 The 12th @-@ century chronicler William of Malmesbury records a story , in which shortly after Urse was appointed sheriff , he encroached on the cemetery of the cathedral chapter of Worcester Cathedral . Ealdred , the Archbishop of York , pronounced a rhyming curse on Urse , declaring " Thou are called Urse . May you have God 's curse . " Ealdred had been Bishop of Worcester before becoming archbishop , and still retained an interest in the diocese . Gerald of Wales , a late 12th- and early 13th @-@ century writer , wrote that Wulfstan uttered the curse after Urse had attempted to have Wulfstan deposed as bishop . Gerald goes on to relate that Wulfstan stated he would only relinquish his episcopal staff to the king who had granted it , William I 's predecessor , Edward the Confessor . Gerard then reports that Wulfstan proceeded to work a miracle at Edward 's tomb , a miracle so impressive that King William confirmed Wulfstan in his episcopate . Although Urse did not succeed in removing Wulfstan , and although there are certainly embellishments added in Gerald 's story , it is clear that Urse and Wulfstan were the main powers in Worcestershire , and were thus great rivals . 
