Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-05-20

WIN iCoi' lOuI StGDlS O1C vast
prey, and dread to touch it or its treasures,
as | should heated brazier." The noble
minded Gumond, of whom the world was
not worthy, returned to his cloister but his
words gave offence, and he was obliged to
quit Normandy.
William had sworn on the Gospels and
the relics of the saints to observe the laws
of King Edward, as if il were possible that
the mild administration Of native govern
ment could exist under rulers imposed by
conquest. The laws were published but
the days of King Edward did not RETURN
The burgesses enjoyed no more their NUM-
cipal freedom, nor the countrymen their ter
rtorial franchise. Thenceforward, as be-
fore, every Norman had the privilege of Kill
ling an Englishman without being criminal
in the eye of the law, or sinful in the eye of
the Church. Yet the Saxons seem not to
have lost all hope of their country so long
as they beheld one of their own race inves-
ted with great power, even though under the
authority of foreigners. But the execution
of Waltheoff, the son of Siward, completed
their depression There was no longer to
be found in England, among those invested
with public authority and ennobled with
honours, single man native to the coun-
try nor any but those who looked upon the
Anglo-Saxons in the light of enemies and
of brutes.
All the religious authority had likewise
passed into the hands of men of foreign en-
traction; and of all the ancient Saxon pre-
lates, there remained only Wulfstan, bishop
of Worcester. He was man of weak and
simple mind, who had early made his peace
with the conquerors, and rendered them inn
portant services in the pacification of the i'll
surgent provinces. But he was a Saxon, and
his day had come. In the year 1876, just
ten years after the invasion, the old bishop
was cited before council of the Norman
preates and chiefs in Westminster Abbey,
at which the king and the primate presided.
He was unanimously pronounced incapable
of exercising the Episcopal functions in
England, seeing that he was iliterate, and
could not speak French On account of
this deficiency, he was required to deliver
up his crozier and his ring. With an ener-
gy superior to his character, he rose, and,
bearing his pastoral staff in his hand, walk
ed straight up to the tomb of Edward the
Confessor and exclaimed" Edward, from
thee | received this staff; to thee, there
fore, / return and confde it." Then turn
ing to the Normans-"I received it from
hands more worthy than yours. | have re-
placed it therein do you, if you have the
power, take it therefrom" As he uttered
these last words, the Saxon struck the tomb
stone forcibly with the end of his crozier.
His solemn demeanour and energetic action
made on the minds of the assembly strong
impression, not unmixed with kind of SUI
perstitious dread The king and the pri-
mate did not repeat the demand and uhi-
mus AngiOrum, the last of the English bish-
ops, retained his staff and his Office, and was
ever afterwards treated kindly.
The demolition of the Church of Au-
gustine' was speedily accomplished by Will
liam and Laniranc, but the monasteries held
out longer Their struggles were vain Z; for
after repeated humiliations, they were obi
ged to surrender the last vestges of indie
pendence. By virtue of the Conquest, the
English had wholly changed their nature in
the eyes OF their masters, sinking into brutes
or darkenng into demons, and becoming al
together unworthy of human sympathies-
This has been the invariable effect of con-
quest followed by confscation and nothing
can more clearly show its diabolcal turpi-
tude. As to the Normans, the clergy and
laity differed onl y in their garb. Whether
under the helmet or the cowl, they were the
same merciless oppressors Jean della Vii
lette, bishop of Wells, formerly a physician
of Tours, pulled down the houses ofthe Ca
mons of his church, in order to build him
self palace of the materials. The prelates,
! all al FL do, Il
ing at dice or drinking Knyghton relates
that one of Them in an idle hour of gaiety,
had repast served up to Saxon monks in
the great hall, in which he compelled them
to eat of dishes forbidden by their order, at
tended by young women half Naked and
with disheveled hair (Muieres vutu ct YES
tie procaces, sparsis post tergum crinibus)
Such of the English as retired, or turned a.
way their eyes from this sight, were il-treat-
ed and jeered as hypocrltes by the bishops
and their boon companions.
Among these mitred libertines, Odo, blsll-
OPP of Bayeux, the Kings brother, was IA
nous as tanner of the wild English. His
Office as Grand JuSticiary* of the kingdom
gave him ample facilities for tormentng
them. The renown which he thus acquired
J dtnOiS HIS 1ihCil Hhbui "a ui
rogance to the utmost pitch, insomuch that
his inflated ambition aspired to the Papacy,
for which he prepared the way with rich
presents, having filled the wallets of several
pilgrims to Rome with dispatches for men
of influence there In the midst of his POM
pous preparation for visit to the eternal
city, William, who, for some cause, did not
relish the scheme, met him in the Isle OF
Wight, and charged him before the barons
with having malreated the Saxons beyond
measure to the great danger ofthe common
cause.
Considering those grievances" said the
King to the assembly, "tell me how ought
to act towards such brotherl" No one
dared to answer. Let him be seized and
kept in safe custody" resumed William
No one ventured to lay his hand on the blsh-
op,-when the King advanced and seized
him by the robes. 81 am a clerk" exclaim-
ed Odo-"I am Gods minister; none but
the Pope has a right to Judge me-" But
William, without letting go his hold, repli-
ed am not passing Judgment on a clerk
this is my count and vassal whom | arrest "
The brother of the Conqueror was con-
veyed into Normandy and imprisoned in a
fortress On the death of the latter, Odo
was released, and he Immediately put him
self at the head of AN army in England to