Chapter I: Front Matter

Master Wace

HIS CHRONICLE OF THE NORMAN CONQUEST

FROM THE

Roman de Rou

TRANSLATED WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS

BY EDGAR TAYLOR ESQ. F.S.A.

LONDON

WILLIAM PICKERING

1837

TO HUDSON GURNEY, ESQ.

THIS CHRONICLE OF THE NORMAN CONQUEST

IS DEDICATED, IN TESTIMONY OF THE

TRANSLATOR'S RESPECT

AND REGARD.

CONTENTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

INTRODUCTION

ILLUSTRATIONS--Frontispiece, the oath administered to
Harold; from the Bayeux Tapestry. Title page vignette,
including a coin of William, from Ruding, vol. iv.
Dedication vignette, a group _after_ the Bayeux Tapestry.[1]
Map of Normandy. Initial letter to introduction, from the
Battle abbey chronicle, p. xv. The Tapestry roll, as
preserved at Bayeux, p. xxix.

PROLOGUE.

CONCERNING THE AUTHOR OF THIS BOOK, SETTING FORTH HIS INTENT AND DEGREE

ILLUSTRATIONS--Baptism of Rollo, from the Museum MS. of
Benoit Sainte-More, to face p. 1. Initial letter, from the
MS. of William of Jumieges in the library at Rouen, p. 1.
Norman soldiers, from a capital in the chapel of Norwich
castle, p. 6. [These may be compared with the two knights
opposite, (p. 7,) from Bocherville.]

CHAPTER I.

HOW WILLIAM BECAME DUKE; AND HOW HIS BARONS REVOLTED AGAINST HIM

ILLUSTRATIONS--Norman knights, from a capital in the church
of St. Georges de Bocherville, p. 7. Two norman messengers;
from the Bayeux Tapestry, p. 16.

CHAPTER II.

HOW THE KING OF FRANCE CAME; AND THE BATTLE THAT WAS FOUGHT AT VAL DES DUNES

ILLUSTRATION--Group from the Bayeux Tapestry, p. 17.

CHAPTER III.

HOW CANUTE DIED, AND ALFRED FELL BY TREASON; AND HOW EDWARD AFTERWARDS BECAME KING

ILLUSTRATIONS--Two illuminations from the Cambridge MS.
Estoire de Seint Ædward le Rei, representing the dispatch of
messengers for Edward, p. 32. The like, representing his
landing and his coronation, p. 36.

CHAPTER IV.

THE REVOLT OF WILLIAM OF ARQUES; AND HOW HE AND THE KING OF FRANCE WERE FOILED BY DUKE WILLIAM

ILLUSTRATIONS--Messengers to William, from the Tapestry, p.
40. Surrender of a town, from the Tapestry, p. 46.

CHAPTER V.

HOW THE KING OF FRANCE INVADED NORMANDY, AND WAS BEATEN AT MORTEMER

ILLUSTRATION--Guy count of Ponthieu, from the Bayeux
Tapestry, (going there to receive Harold,) p. 52.

CHAPTER VI.

HOW THE KING OF FRANCE CAME AGAIN AGAINST DUKE WILLIAM, AND WAS DEFEATED AT VARAVILLE

ILLUSTRATION--Group from the Bayeux Tapestry, (representing
there the Duke embarking at St. Valery,) p. 57.

CHAPTER VII.

HOW WILLIAM PROSPERED, AND WENT TO ENGLAND TO VISIT KING EDWARD; AND WHO GODWIN WAS

ILLUSTRATIONS--Abbey church of the Holy Trinity at Caen,
from Cotman, p. 63. Edward dissuaded by his nobles from his
vow, from the Cambridge MS. p. 69.

CHAPTER VIII.

OF HAROLD'S JOURNEY TO NORMANDY; AND WHAT HE DID THERE

ILLUSTRATIONS--Harold taking his leave of king Edward, p.
74. Harold proceeding to Bosham, p. 77. Harold claimed, by
Norman messengers, from count Guy of Ponthieu, p. 81. Guy
delivering Harold to William, p. 82. William receiving
Harold at his palace, p. 84; all from the Tapestry. Edward
the Confessor's great seal, p. 86.

CHAPTER IX.

HOW KING EDWARD DIED, AND HAROLD WAS CROWNED IN HIS STEAD; AND HOW DUKE WILLIAM TOOK COUNSEL AGAINST HIM

ILLUSTRATIONS--Edward naming Harold his successor, from the
Cambridge MS. p. 88. Edward carried for burial to
Westminster Abbey, from the Bayeux Tapestry, p. 91. Edward
entombed, from the Cambridge MS., p. 92. Harold's election
and coronation, from the Bayeux Tapestry, p. 99. Ship
bearing the messenger with the news to William, also from
the Tapestry, p. 100.

CHAPTER X.

HOW THE BARONS MET, AND WHAT AID THEY AGREED TO GIVE

ILLUSTRATIONS--Remains of the great hall at Lillebonne, from
Cotman, p. 101. William ordering ships to be built, from the
Bayeux Tapestry, p. 107. The Comet, and information to
Harold [of William's preparations?], both from the Tapestry,
p. 114.

CHAPTER XI.

HOW THE NORMAN HOST MET AT ST. VALERY, AND SAILED THENCE

ILLUSTRATIONS--Ship-building, p. 116. Storing the ships, p.
121. William's ship, p. 122; all from the Tapestry.

CHAPTER XII.

HOW THE DUKE AND HIS HOST LANDED NEAR HASTINGS, AND MADE THEMSELVES A FORT

ILLUSTRATIONS--Unloading and dismantling the ships, p. 126.
The supper after landing, p. 129. Group, (the same as at p.
55,) p. 132; all from the Bayeux Tapestry.

CHAPTER XIII.

HOW AN ENGLISH KNIGHT RODE TO HAROLD; AND WHAT MESSAGE WAS SENT BY THE DUKE

CHAPTER XIV.

HOW THE ENGLISH CONSULTED, AND WENT TO MEET THE NORMANS; AND HAROLD AND GURTH RECONNOITRED

ILLUSTRATIONS--Figure from a Saxon MS. now in the King's
library at Paris, representing Harold, (according to
Montfaucon,) p. 141. Two Norman scouts or messengers, from
the Bayeux Tapestry (before, p. 16), p. 147.

CHAPTER XV.

WHAT FURTHER PARLEY WAS HAD BETWEEN THE KING AND DUKE WILLIAM BEFORE THE BATTLE

ILLUSTRATION--Fort at Hastings, with a messenger coming to
William, from the Bayeux Tapestry, p. 148.

CHAPTER XVI.

HOW EACH HOST PASSED THE NIGHT, AND MADE READY FOR BATTLE; AND HOW THE DUKE EXHORTED HIS MEN

ILLUSTRATIONS--William and his half brothers, from the
Bayeux Tapestry, p. 155. William exhorting his men, p. 158;
also from the Tapestry.

CHAPTER XVII.

WHO WAS CHOSEN TO BEAR THE DUKE'S GONFANON

ILLUSTRATION--A Norman baron, with gonfanon, coming out of
Hastings to take horse, from the Tapestry, p. 166.

CHAPTER XVIII.

HOW THE MEN OF ENGLAND MADE READY, AND WHO THEY WERE

ILLUSTRATION--Saxon armour,--compiled from various sources
in Planché's 'British Costume,'--p. 173.

CHAPTER XIX.

HOW THE NORMAN COMPANIES MOVED TO THE ATTACK

ILLUSTRATIONS--William enquiring news of the English from
Vital one of his officers looking out, from the Bayeux
Tapestry, p. 180. Continuation of the exhortation,
(commenced at p. 158); from the Tapestry, p. 185.

CHAPTER XX.

HOW TAILLEFER SANG, AND THE BATTLE BEGAN

ILLUSTRATIONS--Attack by the Normans on the English placed
on an eminence, and defended by a fosse, from the Bayeux
Tapestry, p. 188. Bishop Odo rallying and encouraging the
varlets, also from the Tapestry, p. 192.

CHAPTER XXI.

HOW THE ARCHERS SMOTE HAROLD'S EYE; AND WHAT STRATAGEM THE NORMANS USED

ILLUSTRATION--Engagement between the Normans and English,
from the Bayeux Tapestry, p. 196.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE ROLL OF THE NORMAN CHIEFS; AND THEIR DEEDS

ILLUSTRATIONS--Norman Knights advancing 'ad prelium contra
Haroldum,' from the Bayeux Tapestry, p. 204. Group, also
from the Tapestry, p. 205.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE ROLL OF THE NORMAN CHIEFS CONTINUED

ILLUSTRATIONS--William knighting Harold at La Lande, from
the Bayeux Tapestry, p. 224. Group from the same, p. 225.
Signet ring of one of the Bigots, p. 235.

CHAPTER XXIV.

WHAT DEEDS OF ARMS DUKE WILLIAM DID; AND HOW HAROLD WAS SLAIN AND THE ENGLISH FLED

ILLUSTRATIONS--Deaths of Lewin and Gurth, p. 248. William
fighting, p. 249, and death of Harold, p. 253; all from the
Bayeux Tapestry. Burial of Harold, from the Cambridge MS. p.
259.

CHAPTER XXV.

HOW WILLIAM WAS CROWNED KING; AND HOW HE AT LAST FELL ILL AT ROUEN

ILLUSTRATIONS--Seal of William as king and duke, p. 261.
Seal of Battle abbey, p. 269. Apsis of St. Gerrais, p. 276.

CHAPTER XXVI.

HOW WILLIAM DIED, AND WAS BURIED AT CAEN

ILLUSTRATION--St. Stephen's, Caen, (Cotman,) p. 277.

CONCLUSION.

KING WILLIAM'S CHARACTER, FROM THE SAXON CHRONICLE

ILLUSTRATIONS--Initial letter from the Battle abbey
chronicle, p. 283. Dutchy arms, 287.

APPENDIX

INDEX

[Footnote 1: A shield of pure _sable_ is appended to the principal figure, with full notice of our liability, on that account, to the charge of heraldic anachronism. Waving any defence on the scientific point, we merely observe that when Wace tells us of 'escuz painz de plusors guises,' it may safely be presumed that there was at least _one_ of sable hue; and that our fancy may not be considered as running very wild, if it presumes that the lord of the Marches was wont so to distinguish himself; and if it connects the subsequent use of so simple an heraldic bearing by the norman Gornais, with its previous use as a mere badge, a cognoissance or entre-sain; see p. 22, 172, 302.]