and a second on the frailty of human happiness, "Von gläsernen Glück," have been presented; three lyrical poems, which approach the character of hymns, and the romance of "Tristan and Isolde." To this chiefly is Godefroy indebted for his reputation. The story is of ancient origin, probably Breton, but had spread through Europe long before the days of Godefroy. He died leaving his romance incomplete. It appears to have been written between 1204 and 1215. The date of Godefroy's death is not known. It was before 1229.—J. A., D.
GODEGISEL. See Godigiselus.
GODERICH. See Ripon.
GODESCHALCUS. See Gotteschalcus.
GODFREY of Bouillon, the celebrated warrior of the crusades and king of Jerusalem, is supposed to have been born about 1059 at Baisy, near Genappe, in Belgium. His father is variously described as Gustave II., count of Boulogne, and Eustache II., count of Boulogne. His mother was Ida, daughter of Godfrey the Bearded, duke of Basse Lotharingie or Lorraine; and through her he traced his descent to Charlemagne. In early life he devoted himself to martial pursuits, and by his courage and activity secured the post of standard-bearer in the army of Henry IV., by whom also he was made marquis of Antwerp. He became involved in the quarrel of this monarch with Pope Gregory VII., and, in support of his claims, went into Germany. While on this expedition Albert III., count of Namur, claimed and invaded the duchy of Bouillon. Godfrey immediately returned and expelled the usurper, and went back to Germany, where he distinguished himself in the field of battle by his indomitable bravery. This was in 1080. The following year we find him in Italy with the imperial army, which, in 1084, after various struggles, obtained possession of Rome itself. Somewhat later, Henry invested him duke of Bouillon in place of Conrad, who had for some time filled that dignity. It is reported that Godfrey, in consequence of drinking too much wine, was attacked with a violent fever, during the continuance of which he heard of the expedition to Jerusalem, and vowed, that if he recovered, he would take part in it. William of Malmesbury relates that he had no sooner uttered this vow than he was restored to health. Certain it is that he was placed at the head of an army, of which the numbers are variously estimated from ninety thousand to three hundred thousand. Having made arrangements for the disposal of his possessions, Godfrey set out, followed by his motley host of pious enthusiasts and daring adventurers. These were divided into various bands, and thousands of them never reached their destination. Godfrey, however, pushed his way through Germany, Bohemia, and Hungary, and, after various struggles and many misfortunes, found himself before Antioch, which, after a long struggle, fell before the power of the invaders. They marched on to Jerusalem, and in 1099 appeared under its walls. Five weeks was the duration of the siege, during which period both the attacking and defending armies performed prodigies of valour, and bore indescribable miseries. At length a breach was effected, and Godfrey was among the foremost to enter. This was July 15, 1099. The city was given up to the savage enthusiasm of the infuriated soldiery, who revelled in violence and slaughter. Jerusalem was in the power of the crusaders, and the question was what should be done with it. After various consultations, it was determined that Godfrey should be placed at the head of a christian kingdom, and that he should be king of Jerusalem. The chroniclers tell us that he refused to wear a crown of gold in the city where his Lord, the King of kings, had worn a crown of thorns. He submitted, however, to be called defender and baron of the Holy Sepulchre. In his new dignity he exhibited his wonted bravery, by repulsing the forces with which the Saracens returned to the attack with a new to the recovery of the Holy City. The great battle of Ascalon, fought a few weeks after the capture of Jerusalem, "sealed the establishment of the Latins in Syria, and signalized the valour of the French princes." Godfrey reigned but a single year, which, as Gibbon says, was "too short for the public happiness." Death cut him off on the 17th July, 1100. The kingdom which he inaugurated lasted in all eighty-eight years. The tomb of Godfrey remained at Jerusalem an object of devout curiosity till the commencement of the present century; his sword is even now exhibited to the admiration of the faithful at Jerusalem. He found time during his brief period of power to draw up a set of laws which are still in existence, and which are known as "Les Assises de Jerusalem." It still exists in an amended form, and was adopted in the fourteenth century for the kingdom of Cyprus. This code has been printed both in Italian and in French. There are also extant some letters and official documents ascribed to Godfrey. This great warrior found, in times immediately succeeding his own, chroniclers who employed all their arts to exalt his virtues, and to exaggerate his victories and exploits. But perhaps no one has thrown around his name the charm with which it has been invested by Tasso, who has mingled the recitals of history with the inventions of his genius, and painted in glowing colours the character and deeds of Godfrey in the Gerusalemme Liberata.—B. H. C.
GODFREY of Viterbo, or Gottfried Tineosus, Bishop of Viterbo in 1184, author of an ancient chronicle entitled "Pantheon," was chaplain to the Emperor Conrad III., and subsequently secretary and almoner to the Emperor Frederic I. and his son, Henry VI. His Chronicle, which is inserted in Muratori's collection, begins with the creation of the world, and ends with 1186. It is written partly in Latin prose, and partly in verse, and was first printed at Basle in 1559.—J. S., G.
GODFREY of Winchester, Prior of St. Swithin's, the first Anglo-Norman writer of Latin verse, is said to have been a native of Cambrai. He was made prior of Winchester in 1082, and held the office for twenty-five years, during which he was distinguished for his holy life, and his love of letters. William of Malmesbury speaks favourably of his epistles, which are no longer extant. His verses "in praise of the primates of England" and his "Epigrams" are found among the Cottonian manuscripts in the British museum (Vitellius, A. xii.), and in the Bodleian library at Oxford, also in manuscript (Digby, Nos. 65 and 112). The learned antiquary Camden, who was the first to draw attention to Godfrey's poetical merits, has printed some of the epigrams in his Remaines. They are arranged in several series—two, four, six, and eight lines each—and aim at inculcating moral sentiments, and at satirizing the vices of his time. His notices of contemporaries give to Godfrey's epigrams a historical interest, in addition to their undeniable poetical merit. Specimens are given in Mr. Wright's Biographia Britannica Literaria. He died in 1107.—R. H.
GODFREY, Sir Edmundsbury, an English magistrate, whose mysterious death created a great commotion in the year 1678, and is still the subject of controversy, was descended from a family of some distinction in the county of Kent, and was born in 1621.—(See Godfrey, Michael.) He was educated at Westminster school, and was a member of Gray's inn; but abandoned his legal studies, and became a wood-merchant in the city of London. He acquired wealth and influence, and was appointed a justice of peace. In this capacity he distinguished himself, both during the plague and the great fire of London, and was knighted in 1666. When the alleged popish plot was made known, in September, 1678, Godfrey took the depositions of the notorious Titus Oates respecting the pretended conspiracy of the Roman catholics. A few days later he disappeared. Search was made, and his body was found in a ditch about a mile from the city, pierced through with his own sword, and bearing marks of violence which showed that he had been strangled. His money was in his pocket and his rings were on his fingers. The Roman catholics alleged that he had perished by his own hand; others are of opinion that he was slain by a private enemy; but Lord Macaulay thinks the most probable supposition is, that he was murdered by some hot-headed Roman catholic, driven to frenzy by the lies of Oates and by the insults of the multitude. Several persons were executed for their alleged participation in the murder; but it is now believed that they were innocent. The funeral of the murdered magistrate was attended by an immense concourse of people, headed by seventy-two protestant clergymen in full canonicals; and the funeral sermon was preached by his friend Dr. Lloyd, afterwards bishop of Worcester.—J. T.
GODFREY, Michael or Mitchell, descended from the Godfreys of Lydd in Kent, was one of several brothers, well known wealthy merchants at the head of the whig party in the city of London towards the close of the seventeenth century. His elder brother, Sir Edmundsbury, is noticed in a separate article. Michael had the discrimination to promote William Paterson's scheme for founding a national bank; and gave his assistance in the city to Montague, William III.'s chancellor of the exchequer, in supporting the measures which resulted in the
