WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. 367

received of some railleries which that monarchhad thrown out against him. William , who wasbecome corpulent , had been detained in bedsome time by sickness; upon which Philip expres-sed his surprise, that his brother of-Englandshould be so long in being delivered of his bigbelly. The king sent him word, that, as soonas he was up, he would present so many lightsat Notre dame, as would perhaps give littlepleasure to the king of France; alluding to theusual practice at that time of women after child-birth. Immediately on his recovery , he led anarmy into l’lfle de France, and laid every thingwaste with fire and sword. He took the townof Mante, which he reduced to ashes. But theprogress of these hostilities was stopped by anaccident, winch soon after put an end to William’slife. His horse starting aside of a sudden, hebruised his belly on the pommel of the saddle;and being in a bad habit of body, as well assomewhat advanced in years, he began to ap-prehend the consequences, and ordered himselfto be carried in a litter to the monastery of St.Gervais. Finding his illness increase, and beingsensible of the approach of death, he discoveredat last the vanity of all human grandeur, andwas struck with remorse for those horrible cruel-ties and acts of violence, which in the attainmentand defence of it, he had committed during thecourse of his reign over England. Fie endea-voured to make atonement by presents to church-es and monasteries; au^l he issued orders, tha$

HAP

IV.

1087.