BoAr:
FNQ: Hereward XXII
http:// boar.org.uk/ariwxo3FNQsupXXII.htm Latest edit 29 Jun
2008.
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FNQ
This thread begins with the title page
De Gestis Herwardi Saxonis.
XXII.
De quodam milite qui in
insulam ingressus est, et quomodo primus regi de insula et habitatoribus ejus
prædicanda dare censuit.
Ille quoque miles catus, quem jam
paulo ante in insulam ingressum memoravimus capitur ante majores et primates
insulæ in Ely deducitur. A quo etiam quum requisitum esset causam adventus et
nomen, Dadam ex vocabulo nominatum perciperunt, et causam hujusmodi. Nam rex
coram suis pactus est, quod si quis prior in insulam ingressus dampnum inferret,
si quis ab eo de eisdem insulæ possessionibus postularet, utique promitteretur.
Et his auditis audaciæ ejus virtutem laudaverunt, et eum secum aliquantis
diebus commanere fecerunt, quamobrem ut virtutis eorum experientiam agnosceret,
et quam tutum præsidium ipsi haberent intelligeret, munitissimi locis
vallatione præditi et insignium militum collegiis non minime roborati. Nam ut sæpe
coram eis professus est, in bello minus eos esse profectos seu in militia
peritos præ aliis gentibus multotiens audierat, sed priusquam discessit,
præclarissimos in cunctis percepit et in bellis exercendis efficaces, habita
quoque hoc ex pacto licentia abeundi ut non aliter quam audierat et viderat de
eis proferret, et hoc etiam sacramento fidei confirmato, dono ditatus, tandem
ad regis curiam pervenit, ex cujus adventu omnes simul valde congratulabantur,
verum et ipse rex gavisus est. Nominatissimus quidem inter insigniores militum
regis erat, et interrogatus ante omnem exposuit curiam, quomodo in insula
incolumis fortuitu pereunte fortuna solus ingressus est. Ubi cum ipse via quam
ascenderant et quam fecerant innumerabiles sicut supra libavimus perierunt,
ipse enim ex omnibus solummodo vivum ab Herwardo magistro militum
insulæ ipsius dicebat et in insulam deductum, per quem inter insigniores
militum catervis honoratum si fuisse asseruit. Postquam percunctatus causam
ingressionis didicit, regiam promissionem illi exponens, quod maximo honore ditaretur
si quis in insulam ingressus prius dampnum inferret. Verum adhuc diligenter
inquisitus dignitates majorum ejusdem insulæ peroravit et nomina, atque in
defensione insulæ magnanimitatum eorum opera recensuit, et quomodo insignium
militum catervis valde roborati sunt et collegiis robustissimorum non minime
protecti. Illos autem tres comites quos supra memoravimus, silicet, Adwinus,
Morkere, Tosti, et duos proceres Argarum et Thrachitell cognomento Puer, primos
ad dignitatem insinuans præposuit.
Herwardum vero Exulem cum suis,
præ illis pene et præ cunctis equitibus quos apud Francorum gentem seu apud
Romanum imperium vel apud Constantinopolitanum viderat, ex virtute laudis et
animositate in multis de eis sermonem faciendo pertulit, et si nonnullos tamen
illi coæquavit, neminem illum excedere dixit. Ad hoc quoque comes de Warenne,
cujus fratrem, sicut superius explanavimus, Herwardus dudum occiderat, præ ira
commotus et gravi indignatione exstimulatus, intulit : Vere evidentissime
declaratur te non minime esse deceptum, ut dominum nostrum regem isto modo
fallacis laudibus et persuasionibus inimicos ejus extollens ad benevolentiam
decipiendo revocares. Ac insuperque sceleratissimum virum Herwardum virtute et
fortitudine præfers ? Desistat nunc regis veneranda majestas diutius et
vanissimis exhonerari sermonibus. Cui ille prædictus miles inquiens respondit,
non se munere nec dono seductum, nec alicujus favoris gratia persuasura, nisi
tantum ut de eis vera proferat, nulla facie potentis seu alicujus veritatis,
sub sacramento fidei in hoc pacto ab eis libere discedens. Et subjugendo
interrogat quomodo illa posset reticere, dum exiguntur
quæ oculis vidit et ipse expertus est, nisi dominum regem offenderet et
sacramentum suum violaret, aliter de eis mentiendo recensens. Rex vero interdum
pro istis inoffensum eum haberi præcepit, et suum explicare sermonem, illum diu
ante veracem militem agnovisse contestans, si tamen nunc ut existimatur in his
non excederet. Iterum autem ille prædictus miles satis non solum a rege sed a
pluribus inquisitus, interrogant si alimentis seu alicujus rei necessitate
egerent, vel si plus ibi probati viri fuerint quam prius exposuit, ut in aliquo
eum in suo sermone deviantem invenirent, aut potius ut aliquid ad oppugnationem
eorum intelligerent unum subjugendo refert : Si causam igitur adhuc audire
contenditis, ut sæpe illuc percipi hoc est. Disposuerat enim regis veneranda
majestas transmarinos monachos in omnibus ecclesiis Anglorum decanos et
præpositos constitui debere, pro quibus vestra sublimitas jamdudum miserat,
illos videlicet quos quidam insignis miles ex Anglorum gente, Brumannus nomine,
in mari hac ex causa obvios habuit, et in pelago demersos per saccum maximum
transire fecit sic cognatos ab externa dominatione tunc liberans. Qua de re
monachi loci illius alienis subjici verentes magis laborare maluerunt quam in
servitutem redigi, exules, præjudicatos, exhæreditatos, et suos parentes
idcirco ad se congregantes, suum locum et insulam non insigniter de eis et
aliis munierunt, et penitus illa pro tanti exercitus numero non aggravatur, et
inimico non aggravatur ; ubi ob quatuor regum et regnorum obsidionem
arator manum ab aratro non avertat, nec messoris dextra a messe vacillet, nec
venator ibi venabula non observat, nec auceps avibus insidiare juxta ripas
fluminum non desistat et in silvis, qui decore nimis in eadem insula et
opulente pene omnibus animantibus sunt.
Nam eo tempore quo aves aquaticæ
pennas mutant et habitum, illuc sæpe aviculas captas afferre vidi multas,
nonnunquam centum et aliquando ducentas et plus, et sæpissime non multum
inferioris numeri ac etiam ex una aqua mille. Ex silvis namque quæ in insula
sunt eo modo in uno anni tempore ardearum satis copia est, excepta habundantia
ferarum et pecorum. Ex aquis vero quæ in circuitu insulæ sunt, omni genere
piscium abundari illos non ambiguum est. Et amplius quid referam ? Quotidie
enim dum illuc tempora exegi, more Angligenorum16 epulis in refectorio
monachorum fastidiebamus, reficiente ad prandium semper et ad cœnan milite cum
monacho, ad superiorem tabulam abbate cum tribus prælibatis comitibus simul
etiam recumbentibus17 et cum duobus præclarissimis viris Herwardo et Turkillo
cognomento Pure. Desuperautem unumquemque equitem et monachum clipei lanceæ
parieti adhærentes pendebant et in medio domus a capite usque deorsum super . .
. . loricæ galeæ cum cæteris armis erant appositæ, ut
semper monachi sicut milites parati vices suas peragere essent, et in
expeditione belli ire, hoc nempe mihi præ cunctis unum et valde mirificum est
de illis omnibus quod illuc percepi monachos loci illius pene omnes tam
præclaros in militia esse, quod nedum penitus ante audivi, nec ipse in aliquo
alio loco numquam expertus sum. Non enim illos ad munitionem in aliquo egere
scio nisi fotrte in animo deficiant, quum insulam habeant fructiferam, in omni
quippe semine etiam et germine uberrimam, atque ex aquis et palude
munitissimam, omnique castello muris circumdato fortiorem. Præterea tamen
dominus meus rex illos expugnare utinam non desistat, et me quoque a veritate
non deviantem inveniet, et melius tandem cum illis pacem facere intelliget quam
diu illos expugnare et nil penitus prævalere.
The Exploits of Hereward the Saxon.
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.
That soldier whom we have named a
little while ago1 as having gone into the Isle, was taken
and led before the chief men and dignitaries of the Isle in Ely. And when he
was asked for the reason of his coming and for his name, they found out that he
was called Dada, and the reason of his coming was as follows. The King2, in the presence of his followers, had made a
bargain, that whoever should first make his way into the Isle and inflict some
damage, might ask of him any of the possessions in the Isle, and he promised he
should have it. Hearing this they praised his audacity and valour ; and they
caused him to stay with them for a few days, that he might become acquainted
with their valour3, and see how secure a
position they held, being provided with the defence of a thoroughly fortified
place, and in no small degree strengthened by the companies of distinguished
soldiers. For, as he often declared in their presence, he had many times heard
that they were less proficient in war and less skilled in military tactics than
other nations ; but before he departed he perceived that they were most
excellent in all things, and efficient in practice of warfare. So permission to
go away was given him on these terms, that he should report about them nothing
else than what he had heard and see, and this he had to confirm with an oath ;
and so at length, complimented with a present, he arrived at the King’s court ;
and everybody greatly congratulated him on his arrival, and the King himself
was glad. For he was a man of very great repute among the more distinguished of
the King’s knights : and when he was asked before the whole court, he declared
how he entered the Isle by some favour of fortune safe and sound. And while on
the road on which they had marched and which they had made, great numbers, as
we have narrated above4, perished, he said
that he alone of them all had been conducted alive by Hereward the master of
the soldiers5 of the Isle into the Isle ; and by him he
asserted that he had been honoured among he most distinguished of the bands of
soldiers. Afterwards, on enquiry, he learnt the reason of his going there, Dada
explaining to him the King’s promise that any man who should first go into the
Isle and inflict some damage should be rewarded with very great honour. Upon
being further strictly questioned, he went through all the dignities of he
chief men of the Isle and their names ; and recounted the grandeur of their
works of defence, and how well strengthened they were by troops of
distinguished soldiers, and in no small degree protected by companies of mighty
men. And in the first place of dignity he put those three Earls whom we have
named above, that is to say, Adwinus6,
Morkere7, and Tosti8,
and the two nobles, Orgar9 and Thrachitell10,
surnamed The Boy. And in giving his description of them he extolled Hereward
the Outlaw with his men above themselves and above all knights whom he had ever
seen in the nation of France, or in the Roman empire11,
or in Constantinople12, for their valour
and courage13 ; and if he thought some equal to him yet
he said no one could surpass him. At this the Earl of Warenne14, whose brother we have before related Hereward
had lately slain, moved with anger and stirred up with great indignation, spoke
thus : “Truly it is very evident that you are wholly deceived, in that you
would untruthfully induce your lord the King to show kindness, by thus
extolling his enemies with false and specious praises. And above all do you set
up that most infamous man Hereward for valour and courage? Let his Majesty be
no more burdened with such frivolous talk.” To whom the soldier aforesaid made
reply ; that he had not been seduced by bribe or present, nor was any favour in
the future promised ; save only that he was to tell the truth about them without
fear or favour, and he was allowed freely to depart after having taken an oath
to do this. And then he proceeded to enquire how he could keep silence on these
matters, while he was asked what he himself had seen and experienced, without
offending his lord the King and violating his oath, if he gave untruthfully any
other report. So the King gave command that he was to be held harmless for
those matters, and that he should tell them more, professing that he had long
known him for a truth telling soldier, and he believed he was not exaggerating
now. Once more therefore the aforesaid soldier was thoroughly questioned not
only by the King but also by many others : and they asked if the enemy were in
need of provisions or any necessaries, or if there were any more famous men
than he had previously named, so as to find out if possible contradicting
himself in his account ; or rather that they might discover something to help
them in their attack. To all this he had but one answer : “If you are still
anxious to learn the reason (of their enmity), it is as follows, as I have
often heard. For his Majesty had arranged that monks from across the sea ought
to be appointed as deans and heads in all the churches of he English ; and for
them your Majesty had lately sent, those very men namely whom a certain famous
soldier of the nation of the English, Brumannus15
by name, intercepted by sea for this reason, and dipped them in the sea in a
large sack and made them go back, thus, for the time, delivering his friends
from foreign rule. For which cause the monks of that place, fearing to be made
subject to foreigners, preferred rather to work than to be reduced to slavery,
and therefore gathered to themselves the outlaws, the condemned, the disinherited,
and their parents, and fortified their territory and Isle, against them and
others, to some slight extent*;
and within the Isle there is no pressure by reason of the number of their army,
and they are not pressed by the enemy : seeing that though blockaded by four
kings and their people, the ploughman does not take his hand from the plough,
neither does the reaper’s right hand waver in the harvest, nor does the hunter
neglect his hunting spears, nor does the fowler cease from lying in wait for
the birds by the banks of the rivers, and in the woods : for the inhabitants
are well and plentifully supplied with all sorts of living creatures. For at
the time when the water-fowl change their feathers and appearance, there I have
often seen men bring many little birds, sometimes a hundred, occasionally two
hundred and more, and very often not many less than a thousand from one single
piece of water. And from the woods that are in the Isle, in the same way, at
one time of the year there is a great supply of herons, so say nothing of the
abundance of wild animals and cattle. Then again from the waters round the
Isle, it is very well known that they abound with every kind of fish. Why need
I say more? For every day while I spent my time there, after the manner of the
English16, we used to feel disgust at the
banquets in the monks’ refectory, soldier and monk repairing together17 to dinner and supper, and at the high table the
Abbot with the three Earls before named, and the two distinguished men Hereward
and Turkillus surnamed Pure18, seated side
by side. Above each knight and monk there were hanging against the wall shields
and lances, and in the middle of the hall from one end to the other were placed
breastplates, and helmets, and other pieces of armour ; so that always the
monks as well as the soldiers were quite ready to take their turn and go forth
on a warlike expedition : and in truth this one thing above all others struck
me as marvellous, of the things I there noticed, that the monks of that place
are all so well versed in warfare, a thing that I never heard of before, nor
have I experienced such a thing in any other place. For I do not know that they
are deficient in anything pertaining to their defence, unless perchance in
personal courage, while they have a fertile Isle, most productive in every kind
of seed and grain, and so well protected by waters and swamp, much stronger than
any castle surrounded by walls. But yet I trust my lord the King will not cease
from attacking them, and he will find my account quite truthful, and he will
discover that he had better make peace with them than continually attacking
them and prevailing nothing.”
* ↑ [Sweeting’s
note] Latin very difficult. It seems to imply that the
natural security of the position was sufficient without artificial defences.
Commentary.
This
chapter is very largely a report of events at the court of William so will be
at least second hand. Hugh Candidus’s informants will have been too young to
have been there, though the Abbey of Peterborough had by his time, a Norman
abbot and doubtless other Norman members. Much of the chapter is a report of a
report made at William’s court and of Norman reaction to it. While it may be an
invention, it all reads naturally apart from the presence of Earl Tostig at
Ely, discussed in note 8.
3. In
recent centuries valour has tended to mean rather more ‘military courage’ but
here it means more general military worth, with considerable weight given to
the capacity to bring following skilled soldiers to support a cause. More generally
still, it meant ‘worth’ and could be applied to a girl, lady, boy or man;
military or not. (OED)
5. ↑ As in Chapter XII, Hereward is acting as magister
militum, master of troops. The
Hereward story is sometimes dismissed because modern people can not believe
that counts and earls would take orders from an obscure thegn but it seems
clear that on the one hand, he was not an obscure thegn, having eminent
parentage (though attitudes to the relationship between his parents may have
changed in his lifetime). On the other hand, here, as in his Irish and Flemish
operations, he is not formally in charge. The Abbot and the earls Edwin, Morcar
and Tostig take that role. They had sent for him with a view to his organizing
the defence of the Isle, upon which they had decided. But, in the same way as
people do not write books about how Queen Anne fought the Battle of Blenheim,
so Leofric and Hugh are not telling us how the Abbot fought the Siege of Ely. As
an executive officer, Hereward, the master of the troops, is the one who works
out tactics, does the organizing and actually gets things done.
6. Edwin, Earl of
Mercia, Hereward’s father’s grandson – Hereward’s half brother’s son.
7. Morcar, Earl of
Northumbria, Edwin’s younger
brother. He was elected Earl of Northumbria after Tostig had been ejected by
the Northumbrians.
8. Tostig,
when pronounced in the Danish manner sounds like Tosti so English writers
sometimes spell it that way. The best known Tostig was a son of Earl Godwin, whose family and that of Leofric were opposed. He is
not relevant here as he died in 1066 at the Battle of
Stamford Bridge (ASC 1066). It is
difficult to trace another Earl Tostig in the appropriate period so it looks as
though Leofric Deacon or one of Hugh Candidus’s informants was mistaken. Otherwise,
it is simply revealing my ignorance of the Earl Tostig referred to. Or,
conceivably, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle could be wrong on this occasion. Its
compilers were much the same sort of men as those who compiled the Hereward
story. They were not infallible.
9. ↑ An Ordgar had held a modest estate in
Cambridgeshire. (Morris 12,1. 14,21. 32,5.)
10. Thorketill had been a significant landowner
in pre-Conquest
11. The
12. At this
date,
13. ↑ Here we find valour and courage listed
separately. See note 3.
14. See Chapter XVII note 1.
15. He is
hard to trace. There was a sub-tenant at Fordham, a freeman called Bruman (Cambridgeshire Domesday 1,2) so the name did exist.
16. ↑ More Angligenorum, ‘by the custom of the
English people’. This is a counterpart of the expression, more Danico, met with in the commentary on Chapter II. The noun is mos, moris. Like most Latin words, it
presents a range of possible translations into English - habit, manner, custom,
fashion, will, humour, precept, law (Langenscheidt). More is the ablative singular; meaning
by, with or from the custom.
17. Here we have the word recumbens again. We met it in Chapter XIV when the
18. Puer
- The Boy. He is likely to have acquired that epithet if his father had the
same name. A likely candidate for having been the father held property in
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