This closes the list of evidences which have been preserved to us relating to the Castle of Hastings down to the date of the death of William the Conqueror (Sept. 9th, 1087).
The Conqueror his death-bed in the priory of St. Gercvais wihtout the walls of the city of Rouen, summoned second son, William Rufus,to his bedside, and there gave him a sealed letter, which he had addressed to Archbishop Lanfranc, concerning the appointment of his successor to the throne of England (Ord. Vit., B. VII. ch. xvi.). The Conqueror, fearing that riots and tumults might break out on his death, commanded Rufus to embark for England without delay. Then kissing him, he gave him his blessing, and urged him to hasten his departure, cross the sea, and secure the crown. The Prince immediately left, and rode towards the coast. The Conqueror, in fearful agony, and conscience-stricken with the recollection of the awful injuries and oppressions that he had inflicted upon thousands of his fellow-creatures throughout his troublous reign, lay in fear of death, and trembling at his doom. Anselm, Prior of Bee, had been sent for by his special request, to administer the last consolations, but was prevented from so doing by illness.
At length, early on Tuesday morning, Sept. 9th, "the King, rousing just when the sun was beginning to shed his rays on the earth, heard the sound of the great bell of the cathedral of Rouen. He inquired what it meant ; his attendant answered 'My lord, the bell is tolling for Primes in the Church of St. Mary.' The King raised his eyes towards heaven with deep devotion, and lifting up his hands, said : ' I commend myself to Mary, the Holy Mother of God, my heavenly mistress, that by her blessed intercession I may be reconciled to her well-beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.' Having thus spoken, he immediately expired " ('Ord. Vit.')[1]
- ↑ Battle Abbey Chronicle (1176). -- " His sickness daily increased, and when he perceived that his end drew near, he was not unmindful of the Abbey he had reared in England, but took care to command his son William, whom he had constituted his successor to the kingdom, that, upon his return to this country to receive the crown, he should endow the convent with one manor of forty pounds, over and above what he himself had freely conferred upon it. He gave, moreover, his royal pallium, beautifully ornamented with gold and very costly gems, and 300 amulets suitably fabricated of gold and silver, many of which were attached to chains of those metals, and contained innumerable relics of the saints ; with a feretory in the form of an altar, in which also were many relics, and upon which, in his expedition, mass had been accustomed to be celebrated. These things, among many others acquired by the kings his predecessors, he had obtained with the kingdom ; and they had hitherto been preserved in the royal treasury, until now that he ordered them to be presented to the Abbey. He also gave orders for the speedy dedication of the Abbey with suitable honour. He (Rufus) obeyed these behests, and the sickness of the most excellent monarch increased, until at length, alas ! on the 5th of the ides of September, in the 2ist year of his reign, he expired. His earthly body was conveyed to Caen, to the church of S. Stephen, which he had founded, and there committed to the earth before the altar. The Holy Redeemer grant his spirit an everlasting kingdom !
The new king was not unmindful of his father's commands, but soon after sent to the Abbey of S. Martin his royal pallium, and the feretory of which we have spoken, with the 300 amulets resplendent with the excellence of holy relics. All these things were received at Battle on the 8th of the calends of November."
