The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Part 18

(82) He built a new church from the foundation, on a larger plan.

The monastery existed from the earliest times.

(83) Florence of Worcester says, that he went through Hungary to Jerusalem.

(84) This must not be confounded with a spire-steeple. The expression was used to denote a tower, long before spires were invented.

(85) Lye interprets it erroneously the "festival" of St. Martin.--"ad S. Martini festum:" whereas the expression relates to the place, not to the time of his death, which is mentioned immediately afterwards.

(86) This threnodia on the death of Edward the Confessor will be found to correspond, both in metre and expression, with the poetical paraphrase of Genesis ascribed to Caedmon.

(87) These facts, though stated in one MS. only, prove the early cooperation of Tosty with the King of Norway. It is remarkable that this statement is confirmed by Snorre, who says that Tosty was with Harald, the King of Norway, in all these expeditions. Vid "Antiq. Celto-Scand." p. 204.

(88) i.e. Harold, King of England; "our" king, as we find him Afterwards called in B iv., to distinguish him from Harald, King of Norway.

(89) Not only the twelve smacks with which he went into Scotland during the summer, as before stated, but an accession of force from all quarters.

(90) On the north bank of the Ouse, according to Florence of Worcester; the enemy having landed at Richale (now "Riccal"). Simeon of Durham names the spot "Apud Fulford,"

i.e. Fulford-water, south of the city of York.

(91) It is scarcely necessary to observe that the term "English"

begins about this time to be subst.i.tuted for "Angles"; and that the Normans are not merely the Norwegians, but the Danes and other adventurers from the north, joined with the forces of France and Flanders; who, we shall presently see, overwhelmed by their numbers the expiring, liberties of England. The Franks begin also to a.s.sume the name of Frencyscan or "Frenchmen".

(92) i.e. in the expedition against the usurper William.

(93) i.e.--threw off their allegiance to the Norman usurper, and became voluntary outlaws. The habits of these outlaws, or, at least, of their imitators and descendants in the next century, are well described in the romance of "Ivanhoe".

(94) The author of the Gallo-Norman poem printed by Sparke elevates his diction to a higher tone, when describing the feasts of this same Hereward, whom he calls "le uthlage hardi."

(95) Or much "coin"; many "scaettae"; such being the denomination of the silver money of the Saxons.

(96) Florence of Worcester and those who follow him say that William proceeded as far as Abernethy; where Malcolm met him, and surrendered to him.

(97) Whence he sailed to Bretagne, according to Flor. S. Dunelm, etc.; but according to Henry of Huntingdon he fled directly to Denmark, returning afterwards with c.n.u.te and Hacco, who invaded England With a fleet of 200 sail.

(98) i.e. Earl Waltheof.

(99) This notice of St. Petronilla, whose name and existence seem scarcely to have been known to the Latin historians, we owe exclusively to the valuable MS. "Cotton Tiberius" B lv. Yet if ever female saint deserved to be commemorated as a conspicuous example of early piety and christian zeal, it must be Petronilla.

(100) The brevity of our Chronicle here, and in the two following years, in consequence of the termination of "Cotton Tiberius" B iv., is remarkable. From the year 1083 it a.s.sumes a character more decidedly Anglo-Norman.

(101) i.e. In the service; by teaching them a new-fangled chant, brought from Feschamp in Normandy, instead of that to which they had been accustomed, and which is called the Gregorian chant.

(102) Literally, "afeared of them"--i.e. terrified by them.

(103) Probably along the open galleries in the upper story of the choir.

(104) "Slaegan", in its first sense, signifies "to strike violently"; whence the term "sledge-hammer". This consideration will remove the supposed pleonasm in the Saxon phrase, which is here literally translated.

(105) "Gild," Sax.; which in this instance was a land-tax of one s.h.i.+lling to a yardland.

(106)--and of Clave Kyrre, King of Norway. Vid. "Antiq.

Celto-Scand".

(107) Because there was a mutiny in the Danish fleet; which was carried to such a height, that the king, after his return to Denmark, was slain by his own subjects. Vid. "Antiq. Celto-Scand", also our "Chronicle" A.D. 1087.

(108) i.e. a fourth part of an acre.

(109) At Winchester; where the king held his court at Easter in the following year; and the survey was accordingly deposited there; whence it was called "Rotulus Wintoniae", and "Liber Wintoniae".

(110) An evident allusion to the compilation of Doomsday book, already described in A.D. 1085.

(111) Uppe-land, Sax.--i.e. village-church.

(112) i.e. jurisdiction. We have adopted the modern t.i.tle of the district; but the Saxon term occurs in many of the ancient evidences of Berkeley Castle.

(113) i.e. of the conspirators.

(114) Literally "became his man"--"Ic becom eowr man" was the formula of doing homage.

(115) Literally a "gossip"; but such are the changes which words undergo in their meaning as well as in their form, that a t.i.tle of honour formerly implying a spiritual relations.h.i.+p in G.o.d, is now applied only to those whose conversation resembles the contemptible t.i.ttle-tattle of a Christening.

(116) From this expression it is evident, that though preference was naturally and properly given to hereditary claims, the monarchy of Scotland, as well as of England, was in principle "elective". The doctrine of hereditary, of divine, of indefeasible "right", is of modern growth.

(117) See the following year towards the end, where Duncan is said to be slain.

(118) Peitevin, which is the connecting link between "Pictaviensem" and "Poitou".

(119) Now called Southampton, to distinguish it from Northampton, but the common people in both neighbourhoods generally say "Hamton" to this day (1823).

(120) The t.i.tle is now Earl of Shrewsbury.

(121) The fourth of April. Vid. "Ord. Vit."

(122) Commonly called "Peter-pence".

(123) Literally "head-men, or chiefs". The term is still retained with a slight variation in the north of Europe, as the "hetman" Platoff of celebrated memory.

(124) This name is now written, improperly, Cadogan; though the ancient p.r.o.nunciation continues. "Cadung", "Ann. Wav."

erroneously, perhaps, for "Cadugn".

(125) It was evidently, therefore, not on Michaelmas day, but during the continuance of the ma.s.s or festival which was celebrated till the octave following.

(126) In the original "he"; so that the Saxons agreed with the Greeks and Romans with respect to the gender of a comet.

(127) Literally "took leave": hence the modern phrase to signify the departure of one person from another, which in feudal times could not be done without leave or permission formally obtained.

(128) That is, within the twelve days after Christmas, or the interval between Christmas day, properly called the Nativity, and the Epiphany, the whole of which was called Christmas-tide or Yule-tide, and was dedicated to feasting and mirth.

(129) The King of Norway and his men. "Vid. Flor."