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his brother. William invaded Normandy (1090); but through the intervention of the French king, the war was speedily terminated, and Robert shortly after mortgaged Normandy for the sum of 10,000 marks to his brother, and joined the "First Crusade."

The Crusades were military enterprises for the delivery of Palestine from the Turks. They originated with a pilgrim named Peter the Hermit, who, having seen how shamefully the Christian pilgrims were treated in Palestine by the Mahomedans, travelled through Europe for the purpose of stirring up its princes and people to suffer these outrages no longer. His efforts were successful, and hundreds of thousands of warriors set out for Asia. An old historian says, "There was no nation so remote, no people so retired, as did not contribute its partion. The Welshman left his hunting, the Scot his hills, the Dane his drinking party, the Norwegian his raw fish; lands were deserted of their husbandmen, houses of their inhabitants; even whole cities migrated; the roads were too narrow for the passengers, so thickly were they thronged with endless multitudes." In 1099 they took Jerusalem, and proclaimed Godfrey de Bouillon, their leader, its king. But he declined the honour, saying, that he would not wear a crown of gold in the place where our Lord had worn a crown of thorns.

The Crusade took its name from the cross which was worn as a badge by all who joined it.

4. In 1093 Malcolm III., king of Scotland, laid claim to the counties of Northumberland and Cumberland, and, being refused them by William, invaded England. He was met, soon after crossing the border, by Roger de Mowbray, a powerful Norman baron, and in the action which ensued was defeated and slain.

His eldest son also fell in this action, and Margaret, his queen, is said to have broken her heart on hearing the sad intelligence.

A few years afterwards, Robert, the son of De Mowbray, headed the northern nobles in a revolt occasioned by the stringency of the forest laws. For a long time he was besieged in Bamborough Castle, but in a sally he was taken prisoner. His wife still held out, and only consented to give up the keys when she saw her enemies preparing to put out her husband's eyes. He was condemned to perpetual imprisonment, and his followers were banished.

5. Rufus was very extravagant in his habits, and cared little about the means employed for supplying him with money to indulge in them. Fines were multiplied, benefices were sold, and the revenues of vacant bishoprics seized.

On the death of Lanfranc, William neglected to appoint any one as his successor, and devoted the revenues of the see to his own pleasures. A serious illness alarmed him at last, and during his temporary fit of repentance he nominated Anselm, a Norman abbot, to the archbishopric; but on his recovery, he fell into his old courses, and the new prelate, finding it impossible to check him, left England.

6." William was killed whilst hunting in the New Forest, but whether accidentally or intentionally it is now impossible to say.

The common belief is, that he was accidentally shot by the arrow of his most familiar friend, Sir Walter Tirrel. His body was left lying on the ground for some time totally neglected, but was at length removed by some charcoal-burners and taken to Winchester.

According to tradition a monk dreamt that some danger was impending over William, and informed him of it on the morning of his death. The king replied, after bursting into laughter, "Do they take me for an Englishman, with their dreams? Do they think I am one of the idiots that turn back because an old woman dreams or sneezes? Come Walter de Poix, to horse!" It is further related that before the chase commenced he presented two of his best arrows to Tirrel, saying, "Sharp arrows for the best marksman."

7. William was of middle height, and very stout. His hair was of a deep yellow, and his complexion so ruddy as to procure for him the name of Rufus, or the Red. He was brave, but licentious and cruel.

In this reign Westminster Hall was built. It was 270 feet long and 70 feet broad. Large as it was, William said it scarcely deserved the name of a bed-chamber when compared with what he had wished it to be.

In the year 1100 an inundation of the sea swept away about 4000 acres of land on the coast of Kent, forming thereby the much-dreaded Goodwin Sands. They were so called because the lands thus overflown had formerly belonged to Earl Godwin.

8. Contemporary Sovereigns, and Great Men.-Scotland, Malcolm III., Donald VI., Duncan II., Edgar; France, Philip I.; Odo the warrior-bishop of Bayeux; Peter the Hermit; Godfrey de Bouillon; Ralph Flambard, "the devouring torch," who was the chief instrument of William in his extortions.

Of Ralph it was said, that, to please the king, he was willing to incur the hatred of all the rest of mankind.

HENRY I., SURNAMED BEAUCLERC. Born A.D. 1070; Reigned 35 Years (1100-1135). 1. Family.-Henry was the third son of William I. He was twice married, first to Matilda, the niece of Edgar Atheling and daughter of Malcolm III., and afterwards to Adelais, a French princess. By his first wife he had two children, William who died A.D. 1120, and Matilda, who was married in her twelfth year to Henry V., emperor of Germany.

She afterwards married Geoffrey Plantagenet, earl of Anjou, and had by him several children, one of whom was Henry II. of England.

By his second wife Henry had no issue.

2. Chronicle.-Before three days had elapsed after the death of Rufus, Henry had seized on the royal treasures at Winchester, and had caused himself to be crowned. He nevertheless felt that his claims were weak, and, to strengthen his position, conciliated his subjects to the utmost of his power.

He recalled Anselm, dismissed Flambard from office, assured the clergy that he would not violate their rights, promised the barons that he would lighten their feudal burdens, and informed the Saxon portion of his subjects that they should be governed by the laws of King Edward the Confessor. To the same end he married Matilda, a Saxon princess.

3. As soon as Robert returned from Palestine he invaded England, for the purpose of enforcing his

claim to the throne, and many of the Anglo-Normans joined his standard. The English, however, remained true to Henry, having been completely won over by his conciliating conduct.

In an address to them he said, "My friends and liegemen, natives of this land in which I also was born, you know well that my brother seeks my kingdom. He despises you, calls you gluttons and cowards, and desires only to trample you under foot; but I will maintain you in your ancient liberties, and govern you with wise moderation. Stand by me then faithfully; for, if English valour second me, I fear not the vain threats of the Normans."

Before the opposed armies could meet, a reconciliation was effected between the two brothers, and a treaty was then concluded, according to which, Robert was to give up his claims to England for an annual pension of 3,000 marks; each was to pardon the other's adherents, and whenever one died, the other was to succeed to his dominions. Henry soon neglected to fulfil the terms of the treaty, and, availing himself of the confusion of affairs in Normandy, twice invaded that duchy. On the second occasion he took his brother prisoner at the battle of Tinchebrai (1107).

Robert was then sent to England and confined in Cardiff Castle. At first he was allowed considerable liberty; but, having attempted to escape, he was deprived of his sight, and kept a close prisoner until his death, A.D. 1135. Whilst in captivity he learned the Welsh language, and used frequently to join in the bardic festivals. A Welsh poem, which is said to have been written by him, is still extant.

Henry's treatment of his brother is the more revolting from its ingratitude. During his father's lifetime Henry had seized on a castle in Normandy, in which he was besieged by his brothers Robert and William. During the siege the garrison fell short of water, and Henry was obliged to ask Robert to allow his soldiers to procure some. Permission was granted, and when Rufus blamed the duke for this act of mercy, he replied "Should I leave a brother to die of thirst! what other brother have we were we to lose him?"

4. As soon as William, the eldest son of Robert, had attained to manhood, he demanded from Henry the

duchy of Normandy, and was supported in his claims by Louis the king of France and the earls of Flanders and Anjou. It was refused, and a fierce war ensued. For several years William bravely struggled against his uncle, but his allies gradually deserted him, and he was eventually killed at the siege of Alost, 1128. By a treaty of peace, which Henry concluded with Louis, it was stipulated that his own son William should receive the dukedom of Normandy, but that he should pay homage for it to the French king. Prince William, however, did not long enjoy his new possession. Whilst returning from Normandy to England, his ship struck on a rock and sank, all on board perishing with the exception of a butcher, who escaped by clinging to a mast.

This butcher afterwards stated that William might have saved himself, but that in attempting to rescue his natural sister, his boat was over-freighted by the number who tried to escape, and immediately sank. Henry did not hear of this fatal accident for some days, no one daring to tell him of it. length a young page threw himself at his feet and informed him. Henry fainted, and is said to have never after smiled.

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William does not appear to have been amiable in disposition, and had little affection for the English. He used frequently to say, if ever he became king over the miserable Saxons, he would yoke them like oxen to the plough.

5. The king now took measures for ensuring the succession of the crown to his daughter, and caused all his barons to swear that they would support her.

Among those who took the oath were David king of Scotland, and Stephen count of Blois, who were then staying in England.

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6. Henry died soon after near Rouen, from eating too freely of some lampreys, his favourite dish. He was handsome, of a commanding figure, brave and accomplished, but cruel and licentious.

He derived his surname from his superior education. He was also called the Lion of Justice, on account of the rigour which he evinced in his government.

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In this reign the orders of Knights Templars and Knights

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