← The history of the Norman conquest of England, its causes and its results, Volume 2 (of 6)

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HISTORY OF THE NORMAN CONQUEST.

=London=

HENRY FROWDE

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS WAREHOUSE AMEN CORNER, E.C.

THE HISTORY OF THE NORMAN CONQUEST OF ENGLAND, ITS CAUSES AND ITS RESULTS.

BY

EDWARD A. FREEMAN, M.A.

LATE FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE.

VOLUME II.

THE REIGN OF EADWARD THE CONFESSOR.

Φιλεῖ γὰρ ὁ Θεὸς τοῖς οὔτε ἀγχίνοις οὔτε τι οἰκόθεν μηχανᾶσθαι οἵοις τε οὖσιν, ἢν μὴ πονηροὶ εἶεν, ἀπορουμένοις τὰ ἔσχατα ἐπικουρεῖν τε καὶ ξυλλαμβάνεσθαι, ὁποῖον δή τι καὶ τῷ βασιλεῖ τούτῳ τετύχηκεν.—Procopius, Bell. Vand. i. 2.

=Oxford:= AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. M.DCCC.LXVIII.

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Preface

My first volume was preliminary. I am now able to announce the exact extent and scheme of my book. My plan now extends to five volumes. The present volume takes in the first stage of the actual struggle between Normans and Englishmen, that is, the Reign of Eadward the Confessor. I begin with Eadward’s election, and I continue the narrative to his death. I take in also the early years of William in Normandy. In this period the struggle is not as yet a struggle of open warfare: it is a political struggle within the Kingdom of England. Harold and William gradually come to be the leaders and representatives of their several nations; but they are not, during the time embraced in the present volume, brought into any actually hostile relation to one another.

The third volume will, as far as England is concerned, be devoted to the single year 1066. But, along with the history of that great year, I shall have to trace the later years of William’s Norman reign. The year itself is the time of actual warfare between England and Normandy under their respective sovereigns. It embraces the reign of Harold and the interregnum which followed his death. I shall, in this volume, describe the election of Harold, the campaigns of Stamfordbridge and Hastings, and the formal completion of the Conquest by the acceptance and coronation of William as King of the English. Of this volume a considerable part is already written.

The fourth volume I shall devote to the reign of William in England. The Conquest, formally completed by his coronation, has now to be practically carried out throughout the land. The authority of William, already formally acknowledged, is gradually established over England; local resistance is overcome; the highest offices and the greatest landed estates throughout England are gradually transferred from natives to foreigners. Before William’s death the work was thoroughly done, and the great Domesday Survey may be looked on as its record. The Conquest, in its immediate results, is now fully accomplished.

The second, third, and fourth volumes will therefore embrace the main narrative, the third being the centre of all. The fifth volume will answer to the first. It will be supplementary, as the first was preliminary. It will be devoted to the results of the Conquest, as the first was devoted to its causes. It will not be necessary to prolong the detailed history beyond the death of William the Conqueror, but it will be necessary to give a sketch of the history down to Edward the First, in order to point out the stages by which the Norman settlers were gradually fused into the mass of the English nation. I shall also have to examine the permanent results of the Conquest on government, language, and the general condition of England.

I have again to give my best thanks for help of various kinds to several of the friends whom I spoke of in my first volume. To them I must now add Mr. Duffus Hardy and Mr. Edward Edwards. But, above all, I must again express my deep thanks to Professor Stubbs, not only for the benefit derived from his writings, but for his personal readiness to correct and to suggest on all points. Without his help I may truly say that this volume could not be what I trust it is.

SOMERLEAZE, WELLS, April 21st, 1868.

CHAPTER VII. FROM THE ELECTION OF EADWARD TO THE BANISHMENT OF GODWINE. 1042–1051. A. D. PAGE The struggle between Normans and Englishmen begins with the accession of Eadward 4 Import of Eadward’s election; resolve of the English people to have none but an English King 4 Other possible candidates; Swend Estrithson; Eadward the son of Eadmund 5 Eadward the one available representative of the old stock 5

§ 1. The Election and Coronation of Eadward. 1042–1043. June, 1042 Popular election of Eadward 5 Delay of the coronation; its probable causes 6 Eadward probably absent from England and unwilling to accept the Crown 6–7 Embassy to Eadward; negotiations between him and Godwine 7–8 Eadward accepts the Crown and returns to England 8 Christmas? Witenagemót of Gillingham 1042–1043 9 Opposition to Eadward’s election in the interest of Swend Estrithson 9 Eadward the only possible choice; nature of his claims 10–14 April 3, Eadward crowned at Winchester 1043 14 Exhortation of Archbishop Eadsige; position of Eadward; his relations to Godwine and the other great Earls 14–16 Presence of foreign Ambassadors at the coronation; Eadward’s foreign connexions; his relations with Magnus of Denmark and with the French Princes 16–19 Gifts of the English nobles; Godwine gives a ship to the King 19–20

§ 2. Condition of England during the early years of Eadward. Character of Eadward; his position as a Saint 20–21 Eadward’s memory acceptable to Englishmen and Normans alike 22 Eadward’s personal character; purely monastic nature of his virtues; points of likeness to his father 23–24 His love of hunting; contrast with the humanity of Anselm 25–27 Personal appearance and habits of Eadward 27 His love of favourites; his fondness for foreigners; promotion of Normans to high office 28–30 The Norman Conquest begins under Eadward 30 Relations between Eadward and Godwine; Norman calumnies against Godwine and his sons 30–31 Character of Godwine; his relations to ecclesiastical bodies; his over care for his own household 31–33 His good and strict government of his Earldom 33–34 Godwine never reached the same power as Harold did afterwards 35 Godwine’s eloquence; importance of speech at the time 35 1043 Godwine’s family; Swegen raised to an Earldom 36 1045? Promotion of Beorn and Harold 36–37 Character of Harold; his military genius 37–39 His civil virtues; his singular forbearance; his championship of England against strangers 39–40 His foreign travels; his patronage of Germans as opposed to Frenchmen 40–41 Harold’s personal character; his alleged spoliation of monasteries; his friendship with Saint Wulfstan; his foundation of Waltham 41–42 Frankness and openness of his personal demeanour; alleged charges of rashness 42–43 Story of Eadgyth Swanneshals 43 Comparison between Harold and Constantine Palaiologos 43–44 Character of Swegen 44–45 Character of the Lady Eadgyth; her doubtful loyalty to England; her relations to her husband 45–47 Greatness of Godwine and his house 47–48 The other Earldoms; Mercia under Leofric; Northumberland under Siward 48–50 General condition of England; tendency not to separation but to union; comparison with Frankish history 50 Nature of the Earldoms as affected by the Danish conquest; special position of Northumberland 50–51 The King’s Writs; light thrown by them on the condition of Folkland 52–53 General powers of the Witan not lessened 53 1040 Affairs of Scotland; reign and death of Duncan 53–54 1040–1058 Reign of Macbeth; his distribution of money at Rome 54–55 1039–1063 Affairs of Wales; reign of Gruffydd of North Wales 55–56 1039 His victory over Eadwine at Rhyd-y-groes 56 1042 His wars in South Wales and victory at Aberteifi 56 Eadward’s relations with foreign powers; his connexion with Germany 56 Claims of Magnus of Norway on the Crown of England 57 The reign of Eadward comparatively peaceful 57

§ 3. From the Coronation of Eadward to the Remission of the War-tax. 1043–1051. 1043–1051 Character of the first nine years of Eadward 58 Relations between Eadward and his mother; probable offence given by Emma 58–61 November Witenagemót of Gloucester; Eadward and the Earls 16, 1043 despoil Emma of her treasure 61–62 Probable connexion of Emma with the partizans of 1043–1046 Swend; banishments of Osbeorn, Osgod Clapa, Gunhild, and others 62–64 April–Nov. Stigand appointed Bishop of the East-Angles and 1043 deposed 64–65 Importance of ecclesiastical appointments; mode of appointing Bishops; increased connexion with Rome; prevalence of simony 65–68 Siward Abbot of Abingdon appointed Coadjutor to 1044–1050 Archbishop Eadsige; he retires to Abingdon and dies 68–69 July 25, Death of Ælfweard, Bishop of London 1044 69 August 10, Restoration of Stigand; Robert of Jumièges Bishop of 1044 London 70–71 Baneful influence of Robert; his calumnies against Godwine; his connexion with the Norman Conquest 70–71 1044–1047 Condition of Northern Europe; war between Swend and Magnus; conduct of Godescalc 72–73 1044–1045 Magnus claims the English Crown; answer of Eadward; preparations against Magnus 73–74 Early life and exploits of Harold Hardrada; his 1030–1044 escape from Stikkelstad; he enters the Byzantine service 74–76 1038–1040 He commands the Warangians in Sicily 76 His crusade or pilgrimage; he escapes from Constantinople and joins Swend in Sweden 76–78 1045 Swend and Harold attack Magnus and save England from invasion 78 Jan. 23, Marriage of Eadward and Eadgyth; promotions of 1045 Harold and Beorn 79 Death of Brihtwold, Bishop of the Wilsætas; Hermann of Lotharingia succeeds; policy of the promotion of German prelates 79–81 March 23, Death of Bishop Lyfing; his career and character 1046 81–83 1046–1072 Leofric succeeds him in Cornwall and Devonshire 83 1050 He removes the see to Exeter, and subjects his Canons to the rule of Chrodegang 83–85 1046–1062 Ealdred succeeds Lyfing at Worcester; his character 85–86 Gruffydd ap Llywelyn reconciled with the King; his joint expedition with Swegen against Gruffydd ap Rhydderch 87 Swegen’s abduction of Eadgifu; he throws up his Earldom and retires to Denmark; suppression of Leominster Abbey 87–89 Banishment of Osgod Clapa 89–90 1047 Affairs of Scandinavia; Harold joins Magnus and receives a share of the Kingdom of Norway 90–91 Swend asks help from England; his request is supported in the Witenagemót by Godwine, but rejected on the motion of Leofric 91–92 Magnus defeats Swend; he occupies Denmark and dies suddenly 92–93 1048–1061 Harold succeeds in Norway, Swend in Denmark; their long warfare 93 Norwegian and Danish embassies to England; help 1048 again refused to Swend; peace concluded with Harold 93 1046–1047 Physical phænomena 93–94 Aug. 29, Ælfwine, Bishop of Winchester, dies; Stigand 1047 succeeds 94 1048 Ravages of Lothen and Yrling; the King and the Earls pursue the pirates, but they escape to Flanders 94–96 Relations with Flanders; their analogy with the relations with Normandy in 991 and 1000 96 Alliance with the Emperor Henry; his nomination of German Popes 96 1048–1054 Pontificate of Leo the Ninth 96–97 1047 Godfrey of Lotharingia and Baldwin of Flanders rebel against the Emperor 97 1049 Leo excommunicates Godfrey; Godfrey submits, but Baldwin continues his ravages 97–98 Denmark and England join the Emperor against Baldwin; the English fleet watches the Channel; submission of Baldwin 98–99 Baldwin’s submission lets loose the English exiles; Osgod Clapa at sea; Swegen seeks reconciliation with Eadward 99–100 Harold and Beorn oppose his restoration; his outlawry is renewed 100–101 Beorn entrapped and slain by Swegen 102–104 Swegen declared Nithing by the army; nature of the military Gemót 104–105 Swegen escapes to Flanders and is received by Baldwin; universal indignation against him in England 105–107 Midlent, Swegen restored to his Earldom by the intervention 1050 of Bishop Ealdred 107–109 1049 Various military operations; movements of Osgod Clapa 109–110 July Ships from Ireland in the Bristol Channel joined by Gruffydd of South Wales 110 July 29 Campaign of Bishop Ealdred; his defeat by Gruffydd 110–111 Increasing connexion of England with the continent; 1049–1050 English attendance at synods; synods at Rheims and Mainz 111–113 Deaths of Bishops and Abbots; Siward dies, and 1049 Eadsige resumes the primacy; Eadnoth of Dorchester dies and is succeeded by Ulf the Norman 113 Midlent, Witenagemót of London; reduction of the fleet; 1050 Swegen inlawed 114–115 The King’s vow of pilgrimage to Rome; Bishops Ealdred and Hermann sent to obtain a dispensation 115–116 Synods of Rome and Vercelli; Lanfranc and Berengar; Ulf confirmed in his Bishoprick; pilgrimage of Macbeth? 116–118 Death of Archbishop Eadsige; the monks of Christ Oct. 29 Church elect Ælfric, who is supported by Godwine but rejected by the King 118–120 Midlent, Witenagemót of London; Robert of Jumièges appointed 1051 to Canterbury, Spearhafoc to London, and Rudolf to the Abbey of Abingdon 120–121 Robert returns from Rome with the pallium; he July 27 refuses to consecrate Spearhafoc, who holds his see without consecration 121–123 The remaining ships paid off; remission of the Midlent? Heregeld; distinction between Danegeld and Heregeld 123–125

§ 4. The Banishment of Earl Godwine. 1051. The foreign influence at its height; contrast between Danish and Norman influences; revolt of England against the strangers 125–129 Universal indignation at the appointment of Robert; his cabals against Godwine 129–130 September Visit of Eustace of Boulogne to Eadward at Gloucester; his outrages at Dover on his return 130–133 Eustace accuses the men of Dover to Eadward; Eadward commands Godwine to inflict military chastisement on them; Godwine refuses, and demands a legal trial 133–137 Robert excites the King against Godwine; the Witan summoned to Gloucester to hear charges against the Earl 137–138 Outrages of the Normans in Herefordshire; building of castles; Richard’s Castle 138–140 Godwine and his sons gather the force of their Earldoms at Beverstone; Siward, Leofric, and Ralph gather theirs at Gloucester 141 Negotiations between Godwine and the King; Godwine’s Sept. 8 offers refused through the influence of the Frenchmen; he demands the surrender of Eustace and the other criminals 142–143 The full force of the Northern Earldoms assembles at Gloucester; Eadward refuses to surrender Eustace 143–144 Eagerness of the Northumbrians for battle; march of the West-Saxons and East-Angles on Gloucester 144–146 Mediation of Leofric; adjournment to a Gemót in London 146–147 Gemót of London; Eadward at the head of an army; Sept. 29 outlawry of Swegen renewed; Godwine and Harold summoned to appear as criminals 147–149 Final summons to the Earls; their demand for a safe-conduct is refused 149–150 Godwine and his family outlawed; Godwine, Swegen, &c., take refuge in Flanders 151 Harold determines on resistance; he and Leofwine sail from Bristol to Dublin, where they are received by King Diarmid; vain pursuit of Bishop Ealdred 152–155 Eadgyth sent to Wherwell 155–156 General character of the story; explanation of Godwine’s conduct: effect of his fall on the minds of his contemporaries 157–160 Oct. Temporary triumph of the Norman party; advancement 1051–Sept. of Ralph, Odda, and Ælfgar 1052 160–161 Spearhafoc deposed and William appointed Bishop of London 161 Visit of Duke William 161–162

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VIII. THE EARLY YEARS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. 1028–1051

§ 1. Birth, Character, and Accession of William. 1028–1035. Character and greatness of William; lasting results of his career 163–164 English and Norman portraits of him 165–166 His strength of will, military genius, statesmanship, and unscrupulousness as to means 166–167 His personal virtues; general excellence of his ecclesiastical appointments 167–168 Effects of his reign in Normandy, France, and England 168–169 General excellence of his government in Normandy 169–170 His reign in England; skill displayed in his claim on the English Crown, in his acquisition of it, and in his subsequent government 170–171 Severity of his police 171–172 The worst features of his character brought out in England; crimes and misfortunes of his later years 172–174 William’s surnames; the Great, the Conqueror, and the Bastard 174 Laxity of the Norman Dukes as to marriage and legitimacy; special illegitimacy of William 174–175 Story of William’s birth; description of Falaise; historical associations of the castle 175–177 English legend of the birth of William 177–178 1026–1028 Story of Robert and Herleva; advancement of her family; birth of William 178–180 Question of the succession; state of the Ducal family; various candidates, but none free from objection 180–182 Unpopularity of the prospect of William’s succession 182 The great Norman houses; their connexion with English history 182–183 Greatness and wickedness of the house of Belesme; crimes of William Talvas; he curses young William in his cradle 183–187 1034–1035 Robert announces his intention of pilgrimage 187 He proposes William as his successor; his succession unwillingly accepted 188–189 1035 Robert dies on pilgrimage and William succeeds 189 Childhood of William; necessary evils of a minority 189–191 Anarchy of the time; building of castles; frequency of assassinations 191–193 Effects of William’s government in Normandy 193

§ 2. From the Accession of William to the Battle of Val-ès-dunes. 1035–1047. Guardians of William; Alan of Britanny; Osbern; Gilbert 193–194 1039–1040 Murders of Alan and Gilbert 195 House of Montgomery; history of Roger of Montgomery and his wife Mabel 195–197 Attempt of William of Montgomery on Duke William at Vaudreuil; murder of Osbern; escape of the Duke; friendship of the Duke for William Fitz-Osbern 197–198 Rebellion and death of Roger of Toesny; houses of Grantmesnil and Beaumont 199 Ralph of Wacey chosen as the Duke’s guardian 200–201 Relations between Normandy and France; general good understanding since the Commendation to Hugh the Great; return of ill-feeling on the accession of William; ingratitude of King Henry 201–203 Castle of Tillières demanded by Henry; Gilbert Crispin refuses to surrender, and is besieged; the castle surrendered, burned, and restored by Henry contrary to his engagements 203–205 Treason of Thurstan Goz; capture of Falaise Castle by the Duke 205–207 Developement of William’s character 207–208 Abuse of ecclesiastical appointments by the Norman Dukes 208 Position of the Norman Prelates; their subjection to the Ducal authority 209 1037–1055 Death of Archbishop Robert; succession and primacy of Malger 209–210 1048–1098 Odo Bishop of Bayeux; his character in England and in Normandy 210–212 Ecclesiastical movement in Normandy; foundation of monasteries 213 Character of the monastic reformations in various ages 213–214 Abbeys of Bec and Saint Evroul 214–216 994–1034 Descent, birth, and early life of Herlwin 216–219 1034–1037 Herlwin’s foundation at Burneville 219 1037–1078 He removes the monastery to Bec; his administration 220–222 1005–1039 Descent, birth, and character of Lanfranc 222–225 1039–1042 He teaches at Avranches 225 1042–1045 He becomes a monk and Prior of Bec; his favour with William 225–227 1049–1050 He attends the synods of Rome and Vercelli 227 575 Monastery of Saint Evroul; history of its founder Ebrulf or Evroul 228–229 943 The house escapes the Danish ravages, but is plundered by Hugh the Great 229–230 The monastery forsaken and restored by Restold 230 c. 1015 Geroy and his family; their relations to the house of Belesme 230–232 William the son of Geroy blinded by William Talvas 232 1050 Saint Evroul restored by William the son of Geroy and his nephews Hugh and Robert of Grantmesnil 233 1050–1063 Succession of Abbots; intrigues and abbacy of the co-founder Robert 233–234 Connexion of the religious movement in Normandy with the Conquest of England 234 Origin of the Truce of God; custom of private war; comparison between the Truce and the Crusades 234–236 A reform in those times necessarily ecclesiastical 237 1034 The Truce first preached in Aquitaine 237–239 1041 The Truce preached in a relaxed form in Burgundy and Lotharingia 239–240 1042–1080 The Truce received in Normandy at the Councils of Caen and Lillebonne 240–241 1047 Wide spread conspiracy against William 241 Intrigues of Guy of Burgundy with the Lords of the Bessin and the Côtentin; scheme for a division of the Duchy 242–243 Geographical division of parties; Rouen and the French lands loyal; Bayeux and the Danish lands join in the rebellion 243–244 The rebel leaders; Neal of Saint Saviour 245 Randolf Viscount of Bayeux 246 Hamon Dentatus of Thorigny 246 Grimbald of Plessis 247 Attempt to seize William at Valognes; his escape 247–249 Progress of the rebellion; William seeks help of King Henry; probable motives of Henry for granting it 250–252 Battle of Val-ès-dunes; its importance in the life of William 252 Val-ès-dunes a battle between Romanized and Teutonic Normandy 253–254 Description of the field 254 Junction of the Ducal and French forces; Ralph of Tesson joins the Duke 255–257 The Battle a mere combat of cavalry 257–258 Personal exertions and overthrow of King Henry; death of Hamon 258–260 Exploits and good fortune of William 260–261 Defeat of the rebels; flight of Randolf; bravery of Neal 261–263 Escape of Guy; he defends himself at Brionne 263–264 1047–1050? Siege and surrender of Brionne; William’s treatment of the vanquished 264–267 Guy returns to Burgundy; fate of Grimbald 267–268 Establishment of William’s power in Normandy; supremacy of the French element confirmed 269–270

§ 3. From the Battle of Val-ès-dunes to William’s Visit to England. 1047–1051. The Counts of Anjou; their connexion with Normandy and England; characteristics of Angevin history 270–271 464 Saxon occupation of Anjou 271 870? Ingelgar first Count; legend of the origin of the family 271–273 888 Succession of Counts; Fulk the Red 273 938 Fulk the Good; his proverb about unlearned Kings 273–274 958 Geoffrey Grisegonelle; his wars 274 978 His services to King Lothar in the war with Otto 274 987 Fulk Nerra, warrior and pilgrim 274 992 His war with Odo of Chartres 274 1016 Battle of Pontlevois; defeat of Odo 274 1028–1035 Fulk’s pilgrimages to Jerusalem 275 1040 Geoffrey Martel; origin of his surname 276 April 22, Geoffrey imprisons William Duke of Aquitaine, 1033 marries Agnes, and rebels against his father 276–277 1033–1037 Last days of Odo of Chartres; his war with King Henry and attempt on the Kingdom of Burgundy 277 His sons Stephen and Theobald; their wars with King 1044 Henry and with Geoffrey; Geoffrey receives Tours from Henry and imprisons Theobald 277–278 1048 Duke William helps King Henry against Geoffrey; his personal exploits 279–280 Position of Maine under Geoffrey 280 1015–1036 Succession of Counts; Herbert Wake-the-Dog and Hugh 280 1048–1049 Fortresses of Domfront and Alençon; disloyalty of Alençon; it receives an Angevin garrison 281–282 William’s march to Domfront; traitors in the Norman camp 283–284 Geoffrey comes to relieve Domfront and decamps 284–286 William’s sudden march to Alençon; insults offered to him; his capture of the town and cruel vengeance 287–288 Domfront surrenders; William fortifies Ambières 289 Story of William the Warling; he is charged with treason by Robert the Bigod 290–291 Duke William makes him leave Normandy, and gives his county of Mortain to his own half-brother Robert 292 1049–1054 Prosperous condition of Normandy 293 1049–1053 William’s courtship and marriage with Matilda of Flanders 293 1051–1052 Condition of England 294 1051 William’s visit to England; estimate of him in English eyes 295 Eadward’s alleged promise of the Crown to William probably made at this time 296–301 Constitutional value of such a promise; its revocation in favour of Harold 301 Improbability of any other time for the promise 302–303 Nature of William’s claims 304 William’s visit an important stage in the history 305 March 6, Death of Ælfgifu-Emma 1052 306

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IX. THE REIGN OF EADWARD FROM THE RETURN OF GODWINE TO THE DEATH OF EADWARD THE ÆTHELING. 1052–1057

Character of the period; little direct connexion between English and Norman affairs 307–308

§ 1. The Return and Death of Godwine. 1052–1053. 1052 General regret at the absence of Godwine; he receives invitations to return 308–310 Eadward gathers a fleet at Sandwich to oppose Godwine 310 Ravages of Gruffydd of North Wales; his victory near Leominster 311–312 Godwine petitions for his restoration; embassies of foreign princes on his behalf; his restoration is refused 312–313 Godwine determines on a return by force; estimate of his conduct 313–315 Harold and Leofwine sail from Dublin and enter the Bristol Channel 315 The people of Somersetshire and Devonshire ill disposed towards them; probable grounds for their hostility 316 Harold’s landing and victory at Porlock; estimate of his conduct 316–319 June 22 Godwine sets sail; his first appearance off the English coast 319–320 Both fleets dispersed by a storm; Godwine returns to Bruges 320–321 Godwine sails the second time to Wight; meeting of Godwine and Harold; they sail eastward together 321–322 Zeal in their cause shown by the men of Sussex, Surrey, Kent, and Essex 322–323 They enter the Thames and sail towards London 323 Sept. 14 Godwine reaches Southwark; London declares for him 323–324 The King hastens to London with an army 324–325 Godwine before London; zeal of his followers and lukewarmness of the King’s troops 326–327 Godwine demands his restoration; Eadward hesitates 328 The indignation of Godwine’s men restrained by the Earl 328–329 Embassy of Stigand; hostages exchanged; and matters referred to a Gemót on the morrow 329 Godwine and Harold land 329 Fears of the King’s Norman favourites; general flight of the foreigners 329–331 Robert and Ulf cut their way out of London; the Sept. 15 Mycel Gemót assembles without the walls of London; its popular character 332–333 Godwine at the Gemót; he supplicates the King and speaks to the people 333–334 Votes of the Assembly; acquittal and restoration of Godwine; outlawry of Archbishop Robert and many other Normans; “Good law decreed for all folk” 335–337 Personal reconciliation between Godwine and the King 337 Restoration of Eadgyth 337–338 Absence of Swegen; his pilgrimage to Jerusalem 338 Sept. 29 He dies in Lykia 338 Disposal of Earldoms; restoration of Harold; Earldoms of Ralph and Odda 339 The vacant Bishopricks; relations between Church and State 339–340 Stigand appointed to Canterbury; his doubtful ecclesiastical position; handle given to the Normans by Robert’s expulsion 340–344 1053–1067 Wulfwig succeeds Ulf at Dorchester 344 1053–1067 Leofwine Bishop of Lichfield; Leofwine and Wulfwig seek consecration beyond sea 344 1051–1070 William of London retains his Bishoprick 345–346 Normans allowed to remain or return; some of them probably restored after Godwine’s death; Osbern of Richard’s Castle 346–348 Estimate of Godwine’s conduct; his illness 348 1052–1053 Christmas Gemót at Gloucester 348 Jan. 5, Rhys ap Rhydderch beheaded and his head brought to 1053 Eadward 349 1053–1066 Arnwig resigns the Abbey of Peterborough; succession and administration of Leofric 349–350 1053 Easter Gemót at Winchester 350 April 12 Godwine taken ill at the King’s table 350 April 15 His death and burial; gifts of his widow Gytha 350–352 General grief of the nation; true estimate of Godwine’s character 352–354

§ 2. From the Accession of Harold to the Earldom of the West-Saxons to his first War with Gruffydd. 1053–1056. Nature of the succession to Earldoms; different positions of Mercia and Northumberland and of Wessex and East-Anglia 354–355 Reasons for retaining the West-Saxon Earldom 355–356 Easter, Harold Earl of the West-Saxons; Ælfgar Earl of the 1053 East-Angles; character of Ælfgar and his sons 356–357 Probable restoration of Bishop William and other Normans 358 Position of the Normans in Eadward’s later days; political office forbidden, but court office allowed; Eadward’s later policy thoroughly English 358–359 Different positions of Godwine and Harold with regard to the foreigners 359–360 Christmas, Ecclesiastical appointments; Leofwine of Lichfield 1053–1054 and Wulfwig of Dorchester 361 1053–1082 Æthelnoth Abbot of Glastonbury 361 1053–July Bishop Ealdred holds the Abbey of Winchcombe with 17, 1054 his See 361–362 Welsh inroad at Westbury 362 1054 Macbeth in Scotland; Siward’s expedition against him; Macbeth’s alliance with Thorfinn 362–364 July 27 Siward defeats Macbeth; Malcolm declared King of Scots; legends about Siward 364–365 1054–1058 The war continued by Macbeth; his final defeat and death 365–366 1058 Ephemeral reign of Lulach; Malcolm King over all Scotland 366 Erroneous popular conception of the war with Macbeth 366 1054 State of the royal family; position of Ralph; of the descendants of Eadmund Ironside 367–370 The Ætheling Eadward invited to England; import of the invitation 370–372 July Embassy of Ealdred and Ælfwine to the Emperor Henry; Ealdred’s long stay at Köln 372–374 Death of Osgod Clapa 374 1055 Death of Earl Siward; his foundation at Galmanho; his son Waltheof 374–375 March Tostig appointed Earl of the Northumbrians; novelty of the appointment; its doubtful policy 375–379 Character and government of Tostig; his personal favour with Eadward; legends about him and Harold 379–383 Tostig’s sworn brotherhood with Malcolm 384–385 March 20 Banishment of Ælfgar 385–386 Ælfgar hires ships in Ireland; he ravages Herefordshire in alliance with Gruffydd 386–388 October 24 Battle near Hereford; defeat of the English through the innovations of Earl Ralph 388–390 Gruffydd and Ælfgar sack and burn Hereford 390–392 Harold sent against the Welsh; comparison of his earlier and later Welsh campaigns 393–394 Harold restores and fortifies Hereford 394–395 Christmas Peace of Billingsley; general mildness of English 1055–1056 political warfare 395 Ælfgar restored to his Earldom 396 Feb. 10, Death of Æthelstan Bishop of Hereford; invasion of 1056 Magnus and Gruffydd 396–397 March Short and warlike episcopate of Leofgar of Hereford; 27–June 16 his death in battle; character of the war with Gruffydd 397–398 1056–1060 Ealdred holds the See of Hereford with that of Worcester 398 1056 Gruffydd reconciled to Eadward; his oath of homage; he is mulcted of his lands in Cheshire 398–400 Cooperation of Harold, Leofric, and Ealdred 400–401

§ 3. _From Harold’s first Campaign against Gruffydd to the Deaths of Leofric and Ralph._ 1055–1057. Christmas Ecclesiastical affairs; Hermann of Ramsbury tries to 1055–1056 annex the Abbey of Malmesbury to his Bishoprick; his scheme hindered by Harold 401–405 1056–1058 Hermann retires to Saint Omer; he returns and unites the Sees of Ramsbury and Sherborne 405–406 August 31, Death of Earl Odda 1056 407

1056–1071 Æthelric of Durham resigns his See; succession of his brother Æthelwine 407–408 1057 The Ætheling Eadward comes to England; his intended succession to the Crown; his death 408–410 Probable reasons why he never saw the King 410–412 Surmise of Sir F. Palgrave that Harold caused his death; its injustice 412–414 Death of Heaca, Bishop of the South-Saxons; Æthelric succeeds 414 August 31 Death of Earl Leofric; fate of Godgifu 414–415 Dec. 21 Death of Earl Ralph; his possible pretensions to the Crown 415–416 Christmas Redistribution of Earldoms; Ælfgar Earl of the 1057–1058 Mercians; marriage of his daughter Ealdgyth with Gruffydd 416 Herefordshire added to Harold’s Earldom; Harold the son of Ralph 417 Gyrth Earl of the East-Angles and of Oxfordshire; policy of detached shires 418 Leofwine Earl of Kent, Essex, &c.; London not under any Earl 419 1058–1065 The House of Godwine at its highest point of greatness 419–420 Harold’s prospects of the Crown 420 Position of Harold; effects of Eadward’s promise to William; the candidates of the patriotic party, first the Ætheling, then Harold 420–422 Quasi-royal position of Harold; probably no formal act, but a general understanding in his favour 424–427 Harold chief ruler of England 427

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X. THE REIGN OF EADWARD, FROM THE DEATH OF THE ÆTHELING TO THE DEATH OF THE KING. 1057–1066

§ 1. The Ecclesiastical Administration of Earl Harold. 1058–1062. Dominant position of Harold; predominance of ecclesiastical affairs; Harold in relation to the Church 428–430 1058? Harold’s pilgrimage to Rome; he studies the politics of the French Princes on his way 430–431 1057–1061 Succession of Popes; Stephen the Ninth; Benedict the Tenth; Nicholas the Second 431–432 Benedict probably in possession at the time of 1058 Harold’s visit; he grants the pallium to Stigand, probably through Harold’s influence 432 Temporary recognition of Stigand after his receipt of the pallium; the new Bishops Æthelric and Siward are consecrated by him 433 Harold returns to England 433–434 Second outlawry and return of Ælfgar 434–435 Ecclesiastical history of Gloucester; death of Abbot 681–1058 Eadric; Bishop Ealdred rebuilds and consecrates the church and appoints Wulfstan Abbot 435–436 1058 Ealdred restores the See of Ramsbury to Hermann and makes the pilgrimage to Jerusalem 436–437 April 23, Mannig resigns the abbacy of Evesham and is 1059 succeeded by Æthelwig 437–438 Deposition of Pope Benedict; its effect on the position of Stigand 439 May 3, Consecration of Harold’s minster at Waltham 1060 439 Nature and importance of the foundation; its character generally misunderstood 439–440 Harold’s acquisition of Waltham; he rebuilds the church and founds a secular college 441–442 Distinction between the foundation of secular colleges and of monasteries 442 Harold’s zeal for education; Adelard of Lüttich 443–444 Continuance of the struggle between regulars and seculars; Harold a friend of the seculars; general witness to his character borne by the foundation 444–446 The church consecrated by Archbishop Cynesige; the foundation charter dated two years later 446–447 Dec. 22 Death of Cynesige 447 Dec. 25 Ealdred appointed Archbishop of York in the Gemót at Gloucester 447–448 1060–1079 Ealdred resigns the See of Hereford and is succeeded by Walter 448 1060–1088 Death of Duduc Bishop of Wells; he is succeeded by Gisa 449–450 Later careers of Walter and Gisa; Gisa’s changes at Wells; comparisons between the foundations of Harold and Gisa 451–453 April 15, Gisa and Walter consecrated at Rome 1061 453–454 April Death of Wulfric, Abbot of Saint Augustine’s; his 18–May 26 successor Æthelsige receives the benediction from Stigand 454–455 Journey to Rome of Ealdred, Tostig, and Gyrth 455–456 Pope Nicolas confirms the privileges of Westminster, but refuses the pallium to Ealdred, and deprives him of his See 456–457 Tostig and the Bishops robbed on their way home 457 They return to Rome, and the Pope yields the pallium to the threats of Tostig 457–459 Ill effects of the practice of pilgrimage; Malcolm invades Northumberland during the absence of Tostig 459–460 Lent, 1062 Vacancy of the See of Worcester; papal legates in England 460–461 Ealdred hesitates between Abbot Æthelwig and Wulfstan Prior of Worcester 461–462 1012–1062 Life and character of Wulfstan 462–464 Easter Wulfstan elected Bishop; the election confirmed by 1062 the Witan 464–466 Sept. 8 Wulfstan consecrated by Ealdred, but makes profession to Stigand 466–467 Easter The King’s charter to the College at Waltham. 1063 467 Ælfwig, uncle of Harold, appointed Abbot of New Minster 467–468

§ 2. The Welsh War and its Consequences. 1062–1065. Renewed ravages of Gruffydd; probable death of 1062 Ælfgar, who is succeeded in his Earldom by his son Eadwine 468–469 Christmas Gemót at Gloucester; Harold’s sudden march to 1062–1063 Rhuddlan 468–470 Harold’s great Welsh campaign; its permanent effect on men’s minds; testimony of John of Salisbury and of Giraldus Cambrensis 470–471 May 26, Harold and Tostig invade Wales; Harold adopts the 1063 Welsh tactics; all Wales reduced to submission 472–474 August 5 Gruffydd murdered by his own people 475 The Welsh Kingdom granted to Bleddyn and Rhiwallon 475–476 Alleged legislation about Wales 476–477 1064? Harold marries Ealdgyth; the marriage probably a political one 477–478 August 1, Harold builds a hunting-seat for Eadward at 1065 Portskewet 479 August 24 Caradoc son of Gruffydd of South Wales kills the workmen 480

§ 3. The Revolt of Northumberland. 1065. Oppressive government of Tostig in Northumberland 481 1064 Charges against him; murder of Gamel and Ulf 482 Dec. 28 Murder of Gospatric in the King’s Court; attributed to Tostig and Eadgyth 482 Oct. 3, Revolt of Northumberland; rebel Gemót at York 1065 483 Constitutional position of Northumberland; frequent absence of Tostig; his deputy Copsige 483–485 Acts of the rebel Gemót; vote of deposition and outlawry against Tostig; Morkere elected Earl 485 Objects of Eadwine and Morkere; they aim at the division of the Kingdom; constant treasons of Eadwine 486–487 Oswulf Earl in Bernicia or Northumberland 487 The Northumbrians put to death Amund and Reavenswart 488 October 4 General massacre of Tostig’s followers and plunder of his treasury 489 Morkere and the Northumbrians march to Northampton; Eadwine joins them; presence of Welshmen in his army 489–490 Ravages of the Northumbrians in Northamptonshire and the neighbouring shires 490–491 Negotiations between the King and the rebels; Harold carries a summons to lay down their arms and submit their grievances to legal discussion 491 Answer of the Northumbrians 491–492 Eadward holds a Gemót at Bretford; debates in the Council 492–493 Tostig charges Harold with stirring up the revolt; Harold denies the charge on oath 493–494 Eadward’s eagerness for war; he is kept back by Harold and others 494–495 Position of Harold; his public duty and private interest in the controversy; complete agreement of the two 495–498 Gemót of Oxford; acts of the York Gemót confirmed; October 28 Waltheof made Earl of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire; renewal of Cnut’s Law 498–500 Nov. 1 Banishment of Tostig; he takes refuge in Flanders 500–501

§ 4. The Last Days of Eadward. 1065–1066. Eadward’s last sickness; his devotion to Saint Peter 501–503 His foundation at Westminster in honour of the 1051–1065 Apostle; reverse order of proceeding at Westminster and at Waltham 503–504 653–1051 Early history of Westminster 504–505 Permanence of Eadward’s minster and palace; existing remains of his buildings 506–508 1065 Completion of the church; the first great example of Norman architecture in England 508–510 Legends 510–513 Sept. 1065 Consecration of Eadgyth’s church at Wilton 513 Dec. 25–28 Midwinter Gemót at Westminster; consecration of the church 513–514 Jan. 5, Death of Eadward 1066 515 Jan. 6 Burial of Eadward and coronation of Harold 515 Summary 515–516

APPENDIX. NOTE A. The Election and Coronation of Eadward 517 B. The Legendary History of Eadward 525 C. Eadward’s Fondness for Foreign Churchmen 535 D. English and Norman Estimates of Godwine and Harold 536 E. The Alleged Spoliations of the Church by Godwine and Harold 543 F. The Children of Godwine 552 G. The Great Earldoms during the Reign of Eadward 555 H. The Legend of Emma 568 I. The Welsh Campaign of 1049 571 K. Danegeld and Heregeld 574 L. The Banishment of Godwine 575 M. The Surnames of William 581 N. The Birth of William 583 O. The Battle of Val-ès-dunes 590 P. The Counts of Anjou and of Chartres 591 Q. The Imprisonment of William of Aquitaine 594 R. The Ravages attributed to Harold and Godwine 596 S. The Narratives of the Return of Godwine 598 T. The Pilgrimage of Swegen 603 U. The Ecclesiastical Position of Stigand 605 W. The Death of Earl Godwine 608 X. The War with Macbeth 613 Y. The Mission of Ealdred and the Return of the Ætheling Eadward 619 Z. The Supposed Enmity between Harold and Tostig 623 AA. Æthelstan, Bishop of Hereford 628 BB. The Family of Leofric 629 CC. Harold the Son of Ralph 632 DD. The Quasi-Royal Position of Earl Harold 634 EE. Harold’s Foreign Travels and Pilgrimage 635 FF. The Quarrel between Earl Harold and Bishop Gisa 637 GG. Ælfwig Abbot of New Minster 644 HH. The Revolt of Northumberland 646

ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS.

p. 14, note 4, for “manude” read “monude.”

p. 46, note 1, for “men” read “man.”

p. 50, side-note, for “Earldom” read “Earldoms.”

p. 52, l. 7. There is another writ which, though neither Northumberland nor any Northumbrian Earl is distinctly mentioned, is clearly meant to run in Northumberland more than anywhere else. This is the writ in Cod. Dipl. iv. 230, addressed, according to a form found elsewhere, to the Bishops, Earls, and Thegns of all those shires in which Archbishop Ealdred had any lands “Eadward cyngc grét míne biscopas and míne eorlas and ealle mýne þegenas on ðam scýran ðær Ealdred ærcebisceop hæfeð land inne freóndlíce”). Among these shires Gloucestershire is doubtless included, but Yorkshire must have stood foremost.

p. 70, note 1. See p. 438.

p. 82, l. 5. There is an odd notice of Lyfing’s plurality of Bishopricks in a deed in Cod. Dipl. vi. 195. It is a conveyance of lands to Sherborne made in a Scirgemót of Devonshire held at Exeter under the presidency of Earl Godwine. Lyfing is one of the witnesses, and he is described as “Lyfing bisceop be norðan,” as if a Devonshire man’s notions of Worcester were not very clear. Worcester was clearly the see which Lyfing loved best.

p. 89, note 3. I ought here to have added another entry in the same folio of Domesday, which I knew perfectly well, but which did not catch my eye when I wrote this note. In the second column of fol. 180 are the words “Abbatissa tenet Fencote, et ipsa tenuit T. R. E.” This, and the entry about “victus monialium,” are the whole account of the monastery. This entry however may well agree with my view of the case. Fencote is but a small dependency of Leominster, and it was probably a portion set aside for Eadgifu’s personal maintenance. If so, she survived her error forty years.

p. 108, l. 14. Perhaps more accurately, in the Earldom of Ralph, under the superior authority of Leofric. See p. 563.

p. 115, note 5. On seeming anachronisms of this kind see p. 634. Cf. p. 111, note 1.

p. 134, note 2. On the bare possibility that Tostig may have held some subordinate government as early as this time, see p. 567.

p. 165, l. 3. To prevent misconception, it may be needful to explain to some readers that there was a Napoleon Buonaparte, who was crowned at Paris (see vol. i. p. 268) and who died at Saint Helena, and who slew more men in unjust wars than probably any one man in Europe since Caius Julius Cæsar.

p. 180, l. 11, for “so perilous an enterprise” read “the same perilous enterprise.”

p. 209, l. 2, for “Princes” read “Prince.”

p. 248, l. 15, after “half dressed” read “himself.”

p. 249, note 3, for “of the Monasticon” read “in the Monasticon.”

p. 278, note 1, for “contigerât” read “contigerat.”

p. 284, note 2. I have to thank my friend Mr. Dimock for the explanation that “accipiter” is the goshawk, while the sparrow-hawk is “nisus.” From the point of view of the small birds the difference is perhaps not very important.

p. 287, note 2, for “than that at Alençon” read “than he was at Alençon.”

p. 322, l. 24, after “from Kent” read “from Surrey.”

P· 337, l. 17. See p. 602.

p. 342, note 2, for “filli” read “filii.”

p. 347, note 3. Of Ralph the Staller I shall have to speak more at large in my next volume. I suspect him to be the Ralph mentioned in the Chronicles under the year 1075.

p. 349, note 2. On Leofric’s plurality of abbeys see also the Peterborough Chronicle, 1066.

p. 359, note 1. “Bundinus,” that is Bondig, was an Englishman. I shall have to speak of him again.

p. 368, l. 8, for “around” read “beneath.”

p. 373, l. 3, for “West-Frankish” read “East-Frankish.”

p. 418, l. 4 from bottom, for “whenever” read “wherever.”

p. 423, l. 8 from bottom, dele “indeed.”

p. 433, l. 15, for “fell vacant in the course of the year” read “were now vacant.” It seems uncertain whether Heaca died in 1057 or in 1058 (see p. 414): if the former year is right, the see of Selsey must have remained vacant a year. As this is not likely, the expression in the text is probably true, but it is better to leave the matter uncertain.

Ib. note 1, for “disposition” read “disposal.”

p. 436, l. 10. The three Wulfstans—Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester, Archbishop of York, and founder of Gloucester Abbey—Wulfstan, monk of Worcester and Abbot of Gloucester—and Saint Wulfstan, Prior and Bishop of Worcester,—must be carefully distinguished from each other. All were alive at once, and the last two were strictly contemporary, and all had more or less to do with Worcester and Gloucester.

p. 441, l. 8. I shall discuss in my third volume the possibility of this Esegar being the “Ansgardus” of Guy of Amiens. The idea had not occurred to me when I wrote this part of the text.

p. 448, l. 18, for “two” read “four” = 1056–1060.

p. 451, note 6. On this Azor and others of the name, see p. 642.

p. 461, note 5, for “436” read “438.”

p. 465, note 5, for “1262” read “1062.”

p. 467, note 3. This charge against Ealdred is confirmed by the entries in Domesday, 164 b. “Eldred archiepiscopus tenuit Stanedis. De dominio Sancti Petri de Glouuecestre fuit.” “Sanctus Petrus de Glouuecestre tenuit Lecce, et Eldred archiepiscopus tenuit cum abbatiâ.” Both these are lordships in Gloucestershire, which were still held by the see of York at the time of the Survey. It is not so clear when we read of a third lordship in the same list; “Eldredus archiepiscopus tenuit Otintune.... Thomas archiepiscopus tenet. Sanctus Petrus de Glouuecestre habuit in dominio donec Rex Willelmus in Angliam venit.” Does this mean that Ealdred, who was, for some time at least, in William’s favour, continued his spoliations of the monks of Gloucester after his accession?

p. 479, l. 12, for “seem well” read “well seem.” See p. 651.

p. 487, l. 9, and 497, l. 19. See p. 651.

p. 511, l. 16. The Bishop meant would doubtless be Stigand as Bishop of the diocese; by the same showing the Abbot would most likely be Harold’s uncle Ælfwig, the Abbot of the neighbouring house of New Minster.

p. 531, l. 24. Cf. Ovid, Metamorph. x. 467;

“Forsitan ætatis quoque nomine, Filia, dicat.”

p. 541, l. 10, for “this” read “his.”

p. 545, l. 7, for “againt” read “against.”

p. 553, l. 14. The list in the Knytlirga Saga, c. 11, is no less strange; Harold, Tostig, “Maurakaare,” Waltheof, and Swend.

p. 598, l. 9 from bottom, for “late” read “later,” and in last line but one dele “than.”

p. 607, l. 11 from bottom, for “præsente” read “præsentem.”

p. 611, l. 13 from bottom, for “minded” read “reminded.”

THE HISTORY

OF THE

NORMAN CONQUEST OF ENGLAND.

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