WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. 371

empire , though they settled in the conquered chap.countries , yet being accustomed to a rude iv.

uncultivated life, found a part only of the land jo 87 .

sufficient to supply all their wants; and theywere not tempted to seize extensive possessions,which they knew neither how to cultivate norenjoy. But the Normans and other foreigners,who followed the standard of William, whilethey made the vanquished kingdom the feat ofgovernment, were yet so far advanced in arts asto be acquainted with the advantages of a largeproperty; and having totally subdued the natives,they pushed the rights of conquest ( very extensivein the eyes of avarice and ambition, howevernarrow in those of reason) to the utmost extremityagainst them. Except the former conquest ofEngland by the Saxons themselves, who wereinduced, by peculiar circumstances, to proceedeven to the extermination of the natives, itwould be difficult to find in all history a revolu-tion more destructive, or attended with a morecomplete subjection of the ancient inhabitants.Contumely seems even to have been wantonlyadded to oppression and the natives wereuniversally reduced to such a state of meannessand poverty , that the English name became aterm of reproach; and several generations elapsedbefore one family of Saxon pedigree was raisedto any considerable honours, or could so much

H. Iiunt. p. 370. Brompton, p. 98c.

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