In former times many Farmes and Mannorswere giuen by bare word, without writing, onely with the sword of the Lord, or his head-peece; with a horne or standing goblet, and many tenements with a quill, with a horse-combe, with a bow, with an arrow; but this sincere simplicitie at that time was changed. And whereas Charters and deeds were before made firme by the subscription of the partie, with crosses of gold, or of some other colour; then they were firmed by the parties speciall Seale, set vpon waxe, vnder theTesteof three or foure witnesses.
He ordained also his counsaile of State, his Chancery, his Exchequer, his Courts of Iustice, which alwaies remoued with his Court. These places he furnished with Officers, and assigned foure Termes in the yere for determining controuersies among the people: whereas before all suites were summarily heard and determined in theGemoteor monthly conuention in euery hundred, without either formalities or delay.
He caused the whole Realme to be described in a censuall Roll, so as there was not one Hide of land, but both the yerely rent and the owner thereof, was therein set downe; how manyplowlands, what pastures, fennes, or marishes; what woods, parkes, farmes and tenements were in euery shire; and what euery one was worth. Also how many villaines euery man had, what beasts or cattell, what fees, what other goods, what rent or commoditie his possessions did yeeld. This booke was calledThe Roll of Winton, because it was kept in the Citie ofWinchester. By theEnglishit was calledDoomes day booke; either by reason of the generalitie thereof, or else corruptly in stead ofDomus Dei booke; for that it was layed in the Church ofWinchester, in a place calledDomus Dei. According to this Roll taxations were imposed; sometimes two shillings, and sometimes sixe shillings vpon euery hide of land (a hide conteyning 20. acres,) besides ordinarie prouision for his house.
In all those lands which hee gaue to any man, he reseruedDominion in chiefeto himselfe: for acknowledgement whereof a yeerely rent was payd vnto him, and likewise a fine whensoeuer the Tenant did alien or die. These were bound as Clients vnto him by oath of fidelitie and homage; And if any died his heire being in minoritie, the King receiued the profits ofthe land, and had the custodie and disposing of the heires body, vntill his age of one and twentie yeeres.
It is reported ofCaligula,[23]that when he entended to make aduantage of his penal Edicts, he caused them to be written in so small letters, and the tables of them to be fastened so high, that it was almost impossible for any man to read them. So the King caused part of those Lawes that he established, to be written in theNormanlanguage, which was a barbarous and brokenFrench, not well vnderstood of the naturallFrench, and not at all of the vulgarEnglish. The residue were not written at all, but left almost arbitrarie, to be determined by reason and discretion at large. Hereupon it followed, partly through ignorance of the people, and partly through the malice of some officers of Iustice, who many times are instruments of secret and particular ends; that many were extreamely intangled, many endangered, many rather made away, then iustly executed.
But here it may be questioned, seeing these Lawes were layed vpon theEnglish, as fetters about their feet, as a ponderous yoke vpon their necke, to depresse and deteine them in sure subiection; how it falleth, that afterward they became not onely tolerable, but acceptable and well esteemed.
Assuredly, these lawes were exceeding harsh and heauy to theEnglishat the first: And therefore K.William Rufus, andHenrythe first, at such time asRoberttheir eldest brother came in armes against them to challenge the crowne, being desirous to winne the fauour of the people, did fill them with faire promises, to abrogate the lawes of K.Williamtheir father, and to restore to them the Lawes of K.Edward. The like was done by K.Stephen, and by K.Henrythe second; whilest both contending to draw the State to himselfe, they did most grieuously teare it in pieces. The like by others of the first Kings of theNormanrace, whensoeuer they were willing to giue contentment to the people: who desired no other reward for all their aduentures and labours, for al their blood spent in the seruice of their Kings, but to haue the Lawes of K.Edwardrestored. At the last the Nobilitie of the Realme, with great dispence both of their estates and blood, purchased a Charter of libertie, First from K.Iohn, which was soone reuoked, as violently enforced fromhim: afterwards from KingHenrythe third, which remained in force. And hereby the sharpe seuerity of these lawes was much abated.
In that afterwards they became, not onely tolerable, but easie and sweete, and happily not fit to bee changed, it is by force of long grounded custome, whereby those vsages which our ancestors haue obserued for many ages, do neuer seeme either grieuous or odious to bee endured. SoNicetaswriting of certaine Christians, who by long conuersing with theTurkes, had defiled themselues with Turkish fashions,Custome[24](saith he)winneth such strength by time, that it is more firme then either Nature or Religion. HereuponDio. Chrysostomecompareth Customes to a King,[25]and Edicts to a Tyrant; because we are subiect voluntarily to the one, but by constraint and vpon necessitie to the other.It is manifest(saithAgathias)that vnder whatsoeuer law a people hath liued, they doe esteeme the same most excellent and diuine.[26]Herodotusreporteth, thatDariusthe sonne ofHysdaspis, hauing vnder his Dominion certaineGreciansofAsia, who accustomed to burne their dead parents and friends, and certaine nations ofIndia, who vsed to eate them; called theGreciansbefore him: and told them that it was his pleasure, that they should conforme themselues to the custome of theIndians, in eating their deceased friends. But they applied all meanes of intreatie and perswasion, that they might not be inforced, to such a barbarous, or rather brutish obseruation. Then hee sent for theIndians, and mooued them to conformitie with theGrecians; but found that they did farre more abhorre to burne their dead, then theGreciansdid to eate them.
Now these seuerities of the King were much aggrauated by theEnglish, and esteemed not farre short of cruelties. Notwithstanding hee tempered it with many admirable actions both of iustice and of clemencie and mercie: for which hee is much extolled by theNormane[27]writers. Hee gaue great priuiledges to many places; & the better to giue the people contentment, and to hold them quiet, he often times renued the oath which first he tooke at his Coronation: namely,to defend the holy Church of God, the pastors thereof, and the people subiect to him iustly to gouerne, to ordaine good lawes, and obserue true iustice, and to the vttermost of his powerto withstand all rapines and false Iudgements.Such of the nobilitie as had been taken in rebellion, were onely committed to prison; from which they were released in time: such as yeelded and submitted themselues, were freely pardoned, and often times receiued to fauour, trust, and imployment.
Edric, the first that rebelled after hee was King, he held neere and assured vnto him.Gospatricwho had been a stirrer of great commotions, he made Earle ofGlocester, and employed him againstMalcolmeKing ofScots.EustaceEarle ofBologne, who vpon occasion of the Kings first absence inNormandieattempted to surprize the Castle ofDouer, he imbraced afterward with great shew of loue and respect.Waltheofsonne to EarleSiward, who in defending the Citie ofYorkeagainst him, had slaine manyNormans, as they assayed to enter a breach, hee ioyned in marriage to his NeeceIudeth.Edgarwho was the ground and hope of all conspiracies, who after his first submission to the King, fled intoScotland, and maintained open hostilitie against him, who pretended title to the Crowne as next heire to theSaxonKings, he not onely receiued to fauour, but honoured with faire enterteinments. Hee furnished him to the warre ofPalestine, where he atteined an honourable estimation with the Emperours ofAlmaineand ofGreece. After his returne he was allowed 20. shillings a day by way of pension, and large liuings in the Countrey, where he mellowed to old age in pleasure and vacancie of affaires; preferring safe subiection, before ambitious rule accompanied both with danger and disquiet.
Thus was no man more milde to a relenting and vanquished enemie; as farre from crueltie, as he was from cowardice, the height of his spirit, ouerlooking all casuall, all doubtfull and vncertaine dangers. Other great offenders he punished commonly by exile or imprisonment, seldome by death. Onely among theEnglishNobilitie EarleWaltheofwas put to death, for that after twice breaking allegiance, he conspired the third time with diuers bothEnglishandNormansto receiue theDanesintoEngland, whilest the King was absent inNormandie. And for the same conspiracieRalph Fitz-aubertaNormanwas also executed; who had furnished 40. ships for the King in his voiage forEngland: for which and for his otherseruices in that warre, he was afterward created Earle ofHereford. But present iniuries doe alwayes ouerballance benefits that are past.
He much delighted in hunting and in feasting. For the first he enclosed many forrests and parks, and filled them with Deere; which he so deerely loued, that he ordained great penalties for such as should kill those or any other beasts of game. For the second hee made many sumptuous feasts, especially vpon the high Festiuall dayes in the yeere. HisChristmassehee often kept atGlocester, hisEasteratWinchester, hisWhitsontideatWestminster; and was crowned once in the yeere at one of these places, so long as he continued inEngland. To these feasts he inuited all his Nobilitie, and did then principally compose himselfe to courtesie, as well in familiar conuersation, as in facilitie to grant suits, and to giue pardon to such as had offended. At other times he was more Maiesticall and seuere; and imployed himselfe both to much exercise and great moderation in diet; whereby he preserued his body in good state, both of health and strength, and was easily able to endure trauaile, hunger, heat, cold, and all other hardnesse both of labour and of want.
Many wrongs he would not see, of many smarts he would not complaine; he was absolute master of himselfe, and thereby learned to subdue others. He was much commended for chastitie of body; by which his Princely actions were much aduanced. And albeit the beginning of his reigne was pestered with such routs of outlawes and robbers, that the peaceable people could not accompt themselues in surety within their owne doores; hee so well prouided for execution of Iustice vpon offenders, or rather for cutting off the causes of offence; that a young maiden well charged with gold, might trauaile in any part of the Realme, without any offer of iniurie vnto her. For if any man had slaine another vpon any cause, he was put to death; and if he could not be found, the hundred paide a fine to the King; sometimes 28. and sometimes 36. pounds, according to the largenesse of the hundred in extent. If a man had oppressed any woman, he was depriued of his priuie parts. As the people by Armes, so Armes by lawes were held in restraint.
He talked little and bragged lesse: a most assured performer of his word: In prosecution or his purposes constant and strong, and yetnot obstinate; but alwayes appliable to the change of occasions: earnest, yea violent, both to resist his enemies, and to exact dueties of his Subiects. He neither loued much speech, nor gaue credite to faire; but trusted truely to himselfe, to others so farre as he might not be abused by credulitie.
His expedition (the spirit of actions and affaires) may hereby appeare. He inuadedEnglandabout the beginning of October; He subdued all resistance, he suppressed all rising Rebellions, and returned intoNormandyin March following. So as the time of the yeere considered, a man should hardly trauaile through the land in so short a time as he did win it. A greater exploit thenIulius Cæsaror any other stranger could euer atchieue vpon that place.
He gaue many testimonies of a Religious minde. For he did often frequent Diuine seruice in the Church, he gaue much Almes, hee held the Clergie in great estimation, and highly honoured the Prelats of the Church. He sent many costly ornaments, many rich presents of gold and siluer to the Church ofRome; hisPeterpaiments went more readily, more largely then euer before. To diuers Churches inFranceafter his victorie he sent Crosses of gold, vessels of gold, rich Palles, or other ornaments of great beautie and price. He bare such reuerence toLanfranckArchbishop ofCanterburie, that he seemed to stand at his directions. At the request ofWolstaneBishop ofWorcester, he gaue ouer a great aduantage that he made by sale of prisoners taken inIreland. He respectedAldredArchbishop ofYorke, by whom he had bene crowned King ofEngland, as his father. At a time vpon the repulse of a certaine suit, the Archbishop brake forth into discontentment, expostulated sharpely against the King, and in a humorous heat offered to depart. But the King staied him, fell downe at his feet, desired pardon, and promised satisfaction in the best maner that he could. The Nobilitie that were present, put the Archbishop in minde that he should cause the King to arise. Nay (answered the Archb.) let him alone; Let him still abide at S.Petersfeet. So with much adoe he was appeased, and entreated to accept his suite. And so the name of SaintPeter, 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 ofItalyand other places many famous men, both for learning and integritie of life, to wit,Lanfranke,Anselm,Durand,Traherneand others. These he honoured, these hee aduanced, to these hee expressed great testimonies both of fauour and regard.
And yet he preferredOdohis brother by the mothers side to the Bishopricke ofBaion, and afterwards created him Earle ofKent: 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 intoNormandie, 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 ofRome: vpon a prediction then cast abroad, (which commonly deceiue those that trust vnto them) that the successour ofHildebrandwas namedOdo. So filled with proud hopes, hee purchased a palace and friends atRome; hee prepared for his iourney, and drew many gentlemen to be of his traine. But the King returning suddenly out ofNormandie, met with him in theIsle 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 ofBaion, but as Earle ofKent, 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, whereinhe 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,RobertandHenry, with ioynt authoritie, gouernours ofNormandie; the one to suppresse either the insolencie, or leuitie of the other. These went together to visit theFrenchKing, lying atConflance: where entertaining the time with varietie of disports,Henryplayed withLouisthenDaulphineofFranceat Chesse, and did win of him very much. Here atLouisbeganne to growe warme in words, and was therein little respected byHenry. The great impatiencie of the one, and the small forbearance of the other, did strike in the end such a heate betweene them, thatLouisthrew the Chesse-men atHenriesface, and called him the sonne of a bastard.Henrieagaine strokeLouiswith the Chesse-boord, drew blood with the blowe, and had presently slaine him vpon theplace, had hee not been stayed by his brotherRobert. Hereupon they presently went to horse, and their spurres claimed so good haste, as they recoueredPontoise, albeit they were sharpely pursued by theFrench.
It had been much for theFrenchKing to haue remained quiet, albeit no prouocations had happened, in regard of his pretence to many pieces which KingWilliamdid possesse inFrance. But vpon this occasion he presently inuadedNormandie, tooke the Citie ofVernon, and drewRobert, KingWilliamseldest sonne, to combine with him against his owne father. On the other side KingWilliam, who neuer lost anything by loosing of time, with incredible celeritie passed intoFrance; inuaded theFrenchKings dominions, wasted and tooke many principall places ofZantoigneandPoictou, returned toRoan, and there reconciled his sonneRobertvnto him. TheFrenchKing summoned him to doe his homage for the kingdome ofEngland. For the Duchie ofNormandiehe offered him homage, but the kingdome ofEngland(he said) he held of no man, but onely of God, and by his sword. Hereupon theFrenchKing came strongly vpon him; but finding him bothready 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.
KingWilliambeing then both corpulent and in yeeres, was distempered in body by meanes of those trauailes, and so retired toRoan; where hee remained not perfectly in health. TheFrenchKing 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 KingWilliamwas so nettled with this ieast, that hee sworeBy 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 inFrance. So presently after his recouery hee entredFrancein armes, tooke the Citie ofMeux, set many Townesand 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 beforeParis, wherePhilipKing ofFrancedid then abide: to whom he sent word, that he had recouered to be on foote, and was walking about, and would be glad likewise to find him abroad. This enterprise was acted in the moneth of August, wherein the King was so violent and sharpe, that by reason both of his trauaile, and of the vnseasonable heate, he fell into a relapse of his sicknesse. And to accomplish his mishap, in leaping on horse-backe ouer a ditch, his fat belly did beare so hard vpon the pommell of his saddle, that hee tooke a rupture in his inner parts. And so ouercharged with sickenesse, and paine, and disquietnesse of minde, hee returned toRoan; where his sickenesse increased by such dangerous degrees, that in short time it led him to the period of his dayes.
During the time of his sickenesse hee was much molested in conscience,[28]for the blood which hee had spilt, and for the seueritie whichhe had vsed against theEnglish: holding himselfe for that cause more guilty before God, then glorious among men. Hee spent many good speeches in reconciling himselfe to God and the world, & in exhorting others to vertue and Religion. He gaue great summes of money to the Clergie ofMeux, and of some other places inFrance, to repaire the Churches which a little before he had defaced. To some Monasteries he gaue tenne markes of gold, and to others sixe. To euery Parish Church hee gaue fiue shillings, and to euery Borough Towne a hundred pounds for reliefe of the poore. Hee gaue his Crowne, with all the ornaments therto belonging, to the Church of SaintStepheninCaen, which hee had founded: for redeeming whereof, KingHenrythe first did afterwards giue to the same Church the Mannour ofBridetoninDorcetshire. Hee reteined perfect memorie and speach so long as he reteined any breath. Hee ended his life vpon the ninth day of September: full both of honour and of age, when hee had reigned twenty yeeres, eight moneths and sixteene dayes; in the threescore and fourth yeere of his age.
So soone as he was dead, the chiefe men thatwere about him went to horse, and departed forthwith to their owne dwellings: to prouide for the safety of themselues, and of their families and estates. For all men were possessed with a marueilous feare, that some dangerous aduentures would ensue. The seruants and inferiour Officers also fled away; and to double the basenesse of their disposition, tooke with them whatsoeuer was portable about the king; his Armour, plate, apparell, household-stuffe, all things were held as lawfull bootie. Thus the dead body was not onely abandoned, but left almost naked vpon the ground: where it remained from prime vntil three of the clocke, neither guarded nor regarded by any man. In the meane time the Religious persons went in procession to the Church of S.Geruase, & there commended his soule to God. ThenWilliamArchb. ofRoancommaunded, that his body should be caried toCaen, to be there buried in the Church of S.Stephen. But hee was so forsaken of all his followers, that there was not any found who would vndertake either the care or the charge. At the lastHerlwinea countrey Knight, vpon his owne cost, caused the body to be embalmed and adorned for funerallpompe: then conueyed it by coach to the mouth of the RiuerSome; and so partly by land, and partly by sea brought it toCaen.
Here the Abbot with the Couent of Monks came foorth with all accustomed ceremonies, to meet the corps: to whom the whole multitude of the Clergie and Lay-people did adioyne. But when they were in the middest of their sad solemnities, a fire brake out of a certaine house, and suddenly embraced a great part of the towne. Hereupon the Kings body was once againe abandoned; all the people running from it in a headlong haste; some to saue their goods, others to represse the rage of the flame, others (as the latest nouelty) to stand and looke on. In the end a few Moncks returned, and accompanied the Hearse to the Abbey Church.
Afterward all the Bishops and Abbots ofNormandyassembled to solemnize the funerall. And when the diuine Office was ended, and the coffin of stone set into the earth, in the presbytorie, betweene the Quire and the Altar (but the body remained vpon the Herse)Guislebertbishop ofEureuxmade a long Sermon; wherein hee bestowed much breath in extolling thehonourable actions of the King. In the end he concluded; That forsomuch as it was impossible for a man to liue, much lesse to gouerne, without offence; First, by reason of the multitude of a Princes affaires; Secondly, for that he must commit the managing of many things to the conscience and courtesie of others; Lastly, for that personall grieuances are many times beneficiall to the maine body of State; in which case, particular either losses or harmes, are more then manifoldly recompenced by the preseruation or quiet of the whole: If therefore any that were present did suppose they had receiued iniurie from the King, he desired that they would in charitie forgiue him.
When the Bishop had finished his speach, oneAnselme Fitz-Arthurstood vp amongst the multitude, and with a high voice said;This ground whereupon wee stand, was sometimes the floore of my fathers house; which that man of whom you haue spoken, when he was Duke of Normandie, tooke violently from my father, and afterward founded thereon this Religious building. This iniustice hee did not by ignorance or ouersight; not vpon any necessitie of State; but to content his owne couetous desire. Now therefore I doe challengethis ground as my right; and doe here charge you, as you will answere it before the fearefull face of Almightie God, that the body of the spoiler be not couered with the earth of mine inheritance.
When the Bishops and Noble men that were present heard this, and vnderstood by the testimony of many that it was true, they agreed to giue him three pounds presently for the ground that was broken for the place of burial; and for the residue which he claimed, they vndertooke he should be fully satisfied. This promise was performed in short time after, byHenriethe Kings sonne, who onely was present at the Funerall; at whose appointmentFitz-Arthurreceiued for the price of the same ground one hundred pounds.
Now when the body was to be put into the earth, the sepulchre of stone which stood within the graue, was hewen somewhat too strait for his fat belly; whereupon they were constrained to presse it downe with much strength. By this violence, whether his bowels burst, or whether some excrements were forced out at their natural passage, such an intolerable stinck proceeded from him, as neither the perfumes that smoaked in great abundance, nor any other meanes were able to qualifie. Wherefore the Priests hasted to finish their office, and the people departed in a sad silence; discoursing diuersly afterward of all these extraordinarie accidents.
A man would thinke that a sepulchre thus hardly attained, should not easily againe bee lost. But it happened otherwise to this vnquiet King; not destined to rest, either in his life or after his death. For in the yeere 1562. whenChastiliontooke the Citie ofCaen, with those broken troupes that escaped at the battaile ofDreux; certaine sauage Souldiers of diuers nations, led by foure dissolute Captaines, beate downe the Monument which KingWilliamhis sonne had built ouer him, and both curiously and richly adorned with gold & costly stones. Then they opened his Tombe, & not finding the treasure which they expected, they threw forth his bones with very great derision & despight. ManyEnglishsouldiers were then in the Towne, who were very curious to gather his bones; whereof some were afterwards brought intoEngland. Hereby the report is conuinced for vaine, that his body was found vncorrupt, more then foure hundred yeeres after it wasburied. Hereby also it is found to be false, that his body was eight foote in length. For neither were his bones proportionable to that stature, (as it is testified by those who saw them) and it is otherwise reported of him by som who liued in his time; namely, that he was of a good stature, yet not exceeding the ordinary proportion of men.
And this was the last end of all his fortunes, of all that was mortall in him besides his fame: whose life is too much extolled by theNormans, and no lesse extenuated by theEnglish. Verely, he was a very great Prince: full of hope to vndertake great enterprises, full of courage to atchieue them: in most of his actions commendable, and excusable in all. And this was not the least piece of his Honour, that the Kings ofEnglandwhich succeeded, did accompt their order onely from him: not in regard of his victorie inEngland, but generally in respect of his vertue and valour.
For his entrance was not by way of conquest but with pretence of title to the Crowne: wherein he had both allowance and aide from diuers Christian Princes in Europe. He had also his partie within the Realme, by whosemeanes he preuailed against the opposite faction, (asCæsardid againstPompey) and not against the entire strength of the State.
Againe, hee did not settle himselfe in the chaire of Soueraignetie, as one that had reduced all things to the proud power and pleasure of a Conquerour, but as an vniuersall successor of former Kings, in all the rights and priuiledges which they did enioy. Hee was receiued for King by generall consent; He was crowned with all Ceremonies and Solemnities then in vse; Hee tooke an oath in the presence of the Clergie, the Nobilitie, and of much people, for defence of the Church, for moderate and carefull gouernement, and for vpright administration of iustice.
Lastly, during the whole course of his gouernement, the kingdome receiued no vniuersall change, no losse or diminution of honour. For, neither were the olde inhabitants expelled, as were theBritaines; neither was the kingdome either subiected or annexed to a greater: but rather it receiued encrease of honour, in that a lesse State was adioyned vnto it. The change of customes was not violent and at once, but by degrees, and with the silentapprobation of theEnglish; who haue alwaies been inclinable to accommodate themselues to the fashions ofFrance. The grieuances and oppressions were particular, and with some appearance either of iustice, or of necessitie for the common quiet; such as are not vnusuall in any gouernement moderately seuere. So the change was chiefly in the stemme and familie of the King: which whether it be wrought by one of the same nation (as it was inFrancebyPepineandCapett) or by a stranger, (as in the same Countrey byHenry5. andHenry6. Kings ofEngland) it bringeth no disparagement in honour; it worketh no essentiall change. The State still remained the same, the solid bodie of the State remained stillEnglish: the comming in of manyNormans, was but as Riuers falling into the Ocean; which change not the Ocean, but are confounded with the waters thereof.
This King had by his wifeMatild, daughter toBaldwineEarle ofFlanders, foure sonnes;Robert,Richard,WilliamandHenrie: Hee had also fiue daughters;Cicely,Constance,Adela,MargaretandElianor.
Roberthis eldest sonne surnamedCourtcuise,by reason of the shortnesse of his thighs, succeeded him in the duchie ofNormandie. He was a man of exceeding honourable courage and spirit, for which cause he was so esteemed by the Christian Princes in the great warre against theSaracens, that when they had subdued the Citie and territorie ofHierusalem, they offered the kingdome thereof first vnto him. Yet afterwards, either by the malice of his Fortune, or for that he was both suddaine and obstinate in his owne aduise (two great impediments that valour cannot thriue) he receiued many foiles of his enemies, which shall be declared in their proper place. Before the King made his descent intoEngland, hee gaue the duchie ofNormandievnto him: but whether he did this onely to testifie his confidence, or whether afterwards his purpose changed, being often demanded to performe this gift, he would neither deny nor accomplish his word, but enterposed many excuses and delayes; affirming that he was not so surely setled inEngland, but the duchie ofNormandiewas necessary vnto him, both for supply for his seruices (which he found likeHydraesheads to multiply by cutting off) and also for an assured placefor retreit, in case hee should be ouercharged with extremities. HereuponRobertvnable to linger and pine in hopes, declared openly against him in armes.PhilipKing ofFrancewas ready to put fuell to the flame; who as he neuer fauoured in his owne iudgement the prosperous encreases of the King ofEngland, so then he was vigilant to embrace all occasions, either to abate or limit the same. And thusRobertboth encouraged and enabled by the King ofFrance, inuadedNormandie, and permitted his souldiers licentiously to wast; to satisfie those by spoile, which by pay he was not able to maintaine. At the last he encountred the King his father in a sharpe conflict, before the castle ofGerberie, wherein the King was vnhorsed and wounded in the arme; his second sonneWilliamwas also hurt, and many of his souldiers slaine. And albeitRobertso soone as he knew his father by his voyce, allighted forthwith, mounted him vpon his owne horse, and withdrew him out of the medley; yet did he cast vpon his sonne a cruell curse, which lay so heauie vpon him, that he neuer prospered afterward in any thing which hee vndertooke. And although after this he was reconciled tohis father, and imployed by him in seruices of credit and weight, yet did the King often bewray of him an vnquiet conceit, often did he ominate euill vnto him: yea, a little before his death he openly gaue forth,That it was a miserable Countrey which should be subiect to his dominion, for that he was a proud and foolish knaue, and to be long scourged by cruell Fortune.
Richardhad erected the good expectation of many, as well by his comely countenance and behauiour, as by his liuely and generous spirit. But he died yong by misaduenture, as he was hunting within the New-forrest, before he had made experiment of his worth. Some affirme that he was goared to death by the Deere of that Forrest, for whose walke his father had dispeopled that large compasse of ground: others report, that as he rode in chase, hee was hanged vpon the bough of a tree by the chaps: others more probably doe write, that he perished by a fal from his horse. He was buried atWinchesterwith this inscription:Hic iacet Richardus filius Wilielmi senioris Berniæ Dux.
Williamdid succeed next to his father in the Kingdome ofEngland. ToHenry, the King gaue at the time of his death fiue thousandpounds out of his treasure; but gaue him neither dignitie nor lands: foretelling, that hee should enioy the honour of both his brothers in time, and farre excel them both in dominion and power. Whether this was deuised vpon euent; or whether some doe prophesie at their death; or whether it was coniecturally spoken; or whether to giue contentment for the present; it fell out afterward to be true. For hee succeededWilliamin the Kingdome ofEngland, and wrestedNormandieout of the possession ofRobert. Of these two I shall write more fully hereafter.
His daughterCiceliewas Abbesse ofCaeninNormandie.Constancewas married toAllen FergantEarle ofBritaine.Adelawas wife toStephenEarle ofBlois, to whom she bareStephen, who after the death ofHenrywas King ofEngland.Margaretwas promised in marriage toHarold; she died before hee attained the Kingdome, for which cause he held himselfe discharged of that oath which he had made to the Duke her father.Elianorwas betroathed toAlphonsoKing ofGallicia; but she desired much to die a Virgine: for this she daily prayed, and this in the end she did obtaine. Afterher death her knees appeared brawnie and hard, with much kneeling at her deuotions. Assuredly it will be hard to find in any one Familie, both greater Valour in sonnes, and more Vertue in daughters.
In the beginning of this Kings reigne, either no great accidents did fall, or else they were obscured with the greatnesse of the change: none are reported by the writers of that time.
In the fourth yeere of his reigne,LanfrankeAbbot ofCaeninNormandie, but borne inPauie, a Citie ofLumbardie, was made Archbishop ofCanterbury: AndThomasaNorman, andChanonofBayonwas placed in the Sea ofYorke. Between these two a controuersie did arise at the time of their consecration, for prioritie in place: but this contention was quieted by the King, andThomasfor the time subscribed obedience to the Archb. ofCanterbury. After this they went toRomefor their Palles, where the question for Primacie was againe renued, or as some affirme, first moued before PopeAlexander. The Pope vsed them both with honorable respect, and especiallyLanfrank, to whom he gaue two Palles, one of honour, and the otherof loue: but their controuersie he referred to be determined inEngland.
About two yeeres after it was brought before the King and the Clergie atWindsore. The Archbishop ofYorkealleadged, that when theBritainesreceiued the Christian faith, in the time ofLuciustheir KingEleutheriusthen Bishop ofRome, sentFaganusandDamianusvnto them, who ordeined 28. Bishops, and two Archbishops within the Realme, one ofLondon, and the other ofYorke. Vnder these the Church ofBritainewas gouerned almost three hundred yeeres, vntill they were subdued by theSaxons. TheSaxonsremained Infidels vntillGregorieBishop ofRomesentAugustinevnto them. By his preachingEthelbertKing ofKentwas first conuerted to the Christian faith: By reason whereofAugustinewas made Archbishop ofDouer, by appointment of PopeGregorie; who sent vnto him certaine Palles with his letter fromRome. By this letter it is euident, thatGregorieintended to reduce the Church of theSaxonsto the same order wherein it was among theBritaines; namely, to be vnder twelue Bishops and two Archbishops; one ofLondonand the other ofYorke. Indeedehe gaue toAugustineduring his life, authority and iurisdiction ouer all Bishops and Priests inEngland: but after his decease he ioyneth these two Metropolitanes in equall degree, to constitute Bishops, to ouersee the Church, to consult and dispose of such things as appertaine to the gouernement thereof, as in former times among theBritaines. Betweene these he put no distinction in honour, but only as they were in prioritie of time: and as he appointethLondonto be consecrated by no Bishop, but of his own Synod, so he expresseth, that the Bishop ofYorkeshould not bee subiect to the Bishop ofLondon. And albeitAugustinefor the reason before mentioned, translated the Sea fromLondontoDouer, yet ifGregoriehad intended to giue the same authoritie to the successours ofAugustinewhich hee gaue vnto him, he would haue expressed it in his Epistle: but in that he maketh no mention of his successours, he concludeth, or rather excludeth them by his silence.
The Archbishop ofCanterburyalleaged, that from the time ofAugustine, vntill the time ofBede, (which was about 140. yeeres) the Bishops ofCanterburie(which in ancient time (said he) was calledDouer) had the Primacieouer the whole land ofBritaine, andIreland; that they did call the Bishops ofYorketo their Councels, which diuers times they kept within the Prouince ofYorke; that some Bishops ofYorkethey did constitute, some excommunicate, and some remoue. He alleaged also diuers priuiledges granted by Princes for the Primacie of that Sea; diuers graunted from the Apostolike Sea to confirme this dignitie in the successours ofAugustine: that it is reason to receiue directions of well liuing, from whence we first receiued directions of right beleeuing; & therfore as the Bishop ofCanterburywas subiect to the Bishop ofRome, because hee had his faith from thence; for the very same cause the Bishop ofYorkeshould be in subiection to the Bishop ofCanterbury: that like as the Lord said that to all the Bishops ofRome, which hee said to S. Peter; so that whichGregoriesaid toAugustine, hee said likewise to all his successours. And whereas much is spoken of the Bishop ofLondon, what is that to the Archbishop ofCanterbury? For, neither is it certaine thatAugustinewas euer resident atLondon, neither thatGregorieappointed him so to be.
In the end it was decreed, ThatYorkeforthat time should be subiect toCanterburie; that wheresoeuer withinEnglandthe Archbishop ofCanterburieshould hold his Councell, the Archbishop ofYorkeshould come vnto it, with the Bishops of his Prouince, and be obedient to his decrees: that when the Archbishop ofCanterburieshould decease, the Archbishop ofYorkeshould goe toCanterburie, to consecrate him that should succeed: that if the Archbishop ofYorkeshould decease, his successour should goe toCanterbury, or to such place as the Archbishop ofCanterburieshould appoint, there to receiue his Consecration, making first his oath of Canonicall obedience. And thus was the contention for this first time taken vp; but in succeeding times it was often renued, and much busied the Clergie of the Realme.
In the ninth yeere of the reigne of KingWilliama Councell was holden atLondon, where another matter of like qualitie and nature was decreed: namely, that Bishops should translate their Sees from villages to Cities; whereupon in short time after, Bishops Sees were remoued, fromSelesetoChichester, fromCornewalltoExeter, fromWellstoBath, fromShirbournetoSalisburie, fromDorcestertoLincolne,fromLichfieldtoChester, and from thence againe toCouentree. And albeit the Archbishop ofYorkedid oppose against the erecting of a Cathedrall Church inLincolne, because he challenged that Citie to be of his Prouince; yetRemigiusBishop ofDorchester, being strong both in resolution and in friends, did prosecute his purpose to effect. Not long before the Bishopricke ofLindafferneotherwise calledHoly land, vpon the riuerTweed, had bene translated toDurhame.
In the tenth yeere of his reigne the cold of Winter was exceeding memorable, both for sharpenesse and for continuance: For the earth remained hard frozen from the beginning of Nouember, vntill the middest of April then ensuing.
In the 15. yere a great earthquake happened in the month of April; strange for the strong trembling of the earth, but more strange for the dolefull and hideous roaring which it yeelded foorth.
In the 20. yeere there fell such abundance of raine, that the Riuers did greatly ouerflow in all parts of the Realme. The springs also rising plentifully in diuers hils, so softned and decaiedthe foundations of them, that they fell downe, whereby some villages were ouerthrowne. By this distemperature of weather much cattel perished, much corne vpon the ground was either destroyed, or greatly empaired. Herehence ensued, first a famine, and afterwards a miserable mortalitie of men.
And that all the Elements might seeme to haue conspired the calamity of the Realme, the same yeere most of the principall Cities inEnglandwere lamentably deformed with fire. AtLondona fire began at the entry of the West gate, which apprehending certaine shops and Ware-houses, wherein was Merchandise apt to burne, it was at once begun and suddenly at the highest. Then being caried with a strong wind; and the Citie apt to maintaine the flame, as well by reason of the crooked and narrow streets, as for that the buildings at that time had open and wide windowes, and were couered with base matter fit to take fire, the mischiefe spread more swiftly then the remedies could follow. So it raged vntill it came to the East gate, prostrated houses and Churches all the way, being the most grieuous that euer as yet hath happened to that Citie. The Churchof S.Paulwas at that time fired; WhereuponMauricethen Bishop ofLondon, began the foundation of the new Church of S.Paul. A worke so admirable, that many did iudge, it would neuer haue bene finished; yet all might easily esteeme thereby his magnanimitie, his high erected hopes, his generous loue and honour to Religion. The King gaue towards the building of the East end of this Church, the choise stones of his Castle at the West end of the Citie, vpon the bancke of the Riuer Thames; which Castle at the same time was also fired: in place whereofEdward KillwarbyArchbishop ofCanterburiedid afterwards found a Monasterie of blacke Friers. The King also gaue the Castle ofStorford, and all the lands which thereto belonged, to the sameMaurice, and to his successours in that See. And doubtlesse nothing more then either parcimonious or prophane expending the Treasures of the Church, hath since those times much dried vp those fountaines which first did fill them.
After the death ofMaurice,Richardhis next Successour, as well in vertue as in dignitie, bestowed all the Rents rising out of thisBishopricke, to aduance the building of this Church; maintaining himselfe by his Patrimonie and friendes: and yet all which hee could doe, made no great shewe: so that the finishing of this worke was left to many other succeeding Bishops. Hee purchased the ground about the Church whereupon many buildings did stand, and inclosed the same with a strong wall of stone for a place of buriall. It seemeth that this wall was afterwards either battered and torne in some ciuill warres, or else by negligence suffered to decay: for that a graunt was made by KingEdwardthe second, that the Church-yard of SaintPaulsshould bee enclosed with a wall, because of the robberies and murthers that were there committed. Many parts of this wall remaine at this time, on both sides of the Church, but couered for the most part with dwelling houses.
The same yeere in Whitsun-weeke, the King honoured his sonneHenriewith the order of Knighthood. What Ceremonies the King then vsed it is not certainly knowen: but before his time the custome among theSaxonswas thus. First, hee who should receiue the order of Knighthood, confessed himselfe in the euening to a Priest. Then hee continued all that night in the Church, watching and applying himselfe to his priuate deuotions. The next morning he heard Masse, and offered his sword vpon the Altar. After the Gospel was read, the sword was hallowed, and with a benediction put about his necke. Lastly, he communicated the mysteries of the blessed body of Christ, and from that time remained a lawfull Souldier or Knight. This custome of Consecrating Knights theNormansdid not onely abrogate, but abhorre; not for any euill that was therein, but because it was not altogether their owne.
This yeere in a Prouince ofWalescalledRosse, the Sepulchre ofWawyn, otherwise calledGawen, was found vpon the Sea shore. Hee was sisters sonne toArthurthe great King of theBritaines; a man famous in ourBritaineHistories, both for ciuill courtesie, and for courage in the field. I cannot but esteeme the report for fabulous, that his bodie was fourteene foote in length. I doe rather coniecturethat one credulous writer did take that for the length of his body, which happily might bee the length of his tombe.
It is constantly affirmed that the ground whereon theEnglishand theNormansdid combate, doth shew after euery raine manifest markes of blood vpon the grasse:which if it was not a proprietie of the soyle before, it ishard now to assigne, either from what naturallcause it doth proceede, or whatit should supernaturallyportend.* **