ENGLAND UNDER WILLIAM THE SECOND, CALLED RUFUS
WILLIAM THE RED, in breathless haste, secured the three great forts of Dover, Pevensey, and Hastings, and made with hot speed for Winchester, where the Royal treasure was kept. The treasurer1 delivering him the keys, he found that it amounted to sixty thousand pounds in silver, besides gold and jewels. Possessed2 of this wealth, he soon persuaded the Archbishop of Canterbury to crown him, and became William the Second, King of England.
Rufus was no sooner on the throne, than he ordered into prison again the unhappy state captives whom his father had set free, and directed a goldsmith to ornament4 his father's tomb profusely5 with gold and silver. It would have been more dutiful in him to have attended the sick Conqueror6 when he was dying; but England itself, like this Red King, who once governed it, has sometimes made expensive tombs for dead men whom it treated shabbily when they were alive.
The King's brother, Robert of Normandy, seeming quite content to be only Duke of that country; and the King's other brother, Fine- Scholar, being quiet enough with his five thousand pounds in a chest; the King flattered himself, we may suppose, with the hope of an easy reign7. But easy reigns8 were difficult to have in those days. The turbulent Bishop3 ODO (who had blessed the Norman army at the Battle of Hastings, and who, I dare say, took all the credit of the victory to himself) soon began, in concert with some powerful Norman nobles, to trouble the Red King.
The truth seems to be that this bishop and his friends, who had lands in England and lands in Normandy, wished to hold both under one Sovereign; and greatly preferred a thoughtless good-natured person, such as Robert was, to Rufus; who, though far from being an amiable9 man in any respect, was keen, and not to be imposed upon. They declared in Robert's favour, and retired10 to their castles (those castles were very troublesome to kings) in a sullen11 humour. The Red King, seeing the Normans thus falling from him, revenged himself upon them by appealing to the English; to whom he made a variety of promises, which he never meant to perform - in particular, promises to soften12 the cruelty of the Forest Laws; and who, in return, so aided him with their valour, that ODO was besieged13 in the Castle of Rochester, and forced to abandon it, and to depart from England for ever: whereupon the other rebellious14 Norman nobles were soon reduced and scattered15.
Then, the Red King went over to Normandy, where the people suffered greatly under the loose rule of Duke Robert. The King's object was to seize upon the Duke's dominions16. This, the Duke, of course, prepared to resist; and miserable17 war between the two brothers seemed inevitable18, when the powerful nobles on both sides, who had seen so much of war, interfered19 to prevent it. A treaty was made. Each of the two brothers agreed to give up something of his claims, and that the longer-liver of the two should inherit all the dominions of the other. When they had come to this loving understanding, they embraced and joined their forces against Fine- Scholar; who had bought some territory of Robert with a part of his five thousand pounds, and was considered a dangerous individual in consequence.
St. Michael's Mount, in Normandy (there is another St. Michael's Mount, in Cornwall, wonderfully like it), was then, as it is now, a strong place perched upon the top of a high rock, around which, when the tide is in, the sea flows, leaving no road to the mainland. In this place, Fine-Scholar shut himself up with his soldiers, and here he was closely besieged by his two brothers. At one time, when he was reduced to great distress21 for want of water, the generous Robert not only permitted his men to get water, but sent Fine-Scholar wine from his own table; and, on being remonstrated22 with by the Red King, said 'What! shall we let our own brother die of thirst? Where shall we get another, when he is gone?' At another time, the Red King riding alone on the shore of the bay, looking up at the Castle, was taken by two of Fine- Scholar's men, one of whom was about to kill him, when he cried out, 'Hold, knave23! I am the King of England!' The story says that the soldier raised him from the ground respectfully and humbly24, and that the King took him into his service. The story may or may not be true; but at any rate it is true that Fine-Scholar could not hold out against his united brothers, and that he abandoned Mount St. Michael, and wandered about - as poor and forlorn as other scholars have been sometimes known to be.
The Scotch25 became unquiet in the Red King's time, and were twice defeated - the second time, with the loss of their King, Malcolm, and his son. The Welsh became unquiet too. Against them, Rufus was less successful; for they fought among their native mountains, and did great execution on the King's troops. Robert of Normandy became unquiet too; and, complaining that his brother the King did not faithfully perform his part of their agreement, took up arms, and obtained assistance from the King of France, whom Rufus, in the end, bought off with vast sums of money. England became unquiet too. Lord Mowbray, the powerful Earl of Northumberland, headed a great conspiracy26 to depose27 the King, and to place upon the throne, STEPHEN, the Conqueror's near relative. The plot was discovered; all the chief conspirators28 were seized; some were fined, some were put in prison, some were put to death. The Earl of Northumberland himself was shut up in a dungeon29 beneath Windsor Castle, where he died, an old man, thirty long years afterwards. The Priests in England were more unquiet than any other class or power; for the Red King treated them with such small ceremony that he refused to appoint new bishops30 or archbishops when the old ones died, but kept all the wealth belonging to those offices in his own hands. In return for this, the Priests wrote his life when he was dead, and abused him well. I am inclined to think, myself, that there was little to choose between the Priests and the Red King; that both sides were greedy and designing; and that they were fairly matched.
The Red King was false of heart, selfish, covetous31, and mean. He had a worthy32 minister in his favourite, Ralph, nicknamed - for almost every famous person had a nickname in those rough days - Flambard, or the Firebrand. Once, the King being ill, became penitent33, and made ANSELM, a foreign priest and a good man, Archbishop of Canterbury. But he no sooner got well again than he repented34 of his repentance35, and persisted in wrongfully keeping to himself some of the wealth belonging to the archbishopric. This led to violent disputes, which were aggravated36 by there being in Rome at that time two rival Popes; each of whom declared he was the only real original infallible Pope, who couldn't make a mistake. At last, Anselm, knowing the Red King's character, and not feeling himself safe in England, asked leave to return abroad. The Red King gladly gave it; for he knew that as soon as Anselm was gone, he could begin to store up all the Canterbury money again, for his own use.
By such means, and by taxing and oppressing the English people in every possible way, the Red King became very rich. When he wanted money for any purpose, he raised it by some means or other, and cared nothing for the injustice37 he did, or the misery38 he caused. Having the opportunity of buying from Robert the whole duchy of Normandy for five years, he taxed the English people more than ever, and made the very convents sell their plate and valuables to supply him with the means to make the purchase. But he was as quick and eager in putting down revolt as he was in raising money; for, a part of the Norman people objecting - very naturally, I think - to being sold in this way, he headed an army against them with all the speed and energy of his father. He was so impatient, that he embarked40 for Normandy in a great gale41 of wind. And when the sailors told him it was dangerous to go to sea in such angry weather, he replied, 'Hoist42 sail and away! Did you ever hear of a king who was drowned?'
You will wonder how it was that even the careless Robert came to sell his dominions. It happened thus. It had long been the custom for many English people to make journeys to Jerusalem, which were called pilgrimages, in order that they might pray beside the tomb of Our Saviour43 there. Jerusalem belonging to the Turks, and the Turks hating Christianity, these Christian44 travellers were often insulted and ill used. The Pilgrims bore it patiently for some time, but at length a remarkable45 man, of great earnestness and eloquence46, called PETER THE HERMIT47, began to preach in various places against the Turks, and to declare that it was the duty of good Christians48 to drive away those unbelievers from the tomb of Our Saviour, and to take possession of it, and protect it. An excitement such as the world had never known before was created. Thousands and thousands of men of all ranks and conditions departed for Jerusalem to make war against the Turks. The war is called in history the first Crusade, and every Crusader wore a cross marked on his right shoulder.
All the Crusaders were not zealous49 Christians. Among them were vast numbers of the restless, idle, profligate50, and adventurous51 spirit of the time. Some became Crusaders for the love of change; some, in the hope of plunder52; some, because they had nothing to do at home; some, because they did what the priests told them; some, because they liked to see foreign countries; some, because they were fond of knocking men about, and would as soon knock a Turk about as a Christian. Robert of Normandy may have been influenced by all these motives53; and by a kind desire, besides, to save the Christian Pilgrims from bad treatment in future. He wanted to raise a number of armed men, and to go to the Crusade. He could not do so without money. He had no money; and he sold his dominions to his brother, the Red King, for five years. With the large sum he thus obtained, he fitted out his Crusaders gallantly54, and went away to Jerusalem in martial55 state. The Red King, who made money out of everything, stayed at home, busily squeezing more money out of Normans and English.
After three years of great hardship and suffering - from shipwreck56 at sea; from travel in strange lands; from hunger, thirst, and fever, upon the burning sands of the desert; and from the fury of the Turks - the valiant57 Crusaders got possession of Our Saviour's tomb. The Turks were still resisting and fighting bravely, but this success increased the general desire in Europe to join the Crusade. Another great French Duke was proposing to sell his dominions for a term to the rich Red King, when the Red King's reign came to a sudden and violent end.
You have not forgotten the New Forest which the Conqueror made, and which the miserable people whose homes he had laid waste, so hated. The cruelty of the Forest Laws, and the torture and death they brought upon the peasantry, increased this hatred58. The poor persecuted59 country people believed that the New Forest was enchanted60. They said that in thunder-storms, and on dark nights, demons61 appeared, moving beneath the branches of the gloomy trees. They said that a terrible spectre had foretold62 to Norman hunters that the Red King should be punished there. And now, in the pleasant season of May, when the Red King had reigned63 almost thirteen years; and a second Prince of the Conqueror's blood - another Richard, the son of Duke Robert - was killed by an arrow in this dreaded64 Forest; the people said that the second time was not the last, and that there was another death to come.
It was a lonely forest, accursed in the people's hearts for the wicked deeds that had been done to make it; and no man save the King and his Courtiers and Huntsmen, liked to stray there. But, in reality, it was like any other forest. In the spring, the green leaves broke out of the buds; in the summer, flourished heartily65, and made deep shades; in the winter, shrivelled and blew down, and lay in brown heaps on the moss66. Some trees were stately, and grew high and strong; some had fallen of themselves; some were felled by the forester's axe39; some were hollow, and the rabbits burrowed67 at their roots; some few were struck by lightning, and stood white and bare. There were hill-sides covered with rich fern, on which the morning dew so beautifully sparkled; there were brooks68, where the deer went down to drink, or over which the whole herd69 bounded, flying from the arrows of the huntsmen; there were sunny glades70, and solemn places where but little light came through the rustling71 leaves. The songs of the birds in the New Forest were pleasanter to hear than the shouts of fighting men outside; and even when the Red King and his Court came hunting through its solitudes72, cursing loud and riding hard, with a jingling73 of stirrups and bridles74 and knives and daggers75, they did much less harm there than among the English or Normans, and the stags died (as they lived) far easier than the people.
Upon a day in August, the Red King, now reconciled to his brother, Fine-Scholar, came with a great train to hunt in the New Forest. Fine-Scholar was of the party. They were a merry party, and had lain all night at Malwood-Keep, a hunting-lodge in the forest, where they had made good cheer, both at supper and breakfast, and had drunk a deal of wine. The party dispersed76 in various directions, as the custom of hunters then was. The King took with him only SIR WALTER TYRREL, who was a famous sportsman, and to whom he had given, before they mounted horse that morning, two fine arrows.
The last time the King was ever seen alive, he was riding with Sir Walter Tyrrel, and their dogs were hunting together.
It was almost night, when a poor charcoal-burner, passing through the forest with his cart, came upon the solitary77 body of a dead man, shot with an arrow in the breast, and still bleeding. He got it into his cart. It was the body of the King. Shaken and tumbled, with its red beard all whitened with lime and clotted78 with blood, it was driven in the cart by the charcoal-burner next day to Winchester Cathedral, where it was received and buried.
Sir Walter Tyrrel, who escaped to Normandy, and claimed the protection of the King of France, swore in France that the Red King was suddenly shot dead by an arrow from an unseen hand, while they were hunting together; that he was fearful of being suspected as the King's murderer; and that he instantly set spurs to his horse, and fled to the sea-shore. Others declared that the King and Sir Walter Tyrrel were hunting in company, a little before sunset, standing20 in bushes opposite one another, when a stag came between them. That the King drew his bow and took aim, but the string broke. That the King then cried, 'Shoot, Walter, in the Devil's name!' That Sir Walter shot. That the arrow glanced against a tree, was turned aside from the stag, and struck the King from his horse, dead.
By whose hand the Red King really fell, and whether that hand despatched the arrow to his breast by accident or by design, is only known to GOD. Some think his brother may have caused him to be killed; but the Red King had made so many enemies, both among priests and people, that suspicion may reasonably rest upon a less unnatural79 murderer. Men know no more than that he was found dead in the New Forest, which the suffering people had regarded as a doomed80 ground for his race.
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treasurer
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| n.司库，财务主管 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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profusely
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| ad.abundantly | |
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conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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reigns
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| n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 )；君主统治时期；任期；当政期 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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dominions
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| 统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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knave
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| n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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depose
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| vt.免职；宣誓作证 | |
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conspirators
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| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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bishops
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| （基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象 | |
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covetous
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| adj.贪婪的，贪心的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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penitent
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| adj.后悔的；n.后悔者；忏悔者 | |
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repented
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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aggravated
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| 使恶化( aggravate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使更严重； 激怒； 使恼火 | |
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injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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hoist
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| n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起 | |
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saviour
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| n.拯救者，救星 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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zealous
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| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
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profligate
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| adj.行为不检的；n.放荡的人，浪子，肆意挥霍者 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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shipwreck
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| n.船舶失事，海难 | |
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valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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persecuted
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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foretold
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| v.预言，预示( foretell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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burrowed
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| v.挖掘（洞穴），挖洞( burrow的过去式和过去分词 )；翻寻 | |
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brooks
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| n.小溪( brook的名词复数 ) | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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glades
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| n.林中空地( glade的名词复数 ) | |
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rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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72
solitudes
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| n.独居( solitude的名词复数 )；孤独；荒僻的地方；人迹罕至的地方 | |
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73
jingling
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| 叮当声 | |
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74
bridles
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| 约束( bridle的名词复数 )； 限动器； 马笼头； 系带 | |
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75
daggers
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| 匕首，短剑( dagger的名词复数 ) | |
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76
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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77
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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78
clotted
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| adj.凝结的v.凝固( clot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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80
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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