THE NORMANS. SUMMARY OF THE REIGN OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. Born at Falaise in Normandy, A.D. 1025. Crowned King of England, 1066. Married Matilda (or Maud) daughter of Baldwin V. Earl of Flanders; by whom he had issue, four sons and six daughters; viz. Robert, succeeded to the dukedom of Normandy; Richard, was killed by a deer in New Forest; William and Henry, succeeded in turn to the throne of England; Cicely, was Abbess of a Monastery in Caen; Constantine, married Alain Fergeant, Duke of Bretagne; Adeliza, died an infant; Adela, married Stephen, Earl of Blois; Gundred, married William Warrenne, Earl of Surrey; Agatha, contracted to Alphonso, King of Gallicia, died on her voyage to that kingdom. William the Conqueror died 1087, and was interred at Caen in Normandy. PRINCIPAL EVENTS. The conquest of England. The Curfew (or cover fire) bell established, at which signal fires and candles through the kingdom were arbitrarily extinguished at eight o'clock in the evening. The English language forbidden at court, and in courts of law. The country laid waste for sixty miles, between the Humber and Trent, and the New Forest formed. Domesday-book made, containing a regular account of all the landed property în England. EMINENT PERSONS. Prince Edgar Athling. Stigand and Lanfrank, Archbishops of Canterbury. Earls Edwin and Morcar, Earls of Northumberland and Mercia. COTEMPORARY COTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Popes. Alexander II. 1061. Gregory VII. 1037. Victor III. 1086. Emperors. Of the East.-Constantine XII. 1059. Romanus VI. 1068. Michael VII. 1071. Nicephorus I. 1078. Alexis Comnenus, 1081. Of the West.-Henry VI. 1056. Of France.-Philip I. 1060. Kings. Of Scotland.-Malcolm III. 1057. WILLIAN WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. "Le Premier qui fut Roi, fut un soldat heureux.” VOLTAIRE. "Arma, Virumque cano." VIRGIL. "Able, ambitious, generous, arbitrary, cruel." ANON. "Julius Cæsar the Roman, "Who yielded to no man, "Came by water, he cou'dn't come by land; "And Dane, Pict, and Saxon, "Their homes turned their backs on, "And all for the sake of our island. "Then another great war-man, "Cried, truly I never liked my land; "And 'twou'd be much more handy, "And live on yon nice little island." T. DIBDIN'S SONGS. He loved, understood, and was successful in war.” LOCKMAN. PARODY. THE CURFEW tolls the knell of Danish sway, The British Chiefs their arms reluctant yield, The soldiers homeward march their weary way, And leave to WILLIAM the disputed field! Now Now fades each gleam of freedom on the sight, And ev'ry Englishman is doom'd a slave, Save those who nobly perish'd in the fight, And sunk unconquer'd to a patriot grave. Save GURTH and LE'FWIN to their brother true, Who shared with HAROLD that disastrous hour, Save MORCAR, EDWIN, and a loyal few, Who lived to combat oft the victor's power. Reneath those ruin'd walls* that ivy's shade, Where whitening bones in sad promiscuous heap, Unseemly to the trav'ler's eye are laid, The hollow drum at incense-breathing morn, No more shall rouse then from their lowly bed. For them no more shall royal HAROLD show'r No lady fair awaits them in the bower, To pay with beauty's smile the warrior's meed. * Battel Abbey, in Sussex, where bones are yet to be seen piled up, supposed to be those of the fallen in that memorable fight. Oft Oft did invaders to their prowess yield, Their biting bills full many a helm have broke, How loudly rang their anlace on the shield, How bow'd the foe beneath their sturdy stroke! Let not the modern soldier mock their toil Whose mail-clad steeds still answer'd to the reign. The rich pelisse, the gorgeous epaulette, Nor men of wealth impute to these the blame, Cou'd PRAXITELES, were he now alive, Cou'd famed Pygmalyon, or Promethean lore, Cou'd Roubilliac's or Bacon's art revive, The daring chiefs who fell to rise no more? Perhaps |