Wilhelmus Conquestor Rex Anglia Dux Norman etc. THE Life Death OF WILLIAM Surnamed The Conqueror King of ENGLAND and Duke of NORMANDY Who dyed Anno Christi 1087. By Samuel Clarke late Minister of Bennet-Finck London LONDON Printed for Simon Miller at the signe of the Star at the West end of St Pauls 1671. THE Life and Death of WILLIAM Sirnamed the CONQUEROUR KING of ENGLAND and Duke of NORMANDY Who dyed Anno Christi 1087. THE Normans issued out of Denmark and Norway the Inhabitants of which Countries in those times were so fruitful in the Procreation of Children that they were forced oft-times to send multitudes abroad to seek new habitations Amongst whom there was one Roul a great Commander attended with many lusty lads who in the dayes of King Alfrid first landed in England where finding no room empty nor any imployment was content upon some relief received to seek imployment else-where which he did against Rambalt Duke of Frize and Reiver Duke of Chaumont and Henalt with whom he often encountred and made great spoiles in their Countries Then passing along the Coast of France he entred the mouth of the River Seine and sackt all the Country up to Roan where the People having been a little before miserably spoiled by an other Invader were so terrified by the coming of these new Forces that the Archbishop of Roan by the peoples consent offered him the obedience of that City and Country upon condition that he would protect them and govern them according to the Laws of Christ and the customes of their Countrey For Charles the Simple the present King of France being otherwise embroiled about the right of his Crown neglected to defend them So that Roul shortly after attempted the Conquest of Paris itself and therein gave some notable overthrowes to some of the French Commanders So that King Charles was forced to buy his Peace by entering into alliance with and giving over to Roul his right to Normandy formerly called Nuestria And hereupon Roul turned Christian and was baptized by the name of Robert Thus he came to his Estate which he governed with such Judgment and equity that he left his Name honourable and his successours a firme foundation to build upon From him in a direct line descended six Dukes of Normandy that inherited that Dukedome the last of which was also called Robert who out of blind devotion resolving to visit Christ's Sepulchre acquainted his Nobles therewith They disswaded him all they could because he had no issue and Allaire Earl of Britaine and the Earle of Burgundy were already contending which of them should succeed him whereby their Country was like to become a Prey to the Souldiers from which he in conscience was bound to secure it The Duke told them that he had a little Bastard of whom he had great hopes whom he would invest with that Dutchy as his Heir and therefore he prayed them thenceforth to take him for their Lord. And said he To shew my trust in him I will make the Earl of Britaine his Governour and Seneschal of Normandy and the King of France shall be his Guardian and so I will leave him to God and your Loyalty Shortly after the Bishops and Barons did their homage to this base Son named William whom his Father begat on one Arlet a mean woman of Falaise And Duke Robert delivered the Child with his own hand to Henry first King of France whom he had greatly assisted in keeping his Crown against an other Competitor and therefore he might the more presume if good-turns done to Princes could weigh down self-respects to have found a faithful discharge of his trust He caused also young William to doe his homage for the Dutchy of Normandy to the King and so committed him to his Royal Faith and going his joruney he dyed in Asia William being then but nine years old Soon after the news of his Father's death the Nobles of Normandy by much intreaty gat him out of the French King's hand knowing that they having him amongst them would countenance his Counsellers and such as were in Office But they soon found that his Person without power did but increase their discord and factions For presently after his right was questioned by Competitors And first Robert de Tresny an experienced Souldier bringing a fair line from Roul intertained and feasted the chiefest men amongst them urging to them what a wrong it was to him that a Bastard and a Child should be preferred before him in the Dutchy which his Ancestors had gotten by their Valour and what a shame it was for the Normans to be governed by such an one And when words prevailed not he brought it to the tryal of the Sword in a great Battel in which by the valour of Roger de Beaumont he was defeated and himself and his two Brethren slain Not long after the King of France violating the trust that was reposed in him assisted in Person William Earl of Arques another pretender to the Dutchy descended also from Roul and brought to his aid a mighty Army yet Count Guifford Duke William's General by a stratagem training the French into an Ambush overthrew them and caused the King to return to Paris with great loss and dishonour and forced Arques to seek relief from the Earl of Bologne where yet he found little favour few regarding men that are overthrown and low This storm past a worse succeeds There lived with Duke William a young Lord of the like years called Guy descended also from Roul who coming to be sensible of his Interest was advised by some stirring spirits to put in for the Dutchy which they said was his right and but usurped by the Bastard And to promote his affairs there fell out a deadly feud between two of the greatest Lords Vicount Neel and the Earl of Bessin whose quarrel Duke William either did not or could not pacifie whereupon this Guy who was lately made Earl of Briorn and Vernon interposed to end this discord and by the advice of Grimolt de Plessis brought it to pass that both these great men turned the point of their malice against Duke William for not ending the difference and therefore conspired with Guy to murther him at unawares which also they had effected had not a Fool whom they suspected not noting their preparations got away in the night to Valogne knocking and crying at the Gates till he was admitted to the Dukes presence who was now about seventeen years old whom he willed presently to flee or he would be murthered The Duke seeing the Fool so affrighted contemns not the information but presently takes Horse and all alone posts towards Falaise his strongest place By the way his Horse was tired and at break a day coming to a Village called Rie it fell out that a Gentlemen was standing at his door ready to ride abroad of him the Duke enquired the next
of day gave them so hot an Alarm that he put them all into a rout leaving their Horses and Armour to the Normans who in the pursuit of fourty thousand left not a fourth part of them alive The King of France thus defeated returned home with disgrace and our Duke with the price of the Prisoners recovered his Peace and the Castle of Thuilliers which had been taken from him in his minority Cout Martel though much discouraged with the Kings overthrow yet made some attempts for the recovery of his Towns but without success Wherefore the next spring he went again to sollicit the French King to aid him against the Duke who said he is now grown insolent upon the victory he stole last year so that there is no living by him Besides he suggested that the Normans extreamly derided the French and had a base esteem of them making their last overthrow the subject of their sport and Rhimes as if the King of France upon such an inconsiderable loss durst not break a dishonourable Peace The King being stung with this reproach raised a mighty Army far greater than the former wherein were three Dukes and twelve Earls and notwithstanding the solemne peace made and so lately sworn with the Duke he entered Normandy in the Harvest time spoiling all before him along the Countrey of Bessin From thence he passed to Bayeux and Caen purposing to pass the River Dine at Verruil and to destroy all as far as to Roan Coming thither he found the Causeway long and Bridge narrow wherefore he caused his Van to pass over first and to secure his Rere lead by the Duke of Berry himself staid behind in Caen till his men and Carriages were passed Duke William all this while was storing his Fortresses with men and victuals strengthening himself and Falaise as much as he could yet had no Army in the Field but only a running Camp ready to take all advantages and so lets the fury of this storm spend itself till being informed of their passage over the Bridge and then marching all night with ten thousand men in the morning early he set upon the Rereward with so dreadfull a cry and fury that such as were upon the Causeway being affrighted thrust forward such as were before them hasting to get over the Bridge which by reason of the great press brake so that many were drowned and such as were got over could not return to aid the rest Nor the King by reason of the marishes on both sides could not yield any succor to his people but stood a spectator of their slaughter there were very many slain and six of the Kings Earls taken Prisoners This shameful overthrow was so laid to heart by the King of France that he died shortly after and the Duke of Normandy enjoyed peace which he imployed nobly in ordering and beautifying his State building and endowing Churches and Monastries He erected also a Tomb for himself and his wife at Caen Feasting and rewarding his Nobles and other men of worth whereby he so engaged their hearts to him that they were wholly his to do what he pleased In the time of this calm he sailed over into England pretending a visit to King Edward his kinsman who because he had been protected and bred in Normandy by Duke Richard the second Grandfather to them both gave him most Royal entertainment Probably he came to see and to be seen to make way for his future designs And not long after Herald whether on purpose or by some casualty of weather was driven into France is uncertain but he was gallantly entertained in Normandy by Duke William and at Roan something was concluded betwixt them whether to divide the Kingdom of England between them or that Herald being a coast-dweller should let in Duke William after the decease of King Edward the Confessour and do his best to help him to his Kingdom is uncertain but whatever it was it was solemnly sworn to upon the holy Evangelists and all the Reliques in Roan And for more assurance Herald was betrothed to Adeliza the Dukes Daughter and his Brother Wolnot was lest as a pledge for the performance Sure it is that so much was done either by our King Edward who by Will left the Crown to him or by Herald or both as gave him ground to challenge the Crown of England and to pursue the getting of it Though indeed it was not in either of their powers to prejudice our State or to alter the conse of a right succession As soon as Duke William heard of the death of King Edward and of the Election and Coronation of Herald he assembled the States of Normandy and acquainted them with the right he had to England intreating their utmost assistance for the recovery of it and to avenge him on the perjur'd Usurper Herald shewing them what a strong party he had in England and the distractions of the people which made his attempt very probable He told them what Glory Wealth and greatness the obtaining of such a Kingdom would add to them Yet notwithstanding all he could say there were but few that liked of this attempt and they which did were such as had long followed him in the wars and thereby had exhausted their estates and were content to run any adventure that might promise hope of advantage Of the rest some thought it best to hold and defend their own Countrey without adventuring to conquer an other and this was the richer sort Others were willing to contribute but did it so sparingly that it little advanced the design and the rest were so tyred with former Wars and so willing to enjoy the blessing of Peace that they were unwilling to forgoe a certain for an uncertain good The Duke meeting with these discouragements was much perplexed which made him to deal more particularly with his best Friends whom he knew to affect Honour and that they would adventure their whole estates with him These were William Fitz-Auber Earl of Brettevil Gualter Guifford Earl of Longevil Roger Lord de Beaumont c. especially his own brothers Odo Bishop of Bayeux and Robert Earl of Mortagne These he procured in a full Assembly to make their offers which they did so liberally Fitz Auber promising to furnish fourty ships with men and Amunition the Bishop of Bayeux fourty the Bishop of Mentz thirty c. that the rest of the assembly doubting that if without their help the Duke should carry on his design he would not forget their backwardness they came off more liberally The Duke finding them yielding yet not so forward as was requisite for such an undertaking dealt with the Bishops and great men apart getting that of them severally which of all together he could not attain and causing every mans contribution to be recorded kindled such an emulation amongst them that they which before would do nothing now strove who should do most By his fair perswasions also he
hollow ground covered over with earth wherein many of them fell and perished as also into an Ambush of his Horsemen which unexpectedly fell upon them and cut them in peices Indeed Duke William fought that day so valiantly that he had three Horses slain under him But King Herald shewed no less valour in killing many of the Normans with his own hands Insomuch as the fight continued doubtfull for a long time till at last King Herald being struck into the braines with an Arrow fell down dead upon whose fall a base Norman cut off one of his thighs for which Duke William was so offended that he disarmed the Souldier and cashier'd him Thyra King Herald's Mother proffered a great some of money for his Body which the Duke nobly refused and gave it her freely who buried it in Walltham Abby And no marvel if the English had such ill success For the People being secure from their former enemies the Danes which peace had continued now about the space of fifty years had discontinued the use of Armes and were generally debauched with Luxury and idleness The Clergy was grown licentious and well content with little Learning The Nobility given to Gluttony Venery and oppression the common sort to drunkenness and all disorder Duke William as his Valour won him the Victory so his Victory won him a Crown and suddenly of an old Duke he became a young King Wherefore having returned publick thanks to God for his good success in the place which he called Battel field near Hastings in Surrey he led his Army towards London yet not the direct way for fear of an other encounter but thorow Kent Sussex Surry Hampshire and Bark shire and so coming to Wallingford he there crossed the Thames and passed through the Counties of Oxford Bucks and Hertford And whilst he staid at Barkamsted Aldred Archbishop of York Woolstan Bishop of Worcester Walter Bishop of Hereford with the Earls Edwin and Morchar the greatest men in the Kingdome yea and Edgar Etheling himself came and yielded their Allegiance to him the Pope having cursed all such as would not accept of him From hence as William passed towards London he found his way stopt up with multitudes of great Trees which by Frederick Abbot of Saint Albans a man of Noble blood were caused to be felled to secure his Monastery from being spoiled by the Normans whereat William both wondering and fret ting sent for the Abbot under assurance of his safe return and asked him why he did it Frederick stoutly replied I have done the Duty both of my Birth and Profession and if others of my rank had done the like as they might and ought to have done it had not been in thy power to have pierced the Land so far From hence William marched to London where the Gates were set open and the Bishops Lords and People entertained him with great signes of joy though with small gladness and though he had not their hearts yet he had their knees for in most humble manner they accepted of him for their Sovereign and upon Christ-mass day after he was Crowned at Westminster by Aldred Archbishop of York For that Stigand Archbishop of Canterbury was not held Canonically invested in his See Here according to the accustomed form the Bishops and Nobles took their oaths to be his true and faithful subjects and he being required by the Archbishop of York takes his Oath before the Altar of Saint Peter to defend the Right of the Church to establish good Laws and to see Justice uprightly and impartially administred as became a good King Nor did he ever claim any power by Conquest but as a Regular Prince submitted himself to the orders and customs of the Kingdom desiring rather to hold the Scepter by his Testamentary Title than to claim it by the sword So that though the name of Conquerour by the flattery of the times was given to him yet he shewed by all the course of his Government that he assumed it not Being thus setled he chose for his Counsel such men as he knew to be of greatest Wisdom and experience then he applied his thoughts to secure his new-gotten Empire For which end he fortified such places as lay open to danger placed strong Garrisons upon the Coasts and provided Ships to ride in those Harbors which lay most open to Invasions he marched also towards Dover the Lock and Key of the Kingdom to secure that place and to overaw that Kentish a most strong and populous Province But when Stigand the Archbishop of Canterbury and Eglesigne the Abbot of Saint Austins who were the cheifest Lords and Governours of Kent heard of it they assembled the Commons at Canterbury laying before them the dangers of their Province the miseries of their Neighbours the Pride of the Normans and the wrongs of the Church All which say they are too apparent The English till now were ever free and the name of Bondmen not heard among them But now servitude attends us if we yield to the pride of this insulting enemy to withstand which we are ready to adventure our lives with you This resolution drew the people willingly to joyn with them who appointed to meet at a Bay at Swanscomb within two miles of Graves end Accordingly there they met at the day and kept themselves secret in the woods waiting the coming of the Conquerour agreeing to carry before them great branches of Trees whereby they might conceal themselves and if need were impede the march of the Normans Which device daunted King William at his approach who judging himself secure was thus before he was aware suddenly beset on every side with enemies For now the Kentish men having environed his Army round threw down their Boughs and with bent Bowes prepared for Battel So that he which even now thought himself secure of the Kingdom began to dispair of his Life in which amazement Stigand and Eglesine pesented themselves before him and said Most Noble Duke behold here the Commons of Kent are come forth to meet and receive you as their Sovereigne requiring your Peace and their own Freedom and the enjoyment of their ancient Lawes If these be denied they are resolved to submit their tryall to a Battel fully purposing rather to dye than lose their Laws and Liberties and so to live servilely in Bondage which Name and Nature is and ever shall be strange unto us and not to be endured William being brought into this strait and loath to hazard all upon so nice a point more warily than willingly granted their desires and Pledges being given on both sides for performance Kent yielded to him her Earldom and Dover her Castle When King William had established all things for Englands security he committed the Government of it to Odo Bishop of Bayeux his brother by the Mothers side and to his Cousin Fitz-Auber whom he made Earl of Hereford and in the Lent