Numerus infaustus a short view of the unfortunate reigns of William the Second, Henry the Second, Edward the Second, Richard the Second, Charles the Second, James the Second.

THE LIFE and REIGN OF WILLIAM the Second, Nick-Named RƲFƲS

THE First William gain'd En∣gland by Conquest, and be∣queath'd it to the Second by Will. By his Invasion he usurped the Right of his Cosin Edgar; and by his Legacy he infringed that of his Heir. He put out Harold the unlaw∣ful Possessor of the Kingdom; and put by Robert his Lawful Successor.

William the Second of that Name, of fewer years than his Brother, but of greater Interest in the Inclinations of his Father, with hasty Steps as∣cended the Throne, entring the Roy∣al Palace at the wrong Door. He indear'd himself to the one by the resemblance of Humours, and the roughness of his Temper; and over∣reach'd the other by the Credulity and Easiness of his Disposition: Gi∣ving no more deference to the Obli∣gation of Promises, than to the Right of Primogeniture. His Vows to God, his Word to his Brother, and his Ingagements to his Subjects, were all plighted with a like sinceri∣ty, and with the same Integrity observ'd, and maintain'd. He was positive and sturdy, and that pass'd for Valour; He was crafty and po∣litick, and that was reported for Wisdom: He was accounted Reli∣gious, when he pursued his own

Temporal Advantages, and was re∣puted prophane, when he invaded the priviledges of the Church: He was immeasurably covetous, only in Or∣der to the being unreasonably pro∣fuse; and under the pretence of Religion he committed the greatest Acts of Enormity and Impiety. His incontinency was not taken no∣tice of, because he could not trans∣gress the Vow of Matrimony; and tho' in speculations and Disputes he seem'd concern'd for Religion, yet by his Actions he appear'd to be a practical Atheist. The course of his Life was turbulent and uneasie; and the manner of his Death vio∣lent, and untimely.

He was no sooner mounted on the Throne, but troubles arose to discompose his quiet. Robert his Eldest Brother highly resenting this great Injury, to be justled out of his Seat by the partiality of his Father,

and the Incroachment of his Bro∣ther; began to think of some time∣ly Expedients for the Recovery of his Right, and being assisted in his pretensions by several of the Nobi∣lity in England; as Odo Bishop of Bayeux and Earl of Kent, Roger Montgomery Earl of Shrewsbury, Hugh de-Grandemenil, Robert Mou∣bray Earl of Northumberland, Willi∣am Bishop of Durham, and divers others of the Clergy, and Nobility (who raised great forces, and pos∣sessed themselves of many conside∣rable places) the King was con∣strain'd to compound for his Peace, by an assurance of three Thousand Marks per Annum to his Brother during Life, and the Reversion of the Crown of England after his de∣cease; and by a Solemn promise to restore to the people their Ancient Laws, and to indulge them the Li∣berty of hunting in his Forests.

By these condescensions he dissipa∣ted the present Storm that impen∣ded over his Head, and gain'd some short Respite from his growing Troubles.

This Tempest was hardly allay'd in the South, but fresh Clouds be∣gan to gather in the North. Mal∣colin King of the Scots thinking it a fit Opportunity to purvey for him∣self, and inlarge his Borders, when his Neighbour was imbroyl'd with intestine Commotions; makes a sudden and furious incursion into Northumberland, over-runs the Coun∣try, burns and destroys all before him, and returns home loaden with the spoils of the Inhabitants, without the least hinderance, or opposition. And tho it was not long, before King William was sufficiently revenged on his Invader, whom he reduced to the necessity of paying the An∣cient Homage due to the Crown,

and to give assurance of his fu∣ture fidelity by New stipulations; yet such an enterprise could not be accomplished, without a vast ex∣pence of Treasure, and a great loss of Men.

The King (who was very prodi∣gal of his promises, but slow and penurious in the performance) ne∣glected the payment of the Com∣position made with his Brother Robert; whereupon he makes his Application to the King of France; who presently furnish'd him with considerable supplies, by which Assistance he assaulted and took several Towns in Nor∣mandy; and by his success obli∣ged King William again to raise a powerful Army, and to tran∣sport them into that Country; where tho by his crafty Address he avoided the Effusion of Blood, and the consumption of his For∣ces,

yet he wasted his Treasure, and purchased a Truce with the King of France, by the mediati∣on of Mony.

And now all things were calm and quiet, but not long so; the Skie began to be overcast with gloomy exhalations, and troubles arose upon an occasion as unusu∣al, as unnecessary. Malcolin King of the Scots was a generous and magnanimous Prince, and being at Peace and full Amity with his Neighbours, he undertook the Toyl of a Journy as far as Gloucester, to pay a Royal Visit to his Ally and Friend the King of England: Who either out of a Humour, Pique or Pride, would not vouchsafe so much as to see him; which Barbarous return to the Civility of the affronted King did so exasperate him, that he posted back to his own Country,

made ready a powerful Army with all Expedition, and again infested Northumberland, Rava∣ging thro' the Country without Comptrol, and enriching his Fol∣lowers by the Ruin and desola∣tion of harmless and unconcern∣ed people. And tho' in the pro∣secution of this design he lost his Life, and the Life of Edward his Eldest Son, and his whole Army intirely Routed and Defeated (being drawn into an Ambus∣cade by Robert Moubray the Kings Lieutenant) yet King VVilliam suffer'd a great diminution of his Honour and Fame, by so unhos∣pitable a Refusal of a common Respect to his equal in Degree and Title.

The King, who was never happy in any long intermission of those distemper'd Fits that shook him, fell now into a snarp

and dangerous Paroxysme. The VVelchmen taking Notice of the Kings incessant Troubles and Distractions; to gratifie both their Revenge and Avarice, en∣ter'd the English Borders, and making use of such Advantages as naturally attend a surprize, they became Masters of many Towns and strong Holds, committing all manner of Outrage and Hostili∣ty, exercising that Malice, which they bore to the King, upon the Lives and Estates of his innocent Subjects. The King with great industry and care, got together a handsom Army, with which he marched in Person toward them, promising to himself an easie and a cheap Victory: But he was disappointed of his purpose, and forced to retreat with all speed to London to compose an Army of greater strength, and Num∣ber.

In the mean time to in∣crease his perplexity, Robert Moubray Earl of Northumberland, (who had done him such signal Service in repelling the Scots, and destroying their King) finding himself disregarded, and no com∣petent Honour, or Reward de∣signed for his singular Merits, be∣gan to be Male-content; and joyn'd in an open Conspiracy a∣gainst his Lord and Master. But the King reinforced with an Ar∣my far stronger than ever he had imbodied before; took, and im∣prison'd the Earl, and enter'd the VVelch Territories, where not be∣ing able to provoke them to the Decision of a Battle, he persued them with Stratagems, Erected many Castles and Forts, that so by degrees he might become Master of the Country: But they retreating to the natural

Fortifications of Woods, Moun∣tains, and inaccessible passages, did so baffle him in his Attempts, and so harass and tire out his Souldiers, that he thought it most advisable to withdraw from the Enterprise, and to commit the further prosecution of it to his Lieutenants, who in time utterly subdued those Naked and Wild people, but not without horrible Instances of Cruelty, and Bar∣barity.

Thus we have seen a Man ad∣vanced to a Throne, invested with Regal Authority, surroun∣ded with all the external Glories, and Felicities of a Diadem; yet denied the inward satisfaction and Tranquillity of a quiet and peaceable injoyment of his Ac∣quisitions. Hitherto we have ob∣served, how Invasions from a∣broad, and distractions at home

render'd his Life uneasie: Let us now take an Account of his im∣moral, and irregular Actions, which made his Person unaccep∣table, and his Reign unfortunate to his Subjects.

He assumed to himself an im∣moderate and Licentious Power to supply his necessities by the detriment and spoil of others. And because in his Time the Clergy was of all Ranks of Men the most opulent, he found them the most proper Objects of his Rapine, and Oppression. When any Bishoprick, or Abby be∣came vacant, he presently seized the Revenues into his own Hand. He kept the See of Can∣terbury four years to his own use, and would have done it longer, but that a desperate Sickness put him into a Fit of Devotion; for being at the brink of Death,

and ready to expire, he resolved to commute for his Intrusion, by the donation of those Livings, which (as he thought) he could no longer detein, and hastily conferred the Arch-Bishoprick of Canterbury upon Anselm, and and the Bishoprick of Lincoln upon Robert Bloët: But no soo∣ner was Health restor'd, but his old Inclinations return'd, and no other Tokens of Repentance appear'd, but a Remorse and Sorrow for parting with two such rich Morsels; for he never desi∣sted from importuning and tor∣menting the two poor Bishops, till he squeesed good Sums of Mony from Anselm, and five thou∣sand pounds from Bloet.

He kept in his Hands at one time three ••••••••opricks (Canterbu∣ry, VVinchester, and Salisbury) and twelve Abbies; all which

he set out to Farm, and gather'd the Profits of them into his own Coffers.

Being obliged to pay a great Sum of Mony to the King of France, he found this Invention to procure it; He pretended a resolution to make War, and a sudden irruption into Normandy, in order to which he levied twenty thousand Men (by Press and other coercive means) who being drawn to the Sea side, and ready to imbarque, he order'd it to be signify'd and made known, that because he could more commodiously levy men in Normandy (without the Toyl and Charge of transporting) whoso∣ever would pay Ten Shillings to∣ward the raising of such Forces, should be excused from going on that Expedition, which proffer was so grateful and plausible to

the Army, that there was hardly any man that did not greedily comply with the proposal. He ad∣ded extortion to Usury, took up Mony by indirect Courses, and imploy'd it to unjust purpo∣ses; he would not supply his Brother with Mony (tho upon a pious undertaking to the Holy Land) without a Mortgage of his Dutchy of Normandy; and he could not raise it but by exacti∣ons, and compulsory Loans, so that to advance the Sum, the Bishops melted their Plate and the Temporal Lords destroyed their Tenants.

Spiritual Preferments were not given, but sold by Auction, and he received from Thurstan Five Hundred Pounds for the Abby of Glastenbury; and fell out with Anselm, because he would not give a Thousand Marks for being

made Arch-Bishop of Canterbu∣ry.

He arrogated to himself the Glory of Building Westminster-Hall; but His Subjects were at the Expence, who believed, that he rear'd that Fabrick only for a pretence to lay a heavy Tax up∣on the People, and was a great gainer by the Project.

If the Preists transgressed by carnal deviations from the strict Rule of their Profession, the Pen∣nance was in the Purse; and a composition with the King was as effectual, as a Sacerdotal Abso∣lution. And because he received ve∣ry great Profit by particular In∣dulgences given to the Jews, he incouraged the Relaps of such as were converted to Christianity, accounting it no matter to be Fol∣lowers of Christ, so they were but Benefactors to him.

Among other Faults laid to his Charge, it is worth observing, that he is noted for imposing ex∣cessive Fines upon diverse of the Nobility, for small offences.

Having by his Avarice and Severities wearied his Subjects, and disposed them to seek for Safety and Liberty in other Countries; He unexpectedly is∣sued a Proclamation that no man should depart the Realm without his License, for the purchase of which he did not care to lose a Subject. While Promoters, In∣formers, and such sort of State-Caterpillars were his principal Favorites, and Partakers of his Grace and Bounty.

He had a mind to be reputed an exact Observer of his Word and Promise. And perhaps he was so in matters of small Importance: But when Profit and Advantage

came to be weighed, Self-interest soon turned the Scale. He made a solemn Agreement with his Bro∣ther Robert, to bequeath the Crown of England to him; but it does not appear, that he remembred the Ingagement, or ever had an intention to be just to his Word. When he was pressed by an in∣testine War, and by the Loyalty and Valour of the English rescued from the Rebellion of his Nor∣man Followers, he promised a restitution of their Ancient Laws, and an indulgence to some Priviledges which were much valued by the people of those times; but with the ne∣cessity the obligation ceased, and he became a Bankrupt of his Word and Promise. As little did he regard his Promises to God his Creator, for being dange∣rously sick at Gloucester, and de∣spairing

of Recovery, he made a Solemn Vow, that if he were restored to his Health, he would lead a New Life, and give over all his disorderly Courses, but the restoration of his strength was accompanied with the re∣turn of his former vicious incli∣nations, and he became ten times more the child of wrath, than he was before.

He is reported to be very lasci∣vious and incontinent, but in re∣gard he did not defraud his own Wife, (having never been mar∣ried) and was not observed to debauch the Wives of other Men, he only passeth for a simple For∣nicator, and even in that not at all curious, not entertaining a select Concubine, but promiscu∣ously trucking with any Woman that came in his way.

To shew how conscientious

he was in matters of Religion, take the words of Sir Richard Baker in his Chronicle of Eng∣land, p. 35. He appointed a Dispu∣tation to be held between Christians and Jews, and before the day came, the Jews brought the King a pre∣sent, to the end they might have an indifferent hearing; the King took the present, encouraging them to quit themselves like Men: And swore by St. Lukes face (his usual Oath) that if they prevailed by Disputation, he would himself turn Jew, and be of their Religion. A young Jew on a time was converted to the Christian Faith, whose Father being much troubled at it, presented the King sixty Mark, intreating him to make his Son to return to his Judaism; whereupon the King sent for his Son, commanding him without more ado to return to the Religion of his Na∣tion: But the young Man answe∣red,

he wondred his Majesty would use such Words; for being a Chri∣stian he should rather perswade him to Christianity: With which An∣swer the King was so confounded, that he commanded the young Man to get him out of his sight. But his Father finding the King could do no good upon his Son, required his Mony again. Nay (saith the King) I have taken pains enough for it; and yet that thou mayst see how kindly I will deal, you shall have one half, and the other half you cannot in Conscience deny me.

In one Act he shew'd himself a Tyrant, and an Atheist, for fifty Gentlemen being accused for Hunting and killing the Kings Deer, he caused them to be condemned to the Trial by Fire, which they escaping un∣touch'd by the miraculous Provi∣dence of God, and he thereby

defeated of his greedy expectati∣on by the Confiscation of their Estates, fell into an outragious Passion, and cry'd out, How hap∣pens this! is God a just Judg in suf∣fering it? Now a Murrain take him that believes it.

But vengeance from Heaven soon overtook him that did not believe it; for the King (though warned by Dreams and other uncommon Presages, of some ap∣proaching Disaster) appointed, a Hunting in the new Forest upon the second of August. When the day came, he began to be per∣plexed with the remembrance of those ominous Bodings, and stay'd within till Noon: But having at Dinner driven away all care and fear, by drinking himself into hardiness and security, he moun∣led his Horse, and eagerly fol∣owed the Chase: shortly after

Sir Walter Tyrrel, a Knight of Nor∣mandy (to whom the King at their going out had given two Arrows very strong and sharp, telling him, That he knew how to shoot to purpose) having a very fat Buck in view, and at a convenient distance to be struck, let fly an Arrow, which glancing on a Tree, or else grazing on the Back of the Deer, reach'd the King, hit him in the Breast, and he immediately dropt down dead.

Thus fell Nimrod the mighty Norman Hunter, destroy'd by that very sport in which he took such excessive delight, violently brought to death on that occa∣sion; by which he had delibe∣rately design'd the destruction of many others; and in that very place where his Father had de∣populated so many Town, and

ruined so many Religious Hou∣ses, for the accommodation of wild Beasts, and to gratifie his own inordinate pleasures.