London and the Witan were convinced by Queen Edith, Archbishop Stigand and Sheriff Edegar. Edegar particularly, presented a picture of the perfect king—wise, generous, peace-loving, strong, capable—after William had razed a town a day on his march across the English south? What was left of his army after leaving units in trouble spots from Dover to Winchester, was seriously undermanned. They had settled in Berkhamstead north of London.

“Ho, what’s this? The English army?” and the second sentry became alert.

“They are carrying the white flag. Alert the sergeant. This may be more than it appears.” It was more than the sergeant could handle too and he sent the sentry to Sir Richard and Sir Thomas.

“Alert the camp! Inform the Duke!”

The slumbering camp leapt into action. Camp chores were immediately forgotten. Armor became animate as it was filled with bodies. Weapons flew into hands. They were prepared before the Duke. Richard and Thomas mounted and rode to meet the entourage. It was not war-like. It was preceded by churchmen and one of their number carried the flag of truce. Richard and Thomas waited and silently Will joined them in the middle of the road.

“Bonjour Pere, Archbishop. Comment ca va?”

“Tres bien,” responded the Archbishop, “Parlez-vous Anglais? Ces hommes ne parlent pas francais.”

“Un peu,” responded Sir Richard and showed the space between his thumb and forefinger. “But this knight does,” and he pointed to Will.

Sir Rupert had the aroused camp encircling the group. Olan and archers took the fore.

“Sir Knight, we have come to submit to William of Normandy. We are the fathers of the Church, the nobles of the kingdom and the lords of London.”

Will replied, “Welcome Father, May this meeting be blessed by God for the sake of his poor unfortunates here on earth. We will lead you to the Duke William of Normandy.” With that the two brothers and Sir Richard wheeled their horses and walked toward the camp. Rupert, Olan and men were vigilant, arms at the ready on either side of the English retinue.

The Duke was ready, standing before his headquarters. He had abandoned his armor and dressed in his finest clothes. Beauchamp, Mortain, Odo, Montgomery and Fergant stood beside him, armed and wary. The camp had been rapidly put to order and infantry, archers and knights formed a parade ground around the visitors. Richard, Thomas and Will took up positions behind the Duke. The bishops of England opened the way for the Archbishop to approach the Norman leader.

A page shouted, “William, Duke of Normandy.”

A priest replied, “Aldred, Archbishop of York. Edgar, grandson of Edmund Ironside, Earls of England, and Lords of London.”

William focused on the Archbishop. “Father.” And he made the sign of the cross and bowed.

“William, Duke of Normandy,” Aldred replied and the entourage bowed to William.

“My Lord, William, we have come to put an end to the war that has engulfed us.”

“Very well, Archbishop. Let us discuss this about a table of peace. Possibly you could select a representative from each group concerned.”

“Yes, My Lord.” A hubbub developed in the English horde. Who would sit at the table with Aldred? Edgar, the uncrowned king, Alfred, Bishop of London, Earl Edwin of Mercia, Sheriff Edegar, sheriff of London and Svein, merchant of London were pushed forward as aides to Aldred. Duke William led the six Saxons and his selected advisors to a table of negotiation out of earshot of the rabble. William’s aides still in armor remained vigilant. One of the English might be a suicide attacker.

The serenity from the peace table enveloped the camp. There was a palpable relaxation of tension. De Gurney found his cousin Morcar and the two kinsmen had an animated conversation. The enemies relaxed in the ensuing quiet. Will, Thomas, Richard and Rupert looked on from an elevated vantage point. Rupert sent Will to Olan.

“Olan, Sir Rupert expects archer diligence. On his order and only his order shoot to kill.”

“Mais oui, mon Ami.”

Will returned.

“What is going to happen Sir Richard?”

“The English are going to submit and beg; allegiance to the Duke will be sworn.”

“He’ll hold out for their support to gain the English throne,” added Rupert.

“Is this war over?” questioned Thomas.

“This war will never be over,” Rupert opined. “We have made enemies of the Saxons from Dover to London. We have slain, stolen and starved these people. We can take possession of their land, but their soul, mind, and body will remain free.”

“Unless we murder them all.” added Will.

“Yes, unless we slay them all!” Richard said in reflection.

“I don’t want to fight any more. I’m sick of killing.”

“Thomas, my brother, I think we are finished as soldiers.”

The afternoon wore on. Negotiations were nearing an end. Finally the negotiators at the table stood. Aldred of York raised his hand. All bowed their head. Obviously he was reciting a prayer. Every man crossed himself and the collective “Amen” could be heard by the four knights. The councillors shook hands all around. Aldred of York and William of Normandy approached the English host.

“Men of England, Church and state, we have ended a debilitating war. Our scribes are set to the task of preparing oaths of submission, fealty and allegiance, plus a list of hostages to be held by the Normans. Your representatives at the peace table have all the particulars. I give you William of Normandy.”

Silence greeted the announcement. Duke William didn’t seem to notice.

“Lords of England, Church and state, I in turn will offer you an oath of fealty as your overlord. For the nonce, let us partake of the poor fare afforded to soldiers. It is never good to take oaths on empty stomachs.”

Within the hour Father Francis, Bishop Odo’s right hand man and two of his associates had drawn the Oath of Submission. The original was recited for Archbishop Aldred.

I, Aldred, Archbishop of York of the Holy Roman Church, bind myself with unshaken loyalty and submission to William, Duke of Normandy and his heirs or successors in the presence of these witnesses: here making a faithful and complete surrender of my private judgments, my own will and every narrow-minded employment of my power and influence. I pledge myself to account the good of the realm and William , Duke of Normandy, as my own and am ready to serve them with my fortune, my honor, and my blood. Should I through omission, neglect, passion or wickedness behave contrary to the good of William, Duke of Normandy, my life may be forfeit. The friends and enemies of William, Duke of Normandy, shall be my friends and enemies and I will conduct myself as directed by said Duke. I shall devote myself to William of Normandy’s increase and promotion and therein to employ all my abilities. All this I promise without secret reservation in the name of Our lord and his Son Jesus Christ and hereto I affix my mark on the fifteenth day of December in the year of Our Lord 1066.

Each person of the London delegation signed, set their signet ring in wax or made their mark on such a document. Aldred’s men in turn drew up an Oath of Fealty for Duke William.

Lord of the Church, lords of the land , people of England, I, Duke William of Normandy, Maine and Brittany in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost do hereby dedicate myself as your liege lord to solemnly adhere to the code of chivalry.

I will send protection, succor and aid to my vassals in times of misfortune equipping the vassal to effectively protect and defend the kingdom.

King’s Man

I will treat vassals with honor and respect, mediating disputes and utilizing the skills of the vassals for the goals of the kingdom .

I will grant boons to the vassal that are within my power and ability.

I will reward hard work with abundance, loyalty with love, skill with respect, and oath breaking with banishment.

I will honor this oath until I die or the worlds ends. All this I promise without secret reservation. This I do in the name of our Lord and the four gospels of God and hereto I affix my mark on the fifteenth day of December in the year of Our Lord 1066.

William, Duke of Normandy, pressed his signet ring into the daub of liquid candle wax. His oath was met with silence. He had no intention of honoring his oath. If he could deny his papal pledge, he could deny a few Englishmen. He had to satisfy his pledge to his army and they still ravaged the country-side.

“Now, Archbishop Aldred, we must discuss my ascension to the throne.”

“Pardon, My Lord?”

“Now Archbishop, you have sworn an oath of submission accepting me as your secular overlord. The only secular overlord above an archbishop is king. So, I say to you, ‘When will I ascend the throne?’

“My Lord, all coronations must take place on a feast day. The first day would be ten days hence on Christmas Day.”

“Or?”

“January has three feast days, Epiphany, January 6^th , The Conversion of Paul, January 25^th and the Baptism of Our Lord, January 31^th.”

“I see, Father. What of the ceremony?”

“My Lord, at daybreak you must be bathed, anointed and dressed in your finest robes and a golden cloak. You must wear new hose, but no shoes.”

“Enough, Archbishop! Take this up with my brother, Bishop Odo. He will prepare me. Odo will assist with the coronation to do the service in French.”

“Have the hostages assembled for my brother Robert de Mortain. I will converse with my advisors on a date for my ascension to the throne.”

Summarily dismissed, Aldred looked confuse, then angry. He called for Earl Edwin of Mercia and quietly gave him directions for the hand-over of hostages. Then he sought Odo to lay the groundwork for the crowning.

William of Normandy retreated to the table. “I can be crowned King on any feast day. The first English feast day is Christmas Day. I can’t get Matilde, Lisa and the rest of the children here in ten days.”

“When is the next feast day, My Lord?”

“The sixth, twenty-fifth, or thirty-first of January.”

“My Lord,” and Roger de Montgomery shook his head. “We couldn’t have them here for the sixth. The Channel must be storm-tossed judging by our weather. It is not fit for family travel nor is England secure.”

Fergant added, “The sooner King the better. The English place great stock in their king.”

“Beauchamp?”

“My Lord, consider our position. We left Hastings with five thousand men. We’ve had the sickness affect so many. We left men at every pillar and post across the south of England. Get the throne, My Lord, as soon as possible.”

“Enough. It is not my wish, but I will take your advice. Send a crew to London immediately. Select a defensive site and erect a wooden fort. When it is ready, I will enter the city. We have ten days until my Christmas crowning. In the meantime, keep those Saxons away from me, but inform Aldred to prepare for Christmas.”

“Sir Richard, take your son-in-law, Sir Thomas and a group of artisans and head for London.”

“Pourquoi, Count Roger?”

“ In ten days Duke William will be crowned in West Minster. Since London offered the only opposition since Hastings, he wants the security of a Norman fort.”

“Where?”

“He has no idea. He hasn’t been in London since he was nineteen or twenty years old.”

“Maybe I should take both Trivetts. Sir William was there as a spy.”

“Very well. Corner the London merchant Svein. We have his son as hostage. He can’t afford a negative answer.”

“Merci, My Lord. We will be off with daybreak.”

Thomas who was responsible for the harvest of trees for the fleet knew the hewers of wood in Normandy. He had worked with them most days. The men were as sick of war as Thomas and were willing to exchange their weapons for tools. Will conferred with Sir Rupert who of course had been a part of the spy system.

“Where would you build a defensive fort in London, Sir Rupert?”

“Ah yes?” and Rupert searched through the files of memories of the city. “Remember the height of land east of London Bridge on the Thames Road?”

“Vaguely.”

“That would be my choice. You might control the river and the bridge from that vantage point. It is too far from the town center to disturb too many inhabitants. Yes, and the river would supply transport for men and supplies. A water supply should be easily attained with a well so close to the Thames. Yes that’s it”

Svein, Sir Richard, the Trivetts and a Norman work crew set off on the sixteenth of December and made haste to London. Will led them to Sir Rupert’s choice of site. Since their visit as wine merchants some building had gone on. The inhabitants were soon routed and the buildings in the right position saved. The rest were razed and saved as lumber. From the center of the hill a rope was anchored and stretched across the ground. Taking the other end, Will scratched a rough circle as he walked about the anchor to mark off the bailey of the fort. A pallisade of timbers had to be erected on the circle and Norman workmen and conscripted Saxons began the dig. Svein was sent for loads of logs to construct the wall. Inside the more skilled carpenters began work on a keep in the form of a tower as a second line of defense. The tower soon became the tallest building in the city and led to the complex being signified by simply ‘The Tower’.

Sir Richard set the laborers to digging a ditch about the bailey. The overburden extracted was piled inside the palisade for the development of a motte.

Thomas could not be held back. After two months of destruction he could turn his hand to construction. It took no time for him to find an axe and work on the palisade. By December 22^nd the rudimentary fort was far from completed, but ready to receive the future king. William and army entered London. Odo was ordered to organize the coronation. The army remained wary and maintained their armor and weapons. It was not a holiday mood in a sullen resentful antagonistic city.

On December 25^th William of Normandy arose. Pages attended to his bath, and anointed, he took confession with his brother Bishop Odo. He dressed in a new shirt and the same golden cloak of silk used by Harold less than a year ago. By convention he wore fine hose but no shoes.

Harold had ridden to West Minster surrounded by English earls, men of the church and common folk of London. William was surrounded by armed men while dispirited commoners hid behind closed doors.

Odo and the Abbot of West Minster met William at the door of the Abbey. Odo had displaced the Abbot and carried the Cross. The Abbot took the Scepter and the Prior carried the Rod. The Archbishops, bishops and lords followed the procession down the red carpet. These lords were Norman lords and finally the turncoat English took up the rear. Odo led William to the ancient throne of England and bid him be seated. Aldred, Archbishop of York, then came forward and bid William rise.

Aldred began his appeal to the four corners of England. “Lords of the Church, Lords of the Land, People of England and Normandy, William of Normandy, Maine and Brittany stands before you and begs

dht

your support for his coronation as King of England. What is your will?”

The English responded, but without enthusiasm to his appeal. When Odo eventually translated the Normans present were a little more animated.

“In the name of the Father, in the name of the Son and in the name of the Holy Ghost, the people of England accept this man William of Normandy, as their King.”

The choir sang listlessly and maybe a little off key. Odo led William to the altar and William presented his golden cape to God. However, he refused to lie down or even kneel.

Still standing, William swore his oath of fealty. “Lords of the Church, Lord of the Land and Citizens of England, in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost I dedicate myself to the Throne of England, the peace of the land, the well-being of the populace, and the laws of England with justice and mercy for all. So help me God!”

Odo led him back to the throne. William refused the anointing with oil, but did accept the cross on his forehead and the orison blessing of his hands work, his heart’s love, his shoulder’s responsibility, his arm’s strength, and his spirit’s goodness all in the love of God. The monks brought the regalia, the garments the mantle, the hose, sandals and spurs. Odo dressed him in the long cloak with embossed Lions of England. Aldred presented the sword of state. William kissed the hilt and symbolically strapped it on.

The Archbishop reverently took the Crown of Edward the Confessor in glory and justice to the altar blessing it in the name of God and then placed it on William’s head. William accepted the Rod and Scepter and returned with Odo to the Throne.

The swearing of office was twice as long as usual with the French translation.

“Will you hold, guarantee and keep the laws and customs granted to your people of old by devout and rightwise kings beforehand and will you swear to uphold the laws, customs and liberties of the glorious Kings of England or Rulers of Normandy to the people and the clergy?”

“I shall.”

“Thou shall keep full peace and accord in God and to the Church, to the people and to the clergy?’

“I shall do.”

“Thou shall keep in all these domains rightful and every rightwiseness and discretion with mercy and truth?”

“I shall do.”

“Grant thou all rightful laws and customs of England and Normandy to behold and that thou wilt defend and strengthen and maintain them to the worship of God after all your power?”

“I grant and behold it.”

“Then My King, I become your liege man of life and limb and truth and earthly honors bearing to you against all men that love, move, or die, so help me God and the Holy Dame.”

“Lords of the Church, Lords of the Realm, Citizens of England do you accept this worshipful prince the right heir of the realm to have as our King, subject unto him to obey his commandments.”

The Normans now understanding more of the ceremony responded vigorously even if the English were hesitant.