WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR, ziz

English began to flatter themselves, that they had chap.changed, not the form of their government, but iv.

the succession only of their sovereigns, a matter IO<7 '

which gave them small concern. The better toreconcile his new subjects to his authority,

William made a progress through some parts ofEngland ; and besides a splendid court and majesticpresence, which overawed the people, alreadystruck'with his military fame, the appearance ofhis clemency and justice gained the approbationof the wise, attentive to the first steps of theirnew sovereign.

But amidst this confidence and friendship, whichhe expressed for the English, the king took careto place all real power in the hands of hisNormans, and still to keep possession of thesword , to which, he was sensible he had owedhis advancement to sovereign authority. Hedisarmed the city of London and other places,which appeared most warlike and populous; andbuilding citadels in that capital, as well as inWinchester, Hereford, and the cities best situatedfor commanding the kingdom, he quarteredNorman soldiers in all of them, and left no whereany power able to resist or oppose him. He bestowedthe forfeited estates on the most eminent of hiscaptains, and established funds for the paymentof his soldiers. And thus ; while his civil adminis-tration carried the face of a legal magistrate,liis military institutions were those of a masterand tyrant; at least of one, who reserved to