Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland, vol 2 : England | Page 8

which were so bad and wicked before his sicknesse, being compared
with those which followed after his recouerie, might haue béene
reputed good and sufferable.
[Sidenote: Anselme elected archbishop of Canturburie.] Moreouer,
whereas he reteined and kept in his hands the bishoprike of Canturburie
the space of foure yeares, he now bestowed it vpon Anselme, who was
before abbat of Bechellouin in Normandie; and for certeine abbeis
which he had held long time in his possession, he ordeined abbats: by
meane wherof all men (but especiallie the spiritualtie) began to
conceiue a verie good opinion of him. [Sidenote: _Eadmerus._] The
yere wherein Anselme was thus elected, was from the birth of our
Sauiour 1093. on the sixt of March, being the first sundaie in Lent (as
Eadmerus recordeth.) [Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ _Polydor._ Robert
Bluet L. Chancelor elected bishop of Lincolne.] Furthermore he gaue
the see of Lincolne (being void by the death of Bishop Remigius) to his

councellour Robert Bluet; but afterward repenting himselfe of such
liberalitie, in that he had not kept it longer in his hands towards the
inriching of his coffers, he deuised a shift how to wipe the bishops nose
of some of his gold, which he performed after this maner. He caused
the bishop to be sued, quarelinglie charging him that he had
wrongfullie vsurped certeine possessions, togither with the citie of
Lincolne, which appertained to the sée of Yorke. [Sidenote: _Hen.
Hunt._] Which although it was but a forged cauillation, and a shamefull
vntruth; yet could not the bishop be deliuered out of that trouble, till he
had paid to the king fiue thousand pounds. And as he dealt with the
spiritualtie, so he caused diuerse of the Nobilitie to be put to gréeuous
fines, for transgressing of his lawes, though the fault were neuer so
little. He also caused the archbishop Anselme to paie him a great
summe of monie, vnder colour of a contribution which was due in
Lanfrankes daies, though it was certeinlie knowne that Lanfranke had
paied it. Thus grew king William from time to time more sharpe and
rigorous to his subiects, so that whosoeuer came within the danger of
the laws, was sure to be condemned; and such as would plaie the
promooters and giue informations against any man for transgressing the
lawes, were highlie rewarded.
In this sixt yeare there chanced such an excessiue raine, and such high
flouds, the riuers ouerflowing the low grounds that lay néere vnto them,
as the like had not béene seene of many yeares before; and afterwards
insued a sudden frost, whereby the great streames were congeled in
such sort, that at their dissoluing or thawing, manie bridges both of
wood and stone were borne downe, and diuerse water-milles rent vp
and caried awaie.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._] Furthermore king William perceiuing that by
his cruell and couetous gouernment, sundrie of his subiects did dailie
steale out of the realme, [Sidenote: A proclamation that none should
depart the realme.] to liue in forreine countries, he published a
proclamation, charging that no man should depart the realme without
his licence and safe-conduct. Hereof it is thought, that the custome rose
of forbidding passage out of the realme, which oftentimes is vsed as a
law, when occasion serueth. Soone after, he went against the Welshmen,

whom he vanquished in battell néere to Brecknocke, and slue Rees
their king, who had doone much hurt within the English borders, when
he was their incamped. [Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ Rées king of Wales
slaine.] This Rise or Rées was the last king that reigned ouer the
Welshmen, as authors affirme: for afterwards, though they oftentimes
rebelled, yet the kings of England were reputed and taken as supreme
gouernors of that part of the Iland. [Sidenote: _Wil. Thorne._]
Moreouer, to haue the countrie the better in quiet, he did cut downe
their woods, and builded manie castels and piles in places conuenient,
by meanes whereof they were somewhat tamed, and trained in due time
to obedience, though not at the first, nor in the daies of sundrie of his
successors.
[Sidenote: Malcolme king of Scots commeth to Glocester. _Wil.
Malm._ _Polydor._] Hauing thus finished his iournie into Wales,
Malcolme king of Scotland came vnto Glocester to sée the king, and to
common with him of sundrie matters touching the peace betwixt both
the realms, as he returned homewards: but bicause king William
disdained to enterteine him in such pompous maner as he expected and
made account of; [Sidenote: K. Malcolme inuadeth England.] and
forsomuch as he did not at the verie first admit him to his presence, the
said Malcolme returned into Scotland in great displeasure, and
immediatelie raising a power, entred into England, destroieng the
country vnto Alnewike castell, where he was so enuironed with an
ambushment laid by Robert earle