This same year was given to +William, the priest, the bishopric of London, which before had +been given to Sparhafoc.)) + +((A.D. 1052. This year died Elfgive, the lady, relict of King +Ethelred and of King Canute, on the second before the nones of +March. In the same year Griffin, the Welsh king, plundered in +Herefordshire, until he came very nigh to Leominster; and they +gathered against him, as well the landsmen as the Frenchmen of +the castle, and there were slain of the English very many good +men, and also of the Frenchmen; that was on the same day, on +which, thirteen years before, Eadwine had been slain by his +companions.)) + +((A.D. 1052. In this year died Elgive Emma, King Edward's mother +and King Hardecanute's. And in this same year, the king decreed, +and his council, that ships should proceed to Sandwich; and they +set Ralph, the earl, and Odda, the earl [Of Devon], as headmen +thereto. Then Godwin, the earl, went out from Bruges with his +ships to Ysendyck, and left it one day before Midsummer's-mass +eve, so that he came to Ness, which is south of Romney. Then +came it to the knowledge of the earls out at Sandwich; and they +then went out after the other ships, and a land-force was ordered +out against the ships. Then during this, Godwin, the earl, was +warned, and then he went to Pevensey; and the weather was very +severe, so that the earls could not learn what was become of +Godwin, the earl. And then Godwin, the earl, went out again, +until he came once more to Bruges; and the other ships returned +again to Sandwich. And then it was decreed that the ships should +return once more to London, and that other earls and commanders +should be appointed to the ships. Then was it delayed so long +that the ship-force all departed, and all of them went home. +When Godwin, the earl, learned that, then drew he up his sail, +and his fleet, and then went west direct to the Isle of Wight, +and there landed and ravaged so long there, until the people +yielded them so much as they laid on them. And then they went +westward until they came to Portland, and there they landed, +and did whatsoever harm they were able to do. Then was Harold +come out from Ireland with nine ships; and then landed at +Porlock, and there much people was gathered against him; but he +failed not to procure himself provisions. He proceeded further, +and slew there a great number of the people, and took of cattle, +and of men, and of property as it suited him. He then went +eastward to his father; and then they both went eastward until +they came to the Isle of Wight, and there took that which was yet +remaining for them. And then they went thence to Pevensey and +got away thence as many ships as were there fit for service, and +so onwards until he came to Ness, and got all the ships which +were in Romney, and in Hythe, and in Folkstone. And then they +went east to Dover, and there landed, and there took ships and +hostages, as many as they would, and so went to Sandwich and did +"hand" the same; and everywhere hostages were given them, and +provisions wherever they desired. And then they went to North-mouth, +and so toward London; and some of the ships went within +Sheppey, and there did much harm, and went their way to King's +Milton, and that they all burned, and betook themselves then +toward London after the earls. When they came to London, there +lay the king and all the earls there against them, with fifty +ships. Then the earls sent to the king, and required of him, +that they might be held worthy of each of those things which +had been unjustly taken from them. Then the king, however, +resisted some while; so long as until the people who were with +the earl were much stirred against the king and against his +people, so that the earl himself with difficulty stilled the +people. Then Bishop Stigand interposed with God's help, and the +wise men as well within the town as without; and they decreed +that hostages should be set forth on either side: and thus was it +done. When Archbishop Robert and the Frenchmen learned that, +they took their horses and went, some west to Pentecost's castle, +some north to Robert's castle. And Archbishop Robert and Bishop +Ulf went out at East-gate, and their companions, and slew and +otherwise injured many young men, and went their way to direct +Eadulf's-ness; and he there put himself in a crazy ship, and went +direct over sea, and left his pall and all Christendom here on +land, so as God would have it, inasmuch as he had before obtained +the dignity so as God would not have it. Then there was a great +council proclaimed without London: and all the earls and the +chief men who were in this land were at the council. There +Godwin bore forth his defence, and justified himself, before King +Edward his lord, and before all people of the land, that he was +guiltless of that which was laid against him, and against Harold +his son, and all his children. And the king gave to the earl and +his children his full friendship, and full earldom, and all that +he before possessed, and to all the men who were with him. And +the king gave to the lady [Editha] all that she before possessed. +And they declared Archbishop Robert utterly an outlaw, and all +the Frenchmen, because they had made most of the difference +between Godwin, the earl, and the king. And Bishop Stigand +obtained the Archbishopric of Canterbury. In this same time +Arnwy, Abbot of Peterborough, left the abbacy, in sound health, +and gave it to Leofric the monk, by leave of the king and of the +monks; and Abbot Arnwy lived afterwards eight years. And Abbot +Leofric then (enriched) the minster, so that it was called the +Golden-borough. Then it waxed greatly, in land, and in gold, and +in silver.)) + +((A.D. 1052. And went so to the Isle of Wight, and there took +all the ships which could be of any service, and hostages, and +betook himself so eastward. And Harold had landed with nine +ships at Porlock, and slew there much people, and took cattle, +and men, and property, and went his way eastward to his father, +and they both went to Romney, to Hythe, to Folkstone, to Dover, +to Sandwich, and ever they took all the ships which they found, +which could be of any service, and hostages, all as they +proceeded; and went then to London.)) + +A.D. 1053. About this time was the great wind, on the mass-night +of St. Thomas; which did much harm everywhere. And all the +midwinter also was much wind. It was this year resolved to slay +Rees, the Welsh king's brother, because he did harm; and they +brought his head to Gloucester on the eve of Twelfth-day. In +this same year, before Allhallowmas, died Wulfsy, Bishop of +Lichfield; and Godwin, Abbot of Winchcomb; and Aylward, Abbot of +Glastonbury; all within one month. And Leofwine, Abbot of +Coventry, took to the bishopric at Lichfield; Bishop Aldred to +the abbacy at Winchcomb; and Aylnoth took to the abbacy at +Glastonbury. The same year died Elfric, brother of Odda, at +Deerhurst; and his body resteth at Pershore. In this year was +the king at Winchester, at Easter; and Earl Godwin with him, and +Earl Harold his son, and Tosty. On the day after Easter sat he +with the king at table; when he suddenly sunk beneath against the +foot-rail, deprived of speech and of all his strength. He was +brought into the king's chamber; and they supposed that it would +pass over: but it was not so. He continued thus speechless and +helpless till the Thursday; when he resigned his life, on the +seventeenth before the calends of May; and he was buried at +Winchester in the old minster. Earl Harold, his son, took to the +earldom that his father had before, and to all that his father +possessed; whilst Earl Elgar took to the earldom that Harold had +before. The Welshmen this year slew a great many of the warders +of the English people at Westbury. This year there was no +archbishop in this land: but Bishop Stigand held the see of +Canterbury at Christ church, and Kinsey that of York. Leofwine +and Wulfwy went over sea, and had themselves consecrated bishops +there. Wulfwy took to the bishopric which Ulf had whilst he was +living and in exile. + +((A.D. 1053. This year was the great wind on Thomas's-mass-night, +and also the whole midwinter there was much wind; and it +was decreed that Rees, the Welsh king's brother, should be slain, +because he had done harm; and his head was brought to Gloucester +on Twelfth-day eve. And the same year, before All Hallows-mass, +died Wulfsy, Bishop of Lichfield, and Godwin, Abbot of Winchcomb, +and Egelward, Abbot of Clastonbury, all within one month, and +Leofwine succeeded to the Bishopric of Lichfield, and Bishop +Aidred [Of Worcester] took the abbacy at Winchcomb, and Egelnoth +succeeded to the abbacy at Glastonbury. And the same year died +Elfric, Odda's brother at Deorhurst; and his body resteth at +Pershore. And the same year died Godwin the earl; and he fell +ill as he sat with the king at Winchester. And Harold his son +succeeded to the earldom which his father before held; and Elgar, +the earl, succeeded to the earldom which Harold before held.)) + +((A.D. 1053. In this year died Godwin, the earl, on the +seventeenth before the kalends of May, and he is buried at +Winchester, in the Old-minster; and Harold, the earl, his son, +succeeded to the earldom, and to all that which his father had +held: and Elgar, the earl, succeeded to the earldom which Harold +before held.)) + +A.D. 1054. This year died Leo the holy pope, at Rome: and Victor +was chosen pope in his stead. And in this year was so great loss +of cattle as was not remembered for many winters before. This +year went Earl Siward with a large army against Scotland, +consisting both of marines and landforces; and engaging with the +Scots, he put to flight the King Macbeth; slew all the best in +the land; and led thence much spoil, such as no man before +obtained. Many fell also on his side, both Danish and English; +even his own son, Osborn, and his sister's son, Sihward: and many +of his house-carls, and also of the king's, were there slain that +day, which was that of the Seven Sleepers. This same year went +Bishop Aldred south over sea into Saxony, to Cologne, on the +king's errand; where he was entertained with great respect by the +emperor, abode there well-nigh a year, and received presents not +only from the court, but from the Bishop of Cologne and the +emperor. He commissioned Bishop Leofwine to consecrate the +minster at Evesham; and it was consecrated in the same year, on +the sixth before the ides of October. This year also died Osgod +Clapa suddenly in his bed, as he lay at rest. + +((A.D. 1054. This year went Siward the earl with a great army +into Scotland, both with a ship-force and with a landforce, and +fought against the Scots, and put to flight King Macbeth, and +slew all who were the chief men in the land, and led thence much +booty, such as no man before had obtained. But his son Osborn, +and his sister's son Siward, and some of his house-carls, and +also of the king's, were there slain, on the day of the Seven +Sleepers. The same year went Bishop Aldred to Cologne, over sea, +on the king's errand; and he was there received with much worship +by the emperor [Henry III], and there he dwelt well nigh a year; +and either gave him entertainment, both the Bishop of Cologne and +the emperor. And he gave leave to Bishop Leofwine [Of Lichfield] +to consecrate the minster at Evesham on the sixth before the ides +of October. In this year died Osgod suddenly in his bed. And +this year died St. Leo the pope; and Victor was chosen pope in +his stead.)) + +A.D. 1055. This year died Earl Siward at York; and his body lies +within the minster at Galmanho, (76) which he had himself ordered +to be built and consecrated, in the name of God and St. Olave, to +the honour of God and to all his saints. Archbishop Kinsey +fetched his pall from Pope Victor. Then, within a little time +after, a general council was summoned in London, seven nights +before mid-Lent; at which Earl Elgar, son of Earl Leofric, was +outlawed almost without any guilt; because it was said against +him that he was the betrayer of the king and of all the people of +the land. And he was arraigned thereof before all that were +there assembled, though the crime laid to his charge was +unintentional. The king, however, gave the earldom, which Earl +Siward formerly had, to Tosty, son of Earl Godwin. Whereupon +Earl Elgar sought Griffin's territory in North-Wales; whence he +went to Ireland, and there gave him a fleet of eighteen ships, +besides his own; and then returned to Wales to King Griffin with +the armament, who received him on terms of amity. And they +gathered a great force with the Irishmen and the Welsh: and Earl +Ralph collected a great army against them at the town of +Hereford; where they met; but ere there was a spear thrown the +English people fled, because they were on horses. The enemy then +made a great slaughter there--about four hundred or five +hundred men; they on the other side none. They went then to the +town, and burned it utterly; and the large minster (77) also +which the worthy Bishop Athelstan had caused to be built, that +they plundered and bereft of relic and of reef, and of all things +whatever; and the people they slew, and led some away. Then an +army from all parts of England was gathered very nigh; (78) and +they came to Gloucester: whence they sallied not far out against +the Welsh, and there lay some time. And Earl Harold caused the +dike to be dug about the town the while. Meantime men began to +speak of peace; and Earl Harold and those who were with him came +to Bilsley, where amity and friendship were established between +them. The sentence of outlawry against Earl Elgar was reversed; +and they gave him all that was taken from him before. The fleet +returned to Chester, and there awaited their pay, which Elgar +promised them. The slaughter was on the ninth before the calends +of November. In the same year died Tremerig, the Welsh bishop, +soon after the plundering; who was Bishop Athelstan's substitute, +after he became infirm. + +((A.D. 1055. In this year died Siward the earl at York, and he +lies at Galmanho, in the minster which himself caused to be +built, and consecrated in God's and Olave's name. And Tosty +succeeded to the earldom which he had held. And Archbishop +Kynsey [Of York], fetched his pall from Pope Victor. And soon +thereafter was outlawed Elgar the earl, son of Leofric the earl, +well-nigh without guilt. But he went to Ireland and to Wales, +and procured himself there a great force, and so went to +Hereford: but there came against him Ralph the earl, with a large +army, and with a slight conflict he put them to flight, and much +people slew in the flight: and they went then into Hereford-port, +and that they ravaged, and burned the great minster which Bishop +Athelstan had built, and slew the priests within the minster, and +many in addition thereto, and took all the treasures therein, and +carried them away with them. And when they had done the utmost +evil, this counsel was counselled: that Elgar the earl should be +inlawed, and be given his earldom, and all that had been taken +from him. This ravaging happened on the 9th before the Kalends +of November. In the same year died Tremerin the Welsh bishop [Of +St. David's] soon after that ravaging: and he was Bishop +Athelstan's coadjutor from the time that he had become infirm.)) + +((A.D. 1055. In this year died Siward the earl: and then was +summoned a general council, seven days before Mid-lent; and they +outlawed Elgar the earl, because it was cast upon him that he was +a traitor to the king and to all the people of the land. And he +made a confession of it before all the men who were there +gathered; though the word escaped him unintentionally. And the +king gave the earldom to Tosty, son of Earl Godwin, which Siward +the earl before held. And Elgar the earl sought Griffin's +protection in North-Wales. And in this year Griffin and Elgar +burned St. Ethelbert's minster, and all the town of Hereford.)) + +A.D. 1056. This year Bishop Egelric resigned his bishopric at +Durham, and retired to Peterborough minster; and his brother +Egelwine succeeded him. The worthy Bishop Athelstan died on the +fourth before the ides of February; and his body lies at +Hereford. To him succeeded Leofgar, who was Earl Harold's +mass-priest. He wore his knapsack in his priesthood, until he was a +bishop. He abandoned his chrism and his rood--his ghostly +weapons--and took to his spear and to his sword, after his +bishophood; and so marched to the field against Griffin the Welsh +king. (79) But he was there slain, and his priests with him, and +Elnoth the sheriff, and many other good men with them; and the +rest fled. This was eight nights before midsummer. Difficult is +it to relate all the vexation and the journeying, the marching +and the fatigue, the fall of men, and of horses also, which the +whole army of the English suffered, until Earl Leofric, and Earl +Harold, and Bishop Eldred, came together and made peace between +them; so that Griffin swore oaths, that he would be a firm and +faithful viceroy to King Edward. Then Bishop Eldred took to the +bishopric which Leofgar had before eleven weeks and four days. +The same year died Cona the emperor; and Earl Odda, whose body +lies at Pershore, and who was admitted a monk before his end; +which was on the second before the calends of September; a good +man and virtuous and truly noble. + +A.D. 1057. This year came Edward Etheling, son of King Edmund, +to this land, and soon after died. His body is buried within St. +Paul's minster at London. He was brother's son to King Edward. +King Edmund was called Ironside for his valour. This etheling +King Knute had sent into Hungary, to betray him; but he there +grew in favour with good men, as God granted him, and it well +became him; so that he obtained the emperor's cousin in marriage, +and by her had a fair offspring. Her name was Agatha. We know +not for what reason it was done, that he should see his relation, +King Edward. Alas! that was a rueful time, and injurious to all +this nation--that he ended his life so soon after he came to +England, to the misfortune of this miserable people. The same +year died Earl Leofric, on the second before the calends of +October; who was very wise before God, and also before the world; +and who benefited all this nation. (80) He lies at Coventry +(81): and his son Elgar took to his territory. This year died +Earl Ralph, on the twelfth before the calends of January; and +lies at Peterborough. Also died Bishop Heca, in Sussex; and +Egelric was elevated to his see. This year also died Pope +Victor; and Stephen was chosen pope, who was Abbot of Monut +Cassino. + +((A.D. 1057. In this year Edward Etheling, King Edmund's son, +came hither to land, and soon after died, and his body is buried +within St. Paul's minster at London. And Pope Victor died, and +Stephen [IX.] was chosen pope: he was Abbot of Mont-Cassino. And +Leofric the earl died, and Elgar his son succeeded to the earldom +which the father before held.)) + +A.D. 1058. This year was Earl Elgar banished: but he soon came +in again by force, through Griffin's assistance: and a naval +armament came from Norway. It is tedious to tell how it all fell +out. In this same year Bishop Aldred consecrated the minster +church at Gloucester, which he himself had raised (82) to the +honour of God and St. Peter; and then went to Jerusalem (83) with +such dignity as no other man did before him, and betook himself +there to God. A worthy gift he also offered to our Lord's +sepulchre; which was a golden chalice of the value of five marks, +of very wonderful workmanship. In the same year died Pope +Stephen; and Benedict was appointed pope. He sent hither the +pall to Bishop Stigand; who as archbishop consecrated Egelric a +monk at Christ church, Bishop of Sussex; and Abbot Siward Bishop +of Rochester. + +((A.D. 1058. This year died Pope Stephen, and Benedict was +consecrated pope: the same sent hither to land a pall to +Archbishop Stigand. And in this year died Heca, Bishop of +Sussex; and Archbishop Stigand ordained Algeric, a monk at +Christchurch, Bishop of Sussex, and Abbot Siward Bishop of +Rochester.)) + +A.D. 1059. This year was Nicholas chosen pope, who had been +Bishop of Florence; and Benedict was expelled, who was pope +before. This year also was consecrated the steeple (84) at +Peterborough, on the sixteenth before the calends of November. + +A.D. 1060. This year was a great earthquake on the Translation +of St. Martin, and King Henry died in France. Kinsey, Archbishop +of York, died on the eleventh before the calends of January; and +he lies at Peterborough. Bishop Aldred succeeded to the see, and +Walter to that of Herefordshire. Dudoc also died, who was Bishop +of Somersetshire; and Gisa the priest was appointed in his stead. + +A.D. 1061. This year went Bishop Aldred to Rome after his pall; +which he received at the hands of Pope Nicholas. Earl Tosty and +his wife also went to Rome; and the bishop and the earl met with +great difficulty as they returned home. In the same year died +Bishop Godwin at St. Martin's, (85) on the seventh before the +ides of March; and in the self-same year died Wulfric, Abbot of +St. Augustine's, in the Easterweek, on the fourteenth before the +calends of May. Pope Nicholas also died; and Alexander was +chosen pope, who was Bishop of Lucca. When word came to the king +that the Abbot Wulfric was dead, then chose he Ethelsy, a monk of +the old minster, to succeed; who followed Archbishop Stigand, and +was consecrated abbot at Windsor on St. Augustine's mass-day. + +((A.D. 1061. In this year died Dudoc, Bishop of Somerset, and +Giso succeeded. And in the same year died Godwin, Bishop of St. +Martin's, on the seventh before the ides of March. And in the +self-same year died Wulfric, Abbot of St. Augustine's, within +the Easter week, on the fourteenth before the kalends of May. +When word came to the king that Abbot Wulfric was departed, then +chose he Ethelsy the monk thereto, from the Old-Minster, who then +followed Archbishop Stigand, and was consecrated abbot at +Windsor, on St. Augustine's mass-day.)) + +A.D. 1063. This year went Earl Harold, after mid-winter, from +Gloucester to Rhyddlan; which belonged to Griffin: and that +habitation he burned, with his ships and all the rigging +belonging thereto; and put him to flight. Then in the gang-days +went Harold with his ships from Bristol about Wales; where he +made a truce with the people, and they gave him hostages. Tosty +meanwhile advanced with a land-force against them, and plundered +the land. But in the harvest of the same year was King Griffin +slain, on the nones of August, by his own men, through the war +that he waged with Earl Harold. He was king over all the Welsh +nation. And his head was brought to Earl Harold; who sent it to +the king, with his ship's head, and the rigging therewith. King +Edward committed the land to his two brothers, Blethgent and +Rigwatle; who swore oaths, and gave hostages to the king and to +the earl, that they would be faithful to him in all things, ready +to aid him everywhere by water and land, and would pay him such +tribute from the land as was paid long before to other kings. + +((A.D. 1063. This year went Harold the earl, and his brother +Tosty the earl, as well with a land-force as a shipforce, into +Wales, and they subdued the land; and the people delivered +hostages to them, and submitted; and went afterwards and slew +their King Griffin, and brought to Harold his head: and he +appointed another king thereto.)) + +A.D. 1065. This year, before Lammas, ordered Earl Harold his men +to build at Portskeweth in Wales. But when he had begun, and +collected many materials, and thought to have King Edward there +for the purpose of hunting, even when it was all ready, came +Caradoc, son of Griffin, with all the gang that he could get, and +slew almost all that were building there; and they seized the +materials that were there got ready. Wist we not who first +advised the wicked deed. This was done on the mass-day of St. +Bartholomew. Soon after this all the thanes in Yorkshire and in +Northumberland gathered themselves together at York, and outlawed +their Earl Tosty; slaying all the men of his clan that they could +reach, both Danish and English; and took all his weapons in York, +with gold and silver, and all his money that they could anywhere +there find. They then sent after Morkar, son of Earl Elgar, and +chose him for their earl. He went south with all the shire, and +with Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire and Lincolnshire, till he +came to Northampton; where his brother Edwin came to meet him +with the men that were in his earldom. Many Britons also came +with him. Harold also there met them; on whom they imposed an +errand to King Edward, sending also messengers with him, and +requesting that they might have Morcar for their earl. This the +king granted; and sent back Harold to them, to Northampton, on +the eve of St. Simon and St. Jude; and announced to them the +same, and confirmed it by hand, and renewed there the laws of +Knute. But the Northern men did much harm about Northampton, +whilst he went on their errand: either that they slew men, and +burned houses and corn; or took all the cattle that they could +come at; which amounted to many thousands. Many hundred men also +they took, and led northward with them; so that not only that +shire, but others near it were the worse for many winters. Then +Earl Tosty and his wife, and all they who acted with him, went +south over sea with him to Earl Baldwin; who received them all: +and they were there all the winter. About midwinter King Edward +came to Westminster, and had the minster there consecrated, which +he had himself built to the honour of God, and St. Peter, and all +God's saints. This church-hallowing was on Childermas-day. He +died on the eve of twelfth-day; and he was buried on twelfth-day +in the same minster; as it is hereafter said. + Here Edward king, (86) + of Angles lord, + sent his stedfast + soul to Christ. + In the kingdom of God + a holy spirit! + He in the world here + abode awhile, + in the kingly throng + of council sage. + Four and twenty + winters wielding + the sceptre freely, + wealth he dispensed. + In the tide of health, + the youthful monarch, + offspring of Ethelred! + ruled well his subjects; + the Welsh and the Scots, + and the Britons also, + Angles and Saxons + relations of old. + So apprehend + the first in rank, + that to Edward all + the noble king + were firmly held + high-seated men. + Blithe-minded aye + was the harmless king; + though he long ere, + of land bereft, + abode in exile + wide on the earth; + when Knute o'ercame + the kin of Ethelred, + and the Danes wielded + the dear kingdom + of Engle-land. + Eight and twenty + winters' rounds + they wealth dispensed. + Then came forth + free in his chambers, + in royal array, + good, pure, and mild, + Edward the noble; + by his country defended-- + by land and people. + Until suddenly came + the bitter Death + and this king so dear + snatched from the earth. + Angels carried + his soul sincere + into the light of heaven. + But the prudent king + had settled the realm + on high-born men-- + on Harold himself, + the noble earl; + who in every season + faithfully heard + and obeyed his lord, + in word and deed; + nor gave to any + what might be wanted + by the nation's king. +This year also was Earl Harold hallowed to king; but he enjoyed +little tranquillity therein the while that he wielded the +kingdom. + +((A.D. 1065. And the man-slaying was on St. Bartholomew's +mass-day. And then, after Michael's-mass, all the thanes in +Yorkshire went to York, and there slew all Earl Tosty's household +servants whom they might hear of, and took his treasures: and +Tosty was then at Britford with the king. And then, very soon +thereafter, was a great council at Northampton; and then at +Oxford on the day of Simon and Jude. And there was Harold the +earl, and would work their reconciliation if he might, but he +could not: but all his earldom him unanimously forsook and +outlawed, and all who with him lawlessness upheld, because he +robbed God first, and all those bereaved over whom he had power +of life and of land. And they then took to themselves Morkar for +earl; and Tosty went then over sea, and his wife with him, to +Baldwin's land, and they took up their winter residence at St. +Omer's.)) + +A.D. 1066. This year came King Harold from York to Westminster, +on the Easter succeeding the midwinter when the king (Edward) +died. Easter was then on the sixteenth day before the calends of +May. Then was over all England such a token seen as no man ever +saw before. Some men said that it was the comet-star, which +others denominate the long-hair'd star. It appeared first on the +eve called "Litania major", that is, on the eighth before the +calends off May; and so shone all the week. Soon after this came +in Earl Tosty from beyond sea into the Isle of Wight, with as +large a fleet as he could get; and he was there supplied with +money and provisions. Thence he proceeded, and committed +outrages everywhere by the sea-coast where he could land, until +he came to Sandwich. When it was told King Harold, who was in +London, that his brother Tosty was come to Sandwich, he gathered +so large a force, naval and military, as no king before collected +in this land; for it was credibly reported that Earl William from +Normandy, King Edward's cousin, would come hither and gain this +land; just as it afterwards happened. When Tosty understood that +King Harold was on the way to Sandwich, he departed thence, and +took some of the boatmen with him, willing and unwilling, and +went north into the Humber with sixty skips; whence he plundered +in Lindsey, and there slew many good men. When the Earls Edwin +and Morkar understood that, they came hither, and drove him from +the land. And the boatmen forsook him. Then he went to Scotland +with twelve smacks; and the king of the Scots entertained him, +and aided him with provisions; and he abode there all the summer. +There met him Harold, King of Norway, with three hundred ships. +And Tosty submitted to him, and became his man. (87) Then came +King Harold (88) to Sandwich, where he awaited his fleet; for it +was long ere it could be collected: but when it was assembled, he +went into the Isle of Wight, and there lay all the summer and the +autumn. There was also a land-force every where by the sea, +though it availed nought in the end. It was now the nativity of +St. Mary, when the provisioning of the men began; and no man +could keep them there any longer. They therefore had leave to go +home: and the king rode up, and the ships were driven to London; +but many perished ere they came thither. When the ships were +come home, then came Harald, King of Norway, north into the Tine, +unawares, with a very great sea-force--no small one; that might +be, with three hundred ships or more; and Earl Tosty came to him +with all those that he had got; just as they had before said: and +they both then went up with all the fleet along the Ouse toward +York. (89) When it was told King Harold in the south, after he +had come from the ships, that Harald, King of Norway, and Earl +Tosty were come up near York, then went he northward by day and +night, as soon as he could collect his army. But, ere King +Harold could come thither, the Earls Edwin and Morkar had +gathered from their earldoms as great a force as they could get, +and fought with the enemy. (90) They made a great slaughter too; +but there was a good number of the English people slain, and +drowned, and put to flight: and the Northmen had possession of +the field of battle. It was then told Harold, king of the +English, that this had thus happened. And this fight was on the +eve of St. Matthew the apostle, which was Wednesday. Then after +the fight went Harold, King of Norway, and Earl Tosty into York +with as many followers as they thought fit; and having procured +hostages and provisions from the city, they proceeded to their +ships, and proclaimed full friendship, on condition that all +would go southward with them, and gain this land. In the midst +of this came Harold, king of the English, with all his army, on +the Sunday, to Tadcaster; where he collected his fleet. Thence +he proceeded on Monday throughout York. But Harald, King of +Norway, and Earl Tosty, with their forces, were gone from their +ships beyond York to Stanfordbridge; for that it was given them +to understand, that hostages would be brought to them there from +all the shire. Thither came Harold, king of the English, +unawares against them beyond the bridge; and they closed together +there, and continued long in the day fighting very severely. +There was slain Harald the Fair-hair'd, King of Norway, and Earl +Tosty, and a multitude of people with them, both of Normans and +English; (91) and the Normans that were left fled from the +English, who slew them hotly behind; until some came to their +ships, some were drowned, some burned to death, and thus +variously destroyed; so that there was little left: and the +English gained possession of the field. But there was one of the +Norwegians who withstood the English folk, so that they could not +pass over the bridge, nor complete the victory. An Englishman +aimed at him with a javelin, but it availed nothing. Then came +another under the bridge, who pierced him terribly inwards under +the coat of mail. And Harold, king of the English, then came +over the bridge, followed by his army; and there they made a +great slaughter, both of the Norwegians and of the Flemings. But +Harold let the king's son, Edmund, go home to Norway with all the +ships. He also gave quarter to Olave, the Norwegian king's son, +and to their bishop, and to the earl of the Orkneys, and to all +those that were left in the ships; who then went up to our king, +and took oaths that they would ever maintain faith and friendship +unto this land. Whereupon the King let them go home with twenty-four +ships. These two general battles were fought within five +nights. Meantime Earl William came up from Normandy into +Pevensey on the eve of St. Michael's mass; and soon after his +landing was effected, they constructed a castle at the port of +Hastings. This was then told to King Harold; and he gathered a +large force, and came to meet him at the estuary of Appledore. +William, however, came against him unawares, ere his army was +collected; but the king, nevertheless, very hardly encountered +him with the men that would support him: and there was a great +slaughter made on either side. There was slain King Harold, and +Leofwin his brother, and Earl Girth his brother, with many good +men: and the Frenchmen gained the field of battle, as God granted +them for the sins of the nation. Archbishop Aldred and the +corporation of London were then desirous of having child Edgar to +king, as he was quite natural to them; and Edwin and Morkar +promised them that they would fight with them. But the more +prompt the business should ever be, so was it from day to day the +later and worse; as in the end it all fared. This battle was +fought on the day of Pope Calixtus: and Earl William returned to +Hastings, and waited there to know whether the people would +submit to him. But when he found that they would not come to +him, he went up with all his force that was left and that came +since to him from over sea, and ravaged all the country that he +overran, until he came to Berkhampstead; where Archbishop Aldred +came to meet him, with child Edgar, and Earls Edwin and Morkar, +and all the best men from London; who submitted then for need, +when the most harm was done. It was very ill-advised that they +did not so before, seeing that God would not better things for +our sins. And they gave him hostages and took oaths: and he +promised them that he would be a faithful lord to them; though in +the midst of this they plundered wherever they went. Then on +midwinter's day Archbishop Aldred hallowed him to king at +Westminster, and gave him possession with the books of Christ, +and also swore him, ere that he would set the crown on his head, +that he would so well govern this nation as any before him best +did, if they would be faithful to him. Neverrhetess he laid very +heavy tribute on men, and in Lent went over sea to Normandy, +taking with him Archbishop Stigand, and Abbot Aylnoth of +Glastonbury, and the child Edgar, and the Earls Edwin, Morkar, +and Waltheof, and many other good men of England. Bishop Odo and +Earl William lived here afterwards, and wrought castles widely +through this country, and harassed the miserable people; and ever +since has evil increased very much. May the end be good, when +God will! In that same expedition (92) was Leofric, Abbot of +Peterborough; who sickened there, and came home, and died soon +after, on the night of Allhallow-mass. God honour his soul! In +his day was all bliss and all good at Peterborough. He was +beloved by all; so that the king gave to St. Peter and him the +abbey at Burton, and that at Coventry, which the Earl Leofric, +who was his uncle, had formerly made; with that of Croyland, and +that of Thorney. He did so much good to the minster of +Peterborough, in gold, and in silver, and in shroud, and in land, +as no other ever did before him, nor any one after him. But now +was Gilden-borough become a wretched borough. The monks then +chose for abbot Provost Brand, because he was a very good man, +and very wise; and sent him to Edgar Etheling, for that the +land-folk supposed that he should be king: and the etheling +received him gladly. When King William heard say that, he was +very wroth, and said that the abbot had renounced him: but good +men went between them, and reconciled them; because the abbot was +a good man. He gave the king forty marks of gold for his +reconciliation; and he lived but a little while after--only +three years. Afterwards came all wretchedness and all evil to +the minster. God have mercy on it! + +((A.D. 1066. This year died King Edward, and Harold the earl +succeeded to the kingdom, and held it forty weeks and one day. +And this year came William, and won England. And in this year +Christ-Church [Canterbury] was burned. And this year appeared a +comet on the fourteenth before the kalends of May.)) + +((A.D. 1066. ...And then he [Tosty] went thence, and did harm +everywhere by the sea-coast where he could land, as far as +Sandwich. Then was it made known to King Harold, who was in +London, that Tosty his brother was come to Sandwich. Then +gathered he so great a ship-force, and also a land force, as no +king here in the land had before gathered, because it had been +soothly said unto him, that William the earl from Normandy, King +Edward's kinsman, would come hither and subdue this land: all as +it afterwards happened. When Tosty learned that King Harold was +on his way to Sandwich, then went he from Sandwich, and took some +of the boatmen with him, some willingly and some unwillingly; and +went then north into Humber, and there ravaged in Lindsey, and +there slew many good men. When Edwin the earl and Morcar the +earl understood that, then came they thither, and drove him out +of the land. And he went then to Scotland: and the king of Scots +protected him, and assisted him with provisions; and he there +abode all the summer. Then came King Harold to Sandwich, and +there awaited his fleet, because it was long before it could be +gathered together. And when his fleet was gathered together, +then went he into the Isle of Wight, and there lay all the summer +and the harvest; and a land-force was kept everywhere by the sea, +though in the end it was of no benefit. When it was the Nativity +of St. Mary, then were the men's provisions gone, and no man +could any longer keep them there. Then were the men allowed to +go home, and the king rode up, and the ships were dispatched to +London; and many perished before they came thither. When the +ships had reached home, then came King Harald from Norway, north +into Tyne, and unawares, with a very large ship-force, and no +small one; that might be, or more. And Tosty the earl came to +him with all that he had gotten, all as they had before agreed; +and then they went both, with all the fleet, along the Ouse, up +towards York. Then was it made known to King Harold in the +south, as he was come from on ship-board, that Harald King of +Norway and Tosty the earl were landed near York. Then went he +northward, day and night, as quickly as he could gather his +forces. Then, before that King Harold could come thither, then +gathered Edwin the earl and Morcar the earl from their earldom +as great a force as they could get together; and they fought +against the army, and made great slaughter: and there was much of +the English people slain, and drowned, and driven away in flight; +and the Northmen had possession of the place of carnage. And +this fight was on the vigil of St. Matthew the apostle, and it +was Wednesday. And then, after the fight, went Harald, King of +Norway, and Tosty the earl, into York, with as much people as +seemed meet to them. And they delivered hostages to them from +the city, and also assisted them with provisions; and so they +went thence to their ships, and they agreed upon a full peace, so +that they should all go with him south, and this land subdue. +Then, during this, came Harold, king of the Angles, with all his +forces, on the Sunday, to Tadcaster, and there drew up his force, +and went then on Monday throughout York; and Harald, King of +Norway, and Tosty the earl, and their forces, were gone from +their ships beyond York to Stanfordbridge, because it had been +promised them for a certainty, that there, from all the shire, +hostages should be brought to meet them. Then came Harold, king +of the English, against them, unawares, beyond the bridge, and +they there joined battle, and very strenuously, for a long time +of the day, continued fighting: and there was Harald, King of +Norway, and Tosty the earl slain, and numberless of the people +with them, as well of the Northmen as of the English: and the +Northmen fled from the English. Then was there one of the +Norwegians who withstood the English people, so that they might +not pass over the bridge, nor obtain the victory. Then an +Englishman aimed at him with a javelin, but availed nothing; and +then came another under the bridge, and pierced him terribly +inwards under the coat of mail. Then came Harold, king of the +English, over the bridge, and his forces onward with him, and +there made great slaughter, as well of Norwegians as of Flemings. +And the King's son, Edmund, Harold let go home to Norway, with +all the ships.)) + +((A.D. 1066. In this year was consecrated the minster at +Westminster, on Childer-mass-day. And King Edward died on the +eve of Twelfth-day; and he was buried on Twelfth-day within the +newly consecrated church at Westminster. And Harold the earl +succeeded to the kingdom of England, even as the king had granted +it to him, and men also had chosen him thereto; and he was +crowned as king on Twelfth-day. And that same year that he +became king, he went out with a fleet against William [Earl of +Normandy]; and the while, came Tosty the earl into Humber with +sixty ships. Edwin the earl came with a land-force and drove him +out; and the boatmen forsook him. And he went to Scotland with +twelve vessels; and Harald, the King of Norway, met him with +three hundred ships, and Tosty submitted to him; and they both +went into Humber, until they came to York. And Morcar the earl, +and Edwin the earl, fought against them; and the king of the +Norwegians had the victory. And it was made known to King Harold +how it there was done, and had happened; and he came there with a +great army of English men, and met him at Stanfordbridge, and +slew him and the earl Tosty, and boldly overcame all the army. +And the while, William the earl landed at Hastings, on St. +Michael's-day: and Harold came from the north, and fought against +him before all his army had come up: and there he fell, and his +two brothers, Girth and Leofwin; and William subdued this land. +And he came to Westminster, and Archbishop Aldred consecrated him +king, and men paid him tribute, delivered him hostages, and +afterwards bought their land. And then was Leofric, Abbot of +Peterborough, in that same expedition; and there he sickened, and +came home, and was dead soon thereafter, on All-hallows-mass-night; +God be merciful to his soul! In his day was all bliss and +all good in Peterborough; and he was dear to all people, so that +the king gave to St. Peter and to him the abbacy at Burton, and +that of Coventry, which Leofric the earl, who was his uncle, +before had made, and that of Crowland, and that of Thorney. And +he conferred so much of good upon the minster of Peterborough, in +gold, and in silver, and in vestments, and in land, as never any +other did before him, nor any after him. After, Golden-borough +became a wretched borough. Then chose the monks for abbot Brand +the provost, by reason that he was a very good man, and very +wise, and sent him then to Edgar the etheling, by reason that the +people of the land supposed that he should become king: and the +etheling granted it him then gladly. When King William heard say +that, then was he very wroth, and said that the abbot had +despised him. Then went good men between them, and reconciled +them, by reason that the abbot was a good man. Then gave he the +king forty marks of gold for a reconciliation; and then +thereafter, lived he a little while, but three years. After that +came every tribulation and every evil to the minster. God have +mercy on it!)) + +A.D. 1067. This year came the king back again to England on St. +Nicholas's day; and the same day was burned the church of Christ +at Canterbury. Bishop Wulfwy also died, and is buried at his see +in Dorchester. The child Edric and the Britons were unsettled +this year, and fought with the castlemen at Hereford, and did +them much harm. The king this year imposed a heavy guild on the +wretched people; but, notwithstanding, let his men always plunder +all the country that they went over; and then he marched to +Devonshire, and beset the city of Exeter eighteen days. There +were many of his army slain; out he had promised them well, and +performed ill; and the citizens surrendered the city because the +thanes had betrayed them. This summer the child Edgar departed, +with his mother Agatha, and his two sisters, Margaret and +Christina, and Merle-Sweyne, and many good men with them; and +came to Scotland under the protection of King Malcolm, who +entertained them all. Then began King Malcolm to yearn after the +child's sister, Margaret, to wife; but he and all his men long +refused; and she also herself was averse, and said that she would +neither have him nor any one else, if the Supreme Power would +grant, that she in her maidenhood might please the mighty Lord +with a carnal heart, in this short life, in pure continence. The +king, however, earnestly urged her brother, until he answered +Yea. And indeed he durst not otherwise; for they were come into +his kingdom. So that then it was fulfilled, as God had long ere +foreshowed; and else it could not be; as he himself saith in his +gospel: that "not even a sparrow on the ground may fall, without +his foreshowing." The prescient Creator wist long before what he +of her would have done; for that she should increase the glory of +God in this land, lead the king aright from the path of error, +bend him and his people together to a better way, and suppress +the bad customs which the nation formerly followed: all which she +afterwards did. The king therefore received her, though it was +against her will, and was pleased with her manners, and thanked +God, who in his might had given him such a match. He wisely +bethought himself, as he was a prudent man, and turned himself to +God, and renounced all impurity; accordingly, as the apostle +Paul, the teacher of all the gentries, saith: "Salvabitur vir +infidelis per mulierem fidelem; sic et mulier infidelis per virum +fidelem," etc.: that is in our language, "Full oft the +unbelieving husband is sanctified and healed through the +believing wife, and so belike the wife through the believing +husband." This queen aforesaid performed afterwards many useful +deeds in this land to the glory of God, and also in her royal +estate she well conducted herself, as her nature was. Of a +faithful and noble kin was she sprung. Her father was Edward +Etheling, son of King Edmund. Edmund was the son of Ethelred; +Ethelred the son of Edgar; Edgar the son of Edred; and so forth +in that royal line: and her maternal kindred goeth to the Emperor +Henry, who had the sovereignty over Rome. This year went out +Githa, Harold's mother, and the wives of many good men with her, +to the Flat-Holm, and there abode some time; and so departed +thence over sea to St. Omer's. This Easter came the king to +Winchester; and Easter was then on the tenth before the calends +of April. Soon after this came the Lady Matilda hither to this +land; and Archbishop Eldred hallowed her to queen at Westminster +on Whit Sunday. Then it was told the king, that the people in +the North had gathered themselves together, and would stand +against him if he came. Whereupon he went to Nottingham, and +wrought there a castle; and so advanced to York, and there +wrought two castles; and the same at Lincoln, and everywhere in +that quarter. Then Earl Gospatric and the best men went into +Scotland. Amidst this came one of Harold's sons from Ireland +with a naval force into the mouth of the Avon unawares, and +plundered soon over all that quarter; whence they went to +Bristol, and would have stormed the town; but the people bravely +withstood them. When they could gain nothing from the town, they +went to their ships with the booty which they had acquired by +plunder; and then they advanced upon Somersetshire, and there +went up; and Ednoth, master of the horse, fought with them; but +he was there slain, and many good men on either side; and those +that were left departed thence. + +A.D. 1068. This year King William gave Earl Robert the earldom +over Northumberland; but the landsmen attacked him in the town of +Durham, and slew him, and nine hundred men with him. Soon +afterwards Edgar Etheling came with all the Northumbrians to +York; and the townsmen made a treaty with him: but King William +came from the South unawares on them with a large army, and put +them to flight, and slew on the spot those who could not escape; +which were many hundred men; and plundered the town. St. Peter's +minster he made a profanation, and all other places also he +despoiled and trampled upon; and the etheling went back again to +Scotland. After this came Harold's sons from Ireland, about +midsummer, with sixty-four ships into the mouth of the Taft, +where they unwarily landed: and Earl Breon came unawares against +them with a large army, and fought with them, and slew there all +the best men that were in the fleet; and the others, being small +forces, escaped to the ships: and Harold's sons went back to +Ireland again. + +A.D. 1069. This year died Aldred, Archbishop of York; and he is +there buried, at his see. He died on the day of Protus and +Hyacinthus, having held the see with much dignity ten years +wanting only fifteen weeks. Soon after this came from Denmark +three of the sons of King Sweyne with two hundred and forty +ships, together with Earl Esborn and Earl Thurkill, into the +Humber; where they were met by the child Edgar, and Earl +Waltheof, and Merle-Sweyne, and Earl Gospatric with the +Northumbrians, and all the landsmen; riding and marching full +merrily with an immense army: and so all unanimously advanced to +York; where they stormed and demolished the castle, and won +innumerable treasures therein; slew there many hundreds of +Frenchmen, and led many with them to the ships; but, ere that the +shipmen came thither, the Frenchmen had burned the city, and also +the holy minster of St. Peter had they entirely plundered, and +destroyed with fire. When the king heard this, then went he +northward with all the force that he could collect, despoiling +and laying waste the shire withal; whilst the fleet lay all the +winter in the Humber, where the king could not come at them. The +king was in York on Christmas Day, and so all the winter on land, +and came to Winchester at Easter. Bishop Egelric, who was at +Peterborough, was this year betrayed, and led to Westminster; and +his brother Egelwine was outlawed. This year also died Brand, +Abbot of Peterborough, on the fifth before the calends of +December. + +A.D. 1070. This year Landfranc, who was Abbot of Caen, came to +England; and after a few days he became Archbishop of Canterbury. +He was invested on the fourth before the calends of September in +his own see by eight bishops, his suffragans. The others, who +were not there, by messengers and by letter declared why they +could not be there. The same year Thomas, who was chosen Bishop +of York, came to Canterbury, to be invested there after the +ancient custom. But when Landfranc craved confirmation of his +obedience with an oath, he refused; and said, that he ought not +to do it. Whereupon Archbishop Landfranc was wroth, and bade the +bishops, who were come thither by Archbishop Landfranc's command +to do the service, and all the monks to unrobe themselves. And +they by his order so did. Thomas, therefore, for the time, +departed without consecration. Soon after this, it happened that +the Archbishop Landfranc went to Rome, and Thomas with him. When +they came thither, and had spoken about other things concerning +which they wished to speak, then began Thomas his speech: how he +came to Canterbury, and how the archbishop required obedience of +him with an oath; but he declined it. Then began the Archbishop +Landfranc to show with clear distinction, that what he craved he +craved by right; and with strong arguments he confirmed the same +before the Pope Alexander, and before all the council that was +collected there; and so they went home. After this came Thomas +to Canterbury; and all that the archbishop required of him he +humbly fulfilled, and afterwards received consecration. This +year Earl Waltheof agreed with the king; but in the Lent of the +same year the king ordered all the monasteries in England to be +plundered. In the same year came King Sweyne from Denmark into +the Humber; and the landsmen came to meet him, and made a treaty +with him; thinking that he would overrun the land. Then came +into Ely Christien, the Danish bishop, and Earl Osbern, and the +Danish domestics with them; and the English people from all the +fen-lands came to them; supposing that they should win all that +land. Then the monks of Peterborough heard say, that their own +men would plunder the minster; namely Hereward and his gang: +because they understood that the king had given the abbacy to a +French abbot, whose name was Thorold;--that he was a very stern +man, and was then come into Stamford with all his Frenchmen. Now +there was a churchwarden, whose name was Yware; who took away by +night all that he could, testaments, mass-hackles, cantel-copes, +and reefs, and such other small things, whatsoever he could; and +went early, before day, to the Abbot Thorold; telling him that he +sought his protection, and informing him how the outlaws were +coming to Peterborough, and that he did all by advice of the +monks. Early in the morning came all the outlaws with many +ships, resolving to enter the minster; but the monks withstood, +so that they could not come in. Then they laid on fire, and +burned all the houses of the monks, and all the town except one +house. Then came they in through fire at the Bull-hithe gate; +where the monks met them, and besought peace of them. But they +regarded nothing. They went into the minster, climbed up to the +holy rood, took away the diadem from our Lord's head, all of pure +gold, and seized the bracket that was underneath his feet, which +was all of red gold. They climbed up to the steeple, brought +down the table that was hid there, which was all of gold and +silver, seized two golden shrines, and nine of silver, and took +away fifteen large crucifixes, of gold and of silver; in short, +they seized there so much gold and silver, and so many treasures, +in money, in raiment, and in books, as no man could tell another; +and said, that they did it from their attachment to the minster. +Afterwards they went to their ships, proceeded to Ely, and +deposited there all the treasure. The Danes, believing that they +should overcome the Frenchmen, drove out all the monks; leaving +there only one, whose name was Leofwine Lang, who lay sick in the +infirmary. Then came Abbot Thorold and eight times twenty +Frenchmen with him, all full-armed. When he came thither, he +found all within and without consumed by fire, except the church +alone; but the outlaws were all with the fleet, knowing that he +would come thither. This was done on the fourth day before the +nones of June. The two kings, William and Sweyne, were now +reconciled; and the Danes went out of Ely with all the aforesaid +treasure, and carried it away with them. But when they came into +the middle of the sea, there came a violent storm, and dispersed +all the ships wherein the treasures were. Some went to Norway, +some to Ireland, some to Denmark. All that reached the latter, +consisted of the table, and some shrines, and some crucifixes, +and many of the other treasures; which they brought to a king's +town, called ----, and deposited it all there in the church. +Afterwards through their own carelessness, and through their +drunkenness, in one night the church and all that was therein was +consumed by fire. Thus was the minster of Peterborough burned +and plundered. Almighty God have mercy on it through his great +goodness. Thus came the Abbot Thorold to Peterborough; and the +monks too returned, and performed the service of Christ in the +church, which had before stood a full week without any kind of +rite. When Bishop Aylric heard it, he excommunicated all the men +who that evil deed had done. There was a great famine this year: +and in the summer came the fleet in the north from the Humber +into the Thames, and lay there two nights, and made afterwards +for Denmark. Earl Baldwin also died, and his son Arnulf +succeeded to the earldom. Earl William, in conjunction with the +king of the Franks, was to be his guardian; but Earl Robert came +and slew his kinsman Arnulf and the earl, put the king to flight, +and slew many thousands of his men. + +A.D. 1071. This year Earl Edwin and Earl Morkar fled out, (93) +and roamed at random in woods and in fields. Then went Earl +Morkar to Ely by ship; but Earl Edwin was treacherously slain by +his own men. Then came Bishop Aylwine, and Siward Barn, and many +hundred men with them, into Ely. When King William heard that, +then ordered he out a naval force and land force, and beset the +land all about, and wrought a bridge, and went in; and the naval +force at the same time on the sea-side. And the outlaws then all +surrendered; that was, Bishop Aylwine, and Earl Morkar, and all +that were with them; except Hereward (94) alone, and all those +that would join him, whom he led out triumphantly. And the king +took their ships, and weapons, and many treasures; (95) and all +the men he disposed of as he thought proper. Bishop Aylwine he +sent to Abingdon, where he died in the beginning of the winter. + +A.D. 1072. This year King William led a naval force and a land +force to Scotland, and beset that land on the sea-side with +ships, whilst he led his land-force in at the Tweed; (96) but he +found nothing there of any value. King Malcolm, however, came, +and made peace with King William, and gave hostages, and became +his man; whereupon the king returned home with all his force. +This year died Bishop Aylric. He had been invested Bishop of +York; but that see was unjustly taken from him, and he then had +the bishopric of Durham given him; which he held as long as he +chose, but resigned it afterwards, and retired to Peterborough +minster; where he abode twelve years. After that King William +won England, then took he him from Peterborough, and sent him to +Westminster; where he died on the ides of October, and he is +there buried, within the minster, in the porch of St. Nicholas. + +A.D. 1073. This year led King William an army, English and +French, over sea, and won the district of Maine; which the +English very much injured by destroying the vineyards, burning +the towns, and spoiling the land. But they subdued it all into +the hand of King William, and afterwards returned home to +England. + +A.D. 1074. This year King William went over sea to Normandy; and +child Edgar came from Flanders into Scotland on St. Grimbald's +mass-day; where King Malcolm and his sister Margaret received him +with much pomp. At the same time sent Philip, the King of +France, a letter to him, bidding him to come to him, and he would +give him the castle of Montreuil; that he might afterwards daily +annoy his enemies. What then? King Malcolm and his sister +Margaret gave him and his men great presents, and many treasures; +in skins ornamented with purple, in pelisses made of martin-skins, +of grey-skins, and of ermine-skins, in palls, and in +vessels of gold and silver; and conducted him and his crew with +great pomp from his territory. But in their voyage evil befel +them; for when they were out at sea, there came upon them such +rough weather, and the stormy sea and the strong wind drove them +so violently on the shore, that all their ships burst, and they +also themselves came with difficulty to the land. Their treasure +was nearly all lost, and some of his men also were taken by the +French; but he himself and his best men returned again to +Scotland, some roughly travelling on foot, and some miserably +mounted. Then King Malcolm advised him to send to King William +over sea, to request his friendship, which he did; and the king +gave it him, and sent after him. Again, therefore, King Malcolm +and his sister gave him and all his men numberless treasures, and +again conducted him very magnificently from their territory. The +sheriff of York came to meet him at Durham, and went all the way +with him; ordering meat and fodder to be found for him at every +castle to which they came, until they came over sea to the king. +Then King William received him with much pomp; and he was there +afterwards in his court, enjoying such rights as he confirmed to +him by law. + +A.D. 1075. This year King William gave Earl Ralph the daughter +of William Fitz-Osborne to wife. This same Ralph was British on +his mother's side; but his father, whose name was also Ralph, was +English; and born in Norfolk. The king therefore gave his son +the earldom of Norfolk and Suffolk; and he then led the bride to +Norwich. + There was that bride-ale + The source of man's bale. +There was Earl Roger, and Earl Waltheof, and bishops, and abbots; +who there resolved, that they would drive the king out of the +realm of England. But it was soon told the king in Normandy how +it was determined. It was Earl Roger and Earl Ralph who were the +authors of that plot; and who enticed the Britons to them, and +sent eastward to Denmark after a fleet to assist them. Roger +went westward to his earldom, and collected his people there, to +the king's annoyance, as he thought; but it was to the great +disadvantage of himself. He was however prevented. Ralph also +in his earldom would go forth with his people; but the castlemen +that were in England and also the people of the land, came +against him, and prevented him from doing anything. He escaped +however to the ships at Norwich. (97) And his wife was in the +castle; which she held until peace was made with her; when she +went out of England, with all her men who wished to join her. +The king afterwards came to England, and seized Earl Roger, his +relative, and put him in prison. And Earl Waltheof went over +sea, and bewrayed himself; but he asked forgiveness, and +proffered gifts of ransom. The king, however, let him off +lightly, until he (98) came to England; when he had him seized. +Soon after that came east from Denmark two hundred ships; wherein +were two captains, Cnute Swainson, and Earl Hacco; but they durst +not maintain a fight with King William. They went rather to +York, and broke into St. Peter's minster, and took therein much +treasure, and so went away. They made for Flanders over sea; but +they all perished who were privy to that design; that was, the +son of Earl Hacco, and many others with him. This year died the +Lady Edgitha, who was the relict of King Edward, seven nights +before Christmas, at Winchester; and the king caused her to be +brought to Westminster with great pomp; and he laid her with King +Edward, her lord. And the king was then at Westminster, at +midwinter; where all the Britons were condemned who were at the +bride-ale at Norwich. Some were punished with blindness; some +were driven from the land; and some were towed to Scandinavia. +So were the traitors of King William subdued. + +A.D. 1076. This year died Sweyne, King of Denmark; and Harold +his son took to the kingdom. And the king gave the abbacy of +Westminster to Abbot Vitalis, who had been Abbot of Bernay. This +year also was Earl Waltheof beheaded at Winchester, on the mass-day +of St. Petronilla; (99) and his body was carried to Croyland, +where he lies buried. King William now went over sea, and led +his army to Brittany, and beset the castle of Dol; but the +Bretons defended it, until the king came from France; whereupon +William departed thence, having lost there both men and horses, +and many of his treasures. + +A.D. 1077. This year were reconciled the king of the Franks and +William, King of England. But it continued only a little while. +This year was London burned, one night before the Assumption of +St. Mary, so terribly as it never was before, since it was built. +This year the moon was eclipsed three nights before Candlemas; +and in the same year died Aylwy, the prudent Abbot of Evesham, on +the fourteenth day before the calends of March, on the mass-day +of St. Juliana; and Walter was appointed abbot in his stead; and +Bishop Herman also died, on the tenth day before the calends of +March, who was Bishop in Berkshire, and in Wiltshire, and in +Dorsetshire. This year also King Malcolm won the mother of +Malslaythe.... and all his best men, and all his treasures, and +his cattle; and he himself not easily escaped.... This year also +was the dry summer; and wild fire came upon many shires, and +burned many towns; and also many cities were ruined thereby. + +A.D. 1079. This year Robert, the son of King William, deserted +from his father to his uncle Robert in Flanders; because his +father would not let him govern his earldom in Normandy; which he +himself, and also King Philip with his permission, had given him. +The best men that were in the land also had sworn oaths of +allegiance to him, and taken him for their lord. This year, +therefore, Robert fought with his father, without Normandy, by a +castle called Gerberoy; and wounded him in the hand; and his +horse, that he sat upon, was killed under him; and he that +brought him another was killed there right with a dart. That was +Tookie Wiggodson. Many were there slain, and also taken. His +son William too was there wounded; but Robert returned to +Flanders. We will not here, however, record any more injury that +he did his father. This year came King Malcolm from Scotland +into England, betwixt the two festivals of St. Mary, with a large +army, which plundered Northumberland till it came to the Tine, +and slew many hundreds of men, and carried home much coin, and +treasure, and men in captivity. + +A.D. 1080. This year was Bishop Walker slain in Durham, at a +council; and an hundred men with him, French and Flemish. He +himself was born in Lorrain. This did the Northumbrians in the +month of May. (100) + +A.D. 1081. This year the king led an army into Wales, and there +freed many hundreds of men. + +A.D. 1082. This year the king seized Bishop Odo; and this year +also was a great famine. + +A.D. 1083. This year arose the tumult at Glastonbury betwixt the +Abbot Thurstan and his monks. It proceeded first from the +abbot's want of wisdom, that he misgoverned his monks in many +things. But the monks meant well to him; and told him that he +should govern them rightly, and love them, and they would be +faithful and obedient to him. The abbot, however, would hear +nothing of this; but evil entreated them, and threatened them +worse. One day the abbot went into the chapter-house, and spoke +against the monks, and attempted to mislead them; (101) and sent +after some laymen, and they came full-armed into the chapter-house +upon the monks. Then were the monks very much afraid (102) +of them, and wist not what they were to do, but they shot +forward, and some ran into the church, and locked the doors after +them. But they followed them into the minster, and resolved to +drag them out, so that they durst not go out. A rueful thing +happened on that day. The Frenchmen broke into the choir, and +hurled their weapons toward the altar, where the monks were; and +some of the knights went upon the upper floor, (103) and shot +their arrows downward incessantly toward the sanctuary; so that +on the crucifix that stood above the altar they stuck many +arrows. And the wretched monks lay about the altar, and some +crept under, and earnestly called upon God, imploring his mercy, +since they could not obtain any at the hands of men. What can we +say, but that they continued to shoot their arrows; whilst the +others broke down the doors, and came in, and slew (104) some of +the monks to death, and wounded many therein; so that the blood +came from the altar upon the steps, and from the steps on the +floor. Three there were slain to death, and eighteen wounded. +And in this same year departed Matilda, queen of King William, on +the day after All-Hallow-mass. And in the same year also, after +mid-winter, the king ordained a large and heavy contribution +(105) over all England; that was, upon each hide of land, two and +seventy pence. + +A.D. 1084. In this year died Wulfwold, Abbot of Chertsey, on the +thirteenth day before the calends of May. + +A.D. 1085. In this year men reported, and of a truth asserted, +that Cnute, King of Denmark, son of King Sweyne, was coming +hitherward, and was resolved to win this land, with the +assistance of Robert, Earl of Flanders; (106) for Cnute had +Robert's daughter. When William, King of England, who was then +resident in Normandy (for he had both England and Normandy), +understood this, he went into England with so large an army of +horse and foot, from France and Brittany, as never before sought +this land; so that men wondered how this land could feed all that +force. But the king left the army to shift for themselves +through all this land amongst his subjects, who fed them, each +according to his quota of land. Men suffered much distress this +year; and the king caused the land to be laid waste about the sea +coast; that, if his foes came up, they might not have anything on +which they could very readily seize. But when the king +understood of a truth that his foes were impeded, and could not +further their expedition, (107) then let he some of the army go +to their own land; but some he held in this land over the winter. +Then, at the midwinter, was the king in Glocester with his +council, and held there his court five days. And afterwards the +archbishop and clergy had a synod three days. There was +Mauritius chosen Bishop of London, William of Norfolk, and Robert +of Cheshire. These were all the king's clerks. After this had +the king a large meeting, and very deep consultation with his +council, about this land; how it was occupied, and by what sort +of men. Then sent he his men over all England into each shire; +commissioning them to find out "How many hundreds of hides were +in the shire, what land the king himself had, and what stock upon +the land; or, what dues he ought to have by the year from the +shire." Also he commissioned them to record in writing, "How +much land his archbishops had, and his diocesan bishops, and his +abbots, and his earls;" and though I may be prolix and tedious, +"What, or how much, each man had, who was an occupier of land in +England, either in land or in stock, and how much money it were +worth." So very narrowly, indeed, did he commission them to +trace it out, that there was not one single hide, nor a yard +(108) of land, nay, moreover (it is shameful to tell, though he +thought it no shame to do it), not even an ox, nor a cow, nor a +swine was there left, that was not set down in his writ. And all +the recorded particulars were afterwards brought to him. (109) + +A.D. 1086. This year the king bare his crown, and held his +court, in Winchester at Easter; and he so arranged, that he was +by the Pentecost at Westminster, and dubbed his son Henry a +knight there. Afterwards he moved about so that he came by +Lammas to Sarum; where he was met by his councillors; and all the +landsmen that were of any account over all England became this +man's vassals as they were; and they all bowed themselves before +him, and became his men, and swore him oaths of allegiance that +they would against all other men be faithful to him. Thence he +proceeded into the Isle of Wight; because he wished to go into +Normandy, and so he afterwards did; though he first did according +to his custom; he collected a very large sum from his people, +wherever he could make any demand, whether with justice or +otherwise. Then he went into Normandy; and Edgar Etheling, the +relation of King Edward, revolted from him, for he received not +much honour from him; but may the Almighty God give him honour +hereafter. And Christina, the sister of the etheling, went into +the monastery of Rumsey, and received the holy veil. And the +same year there was a very heavy season, and a swinkful and +sorrowful year in England, in murrain of cattle, and corn and +fruits were at a stand, and so much untowardness in the weather, +as a man may not easily think; so tremendous was the thunder and +lightning, that it killed many men; and it continually grew worse +and worse with men. May God Almighty better it whenever it be +his will. + +A.D. 1087. After the birth of our Lord and Saviour Christ, one +thousand and eighty-seven winters; in the one and twentieth year +after William began to govern and direct England, as God granted +him, was a very heavy and pestilent season in this land. Such a +sickness came on men, that full nigh every other man was in the +worst disorder, that is, in the diarrhoea; and that so +dreadfully, that many men died in the disorder. Afterwards came, +through the badness of the weather as we before mentioned, so +great a famine over all England, that many hundreds of men died a +miserable death through hunger. Alas! how wretched and how +rueful a time was there! When the poor wretches lay full nigh +driven to death prematurely, and afterwards came sharp hunger, +and dispatched them withall! Who will not be penetrated with +grief at such a season? or who is so hardhearted as not to weep +at such misfortune? Yet such things happen for folks' sins, that +they will not love God and righteousness. So it was in those +days, that little righteousness was in this land with any men but +with the monks alone, wherever they fared well. The king and the +head men loved much, and overmuch, covetousness in gold and in +silver; and recked not how sinfully it was got, provided it came +to them. The king let his land at as high a rate as he possibly +could; then came some other person, and bade more than the former +one gave, and the king let it to the men that bade him more. +Then came the third, and bade yet more; and the king let it to +hand to the men that bade him most of all: and he recked not how +very sinfully the stewards got it of wretched men, nor how many +unlawful deeds they did; but the more men spake about right law, +the more unlawfully they acted. They erected unjust tolls, and +many other unjust things they did, that are difficult to reckon. +Also in the same year, before harvest, the holy minster of St. +Paul, the episcopal see in London, was completely burned, with +many other minsters, and the greatest part, and the richest of +the whole city. So also, about the same time, full nigh each +head-port in all England was entirely burned. Alas! rueful and +woeful was the fate of the year that brought forth so many +misfortunes. In the same year also, before the Assumption of St. +Mary, King William went from Normandy into France with an army, +and made war upon his own lord Philip, the king, and slew many of +his men, and burned the town of Mante, and all the holy minsters +that were in the town; and two holy men that served God, leading +the life of anachorets, were burned therein. This being thus +done, King William returned to Normandy. Rueful was the thing he +did; but a more rueful him befel. How more rueful? He fell +sick, and it dreadfully ailed him. What shall I say? Sharp +death, that passes by neither rich men nor poor, seized him also. +He died in Normandy, on the next day after the Nativity of St. +Mary, and he was buried at Caen in St. Stephen's minster, which +he had formerly reared, and afterwards endowed with manifold +gifts. Alas! how false and how uncertain is this world's weal! +He that was before a rich king, and lord of many lands, had not +then of all his land more than a space of seven feet! and he +that was whilom enshrouded in gold and gems, lay there covered +with mould! He left behind him three sons; the eldest, called +Robert, who was earl in Normandy after him; the second, called +William, who wore the crown after him in England; and the third, +called Henry, to whom his father bequeathed immense treasure. If +any person wishes to know what kind of man he was, or what honour +he had, or of how many lands he was lord, then will we write +about him as well as we understand him: we who often looked upon +him, and lived sometime in his court. This King William then +that we speak about was a very wise man, and very rich; more +splendid and powerful than any of his predecessors were. He was +mild to the good men that loved God, and beyond all measure +severe to the men that gainsayed his will. On that same spot +where God granted him that he should gain England, he reared a +mighty minster, and set monks therein, and well endowed it. In +his days was the great monastery in Canterbury built, and also +very many others over all England. This land was moreover well +filled with monks, who modelled their lives after the rule of St. +Benedict. But such was the state of Christianity in his time, +that each man followed what belonged to his profession--he that +would. He was also very dignified. Thrice he bare his crown +each year, as oft as he was in England. At Easter he bare it in +Winchester, at Pentecost in Westminster, at midwinter in +Glocester. And then were with him all the rich men over all +England; archbishops and diocesan bishops, abbots and earls, +thanes and knights. So very stern was he also and hot, that no +man durst do anything against his will. He had earls in his +custody, who acted against his will. Bishops he hurled from +their bishoprics, and abbots from their abbacies, and thanes into +prison. At length he spared not his own brother Odo, who was a +very rich bishop in Normandy. At Baieux was his episcopal stall; +and he was the foremost man of all to aggrandise the king. He +had an earldom in England; and when the king was in Normandy, +then was he the mightiest man in this land. Him he confined in +prison. But amongst other things is not to be forgotten that +good peace that he made in this land; so that a man of any +account might go over his kingdom unhurt with his bosom full of +gold. No man durst slay another, had he never so much evil done +to the other; and if any churl lay with a woman against her will, +he soon lost the limb that he played with. He truly reigned over +England; and by his capacity so thoroughly surveyed it, that +there was not a hide of land in England that he wist not who had +it, or what it was worth, and afterwards set it down in his book. +(110) The land of the Britons was in his power; and he wrought +castles therein; and ruled Anglesey withal. So also he subdued +Scotland by his great strength. As to Normandy, that was his +native land; but he reigned also over the earldom called Maine; +and if he might have yet lived two years more, he would have won +Ireland by his valour, and without any weapons. Assuredly in his +time had men much distress, and very many sorrows. Castles he +let men build, and miserably swink the poor. The king himself +was so very rigid; and extorted from his subjects many marks of +gold, and many hundred pounds of silver; which he took of his +people, for little need, by right and by unright. He was fallen +into covetousness, and greediness he loved withal. He made many +deer-parks; and he established laws therewith; so that whosoever +slew a hart, or a hind, should be deprived of his eyesight. As +he forbade men to kill the harts, so also the boars; and he loved +the tall deer as if he were their father. Likewise he decreed by +the hares, that they should go free. His rich men bemoaned it, +and the poor men shuddered at it. But he was so stern, that he +recked not the hatred of them all; for they must follow withal +the king's will, if they would live, or have land, or +possessions, or even his peace. Alas! that any man should +presume so to puff himself up, and boast o'er all men. May the +Almighty God show mercy to his soul, and grant him forgiveness of +his sins! These things have we written concerning him, both good +and evil; that men may choose the good after their goodness, and +flee from the evil withal, and go in the way that leadeth us to +the kingdom of heaven. Many things may we write that were done +in this same year. So it was in Denmark, that the Danes, a +nation that was formerly accounted the truest of all, were turned +aside to the greatest untruth, and to the greatest treachery that +ever could be. They chose and bowed to King Cnute, and swore him +oaths, and afterwards dastardly slew him in a church. It +happened also in Spain, that the heathens went and made inroads +upon the Christians, and reduced much of the country to their +dominion. But the king of the Christians, Alphonzo by name, sent +everywhere into each land, and desired assistance. And they came +to his support from every land that was Christian; and they went +and slew or drove away all the heathen folk, and won their land +again, through God's assistance. In this land also, in the same +year, died many rich men; Stigand, Bishop of Chichester, and the +Abbot of St. Augustine, and the Abbot of Bath, and the Abbot of +Pershore, and the lord of them all, William, King of England, +that we spoke of before. After his death his son, called William +also as the father, took to the kingdom, and was blessed to king +by Archbishop Landfranc at Westminster three days ere Michaelmas +day. And all the men in England submitted to him, and swore +oaths to him. This being thus done, the king went to Winchester, +and opened the treasure house, and the treasures that his father +had gathered, in gold, and in silver, and in vases, and in palls, +and in gems, and in many other valuable things that are difficult +to enumerate. Then the king did as his father bade him ere he +was dead; he there distributed treasures for his father's soul to +each monastery that was in England; to some ten marks of gold, to +some six, to each upland (111) church sixty pence. And into each +shire were sent a hundred pounds of money to distribute amongst +poor men for his soul. And ere he departed, he bade that they +should release all the men that were in prison under his power. +And the king was on the midwinter in London. + +A.D. 1088. In this year was this land much stirred, and filled +with great treachery; so that the richest Frenchmen that were in +this land would betray their lord the king, and would have his +brother Robert king, who was earl in Normandy. In this design +was engaged first Bishop Odo, and Bishop Gosfrith, and William, +Bishop of Durham. So well did the king by the bishop [Odo] that +all England fared according to his counsel, and as he would. And +the bishop thought to do by him as Judas Iscariot did by our +Lord. And Earl Roger was also of this faction; and much people +was with him all Frenchmen. This conspiracy was formed in Lent. +As soon as Easter came, then went they forth, and harrowed, and +burned, and wasted the king's farms; and they despoiled the lands +of all the men that were in the king's service. And they each of +them went to his castle, and manned it, and provisioned it as +well as they could. Bishop Gosfrith, and Robert the peace-breaker, +went to Bristol, and plundered it, and brought the spoil +to the castle. Afterwards they went out of the castle, and +plundered Bath, and all the land thereabout; and all the honor +(112) of Berkeley they laid waste. And the men that eldest were +of Hereford, and all the shire forthwith, and the men of +Shropshire, with much people of Wales, came and plundered and +burned in Worcestershire, until they came to the city itself, +which it was their design to set on fire, and then to rifle the +minster, and win the king's castle to their hands. The worthy +Bishop Wulfstan, seeing these things, was much agitated in his +mind, because to him was betaken the custody of the castle. +Nevertheless his hired men went out of the castle with few +attendants, and, through God's mercy and the bishop's merits, +slew or took five hundred men, and put all the others to flight. +The Bishop of Durham did all the harm that he could over all by +the north. Roger was the name of one of them; (113) who leaped +into the castle at Norwich, and did yet the worst of all over all +that land. Hugh also was one, who did nothing better either in +Leicestershire or in Northamptonshire. The Bishop Odo being one, +though of the same family from which the king himself was +descended, went into Kent to his earldom, and greatly despoiled +it; and having laid waste the lands of the king and of the +archbishop withal, he brought the booty into his castle at +Rochester. When the king understood all these things, and what +treachery they were employing against him, then was he in his +mind much agitated. He then sent after Englishmen, described to +them his need, earnestly requested their support, and promised +them the best laws that ever before were in this land; each +unright guild he forbade, and restored to the men their woods and +chaces. But it stood no while. The Englishmen however went to +the assistance of the king their lord. They advanced toward +Rochester, with a view to get possession of the Bishop Odo; for +they thought, if they had him who was at first the head of the +conspiracy, they might the better get possession of all the +others. They came then to the castle at Tunbridge; and there +were in the castle the knights of Bishop Odo, and many others who +were resolved to hold it against the king. But the Englishmen +advanced, and broke into the castle, and the men that were +therein agreed with the king. The king with his army went toward +Rochester. And they supposed that the bishop was therein; but it +was made known to the king that the bishop was gone to the castle +at Pevensea. And the king with his army went after, and beset +the castle about with a very large force full six weeks. During +this time the Earl of Normandy, Robert, the king's brother, +gathered a very considerable force, and thought to win England +with the support of those men that were in this land against the +king. And he sent some of his men to this land, intending to +come himself after. But the Englishmen that guarded the sea +lighted upon some of the men, and slew them, and drowned more +than any man could tell. When provisions afterwards failed those +within the castle, they earnestly besought peace, and gave +themselves up to the king; and the bishop swore that he would +depart out of England, and no more come on this land, unless the +king sent after him, and that he would give up the castle at +Rochester. Just as the bishop was going with an intention to +give up the castle, and the king had sent his men with him, then +arose the men that were in the castle, and took the bishop and +the king's men, and put them into prison. In the castle were +some very good knights; Eustace the Young, and the three sons of +Earl Roger, and all the best born men that were in this land or +in Normandy. When the king understood this thing, then went he +after with the army that he had there, and sent over all England. +and bade that each man that was faithful should come to him, +French and English, from sea-port and from upland. Then came to +him much people; and he went to Rochester, and beset the castle, +until they that were therein agreed, and gave up the castle. The +Bishop Odo with the men that were in the castle went over sea, +and the bishop thus abandoned the dignity that he had in this +land. The king afterwards sent an army to Durham, and allowed it +to beset the castle, and the bishop agreed, and gave up the +castle, and relinquished his bishopric, and went to Normandy. +Many Frenchmen also abandoned their lands, and went over sea; and +the king gave their lands to the men that were faithful to him. + +A.D. 1089. In this year the venerable father and favourer of +monks, Archbishop Landfranc, departed this life; but we hope that +he is gone to the heavenly kingdom. There was also over all +England much earth-stirring on the third day before the ides of +August, and it was a very late year in corn, and in every kind of +fruits, so that many men reaped their corn about Martinmas, and +yet later. + +A.D. 1090. Indiction XIII. These things thus done, just as we +have already said above, by the king, and by his brother and by +this men, the king was considering how he might wreak his +vengeance on his brother Robert, harass him most, and win +Normandy of him. And indeed through his craft, or through +bribery, he got possession of the castle at St. Valeri, and the +haven; and so he got possession of that at Albemarle. And +therein he set his knights; and they did harm to the land in +harrowing and burning. After this he got possession of more +castles in the land; and therein lodged his horsemen. When the +Earl of Normandy, Robert, understood that his sworn men deceived +him, and gave up their castles to do him harm, then sent he to +his lord, Philip, king of the Franks; and he came to Normandy +with a large army, and the king and the earl with an immense +force beset the castle about, wherein were the men of the King of +England. But the King William of England sent to Philip, king of +the Franks; and he for his love, or for his great treasure, +abandoned thus his subject the Earl Robert and his land; and +returned again to France, and let them so remain. And in the +midst of these things this land was much oppressed by unlawful +exactions and by many other misfortunes. + +A.D. 1091. In this year the King William held his court at +Christmas in Westminster, and thereafter at Candlemas he went, +for the annoyance of his brother, out of England into Normandy. +Whilst he was there, their reconciliation took place, on the +condition, that the earl put into his hands Feschamp, and the +earldom of Ou, and Cherbourg; and in addition to this, that the +king's men should be secure in the castles that they had won +against the will of the earl. And the king in return promised +him those many [castles] that their father had formerly won, and +also to reduce those that had revolted from the earl, also all +that his father had there beyond, except those that he had then +given the king, and that all those, that in England before for +the earl had lost their land, should have it again by this +treaty, and that the earl should have in England just so much as +was specified in this agreement. And if the earl died without a +son by lawful wedlock, the king should be heir of all Normandy; +and by virtue of this same treaty, if the king died, the earl +should be heir of all England. To this treaty swore twelve of +the best men of the king's side, and twelve of the earl's, though +it stood but a little while afterwards. In the midst of this +treaty was Edgar Etheling deprived of the land that the earl had +before permitted him to keep in hand; and he went out of Normandy +to the king, his sister's husband, in Scotland, and to his +sister. Whilst the King William was out of England, the King +Malcolm of Scotland came hither into England, and overran a great +deal of it, until the good men that governed this land sent an +army against him and repulsed him. When the King William in +Normandy heard this, then prepared he his departure, and came to +England, and his brother, the Earl Robert, with him; and he soon +issued an order to collect a force both naval and military; but +the naval force, ere it could come to Scotland, perished almost +miserably, a few days before St. Michael's mass. And the king +and his brother proceeded with the land-force; but when the King +Malcolm heard that they were resolved to seek him with an army, +he went with his force out of Scotland into Lothaine in England, +and there abode. When the King William came near with his army, +then interceded between them Earl Robert, and Edgar Etheling, and +so made the peace of the kings, that the King Malcolm came to our +king, and did homage, (114) promising all such obedience as he +formerly paid to his father; and that he confirmed with an oath. +And the King William promised him in land and in all things +whatever he formerly had under his father. In this settlement +was also Edgar Etheling united with the king. And the kings then +with much satisfaction departed; yet that stood but a little +while. And the Earl Robert tarried here full nigh until +Christmas with the king, and during this time found but little of +the truth of their agreement; and two days before that tide he +took ship in the Isle of Wight, and went into Normandy, and Edgar +Etheling with him. + +A.D. 1092. In this year the King William with a large army went +north to Carlisle, and restored the town, and reared the castle, +and drove out Dolphin that before governed the land, and set his +own men in the castle, and then returned hither southward. And a +vast number of rustic people with wives and with cattle he sent +thither, to dwell there in order to till the land. + +A.D. 1093. In this year, during Lent, was the King William at +Glocester so sick, that he was by all reported dead. And in his +illness he made many good promises to lead his own life aright; +to grant peace and protection to the churches of God, and never +more again with fee to sell; to have none but righteous laws +amongst his people. The archbishopric of Canterbury, that before +remained in his own hand, he transferred to Anselm, who was +before Abbot of Bec; to Robert his chancellor the bishopric of +Lincoln; and to many minsters he gave land; but that he +afterwards took away, when he was better, and annulled all the +good laws that he promised us before. Then after this sent the +King of Scotland, and demanded the fulfilment of the treaty that +was promised him. And the King William cited him to Glocester, +and sent him hostages to Scotland; and Edgar Etheling, +afterwards, and the men returned, that brought him with great +dignity to the king. But when he came to the king, he could not +be considered worthy either of our king's speech, or of the +conditions that were formerly promised him. For this reason +therefore they parted with great dissatisfaction, and the King +Malcolm returned to Scotland. And soon after he came home, he +gathered his army, and came harrowing into England with more +hostility than behoved him; and Robert, the Earl of +Northumberland, surrounded him unawares with his men, and slew +him. Morel of Barnborough slew him, who was the earl's steward, +and a baptismal friend (115) of King Malcolm. With him was also +slain Edward his son; who after him should have been king, if he +had lived. When the good Queen Margaret heard this--her most +beloved lord and son thus betrayed she was in her mind almost +distracted to death. She with her priests went to church, and +performed her rites, and prayed before God, that she might give +up the ghost. And the Scots then chose (116) Dufenal to king, +Malcolm's brother, and drove out all the English that formerly +were with the King Malcolm. When Duncan, King Malcolm's son, +heard all that had thus taken place (he was then in the King +William's court, because his father had given him as a hostage to +our king's father, and so he lived here afterwards), he came to +the king, and did such fealty as the king required at his hands; +and so with his permission went to Scotland, with all the support +that he could get of English and French, and deprived his uncle +Dufenal of the kingdom, and was received as king. But the Scots +afterwards gathered some force together, and slew full nigh all +his men; and he himself with a few made his escape. (117) +Afterwards they were reconciled, on the condition that he never +again brought into the land English or French. + +A.D. 1094. This year the King William held his court at +Christmas in Glocester; and messengers came to him thither from +his brother Robert of Normandy; who said that his brother +renounced all peace and conditions, unless the king would fulfil +all that they had stipulated in the treaty; and upon that he +called him forsworn and void of truth, unless he adhered to the +treaty, or went thither and explained himself there, where the +treaty was formerly made and also sworn. Then went the king to +Hastings at Candlemas; and whilst he there abode waiting the +weather, he let hallow the minster at Battel, and deprived +Herbert Losang, the Bishop of Thetford, of his staff; and +thereafter about mid-Lent went over sea into Normandy. After he +came, thither, he and his brother Robert, the earl, said that +they should come together in peace (and so they did), and might +be united. Afterwards they came together with the same men that +before made the treaty, and also confirmed it by oaths; and all +the blame of breaking the treaty they threw upon the king; but he +would not confess this, nor even adhere to the treaty; and for +this reason they parted with much dissatisfaction. And the king +afterwards won the castle at Bures, and took the earl's men +therein; some of whom he sent hither to this land. On the other +hand the earl, with the assistance of the King of France, won the +castle at Argence, and took therein Roger of Poitou, (118) and +seven hundred of the king's knights with him; and afterwards that +at Hulme; and oft readily did either of them burn the towns of +the other, and also took men. Then sent the king hither to this +land, and ordered twenty thousand Englishmen to be sent out to +Normandy to his assistance; but when they came to sea, they then +had orders to return, and to pay to the king's behoof the fee +that they had taken; which was half a pound each man; and they +did so. And the earl after this, with the King of France, and +with all that he could gather together, went through the midst of +Normandy, towards Ou, where the King William was, and thought to +besiege him within; and so they advanced until they came to +Luneville. There was the King of France through cunning turned +aside; and so afterwards all the army dispersed. In the midst of +these things the King William sent after his brother Henry, who +was in the castle at Damfront; but because he could not go +through Normandy with security, he sent ships after him, and +Hugh, Earl of Chester. When, however, they should have gone +towards Ou where the king was, they went to England, and came up +at Hamton, (119) on the eve of the feast of All Saints, and here +afterwards abode; and at Christmas they were in London. In this +same year also the Welshmen gathered themselves together, and +with the French that were in Wales, or in the neighbourhood, and +had formerly seized their land, stirred up war, and broke into +many fastnesses and castles, and slew many men. And when their +followers had increased, they divided themselves into larger +parties. With some part of them fought Hugh, Earl of Shropshire, +(120) and put them to flight. Nevertheless the other part of +them all this year omitted no evil that they could do. This year +also the Scots ensnared their king, Duncan, and slew him; and +afterwards, the second time, took his uncle Dufenal to king, +through whose instruction and advice he was betrayed to death. + +A.D. 1095. In this year was the King William the first four days +of Christmas at Whitsand, and after the fourth day came hither, +and landed at Dover. And Henry, the king's brother, abode in +this land until Lent, and then went over sea to Normandy, with +much treasure, on the king's behalf, against their brother, Earl +Robert, and frequently fought against the earl, and did him much +harm, both in land and in men. And then at Easter held the king +his court in Winchester; and the Earl Robert of Northumberland +would not come to court. And the king was much stirred to anger +with him for this, and sent to him, and bade him harshly, if he +would be worthy of protection, that he would come to court at +Pentecost. In this year was Easter on the eighth day before the +calends of April; and upon Easter, on the night of the feast of +St Ambrose, that is, the second before the nones of April, (121) +nearly over all this land, and almost all the night, numerous and +manifold stars were seen to fall from heaven; not by one or two, +but so thick in succession, that no man could tell it. Hereafter +at Pentecost was the king at Windsor, and all his council with +him, except the Earl of Northumberland; for the king would +neither give him hostages, nor own upon truth, that he might come +and go with security. And the king therefore ordered his army, +and went against the earl to Northumberland; and soon after he +came thither, he won many and nearly all the best of the earl's +clan in a fortress, and put them into custody; and the castle at +Tinemouth he beset until he won it, and the earl's brother +therein, and all that were with him; and afterwards went to +Bamborough, and beset the earl therein. But when the king saw +that he could not win it, then ordered he his men to make a +castle before Bamborough, and called it in his speech +"Malveisin"; that is in English, "Evil Neighbour". And he +fortified it strongly with his men, and afterwards went +southward. Then, soon after that the king was gone south, went +the earl one night out of Bamborough towards Tinemouth; but they +that were in the new castle were aware of him, and went after +him, and fought him, and wounded him, and afterwards took him. +And of those that were with him some they slew, and some they +took alive. Among these things it was made known to the king, +that the Welshmen in Wales had broken into a castle called +Montgomery, and slain the men of Earl Hugo, that should have held +it. He therefore gave orders to levy another force immediately, +and after Michaelmas went into Wales, and shifted his forces, and +went through all that land, so that the army came all together by +All Saints to Snowdon. But the Welsh always went before into the +mountains and the moors, that no man could come to them. The +king then went homeward; for he saw that he could do no more +there this winter. When the king came home again, he gave orders +to take the Earl Robert of Northumberland, and lead him to +Bamborough, and put out both his eyes, unless they that were +therein would give up the castle. His wife held it, and Morel +who was steward, and also his relative. Through this was the +castle then given up; and Morel was then in the king's court; and +through him were many both of the clergy and laity surrendered, +who with their counsels had conspired against the king. The king +had before this time commanded some to be brought into prison, +and afterwards had it very strictly proclaimed over all this +country, "That all who held land of the king, as they wished to +be considered worthy of protection, should come to court at the +time appointed." And the king commanded that the Earl Robert +should be led to Windsor, and there held in the castle. Also in +this same year, against Easter, came the pope's nuncio hither to +this land. This was Bishop Walter, a man of very good life, of +the town of Albano; and upon the day of Pentecost on the behalf +of Pope Urban he gave Archbishop Anselm his pall, and he received +him at his archiepiscopal stall in Canterbury. And Bishop Walter +remained afterwards in this land a great part of the year; and +men then sent by him the Rome-scot, (122) which they had not done +for many years before. This same year also the weather was very +unseasonable; in consequence of which throughout all this land +were all the fruits of the earth reduced to a moderate crop. + +A.D. 1096. In this year held the King William his court at +Christmas in Windsor; and William Bishop of Durham died there on +new-year's day; and on the octave of the Epiphany was the king +and all his councillors at Salisbury. There Geoffry Bainard +challenged William of Ou, the king's relative, maintaining that +he had been in the conspiracy against the king. And he fought +with him, and overcame him in single combat; and after he was +overcome, the king gave orders to put out his eyes, and +afterwards to emasculate him; and his steward, William by name, +who was the son of his stepmother, the king commanded to be +hanged on a gibbet. Then was also Eoda, Earl of Champagne, the +king's son-in-law, and many others, deprived of their lands; +whilst some were led to London, and there killed. This year +also, at Easter, there was a very great stir through all this +nation and many others, on account of Urban, who was declared +Pope, though he had nothing of a see at Rome. And an immense +multitude went forth with their wives and children, that they +might make war upon the heathens. Through this expedition were +the king and his brother, Earl Robert, reconciled; so that the +king went over sea, and purchased all Normandy of him, on +condition that they should be united. And the earl afterwards +departed; and with him the Earl of Flanders, and the Earl of +Boulogne, and also many other men of rank (123). And the Earl +Robert, and they that went with him, passed the winter in Apulia; +but of the people that went by Hungary many thousands miserably +perished there and by the way. And many dragged themselves home +rueful and hunger-bitten on the approach of winter. This was a +very heavy-timed year through all England, both through the +manifold tributes, and also through the very heavy-timed hunger +that severely oppressed this earth in the course of the year. In +this year also the principal men who held this land, frequently +sent forces into Wales, and many men thereby grievously +afflicted, producing no results but destruction of men and waste +of money. + +A.D. 1097. In this year was the King William at Christmas in +Normandy; and afterwards against Easter he embarked for this +land; for that he thought to hold his court at Winchester; but he +was weather-bound until Easter-eve, when he first landed at +Arundel; and for this reason held his court at Windsor. And +thereafter with a great army he went into Wales, and quickly +penetrated that land with his forces, through some of the Welsh +who were come to him, and were his guides; and he remained in +that country from midsummer nearly until August, and suffered +much loss there in men and in horses, and also in many other +things. The Welshmen, after they had revolted from the king, +chose them many elders from themselves; one of whom was called +Cadwgan, (124) who was the worthiest of them, being brother's son +to King Griffin. And when the king saw that he could do nothing +in furtherance of his will, he returned again into this land; and +soon after that he let his men build castles on the borders. +Then upon the feast of St. Michael, the fourth day before the +nones of October, (125) appeared an uncommon star, shining in the +evening, and soon hastening to set. It (126) was seen south-west, +and the ray that stood off from it was thought very long, shining +south-east. And it appeared on this wise nearly all the week. +Many men supposed that it was a comet. Soon after this +Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury obtained leave (127) of the king +(though it was contrary to the wishes of the king, as men +supposed), and went over sea; because he thought that men in this +country did little according to right and after his instruction. +And the king thereafter upon St. Martin's mass went over sea into +Normandy; but whilst he was waiting for fair weather, his court +in the county where they lay, did the most harm that ever court +or army could do in a friendly and peaceable land. This was in +all things a very heavy-timed year, and beyond measure laborious +from badness of weather, both when men attempted to till the +land, and afterwards to gather the fruits of their tilth; and +from unjust contributions they never rested. Many counties also +that were confined to London by work, were grievously oppressed +on account of the wall that they were building about the tower, +and the bridge that was nearly all afloat, and the work of the +king's hall that they were building at Westminster; and many men +perished thereby. Also in this same year soon after Michaelmas +went Edgar Etheling with an army through the king's assistance +into Scotland, and with hard fighting won that land, and drove +out the King Dufnal; and his nephew Edgar, who was son of King +Malcolm and of Margaret the queen, he there appointed king in +fealty to the King William; and afterwards again returned to +England. + +A.D. 1098. In this year at Christmas was the King William in +Normandy; and Walkelin, Bishop of Winchester, and Baldwin, Abbot +of St. Edmund's, within this tide (128) both departed. And in +this year also died Turold, Abbot of Peterborough. In the summer +of this year also, at Finchamstead in Berkshire, a pool welled +with blood, as many true men said that should see it. And Earl +Hugh was slain in Anglesey by foreign pirates, (129) and his +brother Robert was his heir, as he had settled it before with the +king. Before Michaelmas the heaven was of such an hue, as if it +were burning, nearly all the night. This was a very troublesome +year through manifold impositions; and from the abundant rains, +that ceased not all the year, nearly all the tilth in the marsh-lands +perished. + +A.D. 1099. This year was the King William at midwinter in +Normandy, and at Easter came hither to land, and at Pentecost +held his court the first time in his new building at Westminster; +and there he gave the bishopric of Durham to Ranulf his chaplain, +who had long directed and governed his councils over all England. +And soon after this he went over sea, and drove the Earl Elias +out of Maine, which he reduced under his power, and so by +Michaelmas returned to this land. This year also, on the +festival of St. Martin, the sea-flood sprung up to such a height, +and did so much harm, as no man remembered that it ever did +before. And this was the first day of the new moon. And Osmond, +Bishop of Salisbury, died in Advent. + +A.D. 1100. In this year the King William held his court at +Christmas in Glocester, and at Easter in Winchester, and at +Pentecost in Westminster. And at Pentecost was seen in Berkshire +at a certain town blood to well from the earth; as many said that +should see it. And thereafter on the morning after Lammas day +was the King William shot in hunting, by an arrow from his own +men, and afterwards brought to Winchester, and buried in the +cathedral. (130) This was in the thirteenth year after that he +assumed the government. He was very harsh and severe over his +land and his men, and with all his neighbours; and very +formidable; and through the counsels of evil men, that to him +were always agreeable, and through his own avarice, he was ever +tiring this nation with an army, and with unjust contributions. +For in his days all right fell to the ground, and every wrong +rose up before God and before the world. God's church he +humbled; and all the bishoprics and abbacies, whose elders fell +in his days, he either sold in fee, or held in his own hands, and +let for a certain sum; because he would be the heir of every man, +both of the clergy and laity; so that on the day that he fell he +had in his own hand the archbishopric of Canterbury, with the +bishopric of Winchester, and that of Salisbury, and eleven +abbacies, all let for a sum; and (though I may be tedious) all +that was loathsome to God and righteous men, all that was +customary in this land in his time. And for this he was loathed +by nearly all his people, and odious to God, as his end +testified:--for he departed in the midst of his +unrighteousness, without any power of repentance or recompense +for his deeds. On the Thursday he was slain; and in the morning +afterwards buried; and after he was buried, the statesmen that +were then nigh at hand, chose his brother Henry to king. And he +immediately (131) gave the bishopric of Winchester to William +Giffard; and afterwards went to London; and on the Sunday +following, before the altar at Westminster, he promised God and +all the people, to annul all the unrighteous acts that took place +in his brother's time, and to maintain the best laws that were +valid in any king's day before him. And after this the Bishop of +London, Maurice, consecrated him king; and all in this land +submitted to him, and swore oaths, and became his men. And the +king, soon after this, by the advice of those that were about +him, allowed men to take the Bishop Ranulf of Durham, and bring +him into the Tower of London, and hold him there. Then, before +Michaelmas, came the Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury hither to +this land; as the King Henry, by the advice of his ministers had +sent after him, because he had gone out of this land for the +great wrongs that the King William did unto him. And soon +hereafter the king took him to wife Maud, daughter of Malcolm, +King of Scotland, and of Margaret the good queen, the relative of +King Edward, and of the right royal (132) race of England. And +on Martinmas day she was publicly given to him with much pomp at +Westminster, and the Archbishop Anselm wedded her to him, and +afterwards consecrated her queen. And the Archbishop Thomas of +York soon hereafter died. During the harvest of this same year +also came the Earl Robert home into Normandy, and the Earl Robert +of Flanders, Eustace, Earl of Boulogne, from Jerusalem. And as +soon as the Earl Robert came into Normandy, he was joyfully +received by all his people; except those of the castles that were +garrisoned with the King Henry's men. Against them he had many +contests and struggles. + +A.D. 1101. In this year at Christmas held the King Henry his +court in Westminster, and at Easter in Winchester. And soon +thereafter were the chief men in this land in a conspiracy +against the king; partly from their own great infidelity, and +also through the Earl Robert of Normandy, who with hostility +aspired to the invasion of this land. And the king afterwards +sent ships out to sea, to thwart and impede his brother; but some +of them in the time of need fell back, and turned from the king, +and surrendered themselves to the Earl Robert. Then at midsummer +went the king out to Pevensey with all his force against his +brother, and there awaited him. But in the meantime came the +Earl Robert up at Portsmouth twelve nights before Lammas; and the +king with all his force came against him. But the chief men +interceded between them, and settled the brothers on the +condition, "that the king should forego all that he held by main +strength in Normandy against the earl; and that all then in +England should have their lands again, who had lost it before +through the earl, and Earl Eustace also all his patrimony in this +land; and that the Earl Robert every year should receive from +England three thousand marks of silver; and particularly, that +whichever of the brothers should survive the other, he should be +heir of all England and also of Normandy, except the deceased +left an heir by lawful wedlock." And this twelve men of the +highest rank on either side then confirmed with an oath. And the +earl afterwards remained in this land till after Michaelmas; and +his men did much harm wherever they went, the while that the earl +continued in this land. This year also the Bishop Ranulf at +Candlemas burst out of the Tower of London by night, where he was +in confinement, and went into Normandy; through whose contrivance +and instigation mostly the Earl Robert this year sought this land +with hostility. + +A.D. 1102. In this year at the Nativity was the King Henry at +Westminster, and at Easter in Winchester. And soon thereafter +arose a dissention between the king and the Earl Robert of +Belesme, who held in this land the earldom of Shrewsbury, that +his father, Earl Roger, had before, and much territory therewith +both on this side and beyond the sea. And the king went and +beset the castle at Arundel; but when he could not easily win it, +he allowed men to make castles before it, and filled them with +his men; and afterwards with all his army he went to Bridgenorth, +and there continued until he had the castle, and deprived the +Earl Robert of his land, and stripped him of all that he had in +England. And the earl accordingly went over sea, and the army +afterwards returned home. Then was the king thereafter by +Michaelmas at Westminster; and all the principal men in this +land, clerk, and laity. And the Archbishop Anselm held a synod +of clergy; and there they established many canons that belong to +Christianity. And many, both French and English, were there +deprived of their staves and dignity, which they either obtained +with injustice, or enjoyed with dishonour. And in this same +year, in the week of the feast of Pentecost, there came thieves, +some from Auvergne, (133) some from France, and some from +Flanders, and broke into the minster of Peterborough, and therein +seized much property in gold and in silver; namely, roods, and +chalices, and candlesticks. + +A.D. 1103. In this year, at midwinter, was the King Henry at +Westminster. And soon afterwards departed the Bishop William +Giffard out of this land; because he would not against right +accept his hood at the hands of the Archbishop Gerard of York. +And then at Easter held the king his court at Winchester, and +afterwards went the Archbishop Anselm from Canterbury to Rome, as +was agreed between him and the king. This year also came the +Earl Robert of Normandy to speak with the king in this land; and +ere he departed hence he forgave the King Henry the three +thousand marks that he was bound by treaty to give him each year. +In this year also at Hamstead in Berkshire was seen blood [to +rise] from the earth. This was a very calamitous year in this +land, through manifold impositions, and through murrain of +cattle, and deficiency of produce, not only in corn, but in every +kind of fruit. Also in the morning, upon the mass day of St. +Laurence, the wind did so much harm here on land to all fruits, +as no man remembered that ever any did before. In this same year +died Matthias, Abbot of Peterborough, who lived no longer than +one year after he was abbot. After Michaelmas, on the twelfth +day before the calends of November, he was in full procession +received as abbot; and on the same day of the next year he was +dead at Glocester, and there buried. + +A.D. 1104. In this year at Christmas held the King Henry his +court at Westminster, and at Easter in Winchester, and at +Pentecost again at Westminster. This year was the first day of +Pentecost on the nones of June; and on the Tuesday following were +seen four circles at mid-day about the sun, of a white hue, each +described under the other as if they were measured. All that saw +it wondered; for they never remembered such before. Afterwards +were reconciled the Earl Robert of Normandy and Robert de +Belesme, whom the King Henry had before deprived of his lands, +and driven from England; and through their reconciliation the +King of England and the Earl of Normandy became adversaries. And +the king sent his folk over sea into Normandy; and the head-men +in that land received them, and with treachery to their lord, the +earl, lodged them in their castles, whence they committed many +outrages on the earl in plundering and burning. This year also +William, Earl of Moreton (134) went from this land into Normandy; +but after he was gone he acted against the king; because the king +stripped and deprived him of all that he had here in this land. +It is not easy to describe the misery of this land, which it was +suffering through various and manifold wrongs and impositions, +that never failed nor ceased; and wheresoever the king went, +there was full licence given to his company to harrow and oppress +his wretched people; and in the midst thereof happened oftentimes +burnings and manslaughter. All this was done to the displeasure +of God, and to the vexation of this unhappy people. + +A.D. 1105. In this year, on the Nativity, held the King Henry +his court at Windsor; and afterwards in Lent he went over sea +into Normandy against his brother Earl Robert. And whilst he +remained there he won of his brother Caen and Baieux; and almost +all the castles and the chief men in that land were subdued. And +afterwards by harvest he returned hither again; and that which he +had won in Normandy remained afterwards in peace and subjection +to him; except that which was anywhere near the Earl William of +Moretaine. This he often demanded as strongly as he could for +the loss of his land in this country. And then before Christmas +came Robert de Belesme hither to the king. This was a very +calamitous year in this land, through loss of fruits, and through +the manifold contributions, that never ceased before the king +went over [to Normandy], or while he was there, or after he came +back again. + +A.D. 1106. In this year was the King Henry on the Nativity at +Westminster, and there held his court; and at that season Robert +de Belesme went unreconciled from the king out of his land into +Normandy. Hereafter before Lent was the king at Northampton; and +the Earl Robert his brother came thither from Normandy to him; +and because the king would not give him back that which he had +taken from him in Normandy, they parted in hostility; and the +earl soon went over sea back again. In the first week of Lent, +on the Friday, which was the fourteenth before the calends of +March, in the evening appeared an unusual star; and a long time +afterwards was seen every evening shining awhile. The star +appeared in the south-west; it was thought little and dark; but +the train of light which stood from it was very bright, and +appeared like an immense beam shining north-east; and some +evening this beam was seen as if it were moving itself forwards +against the star. Some said that they saw more of such unusual +stars at this time; but we do not write more fully about it, +because we saw it not ourselves. On the night preceding the +Lord's Supper, (135) that is, the Thursday before Easter, were +seen two moons in the heavens before day, the one in the east, +and the other in the west, both full; and it was the fourteenth +day of the moon. At Easter was the king at Bath, and at +Pentecost at Salisbury; because he would not hold his court when +he was beyond the sea. After this, and before August, went the +king over sea into Normandy; and almost all that were in that +land submitted to his will, except Robert de Belesme and the Earl +of Moretaine, and a few others of the principal persons who yet +held with the Earl of Normandy. For this reason the king +afterwards advanced with an army, and beset a castle of the Earl +of Moretaine, called Tenerchebrai. (136) Whilst the king beset +the castle, came the Earl Robert of Normandy on Michaelmas eve +against the king with his army, and with him Robert of Belesme, +and William, Earl of Moretaine, and all that would be with them; +but the strength and the victory were the king's. There was the +Earl of Normandy taken, and the Earl of Moretaine, and Robert of +Stutteville, and afterwards sent to England, and put into +custody. Robert of Belesme was there put to flight, and William +Crispin was taken, and many others forthwith. Edgar Etheling, +who a little before had gone over from the king to the earl, was +also there taken, whom the king afterwards let go unpunished. +Then went the king over all that was in Normandy, and settled it +according to his will and discretion. This year also were heavy +and sinful conflicts between the Emperor of Saxony and his son, +and in the midst of these conflicts the father fell, and the son +succeeded to the empire. + +A.D. 1107. In this year at Christmas was the King Henry in +Normandy; and, having disposed and settled that land to his will, +he afterwards came hither in Lent, and at Easter held his court +at Windsor, and at Pentecost in Westminster. And afterwards in +the beginning of August he was again at Westminster, and there +gave away and settled the bishoprics and abbacies that either in +England or in Normandy were without elders and pastors. Of these +there were so many, that there was no man who remembered that +ever so many together were given away before. And on this same +occasion, among the others who accepted abbacies, Ernulf, who +before was prior at Canterbury, succeeded to the abbacy in +Peterborough. This was nearly about seven years after the King +Henry undertook the kingdom, and the one and fortieth year since +the Franks governed this land. Many said that they saw sundry +tokens in the moon this year, and its orb increasing and +decreasing 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 died the King Edgar in Scotland, on +the ides of January, and Alexander his brother succeeded to the +kingdom, as the King Henry granted him. + +A.D. 1108. In this year was the King Henry on the Nativity at +Westminster, and at Easter at Winchester, and by Pentecost at +Westminster again. After this, before August, he went into +Normandy. And Philip, the King of France, died on the nones of +August, and his son Louis succeeded to the kingdom. And there +were afterwards many struggles between the King of France and the +King of England, while the latter remained in Normandy. In this +year also died the Archbishop Girard of York, before Pentecost, +and Thomas was afterwards appointed thereto. + +A.D. 1109. In this year was the King Henry at Christmas and at +Easter in Normandy; and before Pentecost he came to this land, +and held his court at Westminster. There were the conditions +fully settled, and the oaths sworn, for giving his daughter (137) +to the emperor. (138) This year were very frequent storms of +thunder, and very tremendous; and the Archbishop Anselm of +Canterbury died on the eleventh day before the calends of April; +and the first day of Easter was on "Litania major". + +A.D. 1110. In this year held the King Henry his court at +Christmas in Westminster, and at Easter he was at Marlborough, +and at Pentecost he held his court for the first time in 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 in the month of May appeared the moon shining bright +in the evening, and afterwards by little and little its light +diminished, so that, as soon as night came, (139) it was so +completely extinguished withal, that neither light, nor orb, nor +anything at all of it was seen. And so it continued nearly until +day, and then appeared shining full and bright. It was this same +day a fortnight old. All the night was the firmament very clear, +and the stars over all the heavens shining very bright. And the +fruits of the trees were this night sorely nipt by frost. +Afterwards, in the month of June, appeared a star north-east, and +its train stood before it towards the south-west. Thus was it +seen many nights; and as the night advanced, when it rose higher, +it was seen going backward toward the north-west. This year were +deprived of their lands Philip of Braiose, and William Mallet, +and William Bainard. This year also died Earl Elias, who held +Maine in fee-tail (140) of King Henry; and after his death the +Earl of Anjou succeeded to it, and held it against the king. +This was a very calamitous year in this land, through the +contributions which the king received for his daughter's portion, +and through the badness of the weather, by which the fruits of +the earth were very much marred, and the produce of the trees +over all this land almost entirely perished. This year men began +first to work at the new minster at Chertsey. + +A.D. 1111. This year the King Henry bare not his crown at +Christmas, nor at Easter, nor at Pentecost. And in August he +went over sea into Normandy, on account of the broils that some +had with him by the confines of France, and chiefly on account of +the Earl of Anjou, who held Maine against him. And after he came +over thither, many conspiracies, and burnings, and harrowings, +did they between them. In this year died the Earl Robert of +Flanders, and his son Baldwin succeeded thereto. (141) This year +was the winter very long, and the season heavy and severe; and +through that were the fruits of the earth sorely marred, and +there was the greatest murrain of cattle that any man could +remember. + +A.D. 1112. All this year remained the King Henry in Normandy on +account of the broils that he had with France, and with the Earl +of Anjou, who held Maine against him. And whilst he was there, +he deprived of their lands the Earl of Evreux, and William +Crispin, and drove them out of Normandy. To Philip of Braiose he +restored his land, who had been before deprived of it; and Robert +of Belesme he suffered to be seized, and put into prison. This +was a very good year, and very fruitful, in wood and in field; +but it was a very heavy time and sorrowful, through a severe +mortality amongst men. + +A.D. 1113. In this year was the King Henry on the Nativity and +at Easter and at Pentecost in Normandy. And after that, in the +summer, he sent hither Robert of Belesme into the castle at +Wareham, and himself soon (142) afterwards came hither to this +land. + +A.D. 1114. In this year held the King Henry his court on the +Nativity at Windsor, and held no other court afterwards during +the year. And at midsummer he went with an army into Wales; and +the Welsh came and made peace with the king. And he let men +build castles therein. And thereafter, in September, he went +over sea into Normandy. This year, in the latter end of May, was +seen an uncommon star with a long train, shining many nights. In +this year also was so great an ebb of the tide everywhere in one +day, as no man remembered before; so that men went riding and +walking over the Thames eastward of London bridge. This year +were very violent winds in the month of October; but it was +immoderately rough in the night of the octave of St. Martin; and +that was everywhere manifest both in town and country. In this +year also the king gave the archbishopric of Canterbury to Ralph, +who was before Bishop of Rochester; and Thomas, Archbishop of +York, died; and Turstein succeeded thereto, who was before the +king's chaplain. About this same time went the king toward the +sea, and was desirous of going over, but the weather prevented +him; then meanwhile sent he his writ after the Abbot Ernulf of +Peterborough, and bade that he should come to him quickly, for +that he wished to speak with him on an interesting subject. When +he came to him, he appointed him to the bishopric of Rochester; +and the archbishops and bishops and all the nobility that were in +England coincided with the king. And he long withstood, but it +availed nothing. And the king bade the archbishop that he should +lead him to Canterbury, and consecrate him bishop whether he +would or not. (143) This was done in the town called Bourne +(144) on the seventeenth day before the calends of October. When +the monks of Peterborough heard of this, they felt greater sorrow +than they had ever experienced before; because he was a very good +and amiable man, and did much good within and without whilst he +abode there. God Almighty abide ever with him. Soon after this +gave the king the abbacy to a monk of Sieyes, whose name was +John, through the intreaty of the Archbishop of Canterbury. And +soon after this the king and the Archbishop of Canterbury sent +him to Rome after the archbishop's pall; and a monk also with +him, whose name was Warner, and the Archdeacon John, the nephew +of the archbishop. And they sped well there. This was done on +the seventh day before the calends Of October, in the town that +is yclept Rowner. And this same day went the king on board ship +at Portsmouth. + +A.D. 1115. This year was the King Henry on the Nativity in +Normandy. And whilst he was there, he contrived that all the +head men in Normandy did homage and fealty to his son William, +whom he had by his queen. And after this, in the month of July, +he returned to this land. This year was the winter so severe, +with snow and with frost, that no man who was then living ever +remembered one more severe; in consequence of which there was +great destruction of cattle. During this year the Pope Paschalis +sent the pall into this land to Ralph, Archbishop of Canterbury; +and he received it with great worship at his archiepiscopal stall +in Canterbury. It was brought hither from Rome by Abbot Anselm, +who was the nephew of Archbishop Anselm, and the Abbot John of +Peterborough. + +A.D. 1116. In this year was the King Henry on the Nativity at +St. Alban's, where he permitted the consecration of that +monastery; and at Easter he was at Odiham. And there was also +this year a very heavy-timed winter, strong and long, for cattle +and for all things. And the king soon after Easter went over sea +into Normandy. And there were many conspiracies and robberies, +and castles taken betwixt France and Normandy. Most of this +disturbance was because the King Henry assisted his nephew, +Theobald de Blois, who was engaged in a war against his lord, +Louis, the King of France. This was a very vexatious and +destructive year with respect to the fruits of the earth, through +the immoderate rains that fell soon after the beginning of +August, harassing and perplexing men till Candlemas-day. This +year also was so deficient in mast, that there was never heard +such in all this land or in Wales. This land and nation were +also this year oft and sorely swincked by the guilds which the +king took both within the boroughs and without. In this same +year was consumed by fire the whole monastery of Peterborough, +and all the buildings, except the chapter-house and the +dormitory, and therewith also all the greater part of the town. +All this happened on a Friday, which was the second day before +the nones of August. + +A.D. 1117. All this year remained the King Henry, in Normandy, +on account of the hostility of the King of France and his other +neighbours. And in the summer came the King of France and the +Earl of Flanders with him with an army into Normandy. And having +stayed therein one night, they returned again in the morning +without fighting. But Normandy was very much afflicted both by +the exactions and by the armies which the King Henry collected +against them. This nation also was severely oppressed through +the same means, namely, through manifold exactions. This year +also, in the night of the calends of December, were immoderate +storms with thunder, and lightning, and rain, and hail. And in +the night of the third day before the ides of December was the +moon, during a long time of the night, as if covered with blood, +and afterwards eclipsed. Also in the night of the seventeenth +day before the calends of January, was the heaven seen very red, +as if it were burning. And on the octave of St. John the +Evangelist was the great earthquake in Lombardy; from the shock +of which many minsters, and towers, and houses fell, and did much +harm to men. This was a very blighted year in corn, through the +rains that scarcely ceased for nearly all the year. And the +Abbot Gilbert of Westminster died on the eighth day before the +ides of December; and Faritz, Abbot of Abingdon, on the seventh +day before the calends of March. And in this same year.... + +A.D. 1118. All this year abode the King Henry in Normandy on +account of the war of the King of France and the Earl of Anjou, +and the Earl of Flanders. And the Earl of Flanders was wounded +in Normandy, and went so wounded into Flanders. By this war was +the king much exhausted, and he was a great loser both in land +and money. And his own men grieved him most, who often from him +turned, and betrayed him; and going over to his foes surrendered +to them their castles, to the injury and disappointment of the +king. All this England dearly bought through the manifold guilds +that all this year abated not. This year, in the week of the +Epiphany, there was one evening a great deal of lightning, and +thereafter unusual thunder. And the Queen Matilda died at +Westminster on the calends of May; and there was buried. And the +Earl Robert of Mellent died also this year. In this year also, +on the feast of St. Thomas, was so very immoderately violent a +wind, that no man who was then living ever remembered any +greater; and that was everywhere seen both in houses and also in +trees. This year also died Pope Paschalis; and John of Gaeta +succeeded to the popedom, whose other name was Gelasius. + +A.D. 1119. All this year continued the King Henry in Normandy; +and he was greatly perplexed by the hostility of the King of +France, and also of his own men, who with treachery deserted from +him, and oft readily betrayed him; until the two kings came +together in Normandy with their forces. There was the King of +France put to flight, and all his best men taken. And afterwards +many of King Henry's men returned to him, and accorded with him, +who were before, with their castellans, against him. And some of +the castles he took by main strength. This year went William, +the son of King Henry and Queen Matilda, into Normandy to his +father, and there was given to him, and wedded to wife, the +daughter of the Earl of Anjou. On the eve of the mass of St. +Michael was much earth-heaving in some places in this land; +though most of all in Glocestershire and in Worcestershire. In +this same year died the Pope Gelasius, on this side of the Alps, +and was buried at Clugny. And after him the Archbishop of Vienna +was chosen pope, whose name was Calixtus. He afterwards, on the +festival of St. Luke the Evangelist, came into France to Rheims, +and there held a council. And the Archbishop Turstin of York +went thither; and, because that he against right, and against the +archiepiscopal stall in Canterbury, and against the king's will, +received his hood at the hands of the pope, the king interdicted +him from all return to England. And thus he lost his +archbishopric, and with the pope went towards Rome. In this year +also died the Earl Baldwin of Flanders of the wounds that he +received in Normandy. And after him succeeded to the earldom +Charles, the son of his uncle by the father's side, who was son +of Cnute, the holy King of Denmark. + +A.D. 1120. This year were reconciled the King of England and the +King of France; and after their reconciliation all the King +Henry's own men accorded with him in Normandy, as well as the +Earl of Flanders and the Earl of Ponthieu. From this time +forward the King Henry settled his castles and his land in +Normandy after his will; and so before Advent came to this land. +And in this expedition were drowned the king's two sons, William +and Richard, and Richard, Earl of Chester, and Ottuel his +brother, and very many of the king's household, stewards, and +chamberlains, and butlers, and men of various abodes; and with +them a countless multidude of very incomparable folk besides. +Sore was their death to their friends in a twofold respect: one, +that they so suddenly lost this life; the other, that few of +their bodies were found anywhere afterwards. This year came that +light to the sepulchre of the Lord in Jerusalem twice; once at +Easter, and the other on the assumption of St. Mary, as credible +persons said who came thence. And the Archbishop Turstin of York +was through the pope reconciled with the king, and came to this +land, and recovered his bishopric, though it was very undesirable +to the Archbishop of Canterbury. + +A.D. 1121. This year was the King Henry at Christmas at Bramton, +and afterwards, before Candlemas, at Windsor was given him to +wife Athelis; soon afterwards consecrated queen, who was daughter +of the Duke of Louvain. And the moon was eclipsed in the night +of the nones of April, being a fortnight old. And the king was +at Easter at Berkley; and after that at Pentecost he held a full +court at Westminster; and afterwards in the summer went with an +army into Wales. And the Welsh came against him; and after the +king's will they accorded with him. This year came the Earl of +Anjou from Jerusalem into his land; and soon after sent hither to +fetch his daughter, who had been given to wife to William, the +king's son. And in the night of the eve of "Natalis Domini" was +a very violent wind over all this land, and that was in many +things evidently seen. + +A.D. 1122. In this year was the King Henry at Christmas in +Norwich, and at Easter in Northampton. And in the Lent-tide +before that, the town of Glocester was on fire: the while that +the monks were singing their mass, and the deacon had begun the +gospel, "Praeteriens Jesus", at that very moment came the fire +from the upper part of the steeple, and burned all the minster, +and all the treasures that were there within; except a few books, +and three mass-hackles. That was on the eighth day before the +ides of Marcia. And thereafter, the Tuesday after Palm-Sunday, +was a very violent wind on the eleventh day before the calends of +April; after which came many tokens far and wide in England, and +many spectres were both seen and heard. And the eighth night +before the calends of August was a very violent earthquake over +all Somersetshire, and in Glocestershire. Soon after, on the +sixth day before the ides of September, which was on the festival +of St. Mary, (145) there was a very violent wind from the fore +part of the day to the depth of the night. This same year died +Ralph, the Archbishop of Canterbury; that was on the thirteenth +day before the calends of November. After this there were many +shipmen on the sea, and on fresh water, who said, that they saw +on the north-east, level with the earth, a fire huge and broad, +which anon waxed in length up to the welkin; and the welkin undid +itself in four parts, and fought against it, as if it would +quench it; and the fire waxed nevertheless up to the heaven. The +fire they saw in the day-dawn; and it lasted until it was light +over all. That was on the seventh day before the ides of +December. + +A.D. 1123. In this year was the King Henry, at Christmastide at +Dunstable, and there came to him the ambassadors of the Earl of +Anjou. And thence he went to Woodstock; and his bishops and his +whole court with him. Then did it betide on a Wednesday, which +was on the fourth day before the ides of January, that the king +rode in his deer-fold; (146) the Bishop Roger of Salisbury (147) +on one side of him, and the Bishop Robert Bloet of Lincoln on the +other side of him. And they rode there talking together. Then +sank down the Bishop of Lincoln, and said to the king, "Lord +king, I die." And the king alighted down from his horse, and +lifted him betwixt his arms, and let men bear him home to his +inn. There he was soon dead; and they carried him to Lincoln +with great worship, and buried him before the altar of St. Mary. +And the Bishop of Chester, whose name was Robert Pecceth, buried +him. Soon after this sent the king his writ over all England, +and bade all his bishops and his abbots and his thanes, that they +should come to his wittenmoot on Candlemas day at Glocester to +meet him: and they did so. When they were there gathered +together, then the king bade them, that they should choose for +themselves an Archbishop of Canterbury, whomsoever they would, +and he would confirm it. Then spoke the bishops among +themselves, and said that they never more would have a man of the +monastic order as archbishop over them. And they went all in a +body to the king, and earnestly requested that they might choose +from the clerical order whomsoever they would for archbishop. +And the king granted it to them. This was all concerted before, +through the Bishop of Salisbury, and through the Bishop of +Lincoln ere he was dead; for that they never loved the rule of +monks, but were ever against monks and their rule. And the prior +and the monks of Canterbury, and all the other persons of the +monastic order that were there, withstood it full two days; but +it availed nought: for the Bishop of Salisbury was strong, and +wielded all England, and opposed them with all his power and +might. Then chose they a clerk, named William of Curboil. He +was canon of a monastery called Chiche. (148) And they brought +him before the king; and the king gave him the archbishopric. +And all the bishops received him: but almost all the monks, and +the earls, and the thanes that were there, protested against him. +About the same time departed the earl's messengers (149) in +hostility from the king, reckless of his favour. During the same +time came a legate from Rome, whose name was Henry. He was abbot +of the monastery of St. John of Angeli; and he came after the +Rome-scot. And he said to the king, that it was against right +that men should set a clerk over monks; and therefore they had +chosen an archbishop before in their chapter after right. But +the king would not undo it, for the love of the Bishop of +Salisbury. Then went the archbishop, soon after this, to +Canterbury; and was there received, though it was against their +will; and he was there soon blessed to bishop by the Bishop of +London, and the Bishop Ernulf of Rochester, and the Bishop +William Girard of Winchester, and the Bishop Bernard of Wales, +and the Bishop Roger of Salisbury. Then, early in Lent, went +the archbishop to Rome, after his pall; and with him went the +Bishop Bernard of Wales; and Sefred, Abbot of Glastonbury; and +Anselm, Abbot of St. Edmund's bury; and John, Archdeacon of +Canterbury; and Gifard, who was the king's court-chaplain. At +the same time went the Archbishop Thurstan of York to Rome, +through the behest of the pope, and came thither three days ere +the Archbishop of Canterbury came, and was there received with +much worship. Then came the Archbishop of Canterbury, and was +there full seven nights ere they could come to a conference with +the pope. That was, because the pope was made to understand that +he had obtained the archbishopric against the monks of the +minster, and against right. But that overcame Rome, which +overcometh all the world; that is, gold and silver. And the pope +softened, and gave him his pall. And the archbishop (of York) +swore him subjection, in all those things, which the pope +enjoined him, by the heads of St. Peter and St. Paul; and the +pope then sent him home with his blessing. The while that the +archbishop was out of the land, the king gave the bishopric of +Bath to the Queen's chancellor, whose name was Godfrey. He was +born in Louvain. That was on the Annunciation of St. Mary, at +Woodstock. Soon after this went the king to Winchester, and was +all Easter-tide there. And the while that he was there, gave he +the bishopric of Lincoln to a clerk hight Alexander. He was +nephew of the Bishop of Salisbury. This he did all for the love +of the bishop. Then went the king thence to Portsmouth, and lay +there all over Pentecost week. Then, as soon as he had a fair +wind, he went over into Normandy; and meanwhile committed all +England to the guidance and government of the Bishop Roger of +Salisbury. Then was the king all this year (150) in Normandy. +And much hostility arose betwixt him and his thanes; so that the +Earl Waleram of Mellent, and Hamalric, and Hugh of Montfort, and +William of Romare, and many others, went from him, and held their +castles against him. And the king strongly opposed them: and +this same year he won of Waleram his castle of Pont-Audemer, and +of Hugh that of Montfort; and ever after, the longer he stayed, +the better he sped. This same year, ere the Bishop of Lincoln +came to his bishopric, almost all the borough of Lincoln was +burned, and numberless folks, men and women, were consumed: and +so much harm was there done as no man could describe to another. +That was on the fourteenth day before the calends of June. + +A.D. 1124. All this year was the King Henry in Normandy. That +was for the great hostility that he had with the King Louis of +France, and with the Earl of Anjou, and most of all with his own +men. Then it happened, on the day of the Annunciation of St. +Mary, that the Earl Waleram of Mellent went from one of his +castles called Belmont to another called Watteville. With him +went the steward of the King of France, Amalric, and Hugh the son +of Gervase, and Hugh of Montfort, and many other good knights. +Then came against them the king's knights from all the castles +that were thereabout, and fought with them, and put them to +flight, and took the Earl Waleram, and Hugh, the son of Gervase, +and Hugh of Montfort, and five and twenty other knights, and +brought them to the king. And the king committed the Earl +Waleram, and Hugh, the son of Gervase, to close custody in the +castle at Rouen; but Hugh of Montfort he sent to England, and +ordered him to be secured with strong bonds in the castle at +Glocester. And of the others as many as he chose he sent north +and south to his castles in captivity. After this went the king, +and won all the castles of the Earl Waleram that were in +Normandy, and all the others that his enemies held against him. +All this hostility was on account of the son of the Earl Robert +of Normandy, named William. This same William had taken to wife +the younger daughter of Fulke, Earl of Anjou: and for this reason +the King of France and all the earls held with him, and all the +rich men; and said that the king held his brother Robert +wrongfully in captivity, and drove his son William unjustly out +of Normandy. This same year were the seasons very unfavourable +in England for corn and all fruits; so that between Christmas and +Candlemas men sold the acre-seed of wheat, that is two seedlips, +for six shillings; and the barley, that is three seedlips, for +six shillings also; and the acre-seed of oats, that is four +seedlips, for four shillings. That was because that corn was +scarce; and the penny was so adulterated, (151) that a man who +had a pound at a market could not exchange twelve pence thereof +for anything. In this same year died the blessed Bishop Ernulf +of Rochester, who before was Abbot of Peterborough. That was on +the ides of March. And after this died the King Alexander of +Scotland, on the ninth day before the calends of May. And David +his brother, who was Earl of Northamptonshire, succeeded to the +kingdom; and had both together, the kingdom of Scotland and the +earldom in England. And on the nineteenth day before the calends +of January died the Pope of Rome, whose name was Calixtus, and +Honorius succeeded to the popedom. This same year, after St. +Andrew's mass, and before Christmas, held Ralph Basset and the +king's thanes a wittenmoot in Leicestershire, at Huncothoe, and +there hanged more thieves than ever were known before; that is, +in a little while, four and forty men altogether; and despoiled +six men of their eyes and of their testicles. Many true men said +that there were several who suffered very unjustly; but our Lord +God Almighty, who seeth and knoweth every secret, seeth also that +the wretched people are oppressed with all unrighteousness. +First they are bereaved of their property, and then they are +slain. Full heavy year was this. The man that had any property, +was bereaved of it by violent guilds and violent moots. The man +that had not, was starved with hunger. + +A.D. 1125. In this year sent the King Henry, before Christmas, +from Normandy to England, and bade that all the mint-men that +were in England should be mutilated in their limbs; that was, +that they should lose each of them the right hand, and their +testicles beneath. This was because the man that had a pound +could not lay out a penny at a market. And the Bishop Roger of +Salisbury sent over all England, and bade them all that they +should come to Winchester at Christmas. When they came thither, +then were they taken one by one, and deprived each of the right +hand and the testicles beneath. All this was done within the +twelfth-night. And that was all in perfect justice, because that +they had undone all the land with the great quantity of base coin +that they all bought. In this same year sent the Pope of Rome to +this land a cardinal, named John of Crema. He came first to the +king in Normandy, and the king received him with much worship. +He betook himself then to the Archbishop William of Canterbury; +and he led him to Canterbury; and he was there received with +great veneration, and in solemn procession. And he sang the high +mass on Easter day at the altar of Christ. Afterwards he went +over all England, to all the bishoprics and abbacies that were in +this land; and in all he was received with respect. And all gave +him many and rich gifts. And afterwards he held his council in +London full three days, on the Nativity of St. Mary in September, +with archbishops, and diocesan bishops, and abbots, the learned +and the lewd; (152) and enjoined there the same laws that +Archbishop Anselm had formerly enjoined, and many more, though it +availed little. Thence he went over sea soon after Michaelmas, +and so to Rome; and (with him) the Archbishop William of +Canterbury, and the Archbishop Thurstan of York, and the Bishop +Alexander of Lincoln, and the Bishop J. of Lothian, and the Abbot +G. of St. Alban's; and were there received by the Pope Honorius +with great respect; and continued there all the winter. In this +same year was so great a flood on St. Laurence's day, that many +towns and men were overwhelmed, and bridges broken down, and corn +and meadows spoiled withal; and hunger and qualm (153) in men and +in cattle; and in all fruits such unseasonableness as was not +known for many years before. And this same year died the Abbot +John of Peterborough, on the second day before the ides of +October. + +A.D. 1126. All this year was the King Henry in Normandy--all +till after harvest. Then came he to this land, betwixt the +Nativity of St. Mary and Michaelmas. With him came the queen, +and his daughter, whom he had formerly given to the Emperor Henry +of Lorrain to wife. And he brought with him the Earl Waleram, +and Hugh, the son of Gervase. And the earl he sent to +Bridgenorth in captivity: and thence he sent him afterwards to +Wallingford; and Hugh to Windsor, whom he ordered to be kept in +strong bonds. Then after Michaelmas came David, the king of the +Scots, from Scotland to this land; and the King Henry received +him with great worship; and he continued all that year in this +land. In this year the king had his brother Robert taken from +the Bishop Roger of Salisbury, and committed him to his son +Robert, Earl of Glocester, and had him led to Bristol, and there +put into the castle. That was all done through his daughter's +counsel, and through David, the king of the Scots, her uncle. + +A.D. 1127. This year held the King Henry his court at Christmas +in Windsor. There was David the king of the Scots, and all the +head men that were in England, learned and lewd. And there he +engaged the archbishops, and bishops, and abbots, and earls, and +all the thanes that were there, to swear England and Normandy +after his day into the hands of his daughter Athelicia, who was +formerly the wife of the Emperor of Saxony. Afterwards he sent +her to Normandy; and with her went her brother Robert, Earl of +Glocester, and Brian, son of the Earl Alan Fergan; (154) and he +let her wed the son of the Earl of Anjou, whose name was Geoffry +Martel. All the French and English, however, disapproved of +this; but the king did it for to have the alliance of the Earl +of Anjou, and for to have help against his nephew William. In +the Lent-tide of this same year was the Earl Charles of Flanders +slain in a church, as he lay there and prayed to God, before the +altar, in the midst of the mass, by his own men. And the King of +France brought William, the son of the Earl of Normandy, and gave +him the earldom; and the people of that land accepted him. This +same William had before taken to wife the daughter of the Earl of +Anjou; but they were afterwards divorced on the plea of +consanguinity. This was all through the King Henry of England. +Afterwards took he to wife the sister of the king's wife of +France; and for this reason the king gave him the earldom of +Flanders. This same year he (155) gave the abbacy of +Peterborough to an abbot named Henry of Poitou, who retained in +hand his abbacy of St. John of Angeli; but all the archbishops +and bishops said that it was against right, and that he could not +have two abbacies on hand. But the same Henry gave the king to +understand, that he had relinquished his abbacy on account of the +great hostility that was in the land; and that he did through the +counsel and leave of the Pope of Rome, and through that of the +Abbot of Clugny, and because he was legate of the Rome-scot. +But, nevertheless, it was not so; for he would retain both in +hand; and did so as long as God's will was. He was in his +clerical state Bishop of Soissons; afterwards monk of Clugny; and +then prior in the same monastery. Afterwards he became prior of +Sevigny; and then, because he was a relation of the King of +England, and of the Earl of Poitou, the earl gave him the abbacy +of St. John's minster of Angeli. Afterwards, through his great +craft, he obtained the archbishopric of Besancon; and had it in +hand three days; after which he justly lost it, because he had +before unjustly obtained it. Afterwards he procured the +bishopric of Saintes; which was five miles from his abbey. That +he had full-nigh a week (156) in hand; but the Abbot of Clugny +brought him thence, as he before did from Besancon. Then he +bethought him, that, if he could be fast-rooted in England, he +might have all his will. Wherefore he besought the king, and +said unto him, that he was an old man--a man completely broken--that +he could not brook the great injustice and the great +hostility that were in their land: and then, by his own +endearours, and by those of all his friends, he earnestly and +expressly entreated for the abbacy of Peterborough. And the king +procured it for him, because he was his relation, and because he +was the principal person to make oath and bear witness when the +son of the Earl of Normandy and the daughter of the Earl of Anjou +were divorced on the plea of consanguinity. Thus wretchedly was +the abbacy given away, betwixt Christmas and Candlemas, at +London; and so he went with the King to Winchester, and thence he +came to Peterborough, and there he dwelt (157) right so as a +drone doth in a hive. For as the drone fretteth and draggeth +fromward all that the bees drag toward [the hive], so did +he.--All that he might take, within and without, of learned and lewd, +so sent he over sea; and no good did there--no good left there. +Think no man unworthily that we say not the truth; for it was +fully known over all the land: that, as soon as he came thither, +which was on the Sunday when men sing "Exurge quare o D---- etc." +immediately after, several persons saw and heard many huntsmen +hunting. The hunters were swarthy, and huge, and ugly; and their +hounds were all swarthy, and broad-eyed, and ugly. And they rode +on swarthy horses, and swarthy bucks. This was seen in the very +deer-fold in the town of Peterborough, and in all the woods from +that same town to Stamford. And the monks heard the horn blow +that they blew in the night. Credible men, who watched them in +the night, said that they thought there might well be about +twenty or thirty horn-blowers. This was seen and heard from the +time that he (158) came thither, all the Lent-tide onward to +Easter. This was his entry; of his exit we can as yet say +nought. God provide. + +A.D. 1128. All this year was the King Henry in Normandy, on +account of the hostility that was between him and his nephew, the +Earl of Flanders. But the earl was wounded in a fight by a +swain; and so wounded he went to the monastery of St. Bertin; +where he soon became a monk, lived five days afterwards, then +died, and was there buried. God honour his soul. That was on +the sixth day before the calends of August. This same year died +the Bishop Randulph Passeflambard of Durham; and was there buried +on the nones of September. And this same year went the aforesaid +Abbot Henry home to his own minster at Poitou by the king's +leave. He gave the king to understand, that he would withal +forgo that minster, and that land, and dwell with him in England, +and in the monastery of Peterborough. But it was not so +nevertheless. He did this because he would be there, through his +crafty wiles, were it a twelvemonth or more, and come again +afterwards. May God Almighty extend his mercy over that wretched +place. This same year came from Jerusalem Hugh of the Temple to +the king in Normandy; and the king received him with much honour, +and gave him rich presents in gold and in silver. And afterwards +he sent him into England; and there he was received by all good +men, who all gave him presents, and in Scotland also: and by him +they sent to Jerusalem much wealth withal in gold and in silver. +And he invited folk out to Jerusalem; and there went with him and +after him more people than ever did before, since that the first +expedition was in the day of Pope Urban. Though it availed +little; for he said, that a mighty war was begun between the +Christians and the heathens; but when they came thither, then was +it nought but leasing. (159) Thus pitifully was all that people +swinked. (160) + +A.D. 1129. In this year sent the King to England after the Earl +Waleram, and after Hugh, the son of Gervase. And they gave +hostages for them. And Hugh went home to his own land in France; +but Waleram was left with the king: and the king gave him all his +land except his castle alone. Afterwards came the king to +England within the harvest: and the earl came with him: and they +became as good friends as they were foes before. Soon after, by +the king's counsel, and by his leave, sent the Archbishop William +of Canterbury over all England, and bade bishops, and abbots, and +archdeacons, and all the priors, monks, and canons, that were in +all the cells in England, and all who had the care and +superintendence of christianity, that they should all come to +London at Michaelmas, and there should speak of all God's rights. +When they came thither, then began the moot on Monday, and +continued without intermission to the Friday. When it all came +forth, then was it all found to be about archdeacons' wives, and +about priests' wives; that they should forgo them by St. Andrew's +mass; and he who would not do that, should forgo his church, and +his house, and his home, and never more have any calling thereto. +This bade the Archbishop William of Canterbury, and all the +diocesan bishops that were then in England, but the king gave +them all leave to go home. And so they went home; and all the +ordinances amounted to nothing. All held their wives by the +king's leave as they did before. This same year died the Bishop +William Giffard of Winchester; and was there buried, on the +eighth day before the calends of February. And the King Henry +gave the bishopric after Michaelmas to the Abbot Henry of +Glastonbury, his nephew, and he was consecrated bishop by the +Archbishop William of Canterbury on the fifteenth day before the +calends of December. This same year died Pope Honorius. Ere he +was well dead, there were chosen two popes. The one was named +Peter, who was monk of Clugny, and was born of the richest men of +Rome; and with him held those of Rome, and the Duke of Sicily. +The other was Gregory: he was a clerk, and was driven out of Rome +by the other pope, and by his kinsmen. With him held the Emperor +of Saxony, and the King of France, and the King Henry of England, +and all those on this side of the Alps. Now was there such +division in Christendom as never was before. May Christ consult +for his wretched folk. This same year, on the night of the mass +of St. Nicholas, a little before day, there was a great +earthquake. + +A.D. 1130. This year was the monastery of Canterbury consecrated +by the Archbishop William, on the fourth day before the nones of +May. There were the Bishops John of Rochester, Gilbert Universal +of London, Henry of Winchester, Alexander of Lincoln, Roger of +Salisbury, Simon of Worcester, Roger of Coventry, Geoffry of +Bath, Evrard of Norwich, Sigefrith of Chichester, Bernard of St. +David's, Owen of Evreux in Normandy, John of Sieyes. On the +fourth day after this was the King Henry in Rochester, when the +town was almost consumed by fire; and the Archbishop William +consecrated the monastery of St. Andrew, and the aforesaid +bishops with him. And the King Henry went over sea into Normandy +in harvest. This same year came the Abbot Henry of Angeli after +Easter to Peterborough, and said that he had relinquished that +monastery (161) withal. After him came the Abbot of Clugny, +Peter by name, to England by the king's leave; and was received +by all, whithersoever he came, with much respect. To +Peterborough he came; and there the Abbot Henry promised him that +he would procure him the minster of Peterborough, that it might +be subject to Clugny. But it is said in the proverb, + "The hedge abideth, + that acres divideth." +May God Almighty frustrate evil designs. Soon after this, went +the Abbot of Clugny home to his country. This year was Angus +slain by the army of the Scots, and there was a great multitude +slain with him. There was God's fight sought upon him, for that +he was all forsworn. + +A.D. 1131. This year, after Christmas, on a Monday night, at the +first sleep, was the heaven on the northern hemisphere (162) all +as if it were burning fire; so that all who saw it were so +dismayed as they never were before. That was on the third day +before the ides of January. This same year was so great a +murrain of cattle as never was before in the memory of man over +all England. That was in neat cattle and in swine; so that in a +town where there were ten ploughs going, or twelve, there was not +left one: and the man that had two hundred or three hundred +swine, had not one left. Afterwards perished the hen fowls; then +shortened the fleshmeat, and the cheese, and the butter. May God +better it when it shall be his will. And the King Henry came +home to England before harvest, after the mass of St. Peter "ad +vincula". This same year went the Abbot Henry, before Easter, +from Peterborough over sea to Normandy, and there spoke with the +king, and told him that the Abbot of Clugny had desired him to +come to him, and resign to him the abbacy of Angeli, after which +he would go home by his leave. And so he went home to his own +minster, and there remained even to midsummer day. And the next +day after the festival of St. John chose the monks an abbot of +themselves, brought him into the church in procession, sang "Te +Deum laudamus", rang the bells, set him on the abbot's throne, +did him all homage, as they should do their abbot: and the earl, +and all the head men, and the monks of the minster, drove the +other Abbot Henry out of the monastery. And they had need; for +in five-and-twenty winters had they never hailed one good day. +Here failed him all his mighty crafts. Now it behoved him, that +he crope in his skin into every corner, if peradventure there +were any unresty wrench, (163) whereby he might yet once more +betray Christ and all Christian people. Then retired he into +Clugny, where he was held so fast, that he could not move east or +west. The Abbot of Clugny said that they had lost St. John's +minster through him, and through his great sottishness. Then +could he not better recompense them; but he promised them, and +swore oaths on the holy cross, that if he might go to England he +should get them the minster of Peterborough; so that he should +set there the prior of Clugny, with a churchwarden, a treasurer, +and a sacristan: and all the things that were within the minster +and without, he should procure for them. Thus he departed into +France; and there remained all that year. Christ provide for the +wretched monks of Peterborough, and for that wretched place. Now +do they need the help of Christ and of all Christian folk. + +A.D. 1132. This year came King Henry to this land. Then came +Abbot Henry, and betrayed the monks of Peterborough to the king, +because he would subject that minster to Clugny; so that the king +was well nigh entrapped, and sent after the monks. But through +the grace of God, and through the Bishop of Salisbury, and the +Bishop of Lincoln, and the other rich men that were there, the +king knew that he proceeded with treachery. When he no more +could do, then would he that his nephew should be Abbot of +Peterborough. But Christ forbade. Not very long after this was +it that the king sent after him, and made him give up the Abbey +of Peterborough, and go out of the land. And the king gave the +abbacy to a prior of St. Neot's, called Martin, who came on St. +Peter's mass-day with great pomp into the minster. + +A.D. 1135. In this year went the King Henry over sea at the +Lammas; and the next day, as he lay asleep on ship, the day +darkened over all lands, and the sun was all as it were a three +night old moon, and the stars about him at midday. Men were very +much astonished and terrified, and said that a great event should +come hereafter. So it did; for that same year was the king dead, +the next day after St. Andrew's mass-day, in Normandy. Then was +there soon tribulation in the land; for every man that might, +soon robbed another. Then his sons and his friends took his +body, and brought it to England, and buried it at Reading. A +good man he was; and there was great dread of him. No man durst +do wrong with another in his time. Peace he made for man and +beast. Whoso bare his burthen of gold and silver, durst no man +say ought to him but good. Meanwhile was his nephew come to +England, Stephen de Blois. He came to London, and the people of +London received him, and sent after the Archbishop William +Curboil, and hallowed him to king on midwinter day. In this +king's time was all dissention, and evil, and rapine; for against +him rose soon the rich men who were traitors; and first of all +Baldwin de Redvers, who held Exeter against him. But the king +beset it; and afterwards Baldwin accorded. Then took the others, +and held their castles against him; and David, King of Scotland, +took to Wessington against him. Nevertheless their messengers +passed between them; and they came together, and were settled, +but it availed little. + +A.D. 1137. This year went the King Stephen over sea to Normandy, +and there was received; for that they concluded that he should be +all such as the uncle was; and because he had got his treasure: +but he dealed it out, and scattered it foolishly. Much had King +Henry gathered, gold and silver, but no good did men for his soul +thereof. When the King Stephen came to England, he held his +council at Oxford; where he seized the Bishop Roger of Sarum, and +Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln, and the chancellor Roger, his +nephew; and threw all into prison till they gave up their +castles. When the traitors understood that he was a mild man, +and soft, and good, and no justice executed, then did they all +wonder. They had done him homage, and sworn oaths, but they no +truth maintained. They were all forsworn, and forgetful of their +troth; for every rich man built his castles, which they held +against him: and they filled the land full of castles. They +cruelly oppressed the wretched men of the land with castle-works; +and when the castles were made, they filled them with devils and +evil men. Then took they those whom they supposed to have any +goods, both by night and by day, labouring men and women, and +threw them into prison for their gold and silver, and inflicted +on them unutterable tortures; for never were any martyrs so +tortured as they were. Some they hanged up by the feet, and +smoked them with foul smoke; and some by the thumbs, or by the +head, and hung coats of mail on their feet. They tied knotted +strings about their heads, and twisted them till the pain went to +the brains. They put them into dungeons, wherein were adders, +and snakes, and toads; and so destroyed them. Some they placed +in a crucet-house; that is, in a chest that was short and narrow, +and not deep; wherein they put sharp stones, and so thrust the +man therein, that they broke all the limbs. In many of the +castles were things loathsome and grim, called "Sachenteges", of +which two or three men had enough to bear one. It was thus made: +that is, fastened to a beam; and they placed a sharp iron +[collar] about the man's throat and neck, so that he could in no +direction either sit, or lie, or sleep, but bear all that iron. +Many thousands they wore out with hunger. I neither can, nor may +I tell all the wounds and all the pains which they inflicted on +wretched men in this land. This lasted the nineteen winters +while Stephen was king; and it grew continually worse and worse. +They constantly laid guilds on the towns, and called it +"tenserie"; and when the wretched men had no more to give, then +they plundered and burned all the towns; that well thou mightest +go a whole day's journey and never shouldest thou find a man +sitting in a town, nor the land tilled. Then was corn dear, and +flesh, and cheese, and butter; for none was there in the land. +Wretched men starved of hunger. Some had recourse to alms, who +were for a while rich men, and some fled out of the land. Never +yet was there more wretchedness in the land; nor ever did heathen +men worse than they did: for, after a time, they spared neither +church nor churchyard, but took all the goods that were therein, +and then burned the church and all together. Neither did they +spare a bishop's land, or an abbot's, or a priest's, but +plundered both monks and clerks; and every man robbed another who +could. If two men, or three, came riding to a town, all the +township fled for them, concluding them to be robbers. The +bishops and learned men cursed them continually, but the effect +thereof was nothing to them; for they were all accursed, and +forsworn, and abandoned. To till the ground was to plough the +sea: the earth bare no corn, for the land was all laid waste by +such deeds; and they said openly, that Christ slept, and his +saints. Such things, and more than we can say, suffered we +nineteen winters for our sins. In all this evil time held Abbot +Martin his abbacy twenty years and a half, and eight days, with +much tribulation; and found the monks and the guests everything +that behoved them; and held much charity in the house; and, +notwithstanding all this, wrought on the church, and set thereto +lands and rents, and enriched it very much, and bestowed +vestments upon it. And he brought them into the new minster on +St. Peter's mass-day with much pomp; which was in the year, from +the incarnation of our Lord, 1140, and in the twenty-third from +the destruction of the place by fire. And he went to Rome, and +there was well received by the Pope Eugenius; from whom he +obtained their privileges:--one for all the lands of the abbey, +and another for the lands that adjoin to the churchyard; and, if +he might have lived longer, so he meant to do concerning the +treasury. And he got in the lands that rich men retained by main +strength. Of William Malduit, who held the castle of Rockingham, +he won Cotingham and Easton; and of Hugh de Walteville, he won +Hirtlingbury and Stanwick, and sixty shillings from Oldwinkle +each year. And he made many monks, and planted a vine-yard, and +constructed many works, and made the town better than it was +before. He was a good monk, and a good man; and for this reason +God and good men loved him. Now we will relate in part what +happened in King Stephen's time. In his reign the Jews of +Norwich bought a Christian child before Easter, and tortured him +after the same manner as our Lord was tortured; and on Long-Friday +(164) hanged him on a rood, in mockery of our Lord, and +afterwards buried him. They supposed that it would be concealed, +but our Lord showed that he was a holy martyr. And the monks +took him, and buried him with high honour in the minster. And +through our Lord he worketh wonderful and manifold miracles, and +is called St. William. + +A.D. 1138. In this year came David, King of Scotland, with an +immense army to this land. He was ambitious to win this land; +but against him came William, Earl of Albemarle, to whom the king +had committed York, and other borderers, with few men, and fought +against them, and routed the king at the Standard, and slew very +many of his gang. + +A.D. 1140. In this year wished the King Stephen to take Robert, +Earl of Gloucester, the son of King Henry; but he could not, for +he was aware of it. After this, in the Lent, the sun and the day +darkened about the noon-tide of the day, when men were eating; +and they lighted candles to eat by. That was the thirteenth day +before the kalends of April. Men were very much struck with +wonder. Thereafter died William, Archbishop of Canterbury; and +the king made Theobald archbishop, who was Abbot of Bec. After +this waxed a very great war betwixt the king and Randolph, Earl +of Chester; not because he did not give him all that he could ask +him, as he did to all others; but ever the more he gave them, the +worse they were to him. The Earl held Lincoln against the king, +and took away from him all that he ought to have. And the king +went thither, and beset him and his brother William de Romare in +the castle. And the earl stole out, and went after Robert, Earl +of Glocester, and brought him thither with a large army. And +they fought strenuously on Candlemas day against their lord, and +took him; for his men forsook him and fled. And they led him to +Bristol, and there put him into prison in close quarters. Then +was all England stirred more than ere was, and all evil was in +the land. Afterwards came the daughter of King Henry, who had +been Empress of Germany, and now was Countess of Anjou. She came +to London; but the people of London attempted to take her, and +she fled, losing many of her followers. After this the Bishop of +Winchester, Henry, the brother of King Stephen, spake with Earl +Robert, and with the empress, and swore them oaths, "that he +never more would hold with the king, his brother," and cursed all +the men that held with him, and told them, that he would give +them up Winchester; and he caused them to come thither. When +they were therein, then came the king's queen with all her +strength, and beset them, so that there was great hunger therein. +When they could no longer hold out, then stole they out, and +fled; but those without were aware, and followed them, and took +Robert, Earl of Glocester, and led him to Rochester, and put him +there into prison; but the empress fled into a monastery. Then +went the wise men between the king's friends and the earl's +friends; and settled so that they should let the king out of +prison for the earl, and the earl for the king; and so they did. +After this settled the king and Earl Randolph at Stamford, and +swore oaths, and plighted their troth, that neither should betray +the other. But it availed nothing. For the king afterwards took +him at Northampton, through wicked counsel, and put him into +prison; and soon after he let him out again, through worse +counsel, on the condition that he swore by the crucifix, and +found hostages, that he would give up all his castles. Some he +gave up, and some gave he not up; and did then worse than he +otherwise would. Then was England very much divided. Some held +with the king, and some with the empress; for when the king was +in prison, the earls and the rich men supposed that he never more +would come out: and they settled with the empress, and brought +her into Oxford, and gave her the borough. When the king was +out, he heard of this, and took his force, and beset her in the +tower. (165) And they let her down in the night from the tower +by ropes. And she stole out, and fled, and went on foot to +Wallingford. Afterwards she went over sea; and those of Normandy +turned all from the king to the Earl of Anjou; some willingly, +and some against their will; for he beset them till they gave up +their castles, and they had no help of the king. Then went +Eustace, the king's son, to France, and took to wife the sister +of the King of France. He thought to obtain Normandy thereby; +but he sped little, and by good right; for he was an evil man. +Wherever he was, he did more evil than good; he robbed the lands, +and levied heavy guilds upon them. He brought his wife to +England, and put her into the castle at... (166) Good woman she +was; but she had little bliss with him; and Christ would not that +he should long reign. He therefore soon died, and his mother +also. And the Earl of Anjou died; and his son Henry took to the +earldom. And the Queen of France parted from the king; and she +came to the young Earl Henry; and he took her to wife, and all +Poitou with her. Then went he with a large force into England, +and won some castles; and the king went against him with a much +larger force. Nevertheless, fought they not; but the archbishop +and the wise men went between them, and made this settlement: +That the king should be lord and king while he lived, and after +his day Henry should be king: that Henry should take him for a +father; and he him for a son: that peace and union should be +betwixt them, and in all England. This and the other provisions +that they made, swore the king and the earl to observe; and all +the bishops, and the earls, and the rich men. Then was the earl +received at Winchester, and at London, with great worship; and +all did him homage, and swore to keep the peace. And there was +soon so good a peace as never was there before. Then was the +king stronger than he ever was before. And the earl went over +sea; and all people loved him; for he did good justice, and made +peace. + +A.D. 1154. In this year died the King Stephen; and he was buried +where his wife and his son were buried, at Faversham; which +monastery they founded. When the king died, then was the earl +beyond sea; but no man durst do other than good for the great +fear of him. When he came to England, then was he received with +great worship, and blessed to king in London on the Sunday before +midwinter day. And there held he a full court. The same day +that Martin, Abbot of Peterborough, should have gone thither, +then sickened he, and died on the fourth day before the nones of +January; and the monks, within the day, chose another of +themselves, whose name was William de Walteville, (167) a good +clerk, and good man, and well beloved of the king, and of all +good men. And all the monks buried the abbot with high honours. +And soon the newly chosen abbot, and the monks with him, went to +Oxford to the king. And the king gave him the abbacy; and he +proceeded soon afterwards to Peterborough; where he remained with +the abbot, ere he came home. And the king was received with +great worship at Peterborough, in full procession. And so he was +also at Ramsey, and at Thorney, and at.... and at Spalding, and +at.... + + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) This introductory part of the "Chronicle" to An. I. first + printed by Gibson from the Laud MS. only, has been corrected + by a collation of two additional MSS. in the British Museum, + "Cotton Tiberius B" lv. and "Domitianus A" viii. Some + defects are also here supplied. The materials of this part + are to be found in Pliny, Solinus, Orosius, Gildas, and + Bede. The admeasurement of the island, however inaccurate, + is from the best authorities of those times, and followed by + much later historians. + +(2) Gibson, following the Laud MS. has made six nations of five, + by introducing the British and Welsh as two distinct tribes. + +(3) "De tractu Armoricano."--Bede, "Ecclesiastical History" i. + I. The word Armenia occurring a few lines above in Bede, it + was perhaps inadvertently written by the Saxon compiler of + the "Chronicle" instead of Armorica. + +(4) In case of a disputed succession, "Ubi res veniret in + dabium," etc.--Bede, "Ecclesiastical History" i. I. + +(5) Reada, Aelfr.; Reuda, Bede, Hunt. etc. Perhaps it was + originally Reutha or Reotha. + +(6) This is an error, arising from the inaccurately written MSS. + of Orosius and Bede; where "in Hybernia" and "in Hiberniam" + occur for "in hiberna". The error is retained in Wheloc's + Bede. + +(7) Labienus = Laberius. Venerable Bede also, and Orosius, whom + he follows verbatim, have "Labienus". It is probably a + mistake of some very ancient scribe, who improperly supplied + the abbreviation "Labius" (for "Laberius") by "Labienus". + +(8) Of these early transactions in Britain King Alfred supplies + us with a brief but circumstantial account in his Saxon + paraphrase of "Orosius". + +(9) "8 die Aprilis", Flor. M. West. + +(10) Gibbon regrets this chronology, i.e. from the creation of + the world, which he thinks preferable to the vulgar mode + from the Christian aera. But how vague and uncertain the + scale which depends on a point so remote and undetermined as + the precise time when the world was created. If we examine + the chronometers of different writers we shall find a + difference, between the maximum and the minimum, of 3368 + years. The Saxon chronology seems to be founded on that of + Eusebius, which approaches the medium between the two + extremes. + +(11) An. 42, Flor. This act is attributed by Orosius, and Bede + who follows him, to the threatening conduct of Caligula, + with a remark, that it was he (Pilate) who condemned our + Lord to death. + +(12) An. 48, Flor. See the account of this famine in King + Alfred's "Orosius". + +(13) Those writers who mention this discovery of the holy cross, + by Helena the mother of Constantine, disagree so much in + their chronology, that it is a vain attempt to reconcile + them to truth or to each other. This and the other notices + of ecclesiastical matters, whether Latin or Saxon, from the + year 190 to the year 380 of the Laud MS. and 381 of the + printed Chronicle, may be safely considered as + interpolations, probably posterior to the Norman Conquest. + +(14) This is not to be understood strictly; gold being used as a + general term for money or coin of every description; great + quantities of which, it is well known, have been found at + different times, and in many different places, in this + island: not only of gold, but of silver, brass, copper, etc. + +(15) An interpolated legend, from the "Gesta Pontificum", + repeated by Bede, Florence, Matth. West., Fordun, and + others. The head was said to be carried to Edessa. + +(16) Merely of those called from him "Benedictines". But the + compiler of the Cotton MS., who was probably a monk of that + order, seems not to acknowledge any other. Matthew of + Westminster places his death in 536. + +(17) For an interesting and minute account of the arrival of + Augustine and his companions in the Isle of Thanet, their + entrance into Canterbury, and their general reception in + England, vid. Bede, "Hist. Eccles." i. 25, and the following + chapters, with the Saxon translation by King Alfred. The + succeeding historians have in general repeated the very + words of Bede. + +(18) It was originally, perhaps, in the MSS. ICC. the + abbreviation for 1,200; which is the number of the slain in + Bede. The total number of the monks of Bangor is said to + have been 2,100; most of whom appear to have been employed + in prayer on this occasion, and only fifty escape by flight. + Vide Bede, "Hist. Eccles." ii. 2, and the tribe of Latin + historians who copy him. + +(19) Literally, "swinged, or scourged him." Both Bede and Alfred + begin by recording the matter as a vision, or a dream; + whence the transition is easy to a matter of fact, as here + stated by the Norman interpolators of the "Saxon Annals". + +(20) This epithet appears to have been inserted in some copies of + the "Saxon Chronicle" so early as the tenth century; to + distinguish the "old" church or minster at Winchester from + the "new", consecrated A.D. 903. + +(21) Beverley-minster, in Yorkshire. + +(22) He was a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, the birth-place of St. + Paul. + +(23) This brief notice of Dryhtelm, for so I find the name + written in "Cotton Tiberius B iv." is totally unintelligible + without a reference to Bede's "Ecclesiastical History", v. + 12; where a curious account of him may be found, which is + copied by Matthew of Westminster, anno. 699. + +(25) Wothnesbeorhge, Ethelw.; Wonsdike, Malmsb.; Wonebirih, H. + Hunt; Wodnesbeorh, Flor.; Wodnesbirch, M. West. There is no + reason, therefore, to transfer the scene of action to + Woodbridge, as some have supposed from an erroneous reading. + +(26) The establishment of the "English school" at Rome is + attributed to Ina; a full account of which, and of the + origin of "Romescot" or "Peter-pence" for the support of it, + may be seen in Matthew of Westminster. + +(27) Beorgforda, Ethelw.; Beorhtforda, Flor.; Hereford and + Bereford, H. Hunt; Beorford, M. West. This battle of + Burford has been considerably amplified by Henry of + Huntingdon, and after him by Matthew of Westminster. The + former, among other absurdities, talks of "Amazonian" + battle-axes. They both mention the banner of the "golden + dragon" etc. + +(28) The minuteness of this narrative, combined with the + simplicity of it, proves that it was written at no great + distance of time from the event. It is the first that + occurs of any length in the older MSS. of the "Saxon + Chronicle". + +(29) Penga in the original, i.e. "of pence", or "in pence"; + because the silver penny, derived from the Roman "denarius", + was the standard coin in this country for more than a + thousand years. It was also used as a weight, being the + twentieth part of an ounce. + +(30) Since called "sheriff"; i.e. the reve, or steward, of the + shire. "Exactor regis".--Ethelw. + +(31) This is the Grecian method of computation; between the hours + of three and six in the morning. It must be recollected, + that before the distribution of time into hours, minutes, + and seconds, the day and night were divided into eight equal + portions, containing three hours each; and this method was + continued long afterwards by historians. + +(32) This wanton act of barbarity seems to have existed only in + the depraved imagination of the Norman interpolator of the + "Saxon Annals", who eagerly and impatiently dispatches the + story thus, in order to introduce the subsequent account of + the synod at Bapchild, so important in his eyes. Hoveden + and Wallingford and others have repeated the idle tale; but + I have not hitherto found it in any historian of authority. + +(33) St. Kenelm is said to have succeeded Cenwulf: + + "In the foure and twentithe yere of his kyngdom + Kenulf wente out of this worlde, and to the joye of + hevene com; + It was after that oure Lord in his moder alygte + Eigte hondred yet and neygentene, by a countes rigte, + Seint Kenelm his yonge sone in his sevende yere + Kyng was ymad after him, theg he yong were." + --"Vita S. Kenelmi, MS. Coll. Trin Oxon." + No. 57. Arch. + +(34) i.e. the Danes; or, as they are sometimes called, Northmen, + which is a general term including all those numerous tribes + that issued at different times from the north of Europe, + whether Danes, Norwegians, Sweons, Jutes, or Goths, etc.; + who were all in a state of paganism at this time. + +(35) Aetheredus,--Asser, Ethelwerd, etc. We have therefore + adopted this orthography. + +(36) It is now generally written, as pronounced, "Swanage". + +(37) For a more circumstantial account of the Danish or Norman + operations against Paris at this time, the reader may + consult Felibien, "Histoire de la Ville de Paris", liv. iii. + and the authorities cited by him in the margin. This is + that celebrated siege of Paris minutely described by Abbo, + Abbot of Fleury, in two books of Latin hexameters; which, + however barbarous, contain some curious and authentic matter + relating to the history of that period. + +(38) This bridge was built, or rebuilt on a larger plan than + before, by Charles the Bald, in the year 861, "to prevent + the Danes or Normans (says Felibien) from making themselves + masters of Paris so easily as they had already done so many + times," etc.--"pour empescher que les Normans ne se + rendissent maistres de Paris aussi facilement qu'ils + l'avoient deja fait tant de lois," etc.--Vol. i. p. 91, + folio. It is supposed to be the famous bridge afterwards + called "grand pont" or "pont au change",--the most ancient + bridge at Paris, and the only one which existed at this + time. + +(39) Or, in Holmsdale, Surry: hence the proverb-- + + "This is Holmsdale, + Never conquer'd, never shall." + +(40) The pirates of Armorica, now Bretagne; so called, because + they abode day and night in their ships; from lid, a ship, + and wiccian, to watch or abide day and night. + +(41) So I understand the word. Gibson, from Wheloc, says--"in + aetatis vigore;" a fact contradicted by the statement of + almost every historian. Names of places seldom occur in old + MSS. with capital initials. + +(42) i.e. the feast of the Holy Innocents; a festival of great + antiquity. + +(43) i.e. the secular clergy, who observed no rule; opposed to + the regulars, or monks. + +(44) This poetical effusion on the coronation, or rather + consecration, of King Edgar, as well as the following on his + death, appears to be imitated in Latin verse by Ethelwerd at + the end of his curious chronicle. This seems at least to + prove that they were both written very near the time, as + also the eulogy on his reign, inserted 959. + +(45) The following passage from Cotton Tiberius B iv., relating + to the accession of Edward the Martyr, should be added here-- + + In his days, + On account of his youth, + The opponents of God + Broke through God's laws; + Alfhere alderman, + And others many; + And marr'd monastic rules; + Minsters they razed, + And monks drove away, + And put God's laws to flight-- + Laws that King Edgar + Commanded the holy + Saint Ethelwold bishop + Firmly to settle-- + Widows they stript + Oft and at random. + Many breaches of right + And many bad laws + Have arisen since; + And after-times + Prove only worse. + Then too was Oslac + The mighty earl + Hunted from England's shores. + +(46) Florence of Worcester mentions three synods this year; + Kyrtlinege, Calne, and Ambresbyrig. + +(47) Vid. "Hist. Eliens." ii. 6. He was a great benefactor to + the church of Ely. + +(48) This was probably the veteran historian of that name, who + was killed in the severe encounter with the Danes at Alton + (Aethelingadene) in the year 1001. + +(49) i.e. at Canterbury. He was chosen or nominated before, by + King Ethelred and his council, at Amesbury: vid. an. 994. + This notice of his consecration, which is confirmed by + Florence of Worcester, is now first admitted into the text + on the authority of three MSS. + +(50) Not the present district so-called, but all that north of + the Sea of Severn, as opposed to West-Wales, another name + for Cornwall. + +(51) See a more full and circumstantial account of these events, + with some variation of names, in Florence of Worcester. + +(52) The successor of Elfeah, or Alphege, in the see of + Winchester, on the translation of the latter to the + archiepiscopal see of Canterbury. + +(53) This passage, though very important, is rather confused, + from the Variations in the MSS.; so that it is difficult to + ascertain the exact proportion of ships and armour which + each person was to furnish. "Vid. Flor." an. 1008. + +(54) These expressions in the present tense afford a strong proof + that the original records of these transactions are nearly + coeval with the transactions themselves. Later MSS. use the + past tense. + +(55) i.e. the Chiltern Hills; from which the south-eastern part + of Oxfordshire is called the Chiltern district. + +(56) "Leofruna abbatissa".--Flor. The insertion of this + quotation from Florence of Worcester is important, as it + confirms the reading adopted in the text. The abbreviation + "abbt", instead of "abb", seems to mark the abbess. She was + the last abbess of St. Mildred's in the Isle of Thanet; not + Canterbury, as Harpsfield and Lambard say. + +(57) This was a title bestowed on the queen. + +(58) The "seven" towns mentioned above are reduced here to + "five"; probably because two had already submitted to the + king on the death of the two thanes, Sigferth and Morcar. + These five were, as originally, Leicester, Lincoln, + Stamford, Nottingham, and Derby. Vid. an. 942, 1013. + +(59) There is a marked difference respecting the name of this + alderman in MSS. Some have Ethelsy, as above; others, + Elfwine, and Ethelwine. The two last may be reconciled, as + the name in either case would now be Elwin; but Ethelsy, and + Elsy are widely different. Florence of Worcester not only + supports the authority of Ethelwine, but explains it "Dei + amici." + +(60) Matthew of Westminster says the king took up the body with + his own hands. + +(61) Leofric removed the see to Exeter. + +(62) So Florence of Worcester, whose authority we here follow for + the sake of perspicuity, though some of these events are + placed in the MSS. to very different years; as the story of + Beorn. + +(63) i.e. The ships of Sweyne, who had retired thither, as before + described. + +(64) "Vid. Flor." A.D. 1049, and verbatim from him in the same + year, Sim. Dunelm. "inter X. Script. p. 184, I, 10. See + also Ordericus Vitalis, A.D. 1050. This dedication of the + church of St. Remi, a structure well worth the attention of + the architectural antiquary, is still commemorated by an + annual loire, or fair, on the first of October, at which the + editor was present in the year 1815, and purchased at a + stall a valuable and scarce history of Rheims, from which he + extracts the following account of the synod mentioned above:-- + + "Il fut assemble a l'occasion de la dedicace de la + nouvelle eglise qu' Herimar, abbe de ce monastere, avoit + fait batir, seconde par les liberalites des citoyens, etc." + ("Hist. de Reims", p. 226.) But, according to our + Chronicle, the pope took occasion from this synod to make + some general regulations which concerned all Christendom. + +(65) Hereman and Aldred, who went on a mission to the pope from + King Edward, as stated in the preceding year. + +(66) Nine ships were put out of commission the year before; but + five being left on the pay-list for a twelvemonth, they were + also now laid up. + +(67) The ancient name of Westminster; which came into disuse + because there was another Thorney in Cambridgeshire. + +(68) i.e. at Gloucester, according to the printed Chronicle; + which omits all that took place in the meantime at London + and Southwark. + +(69) Now Westminster. + +(70) i.e. Earl Godwin and his crew. + +(71) i.e. from the Isle of Portland; where Godwin had landed + after the plunder of the Isle of Wight. + +(72) i.e. Dungeness; where they collected all the ships stationed + in the great bay formed by the ports of Romney, Hithe, and + Folkstone. + +(73) i.e. Godwin and his son Harold. + +(74) i.e. the tide of the river. + +(75) Godwin's earldom consisted of Wessex, Sussex, and Kent: + Sweyn's of Oxford, Gloucester, Hereford, Somerset, and + Berkshire: and Harold's of Essex, East-Anglia, Huntingdon, + and Cambridgeshire. + +(76) The church, dedicated to St. Olave, was given by Alan Earl + of Richmond, about thirty-three years afterwards, to the + first abbot of St. Mary's in York, to assist him in the + construction of the new abbey. It appears from a MS. quoted + by Leland, that Bootham-bar was formerly called "Galman-hithe", + not Galmanlith, as printed by Tanner and others. + +(77) Called St. Ethelbert's minster; because the relics of the + holy King Ethelbert were there deposited and preserved. + +(78) The place where this army was assembled, though said to be + very nigh to Hereford, was only so with reference to the + great distance from which some part of the forces came; as + they were gathered from all England. They met, I + conjecture, on the memorable spot called "Harold's Cross", + near Cheltenham, and thence proceeded, as here stated, to + Gloucester. + +(79) This was no uncommon thing among the Saxon clergy, bishops + and all. The tone of elevated diction in which the writer + describes the military enterprise of Leofgar and his + companions, testifies his admiration. + +(80) See more concerning him in Florence of Worcester. His lady, + Godiva, is better known at Coventry. See her story at large + in Bromton and Matthew of Westminster. + +(81) He died at his villa at Bromleage (Bromley in + Staffordshire).--Flor. + +(82) He built a new church from the foundation, on a larger plan. + The monastery existed from the earliest times. + +(83) Florence of Worcester says, that he went through Hungary to + Jerusalem. + +(84) This must not be confounded with a spire-steeple. The + expression was used to denote a tower, long before spires + were invented. + +(85) Lye interprets it erroneously the "festival" of St. Martin.--"ad + S. Martini festum:" whereas the expression relates to + the place, not to the time of his death, which is mentioned + immediately afterwards. + +(86) This threnodia on the death of Edward the Confessor will be + found to correspond, both in metre and expression, with the + poetical paraphrase of Genesis ascribed to Caedmon. + +(87) These facts, though stated in one MS. only, prove the early + cooperation of Tosty with the King of Norway. It is + remarkable that this statement is confirmed by Snorre, who + says that Tosty was with Harald, the King of Norway, in all + these expeditions. Vid "Antiq. Celto-Scand." p. 204. + +(88) i.e. Harold, King of England; "our" king, as we find him + Afterwards called in B iv., to distinguish him from Harald, + King of Norway. + +(89) Not only the twelve smacks with which he went into Scotland + during the summer, as before stated, but an accession of + force from all quarters. + +(90) On the north bank of the Ouse, according to Florence of + Worcester; the enemy having landed at Richale (now + "Riccal"). Simeon of Durham names the spot "Apud Fulford," + i.e. Fulford-water, south of the city of York. + +(91) It is scarcely necessary to observe that the term "English" + begins about this time to be substituted for "Angles"; and + that the Normans are not merely the Norwegians, but the + Danes and other adventurers from the north, joined with the + forces of France and Flanders; who, we shall presently see, + overwhelmed by their numbers the expiring, liberties of + England. The Franks begin also to assume the name of + Frencyscan or "Frenchmen". + +(92) i.e. in the expedition against the usurper William. + +(93) i.e.--threw off their allegiance to the Norman usurper, + and became voluntary outlaws. The habits of these outlaws, + or, at least, of their imitators and descendants in the next + century, are well described in the romance of "Ivanhoe". + +(94) The author of the Gallo-Norman poem printed by Sparke + elevates his diction to a higher tone, when describing the + feasts of this same Hereward, whom he calls "le uthlage + hardi." + +(95) Or much "coin"; many "scaettae"; such being the denomination + of the silver money of the Saxons. + +(96) Florence of Worcester and those who follow him say that + William proceeded as far as Abernethy; where Malcolm met + him, and surrendered to him. + +(97) Whence he sailed to Bretagne, according to Flor. S. Dunelm, + etc.; but according to Henry of Huntingdon he fled directly + to Denmark, returning afterwards with Cnute and Hacco, who + invaded England With a fleet of 200 sail. + +(98) i.e. Earl Waltheof. + +(99) This notice of St. Petronilla, whose name and existence seem + scarcely to have been known to the Latin historians, we owe + exclusively to the valuable MS. "Cotton Tiberius" B lv. Yet + if ever female saint deserved to be commemorated as a + conspicuous example of early piety and christian zeal, it + must be Petronilla. + +(100) The brevity of our Chronicle here, and in the two following + years, in consequence of the termination of "Cotton + Tiberius" B iv., is remarkable. From the year 1083 it + assumes a character more decidedly Anglo-Norman. + +(101) i.e. In the service; by teaching them a new-fangled chant, + brought from Feschamp in Normandy, instead of that to which + they had been accustomed, and which is called the Gregorian + chant. + +(102) Literally, "afeared of them"--i.e. terrified by them. + +(103) Probably along the open galleries in the upper story of the + choir. + +(104) "Slaegan", in its first sense, signifies "to strike + violently"; whence the term "sledge-hammer". This + consideration will remove the supposed pleonasm in the Saxon + phrase, which is here literally translated. + +(105) "Gild," Sax.; which in this instance was a land-tax of one + shilling to a yardland. + +(106)--and of Clave Kyrre, King of Norway. Vid. "Antiq. + Celto-Scand". + +(107) Because there was a mutiny in the Danish fleet; which was + carried to such a height, that the king, after his return to + Denmark, was slain by his own subjects. Vid. "Antiq. Celto-Scand", + also our "Chronicle" A.D. 1087. + +(108) i.e. a fourth part of an acre. + +(109) At Winchester; where the king held his court at Easter in + the following year; and the survey was accordingly deposited + there; whence it was called "Rotulus Wintoniae", and "Liber + Wintoniae". + +(110) An evident allusion to the compilation of Doomsday book, + already described in A.D. 1085. + +(111) Uppe-land, Sax.--i.e. village-church. + +(112) i.e. jurisdiction. We have adopted the modern title of the + district; but the Saxon term occurs in many of the ancient + evidences of Berkeley Castle. + +(113) i.e. of the conspirators. + +(114) Literally "became his man"--"Ic becom eowr man" was the + formula of doing homage. + +(115) Literally a "gossip"; but such are the changes which words + undergo in their meaning as well as in their form, that a + title of honour formerly implying a spiritual relationship + in God, is now applied only to those whose conversation + resembles the contemptible tittle-tattle of a Christening. + +(116) From this expression it is evident, that though preference + was naturally and properly given to hereditary claims, the + monarchy of Scotland, as well as of England, was in + principle "elective". The doctrine of hereditary, of + divine, of indefeasible "right", is of modern growth. + +(117) See the following year towards the end, where Duncan is + said to be slain. + +(118) Peitevin, which is the connecting link between + "Pictaviensem" and "Poitou". + +(119) Now called Southampton, to distinguish it from Northampton, + but the common people in both neighbourhoods generally say + "Hamton" to this day (1823). + +(120) The title is now Earl of Shrewsbury. + +(121) The fourth of April. Vid. "Ord. Vit." + +(122) Commonly called "Peter-pence". + +(123) Literally "head-men, or chiefs". The term is still + retained with a slight variation in the north of Europe, as + the "hetman" Platoff of celebrated memory. + +(124) This name is now written, improperly, Cadogan; though the + ancient pronunciation continues. "Cadung", "Ann. Wav." + erroneously, perhaps, for "Cadugn". + +(125) It was evidently, therefore, not on Michaelmas day, but + during the continuance of the mass or festival which was + celebrated till the octave following. + +(126) In the original "he"; so that the Saxons agreed with the + Greeks and Romans with respect to the gender of a comet. + +(127) Literally "took leave": hence the modern phrase to signify + the departure of one person from another, which in feudal + times could not be done without leave or permission formally + obtained. + +(128) That is, within the twelve days after Christmas, or the + interval between Christmas day, properly called the + Nativity, and the Epiphany, the whole of which was called + Christmas-tide or Yule-tide, and was dedicated to feasting + and mirth. + +(129) The King of Norway and his men. "Vid. Flor." + +(130) His monument is still to be seen there, a plain gravestone + of black marble, of the common shape called "dos d'ane"; + such as are now frequently seen, though of inferior + materials, in the churchyards of villages; and are only one + remove from the grassy sod. + +(131) i.e. before he left Winchester for London; literally + "there-right"--an expression still used in many parts of + England. Neither does the word "directly", which in its + turn has almost become too vulgar to be used, nor its + substitute, "immediately", which has nearly superseded it, + appear to answer the purpose so well as the Saxon, which is + equally expressive with the French "sur le champ". + +(132) This expression shows the adherence of the writer to the + Saxon line of kings, and his consequent satisfaction in + recording this alliance of Henry with the daughter of + Margaret of Scotland. + +(133) "Auvergne" at that time was an independent province, and + formed no part of France. About the middle of the + fourteenth century we find Jane, Countess of Auvergne and + Boulogne, and Queen of France, assisting in the dedication + of the church of the Carmelites at Paris, together with + Queen Jeanne d'Evreux, third wife and widow of Charles IV., + Blanche of Navarre, widow of Philip VI., and Jeanne de + France, Queen of Navarre.--Felib. "Histoire de Paris", + vol. I, p. 356. + +(134) A title taken from a town in Normandy, now generally + written Moretaine, or Moretagne; de Moreteon, de Moritonio, + Flor. + +(135) "cena Domini"--commonly called Maundy Thursday. + +(136) Now Tinchebrai. + +(137) Matilda, Mathilde, or Maud. + +(138) Henry V. of Germany, the son of Henry IV. + +(139) Or, "in the early part of the night," etc. + +(140) That is, the territory was not a "fee simple", but subject + to "taillage" or taxation; and that particular species is + probably here intended which is called in old French "en + queuage", an expression not very different from that in the + text above. + +(141) i.e. to the earldom of Flanders. + +(142) "Mense Julio".--Flor. + +(143) We have still the form of saying "Nolo episcopari", when a + see is offered to a bishop. + +(144) i.e. East Bourne in Sussex; where the king was waiting for + a fair wind to carry him over sea. + +(145) The Nativity of the Virgin Mary. + +(146) i.e. an inclosure or park for deer. This is now called + Blenheim Park, and is one of the few old parks which still + remain in this country. + +(147) This may appear rather an anticipation of the modern see of + Salisbury, which was not then in existence; the borough of + Old Saturn, or "Saresberie", being then the episcopal seat. + +(148) St. Osythe, in Essex; a priory rebuilt A. 1118, for canons + of the Augustine order, of which there are considerable remains. + +(149) i.e. Of the Earl of Anjou. + +(150) The writer means, "the remainder of this year"; for the + feast of Pentecost was already past, before the king left + England. + +(151) The pennies, or pence, it must be remembered, were of + silver at this time. + +(152) i.e. Clergy and laity. + +(153) This word is still in use, but in a sense somewhat + different; as qualms of conscience, etc. + +(154) See an account of him in "Ord. Vit." 544. Conan, another + son of this Alan, Earl of Brittany, married a daughter of + Henry I. + +(155) i.e. Henry, King of England. + +(156) "A se'nnight", the space of seven nights; as we still say, + "a fortnight", i.e. the space of fourteen nights. The + French express the space of one week by "huit jours", the + origin of the "octave" in English law; of two by "quinte + jours". So "septimana" signifies "seven mornings"; whence + the French word "semaine". + +(157) Literally, "woned". Vid Chaucer, "Canterbury Tales", v. + 7745. In Scotland, a lazy indolent manner of doing anything + is called "droning". + +(158) The Abbot Henry of Angeli. + +(159) "Thou shalt destroy them that speak `leasing,'" etc. + "Psalms". + +(160) i.e. Vexed, harassed, fatigued, etc. Milton has used the + word in the last sense. + +(161) The monastery of Angeli. + +(162) Aurora Borealis, or the northern lights. + +(163) "Any restless manoeuvre or stratagem." Both words occur in + Chaucer. See "Troilus and Criseyde", v. 1355, and + "Canterbury Tales", v. 16549. The idea seems to be taken + from the habits of destructive and undermining vermin. + +(164) Now called "Good-Friday". + +(165) The tower of the castle at Oxford, built by D'Oyley, which + still remains. + +(166) The MS. is here deficient. + +(167) Or Vaudeville. + + + +[End of "The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle"] + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, by Unknown + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE *** + +***** This file should be named 657.txt or 657.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/6/5/657/ + +Produced by Douglas B. 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If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association / Benedictine + University" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Benedictine University". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +This electronic edition was edited, proofed, and prepared by +Douglas B. Killings (DeTroyes@AOL.COM), July 1996. + + + + + +The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle + + + + + +Originally compiled on the orders of King Alfred the Great, +approximately A.D. 890, and subsequently maintained and added to +by generations of anonymous scribes until the middle of the 12th +Century. The original language is Anglo-Saxon (Old English), but +later entries are essentially Middle English in tone. + +Translation by Rev. James Ingram (London, 1823), with additional +readings from the translation of Dr. J.A. Giles (London, 1847). + + +***************************************************************** + +PREPARER'S NOTE: + +At present there are nine known versions or fragments of the +"Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" in existence, all of which vary +(sometimes greatly) in content and quality. The translation that +follows is not a translation of any one Chronicle; rather, it is +a collation of readings from many different versions. + +The nine known "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" MS. are the following: + +A-Prime The Parker Chronicle (Corpus Christi College, + Cambridge, MS. 173) +A Cottonian Fragment (British Museum, Cotton MS. Otho B + xi, 2) +B The Abingdon Chronicle I (British Museum, Cotton MS. + Tiberius A vi.) +C The Abingdon Chronicle II (British Museum, Cotton MS. + Tiberius B i.) +D The Worcester Chronicle (British Museum, Cotton MS. + Tiberius B iv.) +E The Laud (or "Peterborough") Chronicle (Bodleian, MS. + Laud 636) +F The Bilingual Canterbury Epitome (British Museum, + Cotton MS. Domitian A viii.) NOTE: Entries in English + and Latin. +H Cottonian Fragment (British Museum, Cotton MS. Domitian + A ix.) +I An Easter Table Chronicle (British Museum, Cotton MS. + Caligula A xv.) + + +This electronic edition contains primarily the translation of +Rev. James Ingram, as published in the Everyman edition of this +text. Excerpts from the translation of Dr. J.A. Giles were +included as an appendix in the Everyman edition; the preparer of +this edition has elected to collate these entries into the main +text of the translation. Where these collations have occurred I +have marked the entry with a double parenthesis (()). + +WARNING: +While I have elected to include the footnotes of Rev. Ingram in +this edition, please note that they should be used with extreme +care. In many cases the views expressed by Rev. Ingram are +severally out of date, having been superseded by almost 175 years +of active scholarship. At best, these notes will provide a +starting point for inquiry. They should not, however, be treated +as absolute. + + +SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY: + +ORIGINAL TEXT -- + +Classen, E. and Harmer, F.E. (eds.): "An Anglo-Saxon Chronicle +from British Museum, Cotton MS. Tiberius B iv." (Manchester, +1926) + +Flower, Robin and Smith, Hugh (eds.): "The Peterborough Chronicle +and Laws" (Early English Text Society, Original Series 208, +Oxford, 1941). + +Taylor, S. (ed.): "The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: MS B" <aka "The +Abingdon Chronicle I"> (Cambridge, 1983) + +OTHER TRANSLATIONS -- + +Garmonsway, G.N.: "The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" (Everyman Press, +London, 1953, 1972). HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Contains side-by-side +translations of all nine known texts. + +RECOMMENDED READING -- + +Bede: "A History of the English Church and People" <aka "The +Ecclesiastical History">, translated by Leo Sherley-Price +(Penguin Classics, London, 1955, 1968). + +Poole, A.L.: "Domesday Book to Magna Carta" (Oxford University +Press, Oxford, 1951, 1953) + +Stenton, Sir Frank W.: "Anglo-Saxon England" (Oxford University +Press, Oxford, 1943, 1947, 1971) + +***************************************************************** + +ORIGINAL INTRODUCTION TO INGRAM'S EDITION [1823] + +England may boast of two substantial monuments of its early +history; to either of which it would not be easy to find a +parallel in any nation, ancient or modern. These are, the Record +of Doomsday (1) and the "Saxon Chronicle" (2). The former, which +is little more than a statistical survey, but contains the most +authentic information relative to the descent of property and the +comparative importance of the different parts of the kingdom at a +very interesting period, the wisdom and liberality of the British +Parliament long since deemed worthy of being printed (3) among +the Public Records, by Commissioners appointed for that purpose. +The other work, though not treated with absolute neglect, has not +received that degree of attention which every person who feels an +interest in the events and transactions of former times would +naturally expect. In the first place, it has never been printed +entire, from a collation of all the MSS. But of the extent of +the two former editions, compared with the present, the reader +may form some idea, when he is told that Professor Wheloc's +"Chronologia Anglo-Saxonica", which was the first attempt (4) of +the kind, published at Cambridge in 1644, is comprised in less +than 62 folio pages, exclusive of the Latin appendix. The +improved edition by Edmund Gibson, afterwards Bishop of London, +printed at Oxford in 1692, exhibits nearly four times the +quantity of the former; but is very far from being the entire (5) +chronicle, as the editor considered it. The text of the present +edition, it was found, could not be compressed within a shorter +compass than 374 pages, though the editor has suppressed many +notes and illustrations, which may be thought necessary to the +general reader. Some variations in the MSS. may also still +remain unnoticed; partly because they were considered of little +importance, and partly from an apprehension, lest the commentary, +as it sometimes happens, should seem an unwieldy burthen, rather +than a necessary appendage, to the text. Indeed, till the editor +had made some progress in the work, he could not have imagined +that so many original and authentic materials of our history +still remained unpublished. + +To those who are unacquainted with this monument of our national +antiquities, two questions appear requisite to be answered: -- +"What does it contain?" and, "By whom was it written?" The +indulgence of the critical antiquary is solicited, whilst we +endeavour to answer, in some degree, each of these questions. + +To the first question we answer, that the "Saxon Chronicle" +contains the original and authentic testimony of contemporary +writers to the most important transactions of our forefathers, +both by sea and land, from their first arrival in this country to +the year 1154. Were we to descend to particulars, it would +require a volume to discuss the great variety of subjects which +it embraces. Suffice it to say, that every reader will here find +many interesting facts relative to our architecture, our +agriculture, our coinage, our commerce, our naval and military +glory, our laws, our liberty, and our religion. In this edition, +also, will be found numerous specimens of Saxon poetry, never +before printed, which might form the ground-work of an +introductory volume to Warton's elaborate annals of English +Poetry. Philosophically considered, this ancient record is the +second great phenomenon in the history of mankind. For, if we +except the sacred annals of the Jews, contained in the several +books of the Old Testament, there is no other work extant, +ancient or modern, which exhibits at one view a regular and +chronological panorama of a PEOPLE, described in rapid succession +by different writers, through so many ages, in their own +vernacular LANGUAGE. Hence it may safely be considered, nor only +as the primaeval source from which all subsequent historians of +English affairs have principally derived their materials, and +consequently the criterion by which they are to be judged, but +also as the faithful depository of our national idiom; affording, +at the same time, to the scientific investigator of the human +mind a very interesting and extraordinary example of the changes +incident to a language, as well as to a nation, in its progress +from rudeness to refinement. + +But that the reader may more clearly see how much we are indebted +to the "Saxon Chronicle", it will be necessary to examine what is +contained in other sources of our history, prior to the accession +of Henry II., the period wherein this invaluable record +terminates. + +The most ancient historian of our own island, whose work has been +preserved, is Gildas, who flourished in the latter part of the +sixth century. British antiquaries of the present day will +doubtless forgive me, if I leave in their original obscurity the +prophecies of Merlin, and the exploits of King Arthur, with all +the Knights of the Round Table, as scarcely coming within the +verge of history. Notwithstanding, also, the authority of Bale, +and of the writers whom he follows, I cannot persuade myself to +rank Joseph of Arimathea, Arviragus, and Bonduca, or even the +Emperor Constantine himself, among the illustrious writers of +Great Britain. I begin, therefore, with Gildas; because, though +he did not compile a regular history of the island, he has left +us, amidst a cumbrous mass of pompous rhapsody and querulous +declamation some curious descriptions of the character and +manners of the inhabitants; not only the Britons and Saxons, but +the Picts and Scots (6). There are also some parts of his work, +almost literally transcribed by Bede, which confirm the brief +statements of the "Saxon Chronicle" (7). But there is, +throughout, such a want of precision and simplicity, such a +barrenness of facts amidst a multiplicity of words, such a +scantiness of names of places and persons, of dates, and other +circumstances, that we are obliged to have recourse to the Saxon +Annals, or to Venerable Bede, to supply the absence of those two +great lights of history -- Chronology and Topography. + +The next historian worth notice here is Nennius, who is supposed +to have flourished in the seventh century: but the work ascribed +to him is so full of interpolations and corruptions, introduced +by his transcribers, and particularly by a simpleton who is +called Samuel, or his master Beulanus, or both, who appear to +have lived in the ninth century, that it is difficult to say how +much of this motley production is original and authentic. Be +that as it may, the writer of the copy printed by Gale bears +ample testimony to the "Saxon Chronicle", and says expressly, +that he compiled his history partly from the records of the Scots +and Saxons (8). At the end is a confused but very curious +appendix, containing that very genealogy, with some brief notices +of Saxon affairs, which the fastidiousness of Beulanus, or of his +amanuensis, the aforesaid Samuel, would not allow him to +transcribe. This writer, although he professes to be the first +historiographer (9) of the Britons, has sometimes repeated the +very words of Gildas (10); whose name is even prefixed to some +copies of the work. It is a puerile composition, without +judgment, selection, or method (11); filled with legendary tales +of Trojan antiquity, of magical delusion, and of the miraculous +exploits of St. Germain and St. Patrick: not to mention those of +the valiant Arthur, who is said to have felled to the ground in +one day, single-handed, eight hundred and forty Saxons! It is +remarkable, that this taste for the marvelous, which does not +seem to be adapted to the sober sense of Englishmen, was +afterwards revived in all its glory by Geoffrey of Monmouth in +the Norman age of credulity and romance. + +We come now to a more cheering prospect; and behold a steady +light reflected on the "Saxon Chronicle" by the "Ecclesiastical +History" of Bede; a writer who, without the intervention of any +legendary tale, truly deserves the title of Venerable (12). With +a store of classical learning not very common in that age, and +with a simplicity of language seldom found in monastic Latinity, +he has moulded into something like a regular form the scattered +fragments of Roman, British, Scottish, and Saxon history. His +work, indeed. is professedly ecclesiastical; but, when we +consider the prominent station which the Church had at this time +assumed in England, we need not be surprised if we find therein +the same intermixture of civil, military, and ecclesiastical +affairs, which forms so remarkable a feature in the "Saxon +Chronicle". Hence Gibson concludes, that many passages of the +latter description were derived from the work of Bede (13). He +thinks the same of the description of Britain, the notices of the +Roman emperors, and the detail of the first arrival of the +Saxons. But, it may be observed, those passages to which he +alludes are not to be found in the earlier MSS. The description +of Britain, which forms the introduction, and refers us to a +period antecedent to the invasion of Julius Caesar; appears only +in three copies of the "Chronicle"; two of which are of so late a +date as the Norman Conquest, and both derived from the same +source. Whatever relates to the succession of the Roman emperors +was so universally known, that it must be considered as common +property: and so short was the interval between the departure of +the Romans and the arrival of the Saxons, that the latter must +have preserved amongst them sufficient memorials and traditions +to connect their own history with that of their predecessors. +Like all rude nations, they were particularly attentive to +genealogies; and these, together with the succession of their +kings, their battles, and their conquests, must be derived +originally from the Saxons themselves. and not from Gildas, or +Nennius, or Bede (14). Gibson himself was so convinced of this, +that he afterwards attributes to the "Saxon Chronicle" all the +knowledge we have of those early times (15). Moreover, we might +ask, if our whole dependence had been centered in Bede, what +would have become of us after his death? (16) Malmsbury indeed +asserts, with some degree of vanity, that you will not easily +find a Latin historian of English affairs between Bede and +himself (17); and in the fulness of self-complacency professes +his determination, "to season with Roman salt the barbarisms of +his native tongue!" He affects great contempt for Ethelwerd, +whose work will be considered hereafter; and he well knew how +unacceptable any praise of the "Saxon Annals" would be to the +Normans, with whom he was connected (18). He thinks it necessary +to give his reasons, on one occasion, for inserting from these +very "Annals" what he did not find in Bede; though it is obvious, +that the best part of his materials, almost to his own times, is +derived from the same source. + +The object of Bishop Asser, the biographer of Alfred, who comes +next in order, was to deliver to posterity a complete memorial of +that sovereign, and of the transactions of his reign. To him +alone are we indebted for the detail of many interesting +circumstances in the life and character of his royal patron (19); +but most of the public transactions will be found in the pages of +the "Saxon Chronicle": some passages of which he appears to have +translated so literally, that the modern version of Gibson does +not more closely represent the original. In the editions of +Parker, Camden, and Wise, the last notice of any public event +refers to the year 887. The interpolated copy of Gale, called by +some Pseudo-Asserius, and by others the Chronicle of St. Neot's, +is extended to the year 914 (20). Much difference of opinion +exists respecting this work; into the discussion of which it is +not our present purpose to enter. One thing is remarkable: it +contains the vision of Drihtelm, copied from Bede, and that of +Charles King of the Franks, which Malmsbury thought it worth +while to repeat in his "History of the Kings of England". What +Gale observes concerning the "fidelity" with which these annals +of Asser are copied by Marianus, is easily explained. They both +translated from the "Saxon Chronicle", as did also Florence of +Worcester, who interpolated Marianus; of whom we shall speak +hereafter. + +But the most faithful and extraordinary follower of the "Saxon +Annals" is Ethelwerd; who seems to have disregarded almost all +other sources of information. One great error, however, he +committed; for which Malmsbury does nor spare him. Despairing of +the reputation of classical learning, if he had followed the +simplicity of the Saxon original, he fell into a sort of measured +and inverted prose, peculiar to himself; which, being at first +sufficiently obscure, is sometimes rendered almost unintelligible +by the incorrect manner in which it has been printed. His +authority, nevertheless, in an historical point of view, is very +respectable. Being one of the few writers untainted by monastic +prejudice (21), he does not travel out of his way to indulge in +legendary tales and romantic visions. Critically considered, his +work is the best commentary on the "Saxon Chronicle" to the year +977; at which period one of the MSS. which he seems to have +followed, terminates. Brevity and compression seem to have been +his aim, because the compilation was intended to be sent abroad +for the instruction of a female relative of high rank in Germany +(22), at her request. But there are, nevertheless, some +circumstances recorded which are not to be found elsewhere; so +that a reference to this epitome of Saxon history will be +sometimes useful in illustrating the early part of the +"Chronicle"; though Gibson, I know not on what account, has +scarcely once quoted it. + +During the sanguinary conflicts of the eleventh century, which +ended first in the temporary triumph of the Danes, and afterwards +in the total subjugation of the country by the Normans, literary +pursuits, as might be expected, were so much neglected, that +scarcely a Latin writer is to be found: but the "Saxon Chronicle" +has preserved a regular and minute detail of occurrences, as they +passed along, of which subsequent historians were glad to avail +themselves. For nearly a century after the Conquest, the Saxon +annalists appear to have been chiefly eye-witnesses of the +transactions which they relate (23). The policy of the Conqueror +led him by degrees to employ Saxons as well as Normans: and +William II. found them the most faithful of his subjects: but +such an influx of foreigners naturally corrupted the ancient +language; till at length, after many foreign and domestic wars, +tranquillity being restored on the accession of Henry II., +literature revived; a taste for composition increased; and the +compilation of Latin histories of English and foreign affairs, +blended and diversified with the fabled romance and legendary +tale, became the ordinary path to distinction. It is remarkable, +that when the "Saxon Chronicle" ends, Geoffrey of Monmouth +begins. Almost every great monastery about this time had its +historian: but some still adhered to the ancient method. +Florence of Worcester, an interpolator of Marianus, as we before +observed, closely follows Bede, Asser, and the "Saxon Chronicle" +(24). The same may be observed of the annals of Gisburne, of +Margan, of Meiros, of Waverley, etc.; some of which are anonymous +compilations, whilst others have the name of an author, or rather +transcriber; for very few aspired to the character of authors or +original historians. Thomas Wikes, a canon of Oseney, who +compiled a Latin chronicle of English affairs from the Conquest +to the year 1304, tells us expressly, that he did this, not +because he could add much to the histories of Bede, William of +Newburgh, and Matthew Paris, but "propter minores, quibus non +suppetit copia librorum." (25) Before the invention of printing, +it was necessary that numerous copies of historical works should +be transcribed, for the instruction of those who had not access +to libraries. The transcribers frequently added something of +their own, and abridged or omitted what they thought less +interesting. Hence the endless variety of interpolators and +deflorators of English history. William of Malmsbury, indeed, +deserves to be selected from all his competitors for the +superiority of his genius; but he is occasionally inaccurate, and +negligent of dates and other minor circumstances; insomuch that +his modern translator has corrected some mistakes, and supplied +the deficiencies in his chronology, by a reference to the "Saxon +Chronicle". Henry of Huntingdon, when he is not transcribing +Bede, or translating the "Saxon Annals", may be placed on the +same shelf with Geoffrey of Monmouth. + +As I have now brought the reader to the period when our +"Chronicle" terminates, I shall dismiss without much ceremony the +succeeding writers, who have partly borrowed from this source; +Simon of Durham, who transcribes Florence of Worcester, the two +priors of Hexham, Gervase, Hoveden, Bromton, Stubbes, the two +Matthews, of Paris and Westminster, and many others, considering +that sufficient has been said to convince those who may not have +leisure or opportunity to examine the matter themselves, that +however numerous are the Latin historians of English affairs, +almost everything original and authentic, and essentially +conducive to a correct knowledge of our general history, to the +period above mentioned, may be traced to the "Saxon Annals". + +It is now time to examine, who were probably the writers of these +"Annals". I say probably, because we have very little more than +rational conjecture to guide us. + +The period antecedent to the times of Bede, except where passages +were afterwards inserted, was perhaps little else, originally, +than a kind of chronological table of events, with a few +genealogies, and notices of the death and succession of kings and +other distinguished personages. But it is evident from the +preface of Bede and from many passages in his work, that he +received considerable assistance from Saxon bishops, abbots, and +others; who not only communicated certain traditionary facts +"viva voce", but also transmitted to him many written documents. +These, therefore, must have been the early chronicles of Wessex, +of Kent, and of the other provinces of the Heptarchy; which +formed together the ground-work of his history. With greater +honesty than most of his followers, he has given us the names of +those learned persons who assisted him with this local +information. The first is Alcuinus or Albinus, an abbot of +Canterbury, at whose instigation he undertook the work; who sent +by Nothelm, afterwards archbishop of that province, a full +account of all ecclesiastical transactions in Kent, and in the +contiguous districts, from the first conversion of the Saxons. +From the same source he partly derived his information respecting +the provinces of Essex, Wessex, East Anglia, and Northumbria. +Bishop Daniel communicated to him by letter many particulars +concerning Wessex, Sussex, and the Isle of Wight. He +acknowledges assistance more than once "ex scriptis priorum"; and +there is every reason to believe that some of these preceding +records were the "Anglo-Saxon Annals"; for we have already seen +that such records were in existence before the age of Nennius. +In proof of this we may observe, that even the phraseology +sometimes partakes more of the Saxon idiom than the Latin. If, +therefore, it be admitted, as there is every reason to conclude +from the foregoing remarks, that certain succinct and +chronological arrangements of historical facts had taken place in +several provinces of the Heptarchy before the time of Bede, let +us inquire by whom they were likely to have been made. + +In the province of Kent, the first person on record, who is +celebrated for his learning, is Tobias, the ninth bishop of +Rochester, who succeeded to that see in 693. He is noticed by +Bede as not only furnished with an ample store of Greek and Latin +literature, but skilled also in the Saxon language and erudition +(26). It is probable, therefore, that he left some proofs of +this attention to his native language and as he died within a few +years of Bede, the latter would naturally avail himself of his +labours. It is worthy also of remark, that Bertwald, who +succeeded to the illustrious Theodore of Tarsus in 690, was the +first English or Saxon archbishop of Canterbury. From this +period, consequently, we may date that cultivation of the +vernacular tongue which would lead to the composition of brief +chronicles (27), and other vehicles of instruction, necessary for +the improvement of a rude and illiterate people. The first +chronicles were, perhaps, those of Kent or Wessex; which seem to +have been regularly continued, at intervals. by the archbishops +of Canterbury, or by their direction (28), at least as far as the +year 1001, or by even 1070; for the Benet MS., which some call +the Plegmund MS., ends in the latter year; the rest being in +Latin. From internal evidence indeed, of an indirect nature, +there is great reason to presume, that Archbishop Plegmund +transcribed or superintended this very copy of the "Saxon Annals" +to the year 891 (29); the year in which he came to the see; +inserting, both before and after this date, to the time of his +death in 923, such additional materials as he was well qualified +to furnish from his high station and learning, and the +confidential intercourse which he enjoyed in the court of King +Alfred. The total omission of his own name, except by another +hand, affords indirect evidence of some importance in support of +this conjecture. Whether King Alfred himself was the author of a +distinct and separate chronicle of Wessex, cannot now be +determined. That he furnished additional supplies of historical +matter to the older chronicles is, I conceive, sufficiently +obvious to every reader who will take the trouble of examining +the subject. The argument of Dr. Beeke, the present Dean of +Bristol, in an obliging letter to the editor on this subject, is +not without its force; -- that it is extremely improbable, when +we consider the number and variety of King Alfred's works, that +he should have neglected the history, of his own country. +Besides a genealogy of the kings of Wessex from Cerdic to his own +time, which seems never to have been incorporated with any MS. of +the "Saxon Chronicle", though prefixed or annexed to several, he +undoubtedly preserved many traditionary facts; with a full and +circumstantial detail of his own operations, as well as those of +his father, brother, and other members of his family; which +scarcely any other person than himself could have supplied. To +doubt this would be as incredulous a thing as to deny that +Xenophon wrote his "Anabasis", or Caesar his "Commentaries". +From the time of Alfred and Plegmund to a few years after the +Norman Conquest, these chronicles seem to have been continued by +different hands, under the auspices of such men as Archbishops +Dunstan, Aelfric, and others, whose characters have been much +misrepresented by ignorance and scepticism on the one hand; as +well as by mistaken zeal and devotion on the other. The indirect +evidence respecting Dunstan and Aelfric is as curious as that +concerning Plegmund; but the discussion of it would lead us into +a wide and barren field of investigation; nor is this the place +to refute the errors of Hickes, Cave, and Wharton, already +noticed by Wanley in his preface. The chronicles of Abingdon, of +Worcester, of Peterborough, and others, are continued in the same +manner by different hands; partly, though not exclusively, by +monks of those monasteries, who very naturally inserted many +particulars relating to their own local interests and concerns; +which, so far from invalidating the general history, render it +more interesting and valuable. It would be a vain and frivolous +attempt ascribe these latter compilations to particular persons +(31), where there were evidently so many contributors; but that +they were successively furnished by contemporary writers, many of +whom were eye-witnesses of the events and transactions which they +relate, there is abundance of internal evidence to convince us. +Many instances of this the editor had taken some pains to +collect, in order to lay them before the reader in the preface; +but they are so numerous that the subject would necessarily +become tedious; and therefore every reader must be left to find +them for himself. They will amply repay him for his trouble, if +he takes any interest in the early history of England, or in the +general construction of authentic history of any kind. He will +see plagarisms without end in the Latin histories, and will be in +no danger of falling into the errors of Gale and others; not to +mention those of our historians who were not professed +antiquaries, who mistook that for original and authentic +testimony which was only translated. It is remarkable that the +"Saxon Chronicle" gradually expires with the Saxon language, +almost melted into modern English, in the year 1154. From this +period almost to the Reformation, whatever knowledge we have of +the affairs of England has been originally derived either from +the semi-barbarous Latin of our own countrymen, or from the +French chronicles of Froissart and others. + +The revival of good taste and of good sense, and of the good old +custom adopted by most nations of the civilised world -- that of +writing their own history in their own language -- was happily +exemplified at length in the laborious works of our English +chroniclers and historians. + +Many have since followed in the same track; and the importance +of the whole body of English History has attracted and employed +the imagination of Milton, the philosophy of Hume, the simplicity +of Goldsmith, the industry of Henry, the research of Turner, and +the patience of Lingard. The pages of these writers, however, +accurate and luminous as they generally are, as well as those of +Brady, Tyrrell, Carte, Rapin, and others, not to mention those in +black letter, still require correction from the "Saxon +Chronicle"; without which no person, however learned, can possess +anything beyond a superficial acquaintance with the elements of +English History, and of the British Constitution. + +Some remarks may here be requisite on the CHRONOLOGY of the +"Saxon Chronicle". In the early part of it (32) the reader will +observe a reference to the grand epoch of the creation of the +world. So also in Ethelwerd, who closely follows the "Saxon +Annals". It is allowed by all, that considerable difficulty has +occurred in fixing the true epoch of Christ's nativity (33), +because the Christian aera was not used at all till about the +year 532 (34), when it was introduced by Dionysius Exiguus; whose +code of canon law, joined afterwards with the decretals of the +popes, became as much the standard of authority in ecclesiastical +matters as the pandects of Justinian among civilians. But it +does not appear that in the Saxon mode of computation this system +of chronology was implicitly followed. We mention this +circumstance, however, not with a view of settling the point of +difference, which would not be easy, but merely to account for +those variations observable m different MSS.; which arose, not +only from the common mistakes or inadvertencies of transcribers, +but from the liberty which the original writers themselves +sometimes assumed in this country, of computing the current year +according to their own ephemeral or local custom. Some began +with the Incarnation or Nativity of Christ; some with the +Circumcision, which accords with the solar year of the Romans as +now restored; whilst others commenced with the Annunciation; a +custom which became very prevalent in honour of the Virgin Mary, +and was not formally abolished here till the year 1752; when the +Gregorian calendar, commonly called the New Style, was +substituted by Act of Parliament for the Dionysian. This +diversity of computation would alone occasion some confusion; but +in addition to this, the INDICTION, or cycle of fifteen years, +which is mentioned in the latter part of the "Saxon Chronicle", +was carried back three years before the vulgar aera, and +commenced in different places at four different periods of the +year! But it is very remarkable that, whatever was the +commencement of the year in the early part of the "Saxon +Chronicle", in the latter part the year invariably opens with +Midwinter-day or the Nativity. Gervase of Canterbury, whose +Latin chronicle ends in 1199, the aera of "legal" memory, had +formed a design, as he tells us, of regulating his chronology by +the Annunciation; but from an honest fear of falsifying dates he +abandoned his first intention, and acquiesced in the practice of +his predecessors; who for the most part, he says, began the new +year with the Nativity (35). + +Having said thus much in illustration of the work itself, we must +necessarily be brief in our account of the present edition. It +was contemplated many years since, amidst a constant succession +of other occupations; but nothing was then projected beyond a +reprint of Gibson, substituting an English translation for the +Latin. The indulgence of the Saxon scholar is therefore +requested, if we have in the early part of the chronicle too +faithfully followed the received text. By some readers no +apology of this kind will be deemed necessary; but something may +be expected in extenuation of the delay which has retarded the +publication. The causes of that delay must be chiefly sought in +the nature of the work itself. New types were to be cast; +compositors to be instructed in a department entirely new to +them; manuscripts to be compared, collated, transcribed; the text +to be revised throughout; various readings of great intricacy to +be carefully presented, with considerable additions from +unpublished sources; for, however unimportant some may at first +sight appear, the most trivial may be of use. With such and +other difficulties before him, the editor has, nevertheless, been +blessed with health and leisure sufficient to overcome them; and +he may now say with Gervase the monk at the end of his first +chronicle, + + "Finito libro reddatur gratia Christo." (36) + +Of the translation it is enough to observe, that it is made as +literal as possible, with a view of rendering the original easy +to those who are at present unacquainted with the Saxon language. +By this method also the connection between the ancient and modern +language will be more obvious. The same method has been adopted +in an unpublished translation of Gibson's "Chronicle" by the late +Mr. Cough, now in the Bodleian Library. But the honour of having +printed the first literal version of the "Saxon Annals" was +reserved for a learned LADY, the Elstob of her age (37); whose +Work was finished in the year 1819. These translations, however, +do not interfere with that in the present edition; because they +contain nothing but what is found in the printed texts, and are +neither accompanied with the original, nor with any collation of +MSS. + + +ENDNOTES: +(1) Whatever was the origin of this title, by which it is now + distinguished, in an appendix to the work itself it is + called "Liber de Wintonia," or "The Winchester-Book," from + its first place of custody. +(2) This title is retained, in compliance with custom, though it + is a collection of chronicles, rather than one uniform work, + as the received appellation seems to imply. +(3) In two volumes folio, with the following title: "Domesday- + Book, seu Liber Censualis Willelmi Primi Regis Angliae, + inter Archlyos Regni in Domo Capitulari Westmonasterii + asservatus: jubente rege augustissimo Georgio Tertio praelo + mandatus typis MDCCLXXXIII" +(4) Gerard Langbaine had projected such a work, and had made + considerable progress in the collation of MSS., when he + found himself anticipated by Wheloc. +(5) "Nunc primum integrum edidit" is Gibson's expression in the + title-page. He considers Wheloc's MSS. as fragments, rather + than entire chronicles: "quod integrum nacti jam discimus." + These MSS., however, were of the first authority, and not + less entire, as far as they went, than his own favourite + "Laud". But the candid critic will make allowance for the + zeal of a young Bachelor of Queen's, who, it must be + remembered, had scarcely attained the age of twenty-three + when this extraordinary work was produced. +(6) The reader is forcibly reminded of the national dress of the + Highlanders in the following singular passage: "furciferos + magis vultus pilis, quam corporum pudenda, pudendisque + proxima, vestibus tegentes." +(7) See particularly capp. xxiii. and xxvi. The work which + follows, called the "Epistle of Gildas", is little more than + a cento of quotations from the Old and New Testament. +(8) "De historiis Scotorum Saxonumque, licet inimicorum," etc. + "Hist. Brit. ap." Gale, XV. Script. p. 93. See also p. 94 + of the same work; where the writer notices the absence of + all written memorials among the Britons, and attributes it + to the frequent recurrence of war and pestilence. A new + edition has been prepared from a Vatican MS. with a + translation and notes by the Rev. W. Gunn, and published by + J. and A. Arch. +(9) "Malo me historiographum quam neminem," etc. +(10) He considered his work, perhaps, as a lamentation of + declamation, rather than a history. But Bede dignifies him + with the title of "historicus," though he writes "fiebili + sermone." +(11) But it is probable that the work is come down to us in a + garbled and imperfect state. +(12) There is an absurd story of a monk, who in vain attempting + to write his epitaph, fell asleep, leaving it thus: "Hac + sunt in fossa Bedae. ossa:" but, when he awoke, to his great + surprise and satisfaction he found the long-sought epithet + supplied by an angelic hand, the whole line standing thus: + "Hac sunt in fossa Bedae venerabilis ossa." +(13) See the preface to his edition of the "Saxon Chronicle". +(14) This will be proved more fully when we come to speak of the + writers of the "Saxon Chronicle". +(15) Preface, "ubi supra". +(16) He died A.D. 734, according to our chronicle; but some place + his death to the following year. +(17) This circumstance alone proves the value of the "Saxon + Chronicle". In the "Edinburgh Chronicle" of St. Cross, + printed by H. Wharton, there is a chasm from the death of + Bede to the year 1065; a period of 330 years. +(18) The cold and reluctant manner in which he mentions the + "Saxon Annals", to which he was so much indebted, can only + be ascribed to this cause in him, as well as in the other + Latin historians. See his prologue to the first book, "De + Gestis Regum," etc. +(19) If there are additional anecdotes in the Chronicle of St. + Neot's, which is supposed to have been so called by Leland + because he found the MS. there, it must be remembered that + this work is considered an interpolated Asser. +(20) The death of Asser himself is recorded in the year 909; but + this is no more a proof that the whole work is spurious, + than the character and burial of Moses, described in the + latter part of the book of "Deuteronomy", would go to prove + that the Pentateuch was not written by him. See Bishop + Watson's "Apology for the Bible". +(21) Malmsbury calls him "noble and magnificent," with reference + to his rank; for he was descended from King Alfred: but he + forgets his peculiar praise -- that of being the only Latin + historian for two centuries; though, like Xenophon, Caesar, + and Alfred, he wielded the sword as much as the pen. +(22) This was no less a personage than Matilda, the daughter of + Otho the Great, Emperor of Germany, by his first Empress + Eadgitha or Editha; who is mentioned in the "Saxon + Chronicle", A.D. 925, though not by name, as given to Otho + by her brother, King Athelstan. Ethelwerd adds, in his + epistle to Matilda, that Athelstan sent two sisters, in + order that the emperor might take his choice; and that he + preferred the mother of Matilda. +(23) See particularly the character of William I. p. 294, written + by one who was in his court. The compiler of the "Waverley + Annals" we find literally translating it more than a century + afterwards: -- "nos dicemus, qui eum vidimus, et in curia + ejus aliquando fuimus," etc. -- Gale, ii. 134. +(24) His work, which is very faithfully and diligently compiled, + ends in the year 1117; but it is continued by another hand + to the imprisonment of King Stephen. +(25) "Chron. ap." Gale, ii. 21. +(26) "Virum Latina, Graec, et Saxonica lingua atque eruditione + multipliciter instructum." -- Bede, "Ecclesiastical + History", v. 8. "Chron. S. Crucis Edinb. ap.", Wharton, i. + 157. +(27) The materials, however, though not regularly arranged, must + be traced to a much higher source. +(28) Josselyn collated two Kentish MSS. of the first authority; + one of which he calls the History or Chronicle of St. + Augustine's, the other that of Christ Church, Canterbury. + The former was perhaps the one marked in our series "C.T."A + VI.; the latter the Benet or Plegmund MS. +(29) Wanley observes, that the Benet MS. is written in one and + the same hand to this year, and in hands equally ancient to + the year 924; after which it is continued in different hands + to the end. Vid. "Cat." p. 130. +(30) Florence of Worcester, in ascertaining the succession of the + kings of Wessex, refers expressly to the "Dicta Aelfredi". + Ethelwerd had before acknowledged that he reported many + things -- "sicut docuere parentes;" and then he immediately + adds, "Scilicet Aelfred rex Athulfi regis filius; ex quo nos + originem trahimus." Vid. Prol. +(31) Hickes supposed the Laud or Peterborough Chronicle to have + been compiled by Hugo Candidus (Albus, or White), or some + other monk of that house. +(32) See A.D. xxxiii., the aera of Christ's crucifixion, p. 23, + and the notes below. +(33) See Playfair's "System of Chronology", p. 49. +(34) Playfair says 527: but I follow Bede, Florence of Worcester, + and others, who affirm that the great paschal cycle of + Dionysius commenced from the year of our Lord's incarnation + 532 -- the year in which the code of Justinian was + promulgated. "Vid. Flor. an." 532, 1064, and 1073. See + also M. West. "an." 532. +(35) "Vid. Prol. in Chron." Bervas. "ap. X." Script. p. 1338. +(36) Often did the editor, during the progress of the work, + sympathise with the printer; who, in answer to his urgent + importunities to hasten the work, replied once in the + classical language of Manutius: "Precor, ut occupationibus + meis ignoscas; premor enim oneribus, et typographiae cura, + ut vix sustineam." Who could be angry after this? +(37) Miss Gurney, of Keswick, Norfolk. The work, however, was + not published. + + + +THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE + + +The island Britain (1) is 800 miles long, and 200 miles broad. +And there are in the island five nations; English, Welsh (or +British) (2), Scottish, Pictish, and Latin. The first +inhabitants were the Britons, who came from Armenia (3), and +first peopled Britain southward. Then happened it, that the +Picts came south from Scythia, with long ships, not many; and, +landing first in the northern part of Ireland, they told the +Scots that they must dwell there. But they would not give them +leave; for the Scots told them that they could not all dwell +there together; "But," said the Scots, "we can nevertheless give +you advice. We know another island here to the east. There you +may dwell, if you will; and whosoever withstandeth you, we will +assist you, that you may gain it." Then went the Picts and +entered this land northward. Southward the Britons possessed it, +as we before said. And the Picts obtained wives of the Scots, on +condition that they chose their kings always on the female side +(4); which they have continued to do, so long since. And it +happened, in the run of years, that some party of Scots went from +Ireland into Britain, and acquired some portion of this land. +Their leader was called Reoda (5), from whom they are named +Dalreodi (or Dalreathians). + + +Sixty winters ere that Christ was born, Caius Julius, emperor of +the Romans, with eighty ships sought Britain. There he was first +beaten in a dreadful fight, and lost a great part of his army. +Then he let his army abide with the Scots (6), and went south +into Gaul. There he gathered six hundred ships, with which he +went back into Britain. When they first rushed together, +Caesar's tribune, whose name was Labienus (7), was slain. Then +took the Welsh sharp piles, and drove them with great clubs into +the water, at a certain ford of the river called Thames. When +the Romans found that, they would not go over the ford. Then +fled the Britons to the fastnesses of the woods; and Caesar, +having after much fighting gained many of the chief towns, went +back into Gaul (8). + +((B.C. 60. Before the incarnation of Christ sixty years, Gaius +Julius the emperor, first of the Romans, sought the land of +Britain; and he crushed the Britons in battle, and overcame them; +and nevertheless he was unable to gain any empire there.)) + +A.D. 1. Octavianus reigned fifty-six winters; and in the forty- +second year of his reign Christ was born. Then three astrologers +from the east came to worship Christ; and the children in +Bethlehem were slain by Herod in persecution of Christ. + +A.D. 3. This year died Herod, stabbed by his own hand; and +Archelaus his son succeeded him. The child Christ was also this +year brought back again from Egypt. + +A.D. 6. From the beginning of the world to this year were agone +five thousand and two hundred winters. + +A.D. 11. This year Herod the son of Antipater undertook the +government in Judea. + +A.D. 12. This year Philip and Herod divided Judea into four +kingdoms. + +((A.D. 12. This year Judea was divided into four tetrarchies.)) + +A.D. 16. This year Tiberius succeeded to the empire. + +A.D. 26. This year Pilate began to reign over the Jews. + +A.D. 30. This year was Christ baptized; and Peter and Andrew +were converted, together with James, and John, and Philip, and +all the twelve apostles. + +A.D. 33. This year was Christ crucified; (9) about five thousand +two hundred and twenty six winters from the beginning of the +world. (10) + +A.D. 34. This year was St. Paul converted, and St. Stephen +stoned. + +A.D. 35. This year the blessed Peter the apostle settled an +episcopal see in the city of Antioch. + +A.D. 37. This year (11) Pilate slew himself with his own hand. + +A.D. 39. This year Caius undertook the empire. + +A.D. 44. This year the blessed Peter the apostle settled an +episcopal see at Rome; and James, the brother of John, was slain +by Herod. + +A.D. 45. This year died Herod, who slew James one year ere his +own death. + +A.D. 46. This year Claudius, the second of the Roman emperors +who invaded Britain, took the greater part of the island into his +power, and added the Orkneys to rite dominion of the Romans. +This was in the fourth year of his reign. And in the same year +(12) happened the great famine in Syria which Luke mentions in +the book called "The Acts of the Apostles". After Claudius Nero +succeeded to the empire, who almost lost the island Britain +through his incapacity. + +((A.D. 46. This year the Emperor Claudius came to Britain, and +subdued a large part of the island; and he also added the island +of Orkney to the dominion of the Romans.)) + +A.D. 47. This year Mark, the evangelist in Egypt beginneth to +write the gospel. + +((A.D. 47. This was in the fourth year of his reign, and in this +same year was the great famine in Syria which Luke speaks of in +the book called "Actus Apostolorum".)) + +((A.D. 47. This year Claudius, king of the Romans, went with an +army into Britain, and subdued the island, and subjected all the +Picts and Welsh to the rule of the Romans.)) + +A.D. 50. This year Paul was sent bound to Rome. + +A.D. 62. This year James, the brother of Christ, suffered. + +A.D. 63. This year Mark the evangelist departed this life. + +A.D. 69. This year Peter and Paul suffered. + +A.D. 70. This year Vespasian undertook the empire. + +A.D. 71. This year Titus, son of Vespasian, slew in Jerusalem +eleven hundred thousand Jews. + +A.D. 81. This year Titus came to the empire, after Vespasian, +who said that he considered the day lost in which he did no good. + +A.D. 83. This year Domitian, the brother of Titus, assumed the +government. + +A.D. 84. This year John the evangelist in the island Patmos +wrote the book called "The Apocalypse". + +A.D. 90. This year Simon, the apostle, a relation of Christ, was +crucified: and John the evangelist rested at Ephesus. + +A.D. 92. This year died Pope Clement. + +A.D. 110. This year Bishop Ignatius suffered. + +A.D. 116. This year Hadrian the Caesar began to reign. + +A.D. 145. This year Marcus Antoninus and Aurelius his brother +succeeded to the empire. + +((A.D. 167. This year Eleutherius succeeded to the popedom, and +held it fifteen years; and in the same year Lucius, king of the +Britons, sent and begged baptism of him. And he soon sent it +him, and they continued in the true faith until the time of +Diocletian.)) + +A.D. 189. This year Severus came to the empire; and went with +his army into Britain, and subdued in battle a great part of the +island. Then wrought he a mound of turf, with a broad wall +thereupon, from sea to sea, for the defence of the Britons. He +reigned seventeen years; and then ended his days at York. His +son Bassianus succeeded him in the empire. His other son, who +perished, was called Geta. This year Eleutherius undertook the +bishopric of Rome, and held it honourably for fifteen winters. +To him Lucius, king of the Britons, sent letters, and prayed that +he might be made a Christian. He obtained his request; and they +continued afterwards in the right belief until the reign of +Diocletian. + +A.D. 199. In this year was found the holy rood. (13) + +A.D. 283. This year suffered Saint Alban the Martyr. + +A.D. 343. This year died St. Nicolaus. + +A.D. 379. This year Gratian succeeded to the empire. + +A.D. 381. This year Maximus the Caesar came to the empire. He +was born in the land of Britain, whence he passed over into Gaul. +He there slew the Emperor Gratian; and drove his brother, whose +name was Valentinian, from his country (Italy). The same +Valentinian afterwards collected an army, and slew Maximus; +whereby he gained the empire. About this time arose the error of +Pelagius over the world. + +A.D. 418. This year the Romans collected all the hoards of gold +(14) that were in Britain; and some they hid in the earth, so +that no man afterwards might find them, and some they carried +away with them into Gaul. + +A.D. 423. This year Theodosius the younger succeeded to the +empire. + +A.D. 429. This year Bishop Palladius was sent from Pope +Celesrinus to the Scots, that he might establish their faith. + +A.D. 430. This year Patricius was sent from Pope Celestinus to +preach baptism to the Scots. + +((A.D. 430. This year Patrick was sent by Pope Celestine to +preach baptism to the Scots.)) + +A.D. 435. This year the Goths sacked the city of Rome; and never +since have the Romans reigned in Britain. This was about eleven +hundred and ten winters after it was built. They reigned +altogether in Britain four hundred and seventy winters since +Gaius Julius first sought that land. + +A.D. 443. This year sent the Britons over sea to Rome, and +begged assistance against the Picts; but they had none, for the +Romans were at war with Atila, king of the Huns. Then sent they +to the Angles, and requested the same from the nobles of that +nation. + +A.D. 444. This year died St. Martin. + +A.D. 448. This year John the Baptist showed his head to two +monks, who came from the eastern country to Jerusalem for the +sake of prayer, in the place that whilom was the palace of Herod. +(15) + +A.D. 449. This year Marcian and Valentinian assumed the empire, +and reigned seven winters. In their days Hengest and Horsa, +invited by Wurtgern, king of the Britons to his assistance, +landed in Britain in a place that is called Ipwinesfleet; first +of all to support the Britons, but they afterwards fought against +them. The king directed them to fight against the Picts; and +they did so; and obtained the victory wheresoever they came. +They then sent to the Angles, and desired them to send more +assistance. They described the worthlessness of the Britons, and +the richness of the land. They then sent them greater support. +Then came the men from three powers of Germany; the Old Saxons, +the Angles, and the Jutes. From the Jutes are descended the men +of Kent, the Wightwarians (that is, the tribe that now dwelleth +in the Isle of Wight), and that kindred in Wessex that men yet +call the kindred of the Jutes. From the Old Saxons came the +people of Essex and Sussex and Wessex. From Anglia, which has +ever since remained waste between the Jutes and the Saxons, came +the East Angles, the Middle Angles, the Mercians, and all of +those north of the Humber. Their leaders were two brothers, +Hengest and Horsa; who were the sons of Wihtgils; Wihtgils was +the son of Witta, Witta of Wecta, Wecta of Woden. From this +Woden arose all our royal kindred, and that of the Southumbrians +also. + +((A.D. 449. And in their days Vortigern invited the Angles +thither, and they came to Britain in three ceols, at the place +called Wippidsfleet.)) + +A.D. 455. This year Hengest and Horsa fought with Wurtgern the +king on the spot that is called Aylesford. His brother Horsa +being there slain, Hengest afterwards took to the kingdom with +his son Esc. + +A.D. 457. This year Hengest and Esc fought with the Britons on +the spot that is called Crayford, and there slew four thousand +men. The Britons then forsook the land of Kent, and in great +consternation fled to London. + +A.D. 465. This year Hengest and Esc fought with the Welsh, nigh +Wippedfleet; and there slew twelve leaders, all Welsh. On their +side a thane was there slain, whose name was Wipped. + +A.D. 473. This year Hengest and Esc fought with the Welsh, and +took immense Booty. And the Welsh fled from the English like +fire. + +A.D. 477. This year came Ella to Britain, with his three sons, +Cymen, and Wlenking, and Cissa, in three ships; landing at a +place that is called Cymenshore. There they slew many of the +Welsh; and some in flight they drove into the wood that is called +Andred'sley. + +A.D. 482. This year the blessed Abbot Benedict shone in this +world, by the splendour of those virtues which the blessed +Gregory records in the book of Dialogues. + +A.D. 485. This year Ella fought with the Welsh nigh Mecred's- +Burnsted. + +A.D. 488. This year Esc succeeded to the kingdom; and was king +of the men of Kent twenty-four winters. + +A.D. 490. This year Ella and Cissa besieged the city of Andred, +and slew all that were therein; nor was one Briten left there +afterwards. + +A.D. 495. This year came two leaders into Britain, Cerdic and +Cynric his son, with five ships, at a place that is called +Cerdic's-ore. And they fought with the Welsh the same day. Then +he died, and his son Cynric succeeded to the government, and held +it six and twenty winters. Then he died; and Ceawlin, his son, +succeeded, who reigned seventeen years. Then he died; and Ceol +succeeded to the government, and reigned five years. When he +died, Ceolwulf, his brother, succeeded, and reigned seventeen +years. Their kin goeth to Cerdic. Then succeeded Cynebils, +Ceolwulf's brother's son, to the kingdom; and reigned one and +thirty winters. And he first of West-Saxon kings received +baptism. Then succeeded Cenwall, who was the son of Cynegils, +and reigned one and thirty winters. Then held Sexburga, his +queen, the government one year after him. Then succeeded Escwine +to the kingdom, whose kin goeth to Cerdic, and held it two years. +Then succeeded Centwine, the son of Cynegils, to the kingdom of +the West-Saxons, and reigned nine years. Then succeeded Ceadwall +to the government, whose kin goeth to Cerdic, and held it three +years. Then succeeded Ina to the kingdom of the West-Saxons, +whose kin goeth to Cerdic, and reigned thirty-seven winters. +Then succeeded Ethelheard, whose kin goeth to Cerdic, and reigned +sixteen years. Then succeeded Cuthred, whose kin goeth to +Cerdic, and reigned sixteen winters. Then succeeded Sigebriht, +whose kin goeth to Cerdic, and reigned one year. Then succeeded +Cynwulf, whose kin goeth to Cerdic, and reigned one and thirty +winters. Then succeeded Brihtric, whose kin goeth to Cerdic, and +reigned sixteen years. Then succeeded Egbert to the kingdom, and +held it seven and thirty winters, and seven months. Then +succeeded Ethelwulf, his son, and reigned eighteen years and a +half. Ethelwulf was the son of Egbert, Egbert of Ealmund, +Ealmund of Eafa, Eafa of Eoppa, Eoppa of Ingild, Ingild of Cenred +(Ina of Cenred, Cuthburga of Cenred, and Cwenburga of Cenred), +Cenred of Ceolwald, Ceolwald of Cuthwulf, Cuthwulf of Cuthwine, +Cuthwine of Celm, Celm of Cynric, Cynric of Creoda, Creoda of +Cerdic. Then succeeded Ethelbald, the son of Ethelwulf, to the +kingdom, and held it five years. Then succeeded Ethelbert, his +brother, and reigned five years. Then succeeded Ethelred, his +brother, to the kingdom, and held it five years. Then succeeded +Alfred, their brother, to the government. And then had elapsed +of his age three and twenty winters, and three hundred and +ninety-six winters from the time when his kindred first gained +the land of Wessex from the Welsh. And he held the kingdom a +year and a half less than thirty winters. Then succeeded Edward, +the son of Alfred, and reigned twenty-four winters. When he +died, then succeeded Athelstan, his son, and reigned fourteen +years and seven weeks and three days. Then succeeded Edmund, his +brother, and reigned six years and a half, wanting two nights. +Then succeeded Edred, his brother, and reigned nine years and six +weeks. Then succeeded Edwy, the son of Edmund, and reigned three +years and thirty-six weeks, wanting two days. When he died, then +succeeded Edgar, his brother, and reigned sixteen years and eight +weeks and two nights. When he died, then succeeded Edward, the +son of Edgar, and reigned -- + +A.D. 501. This year Porta and his two sons, Beda and Mela, came +into Britain, with two ships, at a place called Portsmouth. They +soon landed, and slew on the spot a young Briton of very high +rank. + +A.D. 508. This year Cerdic and Cynric slew a British king, whose +name was Natanleod, and five thousand men with him. After this +was the land named Netley, from him, as far as Charford. + +A.D. 509. This year St. Benedict, the abbot, father of all the +monks, (16) ascended to heaven. + +A.D. 514. This year came the West-Saxons into Britain, with +three ships, at the place that is called Cerdic's-ore. And Stuff +and Wihtgar fought with the Britons, and put them to flight. + +A.D. 519. This year Cerdic and Cynric undertook the government +of the West-Saxons; the same year they fought with the Britons at +a place now called Charford. From that day have reigned the +children of the West-Saxon kings. + +A.D. 527. This year Cerdic and Cynric fought with the Britons in +the place that is called Cerdic's-ley. + +A.D. 530. This year Cerdic and Cynric took the isle of Wight, +and slew many men in Carisbrook. + +A.D. 534. This year died Cerdic, the first king of the West- +Saxons. Cynric his son succeeded to the government, and reigned +afterwards twenty-six winters. And they gave to their two +nephews, Stuff and Wihtgar, the whole of the Isle of Wight. + +A.D. 538. This year the sun was eclipsed, fourteen days before +the calends of March, from before morning until nine. + +A.D. 540. This year the sun was eclipsed on the twelfth day +before the calends of July; and the stars showed themselves full +nigh half an hour over nine. + +A.D. 544. This year died Wihtgar; and men buried him at +Carisbrook. + +A.D. 547. This year Ida began his reign; from whom first arose +the royal kindred of the Northumbrians. Ida was the son of +Eoppa, Eoppa of Esa, Esa of Ingwy, Ingwy of Angenwit, Angenwit of +Alloc, Alloc of Bennoc, Bennoc of Brand, Brand of Balday, Balday +of Woden. Woden of Fritholaf, Fritholaf of Frithowulf, +Frithowulf of Finn, Finn of Godolph, Godolph of Geata. Ida +reigned twelve years. He built Bamburgh-Castle, which was first +surrounded with a hedge, and afterwards with a wall. + +A.D. 552. This year Cynric fought with the Britons on the spot +that is called Sarum, and put them to flight. Cerdic was the +father of Cynric, Cerdic was the son of Elesa, Elesa of Esla, +Esla of Gewis, Gewis of Wye, Wye of Frewin, Frewin of Frithgar, +Frithgar of Brand, Brand of Balday, Balday of Woden. In this +year Ethelbert, the son of Ermenric, was born, who on the two and +thirtieth year of his reign received the rite of baptism, the +first of all the kings in Britain. + +A.D. 556. This year Cynric and Ceawlin fought with the Britons +at Beranbury. + +A.D. 560. This year Ceawlin undertook the government of the +West-Saxons; and Ella, on the death of Ida, that of the +Northumbrians; each of whom reigned thirty winters. Ella was the +son of Iff, Iff of Usfrey, Usfrey of Wilgis, Wilgis of +Westerfalcon, Westerfalcon of Seafowl, Seafowl of Sebbald, +Sebbald of Sigeat, Sigeat of Swaddy, Swaddy of Seagirt, Seagar of +Waddy, Waddy of Woden, Woden of Frithowulf. This year Ethelbert +came to the kingdom of the Cantuarians, and held it fifty-three +winters. In his days the holy Pope Gregory sent us baptism. +That was in the two and thirtieth year of his reign. And +Columba, the mass-priest, came to the Picts, and converted them +to the belief of Christ. They are the dwellers by the northern +moors. And their king gave him the island of Hii, consisting of +five hides, as they say, where Columba built a monastary. There +he was abbot two and thirty winters; and there he died, when he +was seventy-seven years old. The place his successors yet have. +The Southern Picts were long before baptized by Bishop Ninnia, +who was taught at Rome. His church or monastery is at Hwiterne, +hallowed in the name of St. Martin, where he resteth with many +holy men. Now, therefore, shall there be ever in Hii an abbot, +and no bishop; and to him shall be subject all the bishops of the +Scots; because Columba was an abbot -- no bishop. + +((A.D. 565. This year Columba the presbyter came from the Scots +among the Britons, to instruct the Picts, and he built a +monastery in the island of Hii.)) + +A.D. 568. This year Ceawlin, and Cutha the brother of Ceawlin, +fought with Ethelbert, and pursued him into Kent. And they slew +two aldermen at Wimbledon, Oslake and Cnebba. + +A.D. 571. This year Cuthulf fought with the Britons at Bedford, +and took four towns, Lenbury, Aylesbury, Benson, and Ensham. And +this same year he died. + +A.D. 577. This year Cuthwin and Ceawlin fought with the Britons, +and slew three kings, Commail, and Condida, and Farinmail, on the +spot that is called Derham, and took from them three cities, +Gloucester, Cirencester, and Bath. + +A.D. 583. This year Mauricius succeeded to the empire of the +Romans. + +A.D. 584. This year Ceawlin and Cutha fought with the Britons on +the spot that is called Fretherne. There Cutha was slain. And +Ceawlin took many towns, as well as immense booty and wealth. He +then retreated to his own people. + +A.D. 588. This year died King Ella; and Ethelric reigned after +him five years. + +A.D. 591. This year there was a great slaughter of Britons at +Wanborough; Ceawlin was driven from his kingdom, and Ceolric +reigned six years. + +A.D. 592. This year Gregory succeeded to the papacy at Rome. + +A.D. 593. This year died Ceawlin, and Cwichelm, and Cryda; and +Ethelfrith succeeded to the kingdom of the Northumbrians. He was +the son of Ethelric; Ethelric of Ida. + +A.D. 596. This year Pope Gregory sent Augustine to Britain with +very many monks, to preach the word of God to the English people. + +A.D. 597. This year began Ceolwulf to reign over the West- +Saxons; and he constantly fought and conquered, either with the +Angles, or the Welsh, or the Picts, or the Scots. He was the son +of Cutha, Cutha of Cynric, Cynric of Cerdic, Cerdic of Elesa, +Elesa of Gewis, Gewis of Wye, Wye of Frewin, Frewin of Frithgar, +Frithgar of Brand, Brand of Balday, and Balday of Woden. This +year came Augustine and his companions to England. (17) + +A.D. 601. This year Pope Gregory sent the pall to Archbishop +Augustine in Britain, with very many learned doctors to assist +him; and Bishop Paulinus converted Edwin, king of the +Northumbrians, to baptism. + +A.D. 603. This year Aeden, king of the Scots, fought with the +Dalreathians, and with Ethelfrith, king of the Northumbrians, at +Theakstone; where he lost almost all his army. Theobald also, +brother of Ethelfrith, with his whole armament, was slain. None +of the Scottish kings durst afterwards bring an army against this +nation. Hering, the son of Hussa, led the army thither. + +((A.D. 603. This year Aethan, King of the Scots, fought against +the Dalreods and against Ethelfrith, king of the North-humbrians, +at Daegsanstane [Dawston?], and they slew almost all his army. +There Theodbald, Ethelfrith's brother, was slain with all his +band. Since then no king of the Scots has dared to lead an army +against this nation. Hering, the son of Hussa, led the enemy +thither.)) + +A.D. 604. This year Augustine consecrated two bishops, Mellitus +and Justus. Mellitus he sent to preach baptism to the East- +Saxons. Their king was called Seabert, the son of Ricola, +Ethelbert's sister, whom Ethelbert placed there as king. +Ethelbert also gave Mellitus the bishopric of London; and to +Justus he gave the bishopric of Rochester, which is twenty-four +miles from Canterbury. + +((A.D. 604. This year Augustine consecrated two bishops, +Mellitus and Justus. He sent Mellitus to preach baptism to the +East-Saxons, whose king was called Sebert, son of Ricole, the +sister of Ethelbert, and whom Ethelbert had there appointed king. +And Ethelbert gave Mellitus a bishop's see in London, and to +Justus he gave Rochester, which is twenty-four miles from +Canterbury.)) + +A.D. 606. This year died Gregory; about ten years since he sent +us baptism. His father was called Gordianus, and his mother +Silvia. + +A.D. 607. This year Ceolwulf fought with the South-Saxons. And +Ethelfrith led his army to Chester; where he slew an innumerable +host of the Welsh; and so was fulfilled the prophecy of +Augustine, wherein he saith "If the Welsh will not have peace +with us, they shall perish at the hands of the Saxons." There +were also slain two hundred priests, (18) who came thither to +pray for the army of the Welsh. Their leader was called +Brocmail, who with some fifty men escaped thence. + +A.D. 611. This year Cynegils succeeded to the government in +Wessex, and held it one and thirty winters. Cynegils was the son +of Ceol, Ceol of Cutha, Cutha of Cynric. + +A.D. 614. This year Cynegils and Cwichelm fought at Bampton, and +slew two thousand and forty-six of the Welsh. + +A.D. 616. This year died Ethelbert, king of Kent, the first of +English kings that received baptism: he was the son of Ermenric. +He reigned fifty-six winters, and was succeeded by his son +Eadbald. And in this same year had elapsed from the beginning of +the world five thousand six hundred and eighteen winters. This +Eadbald renounced his baptism, and lived in a heathen manner; so +that he took to wife the relict of his father. Then Laurentius, +who was archbishop in Kent, meant to depart southward over sea, +and abandon everything. But there came to him in the night the +apostle Peter, and severely chastised him, (19) because he would +so desert the flock of God. And he charged him to go to the +king, and teach him the right belief. And he did so; and the +king returned to the right belief. In this king's days the same +Laurentius, who was archbishop in Kent after Augustine, departed +this life on the second of February, and was buried near +Augustine. The holy Augustine in his lifetime invested him +bishop, to the end that the church of Christ, which yet was new +in England, should at no time after his decease be without an +archbishop. After him Mellitus, who was first Bishop of London, +succeeded to the archbishopric. The people of London, where +Mellitus was before, were then heathens: and within five winters +of this time, during the reign of Eadbald, Mellitus died. To him +succeeded Justus, who was Bishop of Rochester, whereto he +consecrated Romanus bishop. + +((A.D. 616. In that time Laurentius was archbishop, and for the +sorrowfulness which he had on account of the king's unbelief he +was minded to forsake this country entirely, and go over sea; but +St. Peter the apostle scourged him sorely one night, because he +wished thus to forsake the flock of God, and commanded him to +teach boldly the true faith to the king; and he did so, and the +king turned to the right (faith). In the days of this same king, +Eadbald, this Laurentius died. The holy Augustine, while yet in +sound health, ordained him bishop, in order that the community of +Christ, which was yet new in England, should not after his +decease be at any time without an archbishop. After him +Mellitus, who had been previously Bishop of London, succeeded to +the archbishopric. And within five years of the decease of +Laurentius, while Eadbald still reigned, Mellitus departed to +Christ.)) + +A.D. 617. This year was Ethelfrith, king of the Northumbrians, +slain by Redwald, king of the East-Angles; and Edwin, the son of +Ella, having succeeded to the kingdom, subdued all Britain, +except the men of Kent alone, and drove out the Ethelings, the +sons of Ethelfrith, namely, Enfrid. Oswald, Oswy, Oslac, Oswood. +Oslaf, and Offa. + +A.D. 624. This year died Archbishop Mellitus. + +A.D. 625. This year Paulinus was invested bishop of the +Northumbrians, by Archbishop Justus, on the twelfth day before +the calends of August. + +((A.D. 625. This year Archbishop Justus consecrated Paulinus +bishop of the North-humbrians.)) + +A.D. 626. This year came Eamer from Cwichelm, king of the West- +Saxons, with a design to assassinate King Edwin; but he killed +Lilla his thane, and Forthere, and wounded the king. The same +night a daughter was born to Edwin, whose name was Eanfleda. +Then promised the king to Paulinus, that he would devote his +daughter to God, if he would procure at the hand of God, that he +might destroy his enemy, who had sent the assassin to him. He +then advanced against the West-Saxons with an army, felled on the +spot five kings, and slew many of their men. This year Eanfleda, +the daughter of King Edwin, was baptized, on the holy eve of +Pentecost. And the king within twelve months was baptized, at +Easter, with all his people. Easter was then on the twelfth of +April. This was done at York, where he had ordered a church to +be built of timber, which was hallowed in the name of St. Peter. +There the king gave the bishopric to Paulinus; and there he +afterwards ordered a larger church to be built of stone. This +year Penda began to reign; and reigned thirty winters. He had +seen fifty winters when he began to reign. Penda was the son of +Wybba, Wybba of Creoda, Creoda of Cynewald, Cynewald of Cnebba, +Cnebba of Icel, Icel of Eomer, Eomer of Angelthew, Angelthew of +Offa, Offa of Wearmund, Wearmund of Whitley, Whitley of Woden. + +A.D. 627. This year was King Edwin baptized at Easter, with all +his people, by Paulinus, who also preached baptism in Lindsey, +where the first person who believed was a certain rich man, of +the name of Bleek, with all his people. At this time Honorius +succeeded Boniface in the papacy, and sent hither to Paulinus the +pall; and Archbishop Justus having departed this life on the +tenth of November, Honorius was consecrated at Lincoln Archbishop +of Canterbury by Paulinus; and Pope Honorius sent him the pall. +And he sent an injunction to the Scots, that they should return +to the right celebration of Easter. + +((A.D. 627. This year, at Easter, Paulinus baptized Edwin king +of the North-humbrians, with his people; and earlier within the +same year, at Pentecost, he had baptized Eanfled, daughter of the +same king.)) + +A.D. 628. This year Cynegils and Cwichelm fought with Penda at +Cirencester, and afterwards entered into a treaty there. + +A.D. 632. This year was Orpwald baptized. + +A.D. 633. This year King Edwin was slain by Cadwalla and Penda, +on Hatfield moor, on the fourteenth of October. He reigned +seventeen years. His son Osfrid was also slain with him. After +this Cadwalla and Penda went and ravaged all the land of the +Northumbrians; which when Paulinus saw, he took Ethelburga, the +relict of Edwin, and went by ship to Kent. Eadbald and Honorius +received him very honourably, and gave him the bishopric of +Rochester, where he continued to his death. + +A.D. 634. This year Osric, whom Paulinus baptized, succeeded to +the government of Deira. He was the son of Elfric, the uncle of +Edwin. And to Bernicia succeeded Eanfrith, son of Ethelfrith. +This year also Bishop Birinus first preached baptism to the West- +Saxons, under King Cynegils. The said Birinus went thither by +the command of Pope Honorius; and he was bishop there to the end +of his life. Oswald also this year succeeded to the government +of the Northumbrians, and reigned nine winters. The ninth year +was assigned to him on account of the heathenism in which those +lived who reigned that one year betwixt him and Edwin. + +A.D. 635. This year King Cynegils was baptized by Bishop Birinus +at Dorchester; and Oswald, king of the Northumbrians, was his +sponsor. + +A.D. 636. This year King Cwichelm was baptized at Dorchester, +and died the same year. Bishop Felix also preached to the East- +Angles the belief of Christ. + +A.D. 639. This year Birinus baptized King Cuthred at Dorchester, +and received him as his son. + +A.D. 640. This year died Eadbald, King of Kent, after a reign of +twenty-five winters. He had two sons, Ermenred and Erkenbert; +and Erkenbert reigned there after his father. He overturned all +the idols in the kingdom, and first of English kings appointed a +fast before Easter. His daughter was called Ercongota -- holy +damsel of an illustrious sire! whose mother was Sexburga, the +daughter of Anna, king of the East-Angles. Ermenred also begat +two sons, who were afterwards martyred by Thunnor. + +A.D. 642. This year Oswald, king of the Northumbrians, was slain +by Penda, king of the Southumbrians, at Mirfield, on the fifth +day of August; and his body was buried at Bardney. His holiness +and miracles were afterwards displayed on manifold occasions +throughout this island; and his hands remain still uncorrupted at +Barnburgh. The same year in which Oswald was slain, Oswy his +brother succeeded to the government of the Northumbrians, and +reigned two less than thirty years. + +A.D. 643. This year Kenwal succeeded to the kingdom of the West- +Saxons, and held it one and thirty winters. This Kenwal ordered +the old (20) church at Winchester to be built in the name of St. +Peter. He was the son of Cynegils. + +A.D. 644. This year died at Rochester, on the tenth of October, +Paulinus, who was first Archbishop at York, and afterwards at +Rochester. He was bishop nineteen winters, two months, and one +and twenty days. This year the son of Oswy's uncle (Oswin), the +son of Osric, assumed the government of Deira, and reigned seven +winters. + +A.D. 645. This year King Kenwal was driven from his dominion by +King Penda. + +A.D. 646. This year King Kenwal was baptized. + +A.D. 648. This year Kenwal gave his relation Cuthred three +thousand hides of land by Ashdown. Cuthred was the son of +Cwichelm, Cwichelm of Cynegils. + +A.D. 650. This year Egelbert, from Gaul, after Birinus the +Romish bishop, obtained the bishopric of the West-Saxons. + +((A.D. 650. This year Birinus the bishop died, and Agilbert the +Frenchman was ordained.)) + +A.D. 651. This year King Oswin was slain, on the twentieth day +of August; and within twelve nights afterwards died Bishop Aidan, +on the thirty-first of August. + +A.D. 652. This year Kenwal fought at Bradford by the Avon. + +A.D. 653. This year, the Middle-Angles under alderman Peada +received the right belief. + +A.D. 654. This year King Anna was slain, and Botolph began to +build that minster at Icanhoe. This year also died Archbishop +Honorius, on the thirtieth of September. + +A.D. 655. This year Penda was slain at Wingfield, and thirty +royal personages with him, some of whom were kings. One of them +was Ethelhere, brother of Anna, king of the East-Angles. The +Mercians after this became Christians. From the beginning of the +world had now elapsed five thousand eight hundred and fifty +winters, when Peada, the son of Penda, assumed the government of +the Mercians. In his time came together himself and Oswy, +brother of King Oswald, and said, that they would rear a minster +to the glory of Christ, and the honour of St. Peter. And they +did so, and gave it the name of Medhamsted; because there is a +well there, called Meadswell. And they began the groundwall, and +wrought thereon; after which they committed the work to a monk, +whose name was Saxulf. He was very much the friend of God, and +him also loved all people. He was nobly born in the world, and +rich: he is now much richer with Christ. But King Peada reigned +no while; for he was betrayed by his own queen, in Easter-tide. +This year Ithamar, Bishop of Rochester, consecrated Deus-dedit to +Canterbury, on the twenty-sixth day of March. + +A.D. 656. This year was Peada slain; and Wulfhere, son of Penda, +succeeded to the kingdom of the Mercians. In his time waxed the +abbey of Medhamsted very rich, which his brother had begun. The +king loved it much, for the love of his brother Peada, and for +the love of his wed-brother Oswy, and for the love of Saxulf the +abbot. He said, therefore, that he would dignify and honour it +by the counsel of his brothers, Ethelred and Merwal; and by the +counsel of his sisters, Kyneburga and Kyneswitha; and by the +counsel of the archbishop, who was called Deus-dedit; and by the +counsel of all his peers, learned and lewd, that in his kingdom +were. And he so did. Then sent the king after the abbot, that +he should immediately come to him. And he so did. Then said the +king to the abbot: "Beloved Saxulf, I have sent after thee for +the good of my soul; and I will plainly tell thee for why. My +brother Peada and my beloved friend Oswy began a minster, for the +love of Christ and St. Peter: but my brother, as Christ willed, +is departed from this life; I will therefore intreat thee, +beloved friend, that they earnestly proceed on their work; and I +will find thee thereto gold and silver, land and possessions, and +all that thereto behoveth." Then went the abbot home, and began +to work. So he sped, as Christ permitted him; so that in a few +years was that minster ready. Then, when the king heard say +that, he was very glad; and bade men send through all the nation, +after all his thanes; after the archbishop, and after bishops: +and after his earls; and after all those that loved God; that +they should come to him. And he fixed the day when men should +hallow the minster. And when they were hallowing the minster, +there was the king, Wulfere, and his brother Ethelred, and his +sisters, Kyneburga and Kyneswitha. And the minster was hallowed +by Archbishop Deusdedit of Canterbury; and the Bishop of +Rochester, Ithamar; and the Bishop of London, who was called +Wina; and the Bishop of the Mercians, whose name was Jeruman; and +Bishop Tuda. And there was Wilfrid, priest, that after was +bishop; and there were all his thanes that were in his kingdom. +When the minster was hallowed, in the name of St. Peter, and St. +Paul, and St. Andrew, then stood up the king before all his +thanes, and said with a loud voice: "Thanks be to the high +almighty God for this worship that here is done; and I will this +day glorify Christ and St. Peter, and I will that you all confirm +my words. -- I Wulfere give to-day to St. Peter, and the Abbot +Saxulf, and the monks of the minster, these lands, and these +waters, and meres, and fens, and weirs, and all the lands that +thereabout lye, that are of my kingdom, freely, so that no man +have there any ingress, but the abbot and the monks. This is the +gift. From Medhamsted to Northborough; and so to the place that +is called Foleys; and so all the fen, right to Ashdike; and from +Ashdike to the place called Fethermouth; and so in a right line +ten miles long to Ugdike; and so to Ragwell; and from Ragwell +five miles to the main river that goeth to Elm and to Wisbeach; +and so about three miles to Trokenholt; and from Trokenholt right +through all the fen to Derworth; that is twenty miles long; and +so to Great Cross; and from Great Cross through a clear water +called Bradney; and thence six miles to Paxlade; and so forth +through all the meres and fens that lye toward Huntingdon-port; +and the meres and lakes Shelfermere and Wittlesey mere, and all +the others that thereabout lye; with land and with houses that +are on the east side of Shelfermere; thence all the fens to +Medhamsted; from Medhamsted all to Welmsford; from Welmsford to +Clive; thence to Easton; from Easton to Stamford; from Stamford +as the water runneth to the aforesaid Northborough." -- These are +the lands and the fens that the king gave unto St. Peter's +minster. -- Then quoth the king: "It is little -- this gift -- +but I will that they hold it so royally and so freely, that there +be taken there from neither gild nor gable, but for the monks +alone. Thus I will free this minster; that it be not subject +except to Rome alone; and hither I will that we seek St. Peter, +all that to Rome cannot go." During these words the abbot +desired that he would gant him his request. And the king granted +it. "I have here (said he) some good monks that would lead their +life in retirement, if they wist where. Now here is an island, +that is called Ankerig; and I will request, that we may there +build a minster to the honour of St. Mary; that they may dwell +there who will lead their lives in peace and tranquillity." Then +answered the king, and quoth thus: "Beloved Saxulf, not that only +which thou desirest, but all things that I know thou desirest in +our Lord's behalf, so I approve, and grant. And I bid thee, +brother Ethelred, and my sisters, Kyneburga and Kyneswitha, for +the release of your souls, that you be witnesses, and that you +subscribe it with your fingers. And I pray all that come after +me, be they my sons, be they my brethren, or kings that come +after me, that our gift may stand; as they would be partakers of +the life everlasting, and as they would avoid everlasting +punishment. Whoso lesseneth our gift, or the gift of other good +men, may the heavenly porter lessen him in the kingdom of heaven; +and whoso advanceth it, may the heavenly porter advance him in +the kingdom of heaven." These are the witnesses that were there, +and that subscribed it with their fingers on the cross of Christ, +and confirmed it with their tongues. That was, first the king, +Wulfere, who confirmed it first with his word, and afterwards +wrote with his finger on the cross of Christ, saying thus: "I +Wulfere, king, in the presence of kings, and of earls, and of +captains, and of thanes, the witnesses of my gift, before the +Archbishop Deus-dedit, I confirm it with the cross of Christ." +(+) -- "And I Oswy, king of the Northumbrians, the friend of this +minster, and oœ the Abbot Saxulf, commend it with the cross of +Christ." (+) -- "And I Sighere, king, ratify it with the cross of +Christ." (+) -- "And I Sibbi, king, subscribe it with the cross +of Christ." (+) -- "And I Ethelred, the king's brother, granted +the same with the cross of Christ." (+) -- "And we, the king's +sisters, Kyneburga and Kyneswitha, approve it." -- "And I +Archbishop of Canterbury, Deus-dedit, ratify it." -- Then +confirmed it all the others that were there with the cross of +Christ (+): namely, Ithamar, Bishop of Rochester; Wina, Bishop of +London; Jeruman, Bishop of the Mercians; and Tuda, bishop; and +Wilfrid, priest, who was afterwards bishop; and Eoppa, priest, +whom the king, Wulfere, sent to preach christianity in the Isle +of Wight; and Saxulf, abbot; and Immine, alderman, and Edbert, +alderman, and Herefrith, alderman, and Wilbert, alderman, and +Abo, alderman; Ethelbald, Brord, Wilbert, Elmund, Frethegis. +These, and many others that were there, the king's most loyal +subjects, confirmed it all. This charter was written after our +Lord's Nativity 664 -- the seventh year of King Wulfere -- the +ninth year of Archbishop Deus-dedir. Then they laid God's curse, +and the curse of all saints, and all christian folks, on +whosoever undid anything that there was done. "So be it," saith +all. "Amen." -- When this thing was done, then sent the king to +Rome to the Pope Vitalianus that then was, and desired, that he +would ratify with his writ and with his blessing, all this +aforesaid thing. And the pope then sent his writ, thus saying: +"I Vitalianus, pope, grant thee, King Wulfere, and Deus-dedit, +archbishop, and Abbot Saxulf, all the things that you desire. +And I forbid, that any king, or any man, have any ingress, but +the abbot alone; nor shall he be Subject to any man, except the +Pope of Rome and the Archbishop of Canterbury. If any one +breaketh anything of this, St. Peter with his sword destroy him. +Whosoever holdeth it, St. Peter with heaven's key undo him the +kingdom of heaven." -- Thus was the minster of Medhamsted begun, +that was afterwards called Peter-borough. Afterwards came +another archbishop to Canterbury, who was called Theodorus; a +very good man and wise; and held his synod with his bishops and +with his clerk. There was Wilfrid, bishop of the Mercians, +deprived of his bishopric; and Saxulf, abbot, was there chosen +bishop; and Cuthbald, monk of the same minster, was chosen abbot. +This synod was holden after our Lord's Nativity six hundred and +seventy-three winters. + +A.D. 658. This year Kenwal fought with the Welsh at Pen, and +pursued them to the Parret. This battle was fought after his +return from East-Anglia, where he was three years in exile. +Penda had driven him thither and deprived him of his kingdom, +because he had discarded his sister. + +A.D. 660. This year Bishop Egelbert departed from Kenwal; and +Wina held the bishopric three years. And Egbert accepted the +bishopric of Paris, in Gaul, by the Seine. + +A.D. 661. This year, at Easter, Kenwal fought at Pontesbury; and +Wulfere, the son of Penda, pursued him as far as Ashdown. +Cuthred, the son of Cwichelm, and King Kenbert, died in one year. +Into the Isle of Wight also Wulfere, the son of Penda, +penetrated, and transferred the inhabitants to Ethelwald, king of +the South-Saxons, because Wulfere adopted him in baptism. And +Eoppa, a mass-priest, by command of Wilfrid and King Wulfere, was +the first of men who brought baptism to the people of the Isle of +Wight. + +A.D. 664. This year the sun was eclipsed, on the eleventh of +May; and Erkenbert, King of Kent, having died, Egbert his son +succeeded to the kingdom. Colman with his companions this year +returned to his own country. This same year there was a great +plague in the island Britain, in which died Bishop Tuda, who was +buried at Wayleigh -- Chad and Wilferth were consecrated -- And +Archbishop Deus-dedit died. + +A.D. 667. This year Oswy and Egbert sent Wighard, a priest, to +Rome, that he might be consecrated there Archbishop of +Canterbury; but he died as soon as he came thither. + +((A.D. 667. This year Wighard went to Rome, even as King Oswy, +and Egbert had sent him.)) + +A.D. 668. This year Theodore was consecrated archbishop, and +sent into Britain. + +A.D. 669. This year King Egbert gave to Bass, a mass-priest, +Reculver -- to build a minster upon. + +A.D. 670. This year died Oswy, King of Northumberland, on the +fifteenth day before the calends of March; and Egferth his son +reigned after him. Lothere, the nephew of Bishop Egelbert, +succeeded to the bishopric over the land of the West-Saxons, and +held it seven years. He was consecrated by Archbishop Theodore. +Oswy was the son of Ethelfrith, Ethelfrith of Ethelric, Ethelric +of Ida, Ida of Eoppa. + +A.D. 671. This year happened that great destruction among the +fowls. + +A.D. 672. This year died King Cenwal; and Sexburga his queen +held the government one year after him. + +A.D. 673. This year died Egbert, King of Kent; and the same year +there was a synod at Hertford; and St. Etheldritha began that +monastery at Ely. + +A.D. 674. This year Escwin succeeded to the kingdom of Wessex. +He was the son of Cenfus, Cenfus of Cenferth, Cenferth of +Cuthgils, Cuthgils of Ceolwulf, Ceolwulf of Cynric, Cynric of +Cerdic. + +A.D. 675. This year Wulfere, the son of Penda, and Escwin, the +son of Cenfus, fought at Bedwin. The same year died Wulfere, and +Ethelred succeeded to the government. In his time sent he to +Rome Bishop Wilfrid to the pope that then was, called Agatho, and +told him by word and by letter, how his brothers Peada and +Wulfere, and the Abbot Saxulf, had wrought a minster, called +Medhamsted; and that they had freed it, against king and against +bishop, from every service; and he besought him that he would +confirm it with his writ and with his blessing. And the pope +sent then his writ to England, thus saying: "I Agatho, Pope of +Rome, greet well the worthy Ethelred, king of the Mercians, and +the Archbishop Theodorus of Canterbury, and Saxulf, the bishop of +the Mercians, who before was abbot, and all the abbots that are +in England; God's greeting and my blessing. I have heard the +petition of King Ethelred, and of the Archbishop Theodorus, and +of the Bishop Saxulf, and of the Abbot Cuthbald; and I will it, +that it in all wise be as you have spoken it. And I ordain, in +behalf of God, and of St. Peter, and of all saints, and of every +hooded head, that neither king, nor bishop, nor earl, nor any man +whatever, have any claim, or gable, or gild, or levy, or take any +service of any kind, from the abbey of Medhamsted. I command +also, that no shire-bishop be so bold as to hold an ordination or +consecration within this abbacy, except the abbot intreat him, +nor have there any claim to proxies, or synodals, or anything +whatever of any kind. And I will, that the abbot be holden for +legate of Rome over all that island; and whatever abbot is there +chosen by the monks that he be consecrated by the Archbishop of +Canterbury. I will and decree, that, whatever man may have made +a vow to go to Rome, and cannot perform it, either from +infirmity, or for his lord's need, or from poverty, or from any +other necessity of any kind whatever, whereby he cannot come +thither, be he of England, or of whatever other island he be, he +may come to that minster of Medhamsted, and have the same +forgiveness of Christ and St. Peter, and of the abbot, and of the +monks, that he should have if he went to Rome. Now bid I thee, +brother Theodorus, that thou let it be proclaimed through all +England, that a synod be gathered, and this writ be read and +observed. Also I tell thee, Bishop Saxulf, that, as thou +desirest it, that the minster be free, so I forbid thee, and all +the bishops that after thee come, from Christ and from all his +saints, that ye have no demand from that minster, except so much +as the abbot will. Now will I say in a word, that, whoso holdeth +this writ and this decree, then be he ever dwelling with God +Almighty in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso breaketh it, then +be he excommunicated, and thrust down with Judas, and with all +the devils in hell, except he come to repentance. Amen!" This +writ sent the Pope Agatho, and a hundred and twenty-five bishops, +by Wilfrid, Archbishop of York, to England. This was done after +our Lord's Nativity 680, the sixth year of King Ethelred. Then +the king commanded the Archbishop Theodorus, that he should +appoint a general Wittenmoot at the place called Hatfield. When +they were there collected, then he allowed the letter to be read +that the pope sent thither; and all ratified and confirmed it. +Then said the king: "All things that my brother Peada, and my +brother Wulfere, and my sisters, Kyneburga and Kyneswitha, gave +and granted to St. Peter and the abbot, these I will may stand; +and I will in my day increase it, for their souls and for my +soul. Now give I St. Peter to-day into his minster, Medhamsted, +these lands, and all that thereto lyeth; that is, Bredon, +Repings, Cadney, Swineshead, Hanbury, Lodeshall, Scuffanhall, +Cosford, Stratford, Wattleburn, Lushgard, Ethelhun-island, +Bardney. These lands I give St. Peter just as freely as I +possessed them myself; and so, that none of my successors take +anything therefrom. Whoso doeth it, have he the curse of the +Pope of Rome, and the curse of all bishops, and of all those that +are witnesses here. And this I confirm with the token of +Christ." (+) "I Theodorus, Archbishop of Canterbury, am witness +to this charter of Medhamsted; and I ratify it with my hand, and +I excommunicate all that break anything thereof; and I bless all +that hold it." (+) "I Wilfrid, Archbishop of York, am witness to +this charter; and I ratify this same curse." (+) "I Saxulf, who +was first abbot, and now am bishop, I give my curse, and that of +all my successors, to those who break this." -- "I Ostritha, +Ethelred's queen, confirm it." -- "I Adrian, legate, ratify it." +-- "I Putta, Bishop of Rochester, subscribe it." -- "I Waldhere, +Bishop of London, confirm it." -- "I Cuthbald, abbot, ratify it; +so that, whoso breaketh it, have he the cursing of all bishops +and of all christian folk. Amen." + +A.D. 676. This year, in which Hedda succeeded to his bishopric, +Escwin died; and Centwin obtained the government of the West- +Saxons. Centwin was the son of Cynegils, Cynegils of Ceolwulf. +Ethelred, king of the Mercians, in the meantime, overran the land +of Kent. + +A.D. 678. This year appeared the comet-star in August, and shone +every morning, during three months, like a sunbeam. Bishop +Wilfrid being driven from his bishopric by King Everth, two +bishops were consecrated in his stead, Bosa over the Deirians, +and Eata over the Bernicians. About the same time also Eadhed +was consecrated bishop over the people of Lindsey, being the +first in that division. + +A.D. 679. This year Elwin was slain, by the river Trent, on the +spot where Everth and Ethelred fought. This year also died St. +Etheldritha; and the monastery of Coldingiham was destroyed by +fire from heaven. + +A.D. 680. This year Archbishop Theodore appointed a synod at +Hatfield; because he was desirous of rectifying the belief of +Christ; and the same year died Hilda, Abbess of Whitby. + +A.D. 681. This year Trumbert was consecrated Bishop of Hexham, +and Trumwin bishop of the Picts; for they were at that time +subject to this country. This year also Centwin pursued the +Britons to the sea. + +A.D. 684. This year Everth sent an army against the Scots, under +the command of his alderman, Bright, who lamentably plundered and +burned the churches of God. + +A.D. 685. This year King Everth commanded Cuthbert to be +consecrated a bishop; and Archbishop Theodore, on the first day +of Easter, consecrated him at York Bishop of Hexham; for Trumbert +had been deprived of that see. The same year Everth was slain by +the north sea, and a large army with him, on the thirteenth day +before the calends of June. He continued king fifteen winters; +and his brother Elfrith succeeded him in the government. Everth +was the son of Oswy. Oswy of Ethelferth, Ethelferth of Ethelric, +Ethelric of Ida, Ida of Eoppa. About this time Ceadwall began to +struggle for a kingdom. Ceadwall was the son of Kenbert, Kenbert +of Chad, Chad of Cutha, Cutha of Ceawlin, Ceawlin of Cynric, +Cynric of Cerdic. Mull, who was afterwards consigned to the +flames in Kent, was the brother of Ceadwall. The same year died +Lothhere, King of Kent; and John was consecrated Bishop of +Hexham, where he remained till Wilferth was restored, when John +was translated to York on the death of Bishop Bosa. Wilferth his +priest was afterwards consecrated Bishop of York, and John +retired to his monastery (21) in the woods of Delta. This year +there was in Britain a bloody rain, and milk and butter were +turned to blood. + +((A.D. 685. And in this same year Cuthbert was consecrated +Bishop of Hexham by Archbishop Theodore at York, because Bishop +Tumbert had been driven from the bishopric.)) + +A.D. 686. This year Ceadwall and his brother Mull spread +devastation in Kent and the Isle of Wight. This same Ceadwall +gave to St. Peter's minster, at Medhamsted, Hook; which is +situated in an island called Egborough. Egbald at this time was +abbot, who was the third after Saxulf; and Theodore was +archbishop in Kent. + +A.D. 687. This year was Mull consigned to the flames in Kent, +and twelve other men with him; after which, in the same year, +Ceadwall overran the kingdom of Kent. + +A.D. 688. This year Ceadwall went to Rome, and received baptism +at the hands of Sergius the pope, who gave him the name of Peter; +but in the course of seven nights afterwards, on the twelfth day +before the calends of May, he died in his crisom-cloths, and was +buried in the church of St. Peter. To him succeeded Ina in the +kingdom of Wessex, and reigned thirty-seven winters. He founded +the monastery of Glastonbury; after which he went to Rome, and +continued there to the end of his life. Ina was the son of +Cenred, Cenred of Ceolwald; Ceolwald was the brother of Cynegils; +and both were the sons of Cuthwin, who was the son of Ceawlin; +Ceawlin was the son of Cynric, and Cynric of Cerdic. + +((A.D. 688. This year King Caedwalla went to Rome, and received +baptism of Pope Sergius, and he gave him the name of Peter, and +in about seven days afterwards, on the twelfth before the kalends +of May, while he was yet in his baptismal garments, he died: and +he was buried in St. Peter's church. And Ina succeeded to the +kingdom of the West-Saxons after him, and he reigned twenty-seven +years.)) + +A.D. 690. This year Archbishop Theodore, who had been bishop +twenty-two winters, departed this life, (22) and was buried +within the city of Canterbury. Bertwald, who before this was +abbot of Reculver, on the calends of July succeeded him in the +see; which was ere this filled by Romish bishops, but henceforth +with English. Then were there two kings in Kent, Wihtred and +Webherd. + +A.D. 693. This year was Bertwald consecrated archbishop by +Godwin, bishop of the Gauls, on the fifth day before the nones of +July; about which time died Gifmund, who was Bishop of Rochester; +and Archbishop Bertwald consecrated Tobias in his stead. This +year also Dryhtelm (23) retired from the world. + +A.D. 694. This year the people of Kent covenanted with Ina, and +gave him 30,000 pounds in friendship, because they had burned his +brother Mull. Wihtred, who succeeded to the kingdom of Kent, and +held it thirty-three winters, was the son of Egbert, Egbert of +Erkenbert, Erkenbert of Eadbald, Eadbald of Ethelbert. And as +soon as he was king, he ordained a great council to meet in the +place that is called Bapchild; in which presided Wihtred, King of +Kent, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Brihtwald, and Bishop Tobias +of Rochester; and with him were collected abbots and abbesses, +and many wise men, all to consult about the advantage of God's +churches that are in Kent. Now began the king to speak, and +said, "I will that all the minsters and the churches, that were +given and bequeathed to the worship of God in the days of +believing kings, my predecessors, and in the days of my relations +of King Ethelbert and of those that followed him -- shall so +remain to the worship of God, and stand fast for evermore. For I +Wihtred, earthly king, urged on by the heavenly king, and with +the spirit of righteousness annealed, have of our progenitors +learned this, that no layman should have any right to possess +himself of any church or of any of the things that belong to the +church. And, therefore, strongly and truly, we set and decree, +and in the name of Almighty God, and of all saints, we forbid all +our succeeding kings, and aldermen, and all lawmen, ever, any +lordship over churches, and over all their appurtenances, which I +or my elders in old days have given for a perpetual inheritance +to the glory of Christ and our Lady St. Mary, and the holy +apostles. And look! when it happeneth, that bishop, or abbot, +or abbess, depart from this life, be it told the archbishop, and +with his counsel and injunction be chosen such as be worthy. And +the life of him, that shall be chosen to so holy a thing, let the +archbishop examine, and his cleanness; and in no wise be chosen +any one, or to so holy a thing consecrated, without the +archbishop's counsel. Kings shall appoint earls, and aldermen, +sheriffs, and judges; but the archbishop shall consult and +provide for God's flock: bishops, and abbots, and abbesses, and +priests, and deacons, he shall choose and appoint; and also +sanctify and confirm with good precepts and example, lest that +any of God's flock go astray and perish --" + +A.D. 697. This year the Southumbrians slew Ostritha, the queen +of Ethelred, the sister of Everth. + +A.D. 699. This year the Picts slew Alderman Burt. + +A.D. 702. This year Kenred assumed the government of the +Southumbrians. + +A.D. 703. This year died Bishop Hedda, having held the see of +Winchester twenty-seven winters. + +A.D. 704. This year Ethelred, the son of Penda, King of Mercia, +entered into a monastic life, having reigned twenty-nine winters; +and Cenred succeeded to the government. + +A.D. 705. This year died Ealdferth, king of the Northumbrians, +on the nineteenth day before the calends of January, at +Driffield; and was succeeded by his son Osred. Bishop Saxulf +also died the same year. + +A.D. 709. This year died Aldhelm, who was bishop by Westwood. +The land of the West-Saxons was divided into two bishoprics in +the first days of Bishop Daniel; who held one whilst Aldhelm held +the other. Before this it was only one. Forthere succeeded to +Aldhelm; and Ceolred succeeded to the kingdom of Mercia. And +Cenred went to Rome; and Offa with him. And Cenred was there to +the end of his life. The same year died Bishop Wilferth, at +Oundle, but his body was carried to Ripon. He was the bishop +whom King Everth compelled to go to Rome. + +A.D. 710. This year Acca, priest of Wilferth, succeeded to the +bishopric that Wilferth ere held; and Alderman Bertfrith fought +with the Picts between Heugh and Carau. Ina also, and Nun his +relative, fought with Grant, king of the Welsh; and the same year +Hibbald was slain. + +A.D. 714. This year died Guthlac the holy, and King Pepin. + +A.D. 715. This year Ina and Ceolred fought at Wanborough; (24) +and King Dagobert departed this life. + +A.D. 716. This year Osred, king of the Northumbrians, was slain +near the southern borders. He reigned eleven winters after +Ealdferth. Cenred then succeeded to the government, and held it +two years; then Osric, who held it eleven years. This same year +died Ceolred, king of the Mercians. His body lies at Lichfield; +but that of Ethelred, the son of Penda, at Bardney. Ethelbald +then succeeded to the kingdom of Mercia, and held it one and +forty winters. Ethelbald was the son of Alwy, Alwy of Eawa, Eawa +of Webba, whose genealogy is already written. The venerable +Egbert about this time converted the monks of Iona to the right +faith, in the regulation of Easter, and the ecclesiastical +tonsure. + +A.D. 718. This year died Ingild, the brother of Ina. Cwenburga +and Cuthburga were their sisters. Cuthburga reared the monastery +of Wimburn; and, though given in marriage to Ealdferth, King of +Northumberland, they parted during their lives. + +A.D. 721. This year Bishop Daniel went to Rome; and the same +year Ina slew Cynewulf, the etheling. This year also died the +holy Bishop John; who was bishop thirty-three years, and eight +months, and thirteen days. His body now resteth at Beverley. + +A.D. 722. This year Queen Ethelburga destroyed Taunton, which +Ina had formerly built; Ealdbert wandered a wretched exile in +Surrey and Sussex; and Ina fought with the South-Saxons. + +A.D. 725. This year died Wihtred, King of Kent, on the ninth day +before the calends of May, after a reign of thirty-two winters. +His pedigree is above; and he was succeeded by Eadbert. Ina this +year also fought with the South-Saxons, and slew Ealdbert, the +etheling, whom he had before driven into exile. + +A.D. 727. This year died Tobias, Bishop of Rochester: and +Archbishop Bertwald consecrated Aldulf bishop in his stead. + +A.D. 728. This year (25) Ina went to Rome, and there gave up the +ghost. He was succeeded in the kingdom of Wessex by Ethelhard +his relative, who held it fourteen years; but he fought this same +year with Oswald the etheling. Oswald was the son of Ethelbald, +Ethelbald of Cynebald, Cynebald of Cuthwin, Cuthwin of Ceawlin. + +A.D. 729. This year appeared the comet-star, and St. Egbert died +in Iona. This year also died the etheling Oswald; and Osric was +slain, who was eleven winters king of Northumberland; to which +kingdom Ceolwulf succeeded, and held it eight years. The said +Ceolwulf was the son of Cutha, Cutha of Cuthwin, Cuthwin of +Leodwald, Leodwald of Egwald, Egwald of Ealdhelm, Ealdhelm of +Occa, Occa of Ida, Ida of Eoppa. Archbishop Bertwald died this +year on the ides of January. He was bishop thirty-seven winters, +and six months, and fourteen days. The same year Tatwine, who +was before a priest at Bredon in Mercia, was consecrated +archbishop by Daniel Bishop of Winchester, Ingwald Bishop of +London, Aldwin Bishop of Lichfield, and Aldulf Bishop of +Rochester, on the tenth day of June. He enjoyed the +archbishopric about three years. + +((A.D. 729. And the same year Osric died; he was king eleven +years; then Ceolwulf succeeded to the kingdom, and held it eight +years.)) + +A.D. 733. This year Ethelbald took Somerton; the sun was +eclipsed; and Acca was driven from his bishopric. + +A.D. 734. This year was the moon as if covered with blood; and +Archbishop Tatwine and Bede departed this life; and Egbert was +consecrated bishop. + +A.D. 735. This year Bishop Egbert received the pall at Rome. + +A.D. 736. This year Archbishop Nothelm received the pall from +the bishop of the Romans. + +A.D. 737. This year Bishop Forthere and Queen Frithogitha went +to Rome; and King Ceolwulf received the clerical tonsure, giving +his kingdom to Edbert, his uncle's son: who reigned one and +twenty winters. Bishop Ethelwold and Acca died this year, and +Cynewulf was consecrated bishop. The same year also Ethelbald +ravaged the land of the Northumbrians. + +A.D. 738. This year Eadbery, the son of Eata the son of +Leodwald, succeeded to the Northumbrian kingdom, and held it one +and twenty winters. Archbishop Egbert, the son of Eata, was his +brother. They both rest under one porch in the city of York. + +A.D. 740. This year died King Ethelhard; and Cuthred, his +relative, succeeded to the West-Saxon kingdom, which he held +fourteen winters, during which time he fought many hard battles +with Ethelbald, king of the Mercians. On the death of Archbishop +Nothelm, Cuthbert was consecrated archbishop, and Dunn, Bishop of +Rochester. This year York was on fire. + +A.D. 742. This year there was a large synod assembled at +Cliff's-Hoo; and there was Ethelbald, king of Mercia, with +Archbishop Cuthbert, and many other wise men. + +A.D. 743. This year Ethelbald, king of Mercia, and Cuthred, king +of the West-Saxons, fought with the Welsh. + +A.D. 744. This year Daniel resigned the see of Winchester; to +which Hunferth was promoted. The stars went swiftly shooting; +and Wilferth the younger, who had been thirty winters Bishop of +York, died on the third day before the calends of May. + +A.D. 745. This year died Daniel. Forty-three winters had then +elapsed since he received the episcopal function. + +A.D. 746. This year was King Selred slain. + +A.D. 748. This year was slain Cynric, etheling of the West- +Saxons; Edbert, King of Kent, died; and Ethelbert, son of King +Wihtred, succeeded to the kingdom. + +A.D. 750. This year Cuthred, king of the West-Saxons, fought +with the proud chief Ethelhun. + +A.D. 752. This year, the twelfth of his reign, Cuthred, king of +the West-Saxons, fought at Burford (27) with Ethelbald, king of +the Mercians, and put him to flight. + +A.D. 753. This year Cuthred, king of the West-Saxons, fought +against the Welsh. + +A.D. 754. This year died Cuthred, king of the West-Saxons; and +Sebright, his relative, succeeded to the kingdom, which he held +one year; Cyneard succeeded Humferth in the see of Winchester; +and Canterbury was this year on fire. + +A.D. 755. This year Cynewulf, with the consent of the West-Saxon +council, deprived Sebright, his relative, for unrighteous deeds, +of his kingdom, except Hampshire; which he retained, until he +slew the alderman who remained the longest with him. Then +Cynewulf drove him to the forest of Andred, where he remained, +until a swain stabbed him at Privett, and revenged the alderman, +Cumbra. The same Cynewulf fought many hard battles with the +Welsh; and, about one and thirty winters after he had the +kingdom, he was desirous of expelling a prince called Cyneard, +who was the brother of Sebright. But he having understood that +the king was gone, thinly attended, on a visit to a lady at +Merton, (28) rode after him, and beset him therein; surrounding +the town without, ere the attendants of the king were aware of +him. When the king found this, he went out of doors, and +defended himself with courage; till, having looked on the +etheling, he rushed out upon him, and wounded him severely. Then +were they all fighting against the king, until they had slain +him. As soon as the king's thanes in the lady's bower heard the +tumult, they ran to the spot, whoever was then ready. The +etheling immediately offered them life and rewards; which none of +them would accept, but continued fighting together against him, +till they all lay dead, except one British hostage, and he was +severely wounded. When the king's thanes that were behind heard +in the morning that the king was slain, they rode to the spot, +Osric his alderman, and Wiverth his thane, and the men that he +had left behind; and they met the etheling at the town, where the +king lay slain. The gates, however, were locked against them, +which they attempted to force; but he promised them their own +choice of money and land, if they would grant him the kingdom; +reminding them, that their relatives were already with him, who +would never desert him. To which they answered, that no relative +could be dearer to them than their lord, and that they would +never follow his murderer. Then they besought their relatives to +depart from him, safe and sound. They replied, that the same +request was made to their comrades that were formerly with the +king; "And we are as regardless of the result," they rejoined, +"as our comrades who with the king were slain." Then they +continued fighting at the gates, till they rushed in, and slew +the etheling and all the men that were with him; except one, who +was the godson of the alderman, and whose life he spared, though +he was often wounded. This same Cynewulf reigned one and thirty +winters. His body lies at Winchester, and that of the etheling +at Axminster. Their paternal pedigree goeth in a direct line to +Cerdic. The same year Ethelbald, king of the Mercians, was slain +at Seckington; and his body lies at Repton. He reigned one and +forty years; and Bernred then succeeded to the kingdom, which he +held but a little while, and unprosperously; for King Offa the +same year put him to flight, and assumed the government; which he +held nine and thirty winters. His son Everth held it a hundred +and forty days. Offa was the son of Thingferth, Thingferth of +Enwulf, Enwulf of Osmod, Osmod of Eawa, Eawa of Webba, Webba of +Creoda, Creoda of Cenwald, Cenwald of Cnebba, Cnebba of Icel, +Icel of Eomer, Eomer of Angelthew, Angelthew of Offa, Offa of +Wermund, Wermund of Witley, Witley of Woden. + +((A.D. 755. This year Cynewulf deprived King Sigebert of his +kingdom; and Sigebert's brother, Cynehard by name, slew Cynewulf +at Merton; and he reigned thirty-one years. And in the same year +Ethelbald, king of the Mercians, was slain at Repton. And Offa +succeeded to the kingdom of the Mercians, Bernred being driven +out.)) + +A.D. 757. This year Eadbert, king of the Northumbrians, received +the tonsure, and his son Osulf the kingdom; which he held one +year. Him his own domestics slew on the ninth day before the +kalends of August. + +A.D. 758. This year died Archbishop Cuthbert. He held the +archbishopric eighteen years. + +A.D. 759. This year Bregowin was invested archbishop at +Michaelmas, and continued four years. Mull Ethelwold this year +succeeded to the Northumbrian kingdom, held it six winters, and +then resigned it. + +A.D. 760. This year died Ethelbert, King of Kent, who was the +son of King Wihtred, and also of Ceolwulf. + +A.D. 761. This year was the severe winter; and Mull, king of the +Northumbrians, slew Oswin at Edwin's-Cliff, on the eighth day +before the ides of August. + +A.D. 762. This year died Archbishop Bregowin. + +A.D. 763. This year Eanbert was invested archbishop, on the +fortieth day over mid-winter; and Frithwald, Bishop of Whitern, +died on the nones of May. He was consecrated at York, on the +eighteenth day before the calends of September, in the sixth year +of the reign of Ceolwulf, and was bishop nine and twenty winters. +Then was Petwin consecrated Bishop of Whitern at Adlingfleet, on +the sixteenth day before the calends of August. + +A.D. 764. This year Archbishop Eanbert received the pall. + +A.D. 765. This year Alred succeeded to the kingdom of the +Northumbrians, and reigned eight winters. + +A.D. 766. This year died Archbishop Egbert at York, on the +thirteenth day before the calends of December, who was bishop +thirty-six winters; and Frithbert at Hexham, who was bishop there +thirty-four winters. Ethelbert was consecrated to York, and +Elmund to Hexham. + +A.D. 768. This year died King Eadbert, the son of Eata, on the +fourteenth day before the calends of September. + +A.D. 772. This year died Bishop Mildred. + +A.D. 774. This year the Northumbrians banished their king, +Alred, from York at Easter-tide; and chose Ethelred, the son of +Mull, for their lord, who reigned four winters. This year also +appeared in the heavens a red crucifix, after sunset; the +Mercians and the men of Kent fought at Otford; and wonderful +serpents were seen in the land of the South-Saxons. + +A.D. 775. This year Cynewulf and Offa fought near Bensington, +and Offa took possession of the town. In the days of this king, +Offa, there was an abbot at Medhamsted, called Beonna; who, with +the consent of all the monks of the minster, let to farm, to +Alderman Cuthbert, ten copyhold lands at Swineshead, with leasow +and with meadow, and with all the appurtenances; provided that +the said Cuthbert gave the said abbot fifty pounds therefore, and +each year entertainment for one night, or thirty shillings in +money; (29) provided also, that after his decease the said lands +should revert to the monastery. The king, Offa, and King Everth, +and Archbishop Hibbert, and Bishop Ceolwulf, and Bishop Inwona, +and Abbot Beonna, and many other bishops, and abbots, and rich +men, were witnesses to this. In the days of this same Offa was +an alderman, of the name of Brorda, who requested the king for +his sake to free his own monastery, called Woking, because he +would give it to Medhamsted and St. Peter, and the abbot that +then was, whose name was Pusa. Pusa succeeded Beonna; and the +king loved him much. And the king freed the monastery of Woking, +against king, against bishop, against earl, and against all men' +so that no man should have any claim there, except St. Peter and +the abbot. This was done at the king's town called +Free-Richburn. + +A.D. 776. This year died Bishop Petwin, on the thirteenth day +before the calends of October, having been bishop fourteen +winters. The same year Ethelbert was consecrated Bishop of +Whitern, at York, on the seventeenth day before the calends of +July. + +A.D. 778. This year Ethelbald and Herbert slew three high- +sheriffs -- Eldulf, the son of Bosa, at Coniscliff; Cynewulf and +Eggo at Helathyrn -- on the eleventh day before the calends of +April. Then Elwald, having banished Ethelred from his territory, +seized on his kingdom, and reigned ten winters. + +A.D. 780. This year a battle was fought between the Old-Saxons +and the Franks; and the high-sheriffs of Northumbria committed to +the flames Alderman Bern at Silton, on the ninth day before the +calends of January. The same year Archbishop Ethelbert died at +York, and Eanbald was consecrated in his stead; Bishop Cynewulf +retired to Holy-island; Elmund, Bishop of Hexham, died on the +seventh day before the ides of September, and Tilbert was +consecrated in his stead, on the sixth day before the nones of +October; Hibbald was consecrated Bishop of Holy-island at +Sockbury; and King Elwald sent to Rome for a pall in behoof of +Archbishop Eanbald. + +A.D. 782. This year died Werburga, Queen of Ceolred, and Bishop +Cynewulf, in Holy-island; and the same year there was a synod at +Acley. + +A.D. 784. This year Cyneard slew King Cynewulf, and was slain +himself, and eighty-four men with him. Then Bertric undertook +the government of the West-Saxons, and reigned sixteen years. +His body is deposited at Wareham; and his pedigree goeth in a +direct line to Cerdic. At this time reigned Elmund king in Kent, +the father of Egbert; and Egbert was the father of Athulf. + +A.D. 785. This year died Bothwin, Abbot of Ripon, and a +litigious synod was holden at Chalk-hythe; Archbishop Eanbert +resigned some part of his bishopric, Hibbert was appointed bishop +by King Offa, and Everth was consecrated king. In the meantime +legates were sent from Rome to England by Pope Adrian, to renew +the blessings of faith and peace which St. Gregory sent us by the +mission of Bishop Augustine, and they were received with every +mark of honour and respect. + +A.D. 787. This year King Bertric took Edburga the daughter of +Offa to wife. And in his days came first three ships of the +Northmen from the land of robbers. The reve (30) then rode +thereto, and would drive them to the king's town; for he knew not +what they were; and there was he slain. These were the first +ships of the Danish men that sought the land of the English +nation. + +A.D. 788. This year there was a synod assembled at Fingall in +Northumberland, on the fourth day before the nones of September; +and Abbot Albert departed this life. + +A.D. 789. This year Elwald, king of the Northumbrians, was slain +by Siga, on the eleventh day before the calends of October; and a +heavenly light was often seen on the spot where he was slain. He +was buried in the church of Hexham; and Osred, the son of Alred, +who was his nephew, succeeded him in the government. This ),ear +there was a synod assembled at Acley. + +A.D. 790. This year Archbishop Eanbert died, and Abbot Ethelherd +was chosen archbishop the same year. Osred, king of the +Northumbrians, was betrayed and banished from his kingdom, and +Ethelred, the son of Ethelwald, succeeded him. + +A.D. 791. This year Baldulf was consecrated Bishop of Whitern, +on the sixteenth day before the calends of August, by Archbishop +Eanbald and Bishop Ethelbert. + +A.D. 792. This year Offa, King of Mercia, commanded that King +Ethelbert should be beheaded; and Osred, who had been king of the +Northumbrians, returning home after his exile, was apprehended +and slain, on the eighteenth day before the calends of October. +His body is deposited at Tinemouth. Ethelred this year, on the +third day before the calends of October, took unto himself a new +wife, whose name was Elfleda. + +A.D. 793. This year came dreadful fore-warnings over the land of +the Northumbrians, terrifying the people most woefully: these +were immense sheets of light rushing through the air, and +whirlwinds, and fiery, dragons flying across the firmament. +These tremendous tokens were soon followed by a great famine: and +not long after, on the sixth day before the ides of January in +the same year, the harrowing inroads of heathen men made +lamentable havoc in the church of God in Holy-island, by rapine +and slaughter. Siga died on the eighth day before the calends of +March. + +A.D. 794. This year died Pope Adrian; and also Offa, King of +Mercia, on the fourth day before the ides of August, after he had +reigned forty winters. Ethelred, king of the Northumbrians, was +slain by his own people, on the thirteenth day before the calends +of May; in consequence of which, Bishops Ceolwulf and Eadbald +retired from the land. Everth took to the government of Mercia, +and died the same year. Eadbert, whose other name was Pryn, +obtained the kingdom of Kent; and Alderman Ethelherd died on the +calends of August. In the meantime, the heathen armies spread +devastation among the Northumbrians, and plundered the monastery +of King Everth at the mouth of the Wear. There, however, some of +their leaders were slain; and some of their ships also were +shattered to pieces by the violence of the weather; many of the +crew were drowned; and some, who escaped alive to the shore, were +soon dispatched at the mouth of the river. + +A.D. 795. This year was the moon eclipsed, between cock-crowing +and dawn, (31) on the fifth day before the calends of April; and +Erdulf succeeded to the Northumbrian kingdom on the second before +the ides of May. He was afterwards consecrated and raised to his +throne, at York, on the seventh day before the calends of June, +by Archbishop Eanbald, and Bishops Ethelbert, Hibbald, and +Baldulf. + +A.D. 796. This year died Archbishop Eanbald, on the fourth day +before the ides of August; and his body is deposited at York. +The same year also died Bishop Ceolwulf; and another Eanbald was +consecrated to the see of the former, on the nineteenth day +before the calends of September. About the same time Cynewulf, +King of Mercia, made inroads upon the inhabitants of Kent as far +as the marsh; and the Mercians seized Edbert Pryn, their king, +led him bound into Mercia, and suffered men to pick out his eyes, +and cut off his hands. (32) And Ethelard, Archbishop of +Canterbury, held a synod, wherein he ratified and confirmed, by +command of Pope Leo, all things concerning God's monasteries that +were fixed in Witgar's days, and in other king's days, saying +thus: "I Ethelard, the humble Archbishop of Canterbury, with the +unanimous concurrence of the whole synod, and of all the +congregations of all the minsters, to which in former days +freedom was given by faithful men, in God's name and by his +terrible judgment do decree, as I have command from Pope Leo, +that henceforth none dare to choose them lords from lewd men over +God's inheritance; but, as it is in the writ that the pope has +given, or holy men have settled, our fathers and our teachers, +concerning holy minsters, so they continue untainted without any +resistance. If there is any man that will not observe this +decree of God, of our pope, and of us, but overlooketh it, and +holdeth it for nought, let them know, that they shall give an +account before the judgment-seat of God. And I Ethelard, +archbishop, with twelve bishops, and with three and twenty +abbots, this same with the rood-token of Christ confirm and +fasten." + +((A.D. 796. This year Offa, king of the Mercians, died on the +fourth before the kalends of August; he reigned forty years.)) + +A.D. 797. This year the Romans cut out the tongue of Pope Leo, +put out his eyes, and drove him from his see; but soon after, by +the assistance of God, he could see and speak, and became pope as +he was before. Eanbald also received the pall on the sixth day +before the ides of September, and Bishop Ethelherd died on the +third before the calends of November. + +A.D. 798. This year a severe battle was fought in the +Northumbrian territory, during Lent, on the fourth day before the +nones of April, at Whalley; wherein Alric, the son of Herbert, +was slain, and many others with him. + +A.D. 799. This year Archbishop Ethelbert, and Cynbert, Bishop of +Wessex, went to Rome. In the meantime Bishop Alfun died at +Sudbury, and was buried at Dunwich. After him Tidfrith was +elected to the see; and Siric, king of the East Saxons, went to +Rome. In this year the body of Witburga was found entire, and +free from decay, at Dercham, after a lapse of five and fifty +years from the period of her decease. + +A.D. 800. This year was the moon eclipsed, at eight in the +evening, on the seventeenth day before the calends of February; +and soon after died King Bertric and Alderman Worr. Egbert +succeeded to the West-Saxon kingdom; and the same day Ethelmund, +alderman of the Wiccians, rode over the Thames at Kempsford; +where he was met by Alderman Woxtan, with the men of Wiltshire, +and a terrible conflict ensued, in which both the commanders were +slain, but the men of Wiltshire obtained the victory. + +((A.D. 801. This year Beornmod was ordained Bishop of +Rochester.)) + +A.D. 802. This year was the moon eclipsed, at dawn, on the +thirteenth day before the calends of January; and Bernmod was +consecrated Bishop of Rochester. + +A.D. 803. This year died Hibbald, Bishop of Holy-island, on the +twenty-fourth of June, and Egbert was consecrated in his stead, +on the thirteenth of June following. Archbishop Ethelherd also +died in Kent, and Wulfred was chosen archbishop in his stead. +Abbot Forthred, in the course of the same year, departed this +life. + +A.D. 804. This year Archbishop Wulfred received his pall. + +A.D. 805. This year died King Cuthred in Kent, and Abbess +Colburga, and Alderman Herbert. + +A.D. 806. This year was the moon eclipsed, on the first o[ +September; Erdwulf, king of the Northumbrians, was banished from +his dominions; and Eanbert, Bishop of Hexham, departed this life. +This year also, on the next day before the nones of June, a cross +was seen in the moon, on a Wednesday, at the dawn; and +afterwards, during the same year, on the third day before the +calends of September, a wonderful circle was displayed about the +sun. + +A.D. 807. This year was the sun eclipsed, precisely at eleven in +the morning, on the seventeenth day before the calends of August. + +A.D. 812. This year died the Emperor Charlemagne, after a reign +of five and forty winters; and Archbishop Wulfred, accompanied by +Wigbert, Bishop of Wessex, undertook a journey to Rome. + +A.D. 813. This year Archbishop Wulfred returned to his own see, +with the blessing of Pope Leo; and King Egbert spread devastation +in Cornwall from east to west. + +A.D. 814. This year died Leo, the noble and holy pope; and +Stephen succeeded him in the papal government. + +A.D. 816. This year died Pope Stephen; and Paschalis was +consecrated pope after him. This same year the school of the +English nation at Rome was destroyed by fire. + +A.D. 819. This year died Cenwulf, King of Mercia; and Ceolwulf +(33) succeeded him. Alderman Eadbert also departed this life. + +A.D. 821. This year Ceolwulf was deprived of his kingdom. + +A.D. 822. This year two aldermen were slain, whose names were +Burhelm and Mucca; and a synod was holden at Cliff's-Hoo. + +A.D. 823. This year a battle was fought between the Welsh in +Cornwall and the people of Devonshire, at Camelford; and in the +course of the same year Egbert, king of the West-Saxons, and +Bernwulf, King of Mercia, fought a battle at Wilton, in which +Egbert gained the victory, but there was great slaughter on both +sides. Then sent he his son Ethelwulf into Kent, with a large +detachment from the main body of the army, accompanied by his +bishop, Elstan, and his alderman, Wulfherd; who drove Baldred, +the king, northward over the Thames. Whereupon the men of Kent +immediately submitted to him; as did also the inhabitants of +Surrey, and Sussex, and Essex; who had been unlawfully kept from +their allegiance by his relatives. The same year also, the king +of the East-Angles, and his subjects besought King Egbert to give +them peace and protection against the terror of the Mercians; +whose king, Bernwulf, they slew in the course of the same year. + +A.D. 825. This year Ludecan, King of Mercia, was slain, and his +five aldermen with him; after which Wiglaf succeeded to the +kingdom. + +A.D. 827. This year was the moon eclipsed, on mid-winter's mass- +night; and King Egbert, in the course of the same year, conquered +the Mercian kingdom, and all that is south of the Humber, being +the eighth king who was sovereign of all the British dominions. +Ella, king of the South-Saxons, was the first who possessed so +large a territory; the second was Ceawlin, king of the West- +Saxons: the third was Ethelbert, King of Kent; the fourth was +Redwald, king of the East-Angles; the fifth was Edwin, king of +the Northumbrians; the sixth was Oswald, who succeeded him; the +seventh was Oswy, the brother of Oswald; the eighth was Egbert, +king of the West-Saxons. This same Egbert led an army against +the Northumbrians as far as Dore, where they met him, and offered +terms of obedience and subjection, on the acceptance of which +they returned home. + +A.D. 828. This year Wiglaf recovered his Mercian kingdom, and +Bishop Ethelwald departed this life. The same year King Egbert +led an army against the people of North-Wales, and compelled them +all to peaceful submission. + +A.D. 829. This year died Archbishop Wulfred; and Abbot Feologild +was after him chosen to the see, on the twenty-fifth of April, +and consecrated on a Sunday, the eleventh of June. On the +thirteenth of August he was dead! + +A.D. 830. This year Ceolnoth was chosen and consecrated +archbishop on the death of Abbot Feologild. + +A.D. 831. This year Archbishop Ceolnoth received the pall. + +A.D. 832. This year heathen men overran the Isle of Shepey. + +A.D. 833. This year fought King Egbert with thirty-five pirates +at Charmouth, where a great slaughter was made, and the Danes +remained masters of the field. Two bishops, Hereferth and Wigen, +and two aldermen, Dudda and Osmod, died the same year. + +A.D. 835. This year came a great naval armament into West-Wales, +where they were joined by the people, who commenced war against +Egbert, the West-Saxon king. When he heard this, he proceeded +with his army against them and fought with them at Hengeston, +where he put to flight both the Welsh and the Danes. + +A.D. 836. This year died King Egbert. Him Offa, King of Mercia, +and Bertric, the West-Saxon king, drove out of England into +France three years before he was king. Bertric assisted Offa +because he had married his daughter. Egbert having afterwards +returned, reigned thirty-seven winters and seven months. Then +Ethelwulf, the son of Egbert, succeeded to the West-Saxon +kingdom; and he gave his son Athelstan the kingdom of Kent, and +of Essex, and of Surrey, and of Sussex. + +A.D. 837. This year Alderman Wulfherd fought at Hamton with +thirty-three pirates, and after great slaughter obtained the +victory, but he died the same year. Alderman Ethelhelm also, +with the men of Dorsetshire, fought with the Danish army in +Portland-isle, and for a good while put them to flight; but in +the end the Danes became masters of the field, and slew the +alderman. + +A.D. 838. This year Alderman Herbert was slain by the heathens, +and many men with him, among the Marshlanders. The same year, +afterwards, in Lindsey, East-Anglia, and Kent, were many men +slain by the army. + +A.D. 839. This year there was great slaughter in London, +Canterbury, and Rochester. + +A.D. 840. This year King Ethelwulf fought at Charmouth with +thirty-five ship's-crews, and the Danes remained masters of the +place. The Emperor Louis died this year. + +A.D. 845. This year Alderman Eanwulf, with the men of +Somersetshire, and Bishop Ealstan, and Alderman Osric, with the +men of Dorsetshire, fought at the mouth of the Parret with the +Danish army; and there, after making a great slaughter, obtained +the victory. + +A.D. 851. This year Alderman Ceorl, with the men of Devonshire, +fought the heathen army at Wemburg, and after making great +slaughter obtained the victory. The same year King Athelstan and +Alderman Elchere fought in their ships, and slew a large army at +Sandwich in Kent, taking nine ships and dispersing the rest. The +heathens now for the first time remained over winter in the Isle +of Thanet. The same year came three hundred and fifty ships into +the mouth of the Thames; the crew of which went upon land, and +stormed Canterbury and London; putting to flight Bertulf, king of +the Mercians, with his army; and then marched southward over the +Thames into Surrey. Here Ethelwulf and his son Ethelbald, at the +head of the West-Saxon army, fought with them at Ockley, and made +the greatest slaughter of the heathen army that we have ever +heard reported to this present day. There also they obtained the +victory. + +A.D. 852. About this time Abbot Ceolred of Medhamsted, with the +concurrence of the monks, let to hand the land of Sempringham to +Wulfred, with the provision, that after his demise the said land +should revert to the monastery; that Wulfred should give the land +of Sleaford to Meohamsted, and should send each year into the +monastery sixty loads of wood, twelve loads of coal, six loads of +peat, two tuns full of fine ale, two neats' carcases, six hundred +loaves, and ten kilderkins of Welsh ale; one horse also each +year, and thirty shillings, and one night's entertainment. This +agreement was made in the presence of King Burhred. Archbishop +Ceolnoth, Bishops Tunbert, Kenred, Aldhun, and Bertred; Abbots +Witred and Weftherd, Aldermen Ethelherd and Hunbert, and many +others. + +A.D. 853. This year Burhred, King of Mercia, with his council, +besought King Ethelwulf to assist him to subdue North-Wales. He +did so; and with an army marched over Mercia into North-Wales, +and made all the inhabitants subject to him. The same year King +Ethelwulf sent his son Alfred to Rome; and Leo, who was then +pope, consecrated him king, and adopted him as his spiritual son. +The same year also Elchere with the men of Kent, and Huda with +the men of Surrey, fought in the Isle of Thanet with the heathen +army, and soon obtained the victory; but there were many men +slain and drowned on either hand, and both the aldermen killed. +Burhred, the Mercian king, about this time received in marriage +the daughter of Ethelwulf, king of the West-Saxons. + +A.D. 854. This year the heathen men (34) for the first time +remained over winter in the Isle of Shepey. The same year King +Ethelwulf registered a TENTH of his land over all his kingdom for +the honour of God and for his own everlasting salvation. The +same year also he went to Rome with great pomp, and was resident +there a twelvemonth. Then he returned homeward; and Charles, +king of the Franks, gave him his daughter, whose name was Judith, +to be his queen. After this he came to his people, and they were +fain to receive him; but about two years after his residence +among the Franks he died; and his body lies at Winchester. He +reigned eighteen years and a half. And Ethelwulf was the son of +Egbert, Egbert of Ealhmund, Ealhmund of Eafa, Eafa of Eoppa, +Eoppa of Ingild; Ingild was the brother of Ina, king of the +West-Saxons, who held that kingdom thirty-seven winters, and +afterwards went to St. Peter, where he died. And they were the +sons of Cenred, Cenred of Ceolwald, Ceolwald of Cutha, Cutha of +Cuthwin, Cuthwin of Ceawlin, Ceawlin of Cynric, Cynric of Creoda, +Creoda of Cerdic, Cerdic of Elesa, Elesa of Esla, Esla of Gewis, +Gewis of Wig, Wig of Freawine, Freawine of Frithugar, Frithugar +of Brond, Brond of Balday, Balday of Woden, Woden of Frithuwald, +Frithuwald of Freawine, Freawine of Frithuwualf, Frithuwulf of +Finn, Finn of Godwulf, Godwulf of Great, Great of Taetwa, Taetwa +of Beaw, Beaw of Sceldwa, Sceldwa of Heremod, Heremod of Itermon, +Itermon of Hathra, Hathra of Hwala, Hwala of Bedwig, Bedwig of +Sceaf; that is, the son of Noah, who was born in Noah's ark: +Laznech, Methusalem, Enoh, Jared, Malalahel, Cainion, Enos, Seth, +Adam the first man, and our Father, that is, Christ. Amen. Then +two sons of Ethelwulf succeeded to the kingdom; Ethelbald to +Wessex, and Ethelbert to Kent, Essex, Surrey, and Sussex. +Ethelbald reigned five years. Alfred, his third son, Ethelwulf +had sent to Rome; and when the pope heard say that he was dead, +he consecrated Alfred king, and held him under spiritual hands, +as his father Ethelwulf had desired, and for which purpose he had +sent him thither. + +((A.D. 855. And on his return homewards he took to (wife) the +daughter of Charles, king of the French, whose name was Judith, +and he came home safe. And then in about two years he died, and +his body lies at Winchester: and he reigned eighteen years and a +half, and he was the son of Egbert. And then his two sons +succeeded to the kingdom; Ethelbald to the kingdom of the +West-Saxons, and Ethelbert to the kingdom of the Kentish-men, and +of the East-Saxons, and of Surrey, and of the South-Saxons. And +he reigned five years.)) + +A.D. 860. This year died King Ethelbald, and his body lies at +Sherborn. Ethelbert his brother then succeeded to the whole +kingdom, and held it in good order and great tranquillity. In +his days came a large naval force up into the country, and +stormed Winchester. But Alderman Osric, with the command of +Hampshire, and Alderman Ethelwulf, with the command of Berkshire, +fought against the enemy, and putting them to flight, made +themselves masters of the field of battle. The said Ethelbert +reigned five years, and his body lies at Sherborn. + +A.D. 861. This year died St. Swithun, bishop. + +A.D. 865. This year sat the heathen army in the isle of Thanet, +and made peace with the men of Kent, who promised money +therewith; but under the security of peace, and the promise of +money, the army in the night stole up the country, and overran +all Kent eastward. + +A.D. 866. This year Ethered, (35) brother of Ethelbert, took to +the West-Saxon government; and the same year came a large heathen +army into England, and fixed their winter-quarters in East- +Anglia, where they were soon horsed; and the inhabitants made +peace with them. + +A.D. 867. This year the army went from the East-Angles over the +mouth of the Humber to the Northumbrians, as far as York. And +there was much dissension in that nation among themselves; they +had deposed their king Osbert, and had admitted Aella, who had no +natural claim. Late in the year, however, they returned to their +allegiance, and they were now fighting against the common enemy; +having collected a vast force, with which they fought the army at +York; and breaking open the town, some of them entered in. Then +was there an immense slaughter of the Northumbrians, some within +and some without; and both the kings were slain on the spot. The +survivors made peace with the army. The same year died Bishop +Ealstan, who had the bishopric of Sherborn fifty winters, and his +body lies in the town. + +A.D. 868. This year the same army went into Mercia to +Nottingham, and there fixed their winter-quarters; and Burhred, +king of the Mercians, with his council, besought Ethered, king of +the West-Saxons, and Alfred, his brother; that they would assist +them in fighting against the army. And they went with the West- +Saxon army into Mercia as far as Nottingham, and there meeting +the army on the works, they beset them within. But there was no +heavy fight; for the Mercians made peace with the army. + +A.D. 869. This year the army went back to York, and sat there a +year. + +A.D. 870. This year the army rode over Mercia into East-Anglia, +and there fixed their winter-quarters at Thetford. And in the +winter King Edmund fought with them; but the Danes gained the +victory, and slew the king; whereupon they overran all that land, +and destroyed all the monasteries to which they came. The names +of the leaders who slew the king were Hingwar and Hubba. At the +same time came they to Medhamsted, burning and breaking, and +slaying abbot and monks, and all that they there found. They +made such havoc there, that a monastery, which was before full +rich, was now reduced to nothing. The same year died Archbishop +Ceolnoth; and Ethered, Bishop of Witshire, was chosen Archbishop +of Canterbury. + +A.D. 871. This year came the army to Reading in Wessex; and in +the course of three nights after rode two earls up, who were met +by Alderman Ethelwulf at Englefield; where he fought with them, +and obtained the victory. There one of them was slain, whose +name was Sidrac. About four nights after this, King Ethered and +Alfred his brother led their main army to Reading, where they +fought with the enemy; and there was much slaughter on either +hand, Alderman Ethelwulf being among the skain; but the Danes +kept possession of the field. And about four nights after this, +King Ethered and Alfred his brother fought with all the army on +Ashdown, and the Danes were overcome. They had two heathen +kings, Bagsac and Healfden, and many earls; and they were in two +divisions; in one of which were Bagsac and Healfden, the heathen +kings, and in the other were the earls. King Ethered therefore +fought with the troops of the kings, and there was King Bagsac +slain; and Alfred his brother fought with the troops of the +earls, and there were slain Earl Sidrac the elder, Earl Sidrac +the younger, Earl Osbern, Earl Frene, and Earl Harold. They + +put both the troops to flight; there were many thousands of the +slain, and they continued fighting till night. Within a +fortnight of this, King Ethered and Alfred his brother fought +with the army at Basing; and there the Danes had the victory. +About two months after this, King Ethered and Alfred his brother +fought with the army at Marden. They were in two divisions; and +they put them both to flight, enjoying the victory for some time +during the day; and there was much slaughter on either hand; but +the Danes became masters of the field; and there was slain Bishop +Heahmund, with many other good men. After this fight came a vast +army in the summer to Reading. And after the Easter of this year +died King Ethered. He reigned five years, and his body lies at +Winburn-minster. Then Alfred, his brother, the son of Ethelwulf, +took to the kingdom of Wessex. And within a month of this, King +Alfred fought against all the Army with a small force at Wilton, +and long pursued them during the day; but the Danes got +possession of the field. This year were nine general battles +fought with the army in the kingdom south of the Thames; besides +those skirmishes, in which Alfred the king's brother, and every +single alderman, and the thanes of the king, oft rode against +them; which were accounted nothing. This year also were slain +nine earls, and one king; and the same year the West-Saxons made +peace with the army. + +((A.D. 871. And the Danish-men were overcome; and they had two +heathen kings, Bagsac and Halfdene, and many earls; and there was +King Bagsac slain, and these earls; Sidrac the elder, and also +Sidrac the younger, Osbern, Frene, and Harold; and the army was +put to flight.)) + +A.D. 872. This year went the army to London from Reading, and +there chose their winter-quarters. Then the Mercians made peace +with the army. + +A.D. 873. This year went the army against the Northumbrians, and +fixed their winter-quarters at Torksey in Lindsey. And the +Mercians again made peace with the army. + +A.D. 874. This year went the army from Lindsey to Repton, and +there took up their winter-quarters, drove the king, Burhred, +over sea, when he had reigned about two and twenty winters, and +subdued all that land. He then went to Rome, and there remained +to the end of his life. And his body lies in the church of +Sancta Maria, in the school of the English nation. And the same +year they gave Ceolwulf, an unwise king's thane, the Mercian +kingdom to hold; and he swore oaths to them, and gave hostages, +that it should be ready for them on whatever day they would have +it; and he would be ready with himself, and with all those that +would remain with him, at the service of the army. + +A.D. 875. This year went the army from Repton; and Healfden +advanced with some of the army against the Northumbrians, and +fixed his winter-quarters by the river Tine. The army then +subdued that land, and oft invaded the Picts and the +Strathclydwallians. Meanwhile the three kings, Guthrum, Oskytel, +and Anwind, went from Repton to Cambridge with a vast army, and +sat there one year. This summer King Alfred went out to sea with +an armed fleet, and fought with seven ship-rovers, one of whom he +took, and dispersed the others. + +A.D. 876. This year Rolla penetrated Normandy with his army; and +he reigned fifty winters. And this year the army stole into +Wareham, a fort of the West-Saxons. The king afterwards made +peace with them; and they gave him as hostages those who were +worthiest in the army; and swore with oaths on the holy bracelet, +which they would not before to any nation, that they would +readily go out of his kingdom. Then, under colour of this, their +cavalry stole by night into Exeter. The same year Healfden +divided the land of the Northumbrians; so that they became +afterwards their harrowers and plowers. + +((A.D. 876. And in this same year the army of the Danes in +England swore oaths to King Alfred upon the holy ring, which +before they would not do to any nation; and they delivered to the +king hostages from among the most distinguished men of the army, +that they would speedily depart from his kingdom; and that by +night they broke.)) + +A.D. 877. This year came the Danish army into Exeter from +Wareham; whilst the navy sailed west about, until they met with a +great mist at sea, and there perished one hundred and twenty +ships at Swanwich. (36) Meanwhile King Alfred with his army rode +after the cavalry as far as Exeter; but he could not overtake +them before their arrival in the fortress, where they could not +be come at. There they gave him as many hostages as he required, +swearing with solemn oaths to observe the strictest amity. In +the harvest the army entered Mercia; some of which they divided +among them, and some they gave to Ceolwulf. + +A.D. 878. This year about mid-winter, after twelfth-night, the +Danish army stole out to Chippenham, and rode over the land of +the West-Saxons; where they settled, and drove many of the people +over sea; and of the rest the greatest part they rode down, and +subdued to their will; -- ALL BUT ALFRED THE KING. He, with a +little band, uneasily sought the woods and fastnesses of the +moors. And in the winter of this same year the brother of +Ingwar and Healfden landed in Wessex, in Devonshire, with three +and twenty ships, and there was he slain, and eight hundred men +with him, and forty of his army. There also was taken the war- +flag, which they called the RAVEN. In the Easter of this year +King Alfred with his little force raised a work at Athelney; from +which he assailed the army, assisted by that part of +Somersetshire which was nighest to it. Then, in the seventh week +after Easter, he rode to Brixton by the eastern side of Selwood; +and there came out to meet him all the people of +Somersersetshire, and Wiltshire, and that part of Hampshire which +is on this side of the sea; and they rejoiced to see him. Then +within one night he went from this retreat to Hey; and within one +night after he proceeded to Heddington; and there fought with all +the army, and put them to flight, riding after them as far as the +fortress, where he remained a fortnight. Then the army gave him +hostages with many oaths, that they would go out of his kingdom. +They told him also, that their king would receive baptism. And +they acted accordingly; for in the course of three weeks after, +King Guthrum, attended by some thirty of the worthiest men that +were in the army, came to him at Aller, which is near Athelney, +and there the king became his sponsor in baptism; and his +crisom-leasing was at Wedmor. He was there twelve nights with +the king, who honoured him and his attendants with many presents. + +A.D. 879. This year went the army from Chippenham to +Cirencester, and sat there a year. The same year assembled a +band of pirates, and sat at Fulham by the Thames. The same year +also the sun was eclipsed one hour of the day. + +A.D. 880. This year went the army from Cirencester into East- +Anglia, where they settled, and divided the land. The same year +went the army over sea, that before sat at Fulham, to Ghent in +Frankland, and sat there a year. + +A.D. 881. This year went the army higher up into Frankland, and +the Franks fought with them; and there was the army horsed after +the battle. + +A.D. 882. This year went the army up along the Maese far into +Frankland, and there sat a year; and the same year went King +Alfred out to sea with a fleet; and fought with four ship-rovers +of the Danes, and took two of their ships; wherein all the men +were slain; and the other two surrendered; but the men were +severely cut and wounded ere they surrendered. + +A.D. 883. This year went the army up the Scheldt to Conde, and +there sat a year. And Pope Marinus sent King Alfred the "lignum +Domini". The same year led Sighelm and Athelstan to Rome the +alms which King Alfred ordered thither, and also in India to St. +Thomas and to St. Bartholomew. Then they sat against the army at +London; and there, with the favour of God, they were very +successful after the performance of their vows. + +A.D. 884. This year went the army up the Somne to Amiens, and +there remained a year. This year died the benevolent Bishop +Athelwold. + +A.D. 885. This year separated the before-mentioned army in two; +one part east, another to Rochester. This city they surrounded, +and wrought another fortress around themselves. The people, +however, defended the city, until King Alfred came out with his +army. Then went the enemy to their ships, and forsook their +work. There were they provided with horses; and soon after, in +the same summer, they went over sea again. The same year sent +King Alfred a fleet from Kent into East-Anglia. As soon as they +came to Stourmouth, there met them sixteen ships of the pirates. +And they fought with them, took all the ships, and slew the men. +As they returned homeward with their booty, they met a large +fleet of the pirates, and fought with them the same day; but the +Danes had the victory. The same year, ere midwinter, died +Charles, king of the Franks. He was slain by a boar; and one +year before his brother died, who had also the Western kingdom. +They were both the sons of Louis, who also had the Western +kingdom, and died the same year that the sun was eclipsed. He +was the son of that Charles whose daughter Ethelwulf, king of the +West-Saxons, had to wife. And the same year collected a great +fleet against Old-Saxony; and there was a great fight twice in +the year, and the Saxons had the victory. There were the +Frieslanders with them. And the same year succeeded Charles to +the Western kingdom, and to all the territory this side of the +Mediterranean and beyond, as his great-grandfather held it, +except the Lidwiccians. The said Charles was the son of Louis, +who was the brother of that Charles who was the father of Judith, +whom Ethelwulf, king of the West-Saxons, married. They were the +sons of Louis, who was the son of the elder Charles, who was the +son of Pepin. The same year died the good Pope Martin, who freed +the English school at the request of Alfred, king of the +West-Saxons. And he sent him great gifts in relics, and a part +of the rood on which Christ suffered. And the same year the army +in East-Anglia brake the truce with King Alfred. + +A.D. 886. This year went the army back again to the west, that +before were bent eastward; and proceeding upwards along the +Seine, fixed their winter-quarters in the city of Paris. (37) +The same year also King Alfred fortified the city of London; and +the whole English nation turned to him, except that part of it +which was held captive by the Danes. He then committed the city +to the care of Alderman Ethered, to hold it under him. + +A.D. 887. This year the army advanced beyond the bridge at +Paris; (38) and then upwards, along the Seine, to the Marne. +Then upwards on the Marne as far as Chezy; and in their two +stations, there and on the Yonne, they abode two winters. This +same year died Charles, king of the Franks. Arnulf, his +brother's son, had six weeks before his death bereft him of his +kingdom; which was now divided into five portions, and five kings +were consecrated thereto. This, however, was done with the +consent of Arnulf; and they agreed that they should hold in +subjection to him; because none of them had by birth any claim on +the father's side, except him alone. Arnulf, therefore, dwelt in +the country eastward of the Rhine; Rodulf took to the middle +district; Oda to the western; whilst Berenger and Witha became +masters of Lombardy and the Cisalpine territory. But they held +their dominion in great discord; fought two general battles, and +frequently overran the country in partial encounters, displacing +each other several times. The same year also, in which the +Danish army advanced beyond the bridge at Paris, Alderman +Ethelhelm led the alms of the West-Saxons and of King Alfred to +Rome. + +A.D. 888. This year Alderman Beeke conducted the alms of the +West-Saxons and of King Alfred to Rome; but Queen Ethelswith, who +was the sister of King Alfred, died on the way to Rome; and her +body lies at Pavia. The same year also Ethered, Archbishop of +Canterbury and Alderman Ethelwold, died in one month. + +A.D. 889. This year there was no journey to Rome; except that +King Alfred sent two messengers with letters. + +A.D. 890. This year Abbot Bernhelm conducted the alms of the +West-Saxons and of King Alfred to Rome; and Guthrum, king of the +Northern men, departed this life, whose baptismal name was +Athelstan. He was the godson of King Alfred; and he abode among +the East-Angles, where he first established a settlement. The +same year also went the army from the Seine to Saint Lo, which is +between the Bretons and the Franks; where the Bretons fought with +them, obtained the victory, and drove them out into a river, in +which many of them were drowned. This year also was Plegmund +chosen by God and all his saints to the archbishopric in +Canterbury. + +A.D. 891. This year went the army eastward; and King Arnulf +fought with the land-force, ere the ships arrived, in conjunction +with the eastern Franks, and Saxons, and Bavarians, and put them +to flight. And three Scots came to King Alfred in a boat without +any oars from Ireland; whence they stole away, because they would +live in a state of pilgrimage, for the love of God, they recked +not where. The boat in which they came was made of two hides and +a half; and they took with them provisions for seven nights; and +within seven nights they came to land in Cornwall, and soon after +went to King Alfred. They were thus named: Dubslane, and +Macbeth, and Maelinmun. And Swinney, the best teacher that was +among the Scots, departed this life. And the same year after +Easter, about the gang-days or before, appeared the star that men +in book-Latin call "cometa": some men say that in English it may +be termed "hairy star"; for that there standeth off from it a +long gleam of light, whilom on one side, whilom on each. + +A.D. 893. This year went the large army, that we before spoke +about, back from the eastern district westward to Bologne; and +there were shipped; so that they transported themselves over at +one time with their horses withal. And they came up with two +hundred and fifty ships into the mouth of the Limne, which is in +East-Kent, at the east end of the vast wood that we call Andred. +This wood is in length, east and west, one hundred and twenty +miles, or longer, and thirty miles broad. The river that we +before spoke about lieth out of the weald. On this river they +towed up their ships as far as the weald, four miles from the +mouth outwards; and there destroyed a fort within the fen, +whereon sat a few churls, and which was hastily wrought. Soon +after this came Hasten up with eighty ships into the mouth of the +Thames, and wrought him there a work at Milton, and the other +army at Appledore. + +A.D. 894. This year, that was about twelve months after they had +wrought a work in the eastern district, the Northumbrians and +East-Angles had given oaths to King Alfred, and the East-Angles +six hostages; nevertheless, contrary to the truce, as oft as the +other plunderers went out with all their army, then went they +also, either with them, or in a separate division. Upon this +King Alfred gathered his army, and advanced, so that he encamped +between the two armies at the highest point he could find +defended by wood and by water, that he might reach either, if +they would seek any field. Then went they forth in quest of the +wealds, in troops and companies, wheresoever the country was +defenceless. But they were also sought after most days by other +companies, either by day or by night, both from the army and also +from the towns. The king had divided his army into two parts; so +that they were always half at home, half out; besides the men +that should maintain the towns. The army came not all out of +their stations more than twice; once, when they first came to +land, ere the forces were collected, and again, when they wished +to depart from their stations. They had now seized much booty, +and would ferry it northward over Thames into Essex, to meet +their ships. But the army rode before them, fought with them at +Farnham, routed their forces, and there arrested the booty. And +they flew over Thames without any ford, then up by the Colne on +an island. Then the king's forces beset them without as long as +they had food; but they had their time set, and their meat noted. +And the king was advancing thitherwards on his march with the +division that accompanied him. But while he was advancing +thitherwards, the other force was returning homewards. The +Danes, however, still remained behind; for their king was wounded +in the fight, so that they could not carry him. Then collected +together those that dwell in Northumbria and East-Anglia about a +hundred ships, and went south about; and with some forty more +went north about, and besieged a fort in Devonshire by the north +sea; and those who went south about beset Exeter. When the king +heard that, then went he west towards Exeter with all his force, +except a very considerable part of the eastern army, who advanced +till they came to London; and there being joined by the citizens +and the reinforcements that came from the west, they went east to +Barnfleet. Hasten was there with his gang, who before were +stationed at Milton, and also the main army had come thither, +that sat before in the mouth of the Limne at Appledore. Hasten +had formerly constructed that work at Barnfleet, and was then +gone out on plunder, the main army being at home. Then came the +king's troops, and routed the enemy, broke down the work, took +all that was therein money, women, and children and brought all +to London. And all the ships they either broke to pieces, or +burned, or brought to London or to Rochester. And Hasten's wife +and her two sons they brought to the king, who returned them to +him, because one of them was his godson, and the other Alderman +Ethered's. They had adopted them ere Hasten came to Bamfleet; +when he had given them hostages and oaths, and the king had also +given him many presents; as he did also then, when he returned +the child and the wife. And as soon as they came to Bamfleet, +and the work was built, then plundered he in the same quarter of +his kingdom that Ethered his compeer should have held; and at +another time he was plundering in the same district when his work +was destroyed. The king then went westward with the army toward +Exeter, as I before said, and the army had beset the city; but +whilst he was gone they went to their ships. Whilst he was thus +busied there with the army, in the west, the marauding parties +were both gathered together at Shobury in Essex, and there built +a fortress. Then they both went together up by the Thames, and a +great concourse joined them, both from the East-Angles and from +the Northumbrians. They then advanced upward by the Thames, till +they arrived near the Severn. Then they proceeded upward by the +Severn. Meanwhile assembled Alderman Ethered, Alderman Ethelm, +Alderman Ethelnoth, and the king's thanes, who were employed at +home at the works, from every town east of the Parret, as well as +west of Selwood, and from the parts east and also north of the +Thames and west of the Severn, and also some part of North-Wales. +When they were all collected together, they overtook the rear of +the enemy at Buttington on the banks of the Severn, and there +beset them without on each side in a fortress. When they had sat +there many weeks on both sides of the water, and the king +meanwhile was in Devonshire westward with the naval force, then +were the enemy weighed down with famine. They had devoured the +greater part of their horses; and the rest had perished with +hunger. Then went they out to the men that sat on the eastern +side of the river, and fought with them; but the Christians had +the victory. And there Ordhelm, the king's thane, was slain; and +also many other king's thanes; and of the Danes there were many +slain, and that part of them that came away escaped only by +flight. As soon as they came into Essex to their fortress, and +to their ships, then gathered the remnant again in East-Anglia +and from the Northumbrians a great force before winter, and +having committed their wives and their ships and their booty to +the East-Angles, they marched on the stretch by day and night, +till they arrived at a western city in Wirheal that is called +Chester. There the army could not overtake them ere they arrived +within the work: they beset the work though, without, some two +days, took all the cattle that was thereabout, slew the men whom +they could overtake without the work, and all the corn they +either burned or consumed with their horses every evening. That +was about a twelvemonth since they first came hither over sea. + +A.D. 895. Soon after that, in this year, went the army from +Wirheal into North-Wales; for they could not remain there, +because they were stripped both of the cattle and the corn that +they had acquired by plunder. When they went again out of North- +Wales with the booty they had acquired there, they marched over +Northumberland and East-Anglia, so that the king's army could not +reach them till they came into Essex eastward, on an island that +is out at sea, called Mersey. And as the army returned homeward +that had beset Exeter, they went up plundering in Sussex nigh +Chichester; but the townsmen put them to flight, and slew many +hundreds of them, and took some of their ships. Then, in the +same year, before winter, the Danes, who abode in Mersey, towed +their ships up on the Thames, and thence up the Lea. That was +about two years after that they came hither over sea. + +A.D. 896. This same year wrought the aforesaid army a work by +the Lea, twenty miles above the city of London. Then. in the +summer of this year, went a large party of the citizens. and also +of other folk, and made an attack on the work of the Danes; but +they were there routed, and some four of the king's thanes were +slain. In the harvest afterward the king encamped close to the +city, whilst they reaped their corn, that the Danes might not +deprive them of the crop. Then, some day, rode the king up by +the river; and observed a place where the river might be +obstructed, so that they could not bring out their ships. And +they did so. They wrought two works on the two sides of the +river. And when they had begun the work, and encamped before it, +then understood the army that they could not bring out their +ships. Whereupon they left them, and went over land, till they +came to Quatbridge by Severn; and there wrought a work. Then +rode the king's army westward after the enemy. And the men of +London fetched the ships; and all that they could not lead away +they broke up; but all that were worthy of capture they brought +into the port of London. And the Danes procured an asylum for +their wives among the East-Angles, ere they went out of the fort. +During the winter they abode at Quatbridge. That was about three +years since they came hither over sea into the mouth of the +Limne. + +A.D. 897. In the summer of this year went the army, some into +East-Anglia, and some into Northumbria; and those that were +penniless got themselves ships, and went south over sea to the +Seine. The enemy had not, thank God. entirely destroyed the +English nation; but they were much more weakened in these three +years by the disease of cattle, and most of all of men; so that +many of the mightiest of the king's thanes. that were in the +land, died within the three years. Of these. one was Swithulf +Bishop of Rochester, Ceolmund alderman in Kent, Bertulf alderman +in Essex, Wulfred alderman in Hampshire, Elhard Bishop of +Dorchester, Eadulf a king's thane in Sussex, Bernuff governor of +Winchester, and Egulf the king's horse-thane; and many also with +them; though I have named only the men of the highest rank. This +same year the plunderers in East-Anglia and Northumbria greatly +harassed the land of the West-Saxons by piracies on the southern +coast, but most of all by the esks which they built many years +before. Then King Alfred gave orders for building long ships +against the esks, which were full-nigh twice as long as the +others. Some had sixty oars, some more; and they were both +swifter and steadier, and also higher than the others. They were +not shaped either after the Frisian or the Danish model, but so +as he himself thought that they might be most serviceable. Then, +at a certain turn of this same year, came six of their ships to +the Isle of Wight; and going into Devonshire, they did much +mischief both there and everywhere on the seacoast. Then +commanded the king his men to go out against them with nine of +the new ships, and prevent their escape by the mouth of the river +to the outer sea. Then came they out against them with three +ships, and three others were standing upwards above the mouth on +dry land: for the men were gone off upon shore. Of the first +three ships they took two at the mouth outwards, and slew the +men; the third veered off, but all the men were slain except +five; and they too were severely wounded. Then came onward those +who manned the other ships, which were also very uneasily +situated. Three were stationed on that side of the deep where +the Danish ships were aground, whilst the others were all on the +opposite side; so that none of them could join the rest; for the +water had ebbed many furlongs from them. Then went the Danes +from their three ships to those other three that were on their +side, be-ebbed; and there they then fought. There were slain +Lucomon, the king's reve, and Wulfheard, a Frieslander; Ebb, a +Frieslander, and Ethelere, a Frieslander; and Ethelferth, the +king's neat-herd; and of all the men, Frieslanders and English, +sixty-two; of the Danes a hundred and twenty. The tide, however, +reached the Danish ships ere the Christians could shove theirs +out; whereupon they rowed them out; but they were so crippled, +that they could not row them beyond the coast of Sussex: there +two of them the sea drove ashore; and the crew were led to +Winchester to the king, who ordered them to be hanged. The men +who escaped in the single ship came to East-Anglia, severely +wounded. This same year were lost no less than twenty ships, and +the men withal, on the southern coast. Wulfric, the king's +horse-thane, who was also viceroy of Wales, died the same year. + +A.D. 898. This year died Ethelm, alderman of Wiltshire, nine +nights before midsummer; and Heahstan, who was Bishop of London. + +A.D. 901. This year died ALFRED, the son of Ethelwulf, six +nights before the mass of All Saints. He was king over all the +English nation, except that part that was under the power of the +Danes. He held the government one year and a half less than +thirty winters; and then Edward his son took to the government. +Then Prince Ethelwald, the son of his paternal uncle, rode +against the towns of Winburn and of Twineham, without leave of +the king and his council. Then rode the king with his army; so +that he encamped the same night at Badbury near Winburn; and +Ethelwald remained within the town with the men that were under +him, and had all the gates shut upon him, saying, that he would +either there live or there die. But in the meantime he stole +away in the night, and sought the army in Northumberland. The +king gave orders to ride after him; but they were not able to +overtake him. The Danes, however, received him as their king. +They then rode after the wife that Ethelwald had taken without +the king's leave, and against the command of the bishops; for she +was formerly consecrated a nun. In this year also died Ethered, +who was alderman of Devonshire, four weeks before King Alfred. + +A.D. 902. This year was the great fight at the Holme (39) +between the men of Kent and the Danes. + +((A.D. 902. This year Elswitha died.)) + +A.D. 903. This year died Alderman Ethelwulf, the brother of +Elhswitha, mother of King Edward; and Virgilius abbot of the +Scots; and Grimbald the mass-priest; on the eighth day of July. +This same year was consecrated the new minster at Winchester, on +St. Judoc's advent. + +A.D. 904. This year came Ethelwald hither over sea with all the +fleet that he could get, and he was submitted to in Essex. This +year the moon was eclipsed. + +A.D. 905. This year Ethelwald enticed the army in East-Anglia to +rebellion; so that they overran all the land of Mercia, until +they came to Cricklade, where they forded the Thames; and having +seized, either in Bradon or thereabout, all that they could lay +their hands upon, they went homeward again. King Edward went +after, as soon as he could gather his army, and overran all their +land between the foss and the Ouse quite to the fens northward. +Then being desirous of returning thence, he issued an order +through the whole army, that they should all go out at once. But +the Kentish men remained behind, contrary to his order, though he +had sent seven messengers to them. Whereupon the army surrounded +them, and there they fought. There fell Aldermen Siwulf and +Sigelm; Eadwold, the king's thane; Abbot Kenwulf; Sigebriht, the +son of Siwulf; Eadwald, the son of Acca; and many also with them; +though I have named the most considerable. On the Danish side +were slain Eohric their king, and Prince Ethelwald, who had +enticed them to the war. Byrtsige, the son of Prince Brihtnoth; +Governor Ysop; Governor Oskytel; and very many also with them +that we now cannot name. And there was on either hand much +slaughter made; but of the Danes there were more slain, though +they remained masters of the field. Ealswitha died this same +year; and a comet appeared on the thirteenth day before the +calends of November. + +((A.D. 906. This year King Edward, from necessity, concluded a +peace both with the army of East-Anglia and of North-humbria.)) + +A.D. 907. This year died Alfred, who was governor of Bath. The +same year was concluded the peace at Hitchingford, as King Edward +decreed, both with the Danes of East-Anglia, and those of +Northumberland; and Chester was rebuilt. + +A.D. 909. This year died Denulf, who was Bishop of Winchester; +and the body of St. Oswald was translated from Bardney into +Mercia. + +A.D. 910. This year Frithestan took to the bishopric of +Winchester; and Asser died soon after, who was Bishop o[ +Sherborne. The same year King Edward sent an army both from +Wessex and Mercia, which very much harassed the northern army by +their attacks on men and property of every kind. They slew many +of the Danes, and remained in the country five weeks. This year +the Angles and the Danes fought at Tootenhall; and the Angles had +the victory. The same year Ethelfleda built the fortress at +Bramsbury. + +((A.D. 910. This year the army of the Angles and of the Danes +fought at Tootenhall. And Ethelred, ealdor of the Mercians, +died; and King Edward took possession of London, and of Oxford, +and of all the lands which owed obedience thereto. And a great +fleet came hither from the south, from the Lidwiccas (Brittany), +and greatly ravaged by the Severn; but they were, afterwards, +almost all perished.)) + +A.D. 911. This year the army in Northumberland broke the truce, +and despised every right that Edward and his son demanded of +them; and plundered the land of the Mercians. The king had +gathered together about a hundred ships, and was then in Kent +while the ships were sailing along sea by the south-east to meet +him. The army therefore supposed that the greatest part of his +force was in the ships, and that they might go, without being +attacked, where that ever they would. When the king learned on +enquiry that they were gone out on plunder, he sent his army both +from Wessex and Mercia; and they came up with the rear of the +enemy as he was on his way homeward, and there fought with him +and put him to flight, and slew many thousands of his men. There +fell King Eowils, and King Healfden; Earls Ohter and Scurf; +Governors Agmund, Othulf, and Benesing; Anlaf the Swarthy, and +Governor Thunferth; Osferth the collector, and Governor +Guthferth. + +((A.D. 911. Then the next year after this died Ethelred, lord of +the Mercians.)) + +A.D. 912. This year died Ethered, alderman of Mercia; and King +Edward took to London, and to Oxford, and to all the lands that +thereunto belonged. This year also came Ethelfleda, lady of the +Mercians, on the holy eve called the invention of the holy cross, +to Shergate, and built the fortress there, and the same year that +at Bridgenorth. + +A.D. 913. This year, about Martinmas, King Edward had the +northern fortress built at Hertford, betwixt the Memer, and the +Benwic, and the Lea. After this, in the summer, betwixt gang- +days and midsummer, went King Edward with some of his force into +Essex, to Maldon; and encamped there the while that men built and +fortified the town of Witham. And many of the people submitted +to him, who were before under the power of the Danes. And some +of his force, meanwhile, built the fortress at Hertford on the +south side of the Lea. This year by the permission of God went +Ethelfleda, lady of Mercia, with all the Mercians to Tamworth; +and built the fort there in the fore-part of the summer; and +before Lammas that at Stafford: in the next year that at +Eddesbury, in the beginning of the summer; and the same year, +late in the autumn, that at Warwick. Then in the following year +was built, after mid-winter, that at Chirbury and that at +Warburton; and the same year before mid-winter that at Runkorn. + +((A.D. 915. This year was Warwick built.)) + +A.D. 916. This year was the innocent Abbot Egbert slain, before +midsummer, on the sixteenth day before the calends of July. The +same day was the feast of St. Ciricius the martyr, with his +companions. And within three nights sent Ethelfleda an army into +Wales, and stormed Brecknock; and there took the king's wife, +with some four and thirty others. + +A.D. 917. This year rode the army, after Easter, out of +Northampton and Leicester; and having broken the truce they slew +many men at Hookerton and thereabout. Then, very soon after +this, as the others came home, they found other troops that were +riding out against Leighton. But the inhabitants were aware of +it; and having fought with them they put them into full flight; +and arrested all that they had taken, and also of their horses +and of their weapons a good deal. + +A.D. 918. This year came a great naval armament over hither +south from the Lidwiccians; (40) and two earls with it, Ohter and +Rhoald. They went then west about, till they entered the mouth +of the Severn; and plundered in North-Wales everywhere by the +sea, where it then suited them; and took Camlac the bishop in +Archenfield, and led him with them to their ships; whom King +Edward afterwards released for forty pounds. After this went the +army all up; and would proceed yet on plunder against +Archenfield; but the men of Hertford met them, and of Glocester, +and of the nighest towns; and fought with them, and put them to +flight; and they slew the Earl Rhoald, and the brother of Ohter +the other earl, and many of the army. And they drove them into a +park; and beset them there without, until they gave them +hostages, that they would depart from the realm of King Edward. +And the king had contrived that a guard should be set against +them on the south side of Severnmouth; west from Wales, eastward +to the mouth of the Avon; so that they durst nowhere seek that +land on that side. Nevertheless, they eluded them at night, by +stealing up twice; at one time to the east of Watchet, and at +another time at Porlock. There was a great slaughter each time; +so that few of them came away, except those only who swam out to +the ships. Then sat they outward on an island, called the Flat- +holms; till they were very short of meat, and many men died of +hunger, because they could not reach any meat. Thence went they +to Dimmet, and then out to Ireland. This was in harvest. After +this, in the same year, before Martinmas, went King Edward to +Buckingham with his army, and sat there four weeks, during which +he built the two forts on either side of the water, ere he +departed thence. And Earl Thurkytel sought him for his lord; and +all the captains, and almost all the first men that belonged to +Bedford; and also many of those that belonged to Northampton. +This year Ethelfleda, lady of the Mercians, with the help of God, +before Laminas, conquered the town called Derby, with all that +thereto belonged; and there were also slain four of her thanes, +that were most dear to her, within the gates. + +((A.D. 918. But very shortly after they had become so, she died +at Tamworth, twelve days before midsummer, the eighth year of her +having rule and right lordship over the Mercians; and her body +lies at Gloucester, within the east porch of St. Peter's +church.)) + +A.D. 919. This year King Edward went with his army to Bedford, +before Martinmas, and conquered the town; and almost all the +burgesses, who obeyed him before, returned to him; and he sat +there four weeks, and ordered the town to be repaired on the +south side of the water, ere he departed thence. + +((A.D. 919. This year also the daughter of Ethelred, lord of the +Mercians, was deprived of all dominion over the Mercians, and +carried into Wessex, three weeks before mid-winter; she was +called Elfwina.)) + +A.D. 920. This year, before midsummer, went King Edward to +Maldon; and repaired and fortified the town, ere he departed +thence. And the same year went Earl Thurkytel over sea to +Frankland with the men who would adhere to him, under the +protection and assistance of King Edward. This year Ethelfleda +got into her power, with God's assistance, in the early part of +the year, without loss, the town of Leicester; and the greater +part of the army that belonged thereto submitted to her. And the +Yorkists had also promised and confirmed, some by agreement and +some with oaths, that they would be in her interest. But very +soon after they had done this, she departed, twelve nights before +midsummer, at Tamworth, the eighth year that she was holding the +government of the Mercians with right dominion; and her body +lieth at Glocester, in the east porch of St. Peter's church. +This year also was the daughter of Ethered, lord of the Mercians, +deprived of all authority over the Mercians, and led into Wessex, +three weeks before midwinter. Her name was Healfwina. + +A.D. 921. This year, before Easter, King Edward ordered his men +to go to the town of Towcester, and to rebuild it. Then again, +after that, in the same year, during the gang-days, he ordered +the town of Wigmore to be repaired. The same summer, betwixt +Lammas and midsummer, the army broke their parole from +Northampton and from Leicester; and went thence northward to +Towcester, and fought against the town all day, and thought that +they should break into it; but the people that were therein +defended it, till more aid came to them; and the enemy then +abandoned the town, and went away. Then again, very soon after +this, they went out at night for plunder, and came upon men +unaware, and seized not a little, both in men and cattle, betwixt +Burnham-wood and Aylesbury. At the same time went the army from +Huntington and East-Anglia, and constructed that work at +Ternsford; which they inhabited and fortified; and abandoned the +other at Huntingdon; and thought that they should thence oft with +war and contention recover a good deal of this land. Thence they +advanced till they came to Bedford; where the men who were within +came out against them, and fought with them, and put them to +flight, and slew a good number of them. Then again, after this, +a great army yet collected itself from East-Anglia and from +Mercia, and went to the town of Wigmore; which they besieged +without, and fought against long in the day; and took the cattle +about it; but the men defended the town, who were within; and the +enemy left the town, and went away. After this, the same summer, +a large force collected itself in King Edward's dominions, from +the nighest towns that could go thither, and went to Temsford; +and they beset the town, and fought thereon; until they broke +into it, and slew the king, and Earl Toglos, and Earl Mann his +son, and his brother, and all them that were therein, and who +were resolved to defend it; and they took the others, and all +that was therein. After this, a great force collected soon in +harvest, from Kent, from Surrey, from Essex, and everywhere from +the nighest towns; and went to Colchester, and beset the town, +and fought thereon till they took it, and slew all the people, +and seized all that was therein; except those men who escaped +therefrom over the wall. After this again, this same harvest, a +great army collected itself from East-Anglia, both of the land- +forces and of the pirates, which they had enticed to their +assistance, and thought that they should wreak their vengeance. +They went to Maldon, and beset the town, and fought thereon, +until more aid came to the townsmen from without to help. The +enemy then abandoned the town, and went from it. And the men +went after, out of the town, and also those that came from +without to their aid; and put the army to flight, and slew many +hundreds of them, both of the pirates and of the others. Soon +after this, the same harvest, went King Edward with the +West-Saxon army to Passham; and sat there the while that men +fortified the town of Towcester with a stone wall. And there +returned to him Earl Thurferth, and the captains, and all the +army that belonged to Northampton northward to the Welland, and +sought him for their lord and protector. When this division of +the army went home, then went another out, and marched to the +town of Huntingdon; and repaired and renewed it, where it was +broken down before, by command of King Edward. And all the +people of the country that were left submitted to King Edward, +and sought his peace and protection. After this, the same year, +before Martinmas, went King Edward with the West-Saxon army to +Colchester; and repaired and renewed the town, where it was +broken down before. And much people turned to him. both in East- +Anglia and in Essex, that were before under the power of the +Danes. And all the army in East-Anglia swore union with him; +that they would all that he would, and would protect all that he +protected, either by sea or land. And the army that belonged to +Cambridge chose him separately for their lord and protector, and +confirmed the same with oaths, as he had advised. This year King +Edward repaired the town of Gladmouth; and the same year King +Sihtric slew Neil his brother. + +A.D. 922. This year, betwixt gang-days and midsummer, went King +Edward with his army to Stamford, and ordered the town to be +fortified on the south side of the river. And all the people +that belonged to the northern town submitted to him, and sought +him for their lord. It was whilst he was tarrying there, that +Ethelfleda his sister died at Tamworth, twelve nights before +midsummer. Then rode he to the borough of Tamworth; and all the +population in Mercia turned to him, who before were subject to +Ethelfleda. And the kings in North-Wales, Howel, and Cledauc, +and Jothwel, and all the people of North-Wales, sought him for +their lord. Then went he thence to Nottingham, and secured that +borough, and ordered it to be repaired, and manned both with +English and with Danes. And all the population turned to him, +that was settled in Mercia, both Danish and English. + +A.D. 923. This year went King Edward with an army, late in the +harvest, to Thelwall; and ordered the borough to be repaired, and +inhabited, and manned. And he ordered another army also from the +population of Mercia, the while he sat there to go to Manchester +in Northumbria, to repair and to man it. This year died +Archbishop Plegmund; and King Reynold won York. + +A.D. 924. This year, before midsummer, went King Edward with an +army to Nottingham; and ordered the town to be repaired on the +south side of the river, opposite the other, and the bridge over +the Trent betwixt the two towns. Thence he went to Bakewell in +Peakland; and ordered a fort to be built as near as possible to +it, and manned. And the King of Scotland, with all his people, +chose him as father and lord; as did Reynold, and the son of +Eadulf, and all that dwell in Northumbria, both English and +Danish, both Northmen and others; also the king of the +Strathclydwallians, and all his people. + +((A.D. 924. This year Edward was chosen for father and for lord +by the king of the Scots, and by the Scots, and King Reginald, +and by all the North-humbrians, and also the king of the +Strath-clyde Britons, and by all the Strath-clyde Britons.)) + +((A.D. 924. This year King Edward died among the Mercians at +Farndon; and very shortly, about sixteen days after this, Elward +his son died at Oxford; and their bodies lie at Winchester. And +Athelstan was chosen king by the Mercians, and consecrated at +Kingston. And he gave his sister to Ofsae (Otho), son of the +king of the Old-Saxons.)) + +A.D. 925. This year died King Edward at Farndon in Mercia; and +Elward his son died very soon after this, in Oxford. Their +bodies lie at Winchester. And Athelstan was chosen king in +Mercia, and consecrated at Kingston. He gave his sister to Otho, +son of the king of the Old-Saxons. St. Dunstan was now born; and +Wulfhelm took to the archbishopric in Canterbury. This year King +Athelstan and Sihtric king of the Northumbrians came together at +Tamworth, the sixth day before the calends of February, and +Athelstan gave away his sister to him. + +((A.D. 925. This year Bishop Wulfhelm was consecrated. And that +same year King Edward died.)) + +A.D. 926. This year appeared fiery lights in the northern part +of the firmament; and Sihtric departed; and King Athelstan took +to the kingdom of Northumbria, and governed all the kings that +were in this island: -- First, Howel, King of West-Wales; and +Constantine, King of the Scots; and Owen, King of Monmouth; and +Aldred, the son of Eadulf, of Bamburgh. And with covenants and +oaths they ratified their agreement in the place called Emmet, on +the fourth day before the ides of July; and renounced all +idolatry, and afterwards returned in peace. + +A.D. 927. This year King Athelstan expelled King Guthfrith; and +Archbishop Wulfhelm went to Rome. + +A.D. 928. William took to Normandy, and held it fifteen years. + +((A.D. 931. This year died Frithstan, Bishop of Winchester, and +Brinstan was blessed in his place.)) + +A.D. 932. This year Burnstan was invested Bishop of Winchester +on the fourth day before the calends of June; and he held the +bishopric two years and a half. + +A.D. 933. This year died Bishop Frithestan; and Edwin the +atheling was drowned in the sea. + +A.D. 934. This year went King Athelstan into Scotland, both with +a land-force and a naval armament, and laid waste a great part of +it; and Bishop Burnstan died at Winchester at the feast of All +Saints. + +A.D. 935. This year Bishop Elfheah took to the bishopric of +Winchester. + +((A.D. 937. This year King Athelstan and Edmund his brother led +a force to Brumby, and there fought against Anlaf; and, Christ +helping, had the victory: and they there slew five kings and +seven earls.)) + +A.D. 938. Here + Athelstan king, + of earls the lord, + rewarder of heroes, + and his brother eke, + Edmund atheling, + elder of ancient race, + slew in the fight, + with the edge of their swords, + the foe at Brumby! + The sons of Edward + their board-walls clove, + and hewed their banners, + with the wrecks of their hammers. + So were they taught + by kindred zeal, + that they at camp oft + 'gainst any robber + their land should defend, + their hoards and homes. + Pursuing fell + the Scottish clans; + the men of the fleet + in numbers fell; + 'midst the din of the field + the warrior swate. + Since the sun was up + in morning-tide, + gigantic light! + glad over grounds, + God's candle bright, + eternal Lord! -- + 'till the noble creature + sat in the western main: + there lay many + of the Northern heroes + under a shower of arrows, + shot over shields; + and Scotland's boast, + a Scythian race, + the mighty seed of Mars! + With chosen troops, + throughout the day, + the West-Saxons fierce + press'd on the loathed bands; + hew'd down the fugitives, + and scatter'd the rear, + with strong mill-sharpen'd blades, + The Mercians too + the hard hand-play + spared not to any + of those that with Anlaf + over the briny deep + in the ship's bosom + sought this land + for the hardy fight. + Five kings lay + on the field of battle, + in bloom of youth, + pierced with swords. + So seven eke + of the earls of Anlaf; + and of the ship's-crew + unnumber'd crowds. + There was dispersed + the little band + of hardy Scots, + the dread of northern hordes; + urged to the noisy deep + by unrelenting fate! + The king of the fleet + with his slender craft + escaped with his life + on the felon flood; -- + and so too Constantine, + the valiant chief, + returned to the north + in hasty flight. + The hoary Hildrinc + cared not to boast + among his kindred. + Here was his remnant + of relations and friends + slain with the sword + in the crowded fight. + His son too he left + on the field of battle, + mangled with wounds, + young at the fight. + The fair-hair'd youth + had no reason to boast + of the slaughtering strife. + Nor old Inwood + and Anlaf the more + with the wrecks of their army + could laugh and say, + that they on the field + of stern command + better workmen were, + in the conflict of banners, + the clash of spears, + the meeting of heroes, + and the rustling of weapons, + which they on the field + of slaughter played + with the sons of Edward. + The northmen sail'd + in their nailed ships, + a dreary remnant, + on the roaring sea; + over deep water + Dublin they sought, + and Ireland's shores, + in great disgrace. + Such then the brothers + both together + king and atheling, + sought their country, + West-Saxon land, + in right triumphant. + They left behind them + raw to devour, + the sallow kite, + the swarthy raven + with horny nib, + and the hoarse vultur, + with the eagle swift + to consume his prey; + the greedy gos-hawk, + and that grey beast + the wolf of the weald. + No slaughter yet + was greater made + e'er in this island, + of people slain, + before this same, + with the edge of the sword; + as the books inform us + of the old historians; + since hither came + from the eastern shores + the Angles and Saxons, + over the broad sea, + and Britain sought, -- + fierce battle-smiths, + o'ercame the Welsh, + most valiant earls, + and gained the land. + +A.D. 941. This year King Athelstan died in Glocester, on the +sixth day before the calends of November, about forty-one +winters, bating one night, from the time when King Alfred died. +And Edmund Atheling took to the kingdom. He was then eighteen +years old. King Athelstan reigned fourteen years and ten weeks. +This year the Northumbrians abandoned their allegiance, and chose +Anlaf of Ireland for their king. + +((A.D. 941. This year King Edmund received King Anlaf at +baptism; and that same year, a good long space after, he received +King Reginald at the bishop's hands.)) + +A.D. 942. Here + Edmund king, + of Angles lord, + protector of friends, + author and framer + of direful deeds. + o'erran with speed + the Mercian land. + whete'er the course + of Whitwell-spring, + or Humber deep, + The broad brim-stream, + divides five towns. + Leicester and Lincoln. + Nottingham and Stamford, + and Derby eke. + In thraldom long + to Norman Danes + they bowed through need, + and dragged the chains + of heathen men; + till, to his glory, + great Edward's heir, + Edmund the king, + refuge of warriors, + their fetters broke. + +A.D. 943. This year Anlaf stormed Tamworth; and much slaughter +was made on either hand; but the Danes had the victory, and led +away with them much plunder. There was Wulfrun taken, in the +spoiling of the town. This year King Edmund beset King Anlaf and +Archbishop Wulfstan in Leicester; and he might have conquered +them, were it not that they burst out of the town in the night. +After this Anlaf obtained the friendship of King Edmund, and King +Edmund then received King Anlaf in baptism; and he made him royal +presents. And the same year, after some interval, he received +King Reynold at episcopal hands. This year also died King Anlaf. + +A.D. 944. This year King Edmund reduced all the land of the +Northumbrians to his dominion, and expelled two kings, Anlaf the +son of Sihtric, and Reynold the son of Guthferth. + +A.D. 945. This year King Edmund overran all Cumberland; and let +it all to Malcolm king of the Scots, on the condition that he +became his ally, both by sea and land. + +A.D. 946. This year King Edmund died, on St. Augustine's mass +day. That was widely known, how he ended his days: -- that Leof +stabbed him at Pucklechurch. And Ethelfleda of Damerham, +daughter of Alderman Elgar, was then his queen. And he reigned +six years and a half: and then succeeded to the kingdom Edred +Atheling his brother, who soon after reduced all the land of the +Northumbrians to his dominion; and the Scots gave him oaths, that +they would do all that he desired. + +A.D. 947. This year came King Edred to Tadden's-cliff; and there +Archbishop Wulfstan and all the council of the Northumbrians +bound themselves to an allegiance with the king. And within a +little space they abandoned all, both allegiance and oaths. + +A.D. 948. This year King Edred overran all Northumberland; +because they had taken Eric for their king; and in the pursuit of +plunder was that large minster at Rippon set on fire, which St. +Wilferth built. As the king returned homeward, he overtook the +enemy at York; but his main army was behind at Chesterford. +There was great slaughter made; and the king was so wroth, that +he would fain return with his force, and lay waste the land +withal; but when the council of the Northumbrians understood +that, they then abandoned Eric, and compromised the deed with +King Edred. + +A.D. 949. This year came Anlaf Curran to the land of the +Northumbrians. + +A.D. 951. This year died Elfeah, Bishop of Winchester, on St. +Gregory's mass day. + +A.D. 952. This year the Northumbrians expelled King Anlaf, and +received Eric the son of Harold. This year also King Edred +ordered Archbishop Wulfstan to be brought into prison at +Jedburgh; because he was oft bewrayed before the king: and the +same year the king ordered a great slaughter to be made in the +town of Thetford, in revenge of the abbot, whom they had formerly +slain. + +A.D. 954. This year the Northumbrians expelled Eric; and King +Edred took to the government of the Northumbrians. This year +also Archbishop Wulfstan received a bishopric again at +Dorchester. + +A.D. 955. This year died King Edred, on St. Clement's mass day, +at Frome.(41) He reigned nine years and a half; and he rests in +the old minster. Then succeeded Edwy, the son of King Edmund, to +the government of the West-Saxons; and Edgar Atheling, his +brother, succeeded to the government of the Mercians. They were +the sons of King Edmund and of St. Elfgiva. + +((A.D. 955. And Edwy succeeded to the kingdom of the West- +Saxons, and Edgar his brother succeeded to the kingdom of the +Mercians: and they were the sons of King Edmund and of S. +Elfgiva.)) + +A.D. 956. This year died Wulfstan, Archbishop of York, on the +seventeenth day before the calends of January; and he was buried +at Oundle; and in the same year was Abbot Dunstan driven out of +this land over sea. + +A.D. 958. This year Archbishop Oda separated King Edwy and +Elfgiva; because they were too nearly related. + +A.D. 959. This year died King Edwy, on the calends of October; +and Edgar his brother took to the government of the West-Saxons, +Mercians, and Northumbrians. He was then sixteen years old. It +was in this year he sent after St. Dunstan, and gave him the +bishopric of Worcester; and afterwards the bishopric of London. + In his days + it prosper'd well; + and God him gave, + that he dwelt in peace + the while that he lived. + Whate'er he did, + whate'er he plan'd, + he earn'd his thrift. + He also rear'd + God's glory wide, + and God's law lov'd, + with peace to man, + above the kings + that went before + in man's remembrance. + God so him sped, + that kings and earls + to all his claims + submissive bow'd; + and to his will + without a blow + he wielded all + as pleased himself. + Esteem'd he was + both far and wide + in distant lands; + because he prized + the name of God, + and God's law traced, + God's glory rear'd, + both far and wide, + on every side. + Wisely he sought + in council oft + his people's good, + before his God, + before the world. + One misdeed he did, + too much however, + that foreign tastes + he loved too much; + and heathen modes + into this land + he brought too fast; + outlandish men + hither enticed; + and to this earth + attracted crowds + of vicious men. + But God him grant, + that his good deeds + be weightier far + than his misdeeds, + to his soul's redemption + on the judgment-day. + +A.D. 961. This year departed Odo, the good archbishop, and St. +Dunstan took to the archbishopric. This year also died Elfgar, a +relative of the king, in Devonshire; and his body lies at Wilton: +and King Sifferth killed himself; and his body lies at Wimborn. +This year there was a very great pestilence; when the great fever +was in London; and St. Paul's minster was consumed with fire, and +in the same year was afterwards restored. In this year Athelmod. +the masspriest, went to Rome, and there died on the eighteenth +before the calends of September. + +A.D. 963. This year died Wulfstan, the deacon, on Childermass- +day; (42) and afterwards died Gyric, the mass-priest. In the +same year took Abbot Athelwold to the bishopric of Winchester; +and he was consecrated on the vigil of St. Andrew, which happened +on a Sunday. On the second year after he was consecrated, he +made many minsters; and drove out the clerks (43) from the +bishopric, because they would hold no rule, and set monks +therein. He made there two abbacies; one of monks, another of +nuns. That was all within Winchester. Then came he afterwards +to King Edgar, and requested that he would give him all the +minsters that heathen men had before destroyed; for that he would +renew them. This the king cheerfully granted; and the bishop +came then first to Ely, where St. Etheldritha lies, and ordered +the minster to be repaired; which he gave to a monk of his, whose +name was Britnoth, whom he consecrated abbot: and there he set +monks to serve God, where formerly were nuns. He then bought +many villages of the king, and made it very rich. Afterwards +came Bishop Athelwold to the minster called Medhamsted, which was +formerly ruined by heathen folk; but he found there nothing but +old walls, and wild woods. In the old walls at length he found +hid writings which Abbot Hedda had formerly written; -- how King +Wulfhere and Ethelred his brother had wrought it, and how they +freed it against king and against bishop, and against all worldly +service; and how Pope Agatho confirmed it with his writ, as also +Archbishop Deusdedit. He then ordered the minster to be rebuilt; +and set there an abbot, who was called Aldulf; and made monks, +where before was nothing. He then came to the king, and let him +look at the writings which before were found; and the king then +answered and said: "I Edgar grant and give to-day, before God and +before Archbishop Dunstan, freedom to St. Peter's minster at +Medhamsted, from king and from bishop; and all the thorps that +thereto lie; that is, Eastfield, and Dodthorp, and Eye, and +Paston. And so I free it, that no bishop have any jurisdiction +there, but the abbot of the minster alone. And I give the town +called Oundle, with all that thereto lieth, called Eyot-hundred, +with market and toll; so freely, that neither king, nor bishop, +nor earl, nor sheriff, have there any jurisdiction; nor any man +but the abbot alone, and whom he may set thereto. And I give to +Christ and St. Peter, and that too with the advice of Bishop +Athelwold, these lands; -- that is, Barrow, Warmington, Ashton, +Kettering, Castor, Eylesworth, Walton, Witherington, Eye, Thorp, +and a minster at Stamford. These lands and al the others that +belong to the minster I bequeath clear; that is, with sack and +sock, toll and team, and infangthief; these privileges and all +others bequeath I clear to Christ and St. Peter. And I give the +two parts of Whittlesey-mere, with waters and with wears and +fens; and so through Meerlade along to the water that is called +Nen; and so eastward to Kingsdelf. And I will that there be a +market in the town itself, and that no other be betwixt Stamford +and Huntingdon. And I will that thus be given the toll; -- +first, from Whittlesey-mere to the king's toll of Norman-cross +hundred; then backward again from Whittlesey-mere through +Meerlade along to the Nen, and as that river runs to Crowland; +and from Crowland to Must, and from Must to Kingsdelf and to +Whittlesey-mere. And I will that all the freedom, and all the +privileges, that my predecessors gave, should remain; and I write +and confirm this with the rood-token of Christ." (+) -- Then +answered Dunstan, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and said: "I +grant, that all the things that here are given and spoken, and +all the things that thy predecessors and mine have given, shall +remain firm; and whosoever breaketh it, then give I him God's +curse, and that of all saints, and of all hooded heads, and mine, +unless he come to repentance. And I give expressly to St. Peter +my mass-hackle, and my stole, and my reef, to serve Christ." "I +Oswald, Archbishop of York, confirm all these words through the +holy rood on which Christ was crucified." (+) "I Bishop +Athelwold bless all that maintain this, and I excommunicate all +that break it, unless they come to repentance." -- Here was +Bishop Ellstan, Bishop Athulf, and Abbot Eskwy, and Abbot Osgar, +and Abbot Ethelgar, and Alderman Elfere; .Alderman Ethelwin, +Britnoth and Oslac aldermen, and many other rich men; and all +confirmed it and subscribed it with the cross of Christ. (+) +This was done in the year after our Lord's Nativity 972, the +sixteenth year of this king. Then bought the Abbot Aldulf lands +rich and many, and much endowed the minster withal; and was there +until Oswald, Archbishop of York, was dead; and then he was +chosen to be archbishop. Soon after another abbot was chosen of +the same monastery, whose name was Kenulf, who was afterwards +Bishop of Winchester. He first made the wall about the minster, +and gave it then the name of Peterborough, which before was +Medhamsted. He was there till he was appointed Bishop of +Winchester, when another abbot was chosen of the same monastery, +whose name was Elfsy, who continued abbot fifty winters +afterwards. It was he who took up St. Kyneburga and St. +Kyneswitha, that lay at Castor, and St. Tibba, that lay at +Ryhall; and brought them to Peterborough, and offered them all to +St. Peter in one day, and preserved them all the while he was +there. + +((A.D. 963. This year, by King Edgar, St. Ethelwold was chosen +to the bishoprick at Winchester. And the Archbishop of +Canterbury, St. Dunstan, consecrated him bishop on the first +Sunday of Advent; that was on the third before the kalends of +December.)) + +A.D. 964. This year drove King Edgar the priests of Winchester +out of the old minster, and also out of the new minster; and from +Chertsey; and from Milton; and replaced them with monks. And he +appointed Ethelgar abbot to the new minster, and Ordbert to +Chertsey, and Cyneward to Milton. + +((A.D. 964. This year were the canons driven out of the Old- +minster by King Edgar, and also from the New-minster, and from +Chertsey and from Milton; and he appointed thereto monks and +abbots: to the New-minster Ethelgar, to Chertsey Ordbert, to +Milton Cyneward.)) + +A.D. 965. This year King Edgar took Elfrida for his queen, who +was daughter of Alderman Ordgar. + +A.D. 966. This year Thored, the son of Gunner, plundered +Westmorland; and the same year Oslac took to the aldermanship. + +A.D. 969. This year King Edgar ordered all Thanet-land to be +plundered. + +A.D. 970. This year died Archbishop Oskytel; who was first +consecrated diocesan bishop at Dorchester, and afterwards it was +by the consent of King Edred and all his council that he was +consecrated Archbishop of York. He was bishop two and twenty +winters; and he died on Alhallow-mas night, ten nights before +Martinmas, at Thame. Abbot Thurkytel, his relative, carried the +bishop's body to Bedford, because he was the abbot there at that +time. + +A.D. 971. This year died Edmund Atheling, and his body lies at +Rumsey. + +((A.D. 972. This year Edgar the etheling was consecrated king at +Bath, on Pentecost's mass-day, on the fifth before the ides of +May, the thirteenth year since he had obtained the kingdom; and +he was then one less than thirty years of age. And soon after +that, the king led all his ship-forces to Chester; and there came +to meet him six kings, and they all plighted their troth to him, +that they would be his fellow-workers by sea and by land.)) + +A.D. 973. Here was Edgar, + of Angles lord, + with courtly pomp + hallow'd to king + at Akemancester, + the ancient city; + whose modern sons, + dwelling therein, + have named her BATH. + Much bliss was there + by all enjoyed + on that happy day, + named Pentecost + by men below. + A crowd of priests, + a throng of monks, + I understand, + in counsel sage, + were gather'd there. + Then were agone + ten hundred winters + of number'd years + from the birth of Christ, + the lofty king, + guardian of light, + save that thereto + there yet was left + of winter-tale, + as writings say, + seven and twenty. + So near had run + of the lord of triumphs + a thousand years, + when this was done. + Nine and twenty + hard winters there + of irksome deeds + had Edmund's son + seen in the world, + when this took place, + and on the thirtieth + was hallow'd king. (43) +Soon after this the king led all his marine force to Chester; and +there came to meet him six kings; and they all covenanted with +him, that they would be his allies by sea and by land. + +A.D. 975. Here ended + his earthly dreams + Edgar, of Angles king; + chose him other light, + serene and lovely, + spurning this frail abode, + a life that mortals + here call lean + he quitted with disdain. + July the month, + by all agreed + in this our land, + whoever were + in chronic lore + correctly taught; + the day the eighth, + when Edgar young, + rewarder of heroes, + his life -- his throne -- resigned. + Edward his son, + unwaxen child, + of earls the prince, + succeeded then + to England's throne. + Of royal race + ten nights before + departed hence + Cyneward the good -- + prelate of manners mild. + Well known to me + in Mercia then, + how low on earth + God's glory fell + on every side: + chaced from the land, + his servants fled, -- + their wisdom scorned; + much grief to him + whose bosom glow'd + with fervent love + of great Creation's Lord! + Neglected then + the God of wonders, + victor of victors, + monarch of heaven, -- + his laws by man transgressed! + Then too was driv'n + Oslac beloved + an exile far + from his native land + over the rolling waves, -- + over the ganet-bath, + over the water-throng, + the abode of the whale, -- + fair-hair'd hero, + wise and eloquent, + of home bereft! + Then too was seen, + high in the heavens, + the star on his station, + that far and wide + wise men call -- + lovers of truth + and heav'nly lore -- + "cometa" by name. + Widely was spread + God's vengeance then + throughout the land, + and famine scour'd the hills. + May heaven's guardian, + the glory of angels, + avert these ills, + and give us bliss again; + that bliss to all + abundance yields + from earth's choice fruits, + throughout this happy isle. (45) + +((A.D. 975. The eighth before the ides of July. + Here Edgar died, + ruler of Angles, + West-Saxons' joy, + and Mercians' protector. + Known was it widely + throughout many nations. + "Thaet" offspring of Edmund, + o'er the ganet's-bath, + honoured far, + Kings him widely + bowed to the king, + as was his due by kind. + No fleet was so daring, + nor army so strong, + that 'mid the English nation + took from him aught, + the while that the noble king + ruled on his throne. +And this year Edward, Edgar's son, succeeded to the kingdom; and +then soon, in the same year, during harvest, appeared "cometa" +the star; and then came in the following year a very great +famine, and very manifold commotions among the English people. + In his days, + for his youth, + God's gainsayers + God's law broke; + Eldfere, ealdorman, + and others many; + and rule monastic quashed, + and minsters dissolved, + and monks drove out, + and God's servants put down, + whom Edgar, king, ordered erewhile + the holy bishop + Ethelwold to stablish; + and widows they plundered, + many times and oft: + and many unrighteousnesses, + and evil unjust-deeds + arose up afterwards: + and ever after that + it greatly grew in evil. +And at that rime, also, was Oslac the great earl banished from +England.)) + +A.D. 976. This year was the great famine in England. + +A.D. 977. This year was that great council at Kirtlington, (46) +after Easter; and there died Bishop Sideman a sudden death, on +the eleventh day before the calends of May. He was Bishop of +Devonshire; and he wished that his resting-place should be at +Crediton, his episcopal residence; but King Edward and Archbishop +Dunstan ordered men to carry him to St. Mary's minster that is at +Abingdon. And they did so; and he is moreover honourably buried +on the north side in St. Paul's porch. + +A.D. 978. This year all the oldest counsellors of England fell at +Calne from an upper floor; but the holy Archbishop Dunstan stood +alone upon a beam. Some were dreadfully bruised: and some did +not escape with life. This year was King Edward slain, at +eventide, at Corfe-gate, on the fifteenth day before the calends +of April. And he was buried at Wareham without any royal honour. +No worse deed than this was ever done by the English nation since +they first sought the land of Britain. Men murdered him but God +has magnified him. He was in life an earthly king -- he is now +after death a heavenly saint. Him would not his earthly +relatives avenge -- but his heavenly father has avenged him +amply. The earthly homicides would wipe out his memory from the +earth -- but the avenger above has spread his memory abroad in +heaven and in earth. Those, Who would not before bow to his +living body, now bow on their knees to His dead bones. Now we +may conclude, that the wisdom of men, and their meditations, and +their counsels, are as nought against the appointment of God. In +this same year succeeded Ethelred Etheling, his brother, to the +government; and he was afterwards very readily, and with great +joy to the counsellors of England, consecrated king at Kingston. +In the same year also died Alfwold, who was Bishop of +Dorsetshire, and whose body lieth in the minster at Sherborn. + +A.D. 979. In this year was Ethelred consecrated king, on the +Sunday fortnight after Easter, at Kingston. And there were at +his consecration two archbishops, and ten diocesan bishops. This +same year was seen a bloody welkin oft-times in the likeness of +fire; and that was most apparent at midnight, and so in misty +beams was shown; but when it began to dawn, then it glided away. + +((A.D. 979. This year was King Edward slain at even-tide, at +Corfe-gate, on the fifteenth before the kalends of April, and +then was he buried at Wareham, without any kind of kingly +honours. + There has not been 'mid Angles + a worse deed done + than this was, + since they first + Britain-land sought. + Men him murdered, + but God him glorified. + He was in life + an earthly king; + he is now after death + a heavenly saint. + Him would not his earthly + kinsmen avenge, + but him hath his heavenly Father + greatly avenged. + The earthly murderers + would his memory + on earth blot out, + but the lofty Avenger + hath his memory + in the heavens + and on earth wide-spread. + They who would not erewhile + to his living + body bow down, + they now humbly + on knees bend + to his dead bones. + Now we may understand + that men's wisdom + and their devices, + and their councils, + are like nought + 'gainst God's resolves. +This year Ethelred succeeded to the kingdom; and he was very +quickly after that, with much joy of the English witan, +consecrated king at Kingston.)) + +A.D. 980. In this year was Ethelgar consecrated bishop, on the +sixth day before the nones of May, to the bishopric of Selsey; +and in the same year was Southampton plundered by a pirate-army, +and most of the population slain or imprisoned. And the same +year was the Isle of Thanet overrun, and the county of Chester +was plundered by the pirate-army of the North. In this year +Alderman Alfere fetched the body of the holy King Edward at +Wareham, and carried him with great solemnity to Shaftsbury. + +A.D. 981. In this year was St. Petroc's-stow plundered; and in +the same year was much harm done everywhere by the sea-coast, +both upon Devonshire and Wales. And in the same year died +Elfstan, Bishop of Wiltshire; and his body lieth in the minster +at Abingdon; and Wulfgar then succeeded to the bishopric. The +same year died Womare, Abbot of Ghent. + +((A.D. 981. This year came first the seven ships, and ravaged +Southampton.)) + +A.D. 982. In this year came up in Dorsetshire three ships of the +pirates, and plundered in Portland. The same year London was +burned. In the same year also died two aldermen, Ethelmer in +Hampshire, and Edwin in Sussex. Ethelmer's body lieth in +Winchester, at New-minster, and Edwin's in the minster at +Abingdon. The same year died two abbesses in Dorsetshire; +Herelufa at Shaftsbury, and Wulfwina at Wareham. The same year +went Otho, emperor of the Romans, into Greece; and there met he a +great army of the Saracens, who came up from the sea, and would +have proceeded forthwith to plunder the Christian folk; but the +emperor fought with them. And there was much slaughter made on +either side, but the emperor gained the field of battle. He was +there, however, much harassed, ere he returned thence; and as he +went homeward, his brother's son died, who was also called Otho; +and he was the son of Leodulf Atheling. This Leodulf was the son +of Otho the Elder and of the daughter of King Edward. + +A.D. 983. This year died Alderman Alfere, and Alfric succeeded +to the same eldership; and Pope Benedict also died. + +A.D. 984. This year died the benevolent Bishop of Winchester, +Athelwold, father of monks; and the consecration of the following +bishop, Elfheah, who by another name was called Godwin, was on +the fourteenth day before the calends of November; and he took +his seat on the episcopal bench on the mass-day of the two +apostles Simon and Jude, at Winchester. + +A.D. 985. This year was Alderman Alfric driven out of the land; +and in the same year was Edwin consecrated abbot of the minster +at Abingdon. + +A.D. 986. This year the king invaded the bishopric of Rochester; +and this year came first the great murrain of cattle in England. + +A.D. 987. This year was the port of Watchet plundered. + +A.D. 988. This year was Goda, the thane of Devonshire, slain; +and a great number with him: and Dunstan, the holy archbishop, +departed this life, and sought a heavenly one. Bishop Ethelgar +succeeded him in the archbishopric; but he lived only a little +while after, namely, one year and three months. + +A.D. 989. This year died Abbot Edwin, and Abbot Wulfgar +succeeded to the abbacy. Siric was this year invested +archbishop, and went afterwards to Rome after his pall. + +A.D. 991. This year was Ipswich plundered; and very soon +afterwards was Alderman Britnoth (47) slain at Maidon. In this +same year it was resolved that tribute should be given, for the +first time, to the Danes, for the great terror they occasioned by +the sea-coast. That was first 10,000 pounds. The first who +advised this measure was Archbishop Siric. + +A.D. 992. This year the blessed Archbishop Oswald departed this +life, and sought a heavenly one; and in the same year died +Alderman Ethelwin. Then the king and all his council resolved, +that all the ships that were of any account should be gathered +together at London; and the king committed the lead of the land- +force to Alderman Elfric, and Earl Thorod, and Bishop Elfstan, +and Bishop Escwy; that they should try if they could anywhere +without entrap the enemy. Then sent Alderman Elfric, and gave +warning to the enemy; and on the night preceding the day of +battle he sculked away from the army, to his great disgrace. The +enemy then escaped; except the crew of one ship, who were slain +on the spot. Then met the enemy the ships from East-Anglia, and +from London; and there a great slaughter was made, and they took +the ship in which was the alderman, all armed and rigged. Then, +after the death of Archbishop Oswald, succeeded Aldulf, Abbot of +Peterborough, to the sees of York and of Worcester; and Kenulf to +the abbacy of Peterborough. + +((A.D. 992. This year Oswald the blessed archbishop died, and +Abbot Eadulf succeeded to York and to Worcester. And this year +the king and all his witan decreed that all the ships which were +worth anything should be gathered together at London, in order +that they might try if they could anywhere betrap the army from +without. But Aelfric the ealdorman, one of those in whom the +king had most confidence, directed the army to be warned; and in +the night, as they should on the morrow have joined battle, the +selfsame Aelfric fled from the forces; and then the army +escaped.)) + +A.D. 993. This year came Anlaf with three and ninety ships to +Staines, which he plundered without, and went thence to Sandwich. +Thence to Ipswich, which he laid waste; and so to Maidon, where +Alderman Britnoth came against him with his force, and fought +with him; and there they slew the alderman, and gained the field +of battle; whereupon peace was made with him, and the king +received him afterwards at episcopal hands by the advice of +Siric, Bishop of Canterbury, and Elfeah of Winchester. This year +was Bamborough destroyed, and much spoil was there taken. +Afterwards came the army to the mouth of the Humber; and there +did much evil both in Lindsey and in Northumbria. Then was +collected a great force; but when the armies were to engage, then +the generals first commenced a flight; namely, Frene and Godwin +and Frithgist. In this same year the king ordered Elfgar, son of +Alderman Elfric, to be punished with blindness. + +((A.D. 993. In this year came Olave with ninety-three ships to +Staines, and ravaged there about, and then went thence to +Sandwich, and so thence to Ipswich, and that all overran; and so +to Maldon. And there Britnoth the ealdorman came against them +with his forces, and fought against them: and they there slew the +ealdorman, and had possession of the place of carnage. And after +that peace was made with them; and him (Anlaf) the king +afterwards received at the bishop's hands, through the +instruction of Siric, bishop of the Kentish-men, and of Aelphege +of Winchester.)) + +A.D. 994. This year died Archbishop Siric: and Elfric, Bishop of +Wiltshire, was chosen on Easter-day, at Amesbury, by King +Ethelred and all his council. This year came Anlaf and Sweyne to +London, on the Nativity of St. Mary, with four and ninety-ships. +And they closely besieged the city, and would fain have set it on +fire; but they sustained more harm and evil than they ever +supposed that any citizens could inflict on them. The holy +mother of God on that day in her mercy considered the citizens, +and ridded them of their enemies. Thence they advanced, and +wrought the greatest evil that ever any army could do, in burning +and plundering and manslaughter, not only on the sea-coast in +Essex, but in Kent and in Sussex and in Hampshire. Next they +took horse, and rode as wide as they would, and committed +unspeakable evil. Then resolved the king and his council to send +to them, and offer them tribute and provision, on condition that +they desisted from plunder. The terms they accepted; and the +whole army came to Southampton, and there fixed their winter- +quarters; where they were fed by all the subjects of the West- +Saxon kingdom. And they gave them 16,000 pounds in money. Then +sent the king; after King Anlaf Bishop Elfeah and Alderman +Ethelwerd; (48) and, hostages being left with the ships, they led +Anlaf with great pomp to the king at Andover. And King Ethelred +received him at episcopal hands, and honoured him with royal +presents. In return Anlaf promised, as he also performed, that +he never again would come in a hostile manner to England. + +A.D. 995. This year appeared the comet-star. + +A.D. 996. This year was Elfric consecrated archbishop at Christ +church. (49) + +A.D. 997. This year went the army about Devonshire into Severn- +mouth, and equally plundered the people of Cornwall, North-Wales, +(50) and Devon. Then went they up at Watchet, and there much +evil wrought in burning and manslaughter. Afterwards they +coasted back about Penwithstert on the south side, and, turning +into the mouth of the Tamer, went up till they came to Liddyford, +burning and slaying everything that they met. Moreover, Ordulf's +minster at Tavistock they burned to the ground, and brought to +their ships incalculable plunder. This year Archbishop Elfric +went to Rome after his staff. + +A.D. 998. This year coasted the army back eastward into the +mouth of the Frome, and went up everywhere, as widely as they +would, into Dorsetshire. Often was an army collected against +them; but, as soon as they were about to come together, then were +they ever through something or other put to flight, and their +enemies always in the end had the victory. Another time they lay +in the Isle of Wight, and fed themselves meanwhile from Hampshire +and Sussex. + +A.D. 999. This year came the army about again into the Thames, +and went up thence along the Medway to Rochester; where the +Kentish army came against them, and encountered them in a close +engagement; but, alas! they too soon yielded and fled; because +they had not the aid that they should have had. The Danes +therefore occupied the field of battle, and, taking horse, they +rode as wide as they would, spoiling and overrunning nearly all +West-Kent. Then the king with his council determined to proceed +against them with sea and land forces; but as soon as the ships +were ready, then arose delay from day to day, which harassed the +miserable crew that lay on board; so that, always, the forwarder +it should have been, the later it was, from one time to another; +-- they still suffered the army of their enemies to increase; -- +the Danes continually retreated from the sea-coast;-- and they +continually pursued them in vain. Thus in the end these +expeditions both by sea and land served no other purpose but to +vex the people, to waste their treasure, and to strengthen their +enemies. " + +A.D. 1000. This year the king went into Cumberland, and nearly +laid waste the whole of it with his army, whilst his navy sailed +about Chester with the design of co-operating with his land- +forces; but, finding it impracticable, they ravaged Anglesey. +The hostile fleet was this summer turned towards the kingdom of +Richard. + +A.D. 1001. This year there was great commotion in England in +consequence of an invasion by the Danes, who spread terror and +devastation wheresoever they went, plundering and burning and +desolating the country with such rapidity, that they advanced in +one march as far as the town of Alton; where the people of +Hampshire came against them, and fought with them. There was +slain Ethelwerd, high-steward of the king, and Leofric of +Whitchurch, and Leofwin, high-steward of the king, and Wulfhere, +a bishop's thane, and Godwin of Worthy, son of Bishop Elfsy; and +of all the men who were engaged with them eighty-one. Of the +Danes there was slain a much greater number, though they remained +in possession of the field of battle. Thence they proceeded +westward, until they came into Devonshire; where Paley came to +meet them with the ships which he was able to collect; for he had +shaken off his allegiance to King Ethelred, against all the vows +of truth and fidelity which he had given him, as well as the +presents which the king had bestowed on him in houses and gold +and silver. And they burned Teignton, and also many other goodly +towns that we cannot name; and then peace was there concluded +with them. And they proceeded thence towards Exmouth, so that +they marched at once till they came to Pin-hoo; where Cole, high- +steward of the king, and Edsy, reve of the king, came against +them with the army that they could collect. But they were there +put to flight, and there were many slain, and the Danes had +possession of the field of battle. And the next morning they +burned the village of Pin-hoo, and of Clist, and also many goodly +towns that we cannot name. Then they returned eastward again, +till they came to the Isle of Wight. The next morning they +burned the town of Waltham, and many other small towns; soon +after which the people treated with them, and they made peace. + +((A.D. 1001. This year the army came to Exmouth, and then went +up to the town, and there continued fighting stoutly; but they +were very strenuously resisted. Then went they through the land, +and did all as was their wont; destroyed and burnt. Then was +collected a vast force of the people of Devon and of the people +of Somerset, and they then came together at Pen. And so soon as +they joined battle, then the people gave way: and there they made +great slaughter, and then they rode over the land, and their last +incursion was ever worse than the one before: and then they +brought much booty with them to their ships. And thence they +went into the Isle of Wight, and there they roved about, even as +they themselves would, and nothing withstood them: nor any fleet +by sea durst meet them; nor land force either, went they ever so +far up. Then was it in every wise a heavy time, because they +never ceased from their evil doings.)) + +A.D. 1002. This year the king and his council agreed that +tribute should be given to the fleet, and peace made with them, +with the provision that they should desist from their mischief. +Then sent the king to the fleet Alderman Leofsy, who at the +king's word and his council made peace with them, on condition +that they received food and tribute; which they accepted, and a +tribute was paid of 24,000 pounds. In the meantime Alderman +Leofsy slew Eafy, high-steward of the king; and the king banished +him from the land. Then, in the same Lent, came the Lady Elfgive +Emma, Richard's daughter, to this land. And in the same summer +died Archbishop Eadulf; and also, in the same year the king gave +an order to slay all the Danes that were in England. This was +accordingly done on the mass-day of St. Brice; because it was +told the king, that they would beshrew him of his life, and +afterwards all his council, and then have his kingdom without any +resistance. + +A.D. 1003. This year was Exeter demolished, through the French +churl Hugh, whom the lady had appointed her steward there. And +the army destroyed the town withal, and took there much spoil. +In the same year came the army up into Wiltshire. Then was +collected a very great force, from Wiltshire and from Hampshire; +which was soon ready on their march against the enemy: and +Alderman Elfric should have led them on; but he brought forth his +old tricks, and as soon as they were so near, that either army +looked on the other, then he pretended sickness, and began to +retch, saying he was sick; and so betrayed the people that he +should have led: as it is said, "When the leader is sick the +whole army is hindered." When Sweyne saw that they were not +ready, and that they all retreated, then led he his army into +Wilton; and they plundered and burned the town. Then went he to +Sarum; and thence back to the sea, where he knew his ships were. + +A.D. 1004. This year came Sweyne with his fleet to Norwich, +plundering and burning the whole town. Then Ulfkytel agreed with +the council in East-Anglia, that it were better to purchase peace +with the enemy, ere they did too much harm on the land; for that +they had come unawares, and he had not had time to gather his +force. Then, under the truce that should have been between them, +stole the army up from their ships, and bent their course to +Thetford. When Ulfkytel understood that, then sent he an order +to hew the ships in pieces; but they frustrated his design. Then +he gathered his forces, as secretly as he could. The enemy came +to Thetford within three weeks after they had plundered Norwich; +and, remaining there one night, they spoiled and burned the town; +but, in the morning, as they were proceeding to their ships, came +Ulfkytel with his army, and said that they must there come to +close quarters. And, accordingly, the two armies met together; +and much slaughter was made on both sides. There were many of +the veterans of the East-Angles slain; but, if the main army had +been there, the enemy had never returned to their ships. As they +said themselves, that they never met with worse hand-play in +England than Ulfkytel brought them. + +A.D. 1005. This year died Archbishop Elfric; and Bishop Elfeah +succeeded him in the archbishopric. This year was the great +famine in England so severe that no man ere remembered such. The +fleet this year went from this land to Denmark, and took but a +short respite, before they came again. + +A.D. 1006. This year Elfeah was consecrated Archbishop; Bishop +Britwald succeeded to the see of Wiltshire; Wulfgeat was deprived +of all his property; (51) Wulfeah and Ufgeat were deprived of +sight; Alderman Elfelm was slain; and Bishop Kenulf (52) departed +this life. Then, over midsummer, came the Danish fleet to +Sandwich, and did as they were wont; they barrowed and burned and +slew as they went. Then the king ordered out all the population +from Wessex and from Mercia; and they lay out all the harvest +under arms against the enemy; but it availed nothing more than it +had often done before. For all this the enemy went wheresoever +they would; and the expedition did the people more harm than +either any internal or external force could do. When winter +approached, then went the army home; and the enemy retired after +Martinmas to their quarters in the Isle of Wight, and provided +themselves everywhere there with what they wanted. Then, about +midwinter, they went to their ready farm, throughout Hampshire +into Berkshire, to Reading. And they did according to their +custom, -- they lighted their camp-beacons as they advanced. +Thence they marched to Wallingford, which they entirely +destroyed, and passed one night at Cholsey. They then turned +along Ashdown to Cuckamsley-hill, and there awaited better cheer; +for it was often said, that if they sought Cuckamsley, they would +never get to the sea. But they went another way homeward. Then +was their army collected at Kennet; and they came to battle +there, and soon put the English force to flight; and afterwards +carried their spoil to the sea. There might the people of +Winchester see the rank and iniquitous foe, as they passed by +their gates to the sea, fetching their meat and plunder over an +extent of fifty miles from sea. Then was the king gone over the +Thames into Shropshire; and there he fixed his abode during +midwinter. Meanwhile, so great was the fear of the enemy, that +no man could think or devise how to drive them from the land, or +hold this territory against them; for they had terribly marked +each shire in Wessex with fire and devastation. Then the king +began to consult seriously with his council, what they all +thought most advisable for defending this land, ere it was +utterly undone. Then advised the king and his council for the +advantage of all the nation, though they were all loth to do it, +that they needs must bribe the enemy with a tribute. The king +then sent to the army, and ordered it to be made known to them, +that his desire was, that there should be peace between them, and +that tribute and provision should be given them. And they +accepted the terms; and they were provisioned throughout England. + +((A.D. 1006. This year Elphege was consecrated archbishop [of +Canterbury].)) + +A.D. 1007. In this year was the tribute paid to the hostile +army; that was, 30,000 pounds. In this year also was Edric +appointed alderman over all the kingdom of the Mercians. This +year went Bishop Elfeah to Rome after his pall. + +A.D. 1008. This year bade the king that men should speedily +build ships over all England; that is, a man possessed of three +hundred and ten hides to provide on galley or skiff; and a man +possessed of eight hides only, to find a helmet and breastplate +(53). + +A.D. 1009. This year were the ships ready, that we before spoke +about; and there were so many of them as never were in England +before, in any king's days, as books tell us. And they were all +transported together to Sandwich; that they should lie there, and +defend this land against any out-force. But we have not yet had +the prosperity and the honour, that the naval armament should be +useful to this land, any more than it often before was. It was +at this same time, or a little earlier, that Brihtric, brother of +Alderman Edric, bewrayed Wulnoth, the South-Saxon knight, father +of Earl Godwin, to the king; and he went into exile, and enticed +the navy, till he had with him twenty ships; with which he +plundered everywhere by the south coast, and wrought every kind +of mischief. When it was told the navy that they might easily +seize him, if they would look about them, then took Brihtric with +him eighty ships; and thought that he should acquire for himself +much reputation, by getting Wulnoth into his hands alive or dead. +But, whilst they were proceeding thitherward, there came such a +wind against them, as no man remembered before; which beat and +tossed the ships, and drove them aground; whereupon Wulnoth soon +came, and burned them. When this was known to the remaining +ships, where the king was, how the others fared, it was then as +if all were lost. The king went home, with the aldermen and the +nobility; and thus lightly did they forsake the ships; whilst the +men that were in them rowed them back to London. Thus lightly +did they suffer the labour of all the people to be in vain; nor +was the terror lessened, as all England hoped. When this naval +expedition was thus ended, then came, soon after Lammas, the +formidable army of the enemy, called Thurkill's army, to +Sandwich; and soon they bent their march to Canterbury; which +city they would quickly have stormed, had they not rather desired +peace; and all the men of East-Kent made peace with the army, and +gave them 3,000 pounds for security. The army soon after that +went about till they came to the Isle of Wight; and everywhere in +Sussex, and in Hampshire, and also in Berkshire, they plundered +and burned, as THEIR CUSTOM IS. (54) Then ordered the king to +summon out all the population, that men might hold firm against +them on every side; but nevertheless they marched as they +pleased. On one occasion the king had begun his march before +them, as they proceeded to their ships, and all the people were +ready to fall upon them; but the plan was then frustrated through +Alderman Edric, AS IT EVER IS STILL. Then after Martinmas they +went back again to Kent, and chose their winter-quarters on the +Thames; obtaining their provisions from Essex, and from the +shires that were next, on both sides of the Thames. And oft they +fought against the city of London; but glory be to God, that it +yet standeth firm: and they ever there met with ill fare. Then +after midwinter took they an excursion up through Chiltern, (55) +and so to Oxford; which city they burned, and plundered on both +sides of the Thames to their ships. Being fore-warned that there +was an army gathered against them at London, they went over at +Staines; and thus were they in motion all the winter, and in +spring, appeared again in Kent, and repaired their ships. + +A.D. 1010. This year came the aforesaid army, after Easter, into +East Anglia; and went up at Ipswich, marching continually till +they came where they understood Ulfcytel was with his army. This +was on the day called the first of the Ascension of our Lord. +The East-Angles soon fled. Cambridgeshire stood firm against +them. There was slain Athelstan, the king's relative, and Oswy, +and his son, and Wulfric, son of Leofwin, and Edwy, brother of +Efy, and many other good thanes, and a multitude of the people. +Thurkytel Myrehead first began the flight; and the Danes remained +masters of the field of slaughter. There were they horsed; and +afterwards took possession of East-Anglia, where they plundered +and burned three months; and then proceeded further into the wild +fens, slaying both men and cattle, and burning throughout the +fens. Thetford also they burned, and Cambridge; and afterwards +went back southward into the Thames; and the horsemen rode +towards the ships. Then went they west-ward into Oxfordshire, +and thence to Buckinghamshire, and so along the Ouse till they +came to Bedford, and so forth to Temsford, always burning as they +went. Then returned they to their ships with their spoil, which +they apportioned to the ships. When the king's army should have +gone out to meet them as they went up, then went they home; and +when they were in the east, then was the army detained in the +west; and when they were in the south, then was the army in the +north. Then all the privy council were summoned before the king, +to consult how they might defend this country. But, whatever was +advised, it stood not a month; and at length there was not a +chief that would collect an army, but each fled as he could: no +shire, moreover, would stand by another. Before the feast-day of +St. Andrew came the enemy to Northampton, and soon burned the +town, and took as much spoil thereabout as they would; and then +returned over the Thames into Wessex, and so by Cannings-marsh, +burning all the way. When they had gone as far as they would, +then came they by midwinter to their ships. + +A.D. 1011. This year sent the king and his council to the army, +and desired peace; promising them both tribute and provisions, on +condition that they ceased from plunder. They had now overrun +East-Anglia [1], and Essex [2], and Middlesex [3], and +Oxfordshire [4], and Cambridgeshire [5], and Hertfordshire [6], +and Buckinghamshire [7], and Bedfordshire [8], and half of +Huntingdonshire [9], and much of Northamptonshire [10]; and, to +the south of the Thames, all Kent, and Sussex, and Hastings, and +Surrey, and Berkshire, and Hampshire, and much of Wiltshire. All +these disasters befel us through bad counsels; that they would +not offer tribute in time, or fight with them; but, when they had +done most mischief, then entered they into peace and amity with +them. And not the less for all this peace, and amity, and +tribute, they went everywhere in troops; plundering, and +spoiling, and slaying our miserable people. In this year, +between the Nativity of St. Mary and Michaelmas, they beset +Canterbury, and entered therein through treachery; for Elfmar +delivered the city to them, whose life Archbishop Elfeah formerly +saved. And there they seized Archbishop Elfeah, and Elfward the +king's steward, and Abbess Leofruna, (56) and Bishop Godwin; and +Abbot Elfmar they suffered to go away. And they took therein all +the men, and husbands, and wives; and it was impossible for any +man to say how many they were; and in the city they continued +afterwards as long as they would. And, when they had surveyed +all the city, they then returned to their ships, and led the +archbishop with them. + Then was a captive + he who before was + of England head + and Christendom; -- + there might be seen + + great wretchedness, + where oft before + great bliss was seen, + in the fated city, + whence first to us + came Christendom, + and bliss 'fore God + and 'fore the world. +And the archbishop they kept with them until the time when they +martyred him. + +A.D. 1012. This year came Alderman Edric, and all the oldest +counsellors of England, clerk and laity, to London before Easter, +which was then on the ides of April; and there they abode, over +Easter, until all the tribute was paid, which was 48,000 pounds. +Then on the Saturday was the army much stirred against the +bishop; because he would not promise them any fee, and forbade +that any man should give anything for him. They were also much +drunken; for there was wine brought them from the south. Then +took they the bishop, and led him to their hustings, on the eve +of the Sunday after Easter, which was the thirteenth before the +calends of May; and there they then shamefully killed him. They +overwhelmed him with bones and horns of oxen; and one of them +smote him with an axe-iron on the head; so that he sunk downwards +with the blow; and his holy blood fell on the earth, whilst his +sacred soul was sent to the realm of God. The corpse in the +morning was carried to London; and the bishops, Ednoth and +Elfhun, and the citizens, received him with all honour, and +buried him in St. Paul's minster; where God now showeth this holy +martyr's miracles. When the tribute was paid, and the peace- +oaths were sworn, then dispersed the army as widely as it was +before collected. Then submitted to the king five and forty of +the ships of the enemy; and promised him, that they would defend +this land, and he should feed and clothe them. + +A.D. 1013. The year after that Archbishop Elfeah was martyred, +the king appointed Lifing to the archiepiscopal see of +Canterbury. And in the same year, before the month August, came +King Sweyne with his fleet to Sandwich; and very soon went about +East-Anglia into the Humber-mouth, and so upward along the Trent, +until he came to Gainsborough. Then soon submitted to him Earl +Utred, and all the Northumbrians, and all the people of Lindsey, +and afterwards the people of the Five Boroughs, and soon after +all the army to the north of Watling-street; and hostages were +given him from each shire. When he understood that all the +people were subject to him, then ordered he that his army should +have provision and horses; and he then went southward with his +main army, committing his ships and the hostages to his son +Knute. And after he came over Watling-street, they wrought the +greatest mischief that any army could do. Then he went to +Oxford; and the population soon submitted, and gave hostages; +thence to Winchester, where they did the same. Thence went they +eastward to London; and many of the party sunk in the Thames, +because they kept not to any bridge. When he came to the city, +the population would not submit; but held their ground in full +fight against him, because therein was King Ethelred, and +Thurkill with him. Then went King Sweyne thence to Wallingford; +and so over Thames westward to Bath, where he abode with his +army. Thither came Alderman Ethelmar, and all the western thanes +with him, and all submitted to Sweyne, and gave hostages. When +he had thus settled all, then went he northward to his ships; and +all the population fully received him, and considered him full +king. The population of London also after this submitted to him, +and gave hostages; because they dreaded that he would undo them. +Then bade Sweyne full tribute and forage for his army during the +winter; and Thurkill bade the same for the army that lay at +Greenwich: besides this, they plundered as oft as they would. +And when this nation could neither resist in the south nor in the +north, King Ethelred abode some while with the fleet that lay in +the Thames; and the lady (57) went afterwards over sea to her +brother Richard, accompanied by Elfsy, Abbot of Peterborough. +The king sent Bishop Elfun with the ethelings, Edward and Alfred, +over sea; that he might instruct them. Then went the king from +the fleet, about midwinter, to the Isle of Wight; and there abode +for the season; after which he went over sea to Richard, with +whom he abode till the time when Sweyne died. Whilst the lady +was with her brother beyond sea, Elfsy, Abbot of Peterborough, +who was there with her, went to the abbey called Boneval, where +St. Florentine's body lay; and there found a miserable place, a +miserable abbot, and miserable monks: because they had been +plundered. There he bought of the abbot, and of the monks, the +body of St. Florentine, all but the head, for 500 pounds; which, +on his return home, he offered to Christ and St. Peter. + +A.D. 1014. This year King Sweyne ended his days at Candlemas, +the third day before the nones of February; and the same year +Elfwy, Bishop of York, was consecrated in London, on the festival +of St. Juliana. The fleet all chose Knute for king; whereupon +advised all the counsellors of England, clergy and laity, that +they should send after King Ethelred; saying, that no sovereign +was dearer to them than their natural lord, if he would govern +them better than he did before. Then sent the king hither his +son Edward, with his messengers; who had orders to greet all his +people, saying that he would be their faithful lord -- would +better each of those things that they disliked -- and that each +of the things should be forgiven which had been either done or +said against him; provided they all unanimously, without +treachery, turned to him. Then was full friendship established, +in word and in deed and in compact, on either side. And every +Danish king they proclaimed an outlaw for ever from England. +Then came King Ethelred home, in Lent, to his own people; and he +was gladly received by them all. Meanwhile, after the death of +Sweyne, sat Knute with his army in Gainsborough until Easter; and +it was agreed between him and the people of Lindsey, that they +should supply him with horses, and afterwards go out all together +and plunder. But King Ethelred with his full force came to +Lindsey before they were ready; and they plundered and burned, +and slew all the men that they could reach. Knute, the son of +Sweyne, went out with his fleet (so were the wretched people +deluded by him), and proceeded southward until he came to +Sandwich. There he landed the hostages that were given to his +father, and cut off their hands and ears and their noses. +Besides all these evils, the king ordered a tribute to the army +that lay at Greenwich, of 21,000 pounds. This year, on the eve +of St. Michael's day, came the great sea-flood, which spread wide +over this land, and ran so far up as it never did before, +overwhelming many towns, and an innumerable multitude of people. + +A.D. 1015. This year was the great council at Oxford; where +Alderman Edric betrayed Sigferth and Morcar, the eldest thanes +belonging to the Seven Towns. He allured them into his bower, +where they were shamefully slain. Then the king took all their +possessions, and ordered the widow of Sigferth to be secured, and +brought within Malmsbury. After a little interval, Edmund +Etheling went and seized her, against the king's will, and had +her to wife. Then, before the Nativity of St. Mary, went the +etheling west-north into the Five Towns, (58) and soon plundered +all the property of Sigferth and Morcar; and all the people +submitted to him. At the same time came King Knute to Sandwich, +and went soon all about Kent into Wessex, until he came to the +mouth of the Frome; and then plundered in Dorset, and in +Wiltshire, and in Somerset. King Ethelred, meanwhile, lay sick +at Corsham; and Alderman Edric collected an army there, and +Edmund the etheling in the north. When they came together, the +alderman designed to betray Edmund the etheling, but he could +not; whereupon they separated without an engagement, and sheered +off from their enemies. Alderman Edric then seduced forty ships +from the king, and submitted to Knute. The West-Saxons also +submitted, and gave hostages, and horsed the army. And he +continued there until midwinter. + +A.D. 1016. This year came King Knute with a marine force of one +hundred and sixty ships, and Alderman Edric with him, over the +Thames into Mercia at Cricklade; whence they proceeded to +Warwickshire, during the middle of the winter, and plundered +therein, and burned, and slew all they met. Then began Edmund +the etheling to gather an army, which, when it was collected, +could avail him nothing, unless the king were there and they had +the assistance of the citizens of London. The expedition +therefore was frustrated, and each man betook himself home. +After this. an army was again ordered, under full penalties, that +every person, however distant, should go forth; and they sent to +the king in London, and besought him to come to meet the army +with the aid that he could collect. When they were all +assembled, it succeeded nothing better than it often did before; +and, when it was told the king, that those persons would betray +him who ought to assist him, then forsook he the army, and +returned again to London. Then rode Edmund the etheling to Earl +Utred in Northumbria; and every man supposed that they would +collect an army King Knute; but they went into Stafforddhire, and +to Shrewsbury, and to Chester; and they plundered on their parts, +and Knute on his. He went out through Buckinghamshire to +Bedfordshire; thence to Huntingdonshire, and so into +Northamptonshire along the fens to Stamford. Thence into +Lincolnshire. Thence to Nottinghamshire; and so into Northumbria +toward York. When Utred understood this, he ceased from +plundering, and hastened northward, and submitted for need, and +all the Northumbrians with him; but, though he gave hostages, he +was nevertheless slain by the advice of Alderman Edric, and +Thurkytel, the son of Nafan, with him. After this, King Knute +appointed Eric earl over Northumbria, as Utred was; and then went +southward another way, all by west, till the whole army came, +before Easter, to the ships. Meantime Edmund Etheling went to +London to his father: and after Easter went King Knute with all +his ships toward London; but it happened that King Ethelred died +ere the ships came. He ended his days on St. George's day; +having held his kingdom in much tribulation and difficulty as +long as his life continued. After his decease, all the peers +that were in London, and the citizens, chose Edmund king; who +bravely defended his kingdom while his time was. Then came the +ships to Greenwich, about the gang-days, and within a short +interval went to London; where they sunk a deep ditch on the +south side, and dragged their ships to the west side of the +bridge. Afterwards they trenched the city without, so that no +man could go in or out, and often fought against it: but the +citizens bravely withstood them. King Edmund had ere this gone +out, and invaded the West-Saxons, who all submitted to him; and +soon afterward he fought with the enemy at Pen near Gillingham. +A second battle he fought, after midsummer, at Sherston; where +much slaughter was made on either side, and the leaders +themselves came together in the fight. Alderman Edric and Aylmer +the darling were assisting the army against King Edmund. Then +collected he his force the third time, and went to London, all by +north of the Thames, and so out through Clayhanger, and relieved +the citizens, driving the enemy to their ships. It was within +two nights after that the king went over at Brentford; where he +fought with the enemy, and put them to flight: but there many of +the English were drowned, from their own carelessness; who went +before the main army with a design to plunder. After this the +king went into Wessex, and collected his army; but the enemy soon +returned to London, and beset the city without, and fought +strongly against it both by water and land. But the almighty God +delivered them. The enemy went afterward from London with their +ships into the Orwell; where they went up and proceeded into +Mercia, slaying and burning whatsoever they overtook, as their +custom is; and, having provided themselves with meat, they drove +their ships and their herds into the Medway. Then assembled King +Edmund the fourth time all the English nation, and forded over +the Thames at Brentford; whence he proceeded into Kent. The +enemy fled before him with their horses into the Isle of Shepey; +and the king slew as many of them as he could overtake. Alderman +Edric then went to meet the king at Aylesford; than which no +measure could be more ill-advised. The enemy, meanwhile, +returned into Essex, and advanced into Mercia, destroying all +that he overtook. When the king understood that the army was up, +then collected he the fifth time all the English nation, and went +behind them, and overtook them in Essex, on the down called +Assingdon; where they fiercely came together. Then did Alderman +Edric as he often did before -- he first began the flight with +the Maisevethians, and so betrayed his natural lord and all the +people of England. There had Knute the victory, though all +England fought against him! There was then slain Bishop Ednoth, +and Abbot Wulsy, and Alderman Elfric, and Alderman Godwin of +Lindsey, and Ulfkytel of East-Anglia, and Ethelward, the son of +Alderman Ethelsy (59). And all the nobility of the English +nation was there undone! After this fight went King Knute up +with his army into Glocestershire, where he heard say that King +Edmund was. Then advised Alderman Edric, and the counsellors +that were there assembled, that the kings should make peace with +each other, and produce hostages. Then both the kings met +together at Olney, south of Deerhurst, and became allies and +sworn brothers. There they confirmed their friendship both with +pledges and with oaths, and settled the pay of the army. With +this covenant they parted: King Edmund took to Wessex, and Knute +to Mercia and the northern district. The army then went to their +ships with the things they had taken; and the people of London +made peace with them, and purchased their security, whereupon +they brought their ships to London, and provided themselves +winter-quarters therein. On the feast of St. Andrew died King +Edmund; and he is buried with his grandfather Edgar at +Gastonbury. In the same year died Wulfgar, Abbot of Abingdon; +and Ethelsy took to the abbacy. + +A.D. 1017. This year King Knute took to the whole government of +England, and divided it into four parts: Wessex for himself, +East-Anglia for Thurkyll, Mercia for Edric, Northumbria for Eric. +This year also was Alderman Edric slain at London, and Norman, +son of Alderman Leofwin, and Ethelward, son of Ethelmar the +Great, and Britric, son of Elfege of Devonshire. King Knute also +banished Edwy etheling, whom he afterwards ordered to be slain, +and Edwy, king of the churls; and before the calends of August +the king gave an order to fetch him the widow of the other king, +Ethelred, the daughter of Richard, to wife. + +((A.D. 1017. This year Canute was chosen king.)) + +A.D. 1018. This year was the payment of the tribute over all +England; that was, altogether, two and seventy thousand pounds, +besides that which the citizens of London paid; and that was ten +thousand five hundred pounds. The army then went partly to +Denmark; and forty ships were left with King Knute. The Danes +and Angles were united at Oxford under Edgar's law; and this year +died Abbot Ethelsy at Abingdon, to whom Ethelwine succeeded. + +A.D. 1019. This year went King Knute with nine ships to Denmark, +where he abode all the winter; and Archbishop Elfstan died this +year, who was also named Lifing. He was a very upright man both +before God and before the world. + +((A.D. 1019. And this winter died Archbishop Elfstan [of +Canterbury]: he was named Living; and he was a very provident +man, both as to God and as to the world.)) + +A.D. 1020. This year came King Knute back to England; and there +was at Easter a great council at Cirencester, where Alderman +Ethelward was outlawed, and Edwy, king of the churls. This year +went the king to Assingdon; with Earl Thurkyll, and Archbishop +Wulfstan, and other bishops, and also abbots, and many monks with +them; and he ordered to be built there a minster of stone and +lime, for the souls of the men who were there slain, and gave it +to his own priest, whose name was Stigand; and they consecrated +the minster at Assingdon. And Ethelnoth the monk, who had been +dean at Christ's church, was the same year on the ides of +November consecrated Bishop of Christ's church by Archbishop +Wulfstan. + +((A.D. 1020. And caused to be built there [Canterbury] a minster +of stone and lime, for the souls of the men who there were slain, +and gave it to one of his priests, whose name was Stigand.)) + +A.D. 1021. This year King Knute, at Martinmas, outlawed Earl +Thurkyll; and Bishop Elfgar, the abundant giver of alms, died in +the morning of Christmas day. + +A.D. 1022. This year went King Knute out with his ships to the +Isle of Wight. And Bishop Ethelnoth went to Rome; where he was +received with much honour by Benedict the magnificent pope, who +with his own hand placed the pall upon him, and with great pomp +consecrated him archbishop, and blessed him, on the nones of +October. The archbishop on the self-same day with the same pall +performed mass, as the pope directed him, after which he was +magnificently entertained by the pope himself; and afterwards +with a full blessing proceeded homewards. Abbot Leofwine, who +had been unjustly expelled from Ely, was his companion; and he +cleared himself of everything, which, as the pope informed him, +had been laid to his charge, on the testimony of the archbishop +and of all the company that were with him. + +((A.D. 1022. And afterwards with the pall he there [at Rome] +performed mass as the pope instructed him: and he feasted after +that with the pope; and afterwards went home with a full +blessing.)) + +A.D. 1023. This year returned King Knute to England; and +Thurkyll and he were reconciled. He committed Denmark and his +son to the care of Thurkyll, whilst he took Thurkyll's son with +him to England. This year died Archbishop Wulfstan; and Elfric +succeeded him; and Archbishop Egelnoth blessed him in Canterbury. +This year King Knute in London, in St. Paul's minster, gave full +leave (60) to Archbishop Ethelnoth, Bishop Britwine, and all +God's servants that were with them, that they might take up from +the grave the archbishop, Saint Elphege. And they did so, on the +sixth day before the ides of June; and the illustrious king, and +the archbishop, and the diocesan bishops, and the earls, and very +many others, both clergy and laity, carried by ship his holy +corpse over the Thames to Southwark. And there they committed +the holy martyr to the archbishop and his companions; and they +with worthy pomp and sprightly joy carried him to Rochester. +There on the third day came the Lady Emma with her royal son +Hardacnute; and they all with much majesty, and bliss, and songs +of praise, carried the holy archbishop into Canterbury, and so +brought him gloriously into the church, on the third day before +the ides of June. Afterwards, on the eighth day, the seventeenth +before the calends of July, Archbishop Ethelnoth, and Bishop +Elfsy, and Bishop Britwine, and all they that were with them, +lodged the holy corpse of Saint Elphege on the north side of the +altar of Christ; to the praise of God, and to the glory of the +holy archbishop, and to the everlasting salvation of all those +who there his holy body daily seek with earnest heart and all +humility. May God Almighty have mercy on all Christian men +through the holy intercession of Elphege! + +((A.D. 1023. And he caused St. Elphege's remains to be borne +from London to Canterbury.)) + +A.D. 1025. This year went King Knute to Denmark with a fleet to +the holm by the holy river; where against him came Ulf and Eglaf, +with a very large force both by land and sea, from Sweden. There +were very many men lost on the side of King Knute, both of Danish +and English; and the Swedes had possession of the field of +battle. + +A.D. 1026. This year went Bishop Elfric to Rome, and received +the pall of Pope John on the second day before the ides of +November. + +A.D. 1028. This year went King Knute from England to Norway with +fifty ships manned with English thanes, and drove King Olave from +the land, which he entirely secured to himself. + +A.D. 1029. This year King Knute returned home to England. + +A.D. 1030. This year returned King Olave into Norway; but the +people gathered together against him, and fought against him; and +he was there slain, in Norway, by his own people, and was +afterwards canonised. Before this, in the same year, died Hacon +the doughty earl, at sea. + +((A.D. 1030. This year came King Olave again into Norway, and +the people gathered against him, and fought against him; and he +was there slain.)) + +A.D. 1031. This year returned King Knute; and as soon as he came +to England he gave to Christ's church in Canterbury the haven of +Sandwich, and all the rights that arise therefrom, on either side +of the haven; so that when the tide is highest and fullest, and +there be a ship floating as near the land as possible, and there +be a man standing upon the ship with a taper-axe in his hand, +whithersoever the large taper-axe might be thrown out of the +ship, throughout all that land the ministers of Christ's church +should enjoy their rights. This year went King Knute to Rome; +and the same year, as soon as he returned home, he went to +Scotland; and Malcolm, king of the Scots, submitted to him, and +became his man, with two other kings, Macbeth and Jehmar; but he +held his allegiance a little while only. Robert, Earl of +Normandy, went this year to Jerusalem, where he died; and +William, who was afterwards King of England, succeeded to the +earldom, though he was a child. + +A.D. 1032. This year appeared that wild fire, such as no man +ever remembered before, which did great damage in many places. +The same year died Elfsy, Bishop of Winchester; and Elfwin, the +king's priest, succeeded him. + +A.D. 1033. This year died Bishop Merewhite in Somersetshire, who +is buried at Glastonbury; and Bishop Leofsy, whose body resteth +at Worcester, and to whose see Brihteh was promoted. + +A.D. 1034. This year died Bishop Etheric, who lies at Ramsey. + +A.D. 1035. This year died King Knute at Shaftesbury, on the +second day before the ides of November; and he is buried at +Winchester in the old minster. He was king over all England very +near twenty winters. Soon after his decease, there was a council +of all the nobles at Oxford; wherein Earl Leofric, and almost all +the thanes north of the Thames, and the naval men in London, +chose Harold to be governor of all England, for himself and his +brother Hardacnute, who was in Denmark. Earl Godwin, and all the +eldest men in Wessex, withstood it as long as they could; but +they could do nothing against it. It was then resolved that +Elfgiva, the mother of Hardacnute, should remain at Winchester +with the household of the king her son. They held all Wessex in +hand, and Earl Godwin was their chief man. Some men said of +Harold, that he was the son of King Knute and of Elfgive the +daughter of Alderman Elfelm; but it was thought very incredible +by many men. He was, nevertheless, full king over all England. +Harold himself said that he was the son of Knute and of Elfgive +the Hampshire lady; though it was not true; but he sent and +ordered to be taken from her all the best treasure that she could +not hold, which King Knute possessed; and she nevertheless abode +there continually within the city as long as she could. + +A.D. 1036. This year came hither Alfred the innocent etheling, +son of King Ethelred, and wished to visit his mother, who abode +at Winchester: but Earl Godwin, and other men who had much power +in this land, did not suffer it; because such conduct was very +agreeable to Harold, though it was unjust. + Him did Godwin let, + and in prison set. + His friends, who did not fly, + they slew promiscuously. + And those they did not sell, + like slaughter'd cattle fell! + Whilst some they spared to bind, + only to wander blind! + Some ham-strung, helpless stood, + whilst others they pursued. + A deed more dreary none + in this our land was done, + since Englishmen gave place + to hordes of Danish race. + But repose we must + in God our trust, + that blithe as day + with Christ live they, + who guiltless died -- + their country's pride! + The prince with courage met + each cruel evil yet; + till 'twas decreed, + they should him lead, + all bound, as he was then, + to Ely-bury fen. + But soon their royal prize + bereft they of his eyes! + Then to the monks they brought + their captive; where he sought + a refuge from his foes + till life's sad evening close. + His body ordered then + these good and holy men, + according to his worth, + low in the sacred earth, + to the steeple full-nigh, + in the south aile to lie + of the transept west -- + his soul with Christ doth rest. + +((A.D. 1036. This year died King Canute at Shaftesbury, and he +is buried at Winchester in the Old-minster: and he was king over +all England very nigh twenty years. And soon after his decease +there was a meeting of all the witan at Oxford; and Leofric, the +earl, and almost all the thanes north of the Thames, and the +"lithsmen" at London, chose Harold for chief of all England, him +and his brother Hardecanute who was in Denmark. And Godwin the +earl and all the chief men of Wessex withstood it as long as they +could; but they were unable to effect anything in opposition to +it. And then it was decreed that Elfgive, Hardecanute's mother, +should dwell at Winchester with the king's, her son's, house- +hold, and hold all Wessex in his power; and Godwin the earl was +their man. Some men said of Harold that he was son of King +Canute and of Elfgive, daughter of Elfelm the ealdorman, but it +seemed quite incredible to many men; and he was nevertheless full +king over all England.)) + +A.D. 1037. This year men chose Harold king over all; and forsook +Hardacnute, because he was too long in Denmark; and then drove +out his mother Elgiva, the relict of King Knute, without any +pity, against the raging winter! She, who was the mother of +Edward as well as of King Hardacnute, sought then the peace of +Baldwin by the south sea. Then came she to Bruges, beyond sea; +and Earl Baldwin well received her there; and he gave her a +habitation at Bruges, and protected her, and entertained her +there as long as she had need. Ere this in the same year died +Eafy, the excellent Dean of Evesham. + +((A.D. 1037. This year was driven out Elfgive, King Canute's +relict; she was King Hardecanute's mother; and she then sought +the protection of Baldwin south of the sea, and he gave her a +dwelling in Bruges, and protected and kept her, the while that +she there was.)) + +A.D. 1038. This year died Ethelnoth, the good archbishop, on the +calends of November; and, within a little of this time, Bishop +Ethelric in Sussex, who prayed to God that he would not let him +live any time after his dear father Ethelnoth; and within seven +nights of this he also departed. Then, before Christmas, died +Bishop Brihteh in Worcestershire; and soon after this, Bishop +Elfric in East Anglia. Then succeeded Bishop Edsy to the +archbishopric, Grimkytel to the see of Sussex, and Bishop Lifing +to that of Worcester shire and Gloucestershire. + +((A.D. 1038. This year died Ethelnoth, the good archbishop, on +the kalends of November, and a little after, Ethelric, bishop in +Sussex, and then before Christmas, Briteagus, Bishop in +Worcestershire, and soon after, Elfric, bishop in East-Anglia.)) + +A.D. 1039. This year happened the terrible wind; and Bishop +Britmar died at Lichfield. The Welsh slew Edwin. brother of Earl +Leofric, and Thurkil, and Elfget, and many good men with them. +This year also came Hardacnute to Bruges, where his mother was. + +((A.D. 1039. This year King Harold died at Oxford, on the +sixteenth before the kalends of April, and he was buried at +Westminster. And he ruled England four years and sixteen weeks; +and in his days sixteen ships were retained in pay, at the rate +of eight marks for each rower, in like manner as had been before +done in the days of King Canute. And in this same year came King +Hardecanute to Sandwich, seven days before midsummer. And he was +soon acknowledged as well by English as by Danes; though his +advisers afterwards grievously requited it, when they decreed +that seventy-two ships should be retained in pay, at the rate of +eight marks for each rower. And in this same year the sester of +wheat went up to fifty-five pence, and even further.)) + +A.D. 1040. This year died King Harold at Oxford, on the +sixteenth before the calends of April; and he was buried at +Westminster. He governed England four years and sixteen weeks; +and in his days tribute was paid to sixteen ships, at the rate of +eight marks for each steersman, as was done before in King +Knute's days. The same year they sent after Hardacnute to +Bruges, supposing they did well; and he came hither to Sandwich +with sixty ships, seven nights before midsummer. He was soon +received both by the Angles and Danes, though his advisers +afterwards severely paid for it. They ordered a tribute for +sixty-two ships, at the rate of eight marks for each steersman. +Then were alienated from him all that before desired him; for he +framed nothing royal during his whole reign. He ordered the dead +Harold to be dragged up and thrown into a ditch. This year rose +the sester of wheat to fifty-five pence, and even further. This +year Archbishop Edsy went to Rome. + +((A.D. 1040. This year was the tribute paid; that twenty-one +thousand pounds and ninety-nine pounds. And after that they paid +to thirty-two ships, eleven thousand and forty-eight pounds. +And, in this same year, came Edward, son of King Ethelred, hither +to land, from Weal-land; he was brother of King Hardecanute: they +were both sons of Elfgive; Emma, who was daughter of Earl +Richard.)) + +A.D. 1041. This year was the tribute paid to the army; that was, +21,099 pounds; and afterwards to thirty-two ships, 11,048 pounds. +This year also ordered Hardacnute to lay waste all +Worcestershire, on account of the two servants of his household, +who exacted the heavy tribute. That people slew them in the town +within the minster. Early in this same year came Edward, the son +of King Ethelred, hither to land, from Weal-land to Madron. He +was the brother of King Hardacnute, and had been driven from this +land for many years: but he was nevertheless sworn as king, and +abode in his brother's court while he lived. They were both sons +of Elfgive Emma, who was the daughter oœ Earl Richard. In this +year also Hardacnute betrayed Eadulf, under the mask of +friendship. He was also allied to him by marriage. This year +was Egelric consecrated Bishop of York, on the third day before +the ides of January. + +((A.D. 1041. This year died King Hardecanute at Lambeth, on the +sixth before the ides of June: and he was king over all England +two years wanting ten days; and he is buried in the Old-minster +at Winchester with King Canute his father. And his mother, for +his soul, gave to the New-minster the head of St. Valentine the +martyr. And before he was buried, all people chose Edward for +king at London: may he hold it the while that God shall grant it +to him! And all that year was a very heavy time, in many things +and divers, as well in respect to ill seasons as to the fruits of +the earth. And so much cattle perished in the year as no man +before remembered, as well through various diseases as through +tempests. And in this same time died Elsinus, Abbot of +Peterborough; and then Arnwius the monk was chosen abbot, because +he was a very good man, and of great simplicity.)) + +A.D. 1042. This year died King Hardacnute at Lambeth, as he +stood drinking: he fell suddenly to the earth with a tremendous +struggle; but those who were nigh at hand took him up; and he +spoke not a word afterwards, but expired on the sixth day before +the ides of June. He was king over all England two years wanting +ten nights; and he is buried in the old minster at Winchester +with King Knute his father. And his mother for his soul gave to +the new minster the head of St. Valentine the Martyr: and ere he +was buried all people chose Edward for king in London. And they +received him as their king, as was natural; and he reigned as +long as God granted him. All that year was the season very +severe in many and various respects: both from the inclemency of +the weather, and the loss of the fruits of the earth. More +cattle died this year than any man ever remembered, either from +various diseases, or from the severity of the weather. At this +same time died Elfsinus, Abbot of Peterborough; and they chose +Arnwy, a monk, for their abbot; because he was a very good and +benevolent man. + +A.D. 1043. This year was Edward consecrated king at Winchester, +early on Easter-day, with much pomp. Then was Easter on the +third day before the nones of April. Archbishop Edsy +consecrated him, and before all people well admonished him. And +Stigand the priest was consecrated bishop over the East Angles. +And this year, fourteen nights before the mass of St. Andrew, it +was advised the king, that he and Earl Leofric and Earl Godwin +and Earl Siward with their retinue, should ride from Gloucester +to Winchester unawares upon the lady; and they deprived her of +all the treasures that she had; which were immense; because she +was formerly very hard upon the king her son, and did less for +him than he wished before he was king, and also since: but they +suffered her to remain there afterwards. And soon after this the +king determined to invest all the land that his mother had in her +hands, and took from her all that she had in gold and in silver +and in numberless things; because she formerly held it too fast +against him. Soon after this Stigand was deprived of his +bishopric; and they took all that he had into their hands for the +king, because he was nighest the counsel of his mother; and she +acted as he advised, as men supposed. + +((A.D. 1043. This year was Edward consecrated king at Winchester +on the first day of Easter. And this year, fourteen days before +Andrew's-mass, the king was advised to ride from Gloucester, and +Leofric the earl, and Godwin the earl, and Sigwarth [Siward] the +earl, with their followers, to Winchester, unawares upon the lady +[Emma]; and they bereaved her of all the treasures which she +possessed, they were not to be told, because before that she had +been very hard with the king her son; inasmuch as she had done +less for him than he would, before he was king, and also since: +and they suffered her after that to remain therein. This year +King Edward took the daughter [Edgitha] of Godwin the earl for +his wife. And in this same year died Bishop Brithwin, and he +held the bishopric thirty-eight years, that was the bishopric of +Sherborne, and Herman the king's priest succeeded to the +bishopric. And in this year Wulfric was hallowed Abbot of St. +Augustine's at Christmas, on Stephen's mass-day, by leave of the +king, and, on account of his great infirmity, of Abbot Elfstun.)) + +A.D. 1044. This year Archbishop Edsy resigned his see from +infirmity, and consecrated Siward, Abbot of Abingdon, bishop +thereto, with the permission and advice of the king and Earl +Godwin. It was known to few men else before it was done; because +the archbishop feared that some other man would either beg or buy +it, whom he might worse trust and oblige than him, if it were +known to many men. This year there was very great hunger over +all England, and corn so dear as no man remembered before; so +that the sester of wheat rose to sixty pence, and even further. +And this same year the king went out to Sandwich with thirty-five +ships; and Athelstan, the churchwarden, succeeded to the abbacy +of Abingdon, and Stigand returned to his bishopric. In the same +year also King Edward took to wife Edgitha, the daughter of Earl +Godwin, ten nights before Candlemas. And in the same year died +Britwold, Bishop of Wiltshire, on the tenth day before the +calends of May; which bishopric he held thirty-eight winters; +that was, the bishopric of Sherborn. And Herman, the king's +priest, succeeded to the bishopric. This year Wulfric was +consecrated Abbot of St. Augustine's, at Christmas, on the +mass-day of St. Stephen, by the king's leave and that of Abbot +Elfstan, by reason of his great infirmity. + +((A.D. 1044. This year died Living, Bishop in Devonshire, and +Leoftic succeeded thereto; he was the king's priest. And in this +same year died Elfstan, Abbot of St. Augustine's, on the third +before the nones of July. And in this same year was outlawed +Osgod Clapa.)) + +A.D. 1045. This year died Elfward, Bishop of London, on the +eighth day before the calends of August. He was formerly Abbot +of Evesham, and well furthered that monastery the while that he +was there. He went then to Ramsey, and there resigned his life: +and Mannie was chosen abbot, being consecrated on the fourth day +before the ides of August. This year Gunnilda, a woman of rank, +a relative of King Knute, was driven out, and resided afterwards +at Bruges a long while, and then went to Denmark. King Edward +during the year collected a large fleet at Sandwich, through the +threatening of Magnus of Norway; but his contests with Sweyne in +Denmark prevented him from coming hither. + +((A.D. 1045. This year died Grimkytel, Bishop in Sussex, and +Heca, the king's priest, succeeded thereto. And in this year +died Alwyn, Bishop of Winchester, on the fourth before the +kalends of September; and Stigand, bishop to the north +[Flanders], succeeded thereto. And in the same year Sweyn the +earl went out to Baldwin's land [Of Elmham] to Bruges and abode +there all the winter; and then in summer he went out.)) + +A.D. 1046. This year died Lifting, the eloquent bishop, on the +tenth day before the calends of April. He had three bishoprics; +one in Devonshire, one in Cornwall, and another in +Worcestershire. Then succeeded Leofric, who was the king's +priest, to Devonshire and to Cornwall, and Bishop Aldred to +Worcestershire. This year died Elfwine, Bishop of Winchester, on +the fourth day before the calends of September; and Stigand, +Bishop of Norfolk, was raised to his see. Ere this, in the same +year, died Grimkytel, Bishop of Sussex; and he lies at +Christ-church, in Canterbury. And Heca, the' king's priest, +succeeded to the bishopric. Sweyne also sent hither, and +requested the aid of fifty ships against Magnus, king of the +Norwegians; but it was thought unwise by all the people, and it +was prevented, because that Magnus had a large navy: and he drove +Sweyne out, and with much slaughter won the land. The Danes then +gave him much money, and received him as king. The same year +Magnus died. The same year also Earl Sweyne went out to +Baldwin's land, to Bruges; and remained there all the winter. In +the summer he departed. + +A.D. 1046. This year went Earl Sweyne into Wales; and Griffin, +king of the northern men with him; and hostages were delivered to +him. As he returned homeward, he ordered the Abbess of +Leominster to be fetched him; and he had her as long as he list, +after which he let her go home. In this same year was outlawed +Osgod Clapa, the master of horse, before midwinter. And in the +same year, after Candlemas, came the strong winter, with frost +and with snow, and with all kinds of bad weather; so that there +was no man then alive who could remember so severe a winter as +this was, both through loss of men and through loss of cattle; +yea, fowls and fishes through much cold and hunger perished. + +((A.D. 1046. This year died Brithwin, bishop in Wiltshire, and +Herman was appointed to his see. In that year King Edward +gathered a large ship-force at Sandwich, on account of the +threatening of Magnus in Norway: but his and Sweyn's contention +in Denmark hindered his coming here. This year died Athelstan, +Abbot of Abingdon, and Sparhawk, monk of St. Edmund's-bury, +succeeded him. And in this same year died bishop Siward, and +Archbishop Eadsine again obtained the whole bishopric. And in +this same year Lothen and Irling came with twenty-five ships to +Sandwich, and there took unspeakable booty, in men, and in gold, +and in silver, so that no man knew how much it all was. And they +then went about Thanet, and would there do the like; but the +land's-folk strenuously withstood them, and denied them as well +landing as water; and thence utterly put them to flight. And +they betook themselves then into Essex, and there they ravaged, +and took men, and property, and whatsoever they might find. And +they betook themselves then east to Baldwine's land, and there +they sold what they had plundered; and after that went their way +east, whence they before had come. In this year was the great +synod at St. Remi's [Rheins]. Thereat was Leo the pope, and the +Archbishop of Burgundy [Lyons], and the Archbishop of Besancon, +and the Archbishop of Treves, and the Archbishop of Rheims; and +many men besides, both clergy and laity. And King Edward sent +thither Bishop Dudoc [Of Wells], and Wulfric, Abbot of St. +Augustine's, and Abbot Elfwin [Of Ramsey], that they might make +known to the king what should be there resolved on for +Christendom. And in this same year King Edward went out to +Sandwich with a great fleet. And Sweyn the earl, son of Godwin +the earl, came in to Bosham with seven ships; and he obtained the +king's protection, and he was promised that he should be held +worthy of everything which he before possessed. Then Harold the +earl, his brother, and Beorn the earl contended that he should +not be held worthy of any of the things which the king had +granted to them: but a protection of four days was appointed him +to go to his ships. Then befell it during this, that word came +to the king that hostile ships lay westward, and were ravaging. +Then went Godwin the earl west about with two of the king's +ships; the one commanded Harold the earl, and the other Tosty his +brother; and forty-two of the people's ships. Then Harold the +earl was removed from the king's ship which Harold the earl +before had commanded. Then went they west to Pevensey, and lay +there weather-bound. Upon this, after two days, then came Sweyn +the earl thither, and spoke with his father, and with Beorn the +earl, and begged of Beorn that he would go with him to the king +at Sandwich, and help him to the king's friendship: and he +granted it. Then went they as if they would go to the king. +Then whilst they were riding, then begged Sweyn of him that he +would go with him to his ships: saying that his seamen would +depart from him unless he should at the soonest come thither. +Then went they both where his ships lay. When they came thither, +then begged Sweyn the earl of him that he would go with him on +ship-board. He strenuously refused, so long as until his seamen +seized him, and threw him into the boat, and bound him, and rowed +to the ship, and put him there aboard. Then they hoisted up +their sails and ran west to Exmouth, and had him with them until +they slew him: and they took the body and buried it in a church. +And then his friends and litsmen came from London, and took him +up, and bore him to Winchester to the Old-minster, and he is +there buried with King Canute his uncle. And Sweyn went then +east to Baldwin's land, and sat down there all the winter at +Bruges, with his full protection. And in the same year died +Eadnoth [II.] bishop [Of Dorchester] of the north and Ulf was +made bishop.)) + +A.D. 1047. This year died Athelstan, Abbot of Abingdon, on the +fourth day before the calends of April; and Sparhawk, monk of St. +Edmundsbury, succeeded him. Easter day was then on the third day +before the nones of April; and there was over all England very +great loss of men this year also. The same year came to Sandwich +Lothen and Irling, with twenty-five ships, and plundered and took +incalculable spoil, in men, and in gold, and in silver, so that +no man wist what it all was; and went then about Thanet, and +would there have done the same; but the land-folk firmly +withstood, and resisted them both by land and sea, and thence put +them to flight withal. They betook themselves thence into Essex, +where they plundered and took men, and whatsoever they could +find, whence they departed eastward to Baldwin's land, and having +deposited the booty they had gained, they returned east to the +place whence they had come before. + +((A.D. 1047. This year died Living the eloquent bishop, on the +tenth before the kalends of April, and he had three bishoprics; +one in Devonshire, and in Cornwall, and in Worcester. Then +Leofric (61) succeeded to Devonshire and to Cornwall, and Bishop +Aldred to Worcester. And in this year Osgod, the master of the +horse, was outlawed: and Magnus [King of Norway] won Denmark. In +this year there was a great council in London at mid-Lent, and +nine ships of lightermen were discharged, and five remained +behind. In this same year came Sweyn the earl into England. And +in this same year was the great synod at Rome, and King Edward +sent thither Bishop Heroman and Bishop Aldred; and they came +thither on Easter eve. And afterwards the pope held a synod at +Vercelli, and Bishop Ulf came thereto; and well nigh would they +have broken his staff, if he had not given very great gifts; +because he knew not how to do his duty so well as he should. And +in this year died Archbishop Eadsine, on the fourth before the +kalends of November.)) + +A.D. 1048. This year came Sweyne back to Denmark; and Harold, +the uncle of Magnus, went to Norway on the death of Magnus, and +the Northmen submitted to him. He sent an embassy of peace to +this land, as did also Sweyne from Denmark, requesting of King +Edward naval assistance to the amount at least of fifty ships; +but all the people resisted it. This year also there was an +earthquake, on the calends of May, in many places; at Worcester, +at Wick, and at Derby, and elsewhere wide throughout England; +with very great loss by disease of men and of cattle over all +England; and the wild fire in Derbyshire and elsewhere did much +harm. In the same year the enemy plundered Sandwich, and the +Isle of Wight, and slew the best men that were there; and King +Edward and the earls went out after them with their ships. The +same year Bishop Siward resigned his bishopric from infirmity, +and retired to Abingdon; upon which Archbishop Edsy resumed the +bishopric; and he died within eight weeks of this, on the tenth +day before the calends of November. + +((A.D. 1048. This year was the severe winter: and this year died +Alwyn, Bishop of Winchester, and Bishop Stigand was raised to his +see. And before that, in the same year, died Grinketel, Bishop +in Sussex, and Heca the priest succeeded to the bishopric. And +Sweyn also sent hither, begging assistance against Magnus, King +of Norway; that fifty ships should be sent to his aid. But it +seemed unadvisable to all people: and it was then hindered by +reason that Magnus had a great ship-force. And he then drove out +Sweyn, and with much man-slaying won the land: and the Danes paid +him much money and acknowledged him as king. And that same year +Magnus died. In this year King Edward appointed Robert, of +London, Archbishop of Canterbury, during Lent. And in the same +Lent he went to Rome after his pall: and the king gave the +bishopric of London to Sparhafoc, Abbot of Abingdon; and the king +gave the abbacy of Abingdon to Bishop Rodulf, his kinsman. Then +came the archbishop from Rome one day before St. Peter's mass- +eve, and entered on his archiepiscopal see at Christ's Church on +St. Peter's mass-day; and soon after went to the king. Then came +Abbot Sparhafoc to him with the king's writ and seal, in order +that he should consecrate him Bishop of London. Then the +archbishop refused, and said that the pope had forbidden it him. +Then went the abbot to the archbishop again for that purpose, and +there desired episcopal ordination; and the archbishop constantly +refused him, and said that the pope had forbidden it him. Then +went the abbot to London, and occupied the bishopric which the +king before had granted him, with his full leave, all the summer +and the harvest. And then came Eustace [Earl of Boulogne] from +beyond sea soon after the bishop, and went to the king, and spoke +with him that which he then would, and went then homeward. When +he came to Canterbury, east, then took he refreshment there, and +his men, and went to Dover. When he was some mile or more, on +this side of Dover, then he put on his breast-plate, and so did +all his companions, and went to Dover. When they came thither, +then would they lodge themselves where they chose. Then came one +of his men, and would abide in the house of a householder against +his will, and wounded the householder; and the householder slew +the other. Then Eustace got upon his horse, and his companions +upon theirs; and they went to the householder, and slew him +within his own dwelling; and they went up towards the town, and +slew, as well within as without, more than twenty men. And the +townsmen slew nineteen men on the other side, and wounded they +knew not how many. And Eustace escaped with a few men, and went +again to the king, and made known to him, in part, how they had +fared. And the king became very wroth with the townsmen. And +the king sent off Godwin the earl, and bade him go into Kent in a +hostile manner to Dover: for Eustace had made it appear to the +king, that it had been more the fault of the townsmen than his: +but it was not so. And the earl would not consent to the inroad, +because he was loth to injure his own people. Then the king sent +after all his council, and bade them come to Gloucester, nigh the +aftermass of St. Mary. Then had the Welshmen erected a castle in +Herefordshire among the people of Sweyn the earl, and wrought +every kind of harm and disgrace to the king's men there about +which they could. Then came Godwin the earl, and Sweyn the earl, +and Harold the earl, together at Beverstone, and many men with +them, in order that they might go to their royal lord, and to all +the peers who were assembled with him, in order that they might +have the advice of the king and his aid, and of all this council, +how they might avenge the king's disgrace, and the whole +nation's. Then were the Welshmen with the king beforehand, and +accused the earls, so that they might not come within his eyes' +sight; because they said that they were coming thither in order +to betray the king. Thither had come Siward the earl [Of +Northumbria] and Leofric the earl [Of Mercia], and much people +with them, from the north, to the king; and it was made known to +the Earl Godwin and his sons, that the king and the men who were +with him, were taking counsel concerning them: and they arrayed +themselves on the other hand resolutely, though it were loathful +to them that they should stand against their royal lord. Then +the peers on either side decreed that every kind of evil should +cease: and the king gave the peace of God and his full friendship +to either side. Then the king and his peers decreed that a +council of all the nobles should be held for the second time in +London at the harvest equinox; and the king directed the army to +be called out, as well south of the Thames as north, all that was +in any way most eminent. Then declared they Sweyn the earl an +outlaw, and summoned Godwin the earl and Harold the earl, to the +council, as quickly as they could effect it. When they had come +thither, then were they summoned into the council. Then required +he safe conduct and hostages, so that he might come, unbetrayed, +into the council and out of the council. Then the king demanded +all the thanes whom the earls before had: and they granted them +all into his hands. Then the king sent again to them, and +commanded them that they should come with twelve men to the +king's council. Then the earl again required safe conduct and +hostages, that he might defend himself against each of those +things which were laid to him. Then were the hostages refused +him; and he was allowed a safe conduct for five nights to go out +of the land. And then Godwin the earl and Sweyn the earl went to +Bosham, and shoved out their ships, and betook themselves beyond +sea, and sought Baldwin's protection, and abode there all the +winter. And Harold the earl went west to Ireland, and was there +all the winter within the king's protection. And soon after this +happened, then put away the king the lady who had been +consecrated his queen [Editha], and caused to be taken from her +all which she possessed, in land, and in gold, and in silver, and +in all things, and delivered her to his sister at Wherwell. And +Abbot Sparhafoc was then driven out of the bishopric of London, +and William the king's priest was ordained thereto. And then +Odda was appointed earl over Devonshire, and over Somerset, and +over Dorset, and over the Welsh. And Algar, the son of Leofric +the earl, was appointed to the earldom which Harold before +held.)) + +A.D. 1049. (62) This year the emperor gathered an innumerable +army against Baldwin of Bruges, because he had destroyed the +palace of Nimeguen, and because of many other ungracious acts +that he did against him. The army was immense that he had +collected together. There was Leo, the Pope of Rome, and the +patriarch, and many other great men of several provinces. He +sent also to King Edward, and requested of him naval aid, that he +might not permit him to escape from him by water. Whereupon he +went to Sandwich, and lay there with a large naval armament, +until the emperor had all that he wished of Baldwin. Thither +also came back again Earl Sweyne, who had gone from this land to +Denmark, and there ruined his cause with the Danes. He came +hither with a pretence, saying that he would again submit to the +king, and be his man; and he requested Earl Beorn to be of +assistance to him, and give him land to feed him on. But Harold, +his brother, and Earl Beorn resisted, and would give him nothing +of that which the king had given them. The king also refused him +everything. Whereupon Swevne retired to his ships at Bosham. +Then, after the settlement between the emperor and Baldwin, many +ships went home, and the king remained behind Sandwich with a few +ships. Earl Godwin also sailed forty-two ships from Sandwich to +Pevensey, and Earl Beorn went with him. Then the king gave leave +to all the Mercians to return home, and they did so. Then it was +told the king that Osgod lay at Ulps with thirty-nine ships; +whereupon the king sent after the ships that he might dispatch, +which before had gone homewards, but still lay at the Nore. Then +Osgod fetched his wife from Bruges; and they went back again with +six ships; but the rest went towards Essex, to Eadulf's-ness, and +there plundered, and then returned to their ships. But there +came upon them a strong wind, so that they were all lost but four +persons, who were afterwards slain beyond sea. Whilst Earl +Godwin and Earl Beorn lay at Pevensey with their ships, came Earl +Sweyne, and with a pretence requested of Earl Beorn, who was his +uncle's son, that he would be his companion to the king at +Sandwich, and better his condition with him; adding, that he +would swear oaths to him, and be faithful to him. Whereupon +Beorn concluded, that he would not for their relationship betray +him. He therefore took three companions with him, and they rode +to Bosham, where his (63) ships lay, as though they should +proceed to Sandwich; but they suddenly bound him, and led him to +the ships, and went thence with him to Dartmouth, where they +ordered him to be slain and buried deep. He was afterwards +found, and Harold his cousin fetched him thence, and led him to +Winchester, to the old minster, where he buried him with King +Knute, his uncle. Then the king and all the army proclaimed +Sweyne an outlaw. A little before this the men of Hastings and +thereabout fought his two ships with their ships, and slew all +the men, and brought the ships to Sandwich to the king. Eight +ships had he, ere he betrayed Beorn; afterwards they all forsook +him except two; whereupon he went eastward to the land of +Baldwin, and sat there all the winter at Bruges, in full +security. In the same year came up from Ireland thirty-six ships +on the Welsh coast, and thereabout committed outrages, with the +aid of Griffin, the Welsh king. The people were soon gathered +against them, and there was also with them Bishop Eldred, but +they had too little assistance, and the enemy came unawares on +them very early in the morning, and slew on the spot many good +men; but the others burst forth with the bishop. This was done +on the fourth day before the calends of August. This year died +the good Bishop Ednoth in Oxfordshire; and Oswy, Abbot of Thomey; +and Wulfnoth, Abbot of Westminster; and King Edward gave the +bishopric which Ednoth had to Ulf his priest, but it ill betided +him; and he was driven from it, because he did nought like a +bishop therein, so that it shameth us now to say more. Bishop +Siward also died who lies at Abingdon. In this same year King +Edward put nine ships out of pay; and the crews departed, and +went away with the ships withal, leaving five ships only behind, +for whom the king ordered twelve months pay. The same year went +Bishops Hereman and Aldred to the pope at Rome on the king's +errand. This year was also consecrated the great minster at +Rheims, in the presence of Pope Leo and the emperor. There was +also a great synod at St. Remy; (64) at which was present Pope +Leo, with the Archbishops of Burgundy, of Besancon, of Treves, +and of Rheims; and many wise men besides, both clergy and laity. +A great synod there held they respecting the service of God, at +the instance of St. Leo the pope. It is difficult to recognise +all the bishops that came thither, and also abbots. King Edward +sent thither Bishop Dudoc, and Abbot Wulfric, of St. Augustine's, +and Elfwin, Abbot of Ramsey, with the intent that they should +report to the king what was determined there concerning +Christendom. This same year came Earl Sweyne into England. + +((A.D. 1049. This year Sweyn came again to Denmark, and Harold. +uncle of Magnus, went to Norway after Magnus was dead; and the +Normans acknowledged him: and he sent hither to land concerning +peace. And Sweyn also sent from Denmark, and begged of King +Edward the aid of his ships. They were to be at least fifty +ships: but all people opposed it. And this year also there was +an earthquake, on the kalends of May, in many places in +Worcester, and in Wick, and in Derby, and elsewhere; and also +there was a great mortality among men, and murrain among cattle: +and moreover, the wild-fire did much evil in Derbyshire and +elsewhere.)) + +A.D. 1050. This year returned the bishops home from Rome; (65) +and Earl Sweyne had his sentence of outlawry reversed. The same +year died Edsy, Archbishop of Canterbury, on the fourth day +before the calends of November; and also in the same year Elfric, +Archbishop of York, on the eleventh before the calends of +February, a very venerable man and wise, and his body lies at +Peterborough. Then had King Edward a meeting of the great +council in London, in mid-lent, at which he appointed Robert the +Frank, who was before Bishop of London, Archbishop of Canterbury; +and he, during the same Lent, went to Rome after his pall. The +king meanwhile gave the see of London to Sparhawk, Abbot of +Abingdon, but it was taken from him again before he was +consecrated. The king also gave the abbacy of Abingdon to Bishop +Rodulph his cousin. The same year he put all the lightermen out +of pay. (66) The pope held a council again, at Vercelli; and +Bishop Ulf came thither, where he nearly had his staff broken, +had he not paid more money, because he could not perform his +duties so well as he should do. The same year King Edward +abolished the Danegeld which King Ethelred imposed. That was in +the thirty-ninth year after it had begun. That tribute harassed +all the people of England so long as is above written; and it was +always paid before other imposts, which were levied +indiscriminately, and vexed men variously. + +((A.D. 1050. Thither also came Sweyn the earl, who before had +gone from this land to Denmark, and who there had ruined himself +with the Danes. He came thither with false pretences; saying +that he would again be obedient to the king. And Beorn the earl +promised him that he would be of assistance to him. Then, after +the reconciliation of the emperor and of Baldwin, many of the +ships went home, and the king remained behind at Sandwich with a +few ships; and Godwin the earl also went with forty-two ships +from Sandwich to Pevensey, and Beorn the earl went with him. +Then was it made known to the king that Osgood lay at Ulps with +thirty-nine ships; and the king then sent after the ships which +before had gone home, that he might send after him. And Osgod +fetched his wife from Bruges, and they went back again with six +ships. And the others landed in Sussex [Essex] at Eadulf-ness, +and there did harm, and went again to their ships: and then a +strong wind came against them, so that they were all destroyed, +except four, whose crews were slain beyond sea. While Godwin the +earl and Beorn the earl lay at Pevensey, then came Sweyn the +earl, and begged Beorn the earl, with fraud, who was his uncle's +son, that he would be his companion to the king at Sandwich, and +better his affairs with him. He went then, on account of the +relationship, with three companions, with him; and he led him +then towards Bosham, where his ships lay: and then they bound +him, and led him on ship-board. Then went he thence with him to +Dartmouth, and there ordered him to be slain, and deeply buried. +Afterwards he was found, and borne to Winchester, and buried with +king Canute his uncle. A little before that, the men of Hastings +and thereabout, fought two of his ships with their ships; and +slew all the men, and brought the ships to Sandwich to the king. +Eight ships he had before he betrayed Beorn; after that all +forsook him except two. In the same year arrived in the Welsh +Axa, from Ireland, thirty-six ships, and thereabout did harm, +with the help of Griffin the Welsh king. The people were +gathered together against them; Bishop Aldred [Of Worchester] was +also there with them; but they had too little power. And they +came unawares upon them at very early morn; and there they slew +many good men, and the others escaped with the bishop: this was +done on the fourth before the kalends of August. This year died, +in Oxfordshire, Oswy, Abbot of Thorney, and Wulfnoth, Abbot of +Westminster; and Ulf the priest was appointed as pastor to the +bishopric which Eadnoth had held; but he was after that driven +away; because he did nothing bishop-like therein: so that it +shameth us now to tell more about it. And Bishop Siward died: he +lieth at Abingdon. And this year was consecrated the great +minster at Rheims: there was Pope Leo [IX.] and the emperor +[Henry III]; and there they held a great synod concerning God's +service. St. Leo the pope presided at the synod: it is difficult +to have a knowledge of the bishops who came there, and how many +abbots: and hence, from this land were sent two -- from St. +Augustine's and from Ramsey.)) + +A.D. 1051. This year came Archbishop Robert hither over sea with +his pall from Rome, one day before St. Peter's eve: and he took +his archiepiscopal seat at Christ-church on St. Peter's day, and +soon after this went to the king. Then came Abbot Sparhawk to +him with the king's writ and seal, to the intent that he should +consecrate him Bishop oœ London; but the archbishop refused, +saying that the pope had forbidden him. Then went the abbot to +the archbishop again for the same purpose, and there demanded +episcopal consecration; but the archbishop obstinately refused, +repeating that the pope had forbidden him. Then went the abbot +to London, and sat at the bishopric which the king had before +given him, with his full leave, all the summer and the autumn. +Then during the same year came Eustace, who had the sister of +King Edward to wife, from beyond sea, soon after the bishop, and +went to the king; and having spoken with him whatever he chose, +he then went homeward. When he came to Canterbury eastward, +there took he a repast, and his men; whence he proceeded to +Dover. When he was about a mile or more on this side Dover, he +put on his breast-plate; and so did all his companions: and they +proceeded to Dover. When they came thither, they resolved to +quarter themselves wherever they lived. Then came one of his +men, and would lodge at the house of a master of a family against +his will; but having wounded the master of the house, he was +slain by the other. Then was Eustace quickly upon his horse, and +his companions upon theirs; and having gone to the master of the +family, they slew him on his own hearth; then going up to the +boroughward, they slew both within and without more than twenty +men. The townsmen slew nineteen men on the other side, and +wounded more, but they knew not how many. Eustace escaped with a +few men, and went again to the king, telling him partially how +they had fared. The king was very wroth with the townsmen, and +sent off Earl Godwin, bidding him go into Kent with hostility to +Dover. For Eustace had told the king that the guilt of the +townsmen was greater than his. But it was not so: and the earl +would not consent to the expedition, because he was loth to +destroy his own people. Then sent the king after all his +council, and bade them come to Gloucester nigh the after-mass of +St. Mary. Meanwhile Godwin took it much to heart, that in his +earldom such a thing should happen. Whereupon be began to gather +forces over all his earldom, and Earl Sweyne, his son, over his; +and Harold, his other son, over his earldom: and they assembled +all in Gloucestershire, at Langtree, a large and innumerable +army, all ready for battle against the king; unless Eustace and +his men were delivered to them handcuffed, and also the Frenchmen +that were in the castle. This was done seven nights before the +latter mass of St. Mary, when King Edward was sitting at +Gloucester. Whereupon he sent after Earl Leofric, and north +after Earl Siward, and summoned their retinues. At first they +came to him with moderate aid; but when they found how it was in +the south, then sent they north over all their earldom, and +ordered a large force to the help of their lord. So did Ralph +also over his earldom. Then came they all to Gloucester to +the aid of the king, though it was late. So unanimous were they +all in defence of the king, that they would seek Godwin's army if +the king desired it. But some prevented that; because it was +very unwise that they should come together; for in the two armies +was there almost all that was noblest in England. They therefore +prevented this, that they might not leave the land at the mercy +of our foes, whilst engaged in a destructive conflict betwixt +ourselves. Then it was advised that they should exchange +hostages between them. And they issued proclamations throughout +to London, whither all the people were summoned over all this +north end in Siward's earldom, and in Leofric's, and also +elsewhere; and Earl Godwin was to come thither with his sons to a +conference; They came as far as Southwark, and very many with +them from Wessex; but his army continually diminished more and +more; for they bound over to the king all the thanes that +belonged to Earl Harold his son, and outlawed Earl Sweyne his +other son. When therefore it could not serve his purpose to come +to a conference against the king and against the army that was +with him, he went in the night away. In the morning the king +held a council, and proclaimed him an outlaw, with his whole +army; himself and his wife, and all his three sons -- Sweyne and +Tosty and Grith. And he went south to Thorney, (67) with his +wife, and Sweyne his son, and Tosty and his wife, a cousin of +Baldwin of Bruges, and his son Grith. Earl Harold with Leofwine +went to Bristol in the ship that Earl Sweyne had before prepared +and provisioned for himself; and the king sent Bishop Aldred from +London with his retinue, with orders to overtake him ere he came +to ship. But they either could not or would not: and he then +went out from the mouth of the Avon; but he encountered such +adverse weather, that he got off with difficulty, and suffered +great loss. He then went forth to Ireland, as soon as the +weather permitted. In the meantime the Welshmen had wrought a +castle in Herefordshire, in the territory of Earl Sweyne, and +brought as much injury and disgrace on the king's men thereabout +as they could. Then came Earl Godwin, and Earl Sweyne, and Earl +Harold, together at Beverstone, and many men with them; to the +intent that they might go to their natural lord, and to all the +peers that were assembled with him; to have the king's counsel +and assistance, and that of all the peers, how they might avenge +the insult offered to the king, and to all the nation. But the +Welshmen were before with the king, and bewrayed the earls, so +that they were not permitted to come within the sight of his +eyes; for they declared that they intended to come thither to +betray the king. There was now assembled before the king (68) +Earl Siward, and Earl Leofric, and much people with them from the +north: and it was told Earl Godwin and his sons, that the king +and the men who were with him would take counsel against them; +but they prepared themselves firmly to resist, though they were +loth to proceed against their natural lord. Then advised the +peers on either side, that they should abstain from all +hostility: and the king gave God's peace and his full friendship +to each party. Then advised the king and his council, that there +should be a second time a general assembly of all the nobles in +London, at the autumnal equinox: and the king ordered out an army +both south and north of the Thames, the best that ever was. Then +was Earl Sweyne proclaimed an outlaw; and Earl Godwin and Earl +Harold were summoned to the council as early as they could come. +When they came thither and were cited to the council, then +required they security and hostages, that they might come into +the council and go out without treachery. The king then demanded +all the thanes that the earls had; and they put them all into his +hands. Then sent the king again to them, and commanded them to +come with twelve men to the king's council. Then desired the +earl again security and hostages, that he might answer singly to +each of the things that were laid to his charge. But the +hostages were refused; and a truce of five nights was allowed him +to depart from the land. Then went Earl Godwin and Earl Sweyne +to Bosham, and drew out their ships, and went beyond sea, seeking +the protection of Baldwin; and there they abode all the winter. +Earl Harold went westward to Ireland, and was there all the +winter on the king's security. It was from Thorney (69) that +Godwin and those that were with him went to Bruges, to Baldwin's +land, in one ship, with as much treasure as they could lodge +therein for each man. Wonderful would it have been thought by +every man that was then in England, if any person had said before +this that it would end thus! For he was before raised to such a +height, that he ruled the king and all England; his sons were +earls, and the king's darlings; and his daughter wedded and +united to the king. Soon after this took place, the king +dismissed the lady who had been consecrated his queen, and +ordered to be taken from her all that she had in land, and in +gold, and in silver, and in all things; and committed her to the +care of his sister at Wherwell. Soon after came Earl William +from beyond sea with a large retinue of Frenchmen; and the king +entertained him and as many of his companions as were convenient +to him, and let him depart again. Then was Abbot Sparhawk driven +from his bishopric at London; and William the king's priest was +invested therewith. Then was Oddy appointed earl over +Devonshire, and over Somerset, and over Dorset, and over Wales; +and Algar, the son of Earl Leofric, was promoted to the earldom +which Harold before possessed. + +((A.D. 1051. In this year died Eadsine, Archbishop of +Canterbury; and the king gave to Robert the Frenchman, who before +had been Bishop of London, the archbishopric. And Sparhafoc, +Abbot of Abingdon, succeeded to the bishopric of London; and it +was afterwards taken from him before he was consecrated. And +Bishop Heroman and Bishop Aldred went to Rome.)) + +A.D. 1052. This year, on the second day before the nones of +March, died the aged Lady Elfgiva Emma, the mother of King Edward +and of King Hardacnute, the relict of King Ethelred and of King +Knute; and her body lies in the old minster with King Knute. At +this time Griffin, the Welsh king, plundered in Herefordshire +till he came very nigh to Leominster; and they gathered against +him both the landsmen and the Frenchmen from the castle; and +there were slain very many good men of the English, and also of +the French. This was on the same day thirteen years after that +Edwin was slain with his companions. In the same year advised +the king and his council, that ships should be sent out to +Sandwich, and that Earl Ralph and Earl Odda should be appointed +headmen thereto. Then went Earl Godwin out from Bruges with his +ships to Ysendyck; and sailed forth one day before midsummer-eve, +till he came to the Ness that is to the south of Romney. When it +came to the knowledge of the earls out at Sandwich, they went out +after the other ships; and a land-force was also ordered out +against the ships. Meanwhile Earl Godwin had warning, and betook +himself into Pevensey: and the weather was so boisterous, that +the earls could not learn what had become of Earl Godwin. But +Earl Godwin then went out again until he came back to Bruges; and +the other ships returned back again to Sandwich. Then it was +advised that the ships should go back again to London, and that +other earls and other pilots should be appointed over them. But +it was delayed so long that the marine army all deserted; and +they all betook themselves home. When Earl Godwin understood +that, he drew up his sail and his ship: and they (70) went west +at once to the Isle of Wight; and landing there, they plundered +so long that the people gave them as much as they required of +them. Then proceeded they westward until they came to Portland, +where they landed and did as much harm as they could possibly do. +Meanwhile Harold had gone out from Ireland with nine ships, and +came up at Potlock with his ships to the mouth of the Severn, +near the boundaries of Somerset and Devonshire, and there +plundered much. The land-folk collected against him, both from +Somerset and from Devonshire: but he put them to flight, and slew +there more than thirty good thanes, besides others; and went soon +after about Penwithstert, where was much people gathered against +him; but he spared not to provide himself with meat, and went up +and slew on the spot a great number of the people -- seizing in +cattle, in men, and in money, whatever he could. Then went he +eastward to his father; and they went both together eastward (71) +until they came to the Isle of Wight, where they seized whatever +had been left them before. Thence they went to Pevensey, and got +out with them as many ships as had gone in there, and so +proceeded forth till they came to the Ness; (72) getting all the +ships that were at Romney, and at Hithe, and at Folkstone. Then +ordered King Edward to fit out forty smacks that lay at Sandwich +many weeks, to watch Earl Godwin, who was at Bruges during the +winter; but he nevertheless came hither first to land, so as to +escape their notice. And whilst he abode in this land, he +enticed to him all the Kentish men, and all the boatmen from +Hastings, and everywhere thereabout by the sea-coast, and all the +men of Essex and Sussex and Surrey, and many others besides. +Then said they all that they would with him live or die. When +the fleet that lay at Sandwich had intelligence about Godwin's +expedition, they set sail after him; but he escaped them, and +betook himself wherever he might: and the fleet returned to +Sandwich, and so homeward to London. When Godwin understood that +the fleet that lay at Sandwich was gone home, then went he back +again to the Isle of Wight, and lay thereabout by the sea-coast +so long that they came together -- he and his son Earl Harold. +But they did no great harm after they came together; save that +they took meat, and enticed to them all the land-folk by the sea- +coast and also upward in the land. And they proceeded toward +Sandwich, ever alluring forth with them all the boatmen that they +met; and to Sandwich they came with an increasing army. They +then steered eastward round to Dover, and landing there, took as +many ships and hostages as they chose, and so returned to +Sandwich, where they did the same; and men everywhere gave them +hostages and provisions, wherever they required them. Then +proceeded they to the Nore, and so toward London; but some of the +ships landed on the Isle of Shepey, and did much harm there; +whence they steered to Milton Regis, and burned it all, and then +proceeded toward London after the earls. When they came to +London, there lay the king and all his earls to meet them, with +fifty ships. The earls (73) then sent to the king, praying that +they might be each possessed of those things which had been +unjustly taken from them. But the king resisted some while; so +long that the people who were with the earl were very much +stirred against the king and against his people, so that the earl +himself with difficulty appeased them. When King Edward +understood that, then sent he upward after more aid; but they +came very late. And Godwin stationed himself continually before +London with his fleet, till he came to Southwark; where he abode +some time, until the flood (74) came up. On this occasion he +also contrived with the burgesses that they should do almost all +that he would. When he had arranged his whole expedition, then +came the flood; and they soon weighed anchor, and steered through +the bridge by the south side. The land-force meanwhile came +above, and arranged themselves by the Strand; and they formed +an angle with the ships against the north side, as if they wished +to surround the king's ships. The king had also a great land- +force on his side, to add to his shipmen: but they were most of +them loth to fight with their own kinsmen -- for there was little +else of any great importance but Englishmen on either side; and +they were also unwilling that this land should be the more +exposed to outlandish people, because they destroyed each other. +Then it was determined that wise men should be sent between them, +who should settle peace on either side. Godwin went up, and +Harold his son, and their navy, as many as they then thought +proper. Then advanced Bishop Stigand with God's assistance, and +the wise men both within the town and without; who determined +that hostages should be given on either side. And so they did. +When Archbishop Robert and the Frenchmen knew that, they took +horse; and went some west to Pentecost Castle, some north to +Robert's castle. Archbishop Robert and Bishop Ulf, with their +companions, went out at Eastgate, slaying or else maiming many +young men, and betook themselves at once to Eadulf's-ness; where +he put himself on board a crazy ship, and went at once over sea, +leaving his pall and all Christendom here on land, as God +ordained, because he had obtained an honour which God disclaimed. +Then was proclaimed a general council without London; and all the +earls and the best men in the land were at the council. There +took up Earl Godwin his burthen, and cleared himself there before +his lord King Edward, and before all the nation; proving that he +was innocent of the crime laid to his charge, and to his son +Harold and all his children. And the king gave the earl and his +children, and all the men that were with him, his full +friendship, and the full earldom, and all that he possessed +before; and he gave the lady all that she had before. Archbishop +Robert was fully proclaimed an outlaw, with all the Frenchmen; +because they chiefly made the discord between Earl Godwin and the +king: and Bishop Stigand succeeded to the archbishopric at +Canterbury. At the council therefore they gave Godwin fairly his +earldom, so full and so free as he at first possessed it; and his +sons also all that they formerly had; and his wife and his +daughter so full and so free as they formerly had. And they +fastened full friendship between them, and ordained good laws to +all people. Then they outlawed all Frenchmen -- who before +instituted bad laws, and judged unrighteous judgment, and brought +bad counsels into this land -- except so many as they concluded +it was agreeable to the king to have with him, who were true to +him and to all his people. It was with difficulty that Bishop +Robert, and Bishop William, and Bishop Ulf, escaped with the +Frenchmen that were with them, and so went over sea. Earl +Godwin, and Harold, and the queen, sat in their stations. Sweyne +had before gone to Jerusalem from Bruges, and died on his way +home at Constantinople, at Michaelmas. It was on the Monday +after the festival of St. Mary, that Godwin came with his ships +to Southwark: and on the morning afterwards, on the Tuesday, they +were reconciled as it stands here before recorded. Godwin then +sickened soon after he came up, and returned back. But he made +altogether too little restitution of God's property, which he +acquired from many places. At the same time Arnwy, Abbot of +Peterborough, resigned his abbacy in full health; and gave it to +the monk Leofric, with the king's leave and that of the monks; +and the Abbot Arnwy lived afterwards eight winters. The Abbot +Leofric gilded the minster, so that it was called Gildenborough; +and it then waxed very much in land, and in gold, and in silver. + +((A.D. 1052. This year died Alfric, Archbishop of York, a very +pious man, and wise. And in the same year King Edward abolished +the tribute, which King Ethelred had before imposed: that was in +the nine-and-thirtieth year after he had begun it. That tax +distressed all the English nation during so long a time, as it +has been written; that was ever before other taxes which were +variously paid, and wherewith the people were manifestly +distressed. In the same year Eustace [Earl of Boulougne] landed +at Dover: he had King Edward's sister to wife. Then went his men +inconsiderately after quarters, and a certain man of the town +they slew; and another man of the town their companion; so that +there lay seven of his companions. And much harm was there done +on either side, by horse and also by weapons, until the people +gathered together: and then they fled away until they came to the +king at Gloucester; and he gave them protection. When Godwin, +the earl, understood that such things should have happened in his +earldom, then began he to gather together people over all his +earldom, (75) and Sweyn, the earl, his son, over his, and Harold, +his other son, over his earldom; and they all drew together in +Gloucestershire, at Langtree, a great force and countless, all +ready for battle against the king, unless Eustace were given up, +and his men placed in their hands, and also the Frenchmen who +were in the castle. This was done seven days before the latter +mass of St. Mary. Then was King Edward sitting at Gloucester. +Then sent he after Leofric the earl [Of Mercia] and north after +Siward the earl [Of Northumbria] and begged their forces. And +then they came to him; first with a moderate aid, but after they +knew how it was there, in the south, then sent they north over +all their earldoms, and caused to be ordered out a large force +for the help of their lord; and Ralph, also, over his earldom: +and then came they all to Gloucester to help the king, though it +might be late. Then were they all so united in opinion with the +king that they would have sought out Godwin's forces if the king +had so willed. Then thought some of them that it would be a +great folly that they should join battle; because there was +nearly all that was most noble in England in the two armies, and +they thought that they should expose the land to our foes, and +cause great destruction among ourselves. Then counselled they +that hostages should be given mutually; and they appointed a term +at London, and thither the people were ordered out over all this +north end, in Siward's earldom, and in Leofric's, and also +elsewhere; and Godwin, the earl, and his sons were to come there +with their defence. Then came they to Southwark, and a great +multitude with them, from Wessex; but his band continually +diminished the longer he stayed. And they exacted pledges for +the king from all the thanes who were under Harold, the earl, his +son; and then they outlawed Sweyn, the earl, his other son. Then +did it not suit him to come with a defence to meet the king, and +to meet the army which was with him. Then went he by night away; +and the king on the morrow held a council, and, together with all +the army, declared him an outlaw, him and all his sons. And he +went south to Thorney, and his wife, and Sweyn his son, and Tosty +and his wife, Baldwin's relation of Bruges, and Grith his son. +And Harold, the earl, and Leofwine, went to Bristol in the ship +which Sweyn, the earl, had before got ready for himself, and +provisioned. And the king sent Bishop Aldred [Of Worcester] to +London with a force; and they were to overtake him ere he came on +ship-board: but they could not or they would not. And he went +out from Avonmouth, and met with such heavy weather that he with +difficulty got away; and there he sustained much damage. Then +went he forth to Ireland when fit weather came. And Godwin, and +those who were with him, went from Thorney to Bruges, to +Baldwin's land, in one ship, with as much treasure as they might +therein best stow for each man. It would have seemed wondrous to +every man who was in England if any one before that had said that +it should end thus; for he had been erewhile to that degree +exalted, as if he ruled the king and all England; and his sons +were earls and the king's darlings, and his daughter wedded and +united to the king: she was brought to Wherwell, and they +delivered her to the abbess. Then, soon, came William, the earl +[Of Normandy], from beyond seas with a great band of Frenchmen; +and the king received him, and as many of his companions as it +pleased him; and let him away again. This same year was given to +William, the priest, the bishopric of London, which before had +been given to Sparhafoc.)) + +((A.D. 1052. This year died Elfgive, the lady, relict of King +Ethelred and of King Canute, on the second before the nones of +March. In the same year Griffin, the Welsh king, plundered in +Herefordshire, until he came very nigh to Leominster; and they +gathered against him, as well the landsmen as the Frenchmen of +the castle, and there were slain of the English very many good +men, and also of the Frenchmen; that was on the same day, on +which, thirteen years before, Eadwine had been slain by his +companions.)) + +((A.D. 1052. In this year died Elgive Emma, King Edward's mother +and King Hardecanute's. And in this same year, the king decreed, +and his council, that ships should proceed to Sandwich; and they +set Ralph, the earl. and Odda, the earl [Of Devon], as headmen +thereto. Then Godwin, the earl, went out from Bruges with his +ships to Ysendyck, and left it one day before Midsummer's-mass +eve, so that he came to Ness, which is south of Romney. Then +came it to the knowledge of the earls out at Sandwich; and they +then went out after the other ships, and a land-force was ordered +out against the ships. Then during this, Godwin, the earl, was +warned, and then he went to Pevensey; and the weather was very +severe, so that the earls could not learn what was become of +Godwin, the earl. And then Godwin, the earl, went out again, +until he came once more to Bruges; and the other ships returned +again to Sandwich. And then it was decreed that the ships should +return once more to London, and that other earls and commanders +should be appointed to the ships. Then was it delayed so long +that the ship-force all departed, and all of them went home. +When Godwin, the earl, learned that, then drew he up his sail, +and his fleet, and then went west direct to the Isle of Wight, +and there landed and ravaged so long there, until the people +yielded them so much as they laid on them. And then they went +westward until they came to Portland, and there they landed, +and did whatsoever harm they were able to do. Then was Harold +come out from Ireland with nine ships; and then landed at +Porlock, and there much people was gathered against him; but he +failed not to procure himself provisions. He proceeded further, +and slew there a great number of the people, and took of cattle, +and of men, and of property as it suited him. He then went +eastward to his father; and then they both went eastward until +they came to the Isle of Wight, and there took that which was yet +remaining for them. And then they went thence to Pevensey and +got away thence as many ships as were there fit for service, and +so onwards until he came to Ness, and got all the ships which +were in Romney, and in Hythe, and in Folkstone. And then they +went east to Dover, and there landed, and there took ships and +hostages, as many as they would, and so went to Sandwich and did +"hand" the same; and everywhere hostages were given them, and +provisions wherever they desired. And then they went to North- +mouth, and so toward London; and some of the ships went within +Sheppey, and there did much harm, and went their way to King's +Milton, and that they all burned, and betook themselves then +toward London after the earls. When they came to London, there +lay the king and all the earls there against them, with fifty +ships. Then the earls sent to the king, and required of him, +that they might be held worthy of each of those things which +had been unjustly taken from them. Then the king, however, +resisted some while; so long as until the people who were with +the earl were much stirred against the king and against his +people, so that the earl himself with difficulty stilled the +people. Then Bishop Stigand interposed with God's help, and the +wise men as well within the town as without; and they decreed +that hostages should be set forth on either side: and thus was it +done. When Archbishop Robert and the Frenchmen learned that, +they took their horses and went, some west to Pentecost's castle, +some north to Robert's castle. And Archbishop Robert and Bishop +Ulf went out at East-gate, and their companions, and slew and +otherwise injured many young men, and went their way to direct +Eadulf's-ness; and he there put himself in a crazy ship, and went +direct over sea, and left his pall and all Christendom here on +land, so as God would have it, inasmuch as he had before obtained +the dignity so as God would not have it. Then there was a great +council proclaimed without London: and all the earls and the +chief men who were in this land were at the council. There +Godwin bore forth his defence, and justified himself, before King +Edward his lord, and before all people of the land, that he was +guiltless of that which was laid against him, and against Harold +his son, and all his children. And the king gave to the earl and +his children his full friendship, and full earldom, and all that +he before possessed, and to all the men who were with him. And +the king gave to the lady [Editha] all that she before possessed. +And they declared Archbishop Robert utterly an outlaw, and all +the Frenchmen, because they had made most of the difference +between Godwin, the earl, and the king. And Bishop Stigand +obtained the Archbishopric of Canterbury. In this same time +Arnwy, Abbot of Peterborough, left the abbacy, in sound health, +and gave it to Leofric the monk, by leave of the king and of the +monks; and Abbot Arnwy lived afterwards eight years. And Abbot +Leofric then (enriched) the minster, so that it was called the +Golden-borough. Then it waxed greatly, in land, and in gold, and +in silver.)) + +((A.D. 1052. And went so to the Isle of Wight, and there took +all the ships which could be of any service, and hostages, and +betook himself so eastward. And Harold had landed with nine +ships at Porlock, and slew there much people, and took cattle, +and men, and property, and went his way eastward to his father, +and they both went to Romney, to Hythe, to Folkstone, to Dover, +to Sandwich, and ever they took all the ships which they found, +which could be of any service, and hostages, all as they +proceeded; and went then to London.)) + +A.D. 1053. About this time was the great wind, on the mass-night +of St. Thomas; which did much harm everywhere. And all the +midwinter also was much wind. It was this year resolved to slay +Rees, the Welsh king's brother, because he did harm; and they +brought his head to Gloucester on the eve of Twelfth-day. In +this same year, before Allhallowmas, died Wulfsy, Bishop of +Lichfield; and Godwin, Abbot of Winchcomb; and Aylward, Abbot of +Glastonbury; all within one month. And Leofwine, Abbot of +Coventry, took to the bishopric at Lichfield; Bishop Aldred to +the abbacy at Winchcomb; and Aylnoth took to the abbacy at +Glastonbury. The same year died Elfric, brother of Odda, at +Deerhurst; and his body resteth at Pershore. In this year was +the king at Winchester, at Easter; and Earl Godwin with him, and +Earl Harold his son, and Tosty. On the day after Easter sat he +with the king at table; when he suddenly sunk beneath against the +foot-rail, deprived of speech and of all his strength. He was +brought into the king's chamber; and they supposed that it would +pass over: but it was not so. He continued thus speechless and +helpless till the Thursday; when he resigned his life, on the +seventeenth before the calends of May; and he was buried at +Winchester in the old minster. Earl Harold, his son, took to the +earldom that his father had before, and to all that his father +possessed; whilst Earl Elgar took to the earldom that Harold had +before. The Welshmen this year slew a great many of the warders +of the English people at Westbury. This year there was no +archbishop in this land: but Bishop Stigand held the see of +Canterbury at Christ church, and Kinsey that of York. Leofwine +and Wulfwy went over sea, and had themselves consecrated bishops +there. Wulfwy took to the bishopric which Ulf had whilst he was +living and in exile. + +((A.D. 1053. This year was the great wind on Thomas's-mass- +night, and also the whole midwinter there was much wind; and it +was decreed that Rees, the Welsh king's brother, should be slain, +because he had done harm; and his head was brought to Gloucester +on Twelfth-day eve. And the same year, before All Hallows-mass, +died Wulfsy, Bishop of Lichfield, and Godwin, Abbot of Winchcomb, +and Egelward, Abbot of Clastonbury, all within one month, and +Leofwine succeeded to the Bishopric of Lichfield, and Bishop +Aidred [Of Worcester] took the abbacy at Winchcomb, and Egelnoth +succeeded to the abbacy at Glastonbury. And the same year died +Elfric, Odda's brother at Deorhurst; and his body resteth at +Pershore. And the same year died Godwin the earl; and he fell +ill as he sat with the king at Winchester. And Harold his son +succeeded to the earldom which his father before held; and Elgar, +the earl, succeeded to the earldom which Harold before held.)) + +((A.D. 1053. In this year died Godwin, the earl, on the +seventeenth before the kalends of May, and he is buried at +Winchester, in the Old-minster; and Harold, the earl, his son, +succeeded to the earldom, and to all that which his father had +held: and Elgar, the earl, succeeded to the earldom which Harold +before held.)) + +A.D. 1054. This year died Leo the holy pope, at Rome: and Victor +was chosen pope in his stead. And in this year was so great loss +of cattle as was not remembered for many winters before. This +year went Earl Siward with a large army against Scotland, +consisting both of marines and landforces; and engaging with the +Scots, he put to flight the King Macbeth; slew all the best in +the land; and led thence much spoil, such as no man before +obtained. Many fell also on his side, both Danish and English; +even his own son, Osborn, and his sister's son, Sihward: and many +of his house-carls, and also of the king's, were there slain that +day, which was that of the Seven Sleepers. This same year went +Bishop Aldred south over sea into Saxony, to Cologne, on the +king's errand; where he was entertained with great respect by the +emperor, abode there well-nigh a year, and received presents not +only from the court, but from the Bishop of Cologne and the +emperor. He commissioned Bishop Leofwine to consecrate the +minster at Evesham; and it was consecrated in the same year, on +the sixth before the ides of October. This year also died Osgod +Clapa suddenly in his bed, as he lay at rest. + +((A.D. 1054. This year went Siward the earl with a great army +into Scotland, both with a ship-force and with a landforce, and +fought against the Scots, and put to flight King Macbeth, and +slew all who were the chief men in the land, and led thence much +booty, such as no man before had obtained. But his son Osborn, +and his sister's son Siward, and some of his house-carls, and +also of the king's, were there slain, on the day of the Seven +Sleepers. The same year went Bishop Aldred to Cologne, over sea, +on the king's errand; and he was there received with much worship +by the emperor [Henry III], and there he dwelt well nigh a year; +and either gave him entertainment, both the Bishop of Cologne and +the emperor. And he gave leave to Bishop Leofwine [Of Lichfield] +to consecrate the minster at Evesham on the sixth before the ides +of October. In this year died Osgod suddenly in his bed. And +this year died St. Leo the pope; and Victor was chosen pope in +his stead.)) + +A.D. 1055. This year died Earl Siward at York; and his body lies +within the minster at Galmanho, (76) which he had himself ordered +to be built and consecrated, in the name of God and St. O1ave, to +the honour of God and to all his saints. Archbishop Kinsey +fetched his pall from Pope Victor. Then, within a little time +after, a general council was summoned in London, seven nights +before mid-Lent; at which Earl Elgar, son of Earl Leofric, was +outlawed almost without any guilt; because it was said against +him that he was the betrayer of the king and of all the people of +the land. And he was arraigned thereof before all that were +there assembled, though the crime laid to his charge was +unintentional. The king, however, gave the earldom, which Earl +Siward formerly had, to Tosty, son of Earl Godwin. Whereupon +Earl Elgar sought Griffin's territory in North-Wales; whence he +went to Ireland, and there gave him a fleet of eighteen ships, +besides his own; and then returned to Wales to King Griffin with +the armament, who received him on terms of amity. And they +gathered a great force with the Irishmen and the Welsh: and Earl +Ralph collected a great army against them at the town of +Hereford; where they met; but ere there was a spear thrown the +English people fled, because they were on horses. The enemy then +made a great slaughter there -- about four hundred or five +hundred men; they on the other side none. They went then to the +town, and burned it utterly; and the large minster (77) also +which the worthy Bishop Athelstan had caused to be built, that +they plundered and bereft of relic and of reef, and of all things +whatever; and the people they slew, and led some away. Then an +army from all parts of England was gathered very nigh; (78) and +they came to Gloucester: whence they sallied not far out against +the Welsh, and there lay some time. And Earl Harold caused the +dike to be dug about the town the while. Meantime men began to +speak of peace; and Earl Harold and those who were with him came +to Bilsley, where amity and friendship were established between +them. The sentence of outlawry against Earl Elgar was reversed; +and they gave him all that was taken from him before. The fleet +returned to Chester, and there awaited their pay, which Elgar +promised them. The slaughter was on the ninth before the calends +of November. In the same year died Tremerig, the Welsh bishop, +soon after the plundering; who was Bishop Athelstan's substitute, +after he became infirm. + +((A.D. 1055. In this year died Siward the earl at York, and he +lies at Galmanho, in the minster which himself caused to be +built, and consecrated in God's and Olave's name. And Tosty +succeeded to the earldom which he had held. And Archbishop +Kynsey [Of York], fetched his pall from Pope Victor. And soon +thereafter was outlawed Elgar the earl, son of Leofric the earl, +well-nigh without guilt. But he went to Ireland and to Wales, +and procured himself there a great force, and so went to +Hereford: but there came against him Ralph the earl, with a large +army, and with a slight conflict he put them to flight, and much +people slew in the flight: and they went then into Hereford-port, +and that they ravaged, and burned the great minster which Bishop +Athelstan had built, and slew the priests within the minster, and +many in addition thereto, and took all the treasures therein, and +carried them away with them. And when they had done the utmost +evil, this counsel was counselled: that Elgar the earl should be +inlawed, and be given his earldom, and all that had been taken +from him. This ravaging happened on the 9th before the Kalends +of November. In the same year died Tremerin the Welsh bishop [Of +St. David's] soon after that ravaging: and he was Bishop +Athelstan's coadjutor from the time that he had become infirm.)) + +((A.D. 1055. In this year died Siward the earl: and then was +summoned a general council, seven days before Mid-lent; and they +outlawed Elgar the earl, because it was cast upon him that he was +a traitor to the king and to all the people of the land. And he +made a confession of it before all the men who were there +gathered; though the word escaped him unintentionally. And the +king gave the earldom to Tosty, son of Earl Godwin, which Siward +the earl before held. And Elgar the earl sought Griffin's +protection in North-Wales. And in this year Griffin and Elgar +burned St. Ethelbert's minster, and all the town of Hereford.)) + +A.D. 1056. This year Bishop Egelric resigned his bishopric at +Durham, and retired to Peterborough minster; and his brother +Egelwine succeeded him. The worthy Bishop Athelstan died on the +fourth before the ides of February; and his body lies at +Hereford. To him succeeded Leofgar, who was Earl Harold's mass- +priest. He wore his knapsack in his priesthood, until he was a +bishop. He abandoned his chrism and his rood -- his ghostly +weapons -- and took to his spear and to his sword, after his +bishophood; and so marched to the field against Griffin the Welsh +king. (79) But he was there slain, and his priests with him, and +Elnoth the sheriff, and many other good men with them; and the +rest fled. This was eight nights before midsummer. Difficult is +it to relate all the vexation and the journeying, the marching +and the fatigue, the fall of men, and of horses also, which the +whole army of the English suffered, until Earl Leofric, and Earl +Harold, and Bishop Eldred, came together and made peace between +them; so that Griffin swore oaths, that he would be a firm and +faithful viceroy to King Edward. Then Bishop Eldred took to the +bishopric which Leofgar had before eleven weeks and four days. +The same year died Cona the emperor; and Earl Odda, whose body +lies at Pershore, and who was admitted a monk before his end; +which was on the second before the calends of September; a good +man and virtuous and truly noble. + +A.D. 1057. This year came Edward Etheling, son of King Edmund, +to this land, and soon after died. His body is buried within St. +Paul's minster at London. He was brother's son to King Edward. +King Edmund was called Ironside for his valour. This etheling +King Knute had sent into Hungary, to betray him; but he there +grew in favour with good men, as God granted him, and it well +became him; so that he obtained the emperor's cousin in marriage, +and by her had a fair offspring. Her name was Agatha. We know +not for what reason it was done, that he should see his relation, +King Edward. Alas! that was a rueful time, and injurious to all +this nation -- that he ended his life so soon after he came to +England, to the misfortune of this miserable people. The same +year died Earl Leofric, on the second before the calends of +October; who was very wise before God, and also before the world; +and who benefited all this nation. (80) He lies at Coventry +(81): and his son Elgar took to his territory. This year died +Earl Ralph, on the twelfth before the calends of January; and +lies at Peterborough. Also died Bishop Heca, in Sussex; and +Egelric was elevated to his see. This year also died Pope +Victor; and Stephen was chosen pope, who was Abbot of Monut +Cassino. + +((A.D. 1057. In this year Edward Etheling, King Edmund's son, +came hither to land, and soon after died- and his body is buried +within St. Paul's minster at London. And Pope Victor died, and +Stephen [IX.] was chosen pope: he was Abbot of Mont-Cassino. And +Leofric the earl died, and Elgar his son succeeded to the earldom +which the father before held.)) + +A.D. 1058. This year was Earl Elgar banished: but he soon came +in again by force, through Griffin's assistance: and a naval +armament came from Norway. It is tedious to tell how it all fell +out. In this same year Bishop Aldred consecrated the minster +church at Gloucester, which he himself had raised (82) to the +honour of God and St. Peter; and then went to Jerusalem (83) with +such dignity as no other man did before him, and betook himself +there to God. A worthy gift he also offered to our Lord's +sepulchre; which was a golden chalice of the value of five marks, +of very wonderful workmanship. In the same year died Pope +Stephen; and Benedict was appointed pope. He sent hither the +pall to Bishop Stigand; who as archbishop consecrated Egelric a +monk at Christ church, Bishop of Sussex; and Abbot Siward Bishop +of Rochester. + +((A.D. 1058. This year died Pope Stephen, and Benedict was +consecrated pope: the same sent hither to land a pall to +Archbishop Stigand. And in this year died Heca, Bishop of +Sussex; and Archbishop Stigand ordained Algeric, a monk at +Christchurch, Bishop of Sussex, and Abbot Siward Bishop of +Rochester.)) + +A.D. 1059. This year was Nicholas chosen pope, who had been +Bishop of Florence; and Benedict was expelled, who was pope +before. This year also was consecrated the steeple (84) at +Peterborough, on the sixteenth before the calends of November. + +A.D. 1060. This year was a great earthquake on the Translation +of St. Martin, and King Henry died in France. Kinsey, Archbishop +of York, died on the eleventh before the calends of January; and +he lies at Peterborough. Bishop Aldred succeeded to the see, and +Walter to that of Herefordshire. Dudoc also died, who was Bishop +of Somersetshire; and Gisa the priest was appointed in his stead. + +A.D. 1061. This year went Bishop Aldred to Rome after his pall; +which he received at the hands of Pope Nicholas. Earl Tosty and +his wife also went to Rome; and the bishop and the earl met with +great difficulty as they returned home. In the same year died +Bishop Godwin at St. Martin's, (85) on the seventh before the +ides of March; and in the self-same year died Wulfric, Abbot of +St. Augustine's, in the Easterweek, on the fourteenth before the +calends of May. Pope Nicholas also died; and Alexander was +chosen pope, who was Bishop of Lucca. When word came to the king +that the Abbot Wulfric was dead, then chose he Ethelsy, a monk of +the old minster, to succeed; who followed Archbishop Stigand, and +was consecrated abbot at Windsor on St. Augustine s mass-day. + +((A.D. 1061. In this year died Dudoc, Bishop of Somerset, and +Giso succeeded. And in the same year died Godwin, Bishop of St. +Martin's, on the seventh before the ides of March. And in the +self-same year died Wulfric, Abbot of St. Augustine's, within +the Easter week, on the fourteenth before the kalends of May. +When word came to the king that Abbot Wulfric was departed, then +chose he Ethelsy the monk thereto, from the Old-Minster, who then +followed Archbishop Stigand, and was consecrated abbot at +Windsor, on St. Augustine's mass-day.)) + +A.D. 1063. This year went Earl Harold, after mid-winter, from +Gloucester to Rhyddlan; which belonged to Griffin: and that +habitation he burned, with his ships and all the rigging +belonging thereto; and put him to flight. Then in the gang-days +went Harold with his ships from Bristol about Wales; where he +made a truce with the people, and they gave him hostages. Tosty +meanwhile advanced with a land-force against them, and plundered +the land. But in the harvest of the same year was King Griffin +slain, on the nones of August, by his own men, through the war +that he waged with Earl Harold. He was king over all the Welsh +nation. And his head was brought to Earl Harold; who sent it to +the king, with his ship's head, and the rigging therewith. King +Edward committed the land to his two brothers, Blethgent and +Rigwatle; who swore oaths, and gave hostages to the king and to +the earl, that they would be faithful to him in all things, ready +to aid him everywhere by water and land, and would pay him such +tribute from the land as was paid long before to other kings. + +((A.D. 1063. This year went Harold the earl, and his brother +Tosty the earl, as well with a land-force as a shipforce, into +Wales, and they subdued the land; and the people delivered +hostages to them, and submitted; and went afterwards and slew +their King Griffin, and brought to Harold his head: and he +appointed another king thereto.)) + +A.D. 1065. This year, before Lammas, ordered Earl Harold his men +to build at Portskeweth in Wales. But when he had begun, and +collected many materials, and thought to have King Edward there +for the purpose of hunting, even when it was all ready, came +Caradoc, son of Griffin, with all the gang that he could get, and +slew almost all that were building there; and they seized the +materials that were there got ready. Wist we not who first +advised the wicked deed. This was done on the mass-day of St. +Bartholomew. Soon after this all the thanes in Yorkshire and in +Northumberland gathered themselves together at York, and outlawed +their Earl Tosty; slaying all the men of his clan that they could +reach, both Danish and English; and took all his weapons in York, +with gold and silver, and all his money that they could anywhere +there find. They then sent after Morkar, son of Earl Elgar, and +chose him for their earl. He went south with all the shire, and +with Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire and Lincolnshire, till he +came to Northampton; where his brother Edwin came to meet him +with the men that were in his earldom. Many Britons also came +with him. Harold also there met them; on whom they imposed an +errand to King Edward, sending also messengers with him, and +requesting that they might have Morcar for their earl. This the +king granted; and sent back Harold to them, to Northampton, on +the eve of St. Simon and St. Jude; and announced to them the +same, and confirmed it by hand, and renewed there the laws of +Knute. But the Northern men did much harm about Northampton, +whilst he went on their errand: either that they slew men, and +burned houses and corn; or took all the cattle that they could +come at; which amounted to many thousands. Many hundred men also +they took, and led northward with them; so that not only that +shire, but others near it were the worse for many winters. Then +Earl Tosty and his wife, and all they who acted with him, went +south over sea with him to Earl Baldwin; who received them all: +and they were there all the winter. About midwinter King Edward +came to Westminster, and had the minster there consecrated, which +he had himself built to the honour of God, and St. Peter, and all +God's saints. This church-hallowing was on Childermas-day. He +died on the eve of twelfth-day; and he was buried on twelfth-day +in the same minster; as it is hereafter said. + Here Edward king, (86) + of Angles lord, + sent his stedfast + soul to Christ. + In the kingdom of God + a holy spirit! + He in the world here + abode awhile, + in the kingly throng + of council sage. + Four and twenty + winters wielding + the sceptre freely, + wealth he dispensed. + In the tide of health, + the youthful monarch, + offspring of Ethelred! + ruled well his subjects; + the Welsh and the Scots, + and the Britons also, + Angles and Saxons + relations of old. + So apprehend + the first in rank, + that to Edward all + the noble king + were firmly held + high-seated men. + Blithe-minded aye + was the harmless king; + though he long ere, + of land bereft, + abode in exile + wide on the earth; + when Knute o'ercame + the kin of Ethelred, + and the Danes wielded + the dear kingdom + of Engle-land. + Eight and twenty + winters' rounds + they wealth dispensed. + Then came forth + free in his chambers, + in royal array, + good, pure, and mild, + Edward the noble; + by his country defended -- + by land and people. + Until suddenly came + the bitter Death + and this king so dear + snatched from the earth. + Angels carried + his soul sincere + into the light of heaven. + But the prudent king + had settled the realm + on high-born men -- + on Harold himself, + the noble earl; + who in every season + faithfully heard + and obeyed his lord, + in word and deed; + nor gave to any + what might be wanted + by the nation's king. +This year also was Earl Harold hallowed to king; but he enjoyed +little tranquillity therein the while that he wielded the +kingdom. + +((A.D. 1065. And the man-slaying was on St. Bartholomew's +mass-day. And then, after Michael's-mass, all the thanes in +Yorkshire went to York, and there slew all Earl Tosty's household +servants whom they might hear of, and took his treasures: and +Tosty was then at Britford with the king. And then, very soon +thereafter, was a great council at Northampton; and then at +Oxford on the day of Simon and Jude. And there was Harold the +earl, and would work their reconciliation if he might, but he +could not: but all his earldom him unanimously forsook and +outlawed, and all who with him lawlessness upheld, because he +robbed God first, and all those bereaved over whom he had power +of life and of land. And they then took to themselves Morkar for +earl; and Tosty went then over sea, and his wife with him, to +Baldwin's land, and they took up their winter residence at St. +Omer's.)) + +A.D. 1066. This year came King Harold from York to Westminster, +on the Easter succeeding the midwinter when the king (Edward) +died. Easter was then on the sixteenth day before the calends of +May. Then was over all England such a token seen as no man ever +saw before. Some men said that it was the comet-star, which +others denominate the long-hair'd star. It appeared first on the +eve called "Litania major", that is, on the eighth before the +calends off May; and so shone all the week. Soon after this came +in Earl Tosty from beyond sea into the Isle of Wight, with as +large a fleet as he could get; and he was there supplied with +money and provisions. Thence he proceeded, and committed +outrages everywhere by the sea-coast where he could land, until +he came to Sandwich. When it was told King Harold, who was in +London, that his brother Tosty was come to Sandwich, he gathered +so large a force, naval and military, as no king before collected +in this land; for it was credibly reported that Earl William from +Normandy, King Edward's cousin, would come hither and gain this +land; just as it afterwards happened. When Tosty understood that +King Harold was on the way to Sandwich, he departed thence, and +took some of the boatmen with him, willing and unwilling, and +went north into the Humber with sixty skips; whence he plundered +in Lindsey, and there slew many good men. When the Earls Edwin +and Morkar understood that, they came hither, and drove him from +the land. And the boatmen forsook him. Then he went to Scotland +with twelve smacks; and the king of the Scots entertained him, +and aided him with provisions; and he abode there all the summer. +There met him Harold, King of Norway, with three hundred ships. +And Tosty submitted to him, and became his man. (87) Then came +King Harold (88) to Sandwich, where he awaited his fleet; for it +was long ere it could be collected: but when it was assembled, he +went into the Isle of Wight, and there lay all the summer and the +autumn. There was also a land-force every where by the sea, +though it availed nought in the end. It was now the nativity of +St. Mary, when the provisioning of the men began; and no man +could keep them there any longer. They therefore had leave to go +home: and the king rode up, and the ships were driven to London; +but many perished ere they came thither. When the ships were +come home, then came Harald, King of Norway, north into the Tine, +unawares, with a very great sea-force -- no small one; that might +be, with three hundred ships or more; and Earl Tosty came to him +with all those that he had got; just as they had before said: and +they both then went up with all the fleet along the Ouse toward +York. (89) When it was told King Harold in the south, after he +had come from the ships, that Harald, King of Norway, and Earl +Tosty were come up near York, then went he northward by day and +night, as soon as he could collect his army. But, ere King +Harold could come thither, the Earls Edwin and Morkar had +gathered from their earldoms as great a force as they could get, +and fought with the enemy. (90) They made a great slaughter too; +but there was a good number of the English people slain, and +drowned, and put to flight: and the Northmen had possession of +the field of battle. It was then told Harold, king of the +English, that this had thus happened. And this fight was on the +eve of St. Matthew the apostle, which was Wednesday. Then after +the fight went Harold, King of Norway, and Earl Tosty into York +with as many followers as they thought fit; and having procured +hostages and provisions from the city, they proceeded to their +ships, and proclaimed full friendship, on condition that all +would go southward with them, and gain this land. In the midst +of this came Harold, king of the English, with all his army, on +the Sunday, to Tadcaster; where he collected his fleet. Thence +he proceeded on Monday throughout York. But Harald, King of +Norway, and Earl Tosty, with their forces, were gone from their +ships beyond York to Stanfordbridge; for that it was given them +to understand, that hostages would be brought to them there from +all the shire. Thither came Harold, king of the English, +unawares against them beyond the bridge; and they closed together +there, and continued long in the day fighting very severely. +There was slain Harald the Fair-hair'd, King of Norway, and Earl +Tosty, and a multitude of people with them, both of Normans and +English; (91) and the Normans that were left fled from the +English, who slew them hotly behind; until some came to their +ships, some were drowned, some burned to death, and thus +variously destroyed; so that there was little left: and the +English gained possession of the field. But there was one of the +Norwegians who withstood the English folk, so that they could not +pass over the bridge, nor complete the victory. An Englishman +aimed at him with a javelin, but it availed nothing. Then came +another under the bridge, who pierced him terribly inwards under +the coat of mail. And Harold, king of the English, then came +over the bridge, followed by his army; and there they made a +great slaughter, both of the Norwegians and of the Flemings. But +Harold let the king's son, Edmund, go home to Norway with all the +ships. He also gave quarter to Olave, the Norwegian king's son, +and to their bishop, and to the earl of the Orkneys, and to all +those that were left in the ships; who then went up to our king, +and took oaths that they would ever maintain faith and friendship +unto this land. Whereupon the King let them go home with twenty- +four ships. These two general battles were fought within five +nights. Meantime Earl William came up from Normandy into +Pevensey on the eve of St. Michael's mass; and soon after his +landing was effected, they constructed a castle at the port of +Hastings. This was then told to King Harold; and he gathered a +large force, and came to meet him at the estuary of Appledore. +William, however, came against him unawares, ere his army was +collected; but the king, nevertheless, very hardly encountered +him with the men that would support him: and there was a great +slaughter made on either side. There was slain King Harold, and +Leofwin his brother, and Earl Girth his brother, with many good +men: and the Frenchmen gained the field of battle, as God granted +them for the sins of the nation. Archbishop Aldred and the +corporation of London were then desirous of having child Edgar to +king, as he was quite natural to them; and Edwin and Morkar +promised them that they would fight with them. But the more +prompt the business should ever be, so was it from day to day the +later and worse; as in the end it all fared. This battle was +fought on the day of Pope Calixtus: and Earl William returned to +Hastings, and waited there to know whether the people would +submit to him. But when he found that they would not come to +him, he went up with all his force that was left and that came +since to him from over sea, and ravaged all the country that he +overran, until he came to Berkhampstead; where Archbishop Aldred +came to meet him, with child Edgar, and Earls Edwin and Morkar, +and all the best men from London; who submitted then for need, +when the most harm was done. It was very ill-advised that they +did not so before, seeing that God would not better things for +our sins. And they gave him hostages and took oaths: and he +promised them that he would be a faithful lord to them; though in +the midst of this they plundered wherever they went. Then on +midwinter's day Archbishop Aldred hallowed him to king at +Westminster, and gave him possession with the books of Christ, +and also swore him, ere that he would set the crown on his head, +that he would so well govern this nation as any before him best +did, if they would be faithful to him. Neverrhetess he laid very +heavy tribute on men, and in Lent went over sea to Normandy, +taking with him Archbishop Stigand, and Abbot Aylnoth of +Glastonbury, and the child Edgar, and the Earls Edwin, Morkar, +and Waltheof, and many other good men of England. Bishop Odo and +Earl William lived here afterwards, and wrought castles widely +through this country, and harassed the miserable people; and ever +since has evil increased very much. May the end be good, when +God will! In that same expedition (92) was Leofric, Abbot of +Peterborough; who sickened there, and came home, and died soon +after, on the night of Allhallow-mass. God honour his soul! In +his day was all bliss and all good at Peterborough. He was +beloved by all; so that the king gave to St. Peter and him the +abbey at Burton, and that at Coventry, which the Earl Leofric, +who was his uncle, had formerly made; with that of Croyland, and +that of Thorney. He did so much good to the minster of +Peterborough, in gold, and in silver, and in shroud, and in land, +as no other ever did before him, nor any one after him. But now +was Gilden-borough become a wretched borough. The monks then +chose for abbot Provost Brand, because he was a very good man, +and very wise; and sent him to Edgar Etheling, for that the +land-folk supposed that he should be king: and the etheling +received him gladly. When King William heard say that, he was +very wroth, and said that the abbot had renounced him: but good +men went between them, and reconciled them; because the abbot was +a good man. He gave the king forty marks of gold for his +reconciliation; and he lived but a little while after -- only +three years. Afterwards came all wretchedness and all evil to +the minster. God have mercy on it! + +((A.D. 1066. This year died King Edward, and Harold the earl +succeeded to the kingdom, and held it forty weeks and one day. +And this year came William, and won England. And in this year +Christ-Church [Canterbury] was burned. And this year appeared a +comet on the fourteenth before the kalends of May.)) + +((A.D. 1066. ...And then he [Tosty] went thence, and did harm +everywhere by the sea-coast where he could land, as far as +Sandwich. Then was it made known to King Harold, who was in +London, that Tosty his brother was come to Sandwich. Then +gathered he so great a ship-force, and also a land force, as no +king here in the land had before gathered, because it had been +soothly said unto him, that William the earl from Normandy, King +Edward's kinsman, would come hither and subdue this land: all as +it afterwards happened. When Tosty learned that King Harold was +on his way to Sandwich, then went he from Sandwich, and took some +of the boatmen with him, some willingly and some unwillingly; and +went then north into Humber, and there ravaged in Lindsey, and +there slew many good men. When Edwin the earl and Morcar the +earl understood that, then came they thither, and drove him out +of the land. And he went then to Scotland: and the king of Scots +protected him, and assisted him with provisions; and he there +abode all the summer. Then came King Harold to Sandwich, and +there awaited his fleet, because it was long before it could be +gathered together. And when his fleet was gathered together, +then went he into the Isle of Wight, and there lay all the summer +and the harvest; and a land-force was kept everywhere by the sea, +though in the end it was of no benefit. When it was the Nativity +of St. Mary, then were the men's provisions gone, and no man +could any longer keep them there. Then were the men allowed to +go home, and the king rode up, and the ships were dispatched to +London; and many perished before they came thither. When the +ships had reached home, then came King Harald from Norway, north +into Tyne, and unawares, with a very large ship-force, and no +small one; that might be, or more. And Tosty the earl came to +him with all that he had gotten, all as they had before agreed; +and then they went both, with all the fleet, along the Ouse, up +towards York. Then was it made known to King Harold in the +south, as he was come from on ship-board, that Harald King of +Norway and Tosty the earl were landed near York. Then went he +northward, day and night, as quickly as he could gather his +forces. Then, before that King Harold could come thither, then +gathered Edwin the earl and Morcar the earl from their earldom +as great a force as they could get together; and they fought +against the army, and made great slaughter: and there was much of +the English people slain, and drowned, and driven away in flight; +and the Northmen had possession of the place of carnage. And +this fight was on the vigil of St. Matthew the apostle, and it +was Wednesday. And then, after the fight, went Harald, King of +Norway, and Tosty the earl, into York, with as much people as +seemed meet to them. And they delivered hostages to them from +the city, and also assisted them with provisions; and so they +went thence to their ships, and they agreed upon a full peace, so +that they should all go with him south, and this land subdue. +Then, during this, came Harold, king of the Angles, with all his +forces, on the Sunday, to Tadcaster, and there drew up his force, +and went then on Monday throughout York; and Harald, King of +Norway, and Tosty the earl, and their forces, were gone from +their ships beyond York to Stanfordbridge, because it had been +promised them for a certainty, that there, from all the shire, +hostages should be brought to meet them. Then came Harold, king +of the English, against them, unawares, beyond the bridge, and +they there joined battle, and very strenuously, for a long time +of the day, continued fighting: and there was Harald, King of +Norway, and Tosty the earl slain, and numberless of the people +with them, as well of the Northmen as of the English: and the +Northmen fled from the English. Then was there one of the +Norwegians who withstood the English people, so that they might +not pass over the bridge, nor obtain the victory. Then an +Englishman aimed at him with a javelin, but availed nothing; and +then came another under the bridge, and pierced him terribly +inwards under the coat of mail. Then came Harold, king of the +English, over the bridge, and his forces onward with him, and +there made great slaughter, as well of Norwegians as of Flemings. +And the King's son, Edmund, Harold let go home to Norway, with +all the ships.)) + +((A.D. 1066. In this year was consecrated the minster at +Westminster, on Childer-mass-day. And King Edward died on the +eve of Twelfth-day; and he was buried on Twelfth-day within the +newly consecrated church at Westminster. And Harold the earl +succeeded to the kingdom of England, even as the king had granted +it to him, and men also had chosen him thereto; and he was +crowned as king on Twelfth-day. And that same year that he +became king, he went out with a fleet against William [Earl of +Normandy]; and the while, came Tosty the earl into Humber with +sixty ships. Edwin the earl came with a land-force and drove him +out; and the boatmen forsook him. And he went to Scotland with +twelve vessels; and Harald, the King of Norway, met him with +three hundred ships, and Tosty submitted to him; and they both +went into Humber, until they came to York. And Morcar the earl, +and Edwin the earl, fought against them; and the king of the +Norwegians had the victory. And it was made known to King Harold +how it there was done, and had happened; and he came there with a +great army of English men, and met him at Stanfordbridge, and +slew him and the earl Tosty, and boldly overcame all the army. +And the while, William the earl landed at Hastings, on St. +Michael's-day: and Harold came from the north, and fought against +him before all his army had come up: and there he fell, and his +two brothers, Girth and Leofwin; and William subdued this land. +And he came to Westminster, and Archbishop Aldred consecrated him +king, and men paid him tribute, delivered him hostages, and +afterwards bought their land. And then was Leofric, Abbot of +Peterborough, in that same expedition; and there he sickened, and +came home, and was dead soon thereafter, on All-hallows-mass- +night; God be merciful to his soul! In his day was all bliss and +all good in Peterborough; and he was dear to all people, so that +the king gave to St. Peter and to him the abbacy at Burton, and +that of Coventry, which Leofric the earl, who was his uncle, +before had made, and that of Crowland, and that of Thorney. And +he conferred so much of good upon the minster of Peterborough, in +gold, and in silver, and in vestments, and in land, as never any +other did before him, nor any after him. After, Golden-borough +became a wretched borough. Then chose the monks for abbot Brand +the provost, by reason that he was a very good man, and very +wise, and sent him then to Edgar the etheling, by reason that the +people of the land supposed that he should become king: and the +etheling granted it him then gladly. When King William heard say +that, then was he very wroth, and said that the abbot had +despised him. Then went good men between them, and reconciled +them, by reason that the abbot was a good man. Then gave he the +king forty marks of gold for a reconciliation; and then +thereafter, lived he a little while, but three years. After that +came every tribulation and every evil to the minster. God have +mercy on it!)) + +A.D. 1067. This year came the king back again to England on St. +Nicholas's day; and the same day was burned the church of Christ +at Canterbury. Bishop Wulfwy also died, and is buried at his see +in Dorchester. The child Edric and the Britons were unsettled +this year, and fought with the castlemen at Hereford, and did +them much harm. The king this year imposed a heavy guild on the +wretched people; but, notwithstanding, let his men always plunder +all the country that they went over; and then he marched to +Devonshire, and beset the city of Exeter eighteen days. There +were many of his army slain; out he had promised them well, and +performed ill; and the citizens surrendered the city because the +thanes had betrayed them. This summer the child Edgar departed, +with his mother Agatha, and his two sisters, Margaret and +Christina, and Merle-Sweyne, and many good men with them; and +came to Scotland under the protection of King Malcolm, who +entertained them all. Then began King Malcolm to yearn after the +child's sister, Margaret, to wife; but he and all his men long +refused; and she also herself was averse, and said that she would +neither have him nor any one else, if the Supreme Power would +grant, that she in her maidenhood might please the mighty Lord +with a carnal heart, in this short life, in pure continence. The +king, however, earnestly urged her brother, until he answered +Yea. And indeed he durst not otherwise; for they were come into +his kingdom. So that then it was fulfilled, as God had long ere +foreshowed; and else it could not be; as he himself saith in his +gospel: that "not even a sparrow on the ground may fall, without +his foreshowing." The prescient Creator wist long before what he +of her would have done; for that she should increase the glory of +God in this land, lead the king aright from the path of error, +bend him and his people together to a better way, and suppress +the bad customs which the nation formerly followed: all which she +afterwards did. The king therefore received her, though it was +against her will, and was pleased with her manners, and thanked +God, who in his might had given him such a match. He wisely +bethought himself, as he was a prudent man, and turned himself to +God, and renounced all impurity; accordingly, as the apostle +Paul, the teacher of all the gentries, saith: "Salvabitur vir +infidelis per mulierem fidelem; sic et mulier infidelis per virum +fidelem," etc.: that is in our language, "Full oft the +unbelieving husband is sanctified and healed through the +believing wife, and so belike the wife through the believing +husband." This queen aforesaid performed afterwards many useful +deeds in this land to the glory of God, and also in her royal +estate she well conducted herself, as her nature was. Of a +faithful and noble kin was she sprung. Her father was Edward +Etheling, son of King Edmund. Edmund was the son of Ethelred; +Ethelred the son of Edgar; Edgar the son of Edred; and so forth +in that royal line: and her maternal kindred goeth to the Emperor +Henry, who had the sovereignty over Rome. This year went out +Githa, Harold's mother, and the wives of many good men with her, +to the Flat-Holm, and there abode some time; and so departed +thence over sea to St. Omer's. This Easter came the king to +Winchester; and Easter was then on the tenth before the calends +of April. Soon after this came the Lady Matilda hither to this +land; and Archbishop Eldred hallowed her to queen at Westminster +on Whit Sunday. Then it was told the king, that the people in +the North had gathered themselves together, and would stand +against him if he came. Whereupon he went to Nottingham, and +wrought there a castle; and so advanced to York, and there +wrought two castles; and the same at Lincoln, and everywhere in +that quarter. Then Earl Gospatric and the best men went into +Scotland. Amidst this came one of Harold's sons from Ireland +with a naval force into the mouth of the Avon unawares, and +plundered soon over all that quarter; whence they went to +Bristol, and would have stormed the town; but the people bravely +withstood them. When they could gain nothing from the town, they +went to their ships with the booty which they had acquired by +plunder; and then they advanced upon Somersetshire, and there +went up; and Ednoth, master of the horse, fought with them; but +he was there slain, and many good men on either side; and those +that were left departed thence. + +A.D. 1068. This year King William gave Earl Robert the earldom +over Northumberland; but the landsmen attacked him in the town of +Durham, and slew him, and nine hundred men with him. Soon +afterwards Edgar Etheling came with all the Northumbrians to +York; and the townsmen made a treaty with him: but King William +came from the South unawares on them with a large army, and put +them to flight, and slew on the spot those who could not escape; +which were many hundred men; and plundered the town. St. Peter's +minster he made a profanation, and all other places also he +despoiled and trampled upon; and the etheling went back again to +Scotland. After this came Harold's sons from Ireland, about +midsummer, with sixty-four ships into the mouth of the Taft, +where they unwarily landed: and Earl Breon came unawares against +them with a large army, and fought with them, and slew there all +the best men that were in the fleet; and the others, being small +forces, escaped to the ships: and Harold's sons went back to +Ireland again. + +A.D. 1069. This year died Aldred, Archbishop of York; and he is +there buried, at his see. He died on the day of Protus and +Hyacinthus, having held the see with much dignity ten years +wanting only fifteen weeks. Soon after this came from Denmark +three of the sons of King Sweyne with two hundred and forty +ships, together with Earl Esborn and Earl Thurkill, into the +Humber; where they were met by the child Edgar, and Earl +Waltheof, and Merle-Sweyne, and Earl Gospatric with the +Northumbrians, and all the landsmen; riding and marching full +merrily with an immense army: and so all unanimously advanced to +York; where they stormed and demolished the castle, and won +innumerable treasures therein; slew there many hundreds of +Frenchmen, and led many with them to the ships; but, ere that the +shipmen came thither, the Frenchmen had burned the city, and also +the holy minster of St. Peter had they entirely plundered, and +destroyed with fire. When the king heard this, then went he +northward with all the force that he could collect, despoiling +and laying waste the shire withal; whilst the fleet lay all the +winter in the Humber, where the king could not come at them. The +king was in York on Christmas Day, and so all the winter on land, +and came to Winchester at Easter. Bishop Egelric, who was at +Peterborough, was this year betrayed, and led to Westminster; and +his brother Egelwine was outlawed. This year also died Brand, +Abbot of Peterborough, on the fifth before the calends of +December. + +A.D. 1070. This year Landfranc, who was Abbot of Caen, came to +England; and after a few days he became Archbishop of Canterbury. +He was invested on the fourth before the calends of September in +his own see by eight bishops, his suffragans. The others, who +were not there, by messengers and by letter declared why they +could not be there. The same year Thomas, who was chosen Bishop +of York, came to Canterbury, to be invested there after the +ancient custom. But when Landfranc craved confirmation of his +obedience with an oath, he refused; and said, that he ought not +to do it. Whereupon Archbishop Landfranc was wroth, and bade the +bishops, who were come thither by Archbishop Landfranc's command +to do the service, and all the monks to unrobe themselves. And +they by his order so did. Thomas, therefore, for the time, +departed without consecration. Soon after this, it happened that +the Archbishop Landfranc went to Rome, and Thomas with him. When +they came thither, and had spoken about other things concerning +which they wished to speak, then began Thomas his speech: how he +came to Canterbury, and how the archbishop required obedience of +him with an oath; but he declined it. Then began the Archbishop +Landfranc to show with clear distinction, that what he craved he +craved by right; and with strong arguments he confirmed the same +before the Pope Alexander, and before all the council that was +collected there; and so they went home. After this came Thomas +to Canterbury; and all that the archbishop required of him he +humbly fulfilled, and afterwards received consecration. This +year Earl Waltheof agreed with the king; but in the Lent of the +same year the king ordered all the monasteries in England to be +plundered. In the same year came King Sweyne from Denmark into +the Humber; and the landsmen came to meet him, and made a treaty +with him; thinking that he would overrun the land. Then came +into Ely Christien, the Danish bishop, and Earl Osbern, and the +Danish domestics with them; and the English people from all the +fen-lands came to them; supposing that they should win all that +land. Then the monks of Peterborough heard say, that their own +men would plunder the minster; namely Hereward and his gang: +because they understood that the king had given the abbacy to a +French abbot, whose name was Thorold; -- that he was a very stern +man, and was then come into Stamford with all his Frenchmen. Now +there was a churchwarden, whose name was Yware; who took away by +night all that he could, testaments, mass-hackles, cantel-copes, +and reefs, and such other small things, whatsoever he could; and +went early, before day, to the Abbot Thorold; telling him that he +sought his protection, and informing him how the outlaws were +coming to Peterborough, and that he did all by advice of the +monks. Early in the morning came all the outlaws with many +ships, resolving to enter the minster; but the monks withstood, +so that they could not come in. Then they laid on fire, and +burned all the houses of the monks, and all the town except one +house. Then came they in through fire at the Bull-hithe gate; +where the monks met them, and besought peace of them. But they +regarded nothing. They went into the minster, climbed up to the +holy rood, took away the diadem from our Lord's head, all of pure +gold, and seized the bracket that was underneath his feet, which +was all of red gold. They climbed up to the steeple, brought +down the table that was hid there, which was all of gold and +silver, seized two golden shrines, and nine of silver, and took +away fifteen large crucifixes, of gold and of silver; in short, +they seized there so much gold and silver, and so many treasures, +in money, in raiment, and in books, as no man could tell another; +and said, that they did it from their attachment to the minster. +Afterwards they went to their ships, proceeded to Ely, and +deposited there all the treasure. The Danes, believing that they +should overcome the Frenchmen, drove out all the monks; leaving +there only one, whose name was Leofwine Lang, who lay sick in the +infirmary. Then came Abbot Thorold and eight times twenty +Frenchmen with him, all full-armed. When he came thither, he +found all within and without consumed by fire, except the church +alone; but the outlaws were all with the fleet, knowing that he +would come thither. This was done on the fourth day before the +nones of June. The two kings, William and Sweyne, were now +reconciled; and the Danes went out of Ely with all the aforesaid +treasure, and carried it away with them. But when they came into +the middle of the sea, there came a violent storm, and dispersed +all the ships wherein the treasures were. Some went to Norway, +some to Ireland, some to Denmark. All that reached the latter, +consisted of the table, and some shrines, and some crucifixes, +and many of the other treasures; which they brought to a king's +town, called ---, and deposited it all there in the church. +Afterwards through their own carelessness, and through their +drunkenness, in one night the church and all that was therein was +consumed by fire. Thus was the minster of Peterborough burned +and plundered. Almighty God have mercy on it through his great +goodness. Thus came the Abbot Thorold to Peterborough; and the +monks too returned, and performed the service of Christ in the +church, which had before stood a full week without any kind of +rite. When Bishop Aylric heard it, he excommunicated all the men +who that evil deed had done. There was a great famine this year: +and in the summer came the fleet in the north from the Humber +into the Thames, and lay there two nights, and made afterwards +for Denmark. Earl Baldwin also died, and his son Arnulf +succeeded to the earldom. Earl William, in conjunction with the +king of the Franks, was to be his guardian; but Earl Robert came +and slew his kinsman Arnulf and the earl, put the king to flight, +and slew many thousands of his men. + +A.D. 1071. This year Earl Edwin and Earl Morkar fled out, (93) +and roamed at random in woods and in fields. Then went Earl +Morkar to Ely by ship; but Earl Edwin was treacherously slain by +his own men. Then came Bishop Aylwine, and Siward Barn, and many +hundred men with them, into Ely. When King William heard that, +then ordered he out a naval force and land force, and beset the +land all about, and wrought a bridge, and went in; and the naval +force at the same time on the sea-side. And the outlaws then all +surrendered; that was, Bishop Aylwine, and Earl Morkar, and all +that were with them; except Hereward (94) alone, and all those +that would join him, whom he led out triumphantly. And the king +took their ships, and weapons, and many treasures; (95) and all +the men he disposed of as he thought proper. Bishop Aylwine he +sent to Abingdon, where he died in the beginning of the winter. + +A.D. 1072. This year King William led a naval force and a land +force to Scotland, and beset that land on the sea-side with +ships, whilst he led his land-force in at the Tweed; (96) but he +found nothing there of any value. King Malcolm, however, came, +and made peace with King William, and gave hostages, and became +his man; whereupon the king returned home with all his force. +This year died Bishop Aylric. He had been invested Bishop of +York; but that see was unjustly taken from him, and he then had +the bishopric of Durham given him; which he held as long as he +chose, but resigned it afterwards, and retired to Peterborough +minster; where he abode twelve years. After that King William +won England, then took he him from Peterborough, and sent him to +Westminster; where he died on the ides of October, and he is +there buried, within the minster, in the porch of St. Nicholas. + +A.D. 1073. This year led King William an army, English and +French, over sea, and won the district of Maine; which the +English very much injured by destroying the vineyards, burning +the towns, and spoiling the land. But they subdued it all into +the hand of King William, and afterwards returned home to +England. + +A.D. 1074. This year King William went over sea to Normandy; and +child Edgar came from Flanders into Scotland on St. Grimbald's +mass-day; where King Malcolm and his sister Margaret received him +with much pomp. At the same time sent Philip, the King of +France, a letter to him, bidding him to come to him, and he would +give him the castle of Montreuil; that he might afterwards daily +annoy his enemies. What then? King Malcolm and his sister +Margaret gave him and his men great presents, and many treasures; +in skins ornamented with purple, in pelisses made of martin- +skins, of grey-skins, and of ermine-skins, in palls, and in +vessels of gold and silver; and conducted him and his crew with +great pomp from his territory. But in their voyage evil befel +them; for when they were out at sea, there came upon them such +rough weather, and the stormy sea and the strong wind drove them +so violently on the shore, that all their ships burst, and they +also themselves came with difficulty to the land. Their treasure +was nearly all lost, and some of his men also were taken by the +French; but he himself and his best men returned again to +Scotland, some roughly travelling on foot, and some miserably +mounted. Then King Malcolm advised him to send to King William +over sea, to request his friendship, which he did; and the king +gave it him, and sent after him. Again, therefore, King Malcolm +and his sister gave him and all his men numberless treasures, and +again conducted him very magnificently from their territory. The +sheriff of York came to meet him at Durham, and went all the way +with him; ordering meat and fodder to be found for him at every +castle to which they came, until they came over sea to the king. +Then King William received him with much pomp; and he was there +afterwards in his court, enjoying such rights as he confirmed to +him by law. + +A.D. 1075. This year King William gave Earl Ralph the daughter +of William Fitz-Osborne to wife. This same Ralph was British on +his mother's side; but his father, whose name was also Ralph, was +English; and born in Norfolk. The king therefore gave his son +the earldom of Norfolk and Suffolk; and he then led the bride to +Norwich. + There was that bride-ale + The source of man's bale. +There was Earl Roger, and Earl Waltheof, and bishops, and abbots; +who there resolved, that they would drive the king out of the +realm of England. But it was soon told the king in Normandy how +it was determined. It was Earl Roger and Earl Ralph who were the +authors of that plot; and who enticed the Britons to them, and +sent eastward to Denmark after a fleet to assist them. Roger +went westward to his earldom, and collected his people there, to +the king's annoyance, as he thought; but it was to the great +disadvantage of himself. He was however prevented. Ralph also +in his earldom would go forth with his people; but the castlemen +that were in England and also the people of the land, came +against him, and prevented him from doing anything. He escaped +however to the ships at Norwich. (97) And his wife was in the +castle; which she held until peace was made with her; when she +went out of England, with all her men who wished to join her. +The king afterwards came to England, and seized Earl Roger, his +relative, and put him in prison. And Earl Waltheof went over +sea, and bewrayed himself; but he asked forgiveness, and +proffered gifts of ransom. The king, however, let him off +lightly, until he (98) came to England; when he had him seized. +Soon after that came east from Denmark two hundred ships; wherein +were two captains, Cnute Swainson, and Earl Hacco; but they durst +not maintain a fight with King William. They went rather to +York, and broke into St. Peter's minster, and took therein much +treasure, and so went away. They made for Flanders over sea; but +they all perished who were privy to that design; that was, the +son of Earl Hacco, and many others with him. This year died the +Lady Edgitha, who was the relict of King Edward, seven nights +before Christmas, at Winchester; and the king caused her to be +brought to Westminster with great pomp; and he laid her with King +Edward, her lord. And the king was then at Westminster, at +midwinter; where all the Britons were condemned who were at the +bride-ale at Norwich. Some were punished with blindness; some +were driven from the land; and some were towed to Scandinavia. +So were the traitors of King William subdued. + +A.D. 1076. This year died Sweyne, King of Denmark; and Harold +his son took to the kingdom. And the king gave the abbacy of +Westminster to Abbot Vitalis, who had been Abbot of Bernay. This +year also was Earl Waltheof beheaded at Winchester, on the mass- +day of St. Petronilla; (99) and his body was carried to Croyland, +where he lies buried. King William now went over sea, and led +his army to Brittany, and beset the castle of Dol; but the +Bretons defended it, until the king came from France; whereupon +William departed thence, having lost there both men and horses, +and many of his treasures. + +A.D. 1077. This year were reconciled the king of the Franks and +William, King of England. But it continued only a little while. +This year was London burned, one night before the Assumption of +St. Mary, so terribly as it never was before, since it was built. +This year the moon was eclipsed three nights before Candlemas; +and in the same year died Aylwy, the prudent Abbot of Evesham, on +the fourteenth day before the calends of March, on the mass-day +of St. Juliana; and Walter was appointed abbot in his stead; and +Bishop Herman also died, on the tenth day before the calends of +March, who was Bishop in Berkshire, and in Wiltshire, and in +Dorsetshire. This year also King Malcolm won the mother of +Malslaythe.... and all his best men, and all his treasures, and +his cattle; and he himself not easily escaped.... This year also +was the dry summer; and wild fire came upon many shires, and +burned many towns; and also many cities were ruined thereby. + +A.D. 1079. This year Robert, the son of King William, deserted +from his father to his uncle Robert in Flanders; because his +father would not let him govern his earldom in Normandy; which he +himself, and also King Philip with his permission, had given him. +The best men that were in the land also had sworn oaths of +allegiance to him, and taken him for their lord. This year, +therefore, Robert fought with his father, without Normandy, by a +castle called Gerberoy; and wounded him in the hand; and his +horse, that he sat upon, was killed under him; and he that +brought him another was killed there right with a dart. That was +Tookie Wiggodson. Many were there slain, and also taken. His +son William too was there wounded; but Robert returned to +Flanders. We will not here, however, record any more injury that +he did his father. This year came King Malcolm from Scotland +into England, betwixt the two festivals of St. Mary, with a large +army, which plundered Northumberland till it came to the Tine, +and slew many hundreds of men, and carried home much coin, and +treasure, and men in captivity. + +A.D. 1080. This year was Bishop Walker slain in Durham, at a +council; and an hundred men with him, French and Flemish. He +himself was born in Lorrain. This did the Northumbrians in the +month of May. (100) + +A.D. 1081. This year the king led an army into Wales, and there +freed many hundreds of men. + +A.D. 1082. This year the king seized Bishop Odo; and this year +also was a great famine. + +A.D. 1083. This year arose the tumult at Glastonbury betwixt the +Abbot Thurstan and his monks. It proceeded first from the +abbot's want of wisdom, that he misgoverned his monks in many +things. But the monks meant well to him; and told him that he +should govern them rightly, and love them, and they would be +faithful and obedient to him. The abbot, however, would hear +nothing of this; but evil entreated them, and threatened them +worse. One day the abbot went into the chapter-house, and spoke +against the monks, and attempted to mislead them; (101) and sent +after some laymen, and they came full-armed into the chapter- +house upon the monks. Then were the monks very much afraid (102) +of them, and wist not what they were to do, but they shot +forward, and some ran into the church, and locked the doors after +them. But they followed them into the minster, and resolved to +drag them out, so that they durst not go out. A rueful thing +happened on that day. The Frenchmen broke into the choir, and +hurled their weapons toward the altar, where the monks were; and +some of the knights went upon the upper floor, (103) and shot +their arrows downward incessantly toward the sanctuary; so that +on the crucifix that stood above the altar they stuck many +arrows. And the wretched monks lay about the altar, and some +crept under, and earnestly called upon God, imploring his mercy, +since they could not obtain any at the hands of men. What can we +say, but that they continued to shoot their arrows; whilst the +others broke down the doors, and came in, and slew (104) some of +the monks to death, and wounded many therein; so that the blood +came from the altar upon the steps, and from the steps on the +floor. Three there were slain to death, and eighteen wounded. +And in this same year departed Matilda, queen of King William, on +the day after All-Hallow-mass. And in the same year also, after +mid-winter, the king ordained a large and heavy contribution +(105) over all England; that was, upon each hide of land, two and +seventy pence. + +A.D. 1084. In this year died Wulfwold, Abbot of Chertsey, on the +thirteenth day before the calends of May. + +A.D. 1085. In this year men reported, and of a truth asserted, +that Cnute, King of Denmark, son of King Sweyne, was coming +hitherward, and was resolved to win this land, with the +assistance of Robert, Earl of Flanders; (106) for Cnute had +Robert's daughter. When William, King of England, who was then +resident in Normandy (for he had both England and Normandy), +understood this, he went into England with so large an army of +horse and foot, from France and Brittany, as never before sought +this land; so that men wondered how this land could feed all that +force. But the king left the army to shift for themselves +through all this land amongst his subjects, who fed them, each +according to his quota of land. Men suffered much distress this +year; and the king caused the land to be laid waste about the sea +coast; that, if his foes came up, they might not have anything on +which they could very readily seize. But when the king +understood of a truth that his foes were impeded, and could not +further their expedition, (107) then let he some of the army go +to their own land; but some he held in this land over the winter. +Then, at the midwinter, was the king in Glocester with his +council, and held there his court five days. And afterwards the +archbishop and clergy had a synod three days. There was +Mauritius chosen Bishop of London, William of Norfolk, and Robert +of Cheshire. These were all the king's clerks. After this had +the king a large meeting, and very deep consultation with his +council, about this land; how it was occupied, and by what sort +of men. Then sent he his men over all England into each shire; +commissioning them to find out "How many hundreds of hides were +in the shire, what land the king himself had, and what stock upon +the land; or, what dues he ought to have by the year from the +shire." Also he commissioned them to record in writing, "How +much land his archbishops had, and his diocesan bishops, and his +abbots, and his earls;" and though I may be prolix and tedious, +"What, or how much, each man had, who was an occupier of land in +England, either in land or in stock, and how much money it were +worth." So very narrowly, indeed, did he commission them to +trace it out, that there was not one single hide, nor a yard +(108) of land, nay, moreover (it is shameful to tell, though he +thought it no shame to do it), not even an ox, nor a cow, nor a +swine was there left, that was not set down in his writ. And all +the recorded particulars were afterwards brought to him. (109) + +A.D. 1086. This year the king bare his crown, and held his +court, in Winchester at Easter; and he so arranged, that he was +by the Pentecost at Westminster, and dubbed his son Henry a +knight there. Afterwards he moved about so that he came by +Lammas to Sarum; where he was met by his councillors; and all the +landsmen that were of any account over all England became this +man's vassals as they were; and they all bowed themselves before +him, and became his men, and swore him oaths of allegiance that +they would against all other men be faithful to him. Thence he +proceeded into the Isle of Wight; because he wished to go into +Normandy, and so he afterwards did; though he first did according +to his custom; he collected a very large sum from his people, +wherever he could make any demand, whether with justice or +otherwise. Then he went into Normandy; and Edgar Etheling, the +relation of King Edward, revolted from him, for he received not +much honour from him; but may the Almighty God give him honour +hereafter. And Christina, the sister of the etheling, went into +the monastery of Rumsey, and received the holy veil. And the +same year there was a very heavy season, and a swinkful and +sorrowful year in England, in murrain of cattle, and corn and +fruits were at a stand, and so much untowardness in the weather, +as a man may not easily think; so tremendous was the thunder and +lightning, that it killed many men; and it continually grew worse +and worse with men. May God Almighty better it whenever it be +his will. + +A.D. 1087. After the birth of our Lord and Saviour Christ, one +thousand and eighty-seven winters; in the one and twentieth year +after William began to govern and direct England, as God granted +him, was a very heavy and pestilent season in this land. Such a +sickness came on men, that full nigh every other man was in the +worst disorder, that is, in the diarrhoea; and that so +dreadfully, that many men died in the disorder. Afterwards came, +through the badness of the weather as we before mentioned, so +great a famine over all England, that many hundreds of men died a +miserable death through hunger. Alas! how wretched and how +rueful a time was there! When the poor wretches lay full nigh +driven to death prematurely, and afterwards came sharp hunger, +and dispatched them withall! Who will not be penetrated with +grief at such a season? or who is so hardhearted as not to weep +at such misfortune? Yet such things happen for folks' sins, that +they will not love God and righteousness. So it was in those +days, that little righteousness was in this land with any men but +with the monks alone, wherever they fared well. The king and the +head men loved much, and overmuch, covetousness in gold and in +silver; and recked not how sinfully it was got, provided it came +to them. The king let his land at as high a rate as he possibly +could; then came some other person, and bade more than the former +one gave, and the king let it to the men that bade him more. +Then came the third, and bade yet more; and the king let it to +hand to the men that bade him most of all: and he recked not how +very sinfully the stewards got it of wretched men, nor how many +unlawful deeds they did; but the more men spake about right law, +the more unlawfully they acted. They erected unjust tolls, and +many other unjust things they did, that are difficult to reckon. +Also in the same year, before harvest, the holy minster of St. +Paul, the episcopal see in London, was completely burned, with +many other minsters, and the greatest part, and the richest of +the whole city. So also, about the same time, full nigh each +head-port in all England was entirely burned. Alas! rueful and +woeful was the fate of the year that brought forth so many +misfortunes. In the same year also, before the Assumption of St. +Mary, King William went from Normandy into France with an army, +and made war upon his own lord Philip, the king, and slew many of +his men, and burned the town of Mante, and all the holy minsters +that were in the town; and two holy men that served God, leading +the life of anachorets, were burned therein. This being thus +done, King William returned to Normandy. Rueful was the thing he +did; but a more rueful him befel. How more rueful? He fell +sick, and it dreadfully ailed him. What shall I say? Sharp +death, that passes by neither rich men nor poor, seized him also. +He died in Normandy, on the next day after the Nativity of St. +Mary, and he was buried at Caen in St. Stephen's minster, which +he had formerly reared, and afterwards endowed with manifold +gifts. Alas! how false and how uncertain is this world's weal! +He that was before a rich king, and lord of many lands, had not +then of all his land more than a space of seven feet! and he +that was whilom enshrouded in gold and gems, lay there covered +with mould! He left behind him three sons; the eldest, called +Robert, who was earl in Normandy after him; the second, called +William, who wore the crown after him in England; and the third, +called Henry, to whom his father bequeathed immense treasure. If +any person wishes to know what kind of man he was, or what honour +he had, or of how many lands he was lord, then will we write +about him as well as we understand him: we who often looked upon +him, and lived sometime in his court. This King William then +that we speak about was a very wise man, and very rich; more +splendid and powerful than any of his predecessors were. He was +mild to the good men that loved God, and beyond all measure +severe to the men that gainsayed his will. On that same spot +where God granted him that he should gain England, he reared a +mighty minster, and set monks therein, and well endowed it. In +his days was the great monastery in Canterbury built, and also +very many others over all England. This land was moreover well +filled with monks, who modelled their lives after the rule of St. +Benedict. But such was the state of Christianity in his time, +that each man followed what belonged to his profession -- he that +would. He was also very dignified. Thrice he bare his crown +each year, as oft as he was in England. At Easter he bare it in +Winchester, at Pentecost in Westminster, at midwinter in +Glocester. And then were with him all the rich men over all +England; archbishops and diocesan bishops, abbots and earls, +thanes and knights. So very stern was he also and hot, that no +man durst do anything against his will. He had earls in his +custody, who acted against his will. Bishops he hurled from +their bishoprics, and abbots from their abbacies, and thanes into +prison. At length he spared not his own brother Odo, who was a +very rich bishop in Normandy. At Baieux was his episcopal stall; +and he was the foremost man of all to aggrandise the king. He +had an earldom in England; and when the king was in Normandy, +then was he the mightiest man in this land. Him he confined in +prison. But amongst other things is not to be forgotten that +good peace that he made in this land; so that a man of any +account might go over his kingdom unhurt with his bosom full of +gold. No man durst slay another, had he never so much evil done +to the other; and if any churl lay with a woman against her will, +he soon lost the limb that he played with. He truly reigned over +England; and by his capacity so thoroughly surveyed it, that +there was not a hide of land in England that he wist not who had +it, or what it was worth, and afterwards set it down in his book. +(110) The land of the Britons was in his power; and he wrought +castles therein; and ruled Anglesey withal. So also he subdued +Scotland by his great strength. As to Normandy, that was his +native land; but he reigned also over the earldom called Maine; +and if he might have yet lived two years more, he would have won +Ireland by his valour, and without any weapons. Assuredly in his +time had men much distress, and very many sorrows. Castles he +let men build, and miserably swink the poor. The king himself +was so very rigid; and extorted from his subjects many marks of +gold, and many hundred pounds of silver; which he took of his +people, for little need, by right and by unright. He was fallen +into covetousness, and greediness he loved withal. He made many +deer-parks; and he established laws therewith; so that whosoever +slew a hart, or a hind, should be deprived of his eyesight. As +he forbade men to kill the harts, so also the boars; and he loved +the tall deer as if he were their father. Likewise he decreed by +the hares, that they should go free. His rich men bemoaned it, +and the poor men shuddered at it. But he was so stern, that he +recked not the hatred of them all; for they must follow withal +the king's will, if they would live, or have land, or +possessions, or even his peace. Alas! that any man should +presume so to puff himself up, and boast o'er all men. May the +Almighty God show mercy to his soul, and grant him forgiveness of +his sins! These things have we written concerning him, both good +and evil; that men may choose the good after their goodness, and +flee from the evil withal, and go in the way that leadeth us to +the kingdom of heaven. Many things may we write that were done +in this same year. So it was in Denmark, that the Danes, a +nation that was formerly accounted the truest of all, were turned +aside to the greatest untruth, and to the greatest treachery that +ever could be. They chose and bowed to King Cnute, and swore him +oaths, and afterwards dastardly slew him in a church. It +happened also in Spain, that the heathens went and made inroads +upon the Christians, and reduced much of the country to their +dominion. But the king of the Christians, Alphonzo by name, sent +everywhere into each land, and desired assistance. And they came +to his support from every land that was Christian; and they went +and slew or drove away all the heathen folk, and won their land +again, through God's assistance. In this land also, in the same +year, died many rich men; Stigand, Bishop of Chichester, and the +Abbot of St. Augustine, and the Abbot of Bath, and the Abbot of +Pershore, and the lord of them all, William, King of England, +that we spoke of before. After his death his son, called William +also as the father, took to the kingdom, and was blessed to king +by Archbishop Landfranc at Westminster three days ere Michaelmas +day. And all the men in England submitted to him, and swore +oaths to him. This being thus done, the king went to Winchester, +and opened the treasure house, and the treasures that his father +had gathered, in gold, and in silver, and in vases, and in palls, +and in gems, and in many other valuable things that are difficult +to enumerate. Then the king did as his father bade him ere he +was dead; he there distributed treasures for his father's soul to +each monastery that was in England; to some ten marks of gold, to +some six, to each upland (111) church sixty pence. And into each +shire were sent a hundred pounds of money to distribute amongst +poor men for his soul. And ere he departed, he bade that they +should release all the men that were in prison under his power. +And the king was on the midwinter in London. + +A.D. 1088. In this year was this land much stirred, and filled +with great treachery; so that the richest Frenchmen that were in +this land would betray their lord the king, and would have his +brother Robert king, who was earl in Normandy. In this design +was engaged first Bishop Odo, and Bishop Gosfrith, and William, +Bishop of Durham. So well did the king by the bishop [Odo] that +all England fared according to his counsel, and as he would. And +the bishop thought to do by him as Judas Iscariot did by our +Lord. And Earl Roger was also of this faction; and much people +was with him all Frenchmen. This conspiracy was formed in Lent. +As soon as Easter came, then went they forth, and harrowed, and +burned, and wasted the king's farms; and they despoiled the lands +of all the men that were in the king's service. And they each of +them went to his castle, and manned it, and provisioned it as +well as they could. Bishop Gosfrith, and Robert the peace- +breaker, went to Bristol, and plundered it, and brought the spoil +to the castle. Afterwards they went out of the castle, and +plundered Bath, and all the land thereabout; and all the honor +(112) of Berkeley they laid waste. And the men that eldest were +of Hereford, and all the shire forthwith, and the men of +Shropshire, with much people of Wales, came and plundered and +burned in Worcestershire, until they came to the city itself, +which it was their design to set on fire, and then to rifle the +minster, and win the king's castle to their hands. The worthy +Bishop Wulfstan, seeing these things, was much agitated in his +mind, because to him was betaken the custody of the castle. +Nevertheless his hired men went out of the castle with few +attendants, and, through God's mercy and the bishop's merits, +slew or took five hundred men, and put all the others to flight. +The Bishop of Durham did all the harm that he could over all by +the north. Roger was the name of one of them; (113) who leaped +into the castle at Norwich, and did yet the worst of all over all +that land. Hugh also was one, who did nothing better either in +Leicestershire or in Northamptonshire. The Bishop Odo being one, +though of the same family from which the king himself was +descended, went into Kent to his earldom, and greatly despoiled +it; and having laid waste the lands of the king and of the +archbishop withal, he brought the booty into his castle at +Rochester. When the king understood all these things, and what +treachery they were employing against him, then was he in his +mind much agitated. He then sent after Englishmen, described to +them his need, earnestly requested their support, and promised +them the best laws that ever before were in this land; each +unright guild he forbade, and restored to the men their woods and +chaces. But it stood no while. The Englishmen however went to +the assistance of the king their lord. They advanced toward +Rochester, with a view to get possession of the Bishop Odo; for +they thought, if they had him who was at first the head of the +conspiracy, they might the better get possession of all the +others. They came then to the castle at Tunbridge; and there +were in the castle the knights of Bishop Odo, and many others who +were resolved to hold it against the king. But the Englishmen +advanced, and broke into the castle, and the men that were +therein agreed with the king. The king with his army went toward +Rochester. And they supposed that the bishop was therein; but it +was made known to the king that the bishop was gone to the castle +at Pevensea. And the king with his army went after, and beset +the castle about with a very large force full six weeks. During +this time the Earl of Normandy, Robert, the king's brother, +gathered a very considerable force, and thought to win England +with the support of those men that were in this land against the +king. And he sent some of his men to this land, intending to +come himself after. But the Englishmen that guarded the sea +lighted upon some of the men, and slew them, and drowned more +than any man could tell. When provisions afterwards failed those +within the castle, they earnestly besought peace, and gave +themselves up to the king; and the bishop swore that he would +depart out of England, and no more come on this land, unless the +king sent after him, and that he would give up the castle at +Rochester. Just as the bishop was going with an intention to +give up the castle, and the king had sent his men with him, then +arose the men that were in the castle, and took the bishop and +the king's men, and put them into prison. In the castle were +some very good knights; Eustace the Young, and the three sons of +Earl Roger, and all the best born men that were in this land or +in Normandy. When the king understood this thing, then went he +after with the army that he had there, and sent over all England. +and bade that each man that was faithful should come to him, +French and English, from sea-port and from upland. Then came to +him much people; and he went to Rochester, and beset the castle, +until they that were therein agreed, and gave up the castle. The +Bishop Odo with the men that were in the castle went over sea, +and the bishop thus abandoned the dignity that he had in this +land. The king afterwards sent an army to Durham, and allowed it +to beset the castle, and the bishop agreed, and gave up the +castle, and relinquished his bishopric, and went to Normandy. +Many Frenchmen also abandoned their lands, and went over sea; and +the king gave their lands to the men that were faithful to him. + +A.D. 1089. In this year the venerable father and favourer of +monks, Archbishop Landfranc, departed this life; but we hope that +he is gone to the heavenly kingdom. There was also over all +England much earth-stirring on the third day before the ides of +August, and it was a very late year in corn, and in every kind of +fruits, so that many men reaped their corn about Martinmas, and +yet later. + +A.D. 1090. Indiction XIII. These things thus done, just as we +have already said above, by the king, and by his brother and by +this men, the king was considering how he might wreak his +vengeance on his brother Robert, harass him most, and win +Normandy of him. And indeed through his craft, or through +bribery, he got possession of the castle at St. Valeri, and the +haven; and so he got possession of that at Albemarle. And +therein he set his knights; and they did harm to the land in +harrowing and burning. After this he got possession of more +castles in the land; and therein lodged his horsemen. When the +Earl of Normandy, Robert, understood that his sworn men deceived +him, and gave up their castles to do him harm, then sent he to +his lord, Philip, king of the Franks; and he came to Normandy +with a large army, and the king and the earl with an immense +force beset the castle about, wherein were the men of the King of +England. But the King William of England sent to Philip, king of +the Franks; and he for his love, or for his great treasure, +abandoned thus his subject the Earl Robert and his land; and +returned again to France, and let them so remain. And in the +midst of these things this land was much oppressed by unlawful +exactions and by many other misfortunes. + +A.D. 1091. In this year the King William held his court at +Christmas in Westminster, and thereafter at Candlemas he went, +for the annoyance of his brother, out of England into Normandy. +Whilst he was there, their reconciliation took place, on the +condition, that the earl put into his hands Feschamp, and the +earldom of Ou, and Cherbourg; and in addition to this, that the +king's men should be secure in the castles that they had won +against the will of the earl. And the king in return promised +him those many [castles] that their father had formerly won, and +also to reduce those that had revolted from the earl, also all +that his father had there beyond, except those that he had then +given the king, and that all those, that in England before for +the earl had lost their land, should have it again by this +treaty, and that the earl should have in England just so much as +was specified in this agreement. And if the earl died without a +son by lawful wedlock, the king should be heir of all Normandy; +and by virtue of this same treaty, if the king died, the earl +should be heir of all England. To this treaty swore twelve of +the best men of the king's side, and twelve of the earl's, though +it stood but a little while afterwards. In the midst of this +treaty was Edgar Etheling deprived of the land that the earl had +before permitted him to keep in hand; and he went out of Normandy +to the king, his sister's husband, in Scotland, and to his +sister. Whilst the King William was out of England, the King +Malcolm of Scotland came hither into England, and overran a great +deal of it, until the good men that governed this land sent an +army against him and repulsed him. When the King William in +Normandy heard this, then prepared he his departure, and came to +England, and his brother, the Earl Robert, with him; and he soon +issued an order to collect a force both naval and military; but +the naval force, ere it could come to Scotland, perished almost +miserably, a few days before St. Michael's mass. And the king +and his brother proceeded with the land-force; but when the King +Malcolm heard that they were resolved to seek him with an army, +he went with his force out of Scotland into Lothaine in England, +and there abode. When the King William came near with his army, +then interceded between them Earl Robert, and Edgar Etheling, and +so made the peace of the kings, that the King Malcolm came to our +king, and did homage, (114) promising all such obedience as he +formerly paid to his father; and that he confirmed with an oath. +And the King William promised him in land and in all things +whatever he formerly had under his father. In this settlement +was also Edgar Etheling united with the king. And the kings then +with much satisfaction departed; yet that stood but a little +while. And the Earl Robert tarried here full nigh until +Christmas with the king, and during this time found but little of +the truth of their agreement; and two days before that tide he +took ship in the Isle of Wight, and went into Normandy, and Edgar +Etheling with him. + +A.D. 1092. In this year the King William with a large army went +north to Carlisle, and restored the town, and reared the castle, +and drove out Dolphin that before governed the land, and set his +own men in the castle, and then returned hither southward. And a +vast number of rustic people with wives and with cattle he sent +thither, to dwell there in order to till the land. + +A.D. 1093. In this year, during Lent, was the King William at +Glocester so sick, that he was by all reported dead. And in his +illness he made many good promises to lead his own life aright; +to grant peace and protection to the churches of God, and never +more again with fee to sell; to have none but righteous laws +amongst his people. The archbishopric of Canterbury, that before +remained in his own hand, he transferred to Anselm, who was +before Abbot of Bec; to Robert his chancellor the bishopric of +Lincoln; and to many minsters he gave land; but that he +afterwards took away, when he was better, and annulled all the +good laws that he promised us before. Then after this sent the +King of Scotland, and demanded the fulfilment of the treaty that +was promised him. And the King William cited him to Glocester, +and sent him hostages to Scotland; and Edgar Etheling, +afterwards, and the men returned, that brought him with great +dignity to the king. But when he came to the king, he could not +be considered worthy either of our king's speech, or of the +conditions that were formerly promised him. For this reason +therefore they parted with great dissatisfaction, and the King +Malcolm returned to Scotland. And soon after he came home, he +gathered his army, and came harrowing into England with more +hostility than behoved him; and Robert, the Earl of +Northumberland, surrounded him unawares with his men, and slew +him. Morel of Barnborough slew him, who was the earl's steward, +and a baptismal friend (115) of King Malcolm. With him was also +slain Edward his son; who after him should have been king, if he +had lived. When the good Queen Margaret heard this -- her most +beloved lord and son thus betrayed she was in her mind almost +distracted to death. She with her priests went to church, and +performed her rites, and prayed before God, that she might give +up the ghost. And the Scots then chose (116) Dufenal to king, +Malcolm's brother, and drove out all the English that formerly +were with the King Malcolm. When Duncan, King Malcolm's son, +heard all that had thus taken place (he was then in the King +William's court, because his father had given him as a hostage to +our king's father, and so he lived here afterwards), he came to +the king, and did such fealty as the king required at his hands; +and so with his permission went to Scotland, with all the support +that he could get of English and French, and deprived his uncle +Dufenal of the kingdom, and was received as king. But the Scots +afterwards gathered some force together, and slew full nigh all +his men; and he himself with a few made his escape. (117) +Afterwards they were reconciled, on the condition that he never +again brought into the land English or French. + +A.D. 1094. This year the King William held his court at +Christmas in Glocester; and messengers came to him thither from +his brother Robert of Normandy; who said that his brother +renounced all peace and conditions, unless the king would fulfil +all that they had stipulated in the treaty; and upon that he +called him forsworn and void of truth, unless he adhered to the +treaty, or went thither and explained himself there, where the +treaty was formerly made and also sworn. Then went the king to +Hastings at Candlemas; and whilst he there abode waiting the +weather, he let hallow the minster at Battel, and deprived +Herbert Losang, the Bishop of Thetford, of his staff; and +thereafter about mid-Lent went over sea into Normandy. After he +came, thither, he and his brother Robert, the earl, said that +they should come together in peace (and so they did), and might +be united. Afterwards they came together with the same men that +before made the treaty, and also confirmed it by oaths; and all +the blame of breaking the treaty they threw upon the king; but he +would not confess this, nor even adhere to the treaty; and for +this reason they parted with much dissatisfaction. And the king +afterwards won the castle at Bures, and took the earl's men +therein; some of whom he sent hither to this land. On the other +hand the earl, with the assistance of the King of France, won the +castle at Argence, and took therein Roger of Poitou, (118) and +seven hundred of the king's knights with him; and afterwards that +at Hulme; and oft readily did either of them burn the towns of +the other, and also took men. Then sent the king hither to this +land, and ordered twenty thousand Englishmen to be sent out to +Normandy to his assistance; but when they came to sea, they then +had orders to return, and to pay to the king's behoof the fee +that they had taken; which was half a pound each man; and they +did so. And the earl after this, with the King of France, and +with all that he could gather together, went through the midst of +Normandy, towards Ou, where the King William was, and thought to +besiege him within; and so they advanced until they came to +Luneville. There was the King of France through cunning turned +aside; and so afterwards all the army dispersed. In the midst of +these things the King William sent after his brother Henry, who +was in the castle at Damfront; but because he could not go +through Normandy with security, he sent ships after him, and +Hugh, Earl of Chester. When, however, they should have gone +towards Ou where the king was, they went to England, and came up +at Hamton, (119) on the eve of the feast of All Saints, and here +afterwards abode; and at Christmas they were in London. In this +same year also the Welshmen gathered themselves together, and +with the French that were in Wales, or in the neighbourhood, and +had formerly seized their land, stirred up war, and broke into +many fastnesses and castles, and slew many men. And when their +followers had increased, they divided themselves into larger +parties. With some part of them fought Hugh, Earl of Shropshire, +(120) and put them to flight. Nevertheless the other part of +them all this year omitted no evil that they could do. This year +also the Scots ensnared their king, Duncan, and slew him; and +afterwards, the second time, took his uncle Dufenal to king, +through whose instruction and advice he was betrayed to death. + +A.D. 1095. In this year was the King William the first four days +of Christmas at Whitsand, and after the fourth day came hither, +and landed at Dover. And Henry, the king's brother, abode in +this land until Lent, and then went over sea to Normandy, with +much treasure, on the king's behalf, against their brother, Earl +Robert, and frequently fought against the earl, and did him much +harm, both in land and in men. And then at Easter held the king +his court in Winchester; and the Earl Robert of Northumberland +would not come to court. And the king was much stirred to anger +with him for this, and sent to him, and bade him harshly, if he +would be worthy of protection, that he would come to court at +Pentecost. In this year was Easter on the eighth day before the +calends of April; and upon Easter, on the night of the feast of +St Ambrose, that is, the second before the nones of April, (121) +nearly over all this land, and almost all the night, numerous and +manifold stars were seen to fall from heaven; not by one or two, +but so thick in succession, that no man could tell it. Hereafter +at Pentecost was the king at Windsor, and all his council with +him, except the Earl of Northumberland; for the king would +neither give him hostages, nor own upon truth, that he might come +and go with security. And the king therefore ordered his army, +and went against the earl to Northumberland; and soon after he +came thither, he won many and nearly all the best of the earl's +clan in a fortress, and put them into custody; and the castle at +Tinemouth he beset until he won it, and the earl's brother +therein, and all that were with him; and afterwards went to +Bamborough, and beset the earl therein. But when the king saw +that he could not win it, then ordered he his men to make a +castle before Bamborough, and called it in his speech +"Malveisin"; that is in English, "Evil Neighbour". And he +fortified it strongly with his men, and afterwards went +southward. Then, soon after that the king was gone south, went +the earl one night out of Bamborough towards Tinemouth; but they +that were in the new castle were aware of him, and went after +him, and fought him, and wounded him, and afterwards took him. +And of those that were with him some they slew, and some they +took alive. Among these things it was made known to the king, +that the Welshmen in Wales had broken into a castle called +Montgomery, and slain the men of Earl Hugo, that should have held +it. He therefore gave orders to levy another force immediately, +and after Michaelmas went into Wales, and shifted his forces, and +went through all that land, so that the army came all together by +All Saints to Snowdon. But the Welsh always went before into the +mountains and the moors, that no man could come to them. The +king then went homeward; for he saw that he could do no more +there this winter. When the king came home again, he gave orders +to take the Earl Robert of Northumberland, and lead him to +Bamborough, and put out both his eyes, unless they that were +therein would give up the castle. His wife held it, and Morel +who was steward, and also his relative. Through this was the +castle then given up; and Morel was then in the king's court; and +through him were many both of the clergy and laity surrendered, +who with their counsels had conspired against the king. The king +had before this time commanded some to be brought into prison, +and afterwards had it very strictly proclaimed over all this +country, "That all who held land of the king, as they wished to +be considered worthy of protection, should come to court at the +time appointed." And the king commanded that the Earl Robert +should be led to Windsor, and there held in the castle. Also in +this same year, against Easter, came the pope's nuncio hither to +this land. This was Bishop Walter, a man of very good life, of +the town of Albano; and upon the day of Pentecost on the behalf +of Pope Urban he gave Archbishop Anselm his pall, and he received +him at his archiepiscopal stall in Canterbury. And Bishop Walter +remained afterwards in this land a great part of the year; and +men then sent by him the Rome-scot, (122) which they had not done +for many years before. This same year also the weather was very +unseasonable; in consequence of which throughout all this land +were all the fruits of the earth reduced to a moderate crop. + +A.D. 1096. In this year held the King William his court at +Christmas in Windsor; and William Bishop of Durham died there on +new-year's day; and on the octave of the Epiphany was the king +and all his councillors at Salisbury. There Geoffry Bainard +challenged William of Ou, the king's relative, maintaining that +he had been in the conspiracy against the king. And he fought +with him, and overcame him in single combat; and after he was +overcome, the king gave orders to put out his eyes, and +afterwards to emasculate him; and his steward, William by name, +who was the son of his stepmother, the king commanded to be +hanged on a gibbet. Then was also Eoda, Earl of Champagne, the +king's son-in-law, and many others, deprived of their lands; +whilst some were led to London, and there killed. This year +also, at Easter, there was a very great stir through all this +nation and many others, on account of Urban, who was declared +Pope, though he had nothing of a see at Rome. And an immense +multitude went forth with their wives and children, that they +might make war upon the heathens. Through this expedition were +the king and his brother, Earl Robert, reconciled; so that the +king went over sea, and purchased all Normandy of him, on +condition that they should be united. And the earl afterwards +departed; and with him the Earl of Flanders, and the Earl of +Boulogne, and also many other men of rank (123). And the Earl +Robert, and they that went with him, passed the winter in Apulia; +but of the people that went by Hungary many thousands miserably +perished there and by the way. And many dragged themselves home +rueful and hunger-bitten on the approach of winter. This was a +very heavy-timed year through all England, both through the +manifold tributes, and also through the very heavy-timed hunger +that severely oppressed this earth in the course of the year. In +this year also the principal men who held this land, frequently +sent forces into Wales, and many men thereby grievously +afflicted, producing no results but destruction of men and waste +of money. + +A.D. 1097. In this year was the King William at Christmas in +Normandy; and afterwards against Easter he embarked for this +land; for that he thought to hold his court at Winchester; but he +was weather-bound until Easter-eve, when he first landed at +Arundel; and for this reason held his court at Windsor. And +thereafter with a great army he went into Wales, and quickly +penetrated that land with his forces, through some of the Welsh +who were come to him, and were his guides; and he remained in +that country from midsummer nearly until August, and suffered +much loss there in men and in horses, and also in many other +things. The Welshmen, after they had revolted from the king, +chose them many elders from themselves; one of whom was called +Cadwgan, (124) who was the worthiest of them, being brother's son +to King Griffin. And when the king saw that he could do nothing +in furtherance of his will, he returned again into this land; and +soon after that he let his men build castles on the borders. +Then upon the feast of St. Michael, the fourth day before the +nones of October, (125) appeared an uncommon star, shining in the +evening, and soon hastening to set. It (126) was seen south-west, +and the ray that stood off from it was thought very long, shining +south-east. And it appeared on this wise nearly all the week. +Many men supposed that it was a comet. Soon after this +Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury obtained leave (127) of the king +(though it was contrary to the wishes of the king, as men +supposed), and went over sea; because he thought that men in this +country did little according to right and after his instruction. +And the king thereafter upon St. Martin's mass went over sea into +Normandy; but whilst he was waiting for fair weather, his court +in the county where they lay, did the most harm that ever court +or army could do in a friendly and peaceable land. This was in +all things a very heavy-timed year, and beyond measure laborious +from badness of weather, both when men attempted to till the +land, and afterwards to gather the fruits of their tilth; and +from unjust contributions they never rested. Many counties also +that were confined to London by work, were grievously oppressed +on account of the wall that they were building about the tower, +and the bridge that was nearly all afloat, and the work of the +king's hall that they were building at Westminster; and many men +perished thereby. Also in this same year soon after Michaelmas +went Edgar Etheling with an army through the king's assistance +into Scotland, and with hard fighting won that land, and drove +out the King Dufnal; and his nephew Edgar, who was son of King +Malcolm and of Margaret the queen, he there appointed king in +fealty to the King William; and afterwards again returned to +England. + +A.D. 1098. In this year at Christmas was the King William in +Normandy; and Walkelin, Bishop of Winchester, and Baldwin, Abbot +of St. Edmund's, within this tide (128) both departed. And in +this year also died Turold, Abbot of Peterborough. In the summer +of this year also, at Finchamstead in Berkshire, a pool welled +with blood, as many true men said that should see it. And Earl +Hugh was slain in Anglesey by foreign pirates, (129) and his +brother Robert was his heir, as he had settled it before with the +king. Before Michaelmas the heaven was of such an hue, as if it +were burning, nearly all the night. This was a very troublesome +year through manifold impositions; and from the abundant rains, +that ceased not all the year, nearly all the tilth in the marsh- +lands perished. + +A.D. 1099. This year was the King William at midwinter in +Normandy, and at Easter came hither to land, and at Pentecost +held his court the first time in his new building at Westminster; +and there he gave the bishopric of Durham to Ranulf his chaplain, +who had long directed and governed his councils over all England. +And soon after this he went over sea, and drove the Earl Elias +out of Maine, which he reduced under his power, and so by +Michaelmas returned to this land. This year also, on the +festival of St. Martin, the sea-flood sprung up to such a height, +and did so much harm, as no man remembered that it ever did +before. And this was the first day of the new moon. And Osmond, +Bishop of Salisbury, died in Advent. + +A.D. 1100. In this year the King William held his court at +Christmas in Glocester, and at Easter in Winchester, and at +Pentecost in Westminster. And at Pentecost was seen in Berkshire +at a certain town blood to well from the earth; as many said that +should see it. And thereafter on the morning after Lammas day +was the King William shot in hunting, by an arrow from his own +men, and afterwards brought to Winchester, and buried in the +cathedral. (130) This was in the thirteenth year after that he +assumed the government. He was very harsh and severe over his +land and his men, and with all his neighbours; and very +formidable; and through the counsels of evil men, that to him +were always agreeable, and through his own avarice, he was ever +tiring this nation with an army, and with unjust contributions. +For in his days all right fell to the ground, and every wrong +rose up before God and before the world. God's church he +humbled; and all the bishoprics and abbacies, whose elders fell +in his days, he either sold in fee, or held in his own hands, and +let for a certain sum; because he would be the heir of every man, +both of the clergy and laity; so that on the day that he fell he +had in his own hand the archbishopric of Canterbury, with the +bishopric of Winchester, and that of Salisbury, and eleven +abbacies, all let for a sum; and (though I may be tedious) all +that was loathsome to God and righteous men, all that was +customary in this land in his time. And for this he was loathed +by nearly all his people, and odious to God, as his end +testified: -- for he departed in the midst of his +unrighteousness, without any power of repentance or recompense +for his deeds. On the Thursday he was slain; and in the morning +afterwards buried; and after he was buried, the statesmen that +were then nigh at hand, chose his brother Henry to king. And he +immediately (131) gave the bishopric of Winchester to William +Giffard; and afterwards went to London; and on the Sunday +following, before the altar at Westminster, he promised God and +all the people, to annul all the unrighteous acts that took place +in his brother's time, and to maintain the best laws that were +valid in any king's day before him. And after this the Bishop of +London, Maurice, consecrated him king; and all in this land +submitted to him, and swore oaths, and became his men. And the +king, soon after this, by the advice of those that were about +him, allowed men to take the Bishop Ranulf of Durham, and bring +him into the Tower of London, and hold him there. Then, before +Michaelmas, came the Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury hither to +this land; as the King Henry, by the advice of his ministers had +sent after him, because he had gone out of this land for the +great wrongs that the King William did unto him. And soon +hereafter the king took him to wife Maud, daughter of Malcolm, +King of Scotland, and of Margaret the good queen, the relative of +King Edward, and of the right royal (132) race of England. And +on Martinmas day she was publicly given to him with much pomp at +Westminster, and the Archbishop Anselm wedded her to him, and +afterwards consecrated her queen. And the Archbishop Thomas of +York soon hereafter died. During the harvest of this same year +also came the Earl Robert home into Normandy, and the Earl Robert +of Flanders, Eustace, Earl of Boulogne, from Jerusalem. And as +soon as the Earl Robert came into Normandy, he was joyfully +received by all his people; except those of the castles that were +garrisoned with the King Henry's men. Against them he had many +contests and struggles. + +A.D. 1101. In this year at Christmas held the King Henry his +court in Westminster, and at Easter in Winchester. And soon +thereafter were the chief men in this land in a conspiracy +against the king; partly from their own great infidelity, and +also through the Earl Robert of Normandy, who with hostility +aspired to the invasion of this land. And the king afterwards +sent ships out to sea, to thwart and impede his brother; but some +of them in the time of need fell back, and turned from the king, +and surrendered themselves to the Earl Robert. Then at midsummer +went the king out to Pevensey with all his force against his +brother, and there awaited him. But in the meantime came the +Earl Robert up at Portsmouth twelve nights before Lammas; and the +king with all his force came against him. But the chief men +interceded between them, and settled the brothers on the +condition, "that the king should forego all that he held by main +strength in Normandy against the earl; and that all then in +England should have their lands again, who had lost it before +through the earl, and Earl Eustace also all his patrimony in this +land; and that the Earl Robert every year should receive from +England three thousand marks of silver; and particularly, that +whichever of the brothers should survive the other, he should be +heir of all England and also of Normandy, except the deceased +left an heir by lawful wedlock." And this twelve men of the +highest rank on either side then confirmed with an oath. And the +earl afterwards remained in this land till after Michaelmas; and +his men did much harm wherever they went, the while that the earl +continued in this land. This year also the Bishop Ranulf at +Candlemas burst out of the Tower of London by night, where he was +in confinement, and went into Normandy; through whose contrivance +and instigation mostly the Earl Robert this year sought this land +with hostility. + +A.D. 1102. In this year at the Nativity was the King Henry at +Westminster, and at Easter in Winchester. And soon thereafter +arose a dissention between the king and the Earl Robert of +Belesme, who held in this land the earldom of Shrewsbury, that +his father, Earl Roger, had before, and much territory therewith +both on this side and beyond the sea. And the king went and +beset the castle at Arundel; but when he could not easily win it, +he allowed men to make castles before it, and filled them with +his men; and afterwards with all his army he went to Bridgenorth, +and there continued until he had the castle, and deprived the +Earl Robert of his land, and stripped him of all that he had in +England. And the earl accordingly went over sea, and the army +afterwards returned home. Then was the king thereafter by +Michaelmas at Westminster; and all the principal men in this +land, clerk, and laity. And the Archbishop Anselm held a synod +of clergy; and there they established many canons that belong to +Christianity. And many, both French and English, were there +deprived of their staves and dignity, which they either obtained +with injustice, or enjoyed with dishonour. And in this same +year, in the week of the feast of Pentecost, there came thieves, +some from Auvergne, (133) some from France, and some from +Flanders, and broke into the minster of Peterborough, and therein +seized much property in gold and in silver; namely, roods, and +chalices, and candlesticks. + +A.D. 1103. In this year, at midwinter, was the King Henry at +Westminster. And soon afterwards departed the Bishop William +Giffard out of this land; because he would not against right +accept his hood at the hands of the Archbishop Gerard of York. +And then at Easter held the king his court at Winchester, and +afterwards went the Archbishop Anselm from Canterbury to Rome, as +was agreed between him and the king. This year also came the +Earl Robert of Normandy to speak with the king in this land; and +ere he departed hence he forgave the King Henry the three +thousand marks that he was bound by treaty to give him each year. +In this year also at Hamstead in Berkshire was seen blood [to +rise] from the earth. This was a very calamitous year in this +land, through manifold impositions, and through murrain of +cattle, and deficiency of produce, not only in corn, but in every +kind of fruit. Also in the morning, upon the mass day of St. +Laurence, the wind did so much harm here on land to all fruits, +as no man remembered that ever any did before. In this same year +died Matthias, Abbot of Peterborough, who lived no longer than +one year after he was abbot. After Michaelmas, on the twelfth +day before the calends of November, he was in full procession +received as abbot; and on the same day of the next year he was +dead at Glocester, and there buried. + +A.D. 1104. In this year at Christmas held the King Henry his +court at Westminster, and at Easter in Winchester, and at +Pentecost again at Westminster. This year was the first day of +Pentecost on the nones of June; and on the Tuesday following were +seen four circles at mid-day about the sun, of a white hue, each +described under the other as if they were measured. All that saw +it wondered; for they never remembered such before. Afterwards +were reconciled the Earl Robert of Normandy and Robert de +Belesme, whom the King Henry had before deprived of his lands, +and driven from England; and through their reconciliation the +King of England and the Earl of Normandy became adversaries. And +the king sent his folk over sea into Normandy; and the head-men +in that land received them, and with treachery to their lord, the +earl, lodged them in their castles, whence they committed many +outrages on the earl in plundering and burning. This year also +William, Earl of Moreton (134) went from this land into Normandy; +but after he was gone he acted against the king; because the king +stripped and deprived him of all that he had here in this land. +It is not easy to describe the misery of this land, which it was +suffering through various and manifold wrongs and impositions, +that never failed nor ceased; and wheresoever the king went, +there was full licence given to his company to harrow and oppress +his wretched people; and in the midst thereof happened oftentimes +burnings and manslaughter. All this was done to the displeasure +of God, and to the vexation of this unhappy people. + +A.D. 1105. In this year, on the Nativity, held the King Henry +his court at Windsor; and afterwards in Lent he went over sea +into Normandy against his brother Earl Robert. And whilst he +remained there he won of his brother Caen and Baieux; and almost +all the castles and the chief men in that land were subdued. And +afterwards by harvest he returned hither again; and that which he +had won in Normandy remained afterwards in peace and subjection +to him; except that which was anywhere near the Earl William of +Moretaine. This he often demanded as strongly as he could for +the loss of his land in this country. And then before Christmas +came Robert de Belesme hither to the king. This was a very +calamitous year in this land, through loss of fruits, and through +the manifold contributions, that never ceased before the king +went over [to Normandy], or while he was there, or after he came +back again. + +A.D. 1106. In this year was the King Henry on the Nativity at +Westminster, and there held his court; and at that season Robert +de Belesme went unreconciled from the king out of his land into +Normandy. Hereafter before Lent was the king at Northampton; and +the Earl Robert his brother came thither from Normandy to him; +and because the king would not give him back that which he had +taken from him in Normandy, they parted in hostility; and the +earl soon went over sea back again. In the first week of Lent, +on the Friday, which was the fourteenth before the calends of +March, in the evening appeared an unusual star; and a long time +afterwards was seen every evening shining awhile. The star +appeared in the south-west; it was thought little and dark; but +the train of light which stood from it was very bright, and +appeared like an immense beam shining north-east; and some +evening this beam was seen as if it were moving itself forwards +against the star. Some said that they saw more of such unusual +stars at this time; but we do not write more fully about it, +because we saw it not ourselves. On the night preceding the +Lord's Supper, (135) that is, the Thursday before Easter, were +seen two moons in the heavens before day, the one in the east, +and the other in the west, both full; and it was the fourteenth +day of the moon. At Easter was the king at Bath, and at +Pentecost at Salisbury; because he would not hold his court when +he was beyond the sea. After this, and before August, went the +king over sea into Normandy; and almost all that were in that +land submitted to his will, except Robert de Belesme and the Earl +of Moretaine, and a few others of the principal persons who yet +held with the Earl of Normandy. For this reason the king +afterwards advanced with an army, and beset a castle of the Earl +of Moretaine, called Tenerchebrai. (136) Whilst the king beset +the castle, came the Earl Robert of Normandy on Michaelmas eve +against the king with his army, and with him Robert of Belesme, +and William, Earl of Moretaine, and all that would be with them; +but the strength and the victory were the king's. There was the +Earl of Normandy taken, and the Earl of Moretaine, and Robert of +Stutteville, and afterwards sent to England, and put into +custody. Robert of Belesme was there put to flight, and William +Crispin was taken, and many others forthwith. Edgar Etheling, +who a little before had gone over from the king to the earl, was +also there taken, whom the king afterwards let go unpunished. +Then went the king over all that was in Normandy, and settled it +according to his will and discretion. This year also were heavy +and sinful conflicts between the Emperor of Saxony and his son, +and in the midst of these conflicts the father fell, and the son +succeeded to the empire. + +A.D. 1107. In this year at Christmas was the King Henry in +Normandy; and, having disposed and settled that land to his will, +he afterwards came hither in Lent, and at Easter held his court +at Windsor, and at Pentecost in Westminster. And afterwards in +the beginning of August he was again at Westminster, and there +gave away and settled the bishoprics and abbacies that either in +England or in Normandy were without elders and pastors. Of these +there were so many, that there was no man who remembered that +ever so many together were given away before. And on this same +occasion, among the others who accepted abbacies, Ernulf, who +before was prior at Canterbury, succeeded to the abbacy in +Peterborough. This was nearly about seven years after the King +Henry undertook the kingdom, and the one and fortieth year since +the Franks governed this land. Many said that they saw sundry +tokens in the moon this year, and its orb increasing and +decreasing 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 died the King Edgar in Scotland, on +the ides of January, and Alexander his brother succeeded to the +kingdom, as the King Henry granted him. + +A.D. 1108. In this year was the King Henry on the Nativity at +Westminster, and at Easter at Winchester, and by Pentecost at +Westminster again. After this, before August, he went into +Normandy. And Philip, the King of France, died on the nones of +August, and his son Louis succeeded to the kingdom. And there +were afterwards many struggles between the King of France and the +King of England, while the latter remained in Normandy. In this +year also died the Archbishop Girard of York, before Pentecost, +and Thomas was afterwards appointed thereto. + +A.D. 1109. In this year was the King Henry at Christmas and at +Easter in Normandy; and before Pentecost he came to this land, +and held his court at Westminster. There were the conditions +fully settled, and the oaths sworn, for giving his daughter (137) +to the emperor. (138) This year were very frequent storms of +thunder, and very tremendous; and the Archbishop Anselm of +Canterbury died on the eleventh day before the calends of April; +and the first day of Easter was on "Litania major". + +A.D. 1110. In this year held the King Henry his court at +Christmas in Westminster, and at Easter he was at Marlborough, +and at Pentecost he held his court for the first time in 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 in the month of May appeared the moon shining bright +in the evening, and afterwards by little and little its light +diminished, so that, as soon as night came, (139) it was so +completely extinguished withal, that neither light, nor orb, nor +anything at all of it was seen. And so it continued nearly until +day, and then appeared shining full and bright. It was this same +day a fortnight old. All the night was the firmament very clear, +and the stars over all the heavens shining very bright. And the +fruits of the trees were this night sorely nipt by frost. +Afterwards, in the month of June, appeared a star north-east, and +its train stood before it towards the south-west. Thus was it +seen many nights; and as the night advanced, when it rose higher, +it was seen going backward toward the north-west. This year were +deprived of their lands Philip of Braiose, and William Mallet, +and William Bainard. This year also died Earl Elias, who held +Maine in fee-tail (140) of King Henry; and after his death the +Earl of Anjou succeeded to it, and held it against the king. +This was a very calamitous year in this land, through the +contributions which the king received for his daughter's portion, +and through the badness of the weather, by which the fruits of +the earth were very much marred, and the produce of the trees +over all this land almost entirely perished. This year men began +first to work at the new minster at Chertsey. + +A.D. 1111. This year the King Henry bare not his crown at +Christmas, nor at Easter, nor at Pentecost. And in August he +went over sea into Normandy, on account of the broils that some +had with him by the confines of France, and chiefly on account of +the Earl of Anjou, who held Maine against him. And after he came +over thither, many conspiracies, and burnings, and harrowings, +did they between them. In this year died the Earl Robert of +Flanders, and his son Baldwin succeeded thereto. (141) This year +was the winter very long, and the season heavy and severe; and +through that were the fruits of the earth sorely marred, and +there was the greatest murrain of cattle that any man could +remember. + +A.D. 1112. All this year remained the King Henry in Normandy on +account of the broils that he had with France, and with the Earl +of Anjou, who held Maine against him. And whilst he was there, +he deprived of their lands the Earl of Evreux, and William +Crispin, and drove them out of Normandy. To Philip of Braiose he +restored his land, who had been before deprived of it; and Robert +of Belesme he suffered to be seized, and put into prison. This +was a very good year, and very fruitful, in wood and in field; +but it was a very heavy time and sorrowful, through a severe +mortality amongst men. + +A.D. 1113. In this year was the King Henry on the Nativity and +at Easter and at Pentecost in Normandy. And after that, in the +summer, he sent hither Robert of Belesme into the castle at +Wareham, and himself soon (142) afterwards came hither to this +land. + +A.D. 1114. In this year held the King Henry his court on the +Nativity at Windsor, and held no other court afterwards during +the year. And at midsummer he went with an army into Wales; and +the Welsh came and made peace with the king. And he let men +build castles therein. And thereafter, in September, he went +over sea into Normandy. This year, in the latter end of May, was +seen an uncommon star with a long train, shining many nights. In +this year also was so great an ebb of the tide everywhere in one +day, as no man remembered before; so that men went riding and +walking over the Thames eastward of London bridge. This year +were very violent winds in the month of October; but it was +immoderately rough in the night of the octave of St. Martin; and +that was everywhere manifest both in town and country. In this +year also the king gave the archbishopric of Canterbury to Ralph, +who was before Bishop of Rochester; and Thomas, Archbishop of +York, died; and Turstein succeeded thereto, who was before the +king's chaplain. About this same time went the king toward the +sea, and was desirous of going over, but the weather prevented +him; then meanwhile sent he his writ after the Abbot Ernulf of +Peterborough, and bade that he should come to him quickly, for +that he wished to speak with him on an interesting subject. When +he came to him, he appointed him to the bishopric of Rochester; +and the archbishops and bishops and all the nobility that were in +England coincided with the king. And he long withstood, but it +availed nothing. And the king bade the archbishop that he should +lead him to Canterbury, and consecrate him bishop whether he +would or not. (143) This was done in the town called Bourne +(144) on the seventeenth day before the calends of October. When +the monks of Peterborough heard of this, they felt greater sorrow +than they had ever experienced before; because he was a very good +and amiable man, and did much good within and without whilst he +abode there. God Almighty abide ever with him. Soon after this +gave the king the abbacy to a monk of Sieyes, whose name was +John, through the intreaty of the Archbishop of Canterbury. And +soon after this the king and the Archbishop of Canterbury sent +him to Rome after the archbishop's pall; and a monk also with +him, whose name was Warner, and the Archdeacon John, the nephew +of the archbishop. And they sped well there. This was done on +the seventh day before the calends Of October, in the town that +is yclept Rowner. And this same day went the king on board ship +at Portsmouth. + +A.D. 1115. This year was the King Henry on the Nativity in +Normandy. And whilst he was there, he contrived that all the +head men in Normandy did homage and fealty to his son William, +whom he had by his queen. And after this, in the month of July, +he returned to this land. This year was the winter so severe, +with snow and with frost, that no man who was then living ever +remembered one more severe; in consequence of which there was +great destruction of cattle. During this year the Pope Paschalis +sent the pall into this land to Ralph, Archbishop of Canterbury; +and he received it with great worship at his archiepiscopal stall +in Canterbury. It was brought hither from Rome by Abbot Anselm, +who was the nephew of Archbishop Anselm, and the Abbot John of +Peterborough. + +A.D. 1116. In this year was the King Henry on the Nativity at +St. Alban's, where he permitted the consecration of that +monastery; and at Easter he was at Odiham. And there was also +this year a very heavy-timed winter, strong and long, for cattle +and for all things. And the king soon after Easter went over sea +into Normandy. And there were many conspiracies and robberies, +and castles taken betwixt France and Normandy. Most of this +disturbance was because the King Henry assisted his nephew, +Theobald de Blois, who was engaged in a war against his lord, +Louis, the King of France. This was a very vexatious and +destructive year with respect to the fruits of the earth, through +the immoderate rains that fell soon after the beginning of +August, harassing and perplexing men till Candlemas-day. This +year also was so deficient in mast, that there was never heard +such in all this land or in Wales. This land and nation were +also this year oft and sorely swincked by the guilds which the +king took both within the boroughs and without. In this same +year was consumed by fire the whole monastery of Peterborough, +and all the buildings, except the chapter-house and the +dormitory, and therewith also all the greater part of the town. +All this happened on a Friday, which was the second day before +the nones of August. + +A.D. 1117. All this year remained the King Henry, in Normandy, +on account of the hostility of the King of France and his other +neighbours. And in the summer came the King of France and the +Earl of Flanders with him with an army into Normandy. And having +stayed therein one night, they returned again in the morning +without fighting. But Normandy was very much afflicted both by +the exactions and by the armies which the King Henry collected +against them. This nation also was severely oppressed through +the same means, namely, through manifold exactions. This year +also, in the night of the calends of December, were immoderate +storms with thunder, and lightning, and rain, and hail. And in +the night of the third day before the ides of December was the +moon, during a long time of the night, as if covered with blood, +and afterwards eclipsed. Also in the night of the seventeenth +day before the calends of January, was the heaven seen very red, +as if it were burning. And on the octave of St. John the +Evangelist was the great earthquake in Lombardy; from the shock +of which many minsters, and towers, and houses fell, and did much +harm to men. This was a very blighted year in corn, through the +rains that scarcely ceased for nearly all the year. And the +Abbot Gilbert of Westminster died on the eighth day before the +ides of December; and Faritz, Abbot of Abingdon, on the seventh +day before the calends of March. And in this same year.... + +A.D. 1118. All this year abode the King Henry in Normandy on +account of the war of the King of France and the Earl of Anjou, +and the Earl of Flanders. And the Earl of Flanders was wounded +in Normandy, and went so wounded into Flanders. By this war was +the king much exhausted, and he was a great loser both in land +and money. And his own men grieved him most, who often from him +turned, and betrayed him; and going over to his foes surrendered +to them their castles, to the injury and disappointment of the +king. All this England dearly bought through the manifold guilds +that all this year abated not. This year, in the week of the +Epiphany, there was one evening a great deal of lightning, and +thereafter unusual thunder. And the Queen Matilda died at +Westminster on the calends of May; and there was buried. And the +Earl Robert of Mellent died also this year. In this year also, +on the feast of St. Thomas, was so very immoderately violent a +wind, that no man who was then living ever remembered any +greater; and that was everywhere seen both in houses and also in +trees. This year also died Pope Paschalis; and John of Gaeta +succeeded to the popedom, whose other name was Gelasius. + +A.D. 1119. All this year continued the King Henry in Normandy; +and he was greatly perplexed by the hostility of the King of +France, and also of his own men, who with treachery deserted from +him, and oft readily betrayed him; until the two kings came +together in Normandy with their forces. There was the King of +France put to flight, and all his best men taken. And afterwards +many of King Henry's men returned to him, and accorded with him, +who were before, with their castellans, against him. And some of +the castles he took by main strength. This year went William, +the son of King Henry and Queen Matilda, into Normandy to his +father, and there was given to him, and wedded to wife, the +daughter of the Earl of Anjou. On the eve of the mass of St. +Michael was much earth-heaving in some places in this land; +though most of all in Glocestershire and in Worcestershire. In +this same year died the Pope Gelasius, on this side of the Alps, +and was buried at Clugny. And after him the Archbishop of Vienna +was chosen pope, whose name was Calixtus. He afterwards, on the +festival of St. Luke the Evangelist, came into France to Rheims, +and there held a council. And the Archbishop Turstin of York +went thither; and, because that he against right, and against the +archiepiscopal stall in Canterbury, and against the king's will, +received his hood at the hands of the pope, the king interdicted +him from all return to England. And thus he lost his +archbishopric, and with the pope went towards Rome. In this year +also died the Earl Baldwin of Flanders of the wounds that he +received in Normandy. And after him succeeded to the earldom +Charles, the son of his uncle by the father's side, who was son +of Cnute, the holy King of Denmark. + +A.D. 1120. This year were reconciled the King of England and the +King of France; and after their reconciliation all the King +Henry's own men accorded with him in Normandy, as well as the +Earl of Flanders and the Earl of Ponthieu. From this time +forward the King Henry settled his castles and his land in +Normandy after his will; and so before Advent came to this land. +And in this expedition were drowned the king's two sons, William +and Richard, and Richard, Earl of Chester, and Ottuel his +brother, and very many of the king's household, stewards, and +chamberlains, and butlers. and men of various abodes; and with +them a countless multidude of very incomparable folk besides. +Sore was their death to their friends in a twofold respect: one, +that they so suddenly lost this life; the other, that few of +their bodies were found anywhere afterwards. This year came that +light to the sepulchre of the Lord in Jerusalem twice; once at +Easter, and the other on the assumption of St. Mary, as credible +persons said who came thence. And the Archbishop Turstin of York +was through the pope reconciled with the king, and came to this +land, and recovered his bishopric, though it was very undesirable +to the Archbishop of Canterbury. + +A.D. 1121. This year was the King Henry at Christmas at Bramton, +and afterwards, before Candlemas, at Windsor was given him to +wife Athelis; soon afterwards consecrated queen, who was daughter +of the Duke of Louvain. And the moon was eclipsed in the night +of the nones of April, being a fortnight old. And the king was +at Easter at Berkley; and after that at Pentecost he held a full +court at Westminster; and afterwards in the summer went with an +army into Wales. And the Welsh came against him; and after the +king's will they accorded with him. This year came the Earl of +Anjou from Jerusalem into his land; and soon after sent hither to +fetch his daughter, who had been given to wife to William, the +king's son. And in the night of the eve of "Natalis Domini" was +a very violent wind over all this land, and that was in many +things evidently seen. + +A.D. 1122. In this year was the King Henry at Christmas in +Norwich, and at Easter in Northampton. And in the Lent-tide +before that, the town of Glocester was on fire: the while that +the monks were singing their mass, and the deacon had begun the +gospel, "Praeteriens Jesus", at that very moment came the fire +from the upper part of the steeple, and burned all the minster, +and all the treasures that were there within; except a few books, +and three mass-hackles. That was on the eighth day before the +ides of Marcia. And thereafter, the Tuesday after Palm-Sunday, +was a very violent wind on the eleventh day before the calends of +April; after which came many tokens far and wide in England, and +many spectres were both seen and heard. And the eighth night +before the calends of August was a very violent earthquake over +all Somersetshire, and in Glocestershire. Soon after, on the +sixth day before the ides of September, which was on the festival +of St. Mary, (145) there was a very violent wind from the fore +part of the day to the depth of the night. This same year died +Ralph, the Archbishop of Canterbury; that was on the thirteenth +day before the calends of November. After this there were many +shipmen on the sea, and on fresh water, who said, that they saw +on the north-east, level with the earth, a fire huge and broad, +which anon waxed in length up to the welkin; and the welkin undid +itself in four parts, and fought against it, as if it would +quench it; and the fire waxed nevertheless up to the heaven. The +fire they saw in the day-dawn; and it lasted until it was light +over all. That was on the seventh day before the ides of +December. + +A.D. 1123. In this year was the King Henry, at Christmastide at +Dunstable, and there came to him the ambassadors of the Earl of +Anjou. And thence he went to Woodstock; and his bishops and his +whole court with him. Then did it betide on a Wednesday, which +was on the fourth day before the ides of January, that the king +rode in his deer-fold; (146) the Bishop Roger of Salisbury (147) +on one side of him, and the Bishop Robert Bloet of Lincoln on the +other side of him. And they rode there talking together. Then +sank down the Bishop of Lincoln, and said to the king, "Lord +king, I die." And the king alighted down from his horse, and +lifted him betwixt his arms, and let men bear him home to his +inn. There he was soon dead; and they carried him to Lincoln +with great worship, and buried him before the altar of St. Mary. +And the Bishop of Chester, whose name was Robert Pecceth, buried +him. Soon after this sent the king his writ over all England, +and bade all his bishops and his abbots and his thanes, that they +should come to his wittenmoot on Candlemas day at Glocester to +meet him: and they did so. When they were there gathered +together, then the king bade them, that they should choose for +themselves an Archbishop of Canterbury, whomsoever they would, +and he would confirm it. Then spoke the bishops among +themselves, and said that they never more would have a man of the +monastic order as archbishop over them. And they went all in a +body to the king, and earnestly requested that they might choose +from the clerical order whomsoever they would for archbishop. +And the king granted it to them. This was all concerted before, +through the Bishop of Salisbury, and through the Bishop of +Lincoln ere he was dead; for that they never loved the rule of +monks, but were ever against monks and their rule. And the prior +and the monks of Canterbury, and all the other persons of the +monastic order that were there, withstood it full two days; but +it availed nought: for the Bishop of Salisbury was strong, and +wielded all England, and opposed them with all his power and +might. Then chose they a clerk, named William of Curboil. He +was canon of a monastery called Chiche. (148) And they brought +him before the king; and the king gave him the archbishopric. +And all the bishops received him: but almost all the monks, and +the earls, and the thanes that were there, protested against him. +About the same time departed the earl's messengers (149) in +hostility from the king, reckless of his favour. During the same +time came a legate from Rome, whose name was Henry. He was abbot +of the monastery of St. John of Angeli; and he came after the +Rome-scot. And he said to the king, that it was against right +that men should set a clerk over monks; and therefore they had +chosen an archbishop before in their chapter after right. But +the king would not undo it, for the love of the Bishop of +Salisbury. Then went the archbishop, soon after this, to +Canterbury; and was there received, though it was against their +will; and he was there soon blessed to bishop by the Bishop of +London, and the Bishop Ernulf of Rochester, and the Bishop +William Girard of Winchester, and the Bishop Bernard of Wales, +and the Bishop Roger of Salisbury. Then, early in Lent, went +the archbishop to Rome, after his pall; and with him went the +Bishop Bernard of Wales; and Sefred, Abbot of Glastonbury; and +Anselm, Abbot of St. Edmund's bury; and John, Archdeacon of +Canterbury; and Gifard, who was the king's court-chaplain. At +the same time went the Archbishop Thurstan of York to Rome, +through the behest of the pope, and came thither three days ere +the Archbishop of Canterbury came, and was there received with +much worship. Then came the Archbishop of Canterbury, and was +there full seven nights ere they could come to a conference with +the pope. That was, because the pope was made to understand that +he had obtained the archbishopric against the monks of the +minster, and against right. But that overcame Rome, which +overcometh all the world; that is, gold and silver. And the pope +softened, and gave him his pall. And the archbishop (of York) +swore him subjection, in all those things, which the pope +enjoined him, by the heads of St. Peter and St. Paul; and the +pope then sent him home with his blessing. The while that the +archbishop was out of the land, the king gave the bishopric of +Bath to the Queen's chancellor, whose name was Godfrey. He was +born in Louvain. That was on the Annunciation of St. Mary, at +Woodstock. Soon after this went the king to Winchester, and was +all Easter-tide there. And the while that he was there, gave he +the bishopric of Lincoln to a clerk hight Alexander. He was +nephew of the Bishop of Salisbury. This he did all for the love +of the bishop. Then went the king thence to Portsmouth, and lay +there all over Pentecost week. Then, as soon as he had a fair +wind, he went over into Normandy; and meanwhile committed all +England to the guidance and government of the Bishop Roger of +Salisbury. Then was the king all this year (150) in Normandy. +And much hostility arose betwixt him and his thanes; so that the +Earl Waleram of Mellent, and Hamalric, and Hugh of Montfort, and +William of Romare, and many others, went from him, and held their +castles against him. And the king strongly opposed them: and +this same year he won of Waleram his castle of Pont-Audemer, and +of Hugh that of Montfort; and ever after, the longer he stayed, +the better he sped. This same year, ere the Bishop of Lincoln +came to his bishopric, almost all the borough of Lincoln was +burned, and numberless folks, men and women, were consumed: and +so much harm was there done as no man could describe to another. +That was on the fourteenth day before the calends of June. + +A.D. 1124. All this year was the King Henry in Normandy. That +was for the great hostility that he had with the King Louis of +France, and with the Earl of Anjou, and most of all with his own +men. Then it happened, on the day of the Annunciation of St. +Mary, that the Earl Waleram of Mellent went from one of his +castles called Belmont to another called Watteville. With him +went the steward of the King of France, Amalric, and Hugh the son +of Gervase, and Hugh of Montfort, and many other good knights. +Then came against them the king's knights from all the castles +that were thereabout, and fought with them, and put them to +flight, and took the Earl Waleram, and Hugh, the son of Gervase, +and Hugh of Montfort, and five and twenty other knights, and +brought them to the king. And the king committed the Earl +Waleram, and Hugh, the son of Gervase, to close custody in the +castle at Rouen; but Hugh of Montfort he sent to England, and +ordered him to be secured with strong bonds in the castle at +Glocester. And of the others as many as he chose he sent north +and south to his castles in captivity. After this went the king, +and won all the castles of the Earl Waleram that were in +Normandy, and all the others that his enemies held against him. +All this hostility was on account of the son of the Earl Robert +of Normandy, named William. This same William had taken to wife +the younger daughter of Fulke, Earl of Anjou: and for this reason +the King of France and all the earls held with him, and all the +rich men; and said that the king held his brother Robert +wrongfully in captivity, and drove his son William unjustly out +of Normandy. This same year were the seasons very unfavourable +in England for corn and all fruits; so that between Christmas and +Candlemas men sold the acre-seed of wheat, that is two seedlips, +for six shillings; and the barley, that is three seedlips, for +six shillings also; and the acre-seed of oats, that is four +seedlips, for four shillings. That was because that corn was +scarce; and the penny was so adulterated, (151) that a man who +had a pound at a market could not exchange twelve pence thereof +for anything. In this same year died the blessed Bishop Ernulf +of Rochester, who before was Abbot of Peterborough. That was on +the ides of March. And after this died the King Alexander of +Scotland, on the ninth day before the calends of May. And David +his brother, who was Earl of Northamptonshire, succeeded to the +kingdom; and had both together, the kingdom of Scotland and the +earldom in England. And on the nineteenth day before the calends +of January died the Pope of Rome, whose name was Calixtus, and +Honorius succeeded to the popedom. This same year, after St. +Andrew's mass, and before Christmas, held Ralph Basset and the +king's thanes a wittenmoot in Leicestershire, at Huncothoe, and +there hanged more thieves than ever were known before; that is, +in a little while, four and forty men altogether; and despoiled +six men of their eyes and of their testicles. Many true men said +that there were several who suffered very unjustly; but our Lord +God Almighty, who seeth and knoweth every secret, seeth also that +the wretched people are oppressed with all unrighteousness. +First they are bereaved of their property, and then they are +slain. Full heavy year was this. The man that had any property, +was bereaved of it by violent guilds and violent moots. The man +that had not, was starved with hunger. + +A.D. 1125. In this year sent the King Henry, before Christmas, +from Normandy to England, and bade that all the mint-men that +were in England should be mutilated in their limbs; that was, +that they should lose each of them the right hand, and their +testicles beneath. This was because the man that had a pound +could not lay out a penny at a market. And the Bishop Roger of +Salisbury sent over all England, and bade them all that they +should come to Winchester at Christmas. When they came thither, +then were they taken one by one, and deprived each of the right +hand and the testicles beneath. All this was done within the +twelfth-night. And that was all in perfect justice, because that +they had undone all the land with the great quantity of base coin +that they all bought. In this same year sent the Pope of Rome to +this land a cardinal, named John of Crema. He came first to the +king in Normandy, and the king received him with much worship. +He betook himself then to the Archbishop William of Canterbury; +and he led him to Canterbury; and he was there received with +great veneration, and in solemn procession. And he sang the high +mass on Easter day at the altar of Christ. Afterwards he went +over all England, to all the bishoprics and abbacies that were in +this land; and in all he was received with respect. And all gave +him many and rich gifts. And afterwards he held his council in +London full three days, on the Nativity of St. Mary in September, +with archbishops, and diocesan bishops, and abbots, the learned +and the lewd; (152) and enjoined there the same laws that +Archbishop Anselm had formerly enjoined, and many more, though it +availed little. Thence he went over sea soon after Michaelmas, +and so to Rome; and (with him) the Archbishop William of +Canterbury, and the Archbishop Thurstan of York, and the Bishop +Alexander of Lincoln, and the Bishop J. of Lothian, and the Abbot +G. of St. Alban's; and were there received by the Pope Honorius +with great respect; and continued there all the winter. In this +same year was so great a flood on St. Laurence's day, that many +towns and men were overwhelmed, and bridges broken down, and corn +and meadows spoiled withal; and hunger and qualm (153) in men and +in cattle; and in all fruits such unseasonableness as was not +known for many years before. And this same year died the Abbot +John of Peterborough, on the second day before the ides of +October. + +A.D. 1126. All this year was the King Henry in Normandy -- all +till after harvest. Then came he to this land, betwixt the +Nativity of St. Mary and Michaelmas. With him came the queen, +and his daughter, whom he had formerly given to the Emperor Henry +of Lorrain to wife. And he brought with him the Earl Waleram, +and Hugh, the son of Gervase. And the earl he sent to +Bridgenorth in captivity: and thence he sent him afterwards to +Wallingford; and Hugh to Windsor, whom he ordered to be kept in +strong bonds. Then after Michaelmas came David, the king of the +Scots, from Scotland to this land; and the King Henry received +him with great worship; and he continued all that year in this +land. In this year the king had his brother Robert taken from +the Bishop Roger of Salisbury, and committed him to his son +Robert, Earl of Glocester, and had him led to Bristol, and there +put into the castle. That was all done through his daughter's +counsel, and through David, the king of the Scots, her uncle. + +A.D. 1127. This year held the King Henry his court at Christmas +in Windsor. There was David the king of the Scots, and all the +head men that were in England, learned and lewd. And there he +engaged the archbishops, and bishops, and abbots, and earls, and +all the thanes that were there, to swear England and Normandy +after his day into the hands of his daughter Athelicia, who was +formerly the wife of the Emperor of Saxony. Afterwards he sent +her to Normandy; and with her went her brother Robert, Earl of +Glocester, and Brian, son of the Earl Alan Fergan; (154) and he +let her wed the son of the Earl of Anjou, whose name was Geoffry +Martel. All the French and English, however, disapproved of +this; but the king did it for to have the alliance of the Earl +of Anjou, and for to have help against his nephew William. In +the Lent-tide of this same year was the Earl Charles of Flanders +slain in a church, as he lay there and prayed to God, before the +altar, in the midst of the mass, by his own men. And the King of +France brought William, the son of the Earl of Normandy, and gave +him the earldom; and the people of that land accepted him. This +same William had before taken to wife the daughter of the Earl of +Anjou; but they were afterwards divorced on the plea of +consanguinity. This was all through the King Henry of England. +Afterwards took he to wife the sister of the king's wife of +France; and for this reason the king gave him the earldom of +Flanders. This same year he (155) gave the abbacy of +Peterborough to an abbot named Henry of Poitou, who retained in +hand his abbacy of St. John of Angeli; but all the archbishops +and bishops said that it was against right, and that he could not +have two abbacies on hand. But the same Henry gave the king to +understand, that he had relinquished his abbacy on account of the +great hostility that was in the land; and that he did through the +counsel and leave of the Pope of Rome, and through that of the +Abbot of Clugny, and because he was legate of the Rome-scot. +But, nevertheless, it was not so; for he would retain both in +hand; and did so as long as God's will was. He was in his +clerical state Bishop of Soissons; afterwards monk of Clugny; and +then prior in the same monastery. Afterwards he became prior of +Sevigny; and then, because he was a relation of the King of +England, and of the Earl of Poitou, the earl gave him the abbacy +of St. John's minster of Angeli. Afterwards, through his great +craft, he obtained the archbishopric of Besancon; and had it in +hand three days; after which he justly lost it, because he had +before unjustly obtained it. Afterwards he procured the +bishopric of Saintes; which was five miles from his abbey. That +he had full-nigh a week (156) in hand; but the Abbot of Clugny +brought him thence, as he before did from Besancon. Then he +bethought him, that, if he could be fast-rooted in England, he +might have all his will. Wherefore he besought the king, and +said unto him, that he was an old man -- a man completely broken +-- that he could not brook the great injustice and the great +hostility that were in their land: and then, by his own +endearours, and by those of all his friends, he earnestly and +expressly entreated for the abbacy of Peterborough. And the king +procured it for him, because he was his relation, and because he +was the principal person to make oath and bear witness when the +son of the Earl of Normandy and the daughter of the Earl of Anjou +were divorced on the plea of consanguinity. Thus wretchedly was +the abbacy given away, betwixt Christmas and Candlemas, at +London; and so he went with the King to Winchester, and thence he +came to Peterborough, and there he dwelt (157) right so as a +drone doth in a hive. For as the drone fretteth and draggeth +fromward all that the bees drag toward [the hive], so did he. -- +All that he might take, within and without, of learned and lewd, +so sent he over sea; and no good did there -- no good left there. +Think no man unworthily that we say not the truth; for it was +fully known over all the land: that, as soon as he came thither, +which was on the Sunday when men sing "Exurge quare o D-- etc." +immediately after, several persons saw and heard many huntsmen +hunting. The hunters were swarthy, and huge, and ugly; and their +hounds were all swarthy, and broad-eyed, and ugly. And they rode +on swarthy horses, and swarthy bucks. This was seen in the very +deer-fold in the town of Peterborough, and in all the woods from +that same town to Stamford. And the monks heard the horn blow +that they blew in the night. Credible men, who watched them in +the night, said that they thought there might well be about +twenty or thirty horn-blowers. This was seen and heard from the +time that he (158) came thither, all the Lent-tide onward to +Easter. This was his entry; of his exit we can as yet say +nought. God provide. + +A.D. 1128. All this year was the King Henry in Normandy, on +account of the hostility that was between him and his nephew, the +Earl of Flanders. But the earl was wounded in a fight by a +swain; and so wounded he went to the monastery of St. Bertin; +where he soon became a monk, lived five days afterwards, then +died, and was there buried. God honour his soul. That was on +the sixth day before the calends of August. This same year died +the Bishop Randulph Passeflambard of Durham; and was there buried +on the nones of September. And this same year went the aforesaid +Abbot Henry home to his own minster at Poitou by the king's +leave. He gave the king to understand, that he would withal +forgo that minster, and that land, and dwell with him in England, +and in the monastery of Peterborough. But it was not so +nevertheless. He did this because he would be there, through his +crafty wiles, were it a twelvemonth or more, and come again +afterwards. May God Almighty extend his mercy over that wretched +place. This same year came from Jerusalem Hugh of the Temple to +the king in Normandy; and the king received him with much honour, +and gave him rich presents in gold and in silver. And afterwards +he sent him into England; and there he was received by all good +men, who all gave him presents, and in Scotland also: and by him +they sent to Jerusalem much wealth withal in gold and in silver. +And he invited folk out to Jerusalem; and there went with him and +after him more people than ever did before, since that the first +expedition was in the day of Pope Urban. Though it availed +little; for he said, that a mighty war was begun between the +Christians and the heathens; but when they came thither, then was +it nought but leasing. (159) Thus pitifully was all that people +swinked. (160) + +A.D. 1129. In this year sent the King to England after the Earl +Waleram, and after Hugh, the son of Gervase. And they gave +hostages for them. And Hugh went home to his own land in France; +but Waleram was left with the king: and the king gave him all his +land except his castle alone. Afterwards came the king to +England within the harvest: and the earl came with him: and they +became as good friends as they were foes before. Soon after, by +the king's counsel, and by his leave, sent the Archbishop William +of Canterbury over all England, and bade bishops, and abbots, and +archdeacons, and all the priors, monks, and canons, that were in +all the cells in England, and all who had the care and +superintendence of christianity, that they should all come to +London at Michaelmas, and there should speak of all God's rights. +When they came thither, then began the moot on Monday, and +continued without intermission to the Friday. When it all came +forth, then was it all found to be about archdeacons' wives, and +about priests' wives; that they should forgo them by St. Andrew's +mass; and he who would not do that, should forgo his church, and +his house, and his home, and never more have any calling thereto. +This bade the Archbishop William of Canterbury, and all the +diocesan bishops that were then in England, but the king gave +them all leave to go home. And so they went home; and all the +ordinances amounted to nothing. All held their wives by the +king's leave as they did before. This same year died the Bishop +William Giffard of Winchester; and was there buried, on the +eighth day before the calends of February. And the King Henry +gave the bishopric after Michaelmas to the Abbot Henry of +Glastonbury, his nephew, and he was consecrated bishop by the +Archbishop William of Canterbury on the fifteenth day before the +calends of December. This same year died Pope Honorius. Ere he +was well dead, there were chosen two popes. The one was named +Peter, who was monk of Clugny, and was born of the richest men of +Rome; and with him held those of Rome, and the Duke of Sicily. +The other was Gregory: he was a clerk, and was driven out of Rome +by the other pope, and by his kinsmen. With him held the Emperor +of Saxony, and the King of France, and the King Henry of England, +and all those on this side of the Alps. Now was there such +division in Christendom as never was before. May Christ consult +for his wretched folk. This same year, on the night of the mass +of St. Nicholas, a little before day, there was a great +earthquake. + +A.D. 1130. This year was the monastery of Canterbury consecrated +by the Archbishop William, on the fourth day before the nones of +May. There were the Bishops John of Rochester, Gilbert Universal +of London, Henry of Winchester, Alexander of Lincoln, Roger of +Salisbury, Simon of Worcester, Roger of Coventry, Geoffry of +Bath, Evrard of Norwich, Sigefrith of Chichester, Bernard of St. +David's, Owen of Evreux in Normandy, John of Sieyes. On the +fourth day after this was the King Henry in Rochester, when the +town was almost consumed by fire; and the Archbishop William +consecrated the monastery of St. Andrew, and the aforesaid +bishops with him. And the King Henry went over sea into Normandy +in harvest. This same year came the Abbot Henry of Angeli after +Easter to Peterborough, and said that he had relinquished that +monastery (161) withal. After him came the Abbot of Clugny, +Peter by name, to England by the king's leave; and was received +by all, whithersoever he came, with much respect. To +Peterborough he came; and there the Abbot Henry promised him that +he would procure him the minster of Peterborough, that it might +be subject to Clugny. But it is said in the proverb, + "The hedge abideth, + that acres divideth." +May God Almighty frustrate evil designs. Soon after this, went +the Abbot of Clugny home to his country. This year was Angus +slain by the army of the Scots, and there was a great multitude +slain with him. There was God's fight sought upon him, for that +he was all forsworn. + +A.D. 1131. This year, after Christmas, on a Monday night, at the +first sleep, was the heaven on the northern hemisphere (162) all +as if it were burning fire; so that all who saw it were so +dismayed as they never were before. That was on the third day +before the ides of January. This same year was so great a +murrain of cattle as never was before in the memory of man over +all England. That was in neat cattle and in swine; so that in a +town where there were ten ploughs going, or twelve, there was not +left one: and the man that had two hundred or three hundred +swine, had not one left. Afterwards perished the hen fowls; then +shortened the fleshmeat, and the cheese, and the butter. May God +better it when it shall be his will. And the King Henry came +home to England before harvest, after the mass of St. Peter "ad +vincula". This same year went the Abbot Henry, before Easter, +from Peterborough over sea to Normandy, and there spoke with the +king, and told him that the Abbot of Clugny had desired him to +come to him, and resign to him the abbacy of Angeli, after which +he would go home by his leave. And so he went home to his own +minster, and there remained even to midsummer day. And the next +day after the festival of St. John chose the monks an abbot of +themselves, brought him into the church in procession, sang "Te +Deum laudamus", rang the bells, set him on the abbot's throne, +did him all homage, as they should do their abbot: and the earl, +and all the head men, and the monks of the minster, drove the +other Abbot Henry out of the monastery. And they had need; for +in five-and-twenty winters had they never hailed one good day. +Here failed him all his mighty crafts. Now it behoved him, that +he crope in his skin into every corner, if peradventure there +were any unresty wrench, (163) whereby he might yet once more +betray Christ and all Christian people. Then retired he into +Clugny, where he was held so fast, that he could not move east or +west. The Abbot of Clugny said that they had lost St. John's +minster through him, and through his great sottishness. Then +could he not better recompense them; but he promised them, and +swore oaths on the holy cross, that if he might go to England he +should get them the minster of Peterborough; so that he should +set there the prior of Clugny, with a churchwarden, a treasurer, +and a sacristan: and all the things that were within the minster +and without, he should procure for them. Thus he departed into +France; and there remained all that year. Christ provide for the +wretched monks of Peterborough, and for that wretched place. Now +do they need the help of Christ and of all Christian folk. + +A.D. 1132. This year came King Henry to this land. Then came +Abbot Henry, and betrayed the monks of Peterborough to the king, +because he would subject that minster to Clugny; so that the king +was well nigh entrapped, and sent after the monks. But through +the grace of God, and through the Bishop of Salisbury, and the +Bishop of Lincoln, and the other rich men that were there, the +king knew that he proceeded with treachery. When he no more +could do, then would he that his nephew should be Abbot of +Peterborough. But Christ forbade. Not very long after this was +it that the king sent after him, and made him give up the Abbey +of Peterborough, and go out of the land. And the king gave the +abbacy to a prior of St. Neot's, called Martin, who came on St. +Peter's mass-day with great pomp into the minster. + +A.D. 1135. In this year went the King Henry over sea at the +Lammas; and the next day, as he lay asleep on ship, the day +darkened over all lands, and the sun was all as it were a three +night old moon, and the stars about him at midday. Men were very +much astonished and terrified, and said that a great event should +come hereafter. So it did; for that same year was the king dead, +the next day after St. Andrew's mass-day, in Normandy. Then was +there soon tribulation in the land; for every man that might, +soon robbed another. Then his sons and his friends took his +body, and brought it to England, and buried it at Reading. A +good man he was; and there was great dread of him. No man durst +do wrong with another in his time. Peace he made for man and +beast. Whoso bare his burthen of gold and silver, durst no man +say ought to him but good. Meanwhile was his nephew come to +England, Stephen de Blois. He came to London, and the people of +London received him, and sent after the Archbishop William +Curboil, and hallowed him to king on midwinter day. In this +king's time was all dissention, and evil, and rapine; for against +him rose soon the rich men who were traitors; and first of all +Baldwin de Redvers, who held Exeter against him. But the king +beset it; and afterwards Baldwin accorded. Then took the others, +and held their castles against him; and David, King of Scotland, +took to Wessington against him. Nevertheless their messengers +passed between them; and they came together, and were settled, +but it availed little. + +A.D. 1137. This year went the King Stephen over sea to Normandy, +and there was received; for that they concluded that he should be +all such as the uncle was; and because he had got his treasure: +but he dealed it out, and scattered it foolishly. Much had King +Henry gathered, gold and silver, but no good did men for his soul +thereof. When the King Stephen came to England, he held his +council at Oxford; where he seized the Bishop Roger of Sarum, and +Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln, and the chancellor Roger, his +nephew; and threw all into prison till they gave up their +castles. When the traitors understood that he was a mild man, +and soft, and good, and no justice executed, then did they all +wonder. They had done him homage, and sworn oaths, but they no +truth maintained. They were all forsworn, and forgetful of their +troth; for every rich man built his castles, which they held +against him: and they filled the land full of castles. They +cruelly oppressed the wretched men of the land with castle-works; +and when the castles were made, they filled them with devils and +evil men. Then took they those whom they supposed to have any +goods, both by night and by day, labouring men and women, and +threw them into prison for their gold and silver, and inflicted +on them unutterable tortures; for never were any martyrs so +tortured as they were. Some they hanged up by the feet, and +smoked them with foul smoke; and some by the thumbs, or by the +head, and hung coats of mail on their feet. They tied knotted +strings about their heads, and twisted them till the pain went to +the brains. They put them into dungeons, wherein were adders, +and snakes, and toads; and so destroyed them. Some they placed +in a crucet-house; that is, in a chest that was short and narrow, +and not deep; wherein they put sharp stones, and so thrust the +man therein, that they broke all the limbs. In many of the +castles were things loathsome and grim, called "Sachenteges", of +which two or three men had enough to bear one. It was thus made: +that is, fastened to a beam; and they placed a sharp iron +[collar] about the man's throat and neck, so that he could in no +direction either sit, or lie, or sleep, but bear all that iron. +Many thousands they wore out with hunger. I neither can, nor may +I tell all the wounds and all the pains which they inflicted on +wretched men in this land. This lasted the nineteen winters +while Stephen was king; and it grew continually worse and worse. +They constantly laid guilds on the towns, and called it +"tenserie"; and when the wretched men had no more to give, then +they plundered and burned all the towns; that well thou mightest +go a whole day's journey and never shouldest thou find a man +sitting in a town, nor the land tilled. Then was corn dear, and +flesh, and cheese, and butter; for none was there in the land. +Wretched men starved of hunger. Some had recourse to alms, who +were for a while rich men, and some fled out of the land. Never +yet was there more wretchedness in the land; nor ever did heathen +men worse than they did: for, after a time, they spared neither +church nor churchyard, but took all the goods that were therein, +and then burned the church and all together. Neither did they +spare a bishop's land, or an abbot's, or a priest's, but +plundered both monks and clerks; and every man robbed another who +could. If two men, or three, came riding to a town, all the +township fled for them, concluding them to be robbers. The +bishops and learned men cursed them continually, but the effect +thereof was nothing to them; for they were all accursed, and +forsworn, and abandoned. To till the ground was to plough the +sea: the earth bare no corn, for the land was all laid waste by +such deeds; and they said openly, that Christ slept, and his +saints. Such things, and more than we can say, suffered we +nineteen winters for our sins. In all this evil time held Abbot +Martin his abbacy twenty years and a half, and eight days, with +much tribulation; and found the monks and the guests everything +that behoved them; and held much charity in the house; and, +notwithstanding all this, wrought on the church, and set thereto +lands and rents, and enriched it very much, and bestowed +vestments upon it. And he brought them into the new minster on +St. Peter's mass-day with much pomp; which was in the year, from +the incarnation of our Lord, 1140, and in the twenty-third from +the destruction of the place by fire. And he went to Rome, and +there was well received by the Pope Eugenius; from whom he +obtained their privileges: -- one for all the lands of the abbey, +and another for the lands that adjoin to the churchyard; and, if +he might have lived longer, so he meant to do concerning the +treasury. And he got in the lands that rich men retained by main +strength. Of William Malduit, who held the castle of Rockingham, +he won Cotingham and Easton; and of Hugh de Walteville, he won +Hirtlingbury and Stanwick, and sixty shillings from Oldwinkle +each year. And he made many monks, and planted a vine-yard, and +constructed many works, and made the town better than it was +before. He was a good monk, and a good man; and for this reason +God and good men loved him. Now we will relate in part what +happened in King Stephen's time. In his reign the Jews of +Norwich bought a Christian child before Easter, and tortured him +after the same manner as our Lord was tortured; and on Long- +Friday (164) hanged him on a rood, in mockery of our Lord, and +afterwards buried him. They supposed that it would be concealed, +but our Lord showed that he was a holy martyr. And the monks +took him, and buried him with high honour in the minster. And +through our Lord he worketh wonderful and manifold miracles, and +is called St. William. + +A.D. 1138. In this year came David, King of Scotland, with an +immense army to this land. He was ambitious to win this land; +but against him came William, Earl of Albemarle, to whom the king +had committed York, and other borderers, with few men, and fought +against them, and routed the king at the Standard, and slew very +many of his gang. + +A.D. 1140. In this year wished the King Stephen to take Robert, +Earl of Gloucester, the son of King Henry; but he could not, for +he was aware of it. After this, in the Lent, the sun and the day +darkened about the noon-tide of the day, when men were eating; +and they lighted candles to eat by. That was the thirteenth day +before the kalends of April. Men were very much struck with +wonder. Thereafter died William, Archbishop of Canterbury; and +the king made Theobald archbishop, who was Abbot of Bec. After +this waxed a very great war betwixt the king and Randolph, Earl +of Chester; not because he did not give him all that he could ask +him, as he did to all others; but ever the more he gave them, the +worse they were to him. The Earl held Lincoln against the king, +and took away from him all that he ought to have. And the king +went thither, and beset him and his brother William de Romare in +the castle. And the earl stole out, and went after Robert, Earl +of Glocester, and brought him thither with a large army. And +they fought strenuously on Candlemas day against their lord, and +took him; for his men forsook him and fled. And they led him to +Bristol, and there put him into prison in close quarters. Then +was all England stirred more than ere was, and all evil was in +the land. Afterwards came the daughter of King Henry, who had +been Empress of Germany, and now was Countess of Anjou. She came +to London; but the people of London attempted to take her, and +she fled, losing many of her followers. After this the Bishop of +Winchester, Henry, the brother of King Stephen, spake with Earl +Robert, and with the empress, and swore them oaths, "that he +never more would hold with the king, his brother," and cursed all +the men that held with him, and told them, that he would give +them up Winchester; and he caused them to come thither. When +they were therein, then came the king's queen with all her +strength, and beset them, so that there was great hunger therein. +When they could no longer hold out, then stole they out, and +fled; but those without were aware, and followed them, and took +Robert, Earl of Glocester, and led him to Rochester, and put him +there into prison; but the empress fled into a monastery. Then +went the wise men between the king's friends and the earl's +friends; and settled so that they should let the king out of +prison for the earl, and the earl for the king; and so they did. +After this settled the king and Earl Randolph at Stamford, and +swore oaths, and plighted their troth, that neither should betray +the other. But it availed nothing. For the king afterwards took +him at Northampton, through wicked counsel, and put him into +prison; and soon after he let him out again, through worse +counsel, on the condition that he swore by the crucifix, and +found hostages, that he would give up all his castles. Some he +gave up, and some gave he not up; and did then worse than he +otherwise would. Then was England very much divided. Some held +with the king, and some with the empress; for when the king was +in prison, the earls and the rich men supposed that he never more +would come out: and they settled with the empress, and brought +her into Oxford, and gave her the borough. When the king was +out, he heard of this, and took his force, and beset her in the +tower. (165) And they let her down in the night from the tower +by ropes. And she stole out, and fled, and went on foot to +Wallingford. Afterwards she went over sea; and those of Normandy +turned all from the king to the Earl of Anjou; some willingly, +and some against their will; for he beset them till they gave up +their castles, and they had no help of the king. Then went +Eustace, the king's son, to France, and took to wife the sister +of the King of France. He thought to obtain Normandy thereby; +but he sped little, and by good right; for he was an evil man. +Wherever he was, he did more evil than good; he robbed the lands, +and levied heavy guilds upon them. He brought his wife to +England, and put her into the castle at... (166) Good woman she +was; but she had little bliss with him; and Christ would not that +he should long reign. He therefore soon died, and his mother +also. And the Earl of Anjou died; and his son Henry took to the +earldom. And the Queen of France parted from the king; and she +came to the young Earl Henry; and he took her to wife, and all +Poitou with her. Then went he with a large force into England, +and won some castles; and the king went against him with a much +larger force. Nevertheless, fought they not; but the archbishop +and the wise men went between them, and made this settlement: +That the king should be lord and king while he lived, and after +his day Henry should be king: that Henry should take him for a +father; and he him for a son: that peace and union should be +betwixt them, and in all England. This and the other provisions +that they made, swore the king and the earl to observe; and all +the bishops, and the earls, and the rich men. Then was the earl +received at Winchester, and at London, with great worship; and +all did him homage, and swore to keep the peace. And there was +soon so good a peace as never was there before. Then was the +king stronger than he ever was before. And the earl went over +sea; and all people loved him; for he did good justice, and made +peace. + +A.D. 1154. In this year died the King Stephen; and he was buried +where his wife and his son were buried, at Faversham; which +monastery they founded. When the king died, then was the earl +beyond sea; but no man durst do other than good for the great +fear of him. When he came to England, then was he received with +great worship, and blessed to king in London on the Sunday before +midwinter day. And there held he a full court. The same day +that Martin, Abbot of Peterborough, should have gone thither, +then sickened he, and died on the fourth day before the nones of +January; and the monks, within the day, chose another of +themselves, whose name was William de Walteville, (167) a good +clerk, and good man, and well beloved of the king, and of all +good men. And all the monks buried the abbot with high honours. +And soon the newly chosen abbot, and the monks with him, went to +Oxford to the king. And the king gave him the abbacy; and he +proceeded soon afterwards to Peterborough; where he remained with +the abbot, ere he came home. And the king was received with +great worship at Peterborough, in full procession. And so he was +also at Ramsey, and at Thorney, and at.... and at Spalding, and +at.... + + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) This introductory part of the "Chronicle" to An. I. first + printed by Gibson from the Laud MS. only, has been corrected + by a collation of two additional MSS. in the British Museum, + "Cotton Tiberius B" lv. and "Domitianus A" viii. Some + defects are also here supplied. The materials of this part + are to be found in Pliny, Solinus, Orosius, Gildas, and + Bede. The admeasurement of the island, however inaccurate, + is from the best authorities of those times, and followed by + much later historians. +(2) Gibson, following the Laud MS. has made six nations of five, + by introducing the British and Welsh as two distinct tribes. +(3) "De tractu Armoricano." -- Bede, "Ecclesiastical History" i. + I. The word Armenia occurring a few lines above in Bede, it + was perhaps inadvertently written by the Saxon compiler of + the "Chronicle" instead of Armorica. +(4) In case of a disputed succession, "Ubi res veniret in + dabium," etc. -- Bede, "Ecclesiastical History" i. I. +(5) Reada, Aelfr.; Reuda, Bede, Hunt. etc. Perhaps it was + originally Reutha or Reotha. +(6) This is an error, arising from the inaccurately written MSS. + of Orosius and Bede; where "in Hybernia" and "in Hiberniam" + occur for "in hiberna". The error is retained in Wheloc's + Bede. +(7) Labienus = Laberius. Venerable Bede also, and Orosius, whom + he follows verbatim, have "Labienus". It is probably a + mistake of some very ancient scribe, who improperly supplied + the abbreviation "Labius" (for "Laberius") by "Labienus". +(8) Of these early transactions in Britain King Alfred supplies + us with a brief but circumstantial account in his Saxon + paraphrase of "Orosius". +(9) "8 die Aprilis", Flor. M. West. +(10) Gibbon regrets this chronology, i.e. from the creation of + the world, which he thinks preferable to the vulgar mode + from the Christian aera. But how vague and uncertain the + scale which depends on a point so remote and undetermined as + the precise time when the world was created. If we examine + the chronometers of different writers we shall find a + difference, between the maximum and the minimum, of 3368 + years. The Saxon chronology seems to be founded on that of + Eusebius, which approaches the medium between the two + extremes. +(11) An. 42, Flor. This act is attributed by Orosius, and Bede + who follows him, to the threatening conduct of Caligula, + with a remark, that it was he (Pilate) who condemned our + Lord to death. +(12) An. 48, Flor. See the account of this famine in King + Alfred's "Orosius". +(13) Those writers who mention this discovery of the holy cross, + by Helena the mother of Constantine, disagree so much in + their chronology, that it is a vain attempt to reconcile + them to truth or to each other. This and the other notices + of ecclesiastical matters, whether Latin or Saxon, from the + year 190 to the year 380 of the Laud MS. and 381 of the + printed Chronicle, may be safely considered as + interpolations, probably posterior to the Norman Conquest. +(14) This is not to be understood strictly; gold being used as a + general term for money or coin of every description; great + quantities of which, it is well known, have been found at + different times, and in many different places, in this + island: not only of gold, but of silver, brass, copper, etc. +(15) An interpolated legend, from the "Gesta Pontificum", + repeated by Bede, Florence, Matth. West., Fordun, and + others. The head was said to be carried to Edessa. +(16) Merely of those called from him "Benedictines". But the + compiler of the Cotton MS., who was probably a monk of that + order, seems not to acknowledge any other. Matthew of + Westminster places his death in 536. +(17) For an interesting and minute account of the arrival of + Augustine and his companions in the Isle of Thanet, their + entrance into Canterbury, and their general reception in + England, vid. Bede, "Hist. Eccles." i. 25, and the following + chapters, with the Saxon translation by King Alfred. The + succeeding historians have in general repeated the very + words of Bede. +(18) It was originally, perhaps, in the MSS. ICC. the + abbreviation for 1,200; which is the number of the slain in + Bede. The total number of the monks of Bangor is said to + have been 2,100; most of whom appear to have been employed + in prayer on this occasion, and only fifty escape by flight. + Vide Bede, "Hist. Eccles." ii. 2, and the tribe of Latin + historians who copy him. +(19) Literally, "swinged, or scourged him." Both Bede and Alfred + begin by recording the matter as a vision, or a dream; + whence the transition is easy to a matter of fact, as here + stated by the Norman interpolators of the "Saxon Annals". +(20) This epithet appears to have been inserted in some copies of + the "Saxon Chronicle" so early as the tenth century; to + distinguish the "old" church or minster at Winchester from + the "new", consecrated A.D. 903. +(21) Beverley-minster, in Yorkshire. +(22) He was a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, the birth-place of St. + Paul. +(23) This brief notice of Dryhtelm, for so I find the name + written in "Cotton Tiberius B iv." is totally unintelligible + without a reference to Bede's "Ecclesiastical History", v. + 12; where a curious account of him may be found, which is + copied by Matthew of Westminster, anno. 699. +(25) Wothnesbeorhge, Ethelw.; Wonsdike, Malmsb.; Wonebirih, H. + Hunt; Wodnesbeorh, Flor.; Wodnesbirch, M. West. There is no + reason, therefore, to transfer the scene of action to + Woodbridge, as some have supposed from an erroneous reading. +(26) The establishment of the "English school" at Rome is + attributed to Ina; a full account of which, and of the + origin of "Romescot" or "Peter-pence" for the support of it, + may be seen in Matthew of Westminster. +(27) Beorgforda, Ethelw.; Beorhtforda, Flor.; Hereford and + Bereford, H. Hunt; Beorford, M. West. This battle of + Burford has been considerably amplified by Henry of + Huntingdon, and after him by Matthew of Westminster. The + former, among other absurdities, talks of "Amazonian" + battle-axes. They both mention the banner of the "golden + dragon" etc. +(28) The minuteness of this narrative, combined with the + simplicity of it, proves that it was written at no great + distance of time from the event. It is the first that + occurs of any length in the older MSS. of the "Saxon + Chronicle". +(29) Penga in the original, i.e. "of pence", or "in pence"; + because the silver penny, derived from the Roman "denarius", + was the standard coin in this country for more than a + thousand years. It was also used as a weight, being the + twentieth part of an ounce. +(30) Since called "sheriff"; i.e. the reve, or steward, of the + shire. "Exactor regis". -- Ethelw. +(31) This is the Grecian method of computation; between the hours + of three and six in the morning. It must be recollected, + that before the distribution of time into hours, minutes, + and seconds, the day and night were divided into eight equal + portions, containing three hours each; and this method was + continued long afterwards by historians. +(32) This wanton act of barbarity seems to have existed only in + the depraved imagination of the Norman interpolator of the + "Saxon Annals", who eagerly and impatiently dispatches the + story thus, in order to introduce the subsequent account of + the synod at Bapchild, so important in his eyes. Hoveden + and Wallingford and others have repeated the idle tale; but + I have not hitherto found it in any historian of authority. +(33) St. Kenelm is said to have succeeded Cenwulf: + "In the foure and twentithe yere of his kyngdom + Kenulf wente out of this worlde, and to the joye of + hevene com; + It was after that oure Lord in his moder alygte + Eigte hondred yet and neygentene, by a countes rigte, + Seint Kenelm his yonge sone in his sevende yere + Kyng was ymad after him, theg he yong were." + -- "Vita S. Kenelmi, MS. Coll. Trin Oxon." + No. 57.Arch. +(34) i.e. the Danes; or, as they are sometimes called, Northmen, + which is a general term including all those numerous tribes + that issued at different times from the north of Europe, + whether Danes, Norwegians, Sweons, Jutes, or Goths, etc.; + who were all in a state of paganism at this time. +(35) Aetheredus, -- Asser, Ethelwerd, etc. We have therefore + adopted this orthography. +(36) It is now generally written, as pronounced, "Swanage". +(37) For a more circumstantial account of the Danish or Norman + operations against Paris at this time, the reader may + consult Felibien, "Histoire de la Ville de Paris", liv. iii. + and the authorities cited by him in the margin. This is + that celebrated siege of Paris minutely described by Abbo, + Abbot of Fleury, in two books of Latin hexameters; which, + however barbarous, contain some curious and authentic matter + relating to the history of that period. +(38) This bridge was built, or rebuilt on a larger plan than + before, by Charles the Bald, in the year 861, "to prevent + the Danes or Normans (says Felibien) from making themselves + masters of Paris so easily as they had already done so many + times," etc. -- "pour empescher que les Normans ne se + rendissent maistres de Paris aussi facilement qu'ils + l'avoient deja fait tant de lois," etc. -- Vol. i. p. 91, + folio. It is supposed to be the famous bridge afterwards + called "grand pont" or "pont au change", -- the most ancient + bridge at Paris, and the only one which existed at this + time. +(39) Or, in Holmsdale, Surry: hence the proverb -- + "This is Holmsdale, + Never conquer'd, never shall." +(40) The pirates of Armorica, now Bretagne; so called, because + they abode day and night in their ships; from lid, a ship, + and wiccian, to watch or abide day and night. +(41) So I understand the word. Gibson, from Wheloc, says -- "in + aetatis vigore;" a fact contradicted by the statement of + almost every historian. Names of places seldom occur in old + MSS. with capital initials. +(42) i.e. the feast of the Holy Innocents; a festival of great + antiquity. +(43) i.e. the secular clergy, who observed no rule; opposed to + the regulars, or monks. +(44) This poetical effusion on the coronation, or rather + consecration, of King Edgar, as well as the following on his + death, appears to be imitated in Latin verse by Ethelwerd at + the end of his curious chronicle. This seems at least to + prove that they were both written very near the time, as + also the eulogy on his reign, inserted 959. +(45) The following passage from Cotton Tiberius B iv., relating + to the accession of Edward the Martyr, should be added here + -- In his days, + On account of his youth, + The opponents of God + Broke through God's laws; + Alfhere alderman, + And others many; + And marr'd monastic rules; + Minsters they razed, + And monks drove away, + And put God's laws to flight -- + Laws that King Edgar + Commanded the holy + Saint Ethelwold bishop + Firmly to settle -- + Widows they stript + Oft and at random. + Many breaches of right + And many bad laws + Have arisen since; + And after-times + Prove only worse. + Then too was Oslac + The mighty earl + Hunted from England's shores. +(46) Florence of Worcester mentions three synods this year; + Kyrtlinege, Calne, and Ambresbyrig. +(47) Vid. "Hist. Eliens." ii. 6. He was a great benefactor to + the church of Ely. +(48) This was probably the veteran historian of that name, who + was killed in the severe encounter with the Danes at Alton + (Aethelingadene) in the year 1001. +(49) i.e. at Canterbury. He was chosen or nominated before, by + King Ethelred and his council, at Amesbury: vid. an. 994. + This notice of his consecration, which is confirmed by + Florence of Worcester, is now first admitted into the text + on the authority of three MSS. +(50) Not the present district so-called, but all that north of + the Sea of Severn, as opposed to West-Wales, another name + for Cornwall. +(51) See a more full and circumstantial account of these events, + with some variation of names, in Florence of Worcester. +(52) The successor of Elfeah, or Alphege, in the see of + Winchester, on the translation of the latter to the + archiepiscopal see of Canterbury. +(53) This passage, though very important, is rather confused, + from the Variations in the MSS.; so that it is difficult to + ascertain the exact proportion of ships and armour which + each person was to furnish. "Vid. Flor." an. 1008. +(54) These expressions in the present tense afford a strong proof + that the original records of these transactions are nearly + coeval with the transactions themselves. Later MSS. use the + past tense. +(55) i.e. the Chiltern Hills; from which the south-eastern part + of Oxfordshire is called the Chiltern district. +(56) "Leofruna abbatissa". -- Flor. The insertion of this + quotation from Florence of Worcester is important, as it + confirms the reading adopted in the text. The abbreviation + "abbt", instead of "abb", seems to mark the abbess. She was + the last abbess of St. Mildred's in the Isle of Thanet; not + Canterbury, as Harpsfield and Lambard say. +(57) This was a title bestowed on the queen. +(58) The "seven" towns mentioned above are reduced here to + "five"; probably because two had already submitted to the + king on the death of the two thanes, Sigferth and Morcar. + These five were, as originally, Leicester, Lincoln, + Stamford, Nottingham, and Derby. Vid. an. 942, 1013. +(59) There is a marked difference respecting the name of this + alderman in MSS. Some have Ethelsy, as above; others, + Elfwine, and Ethelwine. The two last may be reconciled, as + the name in either case would now be Elwin; but Ethelsy, and + Elsy are widely different. Florence of Worcester not only + supports the authority of Ethelwine, but explains it "Dei + amici." +(60) Matthew of Westminster says the king took up the body with + his own hands. +(61) Leofric removed the see to Exeter. +(62) So Florence of Worcester, whose authority we here follow for + the sake of perspicuity, though some of these events are + placed in the MSS. to very different years; as the story of + Beorn. +(63) i.e. The ships of Sweyne, who had retired thither, as before + described. +(64) "Vid. Flor." A.D. 1049, and verbatim from him in the same + year, Sim. Dunelm. "inter X. Script. p. 184, I, 10. See + also Ordericus Vitalis, A.D. 1050. This dedication of the + church of St. Remi, a structure well worth the attention of + the architectural antiquary, is still commemorated by an + annual loire, or fair, on the first of October, at which the + editor was present in the year 1815, and purchased at a + stall a valuable and scarce history of Rheims, from which he + extracts the following account of the synod mentioned above: + -- "Il fut assemble a l'occasion de la dedicace de la + nouvelle eglise qu' Herimar, abbe de ce monastere, avoit + fait batir, seconde par les liberalites des citoyens, etc." + ("Hist. de Reims", p. 226.) But, according to our + Chronicle, the pope took occasion from this synod to make + some general regulations which concerned all Christendom. +(65) Hereman and Aldred, who went on a mission to the pope from + King Edward, as stated in the preceding year. +(66) Nine ships were put out of commission the year before; but + five being left on the pay-list for a twelvemonth, they were + also now laid up. +(67) The ancient name of Westminster; which came into disuse + because there was another Thorney in Cambridgeshire. +(68) i.e. at Gloucester, according to the printed Chronicle; + which omits all that took place in the meantime at London + and Southwark. +(69) Now Westminster. +(70) i.e. Earl Godwin and his crew. +(71) i.e. from the Isle of Portland; where Godwin had landed + after the plunder of the Isle of Wight. +(72) i.e. Dungeness; where they collected all the ships stationed + in the great bay formed by the ports of Romney, Hithe, and + Folkstone. +(73) i.e. Godwin and his son Harold. +(74) i.e. the tide of the river. +(75) Godwin's earldom consisted of Wessex, Sussex, and Kent: + Sweyn's of Oxford, Gloucester, Hereford, Somerset, and + Berkshire: and Harold's of Essex, East-Anglia, Huntingdon, + and Cambridgeshire. +(76) The church, dedicated to St. Olave, was given by Alan Earl + of Richmond, about thirty-three years afterwards, to the + first abbot of St. Mary's in York, to assist him in the + construction of the new abbey. It appears from a MS. quoted + by Leland, that Bootham-bar was formerly called "Galman- + hithe", not Galmanlith, as printed by Tanner and others. +(77) Called St. Ethelbert's minster; because the relics of the + holy King Ethelbert were there deposited and preserved. +(78) The place where this army was assembled, though said to be + very nigh to Hereford, was only so with reference to the + great distance from which some part of the forces came; as + they were gathered from all England. They met, I + conjecture, on the memorable spot called "Harold's Cross", + near Cheltenham, and thence proceeded, as here stated, to + Gloucester. +(79) This was no uncommon thing among the Saxon clergy, bishops + and all. The tone of elevated diction in which the writer + describes the military enterprise of Leofgar and his + companions, testifies his admiration. +(80) See more concerning him in Florence of Worcester. His lady, + Godiva, is better known at Coventry. See her story at large + in Bromton and Matthew of Westminster. +(81) He died at his villa at Bromleage (Bromley in + Staffordshire). -- Flor. +(82) He built a new church from the foundation, on a larger plan. + The monastery existed from the earliest times. +(83) Florence of Worcester says, that he went through Hungary to + Jerusalem. +(84) This must not be confounded with a spire-steeple. The + expression was used to denote a tower, long before spires + were invented. +(85) Lye interprets it erroneously the "festival" of St. Martin. + -- "ad S. Martini festum:" whereas the expression relates to + the place, not to the time of his death, which is mentioned + immediately afterwards. +(86) This threnodia on the death of Edward the Confessor will be + found to correspond, both in metre and expression, with the + poetical paraphrase of Genesis ascribed to Caedmon. +(87) These facts, though stated in one MS. only, prove the early + cooperation of Tosty with the King of Norway. It is + remarkable that this statement is confirmed by Snorre, who + says that Tosty was with Harald, the King of Norway, in all + these expeditions. Vid "Antiq. Celto-Scand." p. 204. +(88) i.e. Harold, King of England; "our" king, as we find him + Afterwards called in B iv., to distinguish him from Harald, + King of Norway. +(89) Not only the twelve smacks with which he went into Scotland + during the summer, as before stated, but an accession of + force from all quarters. +(90) On the north bank of the Ouse, according to Florence of + Worcester; the enemy having landed at Richale (now + "Riccal"). Simeon of Durham names the spot "Apud Fulford," + i.e. Fulford-water, south of the city of York. +(91) It is scarcely necessary to observe that the term "English" + begins about this time to be substituted for "Angles"; and + that the Normans are not merely the Norwegians, but the + Danes and other adventurers from the north, joined with the + forces of France and Flanders; who, we shall presently see, + overwhelmed by their numbers the expiring, liberties of + England. The Franks begin also to assume the name of + Frencyscan or "Frenchmen". +(92) i.e. in the expedition against the usurper William. +(93) i.e. -- threw off their allegiance to the Norman usurper, + and became voluntary outlaws. The habits of these outlaws, + or, at least, of their imitators and descendants in the next + century, are well described in the romance of "Ivanhoe". +(94) The author of the Gallo-Norman poem printed by Sparke + elevates his diction to a higher tone, when describing the + feasts of this same Hereward, whom he calls "le uthlage + hardi." +(95) Or much "coin"; many "scaettae"; such being the denomination + of the silver money of the Saxons. +(96) Florence of Worcester and those who follow him say that + William proceeded as far as Abernethy; where Malcolm met + him, and surrendered to him. +(97) Whence he sailed to Bretagne, according to Flor. S. Dunelm, + etc.; but according to Henry of Huntingdon he fled directly + to Denmark, returning afterwards with Cnute and Hacco, who + invaded England With a fleet of 200 sail. +(98) i.e. Earl Waltheof. +(99) This notice of St. Petronilla, whose name and existence seem + scarcely to have been known to the Latin historians, we owe + exclusively to the valuable MS. "Cotton Tiberius" B lv. Yet + if ever female saint deserved to be commemorated as a + conspicuous example of early piety and christian zeal, it + must be Petronilla. +(100) The brevity of our Chronicle here, and in the two following + years, in consequence of the termination of "Cotton + Tiberius" B iv., is remarkable. From the year 1083 it + assumes a character more decidedly Anglo-Norman. +(101) i.e. In the service; by teaching them a new-fangled chant, + brought from Feschamp in Normandy, instead of that to which + they had been accustomed, and which is called the Gregorian + chant. +(102) Literally, "afeared of them" -- i.e. terrified by them. +(103) Probably along the open galleries in the upper story of the + choir. +(104) "Slaegan", in its first sense, signifies "to strike + violently"; whence the term "sledge-hammer". This + consideration will remove the supposed pleonasm in the Saxon + phrase, which is here literally translated. +(105) "Gild," Sax.; which in this instance was a land-tax of one + shilling to a yardland. +(106) -- and of Clave Kyrre, King of Norway. Vid. "Antiq. + Celto-Scand". +(107) Because there was a mutiny in the Danish fleet; which was + carried to such a height, that the king, after his return to + Denmark, was slain by his own subjects. Vid. "Antiq. Celto- + Scand", also our "Chronicle" A.D. 1087. +(108) i.e. a fourth part of an acre. +(109) At Winchester; where the king held his court at Easter in + the following year; and the survey was accordingly deposited + there; whence it was called "Rotulus Wintoniae", and "Liber + Wintoniae". +(110) An evident allusion to the compilation of Doomsday book, + already described in A.D. 1085. +(111) Uppe-land, Sax. -- i.e. village-church. +(112) i.e. jurisdiction. We have adopted the modern title of the + district; but the Saxon term occurs in many of the ancient + evidences of Berkeley Castle. +(113) i.e. of the conspirators. +(114) Literally "became his man" -- "Ic becom eowr man" was the + formula of doing homage. +(115) Literally a "gossip"; but such are the changes which words + undergo in their meaning as well as in their form, that a + title of honour formerly implying a spiritual relationship + in God, is now applied only to those whose conversation + resembles the contemptible tittle-tattle of a Christening. +(116) From this expression it is evident, that though preference + was naturally and properly given to hereditary claims, the + monarchy of Scotland, as well as of England, was in + principle "elective". The doctrine of hereditary, of + divine, of indefeasible "right", is of modern growth. +(117) See the following year towards the end, where Duncan is + said to be slain. +(118) Peitevin, which is the connecting link between + "Pictaviensem" and "Poitou". +(119) Now called Southampton, to distinguish it from Northampton, + but the common people in both neighbourhoods generally say + "Hamton" to this day (1823). +(120) The title is now Earl of Shrewsbury. +(121) The fourth of April. Vid. "Ord. Vit." +(122) Commonly called "Peter-pence". +(123) Literally "head-men, or chiefs". The term is still + retained with a slight variation in the north of Europe, as + the "hetman" Platoff of celebrated memory. +(124) This name is now written, improperly, Cadogan; though the + ancient pronunciation continues. "Cadung", "Ann. Wav." + erroneously, perhaps, for "Cadugn". +(125) It was evidently, therefore, not on Michaelmas day, but + during the continuance of the mass or festival which was + celebrated till the octave following. +(126) In the original "he"; so that the Saxons agreed with the + Greeks and Romans with respect to the gender of a comet. +(127) Literally "took leave": hence the modern phrase to signify + the departure of one person from another, which in feudal + times could not be done without leave or permission formally + obtained. +(128) That is, within the twelve days after Christmas, or the + interval between Christmas day, properly called the + Nativity, and the Epiphany, the whole of which was called + Christmas-tide or Yule-tide, and was dedicated to feasting + and mirth. +(129) The King of Norway and his men. "Vid. Flor." +(130) His monument is still to be seen there, a plain gravestone + of black marble, of the common shape called "dos d'ane"; + such as are now frequently seen, though of inferior + materials, in the churchyards of villages; and are only one + remove from the grassy sod. +(131) i.e. before he left Winchester for London; literally + "there-right" -- an expression still used in many parts of + England. Neither does the word "directly", which in its + turn has almost become too vulgar to be used, nor its + substitute, "immediately", which has nearly superseded it, + appear to answer the purpose so well as the Saxon, which is + equally expressive with the French "sur le champ". +(132) This expression shows the adherence of the writer to the + Saxon line of kings, and his consequent satisfaction in + recording this alliance of Henry with the daughter of + Margaret of Scotland. +(133) "Auvergne" at that time was an independent province, and + formed no part of France. About the middle of the + fourteenth century we find Jane, Countess of Auvergne and + Boulogne, and Queen of France, assisting in the dedication + of the church of the Carmelites at Paris, together with + Queen Jeanne d'Evreux, third wife and widow of Charles IV., + Blanche of Navarre, widow of Philip VI., and Jeanne de + France, Queen of Navarre. -- Felib. "Histoire de Paris", + vol. I, p. 356. +(134) A title taken from a town in Normandy, now generally + written Moretaine, or Moretagne; de Moreteon, de Moritonio, + Flor. +(135) "cena Domini" -- commonly called Maundy Thursday. +(136) Now Tinchebrai. +(137) Matilda, Mathilde, or Maud. +(138) Henry V. of Germany, the son of Henry IV. +(139) Or, "in the early part of the night," etc. +(140) That is, the territory was not a "fee simple", but subject + to "taillage" or taxation; and that particular species is + probably here intended which is called in old French "en + queuage", an expression not very different from that in the + text above. +(141) i.e. to the earldom of Flanders. +(142) "Mense Julio". -- Flor. +(143) We have still the form of saying "Nolo episcopari", when a + see is offered to a bishop. +(144) i.e. East Bourne in Sussex; where the king was waiting for + a fair wind to carry him over sea. +(145) The Nativity of the Virgin Mary. +(146) i.e. an inclosure or park for deer. This is now called + Blenheim Park, and is one of the few old parks which still + remain in this country. +(147) This may appear rather an anticipation of the modern see of + Salisbury, which was not then in existence; the borough of + Old Saturn, or "Saresberie", being then the episcopal seat. +(148) St. Osythe, in Essex; a priory rebuilt A. 1118, for canons +of the Augustine order, of which there are considerable remains. +(149) i.e. Of the Earl of Anjou. +(150) The writer means, "the remainder of this year"; for the + feast of Pentecost was already past, before the king left + England. +(151) The pennies, or pence, it must be remembered, were of + silver at this time. +(152) i.e. Clergy and laity. +(153) This word is still in use, but in a sense somewhat + different; as qualms of conscience, etc. +(154) See an account of him in "Ord. Vit." 544. Conan, another + son of this Alan, Earl of Brittany, married a daughter of + Henry I. +(155) i.e. Henry, King of England. +(156) "A se'nnight", the space of seven nights; as we still say, + "a fortnight", i.e. the space of fourteen nights. The + French express the space of one week by "huit jours", the + origin of the "octave" in English law; of two by "quinte + jours". So "septimana" signifies "seven mornings"; whence + the French word "semaine". +(157) Literally, "woned". Vid Chaucer, "Canterbury Tales", v. + 7745. In Scotland, a lazy indolent manner of doing anything + is called "droning". +(158) The Abbot Henry of Angeli. +(159) "Thou shalt destroy them that speak `leasing,'" etc. + "Psalms". +(160) i.e. Vexed, harassed, fatigued, etc. Milton has used the + word in the last sense. +(161) The monastery of Angeli. +(162) Aurora Borealis, or the northern lights. +(163) "Any restless manoeuvre or stratagem." Both words occur in + Chaucer. See "Troilus and Criseyde", v. 1355, and + "Canterbury Tales", v. 16549. The idea seems to be taken + from the habits of destructive and undermining vermin. +(164) Now called "Good-Friday". +(165) The tower of the castle at Oxford, built by D'Oyley, which + still remains. +(166) The MS. is here deficient. +(167) Or Vaudeville. + + +[End of "The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle"] + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg Etext of The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle + diff --git a/old/angsx10.zip b/old/angsx10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7a8d869 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/angsx10.zip |