"Il fut assemble a l'occasion de la dedicace de la nouvelle eglise qu' Herimar, abbe de ce monastere, avoit fait batir, seconde par les liberalites des citoyens, etc." ("Hist. de Reims", p. 226.) But, according to our Chronicle, the pope took occasion from this synod to make some general regulations which concerned all Christendom.
(65) Hereman and Aldred, who went on a mission to the pope from King Edward, as stated in the preceding year.
(66) Nine ships were put out of commission the year before; but five being left on the pay-list for a twelvemonth, they were also now laid up.
(67) The ancient name of Westminster; which came into disuse because there was another Thorney in Cambridgeshire.
(68) i.e. at Gloucester, according to the printed Chronicle; which omits all that took place in the meantime at London and Southwark.
(69) Now Westminster.
(70) i.e. Earl Godwin and his crew.
(71) i.e. from the Isle of Portland; where Godwin had landed after the plunder of the Isle of Wight.
(72) i.e. Dungeness; where they collected all the ships stationed in the great bay formed by the ports of Romney, Hithe, and Folkstone.
(73) i.e. Godwin and his son Harold.
(74) i.e. the tide of the river.
(75) Godwin's earldom consisted of Wessex, Sussex, and Kent: Sweyn's of Oxford, Gloucester, Hereford, Somerset, and Berkshire: and Harold's of Essex, East-Anglia, Huntingdon, and Cambridgeshire.
(76) The church, dedicated to St. Olave, was given by Alan Earl of Richmond, about thirty-three years afterwards, to the first abbot of St. Mary's in York, to assist him in the construction of the new abbey. It appears from a MS. quoted by Leland, that Bootham-bar was formerly called "Galman-hithe", not Galmanlith, as printed by Tanner and others.
(77) Called St. Ethelbert's minster; because the relics of the holy King Ethelbert were there deposited and preserved.
(78) The place where this army was assembled, though said to be very nigh to Hereford, was only so with reference to the great distance from which some part of the forces came; as they were gathered from all England. They met, I conjecture, on the memorable spot called "Harold's Cross", near Cheltenham, and thence proceeded, as here stated, to Gloucester.
(79) This was no uncommon thing among the Saxon clergy, bishops and all. The tone of elevated diction in which the writer describes the military enterprise of Leofgar and his companions, testifies his admiration.
(80) See more concerning him in Florence of Worcester. His lady, Godiva, is better known at Coventry. See her story at large in Bromton and Matthew of Westminster.
(81) He died at his villa at Bromleage (Bromley inStaffordshire).—Flor.
(82) He built a new church from the foundation, on a larger plan.The monastery existed from the earliest times.
(83) Florence of Worcester says, that he went through Hungary toJerusalem.
(84) This must not be confounded with a spire-steeple. The expression was used to denote a tower, long before spires were invented.
(85) Lye interprets it erroneously the "festival" of St. Martin.—"ad S. Martini festum:" whereas the expression relates to the place, not to the time of his death, which is mentioned immediately afterwards.
(86) This threnodia on the death of Edward the Confessor will be found to correspond, both in metre and expression, with the poetical paraphrase of Genesis ascribed to Caedmon.
(87) These facts, though stated in one MS. only, prove the early cooperation of Tosty with the King of Norway. It is remarkable that this statement is confirmed by Snorre, who says that Tosty was with Harald, the King of Norway, in all these expeditions. Vid "Antiq. Celto-Scand." p. 204.
(88) i.e. Harold, King of England; "our" king, as we find himAfterwards called in B iv., to distinguish him from Harald,King of Norway.
(89) Not only the twelve smacks with which he went into Scotlandduring the summer, as before stated, but an accession offorce from all quarters.
(90) On the north bank of the Ouse, according to Florence of Worcester; the enemy having landed at Richale (now "Riccal"). Simeon of Durham names the spot "Apud Fulford," i.e. Fulford-water, south of the city of York.
(91) It is scarcely necessary to observe that the term "English" begins about this time to be substituted for "Angles"; and that the Normans are not merely the Norwegians, but the Danes and other adventurers from the north, joined with the forces of France and Flanders; who, we shall presently see, overwhelmed by their numbers the expiring, liberties of England. The Franks begin also to assume the name of Frencyscan or "Frenchmen".
(92) i.e. in the expedition against the usurper William.
(93) i.e.—threw off their allegiance to the Norman usurper,and became voluntary outlaws. The habits of these outlaws,or, at least, of their imitators and descendants in the nextcentury, are well described in the romance of "Ivanhoe".
(94) The author of the Gallo-Norman poem printed by Sparkeelevates his diction to a higher tone, when describing thefeasts of this same Hereward, whom he calls "le uthlagehardi."
(95) Or much "coin"; many "scaettae"; such being the denomination of the silver money of the Saxons.
(96) Florence of Worcester and those who follow him say that William proceeded as far as Abernethy; where Malcolm met him, and surrendered to him.
(97) Whence he sailed to Bretagne, according to Flor. S. Dunelm, etc.; but according to Henry of Huntingdon he fled directly to Denmark, returning afterwards with Cnute and Hacco, who invaded England With a fleet of 200 sail.
(98) i.e. Earl Waltheof.
(99) This notice of St. Petronilla, whose name and existence seem scarcely to have been known to the Latin historians, we owe exclusively to the valuable MS. "Cotton Tiberius" B lv. Yet if ever female saint deserved to be commemorated as a conspicuous example of early piety and christian zeal, it must be Petronilla.
(100) The brevity of our Chronicle here, and in the two followingyears, in consequence of the termination of "CottonTiberius" B iv., is remarkable. From the year 1083 itassumes a character more decidedly Anglo-Norman.
(101) i.e. In the service; by teaching them a new-fangled chant,brought from Feschamp in Normandy, instead of that to whichthey had been accustomed, and which is called the Gregorianchant.
(102) Literally, "afeared of them"—i.e. terrified by them.
(103) Probably along the open galleries in the upper story of the choir.
(104) "Slaegan", in its first sense, signifies "to strike violently"; whence the term "sledge-hammer". This consideration will remove the supposed pleonasm in the Saxon phrase, which is here literally translated.
(105) "Gild," Sax.; which in this instance was a land-tax of oneshilling to a yardland.
(106)—and of Clave Kyrre, King of Norway. Vid. "Antiq.Celto-Scand".
(107) Because there was a mutiny in the Danish fleet; which was carried to such a height, that the king, after his return to Denmark, was slain by his own subjects. Vid. "Antiq. Celto-Scand", also our "Chronicle" A.D. 1087.
(108) i.e. a fourth part of an acre.
(109) At Winchester; where the king held his court at Easter in the following year; and the survey was accordingly deposited there; whence it was called "Rotulus Wintoniae", and "Liber Wintoniae".
(110) An evident allusion to the compilation of Doomsday book, already described in A.D. 1085.
(111) Uppe-land, Sax.—i.e. village-church.
(112) i.e. jurisdiction. We have adopted the modern title of the district; but the Saxon term occurs in many of the ancient evidences of Berkeley Castle.
(113) i.e. of the conspirators.
(114) Literally "became his man"—"Ic becom eowr man" was the formula of doing homage.
(115) Literally a "gossip"; but such are the changes which wordsundergo in their meaning as well as in their form, that atitle of honour formerly implying a spiritual relationshipin God, is now applied only to those whose conversationresembles the contemptible tittle-tattle of a Christening.
(116) From this expression it is evident, that though preferencewas naturally and properly given to hereditary claims, themonarchy of Scotland, as well as of England, was inprinciple "elective". The doctrine of hereditary, ofdivine, of indefeasible "right", is of modern growth.
(117) See the following year towards the end, where Duncan issaid to be slain.
(118) Peitevin, which is the connecting link between"Pictaviensem" and "Poitou".
(119) Now called Southampton, to distinguish it from Northampton, but the common people in both neighbourhoods generally say "Hamton" to this day (1823).
(120) The title is now Earl of Shrewsbury.
(121) The fourth of April. Vid. "Ord. Vit."
(122) Commonly called "Peter-pence".
(123) Literally "head-men, or chiefs". The term is stillretained with a slight variation in the north of Europe, asthe "hetman" Platoff of celebrated memory.
(124) This name is now written, improperly, Cadogan; though theancient pronunciation continues. "Cadung", "Ann. Wav."erroneously, perhaps, for "Cadugn".
(125) It was evidently, therefore, not on Michaelmas day, butduring the continuance of the mass or festival which wascelebrated till the octave following.
(126) In the original "he"; so that the Saxons agreed with theGreeks and Romans with respect to the gender of a comet.
(127) Literally "took leave": hence the modern phrase to signify the departure of one person from another, which in feudal times could not be done without leave or permission formally obtained.
(128) That is, within the twelve days after Christmas, or the interval between Christmas day, properly called the Nativity, and the Epiphany, the whole of which was called Christmas-tide or Yule-tide, and was dedicated to feasting and mirth.
(129) The King of Norway and his men. "Vid. Flor."
(130) His monument is still to be seen there, a plain gravestone of black marble, of the common shape called "dos d'ane"; such as are now frequently seen, though of inferior materials, in the churchyards of villages; and are only one remove from the grassy sod.
(131) i.e. before he left Winchester for London; literally "there-right"—an expression still used in many parts of England. Neither does the word "directly", which in its turn has almost become too vulgar to be used, nor its substitute, "immediately", which has nearly superseded it, appear to answer the purpose so well as the Saxon, which is equally expressive with the French "sur le champ".
(132) This expression shows the adherence of the writer to the Saxon line of kings, and his consequent satisfaction in recording this alliance of Henry with the daughter of Margaret of Scotland.
(133) "Auvergne" at that time was an independent province, and formed no part of France. About the middle of the fourteenth century we find Jane, Countess of Auvergne and Boulogne, and Queen of France, assisting in the dedication of the church of the Carmelites at Paris, together with Queen Jeanne d'Evreux, third wife and widow of Charles IV., Blanche of Navarre, widow of Philip VI., and Jeanne de France, Queen of Navarre.—Felib. "Histoire de Paris", vol. I, p. 356.
(134) A title taken from a town in Normandy, now generally written Moretaine, or Moretagne; de Moreteon, de Moritonio, Flor.
(135) "cena Domini"—commonly called Maundy Thursday.
(136) Now Tinchebrai.
(137) Matilda, Mathilde, or Maud.
(138) Henry V. of Germany, the son of Henry IV.
(139) Or, "in the early part of the night," etc.
(140) That is, the territory was not a "fee simple", but subject to "taillage" or taxation; and that particular species is probably here intended which is called in old French "en queuage", an expression not very different from that in the text above.
(141) i.e. to the earldom of Flanders.
(142) "Mense Julio".—Flor.
(143) We have still the form of saying "Nolo episcopari", when asee is offered to a bishop.
(144) i.e. East Bourne in Sussex; where the king was waiting fora fair wind to carry him over sea.
(145) The Nativity of the Virgin Mary.
(146) i.e. an inclosure or park for deer. This is now calledBlenheim Park, and is one of the few old parks which stillremain in this country.
(147) This may appear rather an anticipation of the modern see ofSalisbury, which was not then in existence; the borough ofOld Saturn, or "Saresberie", being then the episcopal seat.
(148) St. Osythe, in Essex; a priory rebuilt A. 1118, for canons of the Augustine order, of which there are considerable remains.
(149) i.e. Of the Earl of Anjou.
(150) The writer means, "the remainder of this year"; for the feast of Pentecost was already past, before the king left England.
(151) The pennies, or pence, it must be remembered, were of silver at this time.
(152) i.e. Clergy and laity.
(153) This word is still in use, but in a sense somewhat different; as qualms of conscience, etc.
(154) See an account of him in "Ord. Vit." 544. Conan, another son of this Alan, Earl of Brittany, married a daughter of Henry I.
(155) i.e. Henry, King of England.
(156) "A se'nnight", the space of seven nights; as we still say, "a fortnight", i.e. the space of fourteen nights. The French express the space of one week by "huit jours", the origin of the "octave" in English law; of two by "quinte jours". So "septimana" signifies "seven mornings"; whence the French word "semaine".
(157) Literally, "woned". Vid Chaucer, "Canterbury Tales", v. 7745. In Scotland, a lazy indolent manner of doing anything is called "droning".
(158) The Abbot Henry of Angeli.
(159) "Thou shalt destroy them that speak `leasing,'" etc."Psalms".
(160) i.e. Vexed, harassed, fatigued, etc. Milton has used theword in the last sense.
(161) The monastery of Angeli.
(162) Aurora Borealis, or the northern lights.
(163) "Any restless manoeuvre or stratagem." Both words occur in Chaucer. See "Troilus and Criseyde", v. 1355, and "Canterbury Tales", v. 16549. The idea seems to be taken from the habits of destructive and undermining vermin.
(164) Now called "Good-Friday".
(165) The tower of the castle at Oxford, built by D'Oyley, which still remains.
(166) The MS. is here deficient.
(167) Or Vaudeville.
[End of "The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle"]