Great Britain -- History -- Anglo-Saxon period, 449-1066 -- Sources
This year, during Lent, King Edward being in London, nominated Robert
Archbishop of Canterbury. And the same Lent he went to Rome for his
pall. And the King gave the Bishoprick of London to Sparhafoc Abbot of
Abingdon, and the Abbacy of Abingdon to his kinsman Bishop Rothulf.
The Archbishop returned from Rome one day before the eve of the feast
of St. Peter, and he was installed in Christ Church on St. Peter’s
day, and immediately afterwards he proceeded to the King. Then the
Abbot Sparhafoc came to him with the King’s letters and seal, to
the intent that he should consecrate him Bishop of London. But the
Archbishop refused, and said that the Pope had forbidden it: the Abbot
endeavoured to persuade the Archbishop, and he earnestly desired the
promotion, but the other constantly denied him, still saying that the
Pope had forbidden it. The Abbot notwithstanding returned to London,
and resided there in the diocese which the King had granted him all
the summer and autumn, and this with his full permission. And Eustace
arrived from beyond sea soon after the Archbishop, and he proceeded to
the King and spoke with him all that he would, and then he journeyed
homeward. When they had gone as far east as Canterbury he and his men
rested to eat, and thence they went on to Dover. And when he was a
mile or more from Dover he put on his breast-plate, and so did all
his followers; and they came to Dover. And when they were there, they
would fix on their quarters according to their own pleasure, and one
of his men came, and would have lodged in the house of a certain
person against his will, and he wounded the master of the house, but
the householder slew him. Then Eustace mounted his horse, and his
followers theirs, and they fell upon and slew the householder on his
own hearth. And thence they went towards the town, and they killed
within and without more than twenty men. And on the other hand the
townsmen slew nineteen of Eustace’s train, and wounded they knew not
how many. And Eustace got off with a few others, and returned again to
the King, and related partially what had occurred. And the King was
very angry with the townsmen, and he sent Earl Godwin, commanding him
to march into Kent, and to take vengeance upon Dover; for Eustace had
told the King that the townsmen were more in fault than himself, but
it was not so, neither was the Earl consenting to this expedition, for
he was unwilling to ruin his own vassals.--Then the King sent for all
his Witan, and desired that they should come to him at Gloucester, soon
after St. Mary’s day. At this time the Welch had built a castle in
Herefordshire, in the territory of Earl Swegn, and they did all manner
of despite and injury to the King’s subjects in the neighbourhood.
Then Earl Godwin, and the Earls Swegn and Harold, and many with them,
met at Beverston, that they might proceed to their liege Lord and his
Witan then assembled, and that they might obtain their advice and aid
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account