been before deprived of it; and Robert
of Belesme he suffered to be seized, and put into prison. This
was a very good year, and very fruitful, in wood and in field;
but it was a very heavy time and sorrowful, through a severe
mortality amongst men.

A.D. 1113. In this year was the King Henry on the Nativity and
at Easter and at Pentecost in Normandy. And after that, in the
summer, he sent hither Robert of Belesme into the castle at
Wareham, and himself soon (142) afterwards came hither to this
land.

A.D. 1114. In this year held the King Henry his court on the
Nativity at Windsor, and held no other court afterwards during
the year. And at midsummer he went with an army into Wales; and
the Welsh came and made peace with the king. And he let men
build castles therein. And thereafter, in September, he went
over sea into Normandy. This year, in the latter end of May, was
seen an uncommon star with a long train, shining many nights. In
this year also was so great an ebb of the tide everywhere in one
day, as no man remembered before; so that men went riding and
walking over the Thames eastward of London bridge. This year
were very violent winds in the month of October; but it was
immoderately rough in the night of the octave of St. Martin; and
that was everywhere manifest both in town and country. In this
year also the king gave the archbishopric of Canterbury to Ralph,
who was before Bishop of Rochester; and Thomas, Archbishop of
York, died; and Turstein succeeded thereto, who was before the
king's chaplain. About this same time went the king toward the
sea, and was desirous of going over, but the weather prevented
him; then meanwhile sent he his writ after the Abbot Ernulf of
Peterborough, and bade that he should come to him quickly, for
that he wished to speak with him on an interesting subject. When
he came to him, he appointed him to the bishopric of Rochester;
and the archbishops and bishops and all the nobility that were in
England coincided with the king. And he long withstood, but it
availed nothing. And the king bade the archbishop that he should
lead him to Canterbury, and consecrate him bishop whether he
would or not. (143) This was done in the town called Bourne
(144) on the seventeenth day before the calends of October. When
the monks of Peterborough heard of this, they felt greater sorrow
than they had ever experienced before; because he was a very good
and amiable man, and did much good w