I Ingulphus [Footnote: This Abbot, or pretended Abbot of Croyland (whose
name is attached to a work once highly valued, professing to be a history
of the Abbey of Croyland from 626 to 1089, but which, is now believed to be
a monkish fabrication of a much later age), is said by himself to have
been, on his return from the Holy Land, appointed prior of the Abbey of
Fontenelle, in Normandy, and on William becoming King of England, Abbot of
Croyland. He was believed to have died in 1109.] an humble seruant of
reuerend Guthlac and of his monastery of Croiland, borne in England, and of
English parents, at the beautifull citie of London, was in my youth for the
attaining of good letters, placed first at Westminster, and afterward sent
to the Vniuersitie of Oxford. And hauing excelled diuers of mine equals in
learning of Aristotle, I inured my selfe somewhat vnto the first and second
Rhethorique of Tullie. And as I grew in age, disdayning my parents meane
estate, and forsaking mine owne natiue soyle, I affected the Courts of
kings and princes, and was desirous to be clad in silke, and to weare braue
and costly attire. [Sidenote: A.D. 1051] And loe, at the same time William
our souereigne king now, but then Erle of Normandie, with a great troup of
followers and attendants came vnto London, to conferre with king Edward the
Confessour his kinsman. Into whose company intruding my selfe, and
proffering my seruice for the performance of any speedy or weightie
affayres, in short time, after I had done many things with good successe, I
was knowen and most entirely beloued by the victorious Erle himselfe, and
with him I sayled into Normandie. And there being made his secretarie, I
gouerned the Erles Court (albeit with the enuie of some) as my selfe
pleased, yea whom I would I abased, and preferred whom I thought good. When
as therefore, being carried with a youthful heat and lustie humour, I began
to be wearie euen of this place, wherein I was aduanced so high aboue my
parentage, and with an inconstant minde, and affection too too ambitious,
most vehemently aspired at all occasions to climbe higher: there went a
report throughout all Normandie, that diuers Archbishops of the Empire, and