Great Britain -- History -- Anglo-Saxon period, 449-1066 -- Sources
This year King William held his court at Westminster at Christmas, and
the following Candlemas he departed from England to Normandy, bent on
his brother’s ruin: but whilst he was in that country, peace was made
between them, on condition that the Earl should give up Fescamp, the
Earldom of Eu, and Cherbourg, to William, and withal that the King’s
men should be unmolested in those castles of which they had possessed
themselves in the Earl’s despite. And the King, on his side, promised
to reduce to their obedience the many castles conquered by their
father, which had since revolted from the Earl, and also to establish
him in the possession of all their father’s territories abroad,
excepting those places which the Earl had then given up to the King.
Moreover all who had lost their lands in England on account of the Earl
were to regain them by this treaty, and the Earl also was to receive
certain estates in England then specified. It was also agreed that if
the Earl died leaving no legitimate son, the King should be heir of all
Normandy, and in like manner if the King died, that the Earl should be
heir of all England. Twelve of the chief men on the part of the King
and twelve on that of the Earl guaranteed this treaty by oath; yet it
was observed but a short time. During this peace Edgar Ætheling was
dispossessed of those lands which the Earl had granted him, and he
departed and went from Normandy into Scotland, to the King his brother
in law, and his sister. Whilst King William was out of England, Malcolm
King of Scotland invaded this country, and ravaged great part of it,
till the good men to whom the keeping of the land was entrusted, sent
their troops against him and drove him back.--When King William heard
this in Normandy, he hastened to return, and he came to England and his
brother Earl Robert with him. And they called out a fleet and army, but
almost all the ships were lost, a few days before Michaelmas, ere they
reached Scotland. And the King and his brother proceeded with the army:
and when King Malcolm heard that they sought to attack him he marched
with his array out of Scotland into Lothian in England, and remained
there. And when King William approached, Earl Robert and Edgar Ætheling
mediated a peace between the Kings, on condition that King Malcolm
should repair to our King, and become his vassal, in all the like
subjection as to his father before him; and this he confirmed by oath.
And King William promised him all the lands and possessions that he
held under his father. By this peace Edgar Ætheling was reconciled to
the King. And the Kings separated in great friendship, but this lasted
during a short time only.--Earl Robert abode here with the King till
Christmas drew near, and in this time he found little good faith as
to the fulfilment of the treaty, and two days before the feast he took
ship from Wight and sailed to Normandy, and Edgar Ætheling with him.
1092.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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