Help us create a biggest collection of medieval chronicles and manuscripts on line.
#   A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z 
Medieval chronicles, historical sources, history of middle ages, texts and studies

FRANCIS LANCELOTT, ESQ. Queens of England. Vol.1.

DOWNLOAD THE ONLY FULL EDITIONS of

Sir John Froissart's Chronicles of England, France, Spain and the Ajoining Countries from the latter part of the reign of Edward II to the coronation of Henry IV in 12 volumes 

Chronicles of Enguerrand De Monstrelet (Sir John Froissart's Chronicles continuation) in 13 volumes 

 
 
 
  Previousall pages

Next  

FRANCIS LANCELOTT, ESQ.
Queens of England. Vol.1.
page 40



months, and at his departure declared when she lay in childbed ; flee to her at that nowhere else, in or out of ChristenWinchester, implore her to intercede for dom, did such princely pleasures abound. you with the king, and you may yet be .Early in 1103, Henry and Archbishop saved." Anselm had a serious quarrel. The prelate claimed, for the chapters of the clergy, the right hitherto enjoyed by the kings of England of nominating the bishops, which the king resolutely refused, and both appealed to the pope, Anselm going in person to plead against the king's advocates, and remaining for a period in exile. In the year following, Robert, so ap had succeeded to the full, he wTas right propriately named the Unready, unwisely glad, and with many thanks for his kind visited England. His purport for so doing probably being to demand his pension and enjoy the pleasures of his royal goddaughter's court, although soiue writers ailirm it was nothing less than to remonstrate with Henry, who, with a rod of iron, had persecuted several nobles for no other reason than that they were his partisans. On hearing of his landing, although he came unarmed and with hut twelve attendants, the king flew into a great rage, and swore that if he fell into his hands ho would keep him a prisoner for life. "God forbid, sire I" exclaimed the Count do Mellent, who witnessed the king's wrath—"God forbid that your brother Robert should receive such harshness at your hands ! Resides, he is so generous and easy-hearted, that I dare swear a few kindly-spoken words would induce him to depart in peace, and relinquish his pension to hoot." " Re it so," rejoined the king; "and our good cousin shaR himself try his eloquence upon our unruly brother." '* With all my heart," replied the count, who immediately mounted his fleetest charger, and meeting Robert on the Southampton road, reasoned with liiin on the foUy of exposing himself to the deadly ire of the king, who, he declared, was so terribly vexed at having to pav him four thousand marks a-year, that he swore by the Apostles to slay him or imprison him for life. "Indeed," continued the count, " there is no hope nor safety for you but tinder the protecting wing"s of our good Queen Matilda : doubtless she has not forgotten your'kindness Robert lost no time in acting as the count bad advised him, but he paid dearly for his indiscretion ; for the queen, playing puppet to her royal lord, graciously received him, and taking the opportunity when he was overcome by wine, persuaded him, with sweet words and winning smiles, to cancel his claims against his brother the king. When Henry found that his deeply-laid scheme ness, proffered the hand of friendship to his Norman brother. Rut Duke Robert felt no inclination to grasp the hand of his despoiler, whom he bitterly reproached with having, bv wine and woman's craft, tricked him out of his pension. "Rcauelerc, thou art a treacherous viRain ; and if it costs me my life, I will be revenged !" he exclaimed, as in wild fury he rushed from the presence of his brother Henry. "Perhaps it may, should you attempt to execute your threat," murmured the artful king, who in a few months afterwards nominated his consort Matilda Regent of England, and set sail for Normandy, whither he went with the pretext of mediating between the factions then desolating the land, although his real purpose was to personally observe how and when he could most prudently snatch the ducal crown from the head of his brother Robert. When in Normandy, Henry and Archbishop Anselm met at the castle of the Eagle, and after a few explanations, again became friends. Anselm then embarked for England, and landed at Dover, where the queen received him with hearty welcomes ; and he being advanced in years, she herself preceded him on his journey to the metropolis, and in this manner provided for him sumptuous fare and princely accommodation. Rut the return of the aged primate brought trouble to the heart of Matilda, as from this time both the king and Anselm furced the Anglo-Saxon clergy, who


  Previous First Next  
 
 
 
 

"Medievalist" is an educational project designed as a digital collection of chronicles, documents and studies related to the middle age history. All materials from this site are permitted for non commersial use unless otherwise indicated. If you reduplicate documents from here you have to indicate "Medievalist" as a source and place link to us.