Master Wace
his Chronicle of
THE NORMAN CONQUEST
from the
ROMAN DE ROU
Translated By
EDGAR TAYLOR ESQ. F. S. A.
LONDON,
WILLIAM PICKERING, 1837
This electronic edition
was prepared by
Michael A. Linton, 2004
www.1066.co.nz
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,
The Tapestry roll, as preserved at Bayeux,
CONCERNING THE AUTHOR OF THIS BOOK, SETTING FORTH HIS INTENT AND DEGREE
ILLUSTRATIONS—
Baptism of Rollo, from the Museum MS. of Benoit Sainte-More,
Initial letter, from the MS. of William of Jumieges in the library at Rouen,
Norman soldiers, from a capital in the chapel of Norwich castle, [These may be compared with the two knights opposite, from Bocherville.]
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,
Two norman messengers; from the Bayeux Tapestry.
HOW THE KING OF FRANCE CAME; AND OF THE BATTLE THAT WAS FOUGHT AT VAL DES DUNES.
ILLUSTRATION—
Group from the Bayeux Tapestry.
HOW CANUTE DIED, AND ALFRED FELL BY TREASON; AND HOW EDWARD AFTERWARDS BECAME KING.
ILLUSTRATIONS—
Two illuminations from the Cambridge MS. Estoire de Seint AEdward le Rei, representing the dispatch of messengers for Edward,
The like, representing his landing and his coronation.
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,
Surrender of a town, from the Tapestry.
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,)
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,)
HOW WILLIAM PROSPERED, AND HOW HE WENT TO ENGLAND TO VISIT KING EDWARD; AND WHO GODWIN WAS.
ILLUSTRATIONS—
Abbey church of the Holy Trinity at Caen, from Cotman,
Edward dissuaded by his nobles from his vow, from the Cambridge MS.
OF HAROLD'S JOURNEY TO NORMANDY, AND WHAT HE DID THERE.
ILLUSTRATIONS—
Harold taking his leave of king Edward,
Harold proceeding to Bosham,
Harold claimed, by Norman messengers, from count Guy of Ponthieu,
Guy delivering Harold to William,
William receiving Harold at his palace,
Harold's Oath to William,all from the Tapestry
Edward the Confessor's great seal.
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.
Edward carried for burial to Westminster Abbey, from the Bayeux Tapestry,
Edward entombed, from the Cambridge MS.
Harold's election and coronation, from the Bayeux Tapestry,
Ship bearing the messenger with the news to William, also from the Tapestry.
HOW THE BARONS MET AT LILLEBONNE, AND WHAT AID THEY AGREED TO GIVE.
ILLUSTRATIONS—
Remains of the great hall at Lillebonne, from Cotman,
William ordering ships to be built, from the Bayeux Tapestry,
The Comet, and information to Harold [of William's preparations ?], both from the Tapestry.
![The Comet, and information to Harold [of William's preparations ?], both from the Tapestry.](images/Image32.jpg){kind=link}
HOW THE NORMAN HOST MET AT ST. VALERY, AND SAILED THENCE.
ILLUSTRATIONS—
Ship-building,
Storing the ships,
William's ship, all from the Tapestry.
HOW THE DUKE AND HIS HOST LANDED NEAR TO HASTINGS, AND MADE THEMSELVES A FORT.
ILLUSTRATIONS—
Unloading and dismantling the ships,
The supper after landing,
Group, all from the Bayeux Tapestry.
HOW AN ENGLISH KNIGHT RODE TO HAROLD WHO WAS FIGHTING TOSTI; AND WHAT MESSAGE WAS SENT BY THE DUKE.
HOW THE ENGLISH CONSULTED, AND WENT TO MEET THE NORMAN HOST; AND HAROLD AND GURTH WENT FORTH TO RECONNOITRE.
ILLUSTRATIONS—
Figure from a Saxon MS. now in the King's library at Paris, representing Harold, (according to Montfaucon,)
Two Norman scouts or messengers, from the Bayeux Tapestry
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.
HOW BOTH HOSTS 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,
William exhorting his men, also from the Tapestry.
WHO WAS CHOSEN TO BEAR THE DUKE'S GONFANON IN THE BATTLE.
ILLUSTRATION—
A Norman baron, with gonfanon, coming out of Hastings to take horse, from the Tapestry
HOW THE MEN OR ENGLAND MADE READY, AND WHO THEY WERE.
ILLUSTRATION—
Saxon armour,—compiled from various sources in Blanche's 'British Costume.'
HOW THE THREE NORMAN COMPANIES MOVED ON TO ATTACK THE ENGLISH.
ILLUSTRATIONS—
William enquiring news of the English from Vital one of his officers looking out, from the Bayeux Tapestry,
Continuation of the exhortation, from the Tapestry.
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,
Bishop Odo rallying and encouraging the varlets, also from the Tapestry.
HOW THE ARCHERS SMOTE HAROLD'S EYE; AND WHAT STRATAGEM THE NORMANS USED.
ILLUSTRATION—
Engagement between the Normans and English, from the Bayeux Tapestry
THE ROLL OF THE NORMAN CHIEFS; AND THEIR DEEDS. LES NONS DE GRAUNTZ DELA LA MER QUE VINDRENT OD LE CONQUEROUR WILLIAM BASTARD DE GRAUNT VIGOURE.
ILLUSTRATIONS—
Norman Knights advancing 'ad prelium contra Haroldum,' from the Bayeux Tapestry,
Group, also from the Tapestry.
THE ROLL OF THE NORMAN LORDS CONTINUED.
ILLUSTRATIONS—
William knighting Harold at La Lande, from the Bayeux Tapestry,
Group from the same,
Signet ring of one of the Bigots.
WHAT DEEDS OF ARMS DUKE WILLIAM DID; AND HOW HAROLD WAS SLAIN AND THE ENGLISH FLED.
ILLUSTRATIONS—
Deaths of Lewin and Gurth,
William fighting,
Death of Harold, all from the Bayeux Tapestry.
Burial of Harold, from the Cambridge MS.
HOW WILLIAM WAS CROWNED KING; AND HOW HE AT LAST FELL ILL AT ROUEN.
ILLUSTRATIONS—
Seal of William as king and duke,
Seal of Battle abbey,
Apsis of St. Gervais
KING WILLIAM'S CHARACTER, FROM THE SAXON CHRONICLE.
ILLUSTRATIONS—
Initial letter from the Battle abbey chronicle,
Dutchy arms
