Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland, vol 2 : England

Chronicles of England, Scotland
and Ireland, vol 2 : England

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Ireland
(2 of 6): England (2 of 12), by Raphael Holinshed This eBook is for the
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Title: Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (2 of 6): England (2
of 12) William Rufus
Author: Raphael Holinshed
Release Date: September 25, 2005 [EBook #16748]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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WILLIAM RUFUS, OR WILLIAM THE RED.
[Sidenote: 1087. An. Reg. 1.] William, surnamed Rufus or William the
Red, second sonne to William Conqueror, began his reigne ouer
England the ninth of September, in the yeare 1087. about the 31. yeare
of the emperour Henrie the fourth, and the 37. of Philip the first, king
of France, Urbane the second then gouerning the sée of Rome, and
Malcolme Cammoir reigning in Scotland. [Sidenote: _Polydor._ _Sim.
Dunel._ _Matth. Paris._] Immediatlie after his fathers deceasse, and
before the solemnitie of the funerals were executed, he came ouer into
England with no lesse spéed than was possible, and following the
counsell of Lanfranke archbishop of Canturburie (in whome he reposed
all his trust) he sought to win the fauour of the Péers and Nobilitie of
the realme by great and liberall gifts. For although there were but few
of the homeborne states that bare rule in the land at this season; yet
those that remained, and whome his father in extreme sort had wronged,
he verie gentlie enterteined, promising them not onlie to continue their
good lord and souereigne, but also to make more fauourable ordinances
than his father had left behind him; and furthermore to restore the
former lawes and liberties of the realme, which his said father had
abolished. Thus by faire words and politic he obtained his purpose.
[Sidenote: _Sim. Dunel._ Marchar and Wilnot.] Howbeit soone after he
forgat himselfe, and imprisoned Marchar and Wilnot, whom he had
brought ouer with him from Normandie, being set at libertie by his
father.
[Sidenote: Lanfranke had fauoured him euen of a child. _Matth. Paris._
William Rufus is crowned the 26. of September. _Polydor._ His
bountifull munificence.] The nobles at the first wished rather to haue
had the elder brother duke Robert to haue gouerned them: howbeit by
the aide onelie of the said Lanfranke, whose authoritie was of no small
force amongst all the lords of the land, this William (according to his
fathers assignation) was proclaimed and crowned at Westminster on the
26. of September (being Sundaie, the 6. kalends of October) and the 11.
indiction, as the best writers doo report. After his coronation, to gratifie
the people, he went to Winchester, where he found great treasure which
his father had laid vp there for his owne vse: this he fréelie spent in

large gifts, and all kind of princelie largesse. He set verie manie
prisoners at libertie, and did many other things to benefit the people,
wherein the diligence and good aduice of Lanfranke did not a little
preuaile. For he perceiued that there was in the king a variable mind, an
vnstable nature, and a disposition to lightnesse and follie. Wherefore
hée tooke oftentimes the more paines in persuading him not onelie to
liberalitie (which is none of the least vertues in a prince) but also to vse
a discreet and orderlie behauiour in all his dooings. Moreouer, he
sticked not to put him in feare of an euill end, and troublesome
regiment likelie to insue, if he did giue himselfe to vice and wilfulnesse,
& neglect the charge thus by the prouidence of GOD committed to his
hands. After this maner did the said prelat trauell with the king, whom
we will leaue at this time as it were hearkening to his admonitions, and
set foorth by the waie what his brother Robert did, whilest William
Rufus his brother was occupied in such wise as you haue heard.
It happened that this Robert was abroad in Germanie, when king
William his father died (whither he went to raise a power, to the intent
he might therby obteine the possession of Normandie, which he trusted
to enioy in his fathers life time) where hearing newes of his death, he
hasted straightwaies into Normandie, and there being ioyfullie receiued,
was peaceablie proclaimed duke of that countrie, with great gladnesse
and shouting of the people.
[Sidenote: 1088.] After this, considering with himselfe how
dishonorable a thing it was for