: ing none either willing or powerful enough to oppose him, he hoped that the end of his reign would be marked with prosperity and peace. 8. But such is the blindness of human hope, that he found enemies where he least expected them and such, too, as served to imbitter all the latter part of his life. His last troubles were excited by his own children, from the opposing of whom he could expect to reap neither glory nor gain. He had three sons, Robert, William, and Henry, besides several daughters. 9. Robert, his eldest son, surnamed Curthose from the shortness of his legs, was a prince who inherited all the bravery of his family and nation, but was rather bold than prudent: and was often heard to express his jealousy of his two brothers, William and Henry. These by greater assiduity, had wrought upon the credulity and affections of the king, and consequently were the more obnoxious to Robert. 10. A mind, therefore, so well prepared for resentment soon found or made cause for an open rupture. The princes were one day in sport together, and, in the idle petulance of play, took it in their heads to throw water over their elder brother as he passed through the court, on leaving their apartment. Robert, all alive to sus picion, quickly turned this frolic into studied indignity: and having these jealousies further inflamed by one of his favourites, he drew his sword, and ran up stairs, with intent to take revenge. 11. The whole castle was quickly filled with tumult, and it was not without some difficulty that the king himself was able to appease it. But he could not allay the animosity which, from that moment, ever after prevailed in his family. Robert, attended by several of his confederates, withdrew to Rouen that very night, hoping to surprise the castle, but his design was defeated by the governor. 12. The flame being thus kindled, the popular character of the prince, and a sympathy of manners, engaged all the young nobility of Normandy and Maine, as well as Anjou and Brittanny, to espouse his quarrel; even his mother, it is said, supported him by secret remittances, and aided him in this obstinate resistance by private encouragement. This unnatural contest continued for several years to inflame the Norman state, and William was at last obliged to have recourse to England, for supporting his authority against his son. 13 Accordingly, drawing an army of Englishmen together, he led them over to Normandy, where he soon compelled Robert and his adherents to quit the field, and he was quickly reinstated in all his dominions.* In one of the battles between the forces of William and his son Rober William had scarcely put an end to this transaction, wher he felt a very severe blow in the death of Matilda, his queen; and in addition to this domestic calamity, he received inforination of a general insurrection in the Norman government. 14. Upon his arrival on the continent, he found that the insurgents had been secretly assisted and excited by the king of France, whose policy consisted in thus lessening the Norman power, by creating dissensions among the nobles of its different provinces. William's displeasure was not a little increased by the account he received of some railleries which that monarch had thrown out against him. This so provoked the English monarch, that he sent him word, that he should soon set the kingdom of France in a flame. 15 In order to perform this promise, he levied a strong army, and, entering the isle of France, destroyed and burned all the villages and houses without opposition, and took the town of Mantua, which he reduced to ashes. But the progress of these hostilities was stopped by an accident, which shortly after put an end to William's life. His horse chancing to place his fore-foot on some hot ashes, plunged so violently, that the rider was thrown forward, and bruised upon the pommel of the saddle to such a degree, that he suffered a relapse, of which he died, shortly after, at a little village near Rouen.-Sept. 9,1087.* the latter happened to engage the king, whose face was concealed by h helmet, and, both of them being valiant, a fierce combat ensued, till the young prince wounded his father in the arm, and unhorsed him. On his calling out for assistance, his voice discovered him to his son, who, struck with remorse, threw himself at his father's feet, and craved pardon for his offence; but William, who was highly exasperated, gave him his malediction. He was how ever, afterwards, reconciled to him, and on his return to England, Robert was successfully employed in retaliating an invasion of Malcolm, king of Scotland. *In this reign justices of the peace were first appointed in England. The Tower of London was built. A general survey of all the lands of the kingdom made, their value, proprietors, quality of the soil, &c. and entered in a register, called Doomsday-book, which is still preserved in the exchequer, and is considered the most valuable monument of antiquity possessed by any nation. The curfew (or cover fire) bell established, at which signal all fires and candles were arbitrarily extinguished at eight o'clock in the evening EMINENT PERSONS. Prince Edgar Atheling. Stigand and Lanfranc, archbishops of Canterbury, Edwin and Morcar, earls of Northumberland and Mercia. Questions for Examination. 1. In what manner was William received by the nobility and clergy? 2. Where and by whom was he crowned? 4. What conspiracy did the English enter into? 5. In what way did William determine to treat his English subjects? 6, 7. What measures did he adopt to degrade the English? 9. What were the troubles which afflicted William? 10, 11. What frolic was it that led to the serious consequences that followed? 12. Who espoused Robert's cause? 13. What happened in one of the engagements between the forces of the king and his son? (See the note.) 14. What inducement had the king of France to assist the insurgents? 15. What caused William's death? What valuable ancient record is preserved in the exchequer, and what was its use? (See the note.) CHAPTER V. WILLIAM RUFUS. Born 1060. Died August 2d, 1100. Began to reign Sept. 9th, 1087. Reigned 12 years. And that Red King, who, while of old Through Boldrewood the chase he led, By his loved huntsman's arrow bled.-Walter Scott. 1. (A. D. 1087.) WILLIAM, surnamed Rufus, from the colour of his hair, was appointed, by the king's will, his successor, while the elder son, Robert, was left in possession of Normandy. Nevertheless, the Norman barons were from the beginning displeased at the division of the empire by the late king: they eagerly desired a union as before, and looked upon Robert as the proper owner of the whole. A powerful conspiracy was therefore carried on against William; and Odo, the late king's brother, undertook to conduct it to maturity. 2. William, sensible of the danger that threatened him, endeavoured to gain the affections of the native English, whom he prevailed upon by promises of future good treat ment, and preference in the distribution of his favours, to espouse his interests. 3. He was soon, therefore, in the field; and, at the head of a numerous army, showed himself in readiness to oppose all who should dispute his pretensions. In the mean time Robert, instead of employing himself in levies, to support his friends in England, squandered his resources away in idle expenses and unmerited benefits, so that he procrastinated his departure till the opportunity was lost: while William exerted himself with incredible activity to dissipate the confederacy before his brother could arrive. 4. Nor was this difficult to effect; the conspirators had, in consequence of Robert's assurances, taken possession of some fortresses; but the appearance of the king soon reduced them to implore his mercy. He granted them their lives; but confiscated all their estates, and banished them the kingdom. 5. A new breach was made some time after between the brothers, on which Rufus found means to encroach still farther upon Robert's possessions. Every conspiracy thus detected served to enrich the king, who took care to apply to his own use those treasures which had been amassed for the purpose of dethroning him. 6. (A. D. 1097.) But the memory of these transient broils and unsuccessful treasons, was now totally eclipsed by one of the most noted enterprises that ever adorned the annals of nations, or excited the attention of mankind: I mean the crusades, which were now first projected. Peter the Hermit, a native of Amiens, in Picardy, was a man of great zeal, courage, and piety. 7. He had made a pilgrimage to the holy sepulchre at Jerusalem, and beheld, with indignation, the cruel manner in which the Christians were treated by the infidels, who were in possession of that place. He preached the crusade over Europe, by the pope's permission, and men of all ranks flew to arms with the utmost alacrity to rescue the Holy Land from the infidels, and each bore the sign of the cross upon his right shoulder, as a mark of their devotion to the cause. 8. In the midst of the universal ardour that was diffused over Europe, men were not entirely forgetful of their temporal interests; for some, hoping for a more magnificent settlement in the soft regions of Asia, sold their European property for whatever they could obtain, contented with receiving any thing for what they were predetermined to relinquish. 9. Among the princes who felt and acknowledged this general spirit of enterprise, was Robert duke of Normandy. The crusade was entirely adapted to his inclinations and his circumstances; he was brave, zealous, covetous of glory, poor, harassed by insurrections, and what was more than all, naturally fond of change. In order, therefore, to supply money to defray the necessary charges of so expensive an undertaking, he offered to mortgage his dukedom in Normandy to his brother Rufus for a stipulated sum of money. 10. This sum, which was no greater than ten thousand marks, was readily promised by Rufus, whose ambition was upon the watch to seize every advantage. But though the cession of Maine and Normandy greatly increased the king's territories, they added but little to his real power, and his new subjects were composed of men of independent spirits, more ready to dispute than to obey his commands. 11. Many were the revolts and insurrections which he was obliged to quell in person; and no sooner was one conspiracy suppressed, than another rose to give him disquietude. However, Rufus proceeded, careless of approbation or censure; and continued to extend his dominions, either by purchase or conquest. 12. The earl of Poictiers and Guienne, inflamed with the desire of going upon the crusade, had gathered an immense multitude for that expedition, but wanted money to forward his preparations. He had recourse, therefore, to Rufus, and offered to mortgage all his dominions, without much considering what would become of his unhappy subjects that he thus disposed of. 13. The king accepted this offer with his usual avidity, and had prepared a fleet and an army, in order to take possession of the rich provinces thus consigned to his trust. But an accident put an end to all his ambitious projects: he was shot by an arrow that Sir Walter Tyrrel* discharged at a deer in the New Forest, which, glancing from a tree,† struck the king to the heart. 14. He dropped dead instan taneously; while the innocent author of his death, terrified * A French gentleman, remarkable for his skill in archery. It is a no less interesting historical fact, than a botanical curiosity, abundantly proving the longevity of the oak, that this celebrated tree is now standing, though in the last stage of decay, near Malwood Castle, in the centre of the New Forest. It was first paled round by an order of Charles II The rampart which surrounds the Tower of London, and Westminster hall, are the principal monuments which remain of Rufus's reign. At the time of his death he was forty-two years of age, and had reigned thirteen. |