found fupported on the most solid argu

ments.

In this manner Rufus proceeded, careless of approbation or cenfure; and only intent upon extending his dominions, either by purchase or conqueft. The earl of Poitiers and Guienne, enflamed with a defire of going upon the crufade, had gathered an immenfe multitude for that expedition, but wanted money to forward his preparations. He had recourse, therefore, to Rufus; and offered to mortgage all his dominions, without much confidering what would become of his unhappy fubjects that he thus difpofed of. The king accepted this offer with his usual avidity; and had prepared a fleet, and an army, in order to take poffeffion of the rich provinces thus configned to his trust. But an accident put an end to all his ambitious projects, and ferved to rid the world of a mercenary tyrant. His favourite amusement was hunting, almoft the only relaxation of princes in thofe rude times, when the other arts of peace were but little cultivated. The New Forest was generally the fcene of his fport; and there he usually spent those hours which were not employed in business of a more ferious nature. One day, as he was mounting his horse, in order to take his customary amusement, he is

faid to have been stopped by a monk, who warned him, from fome dreams he had the night before, to abftain from that day's diverfion. Rufus, fmiling at his fuperftition, ordered him to be paid for his zeal, but defired him to have more favourable dreams for the future. Thus, fetting forward, he began the chace, attended by Walter Tyrrel, a French knight, famous for archery, who always accompanied him in these excurfions. Towards funfet, they found themselves feparated from the reft of their retinue; and the king difmounted, either through fatigue, or in expectation of a fresh horse. Juft at that inftant, a ftag bounded out before him; and Rufus, drawing his bow, wounded the animal, yet not so mortally but that it fled; while he followed, in hopes of feeing it fall. As the fetting fun beamed in his face, he held up his hand before his eyes, and stood in that posture; when Tyrrel, who had been engaged in the fame purfuit, let fly an arrow, which glancing from a tree, ftruck the king to the heart. He dropt dead inftantaneoufly; while the innocent author of his death, terrified at the accident, put fpurs to his horse, haftened to the sea shore, embarked for France, and joined the crufade that was then fetting out for Jerufalem. William's

A.D. 1100.

body, being found by fome countrymen paffing through the foreft, it was laid across an horfe, and carried to Winchefter, where it was, next day, interred in the cathedral, without ceremony, or any marks of refpect. Few lamented his fate, and none of the courtiers attended his funeral.

It requires no great art to draw the character of a prince, whofe vices were compensated by fcarce one virtue. Rufus was a perfidious, encroaching, and a dangerous neighbour, an unkind and ungenerous relation, a rapacious, and yet a prodigal prince. However, there remains to this day, fome monuments of his public fpirit; the Tower, Westminster-Hall, and London-bridge, were all built by him, and are evidences that the treasures of government were not all expended in vain. William Rufus was flain in the thirteenth year of his reign, and about the fortieth of his age. As he never was married, he left no legitimate iffue behind him; the fucceffion, therefore, of courfe devolved upon Robert, his elder brother, but he was then too diftant to affert his pretenfions.

СНАР.

Hall,Sculp

CHA P. VII.

HENRY I. furnamed BEAU CLERC.

THERE were now two competitors for

the crown; Robert, who had engaged in the holy war, and Henry, the youngest brother, who continued at home. Had Robert been in Normandy when William died, there is no doubt, from the popularity of his character, and from the treaty formerly concluded between the two brothers, but that he would

have been elected without oppofition. This valiant and generous prince having led his followers into Paleftine, and there distinguished himself by his courage, his affable difpofition, and unbounded generosity, after the taking of Jerufalem, began to think of returning home, and of enjoying in tranquillity that glory, which he had acquired in the field against the infidels. But, instead of taking the most direst road to England, he paffed through Italy, where he became acquainted with Sibylla, daughter of count Converfana, a lady of celebrated beauty; and, marrying her, he lavished away, in her company, thofe hours which fhould have been employed in the recovery of his kingdom,

In the mean time, Heny, who had been hunting in the New Foreft when his brother was flain, took the earliest advantage of the occafion, and haftening to Winchester, refolved to secure the royal treafure, which he knew to be the best affiftant in seconding his aims. William de Breteuil, who had the care of the treasury, informed of the king's death, oppofed himself boldly to Henry's pretenfions. He ventured to affure Henry, that the money in his cuftody, as well as the crown, belonged to his elder brother, and that he was refolved

tq