[Sidenote:  Couentrie made free of toll and custome.] He had a noble ladie to his wife named Gudwina, at whose earnest sute he made the citie of Couentrie free of all manner of toll, except horsses:  and to haue that toll laid downe also, his foresaid wife rode naked through the middest of the towne without other couerture, saue onlie hir haire.  Moreouer, partlie moued by his owne deuotion, and partlie by the persuasion of his wife, he builded or beneficiallie augmented and repared manie abbeies & churches, as the said abbeie or priorie at Couentrie, the abbeies of Wenlocke, Worcester, Stone, Euesham, and Leof besides Hereford.  Also he builded two churches [Sidenote:  Churches in Chester built.] within the citie of Chester, the one called S. Iohns, and the other S. Werbrough.  The value of the iewels & ornaments which he bestowed on the abbeie church of Couentrie, was inestimable.

After Leofriks death, his sonne Algar was made earle, and intituled [Sidenote:  Henr.  Hunt. Algar earle of Chester exiled. 1058.] in all his lands and seigniories.  In the yeare following, to wit, 1058, the same Algar was accused againe (through malice of some enuious persons) of treason, so that he was exiled the land, wherevpon he repaired againe vnto his old friend Griffin prince of Northwales, of whome he was ioifullie receiued, & shortlie after by his aid, & also by the power of a nauie of ships that by chance arriued in [Sidenote:  Simon Dun. 1063.] those parts at that selfe same season vnlooked for out of Norwaie, the said Algar recouered his earledome by force, as some haue written.  King Edward about the twentith yeare of his reigne, as then [Sidenote:  Simon Dun. Mat.  West.] remaining at Glocester, appointed earle Harold to inuade the dominions of Griffin king of Wales.  Harold taking with him a power of horssemen, made speed, and came to Rutland, and there burned Griffins palace, and also his ships, and then about Midlent returned againe into England.

After this, about the Rogation weeke, Harold eftsoones by the kings commandement went against the Welshmen, and taking the sea, sailed by Bristow, round about the coast, compassing in maner all Wales.  His brother Tostie that was earle of Northumberland, met him by [Sidenote:  Wales destroied and harried by the Englishmen.] appointment with an host of horssemen, and so joining togither, they destroied the countrie of Wales in such sort, that the Welshmen were compelled to submit themselues, to deliuer hostages, and [Sidenote:  The Welshmen agree to pay their accustomed tribute.] conditioned to paie the ancient tribute which before time they had paied.  And moreouer, they renounced their prince the forenamed Griffin, so that he remained as a banished person:  and finallie, about the fift day of August, they slue him, and sent his head to earle [Sidenote:  1064.] Harold.  Afterwards king Edward granted the rule of Wales vnto Blengent [Sidenote:  Wil.  Malm. Simon Dun.]