CORONATION OF THE CONQUEROR:--William marches towards London--The Abbot and inhabitants of St. Albans oppose him--William, doubting the propriety of accepting the crown, holds a council of war--The speech of Aimery de Thouars decides the council--Christmas day, 1066, is fixed for the coronation--The ceremony is performed by Aldred, Archbishop of York; Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury declining to crown him--Tumult during the coronation--The lion banner of Normandy is planted on the Tower of London, and the south and east of England given to William's followers--He embarks for Normandy--His enthusiastic reception--He refuses to take the oath of fealty to the Pope CHAPTER XXIII. THE SIEGE OF EXETER:--During William's absence in Normandy, the Norman barons treat the Saxons with great cruelty--Saxon leagues are formed--William, receiving notice of the state of affairs in England, returns home--He ingratiates himself with the chiefs and the populace--William proceeds westward--Is opposed at Exeter--He attacks the town--Desperate resistance of the besieged--Exeter is taken--Somerset and Gloucester subjugated--Escape of Githa, Harold's mother--Bad treatment of the Saxon women CHAPTER XXIV. MATILDA AND BRIHTRIK:--Matilda's arrival and enthusiastic reception in England--Origin of Matilda's popularity--Her vindictive spirit--In her early years becomes enamoured of Brihtrik--Brihtrik does not reciprocate her affection--Brihtrik leaves Bruges--Matilda's indignation at his coolness--Probability of Brihtrik's speaking too freely about the Duchess Matilda--Matilda, after the siege of Exeter keeps Brihtrik's possessions as her share of the spoil--Brihtrik is imprisoned--His death CHAPTER XXV. THE NORMANS IN NORTHUMBERLAND:--State of the county of Northumberland in 1068--The Conqueror marches northward--York is taken--Robert Comine is deputed to extend the conquest as far as Durham--Eghelwin, Bishop of Durham's advice to Comine--The vengeance of the Northumbrians--The King of Denmark sends a fleet to the assistance of the English--The Saxons and Danes march upon York--The Normans are driven into the citadel--The citadel is taken--William's wrath at the death of Comine and the destruction of York--He bribes the Danes to depart--William again marches upon York--York is once more taken by the Normans--After ravaging Northumberland, the Normans reach Durham--The bishop and clergy of Durham set out for Holy Island--William enters Durham, and surprises the Saxons--William's guides, marching to Hexham, lose the way, and are separated from the rest of the army--The army is regained--William halts at Hexham--The subjugated territory is divided amongst William's nobles--The Normans erect castles for the better governance of the Northumbrians