Page:Cassell's Illustrated History of England vol 1.djvu/111

This page has been validated.
A. D. 1070.]
DEPOSITION OF CHURCH DIGNITARIES.
97

Hereward cutting his way through the Norman host. (See p. 99)

Like rigour was exercised against the other English prelates. Agelric, Bishop of Selesey, and Agelmare, of Elmham, were deposed by the legate, and imprisoned by the king. Many considerable abbots shared the same fate: Egelwin, Bishop of Durham, fled the kingdom. Wulstan, of Worcester, a man of an inoffensive character, was the only English prelate that escaped this general proscription.

Brompton relates, that the last-named bishop was also deprived of his dignities by the synod; but refusing to deliver his pastoral staff and ring to any but the person from whom he first received it, he went immediately to King Edward's tomb, and struck the staff so deeply into the stone, that none but himself was able to pull it out; on which he was allowed to retain possession of his dignity.