and Ode received larger commissions as viceroys over the whole
kingdom. Ode guarded the South and William the North and North-
East. Norwich, a town dangerous from its easy communication with
Denmark, was specially under his care. The nominal earls of the
rest of the land, Edwin, Morkere, and Waltheof, with Edgar, King of
a moment, Archbishop Stigand, and a number of other chief men,
William took with him to Normandy. Nominally his cherished friends
and guests, they went in truth, as one of the English Chroniclers
calls them, as hostages.

William's stay in Normandy lasted about six months. It was chiefly
devoted to rejoicings and religious ceremonies, but partly to
Norman legislation. Rich gifts from the spoils of England were
given to the churches of Normandy; gifts richer still were sent to
the Church of Rome whose favour had wrought so much for William.
In exchange for the banner of Saint Peter, Harold's standard of the
Fighting-man was sent as an offering to the head of all churches.
While William was in Normandy, Archbishop Maurilius of Rouen died.
The whole duchy named Lanfranc as his successor; but he declined
the post, and was himself sent to Rome to bring the pallium for the
new archbishop John, a kinsman of the ducal house. Lanfranc
doubtless refused the see of Rouen only because he was designed for
a yet greater post in England; the subtlest diplomatist in Europe
was not sent to Rome merely to ask for the pallium for Archbishop
John.

Meanwhile William's choice of lieutenants bore its fruit in
England. They wrought such oppression as William himself never
wrought. The inferior leaders did as they thought good, and the
two earls restrained them not. The earls meanwhile were in one