Full text of "Vita Haroldi. The romance of the life of Harold, king of England. From the unique manuscript in the British museum"

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VITA HAROLDI.

MOULD FOR A PILGRIM'S BADGE OF THE HOLY CROSS OF
WALTHAM.

Tkt illustration kindly lent by the British Archaeological Association.

VITA HAROLD I.

THE ROMANCE OF THE LIFE

HAROLD, KING OF ENGLAND.

From the Unique Manufcript in the Britijh Mufium.

EDITED,

WITH NOTES AND A TRANSLATION,

WALTER DE GRAY BIRCH, F.S.A.,

A Senior Assistant lit the Department of Manuscripts in the British Museum ,

Honorary Secretary of the British ArcJueological Association;

Member of (he Committee of the Paragraphical Society, etc.

LONDON : ELLIOT STOCK,

62, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.G.
1885.

INTRODUCTION,

[HE romantic life of King HAROLD
the laft monarch before England
fell under a feries of dominations of
foreign dynafties, which has lafted
nearly nine hundred years has, for a confiderable
time, formed an interefting theme with hiftorians
and men of literature. It is printed in the follow-
ing pages from a careful collation with the unique
manufcript in the Harley Library of the Britifh
Mufeum, No. 3776, with a tranflation for the
firft time.

For the convenience of reference, I mall divide
the fubject of this introduction into the following
fections : (i) Defcription of the Manufcript;
(2) Hiftory of the Manufcript ; (3) Notices of
the Hiftorical Points, and of the Tranflation.

I. DESCRIPTION OF THE MANUSCRIPT..

The manufcript is of quarto fize, meafuring
i of- inches by 8 inches, of fomewhat thick and

vi Introduction.

rough vellum. The writing, in pale-coloured ink, is
contained in thirty-one lines to a page, in a Gothic
or black-letter book hand, occafionally difficult to
interpret, becaufe of the fimilar way of forming
the m, ni, ui, in, etc. It is evidently written, or
rather copied from the author's own writing, by a
fcribe ignorant of Latin perhaps a novice of the
great Abbey of Waltham for feveral words are
found divided erroneoufly, and others occur where
they are improperly joined together. The ink,
originally black, is now of a faded brown colour.
The ornamental initial letters at the beginning of
paragraphs are of red or blue colour ; and the
rubrics, or contents of chapters, are in red. The
writing is of the latter end of the thirteenth
century, or, at lateft, of the beginning of the
fourteenth century.

The volume, of which the " Vita Haroldi "
forms the firft article, contains feveral other
treatifes, written by the fame fcribe, which have
been difturbed at fome time from their original
order of production, and other works have been
introduced, although they have no connection
with Waltham. The Waltham treatifes are
numbered by the fcribe in numerical order, fo that
we can readily reconftruct the arrangement of the
volume when it repofed upon the quiet fhelves of
the fcriptorium of that great monaftery. The
fubjoined table mows the contents of the work :

Introduction. vii

Numeration Numeration Folio

of the of the

Waltham Harley

Library. Library.

.1. (i) Vita Haroldi ... 1-24

.a. (2) Ifta quae fecuntur . . .

deficiunt in Libro
de Inventione
Crucis noftre de
Waltham, etc. ... 25-30

.5. Lift of reliques

brought by Harold
to Waltham Ab-
bey, etc. (Lat.) ... 31-35^

.6. Miracles performed

by the wood of
the Holy Crofs at
the altar of St.
John the Evange-
lift, etc. (Lat.) ... 35^-38

A- Verfes on Waltham

Abbey ; Names of
the Abbots, etc.;
Vifions, etc. (Lat.
and French) ... 38-42

.8. A tracl on the In-
vention of the
Holy Crofs of
Waltham ... 43-62

*(3) A fhort chronicle of
England from

* Numbers 3 to 7 have been added to the volume ;
they are not of the fame fize, and are of later date. There
is no evidence connecting them with Waltham.

viii Introduction.

Numeration Numeration Folio

of the of the

Waltham Harley

Library. Library.

1066 to 1128

(Lat.) 63-66

*(4) Life of St. Brandan

(Lat.) 67-75^

*l(5) Henry of Saltrey's
" Purgatory of St.
Patrick "(Z-0'.)... 75^-82

*(6) Life of Tungal,
Bifhop of Cafhel
(Lat.) 82-89^

* (7) ThreeVifionsofHell,

etc. (Lat.) ... 89^-92
.2. (8) Meditation of St.

Bonaventura,
Minifter - General
of the Minorite
Friars (Lat.) ... 94-114
.3. Philofophical treat-

ifes on fobriety ;
old age, etc. (Lat.) 1 14^-1 16/>
(9) Verfes on " Quid eft
Femina." This,
although made a
feparate article, in
the Harley cata-
logue, is part of
the old numera-
tion 3. It ends
abruptly at the
bottom of the page 116^-117

Introduction. ix

Numeration Numeration Folio

of the of the

Waltham Harley

Library. Library,

*(io) " Martilogium fanc-
torum in Anglia."
A later trad: on
the burial-places
of Englifh faints
(Lat.) 118-128

*(n) A calendar of the
Saints' days and
feftivals, between
two fly-leaves, from
a fervice book
(Lat.) 129-135

II. HISTORY OF THE MANUSCRIPT.

Of the authorfhip of this early tale (whether
true or legendary we may never know) nothing
is known for certain. Internal evidences point to
the probability that it was compofed about a
hundred and fifty years after the battle of Haftings.
Sir Thomas DufFus Hardy (whofe account of the
Codex is given in his " Defcriptive Catalogue of
Manufcripts relating to the Early Hiftory of Great
Britain," vol. i., pp. 668-671) ftates that in his
opinion "there is probably fome truth in this
curious narrative, but its errors are great and
numerous. It is, however, known from good
evidence that there was a report in circulation at
an early period that Harold had efcaped from the

* Thefe two articles have never belonged to the Waltham
MS.

x Introduction.

(laughter at Haftings ;" and he refers to Brompton, 1
Knyghton, 2 jElred of Rievaulx, 3 and Giraldus
Cambrenfis, 4 thofe who are curious to know more
on this fubject. It is unneceffary to purfue this
afpect of the fubject on this occafion, for the object
in view is not to theorize upon a matter which,
after all that can be faid on both fides, muft yet
remain unfolved. The endeavour of the prefent
work is to prefent to the reader, in a convenient
form, a text carefully collated from the only
manufcript known to exift at the prefent time,
with a tranflation appended to it (as literal as the
remarkable ftyle and phrafeology, obfcure, and in
many places abfolutely unintelligible, as it is, will
allow it to be, but yet not flavifhly clofe fo as to
be uninterefting to the general reader), for the ufe
of thofe who cannot read it in the original Latin
in which it is compofed.

From what religious houfe the Manufcript
pafled ultimately into the hands of the great
collector of the Harley Library is not, indeed,
difficult to conjecture.

Here, again, Sir Thomas D. Hardy advances a
feet which is highly probable. That learned
palaeographer confiders that the compofition was
written apparently with the object of proving that
Harold was not buried at Waltham, the traditional
place of his fepulture, which, indeed, made that
great Houfe of Secular Canons rich and famous in
the annals of Britifh Monaftiqifm. Now, as there

1 Chronicle, col. 961. 8 Col. 2342.

8 P. 394- 4 P. 874-

Introduction. xi

is little doubt that the work itfelf was compofed,
and certainly as far as the prefent manufcript is
concerned, no doubt at all that it was tranfcribed,
in the Abbey of Waltham, it is difficult to con-
ceive any means for accounting for the apparent
anomaly of an eftablimment which owed its prof-
perity, in a vital degree, to the pious fentiments
which cluftered around the fanctified fepulchre of
the unfortunate King, caufing a tranfcript, or per-
haps more than one, to be made of a treatife
founded upon a fact, and profefTmg to prove a
fact, which, if generally accepted, would have
utterly deftroyed the cultus of the departed
monarch on which the flouriming condition of the
Abbey both morally and financially depended.

Hardy, confcious of this difficulty, fuggefts that
the authormip of this work here defignated by
him as " little elfe than an hiftorical romance "
muft be attributed to " one of the fecular canons
who had been expelled 'from that eftablimment,
and with the intention of robbing it of the honour
of holding the remains of its founder." But when
we come to examine the theory thus advanced, it
falls to the ground, for even if we admit the fug-
geftion of authormip at the date to which he fays
internal evidence points viz., one hundred and
fifty years after the battle of Haftings, A.D. 1066 +
i5O = A.D. 1216, as tolerably accurate, 1 can we
poflibly admit that, after giving the manufcript a

1 The probability of this date is borne out in feveral
paflages to which footnotes are given in the places where they
occur.

xii Introduction.

place in the Jc riptorium or library of the Abbey
for nearly two hundred years, during which time
every inmate would have conftant accefs to a work
which could not fail to aroufe his intereft and
excite his critical comments, if not to make his
faith in the orthodox ftory of his founder's
fortunes, the authorities of that inftitution would
permit a tranfcript fuch as this undoubtedly is, an
unpolimed, almoft, we may fay, an unconnected
copy to be made about the beginning of the four-
teenth century?

III. NOTICE OF THE HISTORICAL POINTS ;

AND OF THE TRANSLATION.

In this unique MS., which has been carefully
collated for the prefs, there are few points to
which the attention of the reader may conve-
niently be directed here. The fimple e is ufed in
all cafes for the < or ce of ftandard Latin ortho-
graphy ; b is occafionally added to fuch words as
abundo, where the afpirate is manifeftly an error,
its addition, no doubt, marking the peculiar pro-
nunciation of Latin by our infular fcholars at the
time when this manufcript was prepared. Another
interefting deviation from the claflical form, but
one which is very reprefentative of the early
mediaeval period, is the ufe of the forms reicio^
eicio, etc., for rejicio, ejicio, etc., where the j is
eliminated from its proper place between two
vowels. Set is ufed generally for Sed.

The punctuation is peculiar: no rules appear

Introduction. xiii

to have guided the compofer, who puts a point (.),
the equivalent of our comma (,), in many places
where we mould certainly not ufe any ftop ; the
colon (:) is alfo frequently placed dividing words
from each other in paflages where the modern
ideas of punctuation would not allow fuch a
practice. The comma and the femicolon are un-
known ; but the inverted femicolon (i) is occa-
fionally ufed, much more fparingly than the point
and the colon, in places where we mould expect to
fee the femicolon or comma.

The text in the following pages reprefents the
actual reading of the MS. I have preferred to
retain even manifeft errors in this text rather than
attempt to explain them by any alteration. Moft
of thefe] errors, after all, eafily explain themfelves.
The footnotes are marked H., to mow that the
readings are thofe of this Harley Manufcript.
The collations are :

(i.) With the text, printed by M. Francifque
Michel in his Chroniques Anglo-Normandes ', recueil
d'Extraits et d'Ecrits relatifs a rHiftoire de
Normandie et d'Angleterre, 8vo., Rouen, 1835,
Tome ii., pp. 143-222.

The text of chapters viii. and xii. are omitted
by M. Michel, whofe text is otherwife fairly
accurate and faithful. Where the readings of
this edition are quoted in my footnotes, they are
diftinguifhed by the letter M.

(ii.) With a very poorly edited copy of the
above text in the Cbroniques, by Rev. Dr. Giles,
of C. C. C. Oxford, in his Vita Quorundam

xiv Introduction.

Anglo-Saxonum, " Original Lives of Anglo-Saxons
and others who lived before the Conqueft." This
work, which was printed and publifhed for the
Caxton Society by J. RufTell Smith, 1854, is now
out of print. The remarkable peculiarities which
the editor evinced in abfurdly endeavouring to
reduce the orthography of the manuscript to what
he fancied was a claflical ftandard, his carelelThefs
in failing to confult the text of the MS. where the
accuracy of the text of the Chroniques was doubtful,
and the inaccuracies T with which his work abounds
culminating in his ludicrous footnote concerning
his inability to point to . the identification of a
well-known locality in Shropfhire combine to
render the text he gives in the Vita abfolutely
ufeless for purpofes of critical examination or for
quotation. I have collated a large number of
thefe numerous departures from the true reading
of the MS. in footnotes diftinguifhed by the
letter G.

The tranflation of this manuscript into Englifh
is here, as has been faid before, for the firft time
attempted. And here I have to thank my col-
league, Mr. I. H. Jeayes, for considerable afliftance
in the work. The peculiar ftyle and diction, in-
volved and obfcure as it is almoit throughout
the work (except in a few narrative pafTages
where the author condefcends to write in a lucid
and fuccincT: manner), occasionally takes fuch

1 The firft word of his title, Vita for Vit<e, fhows the fame
carcleflhefs which runs through the whole of the work.

Introduction. xv

wandering flights of fancy that, even if we accept
the readings of the fcribe who made this Harley
MS. as always correct a fact which is by no
means fure, for no fecond copy is extant with
which to compare them it is almoft impoflible to
divine what the author wifhed to intimate to his
hearers and readers, veiled and hidden in fentences
of great length, crowded with " fefquipedalian
words," and overflowing with that peculiar charac-
teriftic of antithesis which the Anglo-Saxon and
early Englifh literary man fo ftrongly affected.

W. DE GRAY BIRCH.

December, 1884.

VITA HAROLDI REGIS.

Incipit Prologus in vita vtri venerabilis Haroldi
quondam Anglorum regis.

[ICUT federis tabernaculi fub Moyfe . MS Hari.

. . 377 ' *

ut templi fub Salomone Dominici .
divine commendant littere conftruc-
tores : ita et eos profecuntur laudi-
qui devocione prona offerre aut preparare
conftruccioni neceflaria : fideliter ftuduerunt. Apud
Neemiam 1 qui deriferunt edificantes inprecacione
terribili percelluntur. Reedificatores lerufalem .
titulis ab Hefdra perpetuis afcripti : nominis et
operis fui perhennem pofteris memoriam confecra-
runt. Hujufmodi confideracio ad ferendum quale-
cunque fuffragium operi fandlo in quo defudatis
patres reverendi tenuem licet cenfu et viribus im-
becillem parvitatem meam : vehementer vere fateor
incitavit. Accedit ftimulo huic calcarium infuper
vice jam ultro currenti . nine fraterna cum arnica
fuafione poftulacio . inde cum paterna juflione
follicita commonicio. Sencio quidem laboris
plenum . fet mercede fpero refertum . et quod vefter
1 Nehem. vi.

4 Vita Haroldi Regis.

nutus injungit . et quod nofter animus geftit.
Expetendus autem fummoque nifu cenfetur am-
plectendus modici fudor temporis . quo non exigui
et labentis evi celebritas: immo laudis et glorie eo
manfure quo eterne decus et fplendor optinetur.
Ceterum quovis pro labore aut opere . laudis tranfi-
torie expetifle mercedem : operam perdidifie eft et
impenfam. Non folum autem fed nee nullatenus
expetite ultro tamen ingefte adquievifle favoris
illecebre interni teftis et eterni judicis feipfum
retribucione et laude privafle eft. Extat enim de
ejufmodi : ejufdem diffinicio hunc habens modum :
Amen 1 dico vobis : receperunt mercedem fuam.

Jubet igitur ac petit auctoritas paterna . et
fraterna caritas veftra quatinus opus egregium
quod ceptum excellenter decenterque provectum .
laudabilem 2 inftanter urgetis ad terminum . fump-
tibus invigilem hinc inde aflumptis promovere . ne
forte piis defint o[peri]bus copie neceflarie ad hoc
perficiendum. Ex variis nempe patrum fcriptis
volumen infigne in modulum unius libri com-
pactum . ad laudem et de laude gloriofe ac deifice
crucis operiofius elaboratum geftis memorabilibus 3
r ib. fundatoris veftri 4 . cujus memoria in benedictione

eft . cupitis infigniri . talique ut ita dicatur
celeumate laborem votivum confummari. Lauda-
bile procul dubio quia devotum . quia providum
hac in parte: fanctitatis veftre defiderium. Eft
quidem devocionis nee indebite quod tanti viri
magnalia nafciture preoptatis pofteritati litterarum

1 Matt. vi. 2, 5. 2 H. ; laudabile, G.M.

8 H.M. ; memorabilibus, G. 4 H.M. ; noftri, G.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 5

indiciis fideliter aflignare. Eo quippe juris tenore
peculiarem patronum et perpetuum nutritorem
veftrum debitis tenemini virtutum fuarum pre-
coniis illuftrare . quo crimini poterat ingratitudinis
non oblique aflcribi : (\ promeritos 1 laudum ipfius
titulos . editui fui et alumpni defidiofo filencio
pofteris furarentur. Providencie nichilominus com-
petentis eft quod laudibus fancte crucis ipfius
cultoris devotiflimi laudes decernitis fubrogandas.
Crucis fancte ex toto nimirum accedit glorie quic-
quid in fervi fui meritis et virtutibus: enituit
commendabile.

Inter hec quam mee pariter incumbat modicitati
animo magno et volenti quicquid vires fuggefferint
immo quicquid gratia celeftis indulferit ad im-
pendia tarn boni operis haut 2 fegniter corrogare
quis nefciat ? Veftrum fiquidem immo Haroldi
veftri quinimmo fancte utrorumque crucis jamdiu
panem comedens ociofus . quo veftros erga me
fereniores vultus afpicio : eo in me feveriorem
illorum fenfuram 3 pertimefcere jure debeo . fi tantis
quod abfit beneficiis non dixerim ingratum fet 4
inofficiofum . tarn gratis quam graciofe exhibitum :
contingat inveniri. Geram igitur morem veftris
pro pofTe defideriis geram quam potero vicem
beneficiis : ea tamen racione quatinus et vos v.eftra
michi pacta fervetis. Tenorem fcilicet fcribendorum
diligentius examinetis . examinata tantummodo
approbetis : aut emendetis. Sermonis quoque

1 Pro meritos, MS., with mark by a late hand to join the
words. 2 H.M. ; haud, G.

8 Sic MS. ; cenfuram, G. 4 Sed, G.

6 Vita Haroldi Regis.

reicientes 1 minus elimati rufticitatem . fententiam
fi videbitur refervetis 2 eleganciori ut dignum eft
ftilo explicandam. Nee enim defunt largiente
Domino cetui fanditatis veftre Befeleelis 3 . Ooliab 4 .
feu Hyram 5 peritiflimi fuccefTores . qui oblatam
in donaria Domini a fupplici vulgo rudem
materiam . locis et ufibus congruentibus noverint
adaptare. Noverint quoque arte magiftra prout
res exigit fingula queque fubtilius expolire .
refecare fuperflua informia componere: deformia
f. 2. exornare. Mee vero tantifper intererit impericie .

aptiorem fabrice materiam a montibus excifam .
et ratibus impofitam . ad planiora deducere. Quod
egifle putabor fi a prifcorum libris . fi a fedulis 6
modernorum . fi a quorumdam fidelium rela-
cionibus veris . paflim collegia: hujus libelli apicibus

1 Rejicientes, G. 2 Referventes, G.

3 Befeleel I. anno mundi 2544 . ante Jefum Chriftum 1510 .
films Uri et Marie fororis Moyfis . de tribu Juda. Hunc
ipfum elegit Dominus cum Ooliab . de tribu Dan . quos imple-
vit fpiritu Dei . fapientia et intelligentia . et fcientia in omni
opere ad excogitandum quidquid fabrefieri poterat ex auro et
argento . et ere . marmore et gemmis . et diverfitate lignorum .
ad edificandum tabernaculum fcederis . arcam teftimonii . pro-
pitiatorium . et cunfta vafa tabernaculi. (F. P. Dutripon,
' Concordantiae,' Paris, 1844, p. 157.) Befeleel's name occurs in
Exod. xxxi. 2 ; xxxv. 30 ; xxxvi. I ; xxxvii. I ; xxxviii. 22 ;
I Par. ii. 20 ; 2 Par. i. 5.

4 Ooliab . filius Achifamech a tribu Dan. Artifex a Deo
vocatus . fpirituque Sapientie et intelligence impletus ad edi-
ficationem tabernaculi una cum Befeleel. (Dutripon, ut fupra,
p. 983.) Ooliab occurs in Exod. xxxi. 6 ; xxxv. 34 ; xxxvi. I ;
xxxviii. 23.

8 Hiram . artifex erarius plenus fapientia, etc. (Dutripon,
ut fupra, p. 607.) Hiram occurs by name in 3 Reg. vii. 13 ;
xl. 45 ; 2 Par. ii. 13 ; iv. 1 1, 16.

H.M.; fchedulis, G.

Vita Haroldi Regis. j

que injungitis tradidero: fimplicium noticie pro-
futura. Oracionum autem veftrarum aura lenis et
placida fragilem eloquii noftri cimbam crucis
vexillo pro velo . et jufti fui precibus pro am-
pluftribus 1 inftrudam: in portum fecundi litoris
perducat. Amen.

1 Ampliis tribus. M. ; apluftribus, G.

EXPLICIT PROLOGUS.

INCIPIUNT CAPITULA.

PRIMUM. Quod fpeculum ferenitatis et clemende
eluceat in geftis regis Haroldi. Quod frater regine
fuit . quam fanctus duxit Edwardus. Qualiter
pater ejus Godwinus dolum eludens Cnutonis
regis . fororem ipfius accepit in uxorem . et quod
de viciis nutritorum fuorum Haroldus infigniter
triumphaverit.

II. Quod Wallia per Haroldum pene deleta fit :
et qualiter ipfe per virtutem Sancte Crucis de
Waltham de paralifi 1 convaluerit.

III. Quomodo ecclefiam Sancte Crucis apud
Waltham conftruxerit . ditaverit . ornaverit . atque
ordinaverit Haroldus . et quod Henricus Anglorum
rex amotis fecularibus ipfum locum canonicis in-
fignivit regularibus.

IV. Quod divinitus difpofitum fuit ut homo ifte
in regem erigeretur . et victis hoftibus ab eo : ab
aliis ipfe victus a regno deiceretur . et de anacho-
rita valde religiofo qui minifter ipfius jam folitarii
fuerat.

V. Quod inter vulneratores feminecem inven-
tum et Wintoniam perduclum . mulier quedam

1 H.M. ; paralyfi, G.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 9

Saracena biennio ibidem delitefcentem fanaverit
Haroldum . et quod pro contrahendis contra
Normannos auxiliis . Saxones Dacofque expetierit
nilque profecerit.

VI. Quod in fe tandem idem reverfus intellex-
erit Deum fibi in via mundi adverfari . unde
Chrifti fe conformans cruci ut hoftem antiquum
melius triumpharet gaudet fe ab hominibus fuifle
fuperatum.

VII. Quod pro expeciendis 1 fanctorum fuffragiis
longam inierit peregrinacionem : et quod ante-
quam regnum habuiflet . fanctorum limina apofto-
lorum adierit.

VIII. Ammiracio 2 fcriptoris cum exclamacione
brevi fuper benignitate Dei qua fit ut etiam pec-
cata eleciorum : ipfis cooperentur in bonum.

No NUM. Quod de peccato Haroldi multa di- f>2bt
cuntur a multis : et de quercu fecus Rothomagum
fub qua juraverat . que corticem exuta manet
ufque in prefens.

X. Satiffaccio quorundam pro Haroldo . qua
eum de perjurio excufantes . Domino favente et
fandlo connivente Edwardo ipfum regnafle affir-
mant . et de vifione Abbatis Elfini . qua victorem
Norwagicorum ipfum fore prenunciavit fanclus
Edwardus.

UNDECIMUM. De cruce fancta admirabilis quo-
rum 3 relacio que regi Haroldo feftinanti ad pre-
lium caput perhibetur inclinafTe et alia quedam
fatis de ipfa cruce ftupenda miracula certiflime
approbata.

XII. Diverforum diverfa interpretacio fuper
predictis fignis crucis fe inclinantis et quercus are-
facte . et quod Haroldus fe ipfum bene judicando

1 H.M. ; expetendis, G. 2 H.M.'; Admiratio, G.

3 H.M. ; quorundam, G.

io Vita Haroldi Regis.

judicium prevenerit divinum et non formidet
humanum.

XIII. Quod multis in peregre 1 annis exaclis 2
ad Angliam ob exercitandam pacienciam et benig-
nitatem Haroldus rediens Chriftianum fe vocitari
fecerit . decenniumque in rupe quadam expleverit
folitarie vivens . et in hujus temporis antichriftos
compendiofa inveccio.

XIIII. Quod in confinio Wallencium 3 poft-
modum Haroldus pluribus in locis tempore multo
degens . pacienter eorum frequencius tulerit af-
fultus . faciem velans panno . et nomen nomine
alio . ne aliquatenus cognofceretur quod tandem
ad ejus veneracionem converfa eft immanitas per-
fecutorum. 4

XV. Quod vir Domini Haroldus fugit obfe-
quentes quos adierat et diu fuftinuerat perfe-
quentes . et quod voce de celo lapfa defignatus fit
ei locus paufacionis fue . et quod femiplenis ver-
borum indiciis . fcifcitantibus innuerit fe fuiffe
Haroldum et quod fcripto fucceflbris fui plenius
oftendetur inferius hujus rei certitudo.

XVI. Monetur lector ne fpernat Jeccionem
quam fentit a non nullorum 5 opinionibus difcre-
pare . et de triplici occafione contraria exiftiman-
cium fuper materia prefenti . et de Willelmi
Melduneliis 6 circa Haroldi fata errore triformi.

XVII. Quid accident Waltammenfibus 7 circa

1 Inperegre, M.G.

2 H.M. ; extraftis, G. H.M. ; Wallenfium, G.

4 H.M. ; perfequutorum, G.

5 H. ; nonnullorum, M.G.

H.M. ; Melduncnfis, rightly, G.

7 H.M. ; Walthammcnfibus, G. The fcribe of the Harley
MS. has written this word thus, "Walta menfibus," clearly
proving that he did not undcrftand what he was writing.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 1 1

patroni fui fepulturam pie follicitis fed mulieris
cujufdam errore delufis.

XVIII. Quid frater Haroldi Gurta nomine f. 3.
Abbati Waltero vel aliis refponderit fuper fratris
fui requifitus cineribus vel fepultura.

XIX. Quod viri Dei fuccefibr de geftis Haroldi
beatiflimi vera fcribens . caufas geftorum minus
congrue . bis aflignaverit . et prime aflignacionis
difcuflio . et competens prolatis fentenciarum divi-
ciarum 1 . teftimoniis ejufdem improbacio.

XX. Secunde aflignacionis infirmacio et fcrip-
toris ad ledorem deprecacio et de difficultate
materiam refarciendi a prifcis fcriptoribus varie
laceratam.

1 Diverfarum, M.G.

EXPLICIUNT CAPITULA.

Quod fpeculum Jerenitatis et clemencie Dei elu-
ceat in geftis regis Haro\T\di. 1 Quod f rater regine
fuit quam Janftus duxit Edwardus. Qjialiter
pater ejus Godwinus dolum eludens Cnutonis regis
Jororem ipfius accepit in uxorem . et quod de viciis
nutritorum Juorum Haroldus infigniter trium-
ph aver it.

INCIPIT VITA SERVI DEI HARO[L]DP.
QUONDAM REGIS . ANGLORUM.

CAPITULUM I.

|LLUSTRISSIMI vere quia regis legi-
timi Haroldi jam rite ac legitime
coronati gefta recenfere . nichil 2 aliud
eft quam divine ferenitatis fimul et
clemencie quafi fpeculum quoddam lucidiflimum
piis mentibus exhibere. Quod ut clareat mani-
feftius: ipfius immundana 3 feu in Chrifti milicia
primordium progreflum et terminum dilucide
curabimus fummatimque legentibus intimare. Vere

1 G. ; Harodi, H. Haro[l]di, M.

2 H.M.; Nihil, G. ; and fo in all cafes throughout the text.
8 In mundana, M.G.

Vita Haroldi Regis. i 3

autem regem iJluftriflimum legittimeque 1 hunc
dixerimus coronatum . qui fe ipfum bene regendo
illique devotiflime cui fervire regnare eft obfe-
quendo: coronam adeptus eft primum jufticie
et poftmodum glorie fempiterne. Hunc God-
winus 2 comes potentiffimus . ex forore Cnutonis
Anglorum pariter et Dacorum regis habuit filium
fratrem vero regine venerabilis quam rex et con-
feflbr fanctiffimus duxerat Edwardus. Cujus felici
matrimonio quamquam citra opus juncta fuerit
maritale utrifque nimirum permanentibus in per-
petue virginitatis flore : promocionis tamen multi-
mode caufa fuit paterne familie. Conftat vero

1 H.M. ; legitimeque, G.

2 It will be ufeful to introduce here a table fhowing the
pedigree of Harold, Edward the ConfefTor, and William the
Conqueror, and their relationfhip with each other.

Richard L, 'Sans-Peur,'
Duke of Normandy, d. 996.

Richard II., 'Le (2.) in ioi7,=Emma,=f={i,)in ioi2,Ethel- Godwin,
Bon,' D. of Nor- Canute, K. of d.io54.

mandy, d. 1027. England and
Denmark.

red II., K. of Earl of
England, d. Kent, d.
1016. 1053.

Kicnara i\.ooeri i., ^.ureu,
III., D. 'LeDiable,' d.iO36.

J1.1JWAKU,-

'The Con-

/UUU, nAMUVU 11., -

in 1044. E. of Kent,

of Nor- D. of Nor-

feffor,' K.

K. of Eng-

mandy, mandy, d.

of Eng-

land 1066, d.

d. 1028, 1035.

land, a.

1066.

gyth.

WILLIAM, 'The Gurth. God- Ed- Mag- Ulf. Har- Gy-=Wladimir,

Conqueror,' win. mund. nus. old. tha. fon of Ja-

bom 1027, D. roflav,

of Normandy Grand-

1035, K. of Duke of

England 1066, Ruffia,

d. 1087. d. 1051.

14 Vita Haroldi Regis.

ipfius genitorem vel ceterorum quofdam de illius
genere . turn 1 prodicionis turn 1 et aliorum nota faci-
norum infamatos 2 graviter fuifle.

Hiis 3 vero mails . neceflitate cavendi imminentis
exicii : Godwinus fe primo immifcuit deinde ulte-
rius evagatur. Tuende fiquidem falutis obtentu
dolum temptare 4 compulfus . dum femel cedit ad
f. 3 b - votum : fraudibus in pofterum minuende felicitatis

intuitu licencius nitebatur. Dum enim prefatus
rex Dacie diadema Anglic ufurpaflet : cerneretque
Godwinum incredibili aftucia nee minori audacia
preditum fenfim ad fublimia confcendere timere
cepit homo advena . indigene adolefcentis viribus
fimul armatam et aftu animofltatem. Cujus licet
fibi perneceflariam in multis expertam habuiflet
induftriam : quiddam tamen de fpiritu Saulis mente
concipiens ereptorem fuum propugnatoremque
ftrenuiflimum dolo perdere cogitavit . quern palam
opprimere nifi per invidiofam maliciam facile non
fuit. Excogitato igitur confilio Godwinum quafi
pro arduis regni utriufque negociis mittit in
Daciam . tale quid fecum mente pertractans . Non
fit fuper eum manus mea ; fed fit fuper eum manus
Dacorum . cum 5 igitur jam medium equor navi
opulentiflimo inftrucla apparatu fecaret ; cepit fuf-
picio juvenis animum vehemencius titillare . fere-
bat namque fignatas regis anulo Jitteras . fingulis
fcilicet illius terre optimatibus fingulas . quarum

1 H.G. ; tantum . . . tantum, M.

2 M.G.; the letters ama in this^ord written in modern ink, H.
8 H.M. ; His, G. 4 H.M.; tentare, G.

6 H.M. ; Quum, G ; and fo throughout the text when ufed
as a conjunction.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 15

omnium prorfus nefciebat fentencias. Unius igitur
figillorum cautus effractor ex brevi inclufo fe in
brevi agnofcit capitali dandum fupplicio ; fi por-
titoris cum ventum fuerit ad portum plenius
fungatur officio. Tenor enim fcripture hie erat .
ut quicumque illius feriem primitus advertifTet .
bajulum ejus Godwinum nomine capite incon-
tinent! 1 mutilaret.

Expalluit novus Urias comperto quod fibi a
rege parabatur . exicio paratque ut paucis utamur
dolum extimplo 2 eludere dolo . fecit fie : extractaf-
que a ceris fuis fingulas confregit cartulas 3 . calli-
daque clerici cujufdam manu reponit recentes .
quarum fumma fuit ut Godwinum fummo univer-
forum tripudio exceptum . regie fororis nupciis
darent . nee aliter ei quam fibi ft adeflet in hiis 4
que regia exigebant negocia incunctanter cuncti
parerent. Sic regis bono regia mutatur fentencia .
fie miles milicie mutat ftipendia . fie indebita cedit
pena et debita bene merito accedit gloria. Sic
denique in fratrem recipit quern utilem repperit
rex militem . quern eciam paulo poft fecit confulem
habuitque pervigilem in reliquum proviforem.

Quo tamen eventu Godwinus in Dacorum plus f - *
quam fatis favorem efrufus . gentis fue quampluri-
bus fiebat infeftus. 5 Non nullos quoque de femine
regio quorum unus frater Sancti Edwardi fuit Nota de EH-

, | j'jv r J wardo et God-

dolo perdidit licque non modo in concives . immo wino Pas
et in dominos naturales non pauca deliquit. Verum tempor

1 H.M.G.; for incontinenter. 2 H.M. ; extemplo, G.
3 H.M. ; chartulas, G. 4 H. ; iis, M.G.

5 In feftus, H.

1 6 Vita Haroldi Regis.

de hiis 1 alias qui voluerit plura inquirat. Quo 2
enim ad fufceptam attinet materiam . fatis eft iccirco
nos vel compendiofe ifta prelibaffe ne inconfulte
videremur ilia preterifie: que minus intelligentes
ad fervi Dei Haroldi contumeliam novimus inter-
file . cum fanum fapientes hec quam maxime ad
ipfius gloriam videant pertinere. Qui enim
gratia comitante divina vicium vicit quod ut ifti
volunt natura inflixit quod convictus inftituit :
eo utique favorabilius triumphavit . quo et hoc
ipfum quod natus . quod educatus eft : fuperando
mutavit. Nam etfi vicio ipfe quoque ut afieritur
evo adhuc rudis ceflifie vifus eft . a natura fimul et
nutritura . violenciam paflus eftimandus eft. Patet
igitur quia operante eo qui de eadem mafia vas
aliud facit in honorem . aliud in contumeliam . id
quoque in virtutis Harpldo verfum eft meritum et
Jaudis preconium quod ei ad vituperium ab indodis
fuerat objectum. Sic rutilos producit . fie niveos 3
quafi nutrit rofarum liliorumque: fpina flores .
quorum prerogative non adimit immo adicit 4 qua-
Jitas abjectior ex conforcio cumulum venuftatis.

1 H.M. ; his, G. 2 H.M. ; Quod, G.

3 H. ; niveas, M.G. 4 H.M. ; adjicit, G.

Qjuod Wallia 'per Haroldum pene deleta fit ; et
qualiter ipfe -per virtutem Sanfte Crucis de Wal-
tbam de paraliji 1 convaluerit ij

[IRIBUS autem corporis quantum pre-
ftiterit quam acer et ftrenuus animis
armifque innotuerit: fubacta immo
ad internicionem 2 per Haroldum
pene deleta : Wallia eft experta. In hiis 3 quidem
triumphis . vivente adhuc fancto rege Edwardo :
infignis enituit . Hiis regi et regno pacem et quie-
tem quam fortiter tarn et utiliter adquifivit. In-
terea dum inter coevos probitate et potencia major .
fummis eciam in regno proceribus prelacior efle
videretur : manus omnipotentis que percutit et
medetur carnem iftius gravi percuilione tetigit .
ut fie prefentibus necnon 4 et futuris anime ipfius
vulneribus medelam procuraret. Paralifin 5 vocant
medici genus morbi quo corpus hominis attactum Nota de M-
debita dedifcit officia . obfequia homini derogat j??J Mcdico<
confueta. Reddit enim fubito partem quam in-
vaferit . aut corporis totum : ftupidum torpens

1 H.M. ; paralyfi, G. a H.M. ; internecionem, G.

8 H.M. ; his, G.; and fo always throughout this text.
4 H. ; nee non, M.G. 5 H.M. ; Paralyfm, G.

1 8 Vita Haroldi Regis.

et quafi emortuum. Haroldus hac repente tadhis
ac proftractus 1 moleftia ; cum ceteris eflet merori
turn 2 prefertim regi: fit precipui caufa doloris.
Hunc enim velut quodam prefagio futurorum pre
ceteris carum habuit et dilectum ; cum ftirpis
illius quofdam fufpectos habuifTe dicatur aliqua-
tenus et invifos. Quod fibi penes regem fanctifli-
mum dileccionis et gracie privilegium non affini-
tatis quamlibet grata propinquitas non probitatis
non induftrie fingularis quibus erat preditus emi-
nentia ; immo fola celeftis infpiracio conciliate
eftimatur. Probabile enim fatis eft ad gloriam in
hac parte Haroldi quia vir Deo plenus . divinique in
multis confilii non ignarus eo indulgencius 3 ipfum
amaverit quo perpetuum in celis pocius coheredem
quam in terris fibi futurum previdebat momen-
taneum fucceflbrem. Directi igitur regis a latere
medici, necnon et alii atque alii prece precioque
hinc inde allecti . egrotum ambiunt, quod ars feu
conjectura fuggerit exierunt 4 . fed Omnipotentis
manum vires hominum ammovere 5 non poflunt.
Pervenit fama triftior ad aures Alemannorum im-
peratoris . qui regi Anglorum affinitate proxi-
mus . dileccione et amicicia erat conjunctiflimus.
Huic medicus quidam nomine Ailardus fami-
liaris erat . quern et artis fue duplex exercicium
pericia et experiencia multa reddebat probatiffi-
mum . et quod pluris eft favor divinus in pro-
curanda fofpitate languencium : exhibuit graciofum.

1 H.M. ; proftratus, G.

2 H. ; tantun, M. ; tantum, G. 3 H.M. ; diligentius, G.
4 H.M. ; excierunt, G. 5 H.M. ; amovere, G.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 19

Hunc igitur imperator adhibendam 1 ftrenuiflimo
juveni medelam: regi amantiflimo celeriter defti-
navit. Qui ad egrum deductus egritudinis mate-
riam fagaciter rimatus curam adhibuit quam potuit .
fet 2 in ventum omnis cedit opera: ubi hominis
artificio celeftis opifex molitur adverfa.

Ea tempeftate lapidea crucifix! regis noftri ymago 3
non multis ante celitus revelata et reperta tempori-
bus . et ad Waltham 4 nutu perlata divino: miris
in loco virtutum chorufcabat 5 fignis. Perpendens
itaque phificus 6 nature auctorem naturalibus artis
fue viribus contraire . omnemque inferioris nature
racionem . naturantis 7 nature prejudicio funditus
hebetari ; intellexit protinus hominem verbere
conftringi virtutis illius de cujus manu non eft qui
poflit eruere. Qui mox ut virum decuit fidelem f. 5 .
et prudentem . cui manu nequivit : ore non diftulit
remedium procurare. Nil enim moris habens falla-
cium mencienciumque medicorum opem voluit a fe
feparari . quam fenfit jam : per fe non pofle conferri.
Nee fuum tamen egrotum reliquid 8 defperatum,
fet a fpe vana in folidam hunc fpem transferens .
in eo fperare qui falus eft . fperancium in fe
fideliter fuadebat. A quo ut ocius optate falutis
gaudia percipere mereretur: crucis falutifere ob-

1 H.M. ; ad adhibendam, G.

2 H.M. ; fed, G.; and fo always throughout.

3 H.M. ; imago, G.

4 There are feveral interefting trafts relating to the crofs at
Waltham in the fame Harley MS. from which this text is de-
rived. For a mould, from which leaden badges of the Holy
Crofs were caft, fee Journal of the Britijb Arcbteological Affi-
liation, vol. xxix. 421; cf. xxx. 52.

5 H.M. ; corufcabat, G. 6 H.M. phyficus, G.
7 H.M.; naturantis, omitted, G. 8 H.M. ; reliquit, G.

2o Vita Haroldi Regis.

fequiis hunc infiftere . votumque illi vovere . prout
fibi didtaret interna devocio : falubriter adhortatur.
Languidus vero falutis confilium fano percepit
animo . mittitque concito ad locum ubi crux vir-
tuofa Celebris radiabat: exennia 1 ingencia. Sup-
plicat obnixius loci cuftodibus falutaris nimirum
figni peculiarius cultui mancipatis . quatinus et
criminum veniam et dolorum levamen utriufque
videlicet hominis fofpitatem fedulis fibi dignentur
precibus optinere. 2 Nee defuit in longum cle-
mencia falvatoris falutem a fe fide non fidla poftu-
lanti. Mox etenim dolor cum languore decrevit
a corpore amor vero cum devocione circa fancte
crucis obfequium jam convalefcenti mirabiliter
crefcebat in mente. In brevi fiquidem pleniflime
redditus fofpitati . quantum medicine qua 3 con-
valuerat extiterit devotus: magnificus 4 compro-
bavit operum documentis. Veniens enim ad fanctam
crucem Waltamenfem 5 falutaria curacionis fue
vota perfolvit donaria obtulit preciofa . miniftris
plurima largitus eft . fe ipfum gloriofe crucis
tutele commendans . hancque fublimius honorare
difponens : letus tandem 6 a loco . non corde rece-
dens fed corpore : domino Regi et forori regine fe
incolumen 7 prefentavit. Congratulatur fratri re-
gina . rex militi congaudet : univerfa fimul curia
exultacione feftiva letatur. Nee quia convaluit .
fet quia celitus receperat fanitatem : omnes quidem

1 H.M. ; exenia, G.

2 H.M.; obtinere, G. 8 H.; quam, M.; [per] quam, G.
4 H.M. ; magnificis, G. 5 H.M. ; Walthamienfem, G.

6 H. ; tamen, M.G. 7 H. ; incolumem, M.G.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 21

in commune . plaudebant fet rex ut erat fandtif-
fimus impenfius gratulatur. Geminata fiquidem
letitia pre ceteris triumphabat . qui et Chrifti de-
lectabatur virtutibus tam pia exhibentis et devo-
cionis 1 fideique profedtibus pafcebatur in illis : quos
talium exhibicio in amore folidabat ejufdem piiiTmii
Redemptoris.

1 H. ; dovocionis, M. ; devotionis, G.

f 5b Quomodo ecclefiam Sanfte Cruets apud Waltham

conftruxerit . ditaverit . ornaverit . atque ordina-
vertt Haroldus et . quod Henricus Anglorum rex
amotis fecularibus locum ipjius Canonicis in-
Jignivit regularibus. . . . . iij.

| AM vero hunc in quo vel per quern
virtus experta . et oftenfa virtutis
prebuit tam multis incentivum nil
aliud cogitare nil loqui perpenderes:
nifi qualiter divinis poflet beneficiis excellencius
congruenciufque refpondere qualiter honore con-
digno falutis adepte gaudia . fancte quiviflet cruci
compenfare. Quo impenfius autem ejus intendebat
cultui et infiftebat decori . eo fublimius gracia ilium
celeftis virtutum et devocionis ditabat incrementis.
Qua vir nobilis commercii fpecie magnopere de-
Je&atus . contendebat inftancius de perceptis
muneribus gracias exhibendo beneficia mereri
pociora. Intuetur preterea quia et viro illi ad
gracias non exiles teneretur . per quern fuperna
pietas tot fibi exordia referafTet commodorum: de-
cernitque condigno hunc fidei fue et devocionis
premio munerandum. Cuftodie fiquidem oratorii

Vita Haroldi Regis. 23

crucis adorande duo tantum clerici tarn brevibus
ftipendiis quam tectis content! humilibus vide-
bantur infervire. At vir magnificus locum et loci
cultum omnimodis cupiens cum fuis cultoribus
fublimare novam ibi bafilicam fabricare . mini-
trorum augere numerum redditufque 1 eorum
proponit ampliare. Utque celebriorem fama
illuftriorem clericorum frequencia . celeftibus nobi-
litatum muneribus locum terrigenis exhiberet:
fcolas 2 ibidem inftitui fub regimine magiftri
Ailardi fue ut prelibatum eft falutis miniftri :
difpoficione fatagebat prudenti. Nee paulo fegnius
quod mente conceperat rerum pergebat effectibus
parturire. Jaciuntur feftinato ecclefie amplioris
fundamenta . furgunt parietes . columpne 3 fublimes .
diftantes ab invicem parietes . arcuum aut teftu-
dinum emicidiis mutuo federantur. Culmen im-
pofitum aeris ab introgreflis plumbei objective
laminis: variam fecludit intemperiem. Binarius
clericorum numerus fcilicet infamis: in mifticum 4
fenatus apoftolici duodenarium convalefcet. 5 Pul-
cherrima nimirum racione ut totidem in ejus
templo fancte crucis laudibus perhenniter 6 in-
fervirent perfone quot illius gloriam mundo princi- f. 6.
paliter ab inicio homines nunciaflent. Hiis vero
predia et poflefliones unde fibi ad omnem fufficien-
ciam neceflaria provenirent liberali munificencia con-
tulit regia quoque auctoritate confirmari optinuit. 7

1 H.M. ; reditufque, G. 2 H.M. ; fcholas, G.

3 H.M. ; columnae, G. 4 H.M. ; myfticum, G.

6 M. ; convalefcit, G. ; -cet altered to -cit, H.
6 H.M. ; perenniter, G. 7 H.M. ; obtinuit, G.

24 Vita Haroldl Regis.

Jam fi temptemus 1 ftilo 2 evolvere quot donariis 3
quam preciofis et multiplicibus vafis et ornamentis
vario inftructam decore illam edem Dominicam
nobilitaverit . fidem fcribendis forfan derogabit
tantarum rerum multitude. Verum ne fimditus
vel in hac parte magnificencie illius memoria
deleatur ad quod tamen livor vehemencius afpirafle
cognofcitur : opere precium eft pro zeli fervore
obniti . et cum fpecies 4 ipfe rerum fublate funt
quafdam velut umbras ipfarum confiderare volen-
tibus intimare. Indicium proinde rerum illarum
que a primo Normannici generis Anglorum rege
Willelmo in Haroldi ut traditur invidiam fancte
fue crucis ecclefie violenter ablate . et in Neuftriam
tranflate funt : prefenti duximus pagine inferendum.
NOTA. Tranftulit enim ut legitur idem rex de Waltham

Sum ma . vj .

miiibus et . vj . m Normanniam feptem fcrinia . ubi tria fuerunt

centis et . Ixvj .

Hbris. Scilicet aurea et quatuor argentea deaurata : cum gemmis

in cappis aureis A f

et argemeis . in preciofis plena reliquiarum . Quatuor textus: auro

crucibus textis . r r K. s-\ -11

etcasuiamque argento . gemmifque 5 ornatos . Quatuor tunbula
magna : aurea atque argentea . Sex candelabra :
quorum duo aurea cetera argentea . Tres urceos
magnos ex Greco opere : argenteos atque deauratos.
Quatuor cruces auro atque argento et gemmis :
fabricatas . Unam crucem ex quinquaginta marcis
argenti fufilem . Quinque veftimenta facerdotalia
preciofiflima : auro gemmifque ornata . Quinque
cafulas auro gemmifque ornatas: in una quarum

1 H.M. ; tentemus, G.

2 H.M. ; ftylo, G. ; and fo always in the cafes of this word.

3 See this MS. fol. 31, where a confiderable lift is given.

crucibus textis .
et casulam <
vocata est :
Domin
ad me.

4 H.M. ; fpeices, G.

6 H.G. ; an erafure in H., gcmmi

Vita Haroldi Regis. 25

erant duodecim marce auri . Duas capas: auro
gemmifque ornatas . Quinque calices : duos aureos
ceteros argenteos . Quatuor altaria cum reliquiis :
quorum unum aureum cetera argentea deaurata.
Unum cornu vinacium argenteum . centum folidis
computatum . Decem philacteria . unum quorum
de duabus marcis auri : et gemmis preciofis .
cetera: auro argentoque parata . Duas fambucas
fellas femineas : ex multo auro fabricatas . Duas
campanas : preciofas . Hec et alia permulta que f - 6 b -
longum eflet referre . queque Normannorum
ambicio incomparabilia eftimaret . devote per
Haroldum fancte cruci oblata et per Willelmum
invidiofe nofcuntur ablata. Hujus tamen abla-
cionis invidiam perfunctoria quadam vifus eft idem
Willelmus compenfacione palliafTe ficut infcriptum
ilia plenius refertur qua de invencione fancte fepius
memorate crucis edita . ordinem quoque quo ad
Waltham perlata eft ipfa crux : luculenter infinuat.
Ubi eciam que et quanta loco fancto five in prediis
et variis redditibus 1 five in rebus multiplicibus ad
minifterium vel ornatum ecclefie pertinentibus .
mirabili devocionis ardore contulerit vir pius :
plenius reperitur expreflum. Nam quia ftilus ad
ea properat explicanda que cultor crucis geflit ac
pertulit poftquam fe ipfum in holocauftum Domino
fuaviflimum optulit 2 tollens jam quotidie crucem
fuam et Chriftum fequens . pauca de hiis 3 perftri-
gendo referimus que de rebus fuis velut facrificium

1 H.M. ; reditibus, G. ; and fo always in the cafes of this
word.

2 H.M. ; obtulit, G. ; and fo always in the various forms of
this verb. 3 H.M. j iis, G.

26 Vita Haroldi Regis.

jufticie: Cruci confecrata donavit. Quorum tarn
multis in rebus mobilibus illi fublatis quecumque
in terris . et villis 1 five ecclefiis aliifque redditibus
loco affignavit hactenus fine diminucione magna
non attamen fine nulla ut dicitur poflidere vide-
tur. Statum vero ecclefie Walthamenfis per dive
recordacionis regem Henricum fecundum in opti-
mum noftris modo temporibus gradum videmus
reformatum. 2 Canonici namque fub rigida . et
difciplinabili regula ecclefiafticis excubiis per
Haroldum mancipati ad fecularia fenfim tractu
temporis plus equo devoluti facro canoni pretulerant
vanitatem feculi. Nomen enim trahentes de utroque
feculo videlicet et canone: perverfo ordine rem
nominis dimidiavere. Secundum 3 namque fpiri-
tantes et canonem fpernentes . hujus fcita et illius
oblectamenta : lance librabant minus equa . unde
pofthabitis divinis officiis fpaciabantur in triviis
mundi : quibus verfandum erat in atriis domus
Domini. Quibus demum pio regis jam dicti zelo
inde amotis regularibus canonicis locus idem
nobiliter infignitur. Qui Greco bene canoni regu-
Jam jungentes Latinam . fie gemine vocis et rei
fimplicis virtutem vivendo teneunt 4 . quod Grecis
jure et Latinis maxime veneracioni efle deberent.
HosHenricus officinis regularibus venuftiflime deco-
ravit : fet Haroldus redditibus 5 neceflariis gratiflime

1 H. ; et villis, omitted, M.G.

8 This paflage clearly indicates that the prefent text was
written after the death of King Henry II., 6 July, A.D. 1 1 89.

3 Sic MS. Scdm for Sclm ; with a marginal note Seculum f
Seculum, M.G.

4 M.G. ; tenent, G. 6 H.M. ; reditibus, G.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 27

fublimavit. Hiis enim fuftentatur grex Dominicus r. 7 .
in fanctitate et jufticia ibidem Domino devotiffime
ferviens; hiis cotidie 1 adventancium caterve innu-
merabiles: multimoda confequantur 2 humanitatis
bona. Hiis viatores 3 hiis famelicus: victum et
viaticum hiis languens : curam hiis algens ; tegmen .
hiis tectum : hofpes et advena. Hiis denique omnis
egens . neceffitati fue fubfidia recepit oportuna. 4

1 H.M. ; quotidie, G. 2 H.M. ; confequuntur, G.

8 H. ; viator, M.G. 4 H.M. ; opportuna, G.

ghiod divinitus difpojitum fuit ut homo ifte in

regem ertgeretur et aliis viflis hoftibus ab eo . ab

aliis i-pfe vittus a regno deiceretur . et de Ana-

cborita valde religiofo qui minifter ipfius jam

folitarii fuerat. . ' . , . . iiij

UIS novit hominum quomodo com-
pingantur ofla hominis in ventre
pregnantis? Quis vero fcivit vel
fcire poterit . quid conducat homini
in vita fua ? Dominatur plerumque homo homini
in malum fuum. Deprimitur nonnunquam et
fubicitur ab homine homo homini: in bonum
fuum. Sic in fervum fervorum fratribus fuis
addicitur Chanaan . fie manus Jofeph fraterno
addicte zelo : in Chophmo fervierunt. Sic et
Haroldus nofter ut ad propofitum redeamus tan-
quam fuper ventum fubito elevatur et repente
eliditur valide. Regno pariter acclamante in regem
erigitur . cefis qui irruperant barbaris victor ab acie
cum triumpho revertitur. Recentem fupervenifTe
hoftem ut audit non metuit . fed infultat extermi-
natori fuo veluti protinus exterminando occurfitat.
Manus conferit : et concidit congreditur et con-
fciditur. Confciditur quidem et concidit . fet

Vita Haroldi Regis. 29

numquid ad perniciem vel ad infipienciam fibi?
Num hoc fuftinebit manus ilia regis crucifix! . qua
obftetricante egreflus eft coluber tortuofus? ea
quidem permittente tetigit oiTa ejus . et fingula
fere membra hoftilis framea . carnem quoque ejus
graviter vulneravit. Hac difpenfante hac mirabiliter
difponente hec omnia fuo evenere Haroldo ut in
ventre pregnantis ecclefie hominis ante tempora
fecularia precogniti et fuis temporibus per hec
omnia Deo nafcituri et perfecle placituri : ofTa com-
pingerentur. Conceptus namque per devocionem
fecundum interiorem hominem Deo . hiis exerciciis f- 7 *>
crefcebat et augmentabatur formabatur et folida-
batur : ut demum in parturicione egrediente pre
dolore Rachelis anima fufciperet in eo Jacob pro
Bennoni: 1 Benjamin. Qui enim matri fue videlicet
angelice doloris et mortis filius vifus eft . patri Deo
qui populum mente fuperbum crimine hifpidum
variaque prodicione cruentum hoc eventu decreverat
fupplantandum : filius dextere 2 mira ipfius permu-
tacione efFectus. Verum quia ubique fere terrarum
celebri fermone vulgatum eft quemadmodum
Edwardo fanctiflimo ad celefte tranflato in regno
terreno fuccefTerit Haroldus qualiter ejufdem favore
de Norwagicis triumphaverit quamque magnani-
miter quam celer et imparatus pre nimia mentis
conftancia fupervenientibus Normannis occurrerit .
ac cefis fociis ipfe quoque in hofte ceciderit : nos
que poft hec per eum divinitus ac circa eum fadta
plerofque latere cognovimus : Domino favente

1 In reference to Gen. xxxv. 1 8.

2 H.M. ; dextra:, G.

30 Vita Haroldi Regis.

fcribemus. Quorum alia a quodam venerabilis

admodum vite anachorita nomine Sebrichto . qui

viro beato pluribus dum adviveret miniftravit

annis . alia ab aliis eque fide digniflimis accepimus

viris . qui nobis ea hec certitudine fcribenda retu-

lerunt : qua effe veriffima indubitanter probaverunt.

Porro que poft felicem ipfius excefTum a corpore

celefti per eum virtute patrata: pagine afTcribentur

ab illis qui prefentes cum fierent interfiierunt fcripta

nobifque tranfmifTa funt. Predictus autem vir Dei

olim minifter ejus et fequipeda devotiflimus . ut

ille de mundo receflit . et quia ad Deum abiit

miraculorum indiciis patenter declaravit : ejus

ferventer in bono emulabatur exemplum. Cupiens

quippequo ille pervenerat et ipfe pervenire: ftudebat

quam fimilius potuit ficut ille ambulaverat : et ipfe

ambulare. Igitur quod et Haroldum fuifle noverat

peregrinacionis Jaborem amplexus natalis foli fpon-

taneus exul . ut cujus fanctorum et domefticus Dei

efle mereretur : efficitur. Nudus denique pedes a

confinio recedit urbis Ceftrenfis ubi thefaurum

quern devotus aliquot annis ibidem obfervant 1 parte

in fuperni regis coronam fublata . partis reliquum

humi defoflum dimittebat : nudus eciam cupiditatis

f - 8 - mundane progreditur. Sic nudus et expeditus

crucem Dominicam in loco quo Dominicis aptata

fuit membris aditurus : fepulcrum ejus gloriofum

vifitaturus . in loco ubi fteterunt pedes ejus adora-

turus . Angliam demum egreditur plurima nichi-

lominus et alia fandla fanctorum limina ut fecerat

Haroldus lacrimis rigaturus . linguas infuper quas

1 H.M. ; obfervarat, G.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 31

non noverat auditurus . et tribulaciones pro Chrifto
non modicas cum gaudio fubiturus . alienigenarum
fines ingreditur. Poftremo voti faluberrimi compos
effectus poft varies quos enumerare non vacat
circuitus ad patrium ut Haroldus folum revertitur.
Reverfus vero in villa quadam territorii Oxene-
fordenfis Stantona 1 nomine fefe permanfurum
recepit . receptum : inclufit. Inclufus plerifque ob
fcelera claufis et incarceratis aufteriorem ufque ad
mortem vitam duxit. Hinc religion's quibufque
venerabilis effectus et carus: a multis gracia edifica-
cionis mutue : requiri folebat et defideranter adiri.

Innotuerat enim devotiflimus Deo diftrictiflimus
fibi affabilis cunctis . beneficus multis ; benevolus
univerfis. Per hec et hujufmodi Chrifti cuicunque
bonus odor effectus cum 2 in odore unguentorum
ejus cuncli traherentur . me cum ceteris tanquam
pufillum cum majoribus fimul rapuit . fibique
arctius vinculo dileccionis aftrinxit. Quern adhuc
vero tener . religionis profeffione tenellus . cum
per internuncios utrobique graviores creberrime
aliquociens 3 per memetipfum vifitaflem: 4 ad in-
tima demum familiaritatis facraria ab ipfo admiflus
fum. In quo tandem annis jam proveccior 5 adeo
profeci : ut fecum de interioris hominis ftatu con-
ferenti . vix quippiam fuorum michi fecretorum
quod inftruccionis mee negotium expeteret : celare

1 Stanton Harcourt, about five miles from Witney, G.

2 H.M. ; quum, G. ; and fo always.

3 H. M. ; aliquoties, G.

4 Note in the margin of the MS. : "Auctor praefens fuit,"
in a handwriting of the fourteenth century.

6 H.M. ; proveftior, G.

32 Vita Haroldi Regis.

valuiflet. Qui cum rufticanus eflet et totius eloquii
alterius quam Anglici nefcius 1 . mirabilem tenebat .
et amabilem de religionis fumma proque ydioma 2
fuo luculenter proferebat fentenciam . ut de meipfo
aiebat . quod fencio dicam in paciencia et fpe
falutis mee fummam puto confiftere. Subiciebat
quanta oftendiflet fibi Dominus tribulaciones multas
et magnas . quamque clementer converfus vivificafTet
fe . et quam de abiflis 3 terre potenter reduxiflet fe.
Interferebat et quanta paflus eflet in corpore quanta
in mente connumerans et diftinguens utriufque de-
fectus hominis et varies affectus demonum aflultus
f> 8 k improbos . non parum quoque acerbos hominum
infultus. Addebatque inter hec omnia jam jam
paulo minus naufraganti fola mifero michi fpes in
crucifixo pro anchora ruit . qua firmiter nifus omnia
poft modicum quafi in fpumam et favillam eva-
nuifle vidi que paulo ante ipfa morte intolera-
biliora duxi. Verumptamen 4 tales inquit ac tantas
fuftinui afflicciones carnis . ex quo corpus miferum
tanquam feram indomabilem hujus in quo five
carceris inclufi anguftiis ut inexpertus quifque fer-
ream materiam five lapideam vix umquam crederet
tanta durare valuifle.

Hec ille non jactabundus de fe ipfo et laboribus
fuis pro Chrifto fet memorabat animandum me
inter ipfa videlicet tyrocinii fpiritualis inexperta
certamina trepidantem tanquam emeritus jam miles
proprii fudoris familiari experimento ac roboran-

1 Written twice in H. ; the firft word has a pen line drawn
through it

2 H. ; ydiomafte], M. ; idiomate, G.

8 H.M. ; abyffis, G. 4 H.M. ; verumtamen, G.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 33

dum talibus : eftimabat. Talia vero mente com-
punctus proferebat non eorum que pertuliflet
erumpnam J deflens: fet illius quam ad erumpnarum 2
fuarum levamen percepiflet confolacionis et gracie
fpiritualis memoriam : cum mira dulcedine crucians.
Hec de viri iftius vita et moribus non fuperflue
ut eftimamus pagine videbantur inferenda . quatinus
ex fanctitate alumpni liquidius docentur 3 quante per-
feccionis culmine converfacio claruerit fui nutritoris.
Hie de Haroldo mencionem faciens non aliter eum
quam dominum fuum nominabat . ipfum profecto
fe patronum habere in celo exultans quern precep-
torem in mundo habuiffet. Per hunc igitur ut
premiflum eft . et alios qui virum Dei viteque
ipfius inftitutum variumque pro locis et temporibus
ftatum agnoverant: ea que fecuntur comparata funt
et vulgata. Horum nonnulli quod ipfe Haroldus
ipfe 4 quondam in diademate gloriofus effet dum
viveret nefcierunt converfacionis tamen illius teftes
fuerunt . et quibus deguifTet in locis ex quo foli-
tariam in Anglia duxit vitam plenius agnoverunt.
Mundi namque gloriam cujus in feipfo ignobiles
et lugubres exitus expertus fuiflet medullitus
perhorceflcens 5 poftquam in terra olim fua vivere
mftituit . nomen fibi novum ipfe impofuit . habita-
cionis quoque loca ne quis eflet cui quolibet eventu
proderetur non femel mutavit. Verum hec feriatim
inferius profequemur : 6 nunc a digreflionis excefTu ad f - 9-
ordinem cepte narracionis ftilo currente accedamus.

1 H.M. ; aerumnam, G. 2 H.M. ; asrumnarum, G.

3 H. ; docentur, M. ; doceatur, G.

4 H. ; the fecond ipfe omitted, M.G.

5 H.M. ; perhorrefcens, G. 6 H. ; perfequemur, M.G.

Quod inter vulneratos Jeminecem tnventum . et
Wintoniam perduftum mulier quedam Saracena
biennio ibidem deli tef cent em fanaverit Haroldum .
et quod pro contrahendis contra Normannos auxiliis
Sax ones Dacofque expecierit . nilque profecerit . v.

igitur ac fuperato in
primo congreflu a Normannis exer-
citu Anglorum Rex Haroldus plagis
confoflus innumeris inter mor-
tuos . et ipfe profternitur. Nee poterant tamen
quamlibet multa . quamlibet letalia vulnera vitam
fimditus viro adimere : quern pietas falvatoris ad
vitam et vicloriam felicius difpofuit reparare. Re-
cedentibus itaque a Joco cedis hoftilibus caftris a
mulierculis quas miferacio ad alliganda fauciorum
vulnera illuc attraxerat: exanguis 1 jam et vix pal-
pitans pugnator ille pridie potentiflimus invenitur.
Ab hiis 2 Samaritani erga eum vices implentur . ab
hiis in vicinum tugurium . alligatis vulneribus fuis
deportatur. Inde a duobus ut fertur mediocribus
viris quos francalanos five agricolas 3 vocant agnitus .

1 H. ; exfanguis, M.G. 2 H. ; ab iis, M.G.

3 Judging from the context, the Francalanus was probably
the fame as the Franco homo of Domefday, of whom Sir H.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 35

et callide occultatus ad Wintonienfium deducitur
civitatem. Hie biennio latebras in quodam cellario
fovens a quadam muliere genere Saracena artis
cirurgice peritiflima: curatus eft . et Altiflimi
cooperante medicina : ad integerrimam perductus
fanitatem. Qui viribus quoque receptis regie
magnanimitatis confident!: 1 quam animus nee in
corporis ftrage omiferat : magnarum conatibus rerum
credidit approbandam. Jam victoris fui jugo regni
tocius nobilitas vulgufque colla fubmiferant . jam
proceres pene cuncti aut perempti aut patria pulfi:
avitos honores alienigenis parciendos ac poflidendos
dimiferant.

Cernens itaque Haroldus fuorum cladem . hof-
tium felicitatem : corde ingemuit . et patrias magis
quam proprias deplorans erumpnas 2 : aut com-
moriendum fimditus aut fubveniendum civibus de-
cernebat. Penalius enim ipfa quam vix effugiflet
nece ducebat . fi nee fuis erepcioni fore temptaviflet
miferrime viventibus : nee mifere peremptis ulcioni.
Transfretavit igitur in Germaniam generis fui geni- S5ne a Haroidi
tricem aditurus Saxoniam . gentis fue jam utro- Ger
bique vulgatum miferabilem cafum cunclis ipfe
miferandus deplorat . cognates ad ferenda proprie
ftirpi fuffragia inftanter folicitat. Allegat infor-
tunium tarn repentine cladis non viribus aut virtuti

Ellis in his Introduction, ii. 112, gives a note, tending to fhew
that thefe francones homines are entered as if attached to the
manor, with the villani and bordarii. The Francigena (fee
Ellis, Introd., ii. 426) was probably one who could not fhew
his right to be confidered an Englifhman.

1 H.M. ; confidential^ G.

2 H. M. ; asrumnas, G.

36 Vita Haroldi Regis.

hoftium . non ignavie civium . non denique timi-
ditati . non imbecillitati fue efTe imputandum.
Solam fibi in tali eventu animofitatem fuiife peri-
culo . que fuarum confcia in rebus bellicis virium .
et victoriarum . hoftilem multitudinem cum paucif-
fimo milite excepiffet. Vincere enim afTuetus et
vinci nefcius victum me ait credidiflem . fi paulo
fegnius novande 1 inimicis victoriam retulifTem.
Cefis namque favore divino a nobis cum rege fuo
Norwagicis qui regni noftri fines ab aquilone
irruperant: exercitibus etducibus noftris ad propria
dimiffis repente a regione auftrali fupervenere Nor-
manni. Quibus et ipfe cum paucis repentinus
occurrens non inferior viribus aut animis . fed
numero minor compreflus . tandem cecidi non
vidhis cefli. Non incertam igitur victoriam de
talibus confeftim fumemus quos eventus non virtus
hac vice fuperiores oftendit. Quorum in propriam 2
devocionem . et fua infolencia . et tocius nobis
premeditate congreflionis modus et exacerbate
multitudinis copiofa folacia exhibebunt. Hiis et
hujufmodi Saxones talibus quoque Dacos quos
nichilominus follicite adivit pro expugnandis fecum
regni fui invaforibus interpellat. Quorum ftudia
ut vidit in diverfa niti in que 3 fua minus per-
currere vota primo quidem graviter anxie mentis
fluctibus eftuare cepit . vehementerque addici. In
hoc quippe ut erat fagaciflimus fecuritati fue rex
jam Anglorum et Normannorum dux caute prorfus

1 H.M. ; novam de, G.

2 H.j promptu, G. ; perpetu[am], M.

3 H. ; inque, M.G.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 37

follerterque profpexerat ut mifla legacione regis
gentifque Dacorum aliarum eciam finitimarum
nacionum amicicias fibi abftringere 1 . et graciam
conciliare feftinaret.

1 H.M. ; adftringere, G.

f. 10.

Quod infe tandem idem re-verfus, intellexit 1 Deum
Jibi in via mundi adverfari unde Chrifti Je con-
formant cruci ut hoftem melius triumpharet anti-
quum gaudet fe ab hominibus fuijjejup era turn . 17.

ANDEM vero in fe reverfus Haroldus
et quafi a fantaftico quo diucius
fompnio fibi redditus ad cor fuum
totus convertitur. Intelligit vel fero
obfiftentem fibi in via hac qua inaniter ambulabat
Deum . fuique fuiffe angeli quern intus exteriufque
in fe fue tarn pertinaciter cedentem pertulifTet
gladium. Apertifque mentis fue oculis aliud de
cetero fibi genus eligendum videt preliorum alia
requirenda prefidia. Refpexerat enim oculo jam
propicio crucifixus rex regis dejecti labores et
longos cruciatus . nee ulterius paciebatur peculiarem
vexilli fui cultorem tanti meroris abyfTo demergi in-
volvi laberinto. 2 Refpexerat fane . lapfum crimine .
et lapfum a dignitate quo refpiciente Japfus cadunt :
et lapfi refurgunt. Refpexerat denique ut fletu
lapfus culpam dilueret . fpem vero et ftudium
regnandi non deponeret fed mutaret. Cepit igitur

1 H. ; intellexerit, M.G.

2 H.M. ; labyrintho, G.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 39

lapfus videre et deflere fub afpeclu cuncla cernentis
criminum fuorum et errorum lapfus cepit regni
longe felicioris faciliorem multo viam agnofcere .
et copiam prefentire. Sedet animo crucis quam
amaverat imitatorem efle tollere quotidie crucem
fuam venire poft crucifixum : et ipfum fequi. Nee
vero a mente excidit quia ut ad hec idoneus fieri
poflit fe ipfum in primis abnegare necefle fit. Quod
nichilominus ut poflit eundem ipfum fibi in exem-
plum proponit et adjutorem afTumit . qui cum in
forma Dei eflet feipfum formam fervi accipiens
exinanivit. Intuetur jam qualiter Dominus mundi
mundanum cum eflet in mundo fprevit imperium .
qui et quefitus in regem : fugerit . et milibus obfe-
quencium turbis folitarie orationis fecerTum pre-
tulerit. Reminifcitur datam huic per paflionis
dure et mortis dire fupplicium omnem in celo
et in terra poteftatem. Previdet ab omni carne
huic tandem occurrendum . donandum ab eo omnem
hominem regno vel fupplicio meminit fempiterno.
Scit quidem 1 fi eatur ad committendum bellum
cum eo ipfe cum decem milibus fibi occurrenti
obvius cum viginti milibus veniat cujus adventus
improvifus cujus difpar apparatus . quam 2 latenter
invadit tarn potenter improvidum quemque et
imparatum nonnunquam exterminat et extinguit.

Pofthabito igitur inani temporalis regni ftudio
abjecto terrene concertacionis exiciali propofito.
Ad hunc regem adhuc longe agentem legationem f. ro .
mittere ab eo que vere pacis funt tota proponit
intencione poftulare. Cujus tamen iram fuis ut

1 Quoniam, G. ; qrn, H. ; quantum, M. 2 H. ; quern, M.G.

4 Vita Haroldi Regis.

timebat offenfis cumulatam ne fua forte Tola legacio
minus fufficeret delinire: inquirendos cenfuit et
quibus pofTet obfequiis inquirendos . et fue lega-
cionis congruos adjutores et ydoneos apud iratum
regem interventores . cujus de cetero folius gratiam
probavit t gloriam ambiendam. Mutatur itaque
in Haroldo hominis repente exterioris habitus . et
interioris affectus. Fulcit quam armare confuevit
manum . curtata in baculum hafta . pro clipeo:
pera collo appenditur . fiJtro vertex adumbratur :
quern munire galea . ornare diadema folebat.
Pedes et tybie pro fandaliis et ocreis vel nudantur
funditus vel femicinciis obvolvuntur. Ut autem
et reliqua hreviter explicemus: omnis armatura
fortis . totus potentis ornatus vel abdicatur penitus .
aut in abjeccionem transfertur: et penitentis penam.
Nam humeris lacertis . lumbis et Jateri : lorica
folum . folita non adimitur . fed proprius admo-
vetur. Abftracta 1 fiquidem et abjedla interula:
nude carni calibis duricies copulatur. Sic vigilans
non armatus fed incarceratus incedit ferro . fie
dormientem non thorus excipit . fed thorax includit.
Et mira plane exterius afTumpta mutacio ifta.
Jocundum fane et angelis et omnibus fanclis fpec-
taculum . circa tantum et talem virum . talis ac
tanta permutacio rerum . verum multo jocundius
intra ipfum fibimet exhibebat interius arbiter Deus .
creans et formans in eo pro tenebris lucem . et uni-
verfum ftratum ejus mirabiliter verfans. Vere
inquam mutacio hec : non cujufcunque fed dextere
excelfi ubi crudelitas . et feritas mitefcit in cle-
1 G. ; abftinfta, M. ; abflir.fta, altered to abftrada, H.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 41

menciam et lenitatem . contrahitur elatio : in
humilitatem . Set quis mutacionis adeo felicis
univerfa commemoret ? Ut innumera vel 1 paucis
includam . hac mutacione concupifcencia carnis . et
mundi in horum verfa contemptum et odium:
defiderio ceflit et amori celeftium.

Sic fie operante dextera excelfi rex tranfit in
militem et militem quidem Chrifti : plus jam con-
tempto quam prius cupito regno mundi. Tranfit
rex in militem efficitur rex miles . ut ita efficiatur
miles rex, et rex fimul ac miles tranfeat [in regem. f-
Illi enim militare aggreditur miles ifte cui militare
regnare eft . et regnare quidem in prefenti : in
future conregnare. Illud vero conregnare multo
felicius quam iftud regnare eft quod tamen regnare
mundo et mundi regno fublimius et majus eft.
Militando quidem regnat et regnando militat .
donee mutet manfuris mutabilia miles Chrifti et
abforbeatur mors in victoriam . et bellum vertatur
in tropheum. 2 Tune rex tranfibit in regem militans
in triumphantem follicitus in fecurum moribundus
in Temper victurum. Interea innovate rege inno-
vato et milite . regnum novum in Haroldo cum
innovata fucceflit milicia: ipfius quoque cum fin-
gulis fuis fenfibus et membris in novos reflorefcit
ufus mundi cordis et corporis fubftancia tota. In
fame et fiti in frigore et nuditate in orationibus
in vigiliis in contumeliis 3 et injuriis . in omni
denique labore et erumpna maceratur caro roboratur

1 H. ; vel, omitted, M.G. This is a clear inftance of Giles
copying Michel inftead of reading the M.S.

2 H.M. ; tropaeum, G. 3 H.M. ; contumelis, G.

42 Vita Haroldi Regis.

fpiritus : anima delectatur. Quatitur fufpiriis peftus
hanelum 1 . quod prius tumidum: fpirabat cedis
minas intonabat. Rorant lumina imbre lacri-
marum. Fulmineum quiddam indignantis animi
nutu in emulos confueta vibrare. Nil jam elatum
cervicofum nichil aut truculentum os fupercilia . et
cervix pretendebant. Modeftia inceflum regit pietas
animum . affectus: puritas fibi defendit. Interiores
quoque motus et exteriores : honeftas informat .
fanctitas in fuas partes omnia ejus aflumit. Vide-
tur jam fibi Haroldus folito felicius imperare .
regnare fublimius tucius et utilius militare. Gaudet
fe ab hominibus victum . dum mundum dum feipfum
vincendo : victus quoque melius de Diabolo didicit
triumphare.

1 H. ; Quantis s. p. anhelat, M. ; q. s. p. anhelum, G.

Quo d pro expetendis fanftorum fuffragiis longum
inierit peregrinacionem et quod antequam regnum
habuijjet Janfforum limina apoftolorum adierit . vij.

NSTRUCTUS vero ab 1 unccione que
jam ilium docebat de omnibus celeftis
quern invenerat thefaurum defiderii
ne prede pateat inepte publicatus .
caucius fentit abfcondendum. Nam et ovis primo
genita feu bovis nee apta fciebat aratris . nee
tondenda . quin et poma que germinant : legis
sanccione immunda decerni. Hujufmodi ergo a
Spiritu Sancto edoctus oraculis, omnes qui fibi
ufque ad id temporis adhefifle vifi funt : amicos f. t.
relinquid . neceflarios deferit . ab univerfis demum
qui ipfum noverant: clam recedit. Adit populos
antea ignotos . requirit non ignotos . fed olim
quidem dileccione precognitos jam devocionis affectu
ardius complexes : longe lateque patronos. Abiit
igitur in regionem longinquam 2 vir ifte nunc vere
nobilis . loca invifere facra fanctorum in fuis
ubique fedibus . aut edibus veneraturus reliquias .
regnum Dei quod intra fe jam tenebat corum fuf-

1 H.M. ; omitted, G. 2 H.G. ; lo[n]ginquam, G.

44 Vita Haroldi Regis.

fragiis plenius et perfeccius accipere . et in fuam
demum patriam reverti. Adierat quidem antea
nondum videlicet Anglorum confecutus regnum
fummorum limina Chrifti apoftolorum devocionis
plane inftindhi . et fandlarum ab urbe reliquiarum
ad fua pocius reportandi quam in urbe adorandi
obtentu. Ferventifllmo namque ftudio facras col-
ligere fategerat reliquias 1 ab illo prefertim tempore
quo Sancte Crucis edificare apud Waltham ut
prediftum eft ecclefiam cepit : et ditare. Unde
accidit ut votis precum folutis turn prece turn precio
varioque ingenio innumeris fandorum pignorum
opibus adquifitis magnificorum quoque martyrum 2

1 For a long lift of thefe relics fee MS. Harl. 3776, f. 31.
The chapter treating of them commences with a fhort poem :

" Hoc facrum pondus fibi confervavit Haroldus
Scilicet iftarum thefaurus reliquiarum.
Quas tulit ignotis a partibus atque remotis.
Unde crucis fanfte : fe premuniret in ede."

2 The Virgin martyrs Chryfanthus and Daria are cele-
brated in the Calendar on the 25th Oftober. According to
Alban Butler (vol. x., p. 502) Chryfanthus and Daria were
ftrangers who came to Rome from the Eaft in the third century,
the firft from Alexandria, the fecond from Athens. Chry-
fanthus, after having efpoufed Daria, perfuaded her to prefer a
ftate of perpetual virginity to that of marriage, that they
might more eafily with perfect purity of heart trample the
world under their feet, and accomplifh the folemn confecration
they had made of themfelves to Chrift in their baptifm. Their
martyrdom probably took place during the perfecution of
Valerian, A.D. 237. They were interred on the Salarian way,
their remains being found in the reign of Conitantine the
Great. This part of the Catacombs was long known by the
name of the Cemetery of SS. Chryfanthus and Daria. Their
tomb was decorated by Pope Damafus, their remains tranflated
by Pope Stephen VI. in A.D. 866, part into the Lateran
bafilica, and part into the Church of the Twelve Apoftles.
This, at leaft, is true of the relics of their companions who had

Vita Haroldi Regis. 45

Crifanti et Darie rediens ad propria beata fimul
ofla vifus fit afportafle a Roma. Verum tanti
predam thefauri tandem fibi prereptam Roman!
fencientes et id non eque ferentes: jam abeuntem .
jam longius abfcedentem diete jam tercie feu quarte
emenfo itinere pium confecuti predonem greflum
fiftere cogunt. Nee enim reniti aut viribus vel
fuga erumpere indigenarum multitude paucos fine-
bat peregrinos. Quid multa ? Tenetur . arctatur .
conviciis urgetur Haroldus. Quodque hiis egrius
tulit . priftinis pofleflbribus minus 1 prout afferebant
legittime conquifitas: reddere compellitur inefti-
mabilis precii margaritas. Predictorum igitur
Chrifti teftium in divinis non fuffragiis violencia
Romanorum fpoliatus . cetera non minus preciof-
iflima Rome obiterve 2 adquifita . in ecclefia fepius
memorata patrie redditus fecum attulit reveren-
tiflime confervanda. Devocionis vero illius et
cautele . vigilanciam in adquirendis et refervandis
fandlorum reliquiis fi quern plenius nofTe juvat:
prenotatum de invencione crucis Waltamenfis
fuperius tra&atum ftudiofe revolvat. Nos enim f. 12.
que a veteribus fcripta funt intermittentes : novum
noftrum novo ftili officio profequemur ut cepimus
Chrifto ducente peregrinum. Quern et fi multas
perluftrantem orbis Chriftiani provincias . totque

been walled up at their tomb. The remains of SS. Chry-
fanthus and Daria had been tranflated to the Abbey of Prom
in the diocefe of Triers in A.D. 842, by gift of Pope Sergius II.
In A.D. 844 they were removed to the Abbey of St. Avol or
St. Navor in the diocefe of Metz, according to Mabillon,
Sac. iz 1 . Bened. p. 6 1 1.

1 H. ; omitted, M.G. 2 G. ; ob iter ve, H.M.

46 Vita Haroldi Regis.

tarn falubriter in tali perluftracione tempora con-
fumentem nee locis fmgulis nee diebus comitari
valemus queve egerit aut pertulerit in peregrina-
cione longiflima fmgillatim nofle ac referre : faltem
a finibus noftris elongatum jam diucius profecuti .
ad nos quoque denuo remeanti alacrius occurramus.
Comitantemvero . et deducentem nullifque aliquan-
do temporibus aut locis ipfum relinquentem .
Dominum magnifice collaudemus benedicentes in
Domino pariter et famulum fuum: venientem
equidem in nomine Domini.

Ammiracio l J crip tor is cum exclamacione brevi
Juper benignitate Dei qua fit ut eciam peccata elec-
torum ipjis cooperentur in bonum . . viij.

INTERIM autem in hoc nomine illo
ambulante . illius anima per mul-
tarum cum fponfa circuicionem pla-
tearum quefitum et inventum tenente
fponfum . ipfius jam fpiritum in Deo falutari fuo
exultantem gratulabunda cum pfalmifta audire
michi videor voce canentem . "Convertere 2 . anima
mea . in requiem tuam: quia Dominus benefecit
tibi." Hie vero precordis leticia benefici Domini
circa {ervum fuum admirando magnalia : exclamare
libet. O larga pietas et mira benignitas fpiritus
tui O virtus et fapientia eterni Patris coeterne fili
O dulcis O bone Jefu. O ineftimabilem et in-
veftigabilem confiliorum tuorum altitudinem . Vere
cogitaciones cordis tui avertere nemo potest. O
quam vera fenfit de te que alloquens te. "Si 3 de-
creveris" ait . "salvare nos: continue liberabimur."
Quam fidelis quamque accepcione dignus fermo .

1 The text of this chapter is omitted by Michel, who dates,
" In quo hiftorias materiam minime reperies."

2 Pfalm. cxiv. 7. 8 Cf. Efth. xiii. 9.

48 Vita Haroldi Regis.

fidenter prolatus ad apoftolo tuo. "Scimus" inquit
"quoniamdiligentibus 1 Deum: omnia cooperantur
in bonum." Benedictum fit cum patre coeterno . et
Spiritu coevo nomen glorie tue fanctum . qui cum
iratus fueris mifericordiam facis et ut aflerit mulier
fancta: omnia peccata hominum in tribulacione
dimittis. Et quidem omnia hec vera efle et in hunc
modum innumera . que paflim leguntur in literis
facris de te fuper hiis que perficis et exhibes dili-
gentibus te in uno demonftrafti 2 tuo hoc dilecto
dilectore. Quam evidens nobis argumentum quam
f. 12. b. prelucidum in uno homine ifto fuavitatis fimul et
fortitudinis tue fpeculum condidifti O fapientia
que ex ore Altiflimi prodidifti attingens a fine
ufque ad finem fortiter et difponens omnia fuaviter.
Ab hiis fontibus fuavitatis et fortitudinis illi duo
rivi procedunt gratie et feveritatis feu clemencie et
diftriccionis quibus debriata fuperficies terre fanc-
torum everfis zizanniis 3 femen producit in fructum
vite eterne. Quante enim ferenitatis pariter et
gratie fuit quod ficut multi putant propter iniquita-
tem corripuifti quidem fed in eternum non pro-
jecifti hominem iftum . corripiens et corrigens
caucioremque fibi . tibi devociorem ex ipfa quoque
iniquitate exhibens eum. Quanta fuavitate quanta-
que fortitudine ufus es circa eum tarn valide de
manu mortis eripiens ilium vitam corporis ejus nee
jaculis nee gladiis fibi permittens auferri .vitam vero
anime etiam 4 peccato ut dicitur ablatam reftituens
et reformans ei? Hinc et ipfius injufticia inventa

1 Rom. viii. 28. 2 H. ; dcmonftrati, G.

3 H. ; zizaniis, G. 4 H. ; et, G.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 49

eft habundare in gloriam tuam . quandoquidem ex
multa magnitudine et magna multitudine dulce-
dinis benignitatis tue ubi habundavit iniquitas fua
fuperhabundavit in eo gratia tua . ut eo impenfws
diligeret te . quo plenius indulgenciam confeque-
retur a te. Itaque clarefceret quia jdiligenti te
cooperantur in bonum non aliqua fed omnia dum
quod in malum Temper eft: ei cooperatur in bonum
eternum 1 . fuum videlicet et tantum peccatum.

1 H. ; non aeternum, G.

Quod de peccato Haroldi multa dicuntur a

multis et de quercu Jecus Rotbomagum Jub qua

juraverat qu<e corticem exuta manet ufque in

ix.

E quo nimirum ipfius peccato quia
multi multa loquuntur . loqui de-
bemus vel pauca et nos : et quid de
eo fenciant qui vel exaggerare vel qui
attenuare illud familiare habent in medium pro-
ferre. Nam ipfum non qualemcumque 1 fed im-
maniflimum pat[r]afie 2 peccatum plerique accufant
in tantum ut huic ejus enormi peccato Anglice
Jibertatis ruinam eftiment imputandam. Aflumpfifle
enim in vanum afleritur nomen Domini Dei fui
adeo ut perjurio illud polluere non timeret cujus
piaculi crimen prodigio mirabili divinitus quoque
aftruuntdenotari. Quercusenim proceritatis magne .
multeque olim pulchritudinis ficut hodie quoque
cernentibus demonftratur fub qua jurisjurandi
facramentum duci Normannorum preftitit: mox
ut illud regnum quod ei fervandum juraverat .

1 H.M. ; qualecumque, G.

2 Patafle, H. ; pat[r]affe, M.; patrafle, G.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 51

ufurpando infregit : virore depofito defluentibus
foliis corticem quod dictu mirum eft repente exuifle
perhibetur. Res digna fpectaculo quod lignum
multis condenfifque frondibus pauloante fpeciofum
non fegnius quam hedera 1 ione 2 . quam oliva
alterius prophete radicitus exaruit albique fa<5H
funt rami ejus. Auget miraculum fubditi mar-
coris : perpetuitas invicti roboris arboris exficcate
quod frequenter cum plurimis et ipfi mirati fumus.
Quis enim non obftupefcat vafte magnitudinis
robor . ramufculis etiam minutis non imminutum
fed undique inconfractum ab imis radicibus ufque
ad fummitatem frondium omni velamento corticis
fpoliatum . tot jam feculis nee etate ceffifle . nee
carie tabuiffe . nee ventorum turbine impactum .
nee imbrium inundacione infufum . putruifTe . vel
faltem nutafle? Quo figno in anni circiter cen-
tefimi quadragefimi fpacium 3 cum arborem vidimus
jam porrecto . infandi fcelus perjurii vicinorum
loco Rothomagus jactuabat . celitus infamari.
Modico namque intervallo ab urbe ipfa diftat arbor
infaufta ameno imminens faltui qui ftrate non
multum abjacet a ponte Sequane ad Grandimon-
tenfes 4 eremitas 5 fefe protendenti. Omine tam

1 Jonah iv. 6, 7, 9, 10. 2 H.M.; lonae, G.

3 If this be taken to fignify that the author beheld the
withered tree after a lapfe of 140 years from the occurrence,
we arrive at a date certainly prior to A.D. 1 206, the feventh and
eighth regnal year of King John.

4 "Anno 1156 Henricus II. prioratum ordinis Grandimon-
tcnfis fundavit in Silva Roboreti, quern paulo poft in vivarium
fuum prope Rotomagum tranftulit ad finiftram fluminis Sequanae
ripam ; unde locus ille nomen fumfit beatae Marias de Vivario."
Gallia Chrijliana, xi. 47. c.

5 " La premiere vie des religieux de Grandmont, fut celle

52 Vita Haroldi Regis.

invifo Londonias primum fibi prefumpfifle fertur
Rothomagus fubjugandas. Nee alio magis aufpicio
tota fimul Neuftria egentis et avare domine com-
pendiis prodigas Anglorum opes ancillari pofTe:
docta eft non defperare. Hiis adicitur 1 ab illis qui
Haroldum jam vere victorem linguis adhuc in-
fectantur . illius poft modum ac poft mcxlicum
confecuta quam facilis tarn et crudelis dejeccio qua
ut inopinate regnum amifit. Sic infufpicabiliter
vitam vix confervando necem evafit.

des ermites, fi 1'on en croit 1'opinion commune, diffe'rente de
celle du pere Mabillon," etc. Richard et Giraud, Biblioth.
Safr., xii. 262.
1 H.M. ; adjicitur, G.

Satis faccio quorumdam pro Haroldo qua eum de
ferjurio excufantes Domino favente et Sanfto con-
nivente Edwardo ipjum regnajfe affirmant et de
vi/ione abbatis Eljini qua vittorem Norwagicorum
ipfum fore prenunciavit Janttus Edwardus . x.

DIVERSO nonnulli ex fine ipfius . et
creberrime eciam antea interlucenti-
bus circa eum fuperni favoris indiciis
viri Deo dile&i faftum mecientes .
tarn jurisjurandi minus obfervati . quam regni
quoque rite fufcepti : nituntur inducere rationem .
Quod enim rem ut ex poftfacto inquiunt manifeftum f. 13 1>.
eft univerfe procul dubio genti fue exicialem il ob-
fervaretur juravit: tam fue voluntati adverfum
quam fuorum faluti contrarium fuit. Juravit Notade jura-

. ... ,. mento Haroldi.

tamen metu conitriccus qui in virum conftantem et
continue mori vel perpetuo incarcerari renuentem
non immerito caderet. Nee vero alius a tantis
anguftiis patebat exitus: in terra aliena in manu
poteftatis tante conclufo . fragilitati ergo mortal!
que vitam nifi in vita . vix exuit morem gerens et
confilio qualiumcunque in tali tempore prefencium
amicorum : exortum 1 preftitit juramentum in quo
1 H.M. ; extortum, G.

54 Vita Haroldi Regis.

et leges mundane et divini canones variis vite hujus
neceflitatibus condefcendifle . non ignorantur. De
jure extorquentis hujufmodi facramentum . alii ut
Jibuerit difputabunt. Licuit vero ut manifeftum
eft fie elicitum . fi tamen quod nemo diffitetur
eciam illicitum fuifTet : non implere juramentum.
Hac vero quia alias nequivit de medio fe tenentium
Haroldus exiit Normannorum. Qui fuis demum
redditus quid pertulerit . quid egerit : cunctis
palam exponit. Exponentem ut audit : univerfitas
in iram excandefcit . initam mediante facramento
paccionem improbat ne obfervetur . vehementer
reclamat. Abfit inquiunt abfit ut ferviamus Nor-
mannis! Abfit ut faftus Normanici jugo bar-
barico : nobilitatis Anglice urbana libertas nulla-
tenus fubfternatur ! Quid multa ?

Conclamant omnes, fedet hec fentencia cunftis.

Pofthabitoque juramenti quod nullum efie cre-
debatur periculo : Haroldus demum unanimi
omnium confilio fublimatur in regem. Quod
preter divinitatis nutum minime accidifle : celitus
poft in brevi fuerat declaratum . cum enim rex
Norwagenfis 1 clafle adveclus numerofa intrafTet
Angliam aggreflufque Eboracenfem provinciam
cede et incendiis obvia queque vaftaret illique rex
Npudeinfir- novus coacto exercitu fcftinaret occurrere tybie fu-

mitate tybie. . . , . -11 n

bito unms vehementimmo cepit dolore conftrmgi.

Qui ex fuo tali compede plus fubditorum difcrimini

L 14. quam fuo congemifcens dolori noctem pene totam

1 For account of this invafion and its refult, fee the Anglo-
Saxon Chronicle, ad annum 1066.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 55

fufpiriis et precibus agentes infompnem familiarem
fancte crucis 1 expecierat fubvencionem. In ipfa
vero node aftititit in vifione fervo Domini Elfino 2
abbati Ramefienfi fanctus et vigil propugnator
fuorum rex Edwardus predeceffor viri merentis et
afflicti exponens . abbati regis utrumque et corporis
fcilicet et cordis incommodum cogitaciones infuper
illius in cubili fuo ei manifeftans . mittenfque eum
et dicens ei. " Surgens vade et annunciabis regi
veftro ex me quia et prefentis fui doloris medelam
et imminentis belli me interveniente Deus ei con-
ceflit victoriam. Sit ei cogitacionum cordis fui
revelatio confequende incontinent! divinitus fignum
medicine fit et revelacionis infolite argumentum:
capefTende victorie prefagium indubitatum." Rex
itaque ut paucis utamur divinis curatur beneficiis
exhilaratur oraculis. Hoftes fidenter aggreflus
facile vincit . quia non . fuis fed illius viribus
fuperavit . qui fanat contritos corde et alligat
contritiones eorum . deiciens 3 gladio diligentium fe
hoftes fuorum. Colligitur ergo racione non im-
probabili fuadente . quia fanctiflimo predeceflbre

1 H.M. ; carcis, G.

2 This Abbot Elfmus is the Alfwynus or Aylwynus of Dugdale,
who places him from A.D. 1043-1079. The Anglo-Saxon
chronicle mentions him as ^Elfwine in A.D. 1046 or 1048.
He occurs in feveral charters in Kemble's Codex as Alwinus
(No. 809), ^Elfwinus (Nos. 853, 904, 919), ^Elfwine (No. 853),
^Elfwin (No. 904), and ^Elfwyne (No. 904). The French
metrical poem printed by Rev. Mr. Luard among the " Mailer
of the Rolls Series" (No. 3), p. 143, fays :

" Une abe*s fu de Ramfeie,
Ki Alexe ont nun, de feinte vie,
E li aparut feint Aedward," etc.

3 H.M. ; dejiciens, G.

56 Vita Haroldi Regis.

fuo connivente Deo quam maxime 1 difponente
regnum fuerit aflecutus quod fan<5ti et patrocinio
munitus et oraculo premonitus divino aftipulante
fuffragio de hofte fuperbo tarn meruit triumph-
aliter liberare.

1 Thefe words repeated by error of the fcribe, and after-
wards their firft introdudlion into the text fcored through with
the pen.

De crucefantta admirabilis quorumdam relacio .
que Regi Haroldo feftinanti ad prelium . caput per-
bibetur inclinajje et alia quedamjatis de ipja cruce
ftupenda certij/ime appro bat a 1 . . . xj.

|UI adhuc non folum hiis racionibus
et fignis defenfa eft legittima fceptri-
gere poteftatis adepcio . et ejufdem
favorabilis execucio comprobatur.
Novo enim et feculis omnibus inaudito Sal-
vatoris clemencia fuum dignata eft peculiarem
fervum figno iterum fublimius infignire quo unius
fimul tarn privilegiati titulo miraculi et fuum
erga devotum regem et favorem oftenderet et
amorem . et illius contra probra infamancium
perenniter defenfaret honorem. Res ubique prope
modum vulgata eft . oculifque ad hoc ufque
tempus fubjecta que accidit. Revertens fiquidem
a cede hoftium rex fortiffimus : et novis qui fuper-
venerant feftinus occurrens inimicis . dileclam fibi f - *4 b.
ecclefiam nulla patitur feftinacionis inftancia pre- .
terire. Divertit igitur devotus, ad ipfam ingreditur,
profternitur . et liquefadlis intimis 2 precordiorum

1 See MS. Harl. 3776, f. 54. "De eleccione et coronacione
et de inclinacione capitis Sanfte crucis."
H., internis, M.G.

58 Vita Haroldi Regis.

medullis : Crucem fanctam adorat . vota graciarum
pro optento 1 tropheo 2 exaggerat pro optinendo fi
placeat fumme majeftati : preces fuppliciter inge-
minat. Oracione poftremo completa: imminentis
belli eventu cuncta moderantis arbitrio fideli
devocione attencius delegate feipfum victoriofiflimo
figno commendans cum receflurus jam demiflb
vertice et prono corpore cruci facrofancte valefac-
turus de more inclinaret fe: inclinavit pariter
fe vultus ymaginis 3 crucifixe. Terruit nimirum et
exhilaravit quofdam aftancium mirabile . et favor-
abile opus Salvatoris. Quid enim favorabilius vel
cogitari potuit quam ut rex feculorum immortalis
invifibilis vifibiliter refalutare videretur regem
mortalium miferorum falutantem fe . et fibi
humiliter caput inclinanti caput fibi faxee ymaginis
quam dignanter tam et potenter inclinare ?
Quam nichilominus et terribile infirmitati humane
fuit tam infolita videre ut contra naturam faxum
flecleretur et quod fupra naturam eft Deus in
fua ymagine homini inclinare cerneretur! De
hoc vero quid dicemus quod ubi ars humana nee
tenuem valuit divine ymaginis perforare palmam .
ibi ymago ipfa flexiffe vifa eft cervicem corpu-
lentam? Sudat homo artifex et cruorem elicit:
foramen vero in manu Japideum efficit. 4 Orat
homo in brevi defiturus efle rex . et collum
lapideum quod manu hominis et fi aliquatenus
foraretur nullatenus tamen flecteretur . flectitur

1 H. ; obtenti, M. ; obftento, G.
* H.M. ; tropeo, G.

3 H.M. j imaginis, G. ; and fimilarly throughout in cafes of
this word. * H. ; [non] efficit, M.G.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 59

repente nee frangitur . inclinatur fed a tocius inte-
gritate fubjecti corporis vel annex! capitis nee
tenuiflima rima mediante diflipatur. Nee in
fimplici tantum materia tale . et tantum effiilfit
miraculum. Nam quod lapis interius latens hec
et argentum exterius ambiens duplicate videlicet
prodigio pertulit pariter et oftendit. Ipfa nempe
illius ymago de quo fcriptum eft . Suxerunt 1 mel de
fetra oleumque de Jaxo durijfimo . materia quidem
petrina . immo et faxea eft . qualitate duriflima :
circa humeros collum et Jacertos fpifla . et ut ita 1 15.
dicatur corpulenta.

Hec revelacione divina in mentis cujufclam
vertice fub terra fuit reperta . nee fciri hactenus
potuit quomodo vel a quo fculpta fit vel ibidem
repofita et occultata. Perducta quoque eft celefti
regimine ad locum fepius nominatum . quo hec
contigifle perhibentur bobus nimirum carrum cui
impofita fuit ad transferendum earn per centum
viginti circiter miliaria 2 illuc directe pergentibus
nee aliorsum a cepto itinere declinari finentibus.
Ibi laminis argenteis veftita . et patibulo eminent!
annexa nee affixa fuit. Nee enim vel tantillum
artificii in fefe admifit humani . ut foramina quibus
clavi de more induci valuiflent : in ea ullatenus
homo facere potuiflet. Nee enim iftud intemp-
tatum 3 fuit . Verum palma dextere illius ferreo
vix inftrumento aliquantulum fuperficie tenus
terebrata molliciem habuiffe inventa eft . unde
emifit fanguinem . fed duriciem non amifit qua

1 Deut. xxxii. 1 3. 2 H.M. ; milliaria, G.

3 H.M. ; intentatum, G.

60 Vita Haroldi Regis.

repulit acutiflimam celtem vel tarincam. Preftitit
hoc ymaginis 1 fue dextere 2 Domini dextera . que
ut pfalmifta 3 . cecinit fecit virtutem . unde et
material! huic dextere que ibidem fubneditur
congrue adaptatur . ut ipfa tot fignis infignita tot
prodigiis fublimata . rebus pocius quam fermonibus
dicere intelligatur . Dextera* Domini exaltavit me
dextera Domini fecit virtutem. Hec vero omnia
nunc iccirco retulimus ut clarefceret audientibus
multiplicitas Dominice virtutis . quam in tali fecit
inclinacione fancti capitis facrofancte ymaginis .
ut enim prefati fumus tarn in argentea quam in
lapidea efrulfit materia Dominice dignacionis pariter
et virtutis opus hoc admirabile in oculis noftris
quod juxta cornu altaris . ubi hoc geftum eft
cotidie infpicimus. Nee enim vel lapis crepuit
vel lamina fcifTuram fenfit feu rugam contraxit .
cum a parte colli racione inclinacionis tante folito
amplius tenderetur . et e regione gutturis et
faucium non minori proporcione plicari cerneretur.
Nee vero parva fuit primarie difpoficionis immu-
tacio . ubi mentum ymaginis quod eminuifle olim
accepimus . nunc ad pectus ufque demiflum ei
velut infedifle ex premifla ut dictum eft inclinacione
videmus.

1 H.M. ; imaginis, G.

8 H.M. ; dextra, G. ; and fo always in cafes of this word.

3 Pfa., H. ; pura, M. ; pfalmifta, G.

4 Pfalm. cxvii. 16.

Diverforutn 1 diverfa inter $r et acio Ju-per predittis
fignis cruets Je inclinantis et quercus arefafte : et f. 15 b.
quod Haroldusjeipjumjudicando judicium prevenerit
divinum et non formidet humanum . . xii.

|OC quoque tante pietatis opus quam
dulce et propicium tune prefentibus
vifum eft omen portendifle tarn in-
fauftum et crudele pofterorum non-
nulli pretendifle dixerunt. Triumphato namque
in brevi poft hec cum fuis rege eorum : {iibjec-
cionem Anglorum Jamentabilemque depreflionem
regni inclinacionem iftam prefignafle plurimi efti-
mabant. Ceterum quibus rei gefte ordinem . et
regis devoti erga crucem precedens pariterque
fubfequens meritum attendentibus . longe verifi-
milior meritoque benignior in opere tarn divino
occurrit interpretacio. Deus enim qui merita fup-
plicum femper excedit et vota . fupplices fuos
fupra quam petunt et intelligunt: exaudire jugi-
ter confuevit. Unde multociens 2 quos clemencius
exaudit ad falutem . durius exaudit ad voluntatem.

1 This chapter omitted, M., with the following note :
" Hoc capitulum omifimus ut longum et infulfum valde."

2 H. ; multoties, G.

62 Vita Haroldi Regis.

Nam ad voluntatem contra eorum falutem : fuos
exaudit folum inimicos. Nee eft necefie de qui-
bufcunque electis aut reprobis utriufque exaudi-
cionis exempla memorando : fermonem in longum
protrahere. Sufficit reproborum principem con-
fiderare fanctum virum Job ad temptandum petifle .
et femel et iterum accepifle . ficque ad dampnacionis
fue cumulum exauditum efle. Satis fit e diverfo
ipfum electorum omnium caput meminifle paflionis
imminente aculeo calicis tranflacionem petife nee
optinuiffe fue tamen voluntatis nutum evidencius
expreflifle fet patris beneplacito ipfam fubjecifle
immo et ipfam penitus abjeciffe. 1 Non inquit
mea voluntas fet tua fiat. Deus enim in tali
voluntate proprio filio non pepercit pro omnibus
nobis tradens ilium . ut cum de torrente in via
bibiflet propterea exaltaret caput : quod in cruce
quum bibifiet continue inclinavit. PremifTe tamen
confummacionis diccio : hoftis humani generis
denunciata deviccio fiiit. Qua denunciacione pro-
mulgata caput inclinavit in pace dormiens . poft
follicitudinis bellice longas vigilias . et poft fan-
guinei fudoris agonem . in pace in id ipfum fuavi-
ter requiefcens. Hec vero increduli : in contrarium
converterunt. Quando vero triumphum de ini-
micis confummavit . tune fe regem victorem Jivor
deviclus vicifTe credebat. Ipfe autem quid egiffet
non incertus, caput inviclum, et donee vinceret
femper ereclum in fompnum tarn plene fecurus
inclinavit. Patet jam quam peculiari figno fideli
adoratori fuo vicloriam meliorem quam ceteri
1 Immo . . . abjecifle, H. j omitted, G,

Vita Haroldi Regis. 63

peterent aut intelligerent . caput inclinando rex
regi fe oftenderit conceflifTe. Ne enim prevaleret
erronea viclorum contra fui victorem exiftimacio:
et crederetur regnum amififle qui Judeorum rex
dicebatur efle acceflit prefidis litteris indita opi-
nionis temerarie improbacio . capiti jam inclinato :
titulo fuppofito. Erat enim fcriptum in eo:
Jefus 1 Nazarenus rex 'Judeorum. Permanfit enim
vere rex . cui plebs impia quia regnum invidit ut
ejus caput inclinaret : et ipfum occidit. At ille
pariter et caput inclinavit et fibi regni potenciam
vendicavit quam fe plenius accepirTe convefcens,
caput in tantum inclinatum fuper omnes celos
exaltavit. Nemo igitur exiftimet nomen regium
feu regiam regi cui 2 tale fignum preftitum eft a
rege regum omnium . dignitatem deperifle : vel
quia fibi in fua ymagine inclinari dignatus eft, vel
quia vifibiliter triumphare de hoftibus imminenti-
bus ab eodem eidem permifTum non eft. Si vero
et ad regnum cujus fibi temporalis adminiftracio
divinitus collata prius eft et pofterius ablata . pre-
fagium tarn infolite virtutis duxerit quis exten-
dendum Anglice felicitatis depreflionem necnon
et Jibertatis tarn laice quam ecclefiaftice non abnui-
mus confignificari infulanis extunc 3 fatis expertam
dejectionem. Verumptamen ex hoc fervi fui pre-
rogative crux fancta prejudicari non patitur . quia
et quiddam aliud id quod pro eo fpecialiter egit .
univerfaliter fignare concedit. Ipfius nempe gemi-
tibus pulfata et lacrimis . obfequiis infuper magni-
fice honorata: pro gratis officiis votiva ei non

1 John xix. 1 9. 2 Cui, H. ; omitted, G. 3 H. ; ex tune, G.

64 Vita Haroldi Regis.

autem invifa rependere . debuit vel pronunciare.
Set neque tranfitoria et caduca immo ftancia bona
et eterna piis preftat et promittit cultoribus eter-
nus . et invariabilis Deus pro fuis laboribus vel
obfequiis. Annuit ergo dedit et conceflit rex regi
quod peciit . et fi forte aliter et melius concedere
fcivit . et dare potuit utpote celeftis . terreno .
permanens in eternum : ad eterna tranfituro. Ab-
f. 16 b. ftulit autem umbratile regnum cui verum fervavit
et eternum ne foret illud tranfeunti ad iftud vel
Jeve impedimentum. Ne vero cogitaciones homi-
num timide quorum et incerte funt providencie
ob impendentis molem difcriminis cogitarent pium
Dominum adverfus devotum famulum cogitaciones
tantum cogitafle affliccionis . et non eciam pacis:
immanitatem futuri fcandali prevenire decrevit im-
menntatem premiffi miraculi . utque tandem hiis *
finem imponamus talibus clemencie fue indiciis .
dominus dominancium et inftantis glorie . et ex-
tantis gratie fue 2 manifeftacionem . preferre fervo
fuo dignatus eft et conferre. Hiis denique beneficiis
et in perfecucionis nubilo et in abjectionis Juto .
margaritam fuo inferendam diademati illuftrem ex-
hibuit et oftendit . fumma poteftas . infinita pietas
inaccefla fublimitas . fapiencie . clemencie 3 . et
magnificencie omnipotentis Dei Patris et Filii et
Spiritus Sancti folius et unius regis feculorum eterni.
Quod vero de quercu opponunt alii viderint ipfi
qui filveftres . et feras et arbores colunt . qui Jigna
infenfibilia . et bruta animalia hominibus nature fue
confortibus ad ymaginem Dei factis et quod hiis

1 H. ; piis, G. 2 Indiciis . . . gratie fue. 8 H. ; gratiz, G.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 65

amplius eft Dei morte redemptis : preferre nee
metuunt nee erubefcunt. Viderint ne forte jurare
cogentis et fecuture ilJius pofteritatis pocius quam
juramentum exhibentis prefignaverit aufpicia :
arbor ipfa. Viderint et dijudicent utrum eis con-
gruat per quos fan6litatis pariter et libertatis viror
et vigor emarcuit et evanuit antique in Anglia
ecclefie quod ubi regni fui primordia pulfare
ceperunt lignum viride et frondofum fubito
exaruit . decorem repente exuit 1 . et confufibilem
tenuit nuditatem. In hunc modum fecundum ea
que accidifie dicuntur pro rege noftro beato
Haroldo vel contra ipfum aliis fie aliis vero fie
fencientibus, nos que parcium fuerunt tetigifTe
fufficiat diffinitivum calculum lectoris feu potius
cuncta fcientis Dei : examini concedentes. Quan-
tum vero noftrarum intererat virium per hec que
non fuperflue ut eftimamus commemorata funt
lapides fcandalorum de via tolJere . et planum
iter facere didtante ut confidimus ipfa rerum veri-
tate 2 conati fumus. Supereft jam ut redeunti et
de via longiflima venienti ad nos regi noftro et
patrono celeriter occurramus et repatrianti in An-
glorum primum . deinde in Angelorum patriam
devoto fidelis ftili minifterio pro viribus obfe- f. I7 .
quamur. Ipfe vero non modo humanum fet et
divinum jam accufando et judicando fe . fie ftuduit
judicium prevenire ut fit ei pro minimo ab hiis
judicari . qui in partem utramlibet odio propen-
fiores aut favore: juxta humanum diem judicant .
crebrius erronie rarius vere.

1 exuut, H. ; cxuit, G. 2 H. ; verum reritate, G.

Quod multis in peregrinatione annis exaftis ad
Angliam ob exercitandam pacienciam et benignitatem
Haroldus rediens Chriftianum fe vocitari fecerit
decenniumque in rupe quadam expleverit 1 Jolitarie
vivens ; et in hujus temporis Antichriftos compen-
dioja inveccio . .- , . ^ . . . x iij.

XACTIS igitur in fandlo religiofe pere-
grinacionis fudore quampluribus annis
alium converfacionis modum corpori
jam laboris diuturnitate etateque
confedto de cetero cenfuit imponendum. Didi-
cerat quidem innumeras fanftorum quos adierat
virtutes et vitas fandliflimas . decrevitque jam
greflum figere . circuitionibus finem dare valefa-
cere ex integro Marthe . cum Maria federe.
Meditacionibus eorum que vifu vel auditu perce-
perat ex dictis bonorum et geftis animum fpiritu-
aliter ruminando quo liberius faginare 2 quatinus
cum pfalmifta re et veritate cantare potuiffet . Sicufi
adipe et pinguedine repleatur a[nima] m[ea] et
la\biis\ ex\ultantibus\ lau\dat] os meum* Gufta-
verat ac tenuit et ipfe turn in fe turn et in dulci ac

1 H.M. ; explevit, G. 2 H.M. ; saginaret, G.

3 Pfalm Ixii. 6. 4 H.M. ; maum, G.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 67

fuavi juftorum fanctitate . quam dulcis et fuavis
eft fanctorum Sanctus ; factuque ducit optimum in
reliquum vacare plenius . ut videat perfeccius .
fciat felicius quia Dominus ipfe eft Deus. Verum
ne corporalis vacacio ut eft familiare incautis
animo inferret feriato ignaviam aut torporem . in
ilia potiflimum vacare terra et quiefcere preelegit
ex cujus incolatu patiencie et benignitatis majus
exercitium majufque argumentum : habiturum fe
exhibiturumque previdit. Sciebat perfeccionis
culmen cujus pectore jam dilatato gerebat amplitu-
dinem . in eo quam maxime eminere quod films
unigenitus fummi patris fratribus adoptivis indicere
dignatus eft et docere . Orate 1 . inquiens . pro
calumniantibus et perfequentibus vos . benefacite
hits qui oderunt vos . ut fitis filii patris veftri qui
in celis eft qui facit Jolem Juum oriri fuper bonos
et malos . et pluit fuper juftos et injuftos.
Afpirans igitur precordiali affectu ad vere hujus f. 17 b.
perfeccionis meritum et premium ad quam pocius
tendere vel in qua manere terra quam ad illam et
in ilia debuiflet que tot fui perfecutores : quot
illius pofleflbres . quot in ilia potentes tot fe
odientes . tot ferme fe calumpniantes quot fibi vel
de fe Joquentes continet. Nee vero temere jam:
tarn forti fe credit certamini committit difcrimini.
Non enim ignorat interni fui robur inhabitatoris
quern inhabitabat . et a quo inhabitabatur nee veta-
batur 2 cum apoftolo dicere: An* experimentum
queritis ejus qui in me loquitur Chriftus ?

1 Matt. v. 44, 45. 2 H.M. ; verebatur, G.

3 ^ Cor. xiii. 3.

68 Vita Haroldi Regis.

Tanti hofpitis jconfciencia fisus Chriftianum fe
voluit nominari . ut ei unione jam fpiritus con-
junctus 1 communione uniretur etiam vocabuli: quern
fe inhabitantem in fe loqui : in fe noverat et operari
in fe et pati. Nam et illud corde fibi . opere vero
etiam nobis cum Paulo loquebatur : Omniu^ poffum
in eo qui me confortat. Nori fie impii . non fie quos
hoftis verfipellis hoftisdejiciens et dejectus . fie armat
ut perimat fie roborat ut enervet. Docet enim vos
ponere carnem brachium veftrum ut recedat a Deo
cor veftrum ut fitis ficut myrice florentes et fteriles .
habitetifque nunc in terra falfuginis que fuis
fructum cultoribus non producit poft in terra
inhabitabili : que fuis incolis requiem non concedit.
In hac enim terra : folum fempiternus horror inha-
bitat. Quis enim habitabit cum igne devorante
aut quis habitabit cum ardoribus fempiternis?
Quibus tamen 3 poftremis verbis propheticis abfque
abufione abutimur . ignium non nefcientes diverfi-
tatem . quorum ifte peccatores fine confumpcione
confumit . ille peccata confumendo . peccatores
juftificans illuminat pariter et accendit. Quid
autem nobis eft de .hiis qui foris funt loqui vel
judicare . qui ecclefiam immo ecclefias exterius
quidem rapiunt et diripiunt . fet intus nee intrant
nee inhabitant vineam quidem Domini Saboth 4 .
pro pofTe fuo vindemiantes et fuccidentes . fet ab
ejus cultore jam ipfi precifi . et nifi refipifcant . in
ignem eternum in puncto mittendi ? Verum 5 quia

1 H.M. ; cunjunftus, G. a Philip, iv. 13.

3 H.M.; tame, G. H.; Sabaoth, M.G.

5 H. ; Utrum, M.G.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 69

Antichrifti facti funt ifti ad 1 noftrum pocius
redeuntes Chriftianum hos fibi relinquamus et fuo
igni. Nam et nunc tefte propheta ignis adverfarios
devorat . et juxta vitis vere fentenciam: palmesf. is.
poft mittendus 2 in ignem jam ardet. Chriftianus
vero nofter novus et vetus . novus : nomine vetus
profeffione 3 . Chrifto fe inhabitante fecurus jam
mundi victor et illius qui in mundo eft principis
debellator novo marte nova preliandi arte fuos
aggreditur vincere victores. Contulerat ei fuus
rex cui fpe recuperandi regni amifli jam diu mili-
taverat . ignem caritatis . quo flatu Sandli Spiritus
eftuante . vi6tricium fibi armorum copiam tribula-
cionum mallei fuper incudem pacienciefabricaverant.
Hiis pro amiflb quidem regno fet celefti non
terreno . certare didicerat invictiflime fciens quia
ficut nullo fine ita nee ullo hofte cum illud obtinu-
ifTet poflet amittere. Appulfus igitur demum in
regnum quondam fuum periculofe quidem habitum
fet fructuofe amifTum . armis quibus erat munitus
pro regno incomparabiliter meliore viriliter pug-
naturus . caftrum ingreditur fuis copiis fatis aptum.
In quadam namque rupe fecus Dovram fefe re-
cipiens . collegit primum fe in fe ; deinde con-
fcendens a fe fuper fe cernebat terram a longe
cujus interdum regem quoque oculi fui videbant
in fuo decore in qua 4 et cum quo etiam ipfe certa
fpe prefumebat regnare. Hie juxta decalogi
fummam decennium in vite folitarie tyrocinio miles
jam emeritus complens . vitalia legis divine pre-

1 H. ; ifti? Ad, M.G. * H. ; poftmittendus, M.G.

3 H.M.; prefeffione, G. * H.; quo, M.G.

JQ Vita Haroldi Regis.

cepta divinius ipfe vivendo certabat pocius excedere
quam implere. Noverat enim id quidem virtutis .
hoc efTe fanclitatis . inchoacionis illud: iftud per-
feccionis. Ulud quoque necefTarium hoc cenfebat
gloriofum. Hie denique confilium illic imperium
attendebat . hominum pariter falutem et gloriam:
zelantis et procurantis Dei. Non vero multum a
loco ubi regnum terrenum pene moriendo pridem
ipfe amiferat. Hie locus aberat ubi vitam fie
inftituendo degebat . regnoque celorum vim
faciendo illud rapiebat. Hie ergo paciencia hie et
clemencia viri vires fuas exercebant et perdebant .
ubi et preteritus fuus fuorumque lapfus . prefenfque
hoftium faftus . memorie necnon . et afpectui fuo
quo frequencius ingerebatur . eo benignius ad
retribuenda retribuentibus fibi non mala fet pie
interceflionis ampla beneficia incitabatur.

Quodinconfinio Wallenfiumpoflmodum Haroldus f-
pluribus in locis tern-pore multo degens patient er
eorum frequencius tulerit ajfultus . faciem velans
panno et nomen nomine alio ne aliquatenus agnojce-
retur . et quod tandem ad ejus venerationem converfa
eft immanitas perfecutorum . . . xiiij.

(ECOLENS vero quia et Ualenfibus
licet ob juftam ut tune temporis
videbatur gentis fue defenfionem
extitifTet quandoque infeftus . eupit
jam Chriftianus perferre cum Paulo . quod
egerat quondam Haroldus cum Saulo. Pertendit
igitur Cancie valefaciens ufque in partes Wallie
multoque ibi diverfis in locis moratus tempor'e :
manebat cum illis et orabat pro illis quern illi non
fe jam oppugnantem . fed pro fe pugnantem inde-
finenter impugnabant gratis. Accefmrus vero ut
premifTum eft in terram fibi ante cognitam ne
quavis occafione a quolibet agnitus . virtutis
meritum precio vanitatis dum laus oblata jure in
eo Jaudanda profequitur venditaret faciem fuam et
nomen proprium omnibus abfcondebat . proceflurus
in publicum : velamen panniculi jugiter vultui
pretendebat. Nomen requifitus: Chriftianum fe

72 Vita Haroldi Regis.

dici aiebat. Qui enim nominis appellacione uni-
verfis cicatricum vero fuarum infpeccione quibufdam
innotuerat: vultum fimul 1 et vocabulum occultabat.
Timebat namque ne forte his indiciis proderetur.
Metuebat fiquidem ne vel a fuis fi qui forte
fuperefle potuifient vel ab aJienis quoque fi
agnofceretur ? plaufibus exciperetur feu priftine
dignitatis et moderne humilitatis intuitu . feu etiam
domeftice neceflitudinis aut familiaritatis obtentu.
Nee enim timendum erat ne talem etatem feu con-
verfacionem agens talem: ab hoftibus fi proderetur
hoftiliter traclaretur . et durius quam fe ipfe con-
ftruxerat 2 : per ipfos ardaretur. Non erat incertum
tamen quia fi eorum notitie exponeretur moleftius
utique quam eculeis 3 et carceribus laudibus ipforum
et preconiis premeretur. Quis enim tarn humilem
et mitem . tam benignum et leuem 4 tarn mundi
rebus inanem . mundique amatoribus fponte de-
fpicabilem videns . prefertim fi quante olim
exceliencie quanteque affiuencie nee non et
potencie fuiiTet minime Jateret . quicquid pofTet
venerationis et honoris non ei devotiffime ex-
I9 hiberet ? De ejus namque parfimonia et paciencia
illud in eo mirabile commendatur quod non tam
ad injurias pacienciam quam benificenciam repen-
4ebat et cariosum jam corpusculum refocillabat
pocius quam reficiebat tenuiffimis alimentis. De
quo et hoc a quodam religiofo admodum Chrifti
fervo accepimus . quia fi quando vel exilem pifci-

1 H.M. ; fimal, G. 2 H.M. ; conftrixcrat, G.

8 H.M. ; aculcis, G. * H.j kncm, M.G.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 73

culum edebat . nunquam infumpto 1 uno latere
latus reliquum attingebat . aut regirabat . fed vel
miniftro vel egeno fi affuiflet : intadum porrigebat.
Ejus nimirum vir fan<5tus intencione rigidiflima
complexus exemplum cujus fibi nominis vendicarat
participium : maluit temporaliter cum Chrifto . et
pro Chrifto jam a Chrifto di<5tus Chriftianus
defpici et affligi : quam mundi favoribus et
oble<5tamentis demulceri . unde et ifeipfum fevicie
Wallenfmm ultro duxerat exponendum ponens fibi
ante mentis oculos pafchalem Agnum qui fponte
feipfum optulit 2 impiis facerdotibus pro nobis
immolandum.

Sicut enim 3 Chriftus ambulavit Chriftianus
cupiens ambulare Agnum quern forte fequi non
poterat per illibatam carnis mundiciam fequi
feftinabat quocumque iret turn per mundi cordis
puritatem . turn per affli&i corporis paflionem.
Paciendi namque fervens amore quafi parum
reputans quicquid ipfe fibi carnifex afperitatis
intulifiet corpori et inedie effere gentis Jibenter
adivit contubernium . a qua etfi quominus crucifi-
gendum variis tamen modis fe noverat affligendum.
Nee fecus quam fperabat et optabat: ab infidis
ferinifque homunculis pertulit . verberibus namque
feviflimis a latrunculis eorum fepius vehementer
attritus quibus etiam poffent dampnis 2 afficiebatur.

1 H.M. ; confumrto, G. 2 H.M. ; obtulit, G.

3 The ufe of the ancient diacritical mark of abbreviation for
this word (.tt.) goes far to (hew that the fcribe of this MS. was
here copying from an original document, quite as old, in point of
date, as the aftual fafts which it propofes to narrate.

* H.M.; damnis, G.

74 Vita Haroldi Regis.

Fraudabant eum viatico . vefte fpolibant utque
peccunias 1 quas non habebat exhiberet nimiis et
exquifitis eum cruciatibus et injuriis contorquebant .
faciebant talia homines beftiales . quibus apte fatis
congruit quod de Longobardis fanctus Gregorius
ait ; " Quorum," inquid, 2 " funt zinzungie 3 pene
et gratie fpate." Perferebat vero homo Dei
univerfa mente placita 4 . hylari vultu . ore dulci-
loquo . manu munifica ; nee quievit pietas hujuf-
cemodi cum impietate conflictus . quoufque illius
malum in hujus bono deviclum . verecundiam
vicle imprimeret . victrici gratiam cumularet et
gloriam. Pafcebat etenim ac potabat ut vox
f. 19 b. monet apoftolica inimicos . mulcebat predones
beneficiis . mitigabat tortores : miraculo inaudite
lenitatis. Congerebat perinde de camino multe
caritatis carbones ignis fuper capita eorum . unde
mol[l]ita eorum duricia medullitusdemumliquefacla
colere cepit . et honorare quern folebat illudere et
flagellare. Infiftit manus obfequiis . que feviebat
plagis. Ingeminat laudes afTueta lingua contu-
meliis. Virtus enim inexperte bonitatis more
aromatum quo durius traclabatur forcius redolebat .
laciufque diffufa : multis per girum odor vite in

1 H.M. ; pecunias, G. 2 H.M. ; inquit, G.

3 H.M.; fuzugiae, G. The reference is to S. Gregorii
Magni Epiftolarum, lib. i. xxxi. (Migne, vol. Ixxvii., fol. 484.)
" quia ficut peccata mea increbantur, non Romanorum, fed
Langobardorum epifcopus fadlus fum, quorum fynthiciae fpathae
funt, et gratia pcena." The annotator writes, " Sjntbici* funt
pafta, conventiones, a Graeco evvOr)x.r). Spatba, gladius ; unde

fpatbarius; . . . Senfus igitur eft; Langobardorum pafta, con-
traftus, id eft, jura omnia quac apud Romanes conftant ex
padlis ct contraftibus, verfantur in vi et ferro."

4 H.M. ; placida, G.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 75

vitam fiebat. Pellebat namque et fugabat fpiramen
diabolicum nebulofi furoris : a precordiis brutorum
licet hominum illapfa fenfibus eorum fragrancia
fuavis fandle illius opinionis. Putares jam
plerofque ex hiis: illud ei de canticis affectibus pocius
quam vocibus concrepare . In 1 odore unguent or um
tuorum currimus anime Jiquidem noftre dilexerunt te.

\ " Oleum affufum nomen tuum ; ideo adolefcentulae di-
lexerunt te. Trahe me : poft te curremus in odorem unguen-
torum tuorum." Cant. Cantt., 1.1,2.

Quod vir Domini Haroldus fugit obfequios quos
adierat et diu Juftinuerat perfequentes et quod voce
de celo lap/a defignatus fit ei locus paufacionis Jue .
et quodfemiplenis verborum indiciis .Jcifcitantibus
innuerit Je fuijje Haroldum et quod fcripto fuccef-
foris Jui plenius oftendetur infer ius : kujus rei cer-
titudo xv.

T vir Domini humilitatis profunde cultor
amator quietis cuftos follicitus utriu-
que . ne alterutrius boni faltem exi-
guum admitteret detrimentum : quos
perfecuturos cenfuerat expetendos . inclinatos jam
ad obfequia decernit fugiendos. Cedebat in eo
jam corporei roboris virtus laboribus quidem cedere
nefcia . fed annis infracta. Crederes olim roborari
pocius quam infirmari genua ejus a jejunio . clunes
et pedes meando agilitatem fumere fatigacionem
vix fentire. At jam decrepito experiri erat : quia

" Omnia J fert etas."

Fufa igitur fupplici oracione ad Dominum :
locum previderi divinitus fibique jamjam de-
ficienti jam pre fue folius fuaviflime defiderio

^ Stat. Tbeb.y iii. 562.

Vita Haroldl Regis. 77

vifionis precordiali fpiritu languenti folita poftulat
benignitate concedi : in quo vite reliquum
fub filentio optate quietis tranfigeret . et felici
demum exceflu terminaret. Senciens autem per
fpiritum benignum Dominum pauperis fui pium
exaudifTe defiderium imponi fe fecit vili ju- f. 20.
mento . folitoque contentus miniftro . iter quo
ilium Dominus deftinare dignaretur aggreditur .
pedibus iccirco fubvedhis alienis : quia virtus jam
aberat fuis. Recedens igitur fcienter nefcius . et
fapienter indoctus ductu comitatus angelico . Cef-
trenfem demum pervenit ad urbem . Ubi mox
die inclinato ad vefperam . mediam ingrefTus
civitatem : cum manfionis locum miniftrum in-
quirere precepifTet: vox repente hujufcemodi auri-
bus eorum illabitur . "Vade," inquid, 1 " vir bone
ad ecclefiam fancti Johannis paratam ibi accipies
manfionem." Attonitus ad audita minifter oculo
undique circumfpectans curiofo . edite vocis in-
quire prolatorem : fed non comparuit. Nimirum
angelum Domini bonum qui itinera fua fecum
comitatus bene femper difpofuiflet ilium fecifle 2
qui de parata fibi manfione . hec denunciaflet viro
Dei non fuit incertum. Ipfe vero more fuo panno
ante oculos pendente . et totam pene faciem
operiente . afpectum fibi velaverat ne videlicet
occurrentibus ob notabilem cicatricum fuarum ob-
duccionem ftupori effet . vel fi agnofceretur eciam
veneracioni . vel ne ad mentis abdita . fenfibus un-
decunque occurrenti pateret aditus vanitati. De-
iignant mox digito qui circumftabant ecclefiam
1 H.M. ; inquit, G. H.M. ; fuifle, G.

78 Vita Haroldi Regis.

celefti oraculo fibi defignatam: accedit . et gratu-
lanter accipitur . hofpes celitus deftinatus. Mi-
graverat fane ab hac luce de recent! venerabilis
anachorita ejufdem loci cafulam fuam divinitus
provifo cedens fandliflimo fucceflbri. Sufcepit vero
letabunda et gaudens . licet quifnam eflet . cercius
non agnofcens regem fuum filia Syon ecclefia vide-
licet memorata fedentem ignobile quidem fubjugale .
fanctum tamen et fibi venientem in omnibus falu-
tarem. Ibidem quoque manens a vifitantibus fe .
et que edificacionis erant ab eo reportantibus . fre-
quenter requifitus an bello ubi rex Haroldus occu-
buiffe ferebatur interfuiflet : refpondebat . " Interfui
plane." Sufpicantibus vero nonnullis ne forte ipfe
efTet Haroldus : et curiofius quoat 1 licuit inde fcifci-
tantibus aliquociens 2 ita de fe loquebatur . "Quando
apud Haftingas dimicatum eft : nullus Haroldo me
carior habebatur." Hujufmodi ut ita dicatur femi-
f. 20 b. verbiis ancipitem de fe nulli opinionem firmabat
pocius in fuis conjecturis quam in veritatis certi-
tudine 3 confirmabat. Quemadmodum vero rei
hujus evidencia univerfis demum palam innotuerit
non noftri fed viri venerabilis quern in ejufdem
anachorefeos inhabitacione habuit fuccefTorem .
verbis inferius exprimetur.

1 H.M. ; quoad, G. 2 H.M. ; aliquoties, G.

8 H. ; certitudincm, M.G.

Monetur leftor nefpernat leccionem quamjentit
a nonnullorum opinionibus difcrepare . et de triplici
occafione contraria exiftimancium Juper materia pre-
fenti et de Willelmi Meldunenfis circa Haroldi fata
errore trlformi ..... xvj.

INTERIM vero ledori noftro humiliter
fuggerendum exiftimo ne ifta uteque 1
a noftra 2 pravitate digefta ducat
fpernenda . quia aliter atque aliter
plerofque forfan meminit de hac ipfa . et dixifTe et
fcripfifle materia. Manifeftum enim eft quia non
folum plebei relatores immo et illuftriflimi rethores 3
non modo diverfa fed penitus contraria fenferunt .
et fcripferunt fuper hiis que facta feu fata Haroldi
contingunt. Convincitur autem turn evident!
racione turn et auctoritate non pofle efle verum
altrinfecus: quod diflbnat. Hoc ipfa quidem
veritate dictante : fanctus dixit leronymus. 4 In
fentenciarum vero quas hie ventilamus racione
triplex poterit a bene confiderantibus affignari con-
trarietatis feu quod eciam inficiari nullus debet
falfitatis occafio. In primis equidem perfpicuum

1 H.M. ; utique, G. 2 H.M. ; nofta parvitate, G.

3 H.M. ; rhetorcs, G. 4 H.M. ; Hieronymus, G.

80 Vita Haroldi Regis.

eft quia in multis rei veritas univerfos pene diucius
latuit. Hinc odium perfone . feu favor benevolis :
commentandi bona malevolis : fimiliter mala de
incertis configendi : liberam videbatur ceflifle
facultatem. Hiis facundiflimus aftipulatur in
cronicis fuis Meldunenfis Willelmus 1 promittitque
fe medium inter obtrec"lancium . necnon et com-
mendancium partes inceflurum. Crediderim pro-
culdubio ipfum pro viribus veris inftitifle nee
juftis preconiis . nee vituperiis . debitis negociorum
merita ultro defraudafle. Verum quia audita non
eciam vifa fcribebat hyftoriarum Jege audloris
veritas tuta eft ubi veritas quoque ipfa geftorum :
naufragatur. Alias : nee ipfi beatiffimi Evange-
liorum fcriptores periculum falfitatis efFugerant.
Sic Salvatoris pater dicitur Jofeph . fie difcipulorum
quidam fratres ejus peculiarius ceteris nominantur .
non quod verus fed quod putativus eos pater filios
habuerit non quidem naturales fed pocius adoptivos.
f - 2I - Secutus igitur opinionem et vero minus afluetus et
ifte quod vero jam patet fuifTe oppofitum : hiftorie
fue quamlibet veritati pro viribus innixe agnofcitur
indidifle. Ceterum in aliis que de meritis Haroldi
vel moribus prout animus tulit aut fama fuggeflit
aureo nunc vero piceo commentatus eft ftilo
venalius forte exorbitaverit a tramite veri in ipfum
vero Chriftum Domini trunculencius deliquit. Tres
enim lanceas in ipfum violentus intorfit . quibus
non tarn illius perfonam quam ipfam contigit

1 The hiftorian William of Malmefbury. The paflages alluded
to are in his Gejia Regum, ed. Hardy, Englifli Hiftorical
Society, 2 vols., 8vo, pp. 339, 383-385, 408-420.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 81

impeti veritatem. Dixit eum ictu fagitte: capita
vulnerato oppetifTe J . dixit militem qui regi mortuo
femur inciderat ducis cenfura victoris : ab exercitu
pulfum. 2 Retulit a matre funus regium oblata
pecunia a triumphatore Willelmo poftulatum . fed
receptum abfque pecunia: apud Waltham tumu-
latum. 3 Sic in femur . fie in caput fie in omne
hominis corpus lingua licencius debachatur 4 ora-
toris clanculo fcriptitantis . quam militis armata
manus in propatuJo dimicantis. Verum tam a
fagitta oris iftorum quam et a framea manus illorum
liberavit Dominus pauperem et inopem quern et
rethoribus 5 et regibus multis probavit in pluribus
pociorem. 6 Non quidem de omnibus dico dabit
Dominus fimpliciter gradient! intelligere que fcribo .
fentire que fencio. Temperancius vero fcripfit hujus

1 "jaftu fagittae violato cerebro procubuit." (W. Malm.,
Gejia Regum, p. 416) ; "arainus lethali arundine iflus mortem
implevit " (ibid.}

2 "Jacentis femur unus militum gladio profcidit ; unde a
Willelmo ignominis notatus, quod rem ignavam et pudendam
feciflet, militia pulfus eft " (ibid.)

3 " Corpus Haroldi matri repetenti fine pretio mifit, licet
ilia multum per legates obtulifiet : acceptum itaque apud
Waltham fepelivit, quam ipfe ecclefiam, ex proprio conftructam
in honore fanfte Crucis, canonicis impleverat." (W. Malm.,
Gefta Regum, p. 420.) To which Hardy adds in a note :
"There feems to have been a fabulous ftory current during
the twelfth, century that Harold efcaped from the battle of
Haftings. Giraldus Cambrenfis aflerts that it was believed
Harold had fled from the battlefield, pierced with many
wounds, and with the lofs of his left eye, and that he ended his
days pioufly at Chefter. Both Knighton and Brompton quote
this ftory. W. Piftavienfis fays that William refufcd the body
to his mother, who offered its weight in gold for it, ordering it
to be buried on the fea coaft.

4 H.M. ; debacchatur, G. 5 H.M. ; rhetoribus, G.
6 pocior 5, H. ; pocior eft, M. ; potiorem efle, G.

82 Vita Haroldi Regis.

ipfius fcriptoris contemporaneus venerabilis ad-
modum abbas Edelredus 1 fuper hec in vita fan<5ti
predeceflbris ejus regis Eadwardi. 2 Dicit quidem
aut occubuifle Haroldum in prelio aut penitencie
refervatum : non fine vulneribus evafifle.

1 H.M.; Ethelredus, G. This refers to Ailred, Abbot of
Rievaulx, whofe work " De Vita et Miraculis Edwardi Con-
feflbris " is printed by Twyfden in the Decem Scriptores, cols.
369-414. The fpecial chapter " De Victoria Regis Haroldi per
beati Regis merita " is given in cols. 404, 405.

2 H.M. ; Edwardi, G.

Quid accidit IValthammenfibus circa patronifui
fepulturam piefollicitisfedmulieris cujufdam errors
delufis .......

[ON mediocriter tamen id domini
Willelmi aut attenuat in tali errore
offenfam: quodapudWalthamgeftum
longe lateque percrebuit. Revera
enim ipfos quoque peculiares ae domefticos regis
Walthamenfes canonicos infandus hie rumor pre-
occupaverat. In bello fiquidem Haftingenfi regem
occubuifle ora pene omnium loquebantur. Debite
igitur patrono fuo liberaliflimo devocionis clerici
non immemores fepedicti . quandam fagacis animi f - 2I -
feminam nomine Editham in partes illas ubi
dimicatum fuerat quantocius miferunt quatinus vel
extincti membra domini fui ad fe deferret in fua re-
verentiflime bafilica fepelienda. Videbatur enim 1
ad hoc attemptandum 2 . quo imbecillior et in-
favorabilior hie fexus qui et ipfis cruentis licloribus
minimum fufpedlus . plurimum vero miferendus
cenferetur. Hec autem pre ceteris femina com-

1 H.M. ; enim aptior, G 2 H.M. ; attentandum, G.

84 Vita Haroldi Regis.

modius videbatur ad hoc deftinanda 1 que inter
milia 2 mortuorum illiusquem inquirebat eo quoque
facilius decerneret eoque benivolencius tractaret
exuvias . quo eum arctius amaverat et plenius
noverat utpote 3 quam thai ami ipfius fecretis liberius
interfuifle conftaret. Ad locum vero fedis infaufte
cum accederet : percepit a multis id nimirum
jactabunde difleminantibus circumquaque Nor-
mannis regem Anglorum ignominiofe vidhim cruce
femifradlo fuper faciem campi cum interfedtis jacere
peremptum.

Viderit lector quid verius probet. Alii etenim
eos qui feminecem fuitulerant regem . hunc quoque
rumorem fparfiffe exiftimabant in populo . fuo
pariter et illius periculo in hoc profpicientes .
quibus indubitato foret exicio . fi ilium vivere :
hoftis audiret. Inter hec mulieris errorem non
mirandum . que defecti . cruentati . jam denigrati .
jam fetentis corporis fpeciem minus difcernere
valens : pro eftimacione publica truncatum cadaver
cum aliud non inveniret quod cercius agnofceret
regis proprium : rapuit et fecum attulit alienum.
Quod a canonicis reverenter exceptum : indifcufla
rei veritate honefte in ecclefia Sancle Crucis fepul-
ture eff traditum.

1 H.M.; dcftituanda, G. 2 H.M.; millia, G.

3 H.M. ; utquc, G.

Quid f rater Haroldi Gurta nomine abbati
Waltero vel aliis refponderit Ju-per fratris Jui
requifitus cimribus vel fepultura . . xviij,

N diebus vero regis Henrici fecundi
vifus eft tarn ab ipfo rege quam a
magnatibus terre . et populo Gurta
frater Haroldi quern in libro fuo
jam dictus hyftoriographus tempore adventus
Normannorum aliquid plus puero etatis habuiffe
refert prudentia vero animi . et probitate nil diftare
a viro. Erat autem jam tune grandevus valde .
et ficut ea tempeftate a multis accepimus qui eum
viderant venuftus afpeftu . facie decorus . proceri-
tate corporis admodum longus. Hunc vidit etiam f. 22.
pie recordacionis canonicorum regularium apud
Waltham abbas primus . dompnus 1 Walterus 2 . a

1 H.M. ; dominus, G.

2 Waltham, according to Dugdale, Man. AngL, vi. 57, con-
tinued to be a college for about 1 1 5 years, according to Harold's
foundation, from 1062 to 1177, when Henry I., determined to
inflitute Regular Canons in room of Seculars, " quia clerici
feculares, qui ibidem hue ufque manferant, mundanis operibus
et illecebris illicitis magis quam divino fervitio intendebant."
Guido or Wido Ruffus the Dean, being fufpended, refigned
in 1 174, and in 1 177 on the eve of Pcntcccft, Walter de Gaunt,

86 Vita Haroldi Regis.

quo una cum fratribus fibi adherentibus in curia
regis apud Wodeftocam 1 diligenter fcifcitari ftuduit
utrum revera cineres germani fui in fuo ut crede-
batur monafterio fervarentur. Quibus 2 ille anglice
refpondit . " Rufticum " ait " quemlibet habere
poteftis . Haroldum non habetis." Ad locum tamen
per feipfum venit crucem fanctam adoraturus .
Oftenfoque fibi farcofago 3 fratris ut dicebatur :
oblique illud intuitus " non " ait " homo fcit " . fie
enim jurabat "non hicjacet Haroldus." Vivat in
longum et vigeat in Chrifto dominus Michael
canonicus probate religionis . camerarius ecclefie
Walthamenfis qui multis aftantibus quorum non-
nulli adhuc fuperfunt hec ab hore 4 viri fe audivifle
conftanter affeverat. Hiis autem pro legencium
commonicione ne perturbet eos varietas incerta
fcriptorum breviter nee inutiliter ut confidimus
prelibatis . jam ut promiflimus 5 viri fuperius
memorati verba ponenda funt quibus manifefte
docetur . qualiter fervi fui noticiam Chrifti benig-
nitas plurimis evidentiflime patefaceret indiciis.

a canon of Ofeney, was conftituted firft abbot. He died on the
eve of Afcenfion Day, 1201. The mention of his name here
in the text feems to indicate that his deceafe was recent, and
helps to point the MS. to the date which I have affigned to it.

1 Woodftock, near Oxford.

2 On the margin of the MS. a monogram of the word Nota,
to draw the attention of the reader.

3 H.M. ; farbofago, G. * H. j ore, M.G.
5 H.M. ; promiffimus, G.

Quod viri del JucceJJor de geftis Haroldi bea-
tiflimi vera Jcribens caufas geftorum minus congrue
bis aflignaverit et -prime ajfignacionis dijcuflio et
competent prolatis fentenciarum diverjarum teftimo-
niis e<ujdem improbacio .... xix.

IN quibus fideliflimi relatoris id quoque
verbis perpendendum eft quia ficut
res geftas luculenter digeflit et vere
ita geftorum caufas minus ut ple-
rifque videri poteft convenienter et provide quod
pace tanti viri dictum {it exprimere curavit. Ubi
illud tercium adverti poteft quod contrarietatis
occafionem inter fcriptores diximus peperirTe.
Qualitas fcilicet mentis feu intelligencia fingula
queque referendum qui pro fui affeccione animi
viri fandi 1 affectum propofitumque in hiis que
geflit mecientes : quid quare fecerit nifi funt affig-
natis racionibus intimare. Quorum fenfa fcriben-
cium credulitas incaucius exprimendo facia ple-
rumque infignia . interpretacione non vera fufcavit.
Quod non femel fed fecundo bono huic viro in fue

1 H. ; fanftifiimi, M.G.

Vita Harolai Regis.

narracionis ferie ill is videtur accidiffe . qui rationi
perfpicue nee non aliorum opinioni amplius inni-
tentes eorum videlicet qui fervo domini familiarius
f 32 t>j adheferant ipfius quodam modo intimam mentis
ymaginem cordibus fuis alcius impreffere. Que
vero ilia fint quibus minus adquiefcit ipfius ut
creditur tenor veritatis opere precium eft breviter
difcutere . quo fimplicioribus pro pofle auditoribus
vim difcrecionis aperientes . omnem dubietatis
caliginem de medio auferamus. Dicit igitur
memoratus vir de fancto tune peregrinante ita.
Poftmodum quia natalis foli Temper dulcis effe
folet inhabitacio : ad Angliam cujus antea rex
extiterat concito properavit. Cum autem fapi-
entum diffinicione tritum fit : quia infirmus eft
adhuc cui patria fua dulcis eft . fortis vero jam .
cum omne folum patria eft . perfedus quoque cui
omne folum exilium eft . cui non pateat abfurde
dici virum ut ipfe dicit fenectute aridum . diutur-
nitate itineris utique religiofi confra<5lum . natalis
foli ut repatriaret dulcedine attractum? Dicente
infuper Domino ad Abraham: Ingredere 1 de tera^
tua . itemque in pfalmo . Oblivifcere* populum
tuum et domum patris tut. Quern etate minorem
animi firmitate . et fanctitate meriti . inferiorem
pariter et imbecilliorem . tenere non potuit terre
fue . populi fui . domufque paterne dulcedo aut
memoria duceret jam vel attraheret in omnibus

1 H.M. ; Egredere, G. Gen. xii. i.

2 H. ; terra, M.G. The MS. originally had the word
dextera written in error, the x being now crafcd.

s Pfalm. xliv. ii.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 89

hiis quo provecciorem eo proculdubio et perfec-
ciorem. Aut hanc omifTam olim dulcedinem corde
ruminanti non continue iJlud evangelicum auribus
interioris hominis forcius inthonaret : * Nemo' 2 '
mittens manum Juam ad aratrum . et refpiciens
retro aptus eft regno Dei ? Nee vero perpendit
fcriptor pius quale tune fuerit illud ejus natale
folum qualiter immutatum quam fibi fuifque
infeftum quam omni jam fui refpectu . et fi
mollioribus adhuc duceretur affectibus . efle pofTet
eciam grave fibi ad videndum.

1 H.M. ; intonaret, G. 2 Luc. ix. 62.

Secunde affignacionis infirmacio et J "crip tor is ad
leftorem deprecacio et de difficultate materiam
refarciendi a prifcis Jcriptoribus varie lacera-
tam . .... . . . .xx.

I EC fatis validiore 1 paulo inferius ra-
cione fulcitur ubi caufam allegat
qua Ceftriam aditurus deferuit Salo-
peflyram. Refert eum ne tribulacio
exterior interioris hominis quietem a modera-
minis fui ftatu deiceret locum ilium deferuiffe in
quo . ficut idem perhibet vehementer . et fepiflime
a Wallenfibus dampnis 2 et verberibus affliclus .
feptennio 3 quietus in fe : et Domino humiliter
23- g rac i as agens : vifus eft permanfiffe. Que profeclo
fentencia alia nichilominus 4 adhibita confideracione
deprehenditur efle invalida excepta illorum quoque
tradicione qui eum fines Wallenfium ob hanc
ipfam racionem inhabitant affirmant: quatinus
pateretur ab illis quos graviflima olim populacione
attriverat quamlibet jufta ut putabatur de caufa:

1 validi ore, H. ; validiore, M.G. 2 H.M. ; damnis, G.

8 H. ; feptennio, M.G. 4 H.M. ; nihilominus, G.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 91

quicquid eum perpeti cuncta fuaviter difponentis
Dei clemens difpenfacio permifirTet. Si enim de-
clinande infeftacionis illius obtentu fedem mutare
decreviffet : fecifTet hoc utique cicius nee tociens
dampnis 1 et verberibus: affligi expectaflet. Nee
enim infcius erat in oris eorum in quorum olim
medio . triennali ut fertur expedicione hyemando .
niniio ipforum periculo intus et in cute ut dicitur
eos noverat. Fuit hec quando adhuc comes tanta
eos virtute perdomuit . peneque delevit . quanta
omnium fequencium ufque in prefens regum vires
nequivere.

Tanti enim roboris fuifTe perhibetur cum fuerit
audacia fingularis: ut ficut legimus in bello quoque
Normannorum nullus ad eum armatorum accef-
ferit hoftium quin ftatim primo ictu equum et
equitem deiceret lethaliter fauciatos. 2 Quam adeo
mirabilem . jam mutaverat fortitudinem fperans
in domino . pennis afTumptis volans . et nufquam
in volatu deficiens. Hoc autem folum volatili
tarn forti jam erat formidini ne favoris fcilicet
mundani vifco fuarum aliquatenus pennarum virtus
infirmaretur fieretque infirmus et non tarn volucrum
quas pafcit Deus quam illorum hominum fimilis
quos pafcit ventus 3 : fi fibi feptem Sampfonis crines
adulacionis novacula raderentur. Id folum ergo
fugit quod fojum formidavit non fane Wallenfis
telum fed peccatoris oleum. Sciebat Wallenfes:
ignotos habere fufpicacioni . in religione probatos

1 H.M. ; toties damnis, G.

2 On the margin of the MS. a monogram of the word Nota.

3 Cf. Milton, Lycidas, " But fwoln with wind," etc.

92 Vita Haroldi Regis.

veneracioni . ideoque illorum afpernari contu-
bernia . iftorum admirari. Vir autem domini
hinc quidem juftus et fortis . illic prudens et tem-
perans: afpernantes fortiter expeciit . ut quod
meruifle fe timuit malum jufte pateretur . ad-
mirantes prudenter deferuit . ne temperate medio-
critatis bono privaretur. Meminit quia oJivam
pulchram 1 uberem 2 fructiferam . a facie vocis
f. 23 b. grandis: fubito juxta prophetam combufTit ignis:
quamobrem voluit ambulare cum magnis . neque
in mirabilibus fuper fe. Quos ergo diu fuftinuerat
fupra dorfum fuum fabricantes : peccatores fubter-
fugit . caput fibi impugnare feftinantes.

Set jam finem fermo flagitat . liber claudendus
eft ut que de Haroldo innotefcere necefle eft :
ilJorum qui hec plenius agnoverunt ftilus evolvat.
Benivolum 3 vero lectorem in fui cake libellus ifte
linali claufula femper habeat exoratum . quatinus
fui aucloris exceflus piis precibus dignetur expiare
fecumque fancti Regis Haroldi opitulante inter-
ceflione ad portum falutis eterne ipfum pariter
optineat 4 pervenire . Multiloquio etiam in pre-
fenti opufculo fcriptoris eo clemencius indulgeat
veniam quod 5 difficilius fuiffe confpicit propofitum 6
materiam tot prius veterum ftudiis auclorum d\f-
ciffam multipliciter et dilaceratam refarcire quodam
modo et innovare ac vetuftam . ut ita dicatur
ci[m]bam 7 et conquafTatam inter famofos hyftori-

1 H.M. ; pulcram, G. 2 H.M. ; uberem, uberem, G.

8 H.M. ; Benevolum, G. * H.M. ; obtineat, G.
8 H.M. ; quo, G. H.M; propofitam, G'

7 cibu, altered to ciba, H. ; cibum, M. ; cymbam, G.

Vita Haroldl Regis. 93

arum fcopuJos in adverfum eciam undique nitentibus
tanquam ventis . obtredlancium linguis et litteris .
ad deftinatam perduxiffe ftacionem. Sit autem
Deo adjutori noftro omnis honor et gloria . qui
trinus et unus folus imperat benedidtus laudabilis
gloriofus et fuperexaltatus in fecula. Amen.

NARRATIO INCLUSI QUI SANCTO SUCCESSIT
HAROLDO DE TRANSITU IPSIUS SANCTISSIMI
REGIS ET DE MIRACULIS PER EUM PATRATIS
POSTQUAM MIGRAVIT AD DoMINUM PREMISSA
RELACIONE COMPENDIOSA DE HITS QUE GESSIT
AC PERTULIT EX QUO TERRENUM AMISIT IM-

PERIUM.

ICRIPTUM eft quoniam tribulacio 1
pacienciam operatur paciencia : pro-
bacionem . probacio vero : fpem. Ad
probacionem paciencie . et fanfte
fpei confirmacionem . permittit quandoque Deus
fuos tribulari in prefenti ut liberet a tribulacione
perhenni . unde et virum venerabilem Haroldum
regem quondam Anglorum permifit in tempore
tribulari . et ab hoftibus fuperari et a regno fuo eici 2 .
ne de vidtoria prius habita fuperbiret . et in
regnum elevatus profperitatis occafione amorem
divinum poftponeret . fet in paupertate pofitus
fandtius et beacius viveret dum a terrenis occupa-
cionibus animum omnino liberum haberet. Igitur

1 i Rom. v. 3, 4. 2 H.M. ; ejici, G.

Vita Haroldi Regis. 95

poft regni fui amiflionem et plagarum fuarum
quas a Normannis pertulerat curacionem . tanquam
peregrinus ad loca fancta per terras multas tune 1 f -
arripuit . et diu in tali peregrinacione propter
Deum laboravit. Poftmodum vero fenedlute
aridus . et diuturnitate itineris confraclus fatigato
corpori alterius modi religionem indicere ftuduit.
Set quia natalis foli Temper dulcis efle folet in-
habitacio : ad Angliam cujus ante rex extitit con-
cito properavit . ut ibi pauper et vilis : et habitu
humilis : refiduum vite fue percurreret : ubi
quondam rex dives et fublimis . in veftibus amidus
preciofis . floruerat . et tanto apud Deum ejus
crefceret meritum . quanto benigniorem gereret
animum quod cotidie 2 pofTet adverfarios fuos
intueri . et in regno quod amiferat profperari et
fecundum preceptum Domini pro eis Deum
fideliter deprecari. Poftquam natalis foli fines
attigit eremitice vite folitudinem elegit et ibi in
pluribus locis converfatus ab omnibus incognitus
ufque quo cunctis terrenis extremum valefaceret
fideliter Deo miniftravit. Non autem animi
levitate facta eft ab eo locorum mutacio . fet quere-
bat ubi quiecius ferviret Deo. Habuit autem idem
vir nobilis miniftrum quondam Moyfen nomine .
qui michi qui hec fcribo inclufo in eodem loco
apud Ceftriam ubi dominus Haroldus heremita
et amicus Dei obiit: per biennium miniftravit.
Eodem vero Moyfe . et viris fidelibus referentibus

1 H. ; iter, M.G. This paffage clearly fhows that G. copied
M., and did not collate his text upon the MS. itfelf.

2 H.M. ; quotidie, G.

96 Vita Haroldi Regis.

ea que fecuntur multa tamen pretermittens bre-
viter et fideliter narrabo. Pervenit autem tandem
vir Domini ad Salopeflyra 1 fcilicet ad territorium
quod Cefwrthin 2 nominatur . et ibi per feptennium
eodem Moyfe illi miniftrante heremiticam] vitam
ducensvalde inquietabatur a latronibus Wallenfibus .
et dampnis et verberibus vehementer et fepiflime
affligebatur. Que omnia pacienter fuftinuit . in
omnibus gracias Deo humiliter exhibuit. Set tamen
poftmodum ne tribulacio exterior interioris hominis
quietem 3 a moderaminis fui ftatu deiceret : 4 locum

1 H. ; Salopeffyra[m], M. ; Salopeffyram, G.

2 H. ; Cefwrthin, M.G. Michel makes no attempt to feek
for this place ; Giles contents himfelf with faying, " The
fituation of this place has not been identified." There can,
however, be no doubt that " Cefwrtbin " is identical with
Cbefwardine, a parifh in the hundred of North Bradford, in
the northern divifion of the county of Salop, four miles fouth-
caft of Market Drayton. The church is dedicated to St.
Swithin. According to Eyton, Antiquities of Sbropjbire, x. 28,
etc., Domefday Book enters the manor of Cifeworde-and-
Ceppecanole, now Chipnall, in the StafFordmire hundred of
Pireholle, held immediately of the king by Robert de Stafford.
The celebrated Countefs Godiva held it at the time of
Harold's hermitage there. The name has been varioufly
fpelled Chefewurda, Chefworda, Chefwordyn, Chefworth,
Chefew'rthin, Chefeword, and fo forth. It pafled into pofleflion
of the great family of Le Strange, but Eyton was unaware of
the mention of the place in this MS. John Le Strange
granted the advowfon of the church to Haughmond Abbey.
There does not appear to be extant any documentary evidence
mowing the exadl time when the manor pafled out of the
county of Stafford and was accounted to be in Shropshire, but
from the text of this paffage it is clear that this had already
taken place before the writing of the MS. Eyton mows inci-
dentally that it muft have been at fome period between 1 1 89
and 1255 ; at the latter date it enters as a parcel of Bradford
hundred in the roll of that hundred.

8 quietem, omitted, M.G. * H.M. ; dejicerct, G.

Vita Haroldi Reg is. 97

ilium deferuit . et predido miniftro ejus fubfe-
quente . Ceftriam profedus eft. Ibique in capella
fandi Jacobi que fita eft fuper fluvium De appella-
tum : extra muros civitatis in cimeterio 1 fandi
Johannis Baptifte per feptennium : fcilicet ufque
ad mortem . heremitice vivens religiosiflime con-
verfabatur. Utebatur autem ad nudum tamdiu
lorica : quoufque tota putrefieret . et omnino con-
fumpta videretur. Scifluras vero ejus . et portiun-f. 34 b.
culas diflblutas miniftro fuo Moyfi imperavit ut in
fluvium de fecreto proiceret 2 . ne ipfum ea fuifle
ufum alicui hominum pateret. Caftiffimus quidem
fuit corpore . et continens corde humilis et prudens.
Cujus condicionis eflet Temper occultabat ne forte
in nimia ab hominibus veneracione haberetur .
unde animus elatus a reditudinis tramite laberetur .
et apud Deum humilitatis ipfius meritum minue-
retur. Raro quidem capella exiit fed oracioni
affidue intendit perficiens quod dominus ait.
Quia oportefi Jemper or are et non deficere. Ante,
oculos fuos femper pannum pendentem habuit . qui
totam fere faciem velabat ita quod longiufcule
iturus dudoris manu indigebat. Quare autem hoc
fecerit . minifter ejus ignorabat . fed forte hoc
agebat ne vultus defedi cicatricum appareret
obduccio . vel ne ad cor ejus pateret aditus fecu-
laribus vanitatibus dum oculis liber concederetur
egreflus vel ne ab aliquibus qui eum prius viderant
veraciter agnofceretur et ab hominibus venera-
retur.

1 H.M.; caemetcrio, G. * H'.M. ; projicerct, G.

3 Luc. xviii. i.

D EXITU EXTREMO HAROLDI.

PPROPINQUANTE autem die exitus
venerabilis 1 viri Haroldi perventum
eft ad hoc quod extreme neceflitatis
urgente articulo vir fanctus viatici
falutaris indigeret folacio . Unde accedens facerdos .
quern ego bene novi Andreas nomine . de ecclefia
fancti Johannis . infirmum vifitabat et illi quiquid 2
mos exigit Chriftianus devote exhibebat. Extre-
mam vero ipfius audiens confeflionem eum interro-
gavit cujus condicionis vir fuerit. Cui ille . " Si
michi dixeris in verbo Domini quod me vivente
quod tibi dixero nulli propalabis 3 fatisfaciam rationi
tue interrogationis." Cui facerdos. " In periculo
anime mee dico tibi quod quicquid mihi dixeris
omnibus erit incognitum . ufque quo extremum
efflaveris halitum." Turn ille . " Verum eft quod
rex fui quondam Anglic Haroldus nomine . nunc
autem pauper et jacens in cinere . et ut celarem
nomen meum appellari me feci nomine Chris-
tianum."

1 H.M.; vencrabiliis, G. 2 H. ; quicquid, M.G.

* H.G. ; propalatis, M.

Vita Haroldl Regis. 99

Non diu poft hec emifit fpiritum : et jam omnium
hoftium fuorum vidor migravit ad dominum.
Sacerdos vero ftatim omnibus nunciavit . quod ei
vir Dei in extrema confeflione intimavit et ipfum
efle certiflime re ... - 1

1 Here the MS. ends abruptly at the foot of the page
rc[gem Haroldum] . . . M.

TRANSLATION.

THE

LIFE OF KING HAROLD.

PROLOGUE TO THE LIFE OF THE VENERABLE
HERO HAROLD, FORMERLY KING OF THE
ENGLISH.

UST as the Holy Scriptures com-
mend the builders of the ark of the
covenant under the difpenfation of
Mofes, and of the temple of the
Lord under that of Solomon, fo alfo do they deem
thofe men worthy of praife who have faithfully
laboured with earneft devotion to offer or prepare
things which are necefTary for the building. Ac-
cording to Nehemiah, thofe who derided the
builders are overthrown with a terrible impreca-
tion; the rebuilders of Jerufalem, having been
rewarded with hereditary titles by Ezra, fanctified
an everlafting remembrance of their name and their
work to their pofterity. Such a confideration, I
truly confefs, vehemently ftimulated my infigni-
ficance, although it is of flender value and of
tottering ftrength, to contribute fome kind of
afliftance to the holy work in which ye toil,
reverend fathers. There is added to this ftimula-

1 04 The Life of King Harold.

tion, moreover, as the turn runs already beyond
meafure, on the one fide a brotherly requeft with
friendly perfuafion, on the other fide an anxious
admoniming with a paternal command. I feel,
indeed, that it is a work full of labour, yet I
truft it is replenifhed with its own reward, and
that it is the performing of your wifhes and the
outcome of our own eagernefs. But the pains
of a little fpace of time are rightly to be under-
gone and accepted, with the height of our ftrength,
when in return we are rewarded, not by the
applaufe of a frail and fleeting age, but rather by
that of a praife and glory which will endure in
that place where an eternal honour and fplendour
is obtained. Neverthelefs, although to have looked
for the reward of tranfitory praife for one's labour
on one's work, is to have loft one's trouble and
one's talk, in the fame way to accept the attraction
of a favour, not indeed fought for, although freely
beftowed, is to have deprived one's felf of the
reward of internal felf-confcioufnefs and of the
praife of the eternal Judge. For we muft bear in
mind how applicable to fuch a pofition is that
declaration couched in thefe words : Amen, I fay
unto you, they have received their reward.

Your fatherly authority, then, orders, and your
brotherly love begs, me to take every watchful
care, with afliftance gathered together on all fides,
to promote a remarkable work which, begun
indeed excellently, and worthily carried on, ye do
urgently prefs forward to a praifeworthy termina-
tion, left by chance any ftore of things needful

The Life of King Harold. 105

for the completion of this undertaking fhould be
wanting to the dutiful tafk. For ye do truly
defire that a work of remarkable character fuch
as this is, caft in the form of a fingle book, and
compiled from various records written by our
fathers, and ftudioufly worked out to the praife,
and concerning the praife, of the glorious and
God-bearing Crofs, with the memorable deeds
of your founder (whofe memory we do cheer-
fully blefs), mould be rendered famous, and that
a talk dedicated in this way mould be completed
with fuch a cheer, fo to fpeak. The defire of
your holinefs is praifeworthy, without doubt,
becaufe it is the refult of your devotion, and
becaufe it has a good end in view. For it is,
indeed, a mark of no undue devotion of yours,
that you earneftly defire, by the medium of a
literary compofition, to hand down faithfully to a
pofterity which is about to be born, the great
deeds of fo great a hero. For, of a truth, ye are
held bound, by juft fuch a right, to illuftrate by
due praife of his virtues, the merits of your own
proper patron and everlafting benefactor, as on
the other hand ye might fo be, not unduly,
accufed of the crime of ingratitude, if you, his
guardians and his nurflings, were by your filence
to rob pofterity of any knowledge of the efpecially
deferving notices of his praife. It cannot be denied
that it is the duty of that excellent prudence of
yours, to decree that the praifes of one who was a
moft devout worfhipper of the Holy Crofs, muft
be founded. For, indeed, whatever commenda-

1 06 'The Life of King Harold.

tion is deferved by the merits and virtues of its
fervant, really belongs altogether to the glory of
that Holy Crofs.

And in all this, who does not know how eager
my moderate abilities are, in no idle fpirit to fet
to work at profecuting fo good a book with a
liberal fpirit, willingly employing whatever my
ftrength can propofe yea, rather whatever God's
grace can endow me with ? If I eat the bread of
idlenefs, which belongs to you, or rather to
Harold yea, much rather to the Holy Crofs of
you both the more I behold your ferene faces
looking at me, fo much the more ought I properly
to dread a feverer condemnation at your hands,
if which God forbid it mould chance that I be
found, I will not fay ungrateful, but carelefs, after
being endowed with fo many benefits, freely and
gracioufly beftowed as they indeed are. I will,
therefore, comply to the utmoft of my ability
with your wifhes. I will mow the greateft poflible
gratitude for your kindnefs, provided that you on
your part keep to your agreement with me. That
is, that you diligently fcrutinize the contents of
my writings, and having examined them, then and
then only approve or correct them ; rejecting the
unpolifhed and badly exprefled diction, but re-
ferving, if you think right, the idea, to be ex-
preffed as it mould be, in a more elegant ftyle.
For under God's guidance, the holy band of
which you are members, is not lacking in highly
educated fuccefibrs of Bezeleel, Aholiab, or Hyram,
men who knew well how to employ, in fuitable

Ljfe of King Harold. 1 07

places and fitting ufes, the raw material offered
up by a fimple-minded congregation as gifts
to the Lord. They knew, too, how with the
hand of a mafter, and in accordance with the
circumftances of the occafion, to polifh each fepa-
rate article as deftly as poflible, to prune off the
fuperfluous, to arrange the things wanting in
order, to adorn the things that were fhapelefs.
But all that my want of fkill can venture to
undertake, is to hew out from the mountain-fide,
and place upon rafts, a quarry in fome fmall
degree prepared for a fabric, and to pilot it down
the ftream to more convenient fites, and I mail
feel that I have done this when I have handed
down, in obedience to your injunctions, a feries of
notices which are calculated to benefit the fimple
who will take the trouble to ftudy them, gathered
together from ancient books, from current writings,
from true accounts of the faithful, be they who
they .may, and gleaned fo as to form the principal
points of intereft in this work. So may the gentle
and placid breeze of your prayers waft into the
harbour of a favourable more the fragile bark of
my compofition, rigged as it is with the banner
of the Crofs for its fail, and the prayers of its
faithfulnefs for its figurehead. Amen.

END OF TH-E PROLOGUE.

HERE BEGIN THE CHAPTERS.

I. WHAT a mirror of cheerfulnefs and gentlenefs
mines forth in the ads of King HAROLD. How
he was the brother of the Queen, whom the holy
Edward married. How his father Godwin, efcap-
ing the fnare of King Canute, received the latter 's
fifter to wife ; and how Harold fignally triumphed
over the vices of thofe who brought him up.

II. How Wales was nearly deftroyed by Harold;
and how he recovered from paralyfis by the virtue
of the Holy Crofs of Waltham.

III. How Harold built, enriched, adorned, and
regulated the Church of the Holy Crofs at
Waltham ; and how Henry, King of the Englifh,
abolimed the fecular canons, and diftinguimed the
place by the appointment of regular canons.

IV. How it was divinely ordained that this
man mould be raifed to the petition of King, and,
after having defeated his enemies, mould in his
turn be conquered by other enemies and depofed
from his kingdom ; and concerning a very pious

The Life of King Harold. \ 09

anchorite, who had been a fervant of Harold after
he became a hermit himfelf.

V. How a certain Saracen woman found him
half dead amongft his aflailants, brought him to
Winchefter, and healed him as he lay there con-
cealed for two years ; and how he fought out the
Saxons and Danes to collect allies againft the
Normans, but was unfuccefsful.

VI. How at length, coming to himfelf, he per-
ceived that God was oppofing him in his worldly
path ; wherefore, conforming himfelf to the Crofs
of Chrift that he might the better triumph over
the old enemy, he rejoices that he has fuffered
defeat at the hands of men.

VII. How he entered on a long pilgrimage to
obtain the prayers of holy men ; and how, before
he became a King, he vifited the refting-places of
the holy Apoftles.

VIII. The admiration of the writer, with a
brief exclamation on the goodnefs of God, by
which it happens that the fins even of the elect
work in them for good.

IX. How many things are faid by many people
about Harold's fin ; and concerning the oak hard
by Rouen, under which he made the oath, which
remains, though ftript of its bark, to this day.

X. The excufe fome make for Harold, whereby,
exonerating him from perjury, they aftert that it
was with the fanction of God and confent of the

1 1 o The Life of King Harold.

holy Edward that he became King ; and concern-
ing the vifion of the Abbot Elfinus, in which the
holy Edward declared that Harold fhould be
conqueror over the Norwegians.

XI. A wonderful account concerning a Holy
Crofs which is alleged to have bowed its head
to Harold as he was haftening to battle, and
certain other very aftounding miracles concerning
this Crofs, proved to be undoubtedly true.

XII. Different interpretations of different men
concerning the above-mentioned figns of the bow-
ing Crofs and the withered oak ; and how Harold,
by judging himfelf favourably, anticipated the
divine judgment and fears not man's.

XIII. How, after many years fpent abroad,
Harold, returning to England for the purpofe of
exercifing his patience and meeknefs, caufed him-
felf to be called CHRISTIAN,' and lived ten years in
certain rock in folitude; with a fhort invective
againft the Antichrifts of that time.

XIV. How Harold afterwards fpent a long
time in various places on the borders of the
Welfh, bore their repeated afTaults in patience,
hiding his face with a cloth, and changing his
name for another left he mould by fome means be
recognised ; how at length the cruelty of his
perfecutors was changed into veneration for him.

XV. How Harold, the man of God, avoided
the obfequious who perfecuted him, whom he had
approached, and long borne with ; and how a place
of reft was appointed for him by a voice that fell

1'he Life of King Harold. 1 1 1

from heaven ; and how he hinted in ambiguous
words to thofe who afked him that he was Harold ;
and how the truth of the matter will be mown
more fully in the account given by his fuccefTor.

XVI. The reader is advifed not to defpife the
reading which he feels differs from the opinions of
fome ; and concerning the three occafions of thofe
who think differently about this prefent fubject ;
and concerning the threefold miftake of William
of Malmefbury on the fate of Harold.

XVII. What happened to the people of Wal-
tham in their holy anxiety concerning the burial
of their patron ; and how they were mifled by a
woman's miftake.

XVIII. How a brother of Harold, Gurth by
name, replied to Walter the Abbot, or others,
when aflced concerning the afhes or the burial of
his brother.

XIX. How the fucceflbr of the man of God,
writing a true account of the deeds of the moft
blefTed Harold, has on two occafions afligned in-
appropriate reafons for his actions; with a dif-
cuflion on the firft reafon, and a full difproval of
the fame by the production of the evidence of
various opinions.

XX. The weaknefs of the fecond reafon afligned,
and the writer's warning to the reader ; and on
the difficulty of patching up materials torn in-
difcriminately by ancient writers.

HERE END THE CHAPTERS.

HERE BEGINS THE LIFE OF HAROLD, SERVANT
OF GOD, FORMERLY KlNG OF THE ENGLISH.

CHAP. I. What a mirror of cheerfulnefs and
gentlenefs Jhines forth in the atts of King Harold.
Plow he was the brother of the Queen, whom the
holy Edward married. How his father Godwin,
ejc aping the Jnare of King Canute, received the
latter 's fifter to wife ; and how Harold fignally
triumphed over the vices of thofe who brought him
up.

MHMMM

|O review the actions of the moft
illuftrious and rightfully appointed
King HAROLD, at this time duly and
lawfully crowned, is nothing elfe than
to difplay to pious minds a moft brilliant reflection
of a divine ferenity and meeknefs. And that this
may the more clearly appear we will take care to
mow forth to our readers clearly and briefly the
beginning, progrefs, and ending of his warfare
with the world and with Chrift. We mail, indeed,
have fpoken truth when we called him a king
moft illuftrious and lawfully crowned, for by ruling

The Life of King Harold. 1 1 3

himfelf aright and by fubmitting himfelf humbly
to Him, to ferve whom is to be a king, he obtained
firft a crown of juftice, and afterwards a crown of
eternal glory. Godwin, a moft powerful Earl, begat
him from a fifter of Canute, King of the Englifh
and the Danes, which Harold was brother indeed of
the revered Queen whom the King and moft holy
confeflbr Edward had married. And although
me had been united in an aufpicious marriage with
him, yet fhort of confummation, and though both
of them, forfooth, preferved their flower of per-
petual maidenhood, me was yet a caufe of much
preferment to her father's family. It is plain,
however, that her father, or fome of the other
members of her family, had been heavily branded
with the mark of treafon and other crimes.

Godwin, indeed, firft entangled himfelf in thefe
mifdeeds, from the neceflity of averting an immi-
nent deftruction, but afterwards he wanders farther
in deceit. Compelled to ufe deceit under pretence
of enfuring his own fafety, while once he yields to
his wifhes, he afterwards committed fraud more
freely when he faw his profperity declining. For
when the above-mentioned King of Denmark had
ufurped the diadem of England, and he faw that
Godwin, a man endued with incredible cunning,
and no lefs audacity, was gradually rifmg to a high
pofition, he himfelf, a foreigner, began to fear the
bold fpirit of this young native, armed as it was
with power and craft. And although he had
found his induftry very ufeful to him on many
occafions, yet conceiving in his mind fomething of

H4 Tfo Lfi f King Harold.

the fpirit of Saul, he determined to ruin by
trickery this moft ftrenuous defpoiler and
champion, fince it was not eafy to crum him
openly except by fpiteful malice. Having thought
out, therefore, a plan, he fends Godwin into Den-
mark, as if on important bufinefs concerning both
kingdoms, having in his heart fome fuch thought
as this : " Let not my hand be upon him, but the
hand of the Danes." Now as he was failing along
in mid-ocean, in a vefTel fitted with the moft lavifh
appointments, a fufpicion began to agitate the
mind of the youth. For he was bearer of letters
fealed with the King's fignet, one for each of the
chief men of that country, the contents of which
he was quite ignorant. Breaking, therefore, care-
fully one of the feals, he learnt from the brief en-
clofure that he would be fhortly given over to the
punimment of death, when he arrived in port, if
he were to difcharge any further his duty as letter-
carrier. For the tenour of the writing was that
whoever mould firft learn the contents of the
letter, was immediately to ftrike off the head of
its bearer, Godwin by name.

This new Uriah grew pale when he found that
his deftruclion was being compafled by the King,
and prepares (to make a long ftory fhort) to
efcape the trick by another trick. This is what he
did : he broke open and took out each letter from
its feal, and fubftituted a frefh letter written by
the clever hand of a clerk, the fubftance of which
was that Godwin was to be received with great
and univerfal rejoicings ; to receive in marriage the

The Life of King Harold. 1 1 5

King's fifter, and that they all were to yield him
obedience in what concerned the King's bufinefs,
as they would the King himfelf if he were prefent.
Thus the King's command was changed to the
King's advantage. Thus the foldier changes his
foldier's pay ; thus an undeferved punimment is
unaccomplished, and a glory that is deferved
accrues to him who earned it ; thus at length the
King receives as a brother him whom he had
hitherto found but a ufeful foldier, and making
him foon after a ftate officer, found in him for the
future an ever-watchful and prudent minifter.

Though Godwin was received with much favour
by the Danes by this occurrence, yet he came to
be on ill terms with many of his own family ; and
fome members alfo of the royal family he deftroyed
by treachery, of whom one was the brother of the
holy Edward: and thus not only againft his
fellow-countrymen, but alfo againft his natural
lords he committed not a few offences. But on
this matter let him who wifhes to know feek
elfewhere. As far as pertains to the fubjecl: in
hand, it is enough that we have juft briefly touched
on fuch things, left we mould feem to have patted
over, without confederation, thofe other matters
which we know that people, who underftand little
about them, have perverted to the difcredit of
Harold, the fervant of God, for wife men fee
aright that thefe things pertain in the higheft
degree to his renown. For he who, by divine
favour, has overcome a vice which, as they would
have it, nature has inflicted, and which focial

ii6 The Life of King Harold.

habits have formed, has certainly gained a greater
victory in that he has overcome and got rid of the
felf-fame vice in which he was born and reared ;
for though Harold even, it is afTerted, feems to
have given way to vice in his youth, he was con-
fidered to have fuffered violence by his nature and
rearing. It is plain, then, that, by the help of Him
who from the fame lump of clay makes one vefTel
to honour and another to difhonour, this circum-
ftance, which had been caft up againft him to his
difcredit by ignorant men, was turned by Harold
to his virtue's benefit, and to the advancement of
his honour. Thus a thorn brings forth bright
red rofes, and produces, fo to fpeak, fnow-white
lilies, from whofe natural functions the meaner
property of the thorn fubtracts not, but rather
adds to it, from the combination, an increafe of
beauty.

CHAP. II. How Wales was nearly deftroyed
by Harold; and how . he recovered from paralyfis
by the virtue of the Holy Crofs of Waltham.

UT how Harold excelled in ftrength
of body, and how famous he became
for fhrewdnefs of mind and vigour
in arms, was proved by the way he
fubdued Wales aye, and nearly deftroyed it to
extermination. Thefe victories gave him a con-
fpicuous pofition even during the lifetime of the
holy Edward ; and through them he acquired, by
his bravery, a peace and tranquillity moft fervice-
able to the King and the whole kingdom.

Meanwhile, though he feemed to be greater than
his contemporaries in uprightnefs and power, and
even feemed to outihine the higheft princes of
the kingdom, the hand of the Almighty, which
ftrikes as well as heals, afflicted his flefh with a
grievous ftroke, in order that he might obtain by
his prefent and future wounds a remedy for his
foul. Phyficians call paralyfis that fpecies of difeafe
by which a man's body, when affected by it,

I 1 8 The Life of King Harold.

forgets its proper functions, and deprives him of
his accuftomed duties, for it fuddenly renders the
part which it has attacked, or the whole of the
body, fenfelefs, torpid, and, as it were, dead.
Harold, fuddenly attacked and proftrated by this
affliction, becomes an occafion of an extraordinary
forrow, for all people grieved for him, efpecially
the King ; for the latter, as if by fome prefenti-
ment of future things, loved Harold, and held
him dear beyond all others, though it is faid that
he looked on fome members of that family with a
certain degree of fufpicion and hatred. And it
was not the nearnefs of kinfhip, pleafant though it
was, nor that excellence of honour and fmgular
induftry with which he was endowed, but fimply
a divine infpiration which, it is thought, produced
in this moft pious King's mind fuch a predilection
and favour towards Harold. It tends, indeed, to
Harold's honour at this period, that a man, full
of God, and not ignorant on many occafions of
the divine purpofe, mould love him, and love him
the more intenfely that he forefaw that Harold
mould be an everlafting co-heir with him in
heaven, rather than his temporary fucceflbr on
earth. Therefore the King's own fpecial phyficians,
befides others felected from all quarters by entreaty
or payment, gather round the fick man, and try
everything that art or conjecture can fuggeft, but
the power of man cannot put afide the hand of the
Almighty.

The fad news reached the ears of the King of
the Alemanni, who was both near akin to the

The Life of King Harold. 1 1 9

King and clofely united to him in affection and
friendship. At his Court there dwelt a certain
phyfician named Ailard, a man moft trufted by
reafon of his double practice in the art, as well
great fkill as experience, but, what is of greater
value, the grace of God mowed him much favour
in effecting the cure of the fick. Him therefore
the Emperor refolved to fend with all fpeed to his
dear friend the King, that he might apply his
cure to the vigorous young man. On being led
to the fick man Ailard carefully examined the
nature of the illnefs, and devoted every attention
to him ; but every labour is of no avail when a
heavenly worker operates in opposition to the art
of man.

At that time a ftone figure of our crucified
King had recently been revealed and difcovered
by the heavenly direction, which, having been
brought by God's defire to Waltham, was famous
in that place for its miraculous virtues. The
phyfician therefore, after confideration, perceiving
that the Author of Nature was acting in oppofition
to the powers of Nature's art, and that the whole
fyftem of the lower nature was being thoroughly
deadened by the counteracting influences of Him
who created nature, forthwith concluded that the
man was being afflicted by a ftroke of His power,
from whofe hand there is none who can deliver.
And foon, as became a truftworthy and prudent
man, he did not delay, as he was unable to cure
him by his hand, to procure a remedy by his
mouth. For, unlike deceitful and lying doctors,

1 20 The Life of King Harold.

he was willing that the help which he already felt
could not be given by him mould be obtained
from other fources. He did not, however, leave
the fick man in defpair, but directing him from a
hope that was vain to a hope that was well
founded, he perfuaded him to put his hope in
Him who is the falvation of them who truft
faithfully in Him. And that he might the
quicker deferve to tafte the joys of a much-
defired health, he exhorts him for his profit to
attend to the offices of the Crofs which giveth
falvation, and to vow a vow to it, as his inward
devotion might dictate to him.

The fick man liftened to the plan for his re-
covery in a fenfible fpirit, and fends with all hafte
to the place where the miraculous Crofs difplayed its
mighty gifts. He prays with great earneftnefs that
the guardians of the place, whofe peculiar duty it
was to minifter at the health-giving fymbol, would
deign to obtain for him by their hearty prayers
pardon for his fins and alleviation of his fufferings ;
in a word, health for both the inner and outer man.
Nor was the mercy of the Saviour long wanting
to him who afked for health with a faith unfeigned,
for foon the pain and weaknefs of his body grew
lefs ; but as he became ftronger his love and devotion
for the obfervances of the Holy Crofs wonderfully
increafed. And thus reftored in a fhort time to
perfect health, he proved by acts of magnificence
how indebted and devoted he was to the medicine
by which he had regained his health. For coming
to the Holy Crofs of Waltham, he paid the vows

The Life of King Harold. 1 2 1

he had made for his health, offered coftly prefents,
gave rich gifts to the attendants, commending
himfelf to the guardianfhip of that glorious Crofs,
and intending to endow it with ftill more exalted
honour. Rejoiced, he at length departed from
the place in body, but not in fpirit, and prefented
himfelf fafe and found to the King, and to the
Queen his fifter. The Queen congratulates her
brother : the King rejoices with his foldier : the
whole Court is glad with a joyous exultation,
not becaufe Harold had recovered his health, but
becaufe it was from Heaven he had recovered it.
All, indeed, with one mind applauded ; but the
King, as he was holieft, rejoices with greater
feeling. He indeed excelled all others in a double
joy, becaufe he was wont to find delight in the
virtues of Chrift, who brings to pafs fuch holy
works, and to feed on thofe advances of devotion
and faith which the accomplishment of fuch
miracles was calculated to ftrengthen in the love
of the fame moft Holy Redeemer.

CHAP. HI. How Harold built, enriched,
adorned, and regulated the Church of the Holy
Crofs at Waltham ; and how Henry, King of the
Englifli, aboliflied thejecular canons, and diftinguiflied
the -place by the appointment of regular canons.

UT now obferve that this man, in
whom and through whom a virtue,
thus experienced and difplayed, gave
to fb many an incentive to a virtuous
life, could think or fpeak of nothing elfe but how
he could make an excellent and fitting return for
fuch divine benefits, and how he could, in com-
penfation, give joy to that holy Crofs with an
honour worthy of a health reftored. But in pro-
portion as he applied himfelf more zealoufly for
the Crofs's honour, and ftrove for its glory, fo
much the more exceedingly did the favour of
Heaven enrich him with increafe of virtues and
devotion, with which manner of exchange he was
greatly delighted, and endeavoured the more in-
tently, by difplaying gratitude for gifts he had
received, to deferve ftill more valuable benefits.

The Life of King Harold. 123

He confiders, alfo, that he is bound, for thefe
fubftantial favours, to that man whofe heavenly
piety had unlocked to him the approaches to fb
many privileges, and refolves to prefent him with
a reward worthy of his faith and devotion. For
there were only two clergy there to pray and take
charge of the fervice and wormip of the Crofs,
though they, indeed, feemed content with their
fmall emolument and humble dwellings.

But this excellent man, eager to exalt the place
and its wormip with all clafTes of its worfhippers,
propofes to build there a new temple, to increafe
the number of attendants, and to augment their
revenues; and in order that its fame and the throng
of its clergy might difplay the place in the eyes
of mankind, ennobled as it had been by heavenly
gifts, more famous and more glorious, he caufed,
by a prudent arrangement, fchools to be founded
there, under the direction of Mafter Ailard, the
preferver of his health, as has been juft now narrated.
Nor was he flow to bring forth that which he
had conceived in his mind. Foundations of a
large church are rapidly laid ; the walls rife ; lofty
columns at equal diftances unite the walls with
interlacing arcades or vaults ; a roof of leaden plates
keeps out the wind and the inclemencies of the
weather. The number of clergy is increafed from a
fhameful two to the myftic twelve of the company
of the Apoftles, and for this excellent reafon, that
the fame number of men who had told forth Chrift's
glory to the world from the beginning, might ferve
in eternal praife in the temple of His holy Crofs.

1 24 The Life of King Harold.

He alfo, with a fplendid liberality, endowed them
with eftates and pofleffions, that they might have
fufficient for their neceflities ; and he obtained a
confirmation of thefe gifts by the King's authority.
Now, if we attempt to defcribe at length the
number of gifts, the value and varied character of
the veflels and ornaments with which he ennobled
this houfe of God, the multiplicity of facts might
perhaps detract from the exactnefs of the narrative.
But left the account of his munificence mould be
loft altogether, or in this particular and it is
known that a violent jealoufy has aimed at this
it is worth while to endeavour, with a fpirit of
fervent zeal (fince the real fubftance of the facts
themfelves has been loft), to make known to
thofe who wifh to confider them, the madows, fo
to fpeak, of the facts. We have therefore thought
good to infert on the prefent page an account of
thofe things which, through jealoufy of Harold, as
they fay, were abftracted from the Church of the
Holy Crofs by William, the firft Norman King
of the Englifh, and carried off to Neuftria. For
that King, as we read, carried off to Normandy,
from Waltham, feven fhrines, of which three were
gold and four filver-gilt, full of relics and precious
gems ; four books of Holy Writ, ornamented with
gold, filver, and gems in their bindings ; four large
gold and filver cenfers; fix candelabra, of which
two were gold and the reft filver; three large
pitchers of Greek work, filver and gilt; four
crofles worked in gold and filver and precious ftones ;
one crofs that was caft from fifty gold marks ; five

The Life of King Harold. 125

moft precious prieftly veftments, ornamented with
gold and gems ; five hoods, ornamented with gold
and gems, in one of which were twelve gold
marks; two copes, ornamented with gold and
gems ; five chalices, two gold and the reft filver ;
four altars with their relics, of which one altar
was gold, and the other filver-gilt ; one filver
wine-horn, valued at one hundred millings; ten
phylacteries, one of which was prepared from two
gold marks and precious gems, and the others
from gold and filver ; two dulcimers ; fome faddles
for women, worked with much gold; and two
bells of great value.

Thefe, and very many other things, which it
would take a long time to mention, and which the
ambition of the Normans would confider incom-
parable, are known to have been offered to the
Holy Crofs by Harold in his piety, and taken away
by William through hatred. The latter, however,
feems to have palliated the heinoufnefs of the
robbery by an eafy kind of compenfation by
difleminating a clear account of the progrefs of
events by which the Crofs was difcovered and
conveyed to Waltham, wherein it is alfo more
fully expreffed what, and how many, things the
holy man, in a wonderful warmth of devotion,
prefented to the holy place, either in eftates, or
various revenues, or in a multitude of things per-
taining to the fervice or adornment of the church.
But as my pen is in hafte to explain what the
worfhipper of the Crofs did and fuffered after he
offered himfelf as a fweet facrifice to the Lord,

1 26 The Life of King Harold.

bearing his crofs now daily and following Chrift,
we proceed to relate what he gave from his own
refources, and confecrated to the Crofs as a facrifice
of juftice ; which things, indeed, after the removal
of many of the moveables, whatever he afligned to
the place in lands and vills, or churches and other
revenues, to all appearance it ftill poflefles, without
great diminution, yet not, as is faid, without fome
lofs. But the conftitution of the Church of Waltham,
we fee, was formed afrefli, to a high ftate of per-
fection, in our time by King Henry the Second, of
divine memory. For the canons, who were under
a ilrict rule and difcipline, dedicated by Harold to
their facred watches, finking through the gradual
lapfe of time to fecular purfuits, had put before
the facred canonical rule the emptinefs of fecular
life. For deriving their name from both words,
the " faeculum " and the " canon," they divided
the meaning of their name in reverfe order, for
lufting after fecular things and defpifing the canon
rule, they weighed the knowledge of the latter
with the pleafures of the former in a falfe balance ;
wherefore cafting afide their facred duties, they,
who ought to have fpent their time in the halls of
the Lord's houfe, ftrutted about in the common
paths of the world. Thefe men being at length
removed from their office by the holy zeal of the
above-mentioned King, the fame place is ennobled
by the inftitution of regular canons. They
happily, uniting the Latin rule with the Greek
canon, preferve in their life the virtues of the
double word and the fimpte matter, fo that they

The Life of King Harold. 1 27

ought to be objects of the greateft veneration both
to the Greeks and the Latins. Thefe men Henry
moft honourably adorned with offices built for
regular canons; but Harold, with the kindeft
thought, increafed their incomes. For by thefe
men the Lord's flock, which ferved the Lord there
in holinefs and righteoufnefs, is fupported ; by
them day by day innumerable crowds of travellers
obtain all the benefits of humanity ; at fheir hands
the traveller and the hungry man receive food and
provisions ; from them the fick man receives
attention, and he who is cold a covering, and
the ftranger and foreigner a roof to cover him in
a word, everyone who is in need obtains at the
hands of thefe men afliftance fuitable to his
neceflities.

CHAP. IV. How it was divinely ordained
that this man Jhould be raifed to the pojition of
King, and, after having defeated his enemies, Jhould
in his turn be conquered by other enemies, anddepofed
from his kingdom ; and concerning a very pious
anchorite, who had been ajervant of Harold, after
he became a hermit himjelf.

IHO knows how the bones of a man
are framed in the womb of her who
is with child ? And who has learnt,
or who can learn, what is beft for
a man in his lifetime ? One man generally rules
another to his hurt. Sometimes a man is fubdued
and fubjected by one man to another for his good.
Thus Chanaan is in bondage to his brother as a
fervant of fervants; thus the hands of Jofeph,
given over to bondage by his brothers' jealoufy,
did fervice in Chophmos ; thus, too, our Harold,
to return to our fubject, is fuddenly raifed, as it
were, on the wind, and is in a moment violently
thrown down. He is raifed to be King by the
acclamation of the kingdom ; he returns a victor

The Life of King Harold. 129

from the battle in triumph, having flain the
barbarians who had attacked him. He fears not
to hear that his late enemy has come upon him,
but jeers at him ; he runs to attack his deftroyer,
as though he would at one blow deftroy him.
He joins battle, and falls; he attacks, and is cut
down he is indeed cut down and fallen, but is
it to his deftruction or his folly ? Will that hand
of the crucified King, from which came forth a
writhing ferpent, fuftain him ? That hand, indeed,
permitting it, the enemy's fpear pierced his bones
and nearly every limb, and grievoufly wounded
him.

All thefe things happened to Harold by the
direction and wonderful difpenfation of that fame
hand, in order that in the womb of the pregnant
Church the bones of a man fore-ordained before
fecular times, and deftined by God to be born, and
by all thefe means to pleafe God perfectly, might
be fafhioned. For conceived through piety ac-
cording to the inward man, he grew and was
increafed towards God in thefe exercifes, and was
formed and ftrengthened fo that at length, like
Jacob, when Rachel departed on account of pain
in parturition, he obtained a Benjamin for a
Benoni. For he who to his mother feemed a
fon, forfooth, of angelic pain and death, by God
his father, who had ordained that by this event a
people haughty in mind, rough in ill-doings, and
cruel in all kinds of treachery, mould be fup-
planted, he was made by a wonderful transforma-
tion the fon of his right hand. But as it was

130 he Life of King Harold.

noifed abroad by common converfation how
Harold had fucceeded to the earthly kingdom of
the moft blefled Edv/ard (himfelf tranflated to a
heavenly kingdom), and how he had triumphed
over the Norwegians with Edward's help, and how
bravely and with t what impulfe and unprepared-
nefs, from an exceflive fteadfaftnefs of purpofe,
he went againft the Normans who were attacking
him, and how, with his comrades flain, he fell on
the enemy (ingle-handed, we, God helping us, will
write in our account of thofe things which happened
by the divine agency through him and concerning
him, after the facts narrated above, which we know
have efcaped the notice of moft chroniclers.

Some of thefe things we heard from a cer-
tain hermit of venerable life, Sebricht by name,
who, while he lived, was a fervant for many
years to the holy man; and others from equally
truftworthy authorities, who have related thefe
fads to us with a certainty which has proved them
to be true. And further, thofe things which
happened after his death through power from
heaven, and which will be written on this page,
have been written by thofe who were prefent when
they happened, and have been handed down to us.
But the above-mentioned man of God, once
Harold's moft devoted fervant and follower, when
he departed from this world, and it was clearly
mown by his miracles that he had gone to heaven,
emulated his example in doing good moft fervently,
defiring to arrive at fuch a point of holinefs as he
had reached, and being zealous to work in as

The Life of King Harold. 131

fimilar a way as he had walked. Therefore,
becaufe he knew Harold had done To, he under-
takes the toil of a pilgrimage, and becomes a
voluntary exile from his native foil, that he might
be worthy to become a holy man and a fervant of
God. With naked feet he leaves the borders of
the city of Chefter, where he left the treafure
which he had preferved there for fo many years,
taking only a portion for the crown of his heavenly
King, but leaving the reft dug up upon the ground;
and thus ftripped of all worldly defire he goes forth
on his pilgrimage.

Thus bare and unencumbered, intending to
approach the Lord's Crofs on the fpot where
that Crofs was fafhioned for the Lord's body, to
vifit His glorious fepulchre, and to adore the fpot
where His feet refted, he at length departs from
England; and, hoping to bedew with his tears
the refting-places of other holy men as Harold
had done, to liften to ftrange languages which
he knew not, and to undergo with joy no fmall
tribulation for Chrift's fake, he enters the country
of ftrangers. At length, having accomplimed his
vow, after many wanderings which there is here
no fpace to mention, he returns to his native
country as Harold had done. And on his return
he betook himfelf to a town in the Oxford diftricl:
called Stanton, and, confining himfelf there, led a
feverer life till the time of his death than thofe
who are confined and imprifoned for their crimes.
Here, becoming an object of veneration and
affection to all religious people, he was wont to be

132 The Life of King Harold.

fought out and vifited by many for the fake of a
mutual edification.

For he had become well known as a man moft
devout, felf-contained, affable to all, benevolent to
many, well-wiming to all. By thefe means and in
this way there arofe a goodly odour of Chrift, and
as all were borne along in the odour of his holy
deeds, I alfo, an infignificant perfon, as it were,
among greater ones, was carried along with the
reft and became clofely bound to him by a chain
of love. But I, when ftill of a tender age, and
young in the profeflion of religion, had vifited
him often through older meflengers, but fometimes
in my own perfon, and was at laft admitted to the
inmoft fanctities of a familiar friendfhip. At
length, when I was older, I advanced fo far that
he would fcarcely hide any of his fecrets from me
which feemed ufeful for my inftruction as I talked
with him on the ftate of the inner man. And he,
though he was country-bred, and ignorant of any
language but Englim, he yet held a wonderful
and admirable opinion concerning religion, and
was clever in exprefling himfelf in his own idiom ;
as he ufed to fay concerning myfelf : " Let me fay
what I think I believe that the fum-total of my
falvation confifts in patience and hope." He
would add how many things the Lord had mown
him in the fhape of many and great tribulations,
and how mercifully he had, by converting him,
given him new life, and how powerfully he had
led him from the depths of earth. He would
mention, too, what fufferings he had undergone in

The Life of King Harold. 1 3 3

the body, and in mind, enumerating and diftin-
guifhing the weaknefs and various affections of
both the wicked aflaults of devils, and the no
lefs bitter infults of men ; and he would add: "In
all thefe trials which came upon me, an all but
fhipwrecked wretch, my only hope was in the
crucified One, my anchor ; and leaning firmly on
this I faw, after a time, all my troubles, which I
had but juft before deemed more intolerable than
death itfelf, pafs away, as it were, into foam and
ames. I have indeed borne," faid he, " fuch and fo
great afflictions of the flefh (to flee from which I
have confined my miferable body like fome un-
tameable beaft in the narrownefs of this prifon)
that an ignorant man would fcarcely believe could
be fuftained by any body, though it were made of
iron or ftone."

Thefe things he ufed to relate, not boafting of
himfelf or of his labours for Chrift, but he thought,
like fome veteran telling the familiar experiences
of his labours, that I, trembling on the brink of
the fame untried ftruggles of my fpiritual appren-
ticefhip might be animated and ftrengthened by
their recital. Of fuch things he would fpeakwith
much feeling, not deploring the hardfhip of his
fufferings, but giving forth with a wondrous
fweetnefs a memory of that confolation and
fpiritual grace which he had found to be the alle-
viation of his trials.

Thefe matters concerning the man's life and
manners we thought it not out of place to infert
into thefe pages, in order that from the piety of the

134 T/ie Life of King Harold.

pupil it may the more plainly be mown on what a
pinnacle of perfection the life and converfation of
the teacher mines forth. He, indeed, making
mention of Harold, would call him his matter,
rejoicing that he had in heaven an advocate whom,
when on earth, he had as a preceptor. This, then,
is the man by whom, as has been faid above, as
well as by others who knew the man of God, and
how his pofition of life was ordered and changed
according to place and time, thefe things have
been arranged and made known. And of thefe
fome were ignorant that Harold was once, when
he lived, a crowned king, but were witneffes of
his converfation and knew well in what places he
lived from the time when he fpent his life in
folitude in England. For he, dreading from his
heart the glory of the world, of which he had ex-
perienced fuch ignoble and unhappy refults, when
he refolved to live in his own country, took a new
name, and changed from time to time the place
of his dwelling, left by fome chance it mould be
betrayed to anyone. But we will difcourfe of
thefe things in their order below. Let us now
from this exceflive digreflion proceed without
more delay to the narration of what we have
already begun.

CHAP. V. How a certain Saracen woman
found him half dead amongft his ajfailants,
brought him to Winchefter^ and healed him as
he lay there concealed for two years ; and how
he fought out the Saxons and Danes to collebl allies
againft the Normans, but was unfuccejsful.

[HEN, then, the Englifh army was
beaten and overcome at the firft
attack of the Normans, King Harold,
pierced with numerous blows, is
thrown to the ground amongft the dead ; yet his
wounds, many and deathly though they were,
could not altogether deprive of life him whom the
goodnefs of the Saviour had moft happily ordained
to reftore to life and victory. Thus, as the
enemy's hoft departed from the fcene of the
(laughter, he, who the day before was fo powerful,
is found ftunned and fcarcely breathing by fome
women whom pity and a defire to bind up the
wounds of the maimed had drawn thither. They
act the part of Samaritans by him, and binding up
his wounds, they carry him to a neighbouring hut.

136 T/ie Life of King Harold.

From thence, as is reported, he is borne by two
common men, franklins or hinds, unrecognifed and
cunningly hidden, to the city of Winchefter.
Here, preferving the fecret of his hiding-place, in
a certain cellar, for two years, he was cured by a
certain woman, a Saracen, very fkilled in the art
of furgery, and with the co-operation of the
medicine of the Moft High, was reftored to perfect
health. On regaining his ftrength thus, he
thought he would prove by great deeds the
courage of his royal fpirit which his foul had not
loft in the overthrow of his body. Already had
the nobles of his kingdom, as well as the people,
bowed their necks to the yoke of the conqueror ;
already had nearly all his chiefs either perifhed or
been driven from the country, leaving their
anceftral honours to be divided and pofleffed by
ftrangers.

Harold, therefore, beholding the deftruction of
his own people and the fuccefs of the enemy,
groaned in fpirit, and forrowing more for his
country's troubles than his own, refolved that he
would perifh with his people or procure affi fiance
for them. He crofled over, therefore, to Germany,
the home of his race, with the intention of pro-
ceeding to Saxony ; but grieves to find that already
the miferable overthrow of his nation is common
talk in all quarters. He earneftly begs his kinsfolk
to lend their afliftance to one of their own ftock ;
he declares that the misfortune of fo fudden a
difafter was not to be attributed to the ftrength or
valour of the enemy, nor to the cowardice of the

The Life of King Harold. 137

citizens, nor, indeed, to his own timidity or help-
Jeflhefs; but that their danger lay in the very
fact of their bravery, which, confcious as they were
of their prowefs and victories, had Jed them to
oppofe fuch a multitude of the enemy with too
fmall a force of foldiers. " For," faid he, " accuf-
tomed as I am to victory, and unacquainted with
defeat, I mould have thought myfelf beaten if I
had been but a little more tardy in gaining a frefh
victory over the enemy. For when, by Divine
grace, the Norwegians and their King, who had
overrun our territory from the north, were {lain
by us, and our armies and generals had been dif-
mifled to their own homes, fuddenly the Normans
came upon us from the fouth. And I, meeting
them haftily with a fmall force, not inferior in
courage or fpirit, but only in numbers, at length
fell ; but though conquered, I did not yield. No
uncertain victory, then, mall we gain immediately
over fuch as thefe, whom accident, and not bravery,
has on this occafion mown to be our fuperiors.
And to the attainment of this end, the enemy's
infolence, and the manner of their unexpected
attack, will prove the devotion of my people, and
give confolation to our enraged army."

With thefe and fimilar arguments he im-
portunes the Saxons, as well as the Danes whom
he vifited with an equal anxiety, to fecure their
help in driving out the invaders from his kingdom.
But when he faw that their interefts were directed
into other channels, he was at firft difturbed by,
and gave himfelf up to, the agitations of a great

138 The Life of King Harold.

anxiety. For he who was now King of the
Englim, as well .as Duke of the Normans, in his
forefight for his own fecurity had been thoughtful
and prudent enough to anticipate Harold by
haftening to ally himfelf, by means of an em-
bafly, in friendfhip with the King and nation of
the Danes, as well as with the neighbouring
countries, and to conciliate their favour.

CHAP. VI. How at length, coming to himfelf,
he perceived that God was opposing him in his
worldly path ; wherefore, conforming himfelf to
the Crofs of Chrift that he might the better
triumph over the old enemy, he rejoices that he
has Juffered defeat at the hands of men.

|OW Harold, coming at length to him-
felf, and returning, as it were, from
his fantaftic dream, is completely
changed in his heart. He perceives,
though late, that it was God who was oppofing
him in the way in which he was fo fruitleflly
walking, and that it was His angel's fword which
had been borne againft him and his obftinate
efforts ; and the eyes of his underftanding being
opened, he fees that he muft choofe another kind
of warfare, and that other kinds of defences would
be required. For the crucified King had looked
upon the toils and long-fufferings of the dethroned
King with a regard already favourable to him,
and would not further fuffer the fpecial devotee
of His banner to be engulphed in the depths, or

1 40 The Life of King Harold.

be overwhelmed in the maze of fo great an afflic-
tion. He had beheld him fallen in fin and from
his high dignity ; and when He beholds, ruin
ceafes and the fallen arife. He had beheld, in
fhort, that He might warn away his fin's fault
with tears ; yet He had not deprived him of the
hope and defire of ruling, but had changed the
nature of his defire.

He begins, then, to fee his errors, and to lament
the faults of his fins and wrong-doings in the
fight of Him who fees all things : he begins to
find that the path to a more blefled kingdom is
far eafier, and to have a foretafte of his oppor-
tunity. He is fixed in his mind to become an
imitator of the Crofs which he had loved, to bear
his crofs daily, to come after the crucified One,
and to follow Him. Nor does it efcape his notice
that, in order to become fit for thefe things, he
mufl firft deny himfelf. As much as he can, then,
he propofes to take Him for an example and a
helper, who, though He was in the nature of
God, (tripped Himfelf of His divinity, and took
the form of a fervant. He now fees how the
Lord of the world, when He was in the world,
defpifed a worldly kingdom; and, when they
fought to make Him a King, fled, and preferred
the retirement of a folitary life to a throng of
followers. He remembers that all pov/er was
given to Him in heaven and earth by the humilia-
tion of a bitter paflion and a cruel death. He
forefees that this muft eventually be undergone by
all flem. He remembers that all mankind muft re-

The Life of King Harold. 141

ceive from Him an eternal kingdom or an eternal
punifhment. He knows that if he were to pro-
pofe to make war againft Him, and were to go
againft Him with ten thoufand, that He would
come to meet him with twenty thoufand, whofe
unexpected coming and whofe extraordinary pre-
parations fometimes exterminate and deftroy him
whom He affails fecretly and powerfully when
He is lead expected, and he who is unprepared
for Him.

Putting on one fide, then, his vain defire of a
temporal kingdom, and cafting off the fatal purpofe
of an earthly ftrife, he propofes to fend an embaffy
to that King who is ftill far off, impelling him
to inquire from Him what are the terms of a
true peace. And fearing that His anger will be
increafed by his offences, and left, perchance, his
embaffy alone may not be fufficient to propitiate
Him, he refolves to feek out and entreat others,
fitting and fuited to the purpofe, with all the
prayers he can, to help him and interpofe for him
with the angry King, whofe favour and glory
alone he thought worthy of foliciting. Thus the
outward appearance and inward difpofition of
Harold are both fuddenly changed. The hand
which he was wont to arm, he fupports with a
fpear fhortened into a ftaff. Inftead of a fhield, a
wallet hangs from his neck. His head, which he
was wont to equip with a helmet, and adorn with
a diadem, is fhaded with a head-drefs. His feet
and legs, in the place of fandals and greaves, are
either altogether bare, or encafed in ftockings.

142 The Life of King Harold.

But let me relate the reft in a few words : all the
armour of the warrior, the whole adornment of
this mighty man, is either left off altogether, or
elfe worn for the humiliation and punimment of
the penitent. Not only is the breaftplate not
thrown off from his moulders, arms, loins, and fide,
but it is brought clofer to his body ; for the inner
garments being taken off and thrown afide, the
roughnefs of the metal is next to the bare flefh.
Thus when awake, he walks, not indeed armed fo
much as imprifoned in armour. Thus when he
fleeps, a bed 1 does not receive him, but he is em-
bedded in a cuirafs. The change in the outer
appearance which he afTumed was wonderful.
Pleafant indeed was this great alteration in fuch a
man, both to the angels and all the faints ; but far
more pleafing was the change wrought in the inner
man by God the Judge, who created and formed
in him light inftead of darknefs, and turned in a
miraculous manner the man's whole nature.

In truth, I fay, the change was not brought
about by the hand of man, but by the right
hand of the Moft High, at whofe word a cruel
and favage nature foftens into mildnefs and gentle-
nefs, exaltation becomes humility ; but who can
tell of all the benefits of fo blefied a change?
That I may condenfe in a few words an endlefs
matter : by this change, luft of the flefh and the
world was transformed into a contempt and hatred
of fuch things, and yielded to a defire and love for
heavenly things.

1 A play on the words " thorus " and " thorax."

The Life of King Harold. 143

Thus, I repeat, by the help of the Mod High,
the King is transformed into the foldier, and the
foldier of Chrift indeed, the kingdom of the world
being now more defpifed than it was before defired.
The King is transformed into the foldier ; the
King becomes a foldier that fo the foldier may
become a king, and that he who is both king and
foldier may be transformed into a king. The
foldier begins to act a foldier's part on the fide of
Him for whom to fight is to be a king ; to reign
indeed in the prefent, and to reign with Him here-
after. For that reigning with Him is far better
than this preient reigning, for it is a far fublimer
and greater thing than reigning in the world and
over a worldly kingdom. By becoming a foldier,
indeed, he reigns, and by reigning he beomes a
foldier, until the foldier of Chrift changes all
mutable things into things that endure, and death
be fwallowed up in victory, and battle be turned
into a trophy. Then mall the King receive his
kingdom, the foldier mail become a conqueror:
the anxious man mail feel fecure, and he that is
mortal (hall live for ever. Meanwhile the King
and foldier thus changed, a new kingdom and a
new warfare are given to Harold, the whole
nature of his foul and body throughout every
fenfe and limb blooms afrefh and to new ufes in
the world. In hunger and thirft, in cold and
nakednefs, in prayers, in watchings, in infults and
wrongs; in a word, in every toil and hardfhip,
the flefh is weakened, the fpirit ftrengthened, the
foul rejoiced. His panting breaft trembles with

1 44 T/ie Life of King Harold.

fighs, which before fwelled with {laughters and
thundered forth threatenings. His eyes are be-
dewed with mowers of tears, which were wont to
flafh forth lightnings on his rivals, at the bidding
of an angry foul. His face, his brows, his neck
difplayed no elation, pride, nor cruelty ; modefty
regulates his gait ; piety, his mind ; purity guides
his affections. Integrity gives form to his inward
and outward movements; fanctity changes all his
doings into her own ways. Harold appears now
to govern himfelf more happily than is wont, to
reign more eminently, to wage war with greater
fecurity and ufefulnefs. He delights that he has
been conquered by man, fince by conquering the
world and himfelf he has, though conquered, learnt
how .to achieve a more glorious victory over the
devil.

CHAP. VII. How he entered on a long pilgri-
mage to obtain the prayers of holy men ; and how,
before he became a King, he viftted the reft ing-places
of the holy Apoftles.

INSTRUCTED with an undion which
now taught him concerning all
things, he feels that he muft care-
fully conceal that treafure of heavenly
afpiration, left, if published abroad thoughtleflly,
it might be expofed to robbery. For firftlings of
fheep or kine are not fhorn nor put to the plough,
and firft-fruits were deemed unclean.

Therefore, inftru&ed by fuch divine orders as
thefe from the Holy Spirit, he leaves all his friends
who had feemed to cleave to him up to that time :
he deferts his kinsfolk : he retires fecretly from all
who had known him : he approaches peoples
hitherto unknown to him : he feeks for fupporters
far and wide amongft thofe who are not unknown
to him, but who were in days gone by indeed
well known to and loved by him, and now more
clofely united in a feeling of devotion. This

146 The Life of King Harold.

man, now a noble man indeed, departed then to a
far-diftant country to vifit facred places in order
that he might pay honour to relics of the faints in
their own homes and mrines; to obtain more
fully and perfectly by their interceflion the kingdom
of God which he already held within his breaft,
intending after that to return to his own country.

Before this he had vifited the refting-places of
Chrift's moft exalted apoftles, when he had not yet
fucceeded to the throne of the Englim, by an
inftinct of devotion indeed, but alfo with the object
of bringing holy relics from their city to his own,
rather than wormipping them in theirs. For he
had had a very fervent defire to collect facred
relics, efpecially from the time he began to build
and found the church of the Holy Crofs at
Waltham, as we have narrated above; whence it
happened that, having obtained numerous pledges
of the faints, he appears alfo, by payment of vows
and prayers and money, to have carried off from
Rome on his return to his own country the
blefled bones of the martyrs Chryfanthus and
Daria. But the Romans, perceiving at length that
they were being robbed of a great treafure, and
not thinking it right, follow the pious plunderer
juft as he is departing, or, indeed, had already de-
parted three or four days' journey, and ftop his
progrefs. For a whole hoft of the natives were
not inclined to allow a few pilgrims to refift them
by force or break away in flight. What more
mall be faid ? Harold is flopped, bound, and over-
whelmed with infults, and he thought it hardeft

The Life of King Harold. 147

of all that he was compelled to give up thofe
pearls of pricelefs value which he had lawfully
obtained from their former poffefTors, as they
indeed confefled. Returning to his own country,
then, for the violence of the Romans could not
rob him of the prayers and favour of the above-
mentioned witnefles of Chrift, and having managed
to obtain, in fpite of all, fome very precious relics
at Rome, he brought them home to be reverently
preferved in the church which has fo often been
mentioned.

And if anyone cares to know at greater length
the watchfulnefs of his devotion and care in
acquiring and preferving thefe relics of the faints,
let him read carefully the treatife above-mentioned
concerning the finding of the Crofs at Waltham.
But we ourfelves, omitting what has been written
by ancient writers, will give our pen a new duty,
and follow, as we began to do, our new pilgrim,
with Chrift for a guide. And if we are unable to
accompany him to every place and on every (ingle
day as he wanders through many countries of
Chriftendom and fpends fo beneficially his time ;
or if we do not know and cannot relate every
fingle thing he did or fuffered on his long pil-
grimage, Jet us at all events, following him as he
is now already a long way off from our mores, go
and meet him as he returns to us with all fpeed.
And let us give God higheft praife who was with
him and guided him, and who at no time or place
deferted him, and let us do honour to him in the
Lord, who comes, indeed, in the name of the Lord.

CHAP. VIII. The admiration of the writer ,
with a brief exclamation on the goodnejs of God,
by which it happens that the fins even of the
eleR work in them for good.

JEAN WHILE, as Harold continues
walking in the name of the Lord,
his foul like a bride feeking her
bridegroom, as he wanders through
many places, and having found him, holds him,
rejoicing with his fpirit as it glories in God his
Saviour, I feem to hear him finging with the
pfalmift, " Turn, my foul, to thy reft, for the Lord
has mown favour to thee." But he, for joy of
heart and admiration of the mighty ads of his
beneficent Lord towards his fervant, joyfully ex-
claims: O abounding piety and wondrous kind-
nefs of Thy Spirit ! O virtue and wifclom ! O
co-eternal Son of an eternal Father ! O fweet and
blefled Jefus! O ineftimable and unfearchable
height of Thy counfels, truly no man can turn the
thoughts of Thy heart. O how true were the
feelings of her who faid to Thee, " If Thou haft

The Life of King Harold. 149

decreed to fave us, we mall for ever be delivered."
How faithful, how worthy of acceptation is that
faying, fo confidently uttered by Thy apoftle!
" We know," he fays, " that all things work to-
gether for good to thofe that love Him." Blefled
be the holy name of Thy glory with the co-eternal
Father and co-eval Spirit, who, when Thou wert
angry, haft pity, and as the holy woman relates,
forgiveft all the fins of mankind in their tribula-
tion. And, indeed, all thefe things Thou haft
mown to be true, and countlefs, according to this
meafure which are everywhere written in facred
literature about Thee concerning thofe things
which Thou doeft and fhoweft to thofe that love
Thee, in this one man who loved and was loved
by Thee. How plain the argument to us, how
clear a fpectacle of gentlenefs and fortitude haft
Thou builti up in this one man ! O Wifdom, who
haft uttered words from the mouth of the Moft
High, taking in hand with firmnefs all things
from beginning to end, and difpofing them with
gentlenefs ! From thefe fprings of gentlenefs and
firmnefs proceed thofe two rivers of grace and
feverity or mercy and ftriclnefs, watered by which
the furface of the earth of the faints, the tares
being uprooted, brings forth its feed to the fruit
of eternal life.

With what calmnefs and favour didft Thou take
hold of this man, and, as fome think, on account
of his wickednefs ; yet didft thou not hurl him into
eternity, but, taking hold of him and correcting
him, broughteft him forth from his very iniquity to

150 'The Life of King Harold.

be more careful for himfelf, more devoted to Thee.
What gentlenefs and what firmnefs didft Thou
exercife with him, fnatching him fo powerfully
from the hand of death, and not allowing his life
to be taken away by javelin or fword, but reftoring
and re-creating in him the life of his foul, a life,
as has been mown, deprived of its fin. Hence, too,
his unrighteoufnefs was found to abound to Thy
glory, fince out of the great and manifold fweet-
nefs of Thy kindnefs, where his wickednefs
abounded, Thy grace abounded more and more in
him, in order that in proportion as he mould love
Thee more, he might receive a fuller pardon from
Thee. That it might appear plain that not fome
things but all things work together for good to
him who loves Thee, and even one's own great
fin, which indeed is always evil, worketh to fuch
a man to his eternal benefit.

CHAP. IX. How many things are faid by
many people about Harold's fin; and concerning
the oak hard by Rouen , under which he made the
oath, which remains, though ftripilof its bark, to
this day.

ONCERNING this man's fin, fince
many hiftorians fay much about it,
we alfo ought to fpeak, and bring
forward for impartial confideration
what thofe, who have a defire to exaggerate or
detract from it, think on the matter. For the
majority accufe him of having committed a fin of
no common kind; but of fuch heinoufnefs, indeed,
that they are of opinion the downfall of Englifh
liberty muft be imputed to its enormity. For it
is aflerted that he took the name of the Lord God
in vain, and feared not to pollute it with a falfe
oath ; and they alfo add that this act of fin was
marked out by a wonderful miracle from heaven.

For the oak, which was once a tree of great height
and beauty, as is proved by thofe who behold it
to-day, under which Harold made the oath to the
Duke of the Normans, as foon as he ufurped the

152 The Life of King Harold.

kingdom which he had fworn to preferve for him,
and thus broke his oath, is ftated, wonderful to
relate, to have fhed its bark, and to have loft its
greennefs and its foliage. A fight well worth
feeing, for a tree which was a little time before
remarkable for the number and thicknefs of its
leaves, fhrivelled up from the roots, as quickly as
did the gourd of Jonah and the olive of that other
prophet, and all its branches became white. The
lafting nature of the withered tree, an indeftruc-
tible oak, increafes the miracle of the blight falling
upon it, and this we have frequently, in common
with many more, wondered at.

Who, indeed, would not be amazed that this oak,
of fuch vaft magnitude, not weakened by fmall
branches but everywhere unbroken, from the loweft
roots to the topmoft leaves, thus ftripped of every
covering of bark, had not already yielded to old age
and courfe of time ; or wafted by decay, or beaten
upon by the violence of the winds, and flooded by
many rains, had not grown rotten or, at leaft, bent !
But when we faw the tree one hundred and forty
years after this event, when it was ftill to be feen thus
marked, a man of Rouen declared that the crime
of fo enormous a perjury had been thus fignalized
by Heaven. The ill-feted tree ftill ftands at a
mort diftance from the city itfelf, overhanging a
pleafant glade, which is not far from the bridge
over the Seine ftretching towards the hermits of
Grandmont. The man of Rouen is faid to have
prefumed, at the unufual omen, that London would
fir ft be fubdued.

The Life of King Harold. 153

The whole of Neuftria, in like manner, learned
to hope that the vaft riches of the Englifh might
fubferve the waftefulnefs of her needy and greedy
miftrefs. To this is added, by thofe who inveigh
againft Harold, already truly a conqueror, the
overthrow, as eafy as it was cruel, and as rapid as
it was undeferved, whereby he unexpectedly loft
his kingdom. Thus, without fufpecling it, he
efcaped deftruction by only juft preferving his life.

CHAP. X. The excufe Jome make for Harold,
whereby, exonerating him from perjury, they ajjert
that it was with thefanftion of God and confent of
the holy Edward that he became King ; and con-
cerning the vijion of the Abbot Elfin, in which
the holy Edward declared that Harold Jhould be
conqueror over the Norwegians.

N the other hand, fome people, for the
fame reafon (and frequently even
before this many were of this
opinion, eftimating the act of the
beloved man of God by the marks of divine
favour which fhone around him), endeavour to
bring forward a reafon for the non-fulfilment of
the oath, and that Harold was quite right in
afluming the kingly power. For judging from
what happened after, if what he had fworn had
been obferved, it would have been beyond a
doubt a difaftrous thing to the nation, as it was
againft his own wifh, and difadvantageous to the
fafety of his people. For he made the oath under
reftraint of fear, which fell upon this fteadfaft

The Life of King Harold. 155

man, who very rightly refufed to meet an im-
mediate death, or a never-ending imprifonment.
And befides, there appeared no other way out of
the difficulty, confined as he was in a foreign
country, and in fuch powerful hands; therefore,
yielding to the dictates of human frailty, which
never gives up life willingly, and to the advice of
fome friends who were with him at the time, he
took the oath thus prefented to him, to which both
human laws and the divine canon are known to have
condefcended through various neceflities of this life.
Concerning the right of extorting this oath,
others will difpute as they pleafe. But it was
lawful for him not to fulfil an oath thus forced
from him, if, which none deny, the oath itfelf
were illegal ; and by its means, for he could
not have done fo otherwife, he efcaped from the
Normans who were keeping him prifoner. And
when he at length was reftored to his own people,
he told everyone openly what he had fufTered and
what he had done. And when they hear his
account they are all with one mind feized with
rage, reject an agreement made under compulfion
of an oath, and cry out vehemently that it muft
not be obferved. Heaven forbid, fay they, that
we mould ferve the Normans! Heaven forbid
that the liberty of our city and of our Englifh
nobility mould ever be fubfervient to the barbarian
yoke of Norman pride ! Why mould more be
faid ? All cry with one voice : one opinion is in
every mind. Putting afide, then, all danger from
the oath, which was thought to be of no value,

156 The Life of King Harold.

Harold at length, by the unanimous advice of all,
is raifed to the throne. But that this had not
happened with the divine Will had been declared
a little time after from heaven. For when the
Norwegian King, failing with a numerous fleet,
had made an entry into England, attacking the
province of York with fire and fword, and had
begun to Jay wafte everything that came in his
way, and when the newly-elected King was haften-
ing to meet him with an army he had collected, he
was fuddenly feized with moft violent pain in his leg.
Fettered as he thus had become, and in agony for
the peril of his fubjects rather than at his own
pain, pafling nearly the whole night without fleep
in fighs and prayers, he begged for the familiar
afliftance of the Holy Crofs. In the fame night
there appeared to that fervant of the Lord, Elfin,
the Abbot of Ramfey, King Edward, the holy and
watchful defender of his people, the predeceflbr of
our forrowing and afflicted hero, telling the Abbot
the misfortune of the King which had happened
to his body and fpirit, mowing him befides the
King's thoughts as he lay upon his bed ; fending
him, and faying to him, " Rife, go, and tell your
King from me the remedy for his prefent pain and
the threatened war, that, at my interceflion, God
has granted him the victory. Let the revelation
of his heart's thoughts be a fign to him from
heaven that the remedy is to be attended to, and
let the argument of this unwonted revelation be a
certain omen of his obtaining the victory." So the
King, to fpeak briefly, is cured by divine favour,

The Life of King Harold. 157

and is exhilarated by heavenly meflages. Attack-
ing the enemy with confidence he eafily conquers
them, for he overcame not by his own ftrength,
but by the might of Him who heals thofe that are
broken in heart, and binds up their wounds,
deftroying with the fword the enemies of thofe
that love him. Therefore we gather by the per-
fuafion of an argument which is not improbable,
becaufe he obtained the kingdom by the connivance
of his moft holy predecefTor and the ordaining of
God, that, fortified as he was by the favour of the
faint and advifed by his divine meflage, God Him-
felf afTenting thereto, he thus deferved to gain a
triumphant victory over his haughty foe.

CHAP. XL A wonderful account concerning a
Holy Crofs which is alleged to have bowed its head
to Harold as he was haftening to battle ; and cer-
tain other very abounding miracles concerning
this Crofs, proved to be undoubtedly true.

OT only was his legal affumption of
the kingly power defended by thefe
events and figns, but his favourable
performance of the fame is proved.
For, by a fign new and quite unheard-of in all
ages, the clemency of the Saviour deigned to fignalize
His own peculiar fervant in a more exalted manner
for the fecond time, by which act of fo fignal a
miracle, the favour and Jove of Heaven were dif-
played to the devoted King, and his honour de-
fended for ever againft the reproaches of defamers.
The circumftance which happened was noifed about
everywhere, as was its due, and is vifible to the
eye to the prefent day. As he was returning
from the flaughter of his enemies, this moft valiant
King, haftening to meet fome new adverfaries who
had attacked him, no prefTure of hafte would allow

The Life of King Harold. 159

him to pafs by his beloved church. He turns
afide to it in his devotion, enters, proftrates him-
felf, and the innermoft feelings of his heart be-
coming foftened, he worfhips the Holy Crofs,
multiplies vow upon vow of thanks for the victory
he had juft gained, and humbly doubles his prayers
that he may obtain another trophy of victory, if
it mould pleafe God's High Majefty. His prayers
being at length finifhed, and the ifTue of the im-
pending conflict entrufted in his earneft devotion
to the faithful judgment of Him who orders
all things, as he was on the point of returning
with bent head and {looping body, and faying
farewell to the Holy Crofs, he bowed himfelf, as
the cuftom is, and in refponfe the countenance of
the crucified image bowed itfelf.

This wonderful and aufpicious action of the Saviour
gladdened while it terrified fome of thofe who flood
by. For what could even be conceived more aufpi-
cious than that the immortal King of Eternity,
though invifible, mould be feen to anfwer the falute
of a King of miferable mortals, and mould deign and
have the power to incline His head to him ! How
terrible this was to human weaknefs to fee fuch
ftrange things, that, contrary to all nature, a ftone
mould bend ; and, what is beyond nature, that God
in His own image mould be feen to bend to a human
being ! And what mail we fay of this, that, where
the art of man could not pierce even the thin
palm of the divine image, the image itfelf was
feen to bend its bodily neck? The workman toils
and draws blood, and makes a hole in the hand of

1 60 The Life of King Harold.

ftone. A man, deftined foon to be a King no longer,
prays, and the neck of ftone which, although, it
might by fome means be pierced by man's hand,
could by no means be bent, fuddenly bends itfelf,
yet is not broken ; bows itfelf, but from the com-
pletenefs of the whole body or the joined head,
not the flighteft crack is made. And not only in
the mere material was this great miracle fo re-
markable. For the image being of ftone infide,
and the outfide filver, a double miracle was per-
formed and difplayed. It was the image, forfooth,
of Him of whom it is written: "They have
fipped honey from the ftone, and oil from the
hardeft rock." The fubftance indeed was of ftone,
yea, of very rock, hardeft in quality, thick about
the moulders, neck, and arms of the image, and,
fo to fpeak, corpulent.

This image was difcovered by divine revelation,
buried in the earth on the top of a certain hill ;
nor was it known how or by whom it was fafhioned,
or depofited and concealed there. It was brought
by divine command direct to the place we have
fo often mentioned, where thefe things are faid to
have occurred, by oxen, who drew the cart on
which it was laid about one hundred and twenty
miles, and they would not allow it to turn afide any-
where from the journey it had undertaken. There
it was covered with filver plates, and was not joined
or fixed to the lofty crofs. For it allowed fo little
of man's workmanfhip on it, that a man could
not even make the holes for the nails to be driven
in. Nor was this attempted, but the palm of the

The Life of King Harold. 1 6 1

right hand, as foon as a little of the furface had
been bored by an iron, was found to poflefs a foft-
nefs whence it emitted blood ; but it loft not its
hardnefs, whereby it repelled the hardeft auger.
The right hand of the Lord gave this quality to the
right hand of His image, which, as the Pfalmift
fang, hath given ftrength, whence alfo it is a fitting
quality of this material right hand, that being made
illuftrious by fo many figns, and glorious by fo many
prodigies, it may feem to declare, not fo much in
words as in fact, "The right hand of the Lord
hath exalted me ; the right hand of the Lord hath
given ftrength."

Now, we have related all this to the end that the
manifold nature of the heavenly power might appear,
which was mown in this bending of the facred head
of the holy image ; for, as we have faid, in the filver
as well as the ftony fubftance, this wonderful act of
heavenly condefcenfion and power fhone forth to
our eyes, which we can ftill behold to-day near
the horn of the altar where the occurrence hap-
pened. For the ftone did not crack, nor did the
filver plate experience a cleft, or contract a wrinkle,
though it was ftretched to an unwonted degree
from that part of the neck through fuch a bending ;
nor was it feen to be folded in the leaft propor-
tion from the region of the neck and jaw. But
there was an alteration, and not a fmall one, from its
original pofition, for whereas the chin of the image,
as we have formerly heard, ftood ftraight out, we
fee it now hangs down and fettled upon the breaft,
by reafon of the bending which we have defcribed.

CHAP. XII. Different interpretations of dif-
ferent men concerning the above-mentioned figns of
the bowing Crojs and m the withered oak ; and how
Harold, by judging .himjelf^ favourably anticipated
the divine judgment and fears not man's.

LTHOUGH this wonderful work of
piety feemed at the time to have
portended a happy and aufpicious
omen, yet fome people afterwards
faid that it prefaged an unlucky and difaftrous
event. For when, a fhorf time after, the King
was beaten with his army, many thought that the
bending of the image fignified the fubjugation of
the Englim and the lamentable downfall of the
kingdom. But to thofe who look into the order
of the occurrences and the fervices of the pious
King towards the Crofs, both before and after the
event, the former interpretation of fo divine an
action feems more probable and more liberal. For
God, who always gives in excefs of the merits and
prayers of His fuppliant, is wont to Jiften to thofe
who pray to Him as foon as they afk beyond what

The Life of King Harold. 163

they afk and underftand. Wherefore He turns a
deaf ear oftentimes to what His petitioners wifh,
but anfwers their prayers for their good and fafety ;
for it is only His enemy's wifhes that He grants
to their own destruction.

But it is not neceflary to make a long tale by
narrating how He has anfwered the prayers of fome
of the elect as well as finners. It is fufficient to
bear in mind that the chief of reprobates fought to
tempt that holy man Job, that this was accepted now
and again, but was anfwered to the augmentation of
his own condemnation. Let it fuffice to call to
mind, on the other hand, that He, the chief of all
the elect, when the fting of His fuffering was at
hand, afked that the cup might pafs from Him, but
obtained not the prayer which He had made accord-
ing to His wifhes, but fubjected His will to the
good pleafure of the Father, yea, and rendered it
completely in fubjection. " Not My will," said He,
" but Thine be done." For God in fuch a wim as
that, fpared not His own Son, giving Him up for
us all, that He might on that account, when he
had drunk of the brook in the way, lift up His
head which He bowed upon the Crofs. The
ftory of the confummation was declared to be the
overthrow of the enemy of mankind. And on
this declaration becoming known, He bowed His
head in peaceful {lumber, after the long vigils
of an anxious conflict ; and fweetly refted in
peace after the agony of His bloody fweat. But
thefe things unbelievers have interpreted contrari-
wife. When He achieved the victory over His

164 The Life of King Harold.

enemies, defeated fpite thought that it had con-
quered the victorious King. But He, knowing
what He had done, bent His invincible head,
which in victory He carried erect, in a fecure and
peaceful fleep. It is now plain by this diftinguifh-
ing fign the King had mown, in bending His
head to the fuppliant King, that He had granted
him a better victory than the reft looked for or
thought. For, left an erroneous opinion mould
prevail with the conquered againft the conqueror,
and left He who was faid to be the King of the
Jews mould be thought to have loft His kingdom,
there was added the governor's difapproval of the
rafh opinion in letters, in the infcription placed
over His head, which was already bent. For It
was written there, " Jefus of Nazareth, King of
the Jews." He remained, in truth, a king, for
the wicked multitude envied Him His kingdom,
and killed Him, fo that He bowed His Head.
But He indeed bowed His head, afluming at the
fame time the power of His kingdom; which
confefling 1 that He had received in its fulnefs,
He exalted His bowed head above the heavens.

Let no one think that the royal name or royal
dignity (to whom fuch a mark was mown by the
King of all Kings) was loft by the King, either
becaufe He deigned to bow in his own image or
becaufe it was not permitted the fame King
vifibly to triumph over his threatening enemies by
the fame means. But if anyone thinks that the

1 Convefcens, //'/. eating together with ; here evidently a
corrupt reading, perhaps for confeflus.

The Life of King Harold. 1 65

prefage of fuch an unexpected virtue fignified the
extenfion of the kingdom, whofe temporal adminif-
tration was at firft conferred on him, and after-
wards taken from him, we do not deny that the
downfall of Englifli profperity, and the overthrow
of the liberty of the laity as well as the Church,
which was experienced from that time, was por-
tended to the inhabitants of our ifland. But the
Holy Crofs does not fuffer the rights of its fervant
to be diminifhed becaufe of its greater confederation
for him.

But the eternal and unchanging God offers and
promifes to His wormippers for their labours and
their religious worfhip not tranfitory and perifhable
things, but rather ftable, good, and eternal things.
Therefore the King granted, gave, and yielded to
the King what he wimed. And if he could in any
other or better way have known how to give or
grant it, it would have been the heavenly granting
to an earthly, one, a permanent for ever and ever
to a tranfitory one. But He took away a fhadowy
kingdom from him for whom He preferved a true
and everlafting one, that the former might not be
even a flight hindrance to his pafTmg to the latter.
And left the thoughts of men (whofe forefight re-
garding impending danger is full of fear and doubt)
mould imagine that the good Lord purpofed to
fuch an extent to bring affliction inftead of peace
on his devoted fervant, He refolved that the vaft-
nefs of the miracle which He had performed
fhould anticipate the enormity of a future offence,
and that we might put a limit to fuch things as

1 66 The Life of King Harold.

thefe, He deigned to beftow and confer the mani-
feftation of His clemency on His fervant. By
thefe benefits, in fine, the exalted power, the
infinite holinefs, the unapproachable fublimity of
the mercy and greatnefs of Almighty God the
Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, the one and only
King of Eternity, difplayed on the King's diadem a
pearl of great brilliancy, when he was under a cloud
of perfecution and in a flough of defpondency.

And as for what fome allege abput the oak, let
thofe attend to that who worfhip the beafts of the
foreft and trees, and who fear not nor blum to
prefer the fenfelefs wood and the brute beafts to
men, partakers of their own nature, made after the
image of God, and what is more than this,
redeemed by His death. Let them take care
left perchance the tree itfelf foretold an omen for
him who enforced the oath and his immediate
pofterity rather than for him who took the oath.
Let them confider and decide whether it feemeth
fitting to them by whofe agency the bloom and
vigour of the fanctity and liberty of the ancient
Church of England wafted and vanimed, that, when
the firft pulfe of the kingdom began to beat, a green
and leafy tree dried up, caft off in a moment its
beauty, and difplayed a perplexing nakednefs.

But let it fuffice that we have touched upon
both fides of thefe matters which are related
to have happened by fome in favour of King
Harold, and by others in oppofition to him, leaving
the fettlement of the queftion to the final decifion
of the reader, or rather of the immortal God who

The Life of King Harold. 1 67

knoweth all things. As far as we have been able,
we have tried by means of what we have related,
and which appeared to us not irrelevant to the
fubject, to remove the ftumbling-ftones from the
way, and to make the path plain, the actual fads,
as we truft, guiding us.

It remains for us now to go and meet, with
what fpeed we may, our King and patron, who is
returning to us from his long journey, and to
follow him to the bed of our power v/ith the
devoted fervice of our trufty pen, as he returns
home firft to the home of the Angles and then of
the Angels. But he himfelf, by accufmg and
judging himfelf, ftrove fo to anticipate the judg-
ment of man and of God that it mattered very
little to him to be judged by thofe who, according
as they were difpofed towards him by hatred or
goodwill, judge according to their human lights,
generally wrongly, and feldom rightly.

CHAP. XIII. How, after many years Jpent
abroad, Harold, returning to England for the
purpofe of exercijing his patience and meeknefs,
caujed himfelf to be called CHRISTIAN, and lived
ten years in a certain rock infolitude ; with a Jhort
inveRive againft the Antichrifts of that time.

FTER fpending many years in the
holy labour of a religious pilgrimage,
Harold decided to practife a new
method of life upon his body, worn
out as it was with long toils and old age. He
had learnt, indeed, the countlefs virtues and moft
holy lives of the faints whom he had vifited, and
he now refolved to ftay his fteps, to make an end
of his wanderings, to bid farewell afrefh to the
activity of Martha, and to reft quiet, like Mary,
in meditation on the fayings and doings of holy
men which he had heard and feen, that he might
the more lavifhly enrich his fpirit, fo as to be able
to fing with the Pfalmift in deed and in truth,
"That my foul may be filled with marrow and
fatnefs, and my mouth praifes Thee with joyful

The Life of King Harold. 1 69

lips." He had experienced and maintained in his
own perfon, and in the fweet and gentle fanctity
of the righteous, how gentle and pleafant is the
holy of holies; and he thinks that it would be
beft for him to reft in future, that he may fee more
perfectly, and know in a more blefled way, that
the Lord Himfelf is God.

But left this bodily repofe (as is cuftomary to
the thoughtlefs) mould bring lazinefs or torpor
upon his mind, he elected to reft and repofe in
that land, by refiding in which he forefees that
he will be able 'to poffefs and difplay a greater
exercife and a more effective proof of his patience
and goodnefs. He knew that the height of per-
fection, which he felt in his enlarged breaft in all
its fulnefs, would ftand out moft clearly in that
faying which the only begotten Son of the Moft
High deigned to utter and teach the brothers of
his adoption, " Pray," faid He, " for them which
defpitefully ufe you and perfecute you ; do good
to them that hate you, that ye may be the children
of your Father which is in heaven, for He maketh
His fun to rife on the good and on the evil, and
fendeth rain on the juft and on the unjuft." He
afpired, therefore, in his heart's affection to the
merit and reward of that true perfection to which
he ought the rather to ftrive, and to remain in that
land which contains as many of his perfecutors as
there are dwellers therein ; as many of his haters
as there are men therein ; almoft as many revilers
as men who fpeak with him and of him. But he
does not truft himfelf to fo ferious a ftruggle, nor

170 The Life of King Harold.

commit himfelf to fuch a danger without due con-
fideration ; for he is well aware of the ftrength of
Him who dwelleth in him, and in whom he
dwells ; nor did he fear to fay with the Apoftle,
" Since ye feek a proof of Chrift fpeaking in
me." With full truft, then, in the knowledge
that he has fuch a gueft within him, he wimed
to be called CHRISTIAN by name, that, being
already joined in a union of the Spirit, he might
alfo be united in the communion of name to
Him who, he knew, was dwelling in him, fpeak-
ing in him, working in him, and fuffering in him.
For he faid with Paul, in his heart to himfelf,
but to us alfo in work, " I can do all things
through Him who ftrengtheneth me."

It is not thus with the wicked man, nor with
thofe whom a treacherous enemy an enemy who
overthrows and is overthrown arms only to deftroy,
flrengthens only to make weak. For fuch an one
teaches you to place your reliance in your own
flefh, that your heart may be alienated from God ;
that you may be like the tamarifk, blooming yet
barren ; and that you may dwell now in a land of
faltnefs, which yields no fruit to its cultivators,
and afterwards in an uninhabitable land, which
gives no reft to thofe who dwell therein. In this
land only eternal horror dwells. For who can dwell
with the devouring flame, or who can abide with
everlafting fires? But thefe laft prophetic words
we ufe without abufe, knowing the difference of
thofe fires: with which the one confumes fmners
without deftroying them ; but the other, by con-

The Life of King Harold. 171

fuming the fins, juftifies the finners, illuminating
and kindling them. Yet why mould we fpeak of
thefe, of whom we are not concerned to fpeak or
judge, who, indeed, rob and deftroy the church
aye, and churches outwardly, but inwardly enter
not into nor inhabit them gathering the fruit
and lopping the vineyard of the Lord of Hofts ;
but now they are cut down by the hufbandman,
and, unlefs they grow wife in time, they are to be
caft in a moment into eternal fire. Now becaufe
thefe men are become Antichrifts, let us rather
leave them to themfelves and their flame and
return to our Chriftian. For even now, as the
prophet witnefleth, the flame devours the enemy,
and in obedience to the fentence of the true vine,
the branch is afterwards caft into the fire and
burnt.

But our Chriftian, new in name but old in
profeflion, fecure in Chrift who dwelleth in him
already the victor of the world and of that Prince
who is in the world by a new warfare and a new
art of fighting begins to conquer his conquerors.
His King, with whom he had waged war already
a long time in the hope of regaining his loft
kingdom, had beftowed on him the flame of
affection, with which, fanned by the breath of this
Holy Spirit, the hammers of affliction had forged
upon the anvil of fuffering a great panoply of
victorious arms. With thefe he had learnt to
fight without defeat for his loft kingdom but a
kingdom, indeed, in heaven, not on earth, know-
ing that, when he had obtained that, he could

172 The Life of King Harold.

never lofe it at the hands of any enemy. Led,
then, at length to his former kingdom poflefled,
indeed, with great danger, but loft to his great
gain ready to fight manfully with thofe weapons
with which he was armed for a new and incom-
parably better kingdom, he enters the camp
equipped with all his armour. For, retiring into
a cavern hard by Dover, he firft compofed his
mind, then, rifing up out of himfelf, he beheld
the land far above him, whofe King fometimes his
eyes could fee in all His glory, in whom and with
whom he prefumed to have a certain hope of
reigning.

Here, fulfilling all the commandments, he
fpent ten years of folitary life, like a foldier in
his recruit fervice, and at length, becoming a
veteran, he ftrove, by leading a godly life, to
exceed even rather than fulfil the vital precepts of
the Divine Law. For he knew that that was a
life of virtue, this a life of holinefs ; that a life of
beginning, this a life of perfection; that alfo he
judged neceflary, this glorious here, in fhort, he
looked for counfel, there for empire, for the fafety
of mankind, and at the fame time for the glory of
a jealous and favourable God.

Now this place, where he had thus determined to
fpend his life, was not far diftant from the fpot where
he had formerly loft his earthly kingdom by nearly
meeting his death, and by this act feized power from
the Kingdom of Heaven. Here, therefore, the
patience and gentlenefs of the man exercifed and
wafted his ftrength, where both his own and his

The Life of King Harold. 173

people's paft misfortunes, and the prefent pride of
his enemies, was brought to his memory and fight
more frequently, forafmuch as he was more urged
in a more generous fpirit to repay, not evil for
evil, but the bounteous gifts of his holy inter-
ceffion.

CHAP. XIV. How Harold afterwards Jpent
a long time in various places on the borders of the
Welfli) bore their repeated ajjaults in patience,
hiding his face with a cloth, and changing his
name for another left he jhould by Jome means be
recognifed ; how at length the cruelty of his per-
Jecutors was changed into veneration for him.

|lVING, then, among the Welfh, al-
though he had been at one time an
object of hatred to them, on account
of what feemed at the time a juft
defence of his own race, he now defires, as
Chriftian, to fuffer with Paul what he had, as
Harold, done with Saul. Bidding farewell, then,
to Kent, he proceeds to Wales, and ftaying there
in various places a long time, he Jived with
the Welfh and prayed for them, although they,
without provocation, ceafed not to afTault him,
who was now not fighting againft them, but for
them. But as he was going into a land, as we
have ftated before, where he was once known, he
concealed both his features and his name, wearing

The Life of King Harold. 175

always in public the veil of a little piece of cloth
before his face, left, if he were recognifed by any,
the offer of their adoration to the merits of his
virtues might lead him to become vain. If, then,
his name were afked, he would fay that men called
him Chriftian. He, indeed, difguifed both his
face and his name, becaufe his name was known to
all, and his face to many. For he was afraid that he
might be betrayed bythefe indications, and he feared
left he mould be greeted with applaufe from his own
friends, if perchance any furvived, or by ftrangers
even, if he were recognifed, either at the contempla-
tion of his former dignity and prefent humility, or
under pretence of friendship or familiarity.

But it was not to be feared that, even if
he were betrayed by his enemies, he would be
treated in a hoftile manner, leading fuch a life
and behaviour as he was doing, or put into clofer
reftraint than he had put himfelf. Yet it was
very probable, if his fecrets were known, that he
might be troubled by what was worfe than tortures
or imprifonment, namely, praife and applaufe.
For who would not mow all the reverence and
honour he could to fuch a man, when he faw how
lowly-minded and mild how kind-hearted and
gentle how indifferent to worldly things he was ;
and how, by his own free-will, he had become an
object of contempt to lovers of the world, efpe-
cially if it were no fecret that in former times he
had held a confpicuous pofition in the world, and
had been rich and powerful? And this is re-
markable about his frugality and patience, that he

ij6 The Life of King Harold.

did not fo much bear wrongs with patience, as
repay them with kindnefTes ; and that he did not
fo refrefh his faft-decaying body with food, as juft
keep it alive. On this matter we have heard
fully, from a certain holy fervant of Chrift, that
if he were at any time eating a lean and fmall fifh,
he would never eat but one half of it, leaving the
other half untouched not even turning it over,
but would hand it juft as it was to his fervant, or
to fome needy man, if one were prefent. By thefe
ftrict refolutions this holy man, following the
example of Him whofe Name he claimed to mare,
preferred to be defpifed and afflicted for a while
with Chrift, and for Chrift, fince now he was
called Chriftian from Chrift, rather than be ener-
vated by the favours and pleafures of the world ;
for which reafon he had of his own free-will
expofed himfelf to the favage company of the
Welfh, putting before his mental vifion that Pafchal
Lamb who freely offered Himfelf to wicked priefts
to be facrificed for us.

For, defiring to walk as Chrift walked, this
Chriftian haftened to follow wherever He went,
through the purity of a worldly heart, and fuffer-
ing of an afflicted body, that Lamb, which per-
chance he could not follow in the unfoiled cleannefs
of the flefh. For burning with a love of fuffering,
as if he thought of too little account all the hard-
fhip and failings he brought on his own body,
himfelf his own torturer, he chofe to enter into
companionfhip with a wild race, at whofe hands
he knew he mould be fubjected to many afflictions,

The Life of King Harold. 1 77

if not indeed crucifixion itfelf. He differed, in
truth, from thefe treacherous, favage, and defpicable
men, only what he looked for and expected, for
he was often violently beaten with very cruel
ftripes at the hands of robbers, from whom alfo
he fuffered every poflible injury. They pilfered
his provifions, and robbed him of his clothes ;
and to induce him to bring forth money, of which
he had none, they tortured him with exceffive and
exquifite torments and ill-treatment.

Such, indeed, was the conduct of thefe men, or
rather wild beafts, that that faying of St. Gregory
concerning the Longobardi fuits their cafe exactly :
" Whofe very compacts are punimments, and whofe
favours are fwords." But the man of God bore it
all with a tranquil mind, a cheerful countenance, a
gentle voice, and a generous hand. Nor did his pious
habits ceafe, though he had to ftruggle with fuch
impiety, until the evil of the latter was overcome
and put to mame by the goodnefs of the former,
and glory and honour was heaped upon the piety
which had won the victory. For he gave food
and drink to his enemies, as the Apoftle tells us
to do. He foftened the hearts of his defpoilers by
kindneffes he made his tormentors gentle by his
wondrous, unheard-of meeknefs. He heaped, fo to
fpeak, from the furnace of a great affection, coals
of fire upon their heads, fo that the hardnefs of
their hearts, foftened to the marrow, was at length
melted, and they began to worfhip and honour
him whom they had been accuftomed to mock and
fcourge. The hand which once raged with ftripes,

178 The Life of King Harold.

is now conftant in kindnefles. The tongue, once
ufed to contumely, redoubles its praifes. For the
virtue of his not yet experienced goodnefs, after the
manner of perfumes, the more it was handled, the
ftronger fcent it had, and being widely diffufed,
the odour of his life became, by its difperfion, life
to many. For the fweet fragrance of his holy
reputation, gliding into their fenfes, drove away
and put to flight that devil's breath of raging
mift from the hearts of thefe brute beafts, though
human beings ; and you might well think that fuch
an utterance as this came from their tuneful hearts,
rather than their voices: "In the odour of Thy
ointments we run, for our fouls have loved Thee."

CHAP. XV. How Harold, the man of God,
avoided the obfequious who perjecuted him, whom
he had approached, and long borne with ; and how
a place of reft was appointed for him by a 'voice
that fell from heaven ; and how he hinted in
ambiguous words to thoje who ajked him that he
was Harold; and how the truth of the matter
will be fliown more fully in the account given by
his Juccejfor.

UT this man of God, this practifer of
a deep humility, this lover of quiet-
nefs, this careful guardian of both
thefe virtues, left he mould lofe or
deftroy in the leaft either of thefe good qualities,
decides that he muft fly from thofe whom he had
firft fought out to perfecute him, but who now
were inclined to worfhip him. The virtue of his
bodily ftrength, which would not yield to labours,
but was become broken with years, began to give
way in him. Once you would have thought that
his knees were growing ftrong rather than weak
by his faftings ; that his legs were gaining activity ;

1 80 The Life of King Harold.

that he fcarcely felt fatigue. But now the decrepit
old man was to experience that " Old age brings
everything." He makes a prayer to the Lord
that he may be mown a place, in his declining
years, defiring a pleafant vifion to his faint-
ing heart, and begs that God with His wonted
kindnefs will grant him fuch a refting-place, where
he may pafs the remainder of his life in the quiet
of a much-defired repofe, and there end his days
by a happy death. And feeling that the Lord in
His beneficent fpirit had liftened to the pious defire
of His poor fuppliant, he caufed himfelf to be
mounted on a poor beaft, and, content with his
ufual attendant, ftarts on the journey which the
Lord would deign to appoint for him ; and was
thus borne by feet that were another's becaufe his
own had no ftrength left in them. Departing,
then, ignorant by defign, and wifely uninformed of
his journey's end, and led by angelic guidance, he
reached at length the city of Chefter, where, as the
day was declining towards evening, arriving in the
midft of the city, when he heard his attendants in-
quiring where they were to ftay, a voice fuddenly
falls upon them. " Go," it faid, " good man, to the
church of St. John ; there you mall find a refting-
place prepared for you." The attendant, aftonifhed
at what he heard, gazes all round with curious
eye, feeking for the owner- of the voice, but none
was vifible. It was clear, forfooth, that it was the
Lord's holy angel who, accompanying them on
their journey, and ordering everything for their
benefit, had told the man of God that a place was

The Life of King Harold. 1 8 1

prepared for him. And he, as was his cuftom,
with the veil that hung before his eyes covering
nearly the whole of his face, had difguifed his
countenance, left he might frighten thofe who met
him by the remarkable appearance of his wounds ;
or left, if he were recognifed, a feeling of vanity
might fteal over his fenfes at the reverence he would
be fubjedled to. The byftanders foon point out
with their finger the church which was fignified to
them by the divine oracle ; he approaches, and is
heartily welcomed as a heavenly-appointed gueft.

For the fad was that a venerable hermit of that
place had recently departed this life, thus leaving
his little dwelling vacant for a holy fucceffor thus
divinely provided. The daughter of Sion, by
which I mean the church we have mentioned
above, full of joy and gladnefs (though no one
knew for certain who he was), received her King,
though feated in this ignoble fafhion, and yet a
faint, and coming in all things as a Saviour to
them. And as he abode there, when he was fre-
quently afked by thofe who came to vifit him, and
who reported what edification they gained from
him, whether he was prefent at the war when King
Harold was faid to have been killed, he replied,
" I was certainly there." But to fome who fuf-
pected that perhaps he might be Harold himfelf,
and who queftioned him more clofely than was
right, he would fometimes thus fpeak of himfelf,
" When the battle of Haftings was fought,' there
was no one more dear to Harold than myfelf."
With fuch ambiguous words, fo to fpeak, he did

1 82 The Life of King Harold.

not fo much confirm the truth of the facts, as
refufe to ftrengthen them in their doubtful con-
jectures. But how the evidence of the matter
became at length plainly known to all will be
mown below in the words, not of ourfelves, but of
a venerable man who fucceeded Harold in his
habitation at the fame hermitage.

CHAP. XVI. The reader
dejpife the reading which he feels differs from the
opinions ofjome; and concerning the three occafions
of thofe who think differently about this prejent
Jubjeft ; and concerning the threefold miftake of
William of Malmejbury on the fate of Harold.

IEANWHILE, i think i ought in aii

humility to fuggeft to the reader
that he fhould not think he ought
to defpife our hiftory from its
evident infignificance, becaufe, perchance, he re-
members that many perfons have fpoken' and
written on this fame fubject in one place or
another; for it is plain that not only ordinary
hiftorians, but alfo moft renowned orators, have
thought and written not only differently, but
quite the oppofite to each other concerning the
words of Harold. For it is quite clear, both by
common-fenfe as well as authority, that what
differs from truth cannot be true. This alfo St.
Jerome, at the dictation of truth itfelf, has faid.
But in the reafonablenefs of thefe opinions which

1 84 The Life of King Harold.

we are here ventilating, a threefold caufe of
difference of opinion or, what no one ought to
deny, of falfehood, can be afligned by thofe who
well confider the matter. In the firft place,
indeed, it is plain that, in many cafes, the truth
of matters has for a long time efcaped everyone.
Hence diflike of, or favour to, a particular perfon
feems to have given an excellent opportunity to
kindly-difpofed perfons of relating good things,
and likewife to evil-difpofed perfons of inventing
evil things, when the facts themfelves were un-
certain.

Actuated by fome fuch confederation as this,
that moft eloquent William of Malmefbury
difcriminates in his chronicles, and promifes to
take a half-way pofition between Harold's de-
tractors and his fupporters. I mould have thought
he would, without doubt, have infifted on the
truth for its very virtue's fake, and would not
willingly have defrauded the merits of the affair
of their juft praifes or their due criticifm. But
becaufe he wrote of things he had heard of but
had not feen, by the law of hiftories the truth of
the writer is aflured where the truth of the facts
themfelves is wrecked ; otherwife, not even had
the moft blefled writers of the Gofpels efcaped the
rifk of miftakes thus Jofeph is called the father
of the Saviour ; thus certain of His difciples are
more particularly called His brothers than the reft,
not that their real father, but their putative father
had them as fons, not indeed natural, but adopted
fons. Therefore, following general opinion, and

The Life of King Harold. 185

unaccuftomed to the truth, this man is known to
have introduced into his hiftory what it is plain
was the reverfe of the truth, however much the
truth of things is relied on to ftrengthen one's ftory.
But in the other things, which he commented
upon at one time with a pen of gold, at another
with a pen fteeped with pitch, concerning the
merits or manners of Harold, as his mind in-
formed him or report fuggefted, perhaps he
wandered from the path of truth fomewhat par-
donably ; but he fell more feverely when he at-
tacked the very Anointed of the Lord. For he
turned upon himfelf in his impetuonty three
fpears, by which it chanced that, not his perfon
indeed, but his truth was attacked. He faid that
Harold met his death by an arrow-wound upon
his head ; he faid that the foldier who attacked
the dead King's thigh had been driven from the
army after cenfure from the victorious Duke ; he
related that money was offered by his mother to
the victorious William for a royal funeral, but
that he was taken away, without payment of
money, and buried at Waltham. Thus, concern-
ing the thigh, the head, and the man's whole
body, the tongue of the fpeaker, who writes many
things in fecret, runs riot with more licence than
the armed hand of the foldier who fights openly.
But the Lord has delivered the poor and needy
man whom He has proved to be more mighty
in moft things than many orators and kings from
the arrow of the mouth of the one and from the
fpear in the hand of the other.

1 86 The Life of King Harold.

I do not fpeak of all thefe things ; but the
Lord will give to him who walks in fimplicity the
power to underftand what I write, to think what
I think. But a contemporary of the prefent writer
has written in temperate language an account of
thefe things (namely, Ethelred, a venerable abbot)
in the life of his holy predeceflbr, King Edward.
He fays, indeed, that Harold either fell in battle
or efcaped, not without wounds, referved for re-
pentance.

CHAP. XV IL What happened to the people of
Waltham in their holy anxiety concerning the
burial of their patron ; and how they were mifled
by a woman s miftake.

lUT the offence of fuch a miftake on
the part of William is a great deal
lefTened becaufe what took place at
Waltham was well known far and
wide. For, in truth, this horrible report had
reached the ears of the private domeftic canons of
the King at Waltham, feeing that nearly everyone
was faying that the King had fallen at the battle of
Haftings. The clerks, fo often mentioned above,
not unmindful of the devotion due to their moft
generous patron, fent a certain woman of a mrewd
intelligence, Edith by name, to the diftrict where
the battle had been fought, that me might carry
away the limbs of their dead lord, to be buried
reverently in their church. She feemed [a more
fuitable perfon] to make the attempt, infomuch as
the weaker and lefs favoured fex would be con-
fidered lefs an object of fufpicion to the cruel

1 88 The Life of King Harold.

officers in authority, and more an obje<5t of com-
panion. But this woman feemed more fitted than
all others to carry out this affair, becaufe me could
more eafily difcover amongft the thoufands of
corpfes him me fought, and would handle his
remains more tenderly, becaufe me loved him ex-
ceedingly, and knew him well, inafmuch as it was
clear that me had been frequently prefent in the
fecret places of his chamber. But when me reached
the ill-omened fpot, me heard from many Normans,
who were everywhere boafting, that the King of
the Angles was ignominioufly beaten, with his
crofs broken in halves, and that he was lying on
the battle-field, killed amongft the {lain.

But let the reader fee what turned out to be a
truer account. For others thought that they who
had carried off the King half dead, had fet about
this report, forefeeing that it would be dangerous
to them and to him, and would prove their certain
deftrudion, if the enemy mould hear that he was
alive. We muft not therefore wonder at the
miftake of the woman who, unable to difcern the
features of the body hacked about as it was,
covered with blood, already becoming black and
decompofed, fince me could not find one which
me could be certain was the King's feized hold
of, and carried off with her, another man's mangled
corpfe, to fatisfy the public eftimation. And this
was the body which was received in all reverence
by the Canons of Waltham, without queftioning
the truth of the matter, and was handed over for
burial in the Church of the Holy Crofs.

CHAP. XVIII.How a brother of Harold,
Gurth by name, replied to Walter the Abbot, or
others, when ajked concerning the a/hes or the
burial of his brother.

N the days of King Henry II., there
was feen by that King himfelf, as
well as the nobles and people of the
land, a brother of Harold named
Gurth, whom the above-mentioned hiftorian in his
book relates at the time of the arrival of the
Normans to have been in years little more than a
boy, but in wifdom and uprightnefs of mind,
almoft a man. But he was, at the period we
fpeak of, of a great age, and, as we heard from
many who faw him at that time, beautiful to
look upon, noble in mien, and very tall in figure.
The Abbot of the regular canons at Waltham,
the Lord Walter, of pious memory, was the firft
to fee him; and was very eager to aik him, as
well as his brothers, who were about the King's
Court at Woodftock, whether in real truth the
afhes of his brother were preferved in their

1 90 The Life of King Harold.

monaftery, as was generally believed. He replied
in Englifh, "You may have fome countryman,
but you have not Harold." Yet he came to the
place himfelf to worfhip the Holy Crofs, and
when his brother's coffin was mown to him, look-
ing afkance at it, faid : " Man knoweth not " (for
fo he fware). "Harold lies not here." May that
Lord Michael, Canon of the approved religion,
Chamberlain of the Church at Waltham, live long
and flourim in Chrift, who firmly aflerts that he
heard thefe words from the man's own mouth,
while many flood by, fome of whom ftill furvive.
Thus having difcufied thefe things briefly and, as
we truft, not unprofitably, for the information of
our readers, left the uncertain differences of writers
mould difturb them, we will now, as we promifed,
fet down the words of the man we fpoke of
above, by which it is clearly taught how the good-
nefs of Chrift made plain by many figns the fame
of His fervant.

CHAP. XIX. How the fucce/or of the man
of God, writing a true account of the deeds of the
moft blejfcd Harold^ has on two occafions ajjigned
inappropriate reafons for his aflions ; with a dif-
cujjion on the fir ft reafon, and a full difpro-val of
the fame by the production of the evidence of various
opinions.

|E muft confider that view alfo in the
words of the moft faithful relator,
that, juft as he lucidly explained
things that were done, fo he took
care to exprefs the reafon of the things done not
fufficiently fitly and prudently, as moft people
think ; and this may be faid without offence to
fuch a great man. Hence, therefore, that third
thing can be taken into confederation, which, as
we faid, gave rife to a ground of difference among
the writers : I mean, the quality of mind or in-
telligence of thofe who relate all thefe things in
order, who, according to the bent of their mind,
meafuring the affection of the moft holy man, and
the purpofe of his actions, have taken on them-

192 The Life of King Harold.

felves to intimate the reafons of thofe actions.
The evident credulity of thefe writers by carelefs
expreflions has darkened with an interpretation
far from true deeds worthy of the higheft praife.
And this feems to have happened not once, but
twice, to this good man in the courfe of his narra-
tive, in their opinion who, fully relying on felf-
evident reafons and other perfons' opinions I
mean the opinions of thofe who had clung more
clofely to the fervant of the Lord have imprefled
in fome way or other more deeply on their hearts
an inward likenefs of his mind. But what thofe
things may be, by which the courfe of that truth
is not fufficiently eftablifhed (as is thought) it is
worth while to difcufs briefly, to the end that we
may remove from the midft of it all darknefs of
doubt, bringing to bear the force of our difcretion,
as far as we can, on our more fimple-minded
hearers.

Thus the aforefaid man fays of the faint
who was then on his journey ings, as follows :
" Afterwards, becaufe to live on one's own native
foil is always pleafant, he made all hafte to Eng-
land, where he had formerly been King, that he
might fpend there the remainder of his days."
But fince it is a trite faying of the wife that that
man is yet weak who holds his fatherland dear,
but ftill ftrong when he makes any land his father-
land, and even perfect when every land is a land
of exile to him ; who does not fee that it is abfurd
that a man withered with old age, as he himfelf
fays, and broken down by the length of his

The Life of King Harold. 193

journey, religious though it was, fhould be de- ,
clared to have been attracted by the fweetnefs of
his native foil to feek a fatherland again in it?
And does not the Lord fay to Abraham, " Get
thee out of thy country ;" and again in the Pfalm,
" Forget thine own people and thy father's houfe "?
And if the fweetnefs or recollection of his land,
his people, and his father's houfe could not hold
him of lefs age or inferior ftrength of mind, or
holinefs of purpofe, would it lead or would it
attract him to all thefe things whereby the more
he advanced the more perfect he became ? but
would not that faying of the evangelift thunder in
the fpiritual ears of the man who was pondering
in his heart over the fweetnefs he had loft, " No
man putting his hand to the plough, and looking
back, is fit for the kingdom of God " ? And again,
the well-meaning writer does not confider what
fort of a thing that native foil was to him how
it was ftill unchanged, how it was hoftile to him
and his party, and how it could even feem to him
to be irkfome when he looked back upon the
whole of his life, even if he was ftill led along by
an affection tenderer than ever.

CHAP. XX. The weaknefs of the Jecond reafon
aj/igned, and the writer's warning to the reader ;
and on the difficulty of patching up materials torn
indifcriminately by ancient writers.

|ND indeed he has no ftronger ground
to ftand on, when he alleges the
reafon why he left Shropfhire to
go to Chefter. He relates that he
abandoned the place in which (as the writer main-
tains), though fo cruelly and frequently afflicted in
lofles and ftripes by the Welm, he feemed to have
fettled, at peace with himfelf and giving thanks
to God, for the fpace of feven years, in order that
the outward tribulation might not deftroy the
repofe of the inward man from its attitude of felf-
control. But this opinion is detected to be in-
valid, no lefs than the other, when confidered,
and when the tradition is accepted of thofe who
affert that he dwelt in the country of the Welfh
for this very reafon, which defcribes how he
fuffered at the hands of thofe whom he had in
paft years afflicted with fuch utter devaftation,

The Life of King Harold. 195

though with an apparently juft caufe, whatever
the merciful difpenfation of God, who orders all
things in kindnefs, had permitted him to fuffer.
For if, under pretext of withdrawing him from
fuch violence, he had refolved to change his abode,
he would have done it fooner, and not have waited
to be afflicted fo often with lofTes and ftripes. For
he was well acquainted with their fhores, in the
midft of which, in a three-years' expedition, he
knew them to their exceflive coft, as is related,
thoroughly and entirely, as one fays. For this
was the land which he had fubdued by his won-
derful bravery, when yet an Earl, and nearly
deftroyed it, which not one of the Kings who
fucceeded him up to this prefent day had power
to do.

For it is maintained that he poflefTed fuch
ftrength, and withal fuch wonderful boldnefs that,
as we read, not one of the armed Norman army
approached to attack him, but both horfe and
rider were overthrown by him at the firft blow,
mortally wounded. This remarkable valour he
had now put off, trufting now in the Lord, and
flying with wings he had aflumed, and nowhere
failing in his flight. But the only thing he feared
was that the power of his wings might be weakened
by the lubricity of a worldly profperity, becoming
feeble and not fo much like the birds whom God
feeds as thofe men whom the wind feeds, if in his
cafe the feven locks of Samfon mould be morn by
the razor of adulation. It was this alone he fled
from, becaufe it was the only thing he feared ; it

196 The Life of King Harold.

was not, indeed, the weapons of the Welfh, but
the oil of the finner. He knew that the Welfh
held the unknown in fufpicion, but thofe who were
approved in religion in veneration, and that
therefore they defpifed the companionmip of the
one, and admired that of the other. But the man
of God, now juft and brave, now prudent and
temperate, fought out thofe who defpifed him, that
he might fuffer juftly what he feared he had de-
ferved; and wifely deferted thofe who admired
him, left he mould be deprived of the benefit of
his temperate moderation. He remembered that
the fire near the prophet fuddenly burnt the beau-
tiful, fertile, and fruit-bearing olive-tree, at the
appearance of a loud voice ; wherefore he wifhed
to walk with the great and not amongft thofe who
looked on him with admiration. Therefore he
evades liars and finners whom he had for a long
time borne upon his back, when he faw they were
haftening to ftrike on the head.

But now my ftory pleads for an ending. My
book muft be clofed, that the pen of thofe who
know thefe things more fully may narrate what it
is neceflary to be known concerning Harold. But
Jet this little book in its laft fentences implore the
benevolent reader to deign to make allowance for
the excefles of the author by holy prayers, and
aflifted by the mterceflion of the pious King
Harold, let him take him in his company to the
harbour of eternal fafety ; may he grant pardon
for the garruloufnefs of the writer of this prefent
work when he fees how very difficult it was to

The Life of King Harold. 197

patch up and make new again the materials at his
command, torn and mifplaced as they are by the
ftudies of former authors, and to guide into the
wifhed-for haven the boat, old and mattered,
amid the ill-famed rocks of hiftories, while the
tongues and writings of calumniators are, as it
were, winds fighting againft it. But all glory and
honour be to God our helper, who alone, the
Trinity and Unity, is King, blefled, worthy of
praife, glorious and highly exalted for ever.

THE NARRATIVE OF THE HERMIT

whojucceeded the holy Harold on the death of that
mo ft -pious King, and the miracles which were per-
formed by his means after he departed to the Lord,
preceded by a fliort account of his doings andfuffer-
ings from the time he loft his earthly kingdom.

T is written that tribulation worketh
patience, patience experience, expe-
rience hope. For the experience of
patience and confirmation of a pious
hope, God fometimes permits His people to have
tribulation in this life that He may free them
from an eternal tribulation, wherefore He alfo
allowed the venerable Harold, once King of the
Angles, to have tribulation, and to be overcome
by his enemies, and expelled from his kingdom,
left he might grow proud becaufe he had gained a
victory ; and left, having been raifed to kingly
power, he might put on one fide the love of God
becaufe of his profperity, but having been placed
in poverty that he might live a more holy and
blefled life, while he had his mind altogether free
from earthly occupations.

The Life of King Harold. 199

Therefore, after the lofs of his kingdom, and
the cure of the wounds he had received at the
hands of the Normans, he takes a [journey] in
the guife of a pilgrim to holy places through many
lands, working for God on his holy pilgrimage.
But after a time, being ftiff with old age and
mattered by his long journey, he became defirous
to inflict on his weary body another form of
religious practice. And becaufe to live on one's
native foil is always pleafant, he made all hafte to
England, where he had formerly been King, that
he might fpend there the remainder of his days,
poor, defpifed, and meanly clad, where once he
had flourimed as a king, wealthy, exalted, and
clad in coftly garments, and in order that his merit
might increafe in the fight of God (in proportion
as he might poflefs a more benevolent fpirit) be-
caufe he would be able every day to look upon
his adverfaries and be happy in the kingdom he
had loft, and alfo to obey the Lord's command in
praying faithfully to God for them.

On arriving at the mores of his native country,
he chofe the folitary life of a hermit, and living there
in many places unknown to all till he made his laft
farewell to earthly things, he miniftered to God by
faith. Nor did he change his place of abode by any
caprice, but he fought where he might ferve God
with moft tranquillity. Now this fame noble man
had formerly an attendant named Mofes, who,
when I, the prefent writer, was confined in the
fame place at Chefter, where the Lord Harold, the
hermit and friend of God died, attended me alfo

200 The Life of King Harold.

for two years. And I will tell you briefly and
faithfully, though I muft omit much, the events
which follow according to the account of Mofes and
other faithful men. At length the man of God came
to Shropfhire, to a place called (Cefwrthin) Chef-
wardine, and there for feven years leading the life of
a hermit, with this Mofes for his attendant, he was
very much difturbed by Welfh robbers, and was
frequently and violently afflicted at their hands by
their robberies and afTaults. All this he bore
with patience, in all things giving thanks to God
with humility. But after a time, left outward
tribulation mould caft him down from his pofition
of control over his inward man, he left that place,
and followed by the above-mentioned attendant,
fet out for Chefter, and there, in the Chapel of
St. James, which is fituated on the River Dee,
outfide the walls of the city in the cemetery of St.
John Baptift, he fpent a hermit's life with great
ftrictnefs for feven years, until his death. He
wore for a long time a corfelet next his {kin, till it
was all rotten, and quite worn away. But the
cuttings and loofe pieces he bade his fervant throw
fecretly into the river, that it might appear to no
man that he had worn it. In his body, indeed, he
was moft chafte and continent : in heart, lowly and
prudent. Of what ftation of life he was he always
kept a fecret, that he might not by chance be
held in too great veneration by men, whereby his
mind being elated he might flip from the path of
uprightnefs, and the merit of his humility might
be diminifhed in the fight of God. He rarely

The Life of King Harold. 201

quitted the chapel, but was conftant in continual
prayer, doing what God has faid : that men ought
always to pray and not to faint. In front of his
eyes he hung at all times a cloth, which covered
nearly the whole of his face, fo that when he
wifhed to walk at all far he required the hand of
a guide. Why he did this, his attendant did not
know ; but perhaps he did it to hide the appear-
ance of the wounds upon his gamed face, or left,
if a free outlet for his eyes exifted, an opening for
fecular vanities might be made for his foul, or elfe
it was that he might not be recognifed and vene-
rated by any who had feen him in former times.

ON THE LAST MOMENTS OF HAROLD.

|OW as the day of the death of the
venerable Harold drew near, and as
that laft moment of extreme neceflity
arrived when the holy man demanded
the confolation of the Holy Sacrament, a prieft,
whom I knew well, named Andrew, came and
vifited the fide man and adminiftered to him all
that the Chriftian rite requires. But as he was
liftening to his laft confeflion, he afked him of
what ftation of life he was ? To whom he replied :
" If you will promife me, on the Word of the
Lord, that, as long as I live, you will not divulge
what I tell you, I will fatisfy the motive of your
queftion." The prieft anfwered : " On peril of
my foul, I declare to you that anything you mail
tell me mall be preferved a fecret from everyone
till you have drawn your laflrbreath." Then he
replied : " It is true that I was formerly the King
of England, Harold by name, but now am I a
poor man, lying in afhes ; and, that I might
conceal my name, I caufed myfelf to be called

The Life of King Harold. 203

Chriftian." Not long after this he gave up the
ghoft, and now, conqueror over all his enemies, he
has departed to the Lord. But the prieft at once
told them all that the man of God had confefled
to him, in his laft words, that he was indeed King
Harold.

INDEX.

AILARD, physician and abbot, 17, 18, 23
Alemrxnni, the, 18
Anchorite, at Chester, 78
Andrew, a priest, 98
Antichrists, 69

Benjamin, 29

Benoni, 29

Beseleel, 6

Brompton, the historian, 81

Butler, Alban, 44

Ceswrthin, or Cheswardine, co. Salop, 96

Chanaan, 28

Chester, city, 30, 77, 81, 95, 97

chapel of St. James, 97

cemetery of St. John Baptist, 97

chapel of St. John, 77

church of St. John, 98

Chophmos, 28

Chrysanthus, the martyr, 44, 45

Cnut, King, 13

Daci, the, or Danes, 13-15, 3 6 i 37
Darin, the martyr, 44, 45
De, River, 97
Domesday Book, 34
Dover, 69

Edward the Confessor, 13, 15, 17

Ellis, Sir Henry, 35

Elsinus, the abbot, 55

Esdras, 3

Eyton, Rev. R. W., quoted, 96

Francalanus, 34

Germany, 35
Giraldus Cambrensis, 81
Godiva, Countess, 96
Godwin, Earl, 13-15
Grandmont, Priory of, 51
Gregory, St., 74

Hardy, Sir Thos. D., ix.-xi., 81

Harold, description of the MS. Vita, i. ;
history of the MS., ix. ; notice of his-
torical points and translation, xii. ; pedi-
gree of, 13

Hastings, xi., 78

Henry I., King, 26

Henry II., King, 51

Hiram, 6

Jacob, 29
Jeronymus, 79
Jerusalem, 3
Jonah, 51
Joseph, 28
Joseph, St., 80

Knighton, the historian, 81
Longobardi, the, 74

Martha, 66 _

Mary, Virgin, 66

Moses, 3

Moses, or Moyses, a servant, 95-97

Nehemiah, quoted, 3
Neustria, 24, 52
Normandy, 24, 29, 34, 54
Norway, 29, 36, 50, 54

Ooliab, 6
Oxfordshire, 31

Paralysis, 17
Paul, St., 70

Pedigree of Harold and William the Con-
queror, 13
Prom Abbey, 45

Rachel, 29
Relics, 44
Rothomagus, 51

Saboth. 68
Samaritans, the, 34
Saracen, a, woman, 35
Saul, 14, 71
Saxony, 35, 36
Sebricht, anchorite, 30
Shropshire, 96
Stanton, in Oxfordshire, 31
Stephen VI., Pope, 44
Syon, 78

Uriah, 15

Wales, 17, 71, 73
Waltham, 19, 20, 24-26, 8t
William the Conqueror, 13, 24-26 ,
William of Malmesbitry, 80, 81
W. Pictaviensis, the historian, 81
Winchester, city, 35

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