his own conduct, that he got off his horse, and on bended knee asked forgiveness; but William rode away without saying a word.

In the year 1087, an accident happened which caused the King's death. His soldiers had set fire to a small town in France, and while he was riding through one of its streets, his horse chanced to tread on a burning piece of wood, which made him plunge so violently that William was very much injured. He was carried to the Abbey of Saint Gervas. During his illness, he confessed that he had treated the poor Saxons with great cruelty, and said he was now very sorry for it. He gave Normandy to his eldest son Robert, England to William, and a large sum of money to Henry.

William I. was sixty-one years of age when he died. He was buried in a beautiful church at Caen, in Normandy.

WILLIAM THE SECOND; CALLED

RUFUS.

1087-1100.

WILLIAM II., called Rufus, or the Red, from the colour of his hair, lost no time in coming to England to be made king in his father's stead. At the same time Robert took possession of Normandy; and Henry employed the money he had received from his father in buying a strong castle, called St. Michael's. His two brothers, William and Robert, being afraid that he would grow too powerful, determined to drive him out of the castle. They besieged the place closely, and Henry and his troops were in the greatest danger from the want of water. Robert hearing this, generously sent him some wine, and permitted his soldiers to fetch as much water as they wanted. Wil

liam was very angry with Robert for doing this, but Robert said, "Shall I let Henry die with thirst? Where shall we get another brother if we lose him?" Henry at length managed to escape from the castle.

The Norman nobles, who had estates in both countries, were not pleased at the division of the Conqueror's. dominions, and were desirous that Robert, whom they liked much better than his brother, should have the whole; they therefore took up arms against William. He called upon his English subjects to assist him, and gave them many promises of better treatment. Through their aid he was able to subdue the rebels; but William having gained his object, forgot his promises, and throughout his reign behaved very cruelly to the people.

About this time many of the Christian princes of Europe, angry at the treatment which poor pilgrims received from the cruel

E

Turks in Jerusalem, determined to go to the Holy Land, and drive them out of that country altogether. Robert of Normandy was one of these princes; but not having enough money to join the Crusadeas this Holy War was called-in such a way as he wished, he sold Normandy to his brother William for five years.

One day it happened that William went with a party of attendants to hunt in the New Forest. The King and one attendant, Walter Tyrrel, were separated from the rest, and, by some accident, an arrow which Tyrrel had aimed at a stag struck the King, and killed him upon the spot. Tyrrel fled to the coast and thence to the Holy Land. This was on the 2d of

August in the year

1100.

The body of the King was found by a charcoal-burner of

the Forest, who took it in his cart to Winchester, where it was buried.