Polychronicon Ranulphi Higden maonachi Cestrensis; together with the English translations of John Trevisa and of an unknown writer of the fifteenth century.

Capitulum vicesimum quartum.

EDWARDE kynge of Ynglonde releschede to men of that [folio 327b] londe a grete tribute whiche thei were wonte to pay to saw|diours of the Danes as by xl^ti yere. Edsius archebischop of Cawnterbery dedde in this yere, kynge Edwarde ȝafe that seete to Robert, made bischop of London afore by the seide kynge. And in the monethe of September nexte folowynge Eustachius the erle Bononiense, whiche hade maryede but late afore Goda, suster of kynge Edward, [E., MS.] londed at the cite of

Dovor. The knyȝhtes and men of this erle sekynge loggynge indiscretely, did sle oon of the citesynnes, and the citesynnes did sle oon of knyȝhtes. Willelmus de Regibus, libro secundo. At the laste a grete conflicte made the citesynnes did sle xx^ti men longynge to that erle, mony other wounded soore, inso|moche that the erle unnethe escapynge wente to Gloucestre to the kynge with oon man, whom he moved soore ageyne men of Ynglonde. Wherefore Godewinus erle of Kente was com|maunded to venge the iniury doen to the erle. But erle Gode|winus seenge aliauntes to prevayle with þe kynge, and his peple like to be troubled, seide to the kynge that the kepers of the castelle of Dovor scholde by ryȝhte appere afore his hihenesse, and if thei were founde gilty to be entretede in theire bodies and goodes to þe pleasure of þe kynge. Wherefore the kynge perceyvynge this erle Godewinus as to despise his commaunde|ment, callede the noble men of þe realme to hym, commaundynge specially Leofricus erle of þe Marches, and Siwardus erle of

Northumbrelonde, to obsiste Godewinus the erle, whiche hade gedred a grete hoste from Kente, Southerey and Westsex. And also Suanus, his eldeste sonne, whiche hade gedrede an hoste from the cuntres of Baroksbire, Oxenfordeschire and Gloucestre|schire; and Haralde that hade areysede a grete hoste in Estesex and Huntyngdon at Beverstan. This erle inquirede why he gedrede suche an hoste, answerde for men of Wales; but men of Walles returnede that offense to hym. Wherefore a cowne|saile was hade at Londe, [Londe] sic in MS.] where hit was assignede that Godwinus the erle and Harald sholde come to the kynges cowrte withowte eny armoure with xij. men, and that thei scholde take to the kynge servyces of knyȝhte dew to theyme in Ynglonde. But thei seide hit was not for theyme to come with soe fewe men with owte grete suerte made, and specially into the hondes of theire adversaries. After that the companye of this Gode|wynus decreasynge for drede of the kynges hoste, a proclama|cion was made by the kynge that either Godewynus scholde presente hym [at] [This word appears to have been written, and then scratched out.] the kynges courte withyn v. daies nexte [folio 328a]

folowynge in the forme aforeseide, other he scholde departe from Ynglonde. Wherefore Godewynus the erle, takynge with hym his sonnes Suanus, Tostius, and Gurth, sailed to Flandres to Baldewyne the erle, Iuditha, the doȝhter of whom, Suanus hade mariede. And Harald and Leofwyne wente unto Yrlonde; the cowntee of whom Algarus sonne of Leofricus receyvynge, governede hit nobly; and Harald returnede to Ynglonde, he resignede hit to hym with goode wille; but this Harald re|storede to the patrimony of his fader, he askede hit manfully ageyne. Wherefore kynge Edwarde kepynge a parliamente banyschede Godewinus the erle with his sonnes, and putte Editha his quene, doȝhter of the seide erle, to the monastery of Werwelle with oon gentylle woman. This Godewinus and his sonnes putte to exile, robbed the costes of Ynglonde by ij. yere, and gedrenge a grete hoste at the laste hade purposed to have ȝiffen batelle to the kynge. But by laboure of gentylmen pease was reformede, and the qwene was restorede to the kynge, insomoche that Wilnotus son of Godewinus, and the sonne of Suanus, were taken to plegge, whom kynge Edward sende to William duke of Normandy to kepe theym. In the tyme of exile as of þe persons aforeseide William duke of Normandy come

to Ynglonde with a grete multitude of peple, whiche rewarded gretely returned to Normandy. And Emma the qwene and moder of Edward the kynge diede in this yere, and was beryede at Wynchestre. Marianus the Scotte lefte the worlde in the xxv^ti yere of his age, and was made monke at Colonia, a cite of Alemayne, in the monastery of Scottes. Willelmus de Pontificibus, libro primo, et Marianus. Godewynus and alle his sonnes were accorded with kynge Edward in this yere, Suanus excepte, whiche contrite and compuncte in herte for the dethe of Beornus his cosyn, wente from Flanders barefote to Ierusalem, and after that to Licia, diede for colde. And after this tyme the Normannes cownsellours of the kynge were exiled, and specially Roberte archebischop of Cawnterbery, whiche causede specially Godewinus the erle to be put to exile. Whiche goynge to Rome, returnede with letters of the pope to his monastery Gementike, where he diede. Whom Stigandus did succede; whiche levynge somme tyme the seete of Schir|burne, entrede the seete of Wynchestre by presumpcion and supportacion; a man makynge marchandise openly of the goodes of the churche, not instructe in connynge, as alle bischoppes [folio 328b]

were in Englonde allemoste in that tyme, myȝhty in langage and in money; wherefore he cowthe not have the use of a palle, thauȝhe money may do moche þer. Willelmus de Pontificibus, libro secundo. That tyme men songe openly in stretes that the man was not able to be a bischoppe that cowthe not abuse the pride of the worlde, surfettes, lecchery, ryalle apparayle, and grete company of knyȝhtes and of other men. The bischoppes were wonte to say to that objeccion, "Nowe is an oþer tyme, and the disposicion of us is after the disposicion of the tyme." Marianus. A famose clerke was in Yrlonde abowte this tyme, Barbosus by name, a man of mervellous religion, insomoche that he kepede a grete scole of clerkes, laymen, and of maydens; but he was put from Yrlonde in that he did rownde the maydes after the consuetude of men. Willelmus de Pontificibus, libro secundo. Seynte Alfwolde, the laste bischop of Schireburn, diede abowte this tyme; whiche made bischop of a monke of Wyn|chestre, usede brede and water, grete festes usede of other peple in Ynglonde from the commynge of Danes into that londe;

a man havynge grete devocion to oure ladye Marye, and to seynte Cuthberte bischop. Wherefore a division movede betwene hym and Godewinus the erle, and not accorded in the day of accordemente prefixede, the bischop, beynge trowblede with a passion of wrathe, seide in returnynge, "By my ladye Marye he schalle repente;" and the seide erle was peynede soore in his body untille that he was blissede of the bischop after that tyme. At the laste this bischoppe wente to Dirham, and openynge the beryalle of seynte Cuthberte, spake to hym as to his frende, levynge þer a token of luffe, and departede.