DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14721#0023
ANTIQUITIES OF ENGLAND.
9
PLATE V.
HENRY THE FIRST,
Is also drawn in his robes of state, and of him the author says,
Apres Will, le Rous, regna la primer Henry, sun frere,xxxvi. aunz. II fit les bones loys de Engleter,
si les enchartera. II gist al Abbaye de Redynges.— Son cors leva seynte Thomas de tere, e le myst
devaunt le haut auter.
" After William Rufus, reigned the first Henry, his brother, thirty-six years. He made the good
laws of England, which he caused to be enrolled. He lies buried at the Abbey of Reading. —His body
was taken from the earth by saint Thomas, and placed before the high altar."
Henry the First was surnamed Beauclerc. This appellation was bestowed
upon him for his learning (wdiich was very uncommon in those days, except
amongst the clergy). This prince mounted the throne the second day of August1
1100, and was much beloved by his people. He made (according to the French
author) the good laws of England ; but the truth is, he abolished the hard and
rigorous statutes which had been established by his father and brother, and
restored those by much more equal, and suited to the tempers of the people,
which were in force in the days of the Confessor.
The worst action of Henry was the cruel treatment of his brother Robert ;
for he not only caused him to be closely kept in prison, but because he attempted
to escape, deprived him of his eye-sight.—As the circumstances concerning the
death of this Robert are rather extraordinary, they are here set down, as related
by Holinshed.
" It is sayde that on a festival day king Henrie put on a robe of scarlet, the
cape whereof being strayte, hee rente it in stryving to put it over hys heade ; and
perceyving it would not serve him, he layd it aside, and sayde, Let my brother
1 [Henry the First was elected king on the fourth of August, 1100, and crowned the next day. He
died on Sunday night the first of December, 1135, having reigned 35 years and four months wanting
four days. Gervase of Canterbury, and William of Malmesbury. Vide Nicolas's Chronology of
History.—Ed.]
C
9
PLATE V.
HENRY THE FIRST,
Is also drawn in his robes of state, and of him the author says,
Apres Will, le Rous, regna la primer Henry, sun frere,xxxvi. aunz. II fit les bones loys de Engleter,
si les enchartera. II gist al Abbaye de Redynges.— Son cors leva seynte Thomas de tere, e le myst
devaunt le haut auter.
" After William Rufus, reigned the first Henry, his brother, thirty-six years. He made the good
laws of England, which he caused to be enrolled. He lies buried at the Abbey of Reading. —His body
was taken from the earth by saint Thomas, and placed before the high altar."
Henry the First was surnamed Beauclerc. This appellation was bestowed
upon him for his learning (wdiich was very uncommon in those days, except
amongst the clergy). This prince mounted the throne the second day of August1
1100, and was much beloved by his people. He made (according to the French
author) the good laws of England ; but the truth is, he abolished the hard and
rigorous statutes which had been established by his father and brother, and
restored those by much more equal, and suited to the tempers of the people,
which were in force in the days of the Confessor.
The worst action of Henry was the cruel treatment of his brother Robert ;
for he not only caused him to be closely kept in prison, but because he attempted
to escape, deprived him of his eye-sight.—As the circumstances concerning the
death of this Robert are rather extraordinary, they are here set down, as related
by Holinshed.
" It is sayde that on a festival day king Henrie put on a robe of scarlet, the
cape whereof being strayte, hee rente it in stryving to put it over hys heade ; and
perceyving it would not serve him, he layd it aside, and sayde, Let my brother
1 [Henry the First was elected king on the fourth of August, 1100, and crowned the next day. He
died on Sunday night the first of December, 1135, having reigned 35 years and four months wanting
four days. Gervase of Canterbury, and William of Malmesbury. Vide Nicolas's Chronology of
History.—Ed.]
C