Master Wace, His Chronicle of the Norman Conquest From the Roman De Rou

The church of the abbey of St. Stephen, which has been mentioned before, p. 63 and 64, as founded by William, at the same period as that of the Trinity was founded by his queen Matilda.

375

Orderic explains that this price was only for the mere grave; the promise of future benefit appearing there to be realized by the subsequent purchase of all the ground claimed by Ascelin. We add that historian's oratorical summary of the striking circumstances attending the conqueror's death and interment. 'Non fictilem tragœdiam venundo; non loquaci comœdiâ cachinnantibus parasitis faveo: sed studiosis lectoribus varios eventus veraciter intimo. Inter prospera patuerunt ad versa, ut terrerentur terrigenarum corda. Rex quondam potens et bellicosus, multisque populis per plures provincias metuendus, in area jacuit nudus, et a suis, quos genuerat vel aluerat, destitutus. Ære alieno in funebri cultu indiguit, ope gregarii pro sandapila et vespilionibus conducendis eguit, qui tot hactenus et superfluis opibus nimis abundavit. Secus incendium a formidolosis vectus est ad Basilicam, liberoque solo, qui tot urbibus et oppidis et vicis principatus est, caruit ad sepulturam. Arvina ventris ejus tot delectamentis enutrita cum dedecore patuit, et prudentes ac infrunitos, qualis sit gloria carnis, edocuit.' Benoit paraphrases these reflections more poetically than is usual with him.

376

The Saxon chronicler, who had frequented the Conqueror's court, furnishes us with a cotemporary portrait. It is less flattering than that of the Norman poet, but forms a suitable commentary and conclusion. In our translation the phraseology, and generally the very words, of the original are retained.

377

Court.

378

Crown.

379

Peace.

380

This is an allusion to Domesday Book, which had been more fully described in a previous part of the Saxon Chronicle, and probably by another hand. The description of that document by the continuer of Wace's Brut is as follows:

—volenters voleit saverD'Engletere la tenor,E la laise e la longnur,Toz les feez e les tenemenzE les servises de tote genz,Quant de conteez i sunt trovéE quant de viles en chascon conté,Quant de barons la terre avoitE cumbien de terre chascon tenoit,Quanz de feez de chevaliersE cumbien de franc-fermers,Les serganties e les sokages,Les petiz sokemen e les vilenages;Cumbien des charues en chascon vile,E kant de boueez en la charue;Cumbien de terre chascon home avoit,E en quele manère il la tenoit,E quel servise faire devoit,E quei sa terre valer purreit.Tuit ensemble fist enquerrePar serement par mie la terre,Od grant diligenz ceo fist escrivreE de ceo en fist un grant livre.Le livre est Domesday apeléE en la trésorie le roi uncore guardé.

381

Wales.

382

The Isle of Man?

383

The fame of his strength.

384

Reserved to himself, or forbade others, the slaying of the harts.