When William the Conqueror was crowned King of England in 1066, he immediately brought in various regulations which Orderic Vitalis regarded as wise and equitable. However, his good work was undone by his lieutenants. They levied extortionate taxes, abused the native English of all classes in every conceivable way, and shielded the ruffians who did their work from punishment.

The Normans murdered and raped without fear of retribution. Even they were amazed at how easy it was to subdue the Anglo-Saxons’ more refined and civilised society by sheer violence, and to become rich on the back of it. But Orderic warned that there is always a reckoning, if not in this life then in the next.

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