394 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

chap. quest of distant adventures. The selfish interestedv. spirit also of the king, which kept him from1035. kindling in the general flame , checked its progressamong his subjects; and as he is accused of openprofaneness 23 , and was endued with a sharp wit",it is likely that he made the romantic chivalryof the crusaders the object of his perpetual raillery.As an instance of his irreltgion ; we are told , thathe once accepted of sixty marks from a jew,whose son had been converted to Christianity,and who engaged him by that present to assisthim in bringing back the youth to Judaism. Williamemployed both menaces and persuasion for thatpurpose ; but finding the convert obstinate in hisnew faith, he sent for the father, and told him,that as he had not succeeded , it was not justthat he should keep the present; but as he haddone his utmost , it was but equitable that heshould be paid for his pains ; and he wouldtherefore retain only thirty marks of the money 15 .At another time, it is said , he sent for somelearned Christian theologians and some rabbies,and bade them fairly dispute the question of theirreligion in his presence : He was perfectly in-different between them ; had his ears open to reasonand conviction; and would embrace that doctrinewhich upon comparison should be sound sup*ported by the most solid arguments If this

a ’ G. Newbr. p. 358. W. Gemet. p. 292.

" W. Malm. p. 122. V Eadmer, p. 4?.

* W. Malm. p. 123.