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Introduction
William II Rufus became King of England following the death of his father William the Conqueror in 1087. Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, prevailed on the Norman barons to crown William instead of his brother Robert, and thereafter kept William on a short leash. The death of his mentor in 1089 marked a sharp decline in William’s character, but memories of better days remained.
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. (59 / 60 words)
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.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, although, because, besides, despite, may, must, otherwise.
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