Chapter I: Preface

This attempt to sketch the history of England under the Angevin kings owes its existence to the master whose name I have ventured to place at its beginning. It was undertaken at his suggestion; its progress through those earliest stages which for an inexperienced writer are the hardest of all was directed by his counsels, aided by his criticisms, encouraged by his sympathy; and every step in my work during the past eleven years has but led me to feel more deeply and to prize more highly the constant help of his teaching and his example. Of the book in its finished state he never saw a page. For its faults no one is answerable but myself. I can only hope that, however great may be its errors and its defects, it may yet shew at least some traces of that influence which is so abidingly precious to me.

I desire respectfully to express my gratitude to the Lord Bishop of Chester and to Mr. Freeman, who, for the sake of the friend who had commended me to their kindness, have been good enough to help me with information and advice on many occasions during my work.

A word of acknowledgement is due for some of the maps and plans. The map of Gaul in the tenth century is founded upon one in Mr. Freeman’s _Norman Conquest_. The plans of Bristol and Lincoln are adapted from those in the _Proceedings of the Archæological Institute_; for Lincoln I was further assisted by the local knowledge kindly placed at my disposal by the Rev. Precentor Venables. For Oxford I have followed the guidance of the Rev. Father F. Goldie, S.J. (_A Bygone Oxford_), and of Mr. J. Parker (_Early History of Oxford_); and for London, that of its historian the Rev. W. J. Loftie, whom I have especially to thank for his help on some points of London topography.

My greatest help of all has been the constant personal kindness and ever-ready sympathy of Mrs. Green. To her, as to my dear master himself, I owe and feel a gratitude which cannot be put into words.

KATE NORGATE.

_January 1887._

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I
PAGE
THE ENGLAND OF HENRY I., 1100–1135 1

CHAPTER II

THE BEGINNINGS OF ANJOU, 843–987 97
Note A.--The Sources of Angevin History 126
Note B.--The Palace of the Counts at Angers 132
Note C.--The Marriages of Geoffrey Greygown 134
Note D.--The Breton and Poitevin Wars of Geoffrey Greygown 136
Note E.--The Grant of Maine to Geoffrey Greygown 140

CHAPTER III

ANJOU AND BLOIS, 987–1044 143
Note A.--The Siege of Melun 189
Note B.--The Parents of Queen Constance 190
Note C.--The Pilgrimages of Fulk Nerra 192
Note D.--Geoffrey Martel and Poitou 197

CHAPTER IV

ANJOU AND NORMANDY, 1044–1128 200
Note A.--The Houses of Anjou and Gâtinais 249
Note B.--The Heir of Geoffrey Martel 251
Note C.--The War of Saintonge 252
Note D.--The Descendants of Herbert Wake-dog 253
Note E.--The Siege of La Flèche and Treaty of Blanchelande 256
Note F.--The Marriage of Geoffrey and Matilda 258

CHAPTER V

GEOFFREY PLANTAGENET AND STEPHEN OF BLOIS, 1128–1139 261

CHAPTER VI

ENGLAND AND THE BARONS, 1139–1147 308
Note.--The Topography of the Battle of Lincoln 344

CHAPTER VII

THE ENGLISH CHURCH, 1136–1149 347

CHAPTER VIII

HENRY DUKE OF THE NORMANS, 1149–1154 372

CHAPTER IX

HENRY AND ENGLAND, 1154–1157 407

CHAPTER X

HENRY AND FRANCE, 1156–1161 440

CHAPTER XI

THE LAST YEARS OF ARCHBISHOP THEOBALD, 1156–1161 474

LIST OF MAPS

I. GAUL _c._ 909–941 _To face page_ 107

II. GAUL _c._ 1027 ” 143

PLANS

I. WINCHESTER. II. BRISTOL _To face page_ 31

III. LINCOLN. IV. OXFORD ” 40

V. LONDON ” 44

VI. ANGERS ” 165