WILLIAM RUFUS. 40 i

intercession of the French king and the count of cAnjou, he found the province of Maine stillexposed to his intrigues and incursions. Helie,being introduced by the citizens into the townof Mans, besieged the garrison in the citadel,William, who was hunting 111 the new forest,when he received intelligence of this hostileattempt, was so provoked, that he immediatelyturned his horse, and galloped to the sea-shoreat Dartmouth ; declaring , that he would notstop a moment till he had taken vengeance forthe offence. He found the weather so cloudyand tempestuous , that the mariners thought itdangerous to put to sea : But the king hurriedon board , and ordered them to set fail instantly ;telling them that they never yet heard of a kingthat was drowned By this vigor and celerity,he delivered the citadel of Alans from its presentdanger; and pursuing Helie into his own ter-ritories, he laid siege to Majol, a small castle inthose parts : But a wound, which he receivedbefore this place , obliged him to raise the siege;and he returned to England.

The weakness of the greatest monarchs, duringthis age, in their military expeditions against theirnearest neighbours, appears the more surprising,when we consider the prodigious numbers, whicheven petty princes, seconding the enthusiastic rageof the people, were able to assemble, and to conduct

" W. Malm. p. 124. H. Hunt. p. 378. M. Paris ,p. 36. Ypod. Neult. p. 442.

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