29
A small district, of which Harcourt-Thury is the principal place.
30
Valmeray, near Croissanville.
31
'Li cumunes,' the troops brought by the barons from their villages and towns. See the very curious passage in
32
One of the greatest proprietors in Normandy: we shall find his son subsequently, as one of those present at Hastings.
33
M. Pluquet in his notes interprets guimples as 'cornettes de taffetas attachées à la lance:' for which purpose the knights may have already learned to adopt the colours or tokens of their ladies.
34
'Thor-aide,' according to M. Pluquet, which he considers may have been derived from the ancient North-men. Another MS. reads 'Turie:' and M. Le Prevost considers the latter to be the true reading, and that the cry was really Thury, and most probably referred to the chief seat of Raol Tesson.
35
36
The cry of Saint Sever! has been noticed in a preceding note.
37
The church of the commune called le vieux Thorigny is stated to have been dedicated to St. Amand; but see the observations in
38
Men of the Cotentin, a district comprehended in, though not so large as, the present department of La Manche.
39
40
Maissy, arrondissement of Bayeux.
41
Creully, Croleium, or Credolium, in the arrondissement of Caen; celebrated for its castle, and the lords of the name, who also held among others the chateau de Gratot.
42
The Chronicle of Normandy says it was Guillesen, uncle of Hamon, who overthrew the king; William of Malmesbury says it was Hamon himself. There is some obscurity in the account of this assault on the king. The passage marked with brackets looks like merely another version of the incident just before related; thus incorporating perhaps the various readings of two MSS. instead of selecting one.
43
Notre dame d'Esquai is on the banks of the Orne, near Vieux. There is, however, another Esquai, a league from Bayeux.
44
The Chronicle of Normandy calls him Bardon; Dumoulin says he was nephew to Grimoult. Another MS. reads Hardré.
45
The Orne.
46
Allemagne and St. André de Fontenay, both in the arrondissement of Caen. There was an abbey of ancient foundation at the latter.
47
The Chronicle of Normandy reports the same.
48
Brionne is on the Risle. The castle here described must not be confounded with the one whose remains still exist. There is no vestige of the old castle on the island. See an article on Brionne in
49
Burgundy.
50
The name Salle and Saulz occurs in this district in
51
The charter of donation to Bayeux is in
52
Canute died 12th November, 1035, or four months and a half after Duke Robert; so that Wace here retraces his steps to take up English affairs.
53
Ethelred, Edward and Alfred are spelt by Wace, Ewart and Alvred.
54
Harold.
55
Barfleur. This expedition took place in 1036. Hantone is Hampton, probably Southampton.
56
This port seems to have been Wissant, between Calais and Boulogne: see
57
Spelt Gwine by
58
Guildford, in Surrey.
59
Hardicanute died 10th July, 1042. Edward's conduct to his mother was not consistent with any sense of obligation towards her, nor indeed with his own generally received character. See an anecdote in
60
Or Editha. 'Sicut spina rosam genuit Godwinus Editham.' Ingulfs account of her kindness, literary tastes, and liberality, in giving him money, as well as access to the royal larder, may be seen in his chronicle, and is quoted in the collection of Norman historians by
61
Wace seems not aware that Editha, at the time of the disgrace of her family, was stripped of all she had, and sent to a convent.
62
Wace would appear here to be merely translating some cotemporary chronicle;—perhaps the same, as he begins this part of his story by quoting.
63
The adventure of William of Arques is out of chronological order in
64
Arques is the capital of the district around, formerly called Tallou, Tellau, or Tallogium.
65
The MSS. differ; we follow Duchesne's. M. Pluquet's text reads 'La tur rut fete el
66
'Chasteillun,' afterwards 'Chastelet.'
67
St. Aubin-le-Cauf, on the other side of the valley. There is another St. Aubin, south of Arques.
68
Hugh Bardolf, a distinguished name in Norman and English history. In the roll of Norman fees in the red book of the Exchequer, we find Doon Bardulf returned as one of those, 'qui non venerunt nec miserunt nec aliquid dixerunt.'
69
Enguerran, count of Ponthieu, the second of the name, nephew of Guy the bishop,