The barons broke the solemn oath which they had taken in the previous
reign (S122) to be faithful to the Crown. During the greater part of
the thirteen years of the new King's reign they were fighting against
him. On William's part it was a battle of centralization against
disintegration. He rallied the country people to his help--those who
fought with bows and spears. "Let every man," said the King, "who
would not be branded infamous and a coward, whether he live in town or
country, leave everything and come to me" (S85).

In answer to that appeal, the English people rallied around their
Norman sovereign, and gained the day for him under the walls of
Rochester Castle, Kent. Of the two evils, the tyranny of one or the
tyranny of many, he first seemed to them preferable.

131. William's Method of raising Money; he defrauds the Church.

If in some respects William the Conqueror had been a harsh ruler, his
son was worse. His brother Robert had mortgaged Normandy to him in
order to get money to join the first crusade (S182). William Rufus
raised whatever funds he desired by the most oppressive and
unscrupulous means.

William's most trusted counselor was Ranulf Flambard. Flambard had
brains without principle. He devised a system of plundering both
Church and people in the King's interest. Lanfranc, Archbishop of
Canterbury, died three years after William's accession. Through
Flambard's advice the King left the archbishopric vacant and
appropriated its revenues to himself. He practiced the same course
with respect to every office of the Church.