hart, at whom as sir Walter Tirell let driue an arrow, the same by
glansing stroke the king into the brest, so that he neuer spake word,
but breaking off so much of the arrow as appeared out of his bodie, he
fell downe, and giuing onelie one grone, immediatlie died, without more
noise or moouing. [Sidenote: The king slaine.] Sir Walter running to
him, and perceiuing no spéech nor sense to remaine in him, straitwaies
got to his horsse, and riding awaie, escaped and saued himselfe: for few
there were that pursued him, euerie man being amazed at the chance,
some departing one waie, and some another, euerie one for his owne
aduantage and commoditie, as the time then serued. The dead bodie of the
king was straight conueied to Winchester, and there buried the morrow
after, which was the second day of August, the yere of our Lord 1100.
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] To this end came king William, after he had
reigned almost 13 yeares, and liued 43 and somewhat more.

This prince, although euill reported of by writers for the couetous
tasking of his subiects, and reteining of ecclesiasticall liuings in his
hands; yet was he endued with manie noble and princelie qualities. He
had good knowledge in feats of warre, and could well awaie with bodilie
labour. In all his affaires he was circumspect; of his promise, trustie;
of his word, stedfast; and in his wars no lesse diligent than fortunate.
He gaue to the moonkes called Monachi de charitate in Southwarke, the
great new church of S. Sauiour of Bermondsay, and also Bermondseie
itselfe. He founded a goodlie hospitall in the citie of Yorke, called S.
Leonards, for the sustentation and finding of the poore as well brethren
as sisters. Towards souldiers and men of warre he was verie liberall,
and to enrich them, he passed not for taking from farmers and
husbandmen, what soeuer could be gotten. He was indéed of a prodigall
nature, and therefore when in the begining of his reigne, doubting some
troubles, he had assembled manie men of warre for his defense, there was