His high wisdome and policie stood the
realme in great steed whilest he liued.
[Sidenote: Couentrie made free of toll and custome.]
He had a noble ladie to his wife named Gudwina, at whose earnest
sute he made the citie of Couentrie free of all manner of toll, except
horsses: and to haue that toll laid downe also, his foresaid wife rode
naked through the middest of the towne without other couerture, saue
onlie hir haire. Moreouer, partlie moued by his owne deuotion, and
partlie by the persuasion of his wife, he builded or beneficiallie
augmented and repared manie abbeies & churches, as the said abbeie
or priorie at Couentrie, the abbeies of Wenlocke, Worcester, Stone,
Euesham, and Leof besides Hereford. Also he builded two churches
[Sidenote: Churches in Chester built.]
within the citie of Chester, the one called S. Iohns, and the
other S. Werbrough. The value of the iewels & ornaments which he
bestowed on the abbeie church of Couentrie, was inestimable.
After Leofriks death, his sonne Algar was made earle, and intituled
[Sidenote: _Henr.
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