Front matter (continued 4)

1092.

This year King William went northward to Carlisle with a large army, and he repaired the city, and built the castle. And he drove out Dolfin who had before governed that country, and having placed a garrison in the castle, he returned into the south, and sent a great number of Englishmen thither with their wives and cattle, that they might settle there and cultivate the land.

1093.

This year, in Lent, King William was very sick at Gloucester, insomuch that he was universally reported to be dead: and he made many good promises in his illness; that his future life he would lead in righteousness—that the churches of God he would guard and free—and never more sell them for money—and that he would have all just laws in his kingdom. And he gave the Archbishoprick of Canterbury, which he had hitherto kept in his own hands, to Anselm who was before this Abbot of Bec, and the Bishoprick of Lincoln to his Chancellor Robert; and he granted lands to many, monasteries, but afterwards, when recovered, he took them back, and he neglected all the good laws that he had promised us. After this the King of Scotland sent desiring that the stipulated conditions might be performed; and King William summoned him to Gloucester, and sent hostages to him in Scotland, and afterwards Edgar Ætheling and others met him and brought him with much honour to the Court. But when he came there he could neither obtain a conference with our King, nor the performance of the conditions formerly promised him, and therefore they departed in great enmity: and King Malcolm returned home to Scotland, and as soon as he came thither, he assembled his troops and invaded England, ravaging the country with more fury than behoved him: and Robert Earl of Northumberland with his men lay in wait for him, and slew him unawares. He was killed by Moræl of Bamborough, the Earl’s steward, and King Malcolm’s own Godfather: his son Edward, who had he lived would have been King after his father, was killed with him. When the good Queen Margaret heard that her most beloved Lord, and her son were thus cut off, she was grieved in spirit unto death, and she went with her priest into the church, and having gone through all befitting rites, she prayed of God that she might give up the ghost. And then, the Scots chose Dufenal the brother of Malcolm for their King, and drove out all the English who had been with King Malcolm. When Duncan the son of King Malcolm heard all this, for he was in King William’s Court, and had remained here from the time that his father gave him as an hostage to our King’s father, he came to the King, and did such homage as the King required; and thus with his consent he departed for Scotland, with the aid that he could muster, both English and French, and he deprived his kinsman Dufenal of the throne, and was received as King. But then some of the Scotch again gathered themselves together, and slew nearly all his men, and he himself escaped with few others. They were afterwards reconciled on this condition, that Duncan should never more bring English or Frenchmen into that country.

1094.

This year, at Christmas, King William held his Court at Gloucester: and there came messengers to him out of Normandy from his brother Robert, and they said that his brother renounced all peace and compact if the King would not perform all that they had stipulated in the treaty; moreover they called him perjured and faithless unless he would perform the conditions, or would go to the place where the treaty had been concluded and sworn to, and there clear himself. Then at Candlemas the King went to Hastings, and whilst he waited there for a fair wind, he caused the monastery on the field of battle to be consecrated; and he took the staff from Herbert Losange, Bishop of Thetford.—After this, in the middle of Lent, he went over sea to Normandy. When he came thither he and his brother Earl Robert agreed that they would meet in peace, and they did so, to the end that they might be reconciled. But afterwards, when they met attended by the same men who had brought about the treaty, and had sworn to see it executed, these charged all the breach of faith upon the King; he would not allow this, neither would he observe the treaty, on which they separated in great enmity. And the King then seized the castle of Bures and took the Earl’s men who were in it, and he sent some of them over to this country. And on the other hand the Earl with the assistance of the King of France, took the castle of Argentses (Argentan) in which he seized Roger the Poitevin and 700 of the King’s soldiers; and he afterwards took the castle of Hulme; and frequently did each burn the towns and take captive the people of his rival. Then the King sent hither and ordered out 20,000 Englishmen to aid him in Normandy, but when they reached the sea, they were desired to return, and to give to the King’s Treasury the money that they had received; this was half a pound for each man, and they did so. And in Normandy, after this, the Earl with the King of France and all the troops that they could collect, marched towards Eu, where King William then was, purposing to besiege him therein, and thus they proceeded until they came to Longueville, and there the King of France turned off through treachery, and on this the whole army dispersed. In the mean time King William sent for his brother Henry who was in the castle of Domfront, and because he could not pass through Normandy in security, he sent ships for him, with Hugo Earl of Chester. And when they should have made for Eu, where the king was, they directed their course instead to England, and landed at Southampton on the eve of All Saints’ day; and they then remained in this country, and were in London at Christmas. The same year also the Welsh gathered themselves together, and made war upon the French in Wales, or in the neighbouring parts, where they had been before deprived of their lands, and they stormed many fortresses and castles, and slew the men, and afterwards their numbers increased so much, that they divided themselves into many bodies; Hugo, Earl of Shropshire fought with one division, and put it to flight, but nevertheless the others abstained not, during the whole year, from committing every outrage in their power. This year also the Scots conspired against their King Duncan and slew him, and they afterwards took his uncle Dufenal a second time for their king; through whose instructions and instigation Duncan had been betrayed to his death.

1095.

This year King William was at Hwitsand during the first four days of Christmas, and after the fourth day he set sail and landed at Dover. And the King’s brother Henry remained in this country till Lent, and then he went over sea to Normandy, with much treasure to be employed in the King’s service against their brother Earl Robert: and he gained ground upon the Earl continually, and did much damage to his lands and subjects. Then at Easter the King held his Court at Winchester, and Robert Earl of Northumberland would not repair thither; therefore the King’s anger was greatly stirred up against him, and he sent to him, and sternly commanded that if he would remain in peace he should come to his Court at Pentecost. This year Easter fell on the 8th of the calends of April, and after Easter, on the night of the feast of St. Ambrose the 2d of the nones of April, there was seen all over the country a great multitude of stars falling from heaven during nearly the whole of the night, not one or two at a time, but so thickly that no man might number them. After this at Pentecost the King was at Windsor, and all his Witan with him, excepting the Earl of Northumberland, for the King would neither give hostages nor pledge his troth that he should come and go in security. On this the King called out an army, and marched against the Earl into Northumberland, and as soon as he came thither he seized almost all the chief men of the Earl’s court in a certain fortress, and he put them in confinement. And he besieged Tinmouth castle until he took it, and there he seized the Earl’s brother, and all who were with him: thence he proceeded to Bamborough, and there he besieged the Earl; and when the King found that he could not reduce him, he caused a castle to be built over against Bamborough, and called it in his speech Malveisin, which is in English “the evil neighbour,” and he garrisoned it strongly, and afterwards he departed southward. Then one night soon after the King’s return into the south, the Earl went out of Bamborough towards Tinmouth, but those in the new castle being aware of his design, pursued and attacked him, and they wounded him, and afterwards took him prisoner, and some of his followers were slain, and some taken alive. In the mean time the King was told, that the Welch had stormed a certain castle in Wales, called Montgomery, and had slain Earl Hugo’s men who defended it; on this he commanded another army to be called out in haste, and after Michaelmas he proceeded into Wales. He divided his forces, and his troops made their way through all parts of the country, and met at Snowdon, on All Saints’ day. But the Welch ever fled before him to the mountains and moors, so that no man could get near them, and the King at length returned homewards, because he found that he could do no more there that winter. When the King came back, he commanded his people to take Robert. Earl of Northumberland and lead him to Bamborough, and to put out both his eyes, unless the besieged would surrender the castle, which was defended by his wife, and his steward Moreal, who was also his kinsman. On this, the castle was given up, and Moreal was received at William’s Court; and through him many were discovered, both clergy and laity, who had aided this rebellion with their counsel. Then the King ordered some of them to be imprisoned before Christmas, and he straightly commanded throughout the kingdom, that all who held lands of him should be at his Court on that festival, as they would retain his protection. And the King had Earl Robert brought to Windsor, and confined there in the castle. This year also, a little before Easter, the Pope’s Legate came to England; this was Walter Bishop of Alba, a man of a very virtuous life, and at Pentecost he presented Archbishop Anselm with his pall from Pope Urban, and he received it at his metropolitan city of Canterbury. And Bishop Walter remained here great part of this year, and on his return the Romescot, which had not been paid for many years before, was sent with him. This year also the weather was very unseasonable, so that the fruits of the earth were much injured over all the country.

1096.

This year King William held his Christmas Court at Windsor; and William Bishop of Durham died there on New Year’s day. And the King and all his Witan were at Salisbury on the octaves of Epiphany. There Geoffrey Bainard accused William of Eu the King’s relation, saying that he had been concerned in the conspiracy against the King, and for this cause he fought with him and overcame him in single combat, and after he was vanquished the king commanded that his eyes should be put out; and the king also caused his steward named William, who was his aunt’s son, to be hanged on the gallows.—Then also Eoda Earl of Champaigne the King’s uncle, and many others, were deprived of their lands, and some were brought to London, and there executed. At Easter, this year, there was a very great stir in this country and in many others also, through Urban, who was called Pope, though he was not in possession of the See of Rome: and an innumerable multitude of men, with their wives and children, departed to go and conquer the heathen nations. The King and his brother Earl Robert were reconciled in consequence of this expedition, so that the King went over sea, and received from the Earl all Normandy for a sum of money, according to contract. And thereupon the Earl departed, and with him went the Earls of Flanders and of Boulogne, and many other chieftains. And Earl Robert and those who accompanied him abode in Apulia that winter. But of those who went by Hungary, many thousands perished miserably there, or on the road, and many, rueful and hunger-bitten, toiled homewards against winter. These were very hard times to all the English, as well because of the manifold taxes, as of the very grievous famine which sorely afflicted the land. This year also the nobles who had charge of this country frequently sent forth armies into Wales, and thus they greatly oppressed many and for no purpose, but with much loss of men and of money.

1097.

This year King William was in Normandy at Christmas, and before Easter he sailed for this land, intending to hold his Court at Winchester, but he was kept at sea by bad weather till Easter eve; and Arundel was the first place to which he came, therefore he held his Court at Windsor. After this, he marched into Wales with a large army, and his troops penetrated far into the country by means of some Welchmen who had come over to him, and were his guides. And William remained there from Midsummer till near August, to his great loss of men and horses and many other things.

When the Welch had revolted from the King they chose several leaders from among themselves, one of these was named Cadugan, he was the more powerful of them all, and was the son of King Griffin’s brother. The King seeing that he could not effect his purpose returned into England, and he forthwith caused castles to be built on the marches. Then at Michaelmas, on the 4th of the nones of October, an uncommon star appeared shining in the evening, and soon going down: it was seen in the south-west, and the light which streamed from it seemed very long, shining towards the south-east; and it appeared after this manner nearly all the week.—Many allowed that it was a comet. Soon after this, Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury obtained permission from the King, though against his inclination, to leave this country and go over sea, because it seemed to him that in this nation little was done according to right, or after his desires. And at Martinmas the King went over sea to Normandy; but whilst he waited for a fair wind, his train did as much injury in the county in which they were detained, as any Prince’s retinue, or even an army could have committed in a peaceable land.

This year was in all respects a very heavy time, and the weather was singularly bad at the seasons when men should till their lands and gather in the harvest; and the people had nevertheless no respite from unjust taxes. Many shires, moreover, which are bound to duty in works at London, were greatly oppressed in making the wall around the tower, in repairing the bridge which had been almost washed away, and in building the King’s hall at Westminster; these hardships fell upon many. This year also, at Michaelmas, Edgar Ætheling, with the King’s aid, led an army into Scotland, and won that country by hard fighting, and drove out the King Dufenal, and established his kinsman Edgar the son of King Malcolm and Queen Margaret, as King holding of William, and then he returned into England.

1098.

This year King William was in Normandy at Christmas; and Walcelin Bishop of Winchester, and Baldwin Abbot of St. Edmund’s, both died during this festival. This year also died Turold Abbot of Peterborough. Moreover in the summer Of this year a spring of blood burst out at Finchamsted, in Berkshire, according to the declaration of many men of credit, who said that they had seen it. And Earl Hugo was slain in Anglesey by foreign pirates; his brother Robert succeeded him, having obtained this of the King. Before Michaelmas-day the heaven appeared as it were on fire, almost all the night.—This was a year of much distress, caused by the manifold oppressive taxes; nearly all the crops in the marsh lands failed also from the great rains, which ceased not the whole year.

1099.

This year King William was in Normandy at Christmas; and at Easter he came hither; and at Pentecost he held his Court for the first time in the new building at Westminster, and there he gave the Bishoprick of Durham to his chaplain Rannulf, who had long been the chief manager and director in all the king’s councils held in England. And soon afterwards William went over sea, and drove Earl Elias from Maine, and brought that province into subjection; and at Michaelmas he returned to this land. This year also, on St. Martin’s day, there was so very high a tide, and the damage was so great in consequence, that men remembered not the like to have ever happened before, and the same day was the first of the new moon. And Osmond Bishop of Salisbury died during Advent.

1100.

This year, at Christmas, King William held his Court in Gloucester; and at Easter in Winchester; and at Pentecost in Westminster. And at Pentecost blood was observed gushing from the earth, at a certain town of Berkshire, even as many asserted who declared that they had seen it. And after this, on the morning after Lammas day, King William was shot with an arrow by his own men, as he was hunting, and he was carried to Winchester and buried there. This was in the thirteenth year from his accession. He was very powerful, and stern over his lands and subjects, and towards all his neighbours, and much to be dreaded, and through the counsels of evil men which were always pleasing to him, and through his own avarice, he was ever vexing the people with armies and with cruel taxes; for in his days all justice sank, and all unrighteousness arose, in the sight of God and the world. He trampled on the Church of God, and as to the Bishopricks and Abbacies, the incumbents of which died in his reign, he either sold them outright, or kept them in his own hands and set them out to renters; for he desired to be the heir of every one, churchman or layman, so that the day on which he was killed he had in his own hands the Archbishoprick of Canterbury, the Bishopricks of Winchester and Salisbury, and eleven Abbacies, all let out to farm, and in fine, however long I may delay mention of it, all that was abominable to God and oppressive to men was common in this island in William’s time: and therefore he was hated by almost all his people, and abhorred by God as his end sheweth, in that he died in the midst of his unrighteousness, without repentance or any reparation made for his evil deeds. He was slain on a Thursday, and buried the next morning; and after he was buried, the Witan who were then near at hand, chose his brother Henry as King, and he forthwith gave the Bishoprick of Winchester to William Giffard, and then went to London; and on the Sunday following he made a promise to God and all the people, before the altar at Westminster, that he would abolish the injustice which prevailed in his brother’s time, and that he would observe the most equitable of the laws established in the days of any of the Kings before him: and after this Maurice Bishop of London consecrated him as King, and all the men of this land submitted to him, and swore oaths and became his liege-men. And soon afterwards, the King, by the advice of those about him, caused Rannulf Bishop of Durham to be taken and brought into the Tower of London, and confined there. Then before Michaelmas Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury came to this land; King Henry having sent for him by the advice of his Witan, because he had left the country on account of the injustice done him by King William. And soon afterwards the King took for his wife Mahald the daughter of Malcolm King of Scotland and of the good Queen Margaret King Edward’s kinswoman, of the true Royal line of England; and on Martinmas day she was given to him with great pomp at Westminster, and Archbishop Anselm wedded her to Henry, and afterwards consecrated her as Queen. And soon after this Thomas Archbishop of York died. This year also, in the autumn, Earl Robert came home into Normandy, and Robert Earl of Flanders and Eustace Earl of Boulogne also returned from Jerusalem, and on Earl Robert’s arrival in Normandy he was joyfully received by all the people, excepting those in the castles which were garrisoned with King Henry’s men, and these he made many efforts to win.

1101.

This year, at Christmas, King Henry held his Court at Westminster, and at Easter at Winchester. And soon afterwards the chief men of this land entered into a league against the king, both from their own great treachery, and through Robert Earl of Normandy who had hostile designs upon this land. And then the King sent out ships to annoy and hinder his brother, but some of them failed at time of need, and deserted from the King and submitted to Earl Robert.—At Midsummer the King posted himself with all his troops at Pevensey to oppose his brother, and he waited for him there. And in the meantime Earl Robert landed at Portsmouth twelve nights before Lammas, and the King marched against him with all his forces; but the chief men interfered and made peace between them, on condition that the King should give up all those places in Normandy which he then detained from his brother by force of arms; and that all who had lost their lands in England on the Earl’s account should have them again, and that Earl Eustace should also have his father’s estates in this country, and that Earl Robert should receive yearly 3000 marks of silver from England; and it was stipulated by this treaty that whichever of the brothers outlived the other, he should inherit all England together with Normandy, unless the deceased left legitimate issue. And twelve men of the highest rank on either side confirmed this treaty by oath: and the Earl afterwards remained here till after Michaelmas; and his men did much harm wherever they went, whilst the Earl staid in this land. This year also, at Candlemas, Bishop Rannulf escaped by night from the Tower of London, in which he was confined, and went to Normandy. It was at his incitement chiefly, that Earl Robert was spirited up to invade this land.

1102.

This year King Henry was at Westminster during the feast of the Nativity, and at Easter he was at Winchester. And soon afterwards a difference arose between the King and Robert of Belesme, who held the Earldom of Shrewsbury in this country, which his father Earl Roger had enjoyed before him, and who had other great possessions both here and abroad; and the King went and besieged Arundel castle, and when he found that he should not be able to take it speedily, he caused castles to be built before it, and garrisoned with his men; and then he led all his troops to Bridgenorth, and remained there till he had reduced the castle, and deprived Earl Robert of his lands, and he took from him all that he possessed in England, so the Earl departed over sea, and the King’s soldiers were disbanded and returned home. On the Michaelmas following the King was at Westminster, with all the head men of this land, both clergy and laity; and Archbishop Anselm held a synod, at which many decrees were made touching the Christian religion; and many Abbots, both French and English, lost their staffs and their abbacies, because they had obtained them unlawfully, or had lived unrighteously therein. And the same year, in Pentecost week, there came robbers, some from Auvergne, some from France, and some from Flanders, and they brake into the monastery of Peterborough, and carried off much treasure of gold and silver; crosses, chalices, and candlesticks.

1103.

This year King Henry was at Westminster at Christmas. And soon afterwards the Bishop William Giffard departed from this land, because he would not against right, receive consecration from Gerard Archbishop of York. And at Easter the King held his Court at Winchester; and afterwards, Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury journeyed to Rome, as he and the King had agreed. This year also Earl Robert of Normandy came to this land, to speak with the King, and before he departed hence he gave up the 3000 marks which King Henry should have paid him yearly according to the treaty. This year blood was seen gushing out of the earth at Hampstead, in Berkshire. This was a year of much distress from the manifold taxes, and also from a mortality among the cattle, and from the failure of the crops, both of the corn and all fruits of trees. In the morning also of St. Lawrence’s day, the wind did so much damage to all the fruit of this land, that no man remembered the like to have ever happened before. The same year died Mathias Abbot of Peterborough, who had not lived more than one year after he was made Abbot. After Michaelmas, on the 12th of the calends of November, he was received in procession as Abbot, and the same day the year following he died at Gloucester, and there he was buried.

1104.

This year, at Christmas, King Henry held his Court at Westminster, at Easter at Winchester, and at Pentecost again at Westminster. This year the first day of Pentecost was on the nones of June, and on the Tuesday after, at mid-day, there appeared four circles of a white colour round the sun, one under the other as if they had been painted. All who saw it wondered, because they never remembered such before.—An alliance was afterwards formed between Robert Earl of Normandy and Robert of Belesme, whom King Henry had deprived of his estates, and driven out of England, and from this, the King of England and the Earl of Normandy became at variance. And the King sent his people over sea into Normandy, and the head men of that country received them, and admitted them into their castles in treachery to their Lord the Earl, and they greatly annoyed the Earl by plundering and burning his territories. This year also, William Earl of Moreton (Mortaigne) departed to Normandy, and being there, he took arms against the King, on which the King confiscated all his possessions and estates in this country. It is not easy to describe the misery of this land, which it suffered at this time through the various and manifold oppressions and taxes that never ceased or slackened: moreover wherever the King went his train fell to plundering his wretched people, and withal there was much burning and manslaughter. By all this was the anger of God provoked, and this unhappy nation harrassed.

1105.

This year, at Christmas, King Henry held his Court at Windsor, and the following Lent he went over sea to Normandy against his brother Earl Robert. And whilst he remained there he won Caen and Baieux from his brother, and almost all the castles and chief men of that land became subject to him; and in the autumn he came again to this country. And all that he had conquered in Normandy remained to him afterwards in peace and subjection, excepting those places which lay in the neighbourhood of William Earl of Mortaigne, and which he harrassed continually as much as harrass he might, in revenge for the loss of his estates in England. Then before Christmas Robert de Belesme came hither to the King. This was a year of great distress from the failure of the fruits, and from the manifold taxes which never ceased, either before the King went abroad, while he was there, or again after his return.

1106.

This year, at Christmas, King Henry was at Westminster, and there he held his court, and during this festival Robert de Belesme departed from the King in enmity, and left this country for Normandy. After this, and before Lent, the King was at Northampton, and his brother Earl Robert of Normandy came to him there; and because the King would not give up that which he had won from the Earl in Normandy, they separated in enmity, and the Earl soon went again over sea. In the first week of Lent, on the evening of Friday, the 14th of the calends of March, a strange star appeared, and it was seen a while every evening for a long time afterwards. This star appeared in the south-west, it seemed small and dim, but the light that stood from it was very bright and like an exceedingly long beam shining to the north-east; and one evening it seemed as if a beam from over against the star darted directly into it. Some persons said that they observed more unknown stars at this time, but we do not write this as a certainty because we saw them not ourselves. One night, the morrow being the day of our Lord’s Supper, that is, the Thursday before Easter, two moons appeared before day in the heavens, the one in the east and the other in the west, both full; and the same day was the 14th of the moon. At Easter the King was at Bath, and at Pentecost at Salisbury, because he would not hold his Court over sea during his absence from this country. After this, before August, the King went into Normandy, and almost all the inhabitants bowed to his will, excepting Robert de Belesme, and the Earl of Mortaigne, and a few other chiefs who yet held with the Earl of Normandy: the King therefore came with an army, and besieged a castle of the Earl of Mortaigne called Tinchebray. Whilst the King was besieging this castle, Robert Earl of Normandy and his army came upon him on Michaelmas eve, and with him were Robert de Belesme and William Earl of Mortaigne, and all who wished well to their cause, but strength and victory were with the King. The Earl of Normandy was taken, together with the Earl of Mortaigne and Robert de Stutteville; and they were afterwards sent to England, and kept in confinement; Robert de Belesme was put to flight, and William Crispin was taken, with many others; Edgar Ætheling who had gone over from the King to the Earl a short time before, was also taken; but the King afterwards let him depart unhurt. After this, the King subdued the whole of Normandy, and brought it under his own will and power. This year, also there was a very terrible and sinful war between the Emperor of Saxony and his son, during which the father died, and the son succeeded to the Empire.

1107.

This year King Henry was in Normandy at Christmas and reduced that land, and having settled the government, he came to England the following Lent; and he held his Court at Windsor at Easter, and at Pentecost he held it at Westminster. And in the beginning of August he was again at Westminster, and there he gave away Bishopricks and Abbacies, disposing of such as were without elders and pastors, both in England and Normandy; the number of these was so great that no man remembered that so many were ever before given away at one time. And amongst others who then received Abbacies, Ernulf Prior of Canterbury obtained that Of Peterborough. This was about the seventh year of King Henry’s reign, and the one and fortieth year that the French ruled in this land. Many said that they saw various tokens in the moon this year, and its light waxing and waning contrary to nature. This year died Maurice Bishop of London, and Robert Abbot of St. Edmund’s Bury, and Richard Abbot of Ely. This year also Edgar King of Scotland died on the ides of January, and his brother Alexander succeeded to the kingdom with King Henry’s consent.

1108.

This year, at Christmas, King Henry was at Westminster; and at Easter at Winchester; and at Pentecost again at Westminster. After this, before August, he went into Normandy. And Philip King of France dying on the nones of August, his son Louis succeeded him, and there were afterwards many battles between the Kings of France and of England, whilst Henry remained in Normandy. This year also Gerard Archbishop of York died before Pentecost, and Thomas was afterwards appointed as his successor.

1109.

This year King Henry was in Normandy both at Christmas and at Easter; and before Pentecost he came hither and held his Court at Westminster, at which place the stipulations were ratified, and the oaths sworn, relative to the marriage of his daughter with the Emperor. There was much thunder this year and that very terrible. And Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury died on the 11th of the calends of April, and the first day of Easter was on the greater Litany.

1110.

This year, at Christmas, King Henry held his Court at Westminster; and at Easter he was at Marlborough; and at Pentecost he held his Court for the first time in the New Windsor. This year, before Lent, the King sent his daughter with manifold treasures over sea, and gave her to the Emperor. On the fifth night of the month of May the moon appeared shining brightly in the evening, and afterwards its light waned by little and little, and early in the night it was so wholly gone that neither light, nor circle, nor any thing at all of it was to be seen, and thus it continued till near day, and then it appeared shining full and bright; it was a fortnight old the same day: the sky was very clear all the night, and the stars shone very brightly all over the heavens, and the fruit trees were greatly injured by that night’s frost. After this, in the month of June, there appeared a star in the north-east, and its light stood before it to the south-west, and it was seen thus for many nights, and ever as the night advanced it mounted upwards and was seen going off to the north-west. This year Philip de Brause, and William Mallet, and William Baynard were deprived of their lands. This year also died Earl Elias, who whilst living held Maine of King Henry, but on his death the Earl of Anjou took possession of that province, and kept it against the King’s will. This was a year of much distress from the taxes which the King raised for his daughter’s dowry, and from the bad weather by which the crops were greatly injured, and nearly all the fruit on the trees destroyed throughout the country.—This year men first began to work at the new monastery of Chertsey.

1111.

This year King Henry wore not his crown at Christmas, nor at Easter, nor at Pentecost.—And in August he was called over sea to Normandy, by the hostility of certain of his enemies on the marches of France, and principally by that of the Earl of Anjou who held Maine against him: and after his arrival many were the intrigues and great the burning and plundering carried on by either party against the other.—This year Robert Earl of Flanders died and his son Baldwin succeeded him. The winter was very long this year, a heavy and a severe time, by which the fruits of the earth were much injured; and there was the greatest pestilence among the cattle ever remembered.

1112.

All this year King Henry remained in Normandy, on account of the war in which he was engaged with France, and with the Earl of Anjou, who held Maine against him. And whilst he was there he deprived the Earl of Evreux and William Crispin of their lands, and drove them out of Normandy: and he restored to Philip de Brause the estates which had been taken from him, and he caused Robert de Belesme to be seized and put into prison. This was a very good year as to the crops, the trees and fields being very fruitful; but it was a very heavy and a sorrowful time, by reason of a dreadful pestilence among men.

1113.

This year King Henry was in Normandy at Christmas, at Easter, and at Pentecost. And in the summer he sent hither Robert de Belesme, to be confined in Wareham castle, and he himself came to this land soon afterwards.

1114.

This year, at Christmas, King Henry held his Court at Windsor, and he held no Court again this year. And at Midsummer he entered Wales with an army, and the Welch came and treated with the King, and he caused castles to be built in that country. And in September he went over sea to Normandy. In the end of May, this year, a strange star with a long light was seen shining for many nights. This year also there was so great an ebb of the tide every where in one day, as no man remembered before, so that men went through the Thames both riding and walking, east of London bridge. This year there were very high winds in the month of October, and more especially on the night of the octaves of St. Martin, as was apparent in all woods and towns. This year also the King gave the Archbishoprick of Canterbury to Ralph Bishop of Rochester; and Thomas Archbishop of York died, and the King’s Chaplain Turstein succeeded him. At this time the King went towards the sea, and he would have gone over but he was detained by the weather. In the mean while he sent his writ to Ernulf Abbot of Peterborough, desiring him to come to him with speed, for that he would speak with him on something of importance. On Ernulf’s arrival, the King and the Archbishops and Bishops, and the English Nobility who attended the King, forced him to accept the Bishoprick of Rochester; he withstood them long, but his resistance availed nothing. And the King commanded the Archbishop to take him to Canterbury, and to consecrate him as Bishop whether he would or not.—This was done in the town called Burne (Sittingburn?) on the 17th of the calends of October. When the monks of Peterborough heard this, they were so sorry as never before, because Ernulf was a very good and a mild man, and did much good within the monastery and out of it whilst he remained there. May Almighty God be ever with him. Soon afterwards, at the request of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the King gave that Abbacy to a monk of Sees named John. And soon after this the King and the Archbishop sent him to Rome for the Archbishop’s pall, and with him a monk named Warner, and the Archdeacon John the Archbishop’s nephew, and they sped well on their journey. This was done on the 11th of the calends of October, at the town called Rugenor (Rowner, near Gosport), and the same day the King took ship at Portsmouth.

1115.

This year, during Christmas, King Henry was in Normandy, and whilst he was there he caused all the chief men of Normandy to do homage and swear oaths of allegiance to his son William, whom he had by his Queen; and afterwards in the month of July he returned hither. This year the winter was so severe with snow and with frost, that no man then living remembered a harder: and it occasioned much disease among the cattle. This year Pope Paschal sent hither a pall to Archbishop Ralph, and he received it with much pomp at his see of Canterbury. Anselm an Abbot of Rome, the nephew of Archbishop Anselm, and John Abbot of Peterborough, brought the pall from Rome.

1116.

This year, at Christmas, King Henry was at St. Alban’s, and there he caused the monastery to be consecrated; and at Easter he was at Wudiham (Odiham). And this year also, the winter being severe and long, it was a very heavy time for the cattle and all things. And soon after Easter the King went over sea, and much treachery was practised, and there was plundering and taking of castles between France and Normandy. The chief cause of enmity was that King Henry aided his nephew Earl Theobald de Blois, who was then at war with his Lord Louis King of France. This was a very calamitous year, the crops being spoiled by the heavy rains, which came on just before August and lasted till Candlemas. Mast also was so scarce this year that none was to be heard of in all this land, or in Wales: moreover this land and nation were many times sorely oppressed by the taxes which the King raised both within the towns and out of them. This year also the whole of the monastery of Peterborough was burnt, with all the houses, excepting the chapter-house and the dormitory: and the greater part of the town was burnt also. All this happened on a Friday, being the 2d of the nones of August.

1117.

All this year King Henry abode in Normandy, because of the war with the King of France and his other neighbours: then in the summer the King of France, and the Earl of Flanders with him, entered Normandy with an army, and remained in the country one night, and went away again in the morning without fighting. And Normandy was greatly oppressed by taxes and by the levies of troops that King Henry raised to oppose them. This nation also was sorely aggrieved in like manner, to wit, by the manifold taxes. This year also there was a violent storm of thunder and lightning, rain and hail, on the night of the calends of December; and on the 3d night of the ides of December the moon appeared for a long time as it were bloody, and then it was darkened. Also, on the night of the 17th of the calends of January the heaven appeared very red, as if it were burning. And on the octave of St. John the Evangelist’s day there was a great earthquake in Lombardy, by which many monasteries, towers, and houses were thrown down, and the inhabitants suffered greatly. This was a very bad year for the corn, through the rains which ceased scarcely at all. And Gilebert Abbot of Westminster died on the 8th of the ides of December, and Farits Abbot of Abingdon died on the 7th of the calends of March. And the same year ——

1118.

All this year King Henry was in Normandy, being at war with the King of France, and with the Earl of Anjou, and with the Earl of Flanders. And the Earl of Flanders was wounded in Normandy, on which he returned to Flanders. The King was greatly impoverished by this war, and lost much money and land, and he was most harrassed by his own men, who continually revolted and betrayed him, and went over to his enemies, and treacherously gave up their castles in the King’s despite. England paid dearly for all this by the manifold taxes which ceased not all this year. This year, one evening in Epiphany week, there was dreadful lightning which caused many deaths. And Queen Mahald (Matilda) died at Westminster on the calends of May, and was buried there. And Robert Earl of Mellent also died this year. This year also, on St. Thomas’ day, there was so exceedingly high a wind that none who then lived remembered a greater, and this might be seen every where from the state of the houses and of the trees. Pope Paschal also died this year, and John of Gaieta, whose other name was Gelasius, succeeded to the Popedom.

1119.

All this year King Henry remained in Normandy, and was greatly harrassed by the war with the King of France, and by the treachery of his own men, who were continually revolting from him, till at length the two Kings with their forces met in Normandy. The King of France was there put to flight and all his best men taken, and many of King Henry’s vassals who had kept their castles against him, now submitted, and were reconciled to him, and some of the castles he took by force. This year, William the son of King Henry and of Queen Mahald went to Normandy to his father, and the daughter of the Earl of Anjou was there given and wedded to him. On Michaelmas eve there was a great earthquake in some parts of this land; and it was felt most in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. The same year Pope Gelasius died on this side of the mountains, and he was buried at Cluny; and the Archbishop of Vienne was chosen Pope, his name was Calixtus. He afterwards came to Rheims, in France, on the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist, and held a council there. And Turstein Archbishop of York journeyed thither, and because he received consecration from the Pope, against right, and to the prejudice of the see of Canterbury, and against the King’s will, Henry wholly forbade his return to England; and being thus deprived of his Archbishoprick, he proceeded with the Pope towards Rome. This year also Baldwin Earl of Flanders died of the wound which he had received in Normandy, and was succeeded by Charles the son of his aunt and of St. Cnut, King of Denmark.

1120.

This year peace was made between the Kings of England and of France, and after this all King Henry’s own men in Normandy made their peace with him; also the Earls of Flanders and of Ponthieu. Then the King ordered and disposed of his castles and land in Normandy after his own will; and so, before Advent, he returned to England. And the King’s two sons William and Richard were drowned in the passage, together with Richard Earl of Chester, and Ottuel his brother; and very many of the King’s Court; stewards, and chamberlains, and butlers, and other men in office, and an innumerable multitude of all ranks, were also lost. The manner of their death was a twofold grief to their friends, first because they lost their lives so suddenly, and next that few of their bodies were ever found. And this year that remarkable light twice came upon our Lord’s sepulchre at Jerusalem, once at Easter, and again on the Assumption of St. Mary, according to the report of men of credit, who came from thence. And Turstein Archbishop of York was reconciled to the King through the Pope, and he came to this land, and was put in possession of his Archbishoprick, though much against the will of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

1121.

This year, at Christmas, King Henry was at Bramtun (Brampton ?), and before Candlemas Athelis was given him to wife at Windsor, and afterwards consecrated Queen; she was the daughter of the Duke of Louvain. And the moon was eclipsed on the night of the nones of April, being the 14th day of the moon. And the King was at Berkeley at Easter, and the Pentecost following he held a great Court at Westminster, and in the summer he entered Wales with an army, and the Welch came to meet him, and made a treaty with him on his own terms. This year the Earl of Anjou returned from Jerusalem to his own land, and after this he sent hither to fetch away his daughter who had been married to the King’s son William. And on the night of Christmas eve there was a very high wind throughout this land, as might be seen plainly in its effects.

1122.

This year King Henry was at Norwich at Christmas, and at Easter he was at Northampton. And the town of Gloucester was burned the Lent before, for while the monks were singing mass, the deacon having begun the gospel “Præteriens Jesus,” the fire fell on the top of the steeple, and it burned the whole monastery, and all the treasures in it, excepting a few books and three vestments: this happened on the 8th of the ides of March. And there was a very high wind on the Tuesday after Palm Sunday, the 11th of the Calends of April: and after this many strange tokens were noticed throughout England, and many ghosts were seen and heard. And on the night of the 8th of the calends of August, there was a great earthquake throughout Somersetshire and Gloucestershire. Again on the 6th of the ides of September, St. Mary’s day, there was a very high wind, which continued from nine in the morning till dark night. The same year Ralph Archbishop of Canterbury died on the 13th of the calends of November. After this many shipmen were at sea, and on the water, and said that they saw a fire in the north-east, large and broad, near the earth, and that it grew in height unto the welkin, and the welkin divided into four parts and fought against it, as it would have quenched it; nevertheless the fire flamed up to heaven. They observed this fire at day-break, and it lasted until it was light every where: this was on the 7th of the ides of December.

1123.

This year King Henry was at Dunstaple at Christmas, and the messengers from the Earl of Anjou came to him there, and he proceeded thence to Woodstock, and his Bishops and all his Court with him. Now it fell out on a Wednesday, being the 4th of the ides of January, that the King rode in his deer-park, and Roger Bishop of Salisbury was on one side of him, and Robert Bloet Bishop of Lincoln on the other; and they rode there talking. Then the Bishop of Lincoln sank down, and said to the King, “Lord King! I am dying,”—and the King alighted from his horse, and took him between his arms, and bade them bear him to his inn, and he soon lay there dead; and they took his body with much pomp to Lincoln, and Robert Bishop of Chester, who was called Pecceth, buried him before St. Mary’s altar. Soon after this the King sent his writs over all England, and desired his Bishops, his Abbots, and his Thanes, that they should all come to the meeting of his Witan at Gloucester, on Candlemas day, and they obeyed; and when they were there assembled the King bade them choose to themselves whomsoever they would as Archbishop of Canterbury, and that he would confirm their choice. Then the Bishops spake among themselves, and said that they would never more have a man of any monastic order as Archbishop over them. And they all with one accord went to the King, and entreated that they might choose one of the clergy for their Archbishop, and to this the King consented.—All this had been set on foot by the Bishop of Salisbury, and by the Bishop of Lincoln before he died, for they never loved the monks’ rules, but were ever against the monks and their rules also. And the Prior and monks of Canterbury and all others of the monastic order who were there, resisted this proceeding two full days, but in vain, for the Bishop of Salisbury was very powerful, and swayed all England, and he was against them with all his might. Then they chose a clerk named William of Corboyl, he was a canon of a monastery called Cice (St. Osith); and they brought him before the King, who gave him the Archbishoprick, and he was received by all the Bishops; but the Monks and Earls, and almost all the Thanes who were there, would not acknowledge him. At this same time the messengers of the Earl departed from the King dissatisfied, nothing regarding his gifts. At this time also a Legate arrived from Rome; his name was Henry, and he was Abbot of the monastery of St. Jean d’Angely. He came for the Romescot; and he told the King that a clerk had no right to be set over monks, and that therefore they had formerly chosen the Archbishop in the chapter, as was befitting; but, for love of the Bishop of Salisbury, the King would not undo his act. Soon afterwards, the Archbishop went to Canterbury, and was received, though unwillingly, and he was forthwith consecrated there by the Bishop of London, and Ernulf Bishop of Rochester, and William Giffard Bishop of Winchester, and Bernard Bishop of Wales (St. David’s), and Roger Bishop of Salisbury. Then early in Lent the Archbishop journeyed to Rome for his pall, and Bernard Bishop of Wales, and Sefred Abbot of Glastonbury, and Anselm Abbot of St. Edmund’s, and John Archdeacon of Canterbury, and Gifard who was the King’s chaplain, went with him. Thurstan Archbishop of York went to Rome at the same time by order of the Pope, and he arrived three days before the Archbishop of Canterbury, and was received with much honour. Then came the Archbishop of Canterbury, and it was a full week before he could obtain an audience of the Pope, because the Pope had been given to understand that he had received the Archbishoprick in opposition to the monks of the monastery, and against right; but that which overcometh all the world, namely gold and silver, overcame Rome also, and the Pope relented and gave him his pall, and the Archbishop swore obedience in all things that he should impose, on the heads of St. Peter and St. Paul, and the Pope then sent him home with his blessing. Whilst the Archbishop was abroad, the King gave the Bishoprick of Bath to the Queen’s Chancellor, named Godfrey; he was of Louvain: this was done at Woodstock on the day of St. Mary’s Annunciation. Soon afterwards the King went to Winchester, where he remained during the festival of Easter; and while there he gave the Bishoprick of Lincoln to a clerk named Alexander, who was a nephew of the Bishop of Salisbury, and he did this all for love of that Bishop. Then the King proceeded to Portsmouth, and staid there over Pentecost week; and as soon as he had a fair wind he sailed for Normandy, having committed all England to the care and administration of Roger Bishop of Salisbury. The King was in Normandy all this year, and a great war broke out between him and his Thanes, for Earl Waleram of Mellent, and Hamalri, and Hugh of Montfort, and William of Roumare, and many others revolted from him and held their castles against him; and the King on his part opposed them with vigour, and the same year he won from Waleram his castle of Pont-au-de-mer, and from Hugh that of Montfort, and after this his affairs continued to prosper more and more. The same year, before the Bishop of Lincoln came to his see, nearly the whole town of Lincoln was burnt, with a great number of persons, both men and women, and so much harm was done that no man could tell another how great the damage was. This happened on the 14th of the calends of June.

1124.

All this year King Henry was in Normandy, being detained there by his great wars with Louis King of France, and the Earl of Anjou, and with his own subjects most of all. Then it befel on the day of St. Mary’s Annunciation that Waleram Earl of Mellent was going from one of his castles called Beaumont, to another, Watteville, and Amalri the steward of the King of France, and Hugh the son of Gervais, and Hugh of Montfort, and many other good Knights went with him. Then the King’s Knights from all the neighbouring castles came against them, and fought with them, and put them to flight, and they took the Earl Waleram, and Hugh the son of Gervais, and Hugh of Montfort, and five and twenty other Knights, and brought them to the King; and the King caused Earl Waleram and Hugh the son of Gervais to be confined in the castle of Rouen, and he sent Hugh of Montfort to England, and caused him to be put in evil bonds in that of Gloucester, and as many of the others as he thought fit he sent north and south to his castles for confinement. Then the King went on, and won all Earl Waleram’s castles in Normandy, and all the others which his enemies held against him. All this was on account of the son of Robert Earl of Normandy named William. The same William had married the younger daughter of Fulk Earl of Anjou, and for this cause the King of France, and all the Earls and great men held with him, and said that the King did wrongfully keep his brother Robert in confinement, and that he had unjustly driven his son William out of Normandy. This year there was much unseasonable weather which injured the corn and all fruits in England, so that, between Christmas and Candlemas, one acre’s seed of wheat, that is two seedlips, sold for six shillings, and one of barley, that is three seedlips, for six shillings, and one acre’s seed of oats, being four seedlips, for four shillings. It was thus, because corn was scarce, and the penny was so bad, that the man who had a pound at the market, could hardly, for any thing, pass twelve of these pennies. The same year, the holy Bishop of Rochester Ernulf, who had been Abbot of Peterborough, died on the ides of March. Thereafter died Alexander King of Scotland, on the 9th of the calends of May, and his brother David, then Earl of Northamptonshire, succeeded him, and held at the same time both the kingdom of Scotland and the English earldom. And the Pope of Rome called Calixtus died on the 19th of the calends of January, and Honorius succeeded to the Popedom. The same year, after St. Andrew’s day, and before Christmas, Ralph Basset, and the King’s Thanes held a Witenagemot at Hundhoge (Huncot), in Leicestershire, and there they hanged more thieves than had ever before been executed within so short a time, being in all four and forty men: and they put out the eyes of six.—Many men of truth said that several there suffered with great injustice, but our Lord God Almighty who seeth and knoweth all hidden things, seeth that the miserable people is oppressed with all unrighteousness; first men are bereaved of their own, and then they are slain. Full heavy a year was this; he who had any property was bereaved of it by heavy taxes and assessments, and he who had none, starved with hunger.

1125.

Before Christmas, this year, King Henry sent from Normandy to England, and commanded that all the moneyers of England should be deprived of their limbs, namely of their right hands.—And this, because a man might have a pound, and yet not be able to spend one penny at a market. And Roger Bishop of Salisbury sent over all England, and desired all of them to come to Winchester at Christmas; and when they came thither his men took them one by one, and cut off their right hands. All this was done within the twelve days, and with much justice, because they had ruined this land with the great quantity of bad metal which they all bought. This year the Pope of Rome sent John of Crema, a Cardinal, to this land. He first came to the King in Normandy, and the King received him with much honour, and commended him to William Archbishop of Canterbury, who conducted him to Canterbury; and he was there received with much pomp, and a great procession, and he sang the high mass at Christ’s altar on Easter day; and then he journeyed over all England, to all the Bishopricks and Abbacies, and he was honourably received every where, and all gave him great and handsome gifts; and in September he held his council in London full three days (beginning) on the Nativity of St. Mary, with the Archbishops, Bishops, and Abbots, and the clergy and laity, and he sanctioned the laws which Archbishop Anselm had made, and he enacted many others, though they remained in force but a little while.—Thence he went over sea soon after Michaelmas, and so to Rome. William Archbishop of Canterbury, and Thurstan Archbishop of York, and Alexander Bishop of Lincoln, and John Bishop of Lothene (Glasgow), and Geoffrey Abbot of St. Alban’s, accompanied him, and were received with great honour by the Pope Honorius, and they remained there the whole winter. The same year there was so great a flood on St. Lawrence’s day, that many towns were deluged, and men drowned, the bridges were broken up, and, the corn fields and meadows spoiled; and there was famine and disease upon men and cattle; and it was so bad a season for all fruits as had not been for many years before. The same year John Abbot of Peterborough died on the 2d of the ides of October.

1126.

This year King Henry was in Normandy till after harvest; and he came to this land between the Nativity of St. Mary, and Michaelmas, accompanied by the Queen, and by his daughter whom he had before given in marriage to the Emperor Henry of Lorrain. He brought with him the Earl Waleram, and Hugh the son of Gervais, and he imprisoned the Earl at Bridgenorth, and he afterwards sent him to Wallingford, and he sent Hugh to Windsor, and caused him to be put into hard bonds. And after Michaelmas David King of Scotland came hither, and King Henry received him with much honour, and he abode through the year in this land.—The same year the King caused his brother Robert to be taken from Roger Bishop of Salisbury, and delivered to his son Robert Earl of Gloucester, and he caused him to be removed to Bristol, and put into the castle. All this was done through the advice of his daughter, and of her uncle David King of Scotland.

1127.

This year, at Christmas, King Henry held his Court at Windsor, and David King of Scotland was there, and all the head men of England, both clergy and laity. And the King caused the Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Earls, and all the Thanes who were present, to swear to place England and Normandy after his death in the hands of his daughter the Princess, who had been the wife of the Emperor of Saxony. And then he sent her to Normandy, accompanied by her brother Robert Earl of Gloucester, and by Brian the son of the Earl Alein Fergan; and he caused her to be wedded to the son of the Earl of Anjou, named Geoffrey Martel. Howbeit this displeased all the French and the English, but the King did it to obtain peace from the Earl of Anjou and aid against his nephew William. The same year Charles Earl of Flanders was slain in Lent, by his own men, as he lay before the altar in a church, and prayed to God during mass. And the King of France brought William the son of the Earl of Normandy, and gave him the earldom, and the men of Flanders received him.—The same William had before taken to wife the daughter of the Earl of Anjou, but they were afterwards divorced because of their nearness of kin, and this through the interference of Henry King of England; he afterwards married the sister of the King of France, and on this account the King gave him the earldom of Flanders.—The same year Henry gave the Abbacy of Peterborough to an Abbot named Henry of Poitou, who was in possession of the Abbacy of St. Jean d’Angely; and all the Archbishops and Bishops said that this grant was against right, and that he could not have in hand two Abbacies. But the same Henry made the King believe that he had given up his Abbey on account of the great disquietude of the land, and that he had done so by the order and with the leave of the Pope of Rome, and of the Abbot of Cluny, and because he was Legate for collecting the Romescot. Nevertheless it was not so, but he wished to keep both Abbeys in his own hands, and he did hold them as long as it was the will of God. In his clerkship he was Bishop of Scesscuns (Soissons), afterwards he was a monk at Cluny, then Prior of the same monastery, and next he was Prior of Savenay; after this, being related to the King of England and to the Earl of Poitou, the Earl gave him the Abbey of St Jean d’Angely. Afterwards by his great craft he obtained the Archbisboprick of Besançon, and kept possession of it three days; and then lost he it right worthily, in that he had gotten it with all injustice. He then obtained the Bishoprick of Saintes, which was five miles from his own Abbey, and he kept this for nearly a week, but here again the Abbot of Cluny displaced him, as he had before removed him from Besançon. Now he bethought himself that if he could be sheltered in England, he might have all his will, on which he besought the King, and said to him that he was an old man, and a broken-down, and that he could not endure the wrongs and oppressions of that land, and he asked the King, himself, and through all his friends, by name for the Abbacy of Peterborough. And the King granted it to him, forasmuch as he was his kinsman, and in that he had been one of the first to swear oaths, and to bear witness, when the son of the Earl of Normandy and the daughter of the Earl of Anjou were divorced on the plea of kindred.—Thus vexatiously was the Abbacy of Peterborough given away at London, between Christmas and Candlemas; and so Henry went with the King to Winchester, and thence he came to Peterborough, and there he lived even as a drone in a hive; as the drone eateth and draggeth forward to himself all that is brought near, even so did he; and thus he sent over sea all that he could take from religious or from secular, both within and without; no good there he did, nor any did he leave there. Let no man think lightly of the marvel that we are about to relate as a truth, for it was full well known over all the country. It is this; that as soon as he came to Peterborough; it was on the Sunday when men sing “Exsurge quare O Domine;” several persons saw and heard many hunters hunting.—These hunters were black and large and loathly, and their hounds were all black, with wide eyes and loathly, and they rode on black horses and on black bucks. This was seen in the very deer-park of the town of Peterborough, and in all the woods from the same town to Stamford; and the monks heard the blasts of the horns which they blew in the night. Men of truth kept in the night their watch on them, and said that there might well be about 20 or 30 horn-blowers.—This was seen and heard from the time that the Abbot came thither, all that Lent, until Easter. Such was his entrance, of his exit we can say nothing yet: God knoweth it.

1128.

All this year King Henry was in Normandy, on account of the war between him and his nephew the Earl of Flanders; but the Earl was wounded in battle by a servant, and being so wounded he went to the monastery of St. Bertin, and forthwith he was made a monk, and lived five days after, and then died, and was buried there: God rest his soul! He was buried on the 6th of the calends of August. The same year died Randulf Passeflambard Bishop of Durham, and he was buried there on the nones of September. And this year the aforesaid Abbot Henry went home to his own monastery in Poitou, with the King’s leave. He had given the King to understand that he would wholly quit that monastery, and that country, and abide with him in England, and at his monastery of Peterborough. But so it was not, for he spake thus guilefully, wishing to remain there a twelvemonth or more, and then to return again. May Almighty God have mercy upon this wretched place. The same year Hugh of the Temple came from Jerusalem to the King in Normandy, and the King received him with much honour, and gave him much treasure in gold and silver, and afterwards he sent him to England, and there he was well received by all good men, and all gave him treasures; and in Scotland also: and they sent in all a great sum of gold and silver by him to Jerusalem. And he invited the people out to Jerusalem, and there went with him and after him so great a number, as never before since the first expedition in the days of Pope Urban. Yet this availed little: he said that there was a furious war between the christians and the heathens, and when they came there it was nothing but leasing.—Thus were all these people miserably betrayed.

1129.

This year the King sent to England after Earl Waleram, and after Hugh the son of Gervais; and there they gave him hostages, and Hugh went home to France his own country, and Waleram remained with the King, and the King gave him all his lands, excepting his castle alone. Then the King came to England in harvest, and the Earl came with him, and they were as great friends as they had been enemies before. Then soon, by the King’s counsel and consent, William Archbishop of Canterbury sent over all England, and commanded the Bishops, and Abbots, and Archdeacons, and all the Priors, Monks, and Canons of all the cells of England, and all who had the charge and oversight of the Christian religion, that they should come to London at Michaelmas, to hold conference upon all God’s rights. When they came thither, the meeting began on the Monday and lasted till the Friday, and it came out that it was all concerning the wives of Archdeacons and Priests, that they should part with them by St. Andrew’s day; and that he who would not do this, should forego his church, his house, and his home, and never be permitted again to claim them. This was ordered by William Archbishop of Canterbury, and all the Bishops of England; and the King gave them leave to depart, and so they went home, and these decrees were in no respect observed, for all kept their wives, by the King’s permission, even as before. The same year William Giffard Bishop of Winchester died, and was buried there on the 8th of the calends of February; and after Michaelmas the King gave the Bishoprick to his Nephew Henry Abbot of Glastonbury, and he was consecrated by William Archbishop of Canterbury on the 15th of the calends of December. The same year died Pope Honorius, and before he was well dead, two Popes were chosen. The one was named Peter, he was a monk of Cluny, and descended from the greatest men of Rome, and the Romans and the Duke of Sicily held with him; the other was named Gregory, he was a clerk, and he was driven from Rome by the other Pope and his kinsmen, and he was acknowledged by the Emperor of Saxony, by the King of France, by Henry King of England, and by all on this side the mountains. There was now so great a division in Christendom, that the like had never been before: May Christ appoint good counsel for his miserable people! The same year there was a great earthquake on St. Nicholas’ night, a little before day.

1130.

This year the monastery of Canterbury was consecrated by Archbishop William, on the 4th of the nones of May. The following Bishops were there: John of Rochester, Gilbert Universalis of London, Henry of Winchester, Alexander of Lincoln, Roger of Salisbury, Simon of Worcester, Roger of Coventry, Godfrey of Bath, Everard of Norwich, Sigefrid of Chichester, Bernard of St. David’s, Audoenus of Evreux, in Normandy, and John of Seez. On the 4th day after this, King Henry was at Rochester, and nearly the whole town was burnt down; and Archbishop William and the aforesaid Bishops consecrated St. Andrew’s monastery. And King Henry went over sea to Normandy during harvest. The same year Henry Abbot of Angely came to Peterborough after Easter, and said that he had wholly given up that monastery. After him, the Abbot of Cluny named Peter came to England with the King’s leave, and he was received with much honour wherever he went; he came to Peterborough, and there the Abbot Henry promised that he would obtain for him the monastery of Peterborough, and that it should be annexed to Cluny; but as it is said in the proverb, “The Hedge still stands—That parts the Lands.” May Almighty God frustrate evil counsels! And soon afterwards the Abbot of Cluny went home to his own country.

1131.

This year, on a moonlight night after Christmas, during the first sleep, the northern half of the heaven was, as it were, a burning fire; so that all who saw it were more affrighted than ever they were before; this happened on the 3d of the ides of January. The same year there was so great a pestilence amongst animals over all England, as had not been in the memory of man; it chiefly fell on cattle and on swine, so that in the town where ten or twelve ploughs had been going, not one remained, and the man, who had possessed two or three hundred swine, had not one left him. After this the hens died; and flesh-meat became scarce, and cheese, and butter. God mend the state of things when such is his will! And King Henry came home to England before harvest, after the latter feast of St. Peter. The same year before Easter the Abbot Henry went from Peterborough over sea to Normandy, and there he spoke with the King, and told him that the Abbot of Cluny had commanded him to come over, and resign to him the Abbey of Angely; and that then, with his leave, he would return home: and so he went to his own monastery and abode there till Midsummer day. And, on the day after the feast of St. John, the monks chose an Abbot from among themselves, and brought him into the church in procession; they sang Te Deum laudamus, they rang the bells, and they set him on the Abbot’s seat, and they did all obedience to him, even as they would to their Abbot; and the Earl and all the chief men and the monks drove the other Abbot Henry out of the monastery, and well they might, for in five and twenty years they had never known a good day. All his great craftiness failed him here, and now it behoved him to creep into any corner, and to consider if perchance there yet remained some slippery device, by which he might once more betray Christ and all christian people. Then went he to Cluny, and there they kept him, so that he could go neither east nor west; the Abbot of Cluny saying that they had lost St. Jean through him, and his great sottishness; wherefore seeing he could give no better compensation, he promised and swore on the holy relics, that if he might proceed to England he would obtain for them the monastery of Peterborough, and would establish there a Prior of Cluny, a church-warden, a treasurer, and a keeper of the robes, and that he would make over to them all things both within and without the monastery. Thus he went into France and abode there all the year. May Christ provide for the wretched monks of Peterborough, and for that miserable place, for now do they stand in need of the help of Christ and of all christian people.

1132.

This year King Henry returned to this land: then the Abbot Henry came, and accused the monks of Peterborough to the King, because he desired to subject that monastery to Cluny; so that the King was well nigh beguiled, and sent for the monks; but by God’s mercy, and through the Bishops of Salisbury and Lincoln, and the other great men who were there, he found out that the Abbot dealt treacherously. When he could do no more, he wished that his nephew might be Abbot of Peterborough, but this was not the will of Christ. It was not very long after this that the King sent for him, and made him give up the Abbey of Peterborough, and depart out of the country, and the King granted the Abbacy to a Prior of St. Neot’s named Martin, and he came to the monastery, right worshipfully attended, on St. Peter’s day.

1135.

This year, at Lammas, King Henry went over sea: and on the second day, as he lay asleep in the ship, the day was darkened universally, and the sun became as if it were a moon three nights old, with the stars shining round it at mid-day. Men greatly marvelled, and great fear fell on them, and they said that some great event should follow thereafter—and so it was, for the same year the King died in Normandy, on the day after the feast of St. Andrew. Soon did this land fall into trouble, for every man quickly began to rob his neighbour as he might. Then King Henry’s sons and his friends took his body, and brought it to England, and buried it at Reading. He was a good man, and great was the awe of him; no man durst ill treat another in his time: he made peace for men and deer. Whoso bare his burden of gold and silver, no man durst say to him aught but good. In the mean time his nephew Stephen de Blois had arrived in England, and he came to London, and the inhabitants received him, and sent for the Archbishop William Corboyl, who consecrated him King on midwinter-day. In this King’s time was all discord, and evil-doing, and robbery; for the powerful men who had kept aloof, soon rose up against him; the first was Baldwin de Redvers, and he held Exeter against the King, and Stephen besieged him, and afterwards Baldwin made terms with him. Then the others took their castles, and held them against the King, and David King of Scotland betook him to Wessien,[BJ] but, notwithstanding his array, messengers passed between them, and they came together, and made an agreement, though it availed little.

1137.

This year King Stephen went over sea to Normandy, and he was received there because it was expected that he would be altogether like his uncle, and because he had gotten possession of his treasure, but this he distributed and scattered foolishly. King Henry had gathered together much gold and silver, yet did he no good for his soul’s sake with the same. When King Stephen came to England he held an assembly at Oxford; and there he seized Roger Bishop of Salisbury, and Alexander Bishop of Lincoln, and Roger the Chancellor, his nephew, and he kept them all in prison till they gave up their castles. When the traitors perceived that he was a mild man, and a soft, and a good, and that he did not enforce justice, they did all wonder. They had done homage to him, and sworn oaths, but no faith kept they; all became forsworn, and broke their allegiance, for every rich man built his castles, and defended them against him, and they filled the land full of castles. They greatly oppressed the wretched people by making them work at these castles, and when the castles were finished they filled them with devils and evil men. Then they took those whom they suspected to have any goods, by night and by day, seizing both men and women, and they put them in prison for their gold and silver, and tortured them with pains unspeakable, for never were any martyrs tormented as these were. They hung some up by their feet, and smoked them with foul smoke; some by their thumbs, or by the head, and they hung burning things on their feet. They put a knotted string about their heads, and writhed it till it went into the brain. They put them into dungeons wherein were adders and snakes and toads, and thus wore them out. Some they put into a crucet-house, that is, into a chest that was short and narrow, and not deep, and they put sharp stones in it, and crushed the man therein so that they broke all his limbs. There were hateful and grim things called Sachenteges in many of the castles, and which two or three men had enough to do to carry. The Sachentege was made thus: it was fastened to a beam, having a sharp iron to go round a man’s throat and neck, so that he might no ways sit, nor lie, nor sleep, but that he must bear all the iron. Many thousands they exhausted with hunger. I cannot and I may not tell of all the wounds, and all the tortures that they inflicted upon the wretched men of this land; and this state of things lasted the 19 years that Stephen was King, and ever grew worse and worse. They were continually levying an exaction from the towns, which they called Tensery,[BK] and when the miserable inhabitants had no more to give, then plundered they, and burnt all the towns, so that well mightest thou walk a whole day’s journey nor ever shouldest thou find a man seated in a town, or its lands tilled.

Then was corn dear, and flesh, and cheese, and butter, for there was none in the land—wretched men starved with hunger—some lived on alms who had been erewhile rich: some fled the country—never was there more misery, and never acted heathens worse than these. At length they spared neither church nor churchyard, but they took all that was valuable therein, and then burned the church and all together. Neither did they spare the lands of Bishops, nor of Abbots, nor of Priests; but they robbed the monks and the clergy, and every man plundered his neighbour inasmuch as he might. If two or three men came riding to a town, all the township fled before them, and thought that they were robbers. The Bishops and clergy were ever cursing them, but this to them was nothing, for they were all accursed, and forsworn, and reprobate. The earth bare no corn, you might as well have tilled the sea, for the land was all ruined by such deeds, and it was said openly that Christ and his Saints slept. These things, and more than we can say, did we suffer during 19 years because of our sins. Through all this evil time the Abbot Martin held his Abbacy for 20 years, and a half, and eight days, with many difficulties: and he provided the monks and guests with all necessaries, and kept up much alms in the house; and withal he wrought upon the church, and annexed thereto lands and rents, and enriched it greatly, and furnished it with robes: and he brought the monks into the new monastery on St. Peter’s day with much pomp. This was in the year 1140 of our Lord’s incarnation, the 23d year after the fire. And he went to Rome and was well received there by Pope Eugenius, and he obtained sundry privileges, to wit, one for all the abbey lands, and another for the lands that adjoin the monastery, and had he lived longer he meant to have done as much for the treasurer’s house. And he regained certain lands that powerful men possessed by force; he won Cottingham and Easton from William Malduit, who held Rockingham castle, and from Hugh of Waltville he won Hyrtlingberi (Artleborough), and Stanwick, and sixty shillings yearly out of Aldewingle (Oldwincle). And he increased the number of monks, and planted a vineyard, and made many works, and improved the town; and he was a good monk and a good man, and therefore God and good men loved him.—Now will we relate some part of what befel in King Stephen’s time. In his reign the Jews of Norwich bought a Christian child before Easter, and tortured him with all the torments wherewith our Lord was tortured, and they crucified him on Good Friday for the love of our Lord, and afterwards buried him. They believed that this would be kept secret, but our Lord made manifest that he was a holy martyr, and the monks took him and buried him honourably in the monastery, and he performed manifold and wonderful miracles through the power of our Lord, and is called St. William.

1138.

This year David King of Scotland entered this land with an immense army resolving to conquer it, and William Earl of Albemarle, to whose charge the King had committed York, and other trusty men, came against him with few troops, and fought with him, and they put the King to flight at the Standard, and slew a great part of his followers.

1140.

This year Stephen attempted to take Robert Earl of Gloucester the son of King Henry, but failed, for Robert was aware of his purpose.—After this, in Lent, the sun and the day were darkened about noon, when men eat, so that they lighted candles to eat by. This was on the 13th of the calends of April, and the people were greatly astonished. After this William Archbishop of Canterbury died, and the King made Theobald Abbot of Bec Archbishop. Then there arose a very great war between the King and Randolf Earl of Chester, not because the King did not give him all that he could ask, even as he did to all others, but that the more he gave them, the worse they always carried themselves to him. The Earl held Lincoln against the King, and seized all that belonged to the King there, and the King went thither, and besieged him and his brother William de Romare in the castle: and the Earl stole out and went for Robert Earl of Gloucester, and brought him thither with a large army; and they fought furiously against their Lord on Candlemas day, and they took him captive, for his men betrayed him and fled, and they led him to Bristol, and there they put him into prison and close confinement. Now was all England more disturbed than before, and all evil was in the land. After this, King Henry’s daughter, who had been Empress of Germany, and was now Countess of of Anjou, arrived, and she came to London, and the citizens would have seized her, but she fled with much loss. Then Henry Bishop of Winchester, King Stephen’s brother, spake with Earl Robert and with the Empress, and swore them oaths that he never more would hold with the King his brother, and he cursed all those that did hold with him, and he said that he would give up Winchester to them, and he made them come thither. But when they were in that place Stephen’s Queen brought up her strength and besieged them, till there was so great a famine in the town, they could endure it no longer. Then stole they out and fled, and the besiegers were aware of them, and followed them, and they took Robert Earl of Gloucester and led him to Rochester, and imprisoned him there: and the Empress fled into a monastery. Then wise men, friends of the King and of the Earl, interfered between them, and they settled that the King should be let out of prison for the Earl, and the Earl for the King; and this was done. After this the King and Earl Randolf were reconciled at Stamford, and they took oaths and pledged their troth, that neither would betray the other: but this promise was set at nought, for the King afterwards seized the Earl in Northampton through wicked counsel, and put him in prison, but he set him free soon after, through worse, on condition that he should swear on the cross and find hostages that he would give up all his castles. Some he did deliver up, and others not; and he did worse than he should have done in this country. Now was England much divided, some held with the King and some with the Empress, for when the King was in prison the Earls and the great men thought that he would never more come out, and they treated with the Empress, and brought her to Oxford, and gave her the town. When the King was out of prison he heard this, and he took his army and besieged her in the tower, and they let her down from the tower by night with ropes, and she stole away, and she fled: and she went on foot to Wallingford. After this she went over sea, and all the Normans turned from the King to the Earl of Anjou, some willingly, and some against their will; for he besieged them till they gave up their castles, and they had no help from the King. Then the King’s son Eustace went to France, and took to wife the sister of the King of France: he thought to obtain Normandy through this marriage, but little he sped, and that of right, for he was an evil man, and did more harm than good wherever he went: he spoiled the lands, and laid thereon heavy taxes: he brought his wife to England, and put her into the castle of ——; she was a good woman but she had little bliss with him, and it was not the will of Christ that he should bear rule long, and he died, and his mother also. And the Earl of Anjou died, and his son Henry succeeded him; and the Queen of France was divorced from the the King, and she went to the young Earl Henry and he took her to wife, and received all Poitou with her. Then he came into England with a great army and won castles; and the King marched against him with a much larger army, howbeit they did not fight, but the Archbishop and wise men went between them and made a treaty on these terms; that the King should be Lord and King while he lived, and that Henry should be King after his death, and that he should consider him as his father, and the King him as his son, and that peace and concord should be between them, and in all England. The King, and the Earl, and the Bishop, and the Earls, and all the great men swore to observe these and the other conditions that were then made. The Earl was received with much honour at Winchester and at London, and all did homage to him, and swore to keep the peace, and it soon became a very good peace, such as never was in this land. Then the King was more powerful here than ever he was; and the Earl went over sea, and all the people loved him, because he did good justice, and made peace.

1154.

This year King Stephen died, and he was buried with his wife and his son at Favres-field (Feversham); they had built that monastery.—When the King died the Earl was beyond sea, and no man durst do other than good for very dread of him. When he came to England he was received with much honour, and was consecrated King at London on the Sunday before Christmas, and he held a great Court there: and on the same day that Martin Abbot of Peterborough should have gone thither he sickened, and he died on the 4th of the nones of January. And that day the monks chose another Abbot from among themselves. He is named William de Waltville, a good clerk, and a good man, and well beloved of the King and of all good people: and they buried the Abbot honourably in the Church, and soon afterwards the Abbot Elect and the monks went to the King at Oxford, and the King gave him the Abbacy, and thus he departed, having received * * * * * * *

Finis.