Chronicles of England; A Metrical History (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Taking moreover, as his annual dues, Three thousand marks from Henry's revenues. Strife still arising, on a subtle plea, Henry retorts the war on Normandy; Robert is vanquish'd, and in Cardiff's keep Closes his pilgrimage in mortal sleep . With various fortune, war was still pursued 'Twixt France and England, on this Norman feud, When peace was ratified. But Henry's joy Expires untimely with his only boy; Lost is the youthful prince off Barfleur's shore, Nor smile e'er lit the monarch's features moref. Attempting to make his escape, it is said, his eyes were put cut by command of his unnatural brother. But William of Malmesbury, who was a contemporary, declares " to the day of his death he was held in free custody by the laudable affection of his brother, suffering no evil but solitude, where there was great attention on the part of his keepers, and no want of amusements or of dainties." This writer, however, was the panegyrist of Henry. t " King Henry returning into England after his conquest of Normandy, left all his own family to follow him. This was the most unfortunate shipwreck which ever happened in our seas; for therein perished Prince William, Duke of Normandy, the joy of his father, and the hope of the nation; Richard, his base brother; his sister Maud, Countess of Perche; Richard, Earl of Chester, with his wife Lady Lucy, the King's niece; Otwell, the Earl's brother; and most of the princes; with Geoffrey, Archdeacon of Hereford; and very many others of prime note and esteem; none of their bodies being found, though great search was made after them."?Account from Roger Hoveden. Here terminates the Norman line. Voltaire says of us, " Your nation is like your language; both a strange mixture. When 1 see one fond Stephen, third son of Steph...