to them, as that of William his brother was odious. Robert was open, generous, and humane; he carried his facility to an excess, as he could fcarcely find strength of mind to give any of his adherents the mortification of a refufal. But this was a quality no way difagreeable to those who expected to build their ambition on the eafy pliancy of his temper. A powerful confpiracy was therefore carried on against William; and Odo, the late king's brother, undertook to conduct it to maturity.

William, fenfible of the danger that threatened him on all fides, endeavoured to gain the affections of the native English, whom he prevailed upon, by promises of future good treatment, and preference in the distribution of his favours, to efpouse his interefts. He was foon therefore in the field; and, at the head of a numerous army, fhewed himself in readiness to oppose all who fhould difpute his pretenfions. In the mean time, Odo had written to Robert an account of the confpiracy in his favour, urging him to use dispatch, and exciting him, by the greatness of the danger, and the fplendor of the reward. Robert gave him the most pofitive affurances of speedy affistance; but his indolence was not to be excited by distant expectations. Instead of employing his money

in levies, to fupport his friends in England, he squandered it away in idle expences, and unmerited benefits, fo that he procraftinated his departure till the opportunity was loft; while William exerted himself with incredible activity, to diffipate the confederacy before he could arrive. Nor was this difficult to effect: the confpirators had, in confequence of Robert's affurances, taken poffeffion of fome fortreffes; but the appearance of the king foon reduced them to implore for mercy. He granted them their lives, but confifcated all their estates, and banished them the kingdom.

William, thus freed from all danger of infurrection, and fixed in the peaceable poffeffion of the kingdom, fhewed the firft inftance of his perverse inclinations, in his ingratitude to the English, who had fecured him on the throne. The death of Lanfranc, which followed fhortly after, took off all restraint from his inclinations, and his mind now appeared in its natųral deformity, tyrannical, and unjuft. He ordered a new furvey to be taken of all the lands and property of the kingdom; and wherever he found them undervalued in the Doom'sday-book, he raised the proportion of taxes accordingly. Even the privileges of the church, which were held very facred in those times of

ignorance, were but a feeble rampart against his ufurpations; he feized the vacant bishopricks, and openly put to fale fuch abbies as he thought proper. But, not contented with exerting his tyranny over his own dominions, he was refolved to extend his authority over those of his brother. In confequence of this refolution, he appeared in Normandy, at the head of a numerous army; but the nobility, on both fides, ftrongly connected by interest and alliances, brought on an accommodation. Among other articles of this treaty, it was agreed, that, in cafe either of the brothers fhould die without iffue, the furvivor should inherit all his dominions. It was in vain that Henry, the other brother, remonftrated against this act of injuftice; it was in vain that he took arms, and even defended a little fortrefs, on the coast of Normandy, for fome time, against their united affaults. He was at last obliged to furrender; and, being defpoiled of even the small patrimony that was left him, he wandered about for fome years, with a few attendants, and was often reduced to great poverty.

It was in befieging this fortrefs, that a circumstance or twò have been related, which ferve to mark the character of the two brothers. As William was taking the air one day on horseback, at

fome

fome distance from the camp, perceived two horfemen riding out from the castle, who foon came up and attacked him. In the very first encounter, the king's horse being killed, overturned, and lay upon him, in fuch a manner that he could not difengage himself. His antagonist, while he remained in this fituation, lifted up his arm to dispatch him; when William exclaimed, in a menacing tone, "Hold; villain, I am the king of England." The two foldiers were immediatly feized with veneration and awe; and, helping him up, accommodated him with one of their horfes. William was not ungrateful for this fervice; he mounted the horfe, and ordering the foldier to follow, took him into his fervice. Soon after, Robert had an occafion to fhew ftill greater marks of generofity; for, hearing that the garrifon was in great diftrefs for want of water, he not only ordered that Henry should be permitted to fupply himself, but also fent him fome pipes of wine for his own table. Rufus did not at all approve of this ill-timed generofity; but Robert anfwered his remonstrances. by faying, "Shall we fuffer our brother to die with thirft! Where fhall we find another when he is

gone

The

The inteftine and petty difcords that ensued upon this accommodation between Robert and Rufus,feem scarce worthy the attention of history. They indeed produced more real calamities to the people than fplendid invafions, or bloody battles, as the depredations of petty tyrants are ever more feverely felt by the poor, than the magnanimous projects of ambition. A rupture enfued between Rufus and Malcolm, king of Scotland, in which the latter was ultimately furprized, and flain, by a party from Alnwick

castle.

A new breach was made fome time after be- A.D. 1o93. tween the brothers, in which Rufus found means to encroach ftill further upon Robert's poffeffions. An incurfion from the Welch filled the country

of England with alarm; but they were quickly A.D. 1094. repelled, and obliged to find refuge in their native mountains. A confpiracy of the Norman barons in England threatened ferious confequences; but their schemes were prevented and fruftrated. Robert Mowbray, earl of Northumberland, who was at the head of this plot, was thrown into prifon, where he died, after thirty years confinement. The count Eu, another confpirator, denying the charge, fought with his accufer, in prefence of the court, at Windfor, and being worsted in the combat, was

con