His course for establishing himselfe in the Kingdome.IT is a hard matter to keepe that safely, which is unjustly gotten; and therefore he tooke all possible care to overcome that hardnesse: which he effected by these meanes; First, he called Anselme Arch-bishop of Canterbury home from Exile; placed William Gyfford a learned man, in the Bishopricke of Winchester; and Mona∣steries that had beene long vacant, he furnished with good Abbots. And because it is no lesse pleasing to the People, to have bad instruments punished, then the good to be advanced, he cast Ralph Bishop of Durham, (a principall cause of their late oppressions) into prison: then mitigated the rigour of the new Lawes; and pro∣mised restitution of the old. And that there might be no abuse in measures, he or∣dained a measure, made by the length of his owne Arme, which is called a Yard. He restored to his Subjects the use of Lights and Fire in the night, which before had beene forbidden after eight a clocke at night. He acquited the People from the Taxe of Danegelt, and from all other unjust payments, which had beene imposed upon them by the two former Kings. He gave free liberty to the Nobility and Gentry of the Realme, to inclose Parkes for Deere, and Warrens for Coneyes; and such like game. And because he knew Scotland might be an ill Neighbour to him, if not tyed by some Bond, and none so sure as the Bond of Alliance, he therefore takes Matild sister of the present King Edgar to be his Wife.His Troubles during his Raigne.RAlph Bishop of Durham, the late King Williams great Instrument for Exactions, that had by this King beene committed to the Tower, made an escape, and pas∣sing over to Duke Robert in Normandy; incenseth him, not to suffer himselfe to be baffled by a younger Brother; as for his Brother William, there was some rea∣son, because his Father had given him the Kingdome by his Will, but what could Henry pretend, who had his Portion given him in money? Besides, it was an a∣greement with his Brother William, with consent of all the Lords of the Relme, that the Surviver of them should succeed. With such like instigations, and with∣all assuring him, there were many in England would take his part; he easily per∣swaded the Duke to that, from which he could hardly have disswaded him; who thereupon with a convenient Army, puts to Sea, and lands at Portsmouth, while Henry waited for his comming about Hastings; and being landed there, much peo∣ple resorted to him, that it was like to have beene a bloody businesse; but by me∣diation of Friends, working upon the flexible nature of Duke Robert, it was brought at last to this agreement, that King Henry should pay to Duke Robert, three thousand markes yearely, and Duke Robert should succeed him in the kingdome, if he sur∣vived. And thus, this cloud, that threatned so great a storme, brought with it, ather Sunshine and faire weather: for now, to his possession of the Kingdome, there was added a right, and he might now justifie his being a King, without any scan∣dall or usurpation. After this, another little cloud arose, but was soone disper∣sed: For Robert de Belesme Earle of Shrewsbury, a rash young man of disposition, but more through discontentment, though discontented for nothing, but that ha∣ving a great Estate, he was not a King as well as some others, fortifyed the Towne of Shrewsbury, and the Castle of Bridgenorth, and got many Welshmen to assist him, but the King comming with a mighty Army, so terrifyed the Welsh, that they aban∣doned the Earle, and left him a prey to the King in his person, and more in his E∣state, for the King seised his Estate into his hands, but for his Person he onely ba∣nisht it the Realme. For as yet, the shedding of blood and putting to death, though for great Treasonable practises, was not much in use; Policy of State was not yet growne to that heighth of severity. The like attempt, and upon the like occasi∣on, was made by William Earle of Mortaigne in Normandy, and of Cornwall in Eng∣land, Unckle to the King, onely for denying him the Earledome of Kent, which because he could not obtaine, he entred into Treasonable practises, by which he 0