lying dead among the bushes, pierced by an arrow shot by an unknown
hand.

William's character speaks in his deeds. It was hard, cold, despotic,
yet in judging it we should consider the woulds of that quaint old
writer, Thomas Fuller, when he says, "No pen hath originally written
the life of this King but what was made with a monkish penknife, and
no wonder if his picture seems bad, which was thus drawn by his
enemy."

134. Summary.

Notwithstanding William's oppression of both Church and people, his
reign checked the revolt of the baronage and prevented the kingdom
from falling into anarchy like that existing in France.


Henry I--1100-1135

135. Henry's Charter of Liberties.

Henry, third son of William the Conqueror, was the first of the Norman
kings who was born and educated in England. Foreseeing a renewal of
the contest with the barons (S130), he issued a Charter of Liberties
on his accession, by which he bound himself to reform the abuses which
had been practiced by his brother William Rufus. The charter
guaranteed: (1) The rights of the Church (which William Rufus had
constantly violated); (2) the rights of the nobles and landholders
against extortionate demands by the Crown; (3) the right of all
classes to protection of the old English customs or laws.