[742] Chron. Petrib. 1099. “Ðises geares eac on Sc̃e Martines Mæssedæg, asprang up to þan swiðe sæ flod, and swa mycel to hearme gedyde swa nan man ne gemunet, þæt hit æfre æror dyde and wæs þæs ylcan dæges luna prima.” This is translated in the Roman annals in Liebermann, p. 47.
[743] Chron. Petrib. 1099. “And Osmund biscop of Searbyrig innon aduent forðferde.” Florence gives the exact date, December 3.
[744] There is nothing special to note as to the authorities for this chapter. Our main story still comes from the same sources from which it has long come. Possibly the importance of Orderic, long growing, grows yet greater at the very end of our tale. And we still make a certain use of Wace. The story of the death of William Rufus is one of those in which it is desirable to look in all manner of quarters to which we should not commonly think of turning, not so much in search of facts, as to see how such a story impressed men’s minds, and what forms it took in various hands.
[745] See the entry in the Chronicle, 1087.
[746] See Plutarch, Periklês, 8.
[747] See N. C. vol. iii. p. 161.
[748] Ord. Vit. 781 D. We shall come to this again.
[749] Ann. Burton, 1100.
[750] The three assemblies are recorded in the Chronicle in a marked way; “On þison geare se cyng W. heold his hired to Xp̃es mæssa on Gleaweceastre, and to Eastron on Winceastre, and to Pentecosten on Westmynstre.”