BoAr: FNQ: Hereward Contents
http://boar.org.uk/ariwxo3FNQsup(Contents.htm Latest
edit 29 Nov 2007.
Web page © 2007 R.J.PENHEY With
thanks to the trustees of the Willoughby Memorial Library & to Lincolnshire
Library Service
The Bourne Archive
De Gestis Herwardi Saxonis.
Contents.
This is a series of episodes illustrating the
behaviour and bearing of Hereward, the renowned soldier: as transcribed by S.H.
Miller and presented by W.D. Sweeting as a supplement of the quarterly journal,
Fenland Notes and Queries. It is presented here by chapter, each in three
parts: Miller’s Latin transcription, Sweeting’s English translation and my
commentary. The Latin version
is presented entire and without comment. Sweeting’s English version is similarly
presented but with his footnotes. Latin and English are each on its respective
web page. Charles Kingsley’s
rewriting of the story is on the Gutenberg site.
RJP
Title Page and
introductions
I Here
begins the preface of a certain work concerning the exploits of Hereward the
renowned knight.
II Of what parents Hereward was born,
and how from his boyhood he increased in the splendour
of his deeds, and why he was driven forth by his father and country ; whence he
was surnamed “The Outlaw”.
III How Hereward slew a great bear, from
which he earned a position amongst the Knights where he was staying.
IV How he overcame a certain tyrant, and
took his famous sword.
V Of
the war which took place in
VI How Hereward in disguise was sent by
his lord to a wedding, where he achieved a praiseworthy action, in killing the
bridegroom, and carrying off the bride and conveying her to his lord.
VII How he endured shipwreck on his return
from
VIII Of his first fighting in Flanders, from
which, and from his daily deeds of valour, he was at length discovered, when
much enquiry was made as to who such a man could be, or whence he could come.
IX How Hereward overcame a famous
soldier, and led him safe and sound to his companions.
X How Hereward is beloved by a certain
girl, for whose sake he went forth to combat, and there with his men proved
victorious.
XI Wherefore
Hereward with a certain leader was sent into Scaldemariland with an army, and
how he overcame the army in front.
XII Of the second war at Scaldemariland,
and how the nation advanced to the fight, and with what arms
: and how Hereward arranged his army against them.
XIII Where
Hereward got a mare of very great speed, and a colt of conspicuous beauty, and
what he underwent on the road.
XIV How he returned to his country and to
his father’s house, where he found that his brother had been slain the day
before, and of the grand vengeance he took the same night.
XV For what reason some fled from him in alarm ; and whence he chose for himself men of war.
XVI For what reason he wished to be made
knight in the English manner, and where he was made knight.
XVII How
he was sought out by a certain man who desired to kill him, and how Hereward
slew him.
XVIII Why Hereward departed again into
XIX How on his return to
XX How the men in the
XXI How the King attempted to take the Isle,
where he nearly lost his entire army ; while no man,
except one brave knight, entered it.
XXII Of
a soldier who went into the Isle, and resolved to be the first to give
information to the King about the Isle and its inhabitants.
XXIII What
they did when they were disheartened about the Isle, and how the King was
disposed to make peace with them, unless some of his own men had dissuaded him.
XXIV How Hereward dressed as a potter and went
to the king’s court to discover what they intended and how he cheated them and
killed some in the king’s court and returned unharmed.
XXV How Hereward disguised himself as a
fisherman and cheated the king a second time, how the king attacked the isle
and about the islanders’ means of defence.
XXVI How
and wherefore the men of Ely made an agreement with the king; upon which Hereward
wanted to burn the church and town.
XXVII How Hereward was reduced to such straits that
he slew with his own hands his excellent horse : and
how next he overcame the army of five provinces.
XXVIII How
Hereward took vengeance on the Abbot of Burgh.
XXIX Of a vision and a marvellous occurrence seen by
Hereward.
XXX No
title. (The feast, the fugitive and the privy.)
XXXI How
Hereward’s wife assumed the habit of a nun at Crowland.
XXXII How
Hereward overcame a certain very eminent knight in single combat.
XXXIII How
Hereward went to the King’s court with his soldiers.
XXXIV How he fought with a soldier of the King’s
court, and overcame him.
XXXV How
Hereward was accused by Robert de Horepol and put into prison.
XXXVI How
Robert of Horepol made a good report of Hereward to the King.
Additional Material.
Sweeting’s English Translation
Links to information on the politics of the Netherlands in the eleventh century
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