a stag in the New Forest, or perhaps died from a fever contracted there, before the death of his father.

3. WILLIAM, and 4, HENRY, became kings of England. 5. Cecilia became a nun at Fecamp, at Easter, 1075, and afterwards abbess of Holy Trinity, Caen, where she died, in July 1126.

6. Adeliza died young.

7. Matilda, betrothed to Alphonso of Castile, died on her journey to Spain, about 1079.

8. Constance, married to Alan, duke of Bretagne, died in 1090.

9. Adela, married to Stephen of Blois. She governed his dominions during his absence on the Crusade, and, at length taking the veil, died in 1137.

Gundred, who became the wife of William Warrenne, and died in 1085, is often stated to have been a daughter of William I., but the fact is not to be regarded as fully ascertained.

William Peverel, a natural son of the king, received large estates in Derbyshire and elsewhere.

The arms ascribed to William I. are those of his duchy of Normandy: "Gules, two lions passant gardant in pale, or."

The Norman writers praise William as a wise and pious king, but the Saxon Chronicler, who, as he himself declares, "had often looked upon him, and lived some time in his court," has drawn a character far less favourable. William, he says, was wise and rich, mild

With the main features of this agrees the character given in the Heimskringla, or Chronicle of the Sea-kings of Norway: "Earl William was stouter and stronger than other men, a great horseman and warrior, but stern; and a very wise man, but not considered a man to be trusted."

to good men, but beyond all measure severe to those who withstood his will. He affected great state and dignity, and held a splendid court thrice a year, in Westminster, Winchester, and Gloucester, to which all the nobles were obliged to repair. He also made "good peace,” so that no man durst slay or rob anothern; yet in his time men had many sorrows. He ruled so absolutely, that he cast down earls and bishops, and abbots and thanes. His rich men moaned, and poor men trembled; but he wa so stern, he recked not the hatred of them all, for they must follow his will, if they would have his peace, or lands or possessions, or even life. "Alas!" he concludes, "that any man should thus exalt himself, and boast over all others! May the almighty God shew mercy to his soul, and grant him forgiveness of his sins."

A.D. 1066. William is crowned at Westminster, December 25, by Aldred, archbishop of York"; "and he gave him a pledge upon Christ's Book, and also swore, before he would set the crown upon his head, that he would govern this nation as well as any king before him had at the best done, if they would be faithful to him. Nevertheless, he laid a tribute on the people very heavy... and men delivered him hostages, and afterwards bought their land.”

n His own practice, however, did not conform to this; for we read in the Saxon Chronicle (anno 1086): "according to his custom, he collected a very large sum of money from his people, whenever he could, whether with justice or without."

• Stigand had been suspended from his office on the charge of irregular ordination.

This was probably the Danegelt, the collection of which had

A.D. 1067. Godred Cronan, a descendant of Sihtric of Northumberland, who had escaped from the battle of Stanford-bridge, becomes king of the Isle of Man.

William goes to Normandy during Lent, taking with him Edgar Atheling, Stigand the archbishop, the earls Edwin, Morcar, and Waltheof, "and many other good men of England.”

And bishop Odo and William the earl" remained here behind, and they built castles wide through the land, and poor people oppressed; and ever after it greatly grew in evil."

Eustace of Boulogne, invited by the Kentish men, attacks Dover, but without success.

Copsi, who had been appointed earl of Northumberland by William, is killed by his own people, March 12.

Edric the Forestert makes a league with the Welsh, with whom he attacks Hereford, "where he did the castle-men [the Norman garrison] much evil.”

William returns to England". He seizes the lands of many of the English nobles, divides them among his followers, and lays heavy taxes on the people.

Edgar Atheling, in the summer, flees to Scotland with

been suspended by Edward the Confessor. It continued to be levied until at least 1175, and varied with the exigencies of the state from two to six shillings annually on each hide of land.

9 See p. 108.

Odo of Bayeux, William's half-brother, and William Fitz-Osbern, earl of Hereford.

t

See p. 140.

He was the grand-nephew of Edric Streona, and, as appears from the Domesday Book, had large possessions in Hereford and Salop, of which it was attempted to deprive him.

The date is uncertain. Orderic says he returned in the winter, on the day of St. Nicolas (Dec. 6); the Saxon Chronicler also names St. Nicolas' Day, but as he places William's return at the head of the events of the year he favours the supposition that it was on the translation of St. Nicolas (May 9).

his mother and sisters, accompanied by Merlesuain" "and many good men."

William founds an abbey, on the field of Hastings, dedicated to St. Martin, "in order that glory and praise might be offered up there to God for his victory, and that offices for the souls of the dead might there be perpetually performed." It is known in history as Battle Abbey.

The people of Exeter cut off a party of Norman sailors. William marches against them, and "through the treachery of the thanes," reduces the city after a siege of 18 days". Githa, Harold's mother, who had taken refuge there, flees to Steepholm, "and the wives of many good men with her," and thence retires to Flanders.

Baldwin, a Norman, advances into Powys, and builds a castle where now stands Montgomery.

A.D. 1068. Cospatric ", earl of Northumberland, and the people of the north take arms. Edgar Atheling comes to them from Scotland, and is received by them at York. William's queen arrives in England; she is crowned by Archbishop Aldred on Whit-Sunday, May 11.

William advances to the north, builds forts at Nottingham and Lincoln, and bestows the earldom of Northumberland on Robert Comin, a Norman.

It appears from the Domesday Book that Merlesuain had great estates in Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall, as well as in York and Lincoln. He seems to have been sheriff of one of these latter counties, and he had been very active in raising forces to strengthen Harold's army when it marched for Hastings.

The effects of this siege are probably to be traced in the mention in the Domesday Book, that the city then contained but 411 houses, while it had 463 in the time of King Edward.

W

Cospatric was of the royal race, being grandson of Uhtred and Elgiva, daughter of Ethelred II.

Harold's sons land in Somersetshire, plunder Bristol, and kill Ednoth, the stallere; they then ravage Wales, about Midsummer, but are defeated, and obliged to retire to Ireland.

On William's approach, Edgar Atheling again retires to Scotland.

William builds two castles at York; "but St. Peter's minster he made a profanation, and all other places also he despoiled and trampled on."

Malcolm of Scotland makes peace with William, and does homage to him for Cumberland.

Godred Cronan establishes himself in Ireland.

A.D. 1069. Comin is massacred at Durham, "and 900 Frenchmen with him,” January 29.

Edgar Atheling prepares for another attempt on the north.

Aldred, archbishop of York, dies, Sept. 11.

The sons of Sweyn, king of Denmark, arrive in the Humber, early in September, with 240 ships; they are joined by Edgar Atheling, Merlesuain, Cospatric, and others, when they take York, put the garrison of 3,000 men to the swords, and demolish the castles. But ere the shipmen arrived the Frenchmen had burnt the city, and also the holy minster of St. Peter had they plundered, and entirely destroyed with fire."

William arrives, when the allies retire to their ships, which remain in the Humber the whole winter.

• Ednoth had held this office, which is variously rendered standard. bearer or master of the horse (the high constable of the Normans), under Harold, but had taken service with William.

One of the few who escaped was Gilbert of Gand, nephew of Queen Matilda; he was the refounder of Bardney Abbey, in Lincolnshire, and possessed manors in that and in thirteen other counties.