The plain Englishman's historian, or, A compendious chronicle of England from its first being inhabited to this present year 1679 but more especially containing the chief remarques of all our Kings and Queens since the conquest, their lives and reigns, policies, wars, laws, successes, and troubles : with the most notable accidents, as dearths, tempests, monstrous births, and other prodigies that happened in each of their times respectively / by H.C.

CHAP. III. The Life and Reign of William Rufus.

WIlliam the second of that name, sir∣named Rufus (that is to say the Red) was crowned the fifth of October 1087. He was a younger Son, but had the Crown bequeathed him by his Fathers Will: yet his elder Brother Robert endeavours by Arms to recover it from him, till William complied and consented to pay him three thousand Marks a year during his life, and leave him the Kingdom after his own de∣cease; which agreement put a period at present to their difference: and the said Duke Robert making an Expedition vvith Godfry of Bullen to Jerusalem to recover the Holy Land from Infidels, pawned his Dutchy of Normandy to his Brother King William for 6666 pounds, or as some vvrite, for twelve thousand and six hundred pound, which was so vast a sum in those dayes, that 'tis said, he laid a grievous Imposition, so that Bishops melted their Plate, and the Temporal Lords spoiled their Tenants to raise it.

This King had Wars with Malcome

King of Scotland, and slew him and his El∣dest Son, which was so grievous to Marga∣ret Queen of Scots, his Wife, that she dyed for grief. This Margaret was a most Ver∣tuous and Pious Lady, and the first that caused a barbarous custome of Scotland to be abrogated, viz. That when a man married, his Lord should lye the first night with his Bride; which Custom, by her endeavours, was altered to a Payment in money.

He also made an absolute Conquest of Wales, and slew Rees the last Welch King. He built Westminster Hall, and when 'twas finish'd found great fault because it was too little, and intended to have built one much larger. He was a Prince of great Courage, insomuch that being to cross the Sea into Normandy, to relieve his City of Nants, then besieged; the Sea-men being afraid to venture because of the tempestuous weather, he forc'd them to put out, saying, He ne∣ver heard of any King that was drowned.

His Chamberlain having once bought him a pair of new Hose, he ask'd what they cost, and being told three shillings, began to storm, asking if he thought those of three shillings fit for a King to wear? Get thee gone (saith he) and let me have a pair of a Mark: His Chamberlain went, and bring∣ing

him another pair scarce so good as the former, and telling him they cost a Mark; I marry (saith the King) They are some∣thing like: and was better satisfied with hearing what they cost, than with seeing what they were worth. More prudent was his Reply, when there being a rich Abbey vacant, two Monks came to him suing for the Place, offering great Sums, and each of them out-bidding another; Whereupon the King looking about, and spying another Monk standing not far off, ask'd him what he would give to be made Abbot of such a Place? who answering, he neither had any thing to give, nor would he give any thing if he had it. Well (said the King) thou hast spoken honestly, and deserv'st it better than either of these, and so gave it him for no∣thing.

It was his common saying, That even God himself was obliged by his Word, and yet he himself was often observed not to keep his word. He is noted to have been very Covetous, and too much Irreligious, and some say very lascivious; which last may perhaps be the more excusable, because he was never married.

He Reigned twelve years, and some odd months, and then being hunting in New

Forrest, Sir Walter Tyrel his Bow-bearer shooting at a Deer, the Arrow glanced against a Tree, or as some say on the Back of the Deer, and flying forward hit the King on the Breast, whereof he instantly fell down dead, his body being drawn in a Colliers Cart with one Horse to Winche∣ster and there buried.

In the fourth Year of his Reign, above sixty Houses in London were suddenly blown down by the Violence of the Wind, which was so great that it tore off the Roof of Bow-Church, and carried it a vast height in the Air; then letting them fall so furious∣ly that six of the Beams almost Thirty Foot long a peice, were thereby driven twenty three Foot deep in the Ground, London Streets being then not paved. In his ele∣venth Year a Well at Finchampstead in Bark∣shire cast out Blood for many Days, as be∣fore it had done Water.