cannot Foule weather may much hinder the discharge of the piece but it is no great impediment to the shot of the Bow A horse strooke with a bullet if the wound be not mortall may performe good seruice but if an arrow be fastened in his flesh the continuall stirring thereof occasioned by the motion of himselfe will enforce him to cast off all command and either beare downe or disorder those that are neere But the cracke of the piece will some man say doeth strike a terrour into the enemie True if they bee such as neuer heard the like noise before But a little vse wil extinguish these terrours to men yea to beasts acquainted with these cracks they worke a weake impression of feare And if it be true which all men of action doe hold that the eye in all battailes is first ouercome then against men equally accustomed to both the sight of the arrow is more auaileable to victorie then the cracke of the piece Assuredly the Duke before the battaile encouraged his men for that they should deale with enemies who had no shot But I will leaue this point to be determined by more discerning iudgements and happily by further experience in these affaires and returne againe to my principall purpose The next day after the victorie the Duke returned to Hastings about seuen miles from the place of the encounter partly to refresh his Armie and partly to settle in aduise and order for his further prosecution First he dispatched messengers to signifie his successe to his friends abroad to the Pope he sent King Harolds Standerd which represented a man fighting wrought curiously with golde and precious stones Afterwards placing a strong garrison at Hastings he conducted his Armie towards London not the direct way but coasted about through part of Kent through Sussex Surrey Hampshire and Barkeshire the wayes where hee passed being as free from resistance as his thoughts were from change At Walling ford he passed ouer the Thames and then marched forward through Oxford shire Buckinghamshire and Hartford-shire vntill he came to the Castle at Berkhamstead In this passage many of his Souldiers languished and died of the Fluxe And whether it were vpon licentiousnesse after the late victorie or whether for want of necessary prouision or whether to strike a terrour into the English or whether to leaue no danger at his backe he permitted the sword to range at large to harrie freely to defile many places with ruine and blood In the meane time the English Lords assembled at London to aduise vpon their common affaires but the varietie of opinions was the chiefe impediment to the present seruice the danger being more important then the counsaile resolute or the confidence assured The Nobilitie enclined to declare Edgar grandchild to Edmund Ironside to be their King and with these the Londoners wholy went But those of the Clergie were of opinion some vpon particular respects all vpon feare to displease the Pope to yeeld to the storme and streame of the present time to yeeld to the mightie Arme of GOD that their forces being prostrated their hopes feeble and forlorne they must be content not to be constrained they must not prouoke the Victor too farre against whose forces and felicities time gaue them not power to oppose This deliberation held so long that all the time of action was spent For the Duke approched so neere the Citie that many preferring their safetie before other respects withdrew themselues and went vnto him Hereupon the residue dissolued and Alfred Archb. of Yorke Wolstane Bishop of Worcester Wilfire B. of Hereford and many other Prelates of the Realme went vnto the Duke at Berkhamstead accompanied with Edgar Earle Edwine Earle Morchar and diuers others of the Nobilitie who gaue pledges for their allegiance and were thereupon receiued to subiection and fauour The Duke presently dispatched to London was receiued with many declarations of ioy the lesser in heart the fairer in appearance and vpon Christmas day next following was crowned King Now the meanes whereby this victory was assured were the very same whereby it was atchieued euen by a stiffe and rigorous hand For whosoeuer supposeth that a State atteined by force can be reteined by milder meanes he shall find himselfe disappointed of his hopes A people newly subdued by force will so long remaine in obedience as they finde themselues not of force to resist And first he endeauoured either to preuent or appease all forren warres especially against the Danes who were then chiefly feared in England as well in regard of their former victories as for that they pretended title to the Crowne And herein two things did especially fauour his affaires One for that the Normans were in some sort allied to the Danes being the progenie of those Noruegians and Danes which vnder the conduct and fortune of Rollo inuaded France after many great atchieuements seated in Normandie The other was for that after the death of Canutus the state of Denmarke was much infeebled by diuision For the Noruegians set vp Magnus the sonne of Olaus for their King but the Danes acknowledged Canutus the third of that name by meanes whereof that puissant empire did languish in consumption of it selfe and could not be dangerous to any neighbour Countrey Yet ceased they not for many yeeres to continue claime to the Crowne of England But King William had purchased many sure and secret friends in that diseased state wherein all publike affaires were set to sale especially he vsed the authoritie of Adelbert Archbishop of Hamburgh either to crosse all counsaile of hostilitie against him or else to delay and thereby to delude the enterprise or lastly so to manage the action that it should noâ—… worke any dangerous effect After the death of Swaine Canutus prepared a Nauie of one thousand saile for inuasion of England and was aided with sixe hundred more by Robert le Frizon whose daughter hee had taken to wife But either for want or else by negligence or happily of purpose this Nauie continued partly in preparation and partly in a readinesse the space of two yeeres and then the voyage was layd aside The cause was attributed to contrarietie of winds but the contrariety of wils was the truest impediment Likewise Swaine had furnished against England a Nauie of 204. sayle commanded by Earle Osborne his brother Another fleete of 200. saile was set foorth vnder the charge of Earle Hacon But King William so corrupted them both that the one departed out of the Realme without performing any great exploit the other neuer would arriue Also out of those confusions in England Malcolme King of Scots did take his opportunitie for action Hee receiued into protection many English who either for feare or for discontentment forsooke their Countrey of whom many families in Scotland are descended and namely these Lindsey Vaus Ramsey Louell Towbris Sandlands Bissart Sowlis Wardlaw Maxwell with diuers others Hee entertained into his Court Edgar Atheling and
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 Hereat 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 Pontoife 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 any thing 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
did there with defend himselfe for a time But because to stand vpon defence onely is alwayes vnsure he drew his sword and would not depart one foot from his saddle but making shew of braue ioy that he had nothing to trust vnto but his owne valour he defended both his saddle and himselfe till rescue came Afterward when some of his Souldiers in blaming maner expostulated with him wherefore he was so obstinate to saue his saddle his answere was that a King should loose nothing which he can possibly saue It would haue angred mee said he at the very heart that the knaues should haue bragged that they had wonne the saddle from mee And this was one of his perpetuall felicities to escape easily out of desperate dangers In the end Henry grew to extreeme want of water and other prouisions by which meanes he was ready to fall into the hands of those who desired to auoyd necessitie to hurt him And first he sent to the Duke his brother to request some libertie to take in fresh water The Duke sent to him a tunne of wine and granted a surcease of hostilitie for one day to furnish him with water At this the King seemed discontented as being a meanes to prolong the warre But the Duke told him that it had bene hard to deny a brother a little water for his necessitie Here with like wise the King relenting they sent for their brother Henry and wisdome preuailing more then iniuries or hate they fell to an agreement That vpon a day appointed Henry should receiue his money at Roan and that in the meane time hee should hold the countrey of Constantine in morgage The King enterteined with pay many of his brother Henries souldiers especially he receiued those who ouerthrew him to a very neere degree of fauour And thus all parties ordered their ambition with great modestie the custome of former warres running in a course of more humanitie then since they haue done The King was the more desirous to perfect these agreements of Peace for that Malcolme King of Scots as Princes often times make vse of the contentions of their neighbours tooke occasion vpon these confusions to enterprise vpō the parts of England which confined vpon him So as he inuaded Northumberland made great spoile tooke much prey caried away many prisoners whose calamitie was the more miserable for that they were to endure seruitude in a hard Countrey For this cause the King with his accustomed celeritie returned into England accompanied with the Duke of Normandie his brother and led a mighty armie against the Scots by land and sent also a nauie to infest them by sea But by a sudden and stiffe storme by a hideous confusion of all ill disposed weather his ships were cruelly crushed and hauing long wrought against the violence and rage of the tempest were in the end dispersed and diuers of them cast away Many of his souldiers also perished partly by penurie and want and partly by the euill qualitied ayre Notwithstanding the Scots knowing the King of England to bee an enemie mighty and resolute began to wauer in their assurance framing fearefull opinions of the number valour and experience of his armie Hereupon some ouertures of Peace were made the Scots expecting that the King by reason of his late losses would be the more moderate in his demands But hee then shewed himselfe most resolute and firme following his naturall custome not to yeelde to any difficulty King Malcolme coniecturing that such confidence could not be without good cause consented at the last to these conditions That King Malcolme should make a certaine satisfaction for the spoyles which hee had done in England That King William should restōre to him certaine lands in England That K. Malcolme should doe homage to King William Now the day was come wherein Henrie was appointed to receiue his money at Roan from the Duke of Normandie But as affaires of Princes haue great variations so they are not alwayes constant in their Counsels And so the Duke caried by his occasions and ready to lay downe his faith and word more to the traine of times then to the preseruation of his honour instead of paying the money committed his brother Henry to prison from whence he could not be released vntill hee renounced the Countie of Constantine and bound himselfe by oath neuer to claime any thing in Normandie Henrie complained hereof to Philip King of France who gaue him a faire enterteinement in his Court but was content rather to feede then finish the contention either expecting thereby some opportunitie to himselfe or els the opinion of his owne greatnesse not suffring him to feare that others might grow to haue fortune against him Henry had not long remained in the Court of France but a Normane Knight named Hacharde conueyed him disguised into Normandie where the Castle of Damfronç was deliuered vnto him and in short time after hee gate all the Countrey of Passays and a good part of Constantine either without resistance or without difficultie and perill Hereupon the Duke leuied his forces and earnestly assayed to recouer Damfronç but then hee found that his brother Henrie was secretly yet surely vnderset by the king of England Hereupon incensed with the furie of an iniuried minde hee exclaimed against his brother of England and almost proclaimed him a violater of his league On the otherside the King of England iustified his action for that hee was both a meanes and a partie to the agreement and therefore stood bound in honour not onely to vrge but to enforce performance So the flame brake foorth more furious then it was before and ouer went King William with an able armie where hee found the Duke also in good condition of strength commanding the field And albeit in so neere approach of two mighty enemies equall both in ambition and power it is hard to conteine men of seruice yet was nothing executed betweene them but certaine light skirmishes and surprizements of some places of defence In the end the King hearing of new troubles in England and the Duke finding himselfe vnable either to preuaile with few souldiers or to maintaine many and both distrusting to put a speedie end to the warre they were easily drawne to capitulations of peace And thus ended the contention betweene these brethren who vntill this time had continued like the waues of the Sea alwayes in motion and one beating against the other Besides these businesses which befell the King against his Nobilitie against the Duke of Normandie his brother and against the King and nation of the Scots the Welshmen also who alwayes struggled for libertie and reuenge perceiuing that the King was often absent and much entangled with hostile affaires enforced the fauour of that aduantage to free themselues from subiection of the English and happily to enlarge or enrich themselues vpon them So hauing both desire and opportunitie they wanted not meanes to assemble in armes to expell the English that
be not satisfied and apt to breake forth into dangerous attempts Of those who any wayes declared themselues in his fauour or defence some were despoiled of their goods some were banished the Realme others were punished with losse of their eyes or of their eares or of some other part of their bodie William d'Owe was accused in a Councell holden at Salisbury to bee a complice of this Treason And albeit he challenged his accuser to the combate yet his eyes were pulled out and his stones cut off by commandement of the King And yet some authours affirme that he was ouercome in combate before For the same cause the King commanded William Aluerie to be hanged a man of goodly personage and modest behauiour the Kings â—…ewer his Aunts sonne and hiâ—… godfather Before his execution hee desired to be whipped through manie Churches in London he distributed his garments to the poore and bloodied the street as he went with often kneeling vpon the stones At the time of his death he tooke it vpon the charge of his soule that he was cleere of the offence for which he suffered And so committing his innocencie to God and to the world his complaints he submitted himselfe to the Executioners hands leauing an opinion in some a suspition in many that others also died without desert For the king gaue an easie eare to any man that would appeach others for his aduantage whereby it sometimes happened that offenders were acquited by accusing innocents He was liberall aboue measure either in regard of his owne abilities or of the worthinesse of the receiuers Especially hee was bountifull if that terme may be applyed to immoderate lauishing to men of warre for which cause many resorted to him from farre Countries for entertainement To winne and retaine the fauour of these hee much impouerished his peaceable people From many he tooke without iustice to giue to others without desert esteeming it no vnequall dealing that the money of the one should bee aduentured and expended with the blood of the other He much exceeded in sumptuousnes of diet and of apparell wherewith great men vse to dazel the eyes of the people both which waies he esteemed the goodnesse of things by their price It is reported that when his Chamberlaine vpon a certaine morning brought him a new paire of hose the King demaunded what they cost and the Chamberlaine answered three shillings Hereat the King grew impatient and said What heauie beast doest thou take these to be conuenient hose for a King Away begger and bring me other of a better price Then the Chamberlaine departed and brought a farre worse paire of hose for a better could not at that time bee found and told the king that they cost a marke The king not onely allowed them for fine enough but commended them also as exceeding fit Assuredly this immoderate excesse of a King is now farre exceeded by many base shifting vnthrifts In building his expences were very great He repaired the Citie and Castle of Caerlile which had been wasted by the Danes 200. yeres before Hee finished New castle vpon Tine Many other Castles he erected or repaired vpon the frontiers of Scotland many also vpon the frontiers and within the very brest of Wales Hee much enlarged the Towre of London and enuironed it with a new wall Hee also built the great Hall at Westminster which is 270. foote in length and 74. foote in breadth And when many did admire the vast largenes thereof he would say vnto them that it was but a bed chamber but a closet in comparison of that which he intended to build And accordingly he layd the foundation of another Hall which stretched from the Riuer Thames to the Kings high street the further erection wherof with diuers other heroicall enterprises ceased together with his life Thus partly by reason of his infinite plots and inuentions and partly by his disorders and vnbrideled liberalities he alwayes liued at great charges and expences which whilest the large treasure lasted which his father left him were borne without grieuance to the subiects But when that was once drained he was reduced to seeke money by extraordinary meanes So many hard taxes were laidvpon the people partly for supplie to his owne necessities and partly to imitate the policie of his father that the people being busied how to liue should reteine small either leisure or meanes to contriue innouations For this cause he was supposed vpon purpose to haue enterprised many actions of charge that thereby he might haue colour to impose both imployments and taxations vpon the people And because the riches of the clergie at that time were not onely an eye-sore vnto many but esteemed also by some to bee very farre aboue due proportion Hee often fleeced them of great summes of money For which cause it is euident that the writers of that age who were for the most part Clergie men did both generally enueigh against him and much depraue his particular actions He withheld his annuall paiment to the Sea of Rome vpon occasion of a Schisme betweene Vrbane at Rome and Clement at Rauenna He claimed the inuestiture of Prelates to be his right Hee forbade Appeales and entercourse to Rome For which and other like causes he had a very great contention with the Clergie of his Realme especially with Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury The seedes of this contention were cast when Anselme was first receiued to his Sea For at that time two did striue for the Papacie of Rome Vrbanus and Guibert called Clement the third some Christian States fauouring the one and some the other King William inclined to Clement the third and with him the Realme generally went but Anselme did fully goe with Vrbane making so his condition before he did consent to accept his dignitie When he was elected and before his consecration the King demanded of him that such lands of the Church of Canterbury as the King had giuen to his friends since the death of Lanfranck might still be held by them as their lawfull right but to this Anselme would in no case agree Hereupon the King stayed his consecration a certaine time but at length by importunitie of the people hee was content to receiue his homage and to giue way to his consecration Not long after the Archbishop desired licence of the king to goe to Rome to receiue his Pall which when the King refused to grant he appealed to the Sea of Rome Now this was the first Appeale that euer before had been made in England For Appeales were not here in ordinarie vse vntil after this time vnder the reigne of King Stephen when Henrie Bishop of Wint. being the Popes Legate brought them in Wherefore the King offended with this noueltie charged Anselme with breach of his fealtie and oath Anselme answered that this was to be referred to the iudgement of a Councell whether it bee a breach of allegiance to a terrene Prince if a man appeale to the
in their action a most assured token of some mischiefe at hand And so as they scattered and ranged after prey as greedy men are seldome circumspect they were suddenly set vpon by Almaricke Earle of Mountfort appointed by the French K. to defend the Country with no small execution put to the chase The more they resisted the greater was their losse The sooner they fled the more assured was their escape And for that they were dispersed into many small companies they had the better opportunitie to saue themselues Many other like aduentures were enterprised betweene the two Kings and their adherents some in France and some in Normandie with large losse on both sides But especially the King of France was most subiect to harme for that his countrey was the more ample open and rich The King of England held this aduantage that no aduantage could be wonne against him which in regard of the number valour and greatnesse of his enemies was a very honourable aduantage indeed At the last he made peace with the Earle of Aniou taking the Earles daughter to be wife to his sonne William whom he had declared for successour in his estate to whom all the Nobilitie and Prelates were sworne and who seemed to want nothing through all his fathers dominions but onely the name and Title of King This sinew being cut from the King of France and also for that Henry the Emperour made preparation of hostilitie against him he fell likewise to agreement of peace By the conditions whereof William sonne to the King of England was inuested into the Duchie of Normandie doing homage for the same to the K. of France In this peace was comprised on the part of the French K Williā son to Robert Curtcuise who had bene declared Duke of Normandie On the part of the king of England the Earle of Champ◅igne and certaine other Lords were comprised who had either serued or aided him against the king of France After this the warres betweene the Emperour and the French king did forthwith dissolue King Henry hauing happily finished these affaires returned out of Normandie and loosing from Barbeflote vpon the 24. of Nouember towards euening with a prosperous gale arriued in England where great preparation was made to entertaine him with many well deuised honours His sonne William then duke of Normandie and somewhat aboue 17. yeeres of age tooke another ship and in his company went Mary his sister Countesse of Perch Richard his brother begotten of a concubine as some affirme and the Earle of Chester with his wife Lucie who was the Kings niece by his sister Adela Also the yong Nobilitie and best knights flocked vnto him some to discharge their dueties others to testifie their loue and respect Of such passengers the ship receiued to the number of 140. besides 50. sailers which belonged vnto her So they loosed from land somewhat after the King and with a gentle winde from the Southwest danced through the soft swelling floods The sailers full of proud ioy by reason of their honourable charge and of little feare or forecast both for that they had bene accustomed to dangers and for that they were then well tippeled with wine gaue forth in a brauery that they would soone outstrip the vessell wherein the King sailed In the middest of this drunken ioylitie the ship strake against a rocke the head whereof was aboue water not farre from the shoare The passengers cried out and the sailers laboured to winde or beare off the ship from the danger but the labour was no lesse vaine then the cry for she leaned so stiffely against the rocke that the sterage brake the sides cracked and the Sea gushed in at many breaches Then was raised a lamentable cry within the ship some yeelding to the tyrannie of despaire betooke themselues as in cases of extremitie weake courages are wont to their deuotions others emploied all industrie to saue their liues and yet more in duetie to nature then vpon hope to escape all bewailed the vnfortunate darkenesse of that night the last to the liues of so many persons both of honour and of worth They had nothing to accōpany them but their feares nothing to helpe them but their wishes the confused cries of them al did much increase the particular astonishment of euery one And assuredly no danger dismayeth like that vpon the seas for that the place is vnnaturall to man And further the vnusuall obiects the continuall motion the desolation of all helpe or hope will perplexe the minds euen of those who are best armed against discouragement At the last the boat was hoysed foorth and the Kings sonne taken into it They had cleered themselues from the danger of the ship and might safely haue rowed to land But the yong Prince hearing the shrill shrikes of his Sister Mary Countesse of Perch and of the Countesse of Chester his cousin crying after him and crauing his help he preferred pitie before safety commanded the boat to be rowed back to the ship for preseruatiou of their liues But as they approached the boate was suddenly so ouercharged with those who strugling to breake out of the armes of death leaped at all aduentures into it that it sunke vnder them and so all the company perished by drowning Onely one ordinary Sayler who had been a butcher by swimming all night vpon the mast escaped to land reserued as it may seeme to relate the manner of the misaduenture This ship raised much matter of nouelty and discourse abroad but neuer did ship bring such calamitie to the Realme especially for that it was iudged that the life of this Prince would haue preuented those intestine warres which afterwards did fall betweene King Steuen and Matild daughter to King Henry The King was so ouercharged with this heauy accident that his reason seemed to bee darkened or rather drowned in sorrow Hee caused the coasts a long time after to bee watched but scarce any of the bodies were euer found Afterwards he tooke to wife Adalisia daughter to Godfrey Duke of Louaine of the house of Lorraine She was crowned at Westminster by Roger B. of Salisburie because Radulph Archbishop of Canterburie by reason of his palsey was vnable to performe that office And yet because Roger was not appointed by him the doting old man fell into such a pelting chafe that hee offered to strike the Kings Crowne from his head And albeit this Lady was in the principall flower both of her beauty and yeeres yet the King had no issue by her Now as after a storme a fewe gentle drops doe alwayes fall before the weather turnes perfectly fayre so after these great warres in France certaine easie conflicts did ensue neither dangerous nor almost troublesome to the King For Robert Earle of Mellent who for a long time had continued both a sure friend and most close and priuate in counsaile with the King vpon some sudden either discontentment on his part or dislike on the Kings so
vndaunted countenance and heart conducted his Armie into Sussex and encamped within seuen miles of the Normans who thereupon approched so neere to the English that the one Armie was within view of the other First espials were sent on both sides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 uer the state and condition of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They who were sent from the English 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 large report both of the number and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ment and discipline of the Normans Whereupon Girth yonger brother to King Harold presented him with aduise not to play his whole State at a cast not to bee so caried with desire of victory as not to awaite the time to attaine it that it is proper to Inuaders presently to fight because they are then in the very pride and flourish of their strength but the assailed should rather delay battell rather obserue only and attend their enemies cut off their reliefe vexe them with incommodities weary them and weare them out by degrees that it could not be long before the Dukes armie being in a strange Countrey would be reduced to necessities it could not bee long but by reason it consisted of diuers nations it would draw into disorder that it was proper to an armie compounded of different people to be almost inuincible at the first whilest all contend to excell or at least to equal other in braue performance but if they be aduisedly endured they will easily fall into disorders and lastly of themselues dissolue Or if sayd he you resolue to fight yet because you are sworne to the Duke you shall doe well to withdraw your presence to imploy your authoritie in mustering a new armie to bee readie to receiue him with fresh forces And if you please to commit the charge of this incounter vnto me I will not faile to expresse both the loue of a brother and the care and courage of a Commander For as I am not obliged to the Duke by oath so shall I either preuaile with the better cause or with the quieter conscience die Both these counsailes were reiected by Harold The first out of a violent vehemencie of these Northerne nations who doe commonly esteeme delay of battell a deiected cowardise a base and seruile deflouring of time but to beare through their designes at once they account a point of honourable courage The second he esteemed both shamefull to his reputation and hurtfull to the state of his affaires For what honour had he gained by his former victories if when he came to the greatest pinch of danger hee should fearefully shrinke backe with what heart should the Souldiers fight when they haue not his presence for whom they fight when they haue not their Generall an eye witnesse of their performance when they want his sight his encouragement his example to enflame them to valour The presence of the Prince is worth many thousands of ordinarie Souldiers The ordinary Souldier wil vndertake both labour and danger for no other respects so much as by the presence of the Prince And therefore he did greatly extenuate the worth of the Normans terming them a company of Priests because their fashion was to shaue their faces But whatsoeuer they were as he had hee said digested in his minde the hardest euents of battell so either the infamie or suspicion of cowardise in no case hee would incurre Hee resolued not to ouerliue so great dishonour he resolued to set vp as his last rest his Crowne and Kingdome and life withall And thus oftentimes Fortune dealeth with men as Executioners doe with condemned persons she will first blindfold and then dispatch them After this the Norman sent a Monke to offer the choise of these conditions to Harold Either to relinquish his kingdome vpon certaine conditions or to hold it vnder homage to the Duke or to try their cause by single combate or to submit it to the iudgement of the Pope according to the Lawes of Normandy or of England which he would Againe some conditions were propounded from K. Harold to the Duke But their thoughts were so lifted vp both with pride and confidence by reason of their former victories that no moderate ouerture could take place and so they appointed the day following which was the 14. of October to determine their quarrell by sentence of the sword This happened to be the birth day of K. Harold which for that cause by a superstitious errour he coniectured would be prosperous vnto him The night before the battaile for diuers respects was vnquiet The English spent the time in feasting and drinking and made the aire ring with showtings and songs the Normans were more soberly silent and busied themselues much in deuotion being rather still then quiet not so much watchful as not able to sleepe At the first appearance of the day the 〈◊〉 and the Duke were ready in Armes enâ—…ging their Souldiers and ordering them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in whose eyes it seemed that 〈◊〉 did sparckle and that in their face and gesture victorie did sit The Duke put certaine reliques about his necke vpon which King Harold had sworne vnto him It is reported that when he armed the backe of his Curasses was placed before by errour of him that put it on some would haue bin dismayed hereat but the Duke smiled and said Assuredly this day my Fortune will turne I shall either be a King or nothing before night The English were knit in one maine body on foot whereof the first rancks consisted of Kentishmen who by an ancient custome did challenge the honour of that place the next were filled with Londoners then followed the other English Their chiefe weapons were pole-axe sword and dart with a large target for their defence They were paled in front with paueises in such wise that it was thought impossible for the enemie to breake them The King stood on foot by his Standard with two of his brothers Girth and Leofwine as well to relieue from thence all parts that should happen to be distressed as also to manifest to the Souldiers that they reteined no thought of escaping by flight On the other side the Normans were diuided into three battailes The first was conducted by Roger Montgomerie and William Fitz-Osborne it consisted of horsemen of Aniou Maine and Britaine commanded by a Britaine named Fergent It caried the Banner which the Pope had sent The middle battaile consisting of Souldiers out of Germanie and Poictou was led by Geoffrye Martell and a Prince of Almaine The Duke himselfe closed the last battaile with the strength of his Normans and the flowre of his Nobilitie The Archers were diuided into wings and also dispersed by bands through all the three battails Thus were both sides set vpon a bloody bargaine ambition hope anger hate enflaming them to valour The duke edged his Souldiers by declaring vnto them the noble Acts of their ancesters the late admirable atchieuement of their fellow Normans in subduing the Kingdome of Sicill their owne braue exploits vnder him by shewing them all that pleasant and
And because the Scots did either see or suspect that hee bare a fauourable affection to the English they would not receiue him for their King but vnder promise that hee should not entertaine any English or Normane either in place of seruice or as a follower at large The yeere next following Duncane was slaine and Dunwald was againe possessed of the kingdom Hereupon King William sent Clito Edgar with an armie into Scotland by whose meanes Dunwald was dispoiled againe of his Kingdome and Edgar sonne to King Malcolme aduanced to his fathers estate These were the principall aduentures by Armes which concerned England during the reigne of K. William the second wherein he so behaued himselfe that he did worthily winne an opinion to be one who both knew and durst In all actions hee esteemed himselfe greatly dishonoured if hee were not both in Armes with the first and with the forwardest in fight doing double seruice as well by example as by direction In which heate of valour the fauour of his Fortune excused many of his attempts from the blame of rashnesse He was oftentimes most constant or rather obstinate in pursuing those purposes which with small deliberation he vndertooke At a certaine time when he was in hunting within the new Forrest he receiued aduertisement that Mans was surprised by Helie Count de la Flesch who pretended title thereto in right of his wife that he was aided in this enterprise by Fouques d' Angiers an ancient enemie to the Dukes of Normandie and that the castle which held good for the King must also be rendered if in very short time it were not relieued Vpon these newes as if he had bene in the heat of a chase he presently turned his horse and his passion not staying to consult with reason in great haste roade towards the Sea And when he was aduised by some to stay a time and take with him such forces as the importance of the seruice did require with a heart resolute and violent voice he answered That they who loued him would not faile to follow and that if no man else would stirre he alone would relieue Mans. When he came to Dortmouth he commanded ships to be brought for his passage The winds were then both contrary and stiffe and the Sea swelled exceeding bigge for which cause the Shipmasters perswaded him to await a more fauourable season and not to cast himselfe vpon the miserable mercie of that storme Notwithstanding the King whose feare was alwayes least when dangers were greatest mounted vpon Shipboard and commanded them to put to Sea affirming That it was no Prince-like mind to breake a iourney for foulenesse of weather and that he neuer heard of any King that had bene drowned And so for that the chiefe point of rescue rested in expedition hee presently committed to Sea taking few with him and leauing order that others should follow After hee had long wrastled with the winds and waues he arriued in France where running on in the humour of his courage and forwardnesse he acquitted himselfe with greater honour then at any time before So effectuall is celeritie for the benefit of a seruice that oftentimes it more auaileth then either multitude or courage of Souldiers In this expedition Helie the principall commander against him was taken And when he was brought to the Kings presence the King said pleasantly vnto him Ah master in faith I haue you now and I hope I shal be able to keepe you in quiet Then he It is true indeed the successe of my attempts haue not bene answerable to the resolution of my minde by meere aduenture now you haue me but if I were at libertie againe I doe better know what I had to doe and would not so easily be hâ—…ld in quiet The King with a braue scorne replied I see thou art but a foolish knaue vnable to vse either thy libertie or thy restreint aright But goe thy wayes make good thy confidence I set thee free and at libertie againe vse thy aduantage and doe thy worst Helie daunted more with this high courage then before he had bin with the victory of the King submitted himselfe and made his peace vnder such conditions as it pleased the King to lay vpon him Certainely this magnanimous example hath seldome bin equalled neuer excelled by those who are admired for the principall worthies of the world He little fauoured flatterers the flies which blow corruption vpon sweetest vertues the myrie dogs of the Court who defile Princes with fawning on them who commonly are fatted with bread which is made with the teares of miserable people He was most firme and assured in his word and to those who did otherwise aduise him he would say That God did stand obliged by his word He is commended for his manly mercie in releasing prisoners and in pardoning offences of highest qualitie which to a people that then liued vnder a Law both rigorous and almost arbitrarie and as well for the noueltie as for the vncertaintie thereof in a manner vnknowne was a most high valued vertue He not onely pardoned many great offenders but partly by gifts and partly by aduancements he knit them most assuredly vnto him And therefore although in the beginning of his reigne most of the Nobilitie and many Gentlemen of best quality and rancks endeuoured to displace him and to set vp Robert his elder brother for their King yet doeth it not appeare either that any seueritie was executed vpon them or that afterward they were dangerous vnto him Notwithstanding in some actions he was noted of crueltie or at the least of sharpnesse and seuerity in iustice For albeit hee promised to the English whilest his first feares and iealousies continued that they should enioy free libertie of hunting yet did hee afterwards so seuerely restraine it that the penalty for killing a Deere was death Robert Mowbray Earle of Northumberland after he had defeated the Scots and slaine Malcolme their King not finding himselfe either honoured or respected according to his seruice first refrained and afterwards refused to come vnto the Court Hereupon the King ouerruled indifferently with suspition and hate two violent passions in minds placed in authoritie sent his brother Henry with an armie against him who spoyled the Countrey tooke the Earle and committed him to prison Then was hee charged with diuers crimes which were sufficient although but surmised to vndoe an Innocent Many examinations were also made but for appearance onely and terrour not to any bottome or depth The especiall matter obiected against him was for contriuing to despoyle the King both of life and state and to set vp Stephen Albamerle his Aunts sonne for King And thus it often happeneth that great deserts are occasions to men of their destruction either because Princes generally loue not those to whom they are exceedingly beholding or else for that thereby men doe grow proud insolent disdainefull bould immoderate both in expectation and demand discontented impatient if they
were amongst them and to cast downe the Castles erected in their Countrey as the principall yoakes of their subiection Afterwards rising in boldnesse with successe they made diuers incursions vpon the bordering parts of England spoiled the Citie of Glocester and exercised all those outrages which vnciuill people incensed both with want and with hate doe not vsually omit But being a company neither in discipline nor pay raw and vnarmed they proceeded more like to robbers then to Souldiers hauing no intention to vanquish but to spoile Hereupon the King twice in person inuaded Wales but with small shew of successe for the present For the Welsh-enemies scattered the warre by diuiding themselues into small companies and retiring into the mountaines and woods and other places of naturall defence Here they trauailed the King with a fugitiue fight flying when they were pursued and houering vpon him when they were giuen ouer cutting off many stragling souldiers and taking some carriages which in those rough places could not easily either be passed or defended And so by shifting alwayes into places of aduantage they sought at one time both to auoyd fighting and to hinder the King from doing any thing of importance At the last the King hauing made sufficient proofe how vaine it is to follow a light footed enemie with a heauie Armie pestered with traine of carriage in places where the seruice of horsemen is almost vnprofitable he gaue ouer the pursuit and retired into England But first he repaired those Castles which the Welsh had destroyed and built new Castles also vpon the frontiers and within the bosome of Wales which he furnished with so sure garrisons as might suffice with fauour of opportunitie either to weary or consume the enemies And indeed the Welsh being by this meanes alwayes exercised and dayly wasted declined in short time no lesse to cowardise then to wearinesse and wants so as Hugh Earle of Chester Hugh Earle of Shrewesbury dispossessed them of the Isle of Anglesey which they had surprised not long before The Welsh that were there taken were very hardly or rather vnmercifully and cruelly entreated Some had their eyes pulled out some their hands cut off some their armes some their noses some their genitalles An aged Priest named Kenredus who had bene a chiefe directer of the common affaires was drawne out of a Church whereinto he had fled had one of his eyes pulled out and his tongue torne from his throat I make no doubt but these seuerities were vsed against them vpon some sauage outrages which they had done wherein the lesse compassion was borne to their calamities for the cowardise which they shewed in their owne defence Shortly after Magnus King of Norway the sonne of Olaus the sonne of Harold Harfager hauing brought the Isles of Orkeney vnder his dominion subdued also from the Welsh the Isle of Man and enterprised vpon the Isle of Anglesey against the English But at his landing he was encountred by the Earle of Shrewsbury and the Earle of Chester in which fight the Norwegians were vanquished and repelled but the Earle of Shrewsbury with too braue boldnesse lost his life leauing his honourable both actions and end as an excellent ornament to his posteritie Afterwards the Earle of Chester led an armie into Wales and found the people so consumed by the English garisons that he easily reduced many to professe obedience to the Crowne of England and disabled others hauing no leaders of experience and valour for shewing their faces as enemies in the field Also vpon some variances which did rise betweene Iustinus sonne to Gurguntus Earle of Glamorgane and Morganock and Rhesus sonne to Theodore Prince of Southwales Iustinus not of power to maintaine either his right or his will sent Aeneas sonne to Genidorus sometimes Lord of Demetia to craue aide in England This he obtained not onely readily but in greater measure then the seruice did require Robert Fitzhamond was generall Commander of the English armie who encountred Rhesus at a place called Blackhill and in that fight Rhesus was slaine after whose death the name of King ceased in Wales Then Iustinus failing and happily not able to performe such conditions as in necessitie hee had assured Fitzhamond turned his forces against him chased the Welsh out of the champaine Countrey and diuided the same among his principall Gentlemen These erected Castles in places conuenient for their mutuall ayde and so well defended themselues that they left the Countrey to their posterity Thus was the Lordship of Glamorgane and Morganock which conteineth 27. miles in length 22. in bredth subdued to the English giuing example how dangerous it is for any people to call in a greater force of strangers to their ayde then being victorious they may easily be able to limit and restraine This being a Lordship marcher hath enioyed royall liberties since the time wherein it was first subdued It hath acknowledged seruice and obedience onely to the Crowne It hath had the triall of all actions as well reall as personall and also held Pleas of the Crowne with authority to pardon all offences Treason onely excepted Whilest the King was entertained with these chases rather then warres in Wales hee lay at Gloucester many times as not esteeming that his presence should alwayes be necessary and yet not farre off if occasion should require To this place Malcolme King of Scots came vnto him vpon an honourable visitation But the King hauing conceiued some displeasure against him refused to admit him to his presence Hereupon King Malcolme full of fury and disdaine returned into Scotland assembled an armie enuaded Northumberland harrased and spoyled a great part thereof hauing done the like foure times before Such is the heate of hate in mindes that are mighty who seldome hold it any breach of Iustice to bee reuenged of him who offereth dishonor When he was come neere to Alnewicke and his souldiers were much pestered with prey a notable impediment both for readinesse and resolution to fight hee was set vpon both suddenly and sharply by Robert Mowbray Earle of Northumberland his troupes hewen in pieces himselfe together with his eleest sonne Edward slaine The third day ensuing Margaret wife to King Malcolme and sister to Edgar Adeling not able to beare so sad and heauie a blow of fortune ended also her life Shee was famous for pietie and for modestie two excellent endowments of that Sexe By her perswasion Malcolme made a law that whereas by a former law made by King Eugenius the Lord enioyed the first night with any new married woman within his dominion the husband might redeeme that abuse by paiment of halfe a mark of siluer King Malcolme being slaine Dunwald his brother vsurped the kingdome but after a few dayes he was dispossessed thereof by Duncane bastard son to K. Malcolme In this action Duncane was chiefly supported by the King of England with whom he had remained in hostage and to whom hee had made his submission by oath