Observations of all the Kings of England, Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
K. William the second, sirnamed Rufus; or the Red.
KIng William the first took to wife Matilde, daughter to Baldwin, Earl of Flanders, a man for his wisdome and power, both reverenced and feared even of Kings; but because she was his Cousin-germane, he was for his marriage excommunicate by his own Uncle Mauger, Archbishop of Roan. Hereupon he sued to Pope Victor, and obtained of him a dispensation; and afterwards so wrought, that by a provinciall Counsell his Uncle Mauger▪ was deprived of his dignity.
This King had by his Wife four sons, Robert, Richard, William and Henry.
Robert his eldest son, sirnamed Courtcuise *Or Courthos…, of his short Hose, or Br…eches. Or Courtois, of his courteous behaviour. Sir Iobn Haywards Lives of the three Norman Kings of England, p. 125. & 222., by reason of the shortness of his thighs, succeeded him in the Duchy of Normandy. 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 the Saracens, that when they had subdued the City and Territory of Hierusalem, they offered the Kingdome thereof first unto him.
The King of England to whom the Schola Salernitana was dedicated,See Renasus Morean in his Prol…gomena to his learned Animadversions, by which he hath illustrated that work. was this Robert, eldest son of the Duke of Normandy, which begins thus, Anglorum Regi scribit▪ Schola tota Salerni; and it seems to be written, when this Robert returned out of Palestina into Apulia; and by reason of a Fistula from his poysoned wound, he had consulted with the School of Salerne concerning it, and preserving his health. Neither doth that hinder that this Book is written to the King of England; Vossius de Philosophia. c. 12.(but Robert never raigned here) for the Kingdome of right belonged to him,Joannes de Me…iolano medicus nomine …oll…gii Scholae Salernitanae conscrip…i librum cui titulus Schola Salernitana. Id ibid. which his younger Brother William Rufus possessed in his absence, and for recovering of that he warred with his Brother, but was overcome by him.
Richard had raised the good expectation of many, as well by his comely countenance and behaviour, as by his lively and generous spirit. But he died young by misadventure,By a fall from his Horse. as he was hunting within the New-Forrest, before he had made experiment of his worth. He was buried at Winchester, with this inscription, Hic jacet Richardus, filius Wilielmi senioris, Berniae Dux.
To Henry the King gave at the time of his death, five thousand pounds out of his treasure; but gave him neither dignity nor Lands, foretelling that he should enjoy the honour of both his Brothers in time, and far excell them both in dominion and power. He succeeded his Brother William in the Kingdome of England, and wrested Normandy out of the possession of Robert.
When William the first drew near his end,De…raudaverat Gulielmus pater Robertum regno Angliae, partim non oblitus ejus in se impietatis & contumaciae, partim veritus, si ille id obtineret, ne ejus facilitas qua praeditus erat, ad defectionem paratiores non redderet Anglos, quos ipse laeserat; quapropter rem tutiore loco fore putàvit, si Rufo, cujus jampridem morum pariter acerbitatem atque immanitatem naturae cognitam habucrat, committeretur. Polyd. Virg. Ang. hist. l. 10. he commended the Kingdome of England to his second son William, with many blessings, admonitions, and prayers for his prosperous success. He dispatched him unto England, with Letters under his own Seal, to Lan…rancke then Archbishop of Canterbury, whose authority was great with the Clergy, and people of the Realm.Sir Iohn Hayward. It was conjectured by some, that the King was guided in this choice, no less by his judgment, then by his affection, because he esteemed the fierce disposition of his son William, more fit to govern a people not well setled in subjection, then the flexible and mild nature of his eldest son Robert.
Cambden *Brittarnia in Glocester-shire. See more there of him.saith he was berest of the Kingdome of England, because he was born before his Father was King.
Milles gives two reasons,He seems to have followed the example of Iacob, who gave to his younger son Ioseph the land which he had taken with his Sword and his Bow. Besides in the rebellion of his son Robert, this son stood firmly for him, and in his quarrell hazarded his life. Sir Richard Baker. why the Conquerour preferred his younger son unto the Kingdome, before his eldest.
Partly for his disloyalty and disobedience; and partly doubting lest through the facility of his nature, he should give occasion unto the English men, to take heart unto them, and to rebell against him; whereas William his younger Brother was a man of more rough and harsh nature, and therefore fitter (as his Father thought) to bear rule and command over a warlike and new conquered people.
Sir Iohn Hayward in the life of William the second, discusseth that controversie, whether Kings may prefer younger sons, and quite disinherit elder sons of the Kingdome, and resolves it negatively.
The Glossographer upon the Decrees noteth, that the son of a King may be called King during the life of his Father,Robert was then absent in Germany. as wanting nothing but administration.
A little before his Fathers death William journeyed toward England, Incomparabilis proculdubio nostro tempore princeps; si non …um magnitudo patris obru…re…, nec ejus juventutem fata praecipitassent, ne per … maturiorem aboleret …rrores …centia potestatis, & impetus juvenili contractos Malmesb. de Wilielmo secundo. l. 4.and quickly arrived at the Port called Whitesand, where he received the first report of his Fathers death. Hereupon with all speed he posted to Lanfrancke, delivered his Fathers Letters, and forthwith was declared King; and not long after was crowned at Westminster.
His hair was deeply yellow; by reason whereof he was called Rufus, say Polyd. Virgil, and others.
He doubted of some points of Religion then professed, namely, of praying to Saints, worshipping of reliques, and such like.
He endeavoured to abate the tumorous greatness of the Clergy at that time,He is therefore ill spoken of by Clergy men. He claimed the investitute of Prelates to be his right. He forbad appeals to Rome. and attributed not so much to the See of Rome, as divers Kings before him had done.
He restrained his Subjects from going to Rome, and withheld the annuall payment of Peter-pence, and was often heard to say, that they follow not the trace of St. Peter; they greedily gape after gifts and rewards, they retain not his power, whose piety▪ they do not imitate.
Albeit he promised to the English, whilest his first fears and jealousies continued, that they should enjoy free liberty of hunting; yet did he afterwards so severely restrain it, that the penalty for killing a Deer was death.
During Lanfranckes life, he so lived, that he might have been a mirrour of Princes; though afterwards he gave himself to sensuall lust and covetousness. Matthew Paris condemns him much.
It is reported, that when his Chamberlain upon a certain morning, brought him a new pair of Hose, the King demanded what they cost; and the Chamberlain answered, three shillings; hereat the King grew impatient, and said, What heavy beast? dost thou take these to be convenient Hose for a King? Away beggar, Malmesb.and bring me other of a better price. Then the Chamberlain departed, and brought a far worse pair of Hose, (for a better could not at that time be found) and told the King that they cost a mark. The King not only allowed them for fine enough, but commended them also as exceeding fit.
He walled the City of London, and built the great Hall at Westminster, which is two hundred seventy foot in length,Vnum adificium & ipsum per maximum domum in Londoniâ i…c…pit, & perfecit, non parcens expensis dummodo liberalitatis suae magnificentiam exhiberet. Malmesb. and seventy four foot in breadth.
He set forth a Proclamation, that none should go out of the Realm without his license, by which he drew much money from many. From thence the custome or Law of Ne exeas Regno, seems to have taken its beginning.
His usuall Oath was by St. Lukes face. Malmesb.
Coming to imbarque at Dartmouth, the Mariners told him the weather was rough, and there was no passing without imminent danger. Tush, Daniels History.said he, set forward, I never yet heard of King that was drowned.
Answerable to that of Iulius Caesar, Malmesb.which enforced a poor Pilot in the like case to launch forth, and in the rage of the storm comforted him with saying, Caesarem & Caesaris fortunam ve…is.
Charles the fifth, in the Battell of Tunis, when he was advised by the Marquess of Guasto to retire his person, when the great Ordnance began to play, said, Marquess, thou never heardst that an Emperour was slain with a great shot.
Sir Walter Tyrell aiming at the Deer (where the King was hunting, within the New-Forrest) with an Arrow; and looseing his Bow, either too carelesly at the Deer,Veterum plerique traditur transsossum fuisse Regem sagitta, quam in ferarum vivario, quod novam Forestam dicimus, jactu infoelici collimara… Gualterus Tyrellus, Gallus, idque est receptissimum. Scd accuratius multo quam caeteri, singularia omnia, quae miseram Regis caedem & Tyrelli jactum fatalem attinent, narrat Ordericus Vitalis in hist. Eccles l. 10. p. 783. Seldeni notae ad Eadmerum. Vide Malmesb, de Wilielmo secundo. l 4. or too steadily at the king, saith Polydore Virgil, struck him therewith full upon the brest. The King having so received the wound, gave forth a heavy groan, and presently fell down dead. So much of the Arrow as was without his body, was found broken, whether with his hand, or by his fall, it is not certainly known.
He raigned in great variety of opinion with his Subjects, (some applauding his vertues, others aggravating his vices) twelve yeares, eleven moneths, wanting eight dayes, and was at his death forty and three years old. Sir Iohn Hayward in his life. p. 219.