Brevis Relatio (Van Houts)

1. The father of this William was Robert, duke of the Normans, a man
distinguished in all integrity, fierce against proud n1en, but generous and
devout towards the poor, and ever so merciful and devout concerning all
poor. In fact he always had the greatest compassion for the people afflicted
by leprosy, so that the lepers themselves most often called him brother on
account of the very great empathy he showed for their miserable lives.
According to some, this Robert was duke of the Normans in the fifth
generation from the Dane called Rollo who had seized with force the land
which is now called Normandy. From this Count Robert, a man noble and
devout towards the poor, was born William about whom I shall shall write
here. William was much loved by his father, partly because he was his
only son and partly because he was strong and handsome for his age. At
that time, full of remorse, Count Robert vowed to go to Jerusalem to see
the place where the Lord had been crucified and endured death for the sinners.

After all preparations for the journey had been made, before he departed
from Normandy, he called together the magnates of Nonnandy and
entrusted to them his son William to be educated and protected until he
knew how to hold and rule the land himself. For Robert made him heir to
the land of Normandy so that, in case he himself by some misfortune might
not return, his son William would without any objection succeed to his
paternal inheritance. When everything that was necessary for the journey
had been arranged, and after he had entrusted his son William, whom he
had appointed heir to Normandy, to his magnates, Count Robert set off to
Jerusalem; but when he returned from there he died in the city of Nicaea.
He was honourably buried in that place and, as some people later recorded,
at his tomb certain signs similar to miracles happened.

2. It is fitting to record one token of Count Robert's goodness that
took place during his journey and that demonstrated to his fellow
travellers, as the event illustrated to all of them, how humbly he endured
injuries inflicted upon him for the love of God. For one day it happened
that he came to a place where he had to pay the pilgrim's levies and
tribute for himself and for his poor companions. While he waited ,vith
his men until all the poor had crossed, one of the pagans collecting the
pilgrim's dues, became furious with the count and boldly seizing a
club he beat him on the back. When Count Robert's men saw what the
pagan had done to him they were about to hit him [the pagan] in revenge
for their lord's beating. Count Robert, ho,vever, was quite pleased with
the injury received out of love for God and restrained his men saying:
'Do not attack him because I am more pleased with the release of the wind
from my stomach than if he had given me lots of money.'

3. But let me return to the point from which I digressed because when
the magnates of Normandy heard that Count Robert had died they began
to inflict injuries against his son William. Yet, the young William did not
doubt the help and mercy of God as he might have done at that time when
all jobs were against him. Finally, after he realised that the Normans wished to
take away his inheritance, he took with him some Normans who were
faithful to him and  went to the king of France. But returning as quickly as
he could to Normandy, to the place called Val-es-Dunes, he fought against
the Normans who wished to disinherit him and there, relying on God's
help, he coquered them in a battle. Shortly after these men had been
defeated and forced to flee, he completely recovered his whole inheritance
which they had tried to take away from him. Then after some time had
passed, he took as wife the daughter of Baldwin, count of Flanders, named
Matilda, a very honourable and wise wonman, who bore him several sons
and daughters. lt would be very easy for anyone to relate how at that time
Count William held sway over the Nornmans and how he conducted all
affairs with firm hand and wisdom. For, regardless of rank he held the
men, whom he considered to be good and honest, in great esteem, yet
those who were known as criminals and dishonest, he expelled from his
company.

4. At that time, when Count William ruled his realm with firm hand
and prudence, protecting his land on all sides, it happened that Harold
son of Godwin, wished to sail from England to Normandy, but due to
adverse winds he failed to arrive at Normandy and instead came to the
land called Ponthieu. Wida, count of this land, captured him and held him
in custody until he released him through pressure from William, most wise
count of the Normans. This same count received the liberated man and
brought him honourably before him and kept him with him with great
honour for some time. Meanwhile, during his stay, Harold did homage
and fealty to him and also, as many people say, promised three oaths on a
reliquary which is called the ox's eye, that he would well preserve the
faith and the oath which he had promised to him. And thus, when the
business, which had brought Harold to Normandy, had been completed,
he returned to England as quickly as possible. After a short time, when
Edward, king of the English, wore his crown on the festive occasion of
Christmas in London at Westminster, it happened that he was overcome
by a very serious illness which put an end to his life. Yet, some people say
that at that time Harold as if forgetful of the oaths he had sworn to count
William in Normandy before King Edward's death, came to the king and
asked him to grant him the crown of England. Upon hearing this King
Edward, who had not forgotten that long ago he had granted the kingdom
of England to his kinsman William, count of the Normans, answered Harold
that he could in no way do this because he had made William, count of the
Normans, his heir. King Edward, however, was approaching death and
concluded his last day. And when his body was still above ground - as
later related by some people who said that they had seen it themselves -
Harold, as if mad and making nothing of whatever he had sworn to
Count William concerning the kingdom ofEngland, namely that he would
serve him faithfully after the death of King Edward, and with the consent
of the citizens of London and with many others supporting his madness,
seized the crown of the kingdom of England at St. Paul's in the city of
London against all justice.

5. It was not a long time before this report reached William, count of
the Normans. When he had heard it and learned for certain that Harold
had become a perjurer in all things which he had sworn to him, he ordered
the magnates of Normandy to be summoned to a council as quickly as
possible, and revealed to them how Harold had placed on himself the
crown of the kingdom of England which his kinsman King Edward had
made over to him as his heir, and how also the same Harold was now a
perjurer concerning the oaths which he had sworn to him in Normandy.
Yet, when the Normans had heard this they were quite furious about the
shame which Harold had inflicted upon their lord and on themselves, and
together they gave counsel to him that he should endeavour to avenge
himself concerning Harold's perjury and that he should restore to himself
the crown which had unjustly been taken away, even if it meant that a
battle could not be avoided. When he had received this counsel, he ordered
that, as quickly as possible, each magnate of Normandy, according to his
own means, should prepare ships, by which he and his whole army which
he would bring with him could be transported to England. In the shortest
space of time ever to be dreamt of, he ordered the readied ships to be
brought to Saint- Valery on the Somme, the river that flows near the town.
When everything which pertained to this business had been arranged, and
with everyone aboard the ships on 27 September 1066, with great
determination Count William crossed to England and with God's approval
he landed near Pevensey.

But he did not stay there long before he moved his troops to another
port situated not far away named Hastings, where he ordered his whole
army to rest. Meanwhile, when Count William with his army was there in
that area engaged in the occupation of England, a messenger of the English
was quickly sent to Harold, who at that time had launched an expedition
against his brother who had invaded another port of England with a large
multitude of soldiers in order to conquer his brother his Harold and gain
possession of the country. In this battle Harold killed his brother and those
who had come with him. Greatly rejoicing in his victory Harold was
oblivious of what was shortly about to happen to him. Therefore, when
he heard that William, count of the Normans, with his army had crossed
to England, Harold came to London as quickly as possible, and consulting
the English and the Danes whom he had with him, he scorned and denied
whatever he had sworn to Count William in Normandy. He ordered all
his men to prepare themselves very quickly so that he could find the
Normans with their leader William before they had a chance to flee from
England. For, puffed up by madness, he thought that the Normans would
not dare to wait for him or engage him in battle. But it happened
otherwise, and he not only found the Normans but by fighting against
them he discovered that the Normans had not sailed across to England in
order that they might wish to flee from there. And so Harold departed
from London with all his troops and arrived at a place which is now called
Battle. Before he had come to this battle, it is recorded that he said that
he had never done anything more freely than coming to this battle. For
blinded by fury, he did not know how true it would be what the Scriptures
said: 'The heart is raised before destruction.' For the heart of mad Harold
was raised before destruction, he who was so foolish and so vain, that he
failed to foresee and sensibly realise that the justice of the almighty God
is always used to humble and destroy arrogant and vain men, unless they
repent from their evil deeds.

6. After Count William and the Normans understood for certain that
the perjurer Harold dared to come to engage in battle against them and to
prepare hitnself for it, they themselves made preparations, invoking the
Lord wholeheartedly so that He would now be their Saviour and that He
would not despise them on account of their sins at such a moment of
great need. Then when they came upon a hill which was near Hastings,
they took stand opposite the hill where Harold and his army had taken
position and ready for a while they kept the army of the English under
observation. It is worthy to commit to the memory of writing the words
which the most Christian Count William is said to have spoken when he
put on his hauberk. For when a certain man handed rum his hauberk to put
it on, he unexpectedly offered it inside out. When William noticed this he
said with a calm face and quiet mind to the soldiers who were surrounding
him: 'If I believed in magic, I would certainly not go into battle today. But I
have never believed in magic, nor have I loved sooth sayers. For in everything I
have ever done I have always entrusted myself to my Creator.' Having said
this and having placed all his faith in his Creator, just as he always used
to do, he put on his armour. Armed and entrusting himself and his whole
army to his Lord, he began to enquire from a certain soldier who stood
near him where he thought Harold was. The man answered that he thought
Harold was in that crowded retinue that was in front of them on the summit
of the hill, for he thought that he saw Harold's standard there. Then Count
William is recorded to have said. 'If believe in the mercy of the almighty
God, whose judgements, even if they are obscure, are just, that today be
will do justice to me concerning Harold who is a perjurer and today dares
to engage in battle with me.' Saying this he urged the horse on which he
sat with his spurs and rushed against the EngJish and striking out he killed
one of them. Not long afterwards, one formation of Nonmans, consisting
of almost one thousand soldiers, launched an attack on the English from
another side and began to run into them with a horrible clash as if intending
to strike them, but when the Normans came up to them, they pretended to
flee as if they feared them. The English then thought that the Normans
really were fleeing and they began to pursue them intending to kill them if
possible. When the Normans, who were more cautious in battle than the
English, saw this they quickly turned round, went between the English
and the troops from which they had separated and speedily killed them
all. In this way the Normans and the English began to fight each other.
The Normans fought with the English nearly the whole day until dusk
fell and at last the defeated English fled; those who could not flee
however, remained there lifeless. Harold was killed in the battle
together with his two brothers and the greatest part of the English
nobility. This battle took place on 14 October on the site where William,
count of the Normans, afterwards, king of the English, had an Abbey built
to the memory of this victory and for the absolution of the sins of all who
had been slain there. When the English had been defeated Count William
returned to his fortification rendering his greatest thanks to almighty
God, who through his mercy had granted victory to him against his
enemies.

7. He did not remain there long before he set off to move towards
London, the capital of England, and thus conquer the land of the English,
Then, gradually, many of the English began to come to him and to make
peace with him. In a short time, after the greater part of the English had
made peace with him, he received their fealty and to some he returned
their lands, but to others he refused to do so because he did not yet trust
them enough. Finally, at Christmas when the French and the English had
gathered together in London, having yielded to him in everything, he
received the crown and the dominion of all of England. So, established
with wisdom and great discretion, he began to execute the authority he
had received. In the churches of England which lacked priests he took
care to install them according to God ['s wishes]. Then, after a short time
he ordered his wife to come from Normandy to England and be made her
from countess into a queen; that queen now bore him a son who was
called Henry whence many people after wards have pointed out how just
it was that after his father he became king of England, who had been born
from a father who was king and from a mother mother who was queen.