tude for the countenance of that pontiff, to whom he in great measure owed the fuccefs of his late enterprize.

He granted a new charter to the city of London, confirming the privileges which the citizens enjoyed in the reign of Edward the Confeffor. He preferved the Saxon laws and conftitution, and put the laws in force against robbers, who then infefted the country; and in order to add to the safety of his kingdom, he built two caftles, one at Chefter, and the other at Stafford, which he ftrengthened with garrifons.

The firft act of his arbitrary power was manifefted, in renewing the odious tax of danegelt, a quit-rent out of all the lands of England, wardfhips, reliefs, fines, &c. * This occafioned a general difcontent through the kingdom, and made fome infurrections, which William very feverely punished. After all the fources of rebellion were quafhed, William endeavoured to introduce the laws, cuftoms, and language of the Normans; loading his countrymen with benefits, and oppreffing the nobles and barons of this realm. Nor was his oppreffions confined to the nobility, but extended alfo to the clergy, whofe charters he violated without fcruple; ordained that the church lands fhould be fubject to military service, and furnish a certain number of horfemen: befides, he lodged great part of his army in monafteries. Where he could get any information of any riches hid or depofited in them, he ordered them to be fearched, and feized upon every thing that was valuable. He likewife depofed Stigand, archbishop of Canterbury, and feveral other prelates, and promoted to their dignity ftrangers from different climes, and fome of his Norman chaplains, and feized on many of the abbey-lands. By thefe means he ftrengthened his intereft, increased his revenues, and made himself the terror of the country, where they were too weak to re

This was one fhilling on every hide of land, that is, an hundred acres & but every manurer of land paid if he had but a tenth part. Rapin, vol. I. b. v. p. 141.

fift. Many of the English nobility fled to Scotland. This fo exasperated William, that he picked a quarrel with Malcolm King of Scotland, A. D. 1072, who was too well prepared to be immediately intimidated; both parties prepared for war, and both armies. ready for action, but not eager to begin the attack. William found them well entrenched, and knew Malcolm had been trained to arms, fo that both parties inclined to an accommodation; and on Malcolm's fending an embaffy to William, a peace was made on the following terms: "That the boundaries of the two nations fhould be fettled; that he fhould swear fealty to him, or do him homage; and that William should restore the English exiles to their eftates.

After William had made things a little easy at home, he retired to Normandy, when a confiderable revolution happened in the church. At the death of Allexander there was no fmall diffention in the conclave, which flamed fo high, that two Popes were elected, viz. Hildebrand and Guibert, who were each of them acknowledged by different powers. However, the former, named Gregory VII. was recognized by the Kings of France and England; but Hildebrand was no fooner fettled in the chair, than he difcovered himfelf to be a person of inordinate ambition and extraordinary infolence: determined to make William pay for the countenance and favour he had fhewn him while he was cardinal, foon after his return to England, he fent one of his nuncios to him with letters, wherein he infifted on his doing homage to him for the kingdom of England, as a fief of the Roman fee, and demanded the arrears of Rome Scot, which had not been paid for fome years.

The answer which William made to this infolent demand, was worthy of the King of England. He refufed to do fealty to the Pope, and ftrengthened his refufal, by appealing to the conduct of his ancestors,

who

who had never left him a precedent. The following is a tranflation of the original *.

"To the most excellent Gregory, paftor of the holy church, William, by the grace of God, King of England, and Duke of Normandy, fendeth, greeting. Hubert, your nuncio, coming unto me in your behalf, advised me to do fealty to you and your fucceffors, and to take more care in making good the payments of money, which my predeceffors used to remit to the church of Rome. One of these I have confented to, but have refufed the other. As for fealty, it is what I never have done, nor will do; because I neither obliged myself to perform it by any promise made by myself, nor do I find my predeceffors ever performed it to yours. As for the money, it was collected in a very bad manner, for almost three years, during my abfence in France. But now I am, by God's mercy, returned to my kingdom, I have fent by the nuncio above-mentioned, what is already collected: as for the remainder, it shall be sent, when convenient, by the legate of Lanfranc, our trufty archbishop. We beg your prayers for ourselves, and the welfare of our kingdom, having born a great regard for your predeceffors, and being defirous of approving our affections and obedience to you above all others."

And although this politic Prince was thus complimentarily courteous to the Pope, yet he retained the ancient custom of investing bishops and abbots, by delivering them a ring, and a staff, whereby, without more ado, they were put into plenary poffeffion of the power and the profits of their benefice; for he always declared he would keep the paftoral staves in his own hands. Nor would the King fuffer any in his dominions to acknowledge the bishop of Rome for apoftolical without his command, or to receive the Pope's letters, except they were firft fhewn unto him; nor did the King permit the bishops to pass sentence of excommuni. Selden, p. 1631.

cation against any of his barons or officers, although it was for the commiffion of the moft heinous crimes, except leave was first had and obtained from the King. However, the King did grant to the bishops the jurifdiction in religious matters, and the grant of tithes, as well fmall as great.

The King likewise made an act for the uniformity of the liturgy, which was to be regulated by that then in ufe at Salisbury, compofed by Ofmond bishop of that fee.

About this time the King had contefts with the Welch and the Scotch; he levied a numerous army, and marched with refolution to chaftife and reduce them to obedience. The peace being fettled, he turned his mind to putting his finances in a condition to supply all his neceffities; and in this no prince, perhaps, had ever greater penetration or invention than he discovered in the various means made use of for this end, especially as he ftuck at nothing he judged fubfervient to this point, on which his fafety fo much depended. The Saxons were already fleeced to gratify his avarice, the Normans were grown opulent by their spoils; and as they had for a confiderable time enjoyed the benefit of his government, he thought it but juft they should pay their share towards its fupport; and that he might know what impofitions they could bear, he ordered an estimate to be taken of all the lands in his kingdom. Commiffioners were appointed, who had a right to make inqueft, upon oath, upon or near the premiffes, of the extent and value of the arable, meadow, and pasture land, every individual had. This furvey was no less than fix years in making, and was contained in two books. This register was fometimes called the roll of Winchester, because it was depofited there. It was alfo named Domboc, which name was not given it because it decides any dubious matters, but because it is illegal to depart or appeal from its decifions. It is now called DOMESDAY-BOOK.

This

This scheme fucceeded fo well, that perfons of all ranks were included, and the value of their eftates pretty well known, fo as to receive a proportionable taxation. The next year, which was 1084, was remarkable for nothing fo much as the oppreffive tax of fix fhillings upon every hide of land throughout his kingdom. Whether avarice or policy might have given rife for this oppreffion, is very uncertain. He applied part of it for building the Tower of London. The difaffection and jealoufies, it occafioned, are much better conceived than defcribed. It was very natural for him to fear the refentment of his fubjects, if any opportunity prefented. An invafion of the Danes indeed foon after happened; but the English did not care to join them, and it was foon fuppreffed: however, it pleased God at length to put a stop to his tyrannical reign; · for he went to Normandy, A. D. 1087, and died, occafioned by a fall from his horfe.

From the tranfactions of William's reign, he ap pears to have been a prince of great courage, capacity, and ambition, politic, cruel, vindictive and rapacious, ftern and haughty in his deportment, referved and jealous in his difpofition; but though fudden and impetuous in his enterprifes, he was cool and indefatigable in time of danger and difficulty. A late ingenious author calls him a glorious tyrant; an epithet I fhall leave my readers to judge of its propriety.

WILLIAM II. furnamed Rufus, A. D. 1087.

The Conqueror was fucceeded by William, his fecond fon, called Rufus, from his ruddy complexion, who owed his elevation to that dignity, to Langfranc, archbishop of Canterbury. Some oppofition was indeed agitated, and the nation feemed to be in fome commotion; but Langfranc wifely advised him to conciliate the affections of the English: and he accordingly amused them with magnificent promifes to eafe them

of