[Sidenote: _Fab. ex Guido de Columna._] Not long after, the earle of
Chester going ouer to Wales, with long and continual warres tired and
tamed the wild Welshmen, who for a good while after durst not shew
their faces.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 12. 1099.] The king being thus at quiet and
without warre in all places, began now to set his mind on building,
and first caused new walles to be made about the tower of London, and
also laid the foundation, of Westminster hall, which though it be a
verie large and roomthie place, yet after it was finished at his
returne out of Normandie, he came to view it, held his court therein
with great pompe and honor. [Sidenote: _Fabian._ _Ran. Higd._ _Matth.
Paris._] He repented that he had made it no larger, saieng; it was too
little by the halfe, and therefore determined to haue made a new, and
that this other should haue serued but for a dining chamber. A
diligent searcher (saith Matthew Paris) might yet find out the
foundation of the hall, which he had purposed to build, stretching
from the Thames side vnto the common street. But though those his
buildings were great ornaments to the realme, yet bicause he tooke vp
monie by extortion of his subiects towards the charges of the same, he
was euill spoken of; [Sidenote: _Polydor._] the report being spred,
that he should take them in hand but onelie vnder a colour to spoile
his subiects, in gathering a farre greater summe than the expenses of
them did amount vnto. [Sidenote: The king goeth ouer into Normandie.]
About the same time that king William beganne these buildings, he went
ouer into Normandie, to vnderstand in what state that countrie stood.

[Sidenote: Finchamstéed. _Ran. Higd._ _Hen. Hunt._ _Matth. West._
_Wil. Malm._] About the same time also, or rather two yéere before; to
wit 1097. néere to Abington, at a towne called Finchamsteed in