Action of Earl Roger. for the disaffected. The host that came together is marked as made up of "the men that eldest were of Hereford, and the whole shire forthwith, and the men of Shropshire with mickle folk of Bretland."[1] Some of their names, besides that of Roger of Lacy, we have heard already.[2] And we are significantly told that the men of Earl Roger—the men of Shropshire—were with them, a formula which seems specially meant to shut out the presence of the Earl himself.[3] And though the leaders were "all Frenchmen,"[4] yet among their followers were men of all the races of the land. Not only Normans and Britons, but Englishmen also, were seen in the rebel ranks. So it seemed, if not in the general prospect as it was looked at from distant Peterborough, yet at least in the clearer view which men took from the watch-towers of more nearly threatened Worcester.[5]
The rebels march on Worcester.
1055.
1041.
For it was the "faithful city" of after days on which
the full storm of the Western revolt was meant to burst.
The Norman lords of the border, with their British allies,
now marched on Worcester, as, thirty-three years before,
an English earl of the border, with his British allies, had
marched on Hereford.[6] They came of their own will to
deal by Worcester, shire and city, as, forty-seven years
before, English earls had been driven against their will to
deal with them at the bidding of a Danish king.[7] "They
harried and burned on Worcestershire forth, and they came
to the port itself, and would then the port burn and the
- ↑ Chron. Petrib. 1088. Þa men þe yldest wæron of Hereforde, and eall þeo scír forþmid, and þa men of Scrobscyre mid mycele folce of Brytlande."
- ↑ See above, p. 33.
- ↑ Flor. Wig. 1088. "Cum hominibus comitis Rogerii de Scrobbesbyria." Yet the Chronicler says distinctly, "And Rogere eorl wæs eac æt þam unræde." That is, he joined in the conspiracy, but did not take a personal share in the war.
- ↑ See above, p. 35, note 3.
- ↑ Flor. Wig. 1088. "Congregato magno Anglorum, Normannorum, et Walensium exercitu."
- ↑ See N. C. vol. ii. p. 395.
- ↑ Ib. vol. i. p. 520.
