nances were often enacted at the same witenagemot, but several purely ecclesiastical documents have been preserved, of which the Penitential of Theodore of Canterbury, that of Egbert of York, the Canons enacted under Edgar, and those of Elfric, may be named. We see in them a regularly organized hierarchy d, laying down laws for the regulation of almost every transaction * ; and apparently in the possession of unlimited power, from the freedom with which ecclesiastical censures and penalties are denounced against all classes in the state, but clearly, in fact, much less favourably placed. The numerous denunciations against those who break the Church's peace, or seize its possessions, or injure or slay its ministers, shew that these were by no means exempt from the insecurity of the times.

Edgar's canons direct the assembly of a yearly synod, to which every priest shall repair, attended by his clerk, and an orderly man for servant, adding, "if any man have highly injured him (any priest), let them all take it up as if it had been done to all, and so aid that bote (amends) be made as the bishop shall direct1." Differ

d At the time of the Norman invasion there existed the two archbishoprics, Canterbury and York, and twelve bishops' sees, viz. Dorchester (now Lincoln), Durham, Elmham (now Norwich), Exeter, Hereford, Lichfield, London, Rochester, Selsey (now Chichester), Sherbourne (now Salisbury), Wells (now Bath and Wells), Winchester, and Worcester. The Welsh sees and that of Man also existed, but their connexion with the Anglo-Saxon Church seems to have been uncertain, and dependent on political circumstances.

• These canons contain many of the prohibitions of the Mosaic law, a fact which is usually traced to the influence of Archbishop Theodore, who was of Oriental origin.

This bote, it appears from another document, was to be seven. fold; because "sevenfold are the gifts of the Holy Ghost, and seven are the degrees of ecclesiastical states and holy orders, and seven times should God's servants praise God daily in church, and for all Christian people earnestly intercede."

ences between priests were not to be referred to the adjustment of secular men, but settled among themselves, or by the bishop; and Canute gave force to this by ordaining, that any priest who defiled himself with a crime worthy of death, should be held to the bishop's doom, or judgment.

Fasting and penance are the ordinary modes of correction for offences, and these are often extended to very lengthened periods; so long, indeed, as to be impracticable; therefore means are devised by which they may be lightened. A sick man may redeem a day's fast with a penny, or with the repetition of 220 psalms; a twelvemonths' fast may be redeemed by 30 masses; and a seven years' fast may be atoned for in twelve months, "if he every day sing the psalter of psalms, and a second at night, and a fifty at even;" but in all cases the value of the food that should have been eaten was to be given to God's poor; otherwise it was declared to be no fast.

Penance too was much redeemed by alms; and in the case of the "powerful man and rich in friends," a seven years' infliction is atoned for in three days thus; "Let him [after confession of his sins] lay aside his weapons and his vain ornaments, and take a staff in his hand, and go barefoot zealously, and put on his body woollen or haircloth, and not come unto a bed, but lie on a pallet-let him take to him 12 men, and let them fast 3 days on bread, and on green herbs, and on water; and get, in addition thereto, in whatsoever manner he can, seven times 120 men, who shall also fast for him 3 days; then will be fasted as many fasts as there are

days in 7 years."... “He who has the ability, let him raise a church to the glory of God; and he who has less means, let him do diligently, according to his condition, that which he can do"."

The following passage from Edgar's canons shews what penance uncompounded for really was, and it demands quotation as history, as we know that to this, in all its humiliating details, some at least of the highest and mightiest of the earth have submitted for their soul's health.”

"It is a deep penitence that a layman lay aside his weapons and travel far barefoot, and nowhere pass a second night, and fast and watch much, and pray fervently, and voluntarily suffer fatigue, and be so squalid, that iron come not on hair nor on nail. Nor that he come into a warm bath, nor into a soft bed, nor taste flesh, nor any thing from which drunkenness may come, nor that he come within a church; but yet diligently seek holy places, and declare his sins, and implore intercession, and kiss no one, but be ever fervently repenting his sins. Roughly he fares who thus constantly criminates himself, and yet is he happy if he never relax till he make full bote;' because no man in the world is so very criminal that he may not make atonement to God, let him undertake it fervently."

Among the good deeds to which penitents are incited, beside the more ordinary requirements of Christian charity, are the furnishing of bridges and roads, redeeming of slaves, help to foreigners, and "poor plundered men," and burying the dead for the love of God.

Sweyn, the brother of Harold, died at Constantinople, on his return from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem made in this manner.

THE NORMAN ERA.

E have seen from the Saxon Chronicle that the Northmen frequently extended their destructive inroads to France, and they appear to have had several permanent settlements in that country at least as early as the year 850; but it was not until they were headed by Rolf the Ganger3, that they obtained possession of the district around the mouth of the Seine, since called, from them, Normandy. Rolf, who had been banished from Norway about 875, for defiance of the orders of Harold Harfagar, having embraced Christianity, and married Gisele, daughter of Charles the Simple, governed his province with vigour and wisdom, and formed it into a barrier for the rest of France against the incursions of his former associates. He died in 920, and left his state to his son William, the third in descent from whom was William the Bastard,-whose victory at Hastings commenced, but

Also called Rollo. He is said to have been too tall and too heavy for any horse to carry, and so was obliged to journey on foot; whence his name, Rolf the Walker.

From this term occurring in some of William's charters, it has been asserted that it conveyed no reproach; but the following anecdote from a cotemporary MS. chronicle, while it exhibits the brutality of the man, shews that he regarded it, on one occasion at least, in a different light :

"William sent to Count Baldwin of Flanders, and requested his daughter in marriage. The matter pleased the count, and he spoke

by no means completed, the last great change from abroad to which our island has been subjected. Its effects, however, have been greatly overrated, being in truth far inferior to those produced by former invaders. Although the most violent measures were used, the establishment of the Norman authority was slow, and its hold on the country was ever precarious, until with the fourth generation it may be regarded as virtually abolished, and the ancient Saxon royal race again called to the throne.

There can be no doubt that England has profited in some respects from each of its invaders, but it is equally certain that its obligations are least to the Normans, their whole career being one of iron rule and merciless confiscation. The private possessions of Harold and his kindred, and of most of those who had fought at Hastings, were seized, at the very beginning of William's reign, and the rest of the people "bought their land" at a heavy price. Unsuccessful attempts to shake off the yoke gave occasion for fresh seizures, and when the Domesday survey was made, the whole landed property of the country (exclusive of that of the Church) appeared vested in the conqueror, and about 600 tenants in

of it to his daughter, but she answered that she would never have a bastard for her husband. Then the count sent to the duke, and declined the marriage as courteously as he could. Shortly after, the duke learnt how the lady had answered, at which he was very angry. Taking some of his friends with him, he went to Lille, and entering the count's hall, passed through to the chamber of the countess. He found her with her father, when he seized her by her hair, dragged her about the chamber, and 'defiled her with his feet.' Then he went out, mounted his palfrey, and returned to his own country. At this thing the count Baldwin was greatly enraged, but by the advice of his councillors he accorded his wish to the duke, and they were good friends."