By 1071, William the Conqueror had brought most of England to heel, but one Lincolnshire man, Hereward, was determined to fight on. He had seen his lands seized and given to one of William’s favourites, and in revenge Hereward joined a band of rebels in Ely, showing such skill as a warrior that he soon became their captain.

William laid a makeshift road over Ely’s marshy fens and marched against Hereward, even recruiting a witch to counter Hereward’s supposedly sorcerous powers. Hereward slew William’s witch, and fought on dangerously; but treacherous monks at Ely Abbey showed the king how to come upon Hereward’s men unawares. With Hereward’s defeat, all meaningful resistance to the Conqueror ended.

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