Name______________________ 2/26/12 The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (Obituary for William the Conqueror) He built fortresses As if he were their father. And caused poor men great distress. And the hares, he made a decree, This king was very hard. That they should go free. He took many a gold mark His rich men lamented it, From his subjects and did purloin [steal] And his poor men resented it, Hundreds more of silver coin. But so stern a man was he He extorted it by pounds He cared not for all their enmity [hostility]. On most illegal grounds. But they must in everything His people he would bleed, Follow the will of the king Not from any need. If they wished to live or planned Into avarice [materialism] he fell To own any land – And loved greed above all. Estates or goods embrace He laid laws severe And to remain in his good grace. To protect the deer. Alas, that any man should be Whoever killed a hart or hind So filled with arrogance that he Was to be made blind. Exalts himself above all the rest The harts were forbidden, and And holds himself to be the highest. The wild boars were also banned. May almighty God be merciful He loved the tall deer And grant forgiveness to his soul. What are some of the good things highlighted about William? What are some of the bad? Why do they include both the good and the bad?
Name______________________ 2/26/12 The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (Obituary for William the Conqueror) He built fortresses And caused poor men great distress. This king was very hard. He took many a gold mark From his subjects and did purloin [steal] Hundreds more of silver coin. He extorted it by pounds On most illegal grounds. His people he would bleed, Not from any need. Into avarice [materialism] he fell And loved greed above all. He laid laws severe To protect the deer. Whoever killed a hart or hind Was to be made blind. The harts were forbidden, and The wild boars were also banned. He loved the tall deer As if he were their father. And the hares, he made a decree, That they should go free. His rich men lamented it, And his poor men resented it, But so stern a man was he He cared not for all their enmity [hostility]. But they must in everything Follow the will of the king If they wished to live or planned To own any land – Estates or goods embrace And to remain in his good grace. Alas, that any man should be So filled with arrogance that he Exalts himself above all the rest And holds himself to be the highest. May almighty God be merciful And grant forgiveness to his soul. What are some of the good things highlighted about William? What are some of the bad? Why do they include both the good and the bad?