Y71066Christmaslesson.notebook
2
December17,2014
Dec1519:07
SoatlastonChristmasDayintheyearofOurLord,1066,thefifthIndiction,theEnglishassembledatLondonfortheking'scoronation,andastrongguardofNormanmenatarmsandknightswaspostedroundtheminstertopreventanytreacheryordisorder.And,inthepresenceofthebishops,abbots,andnoblesofthewholerealmofAlbion,ArchbishopEaldredconsecratedWilliamdukeofNormandyaskingoftheEnglishandplacedtheroyalcrownonhishead.ThiswasdoneintheabbeychurchofStPeterthechiefoftheapostles,calledWestminster,wherethebodyofKingEdwardlieshonourablyburied.
Butatthepromptingofthedevil,whohateseverythinggood,asuddendisasterandportentoffuturecatastrophesoccurred.ForwhenArchbishopEaldredaskedtheEnglish,andGeoffreybishopofCoutancesaskedtheNormans,iftheywouldacceptWilliamastheirking,allofthemgladlyshoutedoutwithonevoice,ifnotinonelanguage,thattheywould.Thearmedguardoutside,hearingthetumultofthejoyfulcrowdinthechurchandtheharshaccentsofaforeigntongue,imaginedthatsometreacherywasafoot,andrashlysetfiretosomeofthebuildings.Thefirespreadrapidlyfromhousetohousethecrowdwhohadbeenrejoicinginthechurchtookfrightandthrongsofmenandwomenofeveryrankandconditionrushedoutofthechurchinfrantichaste.Onlythebishopsandafewclergyandmonksremained,terrified,inthesanctuary,andwithdifficultycompletedtheconsecrationofthekingwhowastremblingfromheadtofoot.Almostalltherestmadeforthesceneofconflagration,sometofighttheflamesandmanyothershopingtofindlootforthemselvesinthegeneralconfusion.TheEnglish,afterhearingoftheperpetrationofsuchmisdeeds,neveragaintrustedtheNormanswhoseemedtohavebetrayedthem,butnursedtheirangerandbidedtheirtimetotakerevenge.
ChristmasCoronationChronicle
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