brave adventurers who had followed his fortunes. He first divided the lands of the Englifh barons who oppofed him among the Norman barons who had affifted his enterprize; and fuch as he could neither fupply with money nor lands, he appointed to the vacant offices of the ftate. But, as there were ftill numbers unprovided for, he quartered them on the rich abbeys of the kingdom, until better means offered for their advancement. This, which gave no fmall umbrage to the clergy, was but little refented by the people, who were willing to fee their own burthens lightened, by having a part of them laid upon fhoulders that were at that time much better able to bear them.

But what gave them great umbrage, was, to fee him place all real power in the hands of his own countrymen, and ftill to give them the poffeffion of the fword, to which he owed all his authority. He difarmed the city of London, and other places which appeared most warlike and populous, and quartered Norman foldiers in all those places where he most dreaded an infurrection. Having thus fecured the government, and, by a mixture of vigour and lenity brought the English to an entire fubmiffion, he refolved to return to the continent, there to enjoy the triumph and congratulation

of

of his ancient fubjects. Having, therefore, no reason to apprehend any disturbance in his abfence among the English, whofe affection he had taken fuch pains to conciliate, he left the regency with his brother Odo, bishop of Bayeux, and William Fitzofborne. To secure himself yet farther, he refolved to carry along with him all the English noblemen, from whose power or inclination he could apprehend a revolt; and, pretending to take great pleasure in their conversation, he fet fail with his honourable captives for Normandy, where he was received by his natural subjects with a mixture of admiration and joy. He refided for fome time at the abbey of Fefchamp, where he was vifited by an ambassador from the king of France, fent to congratulate his fuccefs. William, naturally fond of splendour, received this embaffy with great ftate and magnificence, while hist English courtiers, willing to ingratiate themfelves with their new sovereign, endeavoured to outshine each other, and made a display of riches which struck foreigners with aftonishment. It was probably this foolish oftentation that excited the pride of the Normans, to treat men with contempt who were apparently fo much above them.

In

In the mean time, the abfence of the Conqueror in England produced the most fatal effects. His officers being no longer controlled by his juftice, thought this a fit opportunity for extortion; while the English, no longer awed by his prefence, thought it the happiest occafion for vindicating their freedom. The two governors he had left behind took all opportunities of oppreffing the people; either defiring to provoke them into rebellion, in order to profit by confifcations, or, in cafe they submitted tamely to their impofitions, to grow rich without flaughter. The inhabitants of Kent, who were more immediately expofed to these outrages, having repeated their complaints and remonftrances to no purpose, at length had recourfe to Euftace, count of Boulogne, who affifted them in an attack upon the garrison of Dover. But the Normans were upon their guard, and having repulfed the affailants with fome flaughter, took the nephew of count Euftace prifoner. This mifcarriage did not deter Edric the Forefter from repelling the depredations of the Normans, and, in his turn, from wafting their poffeffions. But though thefe open hoftilities were not very confiderable, the difaffection among the English was general, and the people began too late to perceive, that ftrength

Arength will ever give laws to justice. A fecret confpiracy was therefore formed for destroying all the Normans, as the Danes had been formerly cut off; and this was profecuted with fo much animofity, that the vaffals of the earl Coxo put him to death, because he refused to head them against the invaders.

William, being informed of these commotions, haftened over to England, and arrived time enough to prevent the execution of this bloody enterprize. The confpirators had already taken the resolution, and fixed the day, for their intended massacre, which was to be on Afh-Wednesday, during the time of divine fervice, when all the Normans would be unarmed, as penitents, according to the difcipline of the times. But his prefence quickly disconcerted all their schemes. Such of them as had been more open in their mutiny, betrayed their guilt by flight; and this served to confirm the proofs of an accufation against those who remained.

From that time forward the king began to lofe all confidence in his English fubjects, and to regard them as inveterate and irreconcileable enemies. He had already raised such a number of fortreffes in the kingdom, that he no longer dreaded the tumultuous or tranfient efforts of a difcontented multitude; he determined to treat

A.D. 1068.

them as a conquered nation, to indulge his own avarice, and that of his followers, by numerous confifcations, and to fecure his power by humbling all who were able to make any resistance. The first fignal of his arbitrary power was manifested in renewing the odious tax of Danegelt, which had been abolished by Edward the Confeffor. This measure produced remonftrances, complaints, and even infurrections, in different parts of the kingdom; but William, confcious of his power, marched against such as were most formidable, and foon compelled them to implore for mercy. In this manner the inhabitants of Exeter and Cornwall excited his resentment, and experienced his lenity.

But these infurrections were flight, compared to that in the north, which feemed to threaten the most important confequences. This was excited by the intrigues of Edwin and Morcar, the two moft powerful noblemen of the English race, who, joined by Blethim, prince of North Wales, Malcolm, king of Scotland, and Sweyn, king of Denmark, refolved to make one terrible effort for the recovery of their ancient liberties. But the vigour and celerity of William deftroyed their projects before they were ripe for execution; for, advancing towards them at the head a powerful

army,