Great Britain -- History -- Anglo-Saxon period, 449-1066 -- Sources
for avenging this insult offered to the King and all his people. But
the Welch were with the King beforehand, and accused the Earls, so
that they were not admitted into his presence, because the others had
said, that they were coming with treasonous designs against the King.
Earl Siward and Earl Leofric and a great number of men from the north
had joined the King, and it was told Earl Godwin and his sons that
the King and those who were with him, were about to attack them, on
which they fortified themselves strongly, albeit they were loth to act
against their natural Lord. Then the Witan on either side advised that
they should abstain from hostilities, and the King gave the peace of
God and his own full friendship to both parties.--Then the King and his
Counsellors determined that another meeting of all the Witan should be
held at London, at the autumnal equinox: and the King commanded that
an army, as powerful as might be, should be raised both from the south
and from the north of the Thames. Earl Swegn was declared an outlaw,
and Earl Godwin and Earl Harold were summoned to be at the meeting with
as much speed as they could make. When they were come thither, they
were called before the Council, and they desired hostages and security
that they might go in and out of the Council safe from treachery; and
the King demanded all the Thanes whom the Earls had with them, and
they delivered them all into his hands. Then the King sent to them
again, and desired that they should come into the Council with twelve
attendants, but the Earl again desired security and hostages, that so
he might clear himself from every charge which had been brought against
him; but these hostages were finally denied him, and five days were
allowed him, in which he was to depart from the country. Then Earl
Godwin and Earl Swegn went to Boseham, and they put to sea, and sought
shelter with Baldwin, and they abode in his land the whole winter. And
Earl Harold sailed westward to Ireland, and remained there through the
winter, under the protection of the king of that country. And as soon
as all this had happened, the King sent away the Lady, who had been
consecrated as his Queen; and he caused all that she possessed of gold,
and of silver, and of every other thing, to be taken from her; and he
put her under the charge of his sister at Wherwell (in Hampshire). And
the Abbot Sparhafoc was driven from the Bishoprick of London, and the
King’s Priest William was consecrated thereto. And Odda was appointed
Earl of Devon, Somerset, and Dorset, and of Wales; and the Earldom
which Harold had enjoyed was given to Ælfgar the son of Leofric.
1052.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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