1065

This year, before Lammas, ordered Earl Harold his men to build at Portskeweth in Wales. But when he had begun, and collected many materials, and thought to have King Edward there for the purpose of hunting, even when it was all ready, came Caradoc, son of Griffin, with all the gang that he could get, and slew almost all that were building there; and they seized the materials that were there got ready. Wist we not who first advised the wicked deed. This was done on the mass-day of St. Bartholomew. Soon after this all the thanes in Yorkshire and in Northumberland gathered themselves together at York, and outlawed their Earl Tosty; slaying all the men of his clan that they could reach, both Danish and English; and took all his weapons in York, with gold and silver, and all his money that they could anywhere there find. They then sent after Morkar, son of Earl Elgar, and chose him for their earl. He went south with all the shire, and with Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire and Lincolnshire, till he came to Northampton; where his brother Edwin came to meet him with the men that were in his earldom. Many Britons also came with him. Harold also there met them; on whom they imposed an errand to King Edward, sending also messengers with him, and requesting that they might have Morcar for their earl. This the king granted; and sent back Harold to them, to Northampton, on the eve of St. Simon and St. Jude; and announced to them the same, and confirmed it by hand, and renewed there the laws of Knute. But the Northern men did much harm about Northampton, whilst he went on their errand: either that they slew men, and burned houses and corn; or took all the cattle that they could come at; which amounted to many thousands. Many hundred men also they took, and led northward with them; so that not only that shire, but others near it were the worse for many winters. Then Earl Tosty and his wife, and all they who acted with him, went south over sea with him to Earl Baldwin; who received them all: and they were there all the winter. About midwinter King Edward came to Westminster, and had the minster there consecrated, which he had himself built to the honour of God, and St. Peter, and all God's saints. This church-hallowing was on Childermas-day. He died on the eve of twelfth-day; and he was buried on twelfth-day in the same minster; as it is hereafter said. <poem>

Here Edward king,

of Angles lord,

sent his stedfast

soul to Christ.

In the kingdom of God

a holy spirit!

He in the world here

abode awhile,

in the kingly throng

of council sage.

Four and twenty

winters wielding

the sceptre freely,

wealth he dispensed.

In the tide of health,

the youthful monarch,

offspring of Ethelred!

ruled well his subjects;

the Welsh and the Scots,

and the Britons also,

Angles and Saxons

relations of old.

So apprehend

the first in rank,

that to Edward all

the noble king

were firmly held

high-seated men.

Blithe-minded aye

was the harmless king;

though he long ere,

of land bereft,

abode in exile

wide on the earth;

when Knute o'ercame

the kin of Ethelred,

and the Danes wielded

the dear kingdom

of Engle-land.

Eight and twenty

winters' rounds

they wealth dispensed.

Then came forth

free in his chambers,

in royal array,

good, pure, and mild,

Edward the noble;

by his country defended --

by land and people.

Until suddenly came

the bitter Death

and this king so dear

snatched from the earth.

Angels carried

his soul sincere

into the light of heaven.

But the prudent king

had settled the realm

on high-born men --

on Harold himself,

the noble earl;

who in every season

faithfully heard

and obeyed his lord,

in word and deed;

nor gave to any

what might be wanted

by the nation's king.

</poem>

This year also was Earl Harold hallowed to king; but he enjoyed little tranquillity therein the while that he wielded the kingdom.

(Ingram, p.144-146)