The Character of William Rufus.
Some of the main points in the character of William Rufus are not badly hit off by Giraldus (de Inst. Princ. iii. 30), though there are features on which he does not dwell;
“Erat rex ille strenuus in armis et animosus, sed tyrannus, adeo militiam diligens ecclesiamque Dei exosam habens ut monasteria cuncta domosque religiosas ab Anglis olim per Angliam fundatas et ditatas, cum terris omnibus et possessionibus, vel ex majori mutilare vel in militares feodos convertere proposuisset.”
These last words are of importance for another part of our inquiry (see [p. 346]); but the general phrase “militiam diligens,” a phrase capable of more meanings than one, is, in all its meanings, strictly applicable to Rufus.
Part of the character of him given by the Hyde writer (299) has been already quoted (see [p. 353]). He is brought in as follows, with the further note that he was “nimis amator pecuniæ;”
“Willelmus rex animo ferus, corpore strenuus, defensor quidem patriæ cœpit esse, sed non satis idoneus procreator [protector? or is a “nursing-father” meant?] ecclesiæ. Si enim ita studeret religioni quam vanæ curiositati, nullus ei profecto deberet princeps comparari.”
Geoffrey Gaimar (Chron. Ang. Norm. i. 30) brings him on the stage with some respect;
“Willam out non come son père,