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CHAPTER II.
THE NORMAN CONQUEST TO JAMES THE FIRST.
When the battle of Hastings, in 1066, had terminated in
favour of William the Conquerer, and placed him on
the throne of England, he indulged his newly acquired
power in many acts of tyranny towards the vanquished
nation, subjecting the old nobility to frequent indignities,
weakening the sway of the Church, and impoverishing the middle
and lower classes of the community. This harsh policy spread
dissatisfaction and indignation through all ranks of the people,
and it was not long before rebellion broke out in the old province
of Northumbria. The Lancastrians and others, under the earls
Morcar and Edwin, rose up in revolt, slew the Norman Baron set
over them, and were only reduced to order and submission when
William appeared on the scene at the head of an overwhelming
force. The two earls escaped across the frontier to Scotland, and
for some inexplicable reason were permitted to retain their possessions
in Lancashire and elsewhere, while the common insurgents
were afterwards treated with great severity and cruelty by their
Norman rulers. Numerous castles were now erected in the north
of England to hold the Saxons in subjection, and guard against
similar outbreaks in future. Those at Lancaster and Liverpool
were built by a Norman Baron of high position, named Roger de
Poictou, the third son of Robert de Montgomery, earl of Arundel
and Shrewsbury. When William divided the conquered territory
amongst his followers, the Honor[1] of Lancaster and the Hundred
- ↑ An Honor has a castle or mansion, and consists of demesnes and services, to which a number of manors and lordships, with all their appurtenances and other regalities, are annexed. In an Honor an Honourable Court is held once every year at least.
