Statues of William I the Conqueror (r. 1066-1087) on the left, and his son William II Rufus (r. 1087-1100) on the right, on Bradford’s Town Hall. At he was dying in 1087, the Conqueror snubbed his fractious son Robert II Duke of Normandy, and gave England to Robert’s younger brother William ‘Rufus’ (‘the red’, owing to his red hair and beard). The Conqueror’s brother Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, took Robert’s side and there were dangerous revolts in 1088 and 1095, but William Rufus proved an astute and courageous commander, and weathered the storm. When he died in a hunting accident in 1100, he left his brother Henry a governable kingdom; but contemporary historians sadly missed English kings such as Alfred the Great or Edward the Confessor, who preferred endowing monasteries to asset-stripping them.
Part 1 of 2
AFTER Lanfranc’s death, the king began greatly to forget himself in all his dealings, insomuch that he kept many concubines, and waxed very cruel and inconstant in all his doings, so that he became an heavy burden unto his people. For he was so much addicted to gather goods, that he considered not what pertained to the majesty of a king, insomuch that nothing tending to his gain, and the satisfying of his appetite, was esteemed of him unlawful, sith* he measured all things by the uncontrolled rule of his royalty, and considered nothing what so high an office required.*
But albeit the prince was of such a disposition by nature, yet there is one thing written of him which ought not to be forgotten, to admonish us that there is no man of so evil an affection, but that sometime he dealeth uprightly, though it be by hap or other extraordinary motion.* It chanced that an abbey was void of an abbot, wherein were two monks — very covetous persons above the rest, and such as by scraping and gathering together, were become very rich, for such (saith Polydore)* in those days mounted to preferment.
* A now obsolete word from Old English meaning ‘since’.
* “The king loved his pleasures much” wrote Geoffrey Gaimar (fl. 1130s); “they were never ended night or day; he was always happy and creating mirth.” But Geoffrey did not find in this as much cause for censure as Holinshed, since in Gaimar’s opinion the kingdom was well-managed. “When he had reigned some time, and had established peace in the country, he maintained such justice and right that no one lost anything through wrong, nor was any free man maltreated or injured in his kingdom.”
* That is, by chance (by hap) or some other, unusual circumstance.
* Polydore Vergil (?1470-1555), a native of Urbino in Italy, came to England in 1502 and was naturalised in 1510. He held various church positions, retiring as Archdeacon of Wells in 1546 and returning to Italy in 1553.
Précis
Tudor historian Raphael Holinshed believed that the death of Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1089 triggered a sorry decline in the character of King William II Rufus. Yet something happened to remind us that even the wicked can do good sometimes. It all began when two ambitious monks vying for control of a prestigious abbey came to see him. (58 / 60 words)
Part Two
Tewkesbury Abbey, founded in 1087, the year that William II came to the throne, though the current building was not begun until 1102, when William’s younger brother Henry I wore the English crown (r. 1102-1135). The church was consecrated in 1121. The Church has always been bedevilled by greed, intrigue and politics, but the Norman Conquest in 1066 threw the English Church into more-than-usual confusion. Rites and customs were forcibly aligned with those favoured on the Continent, and English abbeys and cathedrals were taken from their English guardians and given — or sold — into the care of Normans. See Forgotten Melodies and Wulfstan and the Seal of Approval.
THESE two appointed to go together to the court, each hoping at their coming thither to find some means that he might be made abbot of that house. Being thus agreed, to the court they come, and there offer very largely to the king to obtain their suit: who perceiving their greedy desires, and casting his eyes about the chamber, espied by chance another monk (that came to bear them company, being a more sober man, and simple after his outward appearance) whom he called unto him, and asked what he would give him to be made abbot of the foresaid abbey.
The monk after a little pause, made answer, that he would give nothing at all for any such purpose, since he entered into that profession of mere zeal to despise riches and all worldly pomp, to the end he might the more quietly serve God in holiness and purity of conversation. ‘Sayest thou so,’ quoth the king, ‘then art thou even he that art worthy to govern this house’:* and straightway he bestowed the house upon him, justly refusing the other two, to their open infamy and reproach.
* See also Adam Smith on Fit and Proper Persons.
Précis
The two monks tried to outdo each other in flattery and bribes, but William’s attention was riveted on another monk standing by, silent and unassuming. When asked what bribes he offered, he replied that he was not interested in money or power. No man, cried William, could more safely be entrusted with both, and awarded him the coveted abbot’s chair. (60 / 60 words)
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