The private misery which those wars occasioned is now over, but the knowledge remains, and seems transferred to us. Whilst Europeans, and their American descendants have been improving and gaining knowledge ever since, all the people of the East have been standing absolutely still.

CHAPTER VIII.

HENRY I.

[Years after Christ, 1100-1135.]

Henry, the Conqueror's youngest son, who was hunting with William, in the New Forest, at the time when he was slain by Tyrrel, instead of showing any concern at his brother's death, or even waiting to see his body borne away from the spot where he fell, put spurs to his horse, and rode directly to Winchester, where he seized on the royal treaHe then hastened to London; and by gifts and promises, disposed the people so much in his favor, that they crowned him King, by the name of Henry I., in violation of the right of his brother, Robert, who was still in Palestine.

sure.

Henry's character was made up of an extraordinary mixture of good and engaging qualities, with many bad ones. Courage, intrepidity, political wisdom, impartial administration of justice to his people, love for his children, a fine understanding, and facetious humor are described of him by the historians of his time, and incline us to admire him. On the other hand, his ambition and avarice, his unjust usurpation, and his wicked conduct to his brother Robert, and to his nephew William, (Robert's son,) oblige us to acknowledge that, notwithstanding his dazzling qualities, he must have been a bad man. He had

How did Henry, the brother of William II. act on the king's death? What sort ca man was Henry I. ?

́eceived, what was considered in those days, a learned education; and from that circumstance, he acquired the surname of Beauclerc, or fine scholar.

Henry began his reign by promising to redress all the evils his father and brother had inflicted on the AngloSaxons, and granted them a charter of privileges; or, more properly speaking, restored Edward the Confessor's code of laws, to which the people were much attached. Hebanished from his court all William's profligate associates, and recalled from exile Anselm, archbishop of Canterbury, who had been banished by Rufus for refusing to receive investiture from his hands. The more to endear himself to his English subjects, Henry married Matilda, daughter of Malcolm, king of Scotland. He also remitted many debts that were owing to the crown, and omitted nothing that could endear him to the people.

In the mean time, duke Robert had returned from the Holy Land, and resumed the possession of Normandy, He lost no time in making preparations for invading England, and asserting his right to the crown. He was joined by some discontented barons, and landed with his army at Portsmouth, on the 19th of July, 1101. Henry now found the benefit of the conciliatory conduct which he had pursued towards the English, who remained firm to him, while the Normans chiefly adhered to Robert. Henry marched to Portsmouth, with a numerous army, to oppose his brother.

The two armies stood facing each other several days, as if awe-struck, without coming to an engagement; which gave Anselm, and some of the barons, who were desirous of peace, an opportunity of concluding a treaty between the two princes, in which it was stipulated that Robert should give up his pretentions to the crown of England, in consideration of Henry's granting him a pension of 3000 marks, and promising to restore to their honors and estates in England, those Anglo-Normans, who had joined with him.

By what measures did Henry commend himself to his subjects ?
Did Robert acquiesce in the usurpation of Henry?

On what conditions did the rival brothers make peace ?

It was further agreed, that, if eitner of the brotheis should die without children, the other should succeed to his dominions. The two armies were then disbanded, and Robert spent two months with his brother in feasts and amusements, and then returned to Normandy. But as soon as Robert was gone, Henry took the first opportunity of degrading those barons who had taken his side.

When Robert heard this, he returned to England, and remonstrated with Henry on this breach of the treaty; but he soon found, that, instead of benefiting his friends by staying in his brother's dominions, he was endangering himself; and he only escaped in safety by consenting to give up his pension.

The Norman barons were now made discontented by Robert's imprudence, and mismanagement of his affairs. In 1104 they invited Henry to come over and settle their disagreements with their duke; an invitation which Henry gladly accepted: and he acted so craftily, that he weak. ened and humbled his brother's party, and prepared the way for obtaining Normandy for himself. During the two following years, Robert entangled himself more and more in difficulties, and Henry gained every possible advantage over his inconsiderate brother.

A. D. 1106. Henry made a direct invasion of Normandy, and in a battle fought on the 28th of September, he took Robert and many of his nobles prisoners, amongst the latter was Edgar Atheling. Edgar, however, was considered no formidable enemy, and was soon set at liberty and spent the rest of his life in harmless and enviable obscurity. His Saxon blood, and his mild and amiable disposition, made him the idol of the English; while his imbecility and want of enterprise, rendered him too insignificant to be feared by the Normans. The only spirited thing we hear of Edgar is, that he had accompanied Robert to the Holy Land.

Robert was brought prisoner to England; and his cruel and unrelenting brother kept him in perpetua. confinement till his death, twenty-eight years afterwards.

Was Henry faithful to the treaty which he made with Robert ?
Did Henry ever avail himself of Robert's mismanagement?

What became of Robert, and of Edgar Atheling?

When did Robert die, and what became of his son?

The whole of Normandy now submitted to Henry. Robert's son William, a child of six years old, was found ir. the castle of Falaise, and was committed by Henry to the care of Helie de St. Saen, who had married a daughter of Rober

Every thing had prospered with Henry, according to his ambitious wishes; but while his brother's son lived, he stood in the way of his secure possession of the crown. Henry therefore sent Robert Beauchamp to surprise the castle of St. Saen, during the absence of its lord, and to seize on the young prince: but, by the vigilance, and fidelity of the people who were left in charge of him, the child was carried to a place of safety.

Henry, enraged at his disappointment, confiscated all the property of Helie de St. Saen, who having no longer a home of his own, wandered about from court to court claiming protection for his royal charge, who was every where pitied for his misfortunes, and admired for the beauty of his person. The earl of Anjou engaged to assist him, and promised him his daughter, Sibylla, in marriage.

Henry no sooner heard that his nephew had acquired so powerful a friend, than he determined to prevent the intended match, and offered his own, and only son, William, in marriage to Matilda, another of the earl's daughters. The earl found this temptation so strong, that he broke off the contract with William the son of Robert, and concluded one with William the son of Henry. The faithful Helie, and the unfortunate prince, then retired from the court of Anjou to that of Baldwin, earl of Flanders, where they were recieved with great kindness.

For the next five years, whatever conflicts the king might suffer in his own mind, the country, at least enjoyed tran quillity. Henry was, however, still so suspicious of his son's righ, to the crown being disputed, that he required all his earls and barons to swear fealty to him; and he

Did King Henry get possession of prince William?

Who befriended prince William?

By what selfish motive was the earl of Anjou alie:ated from the inter est of Prince William?

If the earl of Anjou had been a just man would he have acted thus? Ars. whatever the pupil thinks right.)

endeavored, by great promises, to entice his nephew to his court. But William could not forget his unhappy father, still languishing in prison, and would not put himself in his uncle's power. In 1118, Louis le Gros, king of France, with the earls of Flanders and Anjou, formed an alliance against Henry, in favor of William, and were joined by several disaffected Norman barons.

Henry was now surrounded by enemies, both secret and declared, and knew not whom to trust, nor whom to fear He slept in armor, and with a guard watching in his apartment. Nevertheless, his vigilance and prudence did not forsake him. He contrived to win over the Norman barons; and detached the earl of Anjou from the alliance with France, by solemanizing the marriage that had before been contracted for between his son and the earl's daughter.

The king of France and the barons confederated with him met Henry in the plain of Brenneville, not very far from Rouen, and a fierce battle ensued, in which the English army was victorious, and the king of France and prince William escaped with some difficulty.

Henry spent the geater part of the year 1120 in Normandy, endeavoring to strengthen the certainty of his son's succession, who was now eighteen years old. But how useless was all this anxiety! This beloved son, for whose aggrandisement he had done and sacrificed so much, was suddenly snatched from him. He was returning to England with a numerous train, and many ships; one of which, called the White Ship, was allotted to the prince and his retinue. The prince had ordered some wine to be given to the ship's crew, of which they drank so freely that many of them were intoxicated. The rest of the flee. had meanwhile sailed, and Fitzstephen, the commander of the White Ship, crowding all his sails, and plying all his oars, to overtake them, the vessel suddenly struck upon a rock. A boat was immediately let down, into which the prince and some of the young nobles were hurried; and they might have reached the shore in safety, had not the prince

Did prince William come to his uncle's court,-and why not?

Did Henry enjoy life without fear of enemies?

Where did Henry defeat the French king?

What happened to the king's eldest son?