Synopsis "The Normans in England (1066-1154)"
In the process of time the study of letters and of religion decayed, many years before the coming of the Normans. The clergy, content with insufficient learning, could scarcely stammer the words of the sacraments, and one who understood grammar was a cause of amazement and wonder to the rest. The monks made a mock of their rule, wearing fine garments and eating all kinds of food. The nobles, given over to gluttony and lust, used not to attend church in the morning in Christian fashion, but lay in bed till late hours and idly listened to the service of matins and masses from the lips of a hurrying priest. The people, unprotected in their midst, were the prey of the stronger folk, who drained their substance or sold their persons into distant lands, that they might heap up treasure upon treasure, albeit excess of feasting rather than of wealth is the instinct of this race. Many indulged the unnatural custom of selling their handmaids ... into foreign slavery. They all used to drink in common, spending whole nights and days in this practice. They consumed their whole substance in small and mean houses, unlike the French and Normans, who live moderately in large and noble dwellings. The vices that accompany drunkenness and enfeeble the minds of men ensued. Hence it came to pass that they encountered William with headlong rashness and fury rather than with military skill, and by one battle, and that easily won, doomed themselves and their country to slavery. Nothing is simpler than rashness, but that which is impetuously begun speedily comes to nought or is repressed. In short, the English at that time wore garments reaching to the middle of the thigh, their hair was cut short, their beards shaven, their arms laden with golden bracelets, their skin pricked with pictorial designs; they used to eat till they were surfeited, and drank till they were sick. These latter habits indeed they have now passed on to their conquerors, for the rest, however, adopting the others' customs. I would not, however, be understood to ascribe these vices universally to all the English; I know that there were many clerks who at that time lived simply and trod the path of holiness; I know that there were many laymen of the same nation, of every sort and condition, who were pleasing to God. Let my narrative escape injustice; all are not alike included in this condemnation; but as in times of peace the wisdom of God full often cherishes the evil with the good, so in times of captivity His sharp displeasure not seldom constrains the good with the evil. Now the Normans, to speak of them also, were at that time and still are in dress bravely apparelled and in their food delicate but not excessive; a people accustomed to warfare, and without it scarce able to live. They are fierce in attacking the enemy, and where strength fails, they achieve their end no less by craft and bribery. As I have said, at home they live moderately in large dwellings, they envy their equals, they would surpass their superiors, and while they plunder their subjects, they protect them from others; faithful to their lords, they lightly break faith for a slight offence. They weigh treachery with its prospect of success, and change their policy for a bribe. They are, however, the kindliest of all nations and honour strangers equally with themselves; they also marry with their subject peoples. At their coming they raised the standard of religion, everywhere lifeless in England; on all sides you might see churches rising in the villages, and monasteries in the towns and cities, built in a new style; you might see renewed services enrich the whole country, so that every man of means counted that day lost which was not marked by some great and glorious act.
