Medulla historiæ Anglicanæ being a comprehensive history of the lives and reigns of the monarchs of England from the time of the invasion thereof by Jvlivs Cæsar to this present year 1679 : with an abstract of the lives of the Roman emperors commanding in Britain, and the habits of the ancient Britains : to which is added a list of the names of the Honourable the House of Commons now sitting, and His Majesties Most Honourable Privy Council, &c.

William the Conqueror.

WIlliam the Conqueror, was the base Son of Robert Duke of Normandy. His Mother Arlotte (a Skinners Daughter) when she was great with him, dreamed that her bowels were extended and dilated all over Normandy and Britain. And as soon as he was born, being laid on the Chamber-floor, with both his hands he took up Rushes, and held them fast therein; which things were taken for presages of his future greatness. He began his Reign October 14, A. D. 1066, and was Crowned De∣cember 25 on the same year, by Aldred Arch-Bi∣shop of York, the English Bishops and Barons swearing Allegiance to him; and himself ta∣king a solemn Oath to defend the rights of the Church, to establish good Laws, and to see justice uprightly administred. After which, he applied himself to secure his new-obtained Kingdom; and the better to assure the South of the Land, he took his way towards Dover, that so he might command the Seas from Enemies arrivage, and over-awe the Kentish a most strong and populous Province. But Stigand Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, and Eglesire Abbot of St. Augustines hearing of his coming, they assembled the commons of Kent to oppose him, who about Swancomb kept themselves secret in

the Woods, waiting the coming of the Con∣queror. All joyntly agreeing (because no way lay open save only a Front) to carry in their hands great branches of Trees, where∣with they might keep themselves both from discovery, and if need were impede the pas∣sage of the Normans. Which said device took so strange effect, that it daunted King William, even with the sight; who being, as he thought, free from the enemy, was now on the sudden beset on all sides with Woods, some of which he saw to move, and the rest for ought he knew were of the like nature. At length to put him out of all doubt, the Kentish men inclosing his Army about, displayed their Banners, cast down their Boughs, and with Bows bent were prepared for Battel. At which sight the Con∣queror stood amazed. To whom Stigand and Eglesine presented themselves, and in behalf of the Kentish men thus spake,

Most noble Duke, behold here the Commons of Kent are come forth to meet, and receive you as their So∣vereign, requiring your Peace, their own free condition of Estate, and ancient Laws. If these things be denyed, they are here presently to abide the verdict of Battel, be∣ing fully resolved rather to dye, than to part with their Laws, or to live servile in bondage.

The Conqueror in this streight, more wisely than willingly, granted their de∣mands. Some of the English this Norman King banished, and most part of every mans estate he seized into his own hands, bestowing the Lands of the Natives amongst his followers.

He deprived Monastries, Bishopricks, Cities and Corporations of their ancient liberties and priviledges, putting them to redeem them at his own rate. And for default of lacking the weight of a Groat in the payment of 700 Marks by the Monks of Ely, for the restoring to their Abby the ancient possessions, they were con∣strained to pay a 1000 Marks more. The Clergy he charged with maintenance for his Wars, bereaved the Religious Houses of their Treasures, Chalices, and rich Shrines; abro∣gated for the most part the ancient Laws of the Land, ordaining new in their stead, not so equal or easie to be kept; also causing them to be writ in the Norman Tongue. He ordain∣ed the four Law-Terms, whereas before the causes of the Kingdom were determined in every Shire, or by the late Law of King Ed∣ward in their Gemote, or Conventicle held monthly in every Hundred. He commanded every English Housholder to put out both Fire and Candle at eight of the Clock at Night. At which hour, in all Cities, Towns and Villa∣ges, he caused a Bell to be rung by the Nor∣mans, then called Covre-feu, that is, Cover∣fire, to prevent nightly meetings. He laid great Subsidies upon the Land. And that the same might amount to his greater benefit, he caused an exact survey to be taken of the whole Kingdom, and of every particular part and Commodity thereof, causing all the people of England to be numbred, their names taken, and what every one might dispend by the year; their substance, Money and Bondmen recorded.

How many yokes of Oxen and Plow-lands were in the Realm, and what services they owed him. Which done, he exacted Six Shillings to be paid him for every Hide of Land. The Book thus made of every several survey, by the English was called Doomes-day Book. He per∣mitted no English man to bear any office of trust and credit. He dispeopled 36 Parish Towns, laying the Churches and Towns flat with the earth, making thereof a Forest for pleasure, now called New-Forest. To strengthen himself against revolts and rebellions, he fortified such places as he thought most convenient for his purpose, and built the Tower of London, the Castles of York, Lincoln, Nottingham, and Ha∣sting. He was the first that brought the Jews to inhabit England. His Son Robert rebelled against him in Normandy, and in sight dismount∣ed him; but then knowing his voice, desired his pardon, and remounted him. Odo Bishop of Bayeux and Earl of Kent, his Brother by the Mother, for secretly siding with the King of France, he committed to Prison, not as Bi∣shop, but as he was Earl, and seized his Estate. Some of whose Gold ground into powder, was found hidden in the bottom of Rivers. The Conqueror going to War against the King of France, in Normandy fell sick, when keeping his Bed beyond his wont, and the French King hearing that the Disease was in his Belly, scoffingly said of him, Our Cousin William is laid now in Child-bed, Oh what a num∣ber of Candles must I offer at his going to Church! surely I think an Hundred thousand will not suffice.

Which King William hearing of, said, Well, I trust our Cousin of France shall be at no such cost, but after this my Child-birth, at my going to Church (swearing by the resurrection and brightness of God) I will find him a Thousand Candles, and light them my self. And accor∣dingly, not long after, he entred France with a great Army, spoiling all where he came, and setting the City Mauntz on fire: But he came so near the flames, that with the heat of his Harness he gat a sickness (which in∣creased, with a leap of his Horse, that burst the inward rim of his belly) cost him his life. He dyed at Roan in Normandy, A. D. 1087. And forsaken of all his Courtiers, his body was left unburied, till that one Har∣luims a poor Countrey Knight at his own charge, conveyed it to Caen. Where, when it should have been buried, a certain man in Gods name forbad the interment in that place, which said he, was his and his Ancestors right, taken from them violently by the said Duke. Whereupon they were forced to com∣pound with him ere they interr'd the Corps. His Issue were Robert, Richard, William, Henry, and six Daughters. His base Son, named Wil∣liam Peverel, was Earl of Nottingham.

By his last Will and Testament, he com∣manded all his Treasure to be distributed to Churches, Gods Ministers, and the poor, li∣miting to each their several portion. To the Church and Monks of St. Stephens at Caen in Normandy, he gave divers Mannors in England, and great store of Land; yea, and his Crown

and Regal Ornaments, which his Son Henry redeemed. To his Son Robert he had before given the Dukedom of Normandy. England he left undisposed, only wish'd his Son William might succeed him in it. And to Henry he gave Five thousand pound, presaging that all his Dominions should become Henries in the end.

He did oft-times exhort his Children to the study of Learning, with this saying, That an unlearned Prince, is but a Crowned Ass. He built a Religious House, called Battel-Abby, in the same place where King Harold was slain, dedicating it to the holy Trinity and St. Martin, That there the Monks might pray for the Souls of Harold and the rest that were slain in that place, endowing it with many great priviledges, and amongst the rest these Two; That if any Murderer, or other Felon, for fear of death fled thither, he should be freed from all punishment: And that it should be lawful for the Abbot of that place to de∣liver any Thief or Robber from the Gallows, if he should chance to pass, where any such execution was in hand. At Selby in Yorkshire he founded the Abby of St. Germans, at Ex∣cester the Priory of St. Nicholas, and at Caen in Normandy the Monastry of St. Stephens. In his time it was decreed at Rome, That the See of York should be stiled primas Angliae; and the See of Canterbury, Primas totius An∣gliae. The setting Seals to Bonds and Wri∣tings was now first used in England, there being before only Witnesses to them. Sti∣gand

Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was deposed by the Conqueror, and dyed in Prison. The Abbot of St. Albans told this King, that the reason why he gained England in one Battel, which the Danes could not do in many, was because the maintenance of Martial men, with a part of the Lands Revenues, was converted to maintain religious men, and to religious uses. In the time of this Kings Reign befell a most fearful Earth-quake, strange burning Feavers very mortal, Murrains causing a great dearth among Cattel, extraordinary Rains, Water floods incredible, which so softned the hills to the foundations, that some of them fell, and over-whelmed the Villages near them. Most of the principal Cities were in∣damaged by fire. So great a fire hapned in London, that it consumed Houses and Church∣es all the way, from the West-gate, to the East-gate. And 'tis said, that tame and do∣mestick Fowls became wild, flying to the Woods.

Notes

• A. D. 1066.
• Lanfrank, A B. Cant.