MedievalBritain, A Very Short Introduction
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loginOn Christmas Day 1066 Duke William of Normandy was acclaimed king ofEngland in Westminster Abbey. It was an electrifying moment. The shoutsof acclamation – in English as well as in French – alarmed the Normanguards stationed outside the abbey. Believing that inside the churchsomething had gone horribly wrong, they set fire to the neighbouringhouses. Half a century later, a Norman monk recalled the chaos of thatday. ‘As the fire spread rapidly, the people in the church were thrown intoconfusion and crowds of them rushed outside, some to fight the flames,others to take the chance to go looting. Only the monks, the bishops anda few clergy remained before the altar. Though they were terrified, theymanaged to carry on and complete the consecration of the king who wastrembling violently
