158 Isolation of 



he secretly authorized his barons to make excursions on 

 the frontiers of Normandy ; or of the deadly hatred 

 which induced William to delay his attack on Maine till 

 the approach of autumn made his vengeance more 

 dreadful to the country. The corn was nearly ready for 

 the sickle, and the grapes hung in ripening clusters on 

 the vines, when the fierce king ordered his men to 

 advance on the devoted territory ; when in the bitterness 

 of his spirit he marched his cavalry through the corn- 

 fields, and caused his soldiers to tear up the vines and 

 cut down the pleasant trees. Mantes could offer but 

 a weak resistance, and the town was set on fire. This 

 was the last scene of the tragedy in which the Norman 

 conqueror had acted a conspicuous part ; which com- 

 menced on the battle-field of Hastings, and ended in 

 the monastery of St. Gervas. Riding beside the ruined 

 town, to view the misery which he had wrought, his 

 horse trod on some hot cinders ; the frightened creature 

 plunged violently, and the king being unable to retain 

 his seat, fell to the ground. The injury which he 

 sustained caused him to be carried in a litter to a 

 religious house, in the neighbourhood of Rouen, where 

 his army was encamped, for he could not bear, he said, 

 the noise of the great city. It was told by those who 

 were present at the time, that although he at first 

 preserved much apparent dignity, and conversed calmly 

 on the events of his past life, and concerning the 

 vanity of human greatness ; when death drew near, 



