[Footnote 13:  Equal to L1,400,000, as money passes now. [D.S.]]

  1099.

I shall record one act of this king’s, which being chiefly personal, may pass rather for a part of his character, than a point of history.

As he was hunting one day in the New Forest, a messenger express from Normandy, brought him intelligence, that Helie, Count de la Fleche, had laid close siege to Mans, and expected to carry the town in a few days; the King leaving his chase, commanded some about him to point whereabout Mans lay; and so rode straight on without reflection, until he came to the coast.  His attendants advised him to wait until he had made preparations of men and money; to which he only returned; “They that love me, will follow me.”  He entered the ship in a violent storm; which the mariners beholding with astonishment, at length in great humility gave him warning of the danger; but the King commanded them instantly to put off to sea, and not be afraid; for he had never in his life heard of any King that was drowned.  In a few days he drove the enemy from before the city, and took the count himself prisoner, who raging at his defeat and captivity, exclaimed,[14] “That this blow was from Fortune; but Valour could make reprisals, as he should shew, if ever he regained his liberty.”  This being told the King, he sent for the count, let him understand that he had heard of his menaces, then gave him a fine horse, bid him begone immediately, and defied him to do his worst.

[Footnote 14:  There is so much pleasantry and humour, as well as spirit and heroism in this story, as we have it recorded by William de Malmesbury, who represents the menace as thrown out in the King’s presence, that I shall make no apology for setting down his words at length.  “Auctor turbarum Helias capitur; cui ante se adducto rex ludibundus, ‘Habeo te, magister,’ inquit.  At ille, cujus alta nobilitas nesciret in tanto etiam periculo sapere; ‘Fortuitu,’ inquit, ’me cepisti:  sed si possem evadere, novi quid facerem.’  Tum Willelmus, prae furore fere extra se positus, et obuncans Heliam, ’Tu,’inquit, ’nebulo! tu, quid faceres?  Discede; abi; fuge!  Concede tibi ut facias quicquid poteris:  et, per vultum de Luca! nihil, si me viceris, pro hac venia tecum paciscar.” I.e. By the face of St. Luke, if thou shouldst have the fortune to conquer me, I scorn to compound with thee for my release. [D.S.]]

It would have been an injury to this prince’s memory, to let pass an action, by which he acquired more honour than from any other in his life, and by which it appeared that he was not without some seeds of magnanimity, had they been better cultivated, or not overrun by the number or prevalency of his vices.

I have met with nothing else in this King’s reign that deserved to be remembered; for, as to an unsuccessful expedition or two against Wales, either by himself or his generals; they were very inconsiderable both in action and event, nor attended with any circumstances that might render a relation of them of any use to posterity, either for instruction or example.