In 1055 the Welsh invaded Hereford and burnt it to the ground. A short time later, in February 1056, the bishop of Hereford, Athelstan, died. In his place, to counter the Welsh threat, a more pugnacious priest was installed. The D verison of the Anglo Saxon Chronicle explains:
'Leofgar, who was Earl Harold's chaplain, was appointed to succeed him: he kept his moustaches long during his priesthood until he became a bishop. He forsook his chrism and his cross and his spiritual weapons, seized his spear and his sword, and thus armed joined the levies against Gruffudd, the Welsh King: and there he was slain with his priests who were with him, together with Ælfnoth the sheriff and many other good men.'
(I put this in the Norman Conquest, but it was cut.)
No comments:
Post a Comment