A. 1107. This year king Henry was in Normandy at Christmas and reduced that land, and having settled the government, he came to England the following Lent; and he held his court at Windsor at Easter, and at Pentecost he held it at Westminster. And in the beginning of August he was again at Westminster, and there he gave away bishoprics and abbacies, disposing of such as were without elders and pastors, both in England and Normandy; the number of these was so great that no man remembered that so many were ever before given away at one time. And amongst others who then received abbacies, Ernulf prior of Canterbury obtained that of Peterborough. This was about the seventh year of king Henry's reign, and the one and fortieth year that the French ruled in this land. Many said that they saw various tokens in the moon this year, and his[1] light waxing and waning contrary to nature. This year died Maurice bishop of London, and Robert abbat of St. Edmund's Bury, and Richard abbat of Ely. This year also Edgar king of Scotland died on the Ides of January, and his brother Alexander succeeded to the kingdom with king Henry's consent.
A. 1108. This year, at Christmas, king Henry was at Westminster; and at Easter at Winchester; and at Pentecost again at Westminster. After this, before August, he went into Normandy. And Philip king of France dying on the Nones of August, his son Louis succeeded him, and there were afterwards many battles between the kings of France and of England, whilst Henry remained in Normandy. This year also Gerard archbishop of York died before Pentecost, and Thomas was afterwards appointed as his successor.
A. 1109. This year king Henry was in Normandy both at Christmas and at Easter; and before Pentecost he came hither and held his court at Westminster, at which place the stipulations were ratified, and the oaths sworn, relative to the marriage of his daughter with the emperor. There was much thunder this year, and that very terrible. And Anselm archbishop of Canterbury died on the 11th before the Kalends of April, and the first day of Easter was on the greater Litany.
- ↑ The moon is of the masculine gender, and the sun feminine, in Anglo-Saxon, as in German, See a.d. 1110
