who defended the principal doors of the church, they burnt the church with all its vessels and ornaments ; and having slain or taken prisoners several of the citizens, and having burnt the city and enriched themselves with a very noble booty, they departed. When this exploit was made known to king Edward, he collected a large army at Gloucester ; the command of which he gave to the valiant duke Harold, and himself pursued Algar and Griffin with vigour, and boldly entering the Welch territories, encamped under Snowden. But Griffin and Algar, knowing that Harold was a valiant and warlike man, fled from his face, not daring to resist him. And he, after having ravaged the district terribly, marched to Hereford, and surrounded it with a high and wide rampart, and fortified it with gates and bolts. But at last, as messengers went to and fro between Harold and his enemies, they made a lasting peace with one another ; and Algar, coming to the king, received back his earldom by the king's voluntary grant. The same year, Herman, bishop of Wilton, being angry because the king would not transfer the seat of his see from Ramsbury to Salisbury, abdicated his bishopric, and passing over the sea, took upon himself the habit of a 'monk in the monastery of Saint Bertin, and dwelt three years in the monastery of that convent. But this Herman was the last bishop of the diocese of Wilton. The first bishop of that see was Athelstan, the second Odo, who was afterwards archbishop of Canterbury, the third was Osulf, the fourth Algar, the fifth JElfstan, the sixth Sirie, the seventh JËlfric, the eighth Brithwald, and he lasted from the time of king Ethelred to the reign of the last Edward. Concerning this Brithwald, it is recorded, that in the time of king Canute, he often occupied his thoughts about the royal family of the English nation, which was now almost destroyed, and about the question whether it was again to be recruited. But when, one night, sleep overtaking him, while meditating on these matters, he was raised up on high, and saw the chief of the Apostles, the blessed Peter, holding by the hand Edward, the sou o f king Ethelred, who at that time was living as an exile in Normandy, and consecrating him as king ; and Peter showed him that he would live a life of celibacy, and that he would reign for twenty-four years. Moreover, when the same Brithwald put a question about the succession of the king, it is said that