nation one against the other, and making way by degrees to the Norman conquest. Robert a monk of that country, who had been serviceable to him there in time of need, he made bishop, first of London, then of Canterbury; William his chaplain, bishop of Dorchester. Then began the English to lay aside their own ancient customs, and in many things to imitate French manners, the great peers to speak French in their houses, in French to write their bills and letters, as a great piece of gentility, ashamed of their own: a presage of their subjection shortly to that people, whose fashions and language they affected so slavishly. But that which gave beginning to many troubles ensuing happened this year, and upon this occasion. b Eustace earl of Boloign, father of the famous Godfrey who won Jerusalem from the Saracens, and husband to Goda the king's sister, having been to visit King Edward, and returning by Canterbury to take ship at Dover, one of his harbingers, insolently seeking to lodge by force in a house there, provoked so the master thereof, as by chance or heat of anger to kill him. The count with his whole train going to the house where his servant had been killed, slew both the slayer and eighteen more who defended him. But the townsmen running to arms requited him with the slaughter of twenty more of his servants, wounded most of the rest; he himself with one or two hardly escaping, ran back with clamour to the king; whom, seconded by other Norman courtiers, he stirred up to great anger against the citizens of Canterbury. Earl Godwin in haste is sent for, the cause related and much aggravated by the king against that city, the earl commanded to raise forces, and use the citizens thereof as enemies. Godwin, sorry to see strangers more favoured of the king than his native people, answered, that "it were better to summon first the chief men of the town into the king's court, to charge them with sedition, where both parties might be beard, that not found in fault they might be acquitted; if otherwise, by fine or loss of life might satisfy the king, whose peace they had broken, and the count whom they had injured: till this were done refusing to prosecute with hostile punishment them of his own country unheard, whom his office was rather to defend." The king displeased with his refusal, and not knowing how to compel him, appointed an assembly of all the peers to be held at Gloucester, where the matter might be fully tried; the assembly was full and frequent according to summons: but Godwin mistrusting his own cause, or the violence of his adversaries, with his two sons, Swane and Harold, and a great power gathered out of his own and his sons' earldoms, which contained most of the south-east and west parts of England, came no farther than Beverstan, giving out that their forces were to go against the Welsh, who intended an rruption into Herefordshire; and Swane under that pretence lay with part of his army thereabout. The Welsh understanding this device, and with all diligence clearing themselves before the king, left Godwin detected of false accusation in great hatred to all the assembly. Leofric therefore and Siward, dukes of great power, the former in Mercia, the other in all parts beyond Humber, both ever faithful to the king, send privily with speed to raise the forces of their provinces. Which Godwin not knowing sent bold to King Edward, demanding count Eustace and his followers, together with those Boloignians, who, as Simeon writes, held a castle in the jurisdiction of Canterbury. The king, as then having but little force at hand, entertained him a while with treaties and delays, till his summoned army drew nigh, then rejected his demands. Godwin, thus matched, commanded his sons not to begin fight against the king; begun with, not to give ground. The king's forces were the flower of those counties whence they came, and eager to fall on: but Leofric and the wiser sort, detesting civil war,c brought the matter to this accord; that hostages given on either side, the cause should be again debated at London. Thither the king and lords coming with their army, sent to Godwin and his sons (who with their powers were come as far as Southwark) commanding their appearance unarmed with only twelve attendants, and that the rest of their soldiers they should deliver over to the king. They to appear without pledges before an adverse faction denied; but to dismiss their soldiers refused not, nor in aught else to obey the king as far as might stand with honour and the just regard of their safety. This answer not pleasing the king, an edict was presently issued forth, that Godwin and his sons within five days depart the land. He, who perceived now his numbers to diminish, readily obeyed, and with his wife and three sons, Tosti, Swane, and Gyrtha, with as much treasure as their ship could carry, embarked at Thorney, sailed into Flanders to earl Baldwin, whose daughter Judith Tosti had married: for Wulnod his fourth son was then a hostage to the king in Normandy; his other two, Harold and Leofwin, taking ship at Bristow, in a vessel that lay ready there belonging to Swane, passed into Ireland. King Edward, pursuing his displeasure, divorced his wife Edith earl Godwin's daughter, sending her despoiled of all her ornaments to Warewel with one waiting-maid; to be kept in custody by his sister the abbess there. His reason of so doing was as harsh as his act, that she only, while her nearest relations were in banishment, might not, though innocent, enjoy ease at home. After this, William duke of Normandy, with a great number of followers, coming into England, was by King Edward honourably entertained, and led about the cities and castles, as it were to shew him what ere long was to be his own, (though at that time, saith Ingulf, no mention thereof passed between them,) then, after some time of his abode here, presented richly and dismissed, he returned home. e The next year Queen Emma died, and was buried at Winchester. The chronicle attributed to John Brompton a Yorkshire abbot, but rather of some nameless author living under Edward III, or later, reports that the year before, by Robert the archbishop she was accused both of consenting to the death of her son Elfred, and of preparing poison for Edward also; lastly of too much familiarity with Alwin bishop of Winchester: | and land forces also not far off, he made shew as offerthat to approve her innocence, praying overnight to ing to fight; but they understood one another, and the St. Swithune, she offered to pass blindfold between soldiers on either side soon declared their resolution not certain ploughshares redhot, according to the ordalian to fight English against English. Thence coming law, which without harm she performed; that the king treaty, the king and the earl reconciled, both armis thereupon received her to honour, and from her and the were dissolved, Godwin and his sons restored to their bishop, penance for his credulity; that the archbishop, former dignities, except Swane, who, touched in coashamed of his accusation, fled out of England: which, science for the slaughter of Beorn his kinsman, wa besides the silence of ancienter authors, (for the bishop gone barefoot to Jerusalem, and, returning home, died fled not till a year after,) brings the whole story into by sickness or Saracens in Lycia; his wife Edith, Godsuspicion, in this more probable, if it can be proved, win's daughter, King Edward took to him again, digthat in memory of this deliverance from the nine nified as before. Then were the Normans, who had burning ploughshares, Queen Emma gave to the abbey done many unjust things under the king's authority, of St. Swithune nine manors, and bishop Alwin other and given him ill counsel against his people, banisted nine. About this time Griffin prince of South Wales the realm; some of them, not blamable, permitted to wasted Herefordshire; to oppose whom the people of stay. Robert archbishop of Canterbury, William of that country, with many Normans, garrisoned in the London, Ulf of Lincoln, all Normans, hardly escaping castle of Hereford, went out in arms, but were put to with their followers, got to sea. The archbishop went the worse, many slain, and much booty driven away with his complaint to Rome; but returning, died in by the Welsh. Soon after which Harold and Leofwin, Normandy at the same monastery from whence be sons of Godwin, coming into Severn with many ships, came. Osbern and Hugh surrendered their casties, in the confines of Somerset and Dorsetshire, spoiled and by permission of Leofric passed through his counmany villages, and resisted by those of Somerset and tries with their Normans to Macbeth king of Scotland. Devonshire, slew in a fight more than thirty of their principal men, many of the common sort, and returned with much booty to their fleet. f King Edward on the other side made ready above sixty ships at Sandwich well stored with men and provision, under the conduct of Odo and Radulf two of his Norman kindred, enjoining them to find out Godwin, whom he heard to be at sea. To quicken them, he himself lay on shipboard, ofttimes watched and sailed up and down in search of those pirates. But Godwin, whether in a mist, or by other accident, passing by them, arrived in another part of Kent, and dispersing several messengers abroad, by fair words allured the chief men of Kent, Surrey, and Essex, to his party; which news coming to the king's fleet at Sandwich, they hasted to find him out; but missing of him again, came up without effect to London. Godwin, advertised of this, forthwith sailed to the Isle of Wight; where at length his two sons Harold and Leofwin finding him, with their united navy lay on the coast, forbearing other hostility than to furnish themselves with fresh victuals from land as they needed. Thence as one fleet they set forward to Sandwich, using all fair means by the way to increase their numbers both of mariners and soldiers. The king then at London, startled at these tidings, gave speedy order to raise forces in all parts that had not revolted from him; but now too late, for Godwin within a few days after with his ships or galleys came up the river Thames to Southwark, and till the tide returned had conference with the Londoners; whom by fair speeches (for he was held a good speaker in those times) he brought to his bent. The tide returned, and none upon the bridge hindering, he rowed up in his galleys along the south bank; where his landarmy, now come to him, in array of battle now stood on the shore; then turning toward the north side of the river, where the king's galleys lay in some readiness, The year following, Rhese, brother to Griffin, prince of South Wales, who by inroads had done much damage to the English, taken at Bulendun, was put to death by the king's appointment, and his head brought to him at Gloucester. The same year at Winchester, on the second holy day of Easter, earl Godwin, sitting with the king at table, sunk down suddenly in his seat as dead: his three sons, Harold, Tosti, and Girtha, forthwith carried him into the king's chamber, hoping he might vive: but the malady had so seized him, that the fifth day after he expired. The Normans who hated Godwin give out, saith Malmsbury, that mention happening to be made of Elfred, and the king thereat looking sourly upon Godwin, he, to vindicate himself, uttered these words: "Thou, O king, at every mention made of thy brother Elfred, lookest frowningly upon me: but let God not suffer me to swallow this morsel, if i be guilty of aught done against his life or thy advan tage;" that after these words, choaked with the m sel taken, he sunk down and recovered not. His first wife was the sister of Canute, a woman of much infamy for the trade she drove of buying up Englis youths and maids to sell in Denmark, whereof se made great gain; but ere long was struck with thứ~ der and died. The year ensuing, Siward eari Northumberland, with a great number of horse aoå foot, attended also by a strong fleet at the ki appointment, made an expedition into Scotland, quished the tyrant Macbeth, slaying many thousa of Scots with those Normans that went thither, 37 placed Malcolm son of the Cumbrian king in his steyet not without loss of his own son, and many oth both English and Danes. Told of his son's death, asked whether he received his death's wound before behind. When it was answered, before; “ I am gla saith he," and should not else have thought b though my son, worthy of burial." In the mean wi h Post Christ. 1051. Sim. Dun. i Huntingd. the stature; King Edward, being without issue to succeed him, sent | Christiana his daughters. About the same time also died Aldred bishop of Winchester with great presents to the earl Leofric in a good old age, a man of no less virtue emperor, entreating him to prevail with the king of than power in his time, religious, prudent, and faithful Hungary, that Edward, the remaining son of his bro- to his country, happily wedded to Godiva, a woman of ther Edmund Ironside, might be sent into England. great praise. His son Algar found less favour with King Siward, but one year surviving his great victory, died Edward, again banished the year after his father's death," at York; reported by Huntingdon a man of giant like but he again by the aid of Griffin and a fleet from and by his own demeanour at point of death Norway, maugre the king, soon recovered his earldom. manifested, of a rough and mere soldierly mind. For The next year Malcolm king of Scots, coming to visit much disdaining to die in bed by a disease, not in the King Edward, was brought on his way by Tosti the field fighting with his enemies, he caused himself com- Northumbrian, to whom he swore brotherhood: yet the pletely armed, and weaponed with battleaxe and shield, next year but one, while Tosti was gone to Rome to be set in a chair, whether to fight with death, if he with Aldred archbishop of York for his pall, this sworn could be so vain, or to meet him (when far other wea- brother, taking advantage of his absence, roughly pons and preparations were needful) in a martial bra- harassed Northumberland. The year passing to an very; but true fortitude glories not in the feats of war, end without other matter of moment, save the frequent as they are such, but as they serve to end war soonest inroads and robberies of Griffin, whom no bonds of by a victorious peace. His earldom the king bestowed faith could restrain, King Edward sent against him on Tosti the son of earl Godwin: and soon after, in a after Christmas Harold now duke of West-Saxons,¶ convention held at London, banished without visible with no great body of horse, from Gloucester, where cause, Huntingdon saith for treason, Algar the son of he then kept his court; whose coming heard of Griffin di Leofric; who, passing into Ireland, soon returned with not daring to abide, nor in any part of his land holding eighteen ships to Griffin prince of South Wales, re- himself secure, escaped hardly by sea, ere Harold, questing his aid against King Edward. He, assem- coming to Rudeland, burnt his palace and ships there, bling his powers, entered with him into Herefordshire; returning to Gloucester the same day. r But by the whom Radulf a timorous captain, son to the king's middle of May setting out with a fleet from Bristow, sister, not by Eustace, but a former husband, met two he sailed about the most part of Wales, and met by his miles distant from Hereford; and having horsed the brother Tosti with many troops of horse, as the king English, who knew better to fight on foot, without had appointed, began to waste the country; but the stroke be with his French and Normans beginning to fly, Welsh giving pledges, yielded themselves, promised taught the English by his example. Griffin and Algar, to become tributary, and banish Griffin their prince; following the chase, slew many, wounded more, enterwho lurking somewhere was the next years taken and ed Hereford, slew seven canons defending the minster, slain by Griffin prince of North Wales; his head with burnt the monastery and reliques, then the city; kill- the head and tackle of his ship sent to Harold, by him ing some, leading captive others of the citizens, re- to the king, who of his gentleness made Blechgent and turned with great spoils; whereof King Edward hav- Rithwallon, or Rivallon, his two brothers, princes in ing notice gathered a great army at Gloucester under his stead; they to Harold in behalf of the king swore the conduct of Harold, now earl of Kent, who strenu- fealty and tribute. Yet the next year Harold having ously pursuing Griffin entered Wales, and encamped built a fair house at a place called Portascith in Monbeyond Straddale. But the enemy flying before him mouthshire, and stored it with provision, that the king farther into the country, leaving there the greater part might lodge there in time of hunting, Caradoc, the son of his army with such as had charge to fight, if occa- of Griffin slain the year before," came with a number of sion were offered, with the rest he returned, and fortified men, slew all he found there, and took away the proHereford with a wall and gates. Meanwhile Griffin vision. Soon after which the Northumbrians in a tuand Algar, dreading the diligence of Harold, after mult at York beset the palace of Tosti their earl, slew many messages to and fro, concluded a peace with him. more than two hundred of his soldiers and servants, Algar, discharging his fleet with pay at West-Chester, pillaged his treasure, and put him to fly for his life. came to the king, and was restored to his earldom. The cause of this insurrection they alleged to be, for But Griffin with breach of faith, the next year1 set that the queen Edith had commanded, in her brother upon Leofgar the bishop of Hereford and his clerks Tosti's behalf, Gospatric a nobleman of that country to then at a place called Glastbrig, with Agelnorth vis-be treacherously slain in the king's court; and that count of the shire, and slew them; but Leofric, Harold, and King Edward, by force, as is likeliest, though it be not said how, reduced him to peace. The next year, Edward son of Edmund Ironside, for whom his uncle King Edward had sent to the emperor, came out of Hungary, designed successor to the crown; but within a few days after his coming died at London, leaving behind him Edgar Atheling his son, Margaret and Tosti himself the year before with like treachery had caused to be slain in his chamber Gamel and Ulf, two other of their noblemen, besides his intolerable exactions and oppressions. Then in a manner the whole country, coming up to complain of their grievances, met with Harold at Northampton, whom the king at Tosti's request had sent to pacify the Northumbrians; but they laying open the cruelty of his government, free his brother Wulnod and nephew Hacun the son of and their own birthright of freedom not to endure the tyranny of any governor whatsoever, with absolute refusal to admit him again, and Harold hearing reason, all the accomplices of Tosti were expelled the earldom. He himself, banished the realm, went into Flanders; Morcar the son of Algar made earl in his stead. Huntingdon tells another cause of Tosti's banishment, that one day at Windsor, while Harold reached the cup to King Edward, Tosti, envying to see his younger brother in greater favour than himself, could not forbear to run furiously upon him, catching hold of his hair; the scuffle was soon parted by other attendants rushing between, and Tosti forbidden the court. He with continued fury riding to Hereford, where Harold had many servants, preparing an entertainment for the king, came to the house and set upon them with his followers; then lopping off hands, arms, legs of some, heads of others, threw them into buts of wine, meath, or ale, which were laid in for the king's drinking: and at his going away charged them to send him this word, that of other fresh meats he might bring with him to his farm what he pleased, but of souse he should find plenty provided ready for him: that for this barbarous act the king pronounced him banished; that the Northumbrians, taking advantage at the king's displeasure and sentence against him, rose also to be revenged of his cruelties done to themselves. But this no way agrees; for why then should Harold or the king so much labour with the Northumbrians to readmit him, if he were a banished man for his crimes done before? About this time it happened, that Harold putting to sea one day for his pleasure, in a fisherboat, from his manor at Boseham in Sussex, caught with a tempest too far off lands was carried into Normandy; and by the earl of Pontiew, on whose coast he was driven, at his own request brought to duke William; who, entertaining him with great courtesy, so far won him, as to promise the duke by oath of his own accord, not only the castle of Dover then in his tenure, but the kingdom also after King's Edward's death to his utmost endeavour, thereupon betrothing the duke's daughter then too young for marriage, and departing richly presented. Others say, that King Edward himself, after the death of Edward his nephew, sent Harold thither on purpose to acquaint duke William with his intention to bequeath him his kingdom: but Malmsbury accounts the former story to be the truer. Ingulf writes, that King Edward now grown old, and perceiving Edgar his nephew both in body and mind unfit to govern, especially against the pride and insolence of Godwin's sons, who would never obey him; duke William on the other side of high merit, and his kinsman by the mother, had sent Robert archbishop of Canterbury, to acquaint the duke with his purpose, not long before Harold came thither. The former part may be true, that King Edward upon such considerations had sent one or other; but archbishop Robert was fled the land, and dead many years before. Eadmer and Simeon write, that Harold went of his own accord into Nor-wise not. Then he related how he had seen two de mandy, by the king's permission or connivance, to get vout monks, whom he knew in Normandy to have x Malms. y Leges Ed. Conf. Tit. Lex Noricor. 2 Post Christ. 1066. Sim, Dun. a Huntingd lived and died well, who appearing told him they were sent messengers from God to foretel, that because the great ones of England, dukes, lords, bishops, and abbots, were not ministers of God, but of the devil, God had delivered the land to their enemies; and when he desired, that he might reveal this vision, to the end they might repent, it was answered, they neither will repent, neither will God pardon them: at this relation others trembling, Stigand the simonious archbishop, whom Edward much to blame had suffered many years to sit primate in the church, is said to have laughed, as at the feverish dream of a doting old man; but the event proved it true. HAROLD, son of Earl Godwin. seamen he found, willing or unwilling; where he burnt many villages, and slew many of the inhabitants; but Edwin the Mercian duke, and Morcar his brother, the Northumbrian earl, with their forces on either side, soon drove him out of the country. Who thence betook him to Malcolm the Scottish king, and with him abode the whole summer. About the same time duke William sending embassadors to admonish Harold of his promise and oath, to assist him in his plea to the kingdom, he made answer, that by the death of his daughter betrothed to him on that condition, he was absolved of his oath ;d or not dead, he could not take her now an outlandish woman, without consent of the realm; that it was presumptuously done, and not to be persisted in, if without consent or knowledge of the states, he had sworn away the right of the kingdom; that what he swore was to gain his liberty, being in a manner then his prisoner; that it was unreasonable in the duke, to require or expect of him the foregoing of a kingdom, conferred upon him with universal favour and acclamation of the people. To this flat denial he added contempt, sending the messengers back, saith Matthew Paris, on maimed horses. The duke, thus contemptuously put off, addresses himself to the pope, setting forth the justice of his cause; which Harold, whether through haughtiness of mind, or distrust, or that the ways to Rome were stopped, sought not to do. Duke William, besides the promise and oath of Harold, al HAROLD, whether by King Edward a little before his death ordained successor to the crown, as Simeon of Durham and others affirm; or by the prevalence of his faction, excluding Edgar the right heir, grandchild to Edmund Ironside, as Malmsbury and Huntingdon agree; no sooner was the funeral of King Edward ended, but on the same day was elected and crowned king: and no sooner placed in the throne, but began to frame himself by all manner of compliances to gain affection, endeavoured to make good laws, repealed bad, became a great patron to church and churchmen, courteous and affable to all reputed good, a hater of evildoers, charged all his officers to punish thieves, rob-leged that King Edward, by the advice of Seward, bers, and all disturbers of the peace, while he himself by sea and land laboured in the defence of his country: so good an actor is ambition. In the mean while a blazing star, seven mornings together, about the end of April was seen to stream terribly, not only over England, but other parts of the world; foretelling here, as was thought, the great changes approaching: plainliest prognosticated by Elmer, a monk of Malmsbury, who could not foresee, when time was, the breaking of his own legs for soaring too high. He in his youth strangely aspiring, had made and fitted wings to his hands and feet; with these on the top of a tower, spread out to gather air, he flew more than a furlong; but the wind being too high, came fluttering down, to the maiming of all his limbs; yet so conceited of his art, that he attributed the cause of his fall to the want of a tail, as birds have, which he forgot to make to his hinder parts. This story, though seeming otherwise too light in the midst of a sad narration, yet for the strangeness thereof, I thought worthy enough the placing, as I found it placed in my author. But to digress no farther: Tosti the king's brother coming from Flanders, full of envy at his younger brother's advancement to the Crown, resolved what he might to trouble his reign; forcing therefore them of Wight Isle to contribution, he sailed thence to Sandwich, committing piracies on the coast between. Harold, then residing at London, with a great number of ships drawn together, and of horse troops by land, prepares in person for Sandwich: whereof Tosti having notice directs his course with sixty ships towards Lindsey, taking with him all the b Hoved. Florent. c Malms. Godwin himself, and Stigand the archbishop, had given him the right of succession, and had sent him the son and nephew of Godwin, pledges of the gift: the pope sent to duke William, after this demonstration of his right, a consecrated banner. Whereupon he having with great care and choice got an army of tall and stout soldiers, under captains of great skill and mature age, came in August to the port of St. Valerie. Meanwhile Harold from London comes to Sandwich, there expecting his navy; which also coming, he sails to the Isle of Wight; and having heard of duke William's preparations and readiness to invade him, kept good watch on the coast, and foot forces every where in fit places to guard the shore. But ere the middle of September, provision failing when it was most needed, both fleet and army return home. When on a sudden, Harold Harvager king of Norway, with a navy of more than five hundred great ships, e (others lessen them by two hundred, others augment them to a thousand,) appears at the mouth of Tine; to whom earl Tosti with his ships came as was agreed between them; whence both uniting set sail with all speed, and entered the river Humber. Thence turning into Ouse, as far as Rical, landed, and won York by assault. At these tidings Harold with all his power hastes thitherward; but ere his coming, Edwin and Morcar at Fulford by York, on the north side of Ouse, about the feast of St. Matthew had given them battle; successfully at first, but overborn at length with numbers; and forced to turn their backs, more of them perished in the river, than in the fight. The Norwegians taking with them |