Part 6

In all those lands which hee gaue to any man, he reserued _Dominion in chiefe_ to himselfe: for acknowledgement whereof a yeerely rent was payd vnto him, and likewise a fine whensoeuer the Tenant did alien or die. These were bound as Clients vnto him by oath of fidelitie and homage; And if any died his heire being in minoritie, the King receiued the profits of the land, and had the custodie and disposing of the heires body, vntill his age of one and twentie yeeres.

It is reported of _Caligula_,[23] that when he entended to make aduantage of his penal Edicts, he caused them to be written in so small letters, and the tables of them to be fastened so high, that it was almost impossible for any man to read them. So the King caused part of those Lawes that he established, to be written in the _Norman_ language, which was a barbarous and broken _French_, not well vnderstood of the naturall _French_, and not at all of the vulgar _English_. The residue were not written at all, but left almost arbitrarie, to be determined by reason and discretion at large. Hereupon it followed, partly through ignorance of the people, and partly through the malice of some officers of Iustice, who many times are instruments of secret and particular ends; that many were extreamely intangled, many endangered, many rather made away, then iustly executed.

But here it may be questioned, seeing these Lawes were layed vpon the _English_, as fetters about their feet, as a ponderous yoke vpon their necke, to depresse and deteine them in sure subiection; how it falleth, that afterward they became not onely tolerable, but acceptable and well esteemed.

Assuredly, these lawes were exceeding harsh and heauy to the _English_ at the first: And therefore K. _William Rufus_, and _Henry_ the first, at such time as _Robert_ their eldest brother came in armes against them to challenge the crowne, being desirous to winne the fauour of the people, did fill them with faire promises, to abrogate the lawes of K. _William_ their father, and to restore to them the Lawes of K. _Edward_. The like was done by K. _Stephen_, and by K. _Henry_ the second; whilest both contending to draw the State to himselfe, they did most grieuously teare it in pieces. The like by others of the first Kings of the _Norman_ race, whensoeuer they were willing to giue contentment to the people: who desired no other reward for all their aduentures and labours, for al their blood spent in the seruice of their Kings, but to haue the Lawes of K. _Edward_ restored. At the last the Nobilitie of the Realme, with great dispence both of their estates and blood, purchased a Charter of libertie, First from K. _Iohn_, which was soone reuoked, as violently enforced from him: afterwards from King _Henry_ the third, which remained in force. And hereby the sharpe seuerity of these lawes was much abated.

In that afterwards they became, not onely tolerable, but easie and sweete, and happily not fit to bee changed, it is by force of long grounded custome, whereby those vsages which our ancestors haue obserued for many ages, do neuer seeme either grieuous or odious to bee endured. So _Nicetas_ writing of certaine Christians, who by long conuersing with the _Turkes_, had defiled themselues with Turkish fashions, _Custome_[24] (saith he) _winneth such strength by time, that it is more firme then either Nature or Religion_. Hereupon _Dio. Chrysostome_ compareth Customes to a King,[25] and Edicts to a Tyrant; because we are subiect voluntarily to the one, but by constraint and vpon necessitie to the other. _It is manifest_ (saith _Agathias_) _that vnder whatsoeuer law a people hath liued, they doe esteeme the same most excellent and diuine_.[26] _Herodotus_ reporteth, that _Darius_ the sonne of _Hysdaspis_, hauing vnder his Dominion certaine _Grecians_ of _Asia_, who accustomed to burne their dead parents and friends, and certaine nations of _India_, who vsed to eate them; called the _Grecians_ before him: and told them that it was his pleasure, that they should conforme themselues to the custome of the _Indians_, in eating their deceased friends. But they applied all meanes of intreatie and perswasion, that they might not be inforced, to such a barbarous, or rather brutish obseruation. Then hee sent for the _Indians_, and mooued them to conformitie with the _Grecians_; but found that they did farre more abhorre to burne their dead, then the _Grecians_ did to eate them.

Now these seuerities of the King were much aggrauated by the _English_, and esteemed not farre short of cruelties. Notwithstanding hee tempered it with many admirable actions both of iustice and of clemencie and mercie: for which hee is much extolled by the _Normane_[27] writers. Hee gaue great priuiledges to many places; & the better to giue the people contentment, and to hold them quiet, he often times renued the oath which first he tooke at his Coronation: namely, _to defend the holy Church of God, the pastors thereof, and the people subiect to him iustly to gouerne, to ordaine good lawes, and obserue true iustice, and to the vttermost of his power to withstand all rapines and false Iudgements._ Such of the nobilitie as had been taken in rebellion, were onely committed to prison; from which they were released in time: such as yeelded and submitted themselues, were freely pardoned, and often times receiued to fauour, trust, and imployment.

_Edric_, the first that rebelled after hee was King, he held neere and assured vnto him. _Gospatric_ who had been a stirrer of great commotions, he made Earle of _Glocester_, and employed him against _Malcolme_ King of _Scots_. _Eustace_ Earle of _Bologne_, who vpon occasion of the Kings first absence in _Normandie_ attempted to surprize the Castle of _Douer_, he imbraced afterward with great shew of loue and respect. _Waltheof_ sonne to Earle _Siward_, who in defending the Citie of _Yorke_ against him, had slaine many _Normans_, as they assayed to enter a breach, hee ioyned in marriage to his Neece _Iudeth_. _Edgar_ who was the ground and hope of all conspiracies, who after his first submission to the King, fled into _Scotland_, and maintained open hostilitie against him, who pretended title to the Crowne as next heire to the _Saxon_ Kings, he not onely receiued to fauour, but honoured with faire enterteinments. Hee furnished him to the warre of _Palestine_, where he atteined an honourable estimation with the Emperours of _Almaine_ and of _Greece_. After his returne he was allowed 20. shillings a day by way of pension, and large liuings in the Countrey, where he mellowed to old age in pleasure and vacancie of affaires; preferring safe subiection, before ambitious rule accompanied both with danger and disquiet.

Thus was no man more milde to a relenting and vanquished enemie; as farre from crueltie, as he was from cowardice, the height of his spirit, ouerlooking all casuall, all doubtfull and vncertaine dangers. Other great offenders he punished commonly by exile or imprisonment, seldome by death. Onely among the _English_ Nobilitie Earle _Waltheof_ was put to death, for that after twice breaking allegiance, he conspired the third time with diuers both _English_ and _Normans_ to receiue the _Danes_ into _England_, whilest the King was absent in _Normandie_. And for the same conspiracie _Ralph Fitz-aubert_ a _Norman_ was also executed; who had furnished 40. ships for the King in his voiage for _England_: for which and for his other seruices in that warre, he was afterward created Earle of _Hereford_. But present iniuries doe alwayes ouerballance benefits that are past.

He much delighted in hunting and in feasting. For the first he enclosed many forrests and parks, and filled them with Deere; which he so deerely loued, that he ordained great penalties for such as should kill those or any other beasts of game. For the second hee made many sumptuous feasts, especially vpon the high Festiuall dayes in the yeere. His _Christmasse_ hee often kept at _Glocester_, his _Easter_ at _Winchester_, his _Whitsontide_ at _Westminster_; and was crowned once in the yeere at one of these places, so long as he continued in _England_. To these feasts he inuited all his Nobilitie, and did then principally compose himselfe to courtesie, as well in familiar conuersation, as in facilitie to grant suits, and to giue pardon to such as had offended. At other times he was more Maiesticall and seuere; and imployed himselfe both to much exercise and great moderation in diet; whereby he preserued his body in good state, both of health and strength, and was easily able to endure trauaile, hunger, heat, cold, and all other hardnesse both of labour and of want.

Many wrongs he would not see, of many smarts he would not complaine; he was absolute master of himselfe, and thereby learned to subdue others. He was much commended for chastitie of body; by which his Princely actions were much aduanced. And albeit the beginning of his reigne was pestered with such routs of outlawes and robbers, that the peaceable people could not accompt themselues in surety within their owne doores; hee so well prouided for execution of Iustice vpon offenders, or rather for cutting off the causes of offence; that a young maiden well charged with gold, might trauaile in any part of the Realme, without any offer of iniurie vnto her. For if any man had slaine another vpon any cause, he was put to death; and if he could not be found, the hundred paide a fine to the King; sometimes 28. and sometimes 36. pounds, according to the largenesse of the hundred in extent. If a man had oppressed any woman, he was depriued of his priuie parts. As the people by Armes, so Armes by lawes were held in restraint.

He talked little and bragged lesse: a most assured performer of his word: In prosecution or his purposes constant and strong, and yet not obstinate; but alwayes appliable to the change of occasions: earnest, yea violent, both to resist his enemies, and to exact dueties of his Subiects. He neither loued much speech, nor gaue credite to faire; but trusted truely to himselfe, to others so farre as he might not be abused by credulitie.

His expedition (the spirit of actions and affaires) may hereby appeare. He inuaded _England_ about the beginning of October; He subdued all resistance, he suppressed all rising Rebellions, and returned into _Normandy_ in March following. So as the time of the yeere considered, a man should hardly trauaile through the land in so short a time as he did win it. A greater exploit then _Iulius Caesar_ or any other stranger could euer atchieue vpon that place.

He gaue many testimonies of a Religious minde. For he did often frequent Diuine seruice in the Church, he gaue much Almes, hee held the Clergie in great estimation, and highly honoured the Prelats of the Church. He sent many costly ornaments, many rich presents of gold and siluer to the Church of _Rome_; his _Peter_ paiments went more readily, more largely then euer before. To diuers Churches in _France_ after his victorie he sent Crosses of gold, vessels of gold, rich Palles, or other ornaments of great beautie and price. He bare such reuerence to _Lanfranck_ Archbishop of _Canterburie_, that he seemed to stand at his directions. At the request of _Wolstane_ Bishop of _Worcester_, he gaue ouer a great aduantage that he made by sale of prisoners taken in _Ireland_. He respected _Aldred_ Archbishop of _Yorke_, by whom he had bene crowned King of _England_, as his father. At a time vpon the repulse of a certaine suit, the Archbishop brake forth into discontentment, expostulated sharpely against the King, and in a humorous heat offered to depart. But the King staied him, fell downe at his feet, desired pardon, and promised satisfaction in the best maner that he could. The Nobilitie that were present, put the Archbishop in minde that he should cause the King to arise. Nay (answered the Archb.) let him alone; Let him still abide at S. _Peters_ feet. So with much adoe he was appeased, and entreated to accept his suite. And so the name of Saint _Peter_, and of the Church hath been often vsed as a mantle, to couer the pride, passions and pleasures of disordered men.

He founded and enlarged many houses of Religion: Hee furnished Ecclesiasticall dignities, with men of more sufficiencie and worth then had been vsuall in former times. And because within his owne Dominions studies did not flourish and thriue, by reason of the turbulent times, by reason of the often inuasions of barbarous people, whose knowledge lay chiefly in their fists; hee drew out of _Italy_ and other places many famous men, both for learning and integritie of life, to wit, _Lanfranke_, _Anselm_, _Durand_, _Traherne_ and others. These he honoured, these hee aduanced, to these hee expressed great testimonies both of fauour and regard.

And yet he preferred _Odo_ his brother by the mothers side to the Bishopricke of _Baion_, and afterwards created him Earle of _Kent_: A man proud, vaine, mutinous, ambitious; outragious in oppression, cruelty and lust; a prophaner of Religion, a manifest contemner of all vertue. The King being called by occasions into _Normandie_, committed vnto him the gouernment of the Realme: In which place of credite and command he furnished himselfe so fully with treasure, that hee aspired to the Papacie of _Rome_: vpon a prediction then cast abroad, (which commonly deceiue those that trust vnto them) that the successour of _Hildebrand_ was named _Odo_. So filled with proud hopes, hee purchased a palace and friends at _Rome_; hee prepared for his iourney, and drew many gentlemen to be of his traine. But the King returning suddenly out of _Normandie_, met with him in the _Isle of Wight_, as he was ready to take the Seas. There hee was arrested, and afterwards charged with infinite oppressions; also for seducing the Kings subiects to forsake the Realme; and lastly, for sacrilegious spoyling of many Churches. Hereupon his treasure was seized, and he was committed to prison; not as Bishop of _Baion_, but as Earle of _Kent_, and as an accomptant to the King. And so he remained about foure yeeres, euen vntill the death of the King. His seruants, some in falshood, and some for feare, discouered such hidden heapes of his gold, as did exceede all expectation: yea, many bagges of grinded gold were drawen out of riuers, wherein the Bishop had caused them for a time to be buried. After this hee was called the Kings spunge: as being preferred by him to that place of charge, wherein he might in long time sucke that from others, which should at once be pressed from himselfe. By this meanes the King had the benefit of his oppression without the blame; and the people (being no deepe searchers into secrets of State) were so well pleased with the present punishment, as they were thereby, although not satisfied, yet well quieted for all their wrongs.

Towards the end of his reigne he appointed his two sonnes, _Robert_ and _Henry_, with ioynt authoritie, gouernours of _Normandie_; the one to suppresse either the insolencie, or leuitie of the other. These went together to visit the _French_ King, lying at _Conflance_: where entertaining the time with varietie of disports, _Henry_ played with _Louis_ then _Daulphine_ of _France_ at Chesse, and did win of him very much. Here at _Louis_ beganne to growe warme in words, and was therein little respected by _Henry_. The great impatiencie of the one, and the small forbearance of the other, did strike in the end such a heate betweene them, that _Louis_ threw the Chesse-men at _Henries_ face, and called him the sonne of a bastard. _Henrie_ againe stroke _Louis_ with the Chesse-boord, drew blood with the blowe, and had presently slaine him vpon the place, had hee not been stayed by his brother _Robert_. Hereupon they presently went to horse, and their spurres claimed so good haste, as they recouered _Pontoise_, albeit they were sharpely pursued by the _French_.

It had been much for the _French_ King to haue remained quiet, albeit no prouocations had happened, in regard of his pretence to many pieces which King _William_ did possesse in _France_. But vpon this occasion he presently inuaded _Normandie_, tooke the Citie of _Vernon_, and drew _Robert_, King _Williams_ eldest sonne, to combine with him against his owne father. On the other side King _William_, who neuer lost anything by loosing of time, with incredible celeritie passed into _France_; inuaded the _French_ Kings dominions, wasted and tooke many principall places of _Zantoigne_ and _Poictou_, returned to _Roan_, and there reconciled his sonne _Robert_ vnto him. The _French_ King summoned him to doe his homage for the kingdome of _England_. For the Duchie of _Normandie_ he offered him homage, but the kingdome of _England_ (he said) he held of no man, but onely of God, and by his sword. Hereupon the _French_ King came strongly vpon him; but finding him both ready and resolute to answere in the field: finding also that his hazard was greater then his hope; that his losse by ouerthrow would farre surmount his aduantage by victory; after a few light encounters he retired: preferring the care to preserue himselfe, before the desire to harme others.

King _William_ being then both corpulent and in yeeres, was distempered in body by meanes of those trauailes, and so retired to _Roan_; where hee remained not perfectly in health. The _French_ King hearing of his sickenesse, pleasantly said, that hee lay in child-bed of his great belly. This would haue been taken in mirth, if some other had spoken it; but comming from an enemie, it was taken in scorne. And as great personages are most sencible of reproach, and the least touch of honour maketh a wide and incurable wound; so King _William_ was so nettled with this ieast, that hee swore _By Gods resurrection and his brightnesse_, (for this was the vsuall forme of his oath) that so soone as hee should be churched of that child, he would offer a thousand lights in _France_. So presently after his recouery hee entred _France_ in armes, tooke the Citie of _Meux_, set many Townes and Villages and corne fields on fire; the people abandoning all places where he came, and giuing foorth, that it was better the nests should be destroyed, then that the birds should be taken in them. At the last he came before _Paris_, where _Philip_ King of _France_ did then abide: to whom he sent word, that he had recouered to be on foote, and was walking about, and would be glad likewise to find him abroad. This enterprise was acted in the moneth of August, wherein the King was so violent and sharpe, that by reason both of his trauaile, and of the vnseasonable heate, he fell into a relapse of his sicknesse. And to accomplish his mishap, in leaping on horse-backe ouer a ditch, his fat belly did beare so hard vpon the pommell of his saddle, that hee tooke a rupture in his inner parts. And so ouercharged with sickenesse, and paine, and disquietnesse of minde, hee returned to _Roan_; where his sickenesse increased by such dangerous degrees, that in short time it led him to the period of his dayes.

During the time of his sickenesse hee was much molested in conscience,[28] for the blood which hee had spilt, and for the seueritie which he had vsed against the _English_: holding himselfe for that cause more guilty before God, then glorious among men. Hee spent many good speeches in reconciling himselfe to God and the world, & in exhorting others to vertue and Religion. He gaue great summes of money to the Clergie of _Meux_, and of some other places in _France_, to repaire the Churches which a little before he had defaced. To some Monasteries he gaue tenne markes of gold, and to others sixe. To euery Parish Church hee gaue fiue shillings, and to euery Borough Towne a hundred pounds for reliefe of the poore. Hee gaue his Crowne, with all the ornaments therto belonging, to the Church of Saint _Stephen_ in _Caen_, which hee had founded: for redeeming whereof, King _Henry_ the first did afterwards giue to the same Church the Mannour of _Brideton_ in _Dorcetshire_. Hee reteined perfect memorie and speach so long as he reteined any breath. Hee ended his life vpon the ninth day of September: full both of honour and of age, when hee had reigned twenty yeeres, eight moneths and sixteene dayes; in the threescore and fourth yeere of his age.

So soone as he was dead, the chiefe men that were about him went to horse, and departed forthwith to their owne dwellings: to prouide for the safety of themselues, and of their families and estates. For all men were possessed with a marueilous feare, that some dangerous aduentures would ensue. The seruants and inferiour Officers also fled away; and to double the basenesse of their disposition, tooke with them whatsoeuer was portable about the king; his Armour, plate, apparell, household-stuffe, all things were held as lawfull bootie. Thus the dead body was not onely abandoned, but left almost naked vpon the ground: where it remained from prime vntil three of the clocke, neither guarded nor regarded by any man. In the meane time the Religious persons went in procession to the Church of S. _Geruase_, & there commended his soule to God. Then _William_ Archb. of _Roan_ commaunded, that his body should be caried to _Caen_, to be there buried in the Church of S. _Stephen_. But hee was so forsaken of all his followers, that there was not any found who would vndertake either the care or the charge. At the last _Herlwine_ a countrey Knight, vpon his owne cost, caused the body to be embalmed and adorned for funerall pompe: then conueyed it by coach to the mouth of the Riuer _Some_; and so partly by land, and partly by sea brought it to _Caen_.

Here the Abbot with the Couent of Monks came foorth with all accustomed ceremonies, to meet the corps: to whom the whole multitude of the Clergie and Lay-people did adioyne. But when they were in the middest of their sad solemnities, a fire brake out of a certaine house, and suddenly embraced a great part of the towne. Hereupon the Kings body was once againe abandoned; all the people running from it in a headlong haste; some to saue their goods, others to represse the rage of the flame, others (as the latest nouelty) to stand and looke on. In the end a few Moncks returned, and accompanied the Hearse to the Abbey Church.

Afterward all the Bishops and Abbots of _Normandy_ assembled to solemnize the funerall. And when the diuine Office was ended, and the coffin of stone set into the earth, in the presbytorie, betweene the Quire and the Altar (but the body remained vpon the Herse) _Guislebert_ bishop of _Eureux_ made a long Sermon; wherein hee bestowed much breath in extolling the honourable actions of the King. In the end he concluded; That forsomuch as it was impossible for a man to liue, much lesse to gouerne, without offence; First, by reason of the multitude of a Princes affaires; Secondly, for that he must commit the managing of many things to the conscience and courtesie of others; Lastly, for that personall grieuances are many times beneficiall to the maine body of State; in which case, particular either losses or harmes, are more then manifoldly recompenced by the preseruation or quiet of the whole: If therefore any that were present did suppose they had receiued iniurie from the King, he desired that they would in charitie forgiue him.