befall.

[Sidenote: 1086.] The same yeare, he kept his Christmasse at
Glocester, and made his sonne Henrie knight at Westminster in
Whitsunwéeke insuing. [Sidenote: _Matth. West._] [Sidenote: 1087.]
[Sidenote: An oth taken to be true to the king.] Shortlie after,
calling togither aswell lords spirituall as temporall he caused them,
all to sweare fealtie to him and his heires after him in the
possession of this kingdome.

[Sidenote: Great sickenes reigning. Murren of cattell. _Matth. West._
Paules church burned. _Simon Dun._ _Ran. Higd._ _Simon Dun._] About
this season, the people in all places were pitifullie plaged with
burning feuers, which brought manie to their end: a murren also came
to their cattell, whereof a woonderfull number died. At the same time
(which is more maruellous) tame foules, as hens, géese, & peacocks,
forsaking their owners houses, fled to the woods and became wild.
Great hurt was doone in manie places of the realme by fire, and
speciallie in London, where vpon the 7. daie of Julie a sudden flame
began, which burnt Paules church, and a great part or the citie downe
to the verie ground.

Now when K. William had taken the oth of fealtie and loialtie of all
his lords, Edgar Etheling, who was reconciled vnto his fauour (as you
haue heard) obteining licence of him to depart the realme for a
season, sailed into Puglia with two hundred souldiers: of whose acts
there and returne into England I spare to speake, bicause I find
little or nothing of moment recorded. [Sidenote: An. Reg. 21.] And now
king William, who hauing brought the Englishmen so lowe and bare, that
little more was to be got out of their hands, went once againe ouer