A.D. 1077. VIOLENT ACTS OF BOBEBT. 159 voured to make his peace with God by means of watchings and prayers and fastings and almsgiving ; his memory men have tried to bury in the earth, but we are to believe that in truth he rejoices with the Saints in heaven, the above-named archbishop Lanfranc, of pious memory, having faithfully attested it, from whom, on making confession, he had received absolution. He asserted that he was innocent of the charge on which he was accused, namely, that of joining in the aforesaid conspiracy, and that what he had been guilty of in other respects, he had, like a true Christian, bewailed with the tears of repentance ; and Lanfranc declared that he himself should be blessed, if, after the end of his life, he should be able, to enjoy his happy repose. After him, the care of the earldom of Nor-thumbria was entrusted to Walcher, bishop of Durham. After these transactions, the king led his army into Brittany, and besieged the castle of earl Rodulph, which is called Dol, until Philip, king of Prance, forced him to retire. At this period, as the secular clergy chose rather to submit to be excommunicated, than to put aside their wives, pope Hildebrand, in order that he might, if possible, chastise them by means of others, ordered in the following words that no person should hear mass performed by a married priest : "Gregory, the pope, who is also caBed Hildebrand, the servant of the servants of God, to aB throughout the realms of Italy and Germany, who show due obedience to Saint Peter, the Apostolic benediction. If there are any priests, deacons, or sub-deacons, who are guBty of the crime of fornication, we do on behalf of Almighty God, and by the authority of Saint Peter, forbid them entrance into the church, until such time as they shaU amend and be repentant. But if any shaB prefer to persist in their sinful course, no one of you is to presume to listen to them while officiating ; inasmuch as their blessing is changed into a curse, and their prayers into sinfulness, as the Lord beareth witness by his prophet, saying, ' Your blessings I will curse,' " &c.6î In the year 1076, Sweyn, king of the Danes, a man greatly devoted to Hterature, departed this life, and was succeeded by his son, Harold. In the year 1077, Bobert, the eldest son of king WiBiam, because he was not aBowed to take possession of Normandy, whieh, before his arrival in England his father had given to « Mal.U. 2.