A History of England under the Norman Kings. ... To which is prefixed an epitome of the early history of Normandy. Translated from the German ... by B. Thorpe, with considerable additions and corrections by the translator

Front matter

A HISTORY OF ENGLAND UNDER THE NORMAN KINGS. A HISTORY OF ENGLAND UNDER THE NORMAN KINGS, OR, FROM THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS TO THE ACCESSION OF THE HOUSE OF PLANTAGENET : TO WHICH IS PREFIXED AN EPITOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF NORMANDY TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF Dr. J. M. LAPPENBERG, For. F. S. A. KEEPER OP THE ARCHIVES OP THE CITY OF HAMBURG. BY BENJAMIN THORPE, WITH CONSIDERABLE ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS BY THE TRANSLATOR. OXFORD: PRINTED BY JAMES WRIGHT, PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY. SOLD BY JOHN EUSSELL SMITH, 36, SOHO SQUARE, LONDON. M.DCCC.LVII.

Preface

. IN sending forth this volume I do no more than fulfil the intention I expressed in the Preface to Lappen berg's History of England under the Anglo-Saxon King's1, namely, that, in the event of that work finding a favourable reception, it should be followed by a translation of the same author's History of England under the Norman Kings, or, to the accession of the house of Plantagenet. That work having now been long in the hands of many, and repeatedly spoken of in terms of commendation by those capable to ap preciate it, I feel no hesitation in offering its con tinuation to the judgment of the public. That I have not limited my labour to that of a mere translator, will be evident to every one who shall undertake the some what tedious task of comparing it with the German original ; on the contrary, as in the preceding volumes, I have, as far as my means admitted, tested Lappen bergs work by the old chroniclers, and where I found his text abridged, in consequence of the necessity to be concise, under which he was placed2, 1 have restored it to its integrity ; where the meaning of the chronicler 1 At the end of the volume are given a few pages of additions to and corrections of the text and notes of that work. 2 See England under the Anglo-Saxon Kings, Pies, p.xiii.

PREFACE.

. VI appeared to me incorrectly represented, I have cor rected the passage ; besides which, my additions, both to the text and notes, are neither few nor far between1. What I have here stated applies generally to all the four reigns contained in the volume, though more especially to that of Stephen, which, although full of incident and, on account of the mournful picture it presents of the state of England during that period of calamity, and of the romantic events with which it abounds, is well worthy of the historian's labour, has, nevertheless, been hitherto more briefly and super ficially treated than any other reign during the middle age. In the present volume much of it has been re written. Hence I venture to entertain the hope, that the work in its English dress will by every intelligent and unprejudiced reader be classed if not as the best, at least not among the worst records of England's sad story, during a period of tyranny, the natural result of foreign conquest, exercised by alien sovereigns and an alien aristocracy over the oppressed and impoverished Anglo-Saxon population — a tyranny of which happily but few traces are discernible at the present day.

The outline of early Norman history under the house of Rolf cannot, I think, be otherwise than Avelcome to many readers ; to some the subject will, no doubt, be new, while to none who feel an interest in the History of England can it be matter of indifference, whence 1 My notes are here, as in the H. of E. under the A. S. Kings, distinguished by the letter T. My additions to and corrections of the text are too intimately blended with the original matter to admit of distinction.

PREFACE.

. VII those princes sprang, how they established themselves in the Frankish province, and what were their exploits and characters, who, directly or indirectly, have given a long line of sovereigns to this country. As a supplement to this " Outline," in which much curious matter will be found, I have added from Depping1, a chapter on the conditions, manners, etc. of the Scandinavians and of their offspring in France, better known to us under the more familiar denomination of Normans, while under their own counts or dukes; also a short paper, from the same author, on local names in Normandy, showing, in numerous instances, their exact identity with those similarly applied in the Scandinavian North. I have, in fact, to a certain extent, though unconsciously to my self, acted in conformity with Southey's advice to his brother, when the latter was meditating a work on the Crusades : he writes, " Omit none of those little circumstances which give life to narration, and bring old manners, old feelings, and old times before your eyes."

In my version and my additions, both to the text and notes, I have anxiously endeavoured to be correct ; that in this respect I have frequently failed, is highly probable ; but the gentle reader will, I hope, kindly take the will for the deed, and regard with lenity those errors and defects which he may detect in the course of the work. With this volume, ending at the death of Stephen, Lappenberg's labours terminate ; his original intention of continuing them to the Reformation having unfor- 1 See p. 5, note 2.

PREFACE.

. tunately been frustrated by defective vision, under which he has for some years been a sufferer; but the long suspended work is, I rejoice to say, in the hands of my friend Dr. Reinold Pauli, the able author of the Life of King Ælfred1, whose labours already reach to the reign of Henry VIII. Dr. Pauli's volumes merit great praise, and are justly held in high estimation both in England and Germany, as exhibiting deep research not only among the old chroniclers of this and other countries, but also among our hitherto too much neg lected national records, of which he has availed himself with an earnestness of purpose that could not fail of finding its reward in the rectification of many points in our history, that had previously been set in a false light. It is to be hoped that Dr. Pauli's work will soon appear in English from the pen of a competent trans lator.

To Mr. Wright, the Printer to the University, I have to offer my best thanks for his care and expedition, while the volume was passing through the Press. B. T. 1 Koenig Aelfred und seine Stelle in der Geschichte Englands, von Dr. Reinold Pauli. Berlin, 1851. 8vo. There are two translations of it into English, one published by Mr. Bentley, the other included in Mr. Bohn's " Antiquarian Library." The latter, which is said to be by a lady, forms a volume with king Ælfred's Anglo-Saxon version of Orosius by the present editor. CONTENTS. EARLY HISTORY OF NORMANDY. A. D. Page Literary Introduction xix Normandy under the Celts and Romans 1 The Saxon shore 2 Frankish rulers 3 The Districts 4 First attacks of the Northmen - ROLF, or ROBERT I. Battle on the Eure, and death of Regnald of Le Maine... 9 Siege of Paris - Capture of Bayeux. — Popa 10 Huncdeus (Hunedee) baptized II 9 1 1 Defeat of the Northmen at Chartres — 912 Origin of Normandy, by the treaty of St. Clair-sur-Epte. 12 9 1 9-924 Enlargement of Normandy 13 Wars of the Normans of Rouen and on the Loire — Adherence to the king of France 14 931 Death of Rolf 15 The title of Count of the Normans 17 Propriety of land. — Peasantry 18 Nobility 19 Court officials — Investiture by the king 20 Riulf's rebellion 21 Matrimonial alliance with Poitiers and Vermandois ... 22 Return of king Lewis d'Outremer — 942 Murder of count William by the Flemings 24 King Lewis gains possession of Rouen 25 Flight of the young count Richard — Alliance between count Hugh and the Normans 26 94fi King Otto the Great before Rouen CONTENTS.

X RICHARD I. A. 1). Pl,ge Investiture and marriage of Richard «W Dissensions with his step-father count Thibaut Friendly relations with the kings Lothair and Hugh ... 31 Pious foundations by Richard *>2 991) Death of Richard — RICHARD II. Insurrection of the peasantry 33 of William of Hiesmes 34 Richard's influence over king Robert — 1 006 Alliance with the emperor Henry II — Emma married to king Æthelred 35 King Svend Tveskiæg's visit to Rouen — Of Lagman the Swede, and Olaf the Norwegian ... — War on account of Dreux — Tillieres, Melun 30 Expedition in aid of Remold to Upper Burgundy 37 Submission of Hugh count of Chartres — The Normans in Spain 38 Migrations to and establishments in Italy — 1026 Death of Richard ... 39 His pious foundations and offspring — RICHARD III. War with his brother, and death 41 ROBERT II.

Contest with the archbishop of Rouen 41 Of Hugh bishop of Bayeux, and Alan of Brittany 42 King Henry's flight to Fecamp — Acquisition of the Vexin — 1 035 Robert's pilgrimage to Jerusalem and death 43 WILLIAM II. Murder of count Gilbert of Eu 45 Insurrection of Roger of Toesny Death by poison of Alan V. of Brittany Loss of Tillieres , ... CONTENTS. XI A. D. „„ 1 aye 104/ War with count Guy, and battle of Val-des-dunes 4/ William aids the king against Anjou 48 Capture of Domfront 49 1051 William's visit to king Eadward the Confessor 1053 His marriage with Matilda Of Lanfranc Insurrection of William of Arques and others 50 Deposition of Mauger, archbishop of Rouen 51 Of archbishop Maurile 1054 Battle at Mortemer 50 Battle on the Dive 53 Recovery of Tillieres 54 Acquisition of Le Maine Expedition against Brittany, and death of Conan II. ... 56 Earl Harold's visit to Normandy ON THE CONDITION, MANNERS, &c. OF THE SCANDINAVIANS AND NORMANS IN GENERAL*.

Of the kings of Denmark and Norway, and colonization of Iceland 57 Of Palnatoki and Jomsburg 58 Of the Christian missionaries and clergy — Of Iceland — its aristocracy, sagas, poetry 59 Of Greenland — Christianity established in the North, and its effects on the population 60 Subjugation of Iceland by the Norwegians 61 Decay of. their native literature and rise of monkish legends — Fraternity in Roeskilde for the suppression of piracy ... — Changes in the North, the effect of Christianity ... — Emigrations to Constantinople — King Eadgar's measures against the pirates 63 Of the Northmen in Ireland 64 King Olaf by threats converts the Orkneys 65 Of the Norse tongue in the Orkney and Shetland isles... — Ancient structures in the Orkney and Shetland isles... 66 Erection of churches and chapels in Normandy 69 * Addition by the translator.

CONTENTS. XII A. I>. 1>B8e Of Norman castles • '** Of the clergy ' ' Dissoluteness of the clergy /•* Profligacy in the cloisters 74 Of the " Peace of God" • ■■• 75 Of abbeys celebrated for learning 76 Of duke Richard at the court of Laon 77 Of Lanfranc and Anselm — Of the abbey of St. Evroult 78 The bishopric of Coutances without divine worship and priests /» Of the Norman historians and poets 80 Introduction of literature, etc. among the Normans ... 81 Northern superstitions in the Shetland isles 85 Of archbishop Manger's familiar Toret — ■ Of husbandry and rural economy 88 Of salt-works and fisheries 89 Of Norman legislation 91 Depressed state of the peasantry 92 Of the ordeal and legal duel 93 Of the Bayeux tapestry 94 Of the introduction of chivalry . . . 95 Of the Norman exchequer and courts 96 Of Local Names in Normandy* 97 WILLIAM THE FIRST, 1066-1087.

Dissolution of the Anglo-Saxon state 101 Capture of Dover and Canterbury » ... 103 Submission of London, of archbp. Stigand and others ... 1 05 Coronation of William 107 Submission of Eadwine, Morkerc, and others 108 Rewards to William's followers 109 He builds a castle at Winchester • Of William fitz Osbern 110 Creation of Norman earls 1067 William's return to Normandy and festivity at Fecamp. 1 1 1 * Addition by the translator. CONTENTS.

XIII A. 11. l'age The wealth of and arts in England 113 Oppression and emigration of the Anglo-Saxons 114 Of king Svend Estrithson 116 Of Eadric the Forester and the Welsh 117 Attempt on Dover by Eustace of Boulogne 118 Death of earl Copsi — Of earl Gospatric 11!* William's return to England — Resistance and siege of Exeter 120 106M Court at Winchester 122 Of Matilda, Wido of Amiens, and Brihtric — Confederation of Eadwine, Morkere, Gospatric, the sons of Harold, and others with the Welsh king Blithwallon 1 23 Defection and capture of York 1 24 Submission of Ægelwine, archbishop of York 125 Return home of many Norman knights 126 Insurrection at Durham 127 Landing of the sons of Harold 1 28 Landing of the Danes under the sons of king Svend. 129 Insurrection in the west of England ... 131 Defeat and withdrawal of the Danes 1 32 Of Asbiorn Jarl , 133 Deplorable state of the north of England 134 William at York 135 His march to Cheshire 1 36 Of Hugh Lupus, earl of Chester 137 Invasion of the Scots under Malcolm 138 Of Eadgar Ætheling and his sisters 139 Submission of earl Waltheof 140 1070 Plunder of the churches and monasteries 141 Introduction of foreign clergy — Comparison of the Anglo-Saxon with the Norman clergy and learning 142 Council at Winchester and second coronation of William 1 43 Deposition of archbishop Stigand and other prelates. 1 44 Death of Stigand, and of bishop Ægelric 1 45 Of Lanfranc 147 Contest between Lanfranc and Thomas archbp. of York, and with bishop Odo 152 Appointments by Lanfranc 153 1071 Death of William fitz Osbern CONTENTS.

XIV A. 1). Pa8e OfHereward 157 Flight of Eadwine and Morkere ... I59 Submission of the insurgents 160 Murder of Eadwine 161 1 072 William's expedition to Scotland 1 63 Of Eadgar Ætheling 164 Insurrection in Le Maine and hostility with Fulk count of Anjou — Pension to Eadgar Ætheling 166 Conspiracy of Roger earl of Hereford, Ralf of Guader, andWaltheof 167 Landing of Cnut and Hakon '168 Imprisonment of Roger earl of Hereford 169 1 075 Death of Waltheof 170 Transfer of episcopal sees to strong towns 171 Expedition to Brittany 1 72 Of prince Robert 174 1080 Murder of Walkere bishop of Durham 177 1081 Expedition to Wales 181 Imprisonment of bishop Odo 183 William's relations with Church and pope 1 85 1084 Projected invasion by king Cnut 188 Outline of the feudal system* 190 Of Domesday-book 197 Statistic and political condition of England 201 Troubles in Le Maine and William's death 209 His testament, revenue, etc 210 His funeral 212 His personal description and love of the chase 214 His children 215 WILLIAM THE SECOND, 1087-1100.

His succession 218 Revolt of the barons and bishop Odo 221 1089 Death of Lanfranc 224 Of Ranulf Flambard... Imprisonment of prince Henry by duke Robert 227 Intrigues in Normandy 1091 Henry besieged at Mont St. Michel 230 1092 Expedition to Scotland 233 * Addition by the translator. CONTENTS. XV A. 1). page Normanizing of Cumberland 234 1093 Minder of king Malcolm " 236 War with Wales and Norman encroachments 237 1 098 Of Magnus Barfod, king of Norway 240 Of the state of Wales 241 Ecclesiastical affairs 242 1 0! 13 Of archbishop Anselm 244 War with duke Robert 256 1095 Rebellion of Roger of Molbray 257 1096 Pledging of Normandy by Robert 260 War with Le Maine 261 1097 War on account of the Vexin 265 1100 Death of William Rufus 266 Observations on his character, etc 20N HENRY THE FIRST, 1 100-1135.

Henry's coronation and compact 272 His marriage 276 Imprisonment and escape of Flambard 277 1097-1100 Duke Robert's crusade 278 His marriage with Sibylla of Conversana 288 I 101 Robert's landing in England, and compact between the two brothers 289 Robert's second arrival in England 291 Rebellion and character of Robert of Belesme 292 Combination the barons against Henry 294 Death of Sibylla of Conversana 296 1104 Hem-y's invasion of Normandy — 1106 Battle of Tinchebray 298 Of Eadgar Ætheling and duke Robert 299 Treaty with Flanders 300 Loss of Le Maine 301 Visit of prince Lewis to England 303 War with France 304 War between the count of Blois and Lewis 305 Punishment of malcontent barons — Of William, son of duke Robert 306 Capture of Robert of Belesme 307 1113 Treaty of peace at Gisors 308 II II Marriage of Matilda with the emperor — CONTENTS.

XVI A. D. Pago Disputes regarding investitures 309 Synod at Westminster 312 Of the bishopric of Ely 314 1109 Anselm's journey to Rome — Settlement of the dispute regarding investitures ... 316 Dispute regarding papal legates 317 Henry's predilection for Normandy 322 1115 Homage to prince William 323 War with France — Death of Robert count of Meulan 325 Defection of many barons — Of Henry's daughter Juliana — 1119 William of Normandy's betrothal to Matilda of Anjou. 326 Conflict at Brenneville 327 Council at Rheims 328 1 1 20 Loss of Henry's children by shipwreck 329 1118 Death and character of queen Matilda 332 1 1 23 Rebellion of Norman barons 334 Of the trouvere Luke of Barre 336 1127 The Flemish succession 337 1128 Death of William of Normandy 338 Return of the empress Matilda 339 Homage of the barons 340 Marriage of Matilda with Geoffrey of Anjou — Dissension with count Geoffrey 34 1 Visit of the grand master of the Templars 342 War with Wales 343 Of the Flemings in Wales 344 Of Griffith prince of Wales 346 1135 Death of King Henry 347 Of his children 348 Of his person and character 349 Of his home government Of his religious foundations 353 Of the literature of his time 355 STEPHEN, 1135—1154.

Accession of Stephen 357 Character of Stephen 35^ His coronation 3gQ CONTENTS. XVII A. I). Page Pacification of Scotland 361 Charter of Oxford — Flemish and Breton mercenaries 366 Wars in Wales 369 Council at London 370 Seizure of Norwich castle by Roger Bigot 37 1 Insurrection of Robert of Bathenton — Insurrection of Baldwin of Redvers 373 Siege of Exeter — 1137 Stephen's visit to Normandy and investiture with that duchy 375 Earldoms conferred by Stephen 376 Siege of Bedford 377 Pretensions of the Scottish king 379 Anglo-Saxon conspiracy — 1138 War with the Scots 380 Battle of Clithero 382 Battle of the Standard — Peace with Scotland 387 Revolt in the southern and western counties 388 Bristol the head quarters of earl Robert 390 Atrocities of the Norman barons — Attempt on Bath by Matilda's partisans 392 Siege of Bristol by Stephen 393 Capture of Shrewsbury castle by Stephen 394 1139 Imprisonment of the bishops of Salisbury and Lincoln 395 Stephen seizes the bishops' castles 397 Council at Winchester 399 Rebellion of William of Mohun and siege of Dunster castle 403 Rebellion of William fitz Odo 404 Landing of Baldwin and siege of Corse castle — Landing of the empress and her brother 405 They proceed to Bristol 406 Sieges of Wallingford and Trowbridge 408 Death of the bishop of Salisbury 410 Insurrection of the bishop of Ely 411 1 140 Betrothal of prince Eustace with Constance of France 412 Stephen's success in Cornwall 413 Of Robert fitz Hubert at Devizes 414 Pillage and conflagration at Nottingdam 416 b CONTENTS.

XVIII A. 1). Rige Disputes regarding the vacant see of Salisbury 417 Fruitless negociations for peace — 1141 Treachery of Ranulf earl of Chester 418 Battle of Lincoln and capture of Stephen 419 The bishop of Winchester joins the empress 422 Meeting at Winchester and submission to the empress 423 Council at Winchester ' 424 Arrival of the empress in London 427 Her arrogant conduct — Her flight from London 429 Siege of Winchester 430 Defeat and capture of the earl of Gloucester 433 Liberation of the king and the earl 434 Council at Westminster — Flight of Matilda from Oxford 437 1 1 43 Defeat of Stephen by the earl of Gloucester at Wilton 439 Lamentable state of England — - Death of Milo earl of Hereford 44 1 Council at London 442 Of Geoffrey of Manneville — Of John fitz Gilbert, William of Dover and others . . . 444 Of Stephen's successes in various parts — Of Turgis of Walden and Walter commandant of Malmesbury 446 Capture of the fort at Faringdon 447 Defection of Philip, son of earl Robert, to Stephen ... 449 Imprisonment of the earl of Chester 450 1147 Return of the empress to France 451 1149 Visit of prince Henry to the king of Scotland 453 Death of count Geoffrey 454 Marriage of Henry with Eleanor of Guienne — Ecclesiastical dissensions — Appeals 456 1 1 53 Arrival of prince Henry with an army and defeat of Stephen 458 Death of prince Eustace ■. 459 Pacification 460 Death of Stephen 463 Genealogies 465,6,7 Emendations and Additions to " England under the Anglo-Saxon Kings." ■■■^■•s)P-P)2 4si9 LITEEAEY