Editing Leofric (bishop) (section)

==Service to Edward the Confessor==

Before Edward the Confessor became king of England, he was exiled to the continent. Leofric served as Edward's chaplain,<ref name=Hindley239/> although how or when exactly the two met is unknown.<ref name=Confessor50>Barlow ''Edward the Confessor'' p. 50</ref> The historian [[Frank Barlow (historian)|Frank Barlow]] speculates that it may have been at [[Bruges]] in 1039.<ref name=Church83/> When Edward returned to England at the invitation of King [[Harthacnut]], Edward's half-brother, Leofric accompanied him, witnessing charters during Harthacnut's lifetime along with [[Herman (bishop of Salisbury)|Herman]] who later became [[Bishop of Sherborne (historic)|Bishop of Sherborne]].<ref name=Confessor53>Barlow ''Edward the Confessor'' p. 53</ref> Leofric remained a close supporter and friend of Edward for the king's entire life.<ref name=Confessor82/> In 1044, Edward granted him lands at [[Dawlish]] in Devon.<ref name=HoL3>Powell and Wallis ''House of Lords'' p. 3</ref>

Although a 12th-century monastic chronicler at [[Worcester, England|Worcester]] called Leofric Edward's chancellor, this is not correct, as Edward had no chancellor at this time.<ref name=Times115>Barlow "Leofric and his Times" ''Norman Conquest and Beyond'' pp. 115–116</ref> Historians are divided on whether or not Edward ever had an official that could be called a chancellor,<ref name=Stafford148>Stafford ''Unification and Conquest'' pp. 148–149</ref> but they are agreed that Leofric did not hold such an office.<ref name=Handbook82>Fryde, et al. ''Handbook of British Chronology'' pp. 82–83</ref>