WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.

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conspirators. Such of them as had been more chap.violent in their mutiny betrayed their guilt, by iv.flying or concealing' themselves; and the conhs-cation of their eHates, while it increased thenumber of malecontents , both enabled William togratify farther the rapacity of his Norman captains,and gave them the prospect of new forfeitures andattainders. The king began to regard all hisEnglish subjects as inveterate and irreclaimableenemies; and thenceforth either embraced, orwas more fully confirmed in the resolution , ofseizing their possessions, and of reducing them tothe most abject slavery. Though the naturalviolence and severity of his temper made himincapable of feeling any remorse in the executionof this tyrannical purpose, he had art enough toconceal his intention, and to preserve still someappearance of justice in his oppressions. He orderedall the English, who had been arbitrarily expelledby the Normans, during his absence, to be restoredj to their estates But at the same time, heimposed a general tax on the people, that ofDanegelt , which had been abolished by theConfessor; and winch had always been extremelyodious to the nation

As the vigilance of William overawed the *°ss.malecontents , their insurrections were more the

1 Chron. Sax. p. 173. This fact is a full proof, thatthe Normans had committed great injustice, and were thereal cause of the insurrections of the English.

Hoveden, p. 450. Sim. Duaelm, p. 107. Alur. Levers.

L>. 127.