Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (8 of 8) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 74 pages of information about Chronicles (1 of 6).

Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (8 of 8) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 74 pages of information about Chronicles (1 of 6).

THE FOURTH CHAPTER.

[Sidenote:  William duke of Normandie commeth ouer into England.] The foresaide William duke of Normandie (that after conquered this land) during the time of Goodwines outlawrie, came ouer into this land with a faire retinue of men, and was ioifullie receiued of the king, and had great cheere.  Now after he had taried a season, he returned into his countrie, not without great gifts of jewels and other things, [Sidenote:  Polydor.  K. Edwards promise to duke William.] which the king most liberallie bestowed vpon him.  And (as some write) the king promised him at that time, to make him his heire to the realme of England, if he chanced to die without issue. ¶ Shortlie after, or rather somewhat before, queene Emma the kings mother died, and was buried at Winchester.

After that earle Goodwine was restored to the kings fauour, bicause he knew that Robert the archbishop of Canturburie had beene the cheefe procurer of the kings euill will towards him, he found means to weare him out of credit, and diuers other specially of the Normans, bearing the world in hand, that they had sought to trouble the state of the realme, & to set variance betwixt the king and the lords of the English nation:  whereas the Normans againe alledged, that earle Goodwine and his sonnes abused the kings soft and gentle nature, & would not sticke to ieast and mocke at his curteous and mild [Sidenote:  The archbishop of Canturburie banished.] proceedings.  But howsoeuer the matter went, archbishop Robert was glad to depart out of the realme, and going to Rome, made complaint in the court there, of the iniuries that were offred him:  but in returning through Normandie, he died in the abbeie of Gemmeticum, where he had bene moonke before his comming into England.

Diuerse others were compelled to forsake the realme at the same time, [Sidenote:  Normans banished the realme.] both spirituall men and temporall, as William bishop of London, and Vlfe bishop of Lincolne.  Osberne named Pentecost, and his companion Hugh, were constreined to surrender their castels, and by licence of earle Leofrike withdrew thorough his countrie into Scotland, where, of king Mackbeth they were honorablie receiued.  These were Normans:  for (as partlie ye haue heard) king Edward brought with him no small number of that nation, when he came from thence to receiue the crowne, and by them he was altogither ruled, to the great offending of his owne naturall subiects the Englishmen, namelie earle Goodwine and his sonnes, who in those daies for their great possessions and large reuenues, were had in no small reputation with the English people.

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Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (8 of 8) from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.