it euer a barre in his way and hindred his standing cleere stood he neuer so highe The nobles of Normandie soone after his fathers death by much intreaty got him out of the French Kings handes thinking the hauing him amongst them would adde more grace to his Counsellors and such as were in office and the State of a Court awe his State the better But soone they found the hauing his person without his powre was but to put them out into more discord and faction For presently followed the murthering and poysoning of Gouernors displacing Officers intrusion supplantation surprizings and recouerings of his person by a Nobilitie stubborne haughtie and incompatible of each others precedencie or neerenes But this was the least as being done all for his person Now followed more daungerous practises against it His right was quarrelled by competitors cleere in bloud and great in meanes Whereof the first though farthest off in discent was Roger de Tresny bringing a faire lyne from Roule and much proofe of his owne worth by hauing gotten great experience in the Sarazine warre in Spaine whereby vpon his returne entertayning and feasting the great and especiall men of worth he was growen powerfull well followed and beloued of many in so much that at length measuring his owne height he vrges what wrong it was that a Bastard and a childe should be preferred before him in the succession of that Duchie his auncestors had noblie gotten and what a shame the Normans a people of that worth would indure to be so gouerned seeing they had others of the renowned race of Roule William and Richard Dukes of Normandie of a lawfull and direct lyne if they held him vnworthie to inherite the State and impatient as is ambition that cuer rides without raines of any long delay brings his claime to a strong battaile in the feild which by the valiancie of Roger de Beaumount was vtterly defeited and himselfe with his 2. brethren slayne Whereby all feare that way was extinquished and the reputation of the Duke and his so much aduanced as the King of France notwithstanding his tutelarie charge tooke from him the Castle of Thuilliers and demolisht it pretending the insolencies committed there by the Garrisons vpon his subiects and makes shew as yet only to keepe things euen But long it was not ere he plainely bewrayed his minde aiding in person William Earle of Arques brother to Duke Robert and sonne to Richard 2. making his clayme to the Duchie and bringes a mightie armye to succour Arques assieged by Conte Guiffard the Dukes Generall who by a stratageme so trayned the French into an ambushe as he ouerthrew their whole power and returnes the King to Paris with great losse and dishonor leauing Arques the first Arch of tryumphe to this conquerour not yet ariued to 17 yeares of age and the discomfeited competitor to seeke his fortunes with Eustace Earle of Bologne finding vpon his returne litle grace in Court where fortune euer alters credite and few regard men ouerthrowne This storme ouerpast another succedes more dangerous there liued with Duke William a young Lord of like yeares named Guy sonne to Regnalt Earle of Borgogne and Alix daughter to Richard 2. who comming to be sensible of his interest was aduised by some stirring spirits to attempt for the Duchie which they said apperteyned to him in right and was wrongfully vsurped by the Bastard And to aduance his purpose happens deadly hostility betweene two of the greatest Lords of Normandie Viconte Neele and the Earle of Bessin whose debate Duke William did not or could not pacific This Guy lately made Earle of Bryorn and Vernon interposed himselfe to compose this discord and by the aduice of Grimoult de Plessis a principall mouer in this worke so wrought that either of these Lords turned the point of their malice vpon him who in their quarrell fauouring neither made both to hate him and easily conspire with Guy to murther him at vnawares which they had done had not a certaine Foole whome for being held a naturall they suspected not noting their preparations got away in the dead of the night to Valogne knocking and crying at the gate till he was admitted to the Dukes presence whome he willed in all hast to fly or he would be murthered The Duke seeing the Foole in this affright thought dangers were not be weighed by the worth of the reporter but by their likelyhood and knowing his fortune was liable vnto all suddaine assasinations instantly takes horse and all alone postes to Fallaise his especiall place of strength on the way his horse being tyred about breake of daie hee comes to a litle village called Rye where by good fortune the gentleman of the place was standing at his dore readie to goe abrode of whom the Duke enquires the next way to Fallaise The gentleman perceiuing who he was though as then very vnwilling to be knowne humblie craues the cause of his so strange and vntimely riding alone The Duke seeing himselfe discouered tels the occasion the gentleman whose name was Robert de Rye furnishes him with a fresh horse and sendes two of his sonnes to conduct him the neerest way to Fallaise Noe sooner was he gone out of sight but after post the conspirators enquiring of the same gentleman whether hee saw the Duke who answered that hee was gone a little before such a way shewing them a diuers path and rode on with them offering his seruice to Conte Bessin of whom he held that village vnder the Duke and so long he lead them about that the Duke had recouered Fallaise Whereupon disappointed of their purpose they returned into the Countries of Constantin and Bessin where they made themselues so powrefull as the Duke withdrewe him to Roan and from thence to the King of France to craue his aide putting him in minde of the faithfull seruice his father had done him how he was his homager vnder his tutelarie charge and had no other sanctuary of succour to flie vnto in this case of his mutinous and turbulent nobilitie the effect whereof was of dangerous consequence to that Crowne And so far vrged the importancie of releife as the King at length who seemes was yet content to haue him be though not too strong and peraduenture rather him then his competitor Guy de Burgogne aided him in person with a puissant army against these competitors whom they found in the vale of Dunes with as great power and resolution to bid them battayle as they to assaile them Here one Guilleson vncle to Viconte Neel by the mother forced his horse into the battaillon of the French and made at the King strake him downe with his Launce which Conte Saint Paule perceauing hastes to incounter him with that violence as both fell to the earth but Guilleson soone gets vp and though his horse was slaine vnder him by Chastillon he escapes out of the presse and after fled into Apulia with others The King recouered and more
deliuered his country at that turne from the worst of miseries the conquest by strangers BVt now vpon the death of Ethelred whose 37 yeares raigne shewes that infelicity shall haue time too much and happinesse too little Knute was by most of the Clergie and Nobility chosen king onely the City of London with some of the Nobility thereabout made election of Edmond and furnished him with that power as thereby with the couragious ardour of his youth which commonly is most in the first attempts he had the better in three imminent battels within 3 moneths and had likewise obtained the fourth at Essendon likely to haue bene the last with the Danes but that the disloyall Edric late renouncing his new Lord seeing Edmonds part in possibility to preuaile againe betrai'd his trust withdrew himselfe and the charge he had to the enemy This fatall battell lost England here perished the best flower of honor it then had Here amongst the rest was slaine Vlkill an Earle of Essex of euer memorable worth who had long stood vp for the kingdom and in the time of Swaine was the first that shewed there was hope and possibility to quaile the enemy had there bene an vnion in loyalty From this bloudy worke Edmond escapes to Glocester to recollect new forces nor was he so forsaken with this fortune but that he soone recouered another armie to re-assaile the enemie that might be idle vpon this victorie But Knute as prouident in the prosecution of his businesse as fortunate therein makes after Here when both Armies were at the point to incounter a motion of peace was propounded Some say the two Kings by single combat consented to decide their fortunes and the ouer-commer to take all and that in an Isle of the riuer Seuern their Armies on either shore spectators of the act they tried the maistery for the prize of a kingdome After long and equall fight finding each others worth they cast away their weapons imbraced and concluded the peace But howsoeuer it seemes both sides tyred with the miserie of a consuming warre neuer like to be ended but by the vtter extirpation of the one and considering the danger of either and incertaintie of the future were easily perswaded to imbrace a present agreement which was made by parting England betwixt them two and confirm'd by Oath and Sacrament putting on each others Apparell and Armes as a ceremonic to expresse the attonement of their mindes as if they made transaction of their persons each to other Knute became Edmond and Edmond Knute A fatall exchange for so free and magnanimous a Prince as Edmond who indeede was now no more himselfe and being but halfe a king was in so few dayes after none as makes this peace shew fouler then warre for that armed him for life this exposed him naked to death which was shortly after treacherously giuen him at Oxford some say by the sonne of Edric as if to shew he would be the heire of his father also in Treason whereby both the hope and the other halfe of England were vtterly lost as determinable with his raigne which with all we haue else of his magnanimous actiōs took vp scarce the circuit of one whole yeare And yet had that bene space enough for gloric whose measure is to be taken rather by the profundity then the length which seldome holds long and euen could he haue had that cleere and better for his renowne to haue died at the battaile of Essendon with England then discended to haue made it halfe Denmarke and liue BVt by this meanes Knute attayned the absolute dominition of the whole kingdome which he gouerned with better Iustice then he got conforming his natiue roughnes to a more ciuile and regular fashion of life And to haue England see that now he was hers he sendes away his Nauie stipendary soldiers home to their countries and puts himselfe wholy vpō this people taking the way of mildnesse a better meanes for his establishment then force but the Land paid for the remuneration of his people this euacuation of Strangers 83000 pounds of siluer which it rather cōsented to do at once then to haue them a daily burthen to pester the Statefor euer At his first comming to the Crowne he sought to ridde himselfe as well of his friends as of those might proue his enemies Edric who came first to salute him sole King of England as if to tell that hee made him so hee caused his head to be set on the highest part of the Towre of London therin performing his promise of aduancing him aboue any Lord of the Land and thereby discharged himselfe of such a debt which though hee should haue paid would neuer yet be held fully cleered giuing a generall satisfaction to the people that reioyced to see Treason so iustly rewarded Like compensation had shortly after the Earles Turkil Erick who being banished the Land were executed vpon their arriuall in Denmarke But the loue and high opinion of Iustice he got in these were lost againe in those actions wherin he tooke counsell onely of his feares for the extirpation of all those of the Royall bloud of England As of Edwin and Edward the sonnes of the late King Edmond to whome apperteyned the moyetie of the kingdom by contract of Edwin his brother which three he sent to be murthered abroad to beguile the rumor at home But which is strange those times though rough afforded not yet an instrument for the execution of his desire and all these Princes were preserued and conueyed out of danger by those who should haue made them away The two last were bred by Salomon King of Hungarie where Edward suruiuing his brother maried Agatha sister to that Queene And some write daughter to the Emperour Henry 3 by whom hee had two sonnes Edmond and Edgar daughters Margaret and Christina Aelfred and Edward sonnes of King Ethelred by Emme were preserued by Richard Duke of Normandie their vnkle and so lay out of his way This priuate iniustice which often may be more in compassion then hurt to the State hee sought to recompence with all publique satisfactions repairing the naufrage of the common-wealth made by the rage of warre both in ornament and order erecting Churches and Monasteries with large patents of prouisions both for the expiation of his inmanities fore-committed and to memorize the places of his victories with his thankefulnesse to God The Constitutions Ecclesiastical and Ciuile diuulged in the language of that time testifie his tender piety and care of Iustice and are so full of religious admonitions as it seemes he held the best meanes to haue lawes obserued was to haue them first enacted in the consciences of men Amongst others hee inflicted exact punishment on all intemperances of his people and offences committed against publique manners Seuere he was but not cruell few of his lawes sanguinarie as being not the custome of the time which though rough
and of no great regard it seemes with other nations till Knute lead them forth into the kingdome of Norwey where they first shewed effects of their valour and what they would be were they imployed But the Normans hauing more of the sunne and ciuilitic by their commixtion with the English begat smoother fashions with quicker motions And being a nation free from that dull discease of drinke wherewith their former conquerours were naturally infected induced a more comely temperance with a neerer regard of reputation honour For where as before the English liued loose in little homely cottages where they spent all their reuenewes in good fare caring for little other gaitie at all Now after the Norman manner they build them stately houses prouide furnishments erect Castles after the architecture of France which before were otherwise They inclose parkes for their priuat pleasure being debar'd the generall liberty of hunting which heretofore they enioyed whereupon all the terms of building hunting tooles of workmen names of most handy-crafts apperteyning to the delights adornements of life came all to be in French And withall the Norman habits fashion of liuing became generally assumed both in regard of noueltie to take away the note of difference which could not be well lookt on in this change And though the bodie of our language remayned the Saxon yet it came so altered in the apparraile of the French tongue as now we hardly know it in the auncient forme it had and not so much as the character wherin it was written but was altred to that of the Roman and French now vsed But to the end wee may the better know the man and the nation that thus subdude vs wee must take our course vp to the head of their originals The Normans wee finde to haue issued out of Norway and Denmarke and were of like manners as the rest of those Northerne countries which by reason of the apt mixture of their phlegmatique and sanguine complexions with their promiscuous ingendring without any tye of marriage yeelded that continuall surchargement of people as they were forced to vnburthen themselues on other countries wheresoeuer their violence could make them roome And out of this redundancie Roul or Rou a great Cmmaunder amongst them furnished a robustious powre in the time of King Alfrid and first landed in England that euer lay in the Roade to all these inuadors where finding no roome empty nor any imployment was content vpon some releife receiued to vse his forces otherwhere which he did against Rambalt Duke of Prize Reignier Duke of Chaumont and Hennalt with whome hee had many violent incounters and committed great spoiles in their countries Which done hee passed along the coast of France entred the mouth of Seine and sackt all the countrie vp to Roan where the people hauing beene lately before miserablie afflicted by Hasting another inuador of the same Nation were so terrified by the approach of these new forces that the Arch-byshop of Roan by the consent of the people offered him the obedience of that Citie and the Countrie about on condition he would defend them and minister Iustice according to the lawes of CHRIST and the Customes of the Countrie For Charles the Simples then King of France yeelding no present succour being otherwise imbroiled about the right of his Crowne gaue him the opportunitie to plant him in that place and to grow so powrefull as shortly after hee attempted the conquest of Paris and gaue many notable defeits to the French Leaders So that in the end Charles was faine to buye his peace with the price of an alliance and the whole countrie of Nuestria or Westrish which of the Normans was after called Normandie And thereupon Roul became a Christian and baptized had the name of Robert giuen by Robert brother to Eudes late King of France who then stood in competition for that Crowne with Charles the Simples and is said to haue vnder-aided Roul secretly of purpose to make him frend his diseignes though after he vrged it an article against Charles the giuing away his Countrey and the fauouring of strangers And thus came Roul to establish a State to his posteritie ordering the same with that Iudgement and equitie as he left his name in a perpetuall reuerence and his successors a firme foundation to plant vpon From him in a direct lyne descended sixe Dukes of Normandie in the space of 120 yeares William the first Richard 1. Richard 2 who had two sonnes Richard and Robert that successiuely inherited the Dukedome Robert after hauing gouerned eight yeares either meerely for deuotion which charitie ought rather deeme or expiation for some secret guilt wherewith his conscience might stand charged about his brothers death which because it was vntimely might be thought vnnaturall resolues to visite the holie Sepulchre And acquainting his Nobility therewithall was by them much diswaded in regard he had no issue and that already they said Alain Earle of Britayne and the Earle of Burgogne were in contestation who should succeede him in the Duchie so that vpon his death and their strife the Countrie was like to become a prey to the Souldier from which in conscience hee was bound by his best meanes to secure it The Duke willed them to be content I haue said he a little Bastard of whose worthines I haue great hope and I doubt not but he is of my begetting him will I inuest in the Duchie as mine heire And from hence forth I pray you take him for your Lord. The Earle of Britayne notwithstanding his competition to shew the affiance I haue in him I will constitute his gouernour and Seneschall of Normandie the King of France shal be his Guardian and so I will leaue him to God and your loyalties Shortly after the Byshops and Barons did their homage to this base sonne named William who was the sixth Duke of Normandie after Roule begotten on Arlette a meane woman of Falaise And Duke Robert taking his intended iourney deliuers the child with his owne hand to Henrie 1. King of France whome before he had mainely aided in preseruing his Crowne left him by his father King Roberts Testament against his elder brother and his mother Consiance which with a great side of Nobilitie stood for the right of Primogeniture according to the custome of France And therefore might the more presume if good turnes done to Princes could waighe so much as their selfe-respects would not turne the skale to haue had a faire discharge of his trust and him for a protector whose power was best able to be so And causing the childe to do homage for his Duchie of Normandie commits him to his Royall faith departs his Court and shortly after his life in Asia Whereupon his successor but 9 yeares of age became obnoxious to all the miseries that afflict Princes in their pupillage besides the reproach of his birth which though his honour and vertue might get ouer yet lay
Cleargie who then were of great and eminent power in the kingdome and might much preuaile with the people But the English Nobilitie incompatible of these new concurrents found notwithstanding such a disproportion of grace and darkning of their dignities by the interposition of so many as must needes lessen their splendour that many of the cheifest doubting to be more impayred in honor and estate conspired together and fled some into Scotland and some into Denmarke to trie if by aid from abroad they might recouer themselues and their lost fortunes againe at home Amongst which the cheife was Edgar Atheling termed Englands Dearling which shewed the peoples zeale to his bloud who with his mother Agatha and his two sisters Margaret and Christin intending to retire into Hungarie their natiue Country were driuen by tempest on the coast of Scotland where they were with all Hospitable comfort interteyned by Malcolin 3. whose former suffrings in his exile had taught him to compassionate others like distresses and whom it concerned now to looke to his owne his neighbours house being thus on fire and to foster a partie against so dangerous an in-commer that was like to thrust them all out of dore Which induced him not only to entertayne this Prince dispossest of his right but to enter league with him for the publique safetie And to inchaine it the stronger he takes to wife Margaret the sister of Edgar a Ladie indued with all blessed vertues by whom the bloud of our auncient Kings was preserued and conioyned with the Norman in Hen. 2. and so became English againe Vnto Edgar in Scotland repaired the Earles Edwin and Morchar Hereward Gospatric Siward with others and shortly after Stigand and Aldred Arch-byshops with diuers of the clergie who in the third yeare of this Kings raigne raised very great commotions in the North beyond Humber and wrought most egarly to recouer their lost Countrie but being now to late and the occasion not taken before the settling of the gouern ment whilst it was new and branling they preuailed nothing but gaue aduantage to the conquerour to make himselfe more then he was For all conspiracies of subiects if they succeede not aduaunce the soueraigntie and nothing gaue roote to the Norman planting here more then the petty reuolts made by discattred troupes in seuerall parts begunne without order and followed without resolution whereas nothing could be done for a generall recouery but by a generall sulleuation of the people for which all wary preuention was vsed and they had waytes enough laid on to hold them downe And though these Lordes imbroiled themselues and held him doing in the North yet hee hauing all the South parts setled vnder his domination with well practized and prepared forces there could be litle hope of good whilst all their great estates furnisht the Normans both in state and meanes to ruyne them The Earledome and all the Landes which Edwyn held in Yorkeshire were giuen to Alain Earle of Britayne kinsman to the Conqueror The Arch-byshopricke of Canterburie conferd on Lanfranc Abbot of Caen. That of Yorke on Thomas his Chapline and all the rest both of the Clergie and others which were out had their places within supplied by Normans And after King William had appeased a commotion in the West which the sonnes of Harrald with forces out of Ireland had raised and also repressed the rebellions of Excester and Oxford hee takes his iorney in person Northward with all expedition least the enemy there should grow too high in heart and opinion vpon the great slaughter of his people made at Yorke and the defeiture of his Brother Leiuetenant Robert Earle of Mortaigne slaine with 700. Normans at Durham where at his first comming he so wrought that he either discomfeited or corrupted the generalls of the Danicque forces newly arriued to aid the Lords andsent by Swayn King of Denmarke vnder the conduct of his two sons Harrald and Knute with a Nauie of 300. saile and after sets vpon the army of the Lords weakened both in strength and hope by this departure of their confederates and puts them to slight Which done hee vtterly wasted and laid desolate all that goodly Countrie betweene Yorke and Durham the space of 60. myles that it might be no more a succour to the enemy And the like course he vsed on all the Coastes where any apt landings lay for inuasions and so returnes to London Most of the Lords after this great defeit came in vpon publique faith giuen them and were conducted to Barkehamsted by the Abbot Fredricke where vpon their submission and oath of allegeance retaken they had their pardon and restitution of grace graunted by the King who it seemes was so willing to acquiet them that againe he takes his personall oath before the Arch-byshop Lanfranck and the Lords to obserue the auncient lawes of the Realme established by his Noble predecessors the Kings of England and especially those of Saint Edward Whereupon these stormy dispositions held calme a while But long it was not ere many of these Lords whether vpon intelligence of new hopes from Edgar who was still in Scotland or growne desperate with new displeasures at home finding small performance of promises made rupture of oath all other respects and brake out againe The Earle Edwyn making towardes Scotland was murthered by his owne people The Lords Morchar Hereward betooke them to the Isle of Eley meaning to make good that place for that winter whether also repaired the Earle Syward and the Byshop of Durham out of Scotland But the King who was no tyme-giuer vnto growing dangers beset all the Isle with flat boates on the East and made a bridge of two miles long on the West and safely brought in his people vpon the enemy who seeing themselues surprized yeilded all to the Kings mercy except Hereward who desperatly marched with his people through the Fennes and recouered Scotland The rest were sent to diuers prisons where they dyed or remayned during the Kings life Those Lords who persisted loyall vpon this last submission were all imployed and well graced with the King as Edric the Forester and first that rebelled in his raigne was held in cleere trust and neere about him Gospatrice he made Earle of Northumberland and sent him against Malcolin who in this time subdues the Countries of Tisdall Cleueland and Comberland Waltheof sonne to the Earle Syward he held so worthie to be made his as he married him to his neece Iudith though hee had beene a principall actor in the Northerne commotion and in defending the Citie of Yorke against him is said to haue striken off the heades of diuers Normans one by one as they entered a breach to the admiration of all about him shewing therin that true touch of the noblest nature to loue vertue euen in his enemies And now seeing Scotland to be the especiall retrayt for all conspirators and discontented in his kingdome yeilding them continuall succour and assistance
was vnderset with able ministers for the managing of these great affaires of his though time hath shut vs out from the knowledge of some of them it being in the fortune of kings to haue their ministers like riuers in the Ocean buried in their glory yet no doubt being of a strong constitution of iudgement he could not but be strongly furnished in that kind for weake kings haue weake sides and the most renowned Princes are euer best stored with able ministers The principall of highest imployment were Odon Bishop of Bayeux and Earle of Kent Lanfranke Archbishop of Canterbury and William Fitz Auber Earle of Hereford Odon supplied the place of Viceroy in the kings absence and had the management of the Treasury A man of a wide and agile spirit let out into as spacious a conceit of greatnesse as the heighth of his place could shew him And is rumord by the infinite accumulation of money which his auarice and length of office had made either to buy the Popedome or purchase the people of England vpon the death of the his brother who vnderstanding a purpose he had of going to Rome and seeing a mightie confluence of followers gathering vnto him made a close prison stay his iourney excusing it to the Church that he imprisoned not a Bishop of Bayeux but an Earle of Kent and Officer and accomptant vnto him Yet vpon his death-bed shortly following after many obsecrations that he would in respect of bloud and nature be a kind meane for the future peace of his sonnes he released him But the Bishop failed his request therein and became the onely kindle-fire to set them all into more furious combustion The motiue of his discontent the engine where-withall Ambition euermore turnes about her intentions was the enuy he bare to Lanfranc whose councell in his greatest affaires the king especially vsed and to oppose and ouer-beare him tooke hee all the contrary courses and part with Robert his nephew whom after many fortunes he attended to the holy warre and died in the siege of Antioche Lanfranc was a man of as vniuersall goodnesse as learning borne in Lumbardie and came happely a stranger in these strange time to doe good to England vpon whose obseruance though the King might in regard hee raised him lay some tye yet his affections could not but take part with his piety and place in so much as hee feared not to oppose against Odon the Kings brother seeking to gripe from the State of his Church And in all he could stood so betweene the kingdome and the Kings rigor as stayed many precipitious violencies that he whose power lay as wide as his wil might else haue fallen into For the Conqueror howsoeuer austere to others was to him allwayes milde and yeilding as if subdued with his grauity and vertue He reformed the irregularitie and rudenesse of the Clergie introducing a more Southerne formalitie and respect according to his breeding and the custome of his Country concurring herein likewise to be an actor of alteration though in the best kinde with this change of State And to giue entertaynement todeuotion he did all hee could to furnish his Church with the most exquisite ornaments might be procured added a more State and conueniency to the structure of religious houses and beganne the founding of Hospitals Hauing long struggled with indefatigable labour to hold things in an euen course during the whole raigne of this busie new state-building King And after his death seing his successor in the Crowne established especially by his meanes to faile his expectation out of the experience of worldly causes deuining of future mischeifes by present courses grew much to lament with his frendes the teadiousnesse of life which shortly after hee mildly left which such a sicknesse as neither hindred his speech nor memory a thing hee would often desire of God William Fitz Auber as is deliuered was a principall councellor and instrument in this action for England wherein he furnished 40. ships at his owne charge A man of great meanes yet of a hart greater and a hand larger then any meanes would well suffice His profuse liberalities to men of armes gaue often sharpe offence to the King who could not indure any such improuident expences Amongst the lawes hee made which shewes the power these Earles then had in their Prouinces hee ordayned that in the Countie of Hereford no man of armes or soldier should be fined for any offence whatsoeuer aboue 7. shillings when in other Counties vpon the least occasion of disobeying their Lords will they were forced to pay 20. or 25. shil But his estate seeming to beare no proportion with his minde and enough it was not to be an eminent Earle an especiall Councellor in all the affaires of England and Normandie a cheife fauoritie to so great a Monarch but that larger hopes drew him away designing to marrie Richeld Countesse dowager of Flanders and to haue the gouernment of that Countrie during the non age of Arnulph her sonne of whom with the King of France he had the tutelarie charge committed by Baldouin the sixth Father to Arnulph whose estate Robert Le Frison his vncle called by the people to the gouernment vpon the exactions inflicted on them by Richeld had vsurped And against him Fitz Auber opposing was with Arnulph surprized and slayne And this was in the fate of the Conqueror to see most of all these great men who had beene the especiall actors in all his fortunes spent and extinct before him As Beaumont Monsort Harcourte Hugh de Gourney Vicount Neele Hugh de Mortimer Conte de Vennes c. And now himselfe after his being brought sicke to Rouan and there disposing his estate ended also his act in the. 74. yeare of his age and the. 21. of his raigne Three daies the Corpes of this great Monarch is said to haue layne neglected while his seruants attended to imbessill his mouables in the end his yongest sonne Henrie had it conueyed to the Abbey of Cane where first at the entry into the Towne they who carried the Corpes left it alone and ranne all to quench the fire Afterward brought to be intombed a Gentleman stands foorth and in sterne manner forbids the interment in that place claiming the ground to be his inheritance descended from his auncestors taken from him at the building of that Abbey and appeales to Row their first founder for Iustice whereupon they were faine to compound with him for an Annuall rent Such adoe had the body of him after death who had made so much in his life to be brought to the earth and of all he attaind had not now a roome to containe him without being purchased at the hand of another men esteeming a liuing Dog more then a dead Lyon He had a faire issue by Maude his wife foure sonnes and fiue daughters To Robert his eldest he lest the Duchy of Normandy to William the third sonne the kingdome of England to Henry
to whom the father and mother had left much treasure and for the same ingages the Country of Constantine and leauies an Army for England But William newlie inuested in the Crowne though well prepared for all assaults had rather purchace a present peace by mediation of the Nobles on both sides till time had better setled him in his gouernment then to rayse spirits that could not easily be allayed And an agreement betweene them is wrought that William should hold the crowne of England during his life paying to Robert 3. thousand Marks Per annum Robert hauing closed this businesse resumes by force the Country of Costantin out of his brother Henries hands without discharge of those summes for which he had ingaged it Whereupon King William obrayds Henry with the great gayne he had made by his vsurie in lending mony to depriue him of his Crowne And so Henry gote the hatred of both his brothers and hauing no place safe from their danger where to liue surprized the Castle of Mount Saint Michel fortifies him therein gets ayde of Hugh Earle of Britaigne and for his mony was serued with Bretons who committed great spoyles in the Countries of Costantin and Bessin Odon Byshop of Bayeux returning into England after his imprisonment in Normandie and restored to his Earldom of Kent finding himselfe so far vnder what he had bene and Lanfranc his concurrent now the onely man in councell with the King complots with as many Norman Lords as he found or made to affect change and a new maister and sets them on worke in diuers parts of the Realme to distract the Kings forces as first Geoffery Bishop of Constans with his nephew Robert de Mowbray Earle of Northumberland fortifie them selues in Bristow and take in all the Country about Roger de Bigod made himselfe strong in Northfolke Hugh de Grandmenill about Leicester Roger de Mongomerie Earle of Shrewsbery with a powre of Welshmen and other there about sets out accompanied with William Byshop of Durham Bernard de Newmarch Roger Lacie and Raulfe Mortimer all Normans and assayle the Cittie of Worcester making themselues strong in those parts Odon himselfe fortifies the Castle of Rochester makes good all the coast of Kent sollicites Robert to vse what speed he could to come with all his power out of Normandie which had he done in time and not giuen his brother so large oportunitie of preuention he had carried the kingdome but his delay yeeldes the King time to confirme his frends vnder-worke his enemies and make him strong with the English which he did by granting relaxation of tribute with other relieuements of their doleances and restoring them to their former freedom of hunting in all his woodes and forests a thing they much esteemed whereby he made them so strongly his as he soone brake the necke of all the Norman conspiracies they being egar to reuenge them of that nation and here they learned first to beat their Conquerors hauing the faire aduantage of this action which cut the throtes of many of them Mongomerie being wonne from his complices and the seuerall conspirators in other parts represt the King comes with an Army into Kent where the head of the faction lay and first wonne the Castle of Tunbridge and that of Pemsey which Odon was forced to yeeld and promise to cause those which defended that of Rochester which were Eustace Earle of Bologne and the Earle of Mortaigne to render likewise the same But being brought thither to effect the businesse they within receiuing him detayned him as he pretended prisoner and held out stoutly against the King vpon a false intelligence giuen of the ariuall of Duke Robert at Southampton but in the end they were forced to quit the place and retyre into France and Odon to abiure England And to keepe off the like danger from hence he transports his forces into Normandie there to waste and weaken his brother at home So as might hold him from any future attempts abroad for euer after Where first he obtaines Saint Valery and after Albemarle with the whole Country of Eu Fescampe the Abathie of monte Saint Michel Cherburge and other places Robert seekes ayde of Phillip King of France who comes downe with an Army into Normandie but ouercome with the power of mony wherewith King William assayled him did him little good and so retired Whereupon Duke Robert in the end was driuen to a dishonorable peace concluded at Caen with these Articles 1. that King William should hold the County of Eu Fescampe and all other places which he had bought and were deliuered vnto him by William Earle of Eu and Stephen Earle of Aumal sisters sonne to William the first 2. He should aide the Duke to recouer all other peeces which belonged to his Father and were vsurped from the Duchy 3. That such Normans as hadlost their estates in England by taking part with the Duke should be restored thereunto 4. That the suruiuer of either of them should succeed in the dominions both of England and Normandie After this peace made by the mediation of the King of France whilst William had a strong Army in the field Duke Robert requested his aid against their brother Henry who still kept him in the fort of mount Saint Michel vpon his gard holding it best for his saftie For being a Prince that could not subsist of himselfe as an earthen vessel set amongst iron pots he was euery way in danger to be crusht and seeing he had lost both his brothers by doing the one a kindnesse if he should haue toke to either their turne being serued his owne might be in hazard and so betooke him to this defence Forty daies the 2. Princes layd siege to this Castle and one day as the King was alone on the shore there sallies out of the Forte a companie of horse whereof three ran at him so violently and all strooke his horse together with their lances as they brake pectorall girses and all that the horse slips away and leaues the King and the saddle on the ground the King takes vp the saddle with both hands and therewith defendes himselfe till rescue came and being blamed by some of his people for putting himselfe thus in perill of his life to saue his saddle answered it would haue angred him the Bretons should haue bragged they had wonne the saddle from vnder him and how great an indignitie it was for a King to suffer inferiors to force any thing from him In the end Henry grew to extreame want of drinke and water allthough he had all other prouision sufficient within his forte and sends to Duke Robert that he might haue his necessitie supplied the Duke sendes him a Tunne of wine and grantes him truce for a day to furnish him with water Wherewith William being displeased Duke Robert told him it was hard to deny a brother meate and drinke which craued it and that if he perisht they had not a brother Wherewith William
see the two great pillers of the Church thus shaken with these dissentions whereby might bee feared the whole frame would be ruined that hee was friend to them both and would gladly be an inter-dealer for concord rather then to carry wood to a fire too fierce already which hee desired to extinguish for the good and quyet of Christendome This Embassage wrought so as it disarmed the Emperour glad to haue Louys a mediator of the accord betweene the Pope and him to the great displeasure of the King of England who expected greater matters to haue risen by this businesse The accorde is concluded at Wormes to the Popes advantage to whom the Emperour yeelds vp the right of inuestitures of Bishops and other Benifices But this was onely to appease not cure the maladie The King of England disapoynted thus of the Emperours assistance proceedes notwithstanding in his intentions against Louys And seeing he failed of outward forces he sets vp a partie in his kingdome to confront him ayding Theobald Conte de Champagne with so great power as hee stood to do him much displeasure besides hee obtained a strong side in that kingdome by his aliances for Stephen Earle of Blois had married his sister Adela to whom this Theobald was neere in bloud and had wonne Foulke Earle of Aniou an important neighbour and euer an enemy to Normandy to be his by matching his sonne William to his daughter Louys on the other side failes not to practise all meanes to vnder-worke Henries estate in Normandy and combines with William Earle of Flanders for the restoring of William the sonne of Robert Curtoys to whom the same appertained by right of inheritance and had the fairer shew of his actions by taking hold on the side of iustice Great and many were the conflicts betweene these two Princes with the expence of much bloud and charge But in the end being both tired a peace was concluded by the mediation of the Earle of Aniou And William sonne to King Henry did homage to Louys for the Dutchy of Normandy And William the son of Robert Curtoys is left to himselfe and desists from his claime Vpon the faire cloze of all rhese troubles there followed presently an accident which seasoned it with that sowrenesse of griefe as ouercame all the ioy of the successe William the yong Prince the onely hope of all the Norman race at 17 yeares of age returning into England in a ship by himselfe accompanyed with Richard his base brother Mary Countesse of Perch their sister Richard Earle of Chester with his wife the kings Neece and many other personages of honour and their attendants to the number of 140. besides 50 Mariners setting out from Harflew were all cast away at Sea The Prince had recouered a Cock-boat and in possibility to haue beene saued had not the compassion of his sisters cryes drawne him backe to the sinking ship to take her in and perish with his company Which sodaine clap of Gods iudgement cōming in a calme of glory whē all these bustlings seemed past ouer might make a conscience shrinke with terror to see oppression and supplantation repayd with the extinction of that for which so much had beene wrought and the line masculine of Normandy expired in the third heire as if to begin the fate layd on all the future succession wherein neuer but once the third in a right discent inioyed the Crowne without supplantation or extinction to the great affliction of the kingdome and himselfe to leaue his other issue subiect to the like ouerturnings which may teach Princes to obserue the wayes of righteousnesse and let men alone with their rights and God with his prouidence But in hope to repaire this losse King Henry within 5 moneths after married Adalicia a beautifull yong Lady daughter to the Duke of Lovaine and of the house of Loraine but neuer had issue by her nor long rest from his troubles abroad For this rent at home crackt all the chaine of his courses in France Normandy it selfe became wauering and many adhered to William the Nephew his great confederats are most regayn'd to the king of France Foulke Earle of Aniou quarrels for his daughters dower Robert de Mellent his chiefe friend Councellour a man of great imployment fell from him conspired with Hugh Earle of Monfort and wrought him great trouble But such was his diligence and working spirit that hee soone made whole all those ruptures againe The two Earles himselfe surprizes and Aniou death which being so important a neighbour as we may see by matching a Prince of England there the King fastens vpon it with another aliance and discends to marry his daughter and now onely childe which had bin wife to an Emperour desired by the Princes of Lumbardy and Loraine to the now Earle Geffrey Plantagenet the sonne of Foulke The King of France to fortifie his opposition entertaines William the Nephew where now all the danger lay and aydes him in person with great power to obtaine the Earledome of Flanders wherunto he had a faire Title by the defailance of issue of the late Earle Baldouin slaine in a battaile in France against King Henry But William as if heire also of his fathers fortunes admitted to the Earledome miscarried in the rule was depriued and slaine in battaile and in him all of Robert Curtoys perished And now the whole care of king Henry was the setling of the succession vpon Maude of whom hee liued to see two sonnes borne for which hee conuokes a Parliament in England wherein an oath is ministred to the Lords of this land to bee true to her her heires and acknowledge them as the right inheritors of the Crowne This oath was first taken by Dauid king of Scots vnkleto Maude and by Stephen Earle of Bollogne and Mortaine Nephew to the King on whom he had bestowed great possessions in England and aduanced his brother to the Bishopricke of Winchester And to make all the more fast this oath was afterward ministred againe at Northampton in another Parliament So that now all seemes safe and quiet but his owne sleepes which are said to haue beene very tumultuous and full of affrightments wherein hee would often rise take his sword and be in act as if hee defended himselfe against assaults of his person which shewed all was not well within His gouernment in peace was such as rankes him in the list amōgst our Kings of the fayrest marke holding the kingdome so well ordred as during all his raigne which was long he had euer the least to do at home At the first the competition with his brother after the care to establish his succession held him in to obserue all the best courses that might make for the good and quiet of the State hauing an especiall regarde to the due administration of Iustice that no corruption or oppression might disease his people whereby things were carryed with that cuennes betweene the Great men and the
fidelity to her The next day she was receiued with solemne procession into the Bishops Church at Winchester the Bishop leading her on the right hand and Bernard Bishop of Saint Dauids on the left There were present many other Bishops as Alexander Bishop of Lincolne and Nigel Bishop of Ely the nephews of Roger lately imprisoned Robert Bishop of Bath and Robert Bishop of Worcester with many Abbots Within a few dayes after came Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury to the Empresse inuited by the Legat but deferred to do fealty vnto her as holding it vnworthy his person and place without hauing conferd first with the king And therefore he with many Prelats and some of the Layty by permission obtained went to the king to Bristow The Councell brake vp the Empresse keepes her Easter at Oxford being her owne towne Shortly vppon Easter a Councell of the Clergie is againe called to Winchester where the first day the Legat had secret conference with euery Bishop apart and then with euery Abbot and other which were called to the Councell the next day he makes a publicke speech Shewing how the cause of their Assembly was to consult for the peace of their country in great danger of vtter ruine Repeates the flourishing raigne of his vnkle the peace wealth and honour of the kingdome in his time and how that renowned king many yeares before his death had receiued an oath both of England and Normandy for the succession of his daughter Maude and her Issue But said he after his decease his daughter being then in Normandy making delay to come into England where for that it seemed long to expect order was to be taken for the peace of the countrey my brother was permitted to raigne And although I interposed my selfe a surety betweene God and him that he should honour and exalt the holy Church keepe and ordaine good lawes Yet how he hath behaued himselfe in the kingdome it gricues me to remember and I am ashamed to repeate And then recounts he all the Kings courses with the Bishops and all his other misgouernments And then saide he euerie man knowes I ought to loue my mortall brother but much more the cause of my immortall Father therfore seeing God hath shewed his iudgment on my brother and suffered him without my knowledge to fall into the hand of Power that the kingdome may not miscary for want of a Ruler I haue called you all hither by the power of my Legation Yesterday the cause was moued in secret to the greatest part of the Clergie to whom the right appertaines to elect and ordaine a Prince And therefore after hauing inuoked as it is meete the Diuine aide we elect for Queene of England the daughter of the peacefull glorious rich good and in our time the incomparable king and to her we promise our faith and allegiance When all who were present either modestly gaue their voyce or by their silence contradicted it the Legate ads The Londoners who are in respect of the greatnesse of their City as among the optimacie of England we haue by our messengers summoned and I trust they will not stay beyond this day to morrow we will expect them The Londoners came were brought into the Councell shewed How they were sent from the Communaltie of London not to bring contention but prayer that the King their Lord might be fred from captiuitie and the same did all the Barons receiued within their Liberties earnestly beseech of my Lord Legate and all the Clergie there present The Legat answers them at large and loftily according to his speech the day before and added That the Londoners who were held in that degree in England ought not to take their parts who had forsaken their Lord in the warre by whose Councell the Church had beene dishonoured and who fauoured the Londoners but for their owne gaine Then standes there vp a Chaplayne to Queene Maude wife to Stephan and deliuers a letter to the Legat which he silently read and then said alowd that it was not lawfull in the assembly of so many reuerend and religious persons the same should be publikly read containing matter reprehensible The Chaplayne not to fayle in his message boldly reades the letter himselfe which was to this effect That the Queene earnestly intreates all the Clergie there assembled namely the Bishop of Winchester the brother of her Lord to restore him vnto the kingdome whom wicked men which were also his subiects held prisoner To this the Legat answeres as to the Londoners and shortly after the Councell brake vp where in many of the Kings part were excommunicated namely William Martell an especiall man about the King who had much displeased the Legat. Hereupon a great part of England willingly accepted of Maude in whose businesses her brother Robert imployes all his diligence and best care reforming iustice restoring the Lawes of England promising relieuements and whatsoeuer might be to winne the people the Legat seconding all his courses But now she being at the point of obtayning the whole kingdome all came sodainly dasht by the practise of the Londoners who adhering to the other side began openly to inueigh against her who in something whatsoeuer it were had displeased them and they had plotted to surprize her in their Cittie whereof she hauing notice secretly withdrawing herselfe accompanied with her vnkle Dauid King of Scots who was come to visit her and her brother Robert vnto Oxford a place of more securitie The Legat himselfe takes or makes an occasion to be flacke in her cause vpon her denying him a sute for his Nephew Eustace the sonne of Stephan about the inheritance of his Earldome of Mortaigne in Normandie Besides the Queene regnant watchfull ouer all oportunitie found meanes to parle with the Legat sets vpon him with her teares intreatie promises and assurances for the Kings reformation in so much as she recalled him to the affections of nature brought him about againe to absolue such of the Kings part as he had lately excommunicated The Earle of Glocester seeing this sudden and strange relaps of their affaires striues by all meanes to hold vp Opinion and re-quicken the Legats disposition which to keepe sound was all He brings the Empresse to Winchester setles her and her guard in the Castle where she desires to speake with the Legat who first delayes then denies to come Whereupon they call their best friends about them Queene Maude and the Lords incompasse the Towne and cut off all victuall from the Empresse so that in the end the Earle of Glocester wrought meanes to haue her conueyd from thence to the Vies but himselfe was taken and in him most of her This sets the sides both euen againe into the Lists of their triall the two prisoners are to redeeme each other The disproportion of the quality betweene them shewed yet there was an euennesse of power and the Earle would not consent to the Kings deliuery who onely in that was