Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (2 of 6) - England (1 of 12) William the Conqueror by Raphael Holinshed
page 85 of 95 (89%)
page 85 of 95 (89%)
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certificat hereof being inrolled, was put into the kings treasurie at
Winchester, [Sidenote: An. Reg. 19.] in the xix. yeare of his reigne, and not in the xvj. [Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] But in what yeare soeuer it was, and howsoeuer the writers agrée or disagree herein; certaine it is, that the same was exacted, to the great gréefe and impouerishment of the people, who sore lamented the miserable estate whereinto they were brought, [Sidenote: _Polydor._ _Matth. Paris._] and hated the Normans in their harts to the verie death. Howbeit, the more they grudged at such tolles, tallages, customes, and other impositions wherewith they were pressed; the more they were charged and ouerpressed. [Sidenote: The Conquerour séeketh to kéepe the English men low.] The Normans on the other side with their king perceiuing the hatred which the English bare them, were sore offended, and therefore sought by all meanes to kéepe them vnder. [Sidenote: _Polydor._] Such as were called to be iustices, were enimies to all iustice; wherevpon greater burdens were laid upon the English, insomuch that after they had béene robbed and spoiled of their goods, they were also debarred of their accustomed games and pastimes. [Sidenote: The forrests seized into the kings hands. _Matth. Paris._] For where naturallie (as they doo vnto this daie) they tooke great pleasure in hunting of déere, both red and fallow, in the woods and forrests about without restraint, king William seizing the most part of the same forests into his owne hands, appointed a punishment to be executed vpon all such offendors; namelie, to haue their eies put out. And to bring the greater number of men in danger of those his penall lawes (a pestilent policie of a spitefull mind, and sauoring altogither of his French slauerie) he deuised meanes how to bréed, nourish, and increase the multitude of déere, and also to make roome for them in that part of the realme which lieth betwixt Salisburie and the sea southward: [Sidenote: New forrest.] he pulled downe townes, |
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