Page:The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (Giles).djvu/150

132 all the people of the land. And he made a confession of it before all the men who were there gathered; though the word escaped him unintentionally. And the king gave the earldom to Testy, son of earl Godwin, which Siward the earl before held. And Elgar the earl sought Griffin's protection in North-Wales. And in this year Griffin and Elgar burned St. Ethelbert's minster, and all the town of Hereford.

A. 1056. This year bishop Egelric gave up his bishopric at Durham, and went to St. Peter's minster, Peterborough; and his brother Egelwine succeeded thereto. This year died Athelstan the venerable bishop, on the 4th before the Ides of February, and his body lies at Hereford-port; and Leofgar was appointed bishop; he was the mas—priest of Harold the earl. He wore his knapsack during his priesthood until he was a bishop. He forsook his chrism and his rood, his ghostly weapons, and took to his spear and his sword, after his bishophood; and so went to the field against Griffin the Welsh king: and there was he slain, and his priests with him, and Elnoth the sheriff and many good men with them; and the others fled away. This was eight days before midsummer. It is difficult to tell the distress, and all the marching, and the camping, and the travail and destruction of men, and also of horses, which all the English army endured, until Leofric the earl came thither, and Harold the earl, and bishop Aldred, and made a reconciliation there between them; so that Griffin swore oaths that he would be to king Edward a faithful and unbetraying under-king. And bishop Aldred succeeded to the bishopric which Leofgar had before held eleven weeks and four days. In the same year died Cona the emperor. This year died Odda the earl, and his body lies at Pershore, and he was ordained a monk before his end; a good man he was and pure, and right noble. And he died on the 2nd before the Kalends of September.

A. 1057. Here came Edward etheling to Angle-land; he was king Edward's brother's son, Edmund king, who Ironside was called for his valour. This etheling Canute king had sent away to Unger-land to be betrayed: but he there grew up to a good man,