The reign of Eadward the Confessor. 2d ed., rev. 1870

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§ 4. The Banishment of Earl Godwine. 1051.

The foreign influence at its height; contrast between

Danish and Norman influences; revolt of England

against the strangers

Universal indignation at the appointment of Robert;

his cabals against Godwine

September Visit of Eustace of Boulogne to Eadward at Glou-

cester; his outrages at Dover on his return

Eustace accuses the men of Dover to Eadward;

Eadward commands Godwine to inflict military

chastisement on them; Godwine refuses and de-
mands a legal trial

Robert excites the King against Godwine; the Witan

summoned to Gloucester to hear charges against

the Earl

Outrages of the Normans in Herefordshire; building

of castles; Richard's Castle

PAGE

Midlent? The remaining ships paid off; remission of the Here-

geld; distinction between Danegeld and Heregeld 121-123

131-135

Godwine and his sons gather the force of their Earl-

doms at Beverstone; Siward, Leofric, and Ralph

gather theirs at Gloucester

Negotiations between Godwine and the King; God-

wine's offers refused through the influence of the

Frenchmen; he demands the surrender of Eustace

and the other criminals

The full force of the Northern Earldoms assembles

at Gloucester; Eadward refuses to surrender

Eustace

Eagerness of the Northumbrians for battle; march

of the West-Saxons and East-Angles on Gloucester 142-143

Mediation of Leofric; adjournment to a Gemót in

Oct. 1051- Temporary triumph of the Norman party; advance-

Sept. 1052 ment of Ralph, Odda, and Ælfgar

Spearhafoc deposed and William appointed Bishop

of London.

Visit of Duke William

CHAPTER VIII.

THE EARLY YEARS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUeror.

English and Norman portraits of him

His strength of will, military genius, statemanship,

and unscrupulousness as to means

His personal virtues; general excellence of his eccle-

siastical appointments

Effects of his reign in Normandy, France, and Eng-

land

General excellence of his government in Normandy.

His reign in England; skill displayed in his claim

on the English Crown, in his acquisition of it, and

in his subsequent government

Severity of his police

1028-1051.

§ 1. Birth, Character, and Accession of William. 1028-1035.

Character and greatness of William; lasting results of

148-149

The worst features of his character brought out in

England; crimes and misfortunes of his later years 170-172

William's surnames; the Great, the Conqueror, and

the Bastard

172

A. D.

Laxity of the Norman Dukes as to marriage and

legitimacy; special illegitimacy of William

Story of William's birth; description of Falaise ;
historical associations of the castle

English legend of the birth of William

1027-1028 Story of Robert and Herleva; advancement of her

family; birth of William .

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•

1039-1040 Murders of Alan and Gilbert

Guardians of William; Alan of Britanny; Osbern;
Gilbert

§ 2. From the Accession of William to the Battle of Val-ès-dunes.

1035-1047.

House of Montgomery; history of Roger of Mont-
gomery and his wife Mabel

Attempt of William of Montgomery on Duke Wil-

liam at Vaudreuil; murder of Osbern; escape of

the Duke; friendship of the Duke for William

Fitz-Osbern

Rebellion and death of Roger of Toesny; houses of
Grantmesnil and Beaumont

Ralph of Wacey chosen as the Duke's guardian

Relations between Normandy and France; general

good understanding since the Commendation to

Hugh the Great; return of ill-feeling on the acces-

sion of William; ingratitude of King Henry

Castle of Tillières demanded by Henry; Gilbert
Crispin refuses to surrender, and is besieged; the
castle surrendered, burned, and restored by Henry
contrary to his engagements

PAGE

193-195

199-201

201-203

A. D.

943

c. 1015.

1037-1055 Death of Archbishop Robert; succession and primacy
of Malger.

1048-1098 Odo Bishop of Bayeux; his character in England

and in Normandy.

Ecclesiastical movement in Normandy; foundation

1050

CONTENTS.

Treason of Thurstan Goz; capture of Falaise Castle

by the Duke

Developement of William's character

Abuse of ecclesiastical appointments by the Norman

Dukes

Position of the Norman Prelates; their subjection

to the Ducal authority

1034

1041

VOL. II.

ages

Abbeys of Bec and Saint Evroul

994-1034 Descent, birth, and early life of Herlwin

1034-1037 Herlwin's foundation at Burneville

1037-1078 He removes the monastery to Bec; his administration

1005-1039 Descent, birth, and character of Lanfranc

1039-1042 He teaches at Avranches

1042-1045 He becomes a monk and Prior of Bec; his favour

with William

1049-1050 He attends the synods of Rome and Vercelli

575

of monasteries

Character of the monastic reformations in various

Monastery of Saint Evroul; history of its founder

Ebrulf or Evroul

The house escapes the Danish ravages, but is plun-
dered by Hugh the Great.

•

The monastery forsaken and restored by Restold

Geroy and his family; their relations to the house of

Belesme

William the son of Geroy blinded by William Talvas
Saint Evroul restored by William the son of Geroy
and his nephews Hugh and Robert of Grantmesnil .

1050-1063 Succession of Abbots; intrigues and abbacy of the

co-founder Robert.

.

Connexion of the religious movement in Normandy

with the Conquest of England

Origin of the Truce of God; custom of private war;

comparison between the Truce and the Crusades.

A reform in those times necessarily ecclesiastical

The Truce first preached in Aquitaine

The Truce preached in a relaxed form in Burgundy

and Lotharingia

1042-1080 The Truce received in Normandy at the Councils of

235-236

237-238

238-239

Wide-spread conspiracy against William

Intrigues of Guy of Burgundy with the Lords of the

Bessin and the Côtentin; scheme for a division of

Tesson joins the Duke

The battle a mere combat of cavalry

Personal exertions and overthrow of King Henry;

death of Hamon

Escape of Guy; he defends himself at Brionne

1047-1050? Siege and surrender of Brionne; William's treatment

of the vanquished .

Guy returns to Burgundy; fate of Grimbald

Establishment of William's power in Normandy;
supremacy of the French element confirmed

Exploits and good fortune of William

Defeat of the rebels; flight of Randolf; bravery of

Neal

family

Succession of Counts; Fulk the Red

Saxon occupation of Anjou

Ingelgar first Count; legend of the origin of the

Fulk the Good; his proverb about unlearned Kings

Geoffrey Grisegonelle; his wars

§ 3. From the Battle of Val-ès-dunes to William's Visit to England.

1047-1051.

The Counts of Anjou; their connexion with Nor-

mandy and England; characteristics of Angevin

259-260
260-261

262-264
265-266

266-267

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