In the year 1075 earl Waltheof, by command of king William, was led without the city of Winchester and there unworthily and cruelly decapitated with an axe and buried on the spot. But in course of time God so ordained it that his body was disinterred and carried with great honour to Croyland and honourably buried there in the church. While he was still in possession of life, though placed in strait confinement, he bewailed unceasingly and remorsefully all that he had done amiss, and by watchings, prayers, fasts and alms strove to make his peace with God; men tried to blot out his memory on earth, but it is believed that in truth he rejoices with the saints in heaven, on the faithful testimony of the aforesaid archbishop Lanfranc, of pious memory, who heard his confession and gave him absolution; for he asserted that the earl was innocent of the charge imputed to him, to wit, the aforesaid conspiracy, and that, like a true Christian, he had regretted with tears of repentance whatsoever other sins he had committed; and declared moreover that he himself should be blessed, if, at the end of his own life, he should obtain a like blessed repose. THE CROWN AND THE PAPACY: THE CONQUEROR’S LETTER TO HILDEBRAND (_c._ 1080). =Source.=--_Lanfranci Opera_, ed. Lucas d’Achéry, p. 304. To the most excellent pastor of the Holy Church, Gregory, William by the grace of God glorious king of the English and duke of the Normans, greeting with affection. Holy Father, your legate, Hubert, coming to me on your behalf, has admonished me to do fealty to you and to your successors, and to take better heed touching the money which my ancestors used to send to the church of Rome. To the one request I consent, to the other I do not consent. I have refused to do fealty, and I do refuse, because neither did I promise it, nor, as I find, did my predecessors do fealty to your predecessors. As to the money, it was negligently collected for nearly three years, while I was in France, but now that I by divine mercy have returned to my kingdom, that which has been collected by the aforesaid legate is being sent, and the residue shall be despatched by the messengers of our faithful archbishop Lanfranc, when opportunity shall serve. Pray for me and for the estate of our realm, because we have loved your predecessors and desire sincerely to love you before all men, and obediently to hear you. NORMAN ABBOTS AND SAXON MONKS (1083). =Source.=--Florence of Worcester, _Chronicon_, ed. Thorpe, vol. ii., p. 16.