He had already made two Norman earls, but they were to act as
military commanders. He now made an English earl, whose earldom
was likely to be either nominal or fatal. The appointment of
Remigius of Fecamp to the see of Dorchester was of more real
importance. It is the beginning of William's ecclesiastical reign,
the first step in William's scheme of making the Church his
instrument in keeping down the conquered. While William lived, no
Englishman was appointed to a bishopric. As bishoprics became
vacant by death, foreigners were nominated, and excuses were often
found for hastening a vacancy by deprivation. At the end of
William's reign one English bishop only was left. With abbots, as
having less temporal power than bishops, the rule was less strict.
Foreigners were preferred, but Englishmen were not wholly shut out.
And the general process of confiscation and regrant of lands was
vigorously carried out. The Kentish revolt and the general
movement must have led to many forfeitures and to further grants to
loyal men of either nation. As the English Chronicles pithily puts
it, "the King gave away every man's land."


William could soon grant lands in new parts of England. In
February 1068 he for the first time went forth to warfare with
those whom he called his subjects, but who had never submitted to
him. In the course of the year a large part of England was in arms
against him. But there was no concert; the West rose and the North
rose; but the West rose first, and the North did not rise till the
West had been subdued. Western England threw off the purely
passive state which had lasted through the year 1067. Hitherto
each side had left the other alone. But now the men of the West
made ready for a more direct opposition to the foreign government.