calling a councell at Clermont in Auuergne, exhorted the christian
princes so earnestlie to make a iourneie into the holie land,
[Sidenote: The iournie into the holie land.] for the recouerie thereof
out of the Saracens hands, that the said great and generall iournie
was concluded vpon to be taken in hand; [Sidenote: Godfray de
Bullion.] wherein manie Noble men of christendome went vnder the
leading of Godfray of Bullion, and others, as in the chronicles of
France, of Germanie, and of the holie land dooth more plainlie
appeare. There went also among other diuers Noble men foorth of this
relme of England, speciallie that worthilie bare the surname of
Beauchampe. [Sidenote: An. Reg. 9. 1096.] Robert duke of Normandie
minding also to go the same iournie, and wanting monie to furnish and
set foorth himselfe, morgaged his duchie of Normandie to his brother
king William, for the summe of ten thousand pounds. [Sidenote: _Hen.
Hunt._ _Will. Thorne._ _Simon Dun._ A subsidie.] About this time
another occasion was offered vnto king William, to laie a new paiment
vpon his subiects, so gréeuous and intolerable, as well to the
spiritualtie as the temporaltie, that diuerse bishops and abbats, who
had alreadie made away some of their chalices and church iewels to
paie the king, made now plaine answer that they were not able to helpe
him with any more. Unto whom on the other side (as the report went)
the king said againe; "Haue you not (I beséech you) coffins of gold
and siluer full of dead mens bones:" Meaning the shrines wherein the
relikes of saints were inclosed. Which (as his words seemed to import)
he would haue had them conuert into monie, therewith to helpe him in
that need, iudging it no sacrilege, though manie did otherwise esteeme
it, considering (as he pretended) that it was gathered for so godlie
an vse, as to mainteine warres against Infidels and enimies of Christ.
[Sidenote: _Eadmerus._] The archbishop Anselme tooke the worth of two
hundred markes of siluer of the iewels that belonged to the church of
Canturburie (the greater part of the couent of moonks winking thereat)
towards the making vp of such paiment as he was constreined to make
vnto the king towards his aid at that time. But bicause he would not
leaue this for an example to be followed of his successours, he
granted to the church of Canturburie the profits and reuenues of his
manour of Petteham, vnto the vse of the same church for the terme of
seauen yeares, which amounted to the summe of thirtie pounds yearelie
in those daies.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._] Thus king William seeking rather to spoile the
realme of England, than to preserue the roiall state thereof, after he
had gotten togither a great masse of monie, sailed ouer into
Normandie, and there deliuering vnto the duke the ten thousand pounds
aforesaid, was put in possession of the duchie, to enioy the same, and
the profits rising thereof, till the said ten thousand pounds were
paid him againe: [Sidenote: The duchie of Normandie morgaged to king
William. _Eadmerus._] or (as some write) it was couenanted that in
recompense thereof, the king should enioy the profits for terme onelie
of three yeares, and then to restore it without any further interest
or commoditie. [Sidenote: _Polydor._] This doone, he returned againe
into England.
Now duke Robert setteth forward on his iornie, in companie of other
Noble men, towards the holie land. In which voiage his valorous hart at
all assaies (when any seruice should be shewed) was most manifestlie
perceiued, to his high fame and renowme among the princes and nobilitie
there and then assembled.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 10. 1097.] [Sidenote: _Eadmerus._ Waterford in
Ireland made a bishoprike. The archbishop of Canturburie primate of
Ireland.] About the same time, the citizens of Waterford in Ireland,
perceiuing that by reason of the great multitude of people in that
citie, it was necessarie for them to haue a bishop; obteined licence
of their king and rulers to erect in their citie a bishops sée, and
besought them that it might please them to write vnto Anselme the
archbishop of Canturburie their primate, to haue his consent therein,
so as it might stand with his pleasure to institute and ordeine such a
one bishop, to haue gouernement of their church, as they should name,
knowing him to be a man of such learning, knowledge, discretion and
worthines as were fit for the roome. [Sidenote: Murcherdach K. of
Ireland.] Herevpon were letters sent by messengers from Murcherdach
king of Ireland vnto Anselme, informing him of the whole matter:
wherein one Malchus was commended and presented vnto him to be
admitted and consecrated, if he thought good. These letters were
subscribed with the hands, not onelie of king Murcherdach, but also of
his brother duke Dermeth, bishop Dufnald, Idiman bishop of Methe,
Samuell bishop of Dublin, Ferdomnachus bishop of Laginia or Leinister,
and many others both of the spiritualtie and temporaltie.
Anselme considering their request to be iust and necessarie, granted
to fulfill their desires, and so vpon examination had of the man, and
taking of him his oth of obedience, according to the maner, he
consecrated the same Malchus, and so ordeined him to rule the church
of Waterford as bishop. [Sidenote: Malchus consecrated bishop of
Waterford.] This was doone at Canturburie the 28. day of October, Rafe
bishop of Chichester, and Gundulfe bishop of Rochester helping Anselme
in the consecration as ministers vnto him in that behalfe. The said
Malchus was a monke, and sometime vnder Walkhelme bishop of
Winchester.
[Sidenote: The king eftsoones inuadeth the Welshmen. _Polydor._] But
to the purpose, king William after his returne into England,
remembring what damage he had susteined two yéeres before at the hands
of the Welshmen, determined eftsoones to inuade their countrie, and
therefore doubling his power, commeth into the marshes, pitcheth his
field, and consulteth with his capteines what order he were best to
vse in that his enterprise, for the taming of his enimies. The
Welshmen hearing of the kings approch, and that his armie was farre
greater than the last which he brought into their countrie, fell to
their woonted policie, [Sidenote: The Welshmen withdraw into the
woods. _H. Hunt._] and got them into the woods, there to lie in wait,
trusting more to the aduantage of starting holes, than to their owne
force & puissance.
When the king vnderstood their practise, he set armed men in diuers
places, and builded towers and fortifications to defend him and his,
bicause he durst not assaie to enter into wild and wast grounds where
he had béene hindred and damnified before that time, hoping by this
meanes in stopping vp the waies and passages of the countrie, to bring
the rebels to more subiection. But when this policie was found by
proofe to wearie the kings souldiors rather than to hurt the enimies,
which straieng vp and downe in the woods intrapped oftentimes the
Normans and English, in taking them at aduantage, the king without
bringing his purpose to any good effect, departed home into England.
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _R. Houed._] After this he sent Edgar Etheling
with an armie into Scotland, that he might place his coosine Edgar the
sonne of king Malcolme in the gouernement of that kingdome, and expell
his vncle Duffnald, who had vsurped the same.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 11. 1098.] King William, being still inflamed with
ire, for that he could not haue his will, determined with continuall
warres to wearie the rebellious stomachs of the Welshmen: and
therefore was fixed first to set vpon them of Anglesey, which being an
Ile enuironed with the sea, was euer a refuge for them when they were
sharpelie pursued. [Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._] This enterprise was
chéeflie committed vnto Hugh earle of Shrewsburie and Arundell, and to
Hugh earle of Chester, who at their first comming wan the Ile, and
tempered the victorie with great crueltie and bloudshed, putting out
the eies of some, cutting off the noses, the armes, or hands of
others, and some also they gelded. [Sidenote: _Gyral. Cam._] Moreouer
(as authors write) the said earle of Shrewesburie made a kenell of the
church of Saint Fridancus, laieng his hounds within it for the night
time, but in the morning he found them all raging wood. How true so
euer this report is I wote not, but shortlie after they had executed
(in maner as before is said) such strange kinds of crueltie in that
Ile, it chanced that a nauie of rouers came thither from the Iles of
Orkney, whose chéefe admirall was named Magnus, who incountring with
the said earle of Shrewesburie, [Sidenote: Hugh earle of Shrewsburie
slaine.] shot him into the eie with an arrow, which part of his body
remained bare and vnarmed, so that by & by he fell downe dead out of
his ship into the sea. When Magnus beheld this, he said scornefullie
in the Danish toong, _Leit loupe_, that is; Let him leape now: the
English neuerthelesse had the victorie at that time (as some write)
and ouercame their enimies with great slaughter and bloudshed.
[Sidenote: _Fab. ex Guido de Columna._] Not long after, the earle of
Chester going ouer to Wales, with long and continual warres tired and
tamed the wild Welshmen, who for a good while after durst not shew
their faces.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 12. 1099.] The king being thus at quiet and
without warre in all places, began now to set his mind on building,
and first caused new walles to be made about the tower of London, and
also laid the foundation, of Westminster hall, which though it be a
verie large and roomthie place, yet after it was finished at his
returne out of Normandie, he came to view it, held his court therein
with great pompe and honor. [Sidenote: _Fabian._ _Ran. Higd._ _Matth.
Paris._] He repented that he had made it no larger, saieng; it was too
little by the halfe, and therefore determined to haue made a new, and
that this other should haue serued but for a dining chamber. A
diligent searcher (saith Matthew Paris) might yet find out the
foundation of the hall, which he had purposed to build, stretching
from the Thames side vnto the common street. But though those his
buildings were great ornaments to the realme, yet bicause he tooke vp
monie by extortion of his subiects towards the charges of the same, he
was euill spoken of; [Sidenote: _Polydor._] the report being spred,
that he should take them in hand but onelie vnder a colour to spoile
his subiects, in gathering a farre greater summe than the expenses of
them did amount vnto. [Sidenote: The king goeth ouer into Normandie.]
About the same time that king William beganne these buildings, he went
ouer into Normandie, to vnderstand in what state that countrie stood.
[Sidenote: Finchamstéed. _Ran. Higd._ _Hen. Hunt._ _Matth. West._
_Wil. Malm._] About the same time also, or rather two yéere before; to
wit 1097. néere to Abington, at a towne called Finchamsteed in
Berkshire, a well or fountaine flowed with bloud, in maner as before
it vsed to flow with water, and this continued for the space of three
daies, or (as William Malmes. saith) fifteene daies togither.
After the king had dispatched his businesse in Normandie, & was
returned into England (as he was making prouision to ride foorth on
hunting) a messenger came suddenlie vnto him, bringing word, that the
citie of Mans was besieged, and like to be surprised. [Sidenote: _Hen.
Hunt._ _Matth. Paris._] The king was then at dinner, meaning first to
make an end thereof, and after to take aduice in that matter: but
being reprooued by the messenger, for that to the great danger of his
subiects which were besieged he passed not to make delaies, rather
than to go and succour them with all spéed, he taketh the mans blunt
spéech in so good part, that he called straightwaie for masons to
breake downe the wall, to the end he might passe through the next way,
and not be driuen to step so farre out of his path, as to go foorth by
the doores: and so without any long aduisement taken in the cause, he
rode straightwaie to the sea, sending his lords a commandement to
follow; [Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] who when they came in his presence,
counselled him to staie till his people were assembled. Howbeit he
would not giue eare to their aduice in that point, but said; Such as
loue me, I know well will follow me, and so went a shipboord, setting
apart all doubts of perils; and yet was the weather verie darke, rough
and cloudie, insomuch that the maister of the ship was afraid, and
willed him to tarrie till the wind did settle in some quiet quarter:
[Sidenote: The saieng of king William Rufus.] but hee commanded to
hoise vp sailes, and to make all spéed that could be for life,
incouraging the shipmaster with these words, "that he neuer heard as
yet of anie king that was drowned."
Thus passing the seas, he landed in Normandie, where he gathered his
power, and made towards Mans. When those which held the siege before
the citie, heard of his approch, they brake vp their campe and
departed thence: [Sidenote: Mans deliuered from an asséege.] howbeit,
the capteine named Helias, that pretended by title and right to be
earle of Mans, was taken by a traine; and brought before the king, who
iested at him, as though he had beene but a foole and a coward.
[Sidenote: Helias.] Wherevpon, the said Helias kindled in wrath,
boldlie said vnto him; "Whereas thou hast taken me prisoner, it was by
méere chance, and not by thy manhood: but if I were at libertie
againe, I would so vse the matter with thee, that thou shouldest not
thinke I were a man so lightlie to be laughed at." "No should (saith
the king); Well then I giue thée thy libertie, and go thy waies, doo
euen the worst that lieth in thy power against me, for I care not a
button for thée." Helias being, thus set at libertie, did nothing
after (to make anie account of) against the king, but rather kept
himselfe quiet. [Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Polydor._] Howbeit some
write, that he was not taken at all, but escaped by flight. To
procéed king William being returned into England, and puffed vp with
pride of his victories, and now séeing himselfe fullie deliuered from
all troubles of warre, began after his old manner to spoile and wast
the countrie by vnreasonable exactions, tributes and paiments.
[Sidenote: Variance betwixt the king and the archbishop Anselme.]
Herevpon fell a great controuersie betweene Anselme and the king, who
pretended a reproch of cruell surcharging of his commons with
subsidies, lones, and vnreasonable fines: but the cheefe cause was,
for that he might not call his synods, nor correct the bishops, but
all to be doone as the king would. The king also chalenged the
inuestiture of prelates, and indéed sore taxed both the spiritualtie
and temporaltie, spending the monie vpon the reparations and buildings
of the Tower, & Westminster hall, as is before remembred. Besides
this, his seruants spoiled the English of their goods by indirect
meanes: but especiallie one Rafe sometime chaplaine vnto William the
Conquerour, & at this time the kings proctor and collector of his
taskes and subsidies was so malicious & couetous, that in stéed of two
taskes, he would leuie thrée, pilling the rich, and powling the poore,
so that manie through his cruell dealing were oftentimes made to
forfeit their lands for small offenses: and by his meanes also diuerse
bishoprikes were bought and sold as other kinds of merchandizes,
whereby he was in singular fauour with the king. [Sidenote: The
clergie out of order.] The clergie also were vsed verie streightlie,
and (as I suppose) not without good cause; for suerlie in those daies
it was far out of order, not onelie in couetous practises, but in all
kinds of worldlie pompe and vanitie: for they had vp bushed and
braided perukes, long side garments verie gorgeous, gilt girdels, gilt
spurs, with manie other vnséemelie disorders in attire. To be short,
the contention grew so hot betwixt the king and Anselme, who would
also haue corrected such vices in the clergie (as some write)
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._] that in the end the archbishop was quite
cast out of fauour. [Sidenote: A thousand markes demanded of Anselme.]
There are which alledge the verie first and originall occasion of
their falling out to be, for that the archbishop denied to paie a
thousand marks of siluer at his request; in consideration of the great
beneuolence shewed in preferring him to his sée, whereas the
archbishop iudged the offense of simonie, to rest as well in giuing
after his promotion receiued, as if he had bribed him aforehand, and
therefore refused to make anie such paiment: [Sidenote: _Eadmerus._]
but yet (as Eadmerus writeth) he offered him fiue hundred pounds of
siluer, which would not be receiued, for the king was informed by some
of his councell, that the archbishop (in consideration of his
bountious liberalitie extended towards him) ought rather to giue him
two thousand pounds, than fiue hundred, adding, that if he would but
change his countenance, and giue him no fréendlie lookes for a while,
he should perceiue that Anselme would ad to the first offer, other
fiue hundred pounds. But Anselme was so far from being brought to the
kings lure with such fetches, that openlie to the kings face he told
him, that better it should be for his maiestie to receiue of him a
small summe granted of him with a free and franke hart, so as he might
helpe him eftsoones with more, than to take from him a great deale at
once, without his good will, in such sort as if he were his bondman.
For your grace (saith he) may haue me, and all that is mine, to serue
your turne with fréendlie beneuolence: but in the waie of seruitude
and bondage you shall neither haue me nor mine. With which words the
king was in maruellous choler, and therewith said in anger: "Well
then, get thee home, take that which is thine to thy selfe that which
I haue of mine owne I trust will suffice me." The archbishop béeing on
his knees, rose herewith and departed, reioising in his mind that the
king had refused his offer, whereby he was deliuered out of suspicion
to haue bribed the king, and giuen him that monie in waie of reward
for his preferment to the miter, as of malicious men would happilie
haue béene construed. [Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._] Wherevpon béeing
after laboured to double the summe he vtterlie refused, and
determining rather to forsake the realme than to commit such an
offense, made suit to the king for licence to go to Rome to fetch his
pall of the pope. [Sidenote: The king could not abide to heare the
pope named.] The king hearing the pope named, waxed maruellous angrie:
for they of Rome began alreadie to demand donations and
contributions, more impudentlie than they were hitherto accustomed.
And as it chanced, there was a schisme at that time in the church, by
reason the emperor Henrie had placed a pope of his owne aduancing,
(namely Wibteth archbishop of Rauenna) against pope Urban: for the
emperor mainteined that it belonged to his office onlie to elect and
assigne what pope it pleased him.
King William therefore conceiued displeasure against Urban, who
withstood the emperours pretense, and alledged by the like, that no
archbishop or bishop within his realme should haue respect to the
church of Rome, nor to anie pope, with whome they had nothing to doo,
either by waie of subiection, or otherwise; sith the popes wandered
out of the steps which Peter trode, séeking after bribes, lucre, and
worldlie honor. He said also that they could not reteine the power to
lose and bind, which they sometime had, since they shewed themselues
nothing at all to follow his most vertuous life and holie
conuersation. He added furthermore, that for himselfe, sithens the
conuersion of the realme to the christian faith, he had as great
authoritie, franchises and liberties within the same, as the emperour
had in his empire. And what hath the pope then to doo (quoth he) in
the empire, or in my kingdome touching temporall liberties, whose
dutie it is to be carefull for the soule of man, and to sée that
heresies spring not vp, which if the prelates of the prouince be not
able to reforme, then might the pope doo it, either by himselfe or his
legats. [Sidenote: _Eadmerus._ The kings demand to Anselme.] Againe,
by reason of the schisme, & for the displeasure that he bare pope
Urban, he asked Anselme of which pope he would require his pall, sith
he was so hastie to go to Rome for it. Wherto Anselme answered, that
he would require it of pope Urban. Which words when the king had
heard, he said, I haue not as yet admitted him pope: adding further
that it was against the custome vsed either in his or his fathers
time, that anie man within the realme of England should name or obeie
anie man for pope, without the kings licence and consent, saieng
moreouer, that if the said Anselme would séeke to take that
prerogatiue and dignitie from him, it should be all one, as if he
should go about to take awaie from him his crowne, and all other
roiall dignitie. Wherevnto Anselme answered, that at Rochester (before
he was consecrated bishop) he had declared his mind therein, and that
beeing abbat of Bechellouin in Normandie, he had receiued Urban for
pope; so that whatsoeuer chanced, he might reuolt from his obedience
and subiection.
The king beeing the more kindled herewith, protested in plaine words,
that Anselme could not kéepe his faith and allegiance towards him, and
his obedience also to the see of Rome, against his will and pleasure.
[Sidenote: A councell at Rockingham in Rutlandshire.] But (to
conclude) this matter went so far in controuersie betwixt the king and
the bishop, that a councell was called at Rockingham in Rutlandshire,
and there in the church within the castell, the matter was earnestlie
decided, and much adoo on euerie side, to haue constreined Anselme to
renounce his opinion, but he would not. Wherfore it was then deuised,
that if he would not agrée to the kings pleasure, they would by and by
sée if they might by any meanes depriue him: but Anselme still held
hard, and could not be feared by all these threats; and in like maner
to iudge of an archbishops cause, the other bishops concluded that
they had no authoritie.
Moreouer, while the matter was in consultation among the bishops,
another of the kings councell that was a knight, came before Anselme
in place where he sat almost alone, to looke for an answer by them
from the king, which knight knéeling downe before the archbishop,
spake these words vnto him: "Reuerend father, your humble children
beséech your Grace not to haue your heart troubled with these things
which you heare; but call to remembrance that blessed man Job,
vanquishing the diuell on the dunghill, and reuenging Adam whome he
had ouercome in paradise." Which words the archbishop considering with
a fréendlie countenance, perceiued that the minds of the people
remained on his side, whereof both he and such as were about him, were
right ioyfull and greatlie comforted, [Sidenote: * If they be Gods
people.] hauing hope, (according to the scripture) that the * voice
of the people was the voice of God. When the king vnderstood all these
things, he was maruelouslie disquieted in mind, and therefore
perceiuing that the bishops and other of his councell had promised
more than they could performe, he blamed them for it: vnto whom the
bishop of Durham that was the chéefe dooer in this matter, framed this
answer: "He spake so faintlie (quoth he) and so coldlie at the first,
that he séemed not to haue any store of wit or wisdome."