Monday, May 12, 2003
Early American Antiques - Dirt Dishes (Redware)
Southern Pottery
Some of the finest potters settled in the South. A colony of Moravians moved from Pennsylvania to North Carolina in 1753. Another well known center was the so-called Jug town Pottery in Steeds, Moore County, North Carolina. Jugtown was a settlement of folks from Staffordshire. The commonest of vessels was created here and the jugs were made to supply the Southern distilleries. Tobacco Spit glaze is a Southern contribution to early pottery. Somehow using this unusual ingredient, a green, dripping glaze was developed for the early jugs.
Today, Southern potters are still making tobacco spit jugs and face jugs - some of which are extremely valuable.
Some things to consider when buying redware are:
Much of the early redware chipped easily, and although condition is an important consideration, collectors don't consider a chip or a small crack bothersome when they buy a piece of redware. It is the nature of this stubborn, red clay.
When you purchase redware, look for the coils inside of pots that indicate pottery coiled on a wheel, and the squiggly line on the bottom, made by a wire to take a pot off of a wheel. Later pots are molded and not wheel thrown.
Look for the unusual shapes - the more decorated items. Ovoid is older than straight-sided, and applied handled pieces are more costly than those without. Scraffito and early slip will bring the biggest money. Redware is a wonderful collectible. A piece can be bought for $35 or $3500 and a collection of it fills a room with the rich warm color of earth and life.
Southern Pottery
Some of the finest potters settled in the South. A colony of Moravians moved from Pennsylvania to North Carolina in 1753. Another well known center was the so-called Jug town Pottery in Steeds, Moore County, North Carolina. Jugtown was a settlement of folks from Staffordshire. The commonest of vessels was created here and the jugs were made to supply the Southern distilleries. Tobacco Spit glaze is a Southern contribution to early pottery. Somehow using this unusual ingredient, a green, dripping glaze was developed for the early jugs.
Today, Southern potters are still making tobacco spit jugs and face jugs - some of which are extremely valuable.
Some things to consider when buying redware are:
Much of the early redware chipped easily, and although condition is an important consideration, collectors don't consider a chip or a small crack bothersome when they buy a piece of redware. It is the nature of this stubborn, red clay.
When you purchase redware, look for the coils inside of pots that indicate pottery coiled on a wheel, and the squiggly line on the bottom, made by a wire to take a pot off of a wheel. Later pots are molded and not wheel thrown.
Look for the unusual shapes - the more decorated items. Ovoid is older than straight-sided, and applied handled pieces are more costly than those without. Scraffito and early slip will bring the biggest money. Redware is a wonderful collectible. A piece can be bought for $35 or $3500 and a collection of it fills a room with the rich warm color of earth and life.
High Strangeness: When Flesh and Blood Fell from the Sky
When Flesh and Blood Fell from the Sky
by John Hairr*
The fall of flesh and blood from the sky would generate no small amount of curiosity, even in our technologically advanced society acquainted with air travel. We can only imagine the consternation that such events had upon people in the days before powered flight. Falls of blood, and in some cases even flesh, have been chronicled throughout history from all over the world. Understandably, these events sometimes caused consternation among the people, and were often seen as portents of ill luck or doom.
In North Carolina in the nineteenth century, two different incidents of blood and flesh falling from the sky were recorded. The episodes, one in Sampson County and the other in Chatham County, occurred 34 years apart.
The first flesh fall recorded in North Carolina occurred on 15 February 1850 on the farm of Thomas Clarkson, thirteen miles southwest of the county seat of Clinton. His account of the incident, and a sample of the material, was taken to Fayetteville by a Mr. Holland.
Clarkson's description of the event was taken down by Mr. Holland and printed in the North Carolinian, a newspaper published in Fayetteville. He noted, "On the 15th Feb'y, 1850, there fell within 100 yards of the residence of Thos. M. Clarkson in Sampson county, a shower of Flesh and Blood, about 250 or 300 yards in length. The pieces appeared to be flesh, liver, lights, brains and blood. Some of the blood ran on the leaves, apparently very fresh. Three of his (T.M.C.'s) children were in it, and ran to their mother exclaiming, "Mother there is meat falling!" Their mother went immediately to see, but the shower was over; but there lay the flesh, &c. Neill Campbell, Esq. living close by, was on the spot shortly after it fell, and pronounced it as above. One of his children was about 150 yards from the shower and came running to the rest saying he smelt something like blood. During the time it was falling there was a cloud overhead, having a red appearance like a wind cloud. There was no rain." (1)
The writer for the North Carolinian went on to note that the materials brought in by Mr. Holland was examined "with two of the best microscopes in the place." All who looked at the samples agreed that it was flesh and blood, but from what was unknown. (2)
The second flesh fall recorded in North Carolina occurred on 25 February 1884. Mrs. Kit Lasater, wife of a black tenant farmer who lived on the farm of Silas Beckworth in New Hope Township in Chatham County on the north side of the Pittsboro-Raleigh Road, was standing in a freshly plowed field near a barn a short distance from her family's one room cabin when blood fell from a clear sky upon the ground, bushes and fence all around her.
As word spread of the event, curious people dropped in to investigate the site. At first it was neighbors and friends, but as the news spread, curiosity seekers from further afield came by. Soon, the event was chronicled in the local newspaper, the Chatham Record. Of the event, the paper reported, "Many of the neighbors, after hearing of her statement, visited the spot and they all say that the ground--embracing an area of about 60 feet in circumference--was covered with splotches of something like blood: and an examination of the trees in this place showed blood on the branches. We are informed that a reputable physician of the neighborhood visited the spot and said it was blood." (3)
S.A. Holleman was one of the first people to visit the site. He reported the following particulars. "The space covered was about fifty by seventy feet, and nearly in a rectangular form. The drops were of sizes varying from that of a small pea to that of a man's finger and averaged about one to the square foot. Smaller drops were instantly absorbed, larger ones, with those on the wood, coagulated. Some fell in the bushes and coagulated upon the limbs."
When Flesh and Blood Fell from the Sky
by John Hairr*
The fall of flesh and blood from the sky would generate no small amount of curiosity, even in our technologically advanced society acquainted with air travel. We can only imagine the consternation that such events had upon people in the days before powered flight. Falls of blood, and in some cases even flesh, have been chronicled throughout history from all over the world. Understandably, these events sometimes caused consternation among the people, and were often seen as portents of ill luck or doom.
In North Carolina in the nineteenth century, two different incidents of blood and flesh falling from the sky were recorded. The episodes, one in Sampson County and the other in Chatham County, occurred 34 years apart.
The first flesh fall recorded in North Carolina occurred on 15 February 1850 on the farm of Thomas Clarkson, thirteen miles southwest of the county seat of Clinton. His account of the incident, and a sample of the material, was taken to Fayetteville by a Mr. Holland.
Clarkson's description of the event was taken down by Mr. Holland and printed in the North Carolinian, a newspaper published in Fayetteville. He noted, "On the 15th Feb'y, 1850, there fell within 100 yards of the residence of Thos. M. Clarkson in Sampson county, a shower of Flesh and Blood, about 250 or 300 yards in length. The pieces appeared to be flesh, liver, lights, brains and blood. Some of the blood ran on the leaves, apparently very fresh. Three of his (T.M.C.'s) children were in it, and ran to their mother exclaiming, "Mother there is meat falling!" Their mother went immediately to see, but the shower was over; but there lay the flesh, &c. Neill Campbell, Esq. living close by, was on the spot shortly after it fell, and pronounced it as above. One of his children was about 150 yards from the shower and came running to the rest saying he smelt something like blood. During the time it was falling there was a cloud overhead, having a red appearance like a wind cloud. There was no rain." (1)
The writer for the North Carolinian went on to note that the materials brought in by Mr. Holland was examined "with two of the best microscopes in the place." All who looked at the samples agreed that it was flesh and blood, but from what was unknown. (2)
The second flesh fall recorded in North Carolina occurred on 25 February 1884. Mrs. Kit Lasater, wife of a black tenant farmer who lived on the farm of Silas Beckworth in New Hope Township in Chatham County on the north side of the Pittsboro-Raleigh Road, was standing in a freshly plowed field near a barn a short distance from her family's one room cabin when blood fell from a clear sky upon the ground, bushes and fence all around her.
As word spread of the event, curious people dropped in to investigate the site. At first it was neighbors and friends, but as the news spread, curiosity seekers from further afield came by. Soon, the event was chronicled in the local newspaper, the Chatham Record. Of the event, the paper reported, "Many of the neighbors, after hearing of her statement, visited the spot and they all say that the ground--embracing an area of about 60 feet in circumference--was covered with splotches of something like blood: and an examination of the trees in this place showed blood on the branches. We are informed that a reputable physician of the neighborhood visited the spot and said it was blood." (3)
S.A. Holleman was one of the first people to visit the site. He reported the following particulars. "The space covered was about fifty by seventy feet, and nearly in a rectangular form. The drops were of sizes varying from that of a small pea to that of a man's finger and averaged about one to the square foot. Smaller drops were instantly absorbed, larger ones, with those on the wood, coagulated. Some fell in the bushes and coagulated upon the limbs."
North Carolina. Dept. of Public Instruction. North Carolina Day. Friday, November 11, 1921. Armistice Day. North Carolina in the World War
BUNCOMBE COUNTY:
BRYAN BECKWITH, second lieutenant, Company F, 119th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Ypres, Belgium, August 25, 1918. At imminent peril to his life, Lieutenant Beckwith (then a sergeant) and two companious extinguished a fire in an ammunition dump, caused by a bursting shell, thereby preventing the explosion of the dump and saving the lives of a large number of men who were in the vicinity.
Home address, Robert B. Beckwith, Black Mountain, N. C. (G. O. 44, W. D., 1919.)
BUNCOMBE COUNTY:
BRYAN BECKWITH, second lieutenant, Company F, 119th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Ypres, Belgium, August 25, 1918. At imminent peril to his life, Lieutenant Beckwith (then a sergeant) and two companious extinguished a fire in an ammunition dump, caused by a bursting shell, thereby preventing the explosion of the dump and saving the lives of a large number of men who were in the vicinity.
Home address, Robert B. Beckwith, Black Mountain, N. C. (G. O. 44, W. D., 1919.)
Johnson, Guion Griffis, 1900- 1989. Ante-Bellum North Carolina: A Social History: Electronic Edition.
The general practitioner usually performed operations upon the head whenever such cases arose, for there were few specialists in this field of surgery in the State. One such specialist, however, was Dr. John Beckwith of Raleigh who treated diseases of the eye for a period of more than twenty years until his removal to Petersburg, Virginia, in the forties. In the issue of September 7, 1839, the Raleigh Register referred with pride to his operations for the relief of blindness, declaring that he had as few instances of failure as the more famed doctors at the North.
The general practitioner usually performed operations upon the head whenever such cases arose, for there were few specialists in this field of surgery in the State. One such specialist, however, was Dr. John Beckwith of Raleigh who treated diseases of the eye for a period of more than twenty years until his removal to Petersburg, Virginia, in the forties. In the issue of September 7, 1839, the Raleigh Register referred with pride to his operations for the relief of blindness, declaring that he had as few instances of failure as the more famed doctors at the North.
Documenting the American South: The Southern Experience in 19-th Century America
ELDER JOHNSON OLIVE
was born in Chatham county, North Carolina, June 7th, 1816. His boyhood was spent on a farm, attending, at intervals, such primary schools as the neighborhood afforded. During his youth he often felt concerned for his soul's salvation. In that
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day camp-meetings were quite common. He attended one at Buckhorn, Chatham county, in 1837. Here he repented and believed, and was soon after baptized by Elder P. W. Dowd, a member of Shady Grove Church. In the neighborhood prayer-meetings he first began to lead in public prayer - then in the church. Having a good voice for singing, and being otherwise gifted, his pastor, Elder Dowd, took special interest in him, urging him to go to school and prepare himself for future usefulness, not hinting that some day he might want to preach. Taking his pastor's advice, he entered Thompson's Academy (George W. Thompson, Principal), in the northern. part of Wake county. He also attended Pleasant Hill Academy, in Chatham county, Baxter Clegg, Principal. After thus having been at school some time, he returned home. He soon began to teach in the family of his old pastor, in 1841. Elder Dowd and wife were exceedingly kind to him and interested in him, which begot in him a life-long attachment for them.
During this year (1841), he married Martha Hunter, daughter of Alsey Hunter, of Wake county, and settled near where Olive's Chapel now is, where for a time he engaged in farming. During this time he was much impressed and concerned about his duty to enter the ministry. He felt that he must do something more than he was doing. The great question in his mind was, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" He began to make appointments for "religious services" at the neighboring churches.
He talked with much freedom and effect. Pastors around him began to have him fill their appointments. In after life he often spoke of this period, and always made most affectionate allusions to Elders Dowd, James Dennis and Jesse Howell. He was licensed to preach soon, and five years later, by request of his church, he was ordained at the Raleigh Association, meeting at Cumberland Union Church (now in Harnett), in the year 1847. Ministers present: John Purefoy. James S. Purefoy, William Jones, David Williams, S. Senter, Ezekiel Holland, James Dennis and Robert J. Dennis. He then took
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Page 309
charge of and held the pastorate for a number of years of the churches at Shady Grove, Mt.. Pisgah, Holly Spring and Cedar Fork.
He was very active in the ministry till 1861; he then was afflicted with "spiritual darkness" - such he called it. His many friends were much saddened by it, for he ceased to preach entirely. Some thought he had lost his mind, but he always insisted that such was not the case; that his judgment, memory, mental powers, all were the same as ever. He said for some purpose the Lord had withdrawn spiritual light from him; that he could not hold communion with God as he had done before, and as he did afterwards. Be this as it may, he was for nearly four years a very miserable man. Gradually the darkness began to lift, and light and joy began to break in upon his spirit. He again, in 1865, entered actively upon his ministry, and remained at his post till the Master called him home to rest. This took place at his new home in Apex, January 24th, 1885. At the time of his death he was pastor of Cary, Holly Springs, Swift Creek and New Bethel churches. His last sermon was at Holly Springs, from the text, Phil. 2: 16., "Holding forth the word of life, that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain" It seems almost prophetic. Many thought it his best sermon. His body lies in the village and church burying- ground at Apex, N. C.
ELDER JOHNSON OLIVE
was born in Chatham county, North Carolina, June 7th, 1816. His boyhood was spent on a farm, attending, at intervals, such primary schools as the neighborhood afforded. During his youth he often felt concerned for his soul's salvation. In that
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 308
day camp-meetings were quite common. He attended one at Buckhorn, Chatham county, in 1837. Here he repented and believed, and was soon after baptized by Elder P. W. Dowd, a member of Shady Grove Church. In the neighborhood prayer-meetings he first began to lead in public prayer - then in the church. Having a good voice for singing, and being otherwise gifted, his pastor, Elder Dowd, took special interest in him, urging him to go to school and prepare himself for future usefulness, not hinting that some day he might want to preach. Taking his pastor's advice, he entered Thompson's Academy (George W. Thompson, Principal), in the northern. part of Wake county. He also attended Pleasant Hill Academy, in Chatham county, Baxter Clegg, Principal. After thus having been at school some time, he returned home. He soon began to teach in the family of his old pastor, in 1841. Elder Dowd and wife were exceedingly kind to him and interested in him, which begot in him a life-long attachment for them.
During this year (1841), he married Martha Hunter, daughter of Alsey Hunter, of Wake county, and settled near where Olive's Chapel now is, where for a time he engaged in farming. During this time he was much impressed and concerned about his duty to enter the ministry. He felt that he must do something more than he was doing. The great question in his mind was, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" He began to make appointments for "religious services" at the neighboring churches.
He talked with much freedom and effect. Pastors around him began to have him fill their appointments. In after life he often spoke of this period, and always made most affectionate allusions to Elders Dowd, James Dennis and Jesse Howell. He was licensed to preach soon, and five years later, by request of his church, he was ordained at the Raleigh Association, meeting at Cumberland Union Church (now in Harnett), in the year 1847. Ministers present: John Purefoy. James S. Purefoy, William Jones, David Williams, S. Senter, Ezekiel Holland, James Dennis and Robert J. Dennis. He then took
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 309
charge of and held the pastorate for a number of years of the churches at Shady Grove, Mt.. Pisgah, Holly Spring and Cedar Fork.
He was very active in the ministry till 1861; he then was afflicted with "spiritual darkness" - such he called it. His many friends were much saddened by it, for he ceased to preach entirely. Some thought he had lost his mind, but he always insisted that such was not the case; that his judgment, memory, mental powers, all were the same as ever. He said for some purpose the Lord had withdrawn spiritual light from him; that he could not hold communion with God as he had done before, and as he did afterwards. Be this as it may, he was for nearly four years a very miserable man. Gradually the darkness began to lift, and light and joy began to break in upon his spirit. He again, in 1865, entered actively upon his ministry, and remained at his post till the Master called him home to rest. This took place at his new home in Apex, January 24th, 1885. At the time of his death he was pastor of Cary, Holly Springs, Swift Creek and New Bethel churches. His last sermon was at Holly Springs, from the text, Phil. 2: 16., "Holding forth the word of life, that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain" It seems almost prophetic. Many thought it his best sermon. His body lies in the village and church burying- ground at Apex, N. C.
Saturday, May 10, 2003
BeckwithWWI
"CHARLES BECKWITH COLLECTION
Watkinson Library, Trinity College
The Watkinson Library has recently purchased 50 letters written by Charles Beckwith, a young Pennsylvanian who served in the United States army during World War I. These letters, written to his sisters back home, document Beckwith’s stint at Fort Monroe, Virginia, his departure overseas, and his year in France. Beckwith was an ordinary soldier, whose responsibilities included repairing guns and tractors. His letters are full of homesickness (“every time I think of home I get hungry”), plans for wrangling leave and supplying himself with cigarettes, remarks about the weather, and his struggles with the French language (“donnez ma amour du ma petit soeur”). He also describes the army’s inscrutable inefficiency (“I sure hope they do something as I am getting tired of not knowing what I am going to do next”) and the destruction wrought by war (“All the towns we go into are all blown to pieces & we can hardly find a place to sleep except the ground & there is plenty of room there”). Charles Beckwith’s letters home are a significant addition to the Watkinson’s collection of World War I materials, affording a glimpse of catastrophic events through one soldier’s eyes. "
"CHARLES BECKWITH COLLECTION
Watkinson Library, Trinity College
The Watkinson Library has recently purchased 50 letters written by Charles Beckwith, a young Pennsylvanian who served in the United States army during World War I. These letters, written to his sisters back home, document Beckwith’s stint at Fort Monroe, Virginia, his departure overseas, and his year in France. Beckwith was an ordinary soldier, whose responsibilities included repairing guns and tractors. His letters are full of homesickness (“every time I think of home I get hungry”), plans for wrangling leave and supplying himself with cigarettes, remarks about the weather, and his struggles with the French language (“donnez ma amour du ma petit soeur”). He also describes the army’s inscrutable inefficiency (“I sure hope they do something as I am getting tired of not knowing what I am going to do next”) and the destruction wrought by war (“All the towns we go into are all blown to pieces & we can hardly find a place to sleep except the ground & there is plenty of room there”). Charles Beckwith’s letters home are a significant addition to the Watkinson’s collection of World War I materials, affording a glimpse of catastrophic events through one soldier’s eyes. "
Friday, May 09, 2003
Preface: A Medieval Catalan Noble Family
Man of La Mancha
"I am I, Donald Quixote"...
"...withersoever they blow..."
Man of La Mancha
"I am I, Donald Quixote"...
"...withersoever they blow..."
Wednesday, May 07, 2003
History of England, Medieval Britain, Henry 3, Edward 1
"Edward I (1272-1307)
Seen by many historians as the ideal medieval king, Edward l enjoyed warfare and statecraft equally, and was determined to succeed in both. Henry's eldest son, he had conducted the ailing king's affairs in England during the last years of his father's life. Known as Edward Longshanks, he was a man whose immense strength and steely resolve had been ably shown on the crusade he undertook to the Holy Land in 1270. The death of Henry forced his return from Sicily, though it took him two years to return.
When he finally did arrive to claim his throne, King Edward immediately set about restoring order in England and wiping out corruption among the barons and royal officials."
"Edward I (1272-1307)
Seen by many historians as the ideal medieval king, Edward l enjoyed warfare and statecraft equally, and was determined to succeed in both. Henry's eldest son, he had conducted the ailing king's affairs in England during the last years of his father's life. Known as Edward Longshanks, he was a man whose immense strength and steely resolve had been ably shown on the crusade he undertook to the Holy Land in 1270. The death of Henry forced his return from Sicily, though it took him two years to return.
When he finally did arrive to claim his throne, King Edward immediately set about restoring order in England and wiping out corruption among the barons and royal officials."
History of England, Medieval Britain - Henry II, Richard I, John I
"Showing not a sign of his willingness to honor the compromise, Becket immediately excommunicated the Archbishop of York and the other bishops who had assisted at the coronation of Henry's oldest son. When the news reached Henry in Normandy, his anger was uncontrollable and the four knights who sped to Canterbury to murder Becket in his own cathedral thought that this was an act desired by the King. Instead, the whole of Europe was outraged.
The dead archbishop was immensely more powerful than the live one, and more than Henry's abject penance made the murdered Becket the most influential martyr in the history of the English Church."
snip
"Showing not a sign of his willingness to honor the compromise, Becket immediately excommunicated the Archbishop of York and the other bishops who had assisted at the coronation of Henry's oldest son. When the news reached Henry in Normandy, his anger was uncontrollable and the four knights who sped to Canterbury to murder Becket in his own cathedral thought that this was an act desired by the King. Instead, the whole of Europe was outraged.
The dead archbishop was immensely more powerful than the live one, and more than Henry's abject penance made the murdered Becket the most influential martyr in the history of the English Church."
snip
History of England, Medieval Britain
"Godwin of Wessex was the most powerful man in England after the King, whom he supported in the raid on the treasures at Winchester, but who tried his utmost to run the country as family fiefdom. He plotted to have Edward marry his daughter Edith, a union to which the king consented to keep Godwin happy and allied in the face of continued Scandinavian threats. Edward was double Edith's age; the marriage did not produce an heir, for the saintly king had earlier taken a vow of chastity (a hunting accident had left him impotent in any case). Edward wanted his Norman relatives to gain the throne of England. The handing over of power to William became his obsession. But there were other claimants from the house of Earl Godwin that contested the king's wishes.
From 1046 to 1051, Edward was engaged in a power struggle with the Godwins. He was forced to take action. First, he exiled Swein, the ruthless treacherous eldest son who had abducted an abbotress among his other nefarious deeds. He next exiled Godwin and all his sons, two of whom joined their father and Swein in Bruges and two of whom went to join the Vikings in Dublin. Thus temporarily freed from Godwin influence, in the pinnacle of his power, Edward was left alone to appoint Norman bishops to many vacant English Sees. Then Godwin returned.
Civil War was averted only because the King restored Godwin and his sons to their earldoms. Edward was also humiliated by having to purge his Norman bishops. He then was forced to appoint Stigand, Godwin's nominee to Canterbury in place of Robert of Jumieges. Edward shied away from provoking an all-out war with his hated enemy Godwin. He was spared a decision by the death of Godwin on Easter Monday 1053 and the succession of Harold Godwinson as Earl of Wessex. The enmity between the Crown and the House of Godwin continued unabated, especially over the appointing of bishops and the leadership of the armies raised to fight Gruffudd of Wales who had been successful in winning back many border areas previously lost to the English. Harold himself raised an army to punish Gruffudd. But the main problem remained, that of succession. Matters were not helped by the suspicious death of Edward the Atheling, younger son of Edmund Ironside, who had been smuggled out of England as a babe to escape Cnut, and who had returned in 1057. Only the king and the late Athelings' two children remained of the ancient house of Cerdic of Wessex. By his defeat of Gruffudd in Wales, Harold then made himself the premier military leader in England. In 1064, he visited Normandy.
The Bayeux Tapestry, woven after 1066, depicts the events leading up to the Norman invasion of that year as well as the great culminating battle. It shows Harold receiving instructions from King Edward, embarking for Normandy, aiding William in an expedition, saving trapped knights in a river crossing and being knighted by the Norman Duke, to whom he swears an oath of loyalty. Next is shown the death and burial of Edward, the coronation of Harold, the appearance of a comet and the invasion and culminating battle.
It is highly probable that Edward did send Harold to Normandy with the formal promise that the kingdom would pass to William upon Edward's death. Harold would thus act as regent until the Norman leader could arrive to claim his throne. However, before the death of Edward, who had done everything in his power to hold the ambitions of the Godwins in check and to ensure the peaceful transition of power to William, he could not have foreseen the wave of nationalist feeling which greeted Harold's bid for the crown.
The saintly king had completely overlooked English resentment at the ever-growing Norman influences in their island nation. The "Chronicle" went so far as to justify Harold's seizure of power by stating that Edward had entrusted the kingdom to him. On January 6, 1066, the funeral of Edward and the coronation of Harold, henceforth held in contempt by the Normans as an untrustworthy bond-breaker, took place at the newly consecrated Abbey at Westminster.
William of Normandy must have been furious. His people called themselves Franks or Frenchmen. They had come to France centuries before as Viking invaders when their brothers were busy ravaging the coast of England. In many ways, their new homeland was similar to the English Dane-Law, an area also settled by invaders from the North. It had been recognized in 911 at a treaty between Charles, the Simple and Rollo, the Norwegian. Rollo had then converted to Christianity and ruled his territory as a Duke, a subordinate of the French king. In 1002, as we have seen, Emma, sister of Richard Duke of Normandy and a descendant of Rollo, became the second wife of English King Ethelred.
The Norman invasion of England was unlike that involving massive immigrations of people seeking new lands in which to settle and farm as marked by the Anglo-Saxon and Danish invasions. This new phenomenon was practically an overnight affair. William's victories were swift, sudden and self-contained. No new wave of people came to occupy the land, only a small, ruling aristocracy. "
snip
"William was also determined to find out how much land was owned by the archbishops, bishops, abbots and earls. "So very narrowly did he have it investigated, that there was no single hide nor virgate of land, nor indeed... one ox nor one cow nor one pig which was left out, and not put down in his record; and all these records were brought to him afterwards." The book names some 13,000 places, many for the first time. A veritable Who's Who of the century, the "Domesday Book" is a remarkable accomplishment indeed, packed with exhaustive detail on every holding in the entire country and its value. "
snip
"Godwin of Wessex was the most powerful man in England after the King, whom he supported in the raid on the treasures at Winchester, but who tried his utmost to run the country as family fiefdom. He plotted to have Edward marry his daughter Edith, a union to which the king consented to keep Godwin happy and allied in the face of continued Scandinavian threats. Edward was double Edith's age; the marriage did not produce an heir, for the saintly king had earlier taken a vow of chastity (a hunting accident had left him impotent in any case). Edward wanted his Norman relatives to gain the throne of England. The handing over of power to William became his obsession. But there were other claimants from the house of Earl Godwin that contested the king's wishes.
From 1046 to 1051, Edward was engaged in a power struggle with the Godwins. He was forced to take action. First, he exiled Swein, the ruthless treacherous eldest son who had abducted an abbotress among his other nefarious deeds. He next exiled Godwin and all his sons, two of whom joined their father and Swein in Bruges and two of whom went to join the Vikings in Dublin. Thus temporarily freed from Godwin influence, in the pinnacle of his power, Edward was left alone to appoint Norman bishops to many vacant English Sees. Then Godwin returned.
Civil War was averted only because the King restored Godwin and his sons to their earldoms. Edward was also humiliated by having to purge his Norman bishops. He then was forced to appoint Stigand, Godwin's nominee to Canterbury in place of Robert of Jumieges. Edward shied away from provoking an all-out war with his hated enemy Godwin. He was spared a decision by the death of Godwin on Easter Monday 1053 and the succession of Harold Godwinson as Earl of Wessex. The enmity between the Crown and the House of Godwin continued unabated, especially over the appointing of bishops and the leadership of the armies raised to fight Gruffudd of Wales who had been successful in winning back many border areas previously lost to the English. Harold himself raised an army to punish Gruffudd. But the main problem remained, that of succession. Matters were not helped by the suspicious death of Edward the Atheling, younger son of Edmund Ironside, who had been smuggled out of England as a babe to escape Cnut, and who had returned in 1057. Only the king and the late Athelings' two children remained of the ancient house of Cerdic of Wessex. By his defeat of Gruffudd in Wales, Harold then made himself the premier military leader in England. In 1064, he visited Normandy.
The Bayeux Tapestry, woven after 1066, depicts the events leading up to the Norman invasion of that year as well as the great culminating battle. It shows Harold receiving instructions from King Edward, embarking for Normandy, aiding William in an expedition, saving trapped knights in a river crossing and being knighted by the Norman Duke, to whom he swears an oath of loyalty. Next is shown the death and burial of Edward, the coronation of Harold, the appearance of a comet and the invasion and culminating battle.
It is highly probable that Edward did send Harold to Normandy with the formal promise that the kingdom would pass to William upon Edward's death. Harold would thus act as regent until the Norman leader could arrive to claim his throne. However, before the death of Edward, who had done everything in his power to hold the ambitions of the Godwins in check and to ensure the peaceful transition of power to William, he could not have foreseen the wave of nationalist feeling which greeted Harold's bid for the crown.
The saintly king had completely overlooked English resentment at the ever-growing Norman influences in their island nation. The "Chronicle" went so far as to justify Harold's seizure of power by stating that Edward had entrusted the kingdom to him. On January 6, 1066, the funeral of Edward and the coronation of Harold, henceforth held in contempt by the Normans as an untrustworthy bond-breaker, took place at the newly consecrated Abbey at Westminster.
William of Normandy must have been furious. His people called themselves Franks or Frenchmen. They had come to France centuries before as Viking invaders when their brothers were busy ravaging the coast of England. In many ways, their new homeland was similar to the English Dane-Law, an area also settled by invaders from the North. It had been recognized in 911 at a treaty between Charles, the Simple and Rollo, the Norwegian. Rollo had then converted to Christianity and ruled his territory as a Duke, a subordinate of the French king. In 1002, as we have seen, Emma, sister of Richard Duke of Normandy and a descendant of Rollo, became the second wife of English King Ethelred.
The Norman invasion of England was unlike that involving massive immigrations of people seeking new lands in which to settle and farm as marked by the Anglo-Saxon and Danish invasions. This new phenomenon was practically an overnight affair. William's victories were swift, sudden and self-contained. No new wave of people came to occupy the land, only a small, ruling aristocracy. "
snip
"William was also determined to find out how much land was owned by the archbishops, bishops, abbots and earls. "So very narrowly did he have it investigated, that there was no single hide nor virgate of land, nor indeed... one ox nor one cow nor one pig which was left out, and not put down in his record; and all these records were brought to him afterwards." The book names some 13,000 places, many for the first time. A veritable Who's Who of the century, the "Domesday Book" is a remarkable accomplishment indeed, packed with exhaustive detail on every holding in the entire country and its value. "
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Stephen: British Monarchs
"Stephen's reign was one of the darkest chapters in English history. He was basically a good man - well respected by the barons and closely tied to the church - but possessed a conciliatory character and limited scope of kingship. Stephen had promised to recognize his cousin Matilda as lawful heir, but like many of the English/Norman nobles, was unwilling to yield the crown to a woman. He received recognition as king by the papacy through the machinations of his brother Henry of Blois, Bishop of Winchester, and gathered support from the barons. Matilda was in Anjou at the time of Henry's death and Stephen, in a rare exhibition of resolve, crossed the Channel and was crowned king by the citizens of London on December 22, 1135. "
--not sure of kinship w/jennings--dkb--
"Stephen's reign was one of the darkest chapters in English history. He was basically a good man - well respected by the barons and closely tied to the church - but possessed a conciliatory character and limited scope of kingship. Stephen had promised to recognize his cousin Matilda as lawful heir, but like many of the English/Norman nobles, was unwilling to yield the crown to a woman. He received recognition as king by the papacy through the machinations of his brother Henry of Blois, Bishop of Winchester, and gathered support from the barons. Matilda was in Anjou at the time of Henry's death and Stephen, in a rare exhibition of resolve, crossed the Channel and was crowned king by the citizens of London on December 22, 1135. "
--not sure of kinship w/jennings--dkb--
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