1087.
An. Reg. 1.William, surnamed Rufus or William the Red, second sonne to WilliamConqueror, began his reigne ouer England the ninth of September, in theyeare 1087. about the 31. yeare of the emperour Henrie the fourth, andthe 37. of Philip the first, king of France, Urbane the second thengouerning the sée of Rome, and Malcolme Cammoir reigning in Scotland.Polydor. Sim. Dunel. Matth. Paris.Immediatlie after his fathers deceasse, and before the solemnitie of thefunerals were executed, he came ouer into England with no lesse spéedthan was possible, and following the counsell of Lanfranke archbishop ofCanturburie (in whome he reposed all his trust) he sought to win thefauour of the Péers and Nobilitie [27] of the realme by great and liberallgifts. For although there were but few of the homeborne states that barerule in the land at this season; yet those that remained, and whome hisfather in extreme sort had wronged, he verie gentlie enterteined,promising them not onlie to continue their good lord and souereigne, butalso to make more fauourable ordinances than his father had left behindhim; and furthermore to restore the former lawes and liberties of therealme, which his said father had abolished. Thus by faire words andpolitic he obtained his purpose. Howbeit soone after he forgat himselfe,Sim. Dunel. Marchar and Wilnot.and imprisoned Marchar and Wilnot, whom he had brought ouer with himfrom Normandie, being set at libertie by his father.
Lanfranke had fauoured him euen of achild.
Matth. Paris.
William Rufus is crowned the 26. of September.
Polydor.
His bountifull munificence.The nobles at the first wished rather to haue had the elder brother dukeRobert to haue gouerned them: howbeit by the aide onelie of the saidLanfranke, whose authoritie was of no small force amongst all the lordsof the land, this William (according to his fathers assignation) wasproclaimed and crowned at Westminster on the 26. of September (beingSundaie, the 6. kalends of October) and the 11. indiction, as the bestwriters doo report. After his coronation, to gratifie the people, hewent to Winchester, where he found great treasure which his father hadlaid vp there for his owne vse: this he fréelie spent in large gifts,and all kind of princelie largesse. He set verie manie prisoners atlibertie, and did many other things to benefit the people, wherein thediligence and good aduice of Lanfranke did not a little preuaile. For heperceiued that there was in the king a variable mind, an vnstablenature, and a disposition to lightnesse and follie. Wherefore hée tookeoftentimes the more paines in persuading him not onelie to liberalitie(which is none of the least vertues in a prince) but also to vse adiscreet and orderlie behauiour in all his dooings. Moreouer, he stickednot to put him in feare of an euill end, and troublesome regimentlikelie to insue, if he did giue himselfe to vice and wilfulnesse, &neglect the charge thus by the prouidence of GOD committed to his hands.After this maner did the said prelat trauell with the king, whom we willleaue at this time as it were hearkening to his admonitions, and setfoorth by the waie what his brother Robert did, whilest William Rufushis brother was occupied in such wise as you haue heard.
It happened that this Robert was abroad in Germanie, when king Williamhis father died (whither he went to raise a power, to the intent hemight therby obteine the possession of Normandie, which he trust