This earle Walteof or Waldeue was sonne (as ye haue heard) to Siward
the noble earle of Northumberland, of whose valure in the time of K.
Edward the confessor ye haue heard. His son the foresaid Walteof in
strength of bodie and hardinesse did, not degenerate from his father,
for he was tall of personage, in sinews and musculs verie strong and
mighty. In the slaughter of the Normans at Yorke, he shewed proofe of
his prowesse, in striking off the heads of manie of them with his owne
hands, as they came foorth of the gates singlie one by one: yet
afterwards, when the king had pardoned him of all former offenses, and
receiued him into fauour h?e gaue to him in mariage his n?ece Judith
the daughter of Lambert earle of Lens, sister to Stephen erle of
Albermare, and with hir he had of the kings gift, [Sidenote: Earledome
of Huntingdon.] all the lands and liberties belonging to the honor of
Huntingdon; in consideration whereof, he assigned to hir in name of
hir dower, all the lands that he held from Trent southward. Sh?e bare
by him two daughters, Maud and Alice: [Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._] We
find, that he was not onlie earle of Northumberland, but also of
Northampton and Huntingdon.
The countesse of Cambridge or Northfolke (as other haue) wife of earle
Rafe, being, fled into the citie of Norwich, was besieged in the same
by the kings power, which pressed the citie so sore, as it was forced
for verie famine to y?eld; but yet by composition; namelie, that such
as were besieged within, should depart the realme, as persons abiured
and banished the land for euer.
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