of enterprise, was Robert duke of Normandy. The cru sade was entirely adapted to his inclinations and his circum. stances; he was brave, zealous, covetous of glory, poor narassed by insurrections, and what was more than all, na turally fond of change. In order, therefore, to supply money to defray the necessary charges of so expensive an under taking, he offered to mortgage his dukedom in Normandy to his brother Rufus for a stipulated sum of money. 10 This sum, which was no greater than ten thousand marks was readily promised by Rufus, whose ambition was upon the watch to seize every advantage. But though the cession of Maine and Normandy greatly increased the king's territories, they added but little to hig real power, and his new subjects were composed of men of independent spirits, more ready to dispute than to obey nis commands. 11. Many were the revolts and insurrections which he was obliged to quell in person; and no sooner was one conspiracy suppressed, than another rose to give him disquietude. However, Rufus proceeded, careless of approbation or censure; and continued to extend his dominions, either by purchase or conquest. 12. The earl of Poictiers and Guiene, inflamed with the desire of going upon the crusade, had gathered an immense multitude for that expedi tion, but wanted money to forward his preparations. He had recourse, therefore, to Rufus, and offered to mortgage all his dominions, without much considering what would become of his unhappy subjects that he thus disposed of. 13. The king accepted this offer with his usual avidity, and had prepared a fleet and an army, in order to take possession of the rich provinces thus consigned to his trust. But an accident put an end to all his ambitious projects: he was shot by an arrow that Sir Walter Tyrrel* discharged at a deer in the New Forest, which, glancing from a tree,t struck the king to the heart. 14. He dropped dead instan taneously; while the innocent author of his death, terrified * A French gentleman, remarkable for his skill in archery. It is a no less interesting historical fact, than a botanical curiosity bundantly proving the longevity of the oak, that this celebrated tree is now standing, though in the last stage of decay, near Malwood Castle, in the centre of the New Forest. It was first paled round by an order of Charles II The rampart which surrounds the Tower of London, and Westminster hall, are the principal monuments which remain of Rufus's reign. At the time of his death he was forty-two years of age, and had reigned thirteen, at the accident, put spurs to his horse, hastened to the sea shore, embarked for France, and joined the crusade tha. was then setting out for Jerusalem. CONTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Popes A.D. Emperors of the East. A.D. King of France. A.D. 1086 Alexis I.......... Victor III......... 1099 Lanfranc and Anselm, archbishops of Canterbury. Odo, bishop of Bayeux Tiamlard, bishop of Durham. Questions for Examination. 1 Who succeeded William the Conqueror? 2. By what means did Rufus induce the English to support his interest? 3. How did Robert employ his money? 5 What was the conduct of the king on the detection of conspiracica against him? 7. Relate the origin of the crusades. 9. What is the character of the duke of Normandy? 12 Who offered to mortgage his dominions to Rufus ! 13 What caused the death of Rufus? CHAPTER VI. HENRY I. Born 1068. Died Dec. 2d. 1135. Began to reign August 5th 1100. Reigned 35 years. But who shall teach my harp to gain Could win the royal Henry's ear. - Dibdin. 1. (A. D. 1100.) HENRY, surnamed Beauclerc,* the late king's younger brother, who had been hunting in the New Forest when Rufus was slain, took the earliest advantage of the occasion, and hastening to Winchester, resolved to secure the royal treasures, which he knew to be the best assistant in seconding his aims. The barons, as well as the people, acquiesced in a claim which they were unprovided to resist, and yielded obedience, from the fear of immediate danger. 2. Henry, to ingratiate himself with the people, expelled from court all the minister's of his brothers debauchery and arbitrary power. One thing only remained to confirm his claims without danger of a rival. The English remembered the Saxon monarchs with gratitude, and beheld them excluded the throne with regret. 3. There still remained some of the descendants of that favourite line; and amongst others, Matilda, the niece of Edgar Atheling; which lady, having declined all pretensions to royalty, was bred in a convent, and had actually taken the veil. 4. Upon her Henry first fixed his eyes as a proper consort, by whose means the long breach between the Saxon and Norman interest would be finally united. It only remained to get over the scruple of her being a nun; but this a council devoted to his interests readily admitted, and Matilda being pro nounced free to marry, the nuptials were celebrated with great pomp and solemnity.† 5. It was at this unfavourable juncture that Robert returned from abroad; and, after taking possession of his "Henry was called 'Beauclerc,' from his attention to learning; he had heard his father say, that 'Illiterate kings were little better than crowned asses,' and determined not to come under that description."-Camden. + Queen Matilda was the delight of the English, both on account of her descent and goodness of heart. To her we owe the first stone arched bridges England ever possessed: she built two at Stratford, in Essex, (thence co De Arcubus, or Le Bow), where she had nearly been drowned for uch a convenience. E native dominions, laid his claim to the crown of England But proposals for an accommodation being made, it was stipulated that Robert, upon the payment of a certain sum should resign his pretensions to England; and that, if either of the princes died without issue, the other should succeed to his dominions. This treaty being ratified, the armies on each side were disbanded: and Robert, having lived two months in the utmost harmony with his brother, returned in peace to his own dominions. 6. But Robert's indiscretion soon rendered him unfit to govern any state; he was totally averse to business, and only studious of the more splendid amusements or enjoyments of life. His servants pillaged him without compunction; and he is described as lying whole days in bed for want of clothes, of which they had robbed him. 7. His subjects were treated still more deplorably; for, being under the command of petty and rapacious tyrants, who plundered them without mercy, the whole country was become a scene of violence and depredation. It was in this miserable exigence that the Normans at length had recourse to Henry, from whose wise administration of his own dominions, they expected a similitude of prosperity, should he take the reins of theirs. 8. Henry very readily promised to redress their grievances, as he knew it would be the direct method to second his own ambition. The year ensuing, therefore, he landed in Normandy with a strong army, took possession of the principal towns; and a battle ensuing, Robert's forces were totally overthrown, and he himself taken prisoner, with nearly ten thousand of his men, and all the considerable barons who had adhered to his misfortunes. 9. This victory was followed by the final reduction of Normandy, while Henry returned in triumph to England, leading with him his captive brother, who, after a life of bravery, generosity, and truth, now found himself deprived not only of his patrimony and friends, but also his freedom. Henry, unmindful of his brother's former magnanimity with regard to him, detained him a prisoner during the remainder of his life, which was no less than twenty-eight years; and he died in the castle of Cardiff, Glamorganshire. 10. It is even said by some, that he was deprived of his sight by a red-hot copper basin applied to his eyes; while his brother attempted to stifle the reproaches of his conscience, by founding the abbey of Reading, which was then considered sufficient atonement for every degree of barbarity. 11 Fortune now seemed to smile upon Henry, and pro mişe a long succession of felicity. He was in peaceable possession of two powerful states, and had a son, who was acknowledged his undisputed heir, arrived at his eighteenth year, whom he loved most tenderly. His daughter Matilda was also married to the emperor Henry V. of Germany, and she had been sent to that court, while yet but eight years old. for her education. 12. All his prospects, however were at once clouded by unforeseen misfortunes, and acci dents, which tinctured his remaining years with misery. The king, from the facility with which he usurped the crown, dreading that his family might be subverted with the same ease, took care to have his son recognized as his successor by the states of England, and carried him over to Normandy, to receive the homage of the barons of that duchy. 13. After performing this requisite ceremony, Henry, returning triumphantly to England, brought with him a numerous retinue of the chief nobility, who seemed to share in his success. In one of the vessels of the fleet, his son and several young noblemen, the companions of his pleasures, went together, to render the passage more agreeable. The king set sail from Harfleur,* and was soon carried by a fair wind out of sight of land. 14. The prince was detained by some accident; and his sailors, as well as their captain, Fitz-Stephen, having spent the interval in drinking, became so disordered, that they ran the ship upon a rock, and immediately it was dashed to pieces. The prince was put into the boat and might have escaped, had he not been called back by the cries of Maude, his natural sister. He was at first conveyed out of danger himself, but could not leave a person so dear to perish without an effort to save her. He, therefore, prevailed upon the sailors to row back and take her in. 15. The approach of the boat giving several others, who had been left upon the wreck, the hopes of saving their lives, numbers leaped in, and the whole went to the bottom. About a hundred and forty young noblemen, of the principal families of England and Normandy, were lost on this occasion. A butcher of Rouen was the only person on board who escaped; he clung to the mast, and was taken up the next morning by some fish16. Fitz-Stephen, the captain, while the butcher was thus buffeting the waves for his life, swam up to him and enquired if the prince was yet living; when being told * A town of Normandy in France ermen. |