Ethstrithson two

1051. Eorl Godwine, eorl SWAN and eorl Harold came together at Beverstone, and many men with them, to the end that they go to their natural lord and all the counselors who were gathered there, to have the king's advice and aid, with that of all the counselors, about how they might avenge the insult to the king and all the nation. Then the foreigners got to the king first, and accused the eorls, so that they might not come in his sight, because they said that they would come in treachery to the fang. Eorl Siward, eorl Leofric and many folk had come north with them to the king; eorl Godwine and his sons were told that the king, and the men with him meant to act against them, and they strengthened themselves resolutely against them, though it was hateful to them that they should stand against their natural lord. Then the counselors on both sides advised that they stop all the damage, and the king gave God's peace and his full friendship to both sides. Then the king and his counselors advised another full council meeting be held in London, at the autumn equinox. The king commanded the troops called up, both south of the Thames and north - that was the best force of all. Eorl SWAN was declared outlaw, and eorl Godwine and eorl Harold were called to the meeting as quickly as they could travel to it — when they arrived out there, they were called in to the meeting. Godwine wanted protection and hostage that he might unhindered come into the meeting and go out. Then the king wanted the allegiance of all the thanes that had been the eorls, and they all gave themselves into his hands; then the king sent again to them, and bade them come with twelve men into the kings council. The eorl asked again for protection and hostages, that he might clear himself of each charge that had been laid on him. The hostages were then refused him,he was granted five nights' protection to leave the land. Then eorl Godwine and eorl SWAN turned to Bosham, pushed off with their ships, went beyond the sea sought Baldwins protection; they dwelt there all winter. Eorl Harold went west to Ireland, and as soon as this happened, the king forsook the lady who was hallowed to him as queen, and had seized all that she had in land, gold, silver — in everything — and committed her to his sister at Wherwell. Abbot Spearhafoc was driven out of the bishopric of London, and Willelm the king's priest instated thereto. Odda was set as eorl over Devonshire, Somerset, Dorset and Cornwall; Aelfgar, son of eorl Leofric, was given the eorldom Harold had before.

1052. A great meeting was called outside London, and all the eorls and all the best men in this land were at that meeting. There eorl Godwine bore up his cause, and there cleared himself with king Edward and all the people of the land, showed himself guiltless of all charges laid against him, against Harold his son and all his children. The king gave back the eorl and his children his full friendship, full eorldom, and all that he had before; and also to all the men that were with him. The king returned to the lady, Godwine's daughter, all the property that she had before. Archbishop Robert was declared an utter outlaw, with all the Frenchmen, because they caused most of the discord between eorl Godwine and the king. Bishop Stigand received the archbishopric in Canterbury. At this same time, abbot Arnwi of Peterborough gave up the abbacy to sound health, and gave it to monk Leofric by the king's leave and the monks'. Abbot Arnwi lived eight years after that; abbot Leofric so improved the monastery that it was called the golden borough, as it grew greatly to. land, gold and silver. SWAN had gone from Bruges to Jerusalem, and died on the homeward way at Constantinople, on Michaelmas. On the Monday after St. Mary's Day, Godwine came with his ships to Southwark, and it was in the morning of the Tuesday that they made the agreement as archbishopric in Canterbury.