Page:The Queens of England.djvu/14

 4 THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND. should atone for their offense by founding each an abbey for the religious of their own sex. In obedience to which William erected, in 1064, the great Benedictine Abbey of St. Stephen, in Caen, and Matilda the Church of the Holy Trinity, in the same city. They were called the "Abbaye aux Hommes" and the "Abbaye aux Dames," and were situ- ated about a mile from each other. A stately palace was also erected by William within the orecincts of St. Stephen's, for a royal residence. Fourteen years after his marriage, William undertook his great expedition against England. He had at first much diffi- culty in prevailing upon his nobles to embark with him in so perilous an enterprise ; but having overcome their opposition, he sailed in September, 1066, in a beautiful vessel called the "Mora," which had been presented to him for this purpose by his wife. It was adorned in a style of royal magnificence, and on the prow was placed the effigy of their youngest child, in gold, as some writers have said, holding a trumpet to his lips with his left hand, and with his right pointing with a bow and arrow toward England. This device was intended by Matilda to inspire her husband with confidence in the suc- cess of his undertaking, and scarcely was this appropriate gift presented, than, as if the very elements aided in concert, a favorable breeze sprang up, "and a joyful clamor," says the old chronicler, "then arising summoned every one to the ships." The result of this invasion is well known. It gained for William the appellation of "the Conqueror," and for Matilda, the title of Queen ; a title which until then was unknown in England. The news of Duke William's victory at Hastings, and of his complete success, was soon conveyed to his wife, who, during his absence, had been left regent in Normandy, an office which she filled greatly to the satisfaction of the people. She was engaged at her devotions in the church of the Bene- dictines at Notre Dame du Pre, near St. Sevre, a church which she herself had founded in 1060, when the news of her hus- band's good fortune reached her. In commemoration of this circumstance, she ordered that this church should henceforth be called the "Priory of Our Lady of Good Tidings," which name it bears to the present day. But Matilda left to posterity a still more permanent and valuable memorial of her conjugal affection and taste, as well as an astonishing proof of the