Jim Bob

“Eventually English was adopted by the new aristocracy, but it was a changed language, and Old English is totally incomprehensible to us. Today at least a quarter and as many as a half of English words are of French origin, and the Norman invasion helped to add great nuance to the language. French words are usually more formal or aristocratic sounding: ascend, rather than rise, status rather than standing, mansion rather than house, cordial rather than hearty. Almost all words relating to government and justice are Norman, including prison, jury, felony, traitor, govern and, of course, justice. Likewise titles are mostly Norman French, including sovereign, prince, duke and baron—although not king or lord.”
― Ed West, 1066 and Before All That: The Battle of Hastings, Anglo-Saxon and Norman England

“Even William felt regret for all the oppression and brutality he had dished out, and on his deathbed speculated on his legacy: ‘I fell on the English of the northern counties like a raving lion, subjecting them to the calamity of a cruel famine and by so doing became the barbarous murderer of many thousands, young and old, of that fine race of people. I have persecuted its inhabitants beyond all reason. Whether noble or commons I have cruelly oppressed them; many I have unjustly disinherited.’3 If only modern politicians could be so honest in their autobiographies.”
― Ed West, 1066 and Before All That: The Battle of Hastings, Anglo-Saxon and Norman England