Early Medieval Books, The Deeds of Louis le Gros by Suger
The Deeds of Louis le Gros by Suger is in Early Medieval Books.
It was commonly said that this proud and headstrong king aspired to the throne of the French, for the renowned young man was the only son of his father by his very noble wife, the sister of Count Robert of Flanders. Two other sons, Philip and Florus, had been born of the irregular union to Countess Bertrada of Anjou. But they would not be considered for the succession even if the only heir met with some misfortune and died first. However, since it is neither right nor natural that the French be subject to the English, but rather the English to the French, 0 the outcome of events made sport of William's detestable ambition. He stirred himself and his men up for three years or more with this madness, and calmed down only when both the English and the French who were bound to him in homage could not help him accomplish his goal.
01 Aug 1100. So he [King William II of England (age 44)] crossed back into England and gave himself over lustfully to the desires of his heart. And one day while he was hotly pursuing game in the New Forest, he was struck suddenly by an untimely arrow and died.
Some people, believing their opinion to be true, judged that divine vengeance had struck the man down, for he had burdened the poor beyond endurance and had cruelly extorted from churches. Whenever bishops or prelates died, he kept their possessions for himself and squandered them, showing no respect. Several people claimed that the very noble Walter Tirel shot him with the arrow; but we have quite often heard Walter Tirel, when he had nothing to fear or gain, affirm on oath as if he were swearing on a holy relic, that he had not come into that part of the forest where the king was hunting on that day, and that he had never even seen the king in the forest! How fitting it was that the great madness of so great a man was reduced to ashes by the divine power so suddenly, and that he who needlessly ha- rassed others was even more endlessly harassed, and that he who coveted all was himself shamefully despoiled of all. Kingdoms and their laws are under the power of God, who loosens the sword belts of kings.