This year Eadsige gave up his Archbishoprick, because of his infirmities, and he consecrated thereto Siward Abbot of Abingdon, with the consent and advice of the King and of Earl Godwin. This transaction was disclosed to few before it was completed, because the Archbishop thought that if it became known to many, some other man in whom he trusted and confided less, would beg or buy the preferment. And this year there was a very great famine over all England, and corn was so dear as was never before remembered, so that a sæster of wheat sold for 60 pennies, and even more. And the same year the King went out to Sandwich with a fleet of 35 ships. And the Churchwarden Æthelstan was made Abbot of Abingdon. And Stigand entered upon his Bishoprick.
It was in this year (1043) that Edward took for his Queen the daughter of Earl Godwin.—The same year died Brihtwold; he had held his Bishoprick, that of Sherbourne, 38 years, and the King’s Priest Hereman succeeded him. And this year Wulfric was chosen Abbot of Saint Augustine’s (Canterbury) at Christmas time, on St. Stephen’s day, with the consent of the King and of the Abbot Ælfstan, because of the great infirmities of the latter.
1044.
This year Living Bishop of Devonshire died, and the King’s Priest Leofric succeeded him.—And this year Ælfstan Abbot of St. Augustine’s died on the 3d of the nones of July. And the same year Osgot Clapa was banished.
1045.
This year Grymkytel Bishop of Sussex died, and Heca the King’s Priest succeeded him.—And this year Ælfwine Bishop of Winchester died on the 4th of the calends of September, and Bishop Stigand was translated from the north to that see. And the same year Earl Swegn went out to Bruges in the land of Baldwin, and he abode there all the winter, and departed thence in the summer.
1046.
This year Æthelstan Abbot of Abingdon died, and Spearhafoc, a monk of St. Edmund’s Bury, succeeded him. And this year Bishop Siward died, and Archbishop Eadsige resumed the whole diocese. And the same year Lothen and Yrling came to Sandwich with 25 ships, and they plundered, and collected spoils innumerable, seizing men, gold and silver, so that no man knew what the whole amount was. And they sailed round about Thanet, and would have done the same there, but the inhabitants made a stout resistance, and kept them from landing and from entering the river, and wholly put them to flight; and then they came upon Essex, and there they plundered, and carried off men and whatever they could find; and thence they bent their course eastward to the land of Baldwin, and they sold their booty there, and then they returned to the east whence they came.
“Battle of Val des Dunes.”[BD]
In this year (1046) the great synod was held at St. Remy, at which the Pope Leo was present, with the Archbishop of Burgundy, the Archbishop of Besançon, the Archbishop of Treves, and the Archbishop of Rheims, and many other wise men besides, both clergy and laity: and King Edward sent Bishop Dudoc thither with Wulfric Abbot of St. Augustine’s, and the Abbot Ælfwine, to the end that they might report to him what was there determined upon with regard to the Christian religion.